Dear Colleagues

Welcome back after the Passover holidays. We trust that you are ready for the challenges ahead!

WELCOME:

A special word of welcome to Michelle Mac Donald, the new principal at Kings School Goodwood, and to Sandy Wubbeling who has been appointed as ACSI Academic Area Co-ordinator for Pretoria North.

New Member schools: Akademia in Bela Bela, John Wesley in Eshowe and South Citty in Ramsgate.

 It is a blessing for ACSI to welcome you all. May our Father bless you as you continue your work in His vineyard.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE:

We were blessed beyond expectation during our Leadership Conference in Port Elizabeth that took place during the past weekend.  Thank you to those who attended, may the blessing be carried to your schools and to all you serve there.

SELECTING GOOD TEACHERS:

In line with our theme, Teaching to Transform: Life on Life, is the following article from Matthew Gladwell on selecting good teachers: http://www.gladwell.com/2008/2008_12_15_a_teacher.html.  Matthew also comments on something he excluded from his article (on his blog). He says the key lies in effective (comprehensive) mentoring of new teachers.

Thank you to Hanna Pretorius for Domino Servite for this interesting snippet!

UMALUSI:

ACSI’s  communication with Umalusi (via Naisa) continues. We have re-stated our concerns with the Umalusi CEO, Mr M Rakometsi , and want our schools to please take note of the following matters raised with them:

• The process of Provisional accreditation keeps changing, is confusing, onerous and cumbersome and is fraught with administrative mistakes on the part of Umalusi.
• The date of the implementation of full accreditation keeps changing and the criteria for the evaluation, accreditation and monitoring of independent schools have still not been promulgated. The sector remains uncertain of the scale and reach of the process of accrediting independent schools. 
• Consultation with legitimate stakeholders has virtually stopped in the last three years.

Any school that has any concerns or problems regarding Umalusi should please contact our office.

In the light of the establishment of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU) Naisa has entered into discussion with associations regarding the establishment of a possible Quality Assurance Unit for all Independent Schools, an initiative that ACSI supports greatly. We will keep our schools informed regarding this matter.

In the meantime remember the option of International Accreditation that is available to schools that have been accredited as accreditation candidates by Umalusi.

FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING CAMPAIGN

Resource material relating to the Foundations for Learning Campaign, will be published in The Sunday Times on the following dates: 

Grade 2: 10 May 2009 

Grade 3: 31 May 2009 

Grade 4: 14 June 2009 

Grade 5: 19 July 2009 

Grade 6: 23 Aug 2009

Please take note that independent schools could voluntarily participate in systemic assessments in the provinces, but NO province can insist on independent schools participating in this process especially not for subsidy purposes.

NEW PROGRESSION/PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS GRADES 1 TO 9

According to SAOU Curriculum Services new progression/promotion requirements, as summarised below, are soon to be announced. Until such time as a formal announcement has been made in this regard, the new requirements are not yet policy. However, principals can in the meantime take them into account when doing their planning.