2008 Winter Globetrotter

December 2008

The Newsletter of Atlanta International School

Globetrotter

In This Issue

Teacher Perspectives on the New Art,

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4 7 10

16

Science and Design (ASD) Center

Teacher Perspectives on ASD Center Kim John Payne Visit Sports Report Music Department “Notes” Primary School News

News Nouvelles Noticias Nachrichten

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 students a real perspective…” See page 2 for more.

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

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 teaching 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 Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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Going Home for the Holidays?

Find a Spring Benefit Auction Item

By Elizabeth Dobbs, 2009 Spring Benefit Chair As you travel to your favorite 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 vacation home available as an auction item for the 2009 Spring Benefit: Passport to Africa, Discovery of a Continent. Wine, culinary items, artisan crafts and items for the home make ideal auction 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 sporting events, television shows, cultural arts events and special events for kids are also requested.

To donate an auction item, download the PDF version of the auction donor form at www.aischool.org/ springbenefit; Or, contact Jay Denslow, Special Events Manager, in the Development Office at (404) 8413841 jdenslow@aischool.org.

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Teacher Perspectives on the New Art, Science & 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 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 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 students a real perspective. 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 current 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 demonstrate 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 purposebuilt 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 teaching 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 interdisciplinary 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

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

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: • The Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta has donated dinner for two in Park 75 • BTB Fitness is offering two four-week Boot Camp Sessions and two one-month gym memberships • Notre Dame Weekend: Enjoy the fighting Irish football team’s home opener vs. Nevada on September 5, 2009. Package includes six tickets to the game and a three bedroom home ¾ of a mile from the stadium, filled with Notre Dame memorabilia • Intern for a Day with Mayor Shirley Franklin and Colleagues • Vacation for a week at an apartment in a romantic tower in Sorrento, Italy plus lunch or dinner with a private tour of the botanical gardens at the historic Villa Tritone • Intern for a Day at WXIA-TV in TV Control and Tape Management • Intern for a Day in Criminal Court • Vacation for a week in a lovely wooden chalet in full Western décor overlooking the Teton Mountain range and up top on the city of Jackson Hole • The High Museum of Art has donated a family membership • You Can Runway, but You Can’t Hide! We have secured two tickets to a fabulous world-famous designer’s fashion show at next September’s NYC Fashion Week • Tour a Delta Air Lines flight simulator for two hours • Toulouse restaurant is offering a wine tasting for two • Spend an afternoon with Clark Howard as he films his TV show and broadcasts his radio show to millions of listeners nationwide • Enjoy a two-night stay at America’s first Cottage Town amidst 450 acres of natural beauty on Lookout Mountain, sleeps a family of six comfortably

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 membership 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.

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 jdenslow@aischool.org., or visit the event website at www.aischool.org/springbenefit.

Asian Cultural Club Presents Lunar New Year Celebration

By Xiaxing Weng, AIS Parent and Volunteer The Lunar New Year celebration 2009 will take place in the auditorium at 3:30 p.m. on January 30, 2009. The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Mongolians, Nepalese, and Bhutanese and in many East Asian countries with significant Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, 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 and more. Please mark your calendar and join us for the celebration!

Please contact the AIS Asian Cultural Club aisacc2006@gmail.com if you wish to receive information about upcoming events Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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Kim John Payne Visit Opens Dialogue About Social Inclusion

By Marsha Huitt, Head of Middle School On November 17 and 18, AIS had the opportunity to host Mr. Kim John Payne, an Australian who has for 24 years worked as a counselor, adult educator, consultant/researcher and educator. He has researched and implemented a Social Inclusion Approach in many 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 uncomfortable 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 courage 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.

“Learning to Look” Focuses on AIS Artists

By Joyce O’Brien, Primary School Faculty Member The “Learning to Look” program has been restructured and will begin in December. This program originated in the 2007/2008 school 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 or a member of your family would like to exhibit a piece of your work, this is your opportunity! The work needs to be ready to exhibit (framed, mounted etc…) and include short biography. The artwork can be of any media or style -- drawings, paintings, photographs 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 joobrien@aischool.org. after the presentation when upper school students posed their insightful questions and demonstrated their skill at confidently participating 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.

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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

Baking for Bethania

AIS Alumna Recalls Experience at Bethania

By Jenna Sanborn, AIS Alumna ‘08

By Christiane Box, Secondary School Faculty Member and Rana El Nahas, AIS Student This past October was a great success for Bethania thanks to everyone who contributed 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 who supported this effort! The $1600 plus raised now makes it possible for us to buy 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 include the annual fundraiser. The fundraiser has been moved to April 25, 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) this year. As I write this, our school has 153,226 stickers, or earned points, so far this school year with a class average of 10,559. This has us ranked 11th place in the state of Georgia. Our top team is Blast as they currently have 35,726 stickers. But our top student is from team Ivy, and he has 5051 stickers.

Here is a description quoted from the website www.firstinmath.com: “Always at the forefront of mathematics education, Suntex introduced www.firstinmath.com and the First In Math Online Team concept in 2002. Students play the 24 game online 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 curriculum. Eight Skill Set groups offer a full range of challenge and tie into national and state standards. Each group is comprised of three 24 game editions, and each game 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 provides students’ family members with a First In Math User ID/Password, which enables them to log on and play the games, learn and refresh math skills 24/7, just like 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

I graduated from AIS last year and have just returned from a two-month stay at Bethania with my friend, Ellinor Darner, a graduate 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 bonding and becoming an older sister to the children, I am forever changed and so is my outlook on life. Regardless of the hardships that the children face on a daily basis, their constant laughter, optimism, and joy for life have taught me the definition of true beauty. I believe I have found my calling and new home. My main focus 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 attending her first year of college 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

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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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 29 Edwardsville, KS 66113-9029

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 yearbook 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 asset and have allowed us to meet our deadlines. Tanya runs a tight ship, keeping the students motivated and engaged throughout this whole process.

“We have met our first deadline of submitting 36 pages to the publisher by November 10 and are hard at work to complete and submit 46 more pages by our next deadline of Dec. 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 simply by donating time. The more contributors we have, the more we can build the program and improve the yearbook in the future.

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 nuances 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 Historic Georgian Terrace Hotel.

Please make plans to join us by contacting Wendy White at workoutwindy@yahoo.ca 6

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 parents until May 1, 2008 against another week of summer camp of equal or lesser value. What a great way to ensure a spot in the 2009 AIS summer camp, and show that you care!

Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

Sports Report

By Sports Boosters Middle School Swimming is Off to a Great Start Coach Lo-Piccolo’s season began November 5, and the team had one of the largest turnouts in school history. Coach Lo-Piccolo feels the effort has been great this year and loves the atmosphere at practice. The MS swim team has two big meets this year -- December 13 at Marist and January 17 at Pace. Coach feels they should be exciting meets and likes her teams’ chances.

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

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 basketball game at AIS! The season is underway and games are plentiful. We play almost every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and a handful of Saturdays until February. Please check the website for a home game that works with your schedule. Don’t miss Pizza Night on February 6 and look out for announcements 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 free pass/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.

Senior Night was a Blackout, where all the fans dressed in black, as we cheered for our players and supported the seniors. The volleyball seniors were Captain Ana de Olano, Annika McNally and Tanya Lancaster. The cross-country seniors were Boys’ Captain, TC Winter, Girls’ Captain Mariette Marano, and Eve Laurent.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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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.

Only five players return, four ladies and one gent, from the 07-08 squads. We welcome eleven new boys and eight new girls to the 08-09 rosters. After two games we thought we 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: How has the transition been from New Orleans to here?

A: New Orleans will always be home to me, but Atlanta is starting to feel like it.

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.

CoachWillie Richardson has coached at St. Martin’s High School in Louisiana, has worked as assistant coach atWestern 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.

Grade 8 & 5K Students Team up for Creative Writing Unit

By Gaynor Dindorf, Secondary School Faculty Member As part of their creative writing unit, grade 8 English students were paired up with 5K students whom they interviewed to ascertain their likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests. Each eighth grader then composed a story for the 5K student he or she interviewed.

After extensive drafting, revising and editing, the eighth graders returned two weeks later to read their creations and to present each 5K child with a copy of his 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.

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Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

Music Department “Notes”

AIS Music Department Presents ThreeEvening Concert

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. The AYWS is comprised of approximately 80 high school musicians from a 16-county area of metropolitan Atlanta. The group performs five concerts annually and studies only the most challenging wind literature

The combined Primary School, Middle School and Upper School areas of the Department of Music presented various performing ensembles over a threenight 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 programs ranging from holiday favorites to a harp feature to the orchestral masterworks

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 external examiners around the world in April. Two weeks later, on March 4, some candidates will present their composition portfolios in live performance. Both events begin at 7 p.m. in the AIS auditorium, and the AIS community is invited.

Other Winter Programs of the AIS Department of Music On February 5 and March 2, all interested AIS community members, including students, faculty, and staff, will be presented on the AIS Chamber Players series of recitals. On February 24, students in the primary school and middle school divisions will be presented in a band/orchestra/chorus program. All events begin at 7 p.m. in the AIS auditorium.

AIS Junior, Jessica Sachsenmaier, Performs in New York “Singing for the Organ Rededication Service at St. John the Divine in New York City was truly a once-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

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 symphony orchestra and chorale demonstrating how music is created and utilized in electronic entertainments and other pop culture. The students also visited the Museum of Science and Industry, Navy Pier, and had the opportunity to experience Indian and British cuisines.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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FIRST Robotics Team 1414 Heads into Sixth Year of Competition

By Monique Hasham, AIS Student and PR Team Leader Team 1414 or IHOT the international house of technology, is registered for the next competition and is raring to go! Following a near win in the Peachtree Regional last season, relocation and reorganization of the Team 1414 trailer, and in spite of economic indicators that might discourage less feisty teams, Team Mentor, 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, including National Rookie team award, National animation awards, 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 school students spend hours to create a robot design with the perfect speed, programming, handling and drive control. Novice and expert 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 allover the US and the world. Thus team 1414 is readily awaiting the upcoming robotics competition in 2009 in hopes of new sponsorships, 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,” embarked 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 tricks during two workshops for grades 6 through 8. Ballerinas, dancing mice, tango masters and sword dancers whirled around the 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 Puppenkiste visited AIS. 10 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

“Into the Woods” Experience

Middle School to Present “Pinocchio”

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. Getting 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 connected 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 emotions 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 and that there is nothing like the AIS Theatre. No experience could equal that of the AIS Theatre.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 itself, 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.

Performances February 12, 13 and 14 at 7.00 p.m. in the LPAC Ticket Sales Start 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 language 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 nationwide tour sponsored by the Goethe Institute and is intended to enhance students’ language skills through music. A music writing workshop for students 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.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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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 in Nice, France. On the first day, Mr. Alan Preis, secondary school math teacher, presented the findings of his survey on instructional 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 United Nations International School (UNIS) by psychologists on bilingual students, we created activities to explicitly teach vocabulary at the 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

By Pascale Viala, AIS Parent and Volunteer After a few busy back-to-school weeks during which our two Cooking 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.

More than 80 people were present and enjoyed good French wine and French 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 ensemble_ais@yahoo.com.

Ensemble wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season!

12 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

Thanksgiving Tradition Continues at AIS

By Laurel-Ann Dooley, AIS Parent and Volunteer AIS primary school students started Thanksgiving break a day early with a celebration feast at school. In two seatings of 270 and 240, respectively, grades 4K-5 gathered in the auditorium for 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.

Grades 3, 4 and 5 performed songs of gratitude, and all grades contributed canned food to decorated 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.”

Volunteer Adele Pearson agreed. “It was a fantastic experience – there was lots of excitement in the air. I thoroughly enjoyed it!”

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

WorldFest Showcases AIS to Atlanta Community

By Dawn Hawkins, AIS Parent & Volunteer

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.

The biggest change, however, is yet to come! We are pleased to announce the school 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 feature 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 your doorstep in 5 business days.

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 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 Parent 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 tremendous 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

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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

By John Hurley, AIS Parent and Volunteer 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, mark your calendar for Saturday evening, February 28, 2009 to experience the Black Parents Harambee signature event – Jazz in Black and White.

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 feature two outstanding acts. Headlining the entertainment is the Grammy nominated recording artist, Russell Gunn - an American classical/fusion and contemporary Neo-bop -Jazz musician. The event is also showcasing Atlanta’s own “Rio Negro,” a globally traveled, HBO television featured, premier Latin band that jumps to the beat of Latin Jazz, Salsa, Meringue, and Reggaetón. And you will jump too!

Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized with Creole/New Orleans-style cuisine and quench your thirst with New Orleans inspired libations.

Come join us on Saturday evening, February 28, 2009 in the cabaret-styled, transformed AIS auditorium. Invite friends and family to 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.

Volunteer Opportunities: It’s not too late to be part of planning and preparing the final touches for this event Volunteers are needed. Please contact Verna Cleveland at VernaCleveland@mac.com (404).374.0349 or Scott Britton at scott_britton@merck. com (404) 885-9320/(610)960-4135.

Exciting Year Ahead for EDIN CAS Group

By Robin Kuik and Emmaline Campbell, AIS Students and EDIN Student Leaders This is a new and exciting year for the student CAS group, EDIN. We started off this year with a name change to EDIN: EDucating yourself and INspiring others. We did this in order to incorporate new ideas and themes without 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.

We are still the EDIN that will bring you the annual Love Your Body Week, including the Life-Size Barbie and Merrick’s Walk. In addition, we are going to introduce a meditation session before the June exams to help students release stress.

This month, EDIN hosted a guest speaker, Julia Wallace, Editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With her focus on leadership, she shared stories about 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 lunch in Mrs. Jones’s room 205A for fun activities and discussions. Also, we have a Love Your Body Week committee, which is tasked with brainstorming and organizing possible new activities for Love Your Body Week in February. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events 14 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

“…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 For the first time, the AIS Model United Nations (MUN) team traveled to Charlottesville, VA to participate in the 28th University of Virginia conference. A large team of 30 grade nine to eleven students were selected, representing Algeria, Columbia and Azerbaijan, as well as serving on two specialty committees. The group was notable for the large number of debutants, as well as the many students participating in only their second MUN conference.The trip began Friday morning with a tour of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s historic mansion 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 security in the Middle East. At the specialized committees, Nicole Dancsz (10) and Hortense Badarani (11) were thrust into the cauldron of the British Cabinet in 1940; Soli Mansour (11) and Andrew Wooster (10) debated the US pullout from Iraq as members of the Iraqi Government in 2012; and Claire Colberg (11) and Lindsey Sanborn (10) were part of the NATO-panel arguing over the organization’s future 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.

Many of these students are now earnestly preparing for THIMUN, in late January. For those who won’t be joining us in The Hague, we will be having a final program in the spring. The AIS MUN program continues to go from strength to strength, and the success of our students is 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.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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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-yearold kindergarten program is the first formal year of education for students and the first year families become a part of our AIS community. The children get to know one another both in the classroom and at recess; parents may still, in November, 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 describing the child they see at home by sharing humorous stories, special talents, unique interests 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 sharing information about the 4K child seen at home.

As we continue on our journey to be the best community possible, 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 sensitive 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 opportunities for parents to share a similar experience.

Speaking and Listening in the Primary School

By Simone Becker, Literacy Coordinator, Primary School 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, teachers 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.

In the 4K classes, students role play conflict situations and present solutions expressing 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 exploring rules and roles. Now they are sharing with their peers what creative games they 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 investigated 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 grade 5 students compare and contrast the life of scientists and the contributions they made. 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 create the strong foundation needed to make sense of the world through language

16 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

AIS Hosts Clark University Student Teachers

By Alain Poiraud, Head of Upper Primary School In the true spirit of the PYP and Learner Profile, two Upper Primary School teachers Andréa Stangenberg and Diane Dear have opened their doors and classrooms to five future educators 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 assistance to the classroom teachers two mornings a week from November 10 to December 10.

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 excellence 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.

Primary School Art Exhibition at Binders Art Store

St. Martin’s Celebration

By Simone Becker, Literacy Coordinator, Primary School On November 11 the streets around AIS in Garden Hills were illuminated by numerous beautifully 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 German 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 cooperation with the Deutschvergnügen, organized and sponsored the food and drinks after the celebration.

The Upper Primary School Art 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,

.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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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 collaboration 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 dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And 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 SocialWork.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 integrated 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 On Friday November14, the Primary School Chorus performed for the Atlanta Jewish 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 luncheon. 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, the 24 fourth and fifth graders represented AIS beautifully.

18 Globetrotter • Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008

Parents Participate in Me and My Body Unit of Inquiry By 4K Faculty Presently our 4K students are immersed in our Unit of Inquiry titled, “Me and My Body.”

As all of our units are transdisciplinary and applicable to any age or grade level, our 4K students 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 watching 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 and respectful sharing of thoughts and ideas!

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 and careful planning. We look forward to our future presenters!

Entire School Community Plays a Role in Student Learning At the Primary School, all members of the staff are also involved in our active teaching and learning community! Our nurse, Ms. Fay, can be seen here working on flags for our UN day celebration. Ms. Ivana, our school administrative assistant, can be seen enjoying the reading from a 5K student. Learning and achievements are celebrated in all corners of our building, at any given moment in time – the classrooms themselves are only one part of our learning environment at AIS. Reflecting on the Carnival of Animals Unit of Inquiry

AIS Parent Shares Insights About Picasso’s Work

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. .

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 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.”

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.

Atlanta International School Newsletter / December 2008 • Globetrotter

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AIS Christmas Market Welcomes the Holiday Season

By Tom Schwartz, President-Elect, Parent Organization (PO) For our 6th Annual Christmas Market, the weather was prefect, the decorations 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 that welcomed 33 vendors and more than 800 guests to our school. Needless to say, with temperatures so cold, hot food and drinks were 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 entertaining two VIPs: Fulton County Commission Chair, Mr. John Eaves and Mr. 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 at AIS. Thanks to all of our 170+ volunteers who came out and the 800+ people in attendance, we could not do this without your support. If you would like to join our team, please contact us at christmasmarket@ aischool.org. 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.

WorldFest Showcases AIS to Atlanta Community

Globetrotter

The Globetrotter is the newsletter of Atlanta International School.

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Gordana Goudie Communications Manager Atlanta International School 2890 North Fulton Drive • Atlanta, GA 30305 404.841.3879 • globetrotter@aischool.org Submissions may be edited for length or content prior to publishing.

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