Annual Report 2025 - Other - Page 14
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Vienna International School
Board Chair’s Report
It is my privilege to introduce this year’s Annual Report for Vienna International School (VIS). Over the past year, our community has continued to
grow in strength and purpose. We reaffirmed the quality of a VIS education
through successful re-accreditation by the International Baccalaureate
(IB), the Council of International Schools (CIS), and the Middle States
Association (MSA). The visiting teams recognised a culture in which students, staff, and families experience openness, safety, and belonging—hallmarks of a school that pairs academic ambition with genuine care.
Ivica Pepovski
Board Chair
Alongside this external validation, VIS has been transforming within. We
navigated leadership and staffing transitions with professionalism and a
learner-first mindset, ensuring continuity for our students and momentum
for our strategic priorities. The Board, Senior Leadership Team, and Staff
worked shoulder-to-shoulder to align decisions with our mission, while
keeping student experience at the centre.
Financially, VIS remains well-run and future-focused. We continue to
make prudent choices to protect academic delivery, invest where impact
is highest, and sustain affordability for families—especially those serving
international organisations and missions in Vienna.
Strategically, we are deep into implementation of the VIS Strategic Plan
2025–2029. Our objectives are clear: elevate instruction and student learning; expand learning support and inclusive access; strengthen our Culture
of Care; enhance VIS visibility and community engagement; and underpin
long-term sustainability—both of our facilities and our institution. During
the year, we launched action strands spanning curriculum review, teacher
professional growth, appraisal refresh, educational technology integration,
and enrichment experiences to name but a few of our initiatives. These are
tangible steps that keep VIS agile and excellent in a fast-changing world.
What does this mean for families considering VIS? First, a competitive IB
continuum—from early years through the Diploma Programme—delivered
by expert, internationally minded faculty and supported by robust guidance and co-curricular opportunities. Second, a school culture that prioritises wellbeing and belonging, enabling students to stretch academically
while feeling known and supported. Third, a distinct ecosystem: VIS is
uniquely embedded in Vienna’s international community through decades
of partnership with Vienna-based Organisations (VBOs) and the diplomatic corps, with governance and support arrangements that underscore
VIS’s role as the designated school serving this community.
Looking ahead, we will continue to deepen academic excellence—strengthening teaching and learning, broadening personalised pathways, and leveraging educational technology to enrich the classroom. We will keep
investing in inclusion and support services so every student thrives. We
will further amplify VIS’s visibility across Vienna and beyond, celebrating
student achievements and inviting prospective families to experience our
