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The American way
Nia Tam
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Think America and you tend to think big. But not the American International School in Hong Kong - where small is considered premium.
The sense of community is strong when you have a student population of around 820. Head of school Cameron Fox said: "Our school is relatively small in size, so you can find a strong sense of family here where everyone knows one another. We are keen to shape and mold AIS into a school that gives every student the educational and personal experience we value and believe in."
The school, which was founded in Hong Kong in 1986, uses a US standards-based program for students from early childhood through Grade 12.
Elementary school principal Tanya Sweeney hopes to nurture students to be engaged, curious and compassionate. She said: "Our elementary program is aimed at strengthening our students' communication skills. They become proficient in all aspects of literacy including reading, writing, speaking and listening."
Recent additions to the curriculum are engineering and technology initiatives. Students use the K'inex building construction system to design and engineer machines to solve everyday problems. They also learn to create their own computer programs.
The transition period from elementary school to middle school, and then to high school, is crucial in the development of any child.
Pamela Smith, middle school principal, said that it is a delicate period both physically and mentally so the middle school program is designed to
cater to the unique educational needs during these years. She said: "We aim to challenge students and encourage them to find their own path toward success. It is an important quality for youngsters to develop at this stage."
When they move into high school, the aim is to broaden their outlook. High school principal Mike Wing said: "We view global citizenship as a key characteristic of our curriculum. Our Grade 9-12 students join the High School Adventure Week, which gives them unique outdoor educational opportunities, broadens their understanding and appreciation of our world and cultivates a sense of cultural awareness."
A group of science students recently flew to Malaysia to start a project with the World Wide Fund for Nature to work on protecting wildlife in the region. "They learned how to support endangered animals and how the animals are returned to the wild. They also learned a lot about the local culture," Wing said.
The school also prides itself on its strong extracurricular program. Wing said: "We have seasonal inter-mural and varsity sports teams. There is also a wide range of opportunities, including visual and performing arts and special interest clubs."
Trevor Smith, a Grade 12 student who recently won the Best Delegate Award at a Model United Nations conference, believes that AIS has provided him with opportunities to take part in social issue discussions. "It was a wonderful experience to exchange thoughts and ideas and look deeper into global issues."
Smith has received acceptances to top US universities including Cornell University, New York University and University of California, Berkeley. |
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發表於 14-5-14 19:51
