Leopard's Tale |
|
|
 End of Semester Musicals and Entertainment There is a lot going on as we come to the end of semester one and a calendar year, and as the holiday season is upon us. The Leopard’s Choir wowed us last Thursday evening and on Friday the Grade 3 students gave a stellar performance in celebration of their learning. It was beautifully executed. Of course, this evening at 17.30, the Band students will be performing their holiday concert. It’s such a joy to witness all this activity on campus. Holiday Market A big THANK YOU to the PTA for their organization of the Holiday Market last Friday. There was a wonderful festive atmosphere and it was well attended by our AISL Community. For those of you who were here Pre-COVID, we hope this resembled markets of days gone by! Summary of the Pavilion Conversation This past Friday, we had the pleasure of welcoming parents on to campus for our regular Pavilion Conversation series. This iteration took place in the Protea room, due to the Pavilion being used for the magnificent Holiday market. Many topics were discussed, but the conversation centered chiefly on communication channels. There were discussions about the role of the PTA in communicating issues of concern with the school leadership team, as well as having a more representative function attached to either the PTA or a new parent organization with this as a sole responsibility. As this represents a shift away from long standing relationships between the PTA and the school, this suggestion would have to have a very clear implementation process that includes definitive roles and responsibilities for all participants. Further conversations will be had on this topic. During this portion of the discussion, issues with the clarity of the website were also brought up, which is an issue that the leadership team has been working to address with third party vendors. In connection with communication channels, some of the discussion had to do with how involved the board is supposed to be in communications generally, as well as in the AGM. More specifically, there was discussion of what is the proper communication of the school’s financial report, with a conclusion that an annual report of the school finances will be released in June. This is something that has not happened in a few years, but will now be put back into regular practice. This portion of the conversation also allowed for some time to clarify some items related to the board, for example that board membership is fully voluntary, and that schools affiliated with American Embassies are not a part of a “system” with aligned and set structures/policies. Lastly, the topic of the amount of free time Secondary students have in the day to socialize was raised. The question of whether forty minutes is enough time to eat lunch, and perhaps there should be a time allotted in the middle of the day where the students could avail themselves of the facilities, was asked. This led to a conversation which included discussions of the logistical issues that such a period would bring up, from active supervision by teachers, to moving CCAs later, to not having enough time for instruction (particularly in the DP). We will resume these conversations in the new year, but know that our doors are always open and we welcome conversations of any kind. We all have a collective aim of improving the learning for all our students and intentions are always good. Calendar 2023/2024 At a recent Board Meeting, the Board passed the Calendar for the School Year 2023-2024. Only major dates are on now for planning purposes and will be populated in the second semester. Countdown to the Holidays Here are some main events on our campus:
Wishing you all a lovely weekend and for the final week ahead of the holidays.
With kind regards, Dr. Oli Tooher-Hancock Director  Dear Parents,
With about a week left before the festive holidays, everyone is getting busier and busier! We have a band concert, an MYP art show in addition to all the great learning going on in the Secondary school. One thing to remember, because we want to give students and teachers as much time as possible to assess, the reports for Q2 will be going out AFTER THE BREAK. So, please do not be alarmed if you do not receive your child’s Q2 report next Friday. Also, all feedback and marks may be seen on Managebac. As many of you know, Victoria, Diego, Luna and I will be heading on to the next location at the end of this year. We are sad to leave this fantastic community, and have made many dear friends, but we are also excited for the next adventure. We have loved working with your kids, and seeing them grow into the amazing human beings that they’ve become. So, where to next? For the years to come, we will be in Bali, working at Canggu Community School, a lovely school located near the beach in the bohemian village of Canggu. We will always have AISL, and Zambia, in our hearts and are sincerely grateful for all the love and support we have received over these past three years. Have a fantastic weekend! Dr. Rick Odum On Thursday of last week the MYP Choir program put on a Concert to celebrate a semester of learning. There were songs in Latin and Spanish, lullabies, and songs to bring in the spirit of the holidays. The students looked professional and organized, and sounded great while showing off all they learned! If you missed out, Here is the Link to the show! Thank you to all who came out and supported the Choirs during their performance!
  Mr. Wells is AISL’s current History and I & S teacher. Having recently joined our community in 2020, Mr. Well’s is driven by his willingness to make students’ learning experiences as engaging and fun as possible. Mr. Wells has never believed teaching to be about cramming or spoon-feeding students with information. He wants students to learn how to think independently, creatively and critically about the social sciences by questioning the legitimacy of sources and reflecting on why certain events happened and how those events impacted society then and now. He yearns for students to step out of the classroom understanding that history can be fun and is more than just memorizing facts or dates. As a teacher, Mr. Wells finds fulfillment in witnessing student’s AHA moments and growth. He understands that the impact of his teaching can also be long-term as students he previously taught would get back to him on how his teachings positively impacted their career choices or life decisions. Such moment’s make him glad to be a teacher. Originally from Colorado, America, Mr. Well’s culture is defined by the love for the outdoors and baseball. In his free time, he enjoys biking, camping, running, game drives, photography, cooking and exploring Zambia. He also loves traveling, and is grateful for the opportunity to live overseas and be exposed to the calm and easy environment within Zambia. Mr. Wells cherishes how kind and respectful people are in Zambia and within the school community. If he had the opportunity to meet his younger self, he would advise himself to pay more attention to what is going on around the world. He believes that everyone should use whatever privilege or resources they have to advocate for those who cannot do that for themselves. He went on to share that as students it is important to identify our own paths in life because it is necessary that we all find fulfillment in everything we do. Fun Fact : One of Mr. Wells favorite destinations is Taiwan due to its diverse, immersive Buddhist culture and food! Deborah & Florence  Poetry from Grade 7A and 7B  (Loneliness) Students in Grade 7 Language and Literature are exploring the Global Context exploration of “Joy and Happiness”. They used devices such as repetition, simile and alliteration learned about in the first unit and new ones such as enjambment and created poetry about what brings them joy. In this unit, they have explored Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and motivation, Logan La Plante’s ideas on what makes him happy and they will explore the philosophy of the Shaman people about happiness. They will also do some research about happiness of their own in the new year. In groups determined by novel selection, they have created three learning experiences of their own to practice the skills and concepts of the unit: for example - perspective taking, analysis, speaking, collaboration, presentation, monologue, and compare and contrast. Students have been creative and inspiring. Here are some poems from this delightful grade… Loneliness by Michelle Loneliness is not that bad Time to yourself, think, reflect, question Loneliness is not that bad Becoming one with what brings you peace The stillness and silence of what’s around me The deafening volume of my music and what I keep bottled inside It’s a flood that wipes out everything else I drown out the world Like it has to me Loneliness isn’t that bad I feel nostalgia, warmth, my negative thoughts hushed I feel replays of trauma, rage, ruefulness But nothing, why? All the tears have rained, I experience drought in my body Loneliness is not that bad Rainbow Joy by Leo My joyful tears dripped down my face Like the wet trees slipping the rain droplets onto the moist ground. “Mom there’s a rainbow!” I shouted as I was sprinting through the muddy puddles. My sick brother while sniffing came up to me And said “ its beautiful, isn’t it” While being mesmerized I answered “For sure” “Joy” by Zhenya Somethings that tingle through my spine, Pass through my bone narrows in any given time, From the smallest things to the biggest things it could be, A slight grin, That appears upon my face. It could be a fantasy world, Where it’s an escape from reality, I will dive into the deepest universe, Or choose to explore every detail offered, From someone’s else’s dream, It could be a video game, Intense, exhilarating, or peaceful, Created by another’s person hand and tools, Effort and struggles, Anything that allows me to feel Happy, fun or cheerful, Is something that should be valued. Weekend by Henry Waking up so early once again Waking up at this time will drive me insane How much more of this can I take It’s been so long I need a break Even with coffee I won’t be ready I’ll be so tired That I won’t be steady While packing for school I try listening for a sound But a little bit of time shows no one’s around Maybe I’m early, maybe they’re late I’ll go grab my IPad to check the date What I see is a surprise to me Apparently, It’s not a school day at ALL I got so excited that I ran into a wall It’s the break I’ve been waiting for, the break I’ve been wishing for I couldn’t ask for anything more Art by Uma The treasure of the unknown path Imagination might lead me, My need for art, Over and over I restart A burst of energy inspiration flows, The thought grows in my mind of another masterpiece being created more and more each day A new world of imagination, I’d be brought away to discover Just a Dream by Cayli I lay there, On my back, Looking up at the midnight sky. The wind lightly tugs my hair away from my face, And I questly hum my favorite song. The calming scent of the flowers, Enter my nostrils. I breathe in, Then out. Something soft brushes against my arm. I smile. Round amber eyes stare at me, A warm breath sweeps past my skin. Her cat tail makes the grass under her sway. She lays her small paws on my shoulder, And rests her head next to mine, I feel her whiskers tickle my cheek, As I gaze up at the sky once again. Countless twinkling stars dance above me, And the wind sings it’s beautiful melody. Little Things by Loiwe Freshly ironed clothes On a cold day. Warm water hugging you tightly, Smells of treats and fragrances invading your nose. A cat’s tender, loving purr. As you run your hands through its shining coat. Soothing music filling your ears, As you lay on your bed in your newly cleaned room. The gentle flicker of a candlelight, Striking the cold darkness like a knife. Or the glow of thousands of stars. Burning brightly thousands of lightyears away. Enough to look like gems in a pool of black ink. Bring me Joy by Charlotte Bring me joy in getting up late When the sun has awoken And the birds are tweeting Bring me joy By having a Crisp Creamy Steaming Hot Chocolate with me late at night After my cold shower Bring me joy by Turning up the waters warmth As if it wraps me up already In a freshly dried towel Bring me joy as if It will bring you joy as well For if you bring me joy I shall to you. Joy by Sophia It’s the crisp feeling of cold Then the sharp tug of warmth As a strong arm wraps around you And holds you tight As you sit Together To sit With people you love To lay back And enjoy the warm smell Of red burning candles Sitting in a wreath of green To sit happily On a plush Soft sofa Together To bite into a soft cookie Letting the spices Hit your tongue To sip slowly On a hot Chocolate drink Together To sing softly Of songs from tradition To watch the twinkling lights On a beautiful tree Together To hear the music And feel the coziness To close your eyes And just be happy Together MYP Advisory Flex Time:  This week, Andreas, Anton, Arjun, Caleb, and Liam completed the St John Ambulance Basic First Aid Key Stage 4 programme in Basic First Aid. This was conducted during the weekly ‘flex’ advisory time and led by Nurse Jennifer Anunsacion and Ms. Julie Baldry. The 5-week course covered knowing when and how to ask for help, dealing with allergies, choking, head injuries and concussion, bleeding and shock, bone injuries, and muscle and joint injuries. The students also learned how and when to place a patient in the recovery position, how to make a primary assessment of a person, how to perform CPR on an adult and on an infant, and how and when to use an AED. Finally, they went on a ‘scavenger hunt’ to locate the seven AEDs on our school campus.  After a sabbatical of almost 3 years, Rugby returned to AISL this past weekend as the ISSEA boys took on the Lusaka Rugby PowerHouse Rugby Team. The AISL rugby boys have to date demonstrated considerable commitment, determination and passion for the sport. Having been put through their paces with Coaches Mitch, Anthony and Fabio over the past 5 weeks. The AISL boys took their game plan to the PowerHouse Team with a thrilling 3 game series with the results ending with honors even as follows: Game 1: AISL: 26-LRC:20 Game 2: AISL:12 -LRC: 12 Game 3: LRC: 22 - AISL: 7 The Powerhouse team, although some years younger and lighter, provided the ideal platform for this first series of games for the AISL boys. Both sets of players are also applauded for the way that they conducted themselves both on and off the field in a very spirit encounter. Next up is the Lusaka Rugby Club U 17 -who will provide an even tougher test for the AISL Leopards Rugby Team. Watch this space! Goooo Leopards!  See you down the AISL Gym, Field of Dreams & Pool as our ISSEA Basketball, Rugby & Swimmers continue to build towards their respective ISSEA events in early February.
CCAs Please note that this Friday 9 Dec is the last session of CCA for this semester. Watch this space for the CCA signups for quarter 3. GOOOOOOOOOO LEOPARDS!!  University of Kent, UK Last week, Jordan received notification that he has been accepted to study for the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Business Information Technology at the University of Kent. Kent is one of the UK’s leading universities. Awarded Gold, the highest rating, in the UK Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, the University offers outstanding teaching, world-leading research, stunning study locations, and a superb student experience. Kent offers a wide range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, exciting study abroad and year in industry opportunities, and summer schools. Business increasingly takes place in digital spaces. Kent’s Business Information Technology degree gives students the skills they need to apply computing knowledge to areas typically found in business such as e-commerce, information systems, and computer consultancy. Business and commerce need a skilled workforce who understand the foundations of information technology and the principles of business practice. This degree provides a balance of business and information technology and responds to industry needs, enhancing graduates’ employment prospects. 89% of Kent Computer Science and Information Systems graduates were in graduate-level jobs or further study 15 months after graduation. (The Guardian University Guide 2023). www.kent.ac.uk   University of Brighton, UK Jordan has also been accepted to attend the University of Brighton. The course he applied for is the Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Media Studies. Studying in Brighton puts students at the centre of one of Britain’s fastest growing media hubs where all things digital are celebrated in an annual month-long festival. This course is for students who are interested in finding out how the media influences and reflects our connected, globalised society. The degree can be shaped by options chosen, enabling students to pursue their own interests in film and screen-based media, digital photography, community enterprise, or social and mobile media. Brighton’s team of research-active lecturers, industry-experienced staff and visiting media professionals will help students to reach their potential as versatile, creative media innovators and leaders, equipped to respond to new situations within a changing and dynamic industry. www.brighton.ac.uk  University of Minnesota Twin Cities, MN The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has accepted Mehdi’s application to study for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering. The degree will allow Mehdi to explore different fields of engineering before specializing. The flagship of the University of Minnesota System, the Twin Cities campus is Minnesota’s only land-grant university and one of the most prestigious public research universities in the nation. Founded in 1851 near Saint Anthony Falls on the banks of the Mississippi River, the University is one of only five universities in the nation with an engineering school, medical school, law school, veterinary medicine school, and agricultural school all on one campus. The University prepares students to meet the most complex challenges facing society today. They engage with professors and fellow students from the very beginning, developing their strengths with beyond-the-classroom experiences. www.twin-cities.umn.edu  Last Friday, our Grade 3 students showcased their creative talents as part of their Performing Arts Assembly and Visual Art Exhibition. For the past six weeks, the students have been connecting with their unit of inquiry, ‘Where We Are in Place and Time’. They created performances around the concept of ‘pattern’. Patterns are everywhere… in the stars, in math and especially in music and dance! From stellar work on the xylophones, to singing challenging two-part melodies, to creating original dance choreographies, the students showed collaboration, perseverance, and artistic expression. Thank you to all of the families who were able to join us. Holiday Market is at noon tomorrow. The PTA have worked very hard to make this a special event for the entire community. We hope to see as many of you there as possible and there will be lots of festive cheer.
A Protea Conversation is also set for tomorrow (Please note the location has been moved to the Protea Room from the Pavilion). Considering the topics received, we have decided that an overall conversation will be on Communication. Our aim is for this to be an interactive conversation between all in attendance. If you are intending to attend this event, please email me at: otooher@aislusaka.org so we can know how many people are coming. Concert The Leopard’s Choir Concert is tonight at 17.30. Our choristers have worked very hard to entertain you and it is set to be a very special occasion. We are expecting a full house! Movember is Over Rob Martin and his team raised over $2,200+ for this worthy cause. Thank you to all who participated and donated. Here they are in all their moment of glory. Reservoir Staches.mp4 Countdown to the Holidays Here are some main events on our campus;
With kind regards, Dr. Oli Tooher-Hancock Director Dear Parents,
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break. This past week, I found myself in the position of having to explain what Thanksgiving is, and it occurred to me that it is much simpler to say it is a feast expressing gratitude after the harvest, than it is to go into the mythology of Pilgrims and American Indians etc.. So, when my kids ask me what this is all about next year, no more discussions of the Mayflower and Cotton Mather’s “City on a Hill.” Nope, it is all going to be about being grateful for the gifts we have been given, and for the amazing fact that we have enough food to eat, along with the understanding that this is not the case for many people around the world, and in our own backyard. Reporting: As I mentioned in the LT from before the Thanksgiving break, Quarter 2 is a very short quarter, and because of that, it is difficult for teachers to get in all the instruction, and subsequent assessment that is necessary to accurately assess learning. That is why this year we are allowing the teachers the entirety of the quarter to teach and assess. So, because they have all the time up to the end of the quarter to do this, the reporting on the assessments will be later than usual. This year, the Quarter 2/ Semester 1 reports will go out on 27 January 2023. If, for any reason your child needs their report sooner, for example if you are moving, please let us know. So, if you have any questions, please let me know. In the meantime, I wanted to give some specific shout outs to the school’s amazing MOVEMBER team, whose dedication to neglecting a portion of their face while shaving has raised an amazing amount of money, well over the amount raised last year. Great job gentlemen! Last thing, we have seen a noticeable uptick in illnesses in the past week or so, and that is to be expected with the change in seasons. This serves as a good time to remember to stay safe, and to not take any chances. If your child is sick, they need to stay home, and you need to let us know through Managebac or attendance@aislusaka.org. There is no benefit to coming to school sick. Have a fantastic weekend! Dr. Rick Odum |
RSS Feed
