HoneyKids had a chat with Ying Ji and Luca Destefanis about their experience at ISS. They spill on why they're so happy with their choice.
If you’re looking for a school with a smaller, nurturing community, look no further than ISS International School. Because of its size, students are able to foster strong relationships with their peers and teachers – students always feel safe, welcome and included. For Ying Ji and Luca Destefanis, this, among many other reasons, is why they feel that their family made a great choice by enrolling their daughter Celine at ISS International School. Here’s what else they had to say…
Hi Ying Ji and Luca, tell us more about your initial experience at ISS International School
Our daughter Celine has been at the school for almost three years now and we couldn’t be happier, just like the students we see at ISS. I visited a few international schools before settling on ISS International School and I remember how happy and cheerful the students were. The teacher who showed us around knew everyone’s names and the students were very excited to see her. This was a sign that Celine would love the school and feel supported.
Although the campus isn’t big, it has everything a child needs – an art room, music room, library and playground. We love the fact that the campus is surrounded by gorgeous nature.
Has the school lived up to your expectations?
We feel like deciding on ISS was the best thing for our family. We see how excited Celine is to go to school every morning. She’s had great grades and made lots of good friends at school. As parents, that’s all we want!
What sort of curriculum does ISS International School offer?
The school offers PYP or IB. As expats, we wanted a curriculum that was easily accepted in any country, which is why we settled on IB. We also love that IB/PYP teaches children to be open-minded, to be global citizens and risk takers. One time, Celine came home and told us that she had given a speech in a school assembly and how proud she was of that accomplishment. She said that even if it was very challenging, she wanted to take a risk anyway and get on stage and give the speech. As parents, we’re glad that she’s adapting these values into her daily life.
Do you have any advice for parents trying to choose a school?
Every child is different, so you’ll need to consider their personality, social skills and interests. You’ll need to take them with you on a school visit so that they can help you with the final decision.
Are you satisfied with the level of communication you receive from the school and how they engage parents?
Yes! We receive letters from the school every week. When Celine was in the second grade, her homeroom teacher, Ms Claire Park, sent us photos every week. It was really helpful when we were still new to the school – we could see what she was up to!
Thank you Yi Jing and Luca!
This post is in partnership with ISS.