A School Like Never Before
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tamford American International School (Stamford) opened its permanent campus in August 2012 and has now settled into the impressive, new facility. Stamford approached the design of the school with the intent of creating the best and most advanced learning environment for children, and the result is a definitive success. Stamford is the flagship of Cognita’s international portfolio of schools. Cognita is one of the world’s largest K-12 education providers with more than 60 schools across the UK, Europe and Asia. Stamford is unique in Cognita’s portfolio as it was conceptualized and built based on a government bid for new, quality international schools to be introduced to the Singapore market. Stamford won the bid and has proven through their tremendous growth that there was a hole that needed to be filled for a school with a rigorous curriculum and teaching standards, a commitment to developing in students an international mind-set and withtopof-the-line resources. Stamford’scampus design features top notch academic and athletic resources including cluster-style classrooms, specialist learning environments,swimming pools, sports fields, as well as safe and convenient underground parking. Unique highlights include the Learning Resource and Media Center(LRMC) which is far beyond a traditional library and occupies an entire floor. The LRMC houses e-book collections, an Apple Computer Center and the CognitaiLEarnTM interactive learning environment equipped for video conferencing with experts from around the world. The Science Center is also noteworthy as it was designed to mimic the scientific method 22 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2013
and showcases teaching laboratories, break out spacesand special presentation areas. Kim Duda, mother of 4 students, offers, “Stamford has provided the perfect environment for our boys to not only make friends from all over the world, but to experience and enjoy cultural differences, as well as familiarities, all while getting an incredible education in a safe and comfortable community atmosphere.” Since opening in 2009, Stamford has been an innovator within the international education scene. Stamford is the first school in Singapore to offer both the International Baccalaureate (IB) as well as American academic standards. Students get the best of international and American education to prepare them to live, learn and work in our increasingly globalized world. The curricula is concept-based, building on children’s natural
curiosity through formal content mixed with a broad range of associated, ‘real-world’ experiences. This creates a solid platform for information and concepts which students will build on while at Stamford and for the rest of their lives.
Stamford is also the first school to offer daily Mandarin and Spanish language instruction. Stamford offers a global approach to education with its strong foreign language foundation that covers reading, writing, speaking and culture. With native speaking teachers, Stamford’s daily Mandarin and Spanish language program begins from age 2 and increases fluency, fosters international understanding and encourages students to embrace their role as global citizens. Technology is a priority and Stamford focuses on building students’ experience and comfort with integrated technology. There are interactive Promethean boards in every classroom and the 1 to 1 iPadElementary School Program and 1 to 1 MacBook Secondary School Program ensures that technology is fully integrated into classroom activities. Stamford is not finished with their vision for creating the new benchmark of international education as opening in 2014, Phase II will add further enhancements to the state-of-the-art campus. The Phase II development will include the expansion of the Secondary School, the addition of another swimming pool, student cafeteria and Learning Resource and Media Center, a full performing arts Theatre, and the first of its kind, an Innovation Center complete with a trading floor and Center for Entrepreneurship where students can work with business leaders to address real world business challenges. For more information: www.sais.edu.sg +65 6602 7247 admissions@sais.edu.sg