2020-2021, Issue #19: June 7, 2021

Dear KAS Community,
親愛的KAS家人您好:

Congratulations to our Class of 2021! On Friday, June 4 we recognized the achievements of our graduates in an online graduation ceremony. The KAS Class of 2021 has overcome so much, and is well prepared to move forward to amazing things. While at KAS they have not only prepared for success in university and beyond, but they have grown into wonderful individuals who will carry the Dragon spirit with them wherever they go. The Class of 2021 has some incredible opportunities ahead of them, with acceptances to many great universities like Barnard College, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, every school in the UC system, Purdue, NYU, USC, and many more.

恭喜我們2021屆畢業生！6月4日星期五，我們舉行了線上畢業典禮，表揚了我們畢業生的成就。 2021 年的 KAS 班級已經克服了很多挑戰，並已準備好迎接他們美好的未來。 在 KAS 就學的期間，他們不僅為大學及未來人生的成功做好了準備，並且他們都已經成長為優秀的人，無論未來走到哪裡，都將帶著龍的精神前進。2021屆畢業生也獲取了一些難得的機會，即是他們被Barnard College, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, every school in the UC system, Purdue, NYU, USC, 等許多知名大學錄取。

To our Class of 2021, we wish you the best as you go forth into the world. You are now KAS alumni, and you are forever a part of the KAS legacy. Please visit us whenever you can and let us know how you are doing.
2021 屆的畢業生，我們祝福你們在未來一切順利。 你現在是 KAS 校友，也永遠是 KAS 的一部分。 未來可以的話請回來拜訪我們，並讓我們知道你們的近況。

As we close this 2020-21 school year we want to thank our students, families, faculty, and staff for your efforts in these recent weeks as we have moved our learning to an online format. We are happy that we have all been able to stay safe and healthy. Still, we recognize that this has been a very difficult time for everybody, and we are heartened by how the KAS community has come together to support each other. Special thanks to KAS parents for your strong support during online learning.

在 2020-21 學年結束之際，我們將學習移轉到線上的形式，我們要感謝我們的學生、學生的家庭、以及教職員在最近幾週所付出的努力。 我們很高興我們都能夠保持安全和健康。 然而，我們認知到這對每個人來說都是一段非常艱難的時期，我們對 KAS 大家庭如何團結在一起相互支持感到鼓舞。 特別感謝KAS家長在線上學習期間的大力支持。

After the global challenges from 2020-21, we all began this year hopeful that 2021-22 would bring a semblance of ‘normal.’ And it did, sort of. This was the year that our Dragons basketball team triumphantly ended the multi-year winning streak of one of our athletic rivals. This was the year that Yo-Yo Ma shared stories and played his cello for students. This was the year that students in our Model United Nations club joined together with students from around Taiwan to create BIG solutions to BIG problems, even though MUN events elsewhere around the world were postponed.

在經歷了 2020-21 年的全球挑戰之後，今年我們都開始希望 2021-22 年會帶來一些「正常」的感覺。正常生活的感覺確實有一點點存在過。 就在今年，我們的籃球校隊勝利地終結了我們其中一個對手的多年連勝紀錄。 同一年，馬友友與我們分享他的故事，也為學生們演奏了大提琴。 同一年，儘管世界其他地方的模擬聯合國社團活動都被暫緩舉行，我們模擬聯合國社團的學生仍與其他來自台灣各地的學生一起為動議議題創造解決方案。

But still, this was not a normal year. Throughout our community we faced loss and grief, day to day uncertainty, and even isolation as we could not travel to visit family and friends and participate in international events. These challenges affected not just students but our entire community.
然而，今年也稱不上是正常的一年。在我們的整個社區中，我們面臨了失落和悲傷、日常的不確定性，甚至是孤獨，因為我們無法像以往前往世界各地去探望家人和朋友和參加國際活動。 這些挑戰不僅影響到學生，也影響到我們整個社區。

However, these struggles pushed us to realize how much we can count on each other for support. Time and time again we helped out a friend in need, listened to a family member or peer when they needed to be heard, and looked for ways to help however possible. This shows the strength of the Dragon spirit and the Dragon community. Dragons overcome challenges together because we know we are stronger together.
然而，這些掙扎促使我們意識到我們可以依靠彼此的支持。 我們一次又一次地幫助有需要的朋友，在需要傾聽家人或同齡人的意見時傾聽他們的意見，並尋找盡可能提供幫助的方法。 這顯示了龍魂和龍界的實力。 龍兒們一起克服挑戰，因為我們知道我們團結在一起時力量會更強大。

For those Dragons who will not return to KAS, we wish you the best in the future. For Dragons who will return to KAS, our first day of school will be August 6. If you travel this summer, it is important that you complete your quarantine and self health management before coming to school on August 6.

對於將離開KAS的學生，我們祝你們未來一切順利。要再回來KAS就讀的學生，開學是8月6日。如果暑假離開台灣，切記要在8月6日以前回來台灣並完成隔離。

As of today we expect to start our school year in person on August 6. Our Response Team and Board of Directors will continue to monitor the situation over the summer, and we will reach out to the community should anything change.
此刻我們是預期8月6日開學時要恢復到校上課。我們的防疫應變小組和董事會在暑假期間會持續監控整個大環境的情況，若情況有改變時我們會讓您知道。

We wish our entire Dragon community a safe and healthy summer.
我們祝所有KAS大家庭成員都有一個安全及健康的暑假。

Best,

Dr. Ploeger, Superintendent

Ms. Rock, High School Principal

Mr. Payne, Middle School Principal

Mr. Coyle, Elementary School Principal

Dear KAS Community,

At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association, a group of KAS community members submitted a petition to the KAS Board of Directors requesting changes to the School Charter. The Board of Directors discussed the petition at the June 7th regularly scheduled Board meeting and decided to meet with an outside expert in international school governance for guidance on this issue. We hope to discuss this issue with the expert during the Board’s governance training planned for this August. The Board takes suggested changes to the Charter seriously. We want to address parent concerns and make sure that our governance rules are serving the needs of the school.

上一次在年度大會上，一群家長遞交了一份請願書給我們的董事會，請求要修改學校章程。董事們在6月7日例行的董事會中討論了這份請願書的內容。董事們決定要尋求治理國際學校的校外專家來協助這個工作。我們希望能在8月份董事的例行訓練上與專家探討這個議題。董事會非常重視有家長提出要修改章程的這個意見。我們希望能解決家長的擔憂，並確保我們的治理規則能滿足學校的需求。

The Board is also planning to host a parent-board forum this coming fall semester to hear directly from the parent community about any concerns they may have about the school and Board oversight. We appreciate your patience as we all work toward an ever-brighter future for KAS!
董事會也計畫在新學期要舉辦一個家長和董事之間的座談會，董事能藉此直接聆聽家長對於學校或董事會的擔憂。我們感謝您的耐心等待，也感謝您和我們一同攜手努力迎向KAS更美好的未來。

Sincerely

KAS Board of Directors
高雄美國學校董事會

School year 2021-22 1st semester tuition invoices were sent by mail. Please remember the due date is July 15. If your mailing address or any contact information has changed, please notify our Director of Admissions, Lisa Fang.

2021-22學年第一學期學費單都已經郵寄給您了。請記得繳費截止日是7月15日。如果您的通訊地址或任何聯絡資訊有更改，請您與 Lisa 方小姐（Director of Admissions）聯絡修改。

Dear ALL,

親愛的KAS家人：

Greetings! I hope this note finds you all well, healthy, and safe with families.

收信平安愉悅，希望目前您和家人都過著平安、健康的生活。

As the year comes to an end, I would like to thank you all again for the support and efforts you have shown to our students and programs by presenting this video:

在本學年接近尾聲的此時, 我謹代表體育團隊教練們感謝各位家長, 同學, 與學校同仁們對體育團隊的支持與鼓勵, 在此謹以體育活動剪影來回顧、 感謝、與鼓勵所有身為KAS一份子的各位:

• Diverse Study and Balance Development at KAS - WOW Sight Sports complete coverage (運動視界完整報導)

• We Are Dragons - Diverse Study and Balance Development at KAS! - Also available from our Athletics Webpage (我們以Dragons為榮影片-可同時在體育團隊網頁觀看)
  
  

Again, thank you, and we look forward to another strong year in athletics together with you moving forward.

再次感謝各位， 並期待很快在新的學年與各位建立更有活力與競爭力的體育團隊!

Regards,

Mr. Ken Su, Athletic Director

Congratulations to our IB Diploma graduates. These dedicated students have fulfilled the requirements for the prestigious and challenging IB Diploma Program: rigorous curriculum standards that include critical thinking, oral presentations, and true conceptual understanding of college-level material, a 4,000 word research paper, many hours and reflection on personal activities and community service, philosophical thinking and writing, and hours of difficult and long exams. It has been said that a student will find freshman year of college just a little easier than the IB Program! You have persevered, worked hard, sacrificed, and struggled to meet the demands to be an IB Diploma graduate. You have proven yourselves worthy. Now go forth and conquer!

恭喜我們的IB文憑畢業生。這些認真的學生完成了IB文憑享有盛名且具有挑戰的要求：嚴格的課程標準，包括批判性思考，口語陳述，一個具有大學水準內容的4000字論文，許多小時與反思的個人活動和社區服務，哲學思考與寫作，以及數個小時艱難且漫長的考試。有人說，學生會發現大學一年級比IB課程簡單。你堅持不懈，努力讀書，犧牲並努力完成了IB文憑畢業生的要求。你已證明了自己的能力。現在向前征服吧！

Ms Deborah Haines, IB/AP Coordinator IB/AP召集人

Congratulations to our Class of 2021 seniors on graduating! All of us in college counseling are so proud of you and your wonderful achievements. We know you will come back to visit us. If you need any help over the summer, Ms. Rachel and Ms. Denise are available to assist with official transcript requests.

To our rising seniors, you have a lot of work ahead of you this summer. Please work on your Extended Essay, your college essays and personal statements, and enjoy some time doing the hobbies and interests you love most.

恭禧我們2021屆學生畢業！大學顧問們都為你們的成就感到驕傲。我們知道你們會回來看我們。如果各位在暑假時需要任何幫助，Ms. Rachel 和 Ms. Denise 可以協助你們處理正式成績單需求。

對於即將升上12年級的學生們來說，今年暑假你們會有很多步驟要進行。請完成你的自傳論文、大學論文和個人陳述，也要好好撥一些時間享受你的愛好和興趣。

KAS Senior College Application Bootcamp 大學申請討論會

Class of 2022 - please plan to join us before school starts on Monday, August 2 from 12:30 - 3:30 pm in the KAS Lecture Hall. This is not mandatory but it is highly recommended you attend. We will work on your applications, provide some very valuable information about preparing applications, and answer your questions.

Finally, farewell to Ms. Jill Newman and we wish her all the best on her work with students in the U.S. We have enjoyed working with you and appreciate all your care and support for KAS students these last two years. We will miss you!

2022 屆 - 請在開學前 8 月 2 日星期一下午 12:30 - 3:30 在 KAS 演講廳加入這個討論會。這不是強制性的，但強烈建議各位參加。我們將討論各位的大學申請，提供一些關於準備申請的重要資訊，並回答你們的問題。

最後，祝福 Ms. Jill Newman，希望她在美國的新工作一切順利，很高興有機會和您一起工作，更感謝您過去兩年對 KAS 學生的所有關心和支持。我們會想你的！