ASB Newsletter
JUNE 2013 AMERICAN SCHOOL OF BILBAO NEWSLETTER
International Week at ASB , celebrating diversity and internationalism . We are all one .
REFLECTIONS ON THE ACADEMIC YEAR
Orlando Pola Rivera ASB Director
As I look back at the academic year that is about to end I do so with pride , joy and much satisfaction for all the objectives , both big and small , that have been accomplished . My reflections advance to a feeling of comfort in knowing how lucky I am in serving a community of professional teachers and the administrative support team who stand beside me , day by day , in providing the assistance that I need in order to fulfill the demanding task of moving the school forward . Because of the help of so many , the weight of a challenging year has been lessened , and for that I feel truly blessed and I am thankful . Therefore , the recognition for the achievements that have been gained is not mine alone , but belong to many .
Using an old cliché , it was only yesterday ... when I remember walking through the front gates of ASB . What a different school we now have to offer our children to the one we had back in September . Together we have transformed and made ASB the new ASB that will help us fulfill the school ’ s mission while making it an international school of choice in the region .
Much has been done to improve learning . Throughout the year new school policies ,
procedures and expectations have been asked of the teachers with great efforts being made to make our teaching match our policies . We have put the focus on classroom practice , and have supported this through ongoing , informal and formal observations of the teaching and learning . This has enabled us to have ongoing dialogues with our teachers and develop a common language for learning across the whole school . Teachers have been particularly mindful to meet the goals that were set for them and continue to reflect on practices that will enhance student learning .
Additionally , in order to secure a transition of philosophies between the various divisions of the school ( Nursery , Lower and Upper ), and thereby establish common requirements of effort and expectations within the teaching staff , intensive work in the alignment of practice and pedagogy have been created with the guiding principles of the IB Learner Profile embedded into the teaching and learning . Also , a new framework for planning the instruction has been developed with common requirements of all teachers . The results of this will be a greater coherence for our students as they move from one year to the next , with transparently mapped standards for developing their learning , and helping them deepen their understanding of the learning process , and their place in it .
“ Together we have transformed and made ASB the new ASB that will help us fulfill the school ’ s mission ”
Our students have also had to adapt to the changes and as a result have grown immeasurably since the start of this year ; each is coming to the end of a new stage in their development being more balanced , knowledgeable , and open-minded individuals who are active , life-long learners and make positive contributions to the school and help enrich society .
Each one , in their individual way , has undergone a transformation in line with the development of our school , and this year has seen them become active members and decision makers through the re-establishment of the Student Council .