American International School of Guangzhou

American International School of Guangzhou
Address
Elementary Campus: No. 3 Yan Yu Street, Ersha Island, Guangzhou, China
Middle/High School Campus: No19 Kexiang Road, Luogang District, Science Park, Guangzhou, China
Information
Type Private School
Established 1981
Director Dr. Bernadette P. Carmody
Enrollment 1027
Color(s) Red, white & blue
Athletics conference APAC
SDRC
PRC
ACAMIS
Mascot Rams
Affiliations
Website
American International School of Guangzhou[1]
Traditional Chinese 廣州美國人國際學校
Simplified Chinese 广州美国人国际学校

The American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) is an independent, non-profit, multicultural, co-educational day school for foreign children from preschool to grade 12. It is located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, with an elementary school campus on Ersha Island, Yuexiu District and a middle and high school campus in Science Park, Huangpu District (formerly Luogang District).[2] Founded in 1981, it is the oldest international school in South China. AISG offers an international curriculum guided by American educational standards and principles.[3]

History

AISG was founded in 1981 under the auspices of the U.S. Consulate. Originally named the American School of Guangzhou (ASG), its purpose was to educate the American children of consular employees. The first year, seven students attended classes taught by volunteer teachers in the Dong Fang Hotel. The aim was to enable students to integrate smoothly into the American educational system when they returned to their home country.[4] The children of other consulates' employees were soon admitted and the school relocated to the Garden Hotel in 1985. In 1994, with over one hundred students from 21 nations, ASG moved into a purpose-built school in the Greenery, a housing estate in the Tianhe District. The school expanded to include high school (grades 9 through 12) during the 1996-97 academic year, and its first three graduates received their diplomas in 1998.[5]

ASG was reorganized legally in 1998 as a non-profit corporation in the United States, which then contracted with the school entity registered in China for the provision of educational services. As part of this process, the school changed its name to the American International School of Guangzhou and gained official recognition by the People’s Republic of China as a school serving expatriate children. In 2001, AISG received authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer the IB Diploma Programme. In August 2002, AISG moved to a new, purpose-built facility on Ersha Island, and in 2004 received permission from the IBO to offer the Primary Years Program. Grades K–12 were all housed at the Ersha Campus until 2007, when the middle school and high school divisions moved to a separate, purpose-built campus in Science Park, a district in eastern Guangzhou. AISG’s Early Childhood Center, which teaches preschool students from age 3, was added to the Ersha campus site at this time. [5] AISG celebrated its 35th anniversary during the 2016-17 school year.[6]

Academic Accreditation and Memberships

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • International Baccalaureate World School (IBO)
  • Council of International Schools (CIS)
  • East Asian Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS)
  • Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC)
  • Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS)
  • National Center for Curriculum Study and Textbook Development (NCCT)

Facilities

Elementary Campus on ErSha Island

There are two campuses: Ersha Island Campus (二沙岛校区) and Science Park Campus (科技城校区).[7]

Elementary Campus (Ersha Island)

  • Classrooms
  • Library
  • Multi-purpose room
  • Science labs
  • Art rooms
  • Music rooms
  • Gymnasium

Middle and High School Campus (Science Park)

  • Classrooms
  • Library
  • Science labs
  • Innovation lab
  • Music rooms
  • Practice rooms
  • Theatre
  • Gymnasium
  • Playing Field
  • Cafeteria, cafe and lounges
  • Black box theatre
  • Fitness room
  • Dance room
  • Climbing wall

Student life

At the Elementary School, there are various activities such as arts, sport, community or academic thread. Some of the after school activities include drama, choir, sudoku, chess, a Service Learning Club, and a newspaper organization.

Middle and High School students are involved in many extracurricular activities, from student government to a strong performing arts program. Student have opportunities to be members in active Music and Drama Clubs as well as in Model United Nations groups. Community service initiatives include Habitat for Humanity, Roots & Shoots, and working with mentally challenged adults in Guangzhou. There are also opportunities to participate in a wide range of both recreational and competitive sports such as soccer, basketball, badminton, tennis, and volleyball. High School and Middle School students also participate in China Trips where each grade of students travel to an area in China (including Hong Kong, and Macau).

Exchange programs in Asia

AISG is a member of the Asia Pacific Activities Conference. Participating international schools include International School of Beijing (ISB), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Concordia International School Shanghai (CISS), Shanghai American School - Puxi (SAS-PX), Shanghai American School - Pudong (SAS-PD), Hong Kong International School (HKIS), Brent International School (BISM), Taejon Christian International School (TCIS), Canadian Academy (CA), Seoul Foreign School (SFS) and United Nations International School of Hanoi. APAC sponsors many athletic and fine/performing arts events throughout the school year. For each event, competitive high school students from all participating schools travel to a designated school for the year's event, housed by volunteer families of the host school and competing as well as enjoying the culture of their destination. The APAC athletics activities are Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Badminton, Tennis, Swimming and can include others such as Baseball, Cross-country, Rugby etc. The arts is represented by Band, Choir, Drama, Forensics and Orchestra.

Clubs

Club involvement is considered an integral aspect of the educational experience at the American International School of Guangzhou. As of the 2014-15 school year, AISG has many clubs to join, with an especially strong focus in community service. Some clubs include:

Student publications

The Beacon The American International School of Guangzhou's student-run newsmagazine, is published regularly throughout the academic year.

The Mosaic is the American International School of Guangzhou's yearbook.

Artistic License (Literary Magazine) publishes poetry, prose, and artwork by members of the AISG community. It is published annually.

"LIPHY" (Magazine with articles and word definitions aimed at distribution to local students learning English.

Athletics

Touch Rugby

Elementary

At the Elementary School, after school sports include volleyball, soccer, floor hockey, taekwondo, table tennis and badminton.

Middle and High School

AISG fields sports a large number of teams at the High School and Middle School level. Some of the sports that many students participate competitively in are volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis and badminton, in which they play against other international schools and Chinese universities in the region. In 2008, AISG joined the Asia Pacific Activities Conference, which allows the students to compete against the top international Schools from China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines. APAC also includes activities such as Drama, Forensics and Debate, Orchestra and Band. AISG has withdrawn from ACAMIS for the high school teams since it is member of APAC. The middle school is a member of the Southern Delta Region Conference (SDRC), which provides opportunities to play other international schools in the region.

Middle School Sports

  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Touch Rugby
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Badminton
  • Cross Country

High School Varsity Sports

  • Basketball
  • Badminton
  • Cross-country
  • Dance
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball


Catering

Previously, catering services on both campuses were provided by Chartwell's. The school enlisted Sodexo as the new food provider beginning from the 2017-18 school year. Students have the option to bring food from home or to purchase foods from Sodexo at lunch. Catering is available in the cafeteria and at the cafe. Sodexo arranges different menus for every day in the school year.

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Home page. American International School of Guangzhou. September 1, 2000. Retrieved on September 16, 2016. "55 Hua Yang Street, Ti Yu Road East, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510620, People's Republic of China" - Chinese address: "地址:中国广东省广州市天河区体育东路华阳街55号.邮编：510620"
    2. ↑ "Contact Us." American International School of Guangzhou. Retrieved on September 16, 2016. "Ersha Island Campus (Preschool-Gr.5): Address: No. 3 Yan Yu Street South, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, PR China, 510105 广州市越秀区二沙岛烟雨南街3号" and "Science Park Campus (Gr.6-12): Address: 19, Kexiang Road Luogang District, Science Park, Guangzhou, PR China, 510663 广州市萝岗区科翔路19号" - Detailed map (Archive)
    3. ↑ "AISG Welcome Brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-03-06.
    4. ↑ "AISG 2016–17 Annual Report". Retrieved 2018-03-06.
    5. 1 2 "History of AISG". Retrieved 2018-03-06.
    6. ↑ "AISG 35th Anniversary Gala". South China Business Journal. June 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
    7. ↑ "Campus Map" (Archive). American International School of Guangzhou. Retrieved on September 30, 2015.

    Coordinates: 23°06′35″N 113°18′15″E / 23.109793°N 113.304212°E / 23.109793; 113.304212

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