SECONDARY SCHOOL
Interdisciplinary Connections
At AIS secondary school, we prioritize depth over breadth of instruction. One of our greatest strengths at the secondary level is cross-curricular collaboration of teachers. Students make deep connections, not only between courses, but to the real world, allowing authentic engagement and application of learning. That feeling when the lightbulb pops over your head, or you tuck the last piece of the puzzle into place!
Academic courses and fine arts compliment each other to create a greater impact. Imagine walking into the art studio with a wall of secondary student self-portraits, a variety of styles, mediums, designs. As you enter the art studio, you hear audio recordings of “Where I’m From” poems, written by 9th and 11th grade English classes, and recorded by 11th grade AIS Radio students who have been developing skills to speak audibly and with expression. This is AIS.
Social-emotional Development
Another strength is the intention with which we guide students’ social-emotional development. Our counselors provide age-appropriate comprehensive lessons where students can practice the five areas of social emotional learning, and learn socioemotional skills to use throughout life. Secondary teachers are assigned to a grade and they, with the support of counselors, provide the socio emotional learning lessons.
This program helps students learn more about their emotions, emotional regulation, social skills, conflict resolution, and empathy. They also have learned that there is a place where they are safe and can talk and share their personal experiences, ideas and opinions.
Meaningful and Personalized Pathways
Graduation Tracks
Classrooms are enriched by a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, and the same diverse student population also presents a variety of needs. At the most basic level, that means that all students have the opportunity to graduate with a Guatemalan diploma, meeting the requirements of the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and/or an AIS diploma.
AIS is accredited through the NEASC organization (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) as a rigorous international college preparatory for students considering university in the United States, Europe, or otherwise abroad.
Capstone courses
Seminario is a capstone course in which students complete a Life Project and collaborate as a group to complete a National Project.
As an alternative, upperclassmen may complete a Personal Project. The personal project formally assesses students’ approaches to learning (ATL) skills for self-management, research, communication, critical and creative thinking, and collaboration. Students create a product or outcome, keep a process journal, and write an account of the project and its impact in a final report. This year’s project topics include auto mechanics and fuel conversion, school uniform design, and film production.
Global Issues
Secondary students engage with global issues in a variety of ways including Model United Nations and in their Global Issues class. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to solve problems and improve possible solutions in relation to current events and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Advanced Placement (AP) and college courses
Additionally, we offer a variety of AP (Advanced Placement) courses and connect students with online dual credit / early college courses for those who seek to the opportunity to earn college credit, build their transcripts, and challenge themselves academically. 2022-2023 AIS course offerings include AP Literature and Composition, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Art and Design, AP Human Geography. Students are enrolled in AP Music Theory and US History.
