Our final day of the conference was the most anticipated day of our stay in Malta—as we anxiously awaited our symposium presentation. Our presentation titled, “Getting to Know the Diversity of ISPA” focused on the history of ISPA, member profiles, the internal structure of the organization, and finally a detailed analysis of a member-wide survey. The presentation sparked an engaging conversation in which members voiced their perceptions of how the association is carrying out its mission, thus accomplishing the goal of educating attendees about the association and inspiring members to become more involved. Not only was this a great experience to present at a professional conference, but also a chance to understand the unique roles school psychologists play in their respective countries.

As we packed up our suitcases to unfortunately depart, we had time to reflect upon our journey throughout the Maltese islands. Each day was full of learning new public transportation systems, adjusting to the intense heat due to a greener lifestyle, and acquiring sayings from multiple languages that we will take home as personal souvenirs.

From the red sanded beaches of Gozo, to the clear aqua waters of Camino, to the vibrantly colored buses of Malta, our trip has been remarkable. We hope that you have enjoyed this window into our Maltese experience.

Ciao! Cheers! Goodbye!
-Ashley, Caryn, Lauren, and Mandi

After beginning our second day in Malta, we are truly starting to immerse ourselves in the Maltese culture. We have indulged in Pastizzi, a Maltese pastry made of mashed peas and cheese while interacting with local natives.

The second day of the conference began with keynote speaker Robert Sternberg of Tufts University. After learning about his theory of intelligence in both undergrad and graduate school, we were a little bit star-struck. Sternberg discussed the WICS (Wisdom, Intelligence, and Creativity Synthesized) model that he and his colleagues have developed for instruction and assessment purposes. This model not only looks at the traditional definition of intelligence (IQ tests), but also examines other areas of functioning and how it pertains to the overall well-being of the child. Moreover, this approach integrates the strengths of the varying degrees of assessment that we have learned in our classes at The Chicago School.

So far we are enriching our education, connecting with future colleagues, and of course, having a great time.

Until next time,
Ashley, Caryn, Lauren, and Mandi

Malta

We traveled to Malta to take part in the 31st International School Psychology Association Conference (ISPA). We embarked upon this journey not only to represent the association, but also to enhance our knowledge of diversity in international school psychology. The ISPA Central Office is located at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and was brought to the school by Dr. Bob Clark, Executive Secretary of ISPA.

This evening, we attended the opening ceremony in which delegates from over forty countries of the world were welcomed and recognized. In addition to explaining the importance of diversity to the theme of this year’s conference, Dr. Paul Bartolo, the chairman of the local organizing committee, touched upon the challenges of practicing school psychology in Malta. One of the challenges Dr. Bartolo mentioned was necessitating inclusion in Malta’s school system. We look forward to learning about the experience of school psychologists from around the globe.

For more information about ISPA and the conference, please visit http://www.ispaweb.org/

Kindly enjoy the pictures below,

Ashley, Caryn, Lauren, & Mandi

The Island of Gozo, one of the Maltese islands

Outside of the Dolmen Hotel in Malta
Pictured from left to right: Ashley Wilson, Lauren Frey, Dr. Bob Clark, Caryn Paolini, Mandi Croft

The Blue Lagoon at the Island of Comino