International Mindedness

Dear Parents,

I am just closing down the school year in my current school in Belgium and I am very much looking forward to relocating to Doha and joining SISQ in August.

I have chosen the theme of promoting international mindedness as the feature for this blog article. As an IB school this is a central feature as we prepare your children for 21st century life. Around the world many educational systems are gearing themselves toward catering to a greater global consciousness.

One of the elements of “international mindedness” is to take the position of an open mind set. This means to be able to listen to various points of view, evaluate new ideas and then embrace change. Given the worldwide political and cultural environment we will live in, it is clear how important this ability is for our children to develop in order to be able to potentially thrive in whatever life situation they find themselves to be in.

Children in international schools such as SISQ will be future global leaders. They will require a remarkable insight into people and cultures across the world, and an unprecedented concern for the well-being of the world community.

Other expressions of “international mindedness” are;

• Understanding ourselves to be able to connect to others.
• Having an awareness that the world is much larger that the community in which we live.
• Respect and understanding for other perspectives, cultures and languages.
• Being able to see oneself as a responsible member of the community and a global citizen.

I am sure you will find connections to these concepts within your own family situation.

So, how will we develop this understanding with your children?

• We will live out the school’s values.
• We will infuse the curriculum with opportunities to address key concepts e.g. Arts, Global Challenges, Scientific advancement etc.
• We will celebrate the diversity of the school community.
• We will support families in transition.
• We will be committed to linguistic fluency.
• We will enrich student life beyond the school-day curriculum.

Finally, the importance of communication in diverse cultures is key. The need to be heard and understood is of paramount importance to all stakeholders. The aim of our school is to communicate respectfully, both formally and informally, to ensure that you as parents and your children have the necessary information to ensure success.

Enjoy the summer!

Mrs. Susan Anderson
Head of Primary School