HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTERThursday, May 9, 2019

TAISM Graduation - Class of 2019

Dear High School Parents

We are pleased to announce that our High School Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2019 will take place on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

The following students will address the audience at the ceremony:

Graduation Address: Julio Castiblanco Guzman Student Address: Rafaella Saa RodriguezGraduation Master of Ceremony: Janan Behjoo

Dear TAISM High School Parents:

This is the time of year in school when we think more about transitions, and the changes that occur in the lives of our students and their families. This is particularly true in international schools like TAISM where students move into and out of school at a relatively higher rate than in public or state schools. We are thinking about the soon-to-be graduates, and we are thinking about the students who will be transitioning to a new school next year because their family is moving, as well as the student whose best friend(s) are moving on to a new school next year. We are also keenly aware of the cultural circumstances for our students and recognize that many of the students at TAISM are so-called Third Culture Kids (TCKs).

The pioneering work of David Pollock about TCKs dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, and continues today through the efforts of Ruth Van Reken, Tina Quick, Lois Bushong, and many others. The efforts of these individuals provides us with useful definitions and has resulted in a deepening understanding of what it means to be a TCK, and to appreciate the benefits and challenges associated with growing up as a TCK. Awareness and understanding are important starting points, and we also want to share strategies and help develop skills to support our students and their families as they go through life’s transitions.

One definition of a Third Culture Kid is “an individual who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than the parents’ culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Elements from each culture are incorporated into the life experience, but the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar experience.”

A resource that you might find helpful is the Ruth VanReken TedxTalk titled “Third Culture Kids: the impact of growing up in a globalized world” linked here. It is likely that you recognize some of the experiences and/or emotions described by VanReken in your child(ren). You may also identify with the experiences and emotions of being an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK).

A useful strategy to help guide our students and your children through a transition is captured in the acronym (and the concept of a) RAFT. We want children to build a RAFT from their current situation to the new situation they are moving into.

RAFT is an acronym for: Reconciliation: When we hear that we are leaving, it is often easy to ignore any interper sonal difficulties we may be having. However, these difficulties do not go away when we leave and this mental baggage may even affect our future relationships. Therefore, it is very im portant to resolve any conflicts before we leave. In order to do this, we need to both forgive and be forgiven.

Affirmation: By acknowledging the influence of a person in our lives, relationships can be built and maintained. This can involve identify ing special teachers, friends and family mem bers and acknowledging them for example with notes and/or gifts.

Farewells: It important to say good-bye to people, places, pets and things that are important to us. This may involve for example giving somebody a gift, attending a party for people we want to say goodbye to, planting a tree in your favorite spot or taking pictures of what we cherish.

Think Destination: Finally, it is imperative to begin thinking about the future destination by asking questions about it and considering what resources you will have there to aid with the transition. It may for example be helpful to research the new place online and/or get in con tact with other families in the new destination.

Each student’s development includes intellectual, social, emotional, and physical components, and our intention at TAISM is to provide guidance and opportunities for growth in each of these areas. The social and emotional aspects can become more complicated for TCKs. As Tina Quick writes in her book “The Global Nomad’s Guide to University Transition:”

One of the major developmental tasks that help us form our sense of identity and belonging is to successfully learn the basic cultural rules of our society while we are children, to internal ize those principles and practices as we move through adolescence, and the use them as the basis for how we live and act as adults. What happens if those rules keep changing because the TCK keeps moving from one culture into another, even if it is form host to home culture and back again? You get it - cultural confu sion!

While mobility can help students develop confidence in an unpredictable and changing environment, become more independent, provide a rich memory bank, and sharpen their perspective, it can also lead to feelings of restlessness, guardedness, and lead to difficulty in planning. TCKs might tend to value rela tionships quite deeply, yet be guarded when establishing long-term relationships. Our high school counselors, Ms. Chrystal Kelly and Ms. Cheryl Brown, are outstanding resources on these topics. Please also note that we have several excellent books on these topics availa ble in the TAISM High School Library. A list of these titles and authors can be found here on the High School page at parents.taism.com.

Our high school counselors, Ms. Chrystal Kelly and Ms. Cheryl Brown, are also outstanding resources on these topics. Please take a few minutes to review additional information and resources posted on the High School page at parents.taism.com. including several excellent books on these topics available in the TAISM High School Library.

Thank you for trusting us with your child at TAISM. I am grateful for their contributions to our school and community, and we look forward to their successful transition from grade to grade, to and from TAISM, and when they graduate from TAISM to the next phase of their life.

Sincerely,Richard Petersen

Principal’s Note

Community Service Downs Syndrome Party

We would like to thank all the teachers, parents, students and Pizza Hut for supporting our 9th annual event for Oman Down Syndrome Association - Ms. Keya Lahiri (HS Community Service Coordinator)

Pic Credit: Nicole Bradbury Becx - TAISM PR

Advanced Drama production

Advanced Drama Class performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.Pic. Credit: Kris Hovland (Drama Teacher)

Announcements

TAISM Employment Opportunity for SY 2019-2020

The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) is seeking a Physical Education Aquatics Assistant for SY 2019-2020.

For additional information and to apply online, visit our Apply to TAISM page on our website. Please note that employment applications will only be accepted from applicants who apply online at the above link.

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