High School Principal

Dear Mothers and Fathers,

The era we are in is not only a technological transformation; it is also a breaking point where our ways of thinking, learning habits and perspective on life are being reshaped. This period demands continuous adaptation and the ability to be open to change from individuals. Academic research and generation studies show that youth face the risks it carries as much as the great opportunities this era offers. At this point, one of our greatest responsibilities is to contribute to our students being able to manage this process with awareness, in an equipped and conscious manner.

It is of great importance for our youth to understand global standards and be able to move forward in an integrated manner with the world. Although they have many tools and opportunities at their disposal, they need to know how to use these resources and understand how to make them meaningful.

Skills such as analytical thinking, creative problem solving, emotional resilience, self-motivation and self-awareness, which are among the basic competencies of the 21st century, are no longer just pluses, but requirements. The development of these skills is possible only if the individual first knows himself and discovers his interests and talents.

As Işıkkent Anatolian High School, we attach great importance to supporting our students in both academic and personal development areas so that they can realize their potential in the best way possible. Our understanding of education is not limited to imparting knowledge; we aim to inspire our students to become individuals who can chart their own paths and add value to the world.

This approach also coincides with the vision of Işıkkent Education Campus, to which we are affiliated:

"To be a pioneering school that builds bridges between people and cultures through experiential learning in a safe environment." At the same time, our school offers an innovative, research-based and questioning-based education by integrating the national curriculum with international programs. Our aim is to raise individuals who have an international understanding, can use more than one language effectively, think reflectively, are self-confident and principled in a safe and supportive learning environment.

Our vision is built on raising effective and responsible individuals who can respond dynamically to global changes and actively contribute to the development of society and the world. As the famous educator John Dewey said: “Education is not filling a vase with water, but helping a flower to grow in its own way.”

With this understanding, we work to ensure that each of our students develop in their own unique way on their own journey; we believe that learning is not only an academic experience, but also a human experience.

There is a potential and a light waiting to be discovered within every child and young person. Your support and our guidance play a major role in shining this light. As the strongest guides of our children on their journey in life, it is a great pleasure and responsibility for us to walk towards the same goal with you.

Regards,

Our Educational Appoach

Işıkkent High School programme lasts for 5 years, including a possible 1 year in prep. The education and teaching programmes are supported with experimental and project-based work. The lessons are conducted using visual materials, technological and up to date resources. Starting from the middle school, up to Grades 9 & 10, the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB-DP Programme implemented in Grade 11 and 12 bring an international perspective to the overall education programme. Students learn in fully equipped classrooms. Işıkkent High School provides learning opportunities designed according to the needs, skills and interests of the students. Guidance and counselling activities are essential for students to orient themselves in an area suitable for their skills and to choose the right university for their future occupation.

Işıkkent High School offers an intensive English programme in prep classes. The aim of this programme is to enable students to effectively use English in their daily lives, and to become successful in their academic and business lives. The second foreign language programme is carried out in the same way as the English programme in languages such as Italian, French and Spanish.

Our rigorous and intensive study programme is supported by various social, cultural, artistic and athletic activities. Students are also encouraged to carry out activities that will help them acquire a sense of social community. Assessment and evaluations in high school are designed to help students reach their own goals, and prepare for the YKS exams in a well-informed way. Starting from Grade 9, teachers carry out a study programme for YKS exams. Furthermore, learning is extended through after school programmes and individual or group weekend study hours.

Learning Environment in High School

Starting from the high school, students go to their teacher’s classroom, which is individually designed for the needs of that lesson or teacher. As a result, students become active members throughout their learning journeys; and teachers guide them, while adopting the role of a facilitator. Işıkkent School approaches education as a whole, involving both a learning process and academic results, from preschool to the end of high school, and grounds its understanding and practices on a holistic approach. The school does not only evaluate knowledge through assessment tools, which are used to measure student success. It involves standards to assess comprehension, self-expression, interpretation, analysis-synthesis and evaluation skills. Through diverse implementations enriched with international programmes, what the student has/has not learned as well as the challenges that have interrupted learning are specified for the planning of compensatory studies, which aim to make up for the missing knowledge.

Our high school provides a learning environment that leads to the development of individuals, who want to be life-long learners, know how to think and work through scientific methods, and are able to apply their knowledge & skills in daily life.