As a family and as educators we have been on many adventures, been involved in new initiatives and ideas - as well as having our ups and downs. This is a place for us to store our memories and for you to discover some of the projects and experiences we have been part of.
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A work in progress |
Our third International School, this time as a family of four. This was going to be our 'fun' move; somewhere to explore for a couple of years before moving on. We are now on year eight! Africa is truly a special place and we feel very privileged to have called this our home. As Richard Mullin said, “The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to.”
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DocumentationOne of Claire's goals over the past few years has been to make the students learning visible; to capture and share all the great things that are happening - she has been doing this though the lens of learning stories. During the Unit of Inquiry How We Express Ourselves Claire documented the students inquiries into colour .
Middle School Poetry AwardBecause I am a Tree
As I am a tree, I saw you as a little child passing by playing games, and stuffing your chattering mouth with sweets and treats. Because I am a tree, I saw you as a teen girl, sitting against me with a boy, on your first date Because I am a tree, I had you crying in my arms after he left you Because I am a tree, I saw you in a white flowing dress walking down the aisle under my willowing branches Because I am a tree, my leaves are falling in autumn and in winter my arms are bare from where I protected you. Because I am a tree, I am in slowly dying, my branches collapsing and crashing in on myself Because I am a tree, once I am no longer, I hope I will be missed Abi, Grade 8 Covid-19 and Distance learningSo many frustrations, yet so much rich learning - about education and about ourselves. Claire, Tony and the kids all learnt so much through the pandemic and became closer as a family because of it. Honestly, Covid has been challenging, difficult, infuriating and so much more but we have survived and are stronger for it! ISAZ teaching conferenceOne of the most powerful ways to give back to the local education community in Zambia has been through the International Schools Association of Zambia (ISAZ) Teachers Conference. Every year, AISL hosts this massive event where local & international teachers from across Zambia travel up to 9 hours to be part of this event. Both Tony & Claire have helped coordinate and lead this conference over the past 7 years and have also facilitated multiple workshops and even been keynote speakers. Working group: School LogoAs the school underwent a transformation of its learning spaces it was decided that the logo also needed an upgrade. With the work done on the school website, Tony was called upon to form a committee to find a new logo. A competition was put into place for the community to submit ideas and after a lengthy process, the final logo was created.
ReggioClaire was able to fulfil one of her goals to be part of an International study group at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Italy. This was an opportunity for Claire to deepen her understanding of the concepts, content, and values of the Reggio Emilia Approach. She was able to join workshops, visit schools, ateliers and discuss ideas with fellow teachers. PhotographyDocumenting our lives and recording the beauty around us is one of Claire's passions and talents. And during our travels round Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Southern Africa, Claire has done just that. Her skill behind the lens didn't go unnoticed at school and she is often found with her camera at school events, plays, socials and graduation, taking the official photos. Working group: WebsiteWhen we realised that our FinalSite subscription was costing the school tens of thousands of dollars, we made the decision to design and create the school website in-house for MUCH less. The other added advantages were that it was easily edited and personalised by the people working within the school, making it much more current and allowing the leaders of the school to have more ownership. Both Tony & Claire worked on this project and are still very proud of the product. |
PYPxIt was a big year for Josh as he completed Grade 5 and undertook the PYPx. Due to Covid and social distancing, Josh's experience of the PYPx was a little different with everything being done digitally and through Google Meets. He answered questions and showed his work through Seesaw. Josh chose a topic which is close to his heart discovering more about the workings of the Lower Zambezi National Park and took action by bringing awareness of a proposed mine within the park boundary. AccreditationOur fifth accreditation over the 20 years of being overseas. Tony was part of the CIS/MSA steering committee while Claire co-chaired the IB self study process. Another busy time for the Potts' family! Designing the Early Years environmentWith the recent redevelopment of the Primary School, Claire had the opportunity to redesign the early learning space, discussing possibilities with builders, landscapers and fellow educators. Together they brought the outdoor and indoor Reggio-inspired learning spaces alive through the use of natural materials, light and planting. Summer in ZambiaWith Covid-19 numbers on the increase, we decided that a trip to the UK was not on the cards. With several member of our international family we packed up the trucks to spend the summer travelling around our host country. We visited waterfalls, hot springs, went on the search for the elusive shoebill and rhinos. Another great adventure! Early Years tracking systemWorking in a shared learning space with multiple teachers it is always hard to keep track of students observations and next steps. After brainstorming with her team, Claire took the initial thoughts away and created a tracking and observation sheet that easily shows students achievements, interests and next steps. This has been refined and adapted over time in order to reflect changes in practice and curriculum. Working group: Learning JourneyAfter the completion of the Inquiry in the PYP workshop, the primary team wanted to continue the work that was started in order to develop a school approach to inquiry. Claire, along with the PYP coordinator, teaching and learning coach and Principal, set to work taking on the proposed ideas to form one cohesive vision. After many drafts and feedback from the community, the AISL learning journey was developed and is now a key part of teaching and learning within the primary school at AISL. Overlanding in NamibiaAn amazing, adventure packed 9 days with grandparents in tow - great to share our love of southern Africa with other members of our family - and their first time in roof top tents! The dunes at Sossusvlei & Deadvlei were a highlight but so was kayaking with seals in Swakopmund and self-driving in Etosha National Park surrounded by animals. Documentation, organisation and storageGoogle Suite has been a life-changer for educators around the world. Being able to collaborate and share documents with students and teachers has definitely enhanced the learning experience for our students. However, this information overload has meant that organising and streamlining access has become a major 'time-suck' for teachers. Therefore developing a shared/team drive infrastructure to maintain the institutional knowledge of AISL was an important project. AISL AppflowSo many of the apps that were being used in Secondary were content-based and were very specific. We worked hard to switch the focus to apps that students could use to take notes, research, create and present their own work and, in doing so, not only reduced the number of apps, but also enabled apps to be used across grade levels and subjects. |
30 nights in BotswanaAnother summer arrived and, due to Covid, it was another one where we needed to stay local. We packed up the truck and headed over the border for 30+ nights camping in Botswana. We had many a close encounter with elephants, lions and so much more. Botswana was very quiet we don't think many people could say they had the camps to themselves and go days without seeing anyone. What an adventure! Data StudioOne of Tony's many 'system-thinking' projects was to find a way to track student progress over time and to be able to visually see that growth in a number of areas. After a lot of experimentation and many a long hour, the AISL Student Profile was created utilising a little known program called 'Google Data Studio' which transforms data from a variety of spreadsheets in to visually appealing and easy to understand 'infographic.'
Marathon +One of Tony's life goals has always been to run a marathon. In the past he has done a few half marathons but this didn't prepare him for the escarpment run. He ran (shuffled and crawled) 42.9 km on dirt tracks, up hills and across streams but it was the final (extra) 0.7km that he still has not forgiven Terry for! An amazing achievement for which he is - and we are - extremely proud. Friends in CroatiaLeaving friends behind is probably one of the most challenging parts of being an international teaching family. On the flip-side, meeting up with them YEARS later makes up for it. In the Summer of 2019, we met up with our best friends from Dubai for an epic reunion in a stunning location. Appraisal SystemAs a Primary Leadership Team, an appraisal system was created which allows both teachers and TA's to make goals, reflect on growth, be regularly observed and receive timely feedback. It has been tweaked over time and provides a record of observations, achievements and feedback over time - both for each member of staff AND for the Primary Leadership Team. Merit scholarsEach year, AISL selects two deserving students to join the school for a full ride scholarship. Tony was lucky enough to support this process for the past 6 years as a member of the Merit Scholar Committee. This included advertising the positions, shortlisting and interviewing the candidates, administering assessments and orienting the successful merit scholars to AISL. Student, Parent & Staff PortalsSystems are definitely Tony's thing and creating these portals - using Google Sites - meant that school runs much more smoothly, with parents, faculty and students having everything they need at their fingertips. New hire orientationFor the past 8 years, Tony has led the new hire orientation, orienting the new teachers and families into life in the school, Lusaka and Zambia. This includes communication beforehand from the time of hiring to arrival, the orientation schedule for the weeks leading up to the start of the new school year and, more recently, has also included a trip into the bush to experience the real Africa - and for many teachers, one of the main reasons for them to take a teaching position in this part of the world. Digital Citizenship programCombining the standards from the American Library Association (ALA), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and Common Sense Media, the Secondary Librarian and Tony worked together to ensure that there was vertical and horizontal alignment in our Digital Citizenship program. We co-delivered the program through advisory and also integrated sessions within a variety of subject areas. |
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In 2008 we flew with our 1 year old daughter to start a new chapter of our lives in Dubai. The move to Dubai would allow family and friends to be closer and provide us with the exciting experience of being part of a founding faculty to aid in the development of a brand new premium school. |
CIS Accreditation
In 2011, GEMS World Academy: Dubai started the self-study process to be accredited by the Council of International Schools. We were both heavily involved in this with Claire being one of a team of three CIS Administrators and Tony part of the steering committee and chair of a domain.
All staff participated in an extensive “self-study” process based around feedback from a number of sources including survey data from parents, students and staff. From this study, an extensive report was put together followed by a full week visit from a team of 16 International CIS visitors who evaluated all aspects of our school for accreditation purposes. In October 2012, GEMS World Academy: Dubai was granted full International Accreditation through the Council of International Schools (CIS). Digital Learning Action Research Paper:GEMS education presented the question to all schools in the region: Can technology deepen and enrich Early Childhood educational experiences? As part of a team of four, we took this question and turned it into an action research paper. We wanted to find out if by providing appropriate educational resources to families in an easy-to-use format, will this in turn cultivate more parental engagement in student learning and allow students to consolidate skills independently at home. We understood that children are growing up in a new world where technology is already transforming how we work and live and that the way we teach must prepare children for this. A day in the life of KG2
One of the main questions asked of their child by parents is 'what did you do today?' The idea behind this video was to show just that. Integrating the use of technology, the students took agency in their work managing the filming and deciding which parts of the day they thought were important to share with their parents. Documenting a PYP unit of Inquiry
Creating this educational video was an interesting and fulfilling professional learning experience for Claire and members of the kindergarten team. Together with the PYP Coordinator, the KG2 team documented a complete unit of inquiry from the initial planning stages and the teaching of the unit right through to the summative assessment and final collaborative teacher reflections. After the creation in 2010, this video was used during induction workshops for new staff, curriculum information evenings for parents, at regional PYP workshops and also as a form of ‘teaching and learning’ evidence presented to external inspection & accreditation teams. |
Early Childhood Technology WebsiteAs part of the Digital Learning Project, at the request of parents and teachers, we collated a curated selection of free & paid iPad apps and educational games that mirrored the sequence of the activities on the shelves in the classroom to ensure that activities are developmentally and age appropriate. Sadly, we have since shut the website down as it is no longer updated. Development of outside teaching areas to facilitate play-based learningAs GWA expanded from 300 students to almost 2000 in a matter of a few years, Claire and the KG team of teachers and students moved into the new build giving them a new outdoor learning space. Initially, the new space was used as a dining room, art area, science experiments or just an additional breakout space but, after petitioning for funding, they redesigned the space into an exciting outdoor learning area, looking towards Reggio and Montessori for inspiration.
UAE National DayEvery year, GWA celebrated UAE National Day. The school would be transformed with traditional dwellings, dancing, music and food. The celebration would allow students and families to learn about the culture and traditions of the host nation. This particular year, Claire's Kindergarten class was chosen to welcome HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein as she visited the school. |
TEDx: Teaching tomorrow's childrenAfter some significant convincing, Tony was persuaded to present at TEDx Winchester Teachers despite it clashing with Movember. Not his finest hour, but a privilege nonetheless...! Collaborative report writing bankOne of the challenges of shifting to narrative report cards is ensuring consistency across departments. Developing accurate and differentiated Arabic report card banks in collaboration with the whole team was a rewarding experience. Class & Grade Level websitesIn 2012, one of Claire's professional goals was to improve communication with families, to increase parental engagement and inform parents about activities in the classroom. As a teacher, Claire was always taking photos to record students achievements and, as a parent, loved to see what her children are up to. The KG team were the first grade level to develop a website and this initiative was adopted across all primary grade levels, providing parents with a great insight into our program.
Creative teaching grant: iPad implementation and app collation
In 2011, Tony received funding from GEMS World Academy: Dubai to collate a list of iPad apps that were in line with the teaching philosophy at the school. It seemed that for every great app, there were ten more that disappointed with spelling mistakes, inaccurate sounds and incorrect prompts making them impractical to be utilised successfully at GWA. In order to provide a strong foundation, for a program that was only going to expand as the school grew, it was deemed necessary to create a list of approved apps that would support student learning. IB pilot stand-alone planner projectThis project was developed by the IB Continuum Department and as a result, provided both PYP and MYP with valuable information for future versions of planners. Claire, along with a the PYP coordinator and head of Early Learning, developed a stand-alone guided reading planner, the Central Idea being: 'The words we see and hear enable us to create pictures in our minds.' This planner was intended to develop the Early Childhood reading program as well as record and reflect on the activities that were currently happening.
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In 2003, after Tony teaching in London for a few years we decided to set off on adventure. Within the space of 3 months we found a job, got married, packed up a flat and moved across the world. What started as a promise that we would be back in two years turned into 5 years of experiences and explorations. The Philippines and the people we met there remain a special place in our hearts.
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SLURPBuilding community spirit played a huge role in the success of ISM during our time there, encouraged by our superintendent, David Toze. Many an opportunity was made available for cross-division and cross-department events. The 'San Lorenzo Urban Rehydration Project' (SLURP) was an opportunity for faculty and staff to decompress, discuss ideas and tell stories - and of course rehydrate - after a long day of school. Tony was honoured to become the SLURP Master to coordinate and oversee this weekly event. Kath Murdoch: Inquiry inspiration at its bestWe were lucky enough to have several visits by the one and only Kath Murdoch. These sessions truly allowed us as a school AND as individuals to reflect on the need for true inquiry and providing rich learning experiences no matter the curriculum framework. Sailing around the islands near BaliWe joined a traditional Phinisi sailboat to explore the Indonesian archipelago for two weeks. We visited many a beautiful island but by far our most amazing experience was on the island of Rinca where we came across the Komodo dragon. There is a great story here to ask Tony why he left Claire on the island with the dragons while he left on a speedboat...! |
PADI: Diving CertificationLiving in the Philippines surrounded by over 7,000 islands and 9% of the world's coral reefs, learning to scuba dive was a natural step on our adventure. We were fortunate to be able to dive with thresher sharks, whale sharks and manta rays and so much more. Although it was amazing to see these creatures in their natural habitat, it was also the small things that caught our attention - from the amazingly vibrant nudibranchs to the gullies of soft corals and sponges.
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Digital PortfoliosWith an increasing amount of student work becoming digital the was an intentional shift away from traditional portfolios. In these early stages of development, Powerpoint was chosen to build these early portfolios. These digital portfolios were shared with families during student led conferences and were burnt to a CD to send home at the end of the year. Those were the days! Learning to skiAfter a year and a half living in the Philippines we were craving the cold and snow. Although Tony had skied before, this was a new experience for Claire and her family.
After a week of falls, bruises and laughter - a week or so in the snow has become a yearly event for us. We have even invested in a property on the slopes. |