From the Director
Meerkat News
American International School of Lesotho
Important Dates:
Friday, 17th December - Last day for students - half-day Saturday, 18th December, 2021 - Monday, 10th January, 2022 - Christmas Holidays Monday, 10th January, 2022 - Teacher only day - No students Tuesday, 11th January, 2022 - Students return
3rd December 2021
Dear AISL community, We are marching toward our next holidays, as well as another New Year celebration. We all remember this time last year where we were willing 2020 to end so that we could 'get back to normal' from the difficulties of 2020. Well deja vu everyone. 2021 was more like 2020 the sequel. We saw the world change for the better as well as more challenges faced. We have 2 more weeks of this calendar year before we start the holidays and we are all looking forward to that mental break. This week, I would like to talk about something very important, but is an under appreciated tool; choice. Every day we make so many decisions; some easy and some more complex. Choice is fundamental in these decision making processes. Sometimes we have so many options to choose from like a well stocked buffet, or we have only a narrow few options to guide us. We hear phrases like "I don't have a choice." This is not entirely true. We always have multiple choice, just that sometimes these choices are not desirable. While children are young, most of these choices are made by the parent or guardian, but as a child gets older, they as individuals will start to develop their desire for making decisions. The parents of teenagers will know what I mean. Teaching children to make good decisions is important, but it is not an easy process. Guidance, support during bad choices, as well as celebrating good decisions is important. We all want our child to have a successful life, but sometimes it is hard to let children make choices that we do not always agree with. This is part of learning and developing an independent personality. Obviously we don't allow students to 'learn' through choice if it is dangerous, but students will begin to assert themselves in their decision making. We need to be there to guide them. Mark Brookes
COVID-19 Update
Dear Community, I guess last week I spoke too soon that things were getting better and that we need to be patient. Since the last newsletter 2 weeks ago, we have had the Omicron variant of COVID-19 appear. This sent a ripple of uncertainty through the world. Questions about travel, borders, vaccine efficacy, etc .were being asked. Like most people, I prefer to err on the side of listening to medical advice. While the world is trying to ascertain the effects of this mutation, we continue to follow the basic protocols that we have in place. We continue to cohort students, sanitise, monitor students and staff for symptoms, etc. Compared to other schools and organisations, we have been very lucky in how COVID-19 has affected operations of the school. We do not want to get complacent though. We will continue to follow sound advice and adapt as needed. Mark Brookes Reminder: If someone in the household is symptomatic, please keep the child home. Contact the nurse on the information below.
School Nurse Sengovuka Mlotshwa
This is his contact information: +266 5888 7263 and nurse@aisl.co.ls.
Recycling
Dear community, Some of you may or may not be aware, but as AISL community members, you have membership with the Maseru Club across the road. This means that you are entitled to visit the club at any time. You are able to use the sport facilities, the pool, as well as have some drinks inside the main clubhouse. You may be asked your membership status. Simply mention you are parents of the school. However, this membership only applies to AISL community members and not for others. If you wish to use the pool or sports facilities like the basketball, tennis courts, and squash courts, talk to the guards about access to the keys. Our guard has the key to the pool gate so you can enter from the gate opposite the front of the school. You are asked to ensure that you keep the area clean of rubbish, etc. Please also follow standard COVID-19 protocols while using the facilities. Also, on the weekends, you are welcome to use the school playground following the same advice as above. Mark Brookes
Dear AISL community, The recycling from the school has recommenced. Recycling is collected from the school every Wednesday. Feel free to bring your cardboard, paper, cans, plastics to the school. The guards will assist you.
Kindness Tree
Maseru Club and School playground
We have turned the Thanksgiving tree into a Kindness tree. The kindness tree will be placed in the cage area of the school. The items from the wish list have been written on the back of a picture of a Christmas bulb (which have been proudly coloured in by the Early Years students). On the back of one bulb is an item to donate and on the second bulb the children/family can write a poem, a prayer, a quote or any words of kindness and place that bulb on the tree. Therefore the donation items removed from the tree will be replaced with words of kindness. Pre-loved items are welcome such as clothes or toys. However, please ensure they are still in good condition. A donation box will be placed in the cage area of the school where the children can place their donation items on arrival to school in the mornings. Thank you for your support and we look forward to collating all the items on the wish list and support Beautiful Gate during this Festive Season. We would love to show school spirit and the spirit of the season and make this a worthy endeavour.
Thank you to the AISL community for making the Thanksgiving lunch a success. There was plenty of food available for all.
Thanksgiving at AISL
Last week Wednesday, the AISL community celebrated Thanksgiving with students bringing food to share for a potluck lunch on campus. Since this was the first Thanksgiving for our preschoolers, we decided to read a book about Thanksgiving and "prepare a meal" to share with our classmates. The teachers Ms. Tsepi and Ms. Lerato brought boxes of toys relating to food for the students to use in the Library. Students chose their special ingredients to prepare their favorite dishes. We even had a special dish, "a yummy elephant" served to the teachers! Preschoolers are seen preparing their Thanksgiving meal, and giving thanks to their teachers.
EC: Thanksgiving at the Library
Library: Wombat Stew for Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving Wednesday, yet another class explored food, but just a little differently than we usually do. How would you feel about wombat stew? Fear not! We didn't eat any! The Library welcomed our Director Mr. Brookes to read Wombat Stew to second grade as part of their study of Folktales Across Cultures. Our focus was Australia and it's indigenous fauna that captured the interest and enthusiasm of our young readers. We read about the dingo, wombat, platypus, emu, blue tongue lizard, echidna, and the koala from the book, and others such as the kookaburra, magpie, and the frilled lizard.
Mr. Brookes read, shared insights on the animals indigenous to Australia, as well as interesting videos of real-life incidents and day-today encounters involving animals and humans in his country. Students listened attentively and shared relevant scientific facts about the animals that they were familiar with. The interactive session also gave our students the opportunity to ask questions as they explored a fairly unfamiliar animal landscape that was both exciting and intriguing for our learners.
Natasha: I cook nice food for people to eat (chef).
Roshan: I put fire out when the house is on fire, and people are inside the house (firefighter).
Realeboha: I give medicine to people to feel better (nurse).
Pre-K Newsletter
Tsepang: I put bad guys in jail (policeman).
Pre-Kindergarten has been working on what is a community, and who are the community helpers who keep us safe and healthy.
Reaboka: I give people food when they tell me what they want to eat (waiter).
Nael: I give a paper (mail carrier).
Jacqueline: I fix people when they are sick (doctor).
Rishi: I take people to school and work (bus driver).
Royalty: I fix things when they are broken (handyman).
Teboho: Teboho is a doctor at the hospital (doctor).
Joshua: I make the animals feel better (vet).
Jubilee: A nurse
We had an opportunity to welcome our School Nurse Mr. Sengovuka as a visitor to our class. He shared about what he does at school to keep students safe and healthy. Finally, we talked about how we can be good helpers at home and at school. Our students explored and shared ways in which they could contribute: Picking up trash and putting it in the trash bin. Cleaning up after eating at home and at school. Helping mom clean dishes. Tidying up the toys in class and at home after playing. Taking the plate to the sink after eating. Tidying up the clothes in our room. Helping mom do the laundry.
Community Holiday Activities