EARCOS Administrative Assistants’ Institute

EARCOS Administrative

Assistants’ Institute October 10 and 11, 2008 Beijing, China

The EARCOS Administrative Assistants’ Institute was held October 10 and 11, 2008, at the Traders Hotel in Beijing, China. Twentynine administrative assistants to heads of school, working in 21 schools in Southeast Asia, were on hand for the event. It was an exciting oppor tunity for these important members of our administrative teams to meet, share similar experiences, and develop collegial relationships.

Dr. Mary K. (Candy) Fresacher, head teacher of English for Advertising at the Wer beakademie in Vienna, facilitated the institute with discussion of communication skills; intrapersonal and interpersonal emotional intelligence; relationship building; time and stress management; team building; and conflict resolution management. We would like to thank Dr. Fresacher and commend her expertise in this area of school leadership.

Dr. Tom Hawkins, EARCOS board member, welcomed Dr. Fresacher and the institute participants, stressing the core roles the assistants play as they come in contact with all members of their schools’ community while maintaining the smooth management of the head of schools’ offices. Once the institute was underway, AAs embraced the topics that were presented and eagerly took part in collegial discussion of issues that arise as part of their daily du ties. At the end of the two days, they readily agreed to continue discussion of topics via the EARCOS network, which will enable them to dialogue and share principles of good practice with all AAs throughout the EARCOS region.

Many thanks to the AAI advisory committee members Esther Moo, Macky Regino, Sophie Tsai, Stella Valentino, and Amy Guan for their assistance in bringing this institute to fruition, and to EARCOS and Dr. Krajczar for his enthusiastic support! Additionally, we would like to give warm thanks to Louisa Chen, accounting manager at ISB, for her assistance with the registration process.

Below is a list of all the AAs who attended the EARCOS Ad ministrative Assistants’ Institute Beijing. We look forward to the next AA Institute.

Candy Fresacher -B.A., M.A., Consultant Vitz Baltero-EARCOS Armie Marie Bausas-International School of Manila Yoko Chiba-Canadian Academy Japan Sally Choy-International School of Singapore Jocelyn Dorai-United World College of South East Asia Mary Ann Drakulovic-International School of Beijing Juana Elizalde-Chinese International School Ma. Clarissa Jang D’Estacio-International School of Manila Atsumi Fujii-Tokyo International School Yoshiko Fukushima-Tokyo International School Amy Guan-Beijing BISS International School Lily Guo-Beijing BISS International School Racquel Haverkamp-International School of Phnom Penh Edna Lagunday-Brent International School, Subic Kitty Lau-Hong Kong Academy Esther Moo-International School of Kuala Lumpur Ida Morris-TEDA International School Marissa Narvaez-Brent International School, Baguio Quynh Hoa Nguyen-UN International School of Hanoi Macky Regino- Brent International Schools, Manila Pamela Rickard-International School of Beijing Christina Song-International School of Tianjin Ann Tan-Singapore American School Jamie Touttavong-Vientiane International School Sophie Tsai-Taipei American School Stella Valentino-Western Academy of Beijing Paramy Vilayvong-Vientiane International School Ma. Luisa Villano-Cebu International School Aki Yoshikawa-Canadian Academy Japan

Mary Ann Drakulovic International School Beijing