If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to lead a new school in the middle of a pandemic, you may want to put yourselves in the shoes of Mr. Heath Bailey, the founding principal of Vernus International School. In our exclusive interview, Mr. Bailey tells us what it was like opening the school’s doors as we grappled with Covid-19, as well as what parents can expect when enrolling their children into VIS.

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What was it like leading a new school during the Covid-19 pandemic?

This school year has been an adjustment for all stakeholders. The pandemic has forced school leaders to focus more time on managing safety protocols and compliance procedures. As a school community, our ultimate goal is to deliver high-quality education. However, in these unprecedented and challenging times, our primary concern is to keep our students and staff safe. Our students and parents have been wonderfully patient, trusting, and understanding. Their support has made a world of difference and allowed for a successful start to a new way of educating young people.

 Where do you see VIS in the next two years? What programs are you looking to implement?

We feel VIS is exactly what parents are looking for in regards to a different educational experience. Our approach to teaching and learning, along with our special offerings has attracted students from all around Dubai. We are growing fast and look to accommodate 400+ students next Fall.

We have carefully recruited the best teachers who come to us with an array of diverse talents. All of our programs and extra-curricular activities provide students the relevance and relationship to real-world problems and challenges.

Art & Music are integral to your curriculum. Why is this important that schools enrich young students in this field?

Our belief in tapping into a child’s interests and talents is the best way to engage and develop them into lifelong learners. The Arts are implemented across all content areas and boosts participation and ultimately their overall achievement.

What does VIS do to promote cultural diversity on campus?

The wealth of VIS is our diverse school community. Culturally responsive education and purposeful pedagogical practices are embedded in every lesson. Our students have been made aware of the rich cultural currency that makes up their school. We are very fortunate to have teachers that value diversity and who are proficient and competent culturally.

What can parents expect when enrolling their children into VIS?

Our parents will immediately notice an unwavering commitment to developing critical thinkers. They will quickly understand that VIS is not a traditional school, but instead a system that has been reimagined to educate the whole child. This holistic approach to teaching will be evidenced by students taking ownership of their learning.

Since September, we have been fortunate to see significant gains in our student’s understanding of our mission to develop young global leaders who will soon make a positive impact in their world. Just recently, our Academic Coordinator and I met with representatives from Dubai Municipality’s Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Department to establish a partnership. The outcome of this meeting was great! On 2 February, VIS students will be leading the charge in Dubai for World Wetlands Day.

It is our job to provide them access and resources. Parents can expect their children to lead, change, sustain, and better their world.