THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FLORENCE NEWSLETTER , September 2022
Editor-in-Chief Tanya Bruckner
Editor Pender
Design and layout Hitchcock
Tipografia Color Print
ISF alumni, families, faculty, and friends are welcomed and encouraged to submit ideas and articles for consideration. Inquiries may be addressed to: communications@isfitaly.org www.isfitaly.org
From the Board, Cathleen Compton
From the Head of School, Sharyn Baddeley
COMMUNITY 5 7 Welcoming New Staff New Advancement Director, Nicola Pender
Parent Association Congratulations! Fiorentina vs. Verona Global Art Teachers Exchange, Tess Hitchcock 8 12 14 16 18 20 26 26 24 13
First Day of School Welcome Back Cocktail Summer Camp 70th Anniversary Celebration, Diane Lutz and Sue Yiannakis
We extend a warm welcome to all the new faculty, staff, and families to our school. We are very excited to begin this new year! We are especially pleased to welcome our new Head of School, Sharyn Baddeley. Sharyn’s experience in international schools and with the IB, as well as her friendliness and cando approach, will fit in well with our community. We can all be proud of the community-wide participation in the search that has culminated in her arrival at ISF.
We also welcome Nicola Pender, ISF’s first ever Director of Advancement, as she takes on this key role to bring us further towards the realization of our strategic goals. Nicola will spearhead the initiative to tap into our global network of alumni, an incredible group of people who are passionate about ISF. She will also work with the Board and the Leadership Team to open new resource streams.
ISF’s 70th Anniversary Year is off to a great start, with the Welcome Back Cocktail showcasing the school’s history and the many people who have belonged to this community over the decades. Students on each campus also gathered for a drone photograph as they formed the words 70 Years! Longtime teachers spoke of their early days at ISF and celebrated with cookies and cake. The Junior School children were visited by Miss Brooks, a 91-year old former kindergarten teacher who sang songs with the youngest ISF students and was greeted by colleagues, one of whom had been in her class many years ago! It was a poignant example of the important place ISF holds for many people.
The Board is focused on the current learning experience and supports leadership, faculty, and staff in their continuing collaboration to strengthen academics while also working to
foster the development of the whole child. The dedication of our extraordinary staff and our talented teachers is the beating heart of the school. As a Board, we take the opportunity to meet with students to be sure we hear directly from them, as we encourage student agency at ISF.
The Board also supports progress on the plan for a new build on ISF property adjacent to the Junior School in Bagno a Ripoli. The years-long process of creating a preliminary project and being included in the city’s urban plan has paid off as we take the last steps for permission to begin construction of the new school. It will be an exciting community-wide endeavor to think creatively about what makes a great school in today’s world and how a school building can be an expression of our values and aspirations. More information coming soon.
The Board works to be more visible in our community and to bring ISF into greater definition across the City of Florence. We continue to establish or renew ties with local government leaders as well as with like-minded community leaders and institutions. We are proud to have the US Consul General and the Mayor of Bagno a Ripoli as Honorary Board members. This Fall, we will be looking to recruit new members to the Board, by taking nominations from our community and beyond, and meeting with interested candidates in the coming weeks.
We look forward to engaging with students, teachers, staff, and parents to keep close to the many people who bring a special spark to our community. On behalf of the entire Board, we wish you all a wonderful start to this exciting 70th Year at ISF!
CATHLEEN COMPTON, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD FROM THE BOARD
Summer break is a great opportunity to reflect over the past academic year and think about our goals and aspirations and areas we want to improve as individuals and educators, and believe me my list is long and I am still adding to it. And it’s also a time for us to look back and reflect on what has already been accomplished and celebrate all our achievements.
This year we will continue to strive to create even more authentic, innovative and inquiry-based learning opportunities for students. We know that by working together we create opportunities for students to achieve beyond their own perceived ability levels. That is my goal for every student at ISF, success each day and in all areas.
As I think about the upcoming school year, I’m very excited about this next chapter we are about to write at ISF. As a team, we will refine existing processes and structures, as well as, implement new practices to enhance our culture of continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making, wholeschool learning, and communities of practices. Whilst we refine the ways we collaborate, make decisions, and solve problems together, there will also be a strong focus on continuing to build community, with each other, our students, and their parents. We will investigate establishing new research driven initiatives and continue to improve our own professional development. I believe this will have an enormous positive impact for everyone – especially our students.
For ISF to succeed we need to work together to encourage a meaningful common vision, to help students and parent’s perceive learning as a lifelong journey. In doing so, we must also encourage greatness and loathe mediocrity. As educators and support staff we must maintain high expectations and strive to see students excel. Students must be given the opportunity to maximize their potential and they should be inspired to do so.
Every child has the potential to attain greatness! The job of an educator is to harness a child’s abilities and set them free with the confidence and the necessary toolbox to succeed.
We know that we have work to continue, work that requires commitment, focus and collaboration and I know that we will all succeed. We will learn from our past to work on our future.
We look forward to a year filled with stories of great success and great learning.
Bruce is a native of Australia and is relocating from Beijing, China. He has his Masters in Educational Leadership & Wellbeing from Southern Cross University, and is joining ISF as the new IBDP Sports Exercise & Health Science teacher as well as a teacher within the PE and Wellbeing departments. Three fun facts about Bruce are that he enjoying fitness, follows the stock market, and has a ‘glass half full’ outlook.
SHARYN BADDELEY
Sharyn is a native of Australia and is relocating from Beijing, China. She has her Masters in Educational Leadership, Masters of Cultural Leadership, Bachelors of Applied Science, and Bachelors of Business Management. She is currently studying for her PhD. She is joining ISF as the new Head of School. Three fun facts about Sharyn are that she has a big sweet tooth (desserts, chocolate, etc), loves dancing, and loves cooking - but says she is not very good at it.
Alessandra is a native of Florence, Italy and has her Bachelors in Japanese from the School of Oriental and African Studies. She is joining ISF as the Upper School Receptionist. Three fun facts about Alessandrea are that she is a big fan of Queen Elizabeth and the British Royal Family, she is a food lover, and is a long walker (especially after eating too much).
RHONDA CARR BRUCE BADDELEYRhonda is a native of the USA and is relocating from Los Angeles, California. She has her Masters from Pepperdine University, and is joining ISF as the new Upper School Counselor. Three fun facts about Rhonda are: she has hiked the Great Wall of China; has eaten elk, alligator, ostrich, and grasshoppers; and her guilty pleasures are romantic comedies and twinkies.
Stefano is a native of Lake Como, Italy and is relocating from Shenshen, China. He has his MBA in Sports Management from SSBM and is joining ISF as the new Upper School Physical Education teacher. Three fun facts about Stefano are that he once owned a hostel on a tropical beach in Brazil, he has traveled on the road from Chile to Canada, and ran his first marathon in North Korea.
Ben is a native of the United Kingdom and is relocating from the United World College in Costa Rica. He has his Bachelors (Hons.) in Sociology from Lancaster and his PGCE from Keele and will be joining ISF as an Individuals and Societies teacher. Three fun facts about Ben are that Italy will be the sixth country he has lived and taught in, is moving to Firenze with his wife and two dogs, and is a keen photographer - especially birds and wildlife.
STEFANO FRIGERIO BEN FUGILL MELISSA GUARDINOMelissa is a native of the USA and is relocating from Northern Virginia. She has her Masters in Education from George Mason University and is joining ISF as the new Learning Support teacher. Three fun facts about Melissa are that she has dual citizenship with Italy and the USA, loves reading, and teaching is the family business!
JILL HOLLAND
Jill is a native of Canada and is relocating from Kaslo, British Colombia. She has her Bachelors of Education from the University of British Colombia and is joining ISF as the new Upper School English teacher. Three fun facts about Jill are that she loves theater and has been acting and producing for over 30 years, loves to find old furniture and use them as flower canvasesespecially sunflowers, and narrowly escaped a bear encounter recently!
Rosa is a native of Italy and is relocating from Norway. She has her Masters in Research and is joining ISF as the new Early Years 2 teacher. Three fun facts about Rosa are that she prefers cold weather even though she is Mediterranean, she loves and collect mugs, and according to her brother, makes THE BEST tiramisù.
Ben is a native of the United Kindgom and is relocating from the Millfield School. He has his Bachelors (Hons.) in English and Drama from King Alfred’s College at the University of Southampton. Three fun facts about Ben are that he enjoys playing the guitar, he has a very sweet tooth, and he can trace his family tree back to 1600!
Nicola is a native of the United Kingdom and is relocating from the Millfield School. She has a degree in Politics from the University of Nottingham and a Msters in Theology gtoom the University of London. She is joining ISF as the new Advancement Director. Three fun facts about Nicola are that her grandmother was Italian, she loves baking, and her family dog is Poppy, a very lively 2-year old laborador.
Raquel is a native of Spain and is relocating from the Netherlands. She has her Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Management and is joining ISF as the new Upper School LIbrarian. Two fun facts about Raquel are that she just bought a yellow van and she can’t wait to try Italian food.
Aaron is a native of the USA and is relocating from Tsukuba International School just outside Tokyo, Japan. He has his Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Bachelors of Science in History, both from Portland State University. He is joining ISF as the new IBDP Global Politics teacher as well as TOK and Social Studies. Three fun facts about Aaron are that he was a student-athlete throughout his academic career, is a nerd at heart, and with this move to Italy will complete the WWII Axis-nation residence trifecta (Italy, Germany, and Japan).
Lily is a native of the USA and is relocating from New York, where she just completed her Masters of Education from the Teachers College at Colombia University. She is joining ISF as the new Grade 1 Teaching Assistant. Three fun facts about Lily are that she loves skiing and was an instructor when she lived in New Hampshire, has her graduate school concentration in creative technologies, and likes picking wild blueberries and making pies and jams.
It is a great pleasure to introduce myself as the new Advancement Director at ISF! My role covers fundraising, alumni relations, communications and events, working closely with Tanya Bruckner.
I officially started on the 23rd August and moved to Italy with my family on the 18th August, so I am new in every way! We are from the UK and my husband is teaching English and DP Theatre at the Upper School, and our two children are attending the Junior School in Foundation and Grade 1 respectively. My background is in charities in the UK and Asia; my husband has been teaching for 18 years and we both worked at a large boarding school in the UK before moving to Italy.
My role is all about relationships. Relationships with former students, with current and former parents, with students and staff, and with the wider community in Florence, Italy, and beyond! One of the things I enjoy most is connecting people; when a student requires a specialist piece of information that an alumni can provide, or a recent leaver moves to another country and a parent or alumni can meet up with them and offer advice or support, or a parent comes into the school to speak to students about a project they are working on. My aim is provide lots of opportunities for the ISF Community to connect with each other and the school. Whether that is here in Florence or in another part of the world. I would love to hear from you if you are willing to connect with others, to offer support or advice, host events, or even share your ISF story. Please get in touch via n.pender@isfitaly. org.
This year, the International School of Florence has been selected to host the Global Art Teachers Exchange, a 3-day conference for visual arts educators. Teachers from all over the world are invited to attend, and this year we have teachers from 21 different countries traveling to Florence for art excursions and workshops (Cyprus, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Kenya, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America).
Spearheaded by Tess Hitchcock, the ISF Creative Arts Department will host the conference that will focus on the practice of making and teaching visual arts. The workshops are led by art teachers for art teachers and designed to be practical, hands-on and directly applicable to all classrooms.
On Friday, groups will be going on art excursions into the city center. These sessions will be structured like field trips, so teachers can see how they might bring these lessons back to their own cities and take their own students. Excursions include but are not limited to a historical tour of Florence given by our own Tanya Bruckner, visits to the Strozzi Museum and Uffizi Gallery, and urban sketching in the Florentine streets.
The GATE ethos is all about learning through collaboration. The success of the Exchange depends on 100% participation of the attendees -- so on Saturday, all teachers are asked to bring art samples, lesson plans, resources and creative ideas to share with other art teachers. All the workshops are teacher-led, which keeps the registration costs low.
Sunday makes room for teachers as practicing artists. Two sessions will be offered that provide time and opportunities to create, find inspiration, and perhaps try a new material or technique.
For more information, you can visit www.isfgate.org to see the workshops being offered this year, or email gate@isfitaly.org
As I have been at the International School of Florence for a long time, today I would like to share with you a bit of history about the school and a wish for the future. Way back in 1952 when our school began there was a famous song called “Que sarà, sarà” - Whatever will be, will be. Well our school was certainly meant to be! It began with only 6 students (can you imagine that!) and look at what an amazing school it is today with approximately 500 students.
I know that your teachers may have or will be talking to you about your hopes and dreams. Just as the founders of our school, Horace Wood Gibson and Paul Burke Mahony had a dream, with patience, perseverance, a lot of hard work and grit your dreams can come true too.
Our school is housed in a “delightful renaissance villa” as described by Lensi Orlandi in this book Le Ville di Firenze. In 1427 it was owned by one of the oldest Florentine families, the Bardi family. The last owner, Edith Farnsworth was a very unique person and an exceptional one at that. She was truly a Renaissance woman. She was a musician, a linguist, a medical doctor and last but not least a poet. She walked in our Italian Zig-Zag Garden with her friend the Nobel Prize winning Italian poet Eugenio Montale and they wrote poetry together. He even wrote a poem about a turtle in our garden. I hope you can find some quiet time to sit in our garden and write a poem, a story and maybe even a novel.
I have one last interesting bit of information and a small wish. In 1992, 30 years ago we placed a time capsule in the wall of the villa with various artifacts to share with the students who will be at the school in 2032. I helped my 2nd graders at that time select what to put in. 2nd Graders, you will be in 12th grade 10 years from now. I hope you will invite me back to the school to celebrate the 80th Anniversary with you!!!!!
I arrived at the American International School of Florence in September 1990 as a young mother with my 3 young sons, who, having completed their education at AISF, are now following their successful careers in various parts of Africa.
In April 1991 I started teaching at AISF, and have had the privilege of working under 9 Heads of School, taking part in the 40th, 50th and 60th anniversary celebrations, and have witnessed the phenomenal growth of our school from having a student body of 92 students, to becoming the International School of Florence, as we know it today, with a student body of 572.
During the summer vacation I worked alongside some of my colleagues to prepare the panels for each of our 7 decades. This was a wonderful experience as we researched pictures and events, and laughed and cried over memories that appeared. We pay tribute to all our colleagues and students who are no longer with us, but will never be forgotten.
I am honored to have been chosen to play a role in the ‘kick-off’ of our 70th Anniversary celebrations, and look forward to watching the future growth of ISF.
Diane Lutz Sue Yiannakis
The ISF Parent Association supports our students and staff through donations of time and talent. We also support each other as parents by sharing our experiences and knowledge as we all work to guide our students through their school years. We meet alternatively at the Junior and Upper School on the second Wednesday of every month.
• Research shows that parental involvement with their child’s education is associated with higher student achievement;
• Discover great resources and networking opportunities;
• Get to know the ISF staff and leadership team;
• Ask questions and speak up about what’s important to you;
• Make a positive impact on your child’s education. We hope you will consider joining us to meet with other parents and begin the important process of discovering great resources at ISF!
Nora Dearden, on behalf of the Parent Association, pa@isfitaly.org
CONGRATULATIONS SARA MASI! ELISA DI MICHELE, BORN JUNE 28TH, 3,440KG 50CM.
FORMER TEACHERS STEPHEN HARPHAM AND RACHEL MCDADE GOT MARRIED ON AUGUST 6TH IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.