Now What 2022/2023
Dear Parents or Guardians,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you as new members of the school community. We are proud of the long tradition that the school has for providing a caring learning environment for young people from around the world, and hope that you will soon get to experience it for yourselves.
As you are about to join the VIS community in August, we would like to give you access to more vital information about our school in the communication below. Please take some time to read through all sections so that you are well prepared for your child's first day of school.
Keep in mind that some of the aspects mentioned below may change over the summer due to the uncertain evolution of COVID-19 in Austria, therefore we kindly advise you to revisit the page as we will update the information accordingly before the beginning of the school year.
During the New Student Orientation Day, our students will be introduced to both Primary and Secondary procedures for the first few days of school. We also recommend that you check out the details regarding the New Family Programme, which is offered by our Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) to help with your transition to Vienna.
We look forward to meeting you for the New Student Orientation Day on Monday, 22 August 2022. Please see more detailed information on the New Student Orientation Day schedules below and ensure to meet us there.
Click on the following links below and get directly to your prefered section:
Secondary School students only: | |||
The New Student Orientation Day takes place on on Monday, 22 August 2022. This day provides an opportunity to assist our new students and their families with transitioning into the VIS community so they can have a positive start. To support this transition, students and their families will have the chance to meet with their class teachers as well as other staff and students, familiarize themselves with the facilities, and receive some important information in advance of the first day of school. Please see the overview of the day below and feel free to email Admissions admissions(at)vis.ac.at if you have any questions.
Primary School families will arrive to school according to the staggered starting times listed below:
- Early Learning Centre (8:30)
- Grade Primary (9:00)
- Grade 1 (09:30)
- Grade 2 (10:00)
- Grade 3 (10:30)
- Grade 4 (11:00)
- Grade 5 (11:30)
Please proceed down the Mall and follow the signs towards your child's grade level table and check in with one of our New Student Ambassadors seated at the marked tables. Our Ambassador team and staff will be on hand to help guide you to classes where you will meet the classroom teacher, ELA teachers, counsellors and Learning Support staff. Afterwards, they will take you on a tour of the school. The orientation should last approximately 75 minutes.
New Families Meet Primary Principals
While the school hosts a New Student Induction Day in August, new families are also welcome to attend meetings with the Primary School Principal and Deputy Principal in the first few weeks of school. These meetings are a chance to meet the Primary Leadership Team and to ask any questions and address any needs from transition to the Primary School. The meetings are hosted by grade and take place on the following dates:
- Friday, 1 September (8:30-9:30) - ELC to Grade 1 families
- Friday, 8 September (8:30-9:30) - Grade 2 to Grade 5 families
A Guide to Vienna for New Students
Be sure to check out the Primary Student Council's Guide to Vienna for New Students - produced by students, for students.
- Grade 6-8 students will meet in the Octagon at 8:30, with their laptops. During the morning, they will meet with their Grade Level Leader, and have an opportunity to tour the school with a student from their Homeroom. They will also set up their laptops, ready for the first day of school. Parents can then meet their children at the gate at 10:45.
- Grade 9-12 students will meet in the Octagon at 10:30, with their laptops. During the morning, they will meet with their Grade Level Leader, and have an opportunity to tour the school with a student from their Homeroom. They will also set up their laptops, ready for the first day of school. Parents can then meet their children at the gate at 12:00.
PLATFORM | PURPOSE | ACCESS |
Website | General information | Public |
| SMS | Emergency information | Directly to parents |
ManageBac |
Portal to see the student’s individual progress | Username & password (provided first day of school) |
Intranet |
Portal for all school related information | Username & password (same as for ManageBac) |
| Weekly Newsletter | Information on upcoming school events | Direct email to parents |
| Parent Teacher Student Conferences | Meet the teachers and discuss the student’s individual progress | Online invitation for registration will be provided close to the event |
| School Events | Family Orientation Morning, Parent Orientation Evenings, General Assembly, Meet the Director, Curriculum Sessions, Seminars, Grade Events, PTA Events | TBD - Covid context permitting |
| School Boards | Information on upcoming school events | In school (Octagon) |
Social Media | Please follow us! | Public |
See here the calendar of the School Year 2022/2023
The School follows a cycle with A and B weeks, as presented in the school yearly calendar above. New parents will be provided with the logins to the VIS ManageBac, the main learning platform, where they can find the weekly schedule and other academic information. Parents can use the same credentials to login the VIS Intranet, the school communication platform, to check the Google calendar containing the school events throughout the school year. For the purpose of keeping the community safe, some of the community events will be cancelled this year and some will happen virtually. Please follow the weekly newsletter for more details regarding coming up school events or check out the Google calendar where will write "cancelled" or "postponed" before the title of each event on an on-going basis.
Thank you for providing the pictures necessary for issuing the Parent ID cards.
Primary School Parents will be receiving their Parent ID badge from their class teacher during the Orientation Day. For Secondary School, the Secondary Office will deliver the parents ID Badges to the students on their Orientation Day.
All parents must wear their VIS ID cards when entering the School premises and on campus. If you do not have a card, then access will be dependent upon providing identification to the security personnel who will issue a Visitor card. Please note that, due to the current regulations, parents can only access the school campus if they have a previously made appointment.
Please note that the photos uploaded on OpenApply will be used for your and your child's ID cards. Where Passport Photos are unavailable, ID cards will not be issued. Passport style photos should have the following properties: ratio of 3:4, colour, facing forward and showing the head and top of the shoulders only.
Student ID Cards are required when using Public Transport. They are issued once and renewed at the beginning of the year by the Primary Office. Kindly come to the Primary Office for the renewal. You will not receive a new one every year. Please look after it.
If your child is new to VIS attach a passport-sized photograph with paper-clip to this completed form, and submit to the Primary Office in a sealed envelope.
If your child has lost their ID, you must report it missing to a magistrate office (there is a Magistrat office in every district). The Magistrat will issue a Loss Report (“Verlustmeldung”) which you will have to submit to the Primary Office with a passport sized photograph so that we issue you a new Student ID.
If your child’s ID has been destroyed, you bring the destroyed ID and a new passport size photo to the office and we can issue you a new one.
If you have changed your address you will have to apply for a new ID card. Before applying, you will have to update the School with your new address by sending an email to change(at)vis.ac.at. Only after you've requested these changes you can apply for a new ID card.
All Secondary students are required to carry their Student EDU cards (Grades 6–12). The cards will automatically be processed by the School before a new student starts school as long as a suitable student photo and a Vienna address have been uploaded to OpenApply.
The student photo and EDU card will be used for many purposes in the School i.e. entering the school campus, school canteen, etc. and also as the official student ID for Secondary School students. Students starting throughout the academic year must ensure that the passport photo is uploaded at least 2,5 weeks before their first day of school.
However, if your child has lost their ID, you must report it missing to a magistrate office (there is a Magistrat in every district). The Magistrat will issue a Loss Report (“Verlustmeldung”) which you will have to submit to the Security Office. If the EDU card is damaged or lost, a replacement fee of 20 Euros is charged.
If you have changed your address you will have to apply for a new ID card. Before applying, you will have to update the School with your new address by sending an email to change(at)vis.ac.at. Only after you've requested these changes you can apply for a new ID card.
Our students do not wear school uniforms, as we are encouraging them to live out their individual personalities and exercise freedom of expression.
At our School, we harness learning and teaching technologies to support inquiring, inspired and involved lifelong learners. To ensure this, we are committed to policies and practices which entrust that our community members:
- Are empowered as a learning community to become digitally fluent through safe, balanced and discerning use of digital technologies.
- Will have equitable access to authentic learning experiences through the purposeful use of learning and teaching technologies.
- Are inspired to inquire, invent and solve problems in local and global contexts using digital technologies.
- Are supported in becoming responsible, self-directed and reflective users of technology through ongoing opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Embrace an open-minded attitude towards working innovatively with digital tools to optimize learning at VIS.
The Connected Learning Programme (CLP) begins with ensuring that all students have access to the right technological tools that are both developmentally appropriate and suitable to the breadth of learning in their area. The table below explains which devices students will access:
- Recommended entry level device - MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) with an english International Keyboard
- Minimum required operating system - macOS Big Sur
Families wishing to order a new Macbook can go through our preferred vendor, Tools at Work. We have worked with them to secure a competitive price and level of support.
Please ensure to order your child’s new laptop in a timely manner so that it arrives in time for your child to bring it to school for the New Student Orientation Day on Monday, 22 August 2022.
While families can opt for platforms not recommended by VIS, the school strongly advises families to choose Apple for the following reasons:
- Based on the breadth of our curriculum and range of tasks students engage in, applications available through Apple have been most supportive of student learning. Over time, the school has acquired licenses for these applications and shares them with students free of charge through our device management infrastructure, thus eliminating the need for families to find and install the applications themselves.
- Apple’s OS and the applications we use to support the curriculum are generally developmentally more appropriate and intuitive for children across the school.
- Teachers at VIS have built up a knowledge base on how best to use such applications to support learning. Similarly, our IT department has built up the knowledge base and infrastructure to support students on the Mac platform.
- When properly cared for, Macs function and perform well over a long period of time. Students need a device that will support their learning over many years and, in our experience, Apple’s devices do so with less need for repair, upgrading or replacement.
- Finally, Apple also provides a thorough set of parental controls to help support safer, more sensible and responsible use of the device. Parents can easily administer the device, set controls on apps that can be downloaded, set and monitor web activity, and even control screen time. The school works with families to help set up these controls through workshops and other resources.
Grades 4 & 5: Lockable storage and charging trolleys are available for all students in Grades 4 & 5. Families have the following options when it comes to charging and transportation back and forth between home and school:
- Child is allowed to take the device back and forth between home and school on a regular basis. The charging cable will not be installed in the trolley unless the family purchases a second charging cable and requests it be installed.
- Child is allowed to take the device home on weekends and holidays. The charging cable will be installed in the trolley at the beginning of the year and returned at the end of the year.
- Child is not allowed to take device home until the end of the year. The charging cable will be installed in the trolley at the beginning of the year and returned at the end of the year.
Grades 6 - 12: Students can store laptops in their lockers when needed but are encouraged to bring them home every night and on holidays. Students are expected to charge their devices at home in preparation for the next day’s learning.
Dear parents,
The Medical Department prepared some recommendations for you before your child/ren start with school/ kindergarden in Vienna
1) Register your family with a General Practitioner (German: Hausarzt). A GP is the first point of contact if you/your child/ren get sick and need medical treatment/ attention, except medical emergency/accident.
- the GP treats children from 1-18 years and adults
- writes you off sick from work
- refers you (if necessary) to a specialist
- amongst others offers blood checks, injections, infusions, vaccinations, ECG, changing of dressings, prescription, referrals…
2) Register with a pediatrician for your child/ren (treats children from baby age till 18 years).
On the website www.praxisplan.at (in different languages) you will find all medical doctors in Vienna, structured by speciality and other criterias of general interest.
3) In case of a medical emergency, please call 144! You find here for download a “Quick Guide” the medical department compiled for community's use, including contacts of emergency/accident/medical units and children clinics in Vienna.
4) In Austria, vaccination is not mandatory. Below you find the link to recommended vaccinations according the Austrian vaccination scheme. It is advisable to check the immunization card of your child with the GP/ pediatrician to make sure it is up to date. VIS has no medical requirements in regards to vaccinations and does not provide the service of vaccinations in school.
- https://www.wien.gv.at/english/health/vaccination/plan/babies.html
- https://www.wien.gv.at/english/health/vaccination/plan/schoolchildren.html
5) Given the non-specific symptoms of a COVID-19 infection (sore throat, cough, fatigue, diarrhea, chills, headache, fever…) VIS is following a no symptom policy. You are welcome to follow this link for more information about the COVID-19 situation in Austria, hotlines, information on social affairs, health, care and consumer protection issues.
Please be aware that the school medical services are not a GP´s office. According to Austrian law, the school Medical Department provides preventive measures and First Aid mainly. Extensive examinations, diagnostics (e.g. X- ray), therapeutic services and treatments are not within the scope of practice. Thus, handing out prescriptions or referrals to medical specialists is not permitted. Unfortunately we cannot provide these services.
Here at Vienna International School we strive to offer our students a unique learning experience that goes across and beyond the curriculum. We believe that the learning takes place in the classroom but also outside it. Considering our mission, to support our students to succeed by reaching their individual potential, we have developed the VIS Extra-Curricular Programmes that combine a great range of activities, designed to help our students become all rounded individuals, with defined passions and highly developed skills. You are welcome to see below which Programmes are available for your child according to the Grade level he/ she is in and follow the weekly newsletter for details regarding enrolment.
SPORTBOX offers a varied After School Activity program for all students throughout the school year. There are sport activities as well as non-sport activities with different sports, creative arts, technology education and academic enriching activities. All activities for Primary students from Grade Primary to Grade 5 take place from 15:15 to 16:15. The students meet at 15:00 at Cafeteria (Grade P and 1 will be brought by their teacher or picked up by our attendance coach) and go to their activities. For Secondary students there are some sport activities supplementary to competitive sport and especially technical activities (Formula 1, Digital Painting, Python) which starts at 15:15 or 16:30, the students go their activities themselves.
The final program will be published at the begin of August as well as all information about booking and fees. Please read more details about the activities offered this semester by accessing the VIS Intranet* → Extra-Curricular Programmes → After School Activities, along with the registration details. By the current state we expect no further restrictions due to COVID-19. In case of lockdown or cancellations of courses from our side, we guarantee a full refund.
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
VIS offers a range of sports to allow the students to experience and enjoy a balanced programme, which aims to develop an all round student-athlete. The role of the Competitive Sports Programme is to extend and supplement the regular curricular programmes of the School. Its aim is not only to promote excellence in sporting achievement, but also to cultivate the qualities of good sportsmanship, cooperation, team work, respect for others, both on and off the field, and the ability to both win and lose with grace. To this end, all our athletes are expected to exhibit the highest standards of responsibility and behaviour in their pursuit of sporting excellence. We consider this programme an integral part of your child‘s education, and hope that you will encourage your child to take part.
Please access the VIS Intranet → Extra-Curricular Programmes → Competitive Sports to read about the sport activities offered this season.
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
The Extended Day Programme provides VIS students from ELC to Grade 5 a welcoming and inclusive programme of supervised care and age-appropriate activities which support their learning and well-being outside the core school day. For families requiring supervision for their children after 14:55 the School offers a fee-based afternoon supervision and care option from 15:00 to 17:30. A healthy snack and drink are provided through the school’s catering provider. For more information and registrations, please access the VIS Intranet → Extra-Curricular Programmes → Extended Day Programme.
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
VIS was a pioneer amongst international schools in recognizing the importance of additive bilingualism - that is, the continuing development of our students‘ home languages while at the same time learning the school language of English. A large number of research studies show very clearly that bilingualism can increase children’s language abilities and help their progress in school. Both the Primary and Secondary School at VIS are truly international in that the majority of our students speak a language other than English as their first language. Across the School, the Mother Tongue programme has students from Grade Primary - Grade 12 learning in around 30 different languages. Please read more information about the Mother Tongue Programme by accessing the VIS Intranet → Extra-Curricular Programmes → Mother Tongue.
Primary School:
- Grade Primary - Grade 5: pypmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at
Secondary School:
- Grade 6 - Grade 10: mypmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at
- Grade 11 - Grade 12: dpmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
Latin classes are taught in English, based on the international course program of the Cambridge Latin Course. The curriculum of the 4-year Latin program at VIS usually starts in Grade 7. The Diploma at the end of Grade 10 is officially recognized as Austrian Matura Equivalence in the subject Latin. Latin is also a prerequisite for the study of certain subjects at university, especially in Austria (law, medicine, languages, history etc.) Please read more information about the Latin Programme by accessing the VIS Intranet → Extra-Curricular Programmes → Mother Tongue.
Grade 6-Grade 10: mypmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at
Grade 11-Grade 12: dpmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
The Vienna International School prides itself on a very strong and successful Performing Arts Programme. From music to visual and performing arts, the students have the ability to immerse themselves in the genre that best suits their talent. With highly qualified and dedicated artists and musicians as teachers, the students are able to develop and hone their skills, which allows them express themselves as confident and competent artists. We offer various additional programmes for students, that are further interested: choirs, a variety of instrumental ensembles, as well as theater productions.
Please read more information about the Performing Arts Programme by accessing the VIS Intranet → Extra-Curricular Programmes → Performing Arts.
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
We are proud to be able to offer you top class instrumental and vocal tuition by well-qualified instructors on the VIS campus. Last year, we taught over 340 VIS students on 14 different instruments and voice. These students presented their musicianship on numerous occasions, i.e. in concerts, musicals, class recitals, organised school trips as well as in the IB programme. For more information and registration, please access the VIS Intranet → Extra-Curricular Programmes → VISMA Instrumental Music Programme.
* to access the VIS Intranet, please use the same logins (user and password) as for ManageBac (provided on first day of school)
Please note that the Extra-Curricular Programmes might suffer changes this year due to the existing regulations in place, aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19.
VIS is glad to offer a healthy lunch menu to its students. Our outsourced Catering Service Eurest is supporting us in providing a healthy, nutritionally balanced meal and snacks which are designed to enrich our students' bodies and physical development.
Several changes have been made to meet the national guidelines and ensure our students safety during lunch time:
- Students will be assigned dedicated seating per grade level.
- An additional Snack Point has been created for Secondary students to purchase cold snacks during lunch time and break time.
- More automatic vending machines will be distributed around the building.
- Additional outdoor seating will be provided for students who want to eat outside.
(You can opt for your child to have contracted lunch or you can prepare packed lunch for your child, at your best convenience.)
Detailed information about the Catering Service
Register here and return to Mr. Andrew Warren at Andrew.Warren(at)eurest.at.
The VIS and its partner Blaguss take this concern off your hands by offering optional first-class bussing for your child. Daily VIS school buses, in the morning and afternoon, ensure punctual, reliable and safe transportation. The school bus service covers a wide area within Vienna and Klosterneuburg. Starting this school year, parents can track the exact location of the bus online (login data will be sent to the parents after payment.) For more information, please contact company Blaguss by sending an email to vis(at)blaguss.com.
The City of Vienna has a comprehensive public transport system run by the Wiener Linien (Public Transportation Routes). In order to obtain a student transport pass you need the student ID card, which can only be issued when school starts. To use public transport, you can choose from the following ticket options.
Our school is easily reachable by U1 subway, situated right next to the Kagran U-bahn station.
Some of the big questions when moving to a new country or new school are ‘What is the school like?’ and ‘Who will I know?’ Our students understand what this is like as many have experienced this themselves. The VIS Ambassador programme sets out to make sure your child will have the answer to this question.
On their first day of school, new students will be assigned a Homeroom Ambassador. This student will be their key person at VIS as they settle in. They will meet them on the morning of the first full day of school and show them around. The Homeroom Ambassador’s role is to make your child feel part of the school, and to spend time with them while they begin the process of making connections with the students that will eventually become their friends.
If you have questions about the VIS Ambassador Programme please feel free to contact the Secondary School Counsellor at khantsch(at)vis.ac.at.
Welcome!
The VIS New Family Programme is coordinated by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). This popular and important network pairs up new families with an established volunteer family who already has some experience with the school and living in Vienna. The purpose of this programme is to assist you in settling in by answering your questions and helping you to find further information and resources. The family might share the same language, nationality, or have children in the same grades.
Due to GDPR regulations in Europe, we are not allowed to initiate contact with you for this specific programme via email without your consent. As such, we encourage you to please fill out the New Family Form by following this link so that we can find a suitable liaison to help answer your questions. There is a large network of New Family Welcome Sponsor Families willing and ready to answer your questions as you prepare for your move this summer. In fact, many longtime friendships have been forged from this programme. We would love for you to take advantage of the numerous people willing to help you settle in, for example the PTA meetings that are incorporated in the school's Google calendar.
We are excited to have you as part of the VIS community. Save the date Saturday, 3 September for the Welcome Picnic! In the meantime, please also join our active PTA Facebook page: "PTA VIS" with over 700 members! Welcome to VIS!
The VIS Board is charged with strategic planning, policy setting and overall management and administration of the Association in accordance with law and the Statutes. In performing their tasks, Board Members have as their objective the well-understood interests of the Vienna International School and the excellence of education for its pupils.The Board of Governors sees itself a part of the VIS community and invites all members of the community to reach out regarding matters of governance via email at boardofgovernors(at)vis.ac.at.
The need for good communication between the VIS Board of Governors and the VIS community as a whole is vital to the well-being of the School community. The Board knows that transparency and open communication is required and we trust that these measures will provide for a constructive dialogue. Every year, the School organises a General Assembly where the report of the previous school year will be communicated, along with the future plans and projections. The community is very welcome to participate in the General Assembly, as well to vote for the parents candidates for the opened Board positions.
In order to familiarise yourself with our facilities here at Vienna International School, please take some time to experience our virtual tour. Take a virtual walk through our beautiful premises by
- following the dots to navigate your way through our school campus and building,
- choosing from school campus ‘highlights’ at the bottom of the screen,
- clicking the 'Play' button to have the full 360-experience, or
- taking a bird’s-eye view of our building by selecting the 'Dollhouse' or 'Floorplan' options.
If you're eager to find out more about VIS, you are welcome to follow us on Social Media to get an insight into our school life. Please follow us by clicking on the icons below!
