Singapore American School Newsflash, April 2008

Volume 10, Issue 8-07/08 - April 2008MICA (P) 183/08/2007

A Singapore American School community service publication

Journeys inTibet Pg. 4

Alcohol use amongHigh SchoolStudents Pg. 8

Board ofGovernorsAppointments Pg. 10

NewsNewsFlashFlashSAS

INTERIM SEMESTER

REFLECTIONS

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Bart BroadmanVice Chairman of the Board

Chairman Trust

Bob ComstockChairman Facilities

Carl StockingChairman Finance

Tom LintonBoard Member

Maya RollBoard Member

Bon Soon KooBoard Member

Marybeth ShayBoard Member

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.

We welcome input from the community associated with Singapore American School

May NewsFlash

Deadline: May 7, 2008Publication Date: May 26, 2008

august NewsFlash

Deadline: July 16, 2008Publication Date: August 4, 2008

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COMMUNICATIONS OFFICESingapore American School

40 Woodlands Street 41Singapore 738547

Tel: 6360-6303SAS Website: http://www.sas.edu.sg

Editor: Beth GribbonStaff Editor: Junia BakerLayout Design: Joey Lew

RegulaRs3 - Calendar Highlights15 - SACAC Sports17 - SAS PTA President Letter21 - Booster Club News

sas HigHligHts

4 - Journeys in Tibet6 - MS Honor Band Festival in Morocco8 - Alcohol use among HS Students: Separating Perception and Reality10 - Board of Governors Appointments11 - Residents work together for a safer community12 - Dinner hosted in support of the SAS Education Foundation22 - Cultural Convention: Dance, Drama, Debate, Forensics26 - 2008 IASAS Music and Art Cultutal Convention

Joseph AndersonBoard Member

Sheila WangChairman Curriculum

Devin KimbleBoard Member

Kirk HulseBoard Member

Garth SheldonChairman of the Board


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1 LABOR DAY (NO SCHOOL)2 SCHOOL HOLIDAY (NO SCHOOL) SACAC Gym Fest 8:00am – 5:00pm (MS Gym)3 SAT & Subject Tests SACAC Gym Fest 8:00am – 7:00pm (MS/HS Gyms)3-4 HS SAS Activities Free Weekend (SACAC activities continue)5 IS Parent Coffee for 2nd Grade 8:15am – 9:15am MS Parent Coffee 10:00am (M301) AM: AP US Government & Politics PM: AP Comparative Government & Politics,

AP French Language6 PTA Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) AM: AP Computer Science, AP Spanish Language PM: AP Statistics7 Students Late Start 10:00am No School for PM Pre-Sch; AM Pre-Sch and Pre-K are in Session. AM Pre-Sch will be 10:00am to 1:30pm this day. Community Calendar Meeting 11:00am AM: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC PM: AP Chinese Language and Culture8 ACSIS All-Schools Meeting 9:00am – 4:00pm (UWC) AM: AP English Literature9 AP Studio Art (portfolios due) AM: AP US History PM: AP European History12 AM: AP Biology, AP Music Theory PM: Physics B, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

May 2008 * Campus Mosquito Fogging, every Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm

13 PTA Volunteer Appreciation Tea/AGM 10:00am-12:00pm AM: AP Environmental Science, AP Chemistry PM: AP Psychology14 Alternate Dress Day AM: AP English Language PM: AP Art History15 AM: AP Macroeconomics, AP World History PM: AP Microeconomics16 MS Dance Performances 4:00pm & 7:00pm (Auditorium) Booster Club Appreciation Lunch 11:30am HS Art Show Opening 3:15pm AM: AP Human Geography17-22 HS Art Show19 VESAK DAY (NO SCHOOL)20 PTA Joint Board Meeting 9:30am (PTA Office) HS Celebration of Service 3:15pm – 4:30pm (Auditorium) Thespians Inductions 4:30pm (Theater Studio)21 Senior Photo & Senior Appreciation Day 8:05am (Sentosa)22 HS Drama Performance 7:00pm (Drama Theater)22-23 HS Decathlon 3:15pm – 6:00pm23 PS/IS Student-Led Conferences No School for K-Gr.5; Pre-Sch/Pre-K are in session HS Drama Performance 4:15pm (Drama Theater) HS Instrumental Concert 7:00pm (Auditorium) Grade 8 Slide Show 2:00pm Grade 8 Graduation Dance 7:00pm - 10:00pm (MS Cafeteria)24 Choir/Orchestra/Wind Ensemble Concert 7:00pm (Auditiorium)26 Booster Club Meeting 9:30am (H301)26-29 Elementary Play Day 8:00am – 11:30am (Stadium)

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

17-18 IS ITBS Testing18 Jazz Night 7:00pm (American Club)19 HS Junior/Senior Prom Night 9:00pm – 1:00am21 Booster Club Meeting 9:30am (H301)22 Earth Day Celebrations National Art Honor Society Inductions 3:15pm (Art Suite) Third Season Sports Award Night 7:00pm (Auditorium/Drama Theater/Theater Studios)22-25 Tabitha Sales

23 Alternate Dress Day24 Grade 5 Parent Orientation 7:00pm (Elementary Theater)25 PTA Carpet Auction MS Dance 7:00pm (MS Cafeteria)25-26 HS Dance Production 7:00pm (Auditorium)28 Tri-M Inductions 3:15pm (HS Library)29 MS Spring Choir Concert 7:00pm30 SACAC Gym Fest Show 1:30pm (MS Gym)

April 2008


Journeys in Tibet By Helen P. Knight, Grade 11 Student

F or many, an allusion to Tibet conjures notions of Brad Pitt scaling the Himalayas and teaching a young Dalai Lama or of Birkenstock-shod, dread-locked vegetarians seeking spirituality with “Free Tibet” patches on

their burlap backpacks or a vague recollection that Richard Gere is somehow involved in the nation. The irony of these Hollywood impressions is that the real Tibet is so much the opposite extreme of this fluff and drama: it is harshly authentic in all ways, starting with a physical beauty that is visually overpowering. It is a place where life is one of manifold hardships that outsiders can only imagine. It is a place where devotion to religion and religion as a way of life are unparalleled.

Within a period of seven days, I and 19 peers from the junior class, led by teachers Mark Devine and Tico Oms, were able to glimpse a reality that might be described as being in stark contrast to our lives and experiences.

Traveling between the cities of Tsedang, Gyangtse, Xigatse and Lhasa, all of our senses were constantly overwhelmed. Be it the pungent smell of yak butter candles and the colorful decoration of monasteries or long drives that were highlighted by sightings of glaciers, frozen lakes and steep mountains rising without warning out of plateaus or the sensation of having thin, dry air in our lungs, we returned to Singapore exhausted by the sheer energy of all we had encountered.

To me, our last day in Tibet captures the essence of this trip. We woke early and dressed for the bitter cold in preparation for a hike that was to start after a short bus ride through Lhasa’s dusty streets. What would have been an easy walk at sea level was a difficult ascent because of the high altitude as we slowly made our way up to a local monastery. The effort was well worth it, however, when we found ourselves in a room of monks chanting their morning prayers. The roof of their building afforded a view of the Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama’s former residence, rising above the city of Lhasa. Part of our group chose to stay at the monastery, while others decided to push forward to another monastery higher up the face of the mountain. Before long, we descended into a ravine, following a path above which were strung thousands of prayer flags, which Tibetans leave in sacred places for blessings. When we reached the second monastery, our guide would not enter the premises with us because it belongs to a sect most Tibetans oppose for political reasons, but we were touched by the hospitality of an elderly monk who knew no English but welcomed us warmly. He offered us yak butter tea and cookies, but we were pressed for time and had to decline the invitation. On the way back, after rejoining our group, we had the good fortune to see a sky burial in the distance (Tibetans honor their dead by leaving them for vultures) and later came in close contact with several grazing yak.

That afternoon, we visited the 500-year-old Sera Monastery, and when we arrived, we found the monks engaged in a “debate.” The courtyard outside the main temple was awash with the maroon color of the monks’ robes as they sat and watched their teachers question their colleagues on difficult philosophical topics. Those who were being interrogated clapped their hands together to emphasize important points and often shouted in their enthusiasm. The day ended with a return visit to the Jokhang Temple, one of Tibet’s most holy sites, situated in the center of Lhasa. My favorite part of this experience was seeing


the faces of Tibetans peering at us as we returned their glances with equal curiosity. Many of these pilgrims had traveled for months and even years to reach this temple, prostrating themselves on the ground with each step they took on the journey.

Though there is so much more I can describe, there was one particular afternoon that was such a highlight than it cannot go unmentioned.

Before leaving Singapore, we had collected shoeboxes of toys and school supplies which we distributed to the children at the Lucky Star Orphanage upon our arrival in Lhasa. As we showed them each of the things we had brought, they appeared almost shell-shocked because they had never really had their own possessions. Quickly, however, they were giddy with excitement and played with us without their earlier inhibitions. Coming into such close exchange with Tibetans, I think all of us were given yet another experience from which to approach the implications of the political situation in Tibet, a theme that we considered individually throughout the journey.

Each and every SAS Interim trip is a unique opportunity. In the three trips I have taken to date, I have been challenged in myriad ways and returned to Singapore having learned much. What was gained from Interim in Tibet? If I am an example for others, Tibet has left me a little more insightful, more eager than ever to travel the world and learn more and very thankful to be able to experience such journeys and “once in a lifetime” opportunities.

My account was submitted for publication in mid-March, just days before anti-government riots and demonstrations erupted in Tibet and other parts of China, India, and Nepal by Tibetans protesting their lack of freedom and the “cultural genocide” that has resulted from the wide-spread immigration into Tibet by the Han Chinese. Foreign journalists were ordered to leave the region, and the Dalai Lama has been accused of inciting unrest and violence.


D uring the last week of February, nine SAS Tiger Band students travelled to Rabat, Morocco to participate in the AMIS European Middle School Honor Band Festival. Over

400 musicians auditioned but only 73 were given the opportunity to represent their schools at this prestigious event. It was an amazing experience for these young musicians and here’s what they had to say about it:

The audition process:

“Last year, in September, I went into the band room, with a goal in mind; “To get into the 2008 AMIS Honor Band.” As I left the band room with an uncertain look on my face, I did not know that in just six months, I would be sitting on an airplane, flying to Morocco.” Cian Leow

“Back in September, I tried out for AMIS but thought that my audition hadn’t gone so well. A few months later, I found out I had made it. I was so excited and thrilled to be accepted to this festival; after receiving the music, I started practicing right away.” Jimmy Yoon

Morocco

I boarded the flight to Rabat expecting an exotic realm of crested sand dunes and scimitar-waving Berbers, plus the occasional oasis or mighty, sun-stained fortress. Perhaps I would see a giraffe or two; maybe even a zebra or elephant. How extravagantly wrong I turned out to be! Rabat turned out quite different from my bizarrely misconceived notions. It was pleasantly suburban, tastefully blending

MS Honor Band Festival in MoroccoBy Brian White, MS Band Teacher


its European colonial past with Arabian and North African designs. Yes, there were camels (albeit as a tourist attraction at the gates of the Tour Hassan), and there were some scimitars (sold as souvenirs in the crowded Medina), but altogether, Rabat turned out to be a pleasantly beautiful place. Oliver Kim

Host Families

The best part about our host family was that they were very open. Instead of the usual host who just sends you to your room to sleep, our hosts invited us to watch movies with them, play Ping Pong, see the turtles and play board games. They did just about everything to make us feel at home. Hangil Chung

The Rehearsals

Playing for six hours per day wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. When I came back, I felt that I improved on my clarinet. We had nine pieces of music to work on. They were “Holton-Arms Fanfare,” “Turkish March,” “Blue Ridge Autumn,” “Slavonic Dance No.8,” “Los Banditos,” “Flight of Courage,” “Winds of Morocco,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “The Magnificent Seven.” I thought all the pieces were great. Klaudia Ser

Every rehearsal, I tried my best to sound good, even though I was tired and sick. If I got some notes or rhythms wrong, I thought of what Linda, Tamami and Stephany would do in such a short practice time. On this trip, I think I improved a lot on several flute techniques, such as playing “piano” very softly, double tonguing, vibrato and controlling the amount of air. Yun Jee Nam

Our rehearsal started the day after we arrived. There were 73 people from more than 20 different schools all around the world, including us. The fact that I was taking a part in this band of a large scale made me feel very proud and honored. One of the things I really liked about the rehearsals was that people were learning from one another and working together. When I asked one of the musicians if he could play something for me, he showered me with kindness. The best part of all, for me, was meeting and making new friends from France, England, Switzerland, Nigeria and Germany. Jin Byun

The Concert

When we performed the kids went wild for our music, especially when we played “Pirates of the Caribbean.” It made us feel like our music really inspired people and that our music was good. This is exactly what we were looking for, and we were grateful that the students loved it. Each time they applauded, we were excited to play for them and ready to give them what they really wanted. They happened to be just kids but hearing them talk about how great we were really made us feel like all the preparation and practicing was worth something. Irene Rozett

The concert day went very smoothly. A large amount of credit is due to the guest conductor, Mr. Edward Elkins. He was very organized and made me appreciate and understand music so much. The man was huge! Of course, being one of the shortest people there, this didn’t make me feel any taller. But it was really fun working with him, although we could never play through an entire song with him on the podium as he cut us off a lot! Nonetheless, Mr. Elkins put together a band that performed spectacularly in the concert, and I am very proud to have worked with him. Oliver Jung

MS Honor Band Festival in Morocco (cont’d)


This year’s FCD spokesperson noted that, “The primary reported drug of choice at SAS continues to be alcohol.” Not surprisingly, these findings parallel research related to drug use by teens in the United States. But just how prolific is drinking among students at SAS?

To help answer this question a survey was undertaken in grades 9-12. Questions ranged from whether or not students have ever consumed alcohol to amounts and frequency of alcohol use. The table below indicates the percentages and number of students, by grade level, who have never consumed alcohol.

What is glaringly apparent from the data in Table 1A is the change in student responses regarding consumption of alcohol from grade 9 to grade 12. In fairness to the kids, the question did not ask how much or the frequency of alcohol use, but rather if alcohol has ever been consumed. Additional questions on the survey, however, did investigate frequency as well as student perceptions regarding peer alcohol use. Students were asked, “In the past 30 days, have you consumed alcohol,” and “What percentage of your peers do you believe have consumed alcohol during the past 30 days?” Student responses are noted in Table 1B.

These questions begin to get to the heart of drinking concerns, namely the percentage of students who have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. Once again, the amount of alcohol consumed is not noted; however, I am reminded of the words of the FCD spokesperson to parents regarding teenage alcohol consumption: “Kids are not drinking alcohol in moderation; they drink to get drunk.

Alcohol use among High School Students: Separating Perception and RealityBy Jeff Devens, PhD/High School Psychologist

If you want to validate this statement, wait up for your kids to come home after a night of clubbing.” Poignant words coming from a person whose work is based solely around adolescent substance use. To presume that teens are drinking to be social or to fit in may be accurate on some level, but they are more than likely not regulating the amount(s) of alcohol they consume. To justify their “need” or “right” to drink, teens sometimes resort to perceptions, albeit faulty, such as “Everyone is drinking so it’s not a big deal.” When students were asked to indicate what percentage of peers they perceive are drinking at SAS, their responses did not correspond with reality. Parents too may believe that everyone in the high school is drinking, when this simply is not the case.

Where are our kids getting information on alcohol? Not surprisingly, the most frequently reported sources noted by students were parents, health classes, friends and the media. What is important to note is that students in all grades reported parents as being primary sources of information. The perception that what you say to your teen falls on deaf ears is inaccurate. Your kids are listening. Parents, you do have a considerable influence on your child’s choices, including alcohol use.

Writing on this topic is a difficult undertaking. As sure as I type these words, there are parents on the parenting continuum who see no problem with teen drinking. Some parents have gone so far as to promote and encourage underage drinking by providing the alcohol, and the venue, for their teen and friends (i.e., pay-parties). Among the many poor lessons these parents are imparting are that

F or the past two years students in the middle and high school divisions at SAS have worked with educators from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD). The purpose of FCD is to disseminate accurate, age appropriate information to

students regarding substance use and its effects. In addition, FCD provides a platform for kids, away from teachers and parents, to discuss their own or their peer’s drug use without fear of retribution.

Table 1A

Table 1B


laws don’t matter and that alcohol is needed in order for a teen to have a “good time.” What these parents may not realize is that they may actually be contributing to alcohol addiction in their child. We do know, empirically, that the younger a person begins drinking, the more likely he or she is to develop a problem with alcohol. Biologically, teens are still developing key areas of brain functioning related to reasoning and critical thinking skills. Alcohol, a drug that wreaks global havoc on the brain, can significantly impact this development. Providing teens with alcohol and then expecting them to make responsible choices is not only counterproductive, it’s downright dangerous.

Alcohol may be prevalent in our culture, but it does not have to be a part of your teen’s life. The more parents stay involved, the greater the likelihood that their kids will make healthy choices. Despite teen’s best efforts to “get rid of mom and dad,” they still need your guidance, love and support to make positive choices. Stay involved; stay connected. As an academic institution, SAS too has a responsibility in educating kids regarding drugs. To this end, we provide health courses, workshops, student/parent/faculty presentations, counseling services and information dissemination (such as this article); however, the primary responsibility for communicating this information rests with you, the parents.

Creative Memories

C reative Memories is a social service club in the High School. Its members make decorative scrapbooks for themselves and for community organizations. For the

past school year they’ve been working with the Y-Reading Club, which is sponsored by the YMCA and the Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore. Their goal is to improve the literacy of physically challenged adults by helping participants write the text accompanying the photos in their scrapbooks. Says President Anna Shin, “Scrapbooking is an art. We use colored paints, markers, stickers and sparkles to make each page special and different. Each scrapbook has a theme with a special meaning. It’s fun to look at the pictures and recall good times. That’s why we call our club Creative Memories.”

Read all about it: The high school dancers would like to invite you to their spring performance based on sections and articles of the newspaper.

Open Dress rehearsal: SAS Auditorium, Thursday, April 24 at 4:00pm

Performances: SAS Auditorium, Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 at 7:00pm

The Dance Performance Class Choreographers: Priyanka Arya, Krisna Bharvani, Tina Kirwin, Bella Lee, Shih-Yiu Liu, Esther Lukman, Abby Murray, Daphnie Pan, Esha Parikh, Calli Scheidt, Evelyn Toh and Emily Woodfield.

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The Thespian Scenes & Monologues Night will have two performances in May, both in the Drama Theater:

Thursday, May 22 at 7:00pmFriday, May 23 at 4:15pm

These performances feature a variety of scenes that showcase the talents of our students both as actors and as directors.

Admission is free. Come and join in the fun!

THESPIAN SCENES & MONOLOGUES NIGHT

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Board of Governors Appointments

Maya Roll

Board member Maya Roll, appointed to the Board of Governors in May 2003 and elected in October 2005, has resigned her board position effective April 30, 2008. Maya will be relocating to the United States with her family.

During her time as a board member Maya served on the Curriculum, Facilities and Trust Committees of the Board of Governors, as well serving as the board representative to the PTA Board.

Tom Linton

Board member Tom Linton, appointed to the Board of Governors in June 2005 and elected in October 2006, has resigned his board position effective April 30, 2008. The Linton family will be moving to Korea where Mr. Linton has taken a position as Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for LG Electronics.

During his time as a board member Tom served on the Finance and Trust Committees.

Rudolph Muller

Rudolph Muller has been appointed to the Board of Governors, effective April 30, 2008, to fill the vacancy created with resignation of Maya Roll. He has resided in Singapore since 1999 with his wife Andrea and their two children, currently in the seventh and the tenth grades at SAS.

Rudolph is a graduate of Lemoyne College and received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. He is currently employed as the Managing Director/Asia Pacific Regional Director for Adisseo Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

He has been actively involved with SACAC as a parent volunteer and coach. He will serve on the Curriculum and Facilities Committees of the Board of Governors.

Catherine Poyen Zemans

Catherine Poyen Zemans has been appointed to the Board of Governors, effective April 30, 2008, to fill the vacancy created with the resignation of Tom Linton. She has resided in Singapore since 1997, when she moved here with her husband David. They have two children, a daughter currently in first grade at SAS and a son who will begin Kindergarten in August.

Catherine is a graduate of Mount Allison University, received her LL.B. from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and is currently an instructor with the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore.

She has been an active community volunteer including serving at the president of the United Hebrew Congregation in Singapore and fundraising for the KK Hospital Health Endowment Fund. She and will serve on the Finance and Trust Committees of the Board of Governors.

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Residents work together for a safer communityBy Byron E. Barrett, SAS parent

W alking to school in the morning and home in the afternoon was fraught with risk as children made their way through a maze of hazards including speeding

cars, illegally parked vehicles and no crosswalks. In August 2007 concerned parents in the Woodlands neighborhood came together to find a way to create a safer environment. Much has been accomplished since then to improve the safety of the neighborhood:

1. The speed limit was decreased from 50kmh to 40kmh.2. A raised crosswalk was installed with two flashing

lights.3. Another speed bump was installed on the main road.4. The parking enforcement line on the side streets was

lengthened. 5. Six volunteers from the neighborhood come out every school

day morning from 7:30am – 8:05am to hold signs asking cars to slow down and to help kids cross safely at the crosswalk.

6. SAS sends security guards in the morning; encouraging safe drop-off and parking.

The efforts seem to be paying off. Drivers are driving well below the speed limit. Children now have a safe place to cross the road, at the crosswalk where drivers must stop for pedestrians.

Much of this was accomplished with the support of the Singapore Land Transit Authority, which played a major role in lowering the speed limit and providing the raised crosswalk and the Singapore Traffic Police who have enforced traffic regulations to make sure the roads stay congestion free. Drivers who park illegally opposite a white line, or who stop in a zebra controlled area, face fines of $70 and $120 with 3 demerit points, respectively.

Special thanks to Stephanie Morgan Russell for her initiative in bringing the Woodlands neighborhood together to make walking to school safer for our children.

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Dinner hosted in support of the SAS Education Foundation

S AS parents Vijay and Sujata Parekh hosted a warm and festive dinner gathering in their home on April 5, providing an opportunity for parents of Indian origin to come together to share ideas and topics of common interest related to their children’s education at SAS. Held in support of the SAS Education Foundation, the event raised over

$22,000 for the school programs supported each year by the foundation. Parents were asked to contribute at least $200 per couple, and since the cost of the dinner was entirely underwritten by Vijay and Sujata Parekh, every dollar donated will go directly to the SAS Education Foundation.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Musch, Board of Governors Chairman Garth Sheldon and other board members attended the dinner, providing an opportunity for parents to share their ideas and feedback about the school.

Heartfelt thanks are extended to Vijay and Sujata Parekh for hosting this special evening. Thanks are also due to the committee members Arathi Nilakantan, Usha Sivaskandan, Mary Raj Kumar, Ani Parikh, Vidya Sambamurthy and Mika

Parekh who helped plan the event. The support of the parents who attend the dinner and made donations is very much appreciated. Individual donations will be acknowledged in the May issue of NewsFlash and in the December issue of Journeys, the SAS alumni magazine.

SAS Education Foundation Donations

The 2007-08 annual fund campaign will continue through the end of June. Parents interested in making a contribution may mail their check to the Development Office or may make their donation on-line by credit card on our secure server. Go to the SAS website at www.sas.edu.sg and select “Giving to SAS” from the menu. Donation checks should be made payable to “Singapore American School Foundation.” U.S. dollar donations are tax-deductible for U.S. tax purposes. Contact Beth Gribbon at 6360-6303 or [email protected] for more information.

Funds raised for the SAS Education Foundation are used to support academic programs for students, professional development for faculty and special projects identified on an annual basis. Funds will also be used for financial aid and scholarships, athletic and intramural activities and student-led community service initiatives. For example, this year the foundation underwrote the costs associated with the visiting conductors who worked with students during the Music Festival Week and the SAS Parent Speaker Series that has offered SAS parents guidance on topics such as parenting and study skills.

L-R: Arathi Nilakantan, Garima Lalwani, Sunil Varkey and Ashok Lalwani

Front row (L-R): Vijay Chopra, Brent Mutsch, Sujata Parekh, Shalini ChopraBack row (L-R): Beth Gribbon, Vijay Parekh


The 2008/09 re-enrollment/withdrawal and family information forms were sent to all SAS families and employers on February 27. The deadline for re-enrollment is April 1. If you did not receive the form, please contact the Admissions Office at 6360-6309 immediately.

All outstanding 2007/08 school fees must be settled before re-enrollment is allowed. Please contact Debra at 6360-6324 for outstanding fee balances.


RE-EnRollMEnT FoR THE 2008 - 2009 SCHool YEAR


The Tiger Challenge 2008By Ian Coppell, grade 7 teacher Photos by Chris Emerson, grade 7 teacher

I n the last three years grade 7 students have raised over $70,000 for the Prakratik Society, a group aiming to save the tigers at Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan. Numbers are in

decline due to human activity in the vicinity. This organization aims to achieve its goal by encouraging villagers to be less dependent on the tigers’ habitat for their survival.

The Prakratik Society sends us its Annual Report each year, which tells us about the various programs in and around the park. Several members of the SAS community have visited Ranthambhore over the last few years and have shared positive feedback regarding the support SAS has given the villages. This year two SAS teachers, Chris Emerson and Jenna Kozerowitz, spent a couple of days at the park in January and met the people who run the society. They were impressed with the multi-faceted the program. Our funds have primarily been channeled toward

the educational aspects of the program, including the Fateh Public School. The teachers also saw that the Prakratik Society supports a variety of other schemes, including health care, job creation, family planning, legal advice, counseling and family planning. More details can be found at http://www.prakratik.org/.

This fund-raiser provides a strong and relevant link to the grade 7 Poverty Unit, in which students explore the cycle of poverty and identify how people end up in that situation as well as how charitable organizations try to break the cycle.

This year’s Tiger Challenge started in early April, when students generated over 1,000 geography-related questions. The best 150 questions were selected and divided into ten categories. The questions and answers are shared and students memorize them. The culmination is when all the students take a “test” on April 24 in the auditorium. Students raise money by gathering pledges based on how many correct answers they receive. Students who achieve 100% – and there are many! – are awarded a special prize. It is an exciting morning!

Goverdhan Rathore, the director of the Prakratik Society responded to our recent donation by saying, “It is inspiring to know that the young generation is so deeply concerned about their environment no matter where on earth it may be endangered.”

Please support the Tiger Challenge!


2008 PTA Visiting AuthorBy Kirk Palmer

T he 2008 PTA visiting author and illustrator Jon Agee was a big hit. Here he is pictured with four second graders, (l to r) Conor Byrne, Pryanka Aiyer, William Lammers and Eliza Librerato, following his hilarious presentation in the HS Drama Theater on Thursday, March 6.

His presentations to all school divisions throughout the week included talking and drawing about his growing up; sharing some of the books he created when he was a young boy; and his current writing and drawing process. Agee introduced his two newest books and highlighted some of his more recently published work. Terrific and Milo’s Hat Trick kept everyone entertained as well as learning a lot about illustration and some key things to remember when preparing material for publication. Probably the most important thing he said was “Revision, revision, revision.”

Middle school student art work influenced by Jon Agee’s visit will be showcased in the May issue of NewsFlash.

All students and teachers who saw one of Jon Agee’s presentations thank the PTA for their generosity in making the Visiting Author Program a success.

If you would like to learn more about Jon Agee, please see his website at www.jonagee.com.

(L to R): Faisal Halabeya, Abby Njarian, and Aryaman Gulati, second graders from Ms. Sarah Farris’ class, hold the books and individual Big Splash Awards sent to each author honor-ing their achievements.

Big SplashBy Kirk Palmer, PS Librarian

T he 2008 Big Splash gold was awarded to Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod. Two more books earned

the silver award, Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen and Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman. These books were chosen by all students in kindergarten, first and second grades.

The American Library Association, New York Times, Boston Globe and many American states give annual awards to books they feel deserve recognition. For the second year in a row the Primary School Library has selected the Best Picture Book, giving it a gold medal and honoring other books that were also considered noteworthy. The nominees come from some of the Best Books Lists put out by the American Library Association, then we use a process of evaluation included in library lessons and in classrooms; children vote first for their top ten favorites, then for their number one favorite. After the votes are counted and winner named, books that received a significant number of votes but were not the top choice are named as honor books.

Last year, when the award process and activities were first implemented, Leonardo and the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems was the gold medal winner. Of course at that time an award had to be designed and named. Ed Sheerin, PS/IS Art teacher provided guidance and helped some second graders design the award. Then second grader Angie Lin came up with the best design and Mrs. Ali Cuthbert, currently a second grade teacher, suggest Big Splash as the name.

Mr. Kirk Palmer, Primary School Librarian, is looking through lists to get the next nominees ready for the 2009 Big Splash Award. The three top books are currently on display in the PS Library and along with last year’s books are all available for borrowing.


SACAC Sports newsBy Jackie Barry

T he SACAC sports programs are in the midst of our spring sports season. Families are busy with recreational leagues in baseball, softball, t-ball and basketball, run entirely by

volunteers who do an array of jobs including: commissioners, coaches, referees, team moms and scorekeepers. Thank you to all the volunteers who make SACAC Sports programs possible! In addition to our recreational leagues, SACAC offers a variety of programs that are professionally coached, include gymnastics, Fighting Fish swim team, tennis, wakeboarding, speed training, golf, bowling and the fastbreak competitive basketball league.

During the SAS Spring Break week, SACAC hosted the Southeast Asian Youth Baseball & Softball tournament (SEAYB&ST) at SAS. 22 teams from Australia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore competed in this annual regional baseball and softball tournament! We would like to thank SAS for graciously allowing us to use their facilities and the SAS staff members for all of their support.

SACAC will hold our Uncle Ecky Basketball Camp the week of June 9-13, 2008. We will also be offering summer programs in speed training and tennis.

An annual family membership fee is required to participate in all SACAC activities and programs. SACAC programs are available to families from any school. Sports information and schedules are available on our website at www.sacac.com. Please call SACAC Sports at 6363-6454 or email: [email protected] for questions.

Henry Barry pitching for the Singapore Majors during the SEAYB&ST 2008

Kelsey LaBranche scores for the Singapore Major Girls during SEAYB&ST 2008


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PTA President’s letter

P rior to publishing this article, we held our Annual Staff Appreciation Day for our teachers and staff by providing them special recognition for the great job that they do at SAS. Many thanks to PTA Hospitality Chairs, Abha Kaul and Brett

Gold Thompson along with all of the division coordinators for their efforts in organizing the events for this day. We would also like to thank those of you who either worked a shift during the day or provided food or money to help allow the staff to enjoy their special day. As always, these types of events could not be held without your support and generosity. I know from feedback that this event is truly appreciated by the staff. I always hear from the teachers new to the school how they look forward to the day based on all they hear from those who have experienced it. It can be said that it is a bit over the top, but why not for just one day? It is a pleasure to see a teacher’s expression as they

walk into the room and have someone ask them what kind of omelet they would like to be served. After all the hard work and effort that our teachers and staff put forth each day for our children, it is nice to be able to provide them a special treat and allow them to sit and relax while a freshly prepared meal is served to them.

During this event, the PTA not only feeds the staff during the day, but each teacher and staff member receives a gift from the PTA. I know many of you like to have your child personally give their teachers gifts, but this day is designed to take the place of parents feeling an obligation to give individually and allow them to participate as part of the whole community in recognizing our great SAS staff. This is our one time during the year that we recognize the staff with a gift and that we have a centrally coordinated and standard practice across the whole school. While you are of course free to provide personal gifts as you see appropriate, we hope that this coordinated effort provides a standard solution for each class.

It is hard to believe, but we have only one more event on the PTA calendar for this school year. On Tuesday May 13, we will hold our Volunteer Appreciation Tea from 10 am until 12 noon. E-mail Invitations will be coming soon with all the details, so please watch for this and mark the date on your calendars. This is our opportunity to thank all of you who do so much to help us throughout the year. We welcome everyone to attend as this event is open to all SAS parents and staff.

For those of you who plan to be at SAS for the next school year and would like to get a start on planning your volunteer time, we would appreciate any information that you can provide on how you can help us in the future. There are many events to plan and hold, many committees to staff, and a variety of PTA positions that need to be filled. The contribution of your time and commitment would be appreciated by everyone at SAS.

Susan FayPTA President

PTA Sales Office Hours:Monday 9:00am – 3:00pm; Tuesday 8:00am – 2:30pm; Wednesday – Friday 9:00am – 2:30pm

Wonderful Gift Ideas for Family & Friends from PTA

SAS Uniform & PE Doll Apparel Sets - $25.00 each SAS Zippered Sweatshirt (New Sale Price) - $20.00 SAS Umbrellas - $16.00 & $30.00 each SAS Eagle Polo shirts - $16.00 each SAS Jibbitz - $5.00 each Home of the Eagles poster - $5.00 each Gecko Song Book - $18.00 each SAS PE Shirts - $10.00 each

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M arch 6-8 2008 was a truly fantastic experience for 30 of our SAS high school students. Here are the culminating results:

Event/Results Participants

Debate2nd Place – Sakshi Agarwal, Martis Buchholz, Abhay Puri,Vysak Venkateswaran Sakshi Agarwal, Vysak Venkateswaran

Extemporaneous SpeakingFinalist – Abhay Puri Abhay Puri, Ravi Shanmugam, Vysak Venkateswaran

Original Oratory 1st Place – Ravi Shanmugam Judy Kim, Ravi Shanmugam, Amanda Tsao

Impromptu Speaking Spencer Anderson, Ishan Gupta, Aisling Leow

Oral Interpretation1st Place – Esha Sondhi Olivia Auerbach, Daksha Rajagopalan, Esha Sondhi

Olivia Auerbach, Esha Sondhi, Nanette Ruhter, Daksha Rajagopalan

Geri Kett and Ravi Shanmugam

Cultural Convention – Dance, Drama, Debate, Forensics

Cultural Convention Drama

Abhay Puri

Sakshi Agarwal, Vysak Venkateswaran

Dance “Is it right?” Will I ever achieve perfection? Abby Murray, Ahilya Kaul, Calli Scheidt, Daphnie Pan, Esha Parikh, Esther Lukman, Heather Morris, Tina Kirwin

Drama “Transit” It’s late at night, Olivia Auerbach, Emily Brotman,down in a city subway station Chelsea Curto, Luigi DeGuzman,– and it’s cold. Winter time. People Hannah Groch-Begley, Kelson Nef,gather on their way to…some destination Elliot Miranda, Esha Sondhi, Mariko Thomas, Winnie Young


Dance excerpts from the Manila Bamboo TelegraphThe dancers “actions conveyed that they cannot successfully finish the perfect dance. They made the statement that in fact no one can reach perfection.” “Their toes were pointed and their figures poised; their legs were lifted high off the ground and came back down with the same grace. The Singapore American School dancers were of high caliber; it was impossible to tell which one was best!”

“When they performed the positive aspect of perfection, the costumes were light and beautiful. When they were expressing the opposite aspect, the costumes were black and tight, almost as if they were trying to depict their own imperfections.”

“The dance was meaningful, entertaining and performed with strong moments and technique. It is ironic that a dance that criticized the pursuit of perfection came so very close to it!”

Drama excerpts from the Manila Bamboo Telegraph“What the characters had in common, and what was portrayed capably by the SAS cast, was that kind of big-city aloofness in the face of strangers, used vainly to conceal their vulnerability and private troubles. The commuters of ‘Transit’ kept to themselves, resulting in a piece heavy with powerful monologues.”

“They recounted abstract stories of loyalty, infidelity, survival and vigilance, tinged with confusion and helpless regret. All the while the commuters remained nameless, leaving the actors to define themselves effectively through the intense characterization of their monologues.”

“This anonymity, this lack of specifics like names or hometown locations, made the characters’ stories feel disturbingly familiar to members of the audience – a strong effect.”

Cultural Convention – Dance, Drama, Debate, Forensics (cont’d)

Drama Dance Debate Forensics

Drama Dance Debate Forensics


2008 IASAS Music and Art Cultural ConventionBy Mike Cox, HS teacher

T hirty-two SAS high school students and their directors participated in the 2008 IASAS Music and Art Cultural Convention March 6-8 at the International

School of Bangkok. A total of 192 students from the six IASAS schools gathered for the convention, which celebrated accomplishments in art and in vocal, strings, band and piano music.

Eight SAS students from each of three music disciplines and three pianists were selected by audition and were required to perform solo and ensemble music in adjudication sessions with world-class music clinicians. The clinicians not only provided personal evaluations following each performance but also led the students through several demanding rehearsals for the Festival Orchestra, Band and Choir, which gave a gala concert on Saturday night.

The three piano delegates performed solos in adjudications and also provided accompaniment for other soloists during their adjudications.

Five art representatives from SAS, including four-year IASAS delegate Alison Tan, joined colleagues from the other IASAS schools in setting up the IASAS Art Show with multiple pieces from each school. The art delegates also participated in workshops in fashion design and jewelry making and staged a fashion show during the final festival concert.

Seven SAS musicians were selected by the adjudicators to perform at the Festival Showcase, a concert highlighting outstanding musicians. Vocalists Chloe Horowitz and Julia Vasco, tubist Tiffany Cheng and the string quartet of Catalina Hwang, Kai Yang Hsu, Helen Knight and Aki Maedomari all performed for their peers.

The Cultural Convention not only provided the students with an opportunity to create great music and art, it also provided a time for connecting with students from other IASAS schools and a time for professional development for SAS directors Stephen Bonnette, Brian Hill, Nanette Devens, Micha Roach and Yuko Kamimoto.


Raku Kiln ExperienceBy Amanda Tsao, HS student

T he image of five students hiding in a ceramic kiln conjures thoughts of a Darwin award or hazing gone awry. Fortunately, it is vindicated when told that the students

belonged to the Advanced Placement: 3-D design course, the newest college level art course offered this year.

In early March the group visited JCBS, an art studio for ceramic artists and home to Singapore’s largest “dragon” kiln, coined for its 30 foot length. Though the students spent some time walking through the giant kiln, they were there to use the studio’s raku kiln to fire their work. Unlike normal electrical kilns, the Japanese raku kiln is able to give clay a metallic finish similar to the rainbow-like quality of oil pools. The process involves heating the kiln to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, then immediately transferring the pieces into sawdust. As the sawdust erupts into flames, more sawdust is piled on to trap ash into the color and slow the cooling.

In preparation for their exam in May, it is crucial to exhibit a level of mastery over wheel-thrown and hand built work, though the exam does not necessitate ceramics. Often examiners look for unique firing methods to reward those who expand their knowledge from conventional techniques. As raku kilns are rare, the visit benefited chances of scoring well on the exam, as well as providing exposure to a seldom used firing process.

Singapore American School Newsflash, April 2008

Documents

Transcript of Singapore American School Newsflash, April 2008