AOSR - VIA CASSIA 811 Phone: 06.33438.1 Web: WWW.AOSR.ORG May 2010 Contents AOSR, You Are the Change Cover Story Middle School News 13 - 16 Mayfair 2010 2 Secondary School News 15 Update from the Head of School 3 Wellness Committee 17 From the Elementary School Principal 4 - 5 Honor Roll 18 Tech Bytes 6 All School News 19 Bridge to Bahia 7 Counselor’s Corner 19 - 20 PTO News 8 - 9 After Graduation 21 Elementary School News 10 - 12 Varsity Sports 22 - 23 Pre-K / Kindergarten News 11 Contact Information / Calendar 24 / 25 Our high school photojournalism class has developed an environmental project culminating in a multimedia exhibit featured right here in downtown Rome. The goal is to make people aware and to find solutions that will lead to action. The steps followed were: Awareness - Diagnoses and Solutions - Action. Some pictures were shot at Formello’s nature reserve in Rome -to contrast garbage left behind and nature in its pure beauty. Refuse not only pollutes and destroys the balance of nature but also shows the carelessness and lack of love for nature. AOSR students became part of the solution! A few weeks after the first visit to the dump in Formello’s beautiful nature community, a pick-up service for large items was seen working and cleaning up the area. YOU ARE THE CHANGE! Students took action by introducing these issues to a larger audience and participating in Retake Rome’s “clean-o-thon” on the Via Cassia on April 17 th . by Sylvia Bloem, AOSR Photojournalism & Art Teacher AOSR, YOU ARE THE CHANGE!
Transcript
AOSR - VIA CASSIA 811 Phone: 06.33438.1 Web: WWW.AOSR.ORG May 2010
Contents
AOSR, You Are the Change Cover Story Middle School News 13 - 16
Mayfair 2010 2 Secondary School News 15
Update from the Head of School 3 Wellness Committee 17
From the Elementary School Principal 4 - 5 Honor Roll 18
Our high school photojournalism class has developed an environmental project culminating in a multimedia exhibit featured right here in downtown Rome. The goal is to make people aware and to find solutions that will lead to action. The steps followed were:
Awareness - Diagnoses and Solutions - Action.
Some pictures were shot at Formello’s nature reserve in Rome -to contrast garbage left behind and nature in its pure beauty. Refuse not only pollutes and destroys the balance of nature but also shows the carelessness and lack
of love for nature. AOSR students became part of the solution! A few weeks after the first visit to the dump in Formello’s b e a u t i f u l n a t u r e community, a pick-up service for large items was seen working and cleaning up the area.
YOU ARE THE CHANGE! Students took action by introducing these issues to a larger audience and participating in Retake Rome’s “clean-o-thon” on the Via Cassia on April 17th.
by Sylvia Bloem, AOSR Photojournalism & Art Teacher
AOSR, YOU ARE THE CHANGE!
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MAYFAIR 2010MAYFAIR 2010MAYFAIR 2010 Thank You AOSR!Thank You AOSR!Thank You AOSR!
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Head of School Update by Dr. Beth Pfannl, Head of School
May is a busy time of year at school. Many of our high school students are sitting for AP and IB exams and everyone is working hard on their end of year papers and projects; seventh grades are getting ready for their annual science fair; fifth graders are rehearsing for their musical; our Shakespearean actors are preparing for their performance of The Twelfth Night; our younger students recently celebrated Mothers’ Day with stories, poems, movies and gifts; third graders are getting ready for their overnight trip to Paestum; varsity soccer players are eager to go off to the European championships in Germany and of course, all of our seniors are anxiously counting the days to graduation. Everyone is invited to celebrate with the Class of 2010 as graduates walk across the stage and receive their diplomas on May 28th. Our commencement speaker this year will be the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, the Honorable David H. Thorne. And these are just a few of the things that are going on!
Congratulations to our seniors who have been accepted to some of the best and most prestigious colleges and universities around the world. A list of schools that accepted AOSR students appears on our website.
And of course May is for Mayfair. What a great event! We are so grateful to all the parents, students, teachers and staff members who work so hard to make this annual school fundraiser such a popular and successful day. This year’s proceeds will be going towards technology that will benefit all areas of the school. Special thanks goes to this year’s Mayfair coordinators, Gretchen Plank and her husband Barry Harmon, and everyone else in the PTO who is so generous with their time and endless energy and enthusiasm, as well as our board members, our teachers, staff members, and students.
We’re extremely proud of the involvement of so many of our students and families in the
Retake Rome clean-up community project. The photojournalism class project entitled Reduce, Reuse and Recycle culminated with a special exhibit at an art gallery right next to the Coliseum. So many good things are happening.
Be sure to check out our edible schoolyard garden. Kindergarteners made the scarecrow and planted the seeds while other students prepared the soil and pulled the weeds. Now everyone is watching our garden grow and looking forward to tasting the fruits and vegetables!
As the school year winds down, we begin making plans for the upcoming summer and new school year ahead. An exciting Summer Program will begin on Monday, June 14 and go through July 23. Summer campers will be able to play sports (basketball, swimming, tennis, soccer, etc.), study languages, film making, graphic design, archeology and creative writing, to name just a few of the activities scheduled.
Our technology team will grow next year to include a Technology Resources Specialist who will work with us to improve the integration of technology into the curriculum. AOSR now has Wi-Fi on campus and we have plans to provide some mobile computer labs in different areas of the school as well as a possible one-to-one laptop program.
Shortly after school ends our summer maintenance projects will begin. Following our facilities plan, this summer the gym locker rooms and high school bathrooms will be upgraded, the cafeteria will be redesigned for better efficiency, a new fire escape will be installed at the far end of the HS building, the front of the school will be reconfigured to make it more efficient for the morning drop off and afternoon dismissal, among other projects. We are certain that you will be excited to see all the improvements when you return to school in September!
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“Sit up!”
“Turn off the iPod and the television! “
“There's too much clutter on your desk.”
“Get off the couch when you are reading your science book!”
…..Do these parent comments sound familiar?
In 1982, I was an adjunct professor with City University of New York and attended a workshop at the same university with Ken and Rita Dunn who were both professors in the leadership of schools department. They were about to publish what became the standard text on learning styles. I could not wait to go home and tell my wife what I had just learned. Ken Dunn talked about how he learns best when slouching on the couch while listening to music. Rita, on the other hand, talked about how she can only learn while sitting on a hard chair, at a desk with proper lighting, and nothing else on her desk but the materials needed for the task. In short, there could not be any distractions of any kind. This husband and wife team were as opposite as one could imagine. During their lecture, Ken wore wrinkled corduroy pants and a wrinkled casual shirt. His wife wore a classic tailored suit most likely from Bergdorf and Goodman. Ken talked about how Rita understood that his learning style was different and he understood that Rita had different requirements for learning. Both had earned their doctorates and each one was enormously successful in his/her endeavors. After detailing their extensive research, they asked the audience to be sensitive to the importance of recognizing learning styles and to refrain from any criticism as we all learn but through different methods.
What are these Learning Styles?
We know that every child is born ready to learn. Yet, we generally have a preferred style in which we learn best. A child might learn through a combination of styles, but usually there is one learning style a student favors over others.
For example:
You may be able to spell by visualizing a word, but your child may not be able to memorize his or her spelling words unless he or she writes them down first.
Your child's incessant pencil tapping may actually help her or him stay on task.
There is no right or wrong learning style. A teacher or parent’s primary learning style may be different from the child's. To work effectively with children, we need to understand both our own learning styles and those of the child.
When we identify how a child learns best, we can help children to have more positive learning experiences and to recognize their best ways to learn.
The Most Common Learning Styles
The three most common learning styles are: Visual - Auditory - Physical (Kinesthetic)
Visual Learners learn by watching. They use images to remember, creating a picture in their heads. To learn spelling, for example, they may picture the way a word looks.
Visual learners may also: Enjoy art and drawing - Read maps, charts and diagrams well - Like mazes and puzzles
Teaching methods for visual learners include: Making flash cards for key information - Drawing symbols or pictures - Visually highlighting key words and pictures - Making charts to organize information - Translating words and ideas into symbols, pictures and diagrams - Using to-do lists, assignment logs and written notes (also benefits physical learners)
Auditory learners benefit from traditional teaching techniques. They learn well when directions are read aloud or information is presented and requested verbally. They remember facts when presented in a poem, song or melody.
Auditory learners also like: To tell stories and jokes - To play word games - To use auditory recording devices (iPods).
Teaching methods for auditory learners include: Reading out loud together - Encouraging them to read out loud when they study, so they can "hear" the instruction - Studying with a partner, so they can talk out the solutions to problems - Writing out a sequence of steps to solve a problem, then reading the steps out loud.
Physical learners learn best through movement and physical manipulation. They like to find out how things work and want to touch, feel and experience what they are being asked to learn.
(Continued on page 5)
Learning Styles By Dr. George Grunfeld, ES Principal
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Most kindergartners are physical learners, but by second or third grade their learning styles may change to visual or auditory. However, half of all students in high school and beyond remain physical learners.
Physical learners may also: Need to manipulate, handle, and try things out - Have a short attention span - Need to be moving to learn - Show you things rather than tell you about them.
Teaching methods for physical learners include: Letting them participate in science or math labs - Creating and participating in dramatic productions - Going on field trips - Creating and performing skits and dances - Encouraging them to take notes and draw diagrams - Having them make models will be very helpful.
How to Discover Your Child's Learning Style
You can discover your child's learning style by watching how your child tackles new tasks and interacts with her or his world.
The Visual Learner. Notices details - Is aware of similarities and differences - Often has good eye-hand coordination - May be quiet and deliberate - May have a vivid imagination - May have trouble remembering verbal directions and messages.
The Auditory Learner. Talks to him or herself - Hums and asks lots of questions - May want to make a lot of noise if it is too quiet - May be distracted by having too many sounds at one time - Is very social and loves to talk about what he or she is doing.
The Physical Learner. Seems to be in constant motion - Needs to handle and try things out to understand them - May actually need to be moving to learn.
How Understanding Learning Styles
Helps Your Child
If a subject in school is not taught using your child's preferred learning style, he or she may struggle to understand it. You can help your child grasp difficult material by practicing at home using your child's best learning style.
You may also be able to talk with your child's teacher about how your child learns best. Teachers are now aware of the need to deliver instruction in ways that accommodate all learning styles.
Understanding your child's learning style also helps you:
Keep expectations realistic
Help your child at home by supporting his/her learning style
Talk to your child’s teacher about your observations regarding learning styles
Teach your child coping skills for situations that are not geared to his or her learning style
Prevent your child from feeling frustrated when he or she is not doing work that is up to his or her potential. Say, “How do you think we might tackle this task?”
Experiment with different learning styles and environments to improve your child's accomplishments and feelings of achievement
It is very important to avoid negative labels for learners. Being positive and encouraging at all times will result in confident, successful learners. Dunn and Dunn's research demonstrates that if your child is successful in school, we should not make an issue if the music is on, the desk is cluttered, or if s/he is “slouching” on the couch while studying new materials.
For additional readings on this topics, please see:
Dunn, R., & Dunn, K. (1992). Teaching elementary students through their individual learning styles. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
Dunn, R., Dunn, K., & Perrin, J. (1994) Teaching young children through their individual learning styles. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
(Continued from page 4)
Learning Styles (continued) by Dr. George Grunfeld, ES Principal
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Tech Bytes by Mr. Geoff Miller, Director of Technology
I have been asked by numerous people this question, “Who invented the Internet?” While seemingly a simple question, it is actually very complex. The reason is that the Internet is not a single entity or idea that can be explained in one sentence. In order for the Internet to have come into being, many different types of technologies had to be created and put together in a specific way.
The idea for the Internet started in the early 1960’s and was referred to as ARPANET. Originally planned for military and later university usage, the first implementations of a network of computers communicating with each other was not until 1969. However, it was nothing like it is today. It was a basic text only system that made more sense to computer programmers than anyone else. The first recorded message was transmitted on Oct 29th, 1969.
Before the Internet could develop into what it is today, some key concepts needed to be designed and developed. These include:
InterNIC (Internet Network Information Center) TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) Ethernet (Networking Protocol)
DNS (Domain Name System) HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
All of the above, and more, were determinate factors in the growth, effectiveness and direction that the Internet has taken since it first began. Each one has its own story and group of researchers who made it happen.
The universities and other institutions that are credited with the early development of the Internet have recently turned to what is termed as the second generation Internet or Internet2. They feel that the Internet has become too commercialized and crowded.
While specific individuals are credited with the specific introduction and/or development of the above items (such as Vincent Cerf and Robert Kahn for TCP in 1974), no single person can claim all of the credit.
For more detailed information on the history and development of the Internet, check out the Internet Society (http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml
What about Al Gore? Well, he did coin the term “Information Superhighway”.
Who Invented the Internet?
Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids to working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important part. — Bill Gates
This has been a big month for technology at AOSR. The first noticeable signs of Wi-Fi are appearing on campus. The first pioneer students and faculty can be seen connecting to the access points that are located in the cafeteria and in the outdoor Quad area. The last month and a half of school will be the perfect opportunity to work out the details of insuring that this powerful technology is available and in use.
This month also marks the installation of the new EMC2 Celerra network storage system that represents a giant leap forward for the long-term digital storage needs for the campus. This 16 TB (that is 16,000 GB) system was made possible by the generosity of an AOSR parent, and the work done by the entire AOSR Board
Technology Task Force. The powerful device will be in full use by Sept. 1, 2010.
Other significant changes that will also be in place by September 1, 2010, include an all new website that will include portals for students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni. This unified Internet solution will improve our communication with the school community and provide a much more use friendly website for prospective parents and teachers.
The addition of the new Technology Resources Specialist position beginning next year will help to provide training and skills development for our faculty, staff and students as well as provide onsite expertise on how technology can enhance our curriculum.
Technology Update
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Community Service Project
BRIDGE TO BAHIA – AOSR Community Service Project
The Dream Comes Closer by Roy Zimmerman
“It’s a very funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
-- William Somerset Maugham For our friends in Salvador, Brazil, this is an exciting and challenging time. After five years of dreaming, the ICBIE is ready to build a beautiful community theater, offering an important cultural resource for the city’s poorest residents. During the past three months, an animated exchange of technical details have bounced between our two volunteer architects, Cristina Morelli in Salvador and Andrea Gandolfi in Bologna, and the incredibly motivated group of Engineers Without Borders at Howard University in Washington, DC. The definitive design has to be ready by June, when a team of four engineers will come to Salvador and make the final arrangements for construction, which will begin when all the necessary funds have been raised.
“When people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” -- Martin Luther King Jr.
We want to appeal to the AOSR community to help this dream come true. There is one painless way to offer your support, using the 5/1000 deduction on Italian income tax forms (CUD, 730-1 or Modello Unico Persone Fisiche), because ICBIE Europa ONLUS is an official Italian non-profit organization. All you have to do is insert the number 97543510586 in the box at the bottom of the form. You can also make a donation at the post office, filling out a “bollettino” just like your phone and electricity bills. Account number 96868161 in the name of I.C.B.I.E. Europa ONLUS. Thank you!
Per sostenere l’ICBIE è sufficiente firmare nel riquadro per il 5 per mille del CUD, del modello 730-1 o del Modello Unico Persone Fisiche, riportando il codice fiscale 97543510586 di ICBIE Europa, oppure compilando un bollettino postale intestato a I.C.B.I.E. Europa ONLUS, C/C n. 96868161. Grazie!
Drawing by Vladimirka Stanic, Engineers Without Borders - Howard University
The ICBIE theater space, as it looks today
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PTO News
AOSR Boutique Open
Tuesdays: 9:30 - 13:00 Fridays: 15:00 - 16:30
Get your bargains here!!! Great sales are on at the Boutique! The last day of sales will be Tuesday, May 25. If you want to retrieve any of your unsold items please remove them by 13:30 Tuesday, May 25th.
AOSR Logo items such as t-shirts and sweatshirts are also available at
the Boutique!
At the regular PTO meeting on Monday, May 3rd new PTO Executive Officers were elected. Congratulations go to the following:
Amanda Martin-Elbehri, President Anna Brilli, Vice President
Yekaterina Colvin, Treasurer The PTO is still seeking someone to accept the position of secretary for the next school year. If you are interested in this position please contact Amanda Martin-Elbehri.
Our Final PTO meeting will be held at VOY Restaurant
Via Flaminia 496c Ristorante in Ponte Milvio Please RSVP to Anna Clementi at:
Claudia Sobral, Coordinator and Copy Editor Kim Gallagher/Suzanne Datin, Graphic
Designers Elisabeth Giansiracusa, Assistant Copy Editor
Nelli Izhaki, Distribution
Special thanks to AOSR Staff who assist with the
preparation and distribution of the Falcon Flyer: Geoff Miller Egidio Luzi
Many thanks also to all of our many
contributors: AOSR Administration
Teachers Parents
Students/Alumni
We need new volunteers to take over the Falcon Flyer for the next school year. If you are
interested contact Amanda Martin-Elbehri.
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PTO News
A Beautifal Day at The Gardens of Ninfa
On Thursday, April 29th our tour guide, Nancy DeConciliis, along with the wife of the curator of the gardens, took us through a magical walk of beauty and history. The gardens boast over 130 species of plants and flowers which are carefully planted among the ruins of an ancient town.
Following the tour, we had lunch in the hill town of Corti. Thank you Raquel Loll for organizing this PTO sponsored event!
Photos by Jeff Datin, AOSR Parent
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Elementary School News
In April, kindergarten through grade two studied Peggy Parish, the author of Amelia Bedelia books. Grades three through five studied author, Sharon Creech, best known for her book called Granny Torrelli Makes Soup. Books by both authors were frequently checked out of the library this past month. Three students completed wonderful Star Librarian projects and five students participated in the Author of the Month contest. I invite all parents, students, faculty, and staff to visit the library to view these projects. Through the generosity of the AOSR PTO, on April 28th, Antony Lishak, a British children’s author, visited AOSR. Mr. Lishak is a former teacher and has given many school workshops on creative writing. He shared his book Clickety-Clack, Something to Pack with kindergarten through grade two and had students assist him act out the story. Students loved being involved in making the book come alive. He even gave students a paper outline of a suitcase that they could “pack” with whatever they wanted. Mr. Lishak discussed his book, Henry’s Boots for the third, forth, and fifth grades. Students listened intently and actively participated in the discussion of the book. In all, students were thrilled to meet and listen to him and get a chance to have him sign the books they purchased. We are lucky to be able to have such a great author visit AOSR!
Sylvia Bloem and Claudia Sobral organized a wonderful exhibition at Cg2, a gallery right next to the Colosseum on April 23rd and 24th. I
was there for about a while and it was incredible to see how many people on that sunny Sunday afternoon stopped in to look at the work of Ms. Bloem’s photojournalism students.
Over the last few months, Ms. Bloem has motivated her photojournalism students to document illegal dumping of trash, littering, pollution and the ideas of reuse, reduce and recycle. Ms.
Sobral has led a ‘Clean up the Cassia’ initiative for the last two Saturdays which have been attended by both students and parents.
Thanks to both of them, these kinds of ‘happenings’ make me so proud of what our community can do.
Star Librarian Awards Filippa H., Grade 2, Ms. Ciuffreda
Tara R., Grade 2, Ms. DeVito Marsya A., Grade 3, Ms. Gist
Author of the Month Awards Colin H., Kindergarten, Ms. Bleecher
In April, the following students received library awards:
Elementary School Library Ms. Amy B. Popp, AOSR Librarian
AOSR Students Take What They Learned in the Classrooms Beyond School Walls by Jane Rumsby, Grade 5 Teacher and AOSR Parent
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Pre-K and Kindergarten News
Pre-Kindergarten Ms. Kristen McRedmond
Kindergarten Ms. Antinucci and Ms. Bleecher
First Grade Ms. Gozdowski and Ms. Tausend
The Pre-K would like to thank all of our
parents who contributed something tasty to sell at our bake sale on April 30th! We had an amazing variety of treats and the sale was a great success!
The children also worked hard in class to prepare for the event. They helped with the advertising by coming up with slogans and drawing pictures. Then they assisted in deciding where the best places to hang the signs would be. They colored a ‘Pre-K Bake Sale’ banner for the table, wrote out labels and price tags for the baked goods, and even made chocolate chip cookies and brownies to sell! Finally, the pre-k children enjoyed setting up the tables and helping with sales by calling over potential customers!
Thank you to everyone who supported our parents’ and students’ efforts! We hoped you enjoyed your purchases! The profits from our sale will go towards financing field trips and classroom projects.
to write number stories. We particularly enjoy composing number stories about our favorite animals. In reading, we are exploring character settings and plots. We were really inspired by the visiting author to assist with writing our own stories. We have constructed cities out of boxes and studied transportation. Make sure you come to play the Kindergarten Duck Pond game and acquire “rainbow” hair at the Mayfair. The students said a sad goodbye to Ms.Payton, a student teacher from Iowa, who had been working in Ms.Bleecher’s class.
We are looking forward to our mothers
coming on Friday 7 May for a special Mothers’ Day morning tea. On May 17 we are going on a field trip to the “Parco della Selvotta” where we shall see falcons, eagles and royal owls. The trained owls fly and land on the trainer’s arm. Other animals that we can see are donkeys, goats, turkeys, rabbits and chickens and we may be able to feed some of them. The park hosts 200 species of animals. We are regularly visiting the AOSR vegetable garden to see when the potatoes, peas and garlic that we planted will grow. In mathematics, we are beginning addition and subtraction and we are using these skills
Spring is here! Three cheers for the sun and
flowers! We have Mayfair coming up and we have a bowling booth! Please stop by and say hello! If you are interested in helping please contact Ms. Gozdowski! We continue working on nonfiction conventions, main ideas, categorizing and note taking skills! Walk by our windows and see all our hard work in nonfiction! Ms. Tausend’s class just completed a unit on dental health, which was a success with a tooth pillow too! Who is going to lose the first tooth? Our visiting author had us participate in his story as he read. It has inspired us to use our acting skills to express our thinking in reading! Thank you Mr. Lishak! All the first graders have become quite amazing authors! They continue to explore and take new risks in their writing. Their imaginations are priceless! We also have been discovering all the different ways to spend or exchange a euro or a dollar. The fifth graders are setting up a store for us where we are going to work on our money skills. We are excited to see just how many things we can buy with 100 cents! We have a lot of fun events coming up these last few months of school! I hope you are prepared for seeing and participating in some outstanding events. We will be sending more notes to follow! Please continue all your wonderful work at home! We appreciate you.
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Elementary School News
Third Grade Ms. Gist and Ms. Wheeler
Fourth Grade Ms. De Paolis and Ms. Piccirilli
Second Grade Ms. Ciuffreda and Ms. DeVito
The Birds of Prey Center in Trevignano is the
destination for the second grade students on May 14. In preparation for this field trip they are researching birds of prey using various sources, and are practicing reading for information and recording facts. They will see different species of owls that they can hold and stroke, and be able to observe the feeding of the falcons and eagles. An Author’s Tea will be held on May 18th in the classrooms. The parents will be invited to listen to the literary creations of the second graders. The students are now eating and breathing ancient Egypt. They have learnt the geographical position of Egypt, how to make and read a map key, and the importance of the river Nile.
The author, Antony Lishak, was impressed with the
questions the students asked him. He told the students that authors speak through their pens and live in a world of words. He encouraged these budding authors to write jokes to their dog or cat, to write letters to an imaginary friend, and to never give up their dream of becoming a published author. The third graders are full of excitement as they prepare for their three day field trip to Paestum and Velia on May 19-21. Both these towns were established as Greek colonies in southern Italy, a region called Megale Hellasby the Greeks and Magna Graecia by the Romans. In Paestum the students will observe and sketch the three magnificent Doric temples that still have their complete colonnade of outer columns, and visit the museum. In Velia the third graders will see the theatre, port structure, a bothros, the Rose Gate and the remains of a temple to Athena. We are expecting everyone to come to our game booth at Mayfair for the “Lollipop Tree” and the “Poseidon Sponge Toss”. There are great prizes and surprises!
On May 14th fourth grade students will go on their
annual field trip to Ostia Antica. They will tour this ancient Roman coastal city and observe the architecture from the Royal period through to the Imperial period, noticing, comparing and contrasting the differences. Students particularly enjoy seeing the stunning black and white mosaics. It is a day in ancient Rome where we get a feel of what it was like to be an ancient Roman. In the Q and A session the visiting author, Antony Lishak, told the students that writing and sharing stories is what holds us all together. He said that when you write a story you write it so someone else will believe your “lies”. He encouraged students to write everywhere – at school, at home, in a car or anywhere. This month we will be reading our published stories or poems aloud to parents and classmates in the library. We want to thank all the parents who are part of the “Falcon Press” publishing company! Make sure you come to our “Tombola “ game at the Mayfair! There are hundreds of prizes and all the Mayfair profits will go towards enhancing technology throughout the school.
Fifth Grade Mr. Etcheverry, Ms. Rumsby and Mr. Wieland
Student council organized two bake sales and raised over 400 euros to purchase a fruit tree to donate to the school. Thanks to all the parents who donated goodies. Fifth graders are busy working on their musical, FORGET THE SHOES…..JUST DANCE. We have some truly talented performers. There will be an evening performance on May 26th at 7:00 p.m. We would love to see you there. Ms. Heffern worked really hard on the Scholastic book sale. It was wonderful to see the children browsing, commenting and choosing their books. We hope to repeat this event in September. Students were a big help in making this successful and it was also an opportunity for them to hone up their math skills and their caring skills in helping younger students than themselves choose the right books. Students are also learning about positive and negative numbers and relating the information to ‘lending’, ‘borrowing’ and ‘hidden’ costs. They also transferred the idea of double negatives into English. ‘If nobody has nothing then somebody has to have something.’ Students also checked out images from the Hubble telescope to celebrate its 20th anniversary. What an amazing universe we live in!
Welcome to the world to Kyle’s (grade 5) new little sister, Alexandra, who was born on April 27th.
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Middle School News
End of Year MS Field Trips
On Monday, April 26, 2010, all the students who take Italian Native III went on an exciting field trip to the Synagogue and ghetto of Rome. We have been studying recently the Second World War and we visited the neighborhood that takes its name from being the area where the Jewish community was confined,
This community has o c c u p i e d t h i s neighborhood for more than 350 years. It played an important role in the
Second World War when they had been persecuted. Our first guide told us about the Jewish Community and their beliefs,
while the second talked to us about the history of the ghetto. We visited the neighborhood, say the museum, and the synagogue which were all very interesting.
The thing that most caught my attention was the synagogue which was unique with its square based dome. I really enjoyed this trip and found
out a lot of new facts about the community, and how harsh it must have been to live there during the Second World War. by Isabella M.
On May 3rd, 2010 the 6th and some of the 7th grade went to visit and explore the Vatican museum, organized by Mr. Mancini. First, we started off at school, heading for Villa Borghese where we had a “brunch” snack. Later we embarked on a journey to find a place of ancient history.
As we walked the halls and rooms of the museum, we saw art and statues of great renaissance artists such as Botticelli, De Chirico, Michelangelo, and many more. While exploring art and history, many good observations were recorded from our tour guide as she told us how
people strove to survive during hard times.
Highlights includes students trying to sketch pieces of the Sistine Chapel, Painting of the school of Athens by Raffaele, and spending a wonderful spring day with classmates and friends. Overall, this experience was rewarding and a pleasant break from schoolwork. This field trip was a great and beneficial success and we are positive that everyone enjoyed a great warm day out of the confines of school. by Emil T. and Alice F
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Middle School News - continued...
Middle School BBQ, Talent Show and Dance a Success
Congratulations to the many performers and organizers of the Fifth Annual Middle School Talent Show! Performers included Neta-Li B., Stefano C., Nadav F., Tebatso M., Stormy S., Jack M., and Cristina D’A. Third place was awarded to Max G for his film titled ‘Talent Show’, Savannah C. won Second place with her rendition of Redemption Song’ and Diego M. was awarded with first place for
his performance of his own songs, ‘The Last Story’ and ‘Storm in the Eden’. Thank you to all of the teachers who helped chaperone the evening and to the parent support for the evening’s barbecue dinner.
At a Glance: Middle School End of Year Events May 20-21 – MS / HS Shakespeare Festival May 24 – Grade 7 Science Fair May 31- MS Final Exams blocks A/B (afternoon review) June 1 – MS Final Exams blocks C/D (afternoon review) June 3-4 – MS/HS Final Exams blocks E/F (afternoon review) June 4 – MS/HS Final Exams blocks G/H (afternoon exam make up) June 4 – MS Formal Dinner Dance 18:30 – 22:30 pm (grades 7 & 8) June 7 – MS Sports Day June 8 – MS Grade Level Trips June 9 – Make up exams / Final classes June 10 – MS Awards and Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony and final dismissal
Also on May 3rd, the 7th grade Italian Native students went on an educational trip. They left in the morning from school with a bus. During the ride, Ms. Concas gave the students some additional information on the trip to the Scuderie del Quirinale, where the Mostra di Caravaggio was held. There, the intelligent guide lead them through an interesting tour of the museum. The students learned about the life of Caravaggio, and the guide explained to them the wonderful meanings of Caravaggio's paintings. The students also learned that Caravaggio is an extremely famous painter because his paintings are realistic, which means that he shows people and objects how they really are. After exiting from the marvelous museum, the students went to visit two very impressive churches, La Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola and La Chiesa del Gesu'. These churches are implortant because they show how artists used perspective during the Borocco period. Also they deomonstrated how during 'Borocco' artisis used many different materials and colors which proves that it was a very rich period. Overall, the Italian 7th graders had a wonderful experience and this is to be attributed to Ms. Concas and Mr. Dattilo who planned everything so excellently. by Carlotta C.
End of Year MS Field Trips (continued from previous page)
15
DEA Assembly for MS & HS
by Mr. Tom Connolly, Secondary School Principal
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) visited AOSR on April 29, 2010 for a presentation on the types of illegal drugs and the legal consequences for possession in Italy. Agents Mr. Mark Webb and Mr. Scott Sieben, AOSR parents, along with Agent Mr. Dominic Buda, represented the
DEA. They were joined by two members of the Italian Police force ( P o l i z i a Nazionale) Ms. Sylvia France a n d M s . G e o r g i a Menoti. Two presentations
for students included grades 9 and 10 for the first assembly and grades 7 and 8 during the second assembly. Follow-up discussions continue to take
place in the PE/Health classes for the middle school students. We plan to invite the DEA and Polizia Nazionale again next year and include small group meetings to discuss the problems of drugs and drug abuse for teenagers.
6th grade writers recently learned how to write persuasive essays in their 6th grade writers workshop classes. As a lens for exploring how to write persuasively, 6th graders identified a need within the A.O.S.R. community, researched a solution and proposed a change in the form of a 5 paragraph persuasive essay.
Three 6th grade students were nominated by (Continued on page 16)
6th Graders Suggest Middle School Changes to Dr. Pfannl, Mr. Connolly and Ms. Ellyson
16
their peers to present their essays to the administration.
Theodore M., Eliana M. and Ashton G., were selected by their peers based on the following criteria: “Does this change seem logical and reasonable?” “Will this change benefit the entire A.O.S.R. middle school community?” and “Does this writer have valid evidence and am I convinced?”
You can learn more about their proposals and ideas by reading their introductions below!
(Continued from page 15)
A Free Period by Theodore M. A lack of study time is difficult for students, and Middle School students need the time. Not having a free period is challenging for the Middle School students. At the American Overseas School of Rome, students are lucky enough to have a beautiful campus. To add on, the campus is amazing because there are many places to sit and study. However, the students cannot use the campus that much be-cause the students do not have time to study.
Working Hard or Hardly Working? by Eliana M. “When I do more (homework) I do worse because I want more time for my other homework,” according to Lauren R. of sixth grade at the American Overseas School of Rome. At A.O.S.R. Middle School students are being assigned homework to do throughout the weekend. However, most of the students have plans and end up doing all of their homework late on Sunday night. A.O.S.R. should assign less homework over the weekend because the weekends are a time to relax, because students work all week, and because homework interferes with other plans.
Every Day by Ashton G. “Daily exercise goes a long way towards keeping kids in good physical shape,” says What Do You Think? an article from Time for Kids. This statement should greatly effect a kid’s daily school routine. How many schools do you know that have one hour a day of gym class? We all know, not many. Having gym class everyday helps to prevent obesity, stress and even helps students’ grades! This should be the next step in school improvement. The American Overseas School of Rome should give stu-dents a full period of gym class every day because it will help prevent obesity and stress and will help stu-dents to be focused and hardworking.
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All School News
From the AOSR Health and Wellness Committee
Managing Test and Performance Anxiety by Dr. Simona Reichmann, School Counselor
Test Anxiety Almost all students experience some nervousness about exams, papers or presenta-tions. This kind of anxiety can actually be a powerful motivator to prepare yourself well and study hard. However, some students experience test-related anxiety to such a degree that it interferes with their learning and leads to poor perform-ance on examination day.
What causes test anxiety? Lack of preparation: Poor study habits, failure to organize study material, or cramming the night
before the exam. Generalized anxiety: You are a anxious person in general and tests are just one more thing for you
to worry about. Anticipatory anxiety: You had a bad experience while taking a test in the past (you “went blank” or
felt like the room was closing in on you) and now you fear that it will happen again. Lack of confidence in yourself: Negative thoughts about not doing well or failing can become so
distracting that you become ineffective in your preparations or while taking a test. What can you do to reduce test anxiety? Preparation: Attend all of your classes, keep up with your work, and avoid cramming the night be-
fore the exam. Make a study schedule and work in a place where you can give the material your complete attention (that means turning off instant messenger and your cell phone!).
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization can help you improve your focus and
concentration and reduce physical symptoms of anxiety (headaches, lightheadedness, upset stomach, rapid heart beat). Don’t arrive too early for your exam and take a few deep breaths before you start. Imagine yourself doing well and reaching your goals!
Learn good test taking skills: Read directions and questions carefully, outline essays before you
begin, keep short answers short, and DON’T PANIC if you can’t remember something, mark it and go back to it later. Stay focused on the task at hand, and don’t waste your time and energy thinking about past mistakes, worrying about the consequences of not doing well or wondering how everyone else is doing. If you start to get anxious during an exam, take a few deep breaths and then get back to work.
Keep your self talk positive and encouraging. The self talk of stu-
dents with test anxiety is almost always negative and self-defeating: “I always mess up!”, “If I don’t do well on this test, I’ll flunk the course!” “Only 10 minutes left, I’ll never get through everything!” Instead, encourage yourself as you would a friend, avoid irrational thoughts about catastrophic results, and remind yourself that your worth as a person is not dependent on the outcome of any one academic task!
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GRADE 9 GRADE 10 GRADE 12
Stijn D. Hyungbin L. Flaminia M.
Flavia O. Dominic M.
Head of School's Honor Roll (4.0 gpa)
Principal's Honor Roll (3.5-3.99 gpa)
GRADE 9 GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12
Olaf B. Ye C. Sarah A. Amira B.
Jacopo C. Joshua D. Francesco C. Eva Ellegaard P.
Nickolas D. Tigist D. Emilia C. Livia F.
Ginevra D. Luciana F. Sanne D. Carmen F.
Guy F. Levi F. Eran E. Indrani K.
Mi Na K. Lorela H. Emily M. Ji - Yung S.
Ceara L. Syed H. Trevor M. Alexander T.
Philip L. Deniz K. Yorai N.
Lorenzo M. Jeong Hoon O. Piyush N.
Lucas M. Bruno X. Christina P.
Brendan M. Stefano Z. Brittany R.
Nathalie N. Tamar Z. Pier Giorgio R.
Kevin O. Jie San T.
Elizabeth O. Simone T.
Ryan R. Marina Y.
Star S.
Hannah S.
Johan T.
Silvia Z.
Honor Roll (3.0 to 3.49)
GRADE 9 GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12
Rachel M. Nabil E. Adriano A. Ludovica B.
Eugenio F. Zhen Ni C.
Danielle M. Federico C.
Cody R. Elba R.
Alessandro T.
Honor Roll placement is determined by the student’s grade point average (gpa) which is the average of all grades 80% and above. Students who have incomplete (“I”) grades will not be included in the Honor Roll.
Placement is as follows: Head of School’s Honor Roll 4.0 gpa Principal’s Honor Roll 3.5 to 3.99 with no grade below 85 Honor Roll 3.0 to 3.49 with no grade below 80
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Counselor’s Corner by Sharice Welch, High School College Counselor
11th Grade COLLEGE*REMINDERS*:
1) Schedule a college planning conference ALL 11th graders should make an appointment with Ms. Welch to discuss college and post high school plans. Parents, please encourage your son or daughter to schedule a meeting.
2) Students should also actively use their NAVIANCE accounts NAVIANCE is a tool that assists students with the college search and application process. Each Junior registered during Junior Jumpstart. Parents of Juniors can also feel free to view the software and your child’s information. Ask your son or daughter to log-in and show you what this great database can do. Visit the website
today at http://connection.naviance.com/aosr
Please write a graduation letter to your senior and e-mail it to [email protected] by 5:00pm Friday, May 21st. Your letter may be written in your native language, can include a picture and should be less than one page. A special graduation issue of the Falcon Flyer including all parent letters will be distributed at graduation on Friday, May 28, 2010. Letters will also be accepted from other relatives and friends of the graduate. Be sure to include the name of your graduating senior in the letter.
For privacy, the graduation issue of the Falcon Flyer is not published on the AOSR Website.
Attention Parents of Seniors
This article can be accessed by copying and pasting the following address into your web browser: http://www.empoweringparents.com/article.php?id=199
Setting Limits with Difficult Kids: How to Get Them to Listen
How many times has this happened to you? You set a limit on behavior, and your kids ask, “Why?” or ignore your limits entirely. Or perhaps it’s a war of inches—your adolescent tests you by coming in a few minutes later past curfew each time he goes out. Then he accuses you of being petty when you enforce the limit with a consequence. No matter the method, it’s infuriating for parents when their kids push against the structure they set. And for some parents, it’s hard to limit their child’s behavior in the first place. How can you set limits effectively and get your kids to listen? James Lehman explains how in this article.
All School News
20
Counselor’s Corner - (continued)
As another academic year comes to a close, it signals the completion of another college admission season for the senior class. Colleges and universities around the nation, continued to report record numbers of applications and extraordinary applicant pools with unprecedented levels of academic preparedness and quality. This year’s Class of 2010, having worked extremely hard throughout their high school careers in their academic coursework and extracurricular
pursuits, have done very well in the college application process and secured many options for attendance in the fall.
Students are pursuing a wide scope of interests from fine arts, to business and international relations, to engineering, and a host of others. 164 applications were submitted to 110 different colleges and universities to countries and regions all across the world including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Japan, Students received offers of acceptance from the following institutions of:
UNITED STATES American University Boston University Boston University Boston University Boston University (College of Arts and Sciences) California State University, Northridge Clark University Cornell University Drexel University Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles Florida Institute of Technology Foothill College Fordham University Franciscan University of Steubenville George Mason University Iowa State University Johns Hopkins University Northeastern University Oregon State University Pace University, New York City Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute San Jose State University St. John's University Temple University Japan The George Washington University The University of Tampa Tufts University University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of San Francisco Virginia Tech West Virginia University
UNITED KINGDOM American InterContinental University, London Hult International Business School The American International University in London (Richmond) UK Conditional Offers of Acceptance Brunel University European Business School, London London Metropolitan University London South Bank University Loughborough University Middlesex University Queen Mary, University of London Regents Business School London School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Southampton Solent University University of East London University of Kent at Canterbury University of Southampton University of Surrey University of Sussex University of the West of England, Bristol University of Westminster ITALY American University of Rome John Cabot University LUISS (Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli) CANADA University of British Columbia
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After Graduation Party
Friday, May 28, 2010
The tradition goes on…
Graduates, parents, teachers, family and friends of AOSR Graduates are invited to:
Locanda Blues
Via Cassia 1284
For map and location go to www.locandablues.com
(This is the same location of the 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 graduation parties.)
Cost is € 30 per person for advanced ticket purchase € 35 per person at the event
Includes Delicious Buffet and Beverages
Special Entertainment
Tickets are available for purchase at the Booster Bar each Friday 14:45 – 16:00
(After dinner, parents are excused and the party continues for the graduates and their friends.)
Please let us know how many seats to reserve for you, your graduate and/or guest(s) by sending and e-mail to [email protected]
If you have any questions about this event contact:
Suzanne Datin at 06.3036.3936 or 334.112.0288
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Sports Update
Team Parents: This edition, we recognize a group of parents whose efforts have contributed substantially to the success and smooth running of all Varsity Sports. The Falcon Sports Council formally implemented the role of team parent this year, which has proven a great success. Each Falcon team this year was supported by a volunteer parent who supported the coach by communicating with parents, coordinating booster bars support and other fundraisers, coordinated the purchase of team sweats and tee shirts, and hosted end of season celebrations. Each and every athlete has benefited from the support of these amazing parents, and we take this time to thank recognize them:
Girls Volleyball - Chris May
Cross Country - Katherine Moore
Tennis- Linda Fuccillo
Boys Basketball - Karol Roberts
Cheer - Martha Montagnoli
Girls Basketball - Paola Canonico and Jane Lafferty
Wrestling - Stephanie Mahaney and Katherine Moore
Girls Soccer - Annika Lundorf
Boys’ Soccer - Stephen and Nancy Cohen Boys Soccer Update: The AOSR boys have been extremely strong this year and have a 4-1 record, suffering only one heartbreaking loss to Marymount in which we dominated control of the field. The tactical skills evident in passing, movement and finishing shown on the field this year are indicative of the demanding drills of Coach DeNicola. Of equal importance is the high esprit-de-corps of our Boys’ team. These guys work hard and their unity of effort shows every time they step onto the pitch. The boys are pumped for Europeans to face their American-German adversaries and, hopefully, another opportunity to face Marymount. Girls Soccer Update: This years team is full of young, new players, with only three returning players from last year’s roster. These extraordinary girls are exceptionally talented, on and off the pitch. Six freshmen are tri-sport varsity athletes and many played two sports this year. These girls embody the scholar-athlete with half the team on the honor role and high honor role. Many of our players are tutors, some work on the Yearbook or participated in Mr. Hendry’s “Rewind, a Night of One Acts”. Some also perform in the Chorus or play in the band. Many of our upperclassmen participate in challenging IB and
(Continued on page 23)
23
Sports Update (continued)
AP academic requirements. Despite these demands, these upperclassmen demonstrate leadership in enhancing and supporting their younger teammates. Our players work hard and improve every week. We held Marymount, last year’s league champions, to a close score of 2 to 1, with a heartbreaking goal by MMI in the last seconds of the game. Our goal scorers are: Christina P. 2. Claudia A. 1, and Chris M. 1. Despite several difficult games, the girls have much spirit and will be ready for Europeans! Spotlight on the Athletes: Giacomo C., a senior and our boys’ captain, is playing his 4th season with AOSR. He is a native of Rome and came to AOSR six years ago as a middle school student “to learn more languages and have great possibilities”. Impossible is nothing for this calciatore who likes to travel. Upon graduation he wants to study business in London or Italy. Giacomo is eagerly looking forward to Europeans and the opportunity to play against German-based DODDS league teams. Giacomo believes the experience shows us different styles of play. While the American-German teams are more physical, our team is more technical or tactical. Giacomo believes our team will do well because of the teamwork displayed throughout this season. As captain, he aspires to be someone who teammates can go to when they need help.
Upcoming Sports Events: Last Home game of the season: Saturday, 8 May at Marymount International School against Aviano. The Boys play at 10:00 and the girls follow at 12:00. Please come out and support your teams. The athletes have greatly appreciated the support they have gotten this year.
Falcon Sport Council Meeting: Tuesday, 11 May at 17:00 in the Teacher’s Lounge. We will finalize plans for the sports banquet and plan for the next year. If you have an upcoming freshman that will be interested in varsity sports, this is the perfect meeting for you to attend. We are always looking for
new faces and many hands make light work. Sports Banquet Tuesday, 1 June beginning at 18:30. We will recognize all athletes who have participated in a varsity sport this year. Parents and siblings are welcome! Please plan to attend this festive event which includes dinner and the award ceremony.
(Continued from page 22)
DEA Assemblies for Secondary School (See more pictures page 15)
MS Trips End-of-Year Field Trips (See more on pages 13-14)
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AOSR Contact Information
Villa Reception
Secretary: Manuela Ciocca 06-33438-300
Head of School: Dr. Beth Pfannl 06-33438-331
Secretary: Domenica Losani 06-33438-331
Secondary School
Principal: Thomas Connolly 06-33438-326
Secretary: Anna Chiara Troisi 06-33438-326
Elementary School
Principal: Dr. George Grunfeld 06-33438-395
Secretary: Joanne Hoberg 06-33438-395
PreK Coordinator: Amy Magazzu 06-33438-330
ES Coordinator: Susan Prideaux 06-33438-350
MS Coordinator: Sarah Ellyson 06-33438-336
AP/IB Coordinator: Belinda Fiochi 06-33438-337
Admissions Secretary: Sabine Neumann 06-33438-311
Busing: Kieran Canter 06-33438-372
Business Manager: Elisa Bruno 06-33438-338
HS College Counselor: Sharice Welch 06-33438-327
School Counselor: Dr. Simona Reichmann 06-33438-373
Nurse: Diane Cullen-Moore 06-33438-321
After School Activities: Christine Hogan
Vivian Mencarelli 06-33438-320
Resource Room: Silvia Moore (ES) 06-33438-302
Jeff Phillips (MS/HS) 06-33438-390
Athletics: Phil Davis 06-33438-313
All parent telephone and email address corrections should be
