ure talent in concert - American School of Paris

OCTOBER 2008
P
N 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
URE TALENT
IN CONCERT
A full house in the ASP Performing Arts
Center was treated to the exquisite
voices of nearly 100 boys from 13
international schools in the climax to a
fabulous musical event.
ASP was proud to host the AMIS
Honor Boys Choir Festival at the
beginning of October welcoming the
best singers from Lower and Middle
Schools around the world together for
four days of music making.
And of course the grand finale enjoyed
by all was the Festival Concert with
a rich program including a special
arrangement by ASP’s Hal Halvorsen
of the French song “J’entend le
Moulin”, classic work from Henry
Purcell and the world premiere of
a specially commissioned piece by
Keith Montgomery from the American
School of London, called “Breaking
Away”.
The boys were brought together by
Musical Director Deborah Damron
from Frankfurt International School.
ASP’s Hal Halvorsen said: “It was a
great opportunity to bring together
some great talent for wonderful music
making and the kids all rose to the
occasion magnificently.”
T h e
A S P e c t
i s
The
PAMUN War Room!
When 800 participants from 60 schools, 25 countries and 3 continents come to Paris at the
beginning of December, little will they realize that a “nine-month pregnancy” was needed to
make the Paris Model United Nations conference happen!
A team of Upper School students under the guidance of Theory of Knowledge teacher, Ouriel
Reshef, has already been busy since February preparing: The conference agenda, the website,
registration and research tips for all issues to guide delegates in their preparations.
And last week the chairs for the 19 committees were selected, the chairing workshop was
scheduled and the Press Team got busy preparing the daily issues of MUNificence during the
conference.
It is no wonder that a PAMUN “war room” is to be set up to ensure this key event in the ASP
calendar involving nearly all Upper School students is a success. www.asparis.org/pamun
k i n d l y
s p o n s o r e d
b y
S c h l u m b e r g e r
SCHOOL NEWS
From the Head's Desk...
Dear ASP Community,
It’s hard to imagine---at
least for me---that the 200809 school year has already
been underway for six weeks.
During that time, student
retreats have been held in the
upper and middle schools,
the eight-day Outward
Bound trip to the UK took
place, all schools have had
open houses where parents
visited classrooms and met
teachers, the PFA offered
Community Connections
sessions to newcomers to
Paris on four days, athletic
events have been held here
and at other international
schools outside of France,
and much, much more. In
short, ASP is off to a fast
and good start, and it is
extremely rewarding to see
students settle in so quickly,
and especially to observe
our many new students
overcome initial shyness and
uncertainty, make friends
and adjust to the challenges
of a new school in a new
country.
As a newcomer myself,
I am discovering the many
elements of ASP that
combine to make this a very
fine school. I refer to board
and parent support, faculty
and staff commitment and,
of course, the best ingredient:
the students themselves. All
of the above are what makes
it such a pleasure for me
to serve as interim head of
school this year.
In addition to a smooth
opening of school, there are
a number of other matters to
call to your attention. On the
page opposite, Lis Seeley, our
Board of Trustees President,
2 - The Aspect - October 2008
❝
I am discovering the
many elements of
ASP that combine
to make this a very
fine school
❞
announces the new
permanent Head of School
for ASP. Nothing a board does
is as important as selecting a
head of school. Recognizing
this, our board called on
other constituents to serve
on the search committee
and sought the involvement
of parents, students and
faculty/staff in interviewing
candidates. The board’s
decision is a wise one and
those who participated will,
I’m sure, have found their
participation rewarding.
The school continues
to work toward extending
the land use agreement
which exists between the
US Embassy and France in
order to provide ASP with
the best long-term facility
improvement options. This
has been an issue for many
years. We are deeply grateful
for the support we are
receiving in this effort from
US Ambassador to France
Craig R. Stapleton and the
American Embassy. And we
are hopeful that a resolution
will be forthcoming.
In less than two weeks our
Annual Giving Campaign
will commence. This year
contributions will be used
to enhance the teaching of
foreign language, primarily
French, the language of
our host country. You will
hear much more about this
exciting project in the days
ahead and on page 6 of this
ASPect.
ASP has planned many
more events in the coming
weeks and months, and I
look forward to seeing you
on those special occasions.
In fact, I write this message
on the eve of the Bienvenue,
an event that more than 550
ASP community members
will attend. Thanks to all for
your support and good will.
Best wishes,
Jack Davis, Ph.D.
Head of School
BIENVENUE COCKTAIL PICTURE
SCHOOL NEWS
From the Board...
Dear ASP Community,
The Board and
Administration spent a
weekend in September with
an outside facilitator for an
extended retreat. This extra
time, outside of the monthly
Board and committee
meetings, was very valuable
and an important investment
in the school for the coming
year and beyond. Aside
from goal setting for 2008/9,
time was set aside to review
communication, further
teambuilding and governance
best practices. Please join us
on Wednesday, November 19th
at 19:00 for an information
night where we will share more
about the work of the Board
and those goals.
The most immediate
priority for the Board this
Fall was the conclusion of the
search for Head of school and
ensuring a smooth and well
integrated transition. The
search process has been a very
time consuming but exciting
one. The committee has been
meeting weekly, reviewing
applications and checking
references in between those
meetings. The time, energy
and enthusiasm for ensuring
that we complete a thorough
and inclusive search has been
outstanding and I would like
to thank the committee and
the community for being part
of that.
Several candidates visited
ASP and we are delighted to
announce the next permanent
Head of School will be Mark
Ulfers, currently head of school
at Frankfurt International
School. Please see full details in
the inserted letter.
The visits of all candidtes
served several purposes
– allowing the candidates
to see ASP first hand, for
the committee, BOT and
administration conduct more
in depth interviews and to
get a sense of the ‘fit’ that
each might have at ASP. In
addition to interviewing these
candidates, the visits gave us
all the chance to step back
and see our school through
someone else’s eyes. We like
what we see. ASP is a terrific
school. There is so much
we have to be proud of and
celebrate. The challenges we
face are also opportunities.
These were the two very strong
impressions that all three
candidates took home with
them. It was also a refreshing
reminder for all of us here at
ASP.
I am delighted to share
this news with you on the
conclusion of our search and
we will continue to update
you on progress made in other
important areas being address
by the Board this year.
As always, please be in
touch if you have questions
or thoughts that you would
like to share with us:
board@asparis.fr.
All the best,
Lis Seeley
President of the Board of
Trustees
SPECIAL
The Aspect - October 2008 - 3
ASP LIFE
S
MILING START TO
With sun and smiles the 08-09 school year
got off to a spectacular start with more
than 800 students from nearly 50 different
countries arriving safely at ASP for the
new year.
Amongst them we welcomed nearly 150
new families arriving in Paris for the start
of a new adventure and our Welcome
Committee were on hand to help make
them feel right at home from Orientation
Day through the Community Connections
Fair to the Living Skills Seminars.
This year’s Community Connections Fair,
sponsored by Credit Agricole, brought
together nearly 60 English speaking local
community groups and services and was
also the chance for ASP to launch its new
Advantage Card for the ASP community.
Sponsored by AngloInfo (www.angloinfo.
com/paris) this card entitles holders to
a number of special offers from local
companies from house insurance to
pilates! For more information see the ASP
website: www.asparis.org/advantagecard.
By now everyone (families, staff and
faculty) should have received their card
with a catalogue of the offers. If you have
any questions please contact Amanda
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FAIR
LIVING SKILLS
4 - The Aspect - October 2008
ASP LIFE
THE YEAR !
Nagele in the Development Office:
anagele@asparis.fr
Hard on the heels of the Fair was the
Living Skills Seminar Series, half day
sessions to equip new families with the
survival skills necessary in areas such as
food and shopping, local transport, driving
in France and French healthcare. They
were extremely well attended, as was the
Lunch with Friends to finish the series.
Thanks to all those who made it such a
success. And if you couldn’t make it, all
the resources that were handed out at the
seminars are available online:
www.asparis.org/livingskills
And for Upper School Families a sunny
Saturday brought old friends and new
together for the Annual Welcome Back
Picnic with music from students and
faculty and a delicious spread provided
by families. Thanks to all our parent
volunteers for helping the new year get
off to such a great start and especially
our welcome committee coordinators &
speakers: Leslie Sellers, Kim Sheehey,
Connie Gomez, Libby Sloan, Anna
Giulione, Paulyn Woodburn, Brigitt
Heger, Katie Ormson, & Nicole Evette.
Thanks to all our
volunteers who
helped get the year
off to such a great
start.
ORIENTATION DAY
US WELCOME BACK PICNIC
The Aspect - October 2008 - 5
ANNUAL GIVING
A
LEAP FORWARD FOR
LANGUAGE LEARNING
“Harnessing Technology To Accelerate Foreign Language Learning”
The Annual Giving Campaign 08-09 is
supporting foreign language learning
at the American School of Paris.
At the forefront of this campaign are ASP’s French and
Modern Languages teachers:
Every student from Kindergarten
through Grade 12 learns French at ASP.
In the Upper School one third also
takes Spanish.
“It is often said that the teacher and the child are each educating
the other – we see the environment as the ‘third educator’ thus
enhancing our ability to reach more diverse learning styles.”
Jean-Pierre Heussaff (LS French Coordinator)
This year’s fundraising campaign
will be launched during this month,
and with your help our students will
soon be learning in entirely new
ways, enriching their experience and
accelerating their success by utilizing
the best that modern technology has
to offer in tailor-made facilities for
ASP’s classrooms.
“Multimedia gives us multiple access points to learning styles and
will accelerate learning tremendously. Kids today are technology
orientated and we need to harness this in the
classroom.”
Valerie Jackson (MS French Coordinator)
Planned for the Lower and Middle
School are four fully equipped
Multimedia Language Centers and for
Upper School, a 19-station Language
Lab.
By mid-October every member of the
ASP community both here in Paris
and worldwide, will have received the
Annual Giving Campaign brochure,
details of these exciting projects and
gift envelopes. Thank you in advance
for supporting this campaign and
you can follow the most up to date
information online at:
“A French teacher I knew from Ghana once said:
‘Une langue, c’est une fenêtre ouverte sur
le monde, deux langues, deux
fenêtres ouvertes sur le
monde.’ This is what we
strive to give our students
- more open windows.”
Christine Samson
(US Modern Languages
Coordinator)
www.asparis.org/annualgiving08
See the November ASPect for a full
report on your gifts in action from
last year’s campaign: The Year of
Science and the Environment.
6 - The Aspect - October 2008
E
❝
SCHOOL????
NEWS
??
CSTATIC
IMPRESSIONNISM !
By Paige Hudson and Kirsten Ostbirk (4H)
Grade 4 got on a bus to Giverny
to study Impressionism. It was
an hour and 15 minute bus drive. When
we got to Giverny we had a snack. We
visited Monet’s Garden and his house.
When we went into the house we were
ecstatic. Each room was a different color.
We went on an image hunt and looked
for 5 different colors of flowers. There
were Dahlias, Sedums, Sunflowers, Roses
and many more. There were billions of
flowers! Some flowers were even taller
than the house!
We looked nature frames a view.
A frame nature frame was in the
foreground and we took photos of
what can be seen behind it. We also
looked at linear perspective. We found
a lot of paths and we took loads of
pictures. We also heard sounds in
nature. We took pictures of the sounds
we heard. Visiting the Japanese bridge
was great. We had time to sketch like
an impressionist.
The highlights of the trip were the gift
shop, the water garden and Monet’s
house. Our next trip will be to the
Marmottan Museum to see the
originals of Claude Monet. The
fun never stops in Grade 4.
❞
LIVING FRENCH!
In the Lower School the French team wastes no time in getting their students out
and about to sample and learn from the ‘real thing’.
Already in the first month at school there have been integrated field trips to
Impressionist Claude Monet’s home at Giverney, into Paris with a trip along the
Seine and climbing the towers of Notre Dame made so famous by Victor Hugo or
simply to the local market to shop for ‘legumes’ or apple picking at La Ferme de
Gally – All grades have already been out and about learning in the field.
If you would like to hear more about the Lower School French Program make sure
you attend the special coffee on November 6.
The Aspect - October 2008 - 7
SCHOOL NEWS
W
INDYMERE! MS GOES
Outward Bound 2008
was a wet and windy
challenge for the seventh
and eighth graders who
journeyed to Ullswater in
the Lake District of northern
England.
But, we survived and even
surmounted the elements
to have a wonderful
experience! Our team leader,
Tim, gave us a great lesson
when he told us that “You
may be cold and you may
be wet, but, you always have
the option to be miserable.”
Reflections on
Outward Bound
As a new student to ASP, I was afraid to go to Outward
Bound knowing that I really didn’t know any of my
classmates or my advisor, and that I would have to face
some of my fears, like my fear of heights. As I climbed
up the ladder to the pole and the top of the platform to
the trapeze, I was so nervous I thought I might throw
up. However, I overcame my fears and conquered the
trapeze just like an acrobat in the circus. I was not only
ecstatic but very proud of myself. At Outward Bound
I really got to know and appreciate my advisory (by
the way, I think you guys are awesome!) and myself,
and I learned that being afraid of doing something
challenging really limits my opportunity for growth. I
also learned that friendship is like a flower—it has to be
nurtured to grow and blossom.
Silvana Burns, Grade 7
8 - The Aspect - October 2008
Activities included the
annual jog and dip into a
very cold Lake Ullswater,
the overnight expedition,
environmental
challenges, canoeing,
rafting, high ropes and
the trapeze.
Living together for eight
days, we learned a lot
about each other. These
experiences will serve as
the basis for our advisory
activities and learning
during the year ahead.
Laura Forish
SCHOOL NEWS
OUTWARD BOUND...
I Wandered Fearfully
Trees standing tall in the wind,
If only we could stand so tall!
Nature challenges us in our quest,
Pushing us to find the strength inside to endure.
We ponder and question but do not realize,
That fear lies in our own mind.
So we face our fear,
Knowing that fear is a limit to all.
And we learn that once we’ve looked fear in its face
we can overcome its deadly call.
Kerim Wilhelm, 7th Grade English
AN ADVENTUROUS WEEK IN THE ALPS
The 6th grade class along with their advisors returned from a week
of adventure in Savoie with backpacks filled with dirty clothes,
old batteries and most of all, fond memories and new friends.
Over the next four days using Le Eau Vive Center in Lescheraines
as a base, each advisory group would experience a range of
activities, both day and night, that challenged the students
in many ways. Each group was led by one Outward Bound
instructor, one local certified guide (French speaking so the
students could practice!) and their advisor or another ASP staff
member on the trip. While one group was traversing the various
obstacles on the High Ropes Challenge Course, you would find
another group climbing the local rock crags high above the
valley in the bright morning sun on the Via Feratta (a type of rock
climbing). You could also find a group putting on cold wetsuits in
preparation for an afternoon’s journey down a rushing mountain
river cutting its way through the hills in deep green gorges. Each
group also spent one night in a refuge higher in the mountains
after an afternoons hike through rolling hills, dark pine forests
and mud covered trails. At one point on the hike we climbed a
ridge to catch a fantastic view of Mont Blanc. The same view we
come to find from the east window of our refuge that night. The
Outward Bound leaders also had students participate in a range
of other activities including group challenge tasks, canoeing and
ecology explorations.
Each activity provided students with a chance to develop some
technical skills related to the activity, the opportunity to challenge
themselves against their own fears and limitations and to learn
something about the local environment and culture. But most
important, the adventures set the stage for students to learn
about their own hidden strengths, about how to support each
other, both physically and emotionally and about rising to the
occasion and succeeding in new and exciting ways. The best part
for the teachers was coming back to the center and seeing the
students tired and hungry but excited to share the great times
they had during the day.
Joseph Scanlon
The Aspect - October 2008 - 9
ASP LIFE
S
TUNNING SENIORS!
Our hard working seniors are also being
spoilt as they start out on their final
challenging and exciting year at ASP.
The Senior Parents Group kicked off the
year in style at Angelina’s one of Paris’
most beautiful salon de thé, for a cocktail
evening for both seniors and parents
together. The stunning setting on rue
de Rivoli ensured a spectacular start to
the year and thanks to parents Lauren
Levisalles and Annette Fruitema for
hosting the event.
Back to business, the seniors were soon
beaming smiles once more with the
September Monthly Treats when between
classes they all enjoyed cookies and
something sparkly!
And the Senior Parents have launched
their annual online auction event – ASPbay – to raise funds both to support the
senior year events, but also to make a gift
to ASP on behalf of the class of 2009. The
wonderful Cube performance arts space
in the Upper School was the gift from the
classes of 2007 and 2008.
There are some spectacular items in the
catalogue already open for bids…
• A weekend stay for two in a deluxe sea
view room at the Riviera Marriott Hotel
La Porte de Monaco overlooking the the
yacht harbour with two minutes walk to
Treat yourself! Bid on one of the exceptional
offers in the Senior Auction.
Senior Treats! Watch our hard working
seniors enjoy themselves.
the beach.
• A private, insider’s tour of unique arts
and antiques at the famous Paris auction
house Hotel Drouot.
• A relaxing week in a cozy house along
the fjords of Norway where the sun
never sets and the autumn colors are
indescribable.
• Wine testing for you and your friends
with a notable ‘nose’ of Paris.
Bidding has now started on some items
which will close at staggered dates and
new items will be opened as the year
unfolds. So make sure that you don’t miss
out on this great online event for the
entire ASP community and click through
to ASP-bay now… and then keep going
back! Save this address in your favorites
now! http://www.asp-bay.com/
Senior Cocktail! Starting off the year in style
at a Paris hotspot
THE CUBE
The newly renovated Upper School foyer, a gift from the classes of 2007 and 2008, has been named, “The Cube”.
Last year, the area was transformed from its jungle origins to a multifunctional arts space which will host not only student exhibits/performances
throughout the year but exhibits/performances by professional artists as well, in order to expose students to practicing artists. The artists that will
be exhibiting their work will also give lectures to our art students.
Marie Louise Bang was our first exhibiting artist for the 2008-2009 school year. Marie Louise was born in in Denmark but has spent most of her
life in the USA, Asia and continental Europe. She has a degree in Art and Art History from Smith College and an MBA from Columbia. She has
participated in group exhibitions in Denmark, Holland and Poland and is represented by Galerie Brauner in Denmark. Currently Marie Louise
works and exhibits from her atelier in Le Vésinet.
Since leaving her career in advertising, marketing, and investment banking ten years ago
she has been able to invest in her passion – painting. She is currently director of Creative
and Strategy for fundacja Awangarda, a foundation in Poland dedicated to promoting the
artistry of people with disabilities.
Marie Louise paints in large formats with bright colors. Her work shows a definite
influence of the philosophies of the European Cobra Group and American Abstract
Expressionism. She feels that her work represents a finely balanced tension between
colors and forms from the natural environment.
10 - The Aspect - October 2008
P
SPORT NEWS
ROMISING START
FOR SPORTS
We got off to a good start for the year with
a great turn out for try-outs, which has
resulted in teams in soccer, volleyball and
cross country for this season.
Although our first trip to the UK was a
bit of a travel ordeal due to the problems
with the Eurotunnel, the spirit among the
athletes and coaches was commendable!
Soccer results were mixed in London
– Boys Varsity one win, one loss; Boys JV
one win, one loss (both the Varsity and
JV Boys had to stop their second games
due to time constraints so they may have
turned around these losses!); Girls Varsity
one loss, one tie; and Girls JV one tie, one
loss.
At home against the team from ASH,
results were better: Boys Varsity went
undefeated with a super performance by
James McKenzie (5 goals!); Boys JV split;
Girls Varsity tied and won, with 2 goals
scored by 8th grader Savannah Renaldi.
The volleyball teams have had close
games, some wins, some losses, some
very exciting, close finishes! They are all
improving and starting to play together
as teams.
Cross Country runners are also doing well
with some good individual results from
Olivier Torchiana (BJV), Karson Pape
(GJV), Derk Eusman (BV) and Victoria
Cole (GV) in their respective divisions.
All the results can be found on the ASP
website under Upper School, extracurricular activities and Athletics:
www.asparis.org/athletics. We are looking
forward to a successful Fall season and an
exciting year.
As most of you know we have a very
active Sports Boosters group of parent
volunteers and the success of the program
relies on the help of our parents. Renee
Allain-Stockton has taken on the role of
Boosters President this year.
Planning ahead
Another very important person for the
sports program is Cathy McLaury, my
assistant.
You will receive most information
regarding the athletic program through
her and she keeps the Athletics Website
up to date and the best possible source of
information.
One of the main events for the sports
program this year is the ISST Track & Field
in May.
The ISST tournaments, founded forty one
years ago, are attended by twelve of the
largest American/ International schools
in Europe. For the Track & Field ISST we
will be hosting around 250 athletes and
the British School of Paris will house
half of the visiting athletes. For this
tournament as well as for all the regular
sport weekends we are looking forward to
your support.
In the Middle School we are running an
Intramural Sports Program which includes
soccer, volleyball and cross country in the
Fall. We will have matches against schools
in the Paris area including Marymount and
the British School of Paris.
And new this year, for Lower School we
have started to run a soccer pilot program
in the Fall to be more in line with our
Middle School and Upper School sports
programs.
ASP provides two coaches who will be
running the program. However, we would
still very much like this to be a family
event as it has been in the past when run
by the parent organization. Therefore we
still need help in several areas (assistant
coaching, concessions, team parents,
set up /clean up, etc). The Lower School
coordinators are Paula Meyer and Brooks
Turner: pfasatsportls@asparis.fr
If you have any questions please don’t
hesitate to contact Cathy me. Hope to see
you supporting the ASP Rebels at our home
and/or away fixtures!!
Yours in Sport,
Han Hoegen
Athletic Director
cmclaury@asparis.fr
hhoegen@asparis.fr
Soccer picture special! From Kindergarten
through to Varsity... Enjoy!
The Aspect - October 2008 - 11
CAMPUS WORKS
A
SP'S ONGOING
MAKEOVER !
The summer was a busy
time for the facilities team
at ASP with a host of works
both major and minor taking
place to continue the school’s
commitment to improving the
campus facilities.
Much of the work including
the repainting of many of the
classrooms and hallways was
routine annual upkeep and
renewal, but there were some
planned major changes with installation
of air conditioning and a new campus
access road on the field side…. And some
dramatic unplanned developments, when
ASP’s favorite willow tree was diagnosed
as fatally sick and the sad job of chopping
it down had to be undertaken.
We take this opportunity to highlight
the works, some completed and some in
its final phases that have been achieved
under the sharp eyes of new facilities
manager Mike Breen and his team.
• The complete rebuilding of the ‘fire
access road’ on the field side of the
campus also included new surfacing
from the entrance to the Field House,
wheelchair friendly access from the
road at each building entrance and
the replacement of the paving slabs by
12 - The Aspect - October 2008
building 6 with smart green
tarmac. Damaged pipe work below
this road was also replaced.
• Work started which is now in its final
phase to install air conditioning in the
south-facing classrooms in buildings
3 and 4, including the Upper School
Conference Room. The IT room in
the Extension Program is also now air
conditioned.
• Windows for classrooms and the
Bibliotheque on the north side of
buildings 3 and 4 were replaced.
• The two old ‘Chalet classes’ at the front
of the school have been replaced with
new ones, including new fixtures and
fittings.
• The Photo Lab and dark room in
Building 6 have been remodeled as a
single large, light art room.
• Two new sport spaces were created
with the construction of
a partition wall in the
mezzanine level of the Field
House.
• There were roof repairs
in buildings 3, 4, 5 and 7
as well as to the US foyer
glass roof.
• The storage building on the basket ball
pitch was painted green to make the
structure less intrusive.
• The Upper School will enjoy a new
garden space with the removal of some
tired bushes at the front which will be
replaced with benches.
• We said goodbye to the famous ASP
willow tree which was diagnosed as
terminally sick by tree surgeons and had
to come down for safety reasons. A report
on the health of all the trees on school
was subsequently carried out.
T
CAMPUS WORKS
HE HUB IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS!
“It’s with great fanfare that we welcome you to another
exciting year and to a newly renovated library with a newly
chosen name – The Hub.
Through the hard work of several groups of people, we have
completed the huge and crucial project of renovating the
Upper School Library, and, if we may say so, the place looks
beautiful. Please come and see for yourself.
After a year of planning and hard work we are proud of
starting the year with a library that is warm, inviting,
functional, and overall beautiful, and equipped to meet the
educational needs of our students and faculty.
Here are some of the changes you’ll see: New natural
lighting, new furniture (including the now famous 3positions chairs), new carpeting and colors, new main
doors and an emergency door, an improved teaching area,
more book displays, more computers (including 4 imacs).
With the support from the Board, the administration,
teachers and students in general, we have been able to
rethink our space to create a more vibrant experience for
our community – The Hub.”
Mario Chioini, Upper School Librarian
Thanks to the
summer program
of works the library
was open to students from the first
day of school.
A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES...
The Aspect - October 2008 - 13
PFA NEWS
From the Presidents...
Greetings,
September was a whirlwind and
October is quickly becoming just as
busy. Leslie Sellers and the Welcome
Committee coordinated and executed
many informative events during
September. Her committee helped the
school administrators with Placement
Day, Orientation, and the Community
Connections Fair. They followed with
the three part Living Skills seminars
culminating in a fabulous lunch prepared
by Igor and his staff in the ASP Cafeteria.
We hope our new families are feeling
welcome and are easily transitioning into
the ASP and Parisian cultures.
While volunteers Ann Balyta and Susan
Puett successfully coordinated school
portraits for over 800 students indoors,
beautiful fall weather allowed our Sports
Liaisons to kick-off Saturday sports for
lower and middle school outdoors! Our
PFA Community Room volunteers have
been busy organizing videos, ASP logowear, and books. The Community Room is
now open Wednesdays & Thursdays from
12-4pm and Fridays 9-4. Soon, the forms
for ordering your Thanksgiving turkeys
will be available in the Community Room
and on-line.
At this point all of our groups have had
their first organizational meeting but that
doesn’t mean you can’t still join. Look
on our website or in the ASP directory
for contact information. The entire ASP
community has much to prepare and look
forward to in the coming months:
October 13 is our next PFA General
Meeting (9:00 am in the Upper School
Conference Room). We will be discussing
plans for the next few months including
the FYI Seminars, Thanksgiving Fair,
Holiday Boutique, and more. All ASP
parents are automatically members of
the PFA so we hope you’ll join us for this
meeting and get involved.
October 21 will be our first FYI Seminar
for the year “Coping with Stress”.
(9:30am – 12:00 in the Upper School
COPING WITH STRESS
This is the subject of the first in the series of our very popular FYI seminars.
Picking up where the Orientation and Living Skills program left off, the FYI
seminars are designed to examine in depth subjects which affect all
families and offer support and help.
ASP is delighted to welcome Deanna Canonge, an English speaking
child and family therapist, who will share words of wisdom about coping
mechanisms that parents and children can use to deal with many types
of stress – stress related to transitions, the demands of schoolwork,
examination stress and much more.
Ms Canonge worked for 15 years in the US with children, teens, adults and
families before bringing her skills to Paris in 2003. She has spoken at the
British School of Paris, the International School of Paris, at the American
Church of Paris and is also the co-author of “Gérer un Enfant Difficile au
Quotidien”. She is currently the president of SPRINT, a group of English
speaking professionals in France who work with special needs children.
All ASP parents are welcome to attend, and everyone will find the seminar
useful and interesting. Whether you are a recent arrival in France or a
permanent resident; whether your children are in Lower, Middle or Upper
school, you will find something in this talk to take home with you.
Tuesday, October 21
9:30am – 12:00 Upper School Conference Room
14 - The Aspect - October 2008
Conference Room). Our guest speaker is
Deanna Canonge, MS in Counseling
October 25-Nov. 2 is Toussaint Break.
November 7 and 11 School is closed for InService and Armistice Day respectively.
November 17 PFA General Meeting
(9:00am in the Cafeteria Conference
Room)
November 25 Thanksgiving Fair-Pick up
your turkey and come and shop for other
Thanksgiving specialties.
On behalf of the community at ASP, we
would like to say “Thank you” to all of
our volunteers. If you have any questions
about our organization, activities or
events please feel free to contact us at
pfapres@asparis.fr.
Best Regards,
Peggy Morrison & Betsy Smith
PFA Co-presidents
LET THE SHOW BEGIN! NEWS FROM FRIENDS
OF THE ARTS!
T
he year has started off really well with over
60 volunteers on the Friends of the Arts
team. We have representatives for Upper,
Middle and Lower School, costumes, make
up and more. Anyone who is interested
in further information about joining us or
about the various activities we do, please
contact me on pfafoa@asparis.fr or go to the FOTA link
on the ASP website under ASP community. Check out
the inspiring history of the Diane Flaum/Bev Price Arts
Scholarship that FOTA sustains and distributes each year.
A huge thank you to Jennifer Lagrange, Ilse Willems and
Corinne Ott for all their tireless work helping Hal Halvorsen
co-ordinate the upcoming prestigious AMIS Boys Choir
Festival. It couldn’t have happened without them, or
without all the parents who are helping by hosting boys or
contributing to refreshments. Thanks to all of you!
In November we are bringing the American Ballet School
to ASP to perform the Nutcracker for ASP students. This
is a great way to inspire them in yet another area of the
Arts! Many thanks to Sherry Steiner and Marje Duray for
organizing this wonderful event.
Thanks very much to everyone who has volunteered to
date, and we look forward to a creative school year!
Joanna Gordon
Chair - Friends of the Arts
J
ASP LIFE
ELLYFISH & PLASMIDS!
The seniors in Ms Colbert’s AP Biology class have been literally lit up by their practical experiments!
In this very exciting lab work, the five scientists took DNA from jellyfish and using bacterial plasmids, transfer
it to E.coli bacteria which caused the bacteria to glow! The students were very excited about the results.
Carlos, Kalle, Brian, James and Yoonji were the illuminated scientists!
TWIN FAIRIES!
For many, Chad Fairey our former
Director of Technology and his wife
strings-teacher, Lisa Apligian were
familiar faces and we were sad to say
farewell when they moved back to the
States this summer.
But we have just received the wonderful
news that the twin boys they were
expecting were born at the beginning of
the month.
On October 3 Aidan Parker Fairey came
first at 3:43 pm, weighing in at 6 lbs 14oz
and measuring 18.5 inches in length. His
brother, Dylan Thomas Fairey, followed
11 minutes later at 3:54 pm, weighing in
at 6 lb 4oz and measuring 17.5 inches in
length.
Chad said: “The births came a few weeks
early, and Lisa performed yet another
miracle on Earth by delivering these two
children completely natural, without
medication, and in the span of a mere 3.5
hours! I barely had time to make it home
from work.”
Both the boys and Lisa are all doing very
well. If you would like to send your best
wishes to the family:
chad_fairey@yahoo.com
IN THE SWIM OF THINGS
Teamwork and cooperation are key to all stages of Early Years at ASP
and this beautiful collage by Grade One students highlights how well
our new students are working together. Bravo!
CONGRATULATIONS!
For those of you here last year, you saw the unusual second
grade Bridal Shower for Homeroom Teacher Taissa Kachala
which included the groom and had even the boys wrapping
themselves up in toilet paper gowns! Well, we are delighted to
bring you a picture of the big event with the radiant bride and
groom! Taissa and Garrett Cox were married in Ithaca, NY on
August 2. And now ASP welcomes back a new K2 Homeroom
Teacher, Taissa Cox!
Waemest wishes to the happy couple from all at ASP!
The Aspect - October 2008 - 15
ASP LIFE
T
RAVEL, CANDLES AND
ICE CREAM!
The ASP Advantage Card has been a
very popular initiative this year and new
offers have already been added to those
advertised at the beginning of the year.
There are now deals with an English
speaking travel agency, discounts with a
local craftsman making beautiful candles,
and coming up for November, the perfect
Thanksgiving Gift – mail your friends and
families in the States an ice-cream sundae
or an ice cream cake!
The ASP Advantage Card serves to offer
special discounts from local businesses
to the parents, faculty, and staff of the
American School of Paris.
Offers already include discounts with
English speaking hairdressers, family
portrait photographers and cocktail
mixers! It is an eclectic mix of offers, and
you will definitely find something for
everybody.
Keep watching the website for new offers:
LOST & FOUND
THE NEW SYSTEM
Much awaited… and now finally unveiled in all its simplicity is the
new Lost and Found system at ASP.
We are extremely grateful to the countless volunteer hours that were
put in by parent Connie Gomez and the Community Room volunteers
who pioneered an online version. But after much consultation and
discussion we have formulated a new, less labor intensive, simplistic
approach which will be managed by ASP.
Clearly labeled Lost & Found boxes will be placed in each School
Division Office and in the Sports Department where items found in
those areas of school will be kept for two weeks. This should be the
first place a student would look. There will also be an additional box
in Admissions for items found on the buses.
The boxes will be taken to reception weekly and all items will be kept
in the existing Lost and Found Cupboard which will operate on a selfservice basis, until the 2 days before each school vacation when the
cupboard will be emptied and displayed on tables at reception.
Precious items will be held at reception indefinitely, but all nonprecious items left on the tables will be recycled/donated to charity
during the school vacations.
This new operating system will be posted online, will accompany the
plastic boxes in Poster Form and will be clearly stated on the Lost &
Found Cupboard and at reception.
16 - The Aspect - October 2008
www.asparis.org/advantagecard
And if you have any ideas for new
offers, please contact Amanda
Nagele in the Development Office
Email: anagele@asparis.fr or phone:
01.41.12.83.54.
The ASP Advantage Card Program is
kindly sponsored by AngloInfo:
http://www.angloinfo.com/
DIGGING
FOR DINNER!
In science the Kindergarten 1 class is learning about
living things and what plants need to grow and thrive.
In September they went to the Ferme de Gally to pick
apples, and this month they dug up potatoes with facilities
manager Mike Breen in their own Kindergarten garden.