American School of Paris
the ASPect JUne 2010
n e W s F R o m o U R c o m m U n i T y, F o R o U R c o m m U n i T y
See page 5
Fun Finale
Lower School celebrate the end of the year with a special fun field day.
The Class of 2010 Arts Center before enjoying a special reception. And this year’s 64th graduation ceremony was a special occasion not only for the Class of 2010, but also for the Class of 1960 who returned to Paris in celebration of their 50th Year Reunion.
ASP was honored to have 14 alumni from the 27 member graduating class take part in this year’s graduation ceremony. Turn to pages 6 and 7 to enjoy a picture special and extracts from the student and alum speeches.
(continued on page 6) The Aspect is kindly sponsored by
▼ ▼ ▼
T
he Class of 2010 graduated at the end of the year with all the pomp and style they so well deserved. The eighty-one seniors each received their hard-earned diplomas in a special ceremony in a packed Performing
2/school news
From the Head
T
Farewell!
welve months have passed quickly for this interim Head of School. Last July, I approached the assignment with great anticipation. I already knew that the American School of Paris had an enviable record of success. Still, I was not prepared for the depth of quality and support that I have witnessed throughout the year - among teachers, among students and among parents. In particular, the PFA has been significant in its many contributions. ASP has a well-deserved reputation. Every school performance, every school activity and every school publication personifies good work of the highest standard. This moment, I have the 2009-10 School Yearbook open in front of me. Again, the student editing work of Julie Biart, Sietse Goffard and Alia Wilhelm help illustrate the point I am making. Students leave ASP with fond and lasting memories. No surprise! This is my sixth interim assignment in international schools. Each assignment has its own richness, but ASP is something “special.” I feel both honored and privileged to have played a small role in the success of your 2009-10 School Year. I bid you farewell and to quote John Milton, “At last he rose and twitched his mantle blue; tomorrow, to fresh woods and pastures new.” Thank you for this wonderful experience.
Daryle D Russell, Head of School 09-10
From the Board
Thank You! A
very special thank you to Daryle Russell for his leadership and dedication during this interim year. Daryle’s ability and willingness to communicate with every constituency of the school was outstanding. As a highly experienced interim, he was able to assess quickly areas which needed to be addressed this year as well as judge effectively the important areas of smooth transition to the incoming head of school, Mark Ulfers. Daryle was pivotal in the design and implementation of the School Improvement Plan, outlining a formal approach to planning and communication, which will have an impact on ASP well into the future. Overarching in Daryle’s success is his energy and compassion for education. He has an outstanding ability to draw on vast experience while at the same time bringing the right focus from those at the school that need to be involved and engaged in the problem solving. This was key with administration, faculty and staff and the Board alike. On behalf of the Board, it has been a pleasure and an honor to work with Daryle. We wish Daryle and Dannie all the very best as they embark on their next adventure and are certain they will be following the success of ASP from wherever they are. On behalf of the Board, I would also like thank the parents who entrust the education of your children to ASP. Thank you to the administration, all of the faculty and staff for living up to that trust as exceptional educators as well as outstanding examples for our children. All the best for a healthy, relaxing and peaceful summer. We look very forward to the upcoming school year with those of you returning. For those that are moving on, all the very best and please know that you remain a part of the ASP community always.
Lis Seeley, President of the Board of Trustees 09-10 The Aspect - June 2010
From the PFA
T
he school year has gone by fast and one more wonderful and eventful year has come to a close. It was a year full of activity and much was accomplished. We want to thank everyone who has volunteered their time, donated food or helped out in many different ways. The PFA can not be successful without all of our volunteers and the entire school benefits from your time. Regrettably with the end of the school year also come some difficult goodbyes. We wish everyone who is leaving us this year the best of luck on their next assignment and want you to know you are always welcome at ASP. We would like to say a special thank you to Betsy Smith and Peggy Morrison who were always generous with their time and took on many responsibilities during their family’s time at ASP. They were Co-President of the PFA, organized events, and were grade liaison as well as running sports boosters. Their dedication, selflessness and knowledge will be missed and we appreciate all that they have done for ASP. The PFA wants to acknowledge all of the hard work put in this year by our interim head of school Daryle Russell. Daryle did a superb job in moving the school forward during this year of transition and he always values what the PFA does for the school. We wish everyone a great summer.
Jordan Lewis, PFA President 09-10
/3
science special
First and Ninth Grade Scientists Join Forces! Report by teachers Ariel Wittman and Anne Diss Two very different sections of the school worked together on a big science project earlier this year. To culminate a science unit learning about habitats and adaptations, 1W students designed their own (real or imaginary) bird. First Graders were asked to consider habitat and the physical adaptations the bird would need to help it survive. Grade nine students from Anne Diss’s Biology 101 class and First Graders in Ariel Wittman’s class had an opportunity to work together for this project. While learning about Evolution, Ninth Graders listened to the First Grader’s thinking and understanding in their planning stages. They posed appropriate questions, helping students to think further about their birds’ needs. The First Graders loved having the guidance and care from the “big kids,” and established nice connections, while the ninth graders loved visiting a first grade classroom! Once the First Graders work was complete, it was their turn to visit the Science lab where Ninth Graders work! They had a chance to look around the high school lab, look at some of its features and ask questions. First Grade presented their birds and the adaptations they created. The Upper Schoolers were very impressed with the ease at which the Lower School children expressed themselves, and the vocabulary they used, and we teachers were impressed with how supportive and thoughtful all the students were to each other. We’re already thinking about how to work together on future projects!
Oil Spill Experiment As part of our Environmental Science Unit and to close the school year our second graders investigated what happens in an oil spill first hand. With the BP catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico a headline story every day, our young scientists wanted to discover more for themselves. Mrs Civera explained: “The oil was first placed in the center of the plastic box full of water, we observed what happened as small waves were created and if anything could keep the oil from spreading towards the edge of the container. “We then to remove the oil by using paper towel noticing that we were able to collect a little bit of the oil on the surface. We then tried cleaning or collecting the oil with a cloth. The children noticed that it was less efficient than the paper towel. We then poured detergent in the water and looked at the effect it had on the oil spill. We talked about the chemical reaction and the effects on the environment.”
Eco Ecole ASP will become an Eco Ecole in the Fall by joining a French scheme which recognizes schools actively working to solve green issues on campus. The move to Eco Ecole status takes place on the back of the first and phenomenally successful Green Action Team Campaign to reduce electricity consumption. Thanks to the combined efforts of students, faculty and staff, and the unrelenting enthusiasm of the three Division Green Teams and the hard work of Facilities Manager Mike Breen and his team, ASP’s consumption has been DOWN EVERY MONTH this year. This represents a total reduction over the year of 5% which is 39,277 kWh – a financial saving of 17,674.65€ and an energy saving equivalent to run a 60W bulb for 75 years – or, since we use energy-saver bulbs at our school, we could get the same brightness for 375 years! It would also power the Las Vegas casino strip for a little under 2 minutes in summer! The winner of the most environmentally friendly classroom at ASP was also announced with these results, as Gillian Lynch’s Theater Room for the second year! In addition this Fall will see the publication of a special green edition of the ASPect featuring in full the environmental audit undertaken by our own Upper School students. In June, nearly 60 IB students presented the results of their own investigations to a peer review group and in September will present the results to a special school assembly. Their research projects, coordinated by teachers Laura Schupack and Matt Du Aime, came as a direct result of questions and concerns raised by the ASP community through the Green Action Team. The students will present their findings on subjects as diverse as astroturf versus grass, solar energy at ASP, plastic versus ‘real’ cutlery in the cafeteria and the use of buses for school transport. All the research papers will be published in this special edition of the ASPect and will be available online over the summer.
The Aspect - June 2010
4/ sports news
Celebrating our Athletes
T
he 2009-2010 year was another good year for ASP Athletics and in the last week of school we celebrated the achievements and sportsmanship of all our athletes at our Annual Sports Awards Ceremony. The top awards were as follows: ACADEMIC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: Bjorn Gronn and Hope Jones SPORTSMANSHIP OF THE YEAR: Taymour Roushdi and Hope Jones ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: Rayan Sharara and Anne Fruitema
In addition the following athletes won top honors (Most Improved Players and Move Valuable Players) in their respective sports:
2009-2010
MIP
BOYS VARSITY SOCCER Bjorn Gronn BOYS JV SOCCER Alexander Knox GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER Kristin Pekot GIRLS JV SOCCER Miriam Chaibi BOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Max Jackson BOYS JV VOLLEYBALL Jonathan Dunlap GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Liz Surprenant GIRLS JV VOLLEYBALL Abby Belani BOYS VASRITY X-COUNTRY Max Hutchinson BOYS JV X-COUNTRY Matt Evans GIRLS VARSITY X-COUNTRY Karson Pape BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL Max Jackson BOYS JV BASKETBALL Michael Ferrasse GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL Karson Pape GIRLS JV BASKETBALL Nurperi Evcim-Yigit BOYS VARSITY SWIMMIMG Jeremie Faucher BOYS JV SWIMMIMG Thomas Antunes GIRLS VARSITY SWIMMIMG My-Anh Le GIRLS JV SWIMMIMG Costanza Beccari BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL Rob McKendry GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL Nicole Maurer GIRLS JV SOFTBALL Anabel Wahlers BOYS VARSITY TENNIS Rodney Ingram GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS Julia Fruitema ROLAND GARCHES AWARD 2010 BOYS VARSITY TRACK&FIELD James Mackenzie BOYS JV TRACK&FIELD Alex Nino GIRLS VARSITY TRACK&FIELD Samantha Evans GIRLS JV TRACK&FIELD Maaike Slosse VARSITY GOLF Jeremiah Harrington
MVP Evan Leonard Logan Hunter Anne Fruitema Chase Guthrie Jack Kite Alex Nino Kara McClain Misperi Evcim-Yigit Olivier Torchiana Trevor Reinhart Jenny Wood Matt McDermott Bryan Webster Brooke Hodenfield Martina Belloni Eric Lai Christophe Ang Emma Willems Madi Ormson Taymour Roushdi Danielle Iwata Olivia Doret Julien O’Keefe Martina Belloni Matthijs van Duijl Rayan Sharara Trevor Reinhart Anne Fruitema Kristin Pekot Diego Narvaez
We are proud of all our athletes – their accomplishments, their hard work, their dedication. A huge thank you to all the parents and coaches who support us and the athletes through all the seasons. A special thank you to our Sports Boosters who give many hours to help ensure the success of our program: Betsy Smith and Jim Morrison, Presidents; Katie Ormson, Treasurer; Tracey Slosse Logowear; Tammy Evans, Secretary, Peggy Morrison and Astrid Gronn, Concessions. Best wishes to all of you who are leaving us at the end of the year. You will be missed! Have a great summer!! Athletic Director, Han Hoegen and Assistant, Cathy McLaury The Aspect - June 2010
school news
Fun Finale for all
L
ower School students celebrated the end of the year with two major events which involved every child in every grade. The first of the celebrations was Field Day with cross-grade teams taking part in a variety of fun outdoor activities, races and games. From caterpillar plank walking, to parachute ball games, water relay races, tag team chases, sack races and body word forms, the children worked together for everyone’s enjoyment. Fifth graders took on the role of team leaders and led their teams around the activities. As organizers Agnes Poudou and Sylvain Hervieux said: “We made a selection of games that were appropriate for all ages. There was nothing to win, nothing to lose, just a fun moment to share together before summer!” The second major celebration was the End-of-Year Assembly on the last day of school in the PAC at which every grade shared a performance from their year at ASP. From songs from the Kindergarten Musical – My Town My World – to an alternative rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Fourth Grade’s story of the Kapok Tree, the new ASP anthem in French, the story of Clooney the Clown and a special performance by the OK Chorale, the assembly was a celebration of every child’s achievements.
The Aspect - June 2010
/5
6/graduation special
THE CLASS OF G
2010
raduation is a special day not only for our seniors but for the entire school and this year was no exception. For it is a culmination of a long exam season, followed by Prom, awards ceremonies and a special Senior Lunch. This year’s class will be leaving ASP and Paris to attend some of the world’s finest universities – a tribute to their dedication and
‘‘
hard work and they had a lot to celebrate in June. And joining the students and their families this year for the graduation ceremony were special guests from the class of 1960 celebrating their 50th anniversary in Paris. Enjoy this photo special from all the events leading up to and including graduation, and excerpts from the ceremony’s key speakers – the students themselves! Seniors Hope Jones and Rodney Ingram
JONATHAN TROBE graduated from ASP in 1960, attended Harvard College and then Harvard Medical
School. He became an ophthalmologist, neurologist and father of four children. He lives in Michigan with his wife where he is a professor at the University of Michigan. “50 years! That is a long time. The truth is that we are in our late 60s—almost old enough to be your grandparents. Please say we don’t look THAT old! (OK, we do.) But we feel younger than we look - maybe because we graduated from this wonderful school! There is something seriously special about it. Here we are from all over the world to celebrate our time here. After we graduated in 1960, we scattered all over the world, but we’ve kept in touch. Ten years ago, we met in Washington, DC. Five years ago, we gathered in Paris. And now we’re here. Let me give you a little sketch of what it was like at ASP way back then… There were only 27 of us in the senior class. The school was called ACS then—the American Community School—and the upper division
The Aspect - June 2010
were voted by their class to give this year’s graduation address. They were followed by Zarif Badruddin, Trustee and parent, who gave this year's commencement speech. In addition our special guest alumni received an honorary diploma in celebration of their 50th Reunion and Jon Trobe ’60 spoke on behalf of the class, giving a very interesting speech on what it was like to be an ASP student fifty years ago.
was on Boulevard d’Auteuil, at the southern edge of the Bois de Boulogne, near Stade Roland Garros. I think the building had been a villa. As a school, it was pretty crowded. We liked that. It was cozy. But there was no “campus” - no outdoor playground, so we held our gym classes in a clearing in the Bois - when it wasn’t raining! Most of us had come from the United States. Our families were here working for the US government, or businesses, or social service organization, or newspapers, or on university sabbaticals. Some of our classmates were not American, and they were even more compelling because they had the courage to face an unfamiliar curriculum. We considered ourselves pretty special, going to school in the most exotic city in the world with nifty classmates from all over the world being taught by an even niftier faculty.”
graduation special
‘‘ ‘‘
RODNEY INGRAM What makes the American School of Paris stand
out from the rest? What makes it so beast? Is it the sum total of all the knowledge we acquired through lectures, labs and discussions? Is it because now we are more prepared for our job of choice? Not really. So what’s the true reason of what makes our school so amazing? I’ll tell you. It’s because of me. It’s because of me, it’s because of you. It’s because of us. The students. The blue people. What makes ASP so incredible is the diversity of names, faces, stories and experiences with which we fill this amazing school. Its the American School of Paris Class of 2010. And I am grateful and humble to be a part of it.”
/7
HOPE JONES Even with our class’ impressive extra-
curricular repertoire, we are also committed to academic excellence. Prestigious colleges such as Princeton and McGill agree. We also have a large number of members in the National Honor Society. In fact 10% of the class is comprised of NHS scholars! Another astonishing figure is the high number of International Baccalaureate candidates we had – one out of every four students completed the full IB diploma. Not a simple task! But these accomplishments have done more than just define our class, they have brought us together. We have made connections throughout our high school years that will tie us together forever. No matter how far we travel or how much time passes our direct and indirect experiences at ASP have created a bond that can never be broken.”
The Aspect - June 2010
8/field trip picture special
On the Farm
At the beginning of the month, summer spirits were high as Grade 3 travelled to Normandy to extend their study of Living Things in the last Science Unit of the year.
S
tudents observed farm life from the first minute by watching a chick hatch and continually celebrated the essence of new farm life by handling kittens, geese, ducks, rabbits, and lambs throughout their stay. The animals were cared for on a rotational basis and children were encouraged to make connections between the classification of living things as studied in class. River exploration revealed the clarity of water and the role than we all play in this, not least with regard to surrounding industries. Students gained a deeper understanding that levels of water pollution and quality and quantity of river life is dependent on man to ensure species thrive in the river. Excitement mounted when dragonfly larvae were found nestled on the riverbed for three years waiting to leave the water and live life for a precious
24hours before death. The students thus learned about the precariousness of life. To make use of all the farm facilities, children engaged in a variety of other activities such as baking cookies made with their own hand-ground wheat. Solar boats and solar music boxes were designed, painted, tested and completed to complement the Energy unit in Science. Synthesizing all our indoor curriculum in a vibrant outdoor environment proved a huge success and teachers and students arrived back in Saint Cloud five days later all the richer for the experience.
‘‘
The trip was awesome. I learned how to make a solar panel boat. I was last to finish but the boat worked in the end.�
The Aspect - June 2010
SANTIAGO GIORGI
‘‘
field trip picture special
The animals were so cute. Baby bunnies and kittens were my favorite. I learned that it takes 21 days to hatch a baby chick. It was a fun trip with all my friends.”
LAUREN FLICKNER
‘‘
The trip was fun. I learned a lot of things from spending time on the farm. I learned how to handle farm animals. I ground my own flour by hand with a stone mill to make my own biscuits for snack. I had so much fun making my solar boat that still works!!!!”
WILHELM NILSSON
The Aspect - June 2010
/9
10/field trip picture special
Breton Adventures Fifth Graders enjoyed a week in Brittany at the end of year.
I
n addition to furthering their studies in oceanography and marine habitats the students had the chance to try a multitude of water sports. Visits to salt marshes and guided tours were balanced with kayaking, catamaran sailing and early morning fishing trips. But most of all, the extended field trip to Brittany was about adventure and total immersion, language, culture and sea water!
The Aspect - June 2010
/11
field trip picture special
Wild woods and volcanoes
Fourth Graders hiked in the Auvergne.
T
he fourth grade enjoyed their extended field trip in the Auvergne region of France where they explored wild woods and journeyed to the center of a volcano crater. Four days of hiking, hands on field work, orienteering and historic visits gave the young explorers a chance to refresh and revisit study areas from their third grade year. A hike to the source of a stream was followed by a visit to an historic 16th Century Mill that still presses colza oil and the students saw the four stages of pressing, all powered by the machinery from the water wheel under the mill. Time was also spent time in the river trapping, observing and classifying the creatures in the stream nearby. This was proof of a
pollution-free water course with a healthy life cycle. Continuing the eco-systems studies, the group visited a forest looking at the different layers that make the delicate balance between trees, shrubs, mosses and the soil floor. They collected specimens and returned to the center for an art workshop and to prepare their tree story for the end-of-year assembly. The final hike of the trip was the journey to the center of a crater. After a long hike and impressive views students gathered and arranged rocks to leave ASP’s mark on the mountainside. At the end of the week, the students undertook a huge orienteering challenge that required knowledge of what we had learned during our visits, map-reading skills and some physical challenges.
The Aspect - June 2010
12/Middle school graduation
Middle School
E
ighth Grade graduation was a chance to celebrate all our Middle School students and to pay tribute to Middle School Director Jim Ferguson who moves to Upper School next year along with his Eighth Graders! After 13 wonderful years as the Middle School Director, Jim Ferguson will go back to full time teaching in the Upper School. Dr Kathy Miner will join ASP in July as the new Middle School Director. In addition awards were given to students who have excelled in all three grades and there was a musical performance by Max Sternlicht and Stephen Flickner. But the June ceremony was primarily a moment of passage for our Eighth Graders who took center stage reflecting on their own time in the Middle School with excellent speeches from Evans Levy and Tunir Kapil. Evans started by reflecting on the incredible community service initiatives that have been undertaken in the Middle School, led by the Student Council who raised more than 15,000 Euros for the Middle School’s primary charity – The Jyoti School in Rishikesh, northern India. Then Tunir gave his speech reflecting on life in the Middle School and what it means to be in the Middle and working as a team.
‘‘
TUNIR KAPIL
In our past Middle School years, we have had learned various lessons, and we have learned them despite all the distractions. One of the current distraction is following the World Cup. In fact, the World Cup is very similar to this 2009-2010 Middle School Year, there are winners, there are those that are not as fortunate, but we all go out there and try to do our best. The teachers are our coaches we are the players, the fans are our proud parents, the grass is our home and we are a team! So looking at Outward Bound it was the start of the season and we all started it off by having our fall training. Now imagine you were a soccer/football player, your goal is to win the World Cup, but for us students it’s to gain as much knowledge we can in one
The Aspect - June 2010
year. Look at the players; they become really competitive like we do when trying to get better grades. Players get very competitive, and sometimes that competitiveness gets someone hurt. But no matter what player from the team they are they always help each other up and make sure they’re ok. It’s the same concept at ASP. We as students represent team members from different countries and we create one peaceful and powerful team like no other. We compete in things such as the sports, but our team isn’t only about competing instead we also share our talents in the Musical, Honor Band or Choir, and much more. The World Cup has team members competing until the end while others enjoy it, and when the end comes they start to remember the good times and celebrate. Our Middle School is exactly the same.”
Middle school graduation
/13
Moves
‘‘
EVANS LEVY
We are fortunate to be in this school, and it’s due to our parent’s hard work. And we should be lucky that we have the resourses to help and give back, and we should use those resources to our best advantage. As you can see our school is quite good at giving back. Just to name some of the things, we raised awareness and money for Haiti when the earthquake hit. We helped raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation, and some money for Mr. Albrights Charity to give an education to children in Vietnam. We had a canned food drive, love in a box, and more. But the charity that we do the most for is helping the Jyoti School
in Rishikesh, where they are teaching special kids, children who are deaf, blind, or have mental or physical disabilities. In past years our hard work has gone to getting the Jyoti school two school busses, computers, a loom, and last year we were able to make it possible for them to make a dorm and cafeteria for the school. Now you have heard what our school has done, but what about what we have not done yet? There is so much more that our school could do to help and give back to our community, and future middle schoolers I hope that you do more to help not only our ASP community but our world become a better place.”
The Aspect - June 2010
14/advancing asp
So much to celebrate!
T
he Excellence Fund Committee is pleased to announce that exciting plans are underway for a Celebration Fundraising Gala in the spring of 2011. The entire ASP Community will be invited to this evening of fundraising and fun to celebrate together. Current plans include a cocktail dinner & dance party at a unique location and an auction of interesting items to raise money for the school. More than 40 members of the ASP community met in the last weeks of school to brainstorm and share ideas. Volunteers are already forming committees to plan the details of the event. Carol Olsen, Gala Committee co-chair said: “There is so much to celebrate about the American School, particularly this year! We’re thrilled with the enthusiasm of the community and look forward to working with so many dedicated people. Of course, we welcome anyone who wants to join the team. There are lots of opportunities to help make this a fantastic event.” Betsy Blackwell, Board of Trustee member and co-chair of the Gala said: “This is a great way to get involved, get to know members of the ASP community and have fun while doing it.”
How you can help In order to make this a successful event, we need your help!
In particular the auction committee is looking for donations or leads on: Event venue - Do you know about an exciting location to hold this event? Hotel stays - Perhaps a weekend in Amsterdam or London in a favorite bed and breakfast, a week of golf at a Spanish resort hotel, or a weekend of pampering at a spa hotel? Meals at restaurants, in Paris or favorite cities to visit - Dinner for two at your local restaurant secret, tea in a special hotel Offers of holiday stays at vacation homes Unique experiences - cooking lessons
with a gourmet chef, “behind the scenes” tour of a unique location, a tour or afternoon with a celebrity (perhaps an ASP celebrity?) Sought after items - Luxury goods, airplane tickets, tickets to special events (sports, concerts, theater.)
Who do I contact? Contact Carol Olsen: (carolchristieolsen@gmail.com) or Betsy Blackwell: (watwell@aol.com) or Amanda Nagele in the Development Office anagele@asparis.fr
Happy Anniversary! Members of the graduating Class of 2000 returned to Paris in June to celebrate their 10 Year Reunion. Thanks to the organization of Joumana Hassan and Emily Williams, 14 alumni from the Class of 2000 traveled to Paris from all over the world to enjoy a reunion weekend of dinners, cocktails, tours, and a visit to ASP! We were delighted to have the small group of alumni visit campus to enjoy a buffet lunch with their former teachers and to explore their old campus. The alumni enjoyed meeting with faculty and staff to reminisce about their ASP days and to catch up with news. It was hard for many to believe 10 years had passed since they walked up on stage to re-
The Aspect - June 2010
ceive their high school diplomas. A big Thank You to all of the faculty and staff members who helped to welcome the Class of 2000 back to ASP – it was a memorable event for all.
arts news
/15
Personal Experience In one of the last Cube events of the year, students took center stage by organizing their own photographic exhibition. Report by Eli Rivkin (Gr 10)
O
ur Photography Show was called “Personal Experience” where each member of the club photographed the world around them with reference to the photographic rule of thirds. We as a club, meet on Wednesday’s afterschool from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and discuss photographic technique by critiquing photographs. In addition, we have planned group trips around Paris to explore the city of Paris through a photographic lens, however, most of the produced photographs are works that are done on the artists’ own time. As photographic students, we are trying to better understand the complicated world around us. By approaching each scene with an open mind, be it a sunset on a beautiful island or even the majestic Seine right here in Paris, we as students are able to capture the landscape in our own perspective. A sunset is not always just a sun-
set; it can have personal meaning to each and every one of us. For this project, each member of the Photography Club, keeping the rule of thirds in mind, took photos that spoke to him or her individually. For example, many students chose to photograph flowers, but each one tells a different story. One flower can portray a positive outlook on nature through the photographer’s use of warm sunlight and relatively low contrast, whereas another student might want to illustrate the flower’s individual importance by emphasizing more detail and using darker light. Each person sees the world differently and therefore his or her own photography re-
flects the lens (figuratively!) that person chose to see the event through. Through our travels, Sam Shelton, Lily Rivkin, Julian O’Keefe, Katie Gallagher, Nicole Mauer, Kelly Morrison, Anna Simon, Nikil Pai, Sarah Venkatraman, Pauline Kress, Kaitlin Cunningham, and myself, Eli Rivkin, put together an exhibit for ASP made up of our own outlooks on the world around us. Each photograph was for sale and the money raised will be used for our club to gain enough money to eventually start a magazine displaying current as well as future photographs in the coming year. The Aspect - June 2010
16/school news
Futures First A s part of the work of preparing our Eighth Graders for a smooth transition into Upper School, each student is expected to focus on the development of future goals, both long and short term. Every year, students work on creating their own personal resumés in June, but this year for the first time, the Eighth Grade team took their preparations one step further and hosted a “Career Day” to expose their students to the variety of possibilities that await them in the future. Middle School parents volunteered to spend part of their day at ASP to work with the Eighth Graders in small groups to share information about their career field. There was a huge range of opportunities laid before the students on this first Career Day which was ‘opened’ by ASP parent and film producer, Tarak Ben Ammar (pictured). Students were also involved in sessions where they shared their resumés
with an adult and a team of two students, including a brief mock interview and opportunities for feedback.
Eagle honors Six boys from the ASP based scout troop, BSA Troop 112, received the highest scouting honor this month when they were presented with their Eagle Scout awards. Four of the boys are current ASP students: James Court, Jonathan Dunlap, Michael McCluskey and Andrew Hian-Cheong. One is a former student - Eric Hian-Cheong, ASP '09; and one is the son of an ASP family Luca Simen, son of Ursula Simen, who goes to school in Switzerland. The six scouts received their awards from the US Ambassador to France, Charles Rivkin at a special ceremony at the US Embassy. ASP has been the “home” of Troop 112 for decades, and this is the largest
The Aspect - June 2010
number of ASP students to ever gain their Eagle Scout rank at one time. The Eagle rank is Scouting's highest rank and an incredible achievement for young men. All the boys undertook extensive projects
to gain their Eagle rank, ranging from renovation projects for charities and churches to wildlife habitat projects and the creation of a new urban trail in Paris. Congratulations!