Dear Parents,
This has been a very busy two weeks since I last sent you my letter. Since then we have had a lot of events, and we continue to make progress towards developing open-minded global citizens.
I was very proud of the students’ work for the UN International Peace Day. Their speeches were inspiring, and their performances and artworks reflected the creative learners we have at XLIS.
This week, our young students from M1-M3 are sitting for their ISA tests. These tests serve as a benchmark to gauge where we as a school stand compared to other international schools. In the past years, these data analyses have provided valuable insight into our students’ strengths and weaknesses. One of the most significant weaknesses is the Reading component of the tests. Therefore, we have made it compulsory for every student to read every night as part of their homework. I hope parents will support us in this matter.
After the October break, we will have an essential workshop for all the MYP parents regarding assessments. We understand that this is a question that is always raised, especially during report time; we will explain what assessments look like in the MYP and DP. I hope to see many parents attend this event. More details will be sent nearer the date.
The students will receive their first report of this academic year after we come back from the holidays. The reports for the M1-DP1 will have no grades, but they will contain comments on how your child has adapted to the new class, what skills and learner profiles they have developed, and what they can do to improve. After the reports, we will have a parents’ conference where you can meet the teachers and get more details of your child’s performance.
DP2 students will receive a grade in these reports- they are in their final year of the DP, and these grades will help us understand where they are and how we can help them to get better if they need to. The following months are crucial for these students- there is early application to universities, and many universities accept their applications by November. Therefore, we need your support to help your child understand the importance of writing a personal statement that reflects what they have done at school and beyond.
As usual, we are all here to advise you if you find areas you are not clear about. Have a great October break-
I look forward to welcoming all our students back on the 7th October.
Sincerely,
Jaimala Quinlan
Secondary Principal
