All Aboard the Energy Bus: A New Initiative for Promoting Positivity

By Angel Jin, ISB Communications

Published on Friday, October 11, 2024

This school year, the International School of Beijing (ISB) is hitting the road with an exciting new initiative in our Elementary School (ES): the Energy Bus!  

Inspired by the bestselling children’s book “Energy Bus for Kids,” by Jon Gordon and Jim Van Allan (which was inspired by the Energy Bus by Jon Gordon), this program aims to create a shared language around positivity and collective responsibility and has a direct connection to ISB’s social and emotional learning framework. As the first certified international Energy Bus School in the world, we are embarking on a journey that emphasizes the power of positive energy for ISB students, staff, and parents. 

To kick off the Energy Bus approach, our Elementary School hosted an assembly in August featuring a lively skit that brought the story to life. Students watched as their teachers performed scenes illustrating the importance of staying positive and overcoming challenges together. This engaging start has set a great tone for the year ahead. 

Continuing our journey on the Energy Bus, this week, we had the pleasure of having Dr. Jim Van Allan, President of the Energy Bus for Schools program, on campus to work with students, families, faculty, and staff. He highlighted that the Energy Bus program provides a blueprint and framework to create a positive school culture by using weekly activities, monthly leadership coaching, and other resources. This approach helps all stakeholders to rally around having a positive mindset and a collective commitment to shared expectations, attitudes, and beliefs. ES Principal Dr. Dustin Collins adds, “The Energy Bus is an exciting way for our community to collectively commit to strong, positive relationships, to a solutions-based approach to problem-solving and to Dragon Spirit.” 

The Energy Bus at ISB is implemented in various aspects this year. For instance, every Friday, students spend 30 minutes during Morning Meeting doing their weekly engaging activity designed to reinforce one Energy Bus rule at a time. There has also been cross-class collaboration to create shared Energy Bus experiences among students. By bringing the bus to life in the classroom through various activities, including recognizing student growth and achievements, students will develop a more positive mindset. 

The Energy Bus program encourages everyone in our community, not just students, to focus on positivity at home and at school. Through training sessions with Dr. Jim Van Allan, faculty and members of leadership are also learning how to cultivate a positive professional culture that enhances our school environment. This year, ES teachers and staff will be engaging with the “10 Rules for Fueling Your Life, Your Work, and Your Team with Positive Energy.”  

As part of ISB’s commitment to fostering community and Dragon Spirit, we are inviting parents to join us on the Energy Bus journey. This Monday’s ES Parent Coffee saw Dr. Jim Van Allan and the ES team sharing the goals for the Energy Bus initiative and its link to Strategic Focus Area 3 about strong peer relationships. Our aim is to ignite a passion for positivity within our Dragon parents, to inspire them and to join the Energy Bus movement so that we build strong relationships and set high expectations together. 

The Energy Bus acts as a symbol for our school community, reminding everyone that we are all drivers of our own buses and responsible for the energy we bring. Visitors to ISB will have already seen the ES team members wearing their Energy Bus shirts, and posters, banners, and cutouts throughout the school, reaffirming “the 5 rules,” and messages of inspiration and positivity. By having this common language on display, it establishes these common goals, so that the positive impact is greater and long-lasting.  Dr. Jim Van Allan noted, “It has been amazing to see how ISB has brought the visual nature of the Energy Bus program to life through t-shirts, decorations, and student work celebrating a shared commitment to the Energy Bus.” 

And this is just the start, we anticipate more activities that will bring the Energy Bus to life throughout the entire school year. Student council members will lead discussions on empowerment and leadership, while faculty members will collaborate with parents to ensure our message resonates throughout the community. With plans for assemblies and joint initiatives, we aim to make the Energy Bus a cornerstone of our school culture. As we navigate the year ahead, let’s come together to create a positive, productive learning environment that is challenging and joyful for all. All aboard the Dragon Energy Bus!