NEWSLETTER
April 2022
MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear AIS Family,
It is very heartwarming to see everything resuming normalcy.
We used the term ‘new normal’ liberally to explain and understand our response to the pandemic. Unfortunately, as a school, we notice another ‘new normal’ that we believe is a direct outcome of the pandemic… and that is behaviour challenges among many children – be it an increase in the number of cases of bullying (online and offline), use of foul language or unending (unsupervised) screen time, where often children are consuming online content that is simply unacceptable for their age. This problem is being noticed not just by us at AIS, but globally!
This sort of exposure during the pandemic has heavily impacted the social and emotional well-being of students. As a responsible institution, we have initiated various steps to try and bring back the responsible attitude shift in our students through various initiatives like an anti-bullying week, numerous counseling sessions at school – both, individual and class-based, and increased sports activity, and engaging them in various service activities.
At school, we also have initiated and implemented zero-tolerance for bullying and possession of any prohibited or contraband items. This has led to a few suspensions and expulsions at school. Research suggests that parenting practices may make a difference in how to constructively manage the problems. Therefore, we humbly request you to be positively engaged with your child’s activities at school as well as outside school.
If you see this newsletter and have been involved with all the events at AIS, you will surely notice a pattern that how we are addressing these challenges. The second half of Term 2 was equally thriving, engaging, and learning as the first half and culminated on a high note with the Sports Day Celebrations, which also became a great stress buster for all students, teachers, and parents.
Lastly, in this torn apart world, where war and intolerance have taken the centre stage, I would request everyone reading this newsletter to model the behaviours of kindness and respect so that our children can have immediate and good role models to fall back on. This is also what the world needs the most! Let us be a little more tolerant, a little more forgiving, a little more respectful, and most importantly a little more empathetic!
MESSAGE FROM HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
Early Childhood
Term 2 flew by! We are happy to see everything slowly returning to normal. Our little learners are getting used to school, routines, and class rules, once again. Teachers are once again enjoying the personal connection, and getting to know their students and are able to fully concentrate on each individual child to help them reach their full potential.
Yirka Vinck
Head of Early Childhood Department
Email: [email protected]
Primary
I would like to thank parents, teachers, and students for the hard work, patience, and resilience shown this term. A big thank you to the AIS COVID 19 Taskforce that kept us on our toes to ensure that the SOPs are followed.
Bravo to all our learners who have been Open-minded, Caring, and Courageous to face and cope with all the changes they experienced at school.
In retrospect, we can confidently say that it has been a successful term. Students and staff have been involved in a wide range of enjoyable events on campus, once again. We did Internal Assessments, enjoyed Talent Hunt, Anti-bullying Week, PYP6 Mock Exhibition, Student-Led Conferences, Sports Week and the PYP6 students enjoyed their Overnight Trip.
We hope you have had a chance to look at our Device Policy. While PYP6 may bring working devices (laptops and tablets) on instances when they will be working on their exhibition, this will be communicated by their teachers. Mobile phones and other electronic items are strictly prohibited in school and will be confiscated, if found.
We continue to thank you for the unwavering support and wish you a restful break!
Shallon Baguma
Head of Primary Department
Email: [email protected]
Secondary
“Potential is not an endpoint but a capacity to grow and learn” – Eileen Kennedy-Moore
Three months ago, we started Term 2 with a lot of trepidation in our hearts. It was the beginning of our students returning to campus after almost two years. And now that the term is ending, we look back at it with wonder, amazement, and a sense of accomplishment. Our students are trying their best to unlearn, relearn and learn many things. It has always been our vision to inspire and help our learners to grow into responsible young adults. We have implemented the Secondary Device Usage
Policy to help our students stay focused on academics and learn the ethics of digital citizenship. Thank you, AIS parents, for understanding the importance of this policy and cooperating with us.
We believe that when the school and home work in partnership, students achieve more. In our endeavor to help the parents, we have shared a document on “Online safety at Home.” You can also download the document by clicking the link below.
Wish you a wonderful break!
Shirin Bagchi
Head of Secondary Department
Email: [email protected]
MESSAGE FROM CURRICULUM COORDINATORS
PYP
We have successfully completed another term and it finally feels that life is returning to normal. We have been very excited to host both PYP6 Mock Exhibition and Student-Led Conferences on campus for the first time since lockdown. We have also been able to fully reinstate our Guided Reading Programme; which is now also being reported on in Report Cards.
As we are already looking toward the next academic year, we are happy to announce there will be an integration of a new writing curriculum in August 2022! More details on this will be made available in due time.
As we finish out this academic year, we thank you for your continued support of our students and their learning.
Rachelle Hale
PYP Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
MYP
MYP3 and MYP5 Counselling involves discussing student plans for the future and advising on what choices, subjects, and courses will lead them there. After an initial questionnaire, we have started one-to-one sessions with the students in MYP3 and MYP5 as they will soon be making important choices about the next step. The next stage is to have a three-way conference with parents to ensure these important choices are made together. This will begin early next term.
MYP5 On-Screen Assessments will run from Monday, May 9 to Friday, May 20, according to the schedule previously sent out by email. Morning exams will start at 08:30 and afternoon exams at 13:45. These are the final, internationally-recognized exams of the MYP. On days they have exams, students are expected to be in school by 07:45 am as usual.
Sam Weavers
MYP Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
DP and A Levels
This has been a thriving and exciting term marked with unforgettable experiences and milestones.
University Offers
Some of our candidates received conditional and unconditional offers to great universities in the USA, Canada, Europe, and the UK such as the University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Prince Edwards, Muster University-Ireland, Georgia State University-Atlanta, Texas A&M University, Seneca College.
In-person University Fair
After a very long time, we were able to take our candidates for an in-person university fair organized by Uniserv on March 9, 2022.
MYP5 Shadow Days and Transitional Classes
As part of career guidance, we ran two days of MYP5 transitional classes shadowed by our current DP1 and AS classes. The MYP5 were able to interact with both subject teachers and students and experience what the next stage of their educational journey would look like. This is intended to support the MYP5s in making subject choices for their next stage at A Levels or DP.
Cambridge A Levels and IBDP External Practical and Written.
External Practical and Written will commence on April 20, 2022. Please refer to the external exam timetable available in Managebac. We are continually grateful for your unwavering support and look forward to an even better academic term moving forward.
Happy holidays!!
Kenneth Kanyesigye
DP/A Levels Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
MESSAGE FROM SPECIALTIES DEPARTMENT
School Teams
In preparation for the International Schools Sports Association (ISSA) League, which begins next academic year, we are pleased to share that the AIS Sports Teams are resuming practice in Term 3, 2021-22!
The Sports Department organized tryouts for Swimming, Basketball, Athletics, Badminton, Table Tennis, and Soccer. Students who made the teams will represent AIS at inter-school competitions. If your child has been selected to be part of any school team, he/she will need to participate in training in Term 3. Any student who misses practice for three consecutive sessions will automatically be eliminated from the school team.
Henry Kalanzi
Head of Specialties
Email: [email protected]
PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)
PTO has observed that many drivers are violating the school safe driving rules and procedures, which puts the lives of our dear students and teachers in danger. During the PTO board meeting on the 24 March 31, 2022, PTO resolved to come up with safe driving rules and enforcement procedures. These are highlighted below:
- One-way-system needs to be properly observed at all times regardless of the time of the day.
- Vehicles may be required to show the AIS stickers in case of suspicion.
- Keep a distance of at least two metres between your car and the car in front of you.
- Wear your seatbelt at all times.
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol.
- Observe a speed limit of 10km/h when driving on campus.
Enforcement procedures
- Drivers who violate the school driving safety policy, for the first time, should be given a written warning letter, explaining their offence. They will need to sign that letter to acknowledge their mistake. If the offender breaks another driving safety rule, they will be disallowed to drive into the school gate again. However, students will be allowed to come in with another driver.
- Reckless driving that leads to damage of any property must be fined, fines will go to the PTO fund and this will be used to repair the damaged property.
–Godwin Kyegombe
PTO Chair
MESSAGE FROM AIS COVID 19 TASKFORCE TEAM
We are thankful for the stability we are seeing, with regard to the pandemic, and are hopeful that it is here to stay. The AIS campus feels alive again, with our dear students back with all their enthusiasm and vigor!
However, until we hear officially from the global and national experts, we exhort every member of the AIS Family to continue following SOPs and continue talking to their child (ren) about following SOPs on campus.
On that note, please join me in welcoming our newest member of the Taskforce, Samuel Onyango Dulo (MYP3 Student).
Nishitha Shrivastava
HoD – Admissions/Admin & Taskforce Head
Email: [email protected]
MESSAGE FROM FINANCE
EVACUATION DRILL
The safety and welfare of our students are our highest priority. We believe that one, of the many, ways to perpetuate a safe learning environment for them, is by preparing them on how to respond in emergencies/crisis situations – “hope for the best, prepare for the worst”. Drills allow us to evaluate our emergency operation plan and improve our response skills.
This Term, we were able to organize an Evacuation Drill. During this drill, we check the preparedness of our staff and students for any emergency situation.
We are happy to share that our entire drill, from the alarm going off to the assembly point roll call, took 11 minutes. We aim to improve this.
We also exhort you to speak with your child (ren) about the importance of drills and their timely response and attentiveness.
ASSEMBLIES
STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES
Early Childhood
Every Term we follow a different format to acquaint parents with their child’s academic progress. This term, parents, children, and teachers came together in class. Students were given the opportunity to talk about their work and to show parents all they’ve learned during the term.
An E-portfolio was created for each child. This E-portfolio contains pictures of students doing activities in class. Each student’s learning process was discussed by means of this E-portfolio.
Primary
This Term, we welcomed parents into our homerooms for the first time since the pandemic. It was wonderful having these face-to-face meetings, where students could show their parents everything they have done over the last two terms, and explain their progress in their own unique style. Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are a great avenue for students to exercise their agency. Thank you, parents, for making time to discuss your child’s academic growth and expectations with them.
Secondary
Secondary Student-Led Conference flips the format of a traditional parent-teacher meeting in that students are responsible for guiding parents through some of the work they have done. To do this, students collected examples of their work from the first two terms into a student portfolio. In each subject group, students showcased work they were proud of, work they collaborated on, and work they were summatively assessed on. They also practiced goal setting and reflecting on project and service work, ATL skills, and Learner Profile development. Student-Led Conferences are important as they focus on the process of student development and not just the final grade. It was great to see how our students reflected on their own learning and set strategies to achieve their personal best. It was great to see so many parents attending and have the contact we have been sorely missing these last couple of years.
LEARNING CAN BE FUN
PYP6 Mock Exhibition
Our PYP6 class is on their journey to finish their Primary Years Programme through the completion of the PYP Exhibition (PYPX).
On Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25, the PYP6 students completed the “Mock” Exhibition. The Mock is for students to practice their public speaking and presentation skills, by creating a presentation about themselves, before completing the final Exhibition.
On Thursday, PYP4 and PYP5 classes visited the Mock Exhibition, and on Friday PYP6 parents attended. Thank you for all the support given to our PYP6 students and we hope it will continue as they embark on the final Exhibition.
IBDP Visual Arts Exhibition
This term marked our first ever IBDP Visual Arts Exhibition on April 1, 2022. The Visual Arts Exhibition is a mandatory requirement for all IB Visual Art students. It offers learners the opportunity to view and express themselves through different lenses of life and forms. It supports our fundamental values of communication, collaboration, and research skills.
Talent Hunt
After a hiatus of two years, we were ecstatic to host Talent Hunt 2022. On March 5, 2022, our students participated in the intra school competition and competed in four categories – Vocals, Instruments, Creative Arts, and Dance.
Students were dressed to the nines, exceeded only by their stellar performances. So much talent on one stage! This year, we also had several surprise performances from teachers and parents.
The AIS Performing Arts Team would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to every parent who was present, as well as those who supported their children in spirit!
Francophonie Day
‘Le Rallye de la Francophonie’, that’s how we celebrated Francophonie Day at AIS this year. On March 18,2022, students took part in the ‘Amazing Race’, where they used their speed, mettle, might and of course knowledge of French, to complete tasks set.
As part of the celebration, older students read French books to younger students. One parent, Ms. Vanessa, from a Francophone country, visited our EC students and read to them.
Our students also enjoyed the special performance by our guests from Alliance Française Kampala. Vive la Francophonie!
Early Childhood Favourites Week
During this week, each day was celebrated with a different theme:
Students dressed up in their favourite clothes. During circle time, each class took centre stage to show their outfit to their friends. We danced, laughed and had loads of fun!
Students carried their favourite books to school. They showed and read the story to their classmates during carpet time. Later on, the books were available in the reading centre, where students could read/look at their friend’s books at their own pace.
Parents shared their child’s favourite songs with teachers. During circle time, the entire Department gathered together, danced and sang to the music. During class, teachers played the songs over and over again in class.
Our Performing Arts room transformed into a real cinema. Teachers came up with 3 movie suggestions for each yearband. Students voted for their favourite movie and the movie with the most votes is what we watched!
Reception Class voted for ‘Boss Baby’, EC2 voted for ‘The Good Dinosaur’ and E1/Crèche watched ‘The Gruffalo’
Just like going to the real cinema, students enjoyed the movie while eating popcorn.
Students could bring their favourite toy/game to school and share them with their classmates during carpet time or in the different play areas in class.
To make this day extra special, each student could invite one family member to school to have fun during the last hour on their timetable. Together they played games such as fill the bottle, target game, tie the leg, sensory boxes, puzzles, and memory games. They could also participate in a short dance session.
It has been a while since parents/family members visited our Campus, and we could feel the happiness everywhere.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH ACTIVITIES
This term started with the excitement of selecting a new club for three months’ activities. The activities were Physical, Voluntary, and Skills where every student had to switch to another activity so that they experienced the full range of experiences to help them be more holistic in their skills.
Expeditions
The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Practice Adventure Journey was completed in February this year. We had sixty students taking up this prestigious challenge. They came back with renewed confidence and life skills.
We now look forward hearing all about our students’ experience at the The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Qualifying journey in Mbale, around Mt. Elgon and Kapchorwa around the Sipi Falls.
The award is given to those that have completed three Duke of Edinburgh activities in the Skills, Physical activities, and voluntary service, and the Expedition. There is a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, and a sense of adventure among our students.
We are proud of our students who have shown endurance, team spirit, and resilience in the expedition journey.
Practice Adventure Journey Album
Award Ceremony Album
DofE Bronze Award Qualifying Journey Album
LEARNING BEYOND CLASSROOM
AS Tie-dye t-shirts Sale for The Mulago Cancer Institute
The Cambridge AS students also organized a fundraiser for the Cancer patients at Mulago by painting t-shirts for sale during the AIS Sports week.
This activity was very well collaborated and it well defined the IB Learner Profiles of risk-takers, thinkers, and caring.
MYP 4 Annual Service Internship
In keeping with the AIS mission of “nurturing holistic and balanced lifelong learners, who will create a better and more peaceful world” we have nurtured our students by partnering with Mukisa Foundation. This service internship program took place on February 10 and 11. The internship led to our students reflecting on their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as on how to help the Foundation. This inspired our MYP5 learners to organize a fundraiser through a week-long raffle ticket sale held for this cause.
Congratulations to the team and raffle winners!
Psychology Students’ Newsletter
Our IB DP and Cambridge A Levels students of Psychology started the AIS Psychology Newsletter to reach out to the community. They put a lot of thought and effort into bringing insights, tips on well-being, and other important topics on socio-emotional aspects of school life. Kudos to them. Here is the link to the second issue of the newsletter.
“Working on the psychology newsletter is a wonderful experience. I get to explore different forms of creativity while also helping our audience in the school community. …..as well as build our personal skills like research skills. It’s really fun to do.” Patsy Kibwika- IBDP1 Student
STAND-UP TO BULLYING WEEK
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, was ever wasted.” – Aesop
This term, our students took part in ‘Stand UP to Bullying’ Week. While our younger learners focused on how to be a good friend and show kindness, our older students learned how to look out for and stop bullying.
At AIS, we define bullying as the ongoing and deliberate misuse of influence in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour, on campus, or during non-school hours (online, at home, at outside events), that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm to another student.
At school, we have increased staff supervision and supportive conversations about effective communication, peer relationships, reflection, and responsibility. While we have seen a positive change in our students since highlighting these topics in school, we ask that parents and families continue to monitor and highlight this at home; specifically in regard to online forums. We are, increasingly, finding that reports of bullying are from students online when at home.
The use of technology during the pandemic has been a double-edged sword. While it has allowed us to continue work/school and connect in some ways, it has also created distance in our connections. For our students, they have gotten used to walking away from a screen and not recognizing or sitting in reflection of the effects of their actions or words on others.
Per our Behaviour and Motivation Policy, bullying will not be tolerated in any form and will be dealt with accordingly. Please always reach out to HODs, if you have concerns about bullying and our qualified counsellors are always ready to support students on campus.
SPORTS WEEK
They say, “One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it”. The Sports Week at AIS was all this… and more. Our students showed resilience, grit, integrity, perseverance, and so much character! We are proud of each student who went out and did their best.
Swimming Gala Winners Album
Table Tennis Winners Album
Badminton Winners Album
Sports Day
As mentioned by our Head of School, our Sports Day was the perfect crescendo to Term 2!
Throughout the week, our students proved their mettle, teamwork, sportsmanship, and resilience with various activities.
Our Sports Days started with the youngest learners on April 6, and ended with the eldest on April 7!
We would like to thank parents who were present, cheered on, and participated wholeheartedly!
Early Childhood Album
Lower Primary Album
Upper Primary Album
Secondary Album
