From the Director

​What I’m excited about this week…
 
Thank You for a Great WorldFest! Thanks again to the PTA, all of the parent and staff volunteers, and the WorldFest! planning committee for orchestrating such a wonderful day last Thursday. That was a truly memorable WorldFest!
 
PYP Exhibition Parent Evening Tonight! The Grade 5 students will be holding their annual PYP Exhibition (PYPx) tonight at 18:30. It will begin with a presentation in the Tiyende Pamodzi Theater and then move to the Palm Pavilion. The exhibition highlights each student’s self-directed research project that serves as the culmination of the IB Primary Years Programme. Please come take a look – I think you will be amazed at the quality of the learning that will be on display. Many thanks to our Grade 5 team and all of the adult mentors for guiding our students’ work.
 
Lusaka Arts Festival Concert at AISL! We are proud to be hosting the kick-off concert for this year’s Lusaka Arts Festival on Friday, 3 May at 18:30 in the Tiyende Pamodzi Theater. Please come join us for an unforgettable evening with Jerome Arab, Namvula, and Wezi. These well-known musicians have been working with our music students for the last couple of weeks so you can also expect to see some fun collaborations on stage. We are expecting to sell out so please purchase tickets as early as possible. They are K100 and are on sale now at the main office. They will also be available at tomorrow’s Friday Market. This year, the Lusaka Arts Festival is being combined with the ISAZ Secondary School Arts Festival to provide an exciting week of performances, workshops, and Eistedfodd-style events for students across Lusaka. Many thanks to our Creative Arts Department, led by Chel Illingworth, for contributing to this exciting week.
 
High School Coffee House! We will be hosting our third and final High School Coffee House of the year on Friday, 26 April from 19:00-20:30 outside on the veranda of the Palm Pavilion. These events provide great opportunities for students to share poetry, drama, music, or other talents in a relaxed and supportive environment. Parents and high school students (Grades 9-12) are welcome. Some content may be inappropriate for younger children. Many thanks to Terry Maguire and Chel Illingworth for coordinating these popular events.

Last Supper! In the first few weeks of the IB Diploma Programme each year, our faculty and Grade 11 students get together to share a meal we call The First Supper. The purpose of the first supper is to build relationships and to look ahead to the two-year DP journey upon which they are about to embark. Then, in April of their Grade 12 year, just before exams, that same group comes together again for The Last Supper, which is happening tonight. This event provides an opportunity for students to reflect on how they have grown since that First Supper and to honor each other and their teachers. Many thanks to Driekie Smith for coordinating these meals that serve as book-end experiences for our DP scholars.

Duke of Edinburgh Award! Another exciting opportunity on offer to AISL high-schoolers is the pursuit of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This world-renowned program requires students to conduct service, pursue physical activities, learn a new skill, and finally to conduct a multi-day expedition into the bush. This weekend, our Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates will spend two days hiking in the bush and honing their skills at navigation, fire-building, bush-cooking, camp management, and first aid. Many thanks to our Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader, Driekie Smith, and Sheila Seiler for coordinating this experience and accompanying the expedition.
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Labor Day Holiday! This is just a reminder that the school will be closed on 1 May in observance of Labor Day.