2008 Winter Globetrotter

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter 1

Teacher Perspectives on the New Art, Science and Design (ASD) Center

As fundraising for the new Art, Science and Design Center continues so that the school can meet its $16 million goal, the AIS community looks forward to a sophisticated new facility that will transform student learning. We asked three faculty members, Jennifer Pendergast, Alan Preis and Tom Dindorf, to share their views on how students will benefit from the ASD.

Art - “Daylight will be a big advantage for art students. Right now, we’re working under fluorescent lights because we have very little daylight in our current art room. Abundant natural light will give students a clear sense of color. Space will be another significant advantage. For example, during still life or modeling classes, a spacious room will give stu-dents a real perspective…” See page 2 for more.

Science - “Currently, we have to teach one of our classes from a regular classroom because we don’t have enough labs. The new building will enable us to teach all our science classes from fully equipped laboratories. Because of the additional space in each room, students will have the opportunity to vary their experiments and use more sophisticated equipment. The current space constraints mean that experiments are limited to the equipment that can fit on the tables…” See page 2 for more.

Design Technology - “This will be the first time that AIS will have a purpose-built teach-ing space for design technology. Although design technology has become popular with AIS students, our current facilities have severely limited what our students can accomplish. With the new building, we will have one purpose-built space that can accommodate all three strands of MYP technology: materials, information, and systems…” See page 2 for more.

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Atlanta International School (AIS) offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) to all its students from four-year-old kinder-garten through grade 12. By delivering a rigorous academic program combined with world-class standards in language acquis-tion 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.

In This Issue

2 Teacher Perspectives on ASD Center4 Kim John Payne Visit7 Sports Report10 Music Department “Notes”16 Primary School News

GlobetrotterThe Newsletter of Atlanta International School

December 2008

NewsNouvellesNoticiasNachrichten

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 20082

Teacher Perspectives on the New Art, Science & Design (ASD) CenterAs fundraising for the new Art, Science and Design Center continues so that the school can meet its $16 million goal, the AIS community looks forward to a sophisticated new facility that will transform student learning. We asked three teachers to share their views on how students will benefit from the ASD.

Art - “Daylight will be a big advantage for art students. Right now, we’re working under fluo-rescent lights because we have very little daylight in our current art room. Abundant natural light will give students a clear sense of color. Space will be another significant advantage. For example, during still life or modeling classes, a spacious room will give students a real perspec-tive. It also means that we will have a true art space when we work on large sculptures, and the fact that we will also have an outdoor area will provide the ventilation we need to be able to use different media, such as welding, and materials that we are not able to use indoors. The loft space with the sliding separators will enable us to combine classes easily so that students from different classes can collaborate and learn from each other. Another great feature will be the gallery space, which will allow us to display more student work than our current facilities allow.” Jennifer Pendergast, Secondary School Faculty Member, IB Art

Science - “Currently, we have to teach one of our classes from a regular classroom because we don’t have enough labs. The new building will enable us to teach all our science classes from fully equipped laboratories. Because of the additional space in each room, students will have the opportunity to vary their experiments and use more sophisticated equipment. The cur-rent space constraints mean that experiments are limited to the equipment that can fit on the tables. Also, because they don’t have enough room, students currently conduct experiments in groups. In future, they will be able to conduct experiments individually.

The increased space will also mean better storage for our furniture and equipment. Each lab will be able to have its own full complement of equipment, and teachers will be able to dem-onstrate at a moment’s notice rather than haing to search for equipment in cramped storage space, which is time consuming and cuts down on valuable teaching time. By having purpose-built storage space, equipment will be easier to manage, and the onus will be on students to clean and pack up their equipment. This will also teach students to be responsible for the upkeep of their labs.

In the new building, the office will be shared by the art, science and design technology teachers whose rooms will be close to each other. This will enable us to share ideas ad hoc as well as give us easy access to each other’s equipment so for example, if I am teaching an optics class, I can demonstrate in the art room a floor above.

Other important advantages include a greenhouse on the same floor as the three biology labs, a full-size prep room for chemistry, and a mini lab for individual project work so that work in progress can be left undisturbed. Tom Dindorf, Secondary School Faculty Member, Science

Design Technology - “This will be the first time that AIS will have a purpose-built teach-ing space for design technology. Although design technology has become popular with AIS students, our current facilities have severely limited what our students can accomplish. With the new building, we will have one purpose-built space that can accommodate all three strands of MYP technology: materials, information, and systems. Teaching all three strands from one room has been challenging. The new building will provide dedicated space for each strand and facilitate interaction between them. We will have a machine shop and a design lab for materials work, and a media lab for information technology. Students will be working in all three areas and observing the linkages between the subject areas. In addition, the space will facilitate inter-disciplinary work to enable students to make genuine connections between design technology and the work that they are doing in art, science, and other subjects.

The new space offers exciting benefits for our extracurricular offerings as well. Currently, design technology shares a single space with iHOT Robotics. Other programs, such as Lego Robotics, need to be held in separate spaces due to the lack of proper working space. The new building will mean that students will have dedicated space for their activities and access to the tools that they need, such as a full range of power tools, CAD software, and proper working space to construct their robots. We are currently ‘making do’ with the facilities we have, but the new building will allow us to better support these extracurricular programs.” Alan Preis, Secondary School Faculty Member, Design Technology

Going Home for the Holidays? Find a Spring Benefit Auction ItemBy Elizabeth Dobbs, 2009 Spring Benefit Chair

As you travel to your fa-vorite destination for the holidays, consider bringing back something of value that is native to the country or region you are visiting or making your private vaca-tion home available as an auction item for the 2009 Spring Benefit: Passport to Africa, Discovery of a Con-tinent. Wine, culinary items, artisan crafts and items for the home make ideal auc-tion donations or gifts for the parent basket for your grade. Or you may ask your hotel, restaurant or other frequently visited spot to make a donation on your behalf.

The success of the Spring Benefit auction, renowned for its travel and cultural items, depends on the generosity of our families. World-class auction items, including use of private homes, airline tickets or frequent flyer miles are needed to help the make the auction a great success. Distinctive experiences such as tickets to major sport-ing events, television shows, cultural arts events and spe-cial events for kids are also requested.

To donate an auction item, download the PDF ver-sion of the auction donor form at www.aischool.org/springbenefit; Or, contact Jay Denslow, Special Events Manager, in the Develop-ment Office at (404) 841-3841 [email protected].


Remember to Support the AIS Annual Fund

As 2008 comes to a close, please remember to include the Annual Fund in your plans for support.

We ask that every family participate in Annual Giving programs to show support for AIS. Individuals who donate at a 1984 Club mem-bership level before January 31 will receive tickets to the Spring Benefit! For details, please call the Development Office at 404-841-3869 or visit the “Support AIS” pages on the AIS website.

Make Your Wish List with Spring Benefit Auction Items By Lynn-Anne Huck, 2009 Spring Benefit Chair-Elect

Spring Benefit auction items will be at the top of your wish list thanks to our generous auction donors to date:

• TheFourSeasonsHotelAtlantahasdonateddinnerfortwoinPark75• BTBFitnessisofferingtwofour-weekBootCampSessionsandtwoone-monthgymmemberships• NotreDameWeekend:EnjoythefightingIrishfootballteam’shomeopenervs.Nevadaon September5,2009.Packageincludessixticketstothegameandathreebedroomhome¾of amilefromthestadium,filledwithNotreDamememorabilia• InternforaDaywithMayorShirleyFranklinandColleagues• VacationforaweekatanapartmentinaromantictowerinSorrento,Italypluslunchordinner withaprivatetourofthebotanicalgardensatthehistoricVillaTritone• InternforaDayatWXIA-TVinTVControlandTapeManagement• InternforaDayinCriminalCourt• VacationforaweekinalovelywoodenchaletinfullWesterndécoroverlookingtheTeton Mountain range and up top on the city of Jackson Hole• TheHighMuseumofArthasdonatedafamilymembership• YouCanRunway,butYouCan’tHide!Wehavesecuredtwoticketstoafabulousworld-famous designer’sfashionshowatnextSeptember’sNYCFashionWeek• TouraDeltaAirLinesflightsimulatorfortwohours• Toulouserestaurantisofferingawinetastingfortwo• SpendanafternoonwithClarkHowardashefilmshisTVshowandbroadcastshisradioshow to millions of listeners nationwide• Enjoyatwo-nightstayatAmerica’sfirstCottageTownamidst450acresofnaturalbeauty on Lookout Mountain, sleeps a family of six comfortably

Auction items will be for sale at the 2009 Spring Benefit: Passport to Africa, Discovery of a Continent on April 1, 2 and 4, 2009 at AIS. Tickets are $200 each and will go on sale February 1. Select levels of The 1984 Club membership include tickets to the Benefit, so make your contribution to the 2008-09 Annual Fund by January 31 to join The 1984 Club and receive Benefit tickets. You can also support the Benefit by volunteering, becoming a sponsor and/or donating an auction item. For additional information, contact Jay Denslow, Special Events Manager, in the Development Office at 404.841.3841 or email [email protected]., or visit the event website at www.aischool.org/springbenefit.

Asian Cultural Club Presents Lunar New Year Celebration ByXiaxingWeng,AISParentandVolunteer

TheLunarNewYearcelebration2009willtakeplaceinthe auditoriumat3:30p.m.onJanuary30,2009.TheLunarNewYeariscelebratedbyChinese,Koreans,Vietnamese,Mongolians,Nepal-ese, and Bhutanese and in many East Asian countries with significant Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philip-pines, and Thailand. This year’s program will feature the popular Lion Dance, fashion show, Tai Chi demonstration, Laotian dance, Mingle Chinese Academy chorus, skits from the Mandarin program students andmore.Pleasemarkyourcalendarandjoinusforthecelebration!

Please contact the AIS Asian Cultural Club [email protected] if you wish to receive information about upcoming events


“Learning to Look” Focuses on AIS Artists By Joyce O’Brien, Primary School Faculty Member

The“LearningtoLook”programhasbeenrestructuredandwillbegininDecember.Thisprogramoriginatedinthe2007/2008school year in an effort to connect the visual arts community and Atlanta International School. Last year, the focus was on a variety of artists that had work exhibited in local galleries. The program this year will feature artists within our own Atlanta International School community. On a monthly rotation from December through May in the SAC, there will be a new exhibition in place. If you oramemberofyourfamilywouldliketoexhibitapieceofyourwork,thisisyouropportunity!Theworkneedstobereadytoexhibit (framed, mounted etc…) and include short biography. The artwork can be of any media or style -- drawings, paintings, pho-tographs or sculpture. It does, however, need to be appropriate for viewing by our entire school community audience. This is a great opportunity to share your art and receive recognition. The submitted artwork will be viewed by members of the arts program prior to selection for exhibition. If interested please contact Joyce O’Brien via email at [email protected]. after the presentation when upper school students posed their insightful questions and demonstrated their skill at confidently par-ticipating in discussions on issues of global significance.

In an ever competitive marketplace, AIS is uniquely preparing students to become leaders in the challenging, interconnected new world that Friedman so aptly describes in his recent works. Friedman’s presentation at Atlanta International School was one of the author’s first appearances since the release of his new book.

Kim John Payne Visit Opens Dialogue About Social Inclusion By Marsha Huitt, Head of Middle School

OnNovember17and18,AIShadtheopportunitytohostMr.KimJohnPayne,anAustralianwhohasfor24yearsworkedasa counselor,adulteducator,consultant/researcherandeducator.HehasresearchedandimplementedaSocialInclusionApproachinmany communities, which helps children and parents learn better skills for dealing with difficulties in social relationships. During his visit, Mr. Payne was able to meet with parents, students, administrators, and faculty members and relate his work to our AIS Community Principles.

According to Mr. Payne, we increasingly define ourselves through relationships, and conflict is a natural part of this process. This is particularly important for our students because social relationships inform school for children. Although we may be uncomfort-able when our children encounter conflict, it is important to recognize that conflict is necessary for them to learn how to deal with relationships. Therefore, it becomes necessary for the adults in the community to give children the tools they need to learn how to manage conflict, rather than trying to eliminate it.

Mr. Payne spoke with all constituencies about the common but destructive practice of “put downs” and suggested a three-week “put down free diet”. He challenged the adults in our community to look to themselves before looking to the children for changes. During the first week of the “diet,” he suggests becoming conscious of our own propensity for put downs. In the second week, have the cour-age to reframe put downs, i.e. “what I meant to say was.” The third week is one of introspection and asking ourselves, “Where did that come from?” and thinking about the reason for the put down. This “diet” puts us in good shape not to put down or blame our children but to open a dialogue about what is happening. In his conversations with students, Mr. Payne was impressed with their eagerness to discuss put downs and their negative power. An activity he used with the middle school students involved completing the statement, “You step over the line with a friend when you …,” which seemed to be very relevant to their experiences. In addition, several upper school students assisted Mr. Payne in his presentation to the Middle School, relating some of their own experiences. This mentoring was well received and students were not ready to leave their time was up.

When Kim met with the senior management team, he related how impressed he was with the conversations in the community and stated that as a community, we are much further along in internalizing our Community Principles than we realize. He was especially impressed with the conversations he had with students and how passionate they are about the principles of social inclusion. He made a number of suggestions for following up on these discussions, and each group came away with concrete ideas for embedding our Community Principles more into our daily lives. He certainly gave us all much food for thought and generated many ongoing conversations about how we can be more accountable to each other without blame.


Baking for Bethania By Christiane Box, Secondary School Faculty Member andRanaElNahas,AISStudent

This past October was a great success for Bethania thanks to everyone who contrib-uted time and effort for the German Bake Sale. Special thanks go out to all those who baked delicious cakes and cookies for Bethania. We must not forget all the background preparation that usually goes unnoticed, so we would also like to thank all the volunteers who sold the treats all day, especially our primary school teachers whosupportedthiseffort!The$1600plusraisednowmakesitpossibleforustobuy two cows for the orphanage, so that the children may have access to fresh milk, and add some money to the educational funds of the school. All this would not have been possible without the continuous support of Bethania Orphanage from the AIS community.

The bake sale was only an introduction to Bethania’s upcoming events which includetheannualfundraiser.ThefundraiserhasbeenmovedtoApril25,2009,so that all of our supporters have an opportunity to attend this event, which will feature great food and entertainment. So mark it down on your calendars and we look forward to seeing you all at what will surely be an unforgettable night.

First In Math at AIS By Sarah Locke, Secondary School Faculty Member

The AIS secondary school mathematics department has begun First in Math (FIM) thisyear.AsIwritethis,ourschoolhas153,226stickers,orearnedpoints,sofarthisschoolyearwithaclassaverageof10,559.Thishasusranked11thplaceinthestateofGeorgia.OurtopteamisBlastastheycurrentlyhave35,726stickers.ButourtopstudentisfromteamIvy,andhehas5051stickers.

Here is a description quoted from the website www.firstinmath.com: “Always at the forefront of mathematics education, Suntex introduced www.firstinmath.com andtheFirstInMathOnlineTeamconceptin2002.Studentsplaythe24gameonline and improve their math fluency with this easy-to-implement program. The “team” approach is a great way to get children excited about math. More than just a fun activity, First In Math offers substantive content that supports any core cur-riculum. Eight Skill Set groups offer a full range of challenge and tie into national andstatestandards.Eachgroupiscomprisedofthree24gameeditions,andeachgame builds upon the skills acquired in previous games. Repeated game play helps students succeed in timed test-taking and helps boost confidence and achievement.” If you read further, you will find out about FIM’s strength in raising standardized test scores and that it is used for gifted and talented programs.

A new feature that I especially wish to highlight is the Family Link. The Family Link providesstudents’familymemberswithaFirstInMathUserID/Password,whichenablesthemtologonandplaythegames,learnandrefreshmathskills24/7,justlike students. Student and family member scores are combined for a Family Link total score, providing a mechanism for students and families to spur each other on to greater mathematics achievement. The family user ID and password are displayed on student’s home pages. So now moms, dads, sisters, and brothers, can now join in too

AIS Alumna Recalls Experience at BethaniaBy Jenna Sanborn, AISAlumna‘08

I graduated from AIS last year and have just returned from a two-month stay at Bethania with my friend, Ellinor Darner, a gradu-ate from the International School of Amsterdam. The months I spent at Bethania were the best two of my life. The experiences I had when I was at Bethania were life changing. After bond-ing and becoming an older sister to the children, I am forever changed and so is my outlook on life. Regard-less of the hardships that the children face on a daily basis, their constant laugh-ter, optimism, and joy for life have taught me the defini-tion of true beauty. I believe I have found my calling and new home. My main fo-cus now is to create more awareness of life at Bethania, in order to raise funds for these amazing children and their education. It is through fundraising and involving the AIS community that Ramya, a Bethania girl, is now at-tending her first year of col-lege studying BSE Computer Science. I sincerely believe that if you educate a girl in a less developed country, you educate many generations to come. I plan to return to Bethania within the next four years, hopefully with more of the Tamil language under my belt.

Important Announcement:

Bethania Fundraiser Event on April 25, 2009


Yearbook ‘09 By Tanya Lancaster, AIS Student and Sr. Editor, Helga Colella and Serge Petitpre, Faculty Advisors

The ordering deadline for the ’09 yearbook, December 20, is fast approaching and the year-book team has been busy taking photographs and creating exciting pages of various school events since early September. Much of the work involves uploading photographs to the yearbook publisher’s website and arranging them on the pages. Thanks to the publisher’s user friendly design software, all of our team members are engaged in this and are enjoying the process of creating their own pages. We are fortunate to have Tanya Lancaster as our Senior Editor this year. Her outstanding organizational and managerial skills have been a great as-set and have allowed us to meet our deadlines. Tanya runs a tight ship, keeping the students motivated and engaged throughout this whole process. “Wehavemetourfirstdeadlineofsubmitting36pagestothepublisherbyNovember10andarehardatworktocompleteandsubmit46morepagesbyournextdeadlineofDec.17,”says Tanya. Mr. Serge Petitpre, primary school yearbook advisor, reports: “ Our advertising campaign was hugely successful resulting in an increased number of advertisements that will be placed in the ‘09 yearbook. This will allow us to offer more pages in full color, and to pay for other yearbook related expenses.” Thank you to everyone who has contributed, whether by buying yearbooks, supporting us with ads, contributing pictures of school events, or sim-ply by donating time. The more contributors we have, the more we can build the program and improve the yearbook in the future.

Give the Gift of a Unique Experience: Purchase a Summer Camp Voucher

Summer camp is a brief window of opportunity for a child to extend his or her academic skills, develop social skills, make new friends and have fun. You can give a loved one the gift of growth with the AIS summer camp voucher. Purchase any week of our s ummer camp program, and receive a beautiful card and envelope to present during this holiday season. Any camp you give can be exchanged by the child’s parentsuntilMay1,2008againstanotherweekof summer camp of equal or lesser value. What a great way to ensure a spot in the 2009 AIS summer camp, andshowthatyoucare!

ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!

The 2008/09 Yearbook price is $50, and orders must be placed by December 20.

To order, choose from these options:

Online: Place your order directly with the publisher at www.yearbook.biz. Enter order #15391 and follow the prompts.

Phone: Place your order by calling our toll free number: 1-866-287-3096

Mail: Fill out the entire order form you received in the mail from the publisher and send it with your check to:

Yearbook Order Center PO Box 29Edwardsville, KS 66113-9029

Around Atlanta Invites You to Experience the City

Around Atlanta was created by newcomers to the city of Atlanta wishing to explore and investigate the history and nu-ances of the city. It is open to all parents of AIS and meets the second Tuesday of every other month.

The next outing will take place on Tuesday January 13, 2009 following the newcomer coffee. We will be taking the MARTA down to the Margaret Mitchell House to attend our 90-minute docent-led tour. The tour will highlight this famous author’s world-renowned book, “Gone with the Wind”. Ticket prices are $12.00. For further details please view their website at www.gwtw.org

Lunch will follow at the His-toric Georgian Terrace Hotel. Please make plans to join us by contacting Wendy White at [email protected]


Basketball Season in Full Swing Tired of the holiday hustle bustle? Is the winter chill getting you down? Why don’t you get out of the cold and come warm your spirits. How you ask? A basketballgameatAIS!Theseasonisunderwayandgamesareplentiful.Weplay almost every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and a handful of Saturdays until February. Please check the website for a home game that works with yourschedule.Don’tmissPizzaNightonFebruary6andlookoutforan-nouncements of special events to be held in January.

The Athletic Department and the Sports Boosters have designated this year as fan appreciation year. Please visit the athletic page on the website for your freepass/calendar.http://www.aischool.org/athletics/

Volleyball and Cross-Country Senior Night

By Eve Laurent, AIS Student On October 16, the entire upper school participated in the Pep Rally to honor the seniors who participated in fall sports and to exhibit our amazing varsity volleyball team. The Pep Rally included a surprise dance from the sophomore boys and our varsity girls showing off their skills against the boys’ volleyball team and the faculty team. The noise and excitement continued as our girls team overcame Whitfield with ease.

SeniorNightwasaBlackout,whereallthefansdressedinblack,aswecheered for our players and supported the seniors. The volleyball seniors were CaptainAnadeOlano,AnnikaMcNallyandTanyaLancaster.Thecross-countryseniors were Boys’ Captain, TC Winter, Girls’ Captain Mariette Marano, and Eve Laurent.

Sports Report By Sports Boosters

Middle School Swimming is Off to a Great Start CoachLo-Piccolo’sseasonbeganNovember5,andtheteamhadoneofthelargestturnoutsinschoolhistory.CoachLo-Piccolofeelsthe effort has been great this year and loves the atmosphere at practice. The MS swim team has two big meets this year -- December 13 atMaristandJanuary17atPace.Coachfeelstheyshouldbeexcitingmeetsandlikesherteams’chances.

Please check out the Upper School swim team at Marist on December 20th and the Metro meet at Westminster on January 31st.


Grade 8 & 5K Students Team up for Creative Writing Unit By Gaynor Dindorf, Secondary School Faculty Member

Aspartoftheircreativewritingunit,grade8Englishstudentswerepairedupwith5Kstudentswhomtheyinterviewed to ascertain their likes, dislikes, hob-bies and interests. Each eighth grader then composed astoryforthe5Kstudentheorsheinterviewed.After extensive drafting, revising and editing, the eighth graders returned two weeks later to read their creationsandtopresenteach5Kchildwithacopyofhis or her very own story. The older students enjoyed the challenge of writing for a specific audience, and the younger children were thrilled to have their own ‘buddy’ in the Middle School.

Q&A with Coach Willie Richardson This year’s basketball season is full of new faces. Please take a moment to meet our new head of basketball who is taking the reigns as varsity boys and girls head coach. Onlyfiveplayersreturn,fourladiesandonegent,fromthe07-08squads.Wewelcomeelevennewboysandeightnewgirlstothe08-09rosters.Aftertwogameswethoughtwe would check in with Coach Richardson.

Q: Coach, what brought you to Atlanta International School?A: Katrina brought me to Atlanta and fate brought me to this school. My family had been displaced, my home destroyed. I started in Atlanta by working in the Cobb County school district before I met Gregg. Luckily I met Coach Albright, and here I am. This is a great environment for students, teachers, coaches and staff. I count my blessings to be apart of this community.

Q:HowhasthetransitionbeenfromNewOrleanstohere?A: NewOrleanswillalwaysbehometome,butAtlantaisstartingtofeellikeit. You know the saying, “home is where you make it.” Well, we’re making it.

Q: Coach Richardson, what are your expectations for this year? A: I am not worried about wins and losses at the moment. We lost all but four players from last year. When you have that kind of turnover it makes it difficult. They are not familiar with each other. We are not a team yet. Right now, I am concentrating on the basics of the game. I applaud their hard work and I am proud of their effort. This year is about learning the fundamentals and setting up a system where these kids can be successful for years to come. I am excited about the future.

Coach Willie Richardson has coached at St. Martin’s High School in Louisiana, has worked as assistant coach at Western Carolina University and his Alma Madder, University New Orleans. He was head coach of the Rayyan team in Qatar. Under his leadership, the Rayyan team was the Champion of the Qatar League, winner of the Gulf Champions, finalist for the Qatar Empire Cup and was placed second in the Asian Cup.


AIS Music Department Presents Three- Evening Concert

The combined Primary School, Middle School and Upper School areas of the Department of Music pre-sented various performing ensembles over a three-night period in its annual “Sounds of the Season” concert, December 4-11. Six faculty/staff members led eleven ensembles comprised of 265 AIS students in pro-grams ranging from holiday favorites to a harp feature to the orchestral masterworks

IB Music Students Take Tour of Chicago

On November 14, seven candidates in the IB Music 11 and 12 classes went with Dr. Howard to Chicago, where they spent three days sampling some of that city’s artistic culture. Among the highlights of the tour was a performance of the “Blue Man Group” at the Briar Street Theatre in Lakeview as well as attendance at the Video Games Live event, which featured a live sym-phony orchestra and chorale demonstrating how music is created and utilized in electronic entertainments and other pop culture. The students also visited the Mu-seum of Science and Indus-try, Navy Pier, and had the opportunity to experience Indian and British cuisines.

Music Department “Notes” By Dr. Ronald L. Howard, Secondary School Faculty Member, and Jessica Sachsenmeier, AIS Student

AIS Junior, Marvin Fichtmueller, Selected to

Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony Membership

for 2008-2009 Eleventh-grade musician, Marvin Fichtmueller, woodwind specialist and clarinet performer, was selected through competitive audition into the ranks of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, based at Emory University, for the current school year.TheAYWSiscomprisedofapproximately80highschool musicians from a 16-county area of metropolitan Atlanta. The group performs five concerts annually and studies only the most challenging wind literature

IB Music Seniors to be Presented in Recitals, Winter 2009 The eleven candidates of the 2009 IB Music 12 class will be presented in a pair of senior recitals later this winter. On February 19, the candidates will present their performance recital, in preparation for delivery of their IB-mandated performance portfolios to exter-nalexaminersaroundtheworldinApril.Twoweekslater,onMarch4,somecandidateswillpresenttheircompositionportfoliosinliveperformance.Botheventsbeginat7p.m.in the AIS auditorium, and the AIS community is invited.

Other Winter Programs of the AIS Department of Music OnFebruary5andMarch2,allinterestedAIScommunitymembers,includingstudents,faculty, and staff, will be presented on the AIS Chamber Players series of recitals. On Feb-ruary24,studentsintheprimaryschoolandmiddleschooldivisionswillbepresentedinaband/orchestra/chorusprogram.Alleventsbeginat7p.m.intheAISauditorium.

AIS Junior, Jessica Sachsenmaier,

Performs in New York “Singing for the Organ Rededication Service at St. John theDivineinNewYorkCitywastrulyaonce-in-a-lifetime experience. Both the morning Eucharist and Evensong were packed and people who arrived late had to stand on the sides because all the seats had been filled in the nave, stretching back 601 feet. These rededication services were special because seven years ago, the cathedral had caught on fire, and portions of it had been blocked off. The organ was also ruined in the fire and the past seven years have been spent repairing it. Sunday was the first time the organ had been played since the fire. It was an incredible honor to be able to sing with the choir and it is something I will always remember.“. Jessica Sachsenmeier, AIS Student


FIRST Robotics Team 1414 Heads into Sixth Year of Competition By Monique Hasham, AIS Student and PR Team Leader

Team1414orIHOTtheinternationalhouseoftechnology,isregisteredforthenextcompetitionandisraringtogo!FollowinganearwininthePeachtreeRe-gionallastseason,relocationandreorganizationoftheTeam1414trailer,andinspite of economic indicators that might discourage less feisty teams, Team Men-tor, Bob Geiger, and Captain, Adrien Pellerin, have pulled together a large squad and are readying themselves for the 2009 build season. Their aims — to attract sponsors, re-build momentum and win a spot at the nationals one more time.

The AIS robotics team has claimed multiple trophies since its inception in 2003, includingNationalRookieteamaward,Nationalanimationawards, regional champs and prizes for robot design and team spirit. Against all odds, and against very well funded competition, they have become known for tough adaptability and perseverance. They simply don’t know how to quit.

The six week construction of a robot that performs complicated tasks in games like Rack ‘n Roll requires that our middle and high schoolstudentsspendhourstocreatearobotdesignwiththeperfectspeed,programming,handlinganddrivecontrol.Noviceandex-pert alike, student, parent, mentor, and onlookers dedicate hundreds of hours. There are multiple requirements, hundreds of parts, and some headaches, but there is the pure satisfaction of completing the project and then going on to meet hundreds of other engineers who have come up with extremely original solutions to the same problem. “From designing and building their robots to competing in the Championship, these teams have met major challenges and succeeded,” said inventor Dean Kamen, who founded FIRST. “Through the fun and intensity of competition, they’ve discovered the rewards of education and careers in science and technology,” he explained.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is a fusion of sport and technology bringing young, intelligent, and creative minds together from all-overtheUSandtheworld.Thusteam1414isreadilyawaitingtheupcomingroboticscompetitionin2009inhopesofnewsponsorships,members and a fun, adrenaline-filled experience.

The “Augsburger Puppenkiste” Performs at AIS By Constance S. Heery, Director of Communications, Press Relations and Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Annette Witte, Secondary School Faculty Member

The themes of friendship and courage took center stage at the AIS auditorium on September 23 when the famous German puppet theater, “Augsburger Puppenkiste”, presented “Das kleine Känguruh und der Angsthase” (The little kangaroo and the scared rabbit) to all primary and middle school German students. The story was originally written by Paul Maar, a famous German author.

Everybody had a grand time as the little kangaroo, the mouse, the scared rabbit and the lisping snake, “Schlabberschlange,” em-barked on an adventure to collect berries for Mama Kangaroo’s surprise birthday cake. The audience watched in amazement as the rabbit who was too scared to meet a little dog, enter the dark forest or even look over the edge of a cliff in the beginning, turned into the hero of the hour and rescued snake and mouse after they had fallen down a steep hill. With his final song, “Ich schaff das schon,” (I can do it), the rabbit encouraged himself and others to face their fears and to never give up.

The puppeteers Tina, Andreas, Christian and Phil also shared the history of their theater and their professional knowledge and tricksduringtwoworkshopsforgrades6through8.Ballerinas,dancingmice,tangomastersandsworddancerswhirledaroundthe trailer, but the students also found out that working with the puppets is much harder than it looks. With the little kangaroo, for instance, moving legs, arms, head, ears and tail at the same time can be quite challenging, and the job of a puppeteer demands years of practice until true mastery can be accomplished.

In its 60th anniversary year, the well known characters of the “Augsburger Puppenkiste” had embarked on their first journey across the ocean to present their artistry to an American audience. They felt that the performances and workshops at AIS were a great success for them as well and were truly touched by the enthusiasm and the joy of the students.

Many thanks go to German Consulate and to Constance S. Heery. She was the one who made sure that the Augsburger Puppenk-iste visited AIS.


“Into the Woods” Experience By Liya Khaimova, AIS student, Secondary School

During this show, I had the role of Cinderella. When I first found out about the role, I imagined it to be the typical Disney princess role. However, Cinderella was nothing like that. She had problems that were so much deeper than I imagined. She was never fully content, which explains the very last line of the show, “I wish”, which gave the character a lot more intent and depth than I originally imagined. Having this role and being in the show really has opened my eyes to musical theatre. I have been in other musicals, but the caliber of this one was on a level that didn’t compare to the others, for me at least. Get-ting the timing and music right was essential in this play because if an actor didn’t get it right then the show would have been a mess. Also, the ensemble itself has to be connect-ed to everything. The ensemble wasn’t just the cast; it was the orchestra, the director, the musical director, the maestro, and the backstage crew. Without them, the show couldn’t have made it. It took teamwork and concentration and focus to really get the show right.

Being a senior, this was my last musical during my high school career. Of course, it was very emotional, and I took time to reflect at how much I have grown from the theatre and especially from this particular show. There have been instances when I knew exactly how Cinderella felt because I could relate what was going on in my life to my character. There were times when I was on stage when I truly felt like I was in the woods, waiting for the baker’s wife to return, feeling anxious because the baker was anxious, reacting to the witch when she told the baker his wife was dead. For every single show, every single night, of “Into the Woods,” I always got chills when the witch informed the baker of his wife’s death. I give the credit for this to the cast because they brought the true emotions on stage, they made me feel the sadness and the anger the baker had felt when he found out about his wife. Yes, being in character and feeling like I was actually Cinderella did help, but if the cast didn’t give it their all, I most likely never would have felt the emo-tions that I did. We all played off of each other so well that at times my eyes were tearing up from the intensity of the emotions on stage.

The night of the last show, the Saturday night, I felt a bond with the seniors that I have never felt before. We all huddled together, shed a few tears, laughed about a few inside jokes, but we were mainly telling each other how great of an experience we had together andthatthereisnothingliketheAISTheatre.NoexperiencecouldequalthatoftheAISTheatre. Yes, there are other experiences in life, but this show and the theatre are just a few that will always have a place in my heart. Experiences such as these are the reasons I keep coming back to audition for the shows, even if I am not a huge fan of the show it-self, but the show can grow on you, and that’s what “Into the Woods” did for me. It grew on me and became a part of me that will affect who I am for the rest of my life.

Middle School to Present “Pinocchio”

PerformancesFebruary 12, 13 and 14 at 7.00 p.m. in the LPAC

Ticket SalesStart on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 and continue on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at the LPAC entrance on the ground floor at the following times from 7:45 a.m. to 8.15 a.m., 1.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Frankfurt-based Electronic Pop Duo Performs at AIS

AIS, in partnership with the Goethe Institute, offered Atlanta-area German lan-guage students a unique opportunity to experience the language -- through the electronic pop sounds of the Frankfurt-based duo, Dyko! The concert in November at AIS formed part of a nation-wide tour sponsored by the Goethe Institute and is in-tended to enhance students’ language skills through music. A music writing workshop for stu-dents took place after the concert. Apart from AIS German language speakers, students from Chamblee high School, Georgia State University, and the Gwinnet public school system also attending the event.


AIS Faculty Share Their Expertise Abroad By Frederique McGirt, Primary School Faculty Member

This year, AIS was represented in many educational fields at the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) Annual Conference inNice,France.Onthefirstday,Mr.AlanPreis,secondaryschoolmathteacher,presentedthefindingsofhissurveyoninstructional technology at international and IB schools. I attended the presentation since to support my colleague and to provide him with feedback. What I discovered, through the questions of the audience, was that his findings were interesting to many other international schools around the world and could guide their decision making for their own IT programs.

On the same day, Mrs. Joyce O’Brien and Mrs. Marie-Laurence de Potesta presented the Primary School Arts Program and explained how they work with different grades and how they connect their core subject to the many Units of Inquiry. As an observer, I could see that they kept other art teachers inspired and eager to try new techniques in their classes. Their presentation included several of students’ works. They were greatly appreciated and showed that the teachers guided the children through a rich creative process.

The next day, it was Mrs. Hermann and I who had a wonderful turn out for our presentation on the importance of vocabulary in second language acquisition. Presenting as a pair modeled how we plan and teach collaboratively at AIS. Considering research conducted at the UnitedNationsInternationalSchool(UNIS)bypsychologistsonbilingualstudents,wecreatedactivitiestoexplicitlyteachvocabularyatthe primary school level. We had a great audience participation.

Later in the afternoon, Mrs. Stangenberg and I presented how our elementary students in fourth grade inquire into world religions and beliefs. Fostering understanding in diversity of religion at a young age can translate into looking at different perspectives, visiting sacred places with respect and deciphering symbols, celebrations, and people of different faiths, ultimately combating prejudice through c omprehension.

It was a truly interesting experience to connect with teachers from other international schools, welcome their questions and comments, and learn from many other colleagues’ presentations. All of these presentations had something in common: they were all made by regular teachers who contribute extra time and effort to research best practices and analyze their students and school data in order to enhance their students’ experiences. In this journey, all of us truly appreciate the support of Dr. Brindley, Mr. Poiraud and the Professional Development Committee who see teachers as leaders, which is integral to building a Professional Learning Community and enhancing students’ learning.

Ensemble’s Fourth Annual Wine and Cheese Event a Success ByPascaleViala,AISParentandVolunteer

After a few busy back-to-school weeks during which our two Cook-ing Clubs, the Book Club, the Conversation Club, the Movie Club, the Bridge Club, and the Homework Help Team started to meet again on a regular basis, welcoming new members to the AIS Francophone and Francophile community, Ensemble members gathered on Friday evening, October 3 for the fourth annual Wine and Cheese Event. This year, Ensemble organized the event at the warm and welcoming home of the Dehem family. Morethan80peoplewerepresentandenjoyedgoodFrenchwineandFrench cheese in a relaxing and fun atmosphere. Several of the invited teachers of the French track joined us for an opportunity to interact with parents in a non-school environment. Futhermore, Ensemble members had the opportunity to choose the future Culture Club’s logo, designed by Gaëlle Bouvier, an AIS parent. It will now form part of Ensemble communications. For more information on Ensemble’s activities and other francophone opportunities, please contact Ensemble at [email protected]. Ensemblewishesyouahappyandhealthyholidayseason!


Thanksgiving Tradition Continues at AIS ByLaurel-AnnDooley,AISParentandVolunteer AIS primary school students started Thanksgiving break a day early with a celebration feast at school.Intwoseatingsof270and240,respectively,grades4K-5gatheredintheauditoriumfor turkey with all the fixings, provided by AIS cafeteria and catering service, Sodexho, and the AIS Parent Organization.

Sunlight filtered through the windows, and a sense of warmth and community filled the room as volunteer parents served plates and delivered them to the cloth-covered tables, complete with 30 centerpieces by first grade room parent, Lara Zaller.

Grades3,4and5performedsongsofgratitude,andallgradescontributedcannedfoodtodecorated donation boxes provided by room parents. The boxes were later delivered to the Fulton County Department of Children and Family Services, together with Thanksgiving baskets made by secondary school students.

“I think this Thanksgiving tradition at AIS is truly the kick-off to the holiday season,” said deLille Anthony. “As a parent volunteer, it always puts me in a great frame of mind.”

VolunteerAdelePearsonagreed.“Itwasafantasticexperience–therewaslotsof excitementintheair.Ithoroughlyenjoyedit!”

By the looks of all the happy faces in the room, the sentiment was unanimous.

AIS Introduces New Online Store By Amy Medford, Auxiliary Programs Manager The school store has seen many successful changes this year. The pre-order process and school supply kits were a huge success and made the start of school much easier for everyone. These services meant shorter lines, ease in getting items and guaranteed delivery.

Thebiggestchange,however,isyettocome!Wearepleasedtoannouncetheschool store’s transition online. Beginning in April, we will be able to offer next year’s school supplies and PE uniforms for purchase via our website. This new fea-ture allows parents to purchase their supplies from home, or anywhere else, at their leisure.

Save time, money, and energy this summer and pre-order all your school supply needs online. School supplies will be available for online pre-orders between April 1 and June 1. You can select the supply kit you need, purchase and pay online, and then pick up your order at the beginning of the school year during orientation.

Please pre-order all supplies you will need by June 1. To guarantee delivery and reduce the hassle at the start of the year, we will not be offering any supply items for purchase at the start of the year. Please note that once the transition is complete, we will no longer offer any items for sale in the cafe.

PE items and spirit wear will also be available for purchase beginning in April. You will be able to purchase “Back to School” kits or individual items online. Our online PE store will be able to offer more size variety, so everyone will be able to find a size that fits. There will be sizing charts and a customer service line to help you select the right size. Your PE items will be shipped directly to your house so no more waiting in line, no more running out of sizes or items. This convenient service allows you to order when it most suits your schedule and have it arrive at yourdoorstepin5businessdays.

Moving online allows the school store to offer a higher level of customer service and convenience for parents. We are delighted by this transition and the benefits it offers to all parents. .

WorldFest Showcases AIS to Atlanta CommunityByDawnHawkins,AISParent&Volunteer

WorldFest was a huge success! The new format allowed us to highlight our international community by providing world-class food, entertainment, crafts and games that truly served to educate the public about what makes AIS unique. This event would not have been possible without the involvement of the full Par-ent Organization. Morethan 250 parents and students provided time, food and talent to make this event happen. Many thanks to all of you who put forth tre-mendous effort to provide an authentic experience for every region represented at the school. A special thank you also goes out to the WorldFest planning committee. All proceeds from WorldFest go directly to the Primary, Middle and Upper schools to be used for cultural enrichment activities that fall outside of the normal school budget.

See back cover for more photos


Jazz in Black & White: Get Ready for BPH’s Signature Event ByJohnHurley,AISParentandVolunteer

Jazz, America’s only indigenous art form is celebrated globally. As an art form created primarily by African-Americans, and a pre-cursor to modern Blues, Rock & Roll, Soul, R&B and Hip Hop, its influence is both static and dynamic. It has grown from an art form into a culture synonymous with creativity, individuality, passion, empathy, inclusion, risk-taking and learning -- all qualities we desire in our children and that are reinforced in the AIS community.

So,markyourcalendarforSaturdayevening,February28,2009toexperiencetheBlackParents Harambeesignatureevent–JazzinBlackandWhite.

An event complete with something for everyone from the Jazz novice to the die hard aficionado to include live music, jazz history and cultural food. Jazz in Black & White celebrates the pioneers (Armstrong, Morton), the visionaries (Coltrane, Davis, Monk) and contemporary figures (Benson, Jarreau, Hargrove, Washington Jr.) whose contributions and influences on society extend well beyond the musical spectrum. Jazz in Black & White will inform and celebrate how our differences strengthen our community, by highlighting our similarities -- just as Jazz continues to bring together people of all races, nationalities, ethnicities and socio-economic stature.

The theme for this year’s evening of dinner, dancing, music and entertainment is: “A Stroll Down Bourbon Street”, and will fea-ture two outstanding acts. Headlining the entertainment is the Grammy nominated recording artist, Russell Gunn - an American classical/fusionandcontemporaryNeo-bop-Jazzmusician.TheeventisalsoshowcasingAtlanta’sown“RioNegro,”agloballytraveled, HBO television featured, premier Latin band that jumps to the beat of Latin Jazz, Salsa, Meringue, and Reggaetón. And youwilljumptoo!

PreparetohaveyourtastebudstantalizedwithCreole/NewOrleans-stylecuisineandquenchyourthirstwithNewOrleansinspired libations.

ComejoinusonSaturdayevening,February28,2009inthecabaret-styled,transformedAISauditorium.Invitefriendsandfamilyto purchase tickets, even consider giving this spectacular evening as a gift. Tickets can be purchased starting January 12, 2009 through the AIS Business Office. So mark your calendars and secure your baby-sitters. All net proceeds from this event support the AIS Music department.

VolunteerOpportunities:It’snottoolatetobepartofplanningandpreparingthefinaltouchesforthiseventVolunteersareneeded.PleasecontactVernaClevelandatVernaCleveland@mac.com(404)[email protected](404)885-9320/(610)960-4135.

Exciting Year Ahead for EDIN CAS Group ByRobinKuikandEmmalineCampbell,AISStudentsandEDINStudentLeaders

ThisisanewandexcitingyearforthestudentCASgroup,EDIN.Westartedoffthisyearwithanamechangeto EDIN:EDucatingyourselfandINspiringothers.Wedidthisinordertoincorporatenewideasandthemeswithout losing sight of our identity. Our group focuses on issues that challenge students in middle and high school -- communication, leadership, promotion of positive body image, and healthy ways to deal with stress.

WearestilltheEDINthatwillbringyoutheannualLoveYourBodyWeek,includingtheLife-SizeBarbieandMerrick’sWalk.Inaddition,wearego-ing to introduce a meditation session before the June exams to help students release stress.

Thismonth,EDINhostedaguestspeaker,JuliaWallace,EditorattheAtlantaJournal-Constitution.Withherfocusonleadership,shesharedstoriesabout different times in her life when she didn’t let being young or being a woman interfere with getting what she wanted. She was an empowering speaker for all of our members, and we were very appreciative that she could take some time out of her busy schedule to inspire our young women.

This year we are proud to say that we have many new members from both Middle School and Upper School. We meet every Wednesday during lunchinMrs.Jones’sroom205Aforfunactivitiesanddiscussions.Also,wehaveaLoveYourBodyWeekcommittee,whichistaskedwithbrain-storming and organizing possible new activities for Love Your Body Week in February. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events


“…All of our students were strong

contributors in their respective committees and

can be proud of their performances…”

AIS Students Take Part in University of Virginia Model United Nations By Simon Underhill, Secondary School Faculty Member

Forthefirsttime,theAISModelUnitedNations(MUN)teamtraveledtoCharlottesville,VAtoparticipateinthe28thUniversityofVirginiaconference.Alargeteamof30gradeninetoelevenstudentswereselected,representingAlgeria,ColumbiaandAzerbaijan,as well as serving on two specialty committees. The group was notable for the large number of debutants, as well as the many students participatinginonlytheirsecondMUNconference.ThetripbeganFridaymorningwithatourofMonticello,ThomasJefferson’shistoricmansion on the outskirts of Charlottesville. The visit proved memorable, as well as inspirational, as the students were given a glimpse into the extraordinary intellect and vision of the third president.Friday afternoon saw the conference begin in earnest, and over the rest of the afternoon and evening, and all day Saturday, our delegates furiously debated a number of pressing issues as they formed coalitions and tried to win support for their resolutions.

Ula Kulpa (10) was formidable in pushing important security measures for Algeria; Marissa Jackson (11) was an eloquent advocate for a solution for Palestinian refugees; and in only his first conference, Alex Thomas (9) argued passionately on behalf of Columbia for regional securityintheMiddleEast.Atthespecializedcommittees,NicoleDancsz(10)andHortenseBadarani(11)werethrustintothecauldronoftheBritishCabinetin1940;SoliMansour(11)andAndrewWooster(10)debatedtheUSpulloutfromIraqasmembersoftheIraqiGovernmentin2012;andClaireColberg(11)andLindseySanborn(10)werepartoftheNATO-panelarguingovertheorganization’sfuture role and the best way forward in Afghanistan.

All of our students were strong contributors in their respective committees and can be proud of their performances. A special mention goes to Soli Mansour, who picked up Best Individual Delegate for the Iraqi Crisis Group.

ManyofthesestudentsarenowearnestlypreparingforTHIMUN,inlateJanuary.Forthosewhowon’tbejoiningusinTheHague,wewillbehavingafinalprograminthespring.TheAISMUNprogramcontinuestogofromstrengthtostrength,andthesuccessofourstudentsis testament to their dedication and hard work over the weeks preceding the conference. As always, special thanks to Mr. Rollins and Mrs. Ferko, for their assistance in making this trip happen.


It is 9 a.m. and the Primary School is buzzing with activity. Students are engaged in learning, and the classrooms are busy places. AIS is a special place because I can hear the children expressing their thoughts, ideas, opinions and feelings in English, French, Spanish and German. Regardless of the language of instruction, young minds are at work. Speaking and listening is central to the lives of all people and integral to thinking and learning. Students construct meaning through the process of articulating their thoughts in a variety of ways.

Speaking and listening are involved in almost everything students and teachers do during a school day. The explicit and effective teaching of the spoken language skills enables students to become more successful in their academic and social contexts. At AIS, teach-ers collaboratively plan activities and assessments to ensure that the different aspects of oral language are explicitly addressed in their classrooms. The language outcomes clearly outline the expectations in listening and speaking and encompass in each grade level. The grade level teams determine learning strategies that best meet the needs of the students and fit the overall context of the curriculum.

Inthe4Kclasses,studentsroleplayconflictsituationsandpresentsolutionsexpress-ing their feelings. Our five-year olds listen attentively to Ms. Fetter as she shares a story about the patterns of friendship. They ask clarifying follow up questions and relate their own experiences. A game exposition is going on in the first grade classes. Students have invented their own games after carefully discussing and sharing games they know and exploringrulesandroles.Nowtheyaresharingwiththeirpeerswhatcreativegamesthey came up with and how they work. I see students engaged in dialogue and curious to learn from their peers.

The grade 2 students prepared formal oral reports about structures they studied. They in-vestigated how the climate and the environment influence the construction of a structure. After rehearsing their reports with a classmate, they are now ready to present to the whole class. The third grade students are learning about the power of persuasion as they study experiences that shape an artist’s work. Grade four students are debating the pros and cons of landfills. While some students need to defend a certain point of view, others are engaged in observing their debating skills and recording them for later discussion. The grade5studentscompareandcontrastthelifeofscientistsandthecontributionstheymade. They argue different points of view on how their work influenced our lives today. These are just some examples of what is happening daily in our classrooms. We believe that through language, our students acquire the ability to think and learn, to develop social skills and values, and to acquire knowledge. Therefore, our role is to ensure that students build the confidence to become effective speakers and listeners in order to cre-ate the strong foundation needed to make sense of the world through language

Speaking and Listening in the Primary School By Simone Becker, Literacy Coordinator, Primary School

4K Parent Morning Builds Community By Beverly Fetter, Primary School Counselor

Over steaming cups of tea and coffee, parents of 4K students shared their favorite topic -- their children. The four-year-old kindergarten program is the first formal year of educa-tion for students and the first year families become a part of our AIS community. The chil-dren get to know one another both in the classroom and at recess; parents may still, in No-vember, not know one another. When a child comes home to converse about “Johnny”, be it a happy or unhappy recall, it certainly helps to put a smile and set of faces to Johnny and his family.

In preparation for the 4K morning, parents were asked to fill out a postcard describ-ing the child they see at home by sharing humorous stories, special talents, unique inter-ests and daily challenges. Each parent was asked to return the postcard information even if s/he could not attend the morning meeting. In this way, parents could still enjoy shar-ing information about the 4K child seen at home.

As we continue on our journey to be the best community pos-sible, it is important to model listening to one another and being open-minded to more than one perspective of the school experience. We do this most easily when we have an opportunity to know one another. A commitment to actively build community also models perspective sharing and the ability to be sensi-tive to others’ feelings to our youngest students at AIS. The 4K faculty and I know how much joy we find in our daily interactions with the 4K students as we assist in their development of these skills. We look forward to more op-portunities for parents to share a similar experience.


AIS Hosts Clark University Student Teachers By Alain Poiraud, Head of Upper Primary School InthetruespiritofthePYPandLearnerProfile,twoUpperPrimarySchoolteachersAndréaStangenberg and Diane Dear have opened their doors and classrooms to five future educa-tors from Clark Atlanta University. Under the expert guidance of our faculty, Yvette Manns, Ebony Madison and Lakeya Ellout acclimated very quickly to AIS as they approach their final studies in the university’s education program.

As pre-service teachers, they will complete Practicum III this semester, which includes observing community relations and school culture. They will focus on observing how we, as classroom teachers, assess student learning, address varying learning styles, and communicate across the grade level and the cultural barriers. In the process, they will also provide assis-tancetotheclassroomteacherstwomorningsaweekfromNovember10toDecember10.

In addition, Shakis Drummond and Karen Lynette Lee, both Practicum I students, have been placed with our teachers, Mary McCarney and Shauna Moore.

As a school, we have been given a unique opportunity to demonstrate and share teaching ex-cellence in a diverse school setting for future educators. As teachers, we feel honored to have such gifted students learning from us and sharing their insights and talents with our students as they develop their best practices in teaching.

St. Martin’s Celebration By Simone Becker, Literacy Coordinator, Primary School

OnNovember11thestreetsaroundAISinGardenHillswereilluminatedbynumerousbeautifully crafted lanterns. The celebration of St. Martin is a longstanding tradition at AIS. It commemorates St. Martin who was born in 316 AD. He joined the Roman army, and legend has it that he met a beggar, who asked him for help from the freezing cold. Martin had nothing with him but his military cloak. He split it in two halves and shared it with the man. After this act of kindness, Martin decided to leave the army, get baptized and help the people most in need.

Another story is that he was named to be bishop since he was doing so much good. Martin was not sure he wanted a position of such power and privilege. He hid in a stable filled with geese that gave him away and he became bishop. Our fifth grade German class retold the story in the auditorium with their traditional St. Martin play. All children in the Ger-man track made lanterns, and we walked and sang as so many children do on this day in German-speaking countries. A special thanks to the third grade parents, who in coopera-tion with the Deutschvergnügen, organized and sponsored the food and drinks after the celebration.

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Primary School Art Exhibition at Binders Art Store

The Upper Primary SchoolArt Exhibition at Binders Art Store is scheduled from January 12 to 24, 2009. An opening celebration reception will be held on Thursday, January 15 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. This is a showcase of several students' art work from grades 3 through 5 at AIS. The art department is very appreciative of the Binders Art Store,


Folk Music Brings American History to Life for Students By Laura Branam, Primary School Counselor

Third grade students experienced some moments in American history through exploring “folk music” with Laura Branam, the new primary school counselor. Her interest in social justice and her lifelong love of music made for a natural collabora-tion with Mrs. Rosenfeld in studying the history of American music as a part of the Creative Minds Unit of Inquiry.

Whether songs were sung from porches, in the fields, in churches, or in the streets, the folk song has remained one of the purest artistic expressions of “ordinary people.” Pete Seeger’s, “If I had a Hammer,” is an example of how the working class endured long hours of hard labor, by singing together.

Significant life questions were reflected on in the poetic words of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” written by Bob Dylan. Students learned how the Civil Rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome” helped maintain the morale of the thousands who sang as they marched for “the equality of all people.”

Every student had the opportunity to re-enact this form of peaceful protest by marching through the Primary School halls, singing “We Shall Overcome” together while carrying a sign for a “social concern” of today. Ms. Branam concluded her inquiry lessons, standing in a circle with the students and Mrs. Rosenfeld singing together the pensive and powerful words penned by John Lennon in his song, “Imagine”–

“You may say I’m a dreamerBut I’m not the only oneI hope someday you’ll join usAnd the world will live as one.”

The folk songs learned by the students promoted a deeper understanding of human struggle and the power of songs as an expression of personal feelings and common held values. All generations and cultures have captured their hopes for a better tomorrow through their folk songs.

Ms. Branam is the mother of three grown children. She came to AIS this fall from Houston, Texas where she received her BS. in Psychology and English, a nd her Masters degree in Clinical Social Work. These facts, and her more than 20 years experience working with children and parents, you would not be surprised to read on her resume; but you may not guess, she also worked 8 years at a Pacifica radio station, as a DJ. Laura is enthusiastic about the inte-grated curriculum of IB and the creative opportunities it affords her to work with second to fifth grade students.

Primary School Chorus Performs at Community Thanksgiving Event By Karen Peters, Chorus Director, Primary School

OnFridayNovember14,thePrimarySchoolChorusperformedfortheAtlantaJewish Committee Diversity Thanksgiving Luncheon at Anthony’s Restaurant on Piedmont. Consulates, religious and civic leaders were gathered to celebrate the diversity of our Atlanta community but also the unity of spirit and action to make the world a better place to live. Mayor Shirley Franklin spoke of the importance of listening to each other and working together to accomplish goals that benefit everyone. The chorus dressed in traditional costumes representing many countries around the world. The program opened with the chorus singing songs of patriotism, thankfulness and peace after which everyone enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving lun-cheon. The program ended with the chorus leading everyone in singing, “This Land is Your Land”. Through their singing, costumes and interactions with many guests in attendance,the24fourthandfifthgradersrepresentedAISbeautifully.


Entire School Community Plays a Role in Student Learning

At the Primary School, all members of the staff are also involved inouractiveteachingandlearningcommunity!Ournurse,Ms.Fay,canbeseenhereworkingonflagsforourUNdaycelebra-tion. Ms. Ivana, our school administrative assistant, can be seen enjoyingthereadingfroma5Kstudent.Learningandachieve-ments are celebrated in all corners of our building, at any given momentintime–theclassroomsthemselvesareonlyonepartof our learning environment at AIS.

Reflecting on the Carnival of Animals Unit of Inquiry

At the end of the unit, Carnival of Animals, the grade 1 German students reflected on what they liked the best, what was new and what was challenging for them. They wrote down all the answers on one little puzzle piece. Those were put together and formed a colorful fish. .

5K Students Interview Mr. Poiraud

The 5k students are currently studying about the communities in where we live. Mr. Alain Poiraud came to visit the French 5K class and kindly let the students interview him. According to him the best part of his job is, “…to see a child’s smile at morning carpool, to witness growth in a student over the years and to be in contact with so many kids, families and teachers from all over the world.”

AIS Parent Shares Insights About Picasso’s Work

As part of the Creative Minds Unit of Inquiry, grade 3 Spanish students learned about famous artists. The experience was enhanced by a visit from parent, Thomas Perez, who talked about Pablo Picasso and shared his insights as to why the artist drew the “Guernica.”.

5K Students Take Part in Reading Program

Participants in the Read for the Record JumpStart Program recently read to 5K students at AIS, and the class then received five copies of “The Corduroy Story” by Dan Freedman. The Read for the Record JumpStart campaign is a nationwide initiative designed to draw attention to the importance of early childhood education.

Presentlyour4KstudentsareimmersedinourUnitofInquirytitled,“MeandMyBody.”Asallofourunitsaretransdisciplinaryandapplicabletoanyageorgradelevel,our4Kstudents are filled with a multitude of questions:

“How does the inside of your body move?” “What are those things zigzagging through your body?” ”How are you able to talk?” “How do your kidneys work and what do they do?” “What parts of your body make you run?”

After the initial front loading stage, the children journey through the broader spectrum of the unit, exploring how it connects to their world, asking questions along the way and finally, finding answers to their initial questions that ultimately guides the unit.

We have, in addition to the wonderful support of our in-house educators, a brave group of parents who have volunteered over the unit’s timeframe to present additional information from a different perspective to guide and expand the students thinking and inquiry. And for those who haven’t experienced the joy and yes, fear, of having 100+ curious eyes watch-ing and registering your every move as you, the presenter, embark on your well-planned discussion, let us say that it is not an easy task and one that must be well planned and thought out. Our very curious four-year-old students, who if they had their way would ask a multitude of questions all at the same time, politely work toward the goals of community andrespectfulsharingofthoughtsandideas!

It is this partnership of faculty, parents, and students that shapes and provides our students with the necessary tools to learn and expand their own ideas and become true inquirers. Thank you to all the parents who have presented so far this year with patience, dedication andcarefulplanning.Welookforwardtoourfuturepresenters!

Parents Participate in Me and My Body Unit of Inquiry By4KFaculty

Globetrotter The Globetrotter is the newsletter of Atlanta International School. Letters to the Editor should be sent to:

Gordana GoudieCommunications ManagerAtlanta International School2890NorthFultonDrive•Atlanta,GA30305404.841.3879•[email protected]

Submissions may be edited for length or content prior to publishing.

Visitusonthewebatwww.aischool.org

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

For our 6th Annual Christmas Market, the weather was prefect, the deco-rations were fabulous and the performers sang divine. With temperatures in the 30s, our team of volunteers worked tirelessly Friday afternoon and Saturday morning setting up the festive environment thatwelcomed33vendorsandmorethan800gueststoour school.Needlesstosay,withtemperaturessocold,hotfoodanddrinkswere the hit of the market. For the second year in a row, we hosted a number of performing choirs from the Primary School and even a couple groups from outside our community. We had the pleasure of entertain-ingtwoVIPs:FultonCountyCommissionChair,Mr.JohnEavesandMr.Kwanza Hall from the Atlanta City Council. Both were impressed with AIS and mentioned it was their first time to visit our campus. Many of our vendors reported that our venue is getting better each year. I am especially thankful for my market committee members who stood by me in the cold weather to make this another great cultural event atAIS.Thankstoallofour170+volunteerswhocameoutandthe 800+peopleinattendance,wecouldnotdothiswithoutyoursupport.Ifyou would like to join our team, please contact us at [email protected]. We will start planning next year’s market after Spring Benefit 2009. Special thanks also goes to all the AIS staff members who helped. Without your help, none of this could have happened. This is truly a community effort.

AIS Christmas Market Welcomes the Holiday Season By Tom Schwartz, President-Elect, Parent Organization (PO)

WorldFest Showcases AIS to Atlanta Community

2008 Winter Globetrotter

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Transcript of 2008 Winter Globetrotter