Starting in 2021, the AIS-Salzburg resident staff began offering weekend overnight trips to destinations close enough to travel to within three or four hours. These overnight weekend trips provide a short and exciting break to local areas of beauty and interest and help fulfill our mission to introduce our students to the rich cultural heritage of central Europe.

So far this school year, students have enjoyed trips to Munich, Vienna, and Kärnten as part of the Weekend Travel Program. The most recent destination—which took place this past weekend from Saturday to Sunday—was Innsbruck, Austria. A total of 9 students and two chaperones drove two school vans just over two hours to Innsbruck and upon arrival spent some free time in the beautiful city center. 

Photo: The historic old town of Innsbruck is surrounded by breathtaking Austrian Alps 

Following some time in the city, the group visited the Bergisel Ski Jump—host of the 1964 and 1976 Olympics—where they were given a tour from a professional ski jumper. 

“Kids loved hearing from the ski jumper,” said RA Ali Welch, who also organized the trip. “They learned all the details about the sport, from how it’s scored to the questions a jumper must consider before choosing which gate to start his jump.” 

Adding to the experience was great weather, cumulating in a double rainbow with the panorama view of the city and mountains below. 

Photo: Students visit the Bergisel Ski Jump, host of the ’64 and ’76 Olympics. 

After some further time in the city center including dinner at Mamma Mia Pizzeria, the group spent the evening at a 3D mini golf center

“The 3D golf activity was a fun and new experience with students cheering each other on as they had to tackle creative obstacles in their way,” said Ali. 

The next day, before starting the trip back to Salzburg, the group visited the famous Swarovski Kristallwelten, an experience attraction for the crystal glass manufacturer Swarovski, which consists of a park, art museum, retail area, and restaurant. 

Ali said the students particularly enjoyed this experience. “It was interactive and exciting. They navigated the labyrinth, jumped on trampolines in the play house, and walked through the peaceful gardens.”

Another trip as part of the Weekend Travel Program came to a successful close with all reports that the small group of students were easygoing, on time, respectful, polite, and thankful, which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience. 

In this video, we eavesdrop on a recent English 12 Humanities class in which they discuss material they learned from the textbook. In a common tactic to combat the use of ChatGPT to answer reading-related questions, Mr. McLean grades students on their ability to discuss the material and show their understanding of the topic. The topics discussed in the textbook were the aspects of the late Renaissance and early Reformation period that had a major impact on Western Culture arts and various disciplines of the humanities.

We invite you to watch the video below of the class discussion. 

The AIS-Salzburg girls basketball team came together this past weekend to play their best basketball of the season at the right time, going 4-0 at the tournament and claiming their second basketball Jamboree championship in 3 years. To make the championship victory even sweeter, the girls defeated their season nemesis in the final game:  the International Christian School of Vienna Eagles. The teams had two intense matches earlier this season which saw both go into overtime—one of which went into double overtime. 

“In the last game against the Eagles, we showed incredible perseverance,” said team captain and tournament-leading scorer, Nastia B. “Despite being behind at half time, we managed to raise our energy level and push back.”

Photo: Despite receiving a lot of extra attention from opposing teams, Nastia B. still managed to lead the tournament in scoring with 56 points in 4 games. 

Push back the Lions did, as Victoria “Scrappy” A. and Barb A. were assigned the task of double-teaming the star player #3 from the Eagles who was on fire in the first half. Chanti S. also deserves credit for shutting down #3, often replacing Scrappy to ensure full energy was always directed to the task. 

“Number three came to play and everything she put up in the first half was going in,” said Coach Burns. “But once I put Scrappy and Barb on her, it was game over.”

In fact, #3 only scored 3 points in the second half, largely due to Scappy, who got her nickname early on this year for bringing a much-needed physical intensity to the team.

“I just want to say that this team has been one of the best teams and will always remain in my memory,” said Scrappy after the dramatic final game. 

Photo: Number 4 from AIS-Salzburg, Victoria “Scrappy” A., keeps an eye on the top scorer from the ICSV Eagles.

The Lions’ defence as a whole was excellent, holding ICSV to zero points in the final quarter to secure the 26-22 victory and the championship. With Nastia B. defending the rim in a triangle with the other two defenders, the Eagles’ offence came to a screeching halt. 

Coach Burns was ecstatic after the game: “I am so proud of how the girls came together as a team.  There was good ball movement on offence, we minimized our turnovers, and our intensity and effort on defence in the final match were off the charts! Our team just wanted it more.”

“The girls were fierce and fabulous,” said Mrs. Kasberger, who cheered on both Lions’ teams on Saturday. “As for the boys, I don’t think I’ve seen them play as hard as they did the last two games – they should be proud of themselves.”

Photos: Ms. Baehler, Mr. Lichty, Ms. Cerone, and Mrs. Kasberger (top), cheer on the Lions. Leo the Lion (Yehor C.) and the girls’ basketball team (bottom) cheer on the boys’ team. 

Unfortunately, the boys’ team was unable to find much chemistry in this final tournament. After losing the Friday opener to QSI Bratislava, followed by a close 18-21 loss to eventual champions, the Vienna International School, their hopes of making the trophy round were squashed. In their final two games, coaches DeWitt and Nuess played many of the younger players on the bench, who brought good energy, propelling the team to their first win over Danube International School, 28-21. 

“The boys have improved a lot throughout the whole season,” said a disappointed Coach DeWitt after the tournament. “We have a tremendous amount of talent at the school. If we can learn to keep our emotions under control, we are going to have a lot of success.”

Despite not achieving their goal of winning the tournament, the boys supported the girls’ team in their final match vs. ICSV as they cheered relentlessly throughout the match. 

“I have not seen our boys’ team support the girls’ team that enthusiastically in my 20 years coming to this tournament,” said Mrs. Kasberger of the community spirit exhibited by the boys’ team. 

Congratulations to Nastia B. and Milo B. for being voted to the all-tournament teams by the coaches and players of the tournament. 

As we turn the page on the Winter Trimester, we are pleased to announce that 44 of our students successfully fulfilled the academic, community service, enrollment, and behavioral qualifications for the honors of distinguished students or senior scholars as outlined in the AIS-Salzburg Student and Parent Handbook. We invite you to watch the slideshow below honoring those students who have been recognized.

A remarkable 62 students made the Honor Roll at the conclusion of the Winter Trimester, including 26 students who achieved ‘High Honors’ status —all A’s and no more than one B. We invite you to watch the following slideshow of those students who made the Winter Trimester 2023 Honor Roll.

This past Thursday, the AIS-Salzburg Winter Trimester Awards Dinner and Ceremony was held at the Sternbräu restaurant, where many students were recognized for outstanding academic success as well as engagement in athletics throughout the winter term.

Following dinner and dessert, the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were recognized for their accomplishments thus far this season before Mr. McLean recognized distinguished students, senior scholars, and honor roll students. 

We invite you to view some of the photos below from the event. 

Another mild February brought bleak predictions about winter sports in the days leading up to the Winter Excursion in Zell am See from February 23rd to 25th. However, the ski and snowboard gods answered our prayers with a major deposit of new snow on Friday the 23rd, following two consecutive days of sun.

We invite you to watch the highlight video below—put together by Mr. Burns and his omnipresent drone—and read the Winter Excursion summary by Mr. Fox, following the video.  

By dorm parent and winter excursion co-coordinator, Kevin Fox

When Hollywood makes movies depicting a particular time in US history they often write in certain characters or features to help us remember that particular era. Movies about the 1950s have girls wearing poodle skirts and guys with slicked-back hair. Movies about the 1980s have neon clothing and big teased hair. Often when a movie is made about the early part of the 20th century you’ll find a paperboy—the age of one of our junior high or early high school students—selling papers on a corner and yelling the headlines.  Upon reflection today, I think that the Winter Excursion 2024 can be summed up by a series of headlines as they would be called out by a paperboy on a street corner in early 20th century America.

EXTRA EXTRA: WINTER RETURNS TO AUSTRIA JUST IN TIME FOR EXCURSION

Although much of the past few weeks has felt more like spring than the calendar would indicate, winter came roaring back the end of last week which fueled 3 days of wonderful skiing. Friday, our first day, started with rain in the parking lot which quickly turned to snow as we rode the lifts. Skiing on top of Schmitten ski area above Zell am See was an exciting experience to say the least. Constant heavy snow showers and strong winds reduced visibility and chilled students, in some cases, all the way to the bone. For those who braved the elements, the snow was cold and light and would fill in your tracks run after run.  For many there were more hours spent hiding inside restaurants rather than fighting the weather. But for others, the reward of venturing down the slopes was great.  

Saturday we returned to Schmitten with weather almost as opposite from the previous day as you could find. We found clear blue sunny skies and zero wind. For lovers of fresh snow, this is the day that you dream of. Students skied the variety of runs from top to bottom and enjoyed the incredible views over the lake and nearby mountains. For our last day of skiing on Sunday, we were driven by our bus to nearby Kitzsteinhorn.  Here we found another sunny day with beautiful skies.  Kitzsteinhorn is the highest elevation ski area in all of Salzburgerland with elevations up to 3000m and a glacier forming much of the upper skiing terrain.  Here students found cold fresh snow (almost 1 meter fell here on friday!), a variety of runs, glacial caves, and terrain park features.  Many students commented on this being the best day of skiing for the entire trip.  Over the three days of the excursion students skied with their friends, in the Austrian alps, and there were no significant injuries to speak of !!

Big celebrations here go to everyone but especially to our new skiers and snowboarders.  At the beginning of January, Vlad, Sofia H., and Alejandro were completely new skiers and Eva B. and Marybel were new snowboarders.  With just 4 days of instruction, these 6 were able to learn the skills required to navigate not just the beginner slopes, but also more advanced terrain safely with their friends.  Quite an accomplishment!

EXTRA EXTRA: STUDENTS CHOOSE SPORTS INSTEAD OF STARING AT THEIR PHONES

For the third year in a row, we stayed at the Jugendclub Kitzsteinhorn in Zell am See.  This location works out very well for a number of reasons. First off, it is only about a 5-minute walk from one of the main ski lifts that service the Schmitten ski area. This means we do not have to load everybody up on a bus to go to and from our desired ski area. It also allows us some flexibility as to when we return. A second great feature are clean rooms, good food, and a friendly group of employees.  The third great feature, and one of the main advantages, are the sports facilities that we are able to use at night. Over two nights students were able to play indoor football, basketball, indoor beach volleyball, go rock climbing, use trampolines, and watch a movie in the on-site cinema. It’s fun to see the different ages and friend groups of students come together to play pick up sports in the evening after a day of skiing. 

Shout outs here go to: Diego for helping to organize a game of football which was inclusive to all levels of players.  Barbara A. and Marija for keeping the flow and good times running on the volleyball courts. Erno, Lars, and Laura B. for showing off impressive skills on the trampolines.

EXTRA EXTRA:  RESIDENT STAFF TAKES WHOLE SCHOOL OF SICK KIDS SKIING

While it is probably true that not everyone on the ski trip was sick,  at some times it sure did feel like it. Any time we were together as a group the cacophony of coughs, sneezes, sniffles, and groans was clear.  Frequent administration of anti-inflammatories, cold tables, and throat lozenges kept the RA’s occupied.  Upon looking at my email inbox this morning, I am amazed that more students were not out sick today.  Fortunately, illness didn’t stop a good time and many of the sick kids rose to the moment, washed ibuprofen down with a spoonful of cough medicine, and headed up the lifts.  Special mention for grit here goes to Milan, Barbara A., Milla , and Petar for going skiing when they were not feeling 100%.   A shout out also goes to Artur who was so looking forward to the excursion but found himself too sick to ski, even spending a whole day sleeping in the hotel.  Despite the setback, he kept a positive attitude for what I’m sure were three long days for him.

EXTRA EXTRA: NON-SKIERS ATTEMPT TO KILL THE VIBE OF EXCURSION CHAPERONES

With no alternative option this year during the winter excursion due to injuries or lack of travel options, there were a small number of non-skiers that went along with the larger group.  They participated in the evening activities with the other students but their days were punctuated with fewer activities.  One day they went to the nearby Tauren Therme which contains numerous indoor and outdoor pools, waterfalls, and waterslides (1 of 6 students chose to get in the water). Another day they rode a series of lifts up Kitzsteinhorn to ‘The Top of Salzburg’.  Here, at 3000m above sea level, an observation platform hangs over glaciers with views of the Alps south into Italy (They were there 30 seconds before a “can we go now?” was uttered).  With 2 trips to McDonalds in 3 days under their belts, the non-skiers headed home on Sunday afternoon a little before the rest of the group.  Despite their best efforts to sour the experience, their only casualty was Ms. Fox, the staff member who spent the most time with them.

All-in-all, it was another wonderful excursion is in the books.  It’s hard to single out any more students because almost everyone was an excellent member of our 61 student group in one way or another.  These excursions wouldn’t happen at all without the hard work of the resident staff team.  Big thanks to Laura, Abby, Ali, Arabella, Matt, Nick, and Tom Henry for all their hard work on this one! 

Laura Fox joined AIS-Salzburg in the fall of 2021 as the new Dean of Students and now, after two and a half years on the job, we check in to see how the job is going. A native of Chicago, Laura has worked in education for over a decade—much of it at a boarding school and in the classroom. In this interview, she talks about the transition from teaching to her new role, what her new role entails, how it differs from a traditional Dean of Students role, and what she enjoys most about the job.

For the second year in a row, the AIS-Salzburg Journalism Elective is taught by resident assistant Ali Welch, a New Jersey native who holds a Masters of Education from Harvard Graduate School. 

The class of Yegor C., Vladyslav M, Jennet B., and Joshua F. meet for two hours a week and start each new newsletter cycle with a feedback session where they review the latest publication and discuss what went well, what was missing, and what could have been done better. This is summarized in a Keep/Change/Add table that they use when brainstorming the next newsletter.

The class then looks at the next newsletter publication deadline and works backward to think about what stories will still be relevant: usually, the monthly publication happens 3-4 weeks after the initial article brainstorming session. Students then choose the article topic they’d like to write and begin writing an outline that details their main purpose or argument of the article, a quote from an outside source (either online or through an interview), and the general flow of their article with a “hook” to catch the readers’ attention, the main body, and a conclusion to summarize why readers should care about this topic.

“I think the students enjoy the fact that it is such a collaborative process and they’re able to build off each other’s ideas in class,” said Ali when asked how the students are enjoying the class. “Everyone is always willing to help each other, whether someone is experiencing writer’s block or can’t figure out how to make an article fit into a specific layout on the page. I think it’s hard to constantly think of new content that they will be excited to write about, but they’ve done an excellent job finding something that fits their curiosities each month.”

After submitting their outlines, Ali provides feedback before students write their first draft. Each student reads at least one other student’s draft of the article and provides feedback in both written and verbal form to help authors shape the article into something engaging and relevant to its audience. Students then create a second draft, integrating the feedback from peers and from Ali, to make something close to the final product. At this stage, students get another round of feedback—usually consisting of small edits for grammar, punctuation, and spelling—before they paste their article into the Canva (design program) template.

This is where they can choose which photos they’d like to include, of which at least one photo for their article they must take themselves. Students create the design for their article within the Canva template by choosing where to put the photos, captions, text, and any additional graphics they select from Canva’s vast library. 

Once all articles are pasted in Canva, students must read and review each other’s articles. Students are graded based on their collaboration in the editing process so they are expected to help with the layout of the entire newsletter, making sure text and photos are aligned, within margins, and uniform across the three to four pages. Once they finish this final step, Ali then combs over the newsletter for any missed errors or final edits, followed by printing some hard copies for readers to enjoy while Mr. Burns posts it on the website and Instagram! 
Ali is quite impressed with the continued growth of the students through the first four publications.

“The students have come a long way since the beginning of the year as shown by the feedback I gave them on their first outlines to their outlines now. Since they are comfortable with the process and have found an easy routine to follow, I can now expect more from their work to make articles more engaging. For example, students are now required to use at least one outside quote, requiring them to do more research and preparation before writing. They’ve also learned various writing techniques for integrating quotes and changing sentence structure to make their articles smoother and more polished.”

Despite the progress, the second half of the school year will prove to be the most challenging for the Journalism class according to Ali. 

“As we look ahead, we will have a busy end of the year keeping up with publishing one newsletter a month and working on creating this year’s yearbook!”

The student newsletter is accessible to anyone interested at: https://www.ais-salzburg.at/student-newsletter/

At midterm each trimester, we take a moment to review the first half of the term and recognize those students who have successfully fulfilled the academic, community service, enrollment, and behavioral expectations as outlined in the AIS-Salzburg Student and Parent Handbook.

We invite you to watch the slideshow below of all students who qualified at the Winter Trimester Mid-Term. 

The AIS-Salzburg junior varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams both finished with two wins and one loss at the DVAC mid-season junior varsity festival this past weekend in Vienna and Bratislava. 
The boys’ team had their toughest match of the day in game one against the American International School-Vienna. The Lions were a little out of sync, with a mixture of varsity and junior varsity players making the trip and learning to play with one another.

“We didn’t play as a team against AIS Vienna,” said JV head coach, Tom Henry Nuess. “We played pretty selfish basketball. They didn’t pass like we wanted them to.”

Despite the lack of teamwork in game 1, the Lions made a game of it, narrowly losing by a score of 29-31.

The boys regrouped for their second game against the Britannica International School of Budapest and came together to play some really good team basketball, resulting in a 34-22 win. Deigo O. stood out defensively and locked down the main scorer from Britannica, which made a major positive impact on the game for the Lions. Ernö V. stepped up his game big time in game 2, both defensively and offensively.  

Photo: Senior player, Milo B., puts back a rebound during the DVAC Junior Varsity Basketball Festival in Vienna on January 27th, 2024. 

The third and final game against the Budapest British International School was much of the same, with the Lions trusting each other and playing as a team. 

Coach Nuess was even more impressed with game three. 

“Each game we progressed a little more. Game three was even better team basketball, with more passes and more cuts, more setting up teammates so they can score. It worked really nicely.”

Ernö V. continued to grow in confidence and was again a standout in game three on both ends of the court. 

“He was scoring like crazy,” said Coach Nuess of Ernö. “Everything was going in, some circus shots too. Then he would get back on defense and lock down defensively.”

In fact, like Diego in game 2, Ernö was assigned the task of defending the opponent’s top scorer in game 3 and also executed his assignment.  

Senior player, Milo B., was a dominant player on both ends of the court throughout the weekend for the Lions, especially when he started using his teammates more in games 2 and 3 to set up some nice given-and-go plays. 

Overall, Coach Huess was very pleased with their showing at the festival. 

“It was a good weekend. The boys were good, the attitudes good, they all got along. It was good.”

Photo: Diego O. and Milo B. connect on a give-and-go. 

The girls’ basketball team also finished with 2 wins and one loss at the DVAC festival. Minus several long-term Lions players in Chanti S. Jade R. and Nikol I., as well as newcomer and point guard, Victoria A., the inexperienced Lions were a good fit for the junior varsity level with six of 10 girls completely new to the game of basketball. 

“This was the perfect opportunity for our newcomers to get their feet wet and gain some confidence,” said coach David Burns after the event. “Jennet, Lera, Toma, Liza P., Natalija, and Liza K. had a ton of playing time and all improved in leaps and bounds.”

The girls’ team also had a tough welcome to the festival as they faced off against the host British International School Bratislava in their first match on Saturday morning, a team that most likely should have been at the varsity festival. The Lions came out with full intensity and competed well with the much more experienced opponent, managing to keep the score at a tie after the first quarter and only down by 4 points at the half. 

“It was one of those coaching moments where you get goosebumps,” said Burns. “The girls played shut-down defense and played as a team.”

Photo: The girls’ basketball team pose for a photo in Bratislava. 

The Lions eventually lost 23-13, as Nastia B., Barb A., and Marybel A.—who shouldered much of the ball possession and offensive responsibility—began to run out of gas in the second half after playing almost every minute of the game. 

In their final two matches, the Lions were up against two schools with similar experience in the American International Schools of Budapest and Vienna. With newly gained confidence after a strong showing in game one, the Lions dominated both matches 23-9 and 33-7 behind strong play on both ends of the court from Nastia, Barb, and Marybel. 

“Those three definitely carried us offensively, and defensively everyone was on point,” said Burns.

15-year-old grade 10 student Nastia B. was an unstoppable force and was easily the best player at the tournament according to Burns. Grade 9 student and 180 cm tall, Lera K., has adapted well to her role as center, grabbing numerous rebounds on both ends of the court and controlling the paint on defense. The highlight of the weekend came when Jennet stole a pass, dribbled to the other end of the court, and scored her first-ever basket. Toma also scored for the first time.

“When Jennet scored, we all celebrated like we won Olympic gold,” said coach Burns. “I am not going to lie, I got a bit choked up.”

Anastasiia Solomahka joined AIS-Salzburg as a 10th-grade student in 2016 and remained at the school through her senior year, graduating in the spring of 2019. The native of Kyiv is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Economic Policy in Global Markets at Central European University Vienna. Her sister, Alisa, is currently in her senior year at our school. 

In the interview below, Nastia reflects on her time at AIS-Salzburg and shares more about her life since graduation. 

AIS-Salzburg: What were the major factors in your decision to attend a small private boarding school in Austria? 

Nastia: Among the main factors influencing my decision was the opportunity to be a part of an  intercultural community. This setting not only facilitated an exploration of diverse backgrounds but also significantly improved my language proficiency. The location of the school also played  a significant role. The school was surrounded by fields, private houses, and a church, which overall made the setting tranquil and conducive to a peaceful living environment. This place to call home also fostered a sense of community within the school. 

Additionally, the proximity to the city of Salzburg was a significant advantage. Being just a short distance away gave me the opportunity to explore the rich culture of Salzburg, immerse myself in its history, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the local people. The balance between the peaceful surroundings of the school and the vibrant cultural experiences in the city created a fulfilling living experience. 

AIS-Salzburg: What are your fondest memories of attending AIS-Salzburg? 

Nastia: One of the best aspects of my time at AIS-Salzburg was a combination of academic experience with  extracurricular activities, sports, diverse classes, and volunteer experiences. The school’s  holistic approach not only fostered intellectual growth but also provided a platform for personal  development and community engagement. 

Moreover, the free time granted allowed us to immerse ourselves in the city of Salzburg, explore its culture, and integrate ourselves into Austrian life. These experiences not only  enriched our academic journey but also forged lasting memories that extend beyond the  classroom, creating a well-rounded and unforgettable chapter of my life at AIS-Salzburg. 

AIS-Salzburg: What did you enjoy about going to such a small international school? 

Nastia: Apart from being a part of diverse and inclusive community, the small setting allowed teachers to know each student as an individual, offering their support, fostering a genuine sense of  belonging, and providing an education that went beyond textbooks. In this unique environment,  I found myself not just learning subjects but also learning different viewpoints, enhancing my  educational experience in ways I hadn’t anticipated. 

AIS-Salzburg: Were there any teachers who made a major positive impact on your life?

Nastia: It’s a challenge to single out specific teachers since each played an important role in not just  giving me knowledge crucial to my current pursuits but also in shaping my character and  attitudes. However, a few individuals stand out. 

Ms. Kasberger, who was my teacher in three different subjects in different academic years, laid  the foundation not only for my future career but also for my personal development. Her guidance went beyond giving subject-specific knowledge; she provided invaluable advice, listened attentively, and steered me in the direction I needed to go. Her insights into my potential and her genuine support and recommendations continue to profoundly influence my  life. 

Mr. Lichty, my mathematics teacher throughout my time at AIS-Salzburg, made a significant part as a  teacher whose influence was truly profound. His explanations and encouragement consistently  motivated me to aim higher. Acknowledging my potential, he encouraged me to take AP Calculus in my final year of school, a decision that proved to be essential in transforming my academic way. The knowledge gained not only improved my academic skills but also became  a fundament in my current studies, particularly in the areas of programming and quantitative  research. His guidance and insistence on dealing with challenges were vital in shaping the path  that led me to where I am today. 

What are your academic and professional goals?

Nastia: As I am pursuing my master’s degree, I am actively engaging in different areas and topics of my interest and earning certifications that expand my expertise. I am also planning to attain a PhD degree to be able to contribute meaningfully to my chosen field. Ultimately, my goal is to  make a positive change on a global level, making use of my knowledge and skills to address  complex issues and contribute to the advancement of my chosen field.  

How are you enjoying college life?

Nastia: College life is not just about academics; it is an experience that constantly widens my horizons  and enhances my personal growth. We constantly work in teams on different projects to  collaboratively design innovative solutions across different areas and real-world problems. This also gave me an opportunity to make valuable connections and further enhanced my  understanding of different subjects. Overall, a supportive environment and an opportunity to  explore my interests make college life an incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable experience.  

Beyond academics, I’ve actively immersed myself in various communities and clubs, such as  the running club. Being a part of this community has not only allowed me to participate in marathons but has also connected me with like-minded individuals who share similar goals and  interests.

How did AIS-Salzburg prepare you for college life, whether personally, academically, or socially?

Nastia: As mentioned previously, each aspect of school and each teacher and faculty have contributed  to my future experiences and perspectives. Apart from a strong academic foundation in  different areas and subjects, the school taught me discipline, encouraged me not to fear facing challenges, and helped me develop confidence to explore my interests further and embrace  opportunities. AIS Salzburg was essential in shaping not only my academic background but  also my personal resilience and adaptability. The environment cultivated a sense of self discipline, pushing me to pursue excellence while fostering an openness to new ideas and  experiences. I genuinely believe that without the years at AIS Salzburg, my life wouldn’t have taken the trajectory that has led me to where I am today.  

Are there any personal or academic accomplishments since graduating that you want to share?

Nastia: Since graduating, I’ve achieved both personal and academic milestones. I have already received a bachelor’s degree in International Management, specializing in Entrepreneurship and  Leadership and getting extra curriculum credit in the areas of Computer Programming and  Artificial Intelligence. I also pursued additional certifications, notably excelling in various  Excel courses. Furthermore, my Bachelor thesis topic was ‘Industrial policy options for a post pandemic global economy,’ and my goal was to examine the fragility of the current economic  system and striving to gain a deeper understanding of the changing global order and foster the  development of innovative approaches to adapting policies to make a living more sustainable  and efficient for developed economies. Throughout my research, I’ve been in contact with  various researchers and economists who contributed to my work, acknowledged the importance  of my research, and admired my enthusiasm.  

Do you have any advice for students at AIS-Salzburg or applicants to the school?

Nastia: For both current students at AIS-Salzburg and prospective applicants, my advice is to take every opportunity the school offers. Whether it’s the chance to take an extra AP course, Calculus, an additional elective, or engage in extracurricular activities, each experience is a  stepping stone to not only gaining valuable knowledge and skills but also making more  educated choices for your future. Embrace these opportunities; they not only enrich your present but also lay the groundwork for finding your path in life.

As we settle into the new year, we take a look back at the 2023 portion of the school year in the action-packed video below that features clips since our doors opened in early September. 

In German I class recently, Ms. Hart’s classroom was transformed into a Christmas market and students were tasked with purchasing certain items on their shopping list using the new German terminology they had acquired. The elaborate play market included laminated food items, play Euro, and their choice of tea or hot punch. 

The 2023-2024 AIS-Salzburg ski and snowboard program will be similar to recent years, with five scheduled ski days, a ski weekend in Kärnten from February 2-4, and the winter excursion from February 22-25 in Zell am See. Ski and snowboard days and the four-day winter excursion are included in the tuition for all boarders while the weekend trip to Innsbruck is at additional cost.

The single-day trips are to various ski resorts in the province of Salzburg within an hour and a half drive. Students can rent any necessary equipment at the ski resort and those who require lessons can do so at an extra cost. Scheduled dates so far include January 13th and 20th, February 10th and 17th, and a fifth date to be announced later. 

The overnight ski weekend to Kärnten is part of our Weekend Overnight Travel Program and is offered first to our Senior Scholars and Distinguished Students. This trip is unique compared to other overnight trips in that participants stay for two nights and will enjoy two full days of skiing and snowboarding.

The winter excursion will once again be held at the wonderful Club Kitzsteinhorn, a youth sports hotel located in Zell am See and at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier (see video above). For skiers and snowboarders, this region is the ultimate playground featuring the aforementioned Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which reaches over 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) and overlooks beautiful Lake Zell. The monster ski hill boasts multiple modern Gondolas and chairlifts, including a chairlift with heated seats! At least one ski and snowboard day will be spent on the other side of the valley from Kitzsteinhorn at Schmittenhöhe (1965 m/ 6,446 ft), a ski hill within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. The Schmittenhöhe is a more family-friendly resort and provides for more suitable runs for our beginning skiers and snowboarders. 

November 25th and 26th, 18 students spent around 24 hours sightseeing and enjoying the Bavarian capital of Munich.  This was the second weekend overnight trip scheduled this school year.

After checking in at the hotel Saturday at noon, students had 2 and a half hours of free time to explore the Karlsplatz, the Christmas market, and have some lunch. In the late afternoon, most of the group enjoyed ice skating at the outdoor rink at the Karlsplatz. Their time ice skating looked like a winter wonderland as they skated under snowflakes and beautiful Christmas-themed lights.

“Despite the heavy snowfall and cold air, the students were having too good of a time to complain about being cold and many could’ve stayed out there longer if we hadn’t already made plans,” said excursion leader and organizer, RA Ali Welch.

MysteryRooms Munich welcomed the group with hot tea and treats as they waited in anticipation for the escape rooms to begin. Two groups successfully escaped the Captain’s Room, while the group in the Asylum Room didn’t make it out in the one-hour time slot. The staff at MysteryRooms Munich stayed open late just for our group, even offering hints for how to solve clues faster and providing a tour of their other rooms to some students.

On Sunday morning, the private tour of FC Bayern Munich arena was chilly but incredibly fascinating as the group had exclusive access to the press room, players’ locker room, and the players’ bench on the field! The tour ended in the FC Bayern Munich Museum, where students learned about the origins of the team, saw the many trophies won, learned about the current players for the 2023-2024 season, and even played some soccer themselves. The students left the stadium and Munich with some great souvenirs to share with family and friends, or to enjoy for themselves!

This past Wednesday, the AIS-Salzburg Fall Trimester Awards Ceremony was held at the Sternbräu restaurant, where many students were recognized for outstanding academic success as well as engagement in athletics throughout the fall term.

The sports awards and recognition kicked off the celebrations following dinner. The boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams and the boys’ soccer team were recognized for their accomplishments this fall and a number of individual awards and honors were handed out.

Following the sports awards, Headmaster McLean awarded 55 students who successfully fulfilled the academic, community service, enrollment, and behavioral qualifications for the honors of distinguished students or senior scholars as outlined in the AIS-Salzburg Student and Parent Handbook.

Students who have met these qualifications are recognized in two categories of distinction: Senior Scholars and Distinguished Students. Listed below are the privileges that accompany these distinctions:

Senior Scholars

  • One evening study hall per week free 
  • Seniority in room and roommate selection and bus seating on excursions and outings
  • Friday & Saturday evening curfew is extended by 1/2 hour 

Distinguished Students

  • Released from study hall on Thursday evenings 
  • Rooming and roommate selection and bus seating (following Senior Scholars) on excursion
  • Friday & Saturday evening curfew is extended by 1/2 hour

We invite you to watch the slideshow below honoring those students who have been recognized.

To cap off the award ceremony, Headmaster McLean recognized 62 students for outstanding academic achievements in the fall trimester, including 23 students who achieved ‘High Honors’ status —all A’s and no more than one B. We invite you to watch the following slideshow of those students who made the Fall Trimester 2023 Honor Roll.

The awards dinner and ceremony also provided an opportunity for the student body to show off their finest outfits and take many photos.  We invite you to view the following snapshots which capture the positive atmosphere and celebratory excitement within our close-knit, international community.

Weekends at AIS-Salzburg represent the greatest amount of potential free time. All full-boarders are required to choose three weekend activities two of which must be healthy activities and one entertainment activity. In the video below, Mr. and Mrs. Fox explain the weekend activity program, including requirements, the types of activities students can choose from, and the benefits of such activities. 

The AIS-Salzburg Lions soccer team rolled into Vienna on Saturday, November 18th, hungry to defend their title as DVAC champions. Five teams would contend for the 2023 DVAC junior varsity soccer trophy in a round-robin format.

In the first match against a familiar foe of ICS Vienna, the game was back and forth for most of the first half before the Lions broke through with 2 quick goals – one an own goal, the other by Erno V. From there, the Lions were able to ride out the rest of the match and preserve a shutout for a good start to the day.

The second match would find the Lions under more pressure. The Danube International School proved to be a difficult opponent but the Lions stood tough, and their efforts eventually paid off. Lars T. found himself in the middle of the action as he accounted for three assists. The first was a cross sent in from a corner for a towering header by Diego O. Luka Savic added 2 more on feeds from Lars. Alejandro L. rounded out the scoring in a 4-1 victory. Keeper Ilias S. also stood out as he saved a vital penalty kick when the score was still even. After this match, Coach Matt was quick to praise the quality each player showed in this match.

“This was our best match this season,” said coach Matt. “The boys were working for each other, communicating, and playing some real quality football. Coach Ali and I looked at each other in disbelief and extreme pride as the boys pinged the ball around the field!”

In the third match against Cambridge International School, the Lions came out flat and were not playing up to the standards they had set in the previous match; even falling behind a goal early on. However, Cambridge did not have any subs, and it began to show as the match went on. The Lions quickly responded with 2 goals of their own, both quality goals from Vlad M. and assisted again by Lars. In the end, the Salzburg squad would overwhelm their foe in a commanding 8-1 victory. Further goals were scored by Luka S. —assisted by Luca S.— while Lars and Diego both scored from distance. Vico S. scored his first goal on a long run past the Cambridge defense, and Alejandro scored the final goal after receiving a pass in the box from Noah A., who tallied his first assist of the season.

In a pleasant twist of fate, the final match of the day would put the Lions against the VIS Panthers. Both teams had won all 3 previous matches, meaning this final match would determine the outright champion. The match began timidly on both sides, with neither team looking to take many risks. This would change when the Panthers scored a fluke own goal off of pressure from Luka S. Up 1-0, the Lions continued to put pressure on the Panthers and it paid off, as Luka would net 2 more strikes off of assists from the all-action Lars before riding out the remaining time to victory. With the result, the Lions were crowned the tournament winners for the 2nd year in a row!

After the match, Assistant Coach Ali Welch said, “We are so proud of the way the boys came together and achieved this goal. Absolutely everyone played so well today. The boys’ improvement across the board was evident for all to see.”

Unsung heroes of the day include the entire defensive line, with Petar V., Daniel A., and Niels S. continually thwarting all the opponents’ attacks, and causing them frustration, while providing a solid foundation from which to build out. Wingbacks Vico and Luca tirelessly covered so much ground to help in defense and attack. Mikail G. and Alex A. provided strong minutes of pressure off the bench, as did Mykyta K. Everyone should be proud of their improvement and the way they did a job when called upon.

Congratulations to the entire boys’ soccer team and their coaches!

The AIS-Salzburg Lions volleyball teams had a rough weekend at the DVAC championships, with all three teams going without a win.

However, the scoreboard does not tell the whole story. 

The varsity girls’ team had two exciting matches that came down to the final seconds; in both cases, the Lions narrowly fell short of a victory. In their first match against the reigning champions from ICS Budapest, the Lions had their opponents on their heels after winning the first set 25-22. However, the Bulldogs of Budapest rallied back to win the second set 25-21. In the third and final set to 15, the Lions had the lead throughout the set until the final moments, when ICSB once again rallied from behind to defeat the Lions 15-13. 

“It was an exciting match with a lot of ICSB fans and other teams watching,” said girls varsity coach, David Burns. “It is unfortunate that we didn’t pull out the victory, but the experience was something they will never forget. We live for those types of games in sports.”

In their second match, the girls were in another intense battle against the varsity team from Vienna International School, a high school with 8 times the population of AIS-Salzburg. The Lions lost the opening set 22-25 and were visibly frustrated after losing another close set. As a result, the wheels fell off in the second set en route to a 12-25 thumping at the hands of the Panthers from Vienna.

In their third and final match, the Lions faced another big school in AIS Vienna, who defeated the Vienna International School earlier in the day. In this match, the Lions regained their form from their first match and surprised the Knights, winning the first set 25-19. However, almost like a repeat from their match vs. ICSB, Vienna battled back to win the second set 25-22 before rallying late in the third and final set to hand the Lions another heartbreaking loss by another score of 15-13. 

“Today wasn’t our day. We were very close to upsetting two of the top teams at the tournament and just fell short. The girls were very disappointed that we didn’t achieve our goal of winning the championship. But they shouldn’t hang their heads as this was the strongest competition I have ever seen in the DVAC varsity tournament. The fact that we competed that closely with those teams, especially with such a young team, is a major achievement.”

In fact, of the seven girls that made the trip, four were aged 14 and 15, ages that typically compete at the junior varsity level. Natalija J., who recently turned 14, was thrown into a starting setter role in the absence of senior setter Julija M.

“Natalija played great. She had never played the setter position prior to this season and the strides she made in just two months is remarkable,” said coach Burns. “The experience our younger girls gained in these exciting and intense games will pay dividends next year.”

Unfortunately, the boys’ volleyball team was unable to retain their championship status at the DVAC junior varsity championships this past weekend. The tournament was very competitive with all teams being equal and having the ability to win it.

The boys finished third in their pool after losing to AIS Vienna and ICS Vienna in two very close matches that went to the final set with the Lions only losing by a few points. In the final game to determine who finished in 5th place, the boys lost again in two, hard-fought, close sets to AIS Budapest. 

“We definitely did not get the result we were hoping for,” said coach Nick DeWitt. “It was just a matter of a few touches going one way or the other. On a positive note, the boys have improved a lot and I am amazed at everyone’s individual growth and development.”

Alex M. was a standout on the court, both as a player and leader. Petr V. also had a great tournament behind some great hustle and defensive net play.

The junior varsity girls’ volleyball team gained some much-needed experience this past weekend at the DVAC championships after playing four games. These four games, combined with the 6 other games they have played this season, make for the most games played by a JV girls’ volleyball team from AIS-Salzburg as far as anyone on staff can remember. 

Since the team consists completely of newcomers to the game, the objective of coaches David Burns and Abby Lee this year was for them to learn some volleyball, have fun, and play in as many competitions as possible.

“The 10 girls on the team were very dedicated and motivated to improve,” said Burns. “I was impressed with their enthusiasm and I am excited to see where it takes them next year.”

Improve they did. Despite going winless at the tournament, the girls showed major strides in their game since the mid-season festival, according to assistant coach, Abby Lee, who was their coach at the tournament. 

“It was amazing to see how much this team grew and improved throughout the season,” said JV girls volleyball coach and resident assistant, Abby Lee. “Although we didn’t win anything, the team put up a very good fight and had some stellar moments.”

Team Captain, Milla S. had a great tournament with some amazing saves, tips, and serves. Ainara M., who started the season out on the practice-only team and was eventually promoted to the JV team, started in almost every set in the championship tournament and brought a calm nature and made smart moves on the court. Marybel A. stepped up on short notice to assume the role of setter and did a great job. Anna L. brought enthusiasm and positive reinforcement the entire tournament, cheering on her teammates both on and off the court.

“Overall, I could not be more proud of these girls. The display of tenacity, hard work, and commitment within the team was very admirable and made my job as a coach very enjoyable.”

Yulia Movsesova was enrolled at AIS-Salzburg from September, 2014 through May, 2016 for her junior and senior years.  In deciding to enroll at AIS-Salzburg, she was searching for an alternative approach to learning and secondary education while enjoying an international experience.  She graduated as one of the top students in her class, was an active member of the community, and was a major part of the success of the girls’ volleyball team which won the DVAC championship in both years she was on the team. 

In the interview below, Yulia shares with us her experience at AIS-Salzburg and her life since graduation. 

AIS-Salzburg: What are your fondest memories of your time at AIS-Salzburg?

Yulia: Being part of the volleyball varsity team was an incredible experience. Traveling to championships in places like Budapest, Hungary and Lausanne, Switzerland was not only exciting but also a great opportunity to compete with other schools. Winning the DVAC tournament in both seasons I participated in remains a cherished and proud memory.

Moreover, many of my fondest memories are associated with spending time with my friend Polina after classes. 

Photo: Yulia (number 7), was a starting outside hitter for the varsity lions volleyball team that won the DVAC championship in the fall of 2014 and 2015. 

AIS-Salzburg: Were there any teachers who made a major positive impact on your life?

Yulia: AP German class with Mr. Agardy inspired me to improve my language skills. Before his class, I struggled with German, but his guidance and method of teaching motivated me to enhance my proficiency. After graduating, I made the decision to move to Vienna, take the B2 exam, and pursue studies in German. This was a pivotal moment for me, as it led to my choice to continue living in German-speaking countries, ultimately leading me to my current role at a German university.

While studying at AIS-Salzburg, I wrote a few academic papers, including the senior paper, and I discovered that writing is one of my strengths! Learning how to craft academic works significantly contributed to my success at the university level – I had fun writing my bachelor’s and master’s thesis and other works. Moreover, this love for writing has guided me toward a career as a content creator and marketing professional.

AIS-Salzburg: What have you done academically and professionally since graduating from AIS-Salzburg?

Yulia: Since graduating, I obtained my Bachelor of Science in International Business and my Master of Science in International Management with a major in International Marketing. I have worked across diverse fields such as marketing, communications, and sales, gaining practical experience in these sectors. I have also engaged extensively in volunteer activities during and after my studies, contributing to various causes and organizations.

Photo: Class of 2016 with Yulia in the second to last row, just right of the center. 

AIS-Salzburg: Are there any personal, academic, or professional accomplishments since graduating that you want to share?

Yulia: Since graduating, I’ve been fortunate to achieve several personal and professional milestones. After completing my university education, I found myself missing the academic environment and wanting to continue my journey in the education sector.

Currently, I am a Program Coordinator at TUM – Technical University of Munich, widely regarded as the leading university in Germany and the EU, earning its esteemed position according to the prestigious “Times Higher Education” (THE) ranking. Globally, TUM holds an impressive 30th place in the worldwide rankings. I take immense pride in being part of the TUM family and contributing to student success right in the heart of Munich!

AIS-Salzburg: What aspects of your education at AIS-Salzburg best assisted you in further academics, your professional life, and/or life in general?

Yulia: After completing my studies at AIS-S in 2016, I had a desire to pursue further education within an international and multicultural environment, as it had become a part of my identity. I am grateful to have experienced the diverse and dynamic setting at AIS-S.

Studying at AIS-S has improved my English and German language skills, moreover, I have learned the basics of Spanish, and I have developed a love for languages in general (last year, I started learning Japanese, which is a very exciting journey for me!). Mastering multiple foreign languages has undeniably unlocked various opportunities for me, impacting both my professional career and personal life significantly.

Photo: The girls volleyball team in Budapest, fall of 2016. 

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have any advice for students at AIS-Salzburg or applicants to the school?

Yulia:

  1. Travel. As a student in an international school, exploring new places and learning different languages is invaluable. When considering future opportunities for pursuing a bachelor’s degree abroad, getting acquainted with various countries beforehand makes decision-making easier. Travel broadens horizons and fosters cultural awareness in preparation for studying in a new location.
  2. Network. Upon starting university studies, you’ll swiftly recognize the significance of networking. Establishing connections will help you integrate into the new environment. 
  3. Engage in volunteer initiatives: Participating in volunteer projects offers an excellent platform for acquiring new skills, expanding networks, and enhancing your CV. This experience not only contributes to personal and professional growth but also proves beneficial when pursuing bachelor studies and seeking internships in the future.
  4. Nurture meaningful friendships. While many students may lose touch over time, the school environment presents a prime opportunity to forge lasting connections. Establishing true friendships is possible; for instance, I’ve been fortunate to maintain a friendship with an AIS-S alum for over nine years, despite living in different countries.
  5. Appreciate Salzburg’s natural beauty. Having resided in Salzburg, I fell in love with the scenery, and I am often travelling to visit my old “home” and its suburbs to enjoy the nature. I strongly advise making the most of the school-organized trips, activities, and cultural events. Residing in such an exquisite city is a privilege that should be fully embraced and enjoyed.

Students of the Journalism elective will spend the 2 hours a week that they meet this school year, to plan, produce, edit, and publish a student-led monthly newsletter titled AIS-S Spotlight. The first edition was published on Monday and can be found —along with all future editions— at www.ais-salzburg.at/student-newsletter

The past two weekends have been jam-packed with indoor and outdoor activities. Photos from recently-held activities are as follows: knockout basketball tournament, making of friendship bracelets, Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie, Frauenkopf hike, Pumpkin carving, Halloween event, Gaisberg Trail Run community service, Red Bull Salzburg ice hockey game, and Lammerklamm hike. 

In AP® Biology last week with Mrs. Kasberger, students investigated environmental effects on enzyme activity by testing how heat and pH changes affect the reaction rate of catalase in animal tissue. Knowing how temperature and pH affect enzyme activity is fundamental for understanding basic biochemical processes and for applications in various fields, including industry, medicine, and biotechnology. It enables better control and optimization of enzymatic reactions for specific purposes.

In the video below, we eavesdrop on students as they investigate. 

Ernö and Alexander are new students at AIS-Salzburg this school year and this is the first time that both young men have enrolled in a boarding school. It is also the first time that both have shared a room with a complete stranger. In this interview, we get to know both students and check in to see how they are adjusting to this new experience. 

This past Saturday, the AIS-Salzburg Lions hosted teams from two international schools in Vienna and one from Augsburg, Germany for a friendly boys and girls volleyball tournament. There were no placements or final trophies, with all schools agreeing to come together for extra competition before the season-end championships in their respective conferences. 

The tournament featured 3 varsity girls teams, 4 junior varsity (JV) girls teams, and two junior varsity boys teams. 

“It was a great day of competition and sportsmanship,” said athletic director, David Burns, who is also the varsity girls coach. 

The girls’ varsity team went undefeated (2-0, 2-1) with wins over the International Christian School of Vienna (ICSV) and Danube International School (DIS). The boys’ team split their two-game series with ICSV, losing the first game 1-2 and rebounding to sweep the second game 2-0. The JV girls’ team lost their first two games 0-2 to ICSV and DIS but combined with the varsity team to defeat a strong JV team from Augsburg 2-1. The JV girls narrowly lost both sets to DIS, losing 23-25 and 22-25. 

“This tournament was especially important for the JV girls to gain some much-needed experience,” said Burns. “They are all new to the sport and quite keen to improve.”

We invite you to view some of the photos below from Saturday’s tournament. 

A group of 77 students and 8 staff returned Sunday from what is said to have been a “fabulous” fall excursion to Venice.

“The weather was perfect, the city was beautiful, everything was planned meticulously thanks to Kevin (Fox), and the kids were really lovely,” said the Dean of Students and wife of Kevin, Laura Fox. 

“Venice is an iconic city and it felt surreal at times to be floating along the grand canal with our students. It made me realize how lucky we are to work here and how lucky everyone is that the school provides these experiences. The kids often communicated to me that they felt very fortunate.”

Mr. Kevin Fox, the excursion coordinator, flawlessly executed—with the help of the entire staff—a great deal of logistical coordination to pull off another successful excursion for a large group. Weeks prior to the excursion, the 77 students who signed up to participate—included in the tuition of boarding students—chose between a number of activities in and around Venice daily based on their interest level. Mr. Fox then spent weeks placing students into activity groups and planning the various activities, which changed twice daily in the morning and then again in the afternoon following lunch. At all times, there were four different groups of students with at least two staff members spread throughout the city as they visited museums, cathedrals, monuments, and neighborhoods, or were on walking tours.  

“We were like a well-oiled machine. We just know each other so well,” said Mrs. Fox, of the entire staff on the excursion which included resident assistants Abby, Arabella, Ali, Nick, Matt, and Tom Henry.  

Following activities, the groups would reconvene for dinner together and then would have the evening option to stay on the island of Lido (where the hotel was) or join a group that took the ferry back over to Venice.  

On Saturday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Fox took 21 students for a 2-hour bike ride around the island, which included a stop at the beach for a swim. 

“There were several moments as the sun was setting and we were all riding and laughing with our students that I thought to myself “I am going to remember this moment for the rest of my life,” said Mrs. Fox. “It was really special.”

At midterm each trimester, we take a moment to review the first half of the term and recognize those students who have successfully fulfilled the academic, community service, enrollment, and behavioral expectations as outlined in the AIS-Salzburg Student and Parent Handbook.

Students who have met these qualifications are recognized in two categories of distinction: Senior Scholars and Distinguished Students. Listed below are the privileges that accompany these distinctions:

Senior Scholars

Distinguished Students

In the slideshow below, are the students who have achieved each status as a result of their efforts in the first half of the fall trimester. 

Over the past few weekends, we have taken advantage of beautiful weather by scheduling numerous outdoor activities. Photos from the activities during recent weekends are as follows: a day trip to 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Castle, a hike up to Mönchsberg in the city center of Salzburg, arts and crafts with children at the Salzburg English Center, quesadilla barbecue led by Mexican students Marybel, Barbara, and Valeria, a hike up Nockstein mountain in the beautiful Salzkammergut region, yoga at the park, and finally an evening of disco bowling. 

This past Saturday, 33 students suited up in an AIS-Salzburg Lions’ uniform to represent our school at the Danube Valley Athletic Conference mid-season volleyball festivals in Vienna and Budapest. The girls’ varsity and junior varsity boys’ teams competed in Budapest, Hungary, while the junior varsity (JV) girls’ team joined the conference festival tournament in Vienna. The purpose of the DVAC mid-season festivals is for teams to compete against others they would not normally compete against, given geographic locations in central Europe. There are no trophies or placements decided; it is simply an opportunity to play and compete, meet new people, and bond together as a team.

With that in mind, this past weekend was a great success, highlighted by a rare thing at our school:  the ability to field both a JV and varsity girls team for this event. Of the 11 girls who traveled to Vienna with our JV team, nearly all were absolute beginners, playing in their first-ever scholastic volleyball competitions. Although the team did not win a game, they took a big step forward and gained valuable experience that will help them progress within the game.  For some, perhaps the beginning of what will become a long-term engagement in future volleyball competitions in a Lion’s uniform.

Our boys’ volleyball team opted to compete at the DVAC JV level, with a mixture of experienced players and players new to the game. The boys won two of three games and in their sole loss, narrowly missed going undefeated after losing both sets by razer-thin scores of 24-26 and 25-27. 

The varsity girls’ volleyball team solidified their spot as a contender for the DVAC championship in November by also winning two of three games, losing only to the defending champions from ICS Budapest in two close sets, 20-25 and 21.25. In both games, the Lions remained inconsistent in their play.

We invite you to view the photos below from the trips to Vienna and Budapest. They are as follows: players pose at the Danube boardwalk in Budapest, junior varsity girls reluctantly smile following three losses as they pose in front of St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna, the boys’ volleyball team bond while waiting for the tram in Budapest, the girls’ JV volleyball team in action, the varsity girls team send love to the JV girls before their first match, coach Burns poses with Teodora, Julia and Egla in his new Hard Rock Cafe Budapest cap which they purchased for him as gift of appreciation. 

Diego O.L. is in his second year at AIS-Salzburg, a rare thing for Mexican students who typically limit their high school abroad studies to one year. However, Diego enjoyed his first year abroad so much that he convinced his parents to let him return for a second year. Also, Diego discovered a desire to learn the German language, even taking a course in the summer so he could jump from German 1 to German 3 in his sophomore year. We invite you to watch the video interview with Diego below. 

In AP® Biology, students have been studying organic molecules, specifically the four classes of biological molecules  —the macromolecules— carbohydrates, lipid, proteins and nucleic acids. Molecules in each class will have specific features and structures particular to that class of molecule. Being able to recognize the structures, their similarities and their differences which will influence the structure and function of these molecules, is an important skill to have prior to examining these structures and their functions in living things.

We invite you to watch the video below, where students were given cards with the structural diagrams of 45 unidentified macromolecules which they sorted according to their structure, then determined what specific properties they may have, dependent on what elements are included in the macromolecules or how the atoms are arranged. 

This past weekend, 19 students were accompanied by resident assistants Ali and Arabella for a day excursion to Vienna. Upon arriving by train at about 10:30 AM, the group walked to the famous Stephansplatz, which is the very center of Vienna where the towering St. Stephan’s Cathedral —and one of the tallest churches in the world— is located. The group spend the next two and a half hours eating lunch and browsing shops along the Kärntnerstraße, one of Vienna’s most active restaurant and shopping streets. 

The group then reconvened to travel to Prater, a giant amusement park located in the center of Vienna.

After almost three hours exploring Prater, the group made their way to the Mariahilferstrasse, Vienna’s most famous shopping street where they spent another two hours shopping and eating dinner before catching the 19:50 train back to Salzburg. 

“The Vienna day trip was very successful due in large part to the great energy of our students,” said group leader RA Ali. Despite a long day and busy itinerary, everyone was in good spirits on the train ride home as they raved about the fun rides at the Prater or the many shopping options on Mariahilfstrasse.”

Every school year, returning students walk through the doors at AIS-Salzburg and notice a number of changes. Sometimes these changes are welcomed and sometimes less so. Needless to say, changes are a part of life and although the core of our small community stays relatively the same every year, there is often molding and restructuring that needs to take place as we adapt to a number of variables, such as student body distribution, changes in staffing, building renovations, etc. Below are the more notable changes that the new school year will bring forth. 

Changes to the Teaching Faculty

Probably the most notable change this year will be the absence of Mr. Agardy, who retired at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. Mr. Agardy has been with us since 1986 and was a pillar within our team of high-quality educators. Replacing Mr. Agardy is Scott Gillette, who has been teaching for nearly 20 years and is experienced teaching internationally in a number of countries in the eastern hemisphere of the globe. Scott will be teaching  AP European History, AP Human Geography, and two sections of AP Psychology. Mrs. Kasberger will be taking over for Mr. Agardy as College Counselor. 

Also departing the school is Mrs. Devon Anderson and replacing her will be John Gahan. Mr. Gahan has also been involved in education for 15 years and will be the instructor for AP English Literature, English 11 Literature & Composition, English 10 Literature & Composition. 

Photo: Mrs. Kasberger is taking over as College Counselor for Mr. Agardy.

Temporary Classrooms at the Start of the School Year

Renovation to the outer building classrooms 12-15 will continue throughout September. Although this will be an inconvenience at the start of the school year, we are thankful that this project is ahead of schedule by almost a month and upon completion, there will be significant upgrades to the classrooms. For the next 4-6 weeks, classrooms in the inner building will have a packed schedule while the student lounge, computer lab, and classroom 8 in the smaller outer building will be utilized. The dining halls will also be used for a handful of elective classes during this time. 

Electives Courses Moved to the Daily Academic Schedule

Already outlined in detail in a previous newsletter, is the placement of all elective courses within the daily, academic schedule of classes. This will likely be the most popular change within the student body as this will provide less potential conflict between tutorials, teachers’ office hours, sports practices, and other commitments.

Electives Courses Additions 

This school year, students will have an even greater number of electives to choose from. Added to the elective course offerings are Business and Personal Finance, Kinesiology, and AP Precalculus Prep for those mathematics students who are interested in sitting the new AP Precalculus Examination in May, 2024. Returning elective courses include Drama, Studio Art, Theatre Arts, German tutoring, French Language, and Italian Language.

Photo: Studio art will once again be taught by Mr. Mayerhofer 

AP Precalculus Added to the Advanced Placement® Program

As outlined in a previous newsletter, the Advanced Placement® program has added precalculus to their offerings and AIS-Salzburg will be offering this course at the 11th grade level starting this school year. In order to accommodate the students who are not in need of an AP-level mathematics course, we have added Mathematics 11 which should better accommodate their needs.  As several university destinations in Europe require at least one AP® Examination score in a mathematics subject, this should open up diploma equivalency and acceptance to a broader number of students who may not be able to handle the challenging AP® Calculus AB course in grade 12.

Photo: Mr. Lichty will bring his energy and love for math as the instructor for AP Precalculus. 

More Court Times for Sports Teams

In recent years, the popularity of team sports has grown tremendously, which is wonderful. However, balancing court and pitch times for all of our teams has been challenging due to the frequent conflict with after-school elective classes. With electives now moved to the daily academic schedule, more time will be opened up for our teams to practice after school. 

The major change for the 2023-2024 school year is the moving of the girls’ volleyball and basketball team practices to Thursdays after school instead of Fridays. This allows for the opportunity for both junior varsity and varsity teams to practice on Fridays, whether that be in volleyball or basketball. 

Cover photo: Resident Assistants Nick, Ali, Matt, Abby, Arabella, and Tom Henry prepare to go on a bike ride during their time off. 

For the first time in over 20 years, the entire resident staff will be returning for a subsequent school year. Typically, every year, at least one or two resident assistants (RAs) do not return, often moving over into full-time teaching positions elsewhere.

Returning for their second year as a resident assistant at AIS-Salzburg are Ali Welch, Tom Henry Nuess, Abby Lee, and Arabella Williams. Rounding out the resident assistant staff are Matt DeKryger and Nick DeWitt who are returning for their 4th and 5th years respectively. 

Kevin Fox and Paula Clarke will be returning for their 3rd and 4th years as dorm parents at AIS-Salzburg while the Dean of Students, Ms. Laura Fox, is also returning for her 3rd year in the position. 

“I am incredibly grateful and proud to be part of a resident-care staff that is totally intact for two full years”, beamed Laura Fox when asked recently about her feelings about her entire staff returning. “I could not do any of this without Kevin and Paula. They set the tone for the collaboration, the humor, and the kindness that we have on the staff.”

Paula doesn’t even consider not returning as a dorm parent, a role that she cherishes. 

“I don’t ever have to think about whether I am coming back or not,” said Paula. “I don’t really think of it as a job, I just think of it as if they are all my kids and we live in this big house. I love the kids and I love the people I work with. I am so happy that all of the resident-care staff members are returning because they are really good at their jobs and really like the kids.”

Photo: Dorm parent Paula Clarke (left) is adored by all students and is the school “mom” in the evenings.

The resident assistants were also keen to share their reasons for returning.

“The residential staff quickly became like a second family for me and I wasn’t quite ready to leave this incredible community after just one year together,” said RA Ali, who also taught the yearbook elective last year. “I couldn’t imagine a better support system as I transitioned to living abroad for the first time. We (RAs) quickly realized how unique our experience was working and living together and bonded over this. Kevin and Paula were always there for a genuine check-up to see how I was doing and Laura not only pushed me to grow professionally in this role but also was there when I needed encouragement or a laugh to get me through tougher times.”

Nick DeWitt also accredited his colleagues as a major factor for returning for his 5th year and added that living and working in Europe is a big part of the appeal. 

“The opportunity to live and work in Europe is something I can’t pass up. As resident assistants, we have ample time off to explore Europe and the ease of travel from our location in Salzburg facilitates that tremendously.”

Tom Henry felt welcome at AIS-Salzburg from day one. 

“They immediately adopted me like family and treated me with respect. My colleagues invite me to hangout on weekends and are just very loving and helpful people. Plus, we have a pretty nice schedule with lots of flexibility to go out and travel on our days off.”

“It was more difficult to find reasons not to return,” said Abby. “The staff and students create an extremely welcoming environment and the small school allows a very strong community. I’ve also enjoyed life in Salzburg, exploring with the students, and especially excursions and ski trips.”

Photo: Kevin and Laura Fox pose for a photo with RAs Tom Henry, Arabella, Nick, Matt, Abby and Ali during the fall excursion to Paris. 

“The entire AIS-Salzburg community is what keeps bringing me back – the staff and administration, and especially the students,” said Matt. “Our school culture draws you in and makes it difficult to leave. Plus, I love Salzburg and the surrounding areas, so it’s an added bonus!”

Arabella has a similar sentiment to the other resident assistants. “I really enjoyed my first year at the school and felt like a valued member of a great team, working with interesting and unique students in a friendly, happy community. I jumped at the opportunity to return!”

In fact, all resident staff has accredited the students for making their job more enjoyable. 

“The kids at the school really make the job itself worthwhile as they are the ones that I talk to during study hall or participate in any activity I lead or travel on the excursions,” said Ali. “Getting to know the students as people, not just students in a classroom, has been an amazing reminder of why I first became an educator. I’m constantly inspired and impressed by how our kids have so many interests and are so independent to explore all of their passions in a place that could be hundreds or thousands of miles away from the only home they’ve known. I feel so grateful to have a job that allows me to see students‘ authentic selves in such a beautiful and active environment as the one AIS-Salzburg provides.”

Photo: RA Ali (far left), poses for a photo with a group of students during a day trip to Munich. 

“They are really good kids,” said Paula. “They are so appreciative when you do little things for them and it is always nice when they are pleased to see me too (in the dorms during the evening). We have a good relationship.”

“The ability to do all different kinds of activities with the kids keeps me young and in good shape,” added Nick, the oldest of the RAs at 38. 

Tom Henry enjoys the bonds he created with the students and the lighter side of his daily interaction with them. “Each day offers something entertaining and comical with the kids and it’s great being able to build personal relationships with all of them.”

A native of New Jersey, U.S.A, Scott Gillette will join the AIS-Salzburg teaching faculty for the 2023-2024 school year as a full-time social studies and history teacher. His course load will include US History, AP European History, AP Human Geography, and AP Psychology. We invite you to learn more about Scott in the interview below. 

AIS-Salzburg: How long have you been teaching and/or in education?

Scott: I have been a secondary teacher in the classroom for fifteen years, and I have been in the field of education for twenty years.

AIS-Salzburg: What motivated you to get into teaching?

Scott: I teach in part because I am keenly interested in learning more about the world and I want to share that interest. I also believe that it is possible to have an important and positive impact on future generations through teaching. Finally, I enjoy the perspectives and idealism that young people possess. 

AIS-Salzburg: Where have you taught previously?

Scott: I have taught at a private and public school in New Jersey. I decided to pursue teaching in an international setting, and I have not looked back. I have taught and worked in China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Myanmar, Panama, Mongolia and finally Austria. 

Photo: Scott in Mongolia with a number of yurts in the background, the most common type of habitation in Mongolia. 

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have any hobbies or interests that you like to do in your free time?

Scott: I like to read and follow financial markets. I have done a lot of running and hiking in the past year. I enjoy playing and watching soccer. I also am a big music fan of all different kinds of genres. I even have made a couple of electronica mixes.

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have a message for the students who will sit in your classrooms starting this fall?

Scott: I have learned a lot about the school online, and AIS-Salzburg seems like a special and unique place. I am struck by the maturity of the students that I have seen in videos. I look forward to doing my part in serving the AIS-Salzburg community and I look forward to meeting all of the students soon!  

40 years of experience with the Advanced Placement® program have enabled us to gain the expertise which yields success. Once again we have exceeded the global average in all subjects and are proud of the accomplishments of our students. As shown in the graphs below, AIS-Salzburg students performed extremely well on this year’s AP® Exams, meeting or beating the global average in every exam. This is a testament to the outstanding preparation for the exams and the diligence of our students. 

Of particular note, every single student taking the AP® English Literature and Composition exam and the AP® European History exam, both very dense and challenging courses, passed the exams. AP® Chemistry saw nearly all students who sat the exam pass it  – these results are excellent as AP® Chemistry is considered one of the most difficult AP® exams to excel at. 

AP® courses and tests have many benefits for students applying not only to universities in the U.S. but to institutions in over 100 countries around the world. Scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams fulfill admission requirements to many universities in the UK and Europe, broadening the possibilities for our students. The AP® course on a student’s transcript shows the student has challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available to them. Passing the AP® Exam gives evidence that a student is ready for university-level coursework. As each AP® course is modeled on an introductory university course in that subject and the AP® Exam is a university-level assessment, success in the course and on the exam shows that a student has the determination, self-discipline and study skills needed to do well in a university program. Our students are well-prepared to meet the challenges of their university courses after having managed the AP courses with us.  “Research shows that students who receive a 2 on their AP Exams are ready for college work” (College Board New Analyses AP Scores of 1 and 2, June 2021).

AIS-Salzburg AP® Scholars Announced

The results are in and we are proud to announce that 11 of our students who sat Advanced Placement® examinations in May of 2023 have achieved AP® Scholar status! We invite you to view the list below of the recipients along with a description of the various scholar distinctions.

2023-2024 Student Body

As we move toward the midpoint of the summer vacation period, we would like to present some information concerning the way in which enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is progressing.  In summary, the school will remain very international with no majority of any nationality within the student body and will be composed of between 80% and 85% full-boarding students—including roughly 30% new enrollments.  Although the junior high section will be somewhat smaller than in most years, the 11th graders represent one of the largest classes in our history and is expected to include around 32-34 students who will be split into double sections in all subject areas.  The senior class is right at the perennial average with 20 students presently enrolled; two new to the school.

Programming Changes

One of the most significant changes in programming that will be implemented this coming school year will be the placement of all elective courses within the daily, academic schedule of classes.  For the junior-high students, their electives (Theater Arts and Studio Art) will be held during period 7.  For the high school students in grades 9 through 12, the elective course offerings will be scheduled during Period 6 (13:50 to 14:40), the penultimate class period of the day.  This change has been made due to the frequent conflicts between electives and tutorials, teachers’ office hours and sports team practices when the courses were held in the afternoons and evenings.  Scheduling the electives during Period 6 should also lend more seriousness to the instruction and learning occurring.  

The elective courses will meet twice weekly and on the other days, Period 6 can be a supervised study period.  Students are required to enroll in at least one elective course.  Taking two or more may lead to conflicts of scheduling depending upon which two days of the week the electives are held.  Therefore, we would like to ask for a bit of flexibility and the identification of the most-preferred elective course which should be scheduled as a priority.  Although it will take some careful consideration for implementation of the electives within the individual student schedules, we are very certain that ending conflicts for students who would like to participate in sports team practices and who need the extra assistance provided by the faculty members during their office hours, will be of great benefit for all.

As you may be aware, the Advanced Placement® program has added AP Precalculus to their examination offerings and AIS-Salzburg will be offering this course at the 11th grade level starting in September.  In order to accommodate the students who are not in need of an AP-level mathematics course, we have added Mathematics 11 which should better accommodate their needs.  As several university destinations in Europe require at least one AP® Examination score in a mathematics subject, this should open up diploma equivalency and acceptance to a broader number of students who may not be able to handle the challenging AP® Calculus AB course in the 12th grade.

Aside from these adjustments, the schedule during academic days will remain the same, starting with the first instructional period at 8:30 AM (8:00 on Thursdays for Ethics Seminar sections) and ending by 3:35 PM each afternoon.  Again, physical education courses will be held on Wednesday mornings as they have been for some time now, with academic courses commencing at 10:30 AM.

Physical Changes

The outer classroom building on campus is presently undergoing a significant facelift as you may have read about in the most-recent newsletter.  While this is a significant improvement in the context of our instruction, we will, unfortunately, be unable to utilize the building at the start of the school year.  The planners and those carrying out the reconstruction have informed us that they will try their best to have the building completed by the end of September, so we will have to be a bit creative with classroom assignments during the first four weeks of the school year before being able to spread out into the new building.  

Policies New and Reviewed

Of great importance to our school and its offerings are the various and foundational policies that express our expectations and establish the important parameters of care, instruction and child protection a boarding school must implement and carry out as a highest priority.  The following policy statements and guidelines will be up for review this summer and the school administration and staff will be reviewing and amending these in the months before the start of the school year in September:

Child Protection Policy
Anti-Bullying and Cyber-Bullying Policy
Equality and Diversity Policy
Data Protection Policy

Along with the review of these, the school staff and administration will also update and review all aspects of policies which govern the academic and social-behavioral side of the school as found in the Student and Parent Handbook as well as other internal documents.  We hope that all parents and guardians of our students are aware of our efforts to energetically and directly implement best practice in these areas for the benefit of our entire community.  Updates and editing should be completed before the school year begins in early September and the updated policy statements and procedures will again be posted over the school’s website for ease of access by all community members.

We are looking forward to an exciting, fascinating, challenging and memorable school year starting in September and hope that our entire community is equally optimistic and anticipating great things!

Mrs. Kasberger has taken over as our new college counselor following the retirement of Mr. Agardy, who held the position since the early 1990s. Mrs. Kasberger is a natural fit for the role as she is known as a mother figure to the students over the past two decades.

“I am very excited to step into the position of college counselor but a little nervous about following in Mr. Agardy’s footsteps,” said Mrs. Kasberger in an interview yesterday. “There is a lot to live up to there.”

College counselors provide advice and direction to students as they come to the end of their high school careers. By this time, they are ready to take the next step of entering college or university, and as this is not something they do every day, students need and appreciate assistance.

“I will be able to help students with their search and application process, providing not only necessary documents but also information and support throughout.   It’s such an exciting time in a student’s life – exploring endless possibilities and planning for the future – I’m looking forward to being part of that.”

Photo: AIS-Salzburg hosts a college fair in the fall of 2022. 

AIS-Salzburg provides excellent preparation for university with our rigorous curriculum and the whole world is open to our students. 

“The opportunities and futures of university applicants are simply phenomenal,” said Kasberger. “Therefore, it is important that they are properly guided moving forward, to find the right path for them. Mr. Agardy has a wealth of knowledge that is legendary and invaluable. We’ve been working together so that I can assimilate as much as possible, but I know that I will have questions, many questions, that only he can answer. Being Mr. Agardy, he has generously and graciously offered his assistance when needed.”

As the new college counselor, Mrs. Kasberger has a message for the students of AIS-Salzburg heading into their senior year next year. 

“Grades aren’t everything. They are extremely important but there are many other aspects that universities look at to gauge if an applicant is a good fit or not. Extracurricular activities, sports, music, dance, community service and work experience are just some of the activities universities look for in a candidate. These will help demonstrate a well-rounded character who can succeed academically as well as grow personally and contribute to the world around them.  Also, don’t wait to apply to your chosen university. Your senior year will be extremely busy and challenging, getting started on university applications early will help reduce some of the stress in your final year.”

We invite you to watch the video below, where Mr. Agardy explains the Advanced Placement® (AP) program offered at AIS-Salzburg and how it benefits our graduates as they continue with higher education learning. 

In short, the AP® program enables willing and academically prepared students worldwide to pursue university-level studies while still in high school, with the opportunity to earn credit (points toward an undergraduate degree) or advanced placement (the chance to skip an introductory level university course). AP® is recognized in the admissions process by more than 4,000 universities worldwide, and outside the U.S., more than 600 universities in more than 60 countries recognize qualifying AP® Exam scores. 

The American International School-Salzburg is a purely college-preparatory school and the entire academic curriculum is designed to prepare students broadly and to the highest Advanced Placement (AP®) level in all subject areas. Unlike most European school systems, an American college-preparatory philosophy does not establish specialization in particular subject areas during the 11th and 12th grade similar to A-Levels or Higher-Level subjects in the International Baccalaureate system. Students at AIS-Salzburg enrol in select AP® courses in the 11th and 12th grades and can also choose to enroll in further AP® subjects before graduation.  This allows them to tailor their studies to prepare for and gain acceptance to the universities of choice worldwide.

We are pleased to announce that we have had 31 early acceptances of our graduating class to universities and colleges they have applied to! They are as follows:

Nazar Bereziuk: EU Barcelona

Dimana Danova: Brighton University, Kingston University, London Metropolitan University

Ines Forot-Michel: Queen Mary University of London, SOAS University of London, King’s College London, University College London

Adam Hathaway: University of Exeter, Bournemouth University, University of Sussex, University of Edinburgh

Carolina Häusler: Emory University, Northeastern University, Boston University, Columbia University (waitlist), Fordham University (with $80,000 scholarship offer)

Photo: 2023 Valedictorian, Carolina Häusler, has received acceptances to all five colleges she applied to, including top-ranked universities  Columbia and Fordham. 

Siana Ivanova: London School of Economics, Queen Mary, University of London, King’s College London, University of Bath, University College London

Max Nazarkasimov: European University

Tim Nazarkasimov: University of Ottawa

Aizhan Tabyldiyeva: University of Manitoba, Simon-Fraser University

Inzhu Tabyldiyeva: University of Manitoba, Simon-Fraser University

Sophia Tartaryn: NHL Stenden, University of Amsterdam

There is some great news for future AIS-Salzburg graduates who do not have the strongest mathematics background but are able to apply themselves:  the new AP® Precalculus course. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, students can take Advanced Placement® Precalculus —a much less demanding mathematics course than AP® Calculus AB or BC— which allows them the opportunity to earn college credit as well as improve their applications to the colleges and universities of their choice. The completion of the AP® Precalculus course counts as a math credit at many colleges and universities, including the majority of public institutions. At highly selective schools, Precalculus is not considered a college class and thus students can not earn college credit for AP® Precalculus. Nevertheless, students taking this course will be well prepared for AP® Calculus or a Calculus course at their college or university, as well as other math and science courses.

Students of AP® Precalculus will have access to free, digital learning and practice resources, not to mention daily classes and after-school tutorials with our great mathematics teacher, Mr. Lichty. It goes without saying, even those who find they are not the most talented at math, will have all of the resources at AIS-Salzburg available to pass the course. 

The Commencement Exercises at AIS-Salzburg represent the most important and significant of all annual events at our school.  Seniors commence to become alumni after receiving their very hard-earned diplomas and receive our blessings and high hopes for a successful and satisfying future.

Our commencement exercises are held at the Kavalierhaus at Schloss Klessheim on the outskirts of beautiful Salzburg.  By tradition, the members of the senior class of 2023 entered to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar played by the Pro Musica Quartet led by Ms. Lardschneider of our teaching faculty (see video below).

Photos: As every year, the senior class of 2023 entered the Commencement ceremony to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance. 

By tradition, the class Salutatorian, Adam Hathaway, welcomed the audience of families, friends, and classmates and summarized a year of growth and development, accompanied by solid advice for her fellow class members.  Dmytro Pyrohovskyi, the European Council for International Schools Award for International Understanding winner, then addressed the class and guests with poise and great maturity after being introduced by Ms. Fox, the Dean of Students.

While the Pro Musica Quartet played Mozart’s Divertimento in D, the graduates left their seats and presented a rose to their family members and loved ones; a touching and emotional expression of their gratitude and appreciation to those who supported and strengthened their resolve again and again.

Valedictorian, Carolina Häusler, after being introduced by Mr. Agardy, the College Counselor, presented a touching and heartfelt speech which included a thank you to his friends as well as his family, moving many in the audience to tears.  Mr. Jeff Agardy then presented the Commencement Address to the Class of 2023, fulfilling the seniors’ wish that he do so—an indication of the high regard and respect they have for her efforts both as an instructor and as a supporter of their labors throughout the year.

Photo: Salutatorian Adam Hathaway (Top) and Valedictorian Carolina Häusler (bottom), deliver their speeches at the 2023 AIS-Salzburg Commencement. 

With the awarding of their diplomas, the individual members of the class completed the last requirement for graduating beyond secondary education and received their qualification for further studies at the universities of their choice.  With caps thrown into the air, they fell into each other’s arms, rejoicing at their accomplishments, but saddened by the conclusion of their time together in Salzburg, Austria.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements of a class that will be remembered within our community for many years to come.

Dear Students and Colleagues, both past and present,

I deeply appreciate all the warm-hearted wishes and words of gratitude that came pouring in the past few days after my retirement was formally announced. The response was simply overwhelming and will make my memories of our school even fonder. After all, it was all of you who made it easy for me to serve at SIPS / AIS Salzburg for 37 years. I am usually content with very little, but the people in our school community have given me so much. You are amazing!

Like the 4 heroes I mentioned in my graduation speech, there are hundreds of people from our school who inspired me along the way and helped me become a better teacher, mentor, and colleague. Whether you were a student or a colleague, I always felt we were working together towards a common goal. Of course, the journey was full of ups and downs, but the downs always felt like challenges which in the end were gladly accepted. And the ups were all the AP, IB, and internal exams you passed, the C on the test you finally earned after failing all the previous ones, all the university acceptances, and the festive graduation ceremonies at the end of a demanding school year. The small successes like improving your grade to a C made me proud of you, and the big successes like the university acceptance made me overjoyed.

In a recent interview, I was asked what I think my impact was on the students I have taught over the years. I was fairly certain that in an age of so many distractions, my influence should not be overestimated. However, the messages I received recently say something very different. Many of you may remember that in history class I always tried not to be overly harsh in my judgement of those who lived before us. This is because I believe that people are largely prisoners of their age. Only a handful of individuals manage to swim against the stream, abolitionists who expressed their indignation about slavery, a few decent people who protected Jews, Huguenots, and other minorities, and a few writers who argued for women’s rights when nearly all leaders wanted to keep them out of public life. In many ways students, too, are prisoners, prisoners of their adolescence, which tends to make them lazy, indulgent, and impulsive. (But also funny and inspiring.) This is why I also tended not to judge students too harshly and always tried to focus on your potential and talents instead. It was very important to me to treat everyone with fairness, respect, and kindness. Since there were always so many inquisitive, keen minds in each course, I also believed that I owed it to you all to come to class every day, well-prepared and eager to deliver the best lesson I was capable of. You may remember there was seldom a chance to chill during class. Somehow I resisted the pleas to have a “blow off day.”

In a way, this feels like graduation. When you graduated, it was the culmination of your growth during your adolescent years. My graduation represents the culmination of my life’s work. So many have told me that our school is a very special place. Indeed, it is! That is mainly because our school seems to attract the best people, educators who are passionate about their work and students who generally care about their learning and each other. Together we have managed to build an amazing school community. Thank you for making my years with you so rewarding, challenging, and enriching. 

With the deepest gratitude and affection,

Jeff Agardy

As the final exam week approached,  AIS-Salzburg held its Annual Awards Ceremony to recognize students for their cumulative academic, boarding, and athletic achievements over the course of the 2022-2023 school year. This event is also used to announce the ECIS Award recipient as well as the Salutatorian and Valedictorian of the Class of 2023.

Some notable awards handed out this year include but were not limited to:

Female Athlete of the Year – Chantal S.
Male Athlete of the Year – Pedro R.S.
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Anastasiia B.
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Milo B.
Female Border of the Year – Ines F.M.
Male Boarder of the Year – Adam H. 
Outstanding AP German Student – Ola T. and Milla S.
Outstanding AP Psychology Student – Sara M., Milla S., and Aizhan T.
Outstanding AP European History Student – Carolina H. and Adam H.
Outstanding AP Chemistry Student – Nikol G.
Outstanding AP Calculus Student – Carolina H. 
ECIS Award – Dmytro P.
Salutatorian – Adam H.
Valedictorian – Carolina H. 

We invite you to view some of the photos below of this year’s event. 

British-born Jennifer Turrell transferred as a junior from an International Baccalaureate school in the United Kingdom to Advanced Placement studies at AIS-Salzburg in 2020 and graduated in 2022 after two years in our program. Since graduating, everything hasn’t gone according to plan for Jennifer and like many college students around the world, she has had to adapt to circumstances and make hard decisions about her future. In this interview, we check in with Jennifer as she shares how life has been going and reflects back on her time at AIS-Salzburg. 

AIS-Salzburg: How has life after AIS-Salzburg be going?

Jennifer: Life is very different. Despite living in the same city (Salzburg), my life has completely changed. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people through my workplace, time spent at my favorite coffee shop (La Romana on the Linzergasse, would highly recommend), and my new neighbours. I have a lot more freedom than I did before, but with that comes A LOT more responsibility and living on your own in such an expensive city is challenging. 

AIS-Salzburg: What made you decide to work instead of study?

Jennifer: I decided to take a gap year because I disliked Bath and the university I was attending. My plan was to go to the University of Salzburg in March, but many people encouraged me to consider other options. After learning about other students’ experiences, I decided that staying in Salzburg wasn’t for me.

AIS-Salzburg: Did your time at AIS-Salzburg prepare you for adult life?

Jennifer: I have to be honest, no school can prepare you for adult life, especially a boarding school where everything is done for you. Paying rent, budgeting, cooking, internet bills, phone bills, etc is not something you can be taught. You just have to figure it out as you go along. Working full-time can be incredibly stressful, especially working with customers, but it’s something you have to learn to deal with – nobody feels sorry for you.

AIS-Salzburg: What is your fondest memory or memories of attending AIS-Salzburg?

Jennifer: I loved sports day! I have to admit that I wasn’t exactly the best student when it came to attendance, especially P.E. (sorry Mr. Burns) but I thoroughly enjoyed sports day every year. It’s the perfect day to just have fun before AP and final exams make us cry haha. 

Photo: Jennifer (green) at Sports Day 2022. 

AIS-Salzburg: What did you enjoy about going to such a small international school?

Jennifer: I loved being able to go to the teachers as I needed. I had a big procrastination problem when I was at AIS-Salzburg, so being able to go to Ms. Kasberger after school to finish my homework before I went home was super helpful. Help is there whenever you need it, which I think isn’t the case in bigger schools, and each teacher knows each student very well. 

AIS-Salzburg: Were there any teachers who made a major positive impact on your life?

Jennifer: Ms. Kasberger and Mr. Agardy 100%. One thing I absolutely loved about AIS-Salzburg is that no matter what, the teachers believed in me. Even if I didn’t do well on a test, or I didn’t do my homework, no teacher has ever made me doubt my dreams. In other schools, this wasn’t the case. Ms. Kasberger taught me to never listen to anyone who tries to criticize my goals and Mr. Agardy always made time for me, whether that be for my university applications during my senior year. Even now,  although I have graduated, he still helps me whenever I have any questions about my future. It’s because of them that I still have the goal of becoming a veterinarian. I’m pretty sure I would have given up long ago if I had other teachers or didn’t go to AIS-Salzburg.

Photo: AIS-Salzburg teachers Jennifer Kasberger and Jeff Agardy were major positive influences on Jennifer Turrell during her two years at our school. 

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have any advice for our 2023 seniors at AIS-Salzburg as they head into the final weeks of the school year?

Jennifer: DON’T. HAVE. MY. ATTITUDE. I don’t care if you don’t care about a certain grade on your transcript. Study for that test, even if you think you don’t need a good grade in that subject. Don’t abandon your normal classes for your APs. Figure out a study schedule, and prioritize certain things, but don’t push anything to the side completely – I’m only learning that now because I wish I would have done better. Also, please don’t get down if your top choice university doesn’t accept you – I promise that you will find your way in life, and you will go somewhere even better. There are a lot more important things in life than University, (that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study though). After high school, you will have much bigger problems than univeristy, this is only the beginning!

After 37 years of teaching at AIS-Salzburg, Jeff Agardy will be retiring following the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. 

We invite you to read the interview below with Mr. Agardy followed by a tribute video and best wishes from alumni, colleagues, and current students. 

Mr. Agardy on Retirement and His Time at AIS-Salzburg

AIS-Salzburg: How were you able to maintain the amount of enthusiasm and passion for teaching right through the final years of your career?

Agardy: From the moment I joined the school in 1986 I found it was an exciting place to work. The demands of the administration were generally minor and never interfered with my teaching. Previously, I had taught in the US and in Austria. At a time when society was less diverse, all the students in my classes in the US were Americans, and then nearly all students in the gymnasium were Austrian. At SIPS, as the school was known at that time, the student body was far more diverse. I felt the students learned from me, I learned from them, and we learned from each other. I also had the feeling at this school that we were all working together, not against each other. That is definitely a reason why I stayed for many years.

Another reason I stayed was the numerous new challenges. It seems like each year I was given new classes to teach and new duties and responsibilities. The first few years were very demanding. We all taught 5 major classes, one elective, and one sport. The school seemed to be changing its curriculum constantly. We introduced the International Baccalaureate in 1992 and stuck with that for 10 years. Then we dropped the IB and went with the AP Program instead. We even tried an arts program for a few years. I also finally had the chance to teach the courses which I majored in at university, psychology and German. I never thought I would do any work in psychology, and frankly had no desire to do so because I preferred history. But through the AP Program I was needed to teach AP Psychology. I found this very challenging because I had to learn so much about neuroscience. This is a fascinating field. When I was in college, neuroscience was in an embryonic stage.
 
Finally, our school is like a microcosm or an alternative universe. While the rest of the world fights, our students manage to work together in a common endeavor despite their diversity. I remember when war was raging in former Yugoslavia, some of our students from Serbia and Croatia were best friends. They always seemed to rise above petty nationalism and put humanity first.

AIS-Salzburg: What will you miss most about AIS-Salzburg?

Agardy: What I will miss most about AIS Salzburg are the students. There is never a dull moment here. Some resist learning like the plague, others try to sneak up to the girls’ floor at 2 am, and still, others plan a Bierfest at the brewery on a Monday afternoon. That makes them very normal adolescents that are a pleasure to work with. I love the students I teach and the subjects I teach.

AIS-Salzburg: What are your retirement plans?

Agardy: I had 4 years of French in high school so I would like to take a few more courses and live in France for 2 or 3 months to become fluent. I also plan to travel some in Europe, mainly by rail and boat as I did as a student 40 years ago. Skiing during the week in off season when few people are on the slopes is also appealing. In Salzburg, I have a garden and grow about 40 kinds of fruits and vegetables, including kiwis, lemons and grapes. As Voltaire advised “il faut cultiver notre jardin.” That will keep me busy.

Mr. Agardy was once again asked by the senior class to deliver their commencement speech at graduation. You can watch Agardy’s speech and the entire commencement program live on our Facebook page starting at 3:00 PM, May 17th Central European Time. 

AIS-Salzburg Bids Farewell to Mr. Agardy

Originally from South Carolina, Mr. Agardy joined AIS-Salzburg –called Salzburg International Preparatory School at that time– as a teacher in 1986 and has been teaching here ever since. Mr. Agardy has primarily been a teacher of history, geography, and German but has also taught a number of other subjects throughout his years. Mr. Agardy has also served as our college counselor for over 20 years and has done an amazing job at guiding students in their post-secondary study decisions. 

We invite you to watch our farewell video of Mr. Agardy below.

Alumni, Colleagues and Students Send Mr. Agardy Retirement Messages

Mr. Agardy is not only loved by all who have had the privilege of working alongside him but also by those who have sat in one of his classes.

“Every time I post something about Jeff on our social media, a string of loving comments follows from Alumni dating back 10, 20 even 30 years,” said marketing director, David Burns. 

After a post last week on AIS-Salzburg social media requesting best wishes for Mr. Agardy on his retirement, messages came pouring in. Below are just a few quotes from the dozens of messages that came in. 

Mr. Agardy, I just wanted to congratulate you on your retirement and wish you all the very best for your future. You are a cornerstone of the wonderful academic community at AIS, and it is an understatement to say that you have touched the lives of every individual who has passed through the school in any capacity. Thank you for your insightful teaching, honest advice, and incredible stories. When I talk about AIS with other alumni, your name is always mentioned, and always fondly. Best of luck, and best wishes.
 
– Varya Buben, Class of 2022. 

On behalf of the Class of 86’, we thank you for being such an extraordinary educator and roll model!” Personally, I hope our paths cross again, perhaps at the next SIPS Reunion.”

– Conrad de Jesus, Class of 1986
Dear Dr. Agardy,
 
What an illustrious career you have had at SIPS/AIS-Salzburg. I want to thank you for being part of my educational experience. I will continue to remember you as one the kindest teachers whose enthusiasm for education helped elevate students through your love of the subject matter. And of course, the time you dressed as a cell for Halloween – truly committed to your craft! I admire your dedication to what must be a very fulfilling life’s work, to say the least. Wishing you many more joyful and efficacious years in your future endeavors.
 
With warmest regards and the utmost respect,
– Karin Avila, Class of 1990
Jeff, 
 
You are the Cal Ripken Jr. of AIS-Salzburg (only baseball fans will understand). I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversations over the past 19 years since I joined the staff at AIS-Salzburg. I appreciate your support of our sports teams throughout the years, showing a keen and genuine interest in how they are performing. I wish you all the best in retirement and if you ever need a ski buddy, you know who to call. 
 
– David Burns, Colleague from 2004-2023
Dear Mr. Agardy,
 
I came to Salzburg feeling very lost. You were one of the amazing people that helped change that. I will never forget how patient and gentle you were with every mistake that I made! That approach and your brilliant classes gave me the confidence to go out in the world and achieve some great things! I am sad that the future generations won’t have a pleasure to learn from you, but I imagine you need a really good rest from years of patiently listening to us and teaching us about the world! Thank you for everything Mr. Agardy, I am so proud that I can call myself one of your students! Enjoy your retirement!
 
Greetings from London,
– Ana Mugosa, 2017-2018 
Dear Mr. Agardy,

It has been wonderful to have you as my German teacher this year. I loved the atmosphere in the classroom and how you made the subject very enjoyable. I have always admired you for your patience for everyone. Other than being an amazing teacher, you are also a great helping hand for every student in the school. Your support made everyone feel more comfortable and your advice was always helpful to find the right academic and personal goals. I would like to thank you for all the kind words that I have heard from you. I really appreciate that you believed in me from the beginning of my 7th grade year.
I wish you a relaxing time after all those years of teaching at AIS Salzburg. Even though it is not easy to say goodbye, we all made a lot of valuable memories with you that we will never forget. PS. As your neighbor, I am sure we will meet on a walk in the Leopoldskron or during my afternoon run. 🙂
 
“Every moment in our lives is a miracle we should enjoy instead of ignoring.” – Yoko Ono
– Ola T., Class of 2025

Dear Mr. Agardy,

Thank you so much for guiding me through my educational journey. Without your help, passion and commitment, I would not have ended up where I am today. The school will never be the same without you! Best of luck in your retirement. Keep in touch!

Sincerely,

– Oleksandra Gumeniuk, Class of 2019
Mr. Agardy,
 
I was not the best history student (sorry I’m so dumb when it comes to history) but what I always loved in you is that you never judged me or any other “bad” students. You were always kind, understanding and a very great-hearted person. You were always friendly no matter what. I always remember you and I want to say thank you for being you!
 
– Polina Belyaeva, 2017-2018
Mr. Agardy,
 
Thank you for teaching me world history in 90/91 and European history in 91/92. Apart from being a great teacher, you are one of the nicest people on earth! You were always kind and fair to everyone, no matter what. May you have a wonderful, well-deserved retirement; I hope to see you at one of our future reunions.
 
– Theresa Walla, 1990-1992
I’ll miss most Jeff’s calm and steady demeanor. He just has this quiet confidence that anything can be done if you just slow down and take things step by step.  I’ll also miss our conversations about gardening and the state of the world.  He is a living example of a minimalist lifestyle with minimum environmental impact – an example for everyone.
 

What makes Jeff so beloved by students is he simply exudes a calm and reassuring attitude that students pick up on and feel comfortable with. It also helps that he has so many years of experience under his belt and knows exactly how to engage students and help them to succeed in their learning.

I wish you the joy of your garden and the excitement of travel and exploration of the world.
 
– Jennifer Kasberger, Colleague 2008-2023

Dear Mr. Agardy,

Greetings from Mallorca. I heard the news that you were retiring. I wanted to send you a message and say thank you for the wonderful years that I attended SIPS.  If you are ever thinking of traveling to Spain please let me know. Enjoy retirement.

Best regards,

 

– Yuri den Haring, 1991-1995
Jeff is beloved by students because of his encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject areas, and the passion with which he presents the material. I’ve heard students describe him as being kind, funny, patient, and that he “gets us.”
 
I’m definitely going to miss the ‘venting sessions’ I’ve had with Jeff. Speaking with him has always given me perspective on challenges or frustrations I’ve faced as a teacher.
 
– Adam Lichty, Colleague 2015-2023
Dear Mr Agardy,
 
I have heard the news that the long journey of teaching at AIS-Salzburg is about to come to an end for you. I wanted to wish you all the best in whatever it is you decide to do next, and, of course, I hope you enjoy the peaceful time without a bunch of (sometimes annoying) students in sight. I also wanted to thank you for being a part of my journey at AIS-Salzburg, and to say that the work you did all these years is incredibly important, and has a huge impact on people’s lives!
 
Best wishes,
 
– Arina Yefimchenko, 2018-2021
I shared classrooms, alongside and above Mr. Agardy’s between 1994 and 2002.
 
Grayson was in his Summer German class when we first arrived in August 1994. They were fellow historians, which resulted in many interesting conversations. They stood on opposite sides in a 2002 Theory of Knowledge debate. Jeff, seconded by Ljiljana Vukelic, put up a brave defence against Grayson and Attila Fussi’s proposal, but the two classes, staff and faculty in the audience, unanimously agreed that “Hitler was the best thing that happened to Germany”. Had he come to power a few years later, the outcome would have been far worse than Hiroshima.
 
Best wishes to anyone left in the yellow building who remembers us. I suspect only Mr. McLean and Frau Gundringer now.
 
AIS-Salzburg still goes down in my thirty years of varied teaching memories, in four countries, as the best place to teach.
 
– Grayson and Catrin, Colleagues from 1994-2002
Mr. Agardy has always been a teacher with the warmest heart. Not only he knew the subjects he taught perfectly, but he also often mixed up classes with amazing stories from his life, which always made my day, especially in my senior year when I was constantly tired. This made me smile every time, bringing much-needed positive emotions during the lessons. Besides being a great teacher, Mr. Agardy has also always been a great help when it came to university applications/requirements or just any questions in general. It’s amazing how he could find the energy to help so many students after such intense classes. On top of all of that, he is a wonderful person with an amazingly pure heart. During my years at AIS-Salzburg, he has become like part of my family, and honestly, I couldn’t have imagined a better person to help me go through the last year at school. Finding out that it is his last year at AIS-Salzburg struck me. I have no idea what the school is going to be without him since he seems to have always been there (no wonder, he’s there for longer than Mr. McLean himself). However, after so many years of teaching, he is tired, which is perfectly understandable, which is why I am truly happy for him that he can finally enjoy his life to the fullest, drink some good drinks (sorry, an inside joke), and finally rest from all of those kids constantly irritating him haha. No, but really, I took AP European History and AP German with him and he was my teacher for only two years (2018-2020), but during this time he became a person so important to me that it keeps amazing me to this day. In just two years of his teaching (seeing him two hours a day), he has become a person that I will never forget, someone who I will always remember with a smile on my face and with warmth in my heart. I wish him all the best in his well-deserved pension, and although the school will never be the same without him, I am happy to have met him and remember the school with him being there.
 
– Danila Sevtsov, Class of 2020
Dear Mr. Agardy,
 
I wish you all the best for your future life and greetings from Turkey ( I was in your AP German class and we have seen each other 4 years ago when I visited AIS-Salzburg for my daughter’s summer school. You remembered me right away, I was so flattered! You will be always remembered. 
 
– Didem Gökmen, 1992-1993
Mr. Agardy,
 
You were always one of my absolute favorite teachers at AIS-Salzburg and I’m so lucky to have been taught by you during my last two years of high school. AP Human Geography remains one of my favorite classes thanks to your enthusiasm and love for teaching. Your class also inspired me to major in Geography at University! I can’t thank you enough for your excellent education skills and your helpful advice as my Senior Paper Advisor and College Counselor. I know that AIS-Salzburg will miss you so much. I wish you all the best in retirement!
 
– Sonja Testa, 2020-2022
Much of what I apply in my professional career I learned from Mr. Agardy. He gave me the highest level of attention and care that anyone can expect from an educator. 
 
– Alec Smith, Class of 2016
I would like to wish Mr. Agardy all the best on his journey and would like to thank him for all the support he has given me. He saw my potential and wanted to push me through the year as best as possible, which showed how affectionate and caring he was as a teacher. He kept these great characteristics and provided the same support to my two brothers while I had already left for university. He will be missed as a kind-hearted and supportive teacher, that truly stood for his profession of helping to educate our youth. Thank you for everything Mr. Agardy.
 
– Noa Selzam, Class of 2020

Dear Mr Agardy,

You were teaching me history in my first year at AIS-Salzburg back in 2015/2016. After finishing my first year at AIS-Salzburg, I moved to London to do my A-Levels in Math, Further Math, Physics and German. After successfully completing the A-Levels, I decided to get a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, instead of Aeronautical Engineering, which was my first choice. Deciding to do Computer Science has proven to be a good choice and I have graduated at City, University of London and obtained BSc Computer Science degree with first class.

Even though my path in studies has led me away from social studies I have often remembered our history classes and I think that you, together with Ms. Kasberger and some other teachers at AIS-Salzburg, have played a significant role in my life as a student and helped me mature and figure out which things are important in life. I think you have done this by being a good pedagogue, by giving attention to each student you were able to tailor your approach in order to get the best results from each one of us. In my case, you have succeeded.

I wish you a good retirement, full of joy, happiness and good health. I am sure that you have left a strong impression on the lives of your students, as you have in mine, and I am thankful for that. 

Best wishes,

– Luka Delic, 2015-2016
Dear Mr. Agardy, 
 
Thank you for being such a brilliant teacher! You completely changed my perception of the world and (without any exaggeration!) the trajectory of my life. Without your classes (particularly, AP Human Geography) I would have never decided to study International Relations, International Security and International Law at the university and would have never ended up in the field I’m currently working in (international development & security – with a particular focus on countering disinformation). To this day, I always tell people about your classes and how they inspired me to do what I’m doing today. Despite all of us sometimes being a little intimidated by your classes, we have learnt so much from you!
I’d like to wish you the most wonderful time ahead without the stress of dealing with us, students! Thanks for everything!
 
Warmest regards, 
– Marina Paramonova, 2013-2015
I’d like to express my gratitude to Mr. Agardy since he is retiring and I most likely won’t ever see him again. I was one of his students while I was in the Summer Language Program in Salzburg 2021. I remember being very scared since it was the first time that I found myself in that type of program. I was also not a huge fan of German, but the captivating way Mr. Agardy teaches and seizes students’ attention made it impossible not to enjoy his classes! I wish him all the best!
 
– Rejhana Zejnilovic, 2021
Mr. Agardy,
 
You were one of the most sophisticated teachers while I was at AIS-Salzburg. You were always there to help and it was a pleasure having such an experienced teacher in my school year. I hope you enjoy your retirement in the best way possible.
 
– Emmanouil Saridakis, Class of 2020
Mr. Agardy was my teacher for AP Human Geography and AP European History during my last two years at AIS-Salzburg. Mr. Agardy has always taught with love and passion, things that have always been evident during the lesson and after. Not to mention his availability to give clarification for any question or obstacle we would have regarding the classes he taught. Furthermore, I would like to extend my gratitude for all the times he helped me with my college choices and for his patience with my confusing requests and choices. Moving forward, I wish Mr. Agardy all the best after his retirement and for him to be healthy and happy! 
 
– Desard Sijoni, Class of 2020

Thank you Mr. Agardy for all of the years of dedication and passion to teaching and guiding our students into the real world!!

By: Teodora S.
Edit by: Chantal S.

As a new student and someone who had a really hard time fitting in last year, I, Teodora S., have valuable advice to share with those finding themselves in similar positions. I realized that the problem wasn’t the environment, it was me. I didn’t want to fit in and give AIS-Salzburg a chance. A big part of it was also my fears. When I changed my point of view, however, everything started to get better. I found many people who later became my friends, and I started enjoying everyday life here.  

Changing schools and moving isn’t always the easiest thing to go through as a high school student. Under all of that stress, socializing is less of a priority. One of the main things that I found helpful is joining a sports team. Our school doesn’t require a high skill level, and if our coaches see that you are trying, they will give you a chance.

During the winter, we have a chance to go on ski trips every weekend. Many students usually go skiing and it’s also a great opportunity to find someone new to spend the day with on the slopes. If you are not really into skiing, there are also overnight and day trips on the weekends in addition to multi-day long excursions. 

Photo: Teodora and Chantal both play on the girls’ volleyball team.

I asked some of the students to share their fears and experiences before coming to Salzburg. “My biggest fear was finding new friends. I found that being from the same culture helped me a lot, same as joining volleyball and having some of the same interests,” said 10th grade student, Egla H.. “I was most scared of learning English and having bad grades. Luckily, it wasn’t a big problem due to our friendly and inspiring teachers who helped a lot,” shared my brother Luka S.. One of our more sociable 10th-grade students, Daniela C., recommended that students, “Do not be shy and afraid, to not hesitate to talk to other people and say your opinion. You’ll be surprised by the outcome.”  

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone and that there is no reason to fear coming to our school. There are many possibilities for finding new friends and starting to enjoy your time here. 

Photo: Students bond at Disneyland during the fall excursion to Paris.

I asked some of the students to share their fears and experiences before coming to Salzburg. “My biggest fear was finding new friends. I found that being from the same culture helped me a lot, same as joining volleyball and having some of the same interests,” said 10th grade student, Egla H.. “I was most scared of learning English and having bad grades. Luckily, it wasn’t a big problem due to our friendly and inspiring teachers who helped a lot,” shared my brother Luka S.. One of our more sociable 10th-grade students, Daniela C., recommended that students, “Do not be shy and afraid, to not hesitate to talk to other people and say your opinion. You’ll be surprised by the outcome.”  

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone and that there is no reason to fear coming to our school. There are many possibilities for finding new friends and starting to enjoy your time here. 

We invite you to watch the video below of Mr. Agardy previewing the Advanced Placement® Geography course and exam. In this video, Mr. Agardy explains why this is a great course for exposing students to various academic disciplines that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience in their high school career. 

Twin sisters, Inzhu and Aizhan T. came to AIS-Salzburg in September 2020 as grade 10 students and did not get off to a good start. In their first year, the sisters soon realized after arriving at the school that they did not want to be there. Their response to this was to put no effort into their academics or any attempt to integrate into the community. Early on, teachers were not optimistic that the girls would make the necessary adjustments to find success at AIS-Salzburg.

 

“They were a nightmare when they first came. They were rude to everyone and their grades were bad because they didn’t do any work. It was a constant battle to get them to do anything during study hall or even to keep them awake,” reflected Dorm Parent Ms. Clarke.

“Their biggest problem was their attitude. They didn’t make any effort to fit into our community,” said Mr. McLean, their U.S. History teacher in their first year. 

However, with time, the twins slowly came around and made notable GPA gains in their junior and senior years.

“I think once they realized it wasn’t so bad (at AIS-Salzburg) they decided to make a go of it and let people in. Their mindset altered,” said Ms. Clarke. “Once we put it a little bit of effort in, it was quite easy to adapt, to be honest,” said Inzhu in the video interview below. “I started visiting Mr. Lichty after school for extra help and would come to Mr. Leicher in the morning sometimes.”

Photo: Aizhan (left) preparing for the recent AP Calculus exam. 

The twins have not only improved on the academic front but also on the social front, acquiring many friends over the three years and participating on the girls’ basketball team. 

Ms. Clarke is amazed by the turnaround since their first year.

“Now it’s the opposite. They are among the most popular students in the school, and I’d say definitely the best-known. They are now very social, caring, friendly, funny and all-round lovely people. Aizhan in particular really settled into her studies and has even been a distinguished student in the past. Although they still sometimes have their moments, I love them and shall really miss them when they leave.”

“The people I met here are really genuine,” said Aizhan. “It just makes our living here better because you are surrounded by people you like talking to.”

We invite you to watch the full interview with Inzhu and Aizhan below.

Daria Suraeva first came to AIS-Salzburg in 2014 and graduated in 2017. Since graduating, Daria has remained in Salzburg, studying at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. In this interview, we check in with Daria to see how life is going since graduating.  

AIS-Salzburg: What have you done academically since graduating from AIS-Salzburg?

Daria: Since graduating from AIS-Salzburg, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science. I then decided to pivot towards a career in data science and am currently completing a master’s degree in that field.

AIS-Salzburg: Are there any personal accomplishments since graduating that you want to share?

Daria: Ohhh, there were many different stages and diverse experiences. In a few words: I am particularly proud of my work in the development of a travel startup, where I was able to use my business acumen and analytical skills to help the company grow. Additionally, I worked on a concept for the development of the city of Salzburg, which was a rewarding experience and allowed me to contribute to my community. I was a member of a group of young experts and we developed a city strategy for the next 25 years and eventually defended our version of the concept in front of parliament. 

After that, I decided to move more in the business and data analysis direction, and now I work for one of the world’s biggest German e-commerce companies in the business intelligence domain.

AIS-Salzburg: What were the major factors in your decision to attend a small private boarding school in Austria?

Daria: I chose to attend a small private boarding school in Austria for several reasons, including the opportunity to study abroad and immerse myself in a different culture, the small class sizes.

AIS-Salzburg: What did you enjoy about going to such a small international school?

Daria: I enjoyed the close-knit community and personalized attention from the teachers that a small international school provided.

AIS-Salzburg: What is your fondest memory or memories of attending AIS-Salzburg?

Daria: My fondest memories of attending AIS-Salzburg are the relationships that I formed with my classmates and the international community. I am grateful to many of my classmates and also to everyone with whom fate brought me together at this school, without whose creativity it would be hard to live in a serious mode of our school (take the last part with due humor please).  I also have fond memories of the weekend activity program, which allowed us to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of Austria.

AIS-Salzburg: Were there any teachers who made a major positive impact on your life?

Daria: There were several teachers at AIS-Salzburg who made a major impact on me, including my history, maths and environmental science teachers. They challenged me academically and helped me develop critical thinking skills that have been invaluable in my further education and professional life.   I also remember the non-curricular part of schooling. Thanks to Mr. Burns for the opportunity to practice basketball and even a little more. He always tried to make our competitions and trips memorable events.

AIS-Salzburg: Were there any teachers who made a major positive impact on your life?

Daria: The rigorous academic program at AIS-Salzburg, coupled with the focus on cultural immersion and international education, has been instrumental in my success both academically and professionally. The emphasis on critical thinking and effective communication has also been invaluable in my career.

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have any advice for students at AIS-Salzburg ?

Daria: My advice for students at AIS-Salzburg would be to take advantage of all the opportunities that the school has to offer. This includes participating in outdoor education programs, clubs and organizations, and cultural events. It is also important to develop relationships with your teachers and classmates, as they will be a valuable source of support and guidance throughout your academic journey. Lastly, be open to new experiences and perspectives, as they will shape you into a more well-rounded individual.  School time is just another stage in life. One of many stages, spend it productively (be careful with multitasking) and have fun!

On April 19th, the 8th Annual AIS-Salzburg Sports Day was running smoothly until mother nature decided to stop it in its tracks. A little more than halfway through the day’s scheduled events, a storm swept through Salzburg and washed out the remaining afternoon events. The following Wednesday on April 26th, the remaining events were completed during regular P.E. classes but had to be done indoors due to inclement weather once again. The final standings were announced after school with Team Red led by Mr. Lichty and R.A. Matt crowned as the 2023 Sports Day Champions.

We are very proud of all students for showing great sportsmanship and attitude despite the rain and the many changes to the schedule. Thank you to all the team and event leaders for making the 2023 event another successful one!

We invite you to view the photos and video below from the 2023 AIS-Salzburg Sports Day.

Leading up to the Advanced Placement® (AP) exams from May 1-16, we preview a few of the exams that students will be taking.

AP® Calculus

We invite you to watch the video below of students in Mr. Lichty’s AP® Calculus class as they prepare for the upcoming exam that takes place on May 8th. AP® enables willing and academically prepared students around the world to pursue university-level studies while still in high school, with the opportunity to earn credit (points toward an undergraduate degree) or advanced placement (the opportunity to skip an introductory level university course). AP® is recognized in the admissions process by more than 4,000 universities worldwide, and outside the U.S., more than 600 universities in more than 60 countries recognize qualifying AP Exam scores. 

Add Your AP® Chemistry

We invite you to watch the video below of Mr. Leicher previewing the Advanced Placement® (AP) Chemistry exam and explaining how he has prepared his students for success. 

By: Egla H. 
Edit by: Marija B. 

During their free time, students at AIS-Salzburg can play soccer, volleyball, or basketball at a tournament, ski in the Alps, watch a film with their friends, or spend time with their friends in the city. But how do students feel living away from home, from their family, and around so many people?  

Many of us used to live with our siblings and other family members, but we never had the chance to live around so many people our own age. Also, living in a different country with a lot of different cultures takes work.

Life at AIS-Salzburg is challenging, engaging, and remains an adventure at the same time. Here students have the opportunity to socialize frequently because the number of students at AIS-Salzburg is smaller than in other schools. This small size is an advantage as students get to know each other intimately.  

Even though it’s challenging, I enjoy living with and being around many students. I like living and working here because I meet new people and build connections with peers and the resident life staff.

Photo: Students during the no-bake salsa and guacamole weekend activity. 

Living away from home and on campus in a dorm setting provides opportunities for personal growth. Boarding school students are able to develop life skills, such as time management, work ethic, and independence more than a student that lives at home.

Starting May 1st, students at AIS-Salzburg will be writing Advanced Placement® (AP) Examinations to earn credit or advanced placement at their chosen universities, improve their chances of acceptance, and—especially important in an international school—gain equivalency with most European secondary-school diplomas and qualify for entrance into universities here in Europe.

AP® courses and examinations are recognized in the admissions process by more than 4,000 universities worldwide, and outside the U.S., more than 600 universities in 60+ countries recognize qualifying AP® Exam scores. The program allows students to develop a global perspective, as well as skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. There are currently 34 AP® courses and exams available and scores can be sent directly to universities of choice. AP® is recognized as a highly-desirable academic credential around the globe. 

In an update about the fast-approaching AP® Exams, our AP® Coordinator Joe Suttmann, offered the following:  “Nearly 50% of our student body are taking AP® exams this year, with 46 students registered to take 113 AP Exams.  This is an average of more than 2 exams per student.  Of the exam-takers, 18 are in the Senior class, with the remaining 28 representing students in the 11th grade and lower.  The AP® Exams we are offering this year are:  Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Lit. & Comp., Environmental Science, European History, French Lang. & Cult., German Lang. & Cult., Human Geography, Physics 1, and Psychology.  Expectations are high for great scores, as AP® exam results are often crucial in getting accepted at respected universities around the globe.  AIS-Salzburg presents a college-prep curriculum and AP exam results are a great indicator of the success of our program.”

Photo: Students take notes during an AP® European History lecture with Mr. Agardy.

AP® Examinations are open to all students who feel competent to sit them and enrollment in a preparatory AP® course is not required. For example, if a student comes to AIS-Salzburg after having studied the Japanese language for three years, they may desire to sit the AP® Examination in this subject. Most students, however, will need the preparation and guidance in the subject provided by year-long enrollment in the course.  

Our school has participated in the Advanced Placement Program® since 1983.  The widespread international recognition of AP® Examination scores and the strength of the AP® curricula convinces our community that the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program® provides our students with significant international opportunities and excellent academic skills that will serve them well in their future studies.

Varvara Buben attended AIS-Salzburg as a senior during the 2021-2022 school year and graduated as our Salutatorian in the spring of 2022. In this interview, we check in with Varvara and see how college life is going. 

AIS-Salzburg: Where are you currently studying and what are you studying?

Varvara: I’m currently studying Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London, which is a course that incorporates psychology, neuroscience, and linguistics, focusing on language in the brain.

AIS-Salzburg: How are you enjoying college life?

Varvara: Academically, I love university – there are so many unique opportunities for various types of learning, including conducting experiments, working with anatomical specimens, and learning from leading researchers in rather niche fields, expanding my understanding of the kinds of questions science asks. As for the non-academic parts of college life, they can be a bit of a challenge, but I think this may have to do more with the specific city I’m in – London can be hard to navigate and rather isolating at times. 

AIS-Salzburg: What are the major differences between college life and life at AIS-Salzburg?

Varvara: There is much more independence and responsibility involved in daily life as a university student than there was at AIS-Salzburg. AIS-Salzburg has a really strong student support network; in university, that network is you. If you get sick, if something in your accommodation breaks, if you’re struggling academically, you are mostly on your own. This is not a bad thing – just a different experience from boarding school. Additionally, your entire schedule is basically up to you, but in addition to ensuring all coursework gets completed, you need to factor in time to prepare food, clean your space, commute, sleep decently… AIS-Salzburg definitely makes it easy to keep track of all these tasks due to the very structured schedule. In university, both the actual tasks and the task of planning them all out falls on you.

AIS-Salzburg: Do you feel your time at AIS-Salzburg helped prepare you for college life and if so, in what ways?

Varvara: AIS-Salzburg most prepared me for college by giving me an opportunity to practice integrating into a new environment. Fewer specific skills or habits carried over, just due to how different the two environments are, but the experience of diving headfirst into a new city and cohort would have definitely been much harder to do in university had I not have had the chance to do so in the much smaller, closer AIS-Salzburg community.

For the second year in a row, it was announced on April 1st, 2023 that AIS-Salzburg has been voted by peers in the industry as one of five European school finalists for the Study Travel Secondary School Award. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on April 21st, 2023, held during the ST Alphe Secondary Focus London 2023 event. To read more about this recognition, we invite you to click the button below. 

As of the Spring Trimester midterm (March 31, 2023), we take a moment to review the first half of the term and recognize those students who have successfully fulfilled the academic, community service, enrollment and behavioral qualifications as outlined in the AIS-Salzburg Student and Parent Handbook.

Students who have met these qualifications are recognized in two categories of distinction: Senior Scholars and Distinguished Students. Listed below are the privileges that accompany these distinctions:

Senior Scholars

  • One evening study hall per week free 
  • Seniority in room and roommate selection and bus seating on excursions and outings 
  • Special commendation letter to the parents 
  • Friday & Saturday evening curfew is extended by 1/2 hour 
  • Recognition at trimester awards dinner

Distinguished Students

  • Released from study hall on Thursday evenings 
  • Rooming and roommate selection and bus seating (following Senior Scholars) on excursions
  • Special commendation letter to the parents 
  • Friday & Saturday evening curfew is extended by 1/2 hour
  • Recognition at trimester awards dinner

Below, are the students who have achieved each status as a result of their efforts in the first half of the fall trimester. 

By, Chantal S.

Edited by, Teodora S.

Team sports at AIS-Salzburg are very exciting. We play 3 different team sports throughout the school year: soccer and volleyball in the fall and basketball in the winter. AIS-Salzburg teams often travel to participate in Danube Valley Athletic Conference tournaments held in Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava. Also, an invitational boys and girls basketball tournament is hosted annually by our school, which many of the students look forward to either playing in or attending as a spectator.  

The sports teams this year started off on a good note in the fall, with a large number of talented athletes signing up to play volleyball and soccer. From that day we knew this would be a good year for us. After only a few practices there was already a great deal of improvements in both our skills and teamwork and we were soon ready for competitions.       

Photo: The boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams enjoyed an early November evening out in Budapest before the DVAC Championships the following day. 

This year the soccer team was very successful and won first place in the junior varsity boys’ soccer tournament in Vienna. The girls’ volleyball team also had a successful season and even competed at the varsity level, but sadly did not place. The boys’ junior varsity volleyball tournament in Budapest, on the other hand, was a big success as they won 1st place!

Recently the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams both attended the invitational varsity basketball tournament hosted by the International Christian School of Budapest. It was a real challenge for both teams. Sadly for the boys, the challenge was a little bit too big and the team did not place. The girls’ team, however, earned 3rd place overall in the tournament. 

Video: Highlights from the DVAC Varsity Boys Basketball Championship on March 11th in Salzburg. 

Over the course of the fall and winter seasons, the athletes learned how to work together as a team and more importantly, to work together with others toward a common goal. Although a lot has happened this school year, the fun is not over yet, as our volleyball and soccer teams are starting up again in the spring!

By Resident Assistant, Ali Welch

The overnight trip to Augsburg, Germany this past weekend, part of our expanded travel program, was an overall success thanks to a busy schedule of activities that allowed for a balance of sightseeing and fun memories with the group. Our trip began with a private walking tour of the city, which, although it is slightly larger than Salzburg in population, feels more intimate due to a concentrated city center that we could explore within 10 minutes of walking. Susanne, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Augsburg as she led us to various sites throughout the city. We were impressed by the details of the Goldener Saal (Golden Hall), the size of the Renaissance sculptures of the Maximilian Museum, the innovation of the water management system, and the longevity of the social housing complex, the Fuggerei

“The place that fascinated me was the Fuggerei,” said grade 11 student Leo L. “What makes that place special is that the rent has not changed since it was built 500 years ago. But it is only for people who were born in Augsburg. This place is the definition of people helping people which is a big part of why I enjoyed it.”

Students wasted no time exploring the various shops and restaurants Augsburg has to offer in their free time around the city. When we reconvened as a group before dinner, students showed off their purchases of various accessories and clothes or shared which ice cream place (and flavor) was the best. The gorgeous, sunny weather coupled with the FC Augsburg versus Schalke football match that was taking place in the city meant the town center was buzzing with people. 

Our group enjoyed a delicious meal at the Coco Sushi and Asia Fusion restaurant in the city’s center before ending the night with bowling, our final activity for the day. Despite the embarrassing amount of bowling throws that ended up in the gutter, students had an excellent time cheering each other on and dancing to the music under disco lights. 

Sunday began with a trip to the Mazda Museum, located on the outskirts of the Augsburger Old Town. Although the museum is quite small, consisting of only one large room in what used to be an old tram depot, our group loved our time exploring the various Mazda models on display and speaking with the owner of the museum, Walter Frey. Meeting Mr. Frey was incredibly lucky as he rarely comes into the museum and just happened to be there in order to switch some of the cars in the exhibition. He was kind enough to take the time to talk to our students and shared stories on how he acquired a few of the cars in his private collection of over 100 Mazda automobiles that led to his creation of the only Mazda museum in the world. We were so grateful for Mr. Frey’s time and the Mazda photo book from the museum, which he gifted to each person in our group. 

“The owner of the museum welcomed us and told us a lot about his history and about the cars that he owned,” said grade 10 student, Richard G. 

With the busy schedule and long days, our group really made the most of our time in Augsburg. By the end of the trip, students were exhausted from exploring everything the city had to offer and they appreciated the various activities we were able to pack into the schedule. From Rubik’s cube challenges with our waiter at dinner to dance-offs at bowling, this group of students made sure there was never a dull moment throughout the trip.

Augsburg was the fourth and final overnight weekend excursion of the school year. Other overnight weekend excursions included Vienna, Munich and Innsbruck. Fall and winter excursions to ParisBarcelona and Zell am See rounded out the travel program. 

The AIS-Salzburg varsity boys basketball team wrapped up their season at the Danube Valley Athletic Conference Championship this past weekend in Salzburg with a fourth-place finish in the 6-team tournament. The boys started off the tournament with a clear 35-21 victory over Danube International School but dropped their next game to Vienna International School 17-47. The boys faced off against a very skilled International Christian School of Budapest in what was a very exciting back-and-forth match for the third-place trophy. Unfortunately, the boys ran out of gas in the fourth quarter and ICSB was able to break away with a convincing lead, defeating the Lions 38-25.

Despite the disappointing loss, the Lions were playing up in competition at the varsity level with a very young team with a number of players in grades 8-10 seeing regular playing time. The valuable experience that was gained will serve the boys’ team well heading into next season. 

“The varsity tournament last weekend was a great experience for everyone,” said grade 11 player, Milo B. “Although we failed to win the third-place match, the team played well and it was a very close game. We will build off this experience next year and I think that we will be able to win a trophy next time.”

The games were all live-streamed on the AIS-Salzburg Facebook page and the recordings are still available to view. We would like to extend a special thank you to Inzhu, Jade, Marija, Kirill, Daniela, Max and Milla for volunteering their time to score keep. 

Photo: Coach Nick DeWitt will look to grade 8 student Luca (far right) and grade 9 student Yarik (second from right) to lead the team in the future. 

“The varsity tournament last weekend was a great experience for everyone,” said grade 11 player, Milo B. “Although we failed to win the third-place match, the team played well and it was a very close game. We will build off this experience next year and I think that we will be able to win a trophy next time.”

The games were all live-streamed on the AIS-Salzburg Facebook page and the recordings are still available to view. We would like to extend a special thank you to Inzhu, Jade, Marija, Kirill, Daniela, Max and Milla for volunteering their time to score keep. 

Photo: Milo B. is optimistic about his Lions team heading into next season. 

We invite you to watch the video highlights below from the DVAC Varsity Boys Basketball Championship on March 11th in Salzburg. 

This past Thursday, Grade 10 Chemistry students observed a dry ice demonstration performed by their teacher, Mr. Leicher. Dry ice is a fascinating and fun material for students, from making “fog” to “boiling in water,” it is well-known for creating special effects. Carbon dioxide, however, also has fascinating and very useful chemical properties. At room temperature and pressure, solid carbon dioxide will warm to –78 °C and then begin to sublimate to carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas is, initially, also at –78 °C, which causes moisture in the air to condense and form the characteristic fog that dry ice is famous for.

One interesting feature of carbon dioxide is that at atmospheric pressure, it only exists as a solid or gas. In order to exist as a liquid, carbon dioxide must be subjected to a pressure of at least 5.11 atmospheres. Most chemicals will exist as a solid, liquid, or gas depending on temperature and pressure. This relationship between phase, pressure, and temperature can be presented graphically in the form of a phase diagram. The point at which all three phase boundaries meet is called the triple point and signifies the temperature and pressure at which all three phases exist and are in equilibrium.

We invite you to watch the highlight video below of this demonstration.

As the Barcelona group enjoyed the sites, 38 of our students chose three days of skiing and fun sporting activities in the evening for their winter excursion. With the Club Kitzsteinhorn hotel located at the foot of Schnittenhöhe ski resort, our ski excursion group was in a prime location to have a wonderful excursion. Much like the Barcelona excursion, all reports are that it went off without a hitch and everyone had a great time. 

“From a staff and structure point of view, it was seamless,” said activity coordinator, Kevin Fox of the excursion. “The kids were amazing. They were always where they needed to be for check-ins and departures. They were all participating, friendly and kind to each other. It was easy.”

On the first day, the group was welcomed with sunny skies at the mighty ski resort of Kitzsteinhorn, a glacier resort in the Eastern Alps of Austria which reaches an elevation of just over 3,200 meters. Kitzsteinhorn provides a variety of terrain suitable for all skill levels and a number of restaurant options for lunch. 

“There were some really great powder runs with trees for our more experienced kids,” said Fox. 

For students who did not want to spend money at a restaurant, the hotel set up a sandwich bar in the morning so students could pack their own lunches for the day. The bar had a variety of sandwich fixings to choose from and offered juice, water, and chocolate bars to stuff with their sandwiches into paper lunch bags.

The next two ski days were held at Schnittenhöhe, which is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. On Saturday, the group was welcomed with some fresh new snow and on Sunday, there were many groomed runs with more fresh snow. 

In the evenings the group took full advantage of the sporting facilities right at the hotel. Each night, there was a soccer game with about 15-20 students participating and lasting about two hours. Others preferred indoor beach volleyball while some enjoyed the trampoline room, billiards or ping pong. 

Come bedtime, there was not a single complaint as everyone was exhausted from a full day of exercise. 

Photos: Every evening, students had their choice of multiple indoor activities directly at the hotel. 

We invite you to read some of the student reviews on the winter ski excursion to Zell am See. 

Sofiya D.

“That trip was really chill and fun. The rooms and rooming organization was actually nice and comfortable. The snow was soft and not icy, however, the resort was very crowded and all slopes and restaurants were absolutely packed, which made the lines for lifts take a while. After dinner, we got free time at the hotel where we can do lots of activities, such as volleyball, basketball, football, etc. The most entertaining for me was volleyball.”

Lara B. 

“I think the excursion was really fun and entertaining. It was a great opportunity to get some rest and have some time away from school after weeks of hard work. The hotel was great, it gave us plenty of things to do. In my opinion, it is a great place to get together with friends and play different sports or just hang out in your room.”

The winter excursion to Barcelona from February 22nd to 26th was a massive success with a nice balance of interesting activities and time to explore the city. 

“The number one thing I noticed is that people were always laughing and smiling,” said Dean of Students, Laura Fox, “We really enjoyed each other’s company; both staff and students.”

The smaller group size of 19 kids with three group leaders allowed for more flexibility in the scheduling and for leaders to break the group into even smaller sections. The small groups also allowed leaders to adapt the schedule on short notice to the preferences of the students. 

On the first day, the entire group enjoyed a tour of the FC Barcelona museum and stadium, which the students really loved. The tour included stops at the locker room, the press room where coaches and players speak to the press, and even a visit down to field level.

Photos: Students enjoyed a guided tour of the FC Barcelona museum and Sstadium

Another popular activity was the Dali Exhibit, where students experienced immersion in audiovisual projections, augmented reality, virtual reality and holography. The Big Fun Museum of Illusions was probably the biggest hit amongst students as they posed with various exhibits (see photos below). 

Photos: The Big Fun Museum of Illusions was a hit amongst the students

Other memorable activities included a scenic boat tour of the Las Golondrinas port and coast, the Cosmo Caixa Science Museum, the L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, a walk up to the Montjuïc Castle, and the Poble Espanyol

Mixed in were two guided walking tours, allowing for our group leaders to take a mental break. The first guided walking tour was to the Gothic Quarter, which featured many beautiful medieval structures and some of Barcelona’s most important political buildings. The second was the Gaudi walking tour, where the group viewed the many great structures designed by famous Spanish Architect, Antoni Gaudí. This included one of the most famous tourist destinations in Europe, the Basílica de la Sagrada Família (see cover photo at the top).

Photos: The small group size on the Barcelona excursion allowed group leaders to offer students a variety of options for sightseeing by breaking into smaller groups.

The evening dinners were also a hit with the tour company organizing each dinner.

“We ate at a different restaurant each night,” said Fox. “One night we had tapas, burgers another night and pizza another. The kids really enjoyed that.”

Aside from the beautiful sites and fun activities, the smoothness with which this excursion unfolded had a lot to do with the nice weather, ease of public transport, and the fact that the group had many Spanish speakers stepping up to help with guiding. 

Photo: The students enjoyed a burger and fries at the end of a day of sightseeing and fun in Barcelona. 

What happens when you put a freshwater plant in salt water? The 9th-grade Biology students had an opportunity to find out. They are currently studying cellular transport, the movement of substances into and out of cells. They observed an elodea (freshwater plant) leaf under a microscope and were able to identify the individual cells border by the cell walls and the chloroplasts with their loads of green chlorophyll.

After observing and making drawings, the students applied a saltwater solution to the leaf on the slide and returned it to the microscope.  Because the salt water has more solute than the inside of the plant cells, water moved out of the plant cells, causing the membranes to shrink away from the cell walls, clustering the organelles in a tight bunch, concentrating the chloroplasts with the green pigment into bright green dots.

Some students were lucky enough to spot some microorganisms from the aquarium flitting across their slides.  Others could observe the brown, orange and yellow using them in the future. The pigments in parts of their leaf that had begun to die, the chlorophyll breaking down and allowing the other colors to be seen. The students enjoyed using the microscopes to view an entirely different world and will have more microscope fun in the future. 

AIS-Salzburg is now accepting applications for the 2023 Summer Language Program and expects a full program for all three sessions. Currently, the session from July 2-15 is filling up fast and is expected to be booked full by the late spring. In 2022, two out of the three 2-week sessions were booked solid by the beginning of June. Between the three sessions in 2022, there were 25 nationalities represented and zero Covid cases to report among students and staff. The sunny and warm weather made it possible that all activities on the weekly schedule to take place and we expect the same for the 2023 program. 

Video: We invite you to watch this highlight video playlist of our Summer Language Program from 2020 to 2022. 

The Summer Language Program at the American International School-Salzburg provides intensive German or English courses for students ages *10 to 18. This program is designed to improve students’ language skills in German or English while involving them in a fascinating and enjoyable program of discovery, activities, and social sessions which can be combined into six weeks total. Every session includes a wealth of cultural and entertaining activities and excursions to complement the language learning in the classroom.

*Students under the age of 12 are only accepted with the registration of an older sibling who must accompany them on all activities.

Three levels of language study are offered during each of the summer sessions and are taught by highly-qualified members of the school’s teaching faculty. At the start of each session, all students are tested and placed at the appropriate level for the session.

The summer English courses are of particular interest to students who have applied and have been accepted for the academic year at AIS-Salzburg. These students are encouraged to participate in the full summer session (six weeks total) in order to improve their English language skills and become familiar with our school and our staff. 

For more information or to register your child, we invite you to visit our Summer Language Program page on our website via the button below.

Students from Mr. Mayerhofer’s Studio Art class were recently assigned a project to construct a paper mache comic head. Students first made two pencil drawings in their sketchbooks of both a side and front view of the head. They then had to plan out which material (cardboard, chicken wire, paper, balloons, etc.) they were going to use to construct the head.

During the construction phase, students bent and shaped their comic heads in preparation for the application of 5-10 layers of paper mache using glue that they made using wallpaper paste, wood glue, and water.  Students connect body parts to the head using hot glue before decorating the head with a coating of tempera or acrylic paint. 

We welcome you to watch the highlight video below of this project, with grade 9 student Sofia as the feature. 

Students of Ms. Lardschneider’s German Literature course recently participated in a Märchen Workshop (Fairy Tale Workshop), where students had to draw their own characters, then write a fairy tale and perform it. The two groups featured in the video below chose Humpty Dumpty and Hübsches Gesicht, Hässliche Seele (Pretty face, Ugly Soul).

Recently, Ms. Baehler’s German 2 students competed in a clima challenge, where they created a travel plan to get from Hamburg to Gibraltar in 21 days. The goal was to collect the least amount of Klimapunkte (clima points) based on their mode of transportation and places they stay. Here is a copy of the winning plan presented by Katya L., Kati GG., Diana K., Diana S., Alisa S., and Dasha U.

Photo: The girls’ group featuring Katya L., Kati GG., Diana K., Diana S., Alisa S., and Dasha U. won Clima Challenge assignment in German 2. 

37 Students Hit the Alpine Slopes

January 16, 2023

On Saturday, January 14th, 37 of our students enjoyed a day on the slopes of Steinplatte, a ski resort an hour’s drive from our school and reaching an elevation of 1,900 m (6,200 ft). The Steinplatte skiing region features 13 groomed slopes measuring 45 km (28 miles) in total, state-of-the-art chair lifts, a gondola lift, and a snowboard park. 

Media for the day was minimal, but we managed to put together a short video with some highlights from the day. We invite you to watch it below. 

Ski & Snowboard Season is Back!

January 23, 2023

This past Sunday was the second ski day of the 2022-2023 school year and it was one to remember. With 35 cm of fresh snowfall from the day before, the powder was plenty and the sun was back out, providing for a beautiful ski and snowboard day at Zauchensee for the 54 students and 7 staff members in attendance. 

“Everyone has had a great time on the mountain,” said ski and snowboard program director, Matt DeKryger. “Credit to the students for giving excellent accounts of our school community and to the staff members who have gone above and beyond to ensure the students have the best experience possible.”

The rest of the ski and snowboard season includes scheduled ski days through mid-March, a ski weekend in Innsbruck on January 27-29, and the winter excursion from February 23-26 in Zell am See. We invite you to watch some of the highlights below from the day of skiing and snowboarding. 

Overnight Ski & Snowboard Trip to Innsbruck a Success

January 31, 2023

This past weekend, 15 senior scholars and distinguished students were rewarded for their academic achievements with a weekend ski excursion to Axamer-Lizum, just outside of Innsbruck. Part of our weekend overnight travel program, this trip is unique compared to other overnight trips in that participants stay for two nights, enjoying two full days of skiing and snowboarding on the Tirolean slopes.

This year, the group was fortunate to have very good weather and some fresh, new snow. All participating students had a good time exploring the resort and an evening in the historic Innsbruck Altstadt with friends.

For all other students, a regular ski day was offered with a trip to Shuttleberg on Saturday. Led by Mr. Fox, 24 students enjoyed 10 cm of new snow on this great ski hill and a variety of different terrain for all skill levels. Shuttleberg is also known for having the largest snow park in the Alps, the world-famous Absolut Park. The park expands 1.5 kilometers and has approximately 100 obstacles including kickers, boxes and rails. Obstacles are sculptured for different levels of freestyle, from beginner to expert. 

Photo: Absolut Park expands 1.5 kilometers and has approximately 100 obstacles including kickers, boxes and rails

Junior High Boys Win First Game of the Season​

January 31, 2023

The junior high boys’ basketball team had their first game of the season on Monday night as they visited the St. Gilgen Saints. For most of the players, this was their first time ever playing in an organized basketball game.

“It was chaotic at first but the boys improved a lot throughout the game,” said coach Nick DeWitt. “I was so proud of their hustle and positive attitudes. I even saw a few really nice moves.”

The defensive standout of the game was Jorge with numerous moments of effective boxing out. 

Lady Lions Win Two at DVAC Festival

January 30, 2023

The AIS-Salzburg Lady Lions won their first two games of the season this past Saturday with a dominant 27-12 win over AIS-Budapest and a 23-17 victory over QSI Bratislava. Their lone loss came at the hands of the host Vienna International School by a score of 16-23.

“I am extremely pleased with our play and effort this weekend,” said coach David Burns on Monday. “Overall, we are quite inexperienced, but the girls are highly motivated and learning fast.”

In fact, 6 of the 12 girls that made the trip were absolute beginners playing in their first basketball competitions ever. 

“I have a few more grey hairs for sure,” laughed Burns. “But that is how they learn, by being thrown into the fire, making mistakes, and learning from them.”

Grade 9 point guard Chanti S. had her best game in a Lions uniform in her two years of basketball, with multiple steals and strong defensive play. Newcomer Nastia B. was a beast on defense and took the ball to the rim for multiple buckets.  Nicole I. was an offensive leader, utilizing her speed for a number of uncontested layups. Marija B. chipped in with a few offensive put-backs, while Ola T. was strong defensively. The highlight of the day was when Jade R. scored off a jump shot after executing a move she has been working on in practice. Congratulations to Diana K. for scoring her first-ever basket!

Video: The video above is a sneak peek into the trip to Vienna this past weekend for the DVAC Basketball Festival.

Lady Lions Lose Season Opener at the Buzzer

January 24, 2023

The AIS-Salzburg girls’ basketball team had their first match of the season on the road vs. St. Gilgen International School on Monday night. The Lions jumped out to an early 6-0 lead behind three straight baskets from Nicole I. However, St. Gilgen battled back to tie the game a few minutes later. The teams continued to exchange baskets all the way down to the final seconds when St. Gilgen scored the game-winning shot at the buzzer to squeak out a 26-24 victory over the Lions. 

Grade 9 Chantal S. had an excellent defensive game, shutting down St. Gilgen’s top scorer and senior player to prevent St. Gilgen from running away with the game. Jade R. had her best game in a Lions uniform, scoring two key baskets in the final frame. Newcomer Nastia B. also had a very strong game with strong rebounding and three baskets of her own. 

“I was quite pleased with how we played considering that 6 of the 12 girls are absolute beginners playing in their first-ever basketball game,” said long-term coach David Burns after the game. “Our defense needs a lot of work, but offensively we shared the ball quite well.”

The girls are back in action this Saturday at the Danube Valley Athletics Conference mid-season festival at the Vienna International School. 

Lions Win Two at DVAC Festival

January 22, 2023

The AIS-Salzburg boys basketball team came away with two victories in three games this past Saturday at the Danube Valley Athletics Conference mid-season festival in Vienna. 

The boys played stellar defense in their first game, holding the Danube International School to zero points until the fourth quarter. The Lions went on to handily secure the win, 23-8.

Their second game versus the International Christian School of Vienna (ICSV) was much closer, but the boys were able to build a healthy lead in the first half. The Lions moved the ball really well and executed a number of plays on offense that they had been working on in practice. In the second half, ICSV managed to mount a comeback as the Lions faltered, taking a one-point lead late in the game. In a last effort to win the game, Alex M. took a short jumper and sunk it with six seconds left. The Lions held on in the final seconds to win 24-23.

The boys’ last game was against a very talented junior varsity team from the American International School Vienna. After riding the high of the first two wins of the season, the boys were handed a wake-up call in a lobsided 14-46 loss to AIS Vienna. 

“We have made good progress since the start of the season, but that loss at the end showed the boys that they still have a lot to learn”, said coach Nick DeWitt after the final game. “I think it was good for the boys to be humbled and see how a more talented team executes throughout a whole game. This game really tested our brotherhood, mental strength, and ability to execute and maintain positive communication on the court.”

In Mr. Leicher’s Grade 11 Physics class, students investigated Archimedes’ Principle for an object that is denser than water and an object that is less dense than water.  

Archimedes’ Principle states that that an object floating or fully immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. The buoyant force on an object immersed in a liquid can also be determined by weighing an object in air and then in water. The apparent loss of weight of the object is equal to the buoyant force of the water.

Fun Fact: Archimedes was the person who ran naked through the streets of Syracuse shouting “Eureka! Eureka! I have found it!”. (He was at a bathhouse and noticed the water level rose when someone stepped in. This related to the volume of the water displaced must be equal to the volume of the parts of the body that was submerged).

Adam H. was born in Slovakia to an American father Czech mother. Up until a few years ago, Adam’s place of residence had changed every 3 years until he and his parents decided to give an international boarding school a try. 

Adam first came to AIS-Salzburg as a grade 9 student in 2019 and has had a very positive impact on our international community ever since. After three-and-a-half years of enrollment, Adam is an excellent example of what having an optimistic attitude toward the life and culture of others is all about and how—through offering his friendship and respect readily and honesty—unity and social fellowship result to everyone’s benefit.  International school students like Adam H. are the catalysts who make international school communities models of understanding and tolerance.

Adam quickly settled into our academic system, achieving honor roll status every trimester since his enrollment. He has earned a GPA higher than 4.1 in each of the past three completed school years at AIS-Salzburg and recently finished with a 4.067 GPA in the first trimester of his senior year. This is no easy achievement when considering Adam is taking five Advanced Placement® courses including AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP German, AP Chemistry and AP European History.

Below are excerpts from report card comments Adam received from the teaching faculty and resident staff.

“He is an incredibly bright student with a great attitude, work ethic, and sense of humor.” – R.A. Tom

“It is a pleasure having such a bright, dedicated, positive student in class.” – Mr. Agardy, AP European History

“He brings interesting and new insights to class discussions about the literature.” – Ms. Long, AP English Literature.

We invite you to watch the video interview below with Adam. 

Prior to the Christmas break, the AIS-Salzburg student government organized both a bake sale and a raffle to raise money to purchase warm blankets for those in need in Ukraine. These two charity projects have now come to an end, and we can proudly announce that, with Mr. McLean and Ms. Fox generously doubling the amount, we have raised over 1600€.  

Additionally, the 350€ raised from the bake sale was used to purchase winter clothes for a Ukrainian mother and her son who recently moved to Upper Austria.  

Student Council wants to thank everyone who has contributed to the bake sale, bought cake, or spent money on the raffle tickets. We also want to give special thanks to the following local restaurants and companies that offered to donate prizes. 

Die Cabreras is a small, rustic restaurant close to Linzergasse in the center of Salzburg and serves delicious Mexican food. Some signature dishes include Aguas Fresca and Quesadillas. Good food and a homely, pleasant atmosphere are guaranteed! 

Saint Charles Apothecary, a shop located at Universitätsplatz, focuses on natural cosmetics, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine. They offer a wide range of beauty and health products with extremely high quality that are the perfect option for a gift. 

COOLinarik is a modern, urban restaurant with a southern flair right in the heart of the city. The dishes and interior almost make you feel as if you are eating at a sunny beach. 

My Mom’s is a lovely, nicely decorated coffeeshop with homemade cake and coffee and is perfect if you want to slow down for a tiny bit. Especially now that it is getting colder, the delicious cookies and white chocolate drinks, served in bio packaging, are definitely worth stopping by! 

Silkyway sells necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that do not just look very nice but are individually made. Every piece is completely unique and created according to the motto that “Life is too short to wear boring jewelry”.

If you like bubble tea or other Asian specialties, Find Tea is the right place for you. The shop, in Getreidegasse 36b, offers numerous different types of bubble tea and is one of the students’ favorite places to go in their free time. 

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Ms. Kasberger, Ms. Clark, and Ms. Fox for their support in making this project a success!

Marlene Lantz and Naho Ichitani became fast friends during their years at AIS-Salzburg between 2014 and 2017. At the time, both girls had traveled from far away to attend school at AIS-Salzburg, seeking international academic experience. We invite you to watch the video below where the girls reminisce during a recent visit about their years at AIS-Salzburg. They also share the remarkable things they have done academically since graduating.

This past Thursday, the first of December, the AIS-Salzburg Fall Trimester Awards Ceremony was once again held at the Sternbräu restaurant. More than half of the student body was recognized for their outstanding athletic and academic achievements during the Fall Trimester, including 39 students who earned distinguished student status and 21 students who achieve High Honors on the school’s academic honor roll by achieving grades of all As and no more than one B.

Below, please note those students who have won hard-earned recognition for their efforts.

The evening celebration also provided an opportunity for everyone to enjoy an excellent dinner together while dressed in their finest attire. With the event held in early December and the Christmas break looming, the atmosphere was light and festive, creating a memorable evening for everyone with many photos taken. At the end of the evening, students were collectively rewarded for their hard work throughout the trimester with the announcement of a Headmaster’s Holiday on Friday.

We invite you to view the photos and video below of the event. 

Written by Tymofii Popov and Vili Kraus

It was a very exciting season for the boys’ volleyball team this year. Out of 7 games played, the team won 5 and only lost 2. This is an incredible result considering that some of the team members had never played volleyball prior to this season and showed incredible growth during these three months. Also, for the first time in over 10 years, the boys’ volleyball team brought home a trophy; making them the most successful in a long time. Coach Nick DeWitt said that if the team works as hard as they did this past season, next year’s team will be able to compete at the varsity level.

On the 15th of October, the boys’ volleyball team competed in a varsity tournament in Ulm, Germany. The team arrived in Ulm still having confidence from the previous junior-varsity friendly tournament at their home court in Salzburg. However, missing a number of top players including Milo B. and Bogdan M. who at the previous tournament were the “men of the day”. Their inability to join the team Ulm brought some concerns over whether it would be a successful tournament. The team played two games, both of which followed the same script. Following a loss in the first set, the team lacked positive and strong morale. The team came out in the second set more focused after a speech by Coach DeWitt, winning the set. After the victory, the team got a bit too relaxed and lost the third set and the match 1-2, resulting in no wins on the day.

Photo: The boys volleyball team hold their own at the varsity level in Ulm, Germany

On the way home, the players stopped at McDonald’s and discussed the most egregious problem of the season. This was the lack of emotional control. When games were lost or after someone’s mistake, emotions would escalate and further ruin the match, bringing the overall morale of the team even lower. It was decided at this meeting that each team member should spend some time thinking about a resolution to controlling their emotions and present this at the next practice. It was also determined that each player should encourage the others, which would greatly help boost morale during the games. If the problem of detrimental emotions could be eliminated, the team would have a much better chance of achieving improved success and growth.

On the 12th of November, our boys’ volleyball team competed at the season-ending Danube Valley Athletics Conference Championship in Budapest, Hungary. It was an overnight trip with the boys traveling to Budapest on Friday, November, 11th.

Photo: The boys’ volleyball team went undefeated at the DVAC Junior Varsity Championship in Budapest.

When the team arrived in Budapest, they had some free time before a team dinner during which they discussed strategies for the tournament on the following day. They were competing in the Junior Varsity (J.V.) tournament instead of varsity due to missing some key players. There were only three teams in the J.V. tournament and the boys won both of their games with the same result of 2 sets to 0. For the first time in more than 10 years, the boys’ volleyball team came back from a tournament with a trophy. The boys had a lot of fun and they played better than ever. 

English 10 Composition and Literature

In English 10 Composition and Literature class with Ms. Anderson, students had the option to illustrate the most important scene in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Egla H. chose to illustrate a scene (spoken of but never shown in the play) of the Salem girls dancing in the forest. Abby’s face has a smear of blood: a sign of the murderous witchcraft she has just conjured. Stefaniia H. illustrated one of the last scenes in the play, in which John and Elizabeth Proctor bid each other farewell. We invite you to view the work of both Egla and Stefaniia below. 

In the other class section of English 10 Composition and Literature, taught by Mr. Anderson (no relation), students were assigned a ‘One-pager.’  This requires that they provide a visual interpretation of the most significant scenes, symbols or statements from the text.

Below are ‘One-Pager’ projects submitted by Evdokia M., Viktoriia P., and Milan W.

Soundbites from 10th-Grade Math

We invite you to watch the video below, where 10th-grade math students prepare to write a test on solving systems of equations. Real-life situations can rarely be distilled down to ‘solve for x.’ Systems of equations give us tools to simultaneously solve for many different variables in complex situations.

Precalculus & Grade 10 Chemistry

In the photos below, precalculus students learned about the topic, ‘optimization’. The task was to cut squares from each corner of the paper and fold up the flaps to create a box with the largest possible volume. A variety of optimization problems can be found in all quantitative disciplines, from computer science and engineering to operations research and economics.

Wilhelm Ostwald coined the name “mole” in German in 1893, and it’s assumed it was derived from the word Molekül (molecule). Ironically, Ostwald’s development of the mole concept was directly related to his philosophical opposition to atomic theory, which he disagreed with for most of his career. We can also define the mole using Avagadro’s constant. We invite you to watch the video below of a recent lab in grade 10 chemistry where students weighed out different masses and solved the relationship of grams, moles, and atoms. 

School Day Soundbites: U.S. History with Mr. McLean

We invite you to watch the sneak peek video below of the second-period US History class with Mr. McLean as he explains the cultural dynamics of animistic, polytheistic and monotheistic religious practices and their role in the conflict between the Europeans and the natives of North America.

Projects Feature from German 1 and Advanced Math

In German 1, students created videos with their own scripted dialogue using proper grammar and vocabulary learned in the first four chapters of their textbook. The theme of the video was for two or more people to meet and discuss their hobbies, families, likes, and dislikes. Students were graded on 11 specific components outlined by their instructor, Ms. Baehler. For example, one component was for students to properly use the verbs sein, haben, sprechen, essen, möchten, and brauchen at least twice. 

We invite you to watch the compilation video below of some of the completed videos.

In Advanced Mathematics, students created a basic model of a house for the year 2075 that reflects the projected shift in population growth, urbanization, energy efficiency, and future design trends. Students then presented their “Houses of the Future” providing evidence from their research and why their house will be necessary for the future.  

We invite you to view the presentation of Dany G’s ‘House of the Future.

Soundbites from U.S. History with Mr. McLean

We invite you to watch the sneak peek video below of the second-period US History class with Mr. McLean as he explains the cultural dynamics of animistic, polytheistic and monotheistic religious practices and their role in the conflict between the Europeans and the natives of North America.

Theater Arts with Mrs. Silke Stein

Theater Arts …. the stage is yours!

In this seventh-period class for 7th and 8th graders, the students learn to expand their knowledge and experience by improvising, playing theatre games, and singing their favorite songs. With this, students learn everything to be creative and confident—not only on stage but also later in life. 

Creative minds create a great future!

We invite you to watch the video below from a recent Theater Arts class with Mrs. Silke Stein. In her class, Silke teaches breathing and speaking techniques, and basic musical and acting skills. Through these skills, her students gain confidence and a strong foundation for their talents and strengths to continue growing on beyond her classroom.

More About the Instructor

Music and performance have been a part of Silke’s life ever since she was a child.

At a very young age, Silke trained in classical piano, ballet and singing. As she grew, she was fortunate enough to transfer these skills to various theatre stages and later to the television screen, where she worked as a presenter and producer of different TV shows. It was there that she was able to develop journalistic skills such as researching and writing.

11 years ago, backstage during an intermission at a theater production where Silke performed as an actor, she was told that she by an elementary school teacher that she was “great with kids”. This encounter inspired Silke who started to work as a musical coach. Since then, Silke has been working with young people, ages 6 to 18 and loves showing them everything they need to know to be confident on stage. 

Silke writes and composes musicals according to the wishes of her students. Teaching in a lot of Salzburg´s schools and theaters, Silke has written and performed more than 50 individual musicals. 

Marija B. joined AIS-Salzburg for the 2022-2023 school year as an 11th grade student and has already made a positive impact on the AIS-Salzburg community with her open and positive attitude, dedication to her studies, and athletic abilities on the volleyball court. Marija also sits on the Community Service Committee at AIS-Salzburg. Marija is from Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this is her first year at an international school. We invite you to watch the interview with Marija below. 

The boys’ soccer and volleyball teams both finished in first place in their respective DVAC Junior Varsity Championships this past weekend in Vienna and Budapest after winning all of their games. 

The boys’ soccer team defeated the Vienna International School 1-0 in their opener then defeated the International Christian School Vienna 2-0 in their second game. Dima P. scored the lone goal in the opener while both Dima P. and Arno O. filled the net in the second game. In the championship game, the Lions defeated ICSV for a second time on the day by a score of 1-0, claiming the first-place trophy. Pedro R. was the lone goal scorer in the championship game. 

The Lions also enjoyed some team bonding time together in Vienna on Friday before playing in the tournament on Saturday.
 
“The boys deserve so much praise for both their play on the field and the way they conducted themselves off it as well,” said Head Coach Matt DeKryger. “We kept our composure, implemented the tactics we wanted to, and were blessed to come away as tournament champions.”
 
This was one of the most successful teams in recent history, with seniors Liam and Dima serving as exceptional leaders and captains for the season.

The boys’ volleyball team also went undefeated on the day and didn’t even lose a set, defeating the Budapest British International School 25-18, 25-16 and the International Christian School Budapest 25-14, 25-9 to bring home the championship.

“It was a pleasure to watch all of the boys grow and develop this season, not just as volleyball players but as young men,” said Coach Nick DeWitt following the final match. “I was particularly proud of the way that the boys banded together, kept a positive attitude the whole time, and won as a team no matter who was on the court.”

Ilias S. was a force to be reckoned with the entire tournament. Ilias brought the energy day-in and day-out throughout the season, even to the early morning Wednesday practices.  Max N. was a true leader during the tournament and was consistent with his lay and perfectly placed push shots. Kyryl P. worked his way onto the starting lineup as an eight grader and was a key player at the tournament as the Lions second setter. 

The girls’ volleyball team did not fair as well in the DVAC Varsity Championship in Budapest, losing both of their games. In their first game, the Lions lost a heartbreaker to the British International School Budapest. In the tie-breaker match to 15, the Lions lost 16-14—teams have to win by two points—after being one point away from a match victory leading 14-13. In the second game, the Lions lost in two straight sets to the eventual champions, the International Christian School Budapest. 

“We accomplished our goal this season to be competitive at the varsity level,” said coach Burns on the train ride back from Budapest. “We almost beat BISBu (British International School Budapest), the same team that easily beat us at the early season tournament in September. That is our measuring stick on the season and something to carry into next season with this very young team.”

With team sports switching to basketball in the winter, the fall teams will continue to remain active until the end of November and all teams will likely revive in the spring for more competitions. 

We are excited to announce our 2022-2023 AIS-Salzburg student government! They are as follows: 

President: Ines F.M.

Vice President: Dima P. and Milla S. 

Treasurer: Carolina H.

Class Representative for grades 10 – 12: Vlasta Z. 

Class Representative for grades 7 – 9: Lara B.

The top priority of the student government for the 2022-2023 school year is recycling. They have made great strides thus far, including the installation of recycling containers in each of the boarders’ rooms: a major upgrade from the previous system of ‘all-in-one’. Currently, they are working on a trash pick-up schedule and decorations promoting recycling. With the help of volunteers, the student government will also construct a compost system which will be utilized by the school’s kitchen staff as well.

The student government meets every second Wednesday after school, while on off-Wednesdays, they will collaborate with the community service committee. 

“We hope to leave a lesson for future students in recycling. The biggest community concom the most, so reducing trash volume is our goal as well,” said student government president, Ines F.M.

Stay tuned for more insight into the year’s student government initiatives. 

As of Fall Trimester midterm, we take a moment to review the first half of the term and recognized those students who have successfully fulfilled the academic, community service, enrollment and behavioral qualifications as outlined in the AIS-Salzburg Parent/Student Handbook.

Students who have met these qualifications are recognized in three categories of distinction: Senior Scholars; Distinguished Students and Commended Students. Here are the privileges that accompany these three distinctions:

Students who achieve this status are awarded the following privileges:

Senior Scholars

  • One evening study hall per week free 
  • Seniority in room and roommate selection and bus seating on excursions and outings 
  • Special commendation letter to the parents 
  • Friday & Saturday evening curfew is extended by 1/2 hour 
  • Recognition at trimester awards dinner

Distinguished Students

  • Released from study hall on Thursday evenings 
  • Rooming and roommate selection and bus seating (following Senior Scholars) on excursions
  • Special commendation letter to the parents 
  • Friday & Saturday evening curfew is extended by 1/2 hour
  • Recognition at trimester awards dinner

Commended Students

  • Commendation letter to the parents 
  • Seniority rooming and roommate selection and bus seating (following Senior Scholars and Distinguished Students) on excursions 
  • Recognition at trimester awards dinner

The distinction of Commended Student status is in recognition of those young people who, after a mis-step, have shown a commendable desire to improve the situation and devote themselves to renewed and persistent self-discipline and effort.

Below are the students who have achieved each status as a result of their efforts in the first half of the fall trimester. 

By Marija B.

“These kids are amazing!”, said the director of resident life, Ms. Fox, when asked if she thought the first half of the fall trimester was a successful one. Midterms, however, present a significant challenge to all. It is important to take care of ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally during this stressful period. We have a lot of students this year—full-boarders, five-day boarding and day students. It is important to realize and be aware of the fact that there are so many new students who are adjusting to the school system and expectations—which can lead to a good deal of stress.

Even though we have a full house this year, most are adjusting very quickly. Everyone is working hard to achieve their goals of a high grade-point average, excellent grades, and, of course, meeting and getting to know many new people.

Photo: Students in Mr. Leicher’s physics class prepare for a test before the midterm.

We asked some of the residence staff what they thought about this midterm. Everybody says that most of the students are doing pretty well. “There are a lot of things that could have gone wrong, especially the huge increase of the [student] body, plus everything going on in students’ lives,” said Nickolas DeWitt, who is one of the RA’s on staff.  

Every student is trying to achieve their goals and they are giving their best to get good grades, or to continue being a good student. “I am pretty happy with the grades I have. Of course, they could be better, but they give me a good idea of how much work I will have to put in this year,” said our senior student, Adam Hathaway.  

We also asked some students what they thought about the school in general, and what were their expectations.

“The school is very nice. Teachers are very engaged and want to see progress. They are very helpful and understanding as well, of course.  I must also include the dean of students, Ms. Fox and the RA’s who introduced me to the school’s policies.” 11th-grade student from Montenegro, Milo B., tells us that his expectations came to fruition. Julija M., another great student from the 11th grade that is a new day student, also told us what she thought about AIS-Salzburg; “I did no have high expectations before I got here but now I feel like everything is even better than I expected!”

Photo: Mrs. Anderson works closely with students in 11th Grade English Nonfiction & Communication in the week leading up to the midterm.

Not only the students were satisfied by midterm, so too were some of the teachers we interviewed about the students and their achievements. “A lot of students have worked really, really hard and they impressed me with how quickly they got used to my classes,” said Mr. Lichty, a math teacher and an amazing advisor. The teachers are satisfied, for the most part, with the grades that students have achieved thus far.  

Not all of the students have gotten used to a new school and expectations as not everybody accepts changes in their lives easily, but there are many people here who are friendly, kind and who want to help them as well. The fact we have people like these makes our school successful—just like the first midterm of the 2022/2023 school year.

Photo: Mr. Lichty was busy answering questions as grade 10 students prepared for their final math test before the midterm.

The first overnight weekend trip of the 2022-2023 school year, took place this past weekend as 15 students enjoyed two days of shopping, sightseeing and fun in Vienna.

Following a two-and-a-half hour train ride to Vienna Saturday morning, the students spent a couple of hours of shopping and at cafe’s on Vienna’s most popular shopping street, Mariahilferstrasse, before making their way to Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) for some sightseeing and photos. The group finished the day at the Prater amusement park, one of the world’s oldest located in a large park in the center of Vienna. It is here where students discovered their love for churros, a deep-friend dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

Before returning to Salzburg Sunday afternoon, students spent the morning at Schönbrunn Palace, visiting the many sights on the grounds, including the Gloriette (see cover photo), and the natural labyrinth in the extensive royal gardens.

“The trip was a great success,” said travel program coordinator, Matt DeKryger. “Everyone had a good time and enjoyed themselves. These trips are a lot of fun because it gives the kids new experiences and they get to explore new places while studying here in beautiful Austria.”

“It was the funniest shopping day of my life,” said grade 10 Mexican student, Diego (right, photo below). “It is for sure one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. I really liked the Prater, the cathedral, the palace, basically everything. I would love to go again soon.”

For the second year in a row, as students wait in line for their turn to get their school picture with a professional photographer, students used the opportunity while dressed up in their best wear to snap a few pictures of their own with friends. This year, journalism/yearbook students were handed the assignment and they did an outstanding job. Below are the fun pictures of friends that were taken.

The AIS-Salzburg soccer and volleyball teams had a very successful weekend at the RIF Sports Center when they faced off in matches against the International Christian School of Vienna and St. Gilgen International School. Our boys’ soccer and girls’ varsity volleyball teams went undefeated on the day while our boys’ volleyball and junior varsity girls’ teams were 1-1. 

“It was a great day for our teams,” said athletic director and girls volleyball coach David Burns. “The team sport culture right now is better than I have seen it for some time. I attribute this completely to the dedicated and passionate coaching staff that we have.”

High School Boys Soccer

In their first game of the season, the boys’ soccer team faced their local rivals, St. Gilgen International School. After some back-and-forth play, the Lions found a breakthrough. A shot was saved, but the rebound fell directly to Luka S. who put the rebound away for the first goal of the year. Not long after, a smooth cross from midfielder Pedro R, found Tim K. in the center of the box for a cool finish and a 2-0 scoreline. Tim found the back of the net a 2nd time to round out the halftime scoring. Steady pressure in the 2nd half would yield results as this time Pedro put a shot past the St. Gilgen keeper from the top of the box off a nifty assist from Luka.

In the video below, a number of players and assistant coach Ali Welch  comment on their first match of the season. 

In the second match, the Lions were up against the International Christian School of Vienna. The match would finish tied at 1-1. ICSV would score first directly off a corner kick that looped over everyone and into the back of the net. Just a few minutes later, senior Dima P. would collect a ball through a few opposing players before unleashing an unstoppable shot past the rooted opposing keeper. Despite heavy pressure from the Lions, they could not find a breakthrough despite creating a few chances as the game wound down.
 
The Lions’ defense was anchored all day by strong play from the entire back line. Richard G., Lars T., Artur M., and Vico S. all worked together and ensured that keeper, Liam Boettger, was never under heavy pressure. 
 
“We were very pleased with our performances overall on Saturday,” said coach Matt Dekryger of his team’s play. “After such a long wait, it was wonderful to get out and finally test ourselves. We moved the ball well in the first match and scored some nice goals. Our legs went in the second match, leaving us unable to find a breakthrough. Now we go back to training for the next matches.”

Varsity Girls Volleyball

The varsity girls’ volleyball team did not have as easy a time with their St. Gilgen counterparts but did manage to come out on top winning both sets in the best of three matches, 25-20 and 25-21.

In their second match vs. the Eagles from Vienna, the Lions cruised to a 25-18 and 25-14 sweep once again. In an extra set with some time left at the end day, the Lions defeated the Eagles once again 25-16.

“I was very surprised by how well we played, with the little practice we had and the short time we played together,” said grade 9 setter and second year player, Chantal. 

Photo: The Lions celebrate after their second set win vs. St. Gilgen

Marija B. impressed viewers in her home court debut for the Lions, with multiple kills and a serve that overwhelmed her opponents. Chantal S. was a force at the net and was like Sonic the hedgehog, diving all over the court sacrificing her body the entire day. Volleyball beginner and grade 9 giant, Nastia, B., continued to show her rapid growth in the game with a number of kills and net tips.

The highlight video below features multiple smashes and a serve from Marija, two deep hits from Nastia and Chantal with three blocks in one play. 

“All of our girls made tremendous strides in their game in a short period of time and today it all came together for us,” said coach Burns of his team’s performance today.

Marija—who came to AIS-Salzburg as a grade 11 student this fall—has 8 years of experience playing club volleyball in her homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina and has been a big boost to the girls’ volleyball program.

“For a coach, it helps tremendously when there is a player like Marija as an example for the lesser experienced girls,” added Burns. “She has embraced that role and as a result, everyone’s game has been elevated.”

High School Boys Volleyball

With St. Gilgen unable to field a boys’ volleyball team, our boys’ volleyball team played two best-of-five matches against the International Christian School of Vienna. 

It was a slow start for the Lions who seemed to be out of sync and not playing up to their potential early on. The Lions fell behind 2 sets to 0 before managing to steal a set to close the gap to 2-1. However, the momentum was short-lived as Vienna rallied back to take the fourth set and the match victory, 3 sets to 1. 

In the second match, the Lions’ finally started to play to their potential behind some strong leadership from Milo B., whose calm demeanor and mature attitude seemed to bring the team together. Bogdan M. was overall a solid player for the Lions from start to finish. 

“I believe that the boys did a great job and that was the well deserved victory for us, but there is always room of improvement,” said senior player, Max N. “I am looking forward to the next game in Germany and I promise you, we will not come back defeated!”

“Many of the younger kids really stepped up and impressed me, especially Kyryl,” said coach Nick DeWitt. 

“We played quite well in the second match. With some focused effort in practice this week, we will hopefully be more consistent next weekend in Germany.”

Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball

After a very positive week of practice where a lot of progress was made, surprisingly the junior varsity girls’ volleyball team came out flat-footed and nervous, losing their first match of the season to St. Gilgen 2 set to 1. 

It wasn’t until both coaches decided to play a third set with some extra time on the clock that the lines finally snapped out of their trance and started playing volleyball. 

“I’ve seen it many times before. The boys’ volleyball team were watching and cheering and the girls’ ceased right up,” chuckled coach David Burns. “When the boys’ left to warm up for their own game, the girls played great!” 

Returning players Egla H. and Chanti S. were the glue of the team from the setter position. Ola T., Annika M.M. Liza K. and Nastia B. all had exceptionally strong games in the final set which saw the Lions win decisively. 

“The JV team played well, especially with them all being new to the sport,” said Chantal, who also plays on the varsity team. 

“Many of the junior varsity girls are also seeing court time with the varsity team, which has built their confidence tremendously when playing girls their own age,” added Burns. 

In fact, grade 9 players Nastia and Chantal are regular starters for the varsity team and play most of every set. 

“The next few years look real good for girls’ volleyball at AIS-Salzburg.

By: Chantal, Paul, Anna L., Lars, Milan, Vili, Vico, and Richard.

Paris is one of the most known cities in the world. There are a lot of famous museums, sights and monuments to see. Some of the most famous ones are the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre-dame. Paris is a magnificent city with amazing architecture and a fascinating story that our tour guide told us during our bus tour trip. 

Based on the interests of the students, we chose the activities that we would like to do in Paris. The trip to Paris was very tiring, it was a 14 hours bus ride. However, the trip was filled with stops of varying lengths every two and a half hours. We spent five days in Paris and they were unforgettable. Every day we attended activities, most of them were for cultural development. We visited some modern and ancient art exhibitions and more popular types. We also toured the Marie Curie Museum located in her former apartment.

The most memorable for some students was the first day, because they saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time. We were allowed to go up to the second floor of the tower, where we could spend 2 hours and we saw the eiffel tower sparkle. This monument was one of our favorite places to take pictures. Sadly, one of the days our school went to the Eiffel Tower it was closed, because of a strike. The rest of the students went on the boat trip and experienced a magical view of Paris at night and a light show. 

On the last evening in Paris, all 90 students went to the Louvre; some of us loved it while the others, not so much. The “Mona Lisa” was the painting everyone was excited about, but also the most disappointing one.  

At the end of the evening excursions, students were given a choice: go to eat or return back to the hotel. Thus, everyone was satisfied and did what interested them. 

Paris is known for its great food. On every street corner you could find a macaroon or crepe shop. One really popular street food is Kebab, a delicious food that many students bought during the excursion. Not only is it tasty, but also convenient as you can buy it almost everywhere. While we had very little time after our activities, we were able to get a meal late in the evening. Kebab was a great choice because it can be ready in less than 5 minutes and is also really cheap, being around 7 euros. 

Probably the most popular food on the street were crepes. Everywhere we went, Parisian crepe shops and stands followed us, attracting almost everyone on the Paris excursion. Day or night, the pleasant smell of warm crepes filled with nutella and strawberries made everyone stop what they were doing and convince the RA’s to get one. The friendly staff made it even more pleasant to buy a sweet and appetizing crepe.

Paris is also known for their delicious pastries such as macarons, croissants, eclairs, and escargots (a spiral pastry usually mixed with bread and raisin). They are a delicacy in France and are all well known around the world. You can find them in most Parisian bakeries and that’s where they are also known to be best. The pizza in Paris is pretty good. You can get a whole pizza for only 5 euros next to Galeries Lafayette. The pizza that we bought was one of the best pizzas I have ever eaten. All the people that bought it from there, were surprised how good and cheap it was.

Paris is a great place for shopping, it has a lot of various Shopping places, malls and shopping streets. It’s well known for being the main marketing center for a lot of Famous Companies such as Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Off White. It houses many of the headquarters of the companies, the most well known probably being Louis Vuitton. 

One of the most famous streets is the Champs Elysee, it houses a lot of the famous brands.

It’s a street that is pictured on a lot of the post cards, probably the most well known street in Paris.

There are not only high fashion, expensive brands, but also more affordable brands, such as Sephora, Zara and Nike. The official PSG store, which is the Paris Soccer team, is also housed there. If you are not only into clothing, but also jewelry, you came to the right place. Jewelers such as Cartier, Maboussin and Tiffany & Co can be found on the avenue.

You should also remember that Paris is a costly city to shop in for clothes. The difference in the prices of things was huge compared to Vienna, for example. Everything there was at least 10% more expensive if you ask me; shopping there is not worth it.

Two overnight bus rides, constantly herding 90 students on and off the metro to multiple activities, and no injuries or missing students…. everybody please stand and give our outstanding Paris Excursion staff a round of applause!

“Overall the Paris trip went great. Nobody got hurt, we didn’t lose anyone and nobody got in trouble,” laughed a weary Dean of Students, Mrs. Fox, yesterday when asked how the excursion went. “I have to tip my cap and give 100% of the credit for the logistics to Kevin (Mr. Fox), he planned the whole thing from top to bottom.”

About 10 days before the excursion, dorm parent and activity coordinator Mr. Fox surveyed students on their top choices for activities as opposed to assigning them to activities. Students were given their first or second choice for each activity. This proved to be a big factor in the overall enjoyment and positive mood of the group.

“The planning took hours upon hours between collecting student choices to the organization of logistics and activities,” said Mr. Fox. “There were a few road bumps along the way, but we were able to adapt on the fly. The metro ticket system was a real headache!”

Every day consisted of morning and afternoon activities with a lunch break in the city. Students were divided into activity groups of roughly 20 with an average of 2 group leaders. The evening activities included a visit to the Eiffel tower, The Louvre, and a sightseeing boat cruise through Paris.

“I really enjoyed the boat cruise, especially when the Eiffel tower sparkle show went off and the kids screamed with joy,” said Mrs. Fox of the highlight of her trip. 

During the day, the students chose between a number of activities including Musée d’Orsay, a city bus tour, neighbourhood walking tours, The Dome, Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, Sainte-Chapelle Chapel, Notre-Dame, Atelier des Lumières, Paris Museum of Modern Art, Pompidou Center, Galeries Lafayette shopping center, Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, and the students favorite; Champs-Élysées avenue for shopping and sightseeing.

“The highlight moments for me would definitely be: being on top of the Eiffel Tower and seeing the whole city at night, and visiting the Orsay Museum and the Louvre,” said junior student Marija (left side in front of the Eiffel Tower in the photo above). “We all really enjoyed ourselves a lot while visiting various sights, and discovering something new. We saw how people live in the city and what their environment is like. Personally, I liked it a lot.”

In fact, students were engaged the entire time. They were out the door every day at 9 am and back at the hotel at 11 pm. This kept the staff busy, with two up until midnight doing bed checks and up early for breakfast to review the plan for the day. It was an exhausting excursion for the staff but all had nothing but positive things to say upon their return.

“Thanks to the students and fellow care staff, my first excursion as a leader was a great success!” said new resident assistant Abby of the Paris excursion. “In a city with so many people, it was often very chaotic navigating the metro and getting places on time, but students all showed their abilities to adapt and solve problems. It was such a joy to watch the students gain confidence in a new city and build new relationships with each other.”

“They did an amazing job and took the safety of the students very seriously. I just think the world of the Paris excursion staff,” said Mrs. Fox.

The trip wound down nicely on the final day with an entire day at Disneyland where students were free to explore at their own pace. This was not only a great way to end the trip for the students but it also allowed the staff to take a bit of a breather.

See the photo below of the entire Paris Excursion staff from left to right; Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox, Tom Henry, Arabella, Nick, Matt, Abby and Ali. 

“A lot of the students went out of their way to thank Kevin and me and I thought that was really great,” said Mrs. Fox of the final day. “The 13-hour bus ride home was completely silent! I have never seen so many kids sleeping at once before.”

A number of the Class of 2022 have checked in recently with updates on where they have decided to study in the fall. Below are a handful of updates from an outstanding class of graduates.

A native of Tucson, Arizona U.S.A, Sean Anderson joined the English department for the 2022-2023 school year after an increase in the student body size called for a split in grades 10 and 11 English. We invite you to learn more about Sean in the interview below. 

AIS-Salzburg: Where are you from?

Sean: I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. I’ve also lived in Fortaleza, Brazil, where my wife, Luminiţa, was doing her dissertation fieldwork for her Ph.D in Anthropology.

AIS-Salzburg: What have you done academically and/or professionally prior to AIS-Salzburg?

Sean: I graduated from Arizona State University where I majored in English Literature and minored History. I always intended to become a literature teacher, but I postponed entering the classroom for several years to work as a geophysical technician, a job that satisfied my yearning for travel and adventure. In that role I spent months in far-flung places like the Alaskan wilderness and the Yucatan Peninsula mapping water tables.
 
My teaching career started in Fortaleza, Brazil where I taught English language to young learners and tutored college professors on the side. When I returned to the United States, I taught Literature at a Magnet school. This will be my seventh year as an English teacher.

AIS-Salzburg: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Sean: Of course, I love to read but I also spend my free time hiking, camping and cycling. Growing up in the Sonoran Desert limited my opportunities to learn how to ski or snowboard, so I am thrilled that I get to do so now.

During the pandemic, Lumi and I started fostering kittens after our own cat had died of old age. It brought us so much joy during that dark time; we hope to do it again once we are fully established here in Salzburg.

Finally, in spite my total lack of musical talent I like to play around with music technology and experiment with algorithmic music generation. I used to record demos for my friend’s bands and have been tooling with a couple of songs on my own.

AIS-Salzburg: What led you to AIS-Salzburg?

Sean: Several months ago, Lumi was awarded a research grant from the Austrian Science Foundation to write a book based on her ethnographic research in Brazil. She is now a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Salzburg. My original plan was to get another degree while we were here; but within a few weeks we fell in love with Salzburg and decided that we wanted to put down roots here. One of her colleagues spoke highly of AIS-Salzburg and suggested I check it out. Fortuitously, a position for English Teacher had just opened. 

AIS-Salzburg: What excites you most about working at AIS-Salzburg?

Sean: I am excited about teaching committed students in a cosmopolitan, yet close-knit community with such dedicated professionals. To do so in such an enchanting city and a beautiful country is truly a blessing.

Egor Isakson first attended AIS-Salzburg as a 7th grader in the fall of 2011 and spent his entire high school tenure at our school, graduating as Salutatorian in 2017. Throughout his time at AIS-Salzburg, Egor was heavily involved in after-school programs such as the boys’ basketball and soccer teams and the student council. We invite you to read the interview with Egor below as he reflects back on his time at AIS-Salzburg and updates us on his life following graduation. 

AIS-Salzburg: What are your fondest memories of your years at AIS-Salzburg?

Egor: My fondest memories have always involved people I cared about and who cared about me doing thrilling things, that may or may not have been always by the book. I have been blessed to have such people surround me. When you surround yourself with interesting people, it almost doesn’t matter what you are doing, you’ll spend good time regardless. I have so many memories from AIS-S: trips (Vienna, Paris, Prague, Legoland), basketball, soccer, student council, Salzburg cafes, restaurants, the bakery… But as I said it’s not the places or the events that defined memories for me but the people I was with and the experiences we shared together.

AIS-Salzburg: What did you enjoy most about going to such a small high school?

Egor: AIS-Salzburg is a special place, and not just because of its small enrollment. It’s the confluence of caring long-tenured teachers, the social and physical environment around the school, and so much more. AIS-S, being a small school, is merely a complement to the whole picture: it creates unique circumstances, leading to the overarching thought that you are all in this together as one, and the best people who can relate the most to what you are going through and what’s happening in your life are the people right next to you.
 
When I was at AIS-S, I did not immediately realize this. However, quite quickly, I saw that the school is either directly or indirectly provides opportunities for personal growth, and I had to seize those opportunities. Besides growth, AIS-S is such a place where you can enjoy even the simple things, like take a breath of fresh morning air or grabbing a seat on the bench and looking at the Untersberg.
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AIS-Salzburg: What have you done academically and professionally since graduating from AIS-Salzburg?

Egor: Following my high-school graduation, I moved to the United States and took a gap year for personal reasons. During the gap year, I applied to colleges and got accepted into Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Presidential Scholarship to study computer science. Thanks to my AP credits from AIS-S, I graduated 1 semester earlier, magna cum laude. Right after college, I went to work as a software developer at Bank of America, and that’s where I am currently professionally, about 8 months in.

AIS-Salzburg: What aspects of your education at AIS-Salzburg best assisted you in further academics, your professional life, and life in general?

Egor: Some may disagree, but for me it was regime and structure. Regime and structure build good habits at a young age; I internalized the importance of staying disciplined and assessing the work-life balance. The great Mike Tyson said it best: “My definition of discipline is doing what you hate to do, but do it like you love it.” True, there were times when doing homework felt lame; there was not desire to do it all, but it’s a good skill to just push past it, and still do the work required. This mindset carries over into other life endeavours beyond homework. When you find something that captures your interest, your calling, discipline is something that must be harnessed at all costs to continue growing.

Photo: Ms. Kasberger meets up with Egor during the summer of 2022 in Soho, New York.

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have any advice for students of AIS-Salzburg?

Egor: My set of advices comes from mistakes or lessons I have learned along the way. The reason why I share these is because I would have loved to hear them myself and had the willingness to believe them.
 
  • It is what you make of it, like anywhere else. You can stay in your room all the time, ignore school and/or life outside of school, complain about the rules… or you can take the life by its horns, adapt, get out of your comfort zone and make your time worthwhile.
  • Dare to take calculated risks, and be responsible while doing so. These will be your most potent memories.
  • Be kind above all.

While the staff and faculty of AIS-Salzburg engage our summer language students in July and August, many of our school-year students are paving their way toward a very bright future by engaging in preparatory university programs around the world offered during our summer vacation period.  The competitive nature of university admissions, fueled by a dramatic rise in applications to tertiary institutions following two years of the Covid pandemic, has motivated many of our 11th and 12th graders to sacrifice a part of their summer break to improve their chances of success with admissions officers by participating in pre-university academic programs.

Carolina H., a senior student in the fall with one of the highest grade-point averages in the school, has been accepted to and is participating in the Yale University Summer Session, taking seminar classes with distinguished Yale faculty members and immersing herself in the rarified climate of learning in one of the world’s top universities.

https://summer.yale.edu/

With outstanding high school grades, excellent recommendations from her teachers, participation in regular extracurricular activity, and outstanding language skills, Carolina hopes that participating in summer programs (she completed the Stanford summer program in 2021) will enhance and improve her chances of gaining acceptance to one of her top choices—Stanford, Yale, or the London School of Economics—where she plans on studying international finance and economics.

We admire (and are a bit jealous) of Carolina’s remarkable determination and outstanding motivation!

Earlier this month, all AIS-Salzburg students who sat Advanced Placement® Examinations in May were notified of their results.  Such examination outcomes are a critical aspect of the qualifications of many of our students who wish to either gain entrance into European and other international universities or meet the admissions qualifications at more selective universities in the US and North America.  Therefore, these examination results are awaited with great anticipation by the students—but also by their teachers and parents.

This spring, 87 AP Examinations were sat by over 20 students enrolled at AIS-Salzburg in grades 11 and 12 primarily.  This represents roughly 25% of our student body.  A large majority of these students registered for and sat AP Examinations following completion of a credit-bearing course in the subject this past year.  A few others signed up for AP Examinations in subjects that are not offered at AIS-Salzburg in our regular, curricular program.  

The results are far above expectations and some of the best returns on these examinations that we have seen in many years.  The students and faculty instructors of AP courses can be very proud of their accomplishments and take pride in gaining the preparation required to pass these very challenging, university-level examinations.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the 2022 results.  AP Scores are graded with scores of 1 through 5; five being the highest possible score.  The minimum passing score is 3.

A special word of congratulations on these outstanding accomplishments is in order, given these returns.  Although we can identify these seniors by first name only, I hope that this doesn’t detract from the remarkable talent, motivation and year-long effort these young people have demonstrated in their areas of academic excellence.

 

Andi H. 

As a 16-year old senior, Andi took 9 AP Examinations during his high school career and scored 8 5s and one 4.  Not only is the total remarkable, one should also realize that these examinations were in subjects as varied as German language, English literature, physics, history and mathematics.  

Andi

 

Varia B. 

Varia sat 8 AP Examinations in high school and passed all of them; 7 with a score of 5.  Her written expression and remarkable memory provides a model of success and excellence for any high school student. 

Helene S:  Passed six AP Examinations these past two years, scoring 5s on five of them, and 4 on the other. 


Sonja T:  Collected scores of four 5s and one 4 on five total AP Examinations


Diana S:  Passed five AP Examinations; the equivalent level of study as a full year at university; 3 5s and 2 4s.


Claire H:  Sat seven AP Examinations, passing four of them with the highest score of 5.


Luisa W:  Passed five AP Examinations; two with the score of 5


Yuting X:  Passed five AP Examinations taken in the past two years.


Zach P:  Sat and passed four AP Examinations.


Emre M:  Successfully passed four AP Examinations.


Cristian T:  Passed 3 AP Examinations this year.


Lily P:  Took and passed three AP Examinations this year.

Special mention also goes to two juniors who are ready to match the challenge represented by the seniors mentioned above.  Adam H. took two AP Examinations this year, scoring perfect 5s on both of them.  Carolina H. has now completed four AP Examinations, all with scores of 5 and 4.  By the time these two graduate, we believe that they will also astonish us with their final AP Exam record.

Advanced Placement Examinations were developed in the 1950s as a means for talented high school students to begin university-level work while still in secondary school whereby sitting an external examination in a subject and receiving a passing mark, would gain recognition and the granting of university credit by tertiary educational institutions.  With four or more AP Examinations passed, many universities consider this sufficient qualification for entering as a second-year student.

Photo: Seniors from the 2021-2022 school year take an AP Human Geography quiz. 

At AIS-Salzburg, AP courses and examinations are primarily seen as a means to (a) gain acceptance to more selective university programs, and (b) meet the diploma equivalency requirements of foreign universities.  For example, students who apply to top programs in the U.S. (Harvard, Brown, Columbia, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc.), will be expected to demonstrate excellent understanding of university-level subject matter through the passing of a high number of AP Examinations with excellent results.  If a student enrolled at AIS-Salzburg desires entrance into the Austrian University system, they can qualify—despite not having an Austrian Matura—by meeting three requirements:  (a) achieving the AIS-Salzburg diploma, (b) proving a German language proficiency level above B2, and (c) passing a minimum of four AP Examinations; one of which must be in mathematics.

Although very challenging and dependent, to a great extent, on having experienced and highly-knowledgeable instructors to deliver the material to high school students, AP coursework represents the centerpiece of the AIS-Salzburg program of preparation for university.  Given this, we are very proud of the continued success of our students to both achieve remarkable success on AP Examinations, but also take direct steps toward gaining access to some of the best universities worldwide.  We are remarkably proud of you!

Jennifer Kasberger hails from Seattle, Washington and has been at AIS-Salzburg since 2008. The English and Science teacher is one of the most beloved teachers by students and is known within the AIS-Salzburg community for giving out hugs and pastries. For the 2022-2023 school year, Jennifer will teach English 12 Literature & Composition, English 10 Nonfiction & Communication, Biology, and AP Environmental Science. 

A recent AIS-Salzburg Instagram poll asked students to share their appreciation for Jennifer. Below are a few of the many comments submitted by former and current students. 

In less than two weeks, the hallways, classrooms and dormitories of AIS-Salzburg will once again be occupied with students from around the world who are enthusiastic about learning languages and a summer of fun in the beautiful city of Salzburg and surrounding regions. Our Summer Language Program provides intensive German or English courses for students aged 10 to 18 while involving them in a fascinating and enjoyable program of discovery, activities, and social sessions which can be combined to six weeks total. Each two-week session includes a wealth of cultural and entertaining activities and excursions to complement the language learning in the classroom.

The following are the session dates for the 2022 program: 

Session 1: July 10 to July 22
Session 2: July 24 to August 5
Session 3: August 7 to August 19

This newsletter contains specifics on the activities scheduled for this summer, answers to frequently asked questions and tuition and application information. We invite you to review the information in this newsletter and reach out with any questions to [email protected]. You can also visit our Summer Language Program page for details on tuition and application, housing and supervision and videos from the past two summers.

Aside from classroom instruction, students of the Summer Language Program are engaged in a rich choice of afternoon, evening, and weekend activities and outings. The location of the school in one of the most beautiful cities and regions in the world allows us to offer activities and outings to a number of exciting and culturally rich destinations. All afternoon activities, excursions and other outings are completely included in the price of tuition for any of the three sessions. Below you will find more information on some of the activities we have planned for this summer. 

Adventure

Surrounded by Austrian alps, rivers and freshwater lakes, there is no shortage of adventure options for our students. Regular adventurous activities of the summer language include; rafting and canyoning with the Crocodile Sports, Waldbad high ropes courseSalzachöfen Flying Fox zipline, summer sledding or a hike up the Lammerklamm Gorge or Untersberg

Excursions

Weekends are reserved for day trips to some of the most beautiful villages and metropolitan cities within a three-hour radius of Salzburg, and we take full advantage of the reliable Austrian public transport system to transport our students safely. Within these trips, students experience a mix of cultural stops and fun activities. Popular local destinations for weekday trips include King’s Lake (Königsee) WerfenTraun Lake (Traunsee), and Hallstatt while weekends are reserved for longer trips to destinations such as Munich and Innsbruck.  

Culture

The hometown of Mozart and the filming location of the Sound of Music, Salzburg provides for an abundance of cultural activities for students to enjoy. Past cultural experiences have included: Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg baroque tour, museum visits, Salzburg FortressHellbrunn Palace and Mozart birthplace

Fun with Friends

There are plenty of opportunities for students to simply relax and enjoy the summer sun with new friends from around the world. Typical fun activities of our Summer Language Program include; Amadeus Boat Toursports day at the RIF Olympic Training Facility, House of Nature tour, laser tag, bowling, mini-golf, Ruhpolding Amusement Parkbackyard barbecue and of course multiple swimming activities to Leopoldskron poolWaldbad and Fuschlsee

More so than most years, the 2021-2022 Spring Trimester schedule was jam-packed due to the postponement of many events that were finally able to take place alongside the usual spring programming. Excursions, sporting events, academic awards, exams, weekend activities, a weekend excursion and the Commencement Ceremony were the major events that took place in the final eight weeks of the school year. We invite you to watch the highlight video below from the Spring Trimester. 

A student with the last name Hodis was announced as the AIS-Salzburg Valedictorian for the second year in a row at the Annual Awards Ceremony on May 12th, 2022. Andi Hodis attended AIS-Salzburg his entire high school career and is widely regarded as one of the very best scholars the school has worked with. As the Valedictorian of the Class of 2022, Andi follows in the footsteps of his brother who was Valedictorian the previous year. We invite you to watch the video below of Mr. McLean’s speech about Andi at the event. 

As the 2021-2022 school year draws to a close, our focus begins to shift towards the 2022 Summer Language Program. This summer, three sessions are scheduled:

Session 1: July 10 to July 22
Session 2: July 24 to August 5
Session 3: August 7 to August 19

Summer Language Program Director Laura Fox is looking forward to her first full summer as director and is eager to welcome students from around the world.

“We are very excited for the Summer Language Program, 2022.  Last year, while a wonderful experience, the staff had to get pretty creative in coming up with ideas for fun activities that also made sure to follow all COVID restrictions put in place by the Austrian government.  This summer, fortunately, it appears that there will be far fewer COVID restrictions, and thus the possibilities for activities have multiplied. For example, our day trips last summer needed to be close to home, but this summer we can go further away to places such as Innsbruck, Munich, Vienna, etc.  On rainy days, we won’t be limited by the size of our group, and we can explore places like museums, indoor water parks, the cinema, the climbing gym, or bowling,” said Fox on the 2022 SLP outlook. 

The Summer Language Program at the American International School-Salzburg provides intensive German or English courses for students ages 10 to 18. It is designed to improve students’ language skills in German or English while involving them in a fascinating and enjoyable program of discovery, activities, and social sessions which can be combined to six weeks total. Every session includes a wealth of cultural and entertaining activities and excursions to complement the language learning in the classroom.

Three to four levels of language study are offered during each of the summer sessions and are taught by the highly qualified members of the school’s teaching faculty. At the start of each session, all students are tested and placed at the appropriate level for the session.

The summer English courses are of particular interest to students who have applied and have been accepted for the academic year at AIS-Salzburg. These students are encouraged to participate in the full summer session (six weeks total) in order to improve their English language skills and become familiar with our school and our staff. High-school credit can also be earned upon successful completion of the six-week course.

The Commencement Exercises at AIS-Salzburg represent the most important and significant of all annual events at our school.  Seniors commence to become alumni after receiving their very hard-earned diplomas and receive our blessings and high hopes for a successful and satisfying future.

Our commencement exercises are held at the Kavalierhaus at Schloss Klessheim on the outskirts of beautiful Salzburg.  By tradition, the members of the senior class of 2022 entered to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar played by the Pro Musica Quartet led by Ms. Lardschneider of our teaching faculty (see video below).

By tradition, the class Salutatorian, Varvara B., welcomed the audience of families, friends, and classmates and summarized a year of growth and development, accompanied by solid advice for her fellow class members.  Nadja G., the European Council for International Schools Award for International Understanding winner, then addressed the class and guests with poise and great maturity after being introduced by Ms. Fox, the Dean of Students.

While the Pro Musica Quartet played Mozart’s Divertimento in D, the graduates left their seats and presented a rose to their family members and loved ones; a touching and emotional expression of their gratitude and appreciation to those who supported and strengthened their resolve again and again.

Valedictorian, Andi H., after being introduced by Mr. Agardy, the College Counselor, presented a touching and heartfelt speech which included a thank you to his friends as well as his family, moving many in the audience to tears.  Ms. Jennifer Kasberger, teacher of English and science, then presented the Commencement Address to the Class of 2022, fulfilling the seniors’ wish that she do so—an indication of the high regard and respect they have for her efforts both as an instructor and as a supporter of their labors throughout the year.

With the awarding of their diplomas, the individual members of the class completed the last requirement for graduating beyond secondary education and received their qualification for further studies at the universities of their choice.  With caps thrown into the air, they fell into each other’s arms, rejoicing at their accomplishments, but saddened by the conclusion of their time together in Salzburg, Austria.

We invite you to view the photos below and watch the videos made during the 2022 Commencement Exercises at AIS-Salzburg and join us in celebrating the achievements of a class that will be remembered within our community for many years to come.

This past Saturday, students and two group leaders enjoyed a day at Königsee, a pristine lake in the heart of the Berchtesgaden National Park just across the border in Germany and about a 30-minute drive from Salzburg.

Just after 9 am, the group boarded the electric ferry at the village of Schönau which took them across the entire 7.7 km length of the lake to the south end. During the ferry ride, the captain parked in the middle of the lake and proceeded to play his flugelhorn—a brass instrument that resembles the trumpet—to demonstrate the echo off the surrounding sheer rock walls. 

Photo: Students pose for photos during the 45-minute ferry ride through the pristine waters of Königsee Lake. 

Once reaching the south shore, the group walked up the trail about 15 minutes to the smaller Obersee Lake which features the 470 m (1,540 ft) high Röthbach waterfall.

After spending the morning at the south end of the lake hiking and exploring, the group boarded the ferry once again, stopping at the St. Bartholomä church, which is located on a peninsula about halfway down the western lakeshore and features the Watzmann massif in the backdrop (see cover photo). 

We invite you to watch the video highlights below of this wonderful day. 

On Thursday, May 12th, students and staff gathered at the Musikerheim of Leopoldskron-Moos, across the street from the school, to give recognition to the outstanding accomplishments of our students in athletics, social/boarding behavior, and academic coursework, leading up to the announcement of the senior honors:  ECIS Award Winner, Salutatorian and Valedictorian.  

Congratulations to the following major award winners and honored seniors:

Saskia R. – Female Athlete of the Year
Zach P.  – Male Athlete of the Year
Sonja T. – Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Andi H. – Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Nadja G. – ECIS Award Winner
Varvara B. – Salutatorian 
Andi H. – Valedictorian

We invite you to watch the video of the event live-streamed on Facebook here. Below are some of the photos of the event and Headmaster McLean’s speech at the conclusion of the event where he congratulates the AIS-Salzburg community for their perseverance throughout a challenging year of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

Recently, we announced that Barcelona, Spain was the alternative Fall Excursion destination which carries an additional fee of € 200.  Today, we would like to announce that the Fall Excursion destination included in boarding tuition and fees is Paris France—the City of Lights.

We have also decided to move the timing of the Fall Excursion forward to the end of September in order to avoid potential interruptions due to a further wave of Covid infections and possible restrictions on travel and flights.  The new dates are September 28 (Wednesday) through October 2 (Sunday).  

Students enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year will be given the opportunity to deposit their choices this spring and summer and be placed on the appropriate tentative excursion rosters. After having experienced outstanding excursions this year, we are certain that all those who join us will experience an exciting and interesting break from their academic schedules.

Details:

Fall Excursions 2022:   
A.  Paris, France – costs included in tuition for all boarders; available for day students at € 500
B.  Barcelona, Spain – all costs except €200 for all boarders; available for day students at € 700

If you would like to deposit your tentative place on either roster, please contact the headmaster at [email protected]  Further queries concerning participation will be communicated over the summer months.

Varvara “Barb” Lytvnya enrolled at AIS-Salzburg as a grade 10 student in 2013 and graduated three years later in 2016. During her time at the school, Barb made quite an impact as a student and an athlete, leading the AIS-Salzburg Lions Volleyball Team to three straight DVAC Varsity Championships. 

Since graduating, Barb has obtained a BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and her MSc in Finance and Economics at the Universitá Degli Studi di Milano. She also took a part-time BSc Course in Fashion Business at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy. Barb is currently finishing off her studies in Digital Marketing at the University of Amsterdam. 

We invite you to read our brief interview with Varvara below. 

AIS-Salzburg: What is your end goal with university?

Varvara: Making myself ready for the ambitious plans I have in life. 

AIS-Salzburg: How has college life been?

Varvara: It went quickly and it was quite diverse: from intense chilling to intense stressing. 

AIS-Salzburg: Do you have any advice for our seniors heading off to college in the fall?

Varvara: Do not compromise your dreams, just do ONLY what you really care for.

Photo: Varvara (#11) was named the AIS-Salzburg Athlete of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and the Most Valuable Player for both the girls’ volleyball and basketball teams in each of her three years at the school.  

AIS-Salzburg: Can you tell us about your Ukrainian refugee aid initiative?

Varvara: In the beginning, I worked mainly with Ukrainian refugees who were arriving in the Netherlands (even got noticed by a local newspaper )  and were looking for accommodation. During the first weeks of the war, there was no official procedure and locations for accepting refugees in the Netherlands but a lot of Ukrainians were already arriving in the country. So, I was a mediator between Dutch families—that I was searching on the internet in different Facebook groups mainly—and Ukrainian people who were looking for accommodation (I was also finding them in Facebook groups, Telegram evacuation chats or sometimes it were people who I knew from family connections/friends). Out of this, a Facebook group came out that I am at the moment only moderating. The group is not super well organized but still, a lot of people find it very useful and it grows slowly but organically. 

Then I am raising money for humanitarian help and mainly medicine that my relative purchases directly in Ukraine. He posts all of the purchases he makes from our donations on his Twitter. A few friends promoted this initiative via their network or inside of their companies (i.e. PwC, G-Star). So far, we raised and transferred to him 5000+ Euros. 

Also, together with another volunteer, Maria we organized 5 evacuation buses from Mykolaiv (via Odesa) to Warsaw. We did those buses at the end of February/beginning of March. We just found a bus company that was willing to go to a war zone for money and found sponsors (sometimes the bus was fully covered by a sponsor, sometimes only partially and we had to raise money to cover the bus or some passengers in the bus who could pay, we’re also paying to a driver directly) and in different group chat we were searching for people who want to leave. In total, we evacuated 186 people. 

At the moment I am raising more money for medicine and in contact with other organization that supports refugees here, organizes humanitarian aid collection and delivery to Ukraine, we are thinking of maybe organizing the raise-funding event (e.g., game night, charity dinner – the negotiation process is still ongoing).

AIS-Salzburg: What is the best way for people get involved? 

Varvara: The best and easiest way to get involved is to help me spread (reshare) my posts for fundraising. Also, if you know of a refugee who would be coming to the Netherlands and would need accommodation/job – you can give my contact to this person so I can help. Finally, if you have any ideas of how you possibly can contribute – please reach out to me any time. 
UPDATE: Since the interview, Barb accepted her first post-university job as a Merchandising Assistant with PVH Clothing Company starting the 15th of June. Barb is particularly excited to be working in the fashion industry and is looking forward to being involved in the intersection of sales, collection building process, and future forecasting.