The start of the school year at International Community School means more than the start of learning on campus for students.
The ICS Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is also kicking off its 2022/2023 school year with a range of events for parents and opportunities to volunteer.
Thursday was a full day for the ICS parent community, as the PTO hosted the first of its two-part city tour series. Members of the PTO invited new parents and families to join them for a bus tour around our host city, Addis Ababa, to explore favorite locations like playgrounds, malls, markets, galleries, restaurants, and beyond. Register for the September 8 bus tour here.
Then, on Thursday evening, the PTO organized a reception for parents to meet and build community complementing the annual Back to School Night hosted by the school.
On the last Saturday in August, the PTO hosted its first Farmer’s Market of the school year, and several other official and unofficial PTO initiatives are on the horizon.
The Parent Community Commons is opening on campus as a space for family members to socialize, enjoy coffee and tea, take advantage of the school’s Wi-fi, and meet for clubs or activities. Yoga, Pilates, and Zumba classes for ICS parents are set to begin in early September.
Parents can also look forward to a monthly breakfast series themed around regional cuisines, a diverse range of home language classes, national holiday and cultural celebrations, and school-wide favorites like the annual International Day.
“It’s important for our school community to celebrate our diversity, to be inclusive, and to learn from each other,” ICS Board and PTO Member Karin Steiner said. “We invite all ICS parents to get involved through volunteering for events, participating in clubs, and starting new initiatives. As parents, we are looking forward to continuing to strengthen our community and our partnership with the school this year.”
For more information about how to get involved with the ICS PTO, email pto@icsaddis.org. And make sure to read the ICS Weekly for invitations to upcoming parent and school events.