ISU Primary Handbook

DIRECTOR'S WELCOME

Greetings!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the entire school community here at the International School of Ulaanbaatar. This year will mark ISU’s 31st year of operation.

About ISU

The International School of Ulaanbaatar is an IB World school providing the Primary Years’ Programme, the Middle Years’ Programme and the Diploma Programme to a diverse community of more than 30 nationalities. These programmes challenge children to question the world around them, to listen and deliberate on the information they are presented with, and to reflect on their own methods of analysis and situational biases. Students of these programmes become more rigorous in their thinking, more open-minded about the many possible perspectives one might have on issues and subject areas and more connected to the world through the topics of their learning.

We are committed to meeting the needs of the whole child, which means recognizing and speaking to their unique learning styles and their interests – providing them with distinct opportunities to connect with their studies, their classmates and the broader world around them.

One critical aspect of this is our co-curricular activities (CCAs) programme. This programme is designed to offer an array of events and activities which nurture the strengths and passions of your child and further develop areas of inexperience and unfamiliarity. A well-rounded CCA programme is a very important part of a balanced education.

Effective education involves a partnership and an alignment between the school and the home. To that end we welcome parental involvement in school life. We work hard to ensure that our channels of communication convey what the school and the parents most want to know about a child’s learning and well-being. Parents also serve on our Board of Trustees—a crucial entity which stewards the school in the realization of its mission and vision. And we have a warm and committed Parent Teacher Group (PTG) which we encourage all parents to join. It provides an introduction for newly-arrived families, and serves as an ongoing bridge between the goals of the school and its community.

I look forward once again to working closely with our students, our families and the broader Mongolian community this year. Please feel free to reach out at any time to share your questions and concerns, to find out ways of getting more involved, or just to chat.

Warm regards,

Mr. Bill Elman, Director

HEAD OF PRIMARY'S WELCOME

Welcome to the 2023/24 school year!

Together, we provide an inquiry based programme for children aged 3-12. The Primary School at the International School of Ulaanbaatar is committed to personalizing social and emotional wellbeing as well as nurturing the academic growth of each student. At the center of what we do is our commitment to wellbeing, which is captured in our motto (3 cornerstones): 

Community in Heart; Learning in Mind; Fulfillment in Life 

I am pleased to work alongside a team of professionals who are passionate, experienced and qualified. One of the most important parts of our school day is receiving your child and ensuring that she/he begins with a meaningful learning relationship. From here, we work to intertwine social and emotional wellbeing with personalized academic challenges. We know that a child's social/emotional development is just as important as academic growth; that a healthy and active lifestyle is essential to support development. Our programme reflects these beliefs by engaging your child/ren in a range of experiences that allow them to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are essential for future learning and success.

Your contribution and partnership with the school has always been essential to the health of your child’s learning. This year it will be important to continue this practice. There are many direct and indirect ways to get involved in school life. This may be through field trips, classroom activities or with our Parent Teacher Group (PTG). As the year gets underway, look out for opportunities to participate in the ISU community. We welcome your participation.   

Reciprocal communication between home and school is one of the foundations of a healthy school experience. Throughout the year we will be offering parent workshops on a variety of aspects related to learning and to child development. In addition to attending these sessions, we will also seek out your feedback on how your child is experiencing school. Communication with parents will be through your child/ren's classroom portal (either Storypark for PreKindergarten to Grade 1 or Seesaw for Grade 2 to Grade 5). Information can also be accessed through the 'Medee' which is the school newsletter and Managebac for report cards.  Please check these regularly as they will help you to stay up to date with what is happening at school - both on a general level as well as on a personal level with each child.

Finally, our purpose-built campus offers a variety of learning spaces that are vibrant and engaging, designed to support learning in all its various forms. Additionally, facilities such as a swimming pool, the Primary Library, the cafeteria, the Primary gymnasium and a rock climbing wall extend the rich learning experiences that children have here.  

We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to working with you.

Colin Powell, Head of Primary