This issue of Global Exchange is dedicated in loving memory of Avery Fierman, 2005 - 2022.
The AIS community will never forget the light and warmth that Avery brought to the school.
When we discuss ‘new normal’ but can’t quite remember what ‘normal’ was like, it’s clear there has been an irreversible shift in society.
As is often the case, children and young people are most impacted by disruption to their world, but prove to be the most capable of adapting and finding new ways to be. We have never been so grateful for the hope that our young people give us for the future.
This year has been a bridge between the before times and the ways we’ll adapt to in the future. At AIS, we’re at an important juncture in our own story; 30 years since our first graduating class but at the start of implementing our strategic vision to 2030.
This path of progress is exciting and we embrace it.
The International Baccalaureate curricular continuum instills a joy of learning that never fades. So this period for the school feels like a natural part of our own learning continuum - a never-ending ambition to do and be better.
In this issue of Global Exchange, we celebrate the different stages and ages of our students. We also recognize the village - the community that surrounds and supports them.
And what a village we have!
• Our Alumni, looking forward in their own lives, but also giving back to the school.
• Our fellow and future Trustees - making complex choices, always with realizing our students’ full potential in their hearts.
• Our sponsors and Eagles Fund supporters - whose contributions enrich the AIS experience for all students, and extend this wonderful education to families across many demographics.
• Our faculty and staff members, who educate, guide and cheer the students as they learn and grow.
• Our parent body, represented so wonderfully by the indefatigable Parent Organization!
And of course, our students, who never cease to amaze us with their thoughtfulness, ingenuity and focus - on their own now, and as architects of society’s future.
We appreciate them all, and know you do too.
Kevin Glass Head of School Scott Britton Chair of the Board of Trustees
CONTRIBUTORS
Scott Britton
Catherine Calhoun
Reilly Campbell
Dee Dee Dennis
Kevin Glass
Gretchen Greywall
Kelsey Hicks-Bunns
Greg Hucks
Michelle Jones
Aristia Kinis
Pierrette Maillet
Elizabeth Martin
Venetia Mott
Helen Muñoz
Tyler Sant
Anja Sebunya
Rebecca Wade-Chung
ON THE COVER Assata, Class of 2032, enjoying Primary School field day.
ON THE INSIDE COVERS
Primary School mural by teacher Ashley Dopson and primary students.
EDITORIAL
Yulissa Ayala, Junior Designer
Alice Cappelletti, Editor
Emily Hands, Editor-In-Chief
Natalia Montoya, Art Director
Alex Tat, Editor
AIS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2021 - 2022
Scott Britton, Chair
Chiara Visconti-Pervanas ’95, Vice-Chair
Shelley Giberson, Treasurer
Josh Moffitt, Secretary
EX OFFICIO
Kevin Glass, Ex Officio Trustee
Olga Plaut, Trustee Emerita, Founder
Roy Plaut, Chair Emeritus, Founder
Monique Seefried, Chair Emerita
Deb Sudbury, Chair Emerita
MEMBERS
Beth Kytle Chandler '98
Heidi Deringer
Carrie Doyle
Jeremy Faa
Stacy Galant Shailendra
Humberto Garcia-Sjögrim
Aaron Hackett
Sandra MacQuillan
Matthew Mazzawi
Fasil Muche '93
Linda Pak Bruner
Susannah Parker
Barbara Quiroga
Farah Spainhour
Bahns Stanley
Rick van Nostrand
Joyce Yamaato
Thank you to our dedicated volunteer Board of Trustees, for their care and stewardship of AIS this year.
We say goodbye and thank you to Beth Kytle Chandler ’98, who has served as a Trustee over nine years since 2010! AIS alumna Beth is a Managing Director, Wealth Advisor at Cresset Capital.
She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned her MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business with a certificate in socially responsible business.
Beth and her husband, Zeb Chandler, are proud AIS parents. Their daughter, Clara, is Class of 2033, and future AIS student, Celeste, was born in July 2020.
Neerja Breja is an entrepreneur and community builder with over 20 years of experience in business development and talent acquisition within global technology.
Since 2006, she has worked for Zillion Technologies as Vice President Professional Services.
Neerja holds a Bachelor’s in economics from H.N.B Garhwal University and an MBA in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Abhishek, and their children, Daksh, Class of 2023, and Gyaana, Class of 2030, both at AIS.
Peter Guan is Head of the Mortgage Derivatives Group at Voya Investment Management.
Before his financial career, Peter was a mathematics professor. He has a BA in mathematics from Ocean University of China, an MS from Carnegie Mellon University and a mathematics PhD from the University of South Florida.
Peter and his family have been in Atlanta since 2004 and his son, Adam, is in the Class of 2029.
Sarah-Elizabeth Langford is the Interim Executive Director of the Development Authority of Fulton County. An Atlanta native and Howard University School of Law graduate, Sarah-Elizabeth is passionate about community and service.
Sarah-Elizabeth received her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. She holds board positions on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta among others. Her daughter, Maria, is in the Class of 2032.
This has been a pivotal year for the AIS Trustees and leadership team. They have spent hours pouring over the AIS Vision for Learning to 2030 and the very detailed strategic planning process established to realize that vision. The AIS Vision for Learning to 2030 is for the school to be:
A community of global learners equipped to explore their passions without barriers, and address the challenges of complexity to create an intentionally inclusive, sustainable future for all.
The five strategic planning themes are: Language and Culture, Inclusion and Belonging, Learning for Action and Impact, Organizational Capacity and Our Learning Environment.
Under each theme, in consultation with our community of parents, employees and students, ten first phase projects for 20222023 have been identified:
Conducting a language and literacy review
The continued roll-out of restorative practices
An equity & inclusion rolling three-year framework
Launching the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Program
A full professional learning program
A three-year technology and innovation plan
An eco audit
A school-wide organizational review
Non-tuition revenue exploration, phase 1
Co-Lab feasibility study
Each project has a leader who will be working with a multidisciplinary team in school.
This is just the start of realizing our vision for AIS and marks an exciting time of ambitious developments. Updates and opportunities to get involved will be shared regularly as we aim to make progress in partnership!
CNN SPOTLIGHTS CAS GROUP, AIS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Middle Years Program Physical and Health Education teacher, Veronica McDaniel, became the focus of a CNN piece about a Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) group, AIS Against Human Trafficking
ASANSHAY GUPTA ’23 WINS CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE FOR GEORGIA'S 5TH DISTRICT
Asanshay was featured in the press, on broadcast and social media when he won the U.S. House of Representatives districtwide Congressional App Challenge for middle school and high school students. Nikema Williams, Congresswoman for Georgia’s 5th district, presented his award.
Primary school French teachers, Carine Bouton and Frédérique McGirt, showcased Harvard’s Project Zero thinking routines in an article about teaching math that appeared in the prestigious academic journal, Les Cahiers Pédagogiques.
AIS Head of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Marsha Maxwell, appeared with experts from Morehouse College, Amsterdam International School, Berlin Brandenburg International School and the Centre for Innovation at Leiden University as part of a live streamed panel discussion: How VR Changes Learning.
ARRIVING
Bonjour
Buenos Días
Guten Morgan
Zǎoshang Hǎo
OUTSIDE CLASSROOM
We built a waffle house. Das ist gut!
CIRCLE TIME
Mystery readers are always a fun surprise.
LUNCH
C'est un yaourt à la pêche? Miam!
C'est délicieux.
Consistency isn’t a word you’d usually apply to 3 and 4-year-olds - but when we asked the students in the Early Learning Center to describe what they were doing we kept getting the same answer - playing!
And it’s true - they are playing, but while doing so they are immersed in one of four languages: Chinese, French, German or Spanish.
When that big light goes down, a little star (Xīngxīng) comes up.
During a day’s play they use their natural curiosity to question, problem-solve, reflect and empathize. The inquiry-based International Baccalaureate curriculum ensures they develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Follow their day below.
Pink is just a color.
See you tomorrow.
We need to take turnsand teachers too.
Pourquoi? Warum? Wèishéme? Por qué? Why? (and repeat..!)
From the beginning to the end of Primary School, AIS students learn the importance of purposeful writing. Early Learning Center (ELC) Principal, Helen Muñoz, explained how children as young as three years old practice pre-writing skills, forming the foundation needed to become confident communicators.
“We use mark-making and name writing to convey messages and communicate our opinions” Ms. Muñoz said.
The term mark-making describes how children intentionally create their own lines, patterns, or shapes. Mark-making is a fundamental step in a child’s pre-writing development and shapes their journey towards purposeful writing and drawing.
“We love to cook inside the ELC, after all, cooking not only tastes great but also helps us strengthen our fine motor skills, our math skills, be risk-takers and work collaboratively. But it's very important that we keep ourselves safe when working around a hot oven, so the children make signs to label that the oven will be hot and not to touch it.”
While 3K students hone their pre-writing skills, older students are making their mark in a different way.
As part of their Grade 5 exhibition project, students Abigail Paik, Stella Behrenwaldt, Xavier Butler and Elena Gusavac (seen opposite) used poetry to express an important message about breaking stereotypes.
In their poem titled “I am not a stereotype”, the group explored how people of different races, genders and sexualities are viewed.
The greatest of my kind but, never gonna get the same pay The image of the girls society always makes, They tell you not to eat a burger, they tell you that your size matters but what about the inside?
Society says you can’t bear pain, society is the one to blame. My body is not an invitation And am not one of the best female athletes I’m one of the best athletes
Young girls are taught that likability is an important part of the space they occupy in the world, and that women are expected to change who they are in order to become more liked. There is going to be someone out there who accepts you. You don't need to change who you are. You are you,
It’s all about what is inside, who should care about your dress size.
So let me take a reality check. You can put me in jail for doing anything across the board. And to escape the hood I need to do a sport, rap, America is a living trap, I don't play Basketball or Football, I don't do drugs at all, in
this horrid America I will not last, in the long run…………..
You say I don’t belong, but I have come a long way. I have come from far away.
I have crossed the borders. I believe in different beliefs. When you kick me out, Don’t you feel that relief. I am different, oh I am different, but is that bad? Ladies, gents, theys, thems. I am not here to play, I am here to stay. … Stay. … Stay, yes stay, but not just stay, I also want to play and laugh and learn and sleep, and …have… belong. This can be a place, were we all can live our happier lives, so please don’t chase my dreams away. I want this, but at the same time I don’t want this at all. Do not draw the borders on me, don’t draw the borders on us! Don’t see me as a scared outsider, a stupid immigrant! See me as a brave outsider, a proud immigrant, or just see me as me! Me. I am just human, but of course you can’t see that! With your blind eyes that see no further than the border. Your blind eyes that blind you from my kind inside. So try, try like I have tried for so many years.
If you don’t like the opposite gender society won’t accept you When they feel they don’t belong, they have to pretend to be straight
Their parents telling them who they have to date
Sending you off to a school to “fix” you
Why do the ones born in the wrong bodies not have the right to become who they are?
Why do the ones unique from the others not get to shine like a shooting star?
This part of us does not define us, we like the same gender so what? We don’t feel attracted to anyone, so what? We were born in the wrong design so we redesigned, redefined, so what? This does not affect our ability to do anything. We can do the same things as you. We can play, work, learn, feel, fail and succeed.
We are more than our gender, race, religion or sexuality
We are not a stereotype
We are just here.
Whether it’s seniors graduating with highly sought after bilingual and trilingual IB Diplomas, or our youngest Eagles beginning their immersive education, language learning and the cultural understanding it brings is an AIS cornerstone.
Although unable to make the traditional Grade 5 Journey Abroad this year (fingers crossed for 2023) these students marking their last Primary year still enjoyed a rich variety of experiences, all while having a lot of fun.
Thanks to the teachers, Principals and parents, who through endless energy and creativity, cheered our Grade 5s into their Middle School years. The result was a meaningful and exciting program of events to mark this important rite of passage.
As well as a wide range of activities in Chinese, French, German and Spanish, the carnival at the end of their special week brought the universal language of celebration to all our Grade 5 students.
Enjoying a Peruvian feast before a virtual reality trip to Costa Rica.
Making dumplingsone of the yummiest activities on the menu for students learning Chinese. Followed by some time in the sun catching a Chinese yo-yo.
Spray painting a ‘Berlin wall’, touring graffiti locally and exploring Germany through VR.
Creating prehistoric murals can work up an appetite - time for lunch at a French restaurant.
Completing Primary School means it’s time for a carnival - in every language!
This Upper School robotics team happily works weekends and late into the night and their enthusiasm is infectious. This year more of our community than ever watched our International House of Technology (iHOT) Robotics team compete in the state finals. But do you really know what makes this group tick?
We caught up with team captains, Maanya Madan ’23, Asanshay Gupta ’23, Asha Adler ’23, Ryan Watkins ’22 and Natalie Williams ’22, to find out how it works in their own words.
Getting to the FIRST Robotics World Championships three years in a row doesn’t come easy! As a team we dedicate a lot of time and manpower towards raising money. We spent almost $35k this past season alone. Fundraising keeps our team running.
Many students join iHOT with little to no prior experience but with the determination to learn. We spend our pre-season (the time before the game is announced) on training and teaching skills, to get prepared for build season.
At the start of January, a brand new challenge is announced. Year to year it varies from games similar to basketball to challenges like fueling rockets. With these new games come new design challenges that alter the complex choices of the robot’s functionality.
Based on their overall performance, teams from all over the world converge in Houston to compete in the World Championships. iHOT has qualified for 3 consecutive years, getting to the quarterfinals.
We then have 2 months to design, build, and test a brand new robot to compete against other district teams. We work with AIS alumni and our industry sponsors to machine a variety of custom parts from scratch. When fully assembled, robots can weigh over 150 pounds!
IHOT competes in a variety of regional competitions across the state, from Columbus to Albany and eventually to the State Championship in Macon. In the past few years, iHOT has been the top team in the city of Atlanta.
Follow @ihot1414 on Instagram
When it comes to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) at AIS, there are no boundaries. Students are encouraged to flex their creative muscles and apply whatever skills are needed to solve problems and find solutions. The result is a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. We interviewed one AIS graduate, Patrick Finley ’18, now at Georgia Tech, to see how this cross-curricular approach works for him.
PATRICK: I’m launching the Collegiate Propulsive Lander Challenge nonprofit - a $3.5m global challenge for university teams to propulsively land rockets within 10 meters of accuracy. We’re looking to get our top young minds working on the most exciting problems in space - and right now there’s no opportunity to work on self-landing technology.
SO GIVING BACK IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
P: Definitely! It’s a large part of what drives me. I think it’s something that was instilled in all of us at AIS, and one of the reasons I’ve kept in touch with the school. Programs like the Robotics team or Mock Trial are critical to the future of our young people, who I love to come back and support - most recently at the AIS Investment Club.
YOU MENTIONED THREE CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE (CAS) GROUPS, WERE YOU INVOLVED IN MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT AIS?
P (laughing): You could say that! I tried a few different things, but AIS Robotics was a huge part of my life. I also played varsity soccer and music has always been very important to me.* The STEAM internship program was new when I was at AIS so I also took full advantage of that.
DID ALL THESE DIFFERENT INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES IMPACT YOU AFTER GRADUATING AIS?
P: Since graduating, I received the Gold Scholarship at Georgia Tech, worked at SpaceX on the Starship program, led a number of engineering teams from race cars, liquid engine rockets to carbon capture devices (where I hold a patent), co-founded a software startup (Rivue) and a local Irish music school (Phoenix School of Irish Arts). I owe 100% of that to the experience I had of managing multiple interests at AIS. I simply would not have had the same path if I’d attended a school that forced me to solely focus on exams.
P: Right now I’m working flat-out to launch the Lander Challenge, but I have some other long term interestseducation, alignment of artificial superhuman intelligence, becoming a multi-planetary/multi-societal species and the general improvement of our future! I imagine I’ll end up back in startups looking to make a big impact. On the other side of the spectrum, I’ve got a music tour scheduled for June 2022 across the USA.
The sky’s not even the limit for Patrick!
*UNDERSTATEMENT ALERT Patrick plays the fiddle and won 1st place at the World Championships of Irish Music two years in a row while at AIS!
This has been the most successful year in AIS Athletics history! With a record number of Jr Eagles participants, MAAC Champions in each season, Varsity teams nearly all making their respective GHSA State Tournaments and an array of school records and State Championships being claimed.
Of course, the scoreboard only tells part of the story. From the ELC to Varsity level, AIS Athletics is all about the experience, including developing leadership skills, team building, representing an inclusive community, and wearing the Eagle crest with pride.
• 2022 GHSA Single-A Private Boys Soccer State Champions and the only undefeated team in AIS history
• Cara Joyce ‘22, 800M and 1600M State Champion
• Hannah Johnson ’22 scored the all-time soccer goals record at AIS with over 100 goals in just two and a half seasons
• Edoardo Moroni ’26 and Leela Basole ’27 won the MAAC Individual Boys and Girls Golf Championships, leading their teams to win the MAAC Championships
• Middle School Girls Swim won the MAAC Girls Swimming Championship
• Middle School Boys Soccer won the MAAC Boys Soccer Championship
• Middle School Girls Track and Field won the MAAC Track and Field Championship, with our combined score that led the entire conference
• Another AIS first, we won the Varsity Girls Golf Area Championship, with Nora Anderson ’22 finishing 8th in the State
Congratulations to this year's graduating class! Out of 105 seniors, we had 47 student-athletes, some of whom will now be competing collegiately:
• Mateo Bargagna, Men’s Soccer, Tufts University
• Josh Grand, Men’s Soccer, Emory University
• Hannah Johnson, Women’s Soccer, Wake Forest University
• Cara Joyce, Cross Country and Track & Field, Yale University
• Ford Lee, Men’s Soccer, Suffolk University
• Gray Mollenkamp, Men’s Soccer, Claremont McKenna College
At this year’s Eagles Sports Awards event, we inducted Cara Joyce, the most decorated student-athlete in AIS history, into the Eagle Sports Hall of Fame.
Cara joins Nieja Crawford ’16 as the second member of our Hall of Fame. Cara’s outstanding running career at AIS has spanned four years. Her legacy will inspire generations of future athletes and have them running to break her records. Among her accomplishments are:
• 3 time 800M GHSA State Champion
• 3 time 1600M GHSA State Champion
• 2021 Individual Cross Country Champion
• 2019 4x400 Relay Team Champion
• 2019 Girls Cross Country Team Champion
• 4 time All-Metro Powerade Cross Country recognition
What’s the best thing about being part of the Primary School W-AIS TV production program? And the hardest?
We asked the 2021 - 2022 fall and spring crews to find out.
Since its launch in October 2020, W-AIS TV (open to Grades 4 and 5 students) has been broadcasting to the whole Primary School every month.
For co-anchor Regina, the experience helped her to find her voice. She explained that while ‘a little shy when younger’, she’d found confidence through W-AIS and had a lot of fun! For her fellow co-anchor, Alejandro, the experience of speaking on camera was both slightly stressful and the best bit about it.
Whether it was the crew of field and inside camera operators, the graphics team or any of the other students producing the weekly broadcast, they all had something to report back! Margot’s biggest challenge was the ‘early morning start….sigh’, while for
Bena-Nsilu, the pre-school start time was one of his favorite parts, along with making videos and editing.
Others enjoyed writing and memorizing scripts and agreed that these skills helped with regular school work.
One thing that most of the students had in common was their appreciation of making new friends. Alize (Grade 5 Chinese) and Gyaana (Grade 4 Spanish) summed up what many expressed:
Alize: “We wouldn’t be friends with each other or with so many people from different Grades and language classes without W-AIS TV."
Gyaana: “The other kids in our classes ask, ‘How do you know them?’ when we’re saying hello to lots of different people.”
Alize: “And we always answer, W-AIS TV!”
This year also marked the first time that students could enjoy the experience as part of their daily schedule instead of a co-curricular offering outside of the school day. Having ensembles as a part of the curriculum for the first time has given our students a more significant opportunity to build their skills and abilities and dive deeper into music-making.
The bands, choirs, and string orchestras provided our community with a virtual concert experience in January and in person performances at the end of the school year. Both these groups are built with students who have demonstrated remarkable resilience and shown tremendous dedication to their craft. They, along with our musical directors, are eager to welcome their classmates to join in the music-making next school year.
AIS ensembles are for musicians of every level. For those who want to play a new band or string instrument or who want to sing, everyone is welcome. The only criteria is genuine curiosity and a desire to learn!
In addition to our large group music ensembles, AIS has an after school music lessons program that offers individual
The sound of live music made a welcome return to AIS in 2022 as our music ensembles, bands, string orchestras and choirs met and performed in person once again.
When it comes to escaping from phones, FOMO and friendship drama there is nothing quite like putting on a show - and we are not talking solo productions!
A look behind the scenes of the AIS theater program reveals so much more than stand-out acting, singing and stagecraft.
When the curtain came down on the last night of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to standing ovations, people raved about the AIS Players’ amazing acting and singing talent. But it wasn’t the reviews that left Theater Director, Chloe Keller, misty-eyed, it was the backstage stories.
“Each of these students has taken huge riskswe’ve deliberately pushed them right out of their comfort zones - and for them to see their work validated like this is huge,” says Keller, herself a 30 year veteran of stage and film teaching.
The play is set in a school gym - just like the one that filled the space now occupied by the Lademacher Performing Arts Center (LPAC). A symbolism that is not lost on Chloe who told us, “It’s as if the space was stripped back to its original state, like performers often are when they put on a show like this - because there is nowhere to hide! Students often discover their real selves.”
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Fall 2021In both 'Spelling Bee' and the November production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, there are numerous examples of students who signed up to work behind the scenes but ended up on stage - and vice versa.
Others were challenged by being put in charge of sophisticated lighting, sound and staging schemes. “Some of the equipment is very expensive so we do have backup plans in place” says Ms. Keller, “we just don’t tend to tell the students that!” she added.
Her colleague, Middle Years Theater teacher, Mira Hirsch, also believes in using theater to stretch students’ boundaries, often along themes of social justice and awareness. Her Grade 8 students used verbatim testimonies from Holocaust survivors, witnesses and liberators for their theatre project, This Is What I’ve Scene. Mira told us: "Theater is a very effective medium, not just for entertainment, but also to educate and to cultivate empathy in both performers and the audience.”
For her Grade 9 and 10 classes, a series of “mashup” performances, stretched them in yet more ways by mixing artistic genres to create new and exciting art forms. An adaptation of Romeo and Juliet features 1960’s songs, such as Stevie Wonder's For Once in My Life. Thornton Wilder's Our Town was combined with the music of Simon & Garfunkel.
Whether the students are challenging themselves personally, morally, artistically or all three, when it comes to theater at AIS, anything goes!
Romeo & Juliet & Motown, Spring 2022 My Little Town, Spring 2022 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spring 2022
Very nicely thank you! With all things green high on our school agenda, it’s no wonder that students from across the Grades have been planting, tending and caring for a wide variety of plants and vegetables around the campus.
Grade 2 created a brand new ‘Peace Garden’ in a previously unused patch and we even had a new CAS group spring up - the Middle and Upper School Garden 'n' Gather. Enjoy this display of our keen gardeners’ produce:
Broccoli
Viola Scallions
Pansy
Strawberry
Kale
Cabbage
Tomato
Lavender
There are so many talented, passionate students in our Middle School - and many of them do incredible things you may not even know about. Middle School Principal, Michelle Jones, told us who to give an extra special shout-out to:
GRADE 8
Yuna Cho
In October 2021, Yuna participated in Swim Across America – Atlanta Open Water Swim at Lake Lanier. Swimmers took part in the charity swim to fundraise for local cancer research at Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
GRADE 6 STUDENTS
Adam Khan, James Kauffman, Isabella Jones, Sebastian Joerss, Sophia Byrne & Zayaan Khan
Band Directors in our district for the Georgia Music Educators Association were asked to nominate top Grade 6 students in their bands to participate in the first-ever Grade 6 Honor Band. Ms. Rosas told us “All of my Grade 6 are excellent - they are some of the best Grade 6 musicians I've had the joy of teaching so, of course, I nominated all of them! Better still, they were all selected to participate in a full-day workshop with conductors and music instructors, before performing in a concert along with 22 other schools.
GRADE 7
GRADE 6
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan started the first ever Middle School Ping Pong Club this year and it is going really well! We hope that next year will see them join a league and compete against other schools.
GRADE 6
Tabitha Kho
Tabitha was selected this year as a Kid Reporter for the Time For Kids magazine.
GRADE 8
Gianmarco Di Pelino & Catherine Hasell
Our Middle School Student Council President and Vice President have done incredible work this year to get subcommittees up and running, arrange fun social events and advocate for student needs.
Joanna
This duo head up the Middle School Wellness Subcommittee, arranging free yoga and mindfulness sessions for students and faculty.
Joshua Joseph looked at ease sitting outside on a sunny day in April. Occasionally, he checked his phone and rapidly thumbed a response before returning to our conversation. Josh was juggling the responsibilities of preparing for graduation and life beyond AIS, along with his forthcoming IB exams. But he still found a moment to reflect on his time, roles and the responsibilities he had assumed during his school career.
Josh is what’s known as a 'lifer'; a student who started AIS in Grades 3K - 5K. He entered the 4K Spanish program fourteen years ago. Josh’s Spanish language knowledge would later help him as a student ambassador in the ‘buddy program’ - when he helped to support incoming Spanishspeaking students and their families.
“It was really an opportunity for me to get to know new students and also for them to get to know our community in a more comfortable way, where they have somebody going through similar experiences,” Josh explained.
This sense of community building extended to other areas of Josh’s student life, specifically his involvement in the Creativity Activity Service (CAS) group, AIS Against Human Trafficking (AISAHT). This group is dedicated to advocacy in and around Atlanta and educating others about the dangers of exploitation and sexual violence. With AISAHT, Josh leaned into his identity as an artist to organize different types of visual installations to raise awareness. This culminated on #MyFreedomDay, an annual event celebrated at AIS.
“I think advocacy and standing up for what I believe in, and what I think my community should stand for, has really shaped my experience and led me to be the person I am today, and is why I take on the roles I do at school.”
One of those roles is Student Council President 21/22. As president, Josh made it a personal goal to be a bigger voice in the equity and inclusion area.
“Especially as a student of color, my voice in this conversation is really important. I wanted to leave a lasting impact on how we do things.”
Josh met members of the teaching and non-teaching staff to help visualize and reshape what inclusion at AIS could look like.
“I think they did a good job building safe spaces for conversations to be had. Encouraging those difficult and vulnerable conversations, not shying away from them and amplifying minority and student voices.”
Josh will be starting at Columbia University in the fall where he will look at options in political science, business, and visual arts. We’re excited to see how Josh will make his voice heard next!
Being a caring member of a community involves giving back, taking action and showing commitment - all hallmarks of an AIS education.
From Grades 6 to 10 all students participate in the Service as Action (SA) program, working with advisors to reflect on service activities beyond the classroom. This is a perfect lead-up to the compulsory CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) hours that must be earned during Grades 11 and 12 as part of the IB Diploma Program.
Students can either start their own CAS groups or join existing ones - and as an established IB school, there were over 80 to choose from this year at AIS!
You may already be familiar with some of the studentled groups; Mock Trial, Model United Nations (MUN) and IHOT Robotics are frequently talked about. AIS Against Human Trafficking has a particularly high profile - as they partner with CNN and schools around the world each year to shine a light on the scourge of modern-day slavery on #MyFreedomDay.
But we’d also like to shine a light on some of the other fantastic groups you might not be so familiar with - such as the SA Sign Language group run by Anjali Mueller ’25, a Math Club for middle schoolers organized by Yuna Cho ’26, a Feed the Community group led by Carter Spainhour ’23 or the Newsies, started by Gianmarco Di Pelino ’26 and dedicated to sharing news from all around campus.
Students aren’t the only ones in on the action - did you know that Mr. Paul Moodie has a Middle School Geography Club? Or that Mr. Garrett Greely helps the gardeners?
If collaboration and an entrepreneurial spirit are needed when it comes to starting a new group - tenacity and the ability to adapt are essential when it comes to keeping them going! Aprendiendo Inglés Sólido is a great example, serving students from Garden Hills Elementary School through La Amistad. And student leaders, Victoria Erdman, Chiara Peluzzo, Reva Read and Alexis Moscoso, all from the Class of 2022, had to pivot quickly during the pandemic to continue the tutoring online to help their students.
Both SA and CAS help develop a service mindset that encourages students to act in the face of problems, attributes that will foster the change leaders tomorrow’s world will need.
Children of the Forest head into nature to practice basic survival skills, such as setting up a fire, harvesting dead wood and preparing their own food. The group has also cleaned trash and dead wood from forests to improve the health of the environment.
Six raised beds in a plot of land by the ASD form the basis of Garden 'n’ Gather, a CAS group whose members grow nutritious, organic fruit and vegetables.
AIS Against Human Trafficking took a trip to the Georgia State Capitol alongside the charity Street Grace, to promote Georgia Human Trafficking Advocacy Day.
Sebastian Esparza-Forero, Grade 7, volunteering with Trees Atlanta to plant trees in Brook Run park.
The AIS community donated medical and other supplies for MedShare International. Grade 6 students helped deliver, sort and pack them to be shipped to communities in need around the world, particularly Ukraine.
Top to bottom, left to right:
Every AIS family is a member of the Parent Organization (PO), so no wonder it is such a vibrant and welcoming group!
This year saw the PO at their best in action. Whether it was their creativity in transforming traditional celebrations to a virtual format, like the hugely successful online German Christmas Market. Or when they rose to the challenge to bring the entire AIS community back together at the rescheduled, but biggest ever, Worldfest! What a day! It certainly made up for all the other occasions we missed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In between, there was a fabulous program of PO events for everyone to enjoy - teacher appreciation days, new family welcomes, cultural and language celebrations, not to mention full-throttled support for AIS athletics and STEAM programs! Each with one thing in common - an unrivaled sense of belonging.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to last year’s PO President, Rebecca King and Secretary, Barb Rogers for guiding us through a remarkable year. And we give a very warm welcome to our new PO President, Jakelia Sledge, President Elect, Kate Kauffman and PO Secretary, Jennifer Sand.
While we look forward to book clubs and all the ways we organically learn together when school is in session, reading for pleasure can include all types of genres.
OUR FAVORITES FOR ADULT LEARNERS
TAKE MY HAND
Dolen Perkins-Valdez
FEEDING THE SOUL
Tabitha Brown
THIS JUST SPEAKS TO ME
Hoda Kotb
THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE
Bessel van der Kolk
RAISING ANTIRACIST CHILDREN
Britt Hawthorne
THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DUBOIS
Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
As part of an inclusive, multicultural community we have so much to learn, with and from each other. The work of Equity and Inclusion (E&I) helps to guide us on that journey, but it goes far beyond race, ethnicity, and nationality. Gender and sexuality, religion, socioeconomic differences, and variations in learning support for a range of abilities are all part of the mix. Topics on the E&I agenda for next year include revitalized learning communities, affinity groups, professional development and community engagement. We look forward to sharing more about all of these via regular Cultural Connections resource guides that look similar to this page, as well as Common Ground newsletters, and other myAIS updates, all aimed at expanding learning and engagement.
One of the projects of our Atlanta International School strategic plan is a 3 year rolling framework that will guide us to look at every aspect of our community and how it affects our students' social, emotional and academic development. We are doing this using research from the National Equity Project, including but not limited to the Building Equitable Environment (BELE) Framework.
From the time a student arrives at school, even before reaching the campus, everything they encounter influences how they see themselves, their culture, their family, and their presence. Using the BELE Framework allows us to see how all parts of our school must work together for the growth, development, and joy of our students, staff, caregivers, and the local community.
The framework shows how incorporating examples from students’ communities helps to affirm their personal, cultural, racial, and academic identities. Feeling affirmed is so crucial to a student's success, not only academically but as an essential part of their self-esteem, as they explore their identities, friendships, and creative expression.
This framework supports our intentional reshaping, restructuring, and reimagining of our environment. There is something for everyone to contribute and we look forward to working with you as courageous leaders who shape our world for the better.
To the amazing Class of 2022,
Just when you thought we were done, I’m back once again, with one final letter to you - my wonderful AIS alumni of the Class of 2022! In the past two years, I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in all of you. Not only did you face the challenges that come with being a diploma student, but also face those challenges in a time of COVID. I know that your experience was different from what would be considered a normal upper school journey - but you made the best of it in many fabulous ways.
What I will remember most about you is how you consistently showed up for one other. At senior nights, in the stands cheering for your classmates, to the crew that came to the concert, the many of you at our movie night, dinner at Mr. Glass’ home, our Senior Carnival, and of course our wild prom! It is my hope that you remember these events fondly and hold them close to your heart, as we did our best as a Grade 12 team to make your final year as memorable as possible.
As I have always said, I have a lot of different emotions when thinking about you as a cohort. While I am sad you are leaving us, I am also so proud of all of your achievements and will continue to as you clear the next hurdle in your academic career. I have been honored to have been your Head of Year for three of your upper school years and I will continue to be one of your biggest fans. When it’s time, please come back and visit - through the front door, not the back gate, and I cannot wait to see what all of you will go out and do in the world!
Your Head of Year,
Laila Ahmed
United States of America, Ireland, Egypt, European, Middle Eastern, North African
Pauline Alibaksh
France, Persia, Middle Easter, North African
Leona Ryan Anbari
United States of America, Iraq
Nora Paige Anderson
United States of America, Irish
Robert Harriman Anthony
United States of America, American
Aliya Ashurov
United States of America, Russia, Russian
Mateo Bargagna
United States of America, Argentina
Gioconda Antonia Barral-Secchi
United States of America, Chile, Spain, Latinoamerican,
European, American
Elizabeth Beckwith Barry
Canada, The United Kingdom
Daniel Paul Bartlett
United Kingdom, English and Welsh
Lara Baykal
United States of America, Turkish
Aubrey James Bohanon
United States of America, American
Jackson Peter Boyd
United States of America, Denmark, European, American
Reese Pearson Bradley
United States of America, American
Harris Peter Britton
United States of America, African-American
Jack Darren Buchanan
Ireland, Irish
Selin Buyan
United States of America, Turkish
Santiago Pablo Chapa
United States of America, Mexico, Mexico
Rhys William Chapman
United Kingdom, English
Aleyna Olivia Cirig-Beebe
United States of America, Turkish, British
Josephine Frances Clark
United States of America, Amerian
Nicolás Antonio Cline
United States of America, Venezuelan, American
Eloise Annabelle Cooley
United States of America, Sweden, American, Swedish
Maria Christina Cornella
United States of America, European, American
Lia Dadoun
Israel
Catherine LaHaie Daniel
United States of America, Spain, European, American
Sophia Grace Davoudi
Iran, Iran
Christina Nicolette Davoudpour
United States of America, American
Virginia Noel Dean
United States of America, European, American
Alexander Jeffrey DeCross
United States of America, European, American
Eric Mirko Detlef
Germany, German
Cailin Joan Dettingmeijer
United States of America, Netherlands, American, Dutch
Kavi Patel Dodge
United States of America, Indian
Fariz Rayan Elchami
Lebanon, United States of America, Lebanese
Clara Enescu
United States of America, Romania, Romanian
Victoria Elizabeth Erdman
South Africa, European
William George Ezell
United States of America, American
Capucine Paule Jude Faessler
France, United States of America, French
Layla Jordan Felder
United States of America, European, Caribbean
James Coleman Ferrari
Mexico, United States of America, Argentinian, American
Ledao Weng Gavalda
United States of America, Spain, Chinese, Catalan
Lucille Charlotte Gerebtzoff
Belgium, Belgium
Luisa Gonzalez Jacquorie
Germany, Spain, German, Spanish
Joshua A. Grand
United States of America, American
Elias Griepentrog
Germany, German
Louisa Isabel Brandão Hanson
United States of America, Brazil, American, Brazilian
Ellie Rose Isenberg
United States of America, European, American
Hannah Mizelle Johnson
American
Joshua Ryan Joseph
United States of America, African-American
Cara Jodi Joyce
South Africa, United States of America, South African
Sammie Moeez Kamran
United States of America, Pakistani
Sophie Katsitadze
United States of America, Georgian
Alya Khoury
United States of America, Lebanese
Caitlin Kirsten Kilinc
United States of America, American, Turkish
Roland Kis
Hungary, Hungarian
Noah Boye Kristensen
Denmark, Danish
Alexis Nicole Lamar
United States of America, Black
Carolyn Lee
United States of Americ, Singapore, Singaporean, Chinese
Richard Ford Lee
United States of America, American, Chinese
Cassandra Isobel Leung
United States of America, American
Filip Lucic
Croatia, United States of America, Croatian
Elle Marie Mazzawi
United States of America, American
Harry Peter John Millington
United Kingdom, British
Carrick Mollenkamp
United States of America, American
Ludovica Moroni
Italy, Italy
Alexis Herminia Moscoso
United States of America, Ecuadorian, Russian
Cameron Gray Paine
United States of America, American
Kyle Johannes Palsson
Korean, United States of America, Iceland, Asian, European, American
Kena Kenady Parks
United States of America, African-American
Anthony Earl Parrish
United States of America, American Chiara Andrea Peluzzo
United States of America, Argentinian, Puerto Rican
Argentina, Spain, United States of America, Argentina, Spain
Caitlin Emma Prichett
United States of America, Canada, American, European Nicolas Allan Rea
United States of America, Latino, Ecuadorean
Reva Read
United States of America, India, American Megan Elizabeth Chloe Reimer
Canada, United States of America, Quebec, Canada, Ukraine
Patrick Sebastian Richter
United States of America, Germany, European, American
Giovanna Infingardi Rocha
United States of America, Brazil, Italy, Brazilian
Jordon Turner Rolley
United States of America, American
Vedika Shrikant Saboo
India, Indian
Artin Safarkhani
Iran, Iranian Jasmin Sertel
United States of America, Turkish
Gaspard Jean Seuge
France, United States of America, French
Safiyah Shamsid-Deen
United States of America, African-American
Kayden Lashley Skeete
United States of America, West Indian, African-American
Michael James Slosberg
United States of America, American
Louis Gervais Stalet
France, French, American Nickolas Gordon Stuber
United States of America, Canadian, United Kingdom
Olivia Claire Sussman
United States of America, American
Krisztian Syposs
Hungary, South African
Evan Thomas Theriot
United States of America, French, German
Ramaya Simone Thomas
United States of America, Nigerian
David Valkysers
Germany, German
Eduardo James Valverde
United States of America, Peruvian, American
Vivienne Schuylar van Nostrand
United States of America, American
Landon Thomas Varah
United States of America, American
Mikhil Triyan Vats
United States of America, Indian
Kayley Daphne Walker
United States of America, Black
Samuel Tillman Washington
Germany, United States of America, European, American Ryan Jason Watkins
United States of America, European, American
Colette E. Whitney
United States of America, American
Maya Mills Williams
United States of America, African-American
Natalie Elizabeth Williams
United States of America, American
Stella Frances Wright
United States of America, American
Dalyan Yet
Turkey, United States of America, Austria, Turkish
One of the more intimidating parts of the college application process is writing the personal statement. If you’re applying to any of the 900+ US colleges using the Common Application, you’ll share the same 650 word statement with each.
The Common App invites students to write on any topic. For many, writing with so few constraints and about personal subjects can be daunting.
You can find helpful and unhelpful advice almost anywhere you look. So for tips, I went straight to the intended audience - college admission professionals. I’ve shared some of their insights along with excerpts from our Class of ’22’s personal statements, which put the advice into practice.
Alexis Moscoso’s personal recollections do just that:
I started helping my mother at work when I was nine.
“Alexis…Do not ever hold the roses by the flower. You’ll damage our inventory.”
“But roses have thorns on them Ma! They hurt to hold by the stem.”
“That's why I’m going to teach you how to process them.” Family. My mom has seven siblings, so our extended family seems to go on forever. Every first of February, my aunts, uncles and cousins travel from New York, New Jersey and Ecuador to help out at Buckhead Blooms, arguably Atlanta’s best flower shop.
As an only child being raised by a single mother, all that family is a game changer. I often struggle seeing all of my friends with a stable father figure. However, thanks to the strong network of family my mom has, I always have that safety net. In elementary school, I would count down the days until they arrived.
"The most important thing is to tell us something about yourself that we won’t find elsewhere in your application….to get the best sense of who you would be on our campus."
Lena Andrews, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, Vanderbilt University
"How you write your essay matters just as much as what you choose to write about. Your essay is the only space where your voice really comes through in your application—showcase it in the words you use."
Eric Ahlstrand, Associate Director of Admission at Dartmouth College
Through vivid storytelling about her abuela we hear Ryn Daniel’s voice clearly:
I walked along the cobblestone streets and heard the familiar clack of her flamenco shoes hitting the ground. The sound of cathedral bells singing in the distance, the summer wind in my hair….
...My childhood was formed in Sevilla, where I drew blue-pen pictures of castle walls and the ancient queens who inhabited them.”....
...I think it’s vital to remember where we come from — who we come from — so that childlike wonder, that realismo mágico can still translate into our everyday lives. For me, Sevilla was my abuela’s city — and she might still be dancing there, in the echoed halls of the Alcazar.
In reviewing applications it is easy to find out how smart a student is, what they are involved with, and what people think of them, but what I really want to know is who this person is."
Ryan Watkins gives a dramatic account of his own personal interest:
The roaring of the propellers paired with the whistling of the wind is deafening. I feel the all too familiar sensation of my stomach dropping and my muscles clenching as I attempt to pull out of free fall, but it is too late; gravity has claimed victory…
…Throughout my life I have been on the search for the most unique of experiences, and thus far, nothing has come close to replicating the feeling of flying a first person view drone…
…A bridge forms between my mind and the drone as the rest of the world disappears.”
…Regardless if I am in the air or on the ground, experiencing failure is inevitable… After every crash I do what is needed to rectify my mistakes and prepare to take to the air again.
So, does every student need a drone or a remarkable family to write a strong essay?
In this excerpt, Natalie Williams writes about closer to home, AIS:
During my freshman year, my best friend encouraged me to join our school’s competitive robotics club, hoping the team would help me make some friends and build confidence. At first, I was a complete skeptic;
…After much convincing, I finally decided to leap into the daunting waters by joining IHOT, our school's robotics team… Entering the lab for my first IHOT meeting, I could feel my heart palpitating at a million miles an hour…
…Despite my social fears, my curiosity drove me to join the fabrication team.
…I soon fell in love with the work that breathed life into our ambitious designs.
…I finally had a sense of belonging, and I cherished the team. Constructing our robot for competition brought me joy, and I sought leadership opportunities, facing my fears.
"Over the years as I have read several, I mean thousands of essays. The one thing that separates the good from the bad is how personal they are.
Tim Fields, Senior Associate Dean of Admission at Emory
"Personal voice and style are important, so you can write in the first-person and use colloquialisms. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re not, this isn’t the time to try."
Eric Ahlstrand, Associate Director of Admission at Dartmouth College
NAME JUST THREE SPECIAL MOMENTS FROM THIS YEAR. That’s a challenge!
Special moments involve just seeing a students’ joy - be that presenting in Model United Nations (MUN), playing with their team, putting on a show, debating in Mock Trial, racing across a finish line, showing AIS to prospective families or being enthralled in the heat of a robotics competition.
One proud time was when our teachers participated in Spring Training; voluntary, professional development workshops to share learning with their peers. Each session was packed and I loved the pride our teachers showed in their own craft.
And although this is not a ‘moment,’ when everyone finally returned to campus after being away from each other, we noticed a disconnect. Many students weren’t holding doors open for example, or saying good morning. So we focused on role modeling and building community through the Middle and Upper School pastoral teams. I’m proud of the noticeable shift our students made. It makes a big difference to how welcoming our community feels.
I try to stay present and look forward. When we’ve had challenging and sad times I’m appreciative of how the community comes together. I am equally grateful when the student community challenges us to be better.
I’m going to continue my quest to try and further build community and improve communication by lifting up our students’ voices
CAN YOU SHARE ANY SURPRISES OR FUNNY MOMENTS?
Supervising the field during lunch involves many surprises and funny moments - like the time I was nearly run over during a soccer match! It mortified the students but was actually pretty funny.
I’ve always been a risk taker, but with more time I’d love to pursue art, play piano or get back into competitive horseback riding - things I loved when younger.
I’ve been talking to AIS Secondary School Visual Arts and Design teacher, Mr. DiGregorio, about ceramics because I used to enjoy pottery. There is something special about molding shapes out of clay with the rhythm of a wheel. Even better is that when something goes awry, you just pound it back down and start over again!
Roy: Incredible pride, especially as I was handing one of the diplomas to our eldest daughter, Vicky.
Olga: That first graduating class of 1992 had ten students from eight countries. They all joined AIS in 1987 when they were in Grade 7, the year we’d moved to larger premises on Long Island Drive* - they were graduating from the high school building we had constructed there.
*AIS began in 1985 with two Grades, 5K and Grade 1 and three languages in addition to English - French, German and Spanish.
R: When we arrived in Atlanta in 1982 there was no international school. So we began by finding like-minded people to join us in creating one.
O: Yes, and the support was incredible. We kept outgrowing our buildings and campuses - so one of the biggest changes was moving AIS here, to the site of the old North Fulton High School in 1995.
O: When AIS moved into its first building, watching the children come out of school that very first day. They looked so happy, it was an incredible feeling.
From their 26th floor apartment, the founders of AIS, Roy Plaut and Olga Gomez Plaut, have a perfect view of the entire school campus. And it works both ways - anyone looking up during a home soccer match will see Roy out on his balcony with a huge AIS banner, flashing lights whenever the team scores a goal! This and their presence at AIS events and positions as ‘Chairman Emeritus’ and ‘Trustee Emerita,’ are proof of their continuing affection and involvement in the school.
This year marks 30 years since the first class graduated from AIS in 1992. We joined Roy and Olga to find out what’s changed, what remains the same and what their hopes are for AIS in the future.
R: There have been so many; increasing student numbers, getting all three accreditations from the International Baccalaureate, adding Chinese as a language, all the STEAM and athletics offerings - the superb music and drama shows of course. Then there’s the local and international recognition that comes with all of that - there’s a lot to be proud of. We also rejoice in having both our daughters as graduates.
Both: Oh yes!
R: I don’t think people realize how many things have been there from the beginning. The Mission and Core Values have not changed.
O: The IB system, including the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) idea that students should ‘give back’ was attractive to me because of my social work background, and it was a pleasure helping to start the program. The school now has over 80 CAS groups!
Also having a vigorous Financial Aid Program enables economic diversity throughout the school - something which benefits all students.
R: The school’s Strategic Planning group tries to envisage world situations ten, twenty or even 30 years ahead and then see how the school adapts to each of the scenarios. We need to make sure AIS students are flexible, adaptable and well prepared for whatever the future might bring.
It’s been thirty years since the first group of students graduated from AIS. The fledgling school’s original plan had been to add a new class each year, which would have resulted in our first graduating class in 1997, but with the student population tripling within three years, expansion stepped up and in 1992, five years ahead of schedule, ten students, from eight different countries became our first alumni! All were accepted to leading universities and colleges in the US and around the world.
Manuel Eckes, Germany
Nandita Thakore, Kenya
Thomas Striedinger, Austria
Victoria Plaut, U.S. / Colombia
Matthias Erhardt, Germany
Korrin Hume, U.S.
Peggy Bailleul, France
Sally Jones, Great Britain
Emine Hasoglu, Turkey
Marlys Brothers, Canada
Lives in Oxford, UK, with her Taiwanese-American husband, Louie, and their two boys.
"AIS was a very small school 30 years ago but it still gave me a huge appreciation of the wider world. I have so many fond memories … the warm and lovely staff and students, and the overwhelming sense of community."
Lives in Atlanta, GA.
"I have many great stories and many memories, but what makes me really happy is that I can still share those laughs with my good friends from AIS, who are still in my life 30 years later."
Lives in Sarnia, Canada.
"AIS gave me respect and appreciation for other cultures and travel. The friendships I made at AIS are among the best in my life and I love that now our kids are close."
What would you tell your younger self at your AIS graduation?
"Enjoy your time here and appreciate how much everyone is trying to support you. Don't worry so much about the IB results!"
Lives in Buffalo, NY.
"The advice and guidance I received was always supportive. They helped me find what I was passionate about and encouraged me to seek new experiences which gave me the confidence I needed."
Fondest memory?
"All the wonderful friendships I made and traveling to France to improve my French."
Lives in Istanbul, Turkey where she heads up the construction department in the family company.
"AIS helped me to get a good start to my education. Life is short, have fun as much as possible!"
Teaches 6th Grade math in Duval County Public School in Jacksonville, FL.
"AIS challenged me as a student & gave me the desire to pass along a passion for learning."
Funniest memory?
"Moaning radiators in the basement of the Long Island campus, before we moved into the new secondary building."
Lives in Oakland, CA where she is a social psychologist and professor at Berkeley.
How did AIS help you?
"By promoting the values of diversity and inclusion and instilling in students the importance of global engagement… It’s hard to pick my fondest memory but one that always makes me smile is playing soccer with my friends on the triangular soccer field."
Was that really Viola Davis (aka Michelle Obama) in the gym? Or Paul Rudd in the Secondary School hallway?
Our beautiful campus is hot property for movie locations - it started with Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003) and the Blindside (2006), but over the last 10 years we have been featured in ten other movie shoots. Can you guess what they are from our clues? Answers at bottom of page!
1. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler need advice from mom and dad.
2. Love struck teens battle parental disapproval to pursue their limitless affection.
3. The best years of my life? Apparently not.
4. Opposite of The Love I Take.
5. How else can you say final glances?
7. A word game turns sinister - but don’t worry, Al Pacino is on the case.
8. Simon is the star - and love is the answernow try reversing those words.
9. Superhero flying insects.
10. H and the plum Crayola.
6. FLOTUS.
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES
DONORS
The Annual Spring Benefit is the biggest fundraiser of the school year and in 2022, our 'Venture to Vietnam' was the first in person Benefit since 2019. And what a come back! It was a night filled with warmth, fun, friendship, and of course, philanthropy. Thank you to all those who supported the Benefit either through sponsorship, attending the event or by supporting our 'Stand and Pledge' for need-based financial aid. Your generosity helps students and families who might otherwise not be able to attend AIS.
Our school community remembers and honors Avery Fierman, a Grade 10 AIS student who sadly passed away this year. In his memory, family and friends have joined together in philanthropy so that his legacy can continue to support AIS students and the school’s mission for the future. To learn more about Avery and his legacy, please visit www.aischool.org/averyfierman
The 1984 Club is AIS’ leadership giving club, named after the year AIS was founded. The philanthropic support of our 1984 Club members makes the difference between a good school and the exceptional school that is AIS. Thank you to each of our leadership donors for making a positive impact on the learning experience of all our students.
The 1984 Club Giving Levels
• Founders’ Circle ($20,000+)
• Ambassadors’ Society ($10,000-$19,999)
• Consuls’ Circle ($5,000-$9,999)
• Shutze Guild ($1,984-$4,999)
The Eagles Fund is the annual giving fund of AIS. It plays a critical role in the success of our school community. The tremendous support AIS receives from donors enhances the learning experience and provides more opportunities for students to thrive, innovate, and belong. Thank you for your support and participation.
Benjamin (Benji) is an alumnus from the AIS Class of 2008 who died tragically at age 27. The Benjamin Schüttler Memorial Endowed Fund was generously established in his honor by his family and friends. The endowed fund is set up in a way that will provide funding for students for years to come. Thank you to each donor who gives to strengthen this fund in Benji's memory.
During the annual Spring Benefit, the AIS community comes together to raise funds specifically for need-based financial aid, which is critical to our school’s ability to build an intentionally inclusive intercultural community.
Special thanks to The Goizueta Foundation for their investment in innovation and entrepreneurialism at AIS in this and previous years. The Foundation’s support is making a meaningful impact on all AIS students.
Founders’ Circle
$20,000+
Riti & KK Mehta
Dr. Monique B. Seefried & Honorary Consul General Ferdinand C. Seefried
Vivian Wong & Peter Guan
Ambassadors’ Society
$10,000-$19,999
Anonymous
Tracy & Scott Britton
Lorliee & Jeremy Faa
Carrie & Rich Lassiter
Consuls’ Circle
$5,000-$9,999
Ali & Alla Ashurov
Tiyash Bandyopadhyay & Bharat Gupta
Luz Helena Bolaño & Sergio Cruz
Betsy Bulat Turner & Steven Turner
Dr. Jeanette Cheng & Dr. Volkan Adsay
Taniela & Ruben Cruz
Heidi Deringer & Greg Foglesong
Vanessa & Lew Dickey
Kim & Michael Dinerman
Carrie & Tim Doyle
Dr. Dana Fallaize & Mr. Cal Fallaize
Stacy Galan Shailendra & Sachin Shailendra
Shelley Giberson & Ron Carmichael
Stefani & Kevin Glass
Olga Gomez Plaut & Roy Plaut
Dr. Lucienne Ide & Mr. Humberto García-Sjögrim
Manka Kaur Haddadin & Laith Haddadin
Beth Kytle Chandler '98 & Zeb Chandler
Sandra & Thomas MacQuillan
Mrs. Leigh Anne Mazzawi & Dr. James M. Mazzawi
Natasha & Josh Moffitt
Dr. Linda Pak Bruner & Mr. Andrew Bruner
Susannah & Chris Parker
Catherine Reimer
Muna Saadi & Fasil Muche '93
Mrs. Deb Sudbury & Dr. Bernd Schüttler
Habiba & Turjo Wadud
Joyce & Brent Yamaato
Shutze Guild
$1,984-$4,999
Dr. Aiming Sun Allen
The Anush Allen-Krincek Family
Fred & Catalina Aranas Family Foundation
Martina & Raul Badell
Mrs. Malena Bankston & Dr. Stephen Bankston
Neerja & Abhishek Breja
Kristine & David Brown
Melissa & Kevin Center
Ranjani & Darrin Collins
Lieana & Di Cui
Fernanda Garcia de Araujo Abreu & Raphael Frota de Abreu
Dr. Ada Gavrilovska Habl & Mr. Robert Habl
Dr. Kelli Godfrey & Mr. Eric Varah
Scarlet & Avinash Grootens
Ingrid & Aaron Hackett
Darshana & Narendra Jangid
Jane Kamenz & Jim Tausche
Kate Kauffman & Adam Kauffman
Keri & Craig Kaufmann
Angelique & James Kilkelly
Rebecca King & Richard Nesbitt
Angela Lyda & Bas Sijgers
Nina-Daniela & Chandler McCormack
Mrs. Gianine McKenna & Dr. Mark McKenna
Veruzcka Medina & Jose L. Acosta
Rebecca Messina & Derk Hendriksen
Andreea & Florin Miron
Hermine & Neil Morrell
Kendyl & Cory Moss
Maitena Moure & Matthew Brill
Cheryl & Greg Olson
Paula Pardinas & Michael Page
DeAnna Perrotta Steinke & Andrew Steinke
Laura & Michael Poffenberger
Dawnitra & Michael Quigley
Mrs. Barbara Rogers & Dr. Aaron Rogers
The Schmook Family
The Smith Family
Lizeth & Charles Smithgall
Farah & Sterling Spainhour
Dr. Richita Surana & Dr. Ajay Joshi
Antigoni Themistokleous & Thomas Stoupis
Joseph Thomas III '07
Leslie & Frank Thomas
Cecile Urrea & Lyle Tick
Darlene & Rick van Nostrand
Dr. Shilpa Vyas-Read & Dr. Charles Read
Meijing Wang & Keying Chen
Claire Wen & Seamus Sheng
Elizabeth & Mitchell Wickland
Hong & Christopher Willis
Mary Wilson, Esq. & Robin Williams
Tiffany & Steven Wisener
Xiaoling Zhang & Leo Chen
Anonymous (5)
Carolyn & John Accardi
Valerie L. Adair
Ana & Evan Adler
Peyton Alford Mandzic
Nawal Aquachar & Jawad Bisbis
Meg & Khoury Ashooh
Anna & Simon Bartlett
The Bejar Family
Dr. Christine Bell & Dr. Cesar Cruz
Holly & James Bentley
Lani & Lawrence Berman
Mrs. Ashley Boachie-Adjei & Dr. Yaw Boachie-Adjei
Keith Bogle
Darlene & Troy Bohanon
Tara Bouyer
Lisa Box '01
Carina Box Vidal '04
Natasha & Stephen Boyd
Claudia Brand
Sara Bretch
Marlys G. Brothers '92 & Gordon Rowcliffe
Chare & John Brown
Susan & Frank Brown
Suzanne Bunzl Wilner
Marcus Butler
Willie Campbell
Irene Cao & Xiande Qi
Michelle Caruso-Decoufle & Christopher Decoufle
Daniella Chandler
Poonam Chawla
Kelley & Roberto Chiappetta
Amanda & Andrew Cogar
Emily Cohen '13
The Conover Foster Family
Margaret & Michelle Contreras
Keesha Coulton
Lanie Casey
Christina & Douglas Crawford
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the following recognition lists. We invite you to contact our Advancement Office if you have any questions or comments.
Roya Curtis
Betty Davis
Christy & David Davoudpour
Ana Del Prado Caamano & Lars Ihlen
Marlon DeLancy
Nina M. Deshpande
Erin Dixon & Ian Palmer
Ms. Liping Du & Dr. Huayang Li
Chantal Duggan
Maggie Dureke
Saily Eidizadeh
The Eisenberg Family
Anna Ellington
Kathy & Mauricio Escoto
Rocio Fabbrini
Sandy Ferko
Anne & Stuart Fierman
Elizabeth Fisher & Kevin Reimer
Peluchi Flores
Stephanie French
Amanda & Matthew Gaenssley
Stacey Gall & Lionel Gall
Dr. Roshan George & Dr. Sherine Thomas
The Glinka Family
Victoria Gómez & Pablo Patiño
Celina Acosta & Gerardo Gonzalez
Tamara & Marc Gonzalez
Michael & Leslie Gottfried
Tina Guess
Josh Gunnemann '98
Trace C. Hawkins '93
Nan-Wei Heilian & Reza Hajkhan
Shirong Huang & Sheau Liu
Leyda & Vincent Hughes
Ngina Jemmott, MD, MPH & Maxwell Prempeh, MD
Anila & Amin Jiwani
Nicole & Andrew Kaiser
Gisele Kalonzo-Douglas & Martin Douglas
Mrs. Natia Silagadze & Dr. George Katsitadze
Alison Keohane
Arvand Khosravi '03
Hyeyoung Kim & Johannes G. Palsson
Mrs. Dawn Kimmich & Dr. Peter Kimmich
Christoph Koehler '10
Debra Kopec
Charles Laurent '10
Armand Leblois '04
Dr. Linda Lehmil & Mr. Eric Hanemann
Val Lemoine '98
Yingyu Li
Wen Liu
Kattya Lynch & Patrick Lynch
Pierrette Maillet
Elizabeth Martin
Dr. Marsha Maxwell
The McGeeneys
Mariana & Russell McGuire
Timothy McMahon
Roya & Asghar Memarzadeh
Nanditha Menon '16
Mrs. Ann Mingledorff Barry, Esq. & Mr. Michael Barry
Dr. Karen Mitchell
Leonie Ley-Mitchell
Reid Mizell & Bernard van der Lande
Judith Moen Stanley & Bahns Stanley
Natalia Montoya Caamaño
Venetia Mott
Helen Muñoz
Antje & Gerhard Mutz
Moe Naniuzeyi '06
Dr. Sharon Nath & Mr. Alok Nath
Robin Newberg
Meredith & Andrew O'Reilly
Marie Obel & Carlos Soler Rodriguez
Kunbi Oguneye
Jonathan Olens '11
Vicki & Nikolaos Papanikolaou
Kanan & Milan Patel
Santiago Patiño '09
Brittany Pavon '05
Mrs. Nikolina Payne & Dr. Douglas Payne
Pilar Plata & Diego Garcia
Carine Poiraud-Bouton & Alain Poiraud
Deslie & Douglas Quinby
Meredith & Patrick Reininger
Linde Rickert Tassell '00
Susan Ann Roberts, Ph.D. & Peter Hayes
Dr. Erin Robinson
Iris Rodriguez Colon
Dina Rosas
Catherine Rothschild '04
Thomas W. Rudderow IV '06
Somali & Abhijit Saha
Winnie & Gary Sahni
Regina & Santiago Salazar
Deepthi & William Sams
The Sanchez-Obregon Family
Jennifer & Matthew Sand
Khaili Sanders, Founder of The KS Program
Ozlem & Ersan Sayman
Will Schüttler '11
Anja Sebunya
Timur Selimovic '10
Laleh Sharifi & Bahram Hakimi
Rachel & Brad Sheehan
Nuo Sheng & Paul Tanpitukpongse
Christina Shiels '01
Sharon Simpson Joseph & Robert Joseph
Charlotte Smith
Eden Smith Parks '05
Yanting Song & Christopher Chen
Claire Staples
Kimberly & Michael Still
Lorna Street-Streichenberger & Iwan Streichenberger
Judy Suarez
Kenyatta Taft-Butler
Charlotte Tausche '17
Mesrin & Cuneyt Tekgul
Jennifer & Stefan Terwindt
Nadia Threats
Nino & David Tkeshelashvili
Rayne Towns & Douglas Towns
Kristine Vanijcharoenkarn '05
Roxanne & Benny Varzi
Shelbi Vaughn '09
Sabrina Vigil-Rodriguez & Wesley Smith
Maria Voutos & Tina Clark
Elizabeth Weese
KaLyn Davis & Evan R. Wetstone
Jacqueline & Roger Whigham
Catherine White & Joel Rogers
Carrie Whitney
Michelle Williams & Harvey Cain
Mishon & Brandon Williams
Drenita Williams-Garner & Maurice Garner
Cheryl Yul-Behrenwaldt & Tobias Behrenwaldt
Xiabo Zhu & Xufeng Weng
Jennifer Baker
Siri Belton '08
Ellen Cohen
Karen Diamond & John Giblin
Anton Gebhard-Koenigstein '11
Deborah Hahn
Janet Holdridge
Dr. Lamya Khuri & Dr. Fadlo Khuri
Aristia Kinis
Ethan Lyle '08
Julie Mann
Brenda Metzger & Mark Maliszewki
The Moss Family
Christine Pettitt-Schieber '05
Joan Polancic
Marianne Robbiani
Esther & Joe Rosenfeld
Mrs. Deb Sudbury & Dr. Bernd Schüttler
Judith Topf
Michelle Triggs
Amanda & Marty Allen
Carmen & Kostas Alymatiris
Nawal Aquachar & Jawad Bisbis
Dr. Martina Badell & Dr. Raul Badell
Tiyash Bandyopadhyay & Bharat Gupta
Raquel & Albert Bejar
Marie Belgioino & Olivier Brauen
Dr. Christine Bell & Dr. Cesar Cruz
Saurav Bhandary '12
Yvonne & Ian Bolin
Neerja & Abhishek Breja
Kristine & David Brown
Stephanie & Nicolas Cabrera
Becky & Adam Chamberlain
Dr. Suchitra Chandrasekaran & Dr. Venkiteshwar Manoj
Tina Clark & Maria Voutos
Anne Clotilde Seuge & Emmanuel Seuge
Amanda & Andrew Cogar
Ranjani & Darrin Collins
Mrs. Jayesh Dave & Dr. Nisha Dave
Valentina De La Fe & Ricardo Navarro
Claudia & Alexandre de Lestapis
Christine de Wendel '98 & Jean-Martin de Wendel
Ana Del Prado Caamano & Lars Ihlen
Heidi Deringer & Greg Foglesong
Sapna Desai & Rahul Samant
Carrie & Tim Doyle
Virginia & Allen Ermentrout
Keisha Escoffery & Martin Emmett
Lorliee & Jeremy Faa
Sandy Ferko
Brooke & Lucas Fleming
Uta & Thomas Formeseyn
Stacy Galan Shailendra & Sachin Shailendra
Shelley Giberson & Ron Carmichael
Willow Goldstein '05
Olga Gomez Plaut & Roy Plaut
Arianna & Christopher Graham
Scarlet & Avinash Grootens
Sara & Michael Gurion
Ingrid & Aaron Hackett
Emily Hands & Thomas Curry
John Harris
Sophie Harris
Ron Herman
Eugenio Jimenez & Jesse Furr
Anila & Amin Jiwani
Sean Khan '15
Rebecca King & Richard Nesbitt
Aristia Kinis
Steven Koura
Beth Kytle Chandler '98 & Zeb Chandler
Mrs. Carrie Lassiter & Dr. Rich Lassiter
Marianna & Ashley Lee
Margarita Leon de la Barra & Jonathan Haag
Jody-Ann & Daniele Lo Bue
Dr. Jamie MacKelfresh & Mr. Richard MacKelfresh
Sandra & Thomas MacQuillan
Maanit Madan '20
Pierrette Maillet
Mrs. Daniela Malkowski & Mr. Simon Malkowski
Dr. Marsha Maxwell
Mrs. Leigh Anne Mazzawi & Dr. James M. Mazzawi
Nina-Daniela & Chandler McCormack
Rebecca Messina & Derk Hendriksen
Reid Mizell & Bernard van der Lande
Natasha & Josh Moffitt
Ruth Montells & Domingo Rodriguez Torregrosa
Natalia Montoya Caamaño
Paola Moddy & Connan Moody '10
Demetrice Mott, Service Industry Solutions
Venetia Mott
Natalia Munoz-Bravo & Lucas Bravo
Ana Neira-Bueno & Juan Bueno
Dr. Bahar Nia & Dr. Frank Nia
Nicole & David O'Brien
Dr. Linda Pak Bruner & Mr. Andrew Bruner
Paula Pardinas & Michael Page
Judy & Jerome Pariseau
Susannah & Chris Parker
Caroline & Gary Paterson
Megan Penniston Aujla & Pritpal Aujila
DeAnna Perrotta Steinke & Andrew Steinke
Pilar Plata & Diego Garcia
Deklah Polansky & Thomas Farrell
Dr. Poulin Patrice & John John De Caro
Amanda & Lawrence Quinn
Barbara Quiroga
Lucky & Shashi Reddy
Jennifer & Reid Richman
Mrs. Barbara Rogers & Dr. Aaron Rogers
Mr. Mark Rohs
Rupal & Horacio Romero
Dina Rosas & Greg Kleehammer
Muna Saadi & Fasil Muche '93
Mrs. Jennifer Sand & Dr. Matthew Sand
Lauren & Moritz Schoenheit
Lindsey & David Schrader
Samrat & Padmini Sharma
Christa & Christopher Skoury
Xenia Simos '09
Jakelia & Garrian Sledge
Lizeth & Charles Smithgall
Juliana Socarraz & David Troncoso
Ting Song & Christopher Chen
Maria Soto & Fernando Guevara
Mrs. Deb Sudbury & Dr. Bernd Schüttler
Antigoni Themistokleous & Thomas Stoupis
Idunnu & Tosin Tomori
Daria & George Turner
Darlene & Rick van Nostrand
Natalia Vargas-Montag & Mario Montag
Pascale & Didier Viala
Chiara Visconti-Pervanas '95 & Angelos Pervanas
Dr. Shilpa Vyas-Read & Dr. Charles Read
Rebecca Wade-Chung
Amara & Thomas Walker
Emily Weese & Shayna Kaplan
Unn & Oscar Werner
Joyce & Brent Yamaato
Mrs. Angelica Young & Mr. Bo Young III
Cheryl Yul-Behrenwaldt & Tobias Behrenwaldt
To develop courageous leaders who shape their world for the better.
The joy of learning and purposeful effort. Mutual respect and understanding in an intentionally inclusive and intercultural community.
To lead as individuals and as members of their communities, future-ready young people must learn to thrive in ambiguity and uncertainty, pairing deep self-knowledge and empathy with the skills to think analytically and constructively. We believe it is essential to develop the capacity to consider one’s decisions and actions within an ethical framework grounded in a spirited sense of hope in human potential.
We create a safe, stimulating educational environment, promoting the wonder and curiosity that motivates a student to learn in and beyond the classroom and throughout life. We believe that achievement derives from sustained, purposeful effort and by learning to think critically, debate confidently, question assumptions and push our limits. We believe language and culture shape and inform identity. We delight in difference, opening ourselves to authentic and meaningful interactions with various cultures both in school and in life. We commit ourselves to grow and change individually and together, to ensure every learner’s identity, language, and values are respected.
Atlanta International School practices a full nondiscriminatory policy in all school-administered programs and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender preference in all of its admissions, educational and employment policies, programs, and practices.
www.aischool.org
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