A moment to pause, plan, and celebrate!

My thoughts for those in strife

One word as an opener for this Zimplicity post.  We have seen over the last few weeks a set of incidents that have shaken us yet again with regards to personal safety and the impact of terror in our lives, and particularly in the lives of international travelers.  We saw an attack in France that reminded us of incidents in recent years that shook us terribly.  The recent attack in London has also reminded us that even the most iconic and traveled locations are potential scenes for making statements through harm and injury to others.  Given our diversity, it’s important to take pause and reach across national boundaries to offer the message of condolence, offering the hand of peace in the midst of adverse circumstance.  So, I offer a moment to our nationalities affected by terror in recent weeks, a moment of pause to consider how you feel and an offer of my deepest condolences for those injured or killed in these horrendous incidents.  Whether American or British, French or Polish, Chinese or Korean, or the other 50+ nationalities at ASW, we are all bound by our humanity and concern for each other.  When any one of us is harmed by hatred, we all feel the pain of intolerance.  Let’s find others in person this week across all nationality lines and reach out the hand of common purpose, filled with empathy and the pursuit of peace and dignity for all.

Governance & Elections

If you missed it previously, we are fully engaged in many items in the governance arena.  The Board of Trustees is fully engaged on work that has been progressing all year and was captured in the recent letter from your Board Chair, Mr. Rob Batchelder.  The board continues there work with meetings in April, May, and June.  We would hope you could join us for the public comments section of the meeting that is now a key fixture of the regular professional meetings.  One and all are invited and encouraged to join us on these dates.  Your printed school calendars are already marked and you are welcome to each of these remaining meetings, all to be held in the MPR.

April 3, 6:00 p.m.
May 22, 6:00 p.m.
June 19, 6:00 p.m.

New and Aspiring Trustee Training – Reprise

For those who may have missed it the first time, back by popular demand is the New and Aspiring Board trustee training.  We’ve pulled together another session to give you insight into the workings of school governance and prepare you for aspirations to become a board member, either here or at other international schools around the world.  This session provides good insight into what it means to be a member of the primary governance body of an international school.  Topics covered include the dynamics of board functions, responsibilities of a board member, and best practices as described by leading publications associated with non-profit governance.  With elections for the ASW board coming soon, this is a perfect opportunity to gain insight into your interests in becoming a part of guiding this school into the future.  If you would like to join us, please click on the links below to RSVP and join us Thursday for this informative session.

Thursday, March 30, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Multi-Purpose Room
American School of Warsaw
Light refreshments provided.

RSVP!

NoTosh!

NEWS RELEASE –  The American School of Warsaw is proud to announce its partnership with NoTosh Ltd. (EMEA) to complete Phase I of our strategic planning efforts that will span over the next 18-24 months.  One of seven proposals that were gleaned from an international search for potential consultants, Ewan McIntosh, Founder and CEO, will lead the efforts of the American School of Warsaw as we architect our plans for the next 5-7 years built on a foundation of first articulating our core values and frame our next adventure as a school, based in part on work already progressing towards re-accreditation with NEASC and CIS.

NoTosh Ltd. is based in Scotland, Australia, and the USA and they work with clients across the globe in sectors ranging from education and healthcare to industry, enterprise and heritage. Learning, and learning to think differently, sits at the heart of everything they do.  We welcome their collaboration in seeking the next phase of growth and development at the American School of Warsaw. Find out more about NoTosh at http://www.notosh.com/

In the coming days, we will be inviting members of the community that have been identified by the board and administration to take part in some Design and Investigation committees.  We look forward to positive responses to these invitations and look forward to immersing ourselves in this work in the coming weeks.  Ewan and his team will be with us during the week of April 17th.

Introducing Bart Kryger – Middle School Vice Principal

A wonderful welcome to Mr. Bart Kryger, our new Vice Principal for the Middle School.  Mr. Kryger was announced recently to the Faculty and Board of Trustees as our selection for Middle School Vice Principal starting in August.  Mr. Kryger comes originally from Washington State, having his BA from Washington State University in music education.  His background is in choral music, including time as a teacher in Eastern Washington and then in Shanghai, China.  He completed his Masters Degree at University of Phoenix and his administrative program through the University of Washington, Tacoma.  He has been the Assistant Principal at Narrows View Intermediate School since 2013 in the prestigious University Place School District in Tacoma, Washington.  Bart also has credentials in the International Baccalaureate in both the PYP and MYP programmes.  He is accompanied by his wife Lucia and their two elementary aged children.

I know you will all join me in welcoming Mr. Kryger to ASW.   You’ll get an opportunity to meet him during his upcoming transitional visit.  Mr. Kryger will be with us during the week of April 10-14.  More details on his visit coming soon.