annual - munich international school

2017

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MIS N u r t u r e – C h a l l e n g e – I n s p i r eP i o n e e r i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n s i n c e 1 9 6 6

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Munich International School

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A message from our Chair and Head of School

A truly international school

Junior School

Middle School

Senior School

Academic Excellence at MIS in 2017

School-wide

After School Activities & Co-curricular Arts

Athletics

Financial Snapshot

Parent and Student Surveys

Advancement

Contents

www.mis-munich.de www.mis-munich.de | 29

Annual Report 2017

Our Mission and Vision for educating tomorrow’s global

citizens and principled leaders

In 2016 the MIS community focused significant attention and effort to renewing and refining our Mission. A resolute desire to continue to nurture

and promote our very strong academic achievement was clearly articulated. However, parents, students and teachers emphasised that academic achievement for its own sake is not our goal. Instead, we want to promote academic excellence that leads to life-long learning, to enhanced creativity and innovation, and to ethical and balanced thinking and to actions that contribute to making the world a better place. This is our Mission and our commitment to our students and their families: Munich International School nurtures, challenges and inspires our students to become:• academically successful, life-long learners,• creative and innovative thinkers,• ethical, globally-minded contributors, and• healthy, well-balanced individualswho will thrive and make a positive impact in a complex and changing world.

This Mission drives all decision-making at MIS: which curriculum, programmes and activities we offer, how teaching and learning is practised, what investments we undertake. We measure our success as a School against every element of our Mission.

Nurture, Challenge and Inspire.

2017 was the first full year in which we implemented our new motto, our renewed mission and our future-oriented strategic plan. We are pleased to share with you in the 2017 MIS Annual Report what we have achieved and what targets we have set for ourselves in the coming years.

What actions are we taking in

order to achieve our Mission?

You will find several themes in this 2017 MIS Annual Report that relate to the major initiatives designed to help us achieve our Mission. Despite funding challenges caused by limitations imposed by the Government of Upper Bavaria on our fees, we have identified several areas for enhancing our work with students. These strategic actions involve enhancements to our curriculum, expansions of tools and resources at the disposal of students and teachers, and improvements to our facilities in order to support innovative, 21st century teaching and learning.

Approaches to Learning

You will find several references to ATL or Approaches to Learning in this Report. This term refers to the understandings, skills and habits that make students more aware of and able to maximise their own learning. Research from the McKinsey Global Institute and from the World Economic Forum (among others) suggests that over 75% of current jobs will either be eliminated or transformed through technology and other forces of change by 2035. Prognoses by many sociologists who study developments in the world of work suggest that successful adults in the mid 21st century will be those who can learn new skills, unlearn old ways of doing and valuing things, and adapt to changes gracefully and proactively.

Approaches to Learning involves explicitly teaching students the skills and habits that lead to effective learning. Rather than focusing solely on content in classes like history, biology and mathematics etc., our teachers see the teaching of strategies for successful learning to be part of their classroom mission. Approaches to Learning help students to become self-regulated learners. Such learners understand how to set learning goals, ask good questions, self-interrogate as they learn, generate motivation and perseverance, try out different learning processes, reflect on their achievement, and make changes to their learning processes where necessary. In short, ATL skills help students become capable, independent and strategic learners, which will serve them well beyond school and throughout their adult lives.

In 2017 we implemented a whole-school progression of ATL skills; we transformed our reporting processes to include greater information about students’ development of ATL skills; and we created a common language of learning shared by teachers in the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools.

Innovating and Learning as an Institution

Like our students, our School must continually seek to grow, learn and improve, in order to fulfil our Mission to prepare students well for their future lives in a rapidly changing world. We are executing a number of plans intended to help us continue to innovate as an institution of learning.

Timothy Thomas, Head of SchoolWanching Ang, Chair, Board of Directors

Welcome to Munich International SchoolA message from the Head of School and the Chair of the Board

2 | www.mis-munich.de

Annual Report 2017

Our Innovation Grants for Teachers invite teachers to apply for resources to enable them to transform their interactions with students. Teachers with ideas for enriching their practice can apply for funds to support them in taking professional development courses, acquiring materials, securing release time, and engaging in action research. We are fortunate to have ambitious and accomplished teachers among our faculty, and we want to empower them to do their very best work.

Another resource that we hope to activate for the benefit of our organization is our alumni. In 2017, MIS recruited a new Development Coordinator, who, together with our Advancement Team, launched a new alumni and friends community and a new MIS alumni and friends portal. In the first few months of its existence our alumni portal has attracted more than 700 participants, and we have held MIS alumni and friends’ gatherings in four countries on three continents.

In terms of enhancements to our learning facilities, we have made significant progress toward the construction of our new Makers’ Laboratory. In 2018 we hope to open this facility that will provide new tools, new spaces and new opportunities for student-driven inquiry, hands-on learning, creativity and collaboration. In the long-term, subject to financing, we hope to expand this concept into a full-scale Innovation Hub with information and media literacy tools, facilities for advanced scientific investigations and innovative new classroom spaces.

Increasing Student Voice and Student Choice

Part of our strategic plan includes increasing the impact of student voice and broadening the choices

available to students to guide their own learning. This goal has led us to increase course choices in the Senior School. We introduced a new course intended to bolster students’ ability to engage in structured thinking and digital creation: Coding & Computing. We introduced a humanities course with greater emphasis on social justice and democratic principles: Integrated Humanities. And we designed a course in the German language that will seek to provide students with sophisticated and nuanced usage of German, while also preparing students to participate in Germany’s political system: Unsere Welt in unserer Zeit.

Additionally, we have been working closely with students to achieve goals that they have identified and developed for our School. A committee of teachers and students is developing a House System to encourage students to develop relationships across grade levels. And a student-led Eco Committee engaged in a number of projects to increase our School’s commitment to sustainability. Their work culminated in the official recognition of MIS by the European Union as an EU Eco-School.

Maximising Student Well-Being and Balance

Mental balance and resilience, social development and physical health are just as important for our students as curricular and extra-curricular learning. In order to help students develop a sound mind in a sound body, we must expand our opportunities for physical and emotional health. In 2017 we added a Junior and Middle School Social and Emotional Counsellor, recruited a whole-school Learning Support Coordinator, and brought a new University and Careers Counsellor to MIS. We have also begun planning for a new, larger, much enhanced physical

education building at MIS. Our current sports hall does not provide adequate opportunity for students to engage regularly in movement and exercise. Subject to financing, we intend to build a larger facility with more resources to support students in developing life-long habits of health and physical well-being.

Annual Update

In addition to information about the strategic initiatives we’ve listed above, this report will also provide you with data about student achievement, student enrollment, the School’s financial status and much more. Of course, if you have additional questions, if you wish to learn more about how we are nurturing, challenging and inspiring our students, or if you can help accelerate the achievement of our plans through active support, please feel very welcome to contact us.

With warm regards,

Wanching Ang Chair, Board of Directors

Timothy J Thomas Head of School

Welcome to Munich International SchoolA message from the Head of School and the Chair of the Board

www.mis-munich.de | 3

Students from 65 nationalities and faculty and staff from 28 nationalities

In many ways the ‘International’ in Munich International School is a defining feature of our school community. We celebrate and learn from our diverse international population, and this internationalism is reflected in both our demographics and in the vibrant cultural, linguistic and social life of the School. As an IB World School, global-mindedness is embedded in our curriculum and our co-curricular offerings. The international nature of the community is evident in the

community life, as well as in how nationality groups contribute to school events such as Mosaic of Cultures Day, Winterfest, and Frühlingsfest.

While most new students and families join MIS at the start of the school year in August, many also join during the school year, depending on professional committments. For this reason, the number of students and nationalities represented can change during the course of the school year. During 2017, our community has had the fortune of including students from up to 65 different countries and faculty and staff from 27.

S t u d e n t N a t i o n a l i t i e s a s o f 1 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 8

American 266

Argentinian 3

Australian 15

Austrian 14

Azeri 2

Belarussian 1

Belgian 9

Brazilian 12

British 112

Bulgarian 1

Canadian 22

Chilean 2

South African 16

South Korean 15

Spanish 36

Swedish 31

Swiss 16

Syrian 2

Thai 1

Turkish 4

Ukranian 3

Uzbek 2

Venezuelan 1

Vietnamese 1

Chinese 10

Czech 8

Danish 25

Dutch 42

Egyptian 1

Filipino 1

Finnish 3

French 16

Georgian 2

German 343

Greek 7

Hungarian 5

Indian 45

Iranian 2

Irish 12

Israeli 5

Italian 35

Japanese 12

Kazakhstani 11

Latvian 1

Lithuanian 5

Malaysian 2

Mauritian 1

Moldovan 1

New Zealander 6

Norwegian 2

Pakistani 1

Peruvian 2

Polish 6

Portuguese 3

Romanian 8

Russian 46

Salvadorian 1

Saudi Arabian 1

Singaporean 5

Slovenian 7

65student

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28faculty

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1250+students enrolled

A truly international school


Student CouncilA number of Junior School students have been developing their leadership skills by participating in weekly Student Council meetings this year. The aim is to follow the essential agreements as set by Junior School to be:• Trustworthy and thoughtful in our actions.• Committed to looking after the environment.• Responsible in our learning.• Caring and respectful.

In following these agreements, Student Council members have been active in a number of initiatives this year. Members were trustworthy and thoughtful by selling UNICEF holiday cards, raising over 900 Euros. Members also helped to collect and sort gifts for the local Frauenhaus in Starnberg. Student Council members were committed to looking after the environment by collecting plastic bottles from designated bins around the Junior School and the Cafeteria. The bottles were then counted and delivered to the Cafeteria to receive the deposit. All proceeds went to the Tanzania Project.

Student Council members were also responsible in their learning by participating in a number of school spirit events including Crazy Hair/Crazy Hat Day. They also supported the Water for South Sudan Project by helping organize a bingo-lunch activity along with “dress as your favourite sports team”. Donations were collected by Student Council members and enough money was raised to purchase a well for this project.

Lastly, Student Council members were caring and respectful when leading assemblies and they helped empower students to have a voice in the Junior School.

The PYP ExhibitionThe PYP Exhibition is an opportunity for students to celebrate their learning in their final year of the Primary Years Programme (PYP). At MIS, this takes place in Grade 4. Students and teachers began working on the exhibition process in January. Through a variety of activities, teachers supported students to find a passion and personal connection to an inquiry topic connected to the central idea: Curiosity can inspire inquiry, creativity and action. This year, students have explored diverse topics including gender equality, creativity and doodling, the environment, and endangered animals. Teachers and mentors worked with the students to support learning and help students share their understanding of the PYP and their topic.

Inquiry based teaching and learningInquiry in the Junior School is developing a greater hands-on, problem-solving approach by including maker-centered learning and play as integral parts of our learner-centered practice. The faculty became inquirers by engaging in a whole-school inquiry through the Teacher Inquiry Groups with the aims of improving teaching and learning. Grade Level Teams began to include making in planning units of inquiry, making connections across units, integrating subjects and making Approaches to Learning skills explicit. Through powerful, relevant and learner-centered provocations, learners are empowered to find out about themselves, others and the environment through the lens of making and the design process. World-renowned inquiry consultant, Kath Murdoch, provided two days of thought-provoking professional

development which helped us begin to paint a picture of how inquiry can look in various ways, reaching all learners’ skills and interests. A successful pilot project of flexible-classroom environments paved the way toward fostering learner agency, choice and voice in how, when, and with whom to learn and reflect.

Making in the Junior SchoolThe ‘Maker’ movement in education empowers students to create and innovate in ways less common in traditional schools. ‘Making’ is responsive to student interests and curiosity. Pedagogical research supports student growth and learning through following their interests and passion. Knowledge and skills are developed, practised and improved through ‘making’. It is in response to a consumer world where more and more professions are obsolete or rapidly changing with technology. ‘Making’ is also called ‘tinkering’ and ‘hacking’ which enables students to produce, modify and innovate rather than consume. Higher education and employers are more and more in search of students with proven ‘making’ ability and potential.

Junior School

Empowering students to create and innovate


Approaches to Learning (ATL): The Next Level

MIS remains committed to the development of skills that support lifelong learning and has taken steps to leverage the role of ATLs in the student experience. The following timeline of events provides insight into some of the ways that we have structured our approach to teaching ATLs in 2017.

October: Students and parents engaged in parent conferences with ATL feedback as the focus of their discussions. Students were able to assess themselves on the various skills most essential in each subject area with teacher feedback guiding discussions between students and teachers about their ATL skills. During the conference with parents, the focus was on growth and development for the future to improve learning.

November: Lance King, who is the author of “The Art of Learning” and the “Importance of Failing Well” visited MIS in November and worked with student and parent groups to help them see the importance of learning skills in their development as a student.

January: ATL overall achievements were included in the interim report alongside achievement grades to highlight how learning skills support academic performance. ATL skills have also been led by a group of student ambassadors throughout the year and a celebration day in February helped students to share examples of how they have used ATL skills in their daily school life.

February – March: One area within ATL is Self-Management. We worked hard this year on supporting students to become better organised and better able to manage their time. Another important dimension of

Self-Management is the ability to manage one’s state of mind. Our students are learning to better cope with the many distractions that they face, to strengthen their mental focus, to manage and master stress, and to control their reactions to challenging situations.

In February, trained teachers in Mindful Education worked with students on how they could activate their mind, engage fully in the moment and create space between an event and their response to it. Our hope is that students access mindfulness strategies independently in the future.

The MYP Experience in Middle School: Student Voice and Choice

Students are at the center of the Middle Years Programme curriculum and it is vital that students feel as though their education invites them to ask questions, seek solutions and be agents of change in a complex and ever more challenging world. This year we embarked upon a goal setting process where students, teachers and parents were engaged in reflecting on the Middle School experience at MIS. Student contributions were the most impactful and have inspired us to ensure there is a Culture of Learning that includes choice in the classroom, relevant, authentic assessment and opportunities for students to explore their curiosity. Additionally, students felt that in order to feel challenged, they must feel nurtured through a Culture of Kindness that is reflected in MIS’ Community Commitments to Principled and Ethical Conduct of Care, Respect, Integrity and Trust. Students have led student assemblies that highlight the musical talents of their peers, student Service as Action projects that inspire awareness and events planned by Student Council.

Middle School


We remain committed to the development of skills that support lifelong learning and have taken steps to leverage the role of ATLs in the student experience


The Mission of the Senior School Guidance and Counseling department is to nurture, challenge and inspire students to find the best fit for post-

secondary life. Beginning in Grade 9 with personality inventories and assistance in selecting elective courses, our comprehensive college and careers counselling programme offers students activities and opportunities to discover their interests and passions and determine the path to fulfilling their dreams. The emphasis turns practical in Grade 10 as students learn from a wide range of professionals at MIS ‘Pathways Day.’ Grade 10 students are then guided in selecting a three-week work experience programme as the culmination of the school year.

University research and the application process are the major themes for Grades 11 and 12, including SAT/ACT test preparation options, university visits and fairs throughout the year, MIS alumni meetings, and in-depth personalised consultation. MIS students receive a wide variety of offers from universities around the world.

University and Personal Counselling in Senior School

University Placements by Region in 2017

UK

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Germany

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Launched in 2016, MIS’ Strategic Plan strives to nurture, challenge and inspire optimal student learning. To that end a number of initiatives have been undertaken. One of these

initiatives is related to curriculum innovation, more precisely to enhance our academic offerings to:• provide students with more flexibility in selecting their

courses in order to ensure that students can take a profile of courses that matches their interests and fulfills local and international requirements.

• expand our curriculum by offering new courses that address students’ interests and prepare them for an increasingly digital and connected world.

To meet these goals we have introduced a new option structure in Grades 9 and 10, which started in Grade 9 in August 2017. In the past we offered a one-size-fits-all model with limited choice. The new option structure opens the possibility for students to combine subjects in multiple ways. For example, it is possible to specialise in the following:• Science - by adding a Science Extension on top of the

compulsory MYP Science course.• Foreign Languages - by, apart from the compulsory

English and German courses, studying two more foreign languages.

• Arts - by opting for all three subjects: Drama, Music and Visual Arts.

• Humanities - by studying both History and Geography.

It is also possible to combine subjects in other ways, e.g. combining two Humanities subjects with two Arts or Foreign Languages, combining Computing with Extended Science etc.

We have also introduced new subjects in Grades 9 and 10 including:• Computing and Coding is an introductory coding course

that provides students with a foundation of coding skills that will enable them to create authentic interactive applications.

• Integrated Humanities offers elements of Economics, Geography and History. Rather than approaching the subjects individually, students look at certain topics/concepts from economic, geographic and historical perspectives. The topics include human rights, development, climate change and sustainability, resource extraction, globalisation, and terrorism.

• Extended Science intends to give students deeper understanding of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in preparation for the study of these subjects at the higher level in the Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12).

Students in Grade 9 have responded very well to these changes when choosing subjects. They have taken full advantage of the new combinations made possible and the new subjects are well subscribed (Computing 37, Integrated Humanities 38, Science Extension 74 students).

Military

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Students attending university

2017 Graduates

67%

31%

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Senior SchoolCurriculum innovation


A selection of recent MIS university placementsUnited States/Canada• Babson University• Boston University• California Polytechnic State University• Claremont McKenna College• Colby College• Colgate University• Colombia College Chicago• Drexel University• Emerson College• Fashion Institute of Technology• Fordham University• George Washington University• Georgetown University• Hamilton College• Indiana University• Lehigh University• Loyola University• Maryland Institute College of Art• McGill University• Middlebury College• New York University• Northeastern University• Oberlin College• Pomona College• Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Skidmore College• Stanford University• Syracuse University• Queen’s University• United States Naval Academy• University of British Columbia• University of California, Berkeley• University of California, Los Angeles• University of Chicago• University of Denver• University of Southern California• University of Washington• Villanova University• Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State

University• Wellesley College• Wesleyan University• Yale University

United Kingdom• Brunel University• Cambridge University• Central Saint Martin’s College of Art

& Design• City University London• Durham University

• Goldsmiths University of London• Imperial College London• King’s College London• London School of Economics• Loughborough University• Queen Mary University of London• Royal Central School of Speech & Drama• Royal Holloway University• SOAS – University of London• University College London• University of Bath• University of Birmingham• University of Brighton• University of Bristol• University of East Anglia• University of Edinburgh• University of Exeter• University of Glasgow• University of Kent• University of Leeds• University of Manchester• University of St. Andrews• University of Stirling• University of Warwick

Rest of the World• American University of Paris (France)• Carl Benz School of Engineering

(Germany)• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

(Germany)• Erasmus University Rotterdam

(Netherlands)• IE University (Spain)• Keio University (Japan)• Leiden University (Netherlands)• Monash University (Australia)• Seoul National University (Korea)• Sophia University (Japan)• Technische Universität München

(Germany)• The Hague University (Netherlands)• University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)• University College Utrecht (Netherlands)• University of Heidelberg (Germany)• University of Innsbruck (Austria)• University of Maastricht (Netherlands)• University of Melbourne (Australia)• University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)• Waseda University (Japan)



The MIS Class of 2017 continued the School’s legacy of excellent academic performance in the IB Diploma examinations. A total of 94 students were full IB Diploma candidates in the class. Their results reflect the

dedication and hard work of the students and faculty and the strong support that these students enjoy from home.• MIS IB Diploma average score = 34.4 (World average score = 29.9)• MIS IB Diploma pass rate = 96% (World average pass rate = 78.6%)• MIS IB Diploma average subject grade = 5.34 (World average subject

grade = 4.67)• 2 MIS students achieved perfect results with 45 points (only 244

students world-wide achieved this distinction) -- Only 0.24% of IB Diploma holders score 45 points

• 14% of subject grades earned by MIS students were a perfect 7

Munich International School students have continued to achieve consistent success on their IB Diploma examinations. In 2015, two students achieved a perfect score of 45 points and 13 students scored 40 points or above. The following year, there was a 100% pass-rate for full IB Diploma student and again in 2017, two MIS students achieved perfect scores.

Milena Roeckl studied higher level chemistry, English and economics and was involved in co-curricular activities including the MIS athletics programme, theatre, student newspaper and annual service trips to Tanzania throughout her education at MIS. Milena plans to combine her passion for chemistry with her desire to work with people and apply to the joint medicine programme through Technische Universität (TU) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU).

Florentin Zander commenced studying economics and politics at Yale University in fall 2017. Florentin studied higher level mathematics, physics and economics during his education at MIS and says that his engagement in co-curricular activities such as Speech & Debate, Model MUN, Business@School, the MIS Football Team and the service trip to Tanzania greatly enhanced his studies and helped him develop his academic and career goals for the future.

IB Diploma

Perfect Scores

Additional highlights from 2017• This cohort was the first at MIS to experience the innovative MYP

eAssessments two years earlier, as they completed Grade 10 at MIS

• 90 full IB Diplomas awarded; a pass rate of 96%• 51% bilingual diplomas• 12 candidates earned 40+ points• IB Diploma average score of 34.4 is the second highest

in MIS’ history

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MIS IB Diploma Scores:

31%

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Nurturing, challenging and inspiring MIS students

In 2017 two MIS students achieved a perfect International Baccalaureate score of 45 points. Only 244 students world-wide achieved this distinction.



Munich International School is one of only a small minority of IB World Schools where all students participate in the innovative MYP eAssessments. • MIS IB MYP Certificate average score = 41.2

(World average score = 35.8)• MIS IB MYP Certificate average subject grade = 5.67

(World average subject grade = 4.85)• 99 of 107 MIS candidates achieved the full IB MYP Certificate• 13 MIS students scored 51 points or higher (highest possible = 56)

Selected subject results:• Extended Mathematics: MIS average grade = 5.30 / World average

grade = 3.82• Science: MIS average grade = 5.10 / World average grade = 4.10• In 15 of 21 subjects, MIS results were significantly above global

averages

Students in Grades 3 through 8 at MIS participate in the International Schools Assessment offered by the Australian Council for Educational Research. These tests are based on the internationally endorsed reading, writing and mathematical literacy frameworks of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

While MIS students consistently score above the world average on this assessment, in 2017 Munich International School students set new records for academic performance at multiple grade levels, surpassing previous levels and ranking MIS students’ performance in Grade 8 (for example) above those of all national systems, including Singapore and Finland.

International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) eAssessment

International Schools Assessment (PISA)

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MIS Foundation

American filmmakers, Ferne Pearlstein and Robert Edwards, came to MIS in August leading workshops with students on topics such as ‘Humor and taboos’, ‘Can we laugh at everything?’ and ‘Where do we draw the line?’ Pearlstein and Edwards previewed a short documentary at an assembly and continue their three-day programme, The Last Laugh, working with small groups of students from across the Senior School.

World Slam Poetry Champion Harry Baker visited MIS in June and worked with Middle and Senior students.Mr Baker is the author of ‘The Sunshine Kid’, as well as the youngest World Slam Poetry Champion. His visit gave students the opportunity to inquire further into Mr Baker’s success in the creative arts, while receiving personal instruction and inspiration through his series of workshops and performances.

Munich International School's Mission is to nurture, challenge and inspire our students to become academically

successful, life-long learners, creative and innovative thinkers, ethical, globally-minded contributors, and healthy, well-balanced individuals who will thrive and make a positive impact in a complex and changing world.

The School encourages its students to perform well academically, but more importantly, it wants to develop them holistically and prepare them well for their future lives. In an effort to help promote a balanced way of living, MIS continually participates in school-wide, community building events and 2017 was no different.

Arts Day This year’s event focused on maintaining a healthy balance between body and mind, which coincided with World Mental Health Day, whereby the whole school community created a sculpture representinga joyous moment in life. Each student and staff member contributed an element in the form of a copper etching to depict this moment.

Youth Climate SummitMore than 100 students, educators and climate experts from more than a dozen schools throughout Germany and Austria gathered at Munich International School in November. Organised by students from MIS, this exclusively student-led initiative was an effort to motivate students, to apply newly gained skills to make their schools more environmentally friendly.

Interact Club Munich International Grade 12 student, Tanvi Padhye, spearheaded the creation of the Interact Club Munich International, which will be offered to MIS students cooperatively with the School’s curricular community service programme. The Interact parent organization, Rotary International, a global network which inspires individuals to take responsibility in the community to meet current challenges with sustainable solutions, also attended the inauguration at MIS.

Apple Distinguished SchoolRecognition was given to MIS in November for its commitment to transforming learning through technology. From younger students creating animations on iPads and the Student Tech Squads found across campus, to older students composing music using GarageBand, creating films in iMovie, authoring books in iBooks Author, and designing apps using Swift, students at MIS are empowered by technology to think, create, make, and design.

ECO School in EuropeIn November, MIS was also recognised as an ECO School in Europe / International Agenda 21 School. The vigorous application process included the completion of two documented, student-led projects which provide schools with solutions for environmental sustainability. MIS students engaged in three environmental projects which served as the basis for this award: The Grade 4 Kitchen Garden Project, a Grade 12 composting project and the MIS Plastic Bottle Project which was carried out by five Grade 4 students. This is the first time that MIS has applied, and the School was thrilled to have received this distinction.

School-wideA strong sense of community spirit

The MIS Foundation was established in 1999 as an independent, charitable endowment fund, and initiated by Dr Stefan Engelhorn. Since its

establishment, the Foundation has applied revenues towards fostering the education of young people in the fields of arts and culture in a manner extending beyond the offerings of curriculum. In compiling lists of potential speakers, the Foundation and the School continue to seek luminaries who possess an international reputation and appeal, use their craft to convey a universal message, and enrich the intellectual agenda of the MIS community.


MIS was honoured to host writer, actor and musician Mohamed Ba on campus in March. Originally from Senegal, Mohamed has lived in Italy for the past 17 years. He is published in Italian and has performed in many roles throughout the Italian stage. Mr. Ba led sessions in French with Senior School students during his visit, using percussion and movement to enlighten and teach.

In October, author David Schwartz presented his Math + Literature = Learning + Fun! programme to students in Grades 1- 4. An author of several books centred on teaching and learning, Mr. Schwartz engaged children with laughter to help present mathematical information in an engaging and interactive way.

The aim of Café Science is to enable Grade 8 to 12 students (and parents) to interact with working scientists in an informal setting. In September, the doors of Café Science reopened to guest speakers from the scientific community and continued every Thursday evening until November.


The After School Activities Programme offered more activities than ever in the 2017. MIS offered 70 to 80 Junior, Middle and Senior School activities over the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons.

Over 700 students participated in the ASA programme, with each student joining between one and four activities per season. These students developed various skills as their talents were nurtured in engaging, non-competitive activities. ASAs challenged them to learn and discover new interests, as well as providing a safe environment to have fun and make new friends. The ASAs were again fortunate to work with new and returning ASA leaders, who inspired our students with their passion, talent and energy.

When students are challenged at the right level, they grow and develop to their full potential. Activities on offer included a full range of challenging active and creative classes: Basketball, Football, Cooking and Culinary Clubs, Art Clubs, Fencing, Storytelling, Felting & Sewing, Teen Yoga, Nature Skills Club and Yoga Monkeys, to name just a few. Many activities required commitment, effort and skill from students including Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Gymnastics, String Orchestras, Tree Climbing, Creative Writing & Public Speaking, Taekwon Do, Chess Clubs and various musical and theatrical productions. ASAs taught students to demonstrate courage, take risks, be open to possibilities, and discover new strengths and interests.

Students in the ASA programme are guided by talented, professional and passionate people who share their expertise and skills on a weekly basis. It is also important that the students themselves also show an interest in the activities they chose to participate in, dedicating time and effort to develop lifelong skills, hobbies and interests. For example, students who committed to activities like Speech & Debate, Coding, Photography, Illustration, Track &

Field, Choir, Contemporary Dance & Hip Hop and Swim Club have become debaters, photographers, programmers, artists, athletes, dancers and musicians, building on existing knowledge and/or acquiring new abilities.

Each year, new and innovative activities are introduced to the ASA programme, while other popular activities continue. This year, new activities included Into the Woods (Mindfulness and Discovery in Nature), Forest Explorers, Floor Hockey, Culinary Club, Sewing & Crochet, Improv Theatre, Board Games, Drawing Skills and Music Makers, as well as several new drama initiatives. The programme’s aim is to strike a balance between arts, clubs (for example, Chess or Coding) and non-competitive sports activities throughout the school year.

After School Activities

After School Activities & Co-curricular ArtsMore activities than ever before


MIS students benefit not only by participating in high-quality artistic performances, but also by actively shaping those performances from inception to the final curtain call. The artistic journey is as nurturing,

challenging and inspiring as the performance.

MIS students’ involvement in ASA Co-curricular Arts at MIS included:• Middle School’s Shrek, directed by Susan Somers and Catherine Morgan,

included 50 Middle School students on and off stage. This fun and colorful performance was presented to several school assemblies and an evening community performance.

• Grischa Petram Student Cup Director’s Award, highlighted works that were directed and performed by Senior School students. This was the first annual Director’s Award to honour Grischa, a talented MIS theatre student who passed away while at university.

• The Festival of Sound Concert in December highlighted the talents of over 85 MIS students in choirs, strings and bands. Performances by students from Junior, Middle and Senior Schools also included a collaboration with the Karlsgymnasium Orchestra.

• AMIS Solo and Ensemble Festival, hosted by the American School of the Hague – 32 Students from World Choir, Anima Vocal Group and the Symphonic Orchestra participated and performed at this annual festival. Students brought home high scores and many blue ribbons from solos, duets, and ensembles. The music and adjudications were inspirational, but the opportunities of growth and bonding in the groups individually and collectively were the largest rewards.

• Festivals and trips in the Arts each year: Music, Theatre, and Speech & Debate students attend several NESDA, AMIS and ISTA festivals throughout Europe where they meet and work with many students from other schools, developing and enhancing their skills.

Co-curricular Arts

After School Activities & Co-curricular Arts


AthleticsThe competitive sports programme at MIS cultivates in our

student-athletes an appreciation for teamwork, perseverance and self-discipline, which can be transferred to academic work. In

competition MIS student-athletes exhibit a sense of sportsmanship and fair play.

These traits are fostered by our professional, dedicated coaching staff who help student-athletes develop specific skills and an enjoyment of sport that will last throughout their lives. The MIS Athletics programme offers a wide variety of team sports for students from Grades 4-12. The School is a member of the International School Sports Tournaments (ISST) and the Sports Council for International Schools (SCIS).

The MIS ‘Wildcats’ are to be congratulated for all successes this year. More importantly they have demonstrated a high level of team spirit and great sportsmanship as they have represented MIS internationally.

Highlights of accomplishments from 2017 include:

• Middle School Boys’ Basketball -SCIS Champions• Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball-SCIS 2nd Place• Ski team -HHC Junior –Champions • Varsity Girls’ Softball ISST-2nd Place• Varsity Girls’ Tennis-ISST -2nd Place• Track and Field ISST-Junior Varsity Boys 3rd Place• Golf Team ISST -3rd Place• Middle School Girls’ Volleyball- SCIS 2nd Place• Varsity Girls’ Football-SCIS Champions• Varsity Boys’ Football- ISST 2nd Place• Cross Country- Middle School Boys SCIS Champions• Varsity Girls’ Volleyball-ISST 3rd Place• Junior Varsity Girls’ Volleyball SCIS-2nd Place

Teamwork, perseverance and self-discipline


Highlights of the MIS Athletics sports programme include:• Level of competition and depth of play, including regular participation at both ISST and SCIS tournaments

» ISST and SCIS team play includes division-based, league play with 24 schools participating throughout the school year » An established history of tournament competition in Europe: ISST will celebrate 50 years in 2017–2018, while SCIS has over 20

years of experience, with MIS being a founding member• MIS offers a high volume of games and regular training throughout the week, as well as regular participation in tournament fixtures

and local league play• MIS team coaches who are external instructors are certified in coaching• All MIS athletes who try out remain on the team roster throughout the season• A breadth of choice in Athletics for Middle and Senior School students, with over thirty teams competing, including Swimming, Rugby,

Girls’ Softball, League Football and more• An established ski team with over 40 MIS athletes, professional coaches and three international races, including the Heinrich Harrer Cup,

which was founded by MIS in 1974.


One necessary goal of our not-for-profit School is to ensure our own long-term financial viability and health. The figures in this Annual Report represent a “snapshot” of the School’s financial status on 31

July 2017, in accordance with the audit conducted by PSP. The numbers, particularly in terms of assets, fluctuate throughout the year in accordance with the billing and expense cycles.

Our external financial auditors, PSP, concluded our most recent audit with the official opinion that the combination of stable, strong enrollment, effective cost management, and carefully chosen investment priorities has led to a responsible and manageable financial result.

The most significant portion of the School’s revenue comes from student tuition fees. Much smaller, but still significant, sources of income include student transportation fees and entrance fees.

Financial SnapshotSecuring long term financial health


These are distributed as follows:Building/Construction in Progress = €21.1m/68.4%

Current Assets = €7.7m/24.8%

Furniture and Equipment = €1.9m/6.3%

Other non-current Assets = €.153m/0.5%

Assets

Building/Constructionin Progress

Furniture and Equipment

Other non-current Assets

Current Assets

68.4%

24.8%

6.3%0.5%

On 31 July 2017 (shortly after the collection of school fees) MIS held assets with a value of € 30.9m.

MIS’ most significant expenses include:Salaries & Social Benefits = €19.6m/67.8%

General = €1.9m/6.6%

Transportation = €1.6m/5.4%

Depreciation = €1.5m/5.0%

Maintenance = €1.4m/5.0%

Educational Materials = €1.1m/3.9%

Professional Services = €.93m/3.2%

Utilities & Cleaning = €.91m/3.1%

67.8%

6%

Expenditures

Salaries & Social Benefits

General

Transportation

Educational Materials

Depreciation

Professional Services

Maintenance

Utilities & Cleaning

5%

3%

5%

3%5%

3%

Tuition fees

Entrance fees

Transportation

Other

Sources of Revenue

74.8%

13.1%

5.7%

6.4%Total Revenue for 2017 was € 25.9m.Tuition Fees = €19.4m/74.8%

Entrance fees = €3.4m/13.1%

Transportation = €1.5m/5.7%

Other = €1.6m/6.4%


Annual Survey ResultsThe MIS Annual Survey allows parents, students and faculty and

staff to provide important feedback regarding their experience at MIS. The Survey is a source of data for the School Leadership

to refer to in decision making, and the information gathered is reviewed by each member of the School Leadership Team.

The results are analysed over time to measure parent and student satisfaction with all major aspects of the schools, including the curriculum, co-curricular programmes, operations, and leadership.

Parent Rating:Comparative over three years:• 2015 average whole school parent rating: 5.62 out of 7 • 2016 average whole school parent rating: 5.80 out of 7• 2017 average whole school parent rating: 5.67 out of 7

Student Rating:Comparative over three years:• 2015 average student rating: 5.64 out of 7 • 2016 average student rating: 5.61 out of 7• 2017 average student rating: 5.53 out of 7

*Scale follows the MIS grading system (1-7)

A source of data for the School Leadership in decision making


350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0Excellent Very

GoodGood Fair Mediocre Poor Very Poor

Student Satisfaction Rating

MIS Student Survey

Num

ber o

f res

pond

ents

120

100

80

60

40

20

0Excellent Very

GoodGood Fair Mediocre Poor Very Poor

Parent Satisfaction Rating

MIS Parent Survey

Parent CommentsWe value the community spirit and value what the school parent community do for the parents and families at the school. We like it when our children come home and tell us 'today was awesome'.

We value the quality of the teachers and the content of instruction. The respect given to students which in turn, I feel raised the bar for kids as well. The facilities and the fact that there is something for everyone. Artist or Chemist - there are great classes. Also the guidance toward college admissions. And...the support staff. Principal, Counselors, Nurse, Front Office. Just excellent.

Everyone from the minute you enter campus makes you feel welcome. MIS cares for families and students & employees, a marvelous community.

The MIS changed our family life completely. The pupil can still be a teenager yet is challenged by the subjects. We are very happy.

As stated before: my kids are happier people because they are students at MIS.

We commend the IB teachers who became our children's 2nd parents outside home. When we as parents fail to compose our children through the demand of the IB program, these teachers never failed to pull them out of the gutter and make every fall worth the next step to the finals. We hope for the teachers ' continued support and resilience.

Great and very motivated teachers/staff. You feel that people work at MIS because they care about the students and want to help the students grow and develop.

What Parents Value and Wish to Keep:• The School environment that encourages academic achievement• Teachers who encourage and motivate students • Approaches to Learning, problem solving and group work that are

needed for success in life.

Student CommentsThe teachers care about our learning and motivate and empower us to be per-sistent and do our best. We have many facilities to help our learning, and all the technology we need to be successful learners.

I find that MIS creates a great atmosphere that feels almost like family. I feel comfortable and safe in the whole school and would wish that this continues to be so. I also find that the teachers are very caring and kind and will help you to achieve your fullest potential.

I value the good relationship between teachers and students, because the teachers always try to support us.

The teachers who are genuinely interested in the subjects they teach, and bring this forward to the students in the best way possible.

The teachers are so inspiring and great, keep them. All the teachers that I have are nice and love the subject they teach, and that spreads to some kids.

What Students Value and Wish to Keep:• Teachers who care and make learning interesting• The facilities and the outdoor space• The wide range of athletics and after school activities


I value the good relationship between teachers and students, because the teachers always try to support us.

Giving

Nurturing, challenging and inspiring students requires inspiring teachers, superior facilities, exceptional materials and the resources to take

advantage of opportunities as they arise. Munich International School is able to offer extraordinary experiences to our students and community because many parents, grandparents, alumni, current and former teachers and staff, and other friends of the School have given generously throughout our 50+ year history.

As with previous years, Munich International School was once again the beneficiary of the generosity of many donors and supporters in 2017.

Philanthropic gifts contribute to excellence at Munich International School in very special ways:• The MIS Foundation funds initiatives proposed

by teachers, students and community members. • The Science Inspiration Fund makes

innovative projects in the areas of science, robotics, electronics and computer coding available to students in the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools.

• Innovation Grants as well as the generosity of individual donors help to further strengthen the quality of teaching and learning at MIS.

In 2017, the MIS Foundation generously supported the following guest educators, events and projects:• Arts Day• MIS Youth Climate Summit• Firoozeh Dumas (Author)• Harry Baker, Project Voice (Poet)• Jerry Falk (Movement and Drama specialist)• David Schwarz (Author)• Performing Arts Centre sound system upgrade

In 2017, Science Innovation Fund generously supported:• Café Sci • Raspberry Pi Club• Lego Mindstorm • MIS Youth Climate Summit

Initiatives and projects generously sponsored with the support of Innovation Grants in 2017 were:• Outdoor learning initiative• Human Library/ToK Mentoring• Junior School Makers’ Lab• Stanford’s YouCubed • An online course in Mathematics • Harvard Project Zero Course: Teaching in the

Makercentered Classroom

Additionally, the School was once again the beneficiaries of the generous support of the Parent Teacher Verein (PTV), Sportverein, and many individual donors, including as part of our Buy a Brick, Build Your Legacy initiative.

In 2017, the generosity and support of all of the parent volunteers of our PTV and Sportverein made the following resources and projects possible at MIS:• Library furniture in the Middle School/Senior

School Library• Gym Mats• Basketball Hoops• Sun Umbrellas for the Track & Field & Arena• Furniture for study as well as relaxation for

Senior School students• A new sound system in the Performing Arts

Centre

The PTV also supported the School by once again hosting our annual community-wide Frühlingsfest and Winterfest celebrations as well as special events to mark the retirement and farewell of Eif Phillips.

The extraordinary generosity of individual donors also enabled the School to provide enhanced teaching and learning opportunities to MIS students in 2017:• Tuition and other fees that support two MIS

students • Two new innovative, loft-style classrooms in

Grades 1 & 2• A Student Lounge in the LADC• Furniture for study as well as relaxation for

Junior School students• Story-telling workshops with Jerry Falek• Music workshops with Quadro Nuevo• Music and dance workshops with Goodkin • A RobotKit• An Autoclave At the heart of MIS’ current strategic plan are innovative learning spaces and curriculum design to make MIS students ‘future-ready’. Specifically, these plans include the provision of the following:• Makers’ Laboratory• New Gymnasium• Innovation Hub• Yet more Innovation Grants for teaching and

learning

To achieve these plans as soon as possible, the School will once again look to support from individual donors. Preparation began in 2017 for how the School can realise these transformative projects for the benefit of MIS students as soon as possible.

Munich International School sincerely thanks all those who have made donations and other contributions to the School in 2017.

AdvancementOffering extraordinary experiences through the generosity of those who continue to give to the School


Offering extraordinary experiences through the generosity of those who continue to give to the School

Alumni & Friends

It was a tremendous pleasure to welcome back so many MIS Alumni and Friends as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2016. One of

those people was Debbie Caudera (nee Lawson, ’86). Debbie was one of the key volunteers who did so much to make our 50th Anniversary Frühlingsfest weekend such a success. We were therefore particularly delighted to be able to welcome Debbie to the Advancement Team in a newly created role as Development Coordinator in April 2017.

New Alumni & Friends Portal It was very fitting therefore, that it was Debbie who helped launch MIS’ new Alumni and Friends Portal in October 2017 and also hosted the first of many new MIS Alumni & Friends reunion events in Munich in late 2017.

https://alumni.mis-munich.de

The Portal is open to former students, former parents, former teachers and former staff. Any current families leaving MIS, will also become part of the ever growing MIS Alumni & Friends network worldwide. There are no fees associated with registering, though students need to be at least 18 years of age before they are permitted to register. All information provided is voluntary.Over 600 alumni and friends from over 30 countries around the world were among the first to register in the first few months of the new Portal’s launch.

Alumni & Friends reunionsAs part of the launch of the Alumni & Friends Portal a reunion dinner was held at the Zum Franziskaner in Munich in October. It was a pleasure to meet and reconnect with so many of the School’s former students and friends at this time.

When the temperatures began dropping in December, we also enjoyed warming up with a Glühwein at the Weihnachtsmarkt at the Chinesischer Turm with locally-based Alumni & Friends.

Launch of MIS 50th Anniversary History In May 2017 we were extremely pleased to launch the School’s 50th Anniversary History. Long serving faculty member, parent of former MIS students and current grandparent to a current MIS students, Dan Glover, researched, collected and composed many stories contained in the 50th Anniversary History of MIS, and was the primary author of the manuscript.

MIS ArchivesArising from the research towards our 50th Anniversary History and other 50th Anniversary events, preliminary work toward the creation of a MIS Archive commenced in 2017. MIS Alumna and current MIS parent, Ricarda Schneegass, generously volunteered to begin the process of recording materials that have been collected to date.

Farewell to Eif PhillipsMunich International School said farewell to Mr. Eifion Phillips in July 2017 after more than 31 years of outstanding service, including as MIS’ first Middle School Principal.

MIS alumni & friends, parents, students and faculty and staff celebrated Eif’s retirement with a “Bier und Brezen” evening on Friday 19 May 2017. The evening included student-led performances, a “thank you” video produced by the School, performances by the parent choir, as well as speeches from the Head of School, Tim Thomas, and from members of the PTV. Eif ’s three decades of commitment and hard work was also celebrated with additional end-of-year celebrations with Middle School students June 2017.


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MIS N u r t u r e – C h a l l e n g e – I n s p i r eP i o n e e r i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n s i n c e 1 9 6 6

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Munich International School

How do I become a part of the Munich International School Community?

Student Admissions: [email protected]

Employment Opportunities: [email protected]

How do I stay in touch with Munich International School?

Munich International School Alumni & Friends: [email protected]

Giving at Munich International School: [email protected]

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