Fall/Winter 2011
The Newsletter of Atlanta International School
Globetrotter
In This Issue 4
AIS Technology Highlights
8
Eagle Athletics Report
9
Worldfest
15
Legacy Scholarship
19
Christmas Market
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.
Seated, Alex Horsley, Founding Headmaster of AIS with, from left, Olga Plaut, Founder of AIS, Deb Sudbury, Board of Trustees Chair, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Kevin Glass, Headmaster, Roy Plaut, Founder of AIS
AIS Honors Founding Headmaster at Groundbreaking for New Early Learning Center By Gordana Goudie, Globetrotter Guest Editor A close-knit group of friends gathered on a patch of land on Peachtree Avenue under a leaden sky this November to honor a man who made a dream come true. Alex Horsley, founding headmaster of Atlanta International School (AIS), answered a job posting in 1984 to lead an international school in Atlanta that had no students and no building. Unperturbed, he took on the challenge. Today, AIS is considered to be one of the top ten international schools in the world. At the November 15 groundbreaking ceremony of the AIS Early Learning Center, the school community recognized the immense contribution of their first leader and named the new building after him. The latest addition to the AIS campus, which is set to open in August 2012, will house the school’s youngest learners, three- and four-year-old students, in full immersion programs in French, German or Spanish. The Alex Horsley Building is located on Peachtree Avenue across the road from the Adair Art, Science and Design Center (ASD). The purpose-built, residential-scale facility will include eight classrooms with retractable walls, a large multi-purpose room, offices, a conference room, and a small warming kitchen. Indoor classroom space will be enhanced by immediate access to an outdoor play and educational area to which all classrooms open. With the opening of the new Early Learning Center next fall, AIS will have entry points to the school at 3K, 4K and 5K. The full immersion program for three- and four-year-olds in Spanish, French and German will enable these students to better prepare for their entrance to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the primary school. “You have no idea of the emotion and the love that is swirling around this moment, this school…” said Kevin Glass, AIS headmaster, as he opened the ceremony. The dedication of the new facility to Horsley who, at the time of the ceremony was in hospice with cancer, is particularly poignant since the idea to provide the Atlanta community with full immersion programs for early learners was born when AIS first opened, and had been one of Horsley’s dreams for the school. With the groundbreaking event and the naming of the building after Horsley, AIS came full circle. continued
AIS Honors Founding Headmaster Alex Horsley cont.
The Alex Horsley Building
Minutes before the skies opened up releasing a sudden gush of rain, Horsley addressed the audience, “I don’t think I’ve ever been to an AIS function where you could keep me quiet, but this school has been a genuine labor of love for me going on for 30 years. To see the school in such good hands and with such exciting programs is a thrill, a joy to me.” As the clouds blackened and the first drops began to fall, he added with his usual humor, “And we’d better do something about the rain!” Once the event was moved indoors, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed delivered a speech in which he recognized the role of AIS in Atlanta and said that the school is “literally playing a unique role in transforming the city.” Turning to the evening’s special guest, he added, “Our city is quiet today in honor of your contribution.”
For the group of friends who gathered on Peachtree Avenue that special day in November to celebrate the achievements of an extraordinary man, the groundbreaking ceremony was also an opportunity to say goodbye. Alex Horsley died on December 1, 2011. Headmaster Kevin Glass, in his announcement of the news to the AIS community, wrote, “We will think of Alex every time another brick is added to our new Early Learning Center, and I am honored that our youngest children may have the foundation of their learning here at AIS in a building named for our founding headmaster.”
Children Come First “He taught us that children come first in all big and small decisions… He was a Pied Piper, and children gravitated toward him wherever he was.” – Olga Gomez Plaut, Founder, at her address on November 15, 2011 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Alex Horsley Building
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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
In Memoriam
M. Alexander Horsley AIS Founding Headmaster 1944 – 2011 Editor’s Note: Alex Horsley, AIS founding headmaster, died at his home in Ansley Park, Atlanta, on December 1, 2011 after a spirited battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at AIS at 2 p.m. on January 14, 2012.
“I want to thank you so much for having created the high school that was so formative for me, for having always taken the time to listen with lively attention to whatever I was interested in or doing at the moment.” – Valerie Seefried Henderson, AIS Class of 1996
“We’re just glad that you helped to create this school. Thank you very much for that.” – Leona Anbari, AIS Student, Grade 2
“We’re so humbled by your amazing life’s work.You’ve touched so many people all over the world. From the early days of AIS when I was just a little kid to working with you at CASIE, it’s been truly amazing to know you.” – Vicki Plaut, AIS Class of 1992
“Mr. Horsley, I want to thank you for taking a chance on a little ragtag group of students and a little red schoolhouse behind Sardi’s Methodist Church.The friendships I made there over the years changed my life and they wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t taken that chance on us.” – Fran (Smith) Burlingham, AIS Class of 1997
“I wanted to give a big, big thank you to the best headmaster any student could hope for. Although it was ages ago, our time together was full of great memories, and I’m still thinking of them very fondly.You were a great headmaster [and] you made school a great place.” – Chiara Visconti di Modrone, AIS Class of 1995 Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter
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Noted Actor and AIS Alumnus Addresses Secondary School Students at Assembly By Maggie Dozier, Development Assistant/ Alumni Coordinator
AIS Technology Highlights By Alan Preis, IT Coordinator A number of exciting changes are under way at AIS involving the use of technology to support and enhance student learning. The following is a summary of some of the most significant developments so far this year. We have begun our Project 3C program, whose emphasis on developing the 21st century skills of creativity, collaboration and communication will help to prepare our students for the digital world. This project will have whole-school impact, from the use of laptops throughout the Secondary School, to the use of iPads and iPod Touches in the Primary School, to our new multimedia project lab in the library. As part of Project 3C, AIS is initiating a student laptop program to begin with sixth and seventh grade students next fall, expanding to grades six to ten the following year. Further information about Project 3C is available on the AIS website at https://www.aischool.org/techlearning. We will be expanding our Middle Years Programme (MYP) Technology program to a full subject in grades six to ten next year; as a result, we will have dedicated time to teach the full range of MYP technology including materials, information, and systems technology to all students in those grades. We continue to offer Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an enrichment elective this year, in grades six and seven.
Noted actor and AIS alum Chris Lowell returned to campus in early October to speak in the Secondary School’s Friday afternoon assembly. After being introduced by a short YouTube clip of his recent appearance in “The Help,” Lowell casually perched himself on the edge of the auditorium stage to engage in a dialogue with current AIS students. He told students how much he valued his time at AIS and he encouraged them to make the most of their time in such a unique environment. He told students to follow their dreams and ambitions and to never let fear stand in the way of achieving their goals. Lowell’s charm and warm personality welcomed students into a lengthy question and answer period in which Lowell entertained the group with stories from the movie set. After graduating from AIS in 2003, Lowell attended the University of Southern California and The New School. From 2004 to 2010, he appeared in the ABC television shows “Life as We Know It” and “Private Practice.” Lowell is also a photographer and shows his work at Jackson Fine Art in the heart of Buckhead and at the Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles. Lowell also returned to AIS last fall to participate in the Alumni Theatre Production. Most recently, Lowell appeared in “The Help” and will be appearing in the upcoming films “AWOL” and “Light Years.”
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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
We have developed our five-year technology strategic plan in alignment with last year’s school strategic planning process. The plan was created with input from the AIS community technology focus group, faculty and staff, external sources such as the ISTE NETS Standards (http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx) and the K-12 Horizon Report (http://www.nmc.org/horizon-project/horizon-reports), and recommendations from the Council of International Schools (CIS), AdvancED, and the Middle Years Programme Authorization report. We will be sharing the plan more broadly with the AIS community later this year. The school website now has a new technology and learning page, where we have posted our new technology and learning vision, further information about Project 3C, as well as resources including selected articles and videos on the theme of 21st century learning. The page can be accessed via the technology and learning button on the right-hand side of the school’s home page at www.aischool.org. As part of our summer projects, AIS added Smart boards to all core classrooms in grades one to three. We have also equipped every core primary school classroom with two netbooks, which will provide additional access to students for technology-related projects and classroom activities. Next summer, we plan to outfit the few remaining classrooms that do not yet have Smart boards. In another exciting development, AIS has joined the European Council of International schools (ECIS) World Virtual Schools program. The project will allow AIS classes to link up virtually with other ECIS schools around the world for classroom activities, student collaboration, and teacher professional development. We are excited about these developments and will continue to share our progress with the AIS community.
AIS: An Experience of a Lifetime By Meggy Becker, Grade 10 Exchange Student from Germany I came to AIS to learn English. That is what all exchange students do. They come, learn English and go. That is it. I never expected it to be so much more than just the language. My first day of school was surprisingly different from what I expected. When I first heard that children from over 96 countries attend AIS and that more than 50 languages are spoken, I thought that I am just going to be another exchange student, but I turned out to be wrong. I was accepted as a part of the school from the very first minute and included in all the activities just as a regular student. I did not end up sitting alone in the cafeteria, as every exchange student fears to end up. No, there were many other students that came and started to ask me questions about my school in Germany, about my family, about my language. I was surprised that they all came and asked me, the girl with the broken English. I started to see that they did not care about my English grammar or my pronunciation; they just really wanted to know about me and my culture. They were curious to see what I experienced. I will never forget how happy I was about that. It just felt like being home far, far away from home. The longer I stayed the more I realized that this is not just another school, it is something that will stay in my life forever. AIS is not about being perfect. It is about being willing to learn about language, about people and about culture. This statement is not just something written on a website or in a flyer, it is the truth. I never expected to leave with so much more than just a better English grade. I will go home with a new perspective to see the world that I will share with my family and all my friends at home. I will miss AIS, and it is going to be hard to leave after my time is over and say “good bye” to all my new friends and teachers here.
Primary School Students Enjoy Annual AIS Thanksgiving Lunch
Books for Parents
In November, primary school students enjoyed the AIS Thanksgiving Lunch, an annual favorite, thanks to more than 100 parent volunteers, including Mr. Glass! Parent representative, Sophie Alibaksh, and Chris Thomas and Emma Zigan from the Primary School coordinated the event. Our Sodexo team catered the meal, which included an option of tofu turkey and vegan dessert to accommodate our vegetarian and vegan students. Vanilla cupcakes, sponsored by the Parent Organization, added a final touch to a splendid traditional meal of turkey with gravy, sautéed carrots and green beans, roasted sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. To minimize impact on the environment, all recyclable wastes were disposed of accordingly, and paper and plastic plates or cutlery were not used during the event. Our fifth grade students were introduced to the AIS Secondary School tradition of Thanksgiving basket donations and collected food items and funds to assemble four baskets themselves to donate to families in need in the Atlanta community.
Middle School Counselor, Lanie Cox, recommends the following books for parents to learn more about: • Laws, rights, and legal responsibilities related to children and teens • Social challenges that middle school girls face and how to help your daughter handle them • Cyber safety and what you can do to ensure your child’s safety online • Middle school issues and how to help your child deal with them “Ignorance is No Defense” by J. Tom Morgan “Mean Chicks, Cliques and Dirty Tricks: A Real Girls Guide to Getting Through the Day with Smarts and Style” by Erika V. Shearin Karres “The Ultimate Guide to Internet Safety” by Victoria Roddel “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School” by Robin Epstein and Ben H. Winters
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter
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AIS Student Geographers Map out Their Neighborhood By Anthony Gillett, Secondary School Faculty AIS geographers recently completed an adventure in their local community. They undertook a fascinating project when they produced a walking guide of the Garden Hills neighborhood in which our school is located. It is a historic neighborhood and it is one of the oldest areas in Atlanta. Students were given the task of producing a travel guide since it would test their mapping techniques that they had been learning in class, such as drawing a map to scale and incorporating map symbols and direction. This is a groundbreaking project since it does not appear that a travel guide exists for Garden Hills. Therefore one afternoon, students completed a fieldtrip and recorded their information using the traditional method of paper, pencils and clipboards but some also used their smartphones to take photographs as well as record information. After the fieldtrip, students began drafting and then redrafting their information. They added research from the Internet and other sources and began to draw their maps after thinking about which scale to use and what features required map symbols. Geography is taught across different language groups at AIS: English, Spanish, German and French, and travel guides were produced in each language. Tourists from many different parts of the world can therefore use the projects when visiting the area. The mission was linked to studies for Geography Awareness Week, which celebrates geography worldwide. This year the focus on geography took place between November 13 and 19.
AIS Counselor Reflects on Camp College Volunteer Work By Nicole Cook, Upper School Counselor Driving through the gates of The University of the South, I tapped the roof of my car to send my guardian angel on her way. According to tradition, angels and mortals mix up on that mystical mountain, where people once fled malaria and found spiritual revival. I find it fitting that Camp College occurs in this benevolent setting, as the experience of volunteering for the event has inspired me for the last two years. From the expert organization to the excited students and unassuming volunteers, Camp College epitomizes the good that can happen when human beings set out to make the world a better place. From Wednesday afternoon, thirty volunteers arrive to prepare the sessions, materials and facilities for sixty students from sixteen different Chattanooga high schools. The training is sprinkled with exquisite good humor and fun, but every volunteer works long hours and performs tedious tasks without complaint. Each volunteer fills a special role and gives wholeheartedly to making his or her task wonderful for the kids, whether that task be encouraging a student to show off her voice in the talent show or sitting with a student for hours working on essays and résumés. My group of students this year came to the program with goals, focus and openness. The hours we spent with them reviewing case studies, writing essays, navigating online college admission technology, and discussing college lists will probably help them with their college process. However, I wonder if the laughter, affirmation and concern will help them just as much. While a pat on the back won’t get anybody into college, my reflection upon leaving the event was that the students were powerfully impacted by the people who took time out of their lives to say, “You are important,” when so many people in their lives had sent them a different message. As a professional counselor with a dorky love of all things college admissions, I find myself sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the “system” as it is. In our competitive American process, it often seems overlooked that humanity itself and the belief that individuals, especially young ones, are exceptional even without many awards or activities on their résumés. Camp College helps me remember why I got into this field in the first place. I still believe that it matters when we use our time to make a statement to young people that they are important and wonderful, and that they can change the world. I have been a part of several of the college outreach activities through the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). Often they fall at inconvenient and busy times, and sometimes I wonder why I volunteered when I had so many mandatory things to do! However, driving back down that mountain, I tapped my guardian angel back into the car and reflected on how volunteering my time this summer helped me to re-center. Rather than stressing us further, participating in the SACAC Human Relations events can help all of us feel a little more relaxed and excited about what we are doing. 6
Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
2011-2012 Annual Fund Thanks to all members of the AIS community who have supported the 2011-2012 Annual Fund. With the help of over 30 parent volunteers, phonathon callers, alumni class representatives, and other volunteers AIS has raised $313,394 for the 2011-2012 Annual Fund. As is typical in most American independent schools, tuition does not cover the cost of operating the school. Your contribution to the Annual Fund goes directly into the operating budget, supplementing tuition revenue. 2011-2012 Annual Fund Goals: • $725,000 • Increase Parent Participation This year the top 2 classes with the most participation in the Primary School and the top 2 classes in the Secondary School will win a PIZZA PARTY in May. YOUR PARTICIPATION IS IMPORTANT When we solicit corporations and foundations outside the AIS community, they want to know what percentage of parents, faculty and staff and alumni support the school.Your gift to the Annual Fund, no matter the size does make a difference. If you have not contributed to the Annual Fund this year IT IS NOT TOO LATE, please do so now! The easiest way to make your gift is online at www.aischool.org/donate or use your smart phone app to scan the QR code listed below and make your gift immediately. All pledges are due by June 1, 2012 • All gifts are tax deductible.If you can make only one gift to AIS, make it to the Annual Fund.
In order to become a member of the 1984 Club, the Annual Fund leadership giving society and receive complimentary Spring Benefit tickets and have your name listed on the Spring Benefit invitation, please make your contribution of $1,750 or above before January 31, 2012.
AIS Community Supports the Georgia Private School Tax Credit This year 88 members of the Atlanta International School community raised $280,000 for financial aid through the Georgia Private School Tax Credit program. This was a large increase from last year when 25 members of the community raised $52,000. Thank you to all who participated! These dollars go toward our need-based financial aid for those AIS students who qualify under the program guidelines. The Georgia Private School Tax Credit was passed into law in the summer of 2008 to improve educational opportunities in Georgia. The state has set aside $50 million in credits, available each year, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. All Georgia taxpayers have the option of redirecting their Georgia tax liability (up to $2,500 filing jointly, $1,000 filing single) to an independent school of their choice. This year, 2011, was the first year that the $50M was fully expended. AIS has partnered with Apogee Georgia School Choice Scholarship Fund, a state-approved Student Scholarship Organization, to enable us to take advantage of this program. New students who were enrolled in a public school the previous year or any rising kindergarten or first grade students who qualify for need-based financial aid at AIS are eligible to receive these funds. The AIS Admission and Financial Aid Office distributes the monies raised.
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This program will be continued for the 2012 tax year. It is expected that the $50M cap will be met early in 2012. We encourage early participation to guarantee that your tax dollars will be redirected to AIS. Please look for correspondence in January with further instructions and 2012 forms. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mary Denson at 404.841.3895 or at mdenson@aischool.org.
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter
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Eagles Sports Boosters: Who Knew? By Kim Valeri, Boosters Interim Co-Chair and Carrie Doyle, Boosters Treasurer Who knew that underneath our brilliant and diverse community beat the heart of a spirited athlete? Who knew that more than 80 percent of our student body participates in a sporting activity? Who knew that each and every one of us is an Eagles Sports Booster? The Eagles Sports Boosters are organized as part of the Parent Organization to build a network of parent involvement to support the sports program at AIS. Our primary goals are to: • Encourage participation and build community involvement in sports • Provide support to our Athletic Department, our athletes and families at sporting events • Provide financial support to the Athletics Department, the athletes and coaches through our concessions operations, ticket sales and the proceeds from sports physicals. We achieve these goals by organizing parent volunteers around a variety of activities.Your sons and daughters give their free time enthusiastically to represent their sport and their school. This sportsmanship and commitment is a living example of the AIS mission in the greater community. It’s our challenge to follow their example! This year we embarked on a mission to build our concession business to serve our community delicious food products in both an indoor and outdoor venue. We are very thankful and fortunate to secure space with Sodexo in the SAC, and our cozy “blue shed” under the blacktop will continue to expand and change to better serve our student athletes and families. We are tremendously grateful to our administration for their willingness to support us in this new venture and we’d particularly like to thank Sodexo and the amazing staff at TMS. Without their help, we truly would not be able to function. But the heart and soul of the Boosters is our volunteer parent base who spend their evenings and weekends selling concessions, keeping score and working the clocks to help the games run smoothly. We thank all of those moms and dads who work behind the scenes to lift up their athletes and share our unique sense of community with athletes and families from neighboring schools Revenues generated from our concessions and other activities will continue to be used to fund needed extras for the Athletics Department and to support marketing and promotional initiatives aimed at building awareness and spirit around athletics. Perhaps you have seen the great blue tables outside in front of our concession stand? Have you seen the new banners and signage around the campus? Be on the lookout for buttons, magnets and other Eagle merchandise, and visit us on the basketball courts in January to get a glimpse of our newest donation: sideline chairs with the Eagles logo for our athletes and opponents in the new gym. So let’s fly with our Eagle Mascot and boogie with the Blue Man! The momentum is building. Who knew!! Go Eagles!
Eagle Athletics Report By Greg Albright, Athletics Director Eagle athletes excelled throughout the region and the state this fall. Leading the way was the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team. After seven seniors graduated last year, talk of a “rebuilding year” was in the air, but the girls tossed that notion aside quickly with a combination of youthful abandon and senior leadership and took the season by storm. The Lady Eagles defeated Westminster twice, the second time in the region semi-finals at Westminster. Reaching the area finals for the first time ever, they took The Walker School (ranked fifth in the state) to the edge, finally losing in the fifth set. With a second seed in the state tournament, they hosted Savannah Christian Prep in front of a spirited and large crowd of AIS fans. The game was also webcast live to viewers as far away as England. The team didn’t disappoint winning a thriller in five sets to move on to the “Sweet 16” round. They were defeated by No. 1 in the state, Blessed Trinity, ending the record-setting season. Both Alice Morrison and Helen Recaborde were named to the All-Area Team aligning them with the best players in the State. The JV girls’ volleyball team had a terrific season finishing 7-4 and took second place in the seventh annual AIS Volleyball Tournament. The Varsity Cross Country Team fielded a strong group of runners with the boys looking to return to the state meet again. But it was not to be as injuries put them out of the top four. The girls’ team is building for the future and will retain a strong core group going into next year. Middle School athletes continue their trend of stellar performances both as a team and individually. The Boys’ soccer team went undefeated into the final for a second year in a row but lost out to Galloway for a successful second place finish. Cross country continues to provide solid performances. Notably, Helen-Audrey Williams (grade 7) took first place in the region final. The newly formed Middle School Ultimate Frisbee Team delivered an excellent first season going 7-4 and reaching the quarterfinals in the region tournament. The Girls’ A and B Volleyball Teams delivered solid performances. The B team won their division tournament, which was hosted by AIS. 8
Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
Worldfest Celebrates AIS Diversity
UN Day Celebration
By Tim Cronin and Veronica Kirk, Worldfest 2011 Co-Chairs
Primary school students put on a spectacular show this fall as they paraded in costumes representing their countries at the annual UN Day Celebration. Grandparents and special friends turned out in numbers again this year to enjoy the event.
It was a picture perfect October day in Atlanta with sunny skies, temperatures in the mid 60s, and just the slightest wind. How fortunate, and relieved, we were to have this glorious day as the setting for Worldfest 2011. Regardless of the weather, however, Worldfest has always been a day, early in the school year, when we come together as a community and proudly share what AIS is all about with the rest of the world. And just what is Atlanta International School about? We are about diversity, and celebrating our diversity was clearly on display through the Taste of Nations. Where else in Atlanta could you get such a variety of delectable cuisines at such affordable prices? This delicious food was lovingly prepared by the parents in our community who have been cooking this way all their lives, having learned it from their mothers and grandmothers. Furthermore the food was served at tables that had been beautifully decorated with mementoes from “home.” We also showcased a variety of cultural crafts and a broad range of outstanding performances from around the world on three separate stages. At AIS, we are also about respect, which was evident in the way that all members of the community interacted with and supported each other in preparing for and executing Worldfest. It was indeed a pleasure to collaborate with all the parents, faculty and staff (with a special thank you to the maintenance staff) who participated in making Worldfest 2011 so successful. In the end though, truly the best part of the day, hands down, was watching our children enjoy it. How comfortable they are at the school and with one another! Many of them volunteered that day as well, and we’d like to thank them for their contributions to the success of the day. Ultimately this is what Atlanta International School is about: the children. Worldfest provided us with a wonderful opportunity to see them outside of the classroom volunteering at the craft stations, helping at the food tables, trying to dunk the heads of school or enjoying the food, the performances and the fun that took place under all the fluttering flags of the nations that make up this our global community. What a great day it was!
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter
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Mock Interview Day Prepares Class of 2012 for College Admission Process By Lori Jones, Upper School Counselor The Class of 2012 is deep in the admissions season sending college applications and essays to their favorite universities. It’s a selective process, and one part of that admissions process at some colleges includes a personal interview. Oftentimes, the college interview is something that makes a senior shake with anxiety, while other seniors look forward to sharing their stories with college admissions counselors and alumni interviewers. Back Row (left to right): Mike McCarthy, Andrew Jones, Kathy Forbes, Andrew Whitney, Reid Whichever the case, college interviews allow Mizell, Deb Sudbury, Chris Rutledge, Stewart Lathan, Eric Drummond, Carol Conchar. students to stand out on their online applications, Front Row (left to right): Mark Ferguson, Ellen Dotts, Emily Willingham, Ann Grable, Susie and give them an additional opportunity to Cogan, Kim Valeri, Charlotte Smith express why they could be a great fit for their chosen universities. The interviews also enable students to learn more about the universities they selected. On September 28, 2011, Atlanta International School’s Upper School Counseling Department hosted our third annual Mock Interview Day for our Grade 12 students. This is an annual event that we hold at AIS to prepare our seniors for the interviews that are a part of their college admission process. We teach them about good interviewing techniques and then put them through the rigors of a mock interview. Deb Sudbury, AIS Board Chair, prepped our seniors before the Mock Interview Day with tips and advice on how to make the most of their college interview experience. This year, we had 63 seniors request a mock interview, and these students had the opportunity to individually interview with one professional from our experienced panel of 18 interviewers. Our panel of interviewers came from our AIS and Atlanta community, and many serve as alumni interviewers for their university alma maters or as interviewers within their career fields or in the human resources industry. We were fortunate enough to have interviewers (alumni and professional) representing college admission and scholarship offices at places like George Washington University, Georgetown University and University of Virginia, as well as reputable international companies including CNN International, General Electric Company, Novelis, The Coca-Cola Company, and many from private companies and recruiting firms from where they bring years of human resource and interview experience to the panel. All of our seniors walked out of their interviews with a smile, a renewed confidence, and most importantly, advice on how they can improve their interviewing skills. With feedback on everything from the first impression, handshake, eye contact, and professional dress to depth and breadth of their responses to questions, to each student’s confidence and energy, the seniors learned so much about how they can best present themselves in a college interview. The students had many wonderful stories and talents to share, and the interviewers’ guidance will help them present themselves professionally and genuinely in their college interviews, which take place throughout the fall and spring of their senior year. When I asked one senior, Vanessa Topp, about how the Mock Interview Day helped her, she replied, “The feedback that I got was so helpful because it took away so much of the stress going into my first interview. The mock interview experience gave me a chance to practice and formulate my answers for the first time, so that when I was in my actual interview, I was prepared for those questions and had already received feedback on the content of my answers and how I could strengthen my presentation. In my first official college, I felt so comfortable and natural when speaking with the interviewers.” From the interviewer’s point of view, the professionals were able to see a unique side of AIS. Mrs. Susie Cogan, a business manager for Chatham International and a Trinity College and Phillips Exeter Academy alumni interviewer, shared, “It was great to see what AIS is about to graduate!” Ms. Smith, associate director of admission and financial aid at AIS and someone who holds years of experience from the university side through work with the Office of Admission at Stetson University and the College Access Center, remarked, “The Interview Day was great fun and it is always so nice to see our AIS kids in action. They shone brightly today!” I think what was most telling about the day is that the Mock Interview Day doesn’t just hope to prepare our graduating students for their college interviews, but as Mrs. Kathy Forbes, of an executive search firm, The Forbes Group, describes, “The Mock Interview Day is doing such a great job getting these students ready for life.” Best of luck to our Class of 2012 and their college process and a special thanks to our mock interviewers for the Class of 2012: Carol Conchar, Eric Drummond, Caroline Von Fluegge, Ellen Dotts, Mark Ferguson, Kathy Forbes, Stewart Lathan, Reid Mizell, Chris Rutledge, Charlotte Smith, Emily Willingham, Andrew Jones, Mike MCCarthy, Susie Cogan, Kim Valeri, Ann Grable, Deb Sudbury. 10 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
AIS Amigos Club Hosts First Hispanic Heritage Celebration
AIS Amigos Club Participates in Atlanta Community Day of the Dead Celebration
By Saily Eidizadeh, Amigos Club Co-Chair
By Saily Eidizadeh, Amigos Club Co-Chair
The United States celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month from mid September to mid October to acknowledge Hispanic culture and recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the country. At AIS, the celebration was held after school under the Black Top. The purpose of the event was to offer the AIS community the opportunity to enjoy a family afternoon that included artist presentations related to Latino music styles, hands-on activities for children, and food sampling. The event was opened by the musicians from the band of Moises Aguirre. They performed Andean music from Peru while the audience danced to their melodies. The Ballet Mexico Lindo, a community based dance group from Atlanta, took the stage next to dance. The group is dedicated to teaching and sharing the rich tradition of Mexican folkdance. The afternoon was closed by an interactive flamenco lesson by Rina Menosky who, along with her students, taught the audience basic dance moves. Our students were very engaged and happy to learn flamenco. The afternoon also included face painting, three piñatas, bingo, coloring and find-the- donkey’s-tail games, which are all very common in various countries of Hispanic heritage. Many parents provided generous contributions of food and time to make this celebration possible. The atmosphere was festive and relaxed, and everyone seemed to enjoy the afternoon.
The Amigos Club participated in the Day of the Dead celebration held at the Atlanta History Center on October 30, 2011 for the third consecutive year. This year, the club set up an altar in honor of the victims of 9/11. The display was designed by Jaquelinne Contreras, our grade two Spanish Assistant. The same display was transferred to the AIS campus in early November to give our community an opportunity to observe the altar.
Admissions Representatives from Colleges Take Note of AIS By Sandy Ferko, Head of Counseling Each year, more and more admissions representatives from fine colleges worldwide want to visit AIS and meet our students on their own turf. This year was no exception. In fact, we set a record for the number of requests we received from colleges. Schools all over the US, Canada, and the UK called to express interest in a visit. We were able to accommodate only about 60 of the requests, but counselors and students touched base with the others on September 12 when we attended the Lovett College Fair. For the first time this year, we received a call from University of California at Berkeley, with the representative beginning the conversation by complimenting not only the AIS alumni attending Berkeley, but the quality of all the applicants from AIS! At the fair, seniors were allowed to select which reps they wanted to meet since they already knew which schools were of interest to them. Eleventh graders chose a few schools to visit but were assigned others by their counselor so that they could learn about different types of schools. Their college search will begin in January with a College Kick-Off meeting where the guest speaker will be Chris Gruber, Director of Admissions at Davidson College. Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter
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Summer Project in Panamá Brings New Insights By Alan Preis, IT Co-ordinator
This summer, I was awarded a Travel, Study, and Research Grant to travel to Panamá City, Panamá, to do volunteer work with students at the Instituto Alfredo Cantón in Panamá City, Panamá. My colleague, Rigoberto Cárdenas, and I developed a program for middle school students to teach them skills and strategies for learning English using interactive websites, multimedia, role play, and literature discussions. The visit to Panamá would serve two purposes. First, I have been studying Spanish for a few years and wanted to immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking environment to practice and improve my conversational Spanish skills. Second, I wanted to share my experience and expertise with technology and language acquisition to help others. While I began with this single visit in mind, during the course of the visit, the project evolved into a potential partnership between the Instituto Cantón and Atlanta International School. While many of the students had computers at home, some did not, and not everyone had access to the Internet. Despite their relative lack of online access, the students were surprisingly tech-savvy; many had email accounts and some had social networking accounts. What struck me most about the students was their level of motivation for learning English. Their levels of English varied; one student had a fairly good level of English proficiency, while other students were only learning their first few words. However, all of the students were interested in English and were exceptionally motivated to improve. We designed a number of instructional activities to support language acquisition. We used websites such as BBC Learning English, BritishCouncil.org, TheYellowPencil.com, Daily ESL, ESL-Lab, and AgendaWeb.org to give students access to a variety of activities for reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and writing practice at a number of different levels of difficulty. Students viewed videos that prompted discussion on such topics as the environment, problem-solving, and overcoming challenges. We also designed activities away from the computer, such as role play and literature discussions to allow the students opportunities to practice their English skills face-to-face. I created a website that included links to all of the websites and other resources that we used, so that students can continue to use these resources next year and can share them with other students at the school. While I am not an ESOL teacher, my work at AIS has given me some experience in working with ESOL students. However, this project has provided deeper understanding into the role of the ESOL teacher in helping students to gain English proficiency. I enjoyed working in this role in Panamá, and this work has given me fresh insight into how I can further apply technology to better support ESOL learning at AIS. My initial intent for this project was simply to work with the school for the duration of the visit. As the project progressed, however, it became apparent that the project might serve a larger goal. Rigoberto and I spoke at length with the school’s director and with one of the teachers at the school, and it became apparent that they were interested in exploring the possibility of developing a longer-term partnership between their school and our school. We have since given considerable thought into how to expand the project in future years. Some of the ideas that we have considered include sending a group of students to Panamá to help students at the Instituto Cantón, bringing technology such as netbooks, laptops, and digital cameras to help better equip students at the school, and starting a virtual collaboration using wikis, Skype, or other online tools. I am very excited about this project, as what had started as a single summer project has the potential to evolve into a solid partnership between AIS and the Instituto Cantón that has the potential to benefit students at both schools. I feel that this trip has given me invaluable insight into the experiences of second language learners at AIS, both American students who are learning second or third languages, and students from other countries who are learning English through ESOL programs. I have gained a better understanding of what both groups of students are going through and the unique challenges that they face when learning in a language environment other than their native language. I feel certain that this experience will help me better support these learners in their instructional activities at AIS. I feel honored and fortunate to be a part of AIS, and I know that participating in this experience will allow me to further my contributions to the school and my participation in the school community. 12 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
Changing Lives by Eating Cake This year’s German Bake Sale raised more than $ 2,000 for Bethania orphanage in India. Thank you to all the” Bakers” and “Buyers” for making this result possible! Special thanks go to Emma Zigan in our Primary School, who helped with the organization of our little cake lovers, and to Nadine, Niklas and Marianne Robbiani for sacrificing their free time to help with the sales.
Primary School Chorus Performs for Governor
By Karen Peters, Primary School Faculty
The Primary School Chorus performed for the 2011 Fall Conference of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia on Thursday, November 10. Governor Nathan Deal was the keynote speaker for the opening session. The chorus performed “Festival Song” and “The Star Spangled Banner”. Afterwards, the Governor greeted the students and thanked them for their beautiful singing, which filled the atrium of the Omni Hotel at CNN Center.
AIS Teachers Join CASIE Project Zero Conference to Look, Look, and Look Again By Bobbi Kay, Associate Executive Director, CASIE How often do you have an opportunity to look at a work of art or analyze an issue for more than a few moments? How often do students and instructors take the time to engage in deep discourse on an issue, really examining all sides and turning it over in their minds? In our fast-paced world, these two ideas may seem like a luxury. However, at the recent Project Zero Educating for Today and Tomorrow Conference in Atlanta, attendees were encouraged to take a moment to look, look and look again and then transfer these practices to the classroom. Through its ongoing partnership with Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero, CASIE welcomed over 540 educators from over 20 countries to Atlanta. The first day of the conference took place at The Woodruff Arts Center, The High Museum of Art and Museum of Design Atlanta. The entire AIS faculty enjoyed a professional development day off-campus. More than 70 AIS faculty along with several AIS board members attended the remainder of the conference, which was held on the AIS campus. The AIS campus served as a great backdrop for critical conversations on Teaching for the Unknown, Ethics and Global Competency. CASIE is thrilled to have brought this unique opportunity to Atlanta and grateful to have AIS serve as a host. In addition to the many international attendees, 14 local Atlanta schools sent teams of teachers to participate in the experience. Visit CASIE’s website (www.casieonline.org) to find out more about the next Project Zero conference.
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter 13
AIS Spring Benefit 2012: Passport To The United States Of America
Music Department “Notes” By Dr. Ronald L. Howard, IBDP Music Coordinator and Director of Music Performance Programs, and Myrtil Mitanga, Grade 11 Student On October 11, the first of five Chamber Music Society recitals occurred in the AIS Auditorium. Several AIS students and faculty members presented a program of works from various historical eras. The second recital took place on November 21. A special highlight of this performance was a piano quartet of Beethoven, featuring violist Lizzy Sandlin (Grade 10).
With a little help from Dr. Seuss and his book,‘Oh the PlacesYou’ll Go!” this year’s Spring Benefit Chair Anita Leopold gives the AIS community a sneak preview of our signature fundraising event. Oh the Places We Will Go From rafting in the Canyon to dancing with the stars To chillin’ in the Keys or protesting politics in DC From seeing Russia from Alaska or skiing in Vail Two steppin’ in Texas and jazzin’ in New Orleans Passport to US has places you will want to see! Oh the Food We Will Eat From American Cuisine to Soulfood in the South To Asian Fusion in San Fran and Pizza in Chicago Everything in New York or “Still living” and organic in LA And that Finger-lickin’ barbeque in Memphis, Tennessee Passport to US - culinary variations that are endless Oh the Music We Will Hear From jazz to rap or rock and roll Southern gospel to move the soul Country for ex-lovers and alternative for the creative, Disco and Michael - one of our greatest What ever your mood, just put your groove on As we will be dancin’ in the streets! Oh the People You Will Meet From America or not, the differences is what created the Melting Pot, So, spread the word to your friends Passport to US – it will be fun and cool And raise money for our school! Please join us Saturday, April 21, 2012 for the Spring Benefit. If you would like to volunteer or donate an item, please contact Anita Leopold at anita_l@bellsouth.net or Darcie Adler at darcie@darcieadler.com. 14 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
The combined Primary School, Middle School and Upper School areas of the Department of Music presented various performing ensembles over a three-day period in December. Under the leadership of choral instructor Greg Hucks, the Madrigal Dinner Feast was resurrected this year on the evening of Saturday, December 10, in the AIS Auditorium. On the evening of Monday, December 12, the Primary School Chorus, under the direction of Karen Peters, along with the Middle School String Ensemble (led by Stefanie Tessler), the Middle School Chorus (under Greg Hucks) and the Intermediate Symphonic Band (conducted by Ron Howard) performed a “Sounds of the Season” concert program in the AIS Auditorium. The event was free and open to the public. Recent Student Honors Myrtil Mitanga, Grade 11, won a coveted position with the 2011-2012 Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra through intensely competitive auditions recently held on the Woodruff Arts Center campus. The AYSO, a branch of the Atlanta Symphony, has 125 performers in middle and high school grades. The ensemble is conducted by Jere Flint, an ASO cellist, and presents several concerts throughout the year at Symphony Hall. This is Myrtil’s fourth year as a member of the AYSO. Myrtil also recently passed through a successful competitive audition for the first round of the Sphinx Competition in the Junior Division. Lastly, Myrtil had the honor of performing on the opening plenary of the recent Harvard University Project Zero conference, hosted on the campuses of AIS and the Woodruff Arts Center. Keanu Mitanga, Grade 10, also was successful in a competitive audition at summer’s end, winning a position as violinist with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra. Keanu and Myrtil, also in November, continued their accomplishments by serving as section leaders of the first AYSO concert of the year, wherein Keanu served as principal second violin and Myrtil appeared as principal cello. Last spring, the brother-sister team also served as principals in their respective sections in the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State 9-10 Orchestra. Anneliese Hermann, Grade 12, is returning for her second year with a flute position in the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, an organization affiliated with Kennesaw State University.
Legacy Scholarship Sends AIS Senior to the Heart of the Peruvian Rainforest By Cedric Parages, Grade 12 Student One of the most thoughtful senior gifts funded by the senior class of 2010 to benefit the Upper School has been the Legacy Scholarship. The Legacy Scholarship enables one junior student every year to take part in any educational, volunteer or internship program anywhere around the world he or she chooses over the summer before his or her senior year. To apply, students must first find the program they desire, then submit information and details on the programs along with teacher recommendations, transcripts of their grades and essays describing why they consider the program important or beneficiary to them. The Legacy Scholarship enabled me to volunteer at the Tericaya Consevation and Research Centre at the heart of the Peruvian Rainforest, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I can say with complete certainty that I will not ever forget. There were about 35 volunteers living on the at the conservation center during my two-week stay, most of them European and between the ages of 17 and 25. Due to the age group, all volunteers had to take care of themselves within their own time: washing our clothes in the river, cleaning our dishes, cooking our food and taking care of our cabin along with our roommates. There was no telephone service or Internet, and electricity was only turned on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., after which we would light dozens of candles wherever the volunteers socialized. On the weekends, volunteers frequently took a boat up the river to a town named Puerto Maldonado, where we visited various tourist sites and stayed in a hostel together. On the first weekend, a group of volunteers and I rented mopeds, went driving on the road to Cuzco, and ended up with fantastic views on top of the first mountain. The facilities we used for our projects included a conservation zoo, where we kept endangered and previously malnourished animals healthy and well-fed until their release, an animal hospital, three canopy platforms high up in the trees where we would go bird watching, and the pilot farm, where we grew crops as an educational project funded by the Peruvian government to teach villagers and farmers how to sustain a piece of land instead of cutting down more rainforest as they frequently use up fertile soil completely. Our volunteer activities were split up into two categories. The first was manual labor, such as repairing and maintaining all of the facilities we used carrying supplies around the conservation center such as logs of wood, working on the pilot farm planting and cutting crops, going to neighboring conservation centers inhabited by locals to cut down fruits and plants to feed our animals, and building new cages for new animals that were being brought in. The second category was animal conservation and taxonomy projects, where we would perform population size experiments by catching birds, bats, tarantulas, butterflies and turtles, recording information on the species caught and then releasing them. The times of the activities varied completely as, for instance, bird watching on the canopy platforms started at 5 a.m. whereas bat catching went on from 9 p.m. to midnight. One of the most important animal conservation projects, however, was the turtle project. The conservation and research center is named after the Tericaya Turtle, an endangered native species to the Madre de Dios River, which is becoming scarcer every year due to the consumption and illegal sale of their eggs. The conservation center managed to acquire property rights of certain beaches on the Madre de Dios River, and we would sleep overnight on these beaches, follow turtle footprints during the night to dig out their eggs, and bring them back to the conservation center in the morning. We kept them until they hatched after which we released the turtles back safely into the river. This experience has made a huge impact on my life and the way I treat both people and wildlife. It has made such an impact that I am dedicated to major in the Environmental Sciences in college. I hope to one day become a field researcher and conservation scientist so that I may work on various conservation centers around the world to make a change in our fragile and fractured global ecosystem. All Environmental Studies majors also include economic and political science courses, and I hope to be able to apply their teachings with legal and pragmatic solutions to the world’s various environmental issues.
AIS Student to Head THIMUN 2012 Disarmament Committee By Sandy Ferko, Head of Counseling Grade 12 student, Kienan O’Brien, was named president of the Disarmament Committee for the 2012 The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), which will be held in January 2012. The position places O’Brien in charge of the functioning of two disarmament subcommissions and six assistant presidents. He will preside over the plenary sessions and supervise the functioning of the two sub-commissions, each of which has four different issues to consider. Final recommendations are then forwarded to the United Nations in New York. More than 3,800 students from all over the world attend THIMUN, the world’s largest and most prestigious Model. The THIMUN program was started at AIS by William Bennett, who passed away recently. Students attending the 2012 THIMUN will be chaperoned by Darren Rollins and Sandy Ferko. Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter 15
AIS Makes a Lasting Impression on Exchange Student from China By Wu Xiao, Grade 10 Exchange Student from Shanghai High School, China This September, I and several other Chinese students spent a week as exchange students at Atlanta International School. Although I had already been to America once, the stay in Atlanta and the real experience of studying in an American high school was still new to me. I am thankful to my buddy, Liam, who kindly let me stay at his home for four days, and whose family enabled me to experience American life. Still, more importantly, I learned a lot from the school and its curriculum and, to me, the novelty of the type of education and the capabilities of students, compared to those in China, were amazing. During my four-day stay and classes in AIS, I benefited a lot from the students at AIS and gradually perceived that the school’s outstanding focus on internationalism had a part to play in the development of the students’ abilities. America had long been familiar with me for its diverse culture, and Atlanta, as a southern American city with a lot of immigrants, was even more so. AIS, an international school as its name showed, would undoubtedly mean internationalism. In fact, I was quite surprised on the first day of my stay in the school, when I wondered why there were so many students looking different from one another, and was amazed when Liam told me that there were students from more than ninety countries in the school. And the fact that students could pick so many foreign languages to learn quite stunned me as well, for that was unimaginable, in my opinion, in China. Actually, my advisory was held by a Spanish teacher. Would learning languages be a burden for the students, as English is already so universally used? But soon I saw the answer. By learning other languages, students’ understanding and acceptance of other cultures was promoted. Actually, from my survey, students talked much about cultural diversity and understanding, and a majority of them enjoyed learning foreign languages. This acceptance, together with sports and other activities, promoted team spirit among students, too. That was felt when I was taking the P.E. lessons and played volleyball with tenth grade students. They seldom blamed their teammates for errors and cooperated excellently. Furthermore, the outstanding acceptance and understanding of the students also allowed them to have more individuality. During one of the English classes I attended, the teacher introduced to the students the movie Dead Poets Society, which discussed freedom and selfexpression, which are so highly valued by the students. In the music class I attended, students did presentations about popular music, and the musicians they picked were also not conventional but were original. In an environment of high-acceptance, AIS students had fewer limits to express themselves and be who they were, and their innovative thoughts inspired me a lot. As a result, students at AIS have many precious abilities that I had rarely seen before. Except for the international perspective of view, the team spirit and the originality mentioned above, they also were capable of, for example, conducting research and doing projects, although relatively not very hard, on their own. They did projects as part of their homework, while in China students only did so on rare occasions. What’s more, I was greatly impressed by the leadership the American students showed when I learned that the bowling and the lunch at Merry Macs were organized completely by students. In summary, I was greatly inspired by the form of education in America and especially at AIS as well as the students at AIS, and this experience truly broadened my horizons.
AIS Hosts Speaker on U.S. and Cuban Relations By Courtney Fowler, Globetrotter Editor AIS hosted a luncheon in October featuring keynote speaker Peter M. Brennan, U.S. Department of State Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. Brennan, a Senior Foreign Service Officer who has served as Acting Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, was named as Coordinator for Cuban Affairs in August 2010. He has also held Foreign Service positions in Costa Rica, Uruguay, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Barbados. In Washington, he served as U.S. Information Agency liaison to the Treasury Department, Special Assistant to the Counselor of USIA and Executive Assistant to the Associate Director of Policy and Programs. Brennan visited AIS to speak to Secondary School students and members of the international community about the current state of U.S./Cuban relations. 16 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
Pictured, left to right: Dr. Cedric Suzman, Word Affairs Council EVP; Peter Brennan; Kevin Glass; Charlie Bedford, City of Atlanta Advisory Committee on International Relations; Dr. Wayne Lord, World Affairs Council President
Reflection on Beauty and the Beast By Laetitia Butler, Grade 12 Student (“Mrs. Potts”)
“Coming through!” I proclaimed, as I scurried through the narrow door pushing my teacup son in a magician-style cart with one hand.You see, the other hand was trapped in a cast-like spout arm, as part of my experience as Mrs. Potts in Atlanta International School’s recent high school production of Beauty and the Beast. The musical had a successful run of four shows, but our performances are only glimpses of the journey the ensemble goes on together. Working on this show was different than past plays in many ways; the characters, the costumes, the musicians and even the many young members of our audience that were excited to attend their first play. Although we had to adapt certain aspects to fit the conventions of the story, our spirit as a team remained committed, and the expectations we had of ourselves were higher than ever. Rehearsals spanned from the day after the cast list was posted to the moment before our first step on stage. Before starting any rehearsal, we “leave all baggage at the door,” both physically and mentally, as our director says. The moment we step into the theatre our minds become focused on how we will achieve our characters’ purpose, convince the audience to lean in closer and enjoy ourselves at the same time. These rehearsals are what I consider to be the heart of the show; it is our time to experiment, learn and practice. They are what connect us as an ensemble, and help us become a strong unified force. We understand how we must work with each other, as theatre is very much a group experience; actors must be able to anticipate and adapt to any potential situation. Working on this show has proven to be an unparalleled learning experience for me as a young theatre artist. Not only do we refine our acting and singing skills, but we also enhance our communication skills, our ability to think on our feet and most importantly, our ability to think independently and tell a story with our imaginations. Being a member of the theatre department for the past five years has helped me develop a passion and interest for the wide-reaching applications of theatre, and has helped me become a balanced, engaged member of the local and international community. Playing an Evil Character “Participating in this show and working with such a great ensemble has really been a privilege for me. Out of the shows I have done at AIS, never before have I had the experience of being yelled at by my director to ‘Be more sexy!’ This also was the first time I played an evil character, which led to a very interesting and hilarious rehearsal process; I don’t think I’ll ever get the smile just right.”
Josh Cohen, Grade 12 Student (“Gaston”)
Working Together “Being a junior this year, it was difficult to now be the one who influenced instead of the one who gets influenced. Walking in the shoes of last year’s senior class was not an easy job, but we went through it as an ensemble. With the hard working group of actors we had this year, it was an enjoyable experience I will always remember.”
Ivanna Martinez-Gonzalez, Grade 11 Student (“Babette”)
AIS Team Takes Part in Community Fitness Event AIS faculty and staff joined metro-Atlanta runners in early September for a day of fitness and fun. The Kaiser-Permanente Corporate Challenge Fun Run/Walk, which aims to promote health and fitness among Atlanta companies and their employees, included an AIS team of 35 runners. Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter 17
Art Show Features Works by AIS Teachers and Staff By Urmilla Sethuraman, Secondary School Faculty AIS held its second annual faculty art show in September to showcase many works of art by our faculty and staff from both the Primary and Secondary schools. The artwork exhibited included acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings, charcoal drawings, computer graphic art, mixed media, photography, pottery, and a handmade quilt. This event allows our students to see the hidden talents of some of our faculty and staff. We hope to see more entries next year. Participating artists for this year wereVeronica McDaniel, Marie-Laurence de Potesta, Frédérique McGirt, Marie Luce Van Astern, Elke Putzek-Holzapfel, Dennis Panzer, Urmilla Sethuraman, Gioconda Secchi, Skip Roby, Lisette Barton, Catalina Ghercioiu, Erika Hibbert, Jean Millkey,Yanaelle Cornez, Tracy Smith, and Francoise Monier.
Happy Birthday Miss Liberty! By Frédérique McGirt, Primary School Faculty The Statue of Liberty was 125 years old on October 28, 2011, and the French immersion class, which includes third and fourth grade students, created an exceptional gift for the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Madame La Liberture, a mix of liberty and nature, is a scarecrow made out of recycling items that came out of the imaginations of our students and the artistic guidance of Madame MarieLaurence De Potesta. In the immersion class, we also studied how the real statue was created and how many passionate people helped the project to become a reality. We talked about Edouard Laboulaye and Auguste Bartholdi who were dining together and had this amazing idea of a gift in 1865. They wanted to celebrate the centennial of America’s independence by offering a gift from the people of France to the people of America: a statue representing freedom. Of course, the statue had to be gigantic and needed a strong structure to stay in place at the entrance of New York City harbor. In 1883, Gustave Eiffel was found to be the man who could build that structure! The big problem was the pedestal. We learned that the French took care of the building of the statue and the shipping of 214 crates, but the Americans needed to raise money to build the pedestal. Many people were against that idea. A gala auction was organized to raise money for Liberty’s pedestal. Famous artists donated paintings, and the Poet Emma Lazarus accepted the honor to write a poem that started with: Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… The poem won the contest, and money was given towards the pedestal. Today, you can read the whole poem engraved on the pedestal. In addition, Joseph Pulitzer, director of the New York newspaper, “The World,” organized a major fundraising initiative asking all its readers to donate money for the pedestal. On October 28, 1886, the statue was inaugurated on Bedloe Island (Liberty Island) by the French and the American people. As you can see, our gift for the Atlanta Botanical Garden has revealed various inquiries for our students this year. We also thank our transportation crew who made every effort to have Madame La Liberture arriving in one piece at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 18 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011
Students Kaia Klenberg, Annie and Tom McLaughlin, Emily Husken and Reagan Mahoney with Madame La Liberture.
The German Christmas Market Ushers in the Holiday Season
AIS Music Department Presents a Holiday Madrigal Feast
By Stefani Glass, German Christmas Market Chair, with contributions from AIS students, Molly Grace Clark, Victoria Dent, Uni Valdivieso Wooldridge, Robert Joseph (all Grade 4S), Anna Mayr, Lena Mayr (both Grade 7), Claire Adair, Felipa Schmidt (both Grade 10), Emily Cohen (Grade 11) When I nonchalantly agreed to chair the Christmas Market back in March this year, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Luckily a group of volunteers was quickly assembled, mostly “veterans” who had extensive experience in running their areas of responsibility of the market. At our one and only group meeting in September, we decided to think big, keep all the traditional favorites and add some new ideas, and this was the result: The event included a record of 42 vendors and activities, including 10 booths run by AIS Deutsch Connection, amongst them the good old bratwurst and hot Christmas cider stalls along with the ever-so-popular “craft your own candle” stand. Along the lines “neue Eltern bringen neue Ideen” (new parents bring new ideas) we added a hot soup stand that almost sold out of all the delicious Berliner Kartoffelsuppe (Berlin potato soup). An on-site demonstration of how to make caramelized almonds enhanced the traditionally very successful bake sale stand and sent a lovely scent across the Blacktop. A beautifully decorated German store with a myriad of tasteful holiday gifts drew a large crowd, and all the happy shoppers found a place to sit and savor the culinary treats under our newly added large tent. Christkindl found herself accompanied by St. Nikolaus this year at our photo booth--and of course we had a string of talented musicians and singers that helped to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere. Visitors focused on the culinary: Vor dem Bratwurststand bildete sich wie immer die laengste Schlange.(“As usual, the sausage stand had the longest queue.”) “The food was magnificent.” “They had soups, sausages and hot Christmas apple cider. There was also hot chocolate and huge waffles...” disfrutamos de la comida deliciosa - especialmente los pasteles únicos. (“We enjoyed the delicious food, most of all the wonderful cookies.”) Or, they focused on the entertainment, as spectators or performers: Habian coros de otros escuelas que cantaban (“There were choirs from other schools that sang.”)... cada año yo canto en el Christmas Market.Yo canto en español y muchos de mis amgios cantan ahi (“Each year, I sing at the Christmas Market. I sing in Spanish and many of my friends sing there.”)... tenia un lugar donde los chicos podian colorar y ver una pelicula para que los padres pudieran caminar hasta las tiendas (There was a place where the kids could color and watch a movie so that their parents could go shopping.”) Or, they commented on the different vendors: Auch viele AIS Schueler haben tolle Beitraege geleistet wie zum Beispiel die Toepferwaren einer CAS Gruppe fuer Kinder in Afrika oder Schmuck der zugunsten missbrauchter Kinder in Guatemala verkauft wurde (“There were also some great contributions by AIS students, for example the CAS group that sold pottery to help children in Africa or the jewelry that was sold to help children that had suffered from abuse in Guatemala.”) One visitor commented, “I really like the fact that different people came together to celebrate a German tradition.” And we couldn’t have wished for better weather, more visitors or a better atmosphere!
For the first time, the Christmas Market included a festival of trees lovingly decorated by the AIS community.
By Leila Varzi and Olivia Lodise (Grade 11 Students) On December 10, 2011, the AIS auditorium was transformed into a grand castle hall as guests were taken back to the year 1611 to witness an exciting Madrigal Feast. A modern re-creation of the Renaissance feasts held throughout England during the twelve days of Christmas, Madrigal Feasts feature music and a meal served in courses, each heralded by fanfares and songs. The feast was truly a special occasion that certainly united, or rather uknighted, the AIS community. Guests were honored by the presence of King Kevin and Queen Stefani Glass, Prince Patrick and Princess Karen Hurworth, and Princess Jennifer Weyburn. As the evening progressed, a few guests were knighted and a few were sentenced to the stocks, but first and foremost, all indulged in their meals while enjoying the heraldry and pageantry. The affable court-jester, Mr. Robert Shaw-Smith, filled the night with warmth and laughter as the Upper School Mixed Chorale filled cups with wassail. The concert portion of the event began with the Primary School Choir followed by the Upper School Instrumental Ensembles, the Men’s Chorale, and the esteemed Upper School Chamber Chorale. Interspersed among the musical repertoire were particularly sarcastic and lighthearted songs that certainly ignited laughter in the audience. The feast never failed to stay true to the time period, as was proved by the boar’s head and flaming pudding that were ceremoniously brought before the king. As the event came to a close, all members of the Upper School Music Program joined in song, with compositions by Purcell and Frescobaldi and traditional Christmas pieces as well as a Jewish piece called, “Hanukah Madrigal.” King Kevin concluded the dinner with a few noble words that brought everyone back to the present day, and the evening closed with the familiar grand finale of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Atlanta International School Newsletter • Fall/Winter 2011 • Globetrotter 19
Fall/Winter Highlights 2011
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 worldwide 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.
United Nations and Grandparents and Special Friends Day
“Beauty and the Beast” Upper School Production
AIS Non-Discrimination Policy 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.
Globetrotter
Madrigal Feast
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
German Christmas Market
Amigos Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Worldfest