2020-2021, Issue #7: November 16

Dear KAS Community,

November has been an incredible month for students at KAS. Perhaps one of the most inspirational moments was Yo-Yo Ma’s virtual visit to speak with students and even play his cello for students on Friday, November 6. Not only did he listen to and answer questions from students, but he asked our students to share their stories and perspectives as well. We are grateful to each student who participated, and to Ms. Monica Su for making this dream become reality. We are thankful that Maestro Yo-Yo Ma would take time to connect with our Dragon community!
11月這個月份對於KAS的學生來說是非常絕妙的一個月。 最具啟發性的時刻之一可能是11月6日星期五馬友友的線上訪談，馬友友與學生視訊交談，甚至是在線上為學生演奏大提琴。他不僅聆聽，且回答了學生的提問，還請我們的學生與他分享他們的故事和觀點。 我們感謝參加的每位學生，也感謝Ms. Monica Su使這個夢想成真。 非常感謝馬友友大師和我們分享他寶貴的時間！

This week we’ll continue sharing more information about our efforts in our Schoolwide Action Plan to further improve learning at KAS. As a reminder, the Schoolwide Action Plan outlines goals in four key areas:
本週我們將繼續分享更多關於Schoolwide Action Plan的資訊，旨在促進KAS的學習環境，作為提醒，Schoolwide Action Plan涵蓋了四個關鍵領域的目標：

1. Curriculum 課程

2. Social-emotional learning and wellness 社交情感學習和健康

3. Implementing and reviewing our updated Child Protection Policy實施和審查我們最新的兒童保護政策

4. Staffing and compensation 職員和薪資

In this newsletter we’ll share more detail about Goal 3: Implementing and reviewing our updated Child Protection Policy. This is important because we view Child Protection as one of the most important things we do.
在本週的信件中，我們將會分享更多關於目標3的資訊：實施和審查我們最新的兒童保護政策。這是非常重要的一點，因為我們將兒童保護視為我們做的最重要的事情之一。

The foundation of a successful learning environment is ensuring that the entire school community feels emotionally and physically safe. Taking risks, asking questions and productive struggle are all important processes in learning and are incredibly difficult, if not impossible to achieve, if the community does not purposefully create a supportive and nurturing environment to do so. In our ongoing efforts to reflect upon where we are in this work and ways in which we can move forward, the Child Protection Committee has been formed. The Child Protection Committee meets monthly and examines our written policy and procedures, current practices and ways in which we can improve.
奠定成功學習環境的基礎可以確保整個學校社區在情感和身體上都感到安全。 勇於挑戰冒險、提出疑問和遇到困難不輕易放棄都是學習的重要過程，即使不是不可能實現，但如果社區沒有堅定地創造一個支持性和培育性的環境，那麼這將是極其困難的。 為了不斷思考我們在這項工作中所處的位置以及前進的方式，我們成立了兒童保護委員會。 兒童保護委員會每月開會一次，審查我們的書面政策和程序，當前的做法以及我們可以改進的方式。

Layers of identity and ways in which KAS supports students to discover, explorer and be comfortable with their identity has been the focus of our work. As a school we recognize that a key aspect to emotional safety is being able to be who you are. As a team we are discussing and exploring gender bias, exclusion, sexuality, gender expressing, race, culture and ethnicity. We are discussing and examining ways in which we support our students with these layers of identity in our teaching, curriculum, interactions and policies. We are working hard to improve our school experience for all members of our community and help ensure KAS is a place where all can be who they are and want to be.
身份層面以及KAS支持學生發現、探索、和適應其身份的方式一直是我們工作著重的部分。 作為一所學校，我們認識到情感安全的一個關鍵方面就是能夠成為自己。 作為一個團隊，我們正在討論和探討性別偏見、排斥、性徵、性別表達、種族、文化和種族文化認同。 我們正在討論和研究在我們的教學、課程、互動和政策中以這些身份層面支持學生的方式。 我們正在努力改善大家庭所有成員的學習體驗，並幫助確保KAS是一個讓所有人都可以做自己和變成自己想要的樣子的地方。

This is important because students learn best when they know that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally safe. We commit as a school to these values and efforts, and thank you for your partnership.
這很重要，因為當學生知道自己在身體、心理和情感上都是安全的時，他們會將學習發展得最好。 作為學校，我們致力於這些價值觀，也為此努力著。同時，也感謝您的合作。

Sincerely,

Dr. Ploeger, Superintendent 總校長

Ms. Rock, High School Principal 高中校長

KAS tenth grade students were introduced to the IB Diploma program on Wednesday. They learned that when they move into grade 11, they will have access to the Diploma Program, which will make them competitive for top universities, will prepare them to succeed in these universities, and will also allow their development into a internationally-minded, critically thinking well-balanced person. In preparation for their entry into the Diploma program, it is recommended that students begin thinking about their career plans and the universities that will best guide them towards those plans. In January, students will select 6 courses that will take them through grade 12 and into their IB exams in May of 2023. Although a student who selects any 6 courses within the IB guidelines will receive a well-rounded preparation for university, students with specific career fields in mind might want to select a specific assortment of courses. Questions about careers and universities can be addressed to our two high school counselors, Ms. Newman and Mrs. Roth Vinson. Questions about the IB Diploma Program can be addressed to me, Deborah Haines, the IB Coordinator. Also, you can find information about the IB Diploma Program at IBO.org.

我們在本週三的時候為10年級的學生介紹了IB國際大學預科文憑課程。他們了解到，進入11年級時將獲得文憑課程，這能使他們在頂尖大學中更有競爭力、將為他們在這些大學裡成功做好準備，並將使他們發展成為具有國際意識、具有思辨能力均衡發展的人。在準備進入文憑課程前，我們建議學生能夠開始思考自己的職涯規劃，以及能最好地幫助他們實現這些規劃的大學。一月時，學生將選擇六門課程，他們將修讀到12年級並於2023年的五月參加IB考試。儘管在IB指南中，學生任意選擇六門學科即能獲得全面的大學準備，但考慮從事特定職業領域的學生可能希望選擇特定的課程。關於職涯和大學的相關問題，可以聯繫我們兩位高中輔導老師，Ms. Newman和Mrs. Roth Vinson。關於IB國際大學預科文憑問題可以與我聯繫，IB 召集人Deborah Haines。您也可於IB國際大學預科文憑官網 IBO.org.獲取相關資訊。

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

Dear KAS Families,

親愛的KAS大家庭,

Our MS soccer teams have spent a competitive weekend at the TISSA tournament yesterday, with a good closure to this 2020-21 MS soccer season:

我們中學足球隊在上週末舉辦的TISSA國際學校比賽中，展現出非常強勁的團隊精神，在各層級中有很好的表現：

• G6 Boys Team: 1W-2L (preliminary round) (六年級男生組 1勝2負)

• G7 Girls Team: 1st Place (七年級女生組冠軍)

• G7 Boys Team: 3rd Place (七年級男生組第三名)

• G8 Girls Team: 2W-1L (preliminary round) (八年級女生2勝1負)

• G8 Boys Team: 1st Place (八年級男生組冠軍)

My sincere appreciation again to all HS student-assistants who have worked together with soccer coaches for the past 2 months. You all have demonstrated great leadership attributes working with our own KAS students. Job well done and thank you all again! Thank you ALL again for your support to our athletics programs. Let's Go Dragons!

非常感謝過去兩個月中協助中學與小學足球練習與比賽的高中學生助教們，你們為年輕的KAS一輩樹立了非常良好的領導者典範， 謝謝各位對體育活動的支持與鼓勵！Let’s Go Dragons!

Mr. Ken Su, Athletic Director

Seniors are submitting applications to amazing schools all around the world. We even have a few students already learning about conditional offers of admission to some of the schools on their list. This is an exciting time! Students who applied Early Decision and Early Action to U.S. schools will likely receive a response sometime before December 15. Remember: if you are admitted to your Early Decision choice this is a binding agreement and you must accept the offer and withdraw all other applications. Most other decisions for Canada, UK and US schools will come between mid-February and April 1.

12年級生們申請了世界上許多一流名校，甚至有些學生已經有條件的被錄取了，這一刻真令人振奮！提早申請美國大學的學生們大約都會在12月15日前收到通知。提醒大家：若您有提早申請的大學並且被錄取，這是一個不可逆的約定，必需取消其它正在申請的大學並且入學該校。而例如加拿大，英國或美國其它大學的錄取結果大約會在明年2月中至4月1日前得知。

Juniors are starting to conduct research and learn about what colleges are looking for when reading an application for admission. They are working hard on maintaining strong grades and academics in their IB classes to demonstrate to colleges how prepared they are for university-level work. Counselors will start 1:1 meetings with Class of 2022 students starting Semester 2.

11年級生們開始研究各大學，試著了解大學審核申請表時的重點是什麼。他們很努力在維持學業成績和IB課程，好讓大學能看到他們為了大學基礎課程付出了多少。大學申請顧問會在下學期開始和他們的一對一面談。

For all high school students, it is very important to have a balance between academics and extracurricular and community activities. We truly believe in the KAS mission to develop balanced individuals, independent learners and global citizens as a strong pathway to admission to excellent universities. Universities want students who have a long history of leadership, developing talents and contributing back to their school and local community. We encourage all students to find a few activities that are meaningful to them so that they can develop their character and leadership skills that will help them succeed in college. Students will often be asked on college applications to write about their activities so now is a good time to develop those experiences. How students spend their time in high school is important to universities!

對於所有高中生而言，在學校與課外活動和其它校外活動之間取得平衡非常重要。我們堅信KAS的宗旨是培養各方面均衡的個人，能夠獨立學習思考並成為全球公民，這是申請進入優秀大學的最佳利器。大學希望找到擁有長時間的領導經驗，發展潛能並且能回饋學校和當地社區的學生。我們鼓勵所有學生找一些對他們來說有意義的活動，以便他們發展自己的性格和領導才能，幫助他們在大學期間好好發揮。通常會要求學生在大學申請書上列出他們參加的活動，現在是累積這些經驗的好時機。學生如何運用他們高中的時間對大學來說很重要！

Slide from recent US college presentation to KAS students on 14 criteria for admission, ranked in order of importance

近來大學錄取KAS學生的重點，依重要性排序

Colleges are reporting that about half of their current applications are students who are choosing not to submit their SAT or ACT test scores. We anticipate that next year students will likely have a choice about whether or not they choose to submit their test scores due to COVID-19 testing policies. Testing is only one part of the admissions process.

大學近來的報告指出，目前大約有一半的申請表是選擇不提交SAT或ACT考試成績的學生。我們預測明年，由於COVID-19測試政策，學生依然可以選擇是否提交考試成績。這些成績將只佔錄取的一部分。

University of California schools also recently updated their testing policy and will no longer consider the SAT or ACT for Fall 2021 admissions or for admissions until Fall 2024. More information is available here and also from the Board of Regents here.

UC系統的學校最近也更新了相關考試錄取政策，從2021秋季開始到2024秋季，SAT或ACT將不會被列入錄取條件，更多資訊請參考這裡或是這裡。

All college visits are listed on the KAS Public calendar and also appear at the bottom of the home page on the KAS website. Students and parents are welcome to attend and ask questions.

所有的大學參訪都可以在KAS公開行事曆上找到資訊，或在KAS網站主頁的下方也都能找到。學生和家長都歡迎到場提問。

Find your student’s college counselor. Last name letter starts with:

根據姓氏排序認識您的大學輔導：

A - L Cerise Roth-Vinson, crothvinson@kas.tw

字母A-L Cerise Roth-Vinson, crothvinson@kas.tw

M - Z Jill Newman, jnewman@kas.tw

字母M-Z Jill Newman, jnewman@kas.tw

We invite you to meet with us in person to answer questions and plan for higher education.