ISK Annual Report 2013-2014

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014

E M P O W E R I N G S T U D E N T S TO C R E AT E S O L U T I O N S F O R TO M O R R O W ’ S C H A L L E N G E S

“The ISK Board of Directors worked together with members of our community through a challenging but rewarding year. The events of Westgate touched all of our lives and bound our hearts together.

We want to deeply thank our incredible staff and administration who worked so tirelessly to care for, instruct and inspire our students under extraordinary circumstances.�

Lilly Bekele Piper Chair, Board of Directors

MISSION, VISION & EDUCATIONAL AIMS All decisions at ISK are guided by three foundation documents. Taken together, these documents define our purpose, the educational beliefs that drive learning, and the specific learning outcomes we are committed to developing in each student. Those three documents are the Mission, Vision, and Educational Aims.

MISSION ISK provides an exemplary education offering both the International Baccalaureate and the North American diploma. We prepare students within a culturally diverse community to become informed, independent thinkers and responsible world citizens.

VISION Empowering students to create solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.

EDUCATIONAL AIMS ISK aims to empower students to respond successfully to future challenges for a rapidly changing world. To equip our students for these challenges, we strive to develop students of character who are: Principled: Students will act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice. They will take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

Respectful: Students will demonstrate respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities in their interactions.

Open-Minded: Students will understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories and will be open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities.

Caring: Students will show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others.

Risk-Takers: Students will approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They will be brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

Balanced: Students will understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal wellbeing for themselves and others.

Reflective: Students will give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They will be able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

Persevering: Students will persist in a task or course of action and seek solutions to problems despite challenges, failure or opposition.

ISK students will apply these character traits in order to communicate, learn, create, solve and act in ways that will enrich themselves, their communities, and the world around them.

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CONTENTS

6 7 8 9 17

Director’s Letter Board of Directors Board of Governors Admission & Advancement Student Academic Performance

26 27 36 39 42

Award Recipients Co Curricular Engagement Health and Safety Finance PTO

This publication was printed with environmentally safe processes and biodegradable inks. Information in this report was correct at time of printing. Up-to-date information is available on the ISK website: www.isk.ac.ke. Printed 2014.

Design and typesetting by SchoolBrand LLC / www.schoolbrand.com

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“Despite the challenges of the year, we have made good and consistent progress toward our goals thanks to the support and commitment of our parents, faculty, staff, and alumni.”

John Roberts Director, ISK

from the Director 2013-14 was another year of both challenges and achievements for ISK. The biggest challenges included the Westgate tragedy, with its resultant escalation in security concerns, and a mid-year move into temporary elementary and middle school classrooms to allow commencement of the “ES 15” construction project.

The Westgate Mall terrorist attack in September had a direct and profound impact on ISK as we lost several members of our community, including 9th Grade student Nuriana Merali and her mother. However, despite the trauma, grief and stress that those events caused, I was impressed with the resilience and strength of the community as it stood together in the face of potentially overwhelming tragedy. The school community actually grew in spirit and character, as did many of its individual students, staff and parents.

The other big challenge was moving classrooms mid-year, to allow an early start on the elementary construction project. Those challenges, as well, had unforeseen positive outcomes: an inspiring spirit of enthusiastic teamwork and excitement about change among our younger students, who played an important role in the move to new classrooms.

But the year may best be remembered as one full of achievements and things worth celebrating.

The very first day of school was a celebration of the grand opening of the new Commons, with its bright, contemporary, comfortable library, well-equipped media and tech spaces, new food

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services and outdoor eating areas, and new meeting rooms. The Commons has become the heart and hub of school life this year!

Throughout the year there were a string of accomplishments to celebrate. We had strong I.S.A. test results in all areas and a new commitment to a more inclusive admission policy and programs. There was very positive feedback in the annual Parent Survey and new opportunities for student leadership through the Global Issues Network and Round Square. We also expanded our community forums and feedback channels, including a newly implemented Child Protection policy, practices and resources. ISK also expanded its merit scholarship program in the high school and launched a revitalized fund-raising plan to generate additional revenue streams for a more secure financial future.

The year was essentially one of continued focus on our core values, community spirit, and strategic aspirations. ISK and its two Boards have set an ambitious trajectory for the school, with the new Educational Aims at the heart of our enterprise. Despite the challenges of the year, we have made good and consistent progress toward our goals thanks to the support and commitment of our parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. Asante sana.

John Roberts Director, ISK

“We want to deeply thank our incredible staff and administration who worked so tirelessly to care for, instruct and inspire our students under extraordinary circumstances.”

Lilly Bekele Piper Chair, Board of Directors

from the Chair of the Board of Directors The ISK Board of Directors worked together with members of our community through a challenging but rewarding year. The events of Westgate touched all of our lives and bound our hearts together. We want to deeply thank our incredible staff and administration who worked so tirelessly to care for, instruct and inspire our students under extraordinary circumstances.

As we look back, we celebrate the most significant achievements: •

The development and implementation of a more inclusive Admissions Policy that will admit students across the abilities spectrum from mild to moderate learning needs and the commitment of the necessary policy and funding.

•

New Elementary School building, which will allow for four streams in each grade, began construction in January 2014; to be ready by the summer of 2015.

•

First Fall Financial Forum was held in October 2013 to allow parents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the budget and financial policies and procedures that guide the work of the Finance Committee of the BoD.

•

Support of the Advancement office in the development of the first Communications Plan. Available on ISK’s website.

•

Approval of the five-year Technology Plan that will provide for 1 to 1 tablet or computer use to gradually be introduced beginning in 2014-15. Available on ISK’s website.

•

Approval of Facilities Master Plan Phase 2 of Faculty Housing to be ready by 2015; Phase 1 of Faculty Housing to be ready by December 2014. This is ISK’s first oncampus faculty housing! Ultimately, there will be 28 units of faculty housing.

•

Endorsed ISK’s membership in Round Square Association.

•

Supported Administration in significantly broadening security protocols.

•

Substance Abuse Policy Working Group was formed to review current policies and procedures. The BOD will continue this work in 2014-15.

•

Closely collaborated with BoG, Faculty Council, Administration and PTO during annual retreat and the various unique and challenging events throughout the year.

•

Aligned Facilities Master Plan with Long-Term Financial Plan

•

Jointly worked with BoG in reviewing current governance structure which beginning next year, will include BOG members on more BoD committees

Thank you for your partnership in serving our school, students and community.

Lilly Bekele Piper Chair, Board of Directors

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John Smith-Sreen

“On behalf of the ISK Board of Governors I want to congratulate the ISK community—students, teachers, staff, and parents, on another successful year at our beautiful school”

Chair, Board of Governors

from the Chair, Board of Governors I often visit the ISK campus and I frankly love doing so. Everywhere you look the dynamic spirit of ISK is alive and well. The Commons has truly become the heart of ISK, as it was designed to be. The new Operations facilities are providing improved logistical services for students and staff. New construction is in full swing for the Elementary School, with state-of-the-art classroom clusters. Teachers’ residences are springing up overlooking the scenic valley next to campus. Both these construction projects will be completed in 2015.

All of these physical improvements have been made while maintaining the beautiful green open spaces that make ISK so inviting. And all have been done while maintaining the school’s vision of, “Empowering students to create solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.” Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I believe ISK students are changing the world and will continue to do so in so many positive ways.

On behalf of the ISK Board of Governors I want to congratulate the ISK community—students, teachers, staff, and parents, on another successful year at our beautiful school. 2013-14 was a very successful year, but also an extremely challenging year, full of tragedy and triumph. Yet, ISK’s resiliency and commitment to excellence continue to shine through it all.

John Smith-Sreen BoG Chairman, 2013-14

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L O F K E N YA

ADMISSION & ADVANCEMENT

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Given its central location near the upper parking lot entrance to the Commons, the Advancement Office is a focal point in meeting a variety of needs for ISK families.

Lynn Wells Director of Advancement

from the Director of Advancement Admissions, alumni relations, marketing, fund raising and communications all originate from the Advancement Office.

time in ISK’s history. While security issues had an impact on new admissions later in the year, our expansion plans for the elementary school remain timely and necessary to help us fulfill our school mission.

This year the Advancement Office instituted several changes to help ISK achieve its mission, vision and educational aims.

The year brought important changes to the admissions process in all divisions of the school. Timelines were revised in consultation with each principal to help make the admission process more efficient for and transparent for parents.

These included:

And while wait lists remained in several grades throughout the year, the process for those students who were admitted was smoother and faster.

•

Alumni Relations – Expanded the quality and quantity of our contacts with alumni through increased use of social media and email. A summer Alumni Reunion in Washington, DC further extended the reach and impact of the ISK Alumni Association.

•

Communications – Improved overall communications at ISK based on the objectives and guidelines outlined in the board approved Communications Plan. (See ISK website for details)

•

•

Fund Raising – Enhanced the school’s potential for increased financial sustainability by adoption of a threetiered fund raising plan. Implementation began in August 2014 with a key goal of creating alternative revenue streams for ISK. Admissions – Student enrollment reached new heights in 2013-2014 when we exceeded 900 students for the first

One major improvement was the implementation of online application capability. As of June 2014, applications for admission will now be completed online by the parents. This ensures more accurate data in our student information system and makes the application process easier and faster, especially for those families applying from outside Kenya.

The Advancement Office is often the first exposure new families have to ISK and a helpful, welcoming atmosphere is our priority.

Lynn Wells Director of Advancement

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Welcome to our world!

In 2013-14, ISK had over 900 students representing 65+ nationalities. This diversity fosters a warm, welcoming atmosphere where new students are quick to adapt and appreciate each other’s cultures.

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53

72 17

8

12

8

9

1

247

1

4

3

6

4 1

5

1

4 3

1

1

ISK STUDENTS REST OF THE WORLD

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2

ISK boasts a vibrant community of 500+ families from around the globe. Below is a breakdown of our student body by nationality from the 2013-2014 academic year.

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1 10

2

1

1

2

1

4

2 4

22

1

35

5

1

4 1

6

10

4

2

5

40 2

1

9

7 3

74

2 3

1

6 1 4

11

21

2

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ALUMNI REUNION

ISK’s Advancement Office is pleased to announce the success of our first official overseas alumni reunion. It was held on July 24, 2014 at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC and attended by over 80 ISK Lions.

Former students, teachers, administrators, board members and parents reunited with old friends and had an absolute ball. In attendance were former school head Monica Greeley, former science teacher Harvey Hinsz and current teacher Brian Currey. Our alumni were absolutely delighted to mingle with former teachers and friends while reminiscing on all their experiences at ISK. Alumni from every decade since the 1960’s were in attendance.

Kenyan Ambassador Ms. Jean Kamau welcomed everyone back on “Kenyan soil”, which got a few of our guests teary eyed, and invited them all to celebrate with a cold Tusker and nyama choma.

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Reunion guests were also taken on a walk down memory lane by Warren Bufford from the Class of 1993. He captured the essence of ISK and why so many of our alumni love ISK so much. He mentioned Willy the Ice Cream Man, which got everyone laughing, with one alumni even yelling out “He still owes me money”!

Old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances were made. It was certainly a well-received event and we look forward to more alumni events in the years to come.

Pamela Pappas Communications Manager

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L O F K E N YA

Student Academic Performance

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT (ISA) Each year, our students take the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) ISA examinations that show achievement in core literacies (in blue), as compared to students in the growing number of ISA ‘like schools’ around the world (in orange).

‘Like schools’ include international schools with a similar native English speaking population to ISK. •

The ISA was administered for the fifth year at ISK in October 2013 to all students in grades 3 – 10 (with the exception of ESOL students with limited or no English skills.)

•

Over 33,000 students from 129 international schools participated in the October administration of the ISA.

GENERAL RESULTS: • Reading and Writing: ISK has demonstrated a steady upwards trend over the past five years with student scores statistically exceeding like schools in several grades.

•

Math: All grade levels continued to demonstrate growth and improvement and this year’s test result showed no grade level statistically below ‘like’ schools.

2013 RESULTS

ISK

Mathematical Literacy

Reading: October 2013

Writing Narrative

Writing Expository

Like Schools

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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) EXAMINATION RESULTS Seventy-five candidates registered for the May 2014 IB Diploma Programme examination session.

Forty-seven seniors were enrolled for the IB diploma, representing 72% of the 2014 graduating class. Forty-three seniors successfully earned the IB diploma, representing a pass rate of 91%. The

average diploma score was 33 and the average grade obtained was 5.23. The highest diploma points awarded to a candidate was 40. Twentyeight additional juniors and seniors completed IB courses either for certificates or in anticipation of their 2015 diplomas.

SCHOOL STATISTICS

Percentage of seniors attempting the diploma

Percentage of candidates who earned the diploma

Average points earned by diploma recipients

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Average course grade obtained by diploma recipients

Highest points earned by diploma recipients

% of courses for which ISK’s mean score matched or exceeded world norms

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CLASS OF 2014

Nadia Abdoulaye

Caela Burrell

Amalia Gross

Mussie Abebe

Nikita Chandaria

Imran Gulam

Vanessa Akiwumi

Aliya Chaudhry

Jonas Hansohm

Asha Ali

Alexandra Cusson

Miguel Hernandez

Adele Belanger-McMurdo

Nicholas Deal

Natasha Hira

Ibtissam Benbaha

Nicolaus Desai

Christopher Hopkins

Jana Beyers

Omar Disselkoen

Noella Kabaluapa

Ruhee Bhayani

Jesse Luke Dodge

Hildam Kahara

Nandi Blanchard

Britta Fischer

Annie Rita Kassarjian

Eminet Bogale

Olivia-Claude Fomete

Haun Kim

Alia Brandt

Ringo Groenewegen

Cora Lavender

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Congratulations to the Class of 2014! On Friday, May 30, our seniors enjoyed a special graduation ceremony and reception in honor of their wonderful achievement.

Seojin Lee

Lucian Ouma

Karan Shah

Natalie Lewis-Vass

Paul Pech

Meer Shah

Linnea Ljung

Tahnsarah Peters

Abenezer Shiferaw

Fanuel McCarthy

Renata Poulton

Avita Soor

Ellahi Meghji

Kavan Prabhu

Lydia Spilsbury

Avijit Minocha

Luke Reid

Ho-Jin Suh

Samson Mulugeta

Sierra Rostal

Marcus Sweeney

Steffi Mwanzia

Pratik Sarkar

Naman Tanwar

Elizabeth N’diaye

Aashnaa Savani

Sydney Tolley

Yumiko Nakano

Saurabh Sawant

Shubham Verma

Theodore Ochieng

Deep Shah

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CLASS OF 2014 ACCEPTANCES AND OFFERS UNITED STATES Arizona State University Azusa Pacific University Boston University (2) Bryn Mawr College California State University, L.A. California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo Carnegie Melon University Claremont McKenna College Columbia College of Chicago Connecticut College Cornell University Florida Institute of Technology Fordham University Fresno Pacific University George Washington University Hofstra University Ithaca College Kansas State University La Sierra University Macalester College Miami University Mount Holyoake College New Jersey Institute of Technology Northeastern University New York University (2) Occidental College Pennsylvania State University Philadelphia University (3) SUNY Buffalo SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Stony Brook The Landing School Union College University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago University of La Verne University of Maryland University of Massachusetts- Boston University of Michigan University of Minnesota- Twin Cities University of Rhode Island University of Southern California University of Southern Florida University of Southern Illinois- Carbondale University of Tampa University of Washington Wagner College Washington State University (2) Washington University- St. Louis Wesleyan University West Virginia University UNITED KINGDOM ENGLAND Anglia Ruskin University Aston University Coventry University Durham University East Anglia University King’s College University of London Lancaster University

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London School of Economics and Political Science Manchester Metropolitan University Newcastle University Queen Mary, University of London University of Bath (2) University of Birmingham University of Bristol (2) University of Cumbria University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Liverpool University of Manchester University of Nottingham University of Reading University of Warwick University of Westminster University of York (2) SCOTLAND Edinburgh Napier University Heriot-Watt University St. Andrew’s University University of Edinburgh University of Glasgow University of Stirling WALES Cardiff Metropolitan University Swansea University EUROPE FRANCE Lycée La Martinière Lyon , C.P.G.E (Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Ecoles) ITALY Florence Design Academy Florence Institute of Design International NETHERLANDS Hanze University of Allied Sciences SWITZERLAND École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne International Hotel and Tourism Training Institute CANADA Carleton University (3) Fleming College MacEwan University McGill University Queen’s University Simon Fraser University University of British Columbia (4) University of Ottawa University of Toronto University of Windsor Western University

AUSTRALIA Trinity College University of Melbourne Australia Institute of Music

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Luke Reid Gr 12 Director’s Award

Renata Poulton Gr 12 Outstanding Scholar Award

Adele McMurdo Belanger Gr 12 AISA Award for Excellence

Finote Gijsman Gr 11 Outstanding Scholar Award

Danielle Awori Gr 10 Outstanding Scholar Award

Mathilde Baekmark-Didar Gr 10 Outstanding Scholar Award

Matthew Roddy Gr 9 Outstanding Scholar Award

Lily Clurman Gr 8 Outstanding Scholar Award

Fletcher Peillet-Long Gr 8 MS Leadership award

Taylor Tamburri Gr 7 Director’s Award

Mahir Hossain Gr 7 Outstanding Scholar Award

Diederik Ten Bosch Gr 5 Outstanding Scholar Award

Serena Pradhan Gr 5 Director’s Award

Sankara Ganesh Gr 7 MS Leadership Award

Emily Langlois Gr 6 Outstanding Scholar Award

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L O F K E N YA

Co curricular Engagement

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SERVICE LEARNING

Service learning is an educational experience where participants contribute their time and services to the community and make a positive impact on their community.

Service Learning is an educational experience where participants contribute their time and services to the community and make a positive impact on their community. The desire to incorporate Service Learning into education is growing throughout the world. ISK is at the forefront of implementation in Africa. Each week we have 250 enthusiastic students participating in various school service programs and many more working on the week ends with their families or individual organizations.

Service Learning is growing at ISK. The program reflects our educational aims and vision respecting others, celebrating differences, cultivating empathy and recognizing human interdependence - the opportunities delivered by our Service Learning Program has become meaningful and sustainable partnerships with the partners we work with.

This year ISK has worked with 22 community partners across the three School Divisions.

From environment groups such as our new Greenhouse Project, dancing with Kibera kids, performing with the street kids of Shangilia, the reforestation of Karura Forest and playing sport, reading, teaching computers to those less fortunate. The impact of our actions has directly benefited over 2500 children. We are open to new ideas, approaches and opportunities to extend our program even further next year.

Please speak to Ms. Pierina Redler about this.

Through reflection, our students integrate both the service and the learning into their framework of personal experience. ISK students maintain

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an electronic reflective journal. One of our senior students wrote this year in their final reflection:“My leadership skills have greatly expanded.

I have empowered myself to take a stand and persist in the things I am passionate about. I have grown as a leader, a group member, a listener, an artist, an athlete, an assistant, a role model, and a facilitator. I have learned the power of persistence, passion, communication, teamwork, active listening, authority figures, sharing, love, empathy, will, and the power of a desire to succeed.

It’s easy to feed into the mentality that “I can just give them money” or “I’ll do it later” or “someone else will do it”, however I agree with the ISK CASL quote: “You must give time to your fellow man – even if it’s a little thing, do something for others – something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it” (Albert Schweitzer). I’ve learned that even if you make a slight difference in at least one person’s life, then you’ve made a difference.

My greatest pride and my most significant achievement is my Healing Arts Program: HeARTs. My passion for art and working with children, as well as my keen interest in psychology led me to fuse the two. I developed HeARTs at the start of this school year. I had felt that I never found an activity that was my own; that I could be actively passionate about, and that would produce meaningful and significant results. HeARTs combines creative arts, psychology, and children by using art as a healing tool.” Nandi Blanchard Grade 12.

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800+ student participants

45 Service Learning Projects

2500+ children in the community were helped.

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22 community partners involved

ATHLETICS

The Lions are renowned across Africa for their commitment to excellence on the court, on the field, in the pool, and on the track.

ISK’s teams compete in the ISSEA (International Schools of Southern and Eastern Africa) tournaments annually in the following sports: VOLLEYBALL

SOCCER

BASKETBALL

Varsity, Junior Varsity and Middle School teams also compete in the AISK (Association of International Schools Kenya) in: FIELD HOCKEY

TENNIS

RUGBY

TRACK & FIELD

SWIMMING

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2013 Athletic 2014

Highlights

ISK had 20 varsity teams, 8 JV teams, & 20 MS teams.

AISK GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

ISSEA GOLF CHAMPIONS

CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS

ISSEA GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONS

AISK BOYS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS

AISK GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS

HOST SCHOOL ISK hosted the first ever ISSEA Rugby Clinic

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14 OF 18 VARSITY TEAMS THAT COMPETED IN A FORMAL LEAGUE/ TOURNAMENT FINISHED 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD

RECORD BREAKING YEAR FOR THE TRACK & FIELD TEAM. FINISHED IN THE TOP TIER WITH A SMALLER TEAM AT BOTH SEYCHELLES & ETHIOPIA MEET

ISSEA EXPANSION FOR 2014-2015 TO INCLUDE: • ISSEA TRACK & FIELD • CROSS COUNTRY • DRAMA / VISUAL ARTS • MORE “INVITATIONAL” EVENTS

FIRST YEAR First year for ISSEA golf South Africa

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A DREAM: CHANTAL KASSARRDJIAN IB Visual Arts Final Exhibition 2013

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ARTS

The Creative Arts Department enjoyed another rich and robust year in 2013-2014. From new opportunities to familiar adventures, students enjoyed and contributed to a broad range of activities.

The Drama team explored the human experience and the short story by presenting multiple and diverse sets of plays. In Middle School, students staged Around the World in 8 Plays and Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

In high school, students brought to life the simple beauty of daily experience through Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town; IB students directed, organized, and performed in the annual Fringe Fest; and students explored alternative staging through a set of six plays by Philip Glass called All in the Timing. Students also had the opportunity to go beyond the ISK stage.

High School students returned to London for the annual drama exploratory trip, and Middle School students participated for the first time ever in an international theatre convention in Istanbul.

The Music team was especially active this year.

Beyond the regular semester concerts in all three divisions which showcased the both the curricular and co-curricular ensembles, students also performed for the Commons opening, the Welcome Back picnic, the Composers’ Club Operation Smile concert, and International Day. Additionally, Middle School choir students

traveled to Tanzania to sing in the second annual Middle School Choir Festival and high school choir students returned to Oman for another exciting experience in the TAISM Festival of Choirs. One of the newest events of the year was the kick-off of the ISSEA Cultural Convention with a Band festival hosted by Harare International School.

It was the first time that all eight ISSEA schools came together for an arts event and the experience was powerful. Next year, the event is anticipated to grow to include Choir and Drama and will be hosted in two different locations South Africa and Zambia.

The Visual Art team hosted nine different student art exhibitions this year, showcasing over a thousand pieces of artwork. Students worked with professional artists to explore skills such as sculpting, welding, printing, figure drawing, painting, and paper mache.

Exhibitions were timed to overlap with and support the musical and theatrical events, especially in the Elementary School where all three arts teams worked on a common theme each semester.

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HEALTH & SAFETY

The end of another school year gives us time to pause and reflect on where we are in a number of areas, none more so than in Health and Safety when you consider the traumatic events that occurred in September and the ongoing uncertainty in the country.

Safety and security have always been a priority at ISK and in the run up to the beginning of this academic year we received a U.S. State Department grant to upgrade aspects of our security. This happened at an opportune time given the heightened security concerns in Kenya.

The upgrades included access control systems to the campus (new gates, bollards and barriers), a credential management system that enabled us to provide identification cards for not only staff and students but our parents, contractors and other groups closely associated with the school.

Additionally, we upgraded our public announcement system and began installation of an advanced CCTV system that will “give us eyes� around our perimeter, entry and exit points. It also allows us to monitor the system from remote locations.

In the immediate aftermath of the Westgate tragedy that affected ISK deeply, the school organized counseling and other support services

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for students, faculty, parents and staff. This ensured that we continued to make ISK a caring and nurturing environment.

In the coming year we will continue to focus on our security posture and have created the administrative position of Safety and Security Manager. This gives us a broader scope to ensure continued enhancement of resources and greater cooperation with similar schools in Nairobi and beyond.

We constantly liaise with our sponsoring missions who have been instrumental in providing some of the funding and guidance to shore up the improvements made at ISK. Their assistance has been invaluable in keeping our campus safe.

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Finance

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TREASURER’S REPORT

ISK’s independent auditors, Price, Waterhouse, Cooper, have given the school an unqualified audit opinion for 2013-2014, confirming ISK’s strong financial position and effective financial management procedures.

While tuition and capital fees increased from the previous year, the increase was below the rate of inflation in Kenya and enrollment for the year was strong. We surpassed the 900-student mark for the first time in ISK’s history.

The school’s Emergency Reserves are maintained a level sufficient to meet any worst-case scenario, and the Board of Directors has shifted the Reserves from Vanguard to a Raymond James asset allocation account.

The Board of Directors reviewed ISK’s Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) repeatedly through the year as part of an on-going process to ensure the LTFP remains current and sound.

Our overall good financial health enables us to meet our current obligations and plan for a stable yet exciting future at ISK.

TUITION FEES - 8 YEAR GRAPH

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9% 9%

9%

7%

18%

10% 12%

2013-2014 CAPITAL BUDGET STATISTICS

6%

16%

2014-2015 CAPITAL BUDGET STATISTICS

48%

52%

22% 5%

7%

20% 2013-2014 OPERATIONAL BUDGET STATISTICS

73%

5%

2014-2015 OPERATIONAL BUDGET STATISTICS

75%

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“The PTO has worked hard all year to provide that ‘something extra’ which makes life at ISK so enjoyable. ” Wanji Gichigi-Hansson & Geoff Boyer PTO Co-Chairs

Letter from the PTO It is hard to believe that we have arrived at the end of another school year—and what a year it has been! The PTO has worked hard all year to provide that “something extra” which makes life at ISK so enjoyable.

None of our events would be successful, or even possible without the dedication of an extraordinary group of parent and teacher volunteers. Whether it is donating time, talent or baked goods the ISK community constantly shows its willingness to help out.

We started the year with the New Parent Orientation where we sold supply packs and helped new families find their way. This was followed quickly by the Community Welcome Back Picnic.

Throughout the year we started each week by hosting coffee and tea at the PTO shop.

This was a great opportunity for parents old and new to catch up with each other and learn what is happening on campus.

It seemed to be especially beneficial in the aftermath of the tragic events at Westgate, as parents gathered daily seeking friendly faces and exchanging ideas about how to help their children move forward. Bus tours

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around Nairobi, the ES Costume Party and Haunted House, MS socials and a Holiday Bazaar helped bring back a bit of normalcy and were some of the other high points of the first semester.

Second semester brought even more exciting events—including our most successful International Day and Taste of Nations yet. Because of the extremely generous donations of time and food the Taste of Nations made enough money to underwrite the social events that are so popular in each school division.

The funds raised by this event will also allow the PTO to supplement the activities of many of ISK’s service clubs over the next school year. Our Red Rose Dinner Dance became the Spring Fling at the Lord Erroll and was a huge success.

We hosted more MS and HS socials, and a stunning art gala featuring nearly 100 of East Africa’s finest artists was sponsored by the PTO’s own Friends of the Arts (FOTA). Our FOTA volunteers have also worked their “volunteer magic” to turn the

ES construction site into an enormous work of art-in-progress. Our Staff Appreciation Lunch in May showed once again what a great group of families we have at ISK, as the donations poured in to prove how much the staff at ISK really is appreciated. If you think that this list of activities is impressive, just wait until you see what we have planned for the coming school year!

A recap of our year would not be complete without mentioning the institution known as the PTO Shop. Over 30 volunteers and 3 managers, all led by Barbara von der Heide, have turned our shop into the envy of every school in Nairobi. Selling items from more than 50 vendors, the shop had sales in excess of 5 million Ksh!

We look forward to the PTO Shop continuing to expand its relationship with the wider Kenyan community.

Finally, as some of our volunteers move on and new faces arrive to fill in, all of the PTO would like to acknowledge and thank the director, John Roberts, the school principals and the rest of the administration.

We feel quite fortunate to have been so enthusiastically supported in all of our efforts this year by John, Rob, Craig, Patricia, Jodi and Lynn and look forward to more great things in the coming year.

Wanji Gichigi-Hansson & Geoff Boyer PTO Co-Chairs 2013-2014

The non-profit groups that sell goods at the shop get back 100% of the proceeds. This year the shop volunteers visited several of the vendors where they work and live and saw first-hand what a difference our shop makes in the lives of all of our vendors.

Annual Report 2013-2014

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Annual Report 2013-2014

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Annual Report 2013-2014

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Accredited fully by the Middle States Association of Schools in the United States and the Council of International Schools in Europe.

International School of Kenya

PO Box 14103 Nairobi 00800, Kenya Tel +254-20-209-1308/9 or +254-733-639-363 communications@isk.ac.ke I www.isk.ac.ke