Head of School's Blogs

New School Year Hopes

by William H. GERRITZ 1 August, 2011

Same Same But Different - a classic Thai expression - it is especially relevant at this time of year for ISB. The school looks about the same but there have been a number of changes. All 35 elementary school classrooms have new German cupboards. Combined with the German furniture installed earlier, the classrooms are aesthetically pleasing and way more functional. The school's newly purchased land has been chewed up by pile drivers as we prepare for building a new gymnasium, 50 meter pool and tennis courts. The list goes on. 

Our enrollment has climbed to an unexpected degree. We have the largest number of new students in at least 25 years. We have hired additional teachers so that our class sizes remain small. However, it will be a different scale of challenge to make sure these new students and parents feel welcomed to ISB and quickly feel part of our learning community.

At 6:50 AM on Monday, August 15, I will walk to ISB's front gate to welcome our students to a new school year.  I will greet hundreds of children arriving on foot, on bikes, or in vehicles. My grin will be the biggest of the year for I love this day.  The school has been empty and sad since I returned from my summer hiking trails in Colorado. Now the buildings will fill with excited and sometimes anxious students, eager to commence their new learning.   I know what awaits them - their teachers, their friends, their learning opportunities - and I am proud to be part of this school.

I will be thinking about the excellent teachers who are returning to ISB.  I have visited their classrooms, talked with their students, and know of their wonderful teaching.  I will also be anticipating visits to the classrooms of our 37 new teachers.  Each year more than 3, 000 teachers apply to work at ISB. We picked these 37 very carefully. I am a bit like a kid at Christmas wondering what delights are in the packages under the tree as I think about visiting their classrooms.

Finally, I have an additional, personal challenge this year, my eleventh and last at ISB. I have certain dreams for the school that I MUST see into reality before I leave.  More about these in my next blog.

Dr. G

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