Bonn International School

The school believes students thrive best in a safe, supportive, and valued environment. BIS has a comprehensive programme to address the social and emotional needs of our students. Two Counselors in our Primary School and two in our Secondary School focus on four major components: individual student plans; wellbeing in classroom learning and curriculum; addressing immediate concerns; connecting to resources. Individual student plans support whole-child development and strongly value student voice. In collaboration, our team works to support students' social-emotional development, to enhance overall wellbeing and academic readiness. School Counselors coordinate ongoing meetings and activities to assist students individually in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.

The Learning Support Programme empowers students with diverse educational needs to become confident, independent learners. Our Learning Support team embraces inclusion and fosters compassion for all. BIS provides a wide spectrum of learning support to eligible students, including those with mild, moderate or intensive needs, within a school-wide intervention system. Admission to the Learning Support Programme is dependent upon balanced classes and the availability of resources. To determine the proper level of educational support, parents provide a psycho-educational evaluation, and the learning plan is tailored to the results. The learning plan may include small-group instruction, in-class support and/or one-to-one instruction.

English Language Acquisition (EAL) supports students who are not proficient in English. Primary EAL classes cover beginner to intermediate levels and are scheduled during homeroom language time, with emphasis on communicative, task-based activities. EAL in-class support helps students gain language skills and confidence, and teachers monitor progress in consultation with the homeroom teacher. The Secondary School offers an EAL Programme for Grades 6-12, with an English-language pathway from MYP Language Acquisition to DP Language Acquisition. A foundational class may be added for students entering with minimal English, and a language needs assessment is conducted on entry. English is the language of instruction.

We believe that students thrive academically and personally in a safe, supported environment. BIS has a comprehensive programme to address social and emotional needs. Two Counselors in Primary School and two in Secondary School focus on four components: individual student plans; wellbeing in classroom learning and curriculum; addressing immediate concerns; and connecting to resources. Counselors collaborate with students to set personal goals and develop future plans, and they coordinate ongoing meetings and activities to support growth. They also lead developmentally appropriate guidance lessons woven throughout the curriculum and liaise with families and external services when needed.

The safety, wellbeing, and dignity of every child are paramount. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and staff, students, parents, and visitors act with vigilance, care and integrity. BIS safeguards through a framework including the BIS Child Protection Policy and BIS Child Protection Procedures, Safe Touch Policy, Intimate Care and Toileting Policy, Whistleblower Policy, and Code of Conduct for all adults. All staff participate in annual safeguarding training, and BIS maintains a closed campus with a dedicated security team. BIS safeguarding leads are trained and ready to respond to concerns.