AOSR FALCON FLYER FALL 2012 WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL YEAR AT AOSR!

Transcription

1 AOSR FALCON FLYER FALL 2012 WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL YEAR AT AOSR! DR. BETH PFANNL, HEAD OF SCHOOL It s a pleasure to welcome you all to the new school year. There is nothing more exciting than to see the smiling faces of children back on campus. I hope that it was a relaxing and enjoyable summer for all. I extend a warm welcome to all of our new families, teachers and staff members who are joining our community, and a very special welcome back to all of those returning. This September marks the beginning of my 10th year at AOSR. It is a privilege to be part of this school, to work with such an amazing team of educators and staff members, and to share the excitement of AOSR with the extended alumni community around the world. As we have for many years, AOSR s Summer Camp took place in June and July led by Mr. Kieran Canter. Over 200 summer campers enjoyed sports, English classes and other fun activities. We are so proud of our many accomplishments over the years. At the same time we know that there is always room to improve on our road from good to great! AOSR continues to be the school of choice for so many families in Rome. Here s to another great year of learning and growing together. This year we welcome thirteen new teachers, including a new elementary school principal, Ms. Melissa Kay On the next few pages you can read about these educators who have joined our accomplished and passionate team of teachers and staff members. Our new PTO president this year is Mr. Roberto Fois, who served as vice president last year. He follows Ms. Anna Brilli, who did an excellent job working with our enthusiastic and dedicated group of parent volunteers. Mr. Fois and his team will be on campus throughout the first few weeks of school to welcome new families at orientation and at the PTO s Welcome Coffees and to talk about all the opportunities to join in the fun of volunteering. Be sure to check out our new Booster Bar! Really exciting! In October, you will have the opportunity to take part in revisiting our school s Strategic Plan (the current Strategic Plan is available at A team of facilitators from Triangle Associates will join us the week of October 8th to run focus groups so we can get your input as we plan the direction for our school for the years ahead. More information will be made available in the coming weeks. For more information about times and dates for school events, please check our school website regularly at (continued next page)

2 New seating in the gym HS Biology Lab Hillside Theater Continued from cover During the summer months we are typically busy with our annual campus upgrades. This summer was no exception. When students and teachers are away for vacation, there are a great many people who are still working hard to make sure that our school is ready for us in September. We all owe them tremendous thanks for everything they do to help make our school beautiful. As you walk around campus, you ll notice quite a number of changes that are in line with our Campus Facility Plan. Some you will see right away, others are not visible, but all help to improve teaching and learning at AOSR and make our campus a safer and more esthetically pleasing environment. Brand new state-of-the-art biology and physics science labs in the high school New classroom doors with view windows and secure keycard locks in the elementary and high school buildings New doors to the cafeteria with viewing windows New surface area in the quad - removal of pebbles to make for a cleaner and safer environment New hallway surface in the elementary school and in front of the gym Hillside Theatre upgrade complete with new surface, stairways and seating Brand new permanent Booster Bar Remodeling of student bathrooms near the ES library, Grade 5 classrooms and 3rd floor of the Villa New seating in the gym New surface for Pre-K playground Relocation of some Villa business offices for more efficient use of space Summer tech work included: increasing the bandwidth, upgrading network wiring and wireless routers

3 HELP US WELCOME NEW FACULTY Ms. Catherine Gustafson (Grade 4) grew up a Packer fan in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She earned her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her MA from Lesley University. After college she joined the Peace Corps with her husband. They spent the next 11 years in Brazil where her two daughters, Sonia and Mara, were born. She started out as a secondary school English teacher but after teaching grade four in Brasilia, she never returned to high school. Back in the United States, she taught grades four - six in Maryland. Then the family started traveling again. In Mozambique she taught forth grade, in Kenya fifth grade, and in India second and third grades. Most recently she is coming from Washington, D.C. where she taught in elementary school in Arlington, Virginia. Ms. Gustafson is looking forward to getting to know everyone at AOSR. Ms. Yuki Hirao (ES Art) was born in Japan and moved from Tokyo to San Diego, California for her university studies. She fell in love with the American style of education. She earned a Bachelors degree from San Diego State University and a Masters of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. She began her career working as a designer for several years in Los Angeles, California but discovered that she missed the magic of discovery and learning that can only be found in the classroom. She returned to college to teach design at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Fired up in her desire to work with students, she returned to Japan to teach elementary and middle school art at an international school in Tokyo. Ms. Hirao is very happy to be a part of AOSR community. Her two children, Kaito (Gr. 3) and Saskia (Gr. 1) are excited to be part of our school. She is looking forward to seeing all the wonderful work AOSR students will be creating this year! Ms. Leslie Holcombe (Middle School English) comes to Rome from Stavanger, Norway, where she taught English and Social Studies in the middle school at the International School of Stavanger for the past two years. Prior to living in Stavanger, Ms. Holcombe lived in Washington, DC, and spent seven years commuting across the Potomac River to work in Fairfax County Public Schools in Alexandria, Virginia. There, she taught middle school English and acted as the newspaper and yearbook adviser for several years. Born in Washington, DC, she moved to New Hampshire when she was seven years old. She attended the University of New Hampshire for both undergraduate and graduate school, and she holds a M.A.T. in English Teaching. Ms. Holcombe considers New Hampshire home, and she happily spent the summer there, floating in Lake Whittemore and enjoying cool, quiet evenings in the countryside. In her free time, she loves to travel, read, watch movies, collect antiques and experiment in the kitchen with cooking and baking. She hopes to become a more avid bike rider and a speaker of Italian very soon! Ms Christina Houpis (Secondary Math) has an educational background in Chemistry and Math, from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Masters in Teaching and Certification in teaching Middle Level Math and Science, from the University of Washington. She has taught in both the public and private schools in Seattle, Washington, in the capacity of a middle school math and honors math teacher, technology teacher, and school technology coordinator. In her previous life, Ms. Houpis worked as an environmental educator in Oregon, Colorado, California and sailing aboard a tall ship in the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound in Washington. She enriches her life by spending many active hours in the out-of-doors, engaged in hiking, kayaking, biking, swimming and the general pursuit of adventure. She enjoys cultures, traveling, learning languages, Cuban salsa dancing, and reading. Ms. Houpis believes that she has the best job in the world, and feels very fortunate and enthusiastic to have the opportunity to teach in Rome, at AOSR

4 Ms. Melissa Kay (Elementary School Principal) joins us from the United States where she most recently served as a principal at both the elementary and middle school levels in Westport, Connecticut. Over the course of the past eighteen years she has worked with students at all levels, kindergarten through grade eight in various capacities. Engaging students, teachers and families in the process of learning and supporting the whole child academically, emotionally and socially are most important to her. She feels strongly that children need to understand the importance of different ways of thinking and approaching situations to be successful participants in a school community and therefore productive members of the larger world community. Ms. Kay was formally educated at Boston University where she earned a BA in Communications, Lesley College where she earned a Master s degree in Elementary Education, and at the University of Connecticut with a diploma in Professional Education. Her son Jack will be a sixth grader this year at AOSR. Ms. Kay is very excited to join our school community. Ms. Lynn Lenox (School Nurse) is excited to be starting this new school year working alongside Ms. Miller in the health office as the new school nurse. Although born in Maryland, she has lived all over the United States, including Virginia, California and Arizona. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in sociology but after her children were born she returned to school to earn a degree as a registered nurse. She most recently worked as a RN in Maryland at Baltimore Washington Medical Center on their surgical/telemetry floor. She moved here from Maryland last September with her husband, Mark and four boys. This year at AOSR, Ben is a sophomore, Jack is in eighth grade, Coale a fourth grader and Tanner is entering first grade. She is an avid reader, loves camping, traveling, and trying to keep four boys well fed. She loves her life in Rome and is looking forward to a wonderful school year. Mr. J. Ethan Salsitz (Grade 5) was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, but comes to us now from San Diego, California. He earned his BA from the University of New Mexico where he played Division 1 soccer, and holds a Master s degree in Special Education from National University. After graduating college he played soccer professionally for a year before moving to Los Angeles to begin a career in film and television. Unfulfilled after five years in the entertainment industry, he moved to San Diego in 2001 to take a job as a counselor for at-risk-youth before moving into the classroom where he has been working with elementary children ever since. His hobbies include playing guitar and eating delicious foods, such as porchetta and salumi. Ms. Jessica Schwarz (Secondary Science) was born and raised in northern Michigan where she grew a love and passion for the natural world. After earning a Master s of Science from Michigan State University in Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Ms. Schwarz moved to the Big Island of Hawaii to conduct water quality research for the National Park Service. During her five (fantastic!) years on the Big Island, she had many opportunities to share her research with local school groups and quickly discovered her love of teaching! She taught middle school science at a project-based charter school in Kona, Colorado before moving to Boulder to earn a Master s of Arts in Geography. Her graduate study focused on political ecology and communitybased ecotourism in Tanzania. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Schwarz returned to the classroom and has taught middle school science for the past several years in Denver, Colorado. She loves travel, exploring the outdoors, critters of all shapes and sizes and water! She is absolutely thrilled to join the AOSR educational community and looks forward to meeting her students and their families!

5 Aaron Stewart (Secondary Math) and Heather Stewart (Grade 3) have moved to Rome from a family farm near Sandy, a small town about an hour east of Portland, Oregon. Both come from extensive teaching families, where it just seemed natural that they should choose education as a profession. They each earned bachelor degrees from Linfield College and completed their masters degrees at Portland State University. Mr. Stewart has spent his entire teaching career thus far at Sandy High School, where he and Ms. Stewart both attended as students. He has taught all levels of math at the high school, served as the math department chair, coached varsity soccer, advised the National Honor Society, and is always willing to make a fool of himself in spirit assemblies. Mr. Stewart enjoys ski mountaineering, hiking, biking, playing the saxophone, and traveling to new places. Ms. Stewart has spent the last 13 years primarily teaching second and third grades in Gresham, Oregon. She spent two of those years as an instructional coach, where she worked closely with teachers to improve student achievement. In 2004, Ms. Stewart earned her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. She loves reading, playing the piano, hiking, being crafty, and traveling. Mr. Stewart and Ms. Stewart have two children who are fortunate to be attending AOSR. Eliot is a fourth grader who is a voracious reader and loves all things related to science. Sophie is a second grader who loves art and people. The entire family feels excited and blessed to be joining the wonderful community at AOSR! Ms. Caitlin Vallerga (Grade 2) was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. Prior to becoming a teacher, she attended Oregon State University where she earned degrees in Spanish and Education. In addition, she attained her master s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She has experience working in a Spanish-immersion program, as a regular classroom teacher and also as an English Language Development teacher. She feels that her strong background in working with a diverse population of students will really help her in an international school setting. In her spare time, Ms. Vallerga enjoys hiking, playing soccer, cycling and reading. She is looking forward to a great year at AOSR! Kathryn van Forst (Secondary English) comes to AOSR after teaching for twenty-four years in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. She has taught English at all grades levels from middle school through high school. She received her B.A. in English and a Master s degree from the University of New Hampshire. What first brought her to Italy was a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, which allowed her to study La Divina Commedia in Though the text was studied in English, her adventure was purely Italian. Her favorite place in Italy is Siena, but it appears Rome may change her mind. Among her favorite things to do are cooking, running, hiking, and of course eating Italian food. However, her contrada of choice shall remain a secret. Mr. Daniel Zacaroli (Athletic Director/Secondary Social Studies) is originally from the United States, most recently Chicago, but has spent many years living in Rome. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and is an experienced soccer player and marathoner. Mr. Zacaroli is very excited to be rejoining the AOSR community. An AOSR graduate with the Class of 2000, he will teach MS Social Studies and lead our Falcons as the new Athletic Director. After spending a number of years in the United States, he returned to Rome in March of this year, with his wife and 15-month-old son, Lorenzo. Go Falcons!

6 WELCOME TO AOSR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MS. MELISSA KAY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Welcome to the start of the school year! I look forward to engaging in the learning process with all of you. AOSR is in the top rank of American international schools from around the world. We are fortunate to have an experienced and skilled faculty who all desire to see our students succeed academically. Equally as important to our academic excellence is our belief in nurturing children s social and emotional growth. It is important for children to feel safe and secure. This feeling allows children to joyfully explore, take risks with their learning, and reach out to make new friends. Our goal is to focus on this during these first few weeks of school and foster it throughout the year. Parents often ask how to help in their child s education. Here are some suggestions that will lead to a successful school year: Lead by example. We, as parents and educators, are where children look for guidance and modeling. Young children emulate what they see and hear. We have an obligation to help children know that learning is a life long process and that differences are what make school (and the world) a magical place. Partner with your child s teacher and communicate! Strong communication leads to understanding and trust. When parents and teachers are on the same page, students thrive. Listen to your child and ask questions about their day. Be sure to start off with the positive. (For example, What was the best part of your day? What was the most exciting? Tell me something you learned.) Read with your child daily. As a parent myself, I know how important this is for fostering a love of reading. Discuss the books that you read with your child and talk about what you both think is the author s message. Create a quiet place for homework and determine a regular time. Setting routines for children around homework is critical for developing strong study skills. Live a healthy lifestyle. Get enough sleep, healthy food and exercise. My role as elementary school principal is to support this community of learners, to set goals and forever seek improvements as we develop. Our world is a constantly changing place and new ideas are what make it stimulating and exciting. In this spirit, please share with me thoughts you may have as the year progresses. We value parent input. Once again, welcome to what will be an exciting and productive year. Melissa Kay Elementary School Principal Day 1 of new grade level!

7 WELCOME TO AOSR SECONDARY SCHOOL MR. KEN KUNIN, SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Dear AOSR Parents, In our middle and high school we are counting the minutes until our classrooms and halls are filled with teenagers engaged in getting a rich AOSR education. Our students have the benefit of being part of a group that is truly international, representing many countries, many faiths and many cultures. Our students will learn from a staff both veteran at AOSR and joining us from schools around the world. This year they will have the advantage of significant upgrades to our technology, including additional laptop carts in the middle school, new library computers and increasing our bandwidth and upgrading our wiring to allow for greater integration of technology into instruction. In future issues of the Falcon Flyer we will highlight examples of student learning that give a sense of what an AOSR education is all about. We look forward to sharing our pride in our students, our staff and our work with all of you. The new teachers are eager to meet the challenges of settling into a new school and have spent a week in sessions working together and getting to know AOSR. We know you will be impressed with their experience and energy. While new to AOSR, they bring a wealth of experience to their work with our students. Also, we have almost eighty new students joining us in middle and high school for We welcome you all! Schedules with room and teacher assignments were ed to parents and students at the beginning of September and are passed out on the first day along with the Homework Agendas, course expectations for individual classes and supply lists needed for a successful year. The Student and Parent Handbook is distributed on the first day of classes, as well. We ask you to read through it carefully. You will also receive a first day packet of forms that needs to be completed for each student and sent back to either the Elementary or Secondary Principal s offices as soon as possible. All parents and students, new and returning, are required to complete the authorizations, health forms and updated contact information. As always, please contact us if you have any questions about forms, your student s educational program and any general concerns. Open House for the Middle and High School will take place on Wednesday, September 19 beginning at 17:00 in the cafeteria. Please plan to attend to meet your student s teachers and hear about our programs. All the best for a great school year, Ken Kunin Secondary Principal

8 A WARM WELCOME FROM THE PTO MR. ROBERTO FOIS, PTO PRESIDENT The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at the American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR) extends a warm welcome to all newcomers to our school. The PTO is a non-profit organization, with membership open to all AOSR families and faculty. Our main purpose is to provide an opportunity for parents to get involved in supporting school-wide events and activities. We work together, along with teachers and the school s administration to provide support for student programs, social activities and fundraising events. We invite you to join us as we work together to enrich the education of our students and strengthen the connection between school and home. The PTO designs its activities and events to enhance the educational experience of all our students. We depend on you to volunteer and make these events a success: The Booster Bar First Event, Friday, September 7 at 14:45 The Booster Bar is a PTO sponsored barbecue and drink bar, which offers juicy grilled hamburgers (organically produced beef) and sizzling (beef) hot dogs, beverages and candy for sale. Now located in its own space adjacent to the corridor outside the gym, it is the place to go to have an after-school snack, hang out and meet friends. The BB is fully staffed by volunteers from school organizations that derive a profit from helping out. Funds go to support extra-curricular purchases (i.e. sport uniforms, theatre props, etc). Contact the Booster Bar Coordinator Anna Clementi for further information about helping out with Booster Bar events. Meet and Greet Coffee: We look forward to learning about you and your international journey and to give you an opportunity to meet new parents and learn a bit more about the PTO activities. Come enjoy a cappuccino and a cornetto and look at the various volunteering opportunities you might be interested in. Monday, September 10 and Monday, September 24 at 9:30 am - presentations in English &Italian Lunedì 10 e Lunedì 24 Settembre alle 9:30 presentazioni in Italiano e Inglese PTO Meeting First general meeting In the Cafeteria - Monday, September 17, 9:30 am Come and meet PTO officers, volunteers, members of the administration in a relaxed, pressure-free environment where you will have opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the way the school community works together. Family Picnic - Saturday, September 29, 11:00-15:00 At the beginning of the school year the Family Picnic is a great opportunity for the whole school community to meet friends and spend some time in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. The event features musical entertainment, games and activities for children and the tasty food from the Booster Bar grill. A highlight of the AOSR Family Picnic is the Potluck Luncheon--a table full of treats from around the world that shows the culinary talents of the international community at AOSR. The Boutique Opens Tuesday, October 2 Located on the parking lot level next to the stairs to the Elementary School library, the Boutique is a bargain hunter s dream. Everyone is welcome to come and view the items on sale. You will find new and second hand clothes in many sizes and styles, toys, household goods, books and childcare items at extremely convenient prices. You may also sign up as a vendor if you are a parent, member or alumni of AOSR. You set the prices on your items and 2/3 of the selling price goes to you and 1/3 goes to the school for PTO sponsored projects. Opening Hours: Every Tuesday from 9:30 14:30 and Fridays from 15:00-16:00 Contact the Boutique Coordinator Wendy Judd if you have questions or are interested in helping out as a Boutique Assistant.

9 WELCOME FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MS. SARAH HALL, BOARD CHAIR On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the American Overseas School of Rome, I would like to welcome all AOSR students, staff and parents to the upcoming school year. As a parent of a returning senior, who is my third child to graduate from an overseas school, it will be an especially meaningful year. For all new families, especially those for which this is the first time overseas I am confident that you will find AOSR a school that meets your children s potential in every sense. For everyone in the AOSR community, I look forward to seeing you at the many events and activities that make AOSR such an enriching environment, from sports competitions to art openings and science fairs. I am confident that the team of administrators and teachers is the best this year it has ever been, and together, they are ready to challenge your children in the most positive and supportive way possible. My fellow Board Members and I look forward to working with them over the coming months, and wish you all a great year! PTO Continued AOSR Winter Holiday Bazaar Sunday, December 2, 11:00-15:00 Plenty of Arts and Crafts give you the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for your family and friends, and even sell some of your own creations. International food, some of the best Italian wine and specialty foods will also be available. Rumor has it that Santa takes an early detour to visit the Bazaar. AOSR Mayfair Festival Saturday, May 11, 11:00-16:00 You will very often hear people talking about the annual Mayfair Festival since it is one of AOSR s major fundraising events for all people affiliated with the school. The Mayfair blends music, stage presentations, games, and delicious food into a carnival atmosphere on the campus of AOSR. Participation in the planning and execution of this big event is a great way to help the school provide a better quality service to our children, as well as to meet new people. Contact the PTO President Roberto Fois as soon as now to volunteer! Any questions: feel free to the PTO President Roberto Fois (in English, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese) at PTO@aosr.org Ci vediamo presto. one of AOSR s major fundraising events for all people affiliated with the school. The Mayfair blends music, stage presentations, games, and delicious food into a carnival atmosphere on the campus of AOSR. Sale of school supplies to help welcome our students back The new Booster Bar is a welcome addition to our Friday barbecue tradition

10 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AT AOSR MS. TRACY ARNOLD: EDTECH COORDINATOR Technology has greatly changed things from the time many of us were in elementary or even high school. We learn from the most up-to-date sources online; we bank, purchase, communicate, and play using IT resources, and computer chips are inbed into a myriad of devices in our homes, cars and even pockets. As educators we have had to rethink how our students learn and how we teach using the tech resources we have at hand. Students at AOSR rely daily on technology as a learning and productivity tool. They use technology to create, communicate and share ideas and products. Throughout the elementary and middle school years students receive instruction both in the classroom and through dedicated time with a technology specialist. They learn about the responsible management of computer resources, digital citizenship and how to use a wide variety of programs suited to the needs of our 21st century digital society. IT Services at AOSR: We currently have three imac computer labs as well as computers in our library media centers. The school provides access to Internet through login or open Wi-Fi networks. In addition to the elementary computer lab this year we are adding ipad centers in grades PreK-2 and students in grades 3-7 will have access to a mobile computer cart used to integrate technology into their subject classes. Both the elementary and secondary schools employ specialists who work with students and staff to develop their IT skills and the use of IT effectively in the classroom. As students become older the importance of learning to use computer resources more independently becomes crucial. To help our students develop their skills, students in grades 8 and 9 participate in a school sponsored 1-1 laptop program. Students are issued a school laptop and follow a program which combines classroom integration of technology with guided instruction. The increased responsibility of caring for a laptop, using it effectively and demonstrating digital citizenship helps to prepare AOSR students for the more open BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) platform in grades As students in grades begin to prepare for their university studies, the importance of student research and investigation, producing polished written work and the ability to communicate through a variety of means become increasing important for student success. To support student learning, both in and out of the classroom, students in these grades are grades expected this year to bring a fully charged laptop to school each day. What type of laptop should my child bring? Students can bring a laptop they already own, purchase one on their own, or purchase directly with the school provider (information below on this option). Whatever the model of laptop a student brings it should provice access to: Internet via Wi-Fi, Basic productivity software & media viewing and editing options Active battery life of 4+ hours In most cases this will be a netbook or laptop computer. We will work closely with students to resolve basic connectivity issues and develop responsible computer use habits. We will provide students with a range of cross platform programs which they can install on their device regardless of make, model or operating system. AOSR teachers received new Macbook Pro laptops their first day back to school We are committed to providing increased support and ongoing professional development for teachers to create successful integration of technology into instruction. We will be sending you more information over the next few weeks regarding suggested laptop models and potential local providers. Also, stay tuned for details on an informational sessions we will hold on Wednesday, September 19th at the MS/HS Open House. We believe that a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program will help our students to develop skills and attitudes that will support their future success. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

11 WELCOME FROM AOSR LIBRARIES MS. MARTA RAHM & MS. MARIA FALGOUST Reading develops the mind, the imagination, empathy and improves vocabulary. Let s keep building our community of readers! The AOSR Elementary and Secondary libraries welcome you and invite you to stop by and see all of the wonderful resources we have available. Recently, we ve added hundreds of new books to our collections! Check out some of the hottest fiction, such as The 39 Clues series, Amulet graphic novel series, Moomin series and other cool recommendations from students such as The Boy Who Dared, Two Parties One Tux and Smile. Be on the look out for books in Italian, French, Chinese, Korean, and a variety of other languages. In the elementary library, you ll find new cookbooks, graphic novels, poetry, sports, folktales, biographies of artists, science, picture books, history, and books on Rome, Egypt and Greece. In the Secondary library, there s an assortment of new college prep, young adult fiction, ELL, classics, memoirs, literature and many more amazing books. Are you curious as to whether we have a particular book in our collection? You can do so from home by logging on to our online catalog at and search by subject, author, title or keyword, it s as easy as pie! Don t forget our libraries also have subscriptions to many magazines such as The New Yorker, National Geographic, Kids Discover, Time and countless others. Did you know that we do not only offer an extensive collection of books, but we now have electronic books (e-books) and many fabulous online resources for students of all ages: from preschool through adult? Have you used Brain-pop, World Book Online, Tumblecloud or Ebsco? These membership databases are fun as well as educational, but in order to use them, you will need a password. Stop by either library and pick up a card with the passwords. HS students can take advantage of their open periods by signing up for individual research skills units with Ms. Rahm. They are only 20 minutes long and will save students hours of time dedicated to ineffective searches. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact mrahm@ aosr.org for MS/HS or mfalgoust@aosr.org for ES. See you in the library and happy reading! AROUND CAMPUS Marco C (Gr. 12) designed and built a birdhouse for AOSR. Look for it on campus! Giorgio DG (Gr. 12) & Julian B (Gr. 12) did a wonderful job sanding & repainting our benches and tables over the summer! Office staff prepare for the new school year while grade 4 begins the year with circle time in the quad. New student orientation!

12 ALUMNI NEWS (LONDON 2012) Canada s Justyn Warner, Oluseyi Smith (AOSR Class of 2005), Jared Connaughton and Gavin Smellie (L-R) pose after the men s 4x100m relay final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 11, Canada finished third but were disqualified. An AOSR Falcon student-athlete, and AOSR s favorite Olympian, Seyi went on to study engineering at Loughborough University in the UK, where he also earned his master s degree in electrical engineering. Go Seyi! Go Falcons! Nicholson, Lucy. Canadian Men s Relay Team. 11 Aug The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail / Reuters, 11 Aug Web. 7 Sept < article ece/alternates/w620/can5.jpg>. Contact Information Villa Reception and Staff Villa Secretary: Ms. Manuela Ciocca Head of School: Dr. Beth Pfannl Secretary: Ms. Domenica Losani Director of Finance & Human Resources: Dr. Elisa Bruno Admissions Officer: Ms. Sabine Neumann Busing: Mr. Kieran Canter Secondary School Principal: Mr. Ken Kunin Secretary: Ms. Anna Chiara Troisi Elementary School Principal: Ms. Melissa Kay Secretary: Ms. Joanne Hoberg Faculty & Coordinators PreK Coordinator: Ms. Amy Magazzu ES Coordinator: Ms. Susan Prideaux MS Coordinator: Ms. Sarah Ellyson AP/IB Coordinator: Ms. Belinda Fiochi HS College Counselor: Mr. Ivan Hauck School Counselors: Ms. Elizabeth Escobar Dr. Simona Reichmann Nurse: Ms. Lynn Lenox & Jan Miller After School Activities: Ms. Christine Hogan Resource Room: Ms. Rene Ostapuk (ES) Ms. Jacqueline Gallo (MS/HS) Athletics: Mr. Daniel Zacaroli American Overseas School of Rome 811 Via Cassia Rome, Italy Phone: (+39) Fax: (+39)