Zimplicity

Our Efforts for Ukraine

I hope you are or were able to join us by watching Town Hall or watching the recording to get a sense of our efforts relative to Ukraine support. Following up on my letter from Monday, we are organizing on a number of fronts, the most visible being an ongoing stream of donations that we will continue to process and forward in the coming days and weeks. Keep it coming and many thanks for the outpouring of support so far. Our website for this purpose has all of the necessary links to participate and please check back often for emerging needs.

https://www.aswarsaw.org/community/aswforukraine

Please go here for all the information you need on how to participate. In particular, fill out our survey on what you can offer. We are still in the very early stages of this and as more becomes clear, we’ll reach out continuously to the community. Students are actively engaged in supporting actions here at school. Our Service Learning Office is providing all coordination. We have many families already helping with housing and support for refugees. Others who have volunteered will be contacted as needs become more clear.

We’ll continue our path at school to keep things as normal as possible. Activities and events will go ahead as scheduled. Some may be slightly modified, but there is a strong desire to keep our students engaged and focused in the coming days as we all process and act on what is going on around us. Initial efforts of our team to support specific needs is ongoing and available to you upon request. Open as always to your additional comment and suggestions.

Board Communication on Ukraine

Dear ASW Families:

While I have always been impressed by the dedication, commitment, and generosity displayed by our community during times of crisis, I have never been more proud of our ASW family than now. The #ASWforUkraine campaign is strong, and we are all in it for the long-haul to best support one another and refugees in need of our help. Our efforts continue to be truly impressive and all-encompassing.

The Board of Trustees is fully committed to helping these efforts move forward and flourish on all fronts. To that end, Director Zurfluh has written a comprehensive resolution to support CEESA School students displaced by the War in Ukraine, which the Board unanimously approved early this week. This resolution allows for Mr. Zurfluh and his team to take swift action to support CEESA students and their families coming from Ukraine and Russia in need of our assistance to enroll at ASW (as grade level numbers allow), not worry about Registration Fees or tuition in general, and receive other essential support for the smoothest possible transition here.

The Resolution also describes support of these CEESA member school students in assessments and other related learning services. It speaks to the continued commitment of supporting other refugees through our #ASWforUkraine campaign and other community support and charity work.

Please see the official Resolution HERE.

Thank you all for your continued support, resilience, and unity during this unpredictable and tragic time. Together, we can make an impact that matters and be a refuge for our families most in need, both old and new. And together, we will become stronger and even more capable of changing the world for the better.

Katharine (Kay) LaBanca
Chair, ASW Board of Trustees

Current COVID Status

As all are aware, we have clearly past the peak of the 5th wave and it now looks like we are moving into territory where we can make some moves on a more relaxed posture. We want to complete testing this week before announcing changes, so we will be communicating those next week for implementation shortly thereafter. Our final vaccination event will be this Saturday and sign-up has already closed. Reminders to those who are signed up will come shortly. We won’t be doing anything further with vaccination this school year unless there is a change in protocol or release of new vaccines for our youngest students. Please keep us informed of your child’s vaccinations by sending your documents to aswhealth@aswarsaw.org

Board Elections

Later this week you will receive your personalized ballot for ASW Board of Trustee Elections.  While we have two candidates and each are running unopposed, we need to complete this election process as prescribed by policy. Here are our candidates for each seat (US and non-US:

• Ms. Sarah Kyle (US seat candidate) – video
• Mr. Peter Jambor (non-US seat candidate) – video

Your ballot will include a personalized link that can only be used by you.  An invite will be sent to all parents registered in our system with your personal email.  Please contact us at director@aswarsaw.org if you do not receive your ballot by the end of the week.  You will receive reminders until you cast your ballot and click on submit.  The voting closes on March 17 and the results will be certified by the board at their regular meeting on April 11.

Board appointments were completed at the last board meeting and we are pleased to announce the appointment Magdalena Kowalska who will extend her time with the board for an additional 3 years, and please welcome Mr. James Simmons for an initial two year term. Information on both board members can be found in the board action item HERE.

Parent Portal – My ASW Key – @my.aswarsaw.org

We are happy to be launching our new portal to provide parents access to all things ASW. You will be issued a new ‘My ASW Key’ made up of a username, which is a parent ASW email address and a password for use in accessing all of our ASW portals and resources. This will take us some time and processing, but will improve our communications significantly in the coming weeks/months. It starts with sending each of you a new account credential under the “my.aswarsaw.org” domain. This works like any other Gmail account and you should install it on your favorite email application. In the coming months during our transition period, we want parents to adopt this as our primary way of communicating with you. But, we also need to maintain contact with you through your personal email and phone numbers, so there is still a place in PowerSchool for updating that information as it changes and we will have access to your personal email for urgent communications during the transition period. The more you use the Parent Portal address, the more effective this tool will become in providing a protected space for our school community. This aligns with our GDPR and child protection initiatives and effectively creates a safe arena for expanding access to key resources that we use to support your child. Please watch for further communication on this and the key messages that will get you up and running as smoothly as possible. Directions and instructional videos can be found in the Parent Portal Support Page. If you need help at any point, reach out to help@my.aswarsaw.org for assistance.

It does now seem clear that we are moving into an easing of COVID concerns and we are monitoring accordingly. As suggested in Monday’s Weekly bulletin, we have done incremental adjustments to our protocols after the initial changes from last week. We know that more updates are going to be warranted soon, but there is no clarity on this and everyone remains concerned about travel during the break that might re-ignite cases again. In recent weeks, we can report that a small percentage of our cases were identified as likely related to travel. Additionally, while our statistics suggest milder symptoms for the current predominant variant, there were still a few recorded cases of more severe disease amongst our youngest, including a couple of emergency room visits. These small statistics are what causes us to remain cautious and not make decisions too quickly that overly increase the risk of more serious outcomes.

In order to return safely after the break, we have prepared a schedule for re-entry testing, as we usually do, and we are announcing a one-day virtual day on Monday, February 28 in order to check the population before returning to regular school. We have scheduled re-entry testing and enabled family-based appointments in PowerSchool. The times are as follows:

• February 27th (Sunday) 12PM – 4PM
• February 28th (Monday) 8AM – 6PM

We will still have Seniors on campus on Monday and their testing need not be scheduled. They will have a special entrance and testing starting first thing in the morning so that they can begin their exams as scheduled. The rest of the school should be “green” on OK4School by late Monday evening and ready to return physically on Tuesday. Principals and teachers will deliver their plans for Monday activities in advance of the day as usual. Thank you in advance for your support of this plan!

Town Hall Canceled Tonight

As noted in the Special Update sent earlier today, I’ve cancelled Town Hall tonight and will reschedule on our first Wednesday after the break, March 2nd. It is on calendars now and will appear on Facebook and on Youtube next week. Thank you for your patience as I deal with a family emergency.

Board Elections

We have our candidates for the upcoming board elections and will send out details just after the break. We’ll be introducing them to you at our next Town Hall before we send out ballots shortly thereafter. Our thanks to all who showed interest in serving on the Board of Trustees! We have many in our community willing to serve and thankful for the broad range of skills and experience that has been offered!

URGENT: Re-Enrollment for 2022-2023

This is a reminder to complete a re-enrollment survey for the 2022-2023 school year. Invoices will be issued on the basis of your response. Please login to PowerSchool and click on “Re-enrollment 22/23” in the left column. We need the survey for each child filled out separately, so please make sure to change between each child in the upper left corner and then click on the icon to reveal your one-question survey.

This must be completed by TOMORROW, February 17!!

Thank you and enjoy your break!

Please join me in welcoming Matthew Turner to ASW as a temporary Warrior in the counselling department!!  Matt is a long time international school counsellor having served at Jakarta International School and Singapore American School.  He now runs a consulting service, Family Pathways and Solutions, where he works with international schools worldwide.  Matt has arrived and will join us tomorrow to support primarily our MS Counseling needs while both Ms. Skoczylas and Ms. Kielczewska transition back to work after the tragic loss of Ms. Kielczewska’s young daughter, Iga.

Ms. Skoczylas and Mr. Turner will start working together in the Middle School office and Ms. Kielczewska plans to return sometime after the February break.  Mr. Turner will remain with us to support until at least Mid-March.

Many thanks to everyone who has been supporting our counselling needs during this difficult time. Please express your gratitude to the Upper School administration and the schoolwide counselling team for their efforts in recent weeks.

My thanks to the entire ASW Community for their efforts in helping us during this current COVID wave and during our recent tragedies. We were all blessed with the time afforded us on Monday to say our farewells to Ms. Olczak and in recent weeks for all of our condolence activities. We now have a memory book started for Ms. Olczak and you should look to your bulletins for directions on accessing this book to add your message to the family.

Re-Enrollment

Please look for a message tomorrow from the Chair of the Board of Trustees regarding the re-enrollment process for next year after Board decisions on Monday night. Thanks in advance for your attention to the necessary steps to prepare for next year.

I shared the following with staff yesterday and it seems worthy of sharing more broadly…

There is nothing that hits harder than when we experience more than one loss in close succession. I, like many of you, experienced a weekend of reflection and renewal after services for Iga on Friday. Hearing about a precious life filled with joy and spirit was both sad and, at the same time, renewing.

I have always lived a life that has sought meaning and inspiration from those lost along the way. I have strong memories from the loss of my father, grandmothers, other family members, close friends, teachers, etc… Lives well-lived should set examples for us and I’ve always believed that the lessons of their memories should be cherished and enacted.

To that end, we have a connection here between a young child in the most brilliant and enthusiastic part of the beginning of life juxtaposed with a vibrant soul in the fullness of a life well-lived. If we were to reflect on what they would have wanted for all of us, I have to suggest that they both would have hoped for our joy and comfort. We heard on Friday that Iga would have run to us in our sadness, hoping to lift our spirits through the hugs and encouragement of youth. Joanna would have been the first to offer the spirit of resilience and hope for embracing life through strength and engagement. Both offer us the lessons of pushing forward with life, embracing all of the best of it and smiling broadly along the way.

They set for us a mighty example when taken together that should enrich and encourage us. We should all have our necessary moments of sorrow. But, we should also embrace the joy of their spirit, still and forever present in our lives.

Services for Joanna Olczak

We are preparing for our farewells to Joanna and have been informed of services along with some beautiful words included in a recently published obituary (click here) and (here).

The first obituary begins with Joanna’s favourite poem by Boles?aw Le?mian. Loose translation provided:

“As I departed by that chummy highway,
The pansies’ eyes were staring great and golden,
With horseshoe rings of sapphire bruises underrround.
In limpid azure milled a butterflyway,
And ripe reseda rusted, to the sun beholden.”
[…]

Translated by Alexandra Chciuk-Celt

And then the following from the family:

Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Sister.
A teacher of Polish, educator, erudite, feminist.
An unconventional and independent woman.
Beautiful, delightful, inspiring…

In lieu of bringing flowers to the service, we are encouraged to donate to the Salvation Foundation that supports refugee women. There is a sub-account specifically created “In Memory of Joanna Olczak” – details of the account are provided on the flyer (linked above).

The school will also still provide flowers on behalf of all parents, students, and staff of ASW. We will post this information on the ASW Alumni portal as well.

February 7 at 12:00p
Evangelical Augsburg Church on Pl. Stanislawa Malachowskiego 1
https://goo.gl/maps/cLjonBzGKBZjhryn8

Cemetery @ 13:30
Evangelical Augsburg Cemetery on ul. Mlynarska 54/56/58
https://goo.gl/maps/JkfVmPioL5TJ9PEC6

We don’t know yet what the school will do on Monday and will be meeting tomorrow to discuss options. Please feel free to offer me your advice in this regard and we will communicate our decisions tomorrow before the end of the day.

Calendar Survey closes today…

The calendar survey for the 2023-2024 school year closes tonight. Please offer your input before the calendar is forwarded to the board for adoption. Thank you to those who have already submitted their response.

https://forms.gle/hRgKkGTwptepxqM3A

Board Elections

We have completed the appointment process and the nominees for appointment will go to the board meeting on Monday night. But, the portal remains open for application to run in the election process. There are two seats open through election and that process begins soon! As a reminder, here are the pertinent links:

• Application to run for election to the Board of Trustees: https://forms.gle/Z2CT7ZWBL9qqqqzd9
• Sign-up to join Aspiring Board Member Training: https://goo.gl/forms/cfjli5MvNnwzNiNs2
• Information about the Board of Trustees for ASW: https://www.aswarsaw.org/about-us/board-of-trustees

Yesterday’s Health Department Announcements

Announcements yesterday have determined that Polish public schools for grades 5 and above will move into virtual mode until February 27. We will not be following this directive at this time and will continue to follow our current mitigation plan. ASW has taken this course of action before, but certainly we are watching our own case numbers and reviewing this on a daily basis. Reports of Poland’s case numbers today were not unexpected and we remain hopeful that these numbers will hit their peak as predicted toward the end of the month and early February. We are prepared to make decisions for individual grade levels and/or cohorts as required and following, as always, an incremental path to our decisions. Watch for Special Updates each day as we report the cases and our mitigation where warranted. We are still seeing the vast majority of cases coming from outside of school and the various activities reported to us through our contact tracing. We are all doing a better job of holding children out of school when symptoms emerge. So many of our reported cases have not had extended impact. We should note that any grade level or cohort on virtual school should also be suspending activities outside of school until the grade level is cleared to return. This is an important part of our protocol to reduce further spread or exposure.

We are in a challenging couple of weeks now and important to strengthen our resilience through adherence to our practices. We will get through this and continue our recovery efforts in due course.

Friday Reminder

A reminder that we are closing school on Friday, January 28, in order to provide an opportunity for our community to participate in memorial services and other remembrance activities for Iga Kielczewska-Skoczylas. I appreciate the many messages of support for this decision and the wonderful regard of the community in valuing the needs of the family and the entire community. Thank you for your understanding, care, and concern!

Calendar Survey – 2023-2024

It’s that time of year again when we ask you to look into your future crystal ball and consider the potential calendar for 2023-2024. Next year’s calendar was done last year (as we always do) and is currently posted HERE. It’s now time to consider the proposed calendar that was first put in front of the board in initial draft form back in November. Since then, the administration has identified the need for staff development and other adjustments to give you the current draft which is HERE. You can fill out a survey to provide your input here:

https://forms.gle/hRgKkGTwptepxqM3A

The Board of Trustees will adopt the final version at their April board meeting.

Vaccination sign-up

We have confirmed our vaccination event on February 5th. Please sign up by Monday, January 31. Reminders and times will be sent early next week. The link is here:

https://forms.gle/xjW2hZf3KUgN3WEY7

Traffic Reminder

Please remember to watch your speed on the campus at all times. The restriction is to travel at no faster than the posted 10 kph. Also, please be reminded to use crosswalks at all times and give the right of way to pedestrians everywhere in the parking lot.

Finally, please remember that you must stay with your vehicle at all times in the yellow “Kiss-n-Go” zones. No vehicle may be left unattended for more than 30 seconds. If you plan to exit your vehicle to meet your children, you should park. If parking is not available, continue around the loops until a spot opens. Do NOT leave a vehicle unattended for any extended period of time in these zones. For unattended vehicles, licenses will be recorded and access restrictions may be imposed on repeat offences.

Upcoming Change

Just an initial message that we are continuing the process of upgrading our systems further and the next phase of our plan has us rolling out changes that will unify our various portals and methods of communication. The most important aspect of this is the deployment of a new way of accessing our resources using a unified “My Key” approach. Look for more information on this through February as we get ready for the official launch of a new Parent Portal in March once we return from the Mid-Winter break.

At this time each year, the Board of Trustees (BoT) is seeking candidates for Trustees (U.S. citizens and Non-U.S. citizens) who will begin serving in the next academic school year starting in July. This process, overseen by the BoT Governance Committee, begins now with a call for both applications for appointment and self-nominations for election through a unified form. The link to our form is here:

https://forms.gle/Z2CT7ZWBL9qqqqzd9

The Board is currently seeking community members with experience in fields like facilities, fundraising, finance, law, development, and strategic planning. We are also seeking members with strong social networks within both ASW and our host community of Poland. Most importantly, the BoT needs parents who are committed to the values, mission, and vision of our community and the long-term wellbeing of our school and its students. This is a voluntary role.

Deadline for the appointment process are due by January 27, 2022 with the election process to follow after the February 7th board meeting.

You can find more information about the BoT, including the composition of the board and qualifications at the following link:

https://www.aswarsaw.org/about-us/board-of-trustees

We also have another round of aspiring board member training on March 3, 2022 to be virtually held starting at 6:00p via Zoom. You can sign up now (link below). You do not need to do the training to apply for appointment or election, but it is highly recommended.

Reminders:

• Application to join the Board of Trustees: https://forms.gle/Z2CT7ZWBL9qqqqzd9
• Sign-up to join Aspiring Board Member Training: https://goo.gl/forms/cfjli5MvNnwzNiNs2
• Information about the Board of Trustees for ASW: https://www.aswarsaw.org/about-us/board-of-trustees

Next Round of Vaccination

Our next and likely final round of vaccination for the current school year is scheduled for February 5th (second dose on March 5th). These events will continue vaccination for ages 5-11, but will also include opportunity for additional adults and ages 12-18, including boosters. Our form has been prepared with this in mind:

https://forms.gle/bQnkdeSarYbt6aza8

Sign-up will continue until January 31. You must complete one form for each person being vaccinated. Times are currently scheduled for 9a to 12p. Final schedule will be based on demand.

Teachers are shepherds and during adversity we all bring the flock in close, finding comfort in our community and connectedness.  

Some 40 years ago, In 1982, I graduated from college and started my first job as a 4^th grade teacher in Washington State.  Dr. Dick Weathermon, the superintendent who guided me into my first job and asked me to take over for a teacher who had departed on extended leave and would not return due to significant health issues.  I took over a class of 34 fourth graders who felt abandoned and alone, not understanding what had happened to the start of their school year.  Less than six months later, we would mourn together the passing of their teacher.  We each found voice in our journey, learning through pain and confusion, and finding resiliency in our shared survival.

I remember how, in this foundational year for me and them, we shared in our growing.  I was as green as you can be in your first year as a teacher, barely out of my student-teaching experience and much to learn.  But, Dr. Weathermon suggested, as he hired me, that I would be embarking on a journey, not taking a job.  He told me at the time that teaching was like being a shepherd and I would find myself often looking upon my “flock,” guiding them, nurturing them, and protecting them from harm.  Those words resonate with me today as we reflect on our challenges and our most recent devastating loss.

Iga Kielczewska-Skoczylas was a precious member of our community, and we are working hard to find ways to express our grief, keeping her sparkle in our hearts and memories, now and always.  We are all shepherds in this way, guiding, protecting, cherishing, and remembering. 

You’ll find herein, messages from principals about how we will proceed with this work of fellowship and care.  Our appreciation for all the messages of support for the family.  As the week continues, more opportunities to participate in important healing activities will become clear.  Please reach out if there is anything else we should be considering.

Wishing you all the best in the upcoming holidays! Whether celebrating the inspiration of good will toward men, or the many elements of family and cultural from your home, please let me offer my collective “hug” to the community and wishes for time to celebrate family and renewal. With the coming of the new year, we always reflect on our hopes and dreams. May the coming new beginning be filled with earnest optimism for both things lost that we hope to regain along with things earned and cherished that we hope to retain. May you find the joy and gladness found in the warm embrace of those who love and care for you!

Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

After the Break

We have crystalized our schedule for returning to school in January. Here’s the basic schedule for re-entry testing for students:

• Saturday, January 8, 8:00a to 4:00p
• Sunday, January 9, 12:00p to 4:00p
• Monday, January 10, 8:00a to 4:00p

Sign-up for these dates opens in PowerSchool starting tomorrow, so you can book your appointment well ahead of time. It will remain open throughout the break to schedule as you are able. We’ll send a reminder in the days prior as well.

Please watch for any other announcements of update through the break, which will be sent as we learn more about all factors to be considered.

Testing at School on Friday

We had a survey for pre-signup for travel based testing on Friday, December 17th. Notification of times associated with that survey have been sent to those individuals and thank you for helping us to determine staffing levels for the day. We have additional capacity on the day between 10:00a and 3:00p, so additional individuals are welcome to come during those times.

Epixpert is offering three services on the day:

• Paperwork for student regular testing – you need to request this from Epixpert and they can provide confirmation of negative test based on student normal testing. There is no fee for this service, but you must request in advance and we must know if students need to be tested on Friday rather than their normal day on Thursday, where applicable. Documentation for travel can be provided.
• Antigen Testing – Can be provided on demand. Results and paperwork confirming negative test are provided as part of the service and will be available same day.
• PCR Testing – Can be provided on demand. Results will be available next day and can be downloaded with the information provided.

If you have other requests, you need to contact Epixpert directly by speaking to them in our main lobby tomorrow between 8a and 10a. You can also consult the information on their website for other options: https://www.epixpert.org

A shout of thanks to all who have been busy decorating our facilities to put us in a bit of festive spirit. Many thanks to PTO for their amazing work in all of our entrances and areas, brightening our days with decoration and holiday cheer. A big shout out as well to our Facilities and Maintenance Division for their efforts with lighting outside and inside the school and all of the additional efforts to make our campus capture the spirit of the season!

We have a few days remaining before we head off into the long holiday vacation. We’ll do what we can to tie up all of the loose ends before we take another well deserved break.

Vaccination – Ages 5-11

We have confirmation that vaccine rollout for Ages 5-11 is set for Wednesday, December 15. Based on meetings today, we believe we can be ready and would keep the 16th as a backup date in case of any unforeseen problem. The sign up for vaccination is still open and you need to pre-register. We’ll send everyone a confirmation of time on Monday to get ready for our day. Here is the open form (deadline is Friday):

https://forms.gle/yLSqvvdtGcumaanB8

Testing on December 17

The form for showing interest in COVID testing at school on December 17 is still open so that Epixpert can plan their staffing accordingly. Documentation for student testing can also be provided, but please fill out the interest form for the whole family so that work load can be estimated. The form for showing your interest is here (deadline is Monday):

https://forms.gle/Pan4u1jmwkQC6oB76

We will not be open for testing after Friday. While we will maintain a minimized schedule for testing of staff during the vacation, we will not be open for public testing. Testing is generally available and you can also fine convenient options for testing with Epixpert via their website: https://epixpert.org/store/

Planning for After the Vacation

We currently have a draft plan for after the vacation and would like your feedback before confirming this plan next week. With your feedback, we’ll begin set up of our usual systems and Crisis Team will review your input before confirming.

We plan to have full school re-entry testing as would normally be the case. Currently this plan would include family-based testing appointments for students starting on Saturday, January 8th, and Sunday, January 9th. Students who are green in OK4School based on weekend testing could return to school on Monday, January 10th.

We would also have testing available for students all day on Monday, but those testing on Monday would not be able to return to school until Tuesday morning. After that, we return to normal re-entry testing for any remaining students on a daily basis between 8a and 10a.

Under current status, we would continue twice per week testing during the first week back, so the second test would be on Thursday and Friday for the whole school.

We welcome your thoughts and would appreciate your comments on our feedback form. I’ve added a question temporarily for this about our return from vacation plan for your input. That form is here:

https://forms.gle/Ei8kQQ8gicDQ7wNZ9

Previous Booster Event for Adults

After a problem with the Polish registry system, 99% of the records from our booster shot event are now in the system. The staff at Vaxmed apologize for the delay while the system was done, but all is now done. Please reach out to Vaxmed if you need any further assistance on documentation of this prior event.

Late today I received word that we will be able to put together a vaccination event here at ASW for 5-11 year olds. The government announced that they will start delivering vaccine for this age range starting December 13. I’ve reserved with Vaxmed.pl the dates of December 14, 15, or 16 depending on supply. We currently envision an afternoon into evening event where we can vaccinate about 40 per hour starting at 2:00p in the afternoon until as late as 8:00p. I’ll be sending more details on this home in the Monday Weekly update along with sign-up instructions. My thanks to Dr. Jakob at Vaxmed.pl for his continued support and partnership in this project. I hasten to add, this is all subject to deliveries coming on time as planned.

Last week’s booster event was a success, but please be advised that they are still working on records and we have been assured that they are working hard to complete them for online access and for the records that will be sent to you directly. Please be patient.

If you are still in need of a booster, you will need to find another provider through your doctor or via Vaxmed.pl’s website. We will not have another booster event for adults at ASW before the Holiday Break.

If you didn’t see it earlier today, I postponed Town Hall to next week, December 8th. We are gathering information on Omicron and other items for the coming holidays. Thank you for your patience and for understanding the late notice.

Finally, my appreciation for all the input received by email or through our feedback form. We are still showing good feedback from the community and I appreciate all of your helpful advice as I work with my team of leaders. Here’s the latest on how you think we are doing according to respondents over the last month or two (1 is low, 10 is high):

Please keep reaching out to me directly by email or via the feedback form!

Message from our Board Chair

Please see the linked message from our board chair, Katharine LaBanca, summarizing recent decisions and board progress on goals for the year. As always, the engaging work of the board continues in earnest and Kay has provided important insight along with thanks for all who are contributing to our progress and success.

Quick COVID stats update

In terms of our current wave of infections here in Poland, the data is consistent with the projections discussed in our recent Town Hall. We expect, as does the government, that the current wave will peak in the coming weeks. Additionally, we believe vaccinations for ages 5-11 will be approved in Poland starting December 5. That leaves the school in a difficult position relative to supporting vaccination at school given the coming holiday vacation. There is not enough time to get the necessary two doses in before we depart. Currently under consideration is a vaccination event immediately as we return in January. I’m happy to have your feedback on this.

One question that has come up is a request to report the statistics relative to recent infections and vaccination status. I did some calculations today. Amongst students, 19% of our cases have been students who were immunized. That’s understandable since students under 12 are not yet vaccinated. Updating our status on age 12+ students: we have 80% vaccinated. For adults, the number is much higher and confirms the waning immunity and the need for boosters. 76% of our adult cases were vaccinated individuals. This validates our approach to continued testing of both populations equally and helps to guide us in future planning under our protocols. The good news is we can also see a correlation amongst the vaccinated that they experience mild symptoms and this further confirms the importance of vaccination to protect against more serious consequences. We continue to believe that there are three components to overall recovery: vaccination, sanitary protocols, and wider availability of treatment drugs for those who become sick. Progress is being made on all fronts.

My message of thanks

For me, let me just offer my thanks to all in the spirit of the season. For those connected to our American core and heritage, tomorrow marks a key entry into the holiday season ledger. Thanksgiving remains an entry point into the season for those of American heritage and is rooted in family traditional values.

So, during this long weekend, please reflect on the importance of family and the loving embrace of those in your close orbit. We need those strong personal connections where we find strength and foundation. I’m thankful for all of you in the extended ASW family. Again and again, we embrace the challenges and come together in distinctive ways that we refer to as the Warrior Spirit. In the spirit of positive thinking, there is no place I’d rather be and I see nothing but opportunity on the horizon. Hugs to all for another well deserved opportunity for rest and renewal!

I had two aspiring leaders in my office today, representing the administration-for-a-day from elementary. We discussed briefly their plans for the day and noted their organization and skills. My thanks to Rita B. and Harper R. for their service. They clearly understood the main charge of any school administrator – Take care of your kids! I shared some treats with them and their thoughts immediately were considerate of classmates and potential dietary considerations. After a brief dialog and picture session, I offered my help for any of their concerns, but they competently stated they “had this one.” – Something you hope to hear every day from your key leaders.

Small things like this often plant seeds for the future. I’m impressed daily by the opportunities that students have that grow into clear aspirations and dispositions for a life of service and accomplishment. These two young students are fully ready to take on the world!!

The silver lining of our current circumstance may be found in these little victories and the positive outcomes of surmounting great adversity together. We may find in the further reaches of this slow recovery that our children have newfound depths of resilience that they can use to face the unknown challenges beyond the horizon. The excitement and energy is infectious and renewing. I saw it during UN Day with both parents and students. It was evident today in the Formal Day in the high school – the suits, tuxedos, and gowns were brilliant!! Students are gathered across the hall from my office right now (and virtually around the world) starting the Berlin Model United Nations Conference and working to address how we can achieve world peace. I see similar activities every day in the hallways, classrooms, and on the fields and playgrounds around the school.

The mission of self-care and wellness is still center stage at ASW. These activities help us address our healing, but we need to continue our vigilance for the care and concern of others, both in and around our community. The many projects of the season will provide opportunity to bring a spotlight on our community service efforts. Many projects are in preparation, as has been our tradition.

Finally, you will find an announcement below on a unique opportunity tomorrow night to join a virtual conference for CEESA parents throughout the region hosted by the American International School of Vilnius. Dr. Michael G. Thompson is a wonderful author, practitioner, and speaker worthy of your consideration.

Many things happening around the school despite the challenges of the calendar. We have a holiday this weekend due to Poland’s Independence Day – see more about that HERE. There is always a strong afinity between an international school and the host country, so let me take this opportunity on Poland’s special day to offer my regards to all of our Polish community as we head into an important day of reflection. We offer appreciation to all of you for allowing us to reside for a time under your sovereignty. We appreciate all that you do to make us all feel welcome and supported. On the heels of our Day of Diversity, it’s important to reflect on all that Poland offers us to support the mission and vision of the school. We are empowered by the good will that is evident in our interactions at all levels. I know that, no matter how long I remain here, I will forever fondly reflect on Poland as “home.” Last night, this was the theme of one of the special songs presented by the middle school choir and it brought tears to my eyes. While we will always be Warriors, and always ASW, we will also always be a bit Polish in our hearts because of our marvelous experiences here and the “family” that we will leave behind. Thank you, Poland, for all that you have done to help us feel a part of your wonderful country. We wish you well as you celebrate your “birthday!”

Please remember to sign up for COVID or flu vaccination here. I need final counts by Friday at noon:

• COVID – Booster or first shot: November 24 – starting at 4:00p (still limited to ages 12+)
• Flu shots for adults – Vaxigrip Tetra – November 20, 9a to 12p

Stay well as we remain on the path to the holidays. Be safe and hopeful in the days and weeks ahead. We remain optimistic that we are still on the grinding path to recovery!

United Nations Day

One of the most important aspects of ASW is our unique diversity. With 50+ countries represented in our mix, we have a uniquely complicated recipe that leads to a community of significant flavor and complexity. Winston Churchill is quoted as saying:

“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common… Celebrate it every day.”

Winston Churchill

In the accomplishment of our mission of “changing the world for the better,” there is no better core value to live by than embracing that we are all in this together and that no one should be left behind. Working together is about accepting the diversity of thinking that comes from our inherent diversity, the uniqueness of each human spirit bringing their hopes and dreams in to a community tapestry of aspiration. I look forward each year to our opportunities on United Nations Day to embrace this spirit and give opportunity to each voice of home and culture. Valuing that identity and sharing it with others gives it life and meaning – an important part of growing and becoming. While we can’t be totally back to normal just yet, we are hopeful that this year’s UN Day will bring some measure of embracing what makes us special! Thank you to PTO and all who will make it a special day for our students on Friday. More details in eNotes further down in this message.

Withdrawal Notice

Please be reminded of the following deadlines for second semester withdrawal notices:

• Withdrawal notice received before November 15th – 0% tuition due, 100% refund of tuition previously paid for second semester
• Withdrawal notice received from November 16th-December 15th – 50% tuition due, 50% refund of tuition previously paid for the second semester
• Withdrawal notice received after December 15th – 100% of tuition due for second semester, no refund for second semester

You can contact Admissions at admissions@aswarsaw.org to notify them of your intentions.

Just want to thank everyone for all their efforts to date to keep school open and engaged. This includes parents and students, but also many thanks to all the faculty, staff, and administrators who oversee daily efforts and have worked tirelessly to get us to this point. And, also, thanks to all the PTO efforts continuing behind the scenes for decorating and otherwise coloring our school life with engaging experiences.

I’ll reiterate my message of caution for next week that was expressed in my Weekly message on Monday. We still should be cautious during the break. I know that many are traveling and I wish you safety in your journey. Please be thoughtful as numbers continue to climb all around us with few exceptions.

I was also approached by a few messages recently asking for us to open our doors to allow spectators during Warrior Day. I’ve checked with my team and we do not feel comfortable with this yet. I know that some will see this as being overly cautious and potentially inconsistent with other recent outdoor events, including the PTO BBQ. I understand your concern, but we are just not ready to open the gates broadly when we are in operation during normal hours (including after school activities/athletics). As I’ve explained, the PTO BBQ and other recent outdoor events in Warsaw are different because individual families are able to make a choice about participating or not. During normal school operations, this is not the case and I have to stick with our current mitigation level that would limit general open parent access. In our first opportunities for sporting competition earlier, we have not allowed spectators and testing of the teams prior to each match is part of our control requirements on both campuses. I do believe we will find ways to include spectator participation soon, but the crisis team and medical advisors are not yet ready to approve this until we see more clear evidence of a reduction of community spread and opportunity for vaccinating our elementary students. We continue to monitor and consider these options regularly. If you have further feedback, please feel free to join the survey that is always open and happy to continue the conversation:

https://forms.gle/vvQuMJ9vAbFbYWXM9

Aspiring Board Member Training

Each year, I offer training sessions for aspiring board members. This can include our Board of Trustees, who are always recruiting new members, as well as service on other non-profit boards for charitable organizations. There is general information about serving on the board and specific information about how ASW governance works.

If you would like to participate, you can sign up by clicking here for the next session on November 4 @ 6:00 p.m.: 

https://forms.gle/h9VnAN1f32wSRTvo6

The BoT is always seeking potential candidates as new Trustees (U.S. citizens and Non-U.S. citizens) who could serve to fill open positions through appointment or run for elections in the spring. This process, overseen by the Board of Trustees Governance Committee is ongoing throughout the year. The link to that form is here:

https://forms.gle/2XwED5usBYeL94BB7

Flu Vaccination for Children – Nasal Variety

We have flu vaccine for children (2-18) now in stock and are ready for use on November 6 (Saturday) from 9a to 1p with the help of our partner Epixpert. Those who filled out the survey received invitation to register yesterday and we can now open registration to others who are interested, but did not participate in the survey. Details about the vaccine are on the form which you can find here:

https://forms.gle/fKvjSaCmzGuywhqN8