International Academy of St. Petersburg, Russia

Infobox Secondary school
name = International Academy of St. Petersburg Russia
motto = "Building Bridges for Third Culture Kids."
established = 1993
principal = Tammy Plaster
type = Private Grade, Middle, and High School
grades = 1–12
city = St. Petersburg
country = Russia
mascot = Cossack
colors = Red and White
newspaper = "ICS Gazetta"
yearbook = "IA Yearbook"
website = [http://www.myiasp.com/index.html] www.myiasp.com
picture =

International Academy of St. Petersburg Russia, abbreviated IA or "'IASP'", is an International Christian school located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It's curriculum and structure is based on the American system and is garnered towards students who plan to attend college in America or other English-speaking colleges. For this reason all of its classes are conducted in English with standard Christian America curriculum.

History and campus

The International Academy began in 1993 as a school for Christian English speakers in St. Petersburg, Russia. Originally named the International Christian School of St. Petersburg, or "ICS," and founded with the Russian Christian School, or "RCS" as a part of Kargel and Baedeker School. In the year 2006, the two schools split, and the International Christian School took a new name, the International Academy.

Before 2004, ICS was at Ligovskiy Prospect Metro. Often referred to as the "Red Building," the school was on the second floor of a building which it shared with the Russian Christian School. After numerous problems with the organization the building was rented from, the School moved to its own building on Krestovskiy Island.

In the school on Krestovskiy Island, ICS was on the third floor, RCS on the second, and administrative area, the library, lunch room, and science labs were on the first. There was a small gym attached that could be accessed from a hallway on the first floor.

When at Krestovskiy, the school had three classrooms for the primary grades, first and second, third and fourth, and fifth and sixth. There were two small rooms for language studies, two multi-purpose classrooms, a computer lab, and a math room. There was also a bathroom, a principle's office, a teacher's lounge, and a secretary's office.

The land surrounding the school when at Krestovskiy was wooded and fenced in, with a large park nearby. By the time ICS moved the surrounding area was being developed and under heavy construction.

The school's current location is near Gorkovskaya Metro. The school is currently renting parts of 4 floors in a renovated building owned by the Catholic Church.

Academics

The average class size for elementary students is around 15, while at the high school level classes are smaller. All graduates in the past few years have gone to colleges in America. Total enrollment at this writing is 62.

The schedule is made by the staff at the beginning of each year. Priority is given to larger classes and seniority is also highly considered. Because of the low student teacher ratio, hand crafting of schedules is employed.

Athletics

The school's mascot is the "Cossacks." Boys' basketball competes 2-4 months of the year. Their chief rival is Hinkson Christian Academy in Moscow. In the spring, co-ed volleyball is offered for a one-month mini-season, grades 7-12.

Activities

Depending on the interests of staff and parent volunteers, activities vary year to year. Current activities are as follows:- Student Council- Choir- Beginning and Advanced Band- Annual Play- School Newspaper- Yearbook- Box Moving*

*Box moving is considered the "National Pastime" of the International Academy because of the frequency to which the students do it.Fact|date=February 2008 Almost annually the school has a time when the students undergo massive box moving. Varying from very little moving, where only the boys move and it is done outside of class, to a whole school move when everyone will box up everything and then move it to another location.

References

International Academy of St. Petersburg website

External links

* [http://www.myiasp.com/index.html Official Website]