EIS "Heads Up!"

Dear EIS Community,

This is the 7th and last issue of our HeadsUp Newsletter this academic year. Looking back, I would like to thank all of you for your support and dedication to our school. You have made my first year as a head of school a very rewarding experience and I appreciate the countless positive interactions that have brought me forward personally and professionally this year. It has been an eventful year and, as always, we have prevailed together. I want to wish everyone in the EIS community a restful summer break filled with care and quality time in the company of loved ones. See you in August! Have a great read!

Edition June 2023

Artūrs Piļkēvičs

This year we conducted the parent survey in the form of open-ended questions, using the "Cherish, Change, Chuck" approach — basically asking parents to voice their opining on things that we should keep, change, or get rid of. In addition, there was a question about 3 positive adjectives that parents associate with EIS, with the goal of revising the mission and vision of the school in the future. The results were analyzed and unique responses that were evident in 5% of the answers were considered statistically significant to determine trends. The administration team is very thankful to all the parents who provided their feedback and will be taking it into consideration during the goal setting for the next academic year. Here is the summary of the results.

On Saturday, several hundred students and teachers from various schools came to one of the most inspiring recent events at EIS — Latvian Culture Festival. We celebrated Latvian traditions and folklore by taking part in over 25 workshops, congratulating the participants of the Latvian Studies Olympiad and simply enjoying the day with families and friends. We thank our special guest from the Ministry of Education and the State Education Quality Centre for visiting us and encouraging the students with their presence and inspiring speeches. We extend a big thank you to the team of educators who prepared the event, to all the participants, as well as our partners:

On June 7, the Preschool community experienced a truly unforgettable event that may come to a sure winner in the "Cuttest Event Ever" category. Our Preschool Graduates, the K3 students, performed various songs, dances and poems of various cultures and languages to showcase their amazing growth and learning. They also presented the ten IB Learner profile traits in a very creative way that made the audience hold their breath and applaud. The tears of joy and smiles filled the packed Assembly Hall as our cutest gown-dressed graduates received their diplomas with a true sense of celebration and honor. A huge thanks to all the teachers and administrators involved in the preparation of the event, and their dedication to our student success on their journey, as well as to the parents for their warm words of gratitude. We wish our Preschool graduates all the best from the bottom of our hearts!

On June 13, we marked another important milestone for our Primary Students by celebrating our Grade 5 Graduation. It was also a very memorable and emotional event, with teachers sharing stories about each student, students performing speeches of gratitude, and parents preparing gifts for the teachers. The culmination of this bittersweet event was the students' performance of the song "Let it be!". It is an important event as our fifth graders will be leaving the Jauna 8 building and moving to a new reality of the Jauna 10 Middle and High School Building and vibe which entails much more responsibility and building relationships with a lot more completely new teachers. We are confident that our Grade 5 students are ready to turn this page, will face the new challenge with grace and we are wishing them the best of luck!

On June 16, our Grade 9 students walked to the stage of the beautifully decorated MS&HS Assembly Hall to mark a very special moment — the completion of the f Middle School at Exupery, which is also the completion of basic education in Latvia. The event was a huge success! In the spirit of Exupery, it was much more about the students than about official speeches and paperwork. In fact, students from Grade 9 and other high schoolers were heavily involved in the planning and execution of this beautiful ceremony. There were performances, speeches, a class video playing while one of the students performed a song live and the atmosphere was magical once again! We want to thank all the parents, teachers, support staff for their dedication and, of course, thank and congratulate the students on their achievement!

Our Grade 5 students had an exciting trip to Croatia. They explored historic sites in Split, including the famous Monument Ninski with its unique design and historical importance. They also visited the renowned National Park Krka, home to a spectacular waterfall. The adventure continued with thrilling water activities like kayak and SUP, as well as a boat ride to admire the beautiful coast. The students also had a great time at a fun park in Biograd na Moru, enjoying exciting rides and games. The trip was a perfect blend of history, nature and bonding with classmates.

Our high school students along with our librarian Ms Julija created a space at school where everyone is welcome to swap books — leave what they've read and take unread ones in return. Some students were so inspired by their friends' recommendations that they decided to read genres they had never enjoyed before. Make sure to grab a book before the holidays, swap out the ones you have already read and discover new stories to enjoy during your summer adventures.

We are inviting all of our students to join the summer camp organized at EIS. At Exupery Summer Camp, the immersive experiences are designed to enhance STEAM skills and inspire a diverse approach to learning. STEAM education implies a well-rounded approach to learning by combining science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. It's all about exploring the connections between these different subjects to encourage creative thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving. In other words, it's a fun and innovative way to learn and grow. Our campers engage in various studios — Art, Science, Tech, as well as Creative and Cognitive Development workshops and open-air activities. As children gain hands-on experience in their field of interest, they embark on an exciting journey to unleash their creativity, think outside the box, and work together as a team to discover incredible solutions.

For more information about Exupery International Camp and to submit your application, simply click on the link: https://u.exupery.lv/64