By Nick Yates, ISB Communications
Published on Thursday, November 6, 2025
The International School of Beijing (ISB) continues to live its People, Planet, Purpose values through events and programs that celebrate student agency, community, and care for the environment. Last month held a shining example of this – Together in October was a four-week initiative led by High School students to promote belonging, inclusion, and sustainability.
Together in October featured themed activities offered to students and community members to raise awareness of social and environmental causes. It was led by several High School clubs focused on social advocacy, as well as individual students passionate about making ISB a more connected and compassionate community. Many of these young leaders had attended advocacy workshops in the 2024-2025 school year and were inspired to turn their learning into action.
“The students wrote a formal proposal to High School leadership,” explained Kathlyn Paananen, ISB’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader. “They then mobilized the support of social advocacy clubs including WeforShe, Green Impact, iLEAD, Prism, and Dragon Wellness. It is no easy task to design and implement an event for close to 500 High School students. The students learned important advocacy skills in coordinating across groups to achieve a shared vision.”
Activities were promoted through posters and morning announcements. Highlights included:
ISB students didn’t stop there. At the High School Principal Parent Coffee morning on October 28, they ran an inclusion activity to help parents connect with one another across differences. Shortly after, they represented ISB at the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color (AIELOC) conference on November 2, highlighting the school’s commitment to empowering young people as advocates for inclusion.
Harry P, one of the organizers of Together in October, said, “The most impactful thing for me was that this whole month was entirely student-driven. All events and activities were ideated by students. Even through logistics of getting materials or reserving rooms, students ran the show. We of course had help from counselors, club sponsors and admin, but the student involvement in an activity has never been higher. It’s a testament to the power of advocacy and a look into the future of clubs at ISB.”
For organizer Eileen G, the scavenger hunt was a highlight. “Walking down the hallways, it was as if the school had transformed,” she said. “Doors were no longer just entries into classrooms, but gateways into rich histories and colorful cultures. There were people dancing, solving puzzles, learning things they’d never encountered before. That was truly beautiful.”
Together in October was more than a series of events – it was a demonstration of student leadership in action. By taking ownership of their ideas and collaborating across clubs and cultures, ISB students modeled what it means to lead with empathy, creativity, and purpose.
Their work stands as a testament to ISB’s belief that when students are given the space to lead, the entire community grows stronger.