For the past two days our Grade 3 and 5 students have been participating in the International Schools' Assessment Program (ISA). The ISA assessment program is designed especially for students in international schools in Grades 3 to 10. It is based on the internationally endorsed reading and mathematical literacy frameworks of the OECD's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), and assesses students in the areas of Reading Literacy, Mathematical Literacy, Writing

The ISA program is in its fifth year and is being used to give the school some information about how our students do in various areas in comparison to other international schools throughout the world. We feel that this international norm group is the most relevant for our students and academic program. The test, which is in English, features a broad cultural base and is a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions and prompts. There is no preparation needed for the ISA tests other than a good night's sleep and a solid breakfast and the program has a minimal impact on learning time at school.

Our third and fifth grade students have taken the ISA tests with great seriousness and displayed focused effort and concentration during the testing sessions. The tests are sent back to Australia for processing and the individual results will be communicated to students and averages published for the school community in May.

For more information you can look at the ISA website: www.acer.edu.au.

Today was our 100th day of school and students had fun in their classes thinking about the meaning of one hundred. This creative inquiry also spilled over on the playground and expressions of 'hundredness' abounded by the time recess was over.

On the theme of creativity, a few important events focused on creative endeavors are on the horizon. A few years ago our Vorschule classes started putting up their artwork on the walls at Café Zoe as a culmination of their unit on How We Express Ourselves. Not only will they do this again this year, but the entire school will participate in this program and create a GAIS art month at Café Zoe. This will happen all through the month of March with the Middle School exhibit in week 1, the Vorschule in week 2, Grades 1-3 in week 3 and Grades 4 & 5 in week 4. During March your coffee will never taste or look as good so give our neighborhood café a visit.

An explosion of enthusiasm and participation has occurred in our extra-curricular theater program. We currently have three different groups going, two under the direction of David Giesen and one with newcomer, Jay Levin. To give this a proper venue and celebrate the performing arts at GAIS, we have decided to rent a theater and have an entire performing arts festival. This will take place on May 24th at the Cubberley Theater in Palo Alto. On the program will be two original plays by David Giesen, a Jay Levin production of 'Mid-Summer Nights Dream' and a performance by the GAIS school band. Look for more details of this exciting new event in the weeks to come

Last Friday marked the end of the first semester at GAIS and students came home with their mid-term progress reports. Coming back from Germany early in the week, I had ample chance to read through all of the reports. This was a great way to pass the interminable 12 hour flight from Frankfurt to SFO. The reports showed the picture of an outstanding student body with strong academic aptitudes and well developed trans-disciplinary skills. I commend both the students for their results and our teachers for their dedication and efforts.

The mid-year progress report constitutes one part of a holistic view of a student's progress at school and should be combined with other aspects such as the parent-teacher conferences. In fact, all parents are urged to meet with their teachers to discuss their child's report card results and discuss how the teacher, student and family can work together to achieve mutual goals. At GAIS, we are very proud of the progress made by all of students in their academic, social and emotional development and take this opportunity to congratulate all students and their parents on an outstanding first semester.

As we near the end of this first exciting semester we are already deep in the planning phase for the next school year. A change in the organizational structure for August of 2012 will see the addition of the position of Elementary School Principal to the leadership team. A worldwide search for the best candidate has resulted in two finalists visiting the GAIS campus in the next two weeks. Our two aspiring Principals are Martina Moetz and Sally Thorogood who have come to us as the result of the work done by Search Associates, a recruitment firm that works extensively with international schools and evaluated 32 candidates for this position. A little bit about our candidates:

Martina Moetz is currently the Deputy Director of Finance and Strategy at the Luanda International School in Luanda, Angola. She has also been the Director of Admissions at this school and has taught German and Spanish at the PYP and MYP levels in various schools. She is an Austrian citizen and speaks various languages including English and German. She will be at school on January 30th.

Sally Thorogood is the Assistant Elementary Principal at the Munich International School and for a time was acting Principal. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the PYP and has been at MIS for 13 years. She is a UK citizen and speaks German as a second language. She will be at school on February 6th.

Both of our candidates will be interviewed by panels of teachers, parent reps, Board members and students during their day at GAIS. A final decision will be communicated to the community in mid February.