Federation of British International Schools in Asia eMagazine
September 2020: Term 1, Issue 34
Board Members Anthony Rowlands
Chris Seal
Principal British International School, HCMC
Principal Shrewsbury International School Bangkok
Matt Mills
Martin Towse
Head of School Bangkok Patana School
Principal St. Christopher's International Primary School, Penang
Stuart Bridge
Dinah Hawtree
Head of School Discovery Bay International School Hong Kong
Principal Prince of Wales Island International School, Penang
sbridge@dbis.edu.hk
principal@powiis.edu.my
Vanita Uppal
Roger Schultz
Director The British School New Delhi
Head of School The Alice Smith School Kuala Lumpur
Treasurer
Chair
chris.s@shrewsbury.ac.th
anthony.rowlands@bisvietnam.com
Secretary & Membership
Vice Chair & HQ Support
martin.towse@scips.org.my
mami@patana.ac.th
CPD
Events
Sport
Safeguarding
hos@alice-smith.edu.my
v.uppal@british-school.org
Nick Magnus
Margaret Rafee
Heads' Support
Communications
Headmaster Dulwich College (Singapore)
Principal Sri KDU International School
headmaster@dulwich-singapore.edu.sg
r.margaret@srikdu.edu.my
Headquarters John Gwyn Jones MBE
Siobhan Bland
ceo@fobisia.org
siobhan.bland@fobisia.org
Fariha Ebrahim
Janine Minchin
fariha.ebrahim@fobisia.org
janine.minchin@fobisia.org
Li-May Lim
Jitsaman Chan
limay.lim@fobisia.org
jitsaman.chan@fobisia.org
Executive Office Manager & PA to the CEO
Chief Executive Officer
CPD Executive
Events Executive
Communications Executive
Accounts Executive
Salinee (Tai) Chooputtaphong Administrator
info@fobisia.org
THAILAND Headquarters 39/4 Todsamon Clubhouse Building, Mezzanine Floor Soi LaSalle 39/1, Sukhumvit 105, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 THAILAND
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CONTENTS 4
From Our Chair
5
From Our Chief
7
New Website Launch
8
Calendar of Student Events 2020-21
14
Covid-19 Silver Linings Creative Writing Competition Winners
18
An Interview with Dr. Angie Wigford on Silver Linings
21
Mark Steed on Accelerating Change
24
Links of Interest
25
Word quiz & factoid
26
Leading Education by John Bocking
27
FOBISIA Webinar Series
30
Member Schools
32
Affiliate Members
Universally Challenged
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
3
from our
Chair
Welcome to this Term 1 issue of THE FOBISIAN. I would like to offer you a very warm welcome to the new academic year, where our Member Schools are in various stages of re-opening after what has been an extraordinary start to 2020, to say the least. COVID-19 has impacted us all on so many levels as school leaders, families and communities, as well as financially, emotionally and physically. I am very impressed with how our Member School communities have rallied together to support one another during this unprecedented crisis. This only reminds us of the importance of the Federation in enabling us to come together, whether it be face to face or virtually, to share experiences, good practice and collaborate. FOBISIA HQ has been an important point of contact for us all and I commend our CEO, John Gwyn Jones MBE, and his team for their hard work, especially during these challenging times. We have all had to adapt to a new normal and FOBISIA HQ is no exception. The HQ team have already made impressive inroads to upgrading their finance systems and HQ facilities and launching our new website, among other initiatives. We are looking forward to having a full complement of staff at FOBISIA HQ in the coming weeks. We also welcome a number of new Heads to the FOBISIA family, some of which are familiar FOBISIA faces, and some of which are new to the Federation. We have made contact with them all to facilitate friendships and maintain a strong support network across the membership. I would like to extend a warm welcome here to Karen Hanratty at British International School Hanoi, Simon Meredith at British International School Phuket, Simon Mann at Dover Court International School Singapore, Anthony Coles at Dulwich College Beijing, Gudmundur Jonsson at Dulwich College Seoul, David Figes at Garden International School Rayong, Emma Weston at Garden International School Sathorn Bangkok, Simon Mills at Haileybury Almaty, Rachel Dent at Harrow International School Beijing, Steve Capon at King Henry VIII College Malaysia, Dinah Hawtree at Prince of Wales Island International School, Anish Karadia at St. Andrew's International School Bangkok 107, Carl Mincher at The British International School of Kuala Lumpur, Mike Deveney at The British School Yangon, Gavin Clark at The International School of Penang (Uplands), and Martyn Smith at The Regent’s International School Bangkok. We welcomed two new Board Members at our June Meeting, including our new Treasurer, Chris Seal, Principal at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside and Student Events Liaison, Stuart Bridge, Head of School at Discovery Bay International School. I was delighted to have the opportunity to welcome our Committee members at their September meetings and introduce them to our new HQ staff. They have planned an exciting Term 1 calendar of Student Enrichment and CPD Events, including a number of new online events and a shift to eJAWS. We are also excited to announce a new and engaging schedule of webinars, which will kick off with a light-hearted conversation with WRU Chairman and rugby great (and friend), Gareth Davies. I encourage all of our Member Schools to take advantage of the collaborative, learning and networking opportunities that come with each and every one of our FOBISIA events. I very much look forward to getting together in some form or another in November at the next Heads' Business Meeting and AGM. Unfortunately we had no choice but to cancel our 2020 Leadership Conference, but we are hopeful that by November 2021 will be better placed to bring our Member School leaders, valued Affiliate Members and Sponsors together for what will be the first time in two years. Please share this issue of THE FOBISIAN widely within your communities. This really helps us to get amongst our community and share the work we do to support our members. All the best for a happy healthy Term 1. Best wishes, Anthony Rowlands FOBISIA Chair - March 2019 to present Principal, British International School Ho Chi Minh City 4
from our
Chief
Having recently circulated my first CEO Update for the 2020-2021 Academic Year, it gives me great pleasure to contribute to the first publication of the FOBISIAN for this new school year. I have to congratulate all our schools for the way you continue to manage the ongoing challenges. When you consider the pressure of having to prepare all the measures you need to have in place to comply to the expectations of Covid 19, the uncertainty of being able to have all your staff in place in time, (as we have experienced at HQ) along with not knowing if all your families are able to return for the start of the school year, I can only applaud the tremendous efforts you are all making to minimise the disruption on your school communities. The accolades and praise that further endorse the credibility and reputation of our profession have been so inspiring. You are certainly recognised as "front line" professionals that prioritise the well being of your students. It has been an extremely busy start of the year for us at HQ. We have had so many zoom meetings, hosted several webinars and circulated a considerable amount of information. Our new website is up and running (great job Li May) so please do refer to it for reference and updates. This week we hope to have the full complement of our team at their desks at HQ, as we welcome Janine and Fariha. To all our new FOBISIA HEADS, we wish you the very best of starts in your new school. It is important you connect with your FOBISIA "buddy" so you can enjoy the benefit of the support and network available to you. We have several exciting online student activities being offered, some of which are new and very appealing. We can't thank those schools and teachers enough for their passion for hosting such activities. Do please check the activities on offer and share with your colleagues and staff. We are excited about the ejaws programme that our CPD Executive will be offering to our staff. More information will be circulated about these by our colleague Fariha through the CPD Digest. We also have several of our affiliate members hosting online webinars and courses. Our NPQH, SL and ML courses offered by UCL will now be completed online, and going forward, we hope to establish new hubs to host more of these popular programmes. Finally, once again, let me congratulate you all on working so hard towards a successful school opening. We have three of our schools that continue to deliver online learning and we hope they will soon be allowed to welcome back their students. Rest assured that FOBISIA and all of us at HQ are very committed in supporting you in whatever way we can. When borders re-open, with no necessity for quarantine, we look forward with great enthusiasm to returning to some form of normality, where we can come together "face to face" and enjoy interacting with each other in sharing our ideas, competing in friendly events and simply enjoying each other's company as we have always done as the FOBISIA family.
Best wishes, John Gwyn Jones MBE FOBISIA CEO
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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editor's note At HQ we have been back at the office since the start of the new school year. Our utility room has
F O B I S I A ' s T E R M LY e M A G A Z I N E PUBLISHER FOBISIA
been transformed into a new Meeting Room, which is now fitted out with the latest video conferencing system, ready for any number of e-meetings in these uncertain times. We look forward to welcoming
EDITORS Siobhan Bland & Li-May Lim
visitors to face to face meetings once we are back to a new normal. We have just launched our new website. We invite you to visit www.fobisia.org which provides information on all things FOBISIA from contact information, to our members directory, to how to join, to CPD and Student
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Anthony Rowlands British International School HCMC & FOBISIA Board John Gwyn Jones MBE FOBISIA HQ
Events, to conferences and recruitment. Explore our password protected Member Support pages where we share information exclusively with our Member Schools. We are keen to build a comprehensive database of FOBISIA events history, so if you have
Dr, Angie Wigford International Educational Psychology Services Mark S. Steed Kellett School Hong Kong
information about events that you have participated in or hosted, please do get in touch.
John Bocking Leading Education Excerpts
Check out our Calendar of Student Events to see what is coming up in Term 1, including a number of new online Student Events. We are excited to bring a brand new FOBISIA Webinar Series programme to you in Term 1, where our Affiliate Members share best practice insights on leadership, recruitment, teaching and learning, wellbeing, and the creative arts. We kick off the programme with our FOBISIA Sports Club Social Webinar, where our CEO, John Gwyn Jones MBE has a light-hearted chat with rugby great, Gareth
CREDITS & SOURCES Cover Image from Shutterstock Webinar image by Marcus Aurelius from Pexels Laptop image by bongkarn from Pexels pubquizquestionshq.com: Quiz goodhousekeeping.com: Factoid
Davies! We share the winning entries in the COVID-19 Silver Linings Creative Writing Competition and check in with lead judge, Dr. Angie Wigford, who was instrumental in bringing this student competition to life.
ABOUT THE FOBISIAN A termly eMagazine for sharing events and news among membership. Three issues are published each academic year — in September (June to August content), February (September to January content), and June (February to May content).
Kellett School Hong Kong Principal, Mark Steed, reflects on leadership, teaching and learning innovation and the importance of putting wellbeing at the centre of his school's response to COVID-19. I hope you enjoy the latest issue of THE FOBISIAN, happy reading!
Best Regards, Li-May 6
If you would like to contribute, please email the Editor at: limay.lim@fobisia.org
New Website Launch! We are delighted to announce that our website has had a facelift and the new and improved version is now live! We invite you to visit www.fobisia.org which provides information on all things FOBISIA from the latest news, to key contact information, to our members directory, on how to join, to CPD and Student Events, our conferences and recruitment.
Explore our password protected Member Support pages where we share our calendar, events and other information exclusively with our Member Schools. We are keen to build a comprehensive database of FOBISIA events history, so if you have information about events that you have participated in or hosted, please do get in touch. We would also like to call on your support to report any content errors. Please contact info@fobisia.org. Thank you and happy surfing!
FOBISIA
Community Forum A vibrant professional online community exclusively for FOBISIA Member Schools across Asia.
JOIN THE FOBISIA FAMILY! THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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Calendar of Student Events A lists of all Student Events that should take place during the academic year 2020-21. All events are subject to change in light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
Unfortunately, the U15s Friendly Games have been cancelled.
TERM 1: AUGUST - DECEMBER 2020 01 Sept - 01 Nov
Online Short Film & Animation Festival
The British School New Delhi
01 Sept - 01 Nov
Online Photography Festival
The British School New Delhi
08 Sept - 31 Oct
Virtual Dance Invitational
Bangkok Patana School
08 Sept - 23 Nov
Fitness Design Competition
Dulwich College (Singapore)
22 Sept - 29 Sept
Online Science Competition
Education Perfect (EP)
06 Oct - 08 Oct
Online English Competition
Education Perfect (EP)
02 Nov - 04 Nov
Online Maths Competition
EP & Kolej Tuaku Ja'afar
02 Nov - 13 Nov
Online Drama Monologue Challenge
The Alice Smith School KL
04 Nov - 11 Nov
Online Languages Competition
EP & Nexus Int'l Sch Malaysia
27 Nov - 29 Nov
Volleyball Invitational
Jerudong International School
28 Nov - 29 Nov
Gymnastics Invitational
Bangkok Patana School
TERM 2: JANUARY - MARCH 2021 01 Jan - 01 Mar
Online Art Competition
Dulwich College Singapore
22 Jan - 24 Jan
Swimming Invitational (cancelled)
Seoul Foreign School
04 Feb - 06 Feb
Drama Festival - Years 9&10 (cancelled)
British School Manila
05 Feb - 07 Feb
Tennis Invitational
Bangkok Patana School
19 Feb - 21 Feb
Netball U13, U15 & U19
Dulwich College (Singapore)
21 Feb - 25 Feb
U13s Pink Games
Sports Camps Australia
22 Feb - 05 Mar
Online Creative Coding Competition
The Regent's Int’l Sch Pattaya
25 Feb - 01 Mar
U13s Blue Games
Sports Camps Australia
26 Feb - 28 Feb
Squash Invitational
Jerudong International School
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01 Mar - 05 Mar
U13s Purple Games
Sports Camps Australia
05 Mar - 07 Mar
U19s, U16s, U14s Boys Rugby Invitational U15s, U13s Girls Touch Rugby Invitational
Dulwich College (Singapore)
05 Mar - 07 Mar
Basketball Invitational
Bangkok Prep Int'l School
11 Mar - 12 Mar
Climbing Invitational
Garden International School KL
12 Mar - 14 Mar
Varsity Football Invitational
Jerudong International School
12 Mar - 16 Mar
Primary Music Fest, Treble (cancelled)
The British School New Delhi
14 Mar - 18 Mar
U13s Green Games
Sports Camps Australia
18 Mar - 22 Mar
U13s Yellow Games
Sports Camps Australia
22 Mar - 26 Mar
U13s Red Games
Sports Camps Australia
26 Mar
Robotics Competition
St Andrews Int'l Sch Bangkok
TERM 3: APRIL - JUNE 2021 06 Apr - 07 May
Online Poetry Competition
International Sch @ Park City
24 Apr - 26 Apr
Intermediate Music Festival (cancelled)
The Alice Smith School KL
24 Apr - 26 May
Choral Festival
Charter International School
28 Apr - 05 May
Online Languages World Champs
Education Perfect
29 Apr - 03 May
U11s White Games
Sports Camps Australia
Apr / June (TBC)
Student Leadership Conference
Nexus International School
03 May - 07 May
U11s Pink Games
Sports Camps Australia
07 May - 11 May
U11s Purple Games
Sports Camps Australia
11 May - 15 May
U11s Blue Games
Sports Camps Australia
29 May - 02 June
U11s Green Games
Sports Camps Australia
02 June - 05 June
Drama Festival
Garden Int'l School Rayong
02 June - 06 June
U11s Yellow Games
Sports Camps Australia
06 June - 10 June
U11s Red Games
Sports Camps Australia
02 June - 05 June
Drama Junior Festival
Garden Int'l School Rayong
06 June - 10 June
U11s Red Games
Sports Camps Australia
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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Covid-19 Silver Linings: Creative Writing Competition
We felt a sense of disbelief when it became clear that Covid-19 lockdown was severly affecting all our member schools across the region and tightening restrictions led towards events being systematically cancelled, it truly felt like we were falling deeper into a well of uncertainty. So when Angie got in touch to propose an idea about how we could benefit and learn from this incredible situation we were finding ourselves in, we jumped at the opportunity. It was initially concepted as an outlet for our students to process their thoughts and feelings about the things happening around them, and
how it affects their phychological growth, as well as being a genuine way of being able to provide valuable research on how children are reacting and coping with the situation.
perspective of the virus is novel: we could imagine someone rapping your poem. 2ND PLACE: " The Heal" by Anya at Harrow International School Bangkok
We are proud to announce that this competition gathered over 560 entries from over 26 schools and the perspectives and diversity of the stories submitted have truly been fascinating. Our judges read through every single entry and also took the time to comment on each submission so the students would get some feedback. The winners of each category will be receiving book vouchers from Kinokuniya or MPH book stores. All other entries will be receiving an e-certificate of participation.
Was marvellous. Writing from the perspective of the virus is novel: we could imagine someone rapping your poem. 3RD PLACE: " The Best Pancake" by Sean at elc International School
The best pancake is certainly a silver lining! You have written about emotions in your writing, which is a difficult thing to do.
Years 5 & 6 WINNER: " Time" by Fyodor at HELP
Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to all students who took time to share their thoughts and feelings and our member schools for supporting us in this competition.
International School
Beautifully written, reflective narrative; one of our favourite lines is "The dark clouds of winter has thrown me into the hope of a new spring"
Years 3 & 4 WINNER:
2ND PLACE:
" The Failures of Coronavirus" by
"A Blessing in Disguise" by Lynette
Garam (Momo) at Bangkok Patana
at elc International School
School
Beautiful, reflective, and sentimental story of a girl who finds her mums
Was marvellous. Writing from the 14
diary, the diary she wrote during lockdown. 3RD PLACE: "Songs of Comfort" by Vishnu at The International School @ Park City
A charming story about Richard and Aunty Connie re-connecting and discovering a love of making music.
Years 7 to 9 WINNER: " The Silver Linings" by Diego at Kinabalu International School
A wonderful, positive piece about silver linings... a superbly written narrative poem; the imagery of the tired doctor pressing her head against the glass window, so that a child could touch it through the glass - is one that we have seen so often in this pandemic. 2ND PLACE: " What We Have Now" by Teioh at HELP International School
Beautiful, evocative passage about looking for and finding silver linings. A fantastic use of similes and metaphors to create wonderful images. 3RD PLACE: " The Usual Rigamarole" by Tobias at Kinabalu International School
A lovely well written story illustrating that it can be hard but then possible to find the silver lining in this pandemic. It showcases many literary techniques.
The Failures of Coronavirus by Garam (Momo) Bangkok Patana School
Hello, I’m Coronavirus. I’m sure you know my name, Infecting people is my scheme; you know I have no shame, People wonder where I’m from, but I won’t ever tell, My plan was finally working, it was going really well, Things are changing every day; some people even healed, They’ve started working as a team now that they know I’m real, As humans spend their time at home, they start to learn new things, Families are having fun, such happiness it brings, But people still need to go out, and that could be my chance, They’ve made it even harder, though, because they’re wearing masks, Hand gel is just terrible; it really, really burns, Everyone is being smart; it’s getting tough for germs, The world is looking for a cure; I wonder if they’re near, Every time I hear the word, I start to shake in fear, Cars and planes are on a break, and now there’s less pollution, I can’t believe that I’m the one who gave them the solution, Now that the humans know my tricks, they’ll be much more prepared, All future viruses and bugs will be extremely scared.
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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Time
by Fyodor HELP International School So here I am. Weeks into this long confinement. Months actually. The white walls have become permanent, unmistakable. The placement of this big house has become my new world, my universe of thought and feeling. It’s odd. To think, I’m to stay restricted to this lonely structure, a kind of fortress, for who knows how long? I guess this situation has truly posed a looming question over my own conscience: What do I do now? It’s a question that while frequently asked, I haven’t given much attention to until now. My hobbies, activities, things that I spend time on have become a much more apparent way of living now. Normally, developing a skill hasn’t always been an easy task for me; it shows. Whether in the rust of my violin’s strings, the pile of unread books in the corner, or my messy desk that reeks of an inability to organise. I haven’t always done a great job at taking care of these things. Though a sad feeling grows when I finally play the violin once again, something new is driving me. Despite it’s aged, stubborn feel, or the uncomfortable cries of my old bow, I have begun to play more and more. Quarantine has showed me that my instrument’s poor form is not a reason to give up on music, but to practise and practise and practise. You could say the once heavy burden of regret and laziness has pushed me to realise that perhaps, I should stand up, do something productive, and spare the rest of my Pringles. It has turned into a remarkable blessing rather than a dark curse. It’s surprising honestly. The world has taken an abrupt pause from the normal flow, like we’ve all taken one, deep, breath. But despite all the hardships, quarantine has gifted me with something I would have otherwise taken for granted: Time. Time to think, to grow, to wallow in stress, and to let go in a sigh of relief. This kind of time has brought me a new perspective in my life, the kind that has brought great reassurance. It has reminded me of some of the more important things to me, and has taught me to live life better. I myself never thought I’d actually be exercising on my own accord, doing an actual routine to stay fit, or putting down the TV remote early for better sleep! The dark clouds of winter has thrown me into the hope of a new spring. I have learned to not fret in the anger of the storm, but to dance in the calm rain. Now that’s deep! The trees seem quieter, silent even. The morning sun still rises above them, bright and fresh in the horizon. It’s funny to think that with everyone indoors, nature has been left in peace. So in the wake of the morning, I can relish in nature’s peace. I can live in it. So, here I am. I have time. 16
The Silver Linings by Diego Kinabalu International School
It is morning, and the sleeping city Wakes to the sound of serene bird song as the people begin to stir, A quiet old man sits on his lawn In his ancient rocking chair And when the first rays of light, Begin to creep above the horizon, He smiles to himself, Remembering That he had forgotten That peace of early dawn, Erased among the hubbub Of traffic and chaos On city streets.
And on the next street, A man, Consumed by his work Is asked If he wants to play catch by his son And, Instead of his usual refusal, The man agrees. As the two play and frolic in their garden, The man, Once consumed by his work Is transformed; And in that moment The man knows the joy Of seeing his child smile
A few blocks down, A child calls his friend On the other side of the world
Whom he hasn’t seen in years And they chat; About childish things As children tend to do While their parents chat About adult things; As adults tend to do Yet they all felt that feeling That one gets When talking to old friends; They all feel the healing power Of laughter
On the other side of town, A woman and her neighbour Who had never known each other Enjoy the calm weather From opposite sides of the road On their balconies As they exchange pleasantries; stories of old lovers, bygone dreams And aspirations That they had had As children
In the next house, A grandmother Who had been separated From her family Saw her grandchildren For the first time And they talked for hours on end As she told them Stories of her childhood And the children listened,
Transfixed at the thought Of telephones with buttons And life without the Internet On the next floor, a family, Once divided, but not by illness, Bonded, As they sat together Playing board games, Laughing and talking About meaningless nothings; by the time they had finished, They had left behind their grudges, And had found something That would last forever.
When the day ended, The last doctor left working In the hospital that night Finished cleaning up. She walked down the corridor Stopping by a glass pane With a child behind it. She sat down, pressing her head against the window And the two touched hands Through the glass.
Let this serve as a reminder That even though times are tough We will get through this. All we need to do for now Is keep in mind The Silver Linings
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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An Interview with
Dr. Angie Wigford
Our Covid-19 Silver Linings Creative Writing Panel of Judges. From left, Louise Short, Andrew Wigford and Dr. Angie Wigford
D
r. Angie Wigford is the Educational Psychologist at Dover Court International School (DCIS) in Singapore. She is also the Lead Educational Psychologist for International Educational Psychology Services. Angie trained as a teacher and worked as a volunteer in rural Nigeria and Kenya. She then taught IB Science in international schools in Bogota, Colombia and Vienna, Austria. An enhanced understanding of individual needs caused Angie to re-train and she
worked as an Educational Psychologist in South Wales, UK for 7 years; she now works exclusively with international schools. Angie is passionate about promoting emotional literacy, wellbeing and inclusion in the international schools sector. To this end she conducts research, provides training, develops materials and gives talks at conferences. Angie works strategically with schools to develop their capacity to promote mental health throughout their community.
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What was the thinking behind the FOBISIA Covid-19 Silver Linings Creative Writing Competition? At the start of the global spread of the virus and then being in quarantine myself in March I started to become aware of the level of trauma that many children and their parents/ carers were going through. I was writing a daily email to our staff in which I was trying to maintain/build resilience and keep things positive as much as possible. The email was well-received and I found it personally helpful to look for jokes and positive stories to put in it. The idea of the competition came to me as a
way of encouraging children to process their experience with at least some positive framing as a way of building resilience. We know you and your team spent the summer diligently reading through and commenting on every single entry, tell us about the process you went through and what were the highlights? We used a secure Google Docs link with all the stories in one place under category and school headings. Louise, Andy and I read every story and each other knew they had been read by putting our initials next to the title and writing a brief comment about what we had liked. The stories that really caught our attention because they were imaginative, original, had a silver lining and were well written, were highlighted. At the end of this process there were many highlighted stories and we got together for an afternoon to read them through and decide on the winners and the highly recommended. It was a lovely process and cheered us all up quite a lot at a difficult time.
“ Children found
out that their Mums could cook delicious food, their Dads now had time to play and teach them and they could actually get on with their siblings. This was very highly valued
�
What were the main themes that came through from the entries? Once the decisions had been made we discussed the key themes that we had identified throughout the process of reading the entries. Many students provided a description of their time in lockdown. They wanted to tell their personal story while looking for positive aspects. These stories tended to focus on relationships and being able to spend more time with their parents. Children found out that their Mums could cook delicious food, their Dads now had time to play and teach them and they
could actually, after all, get on with their siblings. This was very highly valued. The reduced pressure on their time was also a revelation to many. Valuing the environment and politicians and health workers came across very strongly. For the older children, self-awareness and increased independence was a common theme with many putting down their phones and tablets and making space for other things. The panel were genuinely impressed by the imagery conveyed in some of the writing and there were many stories that took another perspective (that of the family pet for example) which demonstrated real empathy. This thematic analysis is ongoing. In terms of student wellbeing, what would you say are the benefits of reflecting on Covid-19 through creative writing? COVID-19 has been a defining life event for many (even most) families. Narrative Therapy and Journaling are well known
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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psychological therapy techniques which help people process and make sense of what has happened to them through stories and writing. Positive psychology is also a well known approach where our natural focus on the negative is addressed in order to help us perceive life as more pleasant and manageable (reframing) than it otherwise might. I think that writing and telling our COVID-19 stories
from a wellbeing point of view? At DCIS we have had all staff and students take part in the COVID-19 Recovery Project. This was a structured approach to telling others about what we had been through. This was well received at school and helped children and teachers get to know each other at the start of a new and very different term. Having a structured, well-
while looking for the positives will help students process what has happened and cope with it better.
thought out Personal, Social and Emotional curriculum which is embedded is very important. This situation provides an excellent opportunity for schools to review and enhance their provision to ensure that students are being taught resilience skills (breathing techniques, how to listen, why it is important to talk about your worries, identifying your support team etc).
“ For the
older children, self-awareness and increased independence was a common theme with many putting down their phones and tablets and making space for other things
”
Can you share other strategies that are good practice for both teachers and students
How will this competition aid your research, and can you check in with us once it is complete so we can share your findings with our membership? As with much research, my
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“ My interest is in
how students perceive their world and can be supported to develop psychological resilience.
”
investigation into student wellbeing started as one thing, morphed into another and is now being reviewed. My interest is in how students perceive their world and can best be supported to develop psychological resilience. The developmental aspect of this is far more significant than with adults and therefore I may focus on a specific age group. We know that young children can be explicitly be taught coping strategies and ways of thinking that have the potential to help them throughout their lives. This competition illustrated very clearly the growth in awareness that students develop from being family, home and school oriented to taking a more global perspective and becoming much more self-aware.
Accelerating Change Mark Steed, Principal/CEO at Kellett School Hong Kong, reflects on leadership, teaching and learning innovation and the importance of putting wellbeing at the centre of his school’s response to the pandemic.
C
ovid has provided a supreme test for everyone involved in education across the world. In Hong Kong we were well prepared for this test because we had already closed for a week in November due to the Hong Kong protests, forcing us to move to online learning. The school had used that time to shift quickly and easily into online learning with a stripped back curriculum based on live online teaching using the Zoom platform. This move required putting in place a lot of work to create protocols and policies for online learning. For example, the creation of a permission and a parental guide to online learning was really important because our staff were beaming directly into a child’s home. When we returned to school after the protest shutdown we had three weeks to the Chinese New Year and then we were off for 17 weeks straight for the
covid lockdown. It wasn’t the enormous teaching and learning challenge it could have been because we had already done the groundwork and knew that our approach worked. The fact that we were at the vanguard of things also meant that we could support other schools with our knowledge and experience and we shared our processes and protocols with schools in Dubai and the UK as well as with the Independent Schools Council. Covid has pushed most schools to upskill and adopt the technology. For many international schools this is possible not just because of investment but it’s also about the willingness of staff to throw themselves into this and do the training. Necessity is the mother of invention and it has spurred people, including the technological laggards, to adopt these new ways of working. That upskilling has had to happen here. The average age of our staff is 35 so they are
already open to the adoption of new technology solutions. You need enthusiasts within your staff body but you also need a clear vision from the leadership. This combination of the enthusiasm and innovation from staff and the leadership has worked well for us.
“ I believe schools are heading towards a digital future anyway... Covid has just accelerated that change rather than change our directions ” I believe that schools are heading towards a digital future anyway, based on a blended learning model. Teaching and learning, qualifications and assessment and recruitment - all of these areas were moving towards digital before the pandemic struck. Covid has just accelerated that change rather than change our directions.
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The Importance Of Leadership
At the beginning of term my challenge was to lift colleagues who had been in lockdown for 17 weeks and had not really had a summer break. My focus was to motivate them for the weeks up to a Christmas which may be a very different holiday if there is a quarantine situation that prevents them from visiting relatives overseas. It’s already a very different new term - we’re still operating online but we are beginning a phased return from midSeptember. In my traditional message to staff at the start of the academic year I told them that they had respect of the world and Hong Kong for how they adapted to the pandemic, that they should be incredibly proud of what they did and that they needed to get out there and do it again. It was a case of “once more unto the breach”. The former head of Bryanston School in Dorset, Tom Wheare, told me that your job as headteacher is to be the person that your staff wave at. The idea that the headteacher is the school cheerleader is a really important one. Your job is to
Kellett School Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Campus
go around and say well done and say this is phenomenal because it is a lonely job in the classroom. I am their chief supporter and I’ve tried to convey that as much as I can.
Focus On Wellbeing
The focus has shifted from school improvement and attainment to staff and pupil wellbeing this year. It’s an easy choice to make. School improvement is not a priority this year - people are. This is more important than academic results and we have got to look after our community. To be in touch with the wellbeing of your staff and pupils you have to listen and listen carefully. The fears that your staff, your pupils and your parents have are real. You’ve also got to have a different focus. The leadership
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priorities that were normal last year have to be put on the side for now. For example, at this time of year I usually hold academic review meetings (affectionally known as ‘star chamber’) with my heads of department where I ask them to account for the summer results. That will have a very different emphasis and feel this year. The wellbeing of staff and pupils isn’t simply about delivering the right, uplifting messages. It’s also about closely listening to their concerns and responding in practical ways. We survey pupils and staff online every three weeks and if the feedback highlights any issues we will intervene with support. For example, we found out that no one was coping with doing full days of learning online on Zoom.
Online learning is much more demanding for all concerned. We changed the timetable significantly as a result of their feedback. We reduced our lessons from 50 to 40 minutes and we’ve honed down the day from seven hours to four so that it runs over mornings, giving families time in the afternoons to do sport or artwork. This reduced timetable also gives our teachers the chance to mark and prepare within the actual school day. Listening carefully to the feedback from these surveys also means that we can pick up on staff or pupils who are really struggling so we can offer them additional support, including counselling. Some of the issues that have been highlighted are tied up with
the pandemic. Relationships at home may have been affected by the economic impact of the pandemic, with parents losing jobs, while staff have to deal with the pressure of working in small apartments often surrounded by their families.
The surveys have been our way of taking the pulse of the school community and we’ve decided to carry on with them for the foreseeable future. We’re optimistic about the next few months but this
“ The wellbeing of staff and pupils isn’t simply about delivering the right, uplifting messages. It’s also about closely listening to their concerns and responding in practical ways. We survey pupils and staff online every three weeks and if the feedback highlights any issues we will intervene with support. ”
The pandemic has also had its positive side. Many students have loved home learning. A couple of our pupils are borderline ‘school refusers’ and online learning has been brilliant for them.
has to be balanced with a pragmatic approach. I know that everyone in our school – the staff, the pupils and their families – will pull together and make it work.
Mark Steed has spent his career working in top independent schools both in the UK and overseas and is now in his 20th year of headship. In the UK he worked as a teacher, head of department, and boarding housemaster prior to his two senior leaderships roles as Headmaster of Kelly College in Devon; and then as Principal of the Berkhamsted Schools Group. In September 2015 he became Director of JESS, Dubai, before moving to Hong Kong in September 2019 to become Principal and CEO of Kellett School, which educates 1,420 students from 4 to 18 years in the English National Curriculum. Mark is a regular contributor to the Tes on international education and a range of other educational and IT issues. He is active on Twitter @independenthead and @Kellett_CEO and on his blog http://independenthead.blogspot.com.
Join FOBISIA on our webinar series with Mark Steed on 14 October at 4pm ICT on the topic "They think it's all over... well it's not yet!" THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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Links of Interest
EP Languages is excited to present a webinar with Joe Dale that helps enhance student's language learning in a traditional classroom setting or in a remote or blended learning situation. Register here to watch this webinar
Head of The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Andreas Schleicher shares his views on the impact of Covid-19 on learning, basing his views on the survey they conducted. "Will Covid-19 Accelearate or Squash Efforts to Make Education More Than Just Tests?" Listen to the podcast here Simon Mann, a leader in FOBISIA Member Schools for many years and an outspoken wellbeing advocate shares his experiences around 'walking the talk' during quarantine/lockdown. Read this article here The International School Awards nominations by International School Leader will be closing on 30th September. Read more about the awards and submit your applications here Tes Develop provides international schools with a single point of access to hundreds of quality assured and cost effective online courses focused on professional studies, core subject knowledge, and safeguarding. Visit this whole-school online CPD site here Director of Persyou Nicholas McKie speaks to John Gwyn Jones MBE, CEO of FOBISIA who provides an overview of the future of international schools in Asia, exploring the growth of British branded education across the Asian region. Listen to the podcast here TTS presents a webinar on the topic The Covid-19 legacy: What does the future hold for International Schools? Register here. There will also be another focused on wellbeing, stress, resilience and culture for teachers and for leaders. BlueSky Learning have launched a new online professional development library with research-based modules led by practioners and experts in the education sector here. Do get in touch if you could be a potential contributor.
Answers to last terms latin translations quiz: English Phrase
Latin Phrase
English Phrase
Latin Phrase
In Wine, Truth God from a Machine Before the War Stiffness of Death Per Person Solid Land Word for Word
In Vino Veritas Deus ex Machina Antebellum Rigor Mortis Per Capita Terra Firma Verbatim
After Death Let the Buyer Beware I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Voice of the People This for that Other I Hail Mary
Postmortem Caveat Emptor Veni, Vidi, Vici Vox Populi Quid Pro Quo Alter Ego Ave Maria
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Universally Challenged #03 Anagrams Can you unscramble these anagrams of capital cities? ANAGRAMS bun lid = Dublin mat dreams = Amsterdam open change bad setup lock moths basilar vat java rose less rubs like shin hasten
Random facts: About 700 grapes go into one bottle of wine - read more The hastag (#) symbol is technically called an octothorpe - read more The 100 folds in a chef 's hat represent 100 ways to cook an egg! - read more The answers will be revealed in the next issue. Happy quizzing!
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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Leading Education Excerpts from John Bocking 2020/21
Keeping Children safe in education
Statutory safeguarding guidance has been updated. Annex H on pages 115-118 lists the changes to last year’s document. It describes the legal duties of schools and every member of staff should read part 1 of the guidance which can be downloaded separately. There is an explanation of regulated activity which must not be carried out by a barred person. Link Advice for parents about risks to children, including online safety, during COVID-19. It has details about help for parents and children Link & Link
induction period. The Teaching Regulation Agency should be notified of induction outcomes as usual. Link
Reception Baseline Assessment
Reception baseline assessment: The statutory introduction of the RBA has been delayed until September 2021. Schools who choose to be early adopters will receive the materials in October 2020 with the assessment window opening for six-weeks after the October half-term holidays. Link
EYFS Guidance
Amendments to parts of the EYFS framework are due to end on 25th Sept although this will be NQT Induction reviewed. Once the changes cease, The induction period is usually all statutory guidance will apply extended by the number of days other than a 2-month transitional missed by an NQT if they have total absences of 30 days or more. period to meet the qualifications used in staffing ratios. At present, However, in 2019/20, NQT schools should make ‘reasonable absences for COVID-19, such endeavours’ to meet requirements as school closures, sickness or for learning and development self-isolation weren’t counted and staff qualifications for welfare towards the 30 days, and this levels. There is a higher priority has been extended to cover for meeting paediatric first aid 2020/21. Therefore, NQTs can requirements where schools still complete induction if they should use their ‘best endeavours’. meet the Teachers’ Standards. If All aspects of safeguarding there are concerns that an NQT and welfare still apply. Details with absences for COVID-19 has about current requirements and not fully met the standards, the appropriate bodies are encouraged qualification exemptions can be found here. to allow an extension to the 26
Creating a Positive Culture
Tom Bennett’s review of behaviour and strategies for promoting positive school cultures has been republished by the DfE with additional links to a wide range of resources. (Please email me if you’d like a summary of the review from a previous newsletter.) Link & Link
Behavior Hubs
A second window will open in the autumn to allow new applications for the role of a behaviour hub. There have been delays due to COVID-19 but lead schools and MATs should be appointed in spring 2021. They will need exemplary behaviour cultures and practices to work with other schools seeking to making improvements. The programme will be funded by the DfE. Link
National Professional Qualifications
Reformed qualifications will be introduced in September 2021 covering: 1) The leadership of teaching 2) Behaviour and culture 3) Teacher development 4) Leadership. Link Information about the existing NPQs for Executive Leadership, Headship, Senior Leadership and Middle Leadership has been updated for funding. Link
Who's Been Featured & What's Coming Up! On 20 August, we collaborated with Cambridge Assessment International Education (SCIE) on a sensitive topic early in the first term for a feedback webinar to discuss the IGCSE & AS/A Level Results just as the UK government went on a u-turn on their decision with teacher's assessments grades. On 3 September, we then had a chat with Bath University and some fellow FOBISIA school alumni on what students heading to the UK can expect in the light on Covid-19 and tips to settle in. On 11 September, we had our first webinar targeted towards our Drama community featuring Digital Theatre+ on how their resources can be used within their curriculum to help drama teachers and their classrooms, click here for an offer to FOBISIA member schools. Sign up for our 2020-21 FOBISIA Webinar Series and share best practice insights on leadership, recruitment, teaching and learning, wellbeing, and the creative arts. 22 september
29 september
14 october
27 october
03 november
Gareth Davies WRU Chairman
ESP
Mark S. Steed Principal KSHK
TIC Recruitment
Musical Futures International
A lighthearted conversation with Gareth & John
International Routes to QTS: Accredited career pathways for international teachers
"They think it's all over... well it's not yet!"
Recruitment during a global pandemic: Perspectives of heads, teachers and a recruiter
New approaches for new times
Target: Senior Leaders
Target: Heads, Teachers
Target: Music Teachers Y5-9, &Heads of Music
Target: PE Teachers
Target: Heads, Teachers
( sports club social series )
( CPD series )
( leadership series )
( affiliate series )
( affiliate series )
13 november
26 november
14 december
18 january
28 january
School Leaders Training
Cambridge International
Charanga
Mental Health & Wellbeing Training
Blue Sky Education
Leadership: Motivating Others
Assessing gaps in learning with baseline assessment
No Singing? No Blowing? No Problem!
Self Harm Reduction
The changing shape & principles of effective performance management and appraisals in schools
Target: Senior, Middle & Aspiring Leaders
Target: Senior Leaders
Target: Primary Teachers
Target: Safeguarding Leads, Pastoral Staff
Target: School Leaders & HR Managers
( affiliate series )
( affiliate series )
( affiliate series )
( affiliate series )
( affiliate series )
THE FOBISIAN: September 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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NEW FOBISIA COMPETITION IN 2020-21!
DEVELOPING LEADERS OF TOMORROW, AS THEY SOLVE REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS FACED TODAY.
A 16-team event that will transform the lives of a remote community in Nepal. With the support of prominent, local business leaders, the brightest Year 12 students from across Asia will compete to win the Race4Good.
The Race Linda introduces Race4Good.
BENEFITS
Watch the Video >
This unique leadership programme will see an entire year group working together in a fun, fastpaced competition, to see who can have the greatest impact on the world. Your students will develop tangible leadership skills as they use their first-class education to be a force for good.
16 TEAMS Your students will be mentored by prominent local business leaders, which will help them to develop important networking skills and meaningful contacts. A unique opportunity for students to make a difference in the world and leave a real legacy.
Helps to develop international mindedness and an informed global outlook. All pupils experience Courageous Leadership Future Leaders modules, designed by Linda Cruse. Winning team receive a Masterclass from Linda Cruse.
See how a family’s life is transformed through Race4Good. Watch the Video >
Supports many areas of the A Level and IB academic curriculums. Provides excellent material to support independent research projects – including Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs) and Extended Essays (EEs). Evidence for UCAS applications and International School Awards.
© Linda Cruse 2020. Race4Good and the Race4Good logo are trademarks belonging to Ms Linda Cruse. All rights reserved.
OUR MEMBER SCHOOLS BRUNEI
International School Brunei (ISB) Jerudong International School Brunei (JIS) Hornbill School Brunei (HSB)
H O N G KO N G
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CHINA
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18 countries, 76 schools and growing MONGOLIA
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VIETNAM
British International School Hanoi (BISHN) British International School Ho Chi Minh City (BISHM) British Vietnamese International School Hanoi (BVISHN) British Vietnamese International School Ho Chi Minh City (BVISHM) Renaissance International School, Saigon (RIS) The ABC International School (ABCIS)
THE FOBISIAN: Sepbember 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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OUR AFFLIATE MEMBERS ASSESSMENT & CURRICULUM SERVICES
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24 categories, 86 members... Thank you to our Affiliate Members for supporting high quality British-international style education and a warm welcome to our new Affiliate Member!
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THE FOBISIAN: Sepbember 2020, Term 1, Issue 34
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Membership Handbook & Directory 2019-2020 Term 3, April 2020 A Guide to the Federation of British International Schools in Asia
