QSI Skopje: The Scoop
September 3, 2021
Mark Your Calendars
September
- 6th: After School Activities (ASA's) Begin for 5YOC-11YOC 2:30-3:15
- 6th: Middle School/Secondary Clubs and Activities Begin (12YOC-Secondary 4) 3:15-4:15
- 7th: PSG Meeting 8:15 in the Community Center
- 8th: Macedonian Independence Day - No School
- 10th: PSG Executive Committee Elections 8:15 in the Community Center
- 13th-30th: NWEA MAP Testing (Reading, Language Usage, Math)
October
- 5th: Community Chat - Topic: Child Protection Policy and Keeping Safe Curriculum
- 8th: End of Quintile 1 - Status Reports Emailed Home
- 11th-15th: Fall Break No School
Connecting with the QSI Skopje Community
Dear QSI Skopje Community,
It was exciting to meet many of our families at the Community Chat on Wednesday! I look forward to spending more time with you as we continue the Community Chats monthly.
We will hold the next Community Chat on Tuesday, October, 5th. The time is to be determined. The survey below will provide helpful information on the best time to hold the Community Chats moving forward. Thank you for taking a minute to complete the survey.
Thanks,
Heather
WhatsApp and Viber: 071310100
Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum
One of Quality Schools International’s core components is providing a positive, safe, and supportive environment in each of our schools. Quality Schools International (QSI) believes it is imperative that children have a safe and secure environment in which to develop, thrive, and be successful, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or cultural heritage. Because of this belief, QSI has adopted the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC). This curriculum is in alignment with the QSI Success Orientations and the QSI Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy. See more information in the Letter to Parents below.
Teachers will be starting the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum in the next week or two. Below is a list of the key themes and focus areas that students will study. More information on the program can be found here.
Themes
The curriculum follows 2 main themes:
- we all have the right to be safe
- we can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.
Focus areas
The 2 themes are explored through 4 focus areas:
- the right to be safe
- relationships
- recognizing and reporting abuse
- protective strategies
The full letter from QSI Headquarters about the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum is below. Please do not hesitate to reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns.
Staff Changes at QSI Skopje
Claire Walker Introduction:
I am very excited to be joining Miss Mary and the 5/6-year-olds at QSI Skopje and I am really looking forward to getting to know you and your children. I moved to Skopje from England in January with my family and I have two daughters already at QSI. I have taught a range of classes within the 4–7-year-old age group for over 15 years in the UK. For much of that time, I was the class teacher for the 5/6-year-olds. I enjoy all subjects and like to find fun ways to learn, using games, art, or technology. I have a M.A. in history and politics from the University of Glasgow (UK) and a PGCE from the University of Lancaster (UK). At home, I enjoy mountain biking, yoga, skiing, and spending time with my family.
MSA Accreditation
QSI International School of Skopje has been accredited by the Middle States Association since 2000.
Middle States accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards. The 12 Middle States Standards for Accreditation are mission; governance and leadership; school improvement planning; finances; facilities; school organization and staff; health and safety; educational program; assessment and evidence of student learning; student services; student life and activities, and information resources.
The accreditation process begins with a self-study that is conducted by the school or school system and requires input from school leaders, teachers, parents, and students. Following the self-study, a team of volunteer educators from Middle States member schools conducts a peer review visit.
Currently, Quality Schools International is working to achieve System-wide accreditation through MSA. Systems accreditation will allow QSI to reflect on where we are now, where we want to be in 5-7 years, and develop plans to reach our goals. MSA will review QSI’s plans to strengthen our organization and implement organization-wide improvement plans. Each QSI school will still be accredited, and MSA teams will visit every school site to verify that each one meets the standards for accreditation.
ASA's 5YOC-11YOC Schedule
ASA's 12YOC-Secondary Schedule
Important: Paid ASA's
If you have any questions about the fees or payment, please email Elena at elena-negrievska@skopje.qsi.org.
PSG: Building Community
A Letter from the PSG President
Thanks for listening in during the Community Chat on Wednesday. The QSI Skopje Parent Support Group, PSG, is ready to elect a new executive committee. The committee will plan and host events and other activities in order to fulfill the PSG mission to support and enhance the QSI community.
If you have a little extra time on your hands and some extra energy, being on the executive committee is a great way to contribute to our common good and be part of a creative and fun group of people. Experience of similar duties is great, but in no way a requirement. The support and wisdom of more experienced members and from the community as a whole will always be available to you. You will need to have some extra time on your hands, but committee work does not have to take more than a few hours per week on average.
If you are curious about running for a post on the executive committee, please join us at the community center on the QSI campus on Tuesday, September 7, at 8:15. Please remember your vaccine certificate.
If this time does not suit you, or if you for some other reason would like to inform yourself in another manner, feel free to contact the current PSG president Jonatan at jonfor@gmail.com or 071428470.
Elections will be held in person in the community center on Friday, September 10, at 8:15.
Thanks,
Jonatan Forsberg
QSI Skopje Staff Emails
Stay Informed with Updates and Information from QSI Skopje
Please click the link below to join the new QSI Skope Parent Group.
QSI International School of Skopje
Email: skopje@qsi.org
Website: skopje.qsi.org
Location: Zenevska #51, Skopje, North Macedonia
Phone: +389 23 051 844
Facebook: facebook.com/qsi.skopje