ISSUE 55 VOLUME 13 OCTOBER 2017
ISEEA TRACK & FIELD ISSEA Track & Field 2017 was held in Maputo, Mozambique. A very strong finish on the final day, with great results in the sprints and relays. Read more on page 20
HS FINAL ASSESMENTS Review the schedule carefully with your child; all students must attend these final assessments at the designated day and time. Read more on page 13
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About ISK The International School of Kenya (ISK) is a private, non-profit PreK-Grade 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 930 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 crosscultural 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 servicelearning 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 Janet Muasya DESIGN & PRODUCTION Mario Zamfir - SchoolBrand.com Copyright © 2017 The Link Copyright © 2017 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 The ISK Board of Directors met on Tuesday, October 24, 2017. Many thanks to those who attended the meeting. 16 TLC - ISK’s Educational Aims - The Next Frontier Each month, we will highlight one or two of the different Performance Areas. This month we are highlighting the Aim of Communication and the disposition of Empathy. 18 Service Learning Review This year at ISK, we are conducting a review of our Service Learning Program. 20 Athletics Department ISSEA season one news and results. 34 PTO News It was so nice to see families who were able to join the PTO Elementary School Parent Coffee Social on October 24 in the Arts Centre Foyer
4 8 10 12 30 Director Letter
ES Report
MS Report
HS Report
What Inspires You?
Sustaining a Safe and Dynamic Learning Community: Over the past few years accrediting and recruiting agencies, child protection groups...
Teachers have reported very positive meetings with parents during the parent-teacher conferences. Overall, we had approximately 90% of our families attend.
October was a choppy month, with fall break, elections and conferences. We also started our second quarter electives and exploratory classes.
Prior to the break, we held our semester one Parent-Student-Teacher conferences, which were very well attended by parents as well as students.
We are excited to share this year’s Inspiration Initiative with every family, alumni and member of the faculty & staff.
Read more on page 4
Read more on page 8
Read more on page 10
Read more on page 30
Read more on page 12
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David G. Henry Director
SUSTAINING A SAFE AND DYNAMIC LEARNING COMMUNITY
Over the past few years accrediting and recruiting agencies, child protection groups, the U.S. Dept. of State’s Office of Overseas Schools, and school administrators/ counselors have been focusing on improving ways to ensure international schools are safe and dynamic learning communities. The International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP) with support from the Council of International Schools and other organizations has led the way in getting all these various groups to work together on child protection. The ITFCP took a three-pronged approach to their work on ensuring safe learning communities at international schools. This approach focused on three areas; school recruitment, school policies and practices, and school evaluation.
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Director’s Letter The ITFCP’s School Recruitment Committee’s main thrust was strengthening screening processes used in hiring international faculty and staff. The key elements that the committee recommends as best hiring practices have been implemented. ISK follows these recommendations in its hiring practices as well as with adults that work or volunteer on our campus. The ITFCP’s School Policies and Practices Committee’s objective was to develop resources that schools can use to enhance their own policies and responses that apply within their context. These policies and practices mirror much of the child protection work originally spearheaded by the Association of International Schools of Africa (AISA). Finally, ITFCP’s School Evaluation Committee produced
recommendations to school accreditation and inspection agencies on what protocols should exist around the world that would ensure child protection and wellbeing. They worked with the premise that schools have a duty to protect children and prevent them from harm, and act with a sense of urgency if a child is at risk of harm. They agreed that there are five key parts in which accreditation standards should apply; professional development for faculty and staff, a proactive approach to policies and practices, ensuring student learning about protection, personnel recruitment, and implementing a regular review of child protection measures. ISK is accredited through the Council of International Schools (CIS) and Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) through 2020. We are currently
preparing for our re-accreditation with both these organizations. One aspect of this process is to review and ensure that our practices in the area of child protection are in line with best practices. We are continuing to implement and promote best practices in the area of child protection in Kenya by heading Kenya’s Child Protection Advocacy Network (CPAN). ISK understands that ensuring a safe learning community is not something that you check off of a list, but rather something that you continually work at improving and monitoring. With this in mind, note that for the first time on the continent, CIS in collaboration with AISA is offering its Child Protection Foundation Workshop in Nairobi from February 28 – March 2, 2018. In a positive, stable school environment, where students’ commonalities are strengthened and their individuality is supported, students feel safe to take educational risks as they explore and construct their learning. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SEARCH – THANK YOU
Thank you to all the parents, students, faculty, staff and board members that participated in various aspects of the ES Principal search. Your feedback was valuable in the decision-making process. The new ES Principal, Matthew Woodward, will visit ISK during a transition visit the second semester before officially joining ISK in July 2018. APPROVED 2018-19 ISK SCHOOL CALENDAR
The Board of Directors approved the 2018-19 ISK School Calendar at the October 24 Board meeting. Next year’s school start date is August 8, 2018 with the end of the school year scheduled for June 6th for students. We anticipate that the 2018-19 school year will not have any of the major calendar challenges that we have encountered this school year. A copy of the 2018-19 ISK School Calendar is available on the school website. Sincerely, David G. Henry Director
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Board News The ISK Board of Directors met on Tuesday, October 24, 2017. Many thanks to those who attended the meeting. We would like to invite all parents to attend the next meeting on Tuesday, November 21st at 4pm in the Commons MPR. This is a great way to support the Administration, as well as the Board, and learn more about the strategic initiatives ISK is undertaking. Coffee and tea will be served as well! Please take advantage of this great opportunity! At this past October Board meeting, ASB President Jimin Son provided an update on the ASB website and committees. The Elementary School Principal, Ms. Salleh-Matta, and High School Associate Principal, Mr. Dale, briefly presented to the Board the new schedules that our Elementary and High School students have experienced these past few months, as well as feedback about what is working well and what may need to be modified going forward. Ms. Jodi Lake presented the MAP test results, which indicated that ISK students generally test above the average student. Trends in ISK reading, language and math results were encouraging as well. Special thanks to the Administration, teachers and students for all of their hard work! The Board approved the 2018/2019 school calendar, with the first day of school for students scheduled for August 8th, 2018 and ending on June 6th, 2019. The revised budget for 2017/2018 was also approved by the Board, and the Finance Committee presented the findings of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Independent Audit for last academic year ending in June 30, 2017. For the tenth year in a row, ISK has received an unqualified opinion stating the ‘financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position� of ISK. Many thanks to the Business Office for all their efforts on behalf of everyone at ISK! Best wishes, Ann Marie Awori, Board Secretary
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Patricia Salleh Matta Elementary School Principal
REPORT
Thank you to our parents for your prompt attendance at the recent parent-teacher conferences. Teachers have reported very positive meetings with you. Overall, we had approximately 90% of our families attend. If you had to cancel your appointment, or if you have any follow up queries or feel that you need further discussion with your child’s teacher, please contact them directly or through the Elementary School Office (ESO), who will be happy to help you make an appointment. If you were to reflect on these meetings, my hope is that you have gained better insight into:
• Is my child working to his/her ability • What are his/her strengths and what might be some areas to work on over the next quarter • Are there special groups my child is in and why • What kind of assessments has my child taken and how do these provide insights about my child’s progress • Is my child working at grade level • How can I best help my child at home
After your meeting and looking ahead I would encourage you to:
• Start on any action plan that was agreed with the teacher (even if it is to continue doing what you are already doing!) immediately • Discuss the plan with your child and go over pertinent conference meeting points with him/her Make sure that your child knows that both you and the teacher care • See if the plan is working, continue to monitor your child • Keep in regular contact with the teacher
The idea of the conference is not just to gain more insight into class life and how your child is doing but it is also a chance to build a stronger parent-teacher relationship. This is a partnership that is needed if you and your child’s teachers are to reach a common goal: helping your child get the best possible education. I would ask you to read this week’s edition of the Elementary School Express (ESE) carefully so you will not miss the opportunity to be part of events as they happen over the next few weeks. Patricia Salleh Matta Elementary School Principal
Dates to Remember in
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Nov. 21
Tuesday
ES Assembly
8:30 A.M.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR DECEMBER 1
Parent
Tea The next Elementary Tea will be held on November 16th from 8:30- 9:30a.m. This session will be led by Mr. Lea and Ms. Chromicz. During this tea, we will revisit the ISK Digital Citizenship plan and explore ways that it can be extended into the home. We will also be kicking off the Hour of Code celebration with a session just for parents. This will be a hands-on session and we will provide Chromebooks. You will learn some basic elements of coding, learn about curricular connections and skill development associated with coding, and find out how you can support your child at home with the free Hour of Code activities.
This year the ISK PTO will be hosting the 20th annual Holiday Bazaar on Friday, December 1, 2017. It will be held between the Health Office and swimming pool. This popular event offers the Elementary School children a chance to do some holiday shopping at school and have it gift wrapped to insure surprises! The Bazaar will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. A schedule for each class to visit is currently being put together. Each child has the opportunity to shop from over 50 local vendors featuring unique gifts and crafts. This year, we will also make time slots available for MS and HS shopping. Kindly note that all items sold are under Ksh 500 and are made by local artisans. Volunteers are needed to help with wrapping and helping children shop on the day! A sign up link will be circulated via your child’s homeroom class. Please contact Preena Chandaria or Widad Ahmed or the ESO for further information. The Link
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
Nancy Remondi Middle School Counselor
REPORT
October was a choppy month, with fall break, elections and conferences. We also ended the first quarter, and started our second quarter electives and exploratory classes. We are hitting our stride and ready to dive deep into rich teaching and learning experiences over the next six weeks. MINDFULNESS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL This year we are pleased to introduce mindfulness as part of our advisory program across all grade levels. Based on Buddhist practices and principles of meditation, mindfulness is the intentional practice of being fully aware of the present moment by focussing our attention and controlling our breath. In this digital age whereby our attention is monopolized by a constant barrage of notifications, alerts and messages, the growth and popularity of mindfulness practice is on the increase. There is a plethora of growing evidence which proves the benefits of mindfulness: increased focus and resilience, greater self-esteem and self-efficacy, reduction of stress and improved emotional well-being. Our “Mindful Mondays” focus on the core practice of breathing and awareness of breath. We inform students of the benefits of mindfulness while emphasizing the neuroplasticity of our brains which optimizes our brain’s learning capacity. Through mindful meditation, our brains can develop new pathways to better react with
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stress, anxiety and self control. It is so exciting and hopeful to learn of the powerful potential of mindfulness to address issues which afflict many of our adolescents. Two apps which I recommend to students and adults alike is Smiling Mind and Headspace, which not only provides information regarding the science behind mindfulness but also ten minute meditation practices. We encourage you to talk to your middle schooler about the benefits of mindfulness and perhaps practice a “mindful mouthful” during dinner, or a “three minute breathing space” to center and calm your home experience. If you have any questions or would like more information about mindfulness, please do not hesitate to contact me. Mindfully yours, Nancy Remondi Middle School Coounselor
“Through mindful meditation, our brains can develop new pathways to better react with stress, anxiety and self control”
PARENT-STUDENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES On November 2nd and 3rd, parents, students and teachers came together to check in about student learning. There were celebrations and also opportunities to set goals and next steps. Our belief in the Middle School is that Parent-Student-Teacher conferences provide an opportunity for: • Alignment among parents, teachers AND students • Sharing celebrations/strengths, areas for further growth and next steps • Explaining goals for the year • Calibrating with parents (and students) about what learning looks like in the ISK Middle School • Deepening home-school connections / partnerships
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HIGH SCHOOL
Rob Blanchard High School Principal
REPORT
I hope that all high school students and families enjoyed a restful October break. Prior to the break, we held our semester one Parent-Student-Teacher conferences, which were very well attended by parents as well as students. These conferences hopefully provided students with the opportunity to reflect on progress to date, collaborate around individual goals, and establish a clear and solid framework for constructive next steps with learning. Thank you to our parents for your support and partnership.
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SEMESTER ONE NARRATIVE FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS As a follow-up to conferences, the high school provides all students and parents with a narrative report from teachers on progress in each course. Narratives for grade 9-11 will be released near the end of November, with comments for grade 12 students ready in early December. You will be hearing from us soon with more information about accessing these comments. This week I spoke to the student body in assembly about the importance of continuing to work hard over the next several weeks in the lead up to December break, including reaching out to teachers for additional help as needed to support growth and achievement of personal goals for the semester.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM We had two student groups recently attend exciting trips overseas, one to Thailand for a Theatre learning experience and one to South Africa to attend a Round Square conference. Our ISSEA volleyball and Track & Field teams travelled to Zambia and Mozambique. And this past week the Simba chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed its new members in a special evening ceremony. This coming week, the high school welcomes parents to a thrilling theatre production, taking place in the arts centre theatre on the evenings of Thursday Nov. 16 at 6:00 pm, Friday Nov.17 at 6:00 pm, and Saturday Nov. 18 at 2:00 pm. Tickets available at the door. We hope you can make it.
SOME IMPORTANT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES & REVIEWS THIS YEAR. In addition to enjoying a great first quarter to the year, the school is beginning work around some key areas under review this year, including the service learning program and the high school graduation requirements. We are also looking carefully at our revised high school schedule implementation and the performance areas for our educational aims.
HS END-OF-SEMESTER ASSESSMENT/EXAMINATION SCHEDULE The end of semester one assessments/exams commence on Wednesday December 13, with the last day of regular high school classes for this semester being Monday December 11. You will hear more from us about these assessments and other end-of-semester matters, though we wanted to share the final exam schedule with you as soon as possible – included in this Link.
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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT:
Semester 1 High School Final Assessments Dec 13th - 19th
• All Grade 9, 10 and 11 students will sit a 2-hour final assessment for their courses. Please refer to the schedule. • Grade 12 students will sit a 2-hour final assessment for all courses except second year IB courses. All Year 2 IB candidates will work on their IB internal assessment requirements during the final assessment week in December, as follows: 1. TOK presentation 2. English A Literature HL and/or French A Lang & Lit SL IOC’s 3. Group 4 Individual Investigations (use of lab space) 4. Work on IB internal assessments - Economics, Math, Visual Art, Theatre Art and Music. 5. Write final assessment papers (except for second year IB courses). • All ESOL and Learning Support students will receive more information from their Learning Support or ESOL teacher in regards to the location of their exam and accommodations. Please review this schedule carefully with your child; all students must attend these final assessments at the designated day and time. Robert Blanchard, Ed.D. High School Principal Jarrod Dale High School Assistant Principal
SOME KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: • Nov. 16-17 HS Drama Production 6:00 p.m. / Nov 18 2:00 p.m. • Nov. 22 Last Day of Serving Learning Wednesdays Semester 1 • Nov. 30 HS Music Concert 6:00 p.m. • Nov. 24 Artsco Talent Show 6:00 p.m.
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High School Work Experience Program: call for interest The Work Experience Program aims to encourage Grade 10 students to explore their passions and have meaningful exposure to the workplace. For the school year 2017-18, we are aiming to place the majority of Grade 10 students off-campus during the week of March 19th-23rd before Spring Break. WE ARE LOOKING FOR TIME AND TALENT! We are currently looking for community partners in sectors such as Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Tourism, Hospitality, Social Entrepreneurship, Finance, Accountancy, Banking, Law, Diplomatic Corps, Public Service, Arts ( Theater, Dance, Visual Arts), etc‌ We are looking to expose our students to a wide variety of different sectors.
YOU CAN HELP THE PROGRAM GROW: 1. As a guest speaker in our Wednesday panel sessions where students get to interact with experts in their fields. We are looking for speakers who can share their professional experiences and words of wisdom about the sector they work in (Wednesdays 8:20 a.m. 9:10 a.m., November - February); 2. As workplace partners, for the week of March 19th23rd, 2018; 3. As mentors at your workplace for the week of March 19th-23rd, 2018. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please contact SĂŠverine Fumoux (sfumoux@isk.ac.ke) or Jarrod Dale (jdale@isk.ac.ke) if you can help.
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Counselor’s Corner ISK Hosts Child Protection Advocacy Meeting On October 5th, 2017 ISK hosted the first meeting of the 2017-18 school year for Child Protection Advocacy (CPAN) along with the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT). CPAN follows the Africa International School Association (AISA) guidelines in creating and establishing a CPAN and MDT. CPAN is under ISK administration with Heather Cronk, elementary counselor, serving as the coordinator and facilitator for both the CPAN and MDT groups. This is the fourth year of the CPAN and MDT network and ISK is committed to continuing the important work of both groups by hosting meetings three times a year along with professional development training for CPAN. The aim of CPAN and the MDT is to create awareness
and advocate for the rights of all children, support at risk children, and share best practices for Child Protection through education in Kenya. Both groups are dedicated to establishing and maintaining a network of professionals by utilizing local expertise and community resources. During its first year, CPAN reached out to those in the local community, including ISK parents and expat professionals, who were united in their common passion of child protection. The MDT is comprised of a medical doctor, psychologists, social worker, Department of Children Services Child Officer, educators, human rights lawyers, family judge, child advocates, Superintendent of the Kenyan Police, US and British Embassy nurses, NGOs (The CRADLE
Children’s Foundation and ChildLine Kenya which is a toll-free help line for children, UNICEF and National Crime Agency Child Exploitation Online Protection (NCA CEOPS). Kelvin Lay, who is a Lead Investigator for the NCA CEOPS, is on loan from the British government and works with the Kenyan Child Protection Police Force. Mr. Lay and the Kenyan Superintendent of Police have trained a small group of Kenyan detectives who are especially trained in child protection issues. The teams went “live” 18 months ago and are currently investigating over 90 cases. Since their creation, over 250 children have been safeguarded. Every year, the MDT has continued to maintain
volunteers and have added new members. The MDT answers phone calls, e-mails and when needed, come to our meetings to offer expert advice on child protection questions and keep us updated on Kenyan law and procedures. At the October 5th meeting, CPAN agreed to focus on several issues that are becoming more prevalent around the world, including cyber-bullying, female genital mutilation (FGM), and antiradicalization. If you are a professionals involved in child protection in Kenya and are interested in learning more about CPAN or volunteering for the MDT, please contact Heather Cronk at hcronk@isk.ac.ke. Heather Cronk ES Counselor
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Jodi Lake Director of Teaching and Learning
FROM THE TEACHING & LEARNING CENTER…
ISK’S EDUCATIONAL AIMS - THE NEXT FRONTIER As we work to make ISK’s Educational Aims come to life for teachers, students and parents, one of our collaborative tasks this year is to define each of the Aims and then gather evidence of what we would see students do when they are demonstrating those skills and dispositions (also called Performance Areas.). This month we are highlighting the Aim of Communication and the disposition of Empathy.
COMMUNICATE:
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EMPATHY
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
IF YOUR CHILD IS DEVELOPING EMPATHY, IT MIGHT LOOK AND SOUND LIKE THIS PK - KG
This article, How To Teach Kids Empathy, will give you some some ideas of how to help develop empathy in your child. For those of you with older children, this article might be of help. How to Help Teenager Develop Empathy.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• I can describe how another person is feeling.
• I make an effort to perceive others’ points of view and emotions.
• I can see issues or ideas from another person’s perspective.
• I can put myself in ‘someone else’s shoes’ to understand how they feel.
• I can see myself as similar to others.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
• I seek other people’s points of view.
• We connect with others so as to empower them.
• I demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the different strengths of diverse people.
• We use empathy to understand others’ beliefs and to examine our own.
• I can imagine what other people might be feeling.
• We can put ourselves in the mind of others to understand a particular issue.
• I am becoming more openminded.
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SERVICE LEARNING REVIEW This year at ISK, we are conducting a review of our Service Learning Program. The Service Learning Review Committee comprises of student representatives from each division, teachers, administrators, parents, support staff, and community partners. This committee works to review our current program that has been running for five years. Our aim is to evaluate the current philosophy, policy and delivery of the Service Learning Program in the context of the school mission
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statement, educational aims, and Round Square pillars in order to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of the current program.
such as AISA (Association of International Schools in Africa) and the IB, as well as our school’s own Mission and Vision.
Our first few meetings focused on processing and reviewing the current research already available, and further developing a precise definition and philosophy of Service Learning at ISK that will guide our program. This definition takes into consideration the definitions provided by organizations
Our next steps will include gathering feedback from our community and finalizing a clear philosophy as well as developing a timeline for the work over the course of the year. Sarina Grade 12
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Will Moore Athletics Director
SEASON 1 ATHLETICS NEWS
ISSEA TRACK AND FIELD / CROSS COUNTRY MEET
A HUGE “well done” to the Track & Field and Cross Country teams! They were amazing and represented our school in the best possible way. The weather was very challenging as no one expected Maputo to be so cold, wet and windy but the teams handled this well and made our school proud. A very strong finish on the final day, with great results in the sprints and relays pushed our boys team up into 3rd place!
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Traveling there was nothing like any other school trip. Going with a group of my peers and teachers to compete as one team was truly amazing. I feel like we had all become really close and that even though learning to live with each other for five days was a little bit difficult, I don’t regret any part about it. All of us always worked together as a team and pushed each other to always do our very best. Everyone tried their best and I know that in the end, it payed off. I always felt as if we were all there for each other when needed. When I heard my name called for
the all star team, I was shocked. I had no idea that I would be selected. Personally, I believe that all the girls who were selected for the all star team were insanely talented and each and everyone of them deserved it. Everybody’s hard work at the meet paid off. A lot of the athletes finished their races in pain and tears. Seeing the rest of the teams cheer them on and encourage them was incredible. Seeing everybody run up to them, no matter what their condition was just to make sure everybody was okay was really sweet. Another thing that I really love about my
GIRLS TEAM
Anna Thomle, Eleanor Gelsinger, Lhana Davies, Meron Watkins, Gloria Yiweza, Awuor Onguru, Zoe Kruger, Eva Scharer, Courtney Chen, Zahra Aziz, Keshia Keene, Sylvia Nyangaga, Emilie Noël.
Results • • • •
team is that they never seemed to be negative or down. Our team as a whole became very close. We celebrated together through the wins and supported each other through losses. Honestly, being part of such an amazing team was really an honor. We started off just as regular teammates, and ended as a family. As well as becoming close with my team it was nice to socialize with new people of different cultures. This was an experience I wouldn’t change for the world. Zoe Grade 9
BOYS TEAM
Jack Steel, Derrick Mafara, Isaiah Bowen-Karlyn, Oliver Rudd, Avik Patel, Dylan Liriano, Marcel Liriano, Tazana Kamanga-Dyrbak, Ahmad A Bitang, Jai Shah, Max Thomle.
Girls Cross Country: Boys Cross Country: Girls Track & Field: Boys Track & Field:
No team 4th Place (by 1 point!) 7th Place 3rd Place The Link
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ISSEA BOYS AND GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT This year’s ISSEA Volleyball was held in Lusaka, Zambia from the 25th of October to the 28th of October. Hosted by the American International School of Lusaka (AISL), our 19 volleyball StudentAthletes were joined by seven other schools from across this side of the continent.
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The first day held two pool games. IST and ICS for the girls and IST and AISL for the boys.
out of the top four and a very close and intense game against AISJ took the boys out of the top four by a mere two points in the third set. The third and final day held the Semis and Finals for both the Winner’s and Loser’s bracket. ISK girls played IST in the consolation Semi-Final and won, putting them in the top of the Loser’s bracket. The ISK boys lost a game to ISU and put themselves in the bottom of the bracket.
ISK girls won both games and the boys unfortunately lost both. An upset win by ISU took the ISK girls
The ISK girls upset the home team, AISL in the 5/6th final, making them the only team
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other than 1st place to win both games in the last day. The ISK boys, in their rebuilding year, unfortunately lost in the 7/8th final. Ultimately, the point of ISSEA, not only is competition, but is to express the passion that has built up over the past few months and years. For the senior heavy girls team, the culmination of their volleyball careers was an emotional three days that represent how lucky they have been to experience such an amazing conference and an amazing international experience.
For the young and hungry boys team, they put themselves in a position to learn and rise in the ranks for the coming years of their high school careers. As one of the four senior captains of this year’s team, I could not be more proud of and grateful to ISK, my coaches and of ISSEA for the opportunity, love and passion that they have provided and shown to me and the members of my team. Tana Grade 10
“
For the senior heavy girls team, the culmination of their volleyball careers was an emotional three days that represent how lucky they have been to experience such an amazing conference and an amazing international experience
GIRLS TEAM
Khadijah Manjang, Lily Clurman, Tana Werner, Ntsang McCormick, Serena Werner, Maria Colville, Shreya Srivatsa, Kareena Padamshi, Tori Savosnick, Nadia Kinyany.
BOYS TEAM
Michele Zandri, Felix Scharer, Charlie McIntosh, Justin Ubamadu, Dov Kaufman, Sam Clurman, Noah Naigzy, Christian Satzke, Harry McIntosh,
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SWIMMING NEWS The KSF Nairobi branch level 2 & 3 qualifying swimming championship was held at Makini School. Over 24 schools and clubs were in attendance, all the top 900 swimmers from the county assembled on the weekend in search for glory and medals. We are happy to report that 38 swimmers this season qualified compared to 20 swimmers who qualified for level 2 & 3 from the last season. The qualifying times were obtained from last season and the Rosslyn meet that was swum on 23rd Sept 2017. Congratulations are in order for all these swimmers!
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RESULTS: Girls U13:
6th Place
Girls Open:
1st Place - CHAMPIONS!
Boys U13:
2nd Place - Runners Up
Boys Open:
1st Place - CHAMPIONS!
TOTAL MEDAL COUNT FOR ISK Gold: 20 I Silver: 17 I Bronze: 20 Our eyes are now set for the upcoming ISK invitational swim meet on November 10-11. Eleven schools have confirmed their participation. We urge our swimmers to keep practicing and keep up the good work they have shown from our previous meets.
LOCAL LEAGUE NEWS Our six league teams have all had fantastic seasons and were all in a great position to make the league semi finals. Unfortunately, due the disruptive nature of the recent elections, many league matches have not been played. This has led to all the leagues being incomplete and, as a result, the season competition has been cancelled. We continue to play our matches, but
as friendlies only. This is a huge disappointment to those players and coaches who have worked so hard. SPORTS AWARDS To finish off our MS and HS seasons, don’t forget the Sports Awards! This is our way of celebrating all of our Season 1 teams. We start with a potluck dinner, where the parents generously provide food, snacks and drinks. Captains will then give a brief speech about
their experiences and finally teams will move to a separate area where coaches get time to share their thoughts about the team and give out their awards. We hope to see lots of parents there! Middle School Sports Awards evening: Monday 13th November. ISK Arts Centre, 5pm - 6.30pm. High School Sports Awards evening: Monday 20th November. ISK Arts Centre, 5pm - 6.30pm.
SEASON 2 NEWS! High School sports start on Monday 20th November and Middle school will begin on Monday 27th. Details about signing up and training schedules will be sent out very soon. All this information will be communicated through our Athletics website.
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Thursday Night Live The night was strangely eerie, and a soft wind was blowing the fallen leaves down the sidewalk. Suddenly, a group of students ran past and I rubbed my eyes thinking I had imagined the macabre scene before me. Sure enough, those weren’t normal students but instead phantasms: witches, zombies, ghosts, and ghouls. Momentarily I was confused, but I quickly connected that it was October 31st, the night of ISK’s second Thursday Night Live (Fright Night.) I quickly purchased my ticket,
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a bargain at KSh 200, and took my seat among the adoring parents and supporters of the arts. For the next 50 minutes, I enjoyed ISK’s talented students as they brought Halloween to life. In spite of the schedule changes brought about by Kenya’s second voting process (forcing October’s Thursday Night Live to be held on Tuesday) performers rallied and entertained us with instrumental and vocal selections; dances; scenes from Shakespeare; theatrical nods to iconic “scary movies”;
and an ensemble musical dance number. Students were given a platform to share their talents, and the audience was entertained. Join ISK performing arts students in November as they bring moments in Broadway’s history to life. Look for TNL updates, and if you have an aspiring performer at home, encourage him or her to take part in these monthly celebrations of the Arts. Kate Oliverson MS Drama
UPCOMING THEATRE EVENTS HS PLAY - BLACK COMEDY by Peter Schaffer Directed by Hector Miller November 16 - 18
ARTSCO TALENT SHOW November 24th
HS FRINGE FESTIVAL Student Directed plays THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE - Nov/Dec Edition IB Theatre Performances Theme is SHOWTUNES Email Mrs. Hire if interested! Email Mrs. Oliverson if interested!!! (koliverson@ jhire@isk.ac.ke Auditions are Nov 9 in the HS drama studio isk.ac.ke) January 17-18 November 23
ISSEA ART AND DRAMA FESTIVAL AISJ - Johannesburg First 20 spots open to HS student Approx. Cost 700 USD February 22-24
Wanted: Actors, Singers, & Dancers November/December TNL
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If you love performing and want a captive audience, don’t miss this opportunity to participate in our next TNL show. It is as easy as ABC… “A”: Choose and rehearse a performance piece. “B”: Notify Ms. “O”(koliverson@isk.ac.ke) that you want to take part by Mon. 11/13! Email SUBJECT: TNL Participation Email: Participant name(s), type of performance, show’s name, song title, and contact information. “C”: Continue to rehearse, show up for run-throughs, and be prepared to wow your audience during the TNL performance! (Note: If there is a lot of interest, auditions may be required.)
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Lynn Wells Director of Advancement
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GREETINGS FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE!
GOOD NEWS FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AT CHILDREN’S GARDEN CENTRE The purchase of a Kio Kit was made possible by last year’s donations to the Inspiration Initiative. We are happy to report that the Kio Kit, along with BRCK technology, has been delivered to the children at the Children’s Garden Centre. They can now seamlessly access the Kenyan curriculum and use BRCK technology to access the Internet, opening up a wider world of learning.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU? We are excited to share this year’s Inspiration Initiative with every family, alumni and member of the faculty and staff. This initiative is just one way we can support education in Kenya. If you participated in last year’s Inspiration Initiative, thank you for your support. If you wish to participate this year, look for this flyer in the backpack of your youngest child at ISK. You can direct your donation to any or all of these three programs. • ISK Scholarship Fund • Student-led Community Outreach Programs • MakerSpace Fab Lab
INSPIRED SHOPPING CONTINUES AT VILLAGE MARKET In support of ISK Community Outreach Initiatives, don’t forget that Village Market will match your bonus points by 50% and donate the proceeds to the Inspiration Initiative!
ISK’S LEGACY OF GIVING In recognition of the generous philanthropic support provided by members of the ISK community, the Legacy of Giving Wall has now been installed in the Commons.
If you forget to redeem your points at Village Market, do not worry, you can drop them off in The Advancement Office and we will submit the receipts for you!
This installation, in one of the most visible areas on our campus, is but one way we recognize the individuals, companies and organizations who have supported education in Kenya.
Lynn Wells Director of Advancement
Thank you to everyone for your support and commitment to education throughout Kenya.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA
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Pamela Pappas Communications Manager
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE UPDATES
FLASHBACK!! THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION@ ISK This last May, ISK hosted an exclusive screening of The Journey is the Destination, a feature film about an ISK graduate who inspired people around the world before he was killed while working in Somalia. The Journey is the Destination is the story of Dan Eldon, a very charismatic young man who grew up here in Nairobi and graduated from ISK in 1988. After high school, Dan became a world-renowned photojournalist by the age of 22. His boundless creativity has been captured in a series of journals some of you may have already seen hundreds of thousands of copies have been sold worldwide. Click here to view his famous journals. Now a major Hollywood film has been made about him and we were proud to show it for the first time anywhere in Africa. Over 550 guests attended the screening! Click here to view some highlights of the memorable evening.
OPEN DAY 2017 @ ISK Last weekend, we hosted over 50 guests for Open Day @ ISK. Prospective families were blown away by our beautiful campus, friendly student helpers, welcoming staff and of course our monthly Farmer’s Market. David Henry and the Leadership Team gave a presentation on ISK’s Learning Story, and educational vision, and our guests were taken on a tour of the campus by the Advancement Office team. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2018/19 Please spread the word about this great opportunity for Kenyan students! The ISK Scholarship Program provides financial support for outstanding Kenyan students who would otherwise be unable to afford the tuition & fees. These scholarships cover all program costs through High School including the IB Diploma program.The specific aim is to provide opportunities for low to middle income Kenyan students to participate in an academically rich and culturally diverse experience that offers them a Stepping Stone to the World’s best colleges and universities. Click here to learn more! Pamela Pappas Communications Manager
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OPEN DAY 2017 @ ISK
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Isaias Liriano PTO Chair
PTO NEWS
PTO ES PARENT SHOP AND SIP SOCIAL It was so nice to see families who were able to join the PTO Elementary School Parent Coffee Social on October 24 in the Arts Centre Foyer. Parents were able to catch up and do some shopping at the PTO Duka as well. Many thanks to the PTO Duka volunteers for extending their opening hours to accommodate us on that day.
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Please join us for future PTO ES Parent Socials which will be held after the ES assemblies each month. Please also find more information about the upcoming Holiday Bazaar on December 1 on the ES page of the Link. Isaias Liriano PTO Chair
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PTO DUKA
ot is n a k ay du he Tuesd es T : te cid ny *No n on a at coin n ope ning th O Ope r mo the PT nings. r t i w h ee Mo f f Co
THE PTO DUKA IS OPEN, RESTOCKED AND READY FOR BUSINESS!
Do come and enjoy wide variety of locally inspired and produced items at the Duka. We have a collection of bags, beautiful jewellery, beaded decorations, lamps, colourful animal toys, kikoy items, baskets and much more. We are located in the Arts Centre foyer, and our opening hours are:
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EXTENDED OPENING HOURS Monday 3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m. Tuesday 8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m. / 3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m. Wednesday 8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m. Thursday 3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m. Friday 8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m. / 3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m.
ABOUT THE PTO DUKA The PTO ‘Duka’ (Shop) is an important part of the PTO’s connection to the broader community. Its main aim is to assist low-income vendors through selling their hand-made products. It is a great place to buy Kenyan handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, homeware and other items made by non-profit organizations and artisans who help poor, disadvantaged and/or disabled people earn a living. The Shop is run by parent volunteers, who gives vendors regular feedback about how to improve their products, designs and marketing, and organizes workshops to help them manage their small businesses and become selfsustainable.
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Carol Wangombe ISK Head Clinician
GREETINGS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
SCOLIOSIS TESTING Once again it is time for our annual Scoliosis testing for Grades 6,7,8 & 9. We normally conduct this test in October but due to the movements on our calendar other logistical issues, we will be conducting the testing January 22 - 26, 2018. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. The cause of most scoliosis is generally unknown. Most cases of scoliosis are mild but some children develop spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow and severe scoliosis can be disabling. Children who have mild scoliosis are monitored closely to see if the curve is improving or getting worse. In many cases, no treatment is necessary. Some children may need to wear a brace to stop the curve from worsening while others may need surgery. The Scoliosis screening conducted at ISK is a simple, noninvasive procedure using a Scoliometre. It is done while the child is bending down and their alignment is noted on the Scoliometre. The results will be relayed to you via email from the Health Office team. Should there be any extreme curvature noted you will be advised to seek further treatment and management from your physician. I will be sending out an email closer to the time but if you would like to consult further, please do not hesitate to contact us at clinic@isk.ac.ke or 0733639344. Thank you for helping us keep your children healthy through our School Health screening processes.
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REPORT OF MARBURG VIRAL DISEASE OUTBREAK IN NORTH EASTERN UGANDA The World Health Organization (WHO) has notified Kenyan authorities of a reported outbreak of Marburg Viral Disease (Haemorrhagic viral disease) in the North Eastern part of Uganda (kween district). Since October 3, 2017 there have been two confirmed cases, one fatality and 200 contacts according to the Ministry of Health in Uganda. Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. If you have recently traveled to or through Uganda, particularly the north eastern part, we ask that you be vigilant and watch for the following symptoms: • • • • • • • •
Acute onset of fever Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain Headache Sore throat Measles like rash Red eyes or bleeding from any body openings e.g nasal, ears, etc.
If you have any of the above symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. We ask that you continue to practice standard safety hygiene and if you are around anyone you suspect of having Marburg, be sure to use personal protective gear. ISK has a Pandemic prevention and response protocol in place to avert any possible pandemic. Should you need further information please refer to this link. (https://drive.google.com/a/isk.ac.ke/file/d/0BwN6FiIJj1KCZ0dhRGtWV013NTA/view?usp=sharing) Caroline Wangombe Health Clinician
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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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