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A World Leader in Education Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers Prepared for the Future 1
WHY SAS?
WHY SAS?
2
Joining the SAS Community SAS welcomes applications from qualified, diverse students throughout the calendar year. Our staff can help you decide the optimal time to apply.
Getting In We are building an applicant pool with a purpose at SAS, one that includes a good flow of opportunities for a wide range of applicants. In the process we attract applicants who love what SAS does for children and who are inspired by our vision. If that’s you, we’d love to talk. We work with every inquiry and applicant to help them gauge when admission might be possible. How It Works Your child will immediately enter our applicant pool when you submit your application form and a nonrefundable application fee. This will give you a secure position in a given priority lane while you complete the other requirements of the process. The application has a two-year life span. Parents find this helpful for planning whenever possible. Once we receive all required documents, an application is considered in good standing. Only good standing applications will be reviewed. Admission is a privilege and we carefully review for best fit. To explore the application process further, please visit our website.
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Joining the SAS COMMUNITY
FOUR PRIORITY LANES Lane
1
US Citizens and Green Card Holders
Lane
2
Non-US Citizens Working for a US Company
When to Apply
Lane
3
Those Attending an International School
Lane
4
All Others
Q&A Please contact our admissions staff to ask any question, large or small. Better than any other source, we can tell you about unexpected changes in the applicant pool, how many applications we are targeting in each grade, and whether your child might qualify for admission. We’d love to hear your story, and we are excited to serve you in your transition across the island or across the world. OUR APPLICATION TIMELINE Depending on how far in advance you are applying and what priority lane your child is assigned, the admissions process and timeline will vary. August is Best August entry is the best opportunity to start at SAS. We enroll 750 to 850 students annually at this time. In August we also add the greatest number of spaces for new students in pre-kindergarten to grade one. This is a golden moment for little ones to get into SAS in these grades.
September 1* (or earlier**) to February 1 Best Consideration
February 1 to May 1 Consideration
May 1* to SEPTEMBER1 Late Consideration
* For those in priority lane 1 ** For those in priority lanes 2-4
SCHOOL YEAR AUGUST to JUNE
2 Semesters SCHOOL Hours 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
January and Rolling Admissions are Possible We start the school year with a full house in August. Based on the number of withdrawals during the year and at the semester break, we take in up to 150 additional students throughout the year in select grades.
SCHOOL Breaks One week in October three weeks in december - january one week in march June to august
Acceptance to SAS means a lot. In some cases, it can be very challenging for us to find a coveted place for a child at SAS. For others, SAS is simply not optimal. Thank you for your patience and good communication while we take time to carefully consider each application. Our time is invested in seeing how we might serve your child with integrity in the best possible learning environment.
Accredited by the Western association of schools and colleges Admissions Office Phone :+65 6360 6309 or +65 6360 6312 Email : sasinfo@sas.edu.sg
Joining the SAS COMMUNITY
4
CONTENTs
3
7
9
11
13
15
Joining the SAS Community
Why SAS?
Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers
History: A Tradition of Innovation
Faculty Excellence
A Celebration of uniqueness
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21
23
25
27
29
Academic Results
SAS Graduates: MORE THAN READY
early learning center: Preschool and Prekindergarten
Elementary School: Kindergarten to Fifth Grade
Middle School: Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade
High school: Ninth to Twelfth Grade
31
33
35
37
39
Meaningfully Integrated Technology
World Languages
Beyond the Classroom
the Arts
Athletics: The Eagle Way
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43
45
47
49
51
53
Extracurricular Activities
Service to Others
Summer semester
Campus: Home of the Eagles
Our Commitment to Conservation and Sustainability
Cafeterias: The Spice of Life
Transportation: it is about the destination
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57
59
61
63
65
Uniforms
Belonging to A Community
Philanthropy: The Spirit of SAS
SAS Alumni : Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle
Testimonials
Living in Singapore
WHY SAS? 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Inspiring Teachers
OUTSTANDING STUDENT RESULTS
Extraordinary Care
Top University Admission
Tried and True History
Trust School
World-Class Facilities
Committed to Innovation
Personalized Learning
American Spirit
Not only are our teachers highly qualified, but they are also inspiring. Students love knowing that their PE teacher coached in the Athens Olympics, their choir teacher starred in La Bohème, and their tech design teacher built his own electric car. Teachers at SAS engage and empower students to discover and develop their skills and interests, and welcome them to contribute to their learning community and society.
We don’t just claim your kids will get a top-notch education, we prove it. Results from the Measures of Academic Progress for third through eighth graders, the Programme for International Student Achievement administered for 15-year olds, and the Advanced Placement exams for high school show that our students excel, scoring higher than the average score of most other schools in the world.
Research is clear. The student-teacher relationship has the greatest impact on student learning, even beyond curriculum. From the very first day a family is welcomed at SAS, students become members of the SAS Eagle family. Through meaningful exchanges, encouraging classroom environments, and caring adults and peers, students at SAS are truly seen and heard, and find a place of safety and acceptance where they can grow, discover their interests, and pursue a love for learning.
Top-notch academics combined with an experienced team of high school counselors help students navigate the process of selecting and applying to best-fit universities. SAS students routinely earn entrance to the top universities in the United States and beyond. Some schools that members of the Class of 2015 now attend include Columbia, Cornell, MIT, U Penn, Princeton, Stanford, Northeastern, UCLA, and New York University.
For six decades, SAS has transformed the real-life stories of more than 20,000 students and alumni worldwide. And we’ve satisfied the real needs and aspirations of expat families since before Singapore was born. Our students benefit from credible experience, mature connections, undeniable learning results, and studentcentered priorities that stand the test of time.
SAS is not backed by a company or accountable to shareholders. We are a true community school. One of only a few esteemed nonprofit schools in Singapore, our board is run entirely by parent volunteers, and every penny that we bring in allows us to hire the very best teachers and run the incredible educational program that we have been providing since 1956.
We won the jackpot when Singapore offered us our beautiful 36acre campus. It stands out as a rare and generous learning space on the island. A rainforest, three stunning libraries with enviable resources, three swimming pools, three theaters, five gymnasiums, and other stateof-the-art facilities allow students to learn beyond the traditional classroom in a lush, green home-awayfrom-home.
The world is changing, and SAS is responding. We are implementing revolutionary flexibility to prepare kids for the future, and have already seen results through new courses and pathways for kids. Through the Catalyst project, students can patent an invention, conduct scientific research, or pen a novel, and through the new Quest program, students can pursue passions and earn core academic credits in an immersive fullyear project-based setting.
At SAS, we believe that every one of our students can succeed academically and personally. Students understand where they are in their learning journey, what their learning targets are, and what it will take to reach the next steps. They are given time and support to engage in project-based learning and real world experiences, allowing each student to conceptualize, apply, and reflect deeper learning through topics that truly interest them.
The heart of an American education has everything to do with options, choices, and possibilities. Generosity versus scarcity. Open skies versus high ceilings. We teach our students how to be pioneers with their education – to try new things, explore their interests, work hard, and push themselves beyond what they think is possible. When our students – known as the Eagles – fail, they have the courage to try again and never give up until they soar.
7
WHY SAS?
WHY SAS?
8
Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers Education in the past has been good at making kids fit the mold: the IB mold, the AP mold, the IGCSE mold. The mold often says what is possible and what is not. Singapore American School, however, is giving students possibilities like never before with personalized learning, new course offerings, and passion pathways. Students at SAS find their true selves rather than letting a system define who they can become and how far they can go.
Possibilities don’t make school easier, but they make it different and provide personal awakenings for kids who are looking for more. The direction SAS is taking reflects what made us one of the most desirable international schools in the first place. Singapore American School is known for an unmistakable culture of excellence, extraordinary care, and possibilities. We nurture in our students a passion for and commitment to deep intellectual and personal exploration. SAS students grow up in a community where every student learns at high levels, every student is known and advocated for, and every student personalizes their learning.
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Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers
The SAS Vision:
A World Leader in Education Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers Prepared for the Future Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers
10
History: A Tradition of Innovation 1968
1970s
1973
1964 SAS recruits its first foreign-hire teachers to bring current American practices to the school
The Advanced Placement program begins at SAS when AP English is offered
The first high school Interim Semester trips are launched
1965 1956
Singapore becomes independent from Malaysia
Singapore American School opens with 105 students
United States becomes the most important source of direct foreign investment in Singapore
Since our founding in 1956, before Singapore was even independent, Singapore American School has been on the leading edge of preparing students for their future. When we opened our doors with just 105 students, our first classes were held in large colonial-style bungalows. A garage was the science lab; the servants’ quarters were used for music and preschool; and assemblies were held in the dining room.
11
History: A Tradition of Innovation
1969
Along with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, Singapore becomes a “tiger” economy of Asia
1973 Singapore American Community Action Council (SACAC) is established to support the American community
2016
1981 The school begins experimenting with a new approach called Individually Guided Education to meet the challenges of constant turnover and diversity of student backgrounds
1975
1974
1976
SAS purchases five computers and offers formal classes in computer science and programming
1980 Computer classes are offered as Interim Semester choices
The Booster Club is formed to help raise funds for athletics uniforms and encourage school spirit
Over time, our defining characteristics have included the range of courses offered, the quality of leadership and faculty, the clubs and activities available, the quality of the campus, and its general atmosphere.
Singapore American School holds a legacy as one of the world’s leading American international schools. Our decades of strong academic results matter to our families who value learning, and to our students who will make their own history as SAS alumni.
SAS
2013
SAS enters a robust research and development process to continue leading international education
2012
1987
Jane Goodall visits SAS and works with SAVE Club students
The dance program begins at SAS with a handful of students, growing to more than 100 within seven years
The first American oil rig is launched from Singapore, establishing Singapore as a center for the construction of oil rigs and bringing a greater number of US expatriates
SAS has come a long way in 60 years, just as the country in which it resides. SAS and Singapore have shared a similar journey – one of progress, modernization, achievement, and change.
SAS adopts a new vision: A World Leader in Education Cultivating Exceptional Thinkers Prepared for the Future
1984
2009 SAS
1989
50
SAS Singers is formed and the first Yulefest concert is held
Muhammad Ali visits the SAS campus, reciting his poetry for an hour
As Singapore grew, so did the school. In the years that we grew through four campuses, the school has always focused on creating a vibrant learning environment that is student-centered, international in perspective, engaging, active, and critical.
SAS celebrates 60 years of excellence, extraordinary care, and possibilities for students
years
2006
The Early Childhood Center opens
1990s
2004
Interim Semester trips expand beyond Asia to Greece, Hungary, France, Spain, Kenya, and Switzerland
2004 The Woodlands campus undergoes a $65 million expansion
1994 More than 40 countries represent the SAS student body
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew inaugurates SAS’ 50th anniversary
1994 The Social Services Club grows, conducting ten service projects in Singapore supported by 150 students
1996 Singapore American School relocates to the Woodlands campus with 2,500 students
The Strategic Planning Committee includes community service in its vision for the school
1997
The Khoo Foundation donates $2 million for the Khoo Teck Puat high school library
2004
History: A Tradition of Innovation
12
Faculty Excellence
375 exceptional faculty
Singapore American School attracts dedicated faculty who bring diverse talents and enthusiasm for teaching into every classroom and who are skilled at making students feel safe, accepted, and capable. Our 375 exceptional faculty have outstanding credentials in their fields of expertise. In hiring, we consider only the most qualified and best teachers, but also individuals that understand and embrace our vision and believe in delivering our anchors of excellence, extraordinary care, and possibilities. On average, teachers stay at SAS for seven years, something unheard of at most international schools, which means that our students enjoy an extremely stable learning environment with a low transition rate. Our school has a long history of challenging itself to strengthen the delivery of its curriculum by adopting best practices. All faculty participate in professional learning communities to improve student learning. These collaborative teams of teachers work together to establish common expectations, create an optimal learning environment, share effective instructional approaches, and develop common curriculum and assessment tools to ensure that every child will reach mastery of our essential learning outcomes. And we continue to invest in professional development at rates that most schools can only dream of. Singapore American School teachers show commitment and dedication to world-class instruction and to creating great teaching and learning in every classroom, for every student, every day. Experts in their own fields, our teachers are part of what is uniquely SAS – our teachers aspire to be forever memorable as life-defining mentors in our students’ academic, extra-curricular, and social development. Our human resources are truly our greatest strength.
13
Faculty Excellence
School Choice Tip The delivery of curriculum is as important as the curriculum itself. Not all IB or AP schools are created equal.
Ask
75%
hold a master’s degree or doctorate
7
years: average stay for teachers at SAS
How long do teachers stay, on average, and why do they leave?
Faculty Excellence
14
A Celebration of UNIQUENESS
FINLAND CANADA
SWITZERLAND
Vietnam
Austria Taiwan
RUSSIA
THE NETHERLANDS
BANGLADESH
Malaysia Indonesia
JAPAN
UNITED KINGDOM
SOUTH KOREA
BELGIUM Thailand
UNITED STATES
HONG KONG
POLAND MEXICO
India
TURKEY EL SALVADOR
THE PHILIPPINES
PAKISTAN ROMANIA
SINGAPORE SRI LANKA Australia
ANGOLA
%
School Choice Tip Ask
MYANMAR China
Brazil
American passport holders
A Celebration of Uniqueness
GERMANY
Spain
FRANCE
Some schools can’t support the diversity of the students they accept. We believe a school only truly honors diverse learners and learning needs when each student is offered appropriate recognition, support, and expertise to address their strengths and challenges. The SAS mix of students generates genuine respect for others, and is a mature kind of diversity that makes us proud to belong to the SAS community.
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NEPAL
PORTUGAL
Contrary to the myth that SAS is only open to US citizens, the beauty of diversity at SAS is found in students from almost 50 nationalities and faculty who have taught all over the world. We believe in launching kids from SAS with the cultural competence to be global citizens. Everyone knows that our children belong to a diverse world where each one will work and learn alongside multilingual people who might work and learn very differently. Through positive experiences, we want our students to value the contributions of peers who are both extraordinary and extraordinarily different from them.
Nationalities
BULGARIA IRELAND
An SAS education involves deep and lasting learning in an academic community among people with varied learning styles, experiences, cultures, and global perspectives.
49 62
SWEDEN
DENMARK
Look for healthy diversity of nationalities, and for learning styles that do not overwhelm individual teachers. A school needs to be equipped for the diversity it welcomes. What does the school do to manage the complexities of a diverse population?
peru ARGENTINA
NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH AFRICA
An SAS education is diverse in: Nationalities
Cultures
Languages
Interests and strengths
Learning styles
Teaching approaches and support structures
A Celebration of Uniqueness
16
Academic Results We begin with a student’s genuine curiosity, real questions, learning strengths, and learning gaps. Our focus on deep and lasting learning for every student then translates into superb results. Take a look for yourself at the evidence of those results and share our confidence in what SAS students achieve.
School Choice Tip Ask to see a school’s actual scores and results on learning measures. For every promise a school makes, they should also offer you reasons to believe.
Ask What does your optimal student look like, and do you believe that all students can learn at high levels? What do you do if students struggle to succeed academically, emotionally, or socially?
17
Academic Results
MeasureS of Academic Progress (MAP)
SAS compares extremely favorably to other schools on the MAP assessment. Our average student scores place us, as an institution, in the 94th to 99th percentile in all subjects. This means that SAS’s performance bests nearly all other participating schools.
200
Language Grade Level
Average
3
207
4
212
5
215
6
218
7
219
210 216 220 224
201 199
Reading
3
206
4
212
5
216
6
218
7
220
8
222
9
Math
Grade Level
3
214
4
221
5
225
6
229
7
231
8
233
9
208 215 218 223 226
School Percentile
217
School Percentile
222
School Percentile
228
School Percentile
232
School Percentile
234
School Percentile
209
School Percentile
219
School Percentile
224
School Percentile
229
School Percentile
233
School Percentile
237
School Percentile
237
School Percentile
216
School Percentile
232
School Percentile
239
School Percentile
240
School Percentile
246
School Percentile
254
School Percentile
254
School Percentile
95 96 97 98 99 99 94 98 97 98 99 99 98
228
208 203
210
226
8
Grade Level
SAS is in the 94th or higher percentile of all SCHOOLS that participate in MAP testing in these subjects
SAS
204
Assessments are given to students in grades three to eight in the areas of language skills, math, and reading. The US Northwest Evaluation Association reports institutional percentile cut scores in its periodic norming reports. Our average scores at every grade level are significantly higher than the average scores of US schools, as well as the average scores of schools in the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS). This means that our students are achieving a higher level of content and skills than students in comparison schools.
EARCOS Average
NWEA Average
220 230 232 241 247
98 99 99 97 98 99 98
250
Academic Results
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Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) The SAT assesses how well students analyze and solve problems.
Advanced Placement The SAS Advanced Placement program continues to differentiate itself from other private schools in Singapore and worldwide. Specifically, SAS was recognized in 2013 for having the highest AP Biology scores in the world and in 2015 was in the 96th percentile of schools worldwide, including US schools, in the percentage of students earning a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam. Forty-one percent of SAS students received a 5 (out of 5 possible), as compared to 5 percent of the students worldwide. A score of 3 or higher can earn students college credit for courses that they take in high school.
SAS is in the 96th percentile of schools worldwide, including the United States, in the percentage of students earning a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam
AP Capstone Seminar Singapore American School was one of 110 schools chosen by the College Board to roll out the new AP Capstone Diploma program, a space where excellence and possibilities intersect at their best. Rigor of the Advanced Placement program and an incredible menu of 28 AP courses offered are combined with the extended research and essay, for which students are given time in the school day to work. The depth and breadth of learning available to students is unparalleled.
19
Academic Results
Number of exams completed
Number of exams completed
Number of exams completed
Number of exams completed
Number of exams completed
1,350
1,345
1,333
1,422
1,607
Number of students taking exams
Number of students taking exams
Number of students taking exams
Number of students taking exams
Number of students taking exams
580
550
539
593
Exams with a 4
Exams with a 4
Exams with a 4
Exams with a 4
638
High school juniors and seniors typically take it. The SAT includes critical reading, mathematics, and writing sections. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale from 200 to 800; a perfect score is 2400. A score of 1550 is associated with a 65 percent probability of obtaining a first-year GPA of B- or higher at a four-year college.* Average SAT scores at SAS are significantly higher than among test takers at large. The average scores among the Class of 2015 were 631 in critical reading (vs. 495 globally), 649 in mathematics
(vs. 511), and 638 in writing (vs. 484). One quarter of SAS students scored at or above the 94th percentile in critical reading, the 92nd percentile in math, and the 97th percentile in writing. The data discussed here reflect all students who took the SAT, regardless of native language or academic background. *Source: https://www.collegeboard.org/program-results/2014/sat
Exams with a 4
32%
32%
30%
31%
32%
Exams with a 5
Exams with a 5
Exams with a 5
Exams with a 5
Exams with a 5
42%
45%
48%
47%
41%
SAS exams receiving a 3,4, or 5
SAS exams receiving a 3,4, or 5
SAS exams receiving a 3,4, or 5
SAS exams receiving a 3,4, or 5
SAS exams receiving a 3,4, or 5
96%
96%
97%
97%
96%
Global exams receiving a 3, 4, or 5
Global exams receiving a 3, 4, or 5
Global exams receiving a 3, 4, or 5
Global exams receiving a 3, 4, or 5
Global exams receiving a 3, 4, or 5
60%
62%
61%
61%
61%
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Critical Reading
Math
570 - 690
Writing
580 - 740
570 - 710 1730-2110
Class of 2015 SCORE RANGE AVERAGE TOTAL: The SAT was administrated to
256 members of the Class of 2015 (85% of the class).
AVERAGE SAT SCOREs Class of 2015 2015 AP Capstone Seminar
Global mean score
SAS mean score
(5400 exams)
(37 exams)
2.91
3.76
SAS has one of the lowest global attrition rates from the seminar year to research year
SAS is the only school with a trainer of trainers on staff for the AP Capstone research program
CRITICAL READING
Math
Writing
631 495
SAS GLOBAL
638 484 649 511 Academic Results
20
Corn
SAS Graduates: ia b MORE THAN READY m u l o C ell
301
Graduates in the Class of 2015
Our college counselors have made professional visits to over
350 universities
SAS hosts nearly
300
admissions representatives on our campus each year
Prince
One of the most satisfying things about educating students is watching them soar after graduation. We graduate tremendous young adults who have prepared themselves not only for college, but for life. While the list of colleges and universities to which Singapore American School sends graduates is impressive, we recognize this is only one measure of our success as an academic institution. SAS prepares students for a rapidly changing and demanding society even as it promotes a spirit of integrity of character and civic conscience. The following is a list of the colleges and universities members of the Classes of 2012 to 2015 chose to attend. The students from these four classes received 3,500 acceptances at 675 institutions in 18 countries.
Outside of the US
Highly Selective US Universities Babson College Boston College Brown University Bucknell University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles Carnegie Mellon University University of Chicago Claremont McKenna College Colgate University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University Georgetown University Hamilton College - New York Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Johns Hopkins University
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4 9 4 2 5 20 18 9 7 3 6 17 1 8 6 5 3 4 3 3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Michigan New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania Princeton University Rice University University of Southern California Stanford University Swarthmore College Tufts University United States Coast Guard Academy University of Virginia Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Williams College Yale University
Ya le SAS Graduates: MORE THAN READY
1 6 39 32 18 5 9 4 8 11 2 2 4 1 5 9 2 1 1
University of British Columbia University of Cambridge University of Edinburgh University of Hong Kong Imperial College London King's College London Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology University College London McGill University University of Melbourne Nanyang Technological University National University of Singapore Seoul National University University of Sydney University of Toronto University of Oxford
US Public Universities 28 2 3 2 3 5 1 3 17 1 3 1 2 4 5 1
(6 or more graduates attending)
University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Colorado at Boulder Colorado State University Georgia Institute of Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Michigan University of Oregon Pennsylvania State University (all campuses) Purdue University Texas A&M University University of Washington
n n e P U
20 6 12 16 10 24 6 8
Harva
18 15 12 12
rd
ton
School Choice Tip It is helpful to ask how many students have actually graduated from the campus your child will attend and where those students have gone to university. Beware of schools that post university placements that do not reflect the actual population from their specific school.
Ask What is the unique advantage your school offers its graduates? What are universities saying about your school and the students who graduate there?
SAS Graduates: MORE THAN READY
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Early learning center Preschool and Prekindergarten
For our youngest learners, every moment is filled with new ideas, quiet wonderings, and exciting discoveries. When our early learning students explore our campus eco-garden, watch kites soar in the wide sky, or build imaginary worlds, they discover that what they say, think, and do matters. Our program looks like a lot of fun to the adult eye because we believe that children learn best when they’re truly engaged. Through a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach and a focus on inquiry and self-guided learning, students ask questions, investigate, and learn about things that genuinely matter to them. Three-year old preschool students and four-year old pre-kindergarten students attend our early learning program daily from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is flexibility in our daily schedule, offering our children time to be curious, to play, to wonder, to learn. Students come together to eat snacks in the morning and enjoy packed lunch from home or a catered lunch with friends. Throughout the day, our young learners work independently and in small groups, visit hands-on exploration stations, stretch their muscles during two daily outdoor play times, take field trips throughout the wider campus, and enjoy Kindermusik lessons. Our concept-based curriculum allows kids to connect, explore, and relate through their own interests, and by listening to those interests, we can better provoke their thinking. The curriculum includes daily Chinese language classes, literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, music, and daily perceptual motor skills development in the Move and Groove Room. And once each week, Chinese classes are integrated with perceptual motor classes so that children learn Chinese language as they participate in the active movement. We have a library nestled into our early learning community specially curated to mirror our units of inquiry, and our counselors get to know each student when they teach their friendship lessons throughout the year.
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early learning center
early learning center
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Elementary School Kindergarten to Fifth Grade
Elementary school at SAS is a place where the foundation of learning takes hold, and where we have the rewarding job of fostering and challenging students to maintain their curiosity and creativity while extending their self-confidence and self-advocacy. A daily schedule of core subjects in reading language arts, mathematics, world languages, science, and social studies is punctuated by specialist classes in art, music, physical education, swimming, and technology and library use. Experiential learning outside the classroom through field trips and community service inspires students and enriches the curriculum. From the earliest grades, SAS students are active learners; students learn to analyze and question across subject areas, and learn to express themselves in writing, presentations, and discussions. They understand where they are in their learning journey, what their learning targets are, and what it will take for them to reach the next steps. Our students take risks and learn from failure in a community of acceptance, preparing them to meet and surmount high academic standards. We recognize the importance of friendships and working cooperatively, and foster the development of skills that contribute to students’ personal and academic success. Social-emotional programs are integrated into the culture and program of each grade level and SAS counselors are matched with students for three-year cycles to provide personal support and facilitate building emotional competencies.
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Elementary school
Elementary school
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Middle School Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade
Our middle school students have the space to grow and find themselves in a unique and welcoming environment guided by teachers who particularly enjoy working with this dynamic age group. Each grade level has its own neighborhood wing, and is further broken into three sides to make the community smaller and assist students in making connections with their classmates and teachers. Each side has an interdisciplinary team of teachers that support the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students. A key component of the middle school is the advisory or home base program. This small group of students meets at the start of every school day with a single home base advisor, encouraging a sense of community among classmates anda close mentoring relationship between the student and at least one adult in the school. Middle school counselors are a critical part of creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive school community; each grade level has an assigned counselor who moves with a group of students through middle school, forming strong and trusting relationships with students and families. The core middle school academic courses of reading language arts, social studies, math, science, physical education, health, and world language include project-based learning to provide real-world experiences that allow students to conceptualize, apply, and reflect new learning. Elective courses of band, strings, choir, art, drama, dance, music creation, IT, video, tech, strategic learning, and cooking are just a few of the exploratory and innovative programs that capitalize on students’ interests and extend their learning. Middle school opportunities for leadership and service are provided to aid in developing a sense of responsibility and care for our extended community.
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Middle school
Middle school
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HIGH School Ninth to Twelfth Grade
We believe education should be more than the accumulation of knowledge. Learning at SAS is a process of discovery and transformation through pursuing individual passions and encountering new ways of viewing the world. Flexibility and academic program personalization are the hallmarks of an exemplary American education, and SAS delivers just that. Research shows that students learn best when they are connected to the life of their school and to the adults there who guide them. Every SAS high school student belongs to a small advisory group, and has an advisor who mentors them, helps them track their progress, set goals, discuss and solve learning issues, and build on their capacities to take responsibility for their learning. In addition to unparalleled course options, SAS offers 28 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the AP Capstone Diploma program, and a growing number of specialized advanced topic courses for students who wish to pursue college-level study while still in high school. The SAS Catalyst Project allows students to design their own learning experience by merging their passions with their academics. Students can sample a career, carry out an extended service learning project, deeply explore and research an academic topic of interest, or create a novel artistic work. And our full-day, yearlong Quest program offers seniors an even more immersive project-based setting and yet another way to differentiate themselves from their worldwide peers. Two counselors work exclusively with ninth grade students in their successful transition to high school, advising them to develop an appropriately rigorous course of study and encouraging them to pursue their non-academic interests. Tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students are assisted in the university application process by seven experienced counselors who have visited hundreds of university campuses and are highly regarded in the university admissions community.
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High school
High school
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Meaningfully Integrated Technology
At SAS, we constantly look through the lens of how technology can enhance learning and make it more personalized, collaborative, and relevant. In each division, world-class educational technology specialists guide teachers, work with students, run digital citizen boot camps, host informational parent coffees, team up with our counselors, advise on digital media, and lead the way in creative approaches to teaching and learning that leverage and maximize the use of technology. Digital citizenship is woven into the curriculum at each grade and collaboratively taught by counselors, ed tech coaches, and teachers. In elementary school, every student starting in kindergarten has an iPad outfitted with a suite of core apps that becomes a scaffold for learning. With significant guidance from teachers and ed tech coaches, kids set goals and monitor their progress, and use technology to express themselves, demonstrate their learning, and support the development of critical skills and core knowledge. All middle school students attend a boot camp where they are provided with a schoolissued laptop. They attend training sessions on how to use technology responsibly and safely and how to harness the power of technology to support their learning. Technology tools offer a myriad of ways to communicate with teachers and other students – whether it’s instant feedback on work, new ways to present projects, or publishing to the world through their blogs. At the high school level, students are expected to bring their own laptop to school. Our faculty leverages technology across the curriculum to best meet the needs of all students. Technology tools provide students with opportunities to maximize their learning, creatively express themselves, and prepare for success after SAS. We also offer challenging courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) computer science, engineering science, and robotics. Students can take other specialized, forward-looking classes such as mobile app development, graphic design, and game design.
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Meaningfully Integrated Technology
SAS was named an Apple Distinguished School, one of only eight in Southeast Asia
10
SAS has 10 Apple Distinguished Educators, one of the largest numbers for a single school in the world
10
SAS has 10 Google Certified Teachers, one of the largest numbers for a single school in the world
1:1
iPads in elementary school
MacBook Air in middle school
Bring your own laptop to high school
Meaningfully Integrated Technology
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World Languages lo
Languages offered BOn j our
OLA
H Mandarin Chinese Spanish French (middle school and high school) Japanese (high school)
Daily language offered preschool to eighth grade
80
5
Minutes every other day instruction in high school
Differentiated course levels for beginners to near-native
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Hel
No matter which language students choose, at SAS they intersect language and culture and become well-equipped for the world as savvy citizens.
你
你
好
Peering into one of the SAS world language classrooms, you might witness students creating an animated video in Chinese, observe students role-playing a transaction in Spanish, or hear students debate literary virtues in French. The real-life application of language skills is what world language here is all about.
Hel
20
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lo
BOn
OLA
H Language experience through cultural fairs, celebrations, and field trips
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World Languages
jour
Language immersion trips through summer semester, high school Interim Semester, and School Year Abroad
Advanced study through Advanced Placement, Advanced Topic, post-AP, and nearnative courses
SAS has more Chinese teachers certified as Oral Proficiency Interview testers than any other American international school in the world, which increases the quality of teaching, assessment, and language proficiency for students
World Languages
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Beyond the Classroom An SAS education extends to challenging learning experiences outside the classroom, across the region, and around the world. Although our youngest learners don’t necessarily travel abroad for school, their learning at SAS includes global connections from day one. Whether learning Chinese or Spanish and the cultural traditions that accompany it, playing instruments in our Indonesian gamelan studio, trying their hand at batik or aboriginal painting, serving our Singaporean neighbors in service learning, or taking part in field trips to Chinatown or Little India, students have countless opportunities to learn about the amazing world around them. Beginning in fifth grade, a portion of our students take their first service learning trip to Indonesia to participate in a cultural exchange with children, distribute school supplies, and participate in a service project to improve conditions at an Indonesian school. This tradition is expanded in middle school
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Beyond the Classroom
through the Classroom Without Walls experience where students travel to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Trust, risk-taking, goalsetting, resiliency, and cooperation are just a few of the traits that this signature SAS program aims to instill in students, who also further develop their own environmental awareness and cultural sensitivity through participating in activities specific to each trip. The longstanding Interim Semester tradition makes up an integral part of the high school curriculum and is recounted as one of the most beloved memories of all alumni. Students have 60 different programs to choose from, from hiking the Routeburn Track in New Zealand to completing service projects in the Philippines to learning Spanish in Barcelona. The program deepens students’ understanding of the world around them, inspires students to contribute to the global community, encourages students to challenge themselves, and builds a sense of community.
Local Connections Students in kindergarten through high school explore and study Singapore’s history, art, culture, and government through local field trips and service learning
Middle School 6th grade two-day trip within Singapore 7th grade three-day trip to Malaysia 8th grade four-day trip to Indonesia
60 HIGH SCHOOL
Interim Semester trips to 28 countries in eco adventure, global studies, or service
Beyond the Classroom
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The Arts
At Singapore American School, the arts are an essential part of the curriculum. Our visual and performing arts programs are among the strongest and most highly regarded in the region; for nearly 60 years, SAS students have explored the worlds of visual and performing arts, developing their skills and confidence and deepening their habits of artistic expression.
Visual Arts
Music
Dance
Drama
Daily exploration opportunities in early learning center
Daily exploration opportunities in early learning center
Daily exploration opportunities in early learning center
Daily exploration opportunities in early learning center
Every-third-day rotation in elementary, plus after school activities
Every-third-day rotation in elementary that includes keyboard and gamelan units, plus after school activities
Elementary after school activities
Elementary after school activities
Elective option in middle school, plus after school clubs
Band, strings, or choir elective option in middle school, plus after school jazz band and various ensembles
Elective option in middle school, plus after school clubs
Elective option in middle school, after school clubs with one major production each year
High school: Drawing, 2D art foundations, design, 3D design, ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, 3D graphics and animation, filmmaking, digital and advanced digital photography, AP 2D Design, AP Studio Art/3D Design, AP Art History
High school: Concert band, symphonic band, jazz band, wind ensemble, concert strings, string ensemble, chamber strings, Chorale, Chanterie, SAS Singers, guitar, vocal technique, history of rock-n-roll, musical theater, music recording and technology, Advanced Topic Music
High school: Dance I, II, III, dance technique, performance class with two major performances each year, dance club
High school: Stagecraft, theater foundations, improvisation, production, film/acting ensemble, musical theater history and production
24 The PTA-funded academic visitors-inresidence program brings celebrated musicians, illustrators, thespians, and choreographers for weeks at a time to work with students
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THE Arts
Major dance, drama, music, and art classes and club performances and exhibitions each year
High school dance, drama, music, art, technical theater club, and debate students have the opportunity to experience the sports equivalent of a varsity team through a prestigious regional cultural convention
Some middle school and high school students attend ISTA drama festivals and AMIS music festivals around the world
THE Arts
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Athletics:
The Eagle Way At SAS, we value competitive sports for the lessons they teach about leadership, teamwork, victory and defeat, and the sheer joy of competition. With a wide variety of sports and playing levels, there’s a home for every athlete on our campus. At the elementary level, both instructional and competitive sports are offered through our after school activities program. Soccer, karate, taekwondo, swimming, track and field, rugby, basketball, volleyball, futsal, and badminton are some examples of program offerings. Middle school is all about getting involved and connecting with peers, and with over 35 sports teams and 20 intramural activities, middle school students truly do have a world of choices. Intramural sports are offered for students looking for a recreational option, and students wishing to compete in interscholastic play can do so in the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS) league. Within the high school, athletes compete not only with local schools and community teams, but also with rival Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) teams. Following the conclusion of seasonal IASAS tournaments, intramural sports are also offered. At SAS, athletic excellence isn’t just about performance, it’s about the Eagle Way. Students push themselves to their limit while maintaining the integrity of the ultimate sportsman. Our athletes display determination, self-sacrifice, and perseverance. They celebrate their teammates and bring them up when they are down, look out for one another, and have a genuine interest in those on our team and our opponent’s team. Most of all, they challenge themselves to be great on and off the field. It’s not about winning, it’s about winning the right way. The Eagle Way.
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Athletics: The Eagle Way
High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Sports badminton, basketball, cross country, golf, rugby/touch, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball
1982
SAS helped launch the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) league over 30 years ago, long considered as the most prestigious competition in Southeast Asia
IASAS Competitors • International School Manila • International School of Bangkok • International School of Kuala Lumpur • Jakarta Intercultural School • Taipei American School
More than sports The establishment of IASAS
was a significant milestone at SAS but quickly became more than a sports conference. IASAS Cultural Convention gives students in music, drama, forensics, art, and dance opportunities to perform in front of their peers from similar schools
SAS IASAS Medals Last year, the high school enjoyed its most successful IASAS year in history, bringing home 14 gold medals and nine silver medals.
Athletics: The Eagle Way
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Extracurricular Activities At Singapore American School, the pursuit of passion is encouraged as students learn to identify and leverage a range of abilities that complement one another. We offer an abundance of opportunities to explore a host of extracurricular experiences and to develop leadership skills. Beginning in kindergarten, SAS elementary students have access to more than 90 after-school activities in recreation, performing arts, music, arts and crafts, computers and technology, and instructional and competitive athletics. All after-school classes are taught by dedicated and professional teachers, many of whom are part of the SAS faculty. In middle school there are 21 intramural and 35 representative sports offerings, plus 23 clubs that cater to a variety of interests. All extra-curricular activities in middle school are sponsored by faculty, adding another opportunity to connect with students and support them academically, socially, and emotionally. In the high school, there are more than 100 clubs and organizations, including 45 student service groups. All clubs at the high school level are student-designed and led by a faculty advisor, who mentors and guides student participants. There are also 11 interscholastic sports teams, 14 recreational sports clubs, and seven honor societies.
90+
elementary after school activities
Just a few examples of extra-curricular activities: Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Climbing
Art Extended
Global Issues Network Robotics Club
Hip Hop
Lacrosse
Young Cartoonist
Lego Robotics
Aikido
Kids Can Cook
Roots and Shoots
House of Pain (fitness)
Jr. Scientists
National History Day Club
Technical Theater
Dodge Ball
Leprosy Home
Migrant Workers Outreach
Masks and Clay
Touch Rugby
Visionary Club
Piano
Ultimate Frisbee
Habitat for Humanity
Acting
Dance Club
Students Against the Violation of the Environment (SAVE)
Taekwondo
Climbing Club
Caring for Cambodia
Ages preschool and up
Monday through Friday, some weekend games
Most activities start at 3:15 p.m.
70+
middle school sports and clubs
100+ high school clubs and organizations
Special activities buses depart at 4:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Although not school-sponsored, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are also active on campus, with numerous troops and dens spread across grade levels.
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Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular Activities
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Service TO Others
We believe that the best service comes out of extraordinary care, and our students exhibit just that every day. Opportunities for service abound for SAS students from kindergarten through grade 12, both at school and in the community. Scores of studentled initiatives have flourished over the years, and new ones are constantly evolving in response to local and global needs. Students at SAS are empowered to make a difference in their communities and develop an early commitment to active citizenship as part of being a responsible global citizen.
Elementary School Kindergarten classes befriend stroke victims at the Adventist Rehab Center, coaxing movement through games, molding clay, and waving scarves. Grade 1 students interact with their Singaporean buddies from Seng Kang Primary School by building relationships, celebrating festivals, and playing ethnic games. Grade 2 students feed 315 individuals each month through Food From the Heart, organize a Toys for Treats drive, and send dental hygiene kits to Cambodia. Grade 3 students serve as mentors to students from Innova Primary School through the Kids READ service program and conduct “Read to Feed” fundraising and leprosy home visits.
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Service TO Others
70 More than
%
of SAS high school students take part in voluntary community service
100%
extend and receive extraordinary care
Grade 4 students engage in innovative projects for experiential learning integrating the RLA, science, and social studies curriculum units with a sequence of outdoor experiences.
Grade 8 students complete service projects of their individual choice after being inspired by service activist guest speakers such as Jamie Amelio, Salva Dut, and Geoff Morgan.
Grade 5 students carry out elder care, teaching arts and crafts to the elderly at Chistalite Methodist home.
High School
Middle School Grade 6 students conduct awareness campaigns for conservation of fresh water and eradication of water-borne diseases. Grade 7 students link their social studies curriculum’s unit on escaping the poverty cycle by supporting Tabitha’s sustainable self-help programs and Wish For Kids’, Kiva, and Milaap’s microfinance programs.
Service club participation at the high school level is voluntary. All 45 service clubs in the high school focus on fundraising, advocacy, or direct service. In addition to making a difference in their communities, service clubs allow students to take advantage of mutually beneficial opportunities to develop skills in initiative, collaboration, planning, and implementation. All students complete at least one service Interim Semester course during their high school years, and many service clubs create their own overseas service trips with service partners.
Service TO Others
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Summer Semester Singapore American School’s summer semester offers new learning frontiers for students from SAS and around the world. Program offerings extend, diversify, and accelerate learning from the regular academic year and offer students personalized project-based learning opportunities focused through intellectual curiosity, creative expression, and sports and wellness. Early learning center students engage in self-guided learning through exploration stations involved with touching, moving, listening, observing their world, and expressing themselves. Children make music, go on nature walks, and learn crafts, cooking, dance, and drama. Elementary students work in small multi-age groups and conduct research on collaborative multi-day projects, record their learning in journals and presentations, and reflect on their daily learning. Teachers customize learning experiences based on children’s interests and preferred learning methods. Middle school students create their own schedules by choosing one course from each of our three strands of intellectual curiosity, creative expression, and sports and wellness. Woodlands to Wall Street, Space Colony: The Final Frontier, Crack the Case, Junior 2D Game Development and Junior Art and Animation from DigiPen, Viral Video Ventures, Adventures in Robotics, water polo, yoga, strength training, climbing, orienteering, and swimming are just some of their choices! High schoolers focus deeply on one area of interest. Some courses, such as geometry or biology, offer a full academic year of credit in four weeks. SAS also partners with world leaders to offer programs not available elsewhere in Singapore, including Stanford University PreCollegiate’s Math Logic and Problem Solving and Creative Writing, INSEAD’s Developing Innovative Business Ventures, DigiPen’s Artificial Intelligence for Games, and Columbia Business School’s Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation. SAS partners with TS College Tours, offering customized tours for international students who plan to attend US or UK universities. Experienced college counselors from international high schools also guide students to determine ‘best fit’ colleges and advise on essay writing, interviews, and application strategies.
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SUMMER SEMESTER
Two two-week sessions
Students can take one or both sessions
Programs for ages 3-18
Experienced and qualified SAS teachers
Elementary and middle school Chinese immersion options SUMMER SEMESTER
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Campus: Home of the Eagles
3
cafeterias
Natural Rain Forest
Modern science, engineering, and robotics laboratories Dance studios
An air-conditioned climbing wall Weight training rooms Vocal and instrumental classrooms with small group practice rooms
36 Acres
3 libraries 3 auditoriums 5 air-conditioned gymnasiums
Art wings with in-house kilns and graphic arts, photography, and film studios
2
outdoor covered play areas A high-ropes course
A 1,000-seat stadium Track and field, baseball, softball, soccer, and rugby fields
3
swimming pools
Our Commitment to Conservation and Sustainability At Singapore American School, we are proud to be a leader among international schools in environmental sustainability practices and we strive to involve students in being good stewards of the environment. SAS hosts one of the largest single-site solar panel installations operational in Singapore, leading SAS to be the very first educational institution to receive the Solar Pioneer Award from the Singapore government. The system is designed to produce about one-tenth of the school’s existing electricity consumption and that percentage will increase as SAS continues to become more energy-efficient. We continue to upgrade campus facilities with more indoor/ outdoor connections that use fans instead of air conditioning, water-saving turf on fields, efficient windows and lighting, motion sensors, low-flow bathroom units, the use of materials certified to be low in volatile organic compounds, and wood from managed forests mixed with recycled content.
3,356
panel 1-MWp system: SAS hosts one of the largest solar panel arrays in Singapore
CO2
There are over 160 recycling containers throughout campus, and in addition to the usual recycled items, SAS keeps other items out of landfills such as electronics and food waste through other recycling and composting programs. Students have the opportunity to study and lead conservation efforts through a wide variety of clubs and courses. Many of our recycling and sustainability efforts are student initiated and driven, including replacing water bottles with cooled, filtered water filling stations throughout campus, and take-away plates and utensils made from an eco-friendly corn-based material. Our high school students also designed, planted, and tend an eco-garden within their division. This lush area is filled with native and local plant varieties and serves as another outdoor learning space.
Our Commitment to Conservation and Sustainability
SAS solar panels will save 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide over 20 years, equal to over
500,000 trees
1.58
acre rainforest serves as a living laboratory for a variety of classes
We have a partnership with botanists at Singapore Botanic Gardens to propagate endangered plant species in our campus rainforest, offering meaningful experiential learning for our students, purposeful partnerships in our host country, and valuable resources to the conservation of Southeast Asia.
49
SAS is certified Green Mark Gold
Our Commitment to Conservation and Sustainability
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Cafeterias: The Spice of Life
$4.00 the average price of a meal without a drink
With its rich multicultural heritage, Singapore serves up a true melting pot of flavors and foods through Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan dishes, among others. Food is undoubtedly an important aspect of life in Singapore, and here on the SAS campus, that is no different. SAS built our first cafeteria in 1965 and hired Ho Tee Jam and Hoe Juan Sim to oversee our dining services. The Hoe family, and their children and grandchildren, have continued to create dishes such as curry, Hoe’s sweet and sour chicken, and Hoe’s Szechuan chicken that alumni have listed for decades as some of their fondest food memories in Singapore. While the favorites have become healthier through the years, the Hoe brothers continue to embody the Singapore legacy of food culture and the heart and soul experience of authentic local food done right.
Elementary
Middle School
High School
Tucked into the elementary neighborhood
Indoor-outdoor tropical venue with a rainforest backdrop
Two-floor panorama of the track and field stadium
Western and Asian dishes Daily deli, hot lunch, or vegetarian choices Healthy drinks and desserts
Wide variety of Western and Asian dishes Express counter for quesadillas, udon noodles, shawarma, and more Self-serve sushi, sandwiches, fruit, and veggies Smoothie, frozen yogurt, salad, and sandwich bar
Cashless payment with SAS ID card
Nutrition information panels list ingredients and identify fat, saturated fat, salt, and sugar to help kids make healthy choices
All the offerings of the middle school cafeteria Grab 2 Go salad and sandwich kiosk Subway sandwiches Baja Fresh Haven Gourmet pizza and more Hoe Brothers catering and salad bars
HOE
BROTHERS CATERING
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Cafeterias: The Spice of Life
Cafeterias: The Spice of Life
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More than
Transportation: it is about the destination
96
d kranji
2
8
Transportation: IT is about the destination
2
30
changi airport
1
37 144
104
2
9
bukit brown
111 170
holland village common wealth
3
queenstown
13
5 18 3
7
443
1
12
clark quay chinatown 7
1,273 students
34
3
4
marina bay 7
istrict
10
13
135
2
1 19
13
1
280
9
6
little india 1 somerset 3 dhoby ghuat
2
d
1
newton farrer road 226
493
46
132
botanic garden
167
3
1
110
280 students
istrict
09
d
12
6longer minutes than average travel time to other international schools
15
57
16
1
Average bus travel time to SAS is only
3
59
66
clementi
53
5 46
Some will say that location is a prime filter when choosing a school, but at SAS convenience has never been a measure of excellence. Sometimes the destination is simply more important than the journey. Our students are thrilled to study on Singapore’s only 36-acre green international school campus, and our parents know their children are getting the education of lifetime when they arrive.
• Free shuttle bus between Marsiling MRT station and SAS both before and after school • Island-wide coverage • Chips in student ID cards to ensure that students get on the correct bus and off at the correct stop • Bus monitors help our youngest students on and off the bus • After-school activities buses at 4:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. • SMS broadcast system to parents • GPS tracking of all vehicles • On-campus bus office fully staffed by Yeap Transport • Three-point seat belts on all buses • Security consultant & U.S. trained driver safety program training • Reduced emissions standard busses (Euro 3 and 4 diesel engine buses instead of Euro 2 and 3) • Low bus fees relative to other international schools
khatib
5
istrict
10
yishun
singapore american school
of our students from kindergarten through grade 12 take the bus to and from school each day
25
sembawang woodlands marsiling 562
Experienced expats and discerning parents understand that the best school for their child isn’t always next door. Thankfully, Singapore is a tiny country with impressive infrastructure. Traveling from one end of the country to the other takes under an hour, and most people live closer to mid-town.
Yeap Transport Advantages
80%
562
students
School Choice Tip
Instead of asking how central a school is, ask how long it takes to get there in traffic. Close to town doesn’t always mean quick access to schools.
Transportation: IT is about the destination
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Uniforms
Each SAS student is required to wear a uniform, which helps create a comfortable and focused learning environment and identifies students as part of our school community. The SAS student uniform consists of a white polo shirt with an embroidered logo and navy bottoms, also with an embroidered logo. Students require both regular uniforms and PE uniforms. Alternate dress days occur twice each month and are noted on the school calendar. Students can wear their socks and choice of closed back shoes everyday as their personal canvas.
Girl
Grade k to Grade 8 uniform
A white or blue SINGAPORE sweatshirt (purchased at the Booster Booth) or a solid navy blue or white sweater or sweatshirt (with no commercial logos, stripes, or designs) may be worn over an SAS uniform shirt. A solid white undershirt or white SAS t-shirt may be worn under the official SAS uniform polo shirt.
Girl
Girl
Grade 9 to Grade12 uniform
Boy
Boy
Uniforms can be purchased on campus at the PTA office or the Booster Booth, or through their online stores at sasptastore.myshopify.com or sasboosterstore.com.
Less than
$54
Price of one regular uniform
Less than
$38
Price of one PE uniform
EARLY LEARNING CENTER uniform 55
Uniforms
Grade k to Grade 8 PE uniform
Girl
Grade 9 to Grade12 PE uniform
Belonging to A
Community A strong supportive parent community has always been one of the defining features of Singapore American School. Parents are always welcome on campus, and with a complimentary parenting speaker series, library lending privileges, gym usage, and free Wifi, many parents enjoy their time here and develop their closest friendships right on our campus. The life of our school is as warm and dynamic as it is thanks in large part to the volunteerism of our parent community. SAS parents make a real difference in the lives of our students through their time, expertise, fundraising, and engaging spirit, and create a sense of place and home for the whole SAS community.
Ways to connect and contribute
57
Mentoring
Internships
Foundation fundraising
PTA Book Fair and International Fair
Welcome committees
Booster Club spirit events
Uniform sales
Room parents
Library services
Parent education coffees
SAS Reads events
The Lunch Bunch
Belonging to A Community
Belonging to A Community
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Philanthropy: The Spirit of SAS Singapore American School was born in 1956 from a philanthropic spirit. Sixty years ago, parents, community members, friends, and businesses in Singapore pooled their time, energy, and resources to establish a school that would provide students with an exemplary American education with an international perspective. The spirit of philanthropy continues to endure at SAS today. The school’s formal fundraising efforts date back to 2005, and in 2014-15, staff and volunteers worked together to raise approximately $2 million SGD in support of educational opportunities for students. This support allows us to expand the range of rich, meaningful learning experiences and programs that connect classroom theory to real-life academic, economic, social, and cultural understanding. As important as a dollar total is the sheer number of families who choose to participate by making a gift. By supporting the SAS Foundation at any level, parents demonstrate that they believe in the mission and vision of the school and the impact that these extras, over and above what tuition and fees alone can provide, have on our students.
Fundraising Impact Professional development for faculty and staff at all levels allows SAS to invest in our world-class educators
Installation of Southeast Asia’s first Constellation acoustic system in the SAS auditorium allows our performers to soar
Our restored 1.58 acre campus rainforest continues to serve as a living laboratory for students of all ages
Academic, experiential, and extracurricular activities for our students are enhanced
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Philanthropy: The Spirit of SAS
Philanthropy: The Spirit of SAS
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SAS Alumni :
Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle Relationships are fostered at every step in a student’s academic career and last far beyond their time on campus. Whether a student has been at SAS for two years or 12 years, we consider them alumni and forever a part of the SAS Eagle family. Regardless of where they are in the world, SAS alumni gain a unique perspective during their time at school and in Singapore and this perspective shapes who they become. With more than 8,000 alumni from our 60 year history, the SAS alumni network is strong and supportive and stays connected through Journeys magazine, regular newsletters, social media, an alumni directory, and a variety of gatherings around the world.
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SAS Alumni: Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle
SAS Alumni: Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle
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Testimonials Sarah Farris Elementary Counselor
Cade and April Napierski Parents
Jeane Khang Grade 12 Student
Bharath SRIVATSAN Alumni CLASS OF 2014
I love being part of a school that believes in the extraordinary care of its students. Students are greeted when they get off the bus, their classrooms are warm and friendly, their teachers tap into their individual strengths. The school is well resourced with technology, coaches, and learning support. It is evident just by walking into SAS that the number one priority is students’ social and academic growth.
Upon learning of our move to Singapore, we began looking into school options for our elementary, middle, and high school children. After significant research, we determined that Singapore American School was ideal, based on academics, course offerings, facilities, staff, and faculty. Two years later, we can say without hesitation that SAS has exceeded every expectation.
For twelve years, SAS has raised me. The friends I made nurtured my optimistic personality, the outstanding teachers and academic rigor powered my intellectual curiosity, and the extracurricular program encouraged me to pursue my passions. I fell in love with service, embraced the arts through dance, and experienced the life of a journalist through the school newspaper, The Eye. These are all activities I know I will continue to pursue.
Everything about Princeton University is bigger the campus, the student body, the clubs, and the competition. For many students, the scale can be intimidating. However, learning at SAS prepared me to seize opportunities wherever they present themselves.
I have grown by leaps and bounds by working at SAS. Award-winning authors and illustrators and well-known educators and specialists visit the school regularly. Also, I’m surrounded by intelligent and experienced colleagues who are able to share their knowledge about best practices. It’s exciting to see what the future holds for SAS! Through innovation and research, the school is actively looking to tap into 21st century skills so that each student can follow their passions and tap into their strengths.
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TESTIMONIALS
We were immediately welcomed into the SAS family. Our children have participated in basketball, karate, dance, soccer, cross country, and track and have had immense exposure to a variety of cultural experiences. In addition, we have all established personal relationships that we will value for years to come. Shortly after beginning school, our daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Support from the SAS community, teachers, and counselors played a vital role in keeping our children on task academically and providing invaluable emotional support. Our experience continues to be positive and has left our family with a desire to remain in Singapore.
This fall, I will be adopted into a different family as I begin my first semester at Harvard University. While its 800-seater lecture halls and world-renowned professors could intimidate me, I am going in with no fears. SAS has prepared me both academically and emotionally to take on new challenges. I am eager to bring a little bit of Singapore to the US, and to take on those red brick pathways and unforgiving Boston winters with an Eagle spirit. No matter where I am in the world, SAS will always be the place I call home.
In high school, teachers like Eric Burnett helped me tailor my educational experience to my own interests. My time in robotics under the tutelage of Bart Millar also inspired me to value learning wherever it presents itself – all of the successes we had on our robotics team were built on as many failures. The caliber of SAS students and teachers made the transition from high school to college much easier for me than I anticipated. The way in which SAS students are able to apply themselves academically while also participating in extracurricular interests teaches time management and leadership skills that have already been very useful in college. I’m glad to be a SAS alum at Princeton; I wouldn’t have it any other way.
TESTIMONIALS
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Living in Singapore The fourth-biggest financial center in the world
One of the five busiest ports in the world
The third-highest per capita income in the world
Singapore American School is located in one of the most progressive countries in the world. The Singaporean economy is known as one of the freest, most innovative, most competitive, and most businessfriendly. Singapore also ranks high in international rankings of infrastructure, education, healthcare, and government transparency. A multi-cultural, highly diverse country that is experimenting with solutions and problem solving to issues that surrounding countries with more resources haven’t been able to, Singapore is an inspiring place to live. As the country also looks at how to continually
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Living IN SINGAPORE
More than 300 bird species
Beijing, China 6 hours Phuket, Thailand 1 hour, 40 minutes
Hong Kong 3 hours, 42 minutes
Yangon, Myanmar 3 hours, 31 minutes
More than 350 butterfly species
More species of trees than the entire North American continent
upgrade its own learning and achievements, Singapore makes for a dynamic and exciting learning environment for all of us. Located on an island just one degree north of the equator and near the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore is a true garden paradise. In addition, our families enjoy the benefit of being located centrally to multiple regional getaways. Whether families look for adventure, relaxing beaches, luxury, or community service opportunities, there is something for everyone in this Southeast Asian location.
Siem Reap, Cambodia 2 hours
Kathmandu, Nepal 4 hours, 52 minutes
Hanoi, Vietnam 3 hours, 13 minutes
Singapore Agra, India 5 hours
Maldives 4 hours, 45 minutes
Regional getaways
Tokyo, Japan 7 hours
Bali, Indonesia 2 hours, 35 minutes
Borneo, Malaysia 2 hours, 18 minutes Perth, Australia 5 hours, 21 minutes
Living IN SINGAPORE
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WWW.SAS.EDU.SG WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SINGAPOREAMERICANSCHOOL CPE Registration Number: 196400340R Registration Period: 22 June 2011 to 21 June 2017 Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
40 WOODLANDS STREET 41 SINGAPORE 738547 PHONE: (65) 6363 3403