The Board of Directors will be holding our annual Election General Meeting (EGM) via Zoom on 21 April at 18:00. We have two vacancies on the board for the 2021-22 school year. In accordance with the school’s Articles of Association, one of these vacancies must be filled by a parent who is affiliated with the U.S. government (employee or spouse). The second vacancy is open to any school parent.  We are lucky to have strong candidates for these positions. We have asked each candidate to provide a short bio, which you can read below. The school’s Articles of Association and By-Laws stipulate that parents/guardians must be present at the meeting in order to vote. You can register for the meeting here.  This meeting is open to all parents or legal guardians of students at AISL. We look forward to seeing you at the EGM on the 21st.
 
Candidate for U.S. Government-Affiliated Vacancy (one vacancy, one candidate):
 
Shawna Hirsch
 
I served as the Ambassador's Representative to the Board for the International School of Uganda (ISU) from 2018-2020. I was the Board Secretary and the Chair of the Governance Committee. During my tenure, we updated the Board Policy and Board Procedures documents to better guide our strategic planning and oversight functions. These documents supported the school as we began the process to renew our accreditation in 2019. We also oversaw several capital infrastructure projects, including an ambitious Performing Arts Center. As a Board, we dealt with several sensitive issues and appeals during my tenure and I understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality in such Board matters.
 
During my tour in Liberia I served on the school board of the American International School of Monrovia from 2013-2015. My first year on the board I was the Board Secretary and co-chaired the Accreditation Committee with several staff members during a time of rapid school growth. This entailed working with a representative group of school stakeholders to conduct a pre-accreditation assessment, develop and build consensus on student achievement milestones, and raise community awareness throughout the process. I served as the Board Chair my second year, during which time we were providing governance support throughout the school's temporary closure due to the Ebola crisis and during a challenging re-opening period.  
 
I have also been an active member of Parent Teacher Associations throughout my children's time in school (in the U.S., Kinshasa, Liberia and Ethiopia).  In a previous career I was a science teacher in both public and private schools. Having both taught and served on the board gives me insight into the need for strong governance structures in place that give community voice to educational and administrative systems and partner with the head of school, principals and teachers to ensure high-quality, inclusive educational opportunities and foster a sense of community. 
 
 
Candidates from the Parent Association At-Large (one vacancy, two candidates listed alphabetically by surname):
 
Yasmina Dakik Ahmad
 
As a mother, I took a vow to always be there for my children, educational and emotional. I always dreamed of making my children proud of the mother they have, and this is what I am currently working to achieve! They say modelling is key to a successful generation and this is what I am trying to do, to model studying, and model teaching, trying to give the best I can to be the best they can be.

Given the opportunity today to be a member of this community, in a new country we moved to recently is key for us creating a life here in Zambia, where my daughter will thrive with its system. Coming from a Reggio Emilio nursery to a Reggio Emilio Early Learning Centre has not only given me comfort as a mother but made my daughter wake up happy everyday knowing empathy is at the foundation of such a school.

My aim is to be more involved in the educational system, help improve it, and make sure that whatever I study is for the greater good of our community.
 
 
Dr. Raj Sharma
 
I am a Zambian citizen and hold a DBA in Business leadership, an MBA in Finance, a PGDip in Law and attended the OPM at Harvard Business School. As an entrepreneur, I have a contagious enthusiasm and passion for creating value. I have a proven track record in being a credible decision maker and being able to find strategic solutions to business challenges using knowledge, an extensive local network and sound principles of corporate governance.
 
In 1992, I became a founding member of a gemstone company and have over 28 years contributed to its organic growth as Zambia’s leading vertically integrated Jewelry company. Jewel Of Africa mines emeralds, cuts and polishes top quality jewels, designs and manufactures gold and silver jewelry, has several retail outlets and exports world-class jewelry, manufactured in Zambia by Zambians. I have over the past, been appointed as a core member of the National Task Force on Mining, was a founding member of the American Chamber of Commerce, Captain and President of the Lusaka Golf Club, and have served on the Boards of the Zambia Institute of Directors (Chair of Functions committee), Zambia Association of Manufacturers (Sector Representative), Zambia Emerald and Small Miners Association, and the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee).

My daughter and nephew have been at the American International School since kindergarten and will hopefully be there until they finish high school. As a strong believer in the importance of quality education, along with a long term interest in AISL, I would like to bring my experience in business and other not-for-profit organisations to help the school chart its way forward over the next decade.

​PTA Quiz Night on 14 April! I am pleased to report that we will be restarting the PTA Quiz Night on Wednesday, 14 April at 18:30 in the Palm Pavilion. Entry is K5o per team member with up to 4 people per team. Teams may bring their own food and drink.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, space is limited and advance sign-up is required. Please sign up here and be sure to enter the names of each team member plus your team name.
 
Virtual Election General Meeting on 21 April! Please join the Board of Directors for our virtual Election General Meeting (EGM) via Zoom at 18:00 on 21 April. The meeting will include a welcome from the Board Chair, speeches by our board candidates, electronic voting, and a report from the Director. As per the school’s Articles of Association and By-Laws, only parents or legal guardians who are present at the meeting may participate in the election. You can learn more about our three candidates below. Participants will need to register in advance by clicking on this Zoom link. This meeting is open to all parents or legal guardians of students at AISL.  

Our Personal and Social Education (PSE) curriculum supports our students in developing their social and emotional well-being and is part of the Advisory program and classroom lessons.  Our Grade 6-10 students have the following PSE lessons planned during Advisory lessons:
Wednesday 7 April: Grade 9

1. Creating agreements for our lessons
2. Diversity

Thursday 8 April: Grade 10

1. Creating agreements for our lessons
2. Values

Monday 12 April: Grade 9

1. Looking for help
2. Communication
3. Assertiveness

Tuesday 13 April: Grade 10

1. Negotiation

Wednesday 14 April: Grade 8
The Grade 8 students had such lively discussions that we still need one more class period to finish our learning objectives for the PSE unit.  These learning objectives are:

1. Sexuality and the Media
2. Decision-making

Monday 19 April: Grade 9

1. Sexual fantasy

Tuesday 20 April: Grade 10

1. Sexual orientation and gender identity

Parents can reinforce learning at home by sharing what they know about these subjects.  They can share their family’s, culture’s, and religion’s perspective on these aspects of Personal and Social Education. If you would like your child to opt out of any of these lessons, just send an e-mail to your child’s Advisor and make sure your child knows.  If you have any questions, you can contact your child’s Advisor.
​
The listed PSE lessons will be led by our Secondary School Assistant Principal, Dr. Sheila Seiler, with advisors present to support lessons.
Our Personal and Social Education curriculum integrates the IB’s beliefs about PSE together with the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education 3rd Edition from the Sexuality-Information and Education Council of the United States in order to provide a well-balanced program for our students. You can find our Personal and Social Health Handbook here.

Here is an opportunity that may be of interest. Please see the InvestIN site for more information. The Internships offer the work experience: site visits, networking opportunities, career coaching and university guidance from top professionals. Students can attend either in-person in London or 'Live Online' from anywhere in the world.

We use an award-winning and evidence-backed methodology to help students understand the science of debating. Led by top global mentors, our program enables students to develop communication, leadership, collaboration, and critical and creative thinking skills.
A 10-week immersive and engaging program in collaboration with Debate Mate from London.
Program takeaways:

• Learn to debate with skill and power
• Develop communication and critical thinking skills
• Build core confidence to shine in any situation
• Engage with issues beyond standard academic topics
• Develop desirable social and emotional skills

Program Fee: USD 320
Program Duration: Over 10 weeks
Eligibility Criteria: Grades 3 to 10
Program start date- 1st May 2021
Program details on: https://joinspeakup.com/coreprogram.php 
To apply: https://forms.gle/TjGC2WGtaMBGXmcPA 

CA Conrad will guide students to cultivate daily creative practices that can enlighten their minds and enhance their lives. With CAConrad's (Soma)tic Poetry Rituals, they will be able to see the creative viability in everything around them and use it to their poetic advantage. CAConrad will guide students to build (Soma)tic Rituals each week. On the last day of the program, students will write and present their poems and get an assessment for the same.
Program takeaways:

• Boosting Creativity
• Forming (Soma)tic Routines
• Writing and Improving Poetic Expressions
• Incorporating Feedback

Program Fee: USD 240
Program Duration: 3 weekends (Only Saturdays)
Eligibility Criteria: Grades 8-12
Program start date- 1st May 2021
Program details on: https://learnwithleaders.com/creativewriting 
To apply: https://forms.gle/kPSnpt5pV1jANn2q6 
Please feel free to reach out to me for any clarifications.
​Shubham Gupta
Co-Founder
+91 78380 12821
shubham@learnwithleaders.com 

We should be sceptical of any theory - here is a great Tedtalk debunking learning styles - that says there are different types of students in a class that need to learn in different ways. Learning style theories group students - the fact is each student is unique. We all learn in different ways and not only in one way. AT TIMES depending on the task, our readiness, level of expertise or knowledge, relationships, mental and physical health and other conditions we may need

• to see the whole picture and or the parts
• a step by step approach 
• to hear a lecture
• to make notes
• to be left alone to read through information 
• to listen to a podcast
• to watch a movie
• to study a visual
• to explore by experimenting
• to practice something
• to explore ideas through sharing and thinking with others 
• time to observe closely, make connections, uncover complexity, synthesise
• etc. 

When we have little knowledge on a subject, we may need information and a step by step approach. When we have more knowledge about something, we are held back by a step by step approach, rather we need to be allowed to explore and problem solve through thinking experiences. When we are anxious perhaps we need more structure and less choice. 
Here are some things the faculty at AISL say about learning:

• “Real Learning can be hard and uncomfortable. Real learning can look messy. We may experience a slow awakening or understanding or an ‘aha’ or ‘wonderstanding’.”
• “The most meaningful learning happens when we are confronted with a challenge-- or even a kind of failure.  Our successes breed repetition; we'll continue to use an approach that works until it doesn't.  It's then, when our approaches don't work, that we have to reflect and revise to move forward.”
• “Learning is a dynamic and social celebration... that often takes time to develop.  Some of us take longer than others to see connections sometimes, and that HAS to be alright.”
• “Learning should be an ongoing  activity and it should challenge our ideas. It should make us feel excited and/ or surprised.”
• “If something in the classroom can be made real in some tangible way and can drive students to see relevance for them personally, there is often a natural inclination towards engagement and potential success.”
• “Learning is an ongoing process, there is no 'finished-product' or end to it. It's a cycle of constant reflection and revision. Regardless of the subject matter, we also learn about learning along the way.”
• “I believe that learning has the most impact when students have a clear understanding of the purpose of what they are learning, there is a "real world" connection, and they can be empowered during the process.”
• “Learning should be authentic, relevant and inspiring. It should provoke and challenge thinking, and instil in learners a desire to find out, inquire, reflect.” 
• “Students learn when the environment is safe. They learn at different paces and sometimes need scaffolding. I think if learning can be meaningful and engaging - offer collaboration and variety then students learn.”
• “Schools should work with a growth mindset. This means that we foster a learning environment where making a mistake or failing is simply a learning experience, where praise is given thoughtfully and progress is more or as important as achievement.”

We are so excited to have the following Private Paid After School Activities join our program! Please click on this direct link to the Private Lesson Sign-up doc for contact details or find out more on the ASA page of our website.