ISSUE 63 VOLUME 21 AUGUST 2018
lions’ den grand opening The Link
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About ISK The International School of Kenya (ISK) is a private, non-profit PreKGrade 12 school created in 1976 through a joint partnership between the governments of the United States and Canada. Nestled on 40 acres of a former coffee plantation, ISK serves the educational needs of both expatriate and Kenyan students who seek a challenging international curriculum which leads to the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma program. ISK’s internationally focused curriculum has helped Kenya become a magnet for foreign business investment and a desired posting for those working for the continuing development of East Africa. Expatriate families consider Kenya a quality career opportunity, in part due to the quality education they find at ISK. Likewise, Kenyan families who want an international, culturally diverse education for their children see ISK as the school of choice. ISK has over 980 students from more than 65 countries. Graduates earn an ISK North American accredited diploma and approximately 70 percent of ISK graduates earn the IB Diploma, enabling them to study at some of the most respected and competitive colleges and universities in the world. ISK students form a supportive, spirited and diverse community, which enables new students to adapt easily to campus life. Interacting in such a welcoming cross-cultural milieu, ISK students celebrate the unique and wonderful differences and similarities of people from around the world. The value of respect for each other and for Kenya is evident at ISK, as is a commitment to giving back to the community. Our scholarship program for Kenyan students, together with a broad and dedicated service-learning program which serves our local and national community, have shaped our school values since 1967 and continue today. In keeping with ISK’s strategic mission and vision, we are dedicated to empowering each student to create solutions for tomorrow’s challenges. Therefore, we have embarked on a multi-million dollar facility and program expansion project to provide students and faculty with the programs, tools and facilities necessary for success. Once completed, ISK will be able to accommodate 1,200 students with expanded programs and facilities.
EDITORIAL TEAM Lynn Wells Pamela Pappas Martin Mulwa DESIGN & PRODUCTION Mario Zamfir - SchoolBrand.com Copyright © 2018 The Link Copyright © 2018 ISK. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Trademarks: The Link, ISK and their associated logos are trademarks of the International School of Kenya. All other names, logos, and trademarks of other companies shown in this publication are the property of their respective owners.
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06 Message from the Board of Directors News & Updates 22 TLC - News & Updates News & Updates 19 Service Learning News and events 22 Athletics Department News & Updates 31 PTO News Welcome from the new PTO Chair
4 8 10 14 26 Director Letter
ES Report
MS Report
HS Report
Advancement News
Welcome to the new school year with ISK opening its doors on August 8 to more than 975 students.
We could not be happier with how the school year has started...
The Middle School hosted our second ever New Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 7th.
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year at ISK! The high school has enjoyed a very smooth start to the year
The 2018-2019 school year began with the largest ever New Family Orientation in ISK’s history.
Read more on page 4
Read more on page 8
Read more on page 10
Read more on page 14
Read more on page 26
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David G. Henry Director
KARIBUNI TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR Welcome to the new school year with ISK opening its doors on August 8 to more than 975 students. Also, welcome to our first Link issue for 2018-19. Again this year the Advancement Office will be providing a weekly update for parents about upcoming events called Link Lite while the regular Link is a celebration of activities over the past month. The Link issues will come out on the first Friday of each month.
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Director’s Letter ISK’S ANNUAL GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT
On August 24 and 25, the ISK Board of Governors, Board of Directors, Director, and Administrative Team plus ISK community members participated in the annual Governance and Strategic Planning Retreat. Board governance facilitator, Teresa Arpin, moderated the two-day workshop. The focus of the workshop was two-fold. First, board members took a deepdive into international school governance including fleshing out roles, responsibilities and relationships for board members within the ISK governance framework. Members also recommitted to ISK’s Board Code of Conduct and Operating Agreements, which are
spelled out in Annex 2 and 3 of the School Board Policy Manual. The second part of the workshop was geared towards the update of ISK’s Five-Year Rolling Strategic Plan including the drafting of annual board and director goals for 2018-19. At the strategic level, ISK’s Board of Directors drives long-term strategic planning. Members of the two boards and administration team gathered at the end of the first day of the workshop to review accomplishments from last year related to ISK’s Strategic Plan and annual goals. Starting the second day, with high school students, parents and teacher representatives, the next step was to look carefully at the objectives within ISK’s three Key Result Areas (KRA) and
how they relate to our Mission, Vision and Educational Aims. The three current KRAs are: 1. All students will achieve ISK’s Educational Aims, 2. ISK will provide sustainable resources to ensure exemplary educational experiences for all our students, and 3. ISK will have strong and sustainable community relationships.
Last year, much progress was made on KRA 1 with approval of our revised Educational Aims and its performance areas. We also realized this journey continues. We found that the achievement of KRA 1 is intimately linked to the technology systems objective of KRA 2 and the implementation our LearningBoard platform. The second objective of KRA 2 relates to construction project planning for our new Middle School/HS Science block, which should begin next school year. Due to most aspects of KRA 3’s two objectives generally being accomplished and operationalized, there was some consolidation of thinking around communication strategies and community building for KRA 3 for 2018-19.
The groups then finished the day developing annual goals to help focus the related strategic work the administration and school boards will complete this year. It is important to note that during the twoday retreat we continued to strengthen as both functional and integrated teams across the Board of Governors, Board of Directors, Director, and Admin Team. This well-established process is the way ISK ensures it annually reviews not only our Mission, Vision and Educational Aims, but also how it revises the Five-Year Rolling Strategic Plan to take into account recent environmental and organizational developments. Organizations that are able to embed this type
of process into their system of continuous improvement make that organization more adaptable and, I believe, bring it closer to fulfilling its Mission and Vision.
and Vision working with a strategic, big picture point of view in mind. We thank them for their service to the ISK community.
At the upcoming Board of Directors meeting on September 25, the Board of Directors will approve the updated Strategic Plan 2018-2023 as well as the annual Board and Director Goals. At the end of the school year, the Board of Governors, Board of Directors and the Director/Administrative Team will then reflect on the progress they have made working towards these annual goals.
The Director’s first Parent Tea will take place at 8:30 a.m. on October 4 in the Commons MPR 1 & 2.
One should not forget that ISK Board members are volunteers! They put in many hours to assist ISK in reaching its Mission
DIRECTOR’S PARENT TEA ON OCTOBER 4
One of the main topics of discussion will be ISK’s Strategic Plan 2018-2023 and ISK’s Learning Story. As at past Parent Teas, there will also be an opportunity for parents to share any thoughts they might have. I look forward to seeing you there. Kind Regards, David G. Henry Director
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Board News Welcome to the 20182019 school year, and an especially warm welcome to all new families joining us this year. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome a few new Directors to the Board. Benjamin Piper (parent-elect position) and Mika Kosaki Oldham (appointed by the Canadian High Commission) have joined the Board this year, and we look forward to working with them in the upcoming year.
The academic year started off strong with a two-day governance retreat at ISK. Additionally, four Board of Directors, along with David Henry, attended the “Governance as Leadership� conference hosted by the American International School at Johannesburg the first weekend in September. This conference provided an excellent platform to further explore key concepts of governance complete with case studies, interactive exercises, and a focus on practical takeaways. ISK has a strong governance framework that includes a focus on fiduciary, strategic and generative roles and responsibilities, and opportunities to continually enhance these vital principals will serve our school well. Our next Board of Directors meeting will be on Tuesday, September 25th at 4pm in the Commons MPR. All parents and staff are welcome to attend this meeting, which is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the school. For more information about the Board, please visit our website at https://www.isk.ac.ke/aboutisk/board. Best, Ann Marie Awori BoD Secretary
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
We could not be happier with how the school year has started, and judging by our interactions with students, they would say the same. We have put a focus on building relationships and community with our 83 new families, returning families and 6 new staff members, and we are seeing the benefits of this as we settle into our routines and procedures. As students live the ISK elementary
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experience, we want their independent choices, passions and ambitions to come out in ways that make our world a better place. In order for this to happen, we must build a culture that empowers our students to believe in themselves, their classmates and their dreams that will change our future. We will continue to build this culture with you, our partners, as we need our village to help raise all students to their fullest potential. Parent Night was a highly successful event that launched this partnership. The turnout was encouraging to see, and the interactions were filled with laughter, smiles and thoughtful questions that allowed you to advocate for your children. We were very pleased with the outcome focused on building community, as many
of our new families were able to connect with returning families. As we think about next year, we would truly appreciate your feedback in helping us keep that night as impactful as possible. Please find our feedback link to give us your thoughts around ways we can continue to improve. A final point to think about that we mentioned during the Parent Night is independence. Elementary school is a time for us to provide the space for kids to make mistakes, take risks and explore. If we as adults continue to be in control and make decisions for children, they will not experience the realities that life can hand them. This could include getting dressed in the morning on their own, handling their home learning and being responsible for
taking it to and from school, or facing challenges with courage, even if it requires a difficult conversation. When parents step in and solve problems that children are capable of solving themselves, we enable them to look towards us as adults to fix everything. If we believe in our children, they will believe in themselves. Once again, it is my pleasure to serve this amazing community of students, parents and educators. I extend an invitation to join me in creating an environment where we all feel safe to be ourselves and make our own choices to make the world a better place. Sincerely, Matthew Woodward Elementary School Principal
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DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL HOURS: Pre-Kindergarten: 8:25 - 12:20 p.m. MON, TUE, THU, FRI [1st quarter] 8:25 – 3:0 p.m. MON, TUE, THU, FRI [after 1st quarter] 8:35 – 1:25 p.m. on Wednesdays Kg- Grade 1: 8.25-3.20 p.m.
Please contact us should you need any additional information at this time. The ES office mobile number is 0733 639 340 and our school extension is 111, 113 & 110. The hot lunch program has been up and running from the first day of school. Please contact Angelina Ndungu at the canteen on 0720 639 363 or 0733 639 363 should you have queries.
Grades 2-5: 8.20-3.20pm.
Over the days ahead we will continue to help you settle in.
All students will be dismissed at 1:25 p.m. on Wednesdays.
You will shortly receive: • The 2018/19 Parent Directory in mid September
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m - 5.00 p.m. Monday – Friday
• A weekly schedule for your child’s grade
Sep 10 ISK Holiday // No School Sep 15 Farmer’s Market // 8:30-9:30 a.m
Please check the ISK website for the 2018-19 Elementary Parent-Student Handbook.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION The Middle School hosted our second ever New Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 7th. Approximately 50 new students were greeted by our MS Student Ambassadors, Ms. Remondi and a team of teachers to help them make new friends, get to know our campus, and feel comfortable as a part of the ISK family. Students took part in team-building activities, a scavenger hunt around campus, and learned about technology in the middle school. We are thrilled to welcome our new families. Karibu ISK Middle School!
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TUJUANE (GETTING TO KNOW YOU) MIDDLE SCHOOL The Middle School took the first two days of school to settle in and get to know each other: Tujuane! Tujuane was a big success, with new friendships formed, locks and lockers assigned, fun community-building games, and learning about our technology and citizenship guidelines. We ended the second day with our first House event: Capture the Chicken!
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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT On Wednesday, August 22nd we were grateful to start the important partnership between home and school with the MS Back to School Parent Night. There was a positive buzz, as the MS teachers welcomed parents, shared the details of their classes, and communicated how we value community and supporting students. Individual teachers have shared their presentations with parents. Here is the Parent Night presentation that started the evening in the theater. It was followed by a lovely gathering at the Hob House organized by the MS PTO representatives. We hope to have many more opportunities to build community throughout the year!
UPCOMING MS PARENT TEAS We have several opportunities in the next couple of months to share about our program and further develop the important partnership with parents. Please mark your calendar for these helpful Parent Teas. IC Trip Parent Night • Tuesday, September 11th, 5:00-6:00 p.m. • HS MPR, Commons MPR, Theatre • Come learn about the InterCultural Trip that your child will be attending from September 24-28. • Followed by a MS PTO Sundowners event!
PARENT TEA: GRADING/PROFICIENCY & SCHEDULE On Thursday, August 30th we hosted our first Parent Tea of the year titled Proficiency/Grading and MS Schedule. We have a few changes in each of these areas for the 2018-19 school year, and the objective for the tea was to support parents with understanding the shifts and changes. Some of the biggest shifts and messages are in the area of intrinsic motivation and student ownership of learning. You can see the presentation here.
Ways to Support Your Middle Schooler Parent Tea • Tuesday, September 18th, 8:30-9:30 a.m. • Commons MPR Helping Students Navigate Their Digital World Parent Tea • Tuesday, October 9th, 8:30-9:30 a.m. • HS MPR Alexa Schmid Middle School Principal
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HIGH SCHOOL
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year at ISK! The high school has enjoyed a very smooth start to the year, with students now settled into their academic and cocurricular routines. In support of a smooth and positive start to the years for students and parents, the first month of school we’ve already enjoyed our back-to-school parent evening, grade 9 orientation, grade 9 Aberdares overnight outing, our grade 12 retreat, the whole school welcome back picnic featuring studentled activities, the opening of our new Lions’ Den outdoor gym (featuring a fun student-teacher basketball game) and our annual high school Intercultural trips with students engaged in intercultural learning experiences across Kenya. The focus of this month’s article is communication, given how particularly important this is for all community members at the start of the year.
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STAYING CONNECTED THIS YEAR AS PARENTS You receive a lot of information from us at the start of the school year concerning your child’s school life; it may be challenging to keep track of all the great things happening. While the school has many methods to help you stay connected (such as periodic email from the high school team and my monthly Link article), two key tools for students and parents to access/ reference throughout the year are Moodle and PowerSchool. • Moodle (http://moodle.isk.ac.ke/) is an online learning platform, containing information about school programs, courses, syllabi, etc • PowerSchool (isk.powerschool.com) is an electronic grade-book, containing schedule, assessment, attendance information, etc. Each of your child’s courses should have a direct link to Moodle for your ease of access. You should have already received an individual email from dirish@isk.ac.ke here at ISK explaining how you can access both Moodle and PowerSchool. If you still need help with access to these tools from your personal devices, you can drop into school at a convenient moment or attend a second special IT help desk session for parents on Wednesday Sept 19th at 4:00 pm, prior to the HS Parents & Principal Tea.
OTHER IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION NOTES The Link I hope that as parents you will actively participate in school life this year and feel well informed about the many important aspects of our educational program. While my articles will generally be celebratory and retrospective in nature, I will also use this monthly Link article forum to help keep parents informed about school life and events. Daily Bulletin For high school students; this is currently being shared electronically with students via their ISK email addresses, also posted by the ASB on the ASB Facebook page. New Parents Many parents who are new to ISK are also new to Kenya, meaning that the contact information you supplied at the time of application may now be outdated or incomplete. Please ensure that we have your up-to-date contact information by emailing Ruth Onyango at rutho@isk.ac.ke or via the general high school email address of hsmail@ isk.ac.ke. Open and Direct Channels At ISK we believe that effective communication underpins a successful home-school relationship and is important within our diverse community. Choosing an effective channel of
communication is especially important when people have a complaint or problem. As a guideline we ask that you communicate directly with the person who is closest to the area of concern should an issue or concern ever arise. My door is of course open and you should always feel free to drop by, give me a call, or send me an email (rblanchard@isk.ac.ke). You can make an appointment by contacting Ruth Onyango (rutho@isk.ac.ke) in the high school office; note that important emails from the principal to parents normally come from the rutho@isk.ac.ke email address. Parent & Student Handbook The handbook has a lot of helpful information about the high school, its culture and ethos, making it a helpful reference resource for parents and students throughout the year. All ISK parents and students have now read and agreed to abide by the procedures in the High School Parent & Student Handbook 2018-19. The handbook is available via Moodle or the ISK website for your ongoing easy reference. 1-to-1 laptop schooling ISK requires all high school students to have their own laptop in support of student learning. We also use electronic platforms for key matters such as curriculum, assessment, and attendance
in the interest of open, transparent communication about the educational process. As part of this, we ask that parents ensure that your child takes good care of all personal electronic devices; we recommend that you insure them. As helpful and powerful as they can be in support of communication and learning, a laptop is simply a tool. At ISK we believe that students should of course not be using their laptops at all the time, either during the academic day or at home, and the matter of laptop use at home may be an important conversation for families to have at the start of the year. FIRST HS PARENTS & PRINCIPAL TEA (AND POTLUCK SUPPER INFO) In order to help parents understand school programs and support open home-school communication, we have two opportunities each semester to gather for an hour and address a wide range of issues. The aim is for the topics to be parent-generated, as far as possible, and for the meetings to be interactive and collaborative in nature. • This semester we will have one evening session and one morning session, the first one being September 19th from 5:00-6:00 pm in the high school multipurpose room. Some items we are planning to look at that evening are:
• May 2018 IB results • HS instructional Schedule 2018-19 • Counselor Welcome including college news and SAT/ACT testing • HS Advisory program 2018-19 • understanding Assessment at ISK (if time permits) Parents are encouraged to let us know if there are topics you would like to see included in a Tea this year. For parents who cannot attend a Tea, we will post the presentation in the HS Office section of Moodle for your easy reference. The same evening of this Parent Tea, the PTO reps and principal will be organizing a Grade 9-10 Parents Potluck Supper from 6:00-7:30 pm. The Potluck Supper for Grade 11-12 Parents will be on the evening of September 26th. You will hear more from us in the future about all these events. All the very best for an enriching and wonderful 2018-19 academic year! Robert Blanchard, Ed.D. High School Principal Jarrod Dale High School Assistant Principal
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WELCOME BACK PICNIC
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LIONS’ DEN OPENING
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Jodi Lake Director of Teaching and Learning
THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL Welcome to the Teaching and Learning Center! This year we welcome Heidi Laws to our TLC family. Heidi is our Student Support Services Coordinator and has brought lots of experience as well as humor to the TLC. She is getting to know our SSS teachers and students and ensuring each student’s needs are being met. Our office has focused on helping teachers get their year started. Kathleen Chromicz, our Tech Integration Coordinator, has ensured that teachers and students are set to use a myriad of digital tools. We could not have managed such a successful start without our two admin assistants Mary Wambui and Vincent Bundi.
Heidi Laws
Student Support Services Coordinator
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ISK’s MISSION: ISK inspires and nurtures passion, creativity and ambition in pursuit of a better world. As we start another year at ISK, the focus on our mission and vision continues to drive us forward. One of the key words in the ISK mission is creativity. Here is a short 3 minute video by Ken Robinson on the importance of teaching creativity. WHAT’S COMING UP? MAP testing in grades 3-9 will be finished by the end of the first week in September. After we have all the results downloaded there will be a Parent Tea to help parents understand how to read and make sense of the results. A note will be sent out with the day and time. Transforming Schools - Last year 80 faculty and staff participated in this
Kathleen Chromicz
Tech Integration Coordinator
Mary Wambui Admin Assistant
3 ½ day workshop which focused on building community, organizational trust and cultural proficiency. Dr. Fran Prolman will be back again so that another cohort of teachers and staff can benefit.
On Monday, September 17 all teachers and teaching assistants will be working with Dr. Prolman on defining ISK’s beliefs - with a focus on intercultural learning, diversity and global citizenship. Please note - there will not be school for students on this day.
Vincent Bundi Admin Assistant
Definition
Service learning is an approach to teaching and learning that addresses authentic need through active engagement in our local and global communities.
Philosophy
Service at ISK
service learning…
All projects should align to ISK’s service learning goals:
• Is linked to the curriculum
• To raise our students’ awareness of the lives of others
• Involves positive and meaningful action
• To connect with others in the community
• Engages student voice and choice • Considers the sustainability of programs and partnerships • Creates opportunities for participants to be enriched by diverse perspectives • Nurtures social responsibility and global citizenship • Is mutually beneficial to participants • Inspires reflection
• To help our students become aware of the various social, cultural, and economic differences of those around us • To create awareness that change is possible and that individuals can make an impact
ES: Each homeroom class will engage in a service project over the course of the year. MS/HS*: Over the year, students will be required to complete the following:
• At least one sustainable service project (approximately 9 visits per semester) • At least one new action activity • At least one new creative activity • A reflection for each new activity undertaken
* Please note that this is an ISK graduation requirement
www.isk.ac.ke 19 The Link
ROUND SQUARE INTERNATIONAL SERVICE TRIP Taking a trip to Leh, Ladakh, is without a doubt the best decision that I have made this year. It came with its challenges, but the growth that accompanied it was worth every minute. The Ladakh Project 2018 was a 17 day service project and adventure expedition. The service work involved the construction of two classrooms in a local school in rural Ladakh, followed by a trek in
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the Himalayan range for five days. Before I set off on my trip to India, I was very anxious wondering if I would be the only foreigner taking part in the project amongst Indian locals. I was scared to travel so far away all by myself, and I couldn’t help imagining how it would turn out if I didn’t blend in quite as I hoped. I knew very well that it was quite a risk that I was taking.
On arriving at Delhi Airport, the excitement of the local Indian students to meet me was an immediate sign that I was home. I formed an immediate bond with most members of the group, and as early as the first day, I learnt a few Hindi terms. Our expedition started in Lamdon Modern school in Ladakh, where we did the construction work building classrooms, the highest service project in the world!
I met the most adorable people, who immediately became our friends and later, our family. It did not take very long till I realised that the children preferred to communicate in their local language, Ladakhi, so it was a challenge for me in some cases. However, over the 9 days that we stayed at the school, it was clear that it is still possible to connect with people without necessarily speaking
their language. The evenings, which were filled with music, dancing and playing card games with the local children helped form a connection that no conversation could. As I interacted with the Ladakhi children, I felt that I was able to be the best version of myself. I felt a new sense of freedom such that I was willing to embarrass myself when dancing and singing for the kids, something that I am
otherwise very self conscious of. In many cases too, I made the conscious decision to be selfless and spend time with the kids if they wanted me to, even if I felt bored or tired. During the construction of the classrooms, one of the main things that we learnt as a team was to take things easy. During the first two days of the construction, we knew that we had a hard task to do and so we were all serious, trying to be as focused as possible to hopefully complete the task faster. We soon realised that we got too overwhelmed that way, and on the following days we tried to lift the bricks and mix the cement to the
rhythm of some music. By finding a way to enjoy what we were doing, it made the work go much faster, while still allowing us to interact and get to know each other. We came up with the phrase, “Work hard, play harder and the work gets done faster!” The construction was also very benefitting physically as it helped build our muscle memory and was also a pointer on the areas of fitness that we need to improve on. Sunset in Ladakh was the best time of the day for me. I would wake up just looking forward to the beautiful view later on that evening. After construction, we would go up to the nearby monastery
to watch the sun set and click pictures with each other and relax listening to music. It was a very effective way to wind down the day as we were able to express our appreciation for one another. Personally, that part of the day increased my sense of adventure as I learnt new Hindi music each day and listened to interesting stories about life in India. For the next 6 days of the trip, we packed our rucksacks on our backs, got our sun hats and sunscreen on and started the trek. I was particularly taken aback when I encountered some locals who had never met a person of African descent and thus they were excited
to take pictures with me. We trekked from the Stipuk bridge to Zinchen; Zinchen to Yurutse; Yurutse to Rumbak, and back. Just as with the construction, everybody found a way to make the treks as enjoyable and bearable as possible. However, we were also highly encouraged to push ourselves and do our best. Having some past experience with mountaineering, I was personally determined to push myself and see how far I could get. In the end I was very proud of myself and my team when we arrived at Gandala Pass, which is at an altitude of 5000 m, and which is the highest trekkable pass in the Himalayas. From that experience,
the Hindi phrase that I will keep in mind for a long time is, “Pani Pilla Tho”, which means “Give me some water.” The trekking and camping in the cold and at such a high altitude was very challenging. In fact, challenging is even an understatement. However, we made it and we came out braver than we went in! The Ladakh experience was a lifetime experience: the adventures that I had, the friends that I made, the lessons that I learnt are so much, I cannot tell it all. One thing that I can tell for sure however is that, I have grown! Vanessa N. Grade 12
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Will Moore Athletics Director
ISK ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Hello, and a very warm welcome from the ISK Athletics Department! Our tryout period is well under way and we have seen excellent turnout from our ES, MS & HS swimmers and athletes. However, several coaches have mentioned a dip in fitness levels since before the summer break! The turnout for MS football has been fantastic. We have had to recruit more coaches to help out! Our ‘no cut’ policy in Middle School is giving much greater opportunity for season long participation and learning. The swimming program has got underway with a new and invigorating start. Selection has been really competitive, with swimmers showing their best to make it into the Advanced Swim Team. Those with great potential, but not quite making this team will join the ‘Development Squad’ where they will focus on their stroke work. Elementary Saturday Sports Programme will
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be starting on September 1. We have over 120 students signed up to take part in tennis, gymnastics, football, swimming and basketball coaching. Our coaches are being joined by several High School students who are passionate about assisting with the development of out younger student-athletes. Please see the website link below for the signup sheet and calendar. On our ISK Athletics Website, you will find a lot of information about ISK Athletics 2018-19. Such as: • Student – Parent Athletic Handbook • Sports Seasons (What we offer!) • Team lists and their Schedules (sign in required) • Elementary Saturday Sports Sign Up and Calendar • Season 1 Results! Go Lions!! Will Moore Athletics Director
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LIONS’ DEN OPENING CEREMONY ISK Lions celebrated this auspicious occasion in style! The Opening Ceremony commenced with a basketball game between the ISK staff team and a Student combined team led by Dr. Rob Blanchard and Caleb Kalu as team captains respectively as the High School students and Staff arrived. (Bball Match PHOTO) The High School students choir then led the 400 person crowd in singing the National Anthem.
This was then followed by the opening remarks from the Director, Mr. David Henry addressing all the attendees with an elaborate and effective presentation detailing the process of establishing the Lion’s Den from the conception process to the magnificent building that stands today.
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Mr. Henry remarked about the significance of athletics to student education noting the great correlation between academics and sports. He then thanked all those who were involved in building of such a masterpiece. From the architects/designers of the building, the contractors, Project Manager, Business Manager, Advancement Office, Athletics Department, to the end users, the students of ISK.
Mr. Henry then introduced Anne Marie Awori, representative from the Board of Directors, to speak and help usher in the official opening of the Lion’s Den with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by two studentathletes, Caleb Kalu and Maria Messana Colville. We look forward to utilising this venue to its maximum potential and proudly showing off this fantastic new facility to our visiting teams for matches and tournaments.
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Lynn Wells Director of Advancement
FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE
The 2018-2019 school year began with the largest ever New Family Orientation in ISK’s history. Over 200 new students and their families started their ISK journey on a glorious, sunny day in August. Our new families were welcomed by ISK Director, David Henry, Board Chair Mimi Steward, the ISK Administrative team, members of the PTO, student
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ambassadors and of course the principals and assistants from each division. The new family orientation wouldn’t have been complete without the “One Stop Shop” where new parents were able get their ID badges, arrange for their child’s bus service, food service, PE uniforms, get a
parking sticker for their car among other important steps along their journey into the ISK community. The orientation day included food and drinks, topped off with a tour of the ISK campus led by our MS and HS student ambassadors. It was a great way to welcome our new families into the ISK Community.
Members of the community who want a glimpse into how ISK lives its mission and vision throughout the year should check out the 20172018 Annual Report. The Annual Report is published in August of each year and contains highlights of every aspect of the ISK
Story. The 2017-2018 ISK Annual Report is on the school website or you can read it by clicking this link. The school’s monthly magazine, the Link is just one way we communicate and stay in touch with the community. ISK incorporates a host of other communications
strategies and channels depending on the purpose and objective of the communication. Learn more about communications at ISK, from social media to one-on-one conferences in our newly published 2018-2021 Communications Plan. Lynn Wells Director of Advancement
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MUSIC, FOOD, & FUN IN THE SUN! Pamela Pappas Communications Manager
WELCOME BACK LIONS!
There are so many upcoming, exciting initiatives and events spearheaded by the Advancement Office this year! Thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday, ​September 1, to spend time at the Annual Welcome Back Community Picnic. The event boasted around 800 guests and everyone had a great time soaking in the sun, playing games, eating yummy food and catching up with friends.
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A big thank you to the Music Department for encouraging our students to showcase their talent, to The PTO, Board Members, Administration, The Advancement Office, Operations Department, Food Services Department, faculty, staff and the other volunteers who brought their positive energy and enthusiasm to this annual community building event! The event showcased the type of students our school cultivates through our music programs, service learning projects and athletics
in a supportive atmosphere of fun and games. More tickets were sold this year than ever before so congratulations to everyone who came out to have fun and provided their support of ISK and the local community. Kind Regards, Pamela Pappas Communications Manager
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DIRECTORY SPOT! Dear Parents, We are excited to inform you that our updated ISK School Directory app, Directory Spot, will be up and running by mid September. Once you have the app downloaded onto your phone (at no cost) you will be able to access the ISK School Directory and the Parent Calendar right from your smartphone; it will always be updated with
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the latest information! In the meantime, should you require contact information for new families please contact the appropriate divisional office. Directory Spot will contain parent names, parent phone numbers, parent email addresses and student names and grade levels. Directory Spot also has the contact details for ISK
Faculty and Key Staff as a professional courtesy in addition to the ISK Parent Calendar. The app is very secure and only parents and ISK Faculty/Staff are granted access. Each user simply logs in with their authorized email address and then sets their own private password. If you would like more information on these security features, please click on this link.
Directory Spot is accessible from an iPhone, Android or on a desktop computer through a secure website. Enjoy! Thank you, Pamela Pappas, Communications Manager Doug Irish Director of Technology
Lucille Niessen PTO Chair
MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW PTO CHAIR
Thanks for the opportunity to say hi and introduce myself as your new PTO Chair! My name is Lucille Niessen, and I’m the mom of an eighth grade son. We have moved to Nairobi by way of Palos Verdes, California which is where we call home when in the USA. Washington, DC, the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA, the hot heart of Texas, and London have all been home along the way so far. I’ve learned lots from Salem Academy, Baylor University, and George Washington University, but so much more to know, so am currently applying to graduate school. I feel confident when saying your PTO team is a wonderfully dynamic, caring and diversified group this year. We are already reaching out in all directions, with more great plans for the year ahead. We are here for you. We are here to help with communication and questions, and to help you settle into life on campus and off campus. Don’t be shy; we’d love to see you at meetings, and value your input. Let’s see what we can do together this year at ISK; I’m looking forward to it. Go Lions! Sincerely, Lucille Your PTO Chair
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WELCOME TO ISK SUNDOWNER Thank you to all who joined us at the Welcome to ISK Sundowner on August 30th at Peponi Springs for some Kenyan beer and nyama choma. It was a wonderful start to the year to see so many new and returning parents and staff making connections in a chilled, relaxed setting. Thanks to Lily and Meg for the fun and impromptu trivia contest, and congrats to those parents who won some fabulous door prizes. Many thanks to Lisa Amenya, the PTO New Family Welcome Coordinator for putting
this fun evening together. Hopefully it will be an ISK tradition for many years to come!
Learn Kiswahili! ISK KISWAHILI LESSONS FOR ADULTS STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 3RD Whether you have been in Kenya 10 days or 10 years, the PTO offers small group classes at four levels - Complete Beginner, Beginner/ Intermediate, Intermediate, and Advanced. Classes are small (3-6 people) to allow plenty of time for conversation, and will take place at ISK from 8:30-10:00 a.m. on Mondays/Tuesdays/ Wednesdays and/or Fridays depending on levels of interest and availability. Sign-up (https://form.myjotform.com/pctrench/ isk-kiswahiliforadults) is per session, first session runs from September to December; cost is just 800 Kes per 90 minute class.
QUESTIONS? Contact Pippa Trench (ptrench@me.com)
To signup click here
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PTO DUKA Welcome back to the shopping extravaganza offered by PTO DUKA here at ISK. At the DUKA we are passionate about encouraging our vendors, helping the local community and at the same time bringing to the ISK community the best quality locally produced products. The DUKA management team has been striving hard to look for
new volunteers for the current academic year and we are overwhelmed with the interest shown by the ISK community. We had our first intake on August 28th, with our longstanding and many new vendors. Many of our returning DUKA volunteers helped out and new volunteers took part in their first intake experience.
September is an action packed month with the Welcome Back Picnic which was on September 1, the reopening of the DUKA in early September and conducting volunteer training. We hope to enjoy the continued support of our community. Some glimpses of the latest stock!!!
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REPORT FROM PTO HS REPS
This year has gotten off to a great start. Many new and returning parents have been added to the HS Parents WhatsApp groups. We have had two ‘Get to Know You’ morning coffees. The Grade 11/12 coffee was on August 17th and the Grade 9/10 event was on August 24th, both at Valentines Cafe in the Commons. Parents enjoyed connecting with each other and have requested other ways to meet informally. Thus, we are planning to organize more PTO morning and evening events every couple of months. Look out for a High School Parent Social coming up before the October Break. It will be a fun evening of socializing with parents in a relaxed environment over drinks and bites. We will be trying it for the first time due to parent requests, so we hope to get a great turnout. We will send further details as we start planning this event. Coming up in September, the High School, with the support of the PTO HS Reps, will be organizing Parent Potluck Dinners. The Grade 9/10 Parent Potluck is on September 19th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. immediately following the HS Parents Tea from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The Grade 11/12 Parent Potluck is on September 26th from
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5:30-7:00 p.m. It will be an evening to meet other parents in the same grade level, and meet the administrators and some teachers in an informal setting. Further information regarding the potlucks will be sent out from the HS Office closer to the dates.
If any parents need any information or assistance, or wishes to be added to their Grade Level Parents WhatsApp group, please get in touch with the HS Reps. NUZHAT SHAH Grade 9/10 HS Rep +254 707 718422 nuzishah@gmail.com JENNIFER LIRIANO Grade 11/12 HS Rep +254 704 879180 jennifer.liriano.jl@gmail.com
REPORT FROM PTO MS REPS
Thank you to all who could join us for the First Day of School Coffee and at the Hob House Sundowner. It has been a wonderful kickoff to the year to see so many parents reconnecting and making new connections. Congrats to Isabella and Ray Gomez (new to our community) who won the door prize - a night away and tasty breakfast at Hob House.
Many thanks to Kelly and the team at Hob House for the generous prize donation and for making our first Sundowner such a lovely event. Please join us on September 11th after the IC Trip Information session for an on-campus reception hosted by the MS PTO for gear swap, bitings, and highlights of MS student work so far.
And if you have ideas for events or projects this year, please email us at pto-ms-reps@isk.ac.ke. Also, there are WhatsApp groups for each grade level. If you’d like to be added, you can email us (see above). Thanks, Abby, Meg, and Lilly
PTO EVENTS CALENDAR // SEPTEMBER 2018 1
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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ISK Welcome Back Community Picnic High School Reps liaise with HS Principal and help coordinate and support HS service learning groups. Also, the PTO and PTO Duka will have a table at the event. ISK Holiday (No School)
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
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MS Parent Sundowner Organized by the PTO Middle School Reps ISK Teacher Day (No School)
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8:30 am – 9:30 am
PTO Executive Committee Meeting
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6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Grade 9 & 10 High School Potluck Suppers Supported by the PTO High School Reps
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5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Grade 11 & 12 High School Potluck Suppers Supported by the PTO High School Reps
28 or 29
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
PTO Movie Night at the Arts Centre Genre: Bollywood
TBA
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
PTO New Family Welcome Bus Tour The Link
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WonderWalk
Thanks to the new ISK Parents who took part in the WonderWalk - Roots. It was a beautiful morning to walk in the forest, meet new friends and explore the steps that define our individual and shared journeys. A special thank you to the ISK Parents who organized the WonderWalk, Hanne Fink Ferdinand and Anita Shankar. For more information on the WonderWalk, look for postings on the ISK PTO Facebook page.
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CELEBRATING ISK’S DIVERSITY
The ISK community recognizes the importance of creating an accepting and responsive environment for all stakeholders, including students, families, staff and faculty. A team of students, parents, teachers, and administrators has come together to serve on the Diversity Working Group (DWG), with the goal to learn, reflect, explore and propose how ISK can deepen and strengthen our practices related to diversity. Grade 11 student and member, Awuor Onguru, stated, “I hope [the committee] can make change. I want to see visible, tangible change in our community.” The DWG kicked off last May with the goal of creating a safe environment by defining personal assumptions and norming the process that will take place throughout the 2018-2019 school year. We began this year’s discussion by building a common understanding, and we analyzed a proposed definition of diversity in hopes of adopting a definition that incorporates ISK’s Mission, Vision, and Educational Aims. “This working group is an amazing opportunity to see beyond our personal narratives and share our experiences in a respectful and inclusive environment. Moving forward, as an ES parent and HS teacher, it is my hope that this group will acknowledge as many diverse voices as possible to create and nurture a common positive sense of belonging to the ISK community,” stated DWG member Séverine Fumoux.
As a committed group, we are using the 4 D’s of the Appreciative Inquiry model to explore diversity at ISK. We will Discover ISK’s strengths and areas where we can improve, Dream about the possibilities and ways that ISK can grow as a community, Design options to make the dreams tangible, and Deliver an action plan in collaboration with the leadership team. Through focused discussions, expert panels, global research, and breakout sessions, the DWG will explore the following key areas: DIVERSE COMMUNITY Reflect on how best to support our diverse student body and implement appropriate actions. DIVERSE STAFFING Continue to seek opportunities to diversify staff while maintaining our standards for exceptional educators who embrace our mission, vision and educational aims. GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP & CURRICULUM Ensure an evolving curriculum that deepens our understandings of cultures around the world while dispelling some of the myths associated with them.
During a meeting on Tuesday, August 28th, we began the Discovery stage to gain a better understanding of how ISK supports our diverse community and the protocols for staffing and recruitment. We had two expert panels to discuss these topics. The first panel was made up of middle and high school students who shared their perspectives on the strengths and growth areas in relation to how ISK supports diversity. The second panel included our HR Manager, Ms. Irene Muchunu, and High School Principal, Dr. Robert Blanchard, who shared the history of ISK’s hiring and recruitment practices and included hopes and considerations for the future. As we move forward with this process, we will continue in the Discovery stage to explore the strengths and growth areas in regards to Global Citizenship and Curriculum and how we expand Cultural Proficiency and sensitivity at ISK. As ISK continues along this journey, in the words of Onguru, “[We] hope to see a community that inspires each other through the sharing of different cultures, wisdoms, and the ways of life.” Saloni Shah & Shelly Maldonado
EXPAND CULTURAL PROFICIENCY / SENSITIVITY Continue to build community through professional learning opportunities that expand our cultural proficiency.
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Students for the Environment are excited to announce that the recycling center is open! You can now recycle your cleaned and sorted glass, cans and aluminum foil, plastic, and cardboard in the appropriate bins. Don’t forget to collapse your cardboard! Monday and Friday are optimal times for drop-off since TakaTaka Recyclers collect on Tuesdays and Sundays. To keep the area clean, do not dump your household or organic waste.
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The Recycling Center is monitored by CCTV cameras to ensure safe habits are maintained. If you have questions or would like a lesson on how to recycle properly, SFE members are happy to help you. Thank you for your cooperation as we endeavor to keep both our planet and our campus clean! The SFE Team
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Accredited fully by the Middle States Association of Schools in the United States and the Council of International Schools in Europe.
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