Almaty International School

From Kazakhstan Encyclopedia

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Almaty International School in Kazakhstan is a private non-profit institution that opened in August 1993. It offers education in English for preschool (3–4 years), elementary, middle, and secondary students. The school year consists of three terms extending from late August until mid-June. The school is located on nearly seven hectares of land on the edge of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan.

Students

Students come from 45 countries around the world including Kazakhstan, South Korea, United States, Russia, Canada and many others. The school offers a mastery-learning program with a curriculum similar to that of U.S. public and private schools.

While instruction is in English, language classes are offered in the French, Spanish and Russian. For Kazakh citizens, instruction is required in Kazakh language, for part of the day. Subjects include Literature, History, Geography, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology, and electives.

Accreditation

AIS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Enrollment

As of June, 2016 enrollment 549 students.

Activities

Activities for elementary students include outdoor sports, indoor games, creative drama, dance, model making, sewing, needlepoint, crochet painting, drawing, art and crafts, storytelling, puzzles, board games, science activities, computer simulations, and bookmaking. Older students can be involved in drama, soccer, volleyball, and basketball after school.

Clubs in AIS include Math Honor Society (members help tutor other students in math), National Honor Society, Tuck Shop (a student-run store during break time), Student Council AIS, Helping Hands (a volunteer philanthropy club), and Roots and Shoots (a volunteer club focused on the making AIS environmental friendly as well as doing environmental service projects around Almaty). AIS also has junior varsity, varsity and elementary sports teams. Sports vary through seasons. The sports offered at AIS are cross country, soccer, basketball, volleyball, track and field, ping pong, and badminton

Student evaluation

Students are expected to achieve mastery grades of "A" or "B". Student evaluations, called "status reports", are issued five times each year at the end of each "Quintile". Data is electronically entered regularly and parents may request a status report at any time. Quality Schools International teaches their students the success orientations which include actions such as: concern for others, kindness and politeness, aesthetic appreciation, independent endeavor, group interaction, responsibility, and trustworthiness. When students achieve mastery in any of these sections they receive an "E" for exemplary work, otherwise, a student may receive an "S" for success or a "N" for not yet achieved.

Success Orientations

-Concerns for others
-Responsibility
-Group Interaction
-Aesthetic Appreciation
-Independent Endeavor
-Kindness and politeness
-Trustworthiness

History

The first QSI school was founded in 1971. AIS was opened in September 1993. After 10 years, the school moved to a large purpose-built facility on a large piece of land on the edge of the city. The new school has two main building one annex, a middle school building, two playground areas, tennis courts, two gyms, and a professional soccer field with a running track.

Accreditation

Almaty International School has been accredited through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Pennsylvania, USA.

Classes

Some classes are mandatory for graduation, extra courses may be needed to apply for an academic diploma or academic diploma with honors.

Starting in middle school (6th-8th grades) students have the choice between three languages: French, Spanish or Russian. Two years of foreign languages are mandatory for the academic and academic diploma with honors in secondary. Kazakh language, history and geography classes are mandatory for all Kazakh nationals in this school.

The required courses for the diplomas are listed below:
General Diploma:

  • English Classes:
     *Writing I & II
     *Literature I & II
  • Math Classes:
     *Algebra I &II
     *Geometry
  • Science Classes:
     *Physical Science
     *Biology
     *Physics or Chemistry
  • Social Science Classes:
     *World Geography
     *Modern World History
  • Arts Classes:
     *Drama, Music and/or Art (choose two of the three)
  • Physical Education and Health Classes:
     *Fitness
     *Health
     *Physical Education

Academic Diploma:

In addition to General Diploma requirements:

  • English Classes:
     *American Literature
     *British Literature
     *Research Project
  • Social Science Classes:
     *U.S. History
     *Economics
     *World Government

Academic Diploma with Honors:

Add any two Advanced Placement courses listed below:

  • U.S. History
  • World History (requires Modern World History as a pre-requisite)
  • Economics (Macro and Microeconomics)
  • Biology (requires Biology as a pre-requisite)
  • Physics (B) (requires Physics as a pre-requisite and Calculus for Physics C)
  • Chemistry (requires chemistry as a pre-requisite)
  • Calculus (AB) (requires Pre-Calculus as a pre-requisite)
  • English Literature and Composition (requires American Literature as a pre-requisite
  • French Language (requires French IV as a pre-requisite)
  • Music Theory
  • Art
  • Language and Composition

On campus

  • Two computer/IT labs
  • Two gyms (for secondary (standard size), for elementary (smaller))
  • A soccer field and running track (400m)
  • Cafeteria
  • Music and orchestra rooms
  • Art studios
  • Science labs
  • Two tennis courts
  • Three playground areas
  • Parking lots (for teachers & parents)
  • A library/Media Center
  • Vehicle repair garage

See also

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References

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External links

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