I’ve been “doing education” for my entire life, so much of what I believe or draw from when making decisions is just part of me. Recently, I was asked the school’s philosophy behind one of my opinions. It took me a while to be able to formulate the response. While I was at the Flourishing Schools Institute last week, one of the speakers said something that caused me to have one of those “that’s it!” reactions. She said, “People before process or policy.” 

Now, what did she mean by that? I’d say that this one phrase sums up ICSV’s philosophy of education. We have worked hard to put into place processes to make things run smoothly in order to provide a satisfying experience for the community. We also have policies that guide our decisions. They are to help provide stability and consistency in how we do things. On the other hand, we are not a black and white school. For every situation, we try to take into account the student or family that will be affected by the policy or procedure. 

We believe that we are here to love and nurture our students. We seek to model a community of respect and appreciation for each other. It is impossible to put all of these transactions into a single box. Students come to us from over 60 different countries. They have each experienced unique situations while growing up, from moving multiple times to experiencing great personal loss. It’s not easy living in a “gray” world. It can get messy. But it’s what we believe is the best way to love our families. 

Do we always make the best decisions? Probably not. Can you trust our intentions behind each one – absolutely! One of the benefits of having served at ICSV for eight years is that I believe the school community has grown to trust me. I try very hard to follow through on what I say I will do. I try to be transparent and forthcoming as much as possible. I try to live a life of integrity and to model Christian character. I hope that your experience with the school has demonstrated this desire. 

But, we are all flawed people. This same speaker that said, “people before process and policy” also said, “there is freedom in being flawed.” As human beings, we cannot be perfect all the time, but my personal prayer is that God would be there in all of the hundreds of decisions that I must make every day. I would add that I pray that ICSV will always put “people before process and policy.” Welcome to the world of “the gray areas.”

Because of His Faithfulness,

Dr. Sharon Brobst. Director 

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about how it is possible for people from over 60 countries to get along so well here at ICSV. When people come from all around the world, there can be language issues, cultural misunderstandings, or even ignorance that there are such differences.

I can think of numerous times when working with our Austrian architect firm for the design of the new building that we thought we understood each other, but we really didn’t. One easy example is when I tried to explain how the classrooms would be set up. I even showed them in a diagram where I thought the teachers might place their desk in the classroom and took them to see our current classrooms. Each time they’d come back with a design with the teacher desk up front right in the middle of the room. I’d again tell them that it will probably not go there, etc. Then one day I added that the teacher would need their desktop computer at the back or side, but that they would still need access to the projector, etc. from the front. A light bulb went off in their heads when they said, “Doesn’t the teacher sit at the front of the room while they teach?” I told them that they walk around the room, but never just sit at the front of the room. That one question explained the lack of communication. We both had our own preconceived idea of how a teacher operates in their classroom. Evidently, in a traditional Austrian classroom, teachers stay seated while teaching. It never occurred to me that this was the case, and it never occurred to them that it wasn’t.

When we survey our alumni, one of the things that they mention as a highlight of their time at ICSV is having gone to school with students from all different nations. In a world where countries are at war and people are being persecuted for their beliefs, one of our core values is to teach respect for all individuals. For some, this is a new experience. Be assured that we work hard to instill in our students a love and acceptance of those who are different from themselves. You never know just who in our student body today might be in a position as an adult to change government policy or to work for the rights of the underprivileged. As we learn how to get along in spite of our differences, we grow to appreciate others because of our differences! ICSV sure is a special place.

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon Brobst, Director

The activities of this week make me feel like ICSV is back to normal. On Thursday, we were able to host a Pastors’ Day where local pastors were invited to visit the campus and to learn more about how ICSV can partner with their families in the education of their children. ICSV is still the only English-speaking Christian school in Vienna, so we feel a responsibility to these church kids. They first enjoyed our elementary chapel service as they sang along with the kids and tried to keep up with all the hand motions. They then enjoyed a tour of the school and a light continental breakfast with a presentation by our advancement director, Nari Kim, and some special words from our new board chair, Dr. Anna Gryskiewicz. 

On Friday, we were able to host our first Parent Coffee in the DWT room in the building next door. It has been so nice having parents back on campus, at the Secondary and Elementary Back to School events, and now during this time of fellowship. I want to apologize for not being present at the Elementary Back to School night. After fighting off Covid for 2 ½ years, my husband and I finally succumbed, which knocked us off our feet. It is so good to be back at school again, even though we are told that it will take several more weeks to truly gain our strength back. Ms. Fitcher told me that the children had a lot of fun getting their passports stamped as they served as tour guides for their parents.

At the same time as these on-campus events were happening, our high school leaders traveled to Budapest for the ACSI Student Leadership Conference. ACSI is the Association of Christian Schools International, one of our accrediting bodies. Each year they host this conference that allows our student leaders to fellowship with students from other international schools and to learn how they can use their leadership skills to benefit the school. The ICSV students have consistently been seen by the other schools as leaders among the students who attend. It is so nice that we can freely travel, allowing our students these special activities that will impact them for the rest of their lives. 

I hear that Covid numbers are again on the rise. It is my prayer that we will be able to continue to experience all of the extra activities that make ICSV so special. I encourage you to take part as often as you are able.

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon Brobst, Director   

Queen Elizabeth passed away last week after serving her country for 70 years. It is hard to imagine that she ruled longer than most of us have been alive. I had the privilege of asking two Englishmen this past weekend for their take on her death. They both spoke very highly of her commitment to service and of her ever-growing faith in Jesus Christ. During her reign, she shared with us a glimpse of what her faith meant to her. In her 2011 Christmas message she said, “Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves — from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive… It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.”

In preparation for her funeral, the queen chose every reading and song to be used during the weeklong remembrance of her life. On Wednesday, as her body was carried to Westminster Hall, there was a short service during which there were numerous Bible readings. One came from John chapter 14 where Jesus was talking with His disciples in anticipation of His death. It said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

It is comforting to know that Queen Elizabeth II had a deep faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was able to serve for so long because of her sincere dedication to God and country. We can all learn from her amazing example.

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon Brobst, Director

Image by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash