The Link - November 2017

ISSUE 56 VOLUME 14 NOVEMBER 2017

The Link

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About ISK The International School of Kenya (ISK) is a private, non-profit PreK-Grade 12 school created in 1976 through a joint partnership between the governments of the United States and Canada.

Nestled on 40 acres of a former coffee plantation, ISK serves the educational needs of both expatriate and Kenyan students who seek a challenging international curriculum which leads to the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma program.

ISK’s internationally focused curriculum has helped Kenya become a magnet for foreign business investment and a desired posting for those working for the continuing development of East Africa.

Expatriate families consider Kenya a quality career opportunity, in part due to the quality education they find at ISK. Likewise, Kenyan families who want an international, culturally diverse education for their children see ISK as the school of choice.

ISK has over 930 students from more than 65 countries. Graduates earn an ISK North American accredited diploma and approximately 70 percent of ISK graduates earn the IB Diploma, enabling them to study at some of the most respected and competitive colleges and universities in the world. ISK students form a supportive, spirited and diverse community, which enables new students to adapt easily to campus life. Interacting in such a welcoming crosscultural milieu, ISK students celebrate the unique and wonderful differences and similarities of people from around the world.

The value of respect for each other and for Kenya is evident at ISK, as is a commitment to giving back to the community. Our scholarship program for Kenyan students, together with a broad and dedicated servicelearning program which serves our local and national community, have shaped our school values since 1967 and continue today.

In keeping with ISK’s strategic mission and vision, we are dedicated to empowering each student to create solutions for tomorrow’s challenges. Therefore, we have embarked on a multi-million dollar facility and program expansion project to provide students and faculty with the programs, tools and facilities necessary for success. Once completed, ISK will be able to accommodate 1,200 students with expanded programs and facilities.

EDITORIAL TEAM Lynn Wells Pamela Pappas Janet Muasya DESIGN & PRODUCTION Mario Zamfir - SchoolBrand.com Copyright © 2017 The Link Copyright © 2017 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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06 Message from the Board of Directors ISK held a Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. This was the final Board meeting in 2017. Many thanks to those who attended the meeting.

18 TLC - Professional Learning at ISK ISK has become a hub for professional learning in Africa.

This year we were offered an opportunity that we just couldn’t turn down.

20 Service Learning News and events 26 Athletics Department Season 1 Round Up: We finished season 1 off in style, with a huge weekend of sports!

38 PTO News The PTO Talk on November 9, 2017 featured two presentations, one on “Here we are” and the other about “Lost and Missing Property.”

4 8 10 14 35 Director Letter

ES Report

MS Report

HS Report

What Inspires You?

ISK Exchange Student Program. The ISK Board of Directors recently approved an exchange student program...

ES Art Show will be showing in the foyer of the Arts Centre from the 11th December...

This month throughout the middle school we have had the theme of “Attitude of Gratitude”...

We are now heading into our last full week of classes for semester one, with culminating assessments/ examinations taking place from Dec.13-20

This is the end of the first week of this year’s Inspiration Initiative and your response has been tremendous!

Read more on page 4

Read more on page 8

Read more on page 10

Read more on page 35

Read more on page 14

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David G. Henry Director

Dear ISK Community, ISK EXCHANGE STUDENT PROGRAM

The ISK Board of Directors recently approved an exchange student program. What is an exchange student? An exchange student is a non-ISK student coming from outside Kenya that temporarily attends ISK and is hosted by an ISK family member. An exchange student can also be a current ISK student that temporarily attends a school outside Kenya through a sponsoring organization, such as Round Square, or arranged individually through a host ISK family.

To qualify as an exchange student and attend ISK, potential host families must first complete an application for the exchange student along with a regular ISK enrollment application. The exchange student program is administered on a first come, first served basis and is limited based on space available. Once the application is approved, including meeting ISK admission criteria, an exchange student may attend ISK,

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Director’s Letter usually for around one semester at a reduced rate, and is normally a Middle School, 9th, or 10th grade student.

This program gives ISK the opportunity to expand its interpretation of its Mission and Vision, by providing the opportunity for students to participate in an Exchange Student Program. This type of program has been well received at several international schools around the world and the positive growth students experience and take away from being an exchange student is quite often life changing. Please contact our High School Principal or myself for more information.

SERVICE ON THE ISK BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ARE YOU INTERESTED?

As is typical in international school communities, families transition in and out of the community during the school year and especially at the end of the school year.

This transition translates to new opportunities to serve for those that are parents of students at ISK.

Two of our elected Board of Director members’ terms end this school year. The two vacancies for elected members are filled during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for April 25 at ISK. The Board of Directors can also appoint a member in case of a vacancy for an elected position before the AGM in order to help ensure board continuity while trying to maintain a Board that represents our diverse school community.

The School Board consists of nine voting members, four of whom are elected by the parents to two-year terms each. Two parent elected members are voted in each year.

Any non-employee parent of a full or partial fee paying ISK student is eligible to be elected to serve on the Board. In addition to the four elected members from the parent community, the Board of Directors self-appoint two members each to three year terms. Finally, the Canadian High Commission and the Embassy of the United States of America appoint the three final members.

One could say there are four major responsibilities of ISK’s Board of Directors. First is strategic planning where the Board is responsible for establishing, evaluating and reviewing the strategic direction of ISK. Second is generally in the area of finance where the Board has a responsibility for fiduciary oversight. Third, the Board is responsible for the formulation and approval of school policy assisted in this task by the Director and administration.

Finally, the board is responsible for evaluating and developing the Director. All other personnel decisions as well as the daily management of the school are delegated to the Director, his/her leadership team, faculty and staff.

Are you interested in learning more about the responsibilities of the ISK Board of Directors?

Do you feel you have the qualities to take a big picture approach to governance and a desire to serve? If you would like to learn more, please join ISK’s Governance Orientation session on Monday, December 4th at 4:00 p.m. in the Commons Conference Room. You are welcome to join the one-hour meeting even if you are just interested in learning how governance at ISK works.

Directors. If you cannot make this orientation, but remain interested please contact us.

Let me or Board Chair, Mimi Steward (iskbodms@gmail. com) know what questions you might have about governance and serving on the ISK Board of

Sincerely,

DIRECTOR’S PARENT TEA - DECEMBER 8

The Director’s second Parent Tea is planned for December 8 at 8:30 a.m. in the Commons MPR 1 and 2.

Our topic of discussion will revolve around our exploration of ISK’s diversity and what it means for our community. I look forward to our conversation.

David G. Henry Director

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Board News ISK held a Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. This was the final Board meeting in 2017.

Many thanks to those who attended the meeting. Our next meeting will be on January 23, 2018, and we would invite all parents to support ISK through attendance at this important monthly event.

At the November 21st Board meeting, high school students Connor Chen, Aidan Mitchell-Terga, Waiyake Njoroge and Justin Ubamadu presented on their Round Square experience in Cape Town, South Africa. Round Square Schools from all over the world were in attendance and the theme was “Unite to Ignite the Fire Within.” The students were placed in ‘barazas’ with students from other schools, and heard from encouraging speakers – including a

surfer who lost a leg to a shark attack, yet continues to surf - and then had an action day where they served at local primary schools. Thanks for doing a great job representing ISK! Also at the Board meeting, Lynn Wells, Advancement Director, presented the results of of Feasibility Study for a potential Capital Campaign. Several participants in the online survey and in the one-on-one interviews indicated that they would be willing to make substantial financial contributions to the school’s scholarship program and/or the inclusion program.

Doug Irish and Kathleen Chromicz presented the final stages of the Fabrication and Design Labs. The high school students use the labs for their STEM classes, and other innovative

projects. Small revisions were made in the plan in order to ensure that middle school students can also take advantage of this state-of-the-art space.

Lastly, the Board approved an Exchange Student Policy to pave the way for students who would like to experience a semester outside of Kenya and for international students who would like to spend one semester studying at ISK. These continued learning experiences are another great offering at ISK. On behalf of the Board of Directors I’d like to wish you a pleasant and restorative break, Ann Marie Awori Secretary, Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2017-2018

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Mimi Steward Chair

Nadeem Noordin Vice Chair

Anne Marie Awori Secretary

Ambassador Josiah Frost Member

Lane Bunkers Treasurer

Alistair Cooke USE Appointee

Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez Member

Andrew Gillis CHC Appointee

Peter Marshall CHC Appointee

David Henry Ex-Officio

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Dear ISK Parents, As we near the end of the first semester, the Board of Directors is now thinking about the 2018-19 academic year when we will have two positions coming up for parent elected board members.

The Board of Directors is a critical part of the school with responsibility for strategic planning and fiduciary oversight, among other things.

If you have the qualities, interest and time needed to serve the school by taking a position on the board, please come to the Governance Orientation session on Monday, December 4, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. in the Commons Conference Room to learn more.

Please attend even if you are just interested in learning how governance at ISK works.

Attendance will not commit you to running for election.

Also, if you are interested but can’t make that meeting, please let me know at iskbodms@gmail.com.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes, Mimi Steward Chair, ISK Board of Directors

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Patricia Salleh Matta Elementary School Principal

REPORT

A very sincere thank you to the elementary school PTO team: Meg McNulty, Megan Jackson, Preena Chandaria, Widad Abusada, Tracy Williams, Amy Hughes, Maria Ramilo and Maylin Parson for all their hard work that went into ensuring that the annual Holiday Bazaar was such a wonderful success. We all really appreciate your organization, set up and monitoring of the process during the day. The venue was wonderful this year and though this was an elementary school initiative all the ISK community benefited. Sincerely asante sana.

We have another busy week ahead of us as the Creative Arts Music Department is preparing for the end of semester one holiday concerts.

I wish you all a safe and relaxing weekend.

Patricia Salleh Matta Elementary School Principal

COSTUME PARTY Looking ahead to semester 2, please note this year’s Costume Party has a focus on book characters, we decided to move it to the beginning of the second semester, when we will be having a visiting author.

Our visiting author is scheduled to be on campus between 29, January - 02, February. More details will follow as we plan this fun event. Be thinking about book characters as you engage in conversation with your children on what character they might like to be on this day.

This is a perfect time to combine both events and the ES PTO together with the elementary librarian are planning this to ensure that the author visit and ES Costume Party will both enhance and compliment each other.

If you have any queries at all about this information, please be sure to contact any member of the ES PTO.

Dates to Remember in

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Please note that the ES Art Show will be showing in the foyer of the Arts Centre from the 11th December. It is a wonderful display of semester one learning and every child has at least one piece of art displayed. Please be sure to come to ISK so you can have a chance to browse through this wonderful exhibition.

Concert & Art Show Dates

DECEMBER

The K-5 Art Show

Dec. 11–15 (Art Center Foyer)

ES CCA Q2 Ends

Grades K-1 Concert

Thursday, Dec. 14 @ 9:15 a.m.

Tue

Public Holiday (Jamhuri day)

Grades 2-3 Concert

Thursday, Dec. 14 @ 2:15 p.m.

Dec 19

Tue

ES Farewell Assembly

Grade PK Concert

Friday, Dec. 15 @ 9:15 a.m. (Amphitheater)

Dec 20

Wed

Last day of Semester 1 (Noon dismissal)

Grades 4-5 Concert

Friday, Dec. 15 @ 2:15 p.m.

Dec 05

Tue

ES Assembly (Grade 2 hosting)

Dec 08

Fri

Dec 12

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8:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

“Why do you like this book so much?”

experiences involving literacy. When school starts, our prekindergarten is a fertile ground for fostering and supporting literacy development.

If talk empowers children to share should we not be creating contexts that invite conversations among children?

As children grow older their articulations and questioning reflect what they notice or are wondering about.

How do we continue to have meaningful conversations that foster children’s ability to breath life into stories?

Research shows that conversations as well as having children

Long before schooling, young children are equipped with an intricate network of knowledge, receptive vocabulary and a plethora of

involved in literacy activities in various settings enhance students’ use of language in engaging ways, they inquire, clarify, make personal connections, share prior knowledge and apply literacy concepts.

As adults we may never know all the conversations children weave, but if we continue to create contexts with the intent of giving children time and space to talk about the written word, we can be assured that the ongoing talk will have a

social significance.

As we head towards the holiday, this time might be an opportunity to continue fostering a love of the written word. Our Just Write Competition will take place in semester two and we look forward to our young boys and girls in elementary sharing their wonderful stories and poetry compositions. At that time we will celebrate together the significance of the written language in our elementary students’ lives.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

Alexa Schmid Middle School Principal

REPORT

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE This month throughout the middle school we have had the theme of “Attitude of Gratitude�. We have been taking time through advisory to slow down and reflect on all the things in our lives for which we are grateful.

Students received a small journal to record daily gratitudes in advisory, and as a whole middle school have

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paused each day to think of something from the last 24 hours for which we are grateful. The project was inspired by the research linking gratitude to increased happiness, better health, improved productivity, and better relationships.

Shawn Achor produced a Ted Talk and there are a multitude of articles in the Huffington Post (The Neuroscience of Gratitude) and the New York Times (Choose to be grateful. It will make

you happier.) that share some of the research behind our project. In addition to the gratitude journals, students have expanded their gratitudes beyond personal reflection. They wrote and delivered a letter of thanks to someone in their life, and they have created leaves and placed them on trees around the middle school to express their gratitude for our community. We have so much for which to be thankful!

PEP RALLY Our twice-a-month assemblies offer the middle school an opportunity to gather together to celebrate student learning, build community, and continue to deepen our work together around the Educational Aims.

At a recent assembly, we had our first pep rally, complete with the mascot and the Lion fight song.

We’ve got spirit in the middle school!

SERVICE LEARNING Students have wrapped up their service learning activities for the first semester. While there were some bumps along the way due to some travel restrictions for security purposes, students made the most of this special time. Here are students reading and playing games with kids from Lighthouse Grace Academy. We are so proud of our program and the experience our students gain to deepen their commitment to ‘make the world a better place’!

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FEATURING SPANISH CLASS THIS MONTH:

November 2

Day of the Dead Celebration Celebrating cultural aspects is an integral part of our Spanish Middle School Language Program. By doing so, students are not only exposed to various cultural practices and their significance, but also learn new vocabulary, read and comprehend text, engage in song, view a film, and have an opportunity to share their own cultural values and practices.

Students look forward to highlighting cultural events, as they offer a fun component and compliment to our curriculum.

Our recent celebration of the Day of the Dead allowed

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students to learn about the origins of this day and how and why is celebrated. Students participated in arts and crafts, and produced and tasted traditional foods. In addition, students were given an opportunity to remember a loved one in their families. Students at higher levels of Spanish competency were able to share brief and simple anecdotes of loved ones. They learned, created and communicated all at once, and had fun with each other in the process.

Learning and experiencing cultural aspects in the classroom leave an impression on our students, allowing for better understanding and connections to be made. Thank you parents for your continued support in making activities like these possible.

Muchas gracias! Mrs. Taylor Alexa Schmid Middle School Principal

For AISA GISS 2018, we hope to be able to house all students visiting our school.

It will be a perfect opportunity to meet new people and share an amazing experience with them - whilst showcasing ISK’s hospitality. We hope to return the generosity our students get when traveling in other school events.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are expecting around 150 students and hope to host all of them.

Preferably in pairs or more - however, it is necessary to have enough bed and car

room for the students you host. If you are interested in helping us out, please fill in the form on the link below.

You will further be directly contacted with more details including schedule, rules,

guidelines, and expectations for the host families. This form should only be filled out by parents. HOSTING FORM

Kindly complete before 8th December 2017.

The Link

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HIGH SCHOOL

Rob Blanchard High School Principal

REPORT

In the high school we are now heading into our last full week of classes for semester one, with culminating assessments/ examinations taking place from December 13-20 This message is dedicated primarily to helping parents understand and keep track of plans and expectations over the next few busy weeks. I would first like to take a moment to congratulate our students for their enthusiasm for learning and say how proud I am for their commitment to a kind, open, and caring approach to community life. I feel honored to be part of a learning community where we all commit to hard work and personal growth while maintaining a collaborative, supportive ethos.

The senior class this year in particular appears to exemplify this ethos as everyday role models, working with diligence and commitment through a very busy time this semester while demonstrating a noticeably kind, respectful, and generous approach with each other and faculty.

The student government (ASB) has also been working with determination to achieve ambitious goals around communication and action; among many other things such as launching a new web site this year they recently held their first Open Meeting – an innovative strategy – as a way to promote transparency, gather feedback, give voice to all students, and improve communication in support of a positive climate for learning at ISK.

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GRADE 9, 10, & 11 PARENT INFORMATION End-of-semester final assessments span Dec 13-20: students sit a 2-hour final assessment for their courses during the final assessment week in December.

Please refer to the schedule in Moodle, the previous Link, or the email you received from us on No 17th for details.

Here are some special notes: • Art 1, Yearbook and IB HL/SL Art 1 have special culminating tasks that require them to be on campus until later in the afternoon on Friday 15th December and Tuesday 19th December. Please ensure you have the appropriate private transport arranged as there are no 5.00pm buses during this period.

• Monday December 12th, the day before exams begin, is a public holiday - no school.

• Monday December 18th and Tuesday December 19th are for conflicts and make-up exams, with the exception of IB Design Technology, Yearbook and IB Visual Arts 1 students.

• All students are expected at school on Wednesday 20th December; this school day will finish at 12.00 noon.

NARRATIVE REPORT COMMENTS & SEMESTER ONE GRADES In order to help our Grade 9, 10 and 11 students prepare for these assessments teachers will be writing narrative report comments. The purpose of the narrative comments is to provide students with feedback for their upcoming end of Semester Assessments.

• On Friday 01st December, Grade 9, 10 and 11 students narrative report comments will be posted in PowerSchool. Please be aware that PowerSchool grades will not be accessible from Friday 24th November as faculty upload their narratives.

• All High School students and parents can access final Semester One grades in PowerSchool on Wednesday 20th December.

ESOL AND LEARNING SUPPORT STUDENTS All ESOL and Learning Support students will receive more information from their Learning Support or ESOL teacher in regards to the location of their exam and accommodations.

Transport/Buses and leaving campus • Students should arrive to school using their normal means of transport school buses will run as normal in the mornings.

• During finals, the high school is in session from 8:20 am until 1:05 pm, meaning that you should arrange to collect your high school child by 1:20 pm or be aware that buses will depart campus at that time for an early bus run home.

• There will be no special early bus run for high school students on Mon Dec 18th and Tues Dec 19th, meaning that any students who come to school these days must ride the 3:20 bus home or be collected by a parent.

• Please be aware that the morning exam session finishes at 10.35am, if your child does not have an exam from 11.00am - 1.05pm and you allow them to leave campus after the morning exam finishes, we require parental permission - please email the HS office in advance if you allow your child to leave campus early.

The last day of school this semester is Wednesday, December 20th, with high school students released at 11:30 am (please arrange collection between 11:30-12:00 if you use private transportation) and buses departing campus at 12 noon. The first day of school in semester two is Tuesday January 9th.

GRADE 12 PARENT INFORMATION End-of-Semester Assessments span Dec 13-20: All Grade 12 students will sit a 2-hour final assessment for all courses except second year IB courses. All Grade 12 students will be required to do at least three major tasks from the following list of assessment activities: • Write final summative assessments except for second year IB courses.

• TOK presentation

• English A Literature HL and /or French A Lang & Lit SL IOC’s • Group 4 Individual Investigations (use of lab space) • Work on IB internal assessments Economics, Math, Visual Art, Theatre Art, Music.

A letter from the IB Coordinator, Mrs Henderson was given to all Grade 12 students which allows students to list the major assessment tasks to be completed during the December final assessment session. Please review this form with your child. It was to have been returned to the High School by Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

NARRATIVE REPORT COMMENTS & SEMESTER ONE GRADES In order to help our Grade 12 students prepare for these assessments teachers will be writing narrative report comments. The purpose of the narrative comments is to provide students with feedback for their upcoming end of Semester Assessments. On Friday 08th December, Grade 12 students narrative report comments will be posted in PowerSchool. Please be aware that PowerSchool grades will not be accessible from Friday 01st December as faculty upload their narratives.

All High School students can access their final grades in PowerSchool on Wednesday 20th December.

ESOL and Learning Support students: All ESOL and Learning Support students will receive more information from their Learning Support or ESOL teacher in regards to the location of their exam and accommodations.

Transport/Buses and leaving campus • Students should arrive to school

using their normal means of transport.

School buses will run as normal in the mornings.

• Grade 12 students must sign into school. All students must sign out (and obtain a gate pass) if they leave campus before 1pm. If you do not want the school to release your child/ ren from campus before 1pm during the December final assessment period you should contact the high school office by Wednesday 29 November 2017. Buses will run at 1:15pm and 3:30pm (not at 5pm) and students who are signed up to ride the bus are welcome to use the bus.

SEMESTER ONE NARRATIVE FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS As a follow-up to conferences and in the lead up to final exams, the high school provides all students and parents with a narrative report from teachers on progress in each course. Narratives for grade 9-11 will be released on Friday, December 1; comments for grade 12 students are shared on Friday, December 8.

STUDENTS/FAMILIES WITHDRAWING FROM ISK IN DECEMBER If you are planning to leave ISK at the end of this semester, please inform the high school office well in advance. We of course want to help make the transition to a new school as easy as possible and the process of preparing final documentation takes time.

Robert Blanchard, Ed.D. High School Principal Jarrod Dale High School Assistant Principal

DEAR ISK COMMUNITY!

OTHER KEY DATES

We need you!!! After hard work of planning, two international events are coming to ISK next January and February 2018.

Last Day of Regular Classes this semester is Monday Dec 11th No school (public holiday) on Tuesday Dec 12th

We need you to help us host students from all around Africa that will be coming to ISK to share and learn from each other!

The Global Issues Network Club and the Athletics department will be sending out information soon asking you to host two or more students for these events! Please pencil this in your calendars!

AISA GISS and ISSEA Band and Choir organizing committees

End-of-semester final assessments/exams commence on Wednesday Dec 13th Last day of 1st Semester is Wednesday Dec 20th (noon dismissal)

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SPANISH NEWSPAPER CLUB

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Spanish Newspaper Club ha estado en progreso desde los comienzos de los clubes a principios de septiembre.

Hemos trabajado mucho desde el principio para publicar nuestra primera edición de nuestro periódico, que saldrá a la luz muy pronto.

sobre eventos escolares y mundiales.

Nos estamos enfocando en la cantidad limitada de personas de habla hispana y presentamos contenido específicamente para que demuestran la diversidad de ISK y que todos estén incluidos en las noticias que les rodean.

Bueno, ¿qué es Spanish Newspaper Club? Es un club que publicará periódicos sobre una variedad de temas para la comunidad española

Cualquiera puede leer los artículos hechos por nuestros fantásticos miembros del club. Cualquier persona que esté dispuesta a aprender y tratar

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de comprender es muy bienvenida también, y lo invitaremos. Solo queremos difundir la diversidad cultural y traer noticias a la comunidad española.

Entonces, quien quiera leer nuestro periódico, mantenga sus oídos abiertos para que la primera edición salga pronto.

Nui Trevett-Gantivar

ARTÍCULO PERSONAL SOBRE EMBAJADOR

Por Isabella Bunkers

El miércoles 15 de noviembre tuve el placer de entrevistar al Embajador Ernesto Gómez Díaz, en nombre del club “Las Noticias de Español”.

Tener la oportunidad de entrevistar fue un honor, y de la experiencia, aprendí mucho sobre Cuba, la relación que tiene la Embajada Cubana aquí en Nairobi y

el embajador. La experiencia fue muy emocionante, y me alegro de que la entrevista fue compartida con mucha gente.

El propio embajador fue un maravilloso presentador, y fue agradable llegar a hablar con él y oírle hablar de su país, Cuba, que

ama. El interrogado varió de la comida nacional a la posición política de Cuba y los Estados Unidos.

Todas las preguntas fueron escritas por estudiantes que tomaban clases de español en la escuela secundaria.

Las preguntas fueron escritas y puestas en un documento comunal que

posteriormente fue editado e impreso.

Las preguntas fueron una mezcla de mis preguntas personales y algunas de los otros estudiantes de español.

conversación. ¡Estaba muy nerviosa! Muchos padres, profesores, estudiantes y miembros de la comunidad hispanohablante estaban viendo.

El evento tuvo gran publicidad, gracias a Alana Liriano en el grado 10. Mucha gente viene a ver el presentación y mi

Toda la mañana fue un gran éxito, y fue un gran honor tener al Embajador con nosotros.

The Link

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Jodi Lake Director of Teaching and Learning

FROM THE TEACHING & LEARNING CENTER…

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AT ISK ISK has become a hub for professional learning in Africa. This year we were offered an opportunity that we just couldn’t turn down. Our own Kennedy Wando in the Creative Arts department is passionate about music and ensuring that children have the opportunity to enjoy music in their lives. But what do we do when that can’t happen because the G# key on the saxophone won’t play or the slider on the trombone is bent? Through his experience repairing instruments for ISK, Kennedy spent time in Colorado Springs with one of the few instrument repair experts in the US. So why not bring that experience to Kenya? How can we support those in our community who face the same challenges but with fewer resources than ISK has? And so…. Daniel Parker and ISK forged a relationship that brought him to Nairobi for the best Professional Learning Institute we have had to date.

30+ participants streamed into the Arts Centre for two days

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- we came from as far away as the international schools in Senegal and Khartoum and as close as our own ISK music teachers and assistants. But most inspiring, were those who came from all corners of Kenya - from Kibera, Gachie, and Eastley - music teachers came to learn how to resurrect many of their instruments that have lain dormant for years so that more children can have music as a part of their lives. With the toolkits that Daniel brought for each participant, we pounded dents out of French horns, fixed leaks in flutes and replaced pads on saxophones. More importantly, we built new relationships to support each other in the effort to keep music in the lives of our children.

Many thanks to Daniel Parker who donated so much of his time and expertise but mostly for his passion and to Kennedy Wando who did the work on the ground to ensure the success of this event.

Jodi Lake Director of Teaching and Learning

ISK’S EDUCATIONAL AIMS

THE NEXT FRONTIER As we head towards the end of the semester, resilience is key.

Students, teachers and parents need to keep so many plates spinning from end of term projects and assessments, travel plans, social fun and celebrations. Here are some of our educational aims that we look for when students (as well as the rest of us) face challenges:

PK/KG: We take risks when learning ES: We persevere when faced with challenges MS: We can redirect our approaches to solving problems HS: We put forth the effort necessary and persist to succeed

PK - KG

• I can tell you how I learn best!

• I can set my own goals if you help me!

• I can tell you what I want to learn about!

• I know when I need help and when I can do something by myself.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

• I am confident about how I can lead my own learning.

• I know how I learn best and can explain it to you.

• I use my own reflections on my learning to improve.

• I know which tools and strategies will help me learn and use them appropriately.

PLEASE TALK WITH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BEGIN OR CONTINUE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN LEARNING. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• We can decide on the order to do tasks so we can be successful.

• We can set realistic goals for our own learning.

• We know our strengths and also the areas where we need help.

• We can tell you how we are meeting our own goals.

HIGH SCHOOL

• We have a high level of independence and belief in ourselves.

• We use tools and strategies to determine if a learning plan will work and then adjust if we need to.

• We know which strategies will help us learn best and advocate for them.

• We use failure as an opportunity to learn.

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ISK’S FIRST FUNDRAISING

CANCER RUN Faraja Club is a studentled service club that will be hosting ISK’s first fundraising Cancer Run! It will be at ISK on Saturday January 13th, 2018. The race will start at the upper field at 9am and there will be a 2k and 5k course. The tickets are 1500 shillings. With the ticket you will receive a dri fit t-shirt (from the event), fruit, runners number, and a medal.

You can purchase a ticket starting the week of November 20th. There are limited tickets to participate in the run so get yours soon.

You can email cirish18@isk. ac.ke to buy your tickets!

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The middle school student council and the high school faraja club will also be selling tickets. We will also be selling tickets at the December 2nd farmer’s market, which will be your last chance to purchase tickets for the run. Half of the ticket price will be donated to the Faraja Cancer Center; a center in Nairobi for locals to get the treatment they need for their cancer. On the run day, we will also have a raffle.

Prizes that you could win are restaurant vouchers, spa vouchers, items for our very own simbo soko, and coupons from our canteen.

All money that is raised from

selling tickets, donations, and the raffle will help pay for Kenyans cancer treatment.

With more than 42% of Kenyans living under the poverty line, most are not able to pay for their cancer treatment. Participating in this run and donating will help many locals receive the proper treatment they need and support them in becoming a cancer survivor.

Please bring your friends and family out to support this amazing cause!

Cassie Irish Grade 12

The Link

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The Link

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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TEAM As an IB Economics student, I thought it would only be possible to learn about economics in class or through a textbook. Luckily, the Financial Management Club is here to connect myself and other students to factories to see how they function in Kenya. The first trip of the year was to Nairobi Bottlers Ltd. ( NBL) on Embakasi Road which is approximately 1 hour away from school.

NBL is the main Coca-Cola factory in Kenya and one of the largest in East Africa. Due to the brand being well known around the world, the whole group was quite excited to witness the processes and mechanics behind the factory.

Throughout the trip, the teacher supervisors encouraged us to ask the Coca-Cola employees questions about their imports, exports, manufacturing, and costs of production. Although we learnt a lot about their policies, arguably the most exciting aspect of the trip was when we got to see all the machines in action. The speed, the mass production, the noise, and the precise robotic movements of the machines were mesmerizing. We were also lucky enough to

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encounter a special situation: stopped production in one line of the factory. We learned that this was due to the weather, as less people tend to drink coke when it’s cold. Finally, we saw the storage of all different Coca-Cola products in a giant warehouse brimming with Coke, Fanta, Stoney, Sprite and more. We also found out how they make plastic bottles from vial-sized preforms!

By visiting the bottlers, our eyes, as economics students, were opened to the reality of trade around the world and how manufacturers actually employ or practice policies we learn about in class.

We witnessed supply and demand in action, and we explored the relationship between manual and machine labor. Though all of the things we saw will definitely come to mind when writing our economics exams, the most exciting part of the trip was all of the free juice and hats!

Lily Clurman Yasmien Khaled Grade 12

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SEASON 2 Will Moore Athletics Director

IS UNDERWAY

Season 1 Round Up: We finished season 1 off in style, with a huge weekend of sports! On Saturday the 11th November we had over 700 athletes taking part in 4 different events. Here are some thoughts from our athletes.

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U14 BOYS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT U14 MS Boys B Team Jordi: This season has been beyond successful. And I would like to start by thanking all our great support from fans, parents our coach Mr.Otieno and of course, my amazing companions and team members.

Jack: The season started out strong as we had chemistry from our first practice.

There were challenging moments in all games but we soldiered on.

Jordi: A brilliant 5-1 Win against RVA was a phenomenal way to start of the season. We grew in confidence and team spirit.

We were one team from the beginning; one winning team. We trusted each other and felt comfortable in the team, enjoying and playing together.

Jordi: What an exciting tournament on Saturday November 11; we had amazing wins and reaching the final was one of the true highlights of the season. At the end we made it to second place, a position we can be proud of.

Jordi: Thanks again to Mr. Otieno for his support and great feedback. We wouldn’t have done it without him.

By Jordi Reindler and Jack Steel U14 MS Boys B Team The Middle School B team had great fun at the ISK tournament. It was a busy day packed full of matches and the boys enjoyed playing against many different teams. Kieran Priestly, our goalkeeper was without doubt the man of the tournament as he pulled some incredible saves. Solomon and Sean were instrumental in foiling a lot of our

opponents moves and Zayn played well as a striker. All in all, the boys played well together and had a great day!

U14 MS Boys Development Team The tournament was a great success and gave good exposure to the players.

They now understand the quality of the competition they will come up against in the future and how to improve their training. The tournament was well organized with strict rules and the referees were up to par and delivered in a professional manner. All in all it was a great tournament from start to finish.

By Coach Suraj Shah To Middle School Football Athletes‌ you are all amazing. The Lion continues to hunt.

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ISK INVITATIONAL SWIM MEET The invitational swimming meet was held at ISK as we hosted 10 visiting schools with 1529 entries. From the first event, ISK lions swimmers were looking great with medals for both girls and boys. By the close of the day on Friday the Lions team was leading with over 70 points The combined team scores were as follows after the end of the meet on Saturday.

COACH ZAC MUSEMBI

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We greatly appreciate the hard work from the swimmers and the coaches that saw the ISK Lions team both girls and boys being declared the best team overall for the swimming competition, thanks to all the officials and parents who volunteered to officiate during this meet.

COMBINED TEAM SCORES:

SCHOOL REPRESENTATED

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Total

1

International School of Kenya

41

34

31

106

2

International School Tanganyika

21

8

4

33

3

Rosslyn Academy

15

9

10

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For all information (sports, sign ups and practice schedules) please visit our ISK Athletics website https://sites.google.com/isk.ac.ke/iskathletics

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HS TENNIS TOURNAMENT Several members of the ISK tennis team competed last weekend in a tournament on our home courts. After a lengthy rain delay, 34 players from four different schools took to the courts to compete in both a doubles and singles competition. At the end of a great day of tennis, ISK’s Niev Gadhia, Riyan Maru and Alissa Thakker finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the singles competition. In doubles, our team composed of Aidan MitchellTerga and Yash Maru lost a closely contested final (8-7) to finish 2nd.

GO LIONS! Coach Amirouche The Link

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MS GIRLS BASKETBALL A TEAM

The season started well with over 30 girls coming out for the Middle School Girls Basketball tryouts. The Girls A team comprised of many returning players who were enthusiastically looking forward to the season. With the three practises a week, the players got to work together and blend as a team. We played several matches both home and away, and we ended our season by taking part in our Under 14 Girls Basketball tournament. Many thanks to Maria, Soraya, Hope, Ella, Jimin, Dariana, Anne, Hana, Moe, Trisha, Makda & Klara the Team of 2017. COACH MAURICE

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MS GIRLS BASKETBALL B TEAM

The weather did not start off the day well. It was cold and cloudy and the outdoor courts were wet so everyone was crowded into the gym. Although as soon as the weather started to clear up the tournament started, the ISK Lions played their hearts out. Even though we might not have placed well in the tournament, we made our best effort. Our team has come a long way since the beginning of the season, and the tournament proved just how far we have come as a team. AAROHI KHAMAR

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Lynn Wells Director of Advancement

GREETINGS FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE! WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

This is the end of the first week of this year’s Inspiration Initiative and your response has been tremendous!

Thank you to everyone who has already participated in helping support education in Kenya.

The Inspiration Initiative gives you the opportunity to select the area of support that most inspires you and where you hope to make a difference in the local community. All three of this year’s initiatives have the potential to make a dramatic and lasting impact on the lives and education of students outside the walls of ISK.

ISK Scholarship Program

Community Outreach

Autism Support Center - Kenya

Ensuring that qualified Kenyan students have an opportunity to pursue their education at ISK, regardless of their financial situation, is a hallmark of our scholarship program.

Service Learning is embedded in the culture of ISK. Our studentled service groups work with schools, environmental groups and a host of other service projects throughout Kenya.

ASCK seeks to involve persons with autism and other developmental challenges in the social-economic activities of the community. ISK students and faculty, through Embrace the Amazing, help them achieve their goals.

•

Your support of our Community Outreach initiatives provides ISK student groups with access to funding grants to help further their service to the local community.

Your support will provide ASCK with Occupational Therapy equipment similar to what we have in our Sensory Integration room. This equipment will make a lasting impact on hundreds of children each year.

Your support ensures that this program is sustainable for years to come and guarantees a “Stepping Stone to the World” for qualified, deserving students like Stella Njoroge, Class of 2017.

Inspire

others with your

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA

KIO KIT

DONATED TO CHILDREN’S GARDEN CENTRE & HOME Last year’s Inspiration Initiative included funding for a Kio Kit to the Children’s Garden Centre and Home (CGCH).

The formal presentation of this educational tool, made possible by the participation of the ISK community, was

presented to the students and Director of the CGCH on Thursday afternoon at ISK.

the manufacturer of the Kio Kit, and ISK’s own Kathleen Chromicz.

The Kio Kit was delivered to the centre on Saturday where training was provided by a representative of BRCK,

Thank you to everyone in the ISK Community who made this possible!

The Link

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LEGACY OF GIVING WALL 36

On November 10 the Legacy of Giving wall was unveiled at a simple yet meaningful ribbon cutting ceremony.

You are all invited to take a look the next time you’re in the Commons building. The purpose of this installation as stated on one of the plaques:

future generations. On behalf of all ISK students and the students in the wider Kenyan community, we wish to thank the individuals, organizations, and companies who have given so generously in support of ISK’s many philanthropic activities.

“ISK fosters a commitment to service and to making the world a better place for

What inspires you?

There are many ways the ISK Community gives back

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA

to Kenya - through our time, talent, and our treasure.

While all of these are greatly valued, the Legacy of Giving Wall was created to recognize those individuals, companies and organizations who have demonstrated generous financial support of education throughout Kenya. ISK wishes to thank the parents, alumni, faculty, staff, foreign and local

companies and private citizens for their commitment to education. Donations to all ISK philanthropic outreach programs, including the Inspiration Initiative and the ISK Scholarship Program, among others, are cumulative and are reflected on the Legacy of Giving Wall.”

The Link

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Isaias Liriano PTO Chair

PTO NEWS

PTO TALKS The PTO Talk on November 9, 2017 featured two presentations, one on “Here we are” and the other about “Lost and Missing Property.”

Hanne Fink Ferdinand & Susanne Reindler from Here we are presented information about their network of global professionals. “We provide a platform from where traveling partners can develop and uphold a professional identity abroad. We seek the opportunities that come with international assignments and support dual career couples on the move.” You can learn more about them at http://www.hereweareglobal.com.

Lynn Wells, Director of Advancement, reported on the evolution of Lost & Found at ISK. Mr. Wells reported that during the 2015-16 academic year, a working group, comprised of ISK parents, teachers, and staff was convened to focus on lost and missing property. The working group developed several recommendations that were implemented: • The Lost and Found was consolidated into one location – Previously, each division (elementary, middle, high school, PE, Library, etc.) organized their own “Lost and Found”. The working

Dec 1

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

PTO Holiday Bazaar

Dec 5

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

PTO Talks

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group recommended that all “lost and found” items instead be housed in one location, which is currently located near the lower parking lot between the elementary and middle schools.

Items that are not electronic or high-value (e.g. shirts, water bottles, school supplies) are collected by the school staff during the week on Thursdays and brought to the lost and found.

• High value items, such as watches, phones, computers etc. are taken to the security office and held until claimed.

• Lost Property Form and Reporting Procedures – The working group also developed a Lost Property Form (Click Here) and revised ISK’s Guidelines and internal reporting procedures to improve tracking of high value items that are lost.

• Handbook Guidelines – Guidelines concerning lost items can be found in your respective school handbook.

The Lost & Found is open every day, Monday Friday, from 8:15am - 4:00pm.

Isaias Liriano PTO Chair

y a D l a n o Internati

INTERNATIONAL DAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 Come join us for this incredibly diverse event where students represent the country of their choice for the Parade of Nations followed by the delicious Taste of Nations hosted by the PTO. PARADE OF NATIONS

An excellent opportunity for your child to dress in traditional clothing or the colors of the country they will represent.

Children with multiple nationalities, or who have lived in many places, choose the one country they want to represent for the parade. If you are traveling home over the December break, please pick up something from your country.

TASTE OF NATIONS

The Taste of Nations will feature dishes from all over the world. The PTO is recruiting parents to serve as Continent Coordinators (ideally, 2-3 individuals per continent) and Country Representatives (we would like as many

as possible). Continent Coordinators will help organize the food menus and booths of various countries. Country Representatives will solicit food and decorations from the parent community.

If you are interested in helping us ensure that this event is a success please contact the PTO at pto@isk.ac.ke for more information or click here to sign up for the Taste of Nations.

Look for more information about International Day coming after the break!

The Link

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2017 ANNUAL FOTA ART SHOW The 2017 Annual FOTA Art Show was a smashing success resulting in 76 art pieces sold for a total of 26,000 USD, as well as art merchandise sales of 850 USD. We would like to thank the 31 volunteers, and the ISK departments of Security, Finance, Advancement Office, IT and Operations for all their help in making the FOTA show an enormous success! Proceeds will support arts initiatives in Kenya.

Friends of the Arts (FOTA) is a parent-led ISK organization

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whose mission is to promote the arts in Kenya, providing a link between artists, art development and the ISK community. This annual art show is a highly anticipated event in the ISK calendar for parents, students, teachers and artists in Kenya.

One of the most inspiring days during the preparation phase is when artists bring in their works. This is also one of the most hectic moments, when improvising and open-mindedness are very important. Artists will bring in designated art, but often

more than expected and uninvited artists may turn up and surprise us with unique work. Occasionally a piece of art has been made especially for FOTA, just plucked from the easel, the paint still wet to the touch. Due to the value of the art, it’s necessary to set up and keep a precise administration and organize strict security. For a span of three days, ISK becomes a high-quality gallery!

After the art has been selected, it’s time to decide the layout of the exhibition space, which piece will

be hung where and what background information will accompany the artwork. This year we had 250 artworks from 87 artists!

The FOTA show is a magical experience made possible through the hard work of the ISK community. The dedication and commitment of the volunteers and artists make projects possible for the next generation of Kenyan artists.

THANK YOU to all for another successful FOTA Art Show!

FOTA SPONSORED PROJECTS In the past 12 months FOTA sponsored the following five external and two ISK initiatives: THE ART OF MUSIC FOUNDATION This foundation focuses on young people in Kenya and promotes performance and appreciation of music.

Two well-known initiatives are the National Youth Orchestra from Kenya, in which some talented ISK students also play, and the Ghetto Classics Program involving children from the slums.

MOSAIC MURAL FOTA sponsored the creation and installation of a beautiful and fun mural mosaic in the ISK Elementary School Canteen area.

Anacleto Gutierrez & Marilou de Wit, Co-chairs FOTA

ARTISTS 4 DEVELOPMENT This NGO, established by ISK-parent Nicola Simmonds, supports local artists by paying them a monthly stipend to teach the Arts twice a week during school terms in marginalized schools. The students learn the arts, how to find their voice as well as how to use their imaginations.

THE DANDORA HIP HOP CENTER The famous hip-hop artist Juliani, who grew up in this slum, founded this center to promote music and art in the Dandora community.

Juliani provides training for young aspiring musicians and artists. The center is a safe haven from the streets of the slums. Our ISK parent Sophie Charette is involved in this project.

RISERS FOR ISK MUSIC & DRAMA PERFORMANCES FOTA purchased new risers for ISK music and drama student performances.

SHANGILIA SCHOOL An ISK-parent-coordinator helped supervise and manage the repair of over 35 broken musical instruments including the complete repair of the Shangilia School’s piano.

The Shangilia School is a performing arts boarding school catering to a student body with extremely high needs and homeless children who live on the streets.

Shangilia is also one of the beneficiaries of the ISK Inspiration Initiative and included in the ISK student’s community projects.

MUSIC WORKSHOPS Two ISK teachers (art and music) are involved in weekly workshops on Saturdays where they organize inschool art and music workshops in collaboration with Maasai Mbili and Jamii Outreach.

Mariann Szalkai, PTO & FOTA Treasurer FOTA@ISK.ac.ke The Link

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PTO DUKA

ot is n a k ay du he Tuesd es T : te cid ny *No n on a at coin n ope ning th O Ope r mo the PT nings. r t i w h ee Mo f f Co

THE PTO DUKA IS OPEN, RESTOCKED AND READY FOR BUSINESS!

Arts Centre Foyer

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m.

8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m. / 3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m.

8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m.

3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m.

8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m. / 3:00p.m. - 4:30p.m.

Do come and enjoy wide variety of locally inspired and produced items at the Duka. We have a collection of bags, beautiful jewellery, beaded decorations, lamps, colourful animal toys, kikoy items, baskets and much more.

The PTO DUKA is ready to kick off the festive season! The last vendor’s intake of 2017 was held on Tuesday, November 21st, just in time for the Holidays and the shop is now restocked with some very beautiful gifts and decorations.

You’ll find everything from Christmas and Holiday decorations, jewelry, bags, jams, placemats, table runners, cards and much more. Come and shop for yourself or your loved ones and remember when you shop at DUKA you’re helping our local community.

Photos courtesy of: Meghana Ram

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Accredited fully by the Middle States Association of Schools in the United States and the Council of International Schools in Europe.

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