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