Issuu

Vol. 4 No. 10

American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

Together we dare to imagine, inspire to succeed, and courageously make a dif ference

What’s Inside...

Director of Operations’ Message Greetings, AISJ Community, Andy is out of the country this week, bringing closure to the recruiting process and visiting prestigious colleges and universities in the States. His travels are taking him to London, Boston and Cambridge, looking for more rewarding additions to our faculty, and highlighting the AISJ brand at schools that a number of our graduates wish to attend. In his absence I will be writing to you in this issue. I would like to chat a bit about students … specifically AISJ students. As a long-time teacher and administrator it has been my very great pleasure to work with thousands of students, and to get to know hundreds of them quite well, particularly those I taught. My wife, a career-long educator, and I often reflect on the joys and rewards of being surrounded by young people, young people like those here at AISJ.

Director of Operations’ Message 1 Upcoming Director’s Coffee Mornings 2 Recruitment Update 2 Message from the Board of Directors 3 Construction @ AISJ 4 Service Learning @ AISJ 4 Grade 7 Upcoming Health Screenings 5 AISJ Counselors’ Corner 6 School Lunch Menu 6 Pretoria Summer Carnival 7 Save the Date: Time Warp 7 For the “LOVE of READING” Book Exchange - JHB & PTA 9 Elementary School News - Johannesburg Campus 8 Scouting at AISJ 9 Wake up & Learn! Coffee Morning 9 Pretoria Elementary and Middle School News 10 Middle School News - Johannesburg Campus 14 High School University & Career Communicator 16 High School News 16 Activities and Sports 18 Pretoria Parents Association News 20

Since the start of school in August it’s been highly rewarding to work with the terrific young people here. Every morning brings the reward of watching hundreds of students exit school busses, most with big smiles on their faces, thanking their driver as they depart the bus, and heading into campus with a friend or two to begin their school day. They are often joined by other friends being dropped off by parents. One of the most touching things about the start of the day is watching the MS and HS students interacting with the ES students just off the busses, watching over them and mentoring them, unconsciously modelling true caring. Breaks, passing periods, recesses and lunches find AISJ students taking a bit of time away from the rigor and joy of the classroom to enjoy the companionship of friends and teachers outside in the beautiful surroundings of both the Pretoria campus and the Johannesburg campus. No fighting is witnessed but enough fun and horseplay is seen to prove that these kids are having good clean fun, and revelling in a day at school. The school day’s conclusion finds many students heading back to the busses or to their waiting parents, with quite a number of older students hugging one another as if they’re parting for weeks, and the younger students hollering, “See you tomorrow!” to their close companions. Other students remain on campus doing sports and/or after-school-activities, adding even greater value to the value of their academic work. Some might say that the scenes above can be observed on any school campus, but that would not be true. The students of AISJ bring a special cheer to our two campuses. They interact with each other, their teachers, and school staff in a spirited fashion not seen at many schools. My professional colleagues, my wife, and I are fortunate to get to spend time with such terrific young people. The best to these young people, and to the entire AISJ community, as we enter the month of February. Mike We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 1

Vol. 4 No. 10

American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

Upcoming Director’s Coffee Mornings Please diarize the following upcoming Director’s Coffee Mornings: 13 February 2014 @ Parent Room (Johannesburg Campus), 7:30 am 13 March 2014 @ Library (Pretoria Campus), 10:00 am 10 April 2014 @ Parent Room (Johannesburg Campus), 10:00 am 22 May 2014 @ Library (Pretoria Campus), 10:00 am

Recruitment Update Sara Thompson Marshall - Kindergarten (JHB) USA citizen. Sara is currently a first grade teacher in Indonesia and has previously taught in Malaysia China and USA. She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Texas State and a Masters in International Education from Endicott College. Sara is an AISJ alumni graduating from her in 1999 having been evacuated from Kinshasa. She will be accompanied by her husband Mark. Mark Marshall – Elementary Technology Coach (JHB) Canadian citizen. Mark is Tech coach at Sinarmas World Academy in Indonesia and prior to that worked at the International School of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Western Academy of Beijing in china as elementary IT specialist and classroom teacher. He has undergraduate degrees from Dalhousie and Queens Universities in Canada and Masters Degrees from SUNY Buffalo NY and Endicott College in the USA. Rabia Jaffar – MS Social Studies. Rabia has undergraduate degrees in Bachelor of Arts, Honors English and Bachelor of Education, Honors, Junior – Intermediate from Toronto. She is currently seventh grade teacher in American International School of Guangzhou. Philip J. Shelley – ES teacher. He is currently teaching grade five at Rabat American School. Philip holds a Bachelor of Arts, History degree from State University of New York, Teacher Certification, Secondary Social Studies from State University of New York and MA, Special Education from University Northern of Colorado, Greeley. Elizabeth A. Cassidy – ES Counselor. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, SUNY, Oswego; Masters in Educational Psychology and Certification School Psychology from University of Colorado and Principal Preparation Program, University of Denver. Elizabeth is currently working as Elementary Counselor at Rabat American School. Chris Megaffin – MS Social Studies (JHB) Canadian Citizen. Chris is currently Department Chair, Social Studies, Social Studies Grade 8 teacher and Learning Support and Advisory at Jakarta International School, Indonesia. He has a Bachelor of Arts, History from University of Toronto, Canada and Masters in Education from Niagara University, New York. Aaron Thompson – MS Teacher (PTA). Aaron has Master of Education in Cross-Cultural Teaching from National University Emphasis and Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University Long Beach. He is currently Middle Years Program Teacher – Grade 6 – 7 Science and Mathematics in Nanjing International School. David Goetz – Activities Coordinator. David is currently Activities and Athletics Director K-12 at International Community School of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has Bachelor Degrees in Education and Physical and Health Education / Biology. David also has Masters Degrees in Science / Educational Leadership Certification and International Education. David is married to Jody Stiles (Goetz). Jody Stiles (Goetz) – HS PE. Jody is currently the Middle School and High School Department Head and teaches Physical Education Specialist (Grades 6 – 10) and Health Education Teacher (Grades 6 – 10). She holds a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education Major) and Masters of Science and Educational Leadership Certificate. We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 2

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American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

Message from the Board of Directors News from your School Board The highlight of the January 27th Board meeting was a presentation by IB Coordinator Will Hurtado and HS Principal Tony Mock on enhancements of the school’s International Baccalaureate Program. Significant progress has been made, particularly evidenced by the statistic that an additional 40% of 2013 IB students scored 30 points or higher on their final IB exams. This improvement has occurred at the same time as the overall participation rate grew from 50% to 80% of the eligible student base. The board acknowledges with thanks the expertise provided by AISJ staff and will continue to draw on it by regularly inviting them to board meeting to provide context and wisdom, helping to inform the Board’s decisionmaking processes. The Board discussed a new spreadsheet tool prepared by the Facilities and Finance Committees to map and prioritize infrastructure plans and future capital projects. It plots these plans over time and clearly indicates the necessary budget allocations. As a part of the Board’s continuous efforts toward self-improvement in the governance of the school, it has invited a consultant to visit during the week of February 24th. The purpose of the external review is to evaluate governance arrangements, strategic direction, and the impact of leadership in the school. The consultant’s objective feedback will allow board members and the school’s senior staff to recognize and build on their strengths and to identify areas for improvement.

Board Elections Dear AISJ Community, As the chair of the School Board Nominating Task Force, I am pleased to announce this year’s elections for one open elected position on the AISJ School Board of Directors. We also have several appointed and seconded positions available. Serving on the School Board is a wonderful chance to become involved in strategic planning and the long-term sustainability of the school, ensuring that the Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Outcomes are set and fulfilled. The Board is a dynamic and engaged group of volunteers, and we would like to hear of your interest in participating. Information on the Board of Directors and the requirements for candidacy may be found at the following link: AISJ Board Candidates Information Note (pdf document) Candidates should submit their materials no later than 12:00 pm on March 7th, 2014 to Kate Pongonis, Chair of the Nominating Task Force, at Kate.Pongonis@gmail.com, with a copy to Caroline Kasambira at ckasambira@aisj-jhb.com. Candidates’ information will be sent to the school community on March 13th. Electronic and Paper Voting will be held from March 24th to April 5th, 2014. The last day to vote in person by paper ballot will be the April 5th Family Fun Day on the Johannesburg campus. Election results will be announced via email on April 9th and at the School Board Information Session on May 6. If you would like to participate, but are not interested in running for an elected Director position, please consider volunteering to serve on one of the Board’s three standing committees: Finance, Governance, and Facilities. Nominating Task Force members are happy to answer any questions you may have. Nominating Task Force members are Kate Pongonis Kate.Pongonis@gmail.com Rose Simpson Rosiesimpson@hotmail.com Christopher Whitfield christopher@batswadi.com For questions and additional detailed information, please refer to the Board of Directors link (under Community) on the AISJ website: http://www.aisj-jhb.com/Community/Community_School_Board.html Sincerely, Kate Pongonis Executive Secretary

We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 3

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American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

Construction @ AISJ The new gym construction is progressing very well, with 75% of all the brickwork complete. The architectural style of the building will be highlighted by the tall aluminum and glass surround covered with a floating structural steel roof in the shape of a parabolic curve. The other covering of the complex, something we have nicknamed the “origami roof”, will rest atop the fitness center, dance studio, change rooms and office. Outer walls will be stone clad similar to our Kgoro, so we will have some textural contrast between the new gym and our recently built, sleek, aquatics center. The purlins and cross members for the main gym roof have been installed and the roof sheeting will be finished before the end of February for the main gym structure. Beginning March we will pour the concrete for the floor and start with the detail work on the project, including the aluminum and windows. We will soon be cordoning off the area around the gym to start with the landscaping work while the contractors are busy installing first fix fittings for electrical and plumbing. Internally the new gym will house mechanically operated retractable bleachers, a mechanical ventilation and air extraction system, as well as mechanically installed window operators for potential fire hazards. Energy efficient lighting and hot water systems will be installed in the change room and ablution facilities, the dance studio will be complete with wooden floor, mirrored wall and balance bar, and the fitness centre will house new weight training and cardio equipment.. The gym will have a wooden floor installed with provision for two HS basketball courts or alternately a FIBA sized basketball court, and we will also have the option of housing indoor volleyball in the space. The space will be quite exceptional. Shane McLaren Assistant Operations Director

Service Learning @ AISJ Lettuce: Eat a Healthy Snack! On Wednesday 15th of January the Pre-Kindergarten classes each harvested a lettuce from the Elementary School Community Garden. Ms. Sandra and the Penguins prepared Lettuce Sandwiches. Ms. Cate and the Otters prepared Lettuce Wraps. Ms. Hall and the Meerkats prepared a Lettuce Salad. Our sincere thanks to parents, who supported us to create these delicious and healthy snacks!

Eloise: “I can’t wait to eat more of my salad, it’s mine, mine, mine!” Ma xym: “Look we are eating leaves just like caterpillars!” William: “We are all just like chefs!” We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 4

American International School of Johannesburg

Vol. 4 No. 10

January 30, 2014

High School Service Festival

All Grade 9 and 10 students participated in the service learning festival on Tuesday 28th January. We kicked off with an assembly and special guest speaker - Sir Jose Bright - founder of Teboho Trust followed by an afternoon of service project presentations. Special thanks to Sir Jose and our service leaders for their presentations and our teacher supervisors- without them our service program would not be as strong and successful. Students received commitment forms to choose their preference for the service project they would like to attend. Once this is submitted supervisors will be able to meet with students to distribute permission/medical forms and more information about starting dates. For more information on our service partners please visit our service site: http://tw.aisj-jhb.com/servicelearning/

Tigerkloof Leadership Retreat Last weekend we set off to Tigerkloof leadership retreat. We arrived and went straight into a service project with Maggie’s Soup Kitchen’. Maggie feeds 150 hungry South Africans per day. She relies on volunteer funding and services to feed her local community. We arrived at Maggie’s, collected large quantities of food and headed out into the local community. We had 3 scheduled stops on the way around the village. Children, women and men lined up and waited as students dished out servings. We felt humbled to serve in the extreme heat. Watching chilThe feeding team at Maggies dren run around in underwear with no shoes, made many students grateful for what they have. Our Tigerkloof Drumming demonstration students made friends with Tigerkloof students as they listened to translations from one dialect to another. Students participated in a range of leadership activities as well as learning about sustainable farming and the importance of the local Nguni cow to the history of Tigerkloof through apartheid. Students planned for AISA GISS and AISJ and TigerKloof leadership students Serving meals to the locals SASSY conferences distributing leadership roles and responsibilities. We look forward to Tigerkloof’s visit to AISJ in March for SASSY.

Grade 7 Upcoming Health Screenings Dear Middle School Parent, In February we will be conducting health screenings on all Grade 7 students. This involves measuring height and weight, as well as a dental, vision and hearing screen. If you do not wish your child to undergo the health screening, please send an e-mail to the school nurse confirming so. Should you have any queries or concerns, please contact the nurse’s office. Regards, Nurse Mary, mmyburgh@aisj-jhb.com, and Nurse Sabine, sfriske@aisj-jhb.com (Johannesburg Campus) We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 5

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American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

AISJ Counselors’ Corner Connectedness In the last issue of the Izindaba, we had an update from one of our high school counselors on how one student is courageously making a difference by helping others to manage the transition to AISJ. One of the ways we encourage new students to help make the transition, along with others who are still finding a place in our community, is through connectedness. Brene Brown, a researcher in the field, defines connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship. There are many practical ways to feel more connected, but the first step is to encourage every student to accept themselves for who they are and to see the value in what their unique backgrounds, varied interests and talents bring to our AISJ community. The second step is to get involved. Through our service learning programs, Parents Association events, sports teams, music groups, theater productions, after school activities, and in a variety of other groups, students have opportunities to connect to others and to our community. If you are wondering how to find out about ways to get involved, the Izindaba is a good place to start. But, if you need additional support or information on how to feel more connected to our community, please contact one of the counselors to help. - Joe Rauschenbach, Pretoria Campus Counselor

Contact the Counselors’ Please contact the counselors’ if we can help in any way: Johannesburg Elementary School Counselor Dr. Carol Wootton cwootton@aisj-jhb.com 087 809 1842

Johannesburg Middle School Counselor Dr. Justin Walker mscounselor@aisj-jhb.com 087 809 1819

High School Counselor High School Counselor Ms. Ann Ireland Mrs. Melissa Johnson-Schnyder High School Counselor High School Counselor All Grade 9 - Grade 11 Students with the last All Grade 10 and 11 Students with last name J - Z and the Class of 2013 name A – I (Grade 12 Students) aireland@aisj-jhb.com mjohnson-schnyder@aisj-jhb.com 087 809 1833 087 809 1841 Pretoria Campus Counselor Joe Rauschenbach jrauschenbach@aisj-jhb.com 087 803 0455

School Lunch Menu Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

3 February Mac & Cheese Sweet Chilli Hake (Mild) Roast Potatoes Mixed Vegetable (V) Soya Sausage Casserole

4 February Country Cottage Pie (Beef) Egg Top Chicken Schnitzel Potato Croquettes Creamed Spinach (V) Vegetable Cottage Pie

5 February Chicken Nuggets French Fries (V) Mushroom & Pepper Stroganoff

6 February Beef Stir Fry Chinese Noodles Chicken Lasagne (V) Roasted Vegetable Bake

7 February Home Made Frikkadels Chicken Cordon Bleu Fluffy Mashed Potatoes Broccoli au Gratin (V) Vegetarian Soya Sausage

10 February Pasta Day Two Different Pastas Three Different Sauces (V) Vegetarian Option Available

11 February Chicken & Pie Grilled Lemon & Herb Hake Fillet Creamy Mashed Potato Peas & Corn (V) Vegetable Stir Fry

12 February Boerewors Roll French Fries (V) Vegetarian Soya Sausage

13 February Mac & Cheese Chutney Glazed Chicken Wings Roast Potato (V) Veggie Curry (Mild)

14 February Sphagetti Bolognaise Chicken & Pasta Bake Potato Wedges Baked Citrus Infused Butternut (V) Vegetable Moussaka

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American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

Hosted by the AISJ Pretoria Parents Association

Pretoria Summer Carnival

SUMMER CARNIVAL

Saturday, 1 February @ Pretoria Campus 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm R 100.00 per person entrance fee, includes 10 tickets (Family Cap R 500.00 +50 tickets) R 5.00 per ticket GAMES, ACTIVITY BOOTHS, AND CRAZY CONTESTS

Saturday, 1 February @ Pretoria Campus 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Meal Deals from Subway and Roman’s Pizza

Cupcake Walk, airbrush tattoos, dunk tank, water balls, bean bag toss, penny hunt, sponge throw, duck tub, ring toss, teacher raffles, free inflatable water play Proceeds go toward PA sponsored school events Prizes 10 for all! R 100.00 per person entrance fee, includes tickets (Family Cap R 500.00 +50 tickets) R 5.00 per ticket

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Rebecca Alderman 0789410793 or email: alderman.tx@gmail.com

GAMES, ACTIVITY BOOTHS, AND CRAZY CONTESTS

Save Date: Time Cupcake Walk, airbrush tattoos, dunk tank, water the balls, bean bag toss, pennyWarp hunt, sponge throw, duck tub, ring toss, teacherSaturday, raﬄes, freeFebruary inﬂatable water play Tickets 8th, 2014 Barnyard Theatre in Rivonia R 250 Meal Deals from Subway and Roman’s Pizza

Do not miss an unforgettable evening of friendship, food and drinks topped with brilliant at Barnyard Theatre in Rivonia Proceeds go toward PA entertainment sponsored school events Time Warp - a unique experience with songs and dance from the best of Prizes for all! Broadway and Holly wood! Adults only and AISJ transport will be available at an additional R 50.00 per BusINFORMATION reservations must be booked by February 3rd. FORperson. MORE

Contact Rebecca Alderman 0789410793 or email: alderman.tx@gmail.com

Buses will leave at 6:30 pm from Dainfern Valley Shopping Centre. Show starts at 8:00 pm. (Food and Drink are for own expense) For tickets and bus reservations contact Kathy Ustas (jsustas@yahoo.com). Tickets also available at the Parent Room. Fundraising for the Class of 2014

American International School of Johannesburg

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January 30, 2014

Elementary School News - Johannesburg Campus Upcoming Events

Dear Parents, We come to the end of another busy week of learning in the Elementary School. Walking throughout the classrooms, it is fun to listen to the questions students are asking while observing bugs in the garden, or learning about animals and their different habitats. It is neat to share in their excitement, their conversations, and their energy for learning. Ben Hart, bhart@aisj-jhb.com

Lapalala- Grade 5 Camp Our Grade 5 students left for camp on Tuesday morning, filled with excitement and varying levels of anxiety. I am sure some of the parents shared these emotions as they said goodbye to their children for 3 nights. The camp is going well from all reports and I am looking forward to joining them to sleep under the stars for their last night tonight. Students will return to school on Friday at 2:00 pm.

Student Led Conferences Student Led Conferences are fast approaching, on March 7th. This is an important day as students will have the opportunity to showcase their learning to you, their parents. ‘Sign Ups’ for conferences will be electronic just like in November. Parents of siblings will have an opportunity to sign up first in an effort to get times that accommodate multiple conferences. More information on the sign up process will be coming out in a separate e-mail next week. Your teachers will be contacting you in the coming weeks to give more specific information about your child’s Student Led Conference and what to expect.

January 31 JHB Junior Swim Team @ Grayston, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm February 1 Pretoria Parents Association Summer Carnival @ Pretoria Campus, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm February 5 JHB ES Blue Day February 7 2nd Session ASA End JHB Junior Swim Team @ AISJ Aquatic Center, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm February 12 JHB ES Red Day February 13 Director’s Coffee Morning @ Parent Room (Johannesburg Campus), 7:30 am February 14 JHB and Pretoria ES For the “Love of Reading” Book Exchange

Report Card Date Change

Early Release, 1:30 pm

Please note we have changed the date that ES Report Cards are being sent home. Reports will now come home with your child on Friday, March 14th.

February 17 In-Service day for teachers (no School for students)

Parent Coffee

February 18 JHB Junior Swim Team vs Pretoria Swim Team @ Aquatic Center (JHB Campus)

We are looking forward to holding our next round of Parent Coffee Mornings in our Parent Room as follows: • Wednesday, February 26th 8:30 am. Topic - Social conflicts: how to support your child when issues arise (Dr. Carol Wootton) • Tuesday, March 25th 8:00 am. Topic - Parenting: highs and lows of parenting global (third culture) children (Dr. Carol Wootton)

Building Bus Communities

Last week I met with all the HS and MS Bus Monitors. Together, we discussed some of the challenges children face on the buses each day, the things that are going well and solutions for making improvements. I also gave them some tips in dealing with our Elementary Students and how to build positive relationships with the ES students on their buses. Our teachers are also spending time talking with elementary students about expected behaviors on the bus, wearing seat belts and being kind to others. We will continue to reinforce these messages with our students and know that at times they will need our support.

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American International School of Johannesburg

For the “LOVE of READING” Book Exchange - JHB & PTA On February 14th, Valentine’s Day, the Ruberto Media Center (Johannesburg Campus), and the Pretoria Campus Library will have a “Love of Reading” Book Exchange for students, parents and teachers! Bring your gently used books to the library/media center before school, during lunch recess, or after school. Put them in the designated drop box and get a ticket for each of the books you bring in (up to 3). Then come to school on Friday February 14th, with your tickets, to exchange for gently used books that others have brought in to exchange. You can start bringing in your books on Wednesday February 5th, to the library/media center. Any questions see Ms. Irving, jirving@aisj-jhb.com, (Pretoria Campus) or Mr. Robert, redgar@aisj-jhb.com, (Johannesburg Campus).

Scouting at AISJ Johannesburg Campus Cub Scouts Pack 2010 Pack 2010 enjoyed their annual ice cream/pool party at AISJ Johannesburg campus pool. Many of the Scouts earned the aquanaut pins/badges. Thank you to the maintenance staff, lifeguard, parents and leaders who made this a memorable event.

Upcoming Events January 29th – Cub Scout Blue and Gold celebration. This is the annual Scout birthday party to be held during the regularly scheduled meeting. February 28th – Father/Son Campout. Leaders will be in contact with parents via email regarding attendance information .

Wake up & Learn! Coffee Morning

Pretoria Parents Association

Date:

5th February 2014

Time:

7:30 am - Coffee, Tea and Snacks 8:00 am - Presentation

Topic:

“Mathematics – How and why it has changed.” presented by Jill Bellamy, PreK-12 Teaching & Learning Coach

Venue:

Lapa, Pretoria Campus Pretoria PA Coffee Mornings are the 1st Wednesday of Every Month

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American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

Pretoria Elementary and Middle School News News from Pretoria Elementary and Middle School

Upcoming Events

Rachel Caldwell, Pretoria Campus Principal: rcaldwell@ aisj-jhb.com

January 31 Pretoria Swim Gala @ Tyger Valley Prep, 2:15 pm

Pretoria Parent Association’s Summer Carnival Join us on our beautiful Pretoria Campus for a fun-packed afternoon this Saturday February 1st from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Our pro-active PA group has organized a wonderful range of activities; something for everyone. Participating in this event will not only strengthen our community further but also support our PA in their fund-raising efforts.

February 1 Pretoria Parents Association Summer Carnival @ Pretoria Campus, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

You’re Invited! Pretoria PA’s New Family Welcome Lunch The Pretoria Parents Association launched a new initiative this week with its inaugural New Family Welcome Lunch. With around 20 new families joining the AISJ Pretoria Community the time was right to, ‘connect with others at school, and to make new friends’. As Jennifer E, the main organizer stated in her welcome letter: ‘The more we connect with each other, the stronger and better our school community will become, providing for a richer school experience for everyone involved at AISJ. It is also a great opportunity to ask other parents questions, and to discover how we might already be connected through our nationalities, travels, work, and of course, our children!’ We look forward to more meaningful events of this kind.

February 5 Pretoria ‘Wake Up & Learn’ Parent Coffee Morning & Presentation @ Lapa, 7:30 am

Wake Up and Learn: PA hosted morning presentations We are looking forward to February 5th when Jill Bellamy, one of our Teaching and Learning coaches, will present on Building Conceptual Understanding in Math. The focus will be supporting your child in math at home. We look forward to seeing many of you in the Lapa from 7:30 am for refreshments. Jill will begin her presentation at 8:00 am. MS Valentine’s Day Social The Pretoria Middle School Valentine’s Day Social will take place on Thursday, February 13th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Pretoria campus. Permission slips have been sent home to parents and we look forward to a great student turn out! Classroom without Walls Middle School Next week our Middle School students will attend their ‘Classroom Without Walls’ adventure. This involves them being away, with their peers and teachers for 3 nights. This year’s trip will take place between Tuesday 4th February and Friday 7th February. The students will be going to Camp Discovery, www.campdiscovery.co.za, which is about an hour north of Pretoria. Lots of fun and exciting opportunities ahead! Grade 4 Do not forget that we shall be running an information/Q&A session about the Grade 4 CW W, on Monday, February 6th at 3:00 pm in ES10. Grade 4 camp will take place on Monday March 10th through to Wednesday March 12th. If you have any questions or if you would just like to know a little more about this camp and what to expect then please come along. We will provide you with a list of things your child will need to bring along, and also provide other important information.

February 4 - 7 Pretoria MS CW W @ Camp Discovery

February 6 Pretoria Grade 4 CW W Parent Info Session @ ES10, 3:00 pm February 7 - 9 JHB MS, HS, Pretoria MS Swimming Invitational @ Mozambique February 7 2nd Session ASA End Pretoria Swim Gala @ Tyger Valley Prep, 2:15 pm February 8 JHB and Pretoria MS Soccer Tournament @ JHB Soccer Fields, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm February 13 Director’s Coffee Morning @ Parent Room, 7:30 am Pretoria MS Valentine’s Social @ Pretoria Campus, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm February 14 JHB & Pretoria ES For the “Love of Reading” Book Exchange Early Release, 1:30 pm Pretoria Swim Gala @ Tyger Valley Prep, 2:15 pm February 17 In-Service day for teachers (no School for students February 18 Pretoria Grade 8 Transitions @ Ms. Marie’s Room, 11:30 am JHB Junior Swim Team vs Pretoria Swim Team @ Aquatic Center (JHB Campus)

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American International School of Johannesburg

January 30, 2014

In the meantime you can check out Ukutula’s website at www.ukutula.com. Important Dates for After School Activities Please make a note of the following ASA dates in your diaries and remember to get in touch, through your child’s planner or by e-mail, if you need to inform us of any attendance or transportation changes. 3rd – 6th of February Last week of school sponsored ASA activities with the exception of Swim Team which continues 10th – 27th February Swim Team and parent funded activities continue, i.e. Hip Hop, Drama, Ballet, Tennis, Golf, Martial Arts and Little Lab Coats 17th February NO ASA due to no school for students (see Community Events Calendar)

Student-Led Conferences & Second Semester Report Cards Staff and students are already planning for our exciting Student-Led Conferences which will take place on Friday March 7th. Students will NOT attend normal lessons on this day but rather will come to school together with their parent specifically to take part in the conference. The Student-Led Conference, a research-based practice, is one form of reporting to parents adopted by many exemplary elementary and middle schools world-wide. The aim of this process is to enable students to display their work, discuss their learning, review their goals and share their feelings about their education, with their parents. The StudentLed Conference puts the learners at the heart of the process of reporting so that they can tell the story of their own achievements. Through a conference of this kind, students become more motivated, reflective and evaluative. More details will be sent to Pretoria parents in the near future. Please note the following date correction to the Community Events Calendar: Pretoria Elementary and Middle School reports will be sent home on Friday March 14th, in line with the Johannesburg Campus and not on Wednesday March 5th as advertised on the calendar.

The Ever After – Pretoria’s ES Musical What can we say that pictures can’t say better? This was an amazing journey with the grade 3 – 5 students. We saw them grow into self-assured actors over the last few months and the students commented on how they appreciated the play and the opportunity to grow. The students had the opportunity to be part of a cultural group where they supported one-another and encouraged each other to try new things and to become better. We hope to see the whole cast back next year when we will put on another fabulous show, this time with MS and ES working together. Well done to every actor and art ASA students who made the stage props and also thanks also to all the technical staff. Together we dared to imagine, inspired to succeed and did so courageously. Ms Marchelle and Ms Lara

Kindergarten learn about Treasures of the Sea In line with their current unit, the Pre-K and Kindergarten team were entertained by Ms. Alida from Mighty Minds about some of the treasures of the sea. She taught them about ocean pollution and how that endangers much of our precious ocean wildlife. In the photograph, the children are pretending to be various ocean creatures – a shark, dolphin, octopus and a sea horse while

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acting out a story that Ms. Alida told about the hammerhead shark stealing salt from the sea! They had fun while learning a lot of interesting new things. Pretoria Kindergar ten Team

PRETORIA campus rocks! 3D Baobab tree makes vision/mission visible! Under the inspiring guidance of Ms. Elnett from our Learning Support team, students made books sharing their heritage, in order to contribute visually to our school’s vision and mission and emphasizing their international mindedness. The students thought it would be a great idea to have their books hanging from our very own Baobab tree, our school’s logo. Based on the school’s vision, our Grade 3 students filled in a questionnaire, sharing their ideas on daring to imagine, inspiring to succeed and courageously making a difference. ‘When I grow up I dare to imagine becoming an artist.’ ‘I’m inspired to succeed to be a better mathematician’ ‘I will courageously make a difference by recycling and keeping things clean.’ Let’s courageously make that difference ALL TOGETHER and help to make this world a better place! Ms Elnett / Ms Rita / Ms Alex

Overheard in Grade 5 Science Science has been exciting in grade 5 at the Pretoria campus! The grade 5’s have been experimenting with mixtures and solutions for the last few weeks.

The following has been overheard in the science lab: “Mixtures and solutions are every where, but rarely get noticed.” “If you try separating a dry mixture, it never ends up the way you want it to.” “Mixtures and solutions may not be what you think they are.” “Science is awesome!” “I never knew if you evaporated water from salt, that crystals formed with an x on them!” Ms Nicole & Ms Janet, Grade 5 Pretoria

Parents on a Mission On Thursday 23rd January during the Director’s coffee morning, Ms. Rita led a presentation explaining the re-accreditation process. The presentation focused on what the process entails and what has been achieved so far. Ms. Rita also explained what the next steps are for the rest of this academic year.

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As creating a sense of community is a one of the school’s strategic goals, Ms. Rita shared the strategies and suggestions developed by the Pretoria faculty with the intention of creating an awareness amongst the students in order to support them with understanding and “living” the school’s mission, vision and core beliefs. She also emphasized that a school community doesn’t just comprise of teachers and students, but includes all stakeholders; parents, maintenance staff, office staff, support staff, etc. The goal of the meeting was to get the parents excited and actively involved in living the school’s vision, mission and core beliefs. Parents can start by: • Asking their children about these • Ensuring that they have an understanding of the mission, vision, and goals • Talking about them and spreading the word • Sharing ideas about how we can create more awareness in our community. Ms. Rita also emphasized the importance of completing the climate surveys each year as the school sees this tool as very important in terms of driving the strategic goals.

International Studies Throughout December and January, Pretoria’s grade 2 students filled their passport pages as they traveled to five different continents…without ever leaving campus! Students had the opportunity to explore the geography, history, and culture of the countries represented among their classmates during virtual trips led by parents, grandparents, and students themselves. Here are some student reflections about the experiences: “I enjoyed the fun activities and tasting snacks. I learned cool facts like Italy is also called ‘The Boot.” - Ella “I thought that it was cool to learn about the different parts of the different countries. For example, in Italy, they have beaches, mountains, the Spanish Steps.” – A xel “I liked the virtual trips because they were interesting and taught me about other countries and the people who live there. I liked when we were eating the different foods.” – John “It was cool because we pretended to go to all of these places and it felt like we were really there. I think it helped me to understand more about the countries and where my friends come from. For example, I thought that Mzwandi was from a country that has lots of deserts, but I learned that Malawi is tropical.” – Karlina Ms Karen and Ms Meghan, Grade 2 Pretoria

Making Origami boxes in Japan

Learning a traditional dance ‘in Latvia’

Pesto Project

Playing a traditional game called “Koek Happe” in The Netherlands

Many students helped their parents present …we loved our trip to Italy!

Upon returning from the long holiday, Grade Two students were delighted to find their Community Garden flourishing! After observing, measuring, weeding, and watering, students were ready for the first harvest and to get cooking. They enlisted the help of Chef Marco Marengo and prepared pesto from the fresh basil and zucchini they harvested. And, like all good chefs, the students enjoyed the fruits of their labor for lunch!

Making pesto with Chef Marco

Feeling happy and satisfied after gobbling up the pesto

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Heart of Africa – display announcement Pretoria’s Middle School Language Arts and Electives Art 1 students are working on a ‘Heart of Africa’ display commemorating the life of Nelson Mandela and his impact on South Africa’s and, indeed, the whole world’s history. This display will be exhibited, during the coming month, on the stage in the Lapa. Please come along and admire our young students’ artistic and linguistic talents. Ms Alex, Pretoria Ar t Teacher

With the help of the grid technique, utilized in the Sistine chapel by Michelangelo, elective art students develop and improve their skills before starting their Madiba-portrait

Pretoria Fun Swim Gala, Pre K – Gr. 4 On 24th January 2014 AISJ Pretoria held their fun swim gala for Pre K – Grade 4. There were parents cheering, teachers organising, music playing and students swimming!! This was one very exciting day for ALL! The students demonstrated a variety of swimming skills acquired during swimming PE. The students had a great time, and to top it all off, everyone received an AISJ swimming medal. Some of the students even slept with their medal under their pillows so happy and proud they were of their achievements. I would like to say thank you to Ms Robyn, Ms Tamara and Ms Sara for all their hard work and commitment throughout the swimming season. I know we are all looking forward to next year already! Mr Johan On Friday, the 24th of January, 2014 the ES had their annual swim gala, which the MS Multimedia class attended. We took many pictures of the event, but only a few were shared, including underwater pictures. The kids did very well, and it was enjoyable watching them swim the four strokes; freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. The swim gala went well because everyone had lots of fun. All in all the ES swim gala was a great experience for us to expand our knowledge in Multimedia and share some of the images. David Williams and Luke Foster, 7B

Middle School News - Johannesburg Campus CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS is here!

Upcoming Events

Details regarding the CW W trip locations, activities, expectations, and how to prepare, and permission slips were sent home with your child last week. Each CW W team will hold an information session for parents on January 30th from 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm. Parent meetings will be held in the following rooms. CW W6 - MS14; CW W7 MS15; CW W8 - MS7. All forms must be completed and returned by January 30th. One thing to keep in mind when filling out the forms; we need every line filled out including your family doctor information as well as you insurance company and number. Brief descriptions of each trip are listed below. Departure for CW W 7 and 8 is Monday morning, February 10th. Departure for CW W6 is

January 31 JHB Junior Swim Team @ Grayston, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm February 1 Pretoria Parents Association Summer Carnival @ Pretoria Campus, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm February 6 JHB Senior Swim Team Gala @ AISJ Aquatic Center, 2:30 pm

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Tuesday morning, February 11th. Students come to school as they would on a regular school day, but they should leave their luggage in the foyer of the gym to be loaded on the busses for the trip. All CW W trips return Friday afternoon to AISJ in time for bus riders to take either the regular or late busses home. Students who do not normally take the school busses must arrange for their own transport home. CWW6 This year’s Grade 6 adventure will take place February 11th – 14th at Goodland Estates (www.goodland.co.za) 1½ hours from AISJ. We will be under the skilled and dedicated care of Chameleon Adventure Academy counselors (chameleon-adventures.co.za) who have designed a fun-filled learning experience for us. This trip features environmental, cultural, and team building activities. Students will be swimming, hiking, and being challenged to work together through experiences such as personal challenges and leadership games. They will be learning firsthand about the geology and biology of the region and in the process becoming stewards of the earth. CWW7 This year’s Grade 7 adventure will take place February 10th – 14th at Entabeni Environmental Centre (www.enviroed.co.za) which is approximately 470 km from Johannesburg and 35 km from Mooi River. We will be under the skilled and dedicated care of Entabeni Environmental Centre (www.enviroed.co.za) counselors who have designed a fun-filled learning experience for the class. They have a unique, powerful and effective way of teaching. This outdoor experience provides students with the time and opportunity to reflect on values, relationships with self, others and the environment. CW W is a chance to learn some life skills through outdoor experiential learning.

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February 7 - 9 JHB MS, HS, Pretoria MS Swimming Invitational @ Mozambique February 7 2nd Session ASA End February 8 JHB and Pretoria MS Soccer Tournament @ JHB Soccer Fields, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm February 10 - 14 JHB MS CW W 7 and 8 February 11 - 14 JHB MS CW W 6 February 13 Director’s Coffee Morning @ Parent Room (Johannesburg Campus), 7:30 am JHB Senior Swim Team Gala @ Summerhill, 2:30 pm February 14 Early Release, 1:30 pm February 17 In-Service day for teachers (no School for students) February 18 JHB Junior Swim Team vs Pretoria Swim Team @ Aquatic Center (JHB Campus)

CWW8 On Monday, February 10th, our entire Grade 8 will be departing for their annual Classroom Without Walls (CW W) trip to the Sugar Bay Camp in Zinkwazi Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal (www.sugarbay.co.za). This trip emphasizes experiences on or near the coast, including marine and aquatic ecology, numerous water sports and land based activities. This trip is a long standing institution for Grade 8’s at AISJ as the students work on Social/Emotional Learning focused on self-awareness, management & awareness of others and relationship management.

Maternity and Paternity Leaves As many of you know our Grade 6 math/ELL teacher, Ann Olsher, had a baby girl in mid-December. Ann had expected to work until mid-January but the baby came much earlier than expected. Both Ann and her daughter are doing well. Ann’s maternity leave will extend through March with her return to work at the end of the first week of April. Jennifer Ndlovu will be Ann’s replacement for teaching 6th grade Math and 6th Grade ELL. Jennifer is an experienced American teacher who has significant experience working with middle school-aged students in overseas schools. Sonia Gupta, one of our MS teaching partners, had a baby girl last week. Sonia has worked with nearly all MS classes as a substitute and is well known to all of our students. Sonia will be on maternity leave until the first week of May. Both Sonia and her daughter are doing well. Finally, Dharma Sears, our 7th Grade math teacher, and his wife are expecting the birth of their baby in mid-February. Dharma will be on paternity leave for a week for this happy event. For all three of these MS faculty members this is their first baby, so these are exciting times for the Middle School.

Construction Update In the near future the landscaping for our new gym will begin. When that phase of the project starts the walkway between the We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 15

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old gym and the construction site will be closed. Middle School students going to and from the busses will need to use the walkways on the Elementary School side of the old gym. This is not a major change but we want parents to be aware of this as the closed sidewalk has been a major route for MS students. The closure will be for an extended period of time due to proximity to the construction area and the extensive landscaping being done.

High School University & Career Communicator This is a reminder that we are having a University Application Workshop for Parents of Grade 11 students on Tuesday 11th of February from 8:00 am -10:00 am in the HS Lecture Hall. This workshop will include an opportunity for parents to: • Attend a presentation on: Guiding Your Child Toward Their Match University • Schedule a University Meeting with your Counsellor • Hear from recent (Class of 2014) applicants about their personal journey to university. • Have a cup of coffee and share in discussions with other parents from your child’s class. We will be very happy if you are able to attend! Currently, we have universities that are very interested in visiting our students at AISJ. Please note we encourage our parents to attend these information sessions and no sign up is necessary. We also try to keep the AISJ community aware if last minute drop in visits occur. We will do so via the AISJ Website and the Welcome Board at the entrance gate of the school.

Scheduled College Visits: At AISJ in High School Lecture Hall City University of Hong Kong University of Plymouth, United Kingdom City University in London, United Kingdom University of St. Andrews, Scotland

Thursday February 13th, 2014 Tuesday February 18th, 2014 Friday February 28th, 2014 Wednesday March 12th, 2014

1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

High School News Dear High School Parents,

Upcoming Events

We, the high school staff, spend many an hour discussing teaching and learning. We brainstorm ways to limit interruptions to teaching time while we constantly come up with ideas of meaningful opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom. We argue about what is best for our students and what will have the most lasting learning and positive influence on them. We ask ourselves what else we can do to make us a better school. And then we get into the big question – What does a great school actually look like? How do we know that a school is a “good” school? What a difficult and complicated question, but what an important one to try to answer. What makes a school good? Where to begin? Looking at a school through a holistic lens, it is clear that in order to be considered a “good” school an institution must be doing all kinds of things very well. The academic program must be challenging and wide in scope. Students should be exposed to a wide array of experiences to help them find the areas that suit their interests and abilities. Teachers must be effective and caring and embrace the role of mentor and guide for their students. The school culture, established by the community, must be safe, welcoming, and caring. Parents should be involved and engaged in student learning and grow th. The focus of the school must be

January 27 - February 1 HS THIMUN Qatar January 29 - February 1 HS Limpopo Students visit AISJ JHB February 1 Pretoria Parents Association Summer Carnival @ Pretoria Campus, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm February 4 HS Grade 9 – 10 Recognition Assembly @ FAC, 7:40 am – 8:15 am February 7 2nd Session ASA End February 8 HS ACTs HS Hiking Club Hike

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learning in all areas and the goal of the school must be to play an important role in preparing students to be happy, knowledgeable, productive, and mindful adults.

February 11 Grade 11 Parents University App Workshop @ HS Lecture Hall, 8:00 am – 10:00 am

If all of the above is happening you would expect students to be happy, involved, and feeling like they are valued as members of the school community. In a healthy and positive school community students feel they belong and that they are contributors and not merely bystanders. In other words, in a good school there is a “place” for every student and no student should feel left out or alienated. When these conditions exist one can expect students to achieve academically, socially and emotionally. One can expect students to be confident, willing to take risks and prepared to take the initiative to find answers to problems. Under these circumstances students will gain entrance to universities for which they are suited, and you can expect successful IB results as a result of the positive experience they have had.

February 12 - 15 HS AISA GISS LCS @ Accra, Ghana

What I’ve described above is a better than “good” school. What I’ve described is an excellent school and the kind of school to which I would want to send my children. The school described above is what we strive to be at AISJ. We still have work to do, for sure, but I feel strongly that we are headed in the right direction and that it is an on-going journey.

February 13 Director’s Coffee Morning @ Parent Room (Johannesburg Campus), 7:30 am HS College Visit: City University of Hong Kong @ HS Lecture Hall, 1:00 pm February 14 Early Release, 1:30 pm February 17 In-Service day for teachers (no School for students) February 18 HS College Visit: University of Plymouth, UK @ HS Lecture Hall, 1:00 pm

The best measure for successful progress towards this target has to be the measure of how well we perform with each student in the school. We must strive to move each student in a positive direction and help them find their way towards success, confidence and happiness. We need and look forward to your help and continued support in this quest. We need and appreciate your views, suggestions, and directions on how to best support your children. I invite you to join us in any and all ways to provide the best experience possible for our students. Tony Mock, Principal High School

Scheduled Junior Varsity and Varsity Sport Events January 31 HS Varsity Girls Basketball vs Michael Mount @ JHB Campus, 3:15 pm HS Varsity Boys Basketball vs Michael Mount @ JHB Campus, 4:30 pm February 3 HS Varsity Tennis vs. Fourways C @ AISJ, 3:10 pm HS Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls Basketball vs. St. Stithians, 3:15 pm (Away Game) HS Junior Varsity Boys Basketball vs. St. Stithians, 3:15 pm (Away Game) HS Varsity Boys Basketball vs. St. Stithians, 4:30 pm (Away Game) February 6 JHB Senior Swim Team Gala @ AISJ Aquatic Center, 2:30 pm HS Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Michael Mount @ JHB Campus, 3:10 pm HS Junior Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Michael Mount @ JHB Campus, 3:10 pm HS Varsity Boys Basketball vs. St. Albans @ JHB Campus, 3:15 pm February 7 - 9 JHB MS, HS, Pretoria MS Swimming Invitational @ Mozambique HS Varsity Boys Basketball @ Durban

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February 10 HS Varsity Tennis vs. St. Stithians E, 2:00 pm (Away Game) HS Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls Basketball vs Marist Linmeyer @ JHB Campus, 3:15 pm HS Junior Varsity and Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Marist Linmeyer @ JHB Campus, 3:15 pm February 11 HS Varsity Tennis vs. St. Peter’s B. 2:00 pm (Away Game) February 13 JHB Senior Swim Team Gala @ Summerhill, 2:30 pm HS Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls Basketball vs. St Mary’s @ JHB Campus, 3:10 pm HS Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Craw ford (Sandton) @ JHB Campus, 3:10 pm February 14 - 16 HS Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament @ St. Johns College February 14 JHS Varsity Basketball Tournament @ JHB, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm February 15 HS Varsity Basketball Tournament @ JHB, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm February 17 HS Varsity Tennis vs. St. David’s E @ JHB Campus, 3:10 pm

Activities and Sports Congratulations to AISJ’s 1st ever ISSEA Band Students! Collaboration, Camaraderie, Inspiration, Excellence; These are just some of the words that come to mind when describing the inaugural ISSEA Band Festival that took place in Harare, Zimbabwe this past weekend. Within the 65 member ensemble were nine excellent AISJ musicians who put in long hours of preparation in order to be ready to meet the musical and physical challenges of a 3 day performance experience. The ensemble prepared 7 different musical selections ranging from South African music to Adele’s “Skyfall”. Under the leadership of various music directors from all over Africa, they presented a performance on Saturday night that was truly magical. Along with the full band selections, each student participated in workshops on Zimbabwean instruments such as marimba, mbira, drumming, as well as jazz improvisation with professional musicians over the weekend. These workshop groups also performed on Saturday night, giving the concert an added Zimbabwean flavour.

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While the weekend was physically and mentally demanding, the students left with a sense of accomplishment and new friends with whom they now have a truly unique connection. One student reported that this was “the best weekend of the whole year.” The opportunity to participate in an arts experience on this scale is unique and infinitely valuable to the learning process. We are very privileged to be part of such a wonderful organization and be able to experience the arts in this way. Many thanks to the parents, teachers, and members of the community who supported this new endeavour. I can say with confidence that myself and all of the students can’t wait until ISSEA Band 2015! The following students represented AISJ at the ISSEA Band Festival: Ines De Vlieghe, Sidhonie Page-Smith, Rebecca Organ, Nathanael Williams, Willem Van Zyl, Taryn Wenberg, Fernando Dominguez Calderon, Tom Craven, and Izwi Wazara.

AISJ MS Soccer Tournament – Saturday February 8th! On Saturday February 8th AISJ is hosting its annual MS Soccer Tournament which will consist of a U14 Boys and Girls division as well as a U13 Boys and Girls division. This tournament is a long standing tradition and will be very exciting to watch. This year we are hosting our largest MS Soccer Tournament ever. AISJ will have 10 teams from the JHB campus and 2 teams from the PTA campus participating in the tournament. In total there will be approximately 50 teams playing in the tournament involving between 400 – 500 soccer players. This event normally attracts lots of fans in the stands and we hope that this tradition continues. This tournament is a fantastic day for our Middle School soccer players and for AISJ in general. We hope to see lots of AISJ Community members checking out the action on Saturday.

Varsity Boys Basketball “Durban Tour”: Friday – Sunday, February 7th – 9th On Friday February 7th our Varsity Boys Basketball Team will travel to the Durban area for the weekend to play basketball games against some of the best competition in the country. AISJ will face Michaelhouse, Hilton, and Kearsney in three separate games that will give the team a good indication of how good they really are. The team will be boarded by Michael house on Friday night and Kearsney on Saturday night. It should be a great weekend of basketball and an opportunity for the team to really bond with each other which will benefit them in both AISJ’s tournament as well as the upcoming ISSEA tournament. Good Luck!

Mozambique Swimming Invitational: Friday – Sunday, February 7th – 9th On Friday February 7th selected middle school high schools swimmers from both the Johannesburg campus as well as the Pretoria campus will travel to the American International School of Mozambique (AISM) for their annual swimming invitational. Our AISJ team will be hosted by students from AISM and will swim against AISM and other Mozambican schools over the course of two days. This trip is always a favourite for our swimming team and we wish them good luck on the weekend!

AISJ Varsity Basketball Tournament – Friday and Saturday February 14th & 15th On Friday & Saturday February 14th & 15th AISJ will host its annual Varsity Boys & Girls Basketball Tournament. The tournament will consist of teams from around the Johannesburg area, Cape Town as well as teams from outside South Africa. This tournament is a very competitive tournament that will prepare our Varsity Teams for the annual ISSEA (International Schools of Southern & Eastern Africa) Basketball Tournament being hosted by AISJ this year. These two days of basketball promise to be action packed, exciting, and competitive.

AISJ JV Basketball Tournament – Friday and Saturday February 21st & 22nd On Friday and Saturday February 21st and 22nd AISJ will host its 2nd ever JV Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament. The tournament will consist of teams from around the Johannesburg area as well as a couple of teams from outside Gauteng. We are very excited to host this tournament and encourage community members to come out and check out the action.

ISSEA Basketball @ AISJ! On February 26th 140 basketball players from seven different countries will arrive in Johannesburg to compete in this year’s ISSEA* Basketball Championship being hosted by AISJ. This is a wonderful opportunity for ASIJ to show off their school, community, and our wonderful hospitality but we need YOUR HELP!!! These 140 basketball players need to be hosted by AISJ students for the four nights that they are in South Africa for the tournament. Regardless if you are a Pre-K student or a grade 12 student who is about to graduate, you can host players from these visiting schools. If you are interested in hosting please follow the link below to access the form that explains everything that you need to know about hosting. In order to pull off what promises to be a wonderful event we need AISJ families to open up your homes for these visiting students. If you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to contact the Activities Department!

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Visit our website (http://issea.aisj-jhb.com/) for pools, schedules and updates at and like our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/ISSEA-Basketball-2014/1456028971285078) *ISSEA – International Schools of Southern & Eastern Africa

ISSEA Basketball Website and Facebook Page AISJ’s ISSEA Basketball Website and Facebook page are now live. These portals are a great way to stay up to date on the preparations, teams, and schedule for the weekend of basketball. Once the tournament begins this will be a phenomenal way to keep updated on all the action of the tournament! We highly recommend that you check the sites out!

AISJ’s JV Boys Basketball Team With the arrival of the new year, the basketball season has started as well. The JV Boys’ Team has two games already under their belts. Although we lost in the opener 12-15 to a very quick and determine Dominican Convent squad , the team won their second game Friday, January 24th against Alexandra with a score of 44-27. Top scorer and rebounder of that game was Jonathan Robinson with 16 points and 23 rebounds. Our next game is on Thursday, January 30th at home vs KES. Please, come and support our players. Coach Gabriel

Pretoria Parents Association News Upcoming Events

Dear fellow parents, Our big Summer Carnival is this Saturday and it’s going to be great. Games – Booths – Airbrush Tattoos – Water Balls – Bean Bag Tosses – Water Slides – Penny Hunt – Teacher Raffles—Cupcake Walk – Slip’ n’ Slides – Our Eagle Shop with AISJ clothing – and a whole lot more! If you missed the deadline to pre-order tickets, don’t worry. You can pay at the door. Pray for blue skies, but we’ll see you there “rain or shine” on campus from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Bring a blanket, chairs, swim suits and sunscreen! More volunteers are needed for the Carnival. Thanks to everyone who volunteered already. More volunteers are still needed – please click here to sign up for a shift online. It’s a fun and easy way to meet other parents and get involved in your child’s school! (Trouble with the link or have questions about volunteering? Email Krisha DeCoursey at davidkrisha01@yahoo.com.

For more information on all these events click on the Pretoria Parents Association button on the AISJ website. February 1 Pretoria Parents Association Summer Carnival @ Pretoria Campus, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm February 13 Director’s Coffee Morning @ Parent Room (Johannesburg Campus), 7:30 am February 14 Early Release, 1:30 pm

February 17 Next Wednesday, 5th February, is our next “Wake Up & Learn” coffee In-Service day for teachers (no School for students) morning (held the first Wednesday of each month). Come by the lapa at 7:30 am for coffee, tea and treats, and at 8:00 am, hear Jill Bellamy, PreK-12 Teaching & Learning Coach, present “Mathematics – How and why it has changed.” From Jill, “everyone wants schools to be better but they want it to look the same as it did when they went to school.’ [Erma Anderson, 2013] We can’t have both. Come along to this presentation and find out why mathematics instruction has changed. Gain a better understanding of how it has changed, so you can talk to your child about what they are learning at school.” Yesterday, a group of new and not-so-new parents enjoyed our first “New Family Get Together” lunch, organized by Jennifer E, who heads up our Welcome Program. Thanks to everyone who could join us. We plan on making this an annual or perhaps even semi-annual event. We are a diverse, international communit y providing a balanced and nur turing learning program that fosters personal growth, provides meaningful oppor tunities for achievement, and promotes positive contributions to societ y. Page 20

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A note for all parents of Middle School students: there will be a MS Valentineâ€™s Social on Thursday, 13th February. More information and a call for help will be sent out next week by our MS coordinator, Hendrikje Schievink. See you Saturday, and please sign up for a volunteer slot, if you havenâ€™t already! We need you. Glenn Frankel Pretoria Parents Association Pretoria-PA@aisj-jhb.com