PARENT ANNOUNCEMENT (30)
APRIL 2, 2026
SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your ongoing engagement, partnership and feedback. Your views have been invaluable and continue to inform leadership’s decision making. We appreciate the feedback that has been received in the recent surveys of our parent community. We understand that the preference is for our students to be engaged in on-campus learning. ISG also recognizes that on-campus is the most effective learning model when it is safe to be on campus. We are considering campus specific feedback both for teacher availability and family preference for learning approach.
We want to be sure to share that we are reading all feedback being provided and when time is limited, we are responding generally so you know we have received your feedback and that the feedback is being considered. However, responding with individual emails is only possible as time permits. We pride ourselves on personalized responses to our community. However, at this time, there are many competing focus areas for leadership and our priority of safety for students and staff alongside the highest quality learning. Thank you for understanding and know that we hear you and your feedback is valued.
ISG is receiving a range of ideas and approaches and ISG is not in a position to consider, integrate and/or implement all of these. Please know that our goal is to balance safety with continuity of learning. ISG continues to consider local, regional and international resources. In addition, we regularly engage with and/or monitor the valuable U.S. Consulate-shared information in regards to risk levels to be considered in the Eastern Province.
Some parents have asked questions about ISG decision making and why we might be making different decisions than other schools in the Kingdom. There are several different areas that distinguish ISG: our international demographics, our campus size at each location, our organizational structure, our affiliations and our location.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
2026 ISG GRADUATION CEREMONIES
There have been inquiries about whether there are any changes in graduation ceremonies.
There are no plans to change these ceremonies. All of the dates are in June 2026 and ISG is still planning to hold the ceremonies on campus. We will begin contingency discussions shortly in the event that the regional conflict creates challenges in safety that cannot be mitigated. We will keep parents updated.
As a reminder here are the graduation dates for this year:
June 4 - ASD Graduation
June 6 - BSD Graduation
June 8 - ISG Jubail Graduation
June 9 - BSD Leavers Ceremony
June 11 - ISG Dammam Graduation
June 11 - SVS Leavers Ceremony
RE-ENROLLMENT EXTENSION
As you are aware, the re-enrollment deadline for the 2026-27 school year was March 31, 2026.We recognize the challenging circumstances that some families may be navigating or needing more time to confirm decisions for the coming school year. Given that, we will extend the re-enrollment deadline to April 11 and issue the respective invoices after this date.
Our goal is to provide families with a little extra flexibility, while continuing to support thoughtful and well-informed planning for the year ahead. We hope this extension is helpful and gives the time needed.
As you consider your situation, please ensure you are coordinating with our Enrollment Team at enrollment@isg.edu.sa. ISG looks forward to continuing to partner with your family in the learning for your children and we want to understand your family’s potentially unique situation.
REMINDER FROM THE SAUDI MINISTRY OF INTERIOR REGARDING POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Ministry has directed that individuals refrain from photographing or broadcasting footage related to missile interceptions or security operations, in order to prevent unnecessary concern and the circulation of inaccurate information. Social media platforms are being monitored accordingly. We encourage individuals to also not post on social media in ways that could be viewed as disrespectful to the significance of the current situation for individuals and countries in the region.
As a community, we encourage all families and staff to rely on official sources for information and to exercise responsibility and discretion when using social media. Our priority remains the safety of our students, employees and families, and we are grateful for your cooperation and understanding.
LEARNING AT ISG
VIRTUAL LEARNING AT ISG THIS WEEK
During this week’s virtual learning, our principals took the opportunity to visit a number of online classrooms, connecting with both students and teachers in real time. These virtual walkthroughs are an important part of maintaining the quality and consistency of learning, regardless of the setting.
During their visits, principals observed student engagement, the clarity of instruction and how effectively digital tools were being used to support learning. They also looked at how teachers foster interaction and create a positive and inclusive virtual environment.
These moments provide valuable insight into what is working well and where additional support may be beneficial, while also giving principals the chance to celebrate strong teaching practices and student participation.
Even in a virtual setting, our focus remains on ensuring meaningful, high-quality learning experiences for every student while staying connected as a school community.
Some highlights from virtual learning this week included:
At ASD:
Student engagement in technology-rich projects involving coding, designing, producing music and showcasing impressive creativity
Class sessions often began with highly creative prompts utilizing instant polls, “guess the object” challenges, or quick-write or design challenges
Skillfully guided exam preparation and review through thoughtful questioning, prompting deep analysis and equally compelling student contributions
Student-developed physical training plans and artistic expression through improv and artistic creations
Read-alouds, counseling sessions and grade-level transitions continued seamlessly
Staff connected through "virtual coffee gatherings" and other platforms to share strategies, tips and tricks for engagement in virtual learning
BSD Primary
Lots of student voice in lessons each day - sharing work, giving persuasive speeches, collaborating in small groups and delivering presentations
Students engaged in creative Pobble writing around mythical creatures in Year 4 learning support lessons
Staying active in PE lessons across all year groups - jumping jacks, push ups, mountain climbers and jogging to name a few exercises
Students in all year groups worked collaboratively to solve sudoku puzzles
BSD Senior School
BSD counsellor supporting our students with check-ins and useful tips on our Wild Wisdom Google Classroom. Year 7 students enjoyed socially connecting and discussing how to maintain a healthy balance with device use after online learning. Students shared simple, practical ideas for switching off, including spending time outdoors, engaging in hobbies and connecting with family online.
Year 10 - purposeful and engaged in break out rooms during ICT
Year 9 working very well, focused and cameras on with no need for reminders
Exam classes - the majority of syllabi have been completed and teachers are preparing them for exam question techniques and revision.
Year 12 A level Biology - worked very well in breakout rooms to prepare for a short presentation on components of blood. They all presented well too.
Year 8 students were mentioned by several teachers as being fully engaged, having excellent behavior and interaction.
A level PE Year 13 preparing for exams. The lesson began with an interactive Mentimeter word association activity, which encouraged students to recall and apply key terminology from the previous topic. The lesson then introduced the concept of sporting deviance through a fun, game-based activity where students answered multiple-choice questions to progress through levels and ultimately unlock a secret code, maintaining high levels of motivation and participation. Students were then guided into deeper thinking through paired work, using a pre-prepared document to collaboratively respond to a 15-mark exam question focused on analysing performance-enhancing drugs in sport. This task supported the development of assessment objectives, particularly analytical skills. The session concluded with exit tickets, allowing for reflection and consolidation of learning. Overall, the lesson was highly interactive with strong opportunities for collaboration, engagement and critical thinking.
SVS
Year 6 students engaged in a science project and produced some fantastic descriptive writing.
Well done to Keira, Archie, Sara, Saim, Jenson and Menaal whose animation and coding entries were sent to the COBIS time travels digital competition. Their entries were imaginative and well thought through and they worked diligently on them.
Instructional assistants have been joining live lessons and learning support sessions to help support teachers.
At ISG Dammam:
Attendance rates across the observed classes this week were consistently high, approaching maximum capacity.
Overall, instructional sessions were highly engaging, with teachers employing diverse strategies to foster student connection and assess comprehension. These methods encompassed Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) content, the utilization of breakout rooms and small groups, interactive digital platforms and varied instructional formats.
The implementation of small-group instruction proved effective, resulting in heightened student engagement and enabling teachers to deliver more focused and tailored support.
At ISG Jubail:
Teachers created warm, structured virtual environments through morning meetings, closing circles, read-alouds, songs, reflection and consistent daily routines that helped students feel connected and supported.
Strong use of small-group instruction was evident across grade levels, allowing teachers to provide targeted support in literacy, math, inquiry and intervention-focused learning.
In KG1, Story Workshop gave students creative ways to express their thinking through drawing, painting, building, movement and storytelling, with breakout groups used for sharing and discussion.
Grade 1’s new Friendship Interest Groups created meaningful opportunities for students to connect socially around shared interests such as creating, talking, building, reading and playing together. These Friendship Interest Groups were developed in response to student voice, especially students sharing how much they miss their classmates and everyday social interaction at school.
Grade 2 teachers used clear daily learning plans, morning meetings, songs and engaging routines to support both academic growth and student connection.
In Grade 4, students participated in live literacy and math lessons, specialist classes, individual and small-group conferences and independent “must do/could do” tasks that supported both structure and choice.
Across classrooms, students were given a mix of live instruction, breakout rooms, independent practice and offline brain breaks, helping to maintain engagement while managing screen time.
Teachers continued to provide opportunities for student reflection, collaboration and ownership, with students sharing feedback on what helps them learn best in the virtual setting.
ISG Jubail’s focus on Open-Mindedness as the April Profile of Graduates value was woven into learning experiences, with Grade 1, Grade 2 and Specials helping lead this work through discussion, collaboration and reflection.
The Peer Support Club, led by Ms. Jordaan, created an online wellbeing resource to support students in navigating stress, uncertainty and challenging emotions.
ISG Jubail’s Eco-Club remained active in virtual learning by developing an Environmental Story Read-Aloud Library, combining literacy, student leadership and sustainability education.
