2009 Spring Globetrotter

April 2009

The Newsletter of Atlanta International School

Globetrotter

News Nouvelles Noticias Nachrichten

In This Issue

AIS Places Third at Green Cup Challenge

2

Spring Benefit

By Trevor Pendergast, Faculty Member

4

Black History Month

6

“Pinocchio”

Production

9

THIMUN

This year, AIS, along with approximately 80 other schools throughout the southeastern United States, participated in the second annual Green Cup Challenge. The goal of the challenge was simple: to reduce the energy usage of our respective schools by a minimum of 10% and, in so doing, to save precious dollars in these tough economic times and, more importantly, to lighten our carbon footprint on our common environment.

Of course, a challenge would not be a challenge if there were not a healthy spirit of competition. Therefore, in addition to achieving the minimum 10% reduction, all of the schools that participated worked together to see which school could make the biggest reduction. Some of the local schools that participated consisted of, among others, traditional AIS rivals: Marist, Woodward Academy, Westminster, Galloway and Paideia.

The strategy of AIS was straightforward and easily implemented. Students made a concerted effort to turn off lights that were not required, to close blinds to prevent heat loss via the windows, to turn off computer monitors when not in use and to ensure that the thermostats were not blazing away like infernos. Meanwhile, as this was a cooperative effort, the facilities of AIS cooperated by ensuring that lights would not be kept on throughout the night, by keeping the field lights off when not in use, and by turning off the heat in areas that did not require heating at particular times. Dr. Brindley was also very supportive by providing the student body with an appealing incentive: every cent saved during the challenge would be donated to the student body.

By the end the competition, AIS reduced its energy consumption by 24.3%. Of all the schools that participated, AIS succeeded in coming in third place, only narrowly losing out to Eastminster and Paideia. The students and staff at AIS should be commended on a great effort overall, and a special commendation should go to Adrien Pellerin and Richard Smith for putting together the Green Cup challenge kickoff, and for taking the time out of their busy senior schedules to arrive at school to ensure that lights were turned off and thermostats were turned down.

Congratulations AIS on reducing your carbon footprint! Let’s all work together to ensure that we keep the momentum going.

Atlanta International School (AIS) offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) to all its students from four-year-old kindergarten through grade 12. By delivering a rigorous academic program combined with world-class standards in language acquisition within an openminded, intercultural environment, AIS prepares its students to succeed in a globally connected world.

For more information, please contact us at 404.841.3840 or visit us online at www.aischool.org.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

1

This map shows all the travel destinations available to you to bid on this year. For a larger version of the map, visit www.aischool.org/ springbenefit.

Spring Benefit Auction Items Span the Globe

By Jay Denslow, Events Manager, and Jennene Cheshire-Rea, AIS Parent and Volunteer Travel the world when you bid on auction items at the live and silent auction at the 2009 Spring Benefit: Passport to Africa, Discovery of a Continent on Saturday, April 4. The auction is made possible by our generous auction donors and a highlighted list of auction items available can be found at www.aischool.org/springbenefit.

Vacations and getaways are always among the most sought after items and this year will be no exception. The map above shows all the travel destinations available to bid on this year.

In addition to our exciting travel items, this year there will be several new and truly unique experiences donated by our very own faculty and staff here at AIS. Support the school through bidding on an activity that your child will remember forever…

For Primary School Students & Parents • A soccer & pizza party with Mr. Poiraud • A tea party & etiquette lesson with Ms. Fetter • A morning with Ms. Fay • A Spanish cooking class with Ms. Velez • A movie with Madame Frederique • An art party with Ms. Joyce and Ms. Marie Laurence • An organic cooking lesson with Ms. Moji • 5K parents: Wouldn’t you love a front row spot for the End of Year Presentation in the Ladenmacher?

• Would your child benefit from summer evaluation and tutoring by Chris Thomas and Associates?

For Middle or Upper School Students • Get to know the new Headmaster, Kevin Glass, while you and your classmates spend a day with him in community service.

• Be the Master of the Cafeteria Menu for a week.

• Play a volleyball game vs. the PE faculty (includes pizza party).

• Act as “Head of Upper School” for a day with Patrick Hurworth (and assign your own assistant).

• Relax as Mr. Hurworth and other upper school staff/faculty serve a student and his/her classmates lunch!

Preview student artwork on March 31 and enter the Tuition Drawing raffle to support the Spring Benefit Student artwork created by students in grades 4K – 5, to be sold at the Spring Benefit auction, will be on display and available to bid on Tuesday, March 31, from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., in the AIS auditorium. Students are invited to bring their parents to a special reception to “show-off ” their artwork and enjoy a fun story-teller with an interactive show, which includes a drum circle.

Also available during the Student Art Preview is your chance to enter the annual Tuition Drawing raffle. The drawing will be held during the Spring Benefit on Saturday, April 4, but you need not be present to win. Ticket prices are $25 for one ticket; $65 for three tickets; and $170 for eight tickets. Fifty percent of ticket sales up to full tuition for one child will be awarded. Parents can also purchase tickets in the Development Office from now until April 3.

2

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Preview Party in honor of our sponsors and supporters On Wednesday, April 1 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. the Spring Benefit committee will be hosting a Preview Party in the AIS Auditorium.

Enjoy the music of Theresa Hightower, one of the great jazz and blues vocalists of our generation, while previewing the student art and placing early bids on auction items.

As always, we sincerely thank our generous auction donors and corporate sponsors for helping make the 2009 Spring Benefit a success!

Diamond:

Gold:

Silver:

Bronze:

Generous Supporters and In-Kind Donors are:

Friends of AIS:

BigVintage Imports Costco Lisa Cannon Taylor

Atlanta Business Bank/Atlanta Dental Office Managers Association Classic Entry Systems, Inc. Collins Cooper Carusi Architects, Inc. Coxe Curry & Associates, Inc. Drs. Melisa Rathburn and Michael Stewart Equifax Neil Dobbs/Allstate Net Planner Systems, Inc. Threadgill & Associates, LLC - Landscape Architect

We Need You to Make the Art, Science and Design Center a Reality

By Cori Hymowitz Read, Associate Director of Development, Major Giving Thanks to the support of so many of you, we have raised nearly $14.2 million toward our $16 million goal for See Beyond: The Campaign for Atlanta International School.

The Art, Science and Design Center (ASD) will have a monumental effect on our students’ learning and our faculty’s teaching of Art, Science and Design. The light-filled, environmentally friendly, LEED-designed building will enable us to rise above the limitations of our current facilities and implement advanced teaching strategies. Succeeding in a complex global environment depends on students’ ability to identify connections between disciplines and apply them creatively to solve problems and achieve goals. The ASD is designed to facilitate these specific learning experiences and to provide our students with sophisticated new tools to maximize their learning. We need your help to make these designs become reality.

The new athletic field and parking lot have also been part of our campus improvement initiative, and we are pleased to have completed them on schedule. Our impressive new athletic field, which has generated much enthusiasm from students and faculty alike, has transformed our campus and opened exciting opportunities that will significantly enhance our Physical Education curriculum and Athletics program. The new car park at the back of the school has already significantly alleviated carpool congestion at the front of the school.

As you may have read in the Headmaster’s Bulletin, See Beyond was recently awarded a $2 million challenge grant by an anonymous donor. The challenge means that we need to reach our goal of $16 million (including this grant) before we can receive the funds, and we cannot begin construction until we have raised the total amount. We are making wonderful progress and, with your help, we will meet our target.

If you have not yet had a chance to participate in the campaign, please contact the development office to make your three-year pledge or one-time gift today: • Call 404-841-3869 to make your payment by credit card • E-mail your pledge to cread@aischool.org • Bring your donation to the Development Office, located in the main school building, (using the main entrance, take a right to the end of the hallway, and enter the last door on your left)

• Mail your pledge to AIS, See Beyond, 2890 North Fulton Drive, Atlanta, GA 30305 Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

3

AIS Celebrates Black History Month

By John Hurley, AIS Parent and Volunteer In February 1926 Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week, introduced the concept of acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of African Americans in US History. Throughout the years, the recognition and celebration has grown to include the contributions of Blacks (people of African descent) in History, and hence the month of February has been named Black History Month.

In keeping with this tradition, the AIS Black Parents Harambee Cultural Club used the month of February to highlight past and present historical contributions of Blacks in Politics, Science, Medicine, Arts and Entertainment, and Sports by sponsoring the following cultural displays: 1. Historical display of Blacks in Politics was presented in the Primary School Main Corridor. This display showcased the political contribution of Blacks dating back as far as the First African American Congress, the struggles of the civil rights movement, and culminating in the election and inauguration of President, Barack Obama. The first African American President of the United States of America.

2. The Library displayed the literary contributions of Blacks dating back to the Literary Renaissance Period and as current as the contributions of present day authors of poetry, medicine, and philosophy.

3. The main corridor of the Upper and Secondary School displayed the contributions of Blacks in Military History, NASA’s Space Program, Medicine, as well as past and present inventors and patent holders.

4. Displays in the SAC celebrated the contributions of Blacks in the world of Athletics and Sports. The Music Corridor of the SAC highlighted contributions in the world of Arts and Entertainment.

Following this historical theme, the BPHCC Speaker’s Series presented “AUNT” MARGARET WASHINGTON CLIFFORD, a relative of the descendants of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, and whose family maintained significant relationships with such notable persons in history as W.E.B. du Bose. Her presentations on the Legacy of Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglas mesmerized the fifth graders and the upper and secondary school students with documents, photographs and stories of historical events that shaped American History and paved the way for the education and opportunity afforded to our students.

In support of the AIS Unit of Inquiry on “Our Community”, BPHCC arranged a visit and presentation to the Lower Primary School by Section Chief Joel Baker of the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department.What a treat for the little ones who were given opportunity to tour a real fire engine and learn of the activities of fire fighters.

In cooperation with the National Black Arts Festival, BPHCC closed the month long celebration of Black History Month with its’ signature event “JAZZ in BLACK and WHITE,” an adult evening of dinner, dancing and live jazz entertainment showcasing the sensational music of Atlanta’s own Rio Negro, and the breath-taking performance of Vinx a one man, one voice, one drum phenomenon.

If you missed this sensational evening, you too can experience Vinx on CMT.com Big and Round.This year’s event had record attendance by more than 200 people who experienced a “Stroll Down Bourbon Street” complete with New Orleans Style Cuisine and Libations in a supper club atmosphere of spectacular décor, all provided by Grand Gatherings Catering.The event hosted several “special guests” including the Honorable Mayor of Atlanta, Shirley Franklin, City Councilman, C.T. Martin, Stephanie Hughley – President and Executive Producer National Black Arts Festival, and prospective parents, eager to join the AIS community. Between Live jazz sets, we danced to the music of DJ - Brian Hawkins, whose party music kept the dance floor crowded.This was a fun evening for all. Next year’s event promises to be even better. Although Jazz in Black and White was an adult evening, BPHCC didn’t forget our students. On February 20, 2009 Scott Britton, President of BPHCC, presented “The Influence of African Americans on the Creation and Evolution of Jazz” to the Upper School students.This was a presentation that received cheers and a standing ovation from an enthusiastic student audience.

These activities conclude this year’s celebration of Black History Month, but not the activities of BPHCC. Continue reading future editions of the Globetrotter and the P.O. Bulletin for announcement of upcoming events.

4

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Summer Camp 2009

By Katharina Meredith, After School and Summer Programs Manager Thank you for joining us this summer at AIS! Most of our summer camp students are from AIS or are students from other schools who have been referred by AIS parents. Summer camp is still a growing part of this school, and we are very excited about this year’s camp offerings. Our focus will be highlighting the greatest assets of AIS – the cultural diversity and international mindset, to all areas of summer camp by learning about a different country each week. Campers will receive a passport at the beginning of their stay with us, and travel through diverse countries via different experiences, such as food or music.

Kindergarten Science Fair

By Cyndi Browning, Faculty Member

We will have Language Camps offered in French, German, Spanish, Chinese and English. Taught by our very own teachers, these camps are a great opportunity for students of all ability levels to develop an ear for the language or practice what they have learned. Our new enrichment class chess teacher, Carolina Blanco, will be hosting Chess Camp. Master Pius will be back for the very popular Tae Kwon Do camp, and AIS coaches Gregg Albright and Willie Richardson are offering Volleyball and Basketball camps to increase knowledge and ability of the two sports.

Educational Technology Coordinator, Alan Preis, will have his campers develop exciting animations and Lego constructions during Design Technology and Lego Robotics Camp. And we welcome the return of Spring Mason and her talented entourage who are already gearing up to put on three different shows during Camp Stardust, developing budding actors to fill Broadway in a few years. Our Kaleidoscope team is putting together a creative mix of themes so that each week is a new experience of comic books, circus, transportation and more. This year, we are also offering an afternoon camp, run by AIS’s Mark McDaniel, with its own daily schedule and activities.

New this year are summer camp vouchers–so let grandpa or grandma give your child the gift of a unique, enriching experience, which allows your student to develop new friendships, learn, and have fun.

Registration forms for AIS-only camps immediately after school ends in June, and before school starts in August, are available in the entrance hallway of the Primary School. Visit our website at www.aischool.org/camps or contact us at summercamp@aischool.org if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

News from the Yearbook Committee

by Helga Collella, Faculty Member The yearbook is currently with the publisher for printing. We expect an arrival date of late April or early May, and we have approximately 50 extra copies. If you missed all other deadlines, take this last opportunity to order your copy, which now costs $ 65. Please make your check out to AIS Yearbook 2008/09 and send your order and check to Helga Colella for middle and upper school orders or Serge Petitpre for primary school orders.

Our 2009 Kindergarten Science Fair on March 3rd was a huge hit! Our “future scientists” had a wonderful time learning from the parent presenters. We had a broad range of creative experiments, which were presented with great flair.

The experiments included UV light, litmus tests, moon craters, diaper polymers, density, electric circuits, animal blubber insulation, acids, bases, and sublimation, electromagnets, static electricity, hovercraft, renewable energy, colloids, and magnetic force. Our parent group leaders kept things flowing smoothly, and were brave volunteers during experiments. Be sure and ask your child which experiment was his or her favorite!

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

5

AIS Students Participate in Georgia Tech High School Mathematics Competition

by Chloe Colberg, Grade 9 Student On February 28, a team of five AIS ninth graders participated in the Georgia Tech High School Mathematics Competition. Up against very tough competition, Chloe Colberg, Alex Richard, Boris Dehem, Josh Cohen, and Quang Le did an excellent job on the grueling full-day exam, which covered a wide range of mathematics topics. Both Chloe Colberg and Alex Richard were recognized as semi-finalists in the JV division and were invited to take an additional proof-based exam. Congratulations to these five students and their hard work!

Dr. Brindley Shares his Love of Rocks with Primary School Students

By Luz Sanchez, faculty member

Students Reflect on “Pinocchio” Production Three performers in the recent AIS production of “Pinocchio,” reflect on their experiences: “Pinocchio has been a great experience. I don’t think that people realize how much work went into this middle school play. The ensemble rehearsed for six weeks, 2.5 hours a day, sometimes for longer and sometimes on Saturdays. It sounds like an overload and with school, rehearsals and homework, sometimes it was hard to find time to eat and sleep but throughout the process, the cast developed a close relationship, and the work we put in wasn’t even work- it was play. Learning lines was the easiest part for me. The hard part was creating a completely different character. Fox and I did a lot of work with just us, on our walk and the way we interacted. Grace and I–Fox and Cat–had to work on almost making ourselves one person on stage—that’s how strong our coordination had to be. Although this was hard–it was the best! The cast learned to be an ensemble. By the end of rehearsals, we were no longer “the cast of Pinocchio” but we were the friends, enemies and family of Pinocchio the puppet. Unfortunately, Pinocchio is over (although it was nice to catch up on sleep) but next year it’s Oliver! A joint middle and upper school production!”

– Sarah Schmitt, Grade 8 Student “The school production of Pinocchio was an amazing experience for me. I had only done one show before, Seussical in the sixth grade. I came hoping to just make the play, and when I was informed that I was Geppeto, I couldn’t believe it! The play was something I loved and enjoyed doing. I learned a lot from this experience; speaking clearly and loudly are just two things that I’ve learned to do. Before, I was always shy and not sure what to do, but I’ve been able to get over these things with the play. Not only did I have a lot of fun, but the production itself was amazing, and everyone in my cast was really good. I had never seen such an incredible stage, or set of people work with a show. An incredible experience, and wonderful people; that’s how I would describe doing theatre productions. It’s hard work, but it pays off in the end. Pinocchio was an amazing show, and I am looking forward auditioning for more theatre productions here at AIS.”

– Ashton Imber, Grade 8 Student As I came home from the last night of the play, I thought, “woah, its over” but also asked myself, “ Well, what did I learn? I learned how not to be afraid to talk to hundreds in public and how to pose as a funny cricket. Then a thought occurred to me that really changed the way I see theatre: everyone is important in the play. Everybody says that Pinocchio is the most important character, but he really isn’t. If Lampwick didn’t exist, Pinocchio would have been a real boy sooner and he wouldn’t have met the coachman. Every single person is important in the play, including the audience.

– Ivanna Martinez, Grade 8 Student

Did you know that Dr. Brindley is a geologist? Third grade thoroughly enjoyed listening to Dr. Brindley explain about the characteristics and qualities of the rocks that the students asked him about.

His presentation enriched our understanding of our unit, The Ever- Changing Earth. If you want to help in identifying an interesting specimen, we are sure that he can help you!

6

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

AIS Sports Report

By Sports Boosters Madison Scott, All Region Saturday, February 20, Madison Scott was on hand for the Region Championship at Whitefield. She was not there to watch the great basketball being played, but to receive an award. Our Junior Center was awarded to her second All Region Team. Our Lady Eagles play in an extremely tough region. They play such teams as Pace, Whitefield and Southwest Atlanta Christian. It is a testament to Madison’s talent and hard work, to be honored. Madison averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. She turned it on towards the end of the season. Madison is being recruited by LSU, Tulane, North Florida, GSU and other schools. This honor was a great way to end a tough season. Coach Richardson believes if she works hard this season and polishes her leadership skills, All American honors is not out of the realm of possibilities. Thanks Madison for all your hard work! We look forward to next year.

Spring Sports Spring Sports are under way at AIS. For the first time in school history, the school is offering a golf, an ultimate frisbee and a varsity tennis team.

Last year we offered JV and MS Tennis teams. Led by Neil Spencer and Serge Petitpre, our kids were competitive and proved we were ready for the next step. Coach Serge Petitpre leads the Eagles Tennis team into their first ever varsity season. The team will send the top seven boys and seven girls to four matches against local schools. Our home court is Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, located at Bobby Jones golf course on Northside Drive. Eleanor Ratchford and Karen Manidis take the place of Neil Spencer. We had the most student involvement in the history of the school. More than 40 students turned out for the first practice. All but ten of the US team members are freshmen and sophomores. Tennis is on the rise!

Coach Albright had been toying with the idea of offering a golf team for years. Without the right coach and not enough golfers at the school, he passed on it. When David Bell, a professional golfer from Australia, agreed to coach the team, he decided it was time to introduce golf to the spring line up. In our inaugural season, the team has a great shot at making some noise. Seniors David Collura and Junior Christoph Koehler have under a 1.5 handicap each and should lead the team. Sarah McKenney James Ford and Marcus Kiessling will compete for a strong third and fourth score. Even a handful of MS students decided to come out for the team.

Although they are too young to compete on a varsity team according to GHSA, they are working hard at polishing their techniques.

The future of the golf program is looking bright!

Trevor Pendergast, a teacher of geography and history, and Jennifer Pendergast, a teacher of visual arts, have been advocates of an ultimate frisbee team since their arrival at AIS three years ago. Last year they started a club team and because of a large turn out, decided with Coach Albright to open the sport to the school and start the program. As a result, ultimate has become another new sport offered at AIS. Ultimate is a rapidly growing sport in Atlanta and around the world; it is a sport that takes high skill, fast reaction time and split-second decision making to perform at a high level. Under the Pendergast leadership, the team is learning the game.

In the first ever game played by AIS, Ryan Kristensen passed to Peter Beach to score the first point. They went on to lose the match, but the Pendergast vision has come to life. Thanks to the Pendergasts and their vision! With more than twenty student participants, ultimate is going to be here for a long time!

These three teams join MS Tennis, MS and US track, MS Girls, JV Boys and Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer as Atlanta International Schools’ spring sports.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

7

Update on Ensemble Activities

By Edith Dehem, AIS Parent and Volunteer The French Book Yard Sale: Coming up at AIS from March 26 to March 28 Books in French are really hard to find in Atlanta ! To help you find some at very little cost for 50 ¢ to $5, Ensemble is organizing its second French book yard sale, where you will be able to prepare for the summer by making sure you and your children can practice their French during the long vacation months by stocking up on many French books.

The Yard Sale will be at Atlanta International School, in the SAC on the following days and times: Thursday, March 26 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, March 27 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

If you wish to donate French books you no longer need, you still can do so by contacting Cecile Forman at 404-567-4524 or cecileforman@yahoo.com.

We will have the following available for sale: • Second-hand books in French for all ages in good condition.

• French and French-English Dictionaries and encyclopedias, illustrated or not.

• French music CDs and music-sheets.

• Board-games, video-games and computer-games in French.

The benefits of this operation will go toward funding the items on the primary and secondary school French departments wish lists.

French Classes Enjoy the Traditional Galette des Rois at AIS The week of January 6, students enjoyed delicious “galettes” with their French teachers and classmates.The Galette des Rois is made of puff pastry filled with frangipane, an almond-flavoured paste. It is sold in all French bakeries, and eating the galette at the beginning of January is still a very popular tradition and an opportunity for families and friends to gather around the table in France and other French-speaking countries to celebrate “La fete des Rois” (Kings’ Day).

The fun part about eating la galette is that there is a lucky charm (une fève), which originally was a bean, hidden inside. Nowadays, a ceramic token is used.

The tradition calls for the youngest person in the room (usually a child) to hide under the table and shout out which guest each slice of galette should be given to. The person who finds the fève in his or her slice of galette becomes the King or Queen for the day. The King has to choose his Queen (or vice versa), and it seems that at AIS some of the royal couples also designated a prince and a princess!

This year, Ensemble sponsored 30 galettes. That’s why you’ve probably seen 30 kings, 30 queens and a few little princes and princesses running around with golden crowns on their heads!

5K Students Celebrate 100 Days of School

By Jill Huntley and Sharon Belton, Faculty Members During the 100-day celebration in 5K, students displayed their collections of paper clips, pennies, pasta, rice, beans, bobby pins, tiny bulldog clips, tiny paper butterflies, foam ball stickers, and jelly beans.They then weighed and measured them.

8

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Asian Cultural Club

By Dawn Klempf, AIS Parent and Volunteer A huge thanks to the dedicated and enthusiastic leadership of Jiaxing Weng and her mountains of support! The Asian Cultural club has enjoyed another great year at AIS! If you missed the events, please join us next year when the club president will be Chi Colberg. Each month, a fun event is planned.

Events range from a Taste of Asia, Mahjong gathering, family pot luck ping pong party, Asian Festival celebration, a food and cultural booth at Worldfest, Asian New Year celebration etc. The mission of the Asian Cultural Club is to assist AIS in fulfilling its mission by celebrating the diverse Asian culture within the AIS community. At the same time, it promotes and supports the Mandarin program at AIS through cultural events such as the Asian New Year celebration and many more.You only need to have an interest in Asian culture to be a member. We hope you will join us next year. To be included in our mailing list, please email us at aisacc2006@gmail.com.

Another Excellent THIMUN Performance by AIS Students

By Simon Underhill, Sandy Ferko, Darren Rollins, Faculty Members For the fifteenth consecutive year, AIS sent a delegation to The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference in The Hague, The Netherlands. This is the centerpiece of the Model United Nations program worldwide, with over 3,500 students from more than 70 countries attending. AIS is one of only six schools in the entire US to be invited to this prestigious event. Once again, our students did themselves and the school proud with a wonderful performance.

Our delegation of 34 students and three chaperones arrived a day early to recover from jet lag and to prepare for the rigors of the conference. The students enjoyed a tour of a local fishing village, complete with traditional Dutch clothing, and cheese factory, as well as stretching their legs along the beach at Scheveningen, near our hotel. There was little time for relaxing, however, once the conference began on Monday. For the next five days, the students were locked in debate as they tried to pass their resolutions.

Alliances were made and broken, passionate pleas were matched by defiant rebuttals, and resolutions proposed and discarded. To succeed at THIMUN requires a nuanced view of international affairs and history, as well as a flair for debate and diplomacy. Our students worked hard for close to three months to hone these skills and they more than held their own against the other students at the conference.

Our students represented Nicaragua and Algeria and were ably led by our ambassadors Paige Brownlow (grade 12) and Kareem Rosshandler ( grade 11). A small number of seniors and juniors were selected for the prestigious Advisory Panel on the Nile River Basin and Olivia Messer (grade 12- editor) and Emika Ijuin (grade 12 - photographer) were both selected to work on the daily THIMUN newspaper, MUNITY, which publishes a 16-20 page newsletter each day of the conference.

All of our students can be proud of their efforts over the week. We would like to pay special tribute to our seniors for their leadership and for their commitment to the program: Megan McGraw, Shelbi Vaughn, Shiva Rouhani, Ciara O’Halloran, Paige Brownlow, Meredith Lowe, Olivia Messer, Emika Ijuin, Adam Wadley and Annie Farrell.

One highlight for the students was the opportunity to view proceedings at the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Each day, the chaperones escorted a small group of students into the court to view the cases against various men charged with a range of war crimes from the Balkans Conflict. It was a sobering and at times confrontational experience, but to be part of that history was certainly special.

Our last full day in The Netherlands was spent in Amsterdam, where the students visited the Anne Frank House, explored the streets and markets, enjoyed an Indonesian buffet, and finished the day off with an evening canal cruise. It was a tired but very satisfied group of students who wearily disembarked at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on Sunday, February 2. Their performances over the week were a credit to them and to the school and ensured that AIS will continue to be invited back.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

9

AIS Family Attends Presidential Inauguration

By Regina Deloatch-Ratliff, AIS Parent and Faculty Member On January 20, 2009, our nation and the world witnessed the historical inauguration of the first African-American president, Barack Obama; and kindergartner, Lonnie Ratliff IV was in Washington D.C. to experience it all! It was a day of firsts as Lonnie traveled to D.C. with his family on his first train ride where he was made junior conductor of the day. Lonnie traveled with his mom, Regina Deloatch-Ratliff and aunt, Renita Deloatch and met up in D.C. with other family members from Atlanta, GA. One of those family members was his maternal grandmother, Carol Deloatch, who was one of the thousands that attended the March on Washington in 1963. “It’s great to be back in D.C. for another historic event and to this time be able to share it with my children and grandchildren,” said Mrs. Deloatch of the inauguration.

Lonnie and his family were first in line at the inaugural parade site where they waited seven hours in freezing temperatures to see the President and First Lady walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. During his stay in D.C., Lonnie had a chance to visit famous landmarks such as The Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

To add even more excitement to this historic occasion, Lonnie was photographed by the Boston Herald and appeared in their online magazine. He was photographed standing in front of the Capitol building, holding his Barack Obama action figure and an American flag.

Lonnie collected a lot of memorabilia during this event including photos, posters, and flags but nothing can compare to the memory of attending the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Gump for a Day: AIS Teacher and Literary Celebrities Pay Tribute to Samuel Beckett

By Robert Shaw-Smith, AIS Faculty Member

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) is regarded as perhaps the most innovative and influential play wright and novelist of the 20th century. In 1985, he authorized the collection of his corres

pondence (over 15,000 letters in public and private collections). The Letters of Samuel Beckett; Volume One, 1929-40 is the first comprehensive edition of the letters of the Irish-born writer, providing access to primary sources now scattered in archives and private collections world-wide.

To celebrate this important literary milestone, a reading of selected letters was performed in Dublin, by acclaimed Irish actor and Beckett specialist Barry McGovern, in London by Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart and in Atlanta by Edward Albee, foremost American playwright, Sir Salman Rushdie, Booker of Bookers winner, Brenda Bynum and Robert Shaw-Smith.

Yes. There is a rapidly precipitous decrescendo of star power at the very end of that last sentence. Being invited to share the platform at Emory University with this literary constellation was like being Forrest Gump for a day.

Rushdie is quintessentially polished and urbane. At pains to acknowledge Beckett’s genius and his own debt to him, Rushdie of course delighted in Beckett’s deft wielding of language, but just as much in his maudlin melancholia and writer’s block and bile.

Albee is 81, forthright, verging on sassy and always honest. He told us of being a young man in a bar in Paris with Beckett and others, talking about the Marquis de Sade. As Albee recalled, they talked energetically on the subject for more than an hour. But, secretly knowing nothing of de Sade, all he could do was intermittently guffaw and slap his thigh as occasion demanded.

You can imagine the conversation in the green room backstage before the performance, between these men of huge historical and literary heft.You can imagine how I intermittently guffawed and slapped my thigh…

The letters we read ranged over Beckett’s readings and writings, his family and friends, publishers and agents, even about the death of a family dog. Often incisive or humane, sometimes witty or devastatingly moving.

At the end, as we left the stage, the four of us crossed in front of the large portrait of a young Beckett, which was standing on an easel, the upstage centerpiece of our set. Albee ran his fingers lightly over the image; one great writer’s tender gesture of respect and love for another.

It was an honor to be en attendance…

10 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Join the AIS Career Network The first two meetings have been extremely well attended, and the group continues to grow. The AIS Career network is a parent-led initiative that aims to provide networking opportunities to AIS parents, alumni, alumni parents, and spouses of AIS faculty and administration staff who are seeking employment. Meetings are held every first and third Tuesday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The sessions focus on providing job search resources and industry contacts to members of the AIS community.

In addition to inviting community members who are searching for employment, we also encourage potential employers, recruiters and any members of the community who may be able to offer leads or share resources or expertise to attend these meetings. Please RSVP to Jean Millkey at jemillkey@aischool.org. If you would like us to address a specific idea or topic of discussion for future meetings, or if you are willing to present a topic, please let Jean know when you RSVP. In addition to meeting twice a month, this group stays connected via LinkedIn, an online tool designed to facilitate professional connections among its users. Please take the time to register before the next meeting. To log on to the AIS Career Network on LinkedIn, please visit http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1805708&trk=anet_ug_hm • If you already have a LinkedIn account, click on the link above and then click on the button:“Join Group” • If you do NOT have a LinkedIn account, click on the link above, then click on the link towards the bottom of the page called,“Joining LinkedIn.” If you are not familiar with LinkedIn, please join us 30 minutes early at 6:30 p.m. in the Library at the next networking meeting to learn how this online tool works.

AIS School Store Goes Online

By Amy Medford, Auxiliary Programs Manager We are pleased to offer a new service to you! Beginning April 1, PE and school supply items can be pre-ordered for the 2009-2010 school year, online. To find instructions, supply lists and links to order, visit our website at www.aischool.org/studentlife/schoolstore/.

New for next year: • Only PE uniforms, notebooks/workbooks and art supplies will be available for ordering online. Remaining school supplies can be purchased at the retailer of your choice.

• All school workbooks must be purchased using our online system by June 1, 2009. Orders received after June 1 will not be processed.

5K Students Experiment with Poetry

By Marie-Luce van Asten, Faculty Member After learning the poem, “Dans Paris” by Paul Eluard, 5K French students composed their own poems using the same syntax. The class selected this example for publishing.

Dans Paris

by Paul Eluard Dans Paris il y a une rue; Dans cette rue il y a une maison; Dans cette maison il y a un escalier; Dans cet escalier il y a une chambre; Dans cette chambre il y a une table; Sur cette table il y a un tapis; Sur ce tapis il y a une cage; Dans cette cage il y a un nid; Dans ce nid il y a un œuf, Dans cet œuf il y a un oiseau.

L’oiseau renversa l’œuf; L’œuf renversa le nid; Le nid renversa la cage; La cage renversa le tapis; Le tapis renversa la table; La table renversa la chambre; La chambre renversa l’escalier; L’escalier renversa la maison; la maison renversa la rue; la rue renversa la ville de Paris.

• Notebooks/workbooks WILL NOT be available for sale throughout the school year. Therefore it is imperative that you place your order by June 1.

Workbook packages have been adjusted to reflect this.

• PE, spiritwear and art supply items WILL be available for ordering throughout the school year.

• PE, spiritwear, and art supply items will be shipped directly to your house. Notebooks/ workbooks can be picked up on August 17 & 18, 2009 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the SAC. The current school store will be operating on campus until June. After June, all items will be available online only. For more information, ordering instructions, and links, please go to www.aischool.org/studentlife/schoolstore/.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

11

How To Encourage Independent Reading At Home

By Erika Velez, Faculty Member From Mystery readers in 5K to parent guests in fifth grade, reading is widely promoted at AIS. As a learning specialist, I share daily and work with students in grades 5K, third and fourth grades who struggle with reading. Although strategies and skills are provided at school, home involvement is crucial for children’s reading success.

Home involvement can provide rich opportunities for children to develop as readers, and at AIS we help by instructing parents to simply, “Read to your child” or “Encourage your child to read at home”. This may be a start, but it is not enough. Parents need specific suggestions and guidelines about what to do. There are some suggestions based on our work with parents in the primary school from early grades to upper grades, which have been useful.

Keep it simple: Many parents have limited time to devote to working with their children, so at-home activities must be easy to implement. In addition, it is important to know that the recommended activities help make a positive difference in children’s reading achievements.

Parent options: Read to your children. Many parents believe this “reading to” should cease when their children begin to read independently. Not so! Parents of older children see the value of continuing to read aloud, perhaps chapters at bedtime or an interesting article from the newspaper. Parents can also read with their children, perhaps alternating pages or paragraphs. They may want to listen to their children read. They may want to sit side by side with their children, each reading what he or she desires. They may even want to encourage their child to read to a family pet or even a stuffed animal. All these activities are legitimate forms of independent reading at home that will lead to success in children’s literacy development.

Book lists: Our school library has a wide variety of books, which are age and language appropriate. Information about summer reading lists as well as other suggested reading materials can be found in the school’s webpage.You can ask your child’s teachers for reading suggestions and visit our school librarian.

Five-finger rule of book selection: The child opens to a page in the middle of a book and begins to read, raising a finger each time he or she encounters an unknown word. If five fingers are raised before the page is complete, the book is probably too challenging for the child to read independently. It may also be necessary to consider issues as whether it’s OK for a child to reread a favorite book or to read books that are “too easy.” (In both cases, it’s OK!) Interest-based reading should be encouraged; this definitely motivates a child to read.

At-home reading should not be time consuming or complex. Instead parents can talk, encourage, answer child-initiated questions, and model their own literate behaviors.

Geographers Represent AIS At The 33rd Annual UNIS-UN Student Conference

By Chris Stephenson, Faculty Member Eight of our grade 11 students were successfully selected to attend the 33rd Annual United Nations International School UN Conference in the United Nations General Assembly, NewYork from March 4 to 6.This is a student-led organization that annually invites students from AIS to participate in this well attended event. Entitled “The Food Crisis – A Global Challenge,” the event is attended by more than three hundred delegates from all over the world. Not only did students experience the formal setting of the GA Hall but were treated to speeches from his Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the UN, Mr. Daniel Gustafson, director of the Liaison Office for North America – Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture for the State of California and Caryl Stern, president and CEO of U.S. Fund for UNICEF, to name just a few.The AIS students, Simon Thaler, Andrea Pava, Nicola Pardy, Markus McNally, Rana El-Nahas, Kareem Rosshandler, Ari Levinson and Jessica Hassett attended two very full and busy days of speeches, student-created movies, debates and questions – many of which were addressed by our students themselves.

“I actually realized how many of the geographical concepts came together in the real world,” was one of the many comments that came from conversations around the event. As this is NewYork, and while many of the students were with home-stay families arranged by UNIS, we had the opportunity to see some of the sights, experience the sounds and unique atmosphere that is NewYork together as a group. Some students stayed in the city and some became city commuters on the Metro to Queens. Everything from walking vast distances (who knew a block was so far?) to eating waffle fries dusted in cocoa and chili at Max Brenner – Chocolate by the Bald Man (no relation, Mr. Hurworth!) We all enjoyed a world of opportunity and incredible diversity – all on one little tiny island!

We debated as a group that this is a complicated web of interrelated problems – which will be some of the problems that these very students present in the GA will have to deal with in the next few years to allow equal access to food for all. Over the next 24 hours, the “bottom billion” on our planet will go hungry, and we realized that this topic was so much more than a chapter in a text book or a case study assignment.This was the reality of the geography that we all live every day. These students will become the problem solvers and the hope that the Secretary General alluded to in his speech, “I am confident that we can deal with the global food crisis.We have the resources.We have the knowledge.We know what to do.We should therefore consider this not only as a problem but also as an opportunity,” – Ban Ki-moon.

12 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Globetrotter’s

Grammar Guru Illumniating (Eliminating) “Educated Errors”

By Globetrotter’s Grammar Guru Do you surreptitiously set straight a painting when you see it is knocked awry? If you’re standing behind someone whose sweater label is sticking out, signaling to the world it needs to be dry-cleaned, do you gently tuck it in? Do you wipe your cheek when someone across from you at dinner has sauce on hers or brush your chin when her husband juggles cake crumbs in his beard as he talks?

I try not to, but I find the urge irresistible.You may think me empathetic, idealistic, considerate, hopeful. Or you may label me critical, unrealistic, downright obsessive-compulsive, and perpetually picky.

Either way, I hope you will appreciate that I now face a very delicate dilemma: What to do when a really smart, well-educated, articulate person repeatedly commits a basic error of grammar or usage?

I recognize that while it might be considered a momentarily embarrassing kindness to whisper a suggestion to wipe egg off another’s face, it would be a major assault on professional pride to correct a lawyer, doctor, professor, or business executive in public. There is, alas, no such thing as a discreet and diplomatic grammar lesson.

When a concert pianist strikes a wrong note, the audience can be sure that the pianist knows what note should have sounded instead. The trouble with English is that the very ones who should know what is correct—the educated souls among us—don’t always know. In short, some of the best speakers don’t know when “the note is flat.” And their unwitting mistakes can cause the most damage.

Let us acknowledge that it has become trendy to be loose in our usage and to avoid association with that which is proper, formal, intellectual.

Informal verbiage, executed well, can verge on the eloquent and is undeniably playful. But chronic “educated errors” are problematic because they mislead children who can no longer be sure of the difference between the correct and the colloquial, the standard and the slang.

It is a particular problem—you might say, unconscionable—in a place like Atlanta International School where ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) is a critical subject for non-natives who naturally look to natives for example and guidance. While the number of non-native speakers of English has grown worldwide, overtaking the number of native speakers themselves, the ownership of the language is imperceptibly shifting. Could it happen that the best speakers and writers of English in the future will be the non-native learners who know the conventions and rules more thoroughly than their native counterparts who simply can no longer distinguish an object pronoun from a subject pronoun, an adverb from an adjective, a preposition from a conjunction?

We conscious grammarians may be a dying breed, but we cherish the difference. And just as we want the painting to hang straight and everyone’s face to be clean, we want parents and teachers and coaches—all who work with children—to share in our great knowledge. They ought to know how to speak correctly and write well, if only for the college application or the job interview.

Sadly unable to resist the urge to redress “educated errors,” I am also unwilling to insult very capable and intelligent people. Hence an anonymous grammar column.

If you find that crooked frame unperturbing, enjoy reading the cleaning instructions of your neighbor’s sweater, secretly enjoy smirking at your food-smudged dinner companion, then read no further.You will care not a jot or a tittle that grammar glitches are on the increase and will find this column tedious. But if you share my love of order, of beauty, of linguistic clarity, and yes, of teaching, read on. Mind you, my interest in correction stems from an innate recognition of my own imperfection; I err just as anyone else does but I strive not to. Humor and humility underlie this column along with a genuine desire to illuminate and help eliminate chronic mis-usages.

The Globetrotter’s Grammar Guru column will grapple with an “educated error” all too common among native English speakers. Some of you readers may have a grammatical pet peeve of your own, which you may suggest as the focus for a future column. Of course, I welcome your trying to catch me in error. If so, write to “Globetrotter’s Grammar Guru,” globetrotter@ aischool.org. In the meantime, look forward to “All I’s Are Not On Me” in the next Globetrotter.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

13

“Love Your Body” Week at Atlanta International School

By Lori Jordan, Faculty Member According to research conducted by the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty: Real Girls, Real Pressure, A National Report on the State of Self-Esteem, “seven in ten girls (69%) in Atlanta believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family. Forty-five percent of teen girls admit to talking badly about themselves. Nineteen percent of teen girls in Atlanta practice disordered eating.” Probably the most disturbing statistic is that “girls with low self esteem are three times more likely than girls with high self-esteem to engage in harmful and destructive behavior that can leave a lasting imprint on their lives.” These statistics are our reality.

With the resources and outreach programs offered by an Atlanta-based non-profit organization, EDIN: Eating Disorders Information Network, students at Atlanta International School are trying to combat these alarming statistics. Each year, the AIS CAS group of EDIN sponsors a fun week of interactive activities to help secondary school students focus on positive body image, healthy living, and the dangers associated with eating disorders. For over five years now, our EDIN members have planned and coordinated student activities each February. This year’s events featured: • “Love Your Body Week” Kick-off: EDIN members opened the week with videos from Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty for both the Upper School and Middle School morning meetings (www.campaignforrealbeauty.com).

• Life-size Barbie: Did you know that if Barbie, one of the most popular dolls of all time, were a real person, she would be about 6 feet tall with a 36-inch bust, an 18-inch waist and 33-inch hips? EDIN students put together a life-size display of Barbie to promote discussion about the unrealistic statistics associated with Barbie and her popularity among impressionable young girls.

• Mirror-less Wednesday: If you were in any of the secondary school bathrooms during the week, you may have noticed that all of the mirrors were covered with black paper. This was a chance to celebrate and think about WHO we are, and not just what we look like. Above each mirror, EDIN crafted ceramic art tiles featuring quotes about internal beauty.

• Guest speaker from EDIN Atlanta: Kris Shock, Program Director of EDIN, joined our AIS community to talk to interested students about the facts behind eating disorders and also ways that students can support and empower their friends in terms of promoting positive body image.

• Hip Hop Dance Session: EDIN believes in the importance of healthy habits and hosted this fun session to allow students the opportunity for enjoyable exercise and to try something new. Taught by AIS senior, Anusha Sthanunathan, it was a great way to end the school week!

• Merrick’s Walk: To conclude the week, our EDIN members joined hundreds of area walkers and runners at Chastain Park for a fundraiser walk that raised awareness for eating disorders and raised funds for treatment programs. The walk is in honor of Merrick Ryan, a 19-year old Galloway alum who died after she lost her battle with anorexia in January 2000.

Many thanks to all of the EDIN members for their planning of a spectacular week and to the co-leaders, Robin Kuik and Emmaline Campbell, for bringing it all together! The activities hosted by EDIN don’t end with “Love Your Body Week.” Throughout the year, EDIN members focus on topics that range from leadership to media awareness to healthy ways of coping with stress. The group of middle and upper school students meet each week to Educate themselves and ¬Inspire others- their ultimate goal! For more information on EDIN, please feel free to contact Lori Jones, ljones@aischool.org.

Music Department “Notes”

By Dr. Ronald L. Howard, Faculty Member The Music Department of AIS has enjoyed a busy winter and early spring season. Nine AIS music performance ensembles presented programs in early December. Our senior IB Music candidates were presented in a formal recital on the evening of February 19. The Primary and Middle School divisions also presented a 90-minute public concert on February 24. A total of 24 AIS students performed on the AIS Chamber Music Society recitals on February 5 and March 2. Lastly, our school’s Honor Choir embarked on a nine-day concert tour through Germany on March 6.

Several AIS students were the recipients of various musical accolades during the winter months. Junior clarinetist Marvin Fichmueller, in addition to his activities with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, participated in three honors-type band festivals over a five-week period: the University of Georgia JanFest Band Festival, the Georgia State University Honor Band, the Georgia Music Educators Association District 5 Honor Band, and, most notably, the 2009 Georgia All-State 11-12 Symphonic Band, held in Savannah 14 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Music Department “Notes” Continued March 5-8. Marvin performed under the baton of noted Iranian-American composer and conductor Samuel R. Hazo.

Also performing as part of the Georgia All-State weekend in Savannah were middle school musicians Keanu Mitanga and Myrtil Mitanga. Both were selected through competitive audition to the All-State Middle School String Orchestra, and they enjoyed performing under the baton of conductor-author-composer Gabriel Villasurda.

The Georgia State University Honor Bands, under the direction of conductor Robert Ambrose, faculty member at GSU, presented a public concert on February 23. AIS students appearing on this program were Anusha Sthanunathan and Daniel Levine, trombonists in the jazz band; Joshua Hanford, percussion, Simon Kirk, clarinet, and Marvin Fichtmueller, clarinet, in the symphonic bands.

Looking forward to the closing weeks of the school year, the Upper School Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, and String Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Howard, Ms. Greenlaw, and Mr. Tyberg, will present their final public program of the year on April 7. The community is invited to this free performance, starting at 7:00 pm in the AIS Auditorium. The AIS Chamber Music Society recital series continues with evenings of solo-ensemble music to be presented on April 15 and May 20. The Primary School concert organizations, including the band, led by Albert Soskin, the chorus, led by Karen Peters, and the strings, under the leadership of Herrad Welp, will present their year-end concert on May 14. Our Middle School ensembles, the symphonic band, chorus, honor choir, and strings, will close out the year in a concert program on May 19. Many AIS music students are also looking forward to participation in summer music camps and music programs at locations all across the country, including the Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan), Northwestern University (Illinois), as well as Florida State University and the University of Florida.

On Sunday afternoon, March 22, in the AIS Auditorium, selected AIS musicians and ensembles, along with artists from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will present a program of music sponsored by the AIS Arts Alliance. Further details can be found on the AIS website at www.aischool.org.

The AIS Department of Music, and its faculty, wish to extend appreciation to all who have supported the efforts of the department this year, whether through attendance at public recitals and concerts, support of the individual faculty members and their respective ensembles, or through encouraging our students to continue to strive for excellence in music through participation in the arts.

AIS Honor Choir Performs in Germany

By Leona Greenlaw, Faculty Member On March 6, 2009, their thrice-weekly early morning rehearsals at AIS finally at an end, the

AIS Honor Choir embarked on the prize: a nine-day performance tour to Germany. Was all that commitment, effort, and hard work worth it? The most frequently used word by Honor Choir members to describe the experience was “awesome!”

That word was used as well by some of the English-speaking members of their audiences to describe their singing, around which the tour revolved. In the seven days they were in Germany on tour, they sang eight concerts—in Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden, Leipzig, and Frankfurt. Venues ranged from churches and schools to a center for senior citizens.

One of the highlights for Amelia Zuver was singing in the famous St. Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where Bach directed the choir, played the organ, and composed many of his compositions from 1723 until his death in 1750. Immediately behind where the Honor Choir stood to perform was Bach’s grave. All present agreed that the acoustics of the church were “amazing” as was the sense of history that was gained from being in the church where many of Bach’s compositions—including his monumental Mass in B minor—were first performed. (It was the next day, in Dresden, that we learned from our tour guide that Bach had composed and submitted the initial movements of the Mass in application for the post of Court Composer to the court of Friedrich August II, Elector of Saxony—an honor he was subsequently denied.)

Another musical highlight for all was the choir’s last performance—at Christ the King Church in Frankfurt, where the father of Honor Choir member Lizzy Sandlin had been rector for eight years. The church turned out in full force, providing enthusiastic applause after every selection, and refusing to stop their standing ovation until an encore was agreed upon. Afterwards, the girls were treated to a lovely reception and much “geműtlichkeit.”

But it was not all music. Every city had guided tours to its outstanding sites. Many of the students, when asked to write down their thoughts, shared the emotional impact the Wall and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum had on them. Robin Kuik was moved by the fact that “they haven’t forgotten…While they most likely have wanted to forget it, they haven’t, no matter how painful it has been.”

And, of course, the girls learned much about themselves, as well. They learned they could memorize an hour’s worth of music! They didn’t need to rely on others to sing their part perfectly. They also learned, as Sarah Cook put it, that though “there were times where I got tired of the commitment, but in the end I was pleased with myself and what I have been able to do.”

As Katherine Davis summed it up, “Overall, I have made many wonderful memories that I will never forget!”

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

15

AIS Students Make the A Team in MathCounts Competition

By Tony Locke, Faculty Member And now folks, here’s a report on a recent MathCounts competition written by roving reporter, Tony Locke: It’s Valentines Day! YIPPEE! It’s SATURDAY; double yippee and what a day for a lie in. It is deserved it is NEEDED and what is this? Six in the morning, and I am being told that I MUST get up. No “Here you are dear, a lovely cup of hot coffee.” Instead, just a “Get up or you are going to be late.” It is dark out there…. It is cold out there, and what am I doing? I am heading to Buckhead to pick up Mark Schwade and take him and Sam Locke to Georgia Tech for a MATH COUNTS contest. Why do we have to register at 7.30 a.m.? What is so wrong with 9.30 a.m.? Midday sounds better still.

GPS is a wonderful system, allowing me to easily navigate the way to the venue. But what is this? A dead end and GPS says go straight ahead the wrong way down a one way street. It is dark, no one is around…nobody would know. But of course, one of the basic laws of life warns you that if you try this stunt, a police car will appear out of nowhere.

Anyway, we get there and Youngjun Yi, another member of the squad is there waiting. What time did he get up? Of course 7.30 a.m. in Atlanta is probably around 7.30 p.m. in Korea, a far more sensible time.

Slowly but surely, the other members of the team, Brian Cook, which of course is an anagram for “Brain” is there and so he is probably going to do well. Kesha Kanakiya, the only seventh grader in the squad, Luke Smith (which is an anagram for kule (cool?), so he may not do as well as expected) and… hang on, what is this? Is AIS bringing in a team of ringers? Hortense Baderani and Claire Colberg, two of our brightest eleventh grade 11 students have just turned up! They will never pass as eighth graders. OK maybe they could at a push, but Mr. Preis has got no chance! He’s small enough, but the facial hair is a bit of a give away. So he is here to help me, and Hortense is here bringing her younger sister, Louise. And here comes Brice Williams, with a bag of goodies.

So off the team troops for a fun-filled 45 minutes of Math, then a break, followed by another exciting 45 minutes of Math. A quick break and the A-team (doesn’t at least one A team member have to have a Mohawk haircut?) troop off for the team contest while the rest of us hunt out the cafeteria. Mathematicians they may be, but healthy eaters they are not! Soda, burgers, sugar… Youngjun is of course eating with chop sticks and proclaiming how great these eating utensils are. Clearly Mark cannot master them, but you know I’d love to see Youngjun take on a big Texas steak with them!

Then it is back for a few Math jokes. Math jokes? Are you serious? Apparently so. The only one I can ever recall is the Math teacher accused of being part of a terrorist group… Al Gebra, when she was found carrying weapons of Math Instruction onto a plane.

Then the Countdown round, and Luke won our only attempt at that.

Finally, a fun-filled EIGHT HOURS after I got up, the awards. What is this? We did not win? Can’t these judges count?

Apparently they can…we didn’t. However the results are now in and while our guys did not win, they did well, all scoring above average and Brian showed why his name has the anagram it does by qualifying for State. See, I knew he would do well. Congrats Brian!

Since February 14, we received the results and so here are a few notes about the results we received. Our eight grade 8 students, all mentioned above, qualified after winning the AIS MathCounts competition. The top four made the A team: Brice Williams, Kesha Kanakiya, Luke Smith and Brian Cook. Brian scored high enough to qualify to go on to the State Round. All eight students scored higher then the average score at the competition. AIS was ranked eighteenth, which placed us in the top 40% of all schools that attended

16 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Naan Bethania Neseekiren [Thinking of Bethania]

By Jenna Sanborn, AIS Alumna ‘08 and Ellinor Darner October 1, 2008 we boarded a plane in Frankfurt, Germany destined to Chennai, India. This was the first time either of us had moved away from home–18 years old and accompanied only by each other, yet not college-bound, rather Bethania-bound. Each of us carried one suitcase filled with personal belongings and one stuffed with gifts for the children, praying we were reasonably prepared for what the next two months in Kannivadi, Tamil Nadu would bring. Honestly, we never could have fathomed how life-changing this experience would prove to be.

After spending two days in Chennai, which served as a brief introduction to the South Indian culture, we took a smaller flight southbound.

We landed in the small city of Madurai, population 1 million, at a single-room airport. Off to the side stood a small woman in a traditional green sari with intricate gold detailing, holding a piece of paper with “Jenna Ellinor” scribbled on it. Although her English was not perfect, her warm smile immediately made us feel welcome. Chandra took us, complete strangers, into her home several times throughout our stay in India and introduced us to so much of her world. Looking back, she has not only become our “Indian Grandmother” but a true role model due to her many accomplishments which have positively impacted her small village of Pattiveeranpatti.

The five-minute drive off the main road down the bumpy, winding, dirt path to Bethania, nestled amongst the flat dandelion fields at the foot of the Mountains, seemed like years. We were so anxious to arrive, yet questions flooded our minds. How many kids would there be? Would they speak English? Would we feel accepted? Where would we stay? What would we eat? What would the daily routine be like? We were diving head first into a drastically opposite lifestyle than back home, with no answers.Yet the first smile from little 7-year-old Jenitha temporarily eased all of our worries. From day one, the children called us sisters. Everyday our familial bond continued to grow and strengthen. It was hard to feel homesick when clearly we had a new home in Kannivadi with 37 brothers and sisters--the best children in the world.

Very quickly, we fell into routine at Bethania. Our alarm rang at 7:30 each morning; two hours after the kids had awoken, completed their studies and even done some chores. The breakfast bell rang at 8 a.m. Upon entering the dining hall, we were greeted by 37 lovely smiles, amicable salutes and waves, which contributed to our eagerness to wake and join the children each day. The end of breakfast was always a rush. The children masterfully broke their iddlies (rice cakes) using only their right hands and then soaked them in sambar, a traditional vegetable sauce, before quickly cleaning their tin plates and hurrying to board the school bus. Instead of going to school, we hit the fields. Under the supervision of Ganapragasam, the farmer who single-handedly manages Bethania’s thirteen acres, we performed tasks like removing rocks and weeding plots of land, planting and harvesting tomato and brinjal (eggplant) crops and creating mud ‘bunds’ to aid the irrigation system. While the work was tiring in the heat, it felt good to lend a hand so that Bethania can one day become self-sufficient. After two hours of work and a cool glass of freshly squeezed lemonade, we cooled off under our tap and then ate lunch prepared for us by the lovely ladies in the kitchen. We also enjoyed spending two hours in the afternoon assisting Ishwari and Sivagami with chopping the vegetables for the evening meal. The highlight of the day was certainly at 4:30 p.m., when the Bethania bus returned and exploded with screaming and laughing children, eager for a snack and playtime. For the next hour and a half, we went wild with the children--teaching each other new games, songs and dances. On rainy days we would enjoy coloring and drawing; yet unfortunately the paper and gel pens we brought ran out quickly. We now cherish these hours spent together; this was the time we truly got to know each child, create personal bonds and inside jokes. The children, aged 5 to 18, all craved our individual attention--that special smile, gesture or contact that had been missing in their lives. The smallest interactions meant the world, not only to them, but also to us.

At around 6:15 p.m., the bell would ring again, signifying the daily prayer time. Christianity is a large part of these children’s lives, bringing them hope and determination. The aura of the room while the children chanted their powerful prayers epitomized, to us, the meaning of faith. These peaceful moments were soon over, as the kids then rushed to us begging, “Sista, English!” Their extreme enthusiasm to learn English spurred our excitement to teach them to the best of our abilities. It was always difficult to determine which age group we would teach each night, since that meant turning down other children keen to learn. We made sure to keep a regular schedule alternating between the different age groups. We feel the lessons really benefited their English and further stimulated their wish to speak English fluently one day.

Study time was concluded by the ring of the dinner bell at 8:00 p.m., paired with hungry faces yelling, “Sapda vango!” (Come eat!) At Bethania, food is abundant, fresh and delicious--no child could ever go hungry. Then, after 37 big hugs and “Iraavu Vanakkam”‘s, (Goodnight’s), we headed to the small guest house, tired, yet so happy, after a long eventful day at Bethania.

While these kids have so little, their hearts are made of gold. In return for the presents we brought them, almost everyday we received some sort of gift; whether it was flowers, rocks, friendship bracelets or drawings, the kids always found a way to show their appreciation. Personally, we feel we took away just as much as we have hopefully left at Bethania Orphanage. We are forever changed. We will be back soon, Bethania!

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

17

Small Change Collection for Bethania Orphanage

By Esther Rosenfeld, Faculty Member When you see primary school students wearing a bright fluorescent sticker, you can readily identify them as caring and empathetic contributors to the Bethania Orphanage. As you may have read in the Headmaster’s Bulletin, primary school students are donating loose change and bills to help the children in the orphanage. The funds raised will help with purchasing additional books for Bethania’s library and improving the only existing road that leads to the small town where their schools are located. There are collection bottles located in the primary office and other areas of the primary school.

Ella Hurworth, a student in third grade, took action on her own. “I donated to Bethania by selling lemonade. I sold my lemonades for 25¢ each and got $5! I was very happy to give it to Bethania because they need it more than I do. Donating made me feel good!”

Please support your children when they want to participate in this very worthwhile endeavor so that they too can “feel good” about helping children who have less than they do.

AIS Seniors Organize to Support Bethania Orphanage Benefit on Prom Night

By Betsy Carpenter, AIS Parent and Volunteer Turning tragedy into triumph, a potential conflict becomes a winning situation for the senior class at Atlanta International School. In keeping with today’s concern for unnecessary extravagances, and an awareness of global responsibilities, a large number of seniors and juniors at AIS have agreed to forego a restaurant dinner on prom night to attend the annual fundraising event at the school.

The yearly benefit for the orphanage in Bethania, India, is organized by the students, under the supervision of Ms. Shanta Kalyanasundaram. AIS involvement with Bethania dates back to 2005, and several AIS students have worked there over the years. Jenna Sanborn, AIS alumna, explained, “It is through fundraising and involving the AIS community that Ramya, a Bethania girl, is now attending her first year of college. I sincerely believe that if you educate a girl in a less developed country, you educate many generations.”

When the students realized that the fundraising dinner was scheduled for the same night as their prom, they decided to make it work for them all:

“We save money on a big lavish dinner at a restaurant; all proceeds are donated to the orphanage that AIS supports in India; and the food is great.”

said TC Winter, student organizer.

On the evening of April 25, after the photos have been taken, the students will enjoy a full Indian meal, with live entertainment. After the dinner, they will proceed to the prom as usual. The dinner is also open to anyone interested in supporting the efforts of the Bethania orphanage.

At first, there was some concern that it wasn’t like a typical prom night, but as one mother put it, “AIS isn’t your typical school.” Soon, the list of participants grew and is still growing, with the goal of 100% participation. It is up to the organizing students to provide a fun and festive evening so that the tradition may continue next year!!

18 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009

Education: A Gift of Life for Bethania Children James Brindley, AIS Alumnus ‘05 It’s been a little while, three years to be exact, since I worked at the Bethania home but it made such an impression on me that it is easy to recollect the orphanage in detail. I remember clearly that the home wasn’t a Dickens-like, depressing workhouse of a place that I thought it may be. What struck me most was that the children were happy, immensely happy. Their joy and enthusiasm completely contradicted their origins as many were true orphans while others had been rescued from abusive guardians or simply from parents who were unable to support them.

I deduced that the children were happy because they were being looked after, having food, shelter, love and attention; they had fulfilling and enjoyable lifestyles; and also they could look forward to a future far brighter than that of their parents. These three factors more or less summarizes Bethania Orphanage’s concept. It’s not an orphanage per-se, but rather a home for needy children. The place is a refuge to local youth who need those three basic things that we, in the developed world, have come to expect as a given. The Bethania CAS group has given extraordinary help to Bethania, which has enhanced not only the children’s current lifestyles but also provided for a better future. New transport for the children expanded learning resources and new buildings, as well as financial support, have all been provided through funding given by the Bethania CAS group and the eversupportive AIS community.

One of the greatest gifts given to the Bethania home has been that of education. Each year, the oldest residents at the home have to undertake tertiary education or apprenticeships. Even more significant is that many of these students and apprentices are female. It’s an accepted fact that when promoting sustainable social development, educating women and raising their status are essential for progress.

Despite this, often only males are educated. However, as women have the responsibility of teaching the younger generation; it is most important that they receive this education. By providing tertiary education at the home equally to both genders, the Bethania CAS group is helping to alleviate this problem. The AIS community is currently providing college education for two students, the first Bethania residents to ever undertake higher education.

Still, as with any ongoing aid efforts, there remains areas for improvement at the Bethania home that need to be addressed. Firstly the connecting roads are in need of repair as their present condition would make even the lunar surface look as smooth as the I-85. As these roads are boggy during the monsoon and potholed during the dry months (the photo above shows the current road) making the children’s journey to school difficult, their repair should be the focus of future projects. Secondly the site’s library needs to be regularly updated to ensure that current and practical educational resources are continually on hand. Last, but not least, the general facilities and the staff need continuing support. As Bethania serves as the one and only home for the resident children, it must maintain the clean, nurturing environment which is the right of every child. Bethania home should be supported so these needs can continue to be fulfilled.

I have great pride in Bethania. When I visited Bethania three years ago it was an institution that, despite being successful, still needed attention from those more fortunate. Today it serves its community in an outstanding fashion, providing needy children not only a home in which to live and enjoy their younger years, but also a secure foundation from which they can build a future as independent adults in society. With ongoing work and support from the AIS community and the efforts of the Bethania CAS group, I can see these futures being brighter than ever.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / April 2009 • Globetrotter

19

Asian New Year Celebration

Black History Month

Middle School Production of “Pinocchio”

Globetrotter

The Globetrotter is the newsletter of Atlanta International School.

Letters to the Editor should be sent to:

Our new century needs and will be shaped

by extraordinary individuals. Meeting the

challenges and opportunities of an interdependent world will require versatile intellectual competence and uncompromising commitment. Those who thrive in and contribute to this world will have a solid sense of who they are, and respect for who others are, as individuals, as members of a group, as citizens of their nation, and as members of a global community. They will have a rigorous academic preparation and a passion to become the best they can be and to help others achieve their best. The mission of Atlanta International School is to develop such individuals.

Gordana Goudie Communications Manager Atlanta International School 2890 North Fulton Drive • Atlanta, GA 30305 404.841.3879 • globetrotter@aischool.org Submissions may be edited for length or content prior to publishing.

Visit us on the web at www.aischool.org

Mission