AOSR - VIA CASSIA 811
Phone: 06.33438.1 Web: WWW.AOSR.ORG June 2010
Commencement Speaker US Ambassador David H. Thorne
addresses the graduates and their guests.
(See more photos on Page 3)
(Text of Ambassador Thorne’s speech on page 20)
Contents
Head of School
2
High School News
16 - 18
Board of Trustees
2
College Guidance Counselor
19
Graduation Class of 2010 - Photos
3
After School Activities
19
Secondary School Principal
4
Ambassador Thorne’s Commencement Speech
20
Elementary School Principal
5
College Acceptances - Class of 2010
21
Edible Garden
6
Mayfair Update
23
Elementary School News
7 - 12
Sports Update / Sports Banquet - Photos
24 - 25
Middle School News
13 - 14
Community Service News
26 - 28
Shakespeare - Twelfth Night
15
Contact Information
29
FOND FAREWELLS
by Dr. Beth Pfannl, Head of School
We are so grateful to the many parents
who volunteered throughout the school
year helping out in so many different
ways.
It
is
that
bittersweet time of
year when we find
ourselves saying
arrivederci to our
many friends and
colleagues who
will be moving
away from Rome.
All
of
our
students, families,
teachers and board members, we thank
you for all that you have contributed to
our school community. We hope that our
school will always occupy a special place
in your hearts and minds.
Every year not only do we bid farewell to
some of our students and their families,
but also to members of our faculty. This
year we are saying good-bye to our
Elementary School Principal, Dr.
George Grunfeld who is returning to
Florida and to teachers Mr. Danny
Etcheverry (Grade 5), Ms. Linda
Fuccillo (Secondary PE/Health), Ms.
Jeff Phillips (Secondary Resource), Ms.
Kira Quesnell (Secondary English/
History), Mr. James Sigafoos
(Secondary English), Mr. Eric Vacchio
(Secondary Science), Dr. Melanie
Vacchio (Secondary Science/Math) and
Ms. Autumn Zangrilli (Secondary
Language Arts). Thank you so much
for your passion and dedication to
teaching. We wish you all the best in
your new endeavors.
Very special farewell wishes go to our
Suzanne Datin (PTO President) and Silvia
Zoontjens (PTO vice president), and their
families, who will be leaving Rome after
many years, as well as Board member
Rick Gallagher and his wife Kim
Gallagher (PTO Treasurer) and their
family who are moving on to London.
To all: Don’t forget to throw your coins in the Fontana di Trevi so that
you will be sure to come back to Rome and visit us!
AOSR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
by Mr. Steven Cohen, Chair
The AOSR Board of Trustees and the Head of School thank the school community for
participating in the recent AOSR Constituent Survey conducted in May. Responses
were received from a broad cross-section of parents, high school and middle school
students, faculty and staff. We are working with our consultants to sift through the data.
The good news is that 71 percent of those responding to the survey rated the overall
quality of education at AOSR as Very Good or Excellent. The even better news is that
we received many, many outstanding suggestions about how to improve AOSR. We
will be back in touch with you in the fall with more about how your feedback will guide
our school improvement plans.
2
Our 37 seniors represented 17 nations including Argentina, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Denmark,
France, India, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Spain,
United Kingdom, United States of America and Uruguay.
3
High School Academic Update
by Mr. Tom Connolly, Secondary School Principal
Semester exams are an integral part of the closing of each semester in order
for students to review the material studied and for teachers to analyze how
well their students learned the information in each class. The semester grade
is based on 40% from 3rd quarter, 40% from 4th quarter and 20% from the
semester exam. The final grade for the year is an average of the first and
second semesters. In the high school, credit is earned in each class and the
requirements for graduation are listed in our Program of Studies and Student
and Parent Handbooks.
The month of May is dedicated to external exams in Advanced Placement and
International Baccalaureate courses. For the senior class, the AP and IB
exams take the place of a semester exam. The statistics for this year include
the following:
Advanced Placement Exams
Number of students taking exams in May 2010: 45
Number of exams taken in May 2010:
80
Maximum number of exams taken by a student: 5
International Baccalaureate Exams:
Number of students taking exams in May 2010: 35
10 students completed their Diploma
18 students anticipated exams for next year
7 students were taking exams for IB certificates
Number of exams taken in May 2010:
165
The report cards being issued on June 11 will reflect what the students earned
in each of their classes at AOSR. The results of the AP and IB exams will not
be known until early July since these exams are graded externally. The results
will be sent to the families and are also available on-line.
In addition, students who earned grade point averages above 80% (without
receiving any grade below 80) will be placed on the Honor Roll. The honor
roll lists will be prepared the week of June 14. Eligibility to participate in
extra-curricular activities for the first quarter of the 2010-2011 school year
will be determined by the grades from this last quarter of our current school
year.
Included in this Falcon Flyer is the “Summer Reading List” as provided by the
high school English teachers to help prepare students entering grades 9 to 12
next year. It is important for students (as well as adults) to continue to read all
year. Relaxing during the summer is important, but challenging the mind with
books of leisure as well as books required next year will help students stay
focused and prepared for the start of the next school year. Research shows
students on holiday for 3 months without continuing any reading require at
least one month re-acclimating to an academic environment.
Have a safe holiday and see you next September!
4
Resilience
by Dr. George Grunfeld, Elementary School Principal
Resilient Children Can Overcome Difficult Changes in Their Lives
During the past 40 years of working with children, I
have seen many who have overcome adversity leading
to happy, successful lives. Some of the challenges were
related to frequent family moves, friends who moved
away, deaths of loved pet or even the loss of family
members. Many children may face stress in their
development. Parents and teachers can assist and
nurture needed resilient environments. Underlying the
avenue to resilience is that there are adults who love the
child unconditionally and there to support specific
needs. Students need to know that they are problem
solvers. Expectations must be realistic and that each
child will make a positive contribution to the world by
helping others.
Failures should be considered
opportunities for learning and improvement. When
we as teachers and you as parents empower children to
focus on these attributes, we should see results that
demonstrate resilient, empowered children.
We at school provide student discipline on a daily basis
as do you as parents at home. It is a teaching and
learning process that reinforces the concept of selfdiscipline. We can either nurture or do the opposite
with the concepts of discipline. At school, we talk about
rules, limits and consequences to help students make
appropriate choices.
When we are arbitrary and
inconsistent, students may resent rather that learn from
the adults. Highly effective discipline motivates
climates of resilience and management of students’
behaviors.
Is what you are doing working in developing life-long
resilience in your child? Is your child a problem solver
or do you see your child looking to you for all the
answers that may come his/her way? Optimistic, happy,
resilient children learn these skills from their teachers
and parents. It is a process that all of us must practice
with frequency and skill. When teachers and principals
work with parents, it is important that parents see the
professionals as supportive, nonjudgmental and perhaps
as observers of behaviors that can be celebrated or
needing change. Through a team effort, we can develop
resilience in children by using a common language and
approach. Rewards and consequences must be
natural in order to help children make the right
choices.
In the next few days, your child’s friends may move to
another country and he/she may experience levels of
despair. Transition is the nature of international schools
and we can help children become resilient from the loss
of close friendships. Unfortunately, our students may
not know how to handle their thoughts and feelings of
loss, but we can assist them with some strategies
through difficult times. It may be possible that a child
gets angry and acts out as a means of demonstrating that
disappointment. We can encourage a child to talk about
those feelings and to explore strategies for resilience.
“What can you do to keep your friendship going after
…. moves away?” Encourage discovery through
talking and problem solving. It leads to resilience
and removes those thoughts that keep children from
moving forward.
Just last week, a second grader told me that her parents
told her that I was leaving and returning to the US. I
could sense that an explanation was necessary because I
was not abandoning her, but that I had missed my own
children and grandchildren and therefore made the
decision to return. I told her, “I understand that you are
disappointed with my decision and that you have mixed
feelings about my leaving. But the new principal, by the
name of Mr. Foster will be very nice to you and you will
learn to work with him just like you worked with me.
Mrs. Prideaux and your teachers will be here and you
will see the same people daily.” The most helpful thing
we can do is listen to the child and to find words that
are supportive. I let her know that Dr. Reichmann and
I are here to talk about any questions she may have
about the change of principal if she wanted to talk about
it further. I continued the discussion by explaining that
it is okay to be sad but I also want to be happy by seeing
my own family. She understood and her resilience to
this change was established and satisfied. A day after
our conversation, the same student gave me a hand
written card with a beautiful picture of me with my
children and grandchildren. I sent it to my own children
to see and to frame when I return to the US.
Over the summer, children will be asking questions
about their friends, new teachers, and if there will be any
changes within the school. Celebrate those questions
with replies that recognize those feelings of anxiety
by offering thoughtful questions such as, “How do
you think you will feel when you first meet your new
teacher? How do you think she/he will be different
from last year?” It is a wonderful time to build
resilience and empowering problem solvers in
readiness for what will be life-long learning skills.
This will be my last contribution to the Falcon Flyer, but
I will be peeking in regularly on line to see the many
fantastic plans ahead. Your children will continue to
experience extraordinary opportunities on this campus
and I know that they will be well prepared for whatever
comes their way. AOSR students are smart, have great
character, love to learn and have a global perspective in
their work with others from more than 50 nations around
the world. I wish your family all the best and look
forward to seeing everyone in the future (I have thrown
coins over my shoulder into the Trevi Fountain).
CIAO…Good Bye for now.
5
AOSR Edible Garden Is Growing in Fame!
by Dr. Melanie Vacchio AOSR faculty and Ms. Marta Rahm, HS Assistant Librarian
On May 21st, members of the AOSR GoGreen Committee attended La
Settimana della Biodiversita’ at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. Head of
School, Dr. Beth Pfannl participated in a
round table discussion on sustainable
food, which included Alice Waters,
famous restaurateur and vice-president
of Slow Food International, Mona
Talbott, chef and head of the Sustainable
Food Project at the American Academy
of Rome and Elizabeth Minchilli,
founder of the Friends of the American
Academy in Rome.
Alice Waters discussed the importance of
sustainable food that led to the founding of the
Sustainable Food Program at the American
Academy and the Edible Schoolyard which
she spearheaded in Berkley California. Dr.
Pfannl shared the development of our own
Edible Garden here at AOSR and the
involvement
of
students
and faculty in growing and harvesting their
own vegetables.
Plans for the future involve including garden
activities across the curriculum. Our little
garden has come a long way!
6
Elementary School News
Elementary Sports Day
who served watermelon, cold drinks and the many varieties
of fruit, pastries, chips and snacks.
Sports Day 2010 was a great success at the direction of PE
teacher Mr. Richard Rice, Mr. Max Squarcia and the many
support personnel and volunteers who helped to make the
activities fun, challenging and using the best sportsmanship
character traits possible. The event was opened with Dr.
George Grunfeld, Elementary School Principal, thanking
everyone for their volunteerism as parents and personnel
supervised each of the games. The students were also reminded about the many positive character traits learned
throughout the school year from Dr. Simona Reichmann
related to supporting each other, complimenting their fellow
students for their efforts and being positive throughout.
School spirit was in the air as everyone cheered and applauded Mr. Rice for his leadership, and the many parents
Children from Pre-K 3 through the 5th grades enjoyed the
water games, sack races, parachute, relays, shoot the hoops,
and the other team sports. The weather was perfect, the
sportsmanship ideal, and the ribbons earned demonstrated
participation in the many activities supporting the day. Mr.
Rice and Mr. Max reported that they were pleased and
proud of all of the students because they demonstrated all of
the skills learned throughout the school year. Children
were heard saying positive comments to each other and
there was a special AOSR feeling on the field throughout
the day. Well done girls and boys and thank you to all of
the faculty and volunteers who made the day very special.
7
Elementary Art Update
by Ms. Phebe Cosentino, Elementary School Art Teacher
AOSR has joined the National Art Education
Association this year. This will give our art
department, Elementary, Middle and High
Schools, more opportunities for professional
development in the visual arts.
Elementary Art has also joined Artsonia, a
student art museum on the web.
Art activities the last two months in
Elementary School were clay modelling, paper
mosaics, drawing and painting.
Coiled clay pots were meticulously created in
various shapes and sizes by grade 5. The pots
were then fired and painted. After seeing
examples of the beautiful mosaics from
Ravenna, in northern Italy, they drew their own
original designs for a mosaic, and carefully
applied small squares of colored card, colored
construction paper and metallic paper to their
work. The mosaics will be laminated and
displayed in the lunchroom.
Grade 4 visited the Church of S. Maria in
Cosmedin where they saw The Mouth of Truth,
the well known sculptured image displayed in
the portico of the church. In art they made their
own, almost unique, Mouth of Truth with clay.
They are presently completing black and white
paper mosaics that represent the mosaics found
in the ancient Roman Ostia Antica sea port.
While listening to musical selections from
Vivaldi’s,” La Primavera”, Beethoven’s “5th
symphony”, music from Mozart and M.
Ravel’s “Bolero”, grade 3 used colored
markers to draw movement with thick, thin,
8
curved, zigzag, and swirled, lines to depict
their feelings of rhythm and harmony. Then
they drew and colored three musical
instruments that were cut out and pasted on
their line drawings.
Grade 2 are learning about life in ancient
Egypt. A small blue hippopotamus, with the
lotus flower painted on its back, was found in
one of the Egyptian tombs. The children
enjoyed making a clay model of the hippo and
painting it blue. They also started to draw and
paint large pictures of the frescos found in the
ancient tombs of the Pharaoh
Grade 1 drew and colored spring pictures with
long grass, flowers and insects. They tried their
best to depict the world where insects live.
They are now completing colorful mosaic
pictures of fish in the sea and flowers on the
field.
Kindergarten continues to practice coloring,
and cutting. They made imaginative pictures
with colored construction paper scraps. They
enjoyed making colorful designs on a paper
bird, and a ladybug fan. They made drawings
from found objects. They painted their hand
print on clay, and painted pictures of their own
choice. Soon they will be painting blottos with
tempera paint.
Elementary School News
Pre-Kindergarten
Ms. Kristen McRedmond
May
was
their work completed during the year and
explained their favorite projects and
activities. All of the children were very
proud to share what they have learned at
school, as well as ‘teach’ parents how to play
their favorite games.
a
busy month for
the pre-k! Moms
and
special
guests joined us
for an afternoon
th
tea on May 7 in honor of Mother’s Day.
The children worked hard to prepare for this
special event by making invitations, baking
cookies, two chocolate cakes and brewing ice
tea. They also molded beads out of clay and
painted them to create beautiful bracelets for
their mothers.
Year-end pre-k events include our spring
concerts with Mr. Reale on June 8th and our
annual Pre-K Family Picnic to be held the
same evening. We would also like to take
this opportunity to thank all of our pre-k
parents for their support, generosity and
cooperation
throughout the
year! We wish
you all the best
and hope you
h a v e
a
wonderful
summer!
On May 26th and 27th, parents and children
participated in ‘student-led’ conferences. It
was an opportunity for the children to share
their accomplishments and their classroom
with parents. They presented a portfolio of
Kindergarten
First Grade
Ms. Antinucci and Ms. Bleecher
Ms. Gozdowski and Ms. Tausend
The students really enjoyed the field trip to
At the spring concert the students learned
the “Parco della Selvotta”despite all of the
rain. We want to say a big thank you to the
parents who came on the trip. For the spring
concert we presented an action song, When
The Ants Go Marching.
“playing” a musical game, Come on through
Miss Sally. This month they will be sharing
their accomplishments with parents by
presenting their portfolios.
The students enjoyed their end-of-year field
trip to the Bioparco of Rome on June 7.
During the year the children learned about
animals and their habitats. This knowledge
was most useful as they will have the
opportunity to become zookeepers for the
day. They wwere accompanied with the
fifth grade students.
On June 8 the students shared their portfolios
and stories with their parents. This is always
a very memorable occasion as the children
review their year’s work and families note
the progress their children have made.
We are creating many addition
subtraction sentences in mathematics.
and
Ms. Gosdowski and Ms. Tausend wish to
express their thanks to all the parents of first
grade for their support throughout the year.
We want to thank all the parents for their
support during the year and wish everyone a
safe and happy summer.
9
Elementary School News (continued)
Second Grade
Fourth Grade
Ms. Ciuffreda and Ms. DeVito
Ms. De Paolis and Ms. Piccirilli
As a culmination of the social studies unit of The students celebrated the end of fourth grade with
ancient Egypt the second grade students presented
a show on June 8 entitled Everyday Life In
Ancient Egypt. The scenes were working in the
fields, a stone quarry, boats on the Nile,
mummification, the judgement hall and the
pharaoh’s palace. On the last full school day, the
students are going to the beach to celebrate their
fantastic year in second grade and to prepare for
their summer vacation by relaxing and having fun
together!
our annual picnic on the quad after the spring concert.
The dioramas of animal habitats constructed by the
students are on display in our windows.
We were looking forward to our trip to Zoomarine on
June 8 as a highlight to our science unit on oceans.
The students watched a 4D film on the migration of
turtles, see animal shows and learned about the
conservation of dolphins in the wild.
For the final book report presentations, the students
had a choice between biography or fiction. The final
history lesson was about Mark Anthony and Cleopatra,
and Octavian becoming the first Emperor Augustus
after Caesar’s death in 44BC. The students have had a
wonderful year. Ms. DePaolis and Ms. Piccirilli want
to thank the parents for all of their help and support
throughout the year and wish everybody a happy
summer.
Ms. Ciuffreda and Ms. DeVito would like to
thank all the parents for their support, help and
cooperation during the year.
Third Grade
Ms. Gist and Ms. Wheeler
Fifth Grade
The three day trip to Paestum and Velia was
Mr. Etcheverry, Ms. Rumsby and Mr. Wieland
rewarding for the students as they experienced
first hand a view of ancient Greece: the temples, a
theater, Cyclopean and Ashlar walls, a sacred
well, tomb paintings, red and black figure pots
and bronze armor. They also ate ice cream, went
shopping, played on the beach, tasted buffalo
milk mozzarella and observed the temples
illuminated at night.
T
he fifth grade performance of “It’s not about the
shoes-just dance” was a resounding success. The
students had a great learning experience being involved
in the entire process of a play – script writing, learning
songs and dances, choreography, scenery, lighting,
props, advertising and compiling the program.
The students celebrated the publishing of their
books by the Falcon Press (PTO) with a
magnificent Publishing Party. Each student was
presented with his/her book on stage at the
Hillside Theater. Many students had the
opportunity to tell the audience of parents why
writing is important and what they had learned
about the writing process during third grade.
There was a breathtaking refreshment table
loaded with scrumptious and delicious delights
after the presentation and a huge thank you goes
to Mrs. Morrill.
The field trip to Vigna di Valle was a great success. The
Bracciano lake is the highest it has been since 1999.
The students received amazing compliments from the
restaurant - they were the “best behaved kids ever”!
Mr. Etcheverry braved the waters to supervise the
bathers and almost turned blue from the cold! The
students went on their final field trip to the Bioparco of
Rome on June 7 with first grade students. The fifth
graders were studying reptiles and biodiversity. The
“Moving Up Ceremony” will take place on June 9 and
the students will be donating two orange trees to the
school, a reference book to the Elementary School
Library and donating money for children in Haiti.
Ms. Gist and Ms. Wheeler would like all the
parents to know how much parents are
appreciated.
A big thank you from Mr. Etcheverry, Ms. Rumsby and
Mr. Wieland and to all the fifth grade parents who very
soon will become Middle School parents!
10
Elementary School News (continued)
5th Grade Student Council
by Dr. George Grunfeld, Elementary School Principal
The 5th grade Student Council was
celebrated for their leadership,
character and accomplishments
during the 2009-2010 school year.
Dr. Grunfeld supervised a trip to the
Time Elevator in Rome and a
viewing of the history of dinosaurs.
The three panoramic screens
projected the group into a time
journey of 2750 years of Roman
history. As a culminating activity, the student council members were then
treated to a lunch at an interesting restaurant in Tresetevere. Lunch at the
Piazza de’Renzi was special with our students demonstrating mature
conversations at the table along with excellent manners. Other dinners
made positive comments on the intellect and maturity of our AOSR
students. After lunch, students were treated to visit to a very special bakery,
and they each tried fresh, hot bread right out of the oven. “This is the best
bread I have ever tasted” was heard from each student. Daniel, Micha,
Alessandra, Veronica, Francesca, Ilyana and Genevieve will no doubt be
leaders in their next schools. We are all very proud of them.
The Student Council is an important
group of student elected members
that recommends programs, raises
funds for those in need, and
represents the grade and
Elementary School to the principal.
They met twice a week for a
principal’s luncheon and share their
ideas regarding school functions,
policies and recommendations for
school spirit. Several important
school initiatives were orchestrated by this important leadership team. Well
done to each member for her/his contributions to make AOSR the best
school possible.
11
AOSR Elementary School Library News
by Ms. Amy B. Popp, Elementary School Librarian
In June, kindergarten through grade two studied the author Patricia Polacco,
author of Appelmando’s Dreams and many other wonderful books. Grades three
through five finished listening to Charlotte’s Web (grade three), The Tale of
Despereaux (grade four), and Bridge to Terabithia (grade 5).
I want to thank all students, parents, and faculty for encouraging students to read,
whether it be for pleasure, information, or research during the 2009-2010 school
year.
Students may borrow up to three books over the summer. Please stop by the
library for a form. Suggested titles for summer reading have been posted on the
AOSR website:
http://aosr.org//Orgs/360/School_Pages/Elementary_School/
Elementary_Summer_Reading_2010.pdf Reading during the summer will help
students maintain and improve their reading skills while they are not in school.
The following students were Star Librarians in May:
May, 2010
Colin H., Kindergarten, Ms. Bleecher
Madeleine H., Grade 1, Ms. Gozdowski
Edoardo Y., Grade 2, Ms. Ciuffreda
Marsya H., Grade 3, Ms. Gist
The following student participated in the Author of the Month program:
May, 2010
Colin H., Kindergarten, Ms. Bleecher
Madeleine H., Grade 1, Ms. Gozdowski
Sophia N., Grade 2, Ms. Ciuffreda
Emmanuela H., Grade 3, Ms. Gist
Marsya H., Grade 3, Ms. Gist
Please congratulate these outstanding young readers from AOSR!
Best wishes for a wonderful summer filled with lots of reading.
12
Middle School News
Looking Ahead to Middle School for 2010 - 11
by Ms. Sarah Ellyson, Middle School Coordinator
It is difficult on these final days of school, to think of
what needs to be done to prepare for next school year.
However, that is just what the Middle School English
teachers have been doing! This year, grade level
Middle School Reading Lists will be distributed to
all students at the end of the year. The goal for this
initiative is to have every student read approximately 7
books over the summer. Also to emphasize to
students and families the importance of maintaining
vocabulary, reading compression and English
language growth over the summer
months. Each student will receive
a letter with grade level list of
suggestions, as well as an online resource for a number of
award-winning book lists. In
September, English classes will
have activities which will
provide students a chance to share
their summer reading with their classmates. Happy
reading!
New Student Orientation is scheduled for Thursday,
September 2, beginning at 9:00. Many current Middle
School students have already volunteered to serve as e
-mail buddies throughout the summer to welcome and
befriend students who will be new to AOSR in
September.
Sixth Grade Orientation will take place on Friday,
September 3 from 9:00 – 1:30 pm. This will be an
opportunity for all Sixth graders to have a mini-first
day of school by meeting all of their teachers, finding
all of their classrooms, practicing their locker
combinations and knowing who to go to for support in
Middle School.
This will prepare the students for
their first full day on Monday, September 6thth. See
you then!
PRIME
(The Pupils of Rome International Math Event)
The PRIME math competition began three years ago and this year eight
international schools participated. Each school can participate with three teams,
and we had two rounds in school to see which teams would represent us. More
than 40 students participated in the in-school rounds and the highest scoring
teams participated at St. George’s school.
Kyungbin L. Sunwoong K. William F.
Ambra Y.
Henry V.
Sammy B.
David Y.
Leonardo P.
Valentino Y.
The competition was 3 hours long and the level of
math was very high. Our teams did well and were
placed in the top half of the 24 teams that
participated. They were excellent ambassadors for
our school.
13
Middle School News (continued…)
7th Grade Science Fair
by Ms. Tara Rummel, MS Science Teacher
The 7th Grade Science Fair, on May 24th, was a huge success!
It was wonderful to see so many parents join us to view all of
the presentations. And, it was a pleasure to see so many enthusiastic elementary, middle, and high school students. The
7th grade students worked diligently over the course of 3
weeks, both at home and at school, writing their lab reports,
conducting their experiments, and designing their presentation
boards.
All of the students
learned how to utilize
Google Docs, which is a web based file sharing program
that students have access to with their A.O.S.R. email accounts. This enabled students to write their lab reports at
home, save them, and then others in the same group were
able to see those new changes and add their part. Even
though some students’ experiments didn’t go as they had
expected, they still learned how to follow the scientific
method; they learned how to write a hypothesis, write detailed procedures, create a data table,
collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions. Furthermore, they learned how to identify the
independent, dependent, and controlled variables in their experiment.
Some of the problem questions that students investigated this year included:
•
•
How will the amount of fire in a vase affect the time that it takes for a boiled egg, which is
slightly bigger than the opening, to pass through it?
How does the amount the rose stem is cut, affect the time the rose petals take to change
color?
• Will a structure, with a straw crossing obliquely to
form a reinforcement, resist a simulated earthquake
more than a structure with regular corners and angles?
• How does the amount of salt added to an ice cube
affect how long the match sticks to the ice?
• How does the amount of salt added to water
(salinity) affect
whether the egg
floats or sinks in
water?
Finally, I heard the 6th grade students already sharing ideas
for their science fair project in anticipation for next year! I
look forward to working with the new class of 7th graders
next year and plan to keep that enthusiasm for science going
into 2011!
14
Secondary School Theater - Twelfth Night
by Mr. Kip Hendry, HS Theater
During the final performance of a play, we directors get
to sit back and simply enjoy the show, and boy did I
enjoy this spring’s production of Twelfth Night. I
laughed at fantastic comic timing, smiled along with
pining lovers, ooed and ahhed at well executed theater
combat, and felt consistently wowed by a truly great
performance of a challenging play. However, QiBo
“Francesco” Z., who played broken hearted Duke Orsino
pointed out that I always say the shows are “truly great.”
So to Francesco and all those who doubt my sunny
review, here are the top ten reasons this year’s production of Twelfth Night was so great:
Ten Reasons Twelfth Night Was So Great:
1. Cast included student actors from every grade 6-12!
2. Audience laughs and cringes simultaneously when befuddled Sebastian (Sky S.) is slapped by
the foolish Sir Andrew (Tegan G.) and retaliates with an astounding comic nose pull.
3. Levi F. gives one of the greatest comic monologues ever to grace a lunchroom stage as the
blustering Malvolio, only to be locked in a pillory and mocked by Christina D. as the singingdancing-fooling Feste!
4. Shakespeare’s plotline of Maria and Fabian scolding mischievous Toby Belch only to later join
in his antics actually parallels the real life actions and attitudes of Tess W., Gloria C., Max G. who
played those characters!
5. Peter O., Trevor M., Star S., Franzi N., and Sasha
move sets like pros!
6. Orsino (QiBo “Francesco” Z.) marries Viola (Katie
K.) despite having believed her to be a man only
moments ago while simultaneously Olivia (Ji S.)
unknowingly marries her twin brother in a double
wedding performed by Lorenzo M. while Antonia
(Savannah C.) is the only character who actually knows
who she loves yet does not get married!
7. Stormy S., Nadav F., Neta B., and Noa I., spend the
entire play as characters trying to figure out what is going
on and the entire rehearsal period as actors trying to figure out what is going on!
8. Sixth grade musicians and Mr. Tompkins rock the set changes and play up a storm, literally!
9. Mr. Hendry and Mr. Etcheverry laugh louder than the
rest of the audience put together!
10. Everybody remembered their lines! (Right?!?)
But the very best part of every play is the part the
audience never gets to see: six weeks of working
together, building a fantasy world out of our
imaginations and shared dreams. Congratulations to the
cast and crew of Twelfth Night for three wonderful
performances as well as weeks of shared joy and
creativity.
15
High School News
Memorial Day, May 31, 2010
AOSR was represented at the annual
Memorial Day Commemoration at the
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at
Nettuno, Italy. Several students, Ms. Cottie
Ceen, US History teacher along with Dr.
George Grunfeld, attended a moving
memorial to the war veterans. Ambassador
David H. Thorne, Undersecretary of
Defense, the Honorable Giuseppe Cossiga
and many other dignitaries talked about the
importance of this special day.
U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Diaz,
AOSR students listened intently to the
and his wife, with AOSR students.
speakers
as well as the small groupings of veterans now
in their 80’s. It was a moment in history our
students will never forget. There was a group
picture taken in front of the Brothers In Arms
statue. There was also an opportunity to have
pictures taken with Ambassador Miguel Diaz,
US Ambassador to the Vatican and Mrs. Diaz.
Giulia O. , Peter O., Ye C., Giovanni, P. and
Jeong O. will
remember
this special day as they develop into
outstanding leaders of tomorrow.
The AOSR students were appreciative of the
opportunities to participate at the
commemoration and to hear the dignitaries
speak to the audience. The special meeting
with the veterans was also significant as this
may be one of the last commemorative
memorials for the fragile group of men.
The speakers who recalled the many
events during WW II were living history
with their many stories from Italy and
France. They remembered the events as
though they were yesterday. Ms. Ceen
also provided historical perspectives
related to the commemoration and
discussions introduced by the speakers.
She added special significance to the
events through her history class.
16
AOSR ENGLISH DEPT. SUMMER READING 2010-2011
Incoming 9th Graders
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ENGLISH 9
Absolutely all of the summer reading must be in English.
Summer Reading for Rising 9th Grade
Books: Read two books of medium to high level of difficulty for you. The books must be in
English and can be fiction or non-fiction. If you prefer, you may choose one long novel (400+
pages) but you must finish the book.
Articles: For each book, choose a subject within the book that interested you. Find and read a
web, newspaper, or magazine article on that subject. The articles must be primary or secondary
sources (which means it cannot be a summary source like Wikipedia, a non-expert author like
a public blog).
For example:
If you had read The Outsiders then you could find and read an article about teen gangs,
parental alcoholism, classism, orphans raised by siblings, hot-rod cars, switch blade knives,
Robert Frost, Gone with the Wind or any other topic from within the novel that you find
interesting. (No, you can't use The Outsiders, that's just an example.)
You do not have to do any written work, but should come with the knowledge and materials
(the books and articles) to do a mini-research project and book interview. That means you need
to have the books and articles.
Choose reading and research that is challenging but fun and I'll see you in September!
Mr. Hendry

Incoming 10th Graders
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN English 10
Your assignment for the summer is to read three novels. The three together should be around
900 pages. Pick novels that you will read and enjoy, but also pick ones that create a challenge
for you. You must be prepared to discuss them in the first week of school next year.
Your novels must meet the following criteria (one for each novel):
You must read a novel written by someone of the opposite gender.
You must read a novel written by someone from a different continent than your native one.
You must read a novel written by someone of a different race or culture than yourselves.
17
AOSR ENGLISH DEPT. SUMMER READING 2010-2011
(continued)
Incoming 11th Graders
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN IB A2 English 11
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
All the Pretty Horses – Cormac McCarthy
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AP/IB ENGLISH 11
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
The Awakening, Kate Chopin
Broken April, Ismail Kadare
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AMERICAN LITERATURE
An American novel from 1900-1945
An American novel from 1945-Present
Each novel should be approximately 250-300 pages in length. If you need book recommendations, you
may contact me at: [email protected]. You must be prepared to work with the books in the first week
of school.

Incoming 12th Graders
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN IB A1 and A2 English 12
The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
SUMMER READING FOR ST0UDENTS ENROLLED IN AP ENGLISH Literature
The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Plague – Albert Camus
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN LITERATURE ACROSS CULTURES
I. Two Personal Choice Books
Read two novels this summer that are a medium or high level challenge for you. If you prefer, you may
choose one long novel (500+ pages) but you must finish the book.
II. Two Poems
Find and read two poems that you enjoy. One must use regular meter and rhyme; the other must use free
verse. Please choose poems by valid authors who have been recognized through awards or notoriety.
(Anonymous internet poems are not good choices. Hint: Start with authors you know. Many write
poetry as well as fiction.)
You do not have to write anything yet, but be aware that you will be making connections between your
reading and the poems the class chooses. You will also use them to identify literary devices and terms
that you have studied in the past. Keep this in mind when you select your poetry.
18
College & University Corner
by Sharice Welch, High School College Counselor
College Planning Activities for JUNIORS!
10 Things to Do in the Summer for College Planning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Visit Colleges of Interest
Request/ Obtain Applications
Prepare Essays (outline, rough drafts)
Register & Prepare for Fall Testing (SAT/Subject Tests,
ACT, TOEFL)
Log In and complete the exercises for NAVIANCE which
can be found at the following link:
https://connection.naviance.com/aosr
Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you plan to
pursue athletics
Revise Activities Résumé
Re-work the List of Colleges
Create a Method for Organizing Materials
Get Ready for the Fall!
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
by Ms. Christine Hogan, ASA Coordinator
This year has been yet another successful year for ASA with approximately
240 students participating in each session. I would like to thank all the
parents who have entrusted their students to our care, and to the
enthusiastic instructors who participate in the program.
The first session of ASA in the next school year will begin on Friday 1st
October, 2010.
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer.
19
Graduation Commencement Address
by Ambassador David H. Thorne, U.S. Ambassador to Italy
around the world. There is such a proliferation
of the means of communication and travel.
There is an incredible opportunity for crosspollination between cultures as never before.
Chair Cohen, Dr. Pfannl, Principal Connolly,
Distinguished Guests, members of the Graduating Class: It is an honor to be invited to speak
to you on this special occasion. It is – of
course – also a great privilege to represent the
President of the United States for a while here
in Italy.
There are ever more people tuned into the cyber world. This flat world is now overflowing
with opportunities for dialogue. The new media, new technology, and new information
sources, if used well, can open doors and opportunities. This can provide avenues of exchange that were closed before. The technological and new media revolution has increased
your freedom of expression and connection to a
level unimaginable just a few years ago. There
are now more than 450 million people around
the world using Facebook. We also now know
something else. In only the last ten years since
we have decoded the genome, science now
confirms that human beings on this planet are
made essentially the same way. Our genetic
differences make up only less than one-half of
one percent of each of us. Thus our similarities
far, far outweigh our differences
And, as many of you know, it is also a deeply
sentimental occasion for me since I once sat in
your seat experiencing Rome through the
American Overseas School. I am delighted to
be here with my wife Rose; and it is really very
special for us both to share with you a great
moment: the commencement of your lives as
high school graduates.
This is a first for me – the first time I am addressing a high school graduating class. So,
when I was first asked to give a commencement address, I thought: “What do I know?”
And guess what was the first response that I
came up with? “Not much!” Or, about as
much as I knew for that fourth grade history
test at AOSR I didn’t study for. But, in truth,
as I thought about what it would be like to be
graduating today in this incredibly high-speed
and complex world we are all living in, I had a
chance to reflect on how much more challenging things seem for your generation than they
were for mine. I also have two kids – one who
not long ago graduated from high school and is
now finishing college – and our conversations
are full of “what am I going to do, how am I
going to fit in?” Somehow they look to me for
the wisdom to answer these questions. And I
can’t. But I do hope to offer some ideas on
how to look for those answers. It may not be
wisdom, but then, I hope wisdom is not some
older guy spouting platitudes to the young.
And you, about-to-be graduates of AOSR, you
have another advantage: most of you have
physically gone abroad to study and learn.
Those of you who are Italians have chosen to
study in a foreign educational environment.
That, too, is a cultural immersion, and both
those things raise your awareness by an entire
order of magnitude. You can make connections and put things in context, and be more
mentally flexible than your peers.
I spent most of my youth here in Rome. At
first it wasn’t easy. I know how immersion in
a foreign culture can at times be uncomfortable. I can still remember the unfamiliar
sounds and smells that hit me my first day in
Italy at age 8. But it is also that discomfort
which opens the mind, fosters flexibility, and
creates opportunity. Living in Rome is not just
a cultural and geographic experience. Unlike
any other city in the world – Rome helps you
I prefer to reflect today about something else.
The things that really are different for you than
any generation before. You, Class of 2010,
have great advantages! The world comes to
you via the mass media as never before. And
you don’t have to be in receiving mode only.
You can communicate and interact instantly
(Continued on page 22)
20
College and University Acceptances & Matriculations
Class of 2010
Over fifty different college and university admission offices throughout the world awarded students
offers of admission to their schools. Students also garnered many honors, including offers of merit
scholarships and acceptance into specialized programs. Members of the Class of 2010 received
offers of acceptance from the following institutions. Students will matriculate to the universities
with an (*) in the Fall.
UNITED STATES
American University*
Boston University*
Boston University
Boston University
Boston University (College of Arts and Sciences)
California State University, Northridge
Clark University
Cornell University*
Drexel University
Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts*
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles*
Florida Institute of Technology**
Foothill College
Fordham University
Franciscan University of Steubenville
George Mason University
Iowa State University*
Johns Hopkins University
Northeastern University
Oregon State University*
Pace University, New York City
Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute
San Jose State University
St. John's University *
Temple University Japan*
The George Washington University *
The University of Tampa
Tufts University
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Pennsylvania*
University of Pittsburgh
University of San Francisco*
Virginia Tech
West Virginia University
UK Conditional Offers of Acceptance
Brunel University
European Business School, London
London Metropolitan University
London South Bank University
Loughborough University
Middlesex University
Queen Mary, University of London
Regents Business School London
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Southampton Solent University
University of East London
University of Kent at Canterbury
University of Southampton
University of Surrey
University of Sussex
University of the West of England, Bristol
University of Westminster
UNITED KINGDOM
American InterContinental University, London
Hult International Business School*
The American International University in London (Richmond)
Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons *
ITALY
American University of Rome*
John Cabot University**
LUISS (Libera Università Internazionale
degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli)
CANADA
University of British Columbia
*denotes the number of students who will matriculate in the Fall.
21
Graduation Commencement Address (continued)
(Continued from page 20)
fast changing world.
develop a proper perspective about your place
in the continuum of time. When I was out
here helping open the gym last fall, I mentioned a conversation I had with President
Obama – who also grew up in a foreign culture – and he affirmed that he felt it was just
that experience which helped make him who
he is today.
As you go forth, I encourage you to find the
right balance between looking beyond the horizon and looking at the world right around
you. You must to be engaged at both levels.
You will need to follow and partake in global
developments while nurturing your local community and your own persons.
Some say the youth of today is more selfish,
more interested in material things, in making
money, than generations before. Some say
you are less interested in culture and relationships. I suspect that many who say this do not
know what you are doing, creating, and expressing through social media, or they do not
– yet – recognize youth culture as culture. As
it always has, the street culture of today often
becomes mainstream tomorrow.
But, there is a flip side to all of this connectivity. Your world is overflowing with information. It is extremely easy to suffer information and choice overload. Travel has become
so simple. It’s almost taken for granted. You
have access to so many points of view: the
wealth of possibilities is dizzying, and the
world is only going to get more complex and
accelerated for you. When people find old
perspectives and frameworks to be inadequate, how do they find truth? Where do they
go for guidance? The central question for
your generation is how do you find balance –
balance between speed and slowness, frenetic
inquiry and focused purpose?
It is clear that finding your own balance or set
of balances has to be the goal of every society
and individual. No education system can be
based only on hard science. No human being
can be complete through the pursuit of money
alone. No person of balance can be only outward-looking or only inward-looking. Finding your value system is, of course, easier said
than done. Life unfolds, things change, you
change. For some more dramatically than for
others.
There is a danger when people anxiously look
for new ways to cope with this reality. The
tendency often is to retreat, to stick to what
one knows, to cast one’s gaze away from the
horizon, or, as they say in Italy, guardarsi
l’ombelico. Shutting ourselves off to that
which is different is a way of compensating
I’ll give you an illustration from my life: I
was brought up in a very conservative Republican household. That was one of the reasons
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and went to Vietnam to fight for my country. You might assume that being a soldier in Vietnam was the
hardest experience of my life. Not so. War
was simple. Simple as – DUCK. Coming
home was the difficult part, the moment of
shock, the moment of assessment. When I
came back to the U.S., I had to come to terms
with having encountered in Vietnam a reality
about my country and my values that was
completely different from the one I had grown
up with. I was forced to change my world
view fundamentally. And back home I began
a journey to find my place in a society that felt
far different than the one I had known. I had
for the world’s increasing complexity. It is
not surprising: there is indeed a tension between global concerns and local needs, between solving the world’s problems and taking care of your family, your neighborhood –
and, as importantly, your own mind and body.
Yet if we do not address that tension, we risk
an increase in intolerance and even violence
and poor health.
A high school education should allow you to
cope – perhaps even thrive on – complexity.
Living in another culture should too. You
don’t have to have all the answers; nobody
does. But as graduates of today, you know
better, or should, than many of your contemporaries or predecessors how to ask critical
questions. And that will help you toward understanding and arriving at solutions in this
(Continued on page 23)
22
Graduation Commencement Address (continued)
Get quiet for 15 minutes every day –
throw the newspaper away, turn off the
TV and the iPod, shut the computer – just
breathe in silence. You’ll be surprised
what happens.
(Continued from page 22)
to find a new balance within myself.
This is why I referred earlier to the importance of flexibility: I hope of course that
none of you have to go through such a dramatic, sudden confrontation with changing
realities.
Respect your mind and your body.
Binge drinking is not a national college
sport. It’s not a healthy competition.
But I guarantee you that someday you will
run up against a reality very different than
the one you know, and you will need to
make choices that you cannot even imagine today. The world is moving too fast
for that not to be so. All of us need to be
flexible to keep making sense of life and
to be productive members of society.
Be slow to judge: walk in somebody
else’s shoes for a day before you form an
opinion of them bad or good.
Be humble: if you take yourself too seriously, you’re boring and you really are not
going to have much fun!
Let me end by offering a few things which
have worked for me.
Lastly, remember your parents:
still paying the bills!
Listen carefully and don’t talk before you
are ready (the quiet ones are the ones
So, my young friends – go forth and make
this world of ours a better place for all of
us!
you have to watch out for).
they’re
Congratulations.
(My wife will laugh at the next one.)
Mayfair 2010 Update
Thank you AOSR community! Mayfair proceeds this year brought in
€17.301,00 net. There were no expenses other than personnel who worked that
day. Everything was donated this year! A BIG thank you to Mayfair Coordinator Ms. Gretchen Plank (and her husband Barry Harmon) and the entire PTO!

ES games raised €2.144,00 (which is divided among grade levels for
items needed to benefit all ES students); HS raised €890 (that went towards the HS Prom); MS raised €478,00 (used for MS end-of-the-year
activities);

Raffle tickets brought in €4.010,00; Silent Auction €2.103,00.

Total going towards TECHNOLOGY that will benefit the entire school
is: €13.789,00!
23
Sports Banquet
24
24
Varsity Sports Awards for the 2009-2010 Season
by Mr. Tom Connolly, Secondary School Principal
Sport
Most Improved
Coach’s Award
Most Valuable Player
Girls Volleyball
Nathalie N.
Francesca M.
Brittany R.
Boys Volleyball
Ramy F.
Jacopo L.
Daryll S.
Cross Country (Girls)
Danielle M.
Star S.
Eva E.
Cross Country (Boys)
Ofaf B.
Sky S.
Pietro D.
Tennis
Elliott E.
Elena D.
Carmen F.
Wrestling
Dominic M.
Trevor M.
Omri I.
Girls Basketball
Ceara L.
Rachel M.
Marina M.
Boys Basketball
Ramy F.
Lorenzo M.
Daryll S.
Cheerleading
Ginevra D.
Ji Yung S.
Mi Na K.
Girls Soccer
My L.
Rachel M.
Bianca O.
Boys Soccer
Daryll S.
Elliott E.
Leo D.
Falcons of the Year: Francesca M. and Daniel R.
Athletes of the Year: Rachel M. and Daryll S.
Scholars Athlete of the Year: Ginevra Di C. and Dominic M.
Faidley Sportsman Award: Daryll S.
25
Community Service Project
Challenges in a Changing World
by Roy Zimmerman
Despite the calamities of these uncertain times, our ongoing effort to connect with an
impoverished community in Salvador continues to grow, and the human bonds that we have
established testify to our success. The AOSR Mayfair was the scene of a happy reunion
between a former ICBIE student, the artist Júlio Costa (on his THIRD visit to our school,
and three AOSR teachers who have taught summer courses in Salvador, Rosa de Bellis,
Daniele Dattilo and Louise Audette. Júlio was accompanied by his fiancée, the talented
fashion designer Thais Muniz and Klebert Gonçalves Dos Santos, a plastic artist who is
touring Europe as part of the Salvador Grafita project.
While our Brazilian friends gorged themselves on all the tasty international food, they
admired the way the AOSR students, big and small, generously dug coins out of their
pockets for the Bridge to Bahia donation box, which by the end of the day had €155, to help
other poor kids find success and happiness, just like Júlio did.
AOSR will continue to have a positive effect upon ICBIE programs throughout the rest of
this year, as one of our great substitute teachers, Miriam Murphy, has volunteered to teach
English from August to December. Furthermore, I will be in Bahia in June and July,
coordinating the final preparations to build our community theater with the Engineers
Without Borders from Howard University. The final plan is complete, and it looks like this:
Many thanks to everyone at AOSR: Bridge to Bahia wishes you a wonderful summer
holiday!
26
27
28
AOSR Contact Information
Villa Reception
Secretary:
Head of School:
Secretary:
Secondary School
Principal:
Secretary:
Elementary School
Principal:
Secretary:
PreK Coordinator:
ES Coordinator:
MS Coordinator:
AP/IB Coordinator:
Admissions Secretary:
Busing:
Business Manager:
HS College Counselor:
School Counselor:
Nurse:
After School Activities:
Resource Room:
Athletics:
Manuela Ciocca
Dr. Beth Pfannl
Domenica Losani
06-33438-300
06-33438-331
06-33438-331
Thomas Connolly
Anna Chiara Troisi
06-33438-326
06-33438-326
Dr. George Grunfeld
Joanne Hoberg
Amy Magazzu
Susan Prideaux
Sarah Ellyson
Belinda Fiochi
Sabine Neumann
Kieran Canter
Elisa Bruno
Sharice Welch
Dr. Simona Reichmann
Diane Cullen-Moore
Christine Hogan
Vivian Mencarelli
Silvia Moore (ES)
Jeff Phillips (MS/HS)
Phil Davis
06-33438-395
06-33438-395
06-33438-330
06-33438-350
06-33438-336
06-33438-337
06-33438-311
06-33438-372
06-33438-338
06-33438-327
06-33438-373
06-33438-321
06-33438-320
06-33438-302
06-33438-390
06-33438-313
All parent telephone and email address corrections should be
sent to [email protected].
29