SAS Pudong – High School

It looks like the typhoon decided to spare Shanghai this time!  We will enjoy a beautiful and unexpected day off.

As is our custom, we follow the directives of the Shanghai educational authorities in closing school unexpectedly.  This was no exception.  In this case they erred on the side of the safety of the children, which is always the way to go.

Tomorrow, Thursday September 2, will be a 3A day as is published in the student agenda. We do not normally “skip” a published day due to a number of reasons – facility planning, part time teachers’ schedules, etc.

We look forward to well rested students on Thursday morning!

Jonathan Borden

The Shanghai Education Commission has requested that all schools in Shanghai, Chinese and International, be closed tomorrow, September 1, due to the approach of Typhoon Kompasu and possible related issues.

Shanghai American School will be closed tomorrow, September 1.  SAS classes will resume on Thursday, September 2.

J. Borden

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE:  AUGUST 30, 2010

BLOG UPDATE! A new look for our blog!  You may notice that we have consolidated some of the categories on the right hand sidebar of this blog.  Note that you can easily “subscribe” to get an email alert whenever an addition is made to this blog – normally no more than once a day.  You can “unsubscribe” at any time.  Just below that is the “Announcement” graphic; click it for the daily announcements that student’s see each morning.  This will help you keep up on the daily “goings-on” at the high school.    Below that are school documents – pieces of important information that you may need to access from time to time.   Schoolwide Blogs are links to other blogs  and web sites here at SAS that you might want to take a look at.  Also notice that you look at individual teacher blogs – basic information about the courses that your child is in, as well as some information about assignments coming up.  Take some time to explore the blog and familiarize yourself with it.  There is lots and lots of information that you will find helpful and informative.  Of course, for the most important breaking news, check the weekly High School Update posted every Sunday evening.

EAGLE Magazine is SAS’s twice-monthly magazine, with great articles and pictures about various events and programs on our two campuses.  This is sent home in hard copy with the YOUNGEST child normally every other Friday. Unfortunately, this week it will come out on Monday, August 30.  If your high schooler is your youngest, please ask him or her for the copy.  This is really more than a news magazine, it is a photo journal of SAS which you will want to have on your coffee table and share with family during the holidays.

HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE! The first Pudong Parent Open House of the season belongs to the high school.  Please save the evening of Tuesday, September 7, from 6:00 to 9:00pm to come to school, meet and greet old friends and new, and spend some time with each of your child’s teachers to learn about the courses your child is taking, about teachers’ expectations and plans, and just to get to know the teachers who are teaching your child this year.  We will begin with a short stand up meeting in the High School Gym at 6:30, followed by visits to each of your child’s classes, following your child’s schedule.  We will provide you with a schedule of classes to follow.  This evening is not a program for individual meetings, but to gain general understanding and knowledge.  Light refreshments and sandwiches will be served for those coming directly from work!  Limited first come/first served bus service will run from Starbucks/Jinqiao (Green City entrance, next to Carrefore), departing at 5:30pm, returning to Jinqiao at 9:00pm.   Upon arrival come directly to the high school gym.  Don’t be late for school!

HIGH SCHOOL PTSA/PRINCIPAL’S COFFEE: Another way to find out what is going on at the high school is to attend the semi-monthly High School PTSA/Principal’s Coffee morning.  These meetings begin at 11:00am in the Library Lecture Hall across from the Cafeteria, and run for about 90 minutes.  After a business meeting at which decisions and plans are made as to how best support the high school program and students, there is a presentation on some timely topic(s) by the Principal or faculty.  The first PTSA Meeting/Coffee is to be held on Thursday, September 9.  Principal’s topics will include IB/AP scores from last May’s testing, a little bit about China Alive plans next spring, and then it will be open Q and A.  I especially encourage new high school parents to attend.

CHINA ALIVE: Some students who were in Grades 9 and 10 last year have not picked up their refund from last Spring; letters were sent home at that time that require a parental signature for us to give the refund to your children.  The deadline for getting the refund is September 30, 2010.

HOLIDAY VACATION PLANNING ALREADY? We just got back, but some are already making plans for winter break in December.  Please remember in making your plans that all high school students have Final Exams, and the exam schedule runs up until the afternoon of Friday, December 17. While it is possible that your son or daughter may not have exams on that day, that will not be known until just before exams.  Plan on being in Shanghai through the 17th.  Note that at the high school level NO exams are given late or early except in case of extreme, unexpected emergency, after approval by the Principal.  Final exams count for 20% of the semester grade, and if the exam is not taken, students receive no credit (0%) on the exam.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, Sept 7:  HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE (see above)

Thursday, Sept 9:  High School PTSA Meeting/Principal’s Coffee:  11:00am – 12:30pm

Saturday, Sept 18:  PTSA Pudong Fall Barbecue, 11:00 – 3:00!  Come and spend the day – lots of vendors, games, and food!  Watch for more information!

Sept 30:  Last day to pick up China Alive refunds from last year

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Jonathan Borden

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE: AUGUST 23, 2010

Each Monday morning I encourage you to check this blog site for the High School Update, reviewing the week past and lookinig at what is coming up.  You will also find many documents posted that will find informative and helpful as well.  To be reminded weekly via email of this Update, click on the “Subscribe” box on the upper right side of the screen.  You can always “unsubscribe” later.

Our first week of school went very well.  New Student Orientation on Monday was, as always a great experience of welcoming new parents and students, helping them learn their way around and getting organized with transportation, food service, PowerSchool, ID cards, and gathering lots of information about our school and what we have to offer.  I received many compliments that better belonged to our Office of Admission, who organized orientation programs on successive days on the Puxi and Pudong campus, and to the amazing PTSA volunteers who helped in so many ways.  On Pudong alone we hosted more than 360 new students and their parents.  This was truly an experience of our community welcoming our new members.

Day One began with our welcoming assembly in the gym.  Students were in classes, a few last minute schedule changes made, and things got underway. At this point, except for students requesting course changes, just about everyone has their schedule for the year.  The counselors worked very hard scheduling last minute enrollees.

The year is certainly getting busy!  Last Thursday was the first day of Season One Sports – Volleyball, Rugby, Boys’ Baseball, Cross Country, and Swimming.  Golf begins on Tuesday the 24th of August, and Table Tennis on Monday the 30th.

Signups for other High School Activities begins on Monday the 23rd at lunchtime, running all week.  Club advisors will be on hand to answer questions and take signups.  Students should be sure to not overload themselves and balance studies and activities, while also being sure that they don’t sign up for activities that don’t conflict with each other in scheduling.  Non-sport activities include Habitat for Humanity, Roots and Shoots Environmental Awareness Club, Liming Migrant School Service Group, Peer Tutoring, English Service Project (teaching our school guards basic English), Children’s Home, Animal Rescue and Support, Modern United Nations, Chess Club, Chinese Magazine, Robotics Club, Art Club, Ropes and Rocks,  Digital Art Club, Academic Quiz Bowl Club, Word: The Magazine, Afghans for Afghanistan, Forensics Club, Space Academy, We Design . . .  and lots more. There is something for everyone at SAS Pudong High School!  We encourage new students to ask about various activities that sound interesting to them and get involved.  Being part of a team or club is the best way to meet new friends with similar interests and quickly become part of the school community.

For adults, I strongly recommend that you get involved in the PTSA (see schedule below).  This group of parents serves our school and students in very many ways.  Come to the first General Pudong Meeting and the High School PTSA Meeting, followed by a Principal’s Coffee, a time of information and connecting with school and with each other.  This is a great way to get involved and meet new friends, who have a wealth of information about surviving and happily thriving in Shanghai.

9th GRADE STUDENT COUNCIL/HOMEROOM REP election campaigns and voting take place this week, beginning on Monday.  We welcome all our new 9th Graders and encourage them to get involved in high school activities!

THE STUDENT AGENDA/HANDBOOK was distributed to all high schoolers on the first day of school.  Students are responsible to be familiar with the contents of the rulebook section, as are parents.  Your son or daughter will be asking you to read it over, as well as sign a paper stating that you are also familiar with the contents.  The Handbook is also available on this blog directly under this High School Update, and will be posted on the sidebar to the right within a few days.  Please read the contents carefully and be aware of how they may affect you and/or your child.

VACATION PLANNING ALREADY? We just got back, but some are already making plans for winter break in December.  Please remember in making your plans that all high school students have Final Exams, and the exam schedule runs up until the afternoon of Friday, December 17. While it is possible that your son or daughter may not have exams on that day, that will not be known until just before exams.  Plan on being in Shanghai through the 17th.  Note that at the high school level NO exams are given late or early except in case of extreme, unexpected emergency, after approval by the Principal.  Final exams count for 20% of the semester grade, and if the exam is not taken, students receive no credit (0%) on the exam.

HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE! The first Pudong Parent Open House of the season belongs to the high school.  Please save the evening of Tuesday, September 7, from 6:00 to 9:00pm to come to school, meet and greet old friends and new, and visit each of your child’s teachers and learn about them, about their expectations and plans, and just to get to know the teachers who are teaching your child this year.  This is not a program for individual meetings, but to gain general understanding and knowledge.  Light refreshments and sandwiches will be served, and limited first come/first served bus service will run from Starbucks/Jinqiao (Green City entrance, next to Carrefore)., and home at the end of the evening.  A detailed schedule and bus schedule will be posted on the High School Update next week.

HIGH SCHOOL PTSA/PRINCIPAL’S COFFEE: Another way to find out what is going on at the high school is to attend the semi-monthly High School PTSA/Principal’s Coffee morning.  These meetings begin at 11:00am in the Library Lecture Hall across from the Cafeteria, and run for about 90 minutes.  After a business meeting at which decisions and plans are made as to how best support the high school program and students, there is a presentation on some timely topic(s) by the Principal or faculty.  The first PTSA Meeting/Coffee is to be held on Thursday, September 9.  Principal’s topics will include IB/AP scores from last May’s testing, a little bit about China Alive plans, and then it will be open Q and A.  I strongly especially encourage new high school parents to attend.

CHINA ALIVE: Some returning parents have asked about China Alive this year. Both SAS High Schools have agreed to hold our China Alive week this year in May.  There are a number of reasons for this, which I will share at my first Principal’s Coffee.  Some students who were in Grades 9 and 10 last year have not picked up their refund from last Spring; letters were sent home at that time that require a parental signature for us to give the refund to your children.  The deadline for getting the refund is September 30, 2010.

Upcoming Events:

Monday – Friday, August 30 – Sept 3:  Club and Activity Signups

Thursday, August 26:  Pudong PTSA General Meeting; 9:00am; Library Lecture Hall

Tuesday, Sept 7:  HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE (see above)

Thursday, Sept 9:  High School PTSA Meeting/Principal’s Coffee:  11:00am – 12:30pm

Saturday, Sept 18:  PTSA Pudong Fall Barbecue!  Come and spend the day; watch for more information!

Sept 30:  Last day to pick up China Alive refunds from last year

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Jonathan Borden

Dear SAS Pudong High School Parents,

Welcome, or Welcome Back!  It gives me a real pleasure and honor to greet you as the high school principal of SAS-Pudong High School.  I am beginning my sixth year at SAS, and my 33rd year as an international educator.  The beginning of the school year is without doubt my favorite time.  The excitement of returning faculty being back among friends and fellow workers after a well-deserved rest, the enthusiasm of the new faculty as they get to know Shanghai and SAS, and the anticipation of all of us as we look forward to getting to know and teaching new students – all combine to create an atmosphere of spirit that is almost palpable.  The first day of school brings the buildings alive!

On Tuesday the faculty spent the day on the Puxi Campus with our professional counterparts, getting to know them better, forming common goals and agenda, and developing plans for working together to combine strengths and energies as we continue to make SAS – One School on Two Campuses – a leader in international education.  We will be ready and waiting to greet many new students next Monday, August 16, as we orient all new SAS parents and students.  Of course it all comes together on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 17.

I am very happy to follow up on our outstanding college acceptances of last spring with the news that our Pudong IB and AP scores received this summer were simply astounding.  Every one of our IB Diploma candidates passed with flying colors, and our average score was nearly two points – a 36 – over last year.  This is a very strong score for any school.  In addition, our AP results were terrific – 93% of our students earned a score of 3 or above out of 5.  The fact that we practice an “open enrollment” for our IB and AP programs, welcoming any student who wants to take on the challenge of such rigorous courses, indicates that students with a wide range of academic talents elects such courses – and succeeds.  This is a testimony to the support of parents, the hard work of teachers, and of course the dedication of our students to reach their greatest potential.

I look forward to meeting you in the next days and weeks as we begin this new year.  For those returning, please join me in welcoming the over 90 students new to our Pudong campus, as well as our 15 new faculty members, many taking on newly created positions to meet our growing enrollment and program needs. To all, the faculty joins me in once again saying Welcome!

Check the high school blog at http://teachers.saschina.org/hspudong/ regularly for up to date news and events.  Please subscribe to the blog for email alerts of blog postings.

If you are the parent of a student new to SAS Pudong, I hope to see you on Monday for New Student/New Parent Orientation.  If you are the parent of a returning student, please double check the bus pickup time provided for you.  We’re ready and waiting for our students to return on Tuesday morning!

I wish you and your sons and daughters a great year at SAS PudongHigh School!

Sincerely,

Jonathan F. Borden, Ph. D.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE:  June 14, 2010

SCHOOL’S OUT! The last day of school was an enjoyable one – some cleanup time, a school assembly looking back over the year and having some fun with it, and some grade level time together to say good-bye and sign yearbooks. As is our tradition in Pudong, as the busses rolled out of the gate the entire Pudong faculty lined up along the Links road to wave goodbye.  The year ended on a very positive note!

Thanks go to each of you as parents who worked so hard with us throughout the year to support your sons and daughters.  It is a privilege to work with such great kids, who have such caring parents.  Together we got them all through the year, and we look forward to doing it again in August!  Thanks!

GRADES became available through your Parent Portal/PowerSchool at 1:30pm on Friday.  They will remain open to you until August 1, when we must load the new year’s class lists.  Next year we will re-open grades at the mid-first Quarter, as we have been doing.  However, after that they will remain open for the remainder of the year.

REPORT CARDS will be mailed to students in the next two weeks (you can of course see grades now on PowerSchool).  A number of students will not be receiving theirs, as they 1) still owe some lost items or payment for the same; or 2) did not complete the signout process which all students did on Wednesday, and those who did not turn their sheet in could still do it on Thursday.  If a student comes to school during the summer with their signout sheet or payment for the lost item(s), we will be happy to give them their report card.

IF YOU FIND YOU ARE LEAVING OR NEED TRANSCRIPTS during the summer, these can be gotten by requesting them one day in advance from the Office of the Registrar (located in the Office of Admission) here in Pudong. Do not contact the High School Office, as we cannot generate transcripts.

IF YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE during the summer, please call to be sure that someone will be here.  Office assistant Stella Jiang will be on duty, but may be absent or working out of the office on some days.  We will be fully staffed until this Tuesday noon (June 15).  We will again be open for full service on Monday, August 2.

IF YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS NEW FAMILIES coming to Shanghai unexpectedly over the summer, tell them that there are still some spaces in Pudong High School!  Although we are near capacity in some grades, we have a little more room in others.  Be sure to call the Office of Admission for information!

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION FOR PUDONG is Monday, August 16.  All new families have been contacted by letter.  This is not for Pudong 8th graders coming up for 9th grade – our own Pudong students have been oriented already.  This orientation is for students new to the Pudong campus and SAS.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for the 2010-2011 academic year will be Tuesday, August 17.  Please be sure that your son or daughter begins with us; getting off to a good start is very important to continued success.  No one wants to be behind before they begin!

That’s about all!  Once again, I want to thank each of you for your support this year.  Enjoy your summer.  If you are leaving SAS, our best wishes go with you to your new homes and schools.  If you are staying – see you in August!

Jonathan Borden, High School Principal

We still have a few yearbooks for sale.  If you would like one please come to Ms. Stacie Nakai and purchase one.  She will be in her computer lab after break on Wednesday and around selling on Thursday.  The cost is 240rmb for 260 pages of high school events. If you would like to reserve a copy email: stacie.nakai@saschina.org

Senior parents if you would like your own copy please email me and I will find a way to get it to you.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE:  June 7, 2010

As we head into the last week of school we look back over the year while also looking ahead to summer and a new school year beyond. This past week students were asked to pick up their 2010-2011 schedule  of classes from their counselor and talk to the counselor if there are any difficulties. Most schools of our size are able to schedule about 80% of their students, particularly at the 11^th and 12^th grade levels, with their first choices.  We have began our process with about 87% correctly scheduled; other students may have to change an elective, put off taking a course for another year, or make some other adjustment.  In the end, just about everyone ends up with a challenging schedule of classes that meets their educational needs.  We should not be experiencing some of the real challenges we faced last August.  If you have any questions about your child’s courses for next year as illustrated on their schedule, please contact your child’s current counselor.

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THIS WEEK looks like this:

MONDAY, June 7:  Final Exams continue

TUESDAY, June 8:  Final Make-up/Conflict Exams

WEDNESDAY, June 9:  All students attend school; all eight classes will meet.  On Wednesday all students must complete a checkout form before leaving for the summer, getting a signature from each teacher that all books and supplies have been returned, as was requested during final exams.  Students must complete the procedure in order to be sent grades.   If for some reason your child will be leaving before June 9 they will have to sign out as well, and should come to the office for a signout form and return it before leaving.

THURSDAY, JUNE 10:  LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. Following an extended homeroom period to take care of last minute obligations and clean out lockers, there will be an all school assembly wrapping up the year and having some fun!  Following that grade levels will meet to say good-bye and sign yearbooks.  Dismissal will be at 11:20, and busses will leave at 11:30.  Teachers will line the Links Road and wave goodbye in our traditional sendoff to students.

REPORT CARDS: In the past at Pudong HS, due to the relatively small enrollment, we have been able to process and distribute report cards on the last day of school.  However, last year this proved to be very difficult to do on a short timeline.  Thus, we will be following the same procedure that SAS-Puxi HS has followed for some years; we will be mailing report cards during the summer.  As always, however, PowerSchool will be open for you to see your child’s grades beginning at 3:00pm on June 11. If you will be leaving SAS, please provide us with a self-addressed envelope so that we can send you your child’s report card in a timely manner.

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REQUIRED RE-ENROLLMENT for 2010/2011: All parents have received via email a notice from our Registrar’s Office regarding re-enrollment, which is necessary for all students returning for the 2010-2011 school year.

Each year all students have been required to “re-enroll” for the following school year.  In the past, this has been done on paper, requiring many, many people-days of data collection and re-keying into our database.  This year parents are asked to check or input data directly into our database, PowerSchool, through the Parent Portal.  This will include updating contact information, health information/immunization records, and signing the re-enrollment agreement.  For some students a physical exam will be necessary.  The Portal is now open; please don’t wait until August! Completing this will take more than a few minutes, so set some time apart some quiet morning to complete it.  Once you hit “send” though, it will all be done for the summer!

Please read the information and follow the directions carefully.  The first step is to log in to the Parent Portal – the same place that you have been able to check your child’s grades from time to time.  If you do not know your user name and password, which has been sent to you previously, please call HS secretary Sylvia Shen (ext. 3351), who can provide that information.  Sylvia is not authorized to give parents user names and passwords to students, as this is also where parents can update contacts and other personal information.   Please contact Sylvia directly for this information.

GRADE 9 AND 10 PARENTS:  CHINA ALIVE REFUND. On Friday we sent out from the Finance Office notice that due to a discrepancy between the way China Alive expenses were calculated at Pudong HS and Puxi HS, Pudong parents would receive some refund, the amount depending on the trip taken.  On Monday June 7 all 9^th and 10^th graders will receive a note giving the amount of refund.  Please sign the form; your child can pick up the refund from the Pudong Cashier.  Alternatively, you can pick up the refund before September 15.  All questions should be directed to the Finance Office.

EAGLE MAGAZINE CORRECTION from the Activities Office. The regular column from last Friday’s EAGLE was a misprint.  The corrected information is found below:

Athlete of the Year Award Winners:

Male Junior Athlete of the Year Nominees: Erik Barnes, Derek Schwung, Evan Knox,     and Graham Thompson    WINNER – Derek Schwung

Female Junior Athlete of the Year Nominees: Zara Mahmood, Audrey Goettl, Lydia Oldham, and Alex Sotiropoulos WINNER – Zara Mahmood

Male Senior Athlete of the Year Nominees: Chris Germain, David Huang, Evan Herdrich,

Phil Chun, and Benedict Wong  WINNER – Evan Herdrich

Female Senior Athlete of the Year Nominees: Jessie Liu, Anna Harder, Amy Parsons,

and Anika Miller   WINNER – Jessie Liu

Scholar Athlete Award Winners:

All scholar athlete award winners had to have competed in at least two varsity sports or two season of varsity swimming and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to earn Scholar Athlete Status.

Mary Ann Carey, Katie Chang, Karissa Huang, Anna Tora, Jae A Park, Annice Chen, Emily Barns, Felicia Emma Bengtsson, Vivian Zhang, Emily Yang, Annika Miller Cooper, Audrey Goettl, Kim Chen, Alexandra Tuppe Bennett, Jessie Liu, Alicia Chen, Cynthia Sun, Brenda Lee, Erika Lu, Jessica Meng JiHao, Lily Feng, Scott Shi, Kyle Bennett, Spencer Gould, Arvind Selvakesari, Evan Knox, Tim Suh, Victor Pan, Eric Du, Justin Wang, Johnny Tan, Sean Feng, Callum Voge, Chris Germain, Kyle Bennett, and Howard Chen

Upcoming High School Activities:

Season One HS Sports Try-outs start on Thursday the 19^th of August @ 3:00pm

-        Baseball – Baseball Field

-        Volleyball – Boys MS Gym – Girls HS Gym

-        Rugby – Main Rugby Field

-        Swimming – Pool

-        Tennis – TBA

-        Cross Country – Track

Additional (Golf & Table Tennis) Season One Sports Starting Dates TBA

COMING UP ON THE CALENDAR:

June 9:  Full day for all current 9^th through 11^th graders; all students must complete checkout procedure in order to receive report cards

June 10:  Last Day of School; 11:30 dismissal

June 11:  Semester Grades available on PowerSchool; 3:00pm

By July 1:  Report cards mailed out to China address or via your self-addressed envelope to a foreign address.

Have a great week!

Jonathan Borden

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE:  May 31, 2010

GRADUATION:  On Saturday we bid goodbye to the 85 members of the SAS Pudong Class of 2010 at the Shnghai Center Auditorium.  It was a wonderful celebration of our community – whether it was the quality of the student and faculty speakers, the awarding of scholarships, the receiving of certificates, the excitement of the processional, the recognition of the amazing college and university acceptances, or the festive nature of the reception – the focus was on celebrating our Pudong community by recognizing and sending off our graduates – those young people whose education and development represent our goals as a school.  Thank you to all who came, and once again, congratulations to the graduates and their parents.  It has been an honor and a pleasure to have worked with you these past four years.

For 350+ pictures of the Graduation Ceremony, go to http://portal.saschina.org/.  Click on the Photos icon across the top, and then enter “Pudong Graduation” in the Search Box on the left.  You can see either regular or high resolution photos of our special day!

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS: In line with a long-standing tradition at Shanghai American School, each year we present five scholarship awards to graduating seniors.  The qualifications for each of these awards is in the Student Handbook.  Announced and presented at our Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, our awards winners for this year are as follows:

The SAS Alumni Award for Character and Service, sponsored by the SAS Alumni Association:  Elise Berg, who will be attending Moody Bible Institute next year

The SAS Spirit Award, sponsored by the SAS Pudong PTSA:  Evan Herdrich, who will be attending Vassar College next year.

The SAS Leadership Award, sponsored by the SAS Pudong PTSA:  Gianluca Scialdone, who will be attending university in Universita di Roma – La Sapienza next year.

The SAS Academic Excellence Award, sponsored by the SAS Pudong High School Faculty: Brad Wang, who will be attending Brown University next year.

The SAS Eagle Award, which represents the best of the other four awards, jointly sponsored by the SAS Pudong PTSA and Faculty:  Jessie Liu, who will be attending Princeton University next year.

We are also pleased to announce the SAS Pudong Valedictorian and Salutatorian, which are the top two ranked scholars among the graduating Seniors:  Jamie Li (Valedictorian) and Laura Chen (Salutatorian).  Jamie will be attending the University of Southern California at Berkeley and Laura will be attending Dartmouth College.  Congratulations to both of these fine scholars, and to each Senior who will be attending a college or university of his or her choice.

RE-ENROLLMENT for 2010/2011: All parents have received via email a notice from our Registrar’s Office regarding re-enrollment, which is necessary for all students returning for the 2010-2011 school year.

Each year all students have been required to “re-enroll” for the following school year.  In the past, this has been done on paper, requiring many, many people-days of data collection and re-keying into our database.  This year parents are asked to check or input data directly into our database, PowerSchool, through the Parent Portal.  This will include updating contact information, health information/immunization records, and signing the re-enrollment agreement.  For some students a physical exam will be necessary.  The Portal is now open; please don’t wait until August! Completing this will take more than a few minutes, so set some time apart some quiet morning to complete it.  Once you hit “send” though, it will all be done for the summer!

Please read the information and follow the directions carefully.  The first step is to log in to the Parent Portal – the same place that you have been able to check your child’s grades from time to time.  If you do not know your user name and password,which has been sent to you previously, please call HS secretary Sylvia Shen (ext. 3351), who can provide that information.  Sylvia is not authorized to give parents user names and passwords to students,  as this is also where parents can update contacts and other personal information.   Please contact Sylvia directly for this information.

THE HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK is now in the hands of students – and it is beautiful!  In full color and completely student work, it truly represents the year past.  In line with the continuing campaign by student groups, this is a “green” yearbook, using only recycled paper.  The Pudong yearbook is published by the Publications Technology class, taught by Stacie Nakai.  Not only do they learn an amazing number of technological and visual skills, but produce a lasting publication that represents our school so well!

CHECKOUT:  All students must check out of school before leaving for the summer, getting a signature from each teacher that all books and supplies have been returned.  Students must complete the procedure in order to receive grades.  Seniors have already received their signout sheets; all other students will go through the signout procedure on June 9.  If for some reason your child will be withdrawing before that date they will have to sign out as well, and should come to the office for a signout form.

REPORT CARDS: In the past at Pudong HS, due to the relatively small enrollment, we have been able to process and distribute report cards on the last day of school.  However, last year this proved to be very difficult to do on a short timeline.  Thus, we will be following the same procedure that SAS-Puxi HS has followed for some years; we will be mailing report cards during the summer.  As always, however, PowerSchool will be open for you to see your child’s grades.  Grade books will be available from Friday afternoon, June 11, at 3:00pm.  If you will be leaving SAS, please provide us with a stamped self-addressed envelope so that we can send you your child’s report card in a timely manner.

COMING UP ON THE CALENDAR:

June 2:  Final Exams begin

June 9:  Full day for all current 9^th through 11^th graders; all students must complete checkout procedure in order to receive report cards

June 10:  Last Day of School; 11:30 dismissal

June 11:  Semester Grades available on PowerSchool; 3:00pm

Have a great week!

Jonathan Borden

We still have a few yearbooks for sale.  Senior parents if you would like your own copy feel free to email Ms. Nakai and she can put one aside for you.

If you would like to buy a yearbook Ms. Nakai will be selling them in the computer lab  next week.  Do not miss out!