Effective communication is essential to a school's functioning. ISB endeavors to keep parents abreast of events through its Dragon Dispatch (our weekly e-newsletter), classroom bulletins, PISA and School Board meetings, and Moze system (Parent and Student Portals for the online gradebook, curriculum documents, and assessment calendars). The school's website is a comprehensive resource for all parents seeking further information about ISB.

Information Coffee Mornings are held on a regular and timely basis to ensure that parents are fully aware of all aspects of the Secondary School's learning programs. These will be advertised in the Director and Principal's section of the Dragon Dispatch as well as via direct email from the Principal's Personal Assistant.

At the start of each academic year, ISB hosts an Open House afternoon/evening. Parents also have an opportunity to meet their child's Homeroom teachers where they receive a brief overview of learning expectations and key instructional practices.

Information Coffee Mornings that focus on the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) are held outside of the Open House to permit greater focus and chance dialogue between the Program Coordinator and parents.

To sustain effective communication parents are encouraged to keep the school informed of any changes to personal details and circumstances.

3.1. PROTOCOL FOR INQUIRIES OR CONCERNS

Whenever a question, issue or problem arises, the solution is first to be sought at its source and presume positive intentions. In any situation of interest or concern it is best to go to the person directly involved in order to ensure that you:

• Gain first-hand information

• Acquire a complete understanding of the situation

• Communicate important information

• Achieve a timely response

• Support the concept of open communication to maintain optimal support for your child's learning and well-being

Subject Teachers

If parents have a question or concern about their child's experience in a particular class. then they may contact the subject teacher directly. Listed below are some issues that parents might address with subject teachers directly:

• Subject or course information

• Class supplies and requirements

• Assessment and grading

• Home-learning

• Curriculum information

• Project or research requirements

• Student progress and performance

• Teaching and classroom incidents

• Field trips related to that particular subject

Leaders of Learning / Heads of Department

If parents have a particular question or concern about an issue related to curriculum and/ or programming, you can contact the relevant Leader of Learning/Head of Department for a subject area. The following are examples of issues that might be addressed directly with them:

• Department objectives (focus of curriculum for that academic year)

• Course offerings within that Department

• Curriculum Scope and Sequence (what knowledge and skills a student will learn and when)

• How to choose an appropriate course level in the Diploma Programme

Program Coordinators

If parents have a particular question about overall program coordination, subject selection by a student, program requirements and or program coordination, please speak with the relevant program coordinator (MY, DP, Pamoja or Athletics/ After-school activities).

Counselors

Parents may contact their child's Counselor if they feel that their child would benefit from greater social-emotional support. Students receive social-emotional mentoring and laming in their homeroom classes and questions about the homeroom program can be discussed with the appropriate divisional Counselor.

Homeroom Teacher & Welfare Coordinator

The homeroom teacher and/or welfare coordinator can be contacted if there are questions about the social emotional-learning program that takes place during homeroom lessons.

Administration (Principal)

If more information is required or if a situation is not resolved with a teacher head of department, coordinator or counselor, parents are then encouraged to contact the Principal directly.

For concerns that go beyond these outlined measures, please refer to the Board of Trustees Policy Manual Section 601.3 and 601.4.

3.2. E-MAIL

E-mail is the easiest and fastest way to communicate. Staff will respond within 48 hours of receiving an email enquiry. However, there may be instances where this is not possible. In instances of importance, parents are encouraged to phone the Secondary School receptionist who will contact the teacher. The email address for each teacher is the initial of their first name and the surname. For example, Mr. John Smith, would be smith@isb.rs. All students have an email account to help facilitate communication with staff.

3.3. USE OF STUDENT IMAGES

During the school year, students may be photographed or filmed while participating in school activities. These images may be used in a variety of school communications, including but not limited to the school newsletter and website. As a matter of practice, ISB does not identify students by name when their image is used in either print or video communications. If parents would prefer not to have their child's image used in any school publications, they are required to submit their preference by selecting appropriate options on the forms available through the Parent Portal on the school website.