What is New Around Us?

After a wonderful summer break, the students of the American International School of Guangzhou came back to school with great expectations for the new changes that principal Mr. Timmerman introduced at the end of last school year. The drastic changes that had appeared around the campus over summer surprised many students.

Along with the library, the former “red building,” containing offices for staff, finance department of the school, was taken down for the construction of the area. This not only affected the view of the front of the school, as the huge construction area is right beside the front gate, but also hugely impacted the students’ and staffs’ daily transportation from the front gate to the classrooms as it blocks the former main staircase. An 11th grade student who has been at the school for 5 years, Raymond W., claims that this area in front of the school seems like a “very unpleasant site” to him and many of his friends everyday when they arrive at and leave school.

On a more positive note, AISG also redesigned the lounge areas on both the second and the third floor. The two classrooms on the side of the lounge are now mostly open in the area with just a “see through wall” in between with the studying space. This new area, called “the pathfinder,” also surprised many students especially the ones taking English classes in this new layout. An 11th grader, Roy S. notes that many times when there are students around the classroom areas he feels “very distracted in class.” However, he also claims that the new designs for these classrooms seem “interesting” and makes him feel “at home.” In addition, Ms. Erica, a chinese teacher in AISG claims that she thinks the new designs in this area is “more cozy for the students to study.” However, she also notes that the “inconvenience of not having a printer in the area greatly impacted the students.”

Expectations for the new appearances are still up for many students and staff members as the school is eagerly seeking feedback from them in order to adjust the environment. Some inconveniences might be occurring due to the construction happening on campus, but I believe that everything will eventually become better and turns to the bright side.

Below is the link for general information about the construction occurring and answers for some general questions being asked about the project.

https://www.aisgz.org/community/our-vision-for-learning/faq