Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students,
The Board has introduced our new Mission and Vision, and I share their excitement about what these guiding statements represent for the future of the FIS. They capture both who we are today and who we aspire to become together.
At the Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2026, I introduced our new Vision by inviting our graduates to “reimagine” not only what is possible in education, but also what is possible in life itself – to see success as purpose, leadership as service, and intelligence as something measured as much by how we treat others as by what we know. That message reflects exactly why I find our new Vision so inspiring. Reimagining what’s possible in education is not simply a slogan. It challenges us to remain curious, courageous and innovative, to question familiar ways of thinking, and to prepare our students for a future we cannot yet fully imagine.
Our new Mission deserves the same thoughtful reflection. A mission statement belongs to the whole community, and together we will fully continue unpacking its meaning during the coming school year. For now, I would like to share my first personal interpretation of its different elements.
To inspire our community of lifelong learners…
Learning does not end with graduation. We want our students to leave the FIS with a love of learning, curiosity and the confidence to continue growing throughout their lives. The same applies to us as educators and leaders. We must continue learning alongside our students.
…to grow through an engaging and challenging curriculum…
Growth comes when learning is meaningful, relevant and appropriately challenging. Our curriculum should spark curiosity, encourage collaboration, and connect learning to the world beyond the classroom. It should inspire students to think deeply, solve authentic problems and see both success and setbacks as valuable parts of the learning process.
…to thrive together in a welcoming and supportive environment…
Learning flourishes when people feel safe, valued and connected. We want every student to experience a true sense of belonging, every family to feel like a valued partner, and every member of staff to know they are trusted and supported. Together, we achieve more than any of us could alone.
…to boldly and joyfully meet the future.
The future will bring both challenges and opportunities. Our responsibility is to prepare students to embrace it with confidence, resilience and optimism. Boldly means having the courage to innovate, take thoughtful risks and learn from setbacks. Joyfully means looking to the future with curiosity, hope and excitement rather than fear – seeing change not as something to avoid, but as an opportunity to grow, contribute and make a positive difference.
The year ahead will bring another important conversation. During the next school year, we will work together as a community to develop a shared understanding of what High Quality Learning means at the FIS. Alongside this, we will define a Wellbeing Framework that defines what wellbeing means in our unique context. Together, these will become a cornerstone of our educational practice and an important foundation for our next accreditation and IB authorization cycle, which will be kicked-off in 2026/2027. Stay tuned – this exciting work is only just beginning.
As another successful school year draws to a close, I would like to thank every member of our school community. To our students, families, teachers, learning assistants, support staff and leadership team – thank you for your commitment, partnership and dedication. Together, you make the FIS the remarkable community it is.
The end of the school year also brings some farewells. We thank the colleagues who will be leaving the FIS this summer for their many contributions and wish them every success in the future. We will say good-bye to Ms. and Mr. Chambers, Ms. Nedeljkov, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Mata, Ms. Rizzello, Mr. Simpson, Ms. Spethmann, Ms. Munch, Ms. Moudud-Heyl, Ms. Ng, Ms. Nix, Ms. Zwettler, Ms. Garin Gabas and Ms. Lee. At the same time, I am pleased that we continue to enjoy exceptionally low staff turnover – a reflection of the strength and stability of our community.
We will share organizational information for the new school year during the week before classes begin.
Until then, I wish you and your families a restful, healthy and joyful summer. Enjoy time together, travel safely, recharge and return ready for another exciting year. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in August as we begin bringing our new Mission and Vision to life together. I am excited about all that lies ahead for the FIS, and I cannot wait to see what we will accomplish as a community.
Warm regards,
Petra Niemczyk
Head of School
