PARENT ANNOUNCEMENT (07)
OCTOBER 2, 2025
SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE
BSD PRINCIPAL FINALISTS’ VISIT
Dear Parents,
BSD will be inviting the finalists for the principal position to campus October 11-13. Their visit will include connecting with leadership, staff and parents.
More details on the finalists and their visit will be shared next Thursday. We look forward to welcoming them to British School Dhahran.
REMINDER: UPCOMING PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (PEP) SESSION:
THE ISG BUDGET PROCESS - VIRTUAL
I am pleased to share the next session in our Parent Engagement Program: The ISG Budget Process (Virtual Session).
Please take some time to review this information about ISG and the budget.
Then, please use this form to submit your questions. We will review your feedback from the survey and incorporate trends of relevant information into a recorded and shared presentation next week, October 9, 2025. You will have another opportunity after this presentation to share any further questions, feedback or ideas as leadership prepares the draft of the budget for Board consideration.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with parents through these opportunities in terms of transparency and understanding around the financial resources that support our students’ learning and growth.
LEARNING AT ISG
VIRTUAL SCHOOL DAY: MONDAY OCTOBER 6
At ISG, we recognize the importance of preparing our students to thrive in a variety of learning environments. A Virtual School Day provides students with the opportunity to build independence, practice digital learning skills and experience a flexible way of engaging with their studies. It also allows our teachers to explore innovative teaching methods that complement classroom learning.
Each ISG school campus will share more information with families about how the virtual school day will be implemented. If you have any questions please contact your child’s teacher.
UNIVERSITY VISITS IN SEPTEMBER
ISG began the school year with a range of university-focused events designed to support our students and families in the Class of 2026. Highlights included University Information Planning sessions, numerous university visits to our campuses and dedicated College Clinics.
In September, we were proud to welcome representatives from the following universities:
Boston University, USA
Carleton University, Canada
New York University Abu Dhabi
Queen’s University, Canada
University of Alberta, Canada
University of Calgary, Canada
University of Toronto, Canada
These visits gave students valuable opportunities to explore academic programs, learn about scholarships and receive the latest updates on admissions requirements.
In addition, ISG high school and senior school students participated in both in-person and virtual College Clinics, tailored to provide hands-on application support. Some sessions were general, while others focused on specific themes.
In September, topics included early applications and UCAS applications. The sessions were led by the College and Career Programs office offering College Clinics both on campuses and virtually on Saturday mornings. Counselors share schedules with their students to ensure broad access.
At ISG, helping students navigate the college application process and connecting them with university admissions representatives is a priority. These experiences empower students to make informed decisions about their higher education journeys.
Looking ahead, October will bring even more opportunities for our high school and senior school students to meet with visiting universities and continue preparing for their futures.
The University Events schedule is updated daily and can be found here.
ISG COMMUNITY
CPML SECOND COHORT
ISG successfully launched the second cohort of the COBIS Programme for Middle Leaders (CPML), welcoming 12 participants representing each ISG campus, focused on developing leadership capacity among our middle level leaders.
The three-day kickoff featured a welcome from Superintendent Rhonda Norris and closing remarks by Assistant Superintendent Jana Barnhouse. Facilitated sessions engaged participants in collaborative and reflective dialogue on change leadership, instructional practices and navigating difficult conversations. Participants shared that the experience expanded their thinking, introduced diverse perspectives from across the district and sparked new ideas for improving student success.
Over the course of the year, each participant will design and implement an action research project, to be shared with campus and central office leadership in the spring.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
We are pleased to share that a professional school photographer will be visiting our campuses the week after fall break to take individual headshots of our students and staff.
Families will also have the opportunity to order prints of their child’s photo. Each campus will provide its own schedule and additional details directly.
REMINDER: KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATED
In order to ensure families have valuable and timely information, please ensure that your personal contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses and emergency contacts, is up to date with ISG. Having accurate information allows us to communicate with you effectively and reach out to you timely for your children in the event of an emergency.
With the change to using personal email addresses as of August 1, you may need to provide contact updates to ISG. If so, please make any updates by reaching out to the campus office for your child at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
DATES TO REMEMBER
SAVE THE DATES
October 6: Virtual School Day
October 19 - 23: Fall break
SCHOOL UPDATES
Please see campus updates below.
You can also visit the campus social media pages to learn about the student experiences at ISG.
ISG Dammam
Celebrating International Day of Peace
This past week, in recognition of International Peace Day on September 21, Sara Village School held a meaningful assembly centered on the concept of peace.
Rather than just a simple acknowledgement, their time together focused on exploring tangible questions: "What is peace?", "What does peace look like?", “How do we already show peace?” and crucially, "How can we show peace even in moments of stress or anger?" The heart of the assembly was a student and staff-created mini-film, which offered personal expressions of what peace means to them and singing a peaceful song together.
The assembly left SVS students and staff with a clear, inspiring truth: peace begins here and now, in our day-to-day interactions. By nurturing this awareness, we are actively making our school, our community and the wider world a more harmonious place.
