Singapore American School Newsflash, December 2007 by Singapore American School

Volume 10, Issue 5-07/08 - December 2007

MICA (P) 183/08/2007

A Singapore American School community service publication

NewsFlash g n i S m AS Style! o c e m o H

ctivities, games, school spirit, basketball, live music and a dance – all in one. We can only be talking about one event: Homecoming – SAS style!

For the past few months, the High School Homecoming Committee and Student Council have been creating an exciting week that will culminate in the main event on Saturday, January 19. During the school week, from January 14-18, the High School and Intermediate School will have different spirit dress days and spirited competitions between grade levels and faculty during lunch periods. This great week will build up to the grand event on Saturday, when the festivities kick off with an alumni/faculty basketball game. After that, the “Big Game” will begin: a showdown between the SAS Eagles and the International School of Kuala Lumpur Panthers. The audience will be involved throughout the game with cheers, competitions, half-time entertainment and even a raffle, in which a PlayStation Portable and an Apple iTouch are up for grabs! Throughout the game, the adjacent MS gym will host food stalls and game booths. Limited seats will be available for the game, so keep an eye out for ticket sales in December. After the game ends, there will be a homecoming dance, split into two parts. The first part, open to alumni, students of all divisions and parents, will include a concert by a student band mixed in with well-known dances for all ages. After about a half hour, we’ll take a break from the music to honor our Homecoming Court and announce the Homecoming King and Queen. These ten seniors will be nominated and elected in the coming weeks by the entire high school. After the crowning ceremony, the dance will be turned over to the high school students who will finish off the evening. As with County Fair/Food Fest, parents are responsible for all transportation to and from the event. Anyone under high school age will be expected to depart campus at 8:30pm. Homecoming is one of the rare chances we have to unite all the grade levels and the members of the SAS community in an exhilarating, spirited, fun-filled experience. For further information, visit http://www.sashomecoming. com. We hope to see you out there Saturday night! - By Lauren Felice

School Expansion Timeline

Pg. 4

SAS PTA Book Fair

Pg. 10

Booster Holiday Tea & Jewelry Fashion Show

Pg. 14

Content Page

Regulars 3 - Calendar Highlights 7 - PTA News 13 - ARTS Council

Brent Mutsch Superintendent of Schools

14 - Booster Club News

SAS Highlights 4 - Morals and Values, they’re all relative... 16 - Adventures in Little India 17 - If You Give a Mouse A Cookie 20 - HS Dance Show - “I SPY“ Mark Boyer Asst. Superintendent Curriculum and Instruction

Rhonda Norris Asst. Superintendent Business

21 - National French Week 2007 22 - IASAS Soccer 23 - IASAS Volleyball 24 - SAS Eagles Cross Country

- Devin Pratt Selected as MS Principal

25 - IASAS Model United Nations

David Hoss Principal Primary School

Franke Thomas Principal Middle School

Marian DeGroot Principal Intermediate School

David Norcott Principal High School

NEWSFLASH is published monthly by the Communications Office of the Singapore American School. It is distributed free of charge to parents, faculty members and organizations served by the school.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE Singapore American School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Singapore 738547 Tel: 6360-6303 SAS Website: http://www.sas.edu.sg

Editor: Beth Gribbon Staff Editor: Junia Baker Layout Design: Joey Lew SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Are You Receiving What’s Happening at SAS? We send all parents and guardians a weekly What’s Happening at SAS newsletter by email. If you have not been receiving the weekly email, probably we do not have your correct email address. Send us an email at communications@sas.edu. sg to give us your current email address. The distribution can include both parents’ email addresses. The weekly What’s Happening at SAS will also be posted on the website at http://www.sas.edu.sg.

We welcome input from the community associated with Singapore American School February NewsFlash Deadline: January 23, 2007 Publication Date: February 13, 2007 March NewsFlash Deadline: February 27, 2007 Publication Date: March 17, 2007 Email Community News Input to bgribbon@sas.edu.sg Email Trading Post Input to trade@sas.edu.sg Trading Post advertising is restricted to non-commercial items only from SAS students, parents and staff

December 2007

HS Alternate Dress Day HS Final Exams 8:00am – 12:00pm (Periods A1&A2) HS Final Exams 8:00am – 12:00pm (Periods B3&B4) HS Final Exams 8:00am – 12:00pm (Periods A3&A4) HS Winter Ball 9:00pm – 1:00am (Tanglin Club) 2nd Quarter Ends No School for HS Students

19 20 25 21-31

PS/IS/MS (Christmas) Holiday Alternate Dress Day PS/IS Holiday Parties 1:30pm December Graduation 10:00am (Drama Theater) HARI RAYA HAJI (NO SCHOOL) CHRISTMAS (NO SCHOOL) WINTER BREAK (NO SCHOOL)

* Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm

1-13 10-12 14 15 16 18 19 21 21-25 22

WINTER BREAK (NO SCHOOL) Malaysian Swim Camp 3rd Quarter Begins Students’ Late Start 10:00am No AM Pre-School, PM Pre-School is in Session PTA Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) Alternate Dress Day PS/IS Report Cards Go Home Quarter 2 MS Online Report Cards Posted Touch Rugby Exchange in Jakarta Basketball/Rugby/Tennis Exchanges in Singapore Booster Club Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) MS&HS Combined PTA Coffee 10:00am (H301) SACAC Registration 8:00am – 4:00pm (SACAC Office) Interim Semester Parent Orientation Evening 7:15pm – 8:00pm

23 25 25-26 26 29 30 31

IASAS Basketball in Jakarta IASAS Swimming in Manila IASAS Rugby/Touch in Bangkok IASAS Tennis in Kuala Lumpur Students Late Start 10:00am No AM Pre-School, PM Pre-School is in Session HS PTA Coffee 10:00am (H301) Financial Aid for US Citizens – HS Junior Parents 7:00pm (H301)

6 7-8 9-17 11 12 13

January 2008

Alternate Dress Day HS Honor Roll Recognition 11:25am PTA New Parent Welcome Coffee 9:30am (PTA Office) MS Strings Bintan Trip SAT & Subject Tests SACAC Registration 9:00am – 12:00pm (HS Cafe) College Information Night for Parents of HS Juniors 7:00pm (Auditorium) HS Alternate Dress Day Booster Bake Sale IASAS Basketball in Jakarta IASAS Swimming in Manila IASAS Rugby/Touch in Bangkok IASAS Tennis in Kuala Lumpur

* Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm

1-2 4 5

Calendar Highlights

13-18 14 17 18 19

* Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm

February 2008

MS Holiday Alternate Dress Day CHINESE NEW YEAR (NO SCHOOL) HS Interim Semester ECC Parent Coffee 8:30am (ECC Grouproom) MS Parent Coffee 10:00am (M301) PTA Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) Alternate Dress Day SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Morals and Values, they’re all relative…or are they? By Jeff Devens, Ph.D. / School Psychologist

ne of the pleasures of working with adolescents is being able to discuss complex issues of “life.” With an increased capacity for abstract thinking and reasoning, teens are able to contemplate their beliefs about values and morals, and more importantly why they hold these views. For the past month in psychology, a course I teach in addition to my duties as a school psychologist, we have been addressing social and cognitive development (how we think and process information). In addition, we also discussed the formation of values and morals. When I speak of “values,” I am referring to the “rules” by which we make decisions regarding right and wrong, good and bad behavior. “Morals” tend to have broader social implications and address the motivation based on ideas of right and wrong. As a starting point, the following question was posed to students: “Do absolute morals and values exist?” That is, are some things in life, regardless of culture, religion or upbringing absolutely “right” or “wrong?” Answer: It depends on the situation. For example, is cheating in school morally wrong? Answer: It’s wrong, but it may be justified given what is at stake. Is underage drinking morally wrong? Answer: Everyone is doing it (not true by the way☺), so it’s not officially considered wrong anymore. These questions, and a host of others, were posed to students. The position students took regarding a particular issue reflected their set of developing morals and values. While students agreed that good character traits, such as kindness, fairness, respect and compassion, should be afforded to all people, how these are demonstrated on a day-to-day basis varied considerably from student to student. In educational settings, moral and value modeling are components of the learning experience; however, the primary responsibility for instilling these beliefs is a function of the home. Author Chuck Swindoll notes, “The job of parents is to help children come to know themselves, grow to like themselves, and find satisfaction in being themselves.” In order for kids to know, grow and find satisfaction, they need guidance – your guidance. If we are edging ever closer to a relativistic consensus regarding morals and values, it behooves parents to take active steps to model and educate their children regarding what they as a family hold to be true, right, wrong and honorable. Without this, kids will be adrift, without a moral compass and susceptible to the winds and currents of change, instead of being able to chart their own course, make a stand for their beliefs and ultimately live by these principles. Some adults deem that education alone is the key to character development; however, the best education in the world does not by itself address the issue of character. If we perceive that education is the sole answer to moral development we delude ourselves. The formal character education programs we offer at SAS are designed to compliment, not replace, what you teach your children in the home. With the above thoughts in mind, I would like to offer four suggestions for promoting the development of morals and values in your home:

•

Practice what you preach: Kids are intuitive little creatures☺. Morals and values are often caught and not always directly taught in the home. One student I recently spoke with commented that her mother habitually talks about the importance of treating people with respect and compassion, yet she treats the helper poorly. If we are serious about teaching our children a “healthy” set of values and morals, we need to model this first and foremost in our actions.

•

Be human: Your kids know you make mistakes. You know you make mistakes. It is often through error that we learn the most. When you have blown it, admit it! Seek reconciliation, apologize and move forward. Talk with your kids about how you wished you had handled the situation and what you will do differently in the future. I am reminded of a conversation I had with a parent who reluctantly agreed to “try” this principle with her teenage daughter. The next time they were in an argument, and the mom was the one at fault,

SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Morals and Values, they’re all relative…or are they? (cont’d) By Jeff Devens, Ph.D. / School Psychologist instead of becoming defensive, she admitted that she had crossed the line and apologized. The daughter, with mouth gaping wide, was speechless. •

Take time, make time: Your child’s character is largely influenced by the amount and consistency of time you invest in his or her life. One youngster I worked with several years ago drew a picture of his family without his father in it. When asked why his father was not included, he commented, “My father is at work.” If you believe that family is important then model this in your priorities. Perhaps this will be demonstrated at some point by passing up that big promotion because it would mean more hours away from the home. While bank accounts and financial portfolios have some value, no stock can measure the value of compounded positive influence invested in your child’s life.

•

Use everyday examples: The mass media provides a plethora of opportunities to discuss moral and ethical situations. Each day accounts of “poor choices” cover the front pages of newspapers, magazines and television news programs. Allow your kids to share their thoughts, beliefs and perspectives regarding the stories. Help them by filling in the gaps with information that may be missing. Kids understand that life is not seen only in “black and white” but has various hues. Help them try to understand the rational process people use to form the basis of their decisions, including yours.

Morals and values education begins in the home.

SAS Wins SISMC By Jim Kett, HS math teacher

n November 17, students from SAS competed in the Singapore International School Math Competition (SISMC) at the Australian International School. The event involved both individual and team competitions. Minjae Lee and Sam Park of SAS tied for the gold medal in the individual portion, while the SAS team of sophomore Chris Chee and freshmen Minjae Lee, Sam Park and Monica Xie won the team competition. Second place went to UWCSEA, while a team from Tanglin Trust took third.

L-R: Min Jae Lee, Chris Chee, Monica Xie, and Sam Park

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdlksajdkasjdasjdkldjsajssjld CORRECTION Regretfully, Dr. Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts was incorrectly identified as Mr. Gan Kim Yong in the November NewsFlash. We apologize for the error and regret any inconvenience this may have caused Dr. Lee, Mr. Gan or our readers. Dr. Lee (third from the left) presented Fah Kanjanavanit, grade 8, with her first place award in the annual Lions Clubs International “Peace Poster” competition.

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdlksajdkasjdasjdkldjsajssjld SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

PTA Book Fair

he theme of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PTA Book Fair and Bookmark Contest was: Book It... Off to See the World! In October, students in the Primary and Intermediate Schools submitted wonderful entries for the Bookmark Contest. The judges had a difficult time selecting the winners, since everyone did such a great job. The winning entries were printed and distributed during the Book Fair. In November, the Elementary Gym was packed with thousands of books at the Book Fair. Students, teachers and parents had a wide selection of book topics and educational kits and puzzles from which to choose. Authors Shamini Flint, Sophia Shing and Sunanda Widel signed their books, which ranged from novels for adults to books for very young children. This event could not have been put on but for our many volunteers. Throughout the three-day event, as well as the weeks leading up to the Book Fair, volunteers helped with everything from sorting books to cashiering. Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the 2007 PTA Book Fair. PTA Bookmark Contest 2007

PTA Bookmark Contest 2007 - IS Winners

PTA Bookmark Contest 2007 - PS Winners

SAS NewsFlash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2007

s I prepare to turn the calendar page to another month, it is hard to believe that we are almost half way through the school year. With the holidays now upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very healthy and happy holiday season. It is also the time of year, with the long school break, that many families relocate to their next assignments. To those of you leaving SAS over the coming months, we bid a fond farewell and wish you all the best in your new locations. For those who had the opportunity to volunteer at SAS, we would like to thank you for all of the volunteer hours you have put in at school and for the support you have given the PTA during your stay in Singapore.

SAS PTA

PTA Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter

I would like to take this opportunity to recap some of the PTA activities that we have held since the start of the school year. We organized several days of pre-sales for uniforms during orientations, hosted the Ice Cream Social at Open House, held Newcomer Welcome Coffees for all divisions and a Welcome Back Coffee for the whole school, provided refreshments at the four Back to School Nights, organized the Pumpkin Patch for the Primary School, held the Pumpkin Sale, sent out a Scholastic Book order, organized Halloween parties for PS, IS and MS students, ran the International Food Fest and three days of the Book Fair. Whew! Sometimes thinking about all the events makes my head spin. I have often wanted to try and have all of our volunteers keep track of the hours they spend on PTA activities, but I realize it would be too much of an effort to keep track of all their time. I hope in some small way we have been able to offer some support to you and your family to allow you to feel and become a member of the SAS community. While I know that many of you are concentrating on the upcoming holiday events and school break, I would like to ask you to take a minute to mark your calendar for the next PTA event. Our Gala Wine Dinner will be held on February 16, 2008 at the Regent Hotel. This will be an elegant evening of gourmet food, fine wine and great company. Shelby Pazos and her committee have been working hard on the plans for this event, and I am sure that everyone will enjoy an impressive and spectacular evening. While it may seem a long time away, it will be held only a few short weeks after we return from the holiday break. Seating will be arranged in tables of eight, so you can either make plans to join your friends by arranging your own table or make new friends by signing up individually. Tickets go on sale January 22 at 9:00am in the PTA Office. As always, please continue to check the PTA link on the SAS website. You will find a host of useful information about PTA activities. Please go to www.sas.edu.sg and then click on the PTA link. I would like to once again wish you and yours a very Safe and Happy Holiday Season and a Joyous New Year! Susan Fay

SAS NewsFlash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2007

Pumpkin Patch

n a tradition that began many years ago, SAS students of all ages excitedly awaited the “Great Pumpkin Shipment,” signaling the arrival of the fall season in tropical Singapore. Again this year, APL, a generous supporter of the SAS PTA for many years, purchased and shipped a 40-foot container of American pumpkins, gourds and decorative corn to SAS. With the help of APL employees, High School students and other SAS volunteers, the pumpkins were unloaded, cleaned and placed in the PTA Office in anticipation of a week of activities all centered on the Pumpkin Patch! The Kindergarten group room was transformed into a Pumpkin Patch by a dedicated group of talented SAS parents. The temperature was lowered in both areas to keep the precious cargo fresh. For several days, Primary School classes visited the Pumpkin Patch, where they were treated to delightful interactive storytelling sessions, led by actors from Centre Stage. After the stories, each child picked mini-pumpkins, gourds and decorative corn to take home. In addition, each teacher selected a larger class pumpkin. The event was complete as students exited through the “bat cave” and received a Halloween pencil courtesy of the PTA. The week culminated with the Pumpkin Sale in the MS fountain area. Saturday morning saw another group of High School students and volunteers arrived at 7:00am to carry the pumpkins from the PTA Office to the sales area. The pumpkin proceeds of over $20,000 were donated to the High School community service clubs, which work with a number of Singapore charities. Many thanks go to the PTA parent volunteers, Centre Stage, High School student volunteers and especially APL, who helped make this year’s Pumpkin Patch a huge success.

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdlksajdkasjdasjdkldjsajssjld Second Semester School Fees and Student Withdrawal The 2007-2008 second semester invoices were sent to all SAS families and employers in October. If you or your employer did not receive the second semester invoice, please contact Debra Chee at 6360-6324 or Bency Chua at 6360-6347 at your earliest convenience to request it. The due date for payment of the second semester invoices was December 1, 2007, so please ensure that you have arranged for payment before Winter Break. All outstanding school fees must be paid before January 11, 2008 in order for students to attend school for the second semester and in order for high school students to be eligible to participate in Interim Semester. If your family is planning to withdraw from SAS, please note that you must officially withdraw in writing to the Admissions office at sasinfo@sas.edu.sg. Please ensure that SAS receives your withdrawal request as soon as possible so that we can arrange for final, official school records before you depart. Official school student records will be available at the division office in which your child is enrolled.

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SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

SAS NewsFlash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2007

The Booster Club transitioned from its usual Home Tour fundraiser this year to a stunning Holiday Tea & Jewelry Show. The event was held at the elegant Goodwood Park Hotel on November 29. Guests were greeted with sparkling wine courtesy of The Wine Garage, followed by a delicious high tea. Models pranced from table to table displaying exquisite jewelry from Adele Van Vuuren and Designer Goldsmith, Century New Time House, Flower Diamond Boutique, Gifts for Guys, Janice Girardi Design, The Jewel Box, Kooky, Nash Jewellery, Pearls, Pearls, Pearls and More and Silverworks. A raffle was held with prizes donated by The China Collection, Framing Angie and Nutri-Style, and there were lucky draw prizes from Gifts for Guys, Iggy’s, Original Sin Mediterranean Cuisine, Silverworks, Sweeney’s Hair and Zambuca Italian Restaurant & Bar. Everyone walked away with jewelry travel rolls from Santa Fe Transport, a discount certificate from Avana and a voucher for a free facial or massage at The DRx Medispa! Preparation for this new event began months in advance with the dynamic committee of Michelle Brunoehler, Janice Chumakov, Irene Fung, Michele Goulding, Sandy Horowitz, Karen LaBranche, Barbara Molloy and Alison Tan. The Booster Design Committee headed by Susan Casella and Pat Ho Sang crafted and sourced merchandise to appeal to every shopper. These included unique SAS ornaments, silk scarves and handmade wreaths from several very generous SAS parents. Special thanks to Ms. Harvey and her students for allowing us to showcase their artwork; Helen Sohn created our poster, while Virginia Cucchi, Chloe Horowitz, Soklyda Long and Brytannie Mehring contributed to the program. Stationary was also created, with designs from Tatianna Nasr, Mairead Ross and Sung Yeon Kim. Much appreciation and thanks to all the guests who attended. We hope you found a little something special. Your generosity will help the Booster Club continue to support high school student activities. SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Adventures in Little India By Gwen Brill, first grade teacher

he air was full of enthusiasm as SAS first-grade students descended upon Little India. For this exciting field trip, the first-graders were encouraged to use their five senses to experience the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures of this rich environment. We began by exploring the Tekka wet market to look for ingredients for daal – an Indian dish made from lentils and special spices. The children had opportunities to handle the fish, crabs and small sharks. They smelled the ripe fruit and pungent spices as well as the raw meat. At the local bazaar on Campbell Road the students saw lovely flower garlands hanging from above as well as decorations for sale. Some students opted to get a henna tattoo from the vendors. Many of the salesladies were dressed in colorful traditional saris. The Indian music playing in the background was lively to our ears. Students purchased clay oil lamps, peacock feathers and Deepavali cards as souvenirs of this journey. At the Hindu temple, the children respectfully surveyed the people chanting prayers. They smelled the incense burning and heard the bells on the temple doors. The statues of all the Hindu deities were very interesting as well. After seeing all of the sights, and walking all around, the children took a break at one of the local restaurants. They were given a traditional snack of daal and puffed bread, called poori. Most children discovered that even though the food was new to them, it was delicious! As educators, we find this field trip to be very valuable as it includes many of the essential questions from our science and social studies curriculum. In Singapore, we are surrounded by different cultures, and as a community we must teach our children about different cultures and religions to ensure that we all get along. By experiencing the rich culture of Little India, we hope that our students have a better understanding of and respect for the Indian culture.

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdlksajdkasjdasjdkldjsajssjld HS Sports Physical – Third Season Sports Any student grades 9–12, who is interested in trying out for junior varsity or varsity badminton, softball and track and field must have a current physical turned into the HS nurse’s office BEFORE Monday, February 4. Students and/or parents may pick up a physical form from the HS Activities or nurse’s office or download it from the SAS website. Contact the HS Activities office at 6360-6597 for more information.

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SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie By Mike Ferguson

hat happens when you give a mouse a cookie? SAS first graders found out when they ventured over to the National Library for a dramatization of the children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Joffe Numeroff. In the story a young boy is befriended by an energetic, bossy mouse. There’s no end to meeting the demands of this mouse. If he needs a glass of milk, then he’ll need a straw to drink it. He’ll need a mirror to make sure he doesn’t have a milk mustache, and then he’ll need a pair of scissors to give himself a trim. By the time the boy is finished catering to all of the mouse’s urgent demands – and picking up after it – he’s exhausted. Of course, as with most good stories, underneath the hilarities are lessons of cause and effect – a.k.a. consequences. In the classroom this story lends itself to the writing trait of organization, and teachers developed activities for sequencing the mouse’s many activities. Another writing activity extended the story by taking the pattern “If… then…” and creating an innovation – If you give a student a pencil then… For the past several years, SAS students at have enjoyed the productions of The Players Theater, such as The Little Prince, Lilly and the Purple Plastic Purse, and The Twits. This is a nonprofit children’s theater company whose performances allow children to experience, explore and engage in theater created just for them. The Players Theater can be accessed through its website at http://www.theplayerstheatre.org/.

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdlksajdkasjdasjdkldjsajssjld Allergy & Asthma Parent Support Group Meeting – January 22 Parents of children with allergies, asthma or eczema and others interested in these subjects are invited to a meeting of the Allergy & Asthma Parent Support Group in the Community Library on Tuesday, January 22 at 9:00 am. Topics of discussion at the meeting will include (1) planning of a special meeting in February with Dr. Bee Wah Lee of the Child and Allergy Clinic of Singapore, (2) sharing information and experiences on asthma treatments, (3) short update on SAS cafeteria procedures for allergies and (4) open discussion on topics of interest to participants. The Community Library is located inside the Middle School Library at SAS. If you have questions, please contact Barbra Moran at allergynetwork@sas.edu.sg or 6401-0961.

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdlksajdkasjdasjdkldjsajssjld SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Southeast Asia Honor Band Festival - November 8–11 By Brian Hill & Brian White

wenty-three students from the Middle and High School band programs were invited to attend the Southeast Asia Honor Band Festival. This annual festival, hosted by Hong Kong International School, brings together student musicians from a dozen different international schools from all over Southeast Asia. Guest conductors from Hong Kong, Australia and Canada worked with our students in three different bands: Middle School, JV Band (ninth and tenth grades) and Senior Band (eleventh and twelfth grades). Two full days of rehearsal culminated in a spectacular evening concert. Congratulations go to high school students Linda Kim, Ian Foo, Libby McKenna, Sidharth Shanker, Sunny Han, Jeffrey Lin, John Foo, Young Bean Oak, Sophia Tinger, Max Lian, Judy Kim, Andy Szombathy, Tiffany Cheng and Mitch Hulse; and middle school students Elena Kim, Jimmy Yoon, Jin Byun, Hangil Chung, Cian Leow, Yuki Kodama, Oliver Kim, Irene Rozzett and Spencer Koh.

MS Happening! By Darrell Townshend

n November 7, around 100 Middle School student performers made their way to the library for an artistic event not tried at SAS Middle School before – a “happening”! A happening is where music, art and dance all combine and perform at the same time, and some elements are improvisatory. MS Advanced Strings performed four musical items reflecting different historical periods and cultures. Dance responded with improvised movement, and art students sketched in color crayons either the dancers or images that came to mind as the music and dance progressed. Each art form “bounced” off the other, and students were able to make connections between each expressive medium!

SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Patricia Brown Attends African National Chorus Festival in Ghana

atricia O. Brown, who is enjoying her 13th year as MS Choir Conductor at SAS, traveled to Accra, Ghana in late August to attend the African National Choir Festival being held as part of Ghana’s Jubilee for its 50th year of independence. Brown worked with the African National Youth Choir along with its director, Paa John Yamoah. The choir children are between the ages of 10 and 22. This choir has had a good deal of international exposure, including tours to Germany, Nigeria with Stevie Wonder, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, the United States and Switzerland, and performed at several events during the jubilee. Renowned Ghanian composer Fred Onovwerosuoke, virtuoso U.S. violinist Rachel Barton Pine, flutist Wendy Hymes, concert pianist George Francois, Edusei Derkyi and Brown began the busy week with an audience with King Efutu, who is well-known because of the book about him, The Making of an African King. Brown gave him a small painting of Singapore’s early days and a silk scarf. Other events included an audience with the secretariate, the Ghana National Symphony at La Palm Royal Beach, a visit to the British Council, the National Theater of Ghana, a command performance for the president at the Capitol Building and culminated with the Jubilee Concert. When Brown told President Kufuor that she was enjoying his beautiful country very much, he replied “I’m glad you can see the beauty of it which, of course, lies in its people.” After Brown’s return from Ghana, she was very pleased to have the chance to extend Singapore’s hospitality to violinist Rachel Barton Pine, who came a week later to give a private concert for President Nathan. She also played at the NUS conservatory and drew six encores along with shouts of “Bravo” – an unusually strong showing of approval and appreciation for the subdued audiences in Singapore. Perhaps the most exciting result of Brown’s journey is this: Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke will be guest conductor for the SAS choirs during its annual All-Level Music Festival in May.

Visit by Celebrated Cellist and SAS Alumna By Darrell Townshend

orld-renowned cellist and Class of 1994 alumna Inbal Megiddo was on campus to work with Middle School and High School students in early November. Music teacher Steve Bonette reported that Inbal played mini recitals for each class, gave a cello master class for the High School Intermediate Strings class and coached the Borodin and Shostakovich string quartets in High School String Ensemble. Inbal also dedicated an entire school day to providing private lessons for current SAS budding cello virtuosi. The Middle School students included Ethan Cheng, David Koo, Caroline Koh, Matthew McDermott, Isabelle Mulder, Anika Kim, Lauren Jung and Micah Thomas. Inbal’s knowledge of the cello was valuable, yet her friendly, encouraging and supportive personality was equally beneficial for the students. Inbal’s teaching moved seamlessly between basic techniques for younger players to aspects of tone color and interpretation for the advanced musicians. Inbal had a wonderful way of encouraging and inspiring the students she worked with, and we were fortunate to have her for a day of learning and inspiration! SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

High School Dance Show – “I Spy” By Tina Kirwin and Abby Murray, Grade 12 choreographers and dance club communications officers

his semester’s high school dance show had over one hundred and twenty dancers and a record number of male participants. The production of “I Spy” also incorporated the talents of over one hundred high school art club students and around fifty high school makeup and technical theater students. Having such a large cast made the production exciting and allowed everyone to meet and connect with new people who share the passion of the theater. The time and the effort that go into creating dance productions are often unnoticed. The months of practice, the sweat, the tears, the overall organization, the costumes, the lighting design, the making of the sets and props all happen magically behind the scenes and contribute to the final dance piece. Of course there were times when rehearsals were frustrating and moments when we thought it would never come together, but with the help and support of fellow dancers, students, teachers and parents, it paid off. We thought that “I Spy” was creative and successful. Each dance was unique, and there was variety, with dances set in locations ranging from a bathroom to a Broadway musical and a haunted house. The concept allowed the audience to participate by searching for an object within each dance. With every dance show we learn something new about dance and about ourselves. Thank you to those people who supported us this semester. We hope you enjoyed our show and will join us again for the spring production.

SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

The HS FRENCH DEPARTMENT proudly presented NATIONAL FRENCH WEEK 2007 Written by HS French teachers Laurence Patrick and Christina Popowski Photos by Laurence Patrick

he sixth annual National French Week celebration was held on the SAS HS campus during the week of November 5th. This week-long celebration of all things French serves to take French out of the classroom and place it in to the spotlight exposing the general population at the HS (in other words those who do not study French) to the French language and culture. During the week, members of the French Club and Honor Society attempted to introduce students to something French whether it was a word, a food, a film or other media. For example common French “school” words for things around a school campus like library, office, cafeteria, etc. were posted all around the campus; French music, commercials and film snippets were presented on the Morning Show; French Club officers even created a short questionnaire which quizzed HS students on well known and not so well known French “facts.” Five students answered all of the questions correctly and were rewarded with a not so French but very coveted Subway voucher. Other key activities that week included: CINEMA Watching foreign language films is not only a wonderful way to be exposed to the language but it also provides a great opportunity to learn about the history and culture of a country. Consequently the French Club screened 3 award winning French films, “Amelie De Montmartre,” “The Choir Boys” and “Au Revoir Les Enfants” after school in the HS Media Theater that week. A number of Madame Patrick’s French students also took the time to write a formal review of one of these movies. The movie reviews were then shared in class and also posted on Blackboard for other students to enjoy. GASTRONOMY National French Week would not be complete without celebrating French food! The French have introduced a number of delicacies to the world and as luck would have it the popular French hypermarket chain, Carrefour has 2 stores in Singapore. By popular demand the French Club and French Honor Society sold crêpes one full day in the cafeteria and students who attended the film screenings were also introduced to other French sweets such as Calison and Bêtises de Cambrai, popular candies in France and also galettes et palets de Bretagne, popular biscuits in France. These sweets were also made available to students as they boarded buses after school on Wednesday before the Deepavali holiday. MEDIA BLITZ During National French Week students in Madame Patrick’s class were asked to share what they know or what they like about the French culture with two of their friends from SAS who do not study French, thereby “educating” 180 more people about the French language and culture. The French Club and Honor Society also wishes to say a huge MERCI to Mr. Gary Dwor-Frecaut in the HS library who put together a PowerPoint highlighting the French books and music which can be found in the HS collection. The PowerPoint was projected continuously throughout the day just above a large table containing a small sample of French books and music in the HS collection.

SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

IASAS Girls Soccer By Megan Anderson

osing their entire defensive line to last year’s graduation, the team came into the season not knowing what to expect with such an inexperienced defense, but with a strong attack and midfield, the girls were able to make up for their young backline. As the season progressed and IASAS drew near the whole team came together, and with determination and hard work the defense transformed into a solid backline. The first day of the tournament justified their confidence with two big wins against Taipei (5-1) and Jakarta (4-0). The second day proved crucial for the Eagles because at this point in the tournament three teams stood 2-0: ISB, ISM and SAS. The victor of the morning game, Singapore versus Manila, could almost be confident of a spot in the championship game. With this in mind, the Eagles attacked the Bearcats to come out with a 2-1 win. Nevertheless, the Manila team was aggressive and quick, assets that would help them find their way to victory in the championship game. After the tough Manila game, the Eagles had to stay mentally focused for the afternoon game against the home team, ISKL. The Eagles had trouble finding the back of the net until they scored two goals in the second half. Assured a spot in the final, the result of the game against Bangkok on the third day would have no effect on SAS’s standings; however, if the Panthers won, it would result in a rematch against SAS for the gold. After a goal by Bangkok, it seemed as though this would be the case, but in the final minutes, SAS scored to tie the game and devastate the Panthers’ hopes. The championship game against Manila tested the girls both physically and mentally. Although the girls had many close chances throughout the game, none of them proved successful. The Manila defense was solid and their speed on offense was extremely threatening. For the first time in their history, Manila won the gold. However difficult and emotional it was to deal with such a loss, the Eagle girls stood by each other and did not let the defeat tarnish the spectacular memories and friendships that they gained during the season.

IASAS Boys Soccer By Tim Zitur

ith only four returning players from last year’s IASAS team, the Boys Soccer Team included lots of new faces as they traveled to Kuala Lumpur to compete in the 26th Annual IASAS Tournament. For the boys, it was a season that started slowly but saw tremendous improvement and growth for the team.

The first game was against a veteran opponent, Jakarta International School. SAS played to a 0-0 draw against JIS, and the young squad gained great confidence to begin the three-day competition. In the second match of the day against ISM, another experienced and skilled team, SAS earned a great 1-0 win. The next morning, playing against the home school, ISKL, the Eagles had a hard first half. ISKL controlled the game but could not score. In the second half, SAS controlled the ball and scored early, but ISKL came back to score a goal in the last two minutes, and the game finished in a 1-1 draw. It was a heartbreak goal and ended up keeping the Eagles out of the finals. The second game of the day SAS suffered a 5-2 loss to ISB, but the Eagles played tough in the final round robin game, beating TAS 1-0. In the 3rd place game, SAS played JIS, a team that many had believed to be the favorite coming into the IASAS tournament. The Eagles played strongly and held firm during the first half. In the second half, JIS scored on a throw in/header combination. The Eagles nearly scored a tying goal, which was called back due to offsides. SAS created some great chances but couldn’t quite score a goal and ended the tournament in fourth place.

Markus Friis and Lucas Pipoli were selected as All IASAS players. Kyo Joong Kim earned two “man of the match” awards, while Sandy Morris, Jae Won Lee and Jordan Reed won one each. Coaches Tim Zitur and Geoff Rodocker were amazed at the improvement and effort put in by their young team. The players were outstanding, and it bodes well for the future! SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

Girls’ Volleyball in Singapore By Lynn Lodwick

s always, the “transfer gods” had quite a bit of input into the girls volleyball roster. Returning players included co-captains Barb Lodwick and Alex Boothe and juniors Ciera Walker and Kari Nagasaki. Rachel Liou and Rachel McCabe moved up to varsity from the JV squad, but the rest of the team was new to Singapore. Bangkok’s loss turned out to be our gain with the addition of Celeste and Elle Marsh to the team. Michelle Sims, Cindy Zu, Hannah Ahl and Sarah Mountjoy were also new to SAS volleyball this year. The team had a very successful exchange in Jakarta, defeating Jakarta solidly in both matches. Kuala Lampur proved to be a much tougher opponent, splitting two tough matches with SAS. IASAS definitely did not live up to the expectations of the team. As always, the field was extremely competitive, with all teams recording at least one loss in the round robin. After defeating Taipei in the round robin competition, SAS fell to Taipei in the medal round, throwing the team into the 5th/6th place match. Although the match went 5 sets, SAS was victorious, finishing the year with a solid win. Barb Lodwick was selected to represent SAS on the all-tournament team. The team is already excited about next year, with hopefully, nine out of twelve players returning.

Boys Volleyball in Singapore By Simon Bright

ith only 1 starter and 3 IASAS participants returning from last year, the volleyball coaches convinced a few great athletes to try volleyball. Certainly, the team entered the year thinking this was a “rebuilding year” and maintained two season-long themes: (1) do the little things well and the big things will take care of themselves and (2) be “excellent.” The boys began the season practicing volleyball fundamentals without emphasizing the strategic part of volleyball. In fact it wasn’t until the week before IASAS that the boys began focusing on anything more than basic volleyball. The season included tremendous opportunities for new players to grow and gain experience. The boys traveled to the Jakarta exchange and promptly lost to each of the other team’s starters. Our competition at home was at a very high level and gave our team a chance to see very good volleyball and again, improve individually and as a team. During the season, we were beaten by a local teams during our first, second and third days of play. In fact, our true season record was 0-16 heading into IASAS. IASAS was déjà vu. Like last year, we went 4-1 in the round robin (losing to KL, again). Unlike last year however, KL demolished us very convincingly during that round robin match. Like last year, we played Taipei in the semi-final and advanced to see KL in the final, again. Like last year’s final, SAS went up 2-0, lost the third and entered the 4th set. This time it took us 5 games to win it. It really could have gone either way, but in the end, our three seniors led the way and refused to give in to ISKL. Chris Hussey’s new nickname is Mr. Clutch as he finished the final 3 points of the match with 3 consecutive kills. It was an emotional victory that was the result of our team’s constant effort and teamwork. Kelson Nef, Chris Hussey and Gabe Lee were selected as all IASAS tournament players.

SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

SAS Eagles Cross Country By Ian Coppell

his season certainly had a very different feel to it, and there are several reasons behind this. First, we had a week-long break toward the end of the season, which meant a break from training and a season several weeks longer than usual. Second, we had our first-ever exchange with Manila, followed soon afterward with a Bangkok exchange. These were tiring trips and although very worthwhile they interrupted the flow of our schedule. Third, we hosted the IASAS championship race for the first time. The teams were expecting a far tougher race than in 2006 championships. The ISM girls were only beaten by a point in Manila, and the JIS and TAS boys had several outstanding runners. But the quality of our teams this year indicated that we had the fire-power to hold on to our crowns for a fourth successive year. They were two truly great races. It was incredible to watch the SAS girls captain push the pre-race favorite into unknown territory to the point that she barely made it over the line. It was also exciting to see the SAS “juggernaut” claim so many of the top places in both races. ISM girls and JIS boys both had three kids in the top seven (as did SAS), but it was our depth that counted. Our girls also came in 8th and 10th, while the ISM girls came in 9th and 14th. In a similar fashion, our #4 and #5 guys came in 8th and 9th, while JIS came in 12th and 13th. These numbers, however, don’t reflect the spirit that existed within the team throughout the season. The older kids were extremely warm and welcoming to the new kids. They provided encouragement and guidance, especially on exchanges, which can be a daunting experience for a first-timer. We were also blessed with an extremely supportive set of parents. It is quite a sacrifice to send kids on TWO exchanges, but we were able to field virtually full teams in Manila and Bangkok. This provided our runners with valuable race experience, many happy memories and new friends.

Devin Pratt Selected as Middle School Principal

rent Mutsch is pleased to announce the appointment of Devin Pratt as the Middle School Principal effective for the 200809 school year. He will replace Franke Thomas who has recently been appointed as the Middle School/High School Principal at the International School of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland. Pratt will join SAS from the American School in Bombay, where he has worked as the secondary and high school principal since 2005. Pratt’s school leadership experiences include five years as the middle school deputy principal at Taipei American School and three years as the deputy principal at Jubail Academy in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Devin has also promoted the successful learning of students during an eleven year career as a middle school social studies teacher. He received his undergraduate education at Texas Tech University and his master’s in education from the College of New Jersey. When he moves to Singapore in July 2008, Pratt will be accompanied by his wife, Dianna, an information technology and science teacher, and their daughter, Dominique, who will be a freshman at SAS. This appointment was made following the valuable input of students, parents, faculty, staff and members of the administration. Thank you to each of those participants who provided input during the process of interviewing the finalist candidates.

SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

IASAS Model United Nations By Michael Stagg, MUN Coach

Vysak Venkatas wa

ran (Grade 12),

Delegate of Ch

ina

he week before Thanksgiving, fourteen of the school’s most experienced Model United Nations delegates bussed up to KL to participate in the 24th annual IASAS MUN Conference. It was hosted by ISKL at the regal Renaissance Hotel, adjacent to the Petronas Twin Towers. ISKL must be congratulated for hosting an outstanding conference, with excellent facilities, and a very warm welcome for the 200-plus delegates from across Asia. During the three-day conference, SAS students representing China, Canada, Serbia, Eritrea, Iraq, Vietnam and Amnesty International debated thorny world issues, ranging from economic migration to resource management, the rights of ethnic minorities, conventional arms control and the status of Kosovo, and tackled an “emergency issue” focusing on tensions along the Thai/Malaysia border. Student delegates were subdivided into the Security Council and Environmental, ECOSOC, Political and Human Rights Committees. There are no winners and losers at MUN Conferences, but rather a desire from delegates to zealously promulgate the positions of their adopted countries in debate, and hopefully to collaborate on resolutions that will forward the cause of world peace and development. To that end, our students “did good,” as they say in rural Indiana. Beyond performing well at the podium, our students also represented themselves and their school with aplomb, points of no little significance. Thanks and congratulations to the following students who sweated and strained in the interests of diplomacy and the world order: Daksha Rajagopalan (Co-Chair, Security Council), Helen Knight, Kea Scullion, Vysak Venkataswaran, Abhay Puri, Jane Hurh, Judy Kim, Catalina Hwang, Jeffrey Lin, Joon Park, Ishan Gupta, Ken Yeoh, Tori Crouch, D.J. Hartman. Thanks also to Beth Kramer for carrying the passports and doing those sundry other, often mystifying chores, associated with being “administrator-in-charge.” y Council n (Grade 12), Securit Daksha Rajagopala We all need someone to Chair be in charge of us.

Joon Park (Grade 11), Amnesty International Delegate

ade 11) Delegate of Judy (Sein) Kim, (Gr

Iraq

SAS China Delegation(L -R): Vysak Venkataswara n (Gr. 12), Jane Hurh (Grade 12), Helen Knight (Grade 11) SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

ACSIS Tennis Tournaments

he SAS Girls Tennis Team won the annual ACSIS tournament on Saturday, November 17 at United World College. Five international schools are part of this yearly event. The girls played a team round robin format against each of the schools and finished with 14 wins and 1 loss, which included 8 wins in singles and 6 wins in doubles. They were the defending champions from last year.

Michael He, playing top singles for the tournament

L-R: Rachel Liou, Clarissa Vainius, Meiko Masuno, Lindsey Slaven, Sarah Slaven, Angelica Ramirez, Cindy Zu

The Boys Tennis Team finished second in the tournament. The boys played a team round robin format against each of the schools and finished with 17 wins and 3 losses. The boys came in second to UWC, the defending champions, losing a narrow 3-2 decision.

SACAC Sports News By Jackie Barry

ACAC Spring Sports Registration is January 21-26 at the SACAC Sports office in the SAS High School. This registration is for t-ball, baseball, softball, basketball, golf, tennis and wakeboarding. Details are available at www.sacac.com. The SACAC Sports program is in the midst of the winter sports season. We have been keeping our sports families busy with baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, kickball and Pee Wee soccer, and the Fastbreak competitive basketball league. Our recreational sports leagues are run entirely by volunteers who do an array of jobs and include commissioners, coaches, referees, team moms and scorekeepers. Thank you to all the volunteers who make SACAC Sports programs possible! During the Thanksgiving holiday, the SACAC Fighting Fish swim team held the 20th Anniversary Santa Claus Swim Meet on November 24 and 25 at the Singapore American School, in which 470 swimmers from eight international teams participated. The SACAC Fighting Fish came in first place and the International School of Beijing Dragons placed second. Age group high point awards went to the following SACAC Fighting Fish swimmers: Alyssa Roller, Sydney Miralao, Ellie Guilfoyle, Kai Olafson, Jeremy Lee, Maya Kale, Anna von Essen and Therese Vainius. Also over Thanksgiving break, SACAC held the Uncle Ecky Basketball Camp, which included a visit from the Singapore Slingers professional basketball players. The South East Asian Youth Baseball and Softball Tournament (SEAYB&ST) will be held during the SAS Spring Break, March 24-29, 2008.

An annual family membership fee is required to participate in all SACAC activities and programs. SACAC programs are available to families from any school. Sports information and schedules are available at www.sacac.com. Please call SACAC Sports at 6363-6454 or email sacac@sas.edu.sg for questions. SAS NewsFlash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 2007

SAS Teachers Compete in National Championships

hree SAS teachers were part of a large number of runners who competed in the National Masters Cross-Country Championships at MacRitchie Reservoir on Sunday, November 18. The country’s top over-35 runners, along with athletes from Malaysia, raced over the wet and muddy trails on a cold and torrid afternoon. In a closely contested race, Andrew Hallam finished first overall, Ian Coppell was fourth (second in his age group) and Mark Forgeron was fifth and winner in the 45-50 age-group.

SAS faculty runners(L-R): Ian Coppell, Mark Forgeron and Andrew Hallam

Troop 07 Boy Scouts Hit the Deck In Phuket! By Jared Broadman, 2nd Class Scout, Troop 07

n October 5, twenty Boy Scouts from Troop 07 and thirteen of their parents traveled to Thailand for five days of high adventure on the sailboat Merdeka. Scoutmaster Scott Weber and Outdoors Activity Leader, Neil Dibb were the leaders of the “pirate” crew, which turned out to be one of the best scouting experiences of the year! The 90-foot Merdeka took the scouts through the waters of the Andaman Sea to the isle of Ao Nam Mao to make camp. Although the weather was wet at first, the scouts persevered, wearing ponchos and working on merit badges under the protection of tarps. A little rain didn’t stop the boys from exploring rock formations, crystal clear water and jungle. Their first destination was a beach on the uninhabited island of Kah Yao Noi. It was paradise: the crystal clear water was full of fish, and the warm sun beat on our backs. On the beach, the scouts swung from banyan-tree vines into the water, just like Tarzan. After this, they headed back to the boat for lunch and to plan the next adventure. While on the boat, they were allowed to jump off the sides into the deep waters, which was extremely fun! In transit the scouts worked on cooking, knot-tying and first-aid skills as part of their advancement requirements. Several of the scouts participated in a wilderness survival overnight. With just the bare essentials in their day packs, the boys boarded a long-tail boat to a nearby island. Some scouts used rain ponchos as sleeping mats, and, some, using their knot-tying skills learned earlier that day, tied a tarp to a tree. It was a long night, but they all made it through, despite the lack of comforts. The following days were spent working on motor boating, sailing, canoeing, fishing, first aid and swimming merit badges. The scouts kayaked into caves to explore the limestone features under and above water. They learned how to improvise and fish with fishing rods made from plastic bottles. On the last night, when the scouts were doing campfire skits, one of the villagers showed up with Chinese lanterns. He showed the boys how to light the lanterns and send them off into the sky. The boys were told to make a wish as the lanterns sailed high into the night. Can you guess what they all wished for? SAS NewsFlash – December 2007

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The Singapore American School PTA presents

Selected wine tasting Four Course Gourmet Dinner Silent

auction

February 16 th 2008 The Regent Hotel Singapore Time: 6:30pm â&#x20AC;˘ $150 per person

s Tickets on Sale January 22 nd, 9 am in the PTA office