“A strong partnership between our parents and our school is the foundation for setting up the best learning environment and experience possible for our students” – Rami Madani, Head of School
At ISKL, we understand that every child is unique and learns differently. In any classroom, students come with varying levels of knowledge, skills, and understanding. We take a whole-child approach, providing academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support tailored to each student’s needs. Our goal is to ensure every student receives the necessary support, when they need it, for as long as they need it. This individualized support may last a few weeks, a semester, or longer, depending on the student’s needs.
Throughout the academic year, ISKL maximizes upon the possibilities of fostering a culture of inclusion that extends beyond the classroom. Through workshops, events, and initiatives there are endless opportunities for community members to share and grow upon their understanding of inclusion.
Whilst the focus on students’ well-being is paramount to our ethos, the parent experience is equally crucial in closing the circle of support that we offer. We believe that by creating a space for open dialogue, parents are better equipped to grasp the changing world our children are navigating and the role they play within it.
A Partnership with Parents
Empowering parents to actively participate in their child’s learning journey is key to fostering an inclusive and supportive community. Through a range of inclusive programs and workshops, parents are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to support their children at home, fostering a sense of belonging, equity, and collaboration. These opportunities help strengthen the essential bridge between school and family, ensuring that every child thrives in a supportive, inclusive environment.
The Head of School and Parents in Partnership Program is established to focus on the key topics related to student learning, consisting of sessions designed to strengthen the school-parent partnership to create the optimum student experience. Led by the Head of School, Mr Rami Madani, the workshops unpack ISKL’s school Vision and include strategies to create environments that foster safety, belonging, and identity as well as practical approaches to support equity and inclusion in the family and school community.
Nurturing Social and Emotional Well-Being
The connection between social and emotional learning and restorative practices is important: both help equip students with the skills to manage differences, conflict, and change, ultimately helping students thrive socially and emotionally. These are lifelong competencies that will ensure our students can successfully navigate the complexity of the communities they live in now and support their transition beyond ISKL to university and the workplace.
One such example is the Restorative Practices and Conflict Management workshop, offered in partnership with the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL). The session aimed to guide parents in resolving conflicts constructively whilst also encouraging open dialogue, accountability and a deeper understanding of valuing theirs and their children’s views. This workshop provided participants with the tools to prioritize their children’s social and emotional development over any external barriers.
Support from Classroom and Beyond
The school also provides opportunities for all grade group parents, whatever their child’s academic strengths and weaknesses, to be welcomed into their child’s learning environments, meet teachers whilst connecting with classroom experiences through the yearly Open House sessions. The school-wide Open Houses enable parents to gain an understanding of learning strategies and curriculum expectations and get a feeling for their children’s learning experience from Elementary all the way to High School.
As High School students pave their way towards life beyond ISKL, the support from teachers and parents alike requires a unified approach. The High School Parent Information Session enables families to connect on how best to support the adolescent in managing emotions and navigating their way through rigorous examinations as well as reviewing and embarking upon international university processes.
A Diverse Community
Contributing to society on a global level is central to ISKL’s ethos, setting a standard for all those who embark upon an education with us. Learning is centered around the differences that we all have which, however diverse, enables the unity of a network and empowers every member to feel a sense of inclusion.
The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Parent Coffee event explores the many benefits of multilingualism, how children’s progress is measured through effective strategies, developing language skills and the benefits of fostering multilingualism. Parents are informed more about the following communication platforms to retain them as useful tools at home:
- Seesaw & Google Classroom
- Translating Google Applications: Calendar, Docs, Gmail etc.
- PowerSchool: Accessing reports, attendance and bulletins
At ISKL, we are committed to continually finding ways to support our parent community, recognizing that a strong partnership between parents and the school is key to student success. Whether through leadership programs, workshops led by expert partners, or internal school initiatives, we ensure that parents have the tools and resources to support their children’s academic, social, and emotional development. Our inclusive approach ensures that no matter where a student is on their journey, they are provided with the resources and support they need to thrive.
Inclusion is just one of the many reasons why ISKL is the school of choice for families around the world. Discover more about what makes ISKL unique and how we provide a world of opportunities for every student here.
