Weekly Update from the Secondary Principal

Dear Parents, 
It has been fifteen weeks since we welcomed back students to the AISL campus and we continue to have a safe and engaging learning environment for all students. 
Coming back from a break always presents a variety of interesting challenges. Coming back from a break, with another, longer, break just over the horizon creates a completely different set of difficulties. Couple that with a semester-long absence of COVID incidents, and an increasingly laissez-faire attitude in the country related to preventative measures, and you have a tendency for students to become increasingly lax. 
Over the past week, we have been observing more and more behavior that implies to me an unearned sense of safety. Is Zambia better off than other countries in regard to COVID? Yes. Is Zambia out of danger in regards to COVID? Absolutely not. 
With this in mind, it would be easy for us to rest on our successes in reopening the campus, and keeping the kids safe these past fourteen weeks. However, the act of patting ourselves on the back can dislodge the mask from our faces and leave us open to danger. 
So, why has the Secondary Leopard’s Tale post become the “weekly COVID screed”? Because it remains necessary to remind everyone that our health and safety protocols are the only reason we can have in-person school. If we look around the region, we are the exception, not the rule. This is why we are strict. This is why we have to remain vigilant, and this is why we need everyone to support our efforts to maintain a safe school environment. 
COVID is not a permanent houseguest in our lives. There will be a time after COVID. The choice is how we look back on our behavior in this awful time. Do we want to reflect and think about all the things we could have done better, or do we want to be proud of how we pulled together and made the small necessary sacrifices. 
So, please remind your children of why we do this, of why we have to be careful, and of what happens when we take serious dangers less seriously than they deserve. 
Have a great weekend!

Individual & Societies - DP

There have been a range of significant things happening across the Diploma Programme (DP) this week. The Grade 12’s have received the Mock Exam schedule.  Mock exams will be held from February 8-12 and are meant to imitate as closely as possible the real DP exams which will occur in May.  Please be aware that attendance at Mock Exams is required, and medical or other appointments should not be scheduled during Mock Exam week. Last year’s Seniors reported feeling much more relieved and confident about DP exams after having completed their Mocks, so it was a valuable learning experience overall.  
In Grade 11, students have been excited to get started on their Extended Essay (EE). EE supervisors are selected on a first-come, first-served basis, so as soon as the 14:00 “opening time” came around on Wednesday, they were ready with courteous emails to make their formal requests for meetings.
Even the Grade 10’s have been busy this week, looking ahead to next year. Because their Individuals and Society (Group 3) selections have a domino effect on the entire Secondary timetable, we’ve asked them to make preliminary selections this week so we can start building next year’s schedule. Mr. Haske, Mr. Cruickshank, and Mr. Mrak all visited Grade 10 Advisory this week to present on History, Economics, and Geography. Four Grade 11 students taking DP courses online through Pamoja also presented about Psychology and Business Management.  If any parents are curious about these presentations, please feel free to check out the Grade 10 Advisory Landing Page for December 1-3.
It was great to see the thoughtful excitement of the tenth graders as they considered their options.  Their Group 3 selections are only preliminary at this point, to give us a sense of numbers, and students will be able to change or confirm their choices in March after the Grade 10 DP retreat.

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Communications

​We know that this can be a time filled with uncertainties, so please understand that our highest priority is the health and well-being of your children.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at rodum@aislusaka.org and sseiler@aislusaka.org.
Kind regards,
Dr. Rick Odum, Secondary Principal
Dr. Sheila Seiler, Secondary Assistant Principal