How does the American International School of Bucharest celebrate its 50th Anniversary? We engage, prepare and inspire the community with a variety of special events, service projects, parties, assemblies, guest speakers and more. You only turn 50 once, even if you are a Vampire, so it’s important to celebrate not only where you’re going but how you got there. It all happened like this.

In 1962 US Ambassador William Crawford and his wife Barbara, together with a handful of dedicated parents, dreamed of creating a quality English language school in Bucharest. 

This was a time of Communist rule in Romania so of course the students were primarily from diplomatic families. As Ambassador Crawford wrote in his memoirs:

“In the period immediately following World War II, our diplomatic missions in Moscow, Warsaw, Prague, and Belgrade all reestablished elementary schools of their own dating back to parents alike. Mothers with children taught their own in their own fashion, at the loss of much time and energy, and with mixed results. There was general dissatisfaction with the prevailing situation compromising rapport between families and among children,” he concluded. 

So it was that the American School of Bucharest (ASB) was born and opened its doors to 6 the prewar years. Our only missions in Eastern Europe without them (elementary schools) were Bucharest and Sofia,” wrote Ambassador Crawford.  

“During a visit to Bucharest in 1955, I had noted that the lack of any American school there presented a morale problem for children and students in September, 1962.

The past 50 years have seen a revolution, devastating earthquakes, a major building expansion, adoption of the Vampire mascot, a name change (AISB), adoption of the International Baccalaureate (IB World School) and extraordinary enrollment growth. With all this to celebrate we started our 50th Anniversary Celebrations early, as soon as school started. 

“Marking this milestone in our school’s history is as much about our future as it is about our past,” said Dr. David Ottaviano, Director of AISB. “By celebrating the past we a rm our foundation: an educationally challenging school that inspires students to reach their full potential to become responsible global citizens.”

With current enrollment of over 830 students from 55 nationalities, AISB has not only grown signi cantly over the past 50 years, we have outgrown our purpose-built facilities. As we look ahead to the next 50 years we have a major expansion plan to look forward to so we can continue to serve the educational needs of a growing region of the European Union.

In September 2012 our Alumni helped us celebrate!

50th Anniversary Book – A commemorative book that captures 50 years of history with photos, drawings, text and contributions
from former ambassadors, students, parents, teachers, principals and school directors, all of whom are Alumni of AISB! 

50th Anniversary Opening reception & Dinner – The Diplomatic Club welcomed current and former board members, sta , parents and local dignitaries to open the 50th Anniversary celebrations with champagne, music, dinner and speeches. 

50th Anniversary All-family Picnic – A highlight this all-day picnic was opening a 1962 time capsule and to begin gathering artifacts for the 2012 capsule to be sealed at the end of the school year. Commemorative 50th Anniversary coins/medals given to all students, faculty and sta and families could purchase 50th Anniversary commemorative co ee mugs, tumblers, key chains, shirts, and caps.

50th Anniversary Alumni vs. Varsity Soccer Match – The Alumni men and women pulled out a thrilling 1-0 win against the varsity team on the AISB soccer pitch. It was a perfect end to the all-family picnic and prelude to the night’s dinner dance.

50th Anniversary Dinner Dance “under the Stars” – What we needed was a tent large enough to hold 450 people for dinner, plenty of food and drinks and a great band to play into the wee hours. We had it all one of our soccer pitches which was transformed into the 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance Jubilee.

50th Anniversary Alumni reunion – Alumni from around the world came to Bucharest to see friends, celebrate the 50th year of AISB and also conduct a little business. The official by-laws of the AISB Alumni Association were approved and the rst slate of o cers was elected. Over 60 former students gathered on the shores of Herastrau Lake on a perfect Sunday afternoon. 

Read the entire WORLD Magazine Summer 2013 edition here.