Fall Festival and the Community Spirit of KAS
Last weekend’s Fall Festival, hosted by our PTA, was a celebration of Kaohsiung American School’s deep-rooted history of unity and tradition. As students and families enjoyed games, treats, and activities, we were reminded of how KAS has evolved since its founding—rooted in the shared vision of community and international education that has defined us from the start.
KAS began in the late-1980s when founder Robert Griffiths, an employee of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), met with two young parents, Steve Carroll and Joe Cuthbertson, in his living room to discuss the need for an English-language school in Kaohsiung. This simple meeting was the spark that eventually brought KAS to life. In 1989, with support from an American Chamber of Commerce grant and a group of dedicated parents, KAS opened its doors to 16 K-8 students in a series of apartments in the Chang Gung Hospital compound. From the beginning, KAS embodied the values of a close-knit, community-centered school, committed to providing a holistic, high-quality international education in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Throughout the years, our teachers have worked with care and dedication to support each student’s journey, bringing our core values of stewardship, belonging, excellence, well-being, and personalized learning to life every day. With the support of our parents and PTA, they help create an environment where students feel encouraged to pursue their passions and celebrate their individuality, whether in academics, the arts, athletics, or beyond.
Parent involvement has also been instrumental in shaping KAS. In the early years, founding families not only set up classrooms and organized learning resources but also established lasting traditions. This commitment evolved into a formal PTA in 1996-97, which has since continued to support the school’s mission through events like the Fall Festival, Thanksgiving celebrations, and winter concerts—traditions that connect generations of KAS families.
Over the decades, KAS has grown significantly, moving through four campuses, expanding its student body, and continuously improving its programs to prepare students for an interconnected world. The school added English as a Second Language (ESL) support in the early 1990s, achieved full WASC accreditation, expanded to high school grades, and embraced the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and Middle Years Programme. Through each of these milestones, KAS has remained true to its founding principles, encouraging students to celebrate their individuality while striving for academic excellence.
The Fall Festival exemplifies the spirit of Kaohsiung American School—a school born from community, shaped by tradition, and sustained by the dedication of teachers, families, and students alike. Thank you to our incredible PTA, students and everyone who who made this year’s festival a memorable success!
