American School of Kuwait
| The American School of Kuwait | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Kuwait | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1964 |
| Principal | High school: Michael Murphy, middle school: Scott Dennison, elementary school: Iain McFarlane[1] |
| Faculty | 186 full-time faculty 2014-2015 school year [2] |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Number of students | 2,046 |
| School color(s) | Blue and gold |
| Mascot | Falcons |
| Telephone | (+965) 2266-4341 |
| Website | http://www.ask.edu.kw |
Founded in 1961, the American School of Kuwait (ASK) is a K-12 private school[3] institution which also includes a pre-school (referred to as the Child Development Center).
History
In 1963, a group of American parents began the process of forming a new international school. This new school's first term began in September, 1964 in the Dasman Area of Sharq, Kuwait, as the International School of Kuwait.
In 1969, the ASK Campus separated into two campuses, one in Salwa and one in Surra. The Salwa campus contained the Elementary school, while the Surra campus contained both the Middle and High Schools. The school received its initial US accreditation from the Middle States Association in 1971, and have been receiving it continuously since then.
Twenty-four years later, in 1995, both ASK campuses, the Surra and Salwa campuses, moved again to a new campus in the Hawalli area. This reunited the elementary, middle, and high school students into one campus.[4]
Present day
Administration
Rebecca Ness is the current superintendent of the school. The principals of each of the schools are Mike Murphy (high school), Scott Denisson (middle school), and Iain Macfarlane (elementary school).[5]
Faculty
The school currently 190 full-time faculty members, including 100 American nationals, 33 Canadian citizens, and 57 teachers from 15 different countries.[1]
Student body
The School currently (as of September, 2015) has approximately 2,046 students total. Approximately 21% of the students are US citizens, 53% are locals, and the remaining 26% represent 60 other nationalities.[1] Pre-K and elementary have 1013 students, the middle school has 410 students, and the high school has 623 students; within the high school, there are 163 seniors, 154 juniors, 143 sophomores, and 163 freshmen.[1]
Campus and facilities
The school possesses one of the largest campuses in Kuwait. The campus now houses 145 classrooms including: eight computer labs; four music rooms; four art rooms; ten science labs; two large library/media centers; two gymnasiums; a fitness center and weight room; an indoor 25-meter pool; a large multi-purpose auditorium; and three large outdoor play areas.[1]
Curriculum
The curriculum is similar to that of US general academic and college preparatory schools. The school’s testing programs include the SAT, PSAT, Plan, Explore, ACT and the MAPS. The language of instruction is English. French and Spanish are taught as foreign languages. Religious instruction is required for Muslims, as is Arabic for all students (students who hold passports from Arab countries take Arabic language courses through graduation, while holders of passports from non-Arab countries take Arabic-as-a-second-language courses until grade 11).
The elementary program, in which teachers are organized into grade-level teams, features specialists in science, art, computer studies, music, drama, physical education, Arabic and Islamic Studies. The middle school, which includes sixth through eighth grades, utilizes interdisciplinary teams and a curriculum based on a block schedule. The high school, which currently offers seventeen AP courses, is constantly re-evaluating its programs to better serve the needs and interests of students.
The American School of Kuwait is also one of the first schools worldwide to offer the AP Capstone Diploma program.[6]
Athletics and extracurricular activities
ASK offers many clubs and organizations with activities from service projects to leadership opportunities and competitions. All students are encouraged to join and take active part in the club or activity of their choice and interest. Previously a member of the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference (EMAC), ASK is now a charter member of the Near East Schools Activities Conference (NESAC), and is also a member of the Kuwait Schools Activities Association (KSAA).[7]
The athletic programs offered at ASK in the fall include Soccer, Swimming, and Volleyball.[7] In the winter, Basketball is offered.[7] Track & Field and Badminton are offered in the spring.[7]
ASK also offers a diverse choice of non-athletic extra-curricular activities as well. They include Academic Games, Model United Nations, Forensics and Debate, NESAC Band & Choir Festival, Oman Festival of Choirs, INJAZ (Junior Achievement), Sound and Lights Crew, Fall & Spring Drama Productions, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Sustainability Committee.[7] The Tri-M International Music Honor Society, the National Thespian Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society all have branches at ASK.[7]
Uniform
The American School of Kuwait has adopted a fixed dress code for all students.[7] All students must wear the official ASK uniform, which is available for purchase at the ASK Store.[7] The uniform includes a standard pair of navy pants for students in all schools and a school-specific polo shirt in different colors (light blue for elementary students, grey for middle school students, and dark blue for high school students).[7]
Alumni
Graduates of ASK have entered a variety of universities in the States and worldwide. Alumni are known to have attended Harvard University, Columbia University, Stanford University, The University of Pennsylvania, Rice University, The University of Virginia, Georgetown University, Duke University, The University of Michigan, McGill University, The University of Toronto, and The University of London.
See also
Footnotes
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Profile 2015-16" (PDF).
- ↑ http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/1505.htm
- ↑ http://www.ask.edu.kw/ASK/Web%20Docs/admissions/ASK%202012%20-%202013%20Fees.pdf
- ↑ http://www.ask.edu.kw/ASK/about_us.html
- ↑ http://www.ask.edu.kw/ASK/index.html
- ↑ "ASK School Profile" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 http://www.ask.edu.kw
External links
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