Dear SSIS Parents,
March is upon us and, as I do each year, I am writing to you with information regarding tuition and fees for next year, and a reminder of the re-enrollment process. Time is flying by this year and we are already looking just over the horizon to end of the year projects, tests and exams and the graduation of the Class of 2016.
It was only a few short months ago that the campus was alive with hammers and saws as workman put the final touches on some of the many projects we undertook this summer to improve the campus facilities and programs. Turnstiles were added at the front of campus for the safety of our community. The auditorium renovation gave our students a performance space worthy of their talents. Elementary school students are getting their hands dirty in the raised growing beds of the garden space as they get lessons in science. They are wielding hammers and saws, as well as wiring motion and heat detectors, as they learn the design cycle in our newly opened MakerSpace. There is now a drama program in place and growing in the elementary school which is meant to instill students with confidence as public speakers.
As parents, you have made a large investment in technology with our move to an Apple School and the Gr 4-12 laptop program. SSIS has also invested tremendous amounts of money in the upgrading of our infrastructure, the deployment of new laptops to all our teachers, the creation of robotics and coding classes across all three divisions, and the retention of great teachers and the recruitment of more. We continue to expand our rich offerings of classes across both IB and AP, and introduced programming with Python.
We have big plans as well for this coming summer. As our students, teachers, and families depart for a well-deserved rest, we will begin working on further upgrades to our campus. Many will be visible as you return next fall, others will be upgrades to infrastructure and curriculum which will give your children new opportunities for study. We will introduce our first externally examined computer science course in the fall (IB Computer Science) and have expanded the University Guidance Office services with the appointment our first, administrative level, Director of University Guidance. The number of students in our high school has grown more than 30% since I arrived just two and a half years ago. For this reason we will also add an Assistant Principal position to work with Mr. Jacob Hendrickson to ensure support for the highest quality teaching and learning in that division.
Recruiting and retaining a first-rate faculty, maintaining and improving the best facilities in the region, and offering a rich and rigorous curriculum to prepare students for top universities and colleges around the world all costs money. As a private, independent, international school, SSIS is entirely supported by the tuition and fees of its students. We believe we offer amazing value in our market—an education which is second to none in this region at a cost which is below that of our peer schools in this area.
Tuition and Fees
Last week we released our Annual Report for 2014-2015. As it has been since its founding in 1997, SSIS is governed on a not-for-profit model and all tuition and fees received from parents are invested in the school and the costs of your children’s education. Our largest expenses, by far, are the academic program of the school and the retention of outstanding teachers and support staff. Your child’s tuition is an investment in the excellent education they receive every day here at this School.
In looking at the Fee Schedule for 2015 –2016, you will see a tuition increase of 3-5% for the coming school year depending on year level. We are very aware that our families make sacrifices to give their children the very best education, and we do everything we can to control costs and improve efficiencies. SSIS is committed, though, to continuing to fund improvements to our programs and facilities.
Re-Enrollment for 2016 –2017
Enclosed is the Statement of Tuition and Fees for 2016-2017 along with instructions on how to complete your re-enrollment online, and an invoice for re-enrollment deposit of $2,000 for each of your children. We ask that the deposit be paid no later than 01 April 2016.
We are pleased that inquiries and applications for enrollment at SSIS continue to be strong. Again this year, demand will exceed seats available in many grades. Therefore, it is vital that we know each family’s intention for next year.
Please ensure that the re-enrollment is completed through the PowerSchool Parent Portal by the 01 April 2016 deadline. If you need instructions on how to accomplish this, you can find them here. Doing this, and paying the re-enrollment fee by April 1, will ensure that a seat for your child(ren) is reserved for the coming school year. The re-enrollment fee will be credited against tuition if paid in full for the 2016–2017 school year or the by fourth quarter if you choose to pay in installments.
Should you have any questions concerning re-enrollment, please contact our Director of Admissions, Ms. Katie Rigney-Zimmermann, or by calling the school, +84 8 54130901 ext. 31140. Questions concerning the new tuition and fees should be directed to the Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations, Wai Mun Fong, or to me, as Head of School.
It is a privilege to serve SSIS as Head of School and I thank you for the opportunity to work with your sons and daughters as they mature as young men and women of both learning and character.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Iver Sylte, Head of School
