Volume 1 05/03/2021
Newsletter of International School Suva Parents, Students, and Staff,
Principal’s Report
We are well into the 2021 school year with more than half of Term 1 completed as of now. I am delighted to see that the school is operating fully with lessons learned from dealing with Covid. We are still taking many precautions but are gradually restoring programs that had been reduced or cut. Students are engaged in hands-on learning as before and many activities are happening once more.
Inside this issue:
ECH
PSPE
Library
Significantly, the top two floors of our newest building are open and heavily used. Our secondary art classrooms are now in the new building just across from the primary art classrooms allowing more collaboration and shared resources. In general, we are promoting shared school-wide use of specialised spaces and equipment so that our new resources benefit all students in some way. A new design classroom is also open and is hosting creative, problem solving activities. We will soon be installing new equipment including 3-D Printers and a CNC Router. These are not only high-level technology devices but are gateways to students learning how to turn digital design into real world objects. I think our students will quickly take advantage of these new opportunities for learning! Our science laboratories are all on the top floor of the new building and they are being used by both secondary and primary students. The photo below shows the chemistry lab and prep area. The lower level of the new building will not be open until late in Term 1 or the beginning of Term 2. It is primarily an auditorium which will become our main presentation and performance space. It should seat about 350 people and will have the best audio-visual equipment the school has had until now. At this time, we are waiting for the seating to arrive from an overseas vendor, but there have been delays in production and shipping due to Covid. The photo below shows the large open space that will soon become the new auditorium! We are beginning to plan for a Grand Opening event which I hope many of you can attend. The date is not set yet but is likely to be near the start of Term 2 in April following our two-week term break (2nd - 20th of April). Hopefully, our Annual General meeting can be held in the new facility for the first time on May 6. Speaking of the AGM, one important purpose of the AGM is to elect Board members to fill open Board seats. Please watch for announcements in the near future about that and consider standing for an open seat. At the AGM we also report on the previous year’s achievements and challenges and share the school’s direction for the coming year. I hope you also set aside that date to attend and be involved with the school’s governance. Finally, I see that the Lost & Found table in primary is once more full of student’s clothing and lunch containers. Please take a moment to retrieve your child’s things if any are missing. Other Lost & Found items can be found through Kelera at the front business office; we do not want to accumulate missing items so please take time to get them back. The photo below is of the primary Lost & Found table. I think you can see there is no space for more items! Thank you once more for being fabulous parents, students, and staff. Our school truly is a unique and positive place for learning because of you! Respectfully, Steve Cathers Head of International School Suva
MYP Head Students Alumni Year 3 Chinese New Year Leadership Assembly Term Date