From the Director

Rumors abound!
 
I’m sure that you are all aware of the rumors swirling about town that the government of Zambia is preparing a broader reopening of schools in Zambia. Although we do not have any definitive information at the moment, we are preparing ourselves so that we can respond quickly if we are granted legal permission to open. You can help us to prepare by reviewing the Reunite 2020 campus reopening plan that is posted on the main page of the school’s website (and our COVID-19 page, too). Please familiarize yourself with our campus health and safety procedures so that you will be ready to send your child to school should the situation allow it.
 
What I am excited about this week…

• Extraordinary General Meeting (XGM) TONIGHT at 18:00! Don’t forget tonight’s online XGM. After a thorough review by the Board of Directors’ Governance Committee, the Board has recommended that we revise the schools Articles of Association and By-Laws. The changes to these documents were discussed in our AISL community meeting on 9 June, and have been posted on the Board of Director’s section of the Parent Portal for community review. The Board will hold an online Extraordinary General Meeting (XGM) tonight for any additional discussion or questions about the revised drafts. This will be followed by a vote on their ratification. As per the Articles of Association and the By-Laws, ratification will require support from two-thirds of the association members (i.e. parents and legal guardians of AISL students) who are present at the meeting. You can click here to join the Zoom meeting (Meeting ID: 894 9509 0301, Passcode: 074174)

 

• Verbal Jam Session: Dyslexia “be”-Mystified: Exploring the Gifts and Hurdles of Learning Differently!  Please join our next Verbal Jam session on 15 September at 18:00. In this presentation, Chantra Reinman, the schoolwide Director of Student Services, will share and interpret research on the learning-different brain that challenges common perceptions and reveals the scientific basis of dyslexia.  While many characterize dyslexia in negative terms, there are astounding possibilities wrapped up in the intricate folds of the dyslexic brain.  Where would we be without the Thomas Edisons, Winston Churchills, Whoopi Goldbergs, Mohammad Alis, Agatha Christies, and Richard Bransons of this world? This will be a Google Meet. Click here to join.

• First PTA Meeting of the Year! Please come join the PTA’s first meeting of the year at 18:00 on 30 September. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. You can join by clicking here (Meeting ID: 338 890 7703, Passcode: 7bhmp6)

 

• Fire Drill! Yesterday, we held our first fire drill of the year so that we could review this important emergency procedure in the context of COVID-19. I am pleased to report that it went very well. We evacuated all school buildings and accounted for all students and staff in under 6 minutes – all while maintaining safe distancing. Kudos to the staff and students for doing a great job!

 

• Feedback Survey! The teachers are working very hard to maintain our three learning pathways: On-campus Learning, Real-time Distance Learning, and Flexible Distance Learning.  Since we are committed to serving our families as well as we can, please share some feedback with us by taking this short survey.  

 

• Verbal Jam website! Don’t forget to visit our new Verbal Jam webpage. Verbal Jam is designed to be an exclusive AISL online environment where thoughts, opinions, news, and advice all come together. We invite all AISL students, parents, and staff to take part in an ongoing online conversation focused on sharing, motivating, and, of course, educating! Please take a few moments to explore the site and please post messages on the Thrive Message Board. The Verbal Jam password is the same as the one we use for the Parent Portal.

 

• Professional Development Days on 21-22 September - NO CLASSES! Don’t forget that there will be no online nor on-campus classes on 21 and 22 September. The faculty and staff will be using those two scheduled professional development days to review and refine our health and safety measures and begin the lengthy school re-accreditation process with our three international accrediting agencies. These days provide an extended period of time for our faculty to engage in deep collaborative work aimed at improving our school.

 
Security Manager Vacancy
 
AISL is looking for a new Security Manager.  Previous security experience is required and a military or law enforcement background is preferred. If you know of a suitable candidate, please ask him/her to contact Russ Menard at rmenard@aislusaka.org by 17 September.
 
Did You Know?
 
Did you know that AISL has the most highly-trained and qualified faculty of any school in Zambia? Our 62 faculty members hold 63 Bachelor’s Degrees, 36 Master’s Degrees and five doctorates! Beyond university degrees, our teachers undergo regular professional development to ensure that they are continuously developing their skills. You can be proud knowing that, at AISL, your children are in the hands of highly-trained professionals.