ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22
Dear OSC Family,
The 2021/22 School Year challenged us with uncertainties and interruptions in learning due to the economic, political, and social crisis in Sri Lanka. Our community including the Board, administration, teachers, parents, and students stood united and rose above the challenges together to make it a memorable school year.
Our greatest opportunities during the year were building on relationships and resilience as a community. The Head of School, and her leadership team frequently communicated on how to traverse our ever-changing landscape. Our sense of care, and our ability to truly reflect and respond to the needs of our students, teachers, parents, and learning community as a whole, and putting the needs of our learners at the heart of our decision-making, was instrumental to our success. A sense of community was nurtured by involving all OSC stakeholders in reflections, obtaining feedback, and forming focus groups such as the Parent Focus Groups, or through the OSC Guiding Coalition. It is encouraging how the leadership team actualises unity in diversity, by creating space for the School community to share their concerns, and diverse perspectives and add value to the School.
One of the key achievements during the year was the development and finalising of the OSC Strategic Plan 2022-2027. The plan is geared to prepare our students, and our next generation of students, for the forthcoming future which is the greatest reform responsibility of every school. The new Strategic Goals – WORLD – PURPOSE – POWER – CHANGE – STORY is our response to the ever-evolving operating context. The Strategic Goals are evolutionary and transformational, and we believe will impact our School’s future in ways that will benefit and contribute to humanity as a whole. Furthermore, using an inclusive process, we drafted a new mission, vision, and set of values while keeping to our original motto. The OSC Guiding Coalition, represented by a wide group of stakeholders, worked together on re-examining the guiding statements to ensure our mission work is aligned with the Strategic Goals. Accordingly, the Four Strategic Pillars include: Living our Mission and Vision; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice; A Culture of Thinking, and Systems Thinking.
I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Board members for remaining faithful to our mission and values and ensuring that the School thrives into thefuture. We formulated the new School Policy Manual, and by-laws to provide broader guidelines to the administration, enhance institutional integrity, promote good stewardship, and maintain the trust of our community. This entailed establishing a nominations policy, and a healthy and ongoing School Board evaluation process, enhancing the Board member orientation programme and training in the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA) Good Governance Series. Furthermore, we improved the efficiency of the Board meetings through establishing priorities and goals for the year and laying out an annual plan of meetings and agenda items, ahead of the year. We reviewed and approved the Board norms and agreements, and established an appeal process to facilitate independence of decision-making and minimise exposure to legal risk. All Board members have signed a conflict-of-interest policy, and have complied with all legal and regulatory requirements. Diligent records of meetings and policies have been maintained whilst communicating the decisions widely and keeping deliberations confidential.
We have also established a sound Financial Management process through oversight of the periodic review of the budget, financial reports, and the annual audit. Furthermore, we engaged closely in financial planning and the external audit including reassessing the campus redevelopment plan, assessing the impact of COVID-19 on our operations, and continuously monitoring the School’s financial status. The accreditation results were reviewed by the Board this year.
Our support extended to the Head of School in conducting the biannual performance evaluation in support of our mutual goals, her job description, and OSC’s Strategic Priorities. We are very excited to fulfil our Strategic Priorities under the Board strand and be supportive of our leadership team on their quest to promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice which we will embark upon as a community.
In conclusion, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our members for their trust and contributions to the School, and my fellow Board members for their continued support and dedication, strength and sense of professionalism. I deeply appreciate the untiring efforts of our outstanding Head of School and supporting administrative and teaching team for their unwavering dedication to our students and families. I have great confidence in the future of our School as we forge ahead in the spirit of collaboration, of caring for the wellbeing of all, and with a commitment to build compassionate, curious, and courageous learners!
Aishath Lu-U-lua Hassan
Board Chair