PRIMARY SCHOOL
Dear AIS Families,
Dear AIS Families,
Welcome to AIS Primary School, where our three pillars – Think Critically, Act Ethically, and Serve Others – guide everything we do.
My name is Natalia Zmaczynska, and I am the Primary School Principal. Originally from Poland, I hold a master’s degree in English language teaching methodology and have 16 years of classroom teaching experience. I joined AIS in 2014 and became Primary School Principal after four years in the classroom.
Our dedicated teachers know their students well, reflect on their practice, and use research, feedback, and professional learning to create engaging experiences. Across our classrooms, students ask questions, collaborate, contribute, and listen. Strong relationships are at the heart of this learning.
I especially value the sense of belonging that defines our Primary School. Each morning, students arrive eager to read, connect with friends, and begin the day with their school community.
We believe children thrive when families and schools work together. We welcome regular communication and value the feedback and partnership of every AIS family.
Sincerely,
Natalia Zmaczynska
AIS Primary School Principal.
A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT
AIS is our second home. It is a safe and nurturing environment where socio-emotional well-being is paramount. Every child is an individual. Our students learn best when they are safe and understood.
AIS Primary School teachers prioritize relationships. These form the foundation of learning on campus. Teachers are committed to personalizing learning to match each student’s interests, abilities and approaches to learning.
We begin each day with Morning Meetings. These are special times dedicated to building relationships, empathy and interpersonal skills. These skills are further integrated into each day during Life Skills sessions.
When interpersonal challenges arise, we use a restorative approach to guide students through the process of conflict resolution.
We have a Growth Mindset. At AIS, mistakes constitute a valuable part of the learning process and show us what we are ready to learn next. There is nothing we cannot do, but some things we cannot do… yet!
AIS Academic Framework: Foundation & Disciplines
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Student well-being is the foundation for academic growth. Because AIS is our second home, students are comfortable trying new things, learning from their mistakes, and making impressive academic strides.
We are deeply proud of our academic program. Our commitment to excellence in English and in Spanish develops bilingual students who are prepared to take on the world as global citizens.
Benefits of bilingualism
The benefits of bilingualism are far reaching and include improved memory and brain function along with increased abilities to multitask and achieve at high levels across a variety of academic areas.
The Balanced Literacy program – developed at Columbia University and used at leading international schools worldwide – is a key tool for achieving these outstanding results. Students draft, workshop and publish their own original work, thereby becoming passionate readers and writers in both English and Spanish.
MATHEMATICS
In mathematics we utilize Engage New York – a program based in Common Core Standards that provides learners with a range of tools to support both practical and conceptual understanding.
Each Engage New York module is intentionally constructed to leverage connections between concepts. Learning progressions are designed to lead students from simple and concrete understanding to more abstract and complex applications.
By connecting learning to the real world students remain engaged and in control of their learning.
SCIENCE
We take an investigative approach to the Natural Sciences.
Students inquire into the world around them through a hands-on, experimental approach through which they develop not only an understanding of scientific methodologies but also critical skills like making predictions, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.
Teachers build deliberate cross-curricular links between the Natural Sciences and other subject areas so students transfer their knowledge and skills to solve real world problems in an interdisciplinary fashion.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The standards for our Social Studies curriculum are outlined by the National Council for Social Studies and include:
- Culture
- People and Places
- Continuity and Change
- Individual Identity
- Governance
- Society
- Global Connection
The main objective of this curriculum is to create deep, meaningful learning experiences for all of our students.
This is accomplished through the investigation of themes and focusing on concepts, using content to create perspective and background.
Using this approach, students are able to connect ideas and think critically about what they learn.
ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND LOCAL CULTURE
The visual and performing arts are meaningful creative outlets for our Primary School students. The arts at AIS engage, inspire and challenge students to learn new skills and use their creative imaginations.
As students experiment with new techniques, instruments and groups, we know they will discover new passions.
Physical Education at the AIS Primary School is so much more than just exercise. Physical Education helps students develop competence and confidence while learning new sports and hobbies. It is taught through a holistic lens prioritizing health and wellness.
While we take pride in being internationally accredited, we also actively promote the appreciation of local culture and traditions.
All students in Elementary participate in a weekly Kaqchikel class, during which students learn how to maintain a basic conversation in this fascinating language of our region.
