Principal's Message
Dear Friends of ISB,
Thank you for finding and logging on to the ISB web site. I hope that during your perusal of its different areas, you will be able to get a feel for what makes this such a special school. People often ask me, ‘What is an International school?’ and I have to admit that it is not an easy question to answer. Like many things in education, the definition of an international school is being continually redefined as schools around the world develop to serve the ever-growing number of internationally mobile families, but I will do my best to give what I believe lies at its heart.
To begin with, the number of nationalities at such schools is large and the amount of time that families will stay in any one place is often quite short. This means that central to all that we do, is the understanding that we must prepare our students to be able to integrate into their new life anywhere around the world. Not only must they be able to integrate academically, but socially, emotionally, and with the ability to celebrate and enjoy the cultural differences that make our lives so much richer. Whether through the school’s written curriculum, its ‘unwritten’ curriculum, the Code of Conduct or its Mission Statement and Philosophy, it all must be aimed towards our future ‘global citizens’.
Central to any school is its curriculum. It forms the basis of what goes on in and out of the classroom but, to be truly effective, it has to be much more than just a list of targets. Here at ISB, we see the curriculum as being divided into three areas: what we want to achieve (the written curriculum); how we need to have good planning and classroom practice to make sure this happens (the taught curriculum), and lastly how we are to assess whether we have reached our targets and how any improvements can be made for the future (the learned curriculum). Only by doing this can we begin to fulfil our goal of providing students with what they need for their future. Curriculum development is a continuous process, always ensuring that it reflects the needs of the students and making the most of any new educational opportunities.
The International School of Busan is a not-for-profit school being run by a volunteer Board of Governors made up of qualified parents and members of the community. I am very pleased to be able to work alongside a team of dedicated and experienced people who have the welfare of the children as their one goal. Believe me, they have big plans for ISB in the future. Two years ago we opened our new Early Learning Centre (ELC), specially set up for our youngest members. This move enabled us to provide larger specialist facilities in the main school with a new art room, design technology room, music room with separate practice rooms and an enlarged science lab. Last summer, we added a new building for design technology and the social studies classrooms. This year, we will be increasing our teaching staff by almost 30% in order to widen the opportunities available to the students. It really is a school where children come first.
We are an IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11 and 12. This is preceded by the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) syllabus from the University of Cambridge for Grades 9 and 10. For the Elementary School, we are one of only two schools in Korea that have achieved authorisation to offer the IB Primary Years Programme. By setting ourselves the goal of providing the best level of international education, I am confident that we are providing a quality education with quality facilities. It is a broad curriculum that allows students to move easily around the world and to complete their studies at top quality universities around the world.
At various times, I have heard people describe ISB as, ‘the friendly school’, a ‘family school’ and a ‘welcoming school’. To have a situation where the children want to come to school, where there is a positive atmosphere and where everyone is looking towards the future can only be for the best. If we as educators are to ensure that the children achieve their full potential, then the school has to be open to the parents, the community and all those who can help to give the widest possible experiences to the children.
As you look through our web page, I hope that this message comes across. Please, if you have any further questions or queries, do not hesitate to call the school or email us at isbusan@isbusan.org