October 9th, 2015
Edition 2015-2016 Issue 8
American School of Douala
Accredited by
TALKING DRUMS
Editor and Design : Jacqueline Bindzi
FROM THE DIRECTOR
IN THIS ISSUE:
TALKING DRUMS
Good Afternoon Everyone!
As we near the end of our first quarter this year it
is fun to reflect on a number of positive changes.
These are changes that are above and beyond the
wonderful teaching being done every hour of
every day by our Faculty Members that is
occurring in classes throughout the school.
 High school students have an increased
awareness of their grades and what that
means for their future studies at
university. Mrs. Fuller has been meeting
one on one with high school students to
do a credit review. This activity and the
conversations being held by our teachers
are all coming together. Our high school
students appear to be more aware that
what they are doing in class is going to
affect their ability to get into which
university and what that means for
improving their study habits.
 The physically beautiful changes to the
school building as we finish up the final
painting of the school.
We have
beautified the neighborhood!
The
addition of the plants in the planters this
past week has helped to turn heads and
for people to see what a great addition
ASD is to the overall appearance around
us.
 The number of people who have signed
up for various swimming classes and all
of what Mrs. Grant has brought to our
pool with her energy and excitement for
and the ability to swim.
 Our first orphanage visit really was
impressive. Not only the number of
students who attended the visit but also
PTA News, , Book-O-Ween, College
Counselor Corner, Board Elections
Results, Third Grade News.
PreK walking on eggs to appreciate the natural
strength of the arch design!!!
The generous contributions that our
school families provided. Parents are
obviously for and teaching their children
how to be good and selfless members of
society and our need to give to those who
are less fortunate than we are.

The commitment that Mr. and Mrs. Fuller
have demonstrated by signing contracts to
work through the 2017-2018 school year.
This allows us to establish consistency and
it also sends positive affirmations to our
students, families, and fellow teachers that
we love living in Cameroon and being part
of ASD too!
Continued on p.3
Tel: (237) 23342 1437
www.asddouala.com

The Board’s insistence on our having as
October 9th 2015
Edition 2015-2016 Issue 8
PTA NEWS
Mark your Calendars!
Oct. 19th - Oct.
23rd
BOOK-O-WEEN
Oct. 23rd
Quarter 1 ends -
Oct. 26th –
30th
FALL BREAK - NO SCHOOL-
Nov. 2nd
Quarter 2 begins -
PTA SPONSORED MORNING COFFEE HOUR
Nov. 6th
First Quarter Reports Sent
Home
Come join us for a cup of coffee or tea and
find out what the PTA is up to this year. Talk
with the officers, the new School Director
and the Lower School Principal. We have
many great activities planned for the year
that you will want to know about. Come ask
questions and share your opinions.
Nov. 11th –
13th
Parent Teacher ConferencesNOTE CHANGE FROM CALENDAR !
Nov. 14th
Orphanage Visit – 14:00 – 17:00
Nov. 27th
American Thanksgiving
Observed
Date: Tuesday, November 3rd.
Time: 9:00 am.
Place: Old Conference roomI
NEXT REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, November 4 @ 3:30pm in the Old
Conference Room
Location: Old Auditorium. IF you have
something you would like placed on the
agenda please email our President:
Catherine
Flottes
de
Pouzols
[email protected] .
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
RESCHEDULED
So we celebrate a great first quarter and
look forward to second quarter being
every bit as good. The first quarter
parent teacher conferences that were
scheduled for Novermber 4 through 6th
have been rescheduled The new dates
are one week later on November 11th
through the 13th .
Tel: (237) 23342 1437
www.asddouala.com 2
October 9th 2015
Edition 2015-2016 Issue 8
BOOK-O-WEEN
Each family is asked to bring a bag of candy
to help with the trunk or treat activity.
Please bring the candy by Wednesday,
October 21.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
CONTINUED

Car pool is effective and so much faster
for us to safely dismiss our children.

The Board’s insistence on our having as
many safety pieces in place as possible
to ensure the safety of our children.

Improved student performance in the
Lower School with our new literacy and
mathematics
resources
for
our
classroom teachers and our Lower
School teachers’ excitement to best
deliver these programs.

These funds then go right back into
funding classroom materials and other
resources.

Our Upper School Student Council is off
to a great start under the leadership of
President Tiara.
The new school board has been elected by
the parent body of ASD. The Board members
and officers for this year are:

We have a wonderful spirit of
excitement and cooperation between
the Board of Governors and the PTA.
Marcel Buergi, Chair.
Georges Wega, 1st Vice-Chair
Stephen Oakley 2nd Vice-Chair.
Jacquie Patcha, Treasurer
Christiane Kamanou, Secretary
Christiane Njanga Njoh, member
Rodrigo Lopez Lax Rivera, member,
Ruben Morantinos, member
Josette Kadji, -member
Stuart Wilson, U. S. Consul, standing
member, non-voting
Bernard Mitchell, Director, standing
member, non-voting

Students in our Advanced Placement
science courses of AP Chemistry and AP
Physics are coming in on numerous
Saturdays with their Outside groups and
charities are excited by our wonderful
facility and are booking for a fee
Any parent interested in helping with the
decorations for Book-O-Ween should
contact our PTA Event Coordinator
: Mireille Buergi [email protected]
BOARD ELECTION RESULTS
Thank you for your support of ASD and your
engagement in your children’s education
through your vote. It makes all the
difference!
Tel: (237) 23342 1437
during non-school hours and times.
The trouble in doing a list like this is that
once can never capture all of the great
things that are happening due to the efforts
and passions of our Faculty.
Mr. Bernie Mitchell PhD.
Director
Upper School Principal
www.asddouala.com 3
October 9th 2015
Edition 2015-2016 Issue 8
COLLEGE
COUNSELOR CORNER
Here are 8 recommended steps on your journey to a United States University:
2 years from University (11th grade)1. Explore Universities (discover over 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities at
bigfuture.org)
2. Take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. Most students take the SAT twice; first, at the end
of 11th grade and again at the beginning of 12th grade (did you know through the College
Board’s Student Search Service the SAT can also connect you to universities who are
looking for students?).
3. Consider admission requirements (U.S. universities look at several factors when
making admission decisions).
1 year from University (12th grade)4. Make a financial plan (be sure to figure out tuition costs and living expenses before
applying. Check out collegeboard.org/costs)
5. Assemble your application. Every part of an application is important, including essays.
Take time to check that everything’s filled out and included before submitting.
6. Apply .
7. Make your decision (U.S. universities send out decision letters from January to March.
Make sure to respond by the decision deadline.
8. Fulfill Visa requirements (check into this as early as possible).
See Mrs. Fuller for more information!
Registration for the November7th SAT Test is now closed.
THE NEXT SAT TEST DATE IS DECEMBER 5TH. THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS
NOVEMBER 5TH.
Check this out! Free world-class SAT practice is available at https://www.khanacademy.org/sat.
Tel: (237) 23342 1437
www.asddouala.com 4
October 9th 2015
Edition 2015-2016 Issue 8
Ms. Blair Cochran and Mr. Elvis Konye
Let’s take a tour of our classroom…
First stop, our meeting spot on the
rug. We have Morning Meeting every
day. Children greet each other (we
have said “good morning!” in 9
different languages so far), share
news, and get ready for the day.
Be careful around the big table – this
area recently suffered an earthquake.
(Okay, it was only a model.) Children
observed what happened when we
tapped, then shook the model; they
later turned their notes and sketches
into finished pieces of scientific
writing.
Tel: (237) 23342 1437
We are really proud of our class
library! Students put all of our books
into categories (mystery, poetry,
series books, books about animals…);
then, each student chose a category
to be responsible for. Students
measured and cut fabric to cover the
box for their category, and organized
the books inside so everyone can find
the book they’re looking for. One of
our most important class jobs is class
librarian – he or she makes sure the
books are organized and welldisplayed (with everyone else’s help,
of course!)
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