eye

MICA (P) 211/10/2008

December 16, 2008 / Vol. 28 No. 3Singapore American High Schooleye theApril 8, 2010 / Vol. 29 No. 5Singapore American School

eye

Déjà vu for BangkokThe same warring factions who moved IASAS softball from Bangkok to Singapore last year are at it again.

e “The Envelope, Please”A link to a New York Times blog in which U.S. high school seniors share their experiences with college applications.

AP Art ShowOn April 1st, AP art students opened their show, “Mad Hats and Cheshire Cats.” Photo gallery available.

www.eye.sasclubs.com • Singapore American School • 40 Woodlands St. 41, Singapore 738547 • www.sas.edu.sg/hs/ • 65 6363 3404

“Where the Heck is SAS?”For interim 2010, students did the “Matt dance” all over the world. See the fin-ished product edited by Ryan Chan.

Tisch Asia filmmaking students shoot short

film on campus with SAS students assist

Story page 9

That’s A Take

SAS runners crowd together at the March 13 track meet in Singapore with local teams. Some runner who were scheduled to travel to Bangkok for the exchange instead participated in the Singapore meet. Photo by Kenny Evans.

2 April 8, 2010 a The Eye news

by Jamie LimSenior Given Lee traveled to

Egypt for interim this year, for her first time traveling outside of Southeast Asia for the annual school trip. Financial reasons had forced her to choose trips in the region during previous years, but this year she received the Interim Semester Scholarship funded by the PTA and Booster Club, allowing her to finally choose a trip off the island.

This year, the PTA and Booster Club used the same Interim scholarship application it has in the past. For the 12 scholarships, including full and partial, 89 applications were submitted. The form included several questions on the family’s financial status as well as an essay prompt. To make the applications anonymous, each essay is assigned a number, which remains the only source of identification until the winners are chosen.

The scholoarships are purely need-based, and the form clearly states that “The Booster Club/PTA Interim Semester Scholarship is intended for those students who demonstrate a need for funds.”

“Rarely do we judge based on the quality of the writing, even though it should be written well,” said

Susan Fay, president of the Booster Club and a PTA board member. “The main stipulation is that your mother or father’s company does not reimburse.”

But gaps in the application could allow less needy students to qualify for the paid interim. For example, a parent who is self-employed can claim that their company does not pay for interim.

The first questions ask for basic information, but subsequent ones try to ascertain real need. An essay prompt asks students to write a 500-word composition in response to the statement, “I am in need of the Booster/PTA Interim Scholarship because…, and how will this enrich you.”

Below that is a standard statement: “I have reviewed my student’s essay and verify that the information contained in it is accurate, and that Interim Semester

expenses are not reimbursable by my/our employers,” which is followed by a line for a required parent or guardian signature.

This seems the part where students take advantage of the organizations’ charity. Talk among high school students often lingers on the question of how some of the recipients were chosen for the scholarship over others. Photos of recipients are published every year in the Newsflash, where some students know the family well enough to know that they are financially stable. Because of the openness of the question, a few students have been suspected of manipulating their stories, which the essay judges have no way of judging because of the anonymity of the review process. Rumors involve everything from students faking a parent’s death in the essay to having a tutor write it for them. Signatures are not verified.

“A few years ago when I heard who the winners were, it was just kind of strange to me how some of them received the scholarship over others who clearly needed it more,” a senior male said.

“There are no parameters by which we judge needs, and it’s only been up to the kids’ honor that they

present themselves as in genuine need,” PTA president Mae Anderson said. “There have been a couple winners who raised our eyebrows without even hearing any rumors, and we were a little concerned. But we are very, very reluctant to target a particular student.”

Although Anderson and Fay

realize that dishonesty in the application may very well be present, they argue that students are often quick to judge.

“The problem is the stigma,” Fay said. “Some kids don’t want people to know that they need something. Sometimes there are situations where not everybody knows that a parent has lost a job, and the person is still keeping a good front as to everything being all right.”

Next year, after the winners are selected, the list will be handed over to the high school administration before recipients are announced, to verify that they really are in need.

But Fay acknowledged that there are still loopholes in the process.

“How are they going to [verify]? It’s tough.”

High school counselor Trevor Sturgeon agreed. He gave an example of an ex-student whose family owned a company and had income coming from different countries which was kept hidden. The student received a university scholarship, which the family pocketed.

“The stated income of a family could be very different than their actual income or worth,” he said. “And it’s easy to cheat on taxes.”

Nonetheless, it seems clear that the selection process must be re-examined. What started off as an act of beneficence funded by generous volunteers has turned into one more process that needs to be checked for cheating and dishonesty. Whatever the reason for students to cheat - easy money, something to put on their college transcript - what they might not realize is that they take opportunity away from others, those who really need it.

“We have not policed that rigorously, and we will be looking to the high school to help us,” Anderson said.

“Some kids don’t want

-Booster President Susan Fay

people to know that they need something.”

jlim.eye@gmail.com

by Eleanor BarzFour SAS teachers left Singapore

at midnight, ready to run. Bound for South Africa, the quartet was running for the school, not from it. After months of training both on and off campus, the team of runners represented SAS at the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Chase Championship, in Johannesburg March 4.

Though well-prepared for the 3.5 mile run, the team did not anticipate the challenging course and poor weather conditions they faced during the race.

“The first mile was fine, but the hills were relentless,” 3rd-grade teacher Jeneane Paxson said. “You would go up one hill and then you

was the strongest mixed team.

English teacher Andrew Hallam was originally on the team, but he was unable to travel to Johannesburg because of his recent diagnosis of cancer and subsequent surgery.

“Mark Forgeron took his place, but we wanted to acknowledge Andrew in some way,” team captain Ian Coppell said. “We wanted him to know that we were thinking of him while the race was taking place, so we ordered wrist bands saying, ‘Running with Andrew.’”

The wrist bands were given out to the other runners during the reception who were eager to show their support.

“Everyone was so keen on putting them on ... and they said they hoped he makes it to the race next year,” Paxson said.

Of the 221,704 participants in the 12 races that took place internationally, just 146 went on to compete in the championships. This year’s championship was the first to be held outside of the U.S.A. Initially, the SAS team was expected to finish 11th out of the 12 mixed teams, but it moved forward three places during the race, finishing 9th. Despite the competitive nature

would turn a corner and it would keep going up so you weren’t sure when it was going to end. You had to really pace and gage yourself.”

On top of that, it started to rain 15 minutes before the race began.

“It was just wet and nerve racking. It was intense,” Paxson said.

Paxson ran alongside high school social studies teacher Ian Coppell, middle school math teacher Mark Forgeron and middle school dance teacher Crystal Madsen. The team qualified for the championships after running in an earlier J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Singapore late last year. The top four runners from each organization formed teams which could be all male, all female or mixed. The SAS team

of J.P. Morgan events, Coppell said winning was not the focus.

“It’s social community building, promoting a healthy lifestyle. The emphasis is on the team, not the individual,” he said.

Coppell started running as a hobby in 1998. His main motivation was health. At 100 kg (220 pounds), his goal was to reach and maintain a healthy weight. He said he enjoys

the social aspect of running, and the variety of people he meets.

“It’s very democratic at the running club,” he said. “You have people from all walks of life.”

Paxson, on the other hand, runs despite health troubles rather than because of them. Throughout much of her youth asthma stopped her from

playing sports and being active. “I was pretty sick,” she said. “I

was highly active and they told me, ‘No, you can’t run, you have to sit down.’ Once I got through those years of being hospitalized and being goalie, I was unleashed, I was able to run.”

Paxson grew up in a sports-oriented community. She is struck by lower priority given to leading an active lifestyle in recent years.

“In this day and age we’re so focused on computers and being involved in, you know, the electronic field. With running you don’t need much. Just put your sneakers on and go,” she said.

Coppell agreed that running is convenient because it doesn’t involve specialized equipment.

“You don’t need a special building or facilities, you don’t need a special location. You can do it straight out the front door, so really there’s no excuse,” he said.

Not even the weather.barz.eye@gmail.com

Teachers head to Johannesburg for J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge finals with teammate Andrew Hallam on their minds . . . and wrists

Faculty team runs abroad

The emphasis is on the team,

-Social Studies teacher, Ian Coppellnot the individual.”

Representing Singapore : (From Left) Teachers Jeneane Paxson, Crystal Madsen, Ian Coppell and Mark Forgeron get together with the Singapore Armed Forces (in yellow) and the Bikelabz Training Squad from Singapore before the March 4 race.

Teachers Ian Coppell, Crystal Madsen, Jeneane Paxson and Mark Forgeron at the evening reception for competitors at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sandton, Johannesberg.

“It’s only been up to the kid’s

-PTA President Mae Anderson

honor that they present them-selves as in genuine need.”

Interim scholarships: Separating legitimate need from opportunismAlleged dishonesty in Interim scholarship essays prompts PTA, Boosters to change review process

3The Eye a April 8, 2010news

percent or above is an A,” Peh said. Counselor Frieda Dietrich said

some Singaporean transfer students leave SAS because of social and academic challenges.

Contrary to the local system, SAS places less weight on exams and more weight on daily assignments, participation and projects. Dietrich believes many people have the misconception that the American system is easier.

One female student returned to her old local school after only two weeks at SAS. The student said she did not like the social vibe of SAS and saw herself better suited for a local school.

Dietrich has dealt with Singaporean students who had hoped to breeze through SAS’s “slacker” curriculum.

Several years ago, one male student, who initially viewed SAS as an undemanding school, was quietly asked to leave because of his poor grades.

Still, most Singaporeans cannot attend schools outside the local system. Those who want to study in an international school have no choice but to present a strong case to the MOE. Those who do not receive approval are bound to a local education.

has been called “The Ivy League Machine.” According to the Wall Street Journal, Ivy League schools admit more students from Raffles than they do from many elite U.S. prep schools.

The goal, for many Singaporeans, is to reach the top of the pyramid. Once the climb starts, every step counts (even the first). Late bloomers need to keep up or stumble along the way.

In primary four, Kabilan Pillay had to leave the local system because of his poor exam results. After transferring to SAS, Pillay saw a big improvement in his grades.

Counselor Dale Ford said some Singaporean students point to learning disabilities to apply to SAS.

“To come here [Singaporeans] have to convince the Ministry of Education (MOE) that there is a reason they should be allowed out of the local system,” Ford said.

One SAS alumni recalls telling the MOE that he was either dyslexic or autistic. Teachers who know this student said he is neither. This student claimed SAS, an “unchallenging” school by Singapore’s standards,

by Aarti Sreenivas“Good morning Ms. Lim” becomes “Hey

Ms. Book!” White sneakers are replaced with Birkenstocks. Ponytails are let down. For a student who comes from a Singaporean local school, there are many changes to adapt to.

The most significant change in SAS is meeting a different set of students in each of the seven or eight classes, as compared to local students who stay with the same group of students for all their classes.

“You have a deeper bond with your classmates when you are in local school since you stay with them the whole year,” senior John Ang said.

Such deep relationships are much harder to develop and retain in a school as large and fast-paced as SAS. Singaporeans who transfer to SAS try to understand what SAS culture is like. Often they find that the changes they have to adapt to are daunting.

“I had one local school student who pleaded to come to SAS, and then, after one week, said that she wanted to quit because it was nothing like she imagined,” counselor Frieda Dietrich said.

From a local perspective, SAS students are imagined as wild, undisciplined children. As a result, Singaporean students are surprised when they come to SAS and find that most students are generally well-behaved.

“I imagined that this school would be really chill, but SAS is more tight on rules than my local school,” Ang said. “Generally speaking, students here find the need to be more self-disciplined, and I did not anticipate that.”

Many Singaporean students face culture

shock when they come to SAS and find out how liberal students and parents are about subjects like alcohol, drugs and sex.

“When I first came to SAS, my mother went for a counseling meeting where they explained to her how to deal with children who consume alcohol and drugs,” alumni Ravi Shanmugam said. “My mother then asked me, ‘Are you sure you want to study in this school?’”

The amount of freedom students get at SAS is greater than that allowed for students in local schools. Students who voice their thoughts in class are considered disrespectful and rude at local school. Comparatively, at SAS, students have to speak out in class.

“In local school, I was supposed to keep silent the whole class, and when I came here,

by Ryan ChanFor some, local schools are a

snug fit and academic success is a package deal. For others, local schools bind learning to an exam-oriented syllabus.

“Local schools put immense pressure on their students. You have to work very hard just to proceed to the next grade,” Vishnu Hari, a recent graduate of Anglo-Chinese School Independent (ACS-I), said.

By law, Singaporeans must attend local schools. Problems arise when students perform poorly on the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). A lengthy academic assessment, the PSLE streams sixth-graders into unofficially ranked secondary schools, including ACS-I and Raffles Girls’ School.

“If you’re not in a top secondary school, you won’t have access to good resources, and self-improvement becomes really difficult,” Hari said.

As a result, a common impression surfaces. Attending a top secondary school brightens the prospect of getting into a top Junior College (JC), and attending a top JC improves the likelihood of getting into a top university.

Raffles Institution, maybe Singapore’s best junior college,

I was graded on speaking up in class,” senior Amanda Ongko said. “Giving my opinions in class made me more outspoken and confident.”

However, not all local school students who move to SAS enjoy their experience here. Many find the SAS environment much closer to the stereotype of American movies than they expected.

“It was surprising how American students are depicted so accurately in Hollywood movies,” senior Bertrand Peh said.

Despite the challenges and obstacles Singaporean students tackle to study at SAS, at the end of the day, most of them find their move to SAS worthwhile.

“There are lot more interesting characters here who come from all over the world,” Ongko said. “Moving here was certainly a positive change.”

Singaporean students confront stereotypes when moving to SAS

Test-Driving an American educationSome Singaporean students leave their local schools under special circumstances

Did you know?-n 2007, Singapore ranked second world-wide with a score of 599 in the trends in International Math-ematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

- A typical junior college student takes three major tests. 6th grade: PSLE (Primary school leaving exam)9th grade: O levels12th grade: A levels

- After Second-ary school students choose whether to enter into a Polytechnic school for three years or into a Junior College for two years before attending University

would cater to his learning style.This student later received

an acceptance from a top-tier university.

Under similar circumstances, Bertrand Peh left ACS-Barker and moved to SAS last year.

“I was dyslexic, and it was difficult for me to learn in [the local] system,” Peh said.

Aside from his studies, Peh moved to SAS because of his passion for the arts.

“[The local system] was

too academically based, and there weren’t enough chances for an artist to pursue art as a career,” Peh said.

After transferring, Peh quickly discovered differences between SAS and his old school.

SAS’s grading system provided the greatest basis for confusion. On his first quiz, Peh received a 71 percent.

“I was excited,” Peh said.However, Peh’s excitement faded

when he realized that a 71 percent translated into a C- in the American system.

“In local school, a 50 percent is a C-, a 60 percent is a B- and a 70

“You have to work very hard

- ACS-I student, Vishnu Hari

just to proceed to the next grade level.”

chan92.eye@gmail.com

sreenivas.eye@gmail.com

“I imagined that this school

- senior John Ang

would be really chill, but [it] is more tight on rules than my local school.”

4 April 8, 2010 a The Eye news

of four honor societies including National Honor Society, Thespian Society and Tri-M. She also spends her time singing in the school choir, acting in plays and photographing for The Eye.

Counting down the last few months before graduation, Courtenay is, like her classmates, feeling anxious about leaving school – and Singapore.

“After interim I kind of

warmed up to the idea of leaving. After second semester and after college stuff, you get that feeling where you’re like, ‘okay it’s time,’” she said. “At the same time though when the day comes I’m going to not want to go at all. There are so many things that I won’t want to leave.”

When asked what her speech will be about Courtenay hinted little.

“I don’t know what I can say that won’t give away too much,” she said. “It’s not a ‘spread your wings and fly’ speech, but that’s all I can tell you.”

Courtenay will speak along with teacher Eric Burnett who was elected by the senior grade as the teacher graduation speaker.

those people who have been like ‘high school, what a hellish time’,” she said. “I enjoyed it, and want to express that in the speech in such a way that when people are listening to it during graduation they’ll get the same feeling - that they enjoyed high school too and had a good time. I want them to realize it’s something they’ll never forget.”

Like others before, Courtenay realized this year that her senior class is a lot more mature than had ever thought.

“Every year I’ve been at SAS I’ve kind of thought, ‘Oh, the senior class is incredible. Their grade has so many talented people and so many ridiculous skills,’” Courtenay said. “But I think in your senior year, you start to notice more about

your grade, so when you go out and see athletes playing, exchanges or performances you really realize the incredible group of people you’re going to class with. It makes you feel really lucky to be a part of it.”

When asked how she felt about representing such a diverse grade, Courtenay modestly said it was a huge honor.

“ It’s so nice to represent all your classmates, and of course everyone here has so many talents. Everyone in our grade is amazing - drama, athletics, arts, math. Our class is pretty great, and it’s an honor to be chosen.”

Like the classmates whom she is representing, Courtenay, who moved to SAS in middle school, has an impressive rap sheet for school activities. She is a member

by Natalie MullerAlthough there is not much that

the multitude of SAS students can agree on, an online survey sent out to the student body did find one common frustration—the second floor restrooms by the library.

One response to the survey called it “the worst toilet in the high school. There’s only one stall I’d use [in it]. One has a broken toilet seat and [the other] has water and unknown substances all over the floor. It always seems to smell like rotten vinegar.”

Results from the remainder of the survey echo this view. An overwhelming 54.2 percent of girls rated the restrooms near the library “very bad” quality. Of the 216 responses to the question, only two girls rated the restroom above average. Similarly, 30.9 percent of boys rated the second-floor located restrooms of “bad” quality.

One responder suggests that “the restroom there should be expanded since there’s a lot of human traffic around that area, since it’s near Sodexo and the library.”

Girls stuck to the stereotype of being pickier than boys and only rated one restroom (fourth floor near the English department) in high school “good” quality. Eight other restrooms were given a “normal”

rating. By contrast, boys rated four restrooms “good” quality and four of “normal” quality.

Most user complaints centered on odor, broken locks and wet floors in the restrooms. Many students suggested installing air fresheners or increasing the amount of ventilation in each restroom to counteract the sewage stench.

In a nation known for clean public toilets, why are some of our school’s restrooms clearly below standard? Of the 380 replies to the survey, 74.5 percent named irresponsible users as the main cause of dirty toilets at SAS.

Anthony Wong, Director of Facilities and Services at agreed.

“Occasionally horse playing [by some students], leaves wet tissue papers all over the place and choked up toilet bowls,” he said.

The process that Service Master, the company in charge of maintenance at SAS, uses seems sufficient. Each day, after school, the cleaners do a thorough cleaning of every toilet. They return each morning to do a spot check of any restrooms that may have been used during the night.

Additionally, throughout the school day, the restrooms are checked in between breaks to ensure that they are in tip-top condition. Sometimes

teachers, principals or secretaries inform the Facilities Office if a particular restroom has an uusually bad odor or a blockage. They respond by sending in a cleaning crew.

Service Master, an internationally credited facilities company, follows a “7-Steps Cleaning Procedure” for restroom cleaning. None of these steps involve reporting foul odors, a major complaint from a high portion of SAS students.

Wong acknowledged this.

“Smell complaints can be a problem,” he said. “Sometimes ventilation fans can break down although the equipment is fairly new.”

On the other hand, students must also consider the possibility that we expect too much from restrooms used by over a thousand people each day.

“Compared to the toilets in my previous school, the toilets in SAS’ are like a hotel’s,” said one user.

Keen to see what all the fuss was

Students’ horseplay and trash in the school bathrooms keep maintenance crew and staff busy

muller.eye@gmail.com

about, the Eye completed a toilet maintenance checklist provided by the Restroom Association of Singapore (RAS) on several restrooms in the high school.

The notorious girl’s restroom by the library, perhaps surprisingly, almost passed. It received negative marks for lack of a “toilet bowl seat and cover that is intact and stain free.” It was also marked down for its foul odor and wet floor. Other than that, it fulfilled all of the other conditions of the RAS self-assessment checklist.

On the other hand, the fourth floor restroom by the computer labs passed with flying colors. This makes sense as this bathroom receives relatively few students.

Over the last two to three weeks, several blockages have been reported in the high school Wong said. Two have occurred in the cafeteria due to students attempting to flush sanitary napkins and hand towels in the toilet.

“SAS does not have a full-time plumber but in the last couple weeks I’ve had to call three to four plumbers,” Wong said.

While SAS generally has a population of well-behaved students,

Wong stressed that when just a few students misuse the restrooms, they cause issues for the facilities staff and housekeepers.

“[This] kind of tarnishes the whole student population due to the one or two students, which is unfortunate,” Wong said.

74% of students say that the cause of dirty toilets is because of irresponsible users.

Most restrooms just pass student scrutiny in survey

“Compared to the toilets in my

-Anonymous survey responder

previous school, the toilets in SAS are like hotels’”

66% of students say that they wouldn’t use the toilet seat if it

by Melissa HustonOn June 3, senior Danielle

Courtenay, dressed in her navy blue gown and matching cap, will speak in front of a crowd of 1500 spectators and the graduating senior class as this year’s commencement speaker.

Courtenay auditioned for senior commencement speaker at the end of February and was selected. All of the candidates delivered their full speeches in front of a panel of judges that included the Senior Student Council and several teachers. Courtenay described her writing process as one of constant drafts.

“I kind of started doing a draft on interim but it didn’t turn out so well,” Courtenay said. “I came back and I scrapped what I wrote, and tried to write something else but still struggled with it at first. After I had written a first paragraph, and I had an anchor, there was a point where it all sort of just came out.”

Courtenay said that writing a five-minute speech wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

“The first two minutes are difficult because you’re trying to bring four of years of 300 different people’s experiences into a five minute speech,” she said. “It’s hard to make it humorous but a little sentimental while everyone can still relate to it.”

Courtenay’s intent is simple: she wants everyone to remember high school’s high points and how enjoyable it actually was.

“I’ve never really been one of

Speakers chosen

huston.eye@gmail.com

Danielle Courtenay chosen student speaker for 2010 commencement, Eric Burnett selected by senior class as faculty speaker

Social Studies teacher Eric Burnett show kids inTibetan India how to solve a Rubik’s Cube during Interim Semester. Photo by Jamie Lim

Courtenay, seen here in Seussical the Musical, is a regular lead in school drama productions, will be speaking for the class of 2010 this June. Photo by Kenny Evans

5The Eye a April 8, 2010news

by Alli VerdosciaThe first time junior Sam Park competed

in the American Math Competition (AMC) test, his results did not count for IASAS, he was 14 years old and in the 8th grade.

“When I first took [the AMC exam], I took it with a lot of high school students, and I was really nervous,” Park said.

He won anyway, receiving the highest score in the 9th and 10th grade group. It was the first of four in-school championships for Park.

Dr. Jim Kett, math teacher and department chair, ordered 200 tests which is the set amount of tests allowed for each school. The 200 tests are divided between one hundred for grades 9 and 10 and one hundred for grades 11 and 12.

Today Park takes Calculus BC and is automatically considered for the AMC along with Calculus 2 students and math club members. Kett said math teachers then look for other students in Calculus 1, Pre Calculus, Algebra 2 Trigonometry for potential competitors.

After winning his first AMC at 14

connick.eye@gmail.com

e : interview with Dr. James Kett

by Gretchen Connick While students were busy doing

their homework, partying it up, or doing the exact opposite in a class with a substitute, SAS teachers were working on developing new course selections that students recently had the chance to sign up for.

“I’m just as fascinated as anyone to see who signs up for these classes,” Frieda Dietrich said about the new courses.

Students took notice of the new English options for the junior year. Most were happy to see that the choices are no longer limited.

“Juniors are old enough to

have responsibility and freedom in choosing their classes,” English teacher Amy Zuber Meehan said.

As anticipated, Film as Literature is a hit among students with the most sign ups out of all of the junior and senior electives with 142 sign ups.

“It sounds like such a chill class,” a junior said. On the other hand, she said that it will teach her to be a more critical consumer of films.

Meehan said that students next year will walk away with the same knowledge of the English language that they would have gained in English 11. They will find more choices in classes and will gain knowledge through genuine interests. Meehan said that the rigor will still be present, but that students will be using “different texts to get to the same destination.”

Writers interested in getting a more intense writing experience now have the opportunity of writing for the new online version of The Eye. Students have not taken the expected interest and with only seven sign ups, the class may be dropped.

Dietrich explained that new courses sometimes come into play due to changes at the university level. To meet new standards, high schools move students in different directions. This explains some of the changes made in social studies, especially the switch from the

Western Civilization to a world history course.

Of the new math courses, Mathematical Logic is slowly fading. Ford says that the class will most likely not be an option for next year. He believes that the course may have done better if the

word “mathematical” was not in the equation. If the class is dropped, three students will have to find an alternative.

The Technology and Education and Careers Department’s new course, Finance and Investing, found popularity among students. Business and Accounting, also a new option,

is not doing as well with its 19 sign ups, but Ford says that the name may carry some of the blame considering previous years offered a similar course called Accounting.

Dietrich anticipated correctly; before selections took place, she said that students have noticeably

zoomed in on Finance and Investing leading

her to believe that it will be a successful class. She said that it will give s tuden t s insight as to what to expect

and how to manage their

finances once they graduate.

“It’s very crucial to know

how to finance and invest in modern

society and I want to know how to do it…and my dad made me,” freshman Michael Mikrut said.

It seems as though parents are taking an interest in the new courses as well.

With the explosion of the popular CSI shows, students have taken a keen interest in forensics. Dietrich

Annual course selections expand choices in electives and core

French V ID: 45021 Grade: 11-12 Length: Year Credit: Language Homework: Average Prerequisite: French IV or equivalent

Introduction to Mathematical Logic ID: 43018 Grade 10-12 Length: Semester Credit: Math Homework: Average Prerequisites: Geometry Chorale - Concert Choir ID: 46203 Grade: 9-12 Length: Year Credit: Visual/Performing Arts

said that she believes Computer Forensics will be a popular course among students. So far, 43 students have signed-up for the class.

New courses are born in conversations with students and meetings with colleagues. Teachers discuss and propose new course ideas.

The English Department brought in an expert on language, adolescence and literature, Nancy Johnson, to discuss the proposal of dropping English 11 for the coming year.

Freshman Stephanie Chong said the current course selection is lacking in the variety of technology and physical education classes, but after looking at the new courses for next year, she says it looks promising.

“I think they’re interesting and that a lot of people will take them,” Chong said.

Seven classes for the coming year are on the verge of being dropped, six of which are new courses. Of the 16 new classes, ten may be successful.

The load of new classes still does not take the focus away from the end of some. Dietrich told the Eye that some sadness has been expressed at the deletion of Independent Living from the course options.

Teachers say that they are satisfied with the results for the upcoming year.

Park said that his nervousness turned into pressure as he “moved up grades and people expected [him] to do the best.”

Although one might assume math comes easily to Park, he said he usually studies questions from older AMC tests before he sits in the hot seat. Park said the preparation makes him feel more prepared and eases his nerves.

The AMC is made up of several rounds. If one makes it through the first round they would continue to the following rounds. Freshmen and sophomores are only eligible for two round of the four, and even though Park is a junior he too can only take two rounds because he is not a U.S. citizen.

The first round is used by IASAS math to identify candidates for the annual IASAS math competition. All six IASAS schools administer the AMC test on the same day. Each school adds their top five scores together, and the school with the top total wins. This year the team is made up of juniors Sam Park, Ji Su lee and Gu Kwon, and seniors J.C. Kim and Kelly Zhang.

The team took the AMC on February 24 and the results were sent two weeks ago. Dro. Kett said those tabulations have yet to be revealed.

“ Taiwan wins it almost all the time. In a typical year Taiwan wins and we take second,” Dr. Kett said, but last year was not a typical year. “Jakarta won it and we took second.”

Ten of 16 new course offerings find ready audi-ence while lives of six hang in balance. Biggest changes in technology and English offerings

It was a sweep year for last year’s Eye staff with four top journalism awards, including one awarded by the working press, the coveted Pacemaker.

The Newsapaper Association of America and National Scholastic Press Association jointly sponsor Pacemakers in two categories - college and high school newspapers.

Judges select P a c e m a k e r s based on the f o l l o w i n g : coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, d e s i g n , photography, art and graphics.

Pacemakers are selected by the staff of a commercial newspaper member of the Newspaper Association of America.w

That same staff earned the paper’s fourth All American since The Eye began submitting issues for evaluation 10 years ago. National Scholastic Press Association’s highest award, All American status goes to newspapers

Eye takes Pacemaker, three more top awards for 2008-2009 issues

Junior, SAS score well, again, in annual math competition

that earn marks of distinction in all five categories: coverage/content, writing/editing, photography/art/graphics, layout/design and editorial leadership.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association named The Eye a Gold

Medalist with 970 out of a possible 1000 points.

The Columbia judge complimented The Eye for its “beautiful full-color publication’s s o p h i s t i c a t e d layout, excellent photography and lively interesting topics.

“[You have] talented writers on your staff - great job. Stories were fun to read and held my

attention all the way through,” the judge wrote.

Quill and Scroll Journalism Honor Society awarded The Eye its 10th International First Place.

The 2008-2009 Eye’s senior chief editor was Jon Cheng. Holdovers among the current staff are Melissa Huston, Ann Lee, Caroline Hui and Kenny Evans.

6 April 8, 2010 a The Eye opinion & editorial

“Oh God, that’s my math teacher,” your friend mumbles in Borders. You look to see who it is and turn back to find your friend bolting off to hide between stacks of books. Yes, the shocking truth has been revealed. Santa Claus isn’t real. The Tooth Fairy is your dad. Teachers exist outside of school.

Each year, the value of Interim is discussed in never-ending debate, but a forgotten facet of its value is the way students are able to interact with each other outside of the classroom. Students arrive at Changi Airport at 11:32 p.m. and are still puzzled by the sudden sight of their sponsor in jeans. Clearly, some forget that a key interaction doesn’t only exist between students, but also with teachers.

Andrew Hallam was my sponsor for the Adventure Racing in Thailand trip my freshman year. As we kayaked down the River Kwai, I learned that he nearly tried out for the Canadian Olympic cycling team, but instead chose to attend university. Hearing stories about him powering up and down mountains, I realized that there was a lot more to him than his average English 10 student would know as he taught them the definition of “vociferous.”

Seniors on Oman this year

discovered that science teacher Scott Hutchison used to work as a kayaking tour guide in the Arctic and that yearbook adviser Tate Sonnack was a student in Martha Began’s very first APES class.

“I thought it was really cool, because it’s a really different occupation than he has now, and it’s so adventurous,” senior Yasmin Venema from the Oman trip said of Hutchison’s former job.

Math teacher Karl Wischki jams to rock and roll, and social studies teacher Kent Knipmeyer has seen every episode of “Friends”...at least twice. Counsellor Dawn Betts was a Division 1 collegiate swimmer, and, wow, that teacher you’ve seen grading papers at his desk is actually pretty (dare you say it?) cool.

Video clips of teachers busting a move to the music inevitably receive the most laughs at parent night. Inside jokes about Ian Coppell moonlighting as a model pervade campus. Nicknames like Will “David Blaine” Norris fill hallways as students high-five old sponsors.

Twenty students and two teachers travel together each year. The teachers may never have seen the students before, the students may never have seen each other. Interim is a one-week, intensive crash

course on each other, building a relationship unlike any other at SAS.

When everyone returns to school, that completely unique relationship continues not only between trip members, but also between new students and teachers. Both groups find themselves understanding each other better, becoming more comfortable with each other. Both feel as though they can relate to each other, not just as lecturers and listeners, but as people. When you see that teacher at Borders, you no longer feel the need to duck and cover. When you wish to speak in class, you know longer feel uncomfortable.

“My favorite part about Interim is the chemistry between students and each other and between me and the group,” math teacher Don Adams said. “They see me at the movies [before Interim] and they’re surprised to learn I actually live outside of school...so it’s great to get to know people on another level.”

Whether it was a five-minute discussion on a book your sponsor read, a 20-minute pickup game of frisbee, an hour-long conversation about life, or a four-day running game of Name That Tune while hiking, there’s no denying that when students and teachers are willing to make a connection, they find that there is more behind day-to-day impressions.

It’s an element of Interim that shouldn’t be forgotten, an element that can have lasting impacts on students and teachers alike and bring true, human value to Interim Semester trips.

theeye Singapore American High School40 Woodlands Street 41Republic of Singapore 738547Phone: (65) 6363-3404Fax: (65) 6363-6443eye@sas.edu.sg

Print editors-in-chief: Melissa Huston, Ann Lee Web editors-in-chief: Caroline Hui, Jamie Lim News editors: Natalie Muller Op Ed Editor: Lauren Felice A&E editors: Stanton Yuwono, Anbita Siregar Sports editor: Evan Petty Copy editors: Danielle Courtenay, Jamie Lim Photo editors: Danielle Courtenay Layout editors: Kathryn Tinker, Renee Hyde Reporters: Eleanor Barz, Ryan Chan, Sophia Cheng, Gretchen Connick, Lauren Felice, Caroline Hui, Melissa Huston, Renee Hyde, Sasha Jassem, Nihal Krishan, Ann Lee, Jamie Lim, Natalie Muller, Evan Petty, Danica Pizzi, Anbita Siregar, Aarti Sreenivas, Kathryn Tinker, Alli Verdoscia, Stanton Yuwono, Photographers: Kenny Evans, Danielle Courtenay Adviser: Mark Clemens

felice.eye@gmail.com

Lauren Felice

Students discover that teachers are people, tooIn camaraderie of Interim trips, students fill in blanks of teachers’ other lives, those lived outside the walls of their classrooms

We are what we eat and eat . . . An Eye Staff Editorial

The Eye is the student newspaper of the Singapore American School. All opinions stated within these pages are those of their respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Singapore American School, its board of governors, PTA, faculty or administration.Comments and suggestions can be sent to the Eye via the Internet at eye.letters@gmail.com. At the author’s request, names can be withheld from publica-tion. Letters will be printed as completely as possible. The Eye reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of taste and space.

Time magazine reporter Vivienne Walt sent a “postcard” from Paris describing the peculiar lunch system the French follow in their schools. She describes the menu of her son’s nursery school, which includes an hors d’oeuvre, salad, main course, cheese plate and dessert. Students get a five course meal - with no repeats - for every day of the 32 school days in the period. What’s more, the government organization overseeing the menu also includes “suggestions for the evening.” While some may say the French government is too involved in the everyday life of a French child, the lunch system is so far a success.

Most people have heard the term “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Like French students, American students have had the importance of eating well drilled into their young minds. However, it is clear that the American system is hopelessly failing.

America’s obese population is increasing by the second. One third of adults and 16 percent of children are obese. A study by Dr. Youfa Wang of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health predicted that by 2030, 86 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese. Americans spent US$ 117 billion on obesity-related health care in 2000, and it is estimated to reach US$ 950 billion by 2020. Following a trend in many American high schools, SAS implemented a plan to keep kids healthy - especially primary, intermediate and middle school students. The administration limited the amount of soda machines in school, and put health-conscious food such as fresh fruit smoothies on the cafeteria menu. High schoolers all envy the smoothies made with pure frozen fruit. Why doesn’t the high school have healthier options?

Unfortunately, it is a common sight to see SAS students eating unhealthy food. Middle school kids race to the high school Booster Booth to get their after-school candy fix. When high-schoolers are trying to buy school supplies after school, middle-schoolers are right next to them, shouting “M&Ms!” or “Pringles, please!”

Middle-schoolers accompanied by teachers at Subway buying sandwiches and cookies. Subway sandwiches may be considered healthy, but drinking a soda and a cookie with it drastically diminishes its “healthy-ness.” Some teachers even bring students over in the morning - leading back a pack of happy middle-schoolers, with a cookie (or two), and maybe a soda in their hands.

Getting rid of soda machines and increasing the number of healthy meals on the menu will not teach children to eat fruit or avoid candy, so long as students have the habit of eating candy every break. Teaching students how to balance their diet while being bombarded by junk food should be the goal of the school.

The eating scene at SAS is a stark contrast to that of the French school system. Eating a five-course meal every lunch is realistically impossible in the American system, but we can still manage to help kids make right choices.

That starts first with small steps. Stop bringing middle-schoolers over to buy cookies at Subway at 8 a.m. in the morning, and break them of their daily need for an after-school Snickers fix. High-schoolers, stop cramming in french fries every break. Drink water. Try the salad bar once in a while. The habit of snacking continuously is an early start on the Freshman 15. Think healthy, think French.

we got m@il

In your article about the choice of interim trips I have to heavily disagree. The article's subtitle is "Stepping out of one's comfort zone best advice from sage veteran". You only quote your sister once in one sentence which doesn’t include a very wide number of sources, which you should have researched. I feel like an idiot writing an angry email about a school newspaper article, but I think your article is extremely misleading and untrue. In a school with an unheard of theft rate and unheard number of charity clubs that really don’t do anything but claim huge numbers of service hours for colleges, I think the first paragraph is proper. Nobody looks at the trip guideline for "will be helping with orphaned students." Otherwise, all of the Asian trips would be senior trips and Switzerland would be for freshmen. Most of the charity parts of the trips are added in as an afterthought and look like they were forced by the administration. Who wants to go for a week on an awkward trip with people they don’t know when they could be building memories with the friends they will never see after high

Senior disagrees with Siregar on Interim: Who wants to go on a trip with strangers?

school? Most of the people I meet on interim and make friends with I never hang out with. The room problem can be a little upsetting and awkward but that is only for the first night. I dont mean to be offensive when I say this, but if you're naive enough to think people go on these trips to learn about the culture, then you've got a lot to learn about SAS culture. As for your not becoming closer with any of the people on the trip, I again strongly disagree. To this day, me and my friends recite funny quotes that we said over the course of interim and all have had a really good time. You say one of the teachers proposed that friends not be allowed to go on interim together. Ever wonder why that idea didn't hold up? I'm betting the students didn't enjoy that idea. In my own personal experience, the two of my interims I've gone on with my friends were far more memorable then the trip I went on that I didn't know anyone. On the other hand, I built a lasting relationship with one of the people on the trip where I knew no one. That was only one person though out of the whole trip. I've talked to several people who have read the article and disagree with what it says. Other people at SAS will read the article and take the advice and, in my opinion, ruin their time on interim. - Thomas McCarvel

The Eye welcomes comments about our coverage from readers. Those letters should be no more than 300 words in length and should include the writer’s contacts - email address and phone number. It is the Eye’s preference that letter writers allow the Eye to identify them, but, at the author’s request and with justification, names can be whithheld from publication. Phone numbers, email addresses and street addresses will not be reproduced with the letter. The Eye reserves the right to edit for length and inappropriate language. Send letters toeye.letters@gmail.com.

Press “Z” to make your prom wishes come trueby Kathryn Tinker

“Always, I want to be with you and make believe with youand live in harmony, harmony, oh love!”

7The Eye a April 8, 2010features

by Anbita SiregarA stolen laptop, a stolen bag, a broken femur,

minus 30 degree celsius Swedish weather - all components of unforgettable experiences. It’s that time of the year when students come back from Interim Semester with stories, battle scars and a few extra pounds of fat.

New courses meet the test“We did an adventure race on the last day

that lasted eight hours. We climbed up a gorge and abseiled,” sophomore Kasey Waychoff said.

Waychoff traveled to Hong Kong for the Extreme Eco Challenge, one of the new courses installed in the Interim Program this year. Along with abseiling, Eco Challenge students rock-climbed, kayaked and mountain-biked through Lamma Island and Tung Lung. They didn’t reach Hong Kong until the final two days.

The new Cultural Cruise course also went to Hong Kong along with Vietnam, mainland China and Taiwan. Students bonded aboard the ship and off it at sights like caves and temples.

Biology and chemistry teacher Scott Hutchison and yearbook adviser Tate Sonnack led a group of 20 students to Oman. They traveled to Muscat, Nizwa, Bander Khayran and Mutrah Port. Students hiked, kayaked and camped under the stars. Students suggested a few tweaks for this first-time trip to be made for next year.

“I wish we did more shopping,” senior Sarah Mountjoy said.

The farthest new course included this year was Sweden. Students traveled to Kiruna in the -30 degrees celsius weather and drove dog sleds, hiked in snow shoes and went ice fishing.

“The only problem was the flight. There was an eight-hour delay, and we had to sleep in the airport,” senior Sujoy Bose said.

Injuries, theft mar some tripsMost students fly back in one piece, but a

few students came back sick, with bandaged cuts or broken bones.

Freshman Farhan Attamimi was biking in Thailand when he lost control of his bike and fell. His right leg was stuck under the bike, and it twisted, breaking his femur.

He was transported to a nearby hospital for surgery. He stayed in the Bangkok hospital for five days and came back the Monday after Interim. He has stitches in two places and must wear a cast for one to two months.

Interim 2010 an overall success despite injuries, burglariesSAS’s 37th year of interim semester provided new trips, adventures, unique experiences

“When I got back a lot of people asked what happened and said ‘are you okay?’ and stuff, but in public a lot of people stare at me, especially little kids,” Attamimi said.

Freshman MinJee Kim was in Northern India on the Princes and Paupers course when she ran into a glass door at the hotel. The glass shattered and left scars on her forehead, knee and wrist.

“It didn’t hurt at all. Actually, I didn’t realize I had a cut until people around me were like ‘Blood!’” Kim said.

The cut wasn’t deep enough for stitches, but she covers the wound with cotton gauze.

“Some people were curious how the glass broke, but I honestly don’t know,” Kim said.

Before Senior Sara Gaines left for Spain, she had finished her antibiotics for a recent cold. On the fifth day, her friend woke up to find Gaines curled in the bathroom, throwing up.

Gaines was dehydrated and sent to the hospital. She stayed only for a few hours but rested in her room for two days. Some students who traveled to Greece didn’t return with all their belongings. After a day of sightseeing, juniors Karisa Sukamto, Kelly Schuster and Jasmine Timan returned to their hotel to find their room had been robbed.

“We came back, and the manager asked who was in room 213,” Timan said.

The door of their room had been forced with a crowbar and was now crossed with police tape. Clothes were scattered everywhere. Schuster’s IASAS bag was stolen, and she lost her Cultural Convention script and iPod. Sukamto’s laptop, which was left out on the bed, was taken, but none of Timan’s belongings were missing.

Sponsor Joe Thomas took the girls to a local police station where they filed a police report.

Three other hotel rooms were broken into, but only one was an SAS room.

Bad decisions mar othersEvery year a handful of students decide to

drink on Interim, but Deputy Principal Doug Neihart said there was a decrease in the number of students who made “poor decisions” this year compared to last year.

“There were a couple of disappointments,” Neihart said. “Students made poor decisions involving alcohol and being out past curfew, but all have been taken care of.”

A senior male was caught drinking on the airplane going to South Africa. Like all students who consume alcohol during school trips, the

student got two days of in-school suspension and signed a contract. The contract includes a writing component, a loss of privileges and community service. If the senior fulfills the requirements, he will be allowed to walk with his classmates at graduation. Another male senior was caught drinking on the Germany trip and resigned from his student council position after the incident.

What’s next?On March 8, faculty members proposed

new courses for the 2010-2011 school year. On March 11, Neihart presented faculty proposals for new trips to present to the Board of Governors for approval.

On March 12, teachers signed up for the 2010-2011 Interim courses. If a teacher was the chief sponsor of a course, and they want to remain the chief sponsor, they automatically get the spot. If the chief sponsor wants to choose a different course, the co-sponsor becomes the new chief sponsor. If neither the chief nor the co-sponsors want the course, the course opens and any faculty member may take it.

Faculty and students don’t sign up the same way. Priority for an open chief sponsor position will be given to faculty members who have experience as a chief sponsor and who have travelled to that country in the past. If all is equal, seniority, determined by how long a faculty member has worked at SAS, will dictate who gets the spot.

A chief sponsor may choose their co-sponsor or let the high school administration choose.

While all high school faculty must participate in Interim Semester, there are faculty members who request to stay in Singapore. Because there are not enough in-Singapore trips for these faculty members, a lottery is held to choose who goes on these trips.

English teacher Anne-marie Russell substituted for middle school home economics teacher Amy Ferguson while Ferguson traveled to India for Interim. Russell chose to stay in Singapore during Interim Semester for her two young children.

“[Mr. Neihart,] Mr Norcott and Ms. Mehrbach are really supportive of moms and dads staying in Singapore,” Russell said.

Although there may have been minor mishaps, accidents, and injuries, this year’s Interim Semester proved, for the 37th consecutive year, to be another unique experience for students.

What is the interim of your wildest dreams?

“ ”

“I would go see penguins and have a party and be super cold. Why are you taking a picture of me?”Senior Andisya Siregar

“Seven nights in Newton.”Junior Ian Wu

“I would go to Pennsylvania and eat chocolate at Hershey’s factory.”Freshman Chelsea Lin

“It’d probably be like, skydiving...in the Alps.”Senior Kerry McFetridge

“An extreme Parkour adventure trip. Probably in Europe, but that’d be too expensive.”Senior Thomas Rees

“Horseback riding in Nashville, Tennessee - Yeah, and we could visit my house!”Junior Cameron Arnold

“Food trail, all over the world. Just non-stop eating.”Senior Anne Yeung

“Some military thing...blowing #*!% up in like, Africa.”Sophomore Jack McCabe

Soaking in the sun: Sophomores and juniors on the India: Rajasthan interim trip take a sunset ride through the desert in the late afternoon.

siregar.eye@gmail.com

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

e : more “notable quotables” online

8 April 8, 2010 a The Eye features

PROM EATS Sophia’s choices: Eye reporter samples fare of restaurants worthy of

Located in the Gallery Hotel, Robertson Quay, Shibaken is

one of the hidden gems of Singapore – that is, when it comes to food. For true food-worshipers, those who would travel far for a feast, your journey is over.

But if Shibaken’s food is a 5, the ambiance is a 1.

Apart from the inadequate air-conditioning, shortage of waiters and bland, Muzak Japanese reincarnation of Frank Sinatra will put you in a grumpy mood when you first step in. A clear victim of low-budget investment, even the dim lighting could not hide the poor color choices and low-budget renovation. The too low light level makes it seem they forgot to pay their electricity bill.

The food. Ah, the food. Shibaken explains why the unorthodox marriage of Japanese and French food is increasingly popular. Imagine, the freshness and the fine quality of Japaneses cuisine mixed with the presentation and techniques of the French.

I opted for the eight-course Kaisaki tasting menu, and was worth every penny of its $81 price.

It started off with a handsome portion of Wagyu beef Carpaccio, and it was finer than any of the hundreds of Carpaccio that I have tasted in my short life. A slight hint of raspberry will challenge your taste buds while chewing on that blood-red Wagyu,

ShibakenJapanese-French fusion

by Sophia Cheng

Tucked away in one of the few remaining conservation

buildings of Singapore, this elegant, 80-room boutique hotel prides itself on a sensuality and charisma that

Food: Ambiance: Price: $90-100 per personOpening Hours (Dinner): 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.1 Nanson Road, #02-02A, The Gallery hotelTelephone: 6836-1613

******

creating a unique twist to the standard mayonnaise

sauce that restaurants typically use.

Another dish that stood out from the menu was the precious Kunubata (Japanese black hog).

Marinated with some secret killer ingredient,

the dish was prepared flawlessly – right tenderness,

right moisture, and just the perfect amount of seasoning. Pork could not have tasted any better.

Watching your waistline? Think French cuisine minus the liberal use of cream and calories.

Halia’s Garden of Eden setting has got to be one of the best on

the island.Located in the most enviable

spot in the country, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the lush greenery and the exotic flowers yield a sense of serenity.

Designed to let diners soak in the moonlight with its ceiling-to-ground glass windows, supplemented by discrete lamps and flickering

candles, the Halia experience is pure tropical romance.

Ambience might be a 5, but food was only a 3.5. It’s not bad, but it can be a bit boring. Don’t expect anything with a wow factor.

The menu is comprised of Western cuisine with the usual Asian twist.

Starting with the appetizer, the highlight would be the crisp, black pepper, soft shell crab with wasabi aioli and the sautéed black mussels dipped in white wine and cream sauce. Move on to the mains for the roasted rack of lamb marinated in Javanese spices and the oven-roasted Chilean seabass in orange miso glaze and grilled zucchini.

Make sure you enter the garden through the Tyersall entrance: or else your date will have to limp around in this 157 acre garden in her four-inch heels.

HaliaDining in Eden

Food: Ambiance: Price: $60-80 per personOpening Hours (Dinner): 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic GardensTelephone: 6476-6711

********1/2

DesireInternational

Food: Ambiance: Price: $50-70 per personOpening Hours (Dinner): 7:00-10:30 p.m.33 Erskine Road, The Scarlet HotelTelephone: 6511-3323

********1/2

reflect Victorian times. It offers sophisticated dinner choices in its flagship restaurant, Desire.

Black and red draping, velvet-covered chairs and dim, romantic lighting ooze an ambiance so charming that it will quicken your heart-rate and warm your blood.

Once seated, I was presented with a thick, leather-bound menu titled “The Book of Desire.” The first page advice me to, “Believe in life’s message: follow your heart’s desired fate.”

This instruction inspired me to follow my heart and be adventurous with my food choices.

I ordered the crabmeat and mango gazpacho as my ‘foreplay’ – Scarlet’s name for appetizers.

I went. I ate. I gained weight. Gaining a few extra pounds for

this true “gastronomical experience” was worth it.

Perched on the 70th floor in the Swissotel Complex, Jaan boasts a more jaw-dropping view than its neighboring restaurant – the tired old Equinox.

Jaan is listed as one of the top four restaurants in Asia, which explains its even more jaw-dropping

price. But, if you’re willing to empty your pockets, celebrity chef Audrey Chiang will not disappoint you.

Chiang is known to pick unique ingredient choices. Every dish is a piece of art by itself – from the complementary bread sticks to the construction of a mountain of salad.

I recommend the “Menu Decouverte” for first timers. For $200 and you get an eight-course menu, including the chef’s famous “forgotten vegetables” and his perfectly pan-fried foie gras.

From the décor to the food, Jaan is the epitome of class – unpretentiously majestic and exclusive. It is also one of the very few fine-dining restaurants that are up to Parisian standards in Singapore.

Be sure to make a reservation before going. This 40-seat restaurant is a hot-spot for people ready to burn a hole in their wallets.

Swissotel: JaanFrench

Food: Ambiance: Price: $200+ per personOpening Hours (Dinner): 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.2 Stamford Road, 70F Swissotel, The StamfordTelephone: 6837-3322

**********

One on a Bun: Great Shang-hainese food. Perfect for those who are looking for something unique and one-of-a-kind.Basilico: One of the most popular and traditional prom dinner destinations. What can I say? It can never go wrong.Au Jardin: If you’re considering Les Amis, drop it and go to Au Jardin. Cozy and beautiful, it’s as romantic as it gets.

Sophia’s Other Choices:

The odd combination of crabmeat and mango sprinkled with avocado and mint salsa was surprisingly refreshing. Perfect for those who are on a calorie budget.

As for the ‘main affair’ (main course), opt for the Kurobouta Pork. The pork belly was moist and tender, the warm salad tossed with mustard a perfect compliment. The roasted pork cheeks were not as juicy, but the seasoning of the pork will wake up your taste buds.

From the complimentary bread to the thematic details of the restaurant, there’s always a surprise waiting. The warm and well-trained waiters were happy to answer my questions, whether about the history of the hotel or the virtues of the menu choices.

If on your list, reconsider: Les Amis: You’ll wish the food was as sophisticated as the menu’s fancy French names. You’ll walk out with an empy wallet and only a vague recollection of what you ate.Equinox: Yeah, amazing view; we get it, once that thriill is gone, there’s not much left on the plate.Mezza 9: Let the upstream tourists have this one. scheng.eye@gmail.com

As guys rent their suits and girls shop for gowns and shoes, someone has to decide where to eat. Let Sophia

Cheng decide for you, introducing some restaurants that are hipper, more unique,

more chic than the traditional prom dinner venues.

Desire, Scarlet Hotel

features 9The Eye a April 8, 2010features

Stepping behind the fog and mirrors

by Kathryn Tinker“Umbrellas!”“I don’t want anyone getting electrocuted

out here. Do you have any idea how much electricity is going through these wires?”

As the rain falls harder, eager middle school extras duck for cover, makeup is reapplied, and the filmmakers rush to protect the equipment. Dolly tracks, backwards caps, piercings, HMI lights, a bleached mohawk, bright green Converse shoes and a Starry Night tattoo are foreign sights in a sea of uniforms. From March 13 - 19, a film crew from New York University Tisch Asia turned the campus into their movie set.

The short film tells the tale of a vivacious, popular blonde and a nerdy Asian student who, because of the unwritten laws of high school, cannot be seen together. Yet, they find a way to communicate through their made-up game, “Skwobble,” the film’s title.

The screenplay was written by Jessika Auerbach, mother of senior Olivia Auerbach. Jessika is a graduate student at Tisch Asia’s dramatic writing program. Olivia Auerbach and Jamil Schulze from Canadian International School star as the unlikely duo. Seniors Pierre Cassini and Alvi Hassan, juniors Kelly Schuster and Barbara Hoffer and sophomore Augusta Soeryadjaya played smaller roles.

Jessika Auerbach describes working with her daughter as “difficult.”

“We don’t always agree and she doesn’t particularly like me watching her, which I understand. So, I try to stay out of the way when they’re filming,” Jessika Auerbach said.

The subtleties of acting for film led to long days with shoots that went as late as 12 a.m. on some days.

“If I’m having the opportunity to participate in something I want to do [as a career], I’m going to take it, Olivia said.

“This is what I love so, it might be draining at times, but I still love what I’m doing.”

Senior Jesse Scarborough also took advantage of this unique opportunity to learn more about what

he hopes to be his future career: sound design. A student taking filmmaking classes, Scarborough learned more about microphones, the use of “wild track”, and helped out by keeping notes on the quality of each sound take.

“I guess it’s a tedious job, but I was enjoying it,” Scarborough said. The highlight for him, though, was holding the boom microphone.

Other jobs were less glamorous.Creating evidence of Cassini’s character’s

unusual fetish, senior Jessica Nguyen-Phuong Photoshopped armpit hair onto images of female party goers. Nguyen-Phuong and seniors Ellie Rava, Jennifer Ho, and Morgan Deary created hundreds of fake barcodes to stick on the film crew’s own books that they used to replace those in the middle school library.

This was done to eliminate the reflection of film lights on the laminated covers of the original books. Other odd jobs included fetching posters around the school, decorating set bulletin boards, folding and sorting class polos, fetching coffee, recording the weather report for shooting days, reassembling Scrabble boards and coercing middle schoolers to sign on as extras.

Amalia Yunus, the film’s producer, said she was impressed by the enthusiasm of students.

“The kids are really excited to help out,” Yunus said. “We’re trying to create an environment where it’s not separate between the students and the school. We wanted to get everyone involved as much as possible. I think that’s the aim of the shoot. It’s not something that’s exclusive; it’s a collaboration with the school.”

It was this collaboration and educational opportunity that persuaded Beth Gribbon in the Communications Department to allow the crew to film on Campus.

“We do regularly have requests and I do regularly turn people down,” Gribbon said.

“Most requests are of a commercial nature and don’t relate to what’s going on at school.”

“They don’t benefit the school in any way and would be, in my opinion, intrusive and require supervision so I tell people no,” Gribbon said.

A recent exception to this rule was during November 2008 when reporters from Channel News Asia came to interview students and teachers on the US presidential election.

“It was of interest to the student body, it was an opportunity for a learning experience, it was be done in an environment where we could control and supervise what was going on and our students could benefit from the experience.”

Gribbon saw the Tisch film production as a similar educational opportunity.

“It’s educators working together with educators or students working together with students in a collaborative way and I thought the kids here getting a chance to work with graduate students working at a prestigious school like Tisch would be a good experience for them.”

“It seems like it’s gone smoothly, from my perspective, and the students from the Tisch school have been reasonable and respectful and very positive in their approach and very positive about their experience here at our school.”

“Skwobble” is Ashish Ghadiali’s Director’s Thesis, his final film before graduating with a MFA from Tisch Asia. The first cut will be completed by May for premier at the National Museum of Singapore (*the one opposite fort park).

“I loved it. To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve ever enjoyed making a film more.”

Students gain insight into the filmmaking process when graduates stu-dents from NYU Tisch Asia shoot short film on campus

e : video story, photo gallery, more

about the crew and cast members

Right: Junior Augusta Soeryadjaya acts while filmmaking students help with equipment.

Left: Assistant Director JC Crump went around the middle school and high school encouraging students to sign-on as extras.

Junior Kelly Schuester and senior Olivia

Auerbach star in this film.

Producer Amalia Yunus has osome fo the over

fifty student extras sign talent release forms.

Director Ashish Ghadiali checks the shot on

the display monitor as it’s being filmed.

Director of Photography Eric Elofson

and Yong line up the shot.

Students on a shoot during Spring Break.

Actors had to arrive at school at 7 a.m.

tinker.eye@gmail.com

Extras help reassemble identical Scrabble

games to ensure continuity between shots.

Gaffer Frank Rinaldi teaches senior Jesse

Scarborough how to hold the boom

To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve ever enjoyed making a film more.

“”- Director Ash Ghadiali

Senior Mary Russell holds the boom. Photos

by Kathryn Tinker and Virginia Cucchi

IASAS veteran breaks female stereotype and teaches, inspires others to dance

Desire, Scarlet Hotel

10 April 8, 2010 a The Eye features

Convention this year, used fabric to create a collage.“I’m making it for someone else, so I tried to imagine

it hanging on a wall.”On the other hand, Junior Aditi Gang depicted

“weave” by using pastels to draw children’s hands woven together on a matte board.

Gang said her work was exhibited at Cultural Convention last year, but this event would be the first time her art would be displayed at an off-campus exhibition.

“It feels really good and I’m very excited,” she said.Harvey said students created work knowing they

were going to let them go, something art students find it difficult to do.

“I didn’t expect my piece to be chosen, but when [Ms. Harvey] told me that it was considered, I didn’t really mind [giving up] my work as long as it was for a good cause,” Timan said.

For AP art students, most of their year is spent working on their concentrations, so for Timan, the project was a worthwhile break.

“I think it’s great how we’re actually helping someone else other than ourselves.”

by Caroline HuiA female senior got a fake ID

from a man in California whom she had never met before. The two interacted via e-mail and text message. The new identitiy cost her USD 100. He put the ID in a mailbox and the student had her older brother pick it up for her.

The man allegedly changes his email address and phone number frequently to avoid getting caught by the authorities.

“It was the sketchiest process I’ve been through, but it’s the best fake ID I’ve seen,” the senior said.

It is not uncommon for students at SAS to own fake IDs. In an Eye sample of 432 students, 36.1 percent said they owned a fake ID.

“My assumption is that there are a lot out there,” Deputy Principal Douglas Neihart said, “but I have no way of knowing, and I have nothing to base that assumption on.”

Neihart said that students have been caught with fake IDs in the past.

“In [a] situation recently, somebody had turned in a wallet that they had found,” he said. “In our process of finding who the wallet belonged to so we could return it, it was discovered that there were multiple fake IDs in the wallet. Three to be exact.”

Neihart said that in his four years at SAS, he has only found three or four students with fake IDs.

When a student is found with a fake ID, the administration makes sure that the student cuts it up and disposes of it.

“It’s kind of like cigarettes,” Neihart said. “We can’t give them back to the student because then we’d be breaking the law or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, so we just dispose of them.”

Neihart said that the administration has never reported finding a fake ID to the Singapore government, reasoning that owning a fake ID is not a school issue, but a legal issue with the government of Singapore.

According to a Feb. 1 article in the Straits Times, there are strict penalties for owning a fake ID. The government places stricter penalties on clubs and bars that serve alcohol to minors.

Under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act, clubs that serve under-18-year-olds alcohol will get three demerit points. Clubs that admit minors 16 and under gain six demerit points. Clubs that accrue 24 points in two years lose their public entertainment license.

The government’s new policies appear to be effective. One Singapore nightclub said that they confiscate, at minimum, 10 fake IDs every night.

“Now [clubs] double look over [my ID],” the female senior said. “That’s why I haven’t been out in a long time.”

Reasons for going illegalAccording to the Eye survey,

reasons for students getting fake IDs include getting into movies, clubs and bars and to buy cigarettes. “[My] friends made me get it,” one resondent said. Another said, “[I] just

want to be like everyone else.”

A male sophomore said that his friends took him to a printing shop on Bencoolen Street. He said that when he didn’t have a fake ID his freshman year, he did not do much on the weekends. Now, his weekends are more eventful.

“For doing stuff on the weekends, [having a fake ID] really helps,” the female senior said. “In Singapore, there’s honestly not much to do. I’ve used my fake ID to get into a movie before. I can go to Clarke Quay.”

Not all SAS students think getting a fake ID is a good idea

“I think [fake IDs] are morally wrong,” another female senior said. “It’s like cheating. It’s against the law, and there’s a reason why you’re not allowed to be in clubs and stuff. The same rules apply to movies. They made it a certain age for a certain reason and if you’re not that age you shouldn’t be able to see it.”

She admits it’s hard to hang out with her friends, because they all have fake IDs.

“They want to go to clubs, and they want to go drinking, and they want to use their fake IDs,” she said. “I can’t hang out with them because I don’t have one and because I don’t agree with having one.”

Different parent reactions

Of the 36.3 percent of students who said they owned fake IDs, 51.3 percent reported that their parents would not be angry if they got caught with a fake ID.

“My parents paid for [my fake ID],” the first female senior said. “When we first moved to Singapore, we heard that a lot of kids [have fake IDs] here. My parents suggested, ‘Maybe you should get one too.’”

Of the students with fake IDs, 24.2 percent said their parents would be angry and confiscate their ID if they found it.

“[My parents] would have killed me,” a third female senior said. “They don’t allow me to go clubbing or drink, and if I had a fake ID, I would go clubbing and drink.”

by Danica PizziIan Page lost 15 pounds after

joining 38 other teachers in a weight loss competition inspired by NBC’s prime time reality show, the “Biggest Loser.”

The science teacher started his weight loss at the end of the summer, but has found motivation from this newly organized competition that includes the support of his colleagues.

Page wants to bring down his body mass index (BMI) and plans on losing another 10 pounds.

“Nothing big has changed for me. I’m trying to eat more vegetables. I have been bicycling quite a bit, 30 km every other day if possible.” Page said.

The “Biggest Loser” competition at SAS was started by intermediate and primary school nurses Elisa Chan and Lynette Abdelnoor in Sept. 2009.

“We were approached by several members of the staff who pushed us to start it,” Chan said.

Chan and Abdelnoor adapted the program here from programs done all over the U.S.

“There are about 23-27 participants in the primary and intermediate school,” Chan said. The high school competition was started in January by nurse Shelly Donahue.

Donahue would not comment for this article.

An important aspect of starting a competition like this is ensuring that a safety net is available.

“We have weekly weigh-ins, talk about goal weights, track loss or gain and provide support and information,” Chan said.

Before the competition started, high school P.E. teacher Ursula Pong’s trainer-husband, Marcel Daane, gave a talk on weight loss to all of the people that wanted to get involved. Chan gave each contestant a card showing appropriate portion sizes and even had a real life demonstration to show what serving sizes should look like.

Participants in the NBC show win $250,000 if they lose the most amount of weight after six months on the ranch. SAS contestants do not win a quarter-of-a-million dollars, but each participant puts $50 into a winner-takes-all pot.

“When you ask people for an initial amount of money, they become vested in the challenge,” Chan said.

The high school competition is supposed to come to an end before summer break. A “biggest loser” will be crowned amongst the SAS faculty.

by Stanton YuwonoAfter working hard for two weeks on a drawing of a

Cambodian temple engulfed by the overgrown roots of a tree, junior Jasmine Timan will have to give it all away.

Timan’s efforts won’t be in vain; her piece will be exhibited and then auctioned off for charity.

The “Weave: Exhibition and Silent Auction” is sponsored by Caring for Cambodia and is a two-part event. The first auction with all AP art students’ work will take place April 8 and 9 at the Fill Your Walls Gallery. A second auction with ten select pieces of art work will take place on April 24 at the Red Sea Gallery.

“Pieces were juried by local artists and gallery directors, and ten were chosen to be in the art aid auction,” art teacher Barbara Harvey said. “The work was so good that they decided to use them all.”

AP art students created works of art around the theme of “weave” and vary from photographs to paintings.

“I didn’t think my piece would be chosen, so I was really happy to be a part of the ten chosen by the judges,” Timan said.

AP:2D student Aisling Leow worked with textile. Leow’s artwork, which was featured at Cultural yuwono.eye@gmail.com

AP art students auction work for charityOver 50 works depicting “Weave” to raise money for charity at off-site auctions

To get around this barrier, she said she would lie to her parents and hide her fake ID.

“I would be like, ‘Oh, we’re just going to dinner, going to see a movie,’” she said. “And I would never keep [my fake ID] in my wallet just in case [my parents] would check. I would keep it in my room and put it in a book or something.”

Students with fake IDs agree that owning a fake ID has its advantages.

“I definitely think [it was a good idea to get a fake ID] because I feel like I’ll be a lot more prepared when I go to college and I’ll know my limits,” the first female senior said. “It opened my eyes to so much more.”

NBC prime time show inspires weight loss among SAS teachers

The Biggest Loser

Fake IDs: Eye survey:Students use them to gain students’ entrance to bars, clubs, movies, and to buy cigarettes

36.3 % of students said that they owned a fake ID

80 % of students said that they got fake IDs to go clubbing

26 % of students said that they use their fake IDs 1-2 times a week

74 % of students said that they got their fake IDs from a Singapore source

51.3 % of students said that their parents would not get mad at them if they got caught with a fake ID.

Sample Size: 432

hui.eye@gmail.com

pizzi.eye@gmail.com

features 11The Eye a April 8, 2010arts & entertainment

The SAS music festival is the largest music event of the year and unique in the fact that it is the only event at SAS in which students from multiple divisions come together to play music.

“Every single SAS music student is playing this week, so our band, strings and choir are combined in a way never done at any other time of the year,” band teacher Brian Hill said when asked about what makes the annual event so special.

The festival was held from March 8-15. It centers around three concerts at the end of the week which the students prepare for with the help of guest conductors. 450 band students, 300 strings students, and 250 choir students were involved in the festival. In the high school itself, about 300 students participated in the festival last week.

Since students starting from grade five all the way up to grade twelve were involved, there was a

significant amount of interaction between students in the three divisions.

“Younger students get to see where they are headed when they watch older students play, and this keeps them motivated for future years,” strings instructor Stephen Bonnette said.

The SAS music festival has been an tradition for fifteen years now. Every year a guest conductor is invited for each of the three music disciplines. This year, however, the band decided to do things a little differently by bringing in guest conductors regularly over the year instead of just solely for the festival. The music festival is not only a time for students, but also a great time for teachers to learn and grow.

“The guest conductors give our faculty professional development and help us to become better teachers and musicians,” said choir director Phillip Green.

Steven Leek is an Australian composer, conductor, educator and publisher of music who taught at the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University until 2009. He is now doing free-lance workshops and guest appearances full time and is also participating in a UNESCO music project. His free-lancing brought him to Singapore, first for the Ministry of Education and now as a guest conductor for the SAS Choir.

Leek brought an interesting Australian flavor to the festival last week. As a native Australian, Leek has always enjoyed composing and teaching his native music. He helped prepare students to sing indigenous songs which originated from Tanzania in Australia for the choir concert on Friday of that week.

Students said they will remember Leek was for his furious hand movements and varying mouth gestures when teaching his students and trying to make a point.

Dr. Jones has been the conductor of the Oshkosh Symphony in Wisconsin and the conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony and Opera since 1997. He has gained recognition for his work by conducting orchestras in Malaysia, Switzerland, Chile and the U.S.

After meeting SAS Strings teacher Stephen Bonnette at a music festival in Kuala Lumpur, he was invited by Bonnette to be a guest conductor at SAS. Although Dr. Jones enjoyed his time here and felt that he had helped teach some of the students how to become better musicians and performers. After meeting with fifth graders and middle school students during the week, Dr. Jones felt that the students were very cooperative and hard-working.

“My impressions of the students so far have been very good, and another thing I liked about SAS is its auditorium, it looked lovely” Dr. Jones said when asked about his interaction with SAS students and the campus in general.

The guest conductors’ primary role is to perfect the music performances for the concerts and raise the level of music at SAS. Choir guest conductor Stephen Leek encouraged students to go more in-depth into their music by reflecting about what they thought about the music. Leek also tried to prepare students for the concert by encouraging them to sing in class the same way they would sing during the concert.

“You get only one shot at singing your best at the concert, so sing your best every-time,” Leek said during one of the workshops.

With so many talented and gifted musicians playing in the festival, the festival is also a big source of school pride.

“School pride in playing music in a fine concert is the same as the pride in winning a football game,” Green said.

SAVE club invited 21 friends from the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). They were each accompanied to the band concert by SAVE club volunteers. Photo by Kathryn Tinker

Music Festival

Juniors Philip Lee and Carolyn Koh performing Mozart’s Divertimento No. 1 in D Major. Photo by Kathryn Tinker

A thousand students from all divisions of SAS came together for three concerts. All stories by Nihal

krishan.eye@gmail.com

Choir: Steven Leek Strings: William Jones

12 April 8, 2010 a The Eye arts & entertainment

Cultural ‘10

Absolutely wired: The cast of the SAS drama “Every Seventeen Minutes the Crowd Goes Crazy” ponder the concept of life as a virtual reality. Their play explored the dysfunctional family portrait of a home where the children have been abandoned. “I liked it because it gave the actors the ability to portray characters that were flawed, a little crazy and, in a weird way, relatable,” senior Ishan Gupta said.

LOOKING FOR DISTRACTIONS: TAS senior Mahesh Harwani plays the role of a man trying to escape his mundane life through elaborate daydreams - an adaptation of author James Thurber’s most famous work, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. The TAS drama was a compilation of Thurber’s greatest stories, including “The Macbeth Murder Mystery” and “Mr. Preble Gets Rid of His Wife.”

Guest conductor Hernan Constantino directs the strings delegates during a rehearsal. Constantino is a founding member of “The New Oregon String Quartet,” and is currently the Concertmaster of the Oregon Coast Music Festival. He is a member of the San Diego Opera Orchestra, and plays with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. He appeared as guest conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo by Antonio Villalon, ISM

IASAS Art delegates listen intently as they attend a workshop led by Don Salubayba. His work has been exhibited widely in the Philippines and internationally including Singapore, Greece, Japan, and the U.S. Salubayba currently teaches at the Philippine High School for the Arts. Photo by Antonio Villalon, ISM

Art delegates set up for the exhibit showcased on Saturday night in the ISM foyer. The IASAS delegates attended workshops and shared their artwork during the three-three day convention. Photo by Antonio Villalon, ISM

Artists, musicians and scholars meet up in Manila, Taipei for annual talent-fest

*All photos by Danielle Courtenay unless otherwise noted.

13The Eye a April 8, 2010arts & entertainment

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION: ISB Senior Dominique Jones and Junior Phuc Nguyen support each other in their dance, “Tuesday”, which explored the interconnected lives of different strangers on a single day.

GOING FOR GOLD: ISB Senior Marian Spencer looks to her peers in the audience as she is awarded the gold medal for Oral Interpretation for her piece, “The Lamb to the Slaughter” by famed children’s author Roald Dahl. SAS senior Olivia Auerbach tied with ISM senior Synnøve Eriksen for second place. Auerbach competed with a comedic piece by British author Neil Gaiman, while Eriksen performed a serious selection from Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Secret Life of Bees.”

CENTER STAGE: SAS drama delegates Jesse Scarborough and Kelly Schuster perform in front of the Taipei audience on Friday night during “Every 17 Minutes the Crowd Goes Crazy.” Maureen, played by Schuster, clutches a bag of pretzels in an attempt to drown out the noises of the voice in her head, while her younger brother Ulie, played by Scarborough, comforts her. In the background are mannequins of their parents, who abandoned their kids for the racetrack.

RAZZLE DAZZLE: In the final scene from ISKL’s colorful production of Jean Poiret’s “La Cage Aux Folles,” Senior Ed Chynoweth leads the cast in a hysterical musical number. Chynoweth’s portrayal of flamboyant St. Tropez nightclub owner Albin “Zaza” Mougeotte garnered him a standing ovation from the audience of the Cultural Convention IASAS delegates as well as the TAS students.

YOU WILL BE OFFENDED: JIS Seniors Casey Tjahaja and Akhil Menon share an improvised moment in their play “Offending the Audience.” The production flipped the typical audience/actor relationship on its head, bringing the other delegates up onto the stage surrounding the cast as they explored what it means to be part of an audience.

A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: Senior Marian Spencer faces the artist’s ultimate dilemma when she must choose between her art or financial security. ISB’s production “The Artist” was notable for both its refreshing simplicity as well as its elaborate sets - a surreal collection of oversized art supplies including money, paintbrushes, and pens.

14 April 8, 2010 a The Eye arts & entertainment

by Ann Lee Ishan Gupta is the only four-year Cultural Convention

for forensics participant this year from SAS. A veteran in impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, Gupta is also actively involved in the SAS community. He is vice president of Student Council and NHS, an IASAS MUN participant and member of Spanish and Thespian honor societies.

Gupta credited his sister, Tanvi Gupta (ISKL ‘07), as the influence for his school activities.

“My sister and I overlapped [in high school] when she was a senior, so a lot of the clubs and activities that I joined were because my sister introduced them to me.”

But it is self-motivation that compels him to excel in forensics.

“I like public speaking because its exciting,” Gupta said. “I like to have people listen to me, and it challenges me to some extent. People in general like to master a skill, and this is just one of the skills that I like to master.”

His speaking skills help him in everyday life. “When you’re talking to people, if you know how to

speak efficiently, it helps you a lot,” Gupta said. Gupta said that Cultural Convention has one of the best

atmospheres of all the IASAS events. It isthe event where he meets the greatest number of friends from other schools.

“While there is competition in between your events, you’re putting some of the most outgoing people all in one place.”

Looking back at the past four Cultural Conventions, Gupta had difficulty picking out his favorite year. In the end, he picked this year and last year as his two most memorable Cultural experiences. Gupta won bronze for the Impromptu speaking event this year.

“It was the last time I would be seeing a lot of people,” he said. “Also it was the only time I ever medaled, so that was a bonus.”

by Sophia ChengYou can immediately spot junior Michael Too when he is

dancing in a crowd on stage. Maybe it is his fluid, swift moves, but he says it’s only one thing – his passion for dance.

“I’m a small guy,” Too said. “It’s not like I can do things that no one else can do. I don’t have an extra limb or anything. So if I can do it, anyone else can do it.”

“When you watch Michael Too dance, it makes you want to dance,” junior Karisa Sukamto said.

It’s not just his sharp, precise moves that make him one of the best hip hop dancers at SAS; it is also the way he captures his audience with extra attitude and energy and confidence into every move.

“Whenever I dance, I don’t second doubt myself,” Too said. “I just take it, finalize it and make it as cool as it could be.”

Too has been dancing since he was two years old. He watched his sister practice ballet and decided he wanted to dance as well.

“It was my own choice. I wanted to be like my sister, who was my role model,” Too said.

Too most enjoys teaching dance. He said he likes to take things slowly, and hopes his students feel his enthusiasm.

“I always try to be patient and happy while I’m teaching, so that my dancers won’t feel like it’s a burden to come to practices,” Too said.

His only secret when it comes to dance?“Dance like everyone is watching,” Too said.

by Aarti SreenivasFourteen-year old Sophia Tinger was the youngest horn player

in the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) when she was assigned a solo in Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. The conductor was not happy with Tinger’s playing and took the solo away from her before the concert.

“I was heartbroken because I worked extremely hard for that solo, and I lost it,” Tinger said. “Since then I have realized that I need to play with my heart and not let anybody judge me.”

The loss of the solo was an early lesson that pursuing music is difficult and requires will power.

“People put you down very quickly in music, and it happened to me young, so it was a valuable experience,” Tinger said.

Her passion for the French horn started when her middle school band teacher in Texas had her try a French horn mouthpiece which he said suited her.

“I had the choice to do the trumpet or the French horn, but I found the French horn to be a rarer instrument, so I chose it, and I love it,” Tinger said.

Tinger was one of the only brass horn players in the SNYO who did not have to go through training and went straight to the main orchestra. She credits long hours of practice.

“There were some days where I would have band class in the day, practice for IASAS after school, practice for SNYO in the evening and then individual training for French horn in the night,” Tinger said.

Sophia plans to accommodate the French horn in her college plans, double majoring in music and science or choosing a minor in music.

“It is a beautiful instrument and I just cannot leave it,” Tinger said.

by Renee HydeMost 3-year-olds ask their parents for toys, candy, or

cartoons. When Akane Otani was three, she asked her mom for violin lessons. Although Otani’s violin career ended shortly after she threw her teacher’s cat across the room, her love for music remained strong.

At five, Otani started on piano, and in the 7th grade, she began to play the flute. Band director Brain Hill, who has taught Otani for five years, said that he immediately noticed Otani because she was “really, really good.”

“[Otani’s music career] has taken off,” Hill said. Along with being president of Tri-M, she is also a member of Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and Cultural Convention.

Cornell-bound Otani’s musical prowess has taught her many lessons.

“You must channel a lot of individual effort. In that way, it has taught me to focus. In terms of audition, it has taught me to be confident of my own abilities.” she said.

“Listening to her play her solo at IASAS, it is really evident that she is a very passionate player,” Hill said.

“I definitely can’t imagine [my life without music],” Otani said, “there are different ways of appreciating music, and playing music is definitely one of my favorite ways.” Ishan Gupta

by Renee HydeFirst time Cultural Convention participant Alex Amstrup

made his mark after performing the satirical piece, “The Quest” by Saki in the oral intrepretation portion.

“I chose [“The Quest”] because it was a satire…I wanted [my piece] to be funny” the junior said.

Amstrup initially became interested in oral interpretation through best friend Zach Nelson, also a Culture Convention forensics participant.

“ I wanted to go to [Cultural Convention] with Zach but didn’t want to compete with him, so I decided to try out for oral interpretation for fun.”

Amstrup auditioned with 17 other potential oral interpretation speakers. All needed to find a piece with literary merit a month in advance. A performance in front of a panel of judges followed. Amstrup was one of three representatives chosen to travel to IASAS in Taiwan.

English teacher Nanette Ruhter, the oral interpretation sponsor, was impressed with Amstrup after watching his first performance.

“Even in the beginning, he had already found his voices and, although it was his first time [performing], he already seemed like a pro.”

Amstrup, according to Ruhter, was very professional.“He’d be the first one to be [in the room] at 3:15 and he

never complained if we ran overtime.” Amstrup and Ruhter worked on his speech five hours a

week with the other two oral interpretation representatives. Despite high hopes, Amstrup did not place this year. “There were more kids who were really prepared,” Ruhter

said. “Plus, [Amstrup] performed a humorous piece, which is more difficult.”

“It was his first time,” teammate Nelson said. ”Obviously he had some small flaws, but overall he did a great job. The only reason he didn’t make the finals was due to the inconsistent judging.”

Nelson won last year’s original oratory gold as a sophomore.

Although Amstrup thought the judging was confusing, he felt that the criticisms were fair.

“One judge said that I spoke too quickly, which was true. Most of the comments were applicable” he said.

Alex Amstrup

Michael Too

Akane Otani

Sophia Tinger

IASAS Count: IIInstrument: Flute

IASAS Count: IVEvent: Impromptu & extemp speaking

IASAS Count: IEvent: Oral interpretation

IASAS Count: IIEvent: Dance

IASAS Count: IVInstrument: French Horn

Profiles: Veterans, newbies find voice, feet at Cultural

15The Eye a April 8, 2010sports & activities

petty.eye@gmail.competty.eye@gmail.com

A LEVEL UP Seniors Huston and Farias’ play on rugby club leads to places onNational team, trip to Australia’s National Touch Leauge Championships

by Sasha JassemWhen most people hear the beat

of a drum they think of music. When senior Lauren Lee hears the beat of a drum she thinks “row.”

Lee has been competing on the expat dragon-boating team American Dragons for almost two years. She initially got involved when her guardian, a family friend who works for team sponsor Cisco, asked her to join.

Lee has rowed with the 40 to 50-member adult team for almost two years now and, at age 17, she is the youngest member of all adult expat dragon-boating teams in Singapore.

The typical dragon boat is made of fiberglass, wood and polyester, typically weighing about 250 kg. The added weight of 20 rowers and resistance from the water makes rowing these boats no small feat.

“The most challenging part of the sport is the long races,” Lee said. “In October, I took part in the 10km race. It was tough but a crazy experience. We rowed for a little less than an hour against a bunch of other expat and local teams. Endurance is a huge aspect of the sport.”

The length of the races in competitions as well as the size and weight of the dragon boats requires a massive amount of time, effort and determination.

“We have land practice and

military boot camp that some of us do weekly,” Lee said. “Most of my exercise to keep in shape in general and for the sport is at school. I did Muay Thai for a while but went into Boxing Club once it started last year. I also work out in the gym with my friends and Ms. Pong.”

The team practices on Saturdays from 3:45 to 6:20 p.m., Wednesday evenings and sometimes Sunday mornings.

The American Dragons take part in competitions with other expat dragon-boating teams as well as racing for fun with fellow teammates.

“We have races that range from 200m sprints to 10km challenges,”

Lee said. “The fun races we have are within the team like the dragon divas race where only the girls participate. The guys can as well, but they have to dress up as girls. It’s a perfect balance of fun and competition.”

While few in the SAS student body are aware of this league or even the competitions, Lee still receives support.

“I have tons of support from my family and friends,” she said. “We always have a bunch of people that come watch our races, so that motivates us. Aside from support, my favorite part of the team is the people, they make everything fun and are always supportive of each other.”

Pushing through: Senior Lauren Lee (top right in white cap) paddles across the finish line alongside fellow American Dragons in the mixed team Austcham 10 Kilometer Challange held in

Singapore last year. The American Dragon Boat Team of Singapore is

organized under the American Association of Singapore. Photo by Chip Wilcox

Blades In:

jassem.eye@gmail.com

by Evan PettyThis year’s Winter Olympics

in Vancouver brought the best athletes together for a three-week competition with an international flair. While most of us watch and only imagine what it must be like to represent your country in such a spectacle, two SAS seniors are already doing so on a smaller scale.

As members of the National Touch Football Team, Melissa Huston and Erika Farias represented Singapore in the Australian National Touch League in Queensland, Australia from March 10-13. They placed 11th in the Women’s 20’s championship.

While playing for a local club team called the Pirates, the two were offered the chance to try out for the Under-20 Opens National Team in October after being scouted in a game. Both Huston and Farias were eligible for the National Team, with the only requirement

being that they continue to play for their club. The invitation came as a surprise to Huston, who had decided to play for the Pirates primarily to stay in playing shape after opting not to play first season soccer like she had done in previous years.

“It was kind of funny because the (Pirates) coach came up to (Erika and me) at the end of the practice and said we just got scouted to play

for the National Team,” Huston said.With the new opportunity, the

two began extensive training in October - a regimen they both found fun and enjoyable. During the varsity

touch season they committed over 30 hours a week on occasion to play between all the teams they were playing for - the type of dedication their National Team coach, Anne Goh, noticed immediately.

“They are both very committed even with 101 other school activities going on,” Goh said. “They’re both very coachable and respect feeback, I love having players with such integrity on the team.”

With just two other ex-pats on the team, Huston and Farias turned to each other for confidence early on before they grew to know their local

teammates. While Huston says she has come to love her teammates and membership on the National Team, she admitted that it took some initial

encouragement from Farias, who

knew much of the team from a winter league she had previously

played in.“It was really

daunting in the beginning. Erika had to drag me to the first practice to get me to

go,” Huston said.F u l l y

comfortable on the team, Huston took on

a bigger role as a vice-captain - something she

calls “a whole different world” from her previous

touch experiences. Farias says the biggest reward she gets out

of her national team career is the opportunity to play in another major tournament outside of IASAS.

As touch becomes more and more prominent, Huston and Farias will have chances to continue their playing career beyond this year if they wish.

“I could still have the chance to return to Singapore and be put on an outside of Singapore team. If not, hopefully I can continue to play in the States because it is becoming more popular there,” Farias said.

If the success they are having now is any indication for the future, both could be playing in very high level

Lee pulls hard as youngest expat on dragon boats

competition years down the road. Goh has the utmost confidence in her duo from SAS and thinks each will go as far as their training takes them.

“Both are in running to play in the Women’s Open Touch Team if they continue the sport. Touch is

picking up like wildfire in certain states, so if they go to the U.S. teams will invite them with red carpets.”

“They are both very com-

-National coach, Anne Goh

mitted even with 101 other school activities going on.”

“If they go to the U.S.,

-National coach, Anne Goh

teams will invite them with red carpets.”

petty.eye@gmail.com

Leaving everything on the field: Seniors Erika Farias and Melissa Huston walk off the field after shaking hands with the Hunter Western Hornets. The tournament saw several days of heavy rain and muddy fields. Photo by Erma Huston e : interviews with Huston and Farias

Lee, middle row, second from left, with the American Dragons. Photo by Allen Allarey

Profiles: Veterans, newbies find voice, feet at Cultural

16 April 8, 2010 a The Eye sports & activitiesby Caroline Hui

The same warring factions who moved IASAS softball from Bangkok to Singapore last year are at it again

A street protest in Bangkok the weekend of March 12th threatened to paralyze the city and bring down the government. Just as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva canceled a planned visit to Australia because of the protests, the International School Bangkok (ISB) administration canceled a track exchange.

“I found out second block on Wednesday,” said senior boys co-captain Alexis Lauzon. “Max [Shaulis] heard from [Athletics Director Mike] Molly, and Molly came up to us and confirmed it.”

ISB planned on having a track and field meet with all six IASAS schools, plus two schools from China and a few local schools in Bangkok. According to Molly, ISB knew the Reds (the group supporting ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra) were planning a demonstration for the week of the track meet, but government officials, travel agencies and embassies said there was no need for alarm.

A week before the exchange, the Reds called for people to come in from the countryside to lock down the capital. The government warned that police would detain and arrest people if the demonstrations got out of hand.

“The whole atmosphere around the demonstrations got to the point where embassies started recommending caution in travel,” Molly said. “ISB decided this wasn’t an environment they wanted to host a meet in.”

Molly said the ISB administration

decided to cancel all ISB activities that weekend because they didn’t

want anybody traveling.“When [The Reds] had

demonstrations previously, they had shut down the airport and clogged a lot of the transportation arteries in the capital,” Molly said. “If the demonstrations did turn bad, [traveling groups] can’t land in Bangkok.”

The overall reaction to the track exchange cancellation was disappointment.

“[Everyone’s reaction was] usually a profane word followed by a ramble about how much they looked forward to it,” ISB boys captain junior Tamrong Teo said.

The cancellation was especially a disappointment to the SAS seniors.

“We don’t get to travel this season,” junior Radhika Agarwal said. “And this would’ve been [seniors] last exchange.”

Cancellation affects SAS IASAS team, not all schools

The track exchange would have been a good opportunity to scout the talent that each IASAS school would bring to the big competition

this year.“Right now, our main problem is

the fact that we haven’t really been able to see the other teams,” junior Radhika Agarwal said. “In order to determine the IASAS team, it would’ve really helped to see how our team would’ve done against the teams from other schools.”

The exchange also would have been an opportunity for new members to see how prepared they

were for their first IASAS.“It was important to see how

people could deal with a two-session meet and under more pressure, wearing a jersey,” Lauzon said. “[It mostly affects] the new people because it’s their first time traveling with the track team. We’ve had meets over the weekends, but not two-session meets like the one in Bangkok [would have been] where it takes a lot of out of you, kind of like a day at IASAS would. They don’t get that experience, and if they do make IASAS it could make be harder for them.”

Not all the IASAS schools have been negatively impacted by the cancellation.

“For us, I think that the exchange actually didn’t make much of a difference for the [IASAS] lineup,” said Taipei American School (TAS) girls captain Emily Tang. “Most of the spots were pretty much finalized,

and a lot of our returning IASAS members weren’t even going to go to the exchange.”

In place of the exchange, the SAS coaches planned an inter-squad meet, where would-be Bangkok-participants and a few others would compete against each other.

“The [track] coaches and I actually invited International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) to come out,” Molly said, “but ISKL felt that they couldn’t do it on such short notice. They would’ve had to stay in a hotel, and it would’ve been real tough for them to come.”

Agarwal said that the coaches would take times from the inter-squad meet to determine the IASAS lineup of 15 boys and 15 girls.

What’s really happening:Teo, who has lived in Bangkok

for 16 years, said he has seen political demonstrations get out of control to the point where ISB had to close down. Recent riots include one in November 2008 where The Yellows (supporters of the current government) took over the Bangkok airport and another in April 2009 when The Reds set fire to cars.

Teo said that the current situation is serious, but that things have not gotten out of control yet.

“I think the exchange could have taken place,” he said, “but at the same time, the administration had to make the decision, and I think they made the right one.”

Last year, ISB planned to host IASAS softball, but that fell through because a political coup. According to Molly, IASAS rules state that if a school is unable to host an event, the school that hosted the same event the previous year is asked to host it again. That school has the right to refuse and give the event to another school.

From April 8–11, SAS will host IASAS track and field. IASAS badminton and IASAS softball are scheduled for Bangkok. If the riots do not calm down in time for IASAS, ISB would first turn to SAS to host softball and to TAS to host badminton.

“We’re already doing track and field,” Molly said. “Do we want to host two events, one we’re planning for and one on short notice? That’s something we’d have to think about.”

Traveling team stays homeTeam bonding: the SAS track team get together for a team chever before the events. Photo by Kenny Evans

“Our main problem is the fact

- Junior athelte, Radhika Agarwal

that we haven’t really been able to see other teams.”

-Athletics Director, Mike Molly

“The whole atmosphere around the demonstrations got to the point where embassies started recommending caution in travel.”

hui.eye@gmail.com

EXCHANGEresults

On Feb. 26 both the boys and girls Varsity Badminton team traveled to Kuala Lumpur to play teams from ISKL, ISB and ISM.

On March 13 the girls and boys softball teams flew to Jakarta to face teams fromJIS and ISKL.

vs. ISKL (1)24-2

Girls Softball

vs. ISKL (2)

vs. JIS (1)

vs. JIS (2)

36-2

10-3

8-3

Pep talk: Coach Jim Baker speaks to the track team after practice about their progress as a team just after being hospitalized. Baker congratulated senior Alexis Lauzon for breaking his personal record. Photo by Ann Lee

vs. ISKL (1)24-5

Boys Softball

vs. ISKL (2)

vs. JIS (1)

vs. JIS (2)

18-7

4-1

3-7

vs. ISKL (1)3-2

vs. ISKL (2)

vs. ISB

vs. JIS

3-2

2-3

2-3

vs. ISKL0-5

vs. ISKL (2)

vs. ISB

vs. JIS

0-5

0-5

0-5

Girls Badminton Boys Badminton