INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA ISSUE 7 | FEBRUARY 2020
ISK Celebrates International Day! Plastic-Free ISK by May 2020 Lots of ISSEA Drama, Music, and Sport INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
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MISSION, VISION AND AIMS Our Mission, Vision, and Aims define our purpose, the educational beliefs that drive learning, and the specific learning outcomes we are committed to developing in each student.
EDITORIAL TEAM Pamela Pappas Rita Thakura Martin Mulwa
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Copyright Š 2020 The Link Copyright Š 2019 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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C O N T E N T S Director’s Letter
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Board News
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International Day
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Elementary School Report
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Middle School Report
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High School Report
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TLC
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Service Learning
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Athletics
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Arts
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Counselors’ Connection
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Advancement Office
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PTO
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Health Office
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DIRECTOR’S LETTER
DIRECTOR’S LETTER Student Revised ISK Environmental Policy Approved-A Move Towards Carbon Neutrality At the February Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a revised Environmental Policy 7.7 along with other policies. The exciting part of the revision of this new environmental policy is that work for the revision came from our high school’s Student For the Environment (SFE) club. The revision was led by Leah and Hazel and culminated with their Board meeting presentation about why students felt this was important for ISK. To support this new policy, SFE club members are already developing ways to support its implementation.
DAVID G. HENRY DIRECTOR
The policy starts by stating that ISK recognizes its activities’ impact upon the environment. At the same time, the school is committed to continuously improving its environmental performance. With this in mind, ISK will aim to minimize any negative effect its operations may have on the environment by implementing good environmental practices that comply with national standards and international best practices. The updated policy adds, To this end, ISK is a single-use plastic- free campus where waste is recycled or reused, and the school seeks to reduce its use of resources. ISK is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and becoming a carbon neutral international school.
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ISK Running Track and 2020-21 Budget Approved The ISK Boards approved plans for additional facilities development in line with the Facilities Master Plan for the 2020-21 school year along with the 2020-21 budget. The exciting new facility that ISK will add in 2020-21 will be a Running Track around the lower field. The other major facility improvement for next year is, of course, the completion of the MS Building/HS Science Labs construction project. We expect this major project to be completed by the end of the 2020-21 school year.
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THE LINK
What a fun and relaxing International Day with the Taste of Nations at ISK! It was a joy to see all the enthusiasm and variety during the parade and then see how students, parents, teachers, and staff enjoyed ‘hanging out’ as one community afterward. I was especially impressed by the quality and variety of student and dance performances including, our student MC’s and the positive atmosphere of all involved from the parents to the staff to the faculty and the students. A huge thank you to all who contributed to preparing and serving food with our parents, what a turnout in quality and quantity with around 50 country food booths. Thank you to the PTO leadership and wide participation of parents for supporting such a wonderful event, the organization was tremendous. A memorable event, and I have confidence you had the chance to enjoy the day as much as I did!
Inspiring International Day
Teacher Recruitment for 2020-21 One of the most important aspects of our leadership team is the recruiting of experienced, caring, knowledgeable, and culturally competent teachers from around the world to facilitate learning at our school. This year, with the thorough support of our principals, their assistants, and teacher leaders, we have been able to fill our teacher openings for next year already. ISK continues to have a solid reputation worldwide as a thoughtful, innovative, solutionoriented institution, and this contributes to the large pool of what we believe are exceptional teachers and administrators interested in supporting learning at ISK. With our planned restructuring of the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) to support our new Strategic Focus Areas, Greg James will continue to oversee
the TLC while serving as the Director of Innovation and Service Learning. We have elevated student support services to a new admin-level position, called the Head of Student Support Services in the TLC, which will be led by Heidi Laws starting, in the 2020-21 school year. We are also excited to have Ms. Aroma Pannu joining ISK as the school-wide Coordinator of Student Health and Well-Being. Elizabeth Imende-Cooney was to assume the new role of the Director of Teaching and Learning to work alongside Greg James, but is sadly unable to join ISK due to an unforeseen medical circumstance in her family. ISK wishes her and her family well during this difficult period.
Parent Survey The annual ISK Parent Survey will be sent out mid-March to all parents. When you receive this survey, please take the time to fill it out thoughtfully so that we can hear and learn about your perspective. We value your feedback as we reflect on how we can continuously improve.
Warm Regards, David G. Henry Director
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BOARD NEWS
BOARD NEWS The Board of Directors kicked off our February 25 meeting VICTORIA AYER BOARD SECRETARY
with a series of updates from the community, where we learned more about ASB’s new initiatives promoting wellness and respectful communication. In approving a number of policy revisions, including to the Environmental Policy, the Board applauded student-led efforts to promote the transformation of ISK into a carbon-neutral international school over the long term. With the ban on single-use plastic now in place, the Board was told that the current goal of being a plastic-free campus by May 2020 is well within reach. The Board welcomed the initiative to revamp a solid growth and appraisal model for ISK, led by the High School Principal. The Board underscored the importance of involving parents and the wider community as key allies in strengthening the professional development of the ISK faculty. The Board was excited to hear about the great progress achieved by the Diversity Committee and the successful diversity-themed workshops. In particular, the Board welcomed the active involvement from all of the stakeholders and invited the entire ISK community to contribute to a joint vision of diversity that is meaningful and transformative. Later in the week, members from the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors presented ISK’s 2020-2021 annual budget to the Board of Governors, which was approved in a joint BoD/BoG meeting on February 27.
Best Wishes, Victoria Ayer Board Secretary
THE LINK
INTERNATIONAL DAY 2020 Celebrating Our Diversity ’Proud to Be Me’
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPORT
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPORT MATTHEW WOODWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Our Elementary School has had an exciting last month of learning. Grade 5 had their IC Trip, Peter Brown (author/illustrator) visited ISK and worked with students, and we celebrated our diversity through International Day.
Grade 5 IC Trip Grade 5 had a unique learning experience during their IC Trip to the outskirts of Mt. Kenya. This trip integrates learning from the grade 5 curriculum, our Aims, and outdoor education. Teachers helped the students know how to set up their own tent and take care of their belongings, as well as how to prepare and pack. Independence was emphasized, as the transition to Middle School is happening soon. Feedback from students was that it was a trip to remember, with many direct ties into their capstone project that will be coming up in quarter 4.
Author Visit
Peter Brown, author/illustrator of books such as My Teacher is a Monster and Wild Robot, visited ISK to work with our students. He led sessions with each grade level, telling kids about his upbringing and the role that reading and drawing played in turning him into the professional that he is today. He also would draw for the children and show them a few ways to illustrate their own work during the writing workshop. A highlight for the students was our assembly, where he walked kids through the process of illustrating Creepy Carrots. What an authentic learning experience for kids that can easily be applied while they develop their own writing pieces.
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THE LINK
International Day International Day was a huge success. We want to thank the parent volunteers that helped set up, cook food, clean up, and helped in various ways. We are so lucky to be part of a community that celebrates our unique qualities. We know that many of you brought food to share, helped your child come with clothing from your home country, and engaged in a day of celebration. This would not be possible without your support.
Something that we have been working hard on in recent weeks is safety. One area, in particular, is looking at our duty schedules and ways that we can support students. We have asked for student feedback when it comes to ideas of how to improve recess time from a safety side and fun side. We are working to have vests that will help children identify who is on duty, in order to seek these teachers out when they need help. We will continue to share ways in which we are working to enhance the daily experience for students as we strive for safe and caring environments.
Dates to Remember March 9-12 Grade 4 IC Trip | Kilifi
March 14-22 ISK March Break | No School
March 13 ES CCA Q3 Ends
March 30 ES CCA Q4 Begins Ryan Hopkins-Wilcox Elementary School Assistant Principal
Matthew Woodward Elementary School Principal
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MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORT
MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORT ALEXA SCHMID MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Special Assembly Podcast Leading up to our Proud to Be Me Day studentled workshops, parent and podcast moderator Lilly Bekele-Piper joined a Middle School assembly to do a live recording with a panel of students sharing their identity stories and experiences. This podcast was centered around identity, inclusion, and acceptance.
Celebrating Proud to Be Me Day Our student leaders (and teacher supporters) guided our Middle School through important conversations about body image, language, neurodiversity, and assumptions/expectations through student-led workshops on February 14. The goal was to empower students with knowledge and awareness to be upstanders in our community, as well as promote inclusion and acceptance. Congratulations, and thank you to our student leaders and teacher supporters! Below is a glimpse into some aspects of the workshops so that you can continue to emphasize some of our messaging at ISK in a partnership around inclusion, acceptance, and embracing our diverse identities.
Neurodiversity They watched a 1.5 - minute video to empathize and understand the challenges of a student on the autism spectrum. And also this Not Special Needs 1.5 minute video. Top tips to be a supportive classmate of neurodiverse students: • Listen and pay attention- Pay attention both to verbal communication (words) and nonverbal communication (voice quality and body language). • Use a calm voice and be reassuring. • Keep your manner encouraging rather than correcting. • Be sensitive to the tone of voice. • Don’t rush; trust is built slowly. • Encourage self-advocacy and opportunities for independence. • Treat each person as an individual with talents and abilities deserving of respect and dignity. • Give extra time for the person to process what you are saying and to respond. • Look for signs of stress and/or confusion.
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THE LINK
Body Image Body Image: A person’s ideas of the attractiveness of their own body. It involves how a person sees themselves, compared to the standards that society sets for us. They watched part of these: Stay Beautiful: Ugly Truth in Beauty Magazines & You’re More Beautiful Than You Think Students ended the session with writing statements based on the following prompts: – I love __________. (A statement about your physical appearance) – I love that my body can _________. (A statement about your body’s ability)
Language Students brainstormed words they hear around school, and then answered the following prompts: • Look at each word. Choose one and explain how it makes us feel. • Think of an impact that word or another word has on an individual and community. • When we use derogatory language, do the words we use really express what we intend to say? • What alternatives do we have? • Notice that many of the words are directed toward girls/ women. How does that make you feel? Girls? Boys- how would you like it if someone said that to a woman in your life (mom, grandma, auntie, sister)? • If you could exchange that hurtful word for an empowering word, what word would it be? • In a closing activity, students wrote a hurtful word on the slip of paper. And then, they wrote a positive replacement word on the other side of the slip of paper. And then they videoed each student turning their negative word over to the positive word. Here are two videos that complemented this session: How Words Can Hurt, Peter Limthongviratn, Ted Talk and My Language, My Choice
Assumptions & Expectations This workshop started with riddles and partial pictures to examine the assumptions we make and our hidden biases. Here is a video they watched: Do Your Assumptions Affect How You Treat People? In closing, students wrote about: • A time someone made an assumption about ME. • A time that you made an assumption about someone else.
Don’t believe everything you think. -Bryon Katie
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International Day International day was a great success! Starting with the MS Marching Band, and then the Parade of Nations, followed by a lovely music program, and the yummy Taste of Nations. A proud day to celebrate our rich diversity and unity as a community.
Diversity Committee Teacher and TA Workshops The ISK teacher and TA Diversity Committee have been hard at work this year to deepen and grow ISK’s cultural competence. There have been several recent high impact training sessions.
Power, Privilege, Purpose Workshop
Power, Privilege, Purpose is part one of a three-part workshop that focuses on heightening the critical consciousness of our teachers and promoting culturally relevant and responsive teaching. All teachers attended this workshop about a month ago. We had an overwhelming response from teachers across the school who felt genuinely impacted, inspired and moved. Teachers expressed a strong desire to learn more about Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy (CRRP). Teachers described the workshop as “transformative,” “enlightening,” “engaging,” and “thoughtprovoking.”
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Teachers Teaching Teachers Workshops Through the Theme: Diversity Mid-February, the Diversity Committee hosted ten different workshops, where teachers and TAs had a choice of which to attend. These workshops were all under the theme of diversity, and were also well received. Here is a breakdown of the workshops that were offered. Supporting our Students: • Transcending the Single Story. • How to Facilitate Challenging Conversations. • Neurodiversity: Understanding Our Students’ Needs • Establishing Trust with Parents. • Supporting Gender and Transgender Through the Use of our Words. • Sensory Integration and Movement to Enhance Learning. Culturally Competent Community: • Community Circle - Discuss issues that teachers/ TAs think need to be addressed in our community. Instructional Practices: • Honoring our Truths Through Literature. • Embedding Diversity in Curriculum and Lessons: Beyond Content.
Looking Ahead
• We will have one more Teachers Teaching Teachers Workshop in March around similar themes. • We are looking ahead to new and all teacher orientation workshops. • The committee is continuing to create a shared value around diversity, equity, and social justice work across the school. In Partnership, Drew Gregor Middle School Assistant Principal
Alexa Schmid Middle School Principal
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HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT ROBERT BLANCHARD, Ed.D. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Thank you to all the families who came to our recent parent-student-teacher conferences. Hopefully, you found the student-led format, feedback, and open communication highly supportive of your child’s learning and ongoing growth.
Internationalism at ISK Thank you for celebrating our internationalism and cultural diversity this month - this is, of course, something we cherish, value, and promote every day at ISK, and it is important to make time to pause, create intentional learning activities and openly celebrate this as a community. We’ve included some photos of the day to highlight our diversity and show students enjoying a day under the theme ‘Proud to Be Me’.
Student Voice The High School ASB team continues its good work as we try to build in ways to promote student voice at ISK. They recently coordinated and ran a ‘town hall’, with groups of students and teachers working together to address some key areas for enhancing school culture: Celebrating/Communicating the Positives; Dress Code; Student Voice & Choice; and Wellbeing. We are looking forward to including parents in some of these conversations, the plan being to do so at our last Parent Tea of the year, which will take place on Thursday, April 16, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (please save the date).
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THE LINK
Grade 8-9 Transition We have started the process of helping our students and parents with the transition from Grade 8 to 9 by hosting two information sessions, one for parents and one for students. We look forward to continuing this transition over the remainder of this school year and welcoming our new High Schoolers in August.
IB Mock Exams (March 5-13) In the lead up to the actual IB exams each year, we hold IB mock exams for students who are registered for and preparing to complete IB courses in May (regular classes continue as usual for all students who are not registered for IB exams in the upcoming May exam session). The rules for attendance in classes over the duration of the IB mock exam session (March 5-13) follow the same guidelines as applied for the actual IB exams in May, as follows: • Grade 12 Full IB Diploma students are not required to be in any classes during the IB mock exam session - however, if students are not writing an exam, they may attend classes (where relevant), meet with teachers, or work in the library if they wish to do so instead of studying for exams at home. • Grade 12 and Grade 11 IB course and/or anticipated students (taking some IB exams this May but not full IB seniors) are excused from classes the day before their Mock Exam paper to study and the day of the Mock Exam (to sit the paper). These students are to return to classes following the writing of their IB Mock Exam paper. They may also attend classes or work on campus if they wish to do so instead of studying at home prior to a mock exam. • All Grade 12 and Grade 11 Students taking IB mock exams must sign in (in the High School office) when they arrive on campus, and must also sign out (and obtain a gate pass) if they leave campus early before normal school release time. • Transportation During IB Mocks: Transportation to and from school for students sitting IB mock exams is the responsibility of parents. The school will release FULL IB SENIORS from school immediately after they have finished their IB mock exams for the day, regardless of the time. Parents who wish to arrange special transportation arrangements such as a taxi must inform the High School office in advance. Buses will run at normal times for students who are signed up to ride the bus.
Course Selections 2020-2021 This process is now well underway, with informational sessions for families held and the 2020-2021 course guide published. You can find the course guide published on the school website. Individual family meetings have been ongoing, with a focus on our rising juniors who are making IB course selections. For our current Grade 9, 10, and 11 students, course selection forms were due to the High School office by Wednesday, March 4. If you need a new one, pass by the HS office.
Grade 10 Work Experience Week of March 9 All Grade 10 students should now have approved placements in the professional workplace environment either: 1. Off-campus from Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 13, 2020. 2. On-campus taking part in a one-week movie-making workshop. Please note that there are no scheduled classes for Grade 10 students at ISK that week. We look forward to hearing more about this exciting learning experience for our 10th graders when they return after the March break.
Key Date for your Diaries
March 14-22 ISK March Break | No School School resumes March 23
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HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
ISSEA ISK recently hosted the ISSEA Rugby championships. A special thank you to the many families who hosted visiting athletes from other ISSEA schools. Our under-19 Boys team won the tournament, our Girls team came in 4th, and our under-15 boys were also champions for their age group. As for our teams that traveled out of Kenya, the ISK Girls Basketball team also won their tournament with the boys finishing 3rd while for swimming, the girls finished 6th, and the boys finished 2nd. Check out the photos of our student-athletes in this edition of the Link. Go Lions! Our students also traveled recently to the Drama, Visual Arts, Band, and Choir ISSEA events, with ISSEA STEM, Golf, Tennis, and Football coming soon.
HS Tamasha (Grade 9-12 Social) taking place April 3 at ISK Here are key details for parents to know to help support a fun and safe evening: • This social is a school event, and all school rules apply - please clarify this with your child and discuss what it means, particularly as regards the serious matter of the school’s substance use policy. • The event is, of course, optional and will take place on the ISK campus. • Parents are responsible for transportation to and from the event - please pay particular attention to organizing safe transportation. • If you, as a parent, plan to use a taxi to collect your child, the school (hsmail@isk.ac.ke) must
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receive a note from you in advance of the event verifying the arrangement. Collect your child promptly at the conclusion of the event. Drop-off and pick up is from the ISK upper/ main gate only. There are no ticket sales at the door. Any ISK student who wants to bring an outside (non-ISK) guest must have applied to the principal in advance. There are NO school-sponsored activities/ parties before or after the prom. Feel free to contact me (0733-401619) if you have a question about the event.
Senior (Grade 12) Matters All seniors and their parents should have received a letter from us earlier this month with important information about this final semester; let us know if you have not received this. It is an exciting time of the year for seniors as they make the most of their final semester in High School, receive their university offers, and start looking forward to graduation on May 29. If you are ever on campus, come by the High School office to see the university offers coming in for our talented senior class! Robert Blanchard, Ed.D. High School Principal
Jarrod Dale High School Assistant Principal
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TLC
TLC
Digging Into Assessment With Tom Schimmer Last week we were very fortunate to have Tom Schimmer back in Kenya and on the ISK campus. He brings a wealth of knowledge around the fundamentals and best thinking in the area of educational assessment. Tom has the ability to take what can be a complex topic and clarify the work through a student-centered lens.
GREG JAMES DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
During the week, Tom’s time was split between leading a two-day professional learning institute with a mixture of faculty and staff from ISK, along with educators from other schools within the continent. After finishing off a very successful two days, our faculty and staff were able to talk, ask questions, and calibrate our process of assessment.
Areas of Focus: Within the five days, there were multiple areas of focus that emerged across divisions, grade levels, and departments.
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How do we assess, report, and bring our ISK aims to life?
Students are at the heart of learning AND assessment:
Understanding and aligning the cognitive complexity:
At ISK, we collectively know the importance of our educational aims (cognitive skills and learning dispositions). During our time with Tom, there were great conversations about how to authentically embed our aims into our academic program and how to bring the students into the learning and understanding. We know that these skills and dispositions are more powerful when they are purposefully taught by the teacher, yet owned by our students.
There was a time when assessment was something that simply happened to students. Changing this is at the core of what we want to be at ISK. Our students not only need to be in the conversation, but they also need to be a driving voice for their learning and the assessment of their learning. When we make this happen, students do not only grow academically; they also grow their personal agency.
Understanding and calibrating the cognitive complexity of our standards and learning objectives is paramount for any classroom and school. Once we, as adults, have this clarity, we can then bring the students into the conversation. Having this detailed understanding of the learning expectation will allow the students to clearly move along their educational journey.
As a school, we are already self assessing our current practices based on our work with Tom Schimmer. The beauty of our professional learning program is that we are able to learn from outside professionals, put the learning to action, and then invite the consultant back to drill the learning a little deeper. On that note, Tom will be joining us again during the 2020-2021 school year. Greg James Director of Teaching and Learning
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SERVICE LEARNING
SERVICE LEARNING PIERINA REDLER SERVICE LEARNING & ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR
There is more in you than you think. -Kurt Hahn
The ISK Community is counting down to a single-use plastic-free campus!
A Plastic-Free International Day By May 2020, the ISK community will officially be a single-use plastic- free school. The Students for the Environment Club (SFE) is taking measures in order to put this idea into action. We tested the reality of this proposal with this year’s International Day. According to the UN Environment website, “Today, we produce about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. That’s nearly the equivalent of the weight of the entire human population.” In the past, International Day has unwittingly created mountains of single-use plastic plates. This year, SFE aimed to help reduce plastic waste, and waste in general by leading the school in a plastic-free initiative. We asked the community to bring their own containers and incentivized them with a free cookie. For those who were not able to bring their own containers, we worked with our Canteen to provide reusable plates for them. We set up our booth with a lot of reusable plates, forks, and cups, and ran a donation system where people could make a donation to get a plate, cup, and fork. This ran from the start till the end of the Taste of Nations and overall was a great success. The waste in general, and plastic waste in particular, was much less this year, marking a great step in our community’s efforts to become more environmentally friendly and aware. In the words of the PTO, “It was with pride that we saw our students lead the way, bridging intention to reality. Thank you, SFE, for initiating a major step toward becoming a truly ‘Green Campus.’ Your initiative in providing plates, cups and utensils in collaboration with our Canteen for Taste of Nations made a real difference. Thank you for your vision.” We also spoke to Mr. Maina, the Housekeeping Foreman, who shared his thoughts on this International Day. When asked about how the cleanup was this year compared to previous years, he said, “It was definitely better, and we didn’t have so much trash to clean up!” As a community, we are very privileged and it is important to recognize, and use our privilege to keep our school and environment beautiful. Together we can find and create solutions to the challenges we face. On behalf of the SFE club, we would like to give a big thanks to Mr. Mutia and Ms. Ndungu from the Canteen for helping us organize the use of the reusable plates, forks, and cups. We would also like to appreciate the PTO, the vendors, and the Director, Mr. Henry, for helping us make this whole process happen. Finally, we would like to thank our community for coming out and supporting this single-use plastic-free initiative, whether it was bringing your own reusable plates, or donating money and borrowing a plate from us. You all really made a difference. Thank you all for being environmentally aware and showing a little more love to the earth. Remember, on May 1, ISK will be a single-use plastic-free environment. In the next edition of the Link, we will offer solutions to some of the concerns you may have. If you have any questions about this plastic -free initiative, write to SFE or me, hibrahim21@isk.ac.ke. Hanan, Grade 11
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A Single-Use Plastic-Free ISK
Plastic pollution is a growing crisis, affecting our environment and exacerbating climate change impacts that are felt all around the world. In 2016, more than 320 million tonnes of plastic waste was produced. This amount is estimated to double by 2034. Furthermore, 8 million pieces of plastic find their way into our oceans every single day. Microplastics also find their way into our food. ISK updated the board policy on February 25 to address this major environmental problem, and to further support environmental efforts in the community. The school has recognized the persistence of this problem and has plans to lessen its environmental impact. ISK is currently in a major transition period: to go single-use plastic-free by May 1, 2020. This applies to the entire campus and will affect us all, including students, faculty and staff, parents, and visitors. As SFE, we understand that community members may be uncertain about the process and questions, so we are encouraging you to ask questions that you may have about this change. Solutions are also welcome. Contributions can be sent to hsingh21@isk.ac.ke or lferrell21@isk.ac.ke, and answers will be posted in the next edition of the Link. We also want to remind you that any single-use plastics brought to school by accident can be recycled at the recycling center at the entrance of the Lower Parking Lot. Most waste from households can also be recycled at the center, including glass and paper. Thank you for your continued support in this transition period, and we hope that we can inspire you to take on similar challenges in your own homes. Written by- Students for the Environment (SFE)
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Round Square International Conference Ballarat Grammar School Australia Round Square is a world-wide association of schools on five continents sharing unique and ambitious goals. Students attending Round Square schools make a strong commitment, beyond academic excellence, to personal development and responsibility. The Round Square approach promotes six IDEALS of learning: Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. Access to the Round Square network affords member schools the opportunity to arrange local and international student and teacher exchanges between their schools. Students also have the opportunity to participate in local and international community service projects and conferences. Each year, Round Square schools send teams of representatives to regional and international conferences held at a member school. Students take part in discussions, related to the theme of the conference, examine topics of importance to the member schools and the world. While at the conference, students also participate in service and adventure trips. This year, the 2020 International Conference will be held at Ballarat Grammar School School, Melbourne, Victoria, from 13th - 18th September 2020. The theme of the conference is Sustainability: Take less – Be more. The 2020 Australian Round Square conference will provide delegates with opportunities to be more and make a transformational difference in their own communities such that we all move towards sustainability and take less. With activities aimed to provoke discussion and ideas and thus activate a commitment to sustainability, Round Square students will be empowered to take a stand, and will leave being motivated to strive for change through their own actions to take less and be more. The conference theme of Take Less: Be More will see delegates developing their environmental understanding and being empowered by keynote speakers and activities, and leave with the skills to lead change in their own Schools. Delegates at the conference will enjoy an authentically Australian Round Square experience; Delegates will gain a unique intercultural insight with every student billeted in an Australian family home and working with local community groups to make a positive social contribution. For further information, please contact Ms. Redler or Mr. Nyangaga in the HS office.
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ATHLETICS
ISK ATHLETICS WELL DONE TO ALL OUR ISSEA TEAMS!
Congratulations to our ISSEA Teams for taking part in the tournaments
on January 30 - February 1! WILL MOORE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
Our ISSEA teams and coaches did an amazing job all round here are the results: Boys U-19 Rugby | 1st place champions (scored a try on the last play of the game to win) Girls Rugby | 4th place Boys U-15 Rugby | 1st place champions
RESULTS
Girls Basketball | 1st place champions Boys Basketball | 3rd place Girls Swimming | 6th place Boys Swimming | 2nd place
ISSEA-Find out more... ISSEA Girls Basketball Team This year, the ISSEA Girls Basketball team traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to take on seven other teams from across Southern and Eastern Africa. The tournament was truly a testament of our ability as a team to lift each other up and dramatically improve with every game we played. Throughout the first couple of days, we fought until the last minute of every single game, constantly pushing one another and learning from our mistakes, all to earn us a spot in the finals against IST on the last day. As we started our warm-up for the finals, we knew exactly what we had come to do; take home the gold. We hyped each other up, and that energy carried us through the game, with every single player working harder than they ever had before. We relied on each other, we didn’t drop the tempo, and we never let mistakes get in our head. When the final buzzer sounded, the gym went crazy as our Boys team rushed towards us to congratulate us on 1st place. I think at that moment, every one of us felt truly so grateful for each other, for our coaches, and for the beautiful game. Every player was crucial to that win. I can genuinely say that this season has brought us incredibly close as a team, and this ISSEA will always be a great one to remember! Selah, Grade 12
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THE LINK
ISSEA Boys Basketball Team
The ISK Varsity Boys Basketball team earned 3rd place at the ISSEA tournament in Addis Ababa. The boys went 3-2 over three days with their only losses coming to the eventual 1st and 2nd place teams. Highlights for the team were beating the eventual champions, American International School of Johannesburg, in pool play, and a very convincing win over Tanzania in the 3rd/4th place game. Tournament All-Stars for the Lions were Samuel (grade 12) and Solomon (grade 9). In 2018, the Lions finished 8th place at ISSEA. Last year the team earned 4th place and this year 3rd place. A dedication to fundamental basketball is moving the team in the right direction. Coach Maxson
ISSEA Swimming
Swim Team Success in Nairobi!
ISK took a team of 10 boys and six girls to ISSEA Swimming at the American International School of Mozambique. They left it all in the pool with boys finishing 2nd and the girls 6th overall. Final medal count left our boys with 11 bronze, 11 silver, and five gold medals, while our girls earned four silver and two bronze medals. Everyone on the ISSEA Swim Team came home with a medal! The boys 200 Medley Relay team- Ulysse, Gabe, Vincent, and Oliver - even broke an ISSEA record! We are extremely proud of this group’s effort and Lion’s Pride spirit for the team and each other!
Towards the end of February, ISK took a team of about 25 swimmers ranging in age from 10 to 18, from Elementary School, Middle School, and High School to the Kenya Swimming Federation Level 2 Swimming Championships. These dedicated swimmers spent two very long days at the Makini School pool. Lots of meet records were broken by our swimmers and the boys came home with a second place trophy. Many meet records were broken over the course of the two days by Vincent, Ulysse, Jed, Oliver, and Gabe! We are looking forward to the final ISK Swim Meet of the year on March 27 and 28. Come support our Lions in the pool!
ISK Hosts Another Amazing ISSEA Event! It’s always a privilege to host an ISSEA event as it is such a great way to showcase the school for its facilities, organization, and host family generosity. This particular ISSEA tournament was truly one to remember. Not only was this the largest rugby event over the eight years since it first appeared on the ISSEA calendar (194 players and 19 teams), but it was the first time we have had a full three days of competition. Our 72 players in 6 teams were loudly supported by students, staff and parents throughout, creating an electric atmosphere that helped bring the best out of our teams. Many thanks to all the people involved in making this a resounding success. The huge amount of positive feedback was well-deserved!
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ATHLETICS
ISSEA Girls Rugby The ISK Girls Rugby teams showed the true spirit of sport within the opening ceremony by performing their own energetic version of the ‘Haka’. The A team started the tournament with a couple of close losses on day one. Day two in the competition saw the A team’s moves come together, and they started to show what a good team they are, picking up a couple of wins. Going into the final day of the competition, they ended up in fourth place in the group, which meant they would be playing in the third vs. fourth place final. They came up against ISU, who narrowly beat them in the group stages. ISK started well with the first try. The game stayed close throughout, with some immense defending by ISK in the second half. ISK A girls were not able to get the ball back to form one final attack to get one more score on the board. The final ended up two tries apiece, but ISU won 12-10 as they converted one of their tries. The B team showed great team spirit throughout the tournament. They picked up one draw against ISU, which the girls loved as they outdid their A team counterparts! The other games, unfortunately, ended in losses. But in every game, they demonstrated awesome defense and good periods of attacking play, scoring some nice team tries. The results did not go the way we would have liked, but all the girls put their all into the tournament and were part of the best ISSEA rugby in history. Thank you to all the players for the early morning trainings and their commitments throughout the season. Also, thank you to the parents for their support throughout the season and during the tournament. I look forward to seeing all the girls in season three, along with some new faces, so we can continue to make ISK girls rugby stronger. Coach Rogers
ISK Rugby Girls A Team
ISK Rugby Girls B Team
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THE LINK
ISSEA U15 Boys Rugby
The U15 boys’ tournament had four teams who played a double round robin to maximize their playing time. The B team narrowly lost in the 3rd place final match, leaving them with a 4th place finish. They displayed great determination and development and these young players are our future of boys rugby at ISK.
ISK Rugby U15 Boys A Team
Our U15 A team dominated the round robin games. They finished all these games, having conceded only 7 points and scoring a massive total of 167! They met the combined team of AISJ/AISL in the final. A tense first half finished with ISK down by several points. Then, in front of a huge, cheering waving crowd, the team raised their game to take the championship, finishing with a score of 19-12. Led by Keiffer & Josh, this team set a very high benchmark throughout the tournament and will be hunting their 3rd ISSEA Championship win next near.
ISK Rugby U15 Boys B Team Out of the seven teams in the U19 boy’s category, the ISK Boys B team came 6th overall during the preliminary competition while the ISK boys A came second after a narrow loss to AISJ of 5 – 7. The boys were convinced that this is their time and they were very ready for the finals immediately their preliminary game ended on Friday. The U19 Boys A team came in on Saturday, thinking of how they will lift the trophy. When the final game started, losing 14 to 0 at half time, seeing the boys convincing their coaches that we should not worry the game is theirs was really hard to believe. In the second half, we realized that the boys really meant what they were saying. At 20 seconds to the end of the game, it was a tie 14 to 14 with a scrum close to the AISJ 22-meter line. If only the pictures could show the joy when Max decided to show his responsibility as the captain of the team, by scoring the most beautiful try of the tournament and lifting the trophy after three days of playing rugby, then NO words would describe that. Well done, rugby players!!!!! Coach Nixon
ISSEA U19 Boys Rugby
ISK Rugby U19 Boys A Team
ISK Rugby U19 Boys B Team
Season 2 Sports Awards Middle School Sports Awards Thursday, March 12, 5:00 p.m. | Arts Centre
High School Sports Awards Tuesday, March 24, 5:15 p.m. | Arts Centre Will Moore Athletics Director
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ARTS
ISSEA Cultural Events ISSEA Visual Arts - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania This year’s ISSEA Drama & Visual Arts Festival was hosted by the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The theme for the festival was “Emphasis.” ISK took 18 Visual Arts & Drama students to the event. During the three days of the festival, there were a series of Visual Arts workshops, in a diverse range of visual media, led by local artists and craftspeople. The ISK visual arts students spent their time working in ceramics, screen printing, digital
media, and macramé. They also collaborated and contributed to a large scale mural on the grounds of the school celebrating the ISSEA Arts festival. The culminating activity of the event was a large exhibition of the artworks made. The students had many creative & memorable experiences during the festival, which I believe will inspire them as they continue to develop their own creative ideas and practice making art. Andrew Kay High School Visual Arts Teacher
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ISSEA Drama - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania ISK students traveled to Tanzania for the Visual Arts and Drama festival and, despite the heat, created some beautiful artwork and performances throughout the week. Drama students rotated through six workshops led by professional artists such as Greek Theatre, Commedia Dell’arte, vocal projection, and physical theatre. Drama teams then formed ensembles to showcase what they learned, in 4 original, devised performances for the closing ceremony. Art students
had eight workshops to choose from, and these were led by local professional artists. Workshops like ceramics and screenprinting were all day endeavors, and students got the opportunity to be fully immersed in the craft. The artwork they created was presented in the closing ceremony, and participants got to vote on a winner for each category of artwork created. Overall, it was a super fun experience, and ISK students stood out as the best of the bunch! Jill Hire, IB Theater Arts Teacher
ISSEA Music - Lusaka, Zambia From the moment ISK student musicians set foot on the campus at the American International School of Lusaka, they were ready to go! ISSEA Music 2020 featured inspiring guest conductors who brought the best out of ISSEA musicians. Dominick Ferrerra from Berklee School of Music in Boston directed Concert Band, and Ken Wakia, founder and director of the Nairobi Chamber Chorale, conducted the Concert Choir. Student musicians spent three days rehearsing and then presented a powerful Finale Concert on Saturday evening. Special honors went to ISK students who were invited to perform at the “ISSEA Showcase” after the adjudication sessions: A Cappella Choir, consisting of Oliver, Kalina, Alanna, Adit, Braedon, and Ike who accompanied a former ISK student, Haile. Amani was further honored with a solo with the ISSEA Choir. Congratulations to all ISK musicians for their effort in presenting a successful festival concert! ISSEA CHOIR MEMBERS: Benjamin (Tenor), Alanna (Alto), Adit (Tenor) Amani (Tenor), Poppy (Tenor), Kalina (Soprano), Paulina (Soprano), Oliver (Bass), Sanaa (Tenor), Gavra (Bass), ISSEA BAND MEMBERS: Ned (Percussion), Adrien (Violin), Emily (Alto Saxophone), John (Alto Saxophone), Terence (Clarinet 2), Braedon (Horn 1), Ike (Violin), Stuart (Trumpet 2), Sam (Trombone 1), Alex (Alto Saxophone), Caleb (Baritone Saxophone), Gwendolyn Anding, HS Music Director
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COUNSELORS’ CONNECTION
COUNSELORS’ CONNECTION
SHARED BY HEATHER CRONK ES COUNSELOR
The excerpt below was written and published by students from the American International School of Bucharest (AISB). The school has given their consent to publish this article in ISK’s Link.
“I AM NOT A VIRUS” Asian Students Face Xenophobic Bullying & Harassment On January 30th, the World Health Organization declared Wuhan Coronavirus a global health emergency. As of February 12th, there have been 45,000+ confirmed cases, with 1,000+ deaths and 4,800+ recoveries. There haven’t been any cases in Romania, but something else has started to spread quicker than the virus: xenophobic bullying. Unfortunately, AISB is not an exception.
Response from school admin On January 30th, AISB Director Peter Welch emailed teachers that “some members of our Chinese student community have been targeted by some negative or prejudicial comments with the outbreak of the coronavirus in China,” and asked them to be “vigilant about this issue and proactive in challenging stereotypical thinking.” A day later, Secondary Vice Principal Fiona Moss addressed the same issue to the students on Vampire Diaries. “It is extremely important that we are respectful of all of our community members with the illnesses that are circulating,” she wrote. “Our expectation is clear – we do not tolerate prejudice or unkindness.” School leadership confirmed that this response was prompted by parent complaints and concerns. The Bite reached out to seven Chinese high school students. Still, most were reluctant about being interviewed–stating they wanted to “avoid causing problems” or “creating unnecessary conflicts with their classmates.”
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THE LINK
Prejudice exists at AISB Like most cases of racism or bullying at this school, recent comments about Chinese people or Asians, in general, have been played off as jokes. But to many members of our community (Asian or otherwise), it’s not only not funny, but also spreads misinformation about the coronavirus. Welch confirms that two weeks ago, he received a note from a parent stating that some of the Chinese students were called “the sick” and “trash,” and were excluded by other students. There were also several Chinese students who were asked several times, “Do you have the virus?” Many teachers have confirmed hearing ill-intentioned “jokes” urging students to stay away from Chinese students, and one high school student (who wishes to remain anonymous) reported an incident where a peer advised everyone to sit away from her because “The Chinese all have the Wuhan virus.” But this isn’t happening just in the upper secondary school. Rather, misunderstandings and ignorance seem to be more prevalent among younger students. For example, a Chinese student recently had an elementary schooler run up to her and ask, “Do you have the coronavirus?” The student was mistaken for being infected by the virus because she was wearing a mask at the time, simply for sanitary reasons. “I have seen the middle-schoolers play all sorts of games like tag… ‘you have the coronavirus’…‘now you have the coronavirus’,” says Middle School Counselor Stephanie Finnell. She points out that while the students think this is harmless, it can be very upsetting for Chinese students–especially those who have family still in China. High School Counselor Michaela Young adds that some Asian parents have excused their children from social gatherings to prevent making other kids feel “uncomfortable.” Click here to read the rest of this article.
Image Source ‘gal-dem.com’
Image Source ‘ The New York Times’
By Chi, Kristina & Flora AISB Students Shared by Heather Cronk
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ADVANCEMENT OFFICE
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE PAMELA PAPPAS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
RELATIONS & ADVANCEMENT
Open Day 2020 The Advancement Office proudly hosted the 2020 Open Day, on February 12, with 20+ families in attendance. Prospective families were blown away by the program stations hosted by various departments, presentations by ISK’s Leadership Team, and tours conducted by MS and HS student ambassadors.
Inspiration is all around us, as you could see at last month’s International Day! It was a testament to our diversity and the potential we have in creating future leaders of our world. The experience clearly demonstrated the ISK spirit and the impact we can have on education in Kenya. We can and do make a difference, both inside and outside of ISK’s walls, and we have the opportunity to do more. We invite you to see how your support of the Inspiration Initiative has already enhanced the work and services ISK students provide throughout Kenya. Click here to watch a breathtaking video that shows how ISK is Inspiring Growth in Our Community! While financial contributions are undoubtedly important, participation at any amount is even more vital; the number of participants is the most accurate indicator of our community’s commitment to making a positive impact on education throughout Kenya. Please visit our website to learn more about how a small investment from each one of us will pay enormous dividends in support of education in Kenya.
Participation is easy! There are a number of ways to participate in the Inspiration Initiative: • MPESA Paybill 879400 - Acct. Scholarship or Community Outreach • Online via PayPal or Credit card on the ISK website • Cash or Check to the Cashier’s Office Thanks to those of you who have already participated!
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THE LINK
Community Connections Every month in the Link, the Advancement Office plans to publish a section titled “Community Connections”, in which we will share small stories and photos of connections within our community. If you have a story/photos to share, please send them to ppappas@isk.ac.ke.
Mr. Keir Paesel and Mr. Amin Hussain. Can you believe that Mr. Paesel was Mr. Hussain’s Pre Calculus teacher at The International Community School of Abidjan in Côte D’ Ivoire back in 2002? Today, they both work at ISK as Math teachers in the High School and Middle School.
Mr. Maciej Sudra, an ISK alumnus, has been teaching STEM at ISK for the last five years. Willy, the Ice Cream Man, has been selling ice cream at ISK for close to 30 years. Willy used to sell Mr. Sudra the “Red Devil’’ ice lolly when Maciej was in Middle School back in 1994. The one thing Maciej loves about being a part of this community is ISK’s appreciation for our host country and the school’s commitment to service and the environment.
BLAST FROM THE PAST, Doug Irish in 2001
Ms. Pamela Pappas, Mr. Doug Irish, and Ms. Kathleen Chromicz. Believe it or not, Doug and Kathleen were my IT teachers at Harare International School over 20 years ago!! Mr. Irish was even at my senior prom and always used to tell me to, “Smile, Happy Pappas”! Ms. Chromicz always had time to lend a listening ear while telling me to keep on practicing my typing skills on Mavis Beacon. I feel honored to work at ISK with them and still call them Mr. Irish and Ms. Chromicz.
Pamela Pappas Director of Community Relations & Advancement
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Submit receipts from any Village Market outlet at the Bonus Card Centres and earn points
Donate your points to ISK’s Community Outreach Initiatives
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A BIG THANK YOU TO THE PTO and all the parent volunteers who contributed their time and efforts in hosting a fantastic
International Day/ Taste of Nations 2020
ASANTE SANA!
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PTO DUKA
PTO DUKA Mission Statement “Selling for a better future for Kenyan communities by working in partnership to empower them” Our hardworking volunteers were treated to a vendor visit on February 5, with a visit to Amani Ya Juu. Vendor visits help volunteers understand the principles and mission of the vendors and their products. It helps the volunteers see for themselves the positive impact of the vendor on the local community. Amani Ya Juu is a big organization today, but it started in a garage in 1996 with only four women. Their story is inspiring for us and other PTO Duka vendors who aspire not only to grow as a business, but also be able to support more people in their communities. Amani Ya Juu representatives have been invited to our vendor workshops as well to share their inspiring stories with our vendors. The volunteers were shown around the store by the Amani representatives. Today, Amani has 200 women from all across Africa. These women have faced many challenges in their lives, but today they are skilled workers earning an honest livelihood for themselves and their families. All Amani products are hand stitched, made with natural materials, and most of the designs are inspired by African folks and tales.
This is the picture of the “Unity Blanket”, where each motif is inspired by a different region and tribe of Africa. All communities have their own way of resolving issues and solving problems, and each motif depicts that unique approach of these communities.
THE LINK
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And of course, PTO Duka trips can never end without some SHOPPING!
Our Vendor of the month (February / March) is Kariobangi Women’s Training Institute. The Kariobangi Women’s Training Institute is run by the Comboni Sisters in the Kariobangi slum area. The institute offers fashion, design, beauty, ‘tie & dye,’ stitching, and cooking classes to young girls and women from Kariobangi at a minimal fee. Many of these young girls are school dropouts, drug abusers, single mothers, or victims of domestic abuse. This training project provides these women with an opportunity to think beyond their problems and a second chance to life. Their skill and talent are evident in their beautiful and colorful products and fine artistry. Lucille Niessen Your PTO Chair
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HEALTH OFFICE
HEALTH OFFICE Annual Vaccination Day, March 13, 2020 JUDY MBITHE ISK HEALTH CLINICIAN
Please contact the Health Office for more details: clinic@isk.ac.ke
COVID-19 Update The past couple of months have seen a great deal of news about the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus in China. The World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee declared on Thursday, January 30, 2020 that the novel coronavirus outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As of February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19. In line with WHO’s advice for the general public to reduce exposure and transmission of a range of illnesses, which include hand and respiratory hygiene and safe food practices and, in an effort to create awareness, here is information for you to consider if you plan to travel during the upcoming Spring Break: • Avoid close contact with people suffering from a fever and cough. • When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow, or tissue; throw tissue away immediately and wash your hands. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. • Eat only well-cooked food. • Avoid spitting in public. • Avoid close contact and travel with animals that are sick. • Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. • If you become sick while traveling, inform the crew and seek medical care early. • If you seek medical attention, share travel history with your health provider.
ISK On-Campus Planning Update ISK - via the Health Clinic - continues to review and apply best practices related to hygiene, including: • Expanding access and refilling all hand sanitizer points within the campus • Posting information about COVID-19 and handwashing practice in key locations • Ensuring disinfectants needed for surface cleaning are well stocked and available
COVID-19 Update referenced from Director’s email shared with ISK families on February 27, 2020 Thank you all for your efforts in keeping everyone in our community as healthy as possible. Please visit the CDC (or WHO) websites for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/ In partnership Judy Mbithe Health Clinician
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THE LINK
Happy International
women’s day
March 8, 2020
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