Elementary News

Final Thoughts

I usually ask at this point every year, “Where has the time gone?”

This school year has passed quickly, but as one teacher recently commented, 2021-22 has felt like a two part production. How wonderful that the second ‘act’ has brought us all together in person as a community! 

This is the last Thistle article before the summer holiday. I’ve begun my annual job of putting a slide show together to reflect memories of this special school year. It will be shown as part of the last day assembly, June 16, beginning at 8:45am. You are, of course warmly welcome to attend. As I look over so many precious moments, it’s easy to appreciate how happy ISA students are and what amazing opportunities they have had all year.

This June, we have our usual turnover of students. Transitions away from a familiar and comfortable home can be challenging, especially when the next assignment is unknown, or there are concerns over the changes in school and friendships. It is my hope, however, that all of our families, both returning and leaving, will look back on the 2021-22 school year with many fond memories. We’ve come out of the most trying of times smiling and with the return to ‘community’ that makes attendance at ISA something we all look forward to each day. As always, it has been a pleasure to serve as the Elementary Principal at an ambitious school with happy kids, supportive parents and dedicated teachers. I know from reading each report card that this has been a successful year for student learning. I also sense that for our students it’s been a year of strong personal growth, with confidence ‘blooming’, and the capacity for hard work and independent study strengthening.

All of the teachers will be looking forward to a summer break. They have worked so hard for your children and deserve a superb holiday. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for all of their efforts to help make this a successful year. I also wish all of our school families a wonderful summer break. I’ve appreciated your support all year. Your children have earned all of those special days of holiday ahead of them!

A Few Staff Departures:

June 16th symbolises the start of summer fun, but it is also a time to say goodbye to many friends who will be leaving Aberdeen. At the end of each school year we say goodbye to families, all of whom have meant so much to the life of the School. For those of you who are moving from Aberdeen, we wish you all of the best and hope you take with you many cherished memories of your time in Scotland. Who knows, one day you might be back!

This year in the Elementary School, we also say goodbye to a few staff members. Each of these teachers has made significant contributions to the education of our students and has enriched the lives of everyone who worked with them.

Adam Coutts has been teaching at ISA since 2013. He began at the school as a drama teacher. From the start is was clear Mr Coutts was a natural educator, one who knows how to get the best out of his students. From his first production of the “Granny Awards” with second graders through his years as a third grade teacher, a hallmark of Mr Coutts is the high level of engagement of his students, their growth in confidence and skills and the establishment of presentation skills for each child, both in his own class and in the countless mini productions he’s arranged for school initiatives throughout each year. A student can’t but smile, pretty much all of the time, when they are working with Mr Coutts because they know their teacher will make the learning experience both fulfilling and a lot of fun. One student recently described life in Mr Coutt’s class as ‘paradise’. 

Together with his wife Kerry, Mr Coutts will be moving to Dubai to explore a new teaching adventure from September. His new school is very fortunate to have this exceptional teacher and we wish him all the best. 

Elaine Knowles joined ISA in 1996. After 26 years at the school she has decided to retire. An extraordinary fourth grade teacher, (and in recent years a support for learning teacher), Mrs Knowles has had a huge impact on the hundreds of students she’s worked with at ISA. Incredibly attentive with each child, Mrs Knowles caring and very determined approach helped to assure each of her students has had the very best educational experience. This included the many field trips her students regularly enjoyed, exploring topics such as the medieval times and the Victorians. There are students all over the world now who will have lovely memories of their time with Mrs Knowles. We want to thank her for her service to ISA and hope she has the best of times in her retirement.

Jane Newbury joined ISA in 1986. She has a deserved reputation for always getting the best out of her students and making the school experience as memorable as possible. Mrs Newbury advances the progress of her students by conveying a “can do” attitude while maintaining a strong sense of fun in everything she does. Students make tremendous progress under her guidance and always skip into the classroom each day full of anticipation for the day ahead. The hundreds of children she has taught for 33 years at ISA knew that their teacher was also their biggest cheerleader. Mrs Newbury has also been instrumental in promoting a positive spirit at the school and in bringing families together at ISA over the past decade as the chairperson for the annual International Festival. She famously met the Queen on two occasions, once at Windsor Castle to win an award for service to old people through second grades monthly visits to an old folks home.

Mrs Newbury has decided to retire and enjoy spending more time with family. (I’m a very lucky man!) In the next school year, (when she is not enjoying a mini break or two), she hopes to return as a supply teacher.

Lisa Nicol has been teaching Music at ISA since 2019. Always so positive and encouraging, she’s had a huge impact on students from pre-school through the upper school. At the school we all feel very fortunate to have had such a supportive colleague. What joy she has brought through the concerts she has produced. The fourth/fifth grade choir performances will be a lasting legacy! Monday morning assemblies won’t be the same without Dr Drum! All of us at ISA wish her, and the family, all the best upon their move to Baku. 

Finally, I submit my own note of departure as one of the retiring teachers. After 36 years at both the American School and then, for over the past 25 years, the International School of Aberdeen I am ready to retire. I count myself a very fortunate fellow for having spent most of my career in this amazing school where I have been allowed to practice the art of teaching in the way I truly love. The partnerships I’ve formed with students, parents and colleagues have made me a better person and educator. Of course the students always provide the best inspiration and motivation for coming to work each day through their natural desire to learn, sense of fun and expectation that, as teachers, we won’t let them down. I am hopelessly biased, but I also have to pay tribute to my wife for showing me, (and often telling me), that the best teachers find joy and laughter in every interaction with others, while ambitiously pursuing student progress. Thanks also to all of the ISA families for the welcome I’ve always felt as part of this amazing community. The future is bright for ISA and the school is so fortunate to have the incredible Morio Kajiwara as the next elementary principal.

All of our teaching staff has worked with great commitment to meet the needs of every child. I recently asked some children who are leaving what they will miss most about ISA. My favourite response was “EVERY DAY!” Several children also commented, “The teachers, they give us so many activities and choice, so learning is fun.” I was also delighted by the observation, “Everyone is so kind to each other, my class is like one big family.”

Whether your family is returning next year or moving on to other adventures, I want to thank you for your contributions to the ISA family this year.

Don Newbury

Elementary Principal