From the Director

Dear AISL Community,
Kindness in February
Traditionally, AISL Primary School has celebrated Kindness Week and this year it will be a whole school focus with a spirit week starting on 14 February, when love is in the air. But before that, we wish for all our community members to celebrate kindness throughout all of February. Here are the themes for spirit week. If any parent is visiting on any of those days, please dress up!

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​Comic Con
A week from today, 10 February, is the 5th annual Comic Con. Although usually celebrated in Primary, this is another whole school celebration. It is a dress-up month at AISL!!!
Black History Month
February also celebrates Black History Month and AISL has a myriad of resources on this. Ask you children what they are learning through the lens of Black History
SOAR
On Tuesday, I presented the SOAR Analysis of all the data received from the community over the first semester. There were 10 parents in attendance and 14 who watched through a live-streamed link. To begin with, the live audience described in a word how they were feeling, and comments included: happy, hopeful, optimistic, content, peaceful, pleasant to be in Zambia, and be able to start the day in calm with everyone.
Nearly 300 members of our community participated in this process, so lots of rich data were collected.
Overall Loves

• Community
• Inclusive, Friendly, Welcoming
• Transitioning into the school 
• Environment
• Campus
• Individualized attention
• Diversity

Overall Standouts and Aspirations

• Bring back the Friday market
• Better Food accessibility for secondary
• One whole school community
• Air conditioning and a modernisation of the Secondary buildings
• Better Communication
• A Greener Campus 
• More school events
• Only two students mentioned service

How will we know we are successful

• Confident and happy, caring who want to make a difference
• Importance of soft skills
• Visible that faculty are heard. Strong Morale
• Continue to be a high ranking school
• More course offerings and choice
• Zambian Culture to be more prevalent and embedded
• Stronger IB Scores. Top University Placements
• Improved communication
• Increased enrollment
• Inclusive
• Green Campus
• Values
• Improved facilities

Some of these things can be easily addressed such as opening the Tuck Shop in Secondary, renovating the Secondary buildings, and bringing back the Friday Market, albeit on a smaller scale - more on that later. Other items will be included in longer-term strategic planning in line with the recommendations that will come from our virtual accreditation team visit in March. Thank you to everyone who participated in this process. It has really helped in getting to know the community and envisioning a way forward.
And to our Chinese Community:  Xin Nian Kuai Le! The Year of the Tiger begins!
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​With kind regards,
Dr. Oli Tooher-Hancock
Director
American International School of Lusaka
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
Albert Einstein