A Fantastic Semester Ending in Early College Application News

December 21, 2017

Friends,

We've reached the end of a truly incredible semester of learning. The pace has continued to gain momentum all the way into the last week of school. Our students have shown fantastic enthusiasm for learning, have worked hard, and achieved much. They are tired, as are our teachers, but I am deeply proud of them all.

I love this time of year, when I can take a brief moment to reflect on the first half of the year and celebrate our students and our entire learning community. We've seen our elementary students participate in their annual Hour of Code, Asia Fest, and iTime projects. Every middle school student recently completed their first month-long TRi Time project of the year and conducted wonderful performances. The community saw some phenomenal learning at the high school Catalyst and Quest presentations, and students demonstrated their learning through dozens of projects completed as part of regular classes. Our high school robotics team finished in the #2 and #3 spots in a 33-team regional event—with our first ever all-girls' team to compete in a final at the Taipei regional, and I was truly moved at the stunning Winter Collage music concert. I'm grateful for every one of our students, for our passionate and dedicated teachers and staff, and for YOU, our parents, who are a critical part of supporting learning at SAS.

We have also made great progress on our strategic plan. Behind the scenes, our faculty and leadership team have been working on implementing new science and social studies standards, improving our instructional practices, implementing new social/emotional support systems in all divisions, and making progress on our goal of personalizing learning for our students. We have also learned about the use of flexible spaces in each division after recent upgrades, and recently started sharing our vision for the future of the SAS campus through community desserts. Across the school in all areas we are seeing improvement and responsiveness to the changing landscape for kids in the future.

Each year at this time, we also start to hear some early college acceptance news. It is early in the college admission process for many of our students, yet some seniors, plus a few National Servicemen from previous classes, are already learning results from their applications to schools. Some students are ecstatic, while others are disappointed, but in all cases we are extremely proud of our students and their learning journeys. Our results demonstrate the continued strength of our programming, the capability of our students, and the SAS reputation amongst colleges.

It is early days, and there are many more acceptances ahead, but this gives you a glimpse of the kinds of institutions our students may be attending after SAS. As of December 19, our students have been admitted to the following institutions:

Amherst College Arizona State University Arts University Bournemouth Baylor University Boise State University Boston College Boston University Brunel University London Carnegie Mellon University (College of Fine Arts) Chapman University Claremont McKenna College College of William and Mary Cornell University DePaul University Drexel University Durham University Eckerd College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emerson College Emmanuel College Emory University Florida Institute of Technology Fordham University George Mason University Georgetown University Georgia College Harvard University Haverford College Howard University Indiana University at Bloomington Iowa State University Johns Hopkins University King's College London Les Roches Hotel Management Liberty University Loyola Marymount University Maine Maritime Academy Marquette University Massachusetts Institute of Technology New York University

Northeastern University Northwestern University Providence College Queen's University Queen's University Belfast Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University Santa Clara University Seton Hall University Southern Methodist University Stanford University Suffolk University Swansea University Temple University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Texas Tech University The New School The University of Arizona The University of Edinburgh The University of Manchester The University of Nottingham The University of Texas, Austin The University of Warwick Trinity University Tufts University Tulane University United States Naval Academy University College London University of Arkansas University of Chicago University of Denver University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of St Andrews University of Toronto University of York Utah State University Villanova University Washington State University York University

We know that receiving notice of university acceptance is a milestone moment in a student's life. We recognize that this is a delicate time, and while there is much reason to celebrate, not every student receives the news they hope for. The college admissions process continues to grow more competitive and unpredictable, but fortunately we have an outstanding college counseling team that will advise and support students as they get ready for the round of regular decisions that will be announced later this year.

I would also like to highlight our very strong start to our 2017-18 SAS Foundation annual giving campaign. We have already seen tremendous generosity from more than 250 families since the launch in October. These donations make a huge difference in the programs we offer our students, and participation at any level is deeply appreciated. Though the SAS Foundation 2017-18 campaign will last through June 30, 2018, if you pay taxes in the United States, you may want to consider making your gift before the end of December. Please call Sarah Morris in advancement or simply go to our website at http://ift.tt/2DYom6C if you would like to learn more.

Thank you for being part of the Singapore American School community. I am grateful that you have entrusted us with your children's education, and I look forward to a second semester of discovery, growth, and learning. May this season bring you and yours the gifts of joy, peace, and hope.

Warmest wishes,

Chip

Dr. Chip Kimball
Superintendent

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Soothing Roasted Garlic Soup Recipe

Ever heard the saying “A bowl of garlic soup a day keeps the doctor away”? Ok, maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but in my book this garlic soup is one case where good health and good taste unite! Garlic is a wonderful herb and culinary ingredient that I always keep in the...

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Learn Letters with DIY Sensory Bins

Click here to read Learn Letters with DIY Sensory Bins on Hands On As We Grow

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Today’s sensory bin activity from Heather is a snap to create, but gives at least a week of letter learning fun! 

Living in a small house brings its challenges for sure. Especially when you have kids and all that comes with them.

Our Activity Room member of the month, Heather knows all about this.

In a small house, you don’t have a lot of room for all the toys to be out, which means that they often get forgotten about because they’re stored away in closets and chests.

Heather has a system where every morning, she gets out four toys that haven’t been out for a long time and places them on the four corners of her living room rug.

She’s found that it helps her kids play more independently and helps make cleanup easier!

What a simple solution to try if you live in a small house (or any house for that matter!)

Let’s meet Heather and learn how she teaches her children their ABCs!

How many kids do you have and how old are they?

2 kids: Sarah 4, Matthew 2.5

How long have you been in The Activity Room?

At least a year?

(In fact, Heather started back in November of 2016 and has been an active member of our Members only Facebook the entire time!)

What is your favorite activity you’ve done in The Activity Room?

Rainbow of toys!

What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids when you get a few moments? 

Love going on nature treasure hunts.

What’s your best tip for doing activities with your kids? 

Relax (this is for me primarily LOL) – these projects and activities are all about the process rather than product.

Things more than likely will NOT go the way you planned and sometimes that’s the best reward of all! Listening to these little creatures will teach you more than you ever knew!

If you were to tell a friend about The Activity Room, what would you say to them? 

The Activity Room gives me a running list of “go-to” activities that I can set up quickly and easily.

Being able to share and talk about the things we experience in our own little pocket of home with others all over the world is a lot of fun and gives me a little more incentive to keep up with my end.

I love seeing the variety of ways a simple activity can be interpreted and many times evolve into a totally different activity.

Anything else you’d like to add in regards to The Activity Room? 

Connecting with other caregivers who are experiencing the same struggles AND successes as you, even if they are thousands of miles away, is very comforting! The Activity Room engages us all in connecting with others to share a very unique journey of watching and encouraging these little people. LOVE IT!

Share your favorite quote: 

“It is what it is….” ~Anonymous

What activity would you like to share with us that you’ve done?

I’m sharing a DIY sensory bin activity for learning letters. I plan a letter a week but usually end up taking two weeks because we always find more to do than I plan!

Build a Learn-a-Letter Sensory Bin

I start by selecting a letter my 4-year-old daughter is struggling with and start building the sensory bin.

This week was the letter “B.”

I try to use stuff around the house just like Jamie so I search through their smaller toys and my stash of Dollar Store items for things that start with the letter sound. I also dyed white beans in rainbow colors.

This time, I had some light-up butterflies, wire butterflies, candy bones, buttons, and balls.

I try to find 3-4 books that highlight the letter in either our home library or from the public library.

For each book, I find free activities on Pinterest that I can print, cut out, and add to the sensory bin each day.

I also do a shape puzzle by tracing the outline of each item in the box.

By the end, there are all sorts of things floating around in the bin that satisfy the needs of both the 2-year-old and the 4-year-old. They spend quite a bit of time each day sifting and working!

Weekly Sensory Bin Activity Plan

On the first day, we read one of the books.

Then they sift through the bin, familiarizing themselves with the goodies. They can match each new discovery to the shape puzzle I already created.

Some days, we will reread a book and add an activity. Other days, I will introduce a new book with a new activity.

For the letter B, I picked:

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle. I added circles with the characters to match and a number puzzle 1-5 of the brown bear.
• Whose Butt? by Stan Tekiela. I hid tops and bottoms of animals for them to find and match.
• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Then, I set up a new sensory bin of all outdoor items that matched the story.

The only thing we spent money on were the beans and a few Dollar Store items. Tons of learning occurred and we had so much fun!

I also keep a binder to keep their letter past activities in. I include a handprint letter, a tactile letter (glued/outlined the letter B with some of our beans), and a few other freebies we like to do with each letter.

Once you do a few letters, it becomes routine and takes very little time to set up!

Start getting daily activities sent to you. Join the Activity Room today!

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Review Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer | Mr. Locksmith Blog

Review Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer | Mr. Locksmith Blog

For further information go to http://mrlocksmith.com/

Mr. Locksmith Automotive is reviewing the Hot Wire Automotive Key Programmer. I absolutely love this product. It was one of the first programmers I bought. We use two major Automotive Key Programmer, the MVP Pro and we the Hot Wire.

Hot Wire is it is PC based. It goes through a box and it plugs into the OBDC unit. It’s the most idiot-proof key programmer you can find out there.

The interface is so simple you don’t even need to read the manual. All you do is pick out your year, make, and model and plug it in. Turn the key to run and hit enter. The interface is unbelievably good. I absolutely love this. For beginners or advanced automotive locksmiths.

The MVP Pro is the bleeding edge and can do more autos. However, the Hot Wire is easier, quicker to use but again we had the other day where the MVP Pro wouldn’t program a vehicle, the Hot Wire did it.

In the past, I had two Mustangs side by side, same year, same model. The Hot Wire would program one but wouldn’t program the other. The MVP Pro would program the other unit but wouldn’t program the one that the Hot Wire would do. That’s a constant battle with cars. It happens.

We are making keys to cars every single day. This is what we find and we can’t do without two programmers. Nobody can.

That is why we keep on trying some of the offshore versions just to see how they go. We’re always evaluating them.

Again, if you are starting out and you’re coming into a good standard unit, this is the way to go. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s to the point, and you can’t make a mistake. You really cannot make a mistake.

I love the tablet-based Hot Wire because it’s all in one unit.

We are subscription based on one of our Hot Wires and one we have purchased the software for the most popular autos.

No matter what anybody says, we haven’t found one key programmer that does everything.

If the manufacturer’s want to disagree, I’m waiting for that holy grail. That one machine.

 

 

Call Now for 24 Hour Automotive Locksmith: (604) 259-7617

 

Randy Bath Your Automotive Locksmith

Replacing all types of automotive locksMr. Locksmith Automotive Services Provided:

• Re-keying all locks
• Opening vehicles
• Manufacturing keys
• Replacing lost transponder vat keys
• Lexus and Toyota ECM Re-flashing
• Cut and program transponder (chip) keys for most makes

Our service vehicles are equipped with advanced tools and computers that allow us to open your car locks without causing any damage at all. We also have state of the art, computerized machines that we can use to manufacture new keys or replace the old ignition in your car.

For On-line and Hands-on Locksmith Training Dates and Cities near you for Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced Locksmithing as well as my Covert Methods of Entry, Non-destructive Methods of Entry and to purchase the Famous “Dumb Key Force Tool” that opens Smart Key locks in seconds go to Mr. Locksmith Training http://ift.tt/1GFfnQ5

 

 

For Locksmith Franchise and Licensing Opportunities go to http://ift.tt/1Q6sOkb

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123: Sharing Gratitude, Joy, and Christmas Family Traditions

First, “Merry Christmas” from me to all of you on this blessed, happy, busy, chaotic, joyful, and sometimes stressful time of year! I know all of you as moms know exactly what I mean … Christmas is a day full of so much meaning and joy but also a million details to prepare and organize. May you...

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46 Ways to Give Experiences Instead of Stuff This Year (Even Last Minute)

In the midst of holiday gift giving, I can’t help but think about the fact that often these well-intentioned gifts eventually lead to more stress, for the giver and the receiver. So much so that over time my husband and I decided to give experiences instead of materials gifts as much as we can. After...

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IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE BUYING AN INFRARED SAUNA

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

If you’re in the market for an infrared sauna, there are several key considerations to make to ensure you select the perfect sauna for your home

Numerous health gurus, fitness experts and medical doctors all agree – saunas, specifically infrared saunas, can deliver a whole host of important health and wellness benefits for people of all ages. From chronic illness to minimizing stress, improving the effectiveness of a workout to cleansing and purifying the skin, modern saunas combine today’s leading technological innovations with centuries-old wellness principles to deliver real, tangible health benefits for the sauna enthusiast. If you’re considering buying an infrared sauna for your home, make sure you ask the following questions:

• What type of heating system is best?

  
  Traditionalists will always seek a way to tout the benefits of a “hot-rock-and-steam” sauna, but the majority of new saunas produced today are outfitted with infrared heating elements – not the old-school heaters that create extraordinary amounts of steam within the sauna. Near-infrared and far-infrared only heating elements are available, but saunas that use Full Spectrum Infrared (near, mid and far infrared) are generally considered the best. This heating system promotes sweat and deep-body infrared wave penetration to eliminate toxins as efficiently as possible. One of the biggest benefits of an infrared sauna versus the traditional sauna is the lower operating temperatures afforded by the infrared heating element.

• What size sauna should I be looking for?

  This obviously depends on your intended use.  If you will mostly be using the sauna by yourself, a compact sauna model might seem like the logical choice.  Many health-minded individuals use their sauna as a contained exercise room. You can add a different dimension to your yoga routine by doing it in a sauna, or add a twist to other exercises in your repertoire. Bottom line? Select a sauna that fits your home and your lifestyle, but make sure to account for future needs when narrowing down the overall dimensions.

• What are the real-world health benefits of an IR sauna?

  Your new infrared sauna will provide a host of tangible health and wellness benefits, with the eight most important sauna health benefits being:

 

• Muscle pain relief
• Immune system boost
• Weight loss and increased metabolism
• Detoxification
• Joint pain and stiffness relief
• Improved appearance of cellulite
• Reduction in fatigue and stress
• Improved skin tone and clarity

 

• What kind of warranty does my sauna include?

  Though a warranty is only one part of the equation, you’ll want to investigate the company and the warranty offered with each sauna. The warranty should cover the heater, electrical system, controls and other peripherals. Better companies will even cover accessories like audio and chromotherapy systems.Also, determine if the warranty will cover the sauna if the unit is used in a commercial location. If you’re looking for a new sauna for your office or commercial building, this is an important consideration. Most warranties are designed for home use and provide coverage in normal operating modes. Spend some time online, and research any consumer’s feedback of the company, including warranty-related issues.

When researching buying an infrared sauna for your home or office, there are various models available for your consideration that will perform admirably and last for years to come. Beauty Saunas Infrared Saunas are wildly popular today and combine several unique benefits for the discerning shopper. Beauty Saunas combine Full Spectrum Infrared heaters with kiln and air-dried wood structures for superior durability and performance. Far Infrared Saunas can also be enhanced with a number of options, such as chroma-therapy lights, custom interiors, sophisticated electronics packages, and more. And it’s all covered by the  Limited Lifetime Warranty for residential use. Even commercial-level users enjoy a lifetime warranty.

 

Contributed by: Aaron Gruenke Foremost expert in Saunas and bathroom fixtures.

The post IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE BUYING AN INFRARED SAUNA appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

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