As we draw closer to the end of the school year, the minds and hearts of many families are pulled in different directions. Those who are leaving Tajikistan are trying to finish up all that needs to be done here while thinking about settling in to a new environment and all the stress associated with it. Those who remain worry about what the future here will be like without friends they have come to know and enjoy. These transitions are an inevitable part of this international life, but that does not make moving any easier. During the first week of May the school will begin a “Transitions” program for all of our students: those leaving and those remaining. Both groups will meet to talk about what is happening, their feelings and fears about the future, and each group will be given some suggestions for activities that will help them look at this transition time in a more positive light. Those remaining may also come home with a permission slip to be a New Student Buddy. This is an opportunity for our students to meet and become a buddy to an incoming student In August. Please read the information and return to Ms. Horton if your son/daughter would like to part of this program. While acknowledging that the grief that comes with saying good-bye is an unavoidable part of all transitions, we hope to help students happily anticipate new beginnings that transitions signal: times of hellos, of growth and change.
TERRIFIC TENSHello QSI Dushanbe! We are the Dekker Family :) Nic and Tracey; with our awesome children Nic (Jnr) and Rachel. We are South Africans and grew up mostly outdoors on the beaches and sometimes in the mountains of our beautiful homeland. For many years, we taught Mathematics and History there, in government-funded schools. Class sizes are big, and students all wear school uniforms with ties and blazers. We have had amazing students who are from all walks of the South African life. We are now really delighted about moving to Tajikistan and meeting all of you, as well as learning more about your country and Central Asia. We are especially looking forward to exploring your mountains! We have been more and more drawn to QSI the more that we have learned about their ethos and ideals, and even more so the more we have interacted with QSI people. The fruit shows what a great tree QSI is! We've been blown away with just how friendly and caring everyone has been towards us, and we're thrilled to be a part of this circle. We love the outdoors and seeing (and eating) new things. Camping, hiking and cycling are our big loves. We are happy to live far away from noise and pollution, preferably around a camp-fire! We all also love to read and get into the kitchen, and chat and joke around the dinner table. You'll often catch us singing loudly or playing a game of speed UNO. We are hoping that some of you will join us in some game nights once we settle in! Nic, Tracey, Nic (Jnr) and Rachel Dekker
The word “Makerspace” has become a buzzword in schools over the past few years, and QSID is jumping on the bandwagon. A makerspace is exactly what it sounds like it should be: a workspace set aside specifically for creating, inventing and exploring tools and ideas. At our school we hope it will be a place for students to solve problems, tinker, and use their imaginations either as part of class challenges or as part of individual or small group activities. These can be high tech, low tech or no tech. As you do your spring cleaning, or just because you might have items that could be recycled, we would be happy to take them off your hands. From cloth to containers, plastic to play doh, wire to wood, we are looking for clean odds and ends that may be used to create a new toy or added to a sculpture or as part of a student invention we haven’t even thought of yet. Send these things in with your student, and it will be added to our supplies. At the moment, besides these miscellaneous items, we are hoping for a donation of a sewing machine or two. Thanks for your support as we continue to help our students become 21st century thinkers and problem-solvers. |