Going back-to-school, or starting at a new school for incoming ISA families, can bring a mix of excitement and nerves. At ISA, we are committed to supporting our students' emotional wellbeing and providing them with the skills they need to thrive.

Why is strong emotional health important for learning?

Emotional health helps students manage stress, build resilience, develop healthy relationships with peers and teachers and navigate academic challenges with confidence and adaptability.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), strong emotional health plays a significant role in learning and behaviour with students better able to concentrate on their studies, handle stress effectively, and showcase positive social behaviours, all of which contribute to a more productive and enjoyable school experience.

By fostering emotional wellbeing, students are better equipped to cope with setbacks, embrace new experiences, and maintain a positive outlook. This foundation improves their overall academic performance while also promoting a supportive and inclusive school environment.

Creating an inclusive and Safe space

At ISA, our School Counsellor Valerie DeGraw, takes an active role with students across all grades to help navigate challenges that come with a new school year. Parents can also contact Valerie for help with PK to Grade 12 holistic care. She is available for a quick chat or more focused care regarding social, academic, and wellbeing interventions or referrals.

Whole School Wellbeing!

Students benefit from many wellbeing skills across grade levels. For example, elementary enjoys using Zones of Regulation for self-management, middle and high school engage in Health and Global Citizenship lessons, and our student leadership teams will be developing skills for voice and agency in coordination with our CIS (Council of International Schools’) Accreditation Pathways.

We have weekly student support team meetings to help take a coordinated approach and our school nurse, Fran Sibbett, comes to our wellbeing meetings to complete the picture. Our school nurse is also available to families for community child health referrals and CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services). Our learning support team Hannah Powell, Ulrika Atkinson, Jo Lockhart and Louise Warnock coordinate academic interventions and inclusion for learning variabilities. Our learning support team is developing UDL approaches (Universal Design for Learning) and are available to help guide teachers towards multiple strategies for learning and engagement.

Heather Barker, our High School University and Careers Counsellor works with Grades 9 to 12 on finding the right post-secondary pathway, providing expert guidance on future pathways.

We also rely on the Shanarri wellbeing indicators when discussing student wellbeing. These indicators (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, and Included), help to guide how we assist students with positive growth. The indicators are based on the Scottish safeguarding framework of “Getting it Right for Every Child” (Girfec). We also use a resilience matrix to help stay trauma informed when considering factors for understanding behaviour and learning.

Supporting Transitions to Middle and High School

Transitions can be particularly challenging for Middle and High school students, especially those who are new to ISA. Our Middle and High school ambassadors, in collaboration with our school counsellors, help create a welcoming and positive social atmosphere at ISA, ensuring that new students feel included and supported from the start.

At ISA, no child is left behind. With a deep commitment to our student’s emotional wellbeing, we focus on providing the necessary levels of support to make sure all our students thrive as global citizens academically and socially.