AIS and Our Parents: Parent Partnerships
As an independent international school, we encourage parent participation in all facets of school life. This document will help you understand the importance of your personal involvement in your child's education as well as the impact of your financial support on your child's school.
AIS's Commitment: We will all do everything possible to fulfill the mission of the school and live the school's values, the things we believe are fundamentally important: the intrinsic joy of learning and hope, sustained and nurtured in a diverse school community, united in its commitment to mutual respect and purposeful effort to set and achieve high standards. In the spirit of true partnership, all staff members of the school--most notably the teachers who work directly with your child--share responsibility with you for your child's success. By subscribing to the ideas outlined in this partnership agreement, you will help your child succeed at AIS.
What are my responsibilities for my child's success in the curriculum at AIS?
- To read about and understand the International Baccalaureate curriculum and the goals of language instruction offered by AIS;
- to encourage my child's development of reading and writing ability, math skills, scientific inquiry, and logical reasoning and analysis, as is fitting with my child's topics of study, and to serve as or use a tutor when necessary;
- to learn, if applicable, the target language alongside my Primary School child, as a way of being a positive role model and sharing the excitement of this endeavor within the family;*
- to provide opportunities for authentic language experience outside the classroom, especially for my Primary School child, through videos, tapes, CDs, Internet access to world radio broadcasts, language camps, exchange programs, trips abroad, and play opportunities with children from AIS who speak the target language of my child, and more;
- to provide books, software, and other resources to nurture my child's inquiring mind and to take my child to cultural and educational events at AIS and elsewhere that would enhance my child's learning and understanding of the subjects he or she is studying;
- to permit and encourage my child to attend grade level field trips, acknowledging that they are part of the curriculum;
- to read through the Creativity Action Service (CAS)** Handbook with my Secondary School child and understand well the number of hours and type of service my child needs to fulfill the curriculum requirements of the IB and AIS; and
- to encourage my child's development of appropriate values for willing and enthusiastic participation in community service.
*Note on the critical involvement of parent support to ensure successful language acquisition: AIS is committed to academic excellence in all subjects and is unique in Atlanta by offering a dual language curriculum in the Primary School in English and in Spanish, German, or French. Additional languages are also offered in the Secondary School. Use of these languages is encouraged at AIS, and visitors to the school can often hear the students speaking different languages to each other in the hallways and on school grounds. To succeed in acquiring another language, however, use cannot be limited to the student's time at AIS, but must continue at home and elsewhere whenever possible. AIS encourages parents who do not already speak a second language to begin learning one, and in the case of Primary School parents, the target language alongside your child. It is a learning experience you can share for years to come. Also, learning about other subjects your child is studying will be rewarding for you, and will demonstrate to your child your utmost educational support and interest.
**Note on CAS: AIS and the International Baccalaureate Organization encourage development of the whole child and require Secondary School students to complete a certain number of hours of Creativity, Action, and Service in the areas of sports, the arts, and community service. Students learn invaluable lessons in these activities--lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom. Parents should encourage their child to take a positive look at these types of activities and to develop interests that can remain long after graduation from AIS.
What are my responsibilities to my child at home?
- To enforce the discipline of using our family's language, if other than English, with our child at home and when his/her AIS friends visit, recognizing that we have a valuable gift to offer our child and his/her friends: our mother tongue;*
- to encourage my child's participation in worthwhile endeavors to prepare for learning and the demands of our changing, interdependent world;
- to ensure that my child has ample scheduled time and quiet surroundings for home study and to reinforce my child's use of homework agendas, especially as my child progresses into higher grades that require more homework;
- to talk to my child often about school work, demonstrating my interest in helping the school equip my child with the ability to inquire, interact, and accept constructive criticism;
- to help my child learn from mistakes and to profit from suggestions for improvement;
- to limit and appropriately supervise time my child spends watching television or in front of a computer. We strongly recommend that the television and/or computer be placed in a 'public' area of the home, NOT in the child's bedroom; and
- to enable my child to maintain regular school attendance by ensuring my child arrives at school on time and by scheduling family trips only during school holidays.
What are my responsibilities to my child's acceptance of cultural differences?
- To be a model for my child by demonstrating and encouraging an interest in, study of, and respect for other cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, races, and religions;
- to encourage my child to socialize outside of school with children who come from other backgrounds;
- to enhance my child's awareness and understanding of the world by discussing current events that may be affecting the home countries of other AIS students;
- to encourage my child to share his or her own cultural traditions and heritage with other students; and
- to attend cultural events at AIS.
What are my responsibilities to the teachers and administrators of the school?
- To support the mission, values, policies, curriculum, educational standards and disciplinary actions of the school;
- to do everything possible to ensure that my child complies with the academic and behavioral standards at the school and, if my child falls short of these standards, to support the school in dealing with the shortcoming(s);
- to underscore with my child the importance of study, homework, classroom participation, and full effort in approaching academic work at AIS;
- to respect the professional opinions of the teachers and administrators;
- to support the judgments and actions of the teachers and administrators of the school by following their recommendations;
- to talk first with my child's teacher regarding any matters of concern in the classroom, such as homework, content of lessons, teaching methods, and regarding family concerns, behavior patterns, or attitudes that might impact my child's performance at school;
- to consult with my child's teachers by arranging individual conferences, using the phone and school message system for quick communication of concerns, and writing notes in my Primary School child's agenda;
- to read all letters, newsletters, handbooks, and other information sent to me by teachers, department heads, and administrators of the school and to review information on the school's website;
- to attend events at the school and meet my child's teachers, division head, and the headmaster when opportunities are given; and
- to get involved with the AIS Parent Organization and its activities and, in doing so, get to know other parents at AIS.***
***Note on parent voluntarism: AIS has benefited from the many active parents who enrich the AIS community through their participation in the life of the school. There are countless ways of doing so, and parents are urged to find out about opportunities to participate that are suited to their own interests and available time. We appreciate your involvement, and your child will be especially thankful for your active interest in his or her school.
What are my responsibilities to the financial support of my child's school?
- To make my tuition payments on time so that AIS can continue to be a financially stable school;
- to understand that private, independent schools in the United States do not survive on tuition alone, but are dependent upon donations by parents and alumni to meet current operating budget requirements and all capital needs;****
- to understand that AIS is a relatively young school, having opened its doors in 1985, and is therefore especially dependent upon the generosity of parents in particular to meet the financial needs of the school;
- to contribute, therefore, according to my financial ability to the Annual Fund each year to support current school needs; and
- to consider the needs of AIS and its long-range goals for funding buildings and endowment through major gifts.
****Note on giving: AIS is sensitive to the fact that many parents come from countries where education is provided free by the government, and they are therefore new to paying tuition in addition to making personal gifts-- the latter of which is customary at private, independent schools in the United States. The unique curriculum at AIS, the high-quality faculty from around the world, the low student-teacher ratio, the ongoing investment in the professional development of our faculty, and our commitment to providing need-based scholarship support for students to ensure socio-economic diversity at AIS make our operating costs higher than they are in many other schools. AIS asks that you be understanding when you receive requests for donations by the school and that you consider giving to the best of your ability. These funds are for your child's superior education and development in a school with high international standards.