The Eye Vol. 1 Issue 1

SAS Re-Imagined

Busily filing into the new comfy seats, some students flip toward the first page of their homework, while others eagerly devour their lunch. With students forming long lines in front of the lunch counters, the Eagle’s Perch has never been so busy Offering a 300-seat capacity and a dynamic set of international lunch menus, students respond to the new High School dining facility with positivity and excitement.

The Eagle’s Perch is part of phase two of the SAS reimagined program, a three-phase renovation project with a six-year term Endeavoring to create a “whole new campus learning and community spaces for the best possible student experience at the intersection of excellence, extraordinary care, and possibilities,” areas such as the ninth-grade learning communities, robotics and coding rooms, west fields, health center, and the computer science rooms have been renovated to offer new experiences to the student and faculty body

“I think the school gave us a great room, it's slightly larger than our old one and is closer to most of our classes. Overall I think it's a good upgrade to the robotics program,” said Aaron Thoman (11), a Robotics Club member

Ms Casey also underscored the importance and positive benefits of SAS reimagined in the new SAS health center. A pivotal location for students to rejuvenate and rest, she delves into the new identity the school nursing facility has developed

“Love the new Health center, as it is a lot more spacious so we can accommodate more students who want to hang out, rest, and recuperate, and the new rehab space for Tomo is pretty cool There is more privacy for students too as we have our own bathroom and bedroom There is also an office space for us to meet students, which has morphed into a quiet study room for students to use,” said Cathy Casey, Health Center nurse.

Professor John Hattie’s studies have also demonstrated that (ILE) learning can provide students with more opportunities to grow their abilities to collaborate, communicate, and grow cultural understanding This learning environment not only promotes flexibility from both the students and teachers, but also establishes a strong connection between the student, their peers, and the faculty members

“SAS reimagined wasn't anything I expected a school to be. Needless to say, it exceeded my expectations,” said Gabby Yeung (11), an avid cafeteria user, “The new spaces are modern and chic, with comfortable seating and various adaptable spaces for studying and collaborative work. Overall, I really enjoy the new renovations, and look forward to the next set of construction works to come.”

“The new learning spaces created a more calm and united environment. With more equipment, furniture, and a variety of seatings, it is more comfortable to work and communicate with my peers.” Katie Lee (10) said. The future of SAS reimagined looks towards the remodeling of the elementary and middle school department, as well as APEx extensions and the stadium field turf.

BY: YUNAH (”YUJIN”) JOE JUNIOR, REPORTER

"The goals for ‘SAS reimagined’ pertain to developing mass learning environments suitable for all students, allowing for the school campus to function as an innovative learning environment (ILE)."

Perspectives

Which Honor Society should I join?

Joining honor societies is a great way to explore your academic interests and participate in various club events. All honor societies have basic service hour requirements every semester; members can earn hours through tutoring, hosting Zoom review sessions, etc Consequently, trying to join every honor society can be draining and time-consuming; below is a list of societies at SAS, so pick and choose the ones that interest you!

National Honor Society (NHS): The National Honor Society is dedicated to advancing scholarship, leadership, and service at SAS. Applicants must answer a series of short questions, and get 2+ teacher recommendations. Admitted members are required to send monthly compliments to selected faculty, as it is NHS’ goal to spread kindness and positivity around the school campus. Compared to other societies, meetings are generally infrequent but the application process is surely competitive.

National English Honor Society (NEHS):

“NEHS is a community of writers and English lovers that exists to support the English department, as well as spread the love of English through poetry events, writing competitions, and more!”, says Erin Chen (11). Members regularly share book logs, host essay competitions, and participate in the international fair Join NEHS if you love to read!

Rho Kappa Honor Society (SSHS): “It’s fascinating to see how diverse everyone’s interests are: it goes from politics to economics, psychology to history…SSHS makes me appreciate social studies even more.” Rho Kappa Honor Society is no doubt one of the most selective organizations at SAS To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 4 0 in all social studies classes this means straight A’s every semester! In addition, applicants have to write an essay following one of the given prompts: last year, my essay was about “Is eutopia and dramatic social change possible?” The questions are generally philosophical, and there is no specific structure as to how the essay should be written as I heard from others, such room for “creativity” comes across as a challenge.

BY: HAYOON JOE JUNIOR, REPORTER

Perspectives

Academic + Elective Societies

Science National Honor Society (SNHS): SNHS is one of the biggest and most active honor societies at our school. Members offer unit review sessions in all AP sciences as well as normal/accelerated science courses Furthermore, 1:1 tutoring sessions are available for struggling students to utilize. Due to the society’s big member base, service hour requirements range between 8-10 hours every semester “I really enjoy sharing my knowledge in the field of chemistry with future chemists. SNHS offers a variety of teaching opportunities plus, they give a lot of service hours, so you’ll fill out your requirements in a blink” says Uma Laroia (11)

Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society): “MAT is a community of people who really enjoy and are passionate about math. The sense of community formed through a shared interest is really invaluable, and the fact that the passion is then used to have a positive impact on others is what makes it especially meaningful,” says Hyeonseo Kwon (12)

National Art Honor Society (NAHS): “SAS’s chapter of NAHS is truly extraordinary The sense of belonging, positivity, and most importantly our love for art make us unlike others. We have many different committees dedicated to creating a positive impact. From New Student Initiative to Production Set committee and Commission committee, students in NAHS devote countless hours behind the scene. We are committed to not only demonstrate our passion for art but also make sure our dedication can help others have a better experience at SAS,” says Hyeonseo Kwon (12), one of the NAHS officers Join if you like drawing, painting, or simply looking at extraordinary art.

BY: HAYOON JOE JUNIOR, REPORTER

Perspectives

Language + Elective Societies

Tri-M National Honor Society: If you’re an aspiring musician, Tri-M Honor Society is the perfect fit for you! All students who are involved in music whether that’s Strings, Band or Choir are eligible to apply. This society is well known for its delicious pizzas during the International Fair as well! “Being part of Tri-M has allowed me to interact with so many different musicians. Drop by our pizza booth during the International Fair!” Ananya Nathan (11)

Chinese Honor Society (CHS): Chinese Honor Society focuses on one of the three languages offered at SAS. Levels range from novice to advanced, where students study the complexity of Chinese language as well as its unique culture “It’s amazing to be in a community with students who are passionate about Chinese. I enjoy our karaoke events too!”says Ananya Nathan (11)

French Honor Society (FHS): “I love studying the French language and culture. Learning French has not only helped me academically but opened up so many doors to conversing with new people all around the world”, Shivani Nayyar (11)

Spanish Honor Society (SHS): “I’ve been taking Spanish since fifth grade, and it was my dream to join the Spanish Honor Society. Every day, I wake up and thank God and the officers for allowing admission to this prestigious and exclusive society”, says Uma Laroia (11)

Thespian Honor Society: “THS provides an open and creative environment for all thespians regardless of what role they specialize in (e g. tech, makeup, and drama) to truly connect through various activities during the school year”, says Anna Choi (12). Stella Ryu (11) also added, “Walking into a room full of people who trust one another is the best feeling; the Thespian Honor Society built a community that does just that We encourage individuals to reach their full potential within their comfort zone. I can guarantee that there is not a group that is more supportive than us ” So join THS if you love drama!

BY: HAYOON JOE JUNIOR, REPORTER

Perspectives

What I got wrong about High School

To Freshmen, high school may feel the same as eighth grade. There’s not much homework, nor do the teachers seem strict; there’s plenty of time to hang out with friends, buy quesadillas at the perch, and text people on Snapchat. It might be that all those daunting warnings about high school were fallacies perhaps unrealistically exaggerated High school seems to provide us with complete freedom: so much time is put in our hands, and it’s our choice to decide how to spend it. This is an exciting opportunity. The truth is, there’s not enough time

Here’s where I got it all wrong.

Sleeping is not important. This is entirely untrue. Sleep is the most important, especially when we’re suffocating from assessments, club activities, and endless friendship drama.

High school takes away the time for us to relax, and instead encourages productivity and optimization of time. This seems to take place all around our school, where some students “boast” about pulling allnighters and staying up late to catch up on schoolwork.

BY: HAYOON JOE JUNIOR, REPORTER

"Once, I only got two hours of sleep while studying for my AP U.S. History unit test the next day. By the time I took the test, I was so tired that I couldn’t remember anything I reviewed the day before (I ended up forgetting to fill out an entire section, and received a solemn D on that test)

Prioritize academics and abandon exercising.

“Morning tennis practices may come across as “draining”, but they actually give me more energy and help me focus during the day,” says Ava Mehra (11), an avid tennis player. Despite taking tennis lessons almost every day, Ava manages to get all her schoolwork done, read, watch Netflix, and sleep at 10:30 PM. “Go to the gym, go on a run, or bike at East Coast Park these are all fun activities to keep your mind from obsessing over academics.”

I realized that in times like this, staying healthy and awake is pivotal; without enough sleep or nutrition, it’s incredibly difficult to succeed academically " Join as many clubs and honor societies as you can. In sophomore year, I applied to almost every single honor society that I was eligible for. I sacrificed my sleep time to fill out applications, attend extensive interviews, and ask my teachers for recommendation letters I was happy to get accepted but these activities took an immense amount of my time

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Perspectives

Why was I spending so much time in a club I wasn’t even interested in?

“You may want to join every single service club that exists, but you don’t have time for that. Of course, it’s important to take time to explore, but sooner or later you may have to narrow those down to 1-2 activities”, explains Sabrina Gwee (11).

“Taking part in ten service clubs doesn’t mean anything unless you are passionate about its mission. The belief that more activities is better needs to change.”

High school is not about making friends. No high school is all about making friends. In a setting where there are so many people from diverse backgrounds, there are copious opportunities to form meaningful relationships; some of which may stay strong after graduation.

Don’t be afraid to start awkward small talks, or chat with upperclassmen; these seemingly uncomfortable interactions are a pathway to develop ourselves as strong individuals. School is a place to encourage our learning and growth, but it is also a space where we should have fun. But don’t forget to watch the clock!

Sabrina is involved in Varsity Cross Country and likes to spend her free time dancing, baking, or playing the cello

BY: JENNY JEONG FRESHMAN, REPORTER

NEW TAKE: Next steps with student voice

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the phrase “SAS Reimagined” creates a vivid imagery Here’s a quick recap The latest mission of Singapore American School is to create new and improved learning environments to initiate further levels of success among the students.

The first phase of the renovations has been met with wide success. And fittingly, the ninthgrade student government prompt is: “If you could change ONE thing about SAS, what would you change and why? This change could involve the students, faculty, or the school. How does this change reflect your personal values?”

With such coincidental overlap, ninth graders were interviewed and asked for a quote regarding both their favorite aspect of SAS and one change they would create.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our school!

“There’s so many different kinds of clubs, classes, and activities students can participate in to pursue their passion or meet new people,” said Mani May (9), “there’s something for everyone here! SAS really does consider our thoughts and you can clearly see how much they care about the opinions of the people in our community ”

The idea of openness and the variety of opportunities were commonly mentioned and met with enthusiasm and agreement

Students are able to reach for the stars and are encouraged to pursue their individual passions Especially with the huge campus, various activities ranging from track to rock climbing are accessible and there is a lot of freedom for students “Just having such a variety, having such a range of options to be able to explore is the key of SAS Each student can find something that–well–really resonates with them Yeah, SAS is nothing if not inclusive,” Isaac Kim (9) said

However, as a result of the huge campus and substantial student body, students and classmates aren’t able to reach a level of friendship typically past acquaintances.

“But this school is really big. It’s really hard to make connections with everyone…I really liked what middle school did with sides, because you really got given the time to understand and bond with a certain set of people” Mani May (9) said, it gave me a sense of belonging and community, and made school feel like a place I can always go to!! Whether it’s more time with a good advisory, some activities to bond with your class, I just want to connect with people on many more levels!!” And a further change from students involves the curriculum.

“I would add even more flexibility in the curriculum so we are still meeting academic standards but in a more personal way,” Aanya Ghosh (9) said, “ I believe that when we learn about something we are more interested in, we focus more and ultimately more focus leads to better results ”

“I feel like the pace for some classes could be faster or slower In addition, the feedback structure could be changed Feedbacks are either too unspecific or too nice and not critical enough More critical feedback is what lets students see what parts they need to improve on and face the harsh truth rather than constantly getting compliments and not taking action on what actually needs to be done,” Brian Chen (9) said

In an SAS Reimagined by students, other aspects of school life are subjected to change SAS still does have some things to change but has come a long way since It is clear, by the operation the school has done and will accomplish, it will continue to improve and become the best learning environment for the students

The Eye

Lifestyle

Welcoming Ms. Sangster

From students twirling, learning technical dance skills, to collaborating with their peers, under Ms. Sangster’s guidance, the room trickles with joy and laughter. Ms. Sangster, also known as Natalie Sangster, was welcomed to the SAS community this school year as the High School dance teacher

Arriving in Singapore on the 8th of July, Ms Sangster expressed her excitement for the school year

“I’m loving it so far It has been busy but in a good way There is so much to do: so many people to talk to, activities to do, and classes to teach. But it's all of the things I love. For example, the school musicals and working on dance shows are a few of my highlights,” Natalie Sangster, SAS's new dance teacher, said, “everybody at the school is beyond kind all the time I’ve never felt so supported at a school by so many different people ”

Aside from preparing for the dance productions and teaching, Ms Sangster spends her leisure time in Singapore adopting various athletic activities as well as scavenging for new restaurants to dine at.

“I spend my leisure time doing dance classes and going to the gym. I’m super into fitness and outdoor activities In New Zealand, I spent a lot of time hiking and swimming in the lake I spent as much time as possible I could in the water In Singapore, I spend my free time hanging out with my new friends, going to new great places to eat food, and finding new coffee shops ”

While speaking of the diverse hobbies, Ms Sangster also explores how she feels about Singapore. Understanding that New Zealand and Singapore maintain highly contrasting weather conditions and cultures, Ms. Sangster shares her thoughts in a positive light

“I’ve come from New Zealand where it’s been winter, so it was nice coming to an influx of sunshine What I like about Singapore so far is that it is really clean and there is lots to do Everyone is really friendly ” Natalie Sangster, the new dance teacher, said

Furthermore, Ms. Sangster described how her passion for teaching dance was cultivated throughout the early years

“I’ve danced all my life, ever since I was young My university degree was actually in theater studies I originally wanted to be a professional dancer, but when I took a gap year and worked at a specialist performing arts school in the UK, it changed my mind and my perspective on what I wanted to do in the arts.” Ms. Sangster said, “I realized that I liked being behind the scenes and doing the teaching.”

As a High School dance teacher, Ms. Sangster additionally communicated her heartfelt experience at the flash mob during the High School assembly With teachers suddenly gifting students a marvelous dance performance, many including Ms Sangster were touched

“I was so excited for the flash mob I’ve never seen so many teachers get involved in something like that before. There was an overall feeling of warmth and gratitude to the people who were willing to get up in front of the students and do something fun. It made me proud to be a part of the SAS High School community ”

Finally, Ms. Sangster shares what she would expect for her classes in the future Emphasizing the importance of students having fun while remaining safe, Ms Sangster brings light to curating a healthy environment in the field of dance.

“I’m expecting a lot of fun. I like my classes to be fun and supportive. I want people to have a good time while also working hard Honestly, this school year is still so new that I don’t know what to expect from the year yet!” Ms. Sangster said.

BY: YUNAH (”YUJIN”) JOE JUNIOR, REPORTER

Lifestyle

Off School Grounds

The bell rings, Friday, 3pm. The most liberating feeling for most of us highschoolers on campus, when we can finally go home, or go out (depending on your ideal afternoon of course), and not do any work for once in the whole week. However, whether you're the kind of person that loves to book that grab from the back gate, straight to Orchard with your friends, crash at home and relax, or study, it's always helpful knowing a few special places around the city, that arent Somerset (I know, impossible), that you or your friends may be interested in going, to have a change of scene, and get a much needed breath of fresh air.

Holland Village (Lolas, and many more!)

Most of us know Holland Village well, especially those of us who live there, but after school this could serve as a suitable middle ground in terms of distance, for highschoolers who live between Orchard, and Woodlands Holland Village has an abundance of cafes that may not be as crowded as the standard cafe in Orchard, that some of us may love while enjoying a favorite drink after a particularly hectic day at school

Star Vista Mall

We know what you’re thinking, where even is that? But wait, just hear us out. Only a 20 minute car ride from Woodlands, Star Vista is one of the few open air malls, integrated within an extremely natural environment Although you may think it gets hot and humid like the rest of the country, its design includes natural air flow ventilation that keeps the area optimal for those who are not in its many air conditioned stores Though Star Vista Mall itself is a great place to hangout, right next door is a Starbucks! This may not seem anything out of the ordinary at all, but this one in particular is surrounded by the area's flora, and provides a sense of tranquility

Wisma (Orange Mocha)

Nevertheless, some of us would just much rather stay in the heart of Orchard If this is you, Wisma Atria may be the place to go! Orange Mocha, a small cafe on the 4th floor of Wisma Atria, is the perfect place to go if you’d rather stay in Orchard, but get a good study session in With the walls decked with books and magazines, to the bright white finishing, it proves itself as definitely an optimal place to focus, if your upcoming week is challenging

BY: SHREYA CHIRRAVURI JUNIOR, REPORTER

Lifestyle

It’s best to balance

The crowd goes silent, and it’s the last candidate's turn Confidently stepping up to the podium, her words ribbon through the audience, seamlessly wrapping everyone into her speech She smiles, reassuring us all, that she would be our best vote In the next 48 hours, she would be named our president. She is Shannon Kim

She reiterated that these lessons that she kept track of every school year were not just something for herself, but something that we should all keep in mind when forming relationships with others

On an academic facet, Shannon says, “9th grade, I really took things slow, I think I was able to pace myself, so that when I got to junior year and senior year, I still had something left in me, excitement for learning, and doing hard things,” emphasizing that having a plan throughout our high school journey, and being able to pace yourself, was the key to unlocking the academic gems of high school

Right off the bat, Shannon mentions the softball team, in her first year, was one of the most welcoming communities she had entered, reminiscing her thoughts of ‘This is the place I want to be part of.’

Although in competitive sport, Shannon stressed the question, “How can we really make the next person to us feel valued?” She stated that this was what made the softball community feel like home, bringing light to the benefits of having a strong community outside of the constant over-pressuring environment of academics

Shannon Kim, our current student body president for the 2023-2024 school year, had a lot of things to say for us highschoolers, such as advice for underclassmen and plenty of insights on being voted into president this year (and not to mention her activities outside her leadership position)

To begin with, Shannon mentions a subconscious tactic that she built, to mentally adjust herself for every new page of her social life in high school While this is something not all of us would resort to (subconsciously or consciously), her perspective on the high school social experience is something we should all keep in mind In 9th grade she stated she would remind herself: “Don't make excuses for people” and to, “show yourself you value yourself ” However, after following this in freshman year, she further evolved her mindset into, “People are not good or bad, they are just nuanced and unique ” Essentially she reminded herself that people are ever-evolving, and that process is okay, it’s something we should embrace, and so on

Lastly, onto what we all know about her, she's our class president! With representing us as a student body, it must be difficult to efficiently manage her time as a student, leader, athlete, and much more, as well as accurately representing all of our thoughts and feelings When asked about her experiences, Shannon remarks that, “I expected the president to be the one that knows everything that's going on and is able to have influence on all these smaller communities, and what I realized is that it's really not that ” Elaborating on this, she said she realized that, “When you get there, [a leadership role] you start to realize how important you are, not as a leader, but as a team member, and how being a leader is just a different role in that team,” referring to her being a student leader among her peers Ultimately as president, she hopes to “bring a little more life back to SAS,” especially, she stresses, “in a graceful way ”

After these small glimpses into her thoughts, experiences, and navigation as president, I’m sure it’s no surprise that her chosen word to sum up high school was, “Balance ”

BY: SHREYA CHIRRAVURI JUNIOR, REPORTER

contact:

Yujin: joe49029@sas edu sg

Ms Elhai: lelhai@sas edu sg

ISSUE 2

THEEYE THEEYE

SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL

Yunah (“Yujin”) Joe (11), Solee Ngah (11), Hayoon Joe (11). Rosa Kim (11), Shreya Chirravuri (11), Jenny Jeong (9)