LIONS PRIDE
Week of Sunday, January 12 - Thursday, January 16th, 2025
OUR LIFE'S WORK
WHICH ONE DO YOU NEED TO WORK ON?
I AM WORKING ON MY ONE THIS YEAR
"RESPECT TIME OFF "🤗
📣 Reflecting on ISA’s Curriculum and Our Shared Commitment for 2025
1. Holiday Reflection & Parent Conference Preparation
I trust you all had a restful holiday and were able to complete the necessary tasks so that we can be prepared for the upcoming Parent Conference on January 21st. Last year, many of you had time to acclimate to the ISA community and the curriculum, which was new for several of you.
2. Curriculum Engagement & Teaching Practices
Upon reflecting on the past year, I observed that some new team members were not fully engaging with the presented curriculum. There was a notable reliance on traditional teaching methods and foundational skills in many elementary and middle school classes. While we discussed these observations, and some adjustments were made, there is still room for growth.
3. Curriculum Implementation & Differentiation
This semester, it is crucial that we follow the curriculum closely and make adjustments through differentiation for students who have been identified through NWEA and class assessments as needing intervention.
4. Financial Updates & Payment Finalization
Mr. Mangram is currently working with families who have yet to finalize their payments, and we hope to have everything resolved by the end of this week. We sincerely apologize for any delays from the staff and thank you for your patience in addressing these matters.
5. Lesson Plan Submissions & Parent Concerns
I’ve also noticed that lesson plan submissions are still lagging, with only a few team members consistently submitting theirs weekly. Additionally, there have been some parent concerns regarding teaching practices and the learning progress in certain classrooms. While I fully support your efforts and practices, I can only do so much unless there is a noticeable shift in approach.
6. Observations & Feedback
As we move forward, I will begin observations this week, and my approach this semester will be different from last year. I plan to provide more targeted feedback and support in real-time, with an emphasis on continued improvement.
7. Our Shared Priority: Student Success
I trust that we will work together to address any challenges and ensure that the students’ needs are met, as that remains our shared priority. Let’s continue to strive for excellence in the classroom, with a renewed focus on curriculum implementation and student success.
8. Appreciation & Commitment to ISA
Thank you for your dedication to ISA and to the success of our students.
Weekly Updates
1.Sunday: January 12th
Faculty Meeting 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Grade 5 classroom)
Classroom Observations (Math and English)
Morning Assembly (National Anthem-India)
2.Monday: January 13th
French Embassy Interviews 9:00 a.m.
Classroom Observations (Math and English)
3.Tuesday: January 14th
Classroom Observations (Science and English)
4.Wednesday: January 15th
Classroom Observations (Science and English)
5.Thursday: January 16th
Morning Assembly (National Anthem-Canada)
How to Complete the Common App for U.S./Canadian Colleges and Universities
Advanced Placement Testing Information
ISA adopted 1 AP Course this year-AP Chemistry and will adopt more in the future
What is the Advanced Placement program?
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses.
🙌SOTM-December Shout-Outs
🙌 Weekly Shout-Outs
Adna, for attendance
Checking on students and families 🫶
Nima, for collaboration
Working with Finance Coordinator 🙌
All Staff for kicking off the 2025 school year
🗣 Unit of the Week ✍🏽
TESTING WILL START ON JANUARY 19th-SCHEDULE IS FORTHCOMING
SPONSORED BY GRADE 12
PLEASE CONTACT ADNA FOR ADDITIONAL INFO.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE SENT HOME THIS WEEK
PLEASE CONTACT ADNA FOR ADDITIONAL INFO.
Six of our high school students will be attending the FWWMUN Conference
Rome, Italy from January 28th to Febuary 3rd, 2025.
Update on Middle School Participation in FWWMUN
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Unfortunately, our middle school students will not be able to attend the FWWMUN conference this year as the event organizers are not accepting participants under the age of 14. While the students have already made their payments, we are actively exploring alternative options for them to participate in a similar enriching experience.
We sincerely apologize for the delay in communication as we worked diligently to seek alternative options amidst the myriad of delays we experienced. The middle school students have expressed interest in attending a conference in Turkey, and we are currently awaiting feedback from the organizers.
In addition to this, we have identified two potential conferences:
- The Istanbul MUN Conference, 20th to 23rd February, 2025 at Istanbul, Turkey which will take place before Ramadan.
- The MUN EUROPE Conference (contact: info@mun-europe.com). You can access the enrollment process using this link: https://sls5mmwnuu5.typeform.com/to/zFbOIJuR. More details are available on the official website: https://mun-italia.it/en/mun-rome/.
Furthermore, the FWWMUN team has offered the option to hold the funds placement for 24 months for our middle school students as they move in their high school program, which aligns with the same range of experiences.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the best possible experience for our students. We will continue to keep you updated as we finalize plans for an alternative conference.
1. IMPORTANT DATES 📆
- January 21st, 2025 (5:30-7:30 p.m.)-Parent and Teacher conferences,
- January 23rd, 2025-No School-Professional Development Day
January 27th, 2025-Holiday-School Closed
Grade 2 Teacher Update and Staffing Adjustments
Dear Team,
I hope this message finds you well.
On January 2nd, I received a WhatsApp message from Jeffrey, our Grade 2 teacher, informing me that he had been in an accident and needed to manage the responsibilities that arose as a result. Since then, despite several follow-ups, there has been no further communication or formal resignation from him.
As actions speak louder than words, we will now move forward with identifying a new teacher for Grade 2 to ensure minimal disruption for our students. It’s important to reiterate what was communicated before the holiday break: if there were any changes to your plans for returning, we encouraged open and professional communication. While we understand that unforeseen circumstances, such as family or personal emergencies, can arise, a lack of communication leaves the school and students in a challenging position.
We also have two additional teachers preparing for maternity leave this year. Mrs. Khadidja will begin her leave in January, and Mrs. Anab will step in to take over her class during her absence. Mrs. Mouna is expected to go on maternity leave in May/June. Both teachers were upfront about their anticipated absences, allowing us to plan accordingly and ensure continuity for their students.
As colleagues, these situations inevitably affect us all, as plans and responsibilities often shift unexpectedly. Nevertheless, we remain resilient and committed to ensuring the success of our students and supporting one another during these transitions.
With six months remaining in the school year, we’ll continue to adapt as needed. In February, we will conduct our usual review of intent for the upcoming academic year.
Thank you all for your continued dedication and support as we work through these adjustments together.
Students' Birthdays-January 2025
- Rayan Gassani, January 2nd-G9
- Bayan Abdoulbasset, January 3rd-G3
- Mishti Pramit Parekh, January 5th-G9
- Karam Omar Ahmed, January 9th-G4
- Marjane Moustapha Mohamed Mahmoud, January 14th-G8
- Issa Suleman, January 15th, G5
- Hilal Yasser Awaleh Toube, January 16th-G4
- Joury Musleh Al hamdani, January 16th-G2
- Soumeya Med Said, January 20th-G11
- Hakim Mahad Moussa, January 21st-KG1
- Adam HASSAN, January 24th-G3


