eagle march 9 2012

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The Eagle | March 9, 2012 1

March 9, 2012 / Volume 3 / Number 11

CONTENT

A culture of giving Kerry Jacobson 2

Inside SAS Andrew Torris 3

Call for nominations 4

In memoriam: Xiao Chen 5

Eagle survey Steven Lane 5

Pudong Rocks Cynthia Sun 6-7

PTSA carpet auction Dylan Yin 8-9

Bridge building Mercedes Li 10-11

AMIS festivals Kendrick Tan and Brian Li 12-13

Counselor’s corner Paul Stambaugh 14

Visiting authors Ellen Nugent 15

Annual fund 16

Roots & Shoots meets EggsChange 18-19 Edwin Zen and Alex Zhuang

MUN Muriel Wang and Isabella Blackman 20

Photo parade Joaquina Miller Cooper 22-23

Physical education Julian Thornbury 24-25and Lou Wegener

Menu 27

Upcoming events 28

Content

Upcoming board meetingsMeeting #7: March 26, 6:30 p.m., Pudong CampusMeeting #8: April 23, 6:30 p.m., Puxi Campus Meeting #9: May 28, 6:30 p.m., Pudong CampusMeeting #10: June 9, 8:00 a.m., Kerry Center

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On the cover: J-Ren Ong, lead singer of Dinner Party For Ten, roars at the crowd during the recent Pudong Rocks show.

Pudong venue: High School Library Garden Room, Pudong campus

Puxi venue: New High School Building, First Floor Conference Room A103, Puxi campus

Kerry Center: Jun He Law Offices, 32 F No. 1515 Nanjing West Road

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2 The Eagle | March 9, 2012

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

A culture of givingBy Dr. Kerry Jacobson, Superintendent

Our School Board has kicked off our 2012 Annual Fund campaign. I’m sure you’ve noticed. Thanks to the hard work of Development Coordinator Cindy Easton and the attractive materials produced by our design staff, the drive (also known as the Edge For Excellence cam-paign) is picking up steam. This year, the theme is “100 for 100,” which is appropriate in more ways than one to where SAS is in its development. Most obviously, one of the 100’s refers to our centennial year. The other 100 states the participation goal for the cam-paign. We are looking for 100% participation, for everyone in the SAS community to give what they can. For our long-term future, meeting this goal is just as important — some might say even

more important — as any particular monetary target. Widespread community participation is significant because it helps us to create a “culture of giving.” Like many other aspects of SAS, despite our relatively long history in Shanghai, our campaign is quite new — this is only the fourth year. Together, we are still building the broad base of support that more established campaigns enjoy. That is our task this year, to build the culture of giving that will sustain the campaign, and SAS, in the future. Asking everyone to give something, at whatever level is right for them, helps to build this culture. Why give? I often hear parents ask this question. Why should one give to the annual fund at all? Don't we already pay tuition? If tuition is not enough to do ev-erything we want to do, why not just raise tuition? All good questions. The answers are twofold. The first reason is that our Edge for Excellence Annual Fund campaign provides the extras, the cutting edge that takes SAS from excellent to truly extraordinary. Edge funds allow us to pilot new projects and ideas aimed at helping achieve our mission. Earlier annual fund campaigns have given us the ability to equip our libraries with the latest electronic equipment and to implement our 1:1 laptop program two years earlier than budgeted. This year’s funds are targeted at supporting SAS’s efforts to lead the way in 21st century learning. Funds raised will be focused on a new kind of “beyond the walls” real-life education that teaches kids lessons they cannot learn in the classroom. We can transform our playgrounds and courtyards into authentic learning spaces and test programs like the new SAS Microcampus project that will be piloted this month in Yunnan province (go to www.tinyurl.com/microcampus to see it in action). The other important reason for these contributions is that giving is a very differ-ent thing than paying a bill. Giving, voluntarily and joyfully, binds us to our school and community in a very real way. For many of us, our tuition is paid by our com-panies and we never even see the bill. Giving gives us all a very personal stake in the school. It makes SAS our own. Schools in the US have been building their giving cultures for years, often gen-erations. We have an exciting opportunity at SAS to build our own giving culture from the ground up. Thank you to all who have already given. On page 16, you can find a list of donors. To those still thinking about it, you have plenty of time — the campaign runs through April 30. There are many ways to give. Check our website at www.saschina.org for more details. Join us in achieving the 100 for 100 goal … and in creating the culture of giv-ing along the way. Thanks.

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: Fredrik Jönsson and Cindy WangAdvertising Manager: Ji LiuExecutive Editor: Steven Lane

Production Schedule 2012 Mar 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 Road, San Jia Gang, Pudong, Shanghai 201201. Tel: 6221-1445.

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

Email: [email protected]

A

Century

of

Tradition

SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOL

Established 1912

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INSIDE SAS

A father’s role in raising amazing daughters By Andrew Torris, Deputy Superintendent, Pudong campus

From the moment our children are born till the day they leave the house and strike out on their own, it is amazing to observe how they grow, learn, and develop into adults. As a father of two daughters this process scares me to death, but I do want to have strong, independent, and creative daughters! Some background … My mother (a teacher her-self ) spent a lot of time with

me and my siblings building us up to believe we needed to be strong, independent, kind, creative, and flexible. This lesson was generally delivered through family stories, often based on her memories of her grandparents. Most often, stories would be told of my grandmothers, and I was brought up to both admire and respect the powerful role that women have had in my life and in the history of my family. It is that powerful and important pres-ence that I wish to build up in my own daughters. Recently while reading some of the RSS feeds on my iPad, I ran across an interesting blog called “From Dates to Diapers.” The entry was entitled “50 Rules for Dads with Daughters” (http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters). Naturally, the entry caught my eye, and as I read I felt that author Michael Mitchell did such a nice job of encap-sulating the joys and challenges of being a father of girls that I would share with you a few of his rules, and my own reflections. #1 “Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.” Educators see a lot of good in their work but nothing brings us more comfort than to see families come to the school as “team.” Respect, love, and mutual trust are observable and evident in the most closely knit families, and if and when issues arise, it is those families that have that bond that tend to fare better. Our wives and partners are key to our successes, as we are to theirs, and the respect and admiration we show toward them is seen by our girls. If they see it, they will grow up expecting it for themselves, and they should! #3 “Save the day. She will grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life.” Whether it be help with home-work, solving a computer problem, taking her shopping, or just simply sitting and listening, your job, Dads, is to be there, be supportive, and when possible, to be her hero. If you need to be reminded what that means, see rule #1. #4 “Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawl-ing around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees’ knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it

while you can.” In the hustle and bustle of the expatriate experi-ence, we tend to live from one plane flight or business meeting to the next phone call to the brief and precious vacation or weekend. I can’t count the number of fathers who have told me that the most frightening moment in their life was when their kids were born. I have some news for you guys. Just wait till they enter middle school, or graduate from high school! Heaven forbid getting married. Let’s all commit to reminding each other to enjoy our time we have with our children. #9 “Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.” The “Date with Dad” days that have been held here on the Pudong campus are great examples of silliness and relationship building. My favorite memory of those days is hav-ing the opportunity to run, jump, play, read, and laugh with my daughters, all in the company of hundreds of other fathers doing the same thing with their children. A little peek-a-boo is a good start, but come on, guys, don’t stop being goofy even when they are in middle school. #12 “It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager … and on her wedding day.” Ugh. There is that “W” word again! But financial inde-pendence is very important in the lives of women. I certainly do not want my girls beholden to some man to pay her bills and take care of her. I want her to be able to take care of herself, and financial literacy is a key component of that independence. #18 “Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Some-day an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.” Our girls are bombarded with images of models. When I was an elementary principal I remember parents coming to the school concerned about their girls not eating, or talking about plastic surgery. And I have heard children say cruel things to each other about their bodies. Our girls will almost certainly be subject to these same images and pressures, and it is our job as their support system to be the voice of reason and support. Not only should we tell our daughters that they are beautiful, but that they are smart, strong, creative, amazing, loving, and caring each and every day of their time with us. The message here is that it is our job to drown out the bad images and bad voices with the voices of affirmation and strength. This ties into rule #22. “She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.” #36 “Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.” We fathers have to admit that we also hate to hear our daughters cry, and holding their hand helps us too. This of course leads to #46 “When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.” #42 “Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.” Parenting never stops, even when they “grow up.” By showing respect, love, and honor to your parents, you will show your children that they should do the same for you — to be always welcome in your home. #47 “When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life.” If you succeed in doing this, be sure to let us in on your secret! And …

continues on next page

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One story in the February 24 issue of the Eagle contained inaccurate information. In “Former students return to discuss post-SAS life,” the following names were misspelled: Carson Lam Byung Hoon Min

The Eagle regrets the errors.

Correctioncontinued from previous page

#50 “Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.” It is so easy to get all tied up in academics, the rush of our daily lives and our own goals and aspirations. As we approach spring break, I suggest that us Dads (and Moms too!) take a step back and just look at our kids. Check them out and take a few mental pictures of who they are, who they are becoming, and what beauty and life they have brought to you and your family.

Four seats on the SAS Board of Directors will be up for elec-tion from April 19 to May 9, 2012. An additional seat is up for appointment at the end of May. School Board members serve a two-year term with an optional one-year term exten-sion. Refer to Policy 2.204 online for details on the optional term extension for elected and appointed seats. The filing deadline for the School Board election is Thursday, March 29, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. Applications received after 5:00 p.m. on March 29 and incomplete applica-tions will not be honored. If you are interested in becoming a candidate you will need to download a 2012 School Board Candidate Filing Packet. You may also request a hard copy by contacting Kim Lange, assistant to the Board, at [email protected] or 6221-

Call for self-nominations for seat on the SAS Board of Directors

1445, ext. 2255. Please also contact Kim with any questions about the application process. Persons seeking more information or wishing to discuss the role further are invited to contact any of the current sitting Board members or to send an email to [email protected]. In order to become a candidate for election, one must be a current Association member, expect to be an Association member for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, and be recommended by two other current Association members. Candidates for appointment are not required to be Association members. To download documents, and to find more information, please go to www.saschina.org and click on the self-nomination item under Latest News.

SCHOOLWIDE

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Eagle survey respondents provide feedbackBy Steven Lane, Director of Communications

Responses to a recent survey about the Eagle, SAS’s flagship biweekly publication, suggest some new possibilities for the magazine. An online survey was sent to about 7,000 parents, students, and staff in early February, with a deadline of February 17. About 350 people responded, for a response rate of 5%. Slightly more than 60% of respondents were parents, and 78% were female. A summary of results follows. The “backpack mail” distribution system for the Eagle (the magazine is sent home with the youngest child) seems to work reasonably well, with 90% of respondents receiving the magazine always or sometimes. And almost all who received the maga-zine reported reading it: 68% said they read “selected articles of interest,” and a further 18% reported reading every issue cover to cover. The most popular sections were feature stories, activi-ties, upcoming events, and Inside SAS, with at least 60% of respondents reporting reading these sections. When asked what kinds of topics they would like to see more of, the highest rated suggestions were on-campus events and performances, student stories and essays, curriculum and academic news, and education news and trends. About 70% of respondents agreed with the statement that the Eagle “strengthens my relationship to SAS.” Questions regarding Eagle Online showed a marked prefer-ence for reading the magazine in print, with 80% of those who expressed a preference indicating that they would rather read the Eagle in print than online. Only about 20% of respondents visited the Eagle Online site with any regularity. The change most likely to attract readers to the online site was thought to be “daily news.”

SCHOOLWIDE

The open comment section of the survey revealed some recurring themes. In keeping with the quantitative responses, a number of respondents requested more student involvement in the magazine, while others suggested running more photographs of students taking part in activities. Roughly equal numbers of readers commented that the magazine was either too Puxi-heavy or too Pudong-heavy. Several suggested that the magazine no longer be printed, but produced only online in order to save paper and energy. The Eagle editors would like to thank all who took the time to respond to the survey. While the respondents represent a rela-tively small sample of the total population, the data gathered will help inform our conversations as we consider enhancements to the magazine and to other communications vehicles for the next school year.

In Memoriam: Chen ZiqiangShanghai American School lost a longtime employee and friend when Chen Ziqiang, 58, popularly known as Xiao Chen, passed away on February 21. Xiao Chen provided sterling service as the superintendent's driver for 21 years. Chen is survived by his wife, Xuan Youzu, a daughter, and a granddaughter. Maria Tay, executive secretary to the superintendent, worked with Xiao Chen for the past two decades. Tay said, “He was a diligent worker, always friendly and kind towards his colleagues, and never missed a day of work. He will be greatly missed.” Kerry Jacobson, Superintendent, said, “Xiao Chen is a treasure. Mona and I have spoke on many occasions over the years about our fondness of Xiao Chen, about his amazing driving abilities, about his passion for his work, and about his kindness.”

His funeral was held on March 3 and a number of SAS friends were in attendance.

CHEN ZIQIANG, 1954-2012

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ACTIVITIES

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Pudong rocks and raises funds for education By Cynthia Sun, Grade 12, Pudong campus

For those who do not already know, Pudong Rocks is an annual talent show organized by the High School Student Council to raise money for charitable causes. Out of the 30-plus talented student groups that auditioned for spots in the show this year, six bands, three dance groups, and seven musical groups from middle school and high school performed on February 17 to a full house of 450 people in the auditorium. The music started at 6:30 p.m. with the opening act Cre-matorium, a metal band that galvanized the audience with their impressive energy and heart-thumping noise. Warmed up and ready for more, the enthusiastic crowd welcomed the other per-formers, which included a unique solo dance act by Prashanth Ramakrishna, and an original song by middle schooler Jonathan Wong, who not only sang, but also played guitar and harmonica. More cheering, a 20-minute intermission, and the show resumed with the well known song “Party Rock Anthem,” performed, with an instrumental twist, by the Jazz Band. After another half hour of dance and music, the show ended with a song by Whitebread, a post-rock band consisting entirely of seniors. Beginning with a captivating guitar riff, the deceptively simple song kept the crowd on their toes, alternating between the melody, build-ups, and relentless waves of sound. The audi-ence was in a frenzied uproar by the end, and when asked how the band felt about their performance, they replied that it was “probably the best way to go out as seniors.” Thanks to this event, almost RMB 21,000 was raised through tickets and a bake sale. All of the money goes to the Rural China Education Foundation (RCEF), an organization dedicated, as its website states, to “promoting education for

people in rural China that prepares them to improve their own lives and communities.” RCEF does not simply aim to increase educational opportunities for rural students, but also works towards bettering existing teaching methods and resources. The success of this year’s event is largely a result of the invaluable help of many high school and middle school teach-ers and staff, and all of the students and parents that came out to support the many gifted performers. Student Council thanks everyone for their generosity, and also everyone who showed their support at the event.

ACTIVITIES

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE PUDONG YEARBOOK CLUB

Opposite: Micky Wong woos the crowd. Top: The middle school Jazz Band in action. Above: Juhi Kalra, student body president, announcing this year's charity and the amount raised.

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Description Donated by

7TH ANNUAL PUXI PTSA CARPET AUCTION – DONATED ITEMS

URBN Hotel “Garden View” staycationURBN Hotel “Penthouse Suite” staycationOne hour golf lesson for up to 8 peopleIndo-Perisian Qum rug Indo-Persian Isfahan runnerHerat tribal rugTravel voucher x 5Pilates Fitness Assesment and 1 private session x 2Pilates class package (5 private sessions)Elements spa services/Buddha tea lightDisplay cabinetStone carvingSet of two side tablesSet of two stoolsDecorative jarPlant standChild’s bean bag chairFramed photo – Long Ji TerraceFramed photo – Man Mo TempleFramed photo – Yemen SoukHome baked cookiesStrength training classes for fourIndian dinner for two couplesMiddle School Principal for the dayElementary School Principal for the dayPool partyAt home laboratoryParaglidingSpace planning consultationJacaranda print x 4Fischer tennis raquet and Adidas sports bag and F&B VouchersMaMaHuHu in concert at the MonkDinner for sixFilm nightSatin pillows and framed printEat Well Shanghai basketTwo math tutoring sessions Two science tutoring sessions Digital art pieceEvening out basketBeach bag by LulabellYIPIN kitchen basketFamily game night basketK/Spin Italian dinner basketPizza partyLibrary movie nightTwo items of Paper Tiger Shanghai name cardsTibetan rugMagnor Glasverk flower vaseSalon de Paris voucherJohnnie Moo vouchersDecorative clocks

Robert and Ritsuko RocheRobert and Ritsuko RocheTianma Country ClubEastern Carpets of SingaporeEastern Carpets of SingaporeEastern Carpets of SingaporeEasy Journal TravelBody Concept Pilates StudioBody Concept Pilates StudioElements SpaDTL MichelleDTL MichelleDTL MichelleDTL MichelleDTL MichelleDTL MichelleDTL MichelleFurther To Fly PhotographyFurther To Fly PhotographyFurther To Fly PhotographyKelly BarronsAndy Ostrom & Ruby HundleySharmila AroraBrad LatzkeDebra Lane2nd Grade TeachersRuby HundleyJim Xiaonan QinLucie DolezalovaMarie DaSilvaShanghai Racquet ClubMaMaHuHu and the MonkShaun McElroyDavid GranLushan GalleryMargaret KeefeMS TeachersMS TeachersAnne Hefte7 Gold Lucy MooreYIPINPop Cap and Johnny MooES Parents and TeachersGrade 1ES Parents and TeachersLucy YoungEmy NisslLyn CampbellSalon Paris Lina WangH.O.W.

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By Dylan Yin, Grade 5, Puxi campus

An earlier version of this article appeared in the Eagle View (2nd edition), a Puxi elementary school newsletter.

On Saturday February 18, the SAS Puxi PTSA presented its 7th Annual Charity Fundraising Auction at the Performing Arts Center. About USD 21,000 (about a 40% increase over last year) was raised during the event, with 180 tickets sold, 30 more than in the previous year. Guests, who were mostly teachers and parents of the SAS community, were very active in bidding. The net proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Jacaranda Foundation, Habi-tat for Humanity Shanghai Chapter, and EggsChange. Despite the persistent cold weather, most people showed up early, even our school’s superintendent, Dr. Kerry Jacobson, came to show his support and wish the night good luck. “I’m confident that the evening will be a success!” Dr. Jacobson said. Under the warm welcoming lights and amid cheerful greet-ings, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while previewing silent auction items and carpets that were neatly displayed in the hallways and on the stage. This year’s silent auction items covered a wide range — holi-day vouchers, luxury hotel room stays, furniture, paintings, sports equipment, food, and of course, carpets. Among the most sought-after items were the “Elementary School Principal for the Day” and “Middle School Principal for the Day.” Parents were out-bidding each other in dramatic fashion, eager to let their child be a principal for a day. But it was the live carpet auction that was the climax of the night. Representatives from Eastern Carpets of Singapore flew in to present a special collection of over 50 hand-knotted carpets that had been exhibited at the International Trade Fair in Hanover, Germany. They showcased three major design styles: the traditional collection, the silk collection, and the classic

PHOTOS BY DYLAN YIN

PTSA

collection. The collections were the product of some of the best weaving areas in Central Asia, including Kashmir, and Agra in northern India. Edmund Rajendra of Eastern Carpets of Singapore was the auctioneer for the night. He brought laughter, applause, and ac-tive bidding to the room with his great sense of humor, knowl-edge of carpets, and skillful salesmanship. As a member of the Newspaper Committee, I was assigned to cover the night, which was great as it was my first time to witness a live auction. But boy, I can tell you, the adrenaline soon kicked in — my heart was racing so fast seeing people outbid each other that I forgot to take pictures! I was glad to see that my own parents won the bid of one of the carpets auctioned during the night. “For the charities!” my mother beamed at me. On a cozy Saturday night, people got together and drank, ate, mingled, and had fun. Better still, they went deep down into their pockets and generously supported a good cause. I cannot think of a better way to spend a weekend night than this.

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ACTIVITIES

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Architectural club’s bridge building project a towering success By Mercedes Li, Grade 11, Puxi campus

Shortly after constructing cardboard model buildings as Nerf gun targets for their highly popular International Fair booth, members of the Architectural Design Club (ADC) undertook a new project — bridge building. To further develop their aesthetic and practical design skills, members were organized into groups of three to construct model bridges out of bamboo skewers. The objective of this task was to build a bridge that would sustain a load while meeting the fol-lowing requirements:

worth of bamboo skewers

For many weeks, ADC members met during lunchtimes, free periods, and after school sessions to construct their bridges. The various groups experimented with a wide variety of structural designs and construction methods, and each group devised a unique way to assemble scattered bamboo skewers and globs of glue into a strong and sturdy structure. February 13 was the testing day. It was to be a momentous occasion, attended by Puxi High School Vice Principal Mr. Sheehan, crowds of curious nonmembers, the full club and its sponsor, math teacher Ms. Yuen. By stacking math textbooks onto the bridges, the club officers measured the weight that each bridge was able to withstand be-fore it collapsed. Four fully completed bridges were tested in the contests, with results that surprised even their architects. In fourth place, the freshman team’s bridge held 13.4 kg of textbooks, while the sophomore team’s bridge came in third

with 18.9 kg. The two junior teams, which included two ADC officers each, came in first and second, one holding 21.6 kg of textbooks, and the winning design supporting an astounding 81 kg of textbooks. The victorious team consisted of club president Tim Chia, secretary Helen Yang, and member Xiangyi Lau. The winning team stacked ever more textbooks onto their bridge into a pile that towered over their heads. As the 34th and final textbook was added, it was only out of the fear that the swaying pile of textbooks would be damaged and may injure onlookers if it toppled that the weight was tallied and the contest was called to an end. Amazingly the bridge remained intact! The achievements of this project are a testament to the skill of SAS’s young students, many of whom are considering career paths and college courses related to architecture. While most of the models constructed in the many months leading up to the weight-withstanding contest were damaged or destroyed in the testing process, the skills and experiences gained by ADC mem-bers in the project will continue to be utilized for many years to come. The ADC already has another activity in the making, requir-ing the use of the 3D-design program Sketchup, which can be found on all school-issued laptops. A contest is planned for next year to construct virtual 3D architecture models. Newcomers are welcome, and the club meets every Monday during lunch in Ms. Yuen’s classroom, room 201, Puxi campus.

PHOTOS BY TIM CHIA AND MERCEDES LI

Opposite: A towering achievement — the winning design. Above: Tim Chia, Helen Yang, and Xiangyi Lau. In the background are Sean Ker and Gregory Chang (all grade 11).

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AMIS, not to be missedBy Kendrick Tan and Brian Li, Grade 7, Puxi campus

Over 50 students from both SAS campuses were involved in a number of musical events across Asia, organized by the Associa-tion for Music in International Schools (AMIS), a worldwide organization that supports students in the composing and per-forming of orchestral music. The Asian Girls’ Honor Choir Festival, the Asian Middle School Honor Band (AMSHB) Festival, and the Asian Junior Honor Orchestra (AJHO) Festival are all organized by AMIS. The organization sponsors annual music festivals in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, enhancing the education of school students and teachers by developing their understand-ing, knowledge, and appreciation of music. Over 60 schools are connected to the organization, which was founded by Richard Bassett, an Oberlin Conservatory graduate who currently teaches at the American School in London. Bridget Wu, grade 8, Puxi campus, said, “AMIS is just so fun because everyone there loves music and they all work hard to put on a great performance. It's easy to connect to people and make friends.” “Socially, the experience brings together a group of like minded kids from different backgrounds,” said Mr. Glascock, MS band director Puxi campus. “AMIS reinforces the idea that music is a universal language.” International schools in Asia held auditions in the fall of 2011, through which performers were selected. Audition materi-als were sent out and students who wished to participate re-corded audition tapes, which were sent to the UK, where judges selected 80-90 students to perform in the festivals.

The Asian Girls’ Honor Choir Festival was hosted by the In-ternational School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), Malaysia, and took place from February 15 to 19. The Girls’ Honor Choir Festival, for soprano and alto singers (grades 6-8), which included six girls from SAS Pudong Campus. Rhonda Schwartz, music director at Jakarta International School, acted as guest conductor. The AJHO was held February 1-5 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This event was for string players (grades 6-8), and offered these gifted musicians the opportunity to come together and create beautiful music. Over 80 students from eight international schools partici-pated in the event. The participants worked relentlessly for three days, polishing seven pieces and putting together an amazing performance for the host, Jakarta International School (JIS). Hanrich Claassen, middle school strings director at the Pudong campus, was the guest conductor for this year’s AJHO festival. He lead the rehearsals during the course of the festi-val, making little tweaks to enhance the performance and also enlightening participants with new perspectives on the selected music. “Mr. Claassen conducts with a passion I have never seen before,” said Julian Wittich, grade 7, Puxi campus. “Without him, our successful concert would never have been possible. We all owe him a huge thank you.” After practicing six hours a day and playing alongside other skilled players, participants left with a sense of accomplishment thanks to all their hard work and practice. Ms. Lanfair, Puxi campus orchestra director, believed the concert was one of the best things about the AMIS trip. The

ACTIVITIES

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MUNACTIVITIES

students worked hard before arriving and continued working diligently to perfect the music that resulted in an outstanding performance. “I love the way students came back excited to practice,” said Ms. Lanfair, “and how much they enjoyed getting to know kids from other schools.” The AMSHB event took place in Singapore, and was hosted by the Singapore American School. This festival, held Febru-ary 8-12, brought together talented grade 7-8 band musicians from throughout Asia. About 90 students from 17 international schools participated in this event. Students worked tirelessly for three days on 10 difficult pieces, under the guidance of guest conductor Brian Howrey. Some of the pieces were derived from popular movies and songs. Phoebe Shih, grade 8, Pudong campus, said, “Mr. Howrey taught us interesting techniques that really helped our perfor-mance and our music playing as a whole.” Mr. Glascock explained that AMIS ensembles give these play-ers an opportunity to push themselves to a new level. “The music is demanding, the conductors are demanding, and the other players are all well prepared. There’s no room to hide. For many of the players it is their first experience playing at such a high level.” The AMSHB participants had the honor of playing a com-mission piece, composed by Rob Grice especially for the festival. Rob Grice is a talented composer whose music has been per-formed throughout the world. The piece In the Age of Empires, was premiered at the Singapore American School. Mr. Grice himself was in Singapore to teach performance techniques dur-ing practices and conduct the piece at the concert. Students stayed with families in the ISKL, JIS, and Singapore American School communities, who welcomed participants into their homes, hospitably providing food and company. Their

warm welcome helped the students to feel more comfortable and have an even greater experience. Participants agree that staying with host families was a highlight of the trip. “We had a wonderful time with our host,” said Angie Zheng, grade 6, Puxi campus. “The tiring rehearsals of the morning and afternoon were forgotten after spending time with our host families.” Gathered by their shared love of music, participants made beautiful music together, and not only had a great time in AMIS, but had a great time making friends as well.

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE YE AND LOUISE DAVEY

Opposite: Puxi and Pudong students and directors at the Asian Middle School Honor Band Singapore, with conductor Brian Howrey and composer Rob Grice. Top: Puxi and Pudong band students at the AMIS Singapore band festival. Above: Asian Girls’ Honor Choir in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

MAR9.indd 13 3/5/12 2:09 PM


COUNSELOR'S CORNER

Careers and kids By Paul M. Stambaugh, Elementary school counselor, Puxi campus

As early as pre-school we begin to guide our children towards making positive, appropriate career choices. Helping our stu-dents understand both their interests and their abilities will be a critical component when finding the right direction towards a successful future in the working world. When meeting or consulting with businesses and employers, I have been told many times that it is the “soft skills” that are most important in finding a good “worker bee.” One supervisor even said, “A trained monkey can do the work we require in our business, but finding an employee who is reliable, honest, and who communicates and gets along well with others is becoming more of a challenge.” While many schools fail to measure these soft skills as diligently as they measure academic prowess, it will often be per-sonal qualities and interpersonal skills that will determine success in gaining and keeping a good job. “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude,” says legendary salesman Zig Ziglar. Confucius advised, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The only way to deter-mine that is to try doing the things you think you’ll love. It’s all about experience and being honest with yourself. Our goal as educators is to help students discover and develop both their talents and their interests. As early as second grade we have our students taking online career assessments that help students un-derstand and discover the career fields that match their interests. No doubt these interests and values will change over the years, but helping the students to learn how to assess themselves and their abilities will no doubt be a valuable tool in helping find the best career path(s). Former basketball superstar Michael Jordan had a unique perspective: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.

I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” We all learn from our mistakes, be it in the classroom or on the job, and thus it’s important to help our kids become resilient, and to know that we can learn as much or more from our errors as we do from our successes. The counselors at Shanghai American School will be doing a number of activities and lessons during the month of March on the topic of Career Awareness. The early primary children practice doing small jobs for rewards, and by first grade they begin to study various professions that spark their curiosity. By second grade we begin to utilize interest inventories (simple tests that analyze students’ answers and help formulate career clusters while providing a list of jobs within those clusters that match the student’s interests) to help students understand which career clusters might fit with their interest and values. We discuss and research potential careers, interviewing parents and other adults about their careers, and discover what they like most or least about their jobs. All this helps our young students to become aware of the important choices they will need to make in adulthood, but in a friendly and fun manner befitting their age. SAS counselors are here to support and advise, and help make your child(ren) make the right decisions. There are a multitude of career sites online; here are just a few of those that we are using here at SAS:

MAR9.indd 14 3/5/12 11:33 AM


Looking through a literary lensBy Ellen Nugent, Middle school librarian, Puxi campus

Visiting authors Kathryn Lasky and Christopher Knight ex-pressed their delight with meeting and working with the Puxi students and faculty March 6-9, and are looking forward to their time on the Pudong campus, March 12-16. Lasky connected one of her presentation to the students’ study of ancient cultures in grade 6 social studies, as she dis-cussed researching, outlining, and writing a historical fiction novel. The social studies class tie-in continued with the grade 7 writing workshop on ancient Rome, as Lasky’s novel The Last Girls of Pompeii is set in the period. Eighth grade students enjoyed a lively presentation and discussion of her use of realistic animal behavior in the fantasy fiction series, The Wolves of the Beyond, which was fitting as they had studied animal behavior as part of their ecology unit in science earlier this year. Meanwhile Lasky’s husband, Christopher Knight, met with Ms. Wentworth’s advanced photography students twice to exchange photography experiences and favorite photographs. Knight discussed and explained some of his photography experi-ences and some of his most noted photographs. Ms. Wentworth’s students met with him again after taking new photographs, to consult with and be critiqued by the professional photographer. Knight and Lasky often collaborate on nonfiction books: her

ACTIVITIES

These darling kittens will be four weeks old when you read this announcement — only weeks away from need-ing good homes! They were born to M&M (Mao Mama), the sweet village rescue cat advertised in the last edition of the Eagle. Socialized to humans and eager for atten-tion, they are inquisitive, funny, and adorable to watch. The orange and white one is a male and the others are all females. Interested in giving one (or more, or one and their mama) a home? See contact info below! This service announcement is brought to you by Pudong HS Animal Rescue, a community service club that supports Jaiya's Animal Rescue (JAR). If you would like more info on adopting the animal pictured above, please contact Animal Rescue club organizer Marney Rosen at [email protected]. If you would like

contact JAR directly at [email protected]. If you would like to support our club in other ways, please contact student leader Karissa at [email protected].

Pet of the Week

writing and his photography combine to create award-winning books. In Pudong, Lasky and Knight will be presenting and sharing with the secondary students and faculty on a variety of topics. Lasky will be working with middle school humanities classes, as well as a number of high school English classes. Knight will be engaging with IB and AP environmental science students, photography students, and middle school science students in his use of photography to document the natural world. In addition to meeting with humanities classes in the middle school, Lasky will have a question and answer session with journalism students on the life of a writer and life experiences that have inspired her writing. The week will end with Lasky and Knight addressing grade 5 students about their writing. The focus for this presenta-tion will be Lasky’s book, The Capture, which is the start to the Guardians of Ga’Hoole book series. If you have questions or need more information about the Visiting Authors program March 12-16 on the Pudong campus, please contact Tim Boyer, secondary librarian at [email protected].

MAR9.indd 15 3/5/12 11:33 AM


James and Annie BongJonathan and Soon-Ok BordenTimothy and Barbara BoyerAnthony and Dana BroersmaGabriella BurkeJin and Danijela CaoStephen and Jeanne CarozzaAlan and Cam ChamberlinIshwar and Vanisha ChandiramaniCharles and Lily ChangJasper Chang and Yun Yun LiuJui-Sen Chang and Fang-Su LinJackie and Miya ChenOwen T.L. Chen and Ling LiWei-Liang Chen and Qiu-Wen YuHeung Yeung Eddy Chik and Suk Yi Joyce LeungIl Young Choi and Su Jung ImWinston and Sandra ChowJason Chu and Susana WijayaKwong Cheung Chui and Shella NgHenry and Ming Wai ChungDavid and Kathryn ColeKristi CooperJoe and Peggy Currier Amy DingJay Dong and Cathy WangJohn and Lilly Ho DonohueJoe and Trisha EmmiMichael and Cindy EastonMatthew and Riley EastonJeffrey and Jennifer EggenJianqiang Fan and Nian ZhuangHuijiang Feng and Xi LiuVictor Feng and Leigh Fu GaoYong Gao and Mengyi ZhangWei Gao and Su Lei Jiang David Golden and Chao Jie WangBo GreenEd and Maddie HagenSteve and York-Chi HarderLing He and Xia Zhao Jim and Marlene HeeseMark and Ann HefteHyoung Lak Hong and Anna KimChao-Ming Hsu and Xingqiong WuWei-Teh Hsu and Fang-Yuan KoMichael Tse-Yu Hsu and Joanne Ying Rong Hu Haibo Huang and Bin Robin WangJason and Sandy HuangJi Nan Huang and Li XiaJian Huang and Ning Lin

Vincent Huang and Chia-Chen ChenKerry Jacobson and Mona Vold-JacobsonSeung Wook Jeong and Kwi Nam KimAdam and Melissa JuszynskiMatthew Shin Lung Kiang and Alice LeungEd Kidd and Hanna RedpathWyatt and Robin Kilmartin Cheothong Kim and Sejeong InAlan and Eileen KnoblochChristian Kober and Ling WangWai Hung Kwok and Ka Li ChanGang Lai and Bei CaiJun Lai and Yan GaoSteven and Debra LaneKim LangeStig Larsen and Malene EricksenCarl and Hans LarsenBrad Latzke and Kathy LoveAndrew and Sandra Khoo LeeSungmin Lee and Soonchul ShinYang Lei and Jing LiuAndy and Alicia LewisWendy LiXiaofeng Liang and Hongwei LuJohn Lin and Ann ChangJames Linzel and Amy FoleyDavid and Naomi Suo LiuFrank and Yvonne LiuKai Liu and Lili HanLeo Lui and Yi Mabel ZhaoAh Tung Ma and Li Xian GuChris and Katrina MangousMark and Sacha McVeanMark and Edith MillarKirk Mitchell and Kathy AndersonTimber MonteithTheron and Becky MottTom and Tara MuskGreg and Jan MuslerThomas Kar Ping Ngai and Anita Kit Ling LamJon and Cynthia NordmeyerAndy and TK OstromTodd and Tonya ParhamChichul Park and Hyunghee KimSeung Hun Park and Hye Young KimNilesh Parmar and Parmar DeenaGeoff and Leslie PeakeWen Piao and EunKyoung SeoKarl Poulin and MaryPat WeberMae PunzalanGene Quinn and Ying Wang

Michael Romard and Carolyn BaileyJeff and Marney RosenMichael and Naoko RydeMichael and Kris SheehanChauncey Shey and Cindy QiuZheng Rong Shi and Wei ZhangHuawei Situ and Yaping YeChow Hung Siu and Xue Ping MiaoAmy SmithWilliam and Jenny StinsonWei Zhong Sun and Lin AnKooi Teck Tan and Siam Chai GiamHenry and Jing TaoJason Guo Jian Tao and Olivia Yu Qing ZhiDave and Yi TriplettKuo Ping Tsai and Jing QianSai Tung Stones Tse and Agnes Kai Yee LeeJohn and Anita VeitchMichael and Polly VellaKuei-Wu Wang and Yu-Ching ChangXiaodong Wang and Lan YaoJason Weng and Juliet DaiGregory and Eunice WeyrichPatty WinpennyKwong Yue (Philip) Wong and Winnie LiuMichael Wong and Mendy NieDoug and Michelle WrightHai Qing Wu and Wei Jun DaiJinsong Xi and Jin JingFeng Xie and Xiaoyan JiangJing Tao Xu and Sun XueliJustin Xue and Haiyan WangAlan Yeung and Stella ChanHuikang Yin and Yushi YingJaczen Yu and Qi Wen HeAlex Yuan and Yen-Ling ShenCalvin Zhang and Zhi LinYuming Zhang and Limin ZhuAlex Zhao and Annie WangJason Zhao and Wen ChenWei Zhao Joe-Tao Zhou and Jane ChenZhen Yu Zhou and Qing XueChengyu Zhu and Zhongyue LiXinchao Zhu and Aidong DingPudong ES anonymousPuxi ES anonymousMiddle School Student ForumOffice of Admission

NB. Names collected by Eagle deadline. Look out for

This year’s 100 for 100 — Edge for Excellence Annual Fund is all about creating a community of givers at SAS. If you haven’t joined the community yet, make your gift today. Go to www.saschina.org for details of the four easy ways to give. Be a part of

the 100 percent and give to the Edge for Excellence Annual Fund. The campaign runs until April 30. Join us!

MAR9.indd 16 3/5/12 11:33 AM


A Century of Tradition

SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOL

Established 1912

Lucky draw tickets will be given out at the door.Formal attire required.

This is an adult only event.

MAR9.indd 17 3/5/12 2:08 PM


ACTIVITIES

ROOTS AND SHOOTS MEETS EGGSCHANGEPuxi EggsChangeBy Alex Zhuang, Grade 11, Puxi campus

The Shanghai American School community has always been a tightly knit one, two campuses but one school. Over the weekend on February 12, a group of students from the Puxi EggsChange club scheduled a meeting with a handful of Pudong students who are officers in the Roots & Shoots (R&S) club, in the hope of extending the reach of EggsChange. The original proposal was to devise a system that would allow egg deliveries to faculty members at SAS Pudong, via R&S, sending eggs over for them to distribute on a weekly basis. Much to our surprise, near the beginning of the meeting one of the R&S officers us that he had already drawn up a professional-looking form that their teachers could fill out for egg deliveries. The level of en-thusiasm from our Pudong counterparts showed was very much appreciated! The meeting proceeded smoothly as the proposal was initially discussed and the R&S officers grew familiar with the process. We introduced the purpose of the club: providing select farmers in Jiangxi with chickens, purchasing the eggs produced, and shipping them back to Shanghai. We also discussed our hopes for the near future. Some rough edges were ironed out concern-ing minor technicalities, but fortunately there were no major complications. And so, egg deliveries to Pudong have already begun, as we are sending 20 boxes over to the Pudong campus each week (though deliveries remain exclusively open to faculty and teach-ers for the time being). We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to work with our sister campus. Not to mention, it was very timely as the amount of eggs that was being shipped from Jiangxi had dramatically increased over the past few weeks — a staggering 100 boxes were coming in each week (a total of fifteen hundred eggs!), all of which had to be distributed with haste, as the boxes were quickly piling up. However, this was not our sole incentive for meeting with Pudong — by branching out and introducing EggsChange to the Pudong campus, we have taken what we hope will be one step closer to exposing our club to the larger part of the inter-national community here in Shanghai. We would like to thank the students from Pudong for their collaboration and strong sup-port, and we hope that the relations between the two clubs will strengthen in the months ahead!

Pudong Roots & ShootsBy Edwin Zen, Grade 11, Pudong campus

Change comes in many forms, and sometimes, the smallest of them makes for the greatest difference. Through its collabora-tion with the EggsChange club, Pudong’s Roots & Shoots (R&S) club is more than happy to support the idea of organic food while helping the selfless cause — especially since we know

where the proceeds go! An often-overlooked aspect of R&S is that we help create a network of people who care deeply for their community (current and future), which is an idea embedded in all our club projects. The EggsChange project came as a warm surprise to us when students from the Puxi campus extended the proposition, and it didn’t take long to get R&S officers on board! The process had its ups and downs. When the eggs arrived on a Thursday, they smelled very, well, natural! To the point where Dr. Borden, high school principal, asked, “Is that smell coming from the eggs?” in reference to the wonderful smell of the farmyard (at least, that’s what I thought he meant). Also, we had no idea how to deliver them all and regrets of pursuing the project began to flow through our minds. But our fears proved unfounded. In total, 18 teachers and two students bought out the first batch — all 20 boxes! The whole concept of a “community of giving” was demonstrated at its highest and all of us saw it clearly. It’s so amazing to see how many are willing to help those in dire cirumstances who need a way to get back on their feet. It’s near impossible to bring everyone above the poverty line, but at the same time, we have to start somewhere. EggsChange provides long-term support for farmers and the foundations of the project are very solid. The message of “one school, two cam-puses” really captures this cross-campus collaboration between Pudong and Puxi and we’re glad to see the project welcomed with open arms.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ALEX ZHUANG

Above: Students from Puxi campus EggsChange club. Opposite: Jon Nordmeyer, Pudong teacher (and high school R&S faculty sponsor) receives an order of eggs.

MAR9.indd 18 3/5/12 11:33 AM


Outstanding Educational Standards Since 1912

The Office of Admission is currently accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year. Our online application is available on our website (www.saschina.org/admission).

All SAS siblings who are qualified have first priority for available seats. A completed application and all supporting documentation need to be submitted by February 29, 2012.

For inquiries, please call 6221-1445, ext. 2152 (Puxi campus), ext. 3305 (Pudong campus) or stop by our offices Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A RICHPAST

A PROMISINGFUTURE

A Century

of

Tradition

SHANGHAI

AMERICAN

SCHOOL

Established 1912

ACTIVITIES

MAR9.indd 19 3/5/12 11:33 AM


PHOTO PROVIDED BY MURIEL WANG

MUN

Model United Nations in SingaporeBy Muriel Wang and Isabella Blackman, Grade 8, Puxi campus

Delegates, lobbying, resolutions, debate, and, more often than not, off-topic notes. Memories of Model United Nations (MUN) mean something different to each person. Twenty-one eighth graders from SAS Puxi recently had the opportunity to participate in the Middle Years MUN at the Overseas Family School, an international school in Singapore. After several weeks of research and preparation, we boarded a plane nervous and full of expectation. Three days later, we again boarded a plane, having written, submitted, spoken, debated, questioned, and completely surprised ourselves. We laughed at confiscated notes and gave enormous sighs of relief

when our resolutions received votes. Our trip allowed us time to be tourists as well: swimming, shopping, and searching out local delicacies that were within our budget. We learned how to question logic, analyze speeches, and decide for ourselves how to “fix” some of the world’s biggest problems, while having fun at the same time. MUN taught us to think about the role we play on our planet, and gave us a taste of how great an influence people — even eighth graders — can have on our world.

MAR9.indd 20 3/5/12 11:33 AM


What are you waiting for ? SIGN UP NOW!

Location: Shanghai American School 1600 Lingbai Road, San Jia Gang, Pudong, Shanghai

Time: Saturday, March 24,2012 8:30am-5:00pm

Contact us at: [email protected]

www.voicesagainstpoverty.orgSimilar to the GIN conference, VAP is a local student led conference composed of schools in the Shanghai area, that strive to inspire individuals to take action about the current global issues.

Is your child attending a summer school program? Do they need a medical examination or immunizations for the program? If so, talk with your child’s school nurse be-fore you go to the clinic for the appointment — SAS may have requirements for your child that are due in August, so you can take care of two requirements at one time.

SAS Pudong Quiz NightFriday, March 23 6:00–9:00 p.m.Kerry Parkside Hotel

Emceed by Andy Torris and Amanda DeCardy

Compete on a team of six to earn the bragging rights as the SAS Pudong Quiz Night Champion (and prizes too of course)! Don’t have a full team of six — no

Tickets

beverages. Tickets will be for sale at PTSA meetings, or download the registration form from the PTSA website, or contact [email protected].

For the latest information on this event visit the Pudong General PTSA Blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/pudongptsa/

The competition is on! Prizes for the most creative team name and best dressed team.

MAR9.indd 21 3/5/12 11:33 AM


PHOTO PARADE By Joaquina Miller Cooper, Grade 12, Pudong campus

A water fountain in Shanghai.

Takinthe Advanced

raphy course this yeame to explore the vast wo

phy. Since photography is stI constantly have ideas of what

and this month’s project involvedthan usual.

This series of photographs is takenever used a fisheye camera before sthe streets of Shanghai and Brisbaneholidays, finding locations that I hopThe photos I chose to develop and pa distinctive, surrealistic look, warpiinto a very dream-like state.

Photo Parade is a regular feature thstudents and other members of t

photographs, with captions,(around 200 words) expla

selection of the [email protected]

Walking down a sidewalk lined with winter's typical bare trees in Shanghai.

MAR9.indd 22 3/5/12 11:33 AM


A man-made beach in the centre of Brisbane.

Along the Brisbane river, which weaves through the city.

Taking nced Photog-is year has allowed

ast world of photogra-y is still quite new to me, what I would like to try out,

volved even more experimentation

taken using a fisheye lens. I have fore so I decided to wander through bane, Australia, during the December I hoped the fisheye lens would suit.

and print were those I felt had created warping the photo’s ordinary subject

ure that presents images from s of the SAS community. If you'd

ions, and a short introduction explaining the context and images to: liam.single-

hina.org.

MAR9.indd 23 3/5/12 11:34 AM


Physical education at SAS means enjoying the benefits of modern technology, top-quality playing fields, and a dedicated and informed teaching staff. The coaches, directors, and teach-ers within the department exercise not only bodies, but also minds. Keeping abreast of the latest science and technological advances means a safe, engaging, and challenging environ-

ment, designed to get the most out of our students. Recently, a new book published by John J. Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has caught the attention of our teachers. Read opposite to find out how exercise not only keeps you fit, but also smart.

‘Think of exercise as medication’

ACTIVITIES

PHOTOS BY JULIAN THORNBURY

MAR9.indd 24 3/5/12 11:34 AM


It’s only PE, or is it? By Lou Wegener, Physical Education teacher, Puxi campus

Having taught physical education classes for the past 30 years in seven countries, I’ve often heard parents and students make the same disparaging comment, “It’s only PE, so it’s not that impor-tant.” Another common remark: “PE should not be included in the grade point average.” My usual response is to first explain to them that I teach physical education, the emphasis being on education, not “gym class” which is sometimes the title bestowed upon my subject area. I then try to explain why the subject just might be the most important class a student will take at school. The physical education setting is one of the most condu-cive to teaching a range of values and life skills that are highly regarded by our SAS community and embedded in our school’s EAGLES philosophy; teamwork, integrity, goal setting, persever-ance, acceptance, appreciation of others’ skills, problem solving, leadership, responsibility, and self-discipline are all enhanced through physical education. Furthermore, physical education classes develop socializ-ing skills. Students who have been exposed to a wide range of team and individual sports prior to university are more likely to choose at least one of those that they enjoy and will pursue as a lifelong recreational activity. If individuals feel confident playing sports even at a basic level, they are less likely to hesitate before

Priming the brain for learningBy Julian Thornbury, Physical Education teacher, Pudong campus

John J. Ratey’s book, Spark, makes a valid point: “In addition to priming our state of mind, exercise influences learning directly, at the cellular level, improving the brain’s potential to log in and process new information.” We have been told for many years that exercise is good for us, as it helps reduce stress, improves the efficiency of our heart and lungs, and makes the systems in the body function more effectively. However, just within the last 10 years a body of research has developed on the effects of physical activity on the brain, and how exercise affects learning. Needless to say, the results are remarkable, though to those of us who teach physical education, not at all surprising. It was once believed that we were born with a finite number of brain cells. As a brain cell dies, the theory went, it is lost for good, and over time we continue to deplete our reserve. Recent scientific research has proven this theory to be false — we now know that new brain cells can and do grow. What is astounding is that what triggers the growth of new cells and connections between neurons is the receiving and processing of new informa-tion. This is an evolutionary response; we adapt to survive. “As our species has evolved, our physical skills have developed into abstract abilities to predict, sequence, estimate, plan, rehearse, observe ourselves, judge, correct mistakes, shift tactics, and then to remember everything we did in order to survive,” continues Ratey. More simply, this is learning. Hopefully you’re sitting down for this next part, because it

might get a bit confusing. Ready? Here we go. In order for learn-ing to take place, there must be an affinity, or attraction, between neurons in the brain. As new information is processed, neural activity increases, and neurotransmitters help carry the electrical signals across the synaptic gaps. The more activity there is, the stronger the connection between neurons. The stronger the con-nection between neurons, the more likely the new information will be stored in the long-term memory centers of the brain, i.e., that it will become “knowledge.” Are you still with me? Well exercise helps balance these neu-rotransmitters so that neurons don’t get overloaded with signals, and important neural connections can be formed. Exercise also promotes the release of a protein called brain-derived neuro-trophic factor (BDNF), which is crucial in the learning process. All of this enhances learning and helps maximize one’s ability to learn. Exercise is to learning, as setting the table is to dinner. Ar-ranging the place settings, cutlery, glassware, even music and lighting can enhance one’s enjoyment of a meal. Exercise does the same thing for learning. In order for learning to take place efficiently and effectively, the brain must be primed and “ready” to learn. Vigorous exercise primes the brain, balances neurotrans-mitters, and releases BDNF (among many other things). So exercise, I will tell you again, is good for you. I’ve made my case, provided the evidence, and now it’s down to you. Bon appetit!

becoming involved in intramural sports programs in college. Finally, consider the famous adage: “A sound mind lives in a sound body.” One medical explanation for this is that exercise increases blood flow to the brain, so supplying it with more nutrients and oxygen, thus reducing the risk of suffering from chronic illnesses, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. This increased blood flow also fuels one’s memory, attention, and creativity, which are all crucial for learning. A recent Time magazine article cited research in the Nether-lands, reporting that students who exercised more often tended to have higher grade point averages and better scores on stan-dardized tests. This was especially evident in three key areas: mathematics, English, and reading. Thirty minutes of vigorous exercise on a regular basis enhanc-es learning, as it releases hormones that can improve students’ mood and suppress anxiety and stress. Hopefully, as the general public becomes better educated about the value of physical education, they will begin to see my classes in the same way as they view core subjects. Perhaps future parent comments will go along the lines of, “I’m so glad to know my child receives physical education classes on a regular basis.”

ACTIVITIES

MAR9.indd 25 3/5/12 11:34 AM


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MAR9.indd 26 3/5/12 11:34 AM


MENU

MON, MAR 19 TUE, MAR 20 WED, MAR 21 THU, MAR 22 FRI, MAR 23Spaghetti chicken tomato basil

Pork curry (ES pork fingers), butter potatoes with parsley, mixed veggies

Vegetarian

Sweet and sour vegetables and tofu

Dessert

Vanilla pudding

Chicken tomato meat-balls baguette melt

Stir fried beef with onions (ES mini beef steaks), rice with corn, sautéed carrots with garlic and ginger

Vegetarian

Veggie burger

Dessert

Apple pear cake

Classic pork roast

Chicken stir fry in oyster sauce and veggies, steamed-rice/ roasted potato, sautéed bok choy

Vegetarian

Egg and leek curry

Dessert

Milk popsicles

Beef fajitas

Chicken in red sauce and corn

Tortillas/rice/salsa/nachos/onions/coriander, refried beans, mixed sautéed butter veggies

Vegetarian

Veggie tacos

Dessert

Chocolate brownies

Ham and cheese pizza

Pan fried duck breast topped w/ spring onions and ginger (ES chicken wings), oven roasted potatoes, mixed veggies

Vegetarian

Cheese pizza

Dessert

Swiss roll

MON, MAR 26 TUE, MAR 27 WED, MAR 28 THU, MAR 29 FRI, MAR 30

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, sautéed 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

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

MON, MAR 12 TUE, MAR 13 WED, MAR 14 THU, MAR 15 FRI, MAR 16

Chicken teriyaki

Grilled pork sausages, jacket potatoes/steamed rice, mixed vegetables

Vegetarian

Fried vegetable udon noodle

Dessert

Coconut pudding

Spaghetti bolognese

Pork goulash, spinach butter rice, broccoli and corn

Vegetarian

Veggie jiao zi

Dessert

Lemon butter cake

Roast beef

Chicken mozzarella baguette melt, roasted potatoes, tomato onion salad, sautéed spinach

Vegetarian

Cabbage rolls

Dessert

Popsicle

Spicy Sichuan fish fillet (ES breaded fish fingers)

Chicken and egg fried rice, cabbage and carrots

Vegetarian

Veggie burger

Dessert

Chocolate brownies

Chili con carne served with salsa and nachos

Chicken tacos, steamed rice, seasonal greens

Vegetarian

Lasagna

Dessert

Apple and pear strudel

MAR9.indd 27 3/5/12 11:34 AM


ACTIVITIES

Upcoming EventsPUDONG

March

8 Korean Day, 12:30 p.m., in front of the HS cafeteria

8 MS PTSA meeting, 9:00 a.m.

8 HS PTSA meeting, 11:00 a.m.

12-16 Visiting authors Kathryn Lasky and Christopher Knight, library

15 MS Treat Day

15 MAP Testing Informational presentation (visiting consultant Gail Seal), 9:30 a.m., LLH

15 PTSA ES meeting, 10:00 a.m.

21-23 James Gurney visit (author-illustrator)

23 Quiz Night 6:00-9:00 p.m., Kerry Parkside Hotel, Jinqiao

April

2-6 Spring break

12-13 Half day school for students

19 ES Treat Day

21 Centennial Gala, Peace Hotel

23-27 Student council elections

23-27 Earth week

25 PTSA spring luncheon, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Lost Heaven (The Bund)

26 Spring concert, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

30 May break

PUXI

March

9 Fine Arts Ceremony, 6:00 p.m.

10 ES library open, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

13 MAP Testing Informational panel discussion with Gail Seay, 6:30 p.m.

14 MS principal coffee, 10:00 a.m., PAC

15 ES passport check

16 ES grade 5 Invention Convention, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

16 Report cards sent home

17 PTSA Quiz Night, 6:00 p.m.

16 MS Social

21 ES parent coffee, 9:00 a.m.

21-23 EARCOS supported Faculty Literacy Coaches Institute (ES), 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

21 PTSA General Meeting 10:30 a.m., HS Conference Room

22 Date with Dad, elementary school, 3:10-5:30 p.m.

22 Passport recheck

22 MS parent/counselor coffee, 10:00 a.m., HS A103

22 MS drama performance, Robin Hood, 7:00-8:30 p.m., PAC

23 MS drama performance, Robin Hood, 3:30-5:00 p.m., and 7:00-8:30 p.m., PAC

26-28 James Gurney visit (author-illustrator)

April

2-6 Spring break

11 MS principal coffee 10 a.m., LMC

12 MAP testing (grade 6,7,8)

12 MS parent conferences, MS Gym

12-13 Half day school for students

12, 17, 18 MS ERB testing

13 MS parent conferences, MS Gym

18 Spring Bazaar

20 Shanghai Dance Company, Two Stage Sisters, 7:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., PAC

21 Centennial Gala, Peace Hotel

26-27 HS Dance Concert, Passion, 7:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., PAC

30 May break

MAR9.indd 28 3/5/12 2:10 PM


MAR9.indd 29 3/5/12 2:10 PM


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Pudong

MAR9.indd 30 3/5/12 2:10 PM

eagle march 9 2012

Documents

pudong venue

pudong campusmeeting

sas community

aspects of sas

pudong campuspuxi venue

pudong rocks cynthia

recent pudong rocks

contenta culture