Volume 11, Issue 4-08/09 - November 2008
MICA (P) 160/08/2008
A Singapore American School community service publication
NewsFlash SEED Club Helps Sichuan School Rebuilding San Lang Primary School children say “Hello and thank you.” During the recent October fall break, representatives of SEED (Sichuan Earthquake Education Development) Club visited an underprivileged primary school in Sichuan that was affected by the earthquake last May. This trip gave SAS students firsthand information on the Sichuan school’s earthquake recovery efforts and delivered much needed supplies to help the school’s rebuilding efforts. On the drive from Chengdu to San Lang town, the environment changed gradually from the busy downtown of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, to the rural mountains of western China. It was as if we were going back in time. Arriving in San Lang town, we instantly saw the damage of the Sichuan earthquake just months before — crumbled buildings and cracked pavements. Yet, we also saw the speed with which relief had arrived. Immense sites of temporary housing were everywhere. On these temporary houses was the word “Hebei,” representing the sibling relief program that China implemented. Each province and city was responsible for helping a sibling town in the earthquake zone. Thus Hebei province had built these complexes of temporary housing. At San Lang Central Primary School, we were greeted by children. The school’s four-story building looked out of place in an area surrounded by broken down one-story houses. The principal told us that because it was constructed according to modern building codes, it was not destroyed by the earthquake. However, the other two campuses of the school were ruined. Continues on page 3...
SAS Teacher Competes in World Delphic Games Pg. 7
SAS Students to Perform at the Esplanade Pg. 8
National Merit Scholar Program Recognizes SAS Seniors Pg. 22
Content Page
Garth Sheldon Chairman of the Board
Bart Broadman Vice Chairman of the Board Chairman Finance
Ravi Agarwal Board Member
Joseph Anderson Chairman Curriculum
Kirk Hulse Chairman Trust
Rudolph Muller Board Member
Devin Kimble Chairman Facilities
Bon Park Chairman Advancement
4 11 12 13 -
Regulars Calendar Highlights SAS PTA President’s Letter Booster Club News SACAC Sports
5 6 14 15 19 20 21 23 -
SAS Highlights Chinese Honor Society and Mandarin Club contributions benefit Zhishu Primary School in Anhui Jan Reynolds at SAS Eagles Varsity Baseball Team wins China Cup Baseball Championship in Beijing IASAS 2008 in Manila The Core Essentials of Performance Nutrition Teenage Alcohol Use: Understanding the Implications Fashion MInds - SAS HS Students Lend a Helping Hand to a Very Special Kids Fashion Show Contribute a Little to Accomplish a Lot
NEWSFLASH is published monthly by the Communications Office of the Singapore American School. It is distributed free of charge to the 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
We welcome input from the community associated with Singapore American School
Marybeth Shay Board Member
Maria Warner Wong Board Member
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
Sheila Wang Board Member
Catherine Poyen Zemans Board Member
December NewsFlash Deadline: November 24, 2008 Publication Date: December 15, 2008 February NewsFlash Deadline: January 19, 2008 Publication Date: February 9, 2008 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
SEED Club Helps Sichuan School Rebuilding By Dennis Chu and Kendrick Wang, HS students
(cont’d from page 1)
SEED Club book donations
We saw kids playing Ping Pong on crude concrete tables and a pre-school class eating lunch. We talked to a few fifth graders about their experiences. Many told us they wanted to be professional Ping Pong players and others wanted to be doctors. Regardless, we saw happiness and hope at San Lang School. This trip to San Lang started with the Sichuan earthquake. After the earthquake in May, there was strong support from the SAS community. At the time, we had all been struck dumb by the Myanmar cyclone, followed shortly by the earthquake. Our school, with encouragement from the administration, started both a Myanmar cyclone fund and a Sichuan earthquake fund. Through much hard work and good will from students, teachers and parents, we raised over $55,000 for the Sichuan earthquake. Of the $55,000, we gave $40,000 to the Red Cross for immediate relief; $15,000 was left over to aid a specific school hit by the earthquake. Several
high
school
students
SAS students visit earthquake damaged San Lang Primary School in Sichuan, China
formed SEED Club and chose to aide San Lang Central Primary School because of its location in a poor mountainous region. Also, unlike many of the schools at the epicenter, San Lang did not receive much attention or aid after the earthquake.
hard. Some of the kids that live in the mountains have never been to a city, so we plan to take a few of them to Chengdu. We feel that by creating a long term partnership between SAS and San Lang, we will be able learn from one another.
With the $15,000 from the earthquake fund, we donated 30 bunk beds and 15 computers, which the school saw as its most pressing items. We plan to develop a long-term partnership between our two schools to bring books, medical supplies and toys to them. We will also pursue service opportunities there. Through teaching English, we hope we can expose the students to the outside world and inspire them to study
This trip to San Lang Central Primary School was a heartening experience. We witnessed the destruction caused by the earthquake firsthand. Yet, we also saw the resilience and happiness of the school children. If you are able to volunteer your time or make a monetary donation or help on a service trip, we welcome you. The SEED Club meets every Friday first break in Ms. Zhu’s classroom. SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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Calendar Highlights
November 2008
* Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm
7-9 8 10 11
SEA Honor Band Festival (Jakarta) PTA Food Fest 11:00am – 3:00pm (MS/HS Gym) HS PTA Coffee 10:00am (H301) PTA Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) IS Grade 3 Level Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:15am (I311) 11-13 Grade 5 Music Concert 10:00am – 11:00am (Elementary Theater) 12 Alternate Dress Day IS Grade 4 Level Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:15am (I311) HS Mu Alpha Theta Inductions 3:30pm (H301) 13 IS Grade 5 Level Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:15am (I311) 13-16 Grade 8 Service Trip 14 Booster Night at the Races 6:00pm – 11:00pm (Turf Club) 15 HS Touch Exchange in Bangkok HS Tennis Exchange in Jakarta Girl Scout Father/Daughter Dinner/Dance 5:00pm – 7:00pm (PS Café/Elementary Gym)
18 ACSIS Swim Meet 4:00pm – 7:30pm (UWC) Booster Club Meeting 10:00am (H301) 19 HS Class Polo Dress Day SISMC Math Competition (Tanglin Trust) 20 Grade 4 Mother Daughter Tea 4:30pm – 6:00pm 20-21 MS Parent/Teacher Conferences, No School for MS students HS Musical Production Seussical 7:00pm (Audition) 20-22 IASAS MUN in Jakarta 22 HS Musical Production Seussical 2:00pm (Audition) 24-26 PTA Book Fair 8:00am – 4:00pm (Elementary Gym) Tabitha Sale 25 HS National Art Honor Society Inductions 3:15pm (H301) 26 Alternate Dress Day HS Knowledge Bowl Competition 3:15pm (H210) 27-28 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY (NO SCHOOL) 27-29 Wish For Kids – Cebu Trip HS Basketball Tournament in Hong Kong 29-30 SACAC Fighting Fish Santa Claus Swim Meet (ES/HS Pools, MS/HS Gyms)
* Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm 1 2 3 3-4 4 5 6
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IS Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:30am (I311) MS Parent Coffee 10:00am (MS Library) HS Tri-M Inductions 3:15pm - 4:15pm (H301) PS Parent Coffee 8:30am (P220/221) MS Strings Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) HS Cultural Convention Dance Auditions 3:15pm - 6:00pm (S200) HS Class Polo Dress Day HS Thespians Inductions 4:00pm (Theater Studio) EASA Piano Concert 7:00pm - 8:00pm (Elementary Theatre) MS Drama Play Auditions 3:15pm (S106) MS Band Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) Booster Bake Sale HS Art Opening 3:30pm (Gallery) EASA Instruments Concert 7:00pm – 8:00pm (Elementary Theatre) SAT & Subject Test ACSIS Rugby Tournament 8:00am – 1:00pm (UWC)
SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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December 2008
ACSIS Tennis Tournament 8:00am – 4:00pm (SAS/UWC) Biathlon 8:00am (Campus/HS Pool) 6-12 HS Art Show 8 HARI RAYA HAJI (SCHOOL HOLIDAY) 9 PTA Board Meeting 11:30am 10 Alternate Dress Day 10-12 Grade 4 Holiday Program 9:00am – 10:00am (Pepple/Huisman/Café Foyer) Grade 3 Holiday Program 1:30am – 2:30am (Pepple/Huisman/Café Foyer) 11-12 Final Exams Review Day 12 Booster Club Popcorn Day HS Winter Collage Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) Grade 7/8 Dance 7:00pm (MS Cafeteria) 13-14 HS SAS Activities Free Weekend (SACAC activities continues) 15-18 HS Alternate Dress Day HS Final Exams 8:00am – 12:00noon
Chinese Honor Society and Mandarin Club contributions benefit Zhishu Primary School in Anhui By Zhu Wenhong, HS Chinese language teacher
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For the past four years, the Chinese Honor Society has been helping the 123 students from kindergarten to fifth grade in Zhishu Primary School in the rural Anhui province of China. With the $2,600 sent by CHS, they have installed two baskets for the basketball court, built cement tabletennis tables, provided school bags for the kids with “Donated by SAS” printed on the front and bought furniture for the faculty office. This fall break, while accompanying my 90-year old father on a visit to his hometown, I had a chance to visit the school. Before the trip, the Chinese Honor Society and Mandarin Club had agreed to donate three computers. After communicating with the school, we found that they were also in need of digital cameras, musical instruments and sports equipment. In addition to two Lenovo
computers, speakers and a printer, we bought a camera, a keyboard, some Chinese erhus, soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs and PingPong balls, rackets and nets. On October 5, we left for Anhui with the car fully loaded with donated items. When we entered the school in the afternoon, the pretty new onestorey school building greeted us with the Chinese national flag flying high. The school had even arranged for the local TV station to cover this event. It was 4pm; the students were still having class in the dimly lit rooms—the classrooms do not have lighting. The kids were very happy to see visitors and excited to receive the gifts. I also went to see their computer room, which had only one old computer, one TV and some desks but no chairs. With our donated
computers, Superintendent Zheng Jiachang said the school would begin to offer computer classes to the students. I really hope the kids will benefit from the technology that we enjoy every day and not be left out because of their geographical location in a remote mountain area. Before departing, I asked Principal Jiang if there was anything else we could do. He thanked the SAS students for their kindness and generosity and expressed his embarrassment in asking for more, in Chinese-style courtesy. However, my observation is that many more things can be done, such as building a cement basketball court, purchasing desks and chairs and setting up a library. I hope to visit the school with our students, so they will be able to appreciate how much change they have brought to the school with their little contributions. SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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Jan Reynolds at SAS
November 17 & 18 8:25am – 10:00am
Middle & High School 10:15am – 11:45am
Drama Theater 1:30pm – 3:00pm
November 19 & 20 8:00am – 9:00am
Intermediate School 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Elementary Theater
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Jan Reynolds is an award winning author and photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic and the New York Times. All seven books in her Vanishing Cultures series of photo essays for children were recognized as Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Reynolds is also an avid skier, mountain climber and adventurer. She holds the world record for women’s high altitude skiing, was part of the first expedition to circumnavigate Mount Everest, and performed a solo crossing of the Himalaya. (Source: http:// www.janreynolds.com.) Reynolds usually starts her talks by mentioning her climbing and skiing world records and then moves into discussing world travel and indigenous cultures. She likes to then engage students with questions and answers. She is an accomplished photojournalist and film maker, so we can expect to see some dramatic images throughout her talk. Her book titles include Frozen Land, Amazon Basin, Far North, Himalaya, Down Under, Mongolia and Sahara. A limited number of Jan Reynolds books will be on sale through the IS Library. As always, parents are invited to attend any presentation sponsored by the PTA, but we do have limited seating.
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.
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
SAS Teacher Competes in World Delphic Games By Kristin Solverson, 5th Grade Strings teacher
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This September, I was privileged to experience growth in understanding music through an SAS professional development opportunity. Lydia Pavlovna Abramova, a famous opera singer and voice teacher from Moscow, invited me to study voice with her, participate in a master class and compete in the Second World Delphic Games in Saratov, Russia. She is a world renowned singer and has performed countless recitals and operas all over the world. In Moscow, I studied at several conservatories, participating in master classes, vocal instruction and conducting interviews with the Russian National Television Corporation. Some of the components of my studies were in vocal pedagogy, pathology, repertoire, musicality and interpretation. I developed a deeper understanding of classical musical skills and knowledge and applications that directly relate to my classroom practice. The competition is often referred to as the “Olympics of the Arts.” Delegates from 60+ countries are only permitted to compete by invitation from the International Delphic Committee. Competitors receive nominations in 14 categories, including piano, violin, fine arts, bajan/accordion, academic (opera) singing, folk singing, pop singing, folk dance, modern dance, photography, circus, DJ, cooking art, folk arts and crafts. Being the first and only American to compete in the games was a huge honor and created much excitement and interest from the media, committee members and other competitors. Stepping onto a stage that had played host to some of the greatest classical musicians was an exciting but nerve-wracking experience. The competitors in
my academic singing nomination category came from countries such as Belarus, Romania, Italy, Germany, China, Korea and Austria. They were all top rated professional singers who perform all over Europe, Asia, America, and Australia. During the first round the competitors had to perform three songs – a folk song from the participant’s country, an aria by composers of the 17th-18th centuries and a classical aria by an Italian, French, German or Russian composer. The second round was an aria by a 20th century composer and a romance or song by a composer from the second part of the 20th century or the 21st century. After successfully making it to the second round, I competed as one of 12 finalists for a gold medal. The final showcased some amazing talent and to my disbelief I was awarded fourth place. Out of these professional singers, I stood as a teacher from the Singapore American School, very proud of this incredible achievement. Several media and press organizations approached me for interviews and pictures after the event. I was one of the very few amateur competitors. The media took particular interest in my teaching background at SAS. To cap off a remarkable experience, the head of the Delphic Games, Artemy Ponyavin approached me with an offer to serve on the World Delphic Committee as an ambassador for the United States and Singapore. My role is to develop diplomacy between the countries and to promote the Delphic Games. The Delphic Games is supported by the Council of Europe and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This experience not only furthered my knowledge of music, but allowed me to meet people from all over the world and together share our passion for music. I would like to extend a big thank you to Brent Mutsch,
Bogdan and Kristin receiving awards.
Interviewed by German National Television.
Lydia with finalists.
Mark Boyer and Marian DeGroot for supporting me in my personal and professional growth. As a follow-up to the competition, I would like to invite the SAS community to join me for a recital Monday, November 24 at 7:00pm in the High School Drama Theater. I will be performing pieces by Mozart, Rossini, Bernstein and others and discussing the World Delphic Games. Should you have any queries regarding this event, please do not hesitate to contact me at ksolverson@sas.edu.sg. I look forward to seeing you there!
SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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Teachers Compete in JP Morgan Challenge in NYC
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On a crisp, clear morning during the fall break, four SAS teachers ran in the finals of the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in New York City. Mark Forgeron, Audrey Forgeron, Carmine Filice and Crystal Madsen qualified as the winning mixed team in the Singapore JP Morgan race last April. All four runners were proud to represent SAS in the highly competitive 3.5-mile finals, run annually on Park Avenue in on the first Saturday of October. Read more at www.jpmorganchasecc.com/events.php?city_ id=18&page=events100408
SAS Students to Perform at the Esplanade
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The SAS High School Jazz Ensemble will perform during the inaugural International Kids Performing Festival to be held on December 7-10 at the Esplanade. This festival is a four-day annual event that features quality international performances by youth for youth. The festival aims to bring together children of all schools, local and international, along with well-known young performance groups from overseas. It will feature concerts, fringe acts and workshops. The Jazz Ensemble will play two sets of music at the outdoor Amphitheatre on Monday, December 8 – tentatively scheduled for 6:30pm – 7:15pm. Julia Abueva, a seventh grade student at SAS, will also perform at the festival on December 9 at 3:00pm and 8:00pm. She will sing her debut concert “I Believe” at the Esplanade Theatre Studio. Please come and support our musicians as they take part in this wonderful event.
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
Great Holiday Gift Ideas from PTA Sales Hop-A-Long’s Schoolhouse DVD set – Nominated for a Best Children's Video Award, Hop-A-Long's Schoolhouse DVD set, featuring Hop-A-Long Hoss and Shoo-Fly Schunk is now available in the PTA Sales Office. The Hop-A-Long's Schoolhouse DVD set includes three exclusive episodes, a music CD, a fullcolor poster and lyrics to all the Hop-A-Long music and songs. Developed by and featuring SAS Primary School Principal David Hoss and Deputy Principal Ken Schunk, the Hop-A-Long's Schoolhouse DVD set is a great gift idea for children of all ages!! $40.00/set. A portion of the proceeds from the sale benefits the SAS PTA.
SAS Cardigan Sweater – Beautiful lightweight cotton sweater elegantly embroidered with the SAS logo. Limited quantities and sizes available exclusively at PTA Sales Office. $30.00 each
American Girl/18” Plush Toy Apparel – These exclusive apparel match the traditional SAS uniform as well as the PE outfit and are perfect for boys’ and girls’ 18” dolls and plush toys. $25.00/set
SAS Backpack Tag – Not only perfect for backpacks but a great identification option for music cases, sports bags, luggage, etc. Only $5.00 each. SAS Jibbitz – Decorate your Crocs with SAS spirit with the exclusive SAS Jibbitz!!! Only $5.00 each and a great gift item!!
PTA would like to extend a warm THANK YOU to the generosity of Crocs, Inc. for designing & donating the SAS Jibbitz!!! All proceeds from the sale of the exclusive SAS Jibbitz benefit SAS PTA. PTA Sales Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00am – 2:30pm
SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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SAS PTA
President’s Letter
Dear SAS parents, The PTA has a full agenda this quarter, and our many volunteers have been working hard to organize some of our much-anticipated annual events. One of the functions of the PTA is to engage in community building. Events this semester such as the Pumpkin Sale and Food Fest will give us opportunities to come together and enjoy the company of one another while raising funds in support of school programs.
“Plant a Seed – Read!” This is the theme for the PTA’s annual Book Fair, which will be held from November 24 – 26 in the Elementary Gym, from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Over 10,000 books will be available for purchase, with titles to please every age. Parents are welcome to stop in and shop anytime. Children in the Primary and Intermediate Divisions will visit the fair with their classes, and schedules will be made known soon. You are welcome to join your child during his or her class visit or volunteer to work at the fair during that time. Middle and High School students are encouraged to visit the fair during their breaks. I would like to thank Book Fair Chair Becky Moseley and her team of dedicated volunteers for their efforts. Countless hours and months of planning go into an event of this size.
Scholastic Books If you have a child in the Primary, Intermediate or Middle School, you have by now received the books you ordered from Scholastic Books. A tireless team of volunteers led by Betty Bradley spent hours processing orders, sorting and delivering the books. The Scholastic Book program offers the PTA the opportunity to build division and classroom libraries through points awarded by the Scholastic Book publishers, which we accumulated through our book orders. These points allow us to buy additional books, not just for classrooms and libraries, but also for the Book Fair. Thank you to everyone who supported this program.
A Host of “Thank Yous” As I write this, the PTA is about to host the annual Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Sale and shortly thereafter, the Food Fest. The large team of enthusiastic volunteers that have put in a lot of time and effort into these events are too numerous to mention, but I would like to acknowledge and warmly thank a few. For Pumpkin Patch: Paula Sivanandan, Min Baglieri, Kasey Swackhammer and Pam Steele. For Pumpkin Sale: Jane Walker, the Dunbar family (Hilary, Paul, Kimberly and Felicity), Andrea Schneider, Anne Chan, Susan Fay, Dave Norcott and Brent Mustch. For Food Fest: Katie Hamberlin, Kim Hamby and Adeline Norton de Matos. I would also like to thank the wonderful Security and Facilities staff who are invaluable members of the PTA’s team at every event. I hope that you had the opportunity to enjoy one of the PTA’s recent events and invite you to participate in the programs that are still to come. I wish each family in the SAS community a Happy Thanksgiving. Mae Anderson PTA President mae.anderson@mac.com
SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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Eagles Varsity Baseball Team
Wins China Cup Baseball Championship in Beijing!
Back row (L-R): Coach Ken fay, Coach Bill Fulton, Coach Dan Crosswell, Evan Petty, Chris Ryan, Matt Fay, Dan Davis, Paul Cordes, James Taylor. Front row (L-R): Team Captain Billy Fulton, Josh Block, Michael Szopiak, Michael Chang, Dyland Howell
October 10-12 – International School Beijing Schools Competing: SAS (Singapore American School), ISB (International School Beijing), SAS (Shanghai American School), HKIS (Hong Kong International School). Special thanks go to the following for their support of the first SAS baseball team to compete as a school team with other international schools: Mimi Molchan, Brent Mutsch, Dave Norcott, SAS School Board, SAS HS Booster Booth, Holly Kreutter, SACAC, and coaches Dan Crosswell, Bill Fulton and Ken Fay. Highlights of the games: Game 1: Fulton and Singapore Dominate ISB in Opener — Beijing 1, Singapore 8 What began as a classic pitchers’ dual ended up as a rout by the Eagles in an 8-1 win over the ISB Dragons in the kickoff game of the China Cup in Beijing. ISB jumped to an early lead in the first inning as hitter Phil Schloss reached on a throw by second baseman Josh Block that pulled the Eagles first baseman off the bag. Schloss promptly stole second base. A walk to Jack Murphy followed, and the Dragons' Ryan Young singled Schloss home, giving the Dragons a one run early advantage. ISB junior Andrew Goodwin held the Eagles at bay until the third. However, walks and errors hurt
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
Goodwin, who finished four innings, giving up three hits and eight runs, only four of them earned. He struck out four while walking seven. ISB freshman Brad Johanson relieved Goodwin and pitched two strong innings. SAS captain Billy Fulton struck out nine batters in a dominating pitching performance. Four of the SAS runs were scored on a base clearing single by Evan Petty in the top of the third. The sharply hit ball got by the ISB right fielder and Petty followed three other Eagle runners around the bases to grab the lead. Chris Ryan, Block and Michael Szopiak all had singles for Singapore in addition to the rare base-clearing single by Evan Petty. Game 2: Hong Kong 9, Singapore 10 Szopiak took the mound for Singapore, and gave a commanding performance throughout the game. Game 3: Singapore Overcomes Shanghai and Advances to China Cup Championship – Shanghai 4, Singapore 10 The Eagles advanced to the championship game with a convincing 10-4 win over the Shanghai American School in the nightcap of the day’s full slate of baseball. Despite a strong pitching performance by Shanghai’s Jonathan Lau, Singapore remained unbeaten. Singapore received a top notch
pitching performance from Ryan, who pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits, three of those by Shanghai’s Vikram Kulkarni. Fulton had three doubles for Singapore and three RBIs, while freshman James Taylor crushed a two run homer deep over the left field wall, giving Singapore the lead for good. Dylan Howell, Matt Fay and Block all contributed big hits for Singapore as well. Game 4: Championship Hong Kong 4, Singapore 14 With the Eagles’ 14-4 victory over Hong Kong they proved that they were the team to beat and took home the China Cup Championship trophy. Singapore was led by pitcher Fulton who scattered seven hits over 5 innings. Fulton also went three for three at the plate. Battery mate Fay also went three for three. Singapore’s run machine was powered by 3 RBIs from Petty, 2 RBIs from Howell and 2 RBIs from Szopiak. Daniel Davis went three for four. Ryan and Michael Chang added good defense for Singapore to cap an undefeated run in the tourney. HKIS’ Andrew “the Walrus” Wallis struck out 10, with his fastball sometimes reaching 75mph on the radar gun. Wallis also added two RBIs and went 2 for 3 for HKIS. Alex Sherr knocked in the other 2 HKIS runs. Austin Young went 3 for 3 for HKIS, and Kevin Matthews got the only other HKIS hit off of Fulton.
IASAS 2008 Girls Soccer
By Don Adams, HS faculty and team coach
First Day Under a blistering sun the Eagles opened their campaign with a comfortable win against an up and coming Panther team. SAS jumped out to an early lead just three minutes into the match with Vanessa Peck hitting a stinger that the keeper couldn’t hold, and Tolley St. Clair was there to tuck in the rebound. Tolley doubled the score with a 25 meter shot six minutes later. Vanessa added a third in the second half, but it was all Eagle dominance, and the result was never really in doubt: SAS 3, ISKL 0. With Bangkok losing the opening match against Manila, they needed at least a draw to stay in contention. Breaking down a determined defence presented a difficult challenge, but Sarah Slaven’s brilliant eighthminute header changed the entire affair. Behind, Bangkok was forced to go on the attack, and they very nearly grabbed an equalizer. Keeper Brittany Dawe was caught out, and Rachel Fink’s clearance off the line saved the SAS lead going into half time. The black cats struggled to gain parity after the break but never really threatened the Eagle goal. The backline of Rachel, Sarah, Pheobe Clark and Caitlin Favati was just too strong. In the end, it was an own goal that finally sealed Bangkok’s fate: SAS 2, ISKL 0. Second Day Playing the home team can often be a tricky encounter, but the Eagles came out against TAS firing on all cylinders. A solid midfield performance led by Nora Hanagan, Alberts and Katie Fink shredded the Tiger defence, and by the final
whistle Andrea Sanchez, Tolley, Alicia Elms, Meredith Hayward, Jenny Alberts and Lauren Felice had all made it onto the score sheet. It was probably the best display of attacking football all season and a solid team effort: SAS 6, TAS 0. The afternoon match was a showdown between the two unbeaten teams – last year’s runner up versus the defending champs, Manila. From the opening kickoff it was gritty affair with both teams struggling to get the upper hand. Neither team managed to create many chances and in the end a brilliant piece of play by Bearcat Airi Ikedo separated the two sides: SAS 0, ISM 1.
Katie seized control of the midfield. But the Eagles went behind when they conceded a penalty in the 10th minute for a hand ball. Searching for the equalizer, Vanessa and Felice worked the flanks to create chances and it was Vanessa’s 18th minute drive from 20 yards out that levelled the match. Two minutes later, frosh Alicia hit from the top of the box and the Eagles suddenly took the lead and the momentum. If they could close out the half up a goal, they’d be in good position for the second half, but it was not to be. A free kick in the dying seconds evened the match at two apiece.
Third Day With a spot in the finals already assured, the Jakarta match Saturday morning was a chance to try out some things and rest a few starters. As expected the Dragons put up stiff resistance and the match was scoreless at the half, but Catlin’s 25 meter free kick opened the scoring right after the break. Andrea iced the match 8 minutes later, finishing off Meredith’s through ball with clinical precision. The clean sheet was the Eagles 16th shutout of the season – a new school record for Brittany and the defensive back four: SAS 2, JIS 0.
With everything at stake SAS pushed hard in the second half looking for the go ahead goal, but Manila took the lead with yet another free kick. But this match was far from over. Vanessa, playing the game of her life, streaked past one defender, then squeezed through two more and sent in a low cross that Andrea did brilliantly to reach, sliding it into the net, and once again the score was level. An amazing match and one that looked destined to go to overtime, but with 8 minutes to play, Manila’s Rica Plaza hit a low drive past a diving Brittany to put the Bearcats ahead once again. The Eagles worked desperately for the equalizer but just ran out of time.
Championship Game With the sun setting and the wind blowing down from the surrounding hills, the Eagles took the field against unbeaten Manila. SAS changed to a 4-5-1 formation and the tactics worked well as Nora, Jenny and
The girls were heartbroken, but they played a great final and were simply undone by a few costly mistakes. It was a seven goal thriller that kept the crowd cheering to the end and will certainly go down in IASAS history as a classic. SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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IASAS BOYS SOCCER 2008 By Ishaan Misra, HS student
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Our first game was against the home team, TAS. After fighting hard, SAS lost 2-1. Following wins against ISKL (2-0) and ISB (2-1) and a loss to JIS (1-5), SAS had to beat ISM in a final game on Saturday morning to get to the championship. Unfortunately, the game ended 1-1, and SAS was in the consolation game against ISKL. After trailing 1-0 for 60 minutes, SAS scored to equalize and in the last 5 minutes went up 2-1 and won the 3rd place playoffs. All in all the IASAS experience was fun for the whole team and hopefully we can do even better next year. The coaches would like to thank the players for a great season. They were outstanding in their performances, behavior and attitudes. Both Tim Zitur and Geoff Rodocker feel fortunate to work with such fine young men. Game summaries are provided by the players and coaches. Game #1: SAS 1, TAS 2 Singapore, “favored’ to win against the Taipei Tigers, lost a heartbreaking 2-1. Starting off slowly, the Eagles got into the game and controlled the first half, putting in a top right goal by Chris Thome and leaving SAS to take the lead by half time. Unfortunately, TAS managed 2 unanswered goals and SAS lost a game they should have won. Chris Thome Game #2: SAS 2, ISKL 1 A strong performance by SAS.
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
The Eagles totally shut down the defending champion Panthers. We scored a couple of goals, more than any other team did against ISKL. Philip Van Zadelhoff scored a header and Jamison Soybel added another cross turned goal. ISKL came on strong at the end, but couldn’t crack our defense. This game raised our spirits and showed that we were able to fight back. Tim Zitur
Game #5: SAS 1, ISM 1 As the game against ISM could put us in the final against JIS, senior Joon Ho Choi wanted to show something for the team. Two fast, skilled strikers were constantly knocking on SAS’ goal, but calmly Joon Ho had it under control, and Lucas Pipoli scored. Although the game ended in a draw, goalkeeper Joon Ho had one of the best games in his life. Joon Ho Choi
Game #3: SAS 1, JIS 5 Everyone was eagerly awaiting this match against rival JIS. Although we started off the game brightly, JIS took the lead with a beautiful free kick into the top corner. JIS scored another goal on the stroke of half time after some strong defending. We entered the second half all fired up, determined to mount a comeback and finally made a breakthrough when Lucas Pipoli crossed the ball, and Jamo Soybel headed it home. We eventually conceded two more goals. Despite the 5-1 score, our spirit, guts and determination were evident as we fought hard until the final whistle. Harry Fischer
Game #6: SAS 2, ISKL 1 It was the last time for the Eagles to make a statement in the ’08 season and the last time six seniors would ever take to the pitch wearing and Eagles jersey. Fatigued from a crucial match just an hour before, the Eagles conceded an early goal which put them behind 1-0. Then their luck changed. Captain Lucas Pipoli managed to unleash a powerful shot at ISKL’s all-tournament keeper. The extremity of the shot resulted in a parry back into play where Jamison’s perfect positioning allowed him to slot the ball home off the post. The Eagles were back! With 5 minutes left in the game, it seemed overtime was inevitable, but then goal poacher Jamison was once again able to pounce on a loose ball after an ISKL defender failed to clear it. The Eagles were close to clinching another medal. ISKL captain Ben Tuite found himself in front of goal all alone with seconds remaining but missed the shot from 5 yards out. His errant shot was immediately followed by the final whistle. The win placed the Eagles back on the podium, right where they belong. Jamison Soybel
Game #4: SAS 2, ISB 1 As we reached Bailin field, we were tired and drained. We had played JIS in the morning and lost horribly, killing our spirit. Now, we were faced with ISB, the team that beat us 5-2 last year in IASAS. Beating them 3-0 in the exchange, we began the game overconfidently. We went down 1-0 in the first few minutes of the game but kept fighting. The goals then followed 1, 2 by Nick Devine and Philip Van Zadelhoff. Lucas Pipoli
Varsity Volleyball in Manila By Elle Marsh
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On Wednesday, October 15 the SAS Varsity Volleyball teams flew to Manila. With the 27th annual IASAS volleyball tournament beginning the next day at the International School of Manila, members of both the boys and girls teams were excited to get IASAS competition underway. For six student athletes, this was their first IASAS tournament experience. This year’s tournament featured quality volleyball and a high level of competition, with teams demonstrating relatively equal abilities and skill levels. IASAS also generates new and lasting friendships, team spirit and sportsmanship. The boys and girls teams played 8 matches in 3 days, both placing fourth in the round robin portion of the tournament. The boys then advanced to play the host school, ISM, in the semi-finals, losing an intense and exciting match in the fifth set. The girls played Taipei
American School in the semi-final, also losing a closely contested threeset match. Competing for bronze medals, the boys faced off against the International School of Kuala Lumpur, while the girls drew the International School of Bangkok. Both consolation matches resulted in fourth place finishes for the SAS varsity volleyball teams and marked the last time graduating seniors Chris Davis, Russ Kreutter, Josh Wolf, Elle Marsh, Michelle Sims, Kari Nagasaki and Ciera Walker would don an Eagles volleyball jersey. Junior Marc Wilson and senior Elle Marsh were selected by the IASAS coaches to represent SAS on the alltournament team. Elle also received recognition as a four-year IASAS volleyball participant. Many thanks go to the coaches for their consistent support and dedication throughout the season: Coach Criens, Coach Bright, Coach Carter and Coach McDougald, it wouldn’t have been possible without you.
SAS Girls Volleyball team with coaches time out.
Player in SAS Boys Volleyball team tried to block.
Girls VB Ciera, Sara, Kari Cheer on boys.
Ciera gets ready for the serve. Girls Volleyball Elle, Kari, Selest.
Max hits it at IASAS Manila 2008.
Lars Crawford, Josh Wolf, Max Shawless prepare for serve volleyball.
Trevor Blocks IASAS Manila 2008. SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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Double Golds for Cross Country Teams By Paul Terrile, HS faculty and coach
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On October 16, fourteen runners from the Singapore American School cross country team left for the 13th annual IASAS cross country championships in Manila. The site of this year’s race was the Manila polo grounds. After an opening ceremony on Friday, the runners toured the course.
Avery Shawler after her race with SIGG bottle IASAS 2008.
Though the race was to be completed on a relatively flat course, the mud and variations in terrain were major challenges. The big race was on Saturday morning. At 8:00, 42 female runners from SAS, Jakarta International School, Taipei American School, International School of Kuala Lumpur, International School of Bangkok and International School of Manila started the 3.2-k race. SAS took control early, as Annie Lydens, Ruby Hohensee and Linda Kim distanced themselves from the pack. Immediately behind these three was nearly the entire ISM team, SAS’s chief rival. Annie, Ruby and Linda maintained their places, with Annie eventually winning in a time of 11:53:30, followed by Ruby and Linda. Brooke McManigal moved up several places in the last 800 meters to join the three leaders on the alltournament team with a seventh place finish. Rounding up the team scoring was an important ninth place by Avery Shawler. The team score of 22
Cross Country Girls - Radhika, Avery, Annie, April.
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IASAS 2008 Top 3 SAS Girls - Annie, Ruby, Linda.
Girls CC Team IASAS Manila 08
James, Brian, Evan and competitor in IASAS Cross Country race.
IASAS Boys CC Team Manila 2008
SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
points meant that SAS had claimed its fifth consecutive gold medal. The boys’ race began at 8:45. As with their female teammates, three SAS runners – Brian Robertson, James Linton and Evan Shawler – immediately seized control of the race. Brian stayed in front for the majority of the race, claiming the 2008 gold medal with a time of 17:11:66. James and Evan outdistanced TAS’s Joseph Lu, with James coming in second and Evan claiming third. Other scoring runners from SAS were Sammy Maus, who finished ninth, and Peter MacArthur, who finished eleventh. The boys’ team score was 26 points, meaning they also claimed their fifth consecutive gold medal. The 2008 cross country team worked very hard for ten weeks to prepare for the IASAS championships. Everyone gave his or her best effort in a grueling sun and showed excellent sportsmanship with the other IASAS schools. Congratulations Eagles – well done!
The Core Essentials of Performance Nutrition By Samantha Martin, HS student
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Brian Deeds, who specializes in performance education, and Captain Pendergrass inspired Ms. Pong’s health class on September 22. They were two of the many participants in the Body for Life Challenge, but their motives were different. Deeds teaches people about health, so he wanted to go through the challenge to better understand his work. Captain Pendergrass went through an internal change. His son needed a liver transplant, and he needed to lose weight for the transplant to be successful, so he joined the Body for Life Challenge. Captain Pendergrass is a runner-up in the Body for Life Challenge. Deeds explained to the class that it’s never too late to make a life changing decision, “Your body is like a Ferrari, you have to put the right gas in the car for it to run properly.” If the whole car analogy doesn’t work for you, then think of Edith Odoms. She was 98 years old when she joined the Body for Life Challenge! No, she didn’t want to become a giant body builder; she just wanted to be able to open her own doors and push her own walker. Inspiration enough? “Long term success in any endeavor,” begins Deeds “requires setting a series of long term goals and the magic bullet: the decision
to change.” He explained that you should ditch the scale because it is a liar; lots of girls think that in order to lose weight it is necessary to skip meals but if you cut out minerals you could get osteoporosis, which is bone depletion. Instead, focus on six small meals of correct portions and hydrating regularly throughout the day. Make sure the meals are balanced with protein and carbs. Carbohydrates are misunderstood; many people say that they make you gain weight but that’s not entirely true; the timing is everything and depends on your lifestyle. For athletes carbohydrates are essential for performance, especially right after working out, but for sedentary individuals carbohydrates could cause weight gain. Ideally you should eat balanced portions every three hours. Right now our bodies are growing and hormones are building our bodies, so nutrition is very crucial. Nobody should ever skip meals especially breakfast because after you sleep you should replenish your body or else you are cannibalizing your own muscle. Exercise is another component of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can increase muscle tissue, but lots of people forget the aftermath of exercise, the recovery. Deeds told the athletes in Ms. Pong’s class that, “you must replenish your muscles within the hour after the workout with nutritious food because your
muscles have been compromised during the exercise. If you don’t replenish your muscles then the workout is pointless.” You have twelve weeks to complete your transformation: internal and external. So are you prepared to take up the Body for Life Challenge? Ms. Pong’s class sure had the equipment for it; they were given duffle bags with green water bottles, pedometers and measuring tape. So thank you very much to Captain Pendergrass and Brian Deeds for the wise words and the gifts! SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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Teenage Alcohol Use: Understanding the Implications By Jeff Devens, Ph.D. / High School Psychologist
inhibitions = alcohol). Over time, these patterns can form the basis of habits; however, the effect is not as simple as behavior = response because alcohol has biochemical properties that can have a double whammy effect.
“Results from The National Longitudinal Epidemiologic Survey of 27,616 American youth showed that the lifetime alcohol dependence rates of those who initiate alcohol use by age 14 were four times as high as those who start at age 20 or older. These are sobering statistics.”
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What concerns me most about adolescent drinking is WHY teens drink. The most common reasons are to have fun, to unwind, to lower inhibitions, to blow off steam, to relax, to feel good and to “fit in.” Essentially, they are indicating that in order to have fun, unwind, blow off steam, fit in, they need to put a drug in their bodies, a drug that fundamentally alters the way their brains function. Teens, and sadly some parents, need to be reminded that ALCOHOL IS A DRUG, a drug that can be particularly problematic for teens, here’s why. When kids enter adolescence they are confronted with a host of new social and emotional experiences that stretch their limits when it comes to developing healthy coping mechanisms. When a drug is introduced into this developmental process, strong pairing associations can occur that may result in unhealthy patterns and choices of behavior (i.e., fun = alcohol, unwinding = alcohol, lower
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
Alcohol contains a chemical known as ethyl alcohol. This drug is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach and is then carried to the central nervous system, where it acts to depress or slow functioning by binding to various neurons. While most drugs bind to specific receptors in the brain, alcohol does not. This means that alcohol affects each of us in slightly different ways. Typically, ethyl alcohol first depresses areas of the brain that control judgment and inhibition, the two things teens need most. As more alcohol is consumed, the chemicals in ethyl alcohol attach themselves to brain cell receptors and over time replace or alter the body’s natural chemicals. It’s a little like using leaded fuel in a car designed for unleaded fuel; it will get you home, but over time it will ruin vital car parts. Why do we have laws regulating the use of alcohol in Singapore until age 18 or in the United States until age 21? The hope is that adolescents learn to deal with life’s hurts, joys, trials and socially awkward moments without having to rely on a drug to bridge these gaps. It is presumed that by the time a person reaches the age of 18 or 21 that he or she has gone through sufficient life experiences without the aid of alcohol and can be responsible regarding alcohol use. Sadly, some parents willingly provide alcohol to teens (i.e. pay parties) or allow their teens to drink, accepting the mantra that, “Kids are going to drink so we might as well help teach them to be responsible.” Parents accepting this line of reasoning need to understand that alcohol consumption does not foster responsible behavior; it suppresses it! While these parents may have their teens’ welfare at heart (and I believe they do), they may actually
“As an academic institution, SAS continues to press the importance of drug awareness and education by offering health classes, having speakers from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) on campus and providing parent talks and publications.” be contributing to alcohol related issues for their children well into adulthood. Results from The National Longitudinal Epidemiologic Survey of 27,616 American youth showed that the lifetime alcohol dependence rates of those who initiate alcohol use by age 14 were four times as high as those who start at age 20 or older. These are sobering (pun intended ) statistics. I suspect that some parents will object to the idea of forbidding alcohol use by their teens on the grounds that alcohol is a customary part of family tradition. Indeed, in some cultures alcohol is viewed as a rite of passage. In such situations I would encourage parents to discuss with their teen the historical and cultural significance of alcohol use, amounts and why they feel it is appropriate for their teen to drink … even a little. As an academic institution, SAS continues to press the importance of drug awareness and education by offering health classes, having speakers from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) on campus and providing parent talks and publications. We by no means accept the mantras that preventing alcohol use among teens is a lost cause or that kids are going to drink regardless of our best efforts. Mom and Dad, have conversations with your kids regarding alcohol use early and often. Make it a point to stress the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and then model these in your own lives.
Fashion Minds – SAS HS Students Lend a Helping Hand to a Very Special Kids Fashion Show By Christina Popowski, HS French Teacher
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On Saturday, September 13, 50 HS students volunteered a few hours of their time to help make a very unique kids fashion show a memorable day for 23 first time models at the Wisma Atria Atrium. What was so unique about this fashion show? The models! This event was the debut of a collaborative project between Shineon School on Stage, a center for empowered enrichment and motivated learning, and MINDS, the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. Both organizations aim to showcase the talent of young people by providing opportunities to youngsters that will allow them to discover who they are and of what they are capable. Since all of Shineon’s enrichment courses are built around the stage, both on and behind, organizing a fashion show proved to be not only fashionable but also a visibly powerful manner in which to showcase the modeling talents of MINDS students alongside the students of the Shineon School on Stage. On the catwalk, the models wore outfits from Uptown Kidz, Giordano, Giordano Junior and Cotton On and accessories from Tote Board and Spectacle Hut. The outfits varied from stylish pieces from the 1960s to the contemporary fashion of today.
and off stage, blowing up balloons and accompanying the fashion show mascot around the stage area. A good number of volunteers were asked to be present near the stage during the show to support and encourage the first time models, some of whom were nervous about being on stage. Thirteen of the MINDS models were quite young and therefore needed to be paired with an SAS volunteer who became a friend and personal assistant to the model. Prior to the show volunteers accompanied the children to the makeup and hair stylists; they tagged along when the children were interviewed by the media, and they made sure that the models were dressed in their outfits and ready to go when it was time for the show to begin.
To ensure that the fashion show would run smoothly and be a success the director of Shineon School on Stage, Catherine Koh, approached SAS to seek the help of 50 student volunteers. A few days prior to the show the volunteers were briefed on how to work with an intellectually disabled individual and then provided with a long list of job descriptions that needed to be filled in order for the show to run smoothly. The jobs varied from greeting shoppers on Orchard Road with a flyer advertising the show to collecting and sorting of apparel, helping the models on
Tatiana Gerbtzoff was one of the SAS volunteers who helped to get the models on to the catwalk during the show. She spent most of the day working with the models and quickly became friends with them. “It was a really special experience . . . I have to admit at first I was hesitant to work with disabled children as I was afraid that I would do something wrong and make them scared or angry, but I soon found that they were open and happy and so excited about this event. . . I look forward to more volunteer work experience like this.”
The teacher in charge of the students from MINDS and the director of Shineon School on Stage were very impressed with the students from SAS. They were amazed that so many students would want to volunteer their time on a Saturday and were then further impressed by the outstanding efforts of the volunteers to help make the show a success. Both organizations considered the first MINDS Fashion Show a huge success but were quick to note that it would not have been possible without the support and help of the SAS students.
SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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National Merit Scholar Program Recognizes SAS Seniors
National Merit Award students: Back Row (L to R): Joseph Hakam, James Davis, Anne Lydens, Emma Sheldon, Emily Brotman, Robert Uram, Amit Parekh, Akhilesh Pant, Andrew Ni, Front Row (L to R): Thomas Bynum, Daniele Selby, Tulsi Desai, Calin Brown, Surbhi Ugra, Esha Sondhi, Mila Rusafova, Pallavi Karunakaran, Helen Knight, Vivian Yang, Maria Lloyd Absent: Spenser Anderson, David Momberger
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SAS seniors Joseph Hakam, Helen Knight, Andrew Ni and Vivian Yang have been named as semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Competition. NMSC named 16,000 semifinalists with only 90 students living outside the United States receiving the semifinalist distinction this year. Approximately 34,000 academically able high school students have been honored as commended students. The following SAS seniors will receive letters of commendation: Spencer Anderson, Emily Brotman, Calin Brown, Thomas Bynum, James Davis, Tulsi Desai, Pallavi Karunakaran,
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SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
Maria Lloyd, Anne Lydens, David Momberger, Akhilesh Pant, Amit Parekh, Mila Rusafova, Daniele Selby, Emma Sheldon, Esha Sondhi, Surbhi Ugra and Robert Uram. To be a semifinalist, a student living overseas must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and earn a “selection index” of at least 221. Commended students must earn scores ranging from 200 to 220. A selection index is arrived at by adding the critical reading, math and writing scores of the PSAT. The scores on the PSAT range from 20 to 80, which parallel the SAT scale of 200 to 800. Since this competition is only open to U.S. citizens who sat for the PSAT as juniors, 64 percent of the SAS
seniors were eligible for these awards. The semifinalist cutoff scores vary widely from state to state and range from a low of 201 in Mississippi and Wyoming to a high of 221 for U.S. citizens living outside the country. According to NMSC, they vary scores by state so that "... able students from all parts of the nation will be included in the semifinalist talent pool." The number of semifinalists named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of high school graduating seniors. It is much easier to be named a semifinalist in most states than it is overseas.
Contribute a Little to Accomplish a Lot By Annie Lydens, High School student
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When I first heard about the mangrove cleanup from my brother, he described it as a dirty, sweaty morning of bodies doing their best to make a dent in the massive tidal wave of plastic and unknown objects tangled in the mangrove roots. He was right, but somehow the cleanup ended up being so much more. When we first got off the bus, Becky Kreutter and I stood awkwardly, trying to find some lost souls to join our cleanup crew. A motley family of three wandered up – not motley in a dirty sense, but in a put-on-whateverclothes-they-had-and-borrowedfrom-the-neighbors type of sense. “Will you adopt us?” the mother asked. We eagerly accepted them, and I pencilled in “5” for number of group members on the card. When we arrived at the cleanup site, I took four plastic garbage bags for our group, and we set about finding a site to call our own for an hour and a half. It didn’t take long – we found a bowed mangrove tree, its roots encased in plastic bags, handcuffing it to the ground. There also was a huge white object nestled among the debris – an object that was going to give us plenty of trouble.
“... only when we all contribute a little can we accomplish a lot.” Judging from the appearances of our crew, we wouldn’t be the most efficient group in the mangroves. (We had a six-year-old and two middle aged people who didn’t quite look prepared). However, our little crew became exponentially more efficient in a matter of minutes. We had two bags going at once, and the pickeruppers would simply yell out how many items and of what kind to the recorder. Our little plot of mangroves truly became our own – there was no way that we could just leave it the
“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” way we found it. The little kid caught on the quickest – in no time at all, he had memorized the various trash categories and could identify odd plastic objects of questionable origins even when Becky or I couldn’t. The gigantic white object turned out to be a fridge. Moving it was tricky – we couldn’t slide it along the ground for fear of damaging the roots and other plant life, but at the same time we couldn’t rest it on the mangrove branches. It was extremely difficult – we fell twice, and the fridge was hard to get out of the mud once it began sinking in. We ended up picking up 478 plastic bags, most of them shopping bags or drink bags from hawker stalls. The use of plastic bags was astounding. My family already uses green bags for groceries, but the usage overall is so high – the only way we can truly ensure that the mangrove environment remains pristine is if we cut back on usage in the first place. As we left our site, Becky looked back and commented, “You know, I was in the exact same place last year. And it was just as bad then. I feel like we have done nothing because I know it will be there again next year.” It’s true that it seems like a losing battle, a futile fight, but as Edmund Burke said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” And it is with this attitude that we must approach conservation, restoration and sustainable living – only when we all contribute a little can we accomplish a lot. SAS NewsFlash – November 2008
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