Thank you A-JIS!

This week we received a wonderful letter from Ms. Elise Garrity, a Student Outreach Volunteer at Partners in Health, the organization which handled the distribution of our school donations to the relief effort in Haiti. The letter is a great testament to the efforts and kindness of the A-JIS community and the manner in which our students and families have been able to think globally and act locally, helping those in real need in another part of the world few of us have seen, living in hardships which few of us have ever experienced. Thank you all for caring and coming together as a school to help a nation in need. In particular I would like to thank Mr. Shahan for leading this campaign. Well done everyone!

Barbara Beaufait

May 25, 2010

Dear students, teachers, staff, and families of Aoba Japan International School,

All of us at Partners In Health are profoundly grateful for your contribution to Haiti earthquake relief. We are honored to accept your gift of over $10,000 from a one-month campaign in January 2010, with special thanks to A-JIS Student Council 2009-2010 and The A-JIS Family Community 2009-2010. We are truly inspired by your expression of solidarity, your generosity, and your support of our organization at this critical time.

Partners In Health and its local partner Zanmi Lasante have established deep roots in Haiti, where we have provided health care services for over twenty years. Within hours of the earthquake on January 12th, we were able to mobilize a network of over 100 doctors, 600 nurses, and 4,000 employees who were already on the ground. Today, more than one month later, Partners In Health has assumed a central role in providing immediate relief and long-term care for an estimated three million people who were directly affected by this cataclysmic event.

Your generous contribution will go directly towards improving health care infrastructure and health worker training in Port-au-Prince and our 12 pre-existing facilities. Here are some examples of how much the value of your donation can accomplish. By raising over $10,000 dollars, your donation is equivalent to:

– The necessary funds to support an entire mobile clinic for two weeks, providing basic primary care to hundreds of Haitians.

– Or, the cost of hiring a nurse midwife, who ensures safe deliveries of newborns and supports women’s health.

– Or, the price of providing more than 100 houses with water purification systems.

While your contribution will go far to alleviate Haiti’s urgent calls for help, we ask you to remember that the recovery and rebuilding process is far from over. We encourage you to stay informed about our progress by visiting our website at pih.org. Stand with us. Stand with Haiti.

In Solidarity,

Elise Garrity

Student Outreach Volunteer

What’s happening in March

Dear A-JIS Community,

This week I sent a letter home with studnets to all families, updating you on some important upcoming events in the school. To continue to keep you informed I plan to start sending communication such as this home two times per month.This week’s update included the following items:

New space allocation

To better serve the community the former EEO office is now an additional conference room and available for larger group meetings. The space will be used for regular board and other administrative meetings. The school’s leadership team is able to reserve the room on a space available basis and when the small room in the Principals’ Office is busy. Mr. Gomez’ office has been relocated to “Admissions.”

Safety at school

General checks of the school and outdoor areas are being conducted regularly to assure safety. The Facilities and Maintenance Department is doing some sanding and repainting of the Jungle Gym. The school nurse and I met to review first aid procedures and guidelines in case of emergencies. Many school personnel hold updated First Aid/CPR certificates. An evacuation drill is planned this month.

Partners in Health, Haiti Relief Fundraiser

Thank you all for making this a successful event. The school raised a grand total of Y1,342,390 surpassing expectations of Y1,000,000. The Family Community contributed Y152,971 from the Halloween Bake, and Y122,410 from the food and book sale. Thank you all for making this a success. Students have completed 1,000 paper cranes and several posters to be mailed and displayed in clinics and hospitals to raise children’s’ spirits while being treated for injuries.

Accreditation

Dr. McIntyre (NEASC) and Ms. Alvarez (CIS) will be working with the school March 9-11. They are here for us to share improvements. Their focus will be on the two special issues, School Governance, Philosophy and Objectives.

French

Thank you for submitting surveys. Valuable information was gained, and was taken into consideration. The board voted unanimously to offer French as an “After School Club” this coming school year. Additional programs will be explored in the future.

Parent Survey

The school will send out a survey to parents in early May to provide an opportunity for constructive feedback. The staff will then study the results and use them for making improvements. Annual surveys will be forthcoming. Allow me to share a statement once made by a colleague: “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Dr. Richard E. Smith Professor of Educational Administration, Seattle Pacific University.

Consultant John Littleford

April 24-May 5; We look forward to working with Mr. Littleford who has been hired to help the school evaluate teacher salaries and benefit packages, and how to internally promote the school. Mr. Littleford will meet with staff, faculty, parents, and students through small focus groups. He is looking forward to attending the Spring Carnival. Following is some background information.

Littleford & Associates was founded by John C. Littleford in 1994. Mr. Littleford has served as head of school for 18 years, a teacher for 25 years, and a board member and chair of schools and nonprofit agencies.

He has written and spoken extensively worldwide on each area of the firm’s consulting expertise. John Littleford is the co-author, with Valerie Lee, of the book, “Faculty Salary Systems in Independent Schools“. This landmark publication on this topic was published by NAIS from 1983-94. His articles on the career ladder concept of faculty compensation are found in Larry Frase’s book, entitled “Teacher Motivation and Compensation”, published in 1992 by the Technomic Press.

Mr. Littleford has his B.A. degree from Dickinson College, Critical Language Degree from Princeton University, M.A. from Harvard University and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Harvard University.

As senior partner, Mr. Littleford conducts all workshops, on-site visits and evaluations of contracts for Heads and nonprofit CEO’s.

Having earned a reputation for excellence, Littleford & Associates has over 2,000 clients worldwide, including Canada, Southern and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Littleford & Associates has a corporate membership in the National Association of Independent Schools. The firm is listed on the NAIS website under the following service categories: Board services: board development, board/head relations, compensation and benefits, board evaluation, strategic planning, and training and retreats; Administration: head mentoring; Management: executive leadership, organizational and general consulting; Teaching: teacher compensation and evaluation.

Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Kind regards,

Barbara Beaufait

Head of School

January Updates

Dear A-JIS Community,

January’s A-JIS Courier unfortunately did not make it to publication, as Mr. Tajima was taken ill early in the month. He has since recovered and returned to school. In the meantime please allow me to communicate the following.

Mrs. Rogers-Doi

About ten days ago Mrs. Doi Rogers was admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital with a medical condition. She wishes to convey to everyone that she is feeling better, and recovering nicely. • The 2010-2011 School Calendar is almost complete, ready for board approval and subsequent distribution in February. I would like to take a moment to thank the administration, faculty, staff, and parents who attended several meetings, sharing ideas. Working collaboratively was a wonderful experience and we think you will like the results.

Haiti

The Haiti fundraising campaign is well under way. Thank you ALL for generously donating to assist a nation in the process of recovery from this devastating earthquake. Students are creating art projects to be sent, hopefully for display in hospitals and clinics. The children at A-JIS care. I am truly touched. Please view the work currently displayed in the lobby.

Staffing

Some of our faculty members will be leaving at the end of this school year in pursuit of new horizons. The administration is in the process of identifying needs for 2010-2011. Please rest assured we are recruiting and will hire the very best. The interviewing will take place by a team, and include administrator(s), faculty, staff, and parent(s). Please contact the Principals’ office if you wish to have your name placed on the list.

Accreditation

All school personnel are working diligently to get reports ready for submission to CIS January 31st.

Lost and Found

We are happy so many items have been picked up. The tables remain in the lobby until Thursday January 28th. Thereafter the Family Community has kindly offered to donate the rest. We are still holding a watch, an iPod, and a pair of prescription eyeglasses. Will the rightful owner(s) please stop by the Principals’ Office to describe and claim these lost item(s)?

We look forward to seeing you at this Friday’s Talent Show, a fundraiser for Haiti, sponsored by the Family Community.

Kind regards,

Barbara Beaufait

Head of School