From the Director

Dear AISL Community,
Masks Off
There was great excitement on Monday morning. For the first time for some of us, we saw our learners without their masks! Last week in the Leopard’s Tale we asked that students arrive with their masks on. The only reason we did this was to ensure that everyone had their mask with them for the indoor spaces. From this coming Monday, there is no need to physically be wearing your mask as you arrive, but we ask that your mask is visibly on your arm so we know that you have it with you. As always, if you choose to continue to wear your mask outside, that decision is fully supported.
Black History Month Focus 
As we strive for culturally-responsive teaching and learning, this month we have had a focus on Black History Month.
At the secondary assembly this week, we were fortunate to hear our choir singing for Black History Month. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a hymn with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson. Amid the ongoing civil rights era, James Weldon decided to write a poem which was themed around the struggles of African Americans following the Reconstruction era. As part of the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, 500 students of the Santon school first performed this song. Later the “National Association for the Advancement of Colored people '' (NAACP) adopted this song as an anthem for black people in their most trying times as they fought for their civil rights. This song has served as a source of hope and a symbol of strength for the black community. 
First In-person ISSEA Event - a Great Success
The Varsity Volleyball Boys team returned from Tanzania (with all 132 participating student athletes testing negative) having played exciting and skilled volleyball over the weekend. They came in a valiant fourth place out of eight teams and were unlucky in the semi-finals not to make the final - Games were close. The boys were incredible and Coach Marin, with years of experience as a volleyball coach, did a superb job. Ms Moss was the perfect chaperone. Today the ISSEA Varsity Boys and Girls Football/Soccer began in Johannesburg. We are looking forward to watching the tournament via ISSEA Soccer 2022. At the time of writing, the girls won their first game and the boys drew. Goooooooooooooo Leopards.
Next Up…ISSEA Virtual Choir next Friday. 
Food Allergy Ad Hoc Committee
Last semester, we knew of students with food allergies, most notably those who had nut allergies. When this came to the team’s attention, we discussed what was best to do in the short-term to keep the campus safe by avoiding any reaction to nuts. Many of us have experienced serious situations with students who are extremely sensitive to nuts and the consequences can be severe. We want to ensure that any long term decision is based on research and data. We ask that any parent who may be an expert in this field and/or who is interested in being part of a focus group to develop a policy that will ensure safety for all our learners when on campus to please contact nurse Jennifer on [email protected] who is heading up the group. We also encourage any of our learners or faculty who may have experience in this area to also join us.

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To Consider
This lovely Poem
Do Not Ask Your Children to Strive
Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such staving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.

—William Martin

With kind regards,
Dr. Oli Tooher-Hancock
Director