Welcoming newcomers and watching TV

Hi, it’s Charles Nolan here again, this time from early(first week) at my new job at University of New South Wales. It feels different, refreshing and challenging to be a new starter again, and gives me pause to reflect on the new entrants to our community at American International School.
My new office overlooks Botany Bay, where Captain James Cook landed, and the airport where most of us first land when we arrive from overseas. Those first few months are critical to a new arrival’s happy stay in this country, and this where American International School does its part as a member of the community to support and welcome newcomers and returnees.
We welcome expatriate students, arriving or returning, with an education system that integrates seamlessly with the rest of the world, offering High School Diploma and/or the International Baccalaureate. We welcome new parents with an education system that offers structure and challenge enabling their students to access universities and colleges worldwide. We welcome families with a school community structure that links them in with a group of friends to assist them in those early weeks. We welcome business people with an opportunity to network through our Corporate membership to the American Club, and an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals through other social functions.
Last week, (Monday night), we were in the audience of the ABC TV studios in Ultimo, participating in a series called "Difference of Opinion". The particular show was on Education, and Principal Lyn Cheetham had been invited, and Mary and I came for support and promotion of the school. The video clips are on their website, http://www.abc.net.au/tv/differenceofopinion/episodes/episode_03.htm, and covered topics from funding through attracting teachers to government involvement. It was educational for us as well, and Mary got to direct the proposal that class sizes were an important part of teacher satisfaction that was not being adequately addressed. Lyn, Mary and I met members of the panel, the audience, and the presenter Jeff McMullen – another opportunity to let them see the difference that an international education makes, rather than just the standard Australian system dressed in a private and public mix.
Next week, we will be hosting the "Today Tonight" team from Channel Seven with an exclusive on international education. All part of publicising and growing your American International School. One question from last week’s note on graduates and universities attended, was one parent’s specific request for details on universities offered for our recent graduates. I don’t have the 2005/6 figures to hand, but I do have the figures for Principal Cheetham’s first year in 2004/5. I have altered them to remove the names, yet still retain the individual options. I will have the 2005/6 figures shortly and get them out to you.
2004/5 Graduates – University Offerings
Ball State University (Indiana)
Indiana University (Indiana)
Butler University (Indiana) University of Bridgeport (Connecticut)
American International College (Massachusetts)
Rhode Island College (Rhode Island)
Purdue (Indiana) TAFE or community college in Vancouver
Michigan State University (Michigan)
Grand Valley State University (Michigan) Ball State University (Indiana)
Michigan State University (Michigan)
Community college in US Sydney University
Bathspa University (Bath, England)
Kingston University (London, England) Boston University
Ithaca College (New York)
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Bowling Green University Undecided
Macquarie University St. John’s College in NY
Manhattanville College (New York)
Basketball scholarship – various Colleges
So, this newsletter ends the way it began, with new beginnings. New beginnings for our graduate students, and new beginnings for me in the educational sector. As I walk around the university this week, I see the next step in our American International School students’ academic lives – university. There are over 40,000 students here at UNSW, so it’s not the same level of small class sizes and individual attention, but the hope and aspirations are there for all to see. I feel new again (at least for a week), and positive about the future for your students, your school and your international community. Especially your American International School, where international education for everyone, if not a right, is surely an aspiration.