eagle sept.30 2012

A PUBLICATION OF SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOLOCTOBER 2012

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONLooking back at 100 years of SAS history and a year of festivities.

p. 35–43

EMMA’S STORY: HER BATTLE, SAS’S SUPPORTA student with cancer teaches us all a lesson about life.

p. 12–15

EUREKA! WE HAVE FOUND IT!Kids find human volume and density through displacement. p. 16–17

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATECheck on our progress toward achieving the plan’s first year results.

p. 18–19

Cover.indd 1 9/24/12 11:59 AM

Cover.indd 2 9/24/12 11:59 AM

VOL 4, NUMBER 2: OCTOBER 2012 1

www.puresmileasia.com

PURESMILE OFFERS STATE OF THE ART ORTHODONTICS, CHILDREN’S & COSMETIC DENTISTRY

American Dental Association (ADA) accredited dentist

US trained Dental Implant Specialist

US trained Dental HygenistUS Board Certified Orthodontist

Thank you PureSmile for giving me a smile I can be proud to wear everyday! - Regan P, SAS Pudong

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

SAS_Reagan.ai 11/8/2012 PM 7:11:46

OCT.indd 1 9/25/12 10:11 AM

VOL 4, NUMBER 2: OCTOBER 20122

VOL 4, NUMBER 2OCTOBER 2012

4 The courage to live their dreamsThe path to success with the SAS strategic planKerry Jacobson

Cafeteria changesThe food on your child’s plateDavid Leung

Food for thoughtEating healthy can improve learningJulian Thornbury

Overnight at SASA school slumber party unites Puxi 6 gradersSamuel Jaccaci

Maintaining wellness is importantHow parents can model and promote a healthy lifestyleKatelyn Regan and Timber Monteith

JacarandaChanging lives worldwideRobert Burke

What is happening with the strategic plan?Steven Lane

Say what?A guide to SAS acronymsEagle staff

The catwalk in 2112Puxi 8th graders get futuristic with fashion for bonding dayAngela Xiao

Pudong PTSA/Puxi PTSAInga Lawler, Marilyn Sim, Lina Wang, and Susan Yun

Wake Up, SAS!An energetic way of presenting school announcementsKathy Vitale and Lisa Ross

Sports and activitiesTina Wang and George Carpouzis

The technology test: “My U.P.”A proactive approach to juggling technology and school activitiesChristopher Hemm

Monitoring air quality on SAS campusesSteven Lane

5

6

7

On the cover: Puxi Pre-K students enjoy the Founders' Day parade on September 17. Photo by Fredrik Jönsson.

The Eagle is produced by the SAS Com-munications Office, based on both the Puxi and Pudong campuses. Information in the magazine is primarily about SAS people and organizations. We encourage parents, students, teachers, and administrators to submit stories and photography. 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: Kathy VitaleGraphic Designers: Fredrik Jönsson and Cindy WangAdvertising Manager: Ji LiuExecutive Editor: Steven Lane

Production Schedule 2012–2013Nov 2: Copy deadline Oct 15Nov 30: Copy deadline Nov 122013Feb 1: Copy deadline Jan 14Mar 1: Copy deadline Feb 6Mar 28: Copy deadline Mar 11May 3: Copy deadline Apr 15Jun 7: Copy deadline May 20

Pudong campus: Shanghai ExecutiveCommunity, 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]

8

10

1820

22

2728

3032

34

OCT.indd 2 9/25/12 10:11 AM


EMMA’S STORY: HER FIGHT, SAS’S SUPPORTSAS family helps Puxi student in her battle with cancerBy Kathy Vitale

12

16

35

EUREKA! WE HAVE FOUND IT!Finding human volume and density through displacementBy Kevin David

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONA year in review and recreating Founders’ DayBy Kerry Jacobson, John Leonard, Christy An, Ethan Teo, and Yvonne Ye

OCT.indd 3 9/25/12 10:11 AM


Our new strategic plan has only one route to success: Each and every member of our community must focus on the desired outcomes. Our mission is clear. Our core values are straightforward. But, these statements are not enough. Achievement of a mission so challenging requires all of us to pull to-gether: each student, each faculty member, and each parent. One of the five strategic plan results chosen for accomplishment this year is key: “All families understand the school mission and core values.” If you are an SAS fam-ily, look the mission and core values over again. Think about them. Talk about them with your family members. Principals Jeff Rosen and Debbie Lane are leading our efforts toward the accom-plishment of this result. They tell us that, coming soon, we will all be engaged in a truly collaborative assignment for all SAS

families that will guarantee that all families understand the mission and goals. For an update on the progress of all five results, see story on page 18. One of the key aspects of our mis-sion seems to be the most challenging. “Shanghai American School inspires in all students the courage to live their dreams.” Sometimes, as parents, we want to determine our child’s future. We want him or her to play a certain instrument, partici-pate in a particular sport, accept a college of our choosing, or dress a certain way. How then can we encourage our children to live their dreams? Listen to the words of the poet Kahlil Gibran (from his poem “Our Children”) as we strive toward this goal.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,For their souls dwell in the house of tomor-row, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.You may strive to like them, but seek not to make them like you.For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

This does not mean that we can’t provide guidance. The poet beautifully compares parents to bows and children to arrows:

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.”

Is this idea, that a child should have the courage to live his/her own dreams, scary to us? Do not fear. The path ahead may be murky and dark, but it’s not without its navigational aids. The following is from a nameless but insightful poet:

To be a star you must shine your own lightFollow your own path and don’t worry aAbout the darkness for that is whenStars shine the brightest.

So, adults, the sentence, “SAS inspires in all students the courage to live their dreams” is written for us. We ignite these stars with our core values … and let them lead the way.

The courage to live their dreamsThe path to success with the SAS strategic planBY KERRY JACOBSON, SUPERINTENDENT

Shanghai American School inspires in all students:

A lifelong passion for learning

A commitment to act with integrity and compassion

The courage to live their dreams1 2 3

OCT.indd 4 9/25/12 10:11 AM


As many of you already know, food service provider Sodexo is now running the cafeteria on the Puxi campus, while Eurest continues at SAS Pudong. This represents a change from Eurest being the sole food service provider for both campuses. The decision, for both campuses, was made in accordance with the school’s policy to bid out all services to several providers at least once every five years. Before a decision was made, the school business team took your feedback into consideration. We looked through the results of an earlier food survey and comments from students, teachers, and parents about the cafeteria’s menus and services. These results helped the team in specifying some food guidelines for students. We met with three companies with reputable food service operations in the greater Shanghai area. Our team went on site visits to the vendors’ restaurants to ensure their employees were well-trained and provided quality service. The team also reviewed the service providers’ management and quality control procedures. It was important for us to see a healthy company culture and a service provider that can make improvements if needed. The award of food service contracts to two separate vendors, one for each campus,

is expected to generate competition and continued improvements. We hope that their differentiated services will eventually benefit the SAS community as a whole. As expected, there were a few bumps when Sodexo started its operations on the Puxi campus. But importantly, when Sodexo received some face-to-face feedback from students, staff, parents and adminis-trators, the company acted. On August 30, Sodexo’s service manager at SAS, Michael Martin, set up a feedback session at a table in the cafeteria. He received helpful comments. He posted them, along with others he collected via email, on the cafeteria wall. He also listed Sodexo’s corresponding actions. These comments and related actions target a wide range of topics: food safety, taste, recipes, cooking process, speed of service, food variety, and food availability. Here are some examples of the Sodexo actions that have either been taken or are ongoing:

• Added heat lights so food is at the proper temperature

• Added protective glass over the salad bar• Increased the healthy food options to

include whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and vegetable options

• Reviewed all recipes• Reduced fried food and incorporated

more baked and grilled options

• Made food portions the appropriate size

• Reduced pizza avail-ability to twice a week

• Included a variety of meats each day

• Instituted regular re-view of the menu to ensure food variety and balance

Other feedback col-lection sessions will be held throughout the year to ensure that the school food services will address the needs of students, teachers, staff, and parents. Please know that your comments to our food service providers are always welcome. Here is their contact information:

Puxi – Sodexo Phone: 6221-1445, ext. 2560 (office) or ext. 2561 (reloading station)Email: [email protected]

Pudong – Eurest Phone: 6221-1445, ext. 3293Email: [email protected]

Cafeteria changesThe food on your child’s plateBY DAVID LEUNG, SAS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Board Meeting Dates for 2012-2013 (Tentative)Board Meeting #2: Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 6:30 PM Pudong Campus, High School Library Garden Room

Board Meeting #3: Monday, November 26, 2012 @ 6:30 PM Puxi Campus, New High School Building, First Floor Conference Room A103

Board Meeting #4: Monday, December 10, 2012 @ 6:30 PM Kerry Center, Jun He Law Offices, 32 F No. 1515 Nanjing W. Road

Board Meeting #5: Monday, January 28, 2013 @ 6:30 PM Pudong Campus, High School Library Garden Room

Board Meeting #6: Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 6:30 PM Puxi Campus, New High School Building, First Floor

Conference Room A103

Board Meeting #7: Monday, March 25, 2013 @ 6:30 PM Pudong Campus, High School Library Garden Room

Board Meeting #8: Monday, April 29, 2013 @ 6:30 PM Puxi Campus, New High School Building, First Floor Conference Room A103

Board Meeting #9: Monday, May 27, 2013 @ 6:30 PM Pudong Campus, High School Library Garden Room

Board Meeting #10: Saturday, June 8, 2013 @ 8:00 AM Kerry Center, Jun He Law Offices, 32 F No. 1515 Nanjing W. Road

OCT.indd 5 9/25/12 10:11 AM


Before heading to school, does your child eat a well-balanced nutritious breakfast? If not, it may be hinder-ing his or her ability to learn. As research technol-ogy has improved over the past two decades, so has our understand-ing of how the brain functions. Recent brain research has found that a diet rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and carbohydrates that are low on the glyce-mic index, enhances the brain’s ability to function efficiently, and therefore one’s ability

to learn.

The basicsFoods can be broken down into three major categories: 1. Carbohydrates2. Proteins3. Fats

Both your body and brain need all of them.

Carbohydrates and brain functionCarbohydrates provide the glucose (sugar) required for brain function. Glucose is the primary source of fuel for your brain. The brain functions best when it has a steady supply of it.

Glycemic indexThe glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. A diet high in “simple carbs” or high GI foods can have adverse effects on the consumer’s overall health, including weight gain and/or type 2 diabetes. Additionally, a high GI diet hinders the brain’s ability to function optimally. The resulting peak-and-trough effect on blood glucose can also lead to a cycle of

Food for ThoughtEating healthy can improve learningBY JULIAN THORNBURY, PUDONG ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

increasing and decreasing concentration, attention, and focus. At an academically rigorous school like SAS, these fluctuations can have detrimental effects on a student’s ability to learn.

ProteinProtein is also essential for learning, as the amino acids found in protein form the building blocks for all cells in your body. Amino acids create neurotransmitters, which help the brain communicate and make connections. Think of neurotransmitters as the bars of reception you have on your cellular phone. When two people are talking on their cell phones and each has four or five bars of service, the communication is clear, efficient, and effective. But, speaking with one or two bars is often frustrating, un-clear, and disjointed. Miscommunication is frequent. The same can be said for brain cells. They communicate best when they have ample neurotransmitters.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acidsThe last important groups are the fats — omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Fatty acids are instrumental in maintaining the health of cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals. The brain functions best when the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids is roughly 1:1. The problem is, Western diets are low in omega-3 fatty acids and rich in omega-6. In fact, it is roughly a 1:20 ratio in a typical diet. Research has found that children who experience difficulty with attention, hyper-activity, and behavior, also have a greater imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. So, how you do ensure that your child’s learning needs are being met through proper nutrition? Here is a good first step. Your child must have breakfast. Breakfast should be the most nutrient-rich meal of the day. Breakfast should include low GI carbohy-drates, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Your child should also be consuming healthy snacks throughout the day. Here’s a sample breakfast:

• Bowl of oatmeal (not the instant kind)• Three crushed walnuts • One teaspoon of ground flax seed • Plain yogurt with no added sugar• Raisins or dried cranberries or berries • Milk (or soy milk)

Or for the picky eater…

To make a fresh fruit protein smoothie, throw the following in a blender:• Frozen pineapples, apples, mixed berries• Milk or freshly squeezed juice• Plain yogurt with no added sugar• 15-20 grams of whey protein (depend-

ing on the age of your child; teens can safely consume 30g of protein per serving).

Blend and enjoy!

More brain foodwww.fi.edu/learn/brainwww.glycemicindex.com

OCT.indd 6 9/25/12 10:11 AM


The worm — to some, it is world famous. Others may not know what it means. For most 6th graders, it’s one of the most anticipated games at the 6th grade overnight – a sleepover at school. Basically, kids are zipped in their sleeping bags and they try to push each other over. Don’t worry, parents, it is a safe game and there is

Overnight at SASA school slumber party unites Puxi 6th gradersBY SAMUEL JACCACI, GRADE 6, PUXI CAMPUS

plenty of supervision by the teachers. The 6th grade overnight was a great way for the new middle school students to get to know each other. We played a number of fun games. One was a round of crab soccer — the ball was huge. It was the size of five 6th graders! There was also improvisational acting,

basketball, cricket, dodgeball, ping pong, dancing, musical chairs, and board games. We were even treated to a spaghetti dinner. After several games, some very tired 6th graders (and their teachers) were able to get a few hours of sleep.

PHOTOS BY ANDY MARKS

OCT.indd 7 9/25/12 10:11 AM


As we move through the start of the school year, with more activi-ties and homework pil-ing up, it is important that you reflect and make time to maintain wellness in yourselves and your children. Hav-ing a well-rounded, healthy life-style affects the development of your children and is a key factor in determin-ing success at school and later in life. A healthy individual takes care of himself or herself in the following four areas: physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. We refer to this framework of a healthy

self as wellness. Having physical wellness involves how you take care of your body through nutrition, exercise, and hygiene. Mental wellness comes from your willing-ness to grow and learn from experiences and challenges. Social wellness refers to the quality of the interactions that you have with others around you. Spiritual well-ness involves seeking meaning and finding beliefs that are true to you. As your schedules and planners become packed, take time to prioritize a few activi-ties. Here are some suggestions for how to maintain a healthy physical, mental, social, and spiritual self:

Maintain your physical wellness by:• Going for a family walk• Playing a sport or game – like basket-

ball, baseball, or tennis• Going on a bike ride• Stretching• Giving athletic children the time and

space to participate in movement and sports, and giving the nonathletic chil-dren other outlets to be active

• Sleeping eight hours each night• Eating a well-balanced diet

• Taking a hot bath• Doing yoga• Playing with a pet• Keeping good hygiene (e.g., brush and

floss your teeth, shower regularly, wear clean clothes)

Maintain your mental wellness by:• Taking risks with a positive attitude • Taking mental breaks (children espe-

cially should not work for more than 30 minutes without taking a short 10-min-ute break)

• Doing a Sudoku or crossword puzzle• Reading• Making positive statements about

yourself• Asking yourself challenging questions• Laughing at yourself• Staying organized: plan your time, be

prepared, and have a backup plan• Doing your best, but remember that

doing your best does not always mean attaining perfection

Maintain your social wellness by:• Talking with family and friends about

thoughts and emotions• Having family meals together several

times per week• Having games night with family and

friends• Celebrating success• Staying connected with family and

friends in other countries• Getting involved in after school activi-

ties• Attending and throwing parties• Volunteering• Complimenting others

Maintain your spiritual wellness by:• Spending time in nature• Meditating • Praying• Going on a holiday to the beach or to

the mountains • Practicing religion/spirituality• Joining a youth group• Writing in a journal• Listening to music• Having “down time” to reflect

Please note these suggestions do not include screen time. Turn off the computer (set reasonable time limits and stick to it)! Educators at SAS spend time ensuring that we provide opportunities at school for children to sustain wellness in all of these areas. For the wellness of your child, it is important to maintain this expectation of wellness at home as well. Model wellness and continue seeking opportunities to help our children stay healthy physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.

MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS

PUDONG CAMPUSKatelyn [email protected]

Timber [email protected]

PUXI CAMPUSJohn [email protected]

Karen [email protected]

Keeping wellHow parents can model and promote a healthy lifestyleBY KATELYN REGAN AND TIMBER MONTEITH, MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, PUDONG CAMPUS

PHOTO BY KATELYN REGAN

OCT.indd 8 9/25/12 10:11 AM


OCT.indd 9 9/25/12 10:11 AM


The SAS community is leaving its global footprint. On June 11th, 22 students went on a two-week journey to Malawi. Their mission: To build a house with Habitat for Humanity and then to visit the Jacaranda School for Orphans. This was SAS’s fifth visit to Jacaranda. When you walk through the Jacaranda gate it’s quite easy to see

Top: Seniors Venus Tse and Juneshin Lee make new friends at Jacaranda. Bottom: Seniors Kevin Tsai and Daryl Kim play Pictionary with elementary school students. Opposite, top: The SAS group visits the Jacaranda School for Orphans. Opposite, bottom: Kathryn Chang, 12th grader, and Marcus Lee, 11th grader, dance to local Malawian music with students from Jacaranda.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ROBERT BURKE

OCT.indd 10 9/25/12 10:11 AM


the SAS connection: donated clothes, shoes, and books. Several buildings have also been constructed because of SAS fundraising. But the piece that makes it real for the Jacaranda children is get-ting the chance to meet and interact with the students and teachers from SAS.

I would like to thank Lindel Limpisvasti, Pat Broker, Paul Andersen, and board chairman David Liu for joining the 22 students and me on this trip.

Robert Burke, H4H and Jacaranda Coordinator

OCT.indd 11 9/25/12 10:11 AM


Emm

a’s s

tory

SAS family helps Puxi student in her battle with cancerBY KATHY VITALE, STAFF WRITER

When you are 10 years old and told you have cancer — you are not really sure what that means. “When I first found out I had cancer, I didn’t mind because I didn’t know what I had to go through to make it go away,” said Emma Oldager. She did not realize it would mean chemotherapy, body scans, blood transfusions, a leg amputation, and being away from her father, brother, friends, and school. Neither did her parents. Emma, a 5th grader on the SAS Puxi campus, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, back in February. She had complained that her left leg was sore. Her parents, naturally, thought it was grow-ing pains. As the pain intensified, they took Emma to the doctor.

OCT.indd 12 9/25/12 10:11 AM


PHOTO BY JANNE OLDAGER

OCT.indd 13 9/25/12 10:11 AM


The doctor said the words no parent ever wants to hear: “It’s cancer. Your daughter has a tumor on her left leg. “ “I did not want to break down in front of Emma,” her mother, Janne, said. “While Emma played on her iPad, I went into the nurses’ room and telephoned Claus (her husband). Then, and the week to come, we broke down often, but picked each other up.” Fighting back tears and hoping for bet-ter news to come, the Oldager family knew they had a battle with cancer on their hands. And part of beating it is the right treatment. The best option was 2,350 miles (3,780km) away from home. Leaving their friends and family behind, Emma and her mother moved to Singapore. Emma’s father and her brother, Sebastian, 8, a 3rd grader on the Puxi cam-pus would continue their lives in Shanghai. Sebastian said the hardest part of being away from his sister and mother is, “I can only see them on the weekends.” Janne shared the same sentiment. “I am used to being there for Sebastian all the time, but knowing that he has had fam-ily around to help, the best teachers and friends imaginable, has been a great relief.”

SAS becomes familyIt is SAS teachers and students who help lift the Oldagers’ spirits. “Even the teachers and staff I did not know before, everyone at SAS, has been supportive,” Janne said. “It has really helped our family through this difficult period of time.” And thanks to technology, Emma has been able to keep up with her schoolwork and be a regular part of her class. She joins Judy Sweeney’s 5th grade class almost every day via Skype. “Emma is right there with us. She’s doing exactly what we’re doing,” said Swee-ney. She shuts her bedroom door and goes to school. Students take turns carrying “iPad Emma” to recess, Chinese, math, and lunch. “I love that I don’t have to count her absent,” Sweeney said. Emma has homework. It is emailed to her, or her father brings it on the week-ends. Sweeney has made the classroom so real she even sent silk worms to Emma in Singapore. “Emma told me the silk worm eggs were hatching. I didn’t believe her at first,

until Emma returned them (via her dad) to Shanghai,” Sweeney laughed. “There were lots of silk worms!” The SAS students have really gotten to enjoy literally carrying Emma from class to class. “I tell my students to be careful with Emma,” Sweeney said kiddingly. “Don’t run, don’t drop her.”

Emma’s lessonEmma has a sense of humor and a big smile. A smile that is so radiant it’s hard not to grin back. The other noticeable accessory is her scarf. She wears this around her head because she lost her hair, a common side effect of chemotherapy. When asked how many scarves she owns, Emma, who was wearing a navy and red one, said, “I don’t know. I have a lot.” The moment you speak with the 10-year-old she seems happy and healthy. She and her family are teaching us a lesson. “Don’t live a life in fear of getting sick, or yet worse, your children getting sick,” said Janne. “Cancer does not change who you are, though it might change your life and how you look.” Emma is a girl just wanting to have her childhood back. She wants to go outside and play, which is limited because her im-mune system is still weak. Her mother wants people to know, “She (Emma) is the same girl that left Shanghai at the end of February, but has been in a battle that has been harder than Harry Potter fighting Voldemort — than any fiction can depict. “

Treatment regimenEmma has a rigorous treatment schedule.She went through three cycles of chemo-therapy at first. When that did not affect the tumor in her leg the doctors suggested surgery to save her life. Emma’s leg was amputated above the knee in March, just 10 days after her 10th birthday. “When my mom and dad told me my leg needed to be amputated I cried and then I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about it,” said Emma. After surgery, she was put on a nine-cycle chemotherapy regimen. She is given three different drugs over three days. On the fourth day, she is given a shot to boost the production of her white blood cells. She also gets medicine to protect her from chemotherapy’s side effects.

She gets two weeks of “rest” in each cycle — which includes several medical tests, at least one blood transfusion, and rehabilitation. Janne said the hardest part of the treatment is “seeing Emma suffer; the only treatment option (chemotherapy) for this is so inhumane, and the uncertainty, there is always the risk of micrometastasis that scans cannot detect.” For Emma, “The hardest part of treat-ments is going to the hospital and not be-ing with your friends,” she said. She often keeps in touch with her friends via Skype. Emma shared that she is thankful her mom is nearby. “My mother is always there for me when I need treatment.” The greatest risk to Emma is the cancer spreading to her lungs, so she goes through scans to make sure it is not present. She is also trying to learn to walk again. “I wish all her battles ended after the last chemo at the end of October, but learn-ing to walk and run anew is going to take time,” said Janne. “I hope her leg will remind her of what a great fighter she is.”

Treatment and researchAs with many cancers, continuing research and treatment is essential. Chemotherapy, the most commonly used cancer treatment, kills cancer cells to control the spread of it. It also shrinks tumors to make surgery another option. But “it (chemotherapy) is a nasty cure, since so many healthy cells are destroyed too,” said Janne. “It takes more research to develop a way to better target the cancer only.” Right now, hospitals like Mayo Clinic (in Rochester, Minnesota) are running clinical trials of new treatments for sar-comas. The more doctors learn the more treatments will be available for patients like Emma. Emma will finish her final round of chemotherapy in October. The Oldagers are hopeful she and her mother will return to Shanghai soon. Until then, Emma will still go to class and learn like everyone else. And she will go to her favorite restaurant in Singapore when she can. “My favorite restaurant is a Korean one. I like the seafood pancakes.”

OCT.indd 14 9/25/12 10:11 AM


“DON’T LIVE A LIFE IN FEAR OF GETTING SICK, OR YET WORSE, YOUR CHILDREN GETTING SICK.”

Left: One of Janne’s (Emma’s mother) favor-ite hangouts is the beautiful botanic garden in Singapore. Right, top: Emma is among the crowd of classmates and kindergarteners learning about science together. Right, middle: Students pose with “iPad Emma.” Right, bottom: When Emma's wound healed she was allowed to swim.PHOTOS BY JANNE AND CLAUS OLDAGER AND KATHY VITALE — Janne Oldager, Emma’s mother

OCT.indd 15 9/25/12 10:11 AM


OCT.indd 16 9/25/12 10:11 AM


“Just how dense is a grade 7 student?” This is the question students recently dove into on both sides of the river during the annual Kid Dunk investigation. It is part of the “matter unit” in grade 7 science. The Kid Dunk has long been a favorite among students on both campuses. During our investigations into matter — proper-ties, measurement, etc. — we engage in several lab activities. One involves displacement. It is a way to measure the volume of an irregular object, as Archimedes famously discovered in his bathtub. When posed with the question of finding human volume and density, students are always quick to jump on wordplay, declaring, “Grade 7 students are irregular!” This is certainly true. It is a great lead-in to questions such as “Do all grade 7 students have the same density?” or “What factors affect the density of a grade 7 student?” Always followed by a lively discussion of variables, data collec-

tion, and hypotheses, the Kid Dunk investigation is an activity that brings science to life for many students and really sets the tone for the rest of the year. Often, the end game in middle school science is to make learning a fun experience. The formula for our Kid Dunk inves-tigation seems simple: just add water. It is such a bonus to hear students declare, “This is so much fun!” This is while they are in the midst of writing down data, discussing potential sources of error, and reminding the students being dunked to “Make sure you keep the same amount of air in your lungs each trial so we get consistent volume measurement.” While of course they are expected to follow sound scientific method and collect accurate data, when students recognize that learning can happen in the middle of a good time — that is truly a beautiful thing.

Opposite: Submerged! Rencie Wrzesinski makes science look fun. Above, clockwise from top left: William Tung takes a different look at this science experiment. Helen Hutchens gets ready to take the plunge. Katherine Bonsi and John Seong look on as Kyle Tomlinson cracks a smile before putting his head underwater. Samuel Yong grabs his snorkel and is ready to go underwater.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CARLA MOLLOY, LEE HODIN, AND KEVIN DAVID, 7TH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHERS

Finding human volume and density through displacementBY KEVIN DAVID, GRADE 7 SCIENCE TEACHER, PUDONG CAMPUS

OCT.indd 17 9/25/12 10:11 AM


As most families should be aware, last year the SAS community adopted a new strategic plan. Strategic plans can have a tendency to sit on the shelf once they are approved, but this is not the case with this one. Priority results have been selected for this year, leaders have been chosen, and plans are taking shape. The language of one element of this plan — the mission statement — has already become part of the fabric of the school through the stories we tell about lifelong learning, compassion and integrity, and students living their dreams. But the plan actually consists of six elements that will guide the school over at least the next five years. These are:

1. A new mission statement (the mission of the school)

2. A set of eight core values (the values we believe in)

3. Three strategic objectives (what the school plans to achieve by 2016)

4. Five strategies (areas of strategic focus)5. Two strategic delimiters (things we will

not do)

6. Thirty-seven “results” (specific steps to achieve the strategies)

The plan was approved by the board in December last year and now becomes the responsibility of the superintendent and the rest of the SAS community to imple-ment. The administration has selected five results to focus on this year, one from each strategy. Leaders have been appointed to oversee implementation; they have also put together committees to help them. Here is an update on their plans so far, many of which are already under way.

1. SAS school personnel understand the school’s core values, mission, and strate-gic objectives and have identified ways they can contribute to achieving them.

Leader: Helene Reiter, director of human resources

Plans: • Survey all staff to find out how familiar

they are with the SAS mission and break out results by staff type.

• Design events and communications specifically for support staff, since the

relevance of the mission to them is not as immediately obvious as it is for a teacher.

• Work with the art department to design pieces to hang around the school that will display and give meaning to the mission and core values.

• Consider ways to incorporate a mission-related goal into self-evaluation process as part of performance evaluation.

2. All families understand the school mission and core values.

Leaders: Jeff Rosen, principal, middle school, Pudong campus, and Debra Lane, principal, elementary school, Puxi campus

Plans:• Incorporate the mission into the enroll-

ment/reenrollment process; families must indicate that they have read it as part of the process.

• The mission statement is being trans-lated into as many languages as possible, which will be displayed around the school.

• All families will have a “homework project” later this semester, which will

What is happening with the strategic plan?BY STEVEN LANE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

OCT.indd 18 9/25/12 10:11 AM


help them understand how the mission relates to their family.

3. Students are regularly engaged in real-life learning that ignites a lifelong passion for learning.

Leaders: Brad Latzke, principal, middle school, Puxi campus, and Tonya Parham, vice principal, high school, Pudong campus

Plans:• Create a working SAS definition of real

life learning.• Collect and analyze data on current real

life leaning at SAS.• Research best practices in other schools

and organizations.• Identify SAS teachers currently using

real life learning activities and capture model lessons.

• Raise awareness of real life learning through multimedia and presentations.

4. Common courses with common instructors are developed and delivered using (a) video conference technology and/or (b) blended, online coursework

using multi-campus teachers.

Leaders: Jonathan Borden, principal, high school, Pudong campus, and Sascha Heck-mann, principal, high school, Puxi campus

Plans: • The committee is gathering data about

costs. • Develop a structure from which SAS can

deliver rich, online course offerings.• The group is collecting information

from various groups including students, VHS students, and faculty.

• The tentative timeline is to develop the structure and budget proposal this fall and then develop pilot courses in the spring for 2013-2014 launch.

5. The school has instituted a transpar-ent and efficient evaluation process of both capital and operational spending decisions, such as budgeting, educational resources, facilities, and staffing, in alignment with strategic objectives.

Leaders: Alan Knobloch, deputy superin-tendent, Puxi campus and Andrew Torris, deputy superintendent, Pudong campus

Update and plans: • Adapt school budgeting calendar to

allow for more direct evaluation of the budget relative to teaching, learning, and the full implementation of the strategic plan.

• Evaluate financial, purchasing, and asset management systems currently in place and look for ways to allow for more transparency and accountability for cost center managers.

• Establish regular meetings among cost center managers, finance, and purchas-ing.

• Evaluate enterprise resource plan-ning (ERP) systems, with the goal of integrating human resources, financial, purchasing, and asset management systems, to allow for more data-driven budget development systems

To see the full plan, visit the SAS website, www.saschina.org, and go to About Us, then Core Values and Mission.

OCT.indd 19 9/25/12 10:11 AM


It’s the language of SAS, and if you are not familiar with it, it can be overwhelming. The Eagle has come up with the only ac-ceptable cheat sheet, so you can start learn-ing our school’s jargon. We understand we may not get every single one, but this will be a good start!

Academics ACAMIS: Association of China and Mongolia International SchoolsACT: American College TestingAOK: Areas of Knowledge AP: Advanced Placement APUSH: Advanced Placement United States HistoryCAS: Creativity Action Service CGPA: Cumulative Grade Point AverageEAL: English as an Additional LanguageEE: Extended Essay GPA: Grade Point AverageHL: Higher Level IA: Internal AssessmentIB: International BaccalaureateIBD: International Baccalaureate DiplomaIBO: International Baccalaureate OrganizationITBO: IOWA Test of Basic SkillsJV: Junior VarsityMAP Test: Measures of Academic Progress TestPSAT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude TestSL: Standard Level SAT: Scholastic Aptitude TestST: Standardized Testing TOK: Theory of KnowledgeWOK: Ways of Knowing WASC: Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Activities AC: Athletic CouncilAMAC: Anime Manga Appreciation ClubAMIS: The Association of Music in International SchoolsAOY: Athlete of the YearAPAC: Asia Pacific Activities ConferenceASA: After School ActivitiesASMA: American Scholastic Mathematics Association Aqua Eagles: Swim Team BEIMUN: Beijing Model United Nations

Say what? A guide to SAS acronymsBY EAGLE STAFF

CISSA: China International Schools Sports Association CS: Community ServiceConfection: Literary MagazineExecSTUCO: Executive Student Government GSA: Gay Straight AllianceGIN: Global Issues NetworkH4H: Habitat For Humanity IMC: International Mock CouncilMUN: Model United NationsNAHS: National Art Honor SocietyNAQT: National Academic Quiz Team NEHS: National English Honor SocietyNHC: National History Club NHS: National Honor SocietyR4L: Relay For LifeR&S: Roots and ShootsRSC: Recreational Sports ClubS2F2: Shanghai Student Film Festival SHAMUN: Shanghai Model United NationsSISAC: Shanghai International Schools Athletic ConferenceSPCA: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSRC: Social Responsibility ClubSTUCO: Student Government TAA: Teen Act for Aids

The Who’s WhoBOD: Board of DirectorsEAGLES: Empowered, Adaptable,

Globally Minded, Literate, Ethical, Skilled InquirersPAG: Parent Advisory GroupPTSA: Parent Teacher Student Association

Place NamesAC: Aquatics CenterBBT: Black Box TheatreLC: Learning CommonsLLH: Library Lecture HallLMC: Library Media CenterPAC: Performing Arts Center SRC: Shanghai Racket Club

School TechnologyPS: PowerSchool

Local International Schools BISS: British International SchoolCISS: Concordia International School ShanghaiDCS: Dulwich College ShanghaiSCIS: Shanghai Community International SchoolSMIC: A local Chinese international school in PudongSSIS: Shanghai Singapore International SchoolWISS: Western International School of ShanghaiYCIS: Yew Chung International School

The PTSA sometimes meets in the PAC.

OCT.indd 20 9/25/12 10:11 AM


To be rooted ... is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul — Simone Weil With so many families new to Pudong Middle School this year, it was our intent to create in each and every student an en-thusiastic sense of belonging. To this end, we worked with an organization called JUMP to create a community-bonding day at the beginning of the school year. The JUMP organization envisions a world where young people fulfill their true po-

Identifying your true potentialPudong Middle School JUMPS into the 2012-2013 school yearBY JEFF ROSEN, MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, PUDONG CAMPUS

tential as individuals, community leaders, and global citizens. They have developed relationships with many international schools around the world, working with educational institutes on developmentally appropriate, fun, relevant activities that stress risk-taking, relationship-building, and leadership growth. It is evident that in many international schools, across all grade levels, students place a high prior-ity on social interaction. The renowned humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow

believed that people wanted to fit in not to be passive, but to feel safe to achieve their highest potential. No wonder feedback from students and their teachers was overwhelmingly positive about our JUMP bonding day. With a wide variety of group activities and challenges, many of which crossed grade levels and home base groupings, the Pudong school community got to know each other a little better. Thanks to JUMP for an amazing day!

Relay For Life is a global event aiming to help raise funds and spread awareness for the Ameri-can Cancer Society (ACS), a leading organization in the fight against cancer. Proceeds will go to both the American Cancer Society, and a local foundation, the Shanghai Cancer Institute.Hosted by SAS Pudong National Honor Society (NHS). Contact the NHS to get involved.

OCT.indd 21 9/25/12 10:11 AM


Newspaper and masking tape — what comes to mind? I would think it’s messy. In actuality, though, it’s far from it. For 8th graders, it was fashion. It was couture. It was the annual 8th grade bonding day wearable art competition, run by science teacher Ruby Hundley and art teacher Craig Reynolds. Once a year, 8th graders get together in homebase teams and create original garments made strictly of newspa-per and masking tape. The challenge? To pull it off in a mere 40 minutes. In truth, though, designing and plan-ning started to take place in advisory days beforehand. Each homebase splits into two teams, wearable art and marble roll. The guidelines were laid out, and the planning began. This year’s theme, pitched by 8th grade EAL teacher Debbie Taylor, was tied in closely with SAS’s Centennial celebration. “What will SAS students wear come the year 2112?” we asked ourselves. Besides newspaper, tape, and scissors, each team was allowed a maximum of three accessories from home.

The catwalk in 2112Puxi 8th graders get futuristic with fashion for bonding dayBY ANGELA XIAO, 8TH GRADE, PUXI CAMPUS

Entering the middle school gym on the morning of Friday, September 7, marble rollers and fashionistas were directed to their respective stations, each with a basket of newspaper, tape, and scissors. Forty minutes of frantic work later, “Time’s up!” was called. As teams scram-bled to put on finishing touches, the models made their way to the start of the runway. Michelle Fan, one of the 8th grade models shared, “It felt pretty cool to be in one of the designs. It was like stepping into a whole world of newspaper and tape!” Another 8th grade model, Suramya Srivastava, admitted, “I enjoyed being the model, but at times, it was hard to breathe in the dress.” One by one, the models made their way down the runway, each design differ-ing drastically from the one before it. From teletubbies to wedding dresses, nothing was off limits on this runway of the future. “I totally didn’t expect this awesome of an outcome,” remarked Clara Cheong, a grade 8 student.

Three surprise judges went on to comment on the designs. Cindy Easton, John Everett, and Stephanie Ye described the designs as “futuristic,” “innovative,” and “stylish.” Newspaper and masking tape — what comes to mind now? It’s fashion, it’s cre-ativity, it’s bonding.

OCT.indd 22 9/25/12 10:11 AM


PHOTOS BY DAVID MENTION

OCT.indd 23 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Opposite: Katie Wu’s wisdom, butterfly portrait was created with acrylic paint on canvas.

Saturday, October 20, 11:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M.

(Logo Design by Mercedes Li, Grade 12)

Hundreds of prizes! Check the PTSA blog for details. Prizes include concert tickets, airline tickets, vouchers for hotel stays, fine dining, and much more.

Shop the Marketplace with over 60 fabulous vendors and the Used Book Sale for great books and games.

More than 35 parent-run country cuisines and restaurant booths including Booster Grill, and foods from America, Asia, and Europe offer delicious choices for every palate.

Activities for all ages! Bouncy castles, super sliders, face painting, and more. Proceeds benefit the high school and middle school clubs.

OCT.indd 24 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Saturday, October 20, 11:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M.

(Logo Design by Mercedes Li, Grade 12)

Hundreds of prizes! Check the PTSA blog for details. Prizes include concert tickets, airline tickets, vouchers for hotel stays, fine dining, and much more.

Shop the Marketplace with over 60 fabulous vendors and the Used Book Sale for great books and games.

More than 35 parent-run country cuisines and restaurant booths including Booster Grill, and foods from America, Asia, and Europe offer delicious choices for every palate.

Activities for all ages! Bouncy castles, super sliders, face painting, and more. Proceeds benefit the high school and middle school clubs.

OCT.indd 25 9/25/12 10:12 AM


OCT.indd 26 9/25/12 10:12 AM


What a great start to the 2012-2013 school year at SAS Pudong! The PTSA has been going full speed ahead: welcoming new and returning families, strengthening ties between parents, teachers, students, and administration, and most of all, having a lot of fun! Next up is the Fall Carnival on Octo-ber 13. Surf ’s Up SAS, so catch the PTSA wave and have some fun! Not only is this our biggest fundraiser of the year, but also it is a great day for the entire family. The proceeds from this event benefit all of the students at SAS and allow the PTSA to continue to offer all of our fantastic programs. Just as importantly, the carnival allows us to gather as a community and have a fabulous time. Make sure you come out to see your SAS Pudong community at its best — or double your fun by getting involved and volunteering your time to help make this year’s carnival the best ever! Here are a few of the PTSA’s highlights in the past month:• PTSA’s Neighbor to Neighbor commit-

tee welcomed nearly 100 new parents at the Newcomers’ Coffee on the first day of school.

• It was standing room only at the Pudong PTSA’s first General Meeting on August 23rd.

• The Parent Information Fair follow-ing the meeting helped our parents get connected.

• The Welcome Back Social was held at the Kerry Hotel where nearly 200 parents, teachers, and staff mingled and celebrated the strong relationships that make SAS Pudong such a special place.

It’s fun to get involved and the Pudong PTSA hopes to see more parents, teachers, and staff at Surf ’s Up, SAS!

Busy, busy, busy. The Puxi PTSA is hard at work putting together events, getting people involved, and is ensuring the 2012-2013 is off to a good start! The Puxi PTSA’s biggest fundraising event of the school year, the International Fair, is on Saturday, October 20. It’s a great way for parents, teachers, staff, and students to get involved in a day of fun. The money helps the learning environment of SAS students and contributes to the PTSA’s activities. Here are some of the highlights from the past couple of months:• The Puxi PTSA welcomed back new

and returning parents at a general meet-ing. It was a great turnout!

• A parent information fair to check out products and services in the greater Shanghai area.

• A First Friends Coffee created a cozy forum for parents to mingle.

• The Puxi PTSA met with the Korean community at their social and created a

plan to work together. • The PTSA’s Chinese cultural liaison also

helped host a Chinese parent meet and greet coffee. It’s a way to encourage the Chinese community to get involved and feel welcomed. Parents who are not pro-ficient in English can still be a part of

the SAS activities. Contact Lina Wang [email protected] for details.

The Puxi PTSA is looking forward to another successful year hopes to see you at the International Fair!

Pudong PTSABY INGA LAWLER, PUDONG PTSA

Puxi PTSABY MARILYN SIM, LINA WANG, AND SUSAN YUN, PUXI PTSA

OCT.indd 27 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Q: For students, parents, teachers, and staff – what is Wake Up, SAS?A: “Wake Up, SAS!” is our new video an-nouncement elective that meets and then airs twice per week in the middle school. It’s student-driven, student-directed, and intended to be the voice of the student body. Through “Wake Up, SAS!”, an-nouncements and celebrations are present-ed in a fun, high-energy (and entertaining) way.

Q: How and why did you come up with this idea?A: The idea came to me after listening to a podcast one afternoon that involved students addressing issues like bullying and other concerns in a public forum. While “Wake Up, SAS!” is certainly more announcement-driven, the students are encouraged to be the “eyes and ears” of the school — ready to bring light to any issue or celebration. On a simpler note, it also

just makes sense to have a technologically driven way of presenting announcements in a technologically driven school.

Q: Who is recruited for “Wake Up, SAS?”A: In our first year, students were chosen based on their willingness to take risks and be in the spotlight in drama class. This year, students sign up for this program like all other electives — first come, first served!

Q: How long does it take to put some-thing like this together each week?A: Twice per week, I write a basic script taken from the morning announcements during my planning period. The students then have creative freedom to “play” with the script — as long as they deliver the information accurately. After weeks and months of practice, I can now finish editing all of their takes in about one hour, which means I am able to finish it

on the bus ride home! It’s amazing how much thought goes into one three-minute broadcast!

Q: What is your favorite part of Wake Up, SAS?A: I love uploading the footage after the students have finished filming and seeing what hilarities or creative gems they came up with. Most of the time it’s nothing like what I thought it would be — which is great. They really take ownership of the program and have made it what it is.

Q: I see there is a lot of enthusiasm with this group of students. What are their se-crets to waking up? Do they have advice for the rest of us (besides coffee)?A: All I can say is, there’s a big difference between these kids at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Our class is actually held the day before the video airs — at 2:00 p.m. — so they are WIDE awake! A nice little trick on our part.

Wake Up, SAS!An energetic way of presenting school announcementsBY KATHY VITALE, STAFF WRITER AND LISA ROSS, MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR AND DRAMA TEACHER, PUDONG CAMPUS

PHOTO BY TAYLOR HAYDEN

OCT.indd 28 9/25/12 10:12 AM


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

Daily from 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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

5 Mins walk from Shanghai American School, Puxi

OCT.indd 29 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Three SAS swimmers were part of relay teams that shattered four records at the western regional Junior Olympics in the US. One of the records was 35 years old. The team: Isabelle So, Linda Li, and I, from the Aqua Eagles swim team, and Alina Van Eeghen from the US, captured two 10-and-under age group records at the Pacific meet and two records at the Far West-ern swim meet over the summer. We broke all of these records by nearly a second — a feat we certainly did not expect. “I believe the accomplishment of our three young swimmers is outstanding,” said Jon Biros, the Puxi Aqua Eagles director. “Breaking a 35-year record at any meet is impressive, never mind the fact that this record was held at the USA Junior Olym-pic and Far Western swim standard.” “The accomplishment shines a beacon on Tina, Linda and Isabelle’s talents and efforts as completive swimmers,” Biros

Record BreakersSAS swimmers topple a 35-year-old recordBY TINA WANG, 6TH GRADE, PUXI AQUA EAGLES

continued. “As coaches we celebrate their success and know that there is much more to come from these super swimmers." The girls represented their US swim club — the Walnut Creek Aquabears. The relays included two 4x200 meter medley

relays and two 4x200 freestyle relays. Li, one of the swimmers on the relay team shared, “I am proud and delighted that we have been able to break this record. Before the relay, I doubted that we would be able to achieve this, after the relay, I was so happy that we had done it.” One of the best parts about breaking the record was that it was about teamwork. We outdid ourselves by each creating new personal bests, and as a result, proved to

the world that we were an efficient and well-functioning team. Right before each relay event, as we talked with our coaches, none of us were very confident about breaking any records. But one of our coaches said, “Listen girls,

this record hasn’t been broken since 1977, so if you do break it, that would be history.” Suddenly, we had this new sort of energy in our hearts and knew that we could do it. As Olympian Michael Phelps,

who has earned 22 Olympic medals, once said, “ You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” And during this summer, we proved his words true.

“I believe the accomplishment of our three young swimmers is outstanding.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JON BIROS

In the photo, from left to right: Tina Wang, Isabelle So, Alina Van Eeghen (from US swim club), and Linda Li show off their medals after breaking a record.

OCT.indd 30 9/25/12 10:12 AM


The SAS Pudong Aquatics Center is ready to start its fourth year! Our state-of-the-art center is one of the finest on the interna-tional schools circuit and we are looking forward to another successful year of swim-ming. Our swim coaching staff this year is Sandy Elder, Suann Sun, Pat Lu, Ryan Yan, and I.

Swim, swim, swimIn addition to the swim team, we also work on kids’ swimming as part of the regular PE curriculum. We are currently teaching elementary school students. We will then move on to high school students. Middle school students will have their swim lessons in January and then we will repeat with the elementary school students. It is great to see students from pre-K to grade 10 have an aquatic unit during their PE lessons. Swimming is a lifetime sport and an important skill to learn. We teach all the basic strokes, play aquatic games, and

Reaching for the wallFrom lessons to the Aqua Eagles – swim season is hereBY GEORGE CARPOUZIS, AQUATICS DIRECTOR, PUDONG CAMPUS

introduce skin diving (aka, snorkeling). We offer children ways to explore swimming with different pieces of equipment and build their water confidence!

Aqua EaglesOur SAS Pudong Aqua Eagles swim team is up and running. We had our tryouts in August and we have added new swimmers who will raise the bar for the team. Both the Pudong and Puxi teams have more than 180 Aqua Eagles and are still growing. Our students take swimming seriously and many of our swimmers trained hard over the summer in various training camps in the US, Canada, and Asia. The swim team is one the finest exam-ple of the school’s motto, “One school, two campuses!” Whenever our team competes in the Shanghai area, we swim separately from SAS Puxi; however, we always com-pete as one team in international meets. So far, our SAS schoolwide team has won

swim meets in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok. We are truly a united team and capture the SAS spirit! We encourage you to come and visit our facility and we look forward to seeing you during our teaching days, or at our competitions. SAS’s first swim meet was the Annual Cross River Challenge at Puxi campus on September 22. SAS Pudong will be hosting the Annual SwimVitational on November 3 and 4.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GEORGE CARPOUZIS

For more poolside news and updates visit our swimming blogs:

Pudong campus http://teachers.saschina.org/pdswim-ming/

Puxi campushttp://teachers.saschina.org/sasa-quaticscenterpuxi/

OCT.indd 31 9/25/12 10:12 AM


An 8th grade health class may have the answer to our battle with balancing time in front of the computer and being more active and productive. This group of 8th graders, from the 2011-2012 school year came up with “My U.P.” It stands for “My Usage Policy.” It’s a family agreement, supported by SAS, to lessen the time students are on their lap-tops — whether it is social media, games, or Skype. It also encourages students to get outside and play, as well as develop better time management with homework. “It eventually comes down to my self-discipline in putting away all distractions before starting my homework,” said Brian Li, 8th grader, Puxi campus. “We are the ones who ultimately have to explore and test the boundaries of these computers.” Part of the policy requires that students and their parents agree on computer usage: when the computer will be shut down,

The technology test: “My U.P.”A proactive approach to juggling technology and school activitiesBY CHRISTOPHER HEMM, GRADE 8, PUXI CAMPUS

how many hours the computer can be used each day, and when it’s necessary to take a break. Some students find the policy effective. “I don’t procrastinate as much, and I feel that I can manage my time wisely,” says Ming Li Chan, 8th grader. “I’m starting to develop the habit of doing my homework the day that it’s assigned and it feels awe-some.” In an ideal world, “My U.P.” sounds like a great success and a definite “fix” to students’ problems with study habits. However, some areas are believed to be too mechanical and strict. Students who have extracurricular activities and have plans af-ter school, for example, may struggle with the tech curfew. “Sometimes it is a bit stressful because I have to rush to get my homework done,” says Angela Sha, 7th grader on the Puxi campus.

The flexibility of “My U.P.” depends mainly on parents and their willingness to make exceptions to the agreement, since it is hard for the school to manage students outside of school hours. But it can be tough for families who are busy to enforce the policy. All of this creates some chal-lenges. “I hope that My U.P. can be used as a temporary framework through which students can eventually develop good study habits and the ability to monitor themselves when using these laptops,” said Karen Kinsella, middle school gold coun-selor at the Puxi campus. What was once a health class discussion has turned into a proactive approach about getting students away from technology and establishing an open discussion, with par-ents and teachers, about time management.

PHOTO BY KATHY VITALE

OCT.indd 32 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Visiting Author – Anne Sibley O’BrienChildren’s book creator Anne Sibley O’Brien is coming to SAS to inspire our K-12 students and talk about some of her latest work.

Students will:• Gain insight into how the books were created.• Discuss the core values addressed in each title.

Monday, Oct 15–Friday, Oct 19, Puxi Campus

Monday, Oct 22–Friday, Oct 26, Pudong Campus

Selections of Anne’s books will be available in the El-ementary and Secondary libraries and at the elementary and middle schools’ Book Fairs.

Anne was raised in South Korea as the daughter of medi-cal missionaries. She attended Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in studio art, and spent her junior year abroad at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, Korea. In addition to creating books, she has been involved for many years in diversity education and leadership training. Her background has created her passion for multiracial, multicultural, and global subjects.

OCT.indd 33 9/25/12 10:12 AM


SAS monitors the air quality in Shang-hai daily to determine whether it is safe for students to go outside for recess. The administration monitors air quality indexes from the US Consulate as well as other lo-cal sources. A decision is made at 8:00 a.m. and then again at 11:00 a.m. as to whether the air quality is appropriate for children to play outside. The air quality is measured according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale, ranging from 1-500, established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). SAS policies around air quality are as follows:• If the AQI is 200 or higher, students

will not be allowed to go outside for recess or physical education classes. This level is deemed “very unhealthy” by the EPA.

• Middle school and high school sports will not be cancelled unless the AQI reaches 301, a level deemed “hazardous” by the EPA. Parents do have the choice not to allow their children to participate

in sports at levels below this.• If the Air Quality Index is between 151

and 200, parents may request that their children not go outside to recess. The request must be made in writing and will be in force until it is revoked.

These are general guidelines and other fac-tors will be considered. There may be times that we will allow students to be outside if the levels are higher than 200.

Monitoring air quality on SAS campusesBY STEVEN LANE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

US ELECTION DEBATEDo you know what’s going on?

Come watch as the Republicans and Democrats of the National History Club debate issues from gun control to health care!Location: LMC, SAS Puxi CampusTime: Monday, October 29, 2012 at 3:00 P.M.

Who’s invited: Parents, teachers, and students are welcome to listen and pose questions for the panelists!

VS

Fifth grader Nicole Fordree stares out of the window after getting the bad news about no outdoor recess because of unhealthy air quality. PHOTO BY EMMA REKATE

PHOTO BY INGRID YAU

OCT.indd 34 9/25/12 10:12 AM


SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOL — 100 YEARS

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

PHOTO BY INGRID YAU

OCT.indd 35 9/25/12 10:12 AM


The school moves to two rented locations – on the Puxi side, SAS rents a building that was originally a community center for Zhudi town. The first post-war high school graduation takes place on Puxi in 1995. In 1996, a house is rented in Pudong and SAS Pudong begins with a handful of students.

100 years of SAS

1950-1980 SAS closed

1912

1923

SAS starts the year with 500 students, but evacuation soon reduces the school to half its size. The Communists enter Shanghai on May 25 and SAS closes its doors for good after commencement ceremonies.

1940-42

Shanghai American School opened on Tuesday, September 17, with 38 students in rented premises.

Final commencement of the old school held in the Lyceum Theatre on June 7. New campus opened at 10 Avenue Petain on September 12 with 350 students.

A new Shanghai American School opens in the Fall of 1980 on the grounds of the American Consulate at 1469 Huaihai Lu (formerly Avenue Joffre) to serve seven children.

Enrollment reaches 35 students. SAS expands in order to meet the needs of the growing business community. SAS moves to facilities rented from the Number 3 Girl’s Middle School on Jiangsu Lu.

On October 8, 1940. Americans are told to evacuate the Far East. SAS schedules Saturday classes in order to finish the school year as quickly as possible. SAS closes two months ahead of a normal schedule and only 19 of the original senior class of 60 graduate. In April 1942, the Japanese take over the SAS campus.

Large campuses are acquired in Puxi and Pudong. Puxi High School opens in September 1998 and phase one of Pudong

campus near Shanghai Links Residential Community opens with 35 students. By 1999, Puxi campus accommodates 900 students.

SAS total enrollment nears 3,000 students. In May, the first graduates from the Pudong campus hold commencement cer-emonies and join graduates from the Puxi campus as the SAS Class of 2008.

SAS celebrates its 100th anniversary. Enrollment passes 3,200 students.

1980

2007-08

OCT.indd 36 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Centennial Year in ReviewSEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

JANUARY

APRIL

MAY

DECEMBER

FEBRUARY

SEPTEMBER

OCT.indd 37 9/25/12 10:12 AM


As we near the final months of our centennial celebration, it is important for us to consider why we celebrate milestones. This year of celebration has reminded us of the importance of pausing to remember how far we have come and to reflect on where we are going. It has been an opportunity to connect us with our past and help us understand who we are as an institu-tion. In reading back over the purpose statement for the Centen-nial, I believe that we have accomplished all that we set out to do. Here it is: “The purpose of the Centennial is to create pride and own-ership in the school, as well as cultivate a shared responsibility for the future of SAS.” What an amazing year it has been! The activities that helped us accomplish our purpose included: two Founders’ Day events, one art show, a Centennial cookbook, a Centennial alumni

A rich past and promising futureThe centennial finaleBY KERRY JACOBSON, SAS SUPERINTENDENT

book, numerous Centennial themed events, thank you events for significant partners, an entire Centennial week with returning alumni and guests, a Centennial Gala, and Centennial-themed curriculum activities. Wow, what a year. This Centennial year has provided us with the wonderful opportunity to celebrate our rich past and recognize who we are today as a school. And, we have taken advantage of this year in order to look ahead. We now recognize that the enhancement of our development and alumni relations functions will play a criti-cal role in the school’s promising future. The foundation of a strong and lasting development and alumni relations program has been laid during this past year. This infrastructure will provide the basis for SAS to step into our rich future with confidence and commitment. As an entire commu-nity, SAS will model our own mission and display the courage to fulfill our own dreams.

Music to celebrate the SAS Centennial has soared this year. SAS songs have come from former students at Oberlin College and from current musicians and teachers. One of China’s most well-known professional composers, Tan Dun, has also contributed. Throughout its history, SAS has been celebrated through school songs. Here are a few milestones.

First SAS tuneFrom accounts by Wentworth and Mills in the book, Fair Is the Name, a rousing 1920s school cheer by Vanderburg seems to have been the first music to be associated with SAS.

CollaborationsIn 1924, Louise Macklin introduced a tune from her alma mater, Oberlin College, entitled, “Fair Is the Name We Love.” Puxi campus senior violinist Sam Wu has transformed this work. Sam composed a full symphonic work, more than five minutes in length, based on this venerable melody. Tan Dun, one of the most well-known Chinese composers of our day, also made contributions to this effort. Under the tutelage of Mary Siew, Puxi campus conductor of the Ladies’ Barbershop Chorus, Puxi students Sharon Hu and Joyce Jia, in collaboration with Tan Dun, created a terrific barbershop rendition of this tune.

Song of 1948For Founders’ Day 2011 we created a band arrangement of the

A centennial celebrationHistoric songs make a comebackBY JOHN LEONARD, BAND DIRECTOR/IB MUSIC TEACHER, PUDONG CAMPUS

SAS song of 1948, which was composed by John Hsu, a cellist in the class of 1949, and with lyrics by Ted Stannard, class of 1948. Mr. Stannard was among the alumni to visit SAS in May 2012. My IB Year 2 music students, Eric Du, Karissa Huang, Mari-na Kamei, Kevin Lo, Kieran Reynolds, and Levin Zhu, composed an opening fanfare and closing flourish to this work.

SAS through the decades We have also produced a 30-minute DVD entitled Shanghai American School Through The Decades In Photos and Music, includ-ing narration by Betty Wang Barr, class of 1948, and Jacob Long, class of 2011. We used photos and musical selections appropri-ate for each decade of SAS’s history. Included in this DVD are archived photos from Theodore “Teddy” Heinrichsohn, class of 1949, Greg MacIntyre, Pudong Elementary School academic sup-port teacher and grandson of Clark Johnson, class of 1931, and from yearbook staff. George Wang contributed video clips from performances by several SAS bands, choirs, and orchestras held at Deke Erh’s art gallery and Founders’ Day events. In addition, we composed a new school song with lyrics en-titled “Shanghai American School, You Belong” for small combo of electric bass guitar, piano, and drums. The words expressed the inclusiveness of SAS and reflected our new mission statement aspirations of students: to take risks in their lifelong learning, to be compassionate, and to live their dreams. Long live Shanghai American School in music! Composers of the “Opening Fanfare and Closing Flourish” to SAS School Song of 1948

from Pudong Campus IB Music Year 2 class. Left to right: Levin Zhu, Kevin Lo, Kieran

Reynolds, Eric Du, John Leonard, Karissa Huang, and Marina Kamei.

OCT.indd 38 9/25/12 10:12 AM


Composers of the “Opening Fanfare and Closing Flourish” to SAS School Song of 1948

from Pudong Campus IB Music Year 2 class. Left to right: Levin Zhu, Kevin Lo, Kieran

Reynolds, Eric Du, John Leonard, Karissa Huang, and Marina Kamei.

CENTENNIALFINALE

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN LEONARD

OCT.indd 39 9/25/12 10:12 AM


FOUNDERS’DAY 2012

American merchants, milkmaids, patriotic children, and promi-nent businessmen of the 1900s stepped out of modern day school buses and minivans and onto SAS campuses last week, as part of the school’s celebration of 100 years since it opened its doors. It may not be possible to go back in time and experience what life was like, but we can pretend. More than 3,000 students, teachers, staff, and parents from both Pudong and Puxi campuses celebrated SAS’s centennial year, to the day. It was September 17, 1912 when SAS was established. Students, teachers, and faculty administrators paraded around on September 17 dressed in suspenders, bowties, flat caps, pleated skirts, and traditional Chinese dress. “Almost all the teachers were dressed up,” noted senior Leo Cheung on the Puxi campus. Following a pair of two-person Chinese lions, elementary students decked out in Uncle Sam-esque hats with “Happy Birth-day, SAS!” written across their red-and-blue paper capes, along with the middle school and high school students, filed in to hear speeches. The ceremony began with the band playing the school song. Superintendent Kerry Jacobson then took the stage, describing SAS from its beginning on September 17, 1912, when the doors first opened to admit the class of 38 students. “SAS is still alive in the minds and hearts of our alumni and all of us,” he said, “These high ideals and lofty ambitions are still with us. That is why we celebrate." Also speaking was the US Consul General Robert Griffiths, a father of three SAS alumni and a former member of the school board. He outlined the school’s history and generated laughs with the tale of how SAS restarted 30 years ago in the carriage house of the US Consulate in Shanghai. Cindy Easton, the coordinator of this year’s Founders’ Day Centennial, lead the students in a rousing cheer of “S-A-S rocks!” before introducing Betty Barr, alumna of the SAS class of 1949. After congratulating SAS on its 100th anniversary, Barr thanked the school on behalf of the alumni who visited in April. The ceremony continued to encourage school spirit with ren-derings of two school songs; the Barbershop Girls sang a version

of the school song arranged by Mary Siew, and the orchestra and choir joined in with a new arrangement by Sam Wu of the oldest school song: “Fair Is Thy Name.” “I was freaked out when barbershop stood up to sing,” said junior Tina Lu, a member of the Barbershop Girls on the Puxi campus. “We’d only practiced once before, but we did fine.” Alan Knobloch, deputy superintendent on the Puxi campus, then introduced the pair of lion dancers. The traditional lion dance ceremony, he said, “Brings prosperity and good luck for the following year.” Students were impressed into hushed silence as the four acro-bats inside the “lions” coordinated leaps and balancing acts. The red lion reared up and ran across the stage, while the yellow one nosed into the fourth graders in the first row. Some fourth and fifth grade students in Pudong even learned how to swing dance on the day. Their shoes tapped and the girls’ dresses and aprons fluttered as they turned. “It’s a really happy dance and my friend and I really liked the swing dancing,” Elena Huang, 5th grade, Pudong campus said as she danced the steps over and over again. Antonia Zwissler, also a 5th grader of the Pudong campus, giggled and said, “It was kind of weird at the beginning but after that, it wasn’t as awkward as before.” Overall, most people enjoyed Founders’ Day. “I think any-thing that fosters school spirit is good,” said Matt Kuykendall, a high school history and psychology teacher on the Puxi campus. “And I loved seeing everyone get dressed up.” There were some noticeable changes from last year’s celebra-tion. This year organizers modified some of the logistics. “It was more comfortable and easier to understand, because last year it was on the soccer field and we couldn’t really hear anything,” Cheung commented. The weather was also much kinder, with last year’s searing temperatures just a memory on the pleasant breeze that blew through the proceedings. In the words of Dr. Jacobson, September 17, 2012 was an “auspicious day, an auspicious gathering. Congratulations, Shanghai American School, on a rich 100 years of history. What do you say we do it all again?”

A celebration of successBY CHRISTY AN, GRADE 5, PUDONG CAMPUS; ETHAN TEO, GRADE 8, AND YVONNE YE, GRADE 10, PUXI CAMPUS

OCT.indd 40 9/25/12 10:12 AM


OCT.indd 41 9/25/12 10:13 AM


OCT.indd 42 9/25/12 10:13 AM


To download these and other Founders’ Day photos, go to www.eagleonline.org.

PHOTOS BY NICOLE CHEN, FREDRIK JÖNSSON, ERIN McCALL, DANA YANG, INGRID YAU, AND LITTLESTAR MAGAZINE

OCT.indd 43 9/25/12 10:13 AM


At IWS, we love sports — we watch, we play, and our kids play. While parents can rightly appreciate the enor-mous benefits of playing sports: the camaraderie, the ability to work as a member of a team, and, of course, the substantial health benefits — we also need to recog-nize that sports do involve a level of risk. While parents easily understand that sprains and bruises are simply part of the game, many are not aware of how commonly brain injuries occur. Proper assessment and treatment of sports concussions is essential to reducing their long-term effects. Public awareness on the seriousness of sports con-cussions has increased in recent years, most notably following the suicides of prominent ex-American football players. Concussions can happen in any sport. There are an estimated four million concussions per year in the US from all sports and recreational activities. Recre-ational activities with the most concussions include bike riding and skateboarding. In team sports, while they are most prevalent in American football, surprisingly girls’ soccer sees the second most brain injuries, followed by lacrosse, boys’ soccer, girls’ field hockey, and basket-ball. Even cheerleaders are at risk. But let’s keep it in perspective: About five percent of student athletes in a given year will suffer a concussion. If correctly diag-nosed and treated, the chances of serious and long-lasting consequences are dramatically reduced.

Concussion Defined A concussion is essentially a state of impaired brain function with either physical or chemical disruption in nerve connections, typically caused by trauma to the brain. Classically, we associate concussions with a direct blow to the head, but, in reality, any force on the body that initiates rapid head movement can cause brain trauma. Many practitioners now define concussion as mild traumatic brain injury. But don’t be fooled by the word “mild”: all levels of concussion are serious and can lead to cognitive, emotional, and physical changes.

Diagnosing ConcussionThe scary fact about concussions is that they cannot be diagnosed by X-ray, CT scan, or MRI imaging. And once you have one, you are four times more likely to experience a second one. This is when parents start to understand the meaning of “sports medicine” — a field of study focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries that result from sports: anything from nagging

foot pain from running to a sore elbow from tennis to yes, the headaches your 14-year-old girl is experiencing after her soccer match.

Concussion Management “The most important first step in managing a sports concussion is recognizing its occurrence,” says Joe Panchella, an athletic trainer (AT) assigned to the SAS Pudong campus. “Since most times an athlete won’t lose consciousness, you need to be aware of the key signs and symptoms,” adds Caleb Lott (assigned to SAS Puxi). Along with the IWS sports medicine physician team, Lott and Panchella are working with Shanghai International Schools Athletic Conference (SISAC) to develop and implement a city-wide sports concussion awareness and treatment plan. Coincidentally, after outlining the plan in mid-August, a high school volleyball player suffered a concussion the next day.

Life After Concussion/Post-Concussion MeasuresOnce signs of a concussion have been recognized, the athlete must be removed from play immediately. In the days following, a team of athletic trainers, coaches, parents and teachers is essential to monitor the student’s condition and take the necessary steps to manage after-effects of the injury. For comprehensive guidelines to manage potential sports concussions go to www.Western-surg.com. To get, often required, physician approval a student athlete returns to play it is essential that parents seek a sports medicine specialist. A physician with training in sports medicine is often preferable to a neurologist – par-ticularly here in China – with no experience or knowledge of sports medicine. At IWS, our sports medicine team consists of a physiatrist, primary care sports specialist, and orthopedist with enormous experience in caring for professional and amateur athletes. Playing sports is an essential part of a well-rounded education and helps build outstanding habits that will last forever. Being smart about head injuries, however, is not only good sense, but the responsibility of every player, coach, and parent.

Dr. Pfeifer is the medical director of IWS Spinal Care Clinic, focusing on minimally invasive, nonsurgical management of neck and back pain. He also lends his expertise to IWS Sports Medicine Clinic.

For more information, please visit www.westernsurg.com.

SPONSORED ARTICLE

SAS has a partnership with the Institute of Western Surgery (IWS) through the services it receives from Caleb Lott and Joe Panchella, two US-trained and certified athletic trainers who work with SAS as part of the IWS athletic training

program. Articles from IWS appear regularly in the Eagle.

OCT.indd 44 9/25/12 10:13 AM


OCT.indd 45 9/25/12 10:13 AM


OCT.indd 46 9/25/12 10:13 AM

eagle sept.30 2012

Documents

copy deadline

sas people

puxi campus

sas campusessteven lane567on

years of sas history

sas communications office

shanghai executivecommunity

fredrik jnsson