AOSR News NOVEMBER 2003 WWW.AOSR.ORG

Italian Preschools called ‘The Best in the World’ By Dr. Larry Dougherty, Headmaster

In an article in the Boston Globe entitled, “The Real Head Start,” Howard Gardner, a noted psychologist and author from Harvard University, concluded that the pre-school programs in Reggio Emilia in northeastern It- aly are “the best in the world.” The approach in these schools is very much in keeping with the thrust of research in infant and child development over the past 40 years. “Children do best when they are allowed to explore their nascent understanding and misunderstandings, and determine where they are appropriate and where they are fun- damentally flawed.” (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/7/03) While our pre-kindergarten is not a strict Reggio Emilia program, there are several elements of our pro- gram that reflect the basic philosophies of this famous community. If you read the descriptions of preschool ac- tivities in this Falcon Flyer, you will notice many of them require young children to think and form hypotheses and explanations – “What are bubbles?”, “How are the formed?”, “When I blow air through the hole without soapy water, no bubbles form. Why?”. Students are encouraged to pursue their own interests, formulate their own ques- tions and seek their own answers. Within this context of exploration, teachers work with children on language development, vocabulary and pre-reading skills. They also help them develop social skills. They help the children begin to take turns and learn (Continued on page 8) * PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN LIVING AS WELL AS IN LEARNING By Dr. Beth Kempler Pfannl, Principal

Horace Mann, the father of the common school, believed that schools should help students develop both reason and conscience. Back in 1837, he wrote, “The highest and noblest office of education pertains to our moral nature.” He stated back then that schools should “teach virtue before knowledge, for although the latter should not be ignored, knowledge without virtue poses its own dangers.” A school not only has the duty, along with parents, to help children to learn and become well informed, but also the obligation to assist children in developing the capacity to live responsibly and make wise decisions in matters of life and conduct. How do we help students develop what Horace Mann called reason and conscience? “Parents, without question, are primarily responsible for a child’s ethical instruction. There can be no substitute for a mother and father who, from the beginning of a child’s life provide loving guidance and define for the child –both by what they say and how they live- standards of good conduct.” (Ernest Boyer) Parents are a child’s first teachers and models. However, teaching virtues (time-honored understandings) cannot be left entirely to the home. Children spend approximately 175 days at school a year and formal education is one of the most powerful forces in their (Continued on page 13)

Contents From the Headmaster 1 Talking with Teachers 7 News from the Counselor 16-17 Principal’s Office 1 Pre-K News 8 Sports Briefs 18 AOSR Corporate News 2 Elementary News 10 Notes from the Field 21 All-School News & 3-4 Middle School News 12-13 Rome ‘N’ About 22 PPAC 1 PTO Corner 5 High School News 14-15 Il Foro 23 By Popular Request, new (and posted!)... CAFETERIA PRICE LIST AOSR Board of Trustees and Corporation Meeting, First course € 1,85 Pizza 1,85 November 20, 7:30 PM Second course 2,15 By Richard Zacaroli Vegetables 1,40 Cold fish 2,15 As Chairman of the AOSR Board of Trustees, I Salad bar 1,50 thought this issue of the Falcon Flyer would be an ap- Fruit or yogurt 0,60 propriate time for me to discuss the role that all of you as parents and other persons with a special interest in the Dessert 1,00 school, such as teachers and alumni, have in the process Glass of tea and milk 0,30 of election of the Board of Trustees. Bread 0,30 If you are a member of the AOSR Corporation, Complete lunch: first course, second course, vegeta- you will receive two Calls to the Annual Assembly bles, and bread € 4,30 through the mail. The first will arrive the end of Octo- ber, the second early in November, notifying you that this year’s Annual Assembly of the Corporation will be held on Thursday, November 20, in our school audito- PTO Partners Wish you a Happy rium. The Annual Assembly is the vehicle by which Thanksgiving the corporation members, who are in essence its share- holders, have their input on selecting new Trustees and an opportunity to approve the balance sheet of the Carol Atwood school, and to hear about the financial plans of the Susan Berton school. All parents of AOSR students and other persons Julie Deptula Grazia Deulus with a particular interest in corporation matters are eligi- Lisa Finerty ble to be members of the Corporation. Susan Haight (Continued on page 20) Francesca Kelly Laura Rumpf Monique Smits Ana Volk Moshira Zelenka

is a monthly publication of the Important Phone Numbers American Overseas School of School Number: 06-334-381 Rome (AOSR) Fax: 06-3326-2608 To make comments or suggestions, or to submit an Headmaster: Larry Dougherty 06-3343-8331 article to the Falcon Flyer, please call editor Lisa Fin- Headmaster’s Secretary : Domenica Losani 06-3343-8331 erty at 06-4782-6192, or send an email to ptonewslet- Principal: Beth Pfannl 06-3343-8326 [email protected]. A Flyer submission box is also located Principal’s Secretary: Alessandra Cozzi 06-3343-8326 in the Principal’s office. Admissions: Don Levine 06-3343-8300 Reception/Secretary: Joanne Hoberg 06-3343-8300

Financial Consultant: Elisa Bruno 06-3343-8338 Boarding/Finance: Estelle Dougherty 06-3343-8339 Next Deadline 11-19-03 Guidance Counselor: Donna Ross 06-3343-8327 The deadline for submission of articles for the Nurse: Diane Cullen-Moore 06-3343-8321 October Flyer is Wednesday, November 19, for After School Activities: Christine Hogan 06-3343-8320 Margaret Ciuffreda news and announcement for the period De- MSA Coordinator: Angela Santangelo 06-3343-8336 cember 1 through January 7, 2004 Resource Room: Karen Lee 06-3343-8302 Records Office: Marina Benetti 06-3343-8315 PTO/Boutique 06-3343-8322 Via Cassia 811 2 00189 Rome, Italy Internet: www.aosr.org

All School News

AOSR RECEIVES Ms. Flaherty Presents Research

SECURITY GRANT Paper in London By Dr. Larry Dougherty, Headmaster Jennifer Flaherty, a new teacher at AOSR, pre- We have received a grant of $130,000 from the sented a paper on October 11 at the University of Sur- U.S. Government through the Office of Overseas rey Roehampton's 2nd Annual Renaissance Studies Schools to enhance our security. One of the most useful Conference in London. The conference, which is titled "Shakespeare's Children/Children's Shakespeare," ex- components of this grant is funding for an intercom sys- plores topics ranging from children's roles in Shake- tem that can be used to communicate throughout the speare's plays to adapting Shakespeare for children. school. This will not only help us with fire drills and At this conference she spoke about children in other safety and security matters, it will enhance out abil- Titus Andronicus. ity to communicate regularly and quickly on important Jennifer is studying Shakespeare in preparation educational or social concerns. for her Ph.D. at UNC Chapel Hill, and is particularly This grant will also fund a high-powered radio interested in Shakespeare and Shakespeare’s characters system that will connect the school with the security of- in the literary works of other writers. fices of the U.S. Embassy. In addition to ensuring direct Jennifer has presented other papers at interna- communications in times of emergency, the hand- held tional literary conferences. In fact, she participated in radios will enhance internal communications with the numerous speech tournaments in high school and col- lege. She is looking forward to the Declamations Com- school nurse, for example. We are exploring the possi- petition on November 18, and she hopes that the stu- bility of installing the radio system on each of our buses dents this year will enjoy and learn as much from par- as well. ticipating in it as she learned from her speech tourna- The third component of the grant will permit us ments in high school. to place Mylar on all of the windows throughout the She currently teaches English to 7th and 8th school. While we have already put a film on many win- grade students and AP/IB Seniors. dows to reduce heat, the new window coverings will pro- vide filters for heat and ensure that the windows will not shatter in case of natural disasters (such as earthquakes), AOSR CORPORATION MEETING and TRUS- an errant baseball or in the unlikely event of an explosion TEE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 20, 7:30

anywhere near the school. The annual meeting will be held in the Cafeteria (see de- We are soliciting bids from a number of vendors tails in Mr. Zacaroli’s article which starts on page 2). and we hope to complete the work before March 1, 2004.

These new threats have necessitated significant TECHNOLOGY BITS changes in our Technology Accepted Use Policy (AUP) and by Geoff Miller the daily maintenance of our network. Your timely and prompt response to these have been extremely helpful in Senior Class Picture During the summer, as is usu- maintaining uninterrupted service to our community. To AOSR 1967 ally the case, we were able to make further facilitate this, we have posted a “Tech Support” web- significant improvements to the net- page: work infrastructure here at AOSR. This year’s upgrade in- http://school.aosr.org/tech_support/ cluded “rolling out” Windows 2000 to all Faculty and Stu- Here you will find the following documents: dent machines in the High School. This operating system • Technology Support Request Forms provides a much more stable platform and should result in (for on campus requests only) fewer maintenance problems. • Technology Accepted Use Policy The work was complicated by the increasing threat • Permission to Post Student Artwork on Website by “viruses, worms and Trojan-horse” programs that have • Permission to Post Student Picture on Website reached a new level of sophistication and danger. The new- Also posted are a few documents describing the use of spe- est generation of the nuisance programs can infect a com- cialized “in-house” software. I have also included reprints puter even if it is not actively browsing the Internet. All that of a few articles that appeared in past editions of the news- is needed is an active connection, increasingly common with letter. These general “help” documents should help answer the advent of high speed ADSL. All servers and worksta- some of your questions. tions were “patched” by September 1st. 3 All School News PPAC NEWS

Record After-School The 2nd PPAC meeting for the 2203-04 took place on Monday, October 20th at 9:15 am as scheduled. In atten- Program Enrollment! dance were Susan Haight, Millie Kneeland, Sam Simpson and Principal Dr. Beth Pfannl. Over 210 students have registered to be part Dr. Pfannl reported that action had been taken on of the After-School Program. Yes, that’s about 33% several items that had been discussed at the September of the entire student population, and, more relevantly, meeting namely that the Cafeteria now posts the daily lunch it’s about 50% of the Elementary and Middle menu with all the options as well as a price list for all items Schools. It is THE place to be after 3:20! sold. In addition, the bar is now limiting the amount of junk food that is being sold. Other suggestions by the PPAC regarding the bar included limiting the sale of soda until after lunch, notifying students, especially elementary Ferguson, Hagg, awarded by students who can’t see over the counter, of the new items UN Woman’s Guild now available for purchase (such as freshly squeezed or- ange and grapefruit juice). It was also noted that new ta- “International Alliance Against bles and chairs were added to the outside terrace so that more people can now enjoy eating outside. Hunger” Campaign th Also discussed was the October 13 faculty in- AOSR’s Megan Ferguson, Grade 5, and service. Teachers were asked at that meeting to discuss the Karolina Hagg, Grade 2, took first and second prize school’s strengths and priorities in anticipation for the up- (respectively) in the United Nation’s Women’s Guild coming ten year re-accreditation with the Middle States “International Alliance Against Hunger” World Food Association of Colleges and Schools. They also had de- Day Poster Competition. partment and grade level meetings to discuss curriculum Megan decided to base her food poster on the issues. It was a very productive day. grain staple, corn. “Corn is important in the food Other items discussed: chain,” she said. “And besides, my uncle is a farmer • Better labeling of classrooms particularly in the and grows corn in Iowa. I sometimes help him plant Villa. the fields.” She added, “I never got to harvest it, be- • Providing a map of the Villa so that parents would cause that happens every year when I start school. But have an easier time at Open House finding class- I ALWAYS try to help to eat it!” rooms The girls were invited to attend the awards • Providing information for parents about how the ceremony on October 16 in the Plenary Hall of the MS and HS block scheduling works and posting it Food And Agricultural Organization here in Rome. on the AOSR website. They also were invited to attend the World Food Day • Improving the directional signs around campus to Morning Meeting which was hosted by the Guild in point out the location of offices, etc. their honor at FAO on October 23. • Suggestion to rotate the time of the meetings so that it would be more convenient for working par- ents to attend. • The next meeting will take place on New Scoreboard th Thank you, PTO and Mayfair, for helping the Monday, November 17 at 1:15 pm. Sports Department to buy the big, new (and really heavy!) scoreboard that was mounted in the gym last PPAC Members in addition to the Principal are: month. Grazia Deulus Lisa Finerty Carolyn Grosso Susan Haight NO SCHOOL DAYS Millie Kneeland Claudia Ottolenghi November 14 Cinzia Palana Parents and Teachers Conferences Jacintha Peeris Sam Simpson November 27 and 28 Claudia Sobral Thanksgiving

4

THE PTO’s CORNER

November 2003 Boutique Opened to We may not find too many red-leaf maples here in Rome, but we still know we’re well into autumn: san- Eager Patrons on October 14 dals have been put away, sweaters are accumulating in The first day of Boutique sales was brisk, with both the school lost-and-found, and our children are working loyal and new customers eager to see the 2003-2004 “new hard — or at least appear to be. stuff” on the shelves. Many folks eyed the HALLOWEEN The Parent-Teacher Organization has been COSTUMES (!) on sale. (As of October 14, there were many working hard, too! We saw many of you at the Family left, especially in small sizes). Picnic, a fun day with ‘dogs and burgers,’ used books for The Boutique will now maintain its scheduled open- sale, delicious homemade offerings, and organized activi- ing every Tuesday, from 9:30—2:30 until December 16, when ties for the youngsters. it will “go dark” for the School holidays until January. Speaking of food, don’t forget that the Booster Bar is up and running, so do send your kids to school with a few extra euros on Fridays so they can elbow their way into the crowd — whoops, we mean politely wait GREAT ATMOSPHERE AT THE their turn, of course — and get some fun snacks. It’s FAMILY PICNIC about the easiest way we know to help out the school. by Grazia Deulus Be sure to mark your calendars for the AOSR Gala on February 7, 2004 – complete with dinner, danc- I want to thank all of you who attended the Family ing and silent auction. In fact, we’d love a few people to Picnic and contributed to making it enjoyable. I'm happy to help us put together beautiful and inspired baskets for the hear that many people were pleased with the new addition of silent auction – so please contact Lori Tibbett (06-3089- the used books table. And that many of you supplemented 6566) to offer your much-needed assistance. your fall wardrobe with the new and improved logo items Newcomers! Do you need a little help getting and school gear! used to Rome and finding where things are? Don’t forget A special “Thanks!” goes to the Student Council, the PTO Partners program — where you’re paired up the National Honor Society, and all volunteers who helped with an AOSR parent who’s “an old Roman hand” and me set up, work, and clean up during and after the event. can help you learn your way around. A call to Grazia The pot-luck tables were a wonderful demonstration Deulus (06-3630-4287) is all you need to do to get a of our school's international spirit. We all loved the delicious friendly voice on the phone inviting you out for coffee or specialties. shopping in your neighborhood. Additionally, list of Many thanks to all who worked behind the scenes, Partners is posted on Page 2. and especially to DJ Maurizio who came because what Did you know that the PTO just gives money would an AOSR party be without the Karaoke! Thanks for away? Yes, every year, the PTO gives money to the Ele- coming and entertaining all of us, Maurizio! mentary School, the Middle School and the High School, Alla prossima!!! to spend as they need. Called the Principal’s Grants be- cause the AOSR Principal helps determine how best to use the funds, they’ve averaged 4200 euros for the last couple of years. Last year, the High School used their funds for an overhead PowerPoint projection system, the Booster Bar Sponsors Middle School used their funds for their cultural trips, and the Elementary School has been saving their funds are for a special project. “in the Chips!” Don’t forget to visit our Boutique on Tuesdays for great bargains and fun conversation – or to sell some By Carol Atwood gently-used items and make a little café money. The Bou- tique is a great place to volunteer, too. The PTO has collected many requests from Our next PTO meeting will be held on Monday, No- groups in and at the school, and has a full roster of vember 10 in the Boutique at 9:15 sharp. All AOSR par- Booster Bars scheduled for the month of November. So ents and teachers are automatically members. We far (in September and October), the organizations that welcome you to our meetings whenever you can join us! have sponsored Booster Bars have made record amounts of money! If an organization wants to sign up —Francesca Kelly, PTO Secretary to sponsor a Booster Bar, a representative can call Sa- bine Neumann at 06-3326-6738.

5 Book Inspires Adventure It’s not often that we discover a book the whole family stands in line to read, but this summer, we found Festival Season in India one! By Spandana Singh, A friend gave us a copy of a new best-seller, The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. It is an intriguing Grade 3 blend of historical little-known facts about Leonardo Da Vinci, who was not just an artist, inventor, philosopher The Indian Festival is under way, this year, and engineering genius, but also was (true fact!) the a little earlier than usual. Autumn and the beginning leader of the Knights Templar. of winter are important festival times in India. Most Da Vinci's contribution to this organization Indian festivals are related to the seasons and the (which also counted Sandro Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and position of the moon (lunar calendar). This year, in Sir Isaac Newton among its members) is the basis for this October, there are the three important festivals -- modern-day mystery of the murder of the curator of the Dussehera, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj. Louvre (this part is fiction) who led a double life. To These festivals are about the legend of Lord solve this mystery, a Harvard University symbologist and Rama, the king of Ayodhya. His story is in the a Parisian code expert team up (well, are forced to- Ramayana, which was written about 4,000 years gether). They analyze many of DaVinci's paintings in ago. These festivals tell us about the clear differ- order to get clues to the crime. The chief of the Paris po- ence between good and evil, and that goodness wins. lice, an Opus Dei priest, and the murders of seemingly random people all over the world come together as a part These are three different festivals. Folk of the story's fiction to protect one of the most debatable dances and local culture are seen in the celebrations topics in the world, "What IS the holy grail?" in different places. Dusshera is the tenth day of a After reading The DaVinci Code, we decided to period of celebrations. On Dusshera, the final vic- catch a train to Milan, to see "The Last Supper" frescoed tory of Lord Rama in the battle against evil demons on the refectory walls of the Convent of Santa Maria is celebrated. A giant effigy of Ravana is shot by delle Grazie. Lucky for us, a multi-year restoration pro- arrows with fire tips and it goes up in flames with ject had just been completed, and we were able to see the lots of fireworks. Lot of special foods and sweets same "clues" in the painting that are described in the are eaten on this day. book. We then caught an inexpensive flight (E10!) from Diwali is the festival of lights and the most Milan to Paris on Volare Airlines, to Paris - Beauvais important Indian festival. It marks the return of Airport. From there we caught a bus which took us to Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his battle against the Port Maillot, which was almost as long a trip as the 1 1/2 demons. Since Lord Rama was welcomed by the hour flight from Milan, but only half the price! people of Ayodhya with lots of lamp lights, we also We had reserved tickets for the Louvre through put out lots of oil lamps and clay lamps on this day. the internet, so we didn't wait in any lines. We bought All houses and shops look very pretty. My grand- them on-line, in US dollars (although there is an option to parents' house in India and our house in Kenya when we lived there were brightly lit for this festival. We purchase them in Euros, also) at http://www.ticketweb.com/ also fired many crackers and fireworks, ate special user/region=europe&query=schedule&venue=louvre and had them sent to us in Rome. This only took about 4 days for food and sweets. Now to avoid pollution we fire a them to arrive. A normal ticket cost is about $9; if you few crackers and more sparklers and fireworks. I want to visit the museum after 3 PM or on Sundays, it is really love the sparklers. only $6. Once there ,we saw all the important clues that On Diwali we also worship goddess Lak- the book described as well as so much else! shmi. For some people Diwali is the New Year and The DaVinci Code inspired a great family trip, people wear new clothes and buy new things. It is which was full of interesting discussion. For us, it was also the beginning of winter. This year Diwali will another great gift from reading. be on 25 0ctober so from all the Indian students of — The Finertys AOSR we wish you a happy Diwali!!! Four days after Diwali is Bhai Dooj, which is one of the last of the series of Diwali festivals where the sisters invite their brothers for a feast. It “Never judge a book by its is the festival where we celebrate the relationship of brothers and sisters. (Editor’s Note: Imagine a whole movie.” day of siblings celebrating their relationship!) — J.W. Eagon

6 Talking with Teachers RALEIGH WERBERGER, HS History By Claudia Sobral

Q: How long have you been teaching at AOSR? Q: What will replace it? The EU, or China and India?

This is my first year teaching here. That’s why I’m watching the battle over the Euro with interest. Q: Where were you teaching before? Q: How do you make connections between the history I taught at San Francisco University High School and Pil- students are learning in the text books and current events? grim School in Los Angeles. Read the news, draw the obvious parallels. People are Q: Would you share a memory of the best history teacher having the same philosophical and political battles today you've had? What made him/her a good teacher? as they did hundreds of years ago. An obvious paper topic my student-teacher and I are working on in European his- It would be a troika of professors I had in graduate school, tory class is to have the kids read Machiavelli, and decide each of whom was motivated by his particular passion— which of today’s leaders are taking their lessons from one, my master’s degree advisor, loved immersing in the him. I don’t really believe history is cyclical, I just think past, I mean, just the idea of it. He reveled in stories, that people are stuck in paradigmatic thinking that leaves pored into written documents, absolutely lost himself into them very few choices than those championed by tradi- these past lives. He provided a humanistic touch to the tional history. Hence, most propaganda campaigns are run discipline, a sense I had lost from all the craze-for-theory using the same tricks, from Riefenstahl down to current currently on campus. The other two were politically moti- US elections. vated, and used history as a tool for social change, for re- vealing not that bad things happened, but that we could be Q: What other resources do you use to teach other than public intellectuals and actually do something to right the the text book? wrongs in society—that it was our civic responsibility to do so. Real participatory democracy. I use the kids themselves, mostly. The beauty of discus- sion-based classes is that ideas come from unexpected Q: What excites you the most about teaching history? places, and can be elicited from a document, and not much else is necessary. I believe in using technology of course, The opportunity to dwell on the meaning of life every- but not as a replacement for literature, and not as an end in day. I mean, the purpose of doing history is to create a itself. Of course, that may be because I didn’t grow up sense of ethics for everyday life—not to memorize dates with technology the way the kids have. or celebrate patriotism. Until quite recently, folks read history to be inspired by greatness, to get outraged by in- Q: What do you tell students that think that history is only justice, to experience things outside the range of the possi- about memorizing facts? ble—that was how you built a sense of self, of your iden- tity. History developed you as a person. To see that hap- The students seem to know that it isn’t. Most students pen in someone else, and to be opening the door, so to love history, only they don’t know it. Reading historical speak, to make that happen, is exciting. fiction, discussing sports, even fantasy literature, which is about alternative histories, and which make pointed com- Q: What does this period of European history and US parisons to the present—that’s doing history. Narrative, history most remind you of? comparison and contrast, making analyses—that’s history. Facts are useless without some contextualizing. That’s Every period is unique. I could tell you anything from the what class should be about—doing detective work, learn- Roman Empire to the rise of fascism and probably be cor- ing about causation, making active critiques of the present rect in some way. Kevin Phillips, an American pundit, has by using the past. said that this period is the passing of the fourth great pe- riod of globalization in the modern age, that just as Amer- Q: Is there a natural tendency to teach history and politi- ica (and Russia) succeeded Britain’s Golden Age after it cal events in a Eurocentric way, given the experience of he overextended itself, we are watching the dissolution of the students? American empire. (Continued on page 9) 7 (Continued from page 1) Italian PreSchools... PRE-K NEWS about the perspective of other children in the classroom. In an environment like this, children are active learners, engaged and building new concepts, based in part The Pre-K is abuzz with activity this month. on their own interests, which emerge from the stimulating Tuesday, October 28, was “Orange Day.” To help get environment around them. When you visit our pre- ready, Mrs. Jonsson (Connor’s mom and a former kindergarten and kindergarten programs, you will not see teacher) volunteered to help children create their own children sitting in seats working on workbooks or pencil pumpkins out of paper and paint. We “planted” them and paper activities. While literacy and numeracy are criti- in our very own pumpkin patch by the elementary cal goals, the means we use to develop these skills in stu- school library, all the while singing our new songs, dents are subtle and yet effective. “Five Little Pumpkins, “Jack O Lantern” and “Pumpkin Young students are powerful learners and they will in the Patch. Thank you, Mrs. Jonsoon and Mrs. Men- learn to use symbol systems (letters and numbers) in the carelli! context of a variety of engaging classroom activi- Mrs. Freeman donated a pumpkin to the class ties. However, children who learn in this fashion not only and we have loved having it so much and have used it will master reading, writing and math, they will gain confi- in so many ways that we are now considering publish- dence in their own ability to learn. ing a book, 100 Ways to Use a Pumpkin in Pre-K! The Our teachers, like those in Reggio Emilia, strive to children discussed how heavy it was. We decided to find the balance between introducing new ideas and con- estimate its weight --- and then we weighed it. We cepts and allowing children to make discoveries on their carved the pumpkin’s face (we voted, and a happy face own. We have followed Howard Gardner¹s advice and we won!), We pulled its insides out, and put it into our have tried to learn as much as we can from a model that sensory area to touch (ugghh!). We sorted the pumpkin works. We are fortunate to have our pre-school in the seeds, estimated then counted them, then roasted, salted country where some of the best models for educating young and tasted them! Thank you, Mrs. Freeman! children have originated, Montessori and Reggio And then there is the everyday time each morn- Emilia. Our program strives to incorporate some of the ing: our learning center time. The children have the elements of Reggio Emilia in our work. opportunity to explore with a variety of activities, a few —Dr. Larry Dougherty of which are listed below. Experiment with objects that “float” or “sink” in water

Visit our “office” in dramatic play

Measure themselves with blocks ROME OFFERS Dictate words for a book our class is writing

Outdoor Puppet Show 'Marionetta' Paint at the easel At Piazza Garibaldi This little, traditional puppet theatre is situated Work with recycled objects to create “something differ- on the Janiculum Hill, with beautiful views looking ent” over the city. On weekends, there are morning puppet shows. Nearby, there is also a roundabout and amuse- Use their nose to match familiar smells with pictures ment arcade for little children, as well as a bouncy- castle on the weekends when the weather is fine. Free. Work with unifix cubes to make patterns

English Playgroup for children Create puppets and act out a finger play In a large English bookstore run by English- speaking staff who are former alumni of AOSR — and Maneuver through an obstacle course in the blue room their extended families! —offers story reading, drama, arts and crafts for children aged 5-12, every Saturday Make bubbles and consider how bubbles are made morning from 11 to 12:30 Economy Book & Video Centre, Via Torino 136 Make bubble prints with paint. (Near Piazzza Repubblica). Tel: 06.4746877 Free. —- Kimberly Murphy, Pre-K teacher

8 Music in Calvinist America (Continued from page 7) Talking — Raleigh Werberger…. If Eurocentric includes American-centric, I agree Class Notes from completely. Not only because Europeans and North Ameri- “Music in American History” cans share a common symbolic language, which makes shar- by Ry Finerty, ing ideas easier, but also because my mind has been trained in Grade 12 those terms and it is difficult to think in terms of other experi- ences. Ultimately, to change a Eurocentric view it will be Today, if you turn on MTV, you get a good idea necessary to do two things—hire more ethnically diverse of the culture we live in. Scantily-clad divas sing pro- teachers, and make a significant outreach to students of other vocative lyrics with snakes slithering over their bodies, or backgrounds. You need pressure from the ground level to bad-boy bands scream about how punk is dying when effect curricular change—one voice alone can’t do it. they’re the ones killing it. These are all relevant to our time, but there was a time when Americans were not al- Q: Has the type and way you teach history changed because lowed to enjoy music at all. you are teaching students who have international experience During the first decades of America, during the and understanding? time of the Pilgrims, the communities were under religious rule. In the Calvinist colonies, the only music allowed The way I teach American history has changed dramatically. was the songs of psalms, which could only be sung in Usually I can rely on a set of assumptions that the students church. The idea behind this was if you enjoyed some- and I share, which makes conversation flow in certain direc- thing too much, your entry into heaven would not be guar- tions; that makes studying certain things more obvious than anteed. With this in mind, psalms were not allowed to be others. Here, in many ways, I’m starting from scratch, and practiced, for fear they would become too pleasurable to the first thing I have to do is get a buy-in that studying US listen to. history is somehow relevant or important. That obviously Hey, even unpracticed psalms might be better than changes the narrative. I am now stressing the idea that Amer- Britney! ica is an “imagined community,” to borrow a phrase from Benedict Anderson, and am treating the whole thing as an

experiment into human relationships—that is, how you con- ceive of a system, develop it, and gain allegiance to it. News from Local Papers Q: What are your favorite places to visit in Rome?

Cost of Public Transport to Rise, I’m trying to become a local, very slowly, so my favorite places in Rome are anywhere I can sit and watch people walk November 1 by. I also enjoy the medieval neighborhoods. I’m not a big fan of baroque—all those accretions and cherubs and curli- cues; just because a family had a lot of money to decorate The cost of public transport in Rome is set doesn’t mean that they had good taste. Usually the opposite, to rise November 1, when the first price increase in a in fact. It makes me think that someday tourists will go to decade comes into effect. The cost of the most popu- lar ticket, the BIT (biglietto integrato a tempo), which Graceland and celebrate the beauty of the Jungle Room, sim- entitles you to 75 minutes' travel on all forms of pub- ply because it’s old. lic transport including one journey by Metro, will rise from €0.77 to €1.

An ordinary monthly pass will jump from €25.80 to €30, and the price of an annual ticket will rise from €186 to €230. However, a discounted an- nual pass will be introduced for the under-20s, stu- Jsut Out! Rsearerch Sutdy dents up to the age of 26 and members of low-income Aoccdrnig to a rseearch study at Cmabrigde families at a cost of €150. Children under 10, of whom there are an estimated 260,000 in Rome, will Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers continue to travel free. in a wrod are — the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset Public transport tickets sold before Novem- can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit ber 1 will be valid until 30 March 2004, and annual passes bought before 1 Nov will be valid for a year as porbelm. normal. The price rises are being introduced to help Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not reduce the debts of public transport authority, ATAC. raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?

9

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

Time, Gods, and the Colosseum —Third Parading Art Grade has a lot going on this Month! Thanks to Cindy Alvarez, Donna Ferguson and Beatrice Fiore This year’s Halloween parade is more who sort of volunteered (no, it really wasn't pressured) to be the class than a series of children in store-bought dis- moms. Part of their role is helping us in third grade communicate better guises; many of the ES participants will be de- as well as sorting out our books orders. We've managed to get some buting their art pieces for all to see — look great chapter readers for the class with our points and hope to carry on where their faces formerly were found to be! doing so. Reading is such a wonderful experience and third graders do —Phoebe Cosentino, ES Art Teacher lots of activities to promote this. We have also been very lucky to have Jenny Perrault with us, a student teacher from Iowa, and have all benefited from her ideas and Second Grade puts Math enthusiasm. to Good Use — Apple Cakes! The children have learned about the origins of the Olympic Games and are always debating about who was the 'coolest' god or god- This year, second graders have been expanding dess. On Friday, November 7th, the third graders are going to visit the their brains with new information and skills, temporary exhibition "NIKE -- THE GAME, THE VICTORY" at the making new friends while building a classroom Colosseum. This exhibit will enable the students to see artifacts and community, and having fun! We have already statues of athletes pertaining to the Panhellenic Games of Ancient learned so much that some of us have become Greece, of which the Olympic Games were the oldest and most prestig- experts on bears and others experts on ele- ious. phants! Time is also one of the subjects being covered. All those 3rd For Thanksgiving, we will prepare a graders hopping up and down on one leg that you've seen have been feast in class. We will be making soup and us- finding out just how long a minute can really be! They've also been ing our math skills to weigh the ingredients for skipping along by 5's up to 60, without realizing that they're learning to apple cakes. In art, the children will make place multiply. Good job (the activity, that is, not the god!), 3rd Graders! — mats which they will use to decorate their Susan Prideaux and Jane Rumsby Thanksgiving table! Parents will be invited to join the festivities! We are looking forward to a Kinders start their literacy program great year working together! Teachers Names By Patricia Robertson, Kindergarten --Second Grade Teachers

Students are off to a great start and have learned about the letters C and O. They analyze letters, go for letter-searches, make many projects ES School Assembly to reinforce letter concepts and have fun. Teachers and students are November 3 dreaming about caterpillar C's, Cheerio O's puppets, mini-bOOks, pur- The “wise, old” Fifth Graders will perform skits ple COws, pOpCOrn,Ostriches, Oxen, etc. By the way, we actually for the entire ES on Monday, November 3, at made purple COws....and ATE them? (think vanilla ice cream and 9:30 in the Cafeteria. The theme will be proper grape juice!) UMMMMMMMMM! behavior during lunchtime in the cafeteria. One of our favorite books is Caps for Sale. We acted out the story for some of our parents. Lots of natural talent.....future thespians? We are learning numbers 0-10 and concentrating on number recognition, num- Pre-K4 to Grade 5: ber value, writing the numeral, and counting. We have a math center to reinforce learned concepts. Students to Teatro Verde, Friday was stuffed animal math day. We counted, sorted, com- October 30 pared/contrasted and grouped by attributes the many stuffed visitors that we brought from home. This year the carriages (buses, that Our upcoming field trip in November will be to the Natural Monu- is!) set off from AOSR to Trastevere at ment of the Caldara of Manziana, as it has diverse environments, a 9:30 on October 30 to see “The Happy beautiful birch tree grove (very fairy-like) and comfortable picnic ta- Prince,” a continuation of the fables and bles. The students will first visit a chestnut grove and collect chestnuts. myths series presented by Teatro Verde. They will begin the discovery of the magical wood through storytelling, This particular production will be staged in games and activities involving the five senses, led by specialized opera- English, using actors and puppets. Stu- tors/guides in environmental education. dents will return to AOSR in time to dis- cuss it all over lunch! 10 When it comes to eating, our actions speak louder than our words! (From “Keeping them Healthy²”by Janet Carlson Freed) Adapted by AOSR Parent Marta Rahm, RD

Many of us parents are unaware of the importance of real meal with them. our own behavior as we try to instill good eating habits in our Let children choose: Parents are responsible for children. Behavior is not just what we do but also how we what is offered to eat and how it is presented. Children are present food to our children as well as what we say about it responsive for how much and even whether they choose to and the comments we might make about our own appearance. eat. Be careful not to pressure kids to eat more or to eat If children see their parents using food as a way of faster. Children have their own internal signals of hunger and coping with emotional problems, they might imitate that be- satiety and should learn how to recognize them. havior later on. Do we decline dessert ourselves because we Eat, don¹t serve: Memo to all parents -- stop moving believe that our example might serve as an inspiration, rather about serving other people and taking care of other business than being viewed as dictates? Just see what works for you. at mealtime. If we don¹t sit down and eat, the message kids Say we¹re too fat? Munch when we¹re stressed or pick up is “Mom and Dad don¹t count: they are just here to snack standing up? Our children are watching (and listen- serve”. Girls especially need to see their female role model ing). valuing herself enough to take care of her needs. Maybe is time to look at our mealtime ways. Some Expect children to respect mealtime: If they inter- practical attention to eating: eating in cars, always on the go, rupt with homework, or plead for piano practice, try saying and eating standing up relegates food to a secondary role. “I¹m excited to see that you do that, but right now I need to We are not paying attention to our bodies innate clues such as eat my dinner, and we all want to eat together.” If their “I¹m hungry” or “I have had enough.” Such non-mindful friends interrupt by phone, suggest that they tell them, “I¹ll eating might be a set up for weight problems and food issues call you back when I am finished eating.” down the road. Controlling our own urges: If, after a tough day, Rituals: Setting the table, lighting a candle, and giv- we tend to reach for junk food or announce we need a drink, ing thanks are as fundamental as food itself because they tell our kids will come to think it¹s a normal thing to do. Keep an children that meals are important. The most challenging thing eye on whether you eat due to stress, and look for another to do is slowing down the pace of eating and eating on a way to chill out. regular schedule. Predictable and regular events instill secu- Teach Moderation, not Prohibition: Rather than rity in our children and in us as well. forbid certain foods -- which only makes them mystical and Distractions: Meals are a time of communion, dis- desirable--take the attitude that all things are available peri- cussion, even of quiet contemplation. They are not a multi- odically. For example, we might allow soda on weekends tasking event! No television, books, newspapers or phone only. calls at mealtime. Now comes the hard part: Be a role model. If we Watch what we eat: If we pass on the broccoli, our don¹t allow our kids to have soda during the week, then we kids might do the same. Declining dessert because we¹re full can¹t have it either. We can¹t sip diet soda and expect our sends a sensible message; saying no because we¹re “too fat” kids to drink milk. doesn¹t. Close the kitchen about two hours before bedtime. Timing our meals right: Our schedule may simply No more eating, no more snacking. This prevents our kids not allow for the whole family to sit down together during from consuming food out of boredom or to put off bedtime. the week, but let¹s try to do so at least once during the week- We should remember that when it comes to eating, our ac- end - even if it¹s breakfast. During a busy week, let the chil- tions speak louder than our words! dren know that you will finally sit down to a “RomaEuropa,” Largest Performing Arts Festival in Italy, Until November 30

Now, and until 30 November, the 17th annual RomaEuropa, Italy's largest performing arts festival, sponsors performances of some of the world's most renown dance companies, musicians, and poets as well as presen- tations of cinema, and poetry at nine venues right here in our city. This festival is supported by most of the embassies to Italy and other cultural and political organizations including the American Academy, the British Council and IFAD. If you have ever wanted to visit the historic and recently renovated theaters, Teatro Argentina and the Teatro Palladium in Garbatella, as well as the Accademie di Francia in the Villa Medici at the top of the Spanish Steps (among others), this festival arguably offers the most significant contemporary performance art entertainment. And all at subsidized prices! For more information (including artists, show times, ticket prices, and locales, visit the website, RomaEuropa.net.

11

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

MS Report Cards, November 13 AOSR Middle School First quarter Report Cards will be sent home with MS students on Thursday, November 13. Please note that no STUCO 2003-2004 classes are scheduled on Friday, November 14 so that all The Middle School Student Council elections teachers are available for Parent/Teacher conferences. Please were very exciting this year. For the first time in the call the Principal’s office ([email protected]) and let the history of the STUCO elections, over 25 candidates ran secretary know when and with whom you would like to meet. for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Should you want your child to be present for any conference, and Treasurer. It was an exhilarating week of cam- please make arrangements with his or her teacher by calling paigning and we are happy to announce that all candi- the school or through e-mail; please do this before hand. dates were professional and supportive of each other.

Congratulations to the following Student Council offi- MIDDLE SCHOOL ON THE MOVE cers and representatives: President: Yael Rafaeli We’re off!! Over 90 Middle School Students will Vice President: Caroline Van der Does be traveling to Poland, Spain or Greece during the week of Secretary: Alexa Golhammer . November 3. The annual Cultural Trips are organized Treasurer: Karim Zelenka around a common educational theme: “The Development Grade 8 Representatives: Riccardo Conducca, David of Cultures.” Before, during and after the trips, the stu- Ortiz, Talya Kahan, Brieanne Valle dents take part in an interdisciplinary experience that fo- Grade 7 Representatives: James Freeman, Jillian cuses on their travels. On-site professional art historians Kneeland, Rebecca Jonsson, Melanie Ferguson, Jes- are employed to assist the middle school junior ambassa- sica Kingsbury, Siddi Singh dors and their teacher chaperones with their in-depth ex- Grade 6 Representatives: Katherine Berton, Ludovica ploration. What a better way to learn about a country and Batazzi, Marissa Musselman, Nick Ortiz, Sophie Ma- its people than a week of total immersion and direct ex- nente, Michael Rafaeli perience! We hope to challenge our students to become resourceful, well-informed, and ethical global citizens. The middle school is looking forward to a fun filled year of events. A working lunch is held every Tuesday in Villa 11. OCTOBER 30 Scuola Media Info Night In fact, the STUCO sponsored HALLOWEEN On Thursday, October 30, the MS and Mrs. Fiochi will DANCE will host over 100 pairs of feet, dancing the host an "information night" to describe the academic require- night away on October 31 in our lunchroom. The ments and scheduling of tests at AOSR for the "Scuola Media" STUCO will provide pizza, chips, and drinks for all. certification program

“Oh Bullshot!” MS Play debuts November 12 and 13 Eighth Graders Research By Marin Finerty, Kashmiri Conflict Assistant Director, Grade 10 Some of the 8th grade history students in Ms. This year, Mr. Hendry is at it again! The Middle Mortellaro/Mr. Pirozzi class, have begun a unit of School production of “Bullshot Crummond,” is coming to study on conflict. The students are acting as "UN your favorite cafeteria theater. It is a very British comedy, Peacekeepers" seeking to study and resolve the Kash- and parodies one of England’s most beloved crime shows (as miri Conflict. They are working in groups of five, and much as crime shows can be beloved!). This is a great show are researching India and Pakistanis interests in Kash- for the entire family (I know because I have been at all the mir in hopes of creating their very own peace proposal. rehearsals!), so bring them along on Wednesday, November The students will be presenting their projects to 12 and Thursday, November 13 at 7 PM. a "special guest" on either October 28th or 29th. All of So cheerio! See you there! (All of this in a crisp Brit- the students are putting a lot of effort and dedication ish accent!) into this proposal in hopes of understanding why con- flicts exist and continue to be a part of history. 12 More Middle School (Continued from page 1)Excellence in Living, Learning... lives. At AOSR we believe that high academic standards and MS Candy Sale high ethical standards are inseparably connected. A good school is always teaching virtues. Getting to school on time, working hard, Over 130 Halloween Trick or completing assignments, respecting classmates, teachers and staff Treat bags covered the desks in Villa 11 members are all values that “go to the very heart of education.” as the traditional Candy Sale, even with Virtues such as honesty, respect, compassion, responsibility, self- days to go until its finish, broke the all discipline, and perseverance are with us every day at school. time record!! Excited Middlers anxiously We know that with AOSR parents as partners in their filled their friends bags with wax teeth, child’s education, together we will help our students to not only gum eyeballs, various types of chocolate, become more knowledgeable but to be responsible human beings fruit candies and, of course, the most at the same time. In the end, what we all want is to assure that our popular — gummy candies. Mr. Ullman, children develop a keen sense of personal and civic responsibilities the most loyal customer, generously and become successful members of society wherever they choose filled his own oversized bag. He was to live and work. kept busy chewing and counting from By Dr. Beth Kempler Pfannl, Principal October 20th right up to Halloween!!! The money raised goes for our The 8th grade continues its research on the original Cultural Trips the week of November 3. Thirteen Colonies NEW JERSEY -- One of the Original Thirteen Colonies By David Ortiz, Grade 8

BAKE SALES Captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey explored the land of The Middle Schoolers kicked off New Jersey the same year the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth fundraising this year with a series of Bake Rock. He and Sir John Berkley received a royal charter from the Sales. The first Bake Sale was sponsored Duke of York to settle in the southern area of New York. The by the 8th grade on Dutch then settled in the area of New York, including present- October 7th, the sec- day New Jersey, until the English came and took over in 1664. ond by the 7th grade New Jersey became a royal colony under the control of the Eng- on October 15th and lish Crown in 1702. the final Bake Sale The name New Jersey originated from an island in the was organized by the English Channel, which Sir George Carteret had governed, called 6th grade on the Oc- Jersey. New Jersey, when finally accepted s a colony, ratified the tober 22nd. The month of October was U.S. Constitution on December 18, 1787, becoming the 3rd state certainly the month to pack on the calories! to do so. Trenton was named as the capital city of this state, the We would like to sincerely thank the MS 5th smallest in the nation. During the civil war, New Jersey sided parents and students that contributed those with the Union, but the state did not vote for Abraham Lincoln luscious brownies, frosted cupcakes, cook- for a second term, which shocked many. ies and other scrumptious baked goods!!! English is a Funny Language! In the late 1700s many houses consisted of a large room, with a work table, and only one chair. Commonly, a long wide MS October board was attached to the wall, and was folded up from its hanging position to be used as seating during mealtimes. The "head of the Booster Bar household" always sat in the lone chair while everyone else ate sit- ting on the board. Yes!! We’re still at it!! MS is the place to be. Thanks to Ms. Zelenka, Ms. Once in a while an invited guest (who was almost always a Smits, and Mr. Pirozzi and Co., the first man, since women did not socialize by themselves in those days!) Booster Bar of the year was a great suc- would be offered to sit in this chair. To sit in the chair meant you cess. On October 17th the entire school were important and in charge. Sitting in the chair, one was called headed to the Quad for those juicy, the "chair man." This is why that today in business we use the ex- grilled burgers and hotdogs. The chips pression/title "Chairman” or “Chairman of the Board.” made a great side dish!! Students begged to be released from class early so that they could participate and purchase those ice cold sodas and wonderful chocolate and candy treats. See you again on De- 13 cember 5th!! Be there!! HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Congratulations to our National HS Report Cards, November 7 Merit Commended Students! HS First quarter Report Cards will be sent home with students November 7. Parents should discuss them with We are proud of AOSR’s three National Merit their child, sign, and return them the next week. If there are Commended Students in the 2004 Scholarship Program, any questions, private conferences can be scheduled with the announced at an all-school assembly in the Cafeteria on teacher. October 16. Please note that no classes are scheduled on November Hannah Ceen, Annie Kelly, and Dash Renaud 14 so that all teachers are available for conferences. Please are among the top five percent of students who took the let the Principal’s office ([email protected]) know when 2002 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Quali- and with whom you would like to meet. fying Test. Should you want your child to be present for any Dash has been a boarder at AOSR for 2 years, An- conference, please make arrangements with his or her nie has been a student here for all of high school, and Han- teacher by calling the school or through e-mail; please do nah has gone to AOSR since Grade 6. Congratulations to you, your parents, and to your this before hand. teachers! Declamations Assembly on AP/IB English and Art History to November 18 Hadrian’s Villa, November 20 An annual tradition, Mrs. Ceen and Mrs. Bian- “Courage — In All its Forms” is the 2003-4 Dec- chini will take a combined group of the 11th and 12th lamation theme. The most significant presentations of grade AP/IB English and Art History classes to Hadrian's literary works by the Junior class will be presented to an Villa, just outside Rome. This all-day excursion to the High School assembly, on November 18, at 9:30 in the "get-away" retreat of one of the most impressive leaders of Cafeteria. the Roman Empire takes place on Thursday, November It is an AOSR tradition of long-standing, which 20. students anticipate and talk about for months --- and This November field trip also happens to be coin- years! --- before and after. Parents are invited. cident with another long-standing annual AOSR tradition - -- both Mrs. Ceen and Mrs. Bianchini's birthdays! HS Student Council to Host Field Trip for 10th grade European “OPEN MIKE” Coffee House, History, November 13 We are lucky to have Renaissance and Baroque Rome up November 21 close and personal! November 13 all day Field Trip for Mrs. Ceen’s European History class. High School Student Council will again this year sponsor an “Open Mike” entertainment evening at the school on Friday, November 21, at 7:30. As in years’ past, IB, AP Information Night this event has something for and by everybody — from po- etry, to metal music, to protest songs, and comedy skits. After Parent/Teacher Conferences, Sign-ups will begin the beginning of the week of November 14 November 17, so look for notices. Mrs. Fiochi will take the stage after the Par- Parents generally do not attend. ent/Teacher Conferences on November 14, from 5 to 6 PM, for a presentation on the International Baccalaureate October 30 Palatine Hill program at AOSR. Later in November, Mrs. Fiochi will host an Reminder: there is a Palatine and Capitoline "Information Night" for all HS parents who are interested Field Trip for 11 and 12 Grade AP English/AP Art His- in the Advanced Placement (AP) classes for their children. tory, October 30, all day in conjunction with the reading The details of this evening will be distributed to students of The Marble Faun and The Aeneid. once the 2003-2004 booklets have arrived at the school.

14 HIGH SCHOOL NEWS 2004-5 IB Candidates Declared (continued) On October 15, the AOSR International Baccalaureate (IB) candidates presented themselves formally to the IB Interna- A New Bird in the Air! tional organization as candidates for the 2003-2004 diploma. Mrs. Fiochi hosted these well-attired HS students who The second meeting of the 2003-2004 declared their choice of IB subjects in which they will take ex- student newspaper met on October 15 with Ms. ams and registered the topics of the seniors extended es- Rabin —- and the newspaper itself became news! A says. Those students participating in the program this year are: new name for the student paper was proposed, and so "The Bird's Eye View" is now aloft at AOSR! CLASS OF 2004 The proposed date for its first issue to be released is BATAZZI, ALESSANDRO (English Literature) Wednesday, Oct. 29. Del BIANCO,LAVINIA (European History) Student-written articles are welcome from CANDELORI, LUCA (United States History) news staff and “stringers” alike, as are photos and MURMURA, PAOLO (English Literature) artwork from all students. Submissions can be NADVEGI, KATICA (Music) given to Ms. Rabin in Room 17, who will pass them ROCCHI, EMILIO (Italian Literature) on to the student editors. She added, “Meetings are SQUITIERI, VALENTINA (Physics) on Wednesdays, at lunch period, in my room, and TRUKHANOVA, KATIA (European History) interested students are welcome!” CLASS OF 2005 BHATIA, SUDEEP CANESTRI, ETTORE HS Improv Show, November ISRAELACHVILI, DAVID 26 KAR, SHANKAR By Stephanie N. Bittner, 10th Grade LELLI, DAVIDE MARIGLIANO, BENEDETTA After being in a class of Drama for about MARINO, AGNESE two months now, it was our duty to come up with MONTESI, LUCA new and spontaneous, random and very, very PRASHAD, SHIKHA strange ideas to entertain ourselves with every day. RACCAH, GABRIELLE As a product of the unconscious part of our im- SIRAVO, CHIARA promptu acting in Mr. Hendry’s class, we concluded SMITH, OLUSEYI that we should show you how our minds and bodies VOLK, TJASA have expanded — and not just from the ordinary, XUEREF, MANUEL regular lectures and schooling. YEVES, LORENA SO there will be a High School Improvisa- tion Show on November 26 at 9:30 AM, showing The seniors’ extended essay (the subject of which is in you other high schoolers that we’ve got courage parenthesis) must be completed by November 1. At that point, and, at the end, you’ll be the ones laughing! the essays will be sent to the international organization head- quartered in Geneva, Switzerland, for assessment. In addition to writing a 3,000 (minimum) word research essay, students who intend to qualify for the IB diploma must Basketball Try-Outs take six special exams in two years, they must perform 150 November 4-6 hours of community service for which they receive no compen- sation of any kind, and complete the Theory of Knowledge Tryouts for the JV and Varsity Men’s Bas- coursework. ketball teams will be held the first week in Novem- All students’ work is evaluated internally at the school, ber. Coach Phil Davies reminds all candidates that and then externally, by the international committee. Much more Academic Progress Reports will be monitored by the than an entertaining hostess to well-dressed youth, Mrs. Fiochi, coaches every two weeks (or weekly, at the coaches’ AOSR's IB coordinator, maintains a very complex database and discretion) and that a 2.0 GPA must be maintained a dizzying calendar! during the season. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and For the schedule of informational meetings for the MS Fridays, before late practice, a study hall in the Li- Scuola Media exams, the HS AP exams, and for more informa- brary is mandatory for all team members. tion on the IB Program, please check November's calendar of There will a sign up sheet posted outside of events. the gym. AOSR basketball fans are looking forward Good luck to all the 2004-2005 IB Candidates! to a great season! 15

News from the Counselor Donna Ross

Our congratulations go to HANNAH CEEN, minates at the end of January 2004. Your grades ANNALISA KELLY & DASHIELL in your courses are very important in the college RENAUD, Commended in the 2002 Na- application process. A solid grade point average tional Merit Scholarship Program… gives students many options. YES seniors, se- mester grades are sent to colleges!!!! SENIORS: This is very important. Be aware of the following procedure to follow in the ap- plication process. All information is mailed in FINANCIAL AID: All students (US citizens) one packet, which includes: applying for financial aid must complete the Free Student's completed application (or via Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), internet) but do NOT send FAFSA before: Application fee (or via internet) JANUARY 1, 2004 Secondary School Report or Counselor form Completing the form as soon as possible after Counselor Recommendation this date is critical. The U.S. Department of Edu- Teacher Recommendation (3 suggested) cation urges students to make use of their elec- If you have any questions or concerns, be sure tronic information and services by using the to see Mrs. Ross. internet to complete the FAFSA instead of filling out a paper form. SENIORS: If you are applying to col- www.fafsa.ed.gov leges/universities in the U.K. or USA, it is im- Other web sites concerning government aid are: portant to have a conference with Mrs. Ross. www.ed.gov/studentaid www.pin.ed.gov Parents are invited and welcomed. Be aware of deadlines. Some deadlines to remember are: PROFILE: Some private colleges, but not all, UK applications to UCAS - January 15 also require the PROFILE. This is sent to the USA applications - many due January 1 College Service (CSC), which is the financial aid

division of the College Board. PROFILE pro- SENIORS: Once again remember the follow- vides, in one comprehensive packet, the forms ing testing dates: and questions that must be completed to apply SAT I OR II: for private financial aid at each of the schools Saturday , November 1 - stand-by status that use PROFILE service. FAFSA and PRO- penalty charge of $30.00 FILE forms are available in my office. Saturday, December 7 -registration deadline - October 30 INTERNET SEARCHES: Try the following

addresses to search for more scholarships and Students can register for the SATs either by financial information: internet, fax or mail. Registration and practice www.finaid.org booklets for the tests are available in my office. www.gocollege.com Internet address is: collegeboard.com. www.fastweb.com www.NASFAA.com ACT: www.srnexpress.com www.collegeparents.com Saturday, December 13. If you want to www.collegeboard.com take this exam, you must register with Mrs. www.scholarhaid.com Ross. Do not send in a registration packet for ACT. COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS: Many col- lege/universities offer scholarships. Students AOSR IS A TESTING SITE FOR THE should check out ALL the possibilities at all the ABOVE TESTS (Continued on page 17) TO ALL STUDENTS: The first semester ter- 16

News from the Counselor (continued from previous page) Who Did You Give YOUR High School Ring To? schools they apply to. Requirements and procedures vary, Steven Loeffler (OSR Class of 1971) is so students must investigate each college. Call me if you looking for a digital picture of the OSR Josten’s have any questions. Some colleges/universities give finan- class ring from that time period. He will have a cial aid to foreign students, so please come in and see me new die made in order to remake the ring he gave (Mrs. Ross). to someone in a burst of sentimentality many years ago.

Seems that while Josten’s has been making JUNIORS - WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS SUM- our class rings since the beginning of time, that MER???? Interested in attending a one week Air Force particular ring die was discontinued when we Scientific Seminar at the Academy in Colorado Springs? added another initial to our school name. This is a great opportunity to see what the Academy has to If you happen to have your class ring, and offer. See me for details. can take a digital picture of it, please email it to the Falcon Flyer at [email protected].

College Recruiters Visiting AOSR This Month

The following colleges/universities will be visiting AOSR. Students in 11th and 12th grades are invited to attend these sessions. If missing a class, students must obtain permission from their teacher 24 hours in advance. Parents are welcome to attend.

COLLEGE DATE TIME BLOCK

Barnard College, NYC Thursday, 12:45 F October 30 American U. Tuesday 9:30 A of Paris November 4 Franklin College Friday 11:15 D Switzerland November 7 Dickinson College Monday 9:45 B Pennsylvania November 10 College Fair Tuesday 1:30 - 3:30 (St. Stephen’s) November 11 Providence Thursday 1:15 F and Lunch College November 13 University of Miami Tuesday 2:30 G Florida November 25

Several universities and colleges visited AOSR in over the past two months, including Boston Univer- sity, Wheaton College, U. of Richmond, U. San Francisco, Mt. Holyoke College, College of the Holy Cross, Endicott College, and Earlham College. They have left important and valuable information for you to look at and read at your leisure. You will find this, as well as the list of the previous colleges and universities, in my office (Mrs. Ross).

AOSR Girls Scouts " HELP and DONATE "

A collection drive will held Nov 17 - 26 for various hygiene items: bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small bottles of shampoo, etc. Please provide new items only. Your gift in kind will be delivered to a charitable or- ganization and homeless shelter in Rome. The Girl Scout troops here at AOSR will place drop boxes by the Elementary Library, Principal’s Office, and the Front Office, for students and staff to place the items.

17 Sports Briefs With Doug Kneeland

AOSR Hosts Mediterranean FALCON VOLLEYBALL . District Cross-Country Cham- pionships AOSR Volleyball Teams Have Winning Records Ten teams from Italy and Turkey gathered in Both the girls and boys volleyball played their hearts out historic Villa Pamphili in Rome on Saturday, 18 Octo- during the Mediterranean champioships which was held in ber for the Mediterranean District Cross-Country Vicenza. Championships. Both teams made their way to the semi-finals where the nd girls met Naples and the boys met Aviano. The girls fought The AOSR Falcon boys came in 2 in the team hard and in a very exciting game ended up losing to Naples by competition. Two Falcons qualified for the European only three points in the 5th set. The boys defeated Aviano and Championships in Heidelberg 25 October: Josh Knee- with a crushing 3-0 win and qualified for the final. land who placed 6th in the District, and Ian Haight who The Girls then played for 3rd and 4th place against Mary- placed 9th. The top 5 Falcons ran personal bests to beat mount. The Falcons got on that court and without even giving Marymount, who were 3rd in the District. Marymount MMI a chance to understand what happened they won the also had two runners qualify for the European Champi- match 2-0. They received the 3rd place award with Tamara onships. Djurdjevic receiving an all Conference award, and Vanessa Before going to Europe, Josh and Ian will try to Ananiades and Tamara Djurdjevic both receiving an all Tour- nament Award. call Tony Castelli for some tips. Tony graduated last year after winning the Mediterranean Championships As for the boys, they played Milan in the Final and with a nd team that wanted to win after so many years after arriving 2nd, and placing 2 in Europe. He is now going to univer- the boys took first place with a crushing 3-1 win. sity in the US. All-conference players were Edoardo Linari and Oluseyi Naples High School, the largest school in the Smith, for all Tournament Paolo Murmura and Oluseyi Smith District, won both the boys and girls competitions. who was also elected MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN THE Their entire teams qualified for the European champi- VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE. onships, where they will represent the Med District in the team competition. This will be a unique opportu- Fantastic job from all the team members. nity for Falcon fans to cheer for Naples – we wish them well in Europeans. The Players th The Falcon girls placed 4 in the District. Al- Girls Volleyball: Vanessa Ananiades, Lauren Barnhill, though none of our runners qualified for Europeans this Tamara Djurdjevic, Marin Finerty, Nicole Halloran, year, many of the girls ran outstanding races. This was Michele Lombardi, Bernadetla Marigliano, Agnes a young team which will undoubtedly move up in the Marino, Maria Anna Murmura, Annida Neumann, Bri standings next year. Riffe, Silvia Valente

Boys Volleyball: Allessandro Batazzi, David Brown, The Runners Brian Culley, Ry Finerty, Almir Kasumovic, Nermin Kasumovic, Will Kelly, Edoardo Linari, Paolo Murmura, Girls Cross Country: Roisin Agnew, Nicole Borunda, Brannan Panzarella, Ryan Panzanella, Seyi Smith, Hannah Ceen, Chantle Clark, Holly Deguzman, Daryn Manuel Zueref Goldhammer, Annie Kelly, Flora Mezzabotta, Chiara Siravo, Patricia Kelly-Schmutz, Bridget Narcisco

Boys Cross Country: Fred Araldi, Tim Garbinsky, We do not lose; we just Chris Haight, Ian Haight, Andrew Kingsbury, Josh Kneeland, Leo Mahoney, Jordan Musselman, Simon run out of time. Yizi — Vince Lombardi

18 FALL/WINTER Accomplished Scholar, Linguist, Art- SPORTS SCHEDULES ist to Coach AOSR Wrestling VOLLEYBALL 10/31-11/1 European Championship TBD Rev. Joseph Iannuzzi is a theologian and doctoral alumnus of the Pontifical Gregorian University. And, as of BASKETBALL (Practices start after November 10) October 17, Father Joseph is AOSR’s new Wrestling 12/5-6 vs. Aviano at AOSR Coach! 12/12-13 vs. Vicenza at Vicenza When he was in high school in 1983, Joseph re- 1/9-10 vs. Marymount at AOSR ceived honors in both orchestra and wrestling. In the 1983 1/16-17 vs. Naples at Naples NYSMA (New York State Music Association) the first 1/23-24 vs. Signonella at Sigonella prize was awarded to the Brentwood High School Orches- 2/6-7 vs. Milan at AOSR tra, with Joseph Iannuzzi as one of the performing first vio- 2/12-14 Mediteranean Championships at Aviano linists. In that same year Joseph was awarded the first 2/19-21 European Championships TBD place in the New York State Freestyle Wrestling Champi- onships. In High School he also received a gold metal in WRESTLING (Practices start after November 10) the Long Island County Wrestling tournament, and a silver 12/13 vs. Aviano, Sigonella, Vicenza and Naples at Naples in 'Greco-Roman' in the Empire State Games. 1/17 vs. Aviano, Sigonella, Vicenza and Naples at AOSR Joseph spent the next two years working as a 1/24 vs. Aviano, Sigonella, Vicenza and Naples at Vicenza carpenter for a national computer corporation. In 1986 he 1/31 vs. Aviano, Sigonella, Vicenza and Naples at Aviano received a full wrestling scholarship to Wilkes University 2/7 Mediterranean Championships at Naples (PA) where he pursued his studies in medicine. At this 2/13-14 European Championships TBD juncture Joseph worked as the column artist of the Univer- sity Newspaper. He was ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA division I national wrestling tournament at 150 lbs; he was Thanksgiving History also a traveling starter for Athletes in Action (an Olympic training team). Even though the first Thanksgiving in 1621 And last but not least, Father Joseph was also a was a one-time event, George Washington's first finalist for the US Olympic wrestling team; was injured so proclamation after his inauguration as the nation's did not make the team — even though he had defeated the first president in 1789 declared November 26, 1789, wrestler in his weight class who ended up winning a as a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer." medal! There was a lot to do in the early years and, His wrestling career took a turn in June of 1988 when in the early 1800's, the annual presidential thanksgiv- he traveled to Medugorje, Yugoslavia, where he decided to ing proclamations ceased for 45 years in the early enter the priesthood. As a priest he has written four books, 1800s. The tradition was resumed by another busy and translated six from Italian to English. president, President, Abraham Lincoln, in 1863. Meet him and you will probably find out more. Wres- Then in 1941, President Roosevelt signed the tling tryouts will be scheduled soon. Check the bulletin bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as board outside the gymnasium. Welcome, Father Joseph! Thanksgiving Day. Because two years out of every seven have five Thursdays in November, some states for the next 15 years celebrated on their own on the WE'VE GOT SPIRIT YES WE DO, last Thursday. WE'VE GOT SPIRIT HOW ABOUT Since 1956, the fourth Thursday in November has been observed by every state. YOU??!!!!! The after school activity cheerleaders had their first experience cheering on the AOSR cross country team at their championships at Villa Pamphili! We had an AWESOME time cheering them on, supporting our Falcons, and spreading the AOSR spirit!!!! Forever on Thanksgiving Day, A big thanks goes out to the parents for allow- The heart will find the pathway ing their children to participate in this event! We are looking forward to cheering on the AOSR basketball home. team next! — Wilbur Nesbit GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FALCONS!!!! And to the cheerleaders: I AM PROUD OF YOU, HEY I AM PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!! 19 —Tara Rosso (Continued from page 2) “AOSR Corporation and Trustee Election….”

AOSR is incorporated in Italy in accordance with to the Assembly about the state of the school, focusing on the laws of the Italian State. It is also incorporated in the curriculum and academic matters, goals and objectives, edu- State of Delaware, USA, in accordance with the laws of cational philosophy, and campus life. the United States. The Corporation is managed under the The Assembly will then get on to the business for direction of a Board of Trustees consisting of usually 12 which it has officially assembled in accordance with the by- members. They manage and guide the institution in accor- laws. Each candidate for the Board of Trustees will give a dance with the bylaws of the Corporation. These bylaws short speech to those assembled describing why he or she wishes to be a trustee, a short resume of his or her qualifica- are described in a document that cannot be changed with- out the approval of the members of the Corporation. tions, and how he or she can best serve the school in the po- Members of the Corporation can fall into one of sition of a trustee. three categories. The first category is its Regular Mem- The voting members of the corporation will then bers. Regular Members are parents and legal guardians of cast their ballots, either in person or by proxy, for new Trus- students enrolled at AOSR who choose to join the Corpo- tees to fill vacant positions on the Board of Trustees. The ration and pay a small fee of 10 Euro per person. Regular Assembly will then review and approve the financial state- Members have full voting rights in the corporation. The ments, specifically the audited balance sheet for the fiscal second category is Supporting Members. These can be year that has just ended. other persons with a vested interest in the school such as If there are any additional agenda items, these are teachers and alumni. Supporting Members must apply for addressed at this time. These may include suggested amend- membership each year, and the Board of Trustees ap- ments to the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the proves their membership. They also have voting rights in corporation or the discussion of recommendations related to the corporation. The final category is Honorary Members. the policies of the school. Corporation meetings are not the These are people who may have no personal involvement appropriate forum to discuss specific personnel or student in the school, but may have an interest in the school often matters. because of the role it plays in the larger community of Once all of the items on the agenda have been com- Rome. Or, an Honorary Member may have a special inter- pleted, the results of the election of new trustees are an- est in a specific aspect of our curriculum or programs, and nounced, the winners congratulated, and the meeting is ad- a relationship with that person benefits the school in some journed. way. Honorary members cannot vote on Corporation mat- This year there are four or five Trustee positions ters. which need to be filled. We are looking for candidates who The Annual Assembly of the Corporation is the have experience in fund raising, technology, facilities plan- most important event of the corporation. Each year the ning and long range financial planning. If you believe you members of the corporation must assemble to conduct the can make a special contribution to the Corporation by serv- business of the Corporation. Assemblies of the Corpora- ing as a Trustee, or know someone who can, we urge you to tion may be held at other times for specific purposes or contact us, either myself, Todd Atwood, Vice-Chairman and intents. But the Annual Assembly is the event where the Chairman of the Committee on Trustees, or our Headmaster, members of the Corporation can have their greatest impact Dr. Dougherty. Of course, we are looking for candidates on the overall strategic direction of the school by perform- with unique skills and talents. ing their most important duty for the Corporation -- elect- One final request, we urge our Corporation Mem- ing the Board of Trustees. bers to attend the meeting, to arrive on-time prepared to con- So, you might wonder what goes on at the Annual duct the business of the Corporation. In the past we have Meeting? And, how long does it take? I will answer the often had difficulty obtaining a quorum of members for the first question, and then at the end of this article discuss the meeting. In some years on the evening of the meeting, we issue of how long the meeting takes, because it is the other have had to delay the meeting 60 to 90 minutes while we matter over which our Corporation members have a sig- called Members at their homes urging them to come and nificant impact. participate. This is unfair to the Members who did arrive on The meeting will begin with a Call-To-Order by time. If you know in advance that you cannot attend the the Chairperson, that's me. The minutes of the previous meeting, please bring your proxy to the office on or before year’s Annual Assembly are reviewed and approved by the time specified in the Call. the voting members of the Corporation. The Chair will If you have joined the Corporation, you have made a then deliver the State of the Corporation address. Here I commitment to participate in the process. So, the answer to will discuss the financial health of the institution, the ma- the earlier question, “How long does the Meeting of the jor events over the past year and how they affected the Corporation take?" It largely depends upon you. institution’s financial performance, and how the institution You may become a member of the Corporation by performed against the goals the Trustees had set at the be- filing an application with the Headmaster's Secretary, ginning of the year. Domenica Losani, in the Villa. This is our school, and we all The Headmaster, Dr. Dougherty, will then speak have a right to participate in developing its future direction in accordance with the process laid out in the bylaws 20 —Richard Zacaroli, AOSR Chairman of the Board NOTES FROM THE FIELD

From the MS Italian Class Field trip to Sermoneta in October

Sermoneta Towers Over it All

By James Freeman Grade 7

One tower stands tall The other small Worn with years of battle The people inside watch, as the window rattle, Always watching As the lands around change.

From winter to summer People leave the castle and build cities, Malls, and cars.

But the towers always stand Waiting for the people To return. Again. Gianluca Belisari GROTTA FERRATA – A PLACE TO BE By Danny Giwa, Georg Seebode, and Patrick Cosenza

As part of the academic curriculum of the photo- journalism class at AOSR, field trips are fundamental in the process of interpreting the art of photography. On our recent field trip to Grotta Ferrata, our two primary objectives were to acquire quality photos of a me- dieval Roman town, and then, back in the computer lab at school, create a collage/travel poster from these photos that portrays the true beauty of the town. The abbey in Grotta Ferrata, which was one of our main picture subjects, offered us a distinct view of typical Roman art. Our supervisor, Ms. Harris, as well as our chaperone, Mr. Ross, provided us with the state-of-the art digital cameras. We had four hours of liberty to express our artistic abilities. We split up into partners, and set off on our journey. As we walked through the narrow streets of Grotta Ferrata, we saw public markets, lovely sculptures, and fountains that were good examples of ancient Roman art. Each one of us experienced different perceptions of this town, as we later saw after making our travel poster. The students had the opportunity to express their artistic talents, as well as enjoying the experience. This memorable day ended with a traditional Italian lunch, which consisted of three exquisite courses. It was a successful field trip. 21

Rome ‘n About Excerpted from an Account by Madelein Fabris, AOSR Principal and Teacher, 1947-1991

The Early History of American Overseas School of Rome

There was an Overseas School before 1947 --- but it was not this school! It was a little US Army School bearing this title, jeeps or home to dinner. We dubbed films to make a spot of and given quarters in Mussolini’s forum near the Ponte Milvio. cash. My mother had the doubtful pleasure of hearing her There was also a little British Army School in Parioli near Piazza Convent-bred daughter’s voice in a film in which I played a Ungheria, both of which admitted a few civilian children after rich and repentant lady of the streets endowing an orphanage World War II because of their need for an English-language edu- on Capri will her ill-gotten gains! In my own defense, the cation. By 1947, more diplomats came to Rome, joining the jour- script didn’t make it at all clear what her career had been or nalists, the workers from the Red Cross, the Catholic Committee what the story of the film was. for Relief Abroad, along with other refugee organizations –and We worked for eight months on our curriculum pro- formed the community of post-war pioneers. gram. Each teacher took one discipline and planned a rough When the Allied troops were being moved to Trieste in syllabus, helping each other out where we could. I started the 1947, five American and five British mothers led by the ingen- library by sending home for my childhood books. We held ious, charming and indomitable Mrs. Sylvia Horwitz, got together Mothers’ Teas and everyone brought books or the price of a and decided to form a nondenominational, international school book. We began Italian lessons at once. combining the best of the British and American school systems. Odd things happened. One day, we found smoke Mrs. Horwitz, Mrs. Stern, Mrs. Gwyther (of the Imperial War coming out of the ground. Some of our boys found the an- Graves Commission), and wives of foreign correspondents inter- cient Jewish catacombs under Villa Torlonia and had lit a viewed teachers who happened to be in Rome. fire in them. We came to the school one day to find it had I was one of them. We were all in our twenties. The become a movie set! During my lesson on Roman studies, entire office operation was run by Mrs. Tigacci, who had been a we were doing a play on the Rape of the Sabines. A little secretary in the British Army, and the entire maintenance was English student refused to carry off his Sabine bride (“No done by Antonio (an ex-army driver) and Signora Delfina. sex, please. We’re British”). As the boys practiced The British and American Ambassadors, who were pa- (endlessly!) the Roman-Sabine games for the class perform- trons of the school, put pressure on the Torlonia family to rent the ance, one of the little girls said “Oh how I wish they’d hurry palazzetto of Villa Torlonia, on Via Nomentana, as the first home up! I can’t wait to be raped”! Once, Ian Taylor and I took a of the school. So, in September 1947, the staff and the devoted dozen students to Pompeii and Paestum. During the visit to mothers gathered texts, materials, furniture and blackboards. the Naples Museum I asked, using my newly acquired Some of the desks were tiny ones with rigid seats --- and proba- American educational jargon, “Well, how do you feel after bly had high value as antiques even then! Others were big, ex- being exposed to all this culture?” There was an indignant army desks and even tall seventh and eighth graders had to stand reposte from a 13-year old – “Miss Brown, it’s the culture to write. that is exposed!” And I thought I’d steered clear of those When we opened the school on 16 October 1947, I was dubious Pompeian bronzes! still wearing the cottons I had brought in September for a holiday On another occasion we had a school audience with in Rome with my Mother. My trunk took three months to arrive, Pius XII, in his own study. As we left, with the Pope escort- since the war had destroyed so many trains. In fact, our journey ing us, a five-year old Scandinavian swinging on one hand to Rome had taken three and a half days from England, in an old and an Indian child swinging on the other, we heard from the railcar with blacked-out windows. The first enrollment of the front of the group, “Gee, the Pope is a lucky bum, having a Overseas School of Rome, or OSR, as it was called, totaled 62 gold telephone!” students; the core group of civilian children from the army At the first School Ball in 1948 we had no partners. schools were joined by 15 Chinese children, who had fled their Mrs. Rigacci’s husband danced with all of us. Then a hand- country’s Cultural Revolution. The school went to eighth grade. some colonel danced with me several times. Four days later Mrs. Monahan, a new bride, taught seventh and eighth, Mrs. I received a Christmas present from his wife ---“Tigress” by Lanza taught sixth, Miss Duggins, fifth, Miss Di Giusto, fourth. Faberge --- exquisite sensation, revolting scent, which Even though I had been teaching high school and junior high seemed to provoke a physical assault whenever any of us school boys after my college during the war years, I was given wore it! The woman became the Chairman of the Board. second and third grade, and one of my college seniors took Pre- That Easter I went to Capri. In the summer I went School and first grade. Mrs. Arduino also was part of this first all around Sicily --- for a whole month -- for L. 16,000! staffing. (I still have my first class list – 14 children, two of Good hotels, exotic tropical gardens, Arab palaces, Greek whom spoke French!) temples, the Ionian sea. Never have I been so happy as I was in those days -- Then F.A.O. arrived in Rome, one hundred of them, close friends with our children’s parent, and all of us working and we welcomed their internationality and the stability the together. My college friend and I found a room which cost us enrollment of their children gave OSR. But we had to leave L.30,000 a month each (while earning L. 50,000 a month, ini- Villa Torlonia, with its ruins, its Turkish Kiosk, its Owl tially and for the subsequent five years!). We ate meat only on House, its ripe figs plopping on the tiles of the gazebo, its Sunday and brought a panino every day for lunch. Signora Italianita! We came out into the world to grow, on Via Cas- Delfina served lemonade in warm months, and cocoa in winter. sia. The first chapter of the school’s Roman adventure gives The parents were marvelous and took us on weekend picnics in way to the second.... 22 Warhammer is coming to the

After-School Gameroom by Ry Finerty IL FORO Grade 12

Looking for a great hobby that combines every- thing from intricate craft modeling and painting skills to brilliant strategic battle plans? Then Warhammer is for Dance classes for adults: Dust off your you! AOSR students will be available to demonstrate dancing shoes! A healthy mix of mod- and teach the game in the After School Gameroom on ern/jazz/ballet with lots of stretching, suit- November 20 at 3:30. able for beginners and more advanced The game is played on a table which is built to dancers in a fun environment will be of- resemble a land in the 41st millennium, where massive fered starting in November on Wednes- futuristic armies battle for dominance and survival. It is days, 2:30-3:30pm. The studio is located not a computer game. Each of four players picks an near Piazza Manila (Flaminio). Please call army, paints it, and conquers the vast planets that await Nena at 06-320-3885 or 3406250038 your arrival. Warhammer is made by Games Workshop, Are you about to undertake renovations, which has been around since the ‘70’s. In Rome, there construction projects, repairs, electrical is a store near Re di Roma/Ponte Lungo Metro stop, and work, office cleaning, painting? Do you another off Via Nazionale on the Quirinal Hill where need someone to help that is honest, trust- you can see all the different army choices. Each army's worthy, dependable, talented, and experi- "story" is in an army rule book, called a “Codex.” enced? Call Tyronne, 06-308-13423, a Your army of “toy soldiers” is made up of as reliable worker with references. You can many of these intricate futuristic creatures as you want. also email him at [email protected] Although they have specific assembly and painting pat- terns, there is some flexibility with how each one is Dr. Beata Sepe is the private medical doc- equipped. The models can be made of either metal or tor used by all of the AOSR school board- plastic. They are very good-looking by themselves. ers and many of the AOSR families. She Then, you build and paint the models. This has an office in Parioli, lives off the Cas- hobby requires a serious time commitment to the paint- sia, and does home visits. She can be ing aspect. I find that this is most satisfying. Games reached by cell at 338-627-9002, or at 06- Workshop can supply you with its own Citadel paint 338-4993. and brushes, each with a distinct name, so there is no confusion as to which color or brush you should use Would the male teacher who witnessed a when painting a model. Games Workshop even sponsors car accident near the Cinema Ciak (on via a painting contest, called the “Golden Demon Awards,” Cassia, on 21 October, 2002, please con- and prizes are awarded to the most original modeling tact Marietta Olivetti at 332-69196? This and painting job. Some people only like the art part of teacher stopped and told Mrs. Olivetti he this hobby. would gladly testify if needed --- and testi- Once you have a finished army, the games can mony IS needed. Thank you. now begin. You are ready to “battle” your force against three other players. In order to realistically depict a On Friday, November 28, from 10AM to 4 fight between your army and another, you position your PM, the International Bazaar of the UN pieces on the game table and use dice to represent cer- Women’s Guild will be held at St. tain actions of your troops on the field of battle. The Stephen’s School on the Aventine Hill. rolls of the dice represent shooting, teleporting, artillery, Call Meg Sham at 06-5040-308 for details. and movement. This is where strategy – of placement, piece selection, and battle plan – comes in. WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN Good news! Others at AOSR have already ITALIAN AND …ITALIAN CUISINE? established themselves as battle-hardened veterans! On Cucina/Cuisine is organizing morning November 20, some of them will demonstrate the game. courses of Italian language through the Gameroom After-Schoolers can watch a battle being preparation of typical Italian dishes. 3 hour played, with running commentary, with four assembled lessons, with a tasting in the dining room and painted armies, in the After-School session of with a set table. Also offered are afternoon “Games” at 3:30 in Mrs. Hogan’s Room, This is for all courses of Italian and exotic cuisine and you would-be conquerors who think they might like to week ends in Tuscany. try the game for themselves. Call Angela Linari: 06.33261145 and The galaxy is yours to command, should you 338.8011729 choose to rise to its challenge! Will you be the most feared general to ever cross the universe, or just another head on someone’s belt? War is coming: are you ready? 23

Sat 06.334381 SAT I II Test II I SAT DECEMBER 1 European Champi-VB onships TBD 8 AOSR Youth Lacrosse/ Tournament Intercrosse 15 22 29 6 Basketball vs. Aviano at AOSR WWW.AOSR.ORG

Fri NO CLASSES NO OCTOBER

DECEMBER 31 MS Halloween Dance, 7:30 PM European Champi-VB onships TBD Quarter 7 HS 1st Report Cards 3rd Grade Trip Field to Colloseum MS Cultural Trips 14 Parent/Teacher Confer- ences 5:00-6:00 pm IB Infor- mation Mrs.Fiochi HS 21 7:30 PM “OPEN MIKE” Coffeehouse, HS Student Council at the Cafeteria 28 Classes No Thanksgiving 5 Basketball vs. Aviano at AOSR

Thu OCTOBER AP/IB English-Art

DECEMBER 30 30 5:30MS/”ScuolaMedia” Information Night Field Trip Teatro Verde Field Trip Palatine 6 HS Basketball Tryouts Trips Cultural MS 13 Trip Euro History Field Assembly MS 9:30 Produc- MS pm 7:00 tion, “Oh Bullshot” 20 Field Trip to History Villa Hadrian’s 7:30pmCorpora- AOSR tion Meeting Classes No 27 Thanksgiving 4

Wed OCTOBER

DECEMBER 29 5 Tryouts HS Basketball MS Cultural Trips 12 Cards MS 1st Q Report MS Theater 7:00 pm Production Bull- , “Oh, Falconshot!”at Theater 19 December edition Falcon Flyer Deadline 26 HS ImprovShow 9:30 HS Assembly Dorm Vacate Boarders busses No after school 3 NOVEMBER

Tue DECEMBER

4 HS Basketball Tryouts Boutique, 9:30—2:30 Trips Cultural MS 11 Boutique, 9:30-2:30 St. CollegeFair at Stephen’s 18 Dec- Assembly HS 9:30 lamations Boutique, 9:30-2:30 25 Boutique, 9:30-2:30 2

Mon DECEMBER 3 ES Assembly 9:30 PTO Monthly Meeting, Boutique, 9:15 Trips MS Culture 10 Wrestling/Basketball Start 17 1:15 PPAC Meeting 24 1 December Falcon Flyer Distributed AOSR

Sun 24 2 MS Cultural Trips 9 AOSR Youth Lacrosse/ Intercrosse Tournament 16 23 30