Technology is used extensively for Communication at the United Nations International School. A content-driven, dynamic web site is used to provide information to prospective parents and others new to UNIS. Members of the different school constituencies, students, parents, teachers, and alumni, have usernames and passwords that provide them access to information that is geared to their particular group. Parents, for example, can access student report cards and attendance information as well as their business office accounts. They have access to a searchable parent and student directory. All school publications and calendars and news items are available online. Alumni have access to an alumni directory and alumni-maintained class notes.
UNIS has a messaging, calendaring, and e-mail system that is used by both its staff and students. Mass e-mails, used to communicate urgent matters to the parent body, are sent out by the Office of Technology. UNIS teachers have web-based tools available that allow them to find all pertinent student information; they can also easily send e-mail to all parents of the different classes they teach.
UNIS LiveCast uses dedicated video conferencing equipment to connect our students to people all over the world. Recent video conferences provided communication with Antarctica, the Maldives, Macedonia, and Madrid. UNIS has several specialized video conferencing units available that are sent out to locations that are not set up for this kind of conference. Additional IP/satellite units are available for locations that do not have internet access.
Important events like the UNIS-UN conference are made available to the general public through live web casts.