Kaohsiung American School
The Kaohsiung American School (KAS; Chinese: 高雄美國學校; pinyin: Gāoxióng Mĕiguó Xuéxiào) is a private, Pre-K through grade 12 college preparatory school located in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[1] The school was established in 1989 and it is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The current superintendent is Dr. Benjamin Ploeger. The school has been accredited to teach the IB Diploma Programme since August 2010 and the Middle Years Program (MYP) since September 2015.
| Kaohsiung American School 高雄美國學校 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| |
| Information | |
| Type | Private International School |
| Established | 1989 |
| Superintendent | Dr. Ben Ploeger |
| Elementary | Mr. Jesse Coyle |
| Middle School | Mr. Barnaby Payne |
| High School | Ms. Dawn Rock |
| Enrollment | 792 students |
| Color(s) | Red, Blue and White |
| Mascot | Dragons |
| Tuition | Varies |
| IT Director | Mr. Brian Meehan |
| Website | www.kas.tw |
Facilities
In the spring of 2015, a new campus was completed. Phase 2 of the construction encompassed the athletics installations and was completed in January 2017.
Facilities include a 400-seat auditorium, lecture hall, and a 3-story central hub which houses a library, exhibition hall, and a media center. The Dr. Thomas Farrell Athletics Complex, which opened in 2017, houses a swimming pool, American hardwood indoor basketball court, and a rooftop tennis court.
Academics
Elementary Division
The Kaohsiung American School's elementary division, from Pre-K (4 years old) to grade five, allows students to receive classes from specialists each week in Art, Music and Physical Education. Students in grades 4-6 also have a weekly class in Information Technology. In addition, students receive Chinese language for 220 minutes per week beginning in grade 1. ELL (English language learning) is provided for students in grades 1-6 who require additional support in English language and is taught by a qualified specialist. Library classes are scheduled either weekly or on a flexible schedule with the Library specialist. In the 2018-19 school year, KAS added an Inclusion Coordinator whose office assists students with the tools they need to excel at grade level.
Middle school
The Kaohsiung American School's middle school division includes grade six to grade eight, and marks the start of the Middle Years Program (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate. The MYP provides an educational framework of formative and summative assessments around clearly defined criteria that measure a student's progress across a variety of classwork and academic pursuits. Additional English Language Learner (ELL) support is available for students at the middle school level. Students have the opportunity to experience a balanced curriculum that includes physical education, world language instruction, humanities, arts, science, and mathematics. The middle school also encourages a variety of student-led and teacher-led clubs and extra-curricular activities.
High school
The Kaohsiung American School's high school division runs from grade nine to grade twelve. Additional English Language Learner (ELL) support is available for students at the middle school level. Upon reaching eleventh grade, students are given a choice to participate in the IB Diploma Programme (DP). Students who participate have the opportunity to sit for the IB exams in their respective subjects and earn an IB diploma. Students can also select from a selection of other grade-level courses and College Board Advanced Placement (AP) offerings. All students in the high school have access to an onsite college advisory office to assist in the guidance and application to universities and colleges in the United States and worldwide.
Technology
The KAS Learning Technology program is a catalyst to all educational experiences. Students in every classroom have access to technology through individual and shared computing resources, including 1:1 laptops beginning in 3rd grade. The campus is designed with technology seamlessly integrated through all facets of classroom design. Students connect to high speed and high capacity wireless, no matter where the learning is taking place. Technology throughout campus is integrated under the supervision of the Director of Learning Technology, Brian Meehan.
IB (International Baccalaureate)
KAS was authorized to offer several IB courses and the IB Diploma Programme beginning in August 2010. The decision to offer the IB Diploma was to reflect the school's belief that the program offers the best opportunities for the students’ learning and for their university preparation. Students may choose to pursue the Diploma or individual certificates, or they may choose to enroll in courses for regular credit only.[4] The school was authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Program beginning in November 2015.[5]
Community service
"In order to qualify for community service, the student must engage in an activity that further develops his/her moral and ethical character by giving service to others."
Recognizing that school is more than an accumulation of credits and extra-curricular activities, KAS has implemented a Community Services Graduation Requirement. In order to qualify the KAS Community Service Graduation Requirement, student must have a minimum of forty (40) community service hours during their four years at KAS. If a student enrolls during the four years of KAS, the number of service hours is determined by the number of years left for high school graduation.
Extra-Curricular activities
KAS has many student-led extra-curricular activities and clubs. There is a wide variety of extra-curricular activities including athletics, music, drama, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Student Council and other cultural-promoting groups, such as Japanese Club or fundraising clubs such as Invisible Children.
This is a list of most of the extra-curricular activities in KAS:
- Student Council:
This council deals with the holding of school-related events such as school dances or the fun fair. It is also responsible for helping students fit into the school environment and raising school spirit.
Currently one of the two debate related club in the school. With more than 50 members each year, MUN club boasts one of the largest clubs in KAS. MUN club members participate in conferences which gather delegates to debate upon important issues around the world and formulate resolutions to solve these problems.
- Athletic Council:
This council is responsible for dealing with the athletics of the school. It is responsible for helping students support school sports teams and raising school spirit.
- Cadenza Music Club:
This club hosts musical performances for students of the school several times each year. Members audition to join and will be able to perform individually or as a group at regularly held events in the school's open-air cadenza.
- Science Club:
This club engages students in science-related activities in the hopes of helping students understand science. Fun labs are provided by the club and younger students are encouraged to join.
- Global Issues Network:
This club was found based on the movement formed by international schools in order to tackle global issues. The club is based on a fundraising club and urges to help those in need.
- ACAMIS Sports:
Sports include basketball, soccer, and volleyball. The most popular sport being basketball, with multiple championships at hand, KAS packs a robust varsity team; however, with the recent paradigm of soccer changing, the sport has become more and more popular thanks to the help of a special biology teacher.
- Japanese Club:
Japanese club aims to spread the culture of Japan to its members. Japanese Club offers many activities about the Japanese culture and an exceptional amount of cooking events.
- World Scholar's Cup Club:
The club that participates in an event called World Scholar's Cup. The club in the school with formal debate as a category in the competition. WSC pulls knowledge from multiple academic areas such as the arts, history, and writing and requires participants to remember the information. With multiple Global round Winners each year , KAS is one of the strongest WSC schools in Taiwan and the world. It is the best club and the opinion that MUN is better is fully untrue as most would argue that WSC is WAY better.
- Invisible Children:
The club based on the movement of Invisible Children, Inc, an organization founded to bring awareness to the LRA's activities in Central Africa. The club has recently shifted its focus to become a fundraising club which supports children in third world countries who cannot support themselves for a better education. Currently, the club has been able to raise tens of thousands of NT Dollars making it the largest fundraising club in the school. In 2017, the Invisible Children Club sold 2000 heart-shaped balloons for Valentine's Day to fundraise for the children in Cambodia. [6]
- Art Club:
This club helps promote artwork in the school. Events that encourage club members to come together and create art have often been planned. Exhibitions of art are also often held by this club.
- Charity Art Club:
This club helps promote artwork in the school while encouraging students to sell the artworks and give back to the community through means of charity donation. (founded by Darren Chao)
- National Honor Society:
This merit organization gives out recognition and accepts students when they are selected by teachers. With a primary selection based on grade point average, the final decision will be based on the teacher's decisions. Though technically not a club, students who join the National Honor Society have the honor of standing out from their classmates.
- String Ensemble:
Students who play string instruments are allowed to join and perform in front of the school during the annual spring and winter concerts.
- Baroque Ensemble:
Students who play Baroque music are allowed to join and perform in front of the school during the annual spring and winter concerts.
- Badminton Club:
Students who wish to play badminton as a sport are permitted to join the badminton club to practice their skills or if they simply want to exercise.
See also
References
- Home page. Kaohsiung American School. Retrieved on October 19, 2016. "889 Cueihua Road | Zuoying District (81354) Kaohsiung City Taiwan"
- MAYU architects - Kaohsiung American School. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- LEED Certified Campus. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- Graña, Alvaro. "IB Diploma Program". Kaohsiung American School. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- "IB Middle Years Programme - Kaohsiung American School". Kaohsiung American School. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
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