Tel: (237) 23342 1437 www.asddouala.com

Editor and Design : Jacqueline Bindzi

IN THIS ISSUE: School Accreditation Importance and Process, Eid Al-Adha holiday, Ecole des Loisirs, Counselor’s Corner, Student Council, AP Eng News.

American School of Douala

Edition 2016-2017 Issue 4 September 9th, 2016

TALKING DRUMS

TALKING DRUMS

Accredited by

WHY IS SCHOOL ACCREDITATION IMPORTANT?

I want to thank all of the families who attended parent orientation last night. It is so important that we remind ourselves that the school-home connection is essential to a successful school community. For those who were not able to attend there will be plenty of opportunities for parent involvement throughout the school year.

Next week, in addition to the national holiday, your children will also not attend school on Friday. This will be so that the ASD teachers have time to complete some very important work that needs to be done.

Our school’s accrediting agency is the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS). More information about MSA can be found by visiting their website: http://www.msa-cess.org.

We will be meeting to discuss our upcoming accreditation visit scheduled for the 2017-2018 school year. This visit will be by a team of other educators from the region and from around the world. The purpose of accreditation is to provide an objective external evaluation of the quality of our school and our academic performance and to provide us with guidelines in our commitment to continuous school improvement. It certifies that we are meeting or exceeding the same educational standards as other accredited schools in the U.S. and around the world.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Parents in the auditorium at the Parents Orientation Evening

ASD is currently accredited by MSA-CESS through May, 2018. We have begun the process for renewing this accreditation for another ten years. The process includes a self-study of twelve different standards. There is a committee for each standard and we would like to have a parent and student for each committee. This is a great way to become more familiar with the educational program and services the school provides.

ACCREDITATION PROCESS

CONTINUES - PARENTS AND

STUDENTS NEEDED

Continued on page 2

Continued on page 2

Edition 2016-2017 Issue 4

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September 9th, 2016

In preparation for this visit we will be conducting a self-study of all aspects of our school. We will be looking at our Mission and Vision, our Governance model, our Business Practices, our Physical Plant, and of course, our Academic Program. This self-study will involve a number of committees who are each assigned an area of the school to examine and evaluate in a written report. The reports will look at our successes and the improvements that have been made to the school over the past decade. They will also honestly discuss the areas in which we need to improve and outline strategies to do so. We need your help. We need parents who are willing to volunteer time for those committees. Parents who will work with teachers and students to provide an open and honest assessment of our school. This is your chance to really make a difference in the future of your child’s education. Please contact the school next week if you are interested. And for those of you who will be celebrating the upcoming holiday with your families, Eid Mubarak! Edward LANGLAIS Director High School Principal ASD

Continued from page 1

The committees generally meet the last Monday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30 pm and on four Fridays- one each in September, December, February, and April. The four Friday sessions will occur as part of our staff development days. The first meeting for this year will be, Friday, September 16. The committees are as follows:

1. Mission, Beliefs, Student profile 2. Governance and Leadership 3. School Improvement Plannings 4. Finances 5. Facilities 6. School Organization 7. Health and Safety 8. Educational Program 9. Assessment and Evidence of Student

Learning 10. Student Services 11. Student Life and Student Activities 12. Information Resources

Parents who would like to volunteer should contact Mr. Fuller at dfuller@asddouala.com. Students who would like to volunteer should contact Mrs. Fuller at school.

Accreditation -Continued from page 1

PreK student writing the letter “H”

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September 9th, 2016

Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Adha, one of the two most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. What is it about? Eid al-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims to mark the occasion when Allah (God) appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to demonstrate his devotion to the Almighty. Ignoring the advice of the Devil, who tried to tempt Ibrahim to disobeying God’s will, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son’s life when Allah ordered him refrain from that and sent him a lamb to sacrifice instead. The story is designed to demonstrate how Ibrahim’s devotion passed even the sternest test, and is told in similar fashion in the Jewish Torah and Christian Old Testament, where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Each year, Muslim pilgrims from around the world visit Mecca (the holy place where the story took place) to pray and to sacrifice sheep, or sometimes goats for the purpose of feeding needy people. The day they do so is a public holiday in Muslim countries, and the festival’s Arabic title has connotations of a period of rejoicing at the victory over the devil’s intentions. Eid al-Adha is not to be confused with the other major festival, Eid el Fotor.

Mark your Calendars!

Sept. 12th

EID HOLIDAY – NO SCHOOL

Sept. 16th

Full Day Inservice – NO

CLASSES

Sept. 23rd

Progress Reports

Oct. 5th

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Oct. 21st

Quarter 1 ends

Oct. 24th -28th

Fall Break

Oct. 31st

Quarter 1 ends

WHAT IS EID AL-ADHA?

The recommended registrations according to

the reading levels are as follows:

K3 = TITOUMAX

K4 =MINIMAX

K5 / G1 / G2 = KILIMAX

G3/G4 = ANIMAX

G5 = MAXIMAX

G6/G7 = SUPERMAX

Middle and Upperschool = MEDIUM CLUB

If you are interested, please register

before Thursday September 15th.

Do not hesitate to contact Mrs Sarah Treuil if

you require further information at

psms2013@yahoo.com

Quarter 2 begins

This year again, ASD offers you the opportunity to register with L'Ecole des loisirs. This includes a package of 8 new books in French, adapted to the age of your child. The packages cost from XAF 32,200 for Pre-Kindergarten children to XAF 36,100 for middle and upper school students. Each month, your child will receive a new book.Brochures on paper are available on request. You can also see the selection of books on the website www.ecoledesmax.com.

FRENCH : ECOLE DES LOISIRS

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September 9th, 2016

STUDENT COUNCIL

ELECTIONS COMING UP!!!

Student council elections are coming up, so please be aware of the following dates:

Officer Candidate Meeting: Lunch on Friday, September 9

Student Campaigns: September 13-15

Officer Candidate Speeches due: September 15 (to Miss Reinhart)

Officer Candidate Speeches: morning assembly Monday, September 19

Student Voting: Tuesday, September 20 (2nd period)

Contact Miss Reinhart or Miss Davis if you have any questions. Good Luck to all those who wish to run for office this year!

The 2016/ 2017 school year is off to a good

start and although we are only into September,

it is time for our 12th graders to be thinking

about applying to Universities around the

world. Mrs. Fuller has made appointments for

all seniors to meet with her to discuss the

process. Parents are welcome to attend these

45 minute sessions.

Most seniors will be taking the SAT this fall.

November 5th is the next test date. The early

registration deadline is September 21st and

the final deadline is October 7th. The SAT will

also be given December 3rd, January 21st, May 6th

and June 3rd. Seniors need to check the “Senior

Board” (outside Mr. Hauck’s room) for

important information throughout the year.

THE NEXT SAT DATE IS NOVEMBER 5TH.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS SEPTEMBER 21st .

FINAL DEADLINE: OCTOBER 7th.

Check this out! Free world-class SAT practice is available at https://www.khanacademy.org/sat.

COLLEGE

COUNSELOR’S

CORNER

Edition 2016-2017 Issue 4

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September 9th, 2016

L’Ecole des Loisirs

Abonnement REGROUPE (tarif Afrique)

8 NOUVEAUX livres - un livre par mois – seront expédiés par fret maritime ou aérien, puis distribués

directement à votre enfant dans l’établissement scolaire où s’effectue un regroupement d’abonnements.

Je souscris un seul abonnement sur cette fiche et j’entoure l’abonnement choisi

Pour un 2ème

abonnement, utilisez une 2è feuille d’abonnement ou précisez très clairement.

Nom de l’abonnement Prix de l’abonnement

en €

Prix de l’abonnement

en FCFA

BEBEMAX (jusqu’à 2 ans) 48 € 31 500 Fcfa

TITOUMAX (Petite Section) 49 € 32 200 Fcfa

MINIMAX (Moyenne Section) 50 € 32 800 Fcfa

KILIMAX (Gde Sect° CP CE1) 51 € 33 500 Fcfa

ANIMAX (CE2 CM1) 52 € 34 200 Fcfa

MAXIMAX (CM2) 53 € 34 800 Fcfa

SUPERMAX (6ème

5ème

) 54 € 35 500 Fcfa

MEDIUM CLUB (Collège - Lycée) 55 € 36 100 Fcfa

Bon de commande à remettre avec le règlement, AVANT le 19 SEPTEMBRE 2016 :

Nom de l’enfant ………………………………………………………….

Prénom…………………………………………………………………….

Classe………………………………………………………………………

Nom de l’enseignant(e) ……………………………………………………

Nom de l’établissement …………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………...

Je joins mon règlement : (cocher la case correspondante)

□ Par chèque bancaire ou postal en euros

A l’ordre de MAX / Société Générale

□ En Liquide FCFA, sous enveloppe , avec la monnaie juste,

Date et signature obligatoires :

Commande EDL-CMR 2016-17

Edition 2016-2017 Issue 4

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September 9th, 2016

Welcome to our AP class, where we have spent time discussing the summer reading Huck Finn and reading strategies for text analysis.

This week, students researched the many eras of Literature. Students worked in groups to become experts of their chosen eras from the Classical Period (1200 BCE – 455 CE) through the Post-Modern Period (1945 and onward).

The final test of their knowledge is their class presentation, during which time the students must become the teachers.

AP Literature students Presentation time !!

Ms. Andrea Rheinhart