School starts Wednesday!!

A Thank you: First of all, we would like to thank those of you who were able to visit
the school and meet with us on Thursday, Friday or Monday. Meeting you and your
children provided us not only a wonderful introduction to your family but you also shared
with us important information about what you and your children value. We look forward
to many more opportunities to get to know one another better. To those of you whom we
have not yet met, we are eager to do so in the very near future.
Read the Full Newsletter

A Note from Traci and Jeff:

Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.
- Sitting Bull (1831-1890) Sioux Chief and Medicine Man

We share this quote because it expresses our deep desire and commitment to work
together with you and your children to make this school year the very best it can possibly
be.

Understanding is the beginning of appreciation. Appreciation is the beginning of
love.
- Mother Teresa

We share this quote because it expresses our belief that knowing one another well will
lead to strong connections between us, and strong connections between us will lead to the
greatest learning and joy. Read the Full Newsletter

Opening News: We look forward to opening the 2010-11 school year with
nineteen students in seat, nine returning and ten new, on Wednesday, September
1! As we shared in our first newsletter, we would love to meet you as a family
before the start of the school year and look forward to making arrangements to do
so on Thursday and Friday, August 26 or 27. An email with details will be sent
following our arrival in Pointe Noire August 11!

French Classes and the Daily Schedule: In making final preparations for the
2010-11 school year, we want to share a change that reflects community input
from last year. We are pleased to announce that ISPN will include instruction in
French as a foreign language. It is customary for international schools to offer the
language of the host country, in this case French, as part of the curriculum. As
ISPN celebrates and builds upon its first two successful years, the time is right to
add the study of French to the school program.

In order to accommodate this additional area of instruction, the school day will be
lengthened—8 am to 2:30 pm, for students in Kindergarten through Grade 6, an
extension of thirty minutes. Pre-Kindergarten students will continue to attend from
8am – 12noon.

Please know that French instruction will begin approximately four to six weeks
into the school year, so that appropriate materials and methodologies are in place.
In order for students to become familiar and comfortable with the schedule
change, we will open the school year using the 8 am to 2:30 pm schedule.
Extending the school day beginning September 1, will also allow us to devote
additional time to building our relationships with the children and theirs with each
other, and to establishing a community of learners. We hope that you are as
excited as we are to add this area of instruction! Read the Full Newsletter

Greetings: We wanted to send this first summer newsletter to share our excitement about
joining the beautiful ISPN community. We are scheduled to arrive on August 11th, and
we can’t wait. We are coming to Pointe-Noire three weeks before classes begin to give
ourselves time to settle into the school and into our new home. We will be bringing many
of our teaching supplies with us, so it may take some time to unpack!

“Getting to Know You” Meetings: We are looking forward to meeting all of you, and
we hope we can do so before classes begin. We know that many of you have already
headed off to visit with family and friends elsewhere, and that you may not return until
just before classes start. If you will be in Pointe-Noire prior to September 1, we would
love the chance to meet you and your child(ren) early. Read the Full Newsletter

Pointe-Noire is the oil and economic capital of the Republic of Congo and it has become increasingly difficult to be able to find a placement for non-French citizen children in the near-saturated French School.

Efforts have been made by various companies including — Chevron, Magalloy and Schlumberger — in the last couple of years to start an English taught school in Pointe-Noire.

ISPNA was registered under the Congolese Law in Pointe-Noire in May 2008.

Membership: Membership of the Association is open to all individuals and companies who purchase the Founder’s Certificate.

Board of Governors of the School: All members of the Association are members of the Board of Governors of the School. The Board of Governors determines how the International School Pointe-Noire is run. Priority will be given to pupils sponsored by members of the association.

Current Board of Directors

President: Anthony Kunle Ogunkoya

Vice President: Bryan Coryea

Treasurer: Christian Mbourou

Secretary: John Ogunwole

International School Pointe-Noire Implementation Committee

Chairman: Bryan Coryea

Vice Chairman: Christian Mbourou

Secretary: Alain Mahouna

Supply Chain: Yann Etchian

External Relations: Jean Paul Fouani

Roll of Honor of those who worked very hard to establish the International School Pointe-noire
Mrs Vicki Jones
Mr Niel Jones
Mrs Arunna Phalipou
Mr Gordon Murray
Mr Herve Phalipou
Mr Eric Allard
Mr Bryan Coryea
Mr Steve Woodruff
Mrs Katia Mounthault-Tati
Alain Mahouna
Jean Paul Fouani

Mr Alain Kayo
Mr James Lochrie
Mr John Ogunwole
Mr Elie Gompe
Mr Christian Mbourou
Mr Monday Okoro
Mr Darryl Cousin
Ms Marie-Laure Binam
Yann Etchian

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 October 2009 08:15 )

About International School Pointe-Noire
International School Pointe-Noire

The first and only English taught elementary school (ages 4-11) in the country, established in May 2008

International curriculum for English speaking pupils

* Managed by: International Schools Services (ISS)

Where: Pointe-Noire, Cote Sauvage

Start date for 2009: Monday 07th September 09

Registrations have started for the school year 2009-2010. Available seats are limited.

Principal:

Mr David Potter This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,Ed.M

Secretary

Mboungou Anne-arletteThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact: International School of Pointe-Noire Association (ISPNA)

Congratulatory Message From Well Wishers

Mr. Ogunkoya,
This is wonderful news about the school!  As I had mentioned, we are looking for a place to relocate our American Corner computers and books.  I would like to come to PN to discuss this with you.
Cindy Gregg
Charge – Brazzaville  US embassy

Hi Mr. Ogunkoya,

Congratulations on the great news about the international school opening — that is truly fantastic news.

Thanks and congratulations again on the school.
All the best,
Kelly Daniel
Consular/Economic Officer
US Embassy Brazzaville
Republic of the Congo

Tony,

Quite simply – Congratulations

It made me very proud to see your email – the infectious enthusiasm that you have continues.

Gordon Murray
Gas Assets Team Leader
Southern Africa SBU
Chevron USA

Dear Tony

Neil and I are delighted that you and your team have managed to bring this project to fruition.
We will be thinking of you on September 1st
Best wishes for a smooth opening every success for the future.

Congratulations
Vicki

Vicki Jones
Houston

Tony,

Congratulations on bringing this project to a satisfactory conclusion.
It was a pleasure to be involved at the early stages.
Well done to all those who will have worked extremely hard over the last 12 months to see this through.
I wish all those involved with the operation of the school and its students every success.

Sincerely,
Neil. (chevron Houston)
Neil was Former Director General of Chevron SA  Congo