Author: jzurfluh

LockDown Drill

We had our first Lockdown drill of the school year on Tuesday and it was very successful. Children were secure and safe in their classrooms within 5 minutes of our announcement. This is consistent with our excellent evacuation drill times where we demonstrated an ability to clear the building and confirm all present in under 7 minutes.

We also tested our SMS Emergency Notification System (ENS). An ENS message was sent to all parents, staff, and administration during the drill, along with a link to help you give us feedback. Click HERE to fill out that survey and let us know if you did NOT receive our message and/or to provide feedback on our system. Thanks to all the staff and students who did such a wonderful job preparing for and executing our drill.

One item that was an issue. We had a couple of parents in the hallway at the time of the drill and they were successfully gathered into the room with the children. But, we noted that this parent was not wearing their badge. It reminded us of an important point. While we are a bit flexible during normal operation (this one was left in a car), we need to stress to all parents that wearing your badge at all times while on campus is critically important, and particularly so when we have drills or emergency actions. Being able to identify the adults during an emergency is one of the main reasons we require the parent badge. Thank you to all who are doing a wonderful job of following this important rule!!

Evacuation on Tuesday

We had an inadvertent evacuation shortly after our lockdown drill on Tuesday that was the result of the action of a Middle School student pressing a hallway alarm. We have taken disciplinary action in regard to this incident including other students who were identified as encouraging and helping to plan the behavior. We need to stress that a false alarm of this nature is a serious offense and we will be reminding students that this kind of action could also result in referral to law enforcement. If the fire department had responded to the event, harsher penalties would have been likely. Please help us remind students that false reporting may put others at risk and we all want to be as safe and secure as possible.

I’m heading off to CEESA Heads of School meeting this afternoon after completing this article and wanted to let you know about our connection to this organization. I realized that it has been a while since I’ve talked about our regional group and the importance of their work in supporting international schools of our nature in a variety of activities.

First, CEESA is primarily an organization of collaboration. Schools find it difficult on their own in foreign countries to provide professional development and school support activities without connecting with other like-minded schools to share costs from bringing key thinkers and opportunities for teachers and administrators into our midst. This includes weekend training workshops, job-a-like sessions, and ultimately the annual conference where more than 500 participants join training on dozens of topics. Last year, ASW hosted the CEESA Conference and it was well attended by teachers and administrators from throughout the region.

By the way, the region is the Central and Eastern European Schools Association, so the countries involved are largely and relatively central and east of Prague. The organization’s members can be found HERE. There are other regional associations around the world. I started my leadership journey in the EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools) region, for example.

CEESA also supports our pursuits in Athletics and Activities for Upper School (6-12). They have organized and developed these programs over a number of years that provide robust opportunities for student travel along with highly competitive interscholastic competitions. Recently, the Activities Directors and Athletics Directors met for their annual Fall meeting and more than 40 people collaborated on the many layers of bylaws, rules, procedures, and calendars that are now managed. Schools throughout CEESA, like us, are planning for both their away and hosted events that form a robust calendar and a significant management challenge. Like the heads of school, they implement policies on child protection, travel risk management, and safety initiatives to assure all students have a positive and culturally rich experience.

So, this weekend, I’ll be in Istanbul with the other heads of school discussing important topics that offer real benefit and a wide range of services to our school. In a future newsletter, I’ll share some notes on our outcomes to give you a better sense of our ongoing work.

A couple of safety notes:

• Please walk your children across our roads using crosswalks only. If you teach your child that it is OK to cut across the road in front of traffic, they are more likely to do so when they are on their own and could get hurt. The speedbumps are NOT crosswalks. Crosswalks are visibly marked stripes and we have crossing guards at the main ones during morning and afternoon hours.
• Do not drive over curbs to park. The areas protected by curbs not meant to be used and offer a line of sight to avoid pedestrians not being visible to moving traffic. These areas are not marked for parking and there may also be vulnerable equipment in these areas that we are trying to protect. Please park only in designated parking spaces. My thanks to the parents who are trying to do their best to park carefully between the lines to maximize our parking.

I tried to think about how to start this article and how I could communicate my concern about an issue that has growing attention swirling around it. I thought of all the data points and all the politically correct messages that might somehow increase the focus on this for all of us to consider. I want to elicit partnership while being sensitive to our diverse population. I want us all to understand the implications and urgency of the matter and, most importantly, we all want to protect our children. And, I know this is not the only topic where we have to have conversations. There are probably a dozen other things that some may find equally urgent. But, I need to share this message now because the frustration surrounding it is beginning to grow beyond our bounds of understanding. Ready for the message? Here it is:

Vaping is killing our children!

To be quite blunt about it, there is no need to further investigate or explore due diligence on this topic. The smoking and vaping industry is delivering messages to our youngest minds that vaping is somehow safer than cigarettes. That is a lie. They are trying to develop a mythology that no one gets hurt by using these flavored products. That is a lie. They place their products at children’s eye level despite unenforced laws that are supposed to limit their access. More lies and manipulation. There is nothing redeeming about a company that is stating they are not selling to children when in fact they craft their advertisements to specifically target the youngest, most vulnerable demographic.

Without the lies, it is quite simple. Your lungs are not biologically engineered to absorb heated chemicals. They are delicate organs that must only breathe clean air. We can’t complain about air quality in one arena and then allow smoking and vaping to grow and spread before our very eyes. We learned from our FCD visitors last year that any vaping product was putting upwards of 100 chemicals into the lungs between the preservatives, coloring agents, and active ingredients along with the chemicals created during the heating process across the metals involved. This is not for your lungs. Never will be. There is no safe way to breathe things into your body.

My nephew just celebrated the one year anniversary of a double lung transplant. His issue was not related to vaping, but instead was an outgrowth of a childhood virus that caused damage that could not be repaired. But, it is a lesson in the delicate nature of the lungs and the importance of taking care of them. My nephew was lucky that a donor was found and his strength of character is now carrying him forward through life despite the constant fear of rejection associated with this gift. How, in the face of his strength, can we allow kids to have access to these things that are an assault on their fragile and growing bodies? How can we allow them to take a risk with their lives that is now proving so deadly that many states in the U.S. are outright banning these products?

Our policy at ASW is quite clear. We do not allow these products or substances on our campus. We have rules that speak to this and we will take all necessary disciplinary action up to and including expulsion when students choose to break these rules. With my message to staff today, we will continue to aggressively address this issue on a curricular and supervision basis. But, we can’t do this without your help. We need parents to reinforce this message at home with all ages. This has to stop! Smoking and Vaping must end. To any parent out there who is still smoking, please be a model for your children. Find your solution and protect their future. If you need help, reach out to us. We’ll find ways to assist, whether parent or child. Let’s all adopt the same understanding. There is nothing right or acceptable about smoking in ANY form! I hope you will join me in that belief and send that clear message to all who will listen.

Over the weekend, our Board of Trustees met for their start of year retreat and have begun work to craft their goals for the year and set up their committees. Similarly, the regular schedule of meetings for the year has all been entered into the calendar so that we carve out the time when teams will work collaboratively to achieve the goals of the school. While teachers fill their classrooms with learning and engagement, the leaders throughout the school are already starting to consider some of the focus areas for reflection this year, with an eye toward planning next year as well. With Mission and Vision as our backdrop, we will look forward to opportunities to gather with parents and other stakeholders to architect that path forward. Our theme this year, with a focus on strategic design efforts that are almost upon us, is “taking our next steps toward our future.” Finding the right steps and placing our investment into the right projects will be a focus of our attention in the coming months.

Meanwhile, we had a wonderful gathering last Saturday night that was truly empowering for all of us in attendance. The goodwill throughout the room was amazing and our thanks go out to PTO for their efforts in making this a truly special event. Our thanks also to the staff and leadership at the Mariott and Champions. They did a spectacular job and we appreciate their service and attention! Now it is BBQ time and the efforts this week have been ramping up significantly as the last bows are being tied and baskets prepared for the annual auction. Come and put lots of tickets into every basket knowing that each ticket is supporting a wide array of activities and events throughout the school year. Please plan on joining us on Saturday no matter what the weather brings. We are prepared this year with quick transition plans to make sure the day is a success no matter what the sun and clouds decide. See below for details.

With back to school nights complete (Ooops – not High School yet – that’s next week), let’s reflect on what we’ve heard in recent days.  First, you should have heard broad goals and timelines for key events in the coming months and should have a general sense of how the year will unfold.  You won’t know everything and our plans are flexible in order to take advantage of unique learning opportunities.  But, the general flow of the year should now be evident.

Second, you should have a better understanding of our International Baccalaureate framework and how it helps us to weave content into deeper understanding.  I saw this in presentations throughout the school at both the Elementary and Upper School opening events and in the classroom presentations in a variety of formats.  In essence, you should now be seeing the mastery of how inquiry is used as a backdrop to give students ownership of their learning, making it both relevant and accessible.  The real gift her is that our students will retain more learning and the learning will be more usable in new settings, something that education strives to assure at every opportunity.  Our capable and talented staff will work tirelessly to ensure scaffolded experiences that are both challenging and rewarding for students.

Third, you should now have a sense of how we will keep you informed of student progress.  Depending on the age level, the systems were described for you and our work to keep you informed of both process and product will expand significantly.  You are already seeing some evidence of this.  This is one area that was a clear focus for us coming out of the parent survey.  We have embraced that feedback and will seek to improve in this area across the school.

As a responsive and reflective school, our aim is always to keep pushing to greater levels of capability and accomplishment.  We never stop and the work is never done.  But, the talented teams of teachers are up to the task of working closely with you to assure student outcomes.

Facility Access

Hopefully, we are now settling into our main patterns.  Parents seem to be adapting well to wearing their badge at all times and thank you for this!  To help with after-hours access to the facility, we’ve prepared a document to guide you on the times that access is available.  In general, access to the building is only for scheduled and arranged activities outside of normal school hours.  Open access to indoor facilities is only during scheduled and published times.  Outdoor areas are accessible but limited by requirements for school ID and supervision.  While our outdoor areas are accessible, they are not the same as a public park and we depend upon our community helping us to take care of the entire campus and show responsibility for the care of our equipment and spaces.  Scheduled events will take priority over any open use.  The entire document is here: Campus Access – School Hours

PowerSchool

We have initiated our annual PowerSchool update of contact information update and permissions.  You must now complete this process before being able to access other PowerSchool features and we are logging your completion of this important GDPR and personal information task.  ALL parents must login to PowerSchool and submit their responses.  Parents who have not done so by next week, we will be calling you!!  If you need help accessing your Powerschool account, please see our divisional office staff or write to support@aswarsaw.org for assistance.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the two upcoming PTO events.  See below, but really important to come and join us for the gatherings.  Adults can join us for the Mixer this weekend and the wonderful PTO BBQ is the following weekend – fun for the whole family.  Exciting and powerful way to create community at ASW!

As is always the case, we must take stock on the routines and simple rules that help us keep everyone safe and assure that the school runs smoothly for everyone.  To that end, and continuing on the good work last year, some reminders are always helpful in the early days of school.  As I noted at the PTO meeting last week, we have done well reminding ourselves of our basic safety rules, but can continue to remind each other regularly as the year progresses.  Here’s some key bullets to check and see if you are ready for the year:

• Parents and staff must wear their ID badge visibly at all times.  This is for students to identify adults who are authorized to be on campus and have stipulated to our code of conduct.  The badge, visitor or regular, is a commitment to the code of conduct that is also in our handbooks and policy. Please wear your badge at all times.  If you need help getting or replacing a badge, please ask at the Security Desk for assistance.
• The campus working hours are 8:00a to 4:30p each day (Monday through Friday).  We’ll send out more details on this, but we have clear times for accessing the campus and a different set of rules for times outside our normal working hours.  Activities that start just before 4:30p continue until complete and then students must depart.  The basic rule is that students may only return to campus after hours for scheduled activities or to access outside areas only for recreation purposes only.  They may not re-enter the building.  In order to gain access to the campus after hours for Middle School and High School students, they must have their student ID (we are in the process of making sure students all have their ID).  For elementary students (who do not have an ID except in their classroom), they may only access the campus with parent supervision (therefore with a Parent ID).  Parents can escort their elementary students onto campus for outdoor recreation or for organized activities.  Just know for now that students will not be admitted back onto campus if they have departed unless they are coming back for a specific activity and have their ID or are in need of assistance.
• Thank you for all your work to make things as smooth as possible in the parking lot.  All seems to be going smoothly, but please remember the following:
  • Park carefully and please help to maximize our parking by staying within lines.
  • NEVER leave your vehicle in a yellow zone for any reason.
  • Turn engines off if waiting in a yellow zone or if parked for more than a minute.
  • Never drive over a curb or park in areas not designated as parking.
  • Use overflow parking outside the back entrance if necessary or drive the loop until space becomes available.  Don’t block traffic flow under any circumstances.
• Please be sure to respect the learning environments in the school.  Parents are welcome in the cafeteria after students go to class, but please don’t linger in hallways or classroom areas while school is in session unless you are there at teacher request.
• Remember that pets are not allowed on campus and we have signs posted in this regard at both entrances.  We do allow pets to transit in vehicles, but they must remain in the vehicle at all times on campus.  Thank you in advance for your kind attention to this rule.

That should be enough for now.  We’ll offer additional details and other reminders as the year continues.

Also, please note that our handbooks have been refreshed and are now available on our website for reference.  Here are the links for easy direct access:

• Elementary Handbook
• Upper School Handbook (Middle and High combined)

While we are only finishing day 2 of our school year, there are many positive reflections on reconnecting and beginning a new school year.  It’s always wonderful filling a building again and enjoying the presence of all the hearts and minds that are truly the most important part of a school community.  By the end of the week, all of our students, even the youngest, will all be on full and regular schedules.  Let the learning begin in earnest!!

In the early days of school, we settle into our routines by focusing on relationships and expectations for how we create community.  Students will be sharing lots of information with you in the early days and we encourage lots of home conversations.  If you have any questions, please reach out to the teacher or principals to get important questions answered as early as possible.  Look for upcoming opportunities for meetings to also answer many of those questions as well.

Let us know if there is anything further we can do to help in your return to school or in your transition to a new home and country.  We are all ready to assist!

Don’t forget that we have our first PTO Meeting on Friday at 8:45a in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR).  If you are new and not sure where to go, meet us in the cafeteria and we’ll take you on the short walk across to the Annex building.  Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday!!

Welcome back to a new school year!  We are now counting the minutes until our wonderful students, new and returning, cross the threshold into their school and re-ignite their learning journey.  What a wonderful time we will all enjoy in the coming week!

This summer, I had the opportunity to digest some wonderful literature, but one book stands out in my learning and growing.  Rev. Gregory Boyle has inspired me this summer through wisdom and thoughtful reflection on the things that really matter.  He brings a message that amplifies the importance of human kinship, the community becoming one in purpose and providence.  While I have reflected on it often, it is important to remind us all again of one of our core values, “Work together. Because without us all we’re nothing.”

It was profound for me to immerse myself in stories of the importance of the community.  Nothing spectacularly new here for you to learn.  We have been taught to cooperate since the day we started Kindergarten.  It is built into the human reality that we recognize the power of the group over the individual.  We accept that together is more important than alone in almost every aspect of our lives leaving only the smallest sliver to isolation.  This is even more important in schools where these truths are first tested and ultimately become part of character and accomplishment.

As we come back together this year, let’s find our unifying purpose and the collective opportunity to nurture the future in the minds and hearts of our children.  It is important, as inspired by Rev. Boyle’s words, that we fight the distraction of focusing on the narrow and instead seek the collective purpose of narrowing our focus on the things that really matter, celebrating the kinship and community that makes us one.

May the start next week offer insight and confidence in the diligent care of all our children!  Here’s the reminders of the dates and times in case you missed it last week:

• New Family & Student Orientation, Monday, August 19, 9:00a, Cafeteria & Theater
• First Day of School, Tuesday, August 20
• Director’s Welcome Back Coffee, Tuesday, August 20, 8:45a, Cafeteria
• PTO Kickoff General Meeting, Friday, August 23, 8:45a, Multi-Purpose Room

School start and end times remain the same as last year.  Wednesday morning late start begins with the first week of school:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday

• Student arrival – no earlier than 8:00 am
• School starts for Grades 11-12 at 8:20 am
• School starts for PK-10 at 8:30 am
• School ends for Grades 11-12 at 3:20 pm
• School ends for PK-10 at 3:30 pm

Wednesday (Late Start for students!)

• Student arrival – no earlier than 8:45 am (cafeteria open)
• School starts for all at 9:30 am
• School ends for all at 3:30 pm

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year, everyone!!  Looks like we will be ushering in the new decade together this year!  I hope this message finds you well and either settling back into your Warsaw environment or concluding your journeys and finding your way on the final steps toward home!

It’s yet another exciting year for the American School of Warsaw, building on the success of last year as we achieved our goal of becoming a “continuum school” with all three IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP) now in full operation.  We continue with our Core Values that will continue to guide our work as the aspirational qualities of ASW and what we hope to become as the future unfolds.  We add to this our revised mission, vision, and key objective that forms the foundation for our strategic design work.  More about all of this after we get the school opened and students welcomed to their new classes and teachers. For now, know that our theme this year is:

Taking our next steps toward the future!

We look forward to engaging conversations on this theme as we work together to refine and design the next most important steps for you, your children, and for ASW!

We continue this year with our combined eNotes newsletter, which will come each week to your mailbox. Please click on the buttons to find your way to important sections, but be sure to scroll through the message each week to scan for all of the important information from each of our divisions and departments.

We have a wonderful team of educators and leaders ready to greet your children on the first day, ensuring a unique experience in the early days of the school year.  We open with an enrolment of about 950 students. We are in the midst of our welcome of 16 new faculty and 1 new administrator, who will all join returning faculty next week for our annual schedule of preparation meetings.

As usual, all of our summer teams have worked hard to assure that the facility has been prepared for your arrival and you will see a number of changes in rooms and common spaces as you explore the building.  Please be aware of a revised “Kiss and Go” area on the High School side of the building that should help traffic flow in that area.  Other upgrades and renovations have been completed throughout the facility which you will likely note at you browse around the building.

An important annual note:  Please be sure to become an active PTO member and look for welcome meetings to attend and committees where you can make a contribution of your time and talent toward enhancing our sense of community.  PTO is, by board policy, empowered to assure that we have a wonderful set of events and activities throughout the year to reinforce and enhance our strong sense of community.  This is an important time of year to build new relationships, renew collaborations, and enhance what we do to make ASW such a special place for all of us.

Here’s a summary of the key events in the first week:

• New Family & Student Orientation, Monday, August 19, 9:00a, Cafeteria & Theater
• First Day of School, Tuesday, August 20
• Director’s Welcome Back Coffee, Tuesday, August 20, 8:45a, Cafeteria
• PTO Kickoff General Meeting, Friday, August 23, 8:45a, Multi-Purpose Room

School start and end times remain the same as last year.  Wednesday morning late start begins with the first week of school:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday

• Student arrival – no earlier than 8:00 am
• School starts for Grades 11-12 at 8:20 am
• School starts for PK-10 at 8:30 am
• School ends for Grades 11-12 at 3:20 pm
• School ends for PK-10 at 3:30 pm

Wednesday (Late Start for students!)

• Student arrival – no earlier than 8:45 am (cafeteria open)
• School starts for all at 9:30 am
• School ends for all at 3:30 pm

I encourage all of you to subscribe to and participate in the Director’s blog – Zimplicity! Please join the conversation!  All of the history since my arrival is there as well.

Welcome back one and all as we take the next important steps for you and for ASW together!

Mr. Z

As you can imagine, we have received multiple messages regarding our unseasonable heat in recent days and it seems that the 2018-2019 school year will be going out hot, albeit with a bit of easing if we believe the forecasts for the weekend and Monday.  Please know that we are fully aware of the challenges associated with these temperatures and are taking steps to address the 20-25% of our classrooms with the most significant southern exposure that has led to classroom temperatures that relatively match the outside temperatures or a bit warmer.  Too hot, we all agree.

To be clear on the data:

• Issues of increased temperature affect about 10-15 days each school year out of our total of 180 school days.  While there is a slight upward trend, this number has been pretty consistent since my arrival in 2016.  We started more detailed tracking of this since 2017 and monitor individual classroom temperatures as well as overall systems that are monitoring our air quality.
• The main building was constructed in 2001 and, at that time, did not have specifications or zoning that required air conditioning.  Air conditioning has been installed in selected areas over the years, primarily in closed offices and technology equipment spaces where cooling is critical to the equipment, which generates its own heat.
• We do have systems for air handling that move air into and out of the building according to normal expectations, including the expected level of filtering that would be associated with a school facility.
• We have extensive systems for blinds and windows that allow air movement when conditions are extreme, but this does not handle the temperatures in all areas.
• We have installed new air handlers in recent years and the equipment chosen has the ability to be upgraded to including a cooling component.
• We do not have sufficient infrastructure for electricity or additional ductwork for air handling to install air conditioning at this time but we do have plans to address this incrementally in the coming years if it proves feasible.
• The Annex building included cooling only on the north half and that cooling includes some effect on the main gym area.  When it was constructed, this cooling was meant to protect instruments in the band and strings area.  This may have been short-sighted at the time and did not protect the art and storage areas of the south end of the building.

Steps we have taken in the interim:

• We have tested new portable cooling equipment that can be deployed to classrooms.  But we have had minimal success.  Most available cooling units either overtax the electrical system or provide insufficient cooling for the size and types of spaces.
• We deployed dozens of fans throughout the building on demand to are trying to address the key areas most impacted.  We have allowed for multiple fans in the most affected rooms and we are still adding more as requested.
• We have adopted flexibility in classroom assignments and location of lessons and are using large spaces like the courtyards, library, MPR, and cafeteria for classroom groups.  The core areas of the school have remained cooler and comfortable.  We are also using smaller available spaces including the board room, project nest, and offices.

We appreciate all the messages and suggestions during this difficult juncture.  We are also aware that many think this may mean similar circumstances when we return in August.  It is hard to predict this and the timing of these heat waves has not been consistent.  For example, in a prior year, we experienced high temperatures in April rather than May or June.  Similarly, we have in the more distant past experienced some adverse temperatures in September after a cool and rainy August.

But, please know we are planning prudently and not unaware that temperatures may continue to increase on average and the number of days per year may also grow.  We are planning for this and do intend to implement additional changes, both for air quality and for air cooling in the near future.

As some kids are referring to it here, there are about 9 alarms left in the school year and much to complete in the days ahead.  Along with various divisional events and the last range of exams, students are bringing punctuation to their work of the year while teachers are providing final grading and feedback, ultimately to provide end of year reports.

As a look ahead to summer, may I recommend summer reading for parents that I previously recommended as related to our FCD report?  I’ve completed reading most of the book now and found that the middle section is full of profound and important advice for parenting.  We all know about the progressive nature of development and emerging responsibility in adolescence, but this book offers some deep insight into well-researched trends in parenting practices that may form the foundation of a presentation next year and much good discussion.  Happy to discuss further for those who are interested.  Here’s the link again:  Age of Possibility by Dr. Laurence Steinberg.

Parent End of Year Survey went out today as was suggested last week.  In just one short day, we have over 100 responses!!  My apologies for one small edit mistake in the invitation email.  There is a leftover 2018 in the heading that should read 2019.  Otherwise, the survey will remain open until July 1 and we look forward to a great turnout to our annual request for insight.

Finally, please remember to join us for our closing ceremony on June 18.  We will also be live-streaming this event.  Looking forward to seeing all of you!  Details to follow next week.  Program is planned to start at 10:45a with school dismissal at 11:30a.

To all of our special guests, faculty, staff, administration, parents, friends, and family members – we thank you for your pride and presence as we celebrate this, our 26th commencement exercises for the class of 2019.

Thank you to Ray for stepping in for Ambassador Mosbacher.  Our partnership with the US Embassy is again enhanced and affirmed by your words and your presence stands as a shining example of a life of service and commitment.

Mr. Sheehan, thank you again for ushering through our graduation under unique circumstances this year.  Our ability as a community to adjust and adapt is due in great measure to your leadership and counsel.  My thanks to you and your amazing cadre of administrators and teachers who usher in each day with enthusiasm and passion for their subjects, their profession, and our students.

Felix and Lucas, thank you for representing your classmates so eloquently.  You both brought light and focus to the challenges you have faced and the wisdom you have gleaned from your experiences.  You have represented your classmates brilliantly.

Dr. Kirkpatrick, I thank you for your message as you bring your time here at ASW to a close.  It is a wonderful tribute that you were selected by the students you have so diligently served in your classroom and throughout their school life. In this way, and through your words today, you have inspired yet another generation which brings powerful punctuation to a career full of accomplishment.

Our thanks also to the High School Choir and their wonderful performances here tonight. It has been a year filled with stellar moments and these will be counted as brightest among them.

Before I proceed, my own words of thanks to an important person that has been instrumental tonight, as she has been for many years before this.  Malgosia Hydzik, the class godmother, has served ASW faithfully for 26 years.  That means, and I checked, she has been in our midst for every graduation since ASW has had graduates.  She joined the school during its 40^th anniversary in the 1992-93 school year and watched the very first graduating class cross that stage.  Teacher, mentor, coordinator, organizer, historian, colleague, friend.  We can never adequately thank you for all that you have done.  While other opportunities will come in the days ahead to recognize your retirement and contributions over more than a quarter century, this event is a cornerstone to your connection to the students you have served.  My special thanks and recognition to you tonight!

We know as an international community that many here on this stage have had other schooling experiences before joining us here in Warsaw. Also, some 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 constant flux of change and transition. Over twenty nationalities sit on this stage tonight.  But, as has been my tradition in many schools over a number of years, I’d like to recognize some special Warriors, nurtured at ASW from the beginning of their schooling experience all the way to graduation. As I call these names, would you please stand and remain standing so that we can recognize all of you as a group:

8? Students have been identified as having been here since either Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten:

Kindergarten:
Viktor Czernin-Morzin
Grace Oh
Denice Visalda
Michal Gasiejewski
Ji Eun You
Grzegorz Telejko

Pre-Kindergarten:
Agata Buksowicz
Mateusz Pietruszkiewicz

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

So, the time is almost upon us.  I have but one question for the class of 2019:  So, What’s the T?

For those in the audience with bewildered looks, you can look this up in your Urban Dictionary and you’ll find that it means What’s up?  What’s the latest gossip?  How’s it going, maybe?

So, what’s the T, graduates?

I find myself in an odd situation that I’ve experienced only once before in my life.  For the second, and final time, an offspring of mine is sitting on this stage.  Owing to where our surname falls in the alphabet, you can easily find her in the very last seat in the back.  Sorry about that, dear!

So, it is no surprise that I find myself just a bit closer to the class of 2019.  Not too close mind you, because that would have made my daughter’s time here that much more uncomfortable beyond the already hellish reality of being the Director’s daughter.  Despite that, our move here was rather smooth, due in part to the efforts of faculty, talented administrators, and my daughter’s special friends. Because of that deeper insight gleaned through my daughter’s experience, my comments yesterday at the awards assembly ring as true tonight as they did yesterday – I’m not sure I want to let you go.  And I definitely know I don’t want to let her go.

It is the parent’s truth tonight that we are conflicted between our pride and our concern.  We know you are prepared because we’ve watched you grow, strive, struggle, stumble and survive along this journey.  There are a few scars, both physical and emotional, and yet, you are sitting on this stage tonight and that says a lot.  I’ve watched you so engaged in your learning that you literally plastered it on your bedroom walls in order to find success in your exams.  But, I’ve also watched you find the moments to chill with each other through coffee houses, the dance floor, or just kicking back on the carpets of the guitar room with a microphone in hand jamming in a chosen key.

As a parent, and representing all of the parents here assembled, we want you to know how much we care about you.  I know that’s hard sometimes to accept.  The occasional angst between adolescent and parent is well documented.  We expect it because we know we did it to our own parents, too.  It’s hard to be very mad at you when we remember how disagreeable we were in our own youth.  Even in my own house, I’m currently vacillating back and forth between being called Dad or Jon.  That’s usually dependent on how “mean” I’m being in the moment or whether I’m paying attention.

I can only say that I must warn you all now that sometime later in life, you are likely to mutter words to this effect:  Parents, just when you think you’ve got them pegged, they turn around and show you how much they love you.

For tonight, I would suggest we all find forgiveness in our hearts and enjoy this crucial evening together in earnest embrace with family and friends, cementing a connection that must now survive distance and adulthood.

Remember always: Parents paint the colors of your rainbow through love and sacrifice.  Take their palette and inspiration as your own and change the world for the better.

Students, I ask you to embrace the journey that is now before you.  You face a great challenge.  As a planet, we are seemingly mired in deceit, decay, and despair.  But, there is hope and I’m encouraged because I know you launch with character intact, inspired by your close bond with us and each other, and a demonstrated insight into the issues you will face.  We encouraged you to be thinkers, inquirers, and doers.  You’ve shown it here and I’m quite confident in your ability confront all that comes with invention, passion, and purpose.

To my darling daughter – and as a parent representing all parents – there are no words to adequately express my love and pride.  I’m sorry if I’ve occasionally been tough. But, you can always count on knowing that, when I look at you, no matter your age or which name you call me, I will always see the child that I held in the first moments of life.  I embrace your creativity and compassion, in awe of your playful spirit.  I am truly amazed at your becoming.  But, please, for me, Starbucks buddies forever, OK?!

Class of 2019 – we love and admire you, proud of all you do.  Be well and be warriors, now and always.

At this time, I ask Principal Michael Sheehan and Chair of the ASW Board of Trustees, Mr. Ray Banks to please join me on stage for the conferring of diplomas.

A note this week to honor our fathers and mothers.  We are just coming out of a couple of weeks of recognizing and celebrating mothers through the many national dates including the U.S. on May 12, Poland on May 26, and UK Mother’s Day back in March.  Similarly, Father’s Day in the U.S. on June 16, in Poland on June 23 and, again, also back in March in the UK.  While the day of recognition is widespread across nationalities and dates throughout the year, the sentiment is the same as we recognize and embrace the tremendous importance of parents to their children.

Raising a child is the most significant and important accomplishment of life.  While education is a close second, the commitment and engagement of family will always be the most important part of what any individual achieves and becomes in life.  It’s particularly important to remember this as we move into graduation this weekend, celebrating a significant milestone.  It’s an event that suggests a child is now grown and ready to embark on their own.  We know this is not really the case, because of family connections and networks of support that last well beyond the preparatory years.  But, there is something special and important about this critical step and we celebrate and embrace it with all the pomp and circumstance we can muster.

But, the central theme remains.  Schools are places of parenting.  More than any other social system, we depend on parents and thrive on the opportunity to create a partnership in supporting your efforts raising your children.  In part, when we say “Work Together,” we are talking about that important collaborative activity of raising a child.  Without you, we are nothing.  Together, we open wide the doorway to opportunity for your child. To all the mothers and fathers of the ASW community, we honor and value you through all your contributions!  Thank you!

A Note About Upcoming Survey

Next week we send out our annual Student/Parent satisfaction survey.  We started this tradition in our accreditation process and this survey is the second year of an annual commitment going forward.  Much of the survey is the same with a small number of adds and adjustments.  Our purpose is to track year on year movement on key issues, so the stability of the instrument is important.  We use the results for critical planning and reported the full survey results in my report to the board back in September. Throughout the year we have reflected on the results and set goals associated with the feedback to help inform our operational and strategic work.  I want to thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.  Remember, if you have multiple children at the school, you may be filling out the survey multiple times in order to get each child’s point of view.  Surveys are customized based on the division of the child.  Separate links will be sent for each child in the family and each parent will get their set of invitations if their email address is properly registered in Powerschool.

It has been a busy week of preparation this week at ASW.  In recent days, we welcomed new board members through our election process.  While we will have final confirmation at the board meeting on Monday, please welcome the following to their new role as Trustees.  I also thought you would enjoy links to their campaign posters and videos as a reminder:

• Ms. Ajla van Heel Merdanovi? (US seat candidate) – video
• Ms. Anna Hutten-Czapska (non-US seat candidate) – video

There are always many roles in a school for all of us to contribute.  We are all reflecting now on our cover value of step forward and making things happen.  When partnered with our value of “We’re all in this together,” it becomes clear that our village is being called to action in growing and important ways.  Our thanks to all who step forward – Ajla, Anna, and Ezra — and the many others who continue to serve in leadership roles through appointment or election.  But, equally, we value and need all the parents that meet, plan, and serve daily as volunteers in our PTO events, classrooms, and in general service to the school.  It’s a big boat and plenty of room for all of us to help steer toward achieving vision and mission together!  Without us all, we’re nothing!

A few extra notes:

• Saw a sneak peek of the HS Production, The Crucible at assembly – MUST SEE!!  Thursday and Friday, both at 6 pm – Come one, come all!!
• Concerts kick off next week with MS Band/Choir on Tuesday night – 6 pm.
• Prom! – This weekend for grades 11/12.  Many thanks to the students and parents who helped bring this to fruition!! Saturday night at 9 pm.
• And – Graduation!!  It’s really that time already – next Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the POLIN Museum.  By invitation, but look for links next week for the live stream of this important event!!

IB Exams

This is the time of year for our IB students in 12th grade to take their final examinations, the culmination of two years of work in the Diploma Programme.  It’s a testament to their studies and integration of the material to answer both knowledge and process questions in their six subject areas.  My youngest has been diligently studying (well, most of the time) since the last day of classes for seniors and the exam experience has been a complex mix of stress, sleepless, studious, and Starbucks.  It is challenging to prepare and perform in a challenging high stakes exam of this nature and I feel for the kids each day.  But, the life lesson of surmounting challenges is critical to our learning process and the precept behind summative experiences of all kinds.  The sense of accomplishment can be profound and celebratory, while defeat can give us insight into how to prepare more effectively in the future.  Experiences like these carry well to the college level in preparing students for even higher stakes, and life in general.  While I struggle with watching the suffering of preparation (not for all), I also enjoy seeing how the kids prepare.  My favorite was the “wall of knowledge” I saw one student preparing, copying notes onto a large piece of butcher paper in order to uncover the connections over two years of material. I know they emptied highlighters in recent weeks from all the colors of the rainbow!

As testing comes to a close, students deserve a break while they prepare for graduation.  The test results are on the horizon in July, so all eyes can focus on celebrating the accomplishment of earning a diploma.  In my heart I know all have done well and I look forward to wishing them well from the stage in a few short weeks!

PYPx

Our next major project is coming to a close and our 5th graders take the stage on Friday, May 17, with their culminating project.  Not unlike our seniors above and our MYP students in their Personal Project, they are experiencing what it feels like to bring a project to completion and experiencing agency and action in the context of their integrated learning.  More below in the Elementary bulletin, but please join us starting in the theater at 8:45 a.m.

A Sad Note

The ASW community has experienced a sad loss of our former ASW employee Stanis?aw St?pie?, lovingly known as Stan, who passed away on May 10th at his home in Warsaw.

Stan worked at ASW for nine years (1998-2007) in the capacity of Maintenance Director. Stan was the one to first create and then supervise the security and facility maintenance departments.  He was the one to oversee the construction process of the new ASW campus (where the school is currently located) and was also in charge of organizing the move to this location.

Stan will be remembered as a very warm and friendly person, a highly motivated, hard-working, and dedicated employee who was always ready to help everyone in need.  Please share your memories of Stan in the comments of this post on Zimplicity and we will share them with the family.