Development Initiatives

The ISNS Development Initiatives are comprised of three distinct focus areas. During an accreditation cycle, the ISNS CIS Committees and leadership team will pick a set of initiatives and actions to be taken to ensure the development initiatives remains relevant and viable. Teachers use the initiatives to set professional goals as part of our evaluation system. The development initiatives are informed by feedback from the CIS and WASC visiting team.

The school publishes the initiatives to the greater school community, but does not publish the full plan in order to better communicate top priorities and the associated actions.

1. Use Whole-Child Data to Inform Teaching and Learning

  • Establish a documented schoolwide data cycle with dedicated time for reflection, collaborative analysis, and evidence-informed action.
  • Standardize academic and behavioral data collection and use across divisions.
  • Provide resources and professional learning to strengthen teachers’ data-analysis skills.
  • Equip teachers to access, interpret, and apply data to plan, implement, and evaluate responses to students’ academic, social-emotional, and language needs.

2. Strengthen Multilingual Students’ English Proficiency

  • Use systematic formative and summative assessments, data, and clear achievement targets to personalize learning and strengthen multilingual students’ English proficiency.
  • Provide culturally responsive instruction and language support to improve outcomes, develop intercultural competencies, and support transitions into, through, and beyond school.
  • Monitor and refine equitable learning support through student dialogue and feedback.
  • Communicate progress clearly to guardians to support language development and learning at home.

3. Build Digital Literacy for a Connected World

  • Strengthen digital literacy through purposeful technology use and healthy digital habits.
  • Implement an AI Usage Scale to establish shared expectations for AI use.
  • Provide student learning, staff professional development, and parent education to build confident, ethical, and effective technology and AI use.
  • Promote responsible digital choices that support learning, well-being, and digital citizenship.

Review and Revision of the Strategic Plan

  • The ISNS Development Initiatives must be driven by and in-line with the ISNS Mission and Vision
  • The ISNSDevelopment Initiativeswill be presented to the teaching faculty during faculty orientation at the start of each academic year.
  • A summary of the Development Initiatives will be posted on the ISNS Website for all members of the community access.
  • The Development Initiatives will be formally reviewed by the Senior Academic Leadership Team (Head of School, Principals, and IB Coordinators) in May of each academic year.
    • The Head of School and Director of Operations and Finance will review the Development Initiatives to ensure it is viable in order to ensure adequate funding and resources are available. Any additions to the plan may be added from the Operations side at this time. The budget for the coming academic year may, in part, be determined based up on the Development Initiatives.
    • The revised Development Initiatives will be shared with the entire staff via e-mail with the invitation to provide feedback to the Senior Leadership Team.
    • The revised Development Initiativeswill be shared with the Parent Association (PA) at a regular meeting in order for them to provide feedback.
  • The Development Initiatives will be presented to the Executive Director for approval following the annual revision.
  • Revisions to the Development Initiatives may be made as necessary at anytime throughout the academic year as work is undertaken that is related to the plan. If a revision changes the nature of the plan then approval should be obtained from the Senior Leadership Team and Executive Director. If a revision is clerical in nature or minor, then it does not need approval from the Executive Director. The Senior Leadership Team must be aware of any changes to the plan.
  • In September or October of each academic year the Senior Leadership Team will meet to analyze and review data and to determine whether or not appropriate progress is being made towards the goals outlined in the plan.

Vision, Mission and Values Review

A review of the ISNS Mission, Vision and Values (the school’s guiding statements) will be conducted every five years. (2015-16, 2020-21, 2025-26, etc.)

The ISNS Mission must align with the IB Mission per IB regulations.

Procedure for conducting a review of the guiding statements:

  1. The Senior Leadership Team will create and conduct a survey that is sent out to all ISNS stakeholder groups (students, teachers, staff, parents, leadership, and governance).   The survey will include value statements and key words that are perceived as important to the operation of the school in order to get feedback.
  2. The Senior Leadership Team will use the survey results to draft new guiding statements (or confirm the statements that are already in place).
  3. The draft statements will be sent to all stakeholders for feedback and approval.
  4. The Senior Leadership Team will revise the statements if necessary based on feedback from the stakeholders.
  5. The guiding statements will be submitted for final approval to the Executive Director.
  6. The new statements are implemented through marketing measures and schoolwide practices.

ISNS Mission

ISNS develops globally responsible and compassionate young people by encouraging them to become active and inquiring life-long learners within an intercultural community.

ISNS Vision

ISNS will be an inspirational force for young people to reach their full potential as successful, empowered citizens of the world.​

ISNS Core Beliefs

We believe:

  • In the worth of every student
  • In the excellence in all our work
  • In the tolerance for all people
  • In taking care of our world
  • In promoting international awareness

IB Mission  

The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

IB Learner Profile Attributes

  • Inquirers
  • Knowledgeable
  • Thinkers
  • Communicators
  • Principled
  • Open-Minded
  • Caring
  • Risk-takers
  • Balanced
  • Reflective

Survey Questions: 

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well does the ISNS Mission Statement match your core values?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well does the ISNS Mission Statement describe ISNS as a school?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how would you rate the alignment of the ISNS Mission Statement with the IB Mission Statement?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well does the ISNS Vision Statement match your core values?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well does the ISNS Vision Statement describe the direction you would like to see ISNS strive for as a school?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well do the ISNS Core Beliefs match your core beliefs?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well do the ISNS Core Beliefs align with the IB Learner Profile?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well do the ISNS guiding statements encourage students to become caring and responsible global citizens?

Do you feel the ISNS Mission Statement needs to be updated or changed at this time?   Yes or No

Do you feel the ISNS Vision Statement needs to be updated or changed at this time?  Yes or No

Do you feel the ISNS Core Beliefs need to be updated or changed at this time?  Yes or No

What do you feel the overall purpose of the school should be?

What goal do you feel the school should be striving towards?

What are the key values you believe ISNS should uphold?

What are the key words or phrases you believe should be included in the ISNS guiding statements?

Policy Review

Policies and procedures are updated as needed and reviewed on annual basis by the academic leadership team.

Accreditation

Next Preparatory/Preliminary Visit for IB, WASC and CIS – Fall 2026

Next Team Evaluation Visit for IB, WASC, and CIS – Fall 2027