AIS-Salzburg student council were blessed with 20 degree weather on October 24th as they held a barbecue fundraiser to raise funds for student life projects around the school. Students, teachers and resident staff enjoyed a day of good food and fun in the sun.
“I am really excited about the Barbecue event. I believe it will be an amazing time grilling hot dogs and burgers for the students and watching them all uniting and playing games together. In my opinion, it is the best way to spend a Sunday,” said student body representative Ioannis S. just prior to the event.
One of the more popular fundraising micro events was soaking Ms. Baehler (red shirt) with water balloons!!
This school year we had enough interest from several students to hold an actual election for the four positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. As part of their campaigns, each candidate was asked to hold a 2-minute speech at one of our school’s hall meetings and then participate in a 5-minute Q&A. Some of the major questions from the student body dealt with day-to-day life, the student lounge and the various ways to counterbalance some restrictions in place due to CoVid19. All candidates did a tremendous job and should be proud of themselves for holding such great campaigns.Â
In our first student council meeting post elections, students discussed the upcoming activities and fundraising events to help sponsor a school Halloween dance. Some of the proposed ideas were a bake sale as well as a gaming tournament with a buy-in of 5€. The student council also discussed the current community service opportunity ‘Operation Christmas Child’ as well as other opportunities available. On our agenda for next week, we will work on prioritizing a list of suggestions from students on ways to counterbalance this year’s changes due to CoVid19 as well as other weekend programming students can participate in.Â
In this interview, American boarding student Gunnar S. discusses his decision to join AIS-Salzburg for his senior year, his experience thus far and what his University plans are after graduating in 2021. Gunnar is also asked about his recent recognition by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
In 9th grade literature class, students worked on placing story events on the plot diagram. They had to first work to have a clear understanding of the main conflict in the story that builds the tension and moves the plot along. Then they looked back at the story to see where that conflict first appeared and also formed their interpretation of which scene was the climax of that conflict. In the photo below, they are working with a practice story, solidifying their understanding of the terms and improving their teamwork skills simultaneously.
In biology class this week, our grade 9 students were learning how to use the microscope by looking for microorganisms in pond water.
In chemistry class, 11th grade students heated a hydrated copper sulfate to drive off the water of crystallization and use the mass differential to determine how many molecules of water are associated with each molecule of hydrated copper sulfate. In hydrated form, the copper sulfate forms brilliant blue crystals; in anhydrous form, copper sulfate is a white powder.
As anyone who has attended or worked in a boarding school knows, free time on the weekends is very precious to boarding students. In this new video series, we have asked current students to show prospective new students what they do in their free time and where their favorite hangouts are in Salzburg.
“There is a lot of work to do. However, I am excited about the progress we have made so far and the positive energy throughout the team,†said Coach Burns today after practice.
Given that volleyball is the only non-contact team sport in this pandemic school year, plans are currently in place to extend the season beyond the typical fall season. Normally the volleyball season wraps up at the end of trimester one with basketball starting up in trimester two.
Burns continued, “Since it is unlikely we will be able to play any basketball games in trimester two, I think this is a perfect year to focus on building our volleyball program by continuing with it through the winter trimester. We will of course continue to develop our basketball players in the winter in hopes for spring competitions, but perhaps on a reduced schedule in order to allow for continued volleyball development and competitions. We are still working out the details but are very excited about the possibility of playing in some competitions in the near future.”
In this interview, Austrian day student Clara S. discusses her decision to join AIS-Salzburg as opposed to remaining the Austrian public school system. She also shares her experience at AIS-Salzburg thus far and her plans after graduating in the spring of 2021.Â
Originally hired as a Resident Assistant in 2017, Max Leicher soon found himself employed as a science teacher and today is the head of the Science Department.
At 27, Max is the youngest of our teaching faculty and brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the classroom. He is also a big part of the team at AIS-Salzburg responsible for the continued transition to online teaching and technology upgrades at the school.
Max’s age and experience as a Resident Assistant make him more relatable to his students and also make him a valuable asset in strengthening communications between resident staff and teaching faculty.
As much energy as Max brings to the classroom he also brings outside of the classroom, whether volunteering his time to lead a group on a weekend activity or helping out with scorekeeping a basketball game. Max is a consistent, positive presence at the school making him one of the most popular teachers with the students.
We are hopeful that Max continues to stay on at AIS-Salzburg as a science teacher for years to come!
Where are you from?
I am originally from Ontario, Canada, but I am also a Hungarian citizen, with family residing in both Hungary and Serbia. I consider Europe my second home!
What is your academic background?
I have two degrees from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I completed my Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biopsychology/Neuroscience, followed by a Bachelor of Education with a concentration at the intermediate/senior level. I am qualified to teach biology, science, and geography!
Do you have any prior experience working with teenagers or in education?
My genuine drive for educating youth is a direct result of the experiences I have been privileged to be part of. I have had the opportunity to gain a variety of teaching experiences through my placements, where I independently taught subjects in Biology, Science, and Geography from grades 7-12. Additionally, I worked as a residential youth counsellor for over two years. During this time, I was responsible for organizing and leading weekly programming activities, while facilitating therapeutic counselling that promoted a respectful and supportive team environment. Lastly, I have tutored and mentored high school students for numerous years from diverse populations.
Have you lived or travelled abroad before?
Due to my family roots in Europe, I have travelled to several countries throughout the continent. While in Canada, I moved to Alberta one summer and fell in love with the mountains and nature. After living in the Canadian Rocky Mountains for several months, I am now excited to explore the surroundings of Austria.
What attracted you to the job at AIS-Salzburg?Â
What attracted me to AIS-Salzburg was the small size. I knew I would feel welcomed into a community that I could grow with. Also, with the numerous learning opportunities that AIS-Salzburg offers (engaging classes, weekend activities, and excursions), I knew this school was the right fit for me.Â
What are your first impressions of the small AIS-Salzburg community?
My first impressions of the small AIS-Salzburg was the immediate connection to my colleagues and students. It really does feel like home, with everyone offering their guidance and help as I navigate the next chapter in my life!
What are your longer-term professional goals?
My longer-term professional goal is to become a full-time teacher. My passion for teaching is what led me to this job and I know that AIS-Salzburg wil help mel build my skills as an educator.Â
In this first week of the 2020-2021 school year, students were welcomed to the school as always, with open arms and a ton of information to start them on the right path for a successful school year. With many new safety policies and procedures introduced, we are very pleased that everyone has adapted quite well thus far. After boarding students arrived on Monday and Tuesday with negative COVID-19 tests in hand, separate orientation meetings were held for day students and boarding students on Wednesday, where much information was exchanged about how the school year will function given that approximately 25% of our student body is non-resident. With countless hours spent by our Corona Crisis Team on creating this COVID-19 Strategy and Traffic Light System, we hit the ground running on Thursday with the first day of classes.  In the video slideshow below, some of these new undertakings are visible such as regular ventilation in rooms, classrooms held outside when the weather is nice, staggered lunchtimes, day students at the front of the class, and desk dividers whenever needed. |
In the video below, we invite you to enjoy the beautiful drone footage that we shot this past February at the RIF Sportzentrum, the University & Olympic training facility that we use for Physical Education program, team training and competitions, and for some of our weekend activities.
Outside of mandatory Physical Education, there are many opportunities for students to get involved in sports throughout the school year. From numerous ski trips to various team and individual sports to connecting students with local instructors, we support and actively encourage our students to have a healthy balance of sports in their lives.
As a member of the Danube Valley Athletic Conference (DVAC), we annually participate in boys’ soccer, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ and girls’ basketball competitions. DVAC also holds events for individual sports such as cross-country running, swimming and tennis.
Founded in 2009, DVAC boasts 13 international schools from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic and is adding more schools almost every year. Since our school is located furthest west, we tend to travel more to competitions than host them, and therefore schedule a cultural tour on the Friday before the event for our players.
We also take full advantage of having the Austrian Alps in our backyard by scheduling an annual 3-day ski excursion and 5+ ski days each winter, all of which are included in the tuition. Students are separated by skill level and enjoy professional instruction for all levels in the morning, and free time to ski with their friends in the afternoon.
In the spring we have two major sporting events, our ‘Boys and Girls Invitational Basketball Jamboree’ and ‘Sports Day’. We have been hosting our annual basketball tournament since 1990, featuring 6 boys and 6 girls teams from international schools in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
In 2016 we held our first ‘Sports Day’, an annual event where the entire student body, administration, faculty and resident staff are divided up into teams to participate in a full day of sporting and fun events. It is probably the highlight of the year and is a great way to celebrate the nice spring weather and a successful year together before final exams and summer departures.
Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in Europe with its baroque architecture and beautiful skyline dominated by the Fortress of Hohensalzburg.
As our students claim in this video, for a city of just over 150,000, Salzburg has a big-city feel to it. Probably the biggest case in point is the sole fact that Salzburg is home to FC Red Bull Salzburg, which compete in the UEFA Champions League. Salzburg also has a professional hockey team, which also competes in the Champions League for hockey. The city has countless designer shops and restaurants predominantly on two famous shopping streets, the Getreidegasse and Linzergasse. Students also enjoy two shopping malls totalling over 150 shops featuring many retailer chains.
Surrounded by mountains, Salzburg provides a number of options for students with a flair for the outdoors. Whether it is a day hike with an overnight stay at the top of the Untersberg, a quick one hour drive to the Austrian postcard city of Hallstatt for a salt mine tour or a ski day at one of 60+ ski hills in the nearby Alps, there is plenty to do for the outdoor enthusiast. This video was taken in late February 2020 and only shows a glimpse of what Salzburg and the surrounding region have to offer. We hope you enjoy it.
Vida Long has been teaching since 2010 and on the AIS-Salzburg teaching faculty since 2014. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Vida is primarily an English teacher and is also utilized for her fluent German skills as a German 1 instructor. Vida is best known for her ability to teach our senior students the necessary skills to write a college-level paper.
With Austria as one of the world leaders in the fight to rid of the Coronavirus, AIS-Salzburg is in a great position to open it’s doors sooner than most boarding schools around the globe. The video footage below we took yesterday, April 16th, is of Salzburg residents enjoying the sun after the government eased restrictions.
“We are very optimistic that our summer school will begin in July and that the 2020-2021 school year will commence in September. There will likely continue to be some restrictions remaining in place, however, we are planning on adjusting our programs in light of these,” said Headmaster McLean from his office on Thursday.
“We are very optimistic that our summer school will begin in July and that the 2020-2021 school year will commence in September.“
Headmaster McLean
AIS-Salzburg acted very early, sending our boarders home as early as March 10th for an early Spring Break. This provided a much-needed period for our teachers and administrators to prepare effectively for the start of online coursework on the 31st.
“Thankfully, the Austrian government also initiated restrictions and cautionary measures very early as well. This is now beginning to bear fruit and we are very thankful that our students are safe and sound at home and that they are able to continue their learning online. The numbers tell a positive tale: the quick reaction of the government and the cooperation of the citizens has resulted in a significant decline in the number of daily coronavirus cases after a peak in late March that did not threaten the ability to provide full health care for those infected,” added McLean.
“..the quick reaction of the government and the cooperation of the citizens has resulted in a significant decline in the number of daily coronavirus cases..”
Headmaster McLean
In fact, Austria acted so quickly and swiftly, that after only one month of lockdown, the number of daily coronavirus cases dropped below 100 on April 13th for the first time since March 11th. These results have Austria being praised around the globe for it’s quick and efficient action.
Source: Google.com
“Provided the population here doesn’t get too impatient and the necessary social distancing and personal protection measures remain in effect, I think we can realistically begin planning for the summer and fall—provided we prudently and thoroughly consider any and all health implications given most-likely scenarios,” replied McLean when asked about the likelihood of doors opening on schedule.
With the early spring break imposed by AIS-Salzburg, this provided a two-week window for administration and teachers to prepare for online classes.
“One of the best decisions we made was to host all of our classes on the same platform. This made the transition to online instruction much more manageable for our students, parents and the teachers themselves,” said McLean when asked about the of the school’s quick implementation virtual learning program. “Being a small school with a very experienced teaching faculty, we were able to cooperatively set up the program and work out solutions to both potential and actual problems or frustrations. The experience gained from this online instructional period will serve our staff and students in the future as well.”
“One of the best decisions we made was to host all of our classes on the same platform. This made the transition to online instruction much more manageable for our students, parents and the teachers themselves.”
Headmaster Mclean
After three weeks of virtual teaching, feedback from teachers of AIS-Salzburg is that they now have significant amounts of instructional material that can be used in the future to supplement instruction, out-of-class assignments and homework, as well as support students who experience extended absentee periods or require tutorial assistance.
Of course, we would rather be ‘live’ and interacting directly with our students—nothing can replace this aspect of a solid preparatory education—but until that time, we are witnessing very positive, ongoing results. Probably the best decision we made was to host all of our classes on the same platform. This has made the transition to online learning easier for students, parents and teachers,” said McLean when asked about the of the school’s quick implementation virtual learning program.
The video below presents a few of the highlights from week 2 and 3 of AIS-Salzburg virtual learning via Google Classroom.
All of our teachers use the Google Classroom® platform so that students (and parents) have the advantage of familiarizing themselves with a single program for all courses in their academic schedules. There will, of course, be some road bumps and frustrations along the way, but by working together and providing immediate feedback to questions, we can adapt well to this unusual situation and move forward full throttle!
What year or years did you attend AIS-Salzburg at what grade levels?
I first attended AIS-Salzburg as a freshman in 9th grade in 2009 and graduated in 2013.
What is your fondest memory of attending AIS-Salzburg?
I like thinking back to school times, in terms of making international friendships all over the world. Classes with teachers who indeed live their profession and are successful in passing on their joy to their students. Finding out my ambitions for sports like volleyball, climbing and running.
Have you remained in contact with any former AIS-Salzburg classmates?
The first 2 1/2 years, yes, but keeping in touch is quite difficult, even when you are in the same city. However, we are equipped with Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms where we can socialize with each other.
What have you done academically since graduating from AIS-Salzburg?
I studied Hotel Management in Klessheim, Salzburg. After receiving my diploma in 2015, I decided to take the business license at the WIFI in Salzburg.
How well were you prepared for university?
I was perfectly prepared for college.
What aspects of your education at AIS-Salzburg best assisted you in further academics and/or professionally?
I believe that practice inside-/and outside of class with friends really helped me to improve my level for languages in general. With that progress I felt quite confident in my studies at Klessheim. Since I get to travel a bit for work, I am able to use my knowledge for languages in Italy and France as well.
Are there any personal accomplishments since graduating that you want to share?
I have hobbies like photography, which I can contribute to my work life, that I count as an accomplishment.
Are there particular AIS-Salzburg moments or memories that have stayed with you over the years?
Volleyball tournaments, getting to know my friends for the first time and excursions.
Do you have any advice for students at AIS-Salzburg or applicants to the school?
Use your time for preparation efficiently, have fun with friends and do not stress about growing up, reaching adulthood will come by itself soon enough.
During the Fall Excursion each year, all juniors (those enrolled in the 11th grade) are required to participate in the Junior Community Service Trip which will engage them in service work under the auspices of the Habitat for Humanity Organization. In 2019 our Junior class traveled to Romania to build a house.
The 11th grade precalculus class has been working on a cumulative graphing assignment that tasks them with re-creating an image using the graphs of different types of functions. The 2-week long project allowed students to apply hard-earned knowledge of parent functions and their transformations in a creative and artistic manner. All of the graphs have been entered into the Desmos Math Art Contest.
The photo gallery below shows the original images they were attempting to re-create with the graphs. The video at the bottom shows the final graphs without the image in the background.
Students reflected on the assignment afterwards:
“It was hard for me to get started because I couldn’t really see which functions I had to use for certain lines, and I was overwhelmed with the volume of work that seemed necessary to create the image. In the end though, I overcame these problems, and learned that the more I did, the easier it got, to the point where I could pretty much do it automatically, without having to pay much attention.”
Anna K.
“With this project, we were able to study functions in more detail, their transformations, subtleties, and movements along the coordinate plane, with varying values to make functions fit the picture. In order to use as few functions as possible, we had to carefully select the desired type of function and try to capture as much of the image as possible with it.“
Valeriya S.
By a guest writer and AIS-Salzburg colleague of Mr. Burns
Standing an impressive 2m tall and hailing from the wild west coast of Canada, Mr. Burns is a fundamental part of AIS-Salzburg and a consummate sportsman.
Mr. Burns started at AIS-Salzburg in 2004 as a math teacher and coach and is now in his 16th year at the school. Currently, he is the Athletic Director, the much-loved coach and mentor to the Lady Lions basketball and volleyball teams and the AIS social media and marketing master, responsible for content and our growing social media presence. Mr. Burns has coached the Lady Lions to several award-winning seasons, most notably three-straight DVAC varsity girls volleyball championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Â
Whether he is playing on the local baseball team with his son, the local hockey team with his daughter, or coaching the Lady Lions volleyball or basketball teams, he brings enthusiasm, expertise and fun to every sport he engages in.
Highlights from our first week of the transition to online classes during the Coronavirus quarantine.
During which years did you teach at AIS-Salzburg?
I taught full time from 1986 on, with a break of several years in the late 80’s & early 90’s while I had my two daughters. I returned in 1992 and stayed until I retired in June 2017.
What was your role at the school?
My role was that of a German language and literature teacher and also English assistance, mainly grammar and reading.
Where are you from originally?
I am originally from Austria. I grew up in Linz and studied at the university in Salzburg.
What did you enjoy most about teaching?
I always enjoyed the connection with students from all over the world and their curiosity about learning a foreign language. I also enjoyed teaching small groups. This way I got to know them really well and could do a lot of individual teaching.
Are there any students who you continue to stay in touch with?
I am in touch with many students from many years ago and also some that will graduate this year, e.g. Nici, Maddie, and Helen among several others.
Why would you recommend AIS-Salzburg to prospective students?
I would recommend AIS to all students that want to study in small groups with very dedicated teachers in a wonderful environment.
What do you miss the most about working at AIS-Salzburg?
I miss the close contact with all my students, I miss the literature and language discussions, and I definitely miss my colleagues who have become friends along the way.
What is your fondest memory from your days at AIS-Salzburg?
My fondest memories are getting all the wonderful remarks and notes from the students at the end of each school year, expressing their appreciation and love.
Ms. Reiter, you made a difference in many students’ lives and are truly missed by all!
Not only is this video super 😎, but it is endearing to hear how excited Mr. Lichty gets about his math! Of all the great things going on with the first day of online classes, this is our favorite!
This past weekend was a painful for AIS-Salzburg Lions Basketball as it was the weekend our 30th Annual Basketball Jamboree was scheduled to take place. However, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and subsequent school losing, the tournament was cancelled.
We had 12 teams that signed up for the event, 6 on the girls’ side and 6 on the boys’ side. Unfortunately, we will have to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the tournament in 2021. Until then, here are some clips from last year’s tournament.
Student Spotlight: Nici C.
Nici is currently a senior at our school and will be graduating in 2020. She has attended AIS-Salzburg since 2014 beginning in the 7th grade.
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate Archimedes’ Principle for an object that is denser than water. Archimedes’ Principle states 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. With this information, the students were able to determine the mass density of the different objects and of the fluids.