AOSR - VIA CASSIA 811 Phone: 06.33438.1 Web: WWW.AOSR.ORG April 2009

Contents

All School News 1 - 5 Pre-K 12

Board of Trustees 2 Kindergarten 13

Special Feature: Interview with a Parent 5 & 13 Elementary News 14 - 16

Edible Garden 6 Middle School / High School News 17 - 20

Community Service Project 8 Sports 22

Tech Bytes 7 Counselor’s Corner 21

PTO/Mayfair 9 - 11 Contact Information / Calendar 23 - 24

“I look at the world as a family, and I know that, in most families around the globe, individual family members help each other.” Dr. Karel Zelenka, Humanitarian Award Winner and AOSR parent.

See interview with Dr. Zelenka on page 3.

Great Things are Blooming this Spring at AOSR

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All School News

Summer Maintenance Projects (Phase I of Facilities Master Plan) by Douglas R. Kneeland, Board Chair and

Dr. Beth Pfannl, Head of School

This summer, the AOSR campus will be a beehive of activity of a slightly different kind. The school will be buzzing with maintenance crews as several important construction projects will be carried out. Instead of the usual summer camp and sports activities, there will be a different type of Summer Program offered that will permit us to carry out these projects at the same time. More information will follow shortly.

The “Facilities Master Plan,” developed in cooperation with architects from H2L2 and accepted by the Board of Trustees, identified a number of key health and safety projects and we are wasting no time in tackling the most vital of these.

During the development of the Facilities Master Plan and as part of the Hillside Theatre upgrade project, it has been noted that the terrace behind the cafeteria was showing signs of shift or torque. The board and administration, in collaboration with geologists, concluded that the earth below the terrace had settled in the 20 years since its construction, so we will shore up the base of the terrace with additional fill and a new retaining wall. This will serve to both ensure the safety and utility of the terrace and give us a stable anchor off of which to build a new, safer stairway down to the Hillside Theatre. As you know, the PTO generously donated the proceeds of last year’s Mayfair celebration toward the renovation of the Hillside Theatre, so once the terrace is re-stabilized we will be able to start planning some exciting upgrades there, as well.

A new gym floor will be installed this summer! To ensure a maximally safe playing surface, engineers have determined the ground underneath the floor must be excavated, the space prepared and a new concrete slab installed. Once we have a stable, uniform sub-structure, we will be installing a multipurpose floor covering that will serve the kids – large and small – for years to come. We want to thank the Building and

Grounds, Infrastructure, Security and Technology Committee, and especially Chairman Antonio Rizzo, for the long hours of study and fact finding that have gone into planning these projects. As the name implies, however, Antonio’s committee is not just about bricks and mortar. Committee members are also looking closely at the school’s technology needs, and to that end, are hosting Information Technology consultants supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools during the week of April 27. The consultants will spend several days on campus conducting focus groups, interviews, and evaluating our school’s hardware and software needs as part of a Technology Audit. They will then prepare a written report which, like the Strategic Plan and the Facilities Master Plan, will help guide the school’s development efforts into the future.

Great things are happening at the school and the Board and administration is committed to establishing a solid foundation - strategically, educationally and quite literally! - for future generations of AOSR students. Have a lovely spring and see you at Mayfair on Saturday, May 9th! Middle School Shakespeare Production at Hillside Theater

One design for the new gym floor.

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Why do we and schools around the world focus on character education traits? Structured character education has flourished as schools seek to instill the values of integrity, respect, responsibility, fairness, honesty, caring, and citizenship in their students to strengthen the social fabric of the school and community. These efforts to strengthen children's character through school-based programs are welcomed by parents who want their children educated in a strong culture of respect, integrity, and self-control.

Children's character development certainly can't come from the classroom alone. The qualities of character develop through an interplay of family, school, personal faith, and community influences, and the child's individual temperament, experiences, and choices. What can parents do to encourage their child's development of the qualities of good character? We have many opportunities and tools for this important task. Using them will give us the joy and satisfaction of seeing our child grow into a person of integrity, compassion, and character.

Parents who exhibit the qualities of good character powerfully transmit their values by modeling the choices and actions that are essential to being a person of good character. Are we honest, trustworthy, fair, compassionate, respectful, involved in the greater good of our family and community? How do our children know this? They see it in our everyday actions and choices. They see that it brings a sense of joy, satisfaction, and peace to their family life. Children also learn that when they violate these guiding ethics, parents

will implement consequences with fairness and dignity.

In her many books on moral development in children, Dr. Michelle Borba, well known author and speaker, teaches that the first step is empathy. Empathy is the necessary condition in the parent-child relationship that allows us to teach all of the other character values to our children. When our children feel that we understand and care about them deeply, they have the intrinsic motivation to learn the lessons of love. Discipline strategies are an important tool to use teachable moments to build character. We should always take the opportunity to explain why our child's behavior is wrong when we correct him. Make a habit of identifying in your own mind the value you wish to teach the child based on the particular behavior. Choose a consequence that is appropriate to teach that value. One natural consequence that we can use is to 'make amends'. For example, dishonesty is best resolved when we confess and are held accountable. Sometimes an apology to the person wronged is enough; other times we must take action to right the wrong. Brief, but direct instruction about why we have a family rule and the underlying value we hold helps the child learn from consequences and discipline.

The Character Tree in the Elementary School is growing. More and more students are letting us know that they have earned a leaf for promoting character values. The month of April will feature lessons on integrity. The month of May/June will feature the topics related to cooperation.

All School News

From the desk of Dr. George Grunfeld, ES Principal

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Q: Are the Roman Mysteries published in other countries? A: Yes! So far the rights have been sold to these countries: China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA. The British versions are sold in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and The Philippines.

Q: Do any of your characters resemble you? A: I am like Flavia because I like puzzles, codes, and mysteries; plus I am bossy. I am like Jonathan because I am Jewish by background but call myself a Christian. I am like Lupus because I lose my temper and get angry and storm off. Sadly, I am not at all like Nubia who is gentle, intuitive and loves animals! Q: What tips would you give someone who wants to be a writer? A: The ONE thing you need to be a writer is... SELF-DISCIPLINE! You have to start doing it, keep doing it, and never give up! Q: Why did you pick Rome for your books and not somewhere else? A: I actually picked Ostia, the port of Rome, because it would have had lots of fascinating people visiting it and you could embark from there to anywhere in the Roman world. Also I visited Ostia for one afternoon when I was 16 and I never forgot it. Q: How do you come up with so many ideas for names, places and especially Scuto, Flavia's dog? A: That is a brilliant question! Scuto is named after my nephew Nicholas because his nickname used to be 'Scooter'. But scuto also means shield in Latin so it's the perfect name for a watchdog (even if he's not a brilliant watchdog). And Nipur is named after my other nephew Andrew because his nickname used to be 'Nipper'! Lots of the other names have secret Latin meanings.

All School News

Author Caroline Lawrence Speaks to AOSR Students

ASA has now a drum teacher! Students can sign up for individual lessons. Parents may phone the ASA office for further information between 15:30 and 17:00 Monday-Friday.

All ASA payments were due on Friday, March 20th. All outstanding payments should be made immediately.

The last day of the second session of ASA is Friday, May 29th.

After School

Activities

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CS - Which organization do you work for?

KZ - I have worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, for over 22 years. CRS is one of the largest and oldest American humanitarian organizations. It was founded in 1943 by the Catholic bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, CRS has expanded in size to reach over 80 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents, and its mission is to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas. Last year, CRS program value approached US $ 700 million with 94 percent of revenues that the Agency spent going directly to programs that benefit the poor overseas.

CS - What is your job?

KZ - I am currently CRS Country Representative for Zimbabwe - a country facing a complex emergency. My main responsibility is to formulate clearly our objectives in the country and to ensure their achievement by over 400 CRS staff members. My daily work sometimes resembles that of an orchestra conductor attending to a great variety of voices / issues and harmonizing them to achieve the CRS' objectives. The ever-changing situation in Zimbabwe characterized by multi-million percent annual inflation, collapsed public health and education systems, non-functioning water / sanitation services and scarcity of electricity, severe shortages of food, and, more recently, a cholera epidemic requiring a variety of quick and effective responses. That's what I’m

(Continued on page 13)

A Humanitarian In Our Midst by Claudia Sobral, AOSR parent

Interview with Dr. Karel Zelenka, AOSR parent and winner of the 2009 Distinguished Service Award by Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts.

All School News

MAYFAIR BOOK COMPETION

ATTENTION: ALL STUDENTS PRE-K TO 5TH GRADE

During the week of April 27th through May 1st all children are asked to bring, to their classroom, any books that they would like to donate to the Mayfair book sale. We are

accepting fiction, non-fiction, children’s and adult books, as well as CDs, DVDs and videos. You may deposit your donations in specially marked bins outside your classroom.

At the end of the week, a treat will go to each student in the classes with the most books

collected from Pre-k to 1st grade, 2nd and 3rd, & 4th and 5th grades.

ATTENTION: ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FACULTY AND STAFF

We need your books too! Collection boxes will be placed outside the Principal’s office and at the front office. Thanks for your help!

Questions: Contact Cassandre Webb at cwcass24@yahoo.com

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While the Edible Garden is an important – and fun - part of our sustainable school, there are many other groups and projects that are making great strides: Green Club Recycling and Gardening: Middle and High School students have started their own Green Clubs to discuss student driven initiatives to help AOSR go green. So far, the two clubs have worked together to design and initiate a recycling program on the AOSR campus. The MS students have also established a buddy system with the kindergarten classes to teach them about gardening, with readings in the library, and weeding and digging out on the plot. Organic produce in the cafeteria: We have worked with the caterers so that the cafeteria can go organic. So far, they have introduced a salad bar with all organic produce, and are seeking new suppliers for organic meats and vegetables. We also hope to start recycling kitchen rubbish to be used as compost. Recycling: We have received a large paper recycling bin from the Comune di Roma AMA and smaller bins have been placed around campus, based on the MS Green Club design. Organics at the Booster Bar: The PTO is now using organic beef for the hamburgers and also offers a selection of organic treats and snacks. Curriculum Development: Teachers have started working on ideas as to how they can integrate environment and sustainability issues into the curriculum.

AOSR Goes Green

Do your part—don’t forget to recycle at home.

AOSR Goes Green / Sustainable Food Group

Edible Garden Update by Sally Sontheimer and Elizabeth Minchilli,

AOSR Parents

It turns out the AOSR Community is not the only one planting a vegetable garden these days. The Obamas are tearing up part of the White House lawn to plant an organic fruit and vegetable garden. Their goal is to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern. “My hope,” the first lady said in an interview in her East Wing office with the New York Times, “is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities.” Our own AOSR Goes Green/Sustainable Gardening Group has been very busy this past month. Teacher Lars Rahm reports that we have purchased enough garden tools to be used by the students. Classes from High School, Middle School and Elementary School have been working in the garden to prepare the soil: pulling weeds, taking out rocks and softening the beds. They are eagerly awaiting the delivery of manure and compost to work in to the soil. In the next month they hope to build a protective fence, as well as install a watering system. Many classes – including MS science as well as kindergarten – are already starting seedlings to plant in the garden, as well as sell at Mayfair. Seeds are already germinating on the balcony of Ms. Hogan’s classroom in the Villa. We are receiving lots of encouragement and help from the AOSR community. We are very happy to report that we received €1,617 in donations so far for the Garden project. We are also very happy that the AOSR International Cookbook, which will be on sale at the Mayfair, has agreed to donate the profits to the program. If you would like to help, and to learn more about the entire program, please visit our booth at Mayfair. By buying a seedling you will help our garden grow!

AOSR Becomes More Sustainable by Sally Sontheimer, AOSR parent

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As part of the Strategic Plan, a technology audit will be conducted this month by two specialists sent by the Office of Overseas Schools at the US Department of State. The consultants will be at our school from April 27-30.

Lynn McNally is the Technology Resource Supervisor for the Louden County Public School

district in Virginia. Elizabeth McNally is a specialist in networking and network security. They will be spending four days learning as much as

possible about all of the aspects of technology here on our campus.

An important part of this audit will be a series of focus groups and interviews with the various members of the extended AOSR community, i.e., students, parents, teachers, administrators, board members, etc. In the next couple of weeks we will be scheduling these meetings. If you are interested in being part of a focus group, please let Domenica Losani, at the head’s office, know. (dlosani@aosr.org or 06.33438331).

This audit is part of a process we have started to involve the entire community in helping to choose the directions and growth of technology in our school. This includes, but is not limited to:

Identifying and adopting the most current technology standards for the educational program Continuing to integrate technology into the curriculum and classroom Improving and increasing professional development, as it relates to technology, for faculty and administrative staff Identifying and testing new technologies as they apply to the instructional programs and the campus as a whole Implementing the latest network structures and services consistent with the realization of our strategic goals

As detailed in our Strategic Plan:

Strategic Goal 4: AOSR will incorporate technology to facilitate and enhance teaching and learning.

Rationale: Technology is a powerful tool for accelerating teaching and learning, not an end in itself. Students and teachers in the 21st Century will need to use technology to: extend the campus, connect globally, access data and information, and to communicate.

To promote this process, the Technology Department held a series of focus groups for the faculty at the end of last year. The information gathered at those sessions was distributed to the faculty and posted on the school’s Intranet. The momentum from these sessions has continued into this school year and led to the forming of a Faculty Technology Committee that has met regularly since this fall.

The current scope of this committee is to: Develop a standing committee that is representative of the general faculty Discuss and develop methods to improve both the technology available and the ways it is implemented in the classroom Assist in creating more effective professional development opportunities for the faculty Assist the school, with the assistance of the Technology Department, to better meet the technology needs of the classroom teachers Provide information for the upcoming technology audit Provide a direct conduit to the Technology Strategic Planning Committee (yet to be created)

The goal of this overall process is to form a community-wide Technology Strategic Planning Committee that will work with the results of the technology audit, the Faculty Technology Committee and the input from the entire AOSR community. This strategic planning committee’s goal will be to offer advise as to the vision and direction of technology at AOSR.

Tech Bytes by Geoff Miller, Director of Technology

Technology Audit @ AOSR

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Community Service Project

AOSR Community Service Project Bridge to Bahia by Mr. Roy Zimmerman, AOSR teacher and co-founder ICBIE

Big News from Brazil

In our sister community in Salvador de Bahia, the week of March 14-21 will be remembered for a long time. A group of nine students and professors from Howard University in Washington DC came to the ICBIE, to complete the preliminary assessment of the Engineers Without Borders project to build a community theater for our afflicted district of the city. Following an intense itinerary, they surveyed the site, interviewed local citizens, met with city officials, visited the Pan American School of Bahia, contacted builders and craftsmen, held a seminar with architects and engineers at the Federal University of Bahia, studied the city’s water and sewage systems, witnessed a capoeira show by Mestre Pedro’s crew, and even found time to spend an afternoon in the Alagados stilt houses with the ICBIE artists, as they painted more colorful murals in that awful slum. They made dozens of friends and were totally enchanted by the vibrant optimism and hope that emerged from the populace, despite their miserable living conditions. After observing the situation up close, they expanded the scope of the five-year project. Besides constructing a theater, adopting every possible ecological technique (including using local materials and conserving energy and water), they intend to restructure the main ICBIE building, with its classrooms, meeting hall and library, and the adjoining hostel. Their intention is both to provide a much-needed cultural center and to offer a model of efficient and environmentally friendly construction that can be imitated in future city projects. With their enthusiasm and their know-how, these talented and committed volunteers will dramatically enhance the scope of the ICBIE and its work!

Of course, a big project requires a lot of money, but there is now a painless way to help the ICBIE: through its newly registered Italian NGO I.C.B.I.E. Europa, you can designate 0.5% of your Italian taxes by merely writing the fiscal code number 97543510586 in the box for “Sostegno delle organizzazioni non lucrative di utilità sociale” at the bottom of the tax return. It’s that simple, and you’ll be making the Bridge to Bahia a whole lot stronger! Please help us!

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PTO News

Cook Book Proceeds Go Green by Jan Miller PTO President

Many of you contributed to the international cookbook which has now been completed and sent off to the press. The PTO has decided that the proceeds from the sale of this cookbook will be designated for helping to launch the sustainable food and garden project at AOSR. The cookbooks will go on sale at Mayfair for € 15 so when you buy a cookbook and enjoy the wonderful recipes from the international community, you can also feel good about having contributed to the “go green” movement on campus.

MAYFAIR Saturday, May 9th

11am-4pm

The American Overseas School of Rome Cookbooks are coming!!!

Don’t miss out, pre-order yours now. This is not your ordinary cookbook: Over 250 recipes ranging from Italian classics to falafel to sushi Historical information included in many recipes Shopping tips Conversion charts Makes a great AOSR keepsake Professional, hard bound 3-ring binder

AOSR Cookbooks make great gifts for family and friends. To secure your order and be one of the first to receive a copy, complete the form below and turn it in at the main office in the villa : Full Name: ______________________________________________ Day/Evening Phone Numbers: _________________________/___________________________ Email: __________________________________________________ Number of Copies (€15 each): ________ Payment of €15 per copy is due upon receipt of cookbooks (due to arrive in May 2009). If you have any questions, please contact Raquel Loll at aosrcookbook@yahoo.com.

By purchasing AOSR cookbooks you are supporting the AOSR Goes Green Sustainable Food and Garden Project.

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Mayfair is Coming!!!

International Food Fair- Delicious food from all over the world, including Japan, Israel, Italy, America, Africa and India.

Games: Hit the Pins, Sponge Toss, Tombola and more. Bake Sale, American Candy Sale and Booster Bar Face painting, Tatoos and Paint your Own Ceramics Vendors selling crafts, olive oil, and other gift items. Book Sale Entertainment: Salsa Dancing, the High School Ensemble, Belly Dancing

and Cheerleading and, back by popular demand: Mr. Sigafoos as MC!

Plans are underway for the best MayFair ever! Make sure you save the date, Saturday, May 9th, for a fun-filled day for your family and friends.

MAYFAIR NEWS

Raffle Tickets now on Sale!!! Great Prizes!!!

Raffle tickets are now on sale from Elementary and Middle school students, or from Zoe Hili at the front desk. Tickets are €2 each. Prizes this year include: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Xbox 360, Ipod Nano, Flat Screen TV, Samsung Video Camera, Nokia Cellphone, Nespresso Coffee Machine, Moulinex Bread Machine, Tom Tom GPS and a Bicycle. Over 20 themed baskets and many more prizes including weekends away, restaurant dinners and brunches, and salon treatments

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Pre-K and Kindergarten News

Pre-K Ms. Magazzu, Pre-K Coordinator

Kindergarten Ms. Antinucci and Ms. Bleecher

The Pre-K children celebrated dads and special friends at our annual Father’s and Special Friends’ Breakfast on March 19th. Here is what some of the children had to say about the event: Itay: You know, I love all the Father’s Day. I love to eat and drink coffee and bananas. Francesco: I like playing with my Papa’. Sarah: I like Papa’ and I like mandarino. Sofia: I like the butter! Sophie: I like the cereal. You know that Papa’ put the heart I made him in his office in Milano! Lorenzo: I like the cornetto with all of the choco-late! Rachel: My favorite thing was to make the present, painting it. Elena: I like the bread with butter and making the butter. Niccolo’: I like the bread with honey and apricot jelly. I was with Papa’ for a little and I had fun! The children were proud of the work they did to prepare for this special event and we were happy to have so many dads and special friends join us!

In art, the students have made colorful fish wind blowers with streamers. We continued our “Go Green” activity by weeding the ground that is going to become the AOSR pro-duce garden. We planted seeds in our classrooms and when they sprout, we will be trans-planting the seedlings to the garden. We have been practicing the sound of the letter “E” and so we read “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss together and we made green eggs. They tasted scrumptious and were “eggcellent!” Our first field trip will be to a nature park in Formello. The students will be able to touch some baby farm animals and see native birds such as falcons and owls.

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doing with my staff most of the time – saving lives, protecting the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and thus, their dignity.

I also represent the Agency to our 25-plus national partners, the Government of Zimbabwe, US Embassy with USAID, and international organizations active in Zimbabwe, viz. UN system which includes our two important partners / donors - World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF, as well as many non-governmental organizations with whom we coordinate our assistance programs.

CS - We’ve heard that you’ve received an award from Tufts University for the humanitarian work you do. What is this reward?

KZ - I have been selected to receive the 2009 Distinguished Service Award by my alma mater - the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. The Award is given to “alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service to Tufts, their professions, or their communities". It is for my work throughout the years in many parts of the world helping people survive and get back on their feet, especially after major disasters - both natural and man-made.

CS - Can you give us some examples of the changes your work has made?

KZ - Through the CRS program in Zimbabwe, I am very proud to have made a big difference with my team in children’s lives - helping prevent malnutrition and enabling children to concentrate at school by feeding almost 600,000 school children every day. CRS' hot lunch is the only daily meal for many, if not most of the

children in rural areas. I also am very concerned about the fate of over 1.2 million orphans (the highest per capita number in the world due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging the country). We assist thousands of orphans and their communities - materially (food), psychologically (psycho-social assistance), financially (by paying their school fees, school uniforms and school supplies), and by providing life skills and vocational training. Thanks to our effective response to the cholera epidemic engulfing the whole country, my team and I have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of lives by installing water-purification systems in missionary hospitals, distributing aquatabs (water-disinfecting tablets) together with covered water containers and soap to thousands of households, and conducting proper hygiene / sanitation awareness training for thousands of street fruit and vegetables vendors. In the course of the politically-motivated violence last year, when hundreds of people were either killed or abducted and thousands were moving from place to place in search of safety, CRS provided food to the people on the move and arranged shelter for them. These are but a few examples of the contributions that my team has made in Zimbabwe under my leadership. This doesn’t include the work that I have done in other countries, for example in Sudan (Darfur), Afghanistan, Pakistan, East Timor, India, the Middle East and the Balkans - just to name a few.

CS - What drew you to this type of work? KZ - My upbringing, personal values, and convictions. I look at the world as a family and I know that in most families around the globe, individual family members help each other. I also feel solidarity with the less fortunate people, i.e., imagining "being in their shoes". I consider myself very lucky in that I have been blessed with a beautiful family, good health, excellent education and a great, personally rewarding job. I am trying to help less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world get the same as an expression of my gratitude for the many blessings in my own life. However, none of my accomplishments would have been possible without the understanding and unwavering support of my family, especially my wife Moshira, who has often been a "single Mother" taking such good care of our sons Karim and Danny. In other words, "Moshira sine qua non."

(Continued from page 5)

Karel Zelenka: Purification system in Murewa

A Humanitarian In Our Midst (continued…)

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Elementary School News

Fourth Grade Ms. De Paolis, and Ms. Piccirilli

Third Grade Ms. Gist and Ms. Wheeler

Second Grade Ms. Ciuffreda and Ms. Musler

First Grade Mr. Etcheverry and Ms. Tausend

Once again, on March 17th the leprechauns outsmarted us! They destroyed our classrooms and stole all our gold although there were numerous traps! April will be a very busy month in first grade. Spring has arrived and our study of animals and their habitats continues. We will learn about the farm during our first field trip on April 8. We shall milk cows and use the milk to make mozzarella! On April 27th, we will visit the castle at Lunghezza to experience “The Fantastic World of Fantasy.” The students will see scenes from Peter Pan, Snow White, Cinderella, Merlin the wizard, Zorro and other fairytale characters.

In social studies, we are learning about the Bronze Age and how bronze was made from copper and tin. The students will divide into “Bronze Age” teams, study specific topics, and make posters. Then each team will teach their peers what they have learned. In mathematics, we are exploring number patterns in counting, collecting data, measuring, finding complements and comparing data. There are green stems shooting up in the vases outside our classrooms for our science recycling experiment. We planted bulbs in four vases, each one containing different material (organic, metal and glass, paper, wood and stone, and plastic). Next month we will examine the contents of the vases to find out if all the materials we placed in the soil are still there.

During the field trip to the Centrale Montemartini, the third graders were able to identify pulleys, levers, inclined planes, wedges, screws, wheels, and axles that are part of the complex machines in this former power plant. They observed the sculptures and identified statues with realistic hair, clothing, faces and ones that showed movement and shadow. In art, the students have made copies of Greek vases and are painting the clay with Greek motifs. These amphorae, kraters and kylixes will be on display in our classrooms. The Olympic Games is our present unit of study and we have learned about the five sports in the first Olympics: wrestling, running, long jump, javelin and discus. We will be making mosaics depicting these sports using recycling plastic.

In science, we are beginning our end-of-year animal unit. Each student will select an animal from the endangered species list and they will be completing a research project and a diorama. The fourth graders will be out and about this month. On April 8, they will visit Circo Massimo. Caroline Lawrence, the author of mysteries set in ancient Rome, mentioned in her captivating talk at AOSR last month that twelve four- horse chariots would compete in the races. The charioteers had the horses’ reins tied round their waists and if they fell they had a knife to cut the reins free. This stadium could hold 250,000 spectators, more than any stadium in the world today! Our second field trip will take place later this month to Cerveteri. First, there will be a visit to the Etruscan Museum and the students will be able to see funeral urns, Bucchero pottery, and red and black figure Etruscan vases. They will then go to the Necropolis at Cerveteri and visit several tombs.

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Elementary School News

On March 11th , the fourth grade students attended the Rome International Schools’ Association 2009 Music Festival. The opportunity encouraged students to enjoy and to participate in music through first hand experiences. They sang, danced and played many instruments. Professional teachers encouraged everyone to appreciate music and to get involved in many ways. Our students were heard making the following comments when they returned from the event: I liked Polyrhythm a lot and the two against three was fun. Two against three is two groups, one does “Ba Bim Bim”, and the other does “Ba Ba” rhythm. The African Drumming workshop was my favorite because all the tapping is like my heart beating. I went to African Dancing and we learned how to dance in an African way. I liked the Maori sticks because they made nice sounds and the sticks were cool. My favorite workshop was Poetry because there were many instruments that were new to me. I thought Scottish dancing was the best workshop because I had fun. “Musical” was a fun activity. It was happy dancing and a special sensation! We danced to songs from the show Grease which is a very special show.

SPORTS DAYS Sports Day for Pre-K-Grade 2 students will be on Tuesday, May 12th. Sports Day for Grades 3-5 will be on Wednesday, May 13th. Please mark your calendar, as parents are needed to help with activities and the snack stations. You will be receiving more information about these Sports Days next month.

The fifth grade is actively involved in science projects on the staple diets of different countries. Student will research the price of 1 kg of potatoes in Ireland and 1 kg of rice in Vietnam. Individuals are using mathematics skills to compare and contrast average salaries and note correlations between income and staple food choices. “Some questions we are answering are what phases of matter are involved in the cooking of these dishes, and if the foods go through physical or chemical changes.” Fifth graders are using critical thinking skills and learning many interesting and important facts about our world. Fractions, fractions are everywhere. Are they proper or improper? What is the difference? Why do we need fractions? Do we ever use them? You may want to ask the 5th grade experts. In History we have studied the mosaics of Ancient Rome. We have learned the story behind these important tiles and where the best ones can be seen. We have even made a mosaic of an aqueduct and we were taught by two experts in this ancient art right in our own classrooms. Our mosaic will soon be a permanent exhibition here at school. In the U.S. government class, boys and girls are busy preparing for mock trials, in which each student will play a part. Lessons include topics related to the decisions of innocence or guilt by juries. Students want to know the process. They will examine cases that include

“The Case of The Burning Barn”, “The Case of The Dangerous Golf ball”, “The Case of The Broken Goldfish bowl”.

These trials are scheduled for a day to be announced in May and the parents may be subpoenaed. It will be a fun way to learn for all. Did you know that you can still legally murder a Scot within the city walls of York as long as he is carrying a bow and arrow? That was just to inform you we are getting really excited about our imminent trip to the UK.

Fifth Grade Ms. Di Cori, Ms. Dooner and Ms. Rumsby RISA Music Festival

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Elementary School News

Caroline Lawrence, author of the Roman Mysteries series of books, visited AOSR on Wednesday, March 18th and spoke to grades three through six. She gave a PowerPoint presentation about her writing process, the components of a good mystery, and interesting facts about the Roman Mystery series. Students loved her talk and were inspired to read her books. Many children asked Ms. Lawrence questions about her writing process and books. She also kindly signed books students purchased on campus from The Lion Bookstore. Ms. Lawrence’s visit was a big success and we hope she will return to AOSR for another talk next year or the year after.

As in previous months, many students have participated in Star Librarian program and Author of the Month program.

The following students were Star Librarians: March, 2009

Carlotta D. – Grade 2 – Ms. Musler Isabella B. – Grade 2 – Ms. Musler Ahmed A. – Grade 2 – Ms. Musler Giovanni C. – Grade 2 – Ms. Ciuffreda Sammy B. – Grade 4 – Ms. Piccirilli Noa M. – Grade 5 – Ms. Dooner

The following students participated in the Author of the Month program: March, 2009

Levent C. – Grade 2 – Ms. Musler Joanna E. – Grade 3 – Ms. Wheeler

* The following students were accidentally omitted from last month’s Falcon Flyer:

Star Librarians – February, 2009 -- Seif R. and Otis R. – Grade 5 – Ms. Dooner

Author of the Month winner – February 2009 Quinn L. – Kindergarten – Ms. Antinucci

Please congratulate these outstanding young readers from AOSR!

News from the Elementary School Library by Amy B. Popp, ES Librarian

17

Middle School News

Seventh grade theater students began their drama class after having just finished reading the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Students had studied the play intensely in their English classes and brought a wealth of Shakespearean knowledge to the drama class.

In drama with teacher Ms. Adams, they began to rewrite the play, creating modern adaptations that would appeal to a teenage audience. Each class created a different version with originality and teamwork: Twelfth Night-The Office, Twelfth Night- Hotel Illyria, and Twelfth Night-Survivor, became the basis for their scripts. Students broke into groups and began rewriting specific scenes, focusing on character and plot development.

On March 25th and 26th the seventh grade theater students performed their Twelfth Night adaptations at the Hillside Theater for the sixth grade classes.

What a success!!! Ms. Pestilli, the seventh grade English teacher, was in attendance and the shows were awesome. After the show, seventh grade students reflected on their performance and discussed their accomplishments. They all agreed that it was well worth the hard work!!

Twelfth Night in English and Drama Classes

Photos: by Sylvia Bloem

18

Middle School News

Congratulations to all students who had their artwork on display at this exhibition: Grade 6: Vittoria R., Chiara C., Neta-Li B., Korey B., and Jacob O. Grade 7: Brian B., Vlada S., Marco P., and Claudia S. Grade 8: Omer K., Xuanyan J., Prateek N., Enya F., and Alice F. Grade 10: Annalisa D., Yael G., Sara L., Lisa S., and Sisi Z. Grade 11: Ludovica B., Fiore M., Emma M., Eva P., and Veronica S.

In addition group paintings by:

Stijn D, Chiara C., Kamila K., Carolina D., Federico F. Enya F., Alice F., and Giorgio G.

Rome International Schools Association Art Show

Risa Art Show

Neta- Li B. Chiara C.

Vittoria R.

Ludovica B.

Brian B.

Students’ photos by Sylvia Bloem

AOSR Middle and High School student work was displayed at the annual RISA Art Show during the week of March 17-24. Their work was on display alongside that of students from other schools that are part of the Rome International Schools Association (RISA). Art teachers Sylvia Bloem and Joyce Dunn selected work from their students to be honored at this event. The exhibition was held at St. Stephen's School and was inaugurated with an opening ceremony at which awards were given for artwork in various categories. Many families attended the event with their student artists. AOSR Middle School student, Chiara C. was awarded 3rd place in the drawing category and High School student, Ludovica B. was honored winning 1st place with her painting. CONGRATULATIONS!

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Middle School News - continued...

The Middle School celebrated with their SPIRIT in a number of ways this year. Just prior to the official 'Spirit Week', the Sixth Grade Art classes began their work with spirit by participating in a unit on Totem poles by first researching the meaning of Totem poles and listening to stories about the circles of life, which they then illustrated what it meant to them. This was followed by creating a symbol of them portrayed on the United Spirit totem pole of their class. These personal and group displays then formed the backdrop for an Elementary and Middle School performance by Quinten Pipestem, a Native American Dancer, who performed in the Hillside Theater on March 16th. The spirit continued that week with an entertaining performance from the Listowel High School Choir from Ontario Canada. The actual SPIRIT week consisted of an entire week of students dressing to show their spirit in pajamas, as their favorite character, from another time period and as twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc! The week-long extravaganza ended with the 4th Annual Middle School Barbeque, Talent Show and Dance. Middle School teachers and students enjoyed an early evening barbeque dinner while the talent acts had an opportunity to run through their performances one final time before the show. The event was hosted by 8th graders Kyler B., Emily D., and Sarah P. with Mr. Dattilo, Ms. Collura, Ms. Concas, Ms. Stephens and Ms. Zangrilli helping out as judges. Congratulations to the 1st place winner singer Emily D., 2nd place singer Ginevra D and guitarist Alice G., 3rd place singers Ludovica G. and Flaminia M. with honorable mentions given to singers Neta-Li B., Leonardo P. and Ceara L. A special ‘thank you’ to the STUCO members for their planning and to all of the fabulous chaperones who helped to make the event a success! Students are encouraged to start planning their talent acts for the 5th annual event next Spring!

After school on Thursday, March 26th and April 2nd, the school cafeteria was transformed into an AOSR Math Competition. These two engaging math afternoons represent the second annual AOSR run off to select two 8th grader and one 6th/7th grade teams which will represent our Middle School at PRIME (Pupils of Rome International Math Event) that will take place at St. George’s School on April 23, 2009. At the time the Falcon Flyer went to press after the first round of questions, the team in the lead is an all-Sixth Grade team with Jacob O., Sung Woong K., and Henry V.! Kudos goes to Ms. Hogan, Dr. Vacchio and Mr. Bleecher for their enthusiasm and math wisdom to set up all of the planning for the activity. Watch for the results of the PRIME competition in the May edition of the Falcon Flyer.

Middle School Spirit Week

Math Competition at AOSR and PRIME

20

MS/HS News

Course registration forms for grades 7 to 12 were turned in March 27th and student requests are being processed over the next two weeks. The number of courses and sections for each class and grade level will be based on the student requests and availability of teachers, classrooms and requirements for graduation. We will be processing the grade 5 students entering grade 6 when we more fully discuss the transition from elementary to middle school in April and May. We are planning for the Master Schedule to be ready by the mid to end of May. The Spanish National Honor Society Induction was held March 26th with 9 new members and the National Honor Society Induction was held March 31st with 11 new members. Students who qualify academically also are evaluated on their overall character, leadership, and service to others. Congratulations to all newly inducted members. Part of the responsibility to being a member of this honor group includes serving as student guides during Open House and Parent/Teacher Conferences. AOSR was very fortunate to have 4 Special Agents from the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) make two visits to our campus on March 25th and 27th. The PTO meeting on March 25th was devoted to informing parents of the availability of drugs in the night clubs and from the streets and what parents can do to become better informed. The meetings on March 27th were more question and answer sessions for the students based on age. All audiences reacted positively to this sharing of information and more meetings will be held in the future. 3rd Quarter ended March 27th and Parent/Teacher Conferences were held on Friday, April 3rd. The final quarter of school is underway with Progress Reports to be sent home May 8th. Final exams will be June 3-5 and June 8th. More information will be sent home regarding the final exams. Thinking ahead: Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams will be held from May 4 to May 21.

From the desk of Mr. Tom Connolly, Secondary School Principal

Upcoming calendar events: April 9 -19 Easter break and early dismissal at 12:30 on Thursday, April 9 May 1 No School May 6-7 Grade 5 production of Grease May 8 Progress Reports 4th Quarter May 9 May Fair 11:00-16:00 May 15 Grade 7 Science Fair May 20 Visiting Orchestra performance (MS) May 21-22 Shakespeare production of Macbeth May 28 Sports Banquet June 1 Prom June 2 No School June 3-5, 8 Semester Exams June 10 MS Awards Assembly June 11 Dismissal ES and MS at 12:30 June 12 HS Awards Assembly /Dismissal at 12:30 / Commencement 18:30

21

Counselor’s Corner by Sharice Welch, High School College Counselor

College & University Corner

***REMINDER***

11th Graders Should Register for the upcoming SAT and Subject Tests

ALL 11th graders should consider taking the SAT even if the student is not sure whether he/she will go to college in the United States. Many of the UK, Canadian, and European Universities expect AOSR students to have an SAT score because we are an American High School.

Test date: May 2nd Register by: March 31st or

Test date: June 6th Register by: May 5th

You must register ONLINE at: www.collegeboard.com AOSR’s TEST CENTER Number is 58380 which you use to select the testing location. The CEEB Code is 748480 and you will use this number to indicate the high school you cur-rently attend. It will also send a copy of your results to the College Counseling Office.

Testing begins on Saturday morning at 7:45 and ends around 1:00. As dis-cussed at the PSAT meeting, it is an extreme advantage to take this test in the spring—please do not wait until the fall of next year.

SAT TEST PREPARATION with the Official SAT Online Course

purchased by AOSR is still available to all juniors!

Stop by Ms. Welch’s office to pick up your registration card and instructions.

22

Sports Update by Ms. Linda Fuccillo and Mr. Stefan Harroo, Athletic Directors

Spring Soccer is off and running. This year we welcome new coaches to the scene: Alfredo

Bulgarini and Massimiliano Manca who are heading the girls squad while Enrico Filippi takes over the boys. New uniforms and personnel changes add a new look to both squads this year. The girls are coming off of a 2nd place finish in the European championship. Key returnees include: Claudia A., Tara D., Shira G., Jillian K., Flaminia M., Eva P., Lisa S., and Camila S. With a few newcomers the girls look forward to continue their strong run into the European Championships. Like the girls, the boys are coming off of a 2nd place finish in the European Championships. On the boys end, they have 9 returning players from last year’s team. Led by seniors Seth M., David K., David P., Lorenzo B., Dario C. (injured), Adis K., and newcomers Ryan A. and Lorenzo L.; AOSR looks to continue where they left off last dominating all competitions.

On March 21st both teams were in Aviano to start the season. The girls played a man down due to injury and fought hard. Giving up 1 own goal and 1 goal in the 2nd half; the final score was just 2-0 despite these setbacks. The boys started off with a blistering pace. Going up 4-0 at half and finishing with a 6-1 victory. Lorenzo B. had 4 goals as Pietro D. and Nick S. added 1 a piece.

The season is off to a great start for both teams. Please come out and show your support!!!

GO FALCONS!!!!

Home Games @ Campo Gentile Saturdays: April 4- Milan April 25- Marymount May 9- Vicenza

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AOSR Contact Information

Switchboard: Zoë Hili 06-33438-300

Head of School: Dr. Beth Pfannl 06-33438-331

Secretary: Domenica Losani 06-33438-331

Secondary Principal: Thomas Connolly 06-33438-326

Secretary: Cathy Garbinsky 06-33438-326

Elementary Principal: Dr. George Grunfeld 06-33438-395

Secretary: Joanne Hoberg 06-33438-395

Pre-K Coordinator: Amy Magazzu 06-33438-330

ES Coordinator: Susan Prideaux 06-33438-350

MS Coordinator: Sarah Ellyson 06-33438-336

AP/IB Coordinator: Belinda Fiochi 06-33438-337

Admissions Secretary: Manuela Ciocca 06-33438-311

Busing: Kieran Canter 06-33438-372

Business Manager: Elisa Bruno 06-33438-338

HS College Counselor: Sharice Welch 06-33438-327

School Counselor: Elizabeth Escobar 06-33438-373

Nurse: Diane Cullen-Moore 06-33438-321

After School Activities: Christine Hogan, Margaret Ciuffreda 06-33438-320

Resource Room: Silvia Moore (ES) 06-33438-302

Jeff Phillips (MS/HS) 06-33438-390

Athletics: Linda Fuccillo 06-33438-313

Stefan Harroo 06-33438-340

All parent telephone and email address corrections should be

sent to principalsoffice@aosr.org.

April, 2009

AO

SR

Sunday

Monday

TuesdayW

ednesdayThursday

FridayS

aturday1

2Grade 3 trip to

Centrale Montemartini,

9:15-13:00

HS Talent Show, 14:30,

cafeteria

3Parent-Teacher

Conferences

4AOSR Soccer hosts

Milan, Girls 10:00,

Boys 11:30

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78Last Day of After

School Activies & Late

Bus Servi

9Early Dismissal, 12:30

10Spring Break Begins -

NO CLASSES

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20Spring Break Ends -

School in Session

21

22MAIS MS Choir to

Madrid, 22-26

23

24MS Italian Class to

Villa Torlonia,

9:00-2:45

Scaryoke (Teacher

Karaoke), 1530-1630,

cafeteria

25AOSR Soccer hosts MMI

26

27Grade 1 Field Trip to

Lunghezza Castle

28

29

30