Sunday, October 12, 2008

American International School of Guangzhou

The American International School of Guangzhou is the oldest and largest international school in Guangzhou, China. The school uses an English curriculum and is an IB World School serving the expatriate community in Guangzhou. AISG's current student body consists of approximately 950 students from over 40 countries.

History


The school was founded in 1981 to educate the children of the staff of the US Consulate. It was then based in the Dong Fang Hotel. Students of other nationalities were later admitted and the school relocated to the Garden Hotel in 1985. In 1987 the school received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges to teach kindergarten to grade 8. In 1994 AISG moved into a purpose-built school in the Greenery, a housing estate in the Tianhe District. Enrollment was then 102 students from 21 different nationalities. The high school was accredited and added in 1996-97. AISG became an International Baccalaureate World School in 2001.

It moved to its current location in Er Sha Island in 2002. Rapid growth fueled the need to identify a larger site able to accommodate the school’s size over the long term. In 2007 the Middle and High School moved to a spacious modern facility among the green hills in Science Park, north east of the city center. In the coming months, construction of a new Elementary School will start beside the new Middle and High School buildings.

Accreditation and Memberships


AISG is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is registered with the Chinese government as a School for Foreign Students. It is a member of the Council of International Schools, the East Asian Regional Council of Schools , the Asia Pacific Activities Conference and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools . The school is an authorized provider of International Baccalaureate programs at primary and high school levels. The school also offers Advanced Placement courses.

Academics


The school is an IB World School that runs from Preschool through to grade 12. The Elementary School follows the IB Primary Years Program. In the Middle School students follow a challenging internetional curriculum to prepare them for the IB Diploma Program. In the High School student can participate in the IB Diploma Programme. AISG also offers . The school emphasizes on academics and the development of the whole child.

Average SAT Score 570 Writing and 655 Math

Facilities



Elementary Campus


*Thirty-five classrooms
*Large Library
*3 Computer labs
*4 Science labs
*Art rooms
*Music rooms
*Gymnasium
*Playing Field
*ErSha Island Campus is a wireless environment.

Middle and High School Campus



*Fifty classrooms
*Large Library
*Computer labs
*Science labs
*3 Art rooms
*Separate Music building
*Practice rooms
*Theater
*Large Sports Hall
*Playing Field
*Science Park Campus is a wireless environment.


Student Life


At the Elementary School, students can select a variety of after school activities, whether from an arts, sport, community or academic thread. Some of the after school activities include drama, choir, sudoku and chess. There is also a Service Learning club, and a group of students who come together to produce the Elementary School newspaper.

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 and working with mentally challenged adults in Guangzhou. There are also opportunities to participate in a wide range of both recreational and competitive sports. High School students also participate in China Trips where they get to know and help the country they now live.

Athletics



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, rugby and badminton, in which they play against other International Schools and Chinese Universities in the region. AISG has recently been invited to to join APAC, the Asia Pacific Activities Conference. This allows the students to compete against the top International Schools from China, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. APAC also includes activities such as Drama, Speech and Debate, Orchestra and Band. The school is also a member of the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools , which provides opportunities to play other international schools.

The Boys varsity Volleyball team has been the Division 1 ACAMIS Champions the last 2 years. While the Boys varsity Basketball team has been the Division 1 ACAMIS Champions the last 4 years.

AISG is hosting the APAC Basketball tournament in February.

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