the aspect october

the ASPectN e w s f r o m o u r c o m m u N i t y, f o r o u r c o m m u N i t y o c t o b e r 2 0 1 0

American School of Paris

T he future is all around us– either shaping or being shaped. An avowed purpose for a school like ours is to ensure that, in

the midst of our students being buffeted by so many urgencies, they are

developing adaptive skill sets– habits of the mind, heart and international mindedness. Our students, your children, will enter the job force in the coming years, where they will likely change jobs 18-20 times, yet most of the job expectations don’t even exist today.

The best schools in the world are not approaching the future as if by accident or simply responding to a set of coincidences. Rather, they are inventing it.

the AsPect is kindly sponsored by

(continued next page) ▼ ▼ ▼ Looking Into the Crystal Ballby Mark E.Ulfers

It is best to lead, not to be led. Being controlled by events– the whims and follies of human existence, phenomenon or the quirks of nature places a school in the realm of luck, fate or chance.

Not the place to be. It misses what I believe to be the holy grail of teaching and learning– that of intentionally giving young people the skills that predict they will be highly adaptable to galloping technology and ever-changing expectations. It has been said that the present informs the future. If you agree with the above sentiment– since we cannot see into the future– then what we know now within and about ASP forms the springboard for inventing our preferred future as a school. What we know today about our ASP lends foresight.

I am convinced that we will be the school that helps our students develop the skills and knowledge to get to the future before anyone else. When you consider today’s achievement of our students– and the excellence of our teachers– the future is realized in the present tense. As we look into what we do very well, we also learn of what we must improve and change.

Like the history of the space program, including

excursions on the surface of Mars, it is the genius

of human invention that provides a

blueprint for what can be. Our future is yet to be made, and for our learners, it will be exactly as we make it.

The American School of Paris is embarking on inventing our future with the belief that strategic planners are the true futurists, especially in education.

Our best bet for making predictions about the future learning needs of our children, is to apply a disciplined approach to setting into motion the best in teaching and learning– then to measure progress on how well we’re doing. Our intent is to set strategy against our loftiest aspirations for our ASP young people.

Take a look at the diagram on the next page to review the strategic planning process we are using at ASP in the coming weeks and months.

We are first gathering our school’s constituency groups for Future Search

(continued from page 1)

2/ School newS

Looking Into the Crystal Ball

The authors of our futures

Seminars– an experience where we gather to define common themes on program excellence and imperatives for improving our school.

We are using the month of October and early November to collect data from our community. Then we will gather members of our community

School newS /3

who represent a microcosm of our ASP community for three solid days to draft our school’s strategic plan. We will be working with educational strategic planner, Dr. Howard Feddema from the Cambridge Group.

Please email me ([email protected]) to join the Future Search Seminar and/or indicate your interest to serve on the strategic planning design team. Baseball great Satchel Paige was quoted

as saying, “Don’t look back. Something may be

gaining on you.”

We needn’t worry. We’re about to engage in a planning process at ASP where we will ensure our deepest convictions and clarity of purpose, provide the vision to choose a course of action, then concentrate our full attention on specific goals, where we measure results in real time, with the single most important outcome our inspired learners who confidently greet their future. We need “We” to prevail because the future is all around us. . Join in. We can’t do this alone.

All Good Wishes

Mark E. Ulfers, Head of School

P.S. Take a look at our three minute video on how you can get involved:www.asparis.org/strategicplanning

the Aspect - June 2010 the Aspect - June 2010

Looking Into the Crystal Ball

Join in - We can'tdo this alone

4/ School newS

American School of Paris

STEP ONEBoard and Administration: September 25, 2010 (COMPLETED) Faculty and Staff: October 1, 2010 (COMPLETED)Students: November 3, 2010 (3:45-6:15-in time for late bus)Parents: TWO SESSIONS:October 19, 2010 (9:30-12:30) in the PAC November 3, 2010 (19:00-21:30) in US Cafeteria (provided for working parents too!)

STEP TWOProvide the Planning Team the Future Search seminar report, student learning data, critical issues and financial stability markers.

STEP THREE Identify and invite a cross-section of the ASP community, ensuring participants as a group represent a cultural and grade level microcosm of the school. Key stakeholders must include faculty, staff, students, parents, board members and alumni– consideration should be given to including opinion leaders/champions for the school within the wider Paris region.

STEP FOURPlanning Team Meets: November 8,9,10, 2010• Review/Revise ASP Belief Statements• Review/Revise ASP Mission Statement• Conduct Internal and External Analysis• Review/Analyze Competition• Define Critical Issues • Define Key Improvement Objectives• Define 5-7 Strategy Statements

STEP FIVEThe work of the planning team is communicated first to the board of trustees, then across the school community, seeking commentary on content and thus engaging all stakeholders in strategic thinking for the future of ASP. Feedback is reviewed during the second planning session in the spring of 2011.November - December, 2010

ASP Future Search

Seminar

Develop “Vital Signs”

Data Book

Select Planning

Team

Conduct the First Planning

Session

Communicate DRAFT Strategic Plan

to Constituents

Strategic Planning Process

the Aspect - october 2010

School newS /5

STEP SIX Faculty, staff, students, board members and parents (including both planning team and Future Search seminar participants) develop action plans and cost/benefit analysis for each strategy.January - April, 2011

STEP SEVENThe Planning Team meets: May 5-6, 2011• Achieve agreement on action plans• Review feedback from community on DRAFT strategic plan• Affirm beliefs, mission, objectives, strategies and parameters• Define first-year implementation steps

STEP EIGHTThe ASP Board of Trustees review the work of the planning team, seek any needed clarifications, review first-year budget and approve accountability process to ensure successful implementation.June, 2011

STEP NINEAdministration develops the first-year school improvement plan for the 2011-2012 school year. Each administrative team member is assigned as a champion for specific action plans to be implemented during the school year. Each member of the administrative team invites faculty, staff, students and parents to work on implementation team. Each administrator, to ensure successful implementation of strategic intent, sets performance goals. June - August 2011

STEP TENProgress reports are provided to the board of trustees at each monthly meeting. Updates are provided to all school constituents through ASPect and other publications.

The plan is not etched in stone, but rather must be flexible to changing times and conditions. The planning team transitions to the School Improvement Steering Committee with the charge of providing quality control for implementation success, ongoing internal and external analysis and setting the agenda for the next year’s implementation of action plans.

Strategic Planning ProcessDevelop

Action Plans

Conduct Second

Planning Session

Board Approval of Five-Year

Strategic Plan

Organize for Implementation of Strategic Plan

Review Progress

Update the Strategic Plan

Annually


6/aSp life

Bienvenue!T

he entire ASP community joined together to celebrate the start of a new school year which brings so much promise for change.More than 500 people enjoyed our Bienvenue Cocktail, this year in the sumptuous setting of the historic Marshall Center on the Place de la

Concorde in the heart of the capital.It was an opportunity to both welcome and get to know ASP’s new Head of School, Mark E. Ulfers and the President of the Board of Trustees, Elisabeth Seeley, as well as a chance to toast our faculty and staff as we embark on the 10-11 school year.And of course, it was also a chance to catch up with old friends and make some new ones with a glass of champagne and enjoy the talented ASP String Ensemble.Joining the excitement was ASP Parent and honored guest, the US Ambassador to France, Charles Rivkin who gave a wonderfully inspiring speech:

ASP was founded in 1946 at a time when a growing international community was coming to Paris in aftermath of the Second World War

to build a better future.Some parents of ASP’s first students likely worked here in this very room on the implementation of the Marshall Plan. Today’s ASP community is made up of the proud descendants of that tradition, heirs of the long friendship between France and the United States. And like them, you embody the vision of a world in which, working together, we can realize the future that none of us can achieve alone. More importantly, you pass these values on to future generations, educating today the leaders of tomorrow. As the American Ambassador to France, I take this task to heart. That’s why I will do everything I can to sustain and strengthen the close relationship existing between your school and the Embassy. And as the father of two ASP students, I want you to know how grateful my wife Susan and I are to the entire school for giving our children such a life-changing experience. Believe me, discussions around our dinner table are a little different than what they used to be back in Los Angeles.Their eyes, like those of all their classmates, have been opened to new possibilities thanks to the vision of the School’s leadership, the quality and commitment of the faculty, the dedication of the entire staff, the unconditional support of the parents, and the rich diversity of the student body. Here, I want to note the crucial role played by the Board of Trustees and

single out its President, Lis Seeley, who’s done so much to ensure the future of ASP. With Mark Ulfers, our new Head of school, this future is in good hands. Mark brings a wealth of experience to ASP; a long career, the majority of it overseas, as a dedicated teacher, school leader, and community service organizer. For support, Mark will also be able to count

on the new Director of Advancement – who has made tonight’s reception possible – Michael McNeill. Thank you, Michael.So, on behalf of the entire Embassy, represented by close to 60 students at the school this year, I would like to thank each and every one of you for making ASP a world-class educational institution. I’ll conclude with President Obama, who said in his landmark Cairo speech: “All of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century.” This principle has guided ASP since its inception. Because where others see a world faced by difficult and complex challenges, this school has always seen a world full of opportunities. That’s why you’ve made the education of our children your priority. And that’s why the Embassy will continue to be the partner of ASP as it adapts to the challenges of 21st-Century education. Thank you all for coming et bonne soirée à tous. ”

‘‘


aSp life /7

Bienvenue!O n behalf of the Board of Trustees,

welcome to the start of the new school year. We are delighted to welcome so many new families and welcome back those of you returning. A warm welcome as well

to Kathy Miner, Larry Love, Michael McNeill and the new faculty and staff who have joined us this year. We are very happy to welcome our new Head of School, Mark Ulfers. At our first Board meeting of the year, the Administration and Head of School introduced the key themes included in the School Improvement Plan (SIP) for 2010-11. Progress on the implementation of the plan will be reviewed and discussed on an ongoing basis with the Head of School, Administration and Board. Included in the SIP is the development of a 5-year strategic plan. This plan will serve as a blue print for a preferred future for ASP based on a revitalized and aligned mission for the school. At our all day retreat on September 25, the Trustees and Administration spent a large part of the time focused on a ‘Future Search Seminar’, reaching consensus on the most important areas we collectively feel need to be addressed in the coming 5 years. This month, the same seminar will be conducted with faculty, staff, parents and students. The data collected in those seminars will serve as the basis of the preferred future for ASP. We rely on your involvement and contribution to these seminars and look very forward to a strategic planning process that is inclusive, comprehensive and achievable. (For a detailed report from Head of School Mark E. Ulfers see p. 2-5) The Board is very pleased to welcome several new Trustees to our team. The trustee committee recommended Eric Olsen, Claire Staniforth and Mark Taplin for consideration by the Board. All three were elected at our recent retreat for three year terms effective immediately.Eric Olsen is currently Group Executive Vice President for Lafarge, responsible for Organization and Human Resources. He has vast experience in Finance and is a Board Member of the American Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife Carol have two children at ASP. Claire Staniforth has a background in Psychology and Education. Claire has worked extensively in the field assessment and diagnosis of children with developmental disorders. She served on the Board of the two international schools in Europe and involved in the Strategic Planning at both. Claire and her husband, David, have one son at ASP. Mark Taplin is currently Deputy Chief of Mission for the United States Embassy. For the last two years he was the Public Diplomacy Fellow at George Washington University. Before that he served as DCM in Romania where he also was Board Chair of the American International School of Bucharest. Mark and his wife, Kathleen, have three children at ASP, one in each division of the school. It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the Bienvenue at the Marshall Center earlier this month. We look forward to working together to design the preferred future for ASP and thank you all for your ongoing support, energy and thoughts.

All the best,

From the Board

Elisabeth SeeleyPresident of the ASP Board of Trustees 10-11

[email protected]

Dear ASP Community,


8/Start of School

Welcome to ASP!

ASP was delighted to welcome back returning families and welcome new families at the start of the year.And thanks to our ladybug army of ASP parent volunteers, who make our extensive welcome program possible, everyone started the year with a smile and their many questions answered.

From the slightly nerve-wracking Testing Day through the delicious Orientation Family BBQ and the Upper School Welcome Picnic to the kaleidoscope of the Community Connections Fair, the Living Skills seminars and our New Parent Cocktail, ASP makes every effort to ensure all our families find friends as soon as their feet land!Thanks to the countless army of volunteers but special thanks go to US Testing Day organizer Ursula Siemen, our Orientation Day team leader, Catherine Sinegal, our Community Connections Fair organizer Amanda Nagele and to Darla Pape who headed the team bringing you the Living Skills seminars.And last but by no means least, a special thanks to HSBC Garches for their generous support for this year’s Welcome Program.


Start of School /9

Welcome to ASP!


10/School newS

Singing Hearts and Haikus!T

he start of the year for Middle School sets out amidst ropes, harnesses, sails, tents and above all team spirit!All three grades began their 10-11 school year with a

week-long Outward Bound adventure either in Savoie (Grade 6) or in the UK’s

Lake District (Grades 7 & 8) to get to know each other, to understand the importance of teamwork and to stretch their comfort zones in confidence and security. As one Middle Schooler said: “By the end of the week no on was ‘the new kid’”. In addition, the time in the stunning French and English countryside serves as a rich resource for all

the students to pull from through the year in various curriculum modules.And with the sun still on their skin and wind still in their hair, seventh grade brought the Lake District into the language arts classroom, penning poems inspired by William Wordsworth or trying their hand at a haiku. Enjoy the results!

The Tunnels By Len PickI entered frightened as could be,When all at once there was no light,I could not see anything in front of me,Scared but could not fight,Stuck inside this never ending pit,And only wanting to quit.

Continuous as a flame burningWhose light shines into the nightIt keeps twisting and turningWith no end in sightI get more and more scaredThen suddenly, I am repaired.

I see an opening up aheadAnd hear the screams of gleeRushing ahead wanting already to have fledAll we hoped for was to be freeAnd to feel a nice soft breezeTo escape this horrible misery.

The WallBy Paul WillemsThe weight on our handsArms straight upSpotters ready when everWe work together

Eyes gawking upEncouragement shouting outStruggling faces everywhereWe work together

Pushing from the bottomPulling from the topAll you in the middleWe work together

Grasping to reach the topKicking your legs to helpYou get heaved over the edgeYou feel the power that helped


School newS /11

Singing Hearts and Haikus!Hill day By Kaan CankatClimbing up the hillStrenuous pain on our backsFrom the heavy bags

At last in gloryWe reach the top of the hillSheep baaing close by

The beautiful view Sitting down having our lunchWriting in our books

My Heart SingsBy Madison HaddockThe freshness of the airthe brisk breezethe bright shining sunbring happiness to me.The steep rocky slopesthe windy peakthe challenge of the mountainbring happiness to me.The colors of naturethe beautiful surroundings, old and newthe trees and flowers abloombring happiness to meThe blue of the lakethe coolness of the waterthe glassy surfaceand bring happiness to me.these memories will never leave me,And my heart sings


12/advancing aSp

G et out your agendas and mark them now for the Bollywood Gala - A Celebration to Benefit ASP! The date is Saturday, March

19, 2011 and it will be a night to remember. ASP is setting the scene for a celebration that will bring together all the members of the ASP community to highlight its 65th anniversary and celebrate the educational excellence that benefits all our children.Come and experience the glamour and energy of Bollywood! We will be drawing inspiration from the 2010-2011 Namaste France Festival, the 15-month-long celebration of the friendship between India and France. Music, dance, delicately spiced cuisine, plus unique auction items benefiting the school, will all be part of this exciting event. With a fabulous Paris venue as our backdrop, plus the vibrant colors, sounds, and exotic fragrances of India, we’re planning a spectacular evening which you won’t want to miss!The planning process for this Gala began last spring, but kicked off in earnest on September 28th. A team of over 50 parents, working with the support of the board of trustees and key school staff is already hard at work to get the critical

pieces in place. Committees have been formed to tackle every aspect of the event -- location, decor, entertainment, communications, auction -- providing a great opportunity for volunteers to contribute their special talents to this communitywide effort, get to know each other better, and have fun in the process. We have plans for a spectacular venue, exciting entertainment, and delicious food. Now all we need is YOU to help make this Gala a once in a school year (if not once in a lifetime!) event. Stay tuned for details on tickets, auction offerings, and ways to get involved

in the fun.If you want to get involved in

planning for the Gala, contact Advancement Director Michael McNeil: [email protected] learn more about Namaste France, visit: http://www.namaste-france.com/

Lights, Camera, Action!Plans get underway for our 2011 ASP Gala.


artS newS /13

T his poem, which poignantly describes the ASP experience, was written by former student Christina White. She wrote it at the beginning of her first year at college, in September 2007 after graduating

from ASP and sent it to Assistant Head of School and Upper School Director Aaron Hubbard who in turn shared it with the faculty.With Christina’s permission, Upper School Ceramics Teacher Jim Denison and the Arts team transcribed the poem into ceramic letters. The letters were made over the course of several semesters by students in Middle and Upper School ceramic classes as well as Upper School sculpture and studio art classes. Students were assigned individual words and given free artistic reign when making and decorating their letters: the only stipulation being that the words be spelled correctly! And so now Christina’s poem is shared with the entire ASP community on display in The Cube and through The ASPect.

Paris, the elegant city that is sprinkled with old women in fur coats whose perfume consumes the air as you pass by them. Where friendly old men smoke their cigars over freshly brewed coffee, in their local cafe, watching the world pass by.

Where I’m from, everyday is a symphony of many languages which are perfectly harmonized in a single hallway. Respect for differences is mandatory and diversity is invited.

Where I’m from, wars, as old as time, do not rattle friendships.

Where I’m from, minds are opened and stereotypes are broken.

Where I’m from, the most common language is Franglais.

Where I’m from is called the third culture. Where expats from all over the world join to create cross-cultural bonds. Now that that chapter of my life is closed I find assurance in having friends across the globe that have been transformed just as I have. We will all share Paris, which is so much more than an amazing city but a life changing experience

By Christina White, Class of ‘07

Where I'm FromLights, Camera, Action!


14/Special feature

MeetingMark...

An Interview with Mark E. Ulfers, our New Head of School by ASP Senior Sietse Goffard

l Welcome to ASP! Firstly, how are you and your family settling into your life in Paris? Life is good, and we’re settling in very well! My wife Wendy and I began moving into our new home in June, and that has been going smoothly. Our two children, Adam and Lara, no longer live at home but are definitely very enthusiastic about us being in Paris. Adam is 28 and is in business in San Francisco. Lara, is 25 and a cancer researcher in Denver, Colorado.

l Do you have any pets coming with you to Paris as well? No pets. I would really like to have a dog someday, but living in Paris, we’re probably better waiting. We have a cabin in Colorado, up in the mountains at about 8,500ft, and I suppose if we retire to a place like that then we would have plenty of space for pets.

l Could you tell us about your childhood? Where did you grow up? What type of student were you? I grew up in the very heart of the USA, in the state of Iowa. I lived in a little city called Cedar Rapids and can only describe it as a pretty ideal childhood in which I rode my bike to school and had a lot of good friends, many of whom I am still in contact with. At school, I like to think I was pretty diligent. I took my studies seriously and was an Honor Roll student. My main interest was

life sciences, so I took my first university degree in a combination of biology and botany. Later, I took a second degree in literacy learning, specifically reading, writing, and speaking with younger students. I then took my Masters Degree in educational leadership at Iowa State University with graduate work at UCLA and the University of Colorado.

l At what point did you become interested in school education and administration?I had known a long time that I wanted to be a teacher, and I’m proud to say that. I spent many vacations during my formative years teaching at a boy’s camp in northern Wisconsin and it was there that

I realized how interested I was in teaching as a career. It was more than an interest; it became a passion. Actually, I thought I was even pretty good at it! That is what I hope for anybody – that they can tap their interest, passion, and expertise. It was a truly important experience for me. I had some exceptional mentors who introduced me to tremendous teaching opportunities. From there, having taught younger students as well as AP Biology, I went on to administration. I felt that I could hopefully bring a bit more reason and goodness to education through taking on some leadership roles.

l Where did you work and live before coming to Paris? I started teaching in the US. I took my first role as principal in a rural school in Iowa, where I also served as curriculum director, bus driver, and instructional leader! It was terrific training, and I really experienced schools from every direction. I then led a large school in Colorado before moving on to Singapore – my first overseas post. At the Singapore American School, I was the Lower and Middle School Head with about 1400 students. From there, I went on to open up the first American school on the island of Cyprus. Next, I moved to Taiwan and became the Head of School for 12 years at the Taipei American School, where

That is what I hope for anybody - that they can tap into their interest, passion and expertise.

‘‘▼ ▼ ▼


/15

Mark...An Interview with Mark E. Ulfers, our New Head of School by ASP Senior Sietse Goffard

▼ ▼ ▼

mark with his family: (from left to right) Adam, Lara, mark and wendy


16/ Special feature

both of my children graduated. Afterwards, I served as Head of School for five years at the Frankfurt International School before coming here. I feel very fortunate to be joining the ASP community. When I first came to meet the Board of Trustees here, I was captivated, not only by the people at ASP but also by the school’s tremendous strengths as well as its possibilities for the future.

l Wow! You’ve certainly had a very international career. Do you speak a lot of languages? I learned some German. However, my strongest foreign language is Mandarin, having spent so much time in Taiwan. Right now I’m working on my French – in fact, my wife and I just participated in a month-long French immersion course.

l Now that you are truly beginning to join ASP’s community and getting a feel for what our school is like, what are your first impressions? How does ASP compare to, for instance, FIS?That’s a good question! There are actually a lot of likenesses, especially the strong sense of internationalism that pervades both schools. I think ASP does an exceptional job of welcoming new people. There is clearly a great sense of community. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know our faculty. Equally importantly, I am very impressed at how open and welcoming our students are. I’m very interested in knowing all of them, and I am doing more than just talking about that. In fact, I moved my office from Building 7 right into the very heart and mix of student life. All of us in the office are noting that we’ve had many more visitors than ever before. I’m absolutely thrilled by that!My job as Head of School is to know our community intimately. I want to ensure that there is a strong student voice, not only about the current state of the school but also about where we want our school to go in the days, months, and years ahead. I’m really hopeful that in building positive relationships with our young people, we will really hear from them what they need for their learning and their futures.

l How about your hobbies and pastimes? If you were a student at ASP, what extracurricular activities would you take part in? I’m really glad you asked me that. I love photography, especially black-and-white photography. I also read a lot, particularly

biographies – I’ve read almost everything that has been written on Harry S. Truman, who was a unique man for his time. I am very interested in history in general, particularly the 20thcentury, and right now, I’m reading a book on the history of Vietnam. I am also very committed to getting myself involved in service projects. In the past five years I’ve been working on a service project in the Kalahari Desert, in the northern part of South Africa, with students at FIS. Students work together to actually teach children in the Kalahari subjects like math, English, and science. We’ve spent a lot of time working on this project, from building schools to actually teaching to help these young people matriculate onto universities. For me, it has been a life-changing project, especially in building authentic relationships with the students I work with.

l Do you think we could do a similar project at our school? I am certainly interested in getting involved in service projects. I have already met with a group of Upper School students who are

interested in getting involved in the Kalahari experience. It’s something I am keenly interested in, and I already have a lot of relationships built in South Africa around this project. In addition, I am a huge believer in what it could mean to our students at ASP.

l Here’s a tough one: Could you describe yourself in one phrase?I am committed to continuous improvement. I think that is what it’s all about. Let’s keep learning! Let’s keep getting better! Everyone can push themselves to get better. I like the notion of continuous improvement and do my best to practice that as well.

l What are you most excited or most curious about this year at ASP?We are a school that has so many possibilities, so what we need to do now is commit ourselves towards planning a bright future. What blueprint can we establish for the future of our school? We know we need to work on facilities development. We know we must always continue to work on developing a 21st century curriculum. We know we should investigate ways to integrate technology meaningfully. Let’s capture all of that in a long-term, strategic plan. Let’s write that mission for our school so when somebody reads it, they say, “I want to be part of that. I want to be there and contribute towards the realization of that mission.” I think we have that opportunity this year. I’m very excited about engaging the ASP community in that mission. Let’s raise the level of discourse about all of the possibilities for this school’s future. Let’s get everybody talking about what it will take to get there! n

We are a school that has so many possibilities, so what we need to do now is commit ourselves to a bright future.

‘‘


School newS /17

Discovering ParisA lmost as soon as school started, our students were

out in Paris for a living learning experience!Before August had ended, the 6th graders took a stroll in Paris to experience Parisian life: they took the metro, practiced their French skills to buy lunch

and a postcard, used their writing skills to write their address, worked on their observation skills to fill out their question booklet, while developing their orientation skills to find their way in the Latin Quarter. Some discovered for the first time how Parisians live, while others enjoyed little French treats from the local bakeries. The students were split in their advisory groups during the tour, helping and learning from each other. Finally, they all met for a picnic lunch in the “Jardins du Luxembourg.” Bienvenue à Paris!


18/Sport newS

Sports FilledYearW

elcome to ASP to all new families and welcome back to returning families. We are looking forward to another successful

sports filled year!We have had our first away and home weekends for the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams, as well as local competitions with Marymount and the British School of Paris at the Middle School level. The Lower School program has kicked off with record numbers.Throughout the season all student athletes at each level will improve their skills and learn to understand the importance of what it means to be part of a team involving commitment, effort and sportsmanship. After our first two Varsity and JV weekends we have had various results. The Girls Varsity volleyball team after coming up from division two, seems strong again this year and remains undefeated.With the ISST boys soccer hosted by ASP, it is good to know that our Varsity team has shown some strong performances already.The cross country team has had some top 3 finishes by Jordan Burgess, Noah Olsen and Michael Carden in the JV races. Anna Bradley-Webb and Olivier Torchiana both finished 3rd in Varsity races plus Karson Pape was victorious in our first home meet in the Varsity girls race!A good start of the season therefore and we are looking forward to a lot more!I would like to take this opportunity at the start of the year to recognize and thank our key supporters. We have a very active Sports Boosters organization and the success of the program relies on the help of the parents. If you have supported any of the

teams on our home weekend you most likely have visited our concessions and know what I am talking about! ASP parent Darla Pape has taken on the role of Boosters President this year to lead this very active group! And probably the most important person for the sports program is Cathy McLaury, my assistant and backbone of the athletic department.

And looking forward we have an exciting year ahead for the entire school to get involved with!Two of the main events for the sports program this year are the ISST (International School Sports Tournament) Boys Division 1 Soccer Championship (November 10-13, 2010) and the ISST Girls Division 1 Basketball Championship (9-12 March 2011) hosted by ASP.The ISST organization, founded forty four years ago, hosts tournaments within Europe and each one is attended by twelve of the

largest American/ International schools in Europe.For the ISST Soccer we will be hosting 165 athletes and for the ISST Basketball 110 athletes.Throughout the year we will be hosting athletes from visiting schools, just like our athletes will be hosted by the schools we travel to and we are looking forward to your support.

All information about the sports program can be found on the ASP website www.asparis.org/athleticsIf you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Cathy McLaury or me: [email protected] or [email protected] most of all, I hope to see you supporting the ASP Rebels at our home and/or away competitions!!

Han Hoegen, Athletic Director

BOYS VARSITY SOCCER Chris Ewing BOYS JV SOCCER Radek KosiorGIRLS VARSITY SOCCER Dave SteadGIRLS JV SOCCER Francois MaysBOYS & GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER Andrea Neubauer & Rebecca RankinBOYS & GIRLS LOWER SCHOOL SOCCER Barbara Hoegen, Gunther Oyola & Rebecca RankinBOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Sylvain Hervieux BOYS JV VOLLEYBALL Keith HolmanGIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Virginia Stead GIRLS JV VOLLEYBALL Jessamy Holland & Cathy McLauryBOYS & GIRLS MS VOLLEYBALL Keith HolmanVARSITY, JV & MS CROSS COUNTRY Craig Vezina, David Lynn, Gema Abril, Han Hoegen & Elli GildnesPHYSICAL TRAINING CENTRE Parnell Bataille

FALL COACHING STAFF

the Aspect - June 2010

by Han Hoegen


Sports FilledYear

Sport newS /9

the Aspect - June 2010the Aspect - october 2010

Before and after!20/School newS

T he summer months were busy at ASP with several major campus projects undertaken to dramatically improve facilities at school.Alongside the usual painting and cleaning inside, the grounds outside also had a boost with planters,

pruning and landscaping. In Lower School the Foyer has a new wooden parquet floor with a soft seated area making it a more welcoming space for use by students, teachers and parents alike.But the headline projects which Facilities Director Mike Breen and his team saw through to completion was the €1Million Science Labs renovation and the Performing Arts Center refurbishment.Two months and scores of workers made the transformation possible; 356 seats (including 4 wheelcahir access spaces) and wall to wall re-carpeting in our PAC. Four new labs completed to finish our state-of-the-art suite of seven science labs.Thanks go to Mike Breen and architect Axel Cornet with teachers Gillian Lynch, Laura Schupack, Anne Bayley, Joseph Scanlon and Faye Hutchinson for leading the transformation and to all the teachers and staff who were invested and involved in making the changes possible.


Internationalhonors!

School newS/21

A SP was proud to host The AMIS Middle School Honor Boys’ Choir Festival this month welcoming 85 talented singers from 15 international schools.The boys were all selected after rigorous auditions and came together to rehearse a program ranging

from pop, blues and rock through classical music to the world premiere of a piece especially composed for the festival, Nenni by Lynn Hutchison.The boys were directed by the festival conductor, Adam Hart from the Amercian School of Dubai and were accompanied by Keith Montgomery from the American School in London.The festival was organized by the Association for Music in International Schools of which our own music teacher, Hal Halvorsen is a founding board member. Thanks go to busy team of volunteers from Friends of the Arts and all the ASP families who housed our talented guests.


22/School newS

Coming soon to a computer near you...A SP is delighted

to announce the imminent launch of a new website that has been designed

and built in consultation with our students, parents, teachers and administrators.The 1300 pages are being finalized and the new site will go live when school starts back after the Toussaint vacation.All the popular functions of the current website will remain but you will immediately notice a cleaner, brighter and fresher face to the website – remaining at our www.asparis.org address.In addition there will be a new interactive virtual tour with 360 degree photos from 15 locations in school and at the click of a button pages will translate into French. This will be an ongoing process with

more than 60 pages ready for the launch and the commitment to roll out the entire website during the year.The website is ASP’s window on the world with almost one million page views by 360,000 visitors from people in 191

different countries last year. More than 30% of those visitors are new to ASP and last month alone 15,000 people visited 100,000 pages from our website

spending an average time of 4 minutes on our site at each visit.For many of our families it is an important first introduction to the school and to our current community it provides a crucial communications link to everyday life. Information and

comments from both our end-of-year parent satisfaction survey and a new parents survey fed into the design process which started in May and is nearing completion.Watch this space: www.asparis.org!

ASP is delighted to announce the growth of our special partnership with The American Library in Paris. Thanks to this partnership, we are able to expand our services and offer students a wide range of resources for their reading pleasure and research needs. I hope you will all take advantage of the program and here is how with a step-by-step guide.

1. You must come to the Upper School Library to borrow an American Library in Paris membership card. We’ll give you a copy of their borrowing policy

at the same time. You have 2 days to use the membership card before returning it to ASP.2. Take the membership card along with your ASP’s photo ID card to the American Library in Paris.3. Return the membership card to the Upper School Library within 2 days of having checked it out.4. Return all borrowed materials by the date due directly to the American Library in Paris, not to ASP.

IMPORTANT NOTES: You can only use 1 membership card per person NOT the whole family.

You must have both cards with you (membership and ASP’s photo ID) or you will not be allowed to enter.You are responsible for returning materials to The American Library in Paris in the same condition in which they were borrowed, as well as any late fees accrued on materials not returned by the due date.

Visit the library’s website for details and directions: http://www.americanlibraryinparis.org For further information, please contact Mario Chioini at [email protected]

A Very Special PartnershipBy ASP Librarian Mario Chioini


School newS/23

Screaming andLaughing!A SP started the year in style with our first

visiting author arriving on campus in just the second week back after the summer break!And what an opener! Teen fiction author Michael Grant spent the day with students

working in small groups and gave a presentation to Middle School and the older Lower School grades in the PAC.Fifth grade teacher Barbara Hoegen said: “Like our students he went to Lower School in a French school in Paris. Students were fascinated to hear how he came up with ideas, characters, setting etc for his books.”Michael Grant was born in California and traveled extensively during his child both across the States in France, Italy and the Azores. He said: “I spent most of my life being a lazy screw-up before finally deciding to be a writer. Because my wife, (K.A. Applegate) told me I had to grow up and get a career!”Since then, Michael and his wife have written more than 150 books, including the hit series Animorphs, Gone and The Magnificent 12.He told students: “I wrote Gone to creep you out and The Magnificent 12 to make you laugh. Some screaming and some laughing.”

Coming soon to a computer near you...


ASPect...N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0

In next month's

the children that changed our lives…For three wonderful days ASP was lucky enough to enjoy the exceptional youngsters from the African Children’s Choir. Enjoy the full report and picture special from their workshops, concerts and football (!) in next month’s ASPect.

A two-day visit from renowned author and UCLA scholar Elline Lipkin gave our community plenty to think about when she visited ASP to discuss key issues of empowerment, gender expectations, body image, and media impact from her acclaimed work, Girls’ Studies. Find out what the students discovered in next month’s ASPect.

The power of Art for life…ASP is honored to welcome a very special guest – Helga Weissová Hosková - an 82-year-old artist who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp - Terezin - from the age of 12, but found escape and survival through her own art and a community of extraordinary artists. She brings her story and experience to ASP this month and on the evening of October 21, before the Upper School Fall Concert at 19:30, parents are invited to come and benefit from Helga’s presence, from 18:00-19:00. If you cannot join us on October 21, enjoy a full report from her visit with our students and to enjoy the Cube exhibition of art in next month’s ASPect.

AsP gets to grips with Girls studies…


the aspect october

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