Singapore American School Newsflash, April 2006

NewsFlash

Volume 8, Issue 8-05/06 - April 2006

A Singapore American School community service publication

MICA (P) 234/08/2005

1973 Ulu Pandan

HA

1956 Rochalie

1962 King’s Road

TH IRTHDAY S B 0 5 Y A PP

Remembering our past...

Celebrating our future...

S!

2

NewsFlash Contents In This Issue

Robert Gross Superintentend of Schools

Mark Boyer Asst. Superintendent Curriculum and Instruction

Rhonda Norris Asst. Superintendent Business

David Hoss Principal Primary School

Marian DeGroot Principal Intermediate School

Robert Godley Principal Middle School

Paul Chmelik Principal High School

We welcome input from the community associated with Singapore American School MAY/JUNE NEWSFLASH Deadline: May 11, 2006 Publication Date: May 29, 2006 (NO ISSUE IN JULY) AUGUST NEWSFLASH Publication Date: August 7, 2006 Email Community News Input to bgribbon@sas.edu.sg Email Trading Post Input to trade@sas.edu.sg Trading Post advertising is restricted to non-commercial items only from SAS students, parents and staff

03 07 08 07 11 12 16 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31

SAS 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Auction Calendar Highlights Boosters PTA Libraries at SAS Read to Feed SAS Summer Program 2006 Preschool Excursion Trip IS Activities Au Musée du Monde Francophone MS Greek and Roman Day MS Trip to Spain MS Performance at Vienna Writing Competition HS Math Competitions Community Service Jazz Night Cultural Convention 2006

Are You Receiving What’s Happening at SAS? We are sending all parents and guardians a regular weekly What’s Happening at SAS newsletter by email.

If you have not been receiving the weekly email it probably means that we do not have your correct email address. Send us an email at communications@sas.edu.sg to let us know that you have not been hearing from us. We can add one or both parents emails to our distribution.

The weekly What’s Happening at SAS will also be posted on the website at http://www.sas.edu.sg.

NEWSFLASH is published monthly by the Communications Office of the Singapore American School. It is distributed free of charge to the parents, faculty members and organizations served by the school.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE Singapore American School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Singapore 738547 Tel: 6360-6303 SAS Website: http://www.sas.edu.sg Editor: Mrs Beth Gribbon Assistant: Ms Joey Lew

3

SAS 50th Anniversary SAS Turns 50

Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Reunion – April 2006 Photos contributed by Kristen Liu, HS Student, Paul Griffin, HS Faculty, Gillian Han, SAS Staff and Steven Roll, SAS Parent

a

ll year Singapore American School has celebrated 50 years of educating children in Singapore with many special events and visitors. The “Celebrating our Alumni” program brought visiting alumni to SAS to share their many talents with our students.

Artists, musicians, a scientist, authors and an expert in the field of political science all shared their experiences, expertise and memories of their years here as students. Many also showcased their work with special presentations and concerts to the school community.

In April, alumni again came to Singapore to join the celebration of the Singapore American School 50th Anniversary. This month, it was not just a trickle, but an inspirational number that joined our ranks on Woodlands campus. A Welcome Reception at the Goodwood Park hotel on Sunday, April 9th and an Alumni Dinner Dance at the Orchid Country Club on Monday April 10th brought together over 300 alumni that had come to Singapore from around the world, to meet old friends, remember the past and celebrate this special milestone for the school. The alumni help us all remember why our time at SAS is so special and how much it will shape the course of our lives.

SAS 50th Anniversary SAS Turns 50 (cont’)

Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Reunion – April 2006

On Tuesday, April 11th, the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony was held, with over 800 SAS alumni, parents, students, staff and invited guests. Singapore Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Patricia Herbold and faculty member and alumnus, Jim Baker, each spoke about Singapore, the Singapore American School and the American community here and how they have grown together over the past 50 years. Ambassador Herbold aptly expressed this when she said, “What stands out most to me is that neither SAS nor Singapore has ever rested on its laurels – both have consistently planned for tomorrow. Both have been blessed with leaders who seized the opportunities that resulted in nearly continuous growth and adaptation. Both have embraced an international perspective and nurtured a vibrant environment.”

Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew reminded us of why the Americans in Singapore 50 years ago were able to start a school in a country that was about as far away from America as you could possibly get, and why we have been able to grow and thrive over five decades. From a small school of 105 students that started in a 7 bedroom house 50 years ago to a school of 3,455 students with world class facilities and academic program and a world wide reputation of excellence, SAS still maintains the same spirit of volunteerism and self-help that launched the school 50 years ago. As Lee Kuan Yew so aptly said as he spoke of our “can do” attitude, “The American School was started not by the U.S. Embassy but by American businessmen and their spouses. It is part of a great American tradition as they tamed the American continent from the east to the west coast, overcoming all difficulties. It has forged the American spirit and character, the most valuable asset Americans have. This cultural, habit, has made Americans great entrepreneurs who have the verve, vitality and vigor to keep adapting and changing…” And so we have.

4

5

SAS 50th Anniversary SAS Turns 50 (cont’)

Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Reunion – April 2006

The final visitor of the “Celebrating our Alumni” program celebrated cellist, Inbal Megiddo (SAS Class of 1994), was at SAS all week working with student musicians. On Tuesday evening, Ms. Megiddo along with high school students from the choir, band and orchestra, presented a Musical Extravaganza Concert at Victoria Concert Hall. Attended by visiting alumni, parents and invited guests the concert was followed by a Champagne and Chocolate Reception at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

A Memory Garden, located in the area directly behind the foyer between the Auditorium and the Drama Theater, was dedicated in ceremony in the afternoon of April 13th. Architectural plans and student designs were presented. The Memory Garden will provide a quiet and reflective area to remember SAS students and staff that have passed away.

Later that evening a Birthday BBQ Bash including performances by various student groups and a spectacular fireworks display, brought the week-long celebration to a dramatic conclusion.

Happy 50th Birthday SAS!

SAS 50th Anniversary

6

SAS Commemorative Quilt Project

By Mary Gruman, Arts Council

o

n March 20, 2006 Superintendent Bob Gross accepted a gift of a commemorative quilt which was designed by SAS teachers, Jane Dodge and Karen O’Shaughnessy. The patchwork piece is hanging in the SAS Board Room; members of the community are welcome to drop by to see it.

The quilt is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the SAS community. SAS faculty members, Jane Dodge and Karen O’Shaughnessy are both experienced quilters. Members of the community were invited to contribute by making a square for the project. Themes for the squares were developed by the organizers of the project and were chosen to reflect the history of Singapore American School. The quilt contributors included administration, alumni, faculty and parents and students, Anika Muraka and Kisara Thompson. Two of the quilt squares were executed by parent-child teams. Kisara and Laurie Thompson created the Girl Scout square and the Cultural Convention square was adapted by faculty member and father Ed Sheerin from a drawing by McKinley Sheerin, SAS ’05. SAS parent Viki Zulkoski will be creating a graphic which will hang beside the quilt to explain each of the squares. The project was facilitated by the SAS Arts Council.

Jane and Karen’s lovely design incorporated 50 squares to represent the 50 years of SAS education as well as stars to showcase some of the organizations which exist to support the school including the PTA, the Booster Club, SACAC and the Arts Council. Five ribbon banners fly across the bottom margin which display the qualities included in the SAS Character Education program, honesty, fairness, compassion, responsibility and respect. Once the squares were returned, Jane and Karen finished the quilt top so it could be sent to Duri, Indonesia to be quilted.

As stated at the dedication “…every quilt tells a story, as the years pass in this school’s next half century, it is our hope that this gift will tell the people who come after us that many great things happen here, we are a body of people who love our children, who value a well balanced education and that we remain grateful to the earliest founders of the school.”

Gala Dinner and Auction

Star Appeal Dinner

Benefits the Singapore American School Educational Foundation

o

n Saturday March 4th at the Goodwood Park Hotel, 250 guests attended a gala dinner and auction to support the Singapore American School Educational Foundation.

Started this year to provide additional funding for current programs at Singapore American School and to help ensure sound financial footing for the school in years to come, the Singapore American School Educational Foundation has already received many generous donations. The PTA made the founding donation of $100,000 in June of 2005 and many individuals have contributed since that time. The event showcased the importance of the Educational Foundation to the future of SAS, as well as providing the guests with a gracious and entertaining evening.

Hosted by the Goodwood Park Hotel, and underwritten by the Khoo Foundation, the dinner and auction was organized by a parent group including Elizabeth Khoo, Fae Varinata, Susanna Wong, Janie Ooi and Wendy Yap. Susan Murray, Mary Gruman and Viki Zulkoski assisted with the planning and preparation for the event.

It was a spectacularly successful evening that included performances by numerous students and student groups from SAS along with a wine and book auction. In total $300,000 was raised for the SAS Educational Foundation.

We are grateful to all the individuals and groups that contributed to the success of this very special evening.

The SAS Educational Foundation is now in a much better position to support financial aid for students, arts and athletic events and other school programs where funds may not be available.

If you are interested in more information on the Singapore American School Educational Foundation call the Development Office at 6360-6302 or check the school website at http://www.sas.edu.sg.

7

8

Calendar Highlights April 2006 24 25 26 27 28

Tabitha Sales Tabitha Sales Grade 7 & 8 KMP Practice Competition Alternate Dress Day Tabitha Sales Grade 7 & 8 KMO Competition 3:15pm – 5:45pm Tabitha Sales Tabitha Sales HS Honor Roll Recognition 11:20am (Auditorium Foyer) SACAC Gym Fest Show 1:30pm (HS Gym)

29

30

HS Third Season Awards Night 7:00pm (Auditorium/Drama Theater/Theater Studio) HS AP U.S. History Mock AM HS AP Euro History Mock AM HS AP Govt. Pol. Mock AM HS AP Chemistry Mock PM AP Biology Mock PM SACAC Gym Fest 8:00am – 5:00pm (HS Gym) Campus Mosquito Fogging 5:00pm – 7:00pm

May 2006 1 2

3

4 5

6

7 8

9

10

11

LABOR DAY (NO SCHOOL) AP English Language Exam – AM AP French Language Exam – PM AP Comparative Science A Exam – AM AP Comparative Science AB Exam – AM AP Spanish Language Exam – AM AP Statistics Exam – PM Tri-M Induction Ceremony 3:15pm (HS Library) AP Calculus AB Exam – AM AP Calculus BC Exam – AM AP Music Theory Exam – AM AP World History Exam – PM AP English Literature Exam – AM Second Semester Art Show Opening No School K-Grade 5, Pre-Sch/Pre-K are in session IS Student-Led Conference AP US History Exam – AM AP European History Exam – PM AP Studio Art (Portfolio Due) HS Thespian Scenes & Monologues Production 7:00pm (Drama Theater) Second Semester Art Show HS SAT HS Thespian Scenes & Monologues Production 7:00pm (Drama Theater) Second Semester Art Show Campus Mosquito Fogging 5:00pm – 7:00pm Second Semester Art Show PS Festival of Stories IS Parent Coffee for Grade 2 Presentation 8:15am – 9:15am (5th Grade Grouproom, I311) MS Parent Coffee 10:00am (M301) AP Biology Exam – AM AP Physics B Exam – PM AP Physics C Exam – PM Second Semester Art Show PS Festival of Stories PTA Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) AP US Government & Politics Exam – AM AP Comparative Government & Politics Exam – PM Alternate Dress Day Second Semester Art Show PS Festival of Stories IS Music Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) AP Chemistry Exam – AM AP Environmental Science Exam – AM AP Psychology Exam – PM Second Semester Art Show PS Festival of Stories Laurie Nelson Film Festival 3:30pm & 7:00pm (Drama Theater)

12 13 14 15

16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24

25 26 28 29

Community Calendar Meeting 10:00am (S119) AP Macroeconomics Exam – AM AP Art History Exam – AM AP Microeconomics Exam – PM VESAK DAY (NO SCHOOL) Junior & Senior Prom 9:00am – 1:00pm Campus Mosquito Fogging 5:00pm – 7:00pm PS Festival of Stories Senior Appreciation Day College Information for Grade 9 Parents 10:00am SAS Decathlon 3:15pm – 6:00pm PS Festival of Stories SAS Decathlon 3:15pm – 6:00pm IS Gecko Concert (Elementary Theater) 6:00pm PTA Appreciation Tea/Annual General Meeting 10:00am – 12:00pm MS Choir Concert 7:00pm (Drama Theater) Booster General Meeting 9:30am (H301) HS Celebration of Service 3:15pm – 4:30pm (Drama Theater) SAS Decathlon 3:15pm – 6:00pm MS Dance Performance 7:00pm (Auditorium) HS Good Vibes Day SAS Decathlon 3:15pm – 6:00pm Booster Club Appreciation Lunch 11:30am HS Instrumental Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) 8th Grade Graduation Dance 7:00pm – 10:00pm (IS/MS Cafeteria) HS Choir/Orchestra/Wind Ensemble 7:00pm (Auditorium) ISEE (Grade 5-12) Campus Mosquito Fogging 5:00pm – 7:00pm HS Advanced Acting Production 7:00pm (Drama Theater) Thespian Inductions 4:30pm (Theater Studio) PTA Joint Board Meeting 9:30am MS Strings Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) Alternate Dress Day HS Final Exams Review Day Booster Club Popcorn Day MS Band Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) HS Semester Finals 8:00am – 12:00pm HS Semester Finals 8:00am – 12:00pm Academic/Service/Athletic Awards Evening 7:00pm (Auditorium) Campus Mosquito Fogging 5:00pm – 7:00pm Baccalaureate 6:00pm (Drama Theater) Semester Finals 8:00am – 12:00pm 1st Grade Field Day 8:15am – 9:30am Kindergarten Field Day 9:45am – 11:00am 8th Grade Slide Show 2:00pm – 3:00pm (Drama Theater) 6th Grade Temple Tours

Spring is nearly here!

Visit the Booster Booth for some Mother’s Day Ideas.

For Sale at the Booster Booth The Eagle in the Lion City

By Jim Baker

T GIF

ID

EAS

IASAS April 20, 2006 Mother’s Day May 14, 2006

Honor Roll Recognition April 28, 2006 Booster General Meeting May 17, 2006 9:30am Room H301

Booster Club Appreciation Lunch May 19, 2006 11:30am

End of Year Booster Booth Sale 10% off of all items in the Booster Booth, except school supplies and candy, from May 8-11.

NewsFlash April 2006

9

10

NewsFlash April 2006

From the PTA President

p

rior to the publishing of this article, we held our Annual Staff Appreciation Day for our teachers and staff by providing them some special recognition for the great job that they do here at SAS. Many thanks to our PTA Hospitality chairs, Karin Stolarski and Caroline Faris and all of the division coordinators for their efforts in organizing the events for this day. We would also like to thank those of you who either worked a shift during the day or sent in food for the teachers to enjoy. As always, these kinds of events could not be held without your support and generosity. I know from feedback received that this event is truly appreciated by the Staff. It is refreshing to see a teacher’s expression as they walk into the room and have someone ask them what kind of omelet they would like to be served.

After all the hard work and effort that our teachers put forth each day for our children, it is nice to be able to provide them a special treat and allow them to sit and relax while a freshly prepared meal is served to them during the school day.

During this event, the PTA not only feeds the staff during the day but gives each teacher and staff member a special gift. I know many of you also like to have your child personally give their teacher a gift, but this day was meant to take the place of people feeling they had to give individually and allow them to participate as part of the whole community in recognizing our great SAS staff. This is our one time during the year that we recognize the staff with a gift so that we have a centrally coordinated and standard practice across the whole school. While you are of course free to provide your own personal gifts as you see appropriate, we hope that this coordinated effort provides a standard solution for each class.

It is hard to believe, but we have only one more event on the PTA calendar for this school year. On Tuesday May 16th, we will hold our Volunteer Appreciation Tea from 10:00am until 12:00noon. Invitations will be coming soon with all the details so please watch for this and mark the date on your calendars. This is our opportunity to thank all of you who do so much to help us throughout the year. We welcome everyone to attend as this event is open to all SAS parents and staff.

For those of you who plan to be at SAS for the next school year and would like to get a start on planning your volunteer time, we would appreciate any information that you can provide on where you can help us in the future. There are many events to plan and hold, many committees to staff and a variety of PTA positions that need to be ďŹ lled. The contribution of your time and commitment would be appreciated by everyone here at SAS. Susan Fay PTA President

NewsFlash April 2006

11

12

Libraries at SAS The Right Book at the Right Moment – The key to creating a lifetime reader –

The third in a series of articles about the libraries at SAS.

By Betsy Chmelik, Middle School Librarian “The more you read, the better you get at it; the better you get at it, the more you like it; and the more you like it, the more you do it. The more you read, the more you know; and the more you know, the smarter you grow.”

- Jim Trelease

r

eading is important. This may be the single aspect of education on which we all emphatically agree. Acquiring reading skills is the emphasis and goal of early education and essential to learning. Reading gives children the ultimate gift: the power of language. Reading is key to becoming a life-long learner. Our students have spent the school year acquiring and honing those reading skills; summer days can provide the time to practice and sustain that hard-won progress.

To create a life-long love of reading, however, requires more than a set of skills. It also requires an emotional connection with what is being read. Connecting a child to the right book at the right moment in time can be the key to creating a lifetime reader; conversely, forcing a child to read books that simply don’t connect can quash any desire to read. There is research that suggests that “one very positive experience can create a reader”. Furthermore, as Stephen Krashen noted in an article for the California Library Association, “there is an emerging consensus that free voluntary reading is especially powerful. Free reading appears to be the source of much of our reading ability, our writing style, much of our vocabulary knowledge, our spelling ability, and our ability to handle complex grammatical constructions.”

So how do we encourage our children to read and practice that all-important skill? There are some simple things that have been proven to be effective in motivating readers:      

Model reading yourself. Nothing speaks as loudly to your children as your example!

Keep lots of books, magazines, and newspapers around the house.

Visit the library often. The SAS libraries are open during the summer.

Take advantage of these great collections!

Read aloud to your children. How long? As long as they will let you!

Even when a child can read competently, being read to is still a positive, fruitful experience.

Talk together about what you and your child are reading. Talking about books reinforces the experience.

“Choice” is the magic word. Let your child choose what appeals, whether it’s Captain Underpants, another Garfield comic, or a classic novel. The important thing, truly, is not what they’re reading but that they’re reading.

To assist in the transition from elementary school to middle school, the middle school is trying to encourage summer reading without reverting to “Required Summer Reading” lists. After hearing the librarians promote a large variety of titles, each incoming sixth grade child will choose one book to read over the summer. Each sixth-grade teacher has also selected one of these titles to read this summer. Then, early in the next school year, the teacher and students who have selected the same title will gather to talk about the book.

13

Libraries at SAS A program that will be going on in the library during the summer in the Intermediate Division is “I Know What You Read Last Summer”. Children can keep track of what they have read using their library account. At the end of the summer, we will acknowledge what these students who elected to read with a certificate and the list of all books read will be displayed on a bulleting board in the library.

The benefits of these efforts will, hopefully, be numerous and go beyond merely requiring summer reading: engaging students by letting them select the book they want to read, getting to know teachers and students in a new division, and providing a way to meet new friends with similar tastes or interests.

For voracious readers, having enough books on hand to satisfy them may be a problem, but what a delightful problem to have! The more challenging and more prevalent issue today is for those children who are reluctant readers or even “aliterate”. “Aliteracy” is the term used to describe those who are able to but choose not to read. With so many competing options for their time, from sports, TV and the internet to movies, music and messaging, leisure reading just doesn’t make the list. This is more prevalent with boys than girls, more common with adolescents than younger children.

We have to provide the material that will capture their interest and make that all-important connection to reading or we may lose them as readers once and for all. Research over many years documents that boys prefer to read non-fiction, magazines and newspapers. Graphic novels, the biggest new trend in publishing, are also very appealing to many boys.

Parents who balk at the idea of comics can take solace from what Archbishop Desmond Tutu had to say on the subject in a radio interview: “My father used to try and help me, and I got to loving to read, because he allowed me to read comics, which most people said you shouldn’t let your child read because they will spoil him.

But that gave me an extraordinary hunger for reading.”

Whether or not our children are going to be Nobel laureates, we do want them to be readers. So, this summer, let’s keep them reading!

Libraries at SAS Link to Great Reading

14

Need suggestions to get started? You may want to start by checking out the SAS library websites and Destiny, the library catalog. The library websites also offer lots of great recommendations.

Children’s Books The Children’s Book Council Reading Lists http://www.cbcbooks.org/readinglists/ 2006 Notable Children’s Books (American Library Association) http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/notablecbooklist/currentnotable.htm Best Books for Children (New York Public Library) http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended.cfm 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=61 Newbery Medal and Honor Books http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.htm Young Adult Books Best Books for Young Adults (American Library Association) http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bestbooksyoung.htm Graphic Novels for Young People 2005–2006 http://www.cbcbooks.org/pdfs/GraphicNovelBibliog2005.pdf Outstanding Books for the College Bound http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/outstandingbooks/outstandingbooks.htm Teen Booklists (Seattle Public Library) http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=audience_teens_categorybrowser Teen Reading http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/recreading/recommendedreading.htm For Parents Choosing a Children’s Book http://www.cbcbooks.org/readinglists/choosing.html Teachers’ Top 100 Books http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/catalist.html Especially for Parents http://www.nea.org/readacross/parents.html

A great way to honor a…

PTA invites the donation of a book to your SAS library.

Create a lasting memory with a personalized bookplate in each donated book. Contact Library Enhancement Committee at our website for forms and information about Celebration Books:

http://pta.sas.edu.sg/Library/index.html

Uncle Ecky will be offering a basketball camp to kick off the summer.

Gymnastics Registration for Fall 2006 Mark your calendar!

WHEN: June 5 - 9, 2006 FOR: Boys & Girls aged 7 to 9 years 8:30am – 12:00noon & Boys & Girls aged 10 to 12 years 1:00pm – 4:30pm WHERE: Elementary School Gymnasium

Priorty registration for gymnasts in current programs DATE: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 TIME: 3:30pm – 5:30pm LOCATION: New Auxiliary Gymnasium

This basketball camp is organized and run by Greg Eckstein (Uncle Ecky). Greg is a former US college basketball player and has been running camps for kids since 1985. The camps have a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of basketball and include a lot of team scrimmages and related competitions for kids. The coaching staff will include young men and women from the SAS Varsity and JV basketball programs.

All new gymnasts wanting to join the Fall 2006 programs DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 TIME: 3:30pm – 5:30pm LOCATION: New Auxiliary Gymnasium

Go to the SACAC website at http://www.sacac.com to download the registration form.

NewsFlash April 2006

15

16

NewsFlash April 2006

17

Read to Feed Read to Feed - Children Changing the World

By Jodi Bonnette, IS Faculty

m

arch was “Read to Feed” month in the intermediate school. Mrs. Bonnette’s third grade class wrote and presented a program including skits, songs, commercials and a readers’ theater to help all the third grade students understand how this wonderful program can help needy people all around the world.

By reading books and getting sponsors the students in the intermediate school raised over S$50,000 to buy animals for needy families. Children really can change the world!

Students’ Reflections on “A Village Called Earth” People in developing countries don’t have all their needs met. Many people need to go to a river just to get water. Many people don’t have enough money so their children can go to school. When you give someone a bucket of milk, you feed them for a day or two. If you give an animal that produces milk, you feed them for their whole lifetime. I wish I could stop poverty. – Audrey Tjandra In a developed country it’s easy to get water and food. In a developing country it’s not easy to get water and food. They don’t have vaccines so they get sick often. Giving an animal to a poor person helps a lot. If I give a sheep then they get wool and milk. Then they sell the milk and get money. Then they use the money to pay for school. Then the sheep has a baby and the baby will be passed to another family and the same thing will happen to all the other families.

– Craig Broadman Just because we have enough (almost more than enough) water, doesn’t mean people in developing countries do. I thought to myself, wow, I want to put a stop to all this suffering. So I read an hour per day, got six people to sponsor me, and in the end I made $67.50. Now my class will buy animals to provide milk, cheese, eggs and honey. (Goats, chickens and bees.) The people in developing countries can make money selling those things. I am sure it will make a difference.

– Emily Dwyer Needs are something like water, food, shelter, clean air and medicine. A lot of people in developing countries can’t satisfy all of their needs. Most people in developing countries don’t get to go to school. Heifer International is trying to help by giving animals to poor people. Animals help by producing a lot of things like food, milk, income, fuel, wool and fertilizer. We are trying to help by doing Read to Feed. – Jodie Iha Many people cannot satisfy their need of water because they don’t have running water in their house. Or they have one meal a day and they can’t have vaccinations and so they get really sick. But Read to Feed helps by giving an animal.

An animal is better than food or money because you eat the food or you use all the money, but an animal can keep on going for years and years. – Caroline Stocking One other important need is education. Most people in developing places work instead of going to school. They usually do work like farming, planting crops and selling crops and food. But did you know that just one animal can turn into 100 animals? It’s called passing on the gift. Just one animal can help someone go to school. – John Cole Heifer International helps by giving people animals in developing countries. Then they go and teach the person how to take care of the animals. Read to Feed could really end world poverty. – Olivia Mount

SAS Summer Program 2006

18

A Summer Program For Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 A special early childhood program for 4 year olds

Summer School at SAS Summer School will return to SAS this summer. The summer program at SAS will provide enrichment opportunities for students currently enrolled in kindergarten through the grade 5. The program will begin Monday, June 12 and conclude Friday, July 21. Students may register for Summer School on a weekly basis or for the entire six week program.

The program will run Monday to Friday each week, from 9:00am to 1:00pm, where students will be in engaged in hands on learning experiences and fun activities. They will participate in a variety of courses on a rotating basis over the week. Each daily schedule includes time for four courses and lunch.

Every two days all students will have spent time in each of eight courses.

Courses include: Lead Up Sports and Recreation, Fried Rice Chinese, Technology and Computers, Fun Science, Music and Movement Activity Program, Arts and Crafts, Swim and a Dance and Movement Program. The rotating schedule of courses will enable students to participate in a broad range of subjects over the week.

All classes will be taught by certified teachers from SAS and high school assistants will be employed to guide the student groups throughout each day. A full time nurse will be on duty. Courses will be taught in the Primary School area of the campus.

Early Childhood Summer Program A special Early Childhood Summer Program is being designed for pre-K students. The Early Childhood Summer Program will be offered to children who are 4 and 5 years old. The minimum age of entry is for the Early Childhood Summer Program is 4 years old by September 1, 2006 and the child must have had previous schooling. This is not an appropriate program for children that have never attended school.

The Early Childhood Summer Program will offer learning experiences in the areas of friendship, music, language and creativity. Students will be busy with lots of hands-on activities such as cooking, painting, music and games. Large and small group activities will offer excellent opportunities for group interaction. A weekly theme will set the stage for new adventures in learning!

Program Fees, Registration and Busing The weekly program fee of S$285 plus GST will include lunch. Bus transportation will be available at an additional cost. Specifics about busing including pick up times will be available later in the registration process, as enrollment numbers are finalized. A program overview, program course descriptions, bus registration information and fees, registration details and registration forms are available on the SAS website http://www.sas.edu.sg/ Summer/index.html.

Registration for the Summer Program has already begun. Parents are encouraged to register early, to ensure adequate numbers of teachers will be hired to accommodate all interested students. Students not currently enrolled at SAS are welcome to attend the SAS Summer Program.

Questions about the Summer Program at SAS should be directed to the Program Director, Brian Combes at bcomes@sas. edu.sg or by calling 6360-6599.

19

Preschool Excursion Trip

Where Good Food Really Comes From A trip to the eco-farm

By Matthew Steuer, Preschool Teacher

a

s a culmination to our 3rd quarter farm theme, our ECC Preschoolers, and many of their parents, visited the GreenCircle Eco-Farm. Ms. Evelyn Soo, Eco-Farm Director, talked to the children about organic methods of farming. While much of this talk may have been lost on the Preschoolers it made an impact with us BIG people. The highlight of the talk for the Preschoolers was the new song they learned, sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”…

Ladybirds & butterflies Buzzing bees up in the sky Teeny tiny little ants Crawling up and down the plants Many insects can be found In the sky and on the ground This was followed by a guided walk through the farm and the opportunity to explore the local crops. Every child got to plant a small sprig of red mint while being told about its health benefits.

Each child bought a small bag of organic vegetables. As a rare Preschool “homework” assignment, they cooked the vegetables at home with their parents and then shared their “veggie” experience, via pictures and a dictated narrative, during our Preschool Circle Times. It was fascinating to see the variety of dishes that were made, and the different reactions the kids had to the foods they helped prepare.

This trip to GreenCircle Eco-Farm made clearer for our Preschoolers where vegetables really come from – not just from Cold Storage – and the tremendous amount of work involved in getting them to our table.

IS Activities

20

New Chinese Restaurants Opened at SAS

By David Ma, IS Mandarin Team

o

n March 13 through 17, the 3rd and 4th grade students ran about 50 simulated restaurants. They were a huge success. They would have broken the “Guinness World Records” by opening so many restaurants in one week!

There was a wide variety of food, drinks and desserts served in the restaurants, such as: Chinese dumplings, fried rice, hamburgers, hot dogs, hot chocolate, Chinese tea, ice cream, chocolate cakes, etc. The principals, IS teachers, parents and classmates were invited as guests.

The students not only can order their food and drinks, ask for the bill and pay the bill in Mandarin, but also take orders, serve food and drinks and give the correct change in Mandarin. The service was top quality and the food was really delicious. Many guests also learned how to order food and ask for the bill in Mandarin. One 3rd grade teacher said “What a great idea and a fun way to learn Mandarin.” Another parent made the comment “It was a great idea and the children seemed to enjoy themselves in a wonderful learning environment where words become real and have specific everyday meaning.”

The students deserve a big applause for their hard work on designing the menus and practicing their skits. They should be proud of themselves for what they have achieved.

Many students said “Can we do this more often? It was fun!”

Primary and Intermediate School Student-Led Conferences

o

n Friday, May 5th the Primary and Intermediate Schools have scheduled the Student-Led Conferences. The goal of the conference is to provide an opportunity for the students themselves to share a portfolio of their class work with their parents in a relaxed, informative setting. You will get a good idea of what your child has been learning and how they feel about their progress this year. At Singapore American School, Student-Led Conferences have been held in the Spring for the last several years. Both parents and teachers report that this type of conference increases student accountability, helps students take pride in their work, and promotes greater student-parent communication about school performance.

As administrators and teachers we have seen many benefits in holding the student-led conference: •

Students and teachers work closely to prepare for the conferences. The children are able to see their own growth that has taken place throughout the year.

•

Students take great pride in their work and come away from the conferences feeling very good about themselves.

•

A great deal of positive motivation can result for all conference participants because we are all focusing on our collective effort to attain the goal of student success.

•

Conference preparation and practice afford yet another opportunity for students to help each other succeed by sharing their conference plan.

Thank you for your support of this important event in your child’s school experience.

IS Classroom Activity Biography Hall of Fame

By Steve Zielinski, IS Faculty

w

here could you meet Harry Houdini, Lady Di, and Ben Franklin all in one room? Where could you rub shoulders with Mozart, Mandela and Nadia Comaneci? No, it wouldn’t be the second installment of ‘A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’; it would be the Biography Hall of Fame, held in Mr. Zielinski’s 4th Grade classroom on March 21st.

The event was the culmination of a class study of the biography genre. Students learned key elements found in most biographies as they read short examples in class. After this initial study, each student selected a biographical topic and spent time reading and researching. From their research, a biographical sketch was written. A visual display board was created to highlight key points of information in the sketch. The final touches on the project were “artifacts” that best represented the life of each biographical topic and an appropriate costume.

Finally, after much preparation, it was time for our biographies to come alive! Students presented many times to the crowds of parents, students and teachers. The hours of work and practice were repaid with a growing self-confidence, the satisfaction of completing a challenge, and the praise of those in attendance. Through this process, biographies came alive for these students.

21

22

MS Classroom Activity Au Musée du Monde Francophone

By Shea Allen, MS Faculty Photos by Jerry Szombathy, MS Faculty

o

n selected dates in March and April, Madame Allen’s Intermediate and Advanced French classes created a French speaking museum from their classroom café. What was the goal of the museum? It was to inform – and hopefully inspire – touring fifth graders of the many Frenchspeaking countries that span the globe. With sign-up for sixth grade electives just around the corner for these students, this was an opportune time to share our knowledge of Francophone customs, history, and most importantly…culinary delights!

And the reviews are in! The fifth graders found our curators informative and fun. Food received the most favorable press, while many tourists raved about the clever adaptation of Twister, a unique way to learn about Canada.

Several appreciative fifth graders expressed their gratitude for the efforts of the hard-working French students. Here are some of their kind words: “I especially liked the Belgium Station with the song, ‘Belgium Chocolate across the Deep Blue Sea’.” – Gina Lee and Tamara Bascombe “The fair rocked. It was really organized. I loved the wide variety of stations.” – Adam Hardy “It was interesting learning about all the countries which had been affected by the French influence, not to mention the delicacies.” – Win Ma “I thought it was very cool because we had passports that had to be stamped when we changed stations.” – Sarah Mallard and Autumn Reay “I liked Canada the best because we played Twister for maple biscuits while learning about the country.” – Seo Yoon and Bryan Lau “Wow! Now, I’m thinking about taking French classes next year!”

– Anna Kook “I think my mom (she speaks French) would have loved it. The fair was informational and interesting.” – Philip Faris “I learned that not only France speaks French!”

– McKenna Donahue “It was so much fun. I really want to take French next year.”

– Katherine Chandler and Radhika Kalra “When you guys grow up, you should be teachers. I learned a lot about French speaking countries and a few words in French.”

– Katie Blakeman and Amanda Lutt

23

MS Greek and Roman Day Sixth Grade Greek and Roman Adventure

By Kalli McCoy and Nikita Parekh, Sixth Grade Students Photos by Jo Ann Clemens, Sixth Grade Teacher

t

he sixth graders are back feeling quite confident with their performance on Greek and Roman Day. The study of Greece and Rome ended with Greek and Roman Day. Students had the opportunity to show off their artistic and athletic abilities on March 17th. It was an event not to be missed.

The day started with demonstrations of students’ aqueducts and catapults. Following the demonstrations were displays of mosaics, pottery, masks, weaving, board games, and weaponry. Students were given Greek and Roman delicacies to munch while perusing the displays. As the day continued, the time had finally arrived to attend the anxiously awaited fashion show! Talented sixth graders from various city-states of Greece and Rome participated in skits modeled after Ancient Greek myths.

The afternoon was spent competing for the Olympic title. Students representing various city-states lined up wearing team T-shirts and headbands.

Students marched proudly around the stadium of SAS displaying their hand made chariots. The Olympic committee presented their speeches while the torch made its way into the stadium. The crowd roared enthusiastically while patiently waiting for the events to commence.

Students participated in three different activities. There were running events which included the 50m, 100m, and one lap. Others competed in the shot put, discus, and javelin. The third category included the high jump, long jump, and standing broad jump. Competition came to an end with the chariot race. One could hear blood curdling screams as each city-state cheered on their teams. Unfortunately, a couple of city-states crashed and burned during the chariot race. These city-states were disqualified.

The competition was grueling, but in the end the city-state of Athens took home the gold, Sikyon the silver, and Olympia the bronze. It was a day of bonding for many sixth graders. One that will not be forgotten.

24

MS Trip to Spain 8th Grade “Quixotes” travel to Spain 400 years later

By María Pilar Fernández and Greg Reynen, MS Spanish Teachers Once upon a time 23 intrepid 8th grade Quixotes dreamt of traveling to a far away land during Spring Break. Their dream came true and they flew to Bilbao and San Sebastian, in northern Spain, with their “Sancho Panzas”: Señora Fernández and Señor Reynen.

The weather, aware of their arrival, grew warm and sunny and dry. With a firing sun and turquoise skies, a ‘Green Spain’ welcomed them with splendor. The blooming trees and fragrant flowers in the town’s gardens added color. New sprouts were hanging from the trees; the locals wearing lighter clothes and easy smiles. The blinding shine of the Guggenheim’s titanium surface and the flavor of a “bocadillo de Jamón Ibérico” in their palates marked their arrival.

Some students experienced spring for the first time. Some experienced Europe for the first time. Many had been in Spain before, but somehow this region was different. Surrounded by big open spaces, breathtaking mountains, rough clear sea…they finally reached their destination: San Sebastian, a friendly town known by the locals as “The silver tea cup.”

The challenge and the nervousness were there, as each student met their host family. But far from looking scared, these brave Quixotes faced the difficulty with a smile (small at first, to tell you the truth) and off they went to try their language and social skills. All was not easy, but it seemed to work and they all felt better after a night’s rest.

The students attended classes during the week with Spanish teachers from Lacunza Language School (http://www.lacunza.com/home.asp). They had a total immersion program and they did a good job. They got a completion certificate and they were praised for their behavior both in the school and during the flights.

Each day was full of activities, a tour of the city with its beautiful architecture, a ride on a 100 year old “Funicular”, a fun day at the amusement park, soccer at the beach, a boat ride, bus rides, lunches together (sharing and trading), a pottery session with a “merienda”, ice skating, the planetarium, the aquarium, the naval and science museums,…even mountain climbing… all was perfect. There was some shopping too. The boy’s favorite spot was “FNAC” (Technology and videogames) and the girls went for “ZARA and STRADIVARIUS” (more on the fashion mood).

Our sweet and friendly local guide, Leire Gil, took us for a last treat “Chocolate con Churros” at a traditional “chocolatería”. Some students wanted to stay longer… but school had to start. They will all treasured their memories. Excited and tired these brave SAS grade eight students returned to Singapore, on the same day that the temperatures went down and the sky looked ready for more rain.

Now the trip is over and the skills gained are there. Our objective was to instill the motivation in the students to learn Spanish. We hope they all continue working hard and making friends in the Spanish speaking world. Gracias a todos!

25

MS Performance at Vienna International Junior Honor Orchestra Concert March 25th, 2006 – Vienna

By Darrell Townshend, Middle School Strings Teacher

o

n March 22nd, six students and two chaperones flew to Vienna, Austria; the students traveling to perform in the International Junior Honor Orchestra concert there. Alex Lim, Aki Maedomari, Kristyn Chong, Andrea Schodorf, Francis Yang and Jin Yoo Kim performed within a group of sixty students from schools that ranged from Brazil to Beijing, and included the countries of Brazil, China, United States of America, Singapore, Belgium, Netherlands, Britain, Switzerland, Egypt, Germany, and Saudi Arabia! An added bonus was that an ex-SAS student – Kendra Witkewicz – also performed in the concert.

We had ample opportunity to savor the delights of Vienna, its history and some learning opportunities, as well as to go shopping! Some highlights included the Haus der Musik, a six-storey building devoted both to the electronic ‘hands-on’ manipulation of musical sounds, to electronic studies of famous composers, to a machine that allowed participants to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (by virtual imaging). A trip to the Ancient Musical Instrument Museum also proved fruitful and fascinating, as was the trip to Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, but THE favorite activity was to enjoy the best coffee shop in Vienna – Café Mozart!

Our rehearsals began at American International School, Vienna (AISV) then moved the province of Styria and to Schielleiten Castle where students roomed, ate and made music! The facilities were excellent and the landscape was romantic – vineyards near an old castle, distant hills still with snow, and beautiful cottages on the hillside.

We rehearsed six hours a day (sometimes more), and in the evenings after 8.00pm students had made use of the sporting facilities.

Our students had two unexpected enrichments. Firstly, one teacher had brought a viola da gamba – an antique instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and she gave a demonstration. Secondly, one chaperone was also an accredited yoga instructor who gave morning yoga sessions, and breathing sessions at the end of each rehearsal! The latter experience showed students the connection between breath control and mental control so necessary in performance.

Our concert on Saturday, March 25th was held in the nearby village of Hartberg in a small auditorium there. The conductor was SAS’s Mr. Townshend who led the sixty-strong orchestra. The culmination of the evening was a combined performance of three choral works with the AISV Middle School Choir. The orchestra was greeted with a standing ovation at the end of this one-hour program of diverse works, and strong applause after all items.

Our trip was one of a musical and cultural enrichment, a great social outing and a fabulous learning experience. As the world’s most famous musical city, Vienna charmed us with its history and beauty. The performances were ones of energy and excitement. Our students returned tired but happy, and VERY relieved that they returned during the Spring break to catch up on their sleep!

Writing Competition

26

Future Problem Solving - Scenario Writing Competition SAS Students 1st and 2nd Place Winners

Future Problem Solvers from 4th Grade (from left to right) Isabel Perucho, Bianca Insigne, Brooke Cauthon, Arjun Gill and Colin McRae

f

ive Intermediate School students recently entered their short stories in Future Problem Solving Program – Scenario Writing Competition. After meeting on a weekly basis for six weeks with Enrichment Coordinator, Anne Backus, the 4th grade team of students submitted their short stories (of 1,500 words) to the Massachusetts competition. (International students are affiliated with a state in the United States to participate.) The stories were set at least 20 years in the future and needed to have a recognizable relationship to one of the 2005-2006 Future Problem Solving Program topics of climate change/climate threat, freedom of speech, nutrition, healthcare access or the redistribution of wealth.

Congratulations go to the Future Problem Solving team of writers. Isabel Perucho was judged a first place winner and Colin McRae as second place in the International Division of the Massachusetts state competition. Also receiving special acknowledgements are Brooke Cauthon, Arjun Gill and Bianca Insigne. Mrs Ann Godley and Mrs. Lauren Walker are the students’ classroom teachers.

Future Problem Solving Program (FPSP) is a program designed to provide the tools and strategies students need to face the challenges of today and the future. FPSP teaches students to think critically, creatively, and futuristically. The Future Problem Solving Program’s six-step model is aligned with National Curriculum Standards and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Standards. The scenario writing component of FPSP provides opportunities for students to meet and exceed these standards by encouraging students to develop and refine their creative writing skills.

The winners’ stories have been sent to the U.S. National Office where they will be judged at the international level.

Isabel, as the first place student in the Massachusetts division was invited to the FPS International Conference June 1-4, 2006, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

27

HS Math Competitions SAS Senior Wins Math Competition

By Jim Kett, HS Faculty

t

Names in the picture (from left to right): Hyun Soo Kim, Shashank Bharadwaj, Zubin Chand, Andrew Ni, Joon Park, Eng Seng Ng, and Dr. Kett

he South East Asia Math Competition (SEAMC), held this year in Hong Kong February 23-25, featured 120 mathletes from seven different countries. SAS sent six students to the event that included both individual and team competitions. Eng Seng Ng, a SAS senior, was the overall individual winner, while the team of Eng Seng Ng, Andrew Ni, and Hyun Soo Kim finished in second place in the team competition. A second SAS team consisting of Shashank Bharadwaj, Zubin Chand, and Joon Park finished 5th, while Andrew Ni and Hyun Soo Kim finished 7th and 12th respectively in the individual rounds.

IASAS math team members (from left to right) Steve Kim, Eng Seng Ng, Young Hur, Ashley Xu, and Harrison Won

SAS Wins Gold in IASAS Math

m

embers of the SAS IASAS math team did exceptionally well against the other five IASAS schools in the annual IASAS Mathematics Competition, winning the team gold medal. The contest took place on Wednesday, February 15 and involved 25 challenging questions. The silver medalist for the event was Eng Seng Ng, leading SAS to a narrow victory over Taipei American School. The team is coached by high school math teacher, Jim Kett.

Re-enrollment for the 2006/07 School Year The re-enrollment and family information forms were sent to parents and companies on March 1. The deadline for re-enrollment is May 2, 2006. If you have not received the forms, please contact the Admissions office at 63606309 immediately.

All outstanding 2005/06 school fees must be settled first before re-enrollment is allowed. For enquiries, please contact the Admissions office at 6360-6309 for re-enrollment or Debra at 6360-6324 for outstanding fees.

Financial Aid SAS has a limited Financial Aid program available for families who are having temporary financial difficulties.

Please call Ann Tan at 6360-6315 or email ann@sas.edu.sg for application forms and information.

Community Service

28

Recycling – Making it a Part of Your Life

By Catherine Ward, HS Student

a

t the corner of Orchard and Scotts sit three bins, one for plastic and glass, one for aluminum cans and foil, and one for paper products. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of city life, pedestrians rarely recognize the three bins for what they truly are: a chance to do something healthy for the environment. Instead, people race by with paper and plastic bags, soda cans, plastic-wrapped groceries and glass bottles without thinking twice about the materials that they are holding.

Recycling needs to replace the removal of solid wastes to landfills and the use of incinerator to dispose of waste. Recycling saves trees. It also protects the habitats of countless organisms. The simple act of saving and separating recyclable materials helps to defend the natural world from the human destruction of biodiversity. Recycling reduces the use of toxic chemicals, water pollution, air pollution, the need for landfills, the need for incinerators and it helps to decrease the negative effects of global warming. Without recycling, society will become increasingly more unsustainable, and this could have a devastating impact on the lifestyles of future generations. Since today’s children will bear the brunt of adults failures, parents should teach their children to recycle and make it a household responsibility.

Some neighborhoods in Singapore recycle as a community with a service picking up their recyclables every week, but this service is not yet provided to the entire population. It is the obligation of each household to take initiative for themselves.

The convenience of recycling is enhanced by The Singapore Green Map, a website that shows the location of every recycling station in Singapore. Moreover, if you are in doubt of which station is closest to your house or which route will be the fastest, you can type in your home address and the site will tell you which station to go to and how to get there. This process is simple, it is easy, and it allows people to do the vital process of recycling in a painless manner.

Singapore is home to an abundance of recycling stations – 67 around the city. There are ten stations alone on Orchard Road, and others in Jurong East, Bukit Timah, Upper East Coast, China Town, Singapore Nature Reserve and the Botanic Gardens. This abundance of stations increases the convenience and ease of recycling by making recycling trips a quick and easy outing.

The recycling of paper and paper products is important because the paper industry creates more pollution than any other industrial sector, including the auto industry and the chemical industry. The recycling of paper reduces this pollution.

“For instance, recycling of paper reduces air pollution by 74 percent and water pollution by 35 percent. Each ton of paper recycled could also save 17 small trees,” said a National Environmental Agency article, “The Need for Waste Management.”

“Recycling aluminum saves 90 percent of the energy required to make aluminum from scratch. The energy saved by recycling one aluminum can will run a T.V. for three hours,” said an internet article, “Reasons to Recycle.” The energy that is saved when one glass bottle is recycled will light a 60-watt bulb for four hours. Recycling glass also reduces the air pollution that the glass industry causes by 20 percent and the water pollution by 50 percent.

Start feeling connected to making a difference. Start during a relatively slow month and start with plastics – light enough material that carrying them won’t be inconvenient. Celebrate that you are able to help. Even if the recycling of every possible material is not reached, rejoice in the fact that what you are doing will help the world.

Recycling is not hard; it is easy. It does not take an enormous amount of energy; it can be done for an hour every Saturday morning. Walking to the recycling stations located around the island does not drastically disrupt the lifestyles of expats in Singapore. It’s a small thing that can have a large effect. It’s the least that we can do.

29

HS Special Recognition National Honor Society – Spring Induction Ceremony

o

n March 21st, 43 high school students were inducted into the SAS National Honor Society (NHS). High School Principal, Paul Chmelik spoke briefly to the audience about the honor of being selected to NHS before presenting students with their certificates. NHS members are selected based scholarship, leadership, character and service. NHS officers including President, Nicholas Kreston, Vice President, Kristin Liu, Secretary, Leslie Lim and Treasurer, Kavanaugh Livingston, spoke about the importance of each of these traits to the National Honor Society and the responsibilities of the new members to honor and uphold their commitment to excellence in each of these areas. NHS advisors are Ms. Barbara Wieben and Ms. Barbara Wieben.

The following students were inducted to NHS at the ceremony: Seniors – Stephanie Quach and Rina Suzuki.

Juniors – Tarang Agarwal, Paul Charbonnet, Anit Das, Jennifer Gamez, Sophie Greene, Kelsey Heiner, Denise Hotta -Moung, Hae Yeon (Alice) Jeong, Sang Cheoi (Steve) Kim, Na Hoi Koo, Colin Lee, Sang Hoon Lee, Marissa Leow, Jessica Lin, Thomas Lindh, Samuel Lloyd, Karen Ngo, Simi Oberoi, Mitchell Samson, Michelle Schmitz, Mia Rhodora (Rhoda) Severino, Sneh Shah, Jason Chi-Hsuan Tsai, Abigail Wong, Rachelle Yu and Ni (Jenny) Zhan.

Sophomores – Renuka Agarwal, Chelsea Curto, Dorothy Dugard, Alice Grgas, Belal Hakim, Jane Hurh, Huei-Yu Lin, Karen Lin, Evelyn Lo, Yashika Mody, John (Jack) Pitfield, Daksha Rajagopalan, Isabella Reid, Rushika Shekhar and Emily Woodfield.

HS Student wins Art Award

Joanne Liu, grade 11, entered the International Golden Lotus Cup Chinese Art Competition 2005 in Hong Kong. Among the competitors from China, Taiwan, Macau, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, she won 1st place in acrylic drawing in the youth group and 3rd place in Chinese painting.

It was her first attempt in acrylic drawing. She is taking AP Studio Art and is tutored by Mr Stephen Leong of Singapore Miao Hua Chinese Art Society.

PTA Sales Operation The PTA Sales window will be closed Monday, May 15 through the end of the school year. Sales will resume during August orientations.

Jazz Night

30

A Night of Classic Jazz

Photos contributed by Joel Momberger, SAS Parent, Suzanne Brisson, SAS Parent and Wera Von Wulfen, HS Student

p

erforming again this year at the American Club ballroom, the SAS Jazz Singers and Jazz Band, under the direction of Mr. Brian Hill and Ms. Nanette Devens performed a “Night of Classic Jazz� on Friday evening, April 7. Featuring jazz solos and ensembles, the performers literally swept the audience off their feet (when they got them up to dance).

Cultural Convention 2006

31

IASAS Cultural Convention

Art – Music – Dance – Drama – Debate – Forensics

c

ultural Convention Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Debate and Forensics are selective IASAS events that were held this year in Bangkok at ISB and in Taipei at TAS. SAS students who are chosen to be participants worked for eight weeks on their presentation before traveling to the host school for the events. Prior to Cultural Convention, held this year on March 9th, 10th and 11th, and to provide an opportunity for SAS students and the community to see these presentations, SAS hosted Previews on March 2nd, 3rd and 6th in the afternoons right after school.

Cultural Convention 2006 provided an opportunity for SAS students to showcase their talents in the fine arts and forensics, have to an opportunity to observe and critique the work of other students, and to compete with other IASAS schools in a wide range of cultural endeavors. Overall SAS students work was well received and was highly regarded by the other school’s participants and judges.

SAS students and faculty advisors that attended the Convention praised their hosts in both locations. Everyone agreed that there was an unusually friendly and positive atmosphere in both Taipei and Bangkok this year.

Photo galleries from Cultural Convention 2006 can be found on the SAS high school website at http://hseagle.sas. edu.sg/.