open day states’ school
American International School Evie Burrows-Taylor discovers a warm and technology-focused through-school behind the red brick walls. Photos by Cherrie Yu.
The red bricks of the American International School (AIS) in Kowloon Tong give a warmth to the campus that continues all the way into the classrooms. Opening in 1986 as the California International School with just 50 pupils, today the bright and lively campus buzzes with more than 800 students. Renamed in 1996, AIS is an all-through, independent, non-religiously affiliated school. It follows the US standards-based curriculum including the Common Core State Standards for all grades, responsible for determining exactly what students should know at the end of each level. Like many international schools in Hong Kong, AIS’ focus is on producing conscientious global citizens, explains Head of School Cameron Fox. “We’re preparing students for a rapidly changing world by developing committed life-long learners ready for the responsibilities and expectations of global citizenship,”
The kids are really caring so there’s a family feel to the school
he says. “We have a keen focus on wellroundedness.” Fox, who has been with the school since 2000, highlights the importance of teachers putting themselves in the shoes of the learner. “Teachers need to understand where our pupils are developmentally and use that to shape classroom practices. The key is understanding children, knowing where they are and where you will take them.” As a result, the school has a strong
idea of the staff it wants to attract, looking for people who will go out of their way to develop a bond with the students. Speaking with middle-school principal Pamela Smith and one of her students, Natalia Chu, it is evident the approach is effective, with the pair demonstrating a shared passion for the school and a strong sense of mutual respect. Chu is an enthusiastic member of the yearbook committee and a regular pianist at school assemblies. “I’m not scared of performing because everyone’s so friendly,” she says. Fox adds: “We have a nice student body, because the older ones cross paths with the younger ones all the time. The kids are really caring so there’s a family feel to the school.” The student body is multicultural, with more than 30 nationalities represented, including about 20 per cent from the US and 15 per cent-20 per cent from Hong Kong. The staff is also international, with about 40
Learning at AIS happens indoors and out.
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