International School Moshi Arusha Campus News - 18th December 2009
Direct from the Director
Dear Parents,
As the first semester comes to a close, we are all focused on the upcoming holiday. Although we are from different cultures and practice different religions, we share the common messages of this holiday. Those are messages of good will and a hope for peace. Regardless of our individual beliefs and customs, we can all celebrate and practice acts of good will. Most certainly, we all share a common hope for peace. Peace in our personal lives, peace in our community and peace in the world. I invite you to not just to celebrate this but seek out how you can in some small way contribute to these common messages. On behalf of the staff of ISM I wish you all the very best of this very special season.
Fees for 2010-11
The Governing Board held their regular meeting on Thursday, December 10th. At this meeting, the fees for the August 2010 to June 2011 school year where determined. The final decision was reached after reviewing information from the two extraordinary meetings and suggestions submitted from the ISM community through parent meetings or by letter. The fee schedule for the coming year is presented below. (All figures are in US dollars)
Level
Current
Proposed
Inflationary Increase (%)
Additional % Increase
Actual Increase ($)
Increase divided over 12 months
Kindergarten / EC
4 400
5 100
5%
10%
$700
$58.33
P1-P6
9 400
10 900
5%
11%
$1500
$125.00
M1-M3
12 600
14 400
5%
9%
$1800
$150.00
M4-M5
14 400
15 100
5%
0%
$700
$58.33
IB Diploma
16 300
17 100
5%
0%
$800
$66.67
P2-M5 Boarding
4 000
4 300
5%
2%
$300
$25.00
Diploma Boarding
6 000
6 300
5%
0%
$300
$25.00
The fee increases that have been approved by the Governing Board include an overall inflationary factor of 5%. Additional increases have been put in place at certain levels that are above the inflationary factor. This is because there were specific goals in mind when the fees were structured. These goals are discussed below.
Goals:
To adjust the income (fees) and expenses to create a balanced budget: The new fees applied to the projected enrolment create a modest surplus of 8,855. This figure will change with any change in the enrolment figure.
To adjust the fees so that the income from the PYP and MYP fees cover the costs of running the programs: It is for this reason that the largest increases are seen in the primary and M1 to M3 sections of the school. Currently the PYP is running 22% short of meeting costs and the MYP is 11% short. With the increased fees for the coming year, the PYP is only 6% short, down from 22% and the MYP is only 1% short.
To bring the M1 to M3 fees closer to the M4 and M5 fees: The current gap between the two sections is 1800 while the cost factors for operating them are the same. The new fees reduce that difference to 700.
To Increase the boarding fees an equal amount: The increase approved for both boarding programs was 300. As the fees were different to begin with, the percentage increase to reach the target of 300 was also different.
These increases represent a short term action in addressing the school's financial health. They are designed to eliminate the cycle of deficit spending for the coming year. The Governing Board is aware that more steps will be required to bring the school's finances back into balance. Long term planning is one of those next steps. More meetings, more discussions will also be a part of the formula for continuing to move ISM forward.
On behalf of the Governing Board, I wish to thank our parent community for their ideas and participation in the meetings we have held concerning finances.
Looking ahead to 2010
Thus far this school year, we have made a commitment to transparency and communication. We plan to carry this commitment into the New Year. In January, we will have parent meetings to answer any questions concerning the fee structure that is presented in this newsletter. We will also solicit topics from the parents for future meetings. We believe that the best way to move ISM forward is through continued dialogue as a learning community.
Head of Campus News
ABRSM Theory Examinations
The next theory examination will be in March. The deadline for entry is today.
We are not currently taking registrations for the practical examination in May.
Outstanding Fees
Fee installments for term 3 were due on 1st December. Fee installments for quarter 4 are due on 1st March.
Please note that all outstanding fees will be surcharged 7 days after fees become due. All outstanding fees need to be cleared before the beginning of quarter 3. Students will be asked to remain at home after the break until fees have been cleared.
Swimming Gala
Thank you to all parents who supported today's swimming gala which was a great success. Thank you to all the students who participated and the staff for their organization and participation.
US Consular Services
US Consular Services will be available on campus on Wednesday, 20th January from 10 am - 11.30 am in the drama room.
Summit Magazine
Normally the first edition of Summit magazine for the year would be sent home today. However, we have decided that this year a special birthday edition of the Summit will go home during the next quarter.
Term 2 holidays
The school office will be closed from Thursday, 24th December until Monday, 4th January as well as Tuesday, 12th January which is Zanzibar Revolution Day Holiday. When open, office hours during the Christmas break will be from 8 am until 4 pm. The first day of term 3 will be Wednesday, 13th January.
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool will be over during the break during office hours each day. All ISM parents and students are welcome to use the pool. Samwell will be working during these times, however, parents are still required to be present with children if you wish to use the pool during the break.
Please remember that you must have a 2009/10 car sticker displayed to be let on to the campus.
ISM International Festival
The International Day will be held this year on the Arusha Campus on Saturday, 13th March. It promises to be an extraordinary event. Please keep this day free!
ISM kitchen towels
We will be making a new kitchen towel to mark the 40th anniversary. We still have copies of the 2007/08 towel with self portraits of all the ISM students. These make excellent Christmas gifts. They are available for only Tsh 5,000 from reception. Proceeds go to the scholarship fund.
Lost and Found
We have a number of items hanging on hooks in our lost property. Please ensure you check for lost items before the end of the term. We will be disposing of uncollected items over the Christmas break.
Students arriving
We have several new students starting soon at school. In January we also will be welcoming:-
Cole Banks in EC
Ashlyn Brown in EC
Tierney Brown will join P1/2D in P1
Birch Banks will join P1/2D in P1
Gyuseok Lee will join P5/6M in P5
Lui Wolstencroft will join M2
Toran Wolstencroft will join M1
Dates to remember
Wednesday, January 13 - Semester 2/Quarter 3 begins
Thursday, January 14 - M4 Personal Project Parent evening
Monday, January 18 - Secondary PTS conferences
Wednesday, January 20 - Secondary PTS conferences
Wednesday, January 20 - US Consular Services
Tuesday, January 26 - M4 Field Study Trip: West Kili
Saturday, January 30 - Basketball @ Moshi
Tuesday, February 2 - P5/6 Field Study Trip to West Kili
Tuesday, February 9 - M1 Field Study Trip: Lakes Eyasi & Manyara
Wednesday, February 24 - P3/4 Field Study Trip
Friday, February 26 - Maulid
Monday, March 1 - Quarter 4 fee installment due
Wednesday, March 3 - P1/2 Field Study Trip to Arusha National Park - Day trip
Thursday, March 4 - M5 PP presentations - Arusha
Saturday, March 6 - Soccer Sevens Tournament (Moshi)
Wednesday, March 10 - M3 Science Fair
Friday March 12 - Primary Student Led Celebrations
Saturday, March 13 - International Festival - Arusha
Thursday, March 18 - Secondary Production
Saturday, March 20 - OP Level 1 Mandara, Secondary Production
Friday, March 26 - Quarter 3 ends
I wish our parents and all our students a safe, relaxing and enjoyable break.
Regards
Adrian Moody Head of Campus
Secondary News
Happy Holidays!
Yes, it's half way during the year and we all deserve holidays in which we spend extra time together as family. On behalf of all of the staff in Secondary, we wish you all a terrific holiday and that you come back to us refreshed, and having learned plenty from your adventures during the holidays. Sadly, we say goodbye to Saskia Blumer and Abdourahman John-Barry in M4 who leave for UK and Italy respectively. Good luck to you both with your academic future and to a smooth transition to your new schools.
Reports
By now you will have received reports and we ask you to sign the third page acknowledging that you saw them and you may wish to write a comment. Please also remind your child to write their reflections and outline goals for next year (second page). Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on the afternoons of Tuesday 19 January for parents/students of M1 and M2, and Thursday 21 January for parents/students of M3, M4 and M5. Parents who have children in M1/M2 and M3/M4/M5 should preferably come on the Tuesday. There will be an opportunity for parents to sign up for meeting times with individual teachers from the 13 January onwards at the school office.
Personal Projects
Well done to our M5 students who presented their research and creative ideas/products to students, parents, and teachers on Thursday. Led along the way by Steve Brown, the students brought inquiry to the forefront and they impressed us all not only with their creations but in the manner in which they communicated to us during their presentations. There was a captivated audience all day!
Visual Arts with Linda Willms
"Why Move?" - in Visual Arts M2 has been examining the Visual Principle - Movement. Movement is defined by subject matter in artworks that implies movement as well as the artist's skill in arranging Visual Elements (Colour, Line, Texture, Value, Shape and Form) in a way that moves the viewer in and around an image. At the moment M2 students are painting the human figure in poses that imply movement.
Regards
Éanna O'Boyle Head of Secondary
Primary News
Safi ISM Circus
This week we have worked hard as a primary team to coordinate our primary production. The students are showing their enthusiasm, creativity and commitment when fine tuning their acts and celebrating each other's skills. Each class will be sending home a notice letting parents know what color polo shirts they will need for the opening number - Watch this space!
Safi ISM Circus THURSDAY 21 JANUARY!
7PM
ISMAC PERFORMANCE ARENA
DON'T MISS IT!
PYP Evaluation Visit
We have just received news from the IBO office in Geneva that our PYP Evaluation Visit in February will be facilitated by; Tricia Herbert who is currently working in Saudi Arabia and Yvonne Lewis who is currently working in Botswana. I will let you know in the new-year details of their visit and welcome you to come and talk with them during their visit.
Curriculum corner - Reading
Reading is:
making meaning from texts
a social practice that is used to accomplish a wide range of purposes
questioning and critiquing text
cracking the code that is letters, words, sentences and texts
the active integrated problem-solving process of making sense of texts
Students at ISMAC have begun the process of 'learning to read' and most are now 'reading to learn'. In order to maintain this reading momentum over the holiday break; the perfect time to pick up a book while travelling or enjoying the quiet time holidays allow us, assist your child to think more deeply about what you are reading to them or what they are reading themselves. Some reading response prompts you could use are as follows:
What are some similarities or difference between the character in the book and yourself?
Has anything similar to what happened in the book happened to you? Explain?
What do you think will happen next?
What makes you think that?
Regards
Betty Brown Head of Primary and PYP Coordinator
This newsletter has been sent to you from International School Moshi. Please advise me on if your email address changes or if you would like me to add another email address to this mailing list.
