“This place is so pretty. I feel like I’m at a resort.”
-Student-musician visiting from American School of Warsaw

The weather. It has been a topic in most conversations I’ve had over the past few weeks. You might think, “Dr. Fries, you really need to work on your conversation skills,” and that is true. However, the weather this spring has been incredible. I am a bit apprehensive about what this sunny warm weather means for the coming months, and the climate in general, but right now I am soaking it up.

AAS has the honour of hosting the CEESA High School Band & Choir Concert this weekend. Students from Warsaw, Krakow, Latvia, and the First English Language School of Sofia arrived yesterday, and they will be at AAS making music through Saturday evening. Yesterday after school, they were all mingling on the lawn in front of the Rila Centre, enjoying the AAS campus, the weather, and making new friends.

Each day after school and every weekend, the AAS campus becomes a park for families who want to play football, tennis, basketball, use the playground, etc. This is as we want it to be. The AAS Board of Directors and the AAS administration encourage you to use the campus for exercise, playing, and enjoying time with family and friends. I am often at school on weekends, and I love it when the AAS community is all around making the most of the campus.

To ensure the wonderful campus is safe, secure, and in good condition for our community, please keep in mind the guidelines below when using the campus; there is additional information on page 47 of the Family Handbook (available for download on this page).

Outdoor Facilities

• The campus is open for use by AAS community members (with a gate pass) on school days from 18:00-20:00 and on weekends from 06:00-20:00
• Elementary and Middle School age children must have adult supervision
• Please know that the Balkan Field (the main football field) is currently closed for maintenance, but the track is open for use and Vitosha Field (upper field) is open too

Indoor Facilities

• Indoor facilities (e.g. Rila Centre, Red Cafe, Green Cafe, etc.) can be used for some events or activities with prior approval. Please contact Ms. Zhulieta Nikolova (znikolova@aas-sofia.org) for more information.
• The Vitosha and Balkan Gyms can be opened by the security team for weekend use
  • Please do not remove volleyball nets or other PE equipment that is already set up without making prior arrangements with the PE Teachers
  • Only appropriate shoes may be worn to keep the floors safe and usable
  • The Vitosha Gym is used every Saturday and Sunday from 4pm to 8pm, and occasionally from 9am to 12pm on Saturday by the Eagles Basketball Team

Whether indoors or outdoors,

• Please show your gate pass and sign in at security station 1 (the entrance)
• Please leave the campus spaces clean and tidy so that the next family can enjoy it as much as you
• Please bring your own equipment (e.g. basketball, football, tennis rackets/balls etc.); the school PE equipment is only for school use

  This weekend should bring two more days of sunny warm weather: it will be a great time to play volleyball on the outdoor court, run on the track, play football on the upper field, ride one of the ziplines, or what have you–have fun!

“Some days are simply meant for playing.”
-Mary Anne Radmacher