Shanghai American School

Shanghai American School
Location
Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Information
Type	Private
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Established	1912
Superintendent	Kerry Jacobson
Faculty	377
Grades	Pre-K-12
Enrollment	2987
Student to teacher ratio	10:1
Campus	29 acres (120,000 m2) in Puxi 23 acres (93,000 m2) in Pudong
Color(s)	Red, White, and Blue
Mascot	Bald Eagle
Average SAT scores	560-680 Verbal 650-760 Math 570-710 Writing 1790-2140 Total  (2009)
Website	www.saschina.org

Shanghai American School is an international Pre-K-12 school located in Shanghai, China. Originally established in 1912, it accepts expatriate students from all countries around the world, and fosters them with an American educational environment.

Present

More than 2600 pupils attend from over 30 countries. Any child may apply, if holding a non-Chinese passport for local students. Both the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement Program are available, and boast extremely high results. In the 2006 year, 36 students qualified for the IB full diploma, with an average of 36 points. There were 576 AP exams taken by 227 students in the same year, also achieving impressive scores.

SAS has an extensive and exceptional faculty and staff of 498, with the 51% holding a master's degree and 3% holding a Phd. The school also includes 14 counselors and 2 psychologists. The student-teacher ratio of 9:1 demonstrates a high level of communication and connection between the two. The Good Schools Guide International reports that "the level of feedback to parents is extensive...Blogs abound – each teacher has a blog, as does each subject, each year, and most individual students. Teachers blogs include general class information, photos, videos, examples and summaries of work, links to other activities – all updated on a daily basis."

Teacher Nationalities:

• American 54%
• Canada 15%
• China 10%
• New Zealand 3%
• Australia 2%
• Korea 9%
• Other 7%

Currently, there are two campuses:

• Puxi Campus, 1998 (K-12)
• Pudong Campus, 2000 (K-12)

A review of SAS by the Good Schools Guide International noted that "Both campuses are absolutely knockout and some say better than many universities in the US – praise indeed but the comments have some merit. The grounds and buildings at both campuses are huge, modern and well maintained, with impressive sporting and theatre/drama facilities. The combined library is the largest English language library in China." The Puxi campus sits in Shanghai's southwest portion, west of Hongqiao International Airport. Encompassing 29 acres (120,000 m²), it boasts a wide range of buildings. There are currently separate buildings for the Elementary/Kindergarten, Middle School, and High School, with a separate building for the HS Social Studies classrooms. Additional facilities include a finance house, library/media center, and two connected cafeterias. Sports facilities include two grass pitches capable of hosting sports such as rugby, soccer, and baseball, a track and field, three sports halls with basketball/volleyball courts, a fitness center, theater, and an aquatics center.

The Pudong campus supports one of the best pools among the Shanghai's International schools. Built in 2010, The Pudong Aquatics Center is an 25m, 8-laned pool with high spectating seats.

The Pudong campus is based inside the grounds of the Shanghai Links Executive Community, several miles north of the Pudong International Airport. This complex includes a Pre-K3, Pre-K 4, Kindergarten, Elementary school, Middle school and High school building that are all interconnected. A cafeteria, gymnasiums, fitness room, performing arts center, black box, aquatics center, and three fields are also present in this 23-acre (93,000 m²) school.

School Activities

SAS is currently an active member of Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC), and participates in many sports such as volleyball, softball, swimming, soccer (football), rugby, baseball, and basketball, or the arts such as dance, band, orchestra, choir, and theatre. It is also a participant of the China Cup of sports. The Middle School participates in the China International Schools Sports Association (CISSA) League. Students of both the East and West campuses are participants of the Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC)[1].

SAS offers a wide variety of after school activities, ranging from intramural sports to the internationally-renowned Model United Nations. Activities include Wokai, Community Service, National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, National Art Honor Society, Model United Nations (MUN), Quiz Bowl, National History Bee and Bowl, Make A Child Smile, Forensics, Amnesty International, Roots and Shoots, Habitat for Humanity, Documentary Film Making, cooking, jewelry making, a student-run lacrosse activity, music ensembles, and many more.

SAS, attended the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament twice and hosted the first ever National History Bee and Bowl tournament in Asia, The History Bee and Bowl of China, in February 2012.

SAS also hosted the very first Relay for Life event in Shanghai in April 2007, and is now an annual event. The school hosted its first ever 30 Hour Famine in November 2011.

SAS is the host of the Shanghai Student Film Festival, an international student film festival.

Mission and Vision Statements

Mission
Shanghai American School, in partnership with parents, fosters the development of each student's personal potential through a balance of the academic, physical, social, emotional and ethical aspects of life. SAS provides a challenging American core curriculum with an international perspective that inspires a passion for learning and intellectual vitality.

Vision
By 2012, the Shanghai American School will be recognized as a leading international school in Asia and the world by providing a rich cultural and social learning environment for families who seek an exemplary core American educational program. SAS will prepare each child for academic and personal success in higher education and life in a global society.

To accomplish this vision, SAS will:

1. Maximize benefits derived from the cultural and linguistic learning experiences in China and from the rich multi-cultural backgrounds of SAS families.

2. Provide well-balanced co-curricular activities and community service programs.

3. Serve, with honor and respect, a broad range of children as identified through a fair and well-defined admission process and complementary learning support programs.

4. Use technology in innovative and authentic ways to enhance learning and communication.

5. Create programs, assessments and experiences that serve to unite the school and to celebrate the distinctiveness of each campus community.

6. Engage and support teachers, administrators, and staff in a unique professional learning community that provides opportunities to grow, develop, and learn together in all aspects of their professional lives.

7. Be financially secure and constantly strive to assure future financial strength.

Core Values

Expectations For Students

• SAS students should demonstrate high-level skills for thinking and problem solving.
• SAS students should have a mastery of the core concepts and factual information needed to function effectively in our current and future society.
• SAS students should recognize the dignity and worth of others in the global community.
• SAS students should exhibit positive attitudes towards themselves.
• SAS students should exhibit an understanding and appreciation of Chinese language and culture.
• SAS students should exhibit attitudes for life-long learning.
• SAS students should exhibit a range of interests and skills beyond what is taught in the classroom.

Near the end of the 2006-2007 school year, the SAS Student Programs Committee began using a new SAS acronym to sum up these student expectations. The acronym was EAGLES, which encouraged students to exhibit the six following traits:

• Empowered to be life-long learners, take risks, imagine, innovate, interact with the world around them, demonstrate leadership through collaboration and teamwork, and adopt a healthy, well-rounded life-style.
• Adaptable as resilient, flexible, self-motivated learners and problem solvers, negotiators, and collaborators.
• Global-Minded citizens who act with the past and the future in mind; embrace diversity with compassion, empathy, and acceptance of others; respect and support family and community; engage responsibly in the world's problems; and protect and advocate for local and global environments.
• Literate individuals who are able to communicate articulately through reading, writing, speaking, listening, and artistic expression; analyze information to create new knowledge and develop understandings; and use information and communication technologies effectively.
• Ethical human beings who demonstrate citizenship and generosity through authentic community service activities and integrity and honesty to themselves and others in words and actions.
• Skilled inquirers who apply content knowledge and skill to authentic situations and broader systems, strive for academic excellence, reason soundly and critically, and explore other languages and cultures.

Expectations of the Community

• SAS should prepare students for acceptance into institutes of continuing education of their choice, including the finest universities in the world.
• SAS believes that school should be a happy place, where students gain satisfaction from genuine accomplishment in a supportive, caring and safe environment that nurtures student's social and emotional well being.
• SAS believes that education is a shared responsibility between parents and school.
• SAS should recognize the dignity and personal worth of each student.
• SAS should ensure sound resource management practices.
• SAS should provide a challenging education based on the American core curriculum, consistent with the individual academic capabilities and personal and social needs of each student.
• SAS should value its international diversity and the global perspectives found within its school community.

Notable SAS students and alumni

Notable Alumni, Attendees, or Staff

• Jung So-ra, from the class of 2009, is the winner of Miss Korea 2010
• Emily Prager, a former actress, is now a teacher in the Pudong campus.

See also

• List of international schools in Shanghai

References

http://www.src.com.cn/Backup/Resort_Style_Community/Project_Development

External links

• Shanghai American School website
• Profile at the Good Schools Guide International
• Shanghai American School Educational Programs Blog
• [2]