Page 4 - FIS World JUne 2024

Shaping a Bright Future
Collaboration and shared vision lies at the heart of FIS strategic planning
Connected to our school’s Mission is the belief that “Education of the highest standard is a shared responsibility of students, family and school.” In May, students, colleagues,
parents and members of our leadership team put that belief into practice as they gathered for our annual Strategic Planning Day to help further shape the future of our school.
While there are many examples of how various groups from within our community come together to focus on a specific initiative, I cannot think of another gathering that better captures every single stakeholder at FIS. From students and parents from both campuses, colleagues from across divisions and members of our Board of Trustees, we were all gathered in the same space with a shared goal. The planning session is an inclusive event where everyone has a voice – every perspective is valued and every idea considered. It truly is more than a meeting, it's a celebration of our collective vision and collaboration.
FIS isn’t just a physical space – we are a community united by the common goal of creating the best possible learning experience for our students.
At the heart of our Strategic Planning Day is the task of building upon the roadmap we have created for FIS. Through breakout sessions and interactive activities, participants worked in teams to identify and evaluate key priorities connected to
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the eight current strategic impacts for our school, ranging from language acquisition to sustainability, to wellbeing and artificial intelligence (AI). Throughout the pages of this issue of FIS World, you will see how many of these impacts are interwoven within the makeup of our school’s ecosystem.
For me, one of the most invigorating aspects of these planning sessions is witnessing both the commitment and creativity of participants. There is a shared sense of purpose within the discussions and a reminder that FIS isn’t just a physical space – we are a community united by the common goal of creating the best possible learning experience for our students.
What traditionally emerges from these sessions is a vision that reflects the diverse perspectives and aspirations of our community. May’s planning session was no different. Participants prioritized impacts that focus on sustainability, cultivate critical thinking skills and creativity, and embrace diversity.
Just as the educational landscape is constantly evolving, so too is our Strategic Plan. Our planning sessions are intended to be a work in progress, conversations to generate new ideas and inform our decision-making processes, all with the understanding that the wants and needs of our school community are fluid.
What remains constant, however, is the way we demonstrate our commitment to the continuous improvement of excellence at FIS – and that together, we are shaping a bright future for our students and our community.
Dr. Paul M. Fochtman Head of School