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Fortnightly Newsletter - 12th May 2023

Volume 7, Issue 6

Dear parents, students, friends of Adelaide International School

Why choose an International School Education?

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Principal’s Message

It’s been an honour and pleasure to work at my first school with the word “International” in its name - as Principal of Adelaide International School. This has been my 2nd opportunity to lead a non-government school community here in Adelaide. Throughout my long teaching career – 44 years to be exact - I have had the opportunity to teach, inspire and look after the wellbeing of many international and domestic students. You always think you are “done” but another exciting door opens. In October 2021 I was delighted to be offered the role of Principal at AIS - to leave my mark on one of Adelaide’s newest, well-researched, innovative, leading international schools in the heart of Adelaide’s central business district. AIS is in its 7th year – having taught approximately 100 to 120 students every year – that’s 700 – 1,000 international students – 5 year olds to adults - who have benefitted from the vision and commitment of our Managing Directors Mr & Mrs Don Chen; the dedicated Board of Governors Chaired by Mr Nigel Smalls; inaugural Principals and Ms Zara Phillips and Ms Maliza Huang as founding teachers.



Today marks my last day at AIS and I’ve been invited by Mr Oakey to address you on the topic: “Why choose an international school education?”. As an experienced teacher that upholds the ATSIL standards – I want you to know that I am not an expert on this topic – nor any other topic for that matter – even though my Year 12s graduated with outstanding legal studies, research project and accounting SACE results and got into their preferred tertiary courses. The first thing I always tell my students – is I don’t know it all – but be assured I know more than you in the Year 12 subjects you have selected – you are in capable hands – trust me; I used to say “together we will collaborate and find out the answers to all our interests and questions”. As a teacher – I quickly found this approach gave my students clear assurance that they could ask whatever they were keen to know the answer to – but we would work as a team to find creative solutions to critical thinking problems.  As Principal at AIS – it has been my job to give everyone a voice and allow them time together to collaborate to share their gifts and allow them to problem-solve.



More than this – as Principal at AIS we must create a safe learning environment that allows each member of the team to take risks and put forward their respective and valued points of view. Everyone’s voice needs to be heard in schools. So as I put together a response to Mr Oakey’s topic question – I have explored and wish to put forward the views of our key stakeholders at AIS, together with the views of experts in the global international education arena.

What do others say about the value of an international education?

Global University Academics summarise these student benefits …

  1. The opportunity to learn or master a second language
  2. Opportunity to experience different styles of education
  3. Opportunity to learn about other cultures and perspectives
  4. Develop a global network of life-long friends and connections
  5. Opportunity to discover the world through lived experiences
  6. Opportunity to impress future employers
  7. Opportunities for global leadership development
  8. Opportunities to interact with globally educated staff with a passion for international education
  9. Opportunity to be part of a truly diverse community

Source: Christina Adamopoulos, TASIS, November 202

The South Australian Government values an international education – especially since the 1990s…….for these reasons:

  1. All children and young people need knowledge and capabilities to be successful in a world that is increasingly diverse and globally connected.
  2. South Australia’s economy is increasingly outward facing – international connections, including exports are central to our economic transformation. They drive innovation, productivity and global competitiveness.
  3. Our world is interconnected, diverse and rapidly changing. We need our children to be working with people with different languages and backgrounds, understanding local and global issues.
  4. We need young people that have the skills to communicate across cultural, social and professional environments. (John Gardner, ex Education Minister, SA Government)

The South Australian Government values an international education – especially since the 1990s...for these reasons:

  1. All children and young people need knowledge and capabilities to be successful in a world that is increasingly diverse and globally connected.
  2. South Australia’s economy is increasingly outward facing – international connections, including exports are central to our economic transformation. They drive innovation, productivity and global competitiveness.
  3. Our world is interconnected, diverse and rapidly changing. We need our children to be working with people with different languages and backgrounds, understanding local and global issues.
  4. We need young people that have the skills to communicate across cultural, social and professional environments. (John Gardner, ex Education Minister, SA Government)

AIS Students



Students will collaborate and share their views with us in the assembly. Their views will be shared later.

AIS Teachers



Our teachers are passionate about international schooling for the following reasons:'



Teacher1:
They provide international students with personalized academic support.
Schools know better about how to support international students to settle in a new country.
Schools value different cultures, which enrich the learning experiences for students.

The reasons that I chose to work at an Australian international school are:
As a former international student, I want to try my best to help other international students strive and overcome difficult times in their learning journeys.
I want to help international students identify their strengths, find their passions, and become global citizens who can serve wider communities (locally and internationally) in the future.



Teacher 2:

International Schools...where individual's matter - irrespective of cast, creed, or ethnicity. An etiquette that is embedded in students, parents, teachers, and administrators allow a smooth transition for future prospects.  It can also be noted that the curriculum creates a pathway for future education and work in the most natural form.



Teacher 3:

Teaching to be open minded. Yes there’s a culture clash and being open minded can be confronting when it comes to cultural values; however, learning to respect and be open-minded is the key.



Teacher 4:

The students and the learning - the students are different and yet the same as locals. Their needs are different but there's this common thread that runs through everyone and I love seeing that. Teenagers are teenagers wherever they come from. Just lovely hearts and minds hoping to grow and find their place in this diverse world. I love that.



Teacher 5:

Relationships: international students come in with such a sense of excitement and anticipation - they are hungry to meet new people and learn new things and that’s exciting to be involved in.

I love the global perspectives on life generally - so working with people from a diverse range of experiences and from different cultures is a powerful form of education that is enriching.

Migrants and internationals often 'start at the bottom' and can be overlooked or ignored.  I love the rise of the 'underdog' and the sense of excitement around the unexpected.

True global citizens are the most welcoming people on the planet and that's a positive workplace and a positive environment to be in.



Teacher 6:

home is not just a place where you were born into, but a place where you feel safe and a sense of belonging.



Teacher 7:

I was an International student 25 years ago. I studied an Education degree at the University of South Australia. I was inspired by talented educators. I love teaching. Seeing international students growing not only their academic knowledge but also their confidence, their critical thinking mind and their sense of global citizenship makes me happy.

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Parents of International Students in Adelaide



Thank you to our parents for sharing your reasons for selecting international schooling for your child:

Parent 1:

We came to Australia because we hope that our daughter can learn and grow in a more open education environment, and chose Adelaide International School because after visiting the School, we believe that our daughter will get proper care at AIS so that she can further develop herself. With a smaller class size, she interacts with her teachers and classmates more closely.

Parent 2:



As a SACE parent –

  • There is a better teacher-student ratio - Students can be taken care of better and get more support from teachers. This is especially more important if students' parents are overseas.
  • Better implemented differentiated teaching due to small class size.
  • More personalized curriculum for AIS students.

As an English for Academic Purposes parent -

  • Well designed curriculum: Students not only improve their English academic skills at AIS but also have opportunities to access some SACE Stage 1 courses in advance prior to going into Year 11.
  • Very supportive teachers at AIS: Teachers at AIS come from diverse cultural backgrounds and may have the same background as the students that make them more feel more comfortable when they first arrive in Australia.
  • A good chance not only for students but also for parents at AIS to make more friends and share new arrival experiences with people who have the same cultural background.

In summing up…

  • International education has lots to offer students and their families, regardless of personal priorities and preferences.
  • At AIS we all have an opportunity to make true global friends for the rest of our lives.
  • At AIS we help break down barriers and build trusting global relationships.
  • Through our daily interactions, conversations and friendships – we can work together to solve global issues to make the world a better place for all and importantly ensure we work productively as global nations to protect our world’s resources for the enjoyment of future generations.
  • On a personal level, as I say goodbye...remember we are all leaders in this world…. of our lives, our destiny, using our special gifts to truly make a difference to the lives of others. Go forth… use your gifts each day. Above all never stop learning new things… never stop making a difference to fellow mankind.
  • International Education keeps us all connected globally! That just has to be a great thing!

Good health, peace and prosperity to you and your families. Thank you for the wonderful memories. Look forward to hearing about your progress in life! If you see me in Rundle Mall on an excursion – do come up and say hello.





Warmest wishes

Gina Kadis, Principal

The Lego Excursion

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On the morning of Friday 5th May 2023 the EAP primary and middle school classes joined together on an excursion to the South Australian Museum to explore the Relics: A New World Rises exhibition, an exhibition created by Alex Towler and Jackson Harvey (winners of Lego Masters in 2020). Students scoured the exhibition through a scavenger hunt where their critical analysis and logical thinking skills were put to the test. Teamwork was required to help solve the mysteries and work towards a common goal. 

The exhibition took visitors to a world set in the year 2530, after humans have left the planet. It showed how LEGO® minifigures have built civilizations using discarded and forgotten human objects, reminding us of the impact we have had on the environment.

The exhibition featured interesting displays such as a group of inventors who used an old grandfather clock to build a time machine, a cryonics facility hidden inside an old refrigerator to protect the minifigures from climate change, and a retro arcade with elevators and airlocks that connected a series of gaming machines to create a futuristic spaceport. These displays showed how LEGO® minifigures have adapted to the environment to create a sustainable future.

A New World Rises exhibit captivated curious Primary and Middle schoolers with multiple features.  Getting there was a short and fun walk appreciated by all and the fact that the heavens held back until we returned, definitely was a bonus.  Altogether, the Scavenger hunt amidst the Lego exhibit extended our students learning and sparked tremendous curiosity.

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Below are some feedbacks from the students:

Phuc Thinh (Tom) Nguyen

I went to the South Adelaide Museum to see their Lego exhibit and there were two things that I really enjoyed. Firstly, I liked that there were many Lego designs with different shapes. It was very cool to see all the different things that people can make with Legos. Secondly, I also enjoyed that I could read about each Lego work. This was helpful because I could learn about the story behind each design.


Ran (Everleigh) Liu

I think the good thing is that the students are allowed to find out some small questions about the exhibition by themselves, so that students can diverge their thinking and learn English independently while visiting the exhibition.



Yiru (Gia) Wang

I had a wonderful time in AIS, and I always had a brand-new experience on every excursion. What impressed me most was last week's visit to the Lego.  In the Lego Museum, I was given a list of many questions, and each answer was in the seemingly insignificant Lego figures, such as counting how many Lego figures are in an exhibition area or listing what they have on the shelves.  These stimulated my curiosity and challenged my observation and summary ability. 

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List of our Staff

Name

Role

Email

Kadis, Gina

Principal

[email protected]

Oakey, Shaun

Deputy Principal

[email protected]

Phillips, Zara

Director of T&L & SACE Coordinator

[email protected]

Rosie, Broderick

AISA Business Development Manager

[email protected]

Huang, Maliza

EAP&EPET Teacher

[email protected]

Liu, Jing

EAP&SACE Teacher

[email protected]

Nayagam, Sarah

EAP Middle Years Teacher

[email protected]

Xu, Sally

SACE Teacher

[email protected]

Lique, Irish

Primary Teacher

[email protected]

Chan, Tom

ICT Support (Intern)

[email protected]

Gao, Grace

Education Support officer

[email protected]

Huang, Chris

ICT Support

[email protected]

Karem, Sam

ICT Developer & Analyst

[email protected]

Rhothjirathanin, Grin

Digital Marketing & Communication

[email protected]

Sha, Lola

ICT Support

[email protected]

Shao, Kitty

Student Support Officer-Level 4 –
reception; absentees daily;
first-aid officer;

[email protected]

So, Catherine

Student Support Officer-Level 5
– admissions

[email protected]

Sun, Leo

IT and Facility Manager-Level 5

[email protected]

Zhang, Jessica

Student Recruitment Manager

[email protected]

Have the best weekend. Do reach out and contact Shaun Oakey on [email protected] if you need our support.



Yours sincerely

Gina Kadis, Principal AIS

Shaun Oakey, Deputy Principal AIS

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Adelaide International School
Level 4, 127 Rundle Mall
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000



Mail: P.O. Box 3332
Rundle Mall, SA, 5000
Phone: +61 8 8123 1786
Email: [email protected]



Visit us on the web at www.ais.edu.au
CRICOS Provider Number: 03133G | School Number: 398

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