The American International School of Bamako (AISB) is an independent, coeducational, private day school which offers a full U.S. educational program from pre-kindergarten (age 3) through grade 12. The School was established in 1977 to serve the needs of American and international community students seeking an English-language education. The school year is divided into 2 semesters. AISB also operates a satellite campus in Sadiola, Mali for the AngloGold mining company.
A 9-member Board of Directors governs the School, with 7 members elected by the AISB Association. There is also an appointed representative of the U.S. Embassy and the school director serves on the Board as a non-voting member. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School and to all professional staff.
AISB is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools with provisional accreditation in Grades 10-12. It is also approved as a class school by DoDDs.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year is 130, including U.S. citizens and 26 other nationalities.
CURRICULUM
AISB offers a full U.S. educational program from pre-kindergarten (age 3) through grade 12. The curriculum is similar to that of other American International Schools. Classes use up-to-date American textbooks and teaching materials from the United States and around the world. In addition to the regular academic courses, French, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Computer, Music, Drama, Art, and Physical Education classes are offered. The School has a purpose-built library with 9,000 volumes for reference work and for supplemental reading. There is an 16-station iMac computer lab in the elementary and a 10-station computer lab in the Upper School.
FACULTY
The faculty includes a full-time school director, a principal, and 15 full-time and 6 part-time teachers, including 13 U.S. citizens and 8 other nationals. All professional staff members have university degrees or teacher certificates.
CALENDAR
The school year of approximately 175 days is comprised of 2 semesters divided into 2 quarters each. School runs from late August until early June. Three long holidays occur during the year, one in October, one in December and one in April. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:20 p.m. Grades are issued at the end of each quarter.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIESA wide variety of extra curricular activities are available for AISB students to participate in. The activities, organized by the After-School Activities Coordinator, are offered in 3 sessions throughout the year. Available activities include a wide variety of sports, arts and crafts, and traditional African drumming and dance. Participation in these activities is voluntary. Our school participates in WAISAL, the West African International Schools Activities League. Each year there is at least one sports tournament hosted by one of the regional schools.
ADMISSIONAdmission is based on previous school records, age, and a personal interview. Students may be required to provide both testing documentation or take basic entrance examinations during the admissions process. AISB does not provide special needs services – defined as any learning disability or related need other than ESOL – and is unable to accept special needs children. Admission is open to students of all nationalities and is based on the following: -full completion of application forms -educational history -personal interview/entrance tests -payment of registration fee.
FACILITIESThe School occupies purpose-built facilities located on a site overlooking the Niger River. The buildings include 14 classrooms, a computer lab, a library, a Multi Purpose Room used as a performance space and indoor activities area for PE, an office, a flagstone courtyard, and landscaped grounds with playground equipment and a playing field. One nearby villa serves as the Early Learning Center. Two, large nearby villas serve as the Middle School and High School (grades 6-12). Both the ELC and the Middle/High School villas have recreation areas, lunch areas and complete educational facilities with a newly remodeled Science Lab. There is a covered play area in the elementary school. AISB also operates a satellite-campus in Sadiola for the children of the AngloGold Mining Company employees.
To meet the growing demand for an Anglophone High School and an expanded purpose-built facility here in Bamako, a new campus is planned to be under construction starting in the Spring of 2008. The new campus will include the following facilities: individual classrooms for all primary grades, an upper school campus, full athletic facilities, science labs, a computer lab and a connected campus via wireless network, library and performing and visual arts facilities.
For more information or to register, please contact the registrar by e-mail at registrar@aisbmali.org or by telephone at (223) 222 47 38
