School Philosophy

Vision

The American International School of Lusaka (AISL) is committed to being a leading IB World School, offering a balanced, academically rigorous and internationally recognized college preparatory education. AISL seeks to enable its students to become successful, lifelong learners, as well as humane, self-directed, confident and well-rounded individuals. At AISL, students learn to appreciate Zambian culture, as well as other cultures represented in the internationally diverse student and faculty body, and gain a deeper understanding of their place within a global community.

Statement of Purpose

The purposes of the American International School of Lusaka are to:

• Provide the best quality internationally recognized programs for international
  students.
• Prepare students to excel in their future education at the college or university of their choice.
• Help students better understand and appreciate the culture, environment, and people of Zambia.
• Use the international nature of the school to help all students learn to value human diversity.
• Create a supportive community of parents, teachers and students in order to nurture all students to become responsible, humane and productive citizens of the world.

Statement of Goals

In order to fulfill the above purposes, the school has adopted the following goals:

• Students will be challenged and guided to realize their full potential for academic achievement. This means that students will not only master basic literacy and numeracy but also develop the ability to think critically and creatively, to comprehend the meaning of their learning, to apply learning to new situations, to question and evaluate, to plan and organize, to solve problems, and to research and learn independently and collaboratively.
• Students will study a balanced, varied, well-articulated, and integrated curriculum, which incorporates English language arts, reading and literature, mathematics, social studies, science, music, art, drama, physical education, foreign language, and information technology. Students will be encouraged to creatively express themselves through all of these subject areas.
• Students will develop a sense of respect, responsibility, understanding and concern toward all other persons. Student behavior will reflect self-discipline based on that sense of respect.
• Students will particularly develop their abilities in the English language, with an emphasis on expressing themselves clearly, cogently, and creatively, both orally and in writing.
• Students will be offered a curriculum and program which integrates information and insights about the history, current affairs, culture, people, and environment of Zambia and the region into as many regular subjects and activities as possible. The academic program will integrate direct field experiences in Zambia.
• Students will be encouraged to develop an international perspective by drawing upon the multi-cultural nature of the school community. Students will be encouraged to learn about and respect all countries. Information and insights about our students’ home countries will be integrated into as many regular subjects and activities as possible.
• Students will be able to participate in extra-curricular activities, including sport, art, music, and drama, among others, which foster the development of interests and talents and promote social interaction within the community at large.
• Students will learn in ways which are active and engaging, and which are appropriate and challenging to the spectrum of students in each class. This will include methods which address individual needs and interests, and methods through which students assist each other in their learning.
• Students will develop within a personal, caring, and secure school environment, which consciously uses the potential of small class sizes and small school size. To this end, close communication among staff, parents, and students will be encouraged.
• Students will acquire the work habits, self-confidence, and social and emotional maturity they will need to adapt to future change, to succeed in their next school, and to develop into adults who will be effective and sensitive in future settings.
• Students will develop the following characteristics of an international person, which include becoming: inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, well-balanced and reflective.

Page updated 12 January, 2008