Beginning of 2018-2019 school year

Hello and welcome to the beginning of the new year!  Here is what is going on with more information about each linked.

• SAISA Swimming has started their morning practices for students age 10-19.
• SAISA Boys and Girls Volleyball has begun their afternoon practices for HS students.
• Model United Nations has begun for the MS and HS.  Info in the MS and HS bulletins.
• ASAIC Girls and Boys Soccer has begun their morning practices.  The girls have their first match Friday the 24th at 4 PM and the boys on Saturday at 9 AM.
• ASAs for EY5-G8 students have begun.  Information about activities is here.
• Information on facility use by community members is available here.

Coach Melissa Hutchinson

This is Melissa’s first year coaching tennis at AISC. She played on various sports teams including the tennis team during her time as a student. Specifically, Melissa fondly remembers competing against AISC in SAISA events when she was a student at the American School of Bombay.

Coach James Smeltzer

Coach James is a record setting high school track runner. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and is excited to lace up his shoes once again here in Chennai. 

Coach Marea Bouma

Coach Bouma began playing soccer as a 5-year-old in Southern California and continued playing through college. For the past 9 years, she has thoroughly enjoyed coaching elementary through middle school girls soccer in Saudi Arabia, where she worked and lived before relocating to Chennai in August of 2018. Besides being an enthusiastic coach, Mrs. Bouma enjoys time with her family: her husband, Robb, and her two children, Judah (son, grade 9) and Avery (daughter, grade 6). They enjoy traveling, card games, boating, scuba diving, hiking, and many other activities. Coach Bouma is also known as "Mrs. Bouma" as she teaches 1st grade at AISC.

Coach Nigel Holdsworth

Coach Nigel arrived in Chennai in 2015 and as the School Psychologist works with students in all sections of the school. This is his first season as a coach of soccer but since his arrival in Chennai, he has studied the art of soccer under the wise instruction of Mr Bill. Coach Nigel grew up in Sydney, Australia playing rugby, cricket, soccer and competing in surf lifesaving, swimming and track. In a previous career, he was an adventure educator in Australia, Nicaragua, Honduras and the USA where he led backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing and caving trips.

Coach Jayme Gawrych

Coach Gawrych has been a coach for various sports over the past five years, including American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, and Volleyball. He is looking forward to coaching Volleyball and Basketball at AISC this year. Coach Gawrych grew up playing sports all the time. He played American Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Golf in Cudahy, Wisconsin where he attended High School. Along with sports, you can often find Coach G doing outdoor activities, which include, but are not limited to camping, fishing, and hiking. Coach Gawrych is excited to get food recommendations from the teams he will be coaching as he loves eating at new places and trying new items on the menu.

Coach Robb Bouma

Coach Bouma is from the amazing Pacific Northwest in Washington State, USA. He grew up playing football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and track. Since then, his personal athletic focus has been exploring the outdoors and enjoying as many adventures that it offers. Coach Bouma has taught for 20 years and has coached each of those years in education (soccer, baseball, basketball, and golf). He's excited to join the AISC community - both in and out of the classroom!

Coach Hans DeJong

Coach Hans grew up in Kodaikanal, India, and played for the school soccer team. During college he played soccer on the club team and also spent his time playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, and backpacking. He has coached soccer teams in Los Angeles and Bamako, Mali. He spent the last 6 years in graduate school where he played on multiple competitive soccer teams in San Francisco. Coach Hans is a scientific scuba diver and has been to all 7 continents.

Coach Gemma Adderly

Coach Gemma has been coaching soccer for over 10 years. Her love for the game started at a young age and lead to her playing in the women’s Premier League in England. Coach Gemma’s passion for the sport saw her paving the way for a girls section of a previously male-only soccer club in Manchester, England. Her recent soccer coaching experience saw her establishing a girls soccer program at an International school in Singapore, before transferring to become the head coach of the MS and HS boys teams. Her passion for sport continues with a love of volleyball where she has been working with MS girls and boys teams in Singapore. Coach Gemma’s volleyball playing days saw her and her college team crowned as the National Champions in England before she took early retirement to focus on soccer. When not working, Coach Gemma enjoys scuba diving, cycling and watching movies. She hopes to master the skill of surfing on the Chennai waves.