ACAMIS Newsletter Winter 2025-26
ACAMIS Newsletter Winter 2025-26
Message From Executive Director
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome back—and Happy New Year!
As we begin the Year of the Fire Horse, I hope you are feeling refreshed, energized, and ready for the busy (and exciting!) months ahead.
First and foremost, thank you. I truly appreciate your continued commitment, partnership, and support of ACAMIS. Because of your encouragement and engagement, both the Technology Conference—graciously hosted by Shanghai American School (SAS)—and the Early Childhood Conference at Yew Chung International School (YCIS) Shanghai enjoyed record-setting attendance. What a great way to close out the year!
Looking ahead, we have a wonderful lineup of conferences planned for the winter and spring. We’ll kick things off with the Spring Leadership Conference, hosted by the American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) on Friday and Saturday, March 20–21. I encourage you to register as early as possible, as hotel rooms may be limited.
REGISTER SPRING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HERE
We’re also excited to announce the dates and locations for two more upcoming events in April: the Conference for the Arts and the English Language Learners (ELL) Conference.
As always, if there are specific ways ACAMIS can better support your school’s professional development needs, I welcome your ideas and feedback—whether during my informal school visits this year or by email.
Wishing you continued success for the remainder of the school year. I look forward to seeing many of you soon.
With warm regards,
Larry Hobdell
Executive Director
Student Leadership Conference
Social Innovation: A Change-Making Approach
Coming to Your Region!
Get ready to empower student voices and spark meaningful change! As part of our ongoing commitment to student agency, in partnership with PDAcademia, we are excited to host three dynamic Student Leadership Conferences—all taking place on Saturday, March 7 at the following member schools:
- Shen Wai International School (SWIS)
- United World College (UNC) Changshu
- Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA)
Each participating school may send up to five students (ages 14+), accompanied by a Faculty Advisor, for a full day of collaboration, creativity, and action.
Important Note for High School Principals:
We still have limited spaces available, especially at UWC Changshu and BIBA.
⏰ Registration closes Friday, January 23—don’t miss out!
What Is Social Innovation?
At the ACAMIS Student Leadership Conference, social innovation is all about taking action that matters.
Rather than focusing on building long-term business models, students will use innovative service ideas to tackle real-world challenges—from environmental concerns to social and community issues. Participants explore what they care about most and turn those passions into practical, positive impact.
At its core, Social Innovation means:
- 🌍 Innovative service that improves communities and enriches lives
- 🔍 Identifying real problems, organizing efforts, and taking meaningful action
- ❤️ A commitment to positive social impact, whether through small initiatives or larger community efforts
What We Expect From Students
Each school should send 3–5 students, who will work together as a single team on one shared project or concept. Throughout the conference, teams will design, develop, and refine solutions to issues they genuinely care about.
Students are expected to:
- 🤝 Collaborate as a team on one unified project
- 🌱 Identify a real-world issue they are passionate about and take innovative action
- 🗣️ Communicate clearly and collaboratively, presenting a cohesive idea
- ✨ Show how their work creates positive change in their community or beyond
SERVICE LEARNING GRANTS & JIM KOERSCHEN AWARD
It’s Service Learning Grant Season!
To support one of ACAMIS’ key Strategic Goals—Promoting Student Voice—we’re excited to offer even more opportunities for students to apply for Service Learning Grants and the Jim Koerschen Award this year.
Thanks to the Board of Directors’ strong and ongoing support, we’re increasing the number of awards available.
Last year, ACAMIS awarded 12 Service Learning Grants and 2 Jim Koerschen Awards. This year? We’re stepping it up and awarding grants to at least 17 schools!
These grants give students the chance to:
- Make a real, lasting impact in their school or community
- Design and lead a sustainable service project
- Get recognized across all ACAMIS member schools
Students can apply individually or as a small group, so there’s plenty of flexibility to bring great ideas to life.
Selected projects will be celebrated and awards presented at the Spring Leadership Conference, hosted by the American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) on March 20–21, 2026.
High School Principals & Student Advisors:
Please spread the word! The application deadline for both the Service Learning Grants and the Jim Koerschen Awards is Friday, February 20 — don’t let students miss out.
Looking for inspirations?
Explore a past award winner's reflection on her Grant experience
Let’s amplify student voices and turn great ideas into meaningful action!
TOM ULMET LEADERSHIP AWARD
We are very pleased to announce the third annual Tom Ulmet Leadership Award to be presented at this year’s Spring Leadership Conference. Dr. Chris Vicari, Director of the Qingdao Amerasia International School and last year’s recipient, will make the presentation.
This prestigious award will be presented to an individual (adult) in your school who exemplifies the qualities and high standards of personal and professional leadership that former Executive Director, Tom Ulmet demonstrated during his ten year tenure with ACAMIS.
The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, February 13, 2026.
ACE EVENTS RECAP: STUDENT VOICES IN ACTION
A wide range of exciting, interactive, and engaging ACE Events took place this fall, and we’re delighted to share highlights from two of them. Hosted by Stamford American School Hong Kong, the HS Math Olympiad invited students to immerse themselves in collaborative problem-solving, creative investigations, and friendly competition across four dynamic rounds—bringing energy, curiosity, and joy to a true celebration of mathematics.
Meanwhile, the Vox Debate, hosted by Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School, empowered students to articulate their ideas, challenge perspectives, and confidently express their voices through thoughtful and spirited exchanges. These events reflected the enthusiasm, commitment, and talent of our students, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all participating schools for their active involvement and support across all ACE Events.
HS Math Olympiad
Stamford American International School Hong Kong
Vox Debate Tournament
Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School
ACAMIS 1st annual Photography Competition Concordia International School Shanghai
The 1st Annual ACAMIS Photography Competition is currently in the submission review stage, and we’re inspired by the creativity, perspectives, and stories students have shared through their lenses. Each submission reflects a unique student voice—capturing moments of curiosity, identity, and lived experience across our community. Selected student works will be featured on the ACAMIS website by the end of the month. We look forward to celebrating and showcasing these powerful student perspectives very soon.
Upcoming Ace Events
ATHLETIC EVENTS RECAP: STUDENT GROWTH THROUGH COMPETITIONS
ACAMIS Athletic Events continue to create meaningful opportunities for students to grow through teamwork, resilience, and shared challenge. We are pleased to share highlights from three of the many athletic events that took place in the Fall: the Volleyball Tournament, hosted by multiple schools across different locations and dates; HS Touch Rugby, generously hosted by International School of Beijing; and HS Table Tennis, hosted by Concordia International School Shanghai.
These experiences embody ACAMIS’s commitment to expanding learning beyond the classroom—empowering student voice and offering meaningful, high-impact opportunities that reflect the diverse strengths of our member schools. We extend our sincere thanks to all host schools and participating schools for their collaboration, support, and shared dedication to creating enriching experiences for our students.
ACAMIS Volleyball Tournament
HS Touch Rugby
International School of Beijing
HS Table Tennis
Concordia International School Shanghai
Upcoming Athletic Events
ACAMIS FLL Robotics Competitions
ACAMIS is proud to offer FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competitions across multiple regions, giving schools and students more opportunities to engage in hands-on robotics, innovation, and teamwork throughout the year.
Registration is now open for the ACAMIS FLL North Regional Competition! This regional event invites student teams to design, build, and program LEGO robots while tackling real-world challenges in a supportive and inspiring competitive environment.
North Regional Competition – Register Now
Schools in the region are encouraged to secure their place and join fellow ACAMIS teams for an exciting celebration of STEM learning and collaboration.
Upcoming FLL Robotics Competitions
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
More to Look Forward to This Spring!
The momentum continues into Spring 2026! Building on the success of our Fall conferences, ACAMIS is excited to host four more conferences in the coming months—each designed to spark meaningful dialogue, foster collaboration, and strengthen professional connections across our community. With engaging speakers, interactive sessions, and opportunities to learn from one another, we look forward to another vibrant season of learning and connection. Check out below for more details!
Spring Leadership Conference
American International School of Guangzhou
Friday & Saturday, 21-22 March, 2026
English Language Learners Conference
QSI International School of Chengdu
Saturday and Sunday, 11-12 April 2026
Conference for the Arts
Shen Wai International School
Saturday and Sunday, 25-26 April 2026
Chinese Conference
Shekou International School
Saturday and Sunday, 20-21 June 2026
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS BY PDACADEMIA
Leading Inclusive Communities - Neurodivergent-Affirming Practices in Action
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Shanghai American School, Puxi Campus
In partnership with ELG, this one-day comprehensive event will explore the evolving understanding of neurodiversity and its critical role in creating inclusive, future-ready school communities. Participants will have a deeper understanding of neurodiversity affirming practices and be equipped with practical tools to implement them in their schools. Improving educational outcomes for neurodivergent students and fostering a culture of inclusion.
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