Dear SSIS Parents,
March is upon us and, as I do each year, I am writing with information about changes around SSIS, an update on 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 2017.
We are also beginning the re-enrollment process for next year before we begin filling seats with qualified applicants who are eager to join our school. We know that our families make a big investment in their children’s future in choosing to educate them in a private, independent, international school, and we are grateful that you have chosen SSIS as your school. Each year we work hard to improve both the educational program and our facilities to support a world-class course of studies at every level.
In the elementary school you have seen significant new areas of studies opened in the past two years in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), including instruction in programming and robotics. Much of this has centered around our MakerSpace which was enclosed and air-conditioned this year to give students an even better workshop-laboratory for their creativity. We don’t see creativity only in science, though, as was demonstrated by our recent elementary school musical, The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever. We continue to make improvements to our auditorium as a worthy performance hall for our actors, singers, musicians and student speakers. Next year, drama will expand in our elementary school to even younger grades.
We are moving up through the school with our STEM initiatives, this year opening a new InnovationLab in the Middle School. You will see even more next year in Middle School and High School as engineering, design and robotics are expanded across the school. Students loved the new Kiosk area in the high school as well as redesigned classroom spaces. At the very top of our divisions, we also added a full-time, dedicated Director of University Guidance to provide our families and students with the very best in support as they apply to universities and colleges around the world.
While your children may be thinking primarily of the summer vacation to come, we are already finalizing many new renovations, remodelings, and program improvements for next year. In elementary and middle school we will begin a multi-year experiment with creative learning spaces, improving our classroom furnishing to facilitate teaching and learning. We have plans for an experimental green roof area above the auditorium to create new outdoor “nature labs” and learning spaces. Middle School and High School will see new lighting and acoustical fittings and we are going to install a swimming pool timing system for both instruction and outside events.
Not forgetting that our children need social and emotional support and guidance as well as a challenging academic environment, we will be continuing our implementation of our health curriculum and have hired a new, dedicated social-emotional counselor to oversee the first two years of high school.
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
Some time ago we released our Annual Report for 2015-2016. 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 2017 –2018, you will see a tuition increase of 5-6% 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 2017 –2018
We have sent you separately a Statement of Tuition and Fees for 2017-2018 along with instructions on how to complete your re-enrollment online, and an invoice for re-enrollment deposit of VND 45,000,000. for each of your children. We ask that the deposit be paid no later than 01 April 2017.
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 2017 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 2017 –2018 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.
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
