DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to Windhoek International School! I hope that this website will provide you with some insights into our remarkable learning community. 

 

For over thirty years, local families and expatriates from around the world have chosen WIS because it is a place that is characterized by cultural diversity, academic excellence, and active social responsibility. 

 

From ages three through 19, the curriculum at WIS follows programmes from the International Baccalaureate (IB)*. The school is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and offers both the IB Diploma and the American High School Diploma. Graduates from WIS are well equipped to enter any college or university in the world. Our alumni have gone on to start and run businesses, contribute to public service, make advancements in Science and Technology, and lead successful careers in the fields of Arts and Communications. 

 

Students here do not simply absorb knowledge or regurgitate facts. Learning is purposeful and we apply our knowledge and skills to real-life contexts. We feel that Nelson Mandela had it right when he said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” We also believe that change begins with humility and reflection, from within. Our curriculum has all the rigor you'd expect, and our units of study connect to our Namibian context and the natural environment. Our sports teams are active and our students are engaged in a wide range of after school clubs and activities. We view our spacious campus as, perhaps, our longest-serving teacher.

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Teachers and staff at WIS are professional, caring, knowledgeable, and representative of the diverse and international ethos of the community. The school is an active member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) and values collaboration with other like-minded schools and institutions. We are members of the IB Global Alliance of Schools, with exchanges taking place between WIS, the International School of Paris, Annie Wright Schools of Tacoma USA, and the International School of Western Australia. Our outdoor education programme provides life-changing leadership experiences within some of the world's greatest landscapes. 

 

The school year runs from August to June. We try to keep some space in our admissions process for new students whose families must arrive in Windhoek during the school year. Some grade levels are oversubscribed with waitlists, so do not hesitate to begin the admissions process today.

 

If you are already a member of the WIS community, I hope you will find new ways to contribute and grow. If you are new to WIS, I hope you may find that this is where you and your family will flourish. This is a welcoming and inclusive community. There are many ways you can contribute to our shared mission and vision. If you have any ideas or questions then please do not hesitate to reach out! 

 

*Windhoek International School has offered the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme since the 1990s, and is a Candidate School** for the MYP. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Windhoek International School believes is important for our students. WIS is the only IB World School in Namibia. 

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**Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP).  Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org