The Start of Something New

As is the case in our increasingly globalized world, people move around the world more and more often, particularly in our international alumni community. With bittersweet sentiments, I’d like to share that together with my husband, I am moving to Shanghai, China to pursue an exciting new job at Shanghai American School. As such, I am stepping down as editor of the WORLD Magazine and would like to wish a warm welcome to Kirsten Pontius who will take over. Kirsten comes to us with a wealth of communications and publications experience and she will be supporting the AISB Admissions and External Relations Office with all major school publications beginning in August 2018.

While I’m incredibly excited about my move and future personal and professional prospects, I am also very saddened to be leaving behind the warm and nurturing community that I grew up in and grew up with. So rather than writing a traditional editorial for this particular issue, for my final message as Editor of the WORLD Magazine, I’d like to highlight all of the things that an incredible group of volunteers has accomplished over six short months during the first half of 2018. As well as publishing this fantastic magazine, the Alumni Association Executive Team has succeeded in making our community stronger and bringing it closer together through numerous events and initiatives.

Over the last six months, the Alumni Team has:
 

• met on a monthly basis to plan and implement a host of invaluable programs and events for the AISB and Alumni communities;
   

• supported the Grade 11 University Search and Application process in January, with advice from alumni about choosing their further education;
   

• organized a hugely successful reunion in New York City in February, that brought together around 40 alumni;
   

• invited twenty five alumni and other experts to AISB in February to speak to Grade 10 students about their careers as part of the Speed Networking program;
   

• began the migration to a new, more powerful and capable online network in March, one of the most exciting projects of the year which will work to further strengthen the AISB alumni network - join now at alumni.aisb.ro;
   

• welcomed AISB Alumna, Regine Muradian, from the Class of 1996 to AISB in April, to lead empowerment seminars for students and parents;
   

• given Grade 12 parents an outlet to discuss a variety of elements relating to the transition of their Seniors into the ‘real world’ during the Letting Go session in April;
   

• proudly welcomed 57 graduates to the Alumni Association at the Senior Brunch in May; and
   

• opened the floor to AISB alumni all over the world to apply for executive positions by election in June.
   

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks to the Alumni Association Executive Team for their tireless work towards the association in all the years that I’ve had the pleasure of working with them. Their dedication and commitment to growing this association to add value to its members is immeasurable and they have built a strong and capable network. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Alex Cristescu for taking on the role of Alumni President so well, for leading a team with great enthusiasm, and for creating, sustaining, and working towards a vision that has brought great value to AISB Alumni all over the globe. Thank you.

And now I turn to you. Please support the efforts of your Alumni Association by joining us online on our new platform at alumni.aisb.ro and making use of the fantastic capabilities of our alumni network. Find out more on page 31 and take advantage of the tools available; your personal and professional network will be richer for it.
 

Please keep in touch and if you’re ever in Shanghai, do reach out via the network; it would be great to catch up and see you!

All the best,

Salwa Patricia Khalil Warren