Artwork of the Week

February 22, 2012

by Ara Chung

Grade 12- IB2 Art

A Look at Anne Frank - "Past and Future"

Mixed Media

This week's Artwork of the Week features two art pieces by grade 12 IB2 Art student Ara Chung.  Using mixed media she creates these pieces which look at the past and future of Anne Frank, a holocaust victim during the Second World War who left behind a diary of her accounts, which was later published and has become one of the world's most widely read books.

US Navy Band performance stirs students

February 21, 2012

Six members of a U.S. Navy brass band, stationed with a ship that will be docked in Tema for a few days, travelled to LCS on Monday, February 20. Their performance for LCS secondary students and teachers, a 30-minute early-afternoon concert, filled the MPH with music and energy. 

Feet tapped, heads bobbed, bodies swayed as the band played tunes from the past and present. But the band really took the crowd by surprise with their renditions of hip-hop tunes and songs that students listen to. They cheered over hits from artists such as Jay-Z and Dr. Dre.  “We want more, we want more” students shouted when it was time to leave for class. But they did not leave until Anna Teye, a senior, joined the band for a special performance of the song "Killing Me Softly".

The band got the teachers dancing too with their version of the LCS-favorite, “Waka Waka” song, a highlight of the concert.  “What a refreshing way to start the week,” a staff member commented.  “I like how they integrated current music into what you would have thought to be a very formal performance, I enjoyed it, but most importantly the students really appreciated the mix,” she added.

Teachers as Learners: Everyday Mathematics Workshop

February 20, 2012
By Rosie Upson, Grade 4 Teacher

On Wednesday afternoons when our students go home a few hours early, teachers take the time to expand their curricular knowledge and resource base. On this past Wednesday, February 15, grade 4 teacher Rosie Upson led a session on the mathematics curriculum in the elementary school at LCS. 

Above: Boy's volleyball team playing against the Dakar Jaguars in the finals. 

DiY Weekly: 

WAISAL Volleyball Tournament 

February 16, 2012
By Ekokobe Ntumbanzondo

From the back of a packed, humid MPH, I hear principal Geoff Smith call the Dakar Jaguars to the stage. The yellow and black race to the stage screaming, “Jaguars, jaguars!” Second and third graders wave signs to encourage the visiting teams as they run forward: the Jaguars from Senegal.

It is Waisal Volleyball, and the tournament has begun.

The LCS step team set the mood with a dance skit – George Abogbampo played the black pro, hidden from audience view. With precision and grace, the dancers mimed the search for the missing pro.  Step team leader Hamza Mullenax said, “Waisal is the biggest and most popular event; teams, coaches, students, teachers are all getting everyone hyped up.” The dance team was no exception; their teamwork showed everyone what the volleyball teams were going to have to do:  “to work as one.”

Waisal Volleyball saw several teams compete: American International School of Wagadugu (AISO), American International School of Bamako (AISB), International School of Dakar (ISD), Lincoln Community School (LCS), and American International School of Lagos. (AISL).

Tension ran high as two teams battle for the trophy.  Waisal (West African International Schools Athletics League) hosts several competitive tournaments, high motivations for international school student athletes from West Africa.  The competition is stiff as teams try to bring the trophy home.

At the Waisal Volleyball tournament last November, one of the biggest contests was Lincoln Lions versus the Dakar Jaguars. One big story of the tournament was the Lincoln Lions girls team, who brought in the top trophy. Dakar jaguars placed second.

Volleyball player, senior Michelle Tweedie, said, “I had fun because I had new experiences. It was difficult because of the number of games we had to play. ISD was the toughest, mainly because they train as we do and they have equivalent talent.”  As a senior, Tweedie
 is already feeling nostalgic. “I will miss Waisal, because I met a lot of great people. I thank the Athletics Director Dawne Kaba because she kept me with the program.  Sports are important to me - I was captain two years in a row and there is a lot of respect between players.”

The guys played with hearts, but in the end, lost by two points in over-time. Diego Wells, the Phys Ed teacher, explained: “We over-achieved; the Lions showed great teamwork and, even though we finished second, they made us proud.  I hope Tomas Gareau will be back next year, however, I am sad that we’ll will lose Gus Crowards and Yannick Wondergem.”

Wells recalls,  “Dakar Jaguars were the strongest team the guys played against in this tournament. They had tall players just as good as we are.”

Gareau said, ”Waisal Volleyball was great because the team came together. I am proud of our team; I hope Coach Wells and Coach Justice Elmore  will stay as our coaches..  Gareau, who counts himself a member of the pride, concluded, “We’re going to slaughter them next
year.”

In any game there is always a winner and a runner up.  This time, Lincoln guys brought in a second place to the Dakar Jaguars first. The game ended with a handshake to show good sportsmanship. 

Below: No matter the results there is still reason to smile when you are with friends. 

Remembering the Past...
Alumni Parents from the '90s visit LCS in 2012

February 15, 2012

Parents of students who studied and made a community home in 1994 returned on Tuesday, February 14, to tour the campus, reminisce, and learn about plans for Lincoln's future. 

Chandra and Anjali Ranade, parents of former students Prachi and Prachant Ranade, left Accra in 1994 after nearly four years in the LCS community.  Chandra and Anjali are currently on a voyage around the world with a program called Semester at Sea, where Chandra is serving as a faculty member, lecturing on the voyage.  The voyage stopped in Ghana for a week and Chandra and Anjali said they just could not leave without visiting LCS, a place their children always remember and where Chandra served at the president of the School Board in 1993-1994. 

As parents they talked about how their children cherish their time at Lincoln and are still in touch with friends they made here. During the four years they called LCS home, the school only offered classes up to grade 9, which their daughter Prachi completed before they moved to Washington DC.  Prachi is currently a doctor specialized in infectious diseases and their son Prachant, who was in grade 5 at the time they moved, is now a mechanical engineer.

Their visit offered a special time of reflection as they walked the campus, scoured old yearbboks, and remembered their time at LCS.  Amidst the change and development the school has gone through since 1994 there were certain places that maintained memories from the past as they took a tour of the school.  Chandra would point out, “this is where we had our board meetings” or “wow there was only grass there before”. 

“We are building on your foundation,” said Dennis Larkin, Head of School, as they met briefly to discuss the past, the present and the future of LCS. Anjali said, “In 1994 the school was much different and I am thrilled to come back and see such development.  I really wasn’t expecting this much change.” 

Chandra left by saying, “Change is an understatement, the school has grown tremendously and the facilities are impressive.  The school is under good management.  The growth is amazing and we are happy to have come for the visit, we can’t wait to share what we have seen with our children.”

Above: Anjali and Chandra Ranade with the Head of School, Dennis Larkin.
Below: School Board from 1993-1994, with Chandra Ranade on the left.

Below: Prachant Ranade (left) with his sister Prachi Ranade(right)

Below: Anjali and Chandra reflecting on the past with Seth Odei-Danso, Head of Admission and staff at LCS for over 15 years and LCS Alumna and Advancement Assistant, Khushboo Moolchandani.