by Caroline Breeds
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This has certainly been a year like no other!
2020 is one perhaps we want to forget? Or, shift our focus to new things that we have learnt, perhaps about ourselves, families or others. 2020 certainly gave us time to reflect, finding out other ways that we enjoy spending time that previously we might have discarded. Many were able to take the opportunity to learn new skills, new hobbies and new ways to keep fit! My new hobby was paddle boarding in the warmer months both in the sea and along the River, finding some new really picturesque spots. I have not been brave enough in the colder months to continue my love of paddle boarding and will wait in anticipation until the warmer months of 2021 I think.....
Many found a new level of appreciation for teachers following months of home schooling! As we now look forward to what we hope and believe will be a happier year in 2021. We have the exciting news that the vaccine will be rolled out shortly to those who are vulnerable, it will make such a difference to many patiently wanting to visit family members in care homes and hospitals. Some of these stories have been truly heart breaking.
For our students although they are back on campus which is wonderful, the lead up to Christmas has been unusual. There would of course be lots of buzz around school productions, music ensembles, parents visiting the schools for various Christmas events, this year we have had to do things differently. Some events are able to continue online so families can share these special moments together at home.
Our admissions staff continue to work extremely hard speaking with perspective and new parents to ensure that during this difficult we can still demonstrate the warm ACS welcome but in slightly different ways! Our admissions teams have enjoyed getting to know families via zoom meetings prior to arriving in the UK. This has helped settle the nerves of the whole family, meeting teachers on line has also been invaluable. We have superb virtual tours where families can be guided by admissions or take a tour themselves of our wonderful campuses. The feedback we have received has been encouraging regarding these zoom meetings prior to leaving their home country, these are meetings that in some cases will continue going forward.
Details are as follows:
Cobham Admissions Team - Dean is Helene Campbell, Assistant Deans are Aileen Macgee and Betina Awtani: Email: cobhamadmissions@acs-schools.com Tel: +44 (0)1932 867251
Egham Admissions Team - Dean is Rhian Curtis and Assistant Dean is Jane Hudson: Email: eghamadmissions@acs-schools.com Tel: +44 (0)1784 430800
Hillingdon Admissions Team - Dean is Christina Decu and Assistant Dean is Maria Marsh: Email: hillingdonadmissions@acs-schools.com Tel: +44 (0)1895 259771
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ACS International Schools have a wealth of content resources for you to stay up to date with news, views and events at our three unique UK schools. Our Facebook and Instagram channels are fed by students and faculty inside the school, showing the exceptional lessons and curriculum that we teach, co-curricular activities and campus life stories. ACS Cobham on Facebook and Instagram ACS Egham on Facebook and Instagram ACS Hillingdon on Facebook and Instagram We recently launched ACS Changemakers, designed to celebrate our thinkers, creators, leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. Through this, we profile and celebrate some of our exceptional students and alumni and, importantly, the teachers who helped them to achieve their goals. It truly is a fascinating read to see the exceptional opportunities that ACS provides students, and how our Alumni have gone on to succeed.
In addition, we have our Future Focus blog sharing thought leadership and information ranging from education through to mental health and wellbeing.
Usually at this time I would be rounding up my thoughts regarding the different events that I have attended, instead I will focus on what has been learnt from online conferences. There are many things that are yet to unfold, however, we are aware that at this time mobility has won its seat at the table, mobility had to assist many assignees and their families in what can only be described as tricky and unusual situations! I am sure that there are a plethora of stories and I am looking forward to hearing more of them when we are able to network again!
Worldwide ERC used a superb platform to showcase their many sponsors and host their conference with many fantastic educational sessions.
We were delighted to be part of the line up with a panel discussion regarding “On Campus, Blended or Remote Learning? How Schools & Families are Adjusting to the Next Normal, and What Mobility Leaders Need to Know.” You can listen to the session HERE.
There was much to learn from the FEM sessions, more about virtual assignment, very interesting to hear the mix of opinion, are they going to be a sticking plaster? Duty of care, cost scrutiny, knowing where the assignee is working, pent up demand, all areas that were discussed throughout the week long virtual conference.
EuRA have been superb at looking after their members at this extremely difficult time, lots of hard work has gone into keeping members connected, through online conferences and webinars. We hope that we will be able to meet again in person next year in Seville! Whilst we will miss the ARP Christmas Lunch this year, we look forward to this potentially being one of the first networking events next year in April 2021! ACS have entered the awards; we are proud to be able to share with the industry how well we were able to adapt to our students needs in such challenging times.
We have lots to look forward to in 2021, we are delighted that we will be hosting another virtual relo event in January, this time with an expert panel with a focus on what is next for mobility, this is not to be missed!
Once it is safe to do so we will be inviting you to join us in person at our Cobham campus, more information to come but I promise it will be worth the wait!
I look forward to seeing many of you next year, I literally cannot wait! In the meantime I wish you a very Happy and Safe Christmas whether you are spending time with family or find yourself having a different Christmas, I urge you all to reflect on the positives that you have learnt from 2020 and look forward to 2021.
Stay safe, and I look forward to seeing you next year!
All the best, Caroline Email: cbreeds@acs-schools.com