Head of School Message – 8 October 2026

Marco Longmore

3 hours ago

3 min read

Dear ISHCMC Community,

It has been a great few weeks of connection, celebration, and reflection across our community.

Rhino Family Fun Night

Last Saturday, I was delighted to welcome so many students, parents, and staff to our Rhino Family Fun Night. It was wonderful to see our community come together to enjoy the evening. I was delighted to see our student performers take to the stage with such confidence, sharing their talents with their loved ones and the wider ISHCMC community. My sincere thanks to our Events Team, staff volunteers, and everyone who contributed to making the evening such a memorable celebration of our community.

Personalized Diploma Program (PDP) Parent Session

Yesterday, we welcomed many Secondary parents to our Personalized Diploma Program (PDP) Parent Session. Building on our strong Legacy of success for our High School students, from Academic Year 2027–2028, students will have the opportunity to choose between two clearly structured pathways: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and our new Personalized Diploma Program (PDP), with both leading to the accredited ISHCMC High School Diploma.

Let me be clear: ISHCMC remains a leading IB Curriculum school with an international pedigree and a reputation for long-standing success in IBDP examinations. Our evolved structure of the PDP will give students flexibility to combine IB Diploma (DP) Courses, Advanced Placement (AP) Courses, and, of course, our own NEASC-accredited ISHCMC courses in ways that reflect their strengths, interests, and future plans.

This revised program provides students with a range of options that enable them to thrive and maintain ISHCMC's reputation for preparing our alumni for success across the globe at top universities, schools, and colleges. We will continue to share more information about PDP as the school year progresses.

Secondary Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences (PTSC)

Today and tomorrow, our Secondary Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences provide another important opportunity to establish shared understandings of progress, next steps, and ways to support our students. I encourage families to use this time to reflect together on your child’s learning: to celebrate successes, listen to your child’s perspective, identify areas for growth, and agree on shared next steps. These conversations are an important part of the partnership between students, families, and teachers, helping us work together to support each child’s continued growth.

Please refer to the email sent earlier this week for information about your child’s arrangements during these two days. If you have any questions, please contact us at community@ishcmc.com.

School Holidays Next Week

Looking ahead, our students will begin their October break next week, from Monday, 12 October to Tuesday, 20 October, returning to school on Wednesday, 21 October. I hope this break provides our students and families with time to rest, reconnect, and enjoy time together before we begin Term 2 of our school year.

While our students are away, our staff will come together for our second whole-school Professional Development Session. This year, one of our key goals is to Know Our Community, to better understand, listen to, and connect with one another. This initiative supported our school's positive behavior policies, strengthening interventions that foster Belonging and valuing each other in respectful and disciplined ways across the student body.

A parent information session linked to this professional development initiative is planned for Wednesday, 21 October 2026.