Welcome Guide 2026/2027
Director, Vienna International School
Director’s Welcome
Text to be added
VISA is a member-based organization whose membership comprises the parents of enrolled students. Membership is based on a "one vote per family" principle and is conferred on the parent identified as such during the enrolment process. As a member, you have the right to participate in the activities and decision-making processes of VISA in accordance with its articles of association, the "Statutes". This includes electing members of the Board (see below), standing for election, and attending the annual meeting of the General Assembly, which considers a range of educational, operational, financial and staffing matters relating to the school. During the first semester of the school year, you will receive an email from the Director's office confirming your membership. Please note that some rights of participation can be exercised by your registered spouse, while some rights might not be available if either parent is a staff member. If you have any questions about membership, please contact director(at)vis.ac.at.
VISA is managed by a Board, which is charged with policy setting and the overall management and administration of VISA. Among other things, the Board approves the school's budget and appoints the Director. More information on the role and makeup of the Board is available on the VIS website, while detailed information on the activities of the Board, as well as on the governance of the school in general, can be found on the intranet.
Click on the following links below and get directly to your preferred section:
New Student Orientation Day takes place on Friday, 28 August 2026. This day provides an opportunity to assist our new students and their families with transitioning into the VIS community so they can have a positive start. To support this transition, students and their families will have the chance to meet with their class teachers as well as other staff and students, familiarize themselves with the facilities, and receive some important information on the VIS services in advance of the first day of school.
Representatives from our Extra-Curricular Programme and School Services will be available to answer your questions in the Dining Hall from 08:00 - 12:00. You may visit the school services before or after your scheduled orientation time.
- Extra-Curricular Programmes
- Extended Day Programme
- Catering
- Transportation – company Blaguss
- PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
Please see the overview of the day below and feel free to email our Admissions office at admissions(at)vis.ac.at if you have any questions.
Primary School families will arrive to school according to the staggered starting times listed below:
- Early Learning Centre (08:30)
- Grade Primary (09:00)
- Grade 1 (09:30)
- Grade 2 (10:00)
- Grade 3 (10:30)
- Grade 4 (11:00)
- Grade 5 (11:30)
Please proceed down the Mall and follow the signs towards your child's grade level table and check in with one of our New Student Ambassadors seated at the marked tables. Our Ambassador team and staff will be on hand to help guide you to classes where you will meet the classroom teacher, ELA teachers, counsellors and Learning Support staff. Afterwards, they will take you on a tour of the school. The orientation should last approximately 75 minutes.
A Guide to Vienna for New Students
Be sure to check out the Primary Student Council's Guide to Vienna for New Students - produced by students, for students.
Grade 6 - Grade 8 students will meet in the Octagon at 08:30 with their laptops. Parents will meet in the Theatre for a brief Welcome New Parents presentation with the Secondary administration. Grade Level Leaders will also be available to meet with you and hand out the parent ID cards.
During the morning, students will meet with their Grade Level Leader, and have an opportunity to tour the school with a student from their Advisory. They will also set up their laptops, ready for the first day of school. Students will be finished by 10:30 and will meet their parents again in the Octagon.
Grade 9 - Grade 12 students will meet in the Octagon at 10:30 with their laptops. Parents will meet in the Theatre for a brief Welcome to New Parents presentation with the Secondary administration. Grade Level Leaders will also be available to meet with you and hand out the parent ID cards.
During the morning, students will meet with their Grade Level Leader and have an opportunity to tour the school with a student from their Advisory. They will also set up their laptops, ready for the first day of school. Students will be finished by 12:00 and will meet their parents again in the Octagon.
In the Secondary School, new students will be assigned an Advisory Ambassador on the first day of school. This student will be their key person at VIS as they settle in. They will meet them on the morning of the first full day of school and show them around. The Advisory Ambassador’s role is to make your child feel part of the school, and to spend time with them while they begin the process of making connections with the students that will eventually become their friends. If you have questions about the VIS Ambassador programme, please feel free to contact the Secondary School Counsellors at seccounselorsteam(at)vis.ac.at.
In addition to the Ambassador programme, a new student lunch is held in the early weeks of school allowing an opportunity for all new students to connect with the Secondary Counselling Team, their Advisors, and Grade Leaders in a more relaxed environment. The Secondary Counsellors will also reach out to all new students in the initial weeks of school, inviting them to meet individually to answer any remaining questions and provide any necessary support with their transition.
At the beginning of the Academic year, VIS holds an Activity Week. It is a great opportunity for our students to connect with their new friends and teachers outside of the classroom.
All Secondary School students will be involved in the Activity Week September 14 - 17.
Grades 6, 8, and 9 will be away on residential trips from Monday to Thursday. These trips involve hiking, team building activities, cultural experiences, and more learning activities. Further information will be provided at the start of the school year, as well as at the Parent Information Evenings, which are held at the start of the school year. A packing list for these trips can be found here to help you with your planning.
Grades 7, 10, 11, and 12 will be based in Vienna. All parents will receive more information from the Secondary School, including a detailed schedule for the week nearer the time, as well as during our Parent Information Evenings at the start of the school year.
Students at Vienna International School are not required to wear an official school uniform, however appropriate clothing for school is expected. Students will dress for school with appropriate consideration and respect for the different cultures and beliefs within our school community. As a learning community, our school is similar to a formal workplace and clothing and shoes should also support the safety requirements of the various areas for learning. Please note that toys and trading cards are not permitted at school.
| GRADE | ITEMS NEEDED | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
Early Learning Centre (ELC) and Grade Primary All other school supplies for ELC students are provided by the school | Indoor slippers/ shoes to leave at school A set of clothes (underwear, socks, T-shirt, trousers, pullover, shorts) in a name-labelled bag to keep at school in case a change is necessary PE shoes with non-marking soles Blue book bag* Small backpack Refilliable water bottle Healthy snack brought daily | During snow: warm and waterproof clothing (hat, gloves, boots) During summer: sun hat, applied sunscreen, sunglasses |
Grade 1 All other school supplies for Grade 1 students are provided by the school | Above list needed + PE Kit: PE bag*, blue shorts*, or sports trousers, white T-shirt*, white socks, PE shoes with non-marking soles | * Item can be purchased at the PTA shop |
Grade 2 to Grade 5 All other school supplies for Grade 2 to Grade 5 students are provided by the school | School bag/ backpack Blue book bag* Pencil Case: HB pencils, coloured pencils/ markers, ruler, eraser, sharpener, glue stick, a high-quality roller tip ("Tintenroller") ink pen (with proper grip for younger students) Starting in Grade 5 studnets must bring their own laptop (see computer specifications), charger, laptop sleeve, headphones Refilliable water bottle Healthy snack brought daily PE Kit: PE bag*, blue shorts*, or sports trousers, white T-shirt*, white socks, PE shoes with non-marking soles | * Item can be purchased at the PTA shop |
| GRADE | ITEMS NEEDED | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
Grade 6 to Grade 12 All other supplies are provided by the school (example course and workbooks, unit/ grammar booklets, novels/ literature folder for copies/ notebooks) | Grade 6 - Grade 12 students will need to bring their own laptop device. While the school strongly recommends Apple, families may choose any platform of laptop device they wish. The table below outlines the device options for families. Recommended entry-level device - MacBook Air with an English International Keyboard. Laptop sleeve, charger, headphones Refilliable water bottle Locker lock* Blue and black pens ("Tintenroller") ink pen Coloured pencils Highlighter pens Eraser Ruler (30cm) Glue stick Scissers Sharpener Tipp-Ex Post-it Notes Calculator (No calculator for Grades 6-8). We require TI-Nspire calculator for G8 (soft) and protractor Tools that work Physical Education: PE Kit (White T-shirt* and blue/black shorts*/track pants, indoor shoes and studded shoes for outdoor use) | *Items can be purchased at the PTA shop |
Primary School Hours: 08:30 – 14:55
Secondary School Hours: 08:30 – 15:15
*School gate opens at 08:00
*Please arrange for an agreed meeting point with your child if you would like to to pick them up
We are thrilled to welcome you to the VIS community!
The VIS Parent Teacher Association (VIS PTA) organizes community events, raises money to support school activities, and coordinates social clubs to help connect parents. Membership in the VIS PTA is open to all parents, guardians and staff. Community members are encouraged to attend our monthly meetings (in person or online), join various clubs, and volunteer to support our contributions to the school.
Our New Family Programme is designed to help you settle into life at VIS and in Vienna. As part of this programme, we connect you with an experienced VIS family — your personal "Welcome Guide" — who can answer your questions, share helpful tips, and guide you through the transition. When possible, we try to match families based on language, cultural background and/or grade level of children.
To be matched with a Welcome Family, please complete the New Family Form via this link. We have a network of established families who are ready to help support you during this transition time. Friendships, lasting beyond Vienna, have grown from these first connections, and we hope you are able to be part of it.
We also have a VIS PTA Welcome Group on WhatsApp, which you can join via this link. This group is a great place to post questions about VIS or life in Vienna before the start of the school year (it also includes a few experienced parents as resources).
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about the PTA or your transition to VIS by sending an email to: ptachair(at)ptavis.com.
See here the calendar of the School Year 2026/2027
The School follows a cycle with A and B weeks, as presented in the school yearly calendar above.
During Orientation Day, Primary School parents will be receiving their Parent ID badge from their class teacher and Secondary School Parents will be receiving the Parent ID badge from their Grade Level Leaders. Parents will receive their Parent ID badge from the teacher / Grade Level Leader of their youngest child.
All parents must wear their VIS ID cards when entering the School premises and on campus. If you do not have a card, then access will be dependent upon providing identification to the security personnel who will issue a Visitor card.
Please note that the photos uploaded on OpenApply will be used for your and your child's ID cards. Where passport photos are unavailable, ID cards will not be issued.
Student ID Cards are issued by the Primary Office and required when using Public Transport. To request a student ID card for your primary school student, please attach a passport-sized photograph with paper-clip to this completed form, and submit it to the Primary Office in a sealed envelope. The student ID cards for Primary School students are issued once and renewed at the beginning of the year by the Primary Office.
All Secondary students are required to carry their Student EDU cards (Grades 6 – Grade 12). The cards will automatically be processed by the School before a new student starts school, as long as a suitable (passport format) student photo and a Vienna address have been uploaded to OpenApply.
The student photo and EDU card will be used for many purposes in the School i.e. entering the school campus, school canteen, etc., and also as the official student ID for Secondary School students.
The Medical Department prepared some medical-related recommendations for you upon your family moving to Vienna here.
PLATFORM | PURPOSE | ACCESS |
Website | General information | Public |
| SMS | Emergency information (i.e. evacuation drills performed etc.) | Directly to parents |
ManageBac |
Portal to see the student’s individual progress and record attendance excusals | Username & password (provided first day of school) |
Intranet |
Portal for all school-related information | Username & password (same as for ManageBac) |
Schools Buddy |
Portal for extra-curricular registrations |
Access and select "Sign in with ManageBac" |
| Weekly Newsletter | Information on upcoming school events | Direct email to parents |
| Parent Teacher Conferences | Meet the teachers online and discuss the student’s individual progress | Online invitation for registration will be provided close to the event |
| School Events | Family Orientation Morning, Parent Orientation Evenings, General Assembly, Coffee with the Director, Curriculum Sessions, Seminars and Workshops, Grade Events, Primary Student Led Conferences, PTA Events | VIS Community |
| School Boards | Information on upcoming school events | In school |
Social Media | Please follow us! | Public |
| School Offices: | Primary Office: primaryoffice(at)vis.ac.at | Secondary Office: secondaryoffice(at)vis.ac.at |
| Administrative Offices: | Admissions Office: | Marketing and Communications Office: |
| Finance Office: financeoffice(at)vis.ac.at |
| |
Extra-Curricular Activities: | After School Activities: activities(at)vis.ac.at | Competitive Sports: activities(at)vis.ac.at |
| Extended Day Programme: edp(at)vis.ac.at | Performing Arts: performingartsleader(at)vis.ac.at | |
| Mother Tongue Programme: Primary School: pypmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at Middle School: mypmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at DP: dpmothertongue(at)vis.ac.at | ||
| Medical Department: | medicaldepartment(at)vis.ac.at | |
School Services: | Transportation: Company Blaguss Catering: Company Sodexo | |
| Parent Teacher Association (PTA): | ptachair(at)ptavis.com |
Learning doesn’t end when the school day finishes. At our school, we offer a well-rounded Extra-Curricular Programme designed for all interested students from Early Learning Centre to Grade 12.
Our programmes include Sports and Activities, Extended Day Care, Mother Tongue Languages, Performing Arts, and VISMA (Instrumental and Vocal). These opportunities allow students to explore new interests, develop talents, stay active, and grow socially and emotionally in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. Please click the links below for detailed descriptions.
All of our Extra-Curricular Programmes will have an information table on Orientation Day for you to visit and ask questions.
Extra-Curricular Programme Table
At VIS, a safe, inclusive, and respectful school culture is a shared responsibility among students, staff, and families. Together, we foster a community where learning, connection, and integrity thrive.
Students are expected to demonstrate international-mindedness, kindness, and personal responsibility across all areas of school life — in person and online, during school hours and beyond. These values guide how we treat others, respond to challenges, and contribute to our diverse, global community.
Our School Code of Conduct is based on three core principles:
- Respect Ourselves
- Respect Others
- Respect the Environment
These principles are reflected in clearly defined expectations for both Primary and Secondary students. We encourage families to review the appropriate version during their transition to VIS:
- Primary School Code of Conduct and Expected Behaviours
- Secondary School Code of Conduct and Expected Behaviours
Responding to Unexpected Behaviours
VIS uses a Progressive Disciplinary Procedures Framework that focuses on growth and support, not punishment. Responses are:
- Logical and relevant to the behaviour
- Context-aware, considering individual needs and circumstances
- Developmental, identifying specific skills to build going forward
If you have questions about our Code of Conduct or disciplinary procedures, please contact:
- Dr Kyle Hawkins, Primary Deputy Principal – TBC
- Blake Roberts, Secondary Deputy Principal – broberts(at)vis.ac.at
VIS offers a full-service cafeteria during break and lunch hours. You may find information about our School Lunch Programme including the price list, menus, registration and payment options on our Catering homepage.
- Public Transportation
VIS is conveniently situated, with excellent access to public transportation within walking distance from the U1 subway line (Kagran). For more information about public transportation system, please click here.
- School Bus Services
VIS and its partner, Blaguss, offers school bus services in the morning and afternoon ensuring punctual and reliable transportation. For updated information on the price list, routes and registration can be found here.
In order to familiarise yourself with our facilities here at Vienna International School, please take some time to experience our virtual tour. Take a virtual walk through our beautiful premises by
- following the dots to navigate your way through our school campus and building,
- choosing from school campus ‘highlights’ at the bottom of the screen,
- clicking the 'Play' button to have the full 360-experience, or
- taking a bird’s-eye view of our building by selecting the 'Dollhouse' or 'Floorplan' options.
If you're eager to find out more about VIS, you are welcome to follow us on Social Media to get an insight into our school life. Please follow us by clicking on the icons below!
