The American School Foundation

Infobox School


name = The American School Foundation
motto = Educating Global Citizens for a Changing World
established = 1888
type = International preparatory school
head = Paul Williams (Interim Director)
city = Mexico City
state = Distrito Federal
country = Mexico
students = 2,400
faculty = 235
free_label = Programs
free = International Baccalaureate, Mexican Diploma, American Diploma
campus = Urban, 17 acres
mascot = Bears
colors = Maroon and Gold
homepage = [http://www.asf.edu.mx/ www.asf.edu.mx] The American School Foundation is a school in Mexico City founded by individuals from the U.S. It offers classes from kindergarten through secondary school (or high school).

The school grants three diplomas for students graduating from its Upper School: the Mexican diploma of the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP), the American diploma, and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

History

Over 115 years ago, Mrs. Bessie McRae Files, who had completed her training as a kindergarten teacher in the United States, was persuaded by her son-in-law to open a kindergarten in Mexico where children of English-speaking people could attend.

Mrs. Files converted a room in the Davis home into a classroom, rented a piano, had furniture made locally, and brought books and supplies over from the U. S. On August 6, 1888, the school located at 2nda. Calle de Iturbide was opened, with an enrollment of 19 pupils.

In 1894, Mexico Grammar School was formed, with 96 students in Kindergarten, Primary and Grammar grades. The new school was housed at 1era. Calle de Colón No. 9, where classes started on November 5, 1894.

The school kept growing, and there was need for a new home. In 1905 the school was moved to Calle de Industria No. 15, which was larger and had playgrounds and an athletic field. A high school was added and the name of the school was changed to Mexico City Grammar and High School.

As more and more students were enrolled, it was obvious that the school needed even larger facilities. On October 5, 1922, the building at Insurgentes and San Luis Potosí was ready for occupancy, and it would be the home of The American School for 24 years.

Since 1946, the School has been at its present location, Sur 136 No. 135, with its main entrance at Bondojito 215.

ASF Today

The American School Foundation (ASF), located in Mexico City, serves students from Kindergarten through 12th grade in four schools: the Early Childhood Center (ages 4-7), the Lower School (grades 1-5), the Middle School (grades 6-8), and the Upper School (grades 9-12). The American School Foundation has two primary languages of instruction, English and Spanish. The degree to which each language is reflected in their program varies from level to level. It is their goal that all students become completely bilingual.

ASF is an American school with an international flavor attributable to its diverse enrollment. By nationalities, the student body of 2,400 is approximately 60% Mexican, 26% from the United States, and 14% from nearly 30 other countries. Its 17 acre campus and facilities, as well as its academic and extracurricular programs, are similar to or exceed those in the United States.

Currently the building where the High School is housed is going through an extensive renovation which will make it one of the first environmentally friendly buildings in Mexico and Latin America. Meanwhile the students receive classes in the Middle School or in portable classrooms located outside the High School Building.

Since April 2008 the new wing of the High School opened. The Building is aesthetically minimalistic, students and teachers are not happy with the new classrooms since they claim cheap materials where used during the construction. In less than two months of operations the doors and locks have broken and the large windows permit a great amount of sunlight to come in thus making learning unconformable and disruptive. The new classrooms are not completely enclosed since there is a gap between the classrooms and the hall, many teachers and students have complained about the noise in the halls that can be heard inside the classrooms, therefore interrupting the learning process.

Academics

The philosophy and mission of ASF have, from its founding, necessitated development of a comprehensive and challenging curriculum sensitive to the history and cultures of countries around the world. The resulting academic program draws on elements of many systems of educa­tion and serves both international and American students at every level.

The strength of the ASF program is that it draws students and teachers from every continent who bring a wide range of talents and interests. Nearly 30 countries are represented among the 2,400 students, their families, and the faculty and staff. Living with such diversity challenges every member of the community to respect personal, cultural, and philosophical differences, while offering the opportunity to benefit from the experiences and knowledge of richly varied individuals.

The rigorous academic curriculum of ASF, for students entering from the Early Childhood level through grade ten, is framed by the Primary Years (PYP) and Middle Years Programs (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and can lead to participation in the International Baccalaureate Diploma or other advanced learning programs at the Upper School level in grades eleven and twelve. Students graduate proficient in at least two languages, English and Spanish, and most are fully bilingual.

The scope of the history, geography, language, and literature programs enables students to recognize the relationships among events, movements, and thought from different areas and ages. The rigorous math program and extensive science requirements provide the foundation essential to understanding the technical and scientific advances and challenges of a complex, changing world.

ASF is a community of risk takers, inquirers, and learners, who above all else, value the pursuit of intellect as a vital and continuous process. As such, the ASF curriculum is a cohesive and continuous plan. It represents a rational and strategic plan that is skills-based, content rich, conceptually structured, and chronologically articulated. It is organized around a thinking-centered approach that challenges and inspires the giftedness in all children to construct and acquire knowledge. Regardless of the content area, our approach to learning is an integrated one promoting inquiry, collaboration and the development of cognitive, social and emotional awareness.

chool Profile

*Founded in 1888, ASF is one of the oldest of the American schools abroad; Serves a diverse population of approximately 2400 students from more than 30 countries;

*Located on an attractive 17 acre campus, across the street from one of Mexico’s finest hospitals, ABC Hospital

*Campus facilities, academic programs, extracurricular activities are similar to or exceed those offered in the United States

*Recognized and accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization; Also accredited by SEP, UNAM, and SACS; A member of ASOMEX, the Tri-Area Association, and the National Association of Independent Schools

*English is the instruction language with the exception of a fully bilingual program in the Lower School and courses in Spanish at the secondary level; 235 international faculty

*Availability of Special Education classes

*Four libraries, science labs in each school, and over 600 computers in classrooms; Three indoor gymnasiums, an indoor heated pool, a football stadium, lighted tennis courts, track, and various athletic fields

*Nearly 100% of Upper School graduates attend college.

*The school is currently building the new Upper School Building.

* Upper School graduates attend prestigious colleges such as Yale University and The University of British Columbia among others.

chool Leadership

*Current President and Executive Director: Dr. Dario A. Cortez
*Current Head of Upper School: Robert Godely
*Current Head of Middle School: David O’Connell
*Current Head of Lower School: Jonathan Fulk
*Current Head of Early Childhood Center: Darlene Pugnali

Associations

The American School Foundation is accredited nationally and internationally by:

*UNAM - Required official recognition for students to continue their studies in Mexican universities.

*Secretaría de Educación Pública - Required official recognition by the Secretary of Education of Mexico to offer valid preschool and primary education within the country’s educational system.

*International Baccalaureate (IB) - The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) began in Switzerland to help international high school students prepare for university by providing a curriculum and diploma that would be recognized by universities around the world. It began with the Diploma Program, but has now expanded to a Middle Years Program (MYP), and a Primary Years Program (PYP).

*Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) - The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) and in Latin America. SACS CASI accredits over 13,000 schools and school systems throughout the United States and overseas. Today, SACS CASI is the global leader in helping schools improve student learning through accreditation.

*Association of American Schools in Mexico (ASOMEX) - The Association of American Schools in Mexico (ASOMEX) is the oldest of the many regional school associations throughout the world. Founded in 1957, the Association originally included eight American schools. Today, the association is made up of 17 member schools throughout Mexico with a total enrollment of approximately 15,500 students and 1,250 teachers and administrators. The purpose of the ASOMEX is to provide a collective means of serving the needs and interests of the member schools through a spirit of sharing ideas, programs, facilities and experiences, as well as the sharing of resources and information. Each year, member schools participate in numerous ASOMEX activities, including athletic tournaments, teacher and student workshops, model United Nations simulations, and art and musical festivals.

*National Association of Independent Schools - The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) acts as the national voice of independent pre-collegiate education and as the center for collective action on behalf of its membership. It serves and strengthens its member schools and associations by articulating and promoting high standards of educational quality and ethical behavior by working to preserve their independence to serve the democratic society from which that independence derives and by advocating broad access for students in affirming the principles of equity and justice.

External links

* [http://www.asf.edu.mx Official site]