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Almaty International School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
QSI - Almaty International School
Almaty International School, as seen from above
Address
Baiken Ashimov Street 185

Kalkaman Village
,
050006

Information
TypePrivate, non-profit
MottoSuccess For All
EstablishedAugust 1993
School districtNauryzbai District
OversightQuality Schools International
DirectorsMr. Jon Routh
Directors of InstructionTravis Moore
Natalie Mahon
GradesK-12
Years offeredPre-K to 12th Grade
Enrollment469 (as of February 2023)
Education systemAmerican/QSI
LanguageEnglish (Kazakh, Russian, Spanish and French in the case of World Languages)
Hours in school day8:00-3:30 (normal school day)

3:30-5:00 (athletics/after-school activities)

8:00-11:16 (half days)
Campus size7 hectares
Campus typesuburb
Color(s)    Blue and White
AthleticsYes
Athletics conferenceCOASH/CAFA
SportsFootball, Basketball, Cross Country, Volleyball, Track and Field, Badminton
MascotSnow Leopard
NicknameAIS
TeamsVarsity Boys, Varsity Girls, JV Boys, JV Girls (varies by sport)
Team nameSnow Leopards
AccreditationMSA/CEESA
Annual tuitionPre-K (half-day): $7,300, Pre-K (full-day): $8,800, grades K-12: $22,000
Websitewww.qsi.org/almaty/

Almaty International School (AIS) is a private school located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Founded by QSI (Quality Schools International) in 1993, it is the third largest school out of all the QSI schools. The school offers an American-based Pre-K and K-12 programs. School facilities include: an elementary building, secondary building, annex (music building), small gym, big gym, library, cafeteria, birch room, birch tree area, field with an Olympic size track, 3 playgrounds, and the teachers apartments. The school hosts international events and participates in many sports events such as the CAXC (Central Asian Cross Country Classic), CASC (Central Asian Soccer Classic), CABC (Central Asian Basketball Classic), and CAVC (Central Asian Volleyball Classic). The school is also used as a site for SAT, PSAT and AP testing. The school is operated with the authorization of the Kazakhstani Government.

Study and Programs

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Elementary students learn Literacy, Math, Cultural Studies, Science, World Languages, Music, Technology, Art, and PE (physical education). Middle and Secondary Students get to choose electives which include PE/Wellness, Technology, Music (Band/Orchestra/Choir/Guitar), Drama or Art. Students that can not go yet into the appropriate age program go to IE (Intensive English) classes for Literacy and World Languages. They move up when they can go to the appropriate program of their age. The school has 7 Success Orientations to follow:

  • Responsibility
  • Kindness & Politeness
  • Trustworthiness
  • Aesthetic Appreciation
  • Concern for Others
  • Group Interaction
  • Independent Endeavor

The school is funded partially by the U.S. Department of State.[1] The school is accredited by CEESA[2] and MSA.[3]

History

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Founded by QSI (Quality Schools International) in 1993, it is the third largest school out of all the QSI schools. The school offers an American-based Pre-K and K-12 programs. The school is fully accredited through Middle States Association (MSA) and affiliated with the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools (AOS).

Curriculum

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The QSI education system differs from the traditional American system in several aspects. The naming of the key stages in the QSI curricular system diverges from typical naming. Additionally, the different stages cover different age groups. The table below represents all the changes:

QSI Education System
Traditional American

Schools

QSI Schools Age Group
Preschool Pre-K 3-4
Kindergarten 4-5
Elementary School 5-6
Lower Elementary 6-9
Upper Elementary 9-11
Middle School 11-12
Middle School 12-14
High School Secondary 14-18

A variety of AP Courses is offered, ranging from AP World History to AP Chemistry. Spanish, French, Russian and Kazakh languages are offered in QSI Almaty. The school, being located in Kazakhstan, is obligated to abide by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education's regulations.[1] To meet the regulations, QSI Astana, QSI Aktau, QSI Atyrau, and Almaty International School (QSI Almaty) made Kazakh History, Kazakh Language, and Military Preparation classes mandatory for all Kazakh nationals.[4] Intensive English class is compulsory for ESL (English as a Second Language) students who have struggles effectively communicating in English. A university counselor is also offered to the senior class. An AP Lab/Study Hall is offered to high school students with tight schedules and/or numerous AP subjects.

The QSI grading system also differs from that of traditional American schools:

QSI Grading System
A level B Level P (In Progress) H (On Hold) W (Withdrawal) D (Deficient Effort)
Student illustrated knowledge beyond mastery, went beyond what was expected of him/her and has completed all the TSW's Student illustrated mastery in the unit and completed all the TSW's Student is in progress of mastering the unit and has not completed the unit at that point in time Student is placed on hold for a particular reason by the teacher; H's can be issued to a whole class or one student Student withdrew from the particular unit or the subject as a whole Student showed lack of effort, therefore, receives a D for a particular unit

TSW ("The Student Will") are a set of guiding points that illustrate what the student should learn in the unit/subject. A TSW sheet is created by a group of teachers with expertise in that particular subject. Every unit in every subject has a TSW sheet.

All QSI schools are based on the course credit system. Each whole-year subject contains 10 units. Each semester-long subject contains 5 units. A single completed unit with a grade of B or above will earn a student 1 credit. A pupil must earn 220 credits throughout his secondary (high school) years and complete all mandatory subjects such as Algebra I and Biology to earn a Standard Diploma. If a student wishes to receive an Academic Diploma, they must earn 240 credits and embark on additional English and Social Science classes. With a student wishes to receive an Academic Diploma with Honors, he/she must complete 2 AP subjects between Secondary 1 and Secondary 4 as well as meeting the requirements of both the Standard and Academic Diploma. The student must complete the subject's AP exam with a score of 3 or above.[4] The mandatory courses for the 3 diplomas are as listed:

QSI Diploma Requirements
English Mathematics Science Social Science Arts Phys. Ed. and Health Advanced Placement

(Only for Academic Diploma With Honors)

Standard/

General Diploma

  • Writing I and II
  • Literature I and II
  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  • Physical Science
  • Biology
  • Physics or Chemistry
  • World Geography
  • Modern World History
2 of the 3:
  • Drama (1 semester)
  • Music
  • Art
  • Wellness
  • PE
Any 2 of the following:
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Economics
  • Biology
  • Physics B
  • Physics C
  • Chemistry
  • Calculus AB
  • Literature
Academic Diploma +
  • Research Project
  • American Literature
  • British Literature or

AP Literature

  • Algebra II
  • Pre-Calculus
-------------------------------- +
  • U.S. History
  • Economics (5 credits)
  • World Government

(5 credits)

  • Selected arts course for 1 year out of 4 years in Secondary
-------------------------------
Academic Diploma With Honors ------------------------------- ------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------

AP Courses

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The school offers 18 AP Courses[5] which include:

  • AP Art
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Physics 1
  • AP Capstone/Research
  • AP Music Theory
  • AP Seminar
  • AP Language/AP Literature
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP World History
  • AP Micro/Macro Economics
  • AP Spanish Language
  • AP French Language
  • AP Computer Science Principles
  • Pre-AP English

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Almaty, Kazakhstan: QSI International School of Almaty: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  2. ^ "QSI School Directory – CEESA". Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  3. ^ "School Profile". MSA-CESS. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  4. ^ a b "Academics - Quality Schools International". www.qsi.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  5. ^ "About Us - Almaty International School". almaty.qsi.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
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