Year: 2023

Dear All,

Please find attached SLT meeting minutes of Week 3 for your information.

SLT – Aug 30

Please consider coming along to meet the candidates for Director of Learning. Surprisingly little interest in such an important role for staff here at NIS. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:30pm, one candidate each day. samanthazou@nanjing-school.com if you can make it.

Laurie

Any teachers wishing to meet the candidates next week please drop Samantha (samanthazou@nanjing-school.com) an email. The timings of the meetings will be based on the teacher numbers so please respond by 3pm Thursday.

Laurie

Dear all,

Arek will be the MOD on Sept. 2, 2023.

Best wishes,

Clara

CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING
Presented by: Kim Cofino
Saturday, Sept 2, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT

Featuring stories & evidence from schools around the world, this session demonstrates that properly-implemented instructional coaching does much more than “just” improve student learning; it creates a culture of growth and belonging which can lead to greater teacher satisfaction and retention. By demonstrating a school’s commitment to personalizing professional learning, coaching empowers all learners to flourish and develops humanizing organizations. You’ll leave this session with the 3 key criteria needed to build a successful and sustainable instructional coaching program, along with specific pitfalls to avoid along the way.
(Free to all EARCOS member schools)

TAKING PAUSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Presented by Dr. Josephine Kim
September 9, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT

Rates of violence, natural disasters, and suicide in schools are at an all-time high, and as the world continues to battle uncertainty that threatens everyday normalcy, educators are forced to contend with the reality that none of us is immune to mental health vulnerabilities. Living in unprecedented times presents an unprecedented need for one to take intentional pause for mental health, especially in grind culture where educators and students are expected to push through and keep going at all costs.

This session seeks to:
1. increase awareness of factors that affect one’s emotional and mental wellness;
2. augment understanding of the intersection of mental health and psychological safety; and
3. facilitate reflection on how educators can promote mental health on a personal, classroom, and school level.
(Free to all EARCOS member schools)

HEADS DESERVE THIS: FAIR AND COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RENEWAL
Presented by: John Littleford
Saturday, Sept 16, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT

Heads of schools experienced a very challenging three-year period and many expended immense amounts of energy and political capital and reached the limit of family tolerance for the stress that the job entails. Most boards are acknowledging their leaders’ past and ongoing efforts and want to retain and reward valued heads. Boards need to initiate and engage heads in a frank discussion of their professional and personal goals and think creatively about a compensation package that addresses heads’ needs within the limits of the school’s budget.
(Free to all EARCOS member schools)

CLASSROOM OBSERVATION TOOLS FOR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING
Presented by Dr. Darnell Fine
September 23, 2023
9:00-10:30 AM HKT

Recognizing the rich diversity of our international schools, we have a moral imperative to ensure our classrooms leverage the cultures and identities of our students. This session is a call to both instructional leaders and classroom educators to “look for” and “learn to see” what culturally responsive teaching looks like within the backdrop of an international school in Asia. In this session, we will:

1. Reflect on the connections between students’ cultures, identities, and classroom learning experiences.
2. Examine classroom observation tools with culturally responsive ‘Look-Fors’ and ‘Listen-Fors’
3. Explore culturally responsive teaching strategies that can be integrated into classrooms tomorrow

View ALL upcoming events

 MASTERY ASSESSMENT IN INCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

COURSE 4: Mastery Assessment & Grading
October 2023
Presented by Lee Ann Jung

Boost your skills in assessment and grading systems in this insightful 6-week course based on Lee Ann Jung’s forthcoming Corwin Press book, What Matters Most. In this course, you’ll explore cutting-edge assessment practices rooted in measurement research that push beyond current trends in standards-based grading. Learn about one international school’s 5-year journey to disrupt traditional practices and reconstruct a truly innovative assessment system.

WEEKEND WORKSHOPS SY 2023-2024
One of the services EARCOS provides to its member schools throughout the year is the sponsorship of two-day workshops and institutes for faculty and administration. The topics for these workshops are determined according to the needs of members.

Workshops are hosted by EARCOS schools.

Service Learning Institute: Transforming Learning Through Service
September 8-9, 2023
Panyaden International School
Consultant: Cathryn Berger Kaye
Coordinator: Clayton Dowty, d.clayton@panyaden.ac.th
Format: In-Person

Formative Assessment and Self-Regulated Learning
September 9, 2023
Mt. Zaagkam School
Consultant: Damien Cooper
Coordinator: Raquel Acedo Rubio, racedoru@fmi.com
Format: Virtual

ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education
September 16-17, 2023
Brent International School Manila
Consultant: Jeff Utecht
Coordinator: John Whalley, jwhalley@brent.edu.ph
Format: In-Person

How to Grade and Report for Learning – 2023 and beyond
September 16-17, 2023
Canadian International School Bangalore
Consultant: Ken O’Connor
Coordinator: Shefali Jhaveri, headoflearning@cisb.org.in
Format: In-Person

View more weekend workshops

Any teachers wishing to meet the candidates next week please drop Samantha (samanthazou@nanjing-school.com) an email. The timings of the meetings will be based on the teacher numbers so please respond by 3pm Thursday.

Laurie