Update from EARCOS and the upcoming week’s events

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I start today’s message by acknowledging the heartbreaking news from last night’s tragic event in Seoul. We grieve for the families of those who have lost loved ones, and we wish a speedy recovery for all of those who have been injured. Our Korean Country Ambassador has reassured me that our SSIS Korean community family members are safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the families impacted by the terrible tragedy.  

This weekend offered the SSIS community another fantastic opportunity to come together and enjoy fun and activities at the Halloween Party. Thank you to all of the PTA members, Dr. Dan Long, the HS Clubs, and every individual who supported the incredible party. In addition, our middle schoolers had a wonderful evening at the first Middle School Dance of the year. These fun events are certainly not taken for granted by our students, so thank you to everyone who made them possible. 

The EARCOS Leadership Conference was a huge success. The speakers (keynote and session speakers) were engaging and informative. And it was just fantastic to catch up with colleagues from around the region for the first time in three years. Our SSIS team represented SSIS very well. The EARCOS community continues to grow in strength and impact, and I was honored this weekend to be voted in as Vice-President of the EARCOS Board of Trustees. 

On another note, Leslie Grant and James Stronge (Professors at William & Mary) will visit SSIS this week to observe and interview three teachers. Their research study involves observing and interviewing teachers deemed particularly effective in working in the international school setting. I have worked with Leslie and James before; their work on teacher effectiveness is well respected across the educational community, and we are honored that they have approached SSIS to include our teachers in their study. 

And finally, it promises to be a great week of learning for all of us engaged in the Adaptive Schools Training with Lynn Sawyer. I’m looking forward to the learning and its potential impact on expanding our capacity as a professional and collaborative community.

I wish you all a fulfilling and productive week. Thank you for everything you do.  

All good wishes,
Catriona