ACAMIS IN ACTION! Volume 2, Number 1 - September 2019 ACAMIS Board of Directors and Executive Office wish you all the best in the new school year! Angie Lee Executive Officer Tom Ulmet Executive Director Gary Henderson Executive Assistant Sandra Webster, President Jeffry Stubbs, Officer Bill Elman, Board Member Steve Moody, Vice President Howard Stribbell, Board Member Stephen Dare, Treasurer Patrick Hurworth, Board Member
MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 20 in 2020! This year we are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of ACAMIS! Our office is planning five conferences simultaneously annually and could not do this without the wonderful assistance provided by our conference planning committees that consist of top staff from many of our member schools who identify your needs to make the event as relevant as possible. They are also busy creating fun ways we can recognize the development of this unique organization. Honor, recognition, and celebration! Our Founders felt that interacting and connecting are very important for the membership of a professional organization so we look forward to seeing you and your staff at the various events and workshops that are planned for this year! We also hope you enjoy the colorful Anniversary logo above, with big thanks to Finalsite for the design, guided by our team. When the digital version is finished, we will send it to each member school to display on your website.
Did you know that Angie and I make friendship visits to member schools and potential members? During the past four years 89 schools were visited, some more than once for conferences planning. Although it is quite complicated to arrange travel schedules, we aim to have visited every member school and have seven more to visit to complete a full cycle of 76 members. How fascinating it is to see the diverse range of schools, philosophies and curricula among our members! Safe travels during the October holiday!
WHAT'S NEW IN ACAMIS! ACAMIS PD LINKS This is the second year of a new program called ACAMIS PD Links that was created to simplify access to teacher individual professional growth opportunities. This webpage serves as a one-stop stopping clearinghouse for teachers who, after assessing their own needs, can easily compare graduate programs, connect directly with the university or organization of their choice, and apply online from our website through direct link to the program they choose. The organizations below are already online with us and more will be joining in the coming years. Workshops, training weekends, recertification, summer programs, graduate degrees are all available here. The success is dependent on teachers' use of this free website so please share this with your PD Coordinator, your teaching staff, western and Chinese, and your colleagues in other schools. This is meant as a public service so similar schools that are non-members may also refer to it.
Suggestions of other international universities/programs to contact will be appreciated. Be sure to include a contact name and an email address.
Two Grants Available To encourage staff involvement in personal professional development, the ACAMIS Board has provided two grants of US$500 each to the first two people in member schools who apply to one of these programs through this link. Simply send a screenshot of your registration to eo@acamis.org and Angie Lee will record the applicants names and date and later verify your participation when you send her a copy of the invoice or enrollment confirmation from the university/program. The first two to complete this process will receive the award within ten days. Access ACAMIS PD Links Associate Members directly by clicking the school logos below:
CONNECT WITH COUNSELORS A few weeks ago we wrote to the university placement advisors/college counselors in our database representing all 76 members to share that ACAMIS is starting a new Associate Membership with undergraduate colleges and universities that will develop a direct connection between them and the appropriate international admissions officer at the colleges/universities that join with us. The unique feature of Connect With Counselors is that it is by invitation to the colleges/universities for whom our students show a preference from their past applications.
We asked your counselors to assist by sharing a list of the colleges/universities to which students applied in the past two years. After collation, the list provides an excellent starting point for invitations to about 150 potential Associate Members. Our upgraded website can now facilitate direct interactions between counselors and universities to question application status, financial aid possibilities, receipt of documents, and even chances of admission. All they will have to do is click on an icon to have contact. This has many other opportunities for development once it is fully in place. The next step is to connect with NACAC and IACAC, the professional organization for university admissions officers. Representatives from ACAMIS will assist us with these important contacts when they attend these conferences. We will keep you posted on the development and welcome your ideas.
ACAMIS ROBOTICS Due to the sudden collapse of China First last year, we created a Robotics Committee that jumped in and quickly put together a plan for ACAMIS Robotics that served as a model for the future. The committee worked hard all spring while organizing and conducting successful competitions and then created an ACAMIS Robotics Handbook that will guide our members in this, the first official year of ACAMIS Robotics. Three regions have been established with experienced committee representatives from each region. Already there are 29 ACAMIS member schools participating in three age levels of robotics this year.
Want to Join ACAMIS Robotics? If you would like to know more about participating or starting a robotics program, the best place to start is by attending the ACAMIS Technology Conference at Concordia International School in Shanghai where all of the essentials will be shared in the Robotics Strand. To learn more about robotics click on below button: Click below to Register for the ACAMIS Technology Conference:
DEBATE FOR CHANGE Dulwich College Beijing February 22-23, 2020 The second annual ACAMIS Debate for Change at Dulwich College Beijing will take place in February 22-23, 2020. The concept became reality when DCB students were the recipients of an ACAMIS Service Learning Award of $1500 that provided start-up funding for this new type of debate tournament.
Participation is open to all ACAMIS member schools and we hope your school will become involved. A team of three persons or an individual can take part. Although three prizes will be awarded, Debate for Change is meant to be a learning experience for everyone or any team that takes part. Experience is not required, but keen interest in debate or public speaking will enhance the learning opportunity. Over an exciting two days, students will grow as critical thinkers, collaborate as debaters, and gain awareness of service in a local community while interacting with fundraising in a more personal and engaging way. Any student interested in leadership, the study of law, public relations or public service will benefit immensely from this experience. The event is designed for middle school students (Years 7, 8, 9/Grades 6, 7, 8) and lower secondary students (Years 10, 11/Grade 9, 10).
Registration opens Monday, October 7. No debate experience is necessary to participate in this fun growth experience where a lot of learning and extension takes place, not to mention making many new friends! Simply click below for more!
UPCOMING CONFERENCES hosted by Concordia International School Shanghai Dr. Mary Scott, Head of School October 18-19, 2019 NEW, NEW, NEW! Come and discover many new and exciting developments that are geared to the needs of our members, created by a team of experts from our member schools. Among the new features are the following strands that are included this year. Participants are not limited to a strand. They can move from strand to strand to choose what interests them.
Don't miss this conference! There is something for everyone to learn and take back to school and colleagues.
ACAMIS Early Childhood Education (ECE) Conference Hosted by Nanjing International School Laurie McLellan, Head of School October 25-26, 2019 Expert peer presenters share their ideas, theories, practices and seek feedback and input to make this conference an active and interactive hive of connecting and practical application of practices.
A highlight is to view the brand new ECE wing that was just completed and opened in August at NIS! The ECE Conference is particularly valuable, even eye-opening, for ECE teachers in their first or second year with a school. Come join in for this great environment, connecting and sharing! Registration closes after October 11 or when spaces are filled.
ACAMIS Spring Leadership Conference Hosted by Keystone Academy, Beijing Malcolm MacKenzie, Head of School March 6-7, 2020 CALL FOR TEACHER PRESENTERS! There will be nine strands at the Spring Leadership Conference based on the theme of "Values Added." They include:
We are seeking Peer Presenters with ideas and strategies to share in each of these strands. Individual presenter or presenter teams are welcomed! Get the application form by clicking below: Conference early registration will be available to member schools at the end of November. Stay tuned for updates!
UPCOMING 2-DAY PD WORKSHOPS Strategic Planning: From Vision to Implementation The Independent School Foundation (ISF) Academy, Hong Kong Malcolm Pritchard, Head of School October 18-19, 2019
Speakers: Michael Iannini - Affiliated CIS consultant with over 20 years experience supporting organizations to improve their leadership, strategy and governance.
Chris Jansen - Teacher and Supervisor of Masters of Business Management, Post Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership and Masters of Management at the University of Canterbury. Chris played a critical role in helping Christchurch schools rebuild after the 2011 earthquake.
Leading Learning Suzhou Singapore International School Richard Bruford, Head of School October 19-20, 2019 This workshop will explore models that allow current or aspiring leaders to understand what a culture of learning is, major models of learning and how to be an influential leader to shape your learning culture. Participants will develop all the fundamentals needed to be an influential leader of learning.
Speaker:
Embedding Social-Emotional Learning into Everyday School Life American International School of Guangzhou Kevin Baker, Head of School November 9-10, 2019 A 2-day training workshop for international school teachers, counselors, leaders and others in student support roles. A universal training relevant for those engaging in pastoral care of any kind with students aged 3 to 18 years old.
Speaker:
Honing 9 Skills of Collaborative Communication in Multicultural School Communities Western International School of Shanghai Dr Greg Brunton, Head of School November 28-29, 2019 Participants will learn and hone 9 skills of collaborative communication to solve conflict, facilitate positive and productive relationship with others, like academic leadership, teachers and parents.
Note: This workshop will be facilitated in Mandarin Chinese.
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KOERSCHEN AWARDS AND SERVICE LEARNING GRANTS APPLICATIONS Start Planning Now! Koerschen and Service Learning Awards were created by ACAMIS Board of Directors to support student efforts in community service. US$10,000 are available each year for Service Learning Awards. The Koerschen Award was created to honor Dr Jim Koerschen, the first ACAMIS Executive Director, and develop awareness of his desire to reach out and help the needy in our surrounding communities while learning from the creativity, organization and volunteer effort involved.
Although the deadline for applying for Koerschen and Service Awards is February 15, start now to engage students to think and plan. This might be an ideal way to earn financial support for a student CAS or community service project that your students have in mind. The Awards are meant for intended projects so a project does not have to be completed, just describe the concept according to the guidelines. Please pass the information along to your CAS or community service coordinators.
Click below for more information:
ACAMIS CULTURAL & ENRICHMENT (ACE) EVENTS February 28-29, 2020 Suzhou Singapore International School The two-day Cultural Convention is an excellent opportunity for students from ACAMIS member schools to explore, collaborate and nurture their passion through a variety of workshops - dance, drama, music, photography, visual art, games and much more. The concept is to provide an additional means of extension and growth for students interested in these areas. Registration is available now until December 6, 2019. For more information click below: If you have any questions concerning this exciting event, please email Jennifer Waite
ACAMIS Robotics competitions have been held in the Southern and Eastern Robotics Regions involving about 16 schools and another regional competition was held in the Northern region in Beijing. The qualifying championship tournament will be held in Shanghai in February. Some of the competition highlights are now available and more will be posted soon on the ACAMIS Robotics page.
If your school is not yet involved and you would like to know more information about how to get involved in ACAMIS Robotics, please contact committee member, Elizabeth Cooper at ecooper@ncpachina.org for further information.
SPORTS TOURNAMENTS AND ACE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS As a result of our website upgrade more attention will be given to student life and involvement in sports and ACE events. Highlights of tournaments results and photos of events will now be available on the ACAMIS Athletics Event Page and ACE Events page. For those schools who are hosting upcoming sport tournaments or ACE events, please email results photos/videos to eo@acamis.org.
Published by the ACAMIS Executive Office Published three times annually - September, February and May For any inquiries, please contact Angie Lee at eo@acamis.org |