Background The AFNORTH
International School (AIS) was founded in 1967 and provides education for
approximately 1000 children of Allied Forces North Regional Headquarters (AFNORTH)
and other NATO personnel serving adjacent areas. Four nations sponsor the
school: Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, and the
United States of America. A Board of Governors, made up of Senior Officials from
the Defence Schools of each owning nation, is responsible for the establishment
of school policy and approving the international budget. The Director and
Assistant Director are appointed from one of the four sponsoring nations. Each
nation provides a National Section Head (Principal or Headmaster). The
Director, Assistant Director and the National Section Heads, known as Senior
Management, are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the school.
The present school building was opened on October 8, 1993 and represents an
architectural design that supports the schools stated Mission, “…to provide an
education commensurate with the national requirements of its four founding
nations…. We shall enrich this educational experience through our school’s
internationally integrated organization, programs that make use of the European
setting, the multi-cultural and diverse nature of our teacher and student
bodies, and the support of our military community.” Within the building, are
standard classrooms, “pods” for individual and group work and/or large group
presentations, Science Laboratories, Computer Centers, Gymnasiums and
Specialists Areas, e.g. Special Education, Art, Music, Industrial Arts, etc.
Coupled with a well-designed facility are programs that reflect the
international nature of the school. The English-speaking sections of the school
are integrated among both staff and students. American, British, Canadian, and
International Students using English as a common language share classes and
teachers. Teachers come from Canada, the UK, and the US. It is very common, for
example, for a British teacher to have 10 or more nationalities in his/her
classroom. There is also a smaller group of International Students in the
German Section, and their language of instruction is German. The different
school sections are generally divided along Elementary, Middle, and High School
lines.
AIS boasts many distinctive educational programs such as French Language
Instruction beginning in the Elementary School. The Partner Language Program
introduces German to students in lower grades and assists students with English
who do not study in that language. A wide range of simulation programs such as
Model European Parliament, Model NATO, and Model United Nations are available to
secondary students. AIS students can choose to take Advanced Placement classes.
The extra-curricular program includes such things as sports, student government,
and clubs.
