The ISL Headlines - March 2014

s e n i l d a e H L The IS From the Head of School : Mr. Martin Gough “Striving for Excellence” Important Dates 10 th - 21st April

Easter Holidays

22nd April

School reopens

24th April

Last Supper IB2

25th-26th April ISUZU-ISL Ultra Marathon 30th April

Last Supper IGCSE

30th April

Circus Night

Contents Head of School/Board Chairman

1

Primary Principal

2

PYP/Early years

3

Upper Primary

4

Yr 1/ Junior secondary

5

IGCSE / IB

6

Performing arts

7

Visual arts

8

Ultra Marathon/Triathlon

9

March 31st 2014

It seems the rains are over and we are heading into a beautiful time of year with bright, cool mornings but plenty of green still around. This is a great time for sports events and ISL has been taking part in a large number of swimming and football competitions over the last few weeks. Our teams have done exceptionally well, with perhaps the major success being the trip to Chengelo School to win the U19 Boys‘ Football Team ISAZ National Trophy for the first time. Congratulations to all the student players and to their coaches.

In my last newsletter I mentioned that we were seeking architectural and engineering services for creating a masterplan for redevelopment of the school buildings and infrastructure over the next few years. 8 companies submitted proposals, which an ad hoc Board of Governors‘ Tender Committee will review over the next few weeks.

The Mid-Term Holiday is nearly upon us and all the students and teachers at the school are looking forward to a well-earned break. IGCSE and IBDP students will be using that time to revise for their upcoming final, public examinations that start soon after we return and continue into May and June. If your child is taking IGCSE and IBDP exams, please do take time to talk to them about their plan for revision over the next two months and help provide them with the right conditions to work in at home.

I recently sent out a pdf, single sheet 2014-15 school calendar by email to parents. This can be found to download on the ISL website at http://islzambia.org/calendar.html where you can also subscribe to the live Google ISL Year Calendar which shows term and holiday dates for the next three years.

From the Board Chair : Elizabeth Jere One of the most common questions I hear from fellow parents is, ―Are the school fees increasing next year?‖ The answer from the Board will always be ―yes‖. I know that this is not the answer that parents want to hear, as many ISL parents (myself included) pay school feels from their own hard-earned salaries. Why do school fees always increase year-to-year? The main issue is inflation. The cost of doing business in Zambia increases annually and this external factor is beyond the school‘s control. Internal factors include incremental increases in staff salaries or changes in benefits premiums. The school also ships a container of school supplies into Zambia from abroad every year, and a falling kwacha exchange rate would increase the budgeted amount needed for this expense.

When ISL management presents the following year‘s draft budget to the Board every March, the Board examines it to see if there are any potential savings that management hasn‘t already identified. Usually, there is very little savings possibilities in the budget, as approximately 70 percent of the budget is allocated to staff costs. (This is a normal percentage for school budgets). The other 30 percent goes for such items as school supplies, maintenance of school and teacher housing, cleaning supplies, security, etc. The Board is always careful to ensure that every budget includes an annual surplus allocated for capital improvements, which also enables the school to put some cash into short-term interest-bearing accounts during the year. The 2014-15 budget preparation process is particularly challenging given the recent fall of the kwacha exchange rate. While all staff are currently paid in kwacha, the teachers (particularly international hires) have seen the value of their salary drop as much as 25 percent from when they signed their contracts. With the recent removal of SI33 by the Zambian government this month, the Board will need to carefully consider if we continue with a kwacha budget next year or revert to dollar-based budgets (which were the norm prior to the introduction of SI33 in June 2012).

There is no easy answer at this point. The only answer we have now is that yes, the fees will go up in 2014-15. The 2014-15 budget will be passed by the Board by April 30th, made available to parents in May, and presented at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 7 th June. We hope to see you there.

ry Prima

Message from the Primary Principal: Mr. Bowen

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Since the last newsletter I have had two very interesting discussions with parents.

The issues discussed were ‗litter around school‘ and ‗the promotion of healthy eating‘. Both are subjects which we, the teachers, care very much about but I am ashamed to say my immediate response to both parents was the same ―We (at ISL) agree with you and we have tried to improve the situation but it just doesn‘t work‖. I say I am ashamed at my initial response because although that is what has happened, I don‘t think it is any reason to give up on sending out the right message. So, what have we done about it?

In the past week we have re-invigorated our litter awareness message. I have held very productive meetings with the Student Council, Upper Primary students as well as garnered the views of the little ones in Early Years. We all agree there is a problem and we have identified ways of mending the malaise. Notices, reminding people to ‗Keep ISL tidy‘ have been put up around school, Mr Gough has ordered new bins and the Upper Primary students have volunteered to do regular litter pick-ups. Hopefully we will see an improvement.

With regard to Healthy Eating I think we all need to sit up and look at what is happening to our student society. As someone who mingles with other schools on the football fields and athletic tracks I can say irrefutably that the average size of the schools‘ young children is increasing. Without doubt the youngsters in the ISAZ football league are fatter and slower than they were 5 years ago. I am sorry if that sounds shocking but you only have to come to one of our football tournaments on a Saturday to see that a favoured pre-match meal is Doritos and Coke! Needless to say my players will not be picked if they eat such debilitating food just before a match. This is probably why we are the current ISAZ U-12 Champions. Please have a think about how you can encourage healthy eating for your children when they come to school with a snack. To help, we have produced a small booklet which gives ideas for healthy snackboxes and this is available on our website http://www.islzambia.org/ptr.html On a more positive note I would like to thank the wonderful students, parents and teachers in Year 2 for their terrific collaboration for the recent Y2 Art Exhibition. The blaze of colour in the Fine Arts theatre for the occasion was out of this world, as was the generosity of the parent bidders at the end of exhibition auction. Well done everybody – one of the highlights of my year – to have that mix of quality art, hard work and then laughter and teamwork on the day.

Similarly I would like to congratulate the Junior Scientists who represented the school at the ISAZ Science Fair. Mr Chibwana was the man in charge and he successfully and some would say miraculously brought back a third place certificate for our team challenge. Well done scientists.

Message from the PYP Coordinator: Mrs Sunita Nair

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I trust by now you are aware the Primary school at ISL has to study and review the Primary Years Program at our school. This is a requisite that every PYP school has to go through every five years. The process helps us to reflect on what we have achieved and determine paths and directions we now need to move on to. The Primary staff have begun to meet as Committees and may at some point require your assistance in the form of feedback from surveys or the like. Your ideas and suggestions will undoubtedly help improve the program we offer at school. All our teaching staff have received certificates from the IBO for the online workshops and in school workshop that was conducted this year. We continue to be lifelong learners!

The PYP Exhibition which is a culminating event in the lives of the Year 6 students is well underway and will take place on May 7th 2014. Our students, parents and staff are researching, learning and finding out more about how they can effectively make a difference to the community and help resolve issues people encounter with drugs. The PYP Exhibition has always been something to witness and write home about and I am confident the students this year too will follow suit. Good luck to the Year 6 students.

We do have another workshop lined up for parents in May. But more details on that will be given closer to the date!

From the Early Years Coordinator: Mrs Rachel Bentley The Early Years classes are a flurry of activity with our up-coming production, student led conferences and swimming galas all happening in the next few weeks.

On Wednesday 2nd April, you will have the chance to share the kind of learning that happens at ISL with your child as your guide. It is a wonderful opportunity for you to see your child‘s learning in action. All the Early Years classes have sign- up sheets for you to choose a time that suits you the best.

As the swimming season draws to a close, we celebrate the children‘s achievements with the Nursery and Pre-School Pool Party and Picnic on Thursday 3rd April and the Splash Gala for the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes on Friday 4th April. It is lots of fun so come prepared to join in with the parent‘s race.

The last date to put in your diary is Wednesday 30thApril to join us for a spectacular ―Night at the Circus‖. The curtain will go up at 18:00 and tickets will be on sale at the door. We can promise you an exciting night of sparkle and circus magic that you won‘t want to miss!

See you all soon!

On 30th April @ 18:00 hrs

UPPER PRIMARY: Mrs. Grace Kambeu

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On Friday 7th March Upper Primary undertook a very successful and interesting challenge using clay to depict one of the key concepts. The purpose was to promote team-building skills. It was incredible to see students co-operating and taking other people‘s ideas on board as they made models to show form, change, causation, function and responsibility. It was difficult for the judges to select a winner but of course only one house had to win and it was Luangwa!!!!!!

We also had Inter House netball and football for boys and girls. Zambezi and Luangwa had a tie in first position for both games.

Year Six PYP Exhibition Year Six has now fully embarked on their Exhibition Journey and this will be for six weeks. The children are being assisted by their mentors who are other teachers in the school and some parents have graciously volunteered to offer their help too. The mentor groups have already starting meeting and some have had outside trips to consolidate their research.

Year 6.1 visited Jubilee Chemist as part of their exhibition inquiry.

Look out for more in the next newsletter!!!!

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Year 1 Sleep Over @ School……..

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As a PYP school, we are always looking for new ways to develop the attitudes and Learner Profile characteristics of our students that will help them to develop into well-balanced, open-minded life-long learners. In Year 1, we take a big step with our Light Party and Sleepover at school.

On Friday 28th February fifty Year 1 children returned to school at 17:00 clutching sleeping bags, night things and a torch ready for our sleepover. As the children set up their beds, it was sometimes hard to see who was being the biggest risk taker – the children for staying or their parents for letting them go!

We had an action packed evening with: a delicious pasta supper cooked by Zainab‘s mum, Mrs Patel, playing ―Duck, Duck, Goose‖ with Ms Evy, fireworks, playing in the dark with torches and not forgetting toasting marshmallows on the campfire and sipping hot chocolate. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to put their learning about light as a form of energy into practice.

The evening ended with everyone tucked up in their beds in the Fine Arts building, watching a movie and then finally sleeping.

Our adventure finished the next morning after a camping breakfast of cornflakes, jam sandwiches and more hot chocolate. Mums and Dads came to pick up children who had learnt about being independent, responsible and taking a risk all while we had a lot of fun.

The Year 1 teachers would like to thank Ms Johanna, Ms Evy, Mrs McNulty, Mrs Patel, Ms Lydia and Ms Paloma for all their help to make the event so successful.

From Junior Secondary School : Mrs.Dodd On the 24th of February Year 9s went to an outdoor educational trip to Ndubaluba. Ndubaluba Centre is under the umbrella of Chengelo Shool in Mkushi. The Centre Director is Mr Richard Thompson and the chief instructor Mr Colin McMaster.

Most students came back exhausted but had a very positive experience. Their favourite activities were the Kayaking, the Rope Course, the Rocket Race, the Assault Course and the Volleyball.

Thank you Mr James and Miss Shropshire for chaperoning the trip.

From the IGCSE coordinator: Mr R Van de Velde

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After a successful Induction Day and IGCSE Evening, the Year 9 students and parents are now in the process of choosing their options for Year 10. This choice is important since it will give a more or less definite direction to their further studies and careers.

Year 10 had a successful work week experience. Many thanks to our counselor, Mrs. Kehl for organizing the work experience week and to most IGCSE teachers for following them up by visiting their place of work.

Year 11 have three and a half weeks left in class and will mark the end of their IGCSE lessons with a last supper in school on Wednesday evening the 30st of April 2014, all organised by the students.

Their study leave starts on Friday 2nd of May 2014. The first IGCSE exam is on Tuesday 6th of May.

IB Corner! From Mr. Hearsum A-level blow as Baccalaureate given same rating as 5 A grades The credibility of A-levels received a fresh blow after it emerged that an alternative sixth form qualification is academically superior.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has developed a new tariff system which gives the International Baccalaureate an A-level equivalence for the first time.

An IB score of 38 points out of a maximum of 45 - which is achieved by more than 200 pupils a year at Sevenoaks School in Kent alone - is deemed to be equivalent to a staggering five A grades at Alevel.

Oxford and Cambridge typically ask for 40 points which equates to five-and-half A grades.

A relatively modest IB score of 35 points is worth four-and-a-half A grades at A-level.

Even 30 IB points reflects three-and-a-half As at A-level which is enough to secure entry to most academically selective universities. And an IB pass is worth two As, according to the tariff being introduced in 2008.

A report by UCAS justifies the huge number of points credited to the top end of the IB, claiming that "it is not the fault of an IB candidate (...) that the assessment system for GCE A-level does not recognise the difference between a good pass and a bare pass at grade A".

The new tariff will raise the prominence of the IB - which requires pupils to study both the humanities and the sciences - and provide a further nail in the coffin of A-levels.

A-levels 'dumbed down' It demonstrates that the "gold standard" of A-levels has been dumbed down to such an extent that pupils now have to collect huge numbers just to achieve the same level as an IB. Tory education spokesman David Willetts said: "This shows why people are losing confidence in the standard of Alevel. The IB does seem to offer a rigour that is hard to get from A-levels now.

"It's important that children have the opportunity to do the IB as well as doing A-levels if that suits them better."

IB pupils typically study six subjects in the sixth form which include English and maths, a foreign language, a science, a social science such as history or geography and a creative subject such as drama or art.

They must also write a 4,000-word extended essay, pursue critical thinking courses and extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, Duke of Edinburgh awards and music lessons.

Rising numbers of state and independent schools are already turning their backs on A-levels amid rising concern over standards and taking up the IB. Many believe that A-levels are no longer sufficiently stretching for the brightest pupils, leading to university admissions tutors being inundated with straight "A" applicants.

They are phasing in the IB along with A-levels while others aim to offer it as their sole sixth form qualification.

The number of state and independent schools registering to teach the IB in the United Kingdom has almost doubled from 45 in 2001 to 87 this year.

However numbers are expected to soar to 200 over the next few years due to the growing number of schools expressing interest to the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO).

But Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, insisted that A-levels are here to stay.

Referring to the new IB tariff system, he said: "It could either make schools want to do them (IB's) more because they count for so many points or it could put schools off doing the IB because it suggests they're so difficult." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-394399/A-level-blow-Baccalaureate-given-rating-5-A-grades.html

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ANNUAL WHOLE SCHOOL MUSIC CONCERT On Wednesday 26th February, our ISL MPC came alive to the sounds of our annual whole school concert. Covering almost the spectrum of the student population, artists from Y2 through to Y13 performed a range of musical styles as well as an intriguing selection of dance that included ballet, hip hop and traditional Indian pieces.

An impressive turnout of parents, students and teachers came to enjoy the performance spectacle and, with the addition of a new lighting system, the music and dance looked as good as it sounded. Congratulations to all of the performers who took part in this year‘s concert. The time and effort spent preparing each item was considerable; however the rousing applause that each item received was testimony of the audience‘s appreciation for the high standard of the performances. Mr. Dodd—Head of Creative Arts The programme for the evening was as follows: 1. Zambian National Anthem : ISL Band feat. Helen Pikira & Georgina Coker 2. Year 3 students—accompanied by Mr. Mwailenge : ‗Calling All Angels‘ by Train 3. Mumo Musembi (Y2) - violin, Luaay Mohsen (Y5) - guitar, Adam Mohsen (Y5) - guitar— accompanied by Mr. Nkolola ‗Lightly Row‘ by Anon 4. Year 10 students; Shivani Joshi, Ruella Che, Priyanka Naik, Gaurav Menon ‗The Lonely‘ by Christina Perra and ‗Heroes‘ by David Bowie 5. Year 4 students—accompanied by Mr. Mwailenge : ‗Someday‘ by Nickelback 6. Baraka Musembi (Y4) - piano & Mr. Mwailenge—guitar : ‗Lullaby‘ by Brahms 7. Y6 Trio—Mwango Kondolo, Alexis Tshukudu, Aoife McNulty : ‗Firework‘ by Katy Perry 8. Ben Thomas (Y6) - guitar/voice : ‗Can‘t Buy Me Love by The Beatles 9. Mifaly Andriamady leads The Primary Dance Collective : ‗Danse des Cygnes‘ by Tchaikovsky 10. Primary Choir—Mr. Mwailenge & Mr. Nkolola : ‗I Have A Dream‘ by ABBA 11. Jin Yong Hwang & Tong Yu—piano duet : ‗Danse des Cygnes‘ by Tchaikovsky 12. Seoyun Jung (Y6) - piano & Aoife McNulty (Y6) - voice : ‗March in Eb‘ by Anon & The Sun is Setting‘ by William Alwyn 13. Mifaly Andriamady & Vision Kim—Contemporary Dance 14. ISL Band : ‗Clocks‘ by Coldplay , ‗Summertime‘ George Gershwin feat. Georgina Coker & ‗The Music of Life‘ by Jay Althouse feat. Shivani Joshi & Helen Pikira 15. ISL Rock Band—feat. Vision Kim, Nathan Doras, Melody Che, Mario Nithyanathan & Mifaly Andriamady ‗Dignity‘ by New Politics ‗Kryptonite‘ by Three Doors Down ‗21 Guns‘ by Green Day 16. Uma Mrinaleni Murugappan: Traditional Indian Dance :Mayura Allorippu (peacock

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FROM THE WORLD OF ART YEAR 2 ART EXHIBITION The latest Year 2 unit of inquiry was 'Art is a way of expressing ourselves'. The children worked extremely hard and produced a great variety of work culminating in a fabulous art exhibition. They worked with oil pastels, paint, collage, chalk, charcoal, pencil and felt tips. They created their own art using various artists as a stimulus including Monet, Picasso, Mondrian, Escher and Van Gogh.

At the art exhibition the children also showed skills from their specialist lessons with dances and songs related to dance, music, Spanish and French.

We would like to say a huge thank you to all the parents who came along to the art exhibition and for participating in and contributing to the auction.

The Year 2 Photograph Competition winners are : Ray, Raihan , Freya, Ndatenda, Nishita and Wana.

Well done to everyone in year two for participating.

Mrs Bowen and Mrs Lungu

IB VISUAL ART EXHIBITION On Friday evening, 21st March, our three IB Visual Arts students, Sreyashi, Anneta and Pola, showcased the magnificent results of their two year intensive programme of creation, exploration, reflection and refinement. They were the undisputed stars of the evening and there were encouraging numbers of staff, students, parents and members of the Lusaka arts community who came to support and celebrate their work. Discourse and commendation for the work of the students was plentiful and with the addition of delicious snacks and wine (courtesy of our PTA) it ensured a truly successfully evening.

The guest speaker for the evening was Mrs Mulenga Kapwepwe, chairperson of the National Arts Council of Zambia, who offered insightful and encouraging remarks.

With this exhibition closely backed on that of the Y2's, and the walls of the Fine Arts literally only minutes bare between one piece of art coming down and another going up, it is so very clear that our ISL students are benefiting from a truly excellent education in the field of Visual Arts. Nellie, Danny and Kevin deserve high praise for the work they do as their expertise and nurturing is omnipresent.

Many thanks to all those who came out to support our students and, indeed, the Arts in general.

Anneta Mukuka ‘Icon of Panagia’

Pola Kimena, ‘ After Turner ’

Sreyashi Chowdhury, ‘ Skull ’

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For more details please click on www.isuzu-islultra.org

For more details please click on www.aisltriathlon.com

CONTACT US

http://www.cois.org/

http://www.ibo.org/

The International School of Lusaka 6945 Nangwenya Road Lusaka, Zambia Phone: +260 211 252291 Fax: +260 211 252865 E-mail: info@islzambia.org www.islzambia.org

http://www.pamojaeducation.com/

http://www.cie.org.uk/

http://www.neasc.org/