Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we step into another exciting academic year at ARIS, I am delighted to share important updates, reflections, and initiatives from our Secondary School. This newsletter will reach you twice each semester—at the beginning and the end—making it four times a year. Each edition will bring you essential updates, celebrations of our collective achievements, and a glimpse into the vibrant teaching and learning at ARIS.
Strengthening Communication with Family
We began this semester by conducting Parent Orientations and Curriculum Roadmap sessions with every year group. These sessions provided parents with a week-by-week overview of teaching and learning, including assessment timelines and upcoming activities. We believe that when families clearly understand the journey, learning becomes a shared responsibility between school and home.
At the same time, we value open and transparent communication:
- ARIS operates an open-door policy where parents are welcome to meet with us by appointment, ensuring we can prepare and give you our full attention.
- Families can also reach us digitally through Toddle and ManageBac, which remain our main platforms for communication and updates.
- In addition, our student-led 3-way conferences provide opportunities for parents to meet teachers face-to-face, reflect on progress, and celebrate student growth.
Together, these channels ensure that parents remain active partners in their child’s learning journey.
Teaching and Learning: Raising the Bar
At ARIS, we continuously challenge ourselves to improve practices for both students and teachers. This year:
- We have expanded our Teaching & Learning Leadership Team across all programmes.
- In MYP/DP/CP in Secondary School, we introduced Assistant Coordinators in every program, who will collaborate closely with Coordinators to maintain IB standards and consistency in practice.
- We created a team of Internationally Certified Instructional Coaches. These coaches will guide all teachers in implementing a Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI)model—deepening understanding, inquiry, and transfer.
- Catlin Tucker, a global expert on blended learning, is working closely with our staff on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL ensures that lessons are designed with multiple entry points so learning is accessible and challenging for all students.
- Our faculty continue to undergo IB training, instructional coaching, and reflective practice sessions, making every ARIS classroom a thinking classroom.
Our core belief, “Learning for Everyone,” remains at the heart of these changes. By investing in our teachers, we are directly investing in the success and growth of every learner at ARIS.
IB Evaluation and CIS – MSA Accreditation: A Milestone Year
This year marks a significant milestone in the ARIS journey.
- Our journey with the IB began 10 years ago with the PYP and DP, followed by the MYP and CP 8 years ago. In 2025, we will undergo our Whole-School Program Evaluation by the IB. This is an important opportunity to reflect on our growth, celebrate strengths, and strengthen our practices across all programmes. Our faculty and leadership team are working diligently to prepare for this process.
- At the same time, we are advancing in the Council of International Schools (CIS) – Middle States Association (MSA) accreditation process. Having already become a CIS member school, our next stage is to prepare for the accreditation visit. The Director and both School Principals have already begun this work, which will elevate ARIS’s global recognition and commitment to continuous improvement.
- We are especially grateful to the many parents who contributed to the IB self-study reflections. Your voices are an essential part of this journey.
Together, these processes ensure that ARIS continues to meet and exceed international standards of excellence.
Student Leadership: A Key Pillar of ARIS Strategy
Student leadership is one of the core strategic priorities of ARIS this year. We believe in growing leaders—not just in title, but in character, vision, and service to community.
This training will empower our student leaders to serve the ARIS community with confidence and integrity, while also preparing them for leadership beyond our school walls.
On 19th September, with the celebration of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day at ARIS, we inducted our new Student Representative Council for the academic year 2025-26.
To prepare our students for global leadership, we are partnering with JUMP–Education, a world-renowned organisation specialising in youth leadership training. Their coaches will work with our students to build competencies such as collaboration, self-awareness, community engagement, and purposeful leadership.
This training will empower our student leaders to serve the ARIS community with confidence and integrity, while also preparing them for leadership beyond our school walls.
Focus on Students: Enrichment, Well-being & Impact
Student-Centred Approaches: This year, every teacher in Years 7–10 is applying Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) strategies across most subjects. MTSS is a framework that ensures every student gets the right level of support at the right time, whether through enrichment, scaffolding, or targeted interventions. We are placing a special focus on English and Mathematics from Years 7–9, ensuring deeper support where it matters most.
Service Learning: Every year, the group has an “Heart, Mind & Act” cycle integrated into their curriculum, ensuring that students connect learning with real-world action.
Well-being: Our teams are proactively supporting students with well-being strategies, stress management initiatives, and coaching for exam readiness.
Arrival, Departure & Student Conduct
To ensure safety, punctuality, and discipline, we seek the full support of our parents and families:
Arrival Time: Students must arrive at school by 7:30 AM and report to their Homeroom by 7:45 AM at the latest. Arrival after 7:50 AM will be counted as late.
Departure Time: Unless engaged in extracurricular activities or varsity programs, students are expected to leave campus by 3:45 PM. Students should not loiter unsupervised. Those with siblings in varsity are encouraged to join a club or activity. Supervision is available until 4:30 PM only.
Dress Code:
- Crocs are not permitted unless accompanied by a doctor’s note. Students wearing them without approval will be referred to the school nurse for verification.
- Wednesdays are Uniform Days. All students must wear their school uniform on this day without exception.
We count on parents to reinforce these expectations at home so our students are ready to learn and represent ARIS with pride
Looking Ahead & Dates to Remember
- Regular Newsletters: Expect the next edition at the end of this semester with student highlights, achievements, and key milestones.
- Open House & Celebrations: Parents will be invited to special showcases of learning, from exhibitions to project-based displays.
- Professional Growth of Teachers: Our faculty continue to undergo IB training, blended learning workshops, and coaching, ensuring that every ARIS classroom thrives as a thinking classroom.
Dates to Remember:
Mid Semester Examinations: 9th to 14th October 2025
Mid Semester Break: 20th to 24th October 2025
3-Way Conference: 6th November 2025
End of Semester Examination: 24th November to 3rd December 2025
End of Semester 1: 12th December 2025
Welcoming New Faculty Members
We are delighted to welcome several new members to our ARIS faculty team, each bringing valuable experience and expertise to enrich our learning community:
• Mr. Meshach Korku Glover has joined us as our new IBDP Biology teacher, replacing Mr. Peter Aihable. An experienced and IB-trained educator, he brings a strong commitment to fostering scientific curiosity and academic excellence.
• Mrs. Nartekie Azina-Nartey steps into the role of Middle School English Language and Literature teacher, succeeding Madam Gifty. Having already supported our Language and Literature program, she is a seasoned MYP practitioner who continues to inspire our students with her passion for language and critical thinking.
• Mrs. Akuba Ahokyi Cudjoe recently joined our faculty to replace Madam Dzifa Brown, who has embarked on a new career journey. We thank Dzifa for her service and wish her every success in her future endeavors, while warmly welcoming Akua into our community.
• Mr. Mirron Asirifi-Mintah has joined the Personalized Learning Department, where he will support students in EAL and English Language and Literature, ensuring that every learner receives the guidance and scaffolding needed to thrive.
• Mr. Paul Azumah Salam-Ayagri joins us as a Middle School Physical and Health Education (PHE) teacher, bringing energy and expertise to promote active, healthy lifestyles among our students.
• Bishop Okeychukwu Dozie has joined as our new Laboratory Technician, strengthening our capacity to provide hands-on, inquiry-driven experimental experiences for our students.
We are confident that each of these educators will make a meaningful contribution to our mission of empowering every learner.
Expansion of Learning Facilities
We are also pleased to share that ARIS has expanded its facilities with the addition of eight new classrooms, a multi-purpose hall (MPH) in the new block and and an additional laboratory dedicated to IBDP students in the A Block. These enhancements significantly enrich the teaching and learning environment, providing our students with more opportunities for collaboration, exploration, and growth.
A Note of Gratitude
We thank you, our parents, for your unwavering support and trust. Together, we are designing the future of education—one that is bold, inclusive, and rooted in values. Please go to the program-specific pages for more details.