Joint School - APEEE information session

Joint School - APEEE information session on the Annual and Multi-annual School Plans, @canteen, Thursday 19 October 2017, 18.30

It was the first time an event like this happens in our school. The participation of the parents was enthusiastic. The event was very well organized and very precise, everything went on time. This was important  because it helped to manage the flow of information presented by Mr De Tournemire, the School Director. The panel consisted of Mr Radhuber, Deputy Director of Secondary, Mrs Malik, Deputy Director of Primary/Nursery, Mrs Hector, Administrator - from the school as well as Mr Papadopoulos (APEEE President) and Mr Wein (President EAC) - from the APEEE.

Mr DeTournemire presented the 2017/18 Annual School Plan and also the 2017/2020 Multi-annual School Plan , mainly as a result of the elaboration of the answers the class representatives gave to the survey launched by the school and the APEEE last April. Both plans seek to promote a quality education for students of the European School III.

Novelties, such the school SMS system, are already highly appreciated by the parents. Mr De Tournemire reassured that from this year on, its use will be compulsory for all teachers. The issue of the overpopulation of the European Schools was discussed as many questions arose, the perspectives were given, but a solution is not so easily attainable. The perspective of the 5th European School was at stake. An impact analysis by an external body will be done, so that decisions on who goes where can be made.

On the other hot issue for parents at Ixelles, the parking, an immediate solution cannot be given. The School and the APEEE contacted all competent authorities (Brussels' Region, Auderghem and Ixelles municipalities) urging them to examine all possible options. In parallel, a coherent access policy to all Brussels European Schools, in cooperation with their Prevention Officer, is emerging and could be implemented by September 2018.

An emphasis was given on ICT courses with the view to updating the curriculum as much as possible; the Estonian Presidency of the EU has set this priority forward and lot of help is expected from their side. This year it was the first time that the school is taking part in the EU code week, as a result of parents' initiative.

The result of Brexit is also haunting the Ixelles and other Schools: there is a constant need for native English-speaking teachers, which is not so easy to meet. A joint action across all Schools is envisaged for next school year.

Overall it was a good and productive event, the participation was high, many questions were answered and everyone left satisfied.