Volume 5 4-11-2020
Newsletter of International School Suva
Principal’s Report Greetings ISS Parents, Students, and other ISS Family Members,
Inside this issue:
We are halfway through Term Four of the 2020 school year, and we are sure this will be a historical year that we talk about for some time! I appreciate all the teamwork and cooperation everyone has shown during these confusing and difficult times. I think a crisis sometimes helps us focus on the most important things, in this case our children. What is next? No one knows exactly, but I will make my predictions for the coming 12 months or so. Feel free to challenge my “crystal ball” but I think these things will become trends and to guide us in coming months.
Primary Transition Program Fiji Day Meke Year 2 Market Day Bring & Buy Sales
First of all, I expect a Covid vaccine to be approved and distributed within the coming six months and, assuming it is effective, for that to greatly change our outlook and planning. I expect the vaccine will reduce the threat level over time, and I expect that global systems will move to restore travel, business, education, and diplomacy, perhaps with some new rules and perspectives. I think we will see new cautious optimism and renewed attention to long term goals and dreams.
Arts Day is the Best Day
Secondly, I expect Covid to be a significant factor for at least the next year, but I expect the impact on the school to steadily diminish but not go away entirely. Some programs will be restored as that becomes possible. Of course, a new Covid outbreak could reverse all this quickly! Thirdly, I fully expect ongoing discussion, planning, and response systems in our school, and in all organisations, to make us more prepared for future pandemics. In fact, scientists say that Covid might return in mutated forms, perhaps annually, so we must be more prepared in the future all sorts of health issues.
Year 5 Sailing Program
Fourth, education will embrace technology resources more as part of all programs and we and our children will continue to become better at working digitally and meeting remotely. ISS will continue to strengthen technology resources and access. This development is also in keeping with the Strategic Plan. In other school news, we are making good progress toward opening new classrooms in January for art and science in our new building. Later next year, we will open the new auditorium and invite parents to tour the new building. This is an important step for the school as this will address several long-time needs. The general theme of the new building is student inquiry, creativity, and performance. With this building completed, we will have an excellent meeting and performance area, new science labs, a design lab, and an integrated art area. Another project that we hope to complete in the coming year is a new access road to make coming to the school easier. The access road will create an entrance from Nokonoko Road, safe drop-off zones, and some added parent parking. Until that is done, we request parent support with parking. On the Vere Road side of the campus, the Secondary gate area, we need to avoid any blocking or crowding of local driveways.
ISS Primary Sports Day
Please do not block a neighbor’s driveway even for a few minutes as that has led to ill will and complaints recently.
The next five weeks will be very busy and will include performances, ceremonies, and exams. This is a good time for all of us to focus on our work and to “finish strong” before our long break. Best wishes in these next weeks of trying to do that!
Stephen Cathers Principal/Head of ISS Schools
ISS Junior Sailing Junior Sailing Primary School Student Council
MYP Corner Year 10 Personal Project
ISS Biggest Morning Tea Term Dates