Principals' Coffee - April 2026

Our final Principals' Coffee of our 2025-2026 school year prepared parents for what's next, both for students who are remaining with us next year and for those who are transitioning. Beginning, our Head of School, Mr. Ryan Witt, shared about our school's esteemed accreditation from Cognia. Cognia accredits schools worldwide, examining how each institute meets its standards. Encouraging our students to further their education, Mr. Witt highlighted the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Presentation that we hosted yesterday and the beginning of our re-enrollment season for the 2026-2027 school year.

Breaking into two groups, parents of ECC and Elementary students, and parents of Secondary students received differentiated information to better support their children. Our ECC and Elementary Principal, Miss Dani Beth Barsalou, shared research on the grief and emotional challenges of third culture kids (TCKs) in the midst of loss and change. As our community is ever shifting with families joining us or leaving, students are constantly facing the challenges of change. Miss Barsalou offered key advice in being a safe space while addressing this grief, including acknowledging, affirming, and being curious about their feelings, and comforting children.

For our Secondary parents, our College and Career Counselor, Mrs. Amber McTaggart, recapped her recent trip to Hong Kong, where she visited universities, established connections, and gained better insight into supporting our students’ academic success. As a result of these growing partnerships, we’ve already welcomed the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to our campus and will welcome Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) on Monday, April 27. Working together, Mrs. McTaggart and our Secondary Principal, Mr. Jacob Way, addressed next year’s class scheduling.

Thank you to all who joined us! It’s a pleasure to connect with our students’ parents, communicate, and share coffee and treats. Though this school year is nearing its end, we’re already looking forward to next year!