International School of Kigali
Engaging Individuals | Encouraging Success | Enriching Global Citizens
PTO Meeting Date for April
As the 2nd Tuesday of April falls on the ISK spring break we will move our PTO meeting to Tuesday April 17th. Please plan to attend to work on the ISK spring fair set to take place Saturday June 2nd.
Dates to Remember
30 March – Early Release
5 April – Half day
6-16 April – Spring Break
17 April – PTO Meeting
General Meeting, March 26, 2012
Location: ISK cafeteria
Time: 7:45 pm to 9 pm
Attended by ISK teachers and parents, school director, Dr. Anna Karola (AK) and board members:
Mr. Abdoulaye Balde (AB), Board President
Ms. Maringa Broekman (MB)
Ms. Victoria Gershenson (VG), Secretary
Ms. Rose Muchiri (RM)
Mr. Chuck Pill (CP), Deputy Board President
Mr. Neil Pogorelsky (NP), Treasurer
AB welcomed parents, teachers, and administration, and thanked everybody for coming.
Tuition and fees
NP outlined the new tuition structure. Starting in 2012/13, tuition becomes two-tier: parents who are reimbursed by their employers will face a larger increase, while the self-pay parents will face a smaller increase in tuition.
Tuition will increase in order to finance six new teaching positions, the acquisition of an additional building, big accreditation expense in 2012/13, and establishment of the reserve fund. Because of this, the 2012/13 budget projects an increase in expenditure by $400,000 compared with 2011/12 (the relevant table is available here). The two-tier system is common to other international schools.
In addition, $500 materials fee will be charged for each student to cover the cost of new IT equipment, textbooks, and stationery.
Q&A:
The higher tuition tier will apply equally to all parents who are reimbursed by their employers, regardless of the exact fraction of tuition that is being reimbursed.
ISK should be accredited by the end of 2012/13; hopefully, the Canadian Embassy will start to fully reimburse the Canadian parents from then on.
It took a long time to finalize the budget for 2012/13 and agree on the exact amount of the increase.
Teachers’ salaries will increase by 8% in 2012/13. AB noted that the teachers’ salaries at ISK are higher than in other Rwandan schools but much lower than in other international schools. The salaries are independent of the number of students in each class. Also, unlike some other international schools, ISK has made a conscious commitment to pay all teachers on the same scale regardless of whether they are local (Rwandan), from Africa or from further abroad.
Audit report
NP presented the results of the 2010/11 audit completed in November 2011. The Garry Whiteknight auditing firm issued an unqualified (i.e. positive) opinion of the school financial statements.
ISK has positive cash flow but negative accumulated fund, with the latter reflecting excess of liabilities over assets (see the tables here). This negative balance is the carried forward result of unexpected tax liability from the first year of school operations. It was significantly reduced in 2010/11 and will hopefully be completely reduced by the end of the 2011/12 school year.
School growth and acquisition of new building
The school now has 190 students, up from 180 in 2010/11. For 2012/13, we expect a slightly higher number of students, with a noticeable increase in high school.
ISK will get a new building, adjacent to the playing field and the traffic circle. The addition will accommodate the school’s growing needs and allow separation of pre-K and kindergarten from middle school. The new building will house pre-K and kindergarten classes. High school will be relocated to the current middle school building, while the current high school building will house 5th grade, art classroom, and offices. Library will move to the current administration building. Elementary and middle school will remain in their current locations. Lunch for pre-K and kindergarten students will be served at their building.
The school will have a music program starting in September.
Q&A:
The sports field has not been improved since it was leveled last summer. The students are still actively involved in sports, with badminton, volleyball, and taekwondo. PE teachers use the fields outside ISK to practice soccer.
AK promised to work on that.
Accreditation
AK noted that ISK is on track to be accredited by May 2013. All the documentation should be submitted to New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and Council of International Schools (CIS) by February of that year. Every teacher is involved in the process.
Committees
MB presented information about the committees. The committees are the way for parents and teachers to help the Board and the Administration to improve existing policies, facilities, and planning. The following committees either need additional members or must be created:
Volunteers can approach AK. All committees will be chaired by a Board member.
A parent suggested that the Board provides more information for each committee, regarding the type of work that needs to be done and the time frame.
Board rotations
AB outlined the situation at the Board. The Board has six members; one of them will be leaving in June. The Board wishes to recruit two new members, bringing the total to seven. In order to keep the membership balanced, only one new member can be a U.S. citizen. The new members will be elected during the Annual General Meeting, currently scheduled for June 15.
In addition, CP—who had been appointed by the U.S. Ambassador—will resign his position at the end of March. A new member, Ms. Katie Brown, has just been appointed to replace CP. The formal announcement to that effect will be made shortly.
Finally, AB noted that it would be beneficial to the school to have one outside Board member (in addition to the other seven members), somebody who does not have direct connection to the school, but who can provide guidance for further development of ISK.
Miscellaneous
Dear all,
It’s a beautiful crisp early Sunday morning here in Johannesburg. The backyard of the homestay family I’m staying with opens up to a vast green space is a magnet for birds, including a massive owl hooting above me as I type, and large, deer-like creatures. We’re not in Kigali anymore!
Yesterday was the first day of the AISA GISS conference. In word word: Wow! What an experience. The first thing on our agenda yesterday for all 230 delegates was to break off into our “Sustainability teams” to discuss a project specific to each ‘team.’
Afterwards, we were treated to a Keynote presentation by Free the Children founder Marc Kielburger. Marc spoke on how important it is to have the desire to take action in this world, but that we must actually step up and be change makers. He was a powerful speaker.
Before we moved into the School Presentation sessions, Connor was treated to a “Happy Birthday” wish from the podium. He was a great sport, and, as expected, took it in stride. Last night he told me about 100 people wished him a happy birthday. It’s a really great environment down here.
From 10:10 – 12:10, the students were able to attend two school presentations and have a tea break. Presentations ranged from managing sea turtle populations in Mozambique to Human trafficking in Ethiopia to speaking on the Girl Effect in Lusaka to discussing preventative measures to fight against water-borne diseases in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Students have come from all over the continent (and one school from the US and one from Budapest) to participate, learn, grow and share with one another.
After a delicious lunch, we were able to attend one of two expert panels: one on climate change the other on animal welfare. I was able to attend the expert panel on climate change. Students listened, were engaged and asked incredibly pertinent questions. It was evident that future change-makers of our world were in the fine arts center yesterday afternoon.
Ella Bella, co-founder of Generation Earth, was our second keynote speaker of the day. She is young, energetic woman attempting to unite Africa under the umbrella of reducing, reusing and recycling. It was a lively presentation.
We finished the day at the school with another set of school presentations then loaded up the buses to head off to the Central Lodge for dinner. It was delicious and the venue was gorgeous. After dinner, we loaded up our own buses and headed off to our homestay houses. Tiavina and Connor are sharing a homestay with another young man from IS-Tanganyika and Elisa is staying with two other female students at a female teacher’s house. They all have spoken very highly about their experience at the homestays.
Our presentation is at 10:10 this morning! We’re incredibly excited and ready to represent ISK and Rwanda well. Wish us luck!
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Jacob
World Educational Games 2012
The International School of Kigali is delighted to announce that by scoring 1,000 points or more, our school has won a free class subscription to Mathletics and Spellodrome for 4 months. Mathletics and Spellodrome are the award winning Grade R-12 websites, created by the Games team to foster high levels of student engagement and rigorous, scaffolded improvement.
Congratulations to our Top 3 Students!!!!!!!!
Student Class Name Points
Renato Gonzalo Class 7 1,746
Rei Imada Class 8 1,316
Katerina Tzartzas Class 8 1,312
What was it?
The World Education Games is an exciting event for ALL schools and students around the world. This is the global challenge to get ALL students (4-18 years of age) excited about learning, and to give the top students in each school an opportunity to see how they measure up against the best. Involving 1.57million students from over 200 countries and territories, this year it ran from 6-8 March. Practice opened on 1 February.
What did the students do?
Students were given their own personal online Games centre, from which they could participate in all 3 events from school and home.Students were matched in real time with up to 3 other students of similar age and ability in exciting live challenges. For math and spelling each challenge lasted 1 minute. For science, each challenge lasted 1 to 3 minutes depending on the number of participants in a challenge.Students earned points for correct answers, with their personal tally growing as they complete the challenges.
Each event had 50 challenges in total, meaning students could complete each event in around an hour – either in a computer class at school, and/or from home.
Exciting Live Challenges!
Students and classes took part in 4 age categories: 4-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-18 years.
On World Maths Day, students progress through 5 levels of difficulty in arithmetic and mental computation, and earn 1 point for every correct answer. Similarly, on World Spelling Day, students progress through 5 levels of difficulty based upon word complexity and context, earning 1 point for every correct answer.
World Science Day is slightly different – with 3 levels of difficulty within each challenge. The easier knowledge questions are worth 1 point, and the harder application and reasoning questions worth 2 and 3 points. The questions within each challenge take a unique and provocative approach to science, designed to foster curiosity and excitement.
Prizes
The student who answered the highest number of questions correctly across all 3 events (World Spelling Day, World Maths Day and World Science Day) in each age group (ages 4-7, ages 8-10, ages 11-13 and ages 14-18 years) will be named the 2012 World Champion of Champions for their age group, and receive a Minted Gold Medal. The student who answered the highest number of questions correctly in each age group (ages 4-7, ages 8-10, 11-13 and 14-18 years) will be named their age group World Champion and 2013 World Education Games Ambassador. They will receive a Minted Gold Medal and commemorative certificate.
It was an early 4am meet up at KGL this morning, but lo and behold, seven hours later we made it to Johannesburg in one piece. In fact, the flight was only about 20% full. Personally, my long legs were elated at the sight of additional leg room.
Please find the listing for an employment opportunity as the ISK Operations Manager on the Employment page.
BOD Announcement
Dear ISK Community,
The Board of Directors would like to invite you to a General Meeting on March 26 at 7:30 at the school cafeteria.
The agenda for the meeting is listed below.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting,
The Board of Directors
General Meeting
March 26, 2012, 7:30 pm
International School of Kigali Cafeteria
AGENDA
-Tuition and fees for the academic year 2012-2013
-Audit report for 2010-2011
-School growth and acquisition of a new building
-Update on accreditation
-Update on committee work and request for parents’ participation
-Rotation of the Board members
Dates to Remember
23 March – Early Release
30 March – Early Release
5 April – Half day
6-16 April – Spring Break
Dear Parents and Teachers,
ISK football team has to play a friendly soccer game for Middle School Vs KICS on Friday 16th March 2012 at Christian ministries in KIBAGABAGA.
The game will be held at the football field of Christian ministries, between 4.00p.m and 5.10p.m.
The Parents will be providing transport to the field at Christian ministries in KIBAGABAGA and are expected to pick up the child at 5.10p.m.
Many thanks for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Mr. Sam / P.E Teacher
Location: From ISK go through Nyarutarama towards Gaculiro Estates. Turn right past NCM (New Christian Ministries). Turn right into KIBAGABAGA road. As you pass the hospital on the right, Youth for Christ is on the left just after passing the hospital.
TEL: 0788778261 (Mr Sam)
BOD Announcement
During the two meetings (on January 20 and 27), the Board of Directors has approved the shift to a two-tiered tuition starting next academic year, with a smaller increase for self-paid families and a larger increase for the families whose tuition is covered wholly or in part by their employers. This has been done to enhance the financial position of the school. In addition, $500 materials fee will be charged for each student to cover the cost of new IT equipment, textbooks, and stationery. The Board has also approved an 8% increase in teachers’ salaries for the next academic year.
To accommodate the school’s growth, the ISK will rent an additional building.
ISK received an unqualified (positive) financial report from Garry Whiteknight auditing firm for the 2010/2011 academic year. The report finds the ISK’s ” financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the school and comply with the requirements of the Laws of Rwanda”.
Dates to Remember
23 March – Early Release
5 April – Half day
6-16 April – Spring Break
Announcements
Many of you already know, but for those who are unaware the elementary staff has begun a program called “ISK’s Journey through Art and Culture”. This is a month long celebration of all different kinds of art found around the world. Each week the elementary meets together on Monday morning to have a short assembly to introduce the type of art that we are going to be exploring for that week. The program is lasting just over 1 month. We began last week with a presentation about International Women’s Day, and this week we are focusing on visual arts.
I wanted to let you guys know all of this because you are welcome to participate in different activities as they come along. This week each of our classes has walked down to the Uburanga Art studio down the street, and tomorrow a group of artists from Ivuka Art Studio (where Godfrey works) are coming to ISK to do a live painting from 12:30-3:15. I wanted to let you all know in case you would like to take a look yourself or tell your students about it so they can come by and see what’s going on. Feel free to take a small trip to the elementary building tomorrow at your leisure and experience the artists in action! I will be emailing you all periodically to let you know what else is going on in case you would like to participate.
If you have any questions or would like to participate in any way let me know. This next week we are focusing on dance and music from Rwanda and around the world. The week following that we are having a week dedicated to handicrafts such as; wood carving, cow dung paintings, basket and jewelry weaving, quilting, etc. The last week, the week before break, we are going to wrap up the month with a focus on the spoken and written arts such as; poetry, storytelling, theater, etc. Let me or one of the elementary teachers know if you would like to participate in any way.
Rachel Thies
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