American School of The Hague

Infobox School3
name = The American School of The Hague


motto = "Critical Inquiry, Creative Thinking, Clear Communication, Commitment to Others"
established = 1953
type = Private International School
grades = pre-k through 12
head_name = Director
head = Rick Spradling
city = Wassenaar
state = South Holland
country = Netherlands
students = approx. 1,100
faculty = approx. 150
athletics = Baseball, Basketball, Cross-country, Swimming, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
mascot = Trojans
free_label = Arts
free = Theater, Photography, Visual arts, music
free_label2 = Nationalities
free2 = 60
free_label3 = Languages taught
free3 = 9
website = http://ash.nlThe American School of The Hague (ASH) is an American school in Wassenaar, the Netherlands, located on the Rijksstraatweg. Children can go to the school for 13 years, from kindergarten to 12^th grade. However, many students come and go because it is a very international school. It is one of the four international focus schools in the area, others are the International School of The Hague, The French School in the Hague and the British School in the Netherlands in Voorschoten. It is one of three high schools in the area. There are many other elementary and middle schools in the area.

Overview

ASH was founded in 1953. Its purpose was to provide an American style education to children of international cooperation or the Government employees.cite web | url=http://ash.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=127 | title = The American School of The Hague - A Brief Overview of ASH | accessdate=2008-02-14] The board of trustees has eleven members who are elected by the parents. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association and by the Council of International Schools. The school has three divisions, elementary school, middle school and high school. In 1989 a new campus was built, next to the Rijksstraatweg in Wassenaar which was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and First Lady Barbara Bush. [cite news | last=Radcliffe | first=Donnie | date=1989-07-18 | work=The Washington Post | title=Friendship and the First Lady | accessdate=2008-02-14 | quote=With Barbara Bush it's unveiling plaques or cornerstones. Yesterday she assisted at the latter for the American School of the Hague at nearby Wassenaar]

Admissions

Students can be acceptedclarifyme to ASH if the program suits the applicant's need. ESL support is provided, but in the High School a reasonable knowledge of Academic English is required. Children entering K-1 must turn age 4 before 1 October of that year. Race, nationality, or creed are not part of the admissions criteria. Class and grade level assignment is determined by looking at past records. [ [http://ash.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=150 The American School of The Hague - Welcome to Admissions ] ]

chools

Elementary school

Most classes in elementary school are self contained. However, the arts, Dutch, computer, library and PE are taught by specialists. Field trips are regular and are linked back to the curriculum.cite web | url=http://ash.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=256 | title=The American School of The Hague - Elementary School Welcome | accessdate=2008-02-14] More than 50 teachers work in the elementary school. The current elementary school principal is Tim Messick.

There is an art program called Art Masterpiece sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The program allows students to make connections between great works and their personal lives.. Parents introduce the students to pieces of art from different time periods and different media. The students are expected to think about what they see, about techniques and they should form opinions.

The elementary wing is located at the North East side of the school, closest to the parking lot of the school, on the other side of the Rijksstraatweg. It has its own atrium, cafeteria, library, playgrounds, gym, music and performance suites and technology labs.

Middle school

Grades 5 through 8 are seen as middle school. [ [http://ash.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=131 The American School of The Hague - Middle School Welcome ] ] The middle school has its own library, yet shares the theater and other parts of the arts department with the high school. The middle school has two wings, one located South West, opposite of the central high school library and one next to the high school library (North). The current middle school principal is Mary Russman.

Students in middle school can choose, besides the curriculum, from a variety of extracurricular activities. There is an art club, chess club, crafts and sewing club, the drama club who do a play in November, Odyssey of the Mind for people with lots of imagination, Boys Sing Too where boys sing at a festival in October, there is an Honor Band, Honor Choir, a spring musical, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

High school

The High School has about 400 students. The wing is located between the two middle school wings (North West). The current high school principal is Paul Mackaill.

Curriculum

In order for students to receive a high school diploma at the end of year 12 they have to have a certain number of credits. Each credit counts for a year. The following credits are required:Four English credits, 1 credit human understanding (Ex. philosophy) ,three credits social studies ,three credits in Mathematics ,three credits in Science*,two credits in modern language**,one IT credit,two credits in the Art Department,1.5 P.E. credits ,Half a credit of health class,3 credits in other electives, meaning anything that does not fit in the previous categories or any credit that exceeds the minimum stated above. Students can chose American High school classes, AP or IB

* At least three different types of science
** Level III must be reached in order to complete

IB and AP

Students can chose the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, regular high school, or a mix between any of the three. The only requirement is that the minimum credits must be completed.

ASH offers thirteen AP subjects in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, French Language, German Language, Human Geography, Math (AB), Math (BC), Music Theory, Physics B, Spanish Language, and U.S. History. [cite web | url=http://ash.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180&Itemid=407 | title=The American School of The Hague - Advanced Placement (AP) | accessdate=2008-02-14]

The following IB subjects can be chosen:

20^th History SL, Art SL/HL Biology SL/HL, Chemistry HL, Dutch A2 SL/HL, Dutch B SL/HL, Computer Science SL, Economics SL/HL, European History HL, English A1 SL/HL, English A2 SL/HL, Environmental Systems SL, French B SL/HL, German A2 HL, German B SL/HL, German AB initio, Information Technology in a Global Society (on year course) SL, Math SL/HL, Math Studies SL, Music SL/HL Psychology SL/HL, Spanish B SL/HL, Spanish AB initio, Theatre Arts SL/HL. [cite web | url=http://ash.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=408 | title=The American School of The Hague - International Baccalaureate (IB) | accessdate=2008-02-14]

Note: other languages can be taken as a tutorial depending on availability.All IB full IB diploma program students also take a two year course of TOK and CAS

Extracurricular activities

port

ASH offers a variety of sports, most at Varsity and Junior Varsity. The following sports are offered at ASH:
Baseball, Basketball, Cross-country, Swimming, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball.cite web | url=http://www.ash.nl/~www_ash_nl/schoolhigh/handbook/HS%20Handbook%202007%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf | title=High School Handbook | date=2007-2008 edition | publisher=The American School of The Hague | accessdate=2008-02-14 | format=pdf | language=English | pages=38-43] At the varsity level students participate in the International Schools Sports Tournament playing teams from Paris, London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, and other places. There are also practice squads (intramural sports) for those students not playing on JV or Varsity teams.

Model United Nations

ASH's Model United Nations team has participated The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) for almost 40 years. It brings more than 3,000 students together from 125 schools during the last week in January. Students from ASH can become delegation members, administrative staff, or an officer.

National Honor Society

The ASH National Honor Society is an exclusive group for students who are selected based on their service, character, leadership, and scholarship. Students participate in projects at the school.

Other activities

The newspaper (ASH T.R.A.S.H, or Today's Realities And Student Happenings).Peer Support Program. Peer Support Trainees help their peers and facilitate discussion groups and learn to help Kindergarten through grade 12 students in advisory on various subjects.Students can chose to become a student ambassador, taking on the responsibility of welcoming new students. The Student Senate helps fellow classmates enjoy their school year by organising dances and by advocating student issues including better lunch service.

Performing Arts

Students can audition for the dance team in September.Every year, in December the High school musical takes place. In the past musicals like "Blood Brothers" (2007), "Children of Eden" (2006), "Into the Woods" (2005) and "Les Misérables" (2004) have been produced. Auditions are necessary. In Spring there is High school play.There is a choir and band that students can join.Lastly, students can choose to participate in the Speech and Debate Tournaments where students from various International School meet to debate.

References

External links

* [http://ash.nl Official website]