Singapore American School Newsflash, October 2004

NEWSFLASH A Singapore American School community service publication Volume 7, Issue 1-04/05 - October 2004

Grand Opening of High School and Early Childhood Center August 28, 2004

photo by Paul Griffin

U.S. Ambassador Franklin Lavin and SAS Board of Governors Vice Chairman Garth Sheldon performing the honors at ribbon-cutting ceremony as nearly 300 guests look on

Are You a Member of the American School Trust?

The American School Trust Limited is the legal entity under which the Singapore American School operates. Members of the Trust participate in the governance of the School by electing twelve fellow Trust members to the Board of Governors, which oversees the operations of the School.

In order to vote at the Annual General Meeting of the Trust, to be held this year on October 26, and to vote for candidates standing for election to the Board of Governors, you must be a member of the Trust. If you have not previously joined the American School Trust, or are unsure of whether or not you are a member, please call Board Secretary Margaret Yeo at 63606314 or email margaret@sas.edu.sg for assistance.

Meet the SAS Board of Governors Board Committees Finance Committee Facilities Committee Trust Committee Curriculum Committee Executive Compensation Committee Executive Committee

Shelley DeFord Board member since 1999 Term ending 2005 Chairman of the Board Chairman, Executive Chairman, Executive Comp Member, Finance Member, Trust

Application for parent membership to the Trust is part of the standard application for admission to Singapore American School. All Parents, Legal Guardians, and Faculty members are eligible and encouraged to join. There is no fee for membership.

NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH is published bimonthly (October, December, February, April, and June) by the Communications Office of the Singapore American School. On occasion, special issues may also be printed. It is distributed free of charge to the parents, faculty members and organizations served by the school. Inquiries and comments should be addressed to: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE Singapore American School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Singapore 738547 6360-6303 email: ghan@sas.edu.sg SAS Home Page: http://www.sas.edu.sg Chairman of the Board Mrs. Shelley DeFord Superintendent Mr. Robert Gross

Lowell Gruman Board member since 1999 Term ending 2004 Member, Facilities Member, Finance

A

Richard Borsuk Board member since 2001 Term ending 2004 Member, Curriculum Member, Finance

Melanie Ng Chew Board member since 2001 Term ending 2004 Member, Executive Comp Member, Facilities Member, Trust

Annual General Meeting and Board of Governors Elections to Be Held October 26

s part of the American School Trust’s Annual General Meeting, to be held this year at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday October 26, in Room H301 in the High School, Trust members will elect four Governors by ballot to the school’s 12-member volunteer Board of Governors.

The Board of Governors is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the operations of the school and providing guidance to the school’s administration.

Each Governor is elected to a three-year term, and while obliged to retire after completing his or her term, a retiring Governor may choose to stand for reelection.

All Trust members are urged to participate in the governance of the school by coming to the Annual General Meeting and by using their right to vote. If you are unable to be present, absentee ballots will be available. An agenda for the AGM and instructions for absentee voting was mailed to all members of the Trust October 12.

Garth Sheldon Board member since 1999 Term ending 2005 Vice Chairman of the Board Chairman, Facilities Member, Executive Member, Curriculum

Robert Comstock Board member since 2002 Term ending 2005 Member, Facilities Member, Finance

Sally Greene Board member since 2000 Term ending 2006 Chairman, Curriculum Member, Executive Member, Facilities

Maya Roll Board member since 2003 Term ending 2005 Member, Curriculum Member, Trust

Are You Interested in Serving on the Board?

E

ach elected Board member serves a 3-year term. In the event that a Board member cannot fulfill the complete term, a Trust member is appointed by the Board to take his or her place for

the remainder of the term.

Any Trust member who wishes to be considered for a position on the Board may provide his or her name at any time to the Board Secretary, Margaret Yeo. Margaret may be reached at 6360-6314 or by email at margaret@sas.edu.sg. The Trust Committee reviews applications for consideration in the event that a Board vacancy occurs.

It is also possible for any Trust member to stand for election at an AGM by filing a written statement of his or her intention to stand for election, supported by the signatures of 30 members in good standing of the Trust, 21 days prior to any AGM.

Carl Stocking Board member since 2003 Term ending 2006 Chairman, Finance Member, Executive Member, Executive Comp Member, Facilities

Edison Liu Board member since 2004 Term ending 2004 Member, Curriculum Member, Trust

Mary Witkewicz Board member since 2003 Term ending 2006 Chairman, Trust Member, Executive Member, Finance

Next Board Meeting October 26 Information about the Board, meeting dates, and meeting summaries will be posted on the school website

www.sas.edu.sg

John Medeiros Thank You!

J

ohn Medeiros has resigned from the SAS Board of Governors and relocated to Jakarta.

Mr. Medeiros was a valuable member of the Board from 2001 to 2004 serving on the Trust and Curriculum Committees.

We thank him for his contributions and wish him well.

Candidates For Richard M. Borsuk (SAS Board member since 2001) Number of children at SAS: One daughter, in grade 10 Occupation: Journalist and Editor Employer: The Asian Wall Street Journal Expected stay in Singapore: Indefinite Educational Background: B.A. in Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin Community involvement: SAS Board of Governors, June 2001 – present (member, at different times, of the Facilities, Curriculum and Finance committees) Active in Foreign Correspondents Clubs in several cities

Michele D. Gilmer Number of children at SAS: Austin –Grade 4, Ashley –Grade 2 Occupation: Attorney, Mom, School and Community Volunteer Expected length of stay in Singapore: Indefinite Educational Background: Juris Doctorate Degree: Golden Gate University Law School, San Francisco, California Bachelor of Arts: Georgetown University, District of Columbia Coro Fellow (Public Affairs Foundation), San Francisco, California Lindamood Bell Training Certificate, Los Angeles, California Member of the State Bar of California and the District of Columbia Bar Association Community Involvement: SAS Parent Volunteer Tiger Scouts (Den Leader) Brownies (Assistant Leader) American Women’s Association (Tour leader for various foreign & local tours)

Melanie Chew (SAS Board member since 2001) Number of children at SAS: One, Catherine, in grade 10 Occupation: Senior Research Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (1994 – present) Member of the Boards of Jetstar Asia and Resource Pacific Holdings Lecturer, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore (1992 – 1994) Military Historian, Command and Staff College (1982 to 1992) Publications: The Sky, Our Country: A History of the Singapore Air Force (1994) Leaders of Singapore, (1996) Of Hearts and Minds: The Story of Sembawang (1998) Presidential Notes: A Biography of President Yusof bin Ishak (1910 - 1970) (1999) Memories of The Fullerton (2001) Creating the Technology Edge: The Defence Science Organization (2002) Expected length of stay in Singapore: Indefinite Educational background: University of Oxford (M Phil, D Phil) University of New South Wales (BA, MA) Singapore American School (Grade 1 to 12, Class of 1972) Community involvement: Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) (Past-Chairman, Singapore Chapter) Vice President for Oxford, United Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore Founder Member (Past-Chairman), Methodist Schools Foundation Council Member, Equestrian Federation of Singapore

Tom Linton Number of children at SAS: Brian - Grade 12, James - Grade 8, Occupation: Chief Procurement Officer Employer: Agere Systems Inc. Expected Length of stay in Singapore: Arrived January 1996, no current plans to leave Educational background: BA, University of Vermont, 1980 Singapore Community Involvement: SACAC National League Football Commissioner SACAC Football and Basketball Coach VP International Procurement Management Association of Singapore International Baptist Church Deacon Council Frequent guest speaker at NTU, NUS and visiting US MBA programs

Board of Governors Edison T. Liu Ryan Padgett

(SAS Board member since 2004) Number of children at SAS: Three: Aged 8, 13, 18 (recently graduated from SAS) Occupation: Executive Director, Genome Institute of Singapore (Physician, Researcher) Employer: Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore Expected stay in Singapore: No plans to leave Educational background: B.S. in Chemistry and Psychology: Stanford (1973) M.D. Stanford University (1978) Community Involvement (Singapore): 2001-2003 University Promotion and Tenuring Committee (National University of Singapore) 2002 Ministerial committee to revaluate Singapore’s secondary school system (Ministry of Education) 2002 National University of Singapore: Feasibility study team for the establishment of a multi-campus university.

2002-2004 General Motors Award, General Assembly (USA) 2003 Bioethics Advisory Committee (Advisory to Parliament, Member), Singapore 2004 University Autonomy, Governance, and Funding Steering Committee (MOE, Singapore, Member) 2004 Chair, Singapore Science Center. Committee for Life Sciences

SAS Family Connections: Andrew is a Senior, he started at SAS in 3rd grade.

Erica is in 8th grade, she started at SAS in 2nd grade.

Julian is in Pre-K, his first year at SAS Teresa has been very active in many parent support roles with both PTA and Boosters Employment: ING Bank Singapore Managing Director Regional Head of Treasury Other Directorships: ING Vysya Bank Limited, Bangalore, India ING Investments Asia Limited, Hong Kong Relevant Background: 22 years experience in banking and finance.

19 years living in Asia 12 years in Singapore Exposure to other international programs: HKIS, Canadian International School, British and Australian primary schools.

Sheila Wang Number of children at SAS: Kendrick, grade 7; Kevin, grade 4 Occupation: Adjunct Associate Professor, Graduate Business School, National University of Singapore Other Work Experience: Worldwide Director, Hewlett-Packard/Agilent Technologies, 1987-2002 Scope: Managed US$1.2 billion business volume with reporting staff from US, Europe, and Asia.

Adjunct Professor, California State University, San Jose, 1988-1989 Expected Stay: Arrived 2000, no current plans to leave

Educational Background: Doctor Business Administration Candidate, University of Newcastle, Australia M.S., Stanford University in Management Science and Engineering, 1987 B.S. (top of class honors), U.C. Berkeley in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, 1983 Community Involvement: Business Board of Visitors, University of Puget Sound, since 2001 Advisor, EMBA program, National University of Singapore Various classroom and PTA assistance, Singapore American School (and previously at Hong Kong International School and Chinese International School in Hong Kong) Member, American Club Member, Tanah Merah Club Board of Advisors, California State University, San Jose, 19881990

From The Board Chair Dear Trust Members, 2004 is certainly shaping up to be the “year to vote.”

Whether you are gearing up to vote in the hotly contested U.S. Presidential election or you have already cast your ballot in 2004 elections in Greece, Spain, Poland, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, South Korea, India, the Philippines, Canada or Japan, I would like to remind you to participate in yet another important election; the election of the SAS Board of Governors on October 26th.

Your Board of Governors has several key responsibilities which include setting school policy, overseeing the financial health of the school and, when necessary, choosing a new superintendent. While we don’t affect the day-to-day education of your child, your voting input is important for the long term quality and direction of our school.

There are two ways that new board members are selected. First is appointment. When a board position is vacated, the Board will assess its current membership and draw from a pool of interested parents to fill that vacancy. We strive to have a good balance of people on the board; people with different backgrounds, people with children of varying ages, people bringing different experiences and views, people who are all dedicated to SAS. The second way to select new board members is

through the general election process that is coming up in October.

How can you have a voice in your school’s governance?

First, if you are interested to serve on the Board, get your name on a list of people willing to serve or become a candidate in the annual election. Second, and most important, VOTE! It’s pretty easy. A ballot was mailed to you that you can fill out and return to us. But better yet, come to the General Meeting on Tuesday, October 26th at 7:00 pm in High School H301. We will be voting, announcing the new board members and hearing from Bob Gross about how the first few months of the school year are going. There will be refreshments and plenty of time to talk with the administrators and board members.

While this might not be a vote of international political importance, it is your chance to have a voice in the governance of your school. So whether you join us on October 26th or you mail in your ballot, I hope you will take the time to vote.

Sincerely, Shelley DeFord Chairman SAS Board of Governors

Vote at the AGM October 26

From the Superintendent

L

ike many of you, I get a sore neck occasionally.

And, if I was working in a business that attracted so many “pains in the neck,” it might be easier to trace the origin of the pain. In any case, the chiropractor, by pushing certain areas of my neck and back, causes a loud crack as the bones seem to slip back in place. Like many things, the sound is scary but the action is not painful and relief is almost immediate.

Sitting in my office this summer, I have heard and experienced many scary sounds on campus as the contractors were razing old structure, pounding piling, erecting scaffolding, pouring concrete and hauling away debris. While the sound may have been scary, the results are wonderful.

We are opening the campus this school year to a new high school and early childhood center, a remodeled middle school, a new music area and an addition to the intermediate school.

It is another exciting chapter in the history of SAS as we look towards celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2006.

“We are opening the school year with marvelous facilities, a secure environment, a quality teaching staff and an academic program that is challenging and stimulating.”

While we take great pride in our facilities, we take an even greater pride in the quality of our teachers. We have welcomed and oriented 25 new teachers to SAS. They join 237 other teachers at SAS in accepting the challenge and excitement of working with a diverse and talented student body.

Our enrollment is up about 180 students from last school year at 3030 students. Enrollment patterns from previous years suggest that another 75 students will enroll as the school year progresses. This is an an all-time high enrollment for SAS, surpassing the 3005 achieved by the end of the 2002-03 school year. Fortunately, we now have the facilities that can accommodate an enrollment of 3700 students. In previous correspondence, we have informed you that the property lease with the government stipulated that we must have 3700 students on this campus before a wait list can be established.

The US Department of State has also awarded us a security grant that will allow us to install road blockers at the entry ways to the campus and by the high school parking garage. Additional grant money was also awarded to complete the security fence around the campus and for the purchase of an explosive detection device. The balance of the grant will be used to upgrade the campus emergency alarm system. Maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students and staff is a top priority.

We have opened the school year with marvelous facilities, a secure environment, a quality teaching staff and an academic program that is challenging and stimulating. It all contributes to ensuring that our students end up aligned with our expectations so they don’t need to head for an educational chiropractor to have their necks cracked back into place from the stresses we have placed on them.

Welcome to the 2004-05 school year.

Bob Gross Superintendent of Schools

SCHOOL-WIDE GOALS 2004-5 1. To assure a successful move to the new high school, early childhood center and intermediate school addition.

2. To examine all components of the school budget to assure appropriate: Tuition Levels Compensation Programs Resource Allocation

3. To continue the development of: Security and Safety Measures K - 12 Six Traits Writing Program Character Education Program WASC [Western Association of Schools and Colleges] Recommended Changes 4. To support implementation of: Presentation Skills Initiative English/Reading Language Arts/ESL Curriculum Development/Endowment Program 5. To fully assure the capability and effectiveness of our schoolwide technology program

ICCS 2004 International Coastal Cleanup - Singapore

O

n the morning of Saturday, September 18, 106 Cub Scouts, middle school and high school students, teachers, and parents participated in the 13th International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) at Kranji-Buloh Mangroves.

Working alongside other Singapore local schools, SAS volunteers helped remove debris and collect data in their assigned area, the farthest and filthiest cleanup site at Kranji-Buloh. Students were divided into groups consisting of trash-pickers and a data recorder, while “lumpers” helped carry and weigh the trash. Although SAS had only one-fourth of the total volunteers there, SAS collected 1887 kg of trash out of a total 3167 kg, or about 60% of the total trash.

The top ten debris collected were bags, straws, food wrappers and containers, Styrofoam pieces, plastic beverage bottles, plastic sheeting/tarps, caps and lids, glass beverage bottles, clothing and shoes, and utensils. Volunteers also collected some more interesting items, such as large tires, motorcycle helmets, and hefty plastic drums. Like last year, the largest source of pollution was from shoreline and recreational activities.

After working for a grueling three hours, volunteers stopped when the tides came.

However, "sweat and wet ops" continued working for about another five hours, removing the collected trash by trolley and wheelbarrows and then by canoe and boat to proper disposal sites. With the help in organization of Kate Thome, Martha Began, Steve Early, as well as SAVE club, ICCS was a great success.

“SAS did it again!” remarked Kate Thome, and indeed, volunteers proved they could undertake more difficult areas.

Thanks to all volunteers for your efforts and contributions!

by Kathleen Sun, high school junior

School-Wide Communications Newsletters

S

AS publishes three regular newsletters to parents, staff, and other members of the wider school community.

What’s Happening at SAS is a web-based e-

newsletter sent every week when school is in session, to all parents and staff by email. It is also posted on the parents’ page of the school website. It covers all school events occurring over the following two weeks, as well as any pertinent announcements or news items.

Newsflash is a color publication that celebrates the

life of the school. It highlights school goals, issues, events and accomplishments and covers curriculum, Board of Governors, classroom experiences, community service, arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities through articles and photos. This publication also recognizes individual and group achievements by students and teachers. Newsflash is published bimonthly in October, December, February April, and June. Special editions may also be published from time to time.

Forum

is a black and white publication that provides news and information of direct interest to our school community. Upcoming events and performances are highlighted. Our parent groups - PTA, Boosters and Arts Council - use Forum as their primary vehicle of communication about their activities and events. The wider community - the American Association, SACAC, the US Embassy, Scout organizations and other groups who sponsor programs of interest for our children - are also invited to provide information in Forum. It includes a Trading Post that helps our community members to buy and sell personal belongings as families move in and out of Singapore. Items of a general community service or cultural interest are also included from time to time. Forum is published the first of every month except July.

If you have a question about the school, and don't know who to ask,,, or if you can't find what you're looking for on the website try using

ASK SAS

You will find it on the Parent Home Page of the website. Send us your question and we will try to get an answer for you.

If you are not receiving any of these publications, please let us know.

Email communications@sas.edu.sg

Website Schoolwide Website

When you go to the SAS home page (www.sas.edu.sg) you are in the schoolwide website. This has information about the school for visitors or prospective parents, for teachers, for alumni and for current parents. Information for our current parents is centered in the Parent Home Page.

At the top of every page in the schoolwide web, there are two rows of links. The links in red at the top are direct channels depending on the interest group of the person accessing the website. Selecting "Current Parents" will take you directly to the Parent Home Page. The links in blue are direct links to specific pages that might be of general interest to anyone. There are direct links to information about our arts programs, news items, photo galleries and a site map. These pages aren't all complete but more information and photos will gradually be added.

The Parent Home Page has links to what we hope covers most of what you might be interested in - curriculum, calendars, copies of publications, division handbooks, contact information, cafeteria menus, athletics, arts, PTA and other community events, information about the Board of Governors and the Board meetings, downloadable school forms, information about health and safety, and links to other community associations. Soon photo galleries will also be added that will cover various school events.

Division Websites

On every page of the schoolwide website, you will see links to the division websites. Each division maintains its own website.

These are managed by the division technologuy coordinators.

The division websites and the schoolwide website are meant to complement each other. While the division websites may vary, in general they include specific program information, teacher/classroom web pages, information about the library, counseling and special services, and administrative information for the division.

Board and Parent Group Websites

Also on every page of the schoolwide website, you will see direct links in grey to the Board of Governors web pages and to three websites maintained by our parent groups: PTA, Boosters and Arts Council.

We hope that you find the school website useful and encourage you to check often for updates on the Parent Home Page, the division websites, and the parent group websites.

If you have any suggestions for making the Parent Home Page or any of the division websites more useful to you please let us know. You can send an email with your comments or suggestions to communications@sas.edu.sg

From the Director of Staff Development and Curriculum for staff, students, and parents to contribute their input on ideas to enhance these areas.

Two external consultants reviewed the current Social Studies curriculum in all four divisions, and their written report will be useful in our Curriculum Writing Committee discussions.

This summer, David O’Connell (high school Social Studies Department Chair), Ian Coppell (middle school Social Studies Teacher), and I had an opportunity to participate in a sixday Social Studies Institute hosted in Virginia by the United States Department of Education. The Institute focused on best practices in Social Studies education and introduced the development of international standards for Social Studies.

We’re looking forward to the ideas that staff, students, and parents will provide for this exciting area of study.

Curriculum and Staff Development at SAS for 2004-2005

I

t’s looking like another full and exciting year for curriculum and staff development at SAS.

Visual and Performing Arts Computers, Business, & Technology

This year we will be completing the new curriculum for Visual and Performing Arts and also Computers, Business, & Technology, and we will be providing “adoption support” for the purchase of new and additional resources for classrooms. We benefited last year from excellent input from staff, students, and parents in all of these curriculum areas, and had the time to review and discuss best practices and ideas for further enhancing programs and courses for students in all four divisions. Parent Ad Hoc Committees provided further support and expansion of ideas. Therefore, in addition to the completion of new curriculum and adoption of resources, this year will serve as the development year for pursuing as many of the recommendations as possible for full implementation in 2005-2006.

Social Studies Foreign Language Social Studies and Foreign Language are entering their first year of a two-year review and development process on the Curriculum Cycle. We will once again provide opportunities

Dr. Myriam Met is an external consultant who just completed a three-day on-site review of our foreign language programs in all four divisions. Dr. Met is the Acting Director of the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland, where her work focuses primarily on K-12 foreign language. She currently serves on the Executive Council of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, and is the recipient of several significant awards for her work in foreign language education. In addition to Dr. Met’s observations, we will be providing opportunities for staff, students, and parents to generate their ideas on ways that we can continue to enhance our school-wide foreign language programs.

Staff Development In the area of staff development, we have already scheduled 12 programs for the school year that will bring very exciting and substantive presenters to SAS. Five of these programs are graduate courses that will be part of our new on-site Master’s Degree Program that we have developed in association with Buffalo State University. The following are the programs that are already scheduled for the year: 1) Atlas Curriculum Software Training (PS-12) 2) Maya Software Training (High School) 3) Publisher Inservice for Use of New English/RLA/ ESL Student Resources (PS-12) 4) Enhancing Student Learning Through Assessment (PS-12) 5) Addressing the Issues and Needs of the New RLA/ English Curriculum (PS-8)* 6) Designing High Quality Classroom Curriculum (PS12) 7) Real Spelling (PK-8)* 8) Brain-Based Learning: Understanding How Students Learn (PS-12)* 9) Best Practices in Classroom-Based Reading and Writing Assessment (K-8) 10) Differentiating Instruction to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners (PS-12)*

11) Enhancing Student Reading Comprehension (K-12) 12) Increasing Capacity Through Technology (PS-12) * Indicates that a Parent Night will be offered by the presenter for parents interested in this topic.

RLA/English We are entering our first year of implementation of our new Reading Language Arts/English curriculum and use of new/additional resources for classrooms. Teachers will be involved this year in determining the changes that this brings to their classroom units/themes/topics. As always, this will be a collaborative teacher process to determine a high quality consistent core of instruction across grade levels and subject areas. Diane Murphy was an external consultant that we used last year in the review process of our school curriculum, and she will be at SAS this year providing five full days of workshop support for areas of the new curriculum.

“

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

”

W. B. Yeats WASC Accreditation

Finally, SAS will be participating in its mid-term accreditation review in April. A visiting team will arrive at SAS to study our three years of progress since the school’s last on-site full review. Between the full and mid-term reviews, SAS provides annual progress updates to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The mid-term visit and review will provide the opportunity for various members of the school community to comment and participate.

In addition to the areas identified here, there are several other enhancements that this department and the divisions will be pursuing this year. Our progress in all of these areas is made possible because we are blessed with a highly skilled and capable staff, a diversely talented group of students, and a community of caring and supportive parents. In all of our efforts, we feel that it is important at SAS to simultaneously look at what we are doing and who we are. We know that, in many ways, our work at SAS is only the beginning for our students, and so our efforts are also focused on how we can build positive and constructive bridges into the future.

Perhaps the poet William Butler Yeats expressed this interest best when he wrote: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

“Books Rock!

Let’s Read and Roll” ... at the

2004 PTA Book Fair and Holiday Vendor Fair Elementary Gymnasium Book-mark the dates:

November 16-20 Book Fair

Tuesday, November 16 to Friday November 19 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 20 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

NEW at the Book Fair!

Announcing a jointly-running

Holiday Vendor Fair November 19-20 An exciting variety of merchandise and holiday gifts from over 30 vendors will be available on the last two days of the Book Fair.

Books and Bazaar Under One Roof!

See you at the PTA Book Fair and Holiday Vendor Fair

Meet the Administration

Bob Gross Superintendent

Rhonda Norris Director of Business Affairs

Ed Gilbreath Director of Technolgy

Laurie Thompson Director of Admissions

Mark Boyer Director of Staff Development and Curriculum

Anthony Wong Director of Facilities

Lisa Kleintjes Kamemoto Director of Development

nt Ga o r F he s at t

Gillian Han Director of Communications

te

Face Isaac Benjamin Security/Safety Supervisor

Muthiah Gunalan Assistant Security Supervisor

Divisions

David Hoss Primary School Principal

Ken Schunck Primary School Deputy Principal

Geri Johnson Director of Early Childhood Center

Marian DeGroot Intermediate School Principal

Marc L'Heureux Intermediate School Deputy Principal

Allan Bredy Middle School Principal

Paul Chmelik High School Principal

David Norcott High School Deputy Principal

Robert Godley Middle School Deputy Principal

Mimi Molchan High School Director of Activities/Athletics

Brian Combes High School Assistant Director of Activities/Athletics

Meet The new Teachers

Lily Lee ECC Mandarin

Patrick Goh ECC Preschool

Shabari Karumbaya PS Resource

Pat Liew Grade 1

Leanne Pepple Elementary Music

Lyndel Hardy Primary P.E.

Leah LLamazon IS Resource

Cristina Ewell IS Mandarin

Michael Gallagher Grade 5

Anita Gallagher Grade 3 Kathy Cullen Grade 5

Lynn Arnold Grade 5

Lisette Filice-Roy Grade 5

Rebecca Johnson Grade 5

Jamie Morrisroe Grade 5

Kimberly Riemer Grade 5

Bonnie Book Grade 8

Carmine Filice Grade 7

Elizabeth Bynum High School English

Laurence Patrick High School French

Hung-Hua Chen Charbonnet MS Mandarin

Catherine Parent MS Dance/PE

Gwen Bergman High School Counelor

Karen Portman High School Science

Barbara Harvey High School Art

Judy Ridgway High School Technology Coordinator

Gordon Cyr MS Resource

Lisa Pizzi Grade 7

Francesca Chang High School Spanish

Kim Tay High School English

SAS Parent Organizations

T PTA Executive l to r: Monika Comstock (Treasurer), Susan Murray (President), Susan Fay (Secretary) Cathy Cunningham (Vice President), Shelly DeFord (Parliamentarian)

PTA

he PTA has been in existence at SAS for over 40 years. It is a volunteer organization that seeks to enrich student life at SAS by offering activities and sponsoring speakers, artists and performers to educate our children. Senior Awards are awarded annually to graduating SAS seniors. The PTA sells uniforms and other items from its Sales Booth and organizes key events during the year including the International Food Fest, Book Fair, and County Fair. The PTA web site has information about committees, activities and events sponsored by the PTA including dates of parent coffees throughout the school year. All SAS parents are automatically members of the PTA. Call one of the PTA executive members to see how you can get involved.

ARTS Council

M

embers of the Arts Council are dedicated to promoting the arts at SAS. The Arts Council organizes and sponsors extracurricular student excursions to theater and music events in Singapore. In addition, the Arts Council has organized after-school artsaccess programs in the Primary and Intermediate schools.

Arts Council volunteers are always ready to lend support to arts activities at school ranging from setting up art shows, helping with props and decorations, hosting afterperformance receptions, and providing special recognition for our talented performers. Bringing professional artists to school to meet students and work with them is another Arts Council activity.

The Arts Council always welcomes ideas and volunteers. Check out the Arts Council website for more information. Please contact Ann Lavin, 6466-5997 or lavinhq@hotmail.com

The Booster Booth is located in the main lobby of the high school. Booster Club Executive: Gayle Haslett (President), Nancy Bussing (1st Vice President), Janine Byrne (2nd Vice President), Sue Fordney (Secretary), Michelle Brunoehler (Treasurer).

Booster Club

T

he Booster Club provides volunteer parental support to athletic, cultural, extracurricular and scholastic activities involving SAS high school students, and encourages awareness through involvement and communication. All parents and/or guardians of high school students are automatically members of Boosters. Booster volunteers sell uniforms and design specialty gift items; organize the Holiday Home Tour; assist with visual and performing arts productions; sponsor honor roll recognition events, awards evenings and the Senior Breakfast; award Interim Scholarships and Senior Spirit awards; sew costumes; hold bake sales; offer housing for exchange students during IASAS events ... and more.

Information about Booster Club activities can be found on the Booster web site.

Look for more information about PTA, ARTS Council and Boosters in the monthly FORUM and What's Happening email.

High School Dance Exchange

by Marisa Hale, High School Senior

R

ight after school on Friday, September 10th, ten high school girls (including me) excitedly boarded a bus outside school.

Six hours later, we arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the Dance Exchange. Tired, even though we had been sitting for hours, we headed straight to our host homes for a good night’s sleep before the long day ahead of us.

We started off the morning with capoeria, which is a high energy Brazilian martial arts game, with a master who had studied the subject for years. Next we learned part of a modern piece choreographed

by Mark Morris. After lunch, we had three more workshops: contemporary with Judimar Monfils, lyrical jazz with Celeste Theunissen, and ethnic funk also with Celeste Theunissen.

After a tiring and long day, we quickly showered and changed to go to a local mall for dinner and some shopping.

The trip was short, but sweet. The workshops were fun, but the best part for us was hanging out together in a city we didn’t know too well and meeting new people who were also there to have fun dancing. After having said this, I have to say that we were happy to be home.

Participants Lauren Gaylord Marisa Hale Emily Murray Olivia Cain Olivia Kelly Shanna Iacovino Tiffany Too Deepti Dhir Claudia Codron Michaela Nilsson

From the Director of Development In the June 2004 issue of NewsFlash, Superintendent Bob Gross reported that the Board of Governors had approved the implementation of a Development/Endowment program beginning with the 2004/05 school year, and that I was appointed as the director to develop the program. And here I am – back in Asia with my 9th grade daughter after living and working in Japan for sixteen years (four at The American School in Japan), with a three-year stay at an independent school in Seattle, WA just prior to moving to Singapore.

First steps As I complete my first few weeks at SAS in this new role, I am in a listening and planning mode. I have been meeting with many people – faculty, administrators, board members, alumni, parent group leaders and students – to learn about SAS, its community, and all of the fundraising activities that have been working so very well for the school. Still in this learning mode, I’m beginning to formulate the “roadmap” for development at SAS, but still have many questions.

However, I feel it is time to provide you some insight into where we are going, even in the early stages, to help us all understand this new program, and to hopefully gain your support in terms of ideas and suggestions – and yes, in volunteer time!

What is the role of the SAS development director?

Development covers a lot of areas in school advancement, depending on the school and its goals, but my main responsibilities here at SAS are to: • • •

Develop a fundraising/endowment program, Grow the alumni relations program (including communications and reunions), Chair the 50th anniversary/Singapore reunion committee

Fundraising The fundraising program will help build an endowment to support the visual and performing arts and athletics programs, community service, general operations and to create scholarships and financial aid programs for our students. In order to fund the endowment, we will be asking for support from alumni, corporations and friends of the school who have expressed interest in the future growth and improvement of the school.

Alumni Relations The alumni association has had a great start under the guidance of Gillian Han, our Communications Director and the many alums who have shared their ideas. I will now be building on their efforts, upgrading the alumni website and directories, meeting with alums around the world to share news and obtain their ideas on the future of SAS, and of course, working with all alums on the 50th reunion activities as part of SAS’s 50th anniversary in 2005/06.

50th Anniversary Celebrations I am also working with many people on developing planning committees for the 50th anniversary to be held in 2005/06.

We would like several people to serve on each planning committee, and are calling upon parents, students, alumni, faculty and staff to lend their hands and ideas to creating a great 50th anniversary celebration.

While we will celebrate throughout the 2005/06 school year with events, showcases and activities, the main celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2006. A new high school club, SAS Ambassadors, is now working on ideas for involving students, and has also kicked off our search for an Anniversary logo. Of course, alumni reunion activities will take place during the April week as well, and we are working with the PTA to hold the annual County Fair in the same week, when many alums will be back to relive those fine memories – some possibly with their own children.

Please visit the school website’s home page and click on www.sas.edu.sg/Alumni/50thvol.htm to learn more about how you can become involved in this special birthday event for SAS. We’re on our way….

We may be just on the first steps of our roadmap, and many opportunities lie ahead. I look forward to working with each and every member of the SAS community as we support the growth of our fantastic school! My office is located in Central Administration, with admissions, communications and staff development.

And lastly, Thank You Thank You Thank You to all who have helped so far by sharing insights, ideas and thoughts!

Lisa KK Lisa Kleintjes Kamemoto lkleintjes@sas.edu.sg

SAS 50th Anniversary Celebration April 11, 2006 Parent Volunteers Needed Did you hear?

The date is set.......April 11, 2006 for the main celebratory event the local alumni are set....committees are forming the HS ambassador club is set....working on publicity, student events and a 50th anniversary logo search...

But we need to start planning now – We need your help. SAS parents, faculty and alumni are invited to join one of several planning committees for the 2005/06 anniversary year activities, and all ideas and helping hands are welcome.

The following committees have been formed: Lodging/Travel: source lodging venues and housing opportunities plus travel deals to help bring more alums from overseas back to Singapore.

Events: help plan events, find locations for the reunion activities and celebratory events and coordinate registrations for events.

Tours: plan tours of Singapore for returning visitors, including a “memory” tour.

Corporate Sponsors: help find corporate sponsors for events.

Publicity/website: develop publicity notices and help with website publicity and on-line registrations.

Memorabilia: Plan and procure memorabilia items representing SAS’s 50 years Outreach: assist alumni coordinators find our alums and invite them to come back to Singapore for the celebrations.

Please sign up and lend your talents – email or call Lisa Kleintjes Kamemoto, Director of Development and 50th Anniversary Chair to learn more and to sign up for a committee.

Email: lkleintjes@sas.edu.sg Phone: 6360-6302

Mexican Dancers Visit SAS

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he Intermediate Division was especially excited to be able to see a very professional performance

by Mexican dancers in September, thanks to the generous support of the Mexican Ambassador. Flamboyant dancers and a Mariachi Band thrilled the students with their lively performance

South Pacific A

udiences at the high school’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific will be treated to a veritable feast of the senses during the musical’s three-performance run October 22, 23 and 24. This production has everything – a lavish set, great musicians, wonderful choreography, and above all, a very talented cast.

The set, designed and finished by high school art teacher Barbara Harvey and her art students, includes towering palm trees and a native hut that converts into a plantation mansion, as well as clever use of rising and falling bamboo blinds. Custodian Radzali Dolah, a carpenter by trade and a veteran worker on SAS stage productions, was able to turn the design into blueprints and helped with the construction work. Of course the skilled student technical crew under the direction of Paula Silverman and Paul Koebnick will also be working busily behind the scenes making set, lighting, and sound changes smooth and magical.

From the opening note of the overture, you will be able to appreciate the fine musicianship of the orchestra under the direction of Stephen Bonnette. The rich sounds you hear will rival those that come from pit orchestras on Broadway, the West End or Singapore’s Esplanade Theater.

Tickets $10 From PTA Sales or Booster Booth

also Available at the door until seats are sold out

Friday October 22, and Saturday October 23 at 7 p.m.

Sunday October 24, at 3 p.m.

As the actors come on stage wearing their colorful costumes, we are taken visually back to the Second World War and a tropical island in the South Pacific. And then the action begins! The sailors are energetic, enthusiastic and amusing; the nurses are beautiful, graceful, and vivacious; the leading actors have powerful, clear, and beautiful voices. All the musical numbers are vibrant and entertaining and come alive with strong vocals (directed by Nanette Devens) and beautifully choreographed movement (directed by Catherine Parent and Nini Mitchell). Strong performances by the nonsinging supporting actors add humor to the production. The children, played by fourth grader Johan Venema, and fifth grader Nicole Hussey, will tug at your heartstrings as the plot unfolds and we begin to understand cultural differences and the issues inherent in overcoming the biases of our own upbringing. Under the direction of Trisha Kuester, the actors give highly sensitive and believable performances.

A large-scale production such as this can't happen without a lot of parent support.

Parents have been working busily on production, costumes, publicity, selling tickets, working on the program, and planning food for cast and crew - not to mention providing moral support for all the participants.

High school dancers add a spark of Polynesian ambience in a Bali Ha’i dance interlude and, and a staff all-school gamelan ensemble will entertain the audience in the foyer before opening night on Friday. The Arts Council will serve refreshments during the intermission, and to complete the sensory experience you may purchase leis for yourself and your family to wear during the performance or to give to the actors and musicians.

Producer Susan Murray enthuses about the cast and crew, "This is going to be a fabulous show. I was watching part of the dress rehearsal and they brought me to tears - and I've seen them do parts of the show numerous times. They are so good!" It will be an unforgettable experience for all! Don’t miss it.

Parenting Where do we go from here?

by Jeff Devens Middle School Counselor

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satisfy a child’s desire and need for consistent time with mom bservations…they are one of the most powerful tools and dad. Is there a place for quality time? Absolutely. However, counselors use when attempting to understand the if our commitment to our children is measured in summers and intellectual, social, and emotional world of children. vacations, and not in consistent parenting, parents and children As a counselor working in an international community, I am will miss out on some wonderful moments of life. presented with many opportunities to observe children and parents from various cultural, In counseling sessions with religious, and social backgrounds.

In the process of enriching our children students and parents, I often hear These observations become the there may be something parents are accounts of vacation plans that thread, which forms the fabric include quality time with mom overlooking that is far more valuable in a when attempting to understand how and why children act as they child’s psychological health - family time. and dad. “Dad has been really busy these past months, but this do. winter vacation we are going to spend a whole week together.” Or, During the middle school years, “I will spend some quality time the experiences of children run the spectrum, from warm and with my child this summer at the cabin. Work is simply too positive, to downright gut-wrenching for child and family time consuming for me right now.”

When it comes to children, alike. Perhaps no other period of life is filled with such quality vs quantity time is not a mutually exclusive concept. uncertainty. It is during these pivotal years that the propensity Raising a child is a consistent process one that involves both for family disunity and conflict can reach their apex. With quality and quantity; however, one must exercise caution when this in mind, what can parents do to help foster and develop a applying these terms to parenting practices. constructive relationship between them and their child?

An ancient Jewish proverb states: “Train a child in the ways that they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” There are several nuggets of truth parents can glean from this principle: 1) Parenting is not about Quality vs Quantity but about Consistency: Imagine hearing about the best fish in town. The grilled salmon at this particular restaurant is a cut above anything around…so you are told. Having fasted throughout the entire day to save your appetite for one of the best meals of your life, you arrive at the restaurant, order your meal, and prepare yourself for a feast. Salivating from the smell of charred fish on the grill, you can hardly wait as the waiter arrives at your table presenting you with the most spectacular and delectable - but the smallest - portion of fish you have ever seen. In response to your comment on the size of the salmon portion, ("Where's the other 95%?"), the waiter responds, “But sir, it’s not the quantity of our salmon that make it the best; it’s the quality!" Irrespective of the taste of that fish, one or two bites is not enough to satiate your appetite. And so it is with our children. One or two weeks of winter vacation or a few weeks in the summer will not

2) Parenting is Active and Involving: Let’s face it. At times, parenting is a difficult undertaking.

Concerts, sporting events, conferences, birthday parties, and a host of other activities consume a large quantity of a parent’s time and energy. In spite of these time commitments, many parents willingly and eagerly give of themselves to their children as an expression of love. These actions then become the outward signs of parents' involvement and commitment to their children’s growth and development.

In international settings, active parenting can often be at conflict with work obligations, especially noted among dads; however, when preoccupation with one's profession excludes family needs, families suffer. At times, there is a trade-off in working internationally that presents in the form of a conflict between family needs and work obligations. Striking a balance between the two can be a difficult undertaking. Far more than I would like to admit, I have had to counsel parents on the importance of these years in a child’s life, and the need for both parents to be actively involved and engaged in their child’s life. Removing all the psychobabble, it’s about priorities.

3) Appreciate the differences in your children Any parent with more than one child can attest to the fact that no two kids, despite genetic and environmental similarities, are alike. One of the wonderful aspects of having many children in a family is that each of them has his or her unique personality.

It is important for parents to understand the differences between each of their children and accommodate their parenting practices accordingly.

Let me first of all preface the above by saying that there are some core principals / values, irrespective of child differences, that parents should not compromise when raising children.

Fairness, respect, patience, kindness, and a host of other positive attributes are desirable in all our children, regardless of personality differences. However, when it comes to areas related to a child’s temperament, levels of sensitivity, and downright stubbornness, there can be wide variation. To this end, it is paramount that parents have a keen understanding of the personality differences of their children.

What works with one child in the realm of discipline may completely backfire when applied to other children in the family. Each child has a range of emotions and emotional responses to situations that do vary considerably. Raising one's voice when disciplining a child may work well with one child, for example, but lead to confrontation and emotional distancing with another. By knowing and appreciating the differences in their children, parents will be in a much better position to guide and nurture their development.

4) Take Time to be a “Family” At SAS your children are presented with a plethora of options to enhance their physical, social, and intellectual development.

With sports teams, clubs, and fine arts programs, your child could conceivably spend every day at school until sundown… and beyond. One of the unique features of SAS, and other international schools, is that the school functions as the hub of the community. Long after classroom lessons have been completed the campus remains abuzz with activities for your child to participate in. The central question to contend with is: “How much is enough?”

In the process of enriching our children there may be something parents are overlooking that is far more valuable in a child’s psychological health - family time. While enrichment programs at school are a wonderful complement to enhance your child’s development, family time is vital in developing a psychologically healthy child with an appreciation of and respect for parents and parenting in general. I know of families who make it a priority to have at minimum one meal a day as a family. For some this is breakfast; for others dinner. Whether it is a weekly game night, movie night, or a nightly story time, make sure that you spend enough time together, enhancing and cultivating a sense of family.

Author Visit Anne Fine

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oted author, Anne Fine, visited 2nd and 3rd grade students on her full-day visit to SAS in September. She entertained children with her stories and talked to them about writing. Ms Fine is the author of more than 40 books, including the well-known Madam Doubtfire.

From the Middle School Deputy Principal

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s I reflect on the recent completion of the Middle School building project, I am reminded of a poem written by American writer, Will Allen Dromgoole.

She wrote about a man building a bridge after he had already crossed an abyss. When questioned as to the practicality of this, he replied: There followeth after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that was naught for me, To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He too must cross in the twilight dim.

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.

Parents, teachers and administrators at SAS have crossed the chasm of adolescence, now we are charged with building ‘bridges’ for the children of our community; bridges which support them, assist them in their journey and provide them with opportunities that will guide them to becoming contributing citizens in our global community. While our middle school staff works to build connections and community through their relationships with students, we have also created physical ‘bridges’ through the completion of our building project.

Over the course of the past three years, the SAS Middle School has undergone planning, revision and rectification works as part of a systematic re-design in order to dovetail with the High School building project. One might think that the Middle School simply shifted to the old high school rooms, however this is not the case. While much of the space which is currently occupied by the Middle School is former High School space, rooms have been reconfigured with the aim of creating smaller communities within a large school setting. Turning Points 2000, a publication based on the creation of exemplary middle schools, reports that the creation of small communities is repeatedly found to benefit students’ achievement, attitude toward school, social behavior, interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and feelings of ‘belongingness’.

Given that this is an integral part of creating a middle school, the creation of smaller communities formed the latticework on which our building project was woven. As in past years,

each grade level of approximately 240 students is divided into two teams. However, each grade level now occupies its own ‘tower’ consisting of three floors of core classrooms with a community grouproom on each floor. As we continue to grow, each floor will house one team of teachers and students.

Consequently, while there may be a relatively large number of students at each grade level, students will spend most of their day in one area of the school. Their core classes will be taught by a small group of teachers and they will share those teachers with the other students on their team. Small communities have been shown to increase the sense of belonging at school; of being known, liked, and respected by peers and adults which, in turn, strengthens and expands students’ capacity for learning.

(Turning Points 2000) Through our creation of grade level towers, grade level teams and common meeting space, we have aimed to bridge the chasm between opportunities offered by a large school and the sense of community found in a small school. One of the benefits of being a large school are the resources that allow us to offer programs that small schools are not able to. In particular, we have added custom built drama and band rooms, an upgraded foyer and entrance, a multimedia presentation room, a ropes course (shared with the high school) and two health classrooms. In addition, upgrades have been made to our library, music rooms, computer labs, home-living rooms, art rooms, design and technology rooms, video journalism room, nurse’s office and counseling suite giving our students myriad opportunities for growth, challenge and experience.

Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings, thereafter, they shape us.” As the new Singapore American Middle School was shaped, it was done so with the principles of building bridges and creating small communities. As we continue to grow larger, we are confident that we are prepared to do so in a way that supports adolescent students by increasing a sense of belonging while creating world class opportunities and experience for students. In the 2003 publication, The Exemplary Middle School by Dr. Paul George, the SAS Middle School was listed as one of four exemplary international middle schools. It is our belief that through our improved facility, professional staff and constant attention to the nature of middle school education, we will continue to make improvements and build bridges that facilitate our operation as an exemplary middle school and prepare the road for today’s students and the students of the future.

Robert Godley Middle School Deputy Principal

d n ng a i r G en Op

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embers of the SAS community celebrated the grand opening of the new High School and Early Childhood Center on August 28. Highlights of the day included speeches by Ambassador Franklin Lavin, Board Vice-Chair Garth Sheldon, teacher and alumnus Jim Baker and architect Derek Goad. In the beautiful new high school library, the SAS singers performed the National anthems of Singapore and the United States, as well as a rousing spiritual aptly titled Plenty Good Room. Grade three children also entertained along with the high school strings ensemble. The 300 guests enjoyed tours of the new facilities followed by lunch in the new cafeteria.

Intermediate School Student Council Grade 3 Representatives: Jonathon Hjelm, Marshall York, Emily Horn, Paloma Brooks, Melina Cox, Kevin Goh, Rodrigo Ortiz, Alex Gentry, Madison Daley, Nic LaBranche and Maya Bhat.

Grade 3 Alternates: Charlotte Knowlton, Spencer Hong, Liam Mahoney, Oliver Jung, Bart Lind, Brandon Malonzo, Vritti Sethe, Sarah Anderson, Craig Buckenham, Bradley Tinger and Jenna Lincoln.

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irst semester Intermediate School Student Council has been elected.

Officer elections were held on September 21.

Grade 4 Representatives: Harry Tokaji, Josh Gawreletz, Carrie Dwyer, Alex Shay, Ryan Atwood, Naina Mullick, Lisa Chambers, Faran Hannani, Elina Felice, Kelly Robison, and Kaitlyn Soudelier.

Student Council will sponsor a variety of Spirit Days, Theme Days, Sports Days, and class competitions. You will be able to recognize the new representatives and alternates as ‘Student Council’ has been embroidered on the left sleeve of their uniform shirt. Student Council advisor is Ms. Nevins.

Grade 4 Alternates: Alexandra McConaghy, Monica Chritton, Autumn Reay, Anna Kook, Phillip Imkamp, Nicole Wu, Taylor Abell, Marisa Nguyen, Maria Starling, Kevin Wang, Daniel Kim, and Lauren McMullen.

Grade 5 Representatives: Bo Hamby, Claire Schollaret, Michael Hsun, Brian Jackson, Seth Lehmann, Dylan Cronin, Scott Smith, Surya Giri, Bridget Davis, Maya Kale, and Micah Bynum.

Grade 5 Alternates: Kyle Forgeron, Yuki Shiobara, Regan McCormick, Arjun Chawla, Carolyn Koh, Erin Grayer, Philip Frasse, Athelia Paulli, Madeline Mount, Alistair Chew, and Maxi Rossinsky.

High School Instrumental Concert

High School Vocal Concert

The Singapore American School Dancers present

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he beginning of the new school year always poses the same difficulty for the High School’s newly assembled Dance Performance class. They are faced with the responsibility of picking the story that will be portrayed by the Dance Club in the first semester’s dance performance. After hours of sitting in circles on the floor, multiple character and scene lists, and plenty of cookie crumbs, opinions, and votes the dancers always manage to come to an agreement one way or another. This year was no different. And the consensus? The Little Mermaid.

The 15 dancers who makeup this semester’s Dance Performance I and II class will play the roles of the 15 main characters found in the well known children’s tale of the little mermaid that longed to be human. The personalities in the story range from the evil and conniving ways of Ursula and her sidekick eels, to the clumsy and goofy spirits of Ariel’s fishy friends. This array of moods and attitudes gives the class the chance to incorporate many different dance styles into the show. These dance styles, which include hip-hop, ballet, modern, and lyrical, make each year’s dance show appealing to every age group, and guarantees a unique show in which no two dances will ever be the same.

The Little Mermaid will be performed in the Singapore American School auditorium on November 4th and 5th. So come support the High School Dance Club. Come witness the dedication and hard work of the dancers and you will not be disappointed.

Written by Emily Murray

The Little Mermaid Preview Thursday, November 4 3:45 p.m.

Shows Friday, November 5, 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

SAS Auditorium Donations accepted at the door

MAIN CHARACTERS (plus 80 more High School dancers) Ariel – Cordelia Ross Sebastian – Emily Murray Flounder – Shanna Iacovino Scuttle – Claudia Codron King Triton – Olivia Perdana Eric – Deepti Dhir Chef Louis – Michaela Nilsson Ursula – Tiffany Too Flotsam – Anushka Bharvani Jetsam – Jennifer Nockels Vanessa and Ariel’s voice – Lauren Gaylord Sister Aquata – Jessica Lin

Basketball Champs Lurk in SAS Hallways

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(and Faculty Rooms?)

n last month’s President’s Challenge 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, a team of SAS teachers squared off against Singapore’s finest athletes. Led by ageing, yet wiry, veteran Chip Miller, team “3 Card Guts” took home the victory trophy and vowed that they would use this championship as a springboard to future success.

The first game was a physically contested match in which the teacher team felt like they had bulls’ eyes on their backs, as their more diminutive counterparts attempted to chop down the vertically endowed beasts.

Former collegiate and Norwegian star Dan Allen recalled, “We knew what we had to do and went out and did it. We were glad to get out of there with the “W”. You know, it’s tough to win in a hostile environment, but we were happy we could pull that one out in the end.”

by Eric Burnett, high school teacher how to win.”

With their appearance in the Championship game assured, they all retired to Johnson’s house for a quick viewing of a Hoosiers-Rudy-The Natural video montage. With the heroics of Hollywood’s finest firmly etched in their minds, the result of the final was merely a formality. For the final match, the tournament directors decided to pull out the $79.99 Toys R’ Us special basketball hoop, filled it with water for balance, threw up the ball and the game was on.

After falling behind at half, the gritty triumvirate drew inspiration from the previously-partial crowd who appeared to - in a classic Rocky IV turnaround - gradually shift their alliance to the more Neanderthalesque teacher team. At half, Coach Miller looked at Burnett, who was being taken to an offensive clinic by his opposing player, and demanded, “Stick to your guy! If he was a stick of gum, I want you to know what flavor he is by the end of the game!” Fearing retribution from the Virginia Violator, Burnett did as told and the momentum shifted. The entire team showcased their talents in the second half – Allen could not be contained, Johnson dazzled with his trademark shake-and-bake, and Miller left the fans gaping with his icy-smooth dribble penetration.

“This is the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid.

We sent a message out there today. This one was for the fans. I learned that everyone out here puts their shorts on one leg at a time, and I just can’t wait to get out on the court next year and defend our title.”

After the first game went into overtime, and Eric “Clutch” Burnett sealed the victory with his worldrenowned Rick Berry free throw attempt, team “3 Card Guts” felt like they had the momentum going into the later rounds. Ever humble Burnett noted, “I was just doing my job. It was a workman-like effort. It was a hard-fought contest, but we made our own breaks, and I was just happy I could make a contribution.”

As the games progressed and their bruised bodies began to wear under the pressure, the gentlemen didn’t know if they would have enough left in the tank for the Championship Round. However, in the semi-final, Kurt “Tree Trunk Calves” Johnson kept their undefeated streak alive with a series of off-balanced shots. “We weren’t going to rest on our laurels,” Johnson admitted. “After last year, we felt like we just needed to get the monkey off our backs. Though those guys needed to defend their home turf, we showed a lot of character, poise, pride and heart and we kept learning

At the awards ceremony later that night, team “3 Card Guts” met with President Nathan who offered his appreciation to the exhausted expats for showing their support for a great cause. Miller, humbled by the experience, yet ever the ambassador of goodwill, professed, “This is the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid. We sent a message out there today. This one was for the fans. I learned that everyone out here puts their shorts on one leg at a time, and I just can’t wait to get out on the court next year and defend our title.”

Please Join us at The Superintendent's Parent Forum Wednesday November 17 1:30 p.m.

H301 Topic: Internet Safety and Campus Security

SAS Students and Teachers Raise Over $220,000 for Charity School about their environment and how to preserve it and keep it healthy. In the long run, this will help the tigers because the children will know how to treat them. With education, the children in the school will be able to get jobs that give them a good salary and they won’t have to destroy the environment.”

Besides fundraising, students gave of their time regularly and during holidays to work at the Adventist Rehabilitation Centre, the Metta Home, the Leprosy Home, the Singapore Children’s Society, the Special Olympics program, the Pulau Ubin Sensory Trail, the Kranji Mangroves, a school in the Philippines, and house-building in Cambodia and in Thailand.

One of several SAS house-building trips to Cambodia this year was undertaken by a group of sixth graders.

SAS students had already been sponsors of many fundraising activities for the Tabitha organization in Cambodia over the past nine years. Christopher 6th graders helping to build houses in Cambodia Aholt, sixth grade student explained, “The idea began in Mrs. Hill’s homebase ingapore American as we were discussing School has a long the annual Care To history of commitment Give program. As to community service. The she was talking about past year was typical. From how poor the people kindergarten to twelfth grade, in Cambodia are, the students and teachers at SAS students came up with raised money for educational the idea that maybe needs, for children, and our homebase and for families in Singapore, Mr. Hill’s homebase Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, could actually go there Pakistan, Africa, China, to build some houses Philippines, Nepal and India. through Janne Ritske’s A total of more than $220,000 Tabitha Organization.” was given to the sponsored Volunteer sixth graders organizations. participated in a runa-thon to begin the Students generally decide fundraising necessary. as a class or larger group They raised a total of $7,000 – enough to build four houses. what project they want to fund and the activities they In February, 18 sixth grade students, along with 13 parents will undertake to raise the money. The Tiger Habitat in and teachers, made the trip to build the homes in Cambodia.

Ranthambhore National Park, India, has been one of the Christopher elaborated, “While we were in Cambodia, we were projects supported over several years by the SAS Middle split up into two groups to do the building. Each team built School. This year seventh grade students raised over $3,000 one house in the morning and one more in the evening. The to support the Fateh School at Ranthambhore. According students installed all the floorboards, and then the parents and to seventh grade students Shirali Giridharadas and Kelsey the teachers put up the walls.”

Park, “By raising money for the school, SAS middle school Myles Fenwick, another sixth grade student, added, “Each of students hoped to help educate the children in the Fateh the houses we built was very small; however, we do feel like

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“This house building experience was great for both the students and the Cambodians, because the Cambodians were all incredibly happy to have homes, and the students did something that they would remember for the rest of their lives.”

Middle School students have created a special bond with the Metta Home resdents just down the road from the school with their weekly visits and fundraising activities

we made a big difference to the Cambodians.”

Christopher summed up the feeling many students had, “This house building experience was great for both the students and the Cambodians, because the Cambodians were all incredibly happy to have homes, and the students did something that they would remember for the rest of their lives.”

Teachers are an important part of the community service program at SAS. Besides supporting student initiatives, and helping to organize or sponsor activities, SAS teachers are themselves excellent models for service, both in fundraising and in their own personal service to organizations. Teachers have

The high school's Peace Concert, organized by Peace Initiative, a student organization, raises money for a number of causes in the region. It also raises awareness among students of critical issues.

This year's theme is Respect, and the popular event will take place on Friday November 19.

Auditions of Bands have already started and will continue until month end.

traditionally scheduled their own Cambodian house-building trips during Thanksgiving and spring breaks and put much of their personal time into organizations such as Tabitha, the Adventist Rehabilitation Centre, and the Leprosy Home.

As another school year begins this month, and students start their academic, arts, and sports programs, community service will be a priority in spite of their busy schedules. Besides helping others, it is the school’s hope that all students will find, in Christopher’s words, “something that they would remember for the rest of their lives.”

Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research

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ore than 300 SAS students and their families participated in the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research. There was especially high participation from 3rd and 4th grade students, along with the high school cross country team and several busloads of middle schoolers. Thanks and congratulations to all who made the Trek out to Sentosa to contribute to this worldwide charity event!