Fire follow-up and what lies ahead…

In reflecting on the last few days, my mind has turned to how we all faced adversity in what can only be described as complicated times.  For me, walking into a clean, but “injured” building this week inspired a moment of consideration — How can we confront these challenges in a way that helps make sense of these events, while also learning from them?  How can we strive to improve and get ever better in the midst of painful experience?

Our fire was small by all estimation.  Approximately 8 square meters of space was damaged by flames and the associated melted plastic, quickly extinguished by the fire brigade, who responded in under 10 minutes.  But, as previously reported, the smoke damage was significant, affecting areas associated with the school core including both cafeteria and library.  The loss of our library and cafeteria is daunting in the final days before a vacation.  While we are quite sure we will have them back up and running in January when we return, we will miss these spaces in the final days of 2016.  The cafeteria has settled into our small gym and worked well in its trial run on Monday.  We are confident that we can manage in this space for the next 9 days.  The library will be setting up makeshift operation in the Elementary School Tower.  With over 3000 books in circulation at the time of the fire, we expect that some redistribution of these books may keep us reading and sharing until the vacation.  Maybe Christmas lists could shift a bit and accommodate a special book for a young reader during the coming holiday!

In many ways, while the hardship of renovation begins, we are all educators in our hearts looking for the lessons of how we respond in situations of this nature.  We can look on the bright side of the equation, knowing that the damage could have been much worse, or the timing of the day could have caused more challenges.  We can celebrate that the systems worked to keep everyone safe in the moment, that responders arrived in record time, and that key staff members were here doing their best to protect our interests.  We can also feel a bit better that insurance companies have arrived and are providing favorable treatment to the school, helping us to navigate our interests in the face of contractors and specialists.

The more important lessons will come in the after action review, the deeper reflection on the systems and strategies that will keep this from happening in the future.  This may be the most important lesson, gleaned from prudent and comprehensive investigation, that we may need to be more rigorous in our inspection and adjustment actions, ensuring that similar incident is avoided in the future.

But, despite all of the events associated with the fire and the work that lies ahead to bring the building back to normal by the time we return in January, we  enter the final days of 2016 with the spirit of the holidays entering our hearts and minds.  For those of us cut from the American template, the recent celebration of Thanksgiving brought the beginning of transition to the season of good cheer, a time filled with celebration and joy found through family and friends gathered in fellowship.  In the coming days, we will celebrate with our children in performance and song – having finished the high school play on the weekend, we now enter into the holiday presentations of Choir and Instrumental offerings.  These are special times for students who have worked hard to prepare their offerings through diligence and commitment.  The performance part of these artistic pursuits are so important and fleeting that we need to give special attention to them and join the audience that will applaud their accomplishment.  Join me on Tuesday and Thursday this week at 6:00 p.m. as we enjoy our Choir and Band performances in our Theater.  Students have worked hard and they deserve a packed house for their offering of time and talent.

Many Things Happening – and a new WEBSITE!

It has been a busy few weeks and I’m happy to report that we’re just about tying up the remainder of the Fall season of activities despite the fact we have now plunged into November.

First, United Nations Day was spectacular!!  IMG_2718.jpgWe can’t help by thank everyone involved for this wonderful and truly inspiring event that included all ages, the bulk of our community, and one destination after another throughout the school mastered by wonderful parents dedicating their time and talents to a truly powerful day. Diversity stands at the center of our mission and vision for a school that captures and values cross-cultural experiences that promote a global village pathway to peace and harmony.  Parents modeled for students the power of our diversity and what our varied cultural heritage brings to an already robust conversation in our classrooms and programs.  PTO and all of our parent volunteers should be thanked for their diligence in presenting us with one of our best UN Days on record.  Our thanks also to those that organized the wonderful assemblies that allowed students to showcase their diversity in the performance setting.  The Grade 2 and Grade 4 spotlights shown brightly as these grade levels mastered assemblies with dialog that wove friends and tolerance into powerful presentations.  I can honestly admit to a small tear that was shed when the candles were lit, and I giggled with the rest of you when we heard the hoots and hollers as Ireland, and all of our countries, were announced to the cheers of those in attendance! 😉

After a wonderful vacation with a couple of extended days, we headed right into two very powerful events on the weekend.

The International Schools Theater Association (ISTA) was on campus for their regional conference for Middle School students, and the performance today was a powerful reminder of the talent and capability of our young thespians.  Their final production on Sunday morning was a powerful reflection on the modern age, set again with some of the same themes we saw on United Nations Day, but with a more modern and theatrical presentation.  They brought their ideas to life on stage in unique and interactive ways, capitalizing on their newfound friendships that found no boundary or barrier, despite the long distances traveled to join together in common enterprise.  Mr. Stein achieved a long held dream to bring ISTA to our campus after attending many ISTA events at other schools. With Mr. Sidaway’s help, and the entire ASW support team, the dream became reality and we believe this sets a standard for regular repeat of events of similar nature in the future.

The Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA) was also on campus the very same weekend for the Middle School Boys Soccer tournament.  Like ISTA, boys from the middle years grades of schools throughout the region gathered to embrace the competitive spirit while making lifelong friends across borders and boundaries of distance and culture.  While our own Warsaw boys felt a narrow defeat in the final game in tie breaking penalty kicks, the real special moment was at the awards ceremony when a representative of the Warsaw team handed a sportsmanship button to the winning Prague team to thank them for their graceful win and support given to their opponents, even in victory.  It was a special moment capped a special weekend, where all can be proud of spirited play, and a mature demeanor that reached beyond their years. Our thanks to Mr. Matter, along with Mr. Sidaway and the Athletics and Activities Office for their diligence in making sure these two events were both successful despite their simultaneous timing on a single weekend.

For both of these events, a shout out to all of our host families.  This was truly a feat worth remembering as the largest number of host families on a single weekend.  We surpassed all previous records in the number of homes being utilized.  I know we enjoyed having our two boys from Moscow and catching up with them during their stay.  And, I know that all of you equally enjoyed your extra family members during this amazing weekend.  Our sincere thanks to you all!!

New Website!

Finally, for this post, I’m happy to announce that we have successfully launched our new website this weekend with tightened coordination of content and information.  Best that you watch the video below to get oriented and enjoy the content that serves both the purpose of keeping our current community informed, and the associated purpose of introducing the American School of Warsaw to potential new students around the world.  Please go take a look and let us know what you think!  We are all very proud of this accomplishment, which will be followed by other improvements in communication and messaging.  Thanks to Ms. Swietliczko and the team in Communications for their work on this wonderful achievement!

I would be remiss if I didn’t also add that we wish our teams well on the coming CEESA High School weekend with the following on the road:

  • Boys Soccer in Bucharest
  • Girls Soccer in Kiev
  • JV Boys Soccer in Moscow
  • MS/HS Cross Country in Tbilisi
  • Boys/Girls Volleyball in Prague
  • JV Girls Volleyball in Basel (SCIS)

And, of course, as we all know, Poland’s Independence Day results in a Friday holiday this week. Enjoy!

We celebrate the life of Nancy Dickinson

In every way possible, Nancy FS DICKINSON NA 2015-16 (2).jpgDickinson was an inspiration to children, a valued friend and colleague, and an enduring spirit in a foreign land.  The words of those who cherished Nancy are gathering now in our hearts and minds as we received news on the weekend of Nancy’s passing following a year long struggle with cancer.

From Nancy’s family on the weekend:

Nancy left us about 2 pm our time. It was very peaceful. Carl and I were with her. We told her she could go, that she was loved by so many people and we named names and locations! The fight here was done and we reassured her that we would take care of Caroline.

Please take care of yourselves. Tell your loved ones you love and adore them. Hold our beloved Nancy in the light and say a prayer of Thanksgiving for having known this lovely woman. Her suffering is over. She is truly free and having a wonderful reunion with our Grandmother and family.

Yvonne & Carl

While we knew that Nancy was in the final stages of her battle after moving to hospice  care a short time ago, two staff members visiting her and family in Montana found in Nancy the same spirit that likely carried her to her final breath.  Joyce Husick and Tanja Kusanovic represented all of Nancy’s loved ones here in Warsaw by carrying cards, messages, and greetings to Nancy during her final days.  They noted upon their return that Nancy retained “that which was wonderfully Nancy – wit, sense of humor, and keen perceptions all on display.”  She was clearly in the midst of those who loved her dearly, enjoying every minute in a circle of trust and care.

Screen Shot 2016-10-12 at 8.05.58 AM.pngNancy served the American School of Warsaw from 2002-2015 as a Kindergarten, 3rd, and 1st grade teacher.  All who knew her remembered her warmth and kindness.  Memories of Nancy are being shared via many communication platforms in the coming days in hopes of capturing the thoughts and inspirations of her life and time here in Warsaw and throughout the world.  The shared document can be viewed HERE, our virtual wall of memories that grows with each passing hour.

Counselors have asked the library to gather resources for children and families on the topic of grief and, as always, they stand by for those who need to talk about the loss of Nancy.  Nancy had a positive impact on many young lives and families have already started reaching out to us with memories of their own through expressions of love and sadness for this loss.  I encourage you to engage here as a comment on this blog to share your memories, which we will add to the compiled document of memories.

At the time of writing this message, we had not received word from Montana with regards to plans for services in her home there.  We are asking members of the community interested in attending to join us for a memorial gathering in the Elementary Tower on Monday, October 17th at 3:30 p.m.  Adults and children are both welcome.  We look forward to this opportunity to remember Nancy in the environment where she made her most significant contributions.  Please join us!

With fondest regards,

Jon P. Zurfluh
Director

Accreditation Begins in Earnest

In recent weeks, we began a journey into a process that will carry us until Winter Break of 2017.  The scope of the work has been carefully scheduled out to maximize participation and assure accuracy of our reflection across all aspects of the school’s operations.  Accreditation is a timely and important process deserving of this level of engagement.  As a once in 10-year process, it provides a structure and backdrop to profound school improvement, informing other activities years beyond its generation.  The visiting team that will join us in early 2018 will reflect on the comprehensive product of our work and spend extended time talking to all stakeholders who were responsible for it. This process yields a long term action plan that the entire community embraces for the journey forward, in coordination with strategic planning.

The presentation below is shared for other parents who missed out on the PTO coffee.  Both the Director’s Office and the Office for Teaching and Learning are ready to take your questions and comments as we continue organizing the work that lies ahead.  Look for regular updates in posts that will follow, particularly when we share survey results and post other opportunities for participation.


Parent Accreditation Presentation – September, 2016

With sincere appreciation…

To the Community of ASW:

As you are now aware, I originally arrived in Warsaw with the title of Interim Director. This was appropriate for a variety of reasons, as detailed by the Board Chair in July. I noted at the time that I was only willing to come in an interim role if I would be allowed to further apply for the long term position. After spending a few weeks getting to know you in more depth while leading this wonderful entourage of professionals, I can only reaffirm that intent given the warmth and welcome of the community demonstrated so wonderfully and completely in such a short time. Students, parents, administration, faculty, and staff have all shared open arms and hearts as we have become part of a robust and supportive “village” of teachers and learners.

It is therefore with pleasure and excitement that I accepted the board’s appointment as your Director, sans Interim. With this message, I affirm that I’m ready to let go of that Interim title and look forward to continuing the work I’ve started, knowing that I will usher our collaboration beyond the bounds of a single year. It means that we are embracing this community and, possibly more importantly, that my daughter will graduate as a Warsaw Warrior!!

I can only confirm the tremendous energy and enthusiasm that I’m ready to bring to this role, now and throughout my time here. I look forward to each and every opportunity for earnest conversation and collaboration toward crafting ASW, both for the moment and the future. Together, we will prepare our students and empower them for a life filled with hope and possibility. I look forward to your partnership and friendship in that journey.

Best Regards,

Jon P. Zurfluh
Director

P. S. – See you at the PTO BBQ later today and note that I’ll be perched atop the dunk tank sometime after 3p!!

Announcement from the Board of Trustees

Dear Fellow ASW Parents and Community Members,

The Board of Trustees of the American School of Warsaw is pleased to announce we have appointed Mr. Jon Zurfluh as Director of ASW.  Mr. Zurfluh was previously hired as Interim Director of ASW for the 2016-2017 school year.  In his new, long-term role, Mr. Zurfluh will continue to provide steady, community-focused leadership as we implement the IB Primary and Middle Years Programs (PYP/MYP), complete the NEASC/CIS re-accreditation process, and work to further strengthen ASW’s long-term success and competitive position. 

Mr. Zurfluh brings to ASW an impressive track record of educational leadership:  Prior to coming to Warsaw, he was Director of the Anglo-American School of Moscow and St. Petersburg for five years.  He previously served as Head of School at Shanghai Community International School, and as a Principal in the White River School District in Washington state, in addition to many earlier positions as both a teacher and an administrator. 

In deciding to appoint Mr. Zurfluh as ASW’s long-term Director, the Board of Trustees consulted with a variety of stakeholders.  We were struck by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from parents, faculty members and administrators, who noted Jon’s deep knowledge and experience as an educator and the positive effect his leadership style has already had at ASW.

The Board of Trustees is confident Jon Zurfluh is the right person to continue to lead our School at this critical juncture in its history.  He is one of the most sought-after international school directors in the world, and we are fortunate to have secured his long-term commitment to lead ASW.  We ask you to join us in congratulating him on his appointment as Director.

Sincerely,

The 2016-2017 ASW Board of Trustees

Rob Batchelder, Chair
Sonia Kandathil, Vice Chair
Simeon Netchev, Secretary
Chrissie Graeber, Treasurer
Artur Banaszak
Mariusz Banaszuk
Peter Chudy
John Gabrovic
Massimo Merighi
Gael Reilly
Raymond Yao

The First Day is Upon Us!!

This morning we opened our doors for the soft opening of New Family Orientation and packed the theater with more than 100 families and their kids. I enjoyed greeting everyone with a brief introduction from the Newbie to the Newbies. Over the last 28 days, I’ve learned much about the American School of Warsaw.

In particular, I looked up the instrumental founding influencer of the school, Colonel Frank Gilchrist (1938-1969). In 1953, while serving as the Assistant Military Attache at the American Embassy, Colonel Gilchrist was the driving force behind the opening of a school for 12 students from 5 nationalities: American, British, Swiss, Israeli, and Yugoslav.

Then, as is the case now, the reports were of a school with a special sense of community. A place where this mix of nationalities could connect and define themselves as a collaboration amongst diversity. Writers of that time and throughout the growth and development of the school noted the warmth and welcoming spirit of the school community.

That spirit was on display today as PTO and returning parents and students helped new families navigate their orientation day. Touring around the building, teachers and support staff welcomed their presence in classrooms throughout the building. Their first impression of their new “home” was a powerful one leaving all of us ready for the coming opening for all.

One of the key messages that I’ve woven through new staff orientation, full staff meetings, and the new parent orientation yesterday emphasizes what I consider to be a critical component of the program we offer. After the hard work of designing curriculum and architecting instruction is completed, I suggest that a critical test of a school is the understanding that “Small Things Matter.” Like a drop of water in a still pond, the ripple effects of empathy and service toward others cannot be underestimated.

I taught the new kids today another important phrase that I will test them on in the parking lot tomorrow. For those returning, you’ll have to share it with your children as the mantra of the year, the motto of the new director that I give you as a gift to inspire all your future accomplishments:

“If it is to be, It is up to me!!”

May the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year bring you special joy and a true sense of anticipation for all that is yet to come! Let the learning begin!

Welcome Message 2016

August 12, 2016

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year!!  We hope the summer break was refreshing and fulfilling for all of you and that your travels are bringing you safely to our midst for school opening.

As per the cover letter from, Rob Batchelder, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, it’s my pleasure to be joining the Warriors as your new Director for the exciting year ahead!!  I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and personally welcoming you to this vibrant and inviting school.  More about me and other information worth reading throughout the year will be captured on my Director’s blog – Zimplicity!  Please join the conversation here:  https://zimplicity.org/

We have a wonderful team of educators and leaders ready to greet your children on the first day, assuring consistency of practice and stability of program in the early days of the school year.  We open with an enrollment of 950 and are finishing our welcome of 39 new faculty, who will be joining returning faculty next week for important preparation activities.

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.  There are too many changes to list entirely here, but all of them constitute important updates to facilitate the continued growth and development of the programs we offer.

Please plan to join us for the various initial events on the calendar.  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.  This is an important time of year to build new relationships, renew collaborations, and enhance what we do to make ASW such a special community for all of us.

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

  • New Family & Student Orientation, Monday, August 22, 9:00a, Cafeteria
  • Director’s Coffee morning, Tuesday, August 23, 8:45a, Cafeteria
  • PTO Newcomer Coffee, Thursday, August 25, 8:45a, Cafeteria

Best wishes to all for a wonderful first week and a successful new year!

Sincerely,

Jon P. Zurfluh
Director
jzurfluh@aswarsaw.org

First week comes to a close…

…and the excitement only continues to build!

I’m slowly getting oriented to Warsaw and have made a few trips on my own to get the lay of the land.  Like most expats, this includes a trip to IKEA.  Check!  With that trip done, I’m now feeling settled into our new home in Konstancin, just a short walking distance from the school.  I have final touches to put on the place this week and hope to have it ready for the arrival of my wife, Emily, and my daughter, Erin.  Erin will be starting Grade 10 this year and is looking forward to joining the High School.  She’s already connecting via Facebook, as they often do.  We’ve already connected with another Moscow family that is also coming to Warsaw, plus we have reconnected with Warsaw students that we hosted in Moscow in our home there.

I’ve been in and around the school for just over a week now and I’m impressed by the diligence in getting things ready for the coming opening of school.  Summer projects are getting final touches and cleaning is progressing smoothly.  I’ve always loved that new coat of wax on the floor that whispers, “I’m ready for students now!”

I’ve been meeting various members of the school staff at all levels as they return to work incrementally.  Have enjoyed getting to know the “summer” office staff as they keep the doors open for school matters during the vacation.  Many new families coming in to get oriented and I’ve greeted many of them as both new Director and new family as well.

As we get ready for the start of the year, let the review of ASW’s core values begin.  It’s always great to bring out the basics in the early days of the year, so I’m sharing with this message our Mission Statement, which was recently revised as part of our preparation for accreditation processes that are beginning in earnest.  Important that we all remind ourselves of this founding set of three paragraphs that frames our hopes and aspirations for the students we serve:

We believe there are many paths to learning. To unlock our students’ potential, we provide a wide range of experiences: we engage them in our rigorous academic curriculum, visual and performing arts programs, athletics, and service learning. We foster a passion for ideas, creativity and curiosity.

We create a culture of learning that supports students with a diverse set of abilities and interests.  We challenge students to find their own voices, encourage them to ask questions, and inspire them to think for themselves.

We offer students and their families a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment, one that is balanced between our host country Poland and the international community. We treat all students with respect, and we instill in them respect for others. Our students form friendships that remain lifelong connections.

For my own study of this mission, and as I get acquainted with this new community, I highlighted three phrases that stood out to me that also match the things that have been shared with me during transition.  As a school, there is strong belief in this community about the importance of diversity.  Unlocking potential is about first understanding that each individual will walk that path of discovery in their own unique way.  There is no one single way for all children to learn.  Instead, we teach in ways that match strategies to the individual needs of learners, flexibly adapting to achieve adopted expectations for accomplishment.

In our efforts, we seek to inspire a “culture of learning” — a belief that learning sits at the center of human existence and we strive to embed this as a lifelong pursuit.  Learning is about challenge and accomplishment, built on rigor and resilience.

And, in the context of lifelong learning, we recognize the importance of diversity, believing in tolerance and collaboration as the tools of inspiring peace.

In just a short time, I have come to believe that the American School of Warsaw aspires to this mission.  As a mission-driven school, the work that we do is a partnership between families and professional educators, seeking to serve the children in our care.

All hands on deck, because the beginning of another school year is not too far away.  More to come in the days ahead!

Mr. Z

Greetings, Fellow Warriors!!

With messages you received earlier today, I can confirm my excitement over joining you in the coming year! Taking over one of the main communication mediums associated with my role as director is a key step in my transition toward joining you in the coming days.

After 5 wonderful years in Moscow, I’m excited by both a new country and a new community, rich with culture and diversity like all of my previous assignments. I’m looking forward to the many opportunities for getting to know you during our day-to-day interactions and through the smooth transitional activities that the board, faculty, and staff will help to orchestrate.  My email address is already up and running, so you can contact me easily through jzurfluh@aswarsaw.org.  I look forward to your messages and our many opportunities to connect as we get closer and closer to the opening of school.

Look here on this blog for many updates throughout the year.  I will post messages both small and more significant as a way to keep the lines of communication open and vibrant.  Subscribing is a great idea and I also encourage dialog through commenting.

It is also a pleasure to be bringing my family into your midst.  My wife Emily will be very present at school.  She is a teacher who will often sub in elementary classrooms, but will also be a mother to our daughter, Erin, who will be entering 10th grade.  My son Jaisen starts at college this year and will be attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, USA.

As promised at our parent gathering, I’ll be forever letting go of my Penguin background in favor of a Warrior persona.  As your newest Warrior, I look forward to cheering on our students in all their pursuits, athletic and academic!

I’m including below the board’s message from earlier today for reference and the associated documents for easy access:

Your Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Mr. Jon Zurfluh will be joining ASW next month as Interim Director for the 2016-2017 school year.  Jon is an experienced educator and international school administrator who for the past five years has served as Director of the Anglo-American School (AAS) of Moscow and St. Petersburg.  He will be accompanied to Warsaw by his wife Emily, an early childhood educator, and their daughter, Erin, who will be a 10th-grader at ASW.  Jon’s son, Jaisen, will be a freshman at Pacific Lutheran University (his dad’s alma mater) in Washington State in September.  Attached to this email are Jon’s resume and a philosophical summary of his leadership approach.

The selection of Mr. Zurfluh as interim director represents the culmination of a month-long recruitment process led by the Board of Trustees with the participation of members of ASW’s executive transition team.  This process was guided by criteria developed in consultation with a variety of stakeholders, including input from ASW’s Teachers Association.  We are excited to have Mr. Zurfluh join our community and are confident his collaborative leadership style and track record of strong community relations will be an excellent fit both for our School and our community.

The 2016-2017 Board of Trustees will continue to provide regular updates on significant events, activities and other developments.  In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any other member of the Board.  We look forward to seeing you all again at the start of the coming school year.

With best wishes for a relaxing summer,

Rob Batchelder, Chair
ASW Board of Trustees

Zurfluh-Philosophical Summary
Zurfluh-Resume