Vol 12, Issue 1 - American International School - Riyadh

Publisher:As a school committed to excellence,we will educate and inspire our students to be responsible,productive and ethical world citizens with the skills and passion tothink creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively and learncontinuously. We will accomplish this in an American educationalenvironment characterized by high measurable standardsand a clearly defined, appropriately interrelated collegepreparatory curriculum, implemented bya superior staff in partnership with students,parents, and the community.Mawade’ahmeans “topics” in Arabic. In this case, the name conveys the idea of topics that forman ongoing conversation on what’s going on in our school.American International School-RiyadhP.O. Box 990Riyadh, 11421 Saudi ArabiaPhone: (9661) 491-4270Fax: (9661) 491-7101Website:www.aisr.orgSuperintendent: ext. 235Admissions: ext. 270Editors:AIS-R’s MissionSteve Augeri, Maysa Haidar, Kerri McGlade and Jerri MyersIn this Issue ...Teach Me How to Eagle...The moment that AIS-R senior, Ibrahim Ashraf (and back-up rapper, Farah Shrouf), jumpedup on the stage at our first-ever “Eagle Assembly,” overlooking 1300 cheering students,parents, faculty and staff, to rap the self-written tune, “Teach Me How to Eagle,” I realizedthat this event—and the unfolding of the newly developed EAGLE Honor Code—was avery special addition to our learning community. In front of an energized audience,Ibrahim and a kettle of student entertainers enthusiastically shared what it means to bean AIS-R EAGLE through a medley of show-stopping performances. Since this K-12 “kickoff”celebration, AIS-R EAGLE thinking, action and pride has flourished to include a wide-range of informative events,specialized educational sessions, and creative classroom learning experiences. In a very short time, AIS-R has begunto embrace what it truly means to be an EAGLE, and this edition of Mawade’ah celebrates the beginnings of thesehonorable school-wide expectations.In an effort to bring alive the AIS-R Mission and continue our dialogue about 21st Century learning, the EAGLE Honor Codeemerged through a yearlong process of dialogue with many members of the AIS-R community. With the assistance of anAIS-R Task Force, we received feedback about not only the skills and understandings that learners require in this century,but also, the dispositions and character traits that they will need to discover life-long success and self-actualization. TheE.A.G.L.E model (as outlined on page 5) therefore highlights all of these mission-related, 21st Century attributes underthe values-based banner—I am an AIS-R Eagle. Thus, to be an honorable AIS-R EAGLE, we strive to be Ethical, Adaptable,Global, Learning and Environmental, and this publication explores how we are beginning to engage and empower allAIS-R learners to live up to these ideals.Within this edition, we are greeted by a powerful interview with… the one… the only…Eddie the Eagle, our school’smascot, and a symbol of the energy and spirit of what it means to fly like an AIS-R EAGLE. Eddie is clearly a character,and when asked why AIS-R would choose an eagle for a mascot, he shares, “what other avian options are there?....theturkey?” Eddie’s captivating interview is followed by a range of photos, including images of the construction processof our Eagle statues, spearheaded by Mrs. Noeleen Curran and her artistic eaglets. We also see a thoughtful articleby Student Council Presidents, Tamara Kalo and Bandar Al Kabbani, who share their reflections of the “unforgettable”K-12 Eagle Spirit Assembly as referenced above. Other wonderful student submissions include: the mesmerizing UN Dayspeech given by senior and MUN President, Mansoor Elahi; the thoughtful acrostic poetry—“O is for hOnest” and “B is forBe friends”—by ES students; and, a creative article by Ruth Roberts as she inventively places the “L” in learning.Amongst the imaginative mix of student voices, we also hear from several AIS-R educators, who perform literary Eaglerenadances within this issue. Tony (Stanley) Anderson, Athletic Director, highlights one of the several successful High School’sEagle Days—special days that focus on empowering students to cultivate these important understandings and dispositions.Principal Jerri Myers once again amazes us with her lime green, spirited awe of Middle School “talon-t”! Educators, SusanStronach (MS-HS Librarian), Renee Couturier (Director of Learning), and Kerri McGlade (Communications Specialist)describe how AIS-R educators are being Eagles in terms of “adult learning,” as they share some of the exceptional edventurestaking place in terms of our on-site professional learning program and the NEASC-CIS re-accreditation process.Matt Sipple (Director of Educational Advancement) overviews the many ways that AIS-R students are being “adaptable”(and “awesome”). Finally, Nicole Jawad (Grade Five Teacher), shares the idea that eagles can soar by making even smallgestures, such as saying “Good Morning,” or collecting pull-tabs for recycling. Each contributor helps us to celebrate themany ways AIS-R is creating ongoing opportunities to become better learners and people.Without a doubt—and in the humorous words of Mrs. Myers—AIS-R’s has “Talon-t”! Ibrahim’s rapspeaks to all of us in so many ways, and this edition of Mawade’ah reminds us that we can teach oneanother “how to EAGLE.” At AIS-R, this is not only our honor code, but it is also our promise!Learn EAGLE…with us!Layout & Design:Joyce Mikhael ZammarBrian MatthewsAIS-R Superintendent2 3