Singapore American School Newsflash, March 2009 by Singapore American School

Volume 11, Issue 7-08/09 - March 2009

MICA (P) 160/08/2008

A Singapore American School community service publication

NewsFlash

By Coach Mike Norman Saturday, February 7, 2009: Russell Kruetterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steal and subsequent driving layup with 10 seconds left in the game capped a remarkable come-from-behind victory for the SAS Eagles in the 2009 IASAS Basketball Championship against the hosts, the Taipei American School Tigers. SAS began the fourth quarter behind by 15 points and won 64-63, outscoring TAS 25-9 in the final ten minutes. Clutch performances by Brady Baildon, Kruetter, Rauson Clower, Dan Albanese and the Peters brothers, Blake and Trevor, allowed the Eagles to pull off a shocking upset. The two teams had played twice previously, with TAS winning both games, by 16 in the Hong Kong Holiday Tournament and by 19 in the first game of the IASAS round-robin phase. After their loss to TAS in that first game, the Eagles defeated IS Manila 48-41, ISKL 49-41, JIS 72-47 and IS Bangkok 67-41 to reach the championship, which was played before a raucous crowd of 1,200. SAS finished the season with a record of 23-8. Kruetter, Baildon and Albanese were named to the AllTournament team.

Boys and Girls IASAS Tournaments Pg. 3-7

SAS Hosts AMIS and International Honors Orchestra Festival Pg. 12

Asia Fest 2009: 2nd Grade Celebrates Asia Pg. 17

Contents Page

Regulars 14 - Booster Club News 16 - Calendar Highlights 19 - PTA News Brent Mutsch Superintendent of Schools

David Hoss Principal Primary School

Mark Boyer Asst. Superintendent for Learning

Marian DeGroot Principal Intermediate School

Rhonda Norris Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources

Devin Pratt Principal Middle School

William Scarborough Director of Finance and Business Operations

David Norcott Principal High School

NEWSFLASH is published once a month 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.

SAS Highlights

9 - The Work of Play 10 - Friendship International School 11 - Singapore International Schools Mathematics Competition 12 - SAS Hosts AMIS and 20th Annual International Honors Orchestra Festival 13 - A Collaborative Project on Eric Carle’s Works 15 - When the Bamboo Sings 17 - Asia Fest 2009: 2nd Grade Celebrates Asia! 24 - Grade 8 Writer’s Camp 26 - Reading/Language Arts Curriculum Review 27 - Water Report

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We welcome input from the community associated with Singapore American School April NewsFlash Deadline: April 6, 2009 Publication Date: April 27, 2009 No issue in May

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 – March 2009

June NewsFlash Deadline: May 13, 2009 Publication Date: June 1, 2009 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.

Girls’ Basketball

By Rick Bisset, HS Girls’ Basketball Coach

he Girls Basketball Team completed a very successful season by going 6-0 at the IASAS Tournament in Taipei last month. Team captains Elle Marsh (senior) and Rachel McCabe (junior) were instrumental in bringing home the gold medal. The tournament format created an interesting match-up on the final day: SAS needed to play Taipei American School twice! Nevertheless, the Lady Eagles won both times on Taipei's home court. In an exciting final, the championship game was played in front of 1,200 loud Taipei supporters. However, the 50 SAS supporters made lots of noise, too!

All-tournament IASAS selections went to Elle Marsh, Belinda Eg (junior) and Katie Bree (freshman). At the end-ofseason Award's Night, special trophies were presented to Cate Graddy (Coaches' Award) and Elle Marsh (MVP). Coaches Chad Brekke and Rick Bisset would like to thank all the parents and the players for some terrific memories. And one of the best memories was winning the IASAS Sportsmanship Award. This is voted on by players of the opposing teams and recognizes "exemplary behavior and a keen sense of fair play throughout the competition." Congrats to the Lady Eagles!

Register and pay online for Adult EASA programs, Summer Program and AP exams New log-in numbers and passwords for parents SAS parents may now register and pay online for Adult Elementary After School programs, Summer Program and Advance Placement exams, using Mastercard or Visa. For details, see http://www.sas.edu.sg/emails/2008-09/SAS/SAS_20090302. html or go directly to the individual sites – EASA: http://www.sas.edu.sg/Help/easa/1.html; Summer Program: http://www. sas.edu.sg/Summer/index.html; AP Exams: http://www.sas.edu.sg/hs/Catalogs/approgram.htm. SAS recently sent emails to parents with the new log-in numbers and passwords. If you did not receive this information or have questions, email communications@sas.edu.sg. For information about individual programs, contact Heidi Ryan, EASA, easainfo@sas.edu.sg; Martha Began, Summer Program, summerschool@sas.edu.sg; Mark Devine, AP, mdevine@sas.edu.sg; Ron Ng, IT, rng@sas.edu.sg.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Girls’ Touch Rugby

By Bill Hanagan, HS Girls’ Touch Rugby Coach

he 2008-09 Girls Touch Rugby Team (A-side) finished with 31 wins, 10 losses and 1 tie.

They won six consecutive matches to earn the gold medal at the IASAS tournament in February. During the season the TR teams competed against other international schools, local universities/junior colleges and women’s clubs. Most would consider this year’s team to be the strongest in the 11 years it has been a sport at SAS. It was a team that had a variety of attacking options and played a well-coordinated zone defense that, when working, frustrated most athletic teams. However, the most important feature that ensured success for this year’s team was its competitiveness. Some noteworthy individual accomplishments were the AllIASAS selection of captains Vanessa Peck and Nora Hanagan along with juniors Lauren Felice and Erika Farias. Nora set the school try scoring record with 45 for the season while Vanessa set the record for assists with 64. Emma Sheldon was selected as the Most Improved Player, and Melissa Huston received the Coaches’ Award for outstanding commitment, sportsmanship and effort. Winning the IASAS tournament in front of a home crowd seems to have inspired a greater interest in TR at SAS. The Middle School has had a strong turnout for intramurals recently and plans to schedule some under-15 matches against other schools. A freshman on this year’s IASAS team, Isabella Shaulis, began playing TR as a fifth grader in the after-school program. Given its recent success and the level of interest, it is likely that TR will continue to grow as a sport at SAS.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Boys’ Rugby

By David Dixon, HS Boys’ Rugby Coach Photos by Michele Goulding,

he 2008-09 SAS Rugby season was extremely successful with major placings in all competitions, and the varsity won all but one of the midweek games. It was extremely satisfying to see SAS playing “real” rugby, relishing the physical contact in the forwards and finishing off the forward’s hard work with spectacular runs from the backs. Not only was rugby competitive, it was also played in the correct “spirit” of the game. In its final mid-week game before IASAS, the team remained disciplined in a spiteful game that saw the game called off by the referee with 3 minutes to go.

At IASAS the rugby team went through the preliminary games undefeated, reversing a big loss to JIS (0-36) at the Jakarta exchange just three weeks earlier. JIS and SAS went through to the final game, which was a hard fought, thrilling game that went into a sudden death play-off in extra time. JIS won 12-7. Congratulations to JIS. Next year, 2010, we are going to the dragon’s den in Jakarta after the gold! While the SAS players are extremely enthusiastic and dedicated, the one attribute most SAS players lack is experience. Therefore, if you are

serious about wanting to compete for an SAS team at IASAS, and if rugby is your game, you can gain additional experience by getting a few mates together and playing club rugby in Singapore in the off season. Congratulations to seniors Ryan Goulding (MVP) and Connor Liu (Coaches’ Award). To the SAS graduating seniors, do continue playing rugby at college – you will have a great time and make many new friends. We wish you well!

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Eagles Varsity Swim Team By Peter Clark, HS Swim Coach

he SAS Varsity Swim Team has recently completed a very successful season with gold medal success at both the boys’ and girls’ competitions at IASAS. There were many outstanding performers on the girls team. Therese Vainius set the standard for the team in the very first final of the meet when she swam a personal best time to win the gold medal in the 200m freestyle. She went on to win three gold medals and was beaten by a mere 1/100 of a second in the 50m freestyle to win a silver medal. Therese was an outstanding choice as MVP for the girls’ team. The girls 4x100m medley relay team of Kathy De La Holz, Kirstie Parkinson, Therese Vainius and Maya Kale not only won the event but also broke the IASAS record by 2 seconds. A wonderful achievement! On top of this, Kirstie has the rare distinction of winning the 100m breaststroke four years in a row at IASAS. Her win this year capped off a fantastic four years with the Eagles. Maya also won the 100m butterfly at this,

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

her first IASAS meet, and this young freshman looks certain to have a long and distinguished swimming career in the coming years. Overall, the girls had a memorable meet and have much of which to be proud after a season of hard work and winning performances. The boys’ team also had a fantastic season, and even though they did not have as many gold medalists as the girls, they formed a very spirited and committed team as they too went on to win the gold medal for overall points scored. The standard of competition for boys was very high this year, with some outstanding swimmers from ISB and TAS in particular. The SAS boys were not to be denied however, and through a large number of personal best swims, they comfortably managed to hold off the opposition. A significant win for the boys’ team occurred at the end of the first day of competition. The 4x50m freestyle relay team made up of Brice Tanner, Kyle Smith, Jeff Misa and Daniel Ong won the event in a very tight finish. This win inspired the entire team

for the rest of the meet, and many wonderful swims were to follow. Ted Chritton swam in two of the most exciting races at IASAS. In the 800m freestyle Ted swam a 10-second personal best, only to be beaten by a very strong performance by Jonathan Lee of TAS. Ted then had another strong PB in the 400m freestyle in which he also was just touched out for first place. Ted’s performances throughout the season were of a consistently high standard and along with his record-breaking performance in the SAS biathlon ensured that he was named MVP for 2008-09. The team seniors have all been wonderful ambassadors for the SAS swim program over a number of years. The SAS Swim Team next year will have a tough job filling the shoes of the following swimmers who will all be greatly missed. To Kenny, Kyle, Jeff, Mili, Kathy, Kirstie and Maria, the entire team thanks you for all that you have done and wishes you the very best for the future.

Boys’ Tennis

By Roy Tomlinson, HS Boys’ Tennis Coach

he Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team had its most successful season in the last 6 years. After completing a sweep over UWC and winning the Singapore International Schools Championships, the boys brought a very strong team into IASAS. With two four-year participants, Michael He and Andrew Ni, the team had great chemistry. Coming up just short of an IASAS gold, the boys brought home a hard

earned silver medal. At IASAS, Tomas Isman played brilliant tennis, completing a 5-win sweep at number 3 singles and earning All Tournament honors. Neil Parekh at Number 2 Singles and the Number 1 Doubles Team of Jake Wright and Andrew Ni had top notch 4-1 records. As we say goodbye to our four seniors, they leave with the highest medal the team has earned during their four years of high school. Great job.

Bringing an experienced team of players with many years of IASAS tournaments, the singles and doubles

players outplayed strong teams from Taipei and Manila. Coming off a successful December ACSIS Tournament at United World College, while defending the title for the third year, the team continued its winning ways throughout the January training with local competition. Seniors and Captains Meiko Masuno and Lindsey Slaven were both undefeated in IASAS singles play at 2nd singles and 3rd singles, respectively. This was Meiko’s second “All Tournament” as she went undefeated in last year’s event. Junior #1 singles player Sarah Slaven played to a 4-1 record and was instrumental in clinching the team win with her matches against TAS and ISM. SAS loses six senior players to graduation this year, including fouryear participants Meiko Masuno and Rachel Tam.

Girls’ Tennis By Tim Thomson

he Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team was again IASAS champion with gold medal performances.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

The Work of Play

By Jeff Devens, Ph.D. / High School Psychologist Thomas the Train, gaming, taking elective courses, participating in organized sports and clubs or simply “hanging out” with friends, play involves choice behavior. Play isn’t play if the child doesn’t have a choice.

“ Commonly referred to as a child’s tutor, play teaches important skills, such as cooperation, social interaction, partnership, planning and strategies, rules and cooperation. ”

n academic settings we don’t often address the importance of play, yet play is the means by which children come to make sense of their world; it’s the foundation upon which learning is built. What distinguishes play from other activities is that it is something that is intrinsically motivated rather than imposed. Play focuses on means not ends. Whether it is playing with

Play is more than engagement in purposeless activities. It aids in the development of a child’s competence by facilitating cognitive development, advancing social understanding and permitting children to address emotional problems. Commonly referred to as a child’s tutor, play teaches important skills, such as cooperation, social interaction, partnership, planning and strategies, rules and cooperation. Further, the repetition that play promotes allows consolidation of cognitive, social, physical and emotional skills. These activities aid in the development of being able to anticipate what will happen next, utilizing strategies and promoting thinking and reasoning skills. While it is true that schools should be academically rigorous, they should also promote an environment of exploration and application. A school’s influence in transmitting social and cultural values comes through its co-curricular and extracurricular functions, and in this regard SAS excels. In the middle and

“A school’s influence in transmitting social and cultural values comes through its co-curricular and extracurricular functions, and in this regard SAS excels. ” high school alone there are over 110 different clubs. At SAS we recognize the need for “traditional” classroom instruction but temper this with outlets for kids to engage in activities of choice. As a side, if you wonder what emerging leadership skills your child possesses, how well he or she cooperates, deals with adversity or relates to peers socially, talk with the elective teachers and club sponsors. These folks can provide invaluable insight into a developing character. Play, just like every other facet of our lives, must be proportioned. I advocating balance in all things. As a parent, it is your responsibility to help promote balance in your child’s life. By the way, at some level, kids gauge this by observing you. When was the last time you played? It’s true, all work and no play does indeed make for a dull “boy.”

JohnEric Advento Joins the Middle School as a Second Deputy Principal The Middle School is pleased to announce the appointment of JohnEric Advento to the newly created position of MS Deputy Principal for the next academic year. JohnEric joins the Middle School from his current position as Associate Principal at Hong Kong International School where he has served for four years. His teaching career includes work in Fairfax County, Virginia and Cairo American College prior to beginning his role as an administrator. A number of our current parents and students have worked with JohnEric in Hong Kong; they were excited to see him on campus interviewing. The Middle School faculty and administration look forward to having JohnEric join us as we work with the community on behalf of the MS students. JohnEric will be joined by his wife Christina and two young children Simon and Julia.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Friendship International School: An SAS Student Managed Online Service School

By Nicolette Bader, FIS Deputy Principal and SAS Senior

AS has many service clubs that help the less fortunate and the disabled in countless ways. One club that stands out is the Bintan Club, more specifically a new section of it called Friendship International School (FIS). FIS is a self-designed online school that works with 30 middle school students at a village school in Batam, Indonesia. What is unique about this online school is that SAS students are the teachers and administrators. FIS hopes that this peer-to-peer interaction will facilitate communication between the students in Batam and their young teachers. This online school is a perfect way to help the Batam students improve their English and technology skills. The original idea for FIS came from teacher Duane Melsom, a sponsor of Bintan Club. His idea was pitched at a club meeting and then expanded with the help of volunteers. Gabriel Lee and I were appointed FIS Principal and Deputy Principal, respectively. Since then we have conducted weekly meetings with the student staff members to develop the program and create an effective online school. Principle Dave Norcott and Deputy Principle Doug Neihart gave valuable pointers on leadership during the development phase. They discussed how a school operates, what needs to be done and how to deal with specific staff situations as they arise. Both administrators were enthusiastic about the program and were a great help in giving it the initial boost and confidence it needed. FIS uses a free program, similar to BlackBoard, called Moodle. Through this online courseware management system, both teachers and students have accounts that allow them to log-in and access their individual course rooms. The foundational concept of FIS is to be student focused and student managed. With

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

the school now open and functioning as designed, Mr. Melsom has stepped back because his vision is “a school for students by students.” The teaching staff is comprised of 14 dedicated members of Bintan Club. Each pair of student teachers is in charge of weekly topics and assignments for five Indonesian students. The teachers exchange responsibilities and tasks, which include grading and correcting work as well as creating the weekly assignments. Principals conduct weekly meetings with the staff to discuss how the program is working for each class, address concerns and share what the teachers found successful or not successful during the week. FIS is not designed to replace the English teachers in Batam; we simply try to enhance their current programs and help develop English skills. Now in the third week, there have been a few issues, which were quickly resolved, but overall the online school seems to be going strong, and we couldn’t be happier. The FIS staff has many hopes for the future. It could potentially expand to other countries that have an SAS service connection. However, before we consider expansion, we will concentrate on developing and enhancing the current program to make it as beneficial as possible for the Batam students. Friendship International School has given me the immediate satisfaction of helping others. Through teaching, you feel as though you are helping someone and leaving a positive impression on their life. The students in Batam are a very special, their smiling faces and their eagerness that greet us on our visits are unforgettable. It is a pleasure to be interacting with the students and they have definitely made a difference

in my life. Sarah Mountjoy, FIS teacher, said “The kids are great to teach. They’re really enthusiastic, and they’re at just the right level that we’re able to challenge them and really help them along with their English.” Not only does Friendship International School strive to help those in Batam, but also through this process, it allows the students from the Singapore American School to be a part of something unique and extremely rewarding.

Singapore International Schools Mathematics Competition (SISMC) By Joon Park, Grade 12 Student

t was 8:45am in the morning, and the campus was already overloaded with IASAS Rugby fans, AMIS delegates and Roots & Shoots members attending a recycling workshop. Amid the crowd however, was a group of young students, many of them in foreign school uniforms, waiting patiently in front of room H301. As the clock struck 9:00am, all of them rushed inside to begin their day at the second Singapore International Schools Mathematics Competition (SISMC). SISMC is an annual event that began four years ago thanks to Dr. Jim Kett (SAS) and Mr. Stephen Lumb (UWC). Since then, various international schools have hosted the event, but this year, SAS had the honor of sponsoring it for the second time. This year’s participants were 45 students from seven different international schools. After a short welcome speech by Mr. Dave Norcott, the students were divided into eight random teams for an icebreaker event. As soon as this quick, socializing event was over, the real competition began. Starting with a relay round, SISMC traditionally has three separate rounds – the relay, the energizer, and the individual. Both the relay and the energizer rounds require team effort, while the individual round tests students’ abilities to solve problems with speed, accuracy and creativity. All of this could not have happened without the help of Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honour Society) and Math

Club members. These passionate helpers did not merely stand around to guide lost students to bathrooms and the cafeteria. They helped to set up, organize, proctor and even grade every single event. The event truly could have run so smoothly without their help. As the event came to a close, three Mu Alpha Theta members, John Widjaja, Christopher Chee and Young Won Kim, gave short presentations on the mystery (or the beauty) of prime numbers and Polyas Five Planes. Then, what everybody had been anxiously waiting for began – the awards ceremony. SAS performed remarkably well. In the relay round, the top three places were won by SAS teams, and the last

team came in 5th. In the energizer round, SAS won first and second places. Five SAS students came in the top 10 places in the individual round, including Alex Schindele (9th grade) who was the champion of the individual round. Thus, not surprisingly, the overall champion for the 2009 Singapore International Schools Mathematics Competition was a team from SAS, which consisted of Alex, Wook Her (9th grade) and Dean Chang (8th grade). The runner-up also came from SAS: Kriti Agarwal (10th grade), Tanvi Ahuja (8th grade) and Juhee Lee (8th grade). Congratulations to all the participants, and thank you, Dr. Kett, for organizing this wonderful event!

Trading Post on the SAS website The Trading Post is a non-commercial courtesy classified ad service for SAS parents, students and teachers published online. To find the previous issue of Trading Post, go to “School Publications” on the main menu of the SAS website. Please send notices for next month’s Trading Post to trade@sas.edu.sg before April 6. Feedback and questions should be directed to communications@sas. edu.sg.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

SAS Hosts AMIS and 20th Annual International Honors Orchestra Festival By Stephen Bonnette, HS Faculty

early 250 student-musicians and faculty from 33 international schools took part in the 2009 International Strings Festival sponsored by the Association of Music in International Schools (AMIS) in early February. The worldclass facilities at SAS, along with an impressive lineup of guest artists and conductors, made for an incredible three days. The Festival Organization Committee began laying the groundwork for this prestigious event in 2007. They delivered a perfectly balanced program of inspirational recitals, culturally enriching activities and “ice-breaking” social opportunities (amis does mean friends, after all). While students were polishing a challenging and diverse repertoire in the rehearsal halls with their respective guest conductors, visiting faculty were engaged in valuable professional development sessions. The opportunity to network with fellow music educators is rare and something that we look forward to and cherish. Highlights of AMIS IHO 2009 included: • An exhilarating opening ceremony

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

in the Drama Theater was packed to the rafters with 196 of the world’s best student-musicians and their teachers. A traditional lion dance chased away the evil spirits, and the dancers presented our guest conductors with a banner symbolizing good fortune for the days to come. Southeast Asia’s premiere chamber ensemble, The T’ang Quartet, dazzled an enraptured audience with the sheer beauty of its music! • Award-winning composer Soon Hee Newbold was commissioned by AMIS to compose a new work dedicated to this event. Her music is extremely popular with young orchestras the world over, and her “Lion City” was a favorite selection with both the Junior and Senior Orchestras. Having her on campus with us all week was a great honor and a delight. As a bonus, she conducted a reading session of her published works with a “teacher orchestra,” giving us all insight into her compositions. • Concert violinist, pedagogue and musicologist Jack Glatzer has spent a good portion of his professional career studying and performing the music of Paganini. His virtuosity combined with the

knowledge of a subject about which he is clearly passionate made for an unforgettable lecture/recital. • Social activities ranged from an excursion to the Night Safari to dangling from the high ropes course and a hands-on gamelan session to literally climbing the walls. Students had opportunities to get out of their hard-earned seats in the orchestra and engage in grossmotor, team-building activities, which showcased our amazing facilities at SAS. A special thanks to Keith Hynes, Peter Cuthbert, Joe Lingle and Greg Reynen for their support in helping to run these activities. From the first beautiful sounds of the Junior Honor Orchestra performing a Vivaldi Concerto Grosso, the audience in the Auditorium Saturday night could sense that they were in for a special evening. This culminating concert was the result of months of individual preparation, tens of thousands of frequent flyer miles and days of intensive ensemble rehearsal. It did not disappoint. Conductor Lorraine Davis from the American School in London developed a diverse, challenging program and coaxed lush, warm tones from

her Junior charges. The Seniors were under the masterful baton of Australian Phillip Green, who’s superb musicianship, professionalism and personality proved to be the perfect mix. For the grand finale, a work commissioned especially for this event, both orchestras took the stage to a backdrop of 17 double basses on risers – spectacular! MS Strings Director and AMIS Board member Darrell Townshend and I would like to thank our fellow committee members Janis Bell Lim (housing), Kristin Symes (food and special events) and Michael Cox (schedule and transportation) for their excellent work and collegiality.

Also, thanks to our administration for being receptive and supporting us throughout the planning process. Finally, thank you and congratulations to the following IHO delegates from SAS for their dedication and accomplishments: Junior Orchestra: Lakshmi Batachari, Yoo Shin Jang, Min Kyong Kim, Deepti Varathan, Winston Yoo, Clare Kang, Young-Min Kim, Joo-Yeon Oh, Sylvia Shim, Kei Yoshikoshi, Young Ju Sohn, Celine Chang, Kelly Chang, Lena Jung, Anika Kim, Matthew McDermott, Isabelle Mulder, Ryan Zu.

Esther Jang, Yoon Ku Kang, Nancy Li, Vindhya Rao, Becka Ruan, Irene Tung, Duncan Benjamin, Julie Kim, Tyler Martawibawa, Woo Wan Jang, Phillip Lee, Vivian Yang, Avery Lim, Leah Zulkoski .

Senior Orchestra: Preeti Varathan,

A Collaborative Project on Eric Carle’s Works By Matthew Steuer, ECC faculty and Barbara Harvey, HS faculty Photo by Zulkifri Monsor, HS Art Instructional Assistant

he world-renowned and highly celebrated children’s book author and illustrator, Eric Carle, with his distinctive style of collage art, served as an inspiration for a collaborative project between Mr. Matthew’s preschoolers and Ms. Harvey’s HS Studio Art classes. After an in-depth exploration of Eric Carle’s work, including watching a video of him painting tissue paper and making a collage entitled “The Very Hungry Caterpillar and One Green Leaf Left,” the preschoolers headed for Ms. Harvey’s art studio. In our first session we painted on tissue paper, making a library of all kinds of brightly colored tissue paper with fascinating patterns and designs, just as Eric Carle would do. Then the preschoolers returned for a second meeting and teamed up with small groups of HS art students to make their collages. This time the preschoolers were the artistic bosses, and the high schoolers were the skilled hands that helped put what was swimming in those oceans of imagination onto paper in the form of some stunning collage illustrations. What was most impressive about this collaborative project, beyond those gorgeous works of art, was the engagement between the preschoolers and high schoolers. They worked together with such intensity and joy that observers were mesmerized. Hats off to Ms. Harvey’s Studio Art classes and Mr. Matthew’s preschoolers… you are all amazing illustrators and collaborators. In fact, perhaps this whole experience should be made into a book of its own, making all of these buddies, big and small, well-deserved published illustrators… now there is a thought…

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

When the Bamboo Sings By Virginia Cucchi, Grade 11

or the images of When The Bamboo Sings, I was inspired by the Asian context, an endless source of surprise and stimuli for its colors and vibrancy of the life along the street. I am also lucky to have parents who have instilled in me the passion and the pleasure in traveling as an atypical tourist, trying to discover the most hidden corners of a place to seek the soul of a country outside standard routes. There was, honestly, no idea of a book when I first interacted with the children with my camera; it was only an impulsive “game.” I loved to portray them, and they in return answered with the spontaneity of their natural performances. Maybe

they saw me as just a young girl and so never considered my “eye” intrusive. (I was a sophomore at the time.) Instead, they invited me to look into and share their secret places, their moments of joy. A little Orang Asli took my hand one afternoon, tugging me along, guiding me with obstinate determination through a small, muddy path to a hidden, unexpected river. It was what a photographer could only dream: in the warm, amber tones of the sunset stunning silhouettes of naked children dived from a fragile wooden bridge into the golden gray waters. They swam as fish, expressing all their joyful vitality among emerging roots of the mangroves. I didn’t choose children as subjects for my shots (I don’t have any natural inclination for nannying), but as it happened, they chose me. Then, last year, my English teacher, Mr. Blacklaws, by chance saw my photos and voiced his enthusiasm. I have a high regard for him for his way of vividly capturing images in words, and I felt deeply honored to receive this unexpected praise. It was for me a source of trust, which with my character I really needed. So we started to speak about a project that could help Asian children: he knew of Blue Dragon, a charity in Hanoi that offers shelter to kids who are abandoned or live on the road – not only a roof but also the opportunity to reintegrate into society by studying and

working. He had seen for himself the hands-on work that Blue Dragon is doing. As for the title, there is a novel called Rice Mother by Rani Manicka, a Malay-Indian writer, which starts with a young girl sitting on the knees of her uncle, listening to his amazing narration of birdnest-hunters, who lived in the faraway land of Malaya. They bravely climb up swaying bamboo poles, hundreds of feet high, to steal these nests made of birds’ saliva, which are the delicacies of rich men. Demon spirits and ghosts echo in the terrible blackness of caves, and their only friends are the bamboo poles that hold their weight: only when the bamboo sings will they dare the quest. The uncle teaches his young niece: “Your heart is your bamboo, and if you treat it kindly and listen for its song, the highest, biggest nest will surely be yours.” The strong metaphoric allusion to learning to listen to the song in our hearts was, for me, fitting for this journey through landscapes of images. When to trust the bamboo, /When to just smile and walk by,/When to capture the moment,/When to take and when to let go,/This is the art of learning to hear when the bamboo sings.

When The Bamboo Sings is a book of photographs of children in Malaysia, China, India and Burma. The photographs were taken by taken by Virginia Cucchi on her travels through Asia during her sophomore year. The costs of publishing the book have been underwritten by her father so that all proceeds go to Blue Dragon Singapore. Blue Dragon Singapore is a HS club founded by teacher Troy Blacklaws that targets street children in Cape Town and Hanoi. The book sells for $100 at the Booster Booth.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Calendar Highlights

* Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm 16-17 PS/IS Parent Teacher Conferences; No School for Preschool – Grade 5 17 Booster Club Meeting 10:00am (H301) 18 Parent Teacher Conference for Preschool No School for Preschool; Pre-K – Grade 5 in session HS Class Polo Dress Day EASA Geckos Concert 3:00pm – 4:15pm Grade 3 Dance (Pepple/Huisman) 7:00pm – 8:30pm (Elementary Gym) 18-19 MS Play Matinee 4:00pm (Drama Theater) HS Jostens on Campus

April 2009 1 3 4

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

HS Spanish Honor Society Induction 3:30pm (HS Library) MS Play Performance 7:00pm (Drama Theater) 20 3rd Quarter Ends Grade 6 Greek & Roman Day 21-28 MS String Orchestra Trip to Mussoorie, India 21-29 SPRING BREAK (NO SCHOOL) 26-28 ETC Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Sutera Harbour Hotel) 30 4th Quarter Begins

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

HS Class Polo Dress Day Booster Bake Sale HS Power School Open Report Cards MS Quarter 3 Online Report Cards Posted HS ACT Test HS Softball Boys Exchange in Bangkok HS Badminton and Track & Field Exchanges in Singapore Star Appeal Dinner 7:00pm (Goodwood Park Hotel) 6 IS Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:15am (I311) IS ITBS Testing 7 PTA Staff Appreciation Day 7-9 MS ITBS Testing 8 Alternate Dress Day HS Scenes & Monologues Performances 4:00pm & 7:00pm (Drama Theater) 8-9 IS ITBS Testing 9 HS NHS Induction 3:30pm (Drama Theater) 10 GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAY (NO SCHOOL) 13 FCD Parent Presentation 10:00am (Drama Theater) IS ITBS Make-up Testing 13-17 FCD Week 14 PTA Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) 2009/2010 Budget Presentation 7:00pm (H301) 14-15 IS/MS ITBS Make-up Testing 15 PS/IS/MS Student Early Release 12:45pm No Early Release for HS

March 2009

Due to 12:45pm Early Release, PM Preschool is cancelled HS Class Polo Dress Day 16 MS ITBS Make-up Testing French Honor Society Inductions (H301) 17 Jazz Night 7:00pm (American Club) Knowledge Bowl Competition 3:15pm (H210) 17-19 MS MYMUN Trip 19-21 IASAS Badminton in Taipei IASAS Softball in Manila IASAS Track & Field in Jakarta 20 Combined ECC & Primary Principal’s Coffee 8:30am - 9:45am (PS Faculty Lounge P220/P221) 20-24 Rachel Simmons Visiting Author IS Awesome Ape Competition 7:30am – 8:00am 21 Grade 3 Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:15am 22 Alternate Dress Day HS Dance Preview 4:00pm (Auditorium) 23 Grade 4 Parent Coffee 8:15am – 9:15am Grade 5 Parent Night 7:00pm (Elementary Theater) 23-24 HS Dance Performance 7:00pm (Auditorium) 24 Booster Honor Roll Recognition Lunch 11:20am PTA Carpet Auction 7:00pm (PTA Office) MS Dance 7:00pm (MS Cafeteria) 25 HS Junior/Senior Prom 9:00pm – 1:00am MS ISEE 27 4th Season Intramurals Begin

Asia Fest 2009: Second Grade Celebrates Asia! By Barb Osterhout, Pearl Morris and Sarah Farris, Grade Two Teachers

assport to Learning! On February 20, all second graders were treated to a taste of Asian culture as part of the social studies curriculum on the diversity of Asia. To kick-off this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asia Fest, students were treated to a colorful lion dance, and Karate Man (Mr. Tan) entertained them with dancing and fast-moving kicks and punches. After the kick-off, students were divided into 30 different groups, each representing an Asian country. Teachers, parents and instructional assistants had transformed classrooms into Asian worlds, and for two hours the students learned about the cultures of Asia through a variety of first-hand learning experiences. Tour guides, aka parent volunteers, led each group through a multi-sensory experience of Asia. Parents from the classes graciously donated their time and expertise to show the students a bit of their home cultures. The experiences varied from arts and crafts, such as calligraphy, brush painting and origami, to learning how to cook Chinese dumplings and Japanese sushi. Children tried on Korean costumes, had their hands painted with henna and tasted satay, roti prata and dragon beard candy. Children played an Indonesian shell game, tried to do a Filipino dance and a few even counted in Hindi! Our parents here are a wonderful resource and truly love sharing their talents with the children. Nothing brings the curriculum more alive than hands-on experiences, where students can taste local foods, play local games and try on costumes, and learn firsthand what they have read or studied in books. The childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enthusiasm at Asia Fest is true testimony that they are excited about learning! After the end of a truly enriching and fun morning, students put another stamp in their Passport to Learning!

SAS NewsFlash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 2009

Making the Food Fest a success takes many countless hours of time and effort by dedicated parents to cook food for thousands of people (Country Booth Coordinators). It also requires that High School students take away time from studying & playing sports to create delicious items that people would want to eat. Then, we must remember each committee head’s responsibility to organize a team of volunteers to sell drinks, sell coupons, count coupons, buy food & supplies, obtain sponsors, monitor theme baskets, organize vendors, coordinate entertainment, take photographs… the list goes on. This is truly about what being a part of an international community is all about – helping people, having fun & learning something new. I hope you enjoyed Food Fest as much as I enjoyed being a part of it! Regards, Katie Hamberlin

FOOD FEST COMMITTEE

Kim Hamby, Adeline Norton de Matos, Diane McManigal, Jenni Schuck, Diane Laurent, Stephanie Kotarski, Linda Rossinsky, Carol Peiffer, Lori Erhardt, Maureen Pond, Kim Johnson, Erma Huston, Mae Anderson, Susan Fay, Andrea Schneider

COUNTRY BOOTH COORDINATORS

Canada‐Debbie Milne & Christy Sverre China ‐ Kathy Lin & Grace Yang Egypt / Iran ‐ Sahar Kandil, Maryam Farzaneh & Sheedeh Hesh India ‐ Arathi Nilakantan, Vidya Sambamurthy & Nishu Kaul Indonesia ‐ Widji Darmawan, Monica Ramli & Bonita Siregar Italy ‐ Maggie Hardy Japan ‐ Nobuko Sperry & Misako Shibazaki Korea ‐ Jane Kwon Latin America ‐ Gabriela Lantz & Christiane Pinto Lebanon / Palestine ‐ Gary Dwor‐Frecaut & Dina Fuller Malaysia / Singapore ‐ Angela Chin Philippines ‐ Anna Peterson & Ana Del Rosario Thailand ‐ Laddawan Widdows

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO HELPED DURING FOOD FEST SET‐ UP

Katie Frankenfield Katie Quirk Maggie Guilfoyle Bryan Rock Biz Ennis Mitchell Culy Michael Denoma

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Anton Lorenzo Emma Quirk Shona Graham Jack Hollister Braedon McCoy Alex Rossinsky Scott Denoma

Mitali Mathur Ellie Guilfoyle Tanya Graham Megan Hollister Duncan Clydesdale Max Rossinsky Walker Hamberlin

SAS PTA

President’s Letter Dear SAS parents, Let me begin this month’s letter with a huge “Thank You” to Arathi Nilakantan and Vidya Sambamurthy, our 2009 County Fair Chairs. Arathi, Vidya and their dedicated committee of volunteers organized a wonderful event that was successful in bringing the entire SAS community together for a day of the fun and pleasure that come with this American tradition, while also raising a significant amount of funds for the PTA and other organizations. Many people may not realize the toll that a large-scale event such as this exacts on volunteers’ and their families, and to this end, I’d like to extend my deepest appreciation for everyone who worked at the fair. This year’s County Fair would certainly not have been possible without these warm-hearted volunteers!

Parents often ask what the PTA does with the funds raised at the County Fair, Food Fest and Gala Wine Dinner. Let me first provide some examples of how we work with various groups to raise funds. At the County Fair, you most likely noticed that some of the food and game booths were run by High School clubs. Prior to the fair, PTA representatives work with these clubs to develop booth ideas and to obtain sponsorship. The students, under the guidance of their teacher sponsors, are responsible for setting up and manning the booths during the event. The PTA provides most of the supplies needed by each club, and the proceeds of the booth are split, with 75% going to the club and 25% to the PTA. As clubs often find it difficult to raise funds, PTA events provide them with opportunities to do so, which is then typically channeled back into the local charities that they work with. Funds raised by the PTA are allocated through each division’s Fund Spending Requests. At the end of the last school year, the PTA contributed over $300,000 to support these requests. Items purchased through PTA grants include musical instruments, sporting equipment, counseling material, Chinese cultural material, gardening tools, cameras and iPods, visualizers and hundreds of classrooms books. Each year, the PTA also sponsors visiting authors and musicians, High School Interim scholarships and High School senior scholarships. In addition, the PTA donated $70,000 to the SAS Education Foundation last year ($25,000 for academic programs, $25,000 for professional development programs, $10,000 for athletic programs and $10,000 for extracurricular programs). All this would not be possible without the support of the SAS community either by volunteering at events, attending these functions or offering sponsorship. We have had a great year so far and appreciate all the hard work and support from the PTA membership and wider SAS community. As always, we encourage you to contact us with questions or suggestions that you may have for the PTA.

Mae Anderson PTA President mae.anderson@mac.com

oaisjkjkjkjkjkjkjkddSsdsoaidoiodsjddddsadsajdajdssss0ajsssjldddddmmmmdddddm 2009/10 PTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS & REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS The PTA Nominating Committee is seeking nominees for 2009/10 PTA executive committee positions: president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. A slate of candidates will be submitted at the PTA Annual General Meeting on May 19. Nominations will be accepted until May 5, two weeks prior to the election. If you would like to submit your name or nominate someone, please contact one of the following Nominating Committee members: Anne Chan (Committee Chair), chanyyanne@yahoo.com; Kim Hamby, casahamby@ gmail.com; Katie Hamberlin, katie112968@aol.com. The PTA is also seeking volunteers for the 2009/10 academic year to chair or work with the following committees: PTA Services - PTA Sales, Welcoming, Calendar, Scholastic Books, Directory, Celebration Books and PTA Events - Hospitality, Food Fest, Book Fair, County Fair, Gala Wine Dinner, Sponsorship, Pumpkin Sales. Detailed descriptions of the committees are available on http://pta.sas.edu.sg/Board/ CommitteeStructure/tabid/60/Default.aspx or by contacting the current committee chairpersons. To express an interest in volunteering for one of these committees, please contact PTA President Mae Anderson by email at mae.anderson@mac.com.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2008

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

MS Technology Teacher Honored by Ohio State U Alumni

eacher Jim Diebley received the Career Achievement Award from Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology on November 8, 2008. The award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession, demonstrated early achievement or provided dedicated service to his or her alma mater. Diebley’s award was for contributions that he has made in the field of education over the last 16 years, first in Guam where he developed a thriving technology program and was involved with curriculum writing and administering educational programs. In 1996, he moved to SAS as the technology teacher for grades 6-8. In 2000, he co-founded Keyboards for Kids, a community service program through which the students collect and distribute reconditioned school computers, first in India, and now in Indonesia. “In his role as sponsor and mentor, he touches lives in a manner that further shapes the development of qualities and characteristics that will serve these young people for a lifetime,” stated SAS Superintendent and nominator Brent A. Mutsch, EdD.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Grade 8 Writer’s Camp

By John Koncki, MS Faculty Photos by Kimberly Riemer, MS Faculty and Dylan Moore, MS Student

recently sat down to chat with the 22 eighth graders who traveled to Telunas Beach for the 5th annual Writer’s Camp. The camp was held over the Chinese New Year break. Here’s what they had to say: JK: “So, the trip’s blurb claimed: An unforgettable writer’s camp with a professional writer – to reward students interested in creative writing with an opportunity to sharpen their skill in a fun and challenging environment. Nicky, did the trip lived up to its billing?” Nicky Muller: “Imagine an island, all alone for 22 Middle School students (20 girls and only 2 boys)… and 1 famous author. Next, imagine all of those people jumping off high and low docks, then jumping off huge rocks with some even trying to touch the bottom, which is around 2 stories down. When these kids come back from their adventures, they don’t lie on their beds. They go to their cabins and grab their pencils and writing materials. Yes, they are going to write before their great epiphanies spill out of their creative minds.” JK: “I can absolutely imagine the scene. Telunas Beach Resort is located on Sugi, one of dozens of islands that make up Indonesia’s Riau Islands. Only two hours from Singapore, Telunas is truly a world away and an idyllic location for a writer’s camp. It is also the home of the 8th grade Classroom Without Walls (CWW). How did it feel to be back?” Alistair Graham: “I thought that after CWW I wouldn’t get to see Telunas again! I was wrong and so glad that I was. Telunas is so peaceful; it was great to return.”

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

running for your life from a swarm of crabs to screaming your head off as you jump from a waterfall into tea-colored water, was an amazing experience I will never forget.” JK: “Got it. Beside the extreme flora and fauna, what other highlights come to mind?” Catherine Andrade: “The bonfire was very scary; there was a lot of screaming.” JK: “I see a theme developing here. Anything quietly appealing?” Sylvia Shim: “I got to know a lot more about the language and culture (of the area)…” JK: “Yes, it’s good to travel. It gives us a relative experience we can’t find at home. Was there anything else that might inspire future campers?” Lauren Fremont: “The food was great, especially taco/burrito night.”Renata Lumanau: “The sand, the sea and having fun with your friends doing activities like visiting a Muslim village really is something memorable… I bonded with people I never really knew.” JK: “Great. Should we talk about the social side of the trip or should we get into the writing portion?” Nandita Baloo: “I think the writing portion was great – I got a lot of inspiration from the activities and they let me pursue a new form of writing.” JK: “I agree the activities (deserted island exploration, fishing village visit, waterfall hike, bonfire, etc.) were rich sources for creativity in our writing. How did they affect your work?”

JK: “Telunas visitors are forever claiming Telunas is rustic but comfortable. What was your experience?”

Tara Sivaskandan: “The scenery and the beauty of Telunas motivated us to write our best.”

Amanda Lutt: “The camp, from

Dylan Moore: “The experience that

will never forget them.” JK: “Awesome! You really did learn a lot from Mr. Tulloch. Did you learn any other lessons?” Allison Davis: “Writing is whatever you want it to be. Only you are in control of the experience.” the camp afforded was visible in our writing no matter what the piece was about.” JK: “So the setting clearly influenced your stories. Tell me about working with Aussie author Richard Tulloch.” Lili Gensler: “Richard really inspired us and got us motivated; we never wanted to stop writing.” Katia Tanner: “The writing experience was unforgettable and very educational. It was definitely fun and Mr. Tulloch was a great teacher.” Kelsey DeBerry: “Mr. Tulloch really helped us with our writing. I’ll definitely continue writing; I learned a lot.” JK: “Wow, you guys are gushing about your celebrity teacher. Was it cool having a peek into a published author’s creative process?”

JK: “Super. So, the key ingredients for successful creative writing are an idyllic setting and an inspiring teacher. Is there anything else?” Theresa Ellsworth: “It was great to learn a lot in such a small period of time and to do it in a big group too.” JK: “I see. Tell me more about the social side of writing on Telunas.” Alyssa San Jose: “I never wanted to leave my room. I had my pen, paper and all my friends – all I ever needed.” JK: “Although this group of 8th graders is all from SAS you didn’t necessarily know one another prior to taking this trip. Was there any magic in this group once you got to know one another?” Laura DeCrescenzo: “I’ve never felt

so tight and comfortable with a group that’s been together for such a short time.” JK: “That’s a very good thing considering you spent a lot of time together on this trip. Your chaperones, Paula St. James and Kim Riemer, were very impressed with your ability to gel so well. Congratulations! Any concluding thoughts from the rest of you?” Lauren McMullen: “The activities that we did were really fun. It was all a really good combination: the physical activities, the writing and the tranquility of the island.” Ragini Shyamsunder: “The experience was unforgettable and extremely inspirational. I really enjoyed it!” JK: “I’d like to conclude with a Haiku I wrote about one of my most memorable moments from the trip. I think it represents the courage we individually mustered to be a part of such a great adventure. This one’s for you, Lorraine!” Fear Stands High Above Gravity Can’t Do Its Thing Scream! Splash! Fear is Gone

Alistair Graham: “It was great to meet the co-author of my favorite TV show when I was younger (Bananas in Pajamas).” JK: “That’s not exactly what I had in mind but I know what you mean. It’s fun to meet famous people. Do you have any reflections that might be a little less star-struck?” Saki Mihori: “I learned more about my writing. I never knew my writing could get this creative.” Tamara Lam: “This was a very frightening experience for me, but now I feel comfortable sharing my writing pieces. I learned many tips that will help me with writing and I

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

Reading/Language Arts Curriculum Review Well Under Way in the Middle School By Scott Riley, MS RLA Teacher and Department Chair

ith pens in hand, writers scribbled away on their draft essays. The instructor circulated the room conferring with the students. She then directed them to talk to their partners about the effective techniques they had chosen to incorporate. It looked and sounded like a typical day in an RLA classroom, but in this case the writers were our very own middle school teachers, who took important time recently to work with Janine King, MS RLA Consultant. Since last fall, teachers and administrators have been busy reviewing our current RLA program in this “Study Year” on the curriculum cycle. Not only have we been reflecting on our current units and practices, we have also been pouring over important data and feedback from all stakeholders in the community. This review has included student surveys, parent surveys, faculty surveys, parent

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009

coffees, parent-teacher conferences and meetings, parent-administrator meetings, school accreditation input from faculty and parents, review of internal and external assessment data on student performance, review of models and exemplars, and networking with other professionals and experts in the field of language arts and literacy. The information and data have provided invaluable and comprehensive insights into what we are currently doing well and what we can do even better. The recommendations for RLA/English in all four divisions will be discussed with the school’s Curriculum Committee in March and then shared with the school-wide community in the April NewsFlash. Janine King, a seasoned teacher and middle school literacy coach in the Seattle Schools and highly regarded international consultant, is an integral cog in this process of renewal. In both departmental and grade level pullout sessions during her weeklong visit, she shared her expertise on current best practices in middle school RLA classrooms worldwide. Our conversations focused on instructing a writing program with rigor, assessing writing to inform further instruction and developing meaningful reading experiences through a balanced literacy program. At times we explored these ideas as readers and writers, giving us firsthand experience and reinforcing the concept that the most effective teachers of reading and writing need to think like readers and writers. We participated in important discussions on how other concerns, such as grammar instruction and scheduling

issues, can be addressed. Finally, we considered the effective components of our existing program, such as the Six Traits framework (i.e., Conventions/Grammar/Mechanics, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, Voice, Organization, Ideas), and how they complement our program. Throughout the week’s work and the entire curriculum process, we are keeping our understanding of the middle school child at the forefront, while also considering the transitional needs of students from Intermediate School to Middle School and Middle School to High School. As middle school teachers, we know that students at this age are complex. It is a time in their lives when they are becoming more independent, experiencing new pressures and developing a sense of voice. To ensure their success during this critical stage, we know that they need rich academic experiences where they feel safe when taking risks and mastering skills. We must also involve choice, active involvement and time to reflect and celebrate whenever possible. By the end of the week, we were exhausted. Like writing, curriculum is hard but rewarding work. Our common dialogue and experience during this week gave us greater understanding of important work and essential agreements. We feel rejuvenated and ready to continue the next steps in this process to articulate and implement an exemplary middle school literacy program that fosters engaged, thoughtful and successful readers and writers.

Water Report

By Ashley Bang, Grade 5 The NEWater system will never end unless everyone in Singapore stops flushing. We are very fortunate to have such a smart water system.

ater. When that word is mentioned, most people think of cool fresh water bursting out of a hose to water their lawn. Others think of nice cold water in a glass or water running from a tap in a sink. If everyone had access to the clean water in our thoughts, there wouldn’t be a water scarcity problem in the world. In the GATE RLA class, we have been learning that water scarcity is a global emergency. More than a billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water. Most people in developing countries are limited to using dirty water. This causes disease, and some families are too poor to afford medication. SAS is lucky enough to have access to fresh water, but let’s examine the water supply in a similarly sized school in Cambodia.

Imagine how many water sources the entire Singapore American School has. Our class surveyed the water resources of each student’s home, and the total was close to the total number of water resources in the Intermediate School. How does such a small, 273 mile2 country have so much fresh water? One of the reasons is because of Singapore’s NEWater system, also known as one of the country’s “four national taps,” which is a genius system that changes waste water into fresh and clean water. Scientists have perfected a combination of microfiltration, ultraviolet disinfection and reverse osmosis technology to make the water 100% clean and drinkable. There are four NEWater factories in Singapore, along with a visitor center.

Water scarcity is a major crisis. Although we can’t stop it completely, if everybody pitches in and conserves water, we can make the one percent of fresh water on earth last. Saving water is a must in the household, and it isn’t that hard to do. Simple things, such as checking for leaks, clearing the balcony or driveway with a broom instead of a hose and watering the lawn early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent evaporation all save water Most water is wasted in the bathroom. People don’t turn off the tap when they brush their teeth, and they take long showers. A nine-liter-a-minute shower saves 20,000 liters a year. A lot of water is also wasted while flushing. The dual flush uses half the amount of water for liquids and more water for solids. To find more ways to save water go to http://www.h2ouse.org/. Water. Next time that word is mentioned, do not only think of fresh, clean water running from the tap. Think about all the ways that you can save and reuse water and how precious it is to the world. Think of how fortunate SAS is to have access to clean water. Think about the severity of the water deficit in other countries. Think about how you can help save the world’s water.

The graph compares water access for the Intermediate School and the entire Bakong School in Cambodia. Bakong has about 900 students, and the Intermediate School has about 860. The Intermediate School has close to 15 times the number of toilets that Bakong has and about 49 times the amount of taps.

SAS NewsFlash – March 2009