Message From the Head of School – April 30, 2020

Extension of Distance Learning at BIS

Bali Island School has made the decision to extend our Distance Learning program through June 10, 2020.

It is reassuring to see the strong efforts of the Balinese people to protect this beautiful island from Covid-19. While we are all becoming more and more aware of the Government, and Banjars to assist everyone on the island to self-isolate, use masks and take extra precautions we believe that having our students continue to learn from home is the safest way forward. Our primary concern is and will always be the health and safety of your children and the BIS faculty and staff. Thank you for allowing me the time to consider all factors and data points. I appreciate the Health Committee and Adhoc Committee recommendations and as always the support of the Board.

BIS is working hard to accommodate the needs of our community amid COVID-19. ​We continue to refine our product based on feedback, adapting to the educational and the social and emotional needs of our students. Surveys will be sent every second Friday in the eNews (look for it tomorrow as we will celebrate May 1 holiday on Friday). Thank you for your assistance in making our Distance Learning offering even better. As your child’s experience will be different from others, we also continue to encourage you to email your child’s teachers with specific feedback about his/her learning. We now know that some students are thriving online, while others have had their struggles at different times. Rest assured our faculty know your child’s areas of strength and areas for growth and that they will provide the extra support to ensure all learning targets are met.

I have had wonderful conversations with many of you, parents of BIS students, about the Distance Learning program and our plans for SY20-21. Thank you for your time in speaking with me. If we haven’t spoken yet, please expect a call soon. Your input is so important and every effort will be made to accommodate your concerns. The Board and I are in the process to define adaptation scenarios and we will communicate with you once we have a clear way forward.

Both Ross and Craig continue to be available for meetings. We encourage you to stay in communication regarding your child’s education.

I continue to be extremely proud of our students, parents and faculty who are negotiating this virtual education experience with grace, dedication, professionalism and care. BIS is such a supportive community, I witness it daily from our teachers’ professional interactions with students, student’s respectful communications to teachers, and through the opportunities to speak to parents about the education of their child(ren).

We will survive Covid-19. We will be together again and be #BetterTogether!