s e n i l d a e H L The IS 30th August 2013
From the Head of School-: Mr. Martin Gough
“Striving for Excellence”
Whether you are a new or returning student, teacher or parent, I would like to welcome you to the new school year. As I sit at my desk writing this, I realize that I have been here just 3 weeks and yet so much has happened in that time.
What’s happening at ISL? PTA Welcome Braai
30th Aug
IB2 Trip to Kasanka
31st Aug
Yr 6 Trip to Tree Tops Staff development day
2nd Sep 20th Sep
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
Contents Head of School
1
Primary Principal
2
Early Years Coordinator
2
PYP Coordinator
3
Upper-Primary Coor- 3 dinator Secondary Principal
The start of the year is a time of change and opportunity for those who are returning to a school they know, but even more so to those newly arrived. The first few days and weeks can be quite stressful for new students and teachers as they learn the culture of a new place and try to fit into established groups and make friends. I hope that we will all take the time to help new people settle in so that they soon reach a point where they feel at home at ISL. Even for returning students, a new school year is a time of change with different teachers, possibly different subjects or even a whole new programme to cope with. I know that Year 1, Year 7, Year 10 and Year 12 will particularly notice the changes as they move up into the next stage of school life. Change is inevitable and it involves risk for all of us but as T. S. Eliot said:
Each year at schools offering any of the International Baccalaureate programmes, as ISL does, students and teachers will be reminded of the IB Learner Profile and the attributes we seek to develop in ourselves and our students. At the Primary School Start of Year Assembly, Mr. Bowen asked the new teachers and some students which of the Learner Profile attributes they would pick as being particularly important to them. It was interesting to hear their choices from the attributes below: Inquirer
Open-Minded
Knowledgeable
Caring
Thinker
Risk-Taker
Communicators
Balanced
Principled
Reflective
4
Junior Secondary Coordinator
4
IGCSE Coordinator
5
IB Corner
5
Board Chairperson
6
A number of the characteristics are relevant to the idea that change is inevitable and we need to learn to not just cope with it but embrace the opportunities change brings by, for example, being an open-minded, reflective risk-taker. Whether you are new to ISL or have been here for a while, I hope to meet you over the next few weeks. Best wishes for a happy but challenging school year. Martin Gough Head of School PS: Read the full IB learner profile