ISA Connections Issue 08 by The International School of Amsterdam

Connections The International School of Amsterdam Magazine

ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

Our Mission To educate for international understanding Our Vision To create a community of lifelong learners who value inquiry, critical and creative thinking, take informed risks, and act with integrity and compassion.

Contents

Connections The International School of Amsterdam Magazine Annual Report 2017

Board of Trustees

Editor-in-chief

Meet the parents and community members who

Erika Harriford-McLaren

comprise the ISA Board of Trustees.

Co-editors Shelly Harrison

New Faces...Meet the new ISA faculty and staff

Megan Smith

ISA is proud to welcome its new administrators,

Contributers

faculty and staff to our community.

Colm Brennan Matt Jasinski

Class of 2017 This year, ISA bid farewell to the Class of 2017,

Design and layout

the largest graduating class so far in the school’s

Wouter F. Goedkoop

history.

ISA Photographer

Climb Every Mountain

Kerry Reinking Photography

IB students of all ages are renowned for compas-

www.kerryreinking.nl

sion in helping others in need around the world. During this last year, two ISA students and their

Publisher

family have taught our community how love can

ISA in collaboration with

inspire hope and change–within the world and

XPat Media, The Hague,

within our own families.

the Netherlands

Printer

Stories that Move

Damen Drukkers

Rania Khan (‘21) gives a student’s inside perspec-

Werkendam

tive on what it is like to help the renowned Anne

the Netherlands

Frank Foundation develop a new global anti-

12 16

discrimination curriculum. ISA alumni, families, faculty and friends receive

Aiming for Gold

Connections. We welcome

Jake Raben (‘19) is taking the sport of fi eld hockey

your comments and

by storm as he represents his homeland, Ireland,

encourage you to submit

in international competition. As the sport gains

ideas and articles for

ground in the Olympics, Raben’s focus is on the

consideration.

future... and just maybe a gold medal.

Letters and inquiries

Amsterdam Alumni Reunion

may be addressed to:

ISA Alumni gathered at the trendy de Food Hallen

Connections

in Amsterdam for the latest event in a series of

Sportlaan 45

upcoming Alumni reunions.

1185TB Amstelveen +31 20 347 1111

Financial Overview

communications@isa.nl

The fi nancial strategy of the International School of

www.isa.nl

Amsterdam is set to assure the long-term viability of the school. Learn more about our 2016-2017 results.

42 46

Cover The PYP in Action Grade 2

Editorial Welcome to the annual report issue of ISA’s Connections. Inside this issue you will find a healthy dose of information about our school during the 2016-2017 school year. Those of you who know this school well—parents, former parents, students, alumni, faculty and staff present and past—will not be surprised to hear me say that last year was yet another year rich with great stories that reflect our school’s dynamic mission—to educate for international understanding. One of the school’s greatest commitments is to ensure that all students capable of earning an IB Diploma are able to do so. Each year 95 percent or more of our senior class successfully completes the IB Diploma, despite our non-selective

admissions policy. These results are due to the perseverance and determination of our students, the support of their families, and the talent, teaching expertise and deep devotion of ISA’s faculty who do so much to support our students on their journey through the IB programmes. This past year, the Diploma Programme results were among the very best we have ever achieved. Consider the following: •

ISA’s average subject grade was 5.44 on a 7-point scale. The world average was 4.89.

•

The average overall score for ISA students who earned the diploma was 35 points.

•

Ninety-five percent of our students earned extra points on their Extended Essay/Theory of Knowledge component.

•

Fifty percent of our diploma students earned the Bi-lingual Diploma, a significant increase over the past, and perhaps most remarkable of all.

•

Twenty-three percent of ISA’s DP students earned an overall score of 40 or above.

The school’s commitment to the IB stretches back to 1980. To see the number of students—and the percentage of students today—who are achieving such impressive results is a clear indication that the quality of an ISA education is indeed holding fast (and improving) in these days of momentous pressure, tumult and change. As the year drew to a close our enrollment was just under 1,400—another record–but one we will not be able to surpass as we are, quite simply, out of space. We now face serious challenges with growing wait lists across all grades. It was just three years ago (2014) when we opened the new middle school and early childhood wing and increased our capacity by more than 300. 2

All the information

available at the time told us that we would not need to expect enrollment challenges again until, at least, the year 2020. Yet, within one year of opening, we hit a record enrollment and saw the return of wait lists. The Board and administration have spent a great deal of time looking at the possibility of expanding the school. In spite of many efforts, including laborious discussions with city and other government officials, for the moment, at least, the land required to build on our current location is not available. We continue to seek solutions as the school’s core mission is to serve the educational needs of the children of expatriates in this region—and the number of expat children is growing by leaps and bounds, especially but not only in

to the USA following four very good years with us. Matt Sipple brings a wealth of experience from the international schools network (Saudi Arabia, India, and Latvia) as well as extensive experience in the independent schools in the USA. Although we are not able to increase our capacity for enrollment at the moment, we have been more than busy with building projects to enhance what we offer to our 1,400 students. Foremost, is the soonto-be-completed new PE facility. This much-needed addition will offer two PE/basketball/volleyball courts, several classrooms for PE instruction and a cardio/fitness center--as well as additional cafeteria and large group meeting space. It is

the wake of Brexit.

scheduled to open at the end of January. We have

As the school has grown, so has the size of our

roof) on the Lower School music room to improve

faculty and staff. Recruitment consumes far more of the leadership teams time today than it did even five years ago. Last year, for example, we hired 17 new teachers and counselors. Even though our faculty turnover rate is one of the lowest among leading international schools, with nearly 200 teachers and counselors, our sheer size means that each year we can expect to search for new talent to join our world-class faculty and staff. We are fortunate, indeed, that ISA continues to be a highly attractive school by the best of the best on the international

also made major modifications (literally raised the the acoustics for the ever-popular marimba program. We have installed air/climate control systems to 50% of the classrooms and, in the coming summer months, we will complete that project so that the entire campus enjoys more comfortable heating and air conditioning. We have also added a new recording studio and created a new office space in the orchestra room area, as well as having extended the Nurse’s Office and the Lower School PHE Office.

schools circuit.

All of this is just a snippet of the activity that took

Last year saw a number of changes in the school’s

much more to recognize and celebrate—some

leadership team. Head of Lower School, Sarah Grace, was appointed to a new position, Associate Director for Teaching and Learning. This N-12 leadership role is designed to help tighten the connections between the school divisions. Sarah will also be heading up our upcoming CIS/NEASC/ IB reaccreditation review, a massive undertaking

place in the past school year at ISA. There is so of that, but hardly all, will be found in the following pages. I do hope you will find time to browse through this issue of Connections to learn more about the incredible school we call ISA! With all best wishes for the new year that is rapidly approaching,

for which she is extremely qualified. Stepping into Sarah’s role as Head of Lower School is Susan Loban, a 15-year ISA veteran teacher, PYP Coordinator and Assistant Head of Lower School. We welcomed a new Assistant Head of Lower School, Mark Mayer, who joined us after international school leadership experiences in Sweden and Thailand. And, we were exceptionally fortunate to have found Matthew Sipple to take over the Upper School Headship as Paul Sanders decided to return

Edward E. Greene, Ph.D. Director 3

Board of Trustees As an independent, non-profit foundation, ISA is strategically guided by a Board of Trustees (the Board) who are the stewards of the school’s assets and, through defining the school’s mission, vision and philosophy, they serve as the architects of the school’s future. The Board of Trustees for the 2017-18 school year are:

Peter Hesp, Chair and

Nicole Bien, Vice Chair and

Appointed Trustee

Elected Trustee

Peter Hesp enjoyed a long ca-

Nicole was elected to the Board

reer in finance before joining

in 2016 as a parent member.

the ISA Board as a non-parent

In 2015, she and her husband

member in 2014. Having stud-

moved their family to Amster-

ied Economics and Accountan-

dam from Silicon Valley, Cali-

cy at the University of Amsterdam, Peter worked in

fornia where she was a Head of School in primary

the Netherlands and abroad as a Financial Director

education and a Group Manager in high technology.

with larger Dutch and international companies such

Nicole also served on non-profit boards serving at-

as Sara Lee, Ballast Nedam, KBB (a holding com-

risk children and supporting teachers. Nicole pres-

pany of the Bijenkorf, Hema, Praxis, Intertoys, M&S

ently serves as Head of Primary Years Programme

Mode and Amici) and Hoogovens (now known as

Development at the International Baccalaureate Or-

TATA Steel). Since leaving Hoogovens in 2003, he

ganization (the IB). Nicole holds a Ph.D. in educa-

has been asked to assist in various projects, which

tion from the University of Sydney, an M.B.A. from

still keeps him busy. Peter and his wife, have three

Columbia University, and a B.A. from Yale University.

daughters and a growing number of grandchildren.

Allison Ochs, Secretary and

Joanna Fleming, Elected Trustee

Elected Trustee

Joanna was elected as a Board

Allison was elected to the ISA

member in May 2017. She is a

Board of Trustees in 2016. She

physician and board-certified

earned a Masters Degree in So-

psychiatrist, having worked in

cial Work/Education studying at

Warsaw at the Institute of Psy-

both the University of Utah and

chiatry and Neurology and later as a fellow at the Medical Center of Postgraduate

the University of Applied Sciences in Kiel, Germany. She has worked as a volunteer in an orphanage in Mexico, at the University Hospital in Kiel, in a teen transition home and has both taught and held leadership positions in public and private schools in Switzerland. Her entire career has been focused on education and the well-being of children and families. She is currently owner and president of EDIT Change Management Sàrl. She and her husband have three children, two of which currently attend ISA. 4

Education. She has management experience in the pharmaceutical industry at Hoechst Marion Roussel and Boehringer Ingelheim where she created and led the Medical Department in Poland, becoming International Product Development Manager at Boehringer’s global headquarters in Germany. In the U.S. she was a certified life coach with her own practice. The Flemings moved to Amsterdam in 2014 and have 2 children attending ISA.

Marianne Heemskerk, Elected Trustee Marianne and her husband have three children attending ISA. She has been an active member of the ISA community since 2011,holding various leadership, board and committee roles and successfully contributing and organising various fundraisers and community-building events, which raised substantial profits for the charity committee SHARE. She graduated from University Twente with a degree in International Public Administration with Business Administration electives, and held management positions in international settings for Philips, Amsterdam RAI, Miller Freeman, Jaarbeurs International and Ascom Nira. Marianne has been a Board Member at Ascom Nira, and for Make A Wish International. In 2007 Marianne concluded the Nijenrode Board Member Cycle. Marianne started her own company in 2004 to consult for, and invest in, private equity and startup-related businesses and activities.

Jyotsna Mehra, Appointed Trustee

Ton van Nimwegen, Elected Trustee

Jyotsna is an accomplished businesswoman, having over 30

Ton van Nimwegen recently

years experience in owning and managing several hotels and

returned to the Netherlands

real estate properties in Amsterdam. Jyotsna is the mother of

after having lived and worked

two ISA alumni, and during her ten-year tenure as an ISA par-

as a banker in several coun-

ent, Jyotsna was actively involved in, and led various com-

tries around the world for twen-

mittees and initiatives (Indian Community Representative,

ty years. He started his career

Parent Advisory Committee member and Coordinator and a Founding Member of

at Unilever in the Netherlands, then went abroad

SHARE) in the school. Her passion for ISA never ceases, and she continues to be

first for ABN AMRO Bank and subsequently for

an active member of the Indian Community both inside and outside of the school.

Rabobank, for which he has now been transferred back to the Netherlands. Ton has a Ph.D. degree in

Amina Munir, Elected Trustee Amina Munir was elected to the ISA Board in September 2016. Amina has a business and law background and has been involved with the ISA community for a number of years since her children joined the school. She has two children

Economics from the University of Nyenrode in the Netherlands, where he also got his degree in Business Administration. He also has a degree in Economics and a degree in Controlling, both from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Ton is married to a Brazilian medical doctor, and they have two children at ISA.

who are currently attending ISA. René Witzel, Appointed Trustee Fernando Pereira de Souza, Appointed Trustee

René Witzel joined the ISA

Fernando Lanzer Pereira de Souza was appointed to the ISA

Board of Trustees in 2017. He

Board of Trustees in 2017. Fernando holds a B.A. degree in Clinical, Organizational and Educational Psychology from PUCRGS in Brazil. He was a Human Resources EVP at ABNAMRO for 15 years, having moved to Amsterdam in 1996. For ten years he was also a member and Chair of AIESEC International’s Supervisory Group. He owns LCO Partners, a management consulting firm, since 2007, and has been active in many countries as a consultant, coach, public speaker and book author. Fernando has two daughters who attended ISA from pre-school to IB graduation in 2009 and 2011. He lives in Amstelveen with his wife who is a former President of the school’s PTA.

started his career in accountancy at Van Dien & Co (now PWC), continued in leading management positions in various multinational media companies like Bertelsmann Music Group, Arcade, TMF, Radio10, MTV and is since 2002 Managing Director of JCDecaux Netherlands. Having worked internationally and lived abroad for 8 years in Munich and Düsseldorf he returned in 1998 to the Netherlands. René lives in Abcoude with his German partner Antje (Engineer Radiation & Environment) and has 2 daughters. 5

Faculty & Staff The 2016 - 2017 school year at ISA presented many opportunities for new growth and change, with several new teachers being hired for the upcoming school year, the establishment of a new Associate Director for Teaching and Learning position as well as the changing of the guard for the Head’s of Lower

the mission permeates all elements of what ISA offers and stands for is its ability to recruit the most innovative, diverse and highly qualified faculty and staff that the international teaching world has to offer.

and Upper School.

Global Recruitment

ISA was also once again recognised as a top

er School, Sarah Grace, and then Head of Upper

employer as a result of faculty and staff input in a recent employee satisfaction survey implemented by Effectory, a leading personnel research company. The latest survey results managed to exceed the previous high scores recorded in the 2014-2015 survey from Effectory, which contributed to ISA

With this in mind, Director Greene, Head of LowSchool, Paul Sanders, set out during recruitment season to ensure ISA’s legacy of hiring the best would continue. In addition to the external hires for 2017-2018, the school also saw the promotion of two accom-

winning a national best employer award.

plished and long-standing faculty members–Ms.

As ISA continues to grow, so does the importance

created position of Associate Director for Teaching

of underscoring the school’s mission–to educate for international understanding–to the 60+ nations represented by our students, parents and faculty and staff within the classrooms and throughout our community. 6

A key element of the school’s success in ensuring

Sarah Grace from Head of Lower School to the newly and Learning and Ms. Susan Loban, from Assistant Head of Lower School to the newly vacant position of Head of Lower School. Congratulations to you both and thank you for your continued support and dedication to ISA.

Sarah Grace - Associate Director for Teaching and Learning Sarah Grace joined ISA in 1998 initially as the Assistant Head of Lower School, assuming the role of Head of Lower School in 2007. She obtained her first degree from the Froebel Institute College of the Roehampton Institute with a Bachelor of Education (Hons). Subsequently she has achieved an Masters of Education (Educational Leadership and Management) from the University of Bath. Starting her teaching career in an inner city school in Peckham, London, she taught grades 2-4, holding a post of responsibility for Library and Resources and serving as a School Governor. Moving overseas for an international experience, Sarah joined the Yokohama International School in Japan. She was a homeroom teacher for grades 3 to 6, and taught 8th grade English, EAL and Learning Support. She held additional positions of responsibility as an Extra-Curricular Activities Coordinator, Elementary Coordinator and Assistant Elementary Principal. Since arriving at ISA Sarah has served as the PYP Coordinator for two years. She has been actively involved with the IB Primary Years Programme as a workshop leader and school visitor. She enjoys collaborating with the IB on development of the PYP and supporting other schools’ implementation of the programme. She is invited regularly to join school evaluation teams for the IB and the Council of International Schools. Matt Sipple - Head of Upper School Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Matt joined ISA in 2017 after having served in numerous teaching and leadership roles in the United States, Switzerland, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India and Latvia. Before moving into school leadership, Matt taught Middle and High School History and Social Studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters of Arts (History) from the University of Pennsylvania before attending Columbia Teacher’s College in New York, where he attended the renowned Klingenstein program and earned a Masters in Educational Leadership. Susan Loban - Head of Lower School Susan Loban has been a member of the ISA community since 2002, where she began as a grade 5 teacher and Grade-level Coordinator before being appointed as the ISA Lower School Curriculum Coordinator. Since 2010, she has served as the Assistant Head of Lower School, where she has been responsible for the evaluation of teaching and support staff, overseeing all lower school supervision and management of all aspects of the re-accreditation process at ISA for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), The Council of International Schools (CIS) and the International Baccalaureate (IB). In addition to her administrative role, Susan managed the global events, seminars and conferences for the ISA Centre for Development, Learning & Technology. Susan has prior experience working in schools in Canada, the UK and Romania, where she worked as a classroom teacher in grades one through ten, as a district-level curriculum consultant for middle schools, demonstration classroom instructor and an IBPYP coordinator. She is a PYP Workshop and Online Course facilitator, a PYP school authorization and accreditation team member for the IB and has served on curriculum writing teams for the IBPYP, including the Learner Profile and Assessment in the PYP. Susan holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary with a double major in French as a Second Language and Social Studies. She completed her coursework for her Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies from the University of Toronto and is currently finalising her Masters of Educational Leadership in International Schools from the College of New Jersey Global Programs. Mark Meyer - Assistant Head of Lower School Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Mark joined the ISA Team in 2017. Mark has worked extensively in IB schools as well as in national school systems in several countries including Australia, Canada, USA, Romania, Poland, Sweden, and Thailand. Mark earned his Masters Degree in Curriculum studies at SUNY, Buffalo State University, his B.Ed. at Monash University in Australia, and his BA in Toronto at York University. Mark is currently completing his Administrator’s Certificate with the Principal Training Centre. In his tenth year of Educational Leadership, Mark also has seven years of experience as an Entrepreneur running his own novelty photo business before becoming a teacher.

Rui Amorim - Junior IT Technician

Patrick de Lange - Facility Assistant

Rui was born in Portugal and has have been living

Patrick joins the facilities team and completed his

in the Netherlands for the past three years. He has

studies in Electronic Engineering from College Am-

worked over seven years in technical support at Voda-

sterdam. He served as a facility assistant at Novotel,

fone Portugal and speaks Portuguese and English.

Amsterdam and was a professional baseball player.

Adam Bailey - Grade 4

Fedale Duncombe - Technical Support Expert

Adam joins the Lower School, having taught at the

Fedale is from the UK and joins the IT team from the

International School of Florence for some time. Adam

Blossom House School in South London where he

holds degrees in education from Bath University and

assisted teachers and staff with technical issues. He

the University of West England in Bristol.

enjoys repairing computers as well as programming.

Michelle Bujan - Lower School EAL

Joanne Freeman - Admissions Officer

Michelle teaches EAL in the Lower School. Most

Joanne joins Admissions having worked at ISA for the

recently she taught at the American International

last three years as a Swimming Chaperone, a substi-

School of Zagreb, Croatia. She has also taught in Lon-

tute and most recently as an Assistant within Kinder-

don and Vancouver. Michelle completed her studies at

garten. She has also been an active member of the

the University of British Columbia in Vancouver .

PTA, including organising the Booster Club for three years. Originally from the UK, she received a BSc

Susan Cizek - Upper School EAL

(Hons) in Mathematics with Operational Research

Susan joins the Upper School EAL team. Her degrees

prior to careers in industry and education.

are from Western New Mexico University and the University of Missouri. Susan has taught EAL in Addis

Camila Geld - Grade 7 Individuals and Societies

Ababa and most recently served as EAL Department

Camila joins the MYP Humanities team from Esbjerg

Chair at UNIS in Hanoi.

International School in Denmark. Prior to that she taught at the American School of Bombay. She

Michelle Coyle - Upper School Math and Science

holds a B.A. in History from Bard College in New York

Michelle teaches mathematics and science in the

and a graduate degree in education from Edinburgh

MYP and Diploma programmes. Michelle has taught

University.

IB mathematics at the Cebu International School in the Philippines and previously taught at the Saudi

Bronwen Hinton - Upper School English

Aramco Schools, International School of Bishek, Kyr-

Bronwen, a native of Australia, joins the Upper School

gyzstan, International School of Kenya & TASIS, Swit-

English department and has most recently taught IB

zerland. Michelle holds a master’s degree in Civil En-

English at the United World College of Costa Rica.

gineering from Norwich University, and undergraduate

She has also taught at the International School of

degrees in elementary education from the University

Stavanger and the Berlin Brandenburg International

of British Columbia and biology from the University of

School. Bronwen holds a master’s degree in educa-

Northern British Columbia.

tion from Deakin University and B.A. from Swinburne University, in Australia.

Jennifer Curry - Upper School Counsellor Jennifer joins the Upper School Counselling team this

Mao Ide - Upper School Administration Assistant

year for a maternity cover. She most recently served

Mao joined ISA in September 2016, working as an

as a counsellor at Zurich International School and the

Upper School Administrative Assistant. In addition

International School of Florence. She has also served

to this, she assists the Board of Trustees. She holds

as a counsellor at the American School of Bombay,

a B.A. in Social Anthropology from the University of

Taipei American School, Rabat American School and

London and an M.A. in Japanese History from Ky-

CIPLC in Venezuela. Jennifer holds degrees from

ushu University in Japan. Prior to ISA, she worked

Antioch University, the College of Santa Fe, and

in a variety of industry sectors in Japan and in the

George Washington University.

Netherlands, including education, entertainment and construction.

June Jetabut - Upper School Counsellor

Geerte Plas - Lower School Dutch

June comes to ISA via the International School of

Geerte comes to ISA after living in Madrid for 5 years

Stavanger. She holds bachelors’ and masters’

where she taught Kindergarten as well as Spanish and

degrees from George Washington University and is

Dutch. She studied Romance Languages and Cul-

now pursuing a doctorate from the University of Bath.

tures at the University of Granada and has a teach-

Mary Lowe - Grade 6 Individuals and Societies

moved back to the Netherlands at the end of last year

Mary joins the Upper School Humanities team

and she is excited to combine her passions of teach-

having taught humanities at the Pan American School

ing young children and teaching languages.

ing certificate specialising in Early Childhood. Geerte

in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the High School of the Pacific in Hawaii and in Minnesota. She holds an Educational

Joshua Smith - Upper School Physical & Health Education

Specialist degree in school leadership from Concor-

Joshua joins the Upper School PHE department.

dia University, a Master of Teaching degree from the

Originally from New Zealand, he has completed a

University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree in

bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the

sociology and cultural studies from the University

University of Canterbury, New Zealand as well as

of Minnesota.

a Graduate Degree in Teaching from Christchurch College of Education. Joshua was previously a PE

Marco Martinez - Lower School Counsellor

teacher and Grade-Level Head at Cashmere High

Marco comes to ISA after seven years as a teacher

School, New Zealand.

and lower school counsellor at Singapore American School and

Shaw Middle School in Washington,

Violeta Vicario - Lower School Music

DC. He holds a master’s in counselling from Capella

Violeta joins the Lower School Music team. A native

University and master’s in Elementary Education from

of Spain, Violeta holds a master’s degree from Lesley

Johns Hopkins.

University in Cambridge Massachusetts and a Music Education undergraduate degree from the Universi-

Gail O’Connell - Lower School EAL

dad Autònoma in Madrid.

Gail joins the Lower School EAL team having taught EAL most recently at the Oberoi International School

Julia Watson - Upper School Drama

in Mumbai, where she was the K-12 EAL Coordinator,

Julia teaches Drama and Music in the Upper School.

and has taught EAL at numerous schools across the

She completed her studies at Indiana University and

globe. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum with

has taught at St. George’s British International in

a focus in EAL from Mt. St. Vincent University in Nova

Rome, ACS Egham and Halcyon London International

Scotia, a teaching certificate in TESL from the College

School.

of New Jersey and a bachelor’s degree from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. She has also served as

Erika Williams - Grade 2

an EAL consultant and teacher-trainer at international

Erika joins our Lower School faculty. She holds a

schools in India and Russia.

bachelor’s and master’s degree from Stanford University. She comes to ISA from the Overseas Children’s

Shauna Petrie - Grade 2

School in Colombo, Sri Lanka having previously

Shauna Petrie comes to ISA from the Bilkent Labora-

taught in San Francisco public schools.

tory International School in Ankara, Turkey. She has also taught in elementary schools in Nova Scotia,

Jessica Williams - Grade 7 English

Canada, North Carolina, USA and London, England.

Jessica Williams joins our Upper School English de-

Shauna has completed studies at the University of

partment. She has completed a bachelor’s degree in

Maine and St. Francis Xavier University.

secondary education from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in Literary Studies from the University of Leiden. For the past ten years she has taught English at a high school in Culemborg here in the Netherlands.

The CDLT

From technology to time management to intercultural learning and literacy, the events held during 20162017 at the ISA Centre for Development, Learning & Technology (CDLT) covered a wide array of topics for professional development for educators and staff within the international education community. The CDLT hosted 13 events during the year, integrating classroom visits into many of the events so that attendees could gain a fully holistic experience from

soft, on time management and effi ciency, to work with support staff from several schools. Admissions, IT and Technology, Advancement, Alumni Relations and Communications are other areas that we have on the calender for the future.” explains van Teijlingen. The coming school year off ers even more opportunities with topics covering design and

the event by watching learning in action.

maker-centred

“This is one of the things that truly makes our

events scheduled in collaboration with the Academy

professional learning opportunities stand out from the rest” notes Jackie van Teijlingen, CDLT Events

learning,

mathematics,

single

subject curriculum design, child protection and of International School Heads, Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Agency by Design programme

Coordinator.

and Project Zero.

“Our teachers, assistants and students are excited

All in all 19 events will be held in the 2017-2018

to share their learning and to give their perspectives on what works well within a classroom and what can

calendar and the Centre expects to see more as the popularity of the events grows.” refl ects van

be improved”

Teijlingen.

“We’ve also introduced events for support staff ,

“Our events are created by educators for educators.

because we recognise how important it is for all members of a school community to be the best professionals they can be. This year we brought in 10

Vikki Sokel, who trains Bill Gates’ team at Micro-

We attend conferences, send out surveys and gain feedback from our own teachers to ensure we are always providing content that is both relevant to educators around the world. It’s an exciting time.”

Dedicated to Professional Development by Teachers for Teachers

Cultures of Thinking & Leading a Culture of Thinking Workshops

3rd European Conference on iPads in the classroom

January 18 - 20, 2018 Two workshops to help you develop thoughtful learning environments which foster powerful learning for students and teachers and will help you to lead a Culture of Thinking in your school. Both workshops are led by Dr. Ron Ritchhart, Principal Investigator for the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Cultures of Thinking Project.

February 8 - 9, 2018 Join us in February at the CDLT for two days of Wnetworking, sharing and inspiration to jumpstart innovation in your classroom.

Academy of International School Heads Retreat March 1 – 3, 2018 Join us at CDLT in March for the Academy of International School Heads Retreat. Engage, collaborate and learn with a global community of leaders to infl uence policy and practice in International Schools leadership.

Strategic Marketing & Communications for International Schools

Design and Maker-Centered Learning Workshop

February 15 - & 16, 2018 Discuss the latest strategic communications and marketing trends at international schools and learn how you can make your school stand out from the rest.

February 22 - 23, 2018 This 2-day interactive workshop session will explore the framework for maker-centered learning developed by the Agency by Design research project at Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero.

How to prepare a stand alone unit: PE, Arts and Additional Language

Mathematical Task Design for Engagement and Mathematical Thinking

ISTA presents…1 day studio – South African Protest Theatre

March 23-24, 2018 Our world is changing, we as teachers prepares the students for the future, for the unknown… During this workshop we will discuss how we will prepare them for tomorrow by sharing the importance of teaching using the conceptual level in teaching and learning.

March 23-24, 2018

May 4, 2018 In this 1-day studio, participants will explore South African Protest Theatre and the playwright Athol Fugard using the concepts of Growtowski’s Poor Theatre and the Laboratory.

Explore the elements of rich mathematical tasks through exemplifi cation, analysis and development by experiencing tasks fi rst hand and putting yourself in your students’ shoes so that you can explore, refl ect and share their experiences with diff erent approaches to task design. Join us and leave enthused by new ideas and armed with resources, inspiration and ideas to take back to your classrooms.

On 3 June, 2017, the ISA World Theatre really lived up to its name, being full to capacity with proud family members and friends from around the globe, who gathered to witness the ISA Class of 2017 celebrate the end of their ISA journey. The commencement ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of ISA’s largest graduating class (72 students), to acknowledge their numerous contributions to the fabric of the school, and to look forward with high hopes for what the future may hold in store for each and every one of them. As is done each year, a number of annual awards were presented to several members of the graduating class for their individual, outstanding contributions to ISA and its community during their time at the school.

The ISA Leadership Award The winners of the ISA Leadership Award are voted on by ISA faculty, and they are recognised as members of the ISA community who are shining examples of leadership.

The

ISA

Leadership

Award recipients were Allison Schwartz, Jella Jessurun and Matthew Anderson..

The ECIS Award for International Understanding The ECIS Award for International Understanding is presented to a student who has represented his or her country well, can speak at least two languages and contributes positively to the spirit of international understanding at ISA. The 2017 honour was awarded to Natsu Kajiwara.

The ISA Award and the ISA Athletic Award In recognition for his efforts in bringing a positive attitude to education at ISA across a range of subject areas, and for espousing the high ethical and moral standards that ISA aims to inspire in its students, the ISA Award was presented to Samuel Freeman. Samuel also demonstrated prodigious talent in the sporting arena for ISA, and for this was also awarded the 2017 ISA Athletic Award.

Peggy Brannigan Award for Environmental Services The prestigious Peggy Brannigan Award for Environmental Services was bestowed upon Alexander Meyer in recognition of his efforts through the ISA Green Team for the protection of the environment, and his actions as a role model for all students in the school in this area.

CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) Award Finally, for commitment and effort in service of others right throughout her IB diploma studies, Carmen Barragan Lopez was awarded the CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) Award. Through this award ISA acknowledges its dedication, as an IB World School, to creating ‘a better and more peaceful world’.

IB Results The ISA class of 2017 performed excellently in their

A testament to the consistently fantastic level of

IB examinations, reaching some truly landmark

academic

achievements for the school.

group of graduates is that over 25% of the diploma

achievement

demonstrated

this

recipients scored 40 points or higher. It is also very The average overall points score of 35 was the jointbest at ISA in over a decade. The average grade per course was 5.43, over 0.5 points higher than the

notable that, for the fi rst time ever, the percentage of students in a graduating class at ISA leaving with a bilingual diploma reached 50%.

global average (4.89). Congratulations to the Class of 2017!

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

Number of candidates who passed the diploma:

Average points of candidates who passed the diploma:

Highest diploma points awarded to a candidate:

World average subject grade of students who passed the diploma:

5.00

5.06

4.99

4.95

4.89

Average subject grade of ISA students who passed the diploma:

5.58

5.35

5.34

5.26

5.44

Nearly all ISA graduates pursue higher education. Graduates from 2015 - 2017 have been offered admission at the following institutions (university names in bold indicate those to which ISA graduates matriculated).

CANADA HEC Montréal McGill University Queen’s University University of British Columbia University of Calgary University of Guelph University of Manitoba University of Toronto University of Waterloo York University JAPAN International Christian University Keio University Nihon University Ochanomizu University Okayama University Osaka University Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Sophia University Waseda University Yokohama City University Yokohama National University NETHERLANDS Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam University College ArtEZ Institute of the Arts Delft University of Technology Erasmus University Erasmus University College The Hague University of Applied Sciences HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht Inholland University of Applied Sciences Leiden University Leiden University College The Hague Maastricht University NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences Nyenrode New Business School University of Amsterdam University College Maastricht University College Utrecht University of Groningen Utrecht University Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Webster University

OTHER INTERNATIONAL Dublin Institute of Technology Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas (ESADE) The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology IE University Institute of Technology, Sligo Istituto Marangoni - Milan John Cabot University Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Monash University Trinity College Dublin University College Cork University of Hong Kong University Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) UNITED KINGDOM The Art Academy Aston University Bath Spa University Bournemouth University Brunel University Buckinghamshire New University Camberwell College of Arts Cardiff University Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design City University Coventry University Dundee and Angus College Durham University Edinburgh Napier University Exeter College Glasgow Caledonian University Greenwich School of Management Hult International Business School London Imperial College London Istituto Marangoni, London Keele University Kingston University Lancaster University Leeds College of Art & Design London College of Fashion London Metropolitan University London School of Economics and Political Science

London South Bank University Loughborough University Manchester Metropolitan University Middlesex University Newcastle University New College of the Humanities Nottingham Trent University Oxford Brookes University Regent’s University London The Robert Gordon University Roehampton University Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Southampton Solent University University of Aberdeen University of Abertay Dundee University of the Arts London University of Bath University of Bedfordshire University of Birmingham University of Brighton University of Bristol University of Cambridge University of Central Lancashire University of Dundee University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Essex University of Exeter University of Glasgow University of Greenwich University of Hertfordshire University of Kent University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Lincoln University of Liverpool University of London • Goldsmiths College • Heythrop College • King’s College London • Queen Mary • Royal Holloway • University College London University of Manchester University of Northumbria University of Nottingham University of Oxford University of Portsmouth University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of St. Andrews

University of Stirling University of Strathclyde University of Surrey University of Sussex University of Warwick University of the West of England University of Westminster University of Winchester University of York UCFB Wembley UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Adelphi University American University Boston College Boston University Brigham Young University - Hawaii Bryant University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Carnegie Mellon University Colgate University College of William and Mary Drexel University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emory University Florida State University Fordham University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Hofstra University Indiana University Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Kent State University Le Moyne College Marist College Michigan State University Mills College Minnesota State University, Mankato Mount Holyoke College New York University North Dakota State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oregon State University Pennsylvania State University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rollins College Sam Houston State University Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Seattle University

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Stanford University St. Cloud State University Syracuse University United States Air Force Academy The University of Alabama The University of Arizona University of California, Berkeley University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Colorado at Boulder University of Florida University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Duluth University of Minnesota, Twin Cities The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Dakota University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of St. Thomas University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Wake Forest University Washington State University Wellesley College Western Washington University

For James and Amelia there was no doubt what cause they wanted to raise awareness and funds for because it affected two people they love dearly -their twin cousins Thomas and Alice, both born with Cerebral Palsy. So, while raising funds for the Evelina London Children’s Hospital was a goal for Amelia and James, the way in which they did it was the most important and inspiring part. The Evelina London Children’s Hospital, holds a special place in the Langbridge family’s hearts as its doctors and nurses have saved the lives of Amelia and James’ cousins on many occasions. Thomas and Alice, twins aged 14, were born extremely

Climb Every Mountain

prematurely, resulting in them having quadriplegic cerebral palsy. During one particularly life threatening stay in the hospital Thomas’s father James promised his son that if he pulled through he would take him up a mountain. And with that promise, a new journey was to begin in all of their lives. Amelia wrote a blog post for her class to explain why she and her family were raising funds. Hello, my name is Amelia Langbridge. We are raising money for the hospital that treats our cousins, Thomas + Alice (Evelina London Children’s Hospi-

A bucket list is often very personal, containing clues to a person’s dreams and hopes and providing a way to meet personal challenges to grow. For some it is about overcoming fears, while for others it is about expanding personal knowledge of the world around them or simply just trying new experiences. However, sometimes trying something new is linked to more than a tick of a box on a list. If you were to stop and talk to ISA students Amelia and James Langbridge, you would see that sometimes reaching a personal goal can be driven by a deep sense of love, loyalty and a commitment to see promises through. We only have what we give... At ISA students in both the Lower and Upper School can request to host fundraising events to support causes of their choice. Often students choose organisations based on topics that have arisen from their classroom discussions or from awareness campaigns from one of the school’s 50+ student clubs. 16

tal), who have Cerebral-Palsy, which means that their brain can not tell them what to do. This means they cannot walk or talk.

The reason we did the hike is because of Thomas. When Thomas was in the hospital my Uncle James promised Thomas that if he survived through all his operations we would take him up a mountain. The mountain we chose was Pen-Y-fan [in Wales]. First, we tied ropes to the twins’ wheelchairs and then we put two people on each rope and one person pushed the wheelchair. There were lots and lots of holes, rocks and rivers on the track so sometimes we would have to carry the wheelchairs. We could tell that Thomas was enjoying it so much because the whole way up he was smiling! When we reached the top everybody was amazed and we got a round of applause. In my opinion, it was amazing and I think that everybody enjoyed it and we all felt proud. All in all, a team of 40 friends and family (including all the Langbridges) lifted, pulled and pushed both twins in their wheelchairs to the top of Pen-Y-Fen–

additional 500 Euros to the fundraising pot. All in all,

Top photo:

Team Twinvincibles has nearly reached their goal

James, Amelia and their cousin, Thomas on their way up Pen-Y-Fen, the highest peak in Wales.

of 40,000 pounds. For more information on their fundraising efforts visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.

the highest peak in Southern Britain.

com/Team/Twinvincibles

Climb every mountain

The twins’ father, James Melville Ross, has also writ-

Two weeks after, the twins’ father, uncle and Amelia

ten a book telling the family’s “journey to happiness

and James’ parents Emma and Kris, decided to take the “Team Twinvincibles” fundraising challenge even further by climbing three peaks in three countries in

with severely disabled twins” entitled Two for Joy, which can be found in the ISA Upper School Library,

Bottom Photo:

and through major booksellers.

Team Twinvincibles

the Alps over six days. Of the peaks they climbed the highest was Gran Paradiso, Italy’s highest mountain, where they even overtook the Italian army during the climb. Like her children, Emma focused on the end goal. She noted, “As we were teetering across terrifying ridges with sheer drops either side I had to stay focused on why we were there - to raise as much money as we could to say a big thank you to the amazing hospital that has supported my brother and his family for so many years.” The Langbridge family indeed personifies what ISA and IB programmes around the world stand for compassion, caring, risk-taking, reflective, principled and so much more. In the end, James and Amelia raised an amazing 237 Euros, which was generously supported by ISA’s SHARE group, who added an 17

“InnovatING” for the win The ISA Innovation Club, a group of students in grades 4 and 5 interested in how innovation drives change, continued its collaboration with ING Bank, serving as the company’s “Kid’s Council”, providing strategic advice from the view point of children in innovation in the workplace. In addition to advising the bank, the students come up with their own projects and innovations to solve problems in society

from around the country and the International School of Amsterdam was awarded the silver prize for Innovation for “the best innovation that emerged from the collaboration between the organization and its Raad van Kinderen.” The school plans to continue working with the Kid’s Councils and looks forward to having the chance for

and business.

ISA students to connect with members of the Dutch

The collaboration between the student group and the

their lives, but the lives of communities around the

global business entity arose from a project started by the Missing Chapter Foundation, a Dutch not-forprofit organisation, founded by Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentine van Oranje. Through her foundation children throughout the Netherlands have been able to become active participants designing their own futures, and guiding businesses, hospitals and governments in new ways of thinking and “out of the box” approaches - all with the fresh eyes and perspective of a child.

government to address issues which affect not only world. Congratulations to all the students who are members of the ISA Innovation Club and to our wonderful innovation partner, ING. Thank you to the Missing Chapter Foundation, the National Kid’s Council and ING for inspiring our students, and others, to believe in themselves, and to use their skills and knowledge make positive and lasting change for future generations.

As a result of the successes of the various Kid’s Councils, a National Kid’s Council (Nationale Raad van Kinderen) has been developed, which allows children to extend their guidance to a next level - the cabinet of the Netherlands, the main executive body of the national government. This past June, a ceremony was held to award honours to the top initiatives from the Kid’s Councils 18

For more information in the National Kid’s Council visit http://www.rvkawards.nl/en/. To watch a video summary of the ISA/ING project visit: http://bit.ly/ISAinnovate.

Inquiry and the PYP The International Baccalaureate recently completed

ceptual learning to help the student to understand

a review of the Primary Years Programme curriculum

broader-based ideas surrounding a topic or subject.

and ISA Grade 2 teacher, Melanie Smith, was able to take part in a signifi cant way to ensure that the solid

An example of such learning might be how exploring

pedagogy and methodologies used in ISA’s approach

the concept of innovation can lead to a greater un-

to the PYP become part of a global good practice

derstanding of how to decrease food waste at home,

standard for new and established IB schools.

at school or within the community. In approaching

Inquiry-based Learning

learning in this manner, teachers can use a transdisciplinary approach so that students can gain a

Representatives from the IB interviewed Melanie and

better understanding of the links between subjects

visited the school to complete classroom observa-

like science, maths, and languages in their learn-

tions to learn more about her journey with Inquiry.

ing process and in everyday life situations. Learning

The goal of the IB was to see “the process of inquiry

then drives questions and from those questions even

in action, to explore some examples of inquiry learn-

more emerge.

ing in a school and to develop a better understanding of the ways in which inquiry learning is personalised

Melanie’s work and contributions can be accessed

through context and student needs”.

through new training materials for educators on the PYP website. For more information on inquiry learn-

For both Melanie and ISA this was a fantastic oppor-

ing and the IB visit. www.ibo.org.

tunity to explain how ISA’s inquiry-driven approach creates “meaningful and memorable” learning for students. Melanie and other ISA teachers use con19

Bug Parade Cute as a bug...literally! Once again the ISA grade 1 students wowed the school with their annual end of the year Bug parade on June 16, where students dressed up as their favourite insect and paraded throughout the Early Childhood and Lower School before setting off to dance the afternoon away at their very own bug disco.

Grade 4 Market The annual Grade 4 Marketplace was once again open for business in the ISA main foyer this Spring, with students presenting and selling a wide variety of products and services, to gain a better understanding of how free markets work and what is involved in creating and setting up a business. From creating partnerships to designing business plans and formulating calculations for profit and loss, the students were able to gain a better understanding of not only how a business works, but how consumers contribute to society - socially, economically and politically.

Math Quest ISA Lower School students represented the school this Spring at the ECIS Math Quest competition at the International School of Geneva. In total there were 29 teams from throughout Europe as well as schools from as far as Oman and the United States. The ISA team placed 11th overall with one student coming in 19th in the individual overall standings. The students who attended were part of the ISA Math Club - which had almost 30 students participating every week.

Puppeteer Rod Burnett Good Geppetto, you have given so much happiness to others, that you deserve to have your wish come true - The Blue Fairy, Pinocchio In early 2017, ISA was honoured to have world-renowned puppeteer Rod Burnett return to our school to entertain our Lower School students with his special gift of storytelling, bringing the classic story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ to life for our students. Every performance captured the spirit of true storytelling and drew the children into the tale. This was the gift that Rod Burnett gave to our students and thousands of others in his life. We were saddened to find out that Rod Burnett passed away on May 1, 2017. He was a gifted puppeteer, sculptor and artist who built a legacy through his company, Storybox Theatre, touring over 150 venues annually. Rod made his own dreams come true through his puppetry. We are grateful to have had his brand of magic shared with us. 21

Festival of Lights As the cold weather sets in and the days begin to get shorter, many cultures throughout the world hold festivals to celebrate “light” within their communities. At ISA, the annual Festival of Lights event allows several communities - Dutch, Belgian, Indian, Israeli, Spanish and Italian - to introduce Lower School students to their traditions, stories and beliefs surrounding why their communities celebrate light as the days get shorter. From the story of the menorah during Hanukkah to the learning about the festivals of Diwali and the lighting of candles and lanterns to signify the end of the lunar month, the students were able to sing, dance, and play games to extend their cultural understanding of each other’s traditions. International understanding at its best. 22

Green Team Parent Workshop Once again the ISA Lower School Green Teams

hosted a parent workshop to share the club’s latest projects and “sustainable learnings” with the parent community. Designed and developed by the students themselves through brainstorming activities and their own individual interests, the workshop featured over 20 specilaised exhibition tables, filling to capacity the school’s cafeteria annexes. The group projects focused on the growing number of environmental threats and challenges that our communities and planet face, while also providing positive action points to equip parents with the knowledge needed to promote sustainability and protect our resources. From stopping food waste in the cafeteria and home, to saving bees and reducing

ocean plastics and clean up, the event highlighted the students activism and learnings from the PYP transdisciplinary themes,’Sharing the Planet’ and ‘Resources and the Environment’. It is the commitment of our students, faculty and staff and parents that makes the ISA Green Team a success. This year, the school was up for re-accreditation for it’s Green Flag status from Eco-Schools, which it passed with flying colours. Thank you to everyone who makes the ISA Green Team possible. 23

ISA Authors Brett Preiss In 2017, he extended this beyond his classroom with the publication of his first novel Go, Percy! Go!, a delightful story of a one-winged pelican who learns that if he can believe in himself and take some risks, he can succeed beyond his wildest dreams. The book was inspired by a former student of Brett’s who had tragically lost an arm in an accident, but after While classrooms are often viewed as a place of

scoring a goal in a game of soccer with the other

learning for students, they also provide an environ-

children, found that he was not handi-capped but

ment for teachers to draw upon and reflect, to share

handi-capable!

and take in, class and life lessons. “The little boy inspired other children to believe in ISA English as An Additional Language (EAL) teach-

themselves and to take risks. He inspired me as well,

er Brett Preiss has worked with students for over

to write this story, Go, Percy! Go! My dream is to

two decades and has found that through creative

share this story with as many students as possible

writing, storytelling and collaborative discussion he

so they too, can rise above any limitations and to

can create valued understanding within his class-

believe that anything is possible if you really put your

room and school.

mind to it. “

Anna Lopez Decker In July, ISA Upper School Spanish Teacher, Anna Lopez Decker took part in a book presentation in Barcelona to promote the first instalment of her fantasy trilogy, “El néctar de los dioses” (The nectar of the gods). The first and second books in the series were launched in Spanish in September and October. English publications will soon follow.

declared killed in action and his name was added to a list of missing United States service men at the Netherlands American Cemetery in the small village of Margraten, in the south of the Netherlands,. close to Maastricht. Lt. Fleming is listed amongst the more than 1700 names on the Wall of the Missing, at the cemetery. Remembrance Day The observation of Remembrance Day is a deeply respectful and solemn occasion in the Netherlands and other European countries. With estimates

Paying Homage

ranging from 17 million casualties in World War I to 60 million casualties in World War II, the impact of loss of life is felt deeply across the borders of Europe. The May 4 and 5th Committee (Mei 4 en 5 Comité), a Dutch non-profit organisation, organises national events each year on May 4 (Remembrance Day) and May 5 (Liberation Day) to commemorate the sacrifices made to allow for the freedoms that modern

Dutch

society

enjoys.

2017,

the

Slotervaart and Osdorp branch of the 4 and 5 Committee, the municipality of Osdorp, and the Foundation for Adopting Graves American Cemetery, organised

Name: Fleming, Jr. Dover Chalmond

On October 10, 1943, just a few months shy of

Date of birth: April 20, 1917

and his P-47 Thunderbolt jet, crashed in a farmer’s

Company/Squadron: 63 Fighter Squadron

field just outside of Amsterdam in the small town of Osdorp. Second Lieutenant Dover Chalmond

Unit: 56 Fighter Group,

Fleming, from the American state of Mississip-

Plane serial number: 41-6268

pi, had earlier been flying a bombing mission from

Plane type: P-47C

Halesworth Airfield in the United Kingdom to attack

Declared missing: October 10, 1943

enemy forces in nearby Bremen, Germany, when his

Declared Killed in Action: August 14, 1945

the end of World War II, a young American pilot

ceremony

formally

recognise

the contribution, and ultimate sacrifice paid by Lt. Fleming. Representatives from the United States Consulate and the International School of Amsterdam attended the event, giving speeches to pay tribute to the fallen soldier and to participate in the unveiling of the memorial plaque at the base of a standing memorial to two local military men, Petrus Franciscus Bierman and Jan Kars, who also perished in the war.

plane was hit by enemy fire.

“This plaque commemorates an American pilot of the

Witnesses in the area recalled seeing the plane crash

his P-47 Thunderbolt was hit by a German fighter. He

US Army Air Force (USAAF). On October 10, 1943,

into the field and watching German troops take Photo; Lt. Dover C. Fleming

away a badly wounded Fleming. What happened

Photo source: Paul Schouten, Michel Beekrs,/NigelJulian www.56thfightergroup.co.uk

to Lt. Fleming after that is unknown.

Despite a

reputation for detailed record keeping, there have been no reports, records or witness accounts found in Nazi documents to explain what happened to Lt. Fleming once he was captured. His body was never recovered. After an unsuccessful search to confirm his whereabouts and status, Lt. Fleming was formally

crashed near this area, was wounded, went missing and declared killed in action. 2nd Lt. Dover Chalmond Fleming Jr. (1917), Pilot He sacrificed his life for our freedom.”

ISA hopes to adopt the monument in the future so that students who are studying the war, can visit and help to maintain the site so that future generations never forget the sacrifices made during war.

The Beatles, the Monkeys, the Jackson 5, Duran Duran, Menudo, New Edition, NSync, One Direction... the list of the world’s most popular (and loved) boy bands could go on and on. Since the 1960’s, the impact of male harmony singing groups on popular culture has been influential on shaping teenage lives - from immortalising a first crush to creating new fashion trends that often left teens and young adults feeling empowered, and their parents frustrated. While many may think that the influence such bands have is trivial or superficial, there is one band out there set to prove everyone wrong. Up and coming Irish boy band, Taken, is using their youth and immense talent to connect with young audiences in schools around the world to tackle one of modern day societies biggest problems amongst youth -

build relationships, the distance that social media provides from sender to reader and the opportunity to remain anonymous in apps like Kik and Sarahah, have given rise to increasing amounts of online hate, bullying and taunting. As a school, ISA is committed to tackling these issues, and thus when the opportunity arose for the band to come to the school to share their mission, the school readily accepted it. The band performed for students in grades 4 and 5 and grades 6 through 8, engaging students between sets with age-appropriate discussions and examples of how to be a good cyber citizen, as well as a good friend and classmate.

cyber bullying.

Members Stephen Barron, Eoghan MacMahon and

It has been estimated that 1 in 3 students have suf-

sets and shared their own personal stories in dealing

fered from cyber bullying as the reach of social media channels and apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat extends further into children’s social lives.

Image: Publicty Picture

Richie Power talked frankly with students between with online bullies and trolls, which provided a solid reinforcement of the digital citizenship curriculum that is being implemented throughout ISA.

While these platforms were initially created to help 27

By Rania Khan

ations described, and the more long-term forces that had caused these situations. After every few Q&A

I’ve lived in two very diff erent countries in the 14

sets, we were asked to share our insights.

years of my life: Bangladesh and the Netherlands. I was born and raised in the former, but the latter has

ISA is a diverse school where 40+ countries are

had a profound impact on who I am. It has made

represented. Looking around the room at the Anne

me believe in action and change; it has provided me

Frank Huis that day, an international infl uence was

with broad avenues in which both are possible. I am

also refl ected, with students who hailed from coun-

lucky.

tries ranging from the United States, to the United

Testing Stories that Move at the Anne Frank Huis

Arab Emirates, to Nepal. This diversity made the discussions more interesting, as people shared a

Recently, I was asked to visit the Anne Frank Huis

broad range of ideas and conclusions, each uniquely

to test select portions of Taking Action and Under-

informed by their own life experiences. We were a

standing Media, the third and fourth sections of the

beautifully diverse group, just like the world as a

Stories that Move curriculum. I had previously had

whole.

the opportunity to test the fi rst section with my grade at the International School of Amsterdam (ISA), as

Understanding Media

many of our teachers were contributing to its devel-

While working with the Understanding Media section

opment. This time, however, fi ve of us were asked to

of the tool, we were asked to list the diff erent types

go to the Anne Frank Huis with members of the ISA

of media we consumed according to the amount of

chapter of Amnesty International for a special day of

time we spent on them, the amount of trust we be-

testing and feedback from the youth point of view.

stowed on them, etc. This prompted us to confront

Taking Action

our own habits, and the limitations they often place on our world view. Later, I observed highly astute

When working with the Taking Action section, we

refl ections on media biases, the importance of a

were shown videos on the website. Some were of

separation between editorials and factual journalism,

people who had lived through terrorist attacks, oth-

and discussions on the danger of media bubbles.

ers of people who had experienced the day-to-day

discrimination we often dismiss, and yet more of

Following our testing, each and every person came

people trying to address these issues and make a

forward with his/her own feedback as to how the

change. We were asked to think about the stories

tool could be sharpened: some recommending even

that were shared: their contexts in terms of the situ-

more sharing and discussions, and others express-

ing affection for activities similar to one where the we were challenged to spot animals in an image of trees with confusingly intertwined branches, a task intended to show us the differences in our perceptions. Either way, every single student came away with a newly energised thought process, keen on spotting subconscious biases and taking action on them. This was evident in the rich conversations we had on our

and act more effectively, we might tap into unrealised potential. If only we presumed the best of youth instead of the worst, and understood the youth of today to be capable of learning about, talking about, and improving the complicated forces that shape our world, we could well be on our way towards some much-needed solutions.

way home that day.

Thus, the importance of accessible tools like Stories

Youth and Change

lifelong conversation that starts with ‘What’s wrong?’

This process of testing Stories that Move made it clear to me that people my age are perfectly capable of evaluating and discussing sophisticated concepts given the right approach. Many of my peers left that day with a new enthusiasm for progress and further action. It made me realize that if only we could expect ourselves and others to think more deeply,

that Move, that set out to engage young people in a and ends with a reflection on ‘What can I do about it?’, is clear. In fact, this is a goal that this world is needing now more than ever. This article was originally published on the Stories That Move website https://www.storiesthatmove.org/en/update5/

World Scholars Cup At ISA students are always encouraged to take on new intellectual challenges, so when the opportunity came up for Upper School students to participate in the regional Global World Scholar’s Cup last December, many students jumped at the opportunity. The World Scholars Cup competition is an international celebration of learning where students learn and compete in teams of three to showcase their knowledge and skills. There are regional, semi-final and final rounds and each includes four parts: team debate, collaborative writing, a knowledge test on

The ISA teams performed extraordinarily well in the regional round hosted in Amsterdam with several individual titles as well as team wins, which allowed students to move on to the next round, which was held in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. With faculty chaperones, the students took in the sights, some additional well-deserved trophies, and high scores which qualified all ISA teams to the final round of competition at Yale University, where ISA took 1st in team debate and medalled in many writing and other areas. Congratulations!

the curriculum and lastly, a team challenge.

The

Brother’s

Grimm...Renowned

for

creating

stories that touch upon the often comical wickedness of human behaviour and habits, their influence on the world of enterainment is enduring. In the Fall of 2016, the ISA high school performed Into the Woods, a compilation of Grimm’s tales retold and connected. In keeping with the fairy tale theme, Rebecca Pugh, the director of the ISA Middle School production, chose “The Collected Grimm’s Tales” a play filled with catchy one-liners and true physical and slapstick comedy. Finding a play that connects with middle school performers’ interests and audience preferences can be difficult, but Pugh hit the mark with this selection, her first public performance as ISA’s new MYP Drama teacher. From Hansel and Gretel, the Tortoise and the Hare, the Golden Goose and Snow White and her “11 Dudes,” the play brought a hilarious modern twist to the classic tales. With multiple standing ovations and sell out performances in the 400+ seat theatre of ISA, Pugh’s first ISA production truly made it’s mark.

Jake Raben Photo credit: Gerry / gpfoto.ie

Aiming for Gold By Colm Brennan

For one sporting community, however, all eyes were focussed on the municipality of Amstelveen, the

The resurgence and consumption of “football fever”

city which houses the campus of ISA. On the fi nal

across Europe. The bright lights of boxing in Las

weekend of August 2017, the Dutch men’s and wom-

Vegas. The emotional and historical retirements of

en’s fi eld hockey teams sealed a dramatic double

track and fi eld superstars in London. In the summer

victory in the EuroHockey Nations Championships

of 2017, the growing infl uence and dominance of

at Wagener Stadium (the 5th such win for the men

the sporting world was well and truly felt by sports

and 9th for the women). One notable member of

enthusiasts around the world.

Amstelveen’s international community, ISA grade 11 student Jake Raben, was amongst the crowd, happy and refl ecting in the knowledge that one month prior he had begun making his own waves in the same sport – connecting his Dutch heritage to his deep

Dutch Hockey: Field hockey is the second most popular team sport in the Netherlands (after football). The Dutch hockey federation has over 250,000 members. That’s one in every 68 people in the country! 32

Irish roots. Following the path to hockey success The Dutch love of fi eld hockey is deeply entrenched in the psyche of the nation, dating back to the establishment of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond (Royal Dutch Hockey Association) in 1898 at the famous Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam.

From a silver medal win in the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics to back-back-to back wins in 2015 and 2017 in the EuroHockey Nations Championship, the Dutch have made the sport a national pastime, along with football and volleyball. The Dutch women are, in fact, the most successful field hockey team in history, having won the World Cup Championship six times. The men are also making a name for themselves, having three World Cup wins and attracting new and young talent to the pitch, and in Jake’s particular case, to the international stage (albeit ulti-

An All-Ireland Team: The island of Ireland is divided into two parts: Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Although the island is divided politically, for most sports the whole island of Ireland unites behind one team- field hockey included.

mately wearing green and not orange). In 2017, Raben earned his first international field hockey cap against Scotland, representing Ireland at the under-16 level. He then proceeded to

Irish Diaspora

earn seven further caps, as vice-captain, over the

According to the Irish Department of Foreign

following weeks. His latest achievement has seen

Affairs and Trade’s 2015 report Global Irish: Ireland’s

him invited to try out to represent Ireland at the

Diaspora

under-18 level. I had a chance to sit and chat with

people and their descendants living abroad has been

Jake on how he has made his own unique mark for

estimated to be close to 70 million people. This

Ireland in the summer of Dutch hockey 2017.

remarkably high number is testament to a long

The Long Road

Policy,

the

Irish

Diaspora

Irish

history of migration from a country with a current population of less than 5 million. One of the perhaps

“An ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding”

unexpected consequences of this large, extended

is a popular saying amongst sports fans of a rural

Irish diaspora has been the rise of the Irish presence

persuasion in Ireland. Sporting genes go a long way

on the sports fields. Some may remember that The

towards creating sporting stars, and Jake was not

Republic of Ireland’s football team was notorious

the first member of his family to represent the nation

in the 1990s for taking advantage of the “granny

of Ireland on an international stage for hockey. His

rule”: seeking out and recruiting the best sons and

mother, Ann, also represented her country at the

daughters of Ireland who had been born or raised

international level.

abroad to represent the nation. Through this strategy,

“I was born in Dublin and lived there for six years before moving to Paris for twoand-a-half years. After that, I moved here to the Netherlands. I was eight, and hadn’t played any hockey before.”

the Irish men’s football team were able to take better advantage of the more advanced coaching systems and academies present in the UK and abroad, and it developed a legacy that inspired an era of unprecedented success for Ireland at the international level.

In Ireland, the popularity of hockey paled in comparison to its status in the Netherlands, where children as young as five can be seen barrelling down fields swinging sticks. As a beginner, Raben had to start from a low base, but the right combination of genetics, passion and environment set something special in motion. Unbeknownst to him or his family, just eight years later, he would captain his home country’s under-16 national team to a 1-1 draw against his adopted homeland in a sport he had yet to sample. It would, however, prove to be a long road.

Top Photo: Ann Raben (backrow 3rd from left) on the 1980 Irish U-18 Women’s Hockey Team Bottom Photo: The Raben Family Finn, Jake, Ann and Luke at the European Championships

International Cap: A cap is a term used to describe an appearance by a sportsperson at international level. In the past, British national teams used to actually present a physical cap to players every time they represented their country. In more modern times, actual caps are more commonly awarded for symbolic appearances (such as a 100th appearance in rugby), but the term is still commonly used around the world to this day.

airport, training with the Irish squad on Sunday mornings and flying back to Amsterdam to be at ISA for Monday morning again. The driving force behind all of this, Raben says, is his passion for hockey, and for his country.

“If you want something badly enough, you really have to put yourself forward and devote yourself to it…. You have to take a risk in order to gain something”.

Although popular in football, this system hadn’t been

His commitment to his goal was rewarded as he

a common source of talent for Ireland in hockey. That

was selected to represent Ireland at the European

is, until Raben appeared on the scene. Through an

under-16 six nations tournament in Nottingham,

interesting twist of fate, his Amstelveen coach had

England, where he played against the Netherlands.

once coached a club in Dublin and brought Jake to

The Irish team, captained by Raben, unfortunately

the attention of the Irish under-16s manager. The

conceded an “equaliser” in the closing seconds.

Irish football team of the nineties was, at times,

However, Raben’s bilingual abilities with Dutch and

controversial for fielding players with tenuous links

English, proved to make all the difference on the

to the country, and players were sometimes accused

pitch making this game “probably Ireland’s best ever

of declaring for Ireland just to forward their own

game against the Dutch”. All in all, Raben’s presence

careers. For Raben, however, there was no question

surely bodes well for the future of the sport in Ireland.

of where his loyalty lay. “I’ve always thought that if my passport says ‘Irish’,

Organise and Conquer

I should be going for the Irish team; I would go for

One of the most striking aspects when discuss-

Ireland every day of the week. I am, in fact, one quar-

ing with Jake his journey to representing Ireland is

ter Dutch, but since day one, I’ve always felt more

how little the big commitments seemed to faze him

Irish and have been exposed to more Irish culture

throughout the process. At a time in his IB studies

throughout my youth”.

where the workload was extremely daunting, he managed to cope with the demands of the MYP

So despite the Dutch stamp on his hockey career, it

coursework in combination with training and com-

was the stamp on his passport that was all-important

peting at the highest level.

and the final decision maker. “It was a very busy year and a half”, remembers Raben. Jake Raben is the latest prototype of the Irish dias-

“The hardest component of it all was probably just

pora athlete: internationally oriented, but maintaining

trying to organise myself. When I first started off, it

a fierce Irish pride and connection with home. Irish International Once the Irish national team had been alerted to the latest Irish prospect living abroad, Raben’s long journey to playing for his home country began its most arduous leg. Selection to the final 18 players of the Irish squad came only after he had served his time representing his Irish province and advancing through to the official national team trials and training panel. This entailed him playing with his Dutch club on Saturday mornings, heading directly to the 34

was shocking. I was arriving home Sunday evening and staying up until two in the morning getting (my school work) done. “Then I started to realise that I had so much time in the airports that I could get my work done while

circumstance as an international school student, crediting ISA as “a very social place”, which has given him an ability to fit in seamlessly with a group of teammates coming from different backgrounds. And Next…

travelling, and in the end, it started working out well’.

It’s been a whirlwind year for Jake in his hockey

So, does he have advice for other students who may

achieved so far. He plans to continue pursuing his

be looking to balance an IB education with being a high-performing athlete? First and foremost, he places a lot of emphasis on planning ahead and being clever with the time needed to reach one’s goals. “Make sure you have strong organisational skills. With organisation, you can be free and keep your mind clear when you’re doing your own thing, whether it’s music or sports or anything else”, he notes. “I hear it a lot from kids, saying they want to study rather than going out and doing their own thing, but I believe that when you go out for an hour or two, it’s a relief from stress. When I’m on the hockey pitch, it’s a Zen feeling: I’m clear-minded, and I feel good about what I’m doing. It’s my stress reliever”. Jake also sought to draw strength from his unique

career, but he’s not happy to settle for what he has

Left Photo: Jake, Finn and Luke at Jake’s Irish training camp in Holland. TopPhoto: Jake in Ireland U-16 match against Belgium. Photo credit: Gerry /gpfoto.ie

passion, and to seek more success for Ireland. In 2016, the Irish men’s team qualified for the Olympics in Rio; the first Irish team to do so in over 100 years. The goal for Jake now is to strive to be a part of that new, bright future of Irish hockey.

“2024 or 2028: the Olympics in Paris or Los Angeles- that’s what I want”. For now, he’s celebrating his selection to try out for the Irish under-18 team whilst planning his approach to combining that with the last year of his IB diploma studies at ISA. It’s been quite a journey so far for Raben, and I sense there is a lot more yet to come. Watch this space. 35

NECIS Sports

Refugee Walk There is a saying that to really understand a person, you must first walk a mile in their shoes. It’s not a phrase that most people take literally, but it is one that is often successful in making someone pause and reflect on how another’s experiences have

seeking refuge within Europe’s borders. Launched in 2010, the Nacht van de Vluchtelingen was created to raise awareness of the growing refu-

shaped them and the life they are leading.

gee crisis throughout the world. Over time the num-

However, in June of 2017, several ISA students and

over 5000 people choosing to join the 10K, 20K and

their CAS (Creativity, Activity & Service) coordinators, Vlad Gogelescu and Jennifer Gryzenhout decided to “walk the walk” and take on a challenge that would help them to better understand, and connect with the lives of students they had befriended through the ISA student organization, the Buddy Project. Launched in 2016, the Buddy Project aims to promote the ISA mission “to educate for international understanding” by linking ISA students with local refugee teens living in the Netherlands. By connecting these students through activities such as movie nights, cooking sessions and cultural events such as Dutch language sing-alongs and museum visits, the project has given both sets of students the opportunity to find commonality within their lives, interest and hopes. For many of the ISA students the Buddy Project has also provided a means to better grasp the human story behind the refugee crisis in Europe and it was from these interactions that the group decided to participate in the local Nacht van de Vluchtelingen or “Night of the Refugee” walk in Amsterdam and the

ber of participants supporting the cause grew with 40K challenges. While the shorter walks take place during the day, the 40K event starts at midnight, with participants walking throughout the night through towns, dark paths through Dutch polders and back country roads to try to gain a small understanding of the physical, mental and emotional demands of a refugees who walk to find a better life. Although the event started with a rather festive atmosphere of music, motivational speeches and a collective group stretch, the ISA walkers and others soon realised that walking the equivalent of a marathon, in everyday tennis shoes and carry enough food and water for 8 hours, was no easy task. With each designated rest stop, the students began to show the effects of their journey. From blisters to knee and hip pain to hunger and thirst, the reality of travelling long distances by foot began to set in and it was a sobering, and for many, a life changing moment. The students would like to make this an annual event within the ISA community. While this year’s group fo-

surrounding communities.

cused more on the experience than the fundraising,

Refugee International, a global refugee non-govern-

ers sponsor them or sign up to walk one of the three

mental organization, estimates that “there are currently 65 million people displaced by war, conflict, and persecution” with millions more “displaced by climate events.” Statistics from Eurostat have indicated that in 2015 alone, it was estimated that asylum seekers coming to Europe travelled around 2 billion miles to reach their end destination. This equates to approximately 2750 miles or 4426 kilometres per 38

person for the 727,085 women, children and men

they hope to have more ISA families and supportevent distances. The inaugural 10-member ISA team raised almost 1400 Euros to contribute to the over 1.6 million raised throughout the Netherlands for the 2017 event. The Buddy Project will be recruiting walkers and organising sign ups in the Spring of 2018 to continue to raise funds and awareness for this cause.

PTA

The PTA had another successful and busy year, as the parent and staff communities continued to grow along with increasing student enrolment and hiring. The welcome programme at the start of the year introduced over 200 new families to the school community and its offerings, while recruiting volunteers to support the many PTA activities throughout the year. From the weekly Wednesday international coffee mornings, Let’s Go tours around the Netherlands, Let’s Read Book Clubs, Let’s Talk Language Lessons, annual book fair and larger community events like the 1200 person welcome barbecue and the ever-popular Winter Fair. This end of the 2016-2017 year also marked a handover in the PTA Executive Committee, with PTA president, Devyani Sen handing over the reins to a new team. Elections were held in April and the Executive Committee was voted in for the 2017-2018 school year. In addition a new teacher representative was also appointed. The new team members for 2017-2018 are:

President: Tolani Martin Vice President: Tasha Smith Secretary: Alex Davis Treasurer: Carla Almeida Communications Liaison: Sonja McGrew National Representatives Coordinator: Amanda Schwartz Teacher Liaison: Elaine Flynn

SHARE ISA is strongly committed to developing communities and SHARE helps to bridge cultures and create friendships through events that connect and unite students, parents and staff. The continued commitment of the SHARE team has allowed the wider ISA community to become personally involved in creating positive social change - and the real-world impacts from their fundraising can be seen in a variety of ways. For the past three years, SHARE has been coordinated by Marianne Heemskerk, who left the role at the end of the school year, after joining the ISA Board of Trustees. She says SHARE provides so many opportunities for students to help make a difference in the world, and it also brings a happy smile to the face of everyone who gets involved and participates in the many varying events throughout the year. “SHARE is a wonderful committee to work for. You get to coordinate the organisation of great events, focusing on fundraising but, in my case, also searching for those events which bring people together and help create a true ISA community.” “That is the best part of the job, to see so many happy faces and knowing that we succeeded in making a difference. When we share our talent and resources we can, and will, make a difference and aim for better global understanding,” Heemskerk said. Over the course of 2016-17 almost €27,000 has been raised through SHARE events, with funds raised contributing to a range of charitable projects, both large and small. Previous projects that SHARE has supported include the Tanzania Girls, Habitat for Humanity and Heifer Netherlands, PAWS, Operation Smile, WaterAid, Nunya Academy, Care Squares and many more. For more information on upcoming events and the projects supported by SHARE, be sure to keep an eye on the ISA Share website.

Amsterdam Alumni Event A night of fun at the Foodhallen as ISA alumni gather

have a strong connection to Amsterdam, whether

Last June, former students, parents and staff of ISA

simply enjoy visiting and reconnecting with a place

gathered at the popular Foodhallen in Amsterdam for a night of fun, socialising and reminiscing as ISA hosted its second alumni gathering of the year. The previous reception was held in London at the beginning of the year. The event was well attended by alumni from across the years, with students who attended ISA in the 1980’s, all the way up to recent students who left ISA in 2016. Also in attendance were ISA’s new Associate Director for Teaching and Learning Sarah Grace, Operations Manager Rob Boos, and Alumni and Ad-

they decided to stay in the Netherlands after ISA or they used to call home,” noted Matt Jasinski. Jasinski said the Alumni Offi ce is looking forward to hosting more receptions in the coming year. “I really hope that our alumni enjoyed this opportunity, as well as the reception in London, to reunite. We are hosting more receptions in the new year in 2018, with a return to London in January and a trip to New York City for the fi rst time in February.” Earlier this year, ISA launched an online platform,

vancement Offi cer Matt Jasinski.

isa-alumni.nl, that gave former students, parents

Recent graduate from 2016, Natasha Vohra, said it

with each other. If you are interested in receiving

was lovely to see old friends and teachers at the re-

and staff even more ways to connect and engage information about our alumni receptions, we strongly

ception.

encourage you to sign up and create a profi le.

“It’s really fantastic that we have programs like this,

Class of 2017 welcomed into the Alumni Community

so that even after we’ve left ISA we can all still feel

On their last day of graduation rehearsals, grade

connected.”

12 students gathered for a lunch sponsored by

While many of those in attendance were local, there

new ISA Alumni Platform and encouraged to stay

were some alumni who were on vacation in Amsterdam and took the opportunity to meet up with their old ISA classmates.

“It is really great to see that many of our alumni still

in Amsterdam.

the Alumni Offi ce. Students were introduced to the connected to ISA. Students were also given their yearbooks which allowed them to refl ect on their achievements over the past year, as well as a Class of 2017 alumni shirt to help them remember their time at ISA as they embark on their next journey.

Upcoming Alumni Receptions Start off the new year celebrating with the ISA alumni community. Join us as we host receptions in London on 21 January and New York City on 4 February. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP through the ISA alumni platform. These events will be a great opportunity to connect with old friends, as well as make some new ones. We hope to see you there!

Withdrawal Survey Like most international schools, ISA’s community is always changing. With the

edgeable within their subject and demonstrated care

average student stay of 3-5 years, our community must sadly say goodbye to

and concern for their children. Additionally, ISA’s in-

many families each year, whether they are graduating from ISA or moving on to a

ternational community and emphasis on internation-

new adventure.

al understanding were highly valued. Parents found it beneficial to be part of a global community where

We have taken steps to give our leaving families the opportunity to reflect on their

different cultures are represented and celebrated.

time at ISA. Over the years, ISA has conducted a variety of surveys to ensure that we have an understanding of both the perspectives and the interests of our com-

Parents also highlighted the IB curriculum, with ap-

munity. The data generated from these surveys allows us to review opportunities

preciation for the curriculum’s international focus,

for growth, as well as to identify ways in which we can further support families

representation of different learning styles, teamwork

during their time at ISA and in the next steps of their journey.

opportunities, and strong academic rigour. They also valued the fact that ISA’s academics place an equal

When families make ISA aware of their plans to relocate, we encourage them to submit an internal Withdrawal Form and Survey. The survey portion of this form provides families with the chance to provide feedback about their time at ISA, outlining

dren, particularly in relation to the IB Learner Profile. Parents recognised that their children have developed an open, inquiring mind and reflective outlook. Parents also valued the warm, positive and nurturing

their perceived strengths and areas of improvement.

environment at ISA, and the variety of extracurric-

In the 2016-2017 school year, ISA had a total enroll-

to learn outside of the classroom. Finally, the many

ment of 1,408 students. Throughout the year there were a total of 313 students that withdrew. The ISA Withdrawal Form and Survey was sent to the parents of all 313 children, with 298 forms submitted giving a

ular activities and sports which allow their children opportunities for parent involvement in the ISA community was also considered to be a positive aspect of the school.

response rate of 95.2%.

The survey also highlighted some areas that could

Parents were asked to rank various aspects of ISA

international community, the areas of improvement

through different prompts, as well as given the opportunity to provide qualitative responses about the school. We asked a variety of questions, including whether their own experiences reflected ISA’s mission, the overall value of education their children received and whether they would recommend ISA to another family. The results of these questions can

require more attention in the future. As is typical in an reflect the differing experiences of ISA families. While the quality of teachers and the IB curriculum were overwhelmingly seen as a strength, there were some parents who felt like these areas could be stronger. There were also a few mentions of additional support needed for students and a desire for more communication about student’s progress. The number of

be seen on the following page.

parents that listed an area of improvement was very

Parents were also given the opportunity to describe

sidered in the administration’s planning for the future.

the strengths of ISA for both their child and their family. The quality of ISA’s teachers was often cited as a strength of ISA. Parents felt as though the teachers helped facilitate growth in the classroom, contributed to a supportive learning atmosphere, were knowl-

emphasis on the holistic development of their chil-

low, but the recommendations provided will be con-

The results of the Withdrawal Form and Survey have been presented to the administration, Board of Trustees, and the Lower School and Upper School Parent Advisory Committees.

“As my child has been [a] long time abroad, we have been concerned about her possible low interests in our home country. But, thanks to ISA’s education for international understanding, she feels happy now to come back to Korea, her home country.” “Following the IB curriculum, our family will be able to travel around the world, with minimum impact on

ISA’s Mission is to educate for international understanding. How well does that phrase reflect your experiences at ISA?

94%

of responses indicate that ISA’s mission exactly or mostly reflects their experiences.

Exactly Reflects 149

the academic transition of the children.”

All School

“All 3 of my children have attended ISA and they have all had different but positive experiences. ISA provides an inclusive environment which is valued when you move away from from your home country.” “The community was such a gift for us moving to

Barely Reflects

103 Mostly Reflects 14

Somewhat Reflects

a new country. The school does an amazing job of bringing the communities together, helping families get adjusted while providing an excellent education for our children!“ “It is precious to have such a relation with the teachers and the school.Everyone is dedicated to the child and helpful for the family.”

TOP STRENGTHS FOR STUDENT Quality of Teachers International Community

How likely would you be to recommend ISA to another family?

96%

of responses are extremely likely or likely to recommend ISA to another family

Extremely Likely 171

All School 1

Extremely Unlikely Unlikely

4 5

Undecided

79 Likely

IB Curriculum Holistic Education School Atmosphere and Culture Extracurriculars and Sports

TOP STRENGTHS FOR FAMILY

Please rate the overall value of the education your child received at ISA.

91%

of responses rate the overall value as excellent or good

Excellent Value 131

School Atmosphere and Culture International Community Quality of Teachers Parent Engagement IB Curriculum

Unacceptable Value Poor Value

All School

1 1

Average Value

104 Good Value 22

The International School of Amsterdam

Connections

To Educate for International Understanding