NAME

MOTIVATION TO JOIN THE PARENTS ORGANISATION

Aruna Sanagavaram   

I believe an active  and committed P.O. is necessary for the growth of any school. P.O. can play an important role of disseminating information and support the other boards in their work.  I would like to be part of the 2010-2011 P.O. team and contribute my bit for the development and progress of BSA

Federica Camurri  

I have experience working in a team, as I was head of tv/cinema dept in production companies and advertising agencies for many years in Italy before moving to NL.  Since last year I started my own business here in Amsterdam, but I still want to closely be involved in  the school, giving my support and ex-pats network connections, as I lived in the Netherlands for more than 12 years now and not planning to leave.  I care about the School, I was always following the growing and the changes through all these years at BSA and I think I can well represent a part of the families.  And with four kids at school since ever.... I already know most of the Staff, MB and SB.

Karen Ricketts

I would like to offer my services on the parent organization as I believe I can provide consistent and ongoing support to the development of the BSA bringing to the team experience, parental interest and a passion to contribute to the well-being of the children and future growth of the school.  I have extensive commercial experience having held several management positions in the retail and manufacturing industry and through this experience have strived to develop individuals and teams sometimes of diverse perspectives.  This can sometimes be quite a challenge particularly in multi cultural environments but the benefits when you can contribute to success are significant and I believe I can bring a balanced but determined energy to support the development of the BSA for the future of our children and those to come after us.  I am prepared to champion the interests of our children, parents and staff at this great school and ask for your nomination and trust to do this.

Marissa Thompson

I have one child Amelie who will be moving up to year 4 in September. My daughter has thrived at the school and I have been very impressed with the quality of education she has received and her developent as an individual, thanks to the pastoral care and personal values imbued by the school. I would like to offer my services on the parent organisation as I am committed to this school and would like to help in the further development of the school, especially at this time of continued change. I believe that the Parents Organisation should play a key role in contributing to a positive collaboration between the Management Board, the Supervisory Board and the parents. I have 25 years experience as a film and television producer, working in the Advertising and Music Industry. I believe I can contribute organisational and communication skills. In addition I  am prepared to dedicate my time and energy in assisting in the future development of the school, as a member of the PO if I am elected.

Michelle Meharg

I arrived in Amsterdam in 2002 and was introduced to the BSA by several other parents, all of whom spoke passionately about the part the school had played in both their lives and more importantly in the lives of their children. Eight years later and now with 3 children attending the school this statement still holds true. My two boys began at the ages of 3 and 4 respectively and 3 years ago my daughter began attending the infant school, they have all been extremely happy at the school with wonderful friends and wonderful memories as have my husband and I. At this stage my eldest is attending the upper school having gone through both the infant and junior school, I have been actively involved throughout this time and I am therefore aware of both the parts that are good as well as the parts that could and should be improved. These experiences as well as my continuing commitment to the school would suggest that I am an ideal person to be part of the Parents Organization.   From my side, I have been self-employed for the last 18 years with a small staff of 12. My career began after finishing at the Royal College of Art where I have a Masters in design.  I then spent 6 years working with some of the top fashion houses in Italy and London before setting up my own business in Ireland. I moved to Amsterdam and continued self-employment until 2007 when I decided to stay closer to the future education and development of my children. I continue to do design consultancy. This today is my primary reason for wanting to support the school through these challenging times and ensure it continues to be the great place we know it should be.

Mary Lee Owen

Our family joined the BSA 4 years ago. In general, we have been satisfied with the quality and dedication of the teachers. Their professionalism has been even more impressive in view of their working conditions during the past year.  I have had volunteer experience at the BSA (lower junior library); at our children's previous schools (AICS and Christ Church Primary); and for charity (Oxfam).   I am an erstwhile journalist and lawyer, but have not worked in an office since the children started school. Hopefully I retained my career skills and can apply them usefully as a PO member.  I have been concerned for some time that the bodies elected to run our school and represent the parents -- the supervisory board and the board of the parents organisation -- are struggling to cooperate internally and with each other.  Hopefully the PO can learn to stress communication over secrecy and to provide reports for the parents at regular intervals. There is even greater need for reporting at this critical time in our school's development.  Further, I hope the SB and PO will distinguish between the spirit of the law and the letter of the law regarding new statutes governing our school.  I hope our school SB and PO can replace suspicions and accusations with common sense, reasonableness, plus timely and honest communication to the parents.

Amanda Hampton

My husband and I chose to send our daughter to the British School of Amsterdam because of its fine reputation of academic excellence and its commitment to fostering confidence in and developing the integrity of the students.  I feel that as a British School of Amsterdam parent,  I am also accountable to maintaining the high standards of the school.  So whether the issues before the Parents Committee pertained to preserving or improving the quality of all our children's academic and social education, I believe in being part of the solution.

Tami Teppo

As a parent of three children attending the British School, I am very interested in the activities and atmosphere my children encounter each day at school.  While I do not have formal experience in the field of education, I have worked as an executive with a children-focused nonprofit organization and have volunteered in various roles for the British School and the schools attended by my children in the States.  It is my sincere belief that the most important aspect of learning is a positive environment that promotes curiosity and confidence.  This environment for learning is best achieved when all parties including pupils, teachers, staff and parents share a positive attitude and outlook.  The British School has provided my children with a good learning experience during the past two plus years and I feel that even greater opportunities exist if the interested parties work together to create an environment of cooperation and collaborative problem-solving.  I think that by participating on the PO, I can be part of building that environment.

Lily Lin

I have been a parent at the British School for four years now.  I  have one daughter in year two and another in reception.  All in all, it has been a very happy four years.  Our teachers have always created a warm and caring environment in which my children can learn and grow.  I know I am not the only one who has been somewhat disheartened by all of the 'ugliness' of this last year and a half.  I, for one, am very hopeful that next year will be different. I'm interested in joining the P.O. because I feel I can help to create a more positive environment at the school-one in which parents feel their concerns are heard.  We should all be working towards the same goal- to make this school the best that it can be for our children.  Parents should feel that they are considered as valued members of the community and staff members shouldn’t feel that they are constantly under siege. This is my hope for next year.  I am currently class parent for both of my daughters’ classes, I volunteer weekly at the Lower Junior School Library and I also help run the Rainbows (scouting) program at the Infant School.

Lynn Dahlin

My two daughters (year 2 and Reception) have been happily attending the BSA for the past three years. I have been active in the BSA community as a class parent and I am a regular volunteer at ACCESS Amsterdam which provides help, resources and assistance to the expat community. I am trained as a therapist and have worked with Child Protection and Family Services in the state of Minnesota in the US. I have also worked in schools as a special needs teacher and private tutor. My motivation in joining the PO is to contribute time and positive energy into a group that is there to help and support the parents and the school.

Anni Kearney

I've always had the greatest respect for this school and for the quality of education that it delivers. From the time that I visited as a prospective parent I felt it had something special. The classrooms looked wonderful, the children happy and the teachers seemed kind and very capable. My first impressions were not wrong - this school is special; the teachers are great and my children are happy - and that is why I want to support it in any way I can. I already play a small role as a parent - I am a class rep (and was last year as well) and I help to run the weekly coffee mornings. I want to bring my enthusiasm and loyalty; I offer a positive commitment to the school and hope to work with the PO to help move the school forwards and  enhance the school community