The KIS Families series shares stories from families in the school community. Meet the Robinsons who arrived in Korea in July 2020. 

In December, at the start of trimester two, elementary design teacher Ms. Vruegdenhil introduced the designtastic project. This is an individual project that allowed us to explore our own interests and share what we learn with others.

The KIS Families series shares stories from families in the school community. Here, Niki Blake shares her family’s decision to move abroad, arriving in Korea December 2019. 

The KIS Families series shares stories from families in the school community. Here, Soma Das shares what she learned about settling in Korea as an expat – twice!

Some of the best learning is experiential. A couple of years ago, two friends had an idea to create an online site for the KIS Phoenix Store. After several semesters of design and computer courses beginning in middle school, Justin and Platt, now seniors, were interested in how they might apply their knowledge. They started looking at their school in a new way. What question or problem could their skill set help answer

Starting a story is a challenge. And then you muddle through the middle. Finally you have to find a way to close the narrative. Middle school creative writers in Meaghan Odell’s class just revised their short fiction and gave in person reading to a small audience in the secondary library. Each student learned more about their own writing process and what it’s like to present their work.

Theater students in Helen Thompson’s introductory class began the year with a timely prompt: write a story about these strange times. The small class divided into two groups and began drafting ideas for a screenplay.

History is an eminently practical subject. It is an excellent way to learn logical thinking and argumentation. Working as a historian is a way to learn both about yourself and those around you: to really know someone is to know their history. And to be bonded or connected with another person is to have a “history” together.

The Phoenix Store will soon carry tote bags featuring student designs celebrating KIS! At the start of the school year the PTO invited students to create art representing OneKIS. Eighty-seven K-12 students submitted designs!

Juggling all of these co-curricular activities made me busier but also helped me become more organized and cultured. But most of all, I actually enjoyed high school more because of my involvement. These activities shaped me into the person that I am today.