Fall/Winter 2010-2011
The Newsletter of Atlanta International School
Globetrotter
In This Issue
New Adair Art, Science & Design Center Dedicated
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CAS Group for Romania: Students Helping Students Travelogue: An American in Cuba
By Courtney Fowler, Globetrotter Editor
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AIS Sports Report
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Reflections on WorldFest
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 open-minded, 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.
The headmaster and Board of Trustees of Atlanta International School are pleased to announce the dedication of the school’s new Art, Science and Design Center in memory of longtime Atlantans, Vee and Dixon “Dick” Adair. The dedication in honor of the Adairs was made on October 14 by the Honorable Anne Cox Chambers and AIS Trustee Emeritus Gerry Hull. “With their grace, charm, and generous spirit, the Adairs represented the very best of Atlanta wherever they traveled and lived around the world,” said Chambers and Hull. “Upon returning to Atlanta, they welcomed countless friends and leaders from other countries to our city, enriching us and creating life-long bonds. They were quiet builders of community, linking cultures through education, the arts, and valued friendship. We are their beneficiaries, and may all of us do good deeds in their memory.” The Adair Art, Science and Design Center opened at the start of this school year. Located at the corner of Peachtree and North Fulton avenues, this light-filled, environmentally friendly, LEED-designed classroom building will further facilitate the close interdisciplinary collaboration that is the hallmark of the IB curriculum. The building includes spacious art classroom lofts, state-of-the art life sciences and design technology labs, a greenhouse and exhibit space. The following are remarks made by Dixon Adair, IV at the event on behalf of the Adair family: What makes AIS extraordinary? Think of its founders, Olga and Roy Plaut as Marie & Pierre Curie. Think of them, not as discoverers, but as creators of a great new element. A rare earth element whose magnetic properties continue to amaze us all.
AIS magnetism, as we know, is very powerful. It attracts the best and it brings out the best in those who come here. These magnetic qualities have brought to AIS the finest parents, mentors, and friends. Sometimes they scuffle over who can love it more or direct it best, but AIS is secure because it is needed, it is appreciated, and is finally getting the attention it always has deserved. We can be proud to have helped it on its journey. AIS is a youngish element. As members of its family of creators and patrons, we are eager to see how those students who have experienced its regime will fare as they make their way through life. We all anticipate great things from them… and indeed, (L to R): Dixon Adair, Gerry Hull, Anne Cox Chambers, Lee Adair Armstrong, early indications are that great things are Cameron Adair and Kevin Glass surround the cornerstone for the new building. happening for our first 864 graduates. The learning that will take place in this Art, Science and Design Building will help future graduates on their way to even greater achievement. When my mother encouraged me to move back to Atlanta, she told me about AIS. When I asked where it was located, she paused and told me how it was an assortment of impressionistically cobbled together trailers looking for a permanent home. “Oh,” I said. We both agreed about the truth we all know: great schools are forged from dedicated parents and teachers, and the mortar is the least of it. But… look where we are now… we have the best of both! Those of you who knew my parents well will know that they would be very touched by the honor bestowed on them today. My parents were risk takers and, as such, met a primary AIS periodic table characteristic. They were keen to see this school transform our city. They, like all of you here, could foresee how AIS would contribute to an evolving world. Mother and Daddy were both Baptists from Atlanta and yearned to see the world. Our father was inspired to seek work abroad by a journey he had taken after college graduation. In 1936 and through 1937, he traveled around the world with his Princeton roommate. They worked on merchant marine ships, going from port to port, requesting a letter of reference from each captain to show to the next, then exploring for a few weeks each country where they stopped. From Baltimore they sailed south and through the Panama Canal, carrying steel beams to deliver for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. From San Francisco they headed west towards the East. Daddy only understood later that the black and white photos he took—of Japan, China, Angkor Wat, Kashmir, India, Jerusalem, Egypt, Rome—would capture the end of an era, photos which are now at Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum. He caught a glimpse of the world before it was set aflame. Not long after, he served in the Air Force in the European Theater. He was forever changed by his widened perspective but held fast to his carefree youth. He was determined one day to show his wife and young family the world that had set his imagination and his heart ablaze. Working with an Appalachian entrepreneur who took the reins of his family’s Tennessee foundry, my father launched their international operations. The company called Magic Chef, originally Dixie Ranges of Cleveland, Tennessee, was the first company in America to produce gas ranges for cooking. In January of 1957, we boarded a ship in New Orleans bound for Caracas to launch “Cocinas Dixie.” “Ponga una joya en su cocina.” Mother’s friends were aghast. For an Atlanta family to move to Caracas in 1957 was a big enough deal that our start-up adventure was covered in The Atlanta Constitution replete with family photo. I still remember Mother pasting down my cowlick. Eighteen years later my parents returned to Atlanta, having lived in Venezuela, Spain, and Italy. Daddy had developed a worldwide network of distributorships for Magic Chef’s full line of “white goods,” as domestic appliances were known in those days, and kept the pot stirred from Atlanta when they returned to see their parents through their twilight years. Mother never learned to cook, but she was invaluable to his success. Daddy earned Magic Chef a Presidential “E” for exports. Not to be outdone, Mother joined MENSA and took Daddy to heady lectures far and wide. He would toy with the ideas but threaten to start DENSA! 2
Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
Back in Atlanta, Mother approached her beloved Westminster Schools, sure that she could persuade the headmaster to introduce language study into the primary school curriculum there. She was convinced that in the US we were seriously handicapping all of our children by a largely ineffective and ignorantly informed approach to language learning. She was utterly dismayed when her passionate entreaties fell on deaf ears and Westminster continued to introduce language learning only at age 12. As an artist and writer, she had cherished her time abroad. She had studied in earnest to learn Dixon and AIS Trustee EmilyWillingham Adair with their daughter, Claire, grade nine.The Adairs’ son, Dixon, is a 2010 graduate. Spanish, then Italian, then French. She watched with pleasure as her children surpassed her linguistically.Yet she, the consummate hostess and eloquent networker of friends, chafed at the frustration of not reaching the level she aspired to in any of the languages she attempted to learn. She was widely read, imaginative, and eclectic in her opinions. She had much to offer her friends abroad, but only English allowed her to participate fully in the life she loved. Daddy learnt that motivation in business was the force behind his strong Spanish and Italian vocabulary. My eyes widened seeing him haggle in French with a Mr. Pierre Phillipine in Beirut in ‘63. When Mother later learned of the fledgling Atlanta International School, she championed its founders. In 1993 she joined the Board of Trustees and later the Board of Advisors. She was adamant that languages needed to be started early, that children needed to be motivated by being with children who speak the language being learned, and that they needed lots of time in the language to learn it. She told her friends to look at the school and assisted with its embrace of Atlanta. Given mother’s penchant for vitamins, she might have seen AIS as an element this city required, a minimum dose, tout de suite ahora mismo, im Augenblick, xian zai, right now. I speak these few sentences about my parents to tease them without immediate fear of reproach and to capture them in a loving way. They’ll take care of me later, I know. In fact, I think their close friends may also be conspiring in this dedication to make sure that we continue to behave! They would not forgive me, however, if I failed to tell you of their affection and admiration for what you have done and what you do to bring recognition to this new element that is AIS. An element that is going to change the world in no small measure and continue putting Atlanta on the map in the way that Martin Luther King, Mayor Ivan Allen, Gone with the Wind, Coca-Cola, The Carter Center, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, CDC, and CNN have done. Mrs. Anne Chambers and Mr. Gerry Hull are centrifuges in the refinement of AIS. They offer the ASD Center as a tool to further improve our mettle. If Cameron, Lee and I had not insisted, their names would have remained anonymous as they named the ASD Center for our parents. But their generosity in carrying out such a good and noble deed need not be shrouded under an invisibility cloak. This is AIS, not Hogwarts! I shall not focus high beams upon these refiners of great ore more than they wish, but their gracious action reflects positively on human nature and on the power of education. We can smile as we ponder the eternal questions together, knowing that we all hold hands in the great endeavor that is AIS. Mrs. Chambers, Mr. Hull, Lee, Cameron, and I thank you most deeply. Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter
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CAS Group for Romania: Students Helping Students By Lisette Barton, Secondary School Faculty The Phillip House is a safe place located in the heart of Bucharest, Romania where students can go in the morning to late afternoon. They receive one meal each day, do their homework, and receive medical attention from doctors and dentists as well as social and psychological services. After they complete their homework, they have recreational activities outside. Romania still struggles from the effects of its past communist government and the global economic downturn. Families are very poor and live in one-room housing without water. Though the children of these areas have a difficult life, they still manage to smile and play. We have taken students to Bucharest to help the Romanian students in the Phillip House for the past seven years. We raise money to provide school, medical, and recreational supplies, clothing, and shoes. It has been a successful experience each time, and the students that participate truly are blessed and appreciate life a little bit more after spending time in Bucharest with the children. Here are some quotes from this year’s CAS member group: “I would like to help out the Philip House in Romania because I think it’s a great cause. I think about how fortunate I am and then I think about the kids in Romania and how they don’t even have running water. I would do anything that I could to help them by supplying things that to me, just seems so simple. Things that I don’t think I could live without. I also think it’s a great opportunity to meet some new friends in Romania and in my school.” – Emilia Castillo I wanted to participate in this because I thought that this would be a great opportunity to help another community. The Phillip House is a place where kids can come and stay to do homework, play games, and socialize. I hope we can accomplish maybe bringing water and board games (for entertainment) I have always wanted to be a part of something like this but I just never got the chance.” – Leah Towery “I was personally interested in the Romania CAS group because, I thought that it would be nice to help kids just like me. I think that it would be very nice and interesting to raise money for others while getting to know other students while working together. I think it will also be fun to have fundraisers and participate in them. I really hope that we can help them and that we might even get to go overseas to see them.” – Alex Dotts “I chose this CAS group because when I heard about the children in need that live in Romania, I thought that it would be a great opportunity to help them out. I hope that we are able to raise enough money to help them live their lives like we do here at AIS. I also wish to go to Romania and take a big step toward making their lives easier.” – Deniz Sezer “I chose to be in the Romania CAS group because when we think of places that need help, we think of Africa, maybe Asia, Haiti, and some parts of the USA, but do we ever think of Romania as a country that may need help? The Romania CAS group will provide supplies to these children at the Phillip House. These supplies will definitely improve their lives and give them hope for the future.” – Helen Audrey Williams
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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
When In Romania…
Seniors Head to the Mountains
By Parisa Frost, Grade 12
By Simon Underhill, Head of Grade 12
This past summer, I was fortunate enough to receive the Atlanta International School’s “Legacy Scholarship,” a grant awarded to a student looking to further academic achievement in their area of interest. For me personally, this meant the opportunity to work for a magazine, “The Village” in Brasov, Romania. During the flight to Romania, my mind was a riot of excitement, curiosity and overall anticipation. Many people travel to the other side of the world to “find themselves”, and I can’t say my mindset is particularly different. I saw Brasov as an opportunity to find myself as a traveler, as a journalist, and as a person. However, after stepping off the plane, I quickly discovered I was utterly lost in every sense of the word. I was lost in translation, I had lost all my luggage, and I feared I would lose my mind. After having traveled since four thirty in the morning, missing a connecting flight, and knowing my luggage was… somewhere in the world, I dragged my feet to the company car awaiting the two-hour drive ahead. Peering out of the window, I came face-to-face with a pleasant surprise. The Romanian scenery was astonishing and unlike anything I’d seen before. I’ve traveled all over Europe, but Romania had an unusual charm to it, as if it were a hidden gem in Eastern Europe that only some of us knew about. I was quickly pleased to be in on this secret and was eager to explore Brasov. Upon entering my office on the first day of work, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of intimidation, to say the least. Working side by side with professional journalists a decade or so older than myself was not a task that I would take lightly. I enter my boss’ office for the first time; introductions are exchanged, and my boss gives me my first assignment. I calmly nod thinking my first article shouldn’t be too difficult, until I see his lips curve into a smug smile and he says “your first deadline is in two hours.” I froze in my seat, waiting for us to share a quick laugh… until I realized he was serious. Without wasting a minute more I literally ran to my desk two floors down and began pounding on my keyboard like a madman with a mission. 120 minutes later I took a deep breath, fell back in my chair, and sent my first article off to be edited. And thus, the beginning of the most unforgettable two weeks of my life began. The next day I walked alone through The Council Square, wandering in and out of various cafes and shops. Within moments, I realized I was lost… as usual. However this time was different. I was oddly content with being lost here in Romania. While I steadily found my way home, I was hit with the peculiar conviction that perhaps first impressions are deceiving. I realized that working totally out of my element and becoming wonderfully ‘lost’ were the only ways I could truly find myself as a person, as a traveler, and as an aspiring journalist.
With the reinstatement of fall field trips, the seniors returned to the bucolic surrounds at the YMCA Black Mountain in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. While only away for two nights, the seniors managed to complete a range of significant work for their IB diploma, while having fun and enjoying the recreational opportunities at the retreat. After arriving in the late afternoon on Wednesday, getting settled in and having dinner, we headed to the amphitheatre, where a campfire and s’mores awaited us. Rebecca Geiger’s 18th birthday was celebrated in style, and Austin McKenney showed off her musical talents by leading the class through several sing-alongs on her guitar. Thursday was a big day. After breakfast, we split up by advisory for our service activity. The students cleaned trash and restored the banks around a local creek, while others laid stones as an erosion control around the main road. The staff was effusive in their praise for the work ethic and efforts of the seniors in getting these important projects completed. After a brief respite and lunch, we tackled the Odyssey Ropes Course. This is a challenging course where completion can only be achieved through teamwork and a reliance on your partners. Dangling from a thin rope over 20 feet in the air, while balancing on a wire and relying on your partner to help you across, is indeed daunting, but the teamwork and camaraderie developed were inspiring and hopefully the seniors will build on this over the rest of the year. Thursday night the students competed in their inter-advisory competitions – advisor trivia, baby-food eating relay and the always popular teacher impersonation contest. On Friday, we spent the morning peerediting our extended essays. This is a crucial requirement of the IB diploma, and to be able to spend this time in relative isolation, free from distraction, will be important in ensuring that the final drafts are as good as they can be. At 12:30 we boarded the buses and headed back to Atlanta, a closer-knit group than when we arrived, ready to tackle the challenges of the year ahead. Editor’s Note: In addition to the grade 12 students’ trip to the mountains of North Carolina, Upper School students in grade 9 went on a North Carolina wilderness retreat, and grade 11 students headed north to Washington, D.C.
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter
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CASIE Celebrates Ten Years of Leadership in Life-Long Learning By Bobbi Kay, Associate Executive Director, CASIE
Ten years ago, a small group of AIS stakeholders were looking at the changing landscape of Georgia’s classroom. They were seeing the fruits of their own risk-taking in creating the unique environment of AIS. Perhaps most importantly, they were reflective; they saw all of the lessons they had learned along the way and wanted to create a way to share these lessons with a greater audience. The Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) was born. Ten years later, the CASIE organization strives to be one of life-long learning, asking the question: what tools do educators need to help make students prepared for global issues of the future? Gone are the days when the teacher can profess to have all the answers. What we need to be doing is giving our students the skills to think critically and learn for themselves. We believe that good teaching is just that, good teaching. We look for partnerships with other organizations that reflect this belief. On November 12-14, CASIE hosted the Educating for Today and Tomorrow Conference in Washington, DC, a partnership with Harvard’s Project Zero and Washington International School. The conference gave teachers (which included 10 from AIS) a perfect opportunity for creating learning environments which have students developing habits of mind to think for themselves. Partnerships such as these continue to grow, with the AIS/CASIE partnership being central to everything we do. CASIE has brought over 13,000 educators from throughout the world through AIS classrooms for training in the International Baccalaureate. Along with the assistance of some AIS faculty, CASIE has trained over 2,000 educators at their schools this calendar year, many of them in Georgia’s public schools. Recently announced is the return of the Global Language Convention in April 2012 with AIS as the host school. AIS faculty will have an opportunity to showcase their talents as well as broaden their knowledge through discourse with other educators from all over the world. It may sound clichéd to say that this is only the tip of the iceberg of CASIE’s work, but it truly is. We invite all AIS stakeholders to stop by our little white house on North Fulton Drive to find out more about what we do. Peruse our resource library, which is home to AIS’s professional development library. Engage in conversations about how we can all become more internationally minded. Be a life-long learner.
Parents and Faculty Soccer Game
The parents prevailed in this year’s matchup between AIS parents and AIS faculty, with a final score of 5-1 for the parents. Victory was sweet, as the parents lost to the faculty last year 4-3. Special congratulations on goals scored to parents C.K. Tan, Christian Fischer and Tomas Perez-Zafon as well as to the team’s coach, Mit Amin!
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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
Spring Benefit 2011 Passport to Germany: Land of Fairy Tales and Other Amazing Stories By Marcelle DeCuir, Spring Benefit 2011 Chair
Little Red Riding Hood, Hanzel and Gretel, the Sleeping Beauty, the Bremen Town Musicians, Snow White, and so many more stories are an important part of childhood throughout the world, thanks to the Brothers Grimm of Germany. These entertaining German stories teach children right from wrong, safety from danger, and prudent from foolish, by creatively-conceived characters and story lines designed to capture the attention of yound children. We have not forgotten these stories now that we are adults. AIS will celebrate our collective memories of these fairy tales during the many activities and events of Spring Benefit 2011, AIS’s largest fundraising event of the year. This black-tie gala begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction in the AIS auditorium where guests bid on hundreds of fascinating items from about 15 categories. Each year, there is something for everyone – from student art (everyone’s favorite) to themed parent baskets (always impressive and fun), to AIS Experiences (buy a chance for your 4K’er or 5K’er to ring the bell at recess). Items sell from $20 to thousands of dollars. Bidding wars are welcome! The Spring Benefit started in the late 1980s to support AIS’s mission of providing the increasingly global Atlanta community with an outstanding independent school. Each year the benefit features a country or region of the world, celebrating that culture throughout the year. Spring Benefit 2011 will be on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Guests then move to the grand ballroom (normally called the New Gym) for a seated dinner for 500, a live auction – the evening’s signature activity featuring international trips, and then finish with live music and dancing until midnight. This year the new gym will be transformed into the Black Forest, complete with selected characters by Germany’s famous Grimm brothers’ fairy tales. Additionally, guests will be entertained with music from some of Germany’s greatest composers. This festive evening is not just about celebrating our school via the great culture of Germany. It is about generating the funds to make AIS a truly great school. Last year, the Spring Benefit raised $200,000 which directly benefitted our children. The proceeds contribute toward financial aid scholarships, faculty development programs, and continued preservation of the historic campus buildings. As with many other independent schools through the US, AIS needs this additional revenue because the tuition covers only 90% of the annual operating budget. The remaining 10% comes from parents, corporations, and other friends of AIS. Donations make all the difference in this equation. Join the Spring Benefit Committee this year, donate an item, or attend the benefit and bid on items you find interesting. For further information, please contact Spring Benefit Chair Marcelle DeCuir at marcelle_decuir@yahoo.com or Special Events Coordinator Kathryn Banks at kbanks@aischool.org.Everyone’s help is always welcome and greatly appreciated. Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter
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Travelogue: An American in Cuba By Dr. Ronald L. Howard, IB MYP/DP Music Instructor and Music Performance Program Director As a result of a generous grant from the Travel Study Research Grant Committee, coupled with my own funding, I found myself on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in late June aboard a Soviet-built Yak42 jetliner enroute from Cancun, Mexico, to Jose Marti International Airport just outside Havana, Cuba. I was travelling as part of a delegation of eight educators and health care professionals from all over the US and Canada. The tour was licensed by the State Department and yes, I was entering Cuba “legally!” Even so, as the airliner descending over the rusty red tobacco fields and crumbling barrios to the east of Havana, it was a surreal feeling to think that I was actually about to set foot on Cuban soil. The embargo on trade and commerce between the US and Cuba has been in place for almost the entire time of my life. Beyond what little bit I learned of this embargo during my school years, I never really thought much about it, other than believing all along that such an embargo had to be result of some sort of misunderstanding. Granted, when Cuba aligned with the former Soviet Union, it did present issues for the United States. But with the fall of the Soviet Union at the end of the 20th century, I thought surely the embargo would eventually go away. Sadly, it is still in place, and even though there is currently much thought and effort on eliminating this mostly senseless restriction placed upon American citizens, it will likely be a few more years before meaningful progress is made on dropping it. I learned during my travels that the embargo prohibits Americans from spending money in Cuba. Travel is technically legal, but… how could one travel there and not spend money on hotel, food, transport, etc.? Fortunately such organizations as Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based travel and tour company, make it possible for Americans to visit Cuba under certain conditions. Since I am an educator, I am eligible to enter Cuba for research purposes. Such was the case during my ten days spent on this beautiful Caribbean island. Our group was led by a native Cuban tour guide, through the auspices of a company called Amistur that sponsors these types of trips. It was well organized, and I had the opportunity to see and learn about many things the majority of visitors to Cuba never discover. Included among my itinerary was a trip to a Cuban orphanage, where 35 teenagers lived together harmoniously in a group home setting; a trip to the Cuban educational television studios, where I saw many innovative projects going on in technology and information; and a visit to Murealando, an area of Havana where artists live and work, primarily painting gigantic murals on walls and structures in the city. Other stops on my tour included a two-day side trip to the province of Pinar del Rio, on the western tip of Cuba, to a sustainable community, Las Terrazas. This is an area of farmland, housing, recreation, and lifestyle where many Cubans choose to live and work. Everything is self-supporting, and it is a model study of a successful project to grow and produce organic foods, give back to the environment, and promote these practices to the world. Our group also had the opportunity to visit several musical and artistic venues throughout the Havana area. I was especially excited to visit the Teatro de Ballet, several art galleries, the Nacional Orchestre de Cuba, and the setting of the Buena Vista Social Club. It seemed that every single Cuban national performed music, danced to music,
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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
News from the Yearbook Committeei wrote music, or simply “knew” music. In all my travels throughout the world, Cuba clearly had the most musical citizenry. Music was literally everywhere – the samba, the rumba, the son, the bachata – around the clock. Architectural highlights of my tour included the Havana Libre, which until the time of Fidel Castro’s reign was a Hilton Hotel; in fact, he had his commanding staff housed there, and he occupied several rooms on the 22nd floor for the first years of the Revolution. Our group also visited the former government center where several political figures were assassinated in the time leading up to the time of Castro’s leadership. The Museum of the Revolution was particularly moving to me. I saw bloodied uniforms from battle, historical photographs of the days from 19571959 and before, and armor, weapons, vehicles and airplanes used in the early 1960s, when there was a very real possibility of a US-Cuba-Soviet military action. One of the most unique things I experienced was seeing cars that were manufactured in the mid- and late-1950s. They are all over Havana, and while some are literally taped together with duct tape, others are in like-new condition! It was almost surreal, as if stepping back in time, to stroll along La Rampa (a main thoroughfare in downtown Havana) and see a 1956 Buick or a 1959 Oldsmobile rumbling past. I even had the opportunity to lure a Cuban driver into taking me for a ride along the Malecon (seafront) in a 1957 Chevrolet – meaningful to me, as that was the year I was born! The cuisine of Cuba is unparalleled throughout the Caribbean. Fish, shrimp, crab and scallops are taken from the waters around Cuba and served in restaurants the very same day. The servers in the restaurants took great pride in their work and saw to every conceivable need – all for a salary typically of the equivalent of $3-5 US dollars per day. Health care is indeed free to all Cubans, and as best as I could determine, it was of the same high quality as that offered here in the states. The educational system also provides for a free education… but not just through high school. In Cuba it is possible to go all the way to a doctorate level on the government’s dime! Many Cuban doctors earn around $16 US dollars per day, but they supplement their income by doing terms of work in other Latin countries, such as Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia. Did you know that during the period immediately after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Cuba offered a contingent of 60 medical personnel to help out, free of charge, yet the offer was turned down by the administration in office at that time? Without exception, every single person I encountered in Cuba was friendly, polite, engaging, and very happy to meet everyone in our delegation. I never felt unsafe – indeed, there is virtually no real crime in Cuba, because the consequences are tremendous – and aside from the sweltering, steaming heat and humidity of late June, I would have to rank this trip as among the top two or three I’ve ever taken. No doubt the embargo will eventually be lifted, and Americans may travel freely to Cuba, something that people from Europe, Asia, and Africa currently can do without any restriction. The Cuban government is opening up to their northern neighbors, and it is my sincere hope that the leaders on the American side will listen with an open mind.
By Helga Collela and Serge Petipre, Faculty Advisors We are busy working on our 25th Anniversary edition of the yearbook and would like to encourage you to place your order with the publisher as soon as possible. This special edition will contain pictures that date back over the first 25 years of our wonderful school as well as interesting articles on topics unique to student life at AIS. We have made the ordering process more convenient by creating a direct link to the publisher from the parent and student portals on our website. Just select “yearbook” on the list of choices to the left and follow directions. The price of the book is $70. Please place your orders early to assure that you will get a copy! As always, parents, family and friends of grade 12 students are welcome to purchase ads. Guidelines for submitting student ads: This year, all ads will be in color: full page at $275, half page at $175 and quarter page at $100. 1. PAGE SIZE: 8 1/2” x 11” (this is the full page size, if you are purchasing an entire page, there will be a margin around the ad and it will be proportionately smaller by approximately 1/2” all the way around) 2. SUBMIT: the page on a CD and include two printouts if possible or send it to me by email. 3. NAME THE CD FILE: “your student’s name” and write the same information on the CD itself. 4. ALL IMAGES: must have a minimum of 300 DPI, and be saved as a jpg or tiff file. 5. FONTS: We will use your fonts as a “guide” and choose similar fonts from our company’s font list. Important: Please send your ad and check (made payable to AIS) in as soon as possible. If you have any difficulties, please get in touch with the faculty advisors. Deadline for submitting ads is December 15, 2010.
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter
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AIS Sports Report
By Gregg Albright, Athletics Director and Mark McDaniel, Athletics Coordinator The fourteen seniors competing for Cross Country and Volleyball this season led their teams with exemplary leadership, stellar performance and unyielding commitment. The Boys’ Cross Country team has posted top finishes in all their meets this season, setting them up for a run at the State title. Seniors Saxon Bartsch, Akeil Cange, David Dorsch, Charlie Geddes and Will Silva literally lead the way for this strong group of runners. Senior Lindsey Sanborn will be looking to add to her list of top 3 State finishes (she placed 2nd last year in the State Cross Country meet and took a 2nd and 3rd in the State Track Meet). Varsity Volleyball Seniors Alana Beserra, Sarah Branch, Gisele Ferandel, Parisa Frost, Rebecca Geiger, Samantha Grayman and Stazi Owen guided their team to a 17-11 record this season. The Varsity team has posted a 60-37 record in the last 4 years with 2 state appearances. Stazi Owen (2009) and Gisele Ferandel (2010) both were voted on to the All-Area Teams. This special group of seniors has taken the volleyball program at AIS to the next level and set the bar high for teams in the future. Additionally, Alyona Forbes finished her volleyball career this season with the JV team serving as captain, leading the team on and off the court. We thank all of our seniors for their countless hours of training, performing and for representing AIS with dignity, class and spirit. In Middle School athletic news: since joining the Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference (MACC) last year, 2010 was the first year of true competition, and the MS Eagles started off strong! The MS Boys Soccer team exploded out of the starting block, outscoring league opponents 50-5 and a 6-0 record before getting tripped up by Galloway. The boys recovered to be the second seed in the conference semi-finals, where the Eagles beat Davis Academy 2-0 in a great game. The boys lost to Galloway 1-2 in the finals. The MS Boys Soccer A team went 8-3 this season and finished second in the league. The MS Girls Volleyball started out 4-1 and shared the top spot of the league. Despite losing four out of their last six games, the team finished fourth place and made the conference playoffs. They lost in the playoffs to the eventual conference champs, Atlanta Academy. The MS Cross Country team thrived once again this season, with each runner improving their times from day one to the last meet. The Williams sisters gave the team a one-two punch and helped the girls team finish third in the MAAC Championship race. The boys had a small team this season and ran hard at each meet. The MS Ultimate team is celebrating their inaugural season, hosting their first match ever on October 14. The team continues to improve and form a solid foundation for the future. Please visit www.aischool.org for all AIS team schedules and updates. 10 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
Fall 2010 Middle School Athletics Awards Given for most valuable player, most improved player and coach’s player award (for effort, commitment and team spirit). Girls Cross Country Most Valuable Player Helen Audrey Williams
Boys Cross Country Most Valuable Player Matias Ferandel
Boys Soccer Most Valuable Player Tomasito Perez
Girls Volleyball Most Valuable Player Erin McDonough
Most Improved Player Mia Fernandez
Most Improved Player Wesley Howell
Most Improved Player Nick Rath
Most Improved Player Christina Sanchez
Coach’s Awards Devon Johnson Alexandria Conn
Coach’s Award Dylan Roberto
Coach’s Award Derrin Valeri Francisco Carrasco
Coach’s Award Nia Russell
Pura Vida 2010 By Chris Thomas and Stella Salazar, Primary School Faculty and Rigoberto Cardenas, Secondary School Faculty As planning begins to once again embark on our annual journey abroad to Costa Rica, we took a moment to reflect upon this past year’s experience. Waterfalls, a mud spa, horseback riding, dry forests, cloudy forests, rainy forests, volcanoes, canopies, national parks, pueblos, thermal waters, hot springs, beaches, farms, tribal homes, dolphins, trains, dances, food and all of the things that comprise the PURA VIDA of Costa Rica – and that’s barely scratching the surface of what was truly an amazing journey abroad. The Grade 5 Spanish class set out on this experience at the end of what was, for many of them, seven years of work in our dual-language program and what an exciting look at our IB Learner Profile in action. The students were: Caring – showing genuine interest in their interactions with their peers and with the people of Costa Rica. Balanced – spending time exploring various parts of the culture, but also taking time to rest, relax and also have FUN! Knowledgeable – sharing knowledge about the history, culture and customs of Costa Rica as well as their own countries of origin. Risk-Takers – whether zip-lining through a canopy, riding horseback or interacting with the locals, our students were up for the challenge and confident to take risks. Reflective – always thinking about their actions and discussing choices. Communicators – using their remarkable proficiency in Spanish to experience the journey in-depth. Open-Minded – showing respect for perspective and being open to a new culture. Thinkers – using inquiry to explore and gain knowledge at every point during the trip. Principled – demonstrating mutual respect for the rules and customs of Costa Rica as well as those of their families and of AIS. Inquirers – asking questions and doing further research to gain knowledge. This was a truly amazing group of students and a wonderful culminating experience for the Primary Years Program. An opportunity to remember for many years to come! Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter
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Reflections on WorldFest 2010 By Tracie Slosberg, WorldFest Chair and Laura Poffenberger, WorldFest Commitee
Fabulous fall weather, enticing aromas, laughing children, soggy heads of schools, a green waste recovery system, colorful displays and joyful music… all of this, combined with artfully prepared foods and treats from our families and friends, came together to create a truly spectacular 2010 WorldFest. We truly believe this signature event for AIS was the perfect reflection of what each of us desires for our children and why we give so much of our time to make this shared dream possible. We extend a heartfelt Thank You to our hundreds of volunteers and the countless hours they committed to making this year’s event great. WorldFest continued its long-standing tradition as a living canvas, celebrating our cultures and traditions with the community around us. But there are a few things you might not know: WorldFest drew an estimated 2,300 attendees who purchased: • 23,500 red tickets, covering costs for the event and benefitting the AIS Parent Organization efforts • 150 WorldFest Passports, now souvenirs of children’s adventures through the day • 500 t-shirts, colorfully gracing faculty, parents, students and friends of AIS. We’re also proud to announce a green ‘first’ for WorldFest: 540 pounds of certified compostable material stayed OUT of the landfill because of our Sustainability Committee’s planning and the careful efforts of our guests. We hope everyone was able to experience the festivities; they were truly spectacular! Now is a great time to think about how you’d like to be part of WorldFest 2011 – there are so many ways to contribute your time and talent to this AIS tradition. If you are interested in joining the WorldFest 2011 committee, please contact Laura Poffenberger at pofla01@yahoo.com. 12 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
Grade 8 Students Demand, “Order in the Court!”
What is the Day of the Dead?
By Luz Forero, Primary School Faculty
By Jennifer Weyburn and Jennifer Rupel, Secondary School Faculty Order in the court! This fall, grade 8 students donned professional garb as lawyers and argued the case of the State of Georgia v. Sandy Bryant. Others took the stand as witnesses, offering their testimonies on direct examinations and trying to stand firm on cross examinations. This was the culmination of an MYP interdisciplinary unit focusing on issues of justice and the American legal system. In the fictional case, the defendant, high school student Sandy Bryant, stood accused of selling marijuana; but the defense held that an undercover cop had entrapped her into the deal, holding her science lab report hostage. The facts of the case were intriguing and complex, which made for strong arguments on both sides. Ultimately, the fate of Sandy Bryant was in the hands of the 8th graders. The upper school Mock Trial Team expertly led the unit by leading sessions on the various parts of a trial and coaching their 8th grade advisory teams. Students not only learned court room procedures and some of the basic rules of evidence; they also read the case critically in order to develop questions and responses for their direct and cross examinations. Witnesses synthesized the information in their witness statements and their own personal experiences to create convincing, engaging characters. After these exciting trials, students came back to reflect on the essential questions of how and to what extent the US Court System promotes justice. Despite numerous convincing comments on the justice system, the jury is still out. 8th graders will continue to explore the idea of justice as they read To Kill a Mockingbird and hopefully their courtroom experience will aid them in understanding the novel and deciding if justice can and does prevail.
The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a holiday celebrated by many in Mexico and by some Mexican Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Holiday traditions include the building of altars honoring the deceased (using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed) as well as visiting graves with these as gifts. Although close on the calendar to Halloween, the two holidays actually have little in common. Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures. Spanish students in the Secondary School built an altar entitled, “Don’t Drink, Text and Drive,” which was displayed at the Consul General of Mexico’s Day of the Dead program at the Atlanta History Center as well as an event at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University.
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter 13
College Fever Hits AIS Campus By Courtney Fowler, Globetrotter Editor The annual tradition of college and university visits to the AIS campus got underway this fall, with more than 60 colleges making the journey to the school. A number of other college-related events, such as the annual Harvard/Yale Truce Dinner and various college fairs, have also taken place. “We begin working with age-appropriate activities to help students consider their post-secondary options in 9th grade,” says Nicole Shaub, Upper School Counselor. “Some of our meetings relate to the PSAT, while others are about their intended majors or building their resumes. The college counseling process gradually intensifies over the years, with the biggest push beginning in the spring of 11th grade and continuing for all of 12th grade.” During campus visits, university representatives meet interested students in small group meetings. These meetings include 11th graders, who choose schools but are also assigned to colleges that might meet their interests for the purpose of introducing them to new colleges. In addition, 11th graders joined the 12th graders in attending the college fair at Lovett in September. Applications for Early Decision and Early Action are generally due to colleges by November 1, while regular applications are typically due around January 1. Student applications are due to the counseling office for review by Thanksgiving. Even universities from as far away as California, the Northeast and Europe visited the AIS campus this fall. Visitors included Ivy League schools such as Princeton,Yale, Columbia, Brown, University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth; Canadian and European schools such as McGill University, University of Kent and Sciences PO; and West Coast schools such as Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Pomona College and University of Southern California. Additional information about the college application process is available by contacting the US counseling team.
St. George School, Colombia, Visits AIS on Columbus Day By Courtney Fowler, Globetrotter Editor The AIS Spanish Department hosted some very special visitors on Columbus Day: Saint George School students, teachers and headmaster, who visited our school to share with primary students about Colombian culture. The 23 students, three teachers and headmaster from Colegio San Jorge de Inglaterra (St. George School) of Bogota, Colombia, were participating in a program called The International Cultural Exchange, through which they visited American counterparts in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. The school participated in the program in order to share the positive cultural aspects of Colombia and to meet American students face-to-face. The event began with a dance and music presentation, including songs and dancing to Te Olvide (Song from the Baranquilla Carnaval), Cumbia and Colombia is Passion. After the artistic presentation, the Colombian students and teachers visited classrooms to discuss topics such as Colombian traditions, cuisine, economy and history, as well as famous Colombians. 14 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
Student Thoughts on Urinetown Editor’s Note: The annual US musical production this year, Urinetown, ran for three sold-out performances in November. Alec Nash, Grade 11
On a late August day at the start of the school year, I entered the LPAC to audition for the school musical Urinetown. I had seen Urinetown the previous summer as a community production. I had worked before in the AIS theatre department. I had even practiced the audition pieces used for auditioning several times over. None of this, however, excluded me from the two months of extremely intense work that would lie ahead. In the months ahead, I would spend long hours trying to master 20’s-era dance steps, (despite my ineptness in the dancing field) studying the entire soundtrack of the musical, being inspired by an ex-president to develop a very unsavory Texan character, and, most of all, becoming a member of the Urinetown ensemble. I was plagued by this question as I looked at the theatre floor after striking the set: was it all worth it? To miserably butcher one of Cladwell’s lines: “it wasn’t just” worth it, “it was an awful lot of ” worth it.
Jonathan Winston, Grade 12
As a senior, Urinetown was my last show that I will work on at AIS. It was an experience I will never forget. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such a fantastic cast and crew. Although the process was difficult, it was very rewarding. I learned so much about myself, had a lot of fun and will miss it dearly.
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter 15
Traditions of German Christmas Market Continue By Deniz Oktar-Giray, Christmas Market 2010 Chair On December 4th, Plaut Plaza got transformed to our traditional German Christmas Market. In the morning, vendors as well as AIS parent volunteers started assembling their stalls. By midday, all was set. While the Bratwursts were sizzling, visitors began to fill the market. Deutsch Connection Christmas Market activities start right after Thanksgiving. We offer pre-order Advent wreaths made out of fresh pine leaves and tasteful decorations. Traditionally the four candles on these wreaths are lit on one by one on four Sundays leading to Christmas Eve. Christmas Markets in German-speaking countries are set up for the whole December until Christmas. Here at AIS, weeks of Christmas market experience is squeezed into one afternoon. And what an afternoon this was! Visitors were welcomed with the sounds and scents of Christmas: spicy Christmas cider, Bratwursts, fresh coffee, cookies, beeswax candles and live performances, to name just a few. Children got their pictures taken with the Kristkindl, crafted Christmas decorations and listened to German fairy tale stories told by our very talented Frau Box. This year, we started a new tradition: Beeswax candle dipping! Both children and adults enjoyed standing by the pot and making their own candles. I would like to thank Barbara Chromec for inspiring a large number of parents to bake German cookies and for making all the caramelized almonds all by herself, Vinay Chandra for feeding us with the delicious Bratwursts, Regina Ovenden and Mark Stevens for serving our alcohol-free version of Gluehwein: the Hot Christmas Cider, Maria Goodall for transforming our beautiful girls into Kristkindl, Navid Yavari for taking all the pictures, Brook Ziegler for organizing all the vendors, Alice Turner for crafting the Advent wreaths, door and table decorations as well as the bell hair bands, Stacey Balestrieri for collecting all the German books and organizing the sale, Esther Djokpe-Hinrichs for entertaining children with craft activities, Ozben Iyigun-Yet for organizing all the volunteers, Philip Doele for his hard work to set up and take down the market, Constanze Schroeder for organizing the managing the stage performances, Sabine Mayr for her generous donation of equipment for candle dipping and managing the whole process. And of course, huge thanks to all volunteers who stepped in to help, be it a shift at the sausage stand or helping the above team all the way.
16 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011
Thanksgiving Lunch With A Twist By Linda Pak Bruner, Parent The AIS Primary School has a tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving with an early feast at school. Two separate groups of approximately 245 students share a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the auditorium with fellow students and teachers. Historically, this festive luncheon was the primary expression of this American tradition. This year, Primary school teachers and administration wanted to build on this tradition by emphasizing and incorporating the spirit and philosophy of Thanksgiving into the curriculum first and then have the symbolic sharing of a meal together. For many weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, students learned about the Pilgrims, their cuisine, and different aspects of Thanksgiving traditions. Stories were read, art drawn, and songs were sung. This new emphasis provided the perfect backdrop for the actual luncheon with its own new twists this year. For the first time, the event took place in the cafeteria with some seating placed in the 5th grade hall. Students with their buddies were seated with faculty and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal prepared by Sodexo. Lucy Soto Macauley, a parent volunteer said “The cafeteria staff did an amazing job serving the faculty and children so quickly. They helped set the environment for a happy and smooth celebration. If an expression can communicate anything, it was obvious from all of the children’s faces that this was an event that was enjoyed by all.” To top off the meal, the quintessential apple or pumpkin pies were updated to apple and pumpkin organic cupcakes donated by the Parent Organization (PO). Christy Davoudpour, the parent who organized the event added, “It’s a wonderful way for our international students to be exposed to a great American tradition.” Lastly, the annual Thanksgiving lunch and celebration offered the perfect opportunity to exercise another traditional Thanksgiving principle - community building. A canned food drive and annual Thanksgiving baskets brought in over 300 pounds of turkeys and food for a local food shelter. 5th graders were matched up with their 5K buddies and helped the kindergarteners prepare Thanksgiving placemats which were brought to the luncheon. Each group of almost 250 students gathered on the field for a shared recess together. To end the day, there was a celebration in the Auditorium which combined a whole Primary School assembly, and where fellow students shared songs, plays, and poems. Headmaster Kevin Glass and Upper Primary School Head Alain Poiraud congratulated the students on their excellent UNICEF fund-raising efforts, and paid tribute to a wonderfully successful Book Week, where once again Primary School raised the most money over all our 3 schools. A challenge, that had been set-down earlier regarding this, led to not only Mr. Poiraud but our Headmaster Mr. Glass ending the celebratory assembly by eating handfuls of chocolate covered grasshoppers! Mr. Poiraud said, “Although we do not eat grasshoppers in France, they were not too bad!” The entire day was a day of which the pilgrims would be proud. The Heads of Primary School, Mr. Alain Poiraud and Mrs. Dusty Fretwell were very positive about the event overall. They were pleased to see “less waste this year than in previous ones,” and Mrs. Fretwell said “how nice it was to see all the students sharing together, eating together and playing together. It was a real success from the point of sharing the day together.” As one parent volunteer, Alex Curtis, reflected, “There was a happy sense of community and thankfulness. It was felt by all who were present. What a great way to start the Holiday season!” Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter 17
Alumni Theatre Production Makes Premier in November By Whitney Curtis, Alumni Coordinator The first-ever Alumni Week at AIS, part of this year’s 25th Anniversary events, concluded with another “first” in the life of this school: the debut of the first ever alumni show, Fake It ‘til You Make It. Preparation began in February 2010 for the November 2010 show, although the idea has been in the making for nearly five years. Graduates and professional actors Brian McElhaney ‘04, Chris Lowell ‘03 and Alexandra Panzer ’04 comprised the Alumni Show Planning Committee. Over 100 alumni actually performed in the show, with alumni traveling from long distances (including England!) to be a part of the evening. The first act of the performance featured 12 pieces (with AIS inside jokes added), including excerpts from Guys and Dolls, Twelfth Night, The Laramie Project, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Into The Woods. The second part of the performance featured the one-act play, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead. After the show, alumni, family and friends celebrated at an event in the new Adair ASD Center that drew almost 500 people. Alumni reunions will continue after the holidays in the following cities:
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January 29, 2011 – London February 5, 2011 – Boston February 12, 2011 – San Francisco February 19, 2011 – New York
AIS 6th Graders Adopt Sunnybrook Park!
By Jutta Schlicker-Martinez, Secondary School Faculty
Your Support Is Important - Make Your Gift To The AIS 2010-2011 Annual Fund Today Last year, the Atlanta International School’s Annual Fund was one of the most successful, raising nearly $800,000 and increasing parent participation annual giving by 12%. Each year, we ask the entire AIS community — trustees, parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty and staff, foundations, corporations and friends of AIS — for their support of the Annual Fund. Why is this support important to AIS? • As is typical in most American independent schools, tuition does not cover the entire cost of operating the school. At AIS, tuition covers 90% of the cost, and the Annual Fund helps to make up the remaining 10%. • Your gift to this year’s Annual Fund goes to work immediately, helping to cover expenses such as Smart Boards, teachers’ salaries, soccer balls, building and grounds maintenance, financial aid and even electricity. • When we go to corporations and foundations outside the AIS community, they want to know what percentage of parents, faculty and staff and alumni support the school before making a gift to the school. It is important to them for the AIS community to support their school, so your participation is critical. • Your gift to the Annual Fund, no matter the size, does make a difference. Help us meet our goals to raise $500,000 and increase parent participation. How can I make a gift to the Annual Fund? • Make your gift online by going to our website, www.aischool.org and clicking the blue “Donate Now” button. • Call the Development Office at 404.841.3869. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. • E-mail your pledge amount to mdenson@aischool.org. Pledges must be paid by June 1, 2011. • Bring your donation to the Development Office, located in the main building (using the main entrance, take a right to the end of the hallway, we are the last door on the left.) • Mail your gift or pledge to AIS, Attn. Development Office, 2890 North Fulton Drive, Atlanta, GA 30305.
December 8 marked the kick-off date for what hopefully will blossom into a fruitful, long-term relationship between AIS and a special place in our home neighborhood of Garden Hills. Community and service lie at the heart of the International Baccalaureate curriculum, in which students are inspired to “think globally”, but more importantly, to “act locally.” In this spirit, 6th graders have begun lending their efforts to support the Park Coalition’s goal of beautifying Sunnybrook Park, which is located close-by at Brentwood Drive and Brentwood Terrace. The 75 students in grade six, supervised by parents and teachers, spent three hours in the park laying the groundwork by spreading mulch along the park’s pathways. Moving forward, the park will be visited in regular intervals by smaller groups of students, who will concentrate on areas in special need of attention. It is the hope of the 6th grade students, Head of Year and Service Coordinator that students and faculty across all grades will make use of this great resource as an outdoor classroom and a place of relaxation and inspiration. The AIS 6th grade thanks Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Dotts for facilitating the project, Mrs. Elisabeth Davis for enthusiastically embracing the idea and for her obvious love and care for this community resource and Mr. John Ahern of Park Pride for supporting us with his professional knowledge and resources.
All gifts are tax deductible. Make your gift before December 31, 2010 to receive a deduction on your 2010 taxes!
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2010-2011 • Globetrotter 19
International Journalist Dr. Fareed Zakaria Visits AIS World-renowned CNN and TIME magazine journalist, Dr. Fareed Zakaria, spoke on campus in October as part of the 25th anniversary celebration. Consuls from France, Germany, Lichtenstein and Ireland attended the event, along with nearly 500 members of the AIS community.
Beloved AIS Tradition, UN Day, Celebrated This Fall Primary students took up flags and banners and wore costumes to mark the occasion of one of AIS’s most colorful and festive events. Grandparents and special friends were included this year for the first time and turned out in numbers.
Globetrotter The Globetrotter is the newsletter of Atlanta International School. Letters to the Editor should be sent to: Courtney Fowler Globetrotter Editor 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
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.