American International School of Cape Town

Located in a residential area in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, the AISCT campus provides a spacious learning environment. The facilities include more than 35 classrooms; a library; theatre; large hall; music room; science labs; art room; and two computer labs. Adjacent to this are large playing fields, a sports covered area, as well as a 25–metre swimming pool with changing rooms. The school also has a lunchroom with catered meals available.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

An inspiring international education for outstanding life-long learners.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the American International School of Cape Town is to provide its students with the opportunities, resources, instruction and environment to pursue academic and personal excellence through an international school curriculum with a US orientation and to help them form the basis from which to become lifelong learners and productive, involved citizens in a changing, global society.

THE THREE PILLARS OF CHARACTER

Respect. Responsibility. Integrity.

At AISCT we believe in restorative justice as a model for managing student behavior. Discipline at AISCT is designed to make the classrooms conducive to learning and the campus a safe, friendly, pleasant place to study and interact with others. A well-disciplined environment with clear expectations is essential in order that we may accomplish our most important role in instruction.

At the core of our belief about student discipline are the three pillars of character: RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, and INTEGRITY. By modelling these three pillars of character, most issues that we face can be handled with minimal disruptions to the educational program.

ESLRs

Effective Schoolwide Learning Results

Every student will demonstrate:

1. Effective communication (Communicating)
2. High level thinking (Thinking)
3. A solid foundation of knowledge (Knowing)
4. Positive learning attitudes and behavior (Behaving)
5. Global and community appreciation (Caring and Sharing)

WE ARE AN ECO SCHOOL

In 2009 a group of environmentally conscious members of the AISCT community decided to transform AISCT into an Eco School. The Eco School program is an internationally recognized initiative that aims to encourage curriculum-based action for a healthy environment. A globally acknowledged award scheme that accredits schools that make a commitment to continuously improving their school’s environment, Eco-Schools originated in Europe as a program of the Foundation for Environmental Education and was launched in South Africa in May 2003.

A Green Team consisting of teacher representatives, as well as a student-based eco group, was established and three environmental/sustainability themes were identified as focal points for our Green Initiative.

AISCT chose to concentrate on Resource Use, which has led to the school’s recycling program, Nature and Biodiversity, which has involved identifying many of the indigenous and exotic species of plants on the AISCT campus, as well as starting up the school vegetable garden. The third theme, Healthy Living, has involved efforts by both staff and parents to improve the school cafeteria as well as a host of other projects.

After just two years of being an Eco School, AISCT was awarded the Bronze Flag for its efforts. We continue to work towards improving our Eco School Program.