Breadcrumbs

Timeline of ASL

1951
Stephen L. Eckard opens a school for 13 students in his flat on Hans Place in Knightsbridge

1952 
School moves to Grosvenor Square as the School grows to 135 students and 10 teachers

1955 
U.S. President Harry Truman addresses students

1957 
High School (Grades 10–12) added as the School moves to two Regency houses at Gloucester Gate

1960 
First High School graduation (12 seniors)
First yearbook produced
First prom (at Manettas)
The eagle is chosen as the School mascot

1963 
School moves to 38/41 York Terrace
Teacher Paul Morton begins 33 years of perfect attendance

1964 
ASL becomes an educational trust
The School expands and is housed under 12 roofs

1968 
The International Sports League (ISL) is started
York Gate opens for Middle School
Ground breaking for the new campus in St. John's Wood by U.S. Ambassador David K. E. Bruce

1969 
The High School moves to the Working Men's College for two years while the new building is finished

1970 
The cornerstone for the new school building is laid by the Rt. Hon. Michael Stuart, CH, MP, British foreign and commonwealth secretary, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Walter Annenberg and ASL Board Chairman Albert F. Lager

1971
The new building is dedicated by the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, MP, secretary of state for education and science
First graduation in the new building; Lord Hailsham is a guest speaker
First championships in ISL Tournament—boys soccer, girls volleyball
Jack H. Harrison chosen as the second head of school (1971-86)

1972 
The Faculty Sabbatical Policy is established; Harry Hurtt is the first recipient

1973 
DoDDS (Department of Defense Dependents Schools) Sports League begins
The Student-Teacher Mentor Program is established

1974 
First Music Tour – Stage Band goes to The Hague
The American Memorial Collection is established in the Mellon Library to commemorate ASL families killed in a Paris plane crash
International Schools Sports Tournament (ISST) is started

1975 
International Honor Band and Choir are established by ASL faculty
The HS student newspaper, the Standard, is started

1978 
First High School Alternatives trips

1979 
Death of ASL founder and first head of school Stephen L. Eckard

1981 
First computer lab is built

1984 
Concert Band plays for U.S. President Ronald Reagan at Winfield House, residence of the US ambassador

1986 
William E. Harris is chosen as the third head of school (1986-91)

1991 
Death of William E. Harris, third head of school
William H. Greenham is chosen as fourth/interim head of school (1991-92)

1992 
Judith R. Glickman is chosen as the fifth head of school (1992-98)

1994 
Canons Park playing fields are purchased

1996 
Schoolwide computer network is installed

1997 
Board of Trustees approves a Facilities Master Plan

1998 
William C. Mules is chosen as the sixth head of school (1998-2007)
The school launches its first capital campaign, SchoolWorks, in support of campus renovation and expansion

1999 
SchoolWorks' ground breaking ceremony for the School's renovation and expansion

2000 
Completion of new gyms and the High School humanities wing

2001 
Completion of the SchoolWorks capital campaign
ASL celebrates 50 years of providing quality education

2006 
The School launches its second capital campaign, Fulfilling Great Expectations, to increase endowment in support of faculty and staff and to renovate the school theater
Fulfilling Great Expectations ground breaking ceremony for the new School Center for Education and the Arts

2007 
Coreen R. Hester is chosen as the seventh head of school (2007-17)

2008 
School Center for Education and the Arts grand opening ceremony—special guests include the Honorable Al Gore

2010 
Board of Trustees adopts the 2010 Strategic Plan

2011 
Founder's Day celebrated in April to mark the founding of ASL in April 1951 and the school's 60th anniversary

2013 
Board of Trustees announce plans for ASL's third capital campaign, New Frontiers, in support of program excellence, new and renovated facilities, and endowment growth

2016 
Community Arts Building, Aquatic & Fitness Center, Learning Commons and renovated MS and HS science spaces open

2017 
Robin Appleby is chosen as the eighth head of school (2017-2021)

2022
Coreen R. Hester returns as Interim head of school (2022-23)

2023
Matt Horvat is chosen as the ninth head of School (2023-)