SAS Pudong Middle School

Next Week- November 26-30

 Santas’s Workshop all next week.   Middle school students can “shop” during their lunch hour.

 Our Kid’s Literature Quiz team competes in the national finals at Concordia International school on Friday December 7^th.

 Please complete your SAS survey by visiting the URL below and entering the access code which was emailed to you on Nov 7^th.
 

http://web.nsse.org/nsse-surveys/src/index.php

 Progress reports will be posted on EdLine today please review page 8 of the student handbook concerning progress reports.

Progress Reports will be distributed in accordance with the expectation outlined on page 8 in the student agenda planners.  Dr. Roukema has asked teachers to include in the Edline folders for students an update of units and themes for each individual class.  Students in danger of failing, dramatic grade changes, or other specific teacher concerns.  Additionally, please remember that parents can request a team meeting with the core teachers at any time during the year.  We encourage you to meet with teachers for specific information on your child's progress.

Please note the following meetings on the Pudong Campus:

Thursday, December 6th

PTSA General Meeting

8:30 to 10:30 am

L101, SAS Pudong

Followed by...

SAS Pudong Bus Forum

10:30 to 11:30 am

L101, SAS Pudong

Note:  Dr. Dennis Larkin, Mr. Himmat Sandhu, Mr. Adrian Yeap will be in attendance to give the parents a bus update and answer any questions or concerns. 

 Parents wishing to volunteer in the planning or participating in events please contact Debbie MacDonaldsynchrodj@mac.com or Denise Morency chinamorency@yahoo.com

A Reminder to Parents:  If both parents are going to be away from Shanghai, please have your son/daughter collect a Statement of Temporary Guardianship form from the office.

Save the date:  Pudong Middle School Holiday Concerts:

Monday December 10^th

Grade 6 Beginning Band and Music Exploration @1:30 in the auditorium

Tuesday December 11^th :

Band Concert @ 6:30 pm in the auditorium

Wednesday December 12^th:

Strings concert @6:30 pm in the auditorium

Communication with the Middle School:

** The most comprehensive school wide information is to be found at http://teachers.saschina.org/mspudong

Weekly Parent Talk articles

Weekly Middle School Notes

Edline – MS HomePage: https://global.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page

Counselor’s Blog: http://schoolcounselor.teachtck.com/

Advisory

Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students are assigned to an advisory group, consisting of an adult advisor and approximately 16-18 students from the same grade. The advisory meets at the beginning of each school day for five minutes to take attendance and to convey announcements. Twice a week, the advisory meets for a full forty-minute period for group activities and a curriculum that focuses on community service and life skills.

The advisory program is intended to serve several purposes. The advisor is an adult (teacher or administrator) who has a consistent and long-term relationship with the students in his or her group, and who serves as an advocate for the individual students. In addition, the advisory group is a defined entity in which a student has automatic membership. A sense of belonging and an environment that is comfortable and secure are developmentally important needs of students this age. Whether for a full period or for five minutes, the advisory serves the very important function of setting the tone for the day.

 
Humanities

The humanities curriculum combines two content areas – language arts and social studies – to offer students opportunities to practice reading and writing skills in real-world contexts. Each humanities unit engages students with a problem, topic-related investigation, or simulation that helps them connects content to authentic experience (in alignment with the standards from the National Council for the Social Studies, the National Council of Teachers of English, and the International Reading Association). The Humanities program can be used in separate social studies and language arts or English class periods, or in one integrated block. In social studies units, students investigate important themes and topics, connecting what they learn about the past with their own lives, and present their findings in various forms including writing. In language arts units, students explore different genres of literature, write original pieces following the conventions of writing, and learn and practice basic grammar skills. In both types of units, students make use of a wide variety of resources including classroom textbooks, primary sources, literature, and experts in the field. Units are provided in a sequence that builds upon mastered skills and prior content knowledge. However, units may be taught at any grade level according to standards and school goals.

Middle School Teaming

The Shanghai American School Pudong Middle School is piloting an approach to integrated learning known as the humanities model.  This model creates natural connections between social studies and language arts by developing thematic units that align directly with the schools standards and benchmarks.  This approach requires teachers to become familiar with all units to be taught and to create integrated themes for instruction.  The Humanities model is not a new practice and is widely recommended by organizations like the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and Success for All (SFA). With these natural connections in Language Arts and social studies being created, interdisciplinary teams can offer authentic learning experiences.  This model supports reading and writing across disciplines thus providing students a chance to make practical use of their reading, writing, and analytical skills. Each grade level begins with one or more foundation units that familiarize teachers and students with cooperative learning techniques and focus on concrete skills that students apply throughout the year. The remaining units engage students with a problem to solve or a task to complete related to a particular theme or topic.

All units are designed to ground students in solid content knowledge while helping them connect their learning to the world. Units also offer a much-needed opportunity for students to practice their reading and writing skills in a different, real-world context. Because the science and humanities curricula use the same approach to reading and writing, students have the opportunity to apply their skills across the day, leading to a more powerful educational experience.

Shanghai American School – A brief overview

The Shanghai American School, Pudong Campus is a pre-k – 12 school serving a diverse student population from around the world.  The school is situated approximately thirty five minutes from downtown Shanghai and is in a rapidly growing and changing area of China. This website represents the Pudong Middle School under the direction of Dr. Ron Roukema and Dr. Jeff Rosen. 

In 2006, the Pudong Middle school was home to 260 students and in 2007 our population grew to 340.  Also in 2007, we opened a new middle school wing and food court as our board of directors continued to meet the demands of the growing population.  As we look forward to the 2008 school year, we are anticipating an increase of 80 – 100 students making us as large as our sister school across the river.  The grade six, seven and eight students follow a daily schedule developed specifically for each student, which is organized in fifty-five minute periods special periods, a forty minute advisory/elective period and a one hundred and seventy minute core block.

Students attend a language arts/social studies class called "humanities", and a single-period class in mathematics, science, global language, physical education and music. Students also have one period during the year in which they rotate at the semester between visual arts and health education.  The schedule allows for core blocks to occur everyday for 170 minutes and a rotation of 3 days out of 4.  Specials occur daily for 55 minutes each.  Additionally, our school offers a comprehensive elective and advisory program that meets every other day for 40 minutes.  These programs are designed to encourage students to make connections with each other and experiment in activities that they may otherwise not have the opportunity.

Dear Parents,

In that we are currently on an adventure building a fully operational middle school, we are in the process of having teachers define communication protocols. In step with these expectations, we have realized that our school needs to populate our blog with useful information for parents, students and perspective teachers. We are adding a new section to our blog entitled "About Our Programs." The updates will appear as posts at first and then be moved to the "Our Program" section of the blog. We appreciate your feedback on these sections as well as other sections that you would like to see added. Please feel free to add your comments to these entries if you see information lacking or additional topics you would like more information.

Sincerely,

Ron Roukema, Ed.D

Jeff Rosen, Ph.D

No one likes a bully, especially one that invades your home through the phone, computer and other electronic devises. Last week our grade 6 -8 students learned what to avoid when communicating on line and text messaging. Often students engage in bullying without realizing that they are hurting other people's feelings. Mr. Munnerlyn meet with advisories to help them learn what to do to avoid being a bully and who to tell if they are being bullied. Parents if you think your child is being bullied, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Munnerlyn.

We hope you are all have a good half day off and enjoy your slightly longer weekend. If your child tells you that they have No Homework, know that we still encourage the students to do 30 minutes of reading everyday. For some, time off is a good time to catch up on reading, blogging and journal writing.

Please also remember if you are going to be absent for any reason please contact the middle school office at 6221-1445 ext. 3318.

Events occurring in the week of November 26 - November 30

Monday, November 26th - CISSA All City Cross Country Meet @ Pudong Campus

Middle School Alignment meeting for Puxi / Pudong Administration

Friday, November 30th - Progress Reports (please read reminder below)

Progress Reports will be distributed in accordance with the expectation outlined on page 8 in the student agenda planners. Dr. Roukema has asked teachers to include in the Edline folders for students an update of units and themes for each individual class. Students in danger of failing, dramatic grade changes, or other specific teacher concerns. Additionally, please remember that parents can request a team meeting with the core teachers at any time during the year. We encourage you to meet with teachers for specific information on your child's progress.

Parents wishing to volunteer in the planning or participating in events please contact Debbie MacDonald synchrodj@mac.com or Denise Morency chinamorency@yahoo.com

A reminder about how to access information for Middle School:

1. Weekly email updates

2. Administrator's Online Newsletter - http://teachers.saschina.org/mspudong

3. Edline Middle School Home page - https://global.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page

4. Weekly Publication - Parent Talk

Have a great week!!!

Ronald A. Roukema, Ed.D
Middle School Principal
Shanghai American School
Pudong Campus

Photo : Clockwise left to right: the Oscar Mayer wiener mobile, Sears Tower, St. Augustine’s Lighthouse, and Golden Gate Bridge.

On the week of November 12, 2007, Grade 7 Math classes commenced their task of constructing a scale model (a model of an item/building that is either enlarged or reduced from the actual size.) Split into three or four-person teams, seventh graders set off to find a frontal view and measurements of their object of choice. After making multiple measurements, the students used proportions and scale to calculate the dimensions of their model.

Then came the construction. Each group swiftly gathered the materials needed for building of their own model. In a frenzy of pipe cleaners, hot glue guns and students bustling from material cabinets to computers to printers, seventh graders scrambled to assemble their models before the due date. Upon the completion of their models, the students proceeded to paste them onto a base board inscribed with facts about their structure, names of the “architects” and the scale used.

“I liked it. It was fun because it lets you be creative.” commented Harri Gibson. It seems as though this was an extremely popular project as Matteo Giardini remarked, “It was really fun! And we got to socialize with people we don’t usually talk to.”

Finally, on November 20^th, encompassed by an air of self-accomplishment, seventh graders proudly displayed their models, allowing the curious eyes of students and faculty to fall upon these magnificent structures, which varied from architectural masterpieces such as the Louvre Glass Pyramid to the whimsical Oscar Mayer wiener mobile. This was a unique experience and an interesting application of real world situations, as well as an opportunity for students to develop their cooperation and leadership skills. Congratulations on a job well done, seventh graders!

Next Week- November 19-23

* All Grade 6 students will receive a spinal screening during Physical Education class over the next two weeks.

The purpose of spinal screening is to detect the signs of abnormal curves of the spine at their earliest stages so that the need for treatment can be determined. More info on EdLine.

Monday November 19th - Kids Lit Quiz challenge against Concordia International school – 3 pm.

Tuesday November 20^th – Middle School Coffee with Deputy Superintendent Andy Torris @ 10am in the Library Lecture Hall

Subject: Standardized Testing in Middle School. ITBS and ERB tests.

Friday November 23rd – Half Day – No After school activities – Buses leave at 11:30 am.

Ø Please complete your SAS survey by visiting the URL below and entering the access code which was emailed to you on Nov 7^th.

http://web.nsse.org/nsse-surveys/src/index.php

Ø Progress reports will be posted on EdLine on November 30^th.

Ø A Reminder to Parents: If both parents are going to be away from Shanghai, please have your son/daughter collect a Statement of Temporary Guardianship form from the office.

Ø Save the date: Pudong Middle School Holiday Concerts:

ü Monday December 10^th

Grade 6 Beginning Band and Music Exploration @1:30 pm in the auditorium

ü Tuesday December 11^th :

    Band Concert @ 6:30 pm in the auditorium

ü Wednesday December 12^th:

Strings concert @6:30 pm in the auditorium

Communication with the Middle School:

Ø ** The most comprehensive school wide information is to be found at http://teachers.saschina.org/mspudong

Ø Weekly Parent Talk articles

Ø Weekly Middle School Notes

Ø Edline – MS HomePage: https://global.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page

Ø Counselor’s Blog: http://schoolcounselor.teachtck.com/