AOSR Is 'My Kind of Place'

AOSR News September 2003

September Calendar Teachers at AOSR August 31: *Boarders arrive at residence af- Possess Unique Qualities ter 3 pm By Dr. Larry Dougherty, Headmaster Monday, 1: *No School, Faculty in-service WELCOME BACK!! I want to wish a warm welcome to our new Tuesday, 2: students and parents and ben tornati to those who are returning. We have a *Orientation for new students, new principal and several new teachers who will be working with your chil- Grades 1-13, 9 am to 12:30 pm dren this year and we look forward to a great 2003-2004 school year. Wednesday, 3: Our goals are to offer excellent academic programs and to create a *Semester I begins for all, bus harmonious atmosphere within which an international student body learns to service begins live and work together in an American educational system. We are *Girls’ Volleyball tryouts, Cross- committed to teaching students in our multi-lingual, multi-cultural Country Team meeting, 3:30 pm environment the best from the past, while giving them the thinking and Thursday, 4: technological skills required for the future. First full day of kindergarten and We believe that students learn best when there is a close, cooperative 4-year olds in Pre-K. (Continued on page 6) Monday, 8: *PTO hosts Morning Coffee for * Newcomers, 9:15 am, cafeteria Tuesday, 9: *PTO hosts Morning Coffee for AOSR is ‘My Kind of Place’ Newcomers, 9:15 am, cafeteria By Dr. Beth Pfannl, Principal

Monday, 15: You have all heard by now that AOSR has a new principal this *PTO Meeting, 9:15 am, cafeteria year. Many of you are probably wondering who she is, what she’s like and Friday, 19: what kind of principal she’ll be. As your new principal, I would first of all *HS Student Council Elections like to take this occasion to welcome back all our returning students and their Saturday, 20: families to this new school year, and give a very special welcome to our new *Welcome Neighbor Fair, AOSR teachers, students and families. Quad, 10 am to 2 pm. Let me start by sharing with you the main reason why I am so Thursday, 25: pleased to be a part of AOSR. It has to do with our school mission statement *Pre-K Back to School Night, 6:30 that reads, “The purpose of the school is to offer an excellent educational pm program to the English speaking community of Rome and to create a harmo- Tuesday, 30: nious atmosphere within which an international student body learns to live *Vendors bring items to Boutique; and work together in an American educational system. In pursuing this no sales, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm course, special attention shall be given to the multi-national character of the *October edition of Falcon Flyer school and to the cultural opportunities offered by the host country.” A comes out! Saturday, Oct. 4: (Continued on page 4) *Tentative date for Family Picnic Tuesday, Oct. 7: Contents *Boutique opens for business, 9:30 From the Headmaster 1 PPAC 13 High School News 21 am to 2:30 pm. Principal’s Office 1 Rome ‘n About 14 Sports 23

Latest News 3 Pre-K News 17 Good Eats and Caffe’ 24 PTO Corner 7 Elementary News 18 MS News 25

Board of Trustees 9 Counselor News 20 Volunteer Information 30+

1 September Flyer Is a Welcome Edition

Dear Flyer Readers, The Parent Teacher Organization, the school. AOSR administration and the faculty have created Especially for the benefit of our this special Welcome Edition Falcon Flyer for the newcomers, we’ve reprinted some highlights benefit of all our families, whether you’ve just from past Falcon Flyers in this issue. We hope arrived in Rome or whether you’re veteran these will provide an even broader insight into members of our community. the school and some of the special events that As in all our newsletters, this issue contains occur on campus, as well as the activities that the monthly Calendar, news of upcoming school may be of special interest to students and events and some of our regular features. This issue parents. If the article is a whole or partial reprint of the Flyer, however, also of an earlier story, you’ll find the month and serves as an introduction to our year it was originally published in parenthesis at school and to a wide range of the end. activites and events offered Our sincere thanks to all the parents, here throughout the year. We faculty and administrators who contributed to hope it serves to inform and this special edition Falcon Flyer. also to help you discover ways Welcome to AOSR everyone and happy reading! you might become more closely involved in your

Important Phone Numbers The Falcon Flyer is a As the new AOSR Directory won’t be published until Oc- tober, here’s a basic list of important phone numbers. The monthly publication of the new school calendar also lists phone numbers. American Overseas School of School Number: 06-334-381 Rome (AOSR) Fax: 06-3326-2608 Via Cassia 811 Headmaster: Larry Dougherty 06-3343-8331 00189 Rome Headmaster’s Secretary : Domenica Losani 06-3343-8331 Admissions: Don Levine 06-3343-8300 Italy Reception/Secretary: Joanne Hoberg 06-3343-8300 Telephone: 06-334-381 Financial Consultant: Elisa Bruno 06-3343-8338 Fax: 06-3326-2608 Boarding/Finance: Estelle Dougherty 06-3343-8339 Internet: www.aosr.org High School Office: Alessandra Cozzi 06-3343-8326 Principal: Beth Pfannl 06-3343-8326 To make comments or suggestions, or to submit an Guidance Counselor: Donna Ross 06-3343-8327 Nurse: Diane Cullen-Moore 06-3343-8321 article to the Falcon Flyer, please call editor Lisa Fin- After School Activities: Christine Hogan 06-3343-8320 erty at 06-4782-6192, or send an email to Margaret Ciuffreda [email protected]. A Flyer submission box is MS Coordinator: Angela Santangelo 06-3343-8336 also located in the Principal’s office. Resource Room: Kathaleen Smith 06-3343-8302 Registrar Office: Marina Benetti 06-3343-8315 Next Deadline 9-17-03 PTO/Boutique 06-3343-8322 The deadline for submission of articles for

the October Flyer is Wednesday, Sept. 17. We will be looking for news of upcoming events through the end of October. 2 Parents Invited Family Picnic To PTO’s Coffees Coming in October

The AOSR Family Picnic is tentatively P on Sept. 8 & 9 scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4, in the school

Quad. We’ll announce a definite date and time by The AOSR Parent Teacher Organization early September. This annual event features live invites all parents to its Coffee Mornings in the musical entertainment, activities for kids and a school cafeteria on Sept. 8th and 9th at 9:15 am. Booster Bar where you can purchase burgers, hot a This is the place to come to meet new people and dogs, chips and treats. find answers to your questions about school and Another highlight of this event is the about living in Rome. Please read the PTO Potluck Luncheon, which feature homemade column on page 7 for more information. salads, side dishes and treats from around the world! Sponsored by the PTO, the Picnic is a g great place to make new friends and reacquaint AOSR IS THE PLACE TO BE yourself with those you EVEN AFTER 3:20 PM haven’t seen all summer. It's fun, it's enriching, it's the place to e So plan be!! The final bell at 3:20 pm each school day to attend this signals the kickoff of AOSR's After-School great AOSR Activities Program. This excellent program event, and offers a wide range of exciting opportunities please bring a for our students. Sports, recreation, arts, savory or sweet crafts, music, computers, clubs and so much dish to share more. with all. If you The program runs from 3:30 pm to would like to 4:45 pm and AOSR's late buses are there to help serve at the Potluck tables, T transport your kids home. So look for the fall please call program coming this month. As always, Grazia Deulus at they’ll be two sessions: Oct. 1-Jan. 31 and 06-3630-4287. Feb. 1-May 31. h Welcome Neighbor Fair Set for Sept. 20

The WELCOME NEIGHBOR 17th Annual Fair will take place Saturday, September 20, from 10 am to 2 pm — at AOSR, of course! It's a great way to find out about many of the various organizations, r services, community groups and activities that take place in English in Rome. It’s also the place to learn about some of the ins and outs of living in Rome, and to have a fun day with your family and friends as well! We hope you will come by to enjoy the fun and food — hamburgers, hotdogs and more. Welcome Neighbor’s motto, "Bloom where you are planted," says it all. Just like plants in a garden, each of us has been transplanted from somewhere else. In some cases it may have been an easy e experience, in others a dreadful adventure. So what can Welcome Neighbor do for you, newcomers and long-term residents alike? Welcome Neighbor’s aim is to provide you with contacts, new friends, and information to help you "bloom where you are planted." Also, out of Welcome Neighbor activities, Welcome Home s.a.s. was born. It is a full fledged real estate company because we found that housing is the biggest problem of the newly arrived resident. e Our Welcome Neighbor year begins with the great Fair on the 20th. The monthly neighborhood coffees then start up and we're off to a year of information, friendships, interesting activities, and lots more. Any questions about the fair, Newcomers' program or housing needs? Call Yolanda Bernardini at 06-3036-6936.

3 (Continued from page 1) AOSR is ‘My Kind... The Washington Post article also mentioned that school that combines excellence in education, a great U.S.-based international schools attract foreign families climate for learning, high academic expectations in a because their children are happy at school. Happiness is culturally enlightened setting, and all this in an interna- key to student learning and achievement. It is my belief tional forum, is definitely my kind of place. that all students possess an extraordinary wealth of in- born abilities, potential, strength, and creativity. They PARENTS ARE PARTNERS have the right to realize and expand their potential, re- As a child I attended an American overseas school in ceive affection, trust the adults in their lives, and satisfy Madrid for six years, and it was that experience that their needs and their desire to learn. came to shape the rest of my life. It was there that I first learned another language, met children from countries MOTIVATE STUDENTS that I had never heard of, and had opportunities to travel A very important role of the principal, as educa- – experiences that were very different from those of my tional leader, is to be an advocate for all students, re- friends who stayed back home gardless of age. I will seek to in New York. American over- provide constant motivation in seas schools are special the learning environment, help places. They combine the best students become independent of many worlds. thinkers and help them learn to In addition to rigorous aca- make thoughtful choices. In the demics, something else that end, that’s what it’s all about. attracted me to AOSR from the To get to this point, students and beginning was the strong pa- teachers must be empowered rental support and community through the learning process. involvement. In fact, many of Each of us can remember a you may recall reading in the teacher who opened a closed May-June 2003 issue of this door in our minds. It is that newsletter an article reprinted magical quality that is at the from the Washington Post enti- heart of what happens in tled, “Teaching the American school. I pledge to continue Way in Overseas Schools.” It working for quality classrooms includes comments by head- in which students not only suc- master, Dr. Dougherty, who ceed academically but also be- says that one of the main rea- come inspired to take responsi- sons foreigners want to attend American overseas bility for their own learning. schools is that parents notice that American educators want them involved in school affairs. (The May-June BUILD LIFELONG LEARNERS issue can be found on the AOSR website). Teachers too need to thrive in the teaching environ- I truly believe that “parents are partners” in their ment. I will be working with them and the school ad- children’s schooling. A vital alliance should exist be- ministrative team towards that end. The classroom is tween the home and the school. By providing a warm, where students make the connections between knowl- welcoming environment for parents, the school encour- edge and their own lives -- where their passion for learn- ages and fosters their full participation in all aspects of ing ignites. We are all here to spark that passion. their children’s schooling. I will continue to assure that As educators, we work to transform the student into the AOSR community feels welcome and is effectively an active, lifelong learner. Our teachers are committed involved in school activities, volunteering in the class- to the idea that learning is not only the acquisition of rooms, and sponsoring events for our students and fami- facts, but an emotional experience as well. Learning lies. happens when a student feels cared for, appreciated and respected. It is as lifelong learners ourselves that we can FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION teach and expect our students to develop a passion for Communication must be clear and up front between learning. the school and the community at all times. As we offer We are here to ensure excellence in education. To an instructional program consistent with our school’s that end, educational decisions are based on the best in- mission statement, and motivate our team to enthusiasti- terests of our students and prepare them to assume pro- cally pursue it, it is extremely important that our entire active roles as citizens of the world. school community understand what and how teachers are I am very happy to be part of this great family at expected to teach, and what students are expected to AOSR. I look forward to a wonderful year of learning learn. for all.

4 Flyer Soars Home on Students’ Wings … and the Internet! By Lisa Marini Finerty, Flyer Editor

In just the past few years the Falcon Flyer has Every issue contains sections on each school level grown from a three- or four-page publication to the with articles from the teachers themselves about events hefty volume you hold in your hands (or are reading inside and outside the classroom. The Flyer has consis- on the AOSR website)! It is distributed to your chil- tently included articles on academics, drama, music, sports dren on or before the LAST DAY OF EACH and special events. MONTH -- and probably can be found in the bottom As a regular reader, you'll have the most complete of your child's backpack shortly thereafter! Pull it information about what's going on in the PTO and the out! Read it! Share the AOSR life of your child! The Principal Parent Advisory Committee (PPAC). You may Falcon Flyer is all about YOUR children, YOUR also find school and YOUR community. stories Many contributors make this possible -- espe- written by cially the thoughtful contribution over the years of your own former editor Cam Rossie, whose daughter was in children. Middle School here. Cam, a professional journalist, Il Foro is volunteered to help craft a well-organized, dependable our clas- school publication -- one that is timely and compre- sified ads hensive --- to make it easier for busy families to share section the school life of their children. She was improving it where even up to June 15 when she moved from Rome. you may Tocca a me! Our family came to Rome in advertise August of 2002 specifically to go to AOSR. I had for free. gone to OSR, as it was called then, 35 years ago when Addition- I was my daughter's age. The six months I spent at ally, two our school in 1969 were standouts -- even in an aca- years ago demic career that included many great teachers and we institutions. launched My husband, Tom, Ry (then a junior) and a column Marin (a freshman) left Santa Barbara, California, to share tips about Rome and Italy, aptly named Rome ‘n with clothes and computers, storing our “stuff”, our About. There are recipes, too! pets, “Our whole lives!” they said. “Just for the Parents themselves have written articles about year,” I promised. school-sponsored events in which their children have par- Six months ago, the children convinced Tom ticipated or about interesting activities outside our walls. and me to let them graduate from AOSR! They were And because sometimes there are changes in the school happy, responsible, and more curious than ever, so calendar intra-month, this year there will be FALCON how could we say no? We did some more arranging, FLYER UPDATES that will come via email. Cam’s idea, signed a 4-year lease, and are happy to say that we are of course. now really home in Rome! And that's when I became If you prefer to catch up with school news via the editor-in-training. internet, just go to the AOSR website at www.aosr.org The Falcon Flyer is produced by AOSR ad- each month and click on the Falcon Flyer link. Give it a ministrators, teachers, students and parents. It is pub- few minutes to download, as it’s a hefty file. This is also a lished by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), with great way to find out what’s been going on at school in the the help of parent editors and writers. Each monthly past, as you can also access back issues of the Flyer. issue features front-page articles by Headmaster Larry The many voices in the Flyer are welcomed. The Dougherty and Principal Beth Pfannl. Page one also newsletter reflects a commitment by all our contributors, displays the valuable School Calendar, which lists especially the PTO and the AOSR faculty and administra- events for the upcoming month. Just tear off the front tion, to ensure that you, our readers, are fully informed. page when you're finished reading the Flyer and tack it Help us help you. If you are interested in editing to your refrigerator or bulletin board as a quick and the Flyer, contributing articles or helping with production easy reminder of scheduled activities. Articles on fea- in another way, please contact me, Lisa Finerty, at 06- tured upcoming events and activities can be found on 4782-6192 or [email protected]. the aptly named "PAGE THREE." Turn to this page Remember, the LAST DAY OF EVERY for the month's highlights. MONTH! Ciao for now!

5 (Continued from page 1)Teachers at AOSR . . has taught elementary and middle school music for relationship among students, faculty and parents. more than ten years, two of which were at AOSR three We look forward to working together with you in years ago. We are delighted that she is returning to our the best interests of your children this school year. school. She has directed the Seattle Boy’s Choir; she Every year when I recruit faculty from has coordinated school wide and city wide concerts around the world, I am frequently asked about the for middle schools involving at least 450 students in qualities I look for in faculty and staff. First of all, the Bellevue School District. Becky is teaching ES I try to find people with strengths that are difficult and MS music this year. to teach- intelligence, a sense of humor, and an DONNA RABIN — Donna has been teaching Ad- vanced Placement and International Baccalaureate English at Lincoln Park High School, a magnet high school in Chicago. She has also taught reading com- prehension through drama in a special program called Whirlwind. Donna taught in the Czech Republic for a year. She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and an M.A. from Northwestern Univer- sity. She has taught English to students across all grade levels in a highly diverse community. She has also coached cross country. She’ll be in the High School, teaching English. enthusiasm for life and for teaching. I look for teachers with strong academic backgrounds and I MICHAEL BRANCH — Michael has taught English review their transcripts as part of the hiring at Santa Monica High School in California. He has process. I also look for teachers who love students taught all grade levels and he has special interests in and who have demonstrated their commitment to writing and poetry. the children they teach by the extra things they do He has organized for them — inside and outside the classroom. several Poetry I also look for teachers who believe Slams at his high parents should play an important part in their school that were children’s education. In addition, I usually prefer attended by large two or more years of experience although a young numbers of stu- candidate with special qualities will occasionally dents each year. be selected. He has a B.A. in Each of the new members of our AOSR English and an community brings special qualities and strengths M.A. in Education to our school, and they are joining a strong, from the Univer- dedicated group of colleagues. sity of Santa Bar- bara. He spent a BETH PFANNL — As many of your know, Dr. semester at the Beth Pfannl was appointed as our new principal. University of Padua. Michael will teach HS English. She has a Ph.D. from the Sorbonne, a CAGS in Educational Administration from Rhode Island KAREN LEE — Karen will be our new Resource College and a B.A. from McGill University. She Room Teacher. Karen has extensive experience as a has an outstanding background in curriculum and middle school resource teacher in Fulton County professional development. She has served as Ele- Georgia, where she has taught for four years. She was mentary Principal in Asunción, Paraguay before a general manager of a restaurant with 120 employees coming to Rome. before she returned to graduate school to train to become a special education teacher. She brings her man- REBECCA BAILEY — Becky is returning to agement and organizational skills to the complex role AOSR after teaching three years in a suburb of of being a Resource Teacher. Seattle. Becky has a Bachelor of Music degree from University of the Pacific and a Master’s in MICHAEL VOGEL — Michael is our new HS math Music from the University of Washington. She (Continued on page 13)

THE PTO’s CORNER

The Parent Teacher Organization extends a 9:15 am in the cafeteria. This kickoff meeting is a warm welcome to all the new families that have great way to meet new people and learn about all the joined our AOSR community this year as well as a activities the PTO coordinates at school throughout hearty welcome back to those who have returned for the year. So plan to attend the meeting and find out another year. how you, too, can get involved! Our goal is to work with the AOSR WELCOME NEIGHBOR FAIR: We’d administration to provide the best learning and social like to extend an invitation to everyone to visit our environment possible for our children. We PTO booth at the annual Welcome Neighbor Fair. accomplish this through fundraising and through This year’s event is set for Saturday, Sept. 20 in the direct hands-on involvement with AOSR students. In AOSR Quad. That’s the lovely grassy square in the just the past few years, PTO-generated funds have middle of our campus. You can read more about this contributed to major improvements in both the year’s fair in this issue of the Falcon Flyer. Elementary School and Middle/High School librar- FAMILY PICNIC: Tentatively set for Oct. ies, the Music department, the Sports and Recreation 4th and organized by the PTO, this annual event is department and the Science and Math departments. exactly what its name implies: a big picnic for all While the school year is just getting started, our AOSR families. Read more about it on Page the PTO already has lots of projects and activities Three. planned for the upcoming days, weeks and months. Those are just the events planned for the Many of the activities lined up for this month are beginning of the year. As you can see, the PTO is of special interest to very active here at AOSR. We would like to invite newcomers, so don’t all parents to get involved in our organization. There miss out on visiting us are no sign-up sheets, no membership dues and no at one or all of these obligations to commit your time -- although we special events: welcome all the help we can get! Most of our MORNING meetings in the past have been held once a month on COFFEES: We know Mondays at 9:15 am. We’ll see if that works for the how hard it is to settle majority of members again this year. in when you’ve just We are well aware that, due to other arrived in a new committments, not everyone is able to attend PTO school and a new city - meetings on campus. That doesn’t mean you can’t - and Rome can be especially challenging at times. be involved at AOSR and share in the satisfaction of There are just so many things you need to know all knowing you are making a vital contribution to your at once. To help answer at least some of your child’s school and to his or her education. questions and, perhaps, point you in the right Farther on in this newsletter, you’ll find direction, we’ve scheduled a series of Morning detailed descriptions of the wonderful volunteer Coffees for next week, Sept. 8th and 9th at 9:15 opportunities at our school. Remember, you CAN am. These informal sessions, held in the school be an AOSR volunteer, even if your schedule does cafeteria, feature our guests, Headmaster Larry not allow you to attend PTO meetings. By the way, Dougherty and/or Principal Beth Pfannl, as well as these offer an excellent opportunity for you Dads out many current PTO members. there to get involved. Keeping in mind that we were all newcomers We’d like to congratulate Hope Moore, at one time or another, we would like to offer our PTO president, on her re-election for the 2003- assistance to anyone searching for answers about the 2004 school year. Your other PTO officers for this school and about Rome in general. Check out the year are: Sabine Neumann, Vice President; Fran- news and sign-up sheet for our PTO Partners cesca Kelly, Secretary; Carol Atwood, Treasurer. program in this issue. It promises to be an exciting year within the FIRST PTO MEETING: Our first meeting AOSR PTO. Don’t miss out on the fun! of the year will be held on Monday, Sept. 15th at

7 The Teacher Interview With (Your Name Could be HERE)

Name: Jonas Ullman Q: Is there another Scientist/ Mathematician comparable to Ein-

Subject: MS Science/AP-IB Biology stein or Newton?

A: I can think of three important Q: How long have you been at AOSR and where scientists: Galileo, Kepler, and did you come from? Darwin. A: I started as a student in 1973 and I graduated from AOSR in 1979. I joined AOSR as a teacher in Q: What’s your favorite band/ 1992, so this is my eleventh year as a teacher here, group? and seventeenth overall. A: Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Deep

Purple, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Q: Some believe being a "good" teacher is the most J.Hendrix. rewarding and important job an adult can under- take. Would you agree? Q: What do you like to do most in Rome? A: I think that a teacher (good or bad) has a great A: Good dining responsibility in shaping students for the future .

Teaching is a career that is very rewarding to me. Q: Are boys better at Science and Math than girls? Student success is the fuel that gives me the spark A: Students are all capable if motivated. every year. Occasionally I need extra sparks to finish the school year! Q: Why is AOSR such a great school?

A: Dedicated and motivated teachers in a school that has Q: Are teenagers different today than they were always allowed students to be creative and to be free when you were a teenager? How so? thinkers. To me (as a student) this was absolutely essen- A: No, but today’s teenagers think they are. tial in growing up in the AOSR community.

Q: Why did you choose Science to teach? Does it come naturally to you? A: My personal interest is the history of science and how technology has shaped modern society. I have Position is Open for always found science challenging and I hope it comes naturally when I convey my knowledge to ‘Teacher Interview’ Columnist my students. Galileo once stated: “ parlare oscura- Parents, mente lo sa fare ognuno, ma chiaro pochissimi.” It Doing the Teacher Interview column is seems to me that my students comprehend most of one of the easiest and most interesting jobs on my classroom the Falcon Flyer. We initiated this column last work. year and found that not only do the teachers enjoy answering the questions, our readers love to Q: What do you learn more about our excellent and eclectic staff think will be the of educators. great scientific As the columnist, you would “interview” breakthroughs in two teachers each month by email. You would the next century? prepare a list of 10 questions, tailored to each A: We will be able teacher and send it out via email. The teacher to defeat viral in- then responds, also by email. It’s easy. It’s inter- fections, and we esting — and it’s a great challenge to come up will explore the with interesting questions for the teachers. Talk limits of our solar to Flyer editor Lisa Finerty at system. [email protected] for further details.

8 Trustees Assure AOSR’s Financial Footing By Richard Zacaroli , Board Chairman

First of all, I would like to welcome all of the new borrowing of money from the banks is planned and for a families, students and faculty to AOSR, and welcome specific purpose. The primary sources of income are tui- back all of our returning families, students and faculty. tion, fees and money raised through fundraising programs. I thought I take the opportunity of the first Falcon Flyer Every year newsletter of the new school year to talk to you about we establish the role and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees at a budget AOSR. It is an assignment I serve with a good deal of based on the personal pride. I have been a Trustee of AOSR for number of nearly six years, and Chairman for the past four and a students we half years. have en- But, rather than quote the Corporation by-laws, rolled, and which you can all read in your “spare time,” I want to the tuition give you a practical explanation of what the Board of and fees we Trustees does. Because, at the end of the day, what we expect to are all interested in is how the Board of Trustees affects earn as a the quality of academic life for our children. And, what result. each of us can do as “shareholders” in the corporation Each year to make sure that the Board of Trustees continues to in December uphold the values we want our children to embrace dur- we look into ing and after their academic experience. our crystal The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the ball to estab- AOSR Corporation. The Trustee positions are strictly lish the tuition and fees we must charge for the next school voluntary. The Trustees serve the corporation and per- year to continue to provide all of the services you expect form their duties without being compensated. They for your children, and maintain positive cash flow. We may serve one- or three-year terms, up to a maximum have to predict how many students we will enroll in a new of six full years. They are elected by the voting mem- school year that is nine months away, and at what grade bers of the Corporation at the Annual Assembly of the levels. This is quite simple to do in a public school, but Corporation, which is held in November of each year. nearly one-third of our students leave each year because The first and most important responsibility of the they either graduate or move on with their families to a Board of Trustees is to make sure the corporation re- new assignment. The world geopolitical situation also af- mains on a solid financial footing. The key indicator of fects foreign assignments, which in turn affects student the financial health of the corporation is cash flow. It is enrollment from year to year. At the same time, we must the Trustees’ responsibility to make sure that the school remain competitive with the other American schools in does not spend more money than it earns. Or that any Rome. Another important responsibility of the Board of Trus- tees is to establish the mission, goals and objectives of the school, and the policies by which the school will be governed. The mission of the Corporation is to offer an excellent educational program to the English speaking community of Rome, and to create a harmonious atmosphere within which a diverse international student body learns to live and work together. Within this framework, every student should feel challenged and be given every opportunity to succeed and to feel successful. Through the Head- master, whom we appoint, we strive to assure that these values are upheld, and that the business affairs of the school are conducted to the highest ethical standards. Currently the Board of Trustees consists of 12 members, but it can be as high as 15members. Most of its members come from the body of regular corporation members. They are typically AOSR parents or alumni. On rare occa- (Continued on page 22)

9 AOSR Benefit Ball Mayfair is the AOSR Coming in February Spring Tonic!

Mark your calendars now for the AOSR’s an- AOSR’s annual Mayfair means fun! It is a once-a- nual Fine Arts Benefit Ball, set for Saturday, Feb. 7, year event , which is also the school’s major fundraiser, and 2004. This semi-formal fundraiser, held in a great lo- is held in the AOSR Quad the second Saturday of May from cation off-campus, is 11 am to 4 pm. a wonderful evening *Each grade sponsors a booth and games for the of fine dancing and children. The school grounds are full of revelers. Where else dancing — and is can you practice Balloon Shaving and Soccer Kick, while another wonderful playing in the Duck Pond as you have your face painted? opportunity for our *Entertainment is enjoyed all day with live musical community to come and theatrical acts together in support of from the student body our school. Plus, it’s Mayfair 2003 logo and local profession- open to the whole als. international commu- *Delicious nity. More details food at the Mayfair is will follow in the not to be missed! The coming months. International Foods If you are interested in helping on the Com- tables this past May mittee, or your company would like to be a sponsors included: Asia, Israel, for this prestigious event, please contact Jimmy McDi- Italy, Middle Eastern, vitt at 06-3534-7205 or 335-843-4823. Proceeds go to European and Mexican benefit our Theater, Music and Art departments. & South American. Our every popular PTO Organizes Events Booster Bar BBQ To Thank Teachers starts the AOSR families’ summer dining in AOSR has many excellent and hard working delicious style. teachers who are committed to their students. O n e *The Bake way the PTO shows teachers they are appreciated for Sale and Sundae their hard work is by organizing a "Holiday Brunch" Station offer mouth watering desserts! before the winter holidays and a luncheon during *Vendors attend and showcase their items for sale. "Teacher Appreciation Week" in May. Both of these *Used Books (great variety and quality) fill two events are held at school. AOSR families are rooms and are on sale at great prices. always asked to contribute a baked item or side dish for *Fabulous raffle prizes and an Auction whip the these two events. This contribution is a small but crowd into a frenzy (!) as folks bid on great prizes while effective gesture that goes a long way toward expressing supporting our school. our feelings of gratitude toward our children’s teachers. This year the proceeds from Mayfair benefited went The committee is always looking for new ideas to the math and science departments, and were also used to and extra helping hands. If you’re interested in helping purchase new gymnasium scoreboard, hence, the “scientific” to organize or work at these events, contact a PTO Mayfair logo you see above. Mayfair is fun — and good for member or fill out the volunteer form you’ll find in this all of us!! issue. PTO PARENT PARTNERS ARE HERE TO HELP! The PTO has assembled a list of parents, organized by grade and city location, who can help answer any questions new- and returning families might have in order to help settle into the 2003-2004 school year. For convenience both their local phone and email address are listed. Name Address/Area Phone/Email Child(ren)’s Grade(s) Carol Atwood Olgiata 06-3088-9705 / [email protected] PreK, 1st, 5th Susan Berton Lower Cassia 06-331-2710 / [email protected] 4th, 6th Julie Deptula Ponte Milvio 06-3630-8930 / [email protected] 10th Grazia Deulus Vigna Clara 06-3630-4287/ [email protected] 8th , 10th Lisa Finerty Center 06-4782-6192 / [email protected] 10th, 12th Susan Haight Guistiniana 06-3031-0876 / [email protected] 9th, 12th Francesca Kelly Vigna Clara 06-329-0288 / [email protected] 5th, 10th, 12th Hope Moore Olgiata 06-3088-0967 / [email protected] 3rd, 5th Laura Rumpf Vigna Clara 06-329-827 / [email protected] 6th , 9th 10 The ‘Boutique’ is an AOSR Tradition By Susan Haight, Boutique Coordinator

What have AOSR families been doing with their new quarters on the front parking area and was given its outgrown clothing, toys and extra household goods for new name of "The Boutique" by Joan Biasetti, a PTO over 40 years? They have been consigning them to The parent. With her partner Eve they were open for business Boutique where their sales have been supporting the PTO with Mr. Levine's burgundy shelving and a gray linoleum funds for the school, providing families with extra money floor handpicked by former Navy man and then principal for those morning capuccinos and helping to outfit newly Mr. Bowditch. arrived students and Joan even organized a Boutique Fashion Show for apartments. two years at Mayfair, clothing and accessorizing AOSR It remains a student models from the Boutique and using her modeling mystery (following experience to train them on the catwalk! extensive research!) In September of 1998, the Boutique limited its when and by whom the vendors to only AOSR families, former families, staff and Boutique was actually alumni. The public has always been welcome to come and started! If anyone can shop. The Boutique averages about €7,000 per year in solve this mystery, revenue for AOSR. Vendors may sell clean clothing in please call me! I have very good condition for men, women and children, traced the history back to household goods, and toys. Books may be donated or 1966 when "The Thrift traded. Shop" was housed in a When sold, two-thirds of the price goes to the room with a fireplace in vendor and one-third goes to the school. Clothing stays on a villino on the present sale for three months and then is recollected or donated to site of the tennis courts. The PTO had the shop open five the school. Any unsold items are donated to charity. days a week - leaky roof and all - until the land was The shop is open Tuesdays from 9:30 am to needed to extend the field and add the tennis and 2:30 pm. Susan Haight and Mary Usnick will coordinate basketball courts. The villino also included a School the shop this year. Volunteers are always needed (ideally Store for student supplies. two per day) to help shelve and organize, sell items and The Thrift Shop in the early 1970s moved into review vendors items to make sure they are clean, not storage rooms near the Bar. On alternate Tuesdays at 9 overly worn and not stained or torn. Items refused go to am the women pulled out all the items and displayed charity. them in the cafeteria. Each afternoon at 4 pm, it all had to We look forward to seeing you at our opening day be put away again! This continued until the exhausted for vendor intake on Tuesday, Sept. 30th and for our first women and Don Levine came up with a plan for the day of sales on Tuesday, Oct. 7th. present location. Please call Susan Haight at 06-3031-0876 or fill In February 1977, Mr. Levine submitted the “3- out the volunteer form in this newsletter if you would like in-1 Project” proposal to the Board of Directors on behalf to join the fun. It’s the social place to be on Tuesday, a of the Physical Facilities Committee (PFC). This project, great place to meet people, pick up bargains and practice designed by Alan Ceen, PFC chairman, planned on your digging out the oleander-covered dirt hill under the front Italian! of the Elementary School and enclosing the space to provide a home for the Thrift Shop, a storage area, and a carpenters workshop. The work would be done by Mr. Tudini, the grandfather of a pre-school child. The financing of the project came largely from donations of 3 million lire each from the PTO and the Eli Lilly Corp., with the remaining funds made up by the Board of Directors (5 million lire) and Mr. Serraino, an (A)OSR parent (450,000 lire). Mr. Graper of Eli Lilly had twins attending OSR. On a torn scrap of paper left on Mr. Levine's desk, he offered the school a donation for any project in need of funds. This surprising windfall was happily directed to the 3-in-1 Project. Finally in 1979, the Thrift Shop moved into its

11 Booster Bars Offer ES Publishing Project Always a Big Success Great Food and Profits Every year the PTO sponsors the Falcon By Carol Atwood Publishing Project, transforming some elementary Booster Bar Coordinator students into young “published” authors over a 6-week period. What is the Booster Bar, you ask? The students work directly with parent The Booster Bar is an AOSR tradition that started volunteers, editing a story or poem that the students as a concession stand for sports events, particularly bas- have written themselves in class. The volunteers then ketball games. At the stand, freshly grilled hamburgers type the text and assemble the manuscript together with and hot dogs, candy and soft drinks were sold. It was so the student-designed covers and illustrations. When popular with the students and parents alike that it began to completed the students proudly display their books in appear at other times. The Booster Bar has evolved from a their classrooms. sports concession stand into a weekly fundraiser for any This project usually culminates with the PTO group in the school that wants to raise some cash. sponsored “Visiting Author Week,” giving the students Here’s how it an opportunity to meet and hear the experiences of a works. If, for example, the published author/illustrator. tennis team needed to earn The Falcon Publishing Project has proven to be some money for uniforms, one of the most rewarding endeavors for our young they sign-up to “sponsor” students. As with most parent-led projects, its success a Booster Bar. On the Fri- depends on generous volunteers who are willing to give day of their Booster Bar, a few hours of their time. We hope we can continue to volunteers from the tennis provide this wonderful, creative program to AOSR’s team help set up the students. So please sign up now and become a Booster Bar after school. Publishing Center volunteer. They (and, often, their parents) work behind the ta- CLOTHES WITH SPIRIT! ble and help clean up afterward. After subtracting the cost of supplies, the profits are given to the team for the purchase of new uniforms. The Parent Teacher Organization has a Booster Bar committee, which assists the sponsor group in every facet of the Booster Bar. Any student group at AOSR can sign up for a Booster Bar. Last year Booster Bars were sponsored a wide range of classes and organizations. Booster Bars were held on most Fridays when school was in session, starting in late Sep- tember. A sponsoring group can expect to make €250 to €400 - even more if a bake sale is held in conjunction with If these look funny in black and white, check the Booster Bar. An added benefit is that kids learn to them out — in color — on the AOSR website at work together on a project and have a lot of fun. It’s a www.aosr.org. great way to end the school week and enjoy some good food! The PTO has a wide assortment of T-Shirts, sweat- Operating the Booster Bar project takes a team of shirts and more for Girls, women, boys and men. In the volunteers: people to make purchases, keep track of the Boutique and at special events at school, you’ll find AOSR inventory, order meat and buns, work with the sponsor caps and many other products designed to help you show groups, grill and write updates for the Falcon Flyer. It’s a your school spirit — whether you are a student or a parent. fun way to serve our school and meet people. They are great gifts for friends and family back home, too! Sign-up sheets will be available soon, coordinated If you have marketing experience or just want to by the PTO, so start planning your Booster Bar today. For gain first-hand experience, the PTO has an opening this more information or to volunteer, call Carol Atwood at 06- year for a volunteer Logo Sales Items Assistant Coordina- 3088-9705 or Sabine Neumann at 06-3326-6738. tor whose main duty is to organize publicity of these color- ful AOSR Spirit items. You’ll find information in the back pages of this issue, in the Parent Volunteers section.

12 (Continued from page 6)Teachers at AOSR. . . teacher. Michael has taught mathematics for four years PPAC News at Punahou School in Hawaii, one of America’s pre- mier prep schools, where he also served as coach of the mathematics team. A graduate of Reed College in Ore- AOSR's new principal, Dr. Beth Pfannl, will gon, Michael majored in mathematics. For one year he sponsor the Principal Parents Advisory Committee worked as an editor of mathematics text books for (PPAC) this year. The PPAC is a committee com- Prentice Hall. Michael worked as a volunteer workshop prised of the Principal and a small group of parents facilitator for rural high school teachers in South Africa with children in various grades across the Elementary, for two summers. Middle and High Schools. The committee will continue on a monthly basis as it has done so in the past. RALEIGH WERBERGER — Raleigh has taught The main purpose of the PPAC is: American and European history for three years at San Francisco University High School. Previously he taught • To provide a positive avenue of communication history at the Pilgrim School and was a reading teacher for parents to convey their views on areas of at the Institute for Reading Development. Raleigh is a strengths or weaknesses in the school to the ad- graduate of Pomona College where he was captain of ministration. the football team. He has an M.A. from the University • To review all issues and communications pre- of Miami and he received a 4-year Regents’ Fellowship sented to the committee and to provide some to pursue his doctoral studies at the University of Cali- ideas for addressing them. fornia, Irvine. Raleigh is teaching HS history. As concerns or comments arise, parents may submit these items to any member of the PPAC and HILLARY E. HALL — After teaching for seven these topics will be placed on the agenda to be dis- years in elementary schools in Canada, Hillary came to cussed at the Italy, where she spent the past two years as a teacher- next monthly librarian at the International School of Trieste. As both PPAC meet- a teacher and a librarian, she has had the unique advan- ing. A PPAC tage of working with students of all elementary school column in the ages. Additionally, Hillary has experience organizing FALCON guest author visits, read-a-thons, book fairs and other FLYER will programs that enhance the elementary school curricu- contain a sum- lum. She is a 1991 graduate of the University of West- mary of what ern Ontario and in 1994 was awarded a Bachelor of was discussed Education degree from the University of Toronto. at each meet- Hillary will be joining our Elementary School team. ing as well as a list of PPAC SUSAN SCIBETTA -– Susan comes to AOSR from members. the Butler School District in Pittsburgh. Her career has Please remember that this committee exists to included teaching in the Fairfax County school system keep the paths of communication open between par- in Virginia and administering the Summerbridge pro- ents and the school's administration. The PPAC exists gram at the Sewickly Academy in Pennsylvania. Susan to air problems, come up with solutions, and register received her BA from Hood College and her Masters of commendations for a job well done. If you are inter- Education from Duquesne University. She has studied ested in being part of the PPAC, please contact the Chinese history, language, and culture at Xi’an Univer- Principal, Dr. Beth Pfannl. sity, coached “Odyssey of the Mind,” and developed speech and debate programs for students in grades four through six. She will teach grade four.

"Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." --- Mark Twain

Rome ‘n About with (Your Name Could Be HERE)

Welcome to the kickoff of the third year of address above or drop it in the Flyer box in the reception Rome ‘n About, a monthly Flyer feature aimed at area of Dr. Pfannl’s office. The secretary will show you offering the best tips, tidbits and tales about Rome and, where it is. Mark your contribution Rome ‘n About. sometimes, about Italy in general. Welcome to AOSR -- and to Rome. We know This edition of Rome ‘n About is designed you’re going to love it here! especially for our AOSR newcomers, although it may have plenty to offer our longtime friends as well. As you’ll see below, we’re offering a great starter list of just those names, phone numbers and HELPFUL INFORMATION websites many of you may need to help you feel more comfortable here in Rome. This is not an “official” list ROME TOURISM INFOLINE: 06-3600-4399. Great for info on events in Rome. Active daily from 9 am to 7 by any means. It’s just a compilation of those services pm. Look also for their green kiosks throughout the that some of us have used and liked in the past. We center of Rome. We’ve found them to be very helpful. started this column last VATICAN INFOLINE: 06-6988-1662 or 06-6988- 3242. 06-6982 for reservations. (Hint: visit the Vatican year to pool our museums on Wednesdays when the Pope celebrates collective Mass in St Peter’s Square. Fewer tourists supposedly knowledge visit at that time). about the Eternal City, HELPFUL WEBSITES: www.romevillage.com, sponsored by Welcome Neighbor, figuring that many of us www.romaturismo.it, for stuff happening around town; won’t be here www.museionline.com, comprehensive listing of all sorts of museums throughout Italy with information on an eternity to making advanced reservations; figure everythng out www.galleriaborghese.it, specifically for information on Rome’s magnificent Borghese Gallery and a few for ourselves. We thought, why not share our often- hard-won insights and make life easier -- and more fun - other local museums; www.expataccess.com, posted by a relocation service but provides good information on - for one another. This column is a community effort, so please living in Italy; www.timout.com, select “Rome” and find out about lastest happenings in the city; take a moment each month to share your discoveries with us. We’re looking for information concerning just www.atac.roma.it, Rome’s public transportion system online, in Italian but a great way to plot a route using about anything you’d like to share: a great restaurant, a buses, trams, metro. Also good address locator; wonderful market, a nice picnic spot, a new museum, a perfect daytrip from Rome, an excellent doctor or vet. www.zuppainglese.com, for a guide to local English- language movies, and where they’re playing. You get the picture. We only ask that your recommendation be based DOCTORS: Dr. Van Doorne, 06-329-1342, in Vigna Clara, female, speaks English. Dr. Susan Levenstein, on first-hand knowledge and that you would recommend American, internist, 06-841-3992. Dr. Steven Novek, it to your best friend. American, adults and children, 335-676-1701 or And, we’re looking for someone to edit this [email protected]. Dr. Tara Giorgini, podiatrist, podiatric column. Believe it or not, it has been handled beauti- surgeon, Via M. Pantaleoni 37, 06-3630-4037. fully by both a newcomer and an “old-timer,” and GYNECOLOGISTS: Dr. Ida Volpe, Via Corridone 4, both did an excellent job. The newcomer said it gave 1st floor, 06-336-0354; speaks decent English, afternoon her a wonderful excuse to learn as much as she could appointments only, Dr. Gabrielle Lotti, MaterDei Clinic, about Rome. Perhaps one of our new arrivals will feel V. Bertoloni 32, Parioli, 06-3294351, speaks English the same this year? Please note: this column usually runs fairly well. less than a page, so it’s not a huge job! If you’re interested, please call Flyer editor Lisa PEDIATRICIANS: Dr. Girelli, Largo Olgiata, 06- 3088-8330. Finerty at 06-4782-6192 or [email protected] or Dr. Ian D’Agata, American, Via Angelo Secchi, 4, 06- fill out the volunteer form in this issue. Meanwhile, if 808-2148, 06-807-8378, cell: 349-447-3453. you’ve got a great tip for us, email it to me at the (Continued on page 16)

14 Teenagers are ‘Cats’; then Your ‘Dog’ Returns

I just realized that, while children are dogs -- loyal and affectionate -- teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts its head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. it bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it. Then, around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your doorstep, it disap- pears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen long enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're serving. When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you before. You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desper- ately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings. Since you're the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on com- mand, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave. Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it, wringing your hands, the more it moves away. Remember that a cat needs your help and your affection too. Instead of con- tinuing to act like a dog owner, you can learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. Sit still, and it will come, seeking that warm, comforting lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it. One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you." Then you'll realize your cat is a dog again. — Author Unknown

AOSR Student Handbook is a Helpful Tool DRESS CODE The AOSR Student Handbook is a valuable Students may not wear shirts, blouses, or T-shirts package of information that serves to inform both par- that: ents and students of the rules, regulations and guide- lines of our school. In it, you’ll find a great deal of • Advertise alcohol, drugs, or smoking information including graduation requirements, how • Are printed with slogans or allusions that con- to make class changes, and the Closed Campus policy tain obscenities or racial, sexual or political bi- and much more. ases The Handbooks are distributed to students and • Are cut-off or torn are also kept in the main office. Following are three • Expose the midriff

excerpts from the Secondary School Handbook. • Are low-cut ABSENCES The Principal’s office must be notified when your Shorts must reach mid-thigh. child is absent either by phone or note. The student is always responsible for work missed on the day of any Shoes must be worn at all times. Rubber flip-flops absence, but he/she will NOT receive a grade for tests/ are not permitted. quizzes/assignments missed on the day of an UNEX- CUSED absence. Hats may not be worn in the classroom or in the lunch room. MEDICATION Medication may be administered to a student during Extremes in appearance will not be allowed. the school day only at the written request of the student’s parent and physician….Medication may not be Dress will be monitored by the administration of kept in student lockers. Medication must be kept in the AOSR. Health Office.

15 (Continued from page 14) Rome ‘n About. . . English including movies, restaurant reviews, events. VETS: Dr. Assin, Prati area, Via Milizie 1A, 06-321- HAIR STYLISTS: Fabrizio, 06-440-2269, speaks 0473, speaks English, great. English. Dr. Thomas Roth, 06-934-4758, about 30 minutes Massimo Davani, 2M Studio, Via Gallese 16, 06-3326- south of Rome, with kennels available, speaks English, 6806, not far from AOSR, German, Italian. walk-ins okay. Giuliano & Dr. Dinacci, Via Cassia 701, 06-3326-9465, speaks Paolo, Via Cassia 1020, 06- some English, assistant speaks English. 3036-0240, speaks a little DOG KENNELS: Allevamento dei Dogi, Via Quarto English, for the whole family. Mascherone 210, La Storta, 06-3089-6221. Charm Coiffeur, Maurizio, Via Indiana-Kyowa, dog training and kennel, Via Casale Collegiove 39, 06-3036-1419, della Crecenza, right off Via dei Due Ponte near by appointment, men and Circulo Sportivo sports club, 06-333-0228, office women. manager Barbara. PILATES EXERCISE: ORTHODONTISTS: Dr. DeFranco, American/Italian, Michaela Giacomini, 347-318- comes down from Milan once a month, Via Gradisca 6237, Via Antonio Serra 22 (near Corso di Francia), 06- 12, 06-855-9992, works out of the office of Dr. 333-1273, Michaela speaks perfect English. Calvani, see next listing. ITALIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS: Centro Studi DENTISTS: Dr. Calvani, Via Gradisca 12, 06-855- Cassia, 06-3325-3852, within walking distance from 9992, Italian who speaks fluent English. Very good AOSR. with children. Ciao Italia, 06-481-4084, Villa della Frasche 5, near the Dr. Cosma, Studi Odontotrici Cavour Metro stop. Cosma, Centro Olgiata, 06- TRAVEL AGENTS: Florida Travel, Via Orti della 3088-9369. Farnesina 80, 06-329-7538, speak English. Caravelle Dr. Massimo Martini, Via Travel, Via Cicerone 58, 06-321-5535, Bus #280 from Gramsci 16, 06-322-6694. Piazza Mancini stops right in front, everyone speaks Eng- Dr. Arrigo Peri, specializes in lish. orthodontics, curing and Millenium Viagge, 06-3325-0773, Marina speaks prevention for children; also English. does cosmetic work, TAXIS: If you want a cab to pick you up, call any of bridgework, cleanings etc.; these numbers: 06-66-45, 06-49-94, 06-55-51 and 06-35- speaks perfect English.; Via 70. Many accept credit cards. There also are central taxi Vecenate 77 int. 8 CIT: 2008A; 06-4881614. stands throughout the Dr. Roberto Cinti, family dentist, braces, root canals; city and at almost all the state-of-the-art equipment; speaks English; Via major piazzas in Rome. Flaminia Vecchia 798; 06-333-53-30. Unoccupied taxis should ENGLISH-LANGUAGE BOOKSTORES: Economy stop for you anywhere Book and Video Center, Via Torino 136, near Pza. Re- when hailed. pubblica , 06-474-6877. CAR FOR HIRE: Anglo American Bookshop, Via della Vite 102, near Service in which you can Spanish Steps, 06-679-5220. hire a driver for a run to The Almost Corner Bookshop, Via del Moro 45, the airport, a day of sightseeing or whatever: Airport Trastevere, 06-583-6942. Connection, 06-338-3221, English spoken; Lion Bookshop, Via dei Greci 33, near Popolo, 06- USED CAR DEALER: (and red-tape cutter), Nino, 338- 3265-4007. 753-0880.; speaks English. www.Amazon.co.uk, this is Amazon’s United DO-IT-YOURSELF HARDWARE STORE: Borzeli, Kingdom branch, service is fast and reliable (custom Via dei Due Ponti 192, not far from AOSR, 06-3325- charges apply). 1335. ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWS: International CAR MECHANIC: Esso Station at Via Cassia and Due Herald-Tribune newspaper, published six days a Ponti, not far from AOSR, reliable repair and general week, available at most newstands or home delivery, auto service, 06-3324-7196. buy a paper or visit www.iht.com for online publication PHOTO DEVELOPING: Foto Pony Cassia, half block and subscription info. from AOSR, 06-3324-8558. Wanted in Rome, monthly magazine with decent INSURANCE: Health, liability, Federico Di Rocco, articles and good classified ads, available at most GAN Insurance, 06-36-300-574. Assistant Christiana newstands or by subcription, see speaks English. www.wantedinrome.com. KIDS’ BIRTHDAY PARTIES: Planet Hollywood, Via Roma C’e, Tuesdays at newstands, some info in del Tritone 118 at Piazza Barberini, 06-4282-8012,

16 Welcome to Pre-K At AOSR, our Pre-Kindergarten program is velop at his or her own pace. Our goal is to foster a life- designed to create a bridge between home and school. time love of learning. Of course, parents — and their We know for many chil- participation in our program — are an integral part of dren, it is their first time that goal. We see our parents as partners in their child’s in school and we want education. the transition from home We can’t wait to to school to be a smooth see many familiar faces one. We provide a safe and new ones — and get and nurturing environ- started this year. ment where children are Pre-K parents, comfortable taking risks please come visit us at and exploring their sur- Back-to-School Night on roundings. Thursday, Sept. 25, at As early child- 6:30 pm. hood educators, we know that “play is the work of Remember when young children.” In the classroom children learn by you were in school? Come doing, by interacting with others and by being part of and hear more about us, something larger than themselves: the Pre-K commu- our program and our “learn nity. by doing” philosophy. We provide concrete opportunities for chil- (Child care is dren to learn by working with materials and each available for the event. Just other. Through well-designed activities, children are let us know). encouraged to observe, to respond, to make choices, and to experiment. We want to help each child de- — Kimberly Murphy

Parenting Job: Great Pay = Free Hugs

POSITION: PARENT Must assume final, complete accountability for the Long-term team players needed for quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include challenging permanent work in an often chaotic floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the environment. Candidates must possess excellent facility. communication and organizational skills and be able POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT: to work evenings and weekends and frequent 24-hour Virtually none. Your objective is to remain in the shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, same position for years, constantly retraining and including trips to primitive camping sites and endless updating your skills so those in your charge can sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses ultimately surpass you. not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: RESPONSIBILITIES: None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training This is for the rest of your life. Must be offered. willing to be hated at least temporarily, until someone WAGES AND COMPENSATION: needs $5 to go skating. Must possess the physical You pay them, offering frequent raises and stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the because of the assumption that college will help them screams are not someone just crying wolf. Must be become financially independent. The oddest thing about willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such this reverse-salary scheme is you actually enjoy it and as sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen wish you could only do more. phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate BENEFITS: production of homework projects. Must be willing to While no health or dental insurance, no pension, be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, job next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and of a cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices. free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

Elementary School at AOSR is not only about reading, writing and arithmetic. It’s also lots of fun — Achieving the ‘Magic Mixture’ is Key especially at certain times of the year. to Successful Kindergarten Program For parents who want to be involved in their By Patricia Robertson, Kindergarten Teacher student’s school life, these special events offer great opportunities. Last spring, my kindergarten class set -- and Halloween brings a costume parade, "spooky achieved -- a most amazing goal: to read 200 books by songs," trick or treating and a party for Pre-K to 5th the end of the school year. To accomplish this feat, they Graders. All parents are invited to the costume parade read individual-leveled books and took them home each followed by each class performing Halloween songs and night to read to their parents. In the process, each and dances in the gym. Following this entertainment, children every student became a reader! The motivation was go trick-or-treating for candies and Halloween toys as they high and they celebrated with an ice cream party that return to their class rooms for a party. offered 200 scoops of ice cream! Parents are invited to help out with the trick-or- This reading treating which is always a "hoot" and often join their program of- child's class afterward for the party. fers an excel- At Christmastime the PTO transports Santa from lent answer to the North Pole to visit Elementary School children in their the most sali- classrooms. Accompanied by the PTO Elf, Santa visits ent question a each class room and often has time to chat with the Kindergarten children. He leaves each child with a holiday sweet. Last teacher must year Santa visited the Middle School Breakfast and ask her- popped in to see High Schoolers as well. What a magical self: "How surprise for Elementary School children. do I make In spring, the outdoors Sports Day is fun and school fun for healthy for all. young children, while teaching the appropriate, required Children curriculum?" participate in a There are some who believe that Kindergarten range of should be all play and no work. There are some who different believe that Kindergarten should lean more to academ- sporting events ics, with little "play" time. In American Schools most from relays to educators of the Young Child agree that there should be ball sports to a balance of both of these philosophies. balance and American educators of Pre-K and Kindergarten coordination children have had more and more academic responsibili- while everyone ties put upon them in recent years and are challenged to is a winner. keep school appropriate and FUN for young learners. Parents At AOSR we are working hard to achieve this balance are encouraged to educate the whole child, to meet his social, emotional, to help with developmental, physical, and academic needs. At the one of the forefront of this grand task is hands-on, creative and sporting events, stimulating work, often camouflaged through games and serve activities. refreshments to The best compliment I have received for 20 con- the thirsty secutive years of teaching is when I ask a Kindergarten sports people or student, "Wow! Where did you learn to read?" and his just come to cheer on our junior athletes. What a fun way response is, "I don’t know. I just learned!" to get involved in Elementary School. Isn’t it great to be having so much fun that you Parents can help coordinate these events as an don’t even know you’re learning? I believe a Kinder- Elementary School Liaisons or as volunteers. Then garten teacher should set her goals on achieving this again, you can just come and enjoy the fun! “magic mixture.”

18 High School Music Thrives on Innovation and Tradition By Roy Zimmerman, HS Music Teacher

At a time when many American schools are growth of all kinds of music in the United States, from making painful cuts in their Fine Arts programs, the pilgrims' hymns to the latest hits. Thoroughly AOSR can be truly proud of the depth and range of grounded in the political and social history of the country its High School music offerings--especially this and with an eye on all its multi-ethnic components, the year! course may also be taken for credit in the History depart- An exciting new high-level course debuts in ment. our curriculum: Music Theory and Composition. In A final note to our wonderful and supportive par- keeping with the latest developments in creative mu- ents: the PTO has a music committee that offers invalu- sic pedagogy, this course will be taught in a com- able help to our programs, so if you would like to get in- puter laboratory, newly equipped with portable key- volved, we will be happy to put you to work! Encourage boards, headphones and music software, which will your children to sign up for as many music classes as help our students master the intricacies of scales, possible! chords, melodies and musical structures. Creative projects will accompany the theoretical study throughout the year, and the course will culminate in the production of a CD containing the students' compositions. Piano Concert Naturally, AOSR’s other popular Impresses Students music courses will Sixth Graders and High School students were continue to thrive spellbound by the brilliant piano concert by John while our talented Kamitsuka. John has been a singers and musicians concert pianist since he was 12 will continue to de- years old. He has performed in light the community Carnegie Hall, St. Martin-in-the- with their instrumental Field in London, in Brazil, Japan, ensemble and chorus performances. Last Germany, France -- the list is year, student perform- lengthy and impressive. ers reached a record Not only is he a briliant number of appear- pianist, he knew how to explain the music in ances, with a holiday concert in December, partici- language the audience could understand. Students pation in a city-wide competition sponsored by the were impressed with the passion, energy and intensity city of Rome in February, a spring concert in March, of John’s performance. It was obvious to everyone assemblies for the Elementary, Middle and High that he loved the music, loved playing the piano and Schools, a rousing set at the Mayfair, and formal that he wanted to share his enthusiasm with the concerts at the HS Shakespeare Festival and audience. Graduation Ceremony. Of course, parents and At the end of his performace he took friends are always very welcome to attend all these questions from the audience and students were eager events. AOSR is proud of its long-standing fine arts to ask him such things as, “What do you visualize requirement for all our High School students, so when you play?”, “How long do you practice every there are two courses open to all students with no day?”, “Did your parents make you practice?” prerequisites whatsoever. John spoke as he would to another adult, yet A course in beginning guitar has been of- in language the students could understand. He was fered at the school for decades, and at least a dozen never condescending and he always assumed the professional guitarists learned their first licks in this students were mature and would understand what he class! For students who have no desire to enter the was saying. performing arena, we also offer a course called Mu- sic in American Society. This class investigates the (February 2002)

News from the Counselor Donna Ross

During the month of September, I urge all seniors to arrange conferences with me to discuss school code is 748480. their post high school plans. Parents are encouraged to attend, as well. ACT The college selection process is a October 25 – you must register with Mrs. Ross by challenging and at times a frustrating, confusing Wednesday, October 8, 2003. Spaces and overwhelming process. There are a number of are limited. emotional and personal issues that create tension AOSR is a testing center for ACT too. and stress. However, it can also be an exciting and interesting experience if students and parents JUNIORS, SOPHOMORES: approach the process systematically and The Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) analytically. Obtaining timely and accurate will be given at AOSR on Tuesday, October 21 from information, staying organized and fostering an 9 a.m. to 12 noon. I will register all students for this open dialogue between parent and student are key examination. All tenth and eleventh graders will take factors in making this a rewarding experience. this test. Practice booklets will be distributed to In reading the National Association for students during September. College Admission Counseling (NACAC), I was impressed by the following educational findings FALL AGENDA FOR AOSR SENIORS by the U.S. Department of Education: The rigor of (Check off the items appropriate for your application a high school curriculum is the best indicator of a process) student’s college graduation potential. Small class sizes help student feel “connected” to the school _____ Arrange an individual conference with Mrs. community. Ross. Parents are encouraged to attend. _____ Register for the 11 October SATI/II by These two important factors, a rigorous h academic curriculum and small class sizes, are September 9 _____ Register for the 1 November SAT I/II by important components of the AOSR experience. th Take advantage of the many opportunities we offer September 26 . _____ Register for the 25 October ACT by you to achieve a quality education. Always th remember to set goals and plan a destination, but Wednesday, October 8 with Mrs. Ross. enjoy and appreciate the journey we share – living _____ Take the 11 October SAT I/II. in the Eternal City. _____ Apply to Oxford or Cambridge by 15 October. SENIORS: _____ Take the 25 October ACT test at AOSR. Testing is an important part of the college _____ Register for the 6 December SAT I/II by Oc- selection process. Students and parents should be tober 30. aware of the following dates: _____ If you are applying to the University of California system, you must apply during the month SAT I & II of November. Be sure to obtain applications directly Test Date Registration Deadline from the university or use the university’s internet October 11 September 9 site. Some California State University colleges also November 1 September 26 require November applications. December 6 October 30 _____ Know application deadlines (example, early action/early decision deadlines may be 1 November). Registration and practice booklets for the tests are ______Take the 1 November SAT I/II. available in my office. You may also register on _____ Take the 6 December SAT I/II. line at www.collegeboard.com. AOSR is a testing _____ If you are applying to UK schools in the center; our test center code is 58-380. Our high UCAS system, you must apply by 15 January. (Continued on page 21)

20 High School News

with photography, writing and collecting during free Dedicated Students periods, lunch or after school. It's a fun class where students use their own ideas, designs and expertise to Wanted To Work on complete a finished product that they can be proud of to distribute to all students and faculty of the school. Memories stored in each year's yearbook are Yearbook enjoyed for many, many years to come. So, get interested, We’re looking for dedicated, get excited, and join the yearbook team! hardworking, creative high school students! Every year students who sign up to participate in the AOSR Yearbook class put together the PICTURES TAKEN SOON memory-filled AOSR Tabularium. School pictures are taken every year soon after Students take pictures throughout the school starts, so our mug shots are right around the corner! year of This year, please make sure to get in and have your picture special taken (students AND faculty) so that everyone will be events, included in the yearbook with a good quality, professional picture. It makes it very difficult to track down individuals after picture day for separate make up shots and the quality is never as good. Smile!

SPONSORS WANTED The AOSR yearbook is a great place to advertise for your business, group or organization, and event. Prices are extremely reasonable for half and full page ads which hundreds of staff/students/families will view. Watch for yearbook flyers to get your ad placed early! If you are new at AOSR this year, take a look at last year's Tabularium 2003 to see the great job our students did. — Ms. Tibbett, Yearbook Advisor

including sports games, concerts, school (Continued from page 20)Counselor News... assemblies as well as random student photos and organized group shots. Next, yearbook students put together the Obtain an application at www.UCAS.com. layouts for the photos on the computer, collect _____ Complete the forms Mrs. Ross distributed. articles on the various teams and organizations _____ Attend presentations by college admissions and develop a theme for the year's book. There is counselors. Announcements are in the daily a lot of planning, designing and photographing to Student Bulletin and on the bulletin board outside produce the yearbook and students do all the the Counseling Office. work. _____ Obtain two to three teacher Students receive instruction and acquire recommendations. great experience working on the computer, in the _____ Write an essay, if required. Quark Expres program, as well as learning about _____ Complete applications by the end of good picture taking skills. Any students interested in joining this year's team should November. The Counseling Office must have two contact the office to add the after school class. weeks to complete Secondary School Reports. The class meets as a group Wednesdays _____ Complete FAFSA financial aid form (if after school and then students help individually appropriate) in January. These forms will be available in the Counseling Office in December.

21 (Continued from page 9)AOSR Board. . . Current Board of Trustees sions the Trustees may appoint additional Trustees whose particular skills and experiences may be needed or de- Chairperson: Richard Zacaroli Recon Optical Inc. sired to achieve specific objectives of the school. When we solicit nominees we strive to maintain a balance on Vice Chairperson: Todd Atwood the Board whereby all major constituencies of the school Colgate-Palmolive Co. are represented, including the U.S. Government, U.S. private business, the local Italian community, major eth- Treasurer: Ms. Christine Marciasini Loyola University nic groups and our alumni. We also strive to maintain certain skills Joseph Alfassy on the Board Embassy of Israel in such areas as financial Domenico Falcone management, Arthur Anderson

technology, Ian Kelly and property American Embassy management. The Board Sergio Masserini of Trustees Intermark

meets one a James McDivitt month on a Commercial Pilot regular basis. Each Trustee Giovanni Peluso serves on one or more committees that, in conjunction Lawyer with the Headmaster and his staff, oversee the business Eric Rumpf affairs of the school. The diversity of our Board enlivens American Embassy our discussions each month and causes us to look at major decisions from several different points of view. We Gene Williams believe that this results in more enlightened decisions. Retired What the Trustees do NOT do is run the school. That is a good thing because most of us are not educators. We are professionals who hold regular jobs in government, AOSR Students public, or private business sectors, mothers and fathers. The Trustees appoint a Headmaster whom we believe ‘Act Up’ Constantly! represents the values and ideals we embrace, and has the necessary experience and skills to manage the school Opportunities for student actors abound at through whatever challenges we foresee, and to achieve AOSR, starting almost immediately in the fall with the goals and objectives we have established. The Head- the Middle School play and going strong until the master runs the school. The Trustees do not become in- wonderful Middle School and High School Shake- volved in any specific management, academic or discipli- speare festivals in late spring. Throughout the year nary matters. Elementary School productions provide excellent In November, on a date to be determined, the Annual acting experience for the students — and fantastic Assembly of the Corporation will be held in the school entertainment for our entire AOSR community — auditorium. Formal notification will be mailed to each family household well in advance, along with instructions while the High School drama classes always pre- on how to join the corporation if you are not already a sent a great improvisational comedy show in the member. During the Annual Assembly the annual elec- fall and another production around March. tion of Trustees will be held to fill available positions. Some of these shows are held during school We hope you will come out and take an interest hours while others are evening events. Watch the in the process. And, if you think you have a particular Flyer for news of upcoming productions and don’t resource, talent, expertise or skill to offer, why not be- miss out seeing out student thespians at work. come a nominee? Feel free to contact the Headmaster, Kip Hendry and Cottie Ceen are the teach- Dr. Dougherty, me, or any of the Trustees if you are in- ers to see in the Middle and High School, while terested in becoming a nominee for the 2003-04 Board of classroom teachers in the Elementary School can Trustees. provide further details. Break a leg everyone!!

22 Sports Briefs With Doug Kneeland

AOSR Sports Program The ASIL includes 5 DoDDS schools and 3 Is Best in Town civilian schools. The DoDDS schools are located The AOSR Falcons have the strongest at Aviano and Vicenza in sports program of any of the international schools northern Italy; Livorno in in Rome, thanks Tuscany; Naples; and Si- to good facilities, gonella in Sicily. The civil- dedicated ian schools are AOSR and coaches, and cross-town rival, Mary- talented student mount in Rome, and Mi- athletes. lan. Two schools in Tur- AOSR key join the eight teams in fields teams in Italy to compete for the six boys sports Mediterranean champion- and six girls ships in each sport. The top sports. In the teams advance to the Euro- fall, both the boys and girls play volleyball and run pean finals (or in the case cross country. In the winter, both the boys and girls of cross country, wrestling, play basketball. The boys also wrestle, while the and tennis, the top individuals may advance). The EIAP girls have a competitive cheerleading team. In the leagues include 40 schools throughout Europe. spring, the girls and boys both play soccer and ten- AOSR has a strong winning tradition in several nis. sports, especially soccer where the boys have won the AOSR competes in the American Schools ASIL championship three out of the last four years. The in Italy League (ASIL), which is part of the Euro- Falcons finished in the top half of the ASIL in every pean Interscholastic Athletic Program (EIAP) or- sport in 2002-03. AOSR is smaller than most of the ganized by the US Department of Defense Depend- DoDDS high schools, so winning a league champion- ent Schools (DoDDS). ship is no small accomplishment.

European Soccer Title Volleyball, Cross Country Goes to AOSR Boys — Again Starting Up Soon

The AOSR Falcons closed out a superb sports The Boys’ High School volleyball team, year in the spring, when our boys won the European which began practicing already on Aug. 25, will soon Championship by defeating defending champion Mi- hold another round of tryouts for new students. So lan by a score of 6-3. This victory returned the cham- boys interested in the playing on the AOSR team pionship trophy to AOSR, where it has been for four should be on the lookout for news of tryouts. There of the last five years. Congratulations to Coach An- will be an additional set of tryouts to be announced drea Desideri and the Falcon soccer players for a great once school has officially begun. season. High School Girls’ volleyball tryouts are The Falcon girls finished third in the ten-team scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4, after school. The Mediterranean league tournament hosted by Mary- cross country team meeting is scheduled for the same mount in May. Aviano won the girls championship. time, same day. The Falcon girls and boys tennis teams fin- To be eligible, all student athletes must main- ished in second place in the league tournament. All tain greater than a 2.0 average, measured at each pro- AOSR players advanced to the finals, but none won gress reporting period, the first of which ends on Sept. that elusive championship match. Aviano won the 30. Mediterranean tennis championships. For more information, email [email protected]

Good Eats and Caffe' with Sue Berton

I would like to welcome all returning with the water and cook, stirring until AOSR students and their families back to clear. Strain, if desired and cool. school and to the Good Eats and Caffe col- Place poached peach half, cut side up, umn. A special welcome goes out to all of our in each of 6 individual dessert dishes. Top each new AOSR students and their families. I am with ice cream and pour the cooled sauce over sure you will find your first year here an easy the top. Add the whipped cream and almonds if transition. I know that we sure did. desired. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sue Berton and I write this column for our wonderful and informative Falcon Flyer. I hope you find it useful with some tasty recipe ideas for you to try. I try to include recipes that are great for the family on the go, as well as recipes fit for company. If anybody has any great recipes they would like to share with our AOSR community please send them to me at [email protected]. I will always make an effort to get your recipes in and appreciate any that come my way. Since this is time of the year when all those sweet, juicy peaches are in season I thought we would start off with a classic peach recipe. If you are looking for something yummy to serve your company, this is a do- ahead recipe that doesn’t take a lot of time. Vanilla Poached Peaches This recipe came from the New York Times Cook Book. 6 firm ripe, small peaches 1 cup sugar Peach Melba 1 cup water 2 teaspoon lemon juice Did you know that Peach Melba was created Pinch of salt for Australian opera singer Dame Nellie 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 (2-inch) va- Melba? It consists of a poached peach half nilla topped with vanilla ice cream, raspberry sauce, bean whipped cream and almonds. Simple and ele- gant. Peel the fruit, leaving them whole with stems intact. Combine the sugar, water, lemon juice, 1 pint fresh or frozen raspberries salt and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, ½ cup currant jelly (or apricot, or wild berry) add three peaches and cook, covered for 10 to 1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch 15 minutes. Remove and reserve. Cook the 1 tablespoon cold water remaining fruit. 3 peaches, peeled, poached and halved (see next recipe) Return the first poached peaches to the syrup and let all stand until cool. Chill. Remove va- If using frozen berries, place them in a sauce- nilla bean if used. pan and allow them to thaw. Mash the berries with a spoon, add the jelly and bring to a boil over low heat. Add the cornstarch mixture

24 NOTES FROM MS News THE FIELD And So It Begins…

The 2003-2004 school year has begun and the Student Field Trips — Villa is full of energy once again. Over 100 Middle An AOSR Tradition School students are ready to take on a new school year! Stylish haircuts, the latest gym shoes, and new AOSR has a strong tradition of field trips, bookbags are sported by our junior Falcons as they some of which have been in place for over 40 years! stroll the hallways to greet friends, returning teachers Children from grade to grade can look forward and and new instructors. This year promises challenging anticipate these “rites of passage” in their careers at academics and exciting social events for the AOSR AOSR. Some, like the Middle School cultural trips Middle School family. and the 3rd grade trip to Paestum are annually sched- The first semester will certainly keep the mini- uled and others are biennially scheduled. Some trips troopers on their toes. Student Council elections will be are scheduled through the initiative of the classroom held in October followed by our annual Halloween teacher. In the coming months, the Flyer will bring activities. In November, the Middle School will be “On you news and student reviews of these events. It the Move” as we continue our annual cultural trips. might also give us parents some new ideas for vaca- This year, the AOSR ambassadors will have the tion planning! opportunity to travel to either Scotland, Poland, Spain, The Notes from the Field column premiered or another great destination. in the June 2003 issue with articles by Christine Don forget to mark your calendars in Skodon (Latin Class trip) and Aaron Berton (3rd December for our annual Winter Dance and Holiday Grade Paestum trip). Until the new column next Brunch. The month of January will be dedicated to month, you can read them on the web: aosr.org. preparing for our mid-term exams, followed by Spirit Week. This event allows the Middle School student body to show their true Falcon spirit!! These and numerous other events that will be scheduled during the English is a Funny Language second semester are sure to keep the red and white shining! In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. Best wishes for a rewarding and fun-filled One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some school year! paintings of George Washington showed him stand- — A. Santangelo ing behind a desk with one arm behind his back Middle School Activities Coordinator while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but rather by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are limbs therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg,"

Parents Can Help With MS Activities Here’s a great chance for parents to get involved in the Parent Teacher Organization and keep abreast of the latest Middle School happenings at the same time: become a PTO Middle School Liaison. This person (or two) works directly with the Middle School Activities Coordinator, currently Ms. Santangelo, by fulfilling duties as requested by her throughout the school year. The PTO Liaison(s) also keeps the PTO updated on the latest MS news at our montly PTO meetings. Events that sometimes require Liaison involvement include MS dances, Sports Day, the annual Shakespeare Festival and more. Look for a fuller description of these duties on the Volunteers Opportunities pages in this issue. If you’re looking for a little less work, we always need volunteers to help out with these events. — The PTO 25

Going Somewhere? Why Not Hop a Bus?

The AOSR greater family shares a common let’s start with the seven lines that travel this clogged challenge: negotiating around our sprawling adopted artery. The #201 and #301 (orange) buses will take you city on public transportation. For one thing, even if from school to Piazza Mancini. This is a major depot you’re a diehard driver, you can’t legally take a car where you can connect with any number of buses, or the into Rome’s huge historic district unless you live or #2 tram that ends at the “Flaminia” Metro stop right work there. Also, other downtown areas are so traffic outside the Piazza del Popolo, the northern edge of the congested -- while finding a parking spot is akin to Historic Center (centro storico). winning the lottery -- that taking a train or a bus can Actually, some people with cars prefer to drive be much faster in the long run. (And we won’t even down to Piazza Mancini and then grab a bus or tram talk about gasoline prices!!) from there. There is a public parking lot next door. After two years of successes and failure, I At the Flaminia Metro stop (Line A), you can believe I’ve solved the public transportation mystery hop an underground train to Piazza di Spagna, Termini and can offer some tips. Two tools will facilitate (Rome’s central train station) and other places. You learning Rome’s transportation system, known as must go to Termini, for example, to switch to Metro ATAC. First, stop by any newstand (edicola) and buy Line B. the 2002 edition of “Roma Metro-Bus Pianta.” It maps A faster way to connect with Metro Line A is to out all Metro stops (Lines A & B), the seven light rail wait for any of the big blue express buses that make lines that operate throughout greater Rome, and lists fewer stops (front of school is one) and zip right to the “Lepanto” Metro Line A stop. It takes just 20 minutes to get there from school. When I have to catch a train at Termini during rush hour, I’ll take a taxi to the Lepanto Metro and then jump on Line A, thus avoiding getting stuck in heavy traffic around Termini. The #223 is a wonderful ride from school that crosses the Ponte Flaminia, heads up through the posh Parioli district and ends at the Borghese Park area. Although it doesn’t join with a metro line all the bus routes. it still can be useful. Second, and even more helpful is the ATAC The newest line on the Cassia is the #224 web site at www.atac.roma.it. This interactive website minibus. It is the only bus that will take you directly into is a jewel. It can locate an address for you, suggest the the heart of centro storico ending a stone’s throw from best routes to take to a destination, and it marks these the important Via del Corso. To catch the #224, take any all on an easily printable map. Although available only of buses heading down Via Cassia and get off at the stop in Italian, the site is easy to use. where the Cassia Nuova and Via Cassia meet. That’s the Newstands also sell tickets (biglietti), good for big fork in the road before the Corso di Francia. the bus, tram and metro. A 75-minute ticket costs 77 Residents living farther north on Via Cassia past centesimi. An all-day ticket costs €3.10. You can also the the GRA can take advantage of ATAC’s newest buy monthly passes. You must have a ticket before light rail line, the FM3. This line departs every 20 you board any form of mass transit in Rome, as they minutes from the Giustiniana, La Storta and Olgiata are not sold on board. Then, you must validate the stations. ticket once you’ve boarded. Just watch to see how All of these trains arrive at the San Pietro others do it. As long as you’re within your ticket’s station, near the Vatican. Every second train, however, time limit, you don’t have to use a new ticket to travels two stops farther, going first to the Trastevere change from bus to tram to metro. station (where you can transfer to the FM1 to the Bus stops (called Fermata) are recognizable Fiumicino airport) and then to the Ostiense station, by large yellow signs that list the bus numbers that where you can catch Metro Line B. stop there and each subsequent stop on their routes. So, give the ATAC a chance to show you the One stop is located in front of AOSR. best it can offer! Since the Via Cassia is known to all of us, (September 2002)

26 Author Rides Provocative Train of Thought from Art to Science

Were Albert Einstein and the French artist could make better paintings than the abstractions on the Marcel Duchamp on the same wavelength when one walls. Shlain, who coincidentally was reading a book proposed the theory of relativity and the other painted on physics about this same time, experienced a revela- the “moving” Nude Descending a Staircase? tion of sorts. It occurred to him, he said, that “art be- Is there a connection between Salvador came inscrutable at the same time that physics became Dali’s famous “melting clocks” painting, The Persis- impenetrable.” tence of Memory, and scientists’ efforts to under- This thought led to an extensive study of the stand and explain the meaning of time? links between the arts and the sciences, and resulted in When we view a cubist painting are we, in a the critically acclaimed book. Since its publication in sense, zipping along at half the speed of light on Ein- 1991, Shlain has become a frequent speaker at major stein’s famous train, in which we can see the front, conferences around the world. He was in Rome, in fact, the back and the side of an object -- all at the same to present the keynote address at the AOSR-sponsored time? annual conference of the Mediterranean Association of These provocative ques- International Schools. tions, and many more, were raised From the looks of Art at a November lecture at AOSR and Physics, Shlain’s lecture to by Leonard Shlain, author of Art students barely scratched the and Physics: Parallel Visions in surface of the startling connec- Space, Time and Light. Shlain tions he makes between spe- wowed an assembly of High cific original artists and scien- School students, teachers and par- tists. Giotto and Galileo, da ents with his fascinating view- Vinci and Newton, Picasso and points on the interrelationship Einstein, Matisse and Heisen- between two seemingly disparate berg, and Duchamp and Bohr disciplines: the fine arts and the are only a few of his provoca- hard sciences. tive pairings. “I believe art and physics The conclusion he are simply two different lan- draws -- that throughout his- guages,” he said. “The visionary tory it’s been the visionary art- artist and the revolutionary physi- ist who first sees the world in a cist are both trying to understand radically new light, with the the nature of reality.” revolutionary physicist barely a Yes, Shlain acknowl- step behind -- is certainly a edged, their approaches are quite fascinating topic for debate. He different. While the artist employs singles out physics in particular image and metaphor, the physicist because, according to his book, uses numbers and equations. “in this century all the other Each, however, seeks to figure ‘hard’ sciences have learned out how the jigsaw puzzle of real- that they are anchored to this ity fits together. Speculations on rock.” To support his thesis, space, time and light are, for both, the author goes back to An- inevitable, he contends. cient Greece and travels The lecture was a feast for the eyes as well as through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and up to for the mind, as the audience was treated to a Power modern times. Point presentation of some of the world’s artistic Shlain is chairman of the laparoscopic sur- masterpieces (including Nude Descending a Stair- gery department at the California Pacific Medical case, pictured here) while Shlain traced the parallel Center in San Francisco and Associate Professor histories of science and art. of Surgery at the University of California in San Shlain, neither an artist nor a scientist -- a Francisco. His book is available in the HS/MS California surgeon, in fact -- says inspiration for his Library. ideas came via his daughter, who complained while touring a modern art museum one day that SHE (December 2002)

27 The Teacher Interview With (Your Name Could be HERE)

Name: Cottie Ceen Q: Where do you consider is the birthplace of art? Subject: HS History-Art History- A: Nowhere. Art wasn’t born, it always was!

Theater/MS Art Q: What do you love most about AOSR? A: After-school theater. But if you asked me what I Q: Where were you before AOSR and why did you hate most decide to come to Rome? about AOSR, “Try ever to be A: Graduate it would be governed by your loves school in New after-school and not by your hates, York. I received theater! a fellowship to and find goodness and finish my disser- Q: What is beauty where you can.” tation in Rome. genius? I’ve been associ- A: —Daniel. J. Pinto ated with AOSR Gianlorenzo Former AOSR Headmaster since 1978. Bernini.

Q: What makes a good artist? Q: It is important to teach art history, along with his- A: Vision, passion patience, dedication and disci- tory and art? pline! A: Art is one of the nice things human beings do. In history class, it provides a nice break from all those Q: What, in your opinion, is the most fabulous piece wars, conquests and revolutions. Plus, many artists, of art in the world? such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Velazquez and, of A: Gianlorenzo Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne. course, Gianlorenzo Bernini, worked for the most im- (Galleria Borghese, Rome). portant religious and political leaders of their day.

Q: If you had to spend a week painting/directing any- Q: If your students could paint a huge mural on an where, where would it be? AOSR wall, what would you choose and why? A: AOSR, of course! A: Actually, I would rather like to see the brick wall of the gym again, unadorned but for the Daniel Pinto me- Q: If you could be anyone for a year, who would it morial plaque. be? A: Gianlorenzo Bernini.

Reference Desk has Great Information

AOSR has a wonderful resource for parents and students in the main office: the school’s Reference Desk is loaded with newsletters, brochures, catalogues, pamphlets, booklets and more — all about AOSR life. At this desk, you’ll find copies of AOSR’s School Catalogue, the Student Handbook, the Program of Studies for the High School and the Middle School, the After School Activities Program, the Boarding Program Handbook, and the Volunteer Opportunities packet. Additionally, this is the place to come to locate the packet of information about AOSR’s International Baccalaureate program, and also get a copy of the school Prospectus, which contains general information about AOSR, the School Curriculum, and also states AOSR’s Philosophy and Objectives. Visit this desk at the very end of each month and be among the first to read the Falcon Flyer, the official newsletter of AOSR, even before it goes home with students. You also will find copies of AOSR’s most excellent student literary magazine, The Omnibus, as well as hot-off-the-press issues of the student newspaper, The Fal- con Review. So stop in the main office each time you’re on campus and find out what’s new at AOSR.

28 HS Student Writers and Artists Offered Publishing Opportunities

AOSR’s three great student-led publications and this Falcon Flyer newsletter offer High School students an enormous range of opportunities for demonstrating their creative talents in print. The Omnibus is our annual literary magazine, which showcases the very best in student poetry, prose and art. All HS students are invited to submit their work for possible inclusion in the magazine. Addi- tionally, students may work on the final product itself by getting involved as a member of The Omnibus staff. Contact faculty advisor Molly Bian- chini in the HS/MS Library for more information. The annual AOSR yearbook, the Tabularium, is a yearlong project for student writers, photographers and editors. See the article about the yearbook on page 21 and contact advisor Lori Tibbett for further information. The Falcon Review is AOSR’s student newspaper, which is published throughout the year by a team of most dedicated student journalists and their advisor. Quality submissions of student work are always welcome so don’t hesitate to find out more about the student newspaper as soon as school starts. Additionally, excellent work from students of all ages is often published in the Falcon Flyer, the official monthly newsletter of the AOSR community. The Flyer is pleased to reprint below two samples of student work from The Omnibus MMIII, which was published in the spring.

Home Across the Sea Ode to a Musical Note By Nicole Halloran By Anna Grasso Across the sea and over the ocean, there’s a distant land I call home. How curious are your shady eyes. It holds for me every memory of years ago. You feign to be perfidious and unsavory, I could close my eyes while driving and know Always cursing, so unmannerly every curve in the road. Home is, to me, a hot sum- Rushing in and flying out without a sign… mer day spent at the pool with friends, or popsicles and the smell of honeysuckles. Summer nights con- I have filched your true deep essence. sist of catching lightning bugs You lie hidden behind man’s lies. and playing “Capture the Sentimental and yet fervid, lucid and transparent, Flag.” Philanthropic in the midst of a long dark war. Home is a beautiful change of leaves during the Why do you hide beautiful long note? fall, the pursuit of the perfect So seductive in your classical serenity pumpkin, and drinking apple Your heart is filled with music and tranquility. cider. Home is, to me, the an- ticipation of snow on Christ- mas Eve. It is the silent calm of a winter’s night enveloped in the stars. It is the joy of new buds at spring, and the sound of the ice- cream truck cruising through the neighborhood. All of this is what makes my home special. My friends, my neighborhood, the annoying traffic on Route 3. They are, to me, Virginia.