College Counseling, Advisory, and Student Life Center Counselors tripled their college visits last year and attended three conferences, including the College Board Forum for the first time. These initiatives enabled college counselors to stay current with best practices and college admissions processes, while strengthening relationships with admissions office teams worldwide. Giving also supported the advisory program, which strives to create an atmosphere of trust and helps students balance the rigorous academic demands of the SAS experience. The SAS Foundation also supported the brand new student life center: the multi-purpose ‘living room of the school’.
Professional Development
Chinese Immersion SAS launched our first Chinese language immersion program in kindergarten, supporting two Chinese teachers in moving from teaching Chinese as a daily language option to Chinese immersion instruction of all kindergarten subjects. Additionally, two first grade Chinese immersion class teachers were pre-hired to make guided observations of the kindergarten classes, create curriculum, translate the first grade English curriculum into Chinese, and more.
Classrooms Without Walls extends student learning beyond their school experiences through trips to Indonesia, Malaysia, and islands around Singapore. This signature SAS program helps students build positive relationships and community with their homebase classmates: challenging them to grow through their experiences, set goals, develop resiliency, and build self-esteem. SAS improved existing CWW programs and investigated alternative destinations for students, and provided additional nursing support.
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Early Learning Center Playground Improvements The school playground is a vital part of the holistic development of a child. Play is critically important for children’s physical health and social and emotional well-being. Generous support from the SAS Foundations allowed us to renovate the early learning center playground last year. A high, concrete-block wall was removed and the addition of movable fencing and planters has increased access, security, visibility, and community within the early learning center.
Middle School Dance Funding provided middle school dance students the opportunity to work with Nikki Snelson-Cavanaugh, a professional Broadway dancer, director, and choreographer, across all curricular dance classes. In addition, your gifts funded a portable marley dance floor, allowing students to practice and perform safely in alternate spaces. Funds also went toward purchasing the ‘extras’—things like sets of costumes and props.
Students received access to a library with a wide range of appropriately leveled Chinese books.
Middle School Experiential Learning
Staff and faculty received many opportunities for professional development through instructional assistant training, Responsive Classroom training, workshops, and conferences. SAS’s robust professional development program is a major factor in drawing and retaining our world-class faculty.
Elementary School
High School Catalyst The SAS Foundation supported students’ Catalyst project development and personalized learning opportunities, through project materials, researchattachment opportunities, and applications to support digital projects. Funds also supported the student-led Impact Fellowship; helping students by building a mentoring network, publishing media to celebrate achievements, and supporting a studentled workshop on student agency in collaboration with other regional international schools.
Visitors-inResidence The PTA and SAS Foundation-funded signature academic visitors-in-residence program brings internationally recognized authors, visual artists, illustrators, musicians, playwrights, directors, and other professionals to work side by side with faculty and students throughout the year. The program allows students to deeply understand the craft and work of professional artists and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts. In 2017-18 our visitors-inresidence included Maria Frazee, Tadd Hills, Patricia McCormick, and Paul Stickland.
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