Eagle Sept. 2 2011

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Pudong ClinicPudong ClinicNo. 2-4, Lane 650 Biyun Road, Jinqiao, Pudong (Opposite to Carrefour)Tel: +8621 6105 9400

Hongqiao ClinicHongqiao Clinic2281 Hongqiao Road, Changning District (Entrance on Jianhe Road) Tel: +86 18821012188

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Orthodontics & Cosmetic DentistryOrthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7 because, while your child’s teeth may appear to be straight, there may actually be a later than age 7 because, while your child’s teeth may appear to be straight, there may actually be a problem that needs to be evaluated by an orthodontist.problem that needs to be evaluated by an orthodontist.

Make an appointment with our US board certified orthodontist, Dr. Kevin Chan, for a consultation today!Make an appointment with our US board certified orthodontist, Dr. Kevin Chan, for a consultation today!

7THE RIGHT TIME FOR AN ORTHODONTIC CHECK-UP IS AGE

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU RECOGNISE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU RECOGNISE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS IN YOUR GROWING CHILD:PROBLEMS IN YOUR GROWING CHILD:

• Mouth breathing• Speech difficulties• Facial imbalance

• Early or late loss of baby teeth• Difficulty in chewing or biting

• Grinding or clenching of the teeth• Thumb or finger sucking

• Jaws that shift or make sounds• Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth

Sep 2 cover.indd 2Sep 2 cover.indd 2 2011-8-29 12:55:132011-8-29 12:55:13

The Eagle | September 2, 2011 1

2 The Eagle | September 2, 2011

FROM THE EDITOR

The Eagle has landedBy Steven Lane, Director of Communications

Welcome to a new school year and to the new-look SAS Eagle. Thanks to the efforts of a whole lot of people, the first issue has a fresh new design and a nice balance of stories that capture some of the many things happening around this very busy and creative school. There should be plenty to report in coming issues too. One focus this year, of course, will be the centennial. All kinds of events and articles are planned to help us celebrate the founding of SAS in 1912. Centennial Coordinator Cindy Easton’s article on page 11 will give you more details. For now, mark your calendars for Founders’ Day on September 16 and head down to the fabric market to work on your 1912 costume for the parade. Another major theme will be the strategic planning process, which starts up again this month and which should culminate in a new plan by mid-Decem-ber. This process has already produced the new mission and core values that you will soon see on posters around the school. Have a close look when you get a chance; there are words there for us all to live by. And of course we will continue to report on sports, drama, music, school trips, clubs, classroom happenings, and all the other things that make SAS tick. Eagle staff will get to as many events as we can, but as always, we will need to rely on the efforts of students, faculty, and parents to let us know what’s going on in every corner of the school and to send in great stories and photographs. Pulling all of this together will be a revamped communications team. Previ-ous Eagle editor Timothy Merrill, who oversaw the transition of the Eagle to a four-color magazine two years ago, and former Advancement Director Fred Rogers have both moved on from SAS this past year. Our thanks to both of them for their sterling efforts over the years.

Looking aheadDay to day management of the Eagle will now be in the hands of Liam Single-ton, recently hired from Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, as our new publications coordinator. Fred Jonsson is our new multimedia designer, who also spearheaded this new Eagle design. Our senior designer, Cindy Wang, brings skill, experience, and an intimate knowledge of the school built up over 10 years at SAS. And our department secretary Ji Liu is the glue that holds it all together. I will have the privilege of directing this crew, and look forward to tackling the special communications challenges of a large and complex school like SAS. With a new communications structure we have more people involved in editing and layout and a slightly more complicated process. We have therefore moved our copy deadlines back a few days (see the production schedule to the right). People often ask why deadlines need to be so far in advance of the issue date. The truth is that behind the scenes a whole lot happens to a story between the time the editor receives it and when it hits the streets: editing, fact checking, corresponding with the author, finding photos, planning layout, design, page proofing, printing, and distribution. A two-week turnaround is about as tight as we can make it. But please know that we will always try to accommodate stories that can’t make the deadline because of the timing of events. A couple of final things. First, parents, the Eagle is sent home every other week via the youngest child in each family. If you are not receiving it, please check your kid’s backpack! And remember that you can always see all the sto-ries online at www.eagleonline.org. Finally, I really encourage you to send in constructive feedback on the Eagle and any other SAS communications vehicles. With a new communications crew, trying out some new things, we will inevitably not it get it quite right all the time. Your input will be invaluable in helping us make needed adjustments. We look forward to working with you this year.

The Eagle is produced by the SAS Communications Office, based on both the Puxi and Pudong campuses. It is typically published twice a month, although publications schedules may vary due to school holidays. Informa-tion in the magazine is primarily about SAS people and organizations. We encourage parents, students, teachers, and administrators to submit stories and photography. It is often helpful to contact the editors in advance to discuss content, length, and timing. Articles from non-SAS sources are published on a space available basis. All submissions will be edited for style, length, and tone. Articles and stories from the Eagle also appear on our Eagle Online website, at www.eagleonline.org.

The Eagle Production TeamManaging Editor: Liam SingletonGraphic Designers: Fred Jonsson and Cindy WangAdvertising Manager: Ji LiuExecutive Editor: Steven Lane

Production Schedule 2011–12 Sep 16: Copy deadline Sep 1Sep 30: Copy deadline Sep 15Oct 21: Copy deadline Oct 6Nov 4: Copy deadline Oct 20Nov 18: Copy deadline Nov 3Dec 9: Copy deadline Nov 242012Jan 20: Copy deadline Jan 5Feb 10: Copy deadline Jan 26Feb 24: Copy deadline Feb 9Mar 9: Copy deadline Feb 23Mar 23: Copy deadline Mar 8Apr 20: Copy deadline Apr 5May 11: Copy deadline Apr 26May 25: Copy deadline May 10Jun 8: Copy deadline May 24

Pudong campus: Shanghai Executive Community, 1600 Ling Bai Lu, San Jia Gang, Pudong, Shanghai 201201. Tel: 6221-1445.

Puxi campus: 258 Jinfeng Lu, Huacao Town, Minghang District, Shanghai 201107. Tel: 6221-1445.

Email: [email protected]

A

Century

of

Tradition

SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOL

Established 1912


INSIDE SAS

Beginning the year with a sigh By Dr. Kerry Jacobson, Superintendent

An energetic student, a 7th grader I found out later, gasped a bit as she passed the new climbing wall on the Pudong campus. “Can we go up that wall?” she asked. “I’ve seen them before, but I’ve never tried it.” “I’m not sure,” I replied. “There is not a doubt in my mind that you could make it up, but I’m not sure about what our rules are yet, whether middle-schoolers will be able to give it a go. We’ll find out.” Her excitement was a response to just one of many surprises for returning students

and delights for our staff as SAS opened its doors on the 2011-12 school year. The summer facilities schedule has been filled with projects on both campuses that will enhance each child’s experience: the climbing wall, a new rooftop greenhouse, beauti-ful improvements to black box theaters, science lab upgrades, gymnasium bleachers, welcoming painting, and, of course, the new high school building on the Puxi campus. All in all, there were over 120 individual renovation, construction, or mainte-nance projects completed to support the efforts of the teachers and students. The joy expressed by that 7th grader was matched by the sighs of relief from many workers and staff members who have been planning for most of the past year and constructing for the past two months. In fact, as one walks through the halls of the new/remod-eled high school at the Puxi campus, the buildings themselves seem to exhale contentedly as the crowded conditions give way to “elbow room.” Across SAS, there is space to experiment, to practice, to dance, to draw and to paint … to teach and to learn. And that space will be put to good use this year. Our usual undertakings will be augmented by many special activities in 2011-12, including:• The Centennial Celebration Events, including Founders’ Day

on September 16 (see article on page 11)

• The completion of work on and the implementation of our strategic plan based on our core values and mission

• The study of smart growth as we respond to more students in Shanghai who desire our SAS education

• Our WASC mid-term and special governance visit reviews

• A chance for all of us to learn with Dr. Yong Zhao, a well-known educational researcher

• Chinese program enhancements, including the addition of Dr. Suyi Wang, our new Chinese program coordinator

• Improvements in reading, writing, and speaking outcomes via the work of new literacy coaches at each campus

We welcome all of the new students, parents, and faculty who join our SAS family this year. The whispers and murmurs of expectation uttered by so many over the past weeks of prepara-

tion demonstrate a yearning, a passion for learning that will be strongly reinforced all year. Each student will grow in his or her own way. It is as Dr. Zhao tells us in his book, Catching Up Or Leading The Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization: “The American education system has helped its graduates to develop a belief that their own efforts can make a difference in their life and in the world.” To all of you who have prepared the buildings, the programs and the staff for 2011-12, we sigh: Thanks.

SAS CORE VALUESWe believe that: • Embracing diversity enriches individuals and

communities

• Acts of compassion and generosity of spirit create a better world

• When individuals take responsibility for their own decisions, they are empowered to make positive impact

• Each individual has intrinsic value and the potential to contribute to society

• Collaboration is key to overcoming complex challenges and achieving common goals

• Integrity is the foundation of enduring relationships, quality institutions, and well-functioning communities

• As global citizens we have a duty to care for the earth and its inhabitants to ensure the well-being of humankind

• Creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for learning are essential to personal fulfillment and to meet the challenges of the future.

SAS MISSIONShanghai American School inspires in all students: • A lifelong passion for learning

• A commitment to act with integrity and compassion

• The courage to live their dreams.


ORIENTATION

SAS gathers under big tentBy Steven Lane, Director of Communications

Several hundred SAS teachers and staff — new and returning — gathered in the “big tent” of the Puxi Performing Arts Center on August 12 for a kickoff session featuring a warm welcome from Superintendent Kerry Jacobson and an inspirational keynote ad-dress from visiting scholar Dr. Yong Zhao. Jacobson began by welcoming the more than 50 new teach-ers to SAS and reminding everyone in the auditorium that they were engaged in “the most important work that society does, that of educating its children.” He also reacquainted teachers with the school’s new mis-sion and core values, which were approved by the SAS Board of Directors last year. New teachers, he said, were hired for their ability to “live, breathe, and teach” these values: including pas-sion, commitment, and courage. And what about the teachers hired before the new mission? “You were the ones who wrote it!” Jacobson told them. “Thank you all for being a part of that dream.” The central theme of Jacobson’s remarks was the value of creativity and self-confidence and how the American approach to education helps to instill these qualities in its students. He re-called a principal from the Czech Republic visiting his old school district in the U.S. and marveling at the ability of American kids to express themselves: “These kids are always performing!” As an American school, Jacobson said, SAS is about “creating ‘Americans,’ not in a narrow geographic sense, but in the broad sense of being participants and leaders in a world of loosening borders and tightening relationships.” These remarks set the stage for a special keynote address from Dr. Yong Zhao, a Chinese American academic known for his re-search on comparative global education. Dr. Zhao was invited to SAS for his particular insights into the world in which a school like SAS operates. “We’re an American school in China, with a convergence of Asian and US educational philosophies,” said Alicia Lewis, SAS curriculum coordinator, who organized the

big tent day. “Dr. Zhao brings an in-depth knowledge of both approaches, having been educated in China and now a respected education scholar in the U.S.” Zhao presented data showing that the countries with the highest student test scores were not necessarily those with high levels productivity, entrepreneurship, or innovation. Far from it, in the U.S. case — America has typically been near the bottom of such international ranking tables, and yet continues to lead the world in patents and inventions, for example. The country “has a long tradition of being bad test takers!” said Zhao. The skills and qualities that will be most valuable in the rap-idly globalizing 21st century world, Zhao said, will be creativity, innovation, tolerance, and the ability to “break through ethnic and religious divides.” Technological skills will be important, of course, but technologies quickly become obsolete. The bottom line, Zhao concluded, is that the world is changing so fast that the ability to adapt, and to know how to continue learning, will be more important than particular sets of factual knowledge. “We don’t really know what kind of future our kids will face.” His parting words: “Do not let instruction get in the way of education.”

Top: SAS Curriculum Coordinator Alicia Lewis energizes the crowd. Above: Dr. Suyi Wang, new Chinese Program Coordinator.


ORIENTATION

From Sichuan to global citizen: Zhao's journeyBy Liam Singleton, Staff writer

Dr. Yong Zhao is a renowned scholar who travels the world lecturing and advising on educational practices and policy. He is currently presidential chair and associate dean for global education at the University of Oregon, amongst other titles. His credentials and experiences are impressive enough, but when you learn he only started reading English because he underperformed in math and he did classmates’ homework to avoid being beaten up, his story becomes even more intriguing. Zhao grew up in Chongqing, Sichuan province, during the Cultural Revolution. Son to illiterate parents, he was labeled a laborer from an early age but a small stature hindered his useful-ness in the field. Getting an education became essential, and he relished every opportunity: “My father always thought that going to school was important. This was during the Cultural Revolution so education was free – it wasn’t great, but going to school was one of the things you did.” Zhao excelled at his studies, and received an offer from the Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages. “At that time, China was lacking in English professors. I was apparently very good in English and I was interested in education.” Zhao went on to teach English for a number of years. While teaching he continued to research into education the-ory and practice. “In university I had access to pirated copies of education and language journals. We had some foreign teachers visiting, mostly Americans, and unlike other language students who only knew the language … I was talking about anthropol-ogy and educational methodology. So the university kept me as faculty despite only having a bachelor’s degree.” Zhao would later co-author a book with an American scholar, and was subsequently invited to Linfield College in the U.S., which is where his career took off. But it was by no means a well intended path. “It was a series of accidents, nothing was planned,” Zhao says. “I took the opportunities as they come along and did the best I could under the circumstances.” Using initiative and taking opportunities is key to Zhao’s philosophy. Predicting today the problems that people may encounter tomorrow is essential, he says, especially as people will increasingly rely on others in what he calls an “interlinked, interconnected, and interdependent” working environment. An institution like SAS, built around an international stu-dent and staff population, is ideally placed to produce students ready to maximize the benefits of this interconnected, globalized world, Zhao believes. “We have the obligation to truly join a global network, “he says. “The first thing is that students truly have to realize, wherever they live, they will have to acquire global competency, be equipped with the cultural intelligence to move across different cultures.” But it won’t be easy, Zhao warns: “I think the biggest chal-lenge for young children in this school is to learn how to live with others, learn to effectively understand others, and learn how to effectively turn others into customers, friends, collaborators, and investors. What we need to survive in this environment is very traditional — passion, creativity, and courage.” Zhao’s parting advice is simple, yet central to his beliefs. “You need to be vigilant about your future, and be prepared. The more afraid you are, the less opportunities you will have.” One can imagine a slight boy from Sichuan looking into the face of the school bully and saying this to himself.

Dr. Zhao has published over 20 books and 100 articles. His most recent books are Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization and The Handbook of Asian Education. He has also developed computer software, includ-ing the award-winning New Chengo/ZON (http://enterzon.com), the world’s first multi-player online role-playing game for studying Chinese. If you are interested in reading more of Dr. Zhao’s work, visit his website at http://zhaolearning.com.

Dr. Yong Zhao provided a thought-provoking and highly entertaining lecture to staff and parents during orientation.


Orientation day helps parents and studentsBy TK Ostrom, Director of Admission

ORIENTATION

SAS believes that a positive home-school partnership is an integral part of any new student’s school success. For that reason, we hold a family orientation day on both campuses to make sure both parents and students are thoroughly informed about all aspects of SAS. With the support of the administrators, food and transporta-tion vendors, student ambassadors, and the Parent, Teacher, Stu-dent Association (PTSA), the Office of Admission hosted a full day of activities geared towards warmly welcoming new families to the SAS community on both campuses. Our objective for the orientation is to welcome the families, orient them to our procedures, and make clear our policies on how we handle things. Making them feel comfortable and pre-pared for the new start are just some of the things we do to ease that transition. The Office of Admission tries to make orientation better every year by sending out a parent and participant survey soon after orientation to solicit feedback and any suggestions on how to make the orientation program even more informative. Also, in addition to orientation, we suggest parents routinely attend upcoming principal’s coffees, open houses, and PTSA general meetings to receive even more information and help them under-stand the school better.

WELCOME TO SAS

Enrollment Numbers3,213 students (Puxi campus 1,836; Pudong campus 1,377)

New Students647 (Puxi campus 250; Pudong campus 397)

Orientation AttendancePuxi campus 285 students; Pudong campus 356 students

Top left: Admission officer Jenny Gaskin welcomes a new student to SAS. Above: New grade 2 students at the Pudong campus meet their teachers for the first time. Top right: Student ambassadors pose on the steps of the PAC, where they helped orient new families and students. Middle right: Superintendent Kerry Jacobson listens to new parents. Bottom right: Puxi PTSA representatives sign up volunteers.


ORIENTATION

WELCOME TO SAS

“What is SAS? To students, it’s a lively school, diligent on learn-ing skills and attitudes, while being a place to build friendships.

For parents, SAS is a partnership in undertak-ing the most important work and joy: raising children.”

Dr. Kerry Jacobson, Superintendent


ORIENTATION

SAS: A guide for new parents By TK Ostrom, Director of Admission

CommunicationsThe school communicates with parents in a variety of ways. A good place to start is the PowerSchool Parent Portal, which links to school calendars, blogs, the school directory, news bulletins, and other communications. Middle and high school teachers also use PowerSchool to update information about grades. There are many other means of communication as well. We sug-gest routinely checking the following:

• School website: www.saschina.org• Principals’ and teachers’ blogs • The Eagle (online and print) • iCal calendars • Personal email account • Mobile phone text messages

Back to School events and parent-teacher conference dates pro-vide additional opportunities to learn about the school and your child’s education. Parents are also encouraged to communicate with the school. Issues and problems related to your children should be addressed in a respectful manner directly with the corresponding school authorities, beginning with the classroom teacher and then with the counselor, assistant principal, or principal as needed. To make appointments with your children’s teachers, contact the divisional office as they have a record of administrators and teachers’ scheduled meeting times. If you are not receiving email messages from the school, first check your Parent Portal under the Demographic icon to verify that the correct email address is in our the PowerSchool database. You can update the informa-tion if needed and it takes between 24 and 48 hours to approve.

Security and dismissalThe school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. For students who are being picked-up by car or by someone other than a parent, the Student Pick-up Pass (SPUP) must be dis-played on the car dashboard or carried in the hand before the student can leave the campus. The SAS Safety and Security Department issues SPUP cards. If the SPUP is lost or stolen this should immediately be reported and a replacement card requested. To do so, call 6221-1445, ext. 2307 (Puxi campus) or ext. 3292 (Pudong campus) or e-mail [email protected].

ID cardsID cards are issued to all students, parents, and authorized fac-ulty and staff, and are used for all entry and exit on campus. All adults on campus should have either their credential or a visitor’s pass visible at all times. The SAS Office of Admission issues the ID cards. To replace a lost card contact the campus receptionist; you will need to pay RMB 100. If you did not receive an ID card at orientation, please contact the Office of Admission at ext. 2525 (Puxi) or ext. 3305 (Pudong) or [email protected].

PE uniformsStudents in grades 6 through 12 are required to wear the official PE uniform while taking a PE class. New students were given one complimentary set at orientation. Additional sets can be purchased in the Eagle Shops on each campus, between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday though Friday.

Bus transportationIf you still need bus transportation for your child, you will have to arrange this directly with the bus company. To do this, log on to the parent portal and click on the Transportation icon, read the instructions and agree to the waiver/indemnity and trans-portation rules for each child. Please make sure your address and contact information is correct before finalizing the transporta-tion registration. Once you have completed the registration process online, the SAS Bus Coordinator will contact you via email with all bus information. Operating hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public and school holidays.

Yeap Bus Office, Puxi campusTelephone: 6221-1445, ext. 2311 Email: [email protected] Bus Office Hotline (after office hours): (+86)-152 2132 7972

Yeap Bus Office, Pudong campusTelephone: 6221-1445, ext. 3297 Email: [email protected] Bus Office Hotline (after office hours): (+86)-158 0058 2141

SAS Transportation CoordinatorsPuxi campus - Stephen He, ext. 2308; [email protected] campus - Henry Zhu, ext. 3257; [email protected]

FoodSAS cafeterias are managed by Eurest, a leading global food service company and a branch of Compass Group PLC. EurestTelephone: 6221-1445 (Puxi ext. 2561, Pudong ext. 3293) Email: [email protected]

Payment: the SAS ID card that students and parents carry can also be used to pay for lunch. Students need to charge their card with money that will be recorded in the Eurest database.

Eurest menus are published in each issue of the Eagle and Eagle Online.


ORIENTATION

Update demographic, vaccination informationBy Andy Torris, Deputy Superintendent, Pudong campus

SAS requires that all students have current vaccinations. Last au-tumn the SAS Board of Directors updated our policy (8.6021), thereby requiring all enrolled students to have submitted documentation of vaccinations for polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, mumps, measles, and rubella that have been admin-istered according to vaccination standards recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm. If a student is found not in compliance with the school requirements, the following steps will be taken:Step 1: If a student is found to be not be in compliance with the policy within 30 days of enrollment, he or she will not be allowed to: • Participate in any sport or after school activity • Participate in any travel activity including China Alive

Step 2: If a student is found to not be in compliance with the policy within 60 days of enrollment, he or she will not be al-lowed to • Attend classes • Be present on campus • Use school transportation

This policy is consistent with the policies typically in place in U.S. schools as well as in many international schools.

What does this have to do with PowerSchool?The current status of your emergency contacts and medical permissions are all available through your login to PowerSchool. You can also download a medical examination form for all new students and those students re-enrolled in grades 3, 6, 9, and 11. If you have any questions about the status of your children’s immunizations, please contact the school nurse in the division where your children attend. Contact information for school nurses can be found below or through your division office.

Re-enrollment is requiredUsing the Parent Portal, all parents need to complete the re-

enrollment process in its entirety for each child enrolled in SAS for the 2011-12 school year. SAS began the re-enrollment process in 2009 because of the need to maintain accurate student and parent documentation, which helped to verify that the school had proper passport, resi-dency, and visa documentation on file for each child and parent. In addition, the enrollment/re-enrollment agreement continued to be updated annually with new policies and procedures, which warranted all parents to re-read it for the most current informa-tion. It was especially important to make sure parents informed the school of changes in their children’s (a) emergency contacts, (b) immunizations, and (c) health and medical history. As we begin another school year, we still face the challenge of making sure all parents have completed the entire process. If you have not yet done so, please complete the re-enrollment process through the Parent Portal on PowerSchool, which provides easier compliance and tracking capabilities. Please contact your student’s divisional office if you have mis-placed your username or password, contact the divisional nurse for medical information, and email [email protected] if there are any error messages or incorrect data in your parent portal. The Office of Admission is ready to help any parent with uploading of passport and visa documentation if you are unable to complete this process from home. However, please make sure you come between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and noon or between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Calling ahead is advisable at 6221-1445, ext. 2525 on the Puxi campus and ext. 3305 on the Pudong campus.

If you have questions about the Parent Portal, contact the Power-School administrators:Arlette Pimentel, Pudong campus; ext. 3758Tim Chan, Puxi campus; ext. 2528

Welcome from the SAS nursesThe SAS nurses welcome all new and returning families to the school. We would like to thank all new families who have submitted medical information and returning families who have completed the re-enrollment medical details in Power-School. If you have questions or concerns please contact your divisional nurse office by dialing 6221-1445 plus extension.

Are you a registered nurse?Both campuses are looking for substitute nurses to help with day time field trips, weekend work, office help, and China Alive. If you are a registered nurse (all nationalities welcome) and would be interested in joining our sub list, please contact Meryl Button (Pudong) or Alison Fawcett (Puxi).

Contact numbersPudong Elementary School Chiho Stenger, ext. 3309 Middle School Meryl Button, ext. 3320 High School Tracy Yin, ext. 3359

Puxi Elementary School Cecilia Yu, ext. 2404Middle School Melissa Maloney, ext. 2456High School Susanne Markmann, ext. 2506


Teachers receive MEds from Plymouth State By Hank Claassen, Middle School teacher, Puxi campus

During the staff orientation week, SAS celebrated the gradua-tion of the class of 2011 from the master of education program at Plymouth State University (PSU). Nine teachers from various divisions of both the Puxi and Pudong campuses received their diplomas from Deputy Superintendent Alan Knobloch, who supervises the program with the assistance of student advisers Hank Claassen, Puxi, and Simon Power, Pudong. Working collaboratively, SAS and PSU have developed de-gree programs that offer rigor, richness, and depth for those who seek an advanced degree that will be respected at schools around the world. The program typically takes between two and five years to complete, with coursework done at SAS on weekends as well as online. The programs encompass elective courses that have been tailor-made to align with specific SAS school improve-

In the 1967 film To Sir, with Love, Sidney Poitier starred as Mr. Thackeray, a teacher who deals with complex inner-city educa-tional issues but survives difficult circumstances and develops strong student relationships. I feel the same affection toward my Plymouth State Univer-sity (PSU) master’s journey, although I did not have to suffer Poitier’s classroom strife along the way. The parallel is that my SAS-supported PSU master of education (M.Ed.) program was the greatest professional development experience of my life and continues to reap benefits for me, and more importantly, for my students. At SAS we are most fortunate to have this opportunity close at hand. The master’s degree program is flexible in nature and of-fers terrific on-campus resources to help students get through the program, all the way from program of study design to graduate capstone project completion. I found the five required core courses to be extremely benefi-cial and integrated well along the journey. And these core courses can all be completed right here in Shanghai! Perhaps even better, the elective courses can be earned across a variety of topics and engagement platforms, allowing for the pursuit of individual passions.

For example, I chose to take several online courses through the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development one summer while I took one core course on PSU’s Plymouth, New Hampshire campus, and later took three courses based on key SAS initiatives: teacher leadership, classroom assessment, and reflective teaching. As for pacing, it’s really up to the student. You can take three-plus years if you have the time, or you can earn an M.Ed. in a year and a half. Our new SAS mission includes the following strategic objective: “All students will continually and confidently explore, discover, express, and pursue personal aspirations.” This is exactly what I experienced during the program because along the way I became acutely interested in what effective education is, and specifically, the role student self-assessment (SSA) can play. I found that the coursework allowed me to pursue and con-tinually deepen this line of research and ultimately led to my first peer-reviewed publication. My graduate capstone project on SSA resulted in statistically significant student learning benefits. These are testaments to both the strength of PSU’s program and the latitude for personal pursuit. Thank you SAS and PSU!

ment initiatives, allowing our teachers to target their learning to their specific involvement in the adopted SAS school improve-ment programs. The opportunities for continued professional growth through the SAS/PSU partnership are available to all SAS professional staff. For course details visit the PSU master’s blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/psumasters.

A Plymouth State developmental journeyBy Bo Green, Middle School teacher, Puxi campus

PSU graduates 2011, from left to right: Matt Kuykendall, Leah Hefte, Bo Green, Karl Poulin, Ruya He, Cara Zang, Huiney Xu, Frances Zhang, Michele Wrzesinski (Missing: Todd Denton).

ORIENTATION


SAS celebrates 100 years: 1912-2012By Cindy Easton, SAS Centennial Coordinator

This month marks the beginning of the 100th anniversary year of Shanghai American School — a milestone in our school’s history. There will be festivities and banners and celebrations all year. But why is this important? Why do we celebrate a centen-nial? A milestone is a moment to pause and remember how far we have come and remind us of where we are going. It connects us with our past and helps us understand who we are as an insti-tution. In today’s busy, fast-paced, ever-changing society, it is important to have a clear connection to the past. To know who we are today it is important to understand who we were before and how we got here. As Superintendent Kerry Jacobson put it, “We inherit what has gone before, and we leave our own legacy for those who follow.” In many ways, of course, SAS has changed beyond recogni-tion in 100 years. When we opened on September 12, 1912, SAS had 38 students and one building. Today we have more than 3,000 students taking classes in dozens of state-of-the-art facilities across two campuses. But in other ways who we are to-day is not very different from who we were 100 years ago. Here’s an excerpt from a speech given by C.N. Caldwell, a member of the school’s executive committee, to the first graduating class of SAS in 1917: “The Shanghai American School is the fruition of a dream of faith, hope and love. It [is] not strange, therefore, that the school should stand for high ideals and lofty ambitions.” That doesn’t sound so very different from our new mission statement: Shanghai American School inspires in all students: • A lifelong passion for learning • A commitment to act with integrity and compassion, and • The courage to live their dreams

And just as it is today, Shanghai American School has always been a school that has offered outstanding programs and academics to its students and had its graduates accepted into the finest universities. As 1949 graduates Teddy Heinrichsohn and Joseph Wampler noted at a recent alumni gathering, in the 1940s “a letter from SAS would guarantee entrance into almost any college in the world.” Join us this year as we look back on our school’s history and celebrate our accomplishments. Over the course of the coming year, the Eagle will run a series of articles highlighting some of the milestones of SAS’s history, as well as the achievements of some of its notable alumni.

Mark Your Calendars for These Key Events

September 16, 2011: Founders’ Day

October 15, 2011: Centennial Carnival, Pudong

October 29, 2011: Centennial International Fair, Puxi

April 21, 2012: Centennial Gala, Peace Hotel

April 23, 2012: Centennial Alumni Lecture, Puxi

April 24, 2012: Centennial Alumni Lecture, Pudong

September 17, 2012: Centennial Closing Event

Start planning now for Founders’ Day

A Century of Tradition


Established 1912

Please join us on Friday, September 16, 2011, when we will kick off our centen-nial year with a celebration of the very first day SAS opened — Founders’ Day. All-school events will include a school-wide parade in which all participants — students, staff, parents, alumni — are encouraged to dress in early 1900s clothing. There will be special guests, a performance of a new school song, and a Chinese lion dance. Students will also participate in divisional activities throughout the day.

Puxi all-school celebrations begin at 8:30 a.m. Pudong all-school celebrations begin at 1:15 p.m.

For more information or to get involved, contact [email protected].

CENTENNIAL


Pudong PTSABy Angie Barlow

The Pudong Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) was established to work with the school administration and Board of Directors to enhance the overall educational experience of students at SAS, Pudong campus. We feel it is both important and exciting to have a positive relationship among the parents, teachers, administration, and students. Please visit our blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/pudongptsa. Pudong PTSA volunteers work hard, whether it's in the classroom or out in the community, to offer a helping hand wherever needed. Our centennial year will prove to be stellar with many fundraising events already in the works. Though every parent is already a member of our PTSA, we are always looking for more helping hands.

Upcoming EventsSeptember 9 – Friday Night LightsOctober 15 – Centennial Carnival

October 27 – United Nations DayDecember 5 to December 9 – Santa's WorkshopJanuary 19 – Chinese New Year CelebrationApril 21 – Shanghai American School Centennial Gala

2011-2012 SAS Pudong PTSA Board Co-President – Diane Greisinger ([email protected])Co-President – Cathy Wang ([email protected])Treasurer – Harriet Yu ([email protected])Secretary – Angela Barlow ([email protected])HS VP – Melissa Juszynski ([email protected])MS VP – Jayelene Warner ([email protected])ES VP – Inga Lawler ([email protected])

Puxi PTSABy Ritsuko Koh

The Puxi PTSA is already off to an exciting and event-filled start to the 2011-12 school year! We invite all parents to visit our blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/puxiptsa for detailed information on upcoming activities and opportunities to volunteer, meet new friends, and attend informative events.

Upcoming EventsParent Information FairLearn about the many community organizations and services that cater to expatriates living in Shanghai on Wednesday, Sep-tember 7, from 10:00-2:00 in the Performing Arts Center.

Centennial International FairEvery year, the PTSA organizes an International Fair to bring the SAS community together to celebrate the cultural diversity at SAS. This year’s fair will be especially festive since we are celebrating our 100 year anniversary! This event serves as the primary fundraiser to support PTSA activities and projects. You can share your culture by joining up with fellow country members at a country food booth, help with other aspects of the event, or just come and enjoy the international food and enter-tainment on Saturday, October 29.

2011-2012 SAS Puxi PTSA Executive Committee President – Wendy Nellis ([email protected]) VP – Christy So ([email protected])VP Communications – Ritsuko Koh ([email protected])VP Eagle Shop – Karen Chow ([email protected])Treasurer – Kathy Liu ([email protected])Secretary – Donna Oppelt ([email protected])ES Representative – Sherry Liang ([email protected])MS Representative – Wendy Wang ([email protected])HS Representative – Patricia Emmi ([email protected])

We encourage you to contact anyone listed above if you have questions regarding upcoming events or the PTSA in general. We are looking forward to another fabulous year at SAS Puxi.

PTSA


GENERAL

Puxi PTSA presents

Thanks to City’super for supporting SAS Puxi as Platinum sponsor of the Puxi PTSA International Fair.

INTERNATIONAL FAIRSaturday, October 29, 2011

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Puxi Campus

A

Century

of Tradition

SHANGHAI

AMERICAN SCHOOL

Established

1912


FACILITIES

Summer building improves facilities at SASBy David Leung, Chief Financial Officer

Welcome back! Upon entering the school, you will notice a vari-ety of facility improvements that happened during the summer.At the Puxi campus, the most salient change is the addition of the new three-floor high school classroom building adjacent to the baseball field. This 5,100 square meter facility will house 28 regular classrooms, four specialized art classrooms, an art work-shop/project area, and a new Activities Office. Designed with high energy efficiency standards and built with environment-friendly materials, this new facility includes added insulation, an optimized HVAC system, and solar water heaters. Between the two campuses, there were over 120 individual renovation, construction, or maintenance projects completed, with suggestions and ideas from the academic and support staffs who understand the needs of the students. There were a number of particularly noteworthy projects at both campuses that were built to enhance the student learning environment, support new or existing programs, and incorporate 21st century educational concepts and technologies. Some of these are:

Rooftop greenhouse – PudongStudents in science classes as well as members of Roots & Shoots will be able to meet, carry out projects, and learn about a variety of environmental sciences in this specially designed greenhouse. This new facility will be available to all grades.

Climbing wall – PudongA new sports program is now available to students with the creation of this climbing wall. This supervised facility will enable students to learn skills in rock climbing as well as develop their balance, strength, and coordination.

Secondary school black box classroom upgrades – PudongWith input from the Pudong campus theater teachers, a number of key changes were made to the existing Black Box Theater classrooms to improve the lighting, sound, and audience seating.

Science lab upgrades – Pudong and PuxiContinuing improvements were made to the science lab facilities at both SAS campuses to ensure that students have state of the art science lab equipment and safety features.

High school commons area – PuxiAfter over a year of careful planning by the Puxi high school principals and deputy superintendent, the administration/stu-dent commons wing of the high school building has undergone major layout changes and renovations. Changes to this area include: • The creation of a new 9th-10th grade commons, in addition

to an adjoining kiosk• Improvements to the 11th-12th grade commons area• A new floor plan for the administrative offices and nurses’ sta-

tion. As a result of this project, high school students will have a welcoming, stimulating, and convenient place to congre-gate, socialize, and study with easy access to staff for support.

Parent waiting area (near Gate No. 3) – PuxiWith the concept from the Puxi elementary school principals and strong support from the susiness office, this structure, built in traditional Chinese style, will provide shelter from sun and rain for parents and caretakers as they wait for their children during pick-up hours.

Middle school black box theater conversion – PuxiBased on the vision of the middle school principals, the old activities office and adjoining classroom was converted to a func-tional and attractive black box performing art space.

High school gym bleachers – Puxi New bleachers with a motorized extension mechanism were installed in the high school gym. This addition will enable more


FACILITIES

students to support their teams at the numerous sport events that take place throughout the school year.

Special thanks to the following dedicated SAS staff and their support teams who stayed on campus during part or all of the summer to ensure that the project and program work were suc-cessfully completed: Yi Triplett, Jason Wu, Shirley Liu, Edman Chen, Ling Fierz, Amy Ding, Christina Lye, Lily Chen, Dave Triplett, Victor Zheng, Stevie Zhou, Xiao Jian, Jennifer Chang, and the purchasing team.

Top: The new high school classroom building, Puxi. Above: Anson Hing and Jane Sun by the climbing wall, Pudong. Right, top: New waiting area, Puxi. Right, middle: High school lounge, Puxi. Right, bottom: Greenhouse, Pudong.


Safety first, most of the timeBy Liam Singleton, Staff writer

Giguruwa Gamage Sathyajith Prasada, known to most as Prasada, is the operations manager here at SAS. For the past two years he has been ensuring that our students and school are safe, but in his spare time he likes to live dangerously, namely by throwing himself off incredibly high buildings. This June Prasada dived from a 233-meter tower in Macao (the world’s highest commercial bungee tower), and in the process raised almost RMB 15,000 for the Japanese Red Cross, which is supporting the aid effort after the devastating earth-quake and tsunami that happened there last March. “Courage is so important,” Prasada explains. “If you have none, you will lose. If you want to survive through a disaster, you first need courage. Never give up!” He hopes his message and support will help the Japanese nation in their time of need. His daredevil antics don’t end there, nor does his desire to help others. “My next event is to raise money for a Chinese charity that supports and educates local kids. I hope to jump of Shanghai’s Pearl Tower! I’m talking with local TV stations now. If I can’t do that, then I plan to do a 500-meter jump off a helicopter over the Bund.” Prasada’s interest in extreme sports started at a young age. Growing up in Colombo, Sri Lanka, his admiration for Bruce Lee lead him to study wushu (or kung fu) and san da martial arts. By age 10, Prasada had been national champion for three consecutive years. In 1998 he was offered a scholarship to the Beijing Universi-ty of Physical Education to study wushu for his bachelor’s degree. After two years he moved to Shanghai to complete his studies, graduating from the Shanghai Sports University. He was the first Sri Lankan to receive such a scholarship. Before joining SAS, Prasada had honed his Chinese lan-guage skills and was playing parts on TV and in martial arts movies (including Chinese Connection 2 and Tai Chi Warriors). After winning the 2002 OK Shanghai foreign talent contest he

G.G.S. Prasada prepares to leap from the world’s highest bungee tower, in downtown Macao.

became somewhat of a local celebrity. He is also producing an album, called China Dream, in which he sings his own Chinese lyrics. And although not everyone would jump at the idea of hurl-ing themselves off a skyscraper, SAS fully supports Prasada’s charitable (if terrifying!) activities. We hope to see you dangling off the Pearl Tower soon!

Videos of Prasada’s various jumps, and songs, can be found by searching on YouTube and Tudou.

FEATURE


NEW HIRES

Fresh faces at SAS for 2011-12

SchoolwideFredrik Jönsson Multimedia DesignerFredrik has over 12 years design experience in the US, UK, and China. He previously worked as a senior designer at <kpe> in their London and New York offices, and other experiences include freelance designer and lecturer at LaSalle-DHU, Shanghai. Fredrik completed his MSc in Business

Administration at Uppsala University, Sweden, and is a graduate of Hyper Island School of New Media Design.

Steven Lane Communications DirectorSteven has 16 years of communications and administrative experience in the US, most recently as director of communications and associate executive director for the Physi-cian Assistant Education Association in Al-exandria, Virginia. He has an MA from the University of Toronto and recently earned

a master of public policy degree from George Mason University. He is married to Debra Lane, principal of the SAS Elementary School, Puxi campus, and has two children, Alex and Miles, at SAS.

Wendy LiFinancial ControllerWendy previously worked as group controller for Omron Industrial Automa-tion Co. Ltd in China. Other experiences include working as a senior consultant for NetStar System Inc., Dallas, Texas, and as chief financial officer for Shanghai Richina Leather Co., Ltd., in Shanghai. Wendy

completed her MBA in finance and MS in accounting from the University of Texas, Dallas, and also holds an MS in economics from the Shanghai University of Finance & Economics.

Melissa Ong Marketing ManagerMelissa gained her BA (honors) in media, information, and technoculture from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. She has six years experience in Canada and China. Melissa previously worked as a senior publicist for Simon & Schuster, Canada, a division of CBS Corporation.

Milica Šapic Human Resources GeneralistMilica joins SAS from Serbia, where she has over four years experience in human resources, including human resource man-ager for KBC Banka Belgrade. She holds a BA from the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, Serbia.

Liam Singleton Publications CoordinatorLiam gained his BA (honors) in Eng-lish literature and philosophy from the University of Liverpool, UK. He recently gained a diploma from the London School of Journalism, and also has qualifications in web authoring and digital photography. Liam has more than four years experience

working in China, including as publications supervisor for Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou.

Dr. Suyi Wang Chinese Program CoordinatorSuyi is fluent in Chinese, Korean, and Eng-lish, and holds a PhD in Korean language and literature from Seoul National Univer-sity, Korea, and an MA in Korean language and literature from Hanyang University, Korea. She has more than 18 years of expe-rience in China, Hong Kong, and Korea.

Suyi has held a number of positions at the Western Academy of Beijing, including education and development coordinator and head of the MS/HS Chinese Department. Previous experiences include working as a lecturer at the International School of Bei-jing and at the Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, Korea.

Pudong Campus - Elementary SchoolConnie Belleza Teacher AssistantConnie joins us from the Philippines, where she has 15 years’ teaching experi-ence. She holds a BA in secondary educa-tion from the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City, Philippines. Connie previ-ously taught at St. Scholastica’s Academy, Bacolod City, Philippines.

Rosemarie Bisenio Teacher AssistantRosemarie completed her BSc in second-ary education from the Philippine State College of Aeronautics, Philippines. She previously taught at Rainbow Bridge International School, Shanghai. Rosemarie has nine years working experience in the Philippines and China.

Emmy David Grade 3Emmy has seven years of experience including in the US, Syria, Bolivia, and the Philippines. She gained her BSc from East-ern Michigan University, Michigan, USA. Emmy is married to Kevin David (Science, MS Pudong) and has two kids, August and Charlotte. She previously taught at the International School of Manila, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines.


Lisa Dibbayawan Grade 3Lisa completed her graduate diploma of teaching from Massey University, Auck-land, New Zealand, and has taught in New Zealand, Australia, and China. Last year Lisa worked as a substitute teacher at the SAS Elementary School, Pudong campus.

Ellyn Gao ChineseEllyn comes to SAS from the Western International School of Shanghai, China. She has over six years experience working in China. She gained her associate diploma in commercial English from the Shanghai Second Polytechnic University.

Edwin Hagen Grade 4Edwin has eight years’ teaching experience in the US, most recently in Ponderosa El-ementary, Aurora, Colorado. He holds an MA in administrative policy and leadership studies from the University of Colorado, Denver. He is married to Maggie Hagen, who teaches humanities at MS Pudong.

Ian McCuaig MusicIan is joining SAS for the second time, having previously taught here earlier in his career. He has also taught in Canada, Turkey, and Thailand. He holds a BEd in secondary music from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a BMus in jazz studies from Capilano College, British Columbia.

Anna Rekate Grade 5Anna holds an MA in politics and educa-tion from Columbia University Teach-ers College and MEd in supervision and administration from Bank Street College of Education. She has more than 12 years of experience teaching in the US, includ-ing many years at Trevor Day School, New York.

Chiho Stenger NurseChiho spent 12 years as a school nurse at Senri International School and Osaka Interntional school in Japan, and worled part-time for SAS last year. She earned a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

Mary Grace Tan Computer Lab Teacher AssistantMary Grace has taught for the past 15 years in the Phillippines, including many years as a computer teacher at Philippine Buddhacare Academy. She has a BSc in mathematics from Far Eastern University, Morayta, Philippines.

Katie Williams Grade 5Kate earned her MSc in sports and exercise science from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, and taught at Vaughn Elementary School in Aurora, Colorado. She has five years total experience in the US and Puerto Rico. She is married to David Hall.

Pudong Campus - Middle SchoolKevin David ScienceKevin has eight years of experience includ-ing the US, Syria, Bolivia, and the Phil-ippines. He has a BA in criminal justice from Michigan State University. Kevin recently taught at the International School of Manila, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines. He is married to Emmy David, (grade 3, ES Pudong) with two kids, August and Charlotte.

Maggie Hagen HumanitiesMaggie completed her MAT in secondary English from Colorado College, Colorado Springs, and has an MS in sport studies from the University of New Hampshire. She has over four years experience in the US, including teaching at the Middle School Campus, Greenwood Village, Colo-rado. Maggie is married to Edwin Hagen (grade 4, ES Pudong)

Katelyn Kearney Counselor Katelyn joins us from the American School of Doha, Qatar. She has a MEd in school counseling from the Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has over three years teaching experience.

Erin LeiningerESOLErin has over seven years of experience in the US and Kuwait, including teaching at the American School of Kuwait. She completed her MEd in Secondary Educa-tion at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

NEW HIRES


Britni LloydHumanitiesBritni joins us from Dubai American Academy, United Arab Emirates. She has over two years of experience including in Canada. She is married to David Paterson (AP Bio, HS Pudong). Britni earned her BEd from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, and a BA from Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.

James ManningScienceJames has an MSc in Education from the Walden University, Baltimore. He has 15 years of experience including the US, Can-ada, Australia, and Dubai. James previously taught at Seoul Foreign School, South Korea. He is married to Thekla Manning (Math, MS Pudong) with three kids; Jacob, Christina, and Margaret.

Thekla ManningMathThekla completed her BSc at Augustana University College, Camrose, and earned a BEd from the University of Calgary, Canada. She has 11 years of experience including working in Canada and Dubai. Thekla also taught at Seoul Foreign School, South Korea.

Jeffrey OrmrodHumanitiesJeffrey has three years of experience in the US and Thailand. He last taught at Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Jeffrey has an MA in teaching of social studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.

Lisa RossDrama/Musical TheatreLisa joins us from Erie High School, Erie, Colorado. She has four years of experience in the US, and a BMus in Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Lisa came to Shanghai with her partner, Christopher Russell.

Pudong Campus - High SchoolLarry DoddMath/ScienceLarry has a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware, Newark. He has over 19 years of teaching experience in the US. Larry’s last assignment was at The Horace Mann School, Riverdale, New York.

Joan LuethVisual ArtsJoan has 19 years of experience in the US, Korea and Beijing. Previously she taught at International School of Beijing. Joan earned an MSc in art education from Moorhead State University, Minnesota.

David PatersonScienceDavid joins us from Universal American School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is married to Britni Lloyd (Humanities, MS Pudong). David has an MAT from Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Austra-lia, and over four years of experience.

Katie WatkinsUS History/Asian StudiesKatie completed her MEd in second-ary social studies education at Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of Education, Nashville, Tennessee. She previously taught at Donelson Christian Academy, Nashville, and has five years of experience in the US.

Jun XieScience Lab Teacher AssistantJun has a PhD in chemistry and pharmacy from Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. Jun has over eight years of experience in Germany and China, and has been working as a substitute teacher for Pudong High School.

Puxi Campus - Elementary SchoolLinda AnGrade 1Linda completed her MT in elementary education at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. She has three years of ex-perience in the US, previously teaching at Annandale Terrace Elementary, Annandale, Virginia.

Gabby BurkeElementary LibrarianGabby has 11 years of experience including in the US and Germany. She previously worked as a library media specialist at Hunt Valley Elementary School, Springfield, Virginia. Gabby has an MEd in elementary education from Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia.

NEW HIRES


Suzanne CooperKindergartenSuzanne previously taught at the American International School of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has more than 12 years of experience, including in the US and Tunisia. Suzanne has an MA in teaching from the Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon. She is married to Evan Cooper (Language Arts, MS Puxi) with two children, Holden and Charlotte.

Jason CurranGrade 4Jason has a BA from California Polytechnic State University, California. He has 11 years of experience in the US, South Africa, and Ecuador. Jason is married to Stacey Lum (grade 3, ES Puxi). Previously he taught at Colegio Menor San Francisco De Quito in Ecuador.

Jemer DanaoTeacher AssistantJemer has been working as a substitute teacher for the SAS Elementary School, Puxi campus. He has seven years of experi-ence in the Philippines and China. Jemer earned his BA in elementary education from Cagayan Colleges Tuguegarao, Philippines.

Vera DayGrade 2Vera has been working as a substitute teach-er for the SAS Elementary School, Puxi, after four years of experience in Canada and South Korea. She has an MA in public relations from Mount St. Vincent Univer-sity, Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is married to Corry Day (swim teacher, HS Puxi) with a baby, Piper.

Desalynn DesalesTeacher AssistantDesalyn completed her BSc in business administration from De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Manila, Philippines. She has seven years of experience including in China where she worked as a teacher as-sistant at the Shanghai Livingston Ameri-can School.

Jennifer FisherGrade 1Jennifer has 13 years of experience in the US, previously teaching at Mount Vernon Community School, Alexandria, Virginia. She has an MS in elementary education from the University of Pennsylvania. She is married to Stefan Fisher (grade 4, ES Puxi) with two children, Ryan and Connor.

Stefan FisherGrade 4Stefan has an MS in elementary education from Howard University, Washington. He has 13 years of experience in the US. Previously, Stefan taught at Maury Elemen-tary School and James K. Polk Elementary School, Alexandria, Virginia.

Lorena GarzaGrade 3Lorena joins us from Northeast Indepen-dent School District, San Antonio, Texas. She has seven years experience and an MA in education from the University of Texas, San Antonio. Lorena is coming to SAS with partner Joseph Kody (grade 5, ES Puxi).

Nathan HeckPENathan has an master’s of physical educa-tion from Arizona State University, Mesa, and two years teaching experience. He pre-viously taught at the Colegio Americano de Guayaquil, Ecuador, and has also worked in the US.

Sylvia HendricksGrade 5Sylvia has 25 years of experience in the US, India, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Japan. She previously taught at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School, Stafford, Virginia. Sylvia completed her MEd in reading at the University of Okla-homa. She is married to Robert Hendricks (technology resource facilitator, MS Puxi).

Joseph KodyGrade 5Joseph has an MA in curriculum and instruction/reading from the University of Texas, San Antonio. He has 13 years of experience in the US and Egypt. Joseph previously taught at Northeast Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas. He is joined by partner Lorena Garza (grade 3, ES Puxi).

Jacqueline LianArtJacqueline has 24 years of experience in the UK and Malaysia. Before joining us she worked at the International School of Kuala Lumpur. She earned an MA in education from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.

NEW HIRES


Stacey LumGrade 3Stacey joins us from Colegio Menor San Francisco De Quito, Ecuador. She has four years of experience, including in the US and South Africa. Stacey has a BSc from California Polytechnic State University. She is married to Jason Curran (grade 4, ES Puxi).

Diane McWilliamsAcademic SupportDiane has over 18 years of experience in-cluding the US, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. She has an MS in special education learning disabilities from Nazareth College of Roch-ester, New York. Diane recently taught at Cornwall Central School District, Corn-wall, New York. She is married to Don McWilliams (art/health, MS Puxi) and has a daughter, Dacia.

Krissi OlsenMusicKrissi joins us from the Jakarta Internation-al School. She has seven years of experience in the US and Indonesia. Krissi earned a BMus in music education from the Univer-sity of North Carolina, Greensboro.

John PokrzywinskiGrade 5John has over 16 years of experience in the US. He has an MA in education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. John previously taught at Nettleton Elementary School, Duluth, Minnesota. He is married to MarySue Taallerud (Grade 3, ES Puxi) with two children, Agatha and Fred.

Glenn RuliteTeacher AssistantGlenn earned a BA in secondary education from UM Tagum College, Tagum City, Philippines. He has five years of experience in the Philippines and China. Glenn previ-ously taught at Rainbow Bridge Interna-tional School, Shanghai.

Jay ShuangGrade 5Jay joins us from Veterans Elementary School, Ellicott City, Maryland. He has three years of experience in the US, and an MA in elementary education from the University of Maryland. Jay is married to Gin Lee Shuang.

Nancy StevensonGuidance CounselorNancy has 21 years of experience includ-ing in Turkey, South Africa, and China. She joins us from Marana Unified School District, Tucson, Arizona. Nancy earned MEds in guidance and counselor educa-tion from Plymouth State University, New Hampshire, and bilingual and bicultural education from the University of Arizona.

Judy SweeneyGrade 5Judy completed her MS in geosciences from Mississippi State University, Starks-ville. She previously taught at Frankfurt International School, Oberursel, Germany. Judy has over 16 years of experience includ-ing in the US and Germany. She is married to Chip Sweeney (PE/athletic coordinator, MS Puxi).

MarySue TaallerudGrade 3MarySue has over 20 years of experience including in the US and Japan. She has an MSc in education from the University of Wisconsin Superior. Mary Sue previously taught at Nettleton Elementary School, Duluth, Minnesota. She is married to John Pokrzywinski (grade 5, ES Puxi) with two children, Fred and Agatha.

Rowena TabanTeaching AssistantRowena has over 20 years teaching experi-ence in the Philippines and China. She has a BA in elementary education (Tarlac State University, Philippines), and an MA in physical education and sports (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila). Rowena joins us from the Rainbow Bridge International School.

Katherine TablismaTeacher AssistantKatherine previously worked as a teacher assistant at the Shanghai Livingston Ameri-can School. She has five years of experience in the Philippines and China. Katherine completed her BSc in computer science at the AMA Computer University, Quezon City, Philippines.

Anita VeitchGrade 1Anita earned her BEd from Waikato Uni-versity, Hamilton, New Zealand. She has over 15 years of experience including New Zealand and the Philippines. She previously taught at Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Anita is married to John Veitch (PE, HS Puxi) with two children, Rico and Shay.

NEW HIRES


Bing Jie WuTeacher AssistantBing has seven years of experience in music education. She has an associate diploma in music education from the Shang Qiu Normal University, China. Previously Bing taught at Shanghai He Lu Ting Art School, and at Minhang Xie He Shang Yin Primary and High School as a violin teacher.

Puxi Campus - Middle SchoolEvan CooperLanguage ArtsEvan joins us from the American Inter-national School of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has an MA in elementary education from Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon. He has 15 years of experience, including in the US, Tunisia, and Bangla-desh. Evan is married to Suzanne Cooper (Kindergarten, ES Puxi) with two children.

Amy FoleyMathAmy has over nine years of experience, including in Canada and Kuwait, and previously taught at SAS. She earned an MEd in curriculum development from the University of Toronto, Ontario. Previously she taught at Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Bracebridge, Ontario. Amy is married to James Linzel (Science, HS Puxi) with two kids.

Alison HoemanESOLAlison has an MA in elementary education from the University of Alabama – Inter-national Campus in Asuncion, Paraguay. She has 10 years of experience including in the US, Paraguay, Colombia, Hawaii, and Honduras. Alison joins us from Meredith Middle School, Des Moines, Iowa.

Robert HendricksTechnology Resource FacilitatorRobert has 25 years of experience including the US, India, the Netherlands, Saudi Ara-bia, Kuwait, and Japan. He has an MEd in education administration and curriculum supervision from the University of Oklaho-ma. Previously he taught at Mountain View High School, Virginia. Robert is married to Sylvia Hendricks (grade 5, ES Puxi).

Kirk IrwinSocial StudiesKirk comes to SAS with six years of teach-ing experience in Kuwait and Korea, where he taught ESL. He has a BA and a BEd from Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada, and is currently working on a master of education in administration and leadership.

David LesterTeacher AssistantDavid joins us from Davidson Middle School, Southgate, Michigan. His experi-ence includes long-term substitute teaching in the US. Earlier in David’s career he was an industrial engineer in the automotive industry, and he has an MSc in manu-facturing management from Kettering University, Flint, Michigan.

Don McWilliamsArt/HealthDon earned an MS in art education from Nazareth College of Rochester, New York. He has over 18 years of experience includ-ing in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. Recently, he taught at Monroe Woodbury School District, Central Valley, New York. Don is married to Diane McWilliams (aca-demic support, ES Puxi) with a daughter, Dacia.

Thomas MuskSocial StudiesThomas joins us from Westmount Charter School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where has worked for six years. He has an MA in political science and MEDes from the Uni-versity of Calgary, Canada. Thomas is mar-ried to Tara Rogerson Musk (ESOL, MS Puxi) with two children, Cael and Zavier.

Tara Rogerson MuskESOLTara has an MA in fostering resilience among immigrant youth from the Uni-versity of Calgary, Canada. She has five years of experience in Canada and Japan. Previously Tara worked as an ESL learn-ing specialist with the Calgary Board of Education.

William SweeneyPE/Athletic CoordinatorWilliam has over 27 years of experience in the US and Germany, including teaching at Frankfurt International School, Oberur-sel. He has a BA in social science from California State University, Chico. William is married to Judy Sweeney (grade 5, ES Puxi).

Debbie TaylorESOLDebbie has 33 years of experience in the US and Egypt, including at the American International School in Cairo, Egypt. Debbie has an MA from Texas Women’s University.

NEW HIRES


Polly VellaSpanishPolly has an MA in English with TESOL emphasis from Oklahoma State Univer-sity. She has over 10 years of experience in the US, including at Patrick Henry High School, San Diego, and last year worked as a long-term substitute teacher for SAS Middle School, Puxi. Polly’s two daughters, Madeleine and Annelise, are studying at SAS.

Puxi Campus - High SchoolMichael BranchEnglishMichael joins us from the American Col-lege of Sofia, Bulgaria. He has 11 years of experience in the Italy, Paraguay, and the US. He has an MA in education from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is married to Kate McKenna (guidance/college counselor, HS Puxi).

Mychilo ClineMathMychilo taught at Qingdao No. 1 Inter-national School of Shandong Province, China, and has three years teaching experi-ence. Mychilo earned an MA in technol-ogy and society from the San Jose State University, California.

Margaret HaskeEnglishMargaret has 18 years of experience including in the US, Aruba, and Jordan, and joins us from the International School of Kenya in Nairobi. She has an MA in teaching from Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon.

Alice HootsmansTeacher AssistantAlice joins us from St. Stanislaus School, Meriden, Connecticut. She has three years of experience including in the US and China. Alice has an MA in education from the University of Connecticut.

Haiyang JianChineseHaiyang has 17 years of experience includ-ing China and Singapore, and joins us from Dulwich College, Shanghai. She has an MA in educational studies from the University of York, UK, and a BA in Chinese Literature from Fudan University of China.

James LinzelScienceJames joins us from Trillium Lakelands Dis-trict School Board, Bracebridge, Ontario. He has 12 years of experience including in Canada and Kuwait, and he has previously taught at SAS. James earned a BEd at York University, Ontario, Canada, and complet-ed the BSc honors program at the Univer-sity of Guelph, Ontario. James is married to Amy Foley (math, MS Puxi).

Susanne MarkmannNurseSusanne is a registered nurse and nurse anesthetist from Denmark. She has 14 years of experience in Denmark and China. Previously Suzanne worked as a sub nurse for SAS Puxi and as a high school nurse at Western Academy of Beijing.

Robert MatuschekMathRobert has 19 years of experience in the US, including working at Overland High School, Aurora, Colorado. He earned an MA in mathematics from the University of Colorado. Robert is married to Bridget Matuschek with two daughters, Quinn and Josephine.

Kate McKennaGuidance/College CounselorKate has a post-baccalaureate certificate in international school counseling from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania. She also earned an educational specialist degree with a focus on mental health practices from the University of Missouri. She has 12 years of experience including in the US, Italy, Bulgaria, and Paraguay. Kate is married to Michael Branch (English, HS Puxi).

John VeitchPE/HealthJohn joins us from Prem Tinsulanonda In-ternational School, Chiang Mai, Thailand. He has 18 years of experience including in New Zealand and the Philippines. He has an MEd in administration from Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zea-land. John is married to Anita Veitch (grade 1, ES Puxi) with children Rico and Shay.

The following new staff have also joined SAS, too late to be included in this issue: Jenny Gaskin, admission officer, Pudong campus; Jianmei Geng, support services manager, Puxi campus.

NEW HIRES


Ever since Marie Da Silva visited SAS in 2009, I’d wanted to visit the Jacaranda school. Her story was almost too heroic to be true. While working as a nanny for a family in New York, Marie set up a school in Malawi after a nearby school had been shut down. She had only her mother’s old house, her monthly wages, and a mammoth heart as a foundation. Resources were scarce; there was little she could provide in terms of learning materials, and the number of students continued to increase. Many were orphans, their relatives claimed by Malawi’s AIDS epidemic. They could not afford to pay much tuition and had little hope of escaping poverty. Marie believed, however, that if given the tools they needed they would flourish. Her dogged faith paid off. Now, her early students are moving on to tertiary education. Jacaranda alumni are climbing towards dreams they couldn’t have imagined reach-ing without her. Marie eventually found herself nominated as a CNN Hero, an event that brought publicity and donations from

around the world. It’s a story of hope and altruism that stems from a humble hero no richer than the average Joe — except, perhaps, in love. Naturally, I wanted to experience the change the school had brought to its village. I wanted to meet the ever-diligent students I’d heard so many stories about, and perhaps lend a hand in what little way that I could. And the prospect of visiting Africa was simply too good an opportunity to pass up. I imagined that I’d see cackling hyenas, bright-eyed tigers, and plenty of other carnivorous flora along the way. (It was only later that I found out that tigers did not live in Africa, and that was only the first surprise.) The first day at Jacaranda marked a moment when all of my previous views on poverty, art, and the nature of kindness began to be slowly and systematically overhauled. The first morning, we were welcomed into the school by hundreds of singing students. The school’s very first graduation ceremony followed, complete with a choir performance and a stirring speech from Marie. The school had grown from one person’s idea to a full-fledged institution, and when I saw that line of beaming faces I understood how momentous the occasion was. Each student was a champion, and one well-meaning heart had shown the way. The realization was empowering.

Jacaranda stories By Catherine Li, Grade 10, Puxi campus

Building houses and friendships in Malawi

For many at SAS, the end of a long school year often involves flights to exotic locales for much needed rest and relaxation or visits with family around the world. For 24 students and five teachers from SAS Puxi, the end of the last school year brought an opportunity to build houses and create new friendships in Malawi, Africa. Since June 2009, the purpose of our visits to Malawi has been twofold: first, to work with Habitat for Humanity to construct homes for needy families, and secondly to spend time at the Jacaranda School. Since the beginning of our involvement with the Jaca-randa School in December 2008, our fundraising projects have raised more than $100,000, which has been used to build bathrooms, purchase books, build science classrooms, hire a full time nurse, build a small medical clinic, and out-fit the students with new school uniforms for the upcoming school year. During the past three years we have also sent to the school approximately 375 boxes of used textbooks, clothes, toys, school supplies, and shoes. Three years ago we were strangers. We are strangers no more; we are family.Two students that were on the trip this past June wrote the articles that follow. I think you will see that their experi-ences in Malawi were both challenging and rewarding.

By Robert Burke, High School teacher, Puxi campus

Photos by Benjamin Xiong

FEATURE


The rest of our visit was loosely structured, giving us plenty of free time to explore our surroundings and make some friends. I met Yankho, a friendly girl who made an agile volleyball partner; Theresa, who introduced me to the wonders of cassava; and Promise, an aspiring nurse who taught me countless tongue-twisting Chichewa words. Some days we might sit through an engaging (and energetically taught) lesson on Malawian culture. Other days we’d lead kids through designated stations, walking them through activities like banner making, dancing, origami, and volleyball. With secondary school exams looming, many of us helped students get accustomed to the calculators we’d brought over. A student called Jim offered to take me to the art room, where other secondary school students (and in some cases, college-bound graduates) were working. There, he taught me how to paint — Malawian style. I was eager to learn. I’d admired the artists’ paintings ever since we’d arrived; I loved the flow-ing silhouettes of the people and the bold, vivid backgrounds. I loved the thatch-roofed houses and the angular patterns, the daring paint splashes and the gradated skies. Most of all, I loved watching the paintings take form under a skillful brush and I tried to imitate the confidence with which they painted.

By the time we were preparing to leave, I’d amassed a heart-warming collection of parting gifts. Among them were person-alized bookmarks, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and pictures. But there were countless more that weren’t so tangible — the hugs and smiles, the thumb wrestles and dances, the tentative bites of morning porridge, the stories, the dreams, and the lessons. I had come expecting to do the giving, but instead I felt as though I’d never be able to repay my new friends for what they’d given me. When I first arrived I felt sympathy and even a little bit of pity for the students here. Now, my sympathy has been replaced by empathy and admiration. Admiration for the tenacity and passion of the students, and also admiration for people like Marie Da Silva and Mr. Burke, who are so eager to share kind-ness and love with those in need. Their actions have helped open pathways out of illiteracy and poverty, and an open door is all these gifted, hardworking students need to make their own way in the world.

Catherine Li makes some new friends.

Shinhee Kang, grade 10, pitches in with the construction effort on the new school.

Melissa Krassenstein and Jason Chan enjoy a game of football with the Jacaranda students.

FEATURE


Malawi, a small country in southeastern Africa, is a place where one can always find a friendly smile or a cheerful greeting. In an ever-moving city like Shanghai, it is easy to forget about the little charities that can pass so freely between complete strangers in less busy places. My two weeks in a country rightfully nicknamed “The Warm Heart of Africa” constantly reminded me that sincerity more often than not finds itself in the faces of those who live in impoverished conditions. This June was my second Habitat for Humanity and Jacaranda trip, and something felt right as I came back to Malawi. It was like greeting an old friend; there were hugs and laughter, and other sights and sounds that chimed like bells in ears tired from the sounds of the city bustle. Our party of 26 high school students and five teachers made an interesting sight as we emerged from the airport, and we caught the eye of more than a few bystanders. Some would say Muli bwanji, to which we were taught to reply, Nili bwino, in a friendly exchange of “How are you?” and “I’m good” in Chichewa, their native language. When we started work at the Habitat for Humanity building site a day later, everyone was excited and ready to go. We met the builders, who would guide us in constructing the homes, and the owners, who would be living there once work was com-pleted. We quickly settled into a steady pace, mixing mortar, laying bricks, and talking with the builders who worked alongside us, who were always very friendly and willing to chat. Vic was one of the first of the builders that I became acquainted with. He was disarmingly open with his deep, rolling laugh, often while recollecting events from his past or his years in college. He asked about life in Shanghai, a place so starkly different from the idyllic landscape in which I was standing that for a second I had absolutely no idea how to convey my thoughts. “Well …” I said, “It’s really different. Everything seems to move so quickly. Everyone seems to have somewhere to go with things that need finishing; it all seems like a giant rush. It’s tiring.” Pause. “So you like Malawi better?” Vic asks. Another — though much shorter — pause. “Life is easier here,” I sug-gest. It was an honest remark. For me, “easier” meant that life made more sense. The amenities that I take for granted in the megalopolis seem superficial when I think about what truly makes living what it is. Happiness for me is a product not of luxury but of meaningful relationships. There was something fulfilling and satisfying about seeing a home slowly rising from the ground. As work continued, we would get to know many of the local kids who lived in the area, who were always laughing and having fun when they came to play with us. A few daring kids even came and helped us pass bricks up to the bricklayers, in a way show-ing their commitment to the community. As work finally ended, half of my clothes were mud-splattered, but inside, I felt cleansed of all the rigors of the academic year. Simply put, it seemed like a wonderful start to the summer vaca-tion. We ended our work with a dedication of the house and entertainment in the form of songs and dances. It was a joyous celebration, though we parted with the sad knowledge that we would not be returning anytime soon, as we would

Two Weeks in Malawi By Benjamin Xiong, Grade 11, Puxi campus

FEATURE


be traveling to the Jacaranda School in Blantyre, hours away from our newfound friends. But as one part of our journey ended, another began. The moment we stepped into the Jacaranda School, we could sense the energy and joy shared by the students and staff, and it was infectious. Throughout the week, whether it was teaching the kids how to use their new calculators, play-ing volleyball, or enjoying a friendly (and ultimately quite one-sided) soccer match, there was little time to turn off the smile. Marie and Luc were gracious hosts and treated us as if we were part of the family. They told us of their difficulties in building the school, and it helped us to understand how individuals could really make a huge impact upon their com-munity. We explored the village that many of the students lived in, and the poverty that we saw there contrasted with the tenacity and perseverance that each student showed. To live without their parents, take care of their younger siblings, and still excel in school took a conviction that was something to admire. Whether we were playing guitar with their choir or organizing a little photo shoot, the Jacaranda kids were more than happy to join in. When I asked a few to model for the camera, they laughed and smiled, striking candid poses that embodied their natural charm. I have never worked with people more willing to express themselves, people unaffected by the pretentions that seem to plague modern society. When the Jacaranda choir sang “Children of Africa,” the music’s meaning went deeper than the simple lyrics and melodies; it represented the children’s heritage and the challenges that they would have to overcome. It was moving to say the least. Malawi imparted in me a profound message of hope. Exploring the local culture and building the homes was a humble return to the essence of living. Meeting the students, with their dedication to whatever they were learning, was an inspiration. What I have been through was nothing less than unforgettable. In those two weeks, Malawi once again felt like home.

How You Can Help

The Jacaranda School has set up a sponsorship program that raises funds to cover the cost of education fees and materials, as well as assisting in paying teachers. You can find out more information and how to get involved at: http://www.jacarandafoundation.org/HowtoHelp/Sponsor_a_Child/Main.html.

A large number of teachers, students, and parents from both campuses are already sponsoring children and supporting the school in many different ways. There are still students that need to be sponsored. Payments may be made on the site with a credit card or through our school Jacaranda account. Contact Robert Burke for more details at: [email protected].

FEATURE


ACTIVITIES

EggsChange visits Jiangxi province By Weilin Tu Ye, Ying Ying Ng, and I Hyun Park, Grade 11, Puxi campus

Over the summer, students from the SAS microfinance club EggsChange visited Guangpi village in Jiangxi province to check up on chicken farming families they had sponsored and to recruit new families. Three students recorded their impressions of the trip.

The goal of the trip was to expand the EggsChange Project by selecting new farmers to sponsor. These farmers were selected partly based on their annual income (on average 10,000 RMB), but other criteria included responsibility, dedication, and their future dreams and aspirations. We visited six farmers who were the original families we had sponsored. When we inspected their chickens, they were healthy and energetic, flapping their wings as if to welcome us. After visiting the original farmers, we then split into three groups and visited a total of 12 new farmers. Out of 12, we ended up choosing 10 farmers who met our criteria. The two farmers that were excluded were much better off than the rest and did not seem to need our help. One of them even offered to play his trumpet for us! Apart from visiting farmers, EggsChange members also took a detour to a local kindergarten. We taught the kids some Eng-lish and played with them all morning. We are proud to report that the EggsChange trip was a great success as it has changed the lives of the farmers that we sponsored as well as the members who traveled. “The trip was an awesome time to hangout with friends and was a great experience for me,” said junior Ryan Chen. “I really hope I get to go again next year.” —Weilin Tu Ye The trip to Guanpi, a village secluded by the mountains and greenery of Jiangxi, took us about an hour via bus. It was a bumpy ride and the air conditioner kept us awake in the dense summer heat. For many of us it was our first trip, so we were

excited but unsure of what to expect. We met the village police chief ’s daughter, whose nickname was “Watermelon,” and trekked up a hill to where the farmers lived. One of the first things I noticed upon reaching the first farmer’s home was the sign, which read “EggsChange Supported Farmer.” This was as much of an emotional achievement as it was visual evidence of the success of our efforts. I felt a sense of happiness and thought, “Oh, this is real” as we all pointed excit-edly at the sign. Moments later, the farmer took us to see the chickens, which were all scurrying about at the top of a hill behind his house. It was literally a “free range” — there were no fences, no food bowls, no coop. Just shrubs, dirt, and wilderness. The only thing that kept the chickens in the area was the grain the farmers fed them. —Ying Ying Ng

As I entered the bustling Hongqiao Train Station and flocked around with the rest of the group, chattering excitedly, a wave of memories swept over me. We had six hours ahead of us on the train, but time flew by with several rounds of Mafia and homemade beef and egg sandwiches. It felt like a China Alive or Habitat trip — except without the worried chaperones. The trip to the village was definitely the highlight; meeting the farmers we had sponsored and witnessing the chickens with our very own EggsChange rings on their feet was a fulfilling and memorable event. But other minor, trivial moments — playing Mafia, eating watermelons, watching The Hangover, the kinder-garteners, smiles and laughter — were also priceless snapshots that pieced together to make the three short days in Jiangxi an unforgettable experience. — I Hyun Park


Swimming into a centennial yearBy Jon Biros, Aquatics Director, Puxi campus, and George Carpouzis, Aquatics Director, Pudong campus

Welcome back to all you returning Aqua Eagles (parents and swimmers alike) and new Eagles to be! Your coaches are back, rested and ready to start off the new swim year. To celebrate 100 years of SAS, both Aquatics Centers will run a 100 Lengths for 100 Years swim on Founders’ Day, Sep-tember 16 from 3:00–5:00 p.m. Elementary and middle school students hit the water first at 3:00 p.m. and high school students and other adults at 4:00 p.m. Ribbons will be awarded for successful completion of 100 lengths. In conjunction with this event we encourage those swimmers putting in a lot of meters in our SAS pools to register for the 100 Kilometers for 100 Years swim (due to be completed by June 2012). Swim tryouts took place in August. We had an overwhelm-ing response and clearly have an expanding talent pool. 160 Aqua Eagles made the Puxi squad and 130 made the Pudong squad. The year will be a busy one with over 15 swim meets for our top swimmers to race in. Within SAS, Puxi and Pudong swimmers will compete against each other. Away from Shanghai we will continue to unite as one team on two campuses. Head High School Coach Corry Day is excited about the growth of the competitive swimming program. In five years we have gone from having a handful of swimmers to a full varsity and junior varsity program with a coaching staff of four. This year, 47 athletes tried out for the high school team in August, setting a record for high school tryouts. Along with As-sistant Coach Jerry Koontz, we will be adding two JV coaches in Season 2. Sam Vierra and Brendan Maloney will be lending their talents to our expanding squad. “The team’s growth has been in as much quality as quantity,” Coach Day concludes. “I truly believe both boys and girls teams will challenge the perennial APAC champions from IS Beijing this year. It is going to be an eventful year!”

In-class swimming lessons have also begun for Puxi’s pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grade 1 classes, and in the elementary school PE classes in Pudong. Adults are welcome to use the pools as well, at certain times. On the Puxi campus, adult lap swimming times are from 6:00–7:45 a.m., Monday to Friday. Puxi Student Swim Club will run Tuesdays from 5:00–6:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 5:00–7:00 p.m. starting September 6. For registration details see the Puxi blog. For more information contact your coaches, or George Car-pouzis, Aquatics Director, Pudong campus ([email protected]) or Jon Biros, Aquatics Director, Puxi campus, ([email protected]).

ACTIVITIES

Aquatics blogs Pudong Aquatics Center: http://teachers.saschina.org/pdswimming

Puxi Aquatics Center: http://teachers.saschina.org/sasaquaticscenterpuxi


ACTIVITIES

Activities at Puxi campusBy Steve Doleman, Activities Director, Puxi campus

Activities at Pudong campusBy Todd Parham, Activities Director, Pudong campus

This will be one of several places you can gather information about upcoming activities, events, and competitions. You can also check out the SAS Pudong Campus Activities blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/pdactivities for detailed information.

Upcoming EventsSave the date — Friday Night Lights is coming Friday, 9 September.

JV and Varsity volleyball games in the HS gym (time and op-ponent - TBD).

Varsity boys and girls rugby games out on the main field (time and opponent - TBD).

Varsity baseball will be playing on the baseball diamond (Game starts at 4:30 p.m. against SAS Puxi Varsity).

Buses will be provided, and the PTSA Snack Bar will be open selling all types of goodies. Come out and support our hard working high school student athletes.

ES and MS ASA Dates for 2011-12Session 1: Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, starting Monday September 19.

Session 2: Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, starting Monday January 9, 2012.

Session 3: Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, starting Monday April 16, 2012.

Welcome back!! We all hope you are well rested and ready for another great year of SAS activities!! In the quest for creating balanced lifestyles, SASPX offers nu-merous opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricu-lar activities. The program offers distinct sessions throughout the year (they vary from division to division) and is open to students of all grade levels. We take this opportunity of introducing you to the Puxi Activities blog: http://teachers.saschina.org/pxactivities. The blog is where we post our latest news and information, including ASA bus drop off points, ASA matrices, and APAC/China Cup dates.

After School Activities (ASA) for 2011-12ES ASA Dates HS ASA DatesSeason 1: 19 Sept–28 Oct Season 1: 19 Aug–23 Oct Season 2: 6 Feb–9 March Season 2: 24 Oct–5 FebSeason 3: 15 April–22 May Season 3: 6 Feb–22 Apr Season 4: 23 Apr–3 JunMS ASA DatesSeason 1: 29 Aug–30 Sept Season 2: 17 Oct–18 NovSeason 3: 5 Dec–3 FebSeason 4: 20 Feb–23 MarSeason 5: 16 Apr–29 May

In 2011–12, we will be extending the use of online registration through PowerSchool. Students and parents should become fa-miliar with the online sign up procedure in order to process their registration requests. The instructions for PowerSchool sign up are posted on the PX Activities blog.

Activity BusesDeparture Times: 4:30 p.m.; 5:15 p.m.; 6:00 p.m.Routes:Bus A — Huqingping areaBus B — Portman areaBus C1 — Hongqiao areaBus C2 — Hongqiao/Xujiahui areaBus D — Pudong area (no 4:30 p.m. service)Bus E (6:00 p.m. only) — Jade Laguna area

For full details, please see the link on the blog: ASA Bus Drop Off Points.

Good luck to everyone ... Go Eagles!


ACTIVITIES

As the new school year begins, the Shanghai Thunderbirds Minor Hockey Club resumes action on the ice. Shanghai American School students from both Puxi and Pudong cam-puses play with the Thunderbirds and we welcome any new players who are interested in joining the club. This season, House League teams will be created in two age categories: U12 (kids born in 1999-2002) and U8 (2003-2004). In addition, a U17 select team practices and plays together. House League competition will begin on Saturday,

Coming soon to the PAC By Doug Hundley, Director, Performing Arts Center, Puxi campus

On Friday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m., the PAC hosts the prestigious Shanghai Opera Dance Company’s production of Shanghai: Fast Forward, a highly acclaimed modern dance pro-duction consisting of 14 original pieces that showcase the beauty, wonder, and magic that is modern Shanghai. While some pieces reflect on Shanghai’s rich past and others tackle the issue of western influence, all clearly express that the city is prepared to embrace the future. Shanghai: Fast Forward is a perfect start to the centennial year celebrations, as both Shanghai and SAS are symbols of tradition, growth, and promise. Tickets are on sale now through SmartTicket Shanghai, the PAC box office, and the elementary school and high school of-fices. Adults: RMB 200; students: RMB 100. Shanghai: Fast Forward is the first half of our two-part pro-fessional dance series celebrating the SAS centennial. On April 20, 2012, the PAC welcomes Shanghai Sisters, a contemporary dance drama that tells the true, poignant story of two sisters struggling to make it as dancers during Shanghai’s golden age. Mark your calendars; tickets for this production will be on sale soon.

ICE HOCKEY IN SHANGHAI September 17, and Sunday, September 18. The Thunderbirds skate at two rinks in Shanghai: the Songjiang University Ice Center and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Pudong. Games and practices are on Saturday and Sunday. More information and photos are available at the ST-MHA website: http://shanghaithunderbirds.com. You can also download a Player Registration form from this website.


A Century of Tradition


Established 1912


Thailand’s Food...“Glorious Food”...has never been...this close...

Yun Le Rd

Bei Qing Rd

Bao Le Rd

Jin Feng Rd

American School

Forest Manor

Shanghai Racquet Club

Mins walk from American School, Puxi

Daily from 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Tel/Fax: (86) (21) 6221 2953


MENU

MON, SEP 5 TUE, SEP 6 WED, SEP 7 THU, SEP 8 FRI, SEP 9


Country sausage sand-wich w/ fried onions and home made ketchup

Crispy chicken with teriyaki sauce, rosemary roasted potatoes/steamed rice, sautéed spinach

Vegetarian

Curry lentils

Dessert

Sago milk pudding

Egg and garlic beef fried rice

Sweet and sour pork, sau-téed soy sauce bok choy, steamed rice

Vegetarian

Veggie mapo tofu

Dessert

Carrot cake

Chicken fillet in basil butter and sliced toma-toes

Beef sautéed in cumin and onions (ES breaded beef fillet), steamed rice, mixed veggies

Vegetarian

Bell peppers stuffed with rice

Dessert

Crème caramel

Steamed fish fillet with lemon (ES fish and chips)

Fried chicken noodles, steamed rice

Vegetarian

Vegetable curry

Dessert

Jell-O

Hash steak topped w/ fried onions in brown sauce

Chicken mushroom pasta, oven roasted potato slices, seasonal greens

Vegetarian

Spinach cheese pizza

Dessert

Apple pear strudel

No school Spaghetti chicken meat-balls in red sauce

Beef strips in creamy soy-ginger sauce (ES mini beef steaks), steamed rice, sautéed bok choy

Vegetarian

Spring onion and veggies Jiao zi

Dessert

Butter cake

German dayPork roast with crispy onion and brown sauce

Chicken schnitzel, potato salad/mashed potatoes, mixed butter veggies

Vegetarian

Cabbage rolls

Dessert

Popsicle

Beef goulash

Chicken in black bean sauce (ES herb plain pan fried chicken breast), steamed rice, sautéed green peas

Vegetarian

Veggie burger

Dessert

Brownies

Salami pizza

BBQ chicken wings, steamed rice, seasonal greens

Vegetarian

Eggplant and tomato lasagna

Dessert

Apple tart


Chicken quesadillas served with salsa

Grilled Nurnberg sau-sages, rice and beans/but-ter potatoes, mixed green veggies

Vegetarian

Vegetable fajitas

Dessert

Vanilla cake with chocolate

Sliced pork sandwich melt

Hash steaks with mush-room sauce, steamed rice, sautéed green beans

Vegetarian

Spinach quiche

Dessert

Marble cake

Chicken marinated in cumin and garlic

Pan fried beef steaks, black beans, steamed parsley, mixed vegetables

Vegetarian

Bee hoon fried with onions and peppers

Dessert

Profiteroles au caramel

Fish sandwich on ciabatta and coriander mayo (ES fish fingers)

Fried rice noodles stir fry with chicken, oven roasted potato wedges, cauliflower and carrots

Vegetarian

Fried rice with lentils and curry

Dessert

Triple color Jell-O

Shepherd's pie (beef )

Chicken Parmigiana in chunky tomato sauce, jacket potatoes/steamed rice, roasted pumpkin

Vegetarian

Pizza-salad

Dessert

Apple and cinnamon strudel

Eurest Food Technologies, cafeteria phone extensions: Pudong campus – 3293, 3290; Puxi campus – 2561


ACTIVITIES

Upcoming EventsPuxi

September 9 Grade 7 & 8 Bonding Day14 MS principal’s coffee, 10 a.m. LMC14 ES open house (grades 3-5)15 ES open house (preK-2)17 Parent Information Fair, PAC17 CISSA Touch Rugby competition20 HS Megan Campisi visit21 ES parent coffee, 9:00 a.m.21 ES parent to parent, 10:30 a.m.22 MS parents/counselors coffee, 10:00 a.m.23 ES PK-2 Assembly, 8:20 a.m.

October 12 MS principal’s coffee, 7 p.m., PAC13 Math contest, 12:55 p.m.13 Grade 8 MAP testing15 Centennial International Fair18 Grade 6 & 7 MAP testing29 International Fair31 SAMS International Book Fair

Schoolwide

September 3 New hire drinks at Vue9-10 EARCOS Learning 2.012 No school, mid-Autumn day16 SAS Founders’ Day events16 100 Lengths for 100 Years swim, 3:00 p.m. onwards19 Founders’ Day reception23 Shanghai Fast Forward at PAC, 7:30 p.m.28 New hire drinks and dinner at Lost Heaven on the Bund

October 3-7 No school, National break27 United Nations Day21 The Wizard of Oz, 7:00 p.m.22 The Wizard of Oz, 3:30 p.m. 31 Halloween parade

Pudong

September7 ES/MS open house8 Parent technology workshop8 HS PTSA meeting and principal’s coffee, 11:00 a.m.14-15 ES photo day15 MS treat day17 Centennial BBQ26-30 HS spirit week

October 13 AMSA Math contest 114 ES/MS Spirit Walk15 Centennial carnival and BBQ17 MS MAP testing week21 MS end of quarter 1 electives24 MS board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Eagle Sept. 2 2011

Documents

Transcript of Eagle Sept. 2 2011