AAS Guiding Statements

Mission

We engage, support and prepare each student for today and tomorrow.

We also ...

  • foster a love of learning, healthy living and international community;
  • develop the knowledge, skills and values to communicate, find solutions and innovate;
  • enhance critical thinking, resourcefulness and creativity;
  • cultivate leadership, compassion and responsible citizenship in both attitudes and actions;
  • nurture the abilities to interact effectively with others and to act independently with confidence.

Core Values

Commitment

  • Academics, athletics, arts, service and sustainability collectively support our mission.
  • We believe that learning is a lifelong journey that is transformative, collaborative and explorative.
  • We appreciate and celebrate that the achievements of our holistic approach promote continuous growth.
  • Self-awareness, willingness to push beyond limitations, and the desire to see things through to completion contribute to intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being.

Respect

  • Integrity, empathy, mutual respect and consideration, and an ethical environment commensurate with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights support our mission.
  • We believe that embracing a mix of cultures, talents, experiences and socioeconomic diversity makes AAS an authentic and fulfilling place in which to learn.
  • We appreciate and celebrate people as individuals with unique talents and abilities.
  • Wisdom and caring promotes the development of attitudes, values, self-regulation, relationships and responsible citizenship.

Excellence

  • Challenging, authentic and connected curricula, programs and assessments draw on the best international practices, help students develop the IB Learner Profile traits, and meet the requirements of our accreditation agencies to support our mission.
  • We believe in encouragement, perseverance, cooperation, acceptance of individual responsibilities, and the provision of diverse and engaging learning opportunities for students.
  • We appreciate and celebrate that successful learning and achievement takes many forms.
  • Graduates leave AAS with more than experience and knowledge; they leave with confidence and an understanding of the role they may play in shaping the future.

Global Citizenship Statement

At AAS, we recognize global citizenship transcends school approach, beliefs and actions.

We…

  • foster people's desire to make the world a better place;
  • develop empathy and open-mindedness in communication within and beyond our community;
  • enhance an understanding of local and global issues through analysis, creativity and action;
  • cultivate respect and acceptance of people’s identity, culture and diversity;
  • nurture global citizenship through peace, ethics and sustainability initiatives.

IB Learner Profile

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing our common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. IB learners strive to be:

  • Inquirers. We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
  • Knowledgeable. We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
  • Thinkers. We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
  • Communicators. We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
  • Principled. We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
  • Open­minded. We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
  • Caring. We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
  • Risk­takers. We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
  • Balanced. We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well­being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
  • Reflective. We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

IB Approaches to Teaching

  1. Based on inquiry
  2. Focused on conceptual understanding
  3. Developed in local and global contexts
  4. Focused on effective teamwork and collaboration
  5. Differentiated to meet the needs of all learners
  6. Informed by formative and summative assessment.

IB Approaches to Learning

  1. Thinking skills
  2. Communications skills
  3. Social skills
  4. Self-management skills
  5. Research skills