Global Exchange Summer 2015
T H E A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E O F AT L A N TA I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L
Global Exchange
Road to SELMA GLOBETROTTER:
Icelandic Adventures
ATlaNTA INTERNATIONAL School BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2014-2015 DEB SUDBURY, CHAIR Christian Fischer, VICE-CHAIR Kevin O’Halloran, TREASURER Verna Jennings Cleveland, Secretary
MEMBERS Charlie Bostwick
Scott Britton
Wendy Clark
Susie Cogan
Marc Fleury
Jim Harvey
Wendie Hayler
Roland John
Fadlo Khuri
Arndrea King
Crissy Klaus
Dennis Lockhart
Chris Lowe Trish Marcucci Mike McCarthy Larry Mock Cecile Noziere
Frank Thomas
Benny Varzi
Chiara Visconti di
Emily Willingham ADAIR
Modrone-Pervanas ‘95
Laura Winchester
EX OFFICIO Kevin Glass, Headmaster Gerry Hull, Trustee Emeritus Olga Plaut, Trustee Emerita Roy Plaut, Chairman Emeritus Monique Seefried Ph.D., Trustee Emerita
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION HEADMASTER KEVIN GLASS HEAD OF CURRICULUM & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rachel Hovington HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL Sandy MacKenzie Deputy Head of Secondary School/Head of Upper School Tambi Greene DEPUTY HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL/HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Kevin Onabiyi HEAD OF PRIMARY SCHOOL Camille Du Aime Deputy Head of Primary School/Head of Upper Primary Alain Poiraud Deputy Head of Primary School/Head of Lower Primary Lynda Sarelius HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT KENDYL MOSS Head of Admission, FINANCIAL AID & MARKETING REID MIZELL Head of Operations and Finance Paul Saeger
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COURTNEY FOWLER Manager, Digital Communications & Design Laura Stidham Marketing & Communications COORDINATOR Cherise Randle
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Annual Giving Manager Natalie Keen
Swoop’s summer travels included stops in the Pyrenees, Florida and Italy. Photos by Laura Stidham and Julie Audibert.
Capital Campaign Manager Taylor Butkus Alumni & Parents of Alumni Coordinator Sandy Ferko Special Events & Stewardship Coordinator Katie McGinn Development Assistant Audrey Hibbits
AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F AT L A N TA I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L
Global Exchange 4 Letter from the Board Chair
Around AIS 5 8 10 12 13 14 15 16 An Icelandic Adventure
Road to Selma AISAHT Efforts Have Global Reach Space Camp: It’s Out of This World Spring Awakening 13 GRAMMY® and Tony Winner Duncan Sheik Visits AIS Maker Movement Comes to AIS From the Mideast to the Southeast Swoop, There It Is!
Globetrotter 19 Fifth Grade Trips 20 Icelandic Adventures 22 Out and About 23 Mandarin Students Discover the Far East
Staying Connected 24 25 26 27 28
Alumni Parents: Return to the Fold Alumni Invitation Scrapbook 10-Year Reunion: 2005 20-Year Reunion: 1995 Class Notes
Final Word 31 32 33 34
Congratulations, Class of 2015 Class of 2015 Honors Assembly 2015 Colleges and Universities
Scene on Campus
EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS
Mary McCarney
DESIGN BY
COURTNEY FOWLER
Deb Sudbury
Angela Khoury
TWEET DESIGN
Cherise Randle
Ecaterina Lungu
Negasi Haskins ‘16
Sandy Ferko
Sharon Hermann
Shana Yavari ‘16
Veronica McDaniel ‘97
Peter McGovern
Rob Warren
Brian Howard
Wesley Howell ‘15
Harold Alan
Associate Editor Laura Stidham
John Amosa
Photography
On the Cover:
Malachai Moody ‘18 Olga Nobleton (staff) Mhairi Mackenzie ‘16 Negasi Haskins ‘16 Langston Peterson ‘16 All material, except where specified, copyright Atlanta International School, 2015. All rights reserved. 3
Message from the AIS Board Chair
Dear AIS Community: Another school year has now come and gone! Graduation is always the highlight of the year, and this was no exception. The sense of accomplishment, pride, and future promise was palpable at this year’s event. The Class of 2015 has good reason to be proud! As a group, they distinguished themselves as leaders, scholars, athletes, MUN delegates, actors, musicians, artists, Mock Trial advocates, people who help others - as in the students who founded AIS Students Against Human Trafficking - and the list could go on and on. They are also matriculating at a very impressive list of colleges and universities! While some would say I am biased, I believe strongly that our kids are different and indeed have a broader perspective on what it means to contribute and live a life of meaning. Having presided over five AIS graduations, I am energized and affirmed each and every year by the work that our school does with such exceptional young people. Deb Sudbury Chair of the Board of Trustees
Benji Schuttler ‘08 Will Schuttler ‘11
The end of the school year is always a time of transition, and this summer will see many exciting changes on the Board as well. We have new Board officers who I know will lead our school very well, but before I address the new officers, I want to thank our outgoing Treasurer, Kevin O’Halloran, for the last four years of exceptional work on the financial side of the school. He has done so much for AIS and has helped the school in innumerable ways. I’m pleased to announce that Christian Fischer is our new Chair, and he is joined by Verna Cleveland as Vice-Chair, Wendie Hayler as Secretary and Benny Varzi leading the Finance Committee. For those who may not know him, Christian is the father of two AIS graduates, an Upper School student and a rising fifth-grader. He and his wife, Anke, have been active participants at AIS for almost 20 years. Christian and the other new officers are wonderful, committed volunteers, and AIS is lucky to have their talent and passion. Several new members also join the Board this summer: Shelley Giberson, Dr. Jean Khoury, Susan Morris, Susannah Parker, Shefali Patel, Barbara Quiroga, Dr. Claire Sterk, Adolfo Villagomez, Gina Vitiello and Joyce Yamaato. On a personal note, working on behalf of the school and with Kevin Glass, his leadership team and our Board, has been among my most gratifying professional and personal endeavors. I have been deeply honored to serve on behalf of the school and its students—AIS is truly a special place in my book. And looking ahead to the future of the school, there is exciting news regarding the school’s plans to move ahead in our mission to prepare students for an increasingly fluid, collaborative and global world. For the last several months, AIS has been in the process of launching a capital campaign, Think Forward, the results of which will significantly impact learning and outcomes for years to come. The Think Forward campaign allows us to build a new addition to our Primary School and consolidate our entire Primary School in one new community; a new secondary building—the Co-Lab—to house our performing arts and Secondary School learning commons; and enhanced play areas, green spaces, accessibility, carpools and parking. But a few short weeks ago, an extraordinary and generous gift of $3.6 million from an anonymous donor accelerated our schedule for as well as expanded the scope of our new master plan for the school’s campus, as AIS was able to close very recently on the purchase of four lots on Peachtree Avenue. This donation – the largest single gift in the school’s history – is impactful on many levels. Adding these lots for parking to the campus footprint will allow us to now include substantial improvements to phase one of the campaign’s execution, including enlarging our existing soccer field to regulation size as well as build a full, eight-lane track around it. Beyond this, it also means that we are building important momentum for the campaign as we approach foundations to support this effort. Last but not least – it means we actually start construction on these exciting campus updates in a matter of months! All the indicators for continued success and excellent student outcomes are in place: great leadership, a strong headmaster, a superb and committed faculty, wonderful parents, a diverse and inclusive community, truly exceptional students of character and improved learning spaces. I am very bullish about the future of this school. I remain grateful to have been part of this wonderful enterprise which provided such a marvelous education to my own two boys, Benji ‘08 and Will ‘11, and will continue to educate students who will transform our world. With warmest summer wishes,
Deb Sudbury AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
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SELMA The Road to
By Courtney Fowler, Global Exchange Editor A group of Atlanta International School students, parents, board members and staff took part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in March to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the historic Selmato-Montgomery March, an event spearheaded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders in 1965 to campaign for equal voting rights. The trip included a walk across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge and a private tour of the Jackson family home, where Dr. King and his colleagues planned the march. The AIS group hosted students and staff from Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, a high school in the Atlanta Public Schools system, on the journey.
The 50th anniversary of this important event in the American Civil Rights movement provided a unique chance for AIS students – many of whom are not from the Southeast – to learn first-hand about this important event. Mhairi Mackenzie, who moved to the U.S. for the first time last summer, was already familiar with the history of the Civil Rights movement but had an interest in finding out more. “I work with AIS Against Human Trafficking (the CAS group), which I also have a passion for. I’m a great believer in equality, and no matter what race you are, gender or religion, we all deserve the same treatment. Before this experience, I wanted to help in some way some of the people who have had their human rights taken away 5
Around AIS from them, but this experience helped me realise that maybe there is a hope for this generation and the next to really change the world. If Martin Luther King Jr. and his friends could do it, then what is stopping me and my friends?” AIS students prepared for the trip by attending a February panel discussion on Selma’s place in the history of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The panel, introduced by Martin L. King III and moderated by Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, featured Civil Rights leader Dr. C.T. Vivian; Ms. Jawana Jackson of the Jackson Family Home & Foundation; and Mayor George Evans of Selma. All AIS Upper School students also attended a screening of the movie, Selma. Board member Scott Britton, whose family participated in the trip, said, “That Saturday, I got goose bumps as I watched President Obama, a black man, elected by a mosaic of Americans (who the marchers on Bloody Sunday dared only dream of, when they sought equality for voter registration) give a barn-burner of a speech. But even more so at the ocean of humanity my family was a part of, individuals of every ethnicity, who gathered to pay homage to those who sacrificed time, energy, money, blood, sweat and too often their lives to protest the unconstitutional disenfranchisement of millions of American citizens, because their skin color was like mine. That weekend in Selma, we were reminded that we owe it to our children, and the world they will inherit, to understand, appreciate and feel compelled to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly.”
Selma University
President Barack Obama Speech at Edmund Pettus Bridge
Tabernacle Baptist Church
AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
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My Road to Selma By Negasi Haskins, Grade 11
During the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, President Barack Obama gave a speech to commemorate a significant part of African American history to a crowd of thousands, including some Atlanta International School students. President Obama said in his speech that, “It was not a clash of armies, but a clash of wills; a contest to determine the true meaning of America.”
fully watched when I pass people, cars and houses. It has been more than 50 years since segregation was abolished and hundreds of years that African Americans have been in America; and even after years of trials, lessons, tragedies, and finally some progress, there is still a problem with being black and getting a job or even being black and walking down the street.
More than fifty years ago, African Americans were discriminated against and denied rights that were granted to others of a different skin color; this was an issue. Those who were brave fought; this fight, which included the historical Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965, was to earn our right to be considered equal. Those brave people fought and seemed to win this long drawn out “war” to regain our rights, and that was thought to be the end of the dispute. We as African Americans were to be considered equal, and everything was supposed to change. As a country, we have made a lot of progress from this sad moment in history, but our journey is unfortunately not complete.
When in Selma during the anniversary of Bloody Sunday I remember tearing up as we were given a tour of the house that Dr. King stayed in. I was in disbelief that I was able to pay homage to the place where history was planned and made. One person created a dream, and with the help of many, that dream was finally attained… partially. Before going to Selma, I knew that those Civil Rights leaders probably thought that once this fight was over, everyone would forget the past and automatically consider each other equal; those leaders were sadly wrong. I’ve been subjected to racism in the privileged community that I am blessed to be in, and instances across the country have proved that these leaders’ dreams still are not realized. Whenever I am in a situation where I feel profiled, a question comes to mind: “When will this stop?” President Obama said that our union is not complete, but when will it ever be? When will a country finally move on from the past to look at the future?
“Two hundred and thirty-nine years after this nation’s founding, our union is not yet perfect,” said President Barack Obama during his speech. The President also said that work is not yet done when discussing racial discrimination in America, which I feel is true almost everywhere in this country. There have been great advances in the fight to eradicate racial discrimination, but there are still holes that are preventing this movement from reaching completion. When I say ‘holes,’ I am talking about situations and events that do not fully embody the feeling of equality. Some of these holes have occurred nationwide and even close to home. While walking through the Garden Hills neighborhood on my way to the local MARTA station, I am care-
The Kellogg Center at Tuskegee University
The answer, in my opinion, is that it never will be - unless we truly acknowledge the past. Every person has preconceived understandings of culture and of ethnicities, and most of them are probably false or exaggerated. Therefore the only way to expand our knowledge and our understanding is to talk about it. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, so now it is our job to talk about it, make this a problem once again and end it one conversation at a time.
Jackson Family Home
Edmund Pettus Bridge
Selma University
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AIS Against Human Trafficking (AISAHT)
Efforts Have Global Reach By Veronica McDaniel ‘97, US Faculty and AISAHT Advisor
The 2014-15 school year was an incredibly busy and eventful one for the CAS group, AIS Against Human Trafficking (AISAHT). Here are a few of the highlights: This past October, our group decided to create International Students Against Human Trafficking, a new network which we publicized through a page on Facebook. We now have 71 schools from around the world as partners, including from Angola, Nepal, to Switzerland, Venezuela, UK and Hong Kong, and we received coverage in a CNN. com article in collaboration with the CNN Freedom Project. Also that month, several of our students (and teachers!) volunteered and took AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
part in a duathlon staged by youthSpark, a community partner organization that serves abused, neglected and exploited youth. A fall bake sale led by seniors Alena Shalaby, Shayann Hendricks and Reza Daftarian raised money for the CAS group, much of which was used to fund the group’s first annual AISAHT Fashion Show. Held in December, the event was spearheaded by Reza, who managed to get items lent for the show from such designers as Prada and Fendi! The event, an overwhelming success, raised money for Colombianitos, an Atlanta-based organization that benefits more than 4,300 children in six communities in Colombia. Their programs help motivate the
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children to get an education and build strong positive values and life experiences. In January, AISAHT organized a panel discussion on campus to talk about human trafficking. Panelists included Camila Wright, the human trafficking prosecutor of Georgia; Mike McCarthy of CNN International and the CNN Freedom Project; Nathan Whiteman, head of the FBI squad responsible for investigating human trafficking; and Dorsey Jones, survivor and author. The discussion was ably led by moderators Shayann Hendricks and Reza Daftarian. Also that month, the group went to Peachtree Presbyterian Church to hear panelists speak about foster care and the danger of children being exploited through that system. In February, several members of AISAHT went down to the Georgia Capitol to attend Lobby Day, where they advocated for safe harbor laws and helped get the new Rachel’s Law passed. The group was pleased to receive an invitation in March to attend a human rights summit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. At the event, they listened to and met key leaders from the ‘60s American Civil Rights movement. On March 18, AISAHT took part in the FREEDOM NOW Global Art Exchange & Exhibit, in support of victims of trafficking, with schools from around the world. We were also excited that our group was featured in the March issue of IB World magazine! We were notified this spring that three AISAHT students were selected to show their art as part of the Freedom Expressions ATL exhibit at
Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport. Be sure to stop by Terminal E before August 31 to look for pieces by Grade 10 students Kitty McCarthy and Julian Jimenez and senior Reza Daftarian. I’d like to specifically recognize one of the leaders of the group, senior Shayann Hendricks, for being honored as one of Atlanta INtown newspaper’s annual “20 Under 20” for her work with Colombianitos and as a leader of AISAHT. Shayann also won the 2015 Porsche Driving Force Youth Award at the Center for Civil and Human Rights for her amazing efforts to fight human-trafficking. The upcoming school year of 2015-16 promises to be another busy and eventful one. In November, several AISAHT members will travel to San Francisco to attend and present at the Global Issues Network student conference hosted at International High School. Next year they also plan to send a group to volunteer at Thistle Farms in Nashville, a social enterprise run by women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, addiction, and life on the streets. Next year’s group leaders are Bonnie Watkins and Madeleine Howell. I am so proud of this group of students for their dedication to fighting the atrocities of human trafficking and for being a part of a worldwide grassroots movement. They meet every Wednesday at lunch to share articles and ideas about what they can do in order to make this topic less taboo and to raise awareness so that more crimes will be prevented.
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Space Camp:
It’s Out of This World By Mary McCarney, PS Faculty
Editor’s note:This article was originally published in “The Telegraph” (11.22.14) and is reprinted by permission of the author. Greetings from Space Camp, the final frontier. First of all, let me apologise in advance for the numerous space clichés, although having boldly gone on the ultimate school trip with 73 fired-up, fanatical nine and 10-year-olds, I think I’m allowed a little starry-eyed indulgence. And the odd Captain Kirk misquote is pretty much inevitable. My pupils and I spent three days at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, joining 20,000 visitors from all over the world enrolled in Space Camp this year (including 230 pupils from the UK). My students had a blast exploring genuine Saturn rockets, dressing up in space suits and taking part in a simulated shuttle mission, all at warp speed pace. Engaging with real-life applications of science, maths, technology and engineering, this is astronaut training for nine-year-olds. Space Camp is also an aerospace museum and visitor’s information centre for NASA’s nearby Marshall Space Flight Center. Here, Wernher von Braun and his team developed the Saturn V rocket that propelled the first men to the moon in 1969. The site is dominated by skyscraper-sized missiles and rockets and the 75-ton Pathfinder space shuttle, built by NASA in 1977 as a test simulator. On arrival, we were greeted with a sign proclaiming, “Through these doors enter the world’s future astronauts, scientists and engineers”. No pressure then. We soon began to notice we’d left civilian life on Earth behind: drinking fountains are labelled H2O Rehydration Units, stuffing your face with moon pies in the Crew Galley may involve a trip to Sick Bay, and going to the loo here means visiting the Waste Management Station. AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
Our school group, accompanied by myself and 10 other teachers, was reorganised into teams, each named after a famous astronaut. I found myself in Team Ride (Sally Ride was the first American woman in space), and our crew trainer was a very nice young man called Chad. Chad launched us straight into the flight simulators. These included the multi-axis trainer, which replicates tumbling manoeuvres in space to help acclimatise astronauts for disorientation. Resembling a giant gyroscope, it whirled my strapped-in students in every direction imaginable, and amazingly no one puked up their lunch. Next was the g-force simulator, a room-sized centrifuge which spins around, magnifying gravity to three times Earth’s pull, as felt by shuttle crews during launch. While their wimpy teacher sat safely outside, the fourth graders emerged, a little dizzy but smiling, and explaining in graphic detail the cosmic sensations they’d experienced. Our final simulated activity involved attempting to moonwalk in The 1/6 Chair, which mimics the moon’s gravitational pull (one-sixth of the Earth’s). Chad challenged everyone to do bunny-hops — a task that proved much more difficult than it sounds. Later, during a presentation on future space travel, we watched a promotional video from the Virgin Galactic company. Our presenter paid tribute to the pilot of SpaceShipTwo who had been killed just a week before, saying that those involved in flight-testing were “among the bravest men and women today”. It was explained that this tragic accident was a major setback for commercial space hopes, and the whole situation was handled very sensitively for the children. Our overnight accommodation was in dorms known as Habitats or Crew Quarters, and felt a bit like sleeping inside Skylab. The cafeteria — oops, I mean Crew Galley — featured fast food from countries
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involved in the International Space Station. I tried the Canadian bacon for breakfast and German bratwurst at lunch, rounded off with aforementioned moon pies for dessert. Oh, and unlimited strong coffee — for teachers only. Day two kicked off with the highlight of our trip — a simulated shuttle mission. The kids quickly got the hang of the acronym-laden lingo, and each child was assigned a specific job and detailed responsibilities. In NASA mission control, roles such as FDO, EECOM and flight director involved launching and monitoring the space shuttle Enterprise, wearing headsets and pushing important-looking buttons. Inside the mock-up of a space shuttle cockpit, the commander and pilot were in charge of bringing the Enterprise safely back to Earth. Station scientists conducted research experiments, and the mission specialists got to put on space suits and do extravehicular activities, aka spacewalks, to repair broken satellites. (Not surprisingly, kids look really cute in space suits.) For my young intergalactic explorers, this was a high-pressure experience, especially when malfunctions or “anomalies” tested their crisis-management skills to the limit, in true “Houston, we have a problem” style. But this was a great team-building, leadership and decision-making exercise, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Our three days at camp included learning lots of space history too. We watched IMAX movies and completed educational assignments inside the museum. My students were fascinated by the exhibition about animals in space, featuring the two famous American monkeynauts, Able and Baker.
Following their historic flight in 1959, the squirrel monkey Baker lived out her days at the Marshall base, and is buried on site. Chad entertained us with stories of Baker’s ghost, which allegedly roams Space Camp, just as we were heading back to our dorms for a good night’s sleep. Our knowledge of all things space was tested on the final day with a trivia Jeopardy-style game. The quiz categories included early space, rockets and acronyms. Thanks to expert coaching from Chad and no help from me, our team won. And yes, we were over the moon. To celebrate our victory, we visited the gift shop; who doesn’t love to buy freeze-dried space ice cream at astronomical prices? Our trip culminated in a special graduation ceremony for us new space cadets. We were treated to an inspirational speech by Col Marks, the garrison commander of Redstone Arsenal. We were following in giant footsteps, he told us: several former graduates of Space Camp have grown up to become NASA astronauts. Each team took to the stage, to be presented with diplomas for completing the intense science, technology, engineering and mathematical challenges. There were also awards for outstanding participation, and I’m thrilled to announce that Team Ride won the award for curiosity, which probably means that we just asked more questions than anyone else. As school trips go, this has to be the highlight of my 26-year teaching career on both sides of the Atlantic. For aspiring astronauts, children (or teachers) who want to reach for the stars, or any child who loves astronomy, the Space Camp experience is out of this world. Sorry; just couldn’t resist that one … 11
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Spring Awakening: Director’s Notes By Rob Warren, Head of the Arts Reprinted from the program for Spring Awakening, performed at AIS from April 23-25, 2015
Just over a year ago, several senior students walked into my office to ask if we could do Spring Awakening the Musical. Now typically I am usually very open to do more liberal-minded productions; however, even I knew this musical could be pushing it for AIS. So with all the care in the world I replied to them, “Perhaps AIS isn’t ready for this type of show.” What I was not ready for was the passionate onslaught of reasons why AIS should do this show, which the students fired back at me. One of their answers stood out to me the most, which was “Our high school needs to explore the issues in this musical. These are important issues and speaks to the daily struggles that we go through in growing up.” Just as teenagers in western cultures share many common experiences in school, all experience the secret in plain sight that is puberty. While students in communities with sex education curricula and support may find their path a little less treacherous as a result of their exposure to the challenges that come with changes to their bodies and feelings, any student would agree being a teen is still not easy. As most adults, remember, the affirmation that comes with knowing we are not alone in having taboo urges or thoughts ease the tension to a bearable level. The characters in Spring Awakening suffer from nearly complete ignorance of their bodies and have been told physical desire is evil. When teenagers have thoughts and feelings we have all had, each sees him or her self as alone in the struggle. By producing this musical, AIS hoped to acknowledge the struggles of our teenagers and helped them realize that they are not alone in their journey through adolescence. We hoped in presenting this cautionary tale, students understood they would not suffer the fate of the characters in the story. The theatre students involved in the production, as well as all the students who saw it, benefited from the acknowledgement that these feelings exist. Additionally, parents who attended with their teenagers saw an opportunity for discussion and were very thankful for the risk that AIS took in staging this production. At Atlanta International School, we believe that theatre is a fantastic medium for helping students to understand the world in which they live and helps them become ethical, thoughtful and compassionate people. Theatre is a safe environment in which to explore the complexities of life through engaging with complex characters in difficult circumstances. This musical would not be appropriate in many communities, but I am proud that at Atlanta International School we can make a difference in student’s lives by taking these risks. AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
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Sharing A Special Story with AIS
Broadway and Pop Artist, Duncan Sheik, Visits AIS By Courtney Fowler, Global Exchange Editor
By Wesley Howell ‘15
A little over a year ago, I listened to the Spring Awakening soundtrack for the first time. As anybody who saw the show will tell you, it is anything but traditional musical theatre music! The music is what first drew me in to this show. I listened to the soundtrack for several days and then began paying more and more attention to the lyrics, which contained messages and ideas that seemed to speak to me personally. I was talking with other students about the music and the show and found that not only did I relate to the songs, everybody who listened to them did as well. After these conversations, I read the script of the play and began watching clips of the Broadway production. After about a week, I knew that we had to tell this story to the community, to spread the message of Spring Awakening to anybody who would listen. I also knew how difficult it would be. Even though our theatre department had put on shows most high schools would never dream of, I knew that this show was perhaps pushing it. I approached Mr. Warren, and he confirmed my fears saying, “Perhaps we aren’t ready for that show.” I wasn’t going to have any of that. This show spoke to me in a way that no other piece of theatre ever had, and I wanted more than anything to perform it for the people in my community at AIS. When we finally did perform the show, the experience was surreal. I had been a part of several shows before, but never in my life had I felt like I was making a difference by doing so. After each show, students, parents, teachers, and alumni who were amazed by the performance of 18 high school students approached me. I was prepared for “Congratulation!” or “Great job!” Instead, what I wound up hearing after every show was, “thank you.” The people who came to see us perform thanked me and the entire ensemble for bringing the message of Spring Awakening to AIS, and for me that was the most rewarding part of the entire experience.
AIS hosted a very special performing arts event in April with the visit of singer/songwriter/composer, Duncan Sheik – a GRAMMY and Tony Award® winner for the Broadway smash, Spring Awakening – to the campus for a performance and master classes. Sheik first came to fame in the 1990’s with his top-20 hit, “Barely Breathing.” Sheik’s visit to the school coincided with the theatre department’s Upper School production of his show, Spring Awakening. AIS is one of the first schools in the country to perform a high-school version of the rock musical, which is based on an eponymous German play (1891) by Frank Wedekind. Set in late-19th century Germany, the play explores “the journey from adolescence to adulthood with poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable.” Actor and theatre artist Jocelyn Kuritsky, AIS Class of 1999, collaborated with Sheik on previous projects and joined him on campus for master classes with the IBDP Theatre & Music students as well as the cast of the production. Prior to his arrival at the school in April, Sheik said, “I’m thrilled to be able to visit AIS and spend some time with the team of young people involved in their production of Spring Awakening. Although the show is about high school-age students and very much about the universal concerns of adolescence, not many high schools are brave enough to do Spring Awakening. I’m looking forward to spending some time with the cast and crew and talking with the students about their process and their future artistic aspirations.” Sheik later performed selections from his musicals and albums in the intimate setting of the Lademacher Performing Arts Center, where he was joined on stage by AIS grade 12 students, Tessa Weal and Emma Nigut. The events were in support of the school’s vibrant STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) curriculum.
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Maker Movement Comes to AIS By Sharon Hermann, PS Librarian and Courtney Fowler, Global Exchange Editor
This school year, Grade 5 students had the opportunity to create, experiment and learn in the library though a program called Makermasters. Periodically throughout the year, students were invited to sign up for hands-on after school activities that piqued their interest and also promoted STEAM learning through making. Students have explored electricity with “squishy circuits,” assembled small computers, created “little libraries” from cardboard boxes for the Primary School hallway, designed paper pop-up cards and tried their hand at Arabic-style metal art. Faculty and staff, including the science specialist, technology integrationists and IT staff, have joined in to support the students in these fun activities. The maker movement, which focuses on the creative, individualized use and reuse of objects instead of discarding them, has become popular both locally and nationally in recent years, sparking websites, publications and even heavily attended events such as MakerFaire. Within a school setting, making has ties to both inquiry-based learning and STEAM programming. “Making is concerned with learning through creating—not through lecture-style direct instruction,” reports School Library Journal in its May 12 article, “How to Ensure that Making Leads to Learning.” “In the evolution of our thinking, we have begun to see that - for students to tackle real world and local problems effectively - they need to make and tinker to develop the skills to feel most confident to take on bigger local or global problems,” said Rachel Hovington, Head of Curriculum. “We continue to explore how small-scale tinkering and immediate problem solving outcomes parallel and overlap with a more long- term design thinking framework approach to problem-solving and learning. We believe that this intersection is something that institutions are working through across the world as they pilot and implement both.”
AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
Around AIS
From the Mideast to the Southeast By Angela Khoury, AIS Parent
Atlanta International School was pleased to host the premiere of Alif Institute’s new traveling exhibit, Windows to the ArabWorld: From the MidEast to the Southeast, this spring. The exhibit, available to schools and organizations, uses three tall towers to present information about Arab architecture, music, language, and religions of the Arab world. There are also posters about Georgia’s Arab American organizations and Arab American immigration to Georgia. For one week at the end of March, the exhibit was installed in the AIS library, along with a display of flags from the Arab world, books authored by Arabs or about the Arab world, and an impressive exhibit of cultural items. The Coca-Cola resource room was transformed into a museum filled with examples of folk art, food replicas, and artifacts from daily and religious life. There were also interactive stations where students could create Arabic crafts and trace words in Arabic. Last but not least, Alif Arab American parents and students gave presentations general assemblies to the lower and upper primary schools. Several students gave a dance performance, followed by Ms. Beth teaching some Arabic dance steps and leading the entire Primary School in an Arabic dance! (Please see the AIS Facebook page for a video clip!).
Sharon Hermann, Primary School Librarian, described her experience with the exhibit,
“We thought it was wonderful and fun to see how much the students enjoyed the displays and activities.The younger students particularly enjoyed learning about the Hamsa Hand and creating their own.Tracing Arabic letters was also a popular activity.” Alif Institute, Atlanta’s Arab cultural center, hosts special cultural events and celebrations, lectures, discussions and movie screenings in addition to teaching Arabic language and enrichment courses. As an AIS parent and a staff member at Alif Institute, it was especially meaningful for me to add this exhibit to AIS’ long tradition of celebrating diversity. 15
SWOOP, THERE IT IS! Spring & Winter Athletics By Laura Stidham, Manager, Digital Communications and Design
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8
9
7 6
AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
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1
By popular student vote the AIS Eagle finds his name—SWOOP!
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The new Sailing Club Team placed first and third in events at the Junior Olympic Regatta at Atlanta Yacht Club.
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The Varsity Ultimate Frisbee team showed much improvement and finished the season with a winning record.
4 BASKETBALL
3
• Middle School Boys -A - Team made MAAC Tournament -B - Team finished second in a MAAC Tournament -C - Team grew as a team, ending on a win • Middle School Girls -A - Team made semifinals at MAAC Tournament -B - Team won the MAAC B Tournament -C - Team grew as a team, ending on a win • Junior Varsity boys finished their season in strong fashion, winning their final two matches. • Varsity Boys finished the season with a one point win over Elite Scholars in three overtimes • Varsity Girls finished season ranked 5th in region
5 SWIMMING
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• Middle School Swim Team won two big MS meets • Varsity Swim Team qualified for seven events in the state tournament—finishing 14th and 16th in two events • Hayden Bartsch, Jack Cohen, Hallie Lonial and Jon McKenney awarded Academic All American by the National Interscholastic Swim Coach Association (NISCA)
6 TENNIS
• Middle School Boys ended the regular season in first place and took home second place in the MAAC finals • Varsity Ladies’ and Men’s Area 3 Champions
7 SOCCER
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• Middle School Girls Division 1 MAAC Champions • Junior Varsity Boys finished with a 7-1-2 record • Varsity Boys Class A State Champions • Varsity Girls Class A Regional Champions
8 TRACK
• Middle School Boys & Girls MAAC Champions • Varsity qualified for sectionals in four events and the State Tournament in two events
9 GOLf
• Middle School placed second in Division 1 MAAC Championship • Varsity qualified for State Tournament with Julia Dorsch (Grade 11) finishing 16th in state
17
GLOBETROTTER
Globetrotter
Fifth-Grade TRIPS
The beloved annual tradition of fifthgrade trips abroad continued this year! German track students visited the city of Berlin and surrounding areas, while French track students journeyed for the first time to Provence, France. Spanish track students visited Costa Rica and enjoyed white water rafting and swinging bridges.
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Globetrotter
An Icelandic Adventure
By Ecaterina Lungu, Secondary Science Faculty
Editors Note: Although traveling far and wide is the norm for AIS students and faculty, this spring marked the first time that an AIS group has set off for Iceland. Both a faculty member and a student traveler share their thoughts on this inaugural trip. During Spring Break 2015, I had an opportunity to travel to beautiful, snowy Iceland with 17 AIS students, faculty member Adam Lapish and parent, Wendie Hayler. Our one-week adventure began in Reykjavik, Iceland.
shoes. We were ready to grab onto the ice, and we did a great job at it. I was amazed not only by the beauty of the blue marine ice and soft snow, but also by the willingness of our AIS students to keep up with the task and put their best personalities forward.
On the first day of our trip, we explored the coastal lines and the city of Reykjavik. Our local tour guide gave a lesson in the movement of tectonic plates and took us to the “No Man’s Land,” a rift valley created due to volcanic eruption and drift of the tectonic plates. We were standing between the Eurasian and American continents surrounded by the soft sparkling snow, and the meaning of the phrase “global student” was revealed in front of our eyes.
In addition to all our other wonderful experiences, we had a chance to visit Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which erupted in 2010, and learn about its volcanic activity directly from a family who lives at its feet- “the family with an angry volcano in their backyard,” as our tour guide referred to them. We also got a chance to visit the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power plant and understand how the power of volcanoes is harnessed to supply heat and energy to most of the Iceland’s population. We went to the village of Hveragerdi, where each one of us enjoyed bread baked in the hot springs with eggs that we boiled ourselves in the same springs. Our group made one last stop at the “Blue Lagoon,” where we took a swim in the pleasantly warm geothermal water in the middle of lava field surrounded by snow. This was an exciting, relaxing and perfect ending to our Icelandic adventure!
Our Icelandic adventure continued to the South Shore, where we got to capture the beauty of black sand beaches against the white snow and the angry Atlantic waters. Caught in the middle of a snow storm, we enjoyed the view of Skogafoss waterfall while our experienced driver waited for further instructions! The next day, we travelled to Gullfoss (“Golden Waterfall”), and its beauty overwhelmed me. As a Torontonian, I’ve seen Niagara Falls countless times, but it cannot be compared to Gullfoss’ beauty. Directly from there, we visited the Great Geysir “Strokkur” and witnessed its grand eruption. The highlight of our trip was the Sólheimajökull Glacier walk.Our group was handed ice axes and taught how to attach crampons to our AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Hayler, our knowledgeable tour guide Olafur Tryggvi Magnusson, our excellent bus driver Jonas Por Karlsson, and our students, who demonstrated the qualities of being principled, open-minded, risk-takers and communicators.
Globetrotter
Reflections on
Iceland
By Shana Yavari, Grade 11 For Spring Break 2015, a group of Upper School students and I had an opportunity to visit Iceland, a trip which aimed to combine education with adventure in a unique manner. The itinerary included visiting a geysir, trekking the Sólheimajökull Glacier, and relaxing at the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa. Chaperoned by Mr. Lapish and Ms. Lungu and accompanied by Olly, our enthusiastic local tour guide, our goal was to explore the science and geography of Reykjavik and areas surrounding the city. Tectonic plates in Iceland are especially interesting, as we are able to observe the plates actively drifting apart above sea level. Because of this tectonic drift, the country also has major geothermal and volcanic activity. We were able to gain a local perspective by meeting a married couple whose house and farm had been destroyed by the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. They have opened a museum to inform others about the region, and it made for an interesting tourist destination. Towards the end of the trip, we hiked up the Sólheimajökull Glacier through some pretty extreme conditions (65 mph wind!). It was a different experience, since I’ve never been exposed to such a mass of open space in what seemed to be a winter wonderland. Throughout the week, the students were able to document and photograph their journey at ais_iceland_2015 on Instagram and a flickr account. Getting back to Atlanta was surreal, as I came back with more perspective about the world than prior to the trip. The language of the Icelandic people was interesting to hear, because I was completely unfamiliar with the phonetics of Icelandic. The local culture had its quirks as well; half the population is said to believe in elves and trolls, and many others seem to think fermented shark is a delicacy. Our group begged to differ! For entertainment, it is very common to enjoy a dip in the outdoor heated pools, despite the low temperatures. Overall, the trip was extremely relevant to our students, us being part of a diverse global community. Looking over the expanse of the Sólheimajökull was a truly rewarding experience, as I was able to reflect on the entirety of land being just a small part of the world! Personally, I was able to realize how miniscule my existence is in this world and this fueled my ambition to travel and experience as much of it as I can.
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Globetrotter
Upper School students take a break from work at The Hague Model United Nations (THIMUN) to tour the Dutch countryside. AIS students have attended this prestigious event for over 20 years.
Grade 10 students touring the new Center for Civil and Human Rights stop off to participate in the interactive and deeply moving lunch counter experience.
AIS band, chorus and orchestra members took home multiple gold and silver awards from their first trip to the WorldStrides Heritage Performance Festival in Orlando. AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
Mr. McCarney and some Grade 3 students commune with nature on the annual class trip to Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega, Georgia.
Grade 6 students take their geography learning outside the classroom with a climb up Stone Mountain to study the earth’s structure.
Globetrotter
AIS Mandarin Students
Discover the Far East By Peter McGovern, EdOdyssey
On March 18, 2015, accompanied by Mr. Kevin Onabiyi and Ms. Jutta Martinez, ten Atlanta International School students travelled over 7,000 miles to China. There, they spent time at AIS’ sister school in Shanghai and discovered the picturesque southern city of Guilin. This 15-day immersion experience is one of numerous global programs offered each year at AIS as part of a concerted effort to prepare students to “to thrive in and contribute to this world” by exposing them to different cultures. This particular program is part of the Mandarin curriculum and offered to students enrolled in the Mandarin Chinese program. Created by EdOdyssey, an educational initiative based in Boston that creates authentic educational experiences around the globe, this experience was designed to give students a glimpse into Chinese culture and allow them to further develop their already impressive Mandarin skills. Mr. Onabiyi, Head of Middle School and one of the faculty leaders on the trip, believes, “There is no better way for our kids to learn than take them out of their comfort zone, and this is exactly what the China program did.” Students experienced China authentically by living in homestays with local families, attending classes at AIS’ partner school Shanghai High School, participating in a scavenger hunt, and sampling traditional cuisine. During the first half of the program, students stayed at Shanghai High School, where they discovered the hub of business in China and experienced the life of an average high school student. A highlight of Shanghai was staying with local families and students. Grade 8 student Camille Williams raved, “All of our Shanghai buddies were super nice and fun. They took very good care of us making sure we were well rested, full enough to pop, and always entertained and doing something new and exciting.”
On March 25, students left their new friends and boarded the bullet train, which travels over 150 mph, to Guilin. As soon as the group arrived, faculty leader Ms. Martinez noted, “this is a completely different side of China!” Grade 8 student Noah Jernigan agreed, “This city is so much more what I imagined China to be like.” Although a popular tourist destination for Chinese citizens, there are fewer visitors from abroad - so it is the perfect place to be immersed in Chinese culture and practice Mandarin. In Guilin, AIS students loved the private Mandarin classes hosted by the Chinese Language Institute, a prestigious Chinese languagelearning center. In these intensive small classes, students were able to expand their vocabulary, review old material, and ask questions. The culturally inspired scavenger hunt in the city center was also a great success. Students competed to take pictures of local landmarks, lucky baby haircuts, Chinese fashion trends such as very high-heeled shoes, and exotic foods. Grade 8 student Lila Ashraf said, “I loved the immersion program because we had an opportunity to study and improve our Chinese with local students and also experience the Chinese culture.” Meejan Patel agreed, “My favorite part was having free time in Guilin or Shanghai to spend time with friends on the trip.” On the last day, Ms. Martinez wrote home to parents saying, “We have seen and learned so much, but more importantly, have made real connections with the people in Shanghai and Guilin.” In three words, Grade 8 student Pablo Patel simply described his experience as “fun and exciting.” Mrs. Wu, Mandarin Teacher and Subject Lead at AIS, oversaw the program from Atlanta, and upon the students’ return reflected, “This trip was perfect for our students because it was a true immersion experience, combining culture and linguistics.”
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STAYING Connected
Staying CONNECTED
Alumni parents Return to the Fold
Left: Richard and Laurie Nash (parents of Alec ‘12) with Rob Warren. Center: Jane Panzer (mother of Tess ‘01 and Alexandra ‘04) with Roy and Olga Plaut (parents of Vicky ‘92 and Veronica ‘97). Right: Jutta Archer (mother of Sophie ‘14) and Heather Triea (mother of Anna-Maria ‘14).
By Sandy Ferko, Alumni & Parents of Alumni Coordinator
One morning at Starbucks, I ran into an old alumni parent… let me re-phrase, an alumni parent whose children had both graduated from the school. She was excited to learn about what was going on and said, “When my children graduated after all those years of our paying tuition and being involved in the school, I miss it… a lot!” And from that conversation, the AIS Alumni Parent Group was born. The group has completed its first year of activities; parents pay no dues (after years of forking over tuition money, they’ve already paid their dues, haven’t they?) and are kept in the loop. Our most successful events this year were social hours preceding the opening night of the Upper School theater productions; close behind was our introductory event, a presentation of a one-woman play written by alum parent Melita Easters, about the life of Margaret Mitchell, author of GoneWith TheWind. We were especially fortunate to have the production in the LPAC to mark the 75th anniversary of the movie. Other noteworthy events this year to which alumni parents were invited were a meeting and panel on human trafficking organized by AIS Students Against Human Trafficking; a program about the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights March in Selma, Alabama; and an Evening with Duncan Sheik, the man who composed the music for the Broadway success, Spring Awakening (which was later produced by the theater department at AIS). Parents were also invited to events that we didn’t even know were happening… like the installation of a section of the Berlin Wall in the back of the school! AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
We’re adding ideas and suggestions from the members of the Parent Board for next year’s planned programming. We will start and end the year with social evenings highlighting a guest speaker; these evenings will be hosted by alumni parents. And, Class of 2015 alumni parents will receive a special invitation to the first evening on September 26. Some parents have also asked for a bi-monthly Book Club – Dr. Dan Richardson (AIS faculty) has suggested our first book, and I am reading one now which I find really interesting. The other new thing for next year, in response to a suggestion by several parents, is finding ways in which they can be involved in the school and to help out with programs. For instance, we will ask for parent volunteers to work with counselors on the 9th grade parent meeting and the 11th grade college kick-off as well as the Mock Interview Day. The PO always needs help with WorldFest, one of the most successful programs of the school year. Newsletters are sent to alumni parents monthly and – most of the time – include photos from our events. If you are an alumni parent, be sure we have your current email address. And if you are an alum who feels his/her parents would be interested in learning more, please let me know! We’ve learned that parents have as much fun re-connecting as our alumni do at their own reunions!
STAYING Connected
*London: Adam Dindorf ‘09 and Kevin Glass. *San Francisco: Ann Wiita (Wife of Arun Wiita), Arun Wiita ‘98, and Fran Smith Burlingham ’07 *Over 21: Anna Wilner ‘09, Emily Robey ‘09, Ms. Urmilla Sethuraman, Lauren Olens ’08, and Lucy Pettitt-Schieber ‘08 *New York City: Robert Doster ’05, Whitney Wilson ‘03, Igor Zelenberg (Husband of Whitney Wilson), and Gregory Braunfeld ’03
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STAYING Connected
10-Year Reunion: 2005
By Sandy Ferko, Alumni & Parents of Alumni Coordinator On March 28, while I was home nursing an aching knee and having a pity party because I couldn’t get to school, the Class of 2005 was celebrating their ten-year reunion. Of the 68 who graduated, 25 returned to Atlanta for the weekend. Fabian Hein won the award for traveling the farthest internationally as he came from Germany, but Anna Lima and Eden Smith won the national award, coming from San Francisco. Others came from New Orleans, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Washington DC, and Chicago. Several of the class members brought fiances, spouses and friends. Thanks to Emma Bradley, Sam Huntley, Ashley Sanders, and Corley Thomas who helped to plan the day... and I promise I’ll be at your twenty-year! AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
Top: the Class of 2005 Left: Eden Smith and Sam Huntley Center: Sasha Shver, Dan Cheriyan, and Rob Warren Center Bottom: guest of Christie PettitSchieber, Sharan Bal, Anna Collura, and Christie Pettitt-Schieber Right: Brianna Carbonell, Anna Lima, Emma Bradley
STAYING Connected
20-Year Reunion: 1995
By Sandy Ferko, Alumni & Parents of Alumni Coordinator Ianna Reid Briggs and Tiffany Richter DeBrock have been hard at work for almost a year planning the 20th reunion for the Class of 1995 - and believe me, their efforts paid off. Of the 24 members of the class, 15 came to all or part of a full weekend of activities, and three more, who were part of the class but did not graduate, also attended. They came from as far away as the UK, The Sudan, and Iceland; California, Washington State, New York, and Texas… and, of course, Atlanta. They were joined by alumni faculty and staff members Norma Alhadeff, Elena Bonau, and Christiane Box… and face-timed with Ben Hebebrand who could not get back to Atlanta, but made sure he was available to talk. This was the last class to graduate on the Long Island campus, and their senior prank, Plaut Pond, was created in the form of Lake Horsley at Plaut Plaza; they were joined in that start-of-the-weekend activity by Headmaster Glass, now an honorary member of the class. At lunch on Saturday, the class of 1995 toured the new campus along with six spouses and about 15 children ages ten months to 12 years, some of whom enjoyed “cooling off ” in Lake Horsley. We also learned that one of them had lost his driver’s license due to texting and driving… guess texting and driving wasn’t a big problem in 1995, whereas now we talk to the students about safe driving in the “Making Good Decisions” program. The weekend was a love fest - the class was bonded to the school and obviously to each other. One wrote that he wasn’t sure how things would be after 20 years apart, but it was like they had spoken just the day before!
Top: Class of 1995 and friends • Top Left: Amy Wing and Rudy Waldscheutz • Top Right: Hildur Barringsdottir, Nitzan Mekel, Paul Grether, Grétar Jónsson • Center Left: Jason Williams and family • Center: Deena Bevis and daughters with faculty member Veronica Plaut McDaniel ‘97 • Center Right: Frank Kelley and family • Bottom Left: Norma Alhadeff and Ianna Reid • Bottom Right: Mrs Robert Humphries, Tiffany Richter, Gemma Pockett, and Tarea Cotton 27
STAYING Connected
Alumni Class Notes 1996
2001
Jairaj Singh will pursue a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University.
2005 Ben Kubaryk married Lindsay Sasser on May 16, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
Emmanuel Blanco is the proud father
Chi Olisemeka and husband, Okey
1997
2003
to Lucas (6), Ellis (4) and Hollis (5 months). The family lives in Florida.
Kirsten Wing Gromatzky and her
family have moved to Abu Dhabi, where her children, Adam and Sarah, have taken note that the ATM’s dispense gold bars.
1998 Valentin Lemoine is a Firehouse Subs franchisee and owns two locations in Smyrna (one by Cumberland Mall). He has also recently started investing in real estate properties. He has three children, ages 11, 3 and 1.
Osuji, recently welcomed Nobi. They live and work in Lagos, Nigeria.
Jake Levinson and his wife, Nora, Greta Modesitt and Jon de Olano were married on April 25, 2015 in Atlanta. Classmate Camille Stabler was a bridesmaid, and Sherry Weeks Daphne Demetry will conduct post-doctoral research at Oxford University next year.
2004 Fabian Hein recently wore his AIS
sunglasses to participate in the Fisherman’s Friend Strongmanrun in Germany.
Brittany Pavon married Steven Chaitoff on May 23, 2015 in New York.
Josh Gunnemann was elected to
partner at the law firm, Rogers & Hardin, in Atlanta. He is a member of the firm’s corporate litigation team and regularly assists businesses and individuals involved in complex business disputes, difficult litigation, and governmental investigations. He also advises and represents companies in matters relating to various business torts.
Saila Hanninen recently began a new
position with Google in New York, where she is an agency lead in the large customer sales group.
AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
welcomed son Kai Douglas Levinson.
attended the wedding.
Tini Bennett became head of school in August at Dar es Salaam International Academy in Tanzania; she had previously been the PYP Coordinator. The academy became an official IB-PYP school last October.
1999
Emilia Hermann graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with both M.D. and M.P.H. degrees. She will be a resident in the New York-Presbyterian Hospital system in Manhattan.
Shayda Frost has graduated with a
master’s degree from UCLA.
Kelly Carstens is currently pursuing a
Hibben Silvo married Cory Rothschild
on April 25, 2015 in Chicago. Bridesmaids included classmates Tiffany Peon, Blythe Winchester Brock and
Elizabeth Varner.
doctorate in neurobiology at the University of North Carolina, where she works at a lab that is a branch of the National Institutes of Health. She enjoys being a part of the Research Triangle Park community, where she is able to attend events with scientists in the industry and go to seminars at Duke University. She recently met a couple who just won the Nobel Prize.
STAYING Connected 2006 Alex Akhavan graduated from law school
at UCLA.
Katie Wrigley and Bora Kayali were
married on November 15, 2014 in Atlanta.
Athena Holbrook recently accepted a
position as a collection specialist in Media & Performance Art at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Rosalind Santos graduated with honors
in theatre last year from Loyola University. She is pursuing an acting career and recently appeared in the film Love Me True with Eric Roberts.
Ian Hill works in strategy for Zenith
Optimedia in Los Angeles.
Brandon Lenz is a designer and hydraulic
Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
engineer with Cox Pools in Florida. He enjoys the creative-design freedom and level of responsibility in his engineering position; his company recently built pools for actor Vince Vaughn and country music artist Luke Bryan.
Aria Curtis is in a master’s program in
Dina Goodman will begin a Master of
Erica Umpierrez will do her residency at
creative writing at Arizona State University, where she is the new international editor for Hayden’s Ferry Review.
2007 Davis Hermann graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a Master of Industrial Design. He lives in Philadelphia and works in user design with the University of Pennsylvania hospital system. Nico Hawley has been pursuing a master’s
degree from the University of Illinois and recently accepted a job offer in New York with Edenworks, which does high-tech rooftop farming
2008
Public Health program at The Johns Hopkins University.
2011 Jonathan Olens graduated from New-
house School of Communications at Syracuse University and is working as a news producer for the CBS affiliate in Augusta, Georgia. Alana Beserra graduated from
Davidson College.
Julia Lancaster graduated from Washington and Lee University. She will take a gap year to travel and work in Germany, Hawaii and Australia before starting a master’s degree in communications at Columbia University in the fall of 2016.
Sabrina Neumann finished her Master of International Management program at the University of Mannheim last summer and has since been working as a marketing consultant for Siemens - half in Mannheim, half in Munich. She enjoys traveling for her job.
Nick Holt graduated from the University of California/Berkeley and works for Apple.
Matan Katz completed a master’s degree
Karl Hsu will complete a master’s degree
in Asia and is now living in and working in Israel.
Martha Correa graduated fom Georgia
Tech and started a paralegal position with Greenberg Traurig, a law firm in Buckhead.
from University of Edinburgh in August.
Andrew on October 4, 2014 in Savannah. She is a travel agent in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Emma Imber graduated from New York University (having spent her last semester abroad in Florence, Italy) and works as an analyst for Lippincott, a brand strategy firm.
2009
Neema Ebrahim-Zadeh graduated
Yvette Naniuzeyi married Adrian
Liya Khaimova is currently studying
for her master’s degree in opera and will be singing in Bavaria in July.
2010 Hortense Badarani will begin a new position with Bain Capital in July after a trip around the world, including stops in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy. She lives in London. Nicole Dancz works for the Global Commerce team in the economic development division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She will be interacting a lot with the international community here in Atlanta.
Samantha Grayman graduated from Emory University and has won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Morocco next year. Stazi Owen graduated from Davidson
College.
Ryan Kristensen graduated from
Emory University and will finish a second Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Paolo Fornasini graduated from Washington University in St. Louis. Manon Audibert graduated from SCAD Atlanta and will be working in the corporate headquarters of Billy Reid, a clothing company, this summer. Lindsey Sanborn graduated from The Johns Hopkins University and will do Teach for America in Las Vegas.
2013 Imogen Martin is completing her second year at the University of Melbourne, where she is studying Anthropology and Languages (French & Russian) and is on the Dean’s List. Ashton Imber, a student at the
University of Florida, will spend his next academic year in Tokyo.
Alexandra Zdonczyk, a recipient of a Stamps Foundation Scholarship at Washington University, attended a national convention of Stamps Scholars at Georgia Tech in April.
2014 Julian Moses plays volleyball at Lewis
University, a top-ranked collegiate team that progressed all the way to the NCAA Men’s Division I Volleyball Championship game this spring. Julian decided to “redshirt” this season (keep a season of eligibility and not compete) but is expected to start this upcoming year.
from Stanford University, where he won the Frederick E. Terman Award for Scholastic Achievement in Engineering. As the award winner, Neema was able to invite former teacher, Tom Dindorf, to attend the event. He works for Google in California.
Ivana Lucic graduates from the University of Georgia this summer and will do a six-month marketing internship at an architectural firm in Bali. Amy O’Halloran graduated from The George Washington University. Ana Paul Shelley graduated fromWash-
ington University and will be working for an international marketing firm in New York.
After a gap year (during which she appeared in VOGUE India), Maya Hendricks will attend New York University this fall., Nico Hawley-Weld, attended AIS. 29
CLASS OF 2015
FINAL WORD
FINAL Word
Congratulations,
class of 2015 The 80 members of the Class of 2015 had an extremely successful year, matriculating at 48 universities in the U.S. and abroad and earning an impressive $6.7 million in merit scholarship money, not including the HOPE scholarship funds.Of the 80 graduates, 41 will attend 19 colleges in the Southeast, including 30 students who will remain in Georgia to take advantage of the HOPE Scholarship programs at (Agnes Scott College, Emory University, Emory University - Oxford, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Savannah College of Art and Design). Of the remaining graduates, 29 enrolled in 25 universities in the North, West, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and four enrolled in schools in Canada and France. Four graduates are still in the admissions process for schools in Germany, United Kingdom and Switzerland, while two graduates are taking gap years before beginning school at their universities. The list of schools at which students are matriculating appears in the following pages. In keeping with AIS commencement tradition, this year’s graduates are listed with their countries of affiliation. 31
FINAL Word
CLASS OF 2015 Sophie Charlotte al Mutawaly Germany, Iraq, USA Noa Aviran Israel Hayden Voss Bartsch Australia, Germany Dorian Alexander Benech France, Germany Andre Ely Beroukhim Iran, USA Laurent Dúc Són Boudard Belgium, France, Vietnam Jackson Monroe Bradley USA Kai Marissa Brooks Trinidad and Tobago, USA Connar Elizabeth Brown USA Jordan Kobie Brown United Kingdom, USA Ying Yi Chen China Alexander Akira Choi Japan, South Korea, USA Jack Pattillo Cohen Costa Rica, USA Sarah Nicole Cook USA Reza Daftarian Iran Shahmeer Delawalla Pakistan, USA Michael Robert DelCampo USA Ashley Nicole Dismuke France, Switzerland, USA Farrell Bennett Dunlap USA Doenya Eghtesadi Iran, USA Bardia Esmaeilzadeh Iran Matias Daniel Ferandel Guatemala, Mexico, USA Mia Fernández Cuba, USA August Gebhard-Koenigstein Belgium, Germany AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
Dev Arun Gore Germany, India, USA Lisa Franziska Gregor Canada, Germany Mehdia Hassan Afghanistan Shayann Isabela Hendricks India, USA Wesley Aaron Howell USA Sophia Emmanuelle Jactel France, USA Alexander Bennett John Germany, USA Schnawaz Kamal Khan Pakistan, USA Maximilian Reid La Palme Canada, USA Claudia Lauren Leslie USA Hallie Patney Lonial India, USA Adam Khalid Rachid Malik Algeria, France, Pakistan, United Kingdom Julian Marfurt Switzerland Alicia Elena Martinez Germany, Puerto Rico Robert Phipps Marvil USA Erin Elizabeth McDonough USA Jonathon Peter McKenney Canada, USA Elena Isabel Mesa Cuba, USA Beau Standridge Mitchell USA Samuel John Mohr USA Julia Raquel Mokuy Eyene Avomo Equatorial Guinea Emma Pearl Nigut USA Guillaume Nozière France, USA Amela Orlovic Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nicholas Reid Oxford USA Tomas Alvin Perez Spain, USA Victor Petitgenet France Olivia Beatrice Pilmore-Bedford England Sarah Olivia Pitts-Groce USA Nicholas Dominick Rath USA Gabriela Michelle Rivera Japan, USA Joseph Dylan Roberto USA David Benjamin Robinson USA Nia Victoria Russell USA Cristina Sanchez Colombia, USA Joshua Jodok Schäffler Austria Laura Schweigert Germany Neira Selimovic Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA Firat Seydim Turkey Pinar Seydim Turkey Alena Kalyce Shalaby USA Isabella Silva USA Justine Gabrielle Stiftel Czech Republic, Romania, USA Mohammed Adel Talebagha Egypt, USA Lauren Christine Valeri USA Sterling Benjamin Vaughn Jamaica, USA Mayke Vercruyssen Belgium, Canada Théo Florent Viala France Keira Netana Waites Nigeria, USA Tessa Demaris Weal USA Christopher Edward Weil Canada, USA Sydney Elizabeth Wilke USA Sidney Paulina Williams Colombia, South Korea, USA Sara Marie Wren USA Nikou Zarrabi France, Iran, USA Sarah Nicole Zurbuchen Bermuda, USA
FINAL Word
The Faculty of AIS believes that the successful completion of any worthwhile endeavor is reward in itself, that there is intrinsic value in each experience which students should perceive as the reward for a job well-done. Therefore, AIS participates in very few outside awards programs but encourages each student to work to accomplish the most that he/she can. Congratulations to the following students recognized at this year’s Honors Assembly: Departmental Awards Group 1: First Language
Jonathon McKenney
Group 2: Second Language
Jordan Brown
Goup 3: Social Sciences
Jack Cohen (Economics) Guillaume Noziere (Geography) Shayann Hendricks (History) Group 4: Science
Lisa Gregor (Biology) Guillaume Noziere (Chemistry) David Robinson (Physics) Group 5: Mathematics
Sam Mohr David Robinson
Group 6: The Arts
Connar Brown (Theatre) Alicia Martinez (Theatre) Emma Nigut (Theatre) Sarah Pitts-Groce (Visual Arts)
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Anna Fritz Rayya Khuri Sarah Wang
AIS Legacy Scholarship
Emily Bishko
STATE & NATIONAL RECOGNITION Class of 2015 Valedictorian
David Robinson
Class of 2015 Salutatorian
Matias Ferandel
National Merit Finalists
Barnard College Book Award
Anna Fritz
Arantxa Martinez-Gonzalez
Elisabeth Morking
Dorian Benech Theo Viala
Columbia University Book Award
National Choral Award
Dartmouth College Book Award
National Orchestra Award
George Washington University Book Award
Laurent Boudard
Scholar Athlete Awards
Matias Ferandel Neira Selimovic
CAS Service Award
Sarah Wang
Jackie Jacobs
Negasi Haskins
Georgia Governor’s Honors Program Finalists
Anna Fritz Shreyas Krishnapura
Sophie al Mutawaly Reza Daftarian
Harvard Book Award
Jones Day Mock Trial Award
John Hopkins Book Award
Iain Schmitt
Rochester Institute of Technology Awards
William Ballard (Computing) Stacey Choi (Creativity) Syracuse University Book Award
Rebecca Greenberg
University of Pennsylvania Book Award
Manfred Wong
Dimitrios Sparis
Anna Fritz Shreyas Krishnapura
Bryn Mawr College President’s Book Award
Sarah Cook Sam Mohr
Iain Schmitt
Georgia Merit Certificates
Quincy Jones Music Award John Philip Sousa Band Award
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award
Wellesley College Book Award
Barnard College STEM Award
David Robinson
Lindsey Drummond
Beau Mitchell David Robinson Tessa Weal
Group 8: Technology
Emily Preis
Phi Beta Kappa Award
Naveed Mantifar
Nanditha Menon
Wesleyan University Book Award Yale Book Award
Emily Bishko
The Atlanta JournalConstitution Cup Award
Matias Ferandel
Le Grand Councours (National French Competition)
Alia Adler
National German Exam Awards
Mathis Berland Ellina Berman Thomas Binder Hannah Branch Avril Griessbach Celine Guenther Alyssa Locke Lizzi Nemeti-Chipkes Anna Rita Seidler Matheus Stanbek Kaitlin Turner-Simotics Helen Audrey Williams
ECIS Award for International Understanding
Shayann Hendricks (Upper School) Serge Petitpre (Faculty)
Shreyas Krishnapura
33
FINAL Word
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY MATRICULATIONS 2011-2015 Schools at which 2015 graduates enrolled
*
UNITED STATES
Agnes Scott College* American University* Auburn University Babson College* Bard College* Barnard College* Belmont University Bennington College Berklee College of Music Berry College Birmingham-Southern College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College* Brigham Young University Brown University Bryn Mawr College* Clark University* College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross Colorado College Columbia College Chicago* Columbia University Cornell University Davidson College DePaul University Dickinson College* Drexel University Duke University* Eckerd College* Elmhurst College Elon University* Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University* Emerson College* Emory University* Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts* Florida Institute of Technology* Furman University* Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology* Georgia Perimeter College Georgia Southern University Georgia State University* Grinnell College Guilford College Harvard University* Howard University* Johns Hopkins University Kennesaw State University* Lewis University Louisiana State University Macalester College Mercer University Middlebury College New College of Florida AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015
New York University* North Carolina State University* Northeastern University* Northwestern University Occidental College Oxford College of Emory University* Parsons The New School for Design Pratt Institute Princeton University* Purdue University Reed College Rice University Rollins College* Santa Clara University* Savannah College of Art and Design* Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta School of the Art Institute of Chicago Stanford University Swarthmore College* Syracuse University* The College of Wooster The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art The George Washington University* Tufts University United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of California, Berkeley* University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Colorado at Boulder* University of Florida* University of Georgia* University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Kentucky University of Miami* University of Michigan University of Oregon University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of Southern California* University of Tampa* University of Tulsa University of Vermont University of Washington Vanderbilt University Virginia Tech* Wagner College Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wofford College Xavier University of Louisiana* Yale University
INTERNATIONAL Australia
The University of Melbourne University of Newcastle Austria
University of Vienna Belgium
Université Catholique de Louvain* Canada
Concordia University - Montreal McGill University* University of British Columbia University of British Columbia - Sciences Po (France) Dual Degree Program* Université du Québec à Montréal University of Toronto Chile
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile* France
ESSEC Business School* Sciences Po Université Catholique de Lille I, II, III Germany
Jacobs University RWTH Aachen University* Technische Hochschule Deggendorf Netherlands
Erasmus University Rotterdam Hotelschool The Hague* Leiden University University College Maastricht University of Amsterdam University of Groningen Sweden
Linköping University Switzerland
École Hôtelière de Lausanne* The United Kingdom
Nottingham Trent University Royal Holloway, University of London University of Aberdeen University of East Anglia University of Oxford University of St. Andrews* University of Surrey University of the Arts London
SCENE at AIS
AIS and the Harambee parent group hosted a screening this spring of the Sundance award-winning film, American Promise, and a lively panel discussion with filmmakers and members of the community.
During their reunion weekend, the Class of 1995 transformed Plaut Plaza into “Lake Horsley” in a recreation of their own senior prank on the old Long Island campus.
AIS Grade 3 artists Nicole Goetz (pictured), Inca Valdivieso Woolridge and Martin Oman had their pieces produced as public art works on the new PATH 400 route in Buckhead.
Headmaster Kevin Glass greets esteemed guest, Ricky Ricardo, during one of the popular therapy dog’s visits to hang out with Secondary students this school year.
Gentlemen of the Class of 2019 observe a rite of passage, the eighth-grade celebration, in all of their finest. On to Upper School!
“Germany in Suitcases,” a traveling exhibit on the culture of Germany (including gnomes!) by the Goethe Institute, made a stop in the ninth-grade alcove.
Mr. Holcomb’s office was relocated to an al fresco spot courtesy of the Class of 2015 on their last day of school. 35
Our Mission To meet the challenges and opportunities of our interdependent, fast-changing world as responsible citizens, young people require flexible intellectual competence, self-discipline, and a global outlook. To achieve these goals, they need rigorous academic preparation and a passion to become the best they can be. To thrive in and contribute to this world, they must have a solid sense of self and respect for others—as individuals, as members of a group, as citizens of their nations, and as members of the global community. Extraordinary individuals will be called upon to shape the 21st century. The mission of Atlanta International School (AIS) is to develop such individuals. To fulfill this mission, AIS commits itself to the following goals: – to sustain and grow the exemplary level of teaching and learning that has earned it a world wide reputation for excellent standards in international and multilingual education within the framework of the International Baccalaureate; – to develop each child fully by helping each one to live our core values: the joy of learning and purposeful effort as well as mutual respect and understanding in a diverse setting; – to maintain an optimal size and composition of faculty and students to maximize the opportunities for learning and shared understanding that are necessary for a healthy community; – to help shape and improve local and global communities through the committed participation of its multilingual students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff.
Our Core Values What We Believe Is Fundamentally Important We believe that encouraging each student to discover the intrinsic joy of learning and purposeful effort will help each one to set and achieve high academic standards. Furthermore, we believe it is vital to nurture mutual respect and understanding among all members of our community. Together we cultivate a spirited sense of hope in human potential. We believe the diversity of our community provides an extraordinary opportunity to enable our students to communicate, create, and collaborate in order to build a peaceful future. The joy of learning and purposeful effort We want our students to experience joy in their intellectual, physical,social, and emotional development. At AIS we will create a safe, stimulating educational environment, promoting the wonder and curiosity that motivate a student to explore learning in and beyond the classroom throughout life. We believe that achievement derives from sustained, purposeful effort and that our potential is best developed by learning to think critically, debate confidently, and push our limits. Ours is a community that nurtures and celebrates disciplined and myriad intelligences, and we approach teaching with the expectation that every student will be successful. Mutual respect and understanding in a diverse community We believe that every human being is valuable and deserves respect. We further believe that respect springs from understanding and that the best way to understand others is by learning to see the world from other points of view. Since each language reflects the values, history, and way of thinking of those who use it, learning another language is a particularly effective means of understanding and respecting others. We believe that a cohesive community of students, faculty, staff, and parents from many backgrounds—socio-economic, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, and religious—provides an ideal setting for the development of respect and understanding and helps prepare students to thrive in a diverse, interdependent world.
AIS Non-Discrimination Statement Atlanta International School practices a full non-discriminatory policy in all school-administered programs and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender preference in all of its admissions, educational and employment policies, programs, and practices.
2890 North Fulton Drive / Atlanta, Georgia 30305 USA / 404.841.3840 / www.aischool.org
AIS Global Exchange / Summer 2015