New Family Experience

Hello new families,

We have enjoyed the excitement and energy on campus over the first week of school. I hope your children are finding connections and starting to feel a bit at home here at ICS. We were thrilled to have an excellent turnout at this morning's Head of School Coffee, and look forward to engaging with our families as the year progresses.

Today at 4:30 PM you will receive the ICS Weekly to your ICS parent email address. This is your primary source of news and information from ICS -- great videos and stories about our community, important upcoming dates and events, and news from each of the school sections (elementary, middle and high schools).

Like all school communication, the Weekly is sent to your ICS parent email. Please make sure you are reading your ICS parent email regularly, or have it set up to forward to your preferred email address. 

Reminders: To Do

1. Set up your ICS parent email address: log in details HERE
2. Login to PowerSchool with your ICS parent email to complete the following Forms:
   1. Student Medical Update
   2. Immunizations
   3. Upload the physical exam
   4. Contact Update
      1. Update your contact information
      2. Provide emergency contacts
   5. General Permission Form
3. Connect to Toddle Family with your ICS parent email. Invite codes have been sent to all new elementary school families via the parent email address and the middle and high school are working on sending theirs.

Information on after school activities (ASAs) has been sent to your parent account, including a reminder today, and signups open this evening, Thursday 20 August. You will need access to your parent email account to log into SchoolsBuddy for ASA signups.

Our IT team can support you with your parent email address or any other tech issues (ithelpdesk@icsaddis.org).

Have a good evening!

Sincerely,

Jess and the Admissions Team

Dear new ICS families,

Thank you for joining the orientation this morning! Seeing our new families on campus is always a special moment for us in the Admissions team. Finally, welcome!

Where to Go on the First Day of School: 13 August 2026

Parents:

Parents are invited to the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Welcome Coffee to meet other ICS families in the Gojo (near the track) from 7:30-9:00 AM.  

If you did not finish any of the administrative details during orientation, you can access the Parent Marketplace in the cafeteria from 7:30-9:00 AM on 13, 14 and 17 August. 

Elementary School Students:

You may drop your student directly in the hub (classroom) or in the cafeteria at the drive-in drop off. There will also be teachers in the cafeteria welcoming students and bringing them to the hubs.

Middle School Students:

Middle school students will start at 8:00 AM with advisory. Go to the middle school area and there will be teachers directing students to their advisory.

High School Students:

High school students will start at 8:00 AM with an assembly in the auditorium. Connect with your student ambassador in the high school area; there will also be teachers directing students to the auditorium.

School Hours:

Drop off: 7:30-8:00 AM

Start of school: 8:00 AM

Pick up: 

Elementary school: 3:20 PM / 2:00 PM on Wednesdays

Middle and high school: 3:25 PM / 2:05 on Wednesdays

Elementary students are picked up from their classroom after school. Middle and high school students may leave campus on their own at the end of the school day.

Drop off and school hours are also on the New Family Experience site.

We look forward to seeing your children tomorrow!

Sincerely,

Jess

Dear new families,

The New Family Orientation is for parents and students; siblings are also welcome to come with your family.

Orientation Part 1: Virtual Information Session 

Completed on 6 August: recording and slideshow linked HERE

Orientation Part 2: On Campus Family Orientation for Middle School

Wednesday 12 August, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Enter campus through the main gate (#1): map HERE.

Students: middle school students do activities with their counselors and student ambassadors, learn where their classes will be and make social connections.

Parents: parents go with the leadership team for a student panel and campus tour, and meet our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteers.

Information Fair: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

Visit the Information Fair to take care of all administrative details:

IT Support: log into your parent email account, access PowerSchool

Health Office: submit medical and contact information

Cashiers: make lunch/snack payments in birr cash

ID Cards: pick up parent ID cards

Student Store: order online HERE, pick up at orientation and pay in birr cash or local bank card

What to Bring to Orientation

Money: there is a Zemen ATM on campus

- Pay for pre-ordered student store items - birr cash or local bank card

- Top up for lunch/snacks - birr cash ONLY

Medical and Personal Information: IT will be available to help with PowerSchool access

- Physical exam and vaccination records

- Local phone number(s)

Umbrella! Just in case...

New Family Experience site: starting school details all in one place.

See you on Wednesday!

From your Admissions Team,

Jess, Haile, Berhanu and Meheret

Dear new families,

The New Family Orientation is for parents/guardians and students; siblings are also welcome to come with your family. 

Please note that high school students must bring their laptops and get them set up with our IT team during orientation. We encourage your family to arrive early, if possible, to complete this process. The IT team will be available from 8:00 AM.

Orientation Part 1: Virtual Information Session 

Completed on 6 August: recording and slideshow linked HERE

Orientation Part 2: On Campus Family Orientation for High School (schedule attached)

Wednesday 12 August, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Enter campus through the main gate (#1): map HERE. 

At 10:05 AM, after a brief welcome, high school families will be directed to the counselor meeting in the Upper Commons. After the counselor meetings, students will do activities with their student ambassadors and parents will take a campus tour with the high school leadership team.

Information Fair: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

Visit the Information Fair to take care of all administrative details:

IT Support: student laptop connection, log into your parent email account, access PowerSchool

Health Office: submit medical and contact information

Cashiers: make lunch/snack payments and laptop deposits

ID Cards: pick up parent ID cards

Student Store: order online HERE, pick up at orientation and pay in birr cash or local bank card

What to Bring to Orientation

Money: there is a Zemen ATM on campus

- Pay for pre-ordered student store items - birr cash or local bank card

- Top up for lunch/snacks - birr cash ONLY

Laptop

High school students: bring it to the IT table to get connected

Medical and Personal Information: IT will be available to help with PowerSchool access

- Physical exam and vaccination records

- Local phone number(s)

Umbrella! Just in case...

New Family Experience site: starting school details all in one place.

See you on Wednesday!

From your Admissions Team,

Jess, Haile, Berhanu and Meheret

Dear new families,

The New Family Orientation is for parents/guardians and students; siblings are also welcome to come with your family.

Orientation Part 1: Virtual Information Session 

Completed on 6 August: recording and slideshow linked HERE

Orientation Part 2: On Campus Family Orientation for Elementary School

Wednesday 12 August, 8:00-10:00 AM

You may come anytime during the 8:00-10:00 AM period. Please note that we will ask families to leave the classrooms after 10:00 AM, but you may remain on campus.

Enter campus through the main gate (#1): map HERE.

Early Years Families

This is an Open House: your child will play in the playground and classroom, meet other children and meet their educators. The purpose is to provide time for the children to feel more comfortable in their new school.

Grades 1-5 Families

Pick up a scavenger hunt with the elementary school counselors, which your family will use to explore the elementary school and different parts of the campus!

Information Fair: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

Visit the Information Fair to take care of all administrative details:

IT Support: log into your parent email account, access PowerSchool

Health Office: submit medical and contact information

Cashiers: make lunch payments and laptop deposits

ID Cards: pick up parent ID cards

Student Store: order online HERE, pick up at orientation and pay in birr cash or local bank card

What to Bring to Orientation

Money: there is a Zemen ATM on campus

- Pay for pre-ordered student store items - birr cash or local bank card

- Top up for lunch - birr cash ONLY

Medical and Personal Information: IT will be available to help with PowerSchool access

- Physical exam and vaccination records

- Local phone number(s)

Umbrella! Just in case...

New Family Experience site: starting school details all in one place.

See you on Wednesday!

From your Admissions Team,

Jess, Haile, Berhanu and Meheret

Dear new elementary school families,

We are expecting 86 new elementary school students to join ICS at the start of the new school year, representing 26 different passport countries, and many of these new families attended our elementary school information session earlier this week. 

The recording and presentation from the information session are linked below:

Presentation slides

Presentation recording

The presentation reminds parents that ICS will communicate with you via your ICS parent email address. You will also use your parent email address to access our online platforms. Our IT Help Desk (help.desk@icsaddis.org) has sent you the login information for your ICS parent email address. You can also see the details HERE, along with links to the online platforms.

Below is the welcome email from Mr. Colin, Elementary School Principal, which has been sent to your ICS parent email address. I am including it below, in case you have not yet signed into your ICS parent email account.

Sincerely,

Jess

Elementary School Welcome Email

Dear Elementary School families,

Welcome to the start of a new school year at ICS Addis! Whether your family is joining our community for the first time or returning for another exciting year, we are delighted to have you with us.

The beginning of the school year is always filled with anticipation, new friendships, and opportunities for discovery. Our Elementary School is a place where curiosity is encouraged, confidence grows, and every child is known, supported, and challenged to become their best with Africa and their world. We are looking forward to partnering with you to create a joyful and successful year of learning.

Please welcome four new Elementary School Teachers

• Rebecca Smith will be in Early Years 3
• Rebekah Ochieng will be in Early Years 5
• Nisha Nadim Qureshi will be in Grade 3
• Nadia Wighton will be in Grade 5   

New Family Orientation is on Wednesday 12 August for families new to the ICS Addis community from 8:00-10:00 AM. 

The purpose of Hopes & Dreams Conferences is to get to know your child’s teacher and develop a vision for your child’s school year. The conferences are on the following days: 

• Grade 1-5 conferences are on 12 August from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. 
• Early Years 3-5 conferences are on 12 August from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and 13 August from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM.
• Please look out for an email from your child’s teaching team to set up your appointment. 

The first day of school: 

• Grade 1 to Grade 5 students will start on Thursday 13 August. 
• Early Years 3 to Early Years 5 students will start on Friday 14 August. 

Parents are invited to join the Parent Teacher Organization for a welcome coffee to meet and converse with other ICS families on 13 August in the Gojo (near the field) 7:30-9:00 AM.  

We will also host the Parent Marketplace on 13, 14, and 17 August in the mornings to help you access many of the ICS Addis services in one convenient location. Join us in the Lower Commons from 7:30-9:00 AM to get support related to IT Helpdesk, Cashier, ID badges, Student Store, and more.

Back to School Night is on 3 September. Join us at 5:30 PM to learn about your child’s program and learning environment. 

To help your family prepare for the year ahead, we invite you to take a few moments to review the following resources:

• Elementary School Handbook (including school supply lists)
• ICS Parent Portal
• ICS Addis Parent Portal Elementary School Page

The Elementary School Parent Portal serves as your primary hub for important information throughout the year. There you will find the ICS Weekly newsletter, published every Thursday afternoon, along with calendars, forms, resources, and other updates to help keep your family informed and connected.

In addition, teachers will send welcome letters, schedules, and other hub information via email/Toddle. Finally, we also encourage you to download the Toddle app on your device to ensure you receive communications directly from your children’s teachers about their individual and class learning. Please continue checking your ICS Addis parent email so you don’t miss any messages from school or your child’s teachers.

Our teachers and staff have been preparing classrooms and learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. We know that the strongest learning happens when school and home work together, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us as partners in your child's education.

Thank you for being part of the ICS Addis community. We look forward to an exciting year filled with learning, growth, friendships, and memorable experiences.

See you soon!

Warm regards,

Colin Powell
Elementary School Principal

Dear new middle school families,

We are expecting 35 new middle school students to join ICS at the start of the new school year, representing 16 different passport countries, and many of these new families attended our middle school information session earlier this week. 

The recording and presentation from the information session are linked below:

Presentation slides

Presentation recording

The presentation reminds parents that ICS will communicate with you via your ICS parent email address. You will also use your parent email address to access our online platforms. Our IT Help Desk (help.desk@icsaddis.org) has sent you the login information for your ICS parent email address. You can also see the details HERE, along with links to the online platforms.

Below is the welcome email from Ms. Nicole, Middle School Principal, which has been sent to your ICS parent email address. I am including it below, in case you have not yet signed into your ICS parent email account.

Sincerely,

Jess

Middle School Welcome Email

Dear Middle School families,

Welcome to another exciting school year at ICS Addis! I am delighted to join the ICS Addis Middle School as principal this year and to welcome both our returning families and those joining our community for the first time.

Middle school is an extraordinary time of growth, exploration, and increasing independence. It is a time when students deepen their academic skills, discover new passions, strengthen friendships, and continue developing the confidence to take on new challenges. Our faculty and staff are excited to support each student as they learn, grow, and thrive throughout the year.

Please welcome our new Middle School Teachers

• Tiffany Zwolinski will be teaching Language & Literature
• Angelica Pinilla will be teaching Spanish
• Russell Borum will be teaching Math
• Monique Smith will be teaching Visual Arts
• Staiva Thewo will be teaching Design
• Binyam Woldehanna will be teaching Design
• David Jordan will be our Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator (Grades 6-10) 

New Family Orientation is Wednesday 12 August for families new to the ICS Addis community from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. 

The first day of school for our Grade 6 to Grade 8 students is Thursday 13 August. Parents are invited to join the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for a welcome coffee to meet and converse with other ICS families on 13 August in the Gojo (near the field) 7:30-9:00 AM.

Hopes & Dreams Conferences are an opportunity for you to get to know your child’s advisory teacher and help your child set some goals for success this year. The conferences are held for twenty minutes between 17 August and 4 September during the school day. You can expect to receive an email from your child with sign-up details.

We will also host the Parent Marketplace on 13, 14, and 17 August in the mornings to help you access many of the ICS Addis services in one convenient location. Join us in the Lower Commons from 7:30-9:00 AM for support related to the IT Helpdesk, Cashier, ID badges, Student Store, and more.

Back to School Night is on Wednesday 3 September. Join us at 5:30 PM to learn about your child’s program and learning environment. 

As we begin the school year, we encourage you to review the resources below:

• Middle School Handbook (including school supply lists)
• ICS Parent Portal
• Middle School Parent Portal Page

The Middle School page on the Parent Portal is your primary source for important information about the school throughout the year, including the ICS Weekly newsletter published every Thursday afternoon, as well as school updates, calendars, resources, and information specific to our Middle School community.

While the Parent Portal is great for operational news and events, we also encourage you to download the Toddle app on your device to ensure you receive communications directly from your children’s teachers about their individual and class learning. Please continue checking your ICS Addis parent email so you don’t miss any messages from school or your child’s teachers.

Strong partnerships between families and school play an important role in every student's success. We encourage you to stay connected, ask questions, and engage with our community throughout the year. Together, we can help our students develop the knowledge, skills, and character they need to flourish.

Thank you for being part of the ICS Addis community. We are looking forward to a wonderful year together.

Warm regards,

Nicole Schmidt
Middle School Principal

Dear new high school families,

We are expecting 40 new high school students to join ICS at the start of the new school year, representing 14 different passport countries, and many of these new families attended our high school information session earlier this week. Our student ambassador team also hosted about half of our new high school students in a student-only virtual session yesterday.

The recording and presentation from the parent information session are linked below:

Presentation slides

Presentation recording

The presentation reminds parents that ICS will communicate with you via your ICS parent email address. You will also use your parent email address to access our online platforms. Our IT Help Desk (help.desk@icsaddis.org) has sent you the login information for your ICS parent email address. You can also see the details HERE, along with links to the online platforms.

Below is the welcome email from Ms. Tina, High School Principal, which has been sent to your ICS parent email address. I am including it below, in case you have not yet signed into your ICS parent email account.

Sincerely,

Jess

High School Welcome Email

Dear High School families,

Welcome to the beginning of another school year at ICS Addis! Whether your family is returning or joining our community for the first time, we are excited to partner with you in the year ahead.

High School is a pivotal stage of growth as students deepen their academic interests, develop greater independence, strengthen their leadership skills, and prepare for life beyond graduation. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to supporting every student as they pursue excellence, make meaningful contributions to the community, and grow as compassionate, globally minded individuals.

Please welcome the new members of our team:

• Manuel Henrique: Middle Years Programme (MYP) / Career-related Programme (CP) / Diploma Programme (DP) Mathematics
• Dr. Amanda Lowry: MYP/CP/DP Mathematics and Personal Project Coordinator
• Richard Benade: Language B English and Language Acquisition support
• Dr. Nathan Haines: MYP Individuals & Societies, DP Psychology, and Theory of Knowledge
• Bevin Lustman: Grades 11&12 Learning Support and Grade Level Leader for G11
• Amanda Quartey: MYP/DP/ICS Language and Literature English
• Amy Pugsley: MYP/DP/ICS Language and Literature English
• David Jordan: MYP Coordinator for Grades 6-10
• Adrienne Garcia: MYP/DP/ICS Music

New Family Orientation is Wednesday 12 August for families new to the ICS Addis community from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. 

The first day of school for our Grade 9 to Grade 12 students is Thursday 13 August. Parents are invited to join the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for a welcome coffee to meet and converse with other ICS families on 13 August in the Gojo (near the field) 7:30-9:00 AM.

We will also host the Parent Marketplace on 13, 14, and 17 August in the mornings to help you access many of the ICS Addis services in one convenient location. Join us in the Lower Commons from 7:30-9:00 AM to access services including IT Helpdesk, Cashier, ID badges, Student Store, and more.

As you prepare for the year, please review the following resources:

• High School Handbook (including school supply lists)
• ICS Parent Portal
• High School Parent Portal Page

The ICS Parent Portal is the best place to stay informed throughout the year. On the portal, families will find the ICS Weekly newsletter, published every Thursday afternoon, along with calendars, academic resources, and information relevant to the whole school as well as specific to the High School.

While the Parent Portal is great for operational news and events, we also encourage you to download the Toddle app on your device to ensure you receive updates directly from your children and their teachers about their individual and class learning. Please continue checking your ICS Addis parent email so you don’t miss any messages from school or your child’s teachers.

Open communication between home and school is one of the keys to student success. We encourage students and families to stay engaged, communicate with teachers when questions arise, and take advantage of the many opportunities available throughout the year, both inside and outside the classroom. 

Thank you for being part of the ICS Addis community. We are looking forward to a year filled with learning, achievement, and meaningful experiences for every student.

Warm regards,
Tina Santilli
High School Principal

Dear new ICS Addis families,

We are welcoming our new staff members this week, and our full educational team will be back on campus tomorrow, preparing for the new school year to start next Thursday!

Arriving in Addis Late?

If your family will not be in Ethiopia in time for your family to attend the orientation on Wednesday 12 August, please notify us so we can plan for your personal orientation and transition support. Thank you to those who have already informed us.

Virtual Information Sessions: Thursday 6 August

• Presentations from the sectional leadership teams for new parents
• All times are East Africa Time (UTC+3) and you will receive a calendar appointment
• All sessions will be recorded and shared with you afterwards

Elementary School (Early Years-Grade 5): 3:00-3:45 PM. Zoom link HERE.

Middle School (Grades 6-8): 4:00-4:45 PM: Zoom link HERE.

High School (Grades 9-12): 3:00-3:45 PM: Zoom link HERE.

Upcoming Communications and Connections

All events and more are viewable on the Transition and Orientation calendar HERE.

Elementary School: for Early Years to Grade 5

Hopes and Dreams conferences (introductory family meetings with teachers) - Wednesday 12 August and Thursday 13 August (Early Years only): signups will be sent by email from the elementary school (es.school@icsaddis.org).

Middle School: for Grades 6-8

Counselor Meetings - Monday and Tuesday, 10-11 August: signups are linked on your child's Checklist in the admissions portal - sign up now if you haven't already!

High School: for Grades 9-12

Student Virtual Session - Friday 7 August: High school students are invited to another student ambassador virtual call on Friday. More information will be sent to students directly.

Counselor Meetings - Wednesday 12 August: High school families will meet with the counselors during orientation. No sign up needed.

Reminders:

Parent emails: our IT Help Desk (help.desk@icsaddis.org) has sent you the login information for your ICS parent email address. You can also see the details HERE.

Supply/Stationery Lists and Student Store: The Student Store site includes links to the supply/stationery lists. You can pre-order items to pick up at orientation on Wednesday morning.

Parent IDs: parent IDs will be available to pick up during orientation. If you wish to pick up your ID early, to visit the campus on the weekend, contact ID@icsaddis.org.

A few other notes: 

• The New Family Experience site is HERE - many of your questions should be answered here and all emails previously sent to new families are archived HERE
• HERE you can find useful links and groups that will be useful as you settle in and make connections to our greater community, including the grade-level WhatsApp groups run by the PTO

If you are not yet in Addis, remember it is the rainy season! Don't forget your umbrella and shoes to wear when it is wet, which is most days.

With kind regards,

Jess, Haile, Meheret and Berhanu

ICS Addis Admissions Team

Dear new ICS Addis families,

Many of us are in the last days of our summer holidays and looking ahead to the start of the new school year with excitement. We are reaching out to you with a few reminders and a preview of what to expect before school starts. 

The following information is also included on the New Family Experience site HERE.

Reminder: Tuition Deadline - 31 July 2026

Invoices have been sent by email to all families. Contact the Business Office on accounts.receivable@icsaddis.org with any questions.

Parent Email Addresses

All ICS parents have an ICS parent email account through the Gmail platform. School email communication is sent to your ICS parent email address. Soon you will receive the login instructions from our IT Help Desk (help.desk@icsaddis.org).

New Family Orientation Events: Mark Your Calendars!

See the Transition and Orientation calendar HERE

Our new family orientation includes both virtual and on campus events. The purpose is to give you multiple opportunities to learn about ICS, to support your child's transition, to start developing relationships with our educators and to get familiar with the campus.

Virtual Information Presentations: Thursday 6 August 2026

• Presentations from the sectional leadership teams for new parents

• All times are East Africa Time (UTC+3).

• All sessions will be recorded and shared with you.

• Each Zoom link will be sent by email before the session.

Elementary School (Early Years-Grade 5): 3:00-3:45 PM

Middle School (Grades 6-8): 4:00-4:45 PM

High School (Grades 9-12): 3:00-3:45 PM

Family Meetings with Teachers/Counselors

Early Years Hopes and Dreams (individual meetings): 13 August

Grades 1-5 Hopes and Dreams (individual meetings): 12 August

Middle School Counselor Meetings (small groups): 10-11 August

High school families will meet their counselors during orientation on 12 August

Sign-ups for elementary family meetings will be sent to you by email during the week of 3 August. Middle school sign ups with be sent through OpenApply this week.

On Campus Orientation for New Families: Wednesday 12 August 2026

During the on campus orientation, families can complete final enrollment items such as making lunch deposits and visiting the school store. Orientation includes touring the campus, meeting other families and school staff. More details will be shared separately.

• Elementary School Families (includes Early Years): 8:00-10:00 AM

• Middle School Families: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

• High School Families: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

First Day of School

• Grades 1-12: Thursday 13 August

• Early Years: Friday 14 August

The ICS campus is quite busy over the next few weeks and family tours will not be available, as our team prepares for the start of the school year. However, you are welcome to visit the campus on the weekends. Parents must have an ICS ID for access during non-business hours. Contact ID@icsaddis.org if you want to pick up your ID before orientation.

If you have not already done so, please introduce yourself on the Welcome to ICS Addis New Families Facebook group, to meet other new families. 

You can also connect with the larger ICS Addis community (parents and employees) through the ICS Addis Community Facebook group; both this group and the Anything Important Telegram group are also good places to look for family employee recommendations, items for sale, etc.

You can see the emails previously sent to new families on the New Family Experience site HERE. More details will be shared on each orientation event closer to the date. 

With best regards,

Jess, Haile, Meheret and Berhanu

ICS Addis Admissions Team