Author: jzurfluh

(You can find all the work of Rascal Zurfluh at https://zimplicity.org/.)

The story of the observations of a trusted confidant of a retired school leader.

We’re just finishing October, which means two things: my pumpkin treats are back in circulation, and schools around the world just celebrated United Nations Day. I know this because my master—ever the Head of School even in retirement—has been watching the celebrations pop up in his inbox: photos of flag parades, assemblies filled with national costumes, and earnest songs about peace that make even an old Shih Tzu like me wag his tail.

But as I sit here with him, watching from the quiet side of retirement, I can’t help but sense a certain wistfulness. These events have always been among his favorites—those days when the world feels united, if only for a morning. The gym filled with color, the laughter of children stumbling through greetings in dozens of languages, the smell of a hundred different home-cooked dishes at the international fair. If ever there was a day that captured the heart of international education, it’s that one.

Yet, as I tilt my head and watch the news flicker on the screen, the contrast feels sharp. The world outside seems louder, angrier, more divided. And I can sense my master wondering, as so many leaders must be: What does it mean to educate for peace in an age that so often forgets what peace looks like?

Flags, Food, and the Fear of Taking Sides

Over the years, I’ve heard many Heads of School wrestle with the same dilemma: how to honor diversity and difference without drifting into politics. It’s a noble aim—after all, schools must be sanctuaries of belonging. But sometimes, in our careful attempts to remain “non-political,” we accidentally become non-principled.

I remember the challenges my master faced during a global conflict that had everyone talking. The news was grim, and teachers wondered how to respond. Some schools chose silence, fearing controversy. Others opened space for dialogue and reflection, guided by the belief that empathy, understanding, and critical inquiry are not partisan values—they are human ones.

From my perspective at floor level, I’ve seen that the heads who navigate this best don’t pick sides in politics—they pick sides in humanity. They model curiosity instead of judgment, compassion instead of caution. They teach students that complexity isn’t something to fear; it’s something to explore.

Lessons from the Past Decade

Over my thirteen years at my master’s side, I’ve witnessed schools weather everything from global pandemics to political upheavals, from climate protests to AI revolutions. Each crisis brought new tests of courage and conviction. And yet, time and again, I’ve seen the same truth emerge — neutrality, when it comes to justice and dignity, is never neutral.

Schools shape not just knowledge but conscience. When they avoid difficult conversations—about inequity, identity, or human rights—they don’t preserve peace; they postpone progress. True internationalism doesn’t hide from tension; it learns how to hold it with grace. Every UN Day must have ambassadors and policy makers in attendance so that children can teach them what is important and how diversity can help to achieve broad goals.

The International Baccalaureate understood this long before it was fashionable to talk about “global citizenship.” The IB learner profile invites students to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators, caring, open-minded, principled, and reflective. That’s not a political platform—it’s a human one. But it takes courage for leaders to live it out when the winds of the world blow hard in opposing directions.

Inquiry, Insight, and Agency

The greatest gift of education isn’t the transmission of knowledge—it’s the cultivation of agency. Inquiry and insight are the tools that move young people from awareness to action. When students learn to ask why and how, they begin to see themselves not just as observers of the world, but as shapers of it.

And that’s where leadership matters most. Heads of School set the tone. They can encourage discourse instead of dogma, reflection instead of reaction. They can remind their communities that disagreement isn’t danger—it’s the raw material of democracy.

I’ve seen my master do this many times: guiding faculty to listen more deeply, nudging students to see the human story behind the headline, and helping parents remember that our schools are not just places of learning—they’re laboratories of empathy.  Not perfect because maybe there was insufficient action for some causes and more for others, either because of opportunity or timing.  But, the central idea was always there – what is the right thing to do?

A Call to the Courageous

So as UN Day flags find their way back to their usual places and students reflect on their performances of “We Are the World” or something similar, I hope every Head of School pauses to reflect: these celebrations aren’t just symbolic—they’re aspirational. They represent the world we wish to inhabit.

Now, more than ever, we need schools that don’t confuse neutrality with virtue. We need leaders who will take principled stands for respect, compassion, and truth. We need educators who will help young people practice the art of civil discourse—not by avoiding hard conversations, but by modeling how to have them with grace and humility.

Because peace is not the absence of politics—it’s the presence of empathy. And as one who has spent many years observing both the chaos and beauty of human leadership from under the desk, I can assure you: empathy always smells better than fear.

Closing Thoughts

Rascal’s reflection for this month is simple: the world doesn’t need schools to be neutral; it needs them to be nurturing. Not in the soft, sentimental sense—but in the active, courageous one. To nurture compassion. To nurture curiosity. To nurture the capacity to disagree without disdain.

As we celebrate the ideals of the United Nations, may we remember that peace begins not in policy, but in practice — in the questions we allow, the stories we tell, and the humanity we uphold.

And if that’s political—well, perhaps it’s the kind of politics the world could use a little more.

Until next time,

Rascal

(You can find all the work of Rascal Zurfluh at https://zimplicity.org/.)

The story of the observations of a trusted confidant of a retired school leader.

From my usual perch on my master’s lap, I’ve been watching something unfold that’s both heartwarming and a little bittersweet. Each year around this time, the Roll Call arrives — messages from Heads of School around the world, full of energy, purpose, and possibility. Normally, these messages mean we’re about to leap into another school year together. But this time, something is different. My master is reading them from home, coffee in hand, without the familiar scent of freshly waxed hallways or the flurry of opening-day excitement. For the first time in decades, we’re on the outside looking in.

I’ll admit, I felt a little forlorn. A dog gets used to certain rhythms — the late-night planning sessions, the early assemblies, the steady stream of students who wave at me as they walk to school passing my yard. But retirement, it seems, has a rhythm of its own. And as I listened to my master sigh and smile his way through each message, I realized that even from this vantage point, there is much to reflect upon.

A Global Chorus of Purpose

This year’s roll call sings with familiar refrains and fresh harmonies. Some heads are launching bold new initiatives — innovative programs, reimagined curricula, and spaces designed to spark creativity and belonging. Others speak with the hard-earned wisdom of experience, knowing that the heart of leadership lies in relationships, resilience, and renewal.

From Hanoi’s reflections on belonging and AI integration to Guangzhou’s deepened focus on social-emotional learning … from Maputo’s determination to rebuild after a challenging year to Luxembourg’s joy in welcoming students from 65 nations … each message is a window into a community striving toward its own vision of excellence. Even veteran leaders stepping away from headship shared words of gratitude, humility, and hope — reminders that while roles may change, purpose endures.

As I listened to all this, I was reminded that while each school’s story is unique, they are all part of a larger narrative — one of adaptation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to young people. And this year, that narrative includes a profound new chapter.

From Big Data to Big Picture

Some years ago — back when my fur was still mostly brown — my master spoke at an AISH gathering about “Big Data.” It was an exciting idea at the time: gathering more information from more sources to make better decisions – he referred to it as granularity at the time. Heads nodded, and schools began to track metrics and analyze patterns more deeply than ever before. The goal was to see beyond the anecdotal and into the systemic.

Today, that conversation feels almost quaint. Artificial intelligence has changed the game. Where once leaders wrestled with spreadsheets and surveys, now they’re beginning to engage with vast webs of interconnected information — not just data points, but dynamic patterns, relationships, and possibilities. It’s no longer about collecting more data. It’s about seeing more deeply into what that data means with an ardent partner helping behind the screen.

This shift matters for school leaders. A single concern from a parent, once viewed as an isolated data point, can now be understood within a larger cultural, historical, and emotional context. Patterns of student learning can be analyzed alongside community demographics, global trends, and even predictive modeling of future needs. AI allows us to step back from the narrow focus of individual trees and glimpse the shape and health of the forest.

Sage Advice from the Lap of Experience

Of course, even as the tools evolve, the heart of leadership remains the same. The roll call messages make that abundantly clear. The best leaders still begin with students in mind. They still pause to look beneath the surface of problems. They still build relationships as the foundation of their schools. And — as any dog worth his kibble knows — they still need to take care of themselves to have the strength to care for others.

What changes is the landscape in which they do this work. AI doesn’t replace the wisdom of experience; it enhances it. It doesn’t solve the puzzles of leadership for you; it offers you new ways to see the puzzle as a whole. It doesn’t wag the tail — but it might just help you understand why the tail is wagging in the first place.

Closing Thoughts

So here I sit, paws crossed and tail gently thumping, watching a new school year unfold from a different angle. My master may no longer be at the helm, but the work continues — richer, more complex, and more interconnected than ever. And I, Rascal, remain convinced that the heads who thrive in this era will be those who embrace the tools of the future without losing the timeless instincts that define great leadership.

Because whether you’re parsing big data or exploring big pictures, sniffing out the story behind the story is still the wisest move you can make.

Until next time — keep your noses to the ground and your eyes on the horizon and occasionally be a Rascal, like me and my best friend!

Recent articles published on Medium…

Now that my school content has moved to the ASW School website, I’m transitioning Zimplicity back to my personal use for educational blogging. This is my moniker and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences here.

As a start, I had a unique experience using NotebookLM recently, the new AI testbed from Google. I started with a policy document and was amazed a the summary and the resulting podcast reflecting on it. Then I had a thought and on a lark uploaded my resume to the tool and below is both my resume and a link to the NotebookLM podcast summarizing the resume.

We’ve moved Zimplicity to a new location on the aswarsaw.org website. Logistically, this works better for us from a publication point of view with eNotes. You can find new Zimplicity posts at this new location:

https://www.aswarsaw.org/about-us/news/directors-desk

We’ll keep this website here for historical purposes and to maintain the many links to the content herein. But, all new content will be directed to the new location. Thank you for being a Zimplicity reader! Please join us at the new place!!

Taking this brief and final opportunity to thank all involved in our First Annual Gala on Saturday and my appreciation to all in attendance on a stellar evening.  Many thanks to all the administration, staff, and students involved in making this such a special event.  We all walked away with our special memories and our actions for the future now on the giving tree that all will see in the future in the main lobby area.  We want to thank you for your support and for helping further the cause of our ASW4Ukraine project that continues unabated, due to many volunteers’ continuous efforts behind the scenes.  If you know one of these special people, give them an extra hug for all that they do.

Master Facility Design Process

We shared them with those in attendance at the Gala, but now have them displayed in the main hallways.  I should note that these are the first round of renderings and we are under a soft launch, but the more detailed presentations will come in the Fall.  Only minor preparatory projects this summer with much more detail in August and September on the scope and schedule of all of our plans.

Thoughts Before the Final Week

We will have our Final School Wide Assembly next week on Wednesday.  This will be open to all parents and you’ll see your areas to stand around the perimeter of students as we will again hold it outdoors on our back fields.  Everyone needs to think sun.  Please be advised that students will return to their classroom after the assembly to say a final goodbye to their teachers and school ends promptly at 11:30a.  Parking will be challenging and you should use exterior areas outside of the back gate if parking is not available in the main lot.  You may not leave your vehicle parked in any of our yellow zones.  Also, be reminded that we will not have a late start on Wednesday, June 15 and school starts at 8:30a due to the shortened week because of the holiday.

Looking forward to a strong closure and will offer a final message in next week’s final eNotes for the year.

Coming to you tonight is this year’s feedback survey.  As usual, this is a familiar survey with 80% of the questions we ask each year plus some updates and additions to gather important information from you about our programs.  We use this as our primary tool for addressing program changes and improvements.  All prior surveys are presented in summary to the board each year in September and the most recent was included in the September 2021 board packet.

You’ll receive a personal invitation to this survey today (some may have already received it as you read this) and you should strive to complete it by July 15.  If you do not complete the survey, you will continue to receive reminders until we close the survey in July.

This survey is critical not only to our ongoing operational and strategic work but also to our upcoming accreditation renewal process.  Participation is critical in making sure that we keep our finger on the pulse of the school community as has been the case in years past. The survey will take about 40 minutes to complete and we recommend your children be near you for questions as you consider each response.  Automatic translation to multiple languages by Google is provided, but it may not always be fully accurate.

Thanks in advance for your continued support of this important annual tradition!!

Master Facility Design Process

We’re happy to report that we are finishing up the master facilities design process and will be moving now into project implementation.  We’ll have comprehensive information about this come fall as the early projects of upgrades and renovations commence with smaller projects at the beginning, including this summer.  Those attending the Gala this weekend will have a special treat as we share a peek at the completed renderings of the various projects.  We’ll have these up in August to share with the entire community, but for now, know that ASW has continued its strategic work throughout these recent years of hardship and we continue our work in earnest to stay at the front edge of a world class education.

Safety Reminder

Just a plea to please reduce your speeds between speed bumps in the parking lot.  I’ve monitored in recent days and have witnessed some excessive speeds from multiple vehicles that are very dangerous in a school parking lot. I would ask all to please consider maintaining very slow speeds throughout the parking lot at all times (under 10 km/h).  See our Parking Lot Guide for more information.

To all of our special guests, faculty, staff, administration, parents, friends, and family members, whether here or online watching live – I offer you my thanks for your pride and presence as we come toward the close of this, our 29^th commencement exercises for the class of 2022. 

Our special gratitude to our board members who are present here and watching online today, led by Board Chair Kay LaBanca.  Thank you for your courage and leadership through difficult times.  You represent and defend the needs of the community with honor and capability!  It is a pleasure serving with you all!

Ambassador Brzezinski.  I offer special thanks for your message today.  Our bonds with the Embassy are always strong.  Today you refresh this partnership with your presence and your words, not just as a wise diplomat and friend, but also as an ASW parent with similar hopes and dreams for your own in the years ahead.

Can and Nina, thank you for representing your classmates so well.  You both bring a unique and thoughtful perspective — born for both of you through spirit, dedication, and enthusiasm.  You have represented your classmates well and we thank you for your service to the greater good, a model for us all!

Ms. Hassan, your message will long be cherished by the students seated before you who both respect and appreciate you for all that you have done, and continue to do, in service to teaching and learning each day.  You are a fine choice as a representative of a world class teaching faculty that can only be revered and honored for their commitment and dedication under the most difficult of circumstances.

Whether here in the auditorium or watching from home, we thank you all, the staff of ASW, for your unwavering dedication.  Faculty, counselors, administration, and support staff have all been the beacons of hope and resilience for students and parents during the darkest of days.  I thank you all for your continued demonstration and modeling of the core values we all hold in highest regard.

We know as an international community that many of our graduates have had other schooling experiences before joining us here in Warsaw. Some even stay with us for a time, leave for a bit, and then return. It is part of being an international school that we embrace this regular flux of change and transition. Over twenty nationalities sit on this stage tonight.  But, as has been our tradition, I’d like to recognize some Warriors, nurtured at ASW from the beginning of their schooling experience all the way to this graduation. As I call these names, would you please rise and remain standing so that we can recognize all of you as a group:

12 Students have been identified as having been at ASW since either Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten:

Kindergarten:

• Theodore
• Helena
• Olivia
• Maksymilian
• Nina
• Karolina

Pre-Kindergarten – Age 4:

• Maria
• Zofia
• Blanca
• Noa
• Hung Dung

Pre-Kindergarten – Age 3:

• Liliane

Please recognize these students and their families as this year’s Warriors of longest standing.

I offer a simple message of closure today, punctuating a splendid return to our favorite venue and leaving behind the bumpers and headlights in hopes that they can be fond memories, but never again a reality.  Many thanks to Mr. Sheehan and his team as they dusted off their memories and brought back all but a few of our traditions in short order as it became clearer each day that this would be possible.

I’m inspired tonight by a quote that I think may resonate despite the challenges that seem to surround us.  This class is the first to have run the full course of our most recent challenge.  As you entered your final two years in the Diploma Programme, we had just emerged from lockdown and you are now experiencing life as we emerge from a long and winding, and often daunting, tunnel. So, here’s the quote I bring today:

From past American President John F. Kennedy – “Change is the law of life.  And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

While I value that we all believe that there are lessons that we have learned in recent years — and that silver linings should be plowed into new realities, I would ask you to challenge yourself and consider for a moment the unknowns rather than the knowns.  While we should all celebrate that we have survived, or will survive, it can unfortunately leave us short-sighted and often too busy in the moment to be inspired by imagination and possibility.

While tired at times, at my core, I’m an optimist.  In the darkness, I still seek light.  In despair, I look for threads of opportunity.  And even in success, I seek aspiration and vision looking toward the next horizon.

I want you to embrace this with me – this optimism and excitement.  Like every educator and parent in this room, I wanted to give you a better world, empowering you to embrace it – our legacy is your hearts and minds engaged in finding what has not yet been tried, what has not been considered, what you can bestow upon the next generation.

Look around at the faces in the audience, filled with pride and inspired by your growing.  When you greet your family and friends at the reception, see the joy in their eyes that is inspired by your journey, incomplete, but full of promise and potential.

Embrace your parents today in a new way.  Thank them for all that they have done to support you, but more importantly just make sure they know that you love them and always will.  That’s the only thing that is truly important on this day and in this moment as you prepare for what comes next.

Let’s embrace this with smiles and pride as you cross in front of us.  All sins are forgiven, officially for the school at least, and may you always look to the future rather than the past, embracing the optimism that is life.

Class of 2022 and your parents, thank you for letting ASW be part of your lives.  We love you and wish you nothing but the best in all that you seek and do!

Warriors always!

In the coming days, we begin a series of events that are considered important milestones in life.   A milestone is defined as…

…a significant stage or event in the development of something.

School has always been a place where many reflect on how these growing and becoming milestones are achieved.  This weekend, we start with graduation for our oldest students.  We look forward to celebrating their achievements, and in the true spirit of a milestone, giving them cementing both memories and a pathway.  Graduation, like many milestones in schooling and life, is not about a destination, but more about holding onto the momentum and continuing the journey.  For all our students, pivotal milestone moments allow an opportunity to breathe so that we can celebrate, reflect, and then continue in the journey undeterred.

We live both in the moment and in the plan.  Let’s rejoice in how we kept learning enabled, with or without challenge, and embrace the “growing” in all its forms.  Let’s start with graduates and then look for each of our milestones between now and the final assembly bells, encouraging and enabling those most precious to us, the children we all nurture and serve.

Tragedy Again

I could not write today without at least mentioning the tragedy in the United States unfolding in recent hours in Uvalde, Texas.  I can’t be silent.  No child should ever have their life snatched away, whether in war, from famine/disease, or at the hands of deranged individuals.  I agree with all who are suggesting that we have to find active and urgent ways to bring this kind of senseless loss to an end.  As a family of human beings living together on this planet, we need to find a better path. ASW’s mission is to change the world for the better.  All of the adults of the world need to consider it their mission to change the world for the better for our children.  As a parent, my heart cries for the families in Texas, who are now engulfed in grief.  Please keep them in your thoughts in the days and weeks ahead.  If students are struggling with this recent news in any way, please reach out to our counsellors for support.

Gala

A final plea to get your tickets soon so that we can lock in numbers for our special event.  We will have a wonderful crowd at this spectacular event and I’m very much looking forward to it!  Thank you for watching my video last week and please share your thoughts with me to help guide us in our future endeavours in this area of service and advancement under Culture of Giving.

Additional Update on COVID

On Monday we noted the reduction of protocols and suspended the “Test-to-Attend” program.  Today we are announcing that next week (May 23-27) we will end regular testing for the remainder of the school year.  Based on the data recorded to date, this has been approved as our next viable next step and a way of closing the year consistent with what we see in terms of risk level in the current environment.  We will maintain a shorter morning testing time for both “Test-to-Stay” which will still be required for all close contacts in a household.  But, our testing in cohorts will end next Friday.

An endemic approach requires that we continue our watchful eye on any potential increase in infections.  Therefore, we will continue with daily attestation in OK4School.  But, starting after next week, you will no longer be prompted for a test expiration and we will rely entirely on the daily survey and your at-home checks.  We continue to encourage the use of home tests in the face of emerging symptoms and personal responsibility for self-isolation to protect the broader community in the case of illness.  Thank you for all you do to help us remain safe and secure each day at school.  Watch for Monday’s Weekly Update for further directions on next steps.

Belated wishes to many of the Mothers of our community and their celebrations last Sunday in honour of your special day.  We recognize the importance of celebrating all that you do for your children.  In that regard, I hope that the children of ASW took this opportunity to cherish and care for you in essential ways with extra hugs and much lovingkindness to show their awe and appreciation for all that you do.

But, we should also be quick to mention that many countries celebrate Mothers on different dates.  Poland officially celebrates Mother’s Day on May 26.  France follows shortly thereafter on May 29 along with the Dominican Republic and Sweden.  Spain, Portugal, Romania, Hungary, and Lithuania celebrated on May 1st.  Other dates in various countries include February 13, November 27, August 12, October 16, and June 12 in 2022.  In our diverse community, it means we are celebrating Mother’s Day throughout the year, as it should be! 😉

Wishing you all the best and thank you for all that you do!!

Gala!!

Hoping you have had a chance to check out our website and consider joining us for an elegant evening here at ASW in support of our programs at our inaugural event.  We are moving quickly towards our date, so please consider joining us by purchasing tickets either as an individual or as a group or corporate sponsor.  Our partnerships are very important to us, and would be so happy to have you with us at this important event!

https://gala.aswarsaw.org

PYPx

We had a wonderful PYPx for our Grade 5 students last week.  Each year this constitutes a significant capstone of the elementary experience where years of learned skills are brought together into a multi-disciplinary project.  We should applaud the talented and capable staff of the elementary school and all the volunteer adult mentors and experts who helped to make this a robust and rewarding experience for our students.  The projects were a dazzling array of ideas and actions that will have a profound impact on our school and community, demonstrating a key part of our mission – changing the world for the better.  See below for more information in the elementary section of this eNotes.