Asw Brochure

American School

of

W a r saw

Inspire | Challenge | Excel

Vi sion The American School of Warsaw sees the future reflected in its students’ independent thinking, humane values, and ethical actions in the realization of their dreams.

We envision our students as active and responsible world citizens who are principled, compassionate, and innovative lifelong learners and leaders.

Mission Intellectual curiosity and learning are at the core of all we do.

The American School of Warsaw is a leading English-language, not-for-profit, PK–12 international learning community providing a rigorous, supportive, and welcoming environment to faculty, students, and families.

We inspire and challenge students to excel intellectually, creatively, socially, emotionally, and physically.

C o r e Va l u e s • The spirit of inquiry and lifelong learning is essential to flourishing in a dynamic world.

• An environment of high expectations raises standards of achievement.

• All people possess dignity and equal worth.

• People thrive in an environment of physical, emotional, and intellectual safety.

• Individuals are a part of, and have a responsibility for, the health of their local and global communities.

• Individuals learn in different ways.

• Our community is enriched by our diversity.

• Our students learn more from what we do than what we say.

Welcome Welcome to the American School of Warsaw, a leading college-preparatory school with a proud history.

ASW’s unwavering dedication to combining academic excellence with learning opportunities outside the classroom has produced students of outstanding character who are well prepared for higher education and rewarding futures.

The core of the ASW experience is the relationship between our dedicated teachers and our bright, engaged students.

Our educational program balances academics with the arts, athletics, activities, and service learning. We equip our students for lives beyond the classroom, teaching them to be responsible, principled, and compassionate global citizens.

Please visit our website, or better yet, come for a campus visit and experience for yourself the dynamic atmosphere of high expectations, pride, and excitement that characterizes the American School of Warsaw.

History The American School of Warsaw opened its doors in 1953 with a population of 12 students who spoke nine different languages. For the next 36 years, the school welcomed growing numbers of students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. Starting in 1989, one grade was added each year, with our first high school graduation taking place in June 1994. Full-day Pre-K was added in 1998. We moved to our present brand new facility at the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year.

Since its founding more than 60 years ago, ASW has flourished as its growing student population has become more international and diverse. Our ongoing, strong association with the U.S. Embassy has been an integral part of our history, identity, and success.

A cc r e d i tat i o n

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Memberships

We are an accredited IB World School and are also accredited by: The Council of International Schools (CIS) The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Our school is a member of: The European Council of International Schools (ECIS) The Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA) The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) The Principals’ Training Center (PTC) The Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE)

Learn more about ASW by scanning this QR code.

Learning

at

AS W

Our school has three academic divisions: Elementary School (Ages 4-10), Middle School (Ages 11-13), and High School (Ages 14-18). We provide a challenging, student-centered, English-language learning environment where children across all grade levels are encouraged and supported to become independent learners and leaders.

E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l G R A DE S PK-5 The ES code, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, contributes to a secure, productive, and active learning environment. The Elementary division includes: Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1–5.

Class sizes in ES are capped at: 15 students in Pre-K 18 in Kindergarten 20 in Grades 1 and 2 22 in Grades 3–5 In each class, there is a teacher with an assistant, keeping the ratio of teacher to child low. We work on the development of the whole child, including academic skills, social awareness, responsible behavior, physical fitness, and global awareness.

Our Early Childhood Program (Pre-K and K) emphasizes social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth in an English language-rich environment, and is designed to prepare students for the challenges of elementary school.

The primary focus of our ES (Grades 1–5) academic program is Mathematics and Literacy – reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Weekly time is allocated to Science and Social Studies, and program specialists at each grade level offer Art, Music, Physical Education/ Swimming, and Enrichment (Polish Culture and Language for both native and non-native speakers).

In Grades 3–5, we offer French as a Foreign Language and Polish Native Language classes. ASW is committed to ensuring that students maintain capacity in their native languages, and to that end, helps coordinate private native language instruction during the school day.

Our English Language Learner (ELL) students are able to experience full classroom inclusion with support from ELL specialists. Technology is integrated into our classrooms through technology coaches who work in concert with classroom teachers.

Emphasizes social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth in an English language-rich environment.

M i d d l e S ch o o l G R A DE S 6-8 During the Middle School years, ASW promotes academic excellence while supporting each student through a variety of instructional and assessment strategies.

Organization and independence are continuous themes, and the MS schedule is designed to provide flexibility and to allow faculty to incorporate a variety of experiential learning activities into the program. Preparation for the IB and High School is supported with two divisions in Mathematics (higher and standard level), and three foreign languages on offer: French, Spanish and German.

Polish may be taken as a foreign language or as a native language. Each grade goes on class trips exploring the rich diversity of Poland.

Students who sign up to the athletics and activities on offer also have foreign travel opportunities.

The MS faculty strives to make our young-adolescent learners successful, while honoring their talents, challenging them to meet their potential, and encouraging them to embrace lifelong learning.

Honoring their talents, challenging them to meet their potential, and encouraging them to embrace lifelong learning.

H i g h S ch o o l G R A DE S 9-12 Our HS offers a fully accredited academic program designed to prepare students for post-secondary education in reputable colleges and universities throughout the world.

All students in Grades 11 and 12 participate in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, by attempting to achieve the full IB diploma or by pursuing IB certificates in individual classes.

Students may also opt to pursue the ASW High School diploma. As an IB World School, ASW offers the entire IB standard-level (SL) or higher-level (HL) classes in the core curriculum for Grades 11 and 12.

The successful completion of the Theory of Knowledge

course, 150 hours of documented Community Action Service (CAS) work over the course of two years, and an extended essay (a 4,000-word research paper on a subject of the student’s choosing), complement the academic areas of this challenging program of study.

We have a philosophy of inclusiveness, and therefore, do not preselect students for IB eligibility at the end of Grade 10. By senior year, all IB students are taking college-level courses. Our school’s overall results in the IB program have been consistently above the world average.

Please visit our webside for an in depth description of courses offered in IB Program.

Prepare students for post-secondary education in reputable colleges and universities throughout the world.

University

and

College Placement

Our school’s team of counselors and advisors provides outstanding support to HS students and families.

Nearly 90% of ASW’s graduates are accepted into their first- or second-choice schools.

In 2013, U.S. and U.K. universities and colleges were the most popular destinations for ASW students, but our graduates also earned places at 15 different institutions in seven countries on three continents.

We take great pride in the success of our alumni who have outstanding records of leadership and achievement at their chosen post-secondary institutions.

Johns Hopkins University University of Oxford Brown University UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

King’s College London University of Edinburgh Yonsei University ST. ANDREW’S UCLA Hong Kong Univerity STANFORD UNIVERSITY University of Warsaw

Service Learning Our Service Learning program integrates meaningful and authentic community service with curriculum, instruction, and reflection. ASW’s award-winning (CEESA Service Learning Award) divisional and school-wide Service Learning projects target charitable work and foster human connections,

and are collaboratively organized by our Service Learning coordinators, teachers, students, and community organizations. Ultimately, the Service Learning program encourages our students to view service as an essential part of being a responsible world citizen.

The Service Learning program encourages our students to view service as an essential part of being a responsible world citizen.

Arts In addition to our academic programs, ASW offers a rich variety of learning opportunities in the performing and visual arts. These courses and activities enable students to discover, explore, and develop their own unique talents and abilities in a well resourced and supportive environment. The arts feature prominently in the elementary, middle, and high school programs.

In addition to the performing arts classes we offer, students have many opportunities to participate in extra-curricular theatrical productions and musical

performances for concerts, assemblies, and community events. They also are able to showcase some of their work in the visual arts in the hallways of the school and in school publications.

Experiencing the performing and visual arts at ASW is enhanced by our proximity to the best that Warsaw has to offer in terms of museums, theater productions, and musical performances.

Athletic s

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Activities

The athletics program at ASW gives students year-round opportunities to participate in a variety of sports, acquire and develop athletic skills, practice teamwork, learn discipline, leadership, and sportsmanship, and have fun.

We offer soccer, tennis, cross-country, volleyball, basketball, swimming, softball, and track and field under the guidance of our dedicated faculty and coaching staff.

Our sports program, high participation rates, and excellent facilities have helped to make the ASW Warriors a top competitor in the many CEESA and SCIS events our teams take part throughout the year.

We also encourage all students to get involved in at least one extra-curricular activity each year. We believe these activities help students in developing important life and workplace skills, such as time management and prioritizing, as well as cultivating diverse interests,

promoting greater involvement in the school community, raising self-esteem, and building solid communication and relationship skills. Our ES students have more than 20 academic, athletic, and musical activities to choose from each trimester, and our MS and HS teams and clubs take part in on-campus and international tournaments throughout Europe. Some of the activities and clubs offered in MS and HS include: Speech and Debate, Model United Nations, Robotics, Chess, Crafts, Table Tennis, Drama, Scouting, Student Council, Choir, Knowledge Bowl, Math Counts, Art Society, Cooking, Rock ‘n’ Rota, Outdoor Club, Habitat for Humanity, International Honor Band and Orchestra, and various school musicals, art, and cultural festivals.

Tr av e l : Learning Beyond the Classroom We believe that well-designed and structured experiences beyond the classroom can be powerful tools for deepening learning. Occasions for local and international travel provide our students with educational opportunities that cannot be duplicated in school and are an integral part of teaching the whole child.

In addition to regular field trips that complement curricular instruction, our students have access to a variety of “beyond the classroom” events through service learning activities, clubs, cultural festivals, and sports tournaments.

Our school also uses technology and internet resources to facilitate virtual field trips ranging from museum and art gallery tours to highly interactive situations, such as tracking teams of explorers and asking questions in real time. But whether their travel is actual or virtual, our students are given many exciting chances to explore new environments through hands-on/minds-on learning.

T e ch n o l o g y At ASW, educational technology is ubiquitous, seamless, and embedded in our teaching and learning.

We are a one-to-one laptop school and are fully committed to supporting, implementing, and sustaining technological innovation. Our curriculum and resources are aligned with International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for students, teachers, and administrators.

The integration of technology into all subject areas at every grade level promotes creative thinking, encourages stimulating, real-world projects, heightens engagement, and empowers our students to thrive in a future that is marked by exponential growth in information technology.

English-Language L e a r n e r s ( ELL ) Our learning community is inclusive of culture and language and strives to maintain equity for all learners. Classroom teachers and ELL specialists design and deliver high-challenge/high-support learning experiences that help our non-native speakers attain the level of English proficiency required to succeed in our rigorous academic program across all subject areas and levels.

Speci a l Educ ation Services ASW’s support teams provide intervention and assistance to students who have been identified as having learning needs (intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural) that affect their ability to make progress in the general curriculum. Since the reasons for learning difficulties are as unique as children are, we pool our expertise and resources to design a personalized learning program with the student’s input (where age appropriate) under the guidance of a team that may include an administrator, resource teacher, counselor, classroom teacher, speech pathologist, and outside agencies.

Fa c i l i t i e s Our beautiful, facilities are located on a five-hectare campus in Konstancin-Jeziorna, a small, historic community on the southern edge of Warsaw’s city limits. Our classrooms, library, cafeteria, and public spaces have abundant natural light, and our state-of-the-art campus includes a superb 365-seat theater with black box classroom, 25-meter indoor swimming pool, “green roof” educational area, three gymnasiums, fitness center, four soccer fields, 400-meter track, multipurpose outdoor sports court, photography studio and darkroom and a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) arts and athletics building.

365-seat theater, 25-meter indoor swimming pool, “green roof” educational area, three gymnasiums, fitness center, four soccer fields, 400-meter track, multipurpose outdoor sports court, black box classroom theater, photography studio and professional darkroom, generous library

S ch o o l C o mm u n i t y Our caring community of faculty and staff work in partnership with parents, and together they enhance and enrich the educational experience for all students.

Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and Parent Advisory Committees (PAC) are volunteer groups that encourage participation in school programs and promote a spirit of community.

Membership in both groups is automatic for families who have children enrolled in school. The collaborative and productive relationship between home and school is another important way ASW strives to support student success.

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Established in 1953

Bielawa, ul. Warszawska 202 05-520 Konstancin Jeziorna, Poland N (+48) 22 702 85 00 m (+48) 22 702 85 99 w www.aswarsaw.org

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