EIS "Heads Up!"
Dear EIS Community,
I hope this first newsletter finds you well! I would like to welcome you all to this new academic year. In this issue I would like to take a quick flashback at the events that took place over the summer and celebrate our successful start together. We have graduated our second class, received our second IB Scores, ranked 5th in a prestigious school rating, created a foundation, and held our valuable Teacher PD day.
I hope this first newsletter finds you well! I would like to welcome you all to this new academic year. In this issue I would like to take a quick flashback at the events that took place over the summer and celebrate our successful start together. We have graduated our second class, received our second IB Scores, ranked 5th in a prestigious school rating, created a foundation, and held our valuable Teacher PD day.
September Edition 2024
Artūrs Piļkēvičs
This is our HeadsUp Newsletter video featuring Artūrs Piļkēvičs.
Teacher PD Day
Being a great teacher requires talent and unique qualities, but effective teaching also demands a commitment to never stop learning! That’s why, at the onset of each semester and even two times in the middle of the term, we close the school to students and engage in high-quality training for our teachers. These professional development days allow our faculty to fully focus on enhancing learning techniques and processes. After all, we are "An educational hub for all learners," and we are walking the talk.
So, yesterday, our teachers participated in sessions covering key topics such as the integration of AI in classrooms, inductive and deductive teaching methods, maximizing productivity, using Toddle, and providing robust learning support. With this new knowledge, we are now even better equipped to pass the Power of Education on to our learners.
We thank all the presenters for sharing their valuable insights, our dedicated teachers for their eagerness to hone their skills, and the parents of our students for their understanding and support during our professional development day. Thank you for your continued trust!
So, yesterday, our teachers participated in sessions covering key topics such as the integration of AI in classrooms, inductive and deductive teaching methods, maximizing productivity, using Toddle, and providing robust learning support. With this new knowledge, we are now even better equipped to pass the Power of Education on to our learners.
We thank all the presenters for sharing their valuable insights, our dedicated teachers for their eagerness to hone their skills, and the parents of our students for their understanding and support during our professional development day. Thank you for your continued trust!
IB Results and Uni acceptances
A total of 192,867 students took the IB DP and IBCP examinations in the May 2024 session. With a global pass rate of 80%, this is one of the most rigorous exam sessions worldwide. We are thrilled to announce that, for the second consecutive year, our graduating class scored above the world average in the IB DP exams, achieving an average total score of 32 compared to the worldwide average of 30.32, and an average grade of 5.01 compared to 4.85 globally.
This is only our second graduating class, which sets a perfect record for EIS so far. It is an important sign of the consistency of preparation we provide at EIS. Let us keep in mind that our student population is predominantly English Language Learners, which makes this accomplishment particularly significant for our exceptional faculty and staff. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our students and are immensely proud of the teachers who contributed to these outstanding results.
This is only our second graduating class, which sets a perfect record for EIS so far. It is an important sign of the consistency of preparation we provide at EIS. Let us keep in mind that our student population is predominantly English Language Learners, which makes this accomplishment particularly significant for our exceptional faculty and staff. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our students and are immensely proud of the teachers who contributed to these outstanding results.
TOP 5 in Star School Rating
We're excited to kick off this week with even more fantastic news! Exupery International School has proudly secured a spot in the top 5 best schools in Latvia, as recognized by the independent "Star Rating" of the Atis Kronvalds Foundation.
Each year, the "Star Rating" board evaluates schools based on their students' significant achievements throughout the academic year. Our place among the top 5 is a result of high rankings in national and international Olympiads across multiple disciplines last academic year, including English, French, and Russian Languages, Latvian and Regional Studies, Politics and Law, Physics, Astrophysics, Informatics (Programming), Mathematics, and Robotics.
Each year, the "Star Rating" board evaluates schools based on their students' significant achievements throughout the academic year. Our place among the top 5 is a result of high rankings in national and international Olympiads across multiple disciplines last academic year, including English, French, and Russian Languages, Latvian and Regional Studies, Politics and Law, Physics, Astrophysics, Informatics (Programming), Mathematics, and Robotics.
Beyond these achievements, our students also participated in the Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Berlin (BERMUN), hosted the 2024 World Scholar's Cup regional round, and organized the 2nd EIS Student Conference "From Ideas to Impact."
We truly believe in the Power of Education and remain committed to our vision of being "An educational hub for all learners!" This historic recognition is a testament to the academic rigor and excellence at EIS. We congratulate our amazing students, teachers, parents, and the entire EIS community. Thank you!
We truly believe in the Power of Education and remain committed to our vision of being "An educational hub for all learners!" This historic recognition is a testament to the academic rigor and excellence at EIS. We congratulate our amazing students, teachers, parents, and the entire EIS community. Thank you!
EmpowerEd Fund Created
We are excited to announce that our community members got together to establish a non-profit organization – the “EmpowerEd” foundation. It will serve a great platform for community engagement projects and events such as community service, students led projects and initiatives, merchandise sales, bake sales and other types of fundraising aimed at helping any noble cause. The name represents the idea of empowering educational initiatives and being empowered by education.
One of the first initiatives that will be implemented with the help of this new fuondation is the “FoxDen” project. In our IB Business Management class students divided in groups to develop a school merchandise product that they will present to the “Foxes” - their judges, donors and mentors who will then choose a product they will fund and help develop. The product development, marketing, and sales will be done by students and the products will be sold at the Christmas bazaar with all profits going to a charitable cause. Please stay tuned for more information.
One of the first initiatives that will be implemented with the help of this new fuondation is the “FoxDen” project. In our IB Business Management class students divided in groups to develop a school merchandise product that they will present to the “Foxes” - their judges, donors and mentors who will then choose a product they will fund and help develop. The product development, marketing, and sales will be done by students and the products will be sold at the Christmas bazaar with all profits going to a charitable cause. Please stay tuned for more information.
We are excited to announce that our community members got together to establish a non-profit organization – the “EmpowerEd” foundation. It will serve a great platform for community engagement projects and events such as community service, students led projects and initiatives, merchandise sales, bake sales and other types of fundraising aimed at helping any noble cause. The name represents the idea of empowering educational initiatives and being empowered by education.
One of the first initiatives that will be implemented with the help of this new fuondation is the “FoxDen” project. In our IB Business Management class students divided in groups to develop a school merchandise product that they will present to the “Foxes” - their judges, donors and mentors who will then choose a product they will fund and help develop. The product development, marketing, and sales will be done by students and the products will be sold at the Christmas bazaar with all profits going to a charitable cause. Please stay tuned for more information.
Hands on Projects in Preschool
At Exupery International Preschool, our young learners spend much of their time engaged in hands-on activities, and art is, of course, one of the most creative subjects.
We approach it through practical processes. It’s not just playful chaos; our youngest students are learning to work with a variety of materials, from scissors and brushes to sponges and even their own fingers. The result is not only vibrant, original artwork but also significant developmental benefits. By studying and recreating colors from nature, they begin to understand concepts like cause and effect. At the same time, they develop fine motor skills, which later help with tasks such as writing, tying shoes, and other everyday activities.
All of this encourages decision-making, imagination, and the ability to combine elements into a cohesive whole. This process nurtures their capacity to think outside the box. Each child perceives and expresses the world uniquely, and at our preschool, we fully support their creativity!
We approach it through practical processes. It’s not just playful chaos; our youngest students are learning to work with a variety of materials, from scissors and brushes to sponges and even their own fingers. The result is not only vibrant, original artwork but also significant developmental benefits. By studying and recreating colors from nature, they begin to understand concepts like cause and effect. At the same time, they develop fine motor skills, which later help with tasks such as writing, tying shoes, and other everyday activities.
All of this encourages decision-making, imagination, and the ability to combine elements into a cohesive whole. This process nurtures their capacity to think outside the box. Each child perceives and expresses the world uniquely, and at our preschool, we fully support their creativity!
"Food for thought"
Applying to universities is similar to navigating a huge maze. It is never too early to get some wisdom on the topic, and in today’s Food for Thought we would like to share some tips on this epic topic from our college counsellor, Dr Fisher, to all IB high school students out there:
One. Extended Essay: As one of the core elements of the IB, the Extended Essay will boost your final IB score, but there is more to it. It will come in handy later in college or university, so choosing a topic based on what you plan to major in would be wise. When you are accepted to a university, you will likely be asked about this assessment during the interview, so having a well-chosen topic will allow you to speak about it comfortably. Plus, it can serve as a foundation for personal statements and future essays. Showing a university that you already have a focus and a clear desire to pursue academic goals is always a great strategy.
One. Extended Essay: As one of the core elements of the IB, the Extended Essay will boost your final IB score, but there is more to it. It will come in handy later in college or university, so choosing a topic based on what you plan to major in would be wise. When you are accepted to a university, you will likely be asked about this assessment during the interview, so having a well-chosen topic will allow you to speak about it comfortably. Plus, it can serve as a foundation for personal statements and future essays. Showing a university that you already have a focus and a clear desire to pursue academic goals is always a great strategy.
Applying to universities is similar to navigating a huge maze. It is never too early to get some wisdom on the topic, and in today’s Food for Thought we would like to share some tips on this epic topic from our college counsellor, Dr Fisher, to all IB high school students out there:
One. Extended Essay: As one of the core elements of the IB, the Extended Essay will boost your final IB score, but there is more to it. It will come in handy later in college or university, so choosing a topic based on what you plan to major in would be wise. When you are accepted to a university, you will likely be asked about this assessment during the interview, so having a well-chosen topic will allow you to speak about it comfortably. Plus, it can serve as a foundation for personal statements and future essays. Showing a university that you already have a focus and a clear desire to pursue academic goals is always a great strategy.
Two. Extracurricular Activities: Universities consider academic scores, but many highly valued students are engaged in extracurricular activities. Whether it is sports, arts, volunteering, or leadership roles, make sure to participate in activities that reflect your interests. These experiences make you stand out and show that you are a well-rounded candidate capable of balancing academics with other commitments.
Three. Make a College List: In G11, you should start building your college list. Tools like UNIFROG and UCAS are hugely beneficial here. It is also important to discuss your preferences with your parents. When creating the list, include schools you aspire to attend, even if they seem like a stretch. You can apply there nonetheless to see how it goes. Then, include "match" schools that align with your GPA and predicted scores. Lastly, include "safety" schools where your predicted scores are higher than required but where you would still be happy to attend. Remember, there are many great schools worldwide, so make sure your list is well-rounded!
We thank Dr. Fisher for being with us all these years, working in the best interest of our students, and sharing her wisdom! We are looking forward to the next meetings with her.
Three. Make a College List: In G11, you should start building your college list. Tools like UNIFROG and UCAS are hugely beneficial here. It is also important to discuss your preferences with your parents. When creating the list, include schools you aspire to attend, even if they seem like a stretch. You can apply there nonetheless to see how it goes. Then, include "match" schools that align with your GPA and predicted scores. Lastly, include "safety" schools where your predicted scores are higher than required but where you would still be happy to attend. Remember, there are many great schools worldwide, so make sure your list is well-rounded!
We thank Dr. Fisher for being with us all these years, working in the best interest of our students, and sharing her wisdom! We are looking forward to the next meetings with her.
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