Director's Welcome Letter
Dear Students, Honorable Colleagues and Parents!
We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new and returning families!
The European School family is so delighted that you are part of our amazing learning community. We welcome and value your positive energy and dedication to excellence in education, and we look forward to working with you.
No matter which program students are enrolled in – the Georgian Program, International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes or American High School – they share a common bond in striving for excellence. We are committed to providing students with the opportunities and support they need to excel academically and develop fundamental life skills and attitudes that will propel them through life. We aim not only to have students going to the top universities in the world but also to instill in them a lifelong passion for learning and a genuine interest in the world.
Our willingness to continually improve is what drives the school forward. As a school we are never satisfied with where we are but always striving to be better. During the crisis caused by pandemic, our teachers made the best of a difficult situation. They adopted new paradigm of teaching and offered an incredible journey to students.
The ES teachers’ support and determination encouraged students to put their best foot forward and receive impressive results. The class of 2021 has made us proud. This year, the average diploma score in the ES DP was 35 points, four students achieved 40 points and above, Presidential Awards for Educational Excellence were awarded to five students from the AHS, and eight students from the Georgian Program received Gold and Silver Medals.
I would like to highlight an important accomplishment demonstrated by the AHS team this summer. The AHS received accreditation from the National Centre for Educational Quality. This achievement has a great value for the AHS along with international accreditations gained previously.
During this very difficult and unique year, the European School with its strategies, practices, classrooms and educational systems connected to online and hybrid learning proved to be a leader in educational innovation and improvement.
What is new on the horizon for the European School learning community? We continue to expose students to innovations. They will receive a first-rate education in a safe, state-of-the-art learning environment where facilities are a key ingredient for delivery of high-quality programs – both face to face or distance learning programs.
The European School is proud to have 60 Microsoft Innovative Educators among the staff. This academic year, 13 teachers were awarded the title of MIE Experts.
Supported by the most recent educational technology and innovation research, we have invested in a variety of technologies that support student learning. This involved outfitting every classroom with smart boards, computer labs with new computers, integrating Pepper and NAO robots in the STEAM education program, and thus enabling students to bring their ideas to life through making and designing.
The school developed an innovation and technology program outlined in the ES Technology Plan for the years 2021-2024. This document contains the Framework for the Digital Competence of the ES Educators that is based on the European Framework for Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu) and offers teachers progressively complex opportunities to upgrade digital skills.
As a beginning of the new academic year, the distance learning model is offered to our students. We are optimistic and excited to welcome the students and staff back to campus and engage them in the hybrid learning environment in October. Our staff vaccination rate is presently sitting at an impressive number. By taking a cautious, layered approach, including vaccinations, masks, limiting our contacts and physical distance, we will have a greater opportunity to keep our school safe.
All returning and new students will be welcomed with open arms to our community – we continue to grow! This year, we have an unprecedented number of new students, which indicates that we are a highly trusted school.
As the Director I set the highest expectations for all staff and students and by working together with teachers, students and parents we will enable our students to lead enriched, happy and fulfilled lives, making a contribution to the European School, Georgia and the global community.
Together, we hope we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all children.
Wish you a very successful academic 2021-2022 year ahead!
Warmest Regards,
Sophio Bazadze
Director of the European School
