Impact Report
SAS FOUNDATION
S A S O f f i c e o f A d v a n c e m e n t • 4 0 W o o d l a n d s S t r e e t 4 1 S i n g a p o r e • + 6 5 6 3 6 0 6 3 3 4 • s a s f o u n d a t i o n @ s a s . e d u . s g • s a s . e d u . s g / g i v i n g
4.4%
2.6% STEM
Social-emotional learning
Thank you
5.5% Professional
Academic and experiential learning
development
for making a gift to Singapore American School. You have made a difference.
The SAS Foundation is grateful to our donor community who contributed more than S$3.5 million in gifts between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, to support programs and projects in the 2018-19 school year. As you will read in this report, philanthropy funds day-to-day “extras” as well as strategic, big-picture opportunities. Because of this, philanthropy is vitally important to SAS and allows us to strengthen our position as a world leader in international education. Thank you, again, for your generosity.
28.5%
9.2% Innovative
programs and practices
3.1% DSLOs 1.9% Community
The Impact of Your Giving
July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019
7.4% Activities and clubs
1.7% Awards and
scholarships
service
38.1% Flexible learning
environments and other capital projects
Support Services Singapore American School provides targeted support so that all of our students can learn at high levels. This level of support comes at a cost, and the support of the donor community allows us to provide the resources necessary to continue to serve students with a wide variety of abilities at SAS. Last year, funding from the SAS Foundation allowed SAS to provide additional targeted curricular resources and support to teachers across all divisions, including support for intensive, small-group, supplementary leveled literacy intervention for students who find reading and writing difficult; an adaptive learning platform for math; books and resources on assessment benchmarks; as well as furnishing new learning support classrooms. Additionally, teachers were resourced to attend relevant conferences, workshops, and trainings in math instruction and literacy interventions.
Professional Development The SAS community champions the power of learning to bring about positive change: the generous support of our donors enables us to extend the transformational benefits of education to our staff. SAS supports our exceptional faculty in their pursuit of excellence by funding their professional development. Last year, giving provided many opportunities. Over 100 instructional assistants participated in three workshops on communication and collaboration, inspiring more effective interactions with their colleagues and students. Foundation funding also addressed the professional development needs of teachers across departments and divisions, including training for teachers in mathematics, dance, Catalyst, advisory, music, learning support, and Advanced Topics as well as providing access to website subscriptions and other professional resources and materials.
Social-Emotional Learning Students learn best when they feel known, cared for, and connected to their school. Last year, gifts to the foundation helped support programs that ensure every student experiences extraordinary care at SAS. Giving funded social-emotional learning opportunities across all divisions: supporting social-emotional training through Rutgers University for nine staff; funding elementary school recreation specialist Byron Aguilar Rodriguez, who worked with students at break time, encouraging participation, movement, and collaboration through play; fostering camaraderie and belonging in the middle school through fun additions including house bandanas, the “Ninja Warrior” obstacle course during field day, and competitions during homebase; and in the high school, continuing to fund advisory, “how to” presentations to parents, and the creation of new events such as UN Day and spirit activities for departing students.
Innovative programs and practices Giving helps support our students as they follow their passions and develop useful and novel ideas. In our makerspaces, philanthropy supported a variety of student-directed maker projects, purchases of emerging technologies, maintenance of existing equipment, and additional tools and supplies for innovative learning. In the high school, makerspace technology upgrades included a precision circular saw bench, an augmented reality platform, and a mobile recording studio. The middle school makerspace received a new, userfriendly laser cutter and 3D printer. Philanthropy also supported us in purchasing materials and resources for all divisions, such as cardboard, cutting equipment, paper, toner and other printing supplies, instructional fees for online tuition, and competition expenses. Gifts also allowed us to service our existing range of 3D printers across divisions.
Flexible LEarning Environments ANd Other Capital Projects This, SAS undertook pathfinder projects to explore how classroom environments can best support inquiry-based, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approaches to learning.
Elementary School
SAS Foundation funds supported projects across the school, including: a high school pathfinder project to reconfigure existing classrooms creating three additional humanities flexible learning environments; a learning community design for 7B incorporating more natural light and greenery; the refurbishment of restrooms in the high school; the consolidation of sports and activities programs through the colocation of teams; and the cleaning and repainting of exterior walls and corridors.
Middle School
High School
Dance Last year, philanthropy allowed us to offer a new elementary school dance program, providing a more well-rounded artistic and physical education for our students. The Eagle Dance after-school program served over 70 students, providing professional instruction and covering a variety of techniques. Eagle Dance will allow elementary students to build a better skill base in preparation for the existing dance pathway in middle school and high school.
Robotics Philanthropy allowed SAS to reintroduce competitive robotics to the middle school last year, funding a second assistant coach, 20 robotics kits to accommodate new robotics teams, and extra competition mats for practice. SAS took ten students to the First Lego League competition at the secondary level. Through robotics, students grow in confidence, public speaking skills, conflict resolution, time management, and perseverance, not to mention building coding and engineering skills.
Space Technology and Engineering program The Space Technology and Engineering program provides a STEM platform for student science experiments on board the International Space Station. SAS Foundation support paid for necessary hardware and software, hands-on training of faculty mentors in Silicon Valley, design review, engineering model and flight unit testing, final review and other operations, and lectures on space systems engineering and science by Dr. Bidushi Bhattacharya, a rocket scientist with over two decades of experience with NASA and in higher education.
Other notable SAS Foundation-funded initiatives in elementary school in 2018-19 were: • Supplies, furniture and a whiteboard, books, software, and other resources for Chinese Immersion classrooms • Consultancy and teacher training for elementary school teachers from Sarah Martin, principal of Stonefields • Kits and registration fees for robotics • Second grade AsiaFest celebration expenses including performances and supplies • Play Day expenses including additional supplies, and popsicles for every student • Lunar New Year’s celebration expenses including the lion dance performance • Resources and materials for the creativity center which students can visit during their morning and lunch recesses, to create and collaborate • Community Service projects with local schools for first and third grade students
Other notable SAS Foundation-funded initiatives in middle school in 2018-19 were: • Innovation interns in the middle school library, supporting students in our learning design spaces and the TRi Time Project • Materials and resources for TRi Time • Foundation funds offset the additional costs of hosting CWW in Bintan • Table tennis tables, nets, and posts • Referees for volleyball and basketball • Entry fees for Junior Model United Nations • Awards for middle school invitational basketball tournament • Guest choreographers Meraki Cia and Nikki Snelson and instructional materials for dance • National History Day expenses related to shipping projects abroad and travel expenses for students and advisors • Adobe Creative Suite licensing for all students and teachers
Other notable SAS Foundation-funded initiatives in high school in 2018-19 were: • College counselor visits to 71 colleges and universities • Support for Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asia Schools (IASAS) including 13 adjudicators and three guests conductors for music; art framing; cultural convention dance costumes, and more • Instructional materials and professional networking resources for Catalyst project • Athletic Conference Singapore International Schools (ACSIS) dues enabling 40 SAS teams to participate in a variety of sports • Registration fees for Model United Nations, debate, and choir • Resources, materials, and strategic partnerships for Advanced Topics • Executive Service Council grants allowing students to focus on service • Fabrication mill and competition robot for robotics
Visitors-in-Residence The PTA and SAS Foundation-funded academic visitorsin-residence program brings internationally recognized authors, visual artists, musicians, playwrights, directors, and other professionals to work side by side with faculty and students throughout the year. The program allows students to understand the craft and work of professional artists and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts. In 2018-19 our visitors-in-residence included In 2018-19 our visitors-in-residence included Sophie Blackall, Jeanette Canyon, Colin Goh, and Mary Knysh.