From the Director

What I am excited about…
 

• Sixteen Weeks and Counting! We have now been able to offer face-to-face instruction for sixteen weeks. This is a credit to the diligence of our staff, students, and parents when it comes to our health and safety protocols. I know that these measures can feel inconvenient and frustrating but our hard work is paying off. Many schools around the world are having to close their campuses again (if they ever even reopened). We don’t want to be among them! Please continue to emphasize the importance of these protocols with your children. 

• Celebrating All People! In honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), our staff and students have held a variety of activities to raise awareness of and appreciation for those who are differently-abled. As a school, we strive toward inclusivity because we know that it benefits EVERYONE! You can read more about this week’s activities later in this newsletter.   

• ASA’s! Tomorrow is the last day of the current session of ASA’s. Kudos to the Activities Team for being able to roll out a range of ASA’s in a healthy and safe way across the last couple of months. Many schools in both ISSEA and ISAZ have not restarted their ASA programs yet. Building on this season’s successes, we are looking forward to significantly expanding our ASA offerings in the next session, which will start in January.
  

• Last Day of School is 18 December – Noon Dismissal! School will close at noon on 18 December after our annual End-of-Semester Celebration Assembly. The main office will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s. Since many administrative staff members take their annual leave during the school holiday, please understand that staffing across the school will be very limited. I hope that this Festive Break provides an opportunity for you to find some rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation with loved ones and friends. We all need it during these unprecedented and difficult times.
  

• Phased Return to School in January! Classes resume on 19 January. We will offer distance learning ONLY (Learning Paths 2 and 3) from 19-22 January. There will be no on-campus classes nor activities for students for these four days. Then from 25-29 January, we will reopen all Learning Paths (1, 2, & 3). Students who are still quarantining will be able to continue with distance learning during this second week after the holiday. After 29 January, only Learning Paths 1 & 3 will be available. Note: Learning Path 3 is only open to qualified students and only with prior approval. If you have any questions about your child’s Learning Path, please contact the principals. If you have questions about your child’s eligibility to return to campus, please contact nurse Jennifer (janunsacion@aislusaka.org).