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Washington International Schools (WIS)

 
KIS International School was established in 1998 from the vision of a team of enthusiastic and dedicated partners and parents who sought to develop a quality international school for their children and other children in Bangkok.

In their search for the appropriate model of school, they found in Washington International School (WIS), Washington D.C., what they envisioned. As one of the first IB World Schools to offer all three International Baccalaureate programmes, WIS offered a model of a learning community with a high standard international education. A truly special partnership was born and today, ten years later, continues with professional support and the sharing of ideas that keep moving the school forward from strength to strength.

In its inaugural years, the WIS/KIS affiliation provided strong support that helped KIS establish high quality education standards. WIS has assisted in the creation of the school by bringing expertise to programmes through the transfer of all intellectual property such as curriculum policies and procedures, has guided the selection of educational materials, assisted in the design of the purpose built facilities and, most importantly, selected the founding head.

The key to the relationship between WIS and KIS can be summed up in two words: collaboration and independence. Unlike many of the "branded" international schools currently opening across the world, KIS is independent from WIS. The school is not managed by WIS; rather, the affiliation allows KIS to decide the relevance and adapt materials provided by WIS to meet the needs of the student body.

At the core of the affiliation lies a shared set of standards. The fact that both schools adopt the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes helps make the partnership work, as the programmes are global in their outlook and share a common, internationally recognized curricular foundation. Both schools are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS)

The relationship between the two schools has been continually reinforced over the years with a steady stream of WIS visitors (administrators, teachers, students, and board members) passing through KIS doors.
  • In 1999, a WIS Board Member represented WIS at the KIS inauguration.

  • In 2000, WIS head of school visits KIS.

  • In 2001, a group of KIS students and their teacher, travelled to Washington and experienced WIS classes first hand.

  • In 2003, a group of Grade 9 -11 WIS students visited KIS after their successful completion of a Habitat for Humanity project in Chiang Mai. During the same year, the WIS Head of School visited too. Middle Years Programme co-ordinator works with KIS staff as KIS sets up secondary school.

  • In 2005 and 2006 visitors from WIS provided guidance in the development of the new secondary school library and community service initiatives.

  • In 2007 G9 WIS students travelled to Phuket and collaborated with G9 KIS students on tsunami relief initiatives.

  • In 2007 and 2008, KIS and WIS Grade 7 students simultaneously examined and addressed water pollution issues in two major waterways, the Chayo Phraya River and the Chesapeake Bay.

  • In Aug 2008 Neil McDonald from WIS joined KIS to take up the key roles of IB Diploma Coordinator and University Counselor within the school.
The two schools look forward to continued communication and the development of additional programmes. These include shared community service projects, exchange programmes and professional development opportunities. With shared curricular foundations, identical mission statements and core values, the KIS/WIS connection will provide endless possibilities for collaboration among a worldwide student body of future global leaders.


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