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ACAMIS Newsletter Fall 2026
Message From the Executive Director
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!
I hope you had a wonderful and restorative summer and are beginning the new school year feeling refreshed and energized.
As we embark on another year together, I am delighted to share several exciting initiatives that reflect the continued growth and momentum of our ACAMIS community. These include the development of a refreshed ACAMIS brand and new logo, with input from stakeholders across our community, as well as an expanded range of professional learning and leadership opportunities.
Our upcoming events include the Technology Conference and Early Childhood Education Conference this October, followed by a new Marketing & Admissions Conference in December and our Spring Leadership Conference in March, 2027. We are also expanding our Student Leadership program to offer conferences focused on Social Innovation, Sports Leadership, and Technology Leadership.
New initiatives this year include:
Three Regional Directors Forums and the online PD Advisory Forum, providing further opportunities for colleagues to connect, exchange ideas, and help shape future professional learning.
Coming Soon: ACAMIS Student Power!
For the first time ever, we will be issuing a second edition of the ACAMIS Fall Newsletter, in a few weeks, devoted exclusively to student activities, opportunities and accomplishments.
This new edition, called ACAMIS Student Power, will feature upcoming Fall athletic and ACE events, testimonials from students, action pictures of past activities and related highlights to further underscore the importance of student agency.
ACAMIS Student power will be issued directly to:
- Heads of School
- High School/Secondary Principals
- Athletic Directors
- ACE Coordinators
- Activities Directors
- Heads of Music and Art
- Heads of Cultural/Performing Arts
- Community Service/CAS Coordinators
- Head of Mathematics
- Robotics teachers
- MUN Advisors
- Debate and Speech teachers
You will find more information about these events and initiatives throughout this newsletter.
I wish you all a successful, rewarding, and student-centered 2026–2027 school year. I look forward to connecting with many of you in the months ahead.
With warm regards,
Larry Hobdell
Executive Director
Welcome New ACAMIS Members!
We are delighted to welcome Etonhouse International School Suzhou, led by Brian Rotunno, and International College Hong Kong, led by Sean McDermott, as the newest members of the ACAMIS community.
With the addition of these two schools, ACAMIS enters the 2026–27 school year with a total of 91 member schools.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome and our sincere congratulations to Brian, Sean, and their respective school communities!
Director's Forums
In partnership with PD Academia, we are pleased to offer three unique half-day regional forums at no cost to participants, providing Directors with an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of school leadership, connect with peers, and explore practical strategies for leading with greater clarity, resilience, and evidence.
Through expert input, structured discussion, and Affinity Groups that continue beyond each event, the forums are designed to build meaningful professional dialogue and foster ongoing collaboration and support.
Each forum will explore one of three interconnected themes:
PEOPLE — Shanghai
Shanghai Singapore International School
Friday, October 16 | 1:00–6:30 p.m.
International schools in China are navigating an increasingly complex operating environment. Staffing pressures, changing expectations, and wider uncertainty can quickly influence organisational confidence and stability.
The Shanghai forum will explore the people issues that increasingly shape school stability and strategic confidence, including employee grievances, recruitment and retention, compensation and benefits, staff morale, leadership wellbeing, succession planning, middle leadership capacity, and organisational trust.
POLICY — Beijing
Yew Chung International School Beijing
Friday, November 27 | 1:00–6:30 p.m.
Changing government policies and regulations can have an immediate impact on school operations and confidence. The Beijing forum will focus on how schools can navigate this evolving landscape with clarity and confidence.
Discussion will include policy and compliance, government relationships, governance, local authority expectations, ownership structures, risk planning, and approaches to interpreting and responding to changing operating conditions.
DEVELOPMENT — Hong Kong
Australia International School Hong Kong
Friday, February 19
Development extends well beyond enrolment. International schools are experiencing shifting enrolment patterns, changing family demographics, increased competition, and varying levels of confidence influenced by local economic conditions and wider uncertainty.
The Hong Kong forum will explore development in its broadest sense, including enrolment, market confidence, fundraising, parent expectations, school positioning, programme choices, facilities planning, and financial sustainability.
A New ACAMIS Brand
The ACAMIS Board of Trustees has approved an exciting initiative to work with School ID to develop a refreshed ACAMIS brand, including a new logo.
Our goal is to create an identity that authentically reflects who we are as an organization. To inform the process, we are seeking input from across the ACAMIS community, including Board members, Heads of School, Sports and ACE leaders, and students.
The project will unfold in four phases, culminating in the introduction of the new ACAMIS logo at the Spring Leadership Conference in March 2027.
Phase 1: Discovery and Listening
Research, stakeholder interviews, and community input to understand the ACAMIS brand, its strengths, and its future direction.
Phase 2: System Exploration
Development of three visual identity options. At its late-fall meeting, the ACAMIS Board will select one option/direction for School ID to develop further.
Phase 3: Visual System Build and Brand Guide
The selected direction will be developed into a complete visual identity system and documented in a comprehensive Brand Guide. This will include the primary mark, secondary marks, multilingual lockups, supporting graphics, color palette, typography, and suggested applications.
Phase 4: Board Approval and Launch
The Board will meet in the spring, prior to the Spring Leadership Conference, to review and approve the final logo and visual identity.
The new ACAMIS logo will be unveiled at the Spring Leadership Conference, hosted by Wellington College International Shanghai, on March 19–20, 2027.
Upcoming ACAMIS Conferences
ACAMIS Technology Conference
Saturday & Sunday, 17-18 October 2026
Keystone Academy, Beijing
This October, educators will come together at Keystone Academy Beijing to explore how technology can open new possibilities for teaching and learning. Guided by the theme “Innovate, Illuminate, Empower,” the conference invites us to discover how purposeful innovation can amplify student voice, inspire creativity, and empower every learner to reach their unique potential.
Through engaging conversations and hands-on learning around AI integration, robotics, maker education, and creative problem-solving, participants will exchange ideas, build new connections, and reimagine what technology-enabled learning can look like. Together, let us embrace innovation, illuminate brilliance, and empower one another to create meaningful learning experiences for the future.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Conference
Saturday & Sunday, 24-25 October 2026
Xiamen International School
This October, early childhood educators will come together at Xiamen International School to reflect, connect, and reimagine learning for children aged 0–8. Guided by the theme “Windows and Mirrors: Expanding Perspectives in Early Childhood,” the conference invites us to explore new possibilities while reflecting on the identities, cultures, and experiences that shape young children’s learning.
Featuring keynote speakers Kirsty Liljegren and Tricia Mohamed, the conference will explore technology, play, student agency, inspiring learning spaces, reflective practice, and inclusive community partnerships. Through thought-provoking keynotes, practical workshops, and shared conversations, participants will gain fresh perspectives, exchange meaningful ideas, and strengthen learning communities in which every child feels seen, valued, and empowered.
Student Leadership Conference
In partnership with PD Academia, ACAMIS is once again putting student agency and leadership at the heart of our work.
Building on the incredible momentum of last year’s Student Leadership Conferences—which brought together more than 135 students and 30 faculty advisers—we are excited to offer three dynamic conferences this year, each exploring a different dimension of student leadership: Social Innovation, Technology Leadership, and Sports Leadership.
Each conference is designed to be more than a single day. Students will take part in pre-conference online sessions, an interactive conference day, and a post-conference showcase where they can celebrate their learning, share ideas, and highlight the impact of their work.
Social Innovation
Yew Chung International School Shanghai Pudong
Saturday, February 27, 2027
The ACAMIS Student Leadership Conference on Social Innovation brings together student teams who are using service, creativity, and community insight to make a difference in their schools and local communities.
This one-day, in-person conference is designed for school teams of up to 5 students and 1–2 faculty advisers. Students won't simply attend sessions—they will help shape the learning before the event, share their own work during the conference, and showcase what they have learned afterwards.
Technology Leadership: Student Leadership in a Changing Digital World
Beijing City International School
Saturday, March 6, 2027
The Technology Leadership conference brings together students and faculty advisers who are exploring how technology can enhance learning, communication, creativity, and school life.
Designed for school teams of up to 5 students and 1–2 faculty advisers, the conference gives students an active role in identifying challenges, presenting ideas, sharing experiences, and shaping future action.
Technology leadership is about more than using new tools. It is about making thoughtful decisions, supporting peers, asking responsible questions, and helping our schools adapt confidently to change.
Sports Leadership
Shekou International School
Saturday, March 6, 2027
The ACAMIS Student Leadership Conference on Sports Leadership brings together student athletes, team captains, activity leaders, and faculty advisers who want to explore the powerful role sport can play in school life.
School teams of up to 5 students and 1–2 faculty advisers will learn together and separately throughout the programme, exploring how leadership can shape teams, communities, and the student experience.
Because sports leadership is about far more than performance. It is about building team culture, including others, responding to pressure, modelling sportsmanship, and helping younger students discover confidence through participation.
We warmly encourage schools to bring a team, share your ideas, learn from others, and be part of the next generation of ACAMIS student leaders.
Here are a few highlights from last year’s Student Leadership Conference:
Marketing & Admissions Conference
ACAMIS is proud to partner with ISMAC China to sponsor a Conference exclusively for Marketing and Admissions Professionals. The International School Marketing & Admissions Conference (ISMAC) will take place at The Renaissance Shanghai Zhongshan Park Hotel on December 4-5, 2026 .
As an ACAMIS member school, here's what's in it for you:
- 10% off registration — use code ACAMIS at checkout, stackable with other discounts.
- Special HOS-Plus-One offer — register your Head of School and get a second ticket at 50% off for a colleague, combinable with your ACAMIS discount.
- Pre-conference: The Brand Strategy Audit (3 December) - a hands-on, one-day workshop with Ewan McIntosh (Founder, NoTosh) for Heads, Deputy Heads, and Marketing, Admissions and Communications teams to build a shared, distinctive story for your school.
Bring your leadership and marketing team together to Shanghai in December.
Upcoming 2-day PD Workshops by PDAcademia
Enhancing Administrative Effectiveness in Schools
Australian International School Hong Kong
Thursday & Friday, November 5-6, 2026
This two-day workshop equips staff with practical tools and strategies to improve communication, manage competing demands and work more efficiently in fast-paced school environments.
提升学校行政效能 (Enhancing Administrative Effectiveness in Schools)
Sias International School, Zhengzhou
Thursday & Friday, November 19-20, 2026
本工作坊旨在通过实用的工具和策略，提高学校行政团队的工作效能。参与者将学习如何跨文化和工作风格进行沟通，如何在人工智能的负责任支持下进行清晰、专业的书面沟通，如何管理相互竞争的优先事项，以及如何更有信心地与学校领导和利益相关者合作。
Canadian International School of Guangzhou
Friday & Saturday, November 27-28, 2026
This interactive two-day workshop equips educators to intentionally integrate social emotional learning (SEL) and global citizenship education (GCE) into everyday classroom and school practice.
Strengthening Admin-University Counseling Partnerships
Shanghai Community International School – Hongqiao Campus
January 2027 (dates to be confirmed)
This two-day workshop supports school counselors and administrators in developing a partnership approach that strengthens the role of the university counseling office and improves how schools guide students through global university admissions processes.
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