VISION
The Independent Schools Foundation (ISF) is a community of learners, independent in thought and action, deeply rooted in Chinese culture, global in understanding and experience, and excellent in all endeavors.
The Mission of ISF is to promote education to foster:
Independent Minds
Nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning for academic, personal, and social development
Chinese Virtues
Educating learners in a uniquely Chinese-English bilingual and East-West bicultural environment rooted in timeless Chinese values embodied in The Eight Virtues + One
Global Outlook
Building life skills through experiential learning, inspiring learners to act as empowered and resilient global stewards
We show kindness and care to all through 仁 (ren). We are compassionate, forgiving and empathetic. We care for the natural world by being kind to all creatures and protecting the environment. The character for仁 depicts two people together, showing that 仁 is expressed outwardly, towards others.
愛 (ai) is an expression of our passion in life. We show a love of learning and intellectual curiosity that goes beyond the classroom. 愛means that we find happiness in our friendships, with our families and our loved ones.
A person with 禮 (li) treats others with courtesy and respect. The spirit of 禮 is found in the exemplary, cultured behavior of the true gentleman or lady. In 禮, we control our impulses and act after careful consideration.
義 (yi) embodies the quality of being principled, committed to justice, and standing up for our beliefs. We believe in fairness and uphold personal integrity, and that we are trustworthy and all held accountable for our own actions.
Through the virtue of 和 (he), we seek to include and embrace others, replacing confrontation with understanding. We are peacemakers, avoiding words and actions that might cause unnecessary misunderstanding or conflicts. We promote international and cross-cultural understanding.
平 (ping) means balance and equality. Equality in our community is both the right and the responsibility of each member. 平 is closely tied to the concept of和 (he): when we place these two characters together, they form the word ‘peace’ (和平).
忠 (zhong) embodies the concept of loyalty and commitment to others and to ourselves. We show our devotion to people around us and devote ourselves in the pursuit of our ideals, dreams, and passions.
孝 (xiao) recognizes that we have an obligation toward our parents in our role as children; we respect our teachers, and we respect and cherish our histories and traditions that define who we are.
智 (zhi) means making the right choices in life. Wisdom stems from knowledge, experience, judgment and a clear set of values to know what is right. The Eight Virtues culminate in the achievement of 智.
OUR MILESTONES
2003
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
Promotes learning as a process of developmental change to generate growth in ISF learners that is physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual and sets the direction and purpose of ISF learning in a Chinese linguistic and cultural context.
Focuses on leaders of learning who create the institutional ethos, learning culture, and physical setting in which learning takes place through professionalism, commitment to high standards, and engagement with learners.
Provides the physical, cultural, academic, and pastoral environments and structures in which learning takes place and extends the network of systems, contacts, exchanges, partnerships, to create a rich and varied canvas for learning and innovation.
Provides support systems and resources to facilitate all learning programs for students, staff, parents, and the ISF community and manages resources prudently and efficiently to fulfil the ISF mission.
Reflects sustainability efforts throughout K-12 curriculum, facilities management operations, student-led sustainability research, faculty personal development training and other school-wide sustainability events to empower students, faculty and staff to lead a sustainable lifestyle.
ISF STAKEHOLDERS
All ISF students, both present and future
All parents of ISF students, past, present, and future, including the PTA
The Foundation, governing boards, and advisory committees of ISF companies
Employees of all ISF companies
Past students who are members or associate members of the Alumni Association
Regulator of The ISF Academy and The ISF Pre-School through EDB
Services, utilities, resources, curriculum, authorization, accreditation, banks, etc.
Education providers post-graduation
The citizens and residents of Hong Kong
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