Admissions Report

Catalina Gardescu

Manager of Admissions & External Relations

ADMISSIONS The 2019-2020 school year started with the highest enrolment AISB has ever had - 1033 students from 65 countries. For the first time in the school’s history, some of the AISB grades surpassed the four form structure and waiting lists were created for several grades.

After the February break, when the pandemic hit Romania, enrolment froze, after growing slightly during the school year, to 1033 which is the number of students we said goodbye to in June 2020.

In order to support prospective families who, due to the pandemic limitations, were unable to organize campus visits as in the past years, the Admissions office designed and implemented a system of virtual tours which were offered to each family, according to their needs and wishes. By June 2020 the Admissions office had enrolled 120 students for the new school year 2020-2021.

COMMUNICATIONS In August 2019 AISB welcomed Peter Welch as new Director. We were excited to create new messages and update our website to reflect this important change. From day one it was clear that Mr. Welch’s priorities were related to future planning, community building and making sure that everything that happens at AISB is going to take our students forward. The Vision and Mission of the school were revisited, in light of the new decade and redrafted based on surveys, focus groups, meetings that included staff, parents, alumni, students and the Board of Trustees.

When the pandemic had us turn a different corner, the school was getting ready to start rebranding according to the revamped vision and mission statement.

The pandemic was first and foremost a test in communication. Once the gates of the campus were closed and we only had the internet to rely on to teach, connect and support each other, it became even more important that we communicate clearly, efficiently and to the point.

AISB STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2024

The voice of school Director, Peter Welch, was behind all messages, coordinating, informing and outlining the “new normal”.

ALUMNI Organized in collaboration with the Secondary Counselors team, Career Day supported students of 10th Grade, in their preparation for Course Selection in the IB Diploma Program. Eight alumni from eight different industries participated and spoke to the students about their university and career paths, changes during their personal journey and answered questions about their profession and industry.

The pandemic impacted alumni events as well. The Senior Brunch was cancelled and the Letting Go event was transformed into a special series of online events for each country/ region where our seniors had applied to go study. Our alumni who study and work in various countries/ regions globally shared vital and helpful information about all aspects of moving to, living and studying in the respective areas.

Though online, these events were well attended. The Alumni Association kept in touch with AISB Alumni worldwide during the lockdown period and organized a variety of support activities including a major fundraiser to benefit one of the local hospitals, in cooperation with other sponsors affiliated with the school.

Catalina Gardescu Manager of Admissions & External Relations