Greetings, Parents, as we celebrate the end of another busy year of growth and learning at ISD. It has been a great year for the school, with many all time highs and new achievements. Our growth continues unabated, and in May we had our peak all-time enrollment of 480 students. Student achievement--as measured in MAP and AP scores--allows us to feel confident that our children are well prepared academically by ISD, while student achievement--as measured in awards, Honor Roll numbers, and fine year-end performances--show us that ISD provides a rich, rewarding environment in which our children can explore their passions and reach towards excellence in many domains. I would like to thank all parents for entrusting ISD with your children's education this year. It is a huge responsibility, and we hope we have lived up to or--indeed--exceeded your expectations during school year 2010-11. I would also like to make special thanks to the ISD parents who were on the ISD Board of Trustees this year. I have never worked with a more professional, focused, and supportive Board. Much of our progress as an institution this year is thanks to their efforts, particularly those of board Chair Valerie Stetson. Thanks are due to the ISD teaching and Admin staff as well. We are fortunate to have two wonderful, hard working, intelligent Principals who are passionate about their work and who have huge hearts with which they care for our students. The ISD teaching staff is tops and I thank them for their efforts throughout the year, in classrooms, on the field or court, in the pool, on field trips and at dances...everywhere. Our teachers are a special breed who realize that ISD is more than just a school. They are willing to put in huge hours to provide a community for ISD families that is so much more than just classrooms and textbooks. Thank you, caring teachers! I would also like to thank my Admin staff and the school staff who help to make things work 'behind the scenes'. Our office staff are a wonderful bunch who always have laughter in their hearts. Our security, maintenance, and janitorial staff all contribute in important ways to keep ISD beautiful and safe and functioning for our kids. The school has made great progress in its main goal of expanding facilities this year. We will come back in August to a transformed new building---we should be able to see the whole thing--and hopes are that the new building may open even during the next school year...inshallah! We will continue to build on our curriculum development work, improving instruction and learning, and on making ISD a great school, the Best in the West, a sports powerhouse and an arts showcase. With so much talent and passion in one place, anything is possible! Have a great summer. I hope to catch several fish and spend a lot of time on rivers in Oregon and Japan. I hope your summer is as relaxing as I plan on mine being! For those of you who are leaving our community, we hope ISD remains in your hearts. We will miss you and we wish you the best. Thank you, as always, for your support. -- Wayne Rutherford Director International School of Dakar www.isdakar.org June 16 - Graduation - 6:00 - 8:30 in Gym - Report Cards are distributed after the ceremony |
Director's Dispatch >