The School
AISB
is an independent, non-profit day school, which offers an educational program
from Pre-K3 through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The
School was founded in 1973 and is governed by a School Board comprised of 11
elected/appointed parents. The School is accredited by the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools.
MISSION
The
American International School of Budapest prepares its students to be
responsible global citizens and inspires in each a passion for knowledge and
lifelong learning. We are a nurturing and diverse community that instills
respect for self and others, develops the whole child, and strives for academic
excellence.
VISION
By
2012 AISB will be a leader among the international schools of Europe,
recognized for its outstanding students, dedicated faculty, excellent
facilities, and rich and challenging programs for students and the community.
VALUES
- We are an inclusive and involved
community of students, teachers and parents.
- We appreciate each member of our
community as an individual with unique talents and abilities.
- We embrace the American philosophy
of education and its approach to teaching that emphasizes critical thinking
skills, creativity and inquiry-based learning.
- We deliver an internationally
focused curriculum that encourages open- mindedness, tolerance and
cross-cultural understanding.
- We respect our host country's
culture, traditions and environment.
- We require personal integrity and
ethical behavior.
- We advocate social responsibility
and community service.
- We promote an open and caring dialogue in which each voice is heard.
ACADEMIC
PROGRAM
The
curriculum is based on best practices in American and international education.
Instruction is in English, from Pre-k3 to grade 12, it
reflects the school's commitment to educating the whole child. Structurally,
the school is administered in four divisions, Lower Elementary, Upper
Elementary, Middle, and High School. All children, pre-k to grade 8, study
science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, art, music, physical
education, computer, and either Hungarian Culture or a world language.
Our
lower elementary program (Pre-K3 – 2) emphasizes language development,
whereas upper elementary (grades 3 – 5) adds a focus on developing
learning skills and habits that will enable students to transition effectively
to grade 6. The grade 6 – 8 program is based on the developmentally
appropriate middle school model, providing challenging yet engaging learning
experiences in core and exploratory subjects. The high school program of
studies is comprehensive, leading to the International Baccalaureate (IB) in
grades 11 – 12. Approximately 95% of our students elect to take IB
courses, most of whom earn the full IB diploma.
English
as a Second Language, resource room support, and counseling services are
provided. A popular After-School-Activities program, a full range of
interscholastic sports and cultural activities, including extensive trips in
Hungary and the region, and an inspiring community service program offer
students a well-rounded school experience.
ENGLISH
AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
All
students in grades 1 – 12 who are not yet proficient in English are
enrolled in English as a Second Language program.
The
elementary (beginning grade 1), middle and high school divisions each have an
English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The goal of the ESL program is the
full integration of the non-English speaking students into the social and
academic routines of their English speaking peers.
ESL
students find success more quickly by integrating language with content-rich
instruction. Language structures are taught in a meaningful context and as
necessary to understand the content of each lesson. Classes are organized
around themes and where possible coordinated with classroom teachers in the
content areas of social studies and science. This provides a solid basis for
language teaching and learning.
COUNSELING AND SPECIAL SERVICES
The
school currently employs the services of four school counselors, one at each
division. Their role is to help students deal with academic and social problems
as well as college placement. In addition, the school employs the services of
three full-time learning resource teachers.
STUDENT
ACTIVITIES
Co-curricular
and extra-curricular activities are an important part of the AISB program. Our
aim is to provide a balanced, well-rounded program and involve as many students
as possible by offering a variety of social and recreational activities. At the
elementary level (grades 1 – 5) our goal is for students to develop
friendships and have fun in a non-academic setting, replicating the
"neighborhood" interaction that many children leave behind in their
home countries. There are no
school sponsored after-school activities for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.
Activities
vary each session and have in the past included sports and games, music, choir,
drama, art, cooking, computers, writer's workshop, reading for fun, and
others. In addition to school
sponsored activities, assorted parent-organized programs are popular. Scouting,
music lessons, soccer, swimming, martial arts, ballet, and gymnastics have been
offered at the school. The parent-sponsored groups have also provided opportunities
to participate in soccer, baseball and basketball on weekends.
At
the middle and high school level, activities are interscholastic or intramural
in nature, and include athletics, the visual and performing arts, publications,
academic pursuits, clubs and community service. Options include interscholastic
teams in math, speech and debate, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming,
tennis, softball, track, knowledge bowl, and a fine arts festival. Teams often
travel to cities outside of Hungary for competitions with other international
schools through several regional school associations. Additional traditions include participation in the Model
United Nations at The Hague, International Schools Theater Association
programs, drama/musical productions, a choral program, band, Fall Trip Week
(grades 6 - 12), student government, National Honor Society, literary magazine,
yearbook, a variety of clubs, and assorted field trips and inter-school
exchanges. Service to others and the community is an essential part of our
school philosophy and we expect every student to participate in activities
approved by the school to meet this goal.
LOCATION AND FACILITIES
The
school first opened in 1973 in an American owned apartment building in Pest. In
February 1988, the school moved to a beautiful, new, purpose-built school
facility on Kakukk œt, in the Buda hills. There were 100 students enrolled in
the school at that time. By
September 1991, however, the school outgrew this facility and began renting
facilities at nearby Csillebˇrc. With the continued growth in enrollment, AISB
constructed a second campus and the doors opened in August 2000.
We
operate four divisions on two campuses. The Buda Campus (PK-grade 2) facility
has 24 classrooms, a library, computer laboratory, indoor swimming pool,
gymnasium, and theater, and ample support facilities, including
playgrounds. The 32-acre
Nagykov‡csi Campus, located in a suburb of Budapest, houses grades 3-12 in a
state-of-the-art facility built in 2000, complete with 51 classrooms, library,
cafeteria, 4 computer rooms, double-sized gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium,
25-meter indoor swimming pool, performing and visual arts facilities, and a
350-seat theater. Within the grounds are tennis courts, outside basketball
courts, and beautiful playing fields the latest addition to which were ready
for use in April, 2008.
THE FUTURE...
We are currently planning for the whole school
to be consolidated on the Nagykovácsi Campus as from
August, 2009. For this to happen, a new state-of-the-art Elementary
school will be built, with construction beginning in April,
2008. As part of the overall plan we shall be opening nursery
classes for three to four year-olds.
FACULTY
AISB
employs 98 full-time and 16 part-time faculty members. Fifty six percent (56%)
are American; 17% are Canadian; 9% are British, 4% are Hungarian, and the
remaining 14% are from thirteen other countries. Sixty percent of the full-time
faculty has advanced degrees. The student-teacher ratio is approximately 7:1.
STUDENT
BODY
At
the beginning of the 2009 - 2010 school year, 802 students were enrolled from
57 countries, with the larger representations being from Hungary, the United
States, South Korea, Netherlands and China.
PARENT
PARTICIPATION
Communication
with parents in regards to school programs, activities, and their childÕs
progress is essential. The school strives to communicate with parents each week
with the AISB Wednesday Weekly. This newsletter is distributed to
all parents each Wednesday of the school year, and it is posted on our website.
At
AISB, we value the partnership between parents, teachers and students. Working
together, we can reach our goals for the growth and development of each
student. As part of the educational team, parents have certain opportunities as
well as a number of obligations:
Parents
may serve as members of the School Board, elected by parents to provide policy
governance over the school. Elections are held in the spring and any parent is
eligible to stand for election.
Parents
are invited to play a leadership role in the Parent School Association,
coordinating activities, projects, and events that support the school
community. Contact the PSA Chair for more information about how to contribute
your energy and talents to this worthwhile organization.
Parents
may join the Sports Booster Club, a group of parent volunteers who support
athletics at AISB by organizing food booths at tournaments and other
fundraising and supporting activities, all designed to serve our sports
program.
The
newsletter, the Wednesday Weekly is e-mailed to parents. Parents are
expected to read the newsletter each week, staying abreast of what is happening
at AISB.
Parents
play an active role in the education of their children, particularly through
participation in the two parent-teacher conferences scheduled each year in the
fall and spring. At AISB, conferences are a vital part of the educational
program and all parents are expected to attend both conferences.
Parents
attend informational meetings scheduled throughout the year. Back-to-School Night in the fall,
College Night, Course Selection Night, and occasional presentations of interest
to parents are venues to inform parent about important events and procedures
during the year.
Parents
of AISB students support our student activities and athletics programs by both
attending their child's competitions/performances and, in the case of middle
and high school, providing housing for students on visiting teams during
tournaments held at AISB. If you have a middle school or high school child
participating in a sport or activity, plan on getting a call at least once
during the year, asking you to open your home to a couple of visiting athletes
or scholars. This is a vital aspect of support that is echoed throughout the
region, as our neighbors open their doors to our kids when we travel to their
sites. All parents are invited to join the various fund-raising and
"fun"-raising events sponsored by the PSA throughout the year. Potluck Dinners,
Halloween Celebration, International Festivals, and other events are great ways
to network with other parents about issues of mutual interest.
Parents
volunteers are welcome, chaperoning field trips, sharing a talent or experience
with the class, or providing other support.
Joining
the AISB community as a parent means more than just sending your child to
school well-fed, and paying the bills on time. At AISB, parents are truly part
of the team!
PSA MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS
The
purpose of the association is to actively promote cooperation between parents
and the school to contribute to a healthy and productive school environment for
the students.
To
accomplish this purpose, the PSA has five objectives:
(a)
To ensure on-going communication among all members of the school community;
(b)
To support the school administration in maintaining quality education;
(c)
To organize activities and events which support the school community;
(d)
To raise funds to support general student activities; and
(e)
To cooperate with other community organizations in support of charities with
the primary purpose of giving students valuable learning opportunities.
AISB
SCHOOL BOARD
All
matters that pertain to the making of policy for the School will rest with the
School Board. The Board's primary responsibilities are to provide a quality
education for the students, a qualified teaching staff, safe and appropriate
facilities, strategic planning and sound financial leadership. The Board serves as a policy making
body, determining direction for the school and providing oversight of the
schoolÕs finances.
A. The Board is made
up of the following members:
(1) The
Ambassador of the American Embassy in Hungary, who serves as the Honorary Chair
of the Board.
(2) Five
voting members elected by the parents. Only parents with children at AISB may
serve as elected members of the Board.
(3) The
Chair of the PSA, who is a voting member.
(4) One
American Embassy representative, who is appointed by the Honorary Chair and is
a voting member.
(5) Four
additional voting members who are appointed by the Board and reflect the
international communities represented in the enrollment of the school.
(6) The
AISB School Director (non-voting).
(7) A
teachers' representative selected by the faculty (non-voting).
(8) A
student representative (non-voting).
B. All
voting members will serve for a period of two years except the PSA Chair whose
term coincides with his or her tenure as PSA Chair. Members may be re-elected or re-appointed at the end of the
two-year period to serve an additional two-year term or terms, but may not
serve more than six years total.
SCHOOL
YEAR AND SCHOOL DAY
The
school year is comprised of 179 school days, with the school calendar running
from late August until mid June. The year is divided into four quarters (two
semesters) in middle and high school, and three marking periods in the
elementary divisions. The school celebrates the following Hungarian holidays:
October 23, November 1, Christmas and Boxing Day, March 15, Easter Monday,
Labor Day and Pünkösd. We take a three-week winter holiday due to the fact that
many families travel extensively at this time of year. A one-week fall break in
October, a one-week ski break in February, and a one-week spring break are
also calendared. In addition, the school celebrates American Thanksgiving.
Monthly in-service training half-days are scheduled during the school year for
faculty professional development, during which students are dismissed at
lunchtime.
At
the Buda Campus (Pre-K3 to grade 2), classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and end
at 3:00 p.m. At the Nagykovácsi
Campus, upper elementary, middle and high school (grades 3 – 12)
instruction begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. School is in session
Monday-Friday. Students are
expected to arrive at school no earlier than 8:00 a.m. as supervision is not
provided at the school before that time. Students should be picked up after
school no later than 10 minutes after school is dismissed or at the end of
after school activities.
ATTENDANCE
School
attendance is important for the academic progress of the students. We request that parents adhere to the
schoolÕs vacation schedule for family vacations. In the event that a student must be absent from school and
it is known in advance, the homeroom/classroom teacher should be notified.
Please refer to the handbooks for specifics pertaining to attendance policies.
TRANSPORTATION
AISB
does not provide transportation services directly. Transportation service is contracted between the families
and service providers. The school
does maintain a cooperation agreement with Sargent School Bus Service, which
has proved to be reliable over the years, however, parents are free to make
arrangements with any transportation provider.
Sargent
School Bus Service
Telephone:
06 30 2003777
Office Tel: 370 3069 Fax: 389 0439
Website: www.sargentbus.com
e-mail: info@sargentbus.com
LUNCH
A lunch program is offered at the
Buda Campus (Pre-K3 - grade 2). Menus are sent home with the Wednesday
Weekly once a month. Lunch money is
collected for the semester in advance; payment for the entire year is
encouraged and appreciated by the school.
At
the Nagykovácsi Campus (grades 3 – 12) there is a bustling
cafeteria. It serves a variety of
salads, sandwiches and hot meals. Prices vary. A pre-paid menu is available and
is paid at the beginning of each month. A monthly menu is sent home with the Wednesday Weekly.
SECURITY
Both
AISB campuses are safe and secure environments, protected with school employed
round-the-clock security guards. Should any situation arise where security becomes a concern, the
following guidelines will be observed:
1. The
school does not send the children home during the school day prior to normal
dismissal.
2. The
school waits for the parents or their representatives to collect students. We
only release them to people who are authorized for pick up.
3. The
school will contact parents if possible or wait for parents to contact the
school but, in any case, will keep the children safely in school.
4. school maintains campus evacuation plans and has arranged safe houses to be
used if necessary.
SCHOOL
CLOSING
School
has been closed from time to time because of severe winter weather. There is a "telephone tree" for notifying families of school
closure. All families who have
telephones and have given the school their telephone number are on a list to be
called by someone at school. The tree is initiated by the School Director and
families will be called early in the morning with a message that school is
canceled.
