9 minute read
Singapore American School Reimagined
By KINJAL SHAH, Communications Writer
— ROHAN PANDAY, ELEVENTH GRADE
On April 15, 2021 Singapore American School announced a S$400 million campus upgrade project that reimagines school...one that reimagines the role of classrooms and buildings in the learning journey to provide unmatched opportunities for students and teachers. This is the result of several years of planning and school community engagement, including thousands of parent, educator, and student voices sharing thoughtful feedback throughout the development process.
How did it all start?
Since 2014, SAS educators have been on a journey of transforming an existing successful school to better serve students as we prepare them for a constantly changing world. Initiated by former Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball, the R&D process was designed to challenge deeply held assumptions, engage educators, and shape culture. It included thousands of hours of research and visitations to over 100 schools worldwide. Over 100 college admissions officers were interviewed, internationally known educational leaders were consulted, and a strategic plan informed the creation of spaces on campus that could be prototyped for what the new learning environments in the new campus might yield. These illustrative and investigative prototypes, dubbed pathfinder projects, allowed educators to begin developing the practices and systems within a flexible learning environment to support our strategic plan.
These pathfinders proved to be excellent learning tools, and the lessons learned from their implementation informed and guided the design of future spaces at SAS. These prototypes highlighted what works and does not work and the impact they have on teacher relationships, student relationships, and student development of future-relevant skills. “Learning walks” became an integral part of community engagement, and over 400 parents toured the pathfinders on these guided tours, which helped them better understand the school’s vision for learning and learning spaces.
Learning walks did not stop with parents. At least six other international schools visited our pathfinders to learn more. The pathfinders were successful to a large extent, and over 90 percent of middle school students said being in a pathfinder improved their relationships with faculty, while 100 percent of kindergarten educators would prefer not to return to a traditional environment.
Former student Faith Jorgensen (class of 2021) couldn't be more excited to see where this goes! “I’m excited about the opportunity for our school to be designed and for classrooms and spaces to be built specifically for their purpose. Whether it be to play and/or eat with friends, conduct experiments, work in groups, or prepare for Advanced Placement exams, there will be a space for each student to learn and have fun in school.”
Next Steps
It’s been a meaningful learning journey and the community has walked with us every step of the way. Our design advisory groups made up of students, parents, and educators, have worked tirelessly towards identifying exciting ways to make SAS more functional by including additional dining options for students, creating new athletics facilities, and incorporating native flora, along with many other recommendations. The project will be completed in three phases, with phase one beginning on May 29 and the entire project scheduled for completion by fall 2026.
According to Superintendent Tom Boasberg, “Our greatest asset as a school is our educators. They are essential in creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences for each and every student who comes to SAS. This project will create learning environments with endless possibilities for our students and educators.”
SAS Reimagined is excellence reimagined. Extraordinary care reimagined. Possibilities reimagined. Over six years, in a series of three major phases, SAS will embark on the journey, putting in place the supports that empower our faculty to deliver high-quality experiences tailored to the individual needs of each student by accomplishing the following:
• Successfully complete a multi-phase building plan that includes a new elementary school, a new middle school, a fully renovated high school, a new welcome center and campus square, and a new athletic complex
• Meet the highest levels of sustainability in campus design and human performance (meeting the Green Mark Platinum and WELL standards) and use these as educational tools for our students
• Engage with representative members of the SAS community on design, construction, and disruption related to the campus upgrade project
• Provide relevant professional development to all educators to support the successful transition into the new facilities and new learning environments
The forward-thinking work of prior school leaders and the tremendous work of our current community has enabled us at this time to move forward with a campus upgrade project that will deliver on each of these goals. After significant internal work with faculty and design teams, the last few years were spent engaged in large-scale community working sessions to gather important considerations from all members of our community (students, faculty, parents, alumni). These sessions provided insight that led to six key design themes that continue to inform the building of the campus:
FLEXIBLE: Student needs will change in 10 or 20 years and a flexible campus allows the learning approach to evolve over time.
FUNCTIONAL: Increasing learning space by 30 percent and play spaces by 84 percent opens new possibilities for new programs.•
SCALABLE: SAS Reimagined will creatively and effectively optimize land use with an emphasis on making a big school feel small.
MODULAR: Modular spaces will allow teachers to adjust classrooms on the fly—sliding glass doors, moveable walls, and lots of flexible seating options will help customize the learning journeys of our students.S
SUSTAINABLE: SAS Reimagined aims to meet Net Zero energy for all new construction and Singapore's Green Mark Platinum standard and the WELL standard.
SMART: New learning environments will include modern and innovative systems to support learning well into the future and will help promote efficiency and act as learning resources for students.
Artist's impression of elementary school and bus bay
— FRANCESCA PAULETTO, PARENT
What can you expect?
Elementary School:
• Over 25 percent more learning space
• Three times more play space
• Five separate dining spaces that will double as meeting and performance spaces
• Reduced travel time throughout the building
• Covered 25-meter pool
• Additional full-size gymnasium
• Covered bus bay that will double as a covered play space when it rains
Middle School:
• 35 percent more learning space
• Stronger connection to nature and our rainforest
• Covered play space
• More dining space that will allow all students to dine at the same time and will double as a community space
• Close connection across disciplines—art, design, robotics, and science— with classrooms
• Additional full-size gymnasium
• Two large playfields
High School
• 33 percent more learning space
• Three more dining spaces
• An atrium will link Catalyst, robotics, engineering, and the Center of Innovation and will double as a community space
• Significant upgrades to art and digital media programs, including new spaces with access to outdoors and a full-time art gallery
• Upgrades to the Center of Innovation, classrooms, and science labs
Timeline: How it Began…
2011–12
SAS adopts professional learning communities (PLCs) as a professional development and student advocacy framework
New superintendent recruited to lead SAS into the future Forty years ago few people cared about the fragility of the Earth, but today we do care about energy use and climate change. Our new campus is important because it can be the best expression of our responsibility towards sustainability. This value will be applied not only to the visible part of the buildings, but also to the science and knowledge behind it and will inspire students to be good stewards of the environment.
2012–13
Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball leads visioning process, reaffirms mission statement through yearlong community engagement
SAS hosts a 21st century learning summit to adopt desired student learning outcomes (DSLOs)
The school board long-term strategy subcommittee focuses on supporting strategic direction development, R&D efforts, and long-term campus renewal
High school begins R&D research phase
2013–14
High school team recommendations are endorsed by the school board (Advanced Topics, AP Capstone)
SAS is awarded a model PLC school status SAS PLCs are implemented campus-wide
WASC accreditation focuses on the newly adopted DSLOs
Subject area and program renewal reviews complement R&D work
Early childhood, elementary, and middle schools begin R&D research phase
High school enters development phase
2014–15
Early learning center completes phase one renovation of preschool
High school enters capacity phase SAS strategic plan is created, melding R&D initiatives with recommendations from accreditation and program renewals
Strategic anchors are adopted (cultures of excellence, extraordinary care, and possibilities)
Elementary and middle school recommendations are endorsed by the school board
2015–16
Athletics and activities begin R&D
Elementary and middle school enter capacity building phase
High school counseling department conducts a full review and redesign leading to revisions for both college and personal academic counseling
SAS begins facility design principles planning process
High school enters implementation phase
Leadership summit is held to address capacity of staff to execute plan
SAS enters a facilities master planning process to design learning spaces that enable collaborative, personalized learning
Early learning center completes phase two renovation of pre-kindergarten
SAS awards request for proposal to international architecture firm to begin a visioning process for a possible facilities master plan
2016–17
Pathfinder spaces are remodeled to enhance new learning structures in kindergarten, sixth grade A-side, kindergarten Chinese immersion, and the high school Center of Innovation
Elementary and middle school enter implementation phase
SAS begins management of many community sports and athletics, previously part of SACAC
SAS enters a facilities master planning process to design learning spaces that enable collaborative and personalized learning
2017–18
Implementation of split college counseling model to support college admission needs, and personal and academic needs of students
Superintendent holds dessert evenings to share status of school vision with community including possible facilities masterplan project
Pathfinder spaces are remodeled to enhance learning structures in fifth grade, sixth grade B- and C-sides, middle school world language, and high school humanities
2018–19
School board to decide on phasing, scope, and breadth of possible campus renewal
2019–20
Community engagement workshops and sessions
2020–21
Insights from design advisory group sessions held with community members
SAS announces a S$400 million campus upgrade project, named SAS Reimagined
Phase One of SAS Reimagined begins
