Community

COMMUNITY

The Community is Important

Build community is one of the core values of DIS

The school community arguably sits alongside a well-developed curriculum as the most important factor that influences how effective a school is at delivering education. A culture of safety, trust, intentional care, creativity, curiosity/inquiry, risk-taking, and focus are all so important. It takes special teachers, students, leadership, vision, and a lot of careful tending in order to create such an atmosphere in our community.

Beyond that, DIS will be known for having one of the kindest, warmest, and closest-knit communities anywhere. This is the kind of atmosphere that most families hope to find for their children. DIS will be a good place to raise children and an environment that allows for a healthy education mindset.

STUDENTS

At DIS students are always first in our community. We have amazing young people who are committed to learning. They engage well with the principles of the DIS Student Learner Outcomes. Our students are artists, athletes, performers, scientists and scholars . DIS students will become analytical and are dreamers. They bring energy to our campus and a richness in perspective which is further shaped by collaborative learning and peer relationships; they challenge each other to meet their personal best. At DIS, we see learning not as primarily a competitive endeavor to outshine one another, but as a supportive process where we help one another to learn and grow and take pride in one another's successes.

PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION

The DIS PTA is a voluntary association of parents and faculty who work together to support the educational and co-curricular programs at DIS. Our goal is to promote community and unity among staff, parents, and students, and to enhance the learning environment through volunteer support.

Parent Volunteers

DIS Parents are active volunteers in many ways within the school:

Learning Center (Library)
Clubs/After-school activities
Teaching Thai to DIS teachers

Parent Representatives

Parent reps are appointed by the Head of School in consultation with the PTA President. They serve on various school committees and represent the parent community in the following areas:

Head of School Advisory Committee (HAC)
Crisis Management Team
WASC Accreditation Committees
Other Ad-hoc committees

Parent volunteers are important to the success of students at DIS. You are welcome and encouraged to get involved in your child’s education at DIS by working with the PTA

PASTORAL CARE

The DIS pastoral system aims to:

create a whole-school atmosphere in which relationships are centrally important and are healthy and positive

prepare children and young people through the curriculum for the realities of life today

equip them with the skills they will need to face challenging situations when (rather than if) they arise

encompass both reactive responses to issues, which can arise in children’s lives, but also preventative educational strategies and skills to enable children to be better prepared to navigate challenges they may face in their lives.

DIS aims to create a tight and multi-layered net, which does not allow students to fall through the cracks.