The Link by Aliant Brands

issue 15, volume 4

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

S C H O O L

O F

K E N Y A

O F F I C I A L

N E W S L E T T E R

ANNUAL STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH

40 ALUMNI REUNION 41

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

CONTENTS 3. From the Director

Parent Survey Results... (Read more) 9. From the Board of Directors

Board Meeting Agenda… (Read more) 10. From the Elementary School

Principal’s letter, Pride, Summer Reading Challenge, Visiting Author, E-Library… (Read more) 16. From the Middle School

Principal’s letter, Great Explorers Mystery...(Read more)

20. From the High School

IB Exam Schedule, Grade 11 Social… (Read more) 26. From the Athletics Director

AISK League Volleyball Finals, MS & HS Awards Banquet... (Read more) 28. Future Stars

Summer camp coming to ISK… (Read more) 30. Service Learning

KCCL, Children’s Garden Home... (Read more) 34. From the PTO

Staff Appreciation Breakfast…

(Read more) 38. Healthy Snack Tips

Planning ahead... (Read more)

40. From the Advancement Office

Alumni Reunion in Washington, DC this summer at the Kenyan Embassy… (Read more)

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

PARENT SURVEY RESULTS By John Roberts ISK DIRE CTOR The results of our annual Parent Survey provide useful feedback to ISK administrators, teachers and staff. They provide a snapshot of how parents are feeling about our programs, services and school culture. This year’s results show that last year’s high levels of satisfaction have generally continued, with some areas receiving higher ratings and a few, lower. Graphs of the last several years’ results can be found on pages 4-7. Alternatively, the survey dashboard can be viewed on the ISK website Here, with detailed representation of the proportion of respondents who Strongly Agreed (dark green) through to Strongly Disagreed (dark red). It is satisfying to see such positive perceptions of ISK’s culture and ethos. For example, for the following seven aspects of our learning environment at least 90% of responses were either Agree or Strongly Agree: • ISK encourages creative thinking • There is a purposeful atmosphere on campus • My child is developing an international perspective • The school is a positive influence on my child • My child has a positive attitude to the school • My child’s teachers care about my child • My child’s teachers are effective professionals Responses to two of our cocurricular programs also

increased—Arts program jumped 20 percentage points to 88% positive responses; Service Learning program continued its multi-year climb to 92% positive responses. Other areas that showed improved year - to -year ratings include: • All four areas related to the Director and Principals • All three areas related to the Board of Directors • The areas related to parent engagement in the school are both 100% positive • Safe and clean campus was 92% positive Some areas that showed lower ratings this year include: • Home learning—both amount and quality (negative responses increased to 20% and 18%

respectively • Teachers/school informing parents about the program, and about their child’s progress (negative responses increased to 20% and 25% respectively. The last two items are still confusing for the Leadership Team, as we have not yet been able to interpret or understand those diminished results. We expected those results to be higher this year because of the Virtual Learning Environment platform that allows parents and students to access both assignment information and assessment results. We clearly need to look more deeply to understand what it is that caused parent satisfaction to The Link | 3

PARENT SURVEY RESULTS drop in that particular aspect of communication, while perception of other aspects of communication improved over last year. The Board has reviewed the survey results, and the Admin

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Team has been discussing what can be learned from the data and comments. Next steps include discussions with heads of department, teachers and selected staff/offices reflected in the survey.

We recognize that the survey can be streamlined, and we plan to revise it next year to make it easier to complete. Meanwhile, thank you again to the parents who took time to provide such valuable feedback !

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Board Meeting Agenda

May 20, HS MPR at 4:00 P.M.

ITEM & OBJECTIVE

Item & Objective

Call meeting to order

PRESENTER Presenter & Est. time

NOTES

Notes

2 min

Consent Agenda (to be treated as one approval/vote) • Approval of today’s Agenda • Approval of Minutes of April 29, 2014 • Acknowledging receipt of Committee Minutes • Acknowledging receipt of Admin. Report

2 min

Matters Arising from Minutes of April 29, 2014 (Check follow-up) a) Principals and other Administrators to report on Climate Survey follow-up in May Board meeting. b) RB to share Senior Exit Survey data with Board members. c) Child Protection Protocol: PB to upload the Child Protection Manual on the website, if committee agrees. d) Proposal on Emergency Reserve Investment: • JR to add to May meeting agenda: proposed allocation for Reserve Fund, for approval • VC to mention decision in summary from board. e) Annual Parent Survey Results • JR to share the Parent Survey Comments with Board members. • JR to share Parent Survey data with stakeholders f) BoD Goal Report: LBP to circulate AGM notes on Board goals.

3 min

Comments or correspondence from community (Brief comments from PTO, FC, Admin, ASB or stakeholder questions - for information, not discussion)

10 min

Comments or Questions on Committee Minutes (Clarification – not discussion)

10 min

Information and Updates: Objective: a. Report on Climate Survey Follow-up b. August Retreat update c. Risk Management Checklist update (GC) d. Director Search Committee (GC)

20 min

Proposals from Committee(s) & Admin (for approval) a) Proposed Policies (Scholarship Endowment Fund; Strategic Contingency Fund) (FC): for approval b) Proposed Asset allocation for 2014-15 (FC) c) Proposal for expending this year’s Operational Balance d) Proposal on ES class size limits for 2014-15 (Admin): for endorsement e) Proposed Compensation Committee Deliverables for 2014-15 f) Governance Committee parameters g) Finance Committee parameters h) Inter-Board Structure Communication proposal

40 min Kevin

Frost Vicky Kevin Vicky

* attached * attached * attached * attached

Accreditation Report Objective: Review draft Board-relevant sections, for refinement or agreement. a. Foundation documents b. Governance and Management

Jodi 15 min

* supporting document attached

Agree on Communication with stake-holders on agenda items

Admin / FC John Vicky Vicky

* attached

Kevin Kevin John / Lynn

Next Meeting: September 16, 2014 Agenda items for next meeting: There will be an Executive Session following the regular session

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By Patricia Salleh Matta

Elementary School Principal Dear Parents, As we have received parent requests for specific teachers for their children next year, this is another gentle reminder of the guidelines we use to place students. Each year the elementary school looks at placing students in an environment that is most conducive to student learning. The following information is intended to give you an overview of our process. 1. As soon as the Elementary School Office has a list of returning students, grade level teams in conjunction with the Student Support Services Department, the Counsellor and the Principal begin to look at selecting groups of students that would work well together. 2. At this point in the process no teacher names are put with initial lists. These initial lists are compiled looking at the following areas: • Boy/girl ratio • New/returning students • Strengths of individual children for balanced achievement groups • LRC/ESOL students • Effective learning groups • Nationality • Balanced social groups • Optional parental input to teacher/ principal on what learning style parents think best matches their child’s learning

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3. By June draft lists have been identified. Please note that teachers are not yet assigned. 4. Over the summer and in early August we continue to accept and place new students. At this point, we may have to revisit our draft June lists to ensure a continued student balance is in place. Teachers are assigned to classes approximately a week before school starts and class lists are published three days before school begins. 5. In doubtful cases (academic, social, emotional or age), a student may be admitted on probation or may later be placed on a probationary status. 6. It is important to note the following when it comes to placement: • All classes are generally constructed in a heterogeneous fashion • The school determines the final placement and parental requests for specific teachers and/or classes are not accepted. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or myself if you have any queries or need clarification.

PRIDE

ES Teachers Appreciation May 5 to May 9 was Teacher Appreciation Week. PRIDE coordinated efforts to honor teachers in the Elementary School. Each day, the PRIDE reps gave several teachers tokens of appreciation (cards, poem, fruit and/ or candy). On Tuesday, PRIDE hosted a cake social for all Elementary School teachers.

ES EXPRESS

by BARBARA JONES / ES Librarian

Summer Reading Challenge Coming soon At the end of every school year, the library distributes a summer reading challenge to all Elementary students. Its purpose is to encourage children to read over the holiday. We know that children who don’t read during this time are more likely to experience a decline in their reading levels between May and August. The reading challenge also encourages children to try reading

different types of books and to use some of the vocabulary terms they learned in the library. So, look out for the sheet and help your child complete it. It does not require the use of the ISK library, although if you are in Nairobi you will find it open and our assistants will help you find what you need. If you are leaving school early, make sure you don’t leave without the summer

reading challenge sheet (or, look for it on our website – it will be there in June). Access to E-books for ISK Students In addition to Tumblebooks, an online library of picture books that the library has subscribed to for several years, our students can now download books from ISK’s Follettshelf.

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Dates to Remember

19 20 21 22 23 MAY

MAY

ES Art Show May 19 - 23

Grades 1-2 Concert

Grades PK-K Concert

Grades 3-4 Concert

Grades 5 Band/Chorus Concert

Time: all day

Time: 2:15 p.m.

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Time: 2:15 p.m.

26 27 28 29 30 MAY

Pre -K - KG Field Day Time: 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.

MAY

Grade 5 Promotion Time: 1:00 p.m.

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MAY

Gr 1 - 5 Field Day Time: 8:00 - 11:40 a.m.

MAY

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American Author

Ridley Pearson

visits HS Creative Writing Class:

OBSERVE,REPORT, EDIT by CATHERINE CORUM, Librarian

Author Ridley Pearson, in Kenya to research his next book on the ivory trade, paid a visit to the HS Creative Writing Class on Friday, May 9. He spoke to students about the importance of observation, saying that, since his arrival in Nairobi that morning, he had already seen things that would change the plan of his story. He described his role as a writer as seeing what others don’t see. His writing advice included planning. The worst thing is to “leap into the story” without knowing where you are going. He described his process of outlining, putting scenes written on index cards, perhaps 80 different scenes that make

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up a story, onto a wall in front of him, that will in the editing process be re-ordered and rewritten at least four times. He recommended the book, The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler, that describes the conventions of Mythic Fiction, going back to the Greeks, but also used by J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and himself in his works for young people, such as Peter and the Starcatchers and Kingdom Keepers series. Ridley spoke about the process of writing the Kingdom Keeper Series, irresistible to students, as he was allowed to visit every Disney property,

after dark, with a Disney “imagineer” as a guide, in order to create scenes and happenings that would animate his suspenseful stories. He said that the BEST advice he could give to students was to make sure that whatever you write, you rewrite even before you turn it in. Read it aloud, look at it again, for if you do that, you are sure to improve your work at each rewriting. Students were energized by the visit and we are grateful to David Drinkard from the United States Embassy who arranged Ridley Pearson’s visit to ISK.

E-Library by BARBARA JONES / ES Librarian

A great way to access books over the summer vacation!

ISK now has a collection of e-books that can be read online or downloaded to a tablet, KindleFire, Nook HD, or smart phone for reading offline. Online reading is subject to connectivity issues, so most people will want to download the books to their own device. Once you’re set up, checking out books for yourself is easy. This is a great way to access books over the summer vacation! How do I access ISK’s new e-library? The books can be viewed on Follett Shelf, our virtual bookshelf, at this address: https://wbb11241.follettshelf.com. You can also find a link on the library’s webpage on the ISK Website. What is the user-name and password (for online viewing)? The username is “isk” and the password is “library” Can I download the books to my own mobile device? YES. This is recommended, because if you read online you may experience delays as each page loads. Can I check out books to myself? YES. For this you will use a personal log-in and password. For most students the log-in is their first initial and last name and the password is the same (it can be changed once you are logged in). Check with the library if you share an initial and surname with someone else or if you don’t seem to be registered. Do I need any special software? YES, to read Follett eBooks off-line on your mobile device you’ll need to download an app called “Follett Enlight” (available free from the iTunes App Store or Google Play).

Can more than one person be reading a book at the same time? Not usually, unless we purchased “unlimited access” (those books have an infinity symbol on them). If you check out an e- book, it is yours alone to read until it is returned. How long does the book stay on my device? Two weeks, unless you return it sooner. How many books can I check out at a time? The limit is one, but as soon as you return one book, you can check out another. How many books are in the e-library? We have about 150 books, but we will keep adding more. Most are novels, but there are also some picture books and nonfiction books. Where do I find instructions for how to get started? Open our “How To Download” guide or, for more detailed instructions, consult the guides on the Follett Shelf website. Help is available in the library, too.

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By Craig Baker

Middle School Principal Middle School Concert & Art Show We were all treated to an amazing concert last week with performances from our Beginning Band, Advanced Band, and Choir. We were also able to view a highly creative art show, an exhibit of Middle School art from the Second Semester.

Fifth Grade Visits the Middle School Fifth grade spent a half-day with us in Middle School last week. They truly enjoyed their time with our sixth grade students and teachers. The highlight, of course, was having lunch with Middle School in the canteen. The sixth grade teacher team is currently creating a weeklong program for the first week of school in August to support their successful transition to Middle School. Middle School Social Our final Middle School Social, “A Night at the Oscars”, is this evening May 16 at Rosslyn Ridge from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please be at Rosslyn Ridge prior to 9:00 p.m. to pick up your children. (Traveling up Limuru Road past Village Market and River Café, you will take a right just before Ruaka Road. Proceed down this road and you won’t be able to miss Rosslyn Ridge.)

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Supplies for Next Year Next year ISK will be providing basic supplies to all of our Middle School students. In the past the PTO has made basic supply packs for purchase in the PTO Shop but beginning next year, there is no cost for these supplies. Basic supplies include: • • • • • • •

Scissors Erasers (2) Glue Stick (1) Subject dividers (8) Plastic sheet protectors (12) Loose leaf graph paper Packs of loose leaf A4 paper (2)

Middle School Sports Awards & Potluck Middle School Sports Awards and Potluck for Season Three is scheduled for next Wednesday, May 17, at 5:00 p.m. We will begin with the potluck in the Arts Centre Foyer and then move into the theater to meet the teams and coaches. More information about this event can be found in Derrick Quinet’s (Athletics Director) section in this edition of the Link.

• • • • • •

Pencils (10) Colored Pencils (Set of 12) Pens (2 of each: red, blue, black) Highlighters (2 different colors) Small post-it tabs for marking reading material Pencil Sharpener

Eighth Grade Recognition Program and Party On Tuesday, May 27, at 4:00 p.m. we will be recognizing eighth grade, Class of 2018, as they leave Middle School and move on to High School. Refreshments will be served in the Arts Centre Foyer after the program, and eighth grade students are invited to attend a party at Lily Clurman’s home, organized by Lily’s mother, Meg Clurman. Bus transportation will be provided from

• • • •

Ruler (30 cm) Flash Drive Full-size A4- spiral or bound notebooks (4) Binder – 2 or 3-ring type that is sturdy

school to the party, and parents are to collect their children no later than 8:00 p.m. For more information about the party you may contact Meg at connorclurman@ yahoo.com or 0702 016 842. From the Library Middle School students should make sure all their library books are returned by Monday, May 26. You are welcome to email the library@isk.ac.ke if you would like a list of the books your child has checked out. All

school accounts must be cleared before final report cards are released. End of the Year Assemblies During the last week of school, we have set aside two dates for assemblies, June 3 and 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. We will be showcasing much of the student work completed during the Second Semester. You are most welcome to attend these assemblies.

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Great Explorers Mystery

By KHUSHI DAVE, Grade 7

The Great Explorers Mystery took place on April 16-17. All of the 7th graders were gathered on a Wednesday morning to watch a video filmed by the teachers giving us some little clues about what we had to do. We were then given packets, which we had to fill out to find which two explorers were paying a teacher, dressed as a lion, to steal ancient artifacts from the library. Our first day consisted of Humanities and P.E. The second day consisted of

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Modern Languages, Math and lastly Science. In each of these classes we found clues, which we would then have to piece together to solve the mystery.

The ISK Aims were met with ease. I think the most relevant Aim was team work

[Communication]. Together we all had to help each other [collaborate] and use each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strengths. Some of us were very energetic encouraging the other group members in P.E, and some of us were either very creative, artistic or amazing at languages or math. Together we all worked hard and were rewarded in the end with the satisfaction that we had solved a complex mystery and found out which teacher was the culprit.

The second ISK Aim addressed was Learn. Throughout the whole mystery we learnt so many facts about different explorers. In humanities, we learnt about where each explorer went and how they impacted the age of exploration. In P.E we worked together earning as many points as possible to be rewarded with clues that taught us more facts about the explorersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives and their ambitions. In modern languages we translated a passage, which also gave us more clues and told us why the explorers travelled to the countries they went to and what they did there. In math we had to solve area and angle questions matching them to a sheet of information with explorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travels. Lastly we had science, in this we learnt more about chromatography and the pH scale by doing experiments. In this we found out how to actually conduct a CSI experiment and with all our clues from the experiment we learnt which teacher had betrayed us. Many of my friends and I found this experience delightful, and we would recommend this for the coming 7th graders as it is a wonderful learning opportunity!

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By Rob Blanchard High School Principal

Last week, we enjoyed a celebratory service assembly, with some student leaders presenting on work accomplished this year and plans for next. Now that ISK has joined the RoundSquare organization, students who have attended conferences presented on this exciting new framework to the student body. Next week is the last full week of regular lessons in High School, with end-of-semester assessments/exams taking place from May 29 to June 4. The final schedule is available in this week’s Link, in hard copy from the HS Office, or at the school’s Moodle site: http://moodle.isk.ac.ke/High school is in session from 8:20 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. during semester exams, meaning that parents should arrange to collect their child by 1:15 p.m. or be aware that buses will depart campus at that time. Students who finish early on an exam day because they don’t have an exam in the second session are allowed to leave campus at that time, but parental permission is required. Parents are advised to write a note in advance and submit it to the High School Office. 20 | International School of Kenya

Staff appreciation Lunch: Thank you on behalf of the High School staff to the many families who contributed to the wonderful luncheon. Parent Survey: Thank you also to the parents who completed our annual parent survey. The data has been presented to the Board and is currently being reviewed by the leadership team. I am also using the feedback to triangulate with other EOY feedback (e.g., faculty survey, senior exit survey). Grade 11 Social: This year, the school and PTO have decided to organize an end-of-year pool party for Grade 11 students to celebrate their successful completion of the school year. This Grade 11 Social will take place on Friday May 23 from 3:305:30 p.m. at the ISK pool. With the funds allotted to HS from the PTO, one plate of food (Chicken shawarma or paneer tikka wrap, potato salad and a green salad) and a drink will be provided for each student, though the HS PTO Reps will be happy if you as Grade 11 parents can assist with the following:

â&#x20AC;˘ Provide one dish of a dessert or savory appetizer (such as cakes, cookies, popcorn, cheese, crackers, pizza, cut fruits, cut vegetables - anything will be highly appreciated). Dishes should include a label with the contents of the food (and your last name if you want a container returned) and can be dropped during school hours at the HS Admin building kitchen or at 3:00 p.m. in the pool side area. â&#x20AC;˘ Help chaperone the event - please contact Dalit Haskel (dalithaskel@gmail.com) if you can volunteer.

23 MAY

Please make sure your child does not forget swim gear! Also note that no transportation will be provided by the school, so you will need to take responsibility for pick-up (please collect promptly at 5:30 p.m. from the upper parking lot). This is a school event, so all school rules apply. School teacher chaperones will be working in conjunction with parents to oversee the students during the social. HS Academic Awards Assembly: Our High School Awards Assembly will take place at 12:00 noon on May 28 in the Arts Centre Auditorium. Parents are welcome to join the celebration.

DATES FOR DIARIES:

24 MAY

30 MAY

Gr 11 Pool Social

ISK Community Flea Market

Class of 2014 Graduation Ceremony

Time: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Time: 5:00 p.m.

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Senior & IB Exam Schedule SEN IOR EXA M SC HE DU LE

START TIME

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DATE / COURSE

LOCATION

DURATION

IB EXAM SCHEDULE 2014 (MAY 5 - MAY 23) START TIME

DATE / COURSE

PAPER

DURATION

START TIME

DATE / COURSE

PAPER

DURATION

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DU LE HS FI NA L EX AM SC HE DAY / DATE

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TIME

CLASS

LOCATION

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By Derrick Quinet Athletics Director

AISK League Volleyball Finals The ISK Lions took top honors at the AISK League Championship this past Saturday at ISK. Our girls and boys teams both won 1st place in their final tournament of the year. Congratulations to players on both teams and thanks to all the spectators who came out to cheer our teams to victory! Middle School 3rd Season Awards Banquet The MS 3rd Season Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday, May 21 from 5:00-6:45 p.m. in the Arts Centre. This final celebration will highlight the achievements of the Track & Field team, the Volleyball Teams, the Tennis Teams, Rugby Teams, and our most outstanding Middle School Athletes. Parents are invited to attend. Attendees are kindly requested to bring a snack, biting, or drink for the potluck feast. The dress code is smart casual. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this final event of the Middle School sports year! Go Lions! High School 3rd Season Awards Banquet The HS 3rd Season Awards Banquet will be held on Tuesday, May 27 from 5:00-6:40 p.m. in the Arts Centre. This final celebration will highlight the achievements of the Track & Field Team, the Volleyball Teams, the Rugby Teams, and we will deliver the major sports awards to our most outstanding High School Athletes. Parents are invited to attend. Attendees are kindly requested to bring a snack, biting, or drink for the potluck feast. The dress code is smart casual. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this final event of the high school sports year! Go Lions!

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Future Stars Summer Camp ISK 2014 Future Stars Summer Camp Registration is now open! Sign up now to book your space and become a Star! This is the 7th year of Future Stars Summer Camps at ISK, and they just keep getting better. Every camp offers excellent instruction led by our knowledgeable ISK Coaches, Teachers and enthusiastic Camp Counselors. Future Stars Camps are designed to build confidence and improve fundamentals through creative games and cooperative challenges. Our camps are a fantastic place to play, learn and have fun. Each camp offers a variety of activities designed to keep campers engaged and active, balancing competition with inclusive activities that build sportsmanship, develop friendships and make lasting memories. Every camper receives a Future Stars T-shirt and certificate of participation. Future Stars campers enjoy a snack in the middle of each session with fruit, biscuits and juice. Online Registration Go to the ISK Website – Quick Links – Summer Camps. Once you have done so, please make payment to the ISK Cashier’s Office to secure your place.

DATES Week 1 = June 9 – 13, 2014 Week 2 = June 16 – 20, 2014 COST PER SESSION: KES 7000 Each session of Future Stars Camp is one week long. Monday to Friday. TIMES Session 1: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Session 2: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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ISK Future Stars 2014 Summer Camp Schedule: WEEK 1 and WEEK 2 ACTIVITY

PLAY GROUP

FOOTBALL

TENNIS

BASKETBALL

FIELD HOCKEY

DRAMA

GYMNASTICS & CIRCUS

GOLF

LEADER

Yuanita Owour ISK

Sagar Muga ISK

George Muga ISK

Maurice Omondi ISK

Nixon Nyangaga ISK

Keith PEarson Theatre Company

James Njunge Sarakasi Trust

Ajay Shah Green Park Golf Pro

SESSION 1 9AM-1PM Age Group

5-9 years

6-9 years

8-10 years

10-14 years

No Field Hockey

7-14 years

6-14 years

8-14 years

SESSION 2 1PM-5PM Age Group

5-9 years

10-14 years

11-14 years

6-9 years

8-14 years

7-14 years

6-14 years

No Golf

LOCATION

Multicourt

Lower Field

Tennis Court

Gym

Upper Field

Theatre

HS MPR (1&2)

Upper Field

by EDWARD OTIENO / ISK Summer Camp Director

Camp Descriptions Play Group ISK’s crew of fantastic Elementary PE teachers and High School Counselors lead a fun-filled week of games, art, creativity, action and enjoyment. Campers will engage with projects, cooperative challenges and fun group games. Campers will also have time to relax, talk, listen to music and make new friends. Football, Basketball, Field Hockey, Tennis, Golf Campers will go through a daily routine of warm-ups, skill stations, mini-games and contests. Every camper will learn new fundamentals in a supportive, caring envi-

ronment that focuses not only on sports but also developing relationships, good sportsmanship, and having fun. Tennis Camp is limited to 20 campers per session. Space is reserved upon online registration and receipt of payment to the ISK’s Cashier’s Office.

Drama Express yourself through drama as you travel through activities filled with emotion. Be aware of your space, learn through feelings and motivations. This is Children’s Theatre at it’s best as you step into character and open a whole new exciting world.

Golf Camp will take place in the mornings only. Campers will be divided into age skill level groups. All Golf equipment will be provided.

Gymnastics and Circus Come develop and promote strength, flexibility, agility, coordination and body control through the use of functional movement. Learn to juggle, walk on stilts and perform circus activities. Participants will be divided into skill level groups.

Field Hockey Camp will take place in the afternoons only. Campers will be divided into age / skill level groups. Please note that shin and mouth guards are highly recommended. Hockey Sticks provided.

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KCCL Service Learning Program

KCCL is a school for Autistic children and children with similar difficulties. ISK has a Service Learning trip that goes to the KCCL School every week on Wednesdays. When we arrive at the school you know 30 | International School of Kenya

somehow that you are doing something right, something that will help improve the lives of others. Getting off the bus we are normally greeted by several of the children who have their lessons outside

by LAWSON SMART, Grade 8

and they always have a smile on their faces. This semester which happens to be my first semester at KCCL was spent brightening up the look of the school. We would spend our time painting on the bland white walls to make to school feel

more inviting had have a friendly atmosphere. My group and I made a picture of a child dreaming on a cloud, it turned out to be a masterpiece. The children at the school were very keen on helping us in every way possible. When

a few students had time out of their classes they would come out and help us paint, whether it be painting or helping to clean up. The children were such a joy to work with, everyone enjoyed it. I will miss these children, for I believe that they have helped us in making our lives more colourful and we have made theirs. After the Summer Break I will not be signing up for the more popular KSPCA or Karura Forest trips because I know that I will experience more and learn more by going to KCCL and I hope others will join me. The Link | 31

Children’s Garden Home & School by LEYA IBRAHIM, Grade 11

“You must give time to your fellow man - even if it’s a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.” - Albert Schweitzer. This quote describes my service trip to Children’s Garden Home and School. A brief summary about Children’s Garden Home & School: Children’s Garden Home and School is an orphanage with 240 students. 165 are from the Primary School and 75 from the High School. A majority of the students come from the streets and some are very young. We, as an ISK Service Learning project visit the orphanage and play interactive activities with the children. We start by reading several different books ranging from Dr. Seuss to nature books. We also practice farming by 32 | International School of Kenya

planting vegetables, flowers, and trees. Some vegetables that we plant are peppers, tomatoes, and cabbage. Moreover, we join the students in dance and they are the best in the Kenyan Primary category and also in other sports such as soccer. However, this orphanage mostly relies on donors for support. To help Children’s Garden Home and School, as an ISK service learning project, our group did bake sales to raise money to buy the students new learning supplies; such as new pencils, erasers, textbooks, etc. This activity has taught me many things and has changed my life in many ways. I was

able to accomplish methods such as farming, which I have never done in my life, so that was quite an experience! I loved bonding with the small kids as well as the adolescent ones for example, talking about classes they take, what their favorite subjects are, etc. The most enjoyable part of Children’s Garden Home was reading books to the children because they were very engaged and they would sometimes analyze the book and relate it to their life. I was captivated and interested by farming, which I have never done in my life, so that was quite an experience! I loved bonding with the small kids as well as the adolescent ones for example, talking about classes

they take, what their favorite subjects are, etc. The most enjoyable part of Children’s Garden Home was reading books to the children because they were very engaged and they would sometimes analyze the book and relate it to their life, which I was captivated and interested the most in. Surprisingly, I have not encountered any difficulties! The children were extremely happy that we were able to come every Wednesday to their school and give them the love and care that they needed. This school benefits other people because you get to know and understand what it really is like living in a less developed area of Nairobi, and you are able to learn more about innocent people who are less privileged than us. They

exonerate our presence when we should exonerate their benevolence. What an irony?! This service activity made me feel more accomplished in life as a whole because that’s what I want to be doing in the future: helping underprivileged kids out. I learnt that this service activity requires patience, modesty, respect towards culture, and commitment. Frankly, I will miss these children a great deal because they have changed my future forever. Last Day at Children’s Garden Home and School Today was the last day at Children’s Garden Home, and I’m really devastated that I won’t see my beautiful kids again. It was such a great experience laughing, playing,

and joking around with the kids. I just love them so much and I’ve grown attached to them, as if they were my own kids. Although, today was the last day seeing them, we did have a party. Due to the money we raised during the bake sale, we bought plenty of sodas, popcorn, and crisps for them and they really enjoyed it! I’m glad that went well. We also gave them presents, such as new shoes, clothing, and school supplies, and they were very grateful and thankful towards us. I’m going to miss these friendships that I’ve made with my kids as well as my peers that I’ve worked with. Honestly, it was an amazing experience and I encourage people in ISK to do this service learning trip.

Service Learning Moments... Service Learning has been quite active this year. Click Here to see what Interact has been up to! You can also Click Here to see what GIN has been up to!

The Link | 33

Greetings from the PTO!

by GEOFF BOYER & WANJI GICHIGI-HANSSON, PTO Co-Chairs

Please make sure to do all of your year-end shopping before The PTO Shop closes on May 29! We have had emails streaming in all weekend from teachers, staff and all of the Admin team asking us to convey to the PTO “volunteer squad” how much it means to them to have parents who are so willing to show their appreciation. It is quite gratifying! Here is just a sample of the notes we have received. We just wanted to say a personal thank you for the amazing spread today. My assistant Edward and myself were overwhelmed by the gorgeous food, the generosity of parents for providing it all and for serving it in such a friendly, warm and welcoming manner. What a marvelous treat for the end of the week! Thanks to you all - have a great weekend. Lesley Potter, Grade 4 Teacher I have never seen so much food...yummy and orderly. By the time I was going home, I was still full and didn’t have any space for eating again. Thanks soooo much. Hannah, Elementary P.E 34 | International School of Kenya

Many thanks for arranging lunch today. The food, desserts, everything was EXCELLENT! Many thanks and best wishes. Lucia Muasya, Business Office What an amazing spread that was today and what a treat it was for us! Many thanks to all the parents who contributed food and helped with the Staff Appreciation lunch today. It left us all with a warm feeling in our hearts, as well as full stomachs! Barbara Jones, Elementary and Head Librarian A warm and enormous thank you on behalf of the high school staff for Friday’s wonderful luncheon. It was a gorgeous, generous, delicious spread, and I believe that it helped staff to feel valued and special. Robert Blanchard, High School Principal Your kindness and thoughtfulness was wonderful. Thank you for making us feel so special. Miriam Maina, MS Office

Many, many thanks for the lovely lunch on Friday. It truly is so appreciated by all members of staff. I was sitting with a group of new teachers who mentioned that they had something similar in their formal school(s) but it was just for teachers. This is what sets ISK apart - the inclusive nature of this event is so amazing (and embodies the ISK Aims!) Thank you again - your hard work, time and effort are greatly appreciated. Jodi Lake, Curriculum Coordinator Thank you so much for such an extravagant luncheon. That was much appreciated. I’ve never worked at a school that has gone so far beyond

Meeting called to order 8:30 a.m. Apologies: Van & Dalit. 1.Matters arising from Previous Minutes • None • Approval of minutes 2.Co-Chairperson’s Report • The Staff Appreciation Lunch will be held on Friday, May 9. ES and MS lunch monitors as well as some servers are still needed. • John Roberts mentions how greatly appreciated the Staff Appreciation Lunch was last year. • ‘Parents in Pajamas’ is an online meeting for Gr. 5-12 parents about freedom from dependence on substances. It will be held on May 15, 5.30 p.m. • ISK Flea Market, Saturday, May 24, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Buy table at Business office before Friday, May 16. • Lynn Wells thanks the school and parents for appreciated support during his first year here. The Link now has a new format. Feedback is appreciated. 3.Board of Directors’ report • Vicky Cole recollects that the Staff Appreciation Lunch has always been a fun event. • She thanks parents for voting in the recent Board

what is required to show the staff appreciation. Sincere Thanks. Mrs. Jennifer Ndegwa, HS Counsellor’s Admin Assistant On behalf of the entire ISK staff I just want to say a huge Asante Sana! to the PTO for putting on today’s lunch! Please relay to all those who organized, contributed, facilitated, or helped serve food, that it meant a lot to everyone...especially bringing everyone together at this very busy time of year when people tend to get caught up in their respective jobs trying to bring the year to a successful close. A wonderful, generous, bighearted event! Appreciatively, John Roberts, Director

elections. Tim Smith was reelected and René Berger is a newly elected member. • The Boards future big task is to search for a new Director as John Roberts will finish his term at the end of next school year. The PTO’s input will be sought. • The Board is impressed with the PTO’s work and achievement over the past school year.

cials went very well. Grade 11 Social will be held on May 23, 3.30-5.30 p.m. Parental help with food and chaperoning is still needed. • Graduation will be on May 30.

4.Divisional Reports Elementary School • No ES events this semester

6.FOTA Report • FOTA thanks volunteers for all the help with the Arts Show. • 40% of art work was sold. • The event was mentioned in two print newspapers and in three online.

Middle School • Craig Baker tells us of the Parents’ Orientation evening for Grade 5 to MS transition, to be held May 6. • MS Concert on Thursday May 8, 6:00 p.m. • MS End of Year Social, Friday may 16, 6:00- 9:00 p.m. at Rosslyn Ridge. Help needed to set up and decorate facilities! If you can help, talk to Mr. Ligon. • 8th Grade End of Year Party at Meg Connor’s house, May 28. • MS Recital is on May 20, 5.30-6.30 p.m. High School • Rob Blanchard thanks the HS representatives for their efforts to organize great HS socials. Grade 9 & 10 So-

5.Treasurers’ Report • Most commitments have been paid. • Staff Appreciation Lunch is outstanding.

7.Communications Report • Jennifer Grey has begun the ‘Buddy System’ for new parents. If you are willing to be a ‘buddy’, please provide her with your contacts. • Big thanks goes to Pamela Pappas and ISK staff and students for making such a fun ISK version of the video ‘Happy’, which spread like wildfire on social media. Good promotion and celebration of ISK. 8.Fundraising Report • Next year, 1200 USD may be made available to each of the ES, MS & HS Divisions

for socials and projects, and 5000 USD made available for service projects subject to application procedures. 9.Areas of Other Business • Veronica Ruiz talks about the new Transport Safety Committee. • 1st Aid Pediatric training for Health Office staff and Bus Monitors has been approved. • Kenya has announced cleaner fuel from December, so those ISK buses that do not already have DPF filters will be fitted with them. • ‘3 point seat belts’ will be prioritized on the buses that go on field trips to begin with. Retrofitted ‘3 point belts’ from Dubai cost about KES 3500 each. ISK will meet with Pembroke, who have already fitted their buses with such belts. • Parents may be asked to help contribute booster seats for their younger children. • Each bus is fitted with a GPS tracking system. • Parents should make sure their kids comply with bus rules and regulations. More of this could be brought to parents attention at new school year orientation events and on the PTO bus tours. Meeting Adjourned 9:45 a.m.

The Link | 35

Photo Fun

36 | International School of Kenya 36 | International School of Kenya

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The Link | 37 The Link | 37

by CHARISH BISHOP & The Health Office

Whether you want to spend one Sunday afternoon cooking up a storm or make a double-batch of something new every few days…planning ahead is key when it comes to making “real food” school lunches easy! When my oldest was in KG, I struggled almost every night to come up with a balanced, fun, and somewhat creative lunch for my son. I now realize it’s because my options were rather limited. Aside from a few exceptions, I could only pull from our pantry or fridge and that got a little boring after a while. If by chance I had some leftover boiled wholewheat noodles I could throw into the mix it was like my lucky day. So after this realization, rather than making last minute lunches again, I started planning ahead because I knew this will make things so much easier in the long run. And even if “cooking up a storm” sounds like an undertaking, I was excited to finally have a plan. I don’t know about you, but once I have the next day’s lunch figured out and packed it’s such a big weight off my shoulders (and also one less thing standing in the way of me and my bedtime)!

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP JAR STORAGE: Eight-ounce jelly jars are the perfect size for freezing individual portions of soups, leftovers, and other one-dish meals. All I have to do is take one out to thaw the night before, heat it up in the morning, and then add it to their thermos before school.  If you can’t find jelly jars, other small glass containers work well. Save your olive jars and spaghetti sauce jars from the store! Wash them well and remove labels. It’s a great idea for recycling/ re-using also! IDEAS FOR JARS: Chicken noodle soup with veggies, tomato soup, chili, corn chowder, taco soup, jambalaya, and meatball soup.

FROZEN APPLESAUCE ICE CUBE TRAYS: Ice cube trays are a fabulous way to freeze extrasmall portions of things like sauces. Whether you are preserving items that you made yourself or extending the shelf life of items that are storebought, it is an easy little trick. Just transfer your frozen cubes into a big bag or container for storage and then pull out the right size portion the night before school. Simply let the cubes defrost in the lunchbox container overnight in the fridge and that’s all there is to it! IDEAS FOR ICE CUBE TRAYS: Applesauce (hummus, pesto, pizza sauce, BBQ sauce)

HINT: Don’t fill jars all the way because liquids expand when they freeze.

PLAN DAYS AHEAD • Boil eggs, noodles, rice, etc. to have ready and available in the fridge. • Chop fruit and peel & chop veggies all at once so it is easy to grab 38 | International School of Kenya

and pack these items on a busy weeknight. • Portion out crackers, pretzels, homemade trail mix, or other snacks if this will help you save time during the week.

ZIP LOCK BAGS / BIG TUPPERWARE CONTAINERS: Big disposable bags sure are easy, but my freezer starts to become a mess if I don’t have at least some sturdy containers to keep things straight. And I’ve found that there are so many things I can make in advance, freeze between layers of wax paper, and take out to defrost the night before school. Cream Cheese, Raisin, and Cinnamon Sandwich on Defrosted Homemade Waffles.   IDEAS FOR BAGS TUPPERWARE: Muffins, waffles, pancakes, plain pizza crusts (to eat with that pizza sauce you froze in the ice cube trays!), banana or zucchini bread, and cornbread (to go with that chili you froze in a jar).

• Make at least one dipping sauce like a salad dressing or hummus to add to lunch boxes. • Mix and freeze smoothies or yogurt in containers so it is ready to go when you need it.

SET UP NIGHT BEFORE   Plain Whole-Wheat Pizza Crusts Frozen for Lunches  • Get out any freezer items like plain homemade pizza crusts that need to defrost in lunchbox overnight. • Add fresh chopped fruit, veggies, whole-grain crackers and/or dipping sauce to lunchbox. • Make a sandwich or wrap if you don’t think it will get soggy overnight. • Fill water or milk cup and store in fridge. • Set out lunch box, reusable napkin, silverware, etc. as well as a bowl for cereal or other breakfast items.

ASSEMBLE MORNING OF • Reheat any soups, sauces, oatmeal or other items that need to be warmed up and added to Thermos. • Get out frozen smoothies or yogurts, which will have all morning to defrost before lunchtime. • Assemble and pack any other items that you didn’t make the night before like sandwiches. • Add several ice packs to lunch box/ bag to keep perishables cold.

EXTRA CREDIT: SCHOOL LUNCH SUPPLIES LUNCHBOX: Small individual plastic containers with lids! These are very easy to find at Nakumatt! NAPKINS & SILVERWARE: Don’t forget napkins and plastic ware! CUPS/THERMOSES: I prefer a small thermos for my kids lunches. They don’t need a large one!

Canteen News It is with great enthusiasm that the individuals on the Canteen Committee announce that next school year, there will be big changes made to the management of the school cafeteria.

In the past, the main challenge with having an outside caterer provide food, is that the company wants to make a profit. Selling healthy, nutritious and high quality food is not always profitable for these companies. So, ISK has decided to manage the cafeteria in-house beginning August 2014. With the help and support of the business department, the Canteen Committee will be hiring people to manage our cafeteria. It will become a non-profit cost centre with all the proceeds paying for the maintenance and purchase of kitchen equipment, food and supplies, staff wages, uniforms, cleaning materials and training.

As a result of these changes, customer service, food quality and health and safety standards will be greatly improved. Our ISK Food Policy will be followed and the Canteen Committee will have more control over the type of food being served to your children. We want to thank the Administrative team who supported us in this endeavor and the Board of Directors who supported the Administrative team’s decision. Also, many thanks to Moez Jiwani and the business department who will be the driving force behind purchasing, hiring and ensuring this new business works efficiently and properly. Sincerely, The Canteen Committee

The Link | 39

By Lynn Wells Director of Advancement

Reunions are a wonderful opportunity for alumni to get together, reminisce about shared experiences, exchange latest news and reconnect with their alma mater. We are counting down the days until our first ISK - Sponsored overseas reunion in Washington D.C. on July 24, 2014. The event will take place at the Kenyan Embassy from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more details or to RSVP email the Alumni Association at alumni@isk. ac.ke. Meanwhile, here is a list of who we are excitedly looking forward to seeing: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

40 | International School of Kenya

Yamaç C. KIZILYALLI - MSME J. Mark Larsen Miles Price Josh Lawyer Benjamin Getahun Elizabeth Govaerts Niko Doggett Cristina Busbee Deshy Kinfu Michael Kinfu Annie Simpkins Emily Simpkins Laura Minor Babatunde Odubekun

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stephen Roberts Kenya Jackmon and spouse Anne-Valerie Prosper Kathleen Bebout and Family Janessa Price Rebecca Martin Jeff Jones Kathleen Jones Chris Light Jae Hyung (Thomas) Kwon Julie Westerlund May and spouse Sasha McCarthy Amelieke Verwiel

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALIST The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of the Finalist in their scholarship competition. The scholarship is preliminarily on the scores that the PSAT, which was taken in the students junior year. Of the 16,000 Semifinalist, 15,000 have met the necessary requirements (SAT scores, essay, Teacher recommendation, etc.) to become a Finalist.

8,000 of the Finalist have been selected for Merit Scholarships. ISKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Merit Scholarship winner is: Renata E. Poulton Renata also received a National Achievement Scholarship from the Xerox Foundation in recognition for academic promise and distinguished performance. Congratulations to Renata for her outstanding efforts.

The Link | 41

HAIKU COMPETITION

Congratulations to McKenzie Smart in Grade 10. She has been selected as one of the finalists from the 1450 entrants in the United Nations International Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Haiku competition.

SPANISH CULTURE

On May 6th the Spanish 2 classes of ISK attended a cultural experience at a Spanish restaurant. The event allowed students to interact and be part of Spanish culture through Spanish cuisine. They were fortunate to be served by a Spanish speaking staff that explained the cuisine and bettered their understanding of Spanish food. It gave the students the opportunity to

Entrants from around the world will meet in New York, on June 7, for an awards ceremony celebrating writing and naming the overall winner. Good luck, McKenzie! Tom Wallbridge, Head of English

practice and enhance their language skills. The students tried a variety of different dishes such as stuffed peppers, croquets, vegetable panache, empanada gallega, goat cheese, etc. We hope to make this an annual event as part of the curriculum.

FEES PAYMENT This is to remind you that full tuition fees payment received before July 1, 2014, entitles you to a 1% discount. Thank you. Business Office

DATES TO REMEMBER EVENT

DATE

TIME

Board Meeting

May 20

4:00 P.M.

HS MPR

MS Assembly (MS Sports Assembly)

May 21

8:20 A.M.

Auditorium

ES Art Show & Concert

May 19-23

VENUE

Auditorium

Gr 5 Promotion

May 27

1:00 P.M.

Auditorium

Gr 8 Recognition Assembly

May 27

4:00 P.M.

Auditorium

Athletics End of Year Awards

May 27

5:00 P.M.

Commons MPR

MS Awards Assembly

May 28

8:20 A.M.

Auditorium

Fourth Grade Market

May 29

11:00 A.M.

Graduation Rehearsal Barbeque

May 29

12:30 P.M.

Behind HS Office

Parent Volunteer Appreciation Event

May 29

8:15 A.M.

Commons MPR

3:00 P.M.

Auditorium

HS Semester Assessments HS Graduation

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May 29-30 May 30

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I N T E R NATIONAL

SC HOOL

K E N YA

@ ISK UPPER FIELD

1 TABLE = KHS 2,000

ay 2 1 , 2 0 1 4 M e or ef b ce ffi O s es in P le as e si gn up at th e B us

TABLES ARE RESERVED ONLY FOR THE ISK COMMUNITY

The Link | 43

Loresho Primary School students with ISK Students. Photo Credit: Betsy Lafontant

PO Box 14103 - 00800 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 720 639 363 www.isk.ac.ke

44 | International School of Kenya