SAS Pudong Middle School

**2008-2009 Course selection forms for Grade 6 and 7 students should have been handed in by today.

Yesterday, Tuesday the 29th, you should have received the 2nd information package for China Alive – Grade 7 received theirs this morning.   Please contact trip leaders if you have any questions:

Grade 6 – lorraine.chao@saschina.org

Grade 7 – lisa.bugenske@saschina.org

Grade 8 – eli.weiss@saschina.org

Thursday May 8th:
Students bring to school travel documents and any required medication for China Alive.

Friday May 9th : Progress reports posted to Edline for those students earning less than 70%, or who have had a significant change in grades and/or behavior since the last report card.

May 12-16 – China Alive

May 30th – Our Final MYGNITE

ERB tests, which students wrote several weeks ago, have been sent off to the United States for grading.  Results should be received by the end of May.

We hope you enjoy the May holiday.  Monday, May 5th will be a Day 1.

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/

For information regarding middle school alignment or any other Educational Programming issue, please see the following website:
teachers.saschina.org/edpro

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Please remember all Middle School Registration information is due back to the office no later than Wednesday, April 30th. On Tuesday April 29^th, your son/daughter will be bringing home a China Alive Information package.  If there are any questions, please contact the respective trip leaders:
Grade 6 – lorraine.chao@saschina.org
Grade 7 – lisa.bugenske@saschina.org
Grade 8 – eli.weiss@saschina.org
May 12-16 – China Alive
Saturday April 26^th

** We hope to see many parents at the St. Regis tomorrow evening.

Jazz and Pizzazz fundraiser at the St. Regis Hotel beginning at 7 pm

For tickets, contact: Marianne Roth 13817388797 or email fiveroths@enter.net 

ERB tests, which students wrote last week, have been sent off to the United States for grading.  Results should be received by the end of May.
We hope you enjoy the May holiday next week.  Monday May 5^th will be a Day 1.
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/

For information regarding middle school alignment or any other Educational Programming issue, please see the following website:

teachers.saschina.org/edpro
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If you do not wish to get emails from your school, you may change your email

preferences on the Manage Account page by clicking on the following link:

http://www.edline.net/login/ManageAccount.page

 Last week, Sheenie Yip, a student from Shanghai American School, Pudong entered a Writers Read-aloud event sponsored by Out Loud at the Glamor Bar.   Sheenie was the only child to read her poem and was told by the organizer "see you at the Shanghai Literary Festival in 10 years."  This is an opportunity for students around Shanghai to explore their creative writing and oratory skills.  Sheenie entered her poem Runaway Car and I have acquired permission to post it below:

The Runaway Car (Feb, 2008)

My owner is running away

I just know

I can feel the sweat of his hands

on my steering wheel

He hits the gas in anxiety

In the depths of his nervousness

Fear

and anticipation

I feel anger vibrating from his body

into my worn

leather

black

seat

He forgot to put the keys

in the ignition

I think he’s rushing

For his movements are sloppy and fast

As if

getting away from something

I am old and rusty

I creak

and groan

This might be too much for me

But I won’t fail my owner

I lurch to full speed

my insides

going hot

The fluffy dice hanging from the mirror

are dancing

madly

As if feeling the emotions radiating

out of my owner’s body

My headlights are dimming already

The patched up hole

on my gas tank

is breaking open

I’m losing gas

The lights are almost gone

My gears are scraping

My owner is pressing harder on my gas

I can’t take this

My rusty Ford body can’t take it

I feel my hood blow up in smoke

I shamefully stop

I have failed

-Sheenie Shannon Yip ©

8 months of preparation, hard work and commitment paid off last weekend as students from Pudong Middle School attended the 2^nd annual ACAMMUN conference.   Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the UN in which students take on the role of a nation and help to solve the global problems of today.  It helps students to develop skills in research, writing, public speaking, problem solving, consensus building, and conflict resolution.

On Thursday April 10^th, 15 middle school students traveled to Beijing to represent the 7 nations of Bangladesh, Botswana, Columbia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the Russian Federation.  Students began preparing for this conference in August by researching their countries’ history, taking part in debates, drafting resolutions, negotiating with fellow members and learning the rules of procedure of the United Nations.  Each student drafted a resolution on one of their issues and prepared to defend and debate it at the conference.

All this preparation culminated with the ACAMMUN conference, where 200 students from 15 different schools in Asia came to lobby, debate and work towards solving some of the biggest issues facing the world today.  The conference was intense with two 8 hour days, however SAS delegates rose to the occasion and worked with fellow MUN member states to merge, edit and debate resolutions on over 18 different issues.  Topics for debate ranged from the adverse effects of the illicit dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights to the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification

In the Environment committee Tina Zhu proposed and defended her resolution on moderating climate change to ensure environmental stability and the continuation and improvement of the world’s existing ecosystems.  It passed by a large majority.  Esther Wang’s resolution in the Human Rights committee on ensuring and supporting the human rights of migrant people was also one of three resolutions that were passed.

Model United Nation is an opportunity and experience that helps promote critical thinking and global minded citizens.  At the conference SAS middle school students were able to make connections with what they study in school and the issues facing the world today.  As MUN delegate Grant Gustafson said, “The conference was an unforgettable experience that let me meet new people, debate on real issues and replicate the United Nations.  It showed me that we are the future and that we have to work towards solving the world’s issues.”

Delegate Caitlin Frost added that she “found it very inspiring because most children our age do not know so much about the world and this was a great opportunity for us to know more about world issues.  It made me excited for high school MUN.”  As the MUN director I was very impressed with the skill, knowledge, and effort that our MUN Middle School Students showed at the conference.  Their hard work certainly paid off and I know they will go on to help solve the world’s problems

Middle School Notes – Friday April 11th

Upcoming Events
April 16/17 - All Middle school students write the ERB’s (writing test).
April 17/18 - Dr. Roukema presents in Kuala Lumpur at a Middle School Principal job alike meeting
April 18th - MYGNITE

April 21st - Earth Week Assembly
April 23rd - Middle School Parent coffee Wed. April 23rd. at 1:30 at Face in Pudong
April 23rd - Middle School Jazz concert in the  auditorium 2:15 pm

April 26th - Jazz and Pizzazz fundraiser at the St. Regis Hotel 7pm
For tickets, contact: Marianne Roth 13817388797 or email fiveroths@enter.net

Announcements
1. We hope you were able to make it to our Student-Led conferences and that you had a productive conversation with your son and/or daughter. Thank you for your valued feedback!
2. This Thursday and Friday, Board Election packages along with a survey regarding enrollment for next year were distributed. Please have your child return these to their homeroom teacher.
3. SAS Community Yard Sale!
Dear parents:

The SAS Pudong High School Community Service Club has organized a donation drive to take place on April 9th to April 16th. Items collected will be sorted and priced for a Yard Sale during school on Thursday the 24th. The collection and Yard Sale will be school-wide. All money donations as well as money made from the Yard Sale will go to the An Hui Children’s Home Fund. The An Hui Children’s Home is an orphanage that houses a large number of disabled, as well as able-bodied children. Lao Wang, the aging founder, has found he needs funds to help the living conditions of the children and train staff.

All items left after the sale will be donated to the River Of Hearts Foundation. This is a Shanghai-based charity that hopes to improve the lives of people in rural China via item donations.

How can you help?

To help this worthy cause, we would like you to donate clothes, books, toys and household items (clean and in working condition) between the 9th and 16th of April. Boxes for donations can be found outside the high school office. Middle school students can drop off items when they enter the building from the bus area.

We also need volunteers to help out at the Yard Sale. As this is occurring during school, there are currently not enough students free to work at cashiers and other needed jobs. If you are unable or do not want to help sell items, you can come to school on the 24th and buy them!

If you want to volunteer or have further questions, email Catalina Montero (Club President): cata_mara@hotmail.com
4. China Alive timeline:
April 10-11th – Payment for trip during Parent Conferences
April 29th – Final updated information package sent home
May 12-16 – China Alive
If you were unable to make it to the conferences and have not yet paid for the China Alive trip, please do so next week. Payment can be made at the school’s cashier just across from the food court.
5. CISSA Track meet on Monday, April 14 at SMIC. This meet will run late with students probably not leaving SMIC until 6:00. Bus transportation is provided, but expect your child to be home a bit later than usual.
CISSA basketball games begin on Tuesday, April 15 with our boy’s junior teams away at Concordia, and our senior teams at home vs. Concordia.
CISSA girls basketball games begin on Thursday, April 17. Girls Jr. team is away at BISS. Senior girls teams are home vs. BISS.
6. If you did not see GREASE on Thursday or Friday, there is a Saturday performance at 1:30 pm.

Communication with the Middle School:
** The most comprehensive school wide information is to be found at http://teachers.saschina.org/mspudong
We communicate through Weekly Parent Talk articles, Weekly Middle School Notes, Edline – MS HomePage: https://global.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page, Counselor’s Blog: http://schoolcounselor.teachtck.com/and teacher blogs.

For information regarding middle school alignment or any other Educational Programming issue, please see the SAS Educational Programs Website at: teachers.saschina.org/edpro
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If you do not wish to get emails from your school, you may change your email preferences on the Manage Account page by clicking on the following link:
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Middle School Notes – Thursday April 3rd- Day 3 

School is closed for Chinese Holiday April 4th, 2008

THIS MONDAY!**Monday April 7^th:Please note there will be 3 important documents coming home with your son and / or daughter: 

1)    3^rd Quarter Report Cards 

2)    The first of two
China Alive information packages 

3)    Middle School Course Catalogue and registration forms for 2008-2009 

Middle School Alignment task Force will meet at Puxi on Monday April 7^th. 

China Alive timeline:April 7th – Information package sent homeApril 10-11th – Payment for trip during Parent ConferencesApril 29th – Final updated information package sent homeMay 12-16 –
China Alive 

Payment for
China Alive:During Parent Conferences on April 10^th and 11^th, there will be payment tables set up outside the food court.  Please stop by to make the payment for your child’s trip. 

G – School :  Between March 31 – April 3^rd, all students will receive a new ID card for the G School system which provides secure tracking of both buses and students using a Global Positioning System.  More information regarding G – School is available on EdLine.April 10^th and 11^th – Student Led ConferencesWe are hoping for close to 100% participation for our student-led conferences.Thursday April 10^th – 12:30 – 4:30Friday April 11^th – 12:30 – 3:30 

Ticket order forms for the High School Production of GREASE are available in the office.There are 3 Performances next week:Thursday April 10^th @ 6 pmFriday April 11^th @ 6 pmSaturday April 12^th @ 1:30 pm 

April 16-17.  All Middle school students will write the ERB’s (writing test). 

Board Elections -- Meet the Candidate Events Puxi - Monday, April 7, 10AMWorldfield Convention Hotel2106 Hongqiao Lu (corner of Hongmei Lu)Puxi Pudong - Tuesday, April 8, 10AMMarriott Courtyard Pudong

Pudong

Save the Date: Saturday April 26^thJazz and Pizzazz fundraiser at the
St. Regis Hotel beginning at 7 pmFor tickets, contact: Marianne Roth 13817388797 or email fiveroths@enter.net 

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 NotesEdline – MS HomePage: https://global.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page Counselor’s Blog: http://schoolcounselor.teachtck.com/  

For information regarding middle school alignment or any other Educational Programming issue, please see the following website:teachers.saschina.org/edpro 

For Information on Middle School Physical Education:http://teachers.saschina.org/mspudongpe------------------------------------------------------------If you do not wish to get emails from your school, you may change your email preferences on the Manage Account page by clicking on the following link:

http://www.edline.net/login/ManageAccount.page

Anyone who spends any amount of time with a middle school aged child knows they are in the presence of something unique. Michael Thompson in his visit to our school told the story of a parent wondering if there child had been abducted by aliens. As parents, we need to take a minute and reflect back to being in their shoes. Often remember back to when you first shared your own opinion with your parents or attempted to push the boundaries they put in place for you.

As parents, we have enjoyed watching our children turn to their group of friends and develop interests of their own. This stage of adolescents exemplifies the attempts we make in our middle years programs to provide student choice with in our structures so we can develop their sense of being and be proud of the strengths they are developing.

Our task as middle level educators is to challenge students daily both academically as well as developmentally. Exposing students to new peer groups, course offerings, and concepts, we strive to prepare students for the world in front of them. Across the river, our two campuses have made great strides to strengthen our existing programs. Meeting the academic needs of the student, we have agreed to a consistent core block period on each campus. The core block will continue to be supported by specials focusing on global languages, music, health, physical education and art.

Additionally, both campuses will continue to support students through our affective programming. Affective programs are designed to meet the social and emotional needs of students. Our advisory program is one component of the affective curriculum of our affective curriculum. The advisor is an adult (teacher or administrator) who has a non-evaluative, long-term relationship with a student in his or her group, and who serves as an advocate for the individual. 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.

Furthermore, as we grow to our full capacity of 432 students in the 2008-2009 school year, we will add much needed opportunities for students. Our regular offerings of band, strings, and music are being supported by a full year of art, drama and additional exploratory classes to help your student fully explore options that are of interest to them. To compliment the advisory programs, we will continue to offer a wide range of exploratory electives. This program will offer students over 60 choices ranging from Math Counts to Chinese Calligraphy. These offerings in middle school will help your child become well rounded and appreciative of the world they live.

Our programs on Puxi and Pudong will exemplify the common philosophy that middle school students need to be exposed to a wide range of opportunities. These opportunities need to be accessible to the students to explore and discover their own individual talents. As the Pudong Campus continues to grow and we continue to work on middle school alignment, our students will benefit from attending a school that not only prepares them for high school but the 21^st Century.

Dr. Ronald A. Roukema,

Middle School Principal, Pudong