With our wonderful building and location, ISH has now even more to offer to students, parents and staff seeking a challenging but still caring learning environment. In the IB Middle Years Programme we offer student development through eight subject disciplines linked by five areas of interaction, culminating in the Personal Project in grade 11.
The IB Diploma Programme aims to continue the education of critical and empathic global citizens in six elected subjects, with mandatory components of creativity, action and service, and an extended essay to prepare for writing at university level.
Our daily life at school is guided by the principles of respect and tolerance for the variety of cultures, nationalities and religions represented in the student and staff body of this international school in an equally international city. Being part of a Dutch school foundation makes it easy to benefit from the rich learning opportunities our host country offers and find roots here.
The aim of all IB programmes at The International School of The Hague is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common identity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. IB learners at ISH strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective, known as
IB learners strive to be inquirers as part of the IB learner profile. They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives. The ISH student monthly magazine shMAG is just one example of ISH students having an inquiring mind.
The ISH awards for excellence highlight student talent and knowledge in various areas.
ISH students are encouraged to apply thinking skills in everything they do as part of the IB DP and MYP programmes. The real achievers exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, hopefully making reasoned, ethical decisions after thinking all aspects through. Talented Maths students regularly attend International Junior and Senior Maths competition.
As Communicators, students understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
Many ISH students take part in the Model United Nations at ISH (MUNISH). For more information refer to: www.munish.nl. These students are willing to speak out for issues which matter to them, to debate and confer, to stand up for their principles. MUN events show us the principled student at their best.
IB learners at ISH strive to be principled. They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.
Why is fostering and encouraging International-mindedness so important in the students' education?
Global awareness and an understanding of International Interdependence are a vital part of the ISH Mission Statement. The aim is that students understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.
Being open-minded starts with Year 7 's International morning and continues throughout the student's school career and further. After a period of settling into the new school and becoming a mentor group in the MYP, the international day allows the year 7’s show how they are different, and to be proud of it! All year 7 students perform, anything related to (one of) their countries. They dress up in their countries costume if possible, and they all bring their national dishes. Every year it is a different event and spirit. The ISH IB Graduation ECIS Award goes to person who is "a good representative of his/her own country, with a positive attitude toward the life and culture of others and is able to converse in at least two languages.
IB learners strive to be caring as part of the IB learner profile. They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Charity fundraising activities in and out of school and of course the Community and Service (C&S for years 7-11) and Community, Action and Service (CAS for years 12-13) activities form a sound basis for this aspect of the IB Learner Profile. At ISH IB DP Graduation there is a CAS Award.
As RISK-TAKERS, students approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
CAS is a required component of the IB Diploma programme and stands for Community, Action and Service. Some of ISH students really touch upon the spirit of CAS as it was intended by the IBO, specifically in relation to the Service aspect, and undertake rewarding activities for both themselves and the community. These students are featured regularly in ISH news.
Part of the IB Learner Profile involves helping students to understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance in order to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others. There are many sport challenges and social activities in the student school life.
This part of the IB Learner Profile encourages students to give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development. With a view to their future personal development and career, they need to understand their personal strengths and weaknesses and be reflective as to what they hope to achieve.
