Jom Riab Sua,

Dear Parents, Guardians and wider school community members, welcome to the  2024/2025 school year.

My name is André Struve and I serve as the School Director and Vice-President at Footprints International School.

It was wonderful to see both familiar and new faces during the first weeks of classes.

All of our new staff have arrived and those from overseas are settling in nicely. Our school has become even more diverse through the hiring of new teaching staff.

During our teacher orientation week, we celebrated the addition of teaching professionals. We are excited to welcome them to our team and to have them make their own unique contributions to our school.

Our international faculty now consists of professionals from more than 15 countries including America, Australia, Great Britain, Cambodia, Canada, The Philippines, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Syria, who lead the learning of more than 1000 students across our two campuses.

Next, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the introduction of a new study pathway for our students: the International Programme with Khmer Language and Culture.

Currently, this pathway is on offer to G1-G5 students, and incorporates both the Cambridge International curriculum and Khmer language and culture lessons.

It provides students with our International High School diploma, which is equivalent to the National High School diploma and allows for acceptance into Cambodian universities.

The main benefits of this pathway include the opportunity for students to excel in the Cambridge curriculum while still having time to enjoy extracurricular clubs, social activities and school life.

Finally, let me share some thoughts about our Educational Anchors. It is important to us that the whole school community is familiar with the school’s Educational Anchors, a series of attributes that define the emphasis of educational practices in our school and reflect the school’s mission, vision and values which are meant to gear student learning towards the achievement of our Schoolwide Learner Outcomes. One fundamental concept underlying our daily educational practices here at Footprints is the Growth Mindset.

The Growth Mindset is a mental disposition researched by Ms. Carol Dweck, which has gained increasing popularity and acceptance among educators and neuroscientists worldwide since the publication of her book in 2011.

Dweck highlights a distinction between a fixed mindset, where people believe that qualities such as talent and intelligence are unchangeable, and a growth mindset, which suggests that our basic abilities can be advanced through hard work and commitment. 

With a fixed mindset, learners attribute their failures to a lack of ability. With a growth mindset, they will have more confidence and determination, learn at a faster rate and face challenges head-on. 

By promoting a growth mindset in our students, we empower them to realise their potential, take ownership of their education, and develop a love of lifelong learning.

All that remains is to wish you and your family all the very best for the new school year ahead. Please feel free to reach out to our family engagement team for any questions or concerns you may have.

We wish you and your family all the very best for the new school year ahead. 

Stay confident, 

Jom riab lia!

Andre Struve
Director

It is my great pleasure to serve our school community as the Vice President (Operations) starting from the 2025–26 school year.
Having been with Footprints since 2016, I am honoured to have had the opportunity to support our students and staff and to contribute to improving learning across various areas of the school. I firmly believe that the best learning occurs in a happy and supportive environment. Teachers, educators, and other stakeholders serve as the scaffolding that supports each student in reaching their full potential.

Students have always been my central focus. They deserve a safe, secure, and high-quality learning environment. Each student must be treated as a whole person and be given equal opportunities to grow and thrive. Everything we do, and every decision we make, must be guided by what is best for our students. This remains my unwavering dedication and commitment.

As Deputy School Director, my role is to ensure that our campuses run smoothly so that our teachers can focus on teaching and our students can focus on learning. I’ve spent over 15 years working in international education, and I’m passionate about building systems that make our school a safe, welcoming, and well-organised place for everyone. At Footprints, I’m proud to be part of a team that puts students first and works every day to make our community stronger.

I am honoured to serve as the Early Childhood Programme (ECP) Principal at Footprints International School, where I have the privilege of leading a dedicated team committed to nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning in our youngest students. Drawing on over 13 years of experience in early years and lower primary classrooms, along with a Master of Psychology in Child Development and ongoing doctoral studies in Educational Leadership, I continue to learn and grow alongside our children and educators. I am passionate about fostering an environment where children grow as Curious Explorers, Kind Listeners, and Brave Leaders. Together with families and educators, I aim to create a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, respected, and confident enough to reach for the stars!

It is with great pleasure that I am afforded the opportunity to lead the Primary Programme at Footprints International School. I bring over twenty years of experience working in Primary Education around the world and will begin my 10th year working at Footprints this year. 

Facilitating Primary aged, academic, social and emotional development for children has been a passion throughout my career and with the help of our talented team of qualified teachers, we will continue to; maximise student learning, and social and emotional development for our students by providing them with dynamic instruction in nurturing learning environments.

Dear Footprints family and friends,

Welcome to the new school year 2024-2025!
As the Primary Vice Principal I feel honored and grateful to have been granted the opportunity to become part of the wonderful Footprints community. This will be my third year at Footprints International School and I feel privileged to be leading our highly qualified and dedicated Primary teachers at our TK campus.
I have been living and working in Southeast Asia for almost eight years, working both as a teacher and education manager in Cambodia for five years. Previous to that, I volunteered in a community development project and was, amongst others, involved in the establishment of a local community school and its English curriculum in the south of Cambodia. Having taught various grades from Preschool to upper Primary levels and having managed different teams of local and international teachers, I have been able to acquire a deep understanding of student needs, modern pedagogy and capacity building.
I am a dedicated and passionate education enthusiast and a strong advocate of the idea that, as modern educators, we must serve as facilitators, helping children discover and foster their individual talents, abilities and creativity. I believe this is best done through guidance, empathy and the idea of learning by doing – as a famous Chinese proverb says: “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” This aligns perfectly with our teaching and learning philosophy here at Footprints and with our teaching approach of “I do. We do. You do.” Personally, I am very passionate about interactive and engaging learning activities and providing our students with an inspiring and visionary learning environment and hope to contribute to creating motivating and dynamic learning experiences for our students during these difficult times.
With the Cambridge International Assessment, we provide a comprehensive primary school curriculum that enables our students not only to develop academic excellence, but also valuable social and emotional skills. In line with our school’s mission, our school values are closely intertwined into the learning objectives of our subject areas, so we can build the foundation for our students to become life-long learners and more importantly, to be compassionate, determined and responsible citizens.
Concluding with a quote from Albert Einstein, I would like to wish the entire Footprints community a fun and successful school year 2024-2025:
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”
Sincerely yours,
Christine Guenster

Dear Footprints Community, 

For the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of serving Footprints in various roles; as a Science teacher, STEM Department head, Academic Coordinator, and Secondary Vice Principal, witnessing firsthand the incredible spirit that defines our school community. I’ve seen the dedication of our teachers, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our parents and staff. Footprints isn’t just a school; it’s a community, and I am honoured to be a part of its story.

While my title may be new, my commitment remains the same and aligned with the school’s vision: to empower Footprints students to discover their potential in a nurturing environment through innovative instruction, challenging and collaborative activities, and exposure to diverse perspectives. We’ll achieve this by focusing on our three flagships:

1. Student Wellbeing: Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and challenged to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. We’ll continue to prioritize mental health initiatives, build a culture of kindness and respect, and offer personalized support systems.
2. Parent Engagement: We’ll foster open communication, create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, and empower parents to be active participants in their child’s learning journey.
3. Quality Teaching and Learning: Our dedicated faculty will continue to innovate, differentiate instruction, and create engaging learning experiences that cater to diverse needs and ignite curiosity. We’ll prioritize professional development and embrace technology.

I am eager to continue to collaborate with every one of you – students, faculty, parents, and community members – to create an even more vibrant and enriching learning environment. Your ideas, your energy, and your unwavering support are what truly make Footprints thrive.

With warm regards,

Carol Gawiden

I have worked as a qualified international teacher for 12 years across five countries: England, China, Vietnam, Greece, and Cambodia, with a specialism in science teaching. Throughout my career, I have held various leadership roles, including ISP Coordinator, Deputy Head of Science, Subject Leader, and now Vice Principal. These diverse experiences have equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of varied educational environments and the unique challenges they present, allowing me to adapt and innovate effectively.

My strong commitment to student-centred support is further enriched by years of working with individuals with severe and profound multi-learning disabilities. This background has deepened my understanding of inclusive education and the importance of tailoring learning experiences to meet each student’s needs, ensuring that all learners can thrive.

Additionally, I have had the opportunity to review and enhance curriculum delivery in nearly every school I have served. I prioritise engaging learning activities that not only foster a passion for knowledge but also empower students to take ownership of their learning. I firmly believe in the transformative power of meaningful, student-centred education to revolutionise society and drive positive change. By cultivating critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability, we prepare the students of Footprints International School to thrive and compete on the world stage, equipping them with the skills and values necessary to succeed in an ever-changing global landscape, and inspiring them to become compassionate, responsible global citizens.