Wellness at SAS: A Work in Progress

user wellness is considered. For instance, learning spaces are designed to increase access to greenery and nature, accommodate varied learning styles, and include more comfortable furniture, lighting, and air flow. We are proud that our design decisions for the new elementary school building meet WELL Certification Gold requirements, meaning that users’ mental and physical health and well-being are prioritized. In coming years, a new welcome center will further facilitate community connections.

Our current campus spaces already incorporate plenty of green nooks, open-air access, and views of nature that help promote wellness. We have also developed more spaces for physical activity, quiet time, and socializing in recent years, such as new and improved play spaces, the high school student life center, the middle school friendship garden, and more student-friendly cafes, libraries, and seating areas. The school welcomes families onto campus to exercise, take part in activities, and socialize outside of school hours. The APEx gym has been upgraded, and parents, students, and staff can use it before and after school. Also available when classes are not using them are the fire lane, middle school squishy courts, stadium field track, playgrounds, and libraries.

There are also frequent opportunities for community members to hear from and interact with experts in wellness-related fields, with presentations on subjects as diverse as resilience for third culture kids, menopause, suicide prevention, digital health, and teen alcohol use offered this year. Health professionals, the American Association, and external counselors all partner with SAS to provide pertinent and timely information on a wide range of wellness issues. The annual SAS Wellness Festival offers fun and engaging workshops and is open to all. Events like the Friday Night Lights and the PTA International Fair provide opportunities to build community spirit and celebrate the achievements and diversity of our community. And our afterschool co-curricular programs give students at all levels opportunities to connect, have fun, develop their interests, and interact with educators outside the classroom.

Another important schoolwide initiative to promote wellness is our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, intended to ensure that every person on campus feels safe, respected, heard, and valued. Specific DEI initiatives include student clubs, feedback opportunities, outreach to staff, student and educator identity groups, parent interest groups, and parent language groups and translation services. Educators are incorporating culturally responsive practices into their lessons, and students are learning more about Singapore and Southeast Asia in their classes. Through social activities, buddies, and targeted communications, we are also putting extra effort into ensuring that our new families and new educators feel connected and supported.

The SAS Foundation, which raises funds from donors throughout the year, is an important partner in the school’s wellness efforts.

Foundation funds underwrite visiting artists, writers, and experts, support campusimprovement measures, help clubs and teams achieve their goals, make possible socialemotional learning initiatives, and support our educators in working toward their professional goals. Last year, over 1,400 families participated in the school’s philanthropic efforts, and we thank them for their generosity and care for our community.

Student, Parent, and Educator Wellness Initiatives

For students, we want SAS to be a school where deep learning is balanced by the development of lifelong healthy habits. In our most recent strategic plan, social-emotional learning was identified as a priority area. Through counselor lessons, advisory discussions, and individual and small-group instructions, students are taught the key elements of social-emotional learning: selfawareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decisionmaking. We gather data on students’ perceptions of their wellness using tools like the Panorama survey, so we can improve areas of concern. We have increased the number of support teachers, counselors, and school psychologists, and we are working to provide more consistent support when students change divisions, move through the college admissions process, or experience other transitions. Our physical education classes help students develop motor skills and fitness, and our health classes deliver important, age-appropriate lessons in health and wellness.

The school also partners with SAS parents in wellness—not only to help parents improve their own mental and physical health but also to help them to learn about and model wellness for their children. During divisional parent coffees and counselor talks, parents are advised on how to promote student and family wellness at home with topics such as the responsible use of technology, managing stress and anxiety, navigating the college path, and talking to teens about sexuality. Two parent groups, the PTA and the Booster Club, work to create parent connections, provide opportunities to support and enhance student life, and foster the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere so central to the SAS experience.

The PTA maintains a list of parent interest groups to help parents connect with others and find enjoyable experiences. Of special note, Parent Support For Mental Health is an active, parent-run support group that shares experiences with and approaches to parenting children with mental health challenges.

Our educators work hard, and we know they can experience high levels of stress and burnout. The Working on Wellness (WOW) initiative, started around a decade ago, encourages them to make time for themselves and practice healthy habits. This has proved a popular program and was especially crucial as staff coped with the uncertainties and stresses of the pandemic. In recent years, WOW has helped secure improved mental health access in educators’ insurance programs and has promoted movie nights, cultural activities, wellness presentations, outings, neighborhood tours, and “Fun with Friends,” a special program that prompted staff to enjoy Singapore and nurture social connections when it was impossible for most to leave the island. School leaders conduct frequent check-ins to hear how educators are feeling, and the Faculty Senate meets four times yearly to hear staff comments, suggestions, and feedback and compile them for school leaders to consider. All staff members also participated in mandatory training in suicide prevention and anti-harassment practices this year. A lactation room was created recently, for the convenience of breastfeeding staff and visitors.

From campus design to classroom instruction to extracurricular opportunities to parent involvement and staff initiatives, the SAS community is encouraged to see wellness as an integral part of the SAS education and experience. In this way, we hope to positively impact our students and families now and help them establish habits for healthy and happy living in the future. We hope you join us in working on our wellness—together!

“It is very clear SAS puts a spotlight on wellness and cares about helping its students. Every aspect of our days is infused with elements that create an overall culture of wellness, from advisory lessons on self-management during AP weeks to health classes teaching us healthy coping mechanisms like yoga and coloring to try when we feel overwhelmed in and out of school. As a senior, I can see pivotal points in my high school career where it was the SAS care for my well-being that got me to where I am today."

“The WOW program is one of the best perks of working at SAS. The way that SAS supported us throughout the COVID times by offering so much for us to do at home made those crazy times so much easier. I've enjoyed being part of the WOW committee and being able to take part in so many wellness activities. WOW is what makes SAS unique. It's such a robust program that offers wellness in every possible aspect. I appreciate how my workplace supports me to be the best version of myself, in the ways that suit me best."

—Jemma

Hooykaas, Third Grade Teacher

“Wellness comes in all shapes and forms and being in an organization that encourages discovering them is amazing. Not only does SAS care about their students and employees, the programs help the community and in turn brings us closer. The wellbeing of the community is a subject that has to continue and grow for the better. I am happy and proud to be a part of an organization that cares so much about wellness."

—Sheereen Fahmy, Library Community Specialist

Lucky 8s Scholarships at Singapore American School

The Lucky 8s scholarship program provides opportunities that empower educators at SAS to pursue their professional and personal growth. Through generous contributions from our community, the scholarship provides financial support to instructional assistants and support staff, allowing them to pursue higher education, attend training programs, and participate in professional development opportunities. The Lucky 8s scholarship not only enhances the skills and knowledge of our educators but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and innovation within our school community. By investing in the growth of our educators, we are investing in the success and well-being of our students.