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STRATEGICPLAN

2015-2020

EMPOWERING STUDENTS

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Empowering students to make a difference

with…

Education in Mind

Community in Heart

Success in Life

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Messagefromthe

BoardChairandDirector

inceitsfoundingin1992,theInternationalSchoolofUlaanbaatar(ISU)hasalwaysbeenthepremierschoolinMongoliaforthechildrenofforeignandMongolianfamilieslivinginUlaanbaatarseekinganauthenticinternationaleducation.

Withchildrenfromover25countriesinPre-kindergartentoGrade12andfacultyfromover15countriesteachingthehighlyrecognizedInternationalBaccalaureateprogramme,theethosofinternationalmindednessisdeeplyinterwovenwithinthefabricofourschool.Westrivetoempowerourstudentstomakeadifference,locallyandglobally–tounderstand,torespectandtocare.Ourschoolfacilities,designedbyinternationalschoolarchitectsfromBostonandconstructedbythe Japanese builders, Suruga-Mongol LLC, provide our students first-class learning spacesincluding3gymnasiums,2libraries,a25m6-laneswimmingpool,650seattheatre,andmanyspecializedlaboratories,visualandperformingartsstudios,anddesigntechnologyworkshops.Four artificially turfed sports fields and outdoor play and recreational structures for theyoungest children allow our students to play games and sports under the bright sun of thegloriousMongolianblueskies.In2015,theBoardofTrusteesledtheISUcommunityinthecreationofanewstrategicplantocarryourmissionforward–tosetgoalsthatwillextendtheschool’svisionoverthenextfiveyearswhilestayingtruetothecorevaluesandeducationalphilosophyofourschool.Sixgoalswereidentified,eachoneofwhichisfocusedonISUdoingthebestitcantohelpourstudentsachieveattheirbestpersonallevelsacademically,toexhibitthecharacteristicsofinternationalmindednessandproductivecitizenshipintheirlocalandglobalcommunities,andtoexperiencesuccessinhigherlearningandthroughouttheirlives.

Dr.SahaMeyanathan RobertStearnsChair,BoardofTrustees Director

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GUIDINGCOREVALUES

ISU’scorevaluesarethefoundationforourprioritiesandservetoholdusaccountabletoourselvesandourcommunity.Webelievethat:

§ Educationisthesharedresponsibilityofallmembersoftheschoolcommunity–parents,teachers,staffandstudents.

§ Awell-roundededucationbalancestheacademic,physical,socialandemotionaldevelopmentofstudentswhileaccountingfortheiruniquetalentsandabilities.

§ A balanced education provides students with the tools, confidence andmotivation to excel in the face of challenge, and orients them toward postsecondaryandlife-longlearning.

§ A learning environment that provides students a sense of belonging andindividualworthencouragesmutualrespectandfosterscharacterdevelopment.

§ An international school is enriched by the relationship with its host country,whichservesasanimportantresourceforstrengtheningthelearningexperience.

§ Amulticulturalenvironmentenablesabroaderworldviewandaffordsstudentstheopportunitytodevelopanunderstandingandappreciationofdiversity.

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EDUCATIONALPHILOSOPHY

ISU provides a balanced educational programme that is guided by the InternationalBaccalaureate (IB) and includes four areas in which ISU students are expected todemonstrate success and growth. Our programmes and practices are motivated by oureducationalphilosophy.

AcademicsISU provides education and inspiration for students based on the IBprogramme.Wefoster intrinsicdisciplinetopursueexcellenceinmeetingthe high levels of the IB standards. Our students enjoy a positive,supportiveandvibrantenvironmentinwhichtogrow,learnandflourish.Itisouraimtoassisteachstudent to fulfilhisorherownuniquepotentialacquiring the skills andattitudes thatprovidea foundation for success inhigherlearningandinlife.

VisualandPerformingArtsParticipation in thevisual andperformingarts is expectedof all studentsfromPre-kindergartentoGrade12.ISUoffersmusic,dramaandvisualartsas distinct academic courses, and orchestra, choir and various othercreative arts performances and exhibitions as options within our co-curricularprogramme.

SportsandAthleticsStudentsareencouragedtobethebesttheycanbeincompetitivesportswithemphasisplacedoneffortandparticipation.Excellenceresidesinthedevelopmentofeachstudent’spotential.ISUcompeteswithbothgirl’sandboy’s teams in the Association of Chinese and Mongolian InternationalSchools leaague and UB volleyball, basketball and soccer interscholastictournaments. In our co-curricular programme, ISU offers a variety ofrecreational sports including table tennis, karate,dance,yoga, ice skatingandotherpopulargamesandactivities.

InternationalMindednessandCitizenshipBasedon the ten characteristics of the IB Learner Profile, ISU provides anurturingenvironmentinwhichstudentsbecomeknowledgeable,inquiringlearnerswhodevelopintocaring,principledandopen-mindedindividuals.Students are expected to meet high standards of character and dailybehaviour,andstriveforcourtesy,tolerance,perseverance,andanethicofhardwork, reflective self-discipline, honesty and commitment to service.We strive to provide a learning environment in which the skills andattitudes of global citizenship and community responsibility are refined,promoted, and practised. (See page 15 for our ISU community-createddefinitionandexplanationofinternationalmindedness.)

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ISUMISSION

Ourmissiondefinesthepurposeofourschool.InpartnershipwiththeISUcommunity,weaimto:

Achieveexcellenceinallthatwedotoinspiretheuniquepotentialofourstudentsto

contributeandthriveinaglobalsociety.

ISUVISION

Thevisionweholdforourschoolprovidesustheguidanceandinspirationtofocusonwhatwearestrivingtooffertoourstudents.

DrawingonMongolia’suniqueculturalheritageandenvironment,ISUoffersaworldclassinternationaleducationto

preparestudentsforhigherlearningandforlife.

Weaccomplishourmissionandstaytruetoourvisionby:v providingexcellenceintheacademicsofinternationaleducationv encouragingtheuniquepotentialofeachofourstudentsv investinginaholisticeducationalexperiencethatempowersstudentstobecome

criticalthinkersandlife-longlearnersv inspiringourstudentstodevelopinternationalmindedness,learningdeeply

abouttheirhostcountryandappreciatingtheculturaldiversityofthepeoplearoundthem

v becomingactivelyinvolvedinourlocalMongoliancommunityandthewiderregionalandglobalcommunities

v practisinglifestylehabitsthathelpsustainournaturalenvironmentv

STRATEGICPLANNING

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Foranyorganization,beitabank,aminingcompany,anembassyoraschool-tocontinuetobesuccessfulandtobuildfurtheronthatsuccess,carefulandthoughtfulplanningisrequired–shorttermplanningfortheneartermpresentandlongtermplanningforalesscertainfuture.

Tocontinuethestrategicplanningbeganin2010,theISUcommunitylastyearonceagaincametogethertolookforwardforthenextfiveyear,ledbyaninternationalschoolconsultantandplanningexpert.Withhisguidance,thecommunityusedavarietyofmeanstoobtainvariouseconomic,educational,andsocialdataaswellaslocalandwidercommunityinputtoidentifyimportantissuesforISUoverthenextseveralyears.

Then,withtheconsultant’sguidance,ourISUcommunityaddresseditselftothequestion:

“WhatshouldISUkeepondoingandhowfurthershouldISUchangewhatitdoestoaddressimportantissuesitfacesnowandwillbefacinginthelongertermfuture–allthewhilestayingtruetoitscorevaluesandeducationalphilosophy?”

Inansweringthatquestionoverseveralmonthsofresearch,collaborativediscussionandconsensusbuilding,theISUcommunitydeterminedsixdifferent,butcloselyrelatedgoals.Thesearepresentedinthepagesfollowingalongwithsomeofthekeyindicatorsthatwillhelpusdetermineifandwheneachgoalisrealized.

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GOAL:ACADEMICACHIEVEMENT

Tocontinuetoincreaseourstudents’academicachievementatallgradelevels.

Wewillknowthatweareachievingourgoalwhen:

ü ourstudents’successratesintheirIBProgrammesareincreasingwithkeyassessmentssuchasPYPExhibition,MYPPersonalProject,MYPCertificateresultsandfinalIBDiplomaexamresults.

ü ourstudentsarecontinuouslyachievingtheirpersonalbestontheacademicassessmentsgivenbytheirteachers.

ü ourstudentsareperformingatacceptablelevelsoninternationalstandardizedtestssuchas:

Ø theMeasuresofAcademicPerformance(MAP)on-lineassessmentsthatareadministeredinGrades3to10atthebeginningandendoftheschoolyear;

Ø thePMBenchmarksassessmentswhichareadministeredatthebeginningoftheschoolyearinGradesKto5,

Ø theWritingContinuumassessmentswhichareadministeredthroughouttheyearinGradesPre-Kindergartento5;

Ø theWIDAlanguagedevelopmentassessmentswhichareadministeredasappropriatetoEALlearnersinGrades1to12;

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GOAL:STUDENTSUPPORT

To provide the support structures to help our studentsincrease theirmotivation and capacity for success in schoolandlife.

Wewillknowthatweareachievingourgoalwhen:

studentsupportprogrammesatISUhavebeendevelopedthatclearlydemonstrate…

ü anincreaseinstudentmotivationatallgradelevels.

ü ourstudentsareacquiringpersonalqualitiesthatstrengthentheirabilitytocopewiththechallengesofschoolandwillenhancetheirprogressthroughoutlife.

Supportingourstudents…

• focusonpersonalisedlearningwiththestudentsseekingoutchallengeinlearningconnectedwiththeirowninterests,talentsandaspirations;

• provisionofdifferentiatedandindividualisedteacherinstructionandlearningopportunities

• provisionofEnglishlanguageandmothertonguelanguagesupport

• accesstoastronguniversityplacementservice

• useofcurrentandemergingtechnologiesforlearning

• aclearlydefinedapproachtoexpectationsandmanagementofstudentbehavior

• integrationofexperientiallearningatalllevelsinmanydifferentways–oncampusandoffcampus

StudentSupport

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GOAL:ICTINTEGRATION

To continue to integrate purposeful and effective use ofinformation and communications technology (ICT) across allcurricularareas.

Wewillknowthatweareachievingourgoalwhen:

ü theintegrationofICTiswell-plannedandbalancedacrossallthreeIBprogrammesandatallgradelevelsandisconsistentwiththewholechildapproachtostudentlearningatISU.

ü studentsareusingICTpurposefully,acceptablyandappropriatelyintheiracademicwork.

ü studentsareusingICTintherightwaysforcommunication,socialandself-managementskills.

AtISUwebelievethatstudentsmustlearnhowtouseinformationandcommunicationstechnologycompetently,safelyandrespectfullyasapartoftheirlearningprocess.Thepracticeofsharedcommunityandprotectionoftheintellectualpropertyareimportantprinciplesforourstudentstoknowandfollow.

ICTIntegration

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GOAL:PARENT&STUDENTENGAGEMENT

ToincreaseparentandstudentengagementwithandsupportofISU and all that it does by helping them gain a deeperunderstandingofISU’scorevaluesanditsIBprogrammes.

We will know that we are achieving ourgoalwhen:

ü studentsandparentsshowbywayofsurveysandothermeansthattheyhavemoreknowledgeofISU’sthreeIBprogrammesandofthecorevaluesoftheschool.

ü studentsandparentsdemonstratethroughtheirownactionsthattheysupportofthecorevaluesofISUandtheIBprogrammes.

ü parentsaremoreengagedinsupportingtheirchild’slearningatISU.

Asaninternationalschool,ISUisaplaceofpartnershipandfriendship;anextensionoffamilyandhome.AtISUweregardeducationasthesharedresponsibilityofparents,teachers,staffandstudents.Weallworktogethertosupportthechildren’slearning,towardsinspiringtheiruniquepotential,towardspreparingthemforhigherlearning,contributingtoandthrivinginourlocalcommunityandglobalsociety.

Therefore,itisvitalthatweallunderstandandsupportthecorevaluesofISUandthecorevaluesoftheInternationalBaccalaureate.ThesearethefoundationofISU’seducationprogramme.Understandingthesewillpromotemeaningfulandbeneficialparentengagementwiththeirchild’slearningatISU.

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GOAL:COMMUNITYRELATIONSHIPS

Tocontinuetobuild,supportandcelebratemutuallybeneficialactivities and relationships between ISU and the widerMongolianandinternationalcommunities.

Wewillknowthatweareachievingourgoalwhen:

ü staff,students,andparentsknowmoreaboutISU’smanycommunityprojectsandoutreachactivities.

ü ISU’scommunityprojectsandoutreachactivitiesaremeetingtheneedsofteachers,studentsandparentsaswellastheneedsofthecommunity.

ü communityactivitiesandrelationshipsthataremutuallybeneficialarebuiltupwhereasthosethatarenotareremoved.

AtISUwebelievethateachofussharesresponsibilityfortheworldaroundus.Wethereforefosteravibrantandconnectedschoolcommunitywhereinvolvementinthelocal,regionalandglobalcommunities–theirpeoples,institutionsandnaturalenvironmentsprovidemutuallybeneficialopportunitiesforourstudents’learningaboutactionandserviceandaboutthemselvesandtheirplaceintheircommunityandtheworld.

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GOAL:MARKETING&ENROLMENT

To significantly increase the school’s enrolment by developingand implementing a marketing plan that promotes the ISU’suniqueness,excellence,andinternationalcharacter.

Wewillknowthatweareachievingourgoalwhen:

ü acomprehensive,budgetedmarketingplanhasbeendevelopedandisbeingimplemented.

ü ISUisimprovingyearonyearoveritsbrandimagetracking.

ü ISUenrolmentisincreasinguntilitreachesfullcapacity.

OurISUcampusexpansion,finishedinAug2016,allowsanenrolmentofover600students.Withitsdouble-sizedgymnasium,largeindoorrockclimbingwall;6-lane25mswimmingpool,theatrewithstateoftheartsoundandlighting;choirandbandstudios;wetanddryvisualartsstudios,designtechnologyworkshopswithCAD/CAMfeatures,sciencelaboratoriesandadjoininggreenhouse,atwo-floorlibraryandfouroutdoorplayingfieldswithartificialturf,ISUoffersaschoolcampuswithsuperiorlearningfacilitiesthatareuniquetoMongolia.

Ouruniquenessextendsbeyondourfacilitiesandintotheveryessenceofwhatisaninternationalschool.Withover30nationalitiesamongstthestudentsandstaffandaprogrammeandphilosophycentredoninternationalmindedness;withaccreditationbytheworld-recognisedCouncilofInternationalSchoolsandtheAmerican-basedNewEnglandAssociationofSchoolsandColleges,ISUinuniqueinbeingauthenticallyinternationalincharacterandpurpose.

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InternationalMindedness •tounderstand •torespect •tocare

InternationalMindednessatISUfostersanunderstandingandrespectforthediversityofhumanexperienceandthesignificanceofour

naturalworld.Itdevelopsaglobalcitizenshipmanifestedbycaringforothersandtheenvironment.

Itstimulatesempathybyencouraginginteractionandengagementwithpeopleofvaryingtraditions,practicesandhistories.

Itinspiresintellectualgrowthbylearningandteachingtheaccomplishments,messagesandvaluesofdistinctpopulations.

Itpromotescommunicationskillstoidentify,explainandachievethegoalsofcommunitiesandcultures.

Itdevelopsopen-mindednesswithoutabandoninguniversalprinciplesofjusticeandequality.

Itstrengthensprideinone’sownculturewhilebolsteringunderstanding,respectandesteemforothers.