Our school is built of bricks and mortar set amongst foliage and soil, but what happens in these spaces is of incalculable importance.
Dear Community,
As a Section 21 not-for-profit educational entity, every financial decision that WIS makes is focused on the fulfilment of our school’s mission “To develop the full potential of each student in a stimulating environment of academic excellence, cultural diversity and active social responsibility to become internationally-minded independent thinkers.”
Like most entities, our annual budget contains two main categories: operating expenses and capital expenses.
Operations
Our school’s operating expenditure remains very close to our revenue gained from tuition and enrollment fees and amounts to approximately 82% staffing costs, 12% general overheads, 3% depreciation, 2% educational supplies, and just under 2% professional development.
Capital
Whereas tuition covers the running cost of the school, WIS charges a Capital Levy fee which goes towards capital improvements and maintenance. This year’s capital levy will generate just over N$3.15 million. Our anticipated capital budget is N$3.3 million. Of that, N$500,000 will be for classroom upgrades, N$700,000 for technology upgrades, and the remaining N$2 million will be spent on the WIS Cool Classroom Campaign and a new maintenance/storage/cleaning workshop. We are immensely thankful to the US State Department Office of Overseas Schools for their full financial support of our improved security perimeter fence project.
The cost of our Air Conditioning/Cool Classroom Campaign and the workshop itself is in excess of the N$2 million we have on hand in this school year’s capital budget. We are prioritising our Cool Classroom Campaign, and are therefore commencing fundraising for this purpose.
Cool Classrooms Campaign
The school and the WIS Parent Network are committed to doing all that they possibly can to ensure that all WIS classrooms are maintained at optimal classroom temperatures to support student learning. With temperatures rising year after year, it has become increasingly challenging for our children and their teachers to focus and thrive in the stifling heat. Our goal is simple but impactful: to install sustainable cooling solutions in every classroom at WIS.
To make this vision a reality, we are seeking your support. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to providing our children with an optimal learning environment. There are 49 learning spaces on campus in need of cooling.
Next Steps:
The WIS Board of Directors is committed to the success of this project, and the administration is budgeting for the anticipated additional energy expense - which will likely amount to approximately 600,000 per year until we expand our current solar power yield. To ensure both value and quality, we have a team of volunteer parent technical experts (Jorn Greiter, Sethu Kalili, Edmund Nel, Vincent Bridgens) who are presently drafting and will adjudicate the open tender for this project. The RFP adjudication will likely take place in January 2024 and construction will likely begin in February.
Some people have asked how it is that the cost of this project will average out to be approximately N$25,000 per classroom. We won’t know the specifics until we receive the actual tenders, but here is an estimated breakdown:
N$800,000 for material and installation of certified A++ efficiency air conditioners with heating and cooling capacity
N$200,000 for upgrades to our electricity and cabling
N$200,000 for environmental and insulation upgrades
Here's how you can help:
1. **Adopt a Classroom**:
Your generous contribution of N$25,000 will directly fund the installation of an air conditioning unit in a single classroom. The school will install a plaque on the side of the air conditioner with your name and/or an inspirational quote in recognition of your gift. (This "Adopt a Classroom" way to help can be accomplished either through individuals' gifts or by groups of parents donating together).
2. **Support WIS Integrated Cooling Systems**:
Your generous contribution of any amount that you’re able to give, will be put towards necessary upgrades of the campus electrical infrastructure as well as integrated non-A/C cooling strategies such as improved insulation and tree cover. Every dollar counts, and together, we can make a sustainable difference to WIS’s learning environment for years to come.
Donations can be paid directly into our bank account using the Reference: COOLKIDS with your name.
Bank details are as follows: Bank Windhoek Limited Account name: Windhoek International School Account number: 1177599901 Branch: Windhoek 481-972 Please send your Proof of Payment to Ms Yolanda at yvisser@wis.edu.na |
Design and Makerspace and the WIS Campus Master Plan
The current workshop is located in the very heart of our secondary school. Moving it to a purpose-built and new location will make way for a new Design Makerspace to be located where the current building now stands. This will do wonders for our secondary students’ learning experience. Stay tuned for more details.
In 2018, the school conducted a thorough Campus Master Planning Process. These campus master plans are linked here. Due to financial shortfalls and then the disruption of the pandemic, these plans had to be put on hold. In 2024, we will now embark upon a Strategic Planning Process in 2024 which will define what we want our school to become, and how we plan to achieve it. As they say, plans will change - but planning and prioritisation is essential!
Annual General Meeting and Audited Financials
Please put the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on your calendar. It will be the evening of Wednesday 31st January. At this meeting, we will share the school’s annual audited financials for adoption, report on the school’s 2023 performance, and discuss plans for our school’s future.
Our future is bright!
Sincerely,
Ethan Van Drunen
Director