The policies and programs of the school are guided by the school’s mission and beliefs that are based on a fundamental respect for every individual, appreciation of cultural differences, developmentally appropriate expectations for children, thoughtful communication, and common courtesy among all participants. The school’s mission is guided by the view that the love of learning and the mastery of essential skills are mutually supportive and best achieved by an inquiry approach which nurtures the curiosity of students, encourages them to take intellectual risks, gives them opportunities to make decisions, and helps them to understand their world. At FIS, academic rigor is viewed as a function of the quality of questions which students confront and the quality of their engagement with teachers and each other. The school encourages both individual achievement and teamwork. In order to educate with credibility and authority, the school administrators focus on creating a viable community for its members and ensuring that the school is a responsible and positive contributor within its wider community. The school’s mission is informed by a belief that students thrive best in an environment which is attractive, stimulating, caring, orderly, and safe.

The Administration and the Board of Trustees work to ensure that the strategic priorities of the school embody the mission and beliefs and that the school’s mission and beliefs are reflected in the daily life of all divisions and campuses of the school.

Definition of High Quality Learning

High quality learning is the lifelong cycle of curiosity, discovery, application, experience and reflection that results in the acquisition of new understandings, attitudes and skills. These enable students to construct meaning, make connections, take action, and grow intellectually, emotionally and socially.

Educational Goals

• To offer the opportunities of a rich and balanced program which develops the intellectual, social, physical, and creative capacities of students;

• To motivate students to achieve their best and develop a commitment to lifelong learning;

• To assist and support our students in defining and achieving their personal goals for the next stage in their education and ensure that they have the confidence, competencies and skills to succeed;

• To help students maintain a healthy balance in their lives between academics and personal pursuits;

• To help students gain confidence and self-respect by facing appropriate challenges and developing a sense of mastery within an atmosphere of encouragement;

• To help students understand their place in the world through experience and the acquisition of essential knowledge;

• To maximize the adaptability of students to a rapidly changing global environment through special attention to skills that include language learning, communication and research skills, critical thinking, use of technology, and social responsibility;

• To educate our students about sustainability, enabling them to make informed decisions and encouraging them to take responsible actions toward environmental integrity, economic viability and a just and peaceful society for present and future generations;

• To promote international understanding, interpersonal skills, and personal responsibility through daily interactions and the practice of citizenship within the school;

• To help students and their families adjust quickly and comfortably to the FIS community and to facilitate their transition to their next school;
  

Institutional Goals

• To build an organization which, in all its endeavors, and at all levels, strives for excellence by seeking feedback from its constituency of students, parents, faculty and staff, and alumni, by consulting research and accreditation agencies, and by actively assessing its own performance;

• To promote trust and commitment among all members of the FIS community through effective communications and orderly decision making processes;

• To be positively engaged with the surrounding cultural, educational, and political environments;

• To promote a clear and effective division of responsibility between professional educators, the Administration, the Board of Trustees, students, and parents;

• To ensure that the school attracts and retains quality professionals through appropriate compensation and professional development programs;

• To exercise fiscal responsibility by operating within a balanced budget, providing adequate operating reserves, and conducting an annual external audit;

• To support the educational program with excellent facilities and equipment and to protect the assets of the Association by providing for adequate capital investments and reserves;

• To foster a deeply held culture of sustainability in order to harness the collective power of the FIS community to do good in the world now and for the future.