Head Of Inclusion, Kelly Sommerville Shares About Internationalism At AIS
Transitioning to a new school and a new country is an exciting adventure. Immersing your children in an international community is an incredible opportunity for them to view the world through different lenses, appreciate diverse cultures and to have great respect and appreciation for all.
As an International Baccalaureate® World School, AIS live the united mission to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Our students have are encouraged to learn from each other in a collaborative and inquiry-based setting where Respect is one of our key values. The effects of ‘internationalism’ should be embraced, your child will flourish by being stretched and challenged by different ways of thinking, living and doing.
To help children get settled in diversified communities, it is important to thoroughly research your impending international move. To best prepare children and yourselves, gather as much information as possible and include your children in this fact-finding mission. Find out about your schooling options and what schools can offer you both prior to your commencement and whilst being a part of the school community. Ask about the school’s population and their nationality data. Discovering which nationalities construct your chosen school can help you to absorb those cultures before you arrive by reading books, watching documentaries, listening to other languages and finding out about their beliefs and cultures.
We have many structures in place to support new and existing families. Our Parents Association (AISPA) are available from the moment you arrive, a Parent Country Ambassador volunteer from your home country can help you with your transition and each class has a ‘Friend of AISPA’ who act as the support network for your child’s class. Students are also supported by the red-ribbon and buddy system for new students that are in-place across the school, and our school counsellors check-in with new students within their first few weeks. Our highly skilled welfare teams are also available across the school. Should Elementary and Secondary students require assistance with adjusting to a new school system or identify language barriers, our Learning Enrichment and English as Additional Language teams are on hand to help students with academic support.
AIS is an inclusive learning environment, we embrace and celebrate diversity and build relationships within our community based on mutual respect, trust, acceptance and care. All students, regardless of nationality, are language learners in the early years and we help develop their skills through play and social engagement. At AIS, we believe that students whose first language is not English are an asset in our school as they bring unique gifts, skills and culture.
Our Early Years program is complete immersion in English language, so children coming into our Early Learning Village are at a significant advantage when learning a new language. All students in our Early Years programs (18 months – 4 years) are encompassed in a language rich environment where native English speakers can learn from student’s whose Mother Tongue is not English, and all learners have the right to participate fully in their school environment regardless of any language barriers. Students also have access to single subjects where English language is not the focus of the curriculum which allows students to be successful in other areas such as physical education, art, music and Mandarin.
