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.