It gives me great pride to announce that 3 of our staff Linda Du, Meghan Lutrell and Alison Camire have been selected to be IB Workshop Leaders. This selection is highly competitive and reflects both the high quality of these individual teachers and the high standing of ISS within the IB School Community. Meghan, Alison and Linda will join Sharyn Skrtic, Yan Ping Zhao and myself to make a total of 6 IB Workshop Leaders on the staff in the new academic year. This is a truly impressive number and one not matched by many significantly larger schools
On the subject of talented teachers we have recruited some great staff to join us in August .These are:
Smita Puyamaya: Will be joining us as a K2 teacher. Many of you already know Smita as she has been a substitute teacher at ISS. This year she has covered both Ms Hazel and Ms Raj's absences in K2 so is already very familiar with the workings of the school.
Minaal Amin: Will be joining us in Grade 3. Minaal has been working in the English system. She has a strong background in mindfulness development and recently was selected for the English- based Outstanding Teaching Programme.
Michael Reid: Will be joining us in Grade 4. Michael has been working in the English system. In addition to teaching, he is a football coach and has a strong background in drama.
Michelle Jasinska: Will be joining us in Grade 5, has worked in Canada and most recently In the UK. In addition to teaching, she has a strong outdoor education background and set up a marine education and conservation centre in Belize along with her husband who is a coral reef expert.
Rong Lichun: Will join us in the Elementary School as a Mandarin teacher. She is currently working with Eton House here in Singapore and has many years of experience in the PYP.
Tina Wolter: Will be joining us in Grade 5. Tina an Elementary, ESL and Special Needs teacher. She has over 25 years of experience working in a variety of schools in the USA.
Estelle Elsaadi: Will be joining our ESL team. Estelle is currently working as a Language Support Teacher at the High School.
Unfortunately, of course, some of our staff will also be moving on. I am sure you will join with me in wishing all of them all the best and a heartfelt thank you for what they have achieved at ISS:
Lillian Lyovarin: Lillian will be returning to Bangkok to spend time with her family.
Hazel Halliday: Hazel arrived in Singapore in 1999, 17 years ago, and started at ISS as a supply teacher in January 2000. She has been teaching K2 at ISS since 2001.Hazel will be returning to Aberdeen, Scotland and is looking forward to spending more time with her three children, their spouses and the rest of her family.
Sonya Nicholls: Sonya is staying in Singapore and moving to The German European School.
Shanez Cabraal: Shanez will be staying in Singapore working and spending time with her family.
Amy Koo: Amy will be heading to Hong Kong to work at the Canadian International School as a Grade Three teacher.
Toni Favilli: Toni will be taking up a leadership role at Branksome Hall School, Jeju Island South Korea
Sophie Crawshaw: Sophie is leaving to have her third child and will still be involved with the ISS community as a parent.
Bei Liang: Bei will remain in Singapore as the Mandarin teacher at Invictus Private School.
Delores Duly: Dell will be going back to Canada to look after her elderly father. Whilst there she will also work through any organization that provides language training for the recently arrived Syrian refugees.
Hugh Maclean: Hugh will be returning to Canada to spend time with his wife and daughter and work within the local school system.
Thank you to all of you for what you have given the ISS community.