I want to start by talking about a story about someone who was once sitting in a school as you are. Her name is Yusra Mardini.

When she was a teenager, Yusra was a competitive swimmer in her home country of Syria. She was incredibly talented, representing her country on the international stage. But her dreams were shattered when the war in Syria made it impossible for her and her family to live safely. In 2015, Yusra and her sister decided they had no choice but to flee. They joined a small group of people trying to cross from Turkey to Greece in a tiny dinghy.

Halfway through the journey, the boat’s engine failed. The dinghy, built for seven, was carrying twenty people. It started to take on water, and panic set in. Most people would have given up, but Yusra, with her sister and two others who could swim, jumped into the water. For over three and a half hours, they swam alongside the boat, holding onto ropes, kicking and pushing it toward the shore. They were exhausted, their muscles screaming, but they did not stop. They pushed that tiny boat and all its passengers to safety on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Yusra’s story is one of incredible resilience and courage. She didn’t just save herself; she saved others. She went on to find a new home in Berlin, where she continued her swimming training. A year later, she competed in the Rio 2016 Olympics as part of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team. She didn’t win a medal, but her participation was a victory in itself—a testament to her determination and a symbol of hope for millions of people. She used her experience not just to survive but to create impact, to show the world that refugees are not defined by their circumstances but by their humanity and strength.

(insert video of H-FARM H-IS in rotation happy students that are studying doing sport and collaborating on projects and going exploring italy during their boarding week end or excursions )

Yusra Mardini is not here today, but I am. My name is Antonello Barbaro, and I have the great honour of serving all of you as the Director General of our schools. I am also a father of two, Sofia and Tommaso, and husband to Cristina. My own family’s most important mission is to grow and learn, just like yours.

Yusra’s story isn’t just a tale of the extraordinary; it’s a mirror reflecting the potential that lies within each of you. She leveraged her skills—the swimming she learned and honed over years—to take action and help others. She drew strength from her relationships—her sister, her fellow travellers—to overcome an impossible situation. And she transformed her personal challenge into an opportunity to be an ambassador for humanity.

This is what we want for you. This is why we are here.

You are at a unique moment in your lives, a moment of incredible growth. Over the next few years, you will invest in yourselves, not just academically but personally. You will build your self-confidence, learn to be balanced, and take care of your physical and mental well-being. Think of it this way: your self-confidence is like a muscle. The more you use it, by trying new things, asking questions, or speaking up, the stronger it becomes.

You will also forge incredible relationships here. The friends sitting next to you, the teachers who guide you—these connections can last a lifetime. They are your allies, your sounding boards, and your support system. Just like Yusra, you will face challenges, and these relationships will be your strength.

This is also the time to start acting as leaders in the areas you care about most. Leadership isn’t just about giving orders. It’s about helping others, seeing the bigger picture, and moving people toward a common good. It’s about being the person who helps a new student feel at home, who organises a fundraiser for a cause you believe in, or who simply listens when a friend needs a hand.

And crucially, you are all becoming ambassadors for our shared humanity. Our school is a microcosm of the world, with over 50 nationalities represented. You will learn that differences—whether in culture, background, or perspective—are not weaknesses. They are strengths. They are what allow us to learn from one another, to see the world from different angles, and to become more compassionate and empathetic people. You are all learning to be diplomats, bridging divides and integrating new points of view.

(INSERT three images on Space exploration, longevity, quantum computers)

The world you are preparing to enter is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s a world where space exploration will open new frontiers, where a new era of longevity will be within our grasp thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and science, and where technology—from quantum computing to artificial intelligence—will help us solve problems once considered impossible, like climate change.

You should feel excited about this future. It is a future ripe with possibility, and it belongs to you.

But I know that with this excitement can come fear and doubt. I know that sometimes, you might be asking yourself questions like:

• “Can I make it?” Will I be smart enough? Will I be successful?
• “What if I fail?” What if I get a bad grade, or make a mistake in a presentation, or don’t get along with someone?
• “Do I belong here?” Am I good enough to be in this school with these amazing people? What if I’m not as talented as my peers?
• “How can I possibly make a difference?” The world’s problems are so big. My actions feel so small.

These are not weaknesses; they are natural human questions. And I want you to know that the essence of H-FARM International School is designed to help you answer them.

This school is not just a collection of buildings. It is a community of top-notch professional educators: wonderful teachers, learning experts, boarding parents, and specialists in physical and mental health, language acquisition, STEM, and the arts. We are all here for you. We are all here to help you get unstuck, to find your path, and to discover your own unique superpowers.

Remember Yusra? She didn’t know she could push a boat for three and a half hours until she had to. She didn’t know she would become an Olympic athlete. She leveraged what she had—her skills, her resilience, her relationships—and turned a moment of crisis into a moment of triumph. You will also experience moments of crisis, doubt, and challenge. And just like Yusra, you can use the resources and people around you to overcome them. Your school will always be here for you.

You, along with your parents, chose this school because its mission is to “Empower students to transform innovation into human progress for a better society.” That mission is not just a phrase on a poster; it is our promise to you.

My personal suggestion to you, the single most important objective in our school, is this: every day, become better than your previous best in one area or another. It’s not about being the best in the class or the best in the school. It’s about becoming a better version of yourself, one small step at a time.

We are ready to work together with you to build a more just, joyful, and sustainable world. Thank you.

In this letter, I am delighted to share a number of developments in the school community dedicated to the kind of education which will allow each of our children to flourish.

First of all let me thank you for trusting us for the education of your children, In february already 90% of our families re-enrolled their children for the academic year 24/25 (best result ever) and this is a strong signal of appreciation for the quality, professionalism and dedication our teachers are devoting every day to nurture our children. At the same time we are proud of the many admission requests we are receiving from Italy and from around the world and we look forward to welcoming those students at the end of August. We are particularly proud of our growth and our diversity as a community because it will allow us to provide ever more enriching international educational opportunities for our students.

In this regard, August sees the completion of the two-year development programme we have set up with Mr Conan De Wilde, who will complete his tenure as Head of School at the Venice Campus and Head of K12 to take on the role of Chair of the H-IS Educational Council. Mr De Wilde’s  mandate was to further improve the quality and reliability of education and to provide the resources necessary for this. Over the past 2 years the school has continued to improve its educational attainment, its range of co-curriculars, and has created a culture of reflective practice based on high quality data so that we can advance our distinctiveness whilst integrating sound evidence-based practices. Most of all he believes in the intrinsic value of the wonderful human beings – staff and students alike – who fill our days with meaning. We wish Mr De Wilde well as he returns to  Switzerland and we look forward to working with him next year in his role as Chair of the H-IS Educational Council as we continue the enrichment of our students’ learning  experiences.

I am also delighted to endorse the recommendation of Mr De Wilde to appoint a new Head of School in Venice, as he passes the baton to Mr Emiliano Cori. Mr De Wilde and Mr Cori have worked extremely closely this year allowing for a seamless transition for students, parents and teachers. Those of us who know Mr Cori know that his human and professional qualities represent an important resource to support the effective, efficient and welcoming growth of all our students. Mr Cori with all his years of experience in school leadership in well-established schools will guide the Venice team of over 100 professionals dedicated to the continued growth of our children.

Mr Cori will be supported by a strong team of experts. And we thank these colleagues for their continued leadership. 

I will continue to be the Director General of our three schools working together with our three Heads of Schools: Emiliano Cori (Venice), Alessandra Chiovati (Vicenza) and Caterina Pattanaro (Rosà) and with Mauro Bordignon our Head of Academics and Innovation with the support of the H-IS Education Council chaired by Mr Conan De Wilde. 

We extend our gratitude to Ms. Jane Andrews for her remarkable efforts during the last six years, in which she has crafted, refined, and added significant value to the PYP. Ms. Andrews has decided to conclude her tenure with our school at the conclusion of the current school year, as she sets her sights on new and exciting projects.

Her dedication has played a pivotal role in propelling the school to attain a genuine and high-quality international status, successfully aligning the unique aspects of H-FARM with IB values. Ms. Andrews’ professionalism,  energy, and dedication to students’ learning have paved the way for a new phase of growth for PYP. We take this opportunity to express our sincere best wishes to Ms. Andrews for her future endeavours as she undertakes new training projects in her role as an Educational Consultant.

We look forward to the arrival of a new PYP Principal, who will join us in August 2024. Following the tradition of international schools, the new Principal will enrich our capabilities and will collaborate with Ms Iliana Gutierrez, who will continue her role as PYP coordinator. They will work alongside the teaching staff to prioritise the well-being and enriched learning experiences for our students.

We will keep you updated and will be happy to introduce you to next year’s new staff members as soon as possible. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for the trust and support you give us every day.

Antonello Barbaro
H-IS Director General and HFE CEO