Newsletter Spring 2026

ACAMIS Newsletter Spring 2026

Message From Executive Director

The “Flash to the Finish” is now officially on! With just over a month remaining in the school year, and with looming examinations and student celebrations about to take center stage, the pace will be frenetic. Keeping that in mind, I’ll practice journalistic brevity!

Firstly, I would like to express my personal appreciation to those of you who attended the Spring Leadership Conference at American International School of Guangzhou. While we always value quality over quantity, we experienced record-setting attendance of nearly six hundred (600) participants. This figure speaks volumes about the commitment our member schools continue to model!

For the design of the new ACAMIS logo, I warmly invite you to encourage a design agency with whom you have worked successfully to review the RFP (sent to Heads on April 14) and send me a proposal. Alternatively, if your own marketing team would like to take up the challenge, we would also be grateful for your submission!

Send us your good news! In support of one of ACAMIS’s Strategic Purposes — facilitate communication and cooperative action among member schools — we have dedicated a space on the ACAMIS website to showcase your school events, helping to generate greater exposure and promotion for your community.

One more to go! The final ACAMIS event of the year is the upcoming Chinese Conference, hosted by Shekou International School on June 20–21, 2026. Please encourage your Chinese teachers to visit the Conference webpage and register for one of our most well-attended and informative conferences.

Wishing you a successful and positive conclusion to your school year,

With warm regards,
Larry Hobdell
Executive Director

Connecting & Learning Across Our Network

Over the past two months, I had the opportunity to visit a number of schools across different cities, connecting with leaders, educators, and students throughout the ACAMIS community and beyond. Each visit provided valuable opportunities to listen, learn, and gain deeper insight into the diverse and dynamic learning environments within our network. I was warmly welcomed by dedicated school leaders and teams who generously shared their time, perspectives, and experiences, leading to many thoughtful conversations around student growth, wellbeing, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Across these visits, our conversations consistently centered on meaningful engagement, collaboration, and excellence in international education. These in-person connections continue to strengthen relationships, spark new ideas, and reinforce the strong sense of community that defines ACAMIS.

The following are the schools I had the pleasure of visiting this Spring:

• Victoria Shanghai Academy, Hong Kong
• The Independent School Foundation Academy, Hong Kong
• DSC International School, Hong Kong
• Boston International School, Wuxi
• QSI International school of Dongguan, Dongguan

My sincere thanks to all the schools that welcomed me so warmly during my Spring visits. Your openness, generosity, and dedication to education are deeply appreciated, and I look forward to continuing our connections and collaboration in the next school year.

Student Impact in Action: Spotlight on Service Award Initiatives

Thank you to all participating schools and students for your inspiring submissions to the Jim Koerschen Award and Service Learning Grants this year. We are proud to highlight one of this year’s award-winning student initiatives, Bloodline.Y—a powerful example of how student-led action can create meaningful, real-world impact.

Founded by a student in Shanghai, Bloodline.Y mobilizes school communities to support blood donation through awareness, coordination, and partnerships with medical organizations. What began as a personal response to a real healthcare need has grown into a cross-school movement—fostering collaboration, strengthening community connections, and demonstrating the power of student voice and leadership in driving sustainable change. This initiative reflects the core of ACAMIS’s Purposes and Strategic Goals: broadening student learning opportunities, promoting collaboration across schools, and empowering students to make meaningful contributions within their communities and beyond

We warmly invite award-winning and selected schools to contact us if your students would be interested in a follow-up interview to be featured on the website and across our platforms.

Leading with Purpose: Interview with the Tom Ulmet Leadership Award Recipient Inna Klein

In a thoughtful and inspiring conversation, Inna Klein reflects on her leadership journey and the values that have shaped her approach, as recognised by the Tom Ulmet Leadership Award. Grounded in trust, transparency, and a strong sense of community, she shares how listening, collaboration, and shared purpose have been central to her work as a Head of School. Inna highlights the importance of leading with integrity, embracing change with resilience, and modelling lifelong learning through her own experiences. Her reflections offer a powerful reminder that impactful leadership is not about individual authority, but about uplifting others, fostering connection, and staying true to one’s core principles.

We invite you to check out the full video of the interview for more insights and reflections.

Student Leadership Conference: Student Agency is Alive & Well

In support of one of the Board’s Strategic Goals — Promote student voice in ACAMIS (develop mechanisms that allow student voice to shape ACAMIS’s offerings for students and to provide a variety of offerings in response to that collective voice) — we partnered with Michael Iannini of PD Academia to conduct Student Leadership Conferences hosted by three schools on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The three host schools — Shen Wai International School, United World College Changshu, and Beijing International Bilingual Academy — welcomed a total of 131 students from 26 member schools across China. Faculty advisors from participating schools accompanied up to five students to each host school within their respective regions.

The event successfully fostered cross-school collaboration, strengthened students’ communication skills, and provided a platform for actionable storyboarding. One of the most celebrated aspects of the conference was the mixed-group discussions, where students were highly engaged and inspired by hearing the diverse perspectives and ideas of peers from other schools, ranging from environmental issues to phone addiction and dementia.

Another meaningful experience for students was the Storyboarding & Production component. The transition from ideation to storyboarding proved highly successful, and the sharing session at the end of the day empowered students by helping turn their abstract ideas into tangible concepts.

The third component of each conference was the inspiration provided by guest speakers and keynote sessions. Rushton Hurley’s keynote address successfully set the tone for all three conferences and encouraged students to think creatively, communicate confidently, and engage meaningfully with one another.

The conferences also demonstrated measurable skill growth among participants. When students were asked what insights they took away from the experience, “communication” emerged as the overwhelmingly dominant response, alongside organisation, critical thinking, and leadership.

Special thanks to Michael Iannini from PD Academia, the conference coordinator, as well as the host school faculty advisors, whose support helped elevate student voice in real time and empowered students to contribute meaningfully within their respective schools.

We look forward to continuing to support and elevate student voice throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Be sure to look for an invitation in the August newsletter for YOUR STUDENTS to join us next year.

Celebrating a Vibrant Season of ACAMIS Sports

Over the past few months, students from our member schools came together through an exciting lineup of sports events that brought energy, teamwork, and connection to the forefront of student life. Across Divisional Football, Junior Swimming, Golf, Badminton, and other sporting events, students demonstrated dedication, resilience, and sportsmanship while representing their schools with pride. These events provided valuable opportunities to challenge themselves, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills through healthy competition and collaboration.

Beyond the field of play, these experiences fostered strong friendships and a sense of community among students from different ACAMIS member schools, promoting international-mindedness and mutual respect. They also reflect ACAMIS’s commitment to broadening student opportunities and supporting holistic development, while aligning with its Strategic Goals to provide meaningful, high-impact experiences shaped by student interests. We extend our sincere appreciation to all hosting schools for their leadership and organisation, and to all participating schools for their enthusiasm and support in making this season of sports events such a success.

Football Tournaments
Various host schools

Golf Tournament
Shekou International School / PGA (Mission Hills Haikou)

Junior Swimming (Ages 9-12)
Xi'an Liangjiatan International School

Inspiring Talent & Connection Across ACE Events

This spring, ACAMIS member schools delivered a dynamic series of ACE Events that celebrated student talent, curiosity, and collaboration across academic and cultural areas. From the Creative Writer’s Workshop, Digital Art Competition, and Art Battle to the Middle and High School Math Olympiads, Chess Tournament, Play in a Day Festival, Music Festival and more, students were given meaningful opportunities to explore their interests and share their voices. These experiences not only enriched learning beyond the classroom but also strengthened connections and international-mindedness across the ACAMIS community.

Collectively, these events reflect ACAMIS’s commitment to broadening student opportunities, fostering collaboration, and promoting student voice—key priorities within its Strategic Goals. By offering diverse, high-impact experiences shaped by student interests, ACAMIS continues to support innovation and engagement across its member schools. We extend our sincere thanks to all hosting schools for their leadership and to all participating schools for their enthusiastic involvement in making this season of ACE events a success.

Play In A Day Festival
The International School of Macao

Chess Tournament
International School of Nanshan Shenzhen

Art Battle
Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CISGZ)

MS Math Olympiad
Beijing City International School

Music Festival
Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CISGZ)

Creative Writing/Writers' Workshop
Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School

Empowering Innovation & Teamwork Through Robotics Competitions

Earlier this year, ACAMIS students showcased impressive creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving through exciting regional and national Robotics Tournaments that brought together aspiring engineers and programmers from across our member schools. Hosted by Shanghai American School (Pudong Campus), the ACAMIS National FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge 2026 featured the UNEARTHED™ season, where students explored archaeology through robotics, research, and innovation. Teams competed across Robot Games, Innovation Projects, Robot Design, and Core Values challenges, demonstrating both technical excellence and strong teamwork. Congratulations to Team APSSA from Western Academy of Beijing for earning the Champion’s Award.

The season also included the 2026 ACAMIS National VEX Robotics Finals, hosted by Concordia International School Shanghai, where approximately 100 teams participated in two days of dynamic VEX V5 and VEX IQ competition. Students applied engineering, coding, adaptability, and collaboration skills in a fast-paced and supportive environment, with several ACAMIS teams earning outstanding achievements and qualifying for the VEX World Championships in St. Louis.

A heartfelt thank you to all participating schools, students, coaches, volunteers, and host schools for making these tournaments such meaningful learning experiences. These events continue to reflect ACAMIS’s commitment to fostering innovation, teamwork, student growth, and authentic opportunities that inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and problem-solvers.

ACAMIS Conference Recap - Cultivating Dialogue & Collaboration

Over the past two months, the ACAMIS community came together through three vibrant conferences, each offering unique opportunities to connect, reflect, and grow across our network of international schools.

At the Spring Leadership Conference, hosted by the American School of Guangzhou, school leaders gathered under the theme “Power of Engagement” for two days of meaningful dialogue, professional learning, and shared insights. With inspiring contributions from keynote speakers Scott McLeod and Ellen Mahoney, alongside dynamic peer-led sessions, the conference truly embodied its theme through active participation and thoughtful exchange.

The momentum continued at the English Language Learners (ELL) Conference, hosted by QSI International School of Chengdu, where educators explored the theme “It Takes a Village.” Guided by keynote speakers Andrea Honigsfeld and Tan Huynh, participants engaged in rich conversations around collaboration, shared responsibility, and practical strategies to support multilingual learners. The collective energy and openness of the community made for a deeply impactful weekend of learning.

Rounding out the season, the Conference for the Arts brought together educators across performing arts, visual arts, music, theatre, and design to celebrate creativity and inspire classroom practice. Through engaging workshops and collaborative sessions, the conference highlighted the essential role of the arts in nurturing student voice, expression, and innovation.

Across all three conferences, we extend our sincere thanks to our host schools, keynote speakers, conference planning committees, and peer presenters for their dedication and contributions. Most importantly, thank you to all participants whose enthusiasm and commitment continue to strengthen our ACAMIS community—advancing professional learning, fostering collaboration, and enriching student experiences across our network.

Spring Leadership Conference
March 20-21, 2026
American International School of Guangzhou

English Language Learners (ELL) Conference
April 11-12, 2026
QSI International School of Chengdu

Conference for the Arts
April 25-26, 2026
Shen Wai International School, Shenzhen

Upcoming Conferences: Discover What's Coming This June & Beyond

The momentum continues into this June and later in the Fall of 2026! ACAMIS is excited to host three more conferences in the months ahead—one this June and two in October—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.

Explore the upcoming conferences below and see what’s ahead this June and into the Fall!

Chinese Conference
Shekou International School, Shenzhen
Saturday and Sunday, 20-21 June 2026

Technology Conference
Keystone Academy, Beijing
Saturday and Sunday, 17-18 October 2026

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Conference
Xiamen International School
Saturday and Sunday, 24-25 October 2026