AISA Members’ Circular November 2015 I Vol . 6 No 4
From the Desk of the Executive Director
In this Issue:
Up-Coming Professional Learning Events Reminders and Opportunities
From the Desk of the Executive Director I recently returned from Kampala, Uganda, where I spent some time with the AISA Board of Directors during their annual Board Retreat. Our meeting was divided into two key parts with the Business meeting held on the 1st day and our Strategic Thinking retreat held on the 2nd and 3rd days. Much of the Board’s Strategic Thinking was focussed on the development of a Code of Governance for AISA schools. We will be launching this Code on our website very soon. Its key objective is to guide our schools in the development of policies and practices that will help ensure they are consistency governed well, thereby offering learners every opportunity to succeed. Because the Board only meets a few times year there is quite a lot to report. When I put updates for all AISA’s programmes, services, events, awards and scholarships on a few PowerPoint slides it really is a lot to cover. So as I work my way through these reports I realize just how much growth has happened at AISA – but along with growth comes change. Let me try to clarify some of the key changes AISA has made here below. Key among the changes this year is the new membership criteria we implemented for our member schools. Although we lost around 30 school members in process, the decision to include only internationally accredited schools in our membership was the right thing to do. It means that we can be far more purposeful and directed in our approach to meeting our members’ needs while not trying to be ‘all things to all schools’. Another significant change for us has been with our Professional Learning Programme. I now believe AISA has a robust programme of Professional Learning that will help make our schools more effective not just for teaching and learning but also for improved governance and for the co-professional support schools need to operate well. With all these changes I know that some of you may be wondering what the new AISA Professional Learning Programme looks like in terms of events and dates. Well the easiest way to find out is to look at the ‘Learning’ section of our website. An overview of the programme looks like this:
Each year on the 3rd weekend of October we will be running the AISA Educators Conference (AEC) for teachers.
Each year on the 1st weekend of March we be running the AISA Leadership Conference (ALC) for senior and middle leaders, business managers, development directors, admissions directors, curriculum directors, peer coaching staff as well as Board members.
In 2015/16 we also added a differentiated programme of Professional Learning Institutes (PLIs). You will see there are still many opportunities coming up for staff in AISA member schools to participate in deep learning opportunities that will improve their practice.
In Kampala, the AISA Board agreed that our Heads of School also need some time together early each year to think collegially about the important work they do, to reflect on the specific challenges they face as Heads of School in the AISA region and to find targeted support from each other and from experts in educational leadership. I am thrilled to announce that we intend to offer the first AISA School Heads Retreat on 24 – 25 September 2016. I will send Heads of School more details about this soon.
And there really is so much more…. Please do visit our new look website and explore what AISA is offering. If you’ve not checked in with us for a while, you may be pleasantly surprised! Dr Peter Bateman
Up-Coming Professional Learning Institutes (PLIs) Identifying, Engaging and Challenging Highly Capable Learners Facilitated by: Browny MacLeod Details: 12-14 November, 2015 at International School Kenya (ISK) This institute is about ensuring that the most able students have a diet of learning that offers rigour and challenge. This is a very specific skill and a part of differentiation that often gets overlooked. Led by Australia’s foremost expert not just on the theory but on the practice, is not to be missed.
Writing Interactions: Responding to Writers – Only 5 places left! Facilitated by: Matt Glover Details: 4-6 December, 2015 at the American International School of Johannesburg (ISJ) Matt Glover’s expertise in teaching powerful literacy approaches is highly valued by elementary and middle school teachers alike. Hurry to get the last places.
English Language Learners: What We All Need to Know and Do Facilitated by: Virginia Rojas Details: 15-16 January, 2016 at the International Community School of Addis Ababa Virginia Rojas in the go-to expert amongst the international school community on the teaching of English as an additional language. Her work recognises that we are all teachers of EAL and all teachers will benefit from her high impact teaching strategies. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to work with Virginia whilst she is on the continent. Teachers will go back to their classrooms with the toolkit of strategies.
Making Thinking Visible in our Classrooms Facilitated by: Ingrid Turner Details: 6-7 February, 2016 at Lincoln School, Ghana Using the research-based approach of Dr Ron Reichart and others at the Harvard University Project Zero, this institute will lead teachers through the thinking protocols students need to engage in higher order thinking, to improve extended writing and to be fully prepared for the language of examination questions. This institute will have both introductory and advanced level components allowing participants at times to consolidate the protocols or to move on to advanced strategies.
Wellbeing and Mindfulness Facilitated by: Veronique Ryan Details: 6-7 February, 2016 at Lincoln School, Ghana Mindfulness is a growing practice in schools across the US and Europe. Led by a facilitator who has experience in developing mindfulness in international schools in Africa, this institute will explore how to teach mindfulness and how to develop greater resilience amongst students. With a mix of practice and ideas for implementation across a school, this institute is popular with counsellors, leaders as well as classrooms teachers.
REMINDERS AND OPPORTUNITIES Margaret Sanders International Scholarship AISA has pleased to have received many strong applications for this prestigious scholarship. The Board will have a tough time choosing just one candidate who will represent AISA. We would like to thank the following schools for submitting your applications: Lincoln Community School, Ghana The American School of Kinshasa, DRC Rosslyn Academy, Kenya International School of Uganda International Community School Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
AISA Art Challenge Are your art student’s working on their AISA Art Challenge? Don’t forget that students have the chance to win and Apple iPod mini, so get their entries to us by no later than 27th November, 2015. Let’s make the 2016 AISA Calendar the best ever! IB MYP Category 2 - Language Acquisition Delivering the MYP Curriculum Framework Workshop When: November 19-21, 2015 Where: American International School of Lusaka (AIS) Workshop Fee: US$800 The workshop is suitable for all MYP language acquisition teachers. AIS, Lusaka, warmly invites teachers from AISA member schools to attend. To find out more information about the programme and how to register please contact Kathleen Bowin at kbowin@aislusaka.org
Want to Share Your School News with the AISA Community? Is your school celebrating a milestone, implementing an innovative programme, being recognised for excellence, or reaching a school goal? We want to share your achievements, learning's and unique perspective with the rest of the AISA community, so send us your story, with a photo, and we’ll include it in the next issue of ConneXions.
2016 AISA Leadership Conference (ALC) 4-6 March, 2016—Cape Town, South Africa The team at AISA is inviting all school senior, middle and emerging leaders to what will be an exiting and innovative leadership event. The ALC web site is now live, so get online and check out why this event is not to be missed.
You are receiving this circular as a valued member of the AISA community. Visit www.aisa.or.ke for more information or contact info@aisa.or.ke. © 2015 Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA). All rights reserved.