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M AY/J U N E 2 0 1 4
ISSUE 22.
UPDATE 5 7 WO LGYE-RO 45GA-GI L , NOWO N- G U, S EO UL , 1 3 9 - 8 5 2 , KOREA ■ T. 0 2 .9 0 7 .2 7 4 7 ■ F. 0 2 .9 0 7 .2 7 4 2 ■ WWW. APIS .S EO U L.KR
IN THIS ISSUE:
■ APIS Musicals ■ Elementary Field Day ■ KIMEA Solo/Ensemble Festival
IN THIS ISSUE:
■ SRC Elections ■ Elementary Chinese & Japanese ■ High School Prom ■ Faculty Retreat ■ Moving Up & Graduation
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Elementary Musicals by Judy Park, Grade 1 Teacher and Elaine Lee, Grade 2 Teacher
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or the past few years, first and second graders held various performances such as musicals, plays and the Readers’ Theater. Among these performances, the musical has become an annual tradition for grade one and two students. Every year they try to choose different musicals that align with the curriculum of APIS. This year, first grade students performed a musical called, “Life Cycles.” This musical was a great fit with the Reading Workshop unit, “Dramatizing Characters” as well as the “Insect Unit” in Science. The students learned how to act, talk, and feel like the characters in the musical to convey the appropriate feelings, actions and words. In addition, it was a wonderful and fun way for them to learn scientific words. Some of the students had stage fright as this was their first performance in front of a big audience. However, the loud applause during the performance encouraged the students to feel good about their accomplishment.
Jacklyn Veri and Yeonsue Arata as butterflies singing along with the chorus in the back. They explain the life cycle of butterflies how they change from egg to caterpillar, to chrysalis stage, and finally become a butterfly.
Jenny Kim and Jason Kim sing a song on how animals and plants are different, but also similar!
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Yeonsue Arata, William Yoo, Jiwoo Jung, Matthew Jeon, and Jenny Kim as rabbits, fish, tadpoles, and plants sing a song about the predator and prey - to eat or be eaten!
The whole class of G1 sing the final song about life cycles. “Here’s our show about some life cycles. How plants and critters grow. Here’s our show about some life cycles. We’ll tell you what we know."
Students, parents and Ms. Judy Park at the end of another successful show presented by G1 students!
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he second grade students decided to do a musical on grammar for this year’s performance. The students could have doubled up the cast and gone with it, but since the second graders were forming such great bonds with their 5B reading buddies, Ms. Elaine Lee asked Mr. Jeff Underhill for help with the musical; and he willingly accepted! For about a month and a half, Grade 2 and 5B students met during their Reading Buddies time to prepare for the musical “Grammarosaurus” that they would perform together. The musical "Grammarosaurus" takes place in Scotland, where Nessie (a monster) and his fellow Grammarosauri (plural for Grammarosaurus) have surfaced from the Loch Ness lake! The musical is about these characters, who are experts at grammar, trying to save the world from grammatical crisis. This musical not only aligned well with APIS’ Language Arts standards in grammar, vocabulary, public speaking skills, and fluency, but the students have gained social skills and learned how to work together as a team. Most importantly, they have really bonded with one another and had so much fun through this creative experience. The smiles on the faces of the audience and the students indicated that the musicals ended in a huge success with expectations for next year’s musicals. Everyone laughed, everyone clapped along the music, and everyone had a great time. We are truly thankful for our parents’ endless support and staff members who helped behind the scenes.
Joan Kim and Adelia Kwak as Plural Grammarosauri (in fact, Grammarosauri is the plural form of Grammarosaurus!), with Sally Pak acting as none other than Sally the reporter! The plurals explain to Sally about the difficult nature of plurals.
aniick, the r. Pickw stonished D s a a Kim is John S. hologist. He yc i! r u mal ps a s mmaro by Gra
Johan Shin and Webb Beatty acting as Quotation Mark Grammarosauri sing a song how they are twins that mark exactly what others say.
It’s the Noun and Verb Grammarosauri performed by Rian Kwak and Lulu Timpson! They sing a song on how the noun and verb make a great pair together.
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The musical ended with the whole G2 and G5B classes singing the song, “Extra! Extra! Stop that press!”
The happy faces of G2 and G5B students as they ended a successful musical. Thank you all for a wonderful show! W W W. A P I S . S E O U L . K R
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The 4th Annual Pacific Pencil is Published
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arents and elementary students gathered together May 9 for a special celebration at the 4th Annual Pacific Pencil Publishing Party. The Pacific Pencil is a literary magazine published annually by the APIS Elementary School which features a collection of student artwork and writing gathered over the course of the year from K5 to Grade 5. The Pacific Pencil Publishing Party is an event where students, faculty, and families gather to enjoy a presentation in the auditorium and can view all of the students’ artwork and writing pieces at an exhibition held in the gym. The Pacific Pencil is also released on this day so every student receives a copy to take home and share. Elementary Principal, Mr. Massiah, expressed how proud he was of what the students had accomplished this year. He remarked how “the Pacific Pencil book and presentation represent a progression of learning in art and writing from K5 to Grade 5” and how the Pacific Pencil exhibition provides “a great landscape of what takes place in our Elementary School” as parents, students, and faculty could see the works of our entire Elementary School displayed in one place showing the growth of our students from year to year. During the presentation, students were fascinated to hear from the guest speaker, Ms. MinJee (MJ) Kang, a fashion illustrator and writer. Ms. Kang explained how her love of drawing as a child led her to pursue this career. Ms. Kang even took the opportunity to show the students how she creates her illustrations; drawing a special APIS picture for all of the students to take home with them. As she showed them how she uses the computer program for her illustrations, some students commented, "it looks magical!”, and other students were invited to help color the illustrations. Her presentation was a great way to encourage our young student writers and artists to continue to pursue excellence and to follow their dreams. They are already off to a great start after having completed the Pacific Pencil as an Elementary School. All of the students should be very proud of this great accomplishment!
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tT ary Ar eacher t n me Ele
“It was such a joy for me to see our students celebrating their hard work with their parents and APIS families. All the teachers at APIS have been teaching our students how to express their ideas and thoughts through writing and artwork. During the school year, I have many students asking me which artwork they want to put in this year’s magazine. I love when they say that because it means they know how to be proud of their own work. Pacific Pencil has become a tradition and a big part of our school celebration. We are so thankful for the support that we have and we ask you for continuous support and participation next year! Special thanks go to all the parents who supported us again with fundraising events, providing us with great food reception, and cleaning up afterwards. This event could not have happened without Suanne Forrester, Emily Kim, Judy Park, Elaine Lee, Jeff Underhill, Kirstan Beatty and their SRC students, Jeff Woodrow, Brian Beatty, Meg Pendleton and her students, Janice Young and her service learning students. Special thanks also goes to all of our great staff members (especially Jade, Mr. Cho, Nicole, and Jo), Andy Murphy, Steve Massiah, and Dr. Kim!”
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Mrs. Anna
Se a,
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ne of the most anticipated events of the spring is the Elementary School Field Day. This year, in an effort to create a more family-friendly and carnival-like atmosphere, parents were invited to participate in games that included tug of war, jailbreak, kickball and even a dance competition led by Dr. Kim. Relaxing over a picnic lunch was also a highlight as entire families and fellow classmates got to share a great meal and rest in the shade. The sunshine and warm temperatures made for a fun and refreshing water fight at the conclusion of the day.
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Grade 5 Gets “Far Out� with a Fantasy Publishing Party
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ublishing parties are commonplace at APIS, but a recent one that placed the emphasis on the genre of fantasy literature stood out as unique and worthy of further investigation. We asked a few questions of Mr. Jeff Underhill, Grade 5 teacher and inspiration for the idea behind the publishing party.
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What makes the Fantasy Publishing Party unique from other Publishing Parties?
Grade five students are in love with the fantasy genre. Their stories were long, involving multiple storylines and a variety of characters. Sharing their narratives opened students' eyes to how much writing they did. Many students felt overwhelmed with the proposition of reading the whole story to the audience, and learned to select passages and read from those selections to relate the story. Are your students at an age where they are starting to appreciate fantasy literature? How did they respond when you gave them the assignment?
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Grade five students wrote fantasy like a wolf eats. What are some outcomes you would hope to see in your students as a result of this Publishing Party?
UPDATE
As students develop in their ability to communicate through the written word, they learn just how much they have to say and the possibilities of the art that is writing. Connecting personal writing to an audience is the primary goal of any publishing party, and this one is no different. Through talking about writing, students gain new understandings of audience perspective through audience responses, and reflect on how to change and grow writing to fit an intended audience.
John S.H. Kim and John S.H. Kim's father
Lucas Jhun and Sun Woo Kim
Rian Kwak and John S. Kim
Jin Lee and John S.Kim's mother Jack Song and his mother
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Jin Lee's mother and Joseph Kim
Students Win Prizes at the International Hyo Cartoon Competition by Anna Sea, Elementary Art Teacher
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PIS students, Byan Jung (5A), Jack Song (5A), Jin Lee (5A), and Rian Kwak (5B) were awarded prizes from the 2014 International Hyo Cartoon Competition! This was the 6th annual competition organized by Kyungmin University and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In the competition, students had to create a cartoon strip about filial duty. There were 8,800 participants from kindergarten to college level, in and outside of Korea, and 25 judges for this contest. All of our 4 participants from APIS got recognition and we were the only international school (elementary level) in Korea that received the main prize! Bryan’s artwork was also chosen to be exhibited with other 20 pieces of art in the Gyeongbokgung Palace Station Metro Museum from May 31 to June 9. (http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/culture) Bryan Jung: Multicultural Award (Main Prize) Jin Lee: Special Selection Jack Song: Special Selection Rian Kwak: Selected Award
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(left to right) Jin, Jack, Bryan, and Rian
They all did a great job and worked really hard. Bryan said, “I really enjoyed the whole process because I got to think about the beautiful memories that I had with my parents” and Jin said, “It gave me a chance to think about what might happen to my parents depending on what I do for my parents.”
Bryan's award winning cartoon strip.
We are very proud of our students’ hard work and talent. This was a great opportunity to think about what filial duty (hyo) really is especially in May when we celebrate Parents’ Day in Korea.
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KIMEA Solo & Ensemble Music Competition at APIS by Emmalee Johnson, Orchestra Teacher
Secondary students pose with the certificates they received for their performances at the KIMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival.
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n May 10, APIS welcomed students from eight international schools from within Korea to perform for the KIMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival. The Korea International Music Educator's Association (KIMEA) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of music education in Korea. This was KIMEA's second year for the festival and during this one day event, students performed as soloists or small groups for a judge and received a rating (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum). The judges were music teachers and professional musicians who focused on this festival being a learning experience, giving constructive criticism and positive feedback to all performers. This experience gave students an opportunity to be accountable for their own preparation, while working with their peers or an accompanist, which is a unique and valuable experience. One student said, "It was an amazing experience. Now I know how much hard work it takes to be a performer!" We had 168 performances scheduled, involving 270 students. Students, teachers, and parents from numerous international schools visited APIS and had a great experience. Many APIS students participated, receiving 5 Platinum ratings and 11 Gold ratings. Two of our groups who performed even got a perfect score! Congratulations to the APIS students who performed. All students grades 6-8 are welcome to participate. If you're interested in performing next year, start practicing now so you will be ready.
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Prom 2014 “Roaring 20’s” Finishes as “Roaring” Success by Hannah Nam (Grade 12)
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n Friday May 16, this year’s prom was held at Novotel Ambassador Seoul, in Gangnam. Entitled “Roaring 20’s”, everything from the tables’ towering, glamorous feather centerpieces to the jazz music was inspired by "The Great Gatsby" and the trademark sparkle of the 1920’s. This year’s prom was organized by a student-run Prom Committee. The students of this committee were completely responsible for producing the entire prom, and this involved tasks such as finding venues and photographers, designing tickets, invitations, seating plans, events, and decorations, and most importantly, fundraising – to name but a few. The Prom Committee was faced with numerous adversities throughout the process, but nevertheless surfaced with, as many had commented, possibly the most successful prom at APIS. Chris Kim (Grade 12), one of the members of the committee, said, "it was difficult putting together an event with such little time and so few resources. Prom 2014 was the first time students at APIS really spearheaded such a major event by themselves. Prom was unique this year in the sense that student integration was key in every step of preparation, and I feel the success we found that night will hopefully encourage greater integration of the student body in school related events." One of the major differences between this year’s prom and previous proms was the absence of a celebrity performance. The Committee’s decision to purposely take out this “standard” event and replace it with its own events helped to create a more lively, integrated atmosphere, as students were able to be more directly involved with both prom and their peers, than merely watching celebrities. The events were “couple” games, in which randomly picked guys had to do squats while carrying their partners, or run relays in high heels. The Committee’s move to employ a student DJ, Daniel Suh (Grade 12), also contributed to the more intimate and amicable atmosphere of this year’s prom, as a friendly face got the room dancing from the DJ table and successfully emceed through the events, bringing much-needed laughs for everyone present at this year’s prom for the Class of 2014.
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APIS Students Put to the Test
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he beginning of May marks an exciting and incredibly busy time here at APIS. Prom, speech contests, publishing parties, and more events fill the calendar and student’s schedules with a plethora of annual and end-of-year activities. But, for many of our high school students, only one thing is on their mind, AP Tests. Each year, students who have been enrolled in one of the AP courses offered at APIS complete the year-end Advanced Placement test. This is a test provided by the College Board which serves as a culmination of the student’s coursework for the entire year and a chance for the student to display the knowledge they have gained during the course. Students receive a score on their exam, and based on their score and their selected university, they may receive university credit and/or advanced placement. In May, APIS offered 14 different AP Exams and portfolio submissions (for AP Studio Art students) between May 7 and May 22. 80 students took at least one exam, while some students took multiple exams. While students will have to wait until July to find out how well they scored, many are breathing a sigh of relief for having the test completed after so much hard work leading up to the exams. Their teachers are proud of the tremendous effort put forth by the students all year, particularly leading up to the exams. “I'm very proud of all the work that my students have done the entire year. While we often feel we are racing the setting sun in order to get through all the material, I always end the year feeling confident that my students will pass the exam and have a sound set of historical thinking and writing skills to take them successfully to the next step in their academic career.” Ms. Draszkiewicz (AP US History and AP Human Geography) "I was very impressed with the quality of work turned out by our AP Studio Art students this school year. I'm not sure if they initially believed that they would accomplish the portfolio goal of 23 works of art but everyone of them did. Their dedication and effort paid off in the end." Ms. Pendleton (AP Studio Art)
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The First Annual Foreign Language Speech Contest
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n May, APIS’ Foreign Language Department presented its first annual Foreign Language Speech Contest. In order to keep true to our mission of helping our students bridge the gap between the East and the West, our foreign language program aims for the level of proficiency that would help our students to code switch with fluency between a foreign language and other cultures. Selected middle school students gave speeches in languages that were not their native tongue. Given the choice between Korean, Chinese, or Japanese, it was exciting to see student presenters dressed in Korean hanbok or a Japanese kimono telling stories of what they loved about their particular culture. The following students participated in the contest:
Japanese Chinese
Korean
Shane Forrester (Grade 6) Meimei Timpson (Grade 6) Seth Forrester (Grade 8) Kevin Nguyen (Grade 8) Gabby Ravin (Grade 9)
Grace Kim (Grade 7) Aaron Kang (Grade 7) Gerry Hwang (Grade 7) Gia Kim (Grade 8) Jinny Choi (Grade 8)
Huck Jun Hong (Grade 8) Jocelyn Kim (Grade 8) Noah Kim (Grade 8) Maximillian Park (Grade 8) Sophie Yoo (Grade 8) Jenny Jun (Grade 8)
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Middle School Speech Contest by Christopher Stapleton, Middle School ELA/Social Studies Teacher
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xcitement filled the classrooms Thursday afternoon, May 1, as middle school students read the list of Speech Contest finalists for Friday, May 2. The Middle School began preparing for the Speech Contest at the beginning of April. From picking out speeches and deciding categories, to practicing until they were reciting their speech in their sleep, the students and ELA teachers placed a lot of time and energy into the process. On May 1, students split into multiple sections according to categories. In each section there were at least two judges to provide feedback for the students. From room to room, one could hear the energetic acts through the walls, bringing the 4th floor to life. Although student nerves were high, most performed at their best. After comparing rankings between sections and rounds, a list of finalists was put together.
Monologue Noah Kim (Grade 8) Matthew Choi (Grade 6) Philip Yoon (Grade 6) Donna Kim (Grade 8)
Oral Interpretation
Original Oratory
Yejin Chung (Grade 8) Sarah Choi (Grade 7) Elizabeth Lee (Grade 6) Rose Lee (Grade 8) Grace Kim (Grade 8)
Nicole Lee (Grade 8) Sung Jin Shin (Grade 8) Jinny Choi (Grade 8) Jenny Jun (Grade 8)
Duos Seth Forrester and Richard Jo (Grade 8) Anna Frankl and Clara Park (Grade 6) David Kwon and Max Park (Grade 8) Janice Kim and Sophia Jung (Grade 7) Gia Kim and Sung Hwu Song (Grade 8) Eric Lee and Jacob Kim (Grade 6)
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With the spotlights on and the mics buzzing, the finalists went to work. The audience could feel the energy in the air, as each performer brought their “A” game. One after another awed the audience with their ability to not only engage with their script, but bring it to life. When Jinny Choi talked honestly about seeking out purpose in life and the challenges faced by a middle schooler, the audience could identify with her words. When Noah Kim stared down the audience and told them he was playing all the parts in his audition, students couldn’t help but laugh. Yejin performed a bag of emotions as she read from “her” diary about incidents at school and young school love. Gia and Sung Hwu brought the "Big Bang" to life with their flawless fluidity and expression. Students left the auditorium with laughter, talking about their favorite parts from the day and what they hope to achieve next year. Although the Speech Contest is a time to work on very specific communication and performing skills, it is also a great time for the Middle School to bond and celebrate great achievement.
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Middle School Lock-In by Jinny Choi and Seth Forrester, Grade 8 SRC President and Vice President
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he Middle School SRC Lock-in has passed, and we now have an opportunity to look back at an amazing event. Students spent a wonderful time at the school, studying and learning all night long. They learned "advanced topics" such as water balloon dodge ball, how to eat ramen, and the fine art of not sleeping. The night began with a heart pumping collage of activities, all of them involving water in some way. Waterballoon dodge ball and a sponge relay race guaranteed everyone enjoyed themselves. (And got thoroughly soaked) “It sure was a blast. Everyone enjoyed the amazing politics of water balloon warfare!” says SRC President Jinny Choi. SRC advisor Ms. Lawson added, “We were lucky the weather was nice.” After a satisfying rush of adrenaline, students went inside the school to dry off and prepare for the rest of the night. From 9:30p.m. to 12:30a.m., students spent time socializing and having fun with friends in a number of rooms, including but not limited to a gaming room, a movie room, a karaoke room, performance room, computer room, eating-and-resting room, and even an SRC "Mini-Costco." GAMES GAMES GAMES! LALALALALALA! NOM NOM NOM! These were only some of the sounds emanating from the rooms as students had a great time. The energy of the entire building could be felt as students played games, sung, and ate their way throughout the night. Students were also seen singing their hearts out to hits such as Firework by Katy Perry. Gamers were playing Starcraft and Team Fortress 2, and other students just spent quality time watching movies and chatting with friends. As the night drew on, students moved up to the fifth floor, where they spent the remainder of the night. Groups of people participated in activities such as basketball, dodgeball, Just Dance on Wii, and even badminton. At 4a.m., the movie "Avengers" was played, but students were also able to get some much needed sleep in the dance studio where they were awoken at 6a.m. In the morning at 6a.m. students helped clean up the 5th floor, and everyone proceeded downstairs for breakfast. Students’ parents came to pick them up, and the building was clear by 7:30. Everyone enjoyed the lock-in, and it is sure to be an event remembered for a long time.
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Electing Student Representatives for the School Year 2014-2015
Grace Kim presenting one of the more memorable election speeches.
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he democratic process was alive and well this spring as annual elections for the Student Representative Council (SRC) took place in Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. Led by faculty advisors, student candidates did their part by campaigning with posters and personal pleas for votes; and on election day, bursts of individuality and creativity could be seen in the well-prepared speeches delivered by each candidate. The following students have been elected to serve in the SRC during the 2014-2015 school year. Congratulations to each and every student who pursued their dreams of representing their classmates in the school government.
President: Sarang Yang
President: Grace Kim
Vice President: Kyle Park
Vice President: Daniel Suh
Secretary: Grace Kim
Secretary: Gerry Hwang
Treasurer: John Kim
Treasurer: Aaron Kang
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President: Allison Lee Vice-President: Claire Park Treasurer: Grace Lee Secretary: Davis Beatty
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2014 Athletic Awards Banquet
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PIS celebrated the sportsmanship and achievements of our secondary students on June 5 by hosting the annual Athletic Awards Banquet. The event was not only a time to recognize our students' accomplishments but also a fun night to look back and enjoy the footage and photos that truly captured the moments this year. During the event, a special recognition was given to Don Choi (Grade 12) for his contribution and commitment to APIS sports (Don was a 6-time varsity basketball player!). All of the graduating senior athletes were also invited to the stage and were given a “Hawks for Life” T-shirt. Athletic Director, Mr. Murphy, says, “2013-2014 was a good transition year for all of our varsity teams as our program moved from having good, strong, young varsity teams to having older, stronger, and more competitive teams. Successes this year include our varsity boys volleyball team finishing 2nd in the regular season, varsity boys basketball team making it to the championship games, varsity boys soccer team scoring the most goals ever in a single season (35 goals in 10 matches), and our varsity girls soccer team getting recognition from KAIAC for being the most improved team in the league.” While 44 different awards were given out to middle school, 41 awards to high school, and 64 varsity letters to secondary students, the most notable awards went to the following students:
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Middle School Student Athletes of the Year
Varsity Student Athletes of the Year
Jocelyn Kim (Grade 8) Daniel Suh (Grade 7)
Sarah Choi (Grade 10) Chris Choi (Grade 10)
Middle School Athletes of the Year
Varsity Athletes of the Year
Jinny Choi (Grade 8) David Kwon (Grade 8)
Michelle Lee (Grade 12) Dave Moon (Grade 11)
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K5 Moving Up to Grade 1
Kindergarten students with Dr. Kim, Ms. Katy Park, Ms. Landy Hwang, and Mr. Massiah at the K5 Moving Up Ceremony.
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n June 10, families and friends gathered at the Christian Life Center to congratulate five kindergarten students for ending a successful year. The students marched in with big smiles to look back at their kindergarten year, and to look forward to first grade. At the beginning of the ceremony, students came up on stage one by one to give a presentation on what their dreams are: “I want to be an artist when I grow up because I like to draw!” Elliot Suh explained. They also had a chance to show off their musical talents as they played “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on xylophones and sang familiar songs like “It’s a Small World After All” while dancing. It was a delightful performance and the audience clapped along the whole show. Kindergarten teacher Ms. Landy Hwang then shared with the audience a slideshow (created by Teddy's mom, Mrs. Russell) that captured even the smallest moments of the K5 class, and explained what a wonderful year it was for the students and herself. Afterwards, Elementary Principal Mr. Steve Massiah gave a speech that emphasized the importance of elementary education, which all begins from the earliest stage of kindergarten.
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As the ceremony reached its end, students each received an APIS teddy bear and a certificate from Dr. Kim and Mr. Massiah for their accomplishment. Parents and friends came up on stage to give flowers and gifts to each student. Great job K5, and see you next year as first graders!
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G5 Getting Ready for Middle School
Grade 5 students have finally made it through elementary school!
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amilies and friends gathered at the Auditorium on June 10 as the Grade 5 students began the ceremony of moving up to Middle School. The ceremony began with an opening prayer from Charissa Kim and Rian Kwak, and a welcome speech from the Elementary Principal, Mr. Stephen Massiah. During his speech, he told a story about trees that dreamed of becoming something great: a big ship, a tree that can see everything, and so on. Even though it did not happen exactly as the trees had desired, in the end, they had their dreams come true. Through this story, Mr. Massiah reminded the 5th graders that even though they think they may have not accomplished exactly what they wanted, they should be patient, and their dreams will eventually become true. Every part of the ceremony was prepared by the students: the opening and closing prayers, the speeches, and the musical performances. There was, however, a very special performance put together by three of our Grade 5 moms! Bryan Jung, Charissa Kim, and Jio Hong’s mothers came up on stage and played for the 5th grade students, deeply touching the minds of the audience. Afterwards, students received the Director’s Award from Dr. Kim for modeling the values of APIS (Aspire, Persevere, Integrity and Spiritual Growth) and the ceremony wrapped up with Dr. Kim and Mr. Massiah handing each student a certificate for the successful completion of elementary school. Following the ceremony, a wonderful reception was prepared by the parents in the Christian Life Center. Thank you all for your support and help in making such a memorable Moving Up Ceremony, and we wish the best luck for the students next year in Middle School!
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A very special performance by our APIS moms!
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n June 11, thirty five 8th grade students entered the gym to conclude their Middle School years. As they stepped on stage one by one, parents, teachers, and friends clapped to show how proud they were for each student. Every year the 8th grade students get to choose a teacher to address them and recognize the challenges they have overcome, the accomplishments they have made throughout the year, and Ms. Tammi Wenzig, the ELA and Social Studies teacher, was chosen to give a speech - just like last year! Facing the students, Ms. Wenzig reminded the students that “there are many ways to grow up, and all of us grow up very differently”, so “the path you’re taking should not look like everyone else’s.” She concluded her speech by telling the students to leave what they have failed behind, and encouraging them to move forward. The ceremony continued with students handing out roses to teachers and family members who have supported them throughout Middle School, often with a big hug and a “thank you." As the Grade 8 video was shown, the emotions doubled as every student watched the video to look back on their year which was filled with laughter and tears. The students then were invited back to the stage for the Director’s Award and their certificate of graduation. Congratulations to all the 8th grade students, and we hope you will do well on your next journey!
Seth Forrester marches in with the APIS flag.
Kevin Nguyen receives the Middle School certificate from Dr. Kim and Mr. Paulin.
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SCHOOL-WIDE
Students listen attentively as Ms. Wenzig gives a speech.
A lot of our teachers were present to congratulate our students. W W W. A P I S . S E O U L . K R
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High School Graduation
J Jeremiah Kim, this year's valedictorian
une 7 marked the day Class of 2014 became the third graduating class of APIS. Families and friends gathered in the gym to congratulate the students for successfully completing their 12 years of education. The first graduates, Class of 2012, sent flowers to congratulate the seniors and APIS alumni, both Classes of 2012 and 2013 came to the ceremony to congratulate them in person.
Secondary Principal, Mr. Scott Paulin, began his speech by reminiscing his first encounter with the seniors. He then emphasized the importance of taking some risks and venturing out into the world: “It’s not always easy, this journey we take in life. But the important thing is that you journey.” Mr. Paulin concluded his speech saying, “Class of 2014, take your road, take your journey, and grab your dreams.” Like last year, Class of 2014 had the honor of hearing speeches from two salutatorians as it was a tie. Gloria Kim and Kiwon Kang stepped on stage to express their gratitude to all families, friends, and teachers. The valedictorian, Jeremiah Kim, began his speech with a story of Class of 2014 when they were in 8th grade. He reminded his friends that they should learn to leave the safe bubble of APIS as they head on to the real world: “It’s time to leave the nest. Pop your bubbles and get ready for some physical and mental bruises. Because in the end, experiencing, overcoming, and embracing life in the real world will make us stronger, better individuals than living in a bubble ever will.” As Ms. Janice Young and Dean of Students, Mr. Matthew Johnson, called out each student’s name, they stepped on stage to receive their diplomas that officially stated the end of High School. Every student stood proudly in front of the audience and beamed at the camera. Congratulations to all Class of 2014 for your hard work and your accomplishments!
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End-of-Year Concerts
T
he APIS Auditorium was reverberating with music on May 30 when the Elementary School students showed off what they have achieved throughout 2013-2014 at the year-end concert. With the introduction of Orff in the Elementary music curriculum this year, the End-of-Year concert was filled with fun, fun and FUN! Since the Orff Approach adds “playfulness” to music, it was common to see students dancing and singing at the same time, and most of the students (including kindergarten students) used percussion instruments in their performances. The second grade students also introduced fun through violins, and the concert ended with the fabulous grade 5 Orchestra and Band. The elementary students made me very proud at their end of year concert. After only one year of experience with Orff Schulwerk, the students expressed confidence and joy on stage.”
- Mrs. Melinda Baum The 5th grade band played excellently and with great enthusiasm. They have really excelled this spring in being able to play as one whole band.” - Mr. Stephen Seaberg
Then on June 3, parents, students, and teachers gathered in the APIS Gymnasium to see and hear secondary students perform their final concert of the year. As secondary students showed off what they have learned this year, the audience was amazed by their musical maturity. In this year’s concert, the audience had the chance to listen to familiar numbers. Students sung and performed pieces from famous movies (Star Wars) and rock bands (Coldplay). Through these performances, the audience were not only amazed by the depth of secondary students’ skills, but they also had fun in enjoying popular music. During the concert, some students were granted Varsity Letters for their hard work throughout the year. It was so exciting to see all of our students performing in groups at the end of the year. I saw a lot of individual growth this year in both elementary and secondary students and it was great to see that come together in one performance! My favorite aspect of our K-12 performances was getting to see our students stretch their boundaries by being a musician in many ways - using extended techniques, playing contemporary music, showing music with their bodies, singing voices, rhythm sticks, games, and instruments (orff, percussion, violin). The team work, dedication, and enjoyment were apparent across all the grades and it was a great way to end our school year!”
- Ms. Emmalee Johnson
MAY/JUNE 2014
SCHOOL-WIDE
Secondary choir students also showed immense growth this year. Combining the middle school students with the high school students on the medley gave middle school students the challenge of learning four-part choral music. I am pleased with my choir students during my first year at APIS and am excited for the future choir growth!”
- Mrs. Melinda Baum The secondary concert was also full of exciting music for each band, and I was very impressed with how each group performed. The students' enjoyment of our pieces was evident, and their focus and energy made the concert experience a true pleasure.”
- Mr. Stephen Seaberg W W W. A P I S . S E O U L . K R
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MAY/JUNE 2014
SCHOOL-WIDE
THANK YOU ! APIS PARENTS “I’d lik PACIFIC e to th ank all PENCIL ing and t he pare came t 2014 n t s o who sh our Pa I thank c o ifi w all the c Penc ed inte room m il Paren rest in ents in ts Com oms fo helptheir cla r m d it e s t li ee mee s, paren vering after P tings. messag ts who acific P es to o encil, p helped after sc ther pa reparin cleanin h o ro g g l food fo snacks up the I would like our ne r a a r n o t d doin u w r o xt year r r e k ception s g coffe ’s Pacifi to thank Ms. Jamie Shin (Johan's , and s e sale t go to M c Penc e ll o in s. Yi H f u g n il draise event. mom) for helping us make the cosyun Kim cific Pe money Most o (G5 Br ncil Pa for f a ll y , specia a r tumes and background for the grade 2 n ents Co ’s parent m om) fo l t mmitte h a s, we c nks r organ e. With ould no and 5B musical. She is always willing to izing th Thank out the t have e you so P as b upport een able much a help us out in any way. I would also like to ated!” from th to run nd you e this ev se r supp ent sm thank Ms. Chun Hee Lee (G5 Joan's mom) ort is b oothly. eing gr eatly a and Ms. Kyung Hwa Kim (G5 Lucas's mom) Contac pprecit Perso n and O for the snacks during our rehearsal and G5 Bry v e rseer: S an’s mo RC Pre m) after our musical. Room sident moms: (Ms. Y M s. Mi R i Hyun Lim (G a Kim ( Kim, 1 Willi K a 5 m E ’s ll - Elaine Lee, Grade 2 Teacher Hye Jin iot’s m mom), om), M Ms. Jam Baek ( s. Kyou G3 Joa ie Shin mom), ng Hee nna’s m (G2 Joh Ms. He o an’s mo m), M ena Ba (G5 He s . m e k J ), Ms. i (G4 So Eun Ba len’s m phia’s ik (4A om), M Coffee m s. Chun Sarah’s om), M Sale: M Hee Le s. Hyo s. Min J nating e J u ( G u n g Kim 5 K Joan’s m Nestle im (G4 Coffee, Jeremy om) Kim (G M ’s mom) f s. Bu Ja 4 Eunic or grac Lee (G e’s mom Ms. Ji E 4 Neo’s iously d ) , un Baik Ms. Ky m oo m ) , o M ( u G ng Mi mom), s. Yun J 4 Sarah K Ashley u im ’s n g mom), (G4 Ja Hong’s Ms. He ne’s m After s mom a om), ena Bae chool S n d Ms. Jam nack: M k (G4 S all the ie Shin ophia’s s. Atsu room m ko Shim (G2 Joh oms w a a n ( ho help ’s mom G4 Ma ) ed tthew’s - Anna mom) and Se
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I would like to thank Ms. Mi Young Hong (Jiyee’s mother) for getting K5 Moving up ceremony ready. She came on Fridays to teach the songs and sign language to get them ready for the ceremony. The K5 Moving up ceremony was a great success and the students loved working with her! Thank you very much for your support! - Landy Hwang, Kindergarten Teacher
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W W W. A P I S . S E O U L . K R EDITORIAL TEAM: ■ Euysung Kim Director ■ Nicole Suh Art & Design Editor ■ Josephine Shim Communications & PR Team Leader ■ Ashley Stapleton Writing / Editing Staff ■ Brian Beatty Writing / Editing Staff ■ Soora Koh Communication Officer