Eyevol29no2 by Singapore American School

the eye Singapore American School

Caught on camera Two students expelled

November 20, 2009 / Vol. 29 No. 2

History dances by in an evening with “Snapshots”

In a 90-minute show,“Snapshots” highlighted 18 moments in the last 120 years

by portraying events like the first electric chair execution and the death of Michael Jackson. Twenty student choreographers performed with over 100 dancers in the show. In “The Invention of the Mobile Phone” dancers moved to popular Nokia and Motorola ringtones while in others, including “Martin Luther King” and the “Columbine Shootings,”students danced only to the spoken words in dialogues and speeches. Photo essay, page 6. Photos by Danielle Courtenay

MICA (P) 211/10/2008

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November 23, 2009

Two expelled, one suspended Two junior males involved in on-campus theft and off-campus vandalism expelled

Illustration by Kathryn Tinker

by Melissa Huston Two students have been expelled and a third given in-school suspension following separate incidents of theft, breaking and entering, and vandalism. Two male juniors were involved in an on-campus theft from a locker room as well as an off-campus break-in and vandalism of a private residence. The third student, also a junior male, was involved in the latter. The two expelled students were first seen on a security camera Oct. 26 entering the locker room where the theft occured. Security and Safety Manager Isaac Benjamin turned that video footage over to the administration. Security and Safety Supervisor Muthiah Gunalan said that the

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security force of 12 is assisted by over 80 closed circuit security cameras placed around campus. Deputy Principal Lauren Mehrbach said that the cameras tipped off administration when the theft occurred. “That [one of the cameras] was one of the clues for sure,” Mehrbach said in reference to the high school theft incident. However security cameras are not the convicting evidence. Instead, as in this case, administration was tipped off by the footage and began looking into the situation before ascertaining the two boys involvement. “All we do is monitor the surveillance cameras,” Gunalan said. “If we find anything suspicious then we send the loop to the principal. We

do not do anything besides that.” “When we have a situation with theft we look at a lot of factors,” Mehrbach said. “ Is there a difference between walking by a table in the cafeteria with a five dollar bill and taking it and purposely going and stealing something.” In this case, the two boys who were expelled not only participated in an on-campus theft, but the two also joined another student in an outside incident where the three vandalized and broke into a home the weekend before. Additional factors were considered in the decision to expell the two. Although they have been expelled, the two boys can re-apply to SAS next year. “There are certainly cases where that opportunity [of re-enrolling] might be extended,” Mehrbach said. “If there is a case where we think people might learn from a mistake then yes, it’s a possibility.” Students who have been expelled may reapply the following year, however, they have to go through the same application process as any other new student would. Whether or not these two students will try and re-enroll next year is unknown. Mehrbach said this was an isolated case, stealing to this extent was not common in the halls of SAS. “I think that most of us here have that idea of compassion and honesty and I don’t think who we have here are people that go around stealing,” Mehrbach said. “We don’t tolerate it and most of us learn in kindergarten that we don’t take things when they don’t belong to us.” huston.eye@gmail.com

Norcott announces decision to leave

Class of 2010 Commencement will be principal’s eighth and last

F Principal Dave Norcott adjusts then senior Sajan Shah’s tie before 2009 Commencement. Photo by Danielle Courtenay

by Aarti Sreenivas Principal Dave Norcott feels its time to move on. After four years of being a deputy principal and another four years as a principal, Norcott has decided to leave Singapore American School. “Everybody hits a point in their career where they would like to take on a new challenge. I think I am up for that challenge. My motives are to move forward, and I would like to be a superintendent,” Norcott said. After witnessing the growth phase from 2002-2009, a significant increase in the number of students in high school, being involved in the designing and executing of the current high school building, Norcott believes that he has experienced a lot in SAS. “I have had the good fortune of being part of this school during many important milestones of the high school,” he said. From a professional to a personal relationship he shares with this school, Norcott said he has enjoyed watching students excel in their academics and activities. “My most memorable experiences in SAS are the growth of service clubs, last year’s third season pep rally and the move towards a wireless internet learning experience” he said. The new principal for the 2010-2011 school year will be chosen by Superintendent Dr. Brent Mutsch and the central administration from a pool of internal and external candidates. “I am going to miss him beating me in arm wrestling. He is really strong,” junior Phillip Anderson said. sreenivas.eye@gmail.com

Misleading descriptions lead to unexpected work load by Renee Hyde For every class listed in the SAS curriculum, there is an estimated homework load. This is noted at the back of the student’s course handbook. In a recent Eye survey regarding homework load, 60.3 percent of respondents replied that the homework is a determining factor in their course selections. But students are still overwhelmed by their homework, with 48.1 percent of respondents receiving more homework than expected. Homework loads are always a top student concern. Hoping to relieve stress, counselor Dale Ford introduced the course and homework load index three years ago as “an attempt to give some broad understanding about the combined effect of all [their] courses.” Students took a survey in order determine course ratings. It was later approved and finalized by the department chairs. The index, which was updated last year, should not be used religiously according to Ford. There are many circumstances to take into account.

Is your total homework load as much as you expected?

140 students sampled For example, a student may find a course challenging and spend more time on homework than a student who doesn’t find the course as challenging. “The guide is generic and factual,” Ford said. “It is for when students are selecting courses. It may not be

exact.” Despite that, the guide has many benefits. For students signing up for multiple AP classes, the course guide is especially helpful. If you are signing up for five AP classes for example, “you should realize that you should expect over five hours of homework,” Ford said.

On top of extracurricular activities such as sports and dance, the guide offers a realistic perspective of how much time should set aside for homework. Newly introduced classes, such as Energy Science, are more likely to be mislabeled since there has been no students input. Instead, the department makes an educated guess. Teachers are not inclined to follow the course’s listing; however, if a students has a problem with the homework load, they should address the teacher. Seniors Chelsea Leonard and Mitch Hulse signed up for Energy Science expecting a “light” amount of homework as designated in the course handbook. “I signed up for the class with the knowledge that there would be 15 minutes of homework per night,” Leonard said. “It turned out to be around 45 minutes [per night].” Hulse agreed that there was more homework than expected. “Every other class we get an hour to an hour-and- a-half of homework,” Hulse said.

Senior Kalie Riemer, who is enrolled in AP Statistics, believes it should not be listed as “heavy.” “It is more like average,” Riemer said. Dance Performance student Katie Lindholm doesn’t agree with the Dance Performance class’ light rating “You have to choreograph to dance for the show and have to think of all the extras that go along with the dance. It probably should be rated average [instead of light],” Lindholm said. SAS students have mixed feelings about the homework index. While some students find it helpful, others do not take it into account when deciding their courses. “I looked at it out of interest but I didn’t take it into account when choosing my courses,” Riemer said. “I am one-hundred percent interested,” Hulse said. Hulse strongly believes in choosing classes he is interested in. “I listen to [the class’] reputation,” Bradley said. “If you hear the class is really hard, keep away.” hyde.eye@gmail.com

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the Eye fact that everyone knows that they are taking a risk,” Deputy Principal Doug Neihart said. There has to be some other factor, such as change in behavior, weight loss or gain, dropping grades and multiple absences for administrators to suspect students. Sometimes, testing is not routine. “Because of some recent events, we had some reasonable suspicion and didn’t feel that we could wait until the next scheduled testing, Neihart said. Samples can be sent at any time, and Neihart said that their suspicions were significant enough for a small sample.

“Some schools are a haven, and some schools are no-tolerance.” -FCD instructor, James Lingo

Testing regimen not always random

by Ann Lee Every month, SAS administrators conduct a random drug test on 32 students. Eight students from each grade are selected - four boys and four girls. There are about seven to eight tests a year. “Our drug testing is generally random. If a student is tested when it’s not random, we let them know that when they are being tested,” Deputy Principal Lauren Mehrbach said. It is indicated whether students

are being tested randomly or based on a suspicion on the form. Mehrbach stated that the school seldom purposely test students, and when they do, it is a result of multiple concerns and suspicions. “When we do choose somebody it’s because we are worried about their mental physical and legal health, especially if they’re doing it here,” she said. “We wouldn’t expect it here because of the caliber of students we have here and because of the

Deputy principal Doug Neihart talked about SAS’s no-tolerance policy. “It’s much more commonplace back in the States. It depends on the individual school districts as to what their policies are,” Neihart said, Previously, Neihart was at a public school where students were only punished when they were under the influence or in possession of a controlled substance at school. Neihart said that the environment in Singapore is different. “Being in a private school, and especially in a country that has such severe laws regarding drug use and especially distribution, there are harsh penalties for that,” he said. The school tries to raise awareness and prevent drug misuse by inviting instructors from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD). Junior and senior students attend a

November 23, 2009

mandatory annual FCD meeting. James Lingo, an FCD instructor, acknowledged that students living inside the States and those who live abroad have different ideas of what the other side is going through. “The students in the States think students out of the country have it easy, and students out of the country think the kids in the States have it easy,” Lingo said. Based on his FCD education experience in the States, Lingo said that the drug tolerance rate depends on which school students go to. “Some schools are a haven, and some schools are no-tolerance,” he said. SAS has a no - tolerance policy, but after expulsion students are given a chance of readmittance depending on their case. “Clearly in a situation when students have had previous disciplinary issues, that may not be an option, but in cases with little or no disciplinary history, they are given the option of re-admittance,” Mehrbach said. “During my time here, the cases we have had have been a mixture of both. I think there’s a feeling in teenagers that they’re not going to get caught, or that it’s a little bit and it doesn’t matter,” Mehrbach said. “I don’t think there is a lack of awareness about how the school has been handling situations, but I think in terms of Singapore law, there is an unawareness of the consequences.” Neihart said. Neihart said that the general student population do not have any issues with drugs. If a student is caught for drug use, it is a serious issue not only for the student but for the student’s family. “It puts their family’s work passes at risk if they get caught by someone other than the school,”

Mehrbach said. Neihart warned that trying drugs in the summer are also subject to diciplinary action and Singapore law. “When they are back in the states for summer vacation and they’re tempted with their friends, they have to realize that they have agreed to

“In terms of Singapore law, there is an unawareness of the consequences.” -Deupty Principal Doug Neihart come to school that has a mandatory drug screening,” Neihart said. Lingo warned against the light attitude some people take towards drugs, particularly the move to legalize marijuana in California. “I think its an awful idea. Although alcohol and tobacco are the two leading causes of death in the US, I believe that marijuana will become a contributing factor. It’s a gateway drug, and there are so many health risks involved. Legalizing it does not make it go away,” Lingo said. The school is also aware of the consumption of alcohol by students. “We are aware that it is quite a problem here in Singapore, and that’s obviously one of the reasons we brought the people from FCD in - to try and help bring awareness to students,” Neihart said. Alcohol consumption is not detectable by a test. Outside of the school, parents are responsible for what students do or don’t do. “Sometimes [parenting] means setting some limits for [students’] good that they don’t really like or appreciate at the time,” he said. alee.eye@gmail.com

Yearbook memories have become a thing of the past

Seniors upset by Islander’s controversial decision to strip the senior memories section this year

by Anbita Siregar Life changing decisions are made every day, sometimes raising eyebrows and shaping the future of the world. Obama or McCain? To be or not to be? The decision to limit what seniors can write in their senior memories has made a huge impact on not just the present graduating class, but on future seniors as well. “This discussion has been going on ever since I was in school here,” Tate Sonnack, the new yearbook adviser said. Sonnack is a SAS class of 2003 graduate. “We talked about getting rid of it but didn’t ever follow through because this tradition has been set for a long time,” Sonnack said. Last August, Sonnack decided to omit senior memories from the yearbook. The decision was made before yearbook editors-in-chief were selected. “He sat us down in his office and told us that Mr. Clemens and he had already discussed it, and they were getting rid of it. Period,” co-editorin-chief McKenzie Finchum said. The editors began writing a list of reasons why they should keep the senior memories. In the end, the list had over 30 points. The advisers did not budge, so the editors suggested

Moving on: Amidst heightened dispute over senior memories, editors-in-chief Jessica Ngyuen-Phuong and McKenzie Finchum continue design work on the revised senior memories section. Photo by Eleanor Barz

compromises. They proposed putting a senior video in the back of the yearbook or making a removable booklet, but Sonnack rejected these proposals. However, the editors were able to convince him to allow a short note next to the senior portraits. “We figured if parents are giving a message to us in parent ads, we should get a message back to them,”

Jessica Nguyen-Phuong, co-editorin-chief, said. Seniors will be allowed 250 characters to write anything, but they can only name their direct family. “One of the main reasons we took it out is because of the profanity of the comments,” Finchum said. Previous years had required extensive editing of inappropriate and offensive material, and even so,

they yearbook staff could not catch every tasteless comment. Students argue that if the yearbook staff enforce stricter rules such as restricting email and cell phone shorthand, they can still have their farewell to high school. Because the senior class is bigger this year than last year’s class, the yearbook staff has increased the number of seniors per page from three to four. By doing this, they have reduced the length of the yearbook. The 2009 Islander was 449 pages. 50 percent of that was dedicated to the senior section. On average, only 17 percent of the book should be devoted to seniors according to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Columbia, along with the National Scholastic Press Association, evaluates the Islander every year. Their evaluation criteria is the basis for the curriculum. Editors argued that the book’s main audience is students, not U.S. Scholastic journalism organizations. Sonnack said that the yearbook was more than just a memory book. “Yearbook is an academic class. We have certain standards to follow,” Sonnack said. Students disagree that yearbook should comply with these standards.

“Ten years from now, I’m not going to care if my yearbook won some contest,” Alvi Hasan, senior class president, said. These awards benefit the student body. The Islander staff puts out a good-looking yearbook every year. The editors get acclaim from professional organizations and SAS earns a good reputation. Still, students think they have an adequate reason to be upset. “This is our yearbook. These are our memories of high school, and after high school we’re not going to be able to relive it,” senior Stephanie Kendall said. Students say they like the insights into character that the memories provide. “You can figure out what kind of person a senior was, what kind of life they led, by what they said in their senior memories,” junior Kelly Schuster said. Sonnack wrote a letter to the senior class to explain his reasons for the change. It is posted on the Islander website and was given to Senior Council and student council sponsors. Sonnack and Clemens say the decision is final, with no possibility for reconsideration. siregar.eye@gmail.com

November 23, 2009

opinion & editorial

the Eye

Redefining the IASAS Spirit: The meaning of sportsmanship

An Eye Staff Editorial

We are not above the law

We traipse. We don’t walk. We don’t tip-toe, stroll or roam. We don’t tramp, trek or tread. We traipse. With an aloof, confident air, we don’t hesitate, we don’t watch our surroundings. We traipse. Like we own the place. For guests in a foreign country, we certainly don’t think of ourselves as outsiders. Loud voices echoing in a mall hallway, can often be traced to expat throats. The country’s nightlife thrives off of expat patrons, when age is irrelevant. Teenage foreigners bark at aunties and uncles in psuedo-Singlish accents. For guests in a foreign country, we sure think we’re on top. Perhaps this overall attitude, this feeling of invincibility, of Imperialistic superhuman standing, is what leads us to believe we’re above the law. Ever since we were little, a few basic rules were banged into our heads. Look both ways when you cross the street, stay in school, don’t do drugs. They all seem straightforward enough. Yet we have trouble following that last one. The question of why teens experiment with drugs is irrelevant. They do. The compelling question is why teens do drugs here. The country’s strict drug laws are not under-expressed. We all know Singapore takes the issue of drugs more seriously than virtually anywhere, we’ve all seen the four students marking the size of a Singapore jail cell at the annual drug assembly. We know about caning, we know about executions. And yet students still take this risk. Even aside from Singapore laws, we know how seriously the school takes the issue as well. The four drug-related expulsions last year revealed that the administration is not bluffing, they will take drastic measures. To risk expulsion from a school we are lucky to be attending seems irrational. Time and time again, students repeat the mistakes of previous expellees, and one resounding thought emerges: It’s just not worth it. It’s not worth the impact on families, where parents have to abandon international jobs as their kids are forced to move back to the US. It’s not worth the consequences on the individual, with college resumes tarnished and senior year dreams torn away. It’s not worth the stress on others when another friend, sibling, student vanishes on an overnight flight. Not all expats hold this attitude by any means, and most students have the ability to refrain from that one behavior for the sake of its potential costs. But ultimately, despite blame placed on ignorance, experimentation, fun, naivety, some expatriate teens simply do not think there will be consequences. Still, somehow through the consequences for teenagers who are caught, and they are caught frequently enough, some people still think, “It won’t happen to me. I can’t be caught.” It’s just not worth it.

Campus ‘toons by Eleanor Barz

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Singapore American High School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Republic of Singapore 738547 Phone: (65) 6363-3404 Fax: (65) 6363-6443 eye@sas.edu.sg

Lauren Felice

IASAS schools bring tainted sportsmanship into games in the name of school rivalry

REMOVED 12/15/09

felice.eye@gmail.com

Remembering cubbies, cooties and crackers Danielle Courtenay

The experience of kindergarten might not seem important, but it stays until the end

Ah, kindergarten. A time before SATs, APs, college applications, and - gasp - even Facebook. Our lives were a series of simple moments, filled with finger-paints, macaroni picture frames, funny paper hats, and of course - cooties. We willingly shared our goldfish crackers with our friends. We held hands with with reckless abandon. Giggles replaced swine flu as the number one epidemic. We washed our hands regularly and thoroughly, and put our backpacks in our starfish-stickerlabeled cubbies. In short: life was a lot more fun. Clearly, a few things have changed since then. But despite being dragged through an academic and social hell filled with stress, drama, term papers, and sleep deprivation, a few things have stuck with us like a macaroni noodle to a threedollar picture frame. For example, there has undoubtedly been at least one occasion when you desperately needed a bathroom break in class but come on, “the bell is going to

ring in 15 minutes, can you wait until then?” And what did you do? Did a tear roll down your cheek while a trickle ran down your leg? Did you poop your pants right then and there? Of course not, because you learned the hard way that nobody likes a doody-head. But besides bladder-control, you learned important rules of socialinteraction. Consider this: have you recently told anyone they looked funny today? Commented on the strange shape of their head? Stared openly at their gigantic, hairy mole? Probably not, because you figured out early on that honesty often depends on the context of the situation: “No, green spandex leggings look great on you! They match your...eyes?” And in this time of global pandemic, kindergarten granted you another crucial skill: the ability to be healthy and safe. Given, you’ve made a few reckless decisions here and there, but it’s not like you’ve ever

Print editors-in-chief: Melissa Huston, Ann Lee Web editors-in-chief: Caroline Hui, Jamie Lim News editors: Natalie Muller, Gretchen Connick Op-Ed editors: Sophia Cheng, Nihal Krishnan Features editors: Gretchen Connick, Lauren Felice, Aarti Sreenivas A&E editors: Stanton Yuwono, Anbita Siregar Sports editor: Evan Petty, Sasha Jassem Copy editors: Jamie Lim, Natalie Muller Photo editors: Kenny Evans (Web), Danielle Courtenay (Print) Layout editors: Kathryn Tinker, Renee Hyde Reporters: Eleanor Barz, Sophia Cheng, Gretchen Connick, Kenny Evans, Lauren Felice, Caroline Hui, Melissa Huston, Renee Hyde, Sasha Jassem, Nihal Krishnan, Ann Lee, Jamie Lim, Natalie Muller, Evan Petty, Danica Pizzi, Anbita Siregar, Aarti Sreenivas, Kathryn Tinker, Stanton Yuwono Adviser: Mark Clemens

walked through busy intersections and into the destructive path of a Comfort Cab. You stop. You look both ways. You wait until the light turns green. Grass, you learned, belongs on the ground, not in your mouth. Likewise, you figured out your finger belongs in no-one’s nose, with the possible-but-unadvised exception of your own. You don’t put metal forks into toasters. And while some of us out there still need a little work on this one, for the most part, you flush the toilet when you’re done. Most importantly, though, kindergarten gave you the keys to the most fundamental keys to living a happy, untroubled life: fighting only leads to tears (and detentions). Teasing doesn’t make or keep friends close. Not everything needs to be an intense, serious affair - messes are okay once in a while. Naps always do a body good. Coloring within the lines (or even with accurate colors) isn’t always that important. No one really cares whether you like your apples blue, your sun purple, or your dog pink and yellow with stripes. And as author Robert Fulghum said, “no matter how old you are when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” courtenay.eye@gmail.com

The Eye is the student newspaper of the Singapore American School. All opinions stated within these pages are those of their respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Singapore American School, its board of governors, PTA, faculty or administration.Comments and suggestions can be sent to the Eye via the Internet at eye.letters@ gmail.com. At the author’s request, names can be withheld from publication. Letters will be printed as completely as possible. The Eye reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of taste and space.

features

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SAS fairy-godparents:

PTA events raise $335,000 to grant student wishes

Green fingers: Early Childhood Center Director Geri Johnson takes a student out to the new discovery garden.The ECC revieved 30,000 from the PTA to build a discovery garden for children to tend to themselves. Photo by Eleanor Barz

by Eleanor Barz SAS’s every need is met by white elephants, carpets and a chariot of pumpkins, all part of fundraising events run by the PTA. Almost a million dollars is raised annually through fundraisers such as Food Fest, the White Elephant Sale, carpet auction, County Fair and Pumpkin Patch. At these events SAS families interact as a community, a rare occurrence in a school so large and divided. But as the parking lot empties and the stalls are packed away, some may leave wondering what happens to all that money.

Pumpkins sold to support service clubs and charities

This year’s pumpkin patch raised $30,000 – $9,000 more than last year. The shipping company APL transported the pumpkins from California and donated them to the PTA. Service club volunteers unpacked, cleaned and moved the pumpkins in preparation for the pumpkin sale. This was the first major fundraiser of the year, but the proceeds went to service clubs, not

the school. “This is the only event of the year where 100 percent of the money goes to the clubs,” PTA president Mae Anderson said. Service Council divides the money between the clubs. The amount each receives depends on how much they request, how much other clubs request, and how much money is available. “We have to beaccommodating of all the clubs,” said Victor Tan, president of service council. What will happen to the money is also an important factor in the decision-making process. Clubs that give money directly to a cause get priority over those that don’t. Tan said the Service Council is cautious about giving funds to clubs. “You can’t just say ‘we need the money.’ For what? And why?” Clubs that help at other fundraising events usually get around 75 percent of the funds. PTA funds educational projects and programs within each division In 2008-2009, the PTA raised a

little over 900,000 dollars in gross receipts. What wasn’t used to cover the costs of running the PTA and its events went back to SAS. “The PTA doesn’t pocket any of it,” Anderson said. At the end of each school year, the PTA Fund Spending Program disperses a sum of money to each of the school divisions. Teachers’ requests for money are evaluated by a board, which decides where the money will go. Last year, a total of 335,000 dollars were donated to the school through the fund spending program. The high school got 11 percent of this money, or $37,000. It will be used to buy new digital cameras and art drawing tables, and to fund a creative writer’s program which brings an author to Singapore for one month. Other projects include two gardens and a marine aquarium for the intermediate school as part of their ecology environment, and $20,000 worth of new books for classroom libraries in the middle school. The Early Childhood Center

Tensions over SAT scores:

Seniors Ji Sun Yu and John Widjaja get ready for their November 7 SAT subject tests. Photo by Danielle Courtenay

November 23, 2009

ECC Discovery Garden Playaways Lenovo Thinkpads LCD projectors

- Two gardens - One aquarium

- Visiting artist program - RLA Bookrooms - Visiting author program -Classroom/Library - Staff development books training - New digital cameras - Art drawing tables - Creative writer’s program

received $30,000 to build a discovery garden, which the children tend to themselves. “We used take children down to the eco garden in the high school all the time and we really wanted something closer, something they could actually get their hands on,” said Geri Johnson, director of the ECC. “It’s a major part of our science project, designed to help teach the children about the growing cycle, and about being able to take something from start to finish.” For now just soil and seeds, it will soon boast pumpkins and corn. “Hopefully the children will get to eat some of the fruits of their labors.” In addition to the money allotted to each division, a sum of $85,000 is given to fund school-wide events, such as the visiting authors and artists programs. In September, storyteller and entertainer Bobby Norfolk and Author Dr Sherry Norfolk worked with SAS students for two weeks. In March Nikki Grimes, author of popular children’s books, will be coming for one week.

PTA produces planners, calendars, finances scholarships for students

Aside from the money distributed through the funds spending program, the PTA produces the family directory and the PTA wall calendar. It also funds two full interim scholarships, and a total of $30,000 is put aside for six senior scholarships. Last year the PTA gave each member of the class of 2009 a leather passport holder with ‘SAS’ stamped on it as a graduation present. The annual peer support and student council retreats are sponsored by the PTA, as the middle school end-of-year field trip is. Year after year, PTA members dedicate their time to raising money for SAS. If the school needs it, they provide it. But money is not the focus of their work. “Volunteer ethics in the PTA is quite remarkable,” Anderson said. “More than just fundraising and supporting the school programs, PTA’s primary mission is to build a sense of community.” barz.eye@gmail.com

Students worry about scores, but increasing numbers of colleges put less weight on standardized tests

by Stanton Yuwono October 29, 2009. For some it was a momentous occasion. It’s third break and students swarm to the library. SAT scores are out and the bright red Family Connection page is open on every monitor. Some leave with smiles, others leave distraught. Among the first to check SAT scores was senior Jong Chan Kim. His score was not what he expected. “I wish I did better; I feel depressed now,” Kim said. “My SAT is not up to [Dartmouth’s] standards.” Young Seo Lee did not fare any better. During his free period he waited anxiously in front of the computer till the very minute his score was available. “I think I could’ve done better, but it puts me on par with all the other applicants for the college I’m applying to,” he said. While some left the library disappointed, others were overheard calling out to their friends with good news. Despite the domesday mood, Counselor Dale Ford said that the SAT has low predictive value when it comes to success in university. It is the grade-point average that matters most. According to the College Board, the SAT test administrator, the United States national average for the test is 1509. The middle 50 percent range for SAS is 1670-2080.

Many colleges are going SAT optional, and an increasing number of schools have acknowledged the decreased importance of the SAT. Bates College and Bowdoin College were among the first to make the SAT optional. New York University will follow suit and are going SAT optional for 2010 applicants. Fairtest.org keeps track of colleges dropping the SAT requirement. Most university websites post the average SAT scores of their applicants. Ford warns that for many universities there is no cutoff point for SAT scores. He said candidates can get a score above or below the online claim. Instead SAS students should focus on the SAT scores of applicants displayed on Family Connection, where statistics are better represented. Ford compared colleges to country clubs - both try to make themselves look exclusive. In every SAT season, students are under pressure to do well. Ford explained that the culture of standardized tests is reflective of the region where we live where most education systems are based on entrance exams. Though Kim is unhappy with his scores, Ford said the most important aspect still remains the academic record. “Remember, bad scores, good grades, can still be good.” yuwono.eye@gmail.com

November 23, 2009

arts & entertainment

the Eye

IN PICTURES:

“Snapshots” Photos by Danielle Courtenay

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(1) Don’t move a muscle: Freshman Chelsea Lin stands amid fake poison gas in a dance based on the Tokyo subway gas attacks of 1995. (2) Rock with you: Junior Alistair Chew dons Thriller-era faux-red leather as he channels the late Michael Jackson. (3) Ready for my close-up: Sophomore Octavia Fuller checks to make sure her school make-up is off and her face is ready for stage make-up. (4) Tiny dancer: Freshman Carrie Dwyer is brightly illuminated as she dances during her solo in the iPod dance. (5) I have a dream: Senior Lauren Betts executes a perfect pirouette during the Martin Luther King Jr. dance. (6) Country style: The dancers channel their inner Southerners during “Cotton-eyed Joe” in the “Invention of the iPod” dance. (7) Pump it: Senior Brittney Bailey warms up backstage while senior Nina Miller watches nearby. (8) In the spotlight: Senior Stephanie Kendall leads the dance based on Communist leader Mao Zedong with a graceful ballet solo.

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arts & entertainment

the Eye

November 23, 2009

All’s well that ends well: Shakespeare (abridged) a hit A play written for three is stretched to complete a cast of 31 and adjusted to entertain a full house

by Anbita Siregar Some gotta dance. Others gotta sing. The cast of the fall play was meant to mock Shakespeare. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” is a comedy that includes snippets of Shakespeare’s 37 plays and mocks them. The SAS version was directed by Tracy Meyer and Laura Schuster. Senior Yuvika Tolani produced the show. “I wanted to see a different side of theater,” Tolani said. “Directing isn’t an option for students, so by producing, I was able to watch Ms. Meyer and learn to direct.” Tolani is the first student producer. She told Meyer last year that she wanted to see a different side of theater. She decided to produce instead of acting. She handled publicity and arranged posters, tickets and programs while learning to direct.

“You have to adjust your acting and lines depending on the audience.” -junior Kelly Schuster Originally written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield for three actors, this version was modified to keep 31 actors busy. Because there were only three actors per scene and each actor only perform ed one scene, there were no main characters in this play. Some actors played several characters in the same scene, which quickened the pace and upped the humor. The student actors researched their roles by watching movies of Shakespeare’s plays and the “unadulterated” version of the original play.

Clockwse from above: To be, or not to be? Senior Danielle Courtenay comically contemplates her character’s existence as Prince Hamlet. Beverly...Hills, that is. Juniors Jackie Wait and Cameron Noble and senior Ishan Gupta strike a pose after rapping about the doomed Moor of Venice, Othello. My true love’s lips. Senior Jesse Scarborough hesitates before planting a kiss on his Juliet, played by senior Alvi Hasan.

“Before we could make fun of it, we had to actually know what it was about,” junior actor Kelly Schuster said. The cast also met with Dr. Michael Clark, English teacher and Shakespeare buff. “Dr. Clark was really helpful,” Tolani said. “Without him, the cast might not have understood their scenes and characters.” The play was written to make room for improvisation and interaction with the audience. Juliet, played by Alvi Hasan, and Ophelia, played by Ben Adickes, pretended

President-Worthy

Profile: Julia Abueva

Julia Abueva is an 8th grade girl on the fast track to success. At 14-years-old, she has already been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show and performed a solo concert at the Esplanade. Although this list is already quite impressive, she can now add that she sang for the president of the United States, Barack Obama Oct. 14. Singing has been a passion of hers since she was just 5-yearsold and she has been featured in concerts all over Asia and performed at the Southeast Asian Games when she was just 9-yearsold. When Julia found out that she was going to perform for the President of the United States she had mixed emotions. “I was really excited and nervous at the same time, but more excited than nervous,” Abueva said. To prepare for the Concert at the APEC Gala Concert at the Esplanade, Julia said she practiced endlessly. “I had 10 hours of rehearsal a day, and there were about 20 rehearsals for the event,” Abueva said.

Julia performed a song called The Sound of One Song that was written especially for the event. “ I was very happy with my performance and they asked me to do the encore, so I got to sing my song again,” Abueva said. pizzi.eye@gmail.com

to throw up on audience members. Simon Filice flailed a rubber snake in the audience in the Macbeth scene. “You have to adjust your acting and lines depending on the audience. You have to learn to read your audience,” Schuster said. Because there was so much improvisation, the play made cast members laugh out loud during every rehearsal. “We’d be in the costume room or backstage, and we’d start cracking up because someone said something new. It never got old,” Schuster said.

Like a sports team at the end of a season, the cast grew close, sharing inside jokes and memorable stories. Before every rehearsal, they had a special cheer, and throughout the weeks of rehearsals, many jokes about Alvi kissing senior Jesse Scarborough in the “Romeo and Juliet” scene were made. If laugh per minutes were counted, the show would measure as a big hit. “I think the play was really successful. It was sold out both nights,” actor Maiki Del Rosario said.

Most thought the quirky comedy was different and enjoyable. “It was really funny, especially Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet,” junior Serena Grace said. “I love how they incorporated our school things like the ‘Woodlands’ sign,” junior Megan Trgovich said. Although rehearsals were exhausting and time consuming, cast members said they suffered from post-performance blues. “We all wish we could do it one more time,” Schuster said. siregar.eye@gmail.com

Something familiar, something peculiar

by Danica Pizzi Yulefest, move aside. The biannual medley of visual and performing arts that was a holiday tradition is now a part of SAS history. It is now time for a new SAS tradition, Cabaret. Instead of kings and queens singing songs from the Baroque period, audiences can expect to hear a humorous mix of songs and acts by the drama and dance departments. The idea for the change started with choir teacher Philip Green. “I talked to a heap of people from middle school, from lower ends of the school to high school, and there seemed to be a very strong feeling that perhaps Yulefest had run its course or maybe it was time to give it a rest and try something new,” Green said. The result is Cabaret, a humorous mix of music that includes “ Girl in Apartment 14G,” a choral arrangement of “Drunken Sailor,” and a competitive cat duet by Rossini. “It’s basically meowing in different notes. Two soprano cats meowing,” explains SAS singer Sharon Yu. “Apparently it’s a song. You’re meant to act and it’s supposed to be funny.” “Many people see music as being either highly personal - me and my Ipod - or they see it as serious,” Green said. “I think that very few people understand that there is a very humorous side of music and there’s a lot of very funny stuff out there and it’s okay to laugh.” High school drama director, Tracy Meyer said that drama will supply the emcee’s for the show and promote the theme. The drama students will also add

Caught in the act: Court jesters are played by sophomore Austin Amelio and senior Mike Silverman in the 2003 Yulefest production. Photo by Barnabis Lin

short vignettes to serve the theme and ease the transitions between songs. “Apart from the school musical, we don’t get a chance for the theater people, the technical people, the dance people, the drama people, and the music people to actually function altogether, “ Green said. pizzi.eye@gmail.com

November 23, 2009

the Eye

sports & activities

New season sees athletes deal with nagging injuries by Evan Petty As calendars flip from October to November, the holiday season nears: a time to give thanks, exchange gifts and welcome a new year. After the first few weeks of second season sports, however, many athletes are not in a particularly festive mood. A bevy of injuries kicked off the second season and shelved a noticeable number of athletes, evidenced by all of the students dragging through the hallway on crutches. So many, in fact, that the majority of students on the elevator may have actually had a legitimate plead, rather than being reluctant to climb the two stories of stairs. While players may experience individual setbacks and coaches may be forced to play short-handed, the one person who feels the effect of each and every injury is athletic trainer, Tomomi Tanabe. Every day after school Tanabe is met by a herd of athletes flooding into the training room looking for pre-practice assistance. From taping injuries to deciding on whether or not athletes should play, the busiest part of Tanabe’s day does not allow

for much down many of his floor leaders, but was time. able to see the positive side of the “From about a situation. few minutes after “The one good thing is that school until about I’ve got to see some other guys four it gets pretty play. In two games I’ve already crazy in here,” seen 11 guys play, which is good, Tanabe said. especially when we have to decide The first few on the team that goes to Hong weeks of the Kong,” Norman said. second season The team Norman eluded to is brought more than a 10 player team that will travel to the usual number Hong Kong over Thanksgiving for of visitors to the an annual tournament that hosted training room, a SAS teams since 1988. While trend Tanabe took everyone on the roster has had note of. a chance to show the coaching “There are staff what they have to offer, the a lot of ankle Eagles’ main concern may be and leg injuries having enough bodies to field a in basketball, team if the rate of injuries remains and rugby can steady. be pretty much Does it hurt when I do this?: Senior Non Okumura gets her hand examined by athletic trainer Tomomi The same holds true to all anything,” said Tanabe during the November 14th All-Asian Touch Tournament Exchange hosted at SAS. Many athletes second season sports teams. If the Tanabe, referring started second season with ankle and leg injuries. Photo by Danielle Courtenay run of bumps and bruises does not to the common slow, the only gifts athletes will Four boys on the varsity season volleyball or happened in an injuries seen in find under their Christmas tree will second season sports. “In just the basketball team - three of whom early season game. be athletic tape, pain medication and Coach Mike Norman maybe a shiny, new set of crutches. first couple of weeks, there have started in the gold medal game in already been more than 10 ankle Taipei - have already dealt with ankle acknowledged the difficulty of petty.eye@gmail.com injuries that either lingered from first playing early the the season without injuries.”

Caught in action: Tackle rugby, touch, tennis

(Clockwise from above) You’ve been served: Senior co-captain Caroline Hui winds up for a serve in a match against JIS. Despite being rained out on Friday, the exchange saw two days of hard-fought matches, for teams to get an initial sense of their competition. Photo by Danielle Courtenay Brace yourself: Seniors Connor Murray and Matt Grgas prepare to get into a scrum. The varsity boys played in the Seven’s Tournament agaisnt other schools and colleges placing second. Photo by Connor Murray Stay close: The girls’ varsity touch team huddle together before a game for a pep talk by their captains. The weekend saw the All-Asia Touch Rugby Tournament hosted at SAS, with the pool of eighteen in the U18’s division including all six IASAS schools.The Eagles places second. Photo by Erika Farias Eye on the ball: Vaishnavi Krishnan lunges for a volley. The girls ended the exchange with a winning record, and were happy with their results. “We have a young team and they’ve proven themselves,” senior cocaptain Caroline Hui said. “We still have a few months until IASAS, but from what I’ve seen so far, we’re in good shape.” Photo by Danielle Courtenay Look left fake right: Senior Austin Cox zig-zags his way through the defending team.The varsity boys blazed through the three day tournament and played in front of screaming crowds up until they lost in the championship match. Photo by Connor Murray