The Dragon's Tale
The Biweekly Newsletter of the Kaohsiung American School
2019-2020, Issue #15: May 1
Dear KAS Families,
親愛的家長您好:
These last few months have brought unprecedented challenges to the world, and we feel so fortunate to continue learning safely in our classrooms here at KAS. We remain grateful for Taiwan’s excellent management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are appreciative for the cooperation and support of all in the school community. We have been able to have more classroom days than many other schools in the world, and your support has made that possible. Thank you for your efforts.
過去這幾個月帶給全世界前所未有的跳戰,我們感到非常幸運能在高雄美國學校持續提供安全的學習環境給學生。我們也對台灣如此傑出的防範新冠肺炎充滿感激。我們很感謝整個KAS大家庭的合作與支持。我們比世界上很多學校擁有很多上學的機會,您的支持讓一切成真。感謝您的付出。
Our faculty and staff, our facilities and custodial teams, our Response Team and our Board of Directors will all continue working together, and taking every possible safety precaution, in order to keep students and staff safe.
我們的教職員、設備組、清潔團隊、防疫應變小組以及董事,大家都會繼續一同努力,並採取任何可能的相關安全應變措施來確保學生和教職員的安全。
We are so pleased that we are in school and planning a graduation for our seniors. While it won’t look like it has in past years, we look forward to the opportunity to honor and celebrate their hard work and accomplishments. In order to comply with government regulations, it is necessary for us to restrict the number of attendees at this year’s event. With that in mind, we can only issue three invitations to each student. We’re sure that you understand, but if you have further questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Rock.
我們很高興能在學校並為準畢業生們規劃他們的畢業典禮。雖然今年的畢業典禮不會像過去幾年一樣,但是我們還是很期待有這個機會來表揚和慶祝他們的努力和成就。為了要遵守政府的規範,我們必須限制今年參加畢業典禮的人數。因此,每一位畢業生只會收到3張邀請函。我們相信您可以理解,但如果您對此有疑問,請與高中校長Ms. Rock聯絡。
We are happy that our closed campus efforts have helped to keep everybody safe, but we dearly miss having KAS parents here in school. Your energy and support make such a positive difference for students, faculty and staff. We look forward to the time when we can get back to ‘normal,’ but until then we want to connect with families in every way we can. One such opportunity is our ‘virtual’ Superintendent’s Afternoon Tea, coming up at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, May 5. In this event, Dr. Ploeger will use Google Meets to update families about college acceptances, safety, the KAS Future Leaders program, digital learning, literacy, and to answer any questions you may have. If you’d like to join, settle into your favorite chair in your home/office with a nice cup of tea, and click on https://meet.google.com/uqb-sugu-yow at 1:30 PM on May 5 to join.
我們很高興關閉校園這個政策幫助保護大家的安全,不過我們也很想念有家長在校園內走動的時候。您的活力和支持對學生、教職員帶來積極正面的影響。我們期待恢復正常的日子,但是在那之前我們會盡力和各位保持聯繫。接下來的機會就是在5月5日下午1:30舉行的總校長下午茶,Dr. Ploeger將以Google Meets和各位家長報告大學錄取狀況,校園安全,接下來的計劃,線上學習和識讀,以及回答各位的問題等。若您想一同參與,挑一張家中/辦公室中最舒適的椅子,泡杯好茶,準時在5月5日下午1:30點選連結: https://meet.google.com/uqb-sugu-yow 加入。
Kind regards,
Dr. Ploeger, Superintendent 總校長
Ms. Rock, High School Principal 高中校長
Mr. Payne, Middle School Principal 國中校長
Mr. Coyle, Elementary School Principal 小學校長
IB BITS
Ms Deborah Haines, IB/AP Coordinator IB/AP召集人
IB DP Art students, under the mentorship of art teacher Daniel Castelaz, presented the work they have created over the past two years in IB DP Visual Arts class. The exhibition is a requirement for DP students around the world. Pictures of the artwork, along with sections of the students’ process journals, have been sent to IB to determine final IB DP Visual Arts scores. KAS offers two IB DP Arts classes: Visual Arts and Music.
IB國際大學預科文憑的美術學生在美術老師Daniel Castelaz的指導下,展出了他們過去兩年在視覺藝術課上所創作的作品。全球的IB國際大學預科文憑美術學生都被要求展出他們的作品。最後IB視覺藝術成績將由已寄送給IB組織中學生作品的照片與工作日記來決定。在KAS我們提供兩個國際大學預科文憑的藝術課程:視覺藝術與音樂。
Maggie Hu, in front of her IB Diploma art exhibition
Maggie Hu同學與她的IB文憑藝術展作品
Alumni Corner 校友天地
Tina Wu graduated from KAS in 2014 and went on to have an amazing four years at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where she double-majored in Math and Music.
Tina自2014於KAS畢業後,隨即展開她在康乃狄克州三一學院四年精彩的大學生活,在那她主修數學與音樂。
Those who know Tina are familiar with her friendliness, determination, and drive. While a college student, Tina held two jobs on campus and led several organizations like Chapel Singers, International House and African Choir. She says her days as a student at KAS had a lot to do with teaching her real-life skills and leadership that later became useful as she transitioned to college and work life. “IB classes definitely prepared me for college-level assignments and more independent learning,” says Tina as she reflected on her time at KAS. “The structure that I thought of as tedious and overwhelming in high school ended up serving as a great template for me in my [college] courses.”
認識Tina的人熟悉她的和善,決心和動力。當她是大學生時,她在校園裡有兩份工作並領導了幾個組織,像是教會歌手,國際之家及非洲合唱團。她說,在KAS的讀書生活裡學習到的生活技能和領導才能,後來在她過渡到大學生活和工作時變得很有用。“IB課程無疑為了我的大學課程和獨立的學習做好了準備。” Tina回顧著KAS的生活時說。“在高中時期我覺得乏味且難以承受的課程,最終為我的大學課程最好的樣板學習。”
She encourages KAS students not to be afraid to reach out for advice and mentoring to help you along your way in life. “It's not a "waste" of time for alumni, teachers, administrators, or anyone to talk to you or help you in some way. There are so many people with amazing insights,” she shares.
她鼓勵KAS的學生不要害怕去尋求建議和指導可以讓你受益一生。“校友、老師、行政人員或者是任何人與你交談或是以任何形式幫助你,這不是浪費時間。有許多人有著令人驚奇的見解,”她分享說。
Since graduating in 2018 with her undergraduate degree she has gained practical work experience in several positions in southern California. She is taking some time back in Taiwan this year to plan her next move of either graduate school or work in the U.S. We have all enjoyed seeing Tina back at KAS recently helping with events and even working in the classroom with the next generation of KAS Dragons. Thank you, Tina, for all your help to connect KAS alumni and support our school!
在2018拿到她的學位之後,她在加州得到許多不同職位的工作經驗。她今年會花一些時間回到台灣計畫她的下一步將是攻讀研究所,或是在美國工作。我們都很高興看到Tina回到KAS協助活動,甚至是和新一代的龍兒一起工作。Tina,感謝妳對於KAS校友會及學校的支持!
The KAS Alumni Association organizes events, activities and networking opportunities throughout the year. Contact the Alumni Co-Coordinators, Cerise Roth-Vinson or Vivien Huang at alumni@kas.tw if you have a story or update to share!
KAS校友會全年組織各種活動和交流機會。如您有最新消息或故事想與我們分享,請與校友會聯絡人Cerise Roth-Vinson或Vivien Huang聯繫 alumni@kas.tw.
College Corner
Greg Bishop
College Counselor 大學輔導老師
Jill Newman
College Counselor 大學輔導老師
Looking Ahead….
展望未來.....
I wish I had a crystal ball to answer the question “What is going to happen with the colleges for the new school year”? Many students and parents are asking this question to which I personally do not have an answer. However, let’s just say they are working on it and waiting to see which one to implement.
我希望我有一個水晶球可以回答“新學年的大學將會發生什麼”的問題?許多學生和家長都在好奇,我目前還不清楚,但是可以知道的是大學人員們正在努力,等著看如何處理。
The answers below are reported “Inside Higher Education” as possibilities for how to start the new college year in August. With any possibility, they are first and foremost considering their students.
下面是節錄自“Inside Higher Education”,如何在八月開始新的大學一年的可能性。不管在任何情況下,學生都是優先考量的重點。
Back to Normal (回復正常) - In this scenario, the fall semester looks like any other fall semester. Residential students return to campus; commuting students participate in classes on campus as usual. All co-curricular and curricular activities pick up as usual.
A Late Start (延後開學) - One possibility for the fall is that colleges and universities begin the semester later than usual, perhaps sometime in October or even early November, whenever the social distancing restrictions are lifted.
Moving Fall to Spring (上學期移至下學期) - In this scenario, the fall semester would be postponed until January 2021. This is a drastic step, but it is one that some colleges are actively considering
First Year Intensive (大一生密集課程) - This plan brings only first-year students to campus in the fall. First-year students learn in residential classes, while also participating in a full range of campus-based orientation and social-connecting exercises. Sophomores, juniors and seniors continue to learn remotely for the fall semester.
Structured GAP year (規劃好的一年不上課) - Students could propose project-based experiences that could be implemented and managed while social distancing rules are still in place.
Targeted Curriculum (目標課程) - One approach option for fall is to reduce the number of courses being offered to limit on campus density and to prioritize support resources..
Split Curriculum (自選修課方式) - In a split curriculum scenario, courses are designed as either residential or online. Students who are able to come back to campus (up to the population in which social distancing rules can be enforced) can choose to enroll in either format.
A Modified Tutorial Model (類家教模式) - Another approach that gives students and the university a great deal of flexibility is a modified tutorial model. In this model, students would take a common online lecture session. Faculty and or TAs would then meet with small groups of students in tutorials that would allow for social distancing to be employed.
Fully Remote (完全遠端上課) - Students would be taught in a virtual environment from wherever they happen to be
What is clear with any of these models is that support for teaching and learning, advising, student (not to mention faculty and staff) health and well-being, and coordination and logistics will need to be reinforced in all of these scenarios.
不管是哪一種上課方式,最重要的是提供一切支援協助,為保校內的每個人都維持健康。
We Are KAS
KAS strives to be one of the finest American International Schools in the World. KAS challenges students to achieve academic excellence and prepares them to be balanced individuals, independent learners, and global citizens.
Kaohsiung American School (KAS) is a private, non-profit, co-educational Pre K – 12 institution offering an American, college preparatory program leading to a US high school diploma and the opportunity for an IB Diploma.
KAS is located in the northern area of Kaohsiung city, the second largest city in Taiwan with 1.5 million inhabitants. Kaohsiung American School was established in 1989 as an elementary school serving the needs of local and expatriate families with children.
Email: admissions@kas.tw
Website: www.kas.tw
Location: 813, Taiwan, 高雄市左營區翠華路889號
Phone: 07-586-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaohsiungAmericanSchool/
Twitter: @kaohsiungas