"You Found Us -- We're Going GaGa!"
We are the Middle School (11-13 year olds) of QSI International School of Tbilisi in Tbilisi, Georgia. This photo shows us having fun in our “GaGa Ball” court.  It is a game where you can’t use your feet while trying to hit other’s feet to knock them out of the game.  Last one wins!

Photo: QSI International School of Tbilisi

Our School -- QSI International School of Tbilisi
Our school was founded in August 2005. We are a diverse international group of students from 55 different countries. This is the school entrance with all the beautiful international flags. There are about 240 students, from kindergarten to Secondary 4 (Grade 12). 

Because we are a Mastery Learning school, students are able to work at their own pace.  Some students are moved ahead in subjects that they excel at.  In Mastery Learning classes students do not fail, teachers work with students to make sure they succeed.  Classes are not labeled by grade but rather by age, for example "The 12 year old class."

Location and Grounds
Our school is located in Village Zurgovani, which is in the northernmost part of the city of Tbilisi. It is strategically located close to the U.S. Embassy where many of our parents work for a variety of agencies including USAID, the Center for Disease Control and the Embassy itself. As you can see, we have plenty of outdoor space and playgrounds on the school grounds.

QSI International School of Tblisisi

School Mascot -- The Panther
This is our official logo of QSI Tbilisi, the Panther. 

QSI International School of Tblisisi

QSI International School of Tblisisi

Basketball Tournament
In the winter, we host our annual basketball tournament for other international schools, and it's called the Tbilisi Basketball Classic. This year our boys team won 1st Place in the tournament, and you can see the team and the trophy in this photo. In addition to basketball and cross country, we also have other active clubs such as MUN (Model United Nations), Debate and Drama.

QSI International School of Tbilisi

Our Playground
We love to be outside when the weather is nice, and here is photo of four students playing in the shade under one of our play structures

QSI International School of Tbilisi

The Great Outdoors
In our country of Georgia, there are endless opportunities for outdoor activities like camping trips or Ski Week. This photo shows students on a camping trip, doing some outdoor cooking over a campfire.

QSI International School of Tbilisi

Week Without Walls
A new activity for us this year is our Week Without Walls.  Middle and Secondary school students will be visiting England, France and Italy during June.  Some students will also travel to remote parts of Georgia to visit some spectacular villages in the Greater Caucasus mountains. Here's a photo of a church steeple in a remote village.

QSI International School of Tbilisi

Reading and Favorite Books
We read a lot of books from many different genres and from many different authors. Students at QSI Tbilisi are fascinated by the Harry Potter stories. In the Middle School there are themed contests and searches for prizes organized by a superfan teacher. 

Currently the 9-11 year old students are participating in “Battle of the Books”, reading from 30 books across many genres which will culminate in a Jeopardy style quiz showdown.

Scholastic Publishing

More Food -- Khinkhali
Another favorite food is Khinkhali, a boiled dumpling usually with a meat filling.  There are also potato, mushroom, cheese and vegetable varieties if you are in a tourist area.  There is an art to eating khinkhali, first lots of pepper, second hold the knob and bite a small hole, third drink the "soup" inside and lastly eat the remaining part when you can handle the temperature!

Wikicommons / CC-BY-SA 2.0

Our City
According to legend, Tbilisi was founded by King Vakhtang Gorgasali.  In the story it is said that he was hunting in the area and shot a bird that landed in a hot spring.  Depending on the version, the hot spring either cooked the bird or healed the bird’s wounds. 

The King was so impressed that he founded a city there. From a practical standpoint, Tbilisi was founded at the hot springs with high points on three sides overlooking a valley with the river Mtkvari flowing through it. This photo was taken from one of the high points that surround the city.

QSI International School of Tbilisi

Narikala Castle
There was a castle fortress called Narikala built on the western rise which overlooks the whole valley, and you can see the remains of that castle here in this photo.

QSI International School of Tblisisi

Our Country of Georgia
In the Georgian language, our country is called "Sakartvelo" or “land of Kartvelians.” It is located between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains with the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. Georgia shares borders with Russia to the north, and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south.

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