5 Reasons We're Excited for the First Day of School

Over the last week, we have been celebrating 5 reasons we're excited for the first day of school!

Reason #5 - Our Green Initiatives

AIS Vienna is committed to continuously developing an environmentally friendly school. Every year, we undertake infrastructure improvements to increase our efficiency and reliance on renewable sources of energy. This summer, our Facilities Team installed charging stations for 8 e-cars and 12 e-bikes. Members of the AISV community can now charge e-bikes cost-free, and employees have easier access to green options for their daily commute. In addition, two of our school vehicles have been replaced with e-cars.

These newest green improvements add to our on-campus solar panels (offsetting 75.000 kg CO 2 annually), LED lighting system (which has reduced our electricity consumption by 20%), heating efficiency measures, and intuitive cooling systems.

Reason #4 - Campus Improvements

One of the most important ways we support student success is by tailoring the school environment to best suit learning and growth. The AIS Vienna Facilities Team makes use of the summer months to put our ambitious plans into action and this year we celebrate renovations of Grade 1, Grade 8, MS Learning Support, our music rooms, and our Outdoor Classroom, along with the installation of 60+ LCD SMARTboards.

Reason #3 - New Year, New Gear

At AIS Vienna, we believe technology and innovative practice stimulates curiosity and creativity, inspires the joy of discovered passions, and provides students with the tools and skills to confidently meet future challenges. We see technology as fundamental in providing equal access to learning for all students.

Apple Devices

As of this school year, AIS Vienna is now a 1:1 Apple device school. New devices will be issued to all students grades 3-12 as they begin school next week. Our students in PreK-Grade 5 will continue having iPads integrated into classroom curriculum. Students in grades 6-12 and all teachers will now use Macbook Air laptops.

SMART Boards

The Technology Office and Facilities team were also busy this summer installing new SMART Board screens in all classrooms. We are so thrilled about this new integrated technology solution that will greatly reduce the number of cables, allow wireless connection from anywhere in classrooms, and provide for much more student interactivity and engagement.

Live Stream Equipment

Thanks to the combined support from the Annual Fund and the PTF Special Projects Fund, our Theater has been outfitted with three new live streaming cameras to allow families and friends from all over the world to tune in to student performances. This equipment complements the existing live stream equipment that we installed last school year to stream our athletic events.

Single Sign On - Classlink

Classlink allows for all students and staff to use a single sign on to access over 90 applications. It is not an extra addition to our technology pool but more a support to streamline access to our vast multitude of resources.

Reason #2 - Our Teachers & Staff

In our community of innovative learners realizing their chosen futures with courage, curiosity, and joy, our teachers and staff provide guidance and direction. We celebrate all of our employees, and know that their extraordinary personal commitment to each student is what makes AIS Vienna such an incredible place. We salute our 185 employees representing 28 nationalities. This year we also welcome 7 new teachers.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our teaching and the support our staff members provide. We celebrate every one of our internationally diverse employees. They are fully committed to upholding our core values - respect, aspire, and achieve - which are directly linked to student learning at AIS Vienna. All AISV teachers and staff are dedicated professionals who are committed to each student, providing them with extraordinary and personalized care.

Reason #1 - Our Students

Our students inspire and motivate us to continuously innovate and challenge ourselves. Our students are the reason we exist. It is their courage, curiosity, and joy for learning that makes AIS Vienna the wonderful community we all know and love.

We begin this school year with 795 students (324 ES, 201 MS, 270 HS), including 148 new students, representing 69 nationalities and speaking 47 languages.

At AIS Vienna, we empower each student with the skills and character strengths necessary to be positively impactful global citizens who strive for personal growth and excellence in an ever-changing world.

We are excited to continue to move learning and achievement forward in classrooms and extra-curricular offerings, and we look forward to seeing the school come back to life with the arrival of all of our wonderful students tomorrow, August 23!