Hi, it’s Charles Nolan here with another great week of community.
The more I enter into this community, the more there is to find. I am astounded, really, by all the support and cheer I find. Whenever I presage a forwarded newsletter to a business associate with an apology for interruption, I get back a host of supporting replies. From, please send to my sister, through to I want to promote your school to my associates, and requests for further information. I also get the usual “How on earth did you ever get to OWN a school”, to which my reply usually is, “You don’t - the School OWNS you!” Thanks to all those who mail me back with words of encouragement for these letters. I do aim to make a difference with your American International School, and it’s good to know that I can do that in some little way – even through this newsletter.
The week started on a personal note – Monday-13-November is Mary’s and my wedding anniversary. We were married on Friday-13-November - Black Friday, in 1987 – 19 years ago. More trivia – the ceremony was at the 13th hour, took 13 minutes, and 13 people attended. All coincidental, with the only unlucky thing being for Mary, as she ended up with me! We had a wowsers night out, with Iced Chocolates at a local restaurant with all the family (Patrick & Tom).
Wednesday lunchtime saw me spruiking international education benefits at the American Club lunch for the new American Ambassador to Australia, Robert D. McCallum Jr. It was a great opportunity to network with a number of executives and meet some new expatriate members. I was seated at the table with past presidents and dignitaries, (“must have been a tragic mistake”, says Mary). I had the opportunity to promote the school to more of the established members of the club, who were very interested in our American International School (“you always say that because they can’t get away”, says Mary). It’s not just parents of school age children that retain an interest in education – grandparents too are great supporters for us in our international focus and community.
Thursday afternoon saw me out at the school for Principal Lyn Cheetham and the faculty’s periodic Staff meeting. My role was confined to coming in at the end with the wine and cheese, and giving the faculty an opportunity to put a face to the name, ask questions and get a straight reply. I gave a potted history of my background - Kiwi Hillbilly, boarding school, itinerant worker, army officer, IT manager, expatriate, IT consultant and finally school owner. We discussed employment contracts, and the implied social contract that underpins everything we do at the school. That social contract is both with the school community, and a belief in the integrity and aims of the school.
A social contract means a commitment and focus that underpins everything that we do together. I stated my belief that without accepting that social contract, I advise against any physical contract on its own. It’s always important to know where we start from on this journey that is your American International School. It’s a relay race where will pass the baton on to future parents, faculty, management and newer generations. However, we begin from a position of trust in our journey of international education, in wanting to make a difference, to share our education with everyone, a gift of loving lifelong learning, and a spirit of community that is our American International School.
Our Teachers’ Day Out ended with sharing a Karaoke evening at a bar in Balmain, where your own Dr Joe Grube won first prize in the finals of their long running karaoke competition. A great day out, and thanks to the teachers who let me share in their own personal time – I much appreciated it.
I met up on Friday with the American Club and American Society for a joint marketing session. Our approach will be to package a pyramid of benefits for expatriates:
Education – American International School
Social network – American Society
Business network – American Club
If you are not American, please let me know of your community group that we can add in to our pyramid of community support to our international community at large in Sydney.
I recently talked with a few expatriates, lonely for the seasons of their home climates, but enjoying our long year of summer. I pointed out that like the mountain wilderness, you need to look a bit deeper for the seasons changing in Sydney – but, as with most things in life, it’s all there when you look hard enough. The autumn bark shed and renewal on the eucalyptus trees like paintings in an outdoor gallery, Winter growth and green (versus summer blue) hues on the tips of the leaves, Spring blue jacaranda tree (a native of Africa) blossoms, and the current Spring flowering of white in the tops of the gum trees, soon to be followed by the summer fall of leaves in the Australian bush. The return of the kookaburras and flying foxes heralds the summer menagerie that is our bountiful Sydney wildlife. It’s all there in this harsh and strikingly beautiful land, that we expatriates call home whilst we are here, and let it in to our hearts. In the Arabian Desert they have a saying, “You can leave the desert but you can never get the sand out from between your toes”. I believe a similar thing abounds in Sydney, and especially our School, yet resides in your hearts forever – if you just let it in. Try it, and let me know either way what you think.
Thanksgiving coming up this Wednesday at school, and Thursday-23-November evening at the American Club. An evening where I for one will be saying thanks for all the opportunities given to us together in your American International School. Not too late to sign up – just call the Club and book under the American Society or the School (in my name). Thanksgiving is a special time, to reflect on the opportunities that we have, and often don’t fully understand that they are not universal. One of our scholarship students had to leave us(hopefully temporarily), to work and provide funds for his family in their strife torn homeland. We provided for his education, but alas it was not enough when family and friends safety, succour and security was threatened in a situation that we fortunate few only get to see on television. It puts my desultory words to shame and little purpose, upon reflection of the actual hardships that a member of our school community has to go through to support his family in times of life threatening hardship. I must do better is the words that spring to mind – watch this space, help me with ideas and hold me to this commitment.
This Saturday, we will be erecting 6,000 lights on the Jefferson and Washington buildings to show the community the cheer and delight that we have in our American International School. We will see you at the school if you can make it, on the following Saturday-2-December, for a 7:30 barbecue and 8:30 illumination. In some small way, we wish to share with our community the delight that is your American International School. In some small way to enable others to see the difference, where international education is for everyone, and although not a right, is surely an inspiration.
Regards,
Charles
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