Dear Parents and Colleagues,

Twice a year we hold a strategic retreat with about 90 members of the AES community. It includes the high school Associated Student Council, the PSA Executive Committee, members of the faculty, the Board of Governors, and members of the administration. At the retreat this August we shared our aspirations for our students and school. The kaleidoscope of words above represents what was shared and the size of the word within the cluster reflects the frequency with which that word or concept was mentioned. The heart of our stated mission is enabling students to be “responsible global citizens” so it came as no surprise that it held a prominent place in the discourse conducted.

Also at the heart of our mission is a commitment to “a quality American education that enables students to be inspired learners”.  At the foundation of our daily work with young people is a commitment to deliver a strong academic program in the core disciplines. Without the skills and knowledge needed to think critically and to understand complex problems they will not be prepared for the future that they desire or for the future that awaits them. Following this letter is a statistical update on the performance of our students in grades 5, 8 and 12 on different assessments that allow us to compare them against other students from the US or around the world, depending on the assessment.

As we watch the public discourse on complex issues around the world we want to ensure that our young people are well prepared to participate intelligently and to contribute toward solving the problems their generation will face. The data we have collected provides confidence that they will be ready.

Sincerely,

Bob
Director

PS - A number of parents have approached me with concerns about traffic and security when we are in session during the Common Wealth Games. Over the next week I will be meeting with security experts to assess the routes and overall security. We will be reporting back to you any changes and the plans we will have in place for the games.