In the second of a multi-part series on education in Bulgaria, Teanna Sunberg, herself an expatriate mother of four, explores educational options for expatriate families.

A state-of-the-art learning environment. Highly resourced and educated teaching staff. An internationally diverse atmosphere. Such an equation results in the sum of the whole equalling more than its impressive parts. At the Anglo-American School of Sofia (AAS), respect for the student sets the foundation for 21st century education. Educators translate their job into facilitating and equipping individuals to be life-long learners. There is an obvious commitment here to prepare the next generation for effective and dynamic partnerships in the world that it is inheriting. Ecologically minded, charity oriented, partnership driven, this school views education as an integrated and holistic journey, not as a textbook that leads to a test.

AAS director Eric Larson and community service representative Maria Mihailova articulated the school's underlying belief that education must be child centred.

"Learning is developmental and kids are at different levels," said Larson in an interview with The Sofia Echo, articulating a view of learning held by today's leading academics. Teachers who assess a student's abilities and then develop individualised instruction replace a cookie-cutter curriculum - the school illustrates this philosophy with examples such as an integrated first- and second-grade classroom and by the integrated computer technology (ICT) that runs throughout the school and is intentionally woven into the curriculum.

This drive to integrate computer technology into the learning process will result in students who view computers and other related technologies as tools for acquiring, utilising and dispersing information in the 21st century. The passion for the programme extends itself into the community, where future plans include a joint pilot project with a small number of Bulgarian schools, where instructors will be equipped with the training and resources necessary to integrate technology into their Bulgarian classrooms. To see this vision become reality, the school is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, and both international and Bulgarian businesses.

AAS, which has a focus on community service, sees this innovative idea as a means of giving back and investing into the Bulgarian community.

Sitting on six hectares of property, the school capped enrollment at 216 for the 2006/07 academic year. When operating at capacity, it will hold about 450 students. The classroom maximum is 16 for the kindergarten and 20 for the other elementary grades, encompassing pre-school through ninth grade this year. There are plans to add consecutive grades on a yearly basis, culminating with the addition of the International Baccalaureate curriculum by the 2009 academic year.

There is a vibrant atmosphere here, where co-curricular activities are diverse and well planned, community service is encouraged and a nod to the arts results in a great music and theatre department with frequent opportunities to perform in the community. The school boasts a full-time nurse, an English as a second language (ESL) programme in which the entire staff is trained and resourced, a guidance counsellor and a full-time integrated technologies team.

This is the only school in Sofia that receives accreditation from two separate entities: the UK-based Council of International Schools, which is a European agency, and the North American accrediting body, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. These organisations periodically visit the campus, assessing every aspect of function at the school in an intense and pro-longed on-site visit.

The school clearly enunciates its philosophy through the academic excellence, the resourced teaching staff, and the new, state-of-the-art and ecologically friendly campus located in Pancherevo, on the outskirts of Sofia.

The focused commitment at this school has a formidable opportunity to have significant impact upon our future as parents and children in Bulgaria. In this international environment that represents over 40 countries, the potential for the future is impacted today by this school preparing children to be vibrant, high quality, responsible citizens and life-long learners in this new millennium.

Mission statement: The Anglo-American School of Sofia is a diverse and friendly school, which provides a vibrant quality education preparing students to be responsible citizens and life long learners.

http://sofia.ecis.org, telephone: 974 45 75