As educators, we spend significant time talking about how “mindset” is important in education. This has always been en vogue in our field; attitude matters! Growth mindset! Grit! We are taught to not allow students to give up, to become comfortable with failure. Teacher education programs have always reveled in this kind of theory. There…
Carpet Weaving in Bulgaria
Dear community, There is one thing in common between the British royal family, dukes, politicians, wealthy families, and museums – they all step on beautiful carpets that are handmade in Bulgaria (detailed information in here). In this issue of the Bulgarian Culture Corner, you will learn more about one of the oldest crafts in Bulgaria…
Welcome Back After Spring Break
“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.” – Yogi Berra I hope that you had a relaxing and fun Spring Break. We had the good fortune to visit Scotland and Ireland over the holiday. As is the way with travels, we had some expected and…
The Far-reaching Effect of Artificial Intelligence
Spring in Bulgaria requires constant monitoring and adjustment. Sunny skies and high temperatures require us to pull out t-shirts and rake the yard, while hail and snow impact driving conditions and plans for Easter egg hunts. Weather has the potential to impact every area of our lives. The far-reaching effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is…
Opening the Door
Over the last several weeks, AAS students across all 3 divisions have been learning about topics related to Health and Wellness. In the Middle School, this unit is known more informally as Sex Ed. For some of our readers, those words may conjure up awkward teenage memories of bananas and condoms. We have enjoyed creating…
Teacher Spotlight: Alex Coleman
Introduce yourself in one sentence, please. Hi, I am Alex Coleman. I am a husband, hiker, teacher, and lover of all things sports and coffee. Why did you choose AAS and what are your expectations? Some teachers from my previous school were already at AAS and they had wonderful things to say about the school…
The One Parenting Skill for Every Situation (Including Conferences)
In my years as a principal working with families in high school, middle school, and elementary school, I have had hundreds of conversations with parents about challenging situations with their children. In my office, parents have talked with me about academic struggles, friend problems, personal habits, technology use, drugs, sex, mental health, future planning, and…
Athina Tsellou on Focus
Bright, proactive and always smiling, Athina Tsellou is one of those people who radiate positive energy wherever they go. A former member of AAS PTO, Athena is a certified life coach. She feels most alive when empowering others and helping them reach their full potential. What is focus, really? Experts define focus as the act…
Wellbeing at University
Every few weeks the counselors at AAS write an article on the theme of “Wellbeing”. As the university counselor at AAS, it makes sense that I write about a wellness theme that relates to university. First, we should establish what “wellness” means. Wellness is “the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to…
The Martenitsi Tradition
Dear community, March is almost here and so is spring. The tradition of wearing Martenitsi on the 1st of March in Bulgaria is a long and favorite one. If you wonder what a martenitsa is – please check this link or this one and this video. On March 3rd, Bulgaria also celebrates its liberation. In…
Spotlight the Daily Wins
“There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait.” – Hamilton (musical) Last night I had the pleasure of watching the AAS students’ performance of Cabaret. It was an incredible show! Through the years, I have enjoyed and been impressed by all of the AAS musicals. The addition of the Rila Theatre has…
Culture of Learning
How would you respond to the statement, “Education does not end when you leave the classroom”? This was the prompt for the championship round at a recent CEESA Speech and Debate competition in which an AAS student won first place. Students had to come up with an impromptu speech to share their thoughts on this…
