Singapore American School Newsflash, October 2009 by Singapore American School

MICA (P) 154/08/2009

Volume 12, Issue 3-09/10 - October 2009

NewsFlash A Singapore American School community service publication

Planning for Now and The Future Page 3

Stretching The Truth Page 16

Award-winning author to visit in December Page 34

NEWSFLASH

October 2009

Volume 12, Issue 3-09/10

Board of Governors

BRENT MUTSCH

Superintendent of Schools

MARK BOYER

Asst. Superintendent for Learning

Rhonda Norris Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources

DAVID HOSS Principal Primary School

Marian Graham Principal Intermediate School

18 Booster Club News 26 PTA President’s Letter

IS Professional Development

32-33 HS Performances

Storytelling

CFC Teachers Visit SAS

Arts Council Open House

College & Career Day

A Learning-Focused School

Photo Club Winners

HS Dance Exchange

Visiting Author

Devin Pratt Principal Middle School

Are You Receiving What’s Happening at SAS?

William Scarborough

Director of Finance and Business Operations

David Norcott Principal High School

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. 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:Alfi Dino

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

We welcome input from the community associated with Singapore American School December NewsFlash Deadline: November 9, 2009 Publication Date: December 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

Planning for Now and the Future By Mark Boyer, Assistant Superintendent for Learning

ogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” Knowing where we are going as a school is critically important in an age where dramatic changes are impacting future opportunities. Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind suggest that education needs to be about development of strong basic skills and about transformational processes that provide students with the opportunities to be self-initiating, flexible, creative, persevering, resilient, innovative and curious lifelong learners. These are a whole new set of dispositions and skills that are different from traditional education expectations. As SAS continues to develop and implement its Strategic Plan, it is important that we prepare students for current and future success.

This planning for the future is incorporated into the SAS Vision: “The Singapore American School inspires a passion for learning, encourages emotional and intellectual vitality, and empowers students with the confidence and courage to contribute to the global community and to achieve their dreams.” As Yeats would say, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” In classrooms and as a school, it is finding that balance to provide strong academic preparation and also to provide opportunities for students to develop their voices and passions. The school’s Strategic Plan contains many of the structures that are building greater precision in how SAS staff understand and support student learning. It includes significant areas of academic growth and performance by students as measured through a variety of standardized tests. It also highlights areas where more attention would be beneficial. The greatest asset that makes the school’s Strategic Plan viable and that is the most significant contributor to student growth and performance is the overall quality of staff at SAS. This is a staff that continues to learn independently and from one another and increasingly understands that our success as a school is based on our interdependence and informed collaborative agreements on what is most important for students to know, understand and be able to do. Below are the strategic directions that are being pursued for 2009-2010: I.

Curriculum – Establish high standards of classroom unit development across grade levels and courses that are aligned to a quality school curriculum.

A. B. C. D.

Craft guidelines and protocols for classroom unit development and use. Develop science, physical education and health classroom units aligned to school curriculum (on Curriculum Cycle). Refine/revise RLA/English school curriculum and begin development of aligned classroom units (on Curriculum Cycle). Refine/revise visual & performing arts and technology education & careers curriculum and begin development of aligned classroom units (on Curriculum Cycle). E. Review school-wide service learning. F. Review the school-wide Chinese language program. G. Continue to pursue development of partnerships that offer student learning within the curricular and co-curricular programs. II. Assessment and Data – Enhance classroom, division and school use of effective and articulated assessment practices to support a focus on student learning. A. Develop school-wide understanding, agreement and support for best practices in assessment. B. Develop a database for correlation of demographic data, student learning data, perceptual data and program data for informed decision making at classroom, division and school levels. Focus on development of a correlated database for K-12 RLA/English and K-12 Math. C. Use the findings of data analysis to inform decisions about curriculum and programs. D. Integrate effective assessment practices within classroom unit development (on the Curriculum Cycle). E. Establish a plan on how to attain greater core consistency of learning expectations connected to curriculum and classroom units. F. Identify baseline data to assess progress of the technology strategic plan as it relates to student learning. Continued on Page 33

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

To:

All Members of The American School Trust Limited Those Eligible to be Members

The Annual General Meeting of The American School Trust Limited (the “Trust”) will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., in room H301 in the high school. The agenda for the AGM includes: •

A presentation of the audited accounts of the Singapore American School for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

•

The appointment of auditors for the year 2009-10.

•

A report from the Superintendent.

•

The election of four Governors of the Board for three-year terms.

All Trust members are entitled and encouraged to attend the AGM and are eligible to vote in the election. The five candidates standing for election are Bart Broadman, Bon Park, Donna Meyer, Catherine Poyen Zemans and Maria Warner Wong. Their personal statements appear in this publication. Trust members may cast their ballots for up to four of these candidates by: •

Voting personally by attending the AGM on October 27.

•

Voting by absentee ballot. An absentee ballot and instructions on its use will be mailed to all trust members in advance of the AGM. An absentee ballot may also be obtained from Board Secretary Ann Tan in the Central Administration office.

•

Delegating your vote via the use of the proxy form. Trust members who desire to delegate their vote by proxy must personally obtain the said serialized proxy form from the Board Secretary in the Central Administration office.

Please also be aware that in order to vote in this election, you must be a member of the Trust. If you have not yet joined the Trust or if you are unsure about your membership, please contact Ann Tan at ann@sas.edu.sg or call 6360-6315 for assistance. On behalf of the Board, I encourage you to join the Trust, attend the AGM and vote. Sincerely,

Bart Broadman Chairman, Board of Governors

Singapore American School Board of Governor Candidates

Occupation: Investor

Bart Broadman

Employer: Alphadyne Asset Management, Pte Ltd Children at SAS: Jared, grade 9, Craig, grade 7, Kianna, grade 4 Expected Stay in Singapore: Indefinite Educational Background: BS (UC Davis), MBA (USC), PhD (USC) Volunteer Experience: SAS Board of Governors, board member; CPF (Central Provident Fund), board member; Nanyang Technological University Investment Committee, member; QAFU (Quality Assurance for Universities – MOE), past member; Little League Singapore, past president; SACAC and SEABYST, baseball coach for 6 years. Candidate Statement: SAS is a wonderful school – my wife and I feel fortunate that our three children attend SAS and I am honored to be the current Chairman of the Board of Governors. Since my election to the Board in October 2006, I have had the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Trust Committee, Vice Chairman and now Chairman of the Board. As a result, I have learned to appreciate how much must come together to make SAS such a terrific school. In particular it takes a great faculty, an effective administration, a supportive, involved parent community and good kids, all working hard to make this place special. The Board also contributes, and I hope to be re-elected to ensure that the Board’s contribution is as meaningful as it can be. The past three years have seen the Board wrestle with a number of challenges, including long waiting lists, the possibility of expansion (which we concluded was not necessary) and the selection and hiring of our current Superintendent. While these were necessary issues for the Board to address in addition to everything else it had going on, I think the Board and Administration now need to be very focused on two primary goals: 1) Improving SAS from the perspective of student learning. By focusing hard on what we do well, what we can do better, how we can help the faculty and administration and where we can improve facilities, we can make a great school even better. Recently, the Board introduced a “deep dive” process to look at key issues in the curriculum, along with other key areas of the school, to try to help improve SAS. It is a process we believe will yield results that benefit every student. 2) Better securing the long-term financial health of SAS. For many years SAS operated on a pure “pay as you go” system with minimal reserves. While we are fortunate that this worked in the past, it is no way to run a school of this size nor is it responsible to future generations (the Board needs to act as long term trustees of the school). The creation of clearer operating reserve policies, and the establishment of the Endowment have been significant steps in the right direction. However, more work must be done to build up the school’s reserves and to ensure the facility is funded in a way that gives our teachers the best environment in which to teach our children – through good times and bad. The budget process has already begun for 20102011, and I am encouraged by what I see so far. In addition to the “big two” listed above, there are a number of other items that the Board is focused on, ranging from the calendar to facilities and security. These items are important, and the Board spends a good deal of necessary time on them. In sum, it promises to be a busy year. On a personal note, Val and I intend to stay in Singapore indefinitely. As a family, we have been at SAS for six years and fully expect our three children to graduate from SAS. Thus you can rest assured that I take the long-term view regarding SAS and would be pleased to continue serving on the Board.

Singapore American School Board of Governor Candidates

Donna Meyer Occupation/Employer: 2006 – Present: Venture investor, provide funds for seed capital to start-up companies; 1987 – 2000: Investment banker and senior relationship manager with Citigroup, Sumitomo Trust and GE Capital in New York, Hong Kong and Singapore Education Background: LLB Honours, National University of Singapore MBA, Columbia University Graduate School of Business Children at SAS: Jonathan Irvine, grade 1 and Alexander Irvine, grade 2 Expected Stay in Singapore: Long term Volunteer Experience: SAS: PTA Grade 1 Room Parent, 2008/09 and Grade 2 Head Room Parent 2009/10 Charity fund raiser: Member, Singapore Symphony Orchestra Ladies’ League. Appointed in 2009. League raises funds for the SSO and works to create greater awareness of the SSO; Committee member, 2009 Yellow Ribbon Project Gala. Target to raise S$600,000 to fund rehabilitation and support projects for ex-prisoners and their families; Committee member, 2008 Asia Panda Ball. Raised S$540,000 for Worldwide Fund for Nature for projects to protect Southeast Asia’s Coral Triangle. Other: Chairperson, Collective Sale Committee, Ardmore Point, Singapore. Led successful sale of the property at a recordsetting price in 2006; Committee member, 2004 Pro-tem Committee for establishment of the Baba House Museum, a historical Peranakan residence purchased with private donor funds and transformed into a “living” museum showcasing Peranakan lifestyle and culture Outside Interests: Entertaining, classical music, reading, travel, collecting textiles and keeping fit. Candidate Statement: My husband and I have made Singapore our home, and we look forward to our sons completing a total of 13 years at SAS. We want to see SAS grow from strength to strength, provide our sons and every child at SAS with an excellent education and be a place of which we are all proud. I am passionate about working with the Board to make SAS the school of choice for Americans and others, not only in Singapore but from everywhere, and to create a tradition for achievement and excellence that makes students, parents, alumni and staff proud. I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is an outstanding education that emphasizes not only academics, but compassion, responsibility, accountability, achievement, respect and honor. By joining the Board, I hope to be able to contribute toward making these gifts sustainable for every child at SAS. I would like to see SAS build on its excellence and become a premier institution on par with the best schools in the United States. To get there, SAS needs not only the superb leadership and staffing that it already has, but also financial independence and flexibility to create programs and build facilities to provide an excellent global American education. I would like to contribute to SAS growth in three ways: first, through long-term strategic planning and budgeting work with the Board; second, through systematic and dynamic development work that will expand the vision and generosity of those who established the Endowment Fund; and third, through serving on Board Committees as needed and as appropriate to my background. My educational background and experience as a venture investor, senior relationship banker and charity fund-raiser combine financial, business and people-networking skills with a close-up perspective on working with teachers, students and parents through the PTA. I am accustomed to disciplined and rigorous analysis and analytical problem-solving and decision-making, where my work has exposed me to a wide variety of organizations and situations. I would like to apply this intellectual rigor as a member of the Board, tempered with the compassion and insight gained through my volunteer work and as a mother of two young children. I would be honored to serve the SAS community.

Singapore American School Board of Governor Candidates

Bon Park Occupation: Homemaker Children at SAS: Simon, grade 5, Isabel, grade 4 and Madeleine, grade 1 Expected Stay in Singapore: Indefinite Educational Background: BA, Barnard College Community Involvement: SAS Board of Governors: 2007 to present (Finance Committee, Trust Committee and Advancement Committee Chair); Star Appeal Organizing Committee, 2006 to present; Children’s Society/ Henderson Student Care Center, 2006 to present; Facilitator in Women’s Bible Study, 2005 to present Statement: It has been an honor to serve the SAS community for the past two years. I serve on the Finance, Trust and Advancement Committees of the School Board. During my tenure I have gained a deep respect and appreciation for Dr.Brent Mutsch and his Leadership Team, for my fellow board members and for the teaching community. I made a significant time commitment to SAS when I was appointed two years ago, yet I feel indebted to SAS for making an investment in me – through education and training – so that I might be a more effective Board member. SAS, with 3,850 students, is the largest international school in the world and is considered to be one of the best. While SAS is proud of its many accomplishments, it continually strives to improve what it offers its students, and today is faced with several key challenges. As the number of international schools outside of and within Singapore grows, we are faced with an increasingly competitive environment for hiring and retaining teachers. We also confront a changing economic landscape that requires the Board and the administration to ensure that SAS’s assets are as secure in the future as they are today. Shortly after I joined the Board, I was given the task of starting, as well as chairing, the Advancement Committee. The Advancement Committee was born out of the Board’s recognition that in order to remain competitive and provide diverse quality programs, tuition alone would not cover the cost of running the school. Most parents agree that the best schools are defined by the quality of their teachers. At SAS, we strive to retain and hire the best teachers for our children, and in that regard, teacher compensation represents 80% of tuition proceeds. In previous years, the Board was able to accommodate the annual increases by admitting more students. However, with the school at capacity the last few years, the Board has made a commitment to developing additional sources of revenue in order to reduce the school’s dependence on tuition and annual increases. In my two years of working closely with Brent and the Development Office, I believe we have put forward an effective strategy to maintain and augment our fund raising capabilities, and this has resulted in a more proactive Annual Fund that supports numerous activities and initiatives throughout the school. Similarly we have tried to cultivate a spirit of giving, which has increased our Endowment, whose long-term goal is to contribute to the Operating Budget. Similarly, my work on the Finance and Trust Committees has given me additional avenues for contributing to the Board’s efforts to ensure that SAS continues to hold true to its mission, vision and values through effective budgeting and through seeking to tap the many talents available in the SAS parent community. I am confident that the work we are doing in the Advancement Committee – indeed, in each Board Committee – will take “extraordinary care for the welfare of each child” to another level. It is an area that is closest to my heart because the work we are doing will not only benefit our children today but will also benefit the SAS children of tomorrow. I hope to continue my services on the Board, and I would be honored by your support.

Singapore American School Board of Governor Candidates

Maria Warner Wong Occupation: Architect, Teacher Current Employer: Warner Wong Design/WOW Architects, Director of Design; National University of Singapore, School of Design and the Environment (part-time tutor) Children at SAS: Alex, grade 11 and Jon Oliver, grade 6 Expected Stay in Singapore: Indefinite Educational Background: K-12 The American School Foundation, Mexico City, 1969-1981; Universidad Anahuac, Mexico City. Undergraduate Studies in Architecture, 1984; University of Southern California, School of Architecture. BA in Architecture, 1987; Harvard University, Graduate School of Design. MA in Architecture, 1991 Community Involvement/Volunteer Work: SAS Board of Governors, 2008 to present; Facilities Committee, Trust Committee; SAS Career Day Speaker for Architecture; SAS Mentor for a Day; Architecture Firm Representative Active Memberships: Singapore Institute of Architects; Harvard Club of Singapore; Singapore Green Building Council; American School Foundation Alumni (Mexico) Personal Statement: It has been a privilege to serve our school community as a member of the SAS Board of Governors. As a member of the Board, I am committed to continuing to engage the SAS community by tapping into the rich reservoir of talent, ideas, experience and knowledge of best practices to maximize student learning from the immediate and broader global community. I believe in the mission, vision and values that exemplify SAS. They are commitments to ensuring that SAS remains competitive and delivers an exemplary American education with an international perspective and have guided my work on the Board. As an architect and educator with a passion for the environment, I am able to share experience, insight and commitment to global best practices. My work on the Facilities Committee has been in support of the sustainable and cost effective long-term development of existing and future SAS facilities. I am a proponent of engaging the school community and involving students and faculty in creating an exemplary green learning environment. Since I joined the Board, a strategic cost plan for the SAS campus and facilities has been drafted by the Facilities Department. The plan emphasizes the long-term sustainable and cost effective management of one of our most important assets. This plan will evolve and be implemented in the coming years under the review of the Facilities Committee, which I continue to support in its effort to ensure that SAS achieves the highest standard of excellence. I also serve on the Trust Committee and remain firmly committed to the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to tap into the extraordinary wealth of talent and experience in our parent community. In going from good to great, SAS faces many challenges. The next few years will be a critical period in which to address issues of major concern to the entire SAS community. If elected to another term, I will support the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts in addressing the global financial crisis, recruiting and retaining top quality teachers, further developing college counseling strategies to ensure students are best equipped to gain admission into the most suitable university, remaining competitive in a growing international education market and ensuring the cost effective operations of the school to provide maximum educational value. Since enrolling our children at SAS, my husband and I have felt a strong affinity with the mindset and values of the school and have been consistently amazed with the quality of learning, teaching, counseling, curriculum and extracurricular opportunities offered. The extraordinary ways in which families, faculty and the SAS community participate, volunteer and contribute to the school add extraordinary value. With your support, I would be honored to continue to serve on the Board of Governors to ensure that each child benefits from the very best of SAS.

Singapore American School Board of Governor Candidates

Catherine Poyen Zemanss Occupation: Lawyer/Instructor, National University of Singapore Children at SAS: Oliver, grade 1 and Madeleine, grade 3 Expected Stay in Singapore: Indefinite Work Experience: Instructor, Legal Skills Programme, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore (2002 to 2008) Corporate Finance Attorney, Shearman & Sterling LLP, Singapore (1997 to 2001) Litigation Attorney, McCarthy Tetrault, Toronto, Canada (1993 to 1997) Volunteer Experience: SAS Board of Governors (2008 to present) (Curriculum Committee; Trust Committee; Board of Governors representative to the PTA Executive Board); United Hebrew Congregation (Singapore) (Various responsibilities, including terms as president, since 1999); KK Hospital Outreach to Kids Fund, Secret Garden Appeal Committee; SAS classroom volunteer. Personal Statement: My main goal in continuing my work on the Board is to ensure that SAS maintains the high quality of staff, curriculum and facilities going forward, given the significant challenges we face with rising costs and a changing economic environment. I sit on the Curriculum Committee and I believe that my experience in teaching and developing and implementing curriculum at NUS provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by SAS in adopting and modifying a curriculum and in delivering it in a differentiated manner to a diverse student body. Overseeing the development of curriculum that meets the growing expectations of our families for an exemplary educational experience for their children is a high priority for me and the dedicated Board members with whom I am honored to serve. SAS is firmly focused on student learning. Under the oversight of the Curriculum Committee and the Board, there have been many significant recent developments, including: • • • •

adopting essential agreements and a math fact continuum in the PS and IS math curriculum; ensuring that writing becomes a central aspect of our RLA program school-wide; adopting new curricula in science and health as well as a framework for the integration of technology into all aspects of student learning; and hiring a Director of Assessment to improve student learning and build collaborative approaches to teaching.

I also sit on the Trust Committee, which encourages parents to volunteer their time in service of the Board and oversees and amends policies and procedures. Ensuring that the richly talented and diverse SAS community is well represented is an important goal of the committee. In addition, ensuring that effective policies are in place to permit the school and the Board to deliver on the Strategic Plan is a primary focus. I have been privileged to serve as the Board representative to the PTA and have benefited from the insight that I have gained working with the PTA Executive Board and volunteering at PTA events. In addition, I have continued to be involved in the classroom and extra-curricular activities of my children. Through all of this, I have developed meaningful relationships with teaching, administrative and support staff at the school and gained insight into the strengths and weaknesses of SAS. These experiences, my professional training in law and my teaching inform my service on the SAS Board. The faculty and administration are deeply committed to providing a well-rounded education with a focus on the welfare of each child. Our mission, vision and values reflect these goals in which I strongly believe. I would be honored to continue to serve on the Board of Governors. A second term on the Board would allow me to provide continuity on the implementation and continued refinement of the policy and curricular issues which the Board has initiated. I remain committed to working to improve our children’s education at SAS and welcome your support in this election.

Intermediate School Teachers Launch their Professional Development with a Bang! How do SAS teachers focus their professional development on learning? By Jodi Bonnette, IS Literacy Coordinator Photos by Faizah Aziz and Jodi Bonnette

riting is the focus for professional development in the Intermediate School this year. As Lucy Calkins, an expert in the field of literacy, says, “It is far easier to lift the level of writing instruction when professional development is shared among all members of a school community.” That is the idea behind the writing focus in the Intermediate School. In September, all IS RLA teachers gathered together to begin their focus on writing. Writing has always been an integral part of the curriculum, but as professionals, teachers are committed to becoming even more effective teachers through on-going learning. The new work will extend what teachers are already doing. IS teachers will be meeting twice monthly in small study groups and as an entire division to reflect, review and study strategies and resources as they continue to learn together.

A Community of Learning!

Principals and teachers learning together!

“If professional study is going to make a difference in our school, it can’t just make the individual smarter; it needs to make the school smarter.” Michael Fullen

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Teachers share their expertise and learn together in small study groups.

All teachers meet twice a month in small study groups. The goal of each study group is to collaboratively reflect, learn, plan lessons, discuss challenges, evaluate student work and provide support to one another in the area of writing. All groups study common resources that support best practices.

Our goal is to achieve explicit and consistent teaching/learning of writing in all classrooms that will ultimately improve student achievement.

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

Storytelling By Kirk Palmer, PS librarian

Through the generosity of the PTA’s Visiting Author Program, students enjoyed storytelling performances by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk from September 7-18. This residency program is planned and organized by the four SAS librarians: Kirk Palmer, PS, Sally Burk, IS, Ron Starker, MS and John Johnson, HS. A residency is when an expert leads workshops and performance sessions over an extended period. In this case the Norfolks were here for two full weeks, so in addition to performances to which all students were invited, many classes participated in storytelling workshops. The entire first and second grades are now competent storytellers after a three-session workshop. The same may be said for many classes in the Intermediate School and drama classes in the Middle School and High School. Using a basic story pattern appropriate to grade levels and developed by Sherry Norfolk, which may be found in her most recent book, Literacy Development in the Storytelling Classroom, the students were led through the creation, planning, rehearsing and the performance of their stories. Having 100% participation by the students in each group was key to the success of the workshops. The stories were creative, funny and imaginative. In the drama classes, Bobby Norfolk used a plan he calls, “Developing and Performing First Person Narratives.” Again with 100% involvement, the groups enjoyed a great deal of success. Probably the most important outcomes of the residency program are the carry-over and application of the skills practiced and learned to subsequent learning and presenting situations. First graders have already made connections with stories they read, noticing for instance, that often the character who saves the day is the smallest, just as they learned in their storytelling sessions. As part of the storytelling residency, the Norfolks conducted a three-day workshop for interested parents. Virginia Sheridan, parent of a second and third grader, said that this was by far one of the best workshops she had ever attended and found it valuable and inspiring. Their storytelling performances for all students was a highlight. When possible they shared the stage, giving students the opportunity to hear two nationally honored and recognized storytellers from the United States. When the Norfolks were asked what parents could do to continue the storytelling experience and encourage their children, they gave the following advice: Continue to tell family stories; parents should talk about their childhood and the family history. This reinforces literacy skills, such as listening, language development, sequencing and the concepts of beginning, middle and end of a story, as well as benefitting family bonding. The PTA is again thanked for its continued support and funding in bringing high quality and important authors, illustrators and storytellers to our school. This most recent experience continues to prove the worth of this program and the value of storytelling for and with our children.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Parents are welcome in library By John Johnson, High School librarian

The Khoo Teck Puat High School library at SAS welcomes parents as patrons. Here are four diverse recent arrivals that may tempt you to stop in, become a library patron and check them out!

East of the Sun by Julia Gregson

In the fall of 1928, Viva Holloway needs to return to India to retrieve a trunk left by her deceased parents. To pay for the trip she accepts a position as chaperone for several young people sailing east. Rose is a nervous bride-to-be, engaged to a military man she has met only a handful of times. Her maid of honor, Victoria, is terrified of facing her mother if she returns to England without a husband. And the sullen Guy doesn’t say much, but what he does say is very unsettling. Viva, only a few years older than her wards, is responsible for keeping them on track, but India in the waning years of British rule is dangerous for anyone, let alone three English misses and a disturbed teenager. With lavishly detailed settings and every character, however marginal, fleshed out to perfection, Gregson’s historical novel is a sweeping, emotional read. Booklist, May 1, 2009

The Canon by Natalie Angier

In this exuberant book, best-selling author Natalie Angier distills the scientific canon to the absolute essentials, delivering an entertaining and inspiring one-stop science education. Angier interviewed a host of scientists, posing the simple question “What do you wish everyone knew about your field?” The Canon provides their answers, taking readers on a joyride through the fascinating fundamentals of the incredible world around us and revealing how they are relevant to us every day. “She even makes it clear why it’s hard to get your arms around the idea that galaxies are not exploding outward into space, but that space itself is stretched. Not everything is as easy as pie (or pi) to grasp, and therein lies the excitement and challenge of science, masterfully conveyed here.” – from Kirkus starred review.

Inspector Singh Investigates by Shamini Flint

“Down these mean streets a man must waddle ...” It’s impossible not to warm to the portly, sweating, dishevelled, wheezing Inspector Singh from the start of this delightful debut novel. Sent from his home in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to act in the interests of Singaporean former model Chelsea Liew, who is on death row for the murder of her ex-husband, Malaysian Alan Lee, Singh knows that he has been handed a poisoned chalice. The Malaysian authorities are convinced that Liew is guilty, and she has a strong motive – wealthy playboy Lee abused her for years and tried to take her children from her – but Singh believes that she is innocent. Flint’s thoughtful and compassionate exploration of racial and religious tensions between the two countries is thoroughly compelling.” Laura Wilson in The Guardian, Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Asian Barbeque Book: from Teriyaki to Tandoori by Alex Skaria

“The Asian Barbecue Book is perfect for barbecue enthusiasts looking for exciting new ingredients and techniques to create that perfect hot-off-the-flame meal. It is full of rich, smoky and meaty barbecue dishes, including classic Asian recipes, such as Indonesian Satay, Korean Barbecue and Persian Shish Kebabs – and new favorites like Chicken Wings with Hoisin Honey Marinade, Beef Short Ribs with Teriyaki Glazing and Salmon Filet with Miso Marinade. “Introductory sections include barbecuing fundamentals – essential for beginners and a great review for more experienced grillers – as well as dozens of recipes for Asian rubs, glazes, marinades, basting sauces and condiments to liven up your grill and table. Complete with sides, salads and desserts, this treasury of Asian barbecue recipes will be a resource for years to come.” – from amazon.com.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Student published in The Concord Review By Rick Bisset, HS social studies teacher

AS has quite a long history with The Concord Review. Over a decade ago, teacher Bill Rives (who retired last year) began an initiative whereby the high school Social Studies Department purchased class sets of the journal to hand out to students in his U.S. History classes as examples of exemplary research papers. Today, with the generous help of the SAS Office of Learning, a great many social studies students receive the journal, which encourages them to begin writing and researching their own history papers. While they may not complete a paper that meets the standards of The Concord Review, it is still a valuable process.

For more than 20 years, The Concord Review has published exemplary history essays by high school students. Since 1987, over 800 research papers with endnotes and bibliography from young authors in the United States and 36 other countries have been published. This year, Wei Li’s research paper, Convivencia in Medieval Spain , was published in the Fall 2009 edition. Wei wrote the essay during her sophomore year as a student in AP European History. It is a tremendous achievement to have her essay published since seniors write the vast majority of papers selected for The Concord Review. Here’s what Will Fitzhugh, the journal’s editor, said about her paper: I liked Wei Li’s essay for its historical breadth, the depth of detail about architecture, language, culture, religion, governance and music, and also because it was well-written and easy to read. People sometimes forget that I am publishing history research papers by secondary students for other students to read, enjoy, and learn from. I hope that when they read wonderful papers like Wei Li’s, they will even consider reading some more history themselves, and perhaps try to write an exemplary history research paper of their own. I am grateful for her good work, for without it, and similar papers by other students of history, The Concord Review could not exist. Wei’s secret? She chose a topic in which she was very interested. Actually, she feels she could have written even more! Overall, Wei feels the research paper was excellent preparation for university. If you would like to read Wei’s essay, see http://www.sas. edu.sg/download/WeiLi.pdf and to find out more about The Concord Review, go to www.tcr.org.

Booster/ PTA Interim Semester Scholarships The Booster Club and PTA awarded Interim Semester Scholarships to HS students who won the essay contest by writing about why they needed a scholarship and how they felt Interim Semester would enrich their lives. Those students’ whose parents companies pay for IS trips were not eligible. The Booster Club and the PTA joined forces in forming a committee of board members and HS teachers. The essays were read with all identifying marks removed. It was a difficult job with a record 89 essays submitted. The PTA sponsored two full (up to $4,000) scholarships, while the Boosters sponsored five full (up to $4,000) and five partial (up to $2,000). In addition, UPS donated a $2,000 scholarship for winner Matthew Shen. Interim Semester is often the most memorable time in an SAS HS student’s life. Both organizations are pleased to be able to offer the chance of a lifetime to so many deserving students. This year’s PTA scholarship recipients were Given Lee and Alexander Chadwick. Full Booster scholarships were awarded to Marc Wilson, Pricilla Kang, Michael Hsun, Danielle Courtenay and Patrina Chan. Partial Booster scholarships were awarded to Adam Boothe, Molly Yoon, Mohineesh Singh, Atika Scott and Nayantara”Naina” Mullick. A special thank you to Kristan Tan, the HS Principal’s secretary, for organizing the information and keeping it anonymous and confidential.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

October 2009 19

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

Inservice Day (No School for Students)

22-23 PTA Pumpkin Patch - Preschool,PK,K,1st, 2nd 23

29 3pm MS Dance Club Performance (Auditorium) 1st Season HS Sports Awards Night (Aud/Drama Th./ 30 Th. Studio/H301/S204)

6:30pm Grade 2 Family Math Night Alternate Dress Day 7pm HS Drama Production (Drama Theater) 1:30pm PS/IS PTA Halloween Parties MS Halloween Special Dress Day HS Halloween Dress Day 4:30pm HS Drama Production (Drama Theater)

9am - 12pm PTA Pumpkin Sale (MS Padded Playground) 8am - 4pm IS/MS/HS Solo Ensembles Strings/Choir/ 30-31 MS Band Exchange at ISB Band (Theater Studio/Auditorium, Performing Arts Classrooms)

8:30am PS Parent Coffee (Primary Faculty Lounge)

7pm Annual General Mtg of the American School Trust Limited (H301)

November 2009

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

2-6

FCD Week

8:15am - 9:15am IS Parent Coffee 10am - 11:30am HS FCD Parent Mtg. (Drama Theater) 10:00am MS Parent Coffee (M301)

13-14 Southeast Asia Band Festival - K.L. 13-14 IASAS Golf Tournament Jakarta 14

7pm HS Dance Performance (Auditorium) ACSIS Swim Meet at UWC HS Tennis & Touch Exchanges in Singapore

6:30pm Grade 1 Family Math Night

3:15pm National Art Honor Society Inductions (H301)

Late Start Day (10:00am) No Preschool 3:30pm - 6pm Fire Alarm Testing

8:10am Peace Initiative Assembly (HS Gym) SIS HS Math Competition at UWC

HS Interim Semester Payment Due

11am - 3pm PTA Food Fest (MS/HS Gym)

18-20 10:15am -11:00am IS Gr.5 Music Showcase (Elem. Theater)

10am PTA HS Parent Coffee (H301)

8:15am-9:15am Grade 3 Parent Coffee

19-21 IASAS MUN in Bangkok 20

23-25 8:15am-9:15am Grade 4 Parent Coffee 11:20am HS Booster Honor Roll Recognition Lunch 25 (Aux A Gym) Alternate Dress Day 26-27 11-13 MS Parent/Teacher Conferences 28 12 8:15am-9:15am Grade 5 Parent Coffee 7pm EASA IS Music Concert (Elementary Theater) 30 11

3:15pm Thespians Inductions (Theater Studio) 8am - 4pm PTA Book Fair HS (Elem Gym) Alternate Dress Day 3:15pm HS Knowledge Bowl School Holidays (Thanksgiving & Hari Raya Haji) HS Basketball Tournament in HongKong 3:15pm HS Tri-M Inductions

4:30pm HS Dance Performance (Auditorium) SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the truth

By School Psychologist Jeff Devens, Ph.D.

n days of old, cornerstones were the first stones laid in the construction of a building. They served the important function of providing a reference for how other stones would be laid, determining the overall strength and stability of the structure. In short, when it came to building, cornerstones mattered.

In an analogous way, SAS has adopted five cornerstones – honesty, fairness, responsibility, compassion, and respect – that we believe are important for students to build their lives upon. However, without operationalizing these terms, they tend to be viewed as pithy platitudes. With this in mind, for the next series of articles, I will address each of these cornerstones, focusing particularly on how they may be applied in the home. I recognize that I run the risk of sounding “preachy;” however, this is not my intention. Rather, my hope is to provide a framework for understanding how these terms play out on a day-to-day basis and to offer parents strategies for helping foster development of these cornerstones in their children’s lives. With this in mind, the first of these cornerstones is honesty.

Honesty Language by its very nature is a social phenomenon. With it we convey meaning, provide insights, articulate emotions… and lie. Social psychologist Dr. Robert Feldman of the University of Massachusets found that ordinary people lie two times every ten minutes. He notes that people lie for all sorts of reasons, including puffing themselves up, tearing others down, to avoid hurting others’ feelings, to protect their friends, and to coerce people. Lying, says Dr. Feldman, is simply the way the social world operates. Dr. Feldman concluded his research by noting, “Since trust is what lubricates relationships and since honesty is what produces trust, we are better off if honesty is the norm.” Parents take the lead when it comes to cultivating an atmosphere of honesty, setting the tempo that their children follow. To a large degree a child’s ability to be a person of integrity when it comes to honesty rises and falls in direct proportion to how parents deal with it in their own lives. Two of the more common forms of truth-stretching that occur in the home are breaking promises and committing slander. Breaking one’s word. Giving one’s word (promise) isn’t some outdated expression. Rather, giving and keeping one’s word speaks volumes regarding a person’s character. Teaching kids to honor their promises starts with parents honoring theirs. For example, if you make a promise to your spouse or children, keep it. Saying “Maybe” or “We will see,” all the while knowing full well you have no intention of following through is nothing more than lying. It’s better, albeit sometimes creating tension, to say “No,” or “I can’t” than to willfully lie. Granted, there are genuine times when a promise is made, and because of extenuating circumstances one is not able to follow through. In such situations, take time to explain the “why,” and ask for forgiveness. Similarly, if your children promise to “do” something, make sure they understand the implications of what they are saying before they commit. Surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for parents who are desperate to see change to cajole kids into making promises; however, doing so without the child’s fully understanding what it means to give one’s word (consequences and all) is a sure recipe for failure. Giving one’s word extends well beyond the home. When your child expresses interest in being a part of a sports team or other group (i.e., music production or club), help them understand the commitment they are potentially making. Quitting after two weeks because the activity is no longer “fun” should not be an option. Require them to finish out the season, regardless of whether they enjoy it or not. Making a commitment isn’t about “feelings” it’s about character! If they don’t want to participate in the activity next season, that is another matter. For now, they have made the commitment to the other kids and the sponsor, and people are depending on them to keep their word. If they have a poor attitude – this is the first tactic kids employ to remove themselves from commitment and consequences – address this, but don’t allow them to renege on their word. Slandering another: Webster’s defines slander in two forms: 1. The utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame or damage another’s reputation. 2. A false and defamatory oral statement about a person. Slander causes tension, hostility and conflict. It separates families and friends, tears apart communities and destroys reputations. Slander distorts the way others “see” a person and colors others in ways that are often impossible to expunge. As difficult as it may be, if your child is committing slander, you need to address this. By not doing so, you are condoning what is being said. Often, our tendency is to not say anything because we have engaged in this practice ourselves, and saying something makes us feel like a hypocrite. Listen, it’s never too late to make a change, to forge a new path and to commit to being a person of integrity. Some of you may be thinking “What about the times when we do need to speak negatively about another’s behavior/ actions?” I have three bits of advice: Say it to the person face to face; do it outside the hearing of others; and seek reconciliation. None of us likes being corrected, especially in matters related to our speech; however, not addressing this issue causes bitterness and anger to flourish. When it comes to our tongues “Honesty is the best policy.”

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

CFC teachers visit SAS

By Kaye Bach

hirty-nine Caring for Cambodia (CFC) teachers, administrators and members of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education had an eye-opening opportunity to visit SAS classrooms and meet SAS faculty for a day in September. The visit was one of many high points in a two-week professional development seminar jointly organized by CFC and Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE), with generous funding from the Temasek Foundation. The seminar was the chance of a lifetime for this select group of educators who have been identified as leaders in their schools. It was a journey of firsts for the entire group – the first time to travel outside Cambodia, the first time on an airplane and the first time to observe an international school environment in action.

The CFC teachers spent the majority of their time attending workshops at NIE. Training sessions met in tutorial rooms, computer suites and the NIE gymnasium. However, the time at SAS was clearly a high point. As they walked from the Early Childhood Center to the Intermediate and Primary Schools, they were greeted with open arms by the many SAS teachers who have traveled to the CFC schools to deliver teacher training since 2005. (To date, 22 SAS teachers have volunteered their time and expertise at CFC schools.) The visit was a rare opportunity for CFC educators to reconnect with old friends and strengthen professional relationships by observing SAS teachers at work. The September trip marked the second time CFC teachers have been welcomed at SAS. A group of four teachers made a “pilot” visit in April 2007. At the time, CFC teachers were struck by displays of student work throughout SAS, which inspired them to construct colorful bulletin boards out of local materials in their Cambodian schools. One simple observation at SAS sparked an exciting transformation in CFC classrooms. The September CFC team has returned to Cambodia to prepare for the start of the school year this month. They are busy discussing what they observed and learned on this most recent trip, feeling more connected than ever to their international supporters in Singapore. This time — with 39 inspired minds at work — it will be thrilling to watch their new ideas become realities. CFC’s connection with educators in Singapore is powerful, and SAS teachers have been crucial to these efforts from the start. Step by step we all play a small part in making a big difference in Cambodia. SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Booster Club

From the President

For those of you who were not able to attend the Booster Welcome Back Coffee, High School orientation, or those that do not have children in the HS, I would like to take this opportunity to explain the Boosters role in the high school. Many people wonder how the PTA and Boosters work together to support the school. Whereas PTA membership is automatic for all parents of SAS students, Booster members are parents with a student in the HS. This does not mean that our events are only open to HS parents; it just means our focus of support is towards HS activities where PTA activities encompass the entire school. All the funds we raise go towards supporting HS athletic, academic and visual and performing arts endeavors. The most visible Booster activity is the Booster Booth, where we sell the school uniforms along with school supplies and design items. I know it is frustrating to new parents who would like to volunteer to work in the Booth and find that the spots have all been filled prior to the start of the school year. Please do not give up hope, as new parents can sign up on the sub list with the hope of getting a regular slot for the following school year. If you are interested, we do have many other opportunities to volunteer, including the design committee. All of the school spirit items and gift items in the Booth are sourced by a committee which is always looking for new ideas and members. If there is something that was popular at your former school and you think we should try it here in Singapore, please contact us with your ideas. As I am sure you can understand, sometimes logistically things do not work here due to large minimum quantities that we would be required to order or the costs for the product and shipping, but we are open to hearing your ideas and suggestions. One of the other ways we sell our merchandise is when we take our items on the road. We set up at events such as Homecoming, PTA Food Fest, PTA County Fair, IASAS and swim meets. We are always looking for volunteers to help work a shift during these events. We are continuing our efforts to host several social events for parents to meet and mingle. Our next one is our fourth annual Night at the Races. Please check the ad in this issue of Newsflash for all the details. It is a fun adultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only evening, even if you do not understand horse racing (there will be many people there who can explain to those interested). I have only highlighted a few of the many ways you can get involved with the Boosters. Please check out our webpage at http://booster.sas.edu.sg for more information or contact any of the board members if you wish to become involved in our organization.

BOOSTER BAKE SALE Booster Club is proud to announce

Personalized invitations will be distributed in first period on the day of the luncheon. You must present your invitation for entrance to the luncheon.

BOOSTER BOOTH SALES

The fabulous Booster Booth sells school uniforms, school supplies and gift items. Popular clothing items include Eagles sport shorts for girls and hoodies with the SAS logo. Discover durable stadium cushions, coolers and travel mugs. Booster Booth also sells special items for the IASAS events. And this year we have the class t-shirts for sale. HS students can wear these instead of their uniform shirts on non-alternate-dress Wednesdays. open from 7:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. on all high school days.

Booster Club

Congratulations on their achievements!

Booster Club

THE FIRST QUARTER HONOR ROLL LUNCHEON will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at 11:25 a.m. in the Auxillary Gym A

Many thanks to all of the parents who took the time to bake and send in special treats or man the sale tables for our first bake sale of the year! And an extra big thank you to our Korean moms who provided their delicious specialties on the day. We are very grateful! We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done it without your support!

Booster Club

Susan Fay http://booster.sas.edu.sg susanfay@aol.com

0LEASE STOP BY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES NO ARTISTIC TALENT REQUIRED

DeZc =djhZ singapore american school

Arts Council

4HURSDAY /CTOBER ND 2EFRESHMENTS 3ERVED !RTS #OUNCIL /FFICE NEAR THE "US /FFICE !DJACENT TO #ENTRAL !DMIN SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

College and Career Day By Lisa McMullen, Booster Club Volunteer

September 17 was the date for this year’s College and Career Day. In attendance were 60 professionals, including four alumni, who sat on 19 different panels, 30 college reps who shared information about their schools and answered questions, Peer Support students who helped with the checking process and escorting speakers to classrooms, teachers who served as moderators for each of the panels, Booster Club parent volunteers who support this annual event and Mario Sylvander and Nathan Schelbe of the counseling department, who managed the planning and logistics. College & Career Day is held just one month into the start of the school year. This makes for excitement as juniors and seniors look to their future education and beyond school into possible careers. For freshman, it seems a bit overwhelming to think about college when many are still wondering where their Western Civ class is. Therefore, this year the freshman took part in team building and pertinent high school orientation. The students “liked the diversity of the professions on the panels this year” and felt that “the career devel-opment activities helped me think of some different jobs I am suited for,” and added that “the team building activities were fun and made my group work together well.” Public service speaker Zelda Auslander said, ”thank you for including me in such a rewarding expe-rience. I enjoyed it thoroughly! I didn’t realize all that I could share with the kids, and I loved meeting a large handful of other interesting presenters as well.” The Booster Club and Counseling Department would like to thank all those involved for making College and Career Day a success. If you would like to be part of Career Day next year, please contact the high school counseling department.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Homecomi ng on September 4 By Lauren Felice

While the boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams squared off against the ISKL Panthers, face-painted children raced on the track, kids relaxed and played sports on the back fields, clubs sold various foods and parents and supporters cheering on the Eagles. Alicia Elms scored off of a header to give the girl Eagles a 1-0 win against ISKL. Afterward, K-5 students darted in a 50-yard dash and the team of sophomores Amar Kaul, Faizan Nael and Marcus Campbell won $500 in the Pass, Cross, Head competition. The Eagle boys were down by one goal at halftime and fought hard in an evenly matched game but finished with a 0-2 loss. At halftime, alumnus Huei Yu Lin (08) crowned the Homecoming Court. Based on Character, Charisma, Spirit, Academics and Extracurriculars, the High School student body chose Jamie Lim and Brooke McManigal as the Homecoming King and Queen. The evening ended with Michael Szopiak winning a laptop graciously donated by Dell Computer. After the High School’s spirited Homecoming Week, the 1,600 person Homecoming Night brought all ages together. Whether students, parents or alumni played games on the back field, mingled on the track, tried out different foods or wore red and cheered on the Eagles, it was a great opportunity for the school to gather and have fun as a community. SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Becoming a learning-focused school By Mark Boyer, Assistant Superintendent for Learning The Singapore American School is increasingly becoming a learningfocused organization. Jim Collins in his book Good to Great talks about the “hedgehogs” who create distractions from the primary mission of an organization. As the world’s largest international school, the continual challenge for SAS is to focus on the vast number of competing demands for time and attention. To help us with this clarity, administrators began working last year with Martin Skelton, co-founder of Fieldwork Education. The goal is to study how students are learning in classrooms and then to collaborate with faculty on how to best support student learning. The work with Martin Skelton is continuing this year. Skelton is challenging us to compare the inputs of our efforts with the outputs of student learning. He says that there are many things we may do with students – fun activities, worksheets, textbook reading, projects, assignments – but the real questions are: “Are students engaged in their learning and are they learning appropriately and sufficiently?” Skelton’s common refrain is: “Are students busy, or are they busy learning?” The final measures for this are if learning is engagingly connected to the learning outcomes of the curriculum and if various quality assessments show results of this learning. Skelton breaks the measures down by asking questions of students within different protocols to know if the learning that is occurring is “new learning” or a “consolidation of learning.” He questions students to discover if the learning that is occurring is “treading water” or “drowning.” Skelton also makes a distinction between learning and performance. Performance is what a student is capable of achieving or doing, but learning is about the growth and struggle to reach higher levels of knowledge, skills and understanding. An example of this distinction would be a third grade student who reads at a seventh grade reading level throughout the year (performance) compared with a third grade student who progresses from a seventh grade level to an eighth or ninth grade reading level (learning). This addresses the importance of differentiating within classrooms to support “new” and “consolidated” learning among diverse learners to ensure appropriate rigor. While last year’s work with Skelton was focused on learning and experiencing the protocols for talking with students in classrooms, this year’s work focuses on how administrators engage in purposeful feedback and professional conversations with faculty about student learning. This approach moves away from the traditional clinical supervision model with a teacher pre-conference, classroom observation, post-conference and evaluation process. The Focus on Learning model involves a higher level of frequency with the administrator in the classroom talking quietly with individual students and a interactive approach between faculty and administrators about how to maximize the quality of learning. Since the faculty is committed to student learning, these conversations have typically been positively received. The following are a few of the faculty responses: “This once again raises hope that a school can do this work, and it confirms that none of this change can occur without it starting with me. I am excited to apply the learning focused filter to my professional dialogues and practices.” – John Koncki

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

“I’m now viewing practices through the same lens as my administrators, and I’ll be able to use the same language and understanding for reflecting on the learning in my classroom.” – Mary Bisset “My mindset was so focused on teaching and I thought it was learning.” – Anonymous “I believe Martin Skelton’s focus on learning is what can take SAS to an added level of excellence, matching its resources, curriculum and staff.” – Maggie Mutsch “The seven key areas of how we know we are affecting the learner provided greater insight to the different dimensions at which learning can be viewed and assessed in the classroom.” – Dennis Steigerwald “I have been inspired to make changes within my classroom so that it is completely about LEARNING.” – Cathy Brekke To support the focus on learning work and to extend the valued areas of teacher performance, a revised Teacher Performance Review (TPR) instrument was established this year. The TPR increases the importance of reflection and teacher-administrator interaction in five categories: Focus on Learning, Instructional Practices, Collaborative Work, Professional Communication and Interaction and Contribution to School Culture. Skelton indicated that the SAS TPR is one of the best learning-focused teacher evaluation instruments he has seen because of its inclusion of Focus on Learning (i.e., quality of student learning and growth), its clear delineation of the valued areas of the school for increased understanding and learning and its interaction of reflections by faculty and administrators to further promote staff learning, while also ensuring accountability. Skelton gave a keynote for all faculty and administrators on September 2 and also provided a graduate course for 42 staff from all four divisions and the central office. Among other things, Skelton said a shift for all educators is to plan for learning, rather than plan teaching. He said, “At the end of the day, the question isn’t whether it was a good day of teaching, rather the question is whether it was a good day for learning.” In departing, Skelton said if we truly believe that learning is important, then everyone needs to focus on learning in all interactions and operations. What is a learning-focused team meeting? What is a learning-focused newsletter? What is a learning-focused Board room? What is a learning-focused parent-teacher conference? What is a learningfocused bulletin board? What is a learning-focused faculty meeting? Skelton has been directly involved in nearly 150 classroom observations at SAS over the past two years. He and his organization serve and support hundreds of schools throughout the world, and he describes SAS as “The Tiger Woods of International schools,” but then quickly adds that even Tiger Woods has a coach. “This is a great school that is looking at how to get even better.” Skelton will return to SAS in March to further support the learning of administrators and faculty, so that our universal hedgehog is student learning. SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

By Brian Hill, High School Band Director

n Saturday September 5, over 50 high school jazz musicians from ISB, ISM, ISKL and SAS participated in the fifth annual IASAS Jazz Exchange. Throughout the day, students were involved in classes, clinics, a big band session and combo rehearsals. The focus of the event was to teach students jazz styles and techniques as well as how to improvise a jazz solo. The sessions were run by local jazz musicians and IASAS band directors with an eye toward preparing the students for an evening performance. For the culminating event, musicians from the various schools were combined into jazz combos that performed downtown at Jazz@Southbridge. Following the performances, students were treated to a set by the house band, with an opportunity to get up and jam with them on stage. This is always an enjoyable event and over the years many fantastic jam sessions have come about as a result of putting these wonderfully creative musicians together for a weekend of jazz.

Attention Parents of Graduating Seniors! Senior Portraits

Parent Ads Brandon Kim

It’s time to start thinking about your child’s senior portrait! Please check the Islander website for information on possible photographers and instructions on how to submit your child’s photo. The website can be reached via the HS main page under “Quick Links” or via the address listed below. Remember that many studios are fully booked closer to the deadline, so make sure to get yours done early! The deadline for submission is after the winter vacation to allow you to get your portraits taken during the break.

We are so proud of this huge milestone you have achieved; you are such an amazing son. From your ﬁrst steps to now walking across that stage, what a journey it has been. We are so proud of the man you have become and can’t wait to see what’s in store for you next. Going forward on your journey, we will forever support your values, your dreams, and the person you want to become. Know that we will miss you with all our hearts and we will love you always. Mom, Dad, Kendra, and Mike

January 29, 2010

For more information check out our website: http://islander.saseagles.edu.sg/ SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

18 years have come and gone so fast. It seems like just yesterday you came into our lives. We couldn’t be prouder of the young woman you have grown to become. You are beautiful, intelligent, caring, and an amazing young lady. You work hard at school, you’re an outstanding athlete, an awesome leader and a wonderful part of this family. Your sense of humor and infectious laugh has kept us all entertained. We know you are ready to spread your wings and ﬂy… you will soar with the best of the best! We love you lots, Mom & Dad Sammy, I can’t believe you’re off to college already! I’ll never forget our summers and Grandma’s and playing in the pool until dark! I’ll miss you next year! Taylor

Parent Ads offer you the chance to give your graduate a personal send-off in the yearbook. Each ad consists of one photo along with a personal message written by you. The ads are a quarter of a page and cost S$130 each. Be sure to check out the Islander website for more information and instructions on how to submit!

The deadline for submitting both Senior Portraits and Parent Ads is:

Samantha Kingston

SAS students take first place at Young Photographers Convention By Alexis Bell, grade 12

Photos by Paul Griffin, HS teacher

SAS photography students from right to left: Alexis Bell, Javier Vesga and Heyley Haaland with teammate Chester Chen from Raffles Junior College, display their winning visual descriptions of “macabre.”

picture is worth a thousand words but some student photographers had to express just one word: “macabre.” On Saturday September 5, seven students from the SAS Photo Club joined over 250 other students representing 53 secondary schools from around the island to participate in the second annual Singapore Young Photographers Convention sponsored by Anglo-Chinese School. Of the seven SAS students, three became part of teams that took home first prizes. They were juniors Hayley Haaland and Javier Vesga and senior Alexis Bell. We arrived at ACS at 8:30 am and were put in a group with Chester Cheng, a student from Raffles Junior College. One of the judges, Triston Yeo, professional photographer, talked about what photography meant to him and how he hoped we shared the same passion. He then passed the microphone to one of the ACS host students, who explained the rules of the competition and how our theme word was going to be chosen. Starting at 12 noon, we were given until 3:30 pm to return to the ACS campus with photos of what we thought would best represent the theme. We could go anywhere in Singapore, as long as we stayed together as a group. First place winners would receive a Canon 1000D DSLR camera. The second place team would win Canon Powershot cameras; third place, Canon photo printers; and fourth and fifth place winners would receive gift vouchers from Cathay Photo Store store. Choosing the theme was like a game of musical chairs – a dictionary was passed around the students until the music stopped, and whoever was holding the dictionary had to select a random

page and say the first word they saw. A list of words was created, which included oriental, frieze, macabre and ostentatious. These words were put into a hat for a lucky participant from the audience to draw from. That lucky participant was a member of our group: Javier. First he drew frieze, which led to many boos from the audience. We managed to convince the organizers to let him pick another word from the hat – macabre. We scrambled to get our ideas together, and decided that we would have a series depicting a group suicide. We ended up going all the way to Sentosa and barely managed to get back to ACS in time to submit our photos. Then we anxiously waited in the lecture hall for the judges to finish looking at the photos and decide which group had won. The judges finally made an entrance and started off presenting the fourth and fifth place groups; as they worked their way up to the prize winners, we figured we would never get first. Much to our surprise, Triston Yeo announced that he would like to see Group 26 in front of the judging table. Group 26 was us! We all looked at each other in complete shock, before getting up and walking down to the judge’s table. Mr. Yeo sternly asked us whether we had one group member take all the photos for the competition. When we replied with a unanimous and truthful no, he then asked how we all managed to be able to express the one idea in the same way through our photos. We explained that we pooled our ideas and gave each other advice throughout the day. Mr. Yeo nodded his approval to this response, then announced that cooperation like that was what made teamwork. He congratulated us on our first place win, handing us our brand new DSLR cameras. SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

PTA PRESIDENT’S LETTER PTA

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Albert Camus describes the season as a second spring where “every leaf is a flower.” In sunny Singapore we don’t get to enjoy any autumn foliage, but the PTA still tries to bring a little fall flavor to SAS.

PUMPKIN PATCH AND PUMPKIN SALES

The PTA will be sponsoring a number of seasonal events. Families in the ECC and Primary Division should mark their calendars for our popular Pumpkin Patch on Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23. ECC and primary classes will visit the Kindergarten Group Room, which will be transformed into a charming pumpkin patch complete with bales of hay and a multitude of pumpkins, dried corn and gourds. The children will enjoy a story and will receive a treat with the compliments of the PTA. Best of all, students will get to pick out their own mini pumpkin or gourd. The PTA’s annual Pumpkin Sale begins at 9 am on Saturday, October 24. Pumpkins of all sizes, gourds and decorative corn will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale support the High School Service Clubs, which will in turn be dispersed among the charities that the clubs support. Both the Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Sales would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of APL. APL purchases pumpkins from the northwestern region of the United States and ships this precious cargo to SAS. This year marks the 10th anniversary of APL’s generous pumpkin donations. We once again thank APL for their sustained and kind support over the years, which benefits so many at SAS.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FEST

A fortnight after Pumpkin Sales, on Saturday, November 7, plan to come back and join us at the PTA’s International Food Fest in the Middle and High School Gymnasiums. Tickets are available on the day of the event, which will be from 11 am to 3 pm. Enjoy a feast of ethnic cuisines from Japan, India, France, the Philippines, Indonesia, Latin America, China and more. While at Food Fest, don’t forget to visit the High School Library to view the tantalizing Theme Baskets that will be put together with donations from students in the Primary and Intermediate Divisions. Purchase a raffle ticket and stand to win a basket of treats. Basket themes run the gamut from sports, magic, music and movies to crafts, Barbies, action figures and puzzles. Also at Food Fest is the Holiday Vendor Fair, located in the High School foyer. The fair is a good opportunity to catch up on your holiday shopping while supporting small business owners from the SAS community. October is a very busy month for the PTA, and we look forward to seeing you to these events. If you would like to help out at these or any other upcoming events, we would welcome your support. Please contact us at pta@sas.edu.sg Enjoy the Fall festivities!

Mae Anderson PTA President mae.anderson@mac.com

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

The PTA Sales Team wishes you a wonderful & safe Halloween! No tricks – just treats!!! Receive a treat when you purchase SAS uniform apparel, merchandise, accessories, etc. or place a Lim Meng Keng Department Store order from the PTA Sales Office. Valid from Monday, October 26th – Friday, October 30th only.

PTA Sales Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 2:30 pm.

SAS SAS PTA FOOD FEST PTA FOOD FEST PTA FOOD FEST November 7th, 2009, 11am to 3pm Middle School & High School Gyms

DELICIOUS! BOTACHAR! OISHII! SARAP! ! KEKOU! ENAK! MATITSEOYO!

Whatever your language, you’ll LOVE Food Fest where you’ll find: Exquisite AROMAS and TASTES from around the world! Exciting THEME BASKET RAFFLE with something for everyone! Enticing VENDOR FAIR to start your holiday shopping!

VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME & NEEDED!

Please consider joining us as a volunteer at Food Fest. To volunteer and to find out more about the event, please contact Food Fest Chair: Sue Lieberman, kslieber@aol.com

THE THEME BASKET RAFFLE

While enjoying your food from our international Country Booths, buy your raffle tickets for only $1 each to try and win a fabulous theme basket.Look out for these great baskets: x Preschool/Boys: SplishͲSplash Pool Toys x Preschool/Girls: Cuddles (Soft Animals) x PreͲK/Boys: Lots O’Legos x PreͲK/Girls: Crayola Items x Kindergarten/Boys: All Boy (Superhero/Action Figures) x Kindergarten/Girls: All Girl (Barbie/Polly Pockets) x 1st Grade/Boys: Ben 10 Toys x 1st Grade/Girls: Games/Puzzles x 2nd Grade/Boys: Let’s Make It, Boys! (Model Kits/Bionicles) x 2nd Grade/Girls: Let’s Make It, Girls! (Beads/Click Its) x 3rd Grade/Boys: Sports x 3rd Grade/Girls: Arts/Crafts x 4th Grade/Boys: Magic, Magic, Magic x 4th Grade/Girls: Accessorize It (makeup, hair, belts, nail polish) x 5th Grade/Boys: Flicks ‘N Chips (anything that makes up a family movie night) x 5th Grade/Girls: Mad About Music If you have any questions, please contact PTA’s Theme Basket Chair: Diane Laurent: jeffreylaurent3@msn.com

Have you sent in your entry?

Contest ends October 23rd

November 23rd to 25th

Open to all students in Grades K-5

So many books! Find one “Just Right” for everyone in your family! It’s also the perfect time to stock up for holiday gift giving and all your travel reads.

For more information or a copy of the bookmark contest form go to www.sas.edu.sg/pta and click on PTA Events - Book Fair. Questions? Contact Julie Allen juallen@ aol.com

Do you have a few hours to help? October/Early November : Volunteers are needed to help inventory & organize the books During the Book Fair : Volunteers are needed to sort the book titles and cashier. If you can help, please contact Amy Huber amyhuber0818@ yahoo.com

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Middle School Lunch Time Activity Program By Jamie McDougald, MS PE/Health Teacher

In an effort to provide additional supervised opportunities for structured play during the long lunch periods, the Middle School has introduced a more formalized Lunch Time Activity (LTA) program. The primary goal of the LTA program is to provide all students with opportunities to be physically active during the lunch period. The LTA program runs every Day 1on the Middle School calendar, with Day 2 being reserved for the traditional “free gym” activities. The LTAs are differentiated by grade level and activity. Activities are scheduled to rotate approximately every three weeks, providing students a change of sport and change of venue several times in a semester. The activities have been planned to cater to student interests, while offering a balance between individual and team sports. All students are encouraged to participate in this fun, non-competitive environment. Parents, please encourage your child to become involved in the LTA program and to check the bulletin board outside the MS gymnasium for upcoming activities.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Dance Exchange By Yasmin Venema, grade 12

The ten seniors who went on Dance Exchange: Yasmin Venema, Katie Lindholm, Andyisa Siregar, Claudia Thieme, Mina Zorrilla, Karina Lo, Heather Morris, Rebecca Tay, Stephanie Kendall and Tia Iwan.

My phone beeped loudly; it was 7 am, but I had been awake well before the alarm went off. I was nervous, excited and anxious, had hardly slept and unlike other mornings, wanted to wake up. Today was Dance Exchange, and it was going to be a day filled with leotards, tights, warmups, stretching and most obviously, dancing. Dance Exchange, similar to IASAS sports exchanges, gives a select group of students the opportunity to travel to other schools and participate in shared activities. However, unlike competitive sports at SAS, dance is a highly introverted program, and dancers have few opportunities to interact with outside dancers. Dance Exchange provides that opportunity. This year, Dance Exchange was held at the International School of Bangkok. Accommodating for more than 60 students and teachers is a difficult task, and ISB did a good job of organizing transportation, housing and activities. Throughout the day, we performed five various types of dance genres, from belly dancing to hip hop and contemporary to salsa. Also, we worked with other dancers in a choreography workshop, where groups were assigned to alter a simple dance routine and perform it in front of 30-plus fellow dancers. In between the hour and a half long sessions we had short rest breaks and talked with students from the other schools. Once the last dance session ended, students visited the nearby mall, called Central, and ate dinner together. We were treated to a salsa, belly dancing and swing dance performance by our dance choreographers. Later, mats were laid across the theater stage and we learned about Thai massage from professional Thai masseurs and practiced our newly learned massage skills on one another. I had a great time learning different kinds of dance from unique choreographers. Also, I really appreciated being able to share this experience with not only dancers from SAS but with newly made friends from other schools. SAS NewsFlash â&#x20AC;&#x201C; October 2009

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) By Yuvika Tolani (Producer) & Tracy Meyer (Director)

Photos by Danielle Courtenay

The cast and crew of this year’s high school drama production, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) are well into their final month of rehearsals, and between the comical cast and equally witty script (not to mention the terrific set, props and costumes), the production is shaping into a show not to be missed!

Simon Filice and Athelia Paulli

The sets, including a faux Globe Theatre, are almost done – thanks to the hard-working Art Club under the guidance of Ms. Harvey and Ms. Roach. Meanwhile, Mrs. Silverman, Mrs. Dunbar, Mrs. Adickes and Mrs. Schuster have kept out of the pool halls by pulling costumes, purchasing (old) “new” ones and sewing. Thanks to their efforts, we are costumed at last! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) essentially compiles Shakespeare’s plays into an absolutely hilarious 60-minute show, adding hysterical spins throughout. If you are a fan of the bard, you will love it; if you are not, you’ll like it even more! In the (3) authors’ words, CWWS (abridged) can best be described as, “Comedy for the quick of mind and short of time.” We are putting up the show with one major adjustment: The original three roles have been expanded to 31! Add to that the numerous student tech helpers, and clearly “it takes a village!” There are two performances in the Drama Theatre: Thursday, October 29 at 7 p.m. and Friday, October 30 at 4:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the Booster Booth and the HS Drama Classroom (S-105) from Tuesday, October 20 and at the door on show dates (if there are any left!). We recommend an audience grade 6 & up.

Olivia Auerbach

“Snapshots” on November 13 & 14

Senior Marvella Luhur teaches her group part of her dance, which is based on the invention of the mobile phone

Snapshots is a journey of important historical events through the generations. The dance performance class has chosen to research and dance about the invention of the aircraft, the first man on the moon, 9/11 and other events. There are 125 high school dancers currently rehearsing. Please mark your calendars for Snapshots, which will be in the SAS auditorium on November 13 at 4:30 pm or November 14 at 7 pm.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

TEchniQuE Rulz! Friday, October 23, 4 pm

Come see the Middle School Dance Club performance, Technique Rulz! This informal dance show will last about one hour. Dance styles will include hip-hop, jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, salsa and bollywood. The show includes 150 MS students, 40 HS choreographers and technical crew. Fun for the whole family! Continued from Page 3 (Planning

For Now And The Future)

III. Instruction – Enhance instructional methodologies to support a school-wide focus on learning and results. A. Administrative Leadership Team to continue to deepen understanding and application for the SAS Strategic Focus (i.e., Vision, Vital Few, Desired Student Learning Outcomes, Core Values and Mission) within the school and community. B. Develop a multi-year technology plan for student learning. C. Administrators to continue to develop effective and efficient classroom observation feedback processes. D. Revise the Teacher Performance Review to further support reflection and growth for faculty, as well as attention to the quality characteristics of valued areas of teacher performance (i.e., Focus on Learning, Instruction, Collaborative Work, Professional Communication and Interaction and Contribution to School Culture). E. Expand use of data analysis protocols focused on classroom assessments to inform instructional decisions in classrooms. F. Develop a more goal-focused approach to professional development on school, division and individual levels. G. Fully implement consistent use of the elementary math agreements and enhance parent communications about student learning. H. Continue to develop and effectively use teachers as leaders within the school – distributed leadership. I. Continue to promote collaboration through Professional Learning Communities that enhances student learning. The school’s Strategic Plan emerged through extensive review by 500+ members of the school community (students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators and Board members) as participants in the school’s accreditation Self Study in 2007-2008. The recommendations from the Self Study were confirmed by a 10-member external team of educators who devoted 5.5 long days to a thorough review of classrooms, curriculum and school operations to verify that the recommendations put forward in the 20082013 Strategic Plan were areas deserving attention. As unique needs or opportunities emerged through the implementation of the plan, these are reviewed by administration for potential inclusion or increased emphasis within the Strategic Plan. The Board of Governors oversees the school’s Strategic Plan, and updates on progress are provided in Board meetings and on the Curriculum Committee. As significant components of this year’s plan develop, they will also be announced to the community through divisions and/or the school. SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Parents, teachers, students invited to meet award-winning author in December By David Hevey, MS journalism teacher

Loung Ung’s parents and baby sister were murdered and her oldest sister died of dysentery in a forced labor camp, yet she escaped the brutality of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge to tell her story. The Singapore American School’s PTA is proud to announce the appearance of Loung Ung on December 1 and 2, when she will share her story of survival and hope. Author of the novels First They Killed My Father and Lucky Child, Loung Ung was the recipient of the Asian/ Pacific American Librarians’ Association award for “Excellence in Adult Non-fiction” in 2001. Additionally, she is well known for her work with the Vietnam Veterans’ of America Foundation’s (VVAF) Campaign for a Landmine-Free World and women’s advocacy groups against domestic violence. Over the two days she will meet with the K-12 Service Learning Committee, hold workshops and Q & A sessions for interested students and faculty to talk about her growing up in Cambodia and her joint pursuits of active social service and writing. On Wednesday, December 2, from 7 to 8:30 pm, in the Drama Theater, all SAS parents, students, faculty, Caring for Cambodia and Tabitha Club members are invited to attend an evening presentation by this award winning author and internationally recognized social activist. Ung has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, and the London Sunday Times, as well as on NPR, The Today Show, and other news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, and C-SPAN. “She is a voice for her people and they are lucky to have her.”-- Angelina Jolie, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. “Loung has written an eloquent and powerful narrative as a young witness to the Khmer Rouge atrocities. This is an important story that will have a dramatic impact on today’s readers and inform generations to come.” --Dith Pran, whose wartime life was portrayed in the award winning film The Killing Fields.

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. The Trading Post will be posted on the second and fourth Friday of each month. Notice of the posting and a link will be included in What’s Happening. Deadlines are the second and fourth Mondays of each month. To find the previous issue of Trading Post, go to “School Publications” on the main menu of the SAS website. Please send notices to trade@sas.edu.sg. If you have any questions, email communications@sas.edu.sg.

SAS NewsFlash – October 2009

Back row: Coach Jed Petty, Christian Hvide, Daniel Davis, Michael Chang, Dylan Howell, Evan Petty, Matthew Lang, and Clint Walling; front: Cooper Ehrendriech, Michael Szopiak, Cody Burkett, Max West, Kwang Oh, Matthew Thomas, and Coach Brad Akin

Senior boys baseball team is Runner-Up in China Cup By Coach Jed Petty

The Singapore senior baseball team traveled to Hong Kong for the second straight year to participate in the China Cup, a tournament that includes Hong Kong International School, the International School of Beijing and the Shanghai American School. Game 1: Singapore 6 - Shanghai 6 Singapore opened against Shanghai. Early on, Singapore tied it up with a four run inning. Michael Chang led off with a double, and later Kwang Oh hit a two run single. Shanghai went ahead again, but in the last inning Singapore rallied. Dan Davis provided a two out double, and Matt Lang then hit a single to score Dan. Singapore had great pitching from Christian Hvide. Game 2: Singapore 11 - Beijing 2 Singapore went ahead thanks to a Dylan Howell triple followed by Clint Wallingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sacrifice fly. In the top of the 7th, Singapore broke it open. The game was highlighted by five straight hits by Walling, West, Szopiak, Chang, and Petty, followed by a big double from Davis. Singapore again had good pitching from Max West. Game 3: Singapore 2 - HKIS 1 In the second game on this brutally hot day, Singapore needed a win to guarantee a spot in the championship. Freshman Kwang Oh went the distance and pitched a great game. Singapore scratched out two runs in the bottom of the fifth for the win. Championship game: HKIS 3 - Singapore 2 The final was a repeat match-up with HKIS. Szopiak and Hvide held a good team to just three runs. However, Singapore could not get their offense on track. The HKIS pitcher went the distance. Hvide led off the fourth with a double and later scored. In the sixth Howell scored Hvide with a single. Singapore had a chance for more, but HK made a nice 4-6-3 double play and won the tournament. The Singapore boys really battled and had a successful tournament. Co-captains Michael Szopiak and Evan Petty led the Singapore team. Szopiak pitched a total of 8 and 1/3 innings. Petty led the team with five hits and was on base 11 times in 14 times at bat. Seniors Chang, Hvide, Davis, Dylan Howell and Cody Burkett also provided important leadership and strong play. The team wants to thank SACAC and SAS for their support.

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

Aboriginal Art

By Laurie Thompson, Elementary Art Teacher Aboriginal artists from the Australian Warlukurlangu Community Artist Association recently visited students in Mrs. Heathhorn’s, Ms. McFadden’s, and Mrs. Thompson’s grades 4 and 5 art classes to share their cultural dream (story) paintings. Following the artists’ visit, students in all grade levels studied and created beautiful projects in aboriginal art styles. SAS is fortunate that the dot painting by one of the visiting artists, Alma Nungarrayi Granite, is the first panel in the Art History Mural on permanent display in the Elementary Art hallway.