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October 2008 Community news Vol. VIII No. 2 AN OFFICI A L PUBLIC A TI O N O F TASIS THE AMERIC A N SCH oo L IN ENGL A ND The Headmaster’s View INSIDE THIS PARENT SURVEY RE S ULT S Would you recommend TASIS England to ISSUE OVERVIEW 2007-2008 other families? Last Spring, we conducted our annual Admissions 2 parent survey; I would like to thank those of you who took time to provide us with Very strongly 57.1% Upper School 3 constructive feedback. We are very pleased Strongly 34.7% with the overall results. However, we will 8.2% not be complacent as we strive to meet all With reservations Dean of Student Life 4 aspects of the TASIS England Mission. Not at all 0.0% Dean of Residential Life 4 Each of the Division Heads and other administrators reviewed the survey’s findings 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% in June. Although the overall quantitative College Counseling 5 results were very positive, we took your Of course, there were a number of specific comments seriously and developed goals Student Activities 6 items that some parents mentioned in their and action plans during our Executive Team written comments. retreat in August to address your areas Thorpe Village Traffic 6 of concern. The goals, action plans, and The areas most frequently cited as strengths expectations were presented to the faculty, of the school are: Lower School 7 staff, and administrators during our pre- • The TASIS England community itself: most service workshops for their input. often described as accepting and welcoming, Middle School 9 Given the tremendous strengths cited, I feel supportive and inclusive, and having a diverse confident that we will improve each of these and multinational character. Sports & Activities 10 areas with our overall goal of moving the bar • The high quality of the education: from being “happy” with a TASIS England academically rigorous and offering a strong Fitness Center 11 education to being “delighted”. curriculum with the breadth and balance of a The two questions I believe were most telling well-rounded education. The opportunities to Theatre 12 are: learn outside of the classroom were also noted as positive and distinguishing elements. On a scale of 1 to 5, how well-rounded is Scouting 13 the education your child(ren) receive at TASIS • The high quality, dedication, and accessibility England? of the faculty. Parents’ Council 14 • Small size of classes. Areas of suggested improvements relate to: 1 Comprehensive 51.0% PIRC 15 2 44.9% Some lack of consistency in instruction. 3 4.1% • Communication: 0.0% 4 – Timely response of administration and 5 Limited 0.0% teachers to parents’ calls and/or e-mails. – Communication regarding student 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% progress, trip details, etc. Continued on page 2 THE TASIS SCH oo L S A ND SUMMER PR O GR A M S A RE O WNED BY THE TASIS FO UND A TI O N , A SWI ss N O T -F O R -P R O FIT EDUC A TI O N A L F O UND A TI O N REGI S TERED IN DELÉM O NT , SWITZERL A ND . The Headmaster’s View, continued Upper School – Communications between teachers in MS and US, Goal 4: Ensure there is a comprehensive curriculum and especially in coordinating homework assignments, tests, high quality instruction across all grade levels and curriculum etc. areas consistent with the high academic standards, goals, and traditions of TASIS England. – The reaction to school communications (website, e-mails, and publications) is generally positive, with only a few Goal 5: Ensure sound fiscal policies to provide the staffing comments regarding the need for more timely updating and educational programs that will maximize student of information. achievement. • Academic challenge: Goal 6: Assess the financial risk to the school due to the uncertain world wide economic outlook. – Improve consistency in degree of challenge (US) Goal 7: Implement the crisis management plan policies, – Challenge cited as too strenuous or too much homework procedures and practices for dealing with emergencies. assigned (MS) Goal 8: Develop a plan to minimize the School’s negative – More enrichment suggested for top students (LS) impact on the local, regional, and global environment • Uniforms: Some confusion over the policy changes in the that both teaches and exemplifies concern for the natural Upper School and problems with the ordering system. environment. Many of my goals were developed to directly address the Although my goals are specific, they can all be condensed concerns expressed in the survey, and I would be happy to into one simple goal that I know we have in common: a discuss them with you personally or at the parent coffees. successful school year for your child. When we work as a Each of these goals has a number of action items that have cooperative team, with open, constructive communications, been reviewed by the Board of Directors. your child has the highest possible chance for success. Again, thank you for your support and for your suggestions. HEADMA S TER ’S GO AL S 2008-2009: If you would like to see the survey results for each division, Goal 1: Develop stronger collegial relationships through please go to: http://england.tasis.com/page.cfm?p=574 effective communication and selfless leadership. and enter teparents as the password. Goal 2: Ensure effective communication with community members and parents. Goal 3: Promote positive faculty and staff morale through effective and efficient methods of communication, Dr. James A. Doran transparency, collaboration, recognition, and collegiality. HEADMASTER Admissions The first month of school has come and gone, hard to believe! Withdrawal Form. You must notify the School of your plans in We hope all our new TASIS families are beginning to feel at writing before transcripts can be prepared for your children. home, and that your children are settled in their classes. Many All information is considered confidential. thanks to all the buddy families who have extended such a If you are moving on and wish to lighten your load by selling warm welcome and helped our new students and parents some of your household items, the Admissions Office can get connected. There will be additional families joining our help! Simply send your lists of items for sale, and we will pass community this fall and in the second semester; if you have these on to interested incoming families. not already volunteered to “buddy” someone, it’s not too late! Contact Cindy Welch if you are willing to host a new A reminder that any changes or additions to your contact family. details should be submitted to the Admissions Office in order to be included in the directory amendments. Just as families are settling into life in England, others are planning to move on. Transition is part of the expat lifestyle, Best wishes for an enjoyable October break. and we know that some of you may be relocating midyear. If TH E ADMISSIONS TEAM your family is moving, please contact Admissions to request a Page 2 Upper School Upp ER SC hoo L PARENT S ’ WEEKEND FRIDAY , 10 OC to BER NO CLASSES FO R UPPER SCH oo L ST UDE nt S . 9-11 OCT O BER 2008 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Individual 10-minute teacher We are pleased to invite you to participate in our upcoming conferences. Conferences are by appointment. Upper School Parents’ Weekend. We are providing Sign up at registration on Thursday evening. opportunities for both our day and our boarding parents to meet teachers, visit classes, and become more familiar 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. College Counseling Seminar. Fleming with the various facets of student life. Our exciting Parents’ Theatre Weekend begins on Thursday, 9 October, at 4:30 p.m. with 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Individual 10-minute teacher registration in the Hall. Events will conclude on Saturday, 11 conferences. October, following the sports competitions. A light lunch will be served for all parents from 12:00 – 1:30 A tentative schedule for the weekend follows: in the Hall. THURSDAY , 9 OC to BER ARENT S EEKEND po RT S VENT S 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Parent Registration in the Hall. Distribution P ’ W S E of student schedules and sign-up for conference times. FRIDAY 10 OC to BER 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. Welcome. Introductions and greetings in 4:00 Girls Volleyball TASIS v Lugano Gymnasium the Fleming Theatre with Dr. Jim Doran, Headmaster, and 4:00 Girls & Boys Soccer TASIS v Lugano Gym Field Claudia Werner, Head of Upper School. 5:30 Boys Volleyball TASIS v Lugano Gymnasium 7:00 – 7:20 p.m. Theatre Performance. The IB Drama/ Advanced Acting ensemble will perform a few short scenes SA T URDAY 11 OC to BER from their fall production, Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig. 9:30 Girls Volleyball TASIS v Lugano Gymnasium 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Follow your student’s schedule. Meet 10:00 Girls Soccer TASIS v Lugano Gym Field teachers and other parents in ten-minute “classes” as you 11:30 Boys Soccer TASIS v Lugano Gym Field learn about course expectations and daily life at TASIS. 11:30 Boys Volleyball TASIS v Lugano Gymnasium Upper School Library News The TASIS Upper School Library has undergone a number of available on Destiny, the online library catalog, which can be changes over the summer in order to better serve the students accessed on the TASIS website. this school year. Just as a reminder, the library is open until 5 p.m.