A M E R I C A N
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
S C H O O L
O F
B U C H A R E S T
SUMMER EDITION 2019
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INTERVIEW: NICOLAS KOUGIONAS
Class of 2011: Read about this alumnus contributions back to AISB, while chasing his dreams.
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INTERVIEW: PATRICIA KHALIL-WARREN Class of 2009: Read how nineteen years at the school as both a student and staff member have influenced this very successful alumna.
A heartwarming story of teaching, marriage and kids comes from alumni teachers, Amy & Andrea, whose lives changed as they grew a family with AISB serving as their village.
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BECOMING AN ALUMNUS
A talented grade 11 writer gets an inside look into the transition from student to alumni.
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Romanian Feature 2
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Suceava Fortress - the unbeatable fortress
Suceava fortress was built at the end of XIV-th century by Petru I Muşat(1375-1391), it was fortified in XV-th century by Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) and it was burnt down (through treason) by Dumitrașcu Cantacuzino. The citadel was both a royal residence and a fortress against foreign armies. Suceava fortress was fortified in such a way that it couldn’t be conquered, despite the fact it was under siege repeatedly by Ottomans. https://romaniadacia.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/suceava-citadel-the-unbeatable-fortress/
Kirsten Pontius / Editor
Celebrating
Growing up, my dad’s side of the family managed to come from all over the state, to gather at my Grandparents house in northern Minnesota every Christmas. Nestled in the country on the banks of a small river, my father and his three siblings, all married (eventually) with kids, would squeeze into the familiar home, setting up cots and mattresses on floors, in the bedrooms and basements, and eating, playing, and laughing our way through the holidays. The house was familiar, it was comfortable, and my Grandparents would always welcome us there. In addition to Christmas visits, stops during summer vacations and various holidays were frequent, and we often found other friends and family stopping in. It was a place where we grew up, where we learned, and where we connected. AISB is like that central hub to its thousands of alumni around the world. Welcoming back former parents, students, faculty and staff in person, and through virtual links. There is no denying that the American International School of Bucharest is a place of connection, community and support for those who walk through the halls. Classmates bond over deadlines and learning objectives,
FAMILY Connections siblings support each other with advice and insight, while their parents attend the PTO meetings, or have dinner with fellow parents. Meanwhile, those who are away from their “home country”, find familial connections in friendships, trusted adults, and cultural traditions that give them a sense of stability. I have spent the last several months reading, discussing and digging for stories about family connections, both figuratively and literally, at AISB. What a powerful experience it has been, to get to know the journeys of so many alumni who view AISB as a place where they belonged, and still do. In fact, you will get a sense of the continued connection in the articles that follow, from the invitation to reach out for professional help from Catalina Gardescu, an employee of 18 years who knows hundreds who have passed through the doors in the past years, to the stories of former students who came back as employees and contribute to what is happening now at AISB. The heartwarming cover story of teaching, marriage and kids comes from alumni teachers, Amy and Andrea, whose lives changed as they grew a family with AISB serving as their village. An important story of landing a dream job, and traveling and flourishing from 2011 graduate, Nicolas Kougionas.
stories of the ties that have been building here for years, put your feet up for a moment and recline into that network of connection, kinship, and support. Know that as a family, we aren’t perfect, we are growing, we are individuals, we are unique members of the AISB community, but we are connected through the time in our lives that we call AISB “our school”. And for that, we will always be welcomed home.
Kirsten Pontius Editor
So at this busy and bustling time of year, give yourself a moment to read a few
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VOLUME 7 / ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2019
EDITORIAL TEAM LEAD EDITOR: Kirsten Pontius EDITORIAL TEAM: Dorothea Achim, Alex Cristescu, Michelle Ciubuc, George Mucibabici, Ana Teodorescu, Pia Stanca CONTRIBUTORS Fabiana Papastefani-Pezzoni, Dorothea Achim, Angela Achim, Peter Achim, David Achim, Hana Achim, Mariana Achim, Rebecca Achim, Catalina Gardescu, Nikos Kougionas, Sara Pezzoni, Johanna Rusu, Marius Opran, Vlad Coraci, Andrea Ferris, Kirsten Pontius, Patricia Khalil-Warren AISB Student Contributors: Tea D. PHOTOGRAPHY AISB Archives, Bogdan Greavu DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHY Mario Zamfir, Aliant Brands Ltd. ONLINE EDITION School Brand LLC WORLD ALUMNI MAGAZINE Blvd. Pipera Tunari 196 Com. Voluntari Jud. Ilfov Romania 077190 Tel.: 021 204-4300 Fax: 021 204-4384 Email: alumni@goaisb.ro www.aisb.ro Published by Aliant Brands Ltd. Print Circulation: 2000 copies Electronic Circulation: 10,000 views Cover Design: Mario Zamfir ISSN 2537-3978 ISSN 2537-3986 ISSN-L 2537-3978
About AISB
AISB was founded in 1962 and is currently Bucharest's largest international school. The language of instruction is English and teaching is based upon an American style curriculum. The school offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program from Early Childhood through 12th grade. AISB is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Council of International Schools, and the International Baccalaureate Organization and is recognized by the Ministry of Education in Romania.
Copyright © 2019 AISB ALUMNI. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Trademarks: WORLDTM Alumni Magazine, AISB Alumni Association and their associated logos are trademarks of the American International School of Bucharest. All other names, logos, and trademarks of other companies shown in this publication are the property of their respective owners.
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Interview with Nikos Kougionas
18 The Achim Family & AISB
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Interview with Patricia Khalil-Warren
CONTENTS 06 09 10 12 14 16 18 21 24 28 30
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE HELP US, HELP YOU INTERVIEW: NIKOS KOUGIONAS ALUMNI RETURN FEATURE: CELEBRATING FAMILY CONNECTIONS THE FAMILY THAT LEARNS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER ALUMNI EVENTS FOR STUDENTS INTERVIEW: PATRICIA KHALIL-WARREN GALLERY BECOMING AN ALUMNUS
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Director's Message
Dr. Robert Brindley / AISB Director
Over the past year people have asked whether I will be retiring after leaving AISB; my answer is that I will be ‘graduating’, finally, after forty years in the teaching (learning?) profession. I am now an alumnus of eight schools, although I do not include the school where I myself was taught.
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My schooling was spent at a very traditional British school, founded on Michaelmas Day 1561, situated on the banks of the Thames opposite the Tower of London; rather à propos in retrospect. From my perspective, not much seemed to have changed when I entered years later. Uniform, of course, was mandatory; as a tender 11 year old and ‘new boy’, we had to wear shorts throughout the year as it was deemed that we had not reached the stage when long trousers could be worn; chapel was twice a day; the cane was regularly used to encourage us to learn; Latin was the essential language; masters wore academic gowns; and, we never spoke until spoken to. The school was a battle of wills, these were the sixties after all; the concept of empathetic learning was a far-off concept; thirty boys per class; seating order based upon tests scores; crosscountry running in shorts and t-shirt, was held in the depths of winter; rugby and cricket de rigueur; soccer was banned, being ungentlemanly; and, caps needed to be doffed at all times.
The concept of community or school family was not envisioned; after graduating early, I vowed never to return nor read any alumni material; and, I never did. Times, since then, have changed; so dramatically that my school seems a far-off place, lost in time. Being highly selective, I read recently that it was ranked amongst the better performing academic schools in the country. But it was also criticized, and even threatened with legal action, for policies that led to students being excluded from the sixth form for not achieving high enough grades. Seems like things, still have not changed too much. So what makes a school community strong, rather than one just focused on academics to the detriment of everything else? To me, the answer is rather simple, but difficult to achieve – teamwork between all stakeholders, be they parents, students, teachers, staff, Board members or business partners. Great achievement data that shows student growth but is just one star in the constellation of community success.
Developing a strong program that places a high emphasis on students being kind, considerate, honest and sets schools apart. A strong community needs an active PTO and Alumni Association, with highly engaged volunteers, whose impact reaches beyond the confines of the school; where solutions are found for perennial contractible issues and positive stories abound. We have made many changes over the past years, a focus on building community with a strong alumni association will leave an even greater legacy. Regards,
Robert Brindley Director
Dr. Robert Brindley has graduated into retirement at the time of publishing, this is his farewell message to the WM Alumni Community.
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Sometimes, impossible is just a phase.
The story behind the first car climbing a wall in Austria with the new Audi e-tron. What do you find impossible at this moment? Picture this: you look at a tall building, more than 20 floors high. Imagine it’s slightly inclined, like the Pisa Tower if you like. Let’s say we have an 85-degree inclination. Now let’s add a lot of ice to this building. Do you think it's possible to slide down your skis on this building? Well, there is such a ski slope in Austria and many skiers try their chances every year. But what if someone tells you they want to climb up the slope driving an electric SUV? Yes, someone actually achieved that. His name is Mattias Ekström and he became a legend this February as the first rally driver to climb an 80 meters ski slope inclined to 85 degrees while driving an Audi e-tron. How did he manage to do this? Hahnenkamm World Cup Races is one of the most dangerous ski competitions in the world. The best skiers try their luck each year in Austria on a route in the city of Kitzbühel. The route has a specific extra dangerous section, called Mausefalle, an 80 meters ski slope inclined to 85 degrees. When skiing on such a surface you reach the maximum speed. One should be considered lucky to arrive at the base safe and sound. Aksel Lund Svindal is a Norwegian skier who managed to do this successfully many times. Mattias Ekström on the other hand is a rally pilot who tried to do lots of other crazy things. Let’s see how these two athletes are connected. Audi is the main sponsor of Hahnenkamm World Cup Races for more than 20 years. This year, the German brand
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launched e-tron, its first electric SUV. The engineers who built this car were boasting that e-tron is the best combination of safety, power, and efficiency. They were confident that e-tron is much better than any other vehicle with quattro technology. It has quattro and electric engines. What can top this? The electric engines give an SUV a better balance and a great torque. But what is the best way to prove this? Climbing Mausefalle from the base by driving such a car might sound impossible. But rally driver Mattias Ekstrom was up for it. Of course, engineers adapted the car for this endeavour. They added a rear engine to boost power and fitted larger tires with spikes. Everything to keep Mattias Ekström safe. On a freezing day in February, the ski champion Aksel Lund Svindal introduced Mattias to the slope. They both climbed it on foot, which was a challenge in itself. “When I heard about the project my first comment was: It can’t be possible. But then you see the traction with the spikes, the power that an electric car can have… If there’s enough grip it’s going to work”, says Aksel Lund Svindal. “Having this prototype car with tires with spikes and everything was like having all the ingredients. It is like you (Aksel Lund Svindal) are going down in control I think we have all the ingredients for going up in control, but still I am a little bit nervous”, responds Matthias.
Mattias managed to climb the slope by driving an e-tron from his first try. This Rally Champion, twice DTM champion, said at the end of the experiment: "Climbing a ramp with an 85-degree inclination sounds impossible at first. But even I was impressed by how this car is doing on difficult terrain." Going back to the start: what do you find impossible at this moment? What would it take to make it possible now, or in ten years? Audi e-tron, launched in Romania this May, is the firs electric SUV made by Audi. This full-size SUV combines sportiness and everyday practicality. Its two electric motors together with electric all-wheel drive provide for awesome performance and agile handling. The large high-voltage battery lays the foundation for a range of more than 400 kilometres in the WLTP driving cycle. In combination with a comprehensive range of charging options for home and on the move, customers can enjoy fully electric driving without having to compromise. https://www.youtube.com watch?v=Ay5q35R7VJs
Alexandru Cristescu / Association President
The moral responsibility of global citizens, engaged by their international education, to add sustainable value to their communities through an interest based approach have been the themes that one always find in this section of the WM. Principles are not easy nor convenient, each alumna/alumnus has to actively uphold them as they bind our community otherwise we, individually or collectively, will not progress and add sustainable value. I would like to build upon my previous message that concluded that our community is “ever so grateful to the many generations of people
Progress AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY
before us, from all walks of life, that have changed so many things for the better and brought us to where we are today. We live in the best period of humankind and we can only be grateful and cherish what we have if we acknowledge and celebrate relationships such as the one between Romania and AISB.” This summer I have welcomed in our association alumna Aries Brown (Class of 2019) the author of ‘I’m either too black or not black enough’ a published article, which I recommend everyone reads (https://thebite.aisb.ro/ index.php/to-be-black-anaisb-experience). The article raises issues of racism combined with a degree of ignorance within our school. Aries, as a responsible global citizen, also started a student-led initiative for educational discussion and to celebrate our diversity. In this way, in the interest of our community she adds
sustainable value to it by making it less discordant. This is what critical thinking means, not only raising an issue but doing something meaningful and sustainable to address it. This is where strength comes from, recognising when we are not living to our highest potential and encouraging people to stand up and change it for the better. Progress is not straightforward or always evident but our community has generations of responsible global citizens and we can do it right. The theme of this WM is family and our community is much like a family, in that it is not perfect. The only way forward is to embrace our diversity and individuality, honour our culture and that of others and understand the world we live in. Doing this and basing our decisions on critical thinking will add sustainable value to our lives.
To that end I invite all alumni to celebrate just that at our next Reunion in Bucharest, Romania on the 31st of August 2019, special guests Class of 2009. Please sign up on alumni.aisb.ro for the latest information and networking opportunities and I hope to see as many of you as possible at our Summer Bucharest Reunion.
Alexandru Cristescu Association President
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Help Us, Help You! Catalina Gardescu, Manager of Admissions & External Relations
Thank you! There is one very successful way I market the school and that is through stories. Prospective parents coming into my office want to hear about you. Yes, about you, our alumni, our children. They want to hear about your success stories – whatever success means for each one of you – imagining their sons and
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daughters in your shoes, in a few years’ time. This is how, World Magazine, is among the very few publications we still hand people leaving our admissions office. It is important for you all to realize that the print edition of this magazine goes far and wide, across countries and continents, in the hands of the people
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who are considering the IB and the AISB as potential education for their children. So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. For taking the time to answer the questions prompted by our Alumni Association executives, for checking into the alumni network, for being part of the Alumni Business
Community, for sending us your accomplishments, for taking time to meet and reminisce. I hope that in the near and far future the AISB Alumni Group and Association become the powerful forces they have the potential to be. Help us, help you! Over 10 years ago when we first started talking about an AISB Alumni
Association our immediate goals were small and our long-term vision was great. We were striving to bring together AISB graduates in order to start a community that was going to represent another pillar of AISB education and culture. I am happy to see how beautifully these efforts have evolved, with the investment of time, money and ideas from people like Lynn Wells, Maria Tudor, Salwa Patricia Khalil, Alex Cristescu, George Mucibabici, Dorothea Achim and so many others who took from their time to engage with alumni groups all over the world and bring them closer to the school once more. We have since expanded our vision of what an alumni is, from a graduating student, to a former teacher, parent, or youngster who was part of our community, and strive to celebrate and support all of our diverse members of alumni around the world. However, our feedback is that recent graduates are often looking for continuing education, support and resources to launch their careers and initiatives and
we are formalizing the way we offer that help. Read on for a few ways in which we can support you on your journey, and contact us with other ideas about how we can be of help to you! Polish your professional profile! AISB Students in grade 11 have gone through 4 sessions of resume and letter of intent writing, within sessions entitled “Guide on the Side”. Please contact us for some extra tips and support from this useful material.
In addition, we will support you in other ways to improve your resume and professional profile, just contact our alumni liaison at alumni@goaisb.ro to learn more! Gain work experience! AISB is working with various companies such as Dentestet, Additiva, Raiffeisen Bank, Le Manoir and others and have established several opportunities for students and former students to work as interns. Are you interested? Contact our alumni liaison at alumni@ goaisb.ro. Advertise for your business and skills within the AISB community. We would be honoured
to include an advertorial in our monthly newsletter as we prepare to launch a regular Alumni Business Community feature. This newsletter is sent to the parents of the 1030 AISB students via email, posted on the school website and sent through social media. Are you interested? Contact our alumni liaison at alumni@goaisb.ro.
your lives, come by the school. Call or email to make sure someone is waiting for you and come in for a coffee or lunch, on us, tell us what you have been through and see how the school has changed. Our doors and hearts are always open! With gratitude,
Network! If you’d like to initiate an alumni networking event in your area, we have small grants available to help launch the gathering.
Write to alumni@goaisb.ro and tell us: • where you are • what type of event you are looking to create • the budget you are investing and • what support you need
Catalina Gardescu, Manager of Admissions & External Relations
(AISB student, through my 18 years of working here in various positions)
These are just a few of the ways in which you can continue your involvement as well as benefit from your connection to the AISB community. We remain open to your ideas. I hope this message reaches as many of you as possible and that good ideas and engagement start flowing. Last but not least, don’t be strangers. If you are in Bucharest at any time in
AMERIC AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUCHAREST 11
Interview with
Nikos Kougionas AISB Alumnus, Class of 2011
AISB Alumn, Class of 2011
Nicolas Kougionas (Nikos) was Treasurer of the AISB Alumni Association during 2016-2018 and a dedicated part of the Alumni Executive Committee. Nikos was meant to take the role of the Vice President of the Association, but in an attempt to attract additional ambitious team members, gave the position to a newcomer and took on the important role of treasurer. As the current president of the alumni association, I know how strongly Kougionas believes in the mission and people of the Alumni Association. He has done everything in his power to encourage connection, build a program, and support alumni in coming together and supporting each other. Read on for more about his experiences at AISB and beyond: Nikos you have been part of AISB for a very long time and continue to be involved even if you are a continent away.
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WM: Why do you consider AISB important and dedicate some of your time to the AISB Alumni Association? NK: AISB has played a
very important role in my life. My journey at AISB has been a fantastic one. I had the opportunity to be taught by great mentors, meet some of my life time long friends, discover and play the sports I enjoy and grow up in community that prepared me for the future both academically and personally- with the right academic knowledge and community values that set me up for success in my future endeavours.
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Throughout my academic career at AISB, I always worked to give back to our community. I was fortunate enough to serve the AISB family under various student body positions and community service groups. For example, Vice-President of Student Council, President of Amnesty International, President of Sports Club, Habitat for Humanity etc. Reflecting back on those experiences they were certainly some of my most fulfilling experiences at AISB. When I found out about the opportunity to serve as the Treasurer for the
AISB Alumni Association I was absolutely thrilled. Throughout my two years in Bucharest I have worked with some amazing people! It has been an absolute honor to have worked with the association and to have been a part of all the great achievements we have accomplished. I am sure that the Association will continue to grow and will continue to do and achieve remarkable things for the community. As I now have moved to Canada I look forward to continuing to serve the AISB community in Canada as the current Canadian delegate for the Association.
It was always logical to give back to the community in this way, to help provide others with the same opportunities and the sense of community that was provided to me – that was the legacy I wanted to leave behind at AISB. WM: When at AISB, how did you find the IB and the other activites you were exposed to? (sports, travels etc) NK: My overall academic
experience at AISB was remarkable – sure, there were some ups and downs; stress about exam results, will the coach put me on the court in the second half, I wish next period was lunch not math (laughs) but all necessary for the learning journey itself. Let’s start with the International Baccalaureate program first. I believe that now reflecting on it all – the IB program was one of the most difficult and at the same time most rewarding experiences I went through at AISB. The program really challenged me to achieve not only my academic growth but also to develop an inquiring mindset – the later has made a significant impact in my post academic career. The sports curriculum in AISB is absolutely amazing and truly prepares students with excellent lessons in leadership and sportsmanship. I had the opportunity to play a series of sports: football, basketball, softball, etc. Overall great memories from my athletic involvement at AISB: victories on the pitch, funny stories, great
advice and lessons from my coaches, making friends from other international schools, traveling to new cities etc. WM: What did you go onto study in University and how is it helping you now. A lot of students worry about what to focus on, did you make the right choice? NK: I was fortunate enough
to receive the Capstone Scholarship and the M Psilos Business Scholarship which really enabled me to study at the University of South Carolina School of Business. I double majored in international business and global supply chain management, with a minor in Spanish. Both of those degrees prepared me for my future career, consultant of operations with a focus on operational excellence, and how you use operations to modify behaviors and achieve a better result. My two degrees really helped shape and prepare my future. I would encourage students considering what to focus on, to explore more than one degree in University. It really does allow a bigger spectrum of opportunity, you’re exposed to different fields, even if it’s in the same school, it gave me different perspectives and made me more competitive. WM: Did you feel you were prepared academically for the University of South Carolina? NK: I believe that the IB
program really prepared me for my first year at university. I saw many advantages in completing
the IB program. First of all it is a very well-known and respected curriculum among universities, which allows for extra course credits that are particularly helpful in college. Second it provided me with the necessary academic base that eased my transition into university. If I went back - I would do it all over again. After completing your studies what career path did you choose and why? After I completed my studies in the US, I returned to Bucharest to work for PwC Romania. It was an amazing experience and I worked with some amazing people. I had the opportunity to do what I always wanted to do. I started in operations consulting with a focus on operational excellence. The two years in PwC Romania have been remarkable. More than a year ago I decided to explore a new market. I decided to move to Toronto, Canada with PwC and continue my consulting career. WM: Your career has allowed you to travel a lot, tell us more about that. NK: I was fortunate enough
that in my career I have had the opportunity to travel and explore a lot of new places. I have worked around the world including: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Perth (Australia), London (UK), Mexico City (Mexico), Montreal (Canada) ect. Having the opportunity to travel and work in different economic landscapes and work with stakeholders
from different cultural backgrounds has really helped me grow as a professional. I have equally enjoyed all the places that I have lived and traveled for work – each has its unique characteristics. Traveling is vital for personal growth and I would encourage our students to travel and explore new places and learn from those experiences.
Nikos is a great example of an AISB alumnus, he started attending AISB back in 1999. From academics to sports he was always part of the community. He achieved so much in all of the years spent at AISB and then after returning back to Romania after completing his degree he came back to his community and served in the AISB Alumni Association. Dedication, work ethic, fresh ideas, a down to earth attitude and a wonderful energy is how he approaches everything he does. Even now after he has moved a continent away, in Canada, he still is part of the Alumni Association, and always helps us out with anything he can. Nikos really is a successful and responsible global citizen in that he does add value to his community no matter where he is, and is inspired to help others achieve their potential as well. Interview & Commentary by Alex Cristescu
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There is no shortage of AISB Alumni who return to the school in a different context than they started. Student turned teacher or staff is a common occurrence. Many have found that the love and respect for the school bring them back to contribute to its future in new ways. Here, we talk to 4 alumni who find themselves drawing a paycheck rather than making a tuition withdrawal, and what it is that makes AISB the kind of place you’d return to.
“The joy of helping other kids grow up and develop in the same environment as I once did is just amazing.” - Vlad Coraci
Sara
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Johanna
Marius
Vlad
“I came to Romania in 2008 and attended AISB for 8 years. Whenever I am available to come home from university I work part-time as a substitute teacher, teacher assistant at the ELC, or at Summer Camp.” SARA PEZZONI Sara, alumni graduate of 2016 finds not only support in AISB, but a continued means to reach her goals with the help from her alma mater, “My goal is to be a special education teacher and in order to get there I need some teaching experience.” She continues, “What started out as something that I thought I would do once or twice ended up with me becoming part of the team in helping out at the ELC and around the school because I enjoyed it so much. My decision to come back was almost this feeling of knowing that if needed, AISB would help me and see my drive and ambitions enough to see me halfway, and that’s what they did.” JOHANNA RUSU (STANESCU) What can start as a temporary opportunity like Sara’s occasional substitute teaching during university holidays, often
unveils a passion and evolves into a longer-term experience. Johanna attended AISB for 2 years, 11th and 12th grade (1997-1999). Johanna remembers those years fondly, “My favorite memories were being with my friends, having a snack and lunch at the corner kiosk as well as CEESA tournaments that were held in the "bubble" behind the school.” She goes on to tell WM, “At that time it was ASB. After graduation in 1999, I went to university here in Romania. I worked at AISB as a LIFT to support my university payments. I ended up becoming an assistant and eventually I became a teacher. At the moment I teach grade 2. I always loved children and to work with them was my dream come true. AISB is a warm place and I feel like home here.” Johanna reflects on her long tenure here, describing what many of the alumni express. “When I was a student at AISB we all knew each other and we were very united. That's what I liked about AISB, it was my second family.” MARIUS OPRAN Meanwhile, Marius finds himself back at AISB after experimenting with what to do after graduating. He spent his entire undergraduate education at AISB, and left Romania after graduation in 2009. “I went to Brussels after AISB but unfortunately (or fortunately), the major that I chose, International
Affairs, did not please my heart, and neither did the city. Oh well, at least I knew what I didn't like… I came back to Romania and studied psychology at Titu Maiorescu University. I also started working with my older sister Delia, for her company ''Animal Casting Time'', and at the same time started coaching basketball at AISB.” Finding himself slowly drawn back to a beloved place, Marius is a full-time employee in the growing Co-Curricular Department, breaking ground in this newly implemented position, he is focused on improving the quality of activities and sports at AISB, whilst also providing more opportunities in these activities, such as more local games & tournaments. He also coordinated the successful ES Summer Camp that wrapped up in July. While he doesn’t know what his future holds, he explains, “At this time, I am pleased with my position at AISB and enjoy the variety of work that my job offers.” VLAD CORACI For alumni Vlad, AISB fit into his desire to be an educator, and he has dreamed for years about a return to AISB. Vlad is an important part of AISB's summer program, returning to help with this busy time of year. “After I graduated I went on to continue my studies in primary school education at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences in The
Netherlands, where I am currently in my third year of study. After my bachelor's I will complete a masters in applied linguistics (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). One day I am hoping to come back to AISB as an elementary class teacher. Ever since I graduated, I knew I will have to be back here one day on the other side of the desk, inspiring and helping children like my teachers did for me once.” Hearing Vlad talk passionately of his time at AISB, you can understand why he’d want to be on the other side of things. In revealing his best memories, he says, “There are a few that stand out in my mind that I will always remember: the football and tennis CEESA tournaments that I participated in over the years, the sports days that would finish with water fights, the day I walked out of my final IB exam and graduation day. I will always remember all these memories with joy and a big smile on my face.”
Each of us is always welcome back, as a student, staff, parents, as the AISB community is here to support you in temporary, or long term goals, In an intentional stop-off, or perhaps just an incidental job that turns into something more. AISB welcomes alumni back for work or play.
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celebrating family
connections Written by: Andrea Ferris & Amy O' Rourke
WM asked Teacher Alumni, Andrea Ferris and Amy O’ Rourke to tell us about their time at AISB, how it impacted them and their growing family, and about what they are doing now. “Cakes are made from many different ingredients to create something unique, delicious and amazing. A family is a lot like a cake.
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Families come in all shapes and sizes. They are the people who help us feel that we belong. Families give us help, support and love... even when we are apart from them. When we are with our family, we feel like we are home.” Not long after you asked if we would be part of this ‘family’ themed issue, we were visiting family in Vietnam, and I found myself reading this book to our son Arthur. ‘A Family is Like a Cake’ by Shona
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Innes. If our family was a cake then a very significant portion of our cake was made in Romania and AISB. I (Andrea) arrived in Bucharest in July of 2009 with a loose plan to stay for three years. The school was smaller then, there were lots of opportunities for the teachers to socialize, get to know each other and the amazing staff of AISB. It didn’t take long to feel like Romania was home. A few years later Amy and
I met in Dublin. The first time she visited Bucharest I took her out for dinner to meet ‘some of my friends’. Amy is a shy person. Because of the close social connections we as a staff had, somehow the small dinner ballooned to a table of around 30 people all excited to meet her. She wasn’t very happy about having to meet so many new people all at once, but this was a good induction to the AISB family. A few months later we took a chance; Amy resigned from
her job as a Montessori teacher, packed up her things and moved to Bucharest. We were lucky that positions opened up and Early Childhood welcomed Amy to the team in 2011. A Couple Emerges We are fortunate to be living at a time where the conversation around sexuality and rights for diverse groups are opening up. In our experience of AISB (and the variety of administrators we have worked for) it has been an open, accepting institution when it comes to employees. As a professional couple it was never a question of whether we would be treated the same as others when it came to status or rights. So much so that, for the most part, we could forget that we might be considered different to any other teaching couple employed by the school. Similarly, we never really felt the need to ‘come out’ to our students. We also never considered or discussed whether we should attempt to hide who we were: we just were and perhaps, hopefully, in just being us we were helping to demonstrate that it’s ok to be yourself. In saying that, one thing we wish we had done was to push more for implementation of visible systems to support and celebrate diversity within the student body. We got married in New Zealand in January of 2015 and got to share the moment with some close friends from AISB who were able to travel to New Zealand for the wedding. We also had a celebration in Ireland the following June and yet again, more of our AISB friends came to celebrate with us. It’s the
best and strangest feeling when your ‘worlds’ mix together. Two Turns to Four “Here is one heartbeat” ….. “and here is another” is exactly how we found out we were having twins. Our reactions were very different and both out of shock as this was definitely not what we were expecting. One of us cried, the other, dissolved into uncontrollable giggling. One of us thought about future college fees, and the other continued to giggle. We drove back to school, sat in the school car park, giggled/cried some more and then went to find our closest friends and shared our news. The support we received from the community was amazing. Parents within the community, students, Robert (Brindley), Rosella, Ely, our friends and colleagues … everyone. There’s no better way to really feel the full force of the AISB family, than to have a cute bundle of joy to coo over … and we had two! Driving us home from the hospital, delivering meals, groceries, gifts, baby holding, babysitting offers, help with taking the boys to the doctors, coffee, hugs, moral support, advice... the list of ways and the list of people who were there for us is humbling.
Moving on We are now living in Vientiane, Laos and working at Vientiane International School. Leaving Bucharest and transitioning to our new home was harder than we expected. AISB was literally the place where “everybody knows your name” and we loved all the comfort that came along with that. We both feel that we ‘grew up’ there. We developed confidence and a belief in ourselves that we may not have gained elsewhere. The administrators and colleagues that we worked alongside during our time at AISB saw and encouraged both our professional and personal strengths. We have carried that growth with us in our new chapter as teachers, and as parents. We also hold those AISB students that we had the pleasure to get to know, to help nurture, and their families, close to our hearts. We always found that building trusting relationships with students and their families was the most important part of our role as teachers. AISB would not be a complete family without the support of the wider community; and for us we always felt that warmth.
Socializing and getting to know new people, a new school and a new city has taken time considering that we now have two toddlers needing our full attention. One year in, we are finding our feet and have made connections with wonderful people. Arthur and Evan are healthy, happy and have acquired quite the celebrity status here. They already speak more Lao than either of us and seem to know more people in our local neighbourhood than we do. On weekend morning walks we often experience people on scooters slowing down to call out, “Sabaidee (hello in Lao), Arthur and Evan!” as they pass. Twins can be a sign of good fortune here so everyone we meet wants a photo, or to have a little squeeze of a chubby toddler arm or leg. We don’t know how long the Laos chapter of our lives will be just yet, or what the road ahead holds, but we will always be sure to remind the boys of their first year of life in Bucharest and the amazing people who they shared it with.…..Te Iubesc foarte mult, AISB!
Those first few months were possibly the hardest times we have experienced thus far as new parents, and with our own families across oceans we couldn’t have asked for a better support network around us. We really appreciated all of those people who were there and we hope you know how grateful we are.
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A Family Who
Learns Together, STAYS TOGETHER
Kirsten Pontius, AISB WM Editor
with support from Dorothea Achim & the entire Achim family
'Here we stand together, building our future forever, from small seeds grow mighty trees, like a forest we grow together, at AISB together, we build our dreams forever, at AISB' [from the AISB school song]
ANGELA ACHIM Started as an Art Teacher in 1992
PETER ACHIM
DAVID ACHIM
HANA ACHIM
AISB Student Class of 2014
AISB Student Class of 2017
AISB Student Class of 2023
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“A place is only as good as the people in it.” ― Pittacus Lore
I want to tell you about seven people. These seven people have all walked the AISB halls, but have much more in common than their appreciation of this school. These seven good people have fallen in love with the community, and contributed to its heartbeat. These seven people are family members, they are students, alumni and faculty, all connected by blood, soul and spirit. And by a place that is made so much better because of them. The Achims can be found in all corners of AISB, whether it’s the legacy they have left in the theatre, gym or classroom, or the legacy they are building in a classroom. This family started with one, Preschool Art Teacher Angela Achim, who came to Romania and AISB as a 22 year old in 1992, and it grew to seven…. At present moment, they represent 4
graduates/alumni, 3 employees, and 1 student. Read on for their stories, thoughts and insights into the journey that entwines both their academic, professional and family stories. With the Achim family having different, and sometimes changing roles at AISB throughout their tenure, we first asked them what they felt their identity was at the school. Rebecca, Alumni class of 2010 reflects, “I would say the strongest identity is of a student …. however, I am glad that, under this identity, stand many other ones that sustain it and make it elaborate and diverse, including "athlete", "artist", "volunteer", etc. In fact, each one of the Achims listed multiple identities, citing the ability to learn and serve in various roles at the school. Alumni class of 2017, David is quick to cite sport as his defining identity, but just as quick to add, “however engrossed I was in my sport, I always took part in theatre, art and music, not to feel restricted to just one life.” After 27 years, Angela Achim feels her role as an art educator to be how she most identifies, her identity as a parent being also very strong. In fact, many of her favorite memories of the school involve that of a parent. She sites the Senior Processional, (in which two of
MARIANA ACHIM
Started as a teaching assistant 1994
DOROTHEA ACHIM
REBECCA ACHIM
AISB Student /current teaching assistant Class of 2009
AISB Student Class of 2010
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her children have participated) to be her favorite yearly event. She tells WM that she loves how “... each graduate leaves this important stage of their lives, and goes off into unknown territory, with so many hopes and dreams ahead of them.” Memories of AISB are varied among this diverse family, all of whom have strong ties to the arts and sports. Hana, the only Achim who is currently a student at AISB, and expresses how much she loves ”being involved in afterschool activities such as sports, theatre and music.” The teachers in the family, reflect on students making connections to the learning they’re experiencing, such as Kindergarten Teacher Mariana Achim’s mention of a student who was so determined to read and who shouted one day for all to hear, “I know now! I don’t read the names of the letters, I read the sounds!”
In all the years that the Achims have found AISB to be part of their lives, they have obviously grown and evolved. Alumni class of 2014, Peter Achim reflects, “[AISB] help(s) to reinforce values” he explains that he appreciates the ability to flourish in your diverse viewpoints at AISB, to look toward a variety of sources in learning to “discern tangible fact from opinions”. Meanwhile, Dorothea Achim, alumni class of 2009, who serves on the Alumni Association and is working at AISB, describes her evolution as a global citizen while at AISB. “Sure I am Romanian, and I love my culture and country, but I consider myself international, a global citizen of this world. I love that through the school I got the chance to learn about different cultures, learn new languages, to think outside the box, to be open-minded and to collaborate with the people
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around me.” Her sister Rebecca adds, “I am more open, sociable and less fearful of taking risks and speaking my mind. AISB contributed to this through the projects that encouraged students to state their opinion, make commentaries, and through reflection and interaction with others". Just as the Achims have grown together with AISB, they have suggestions on where the school should focus their attention: Hana would love to see the school welcome more diversity, including students of color, and students with disabilities. Having experienced the school as a much smaller entity, several family members reflect Angela’s sentiment, “[AISB must] stay united as one large school, and not separate into 3 sections.”
While the Achim family continues to flourish with AISB a major component in their lives, the school offers the kind of platform for support and an ongoing relationship, for a family, and as a family.
ALUMNI EVENTS Fabiana Papastefani, AISB Alumni Coordinator
For Students
As AISB Alumni Coordinator, a major focus in what I do revolves around Alumni events at AISB, supporting the current AISB Students & Parents. On May 2019 we had our last two big events of the 2018-2019 school year: “Seniors Brunch”, a casual meeting with our seniors who had just finished their IB exams, and “Letting Go”, with the parents of the Seniors, who graduated last June and are soon starting the next chapter of their lives in various universities/countries.
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After finishing their exams in May, the Alumni Association treated last year’s graduating class with a “Seniors Brunch” where we introduce them to the Alumni network, who we are and what we aim to do. We spoke together about what their shortterm and long-term vision and expectations about the alumni association is and how they can get support and be engaged in this important group. What do they need? Will they know how to shop and cook? Will they know how to do laundry, manage their finances, take good care of themselves? With “Letting Go” we brought reassurance and advice from Alumni parents who share tips and insight on various aspects of a graduate’s life in different circumstances and countries, while legitimizing and offering an understanding environment of “we have been there, we know how you feel, it is absolutely normal, support your child and all is going to
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be OK”. The presentation we sent to parents was a culmination of practical and detailed tips that they all appreciated. We closed the event with a special note on the importance of the mental & emotional health of these students while they manage their life all by themselves away from home, mentioning that the Alumni Association does it’s best to offer connection and support from older students either at the same university or in the area, alongside the professional services offered by the Student Support departments of these universities. Earlier last year we had two other important events: Career Speed Networking is now one of the most anticipated Alumni events. The audience is Grade 10, before they start the process of IB course selection. In February, 2019 we invited 10 specialists from various careers to speak with the students on a variety of opportunities, their
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studies, training, as well as the challenges and successes that they had encountered. Students had the opportunity to learn a lot more about various options after graduation, even on the ones they were not initially interested in and had the opportunity to ask many questions. The statistics at the end of the event were interesting: more than 50% of the interviewed students did not change their mind on what they would like to do in life, about 20% of the students said they may reconsider their career choice, and the rest of the students, who said they had not yet identified a particular field of interest, said they found some very good ideas on what they might like to do. Alumni also played a small role at the University Application Event hosted by the Secondary Counselors in January, 2019. We had five of our alumni in various areas of the world share their experience on how they started and narrowed
down their selection process, how their experiences match their initial plans and choices, and some tips about the area where they live. Grade 11 students were very interested and we are so glad we can offer this service to them! These events are now becoming a regular part of the school year, so stay posted for upcoming dates. Should you find yourself in Bucharest, or in a position to support students through life transitions, career, or other means, please contact me, The AISB Alumni Coordinator at: alumni@goaisb.ro
Fabiana Papastefani Alumni Coordinator
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Interview with
Patricia Khalil-Warren AISB Alumna, Class of 2009
WM sat down with our very own Patricia Khalil-Warren former student, Alumni World Magazine magazine editor and American International School of Bucharest Communications Coordinator and now alumna, to chat about her strong connections to the AISB community. Mrs. Khalil-Warren shares with us her journey of “firsts” as a student, alumni, staff, and how she will carry the lessons and relationships of AISB with her through her future endeavours. WM: Tell us a little bit of family history in relation to AISB PKW: My brother, Eddie, and I both went to AISB since pre-school, well, ASB – the American School of Bucharest at the time. Being from a multi-ethnic family, my parents picked AISB as the best choice for us because they wanted us to grow up to be global citizens. At home, we spoke Spanish, Arabic, and Romanian, and at school we spoke English and learned French. Eddie also took a few years out to focus on his Arabic before returning to AISB for High School and it was great for him; his fluency is incredible and so much better than mine! My mom started volunteering at the school when we were little. She was an orthodontist but loved being at the school to support our learning and the learning of our peers. She then became a full-time employee at AISB and twenty years later, she’s still there, sharing her passion and talents as enthusiastically as
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she did her first day there. While the three of us worked to fulfil our responsibilities as students and employee, my dad also worked incredibly hard to support our family and our schooling. Both my parents worked together to ensure that my brother and I would have access to the best international curriculum delivered by world-class teachers and Eddie and I are both so appreciative of the hard work and sacrifices our parents put in and made to offer us an AISB education. WM: To build on that incredible story, tell us the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions AISB to you! PKW: WOW! How do I answer this question with one thing? It’s impossible. If I had to capture it in one item, I guess I could say that AISB is my second home. I suppose that’s an appropriate and all-encompassing term for my particular situation.
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AISB is the only school I’ve ever known; I started there in Pre-K on the Laptari campus, spent some time at Costinescu in Elementary School and finally moved to the new campus in Grade 5. It was from this incredible location that I graduated in Grade 12. I never did have the pleasure of taking classes at the Dorobanti campus but spent a lot of time there for schoolwide events – I especially remember the annual Halloween Party and the spooky Haunted House; there couldn’t have been a more perfect location!
and where I cheered the Vampires on at the top of my lungs.
AISB is where I learnt… basically everything. It’s where I found my love for theatre and music, where I discovered my passion for learning, and where I celebrated successes and learnt from challenges. It’s where I took my first test, tried out for my first sports team, and performed my first piece on stage. It’s where I first experienced trips away from home, where I engaged in opportunities to volunteer,
AISB is so many things.
AISB is where I met some of my best friends with whom I’ve shared a lifetime of incredible experiences and fun times, and with whom I will continue to laugh hysterically and, inevitably, sometimes cry. It’s where I fell in love, at 22, to the man who would become my husband, a smart and talented educator who opened my world to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in all corners of the globe.
After 14 years there as a student and another 5 as an employee, how could it not be? It’s impossible to capture 19 years in a few paragraphs. AISB is the
place that afforded me so many incredible opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. I am so thankful to my parents and brother for making it a reality for me growing up, and later to my colleagues for giving me so many opportunities to learn and grow, and for making sure AISB remained an incredibly special place to be. WM: If you had to pick the top 5 things that you miss from AISB, what would they be? PKW: In no particular order, seeing my friends every single day, theatre and music weekend rehearsals and sleepovers, laugh-outloud moments in class, teachers who believed in me and supported my learning unconditionally, and my wonderful and inspiring work colleagues.
WM: Can you talk a little bit about your college experience following AISB graduation? PKW: My university experience was fantastic. I ended up going to Bournemouth University, on the south coast of England, to study Advertising with Marketing Communications. At the time that I applied, there were very few schools offering the combined course that I was looking for, so I applied to them all. The best thing I did was visit my top three choices in February of
my high school senior year; as soon as the train pulled into Bournemouth, I knew it was the right choice for me. Without a doubt, this was my best fit. I fell in love with everything about Bournemouth; the University, the course, the town, the pace of life, the people. As well as the University being ranked highly from an academic standpoint, the town itself was also incredibly charming and full of life. I loved how close everything was, the balance between the vibrant nightlife and the ambition to do well in school, kilometers of sandy beaches only a stone’s throw away, and the internationality of the place. From an educational point of view, I feel that my AISB education and the Diploma Program (DP) prepared me incredibly well for what was
to come at University. It was a combination of the rigor of the DP combined with the caliber of teachers at AISB, who set me and my classmates up for success. The teachers at AISB, their methods, care, dedication, and belief in us as learners and young adults really supported our accomplishments. They saw our potential and helped us develop our strengths. At university, not only was I able to produce high quality work in a timely fashion as a result of my learning at AISB, I had so many transferable skills from experiences and
assignments in the Diploma Program that I could easily apply to projects at University. The type of work I completed as part of the DP did a fantastic job at making sure that I was not only going to be successful at University, but that with a little hard work, dedication, and persistence, I would end up with top marks and graduate with a first-class degree. At University, I also really enjoyed diving into all the activities available outside of my academic course. I joined so many different clubs and societies – horseback riding, rock climbing, skydiving, St. John’s Ambulance first aid volunteering, and street dancing, to name a few. I made friends across all course subjects and met inspiring students and teachers who encouraged me to be the best version of myself and try new things.
WM: Where are you now, what are you doing and what does the future hold for you? PKW: Right now, I’m living in Shanghai, China. After five years at AISB as Communications, Alumni, and Yearbook Coordinator, my husband and I moved to Shanghai in August 2018 and we now work at Shanghai American School (SAS). Joel is a Grade 8 Social Studies teacher and I am the Development Coordinator within the Advancement Office, a position that focuses on fundraising, donor
relations and visibility, and alumni relations. Again, my experiences at AISB in the workforce have certainly supported and informed the work I do here at SAS. SAS is Shanghai’s premier international school and operates across two campuses around 60km apart. One campus is in the East of Shanghai (Pudong), home to around 1,000 students, and the other is in the West (Puxi), home to nearly 2,000 students. I am primarily based at the Puxi campus but work school-wide to support Development work on both campuses and travel between both on a weekly basis. Although I’ve really enjoyed the depth of the work I’m doing in Shanghai and learning about the intricacies of my specialization, I miss the opportunities I had in
Bucharest to dabble in work with students. I miss working with students in a variety of capacities; through the numerous alumni programs developed alongside the Alumni Association, Yearbook design with High School students, chaperoning CEESA or outdoor education trips, or going into classrooms to deliver guest talks about my work in media and communications. For a long time, I’ve been considering diving into the world of teaching and this year is finally the year that it’s
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going to happen. This fall I’ll be starting an online Master of Education with Teaching Licensure. I’ll also be shifting gears and transitioning into the classroom to gain practical experience. WM: A message to the next graduating class of the American International School Bucharest. PKW: Your High School experience is going to be very different from that of your peers and that’s okay. High School is different things to different people, it always will be. Some of you will have had an amazing time and some of you may feel that you’d rather be somewhere else. To those who have loved it, awesome. To those who found it challenging, keep your chin up. Know that your University
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experience will also be very different to that of your peers. So many doors will open that will project you into a world you didn’t even know existed. You are going from a Grade of maybe 80 students, to a University of thousands of people around your age with different experiences, backgrounds, interests, and more. You will all find your place among the masses.
Life is a learning process. What I knew at 18 is very different to what I know now, ten years of experiences later. It’s taken me that long to realize that
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what I chose as my initial career path isn’t necessarily what I want to do anymore. Ten years later I’m still learning and figuring it out, but that doesn’t in any way discount all that I’ve done over the last decade. I’ve learnt so much about a fascinating industry that I’m sure I will revisit at a later stage, in a different way.
So remember to always look at the positives of the experiences that you’ve lived and take out all the great things that they’ve brought to your life. In the heat of the moment, when something isn’t going our way, it’s easy to forget that we can still learn from the experience. Stay positive, be thankful for all the opportunities you’ve had, and trust yourself to create the future you want for yourself at any point in time.
Interview by Catalina Gardescu
Stradale is the umbrella organization under which the AISB Cafe, Flavours is operated. With a 5 year relationship together, here is some more information about the hub of delicious food that fuels our students: Why Stradale? Who picked the name and what is its significance? The name Stradale is meant to reflect the core of our philosophy, bringing the world’s streets into people’s lives, may that be at one’s school or workplace. We recreate an authentic street food vibe through semi-open plan kitchens where Japanese robata grills, Indian tandoors, French rotisserie, and Italian pizza ovens run throughout the service and prepare dishes live for our clients. The name actually came naturally along with the concept, created by Flavours, whom through its many years of catering, top events organisation, and other F&B related ventures, noticed an opportunity to change the scene in Bucharest. How would you describe your connection to AISB as a family and as a business? Two AISB kids have become Flavours kids; Ioana and Andrei Balu are brothers, AISB alumni, and both work at Flavours (the umbrella brand under which Stradale is). The AISB culture is hence deeply instilled within our company, a culture that we have noticed to be very similar to our own. We too strive to create a friendly, welcoming, warm environment that brings people together.
We can only be appreciative of the AISB community and thank them for the support throughout the years. What can you tell us about the Stradale network? Stradale currently consists of 7 restaurants in Bucharest and Cluj, locations ranging from office buildings to mega markets and private schools, together serving around one million people each year. Stradale offers Breakfast, Lunch, and private parties through Flavours events. Each location differentiates itself from another in design and through one major conceptual or gastronomic element. For example, in our newest Stradale in Orhideea Towers, we have a Lebanese chef that prepares authentic Lebanese mezze in our designated mezze area. Along with Stradale, we created our own Coffee shop brand, Mitzu, that serves delicious homemade desserts and sandwiches prepared daily on sight, together with our own blend of coffee roasted in house. Another aspect that is exclusive of Stradale, is that we have our own entire research and development department that also includes a licensed nutritionist. Making sure every new dish we serve is to the highest standard, taste and nutrition wise. What are the challenges of running a school cafeteria and what do you enjoy the most about it? We stay true to our ideology, offering a healthy and balanced meal will always be a top priority for us. We control this by producing everything in-house, from bread to sweets. No dishes come frozen, nothing is pre-made,
everything is made freshly everyday. Initially it was a great challenge to help children adapt with our healthy meal plan, devised together with AISB faculty. Overcoming our greatest challenge also proved to be our biggest source of enjoyment, it is both challenging and fun to deal with the cravings of kids and make dishes that are tasty and kid friendly, but also healthy and nutritious. What are your future plans? This year Flavours, amongst other projects, is investing a lot of resources into Stradale, we are currently developing 6 new locations, all of them in grade A office buildings in Bucharest. From a jungle themed restaurant in Amazon’s building to a ‘a la carte’ zone for top business meetings in our new restaurant in Oregon C, Stradale is staying fresh in 2019 and is bringing about novelties with each new project. For 2020 we have 2 projects so far, both outside of Bucharest, in Cluj and in Timisoara. This year Flavours is one of the sponsors in the AISB Center Of Excellence, and is working on creating a gastronomic lab, designed to attract students to pursue their passion for cooking and food design. We have furthermore attracted the attention of schools and office building developers from outside the country, and are working on exploring those avenues as well. Also, stay tuned for our upcoming new Stradale app, an all in one app that organises and keeps track of your diet as well as offering an alternate payment method helping reduce waiting times. There is a lot of work cut out for us in the future, and we have to make sure we stay exciting and different.
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proud past.
dynamic future. AISB spans over half a century of exceptional learning, beautiful memories, wonderful community events, inspiring teachers, academic excellence, cultural diversity, and so much more. Our faculty, staff, students, and parents keep the past alive while creating new stories to share with our AISB family every day.
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BECOMING AN
ALUMNUS Tea D. , AISB Journalism Student
“The curse of the happy high school” UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSITION FROM STUDENT TO ALUMNUS Every year come spring, anxiety and excitement fill the senior hallways. Students cram for their DP exams, acceptance letters come in the mail, and finally, they get to wear those black robes and walk across the stage for their AISB diplomas. They rush the door, throw their graduation caps high into the air, and walk towards their futuretowards the unknown.
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Starting “real life” after high school can be exciting, of course; but it can also be daunting. Besides leaving their actual families behind, most seniors are also leaving behind a family of friends--people who were their support system when they got a bad grade, when they went through their first breakup, or when they got rejected from their dream college. It’s hard to see past that light that shines so brightly at graduation, but the transition from high school to college (or whatever the students decide to do) is one of the toughest transitions we go through in our lifetimes. While visiting AISB in May, founder of Sea Change
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Mentoring, Ellen Mahoney, cited that only 44% of international schools (involved in the study) administer transition activities with their graduates. Thankfully, AISB is among this number. According to AISB Counselor Lindsay Kehl, last year’s seniors received lessons on how to handle the changes that are coming their way-particularly related to “the three P’s: People, Places, and Patience.” Kehl says that, since “most students have not yet made decisions on what to buy for dinner or when is the time to stay in or go out,” these are just some of the common dayto-day decisions that can add additional stress to a first-year university student. “These are just some of the things they need to be
aware of, as they are quickly gaining independence; it’s not something they have a lot of practice with.” Another tough transition? Leaving behind friends and family. Fela S, a 2018 AISB graduate, is studying at a university in Warwick, England. This past school year, she came back to visit several times, and even coached a football club on campus,“I missed being with my friends and siblings every day of the week.” she says. “After going to pursue my degree, I started to appreciate them more and I’m more eager to meet with them and do stuff together.” Carl E. Pickhardt, Ph.D, writes in an article for Psychology Today, that this homesickness and longing to return to the
familiar, is what he calls “the curse of the happy high school.”
finish school after their older brothers or sisters have left the nest.
He says that, “It’s not so much a matter of missing their biological family as missing another family -- their tight circle of close childhood friends with whom they palled around while growing through high school.”
AISB Junior Raquel G. said goodbye to her brother in June 2019, as he left Romania to start a gap year. She was nervous for him to leave, but was also anxious about life on her own. “Even though we fight about silly things, I will definitely miss having him around. It will be hard to adjust at home without him.” She jokes that “the one good thing about him leaving is the ability to use all the assessments he completed in the DP.”
AISB’s Alumni Coordinator Fabiana Pezzoni sees this often, and reports that approximately 20 alumni visit the campus each year. “Alumni who have left the school for more than eight to ten years come back with so much nostalgia and with so much desire to visit every corner. Younger generations come on campus for the people, to visit their teachers, younger friends or siblings.” Graduates who leave siblings behind may be more prone to feelings of loss, depending on their relationship. Kehl says that it can also be really hard on the younger siblings--to
Psychology Professor at Emory University Marshall Duke, in a Washington Post article, states that this is all part of the growth cycle; and that while it may be hard at first, “many siblings [have] had to live in the shadows as parental energy was focused on college applications, campus visits, senior prom, graduation, shopping for dorm stuff and preparing
for the big move.” Duke compares this transition to pruning a flower garden: “You trim back a bush, and the flowers behind it can now blossom.”
school. And given that the average family spends three years at AISB (according to Manager of Admissions, Catalina Gardescu), it’s important to understand this.
AISB Math Teacher Reinier van de Ven also had a tough time saying goodbye to a family member last school year: his son. “It will be very empty and quiet without him,” says van de Ven.
Third culture kids, in some sense, become used to transient lifestyles, and often develop an “internal desire or restlessness to change the scene every few years,” according to the author of the book, Raising Multilingual Children, by Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa. But this doesn’t mean the transition is easy--nor does this mean we don’t desire a place to call home. And for AISB graduates, this school will always be a home they can return to--for a sense of nostalgia, and to experience another part of the cycle: becoming an alumnus.
Even though he’s encouraging his son to lead an independent life, getting used to a home (and a school) without children is emotionally challenging. Psychology Today states that this transitional period, often called “empty nest syndrome,” tends to bring bouts of grief, depression and a loss of purpose as children begin their college careers. A large handful of students, teachers and parents will always be in this cycle of change and transition-especially at an international
*For more student articles, visit The Bite: www.thebite.aisb.ro
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