TASIS TODAY Spring 2011 A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of The American School In Switzerland The Sciences at TASIS Greetings from the Collina d’Oro to our Alumni and Friends around the world! From the Chairman From the Headmaster In a spinning world with dramatic events rapidly occurring every You and I, along with thousands day, TASIS is a still point, an oasis of peace and beauty for young of TASIS families over the past people to find and establish their moorings and to grow and half-century, have been drawn blossom into fine human beings, ready to take on life’s challenges, to this place by the irresistible of which there seem to be an ever-increasing number. dream of our Founder. Mrs. Fleming’s idealism is alive and In this issue of TASIS Today, we focus on the Sciences at thriving at TASIS. We are aiming TASIS as an important dimension to a TASIS education, as as high as ever - working hard a complement to our strong arts and humanities programs. to enrich the experience of We have always had exceptional science teachers who have our students, strengthen our inspired many of our students to pursue studies in the field academic program, and improve of science, but we have also come to realize that our science our campus facilities. We do labs, as functional as they are in battle-worn DeNobili, do this work with one passionate not match our program and goals. As an institution, we are purpose in mind: to change the therefore focusing on the Campo Science Center as the next lives of young people so that priority in the development of the TASIS Global Village. We they may, in turn, change the have launched our Science Center Capital Campaign with the world for the better. goal of raising $3,000,000 to finance half of the construction cost. We hope many alumni and friends of TASIS will help us Mrs. Fleming was best known for her bold entrepreneurialism. reach this goal in whatever way you can, small and large. We Behind the scenes, she was a tireless worker and relentless plan- are grateful for those generous leadership donors who have maker. In her 1996 yearbook message, she challenged students to already committed to funding a fifth of our goal (see pg. 9). combine bold vision and careful planning: “I want to remind you of the importance of having a dream, a noble dream. Henry David This issue highlights life on campus as well as the pursuits of Thoreau says, ‘If you have built castles in the air your work need our more recent and older alumni, out in the world making a not be lost: that is where they should be. Now put foundations difference. Our inspired and very capable Headmaster highlights under them’.” the Strategic Plan for the next three years. Commencement speaker US Ambassador Donald Beyer inspired our Senior The 2011-13 TASIS Strategic Plan represents our continuing effort class last May, and TASIS veteran Headmaster Lyle Rigg will to build foundations under our dream. The Plan grew from nine inspire our graduates this May as he presents his volume The months of surveys, discussion, research, and debate by the faculty, Wit and Wisdom of Mary Crist Fleming to each senior. And staff, parents, students, and Board of Directors. The result? A clear we feature the grand opening last spring of our beautiful new set of action steps that will carry us toward our long-term goal: Palmer Cultural Center, funded by Alumnus John E. Palmer to become the school of choice in Switzerland and one of the ‘64’s legacy gift and other generous alumni. finest schools in the world. Please visit the TASIS website to see the complete summary of the Plan. Below are some highlights: Our alumni stay connected as many lifelong friendships were forged at TASIS. Peruse the Alumni News and photos from Curriculum: Define, document, and continue to improve the many TASIS gatherings held around the world, and plan the curriculum. • Bring English language learners to mainstream to attend an upcoming reunion (see pg. 40). literacy more quickly. • Improve the daily/weekly schedule. • Empower academic leaders to play more active roles in curriculum The School is very much alive and well, and making a difference mapping, professional development, and the recruiting, orienting, in transforming the lives of young people entrusted to our training, coaching, supporting, and evaluating of excellent care. Please find the chance to visit and see for yourselves. teachers. • Establish detailed content and skill requirements for all You are always welcome! courses and grade levels. With every good wish to each of you, continued on pg. 2 Lynn Fleming Aeschliman ‘63, TASIS Board of Directors: Lynn Fleming Aeschliman ‘63, Rick Bell PG’65, Riccardo Chairman of the Board Braglia, Jennifer Bullard Broggini, Fernando Gonzalez, Berkley Latimer, A. Jan Opsahl ‘68, Gianni Patuzzo, Curtis McGraw Webster ‘75, Alexandra Heumann Wicki ‘80 CONTENTS 3 Class of 2010, Awards, US Ambassador Beyer’s Big Ideas 4 The Sciences at TASIS 7 Building a Sustainable Future, David Mayernik 8 Campo Science Center Capital Campaign 9 Young Scientists Are Our Future, Riccardo Braglia 10 Where Are TASIS Scientists Now? Tiffany Misrahi ‘03, Jeannette Warren Smith ‘05, Hannah Walton ‘06, Quchat Shekarri ‘07, Chris McLaren ‘07, Emily Gammoh ‘08, Stefan Gygax ‘08, Michael Kaiser ‘09, Ulkar Guliyeva ‘09, The Henry Weiss ‘09, Arne Van Hauwermeiren ‘10 12 Khan-Page Master Teacher Award: Mark Aeschliman; Sam Lippa Retires 13 Palmer Cultural Center Opening Ken Biller ‘82, Jeanie Cunningham ‘75, Brad Farwell PG’84, ciences Darby Hinton ‘75, Ollie Rasini ‘99, Jack Savoretti ‘01, Billy Zane ‘84; Kay Hamblin, Todd Fletcher, Gary Malins, Candace Owen-Williams at TASISS 16 Clark Scholarship Winner: Selina Baechli ‘11 17 Founder’s Day & Family Weekend 4 18 MCF: What a Life! Musical Revival on Campus 19 Global Issues Network 20 A Changing Campus: Progress on the Global Village 22 Honor Roll of Donors: Alumni and Parent Annual Giving 24 TASIS Legacy Society 25 Financial Summary 27 Publications & Videos: The Wit & Wisdom of Mary Crist Fleming, Stages of Life, TASIS on Film, eTASIS Today 28 Alumni Making a Difference Bob Armantrout ‘76, Nounou Taleghani ‘81, Harold E. Doley III ‘86, Christiana Wyly ’99, Maude Glore PG‘67, Mehrdad Dabbagh ‘79 35 Reunions Around the World 40 Alumni & Faculty News 52 Competitive Privilege: Carla Arimont ‘94 53 TASIS Summer Programs 31 Senior Editor Alumni News Address Changes Story Submissions Contributing Photographers Lynn Aeschliman Editors [email protected] [email protected] Michele Kestenholz, Kim Nelson, Editor & Writer Yvonne Procyk Alumni Office c/o TASIS Attention: TASIS Faculty & Students Kristin Pedroja Zuleika Tipismana CH-6926 Montagnola, Yvonne Procyk Graphic Design Switzerland Michele Kestenholz Cover: The Sciences at TASIS © Copyright TASIS Science Department Chair Alexander Ogilvie and Middle School students The American School In Switzerland fsc- Printer: Lepori & Storni, Lugano (l-r) Sergey Sherstnikov, Diego Antunes Domiciano, Jie Ji, and Amanda Antunes Domiciano logo Spring 2011 - 1 Instruction: Expand professional growth of a smoke-free campus, improved nutritional opportunities tied to a thorough and quality of food, etc.). • Teach democracy, the consistent faculty appraisal process. rule of law, and the balance of rights and • Provide appropriate staffing and training responsibilities as core features of Western for all teachers to improve instruction to EAL civilization. • Expand the work of Student students. • Increase professional development Councils in the ES, MS, and HS. opportunities for teachers (especially on-campus). TASIS England: Work cooperatively with • Faculty retention: Increase retention of TASIS England to share resources and excellent faculty with particular attention to leverage the organization’s strengths. mid-career teachers. • Continue to expand • Continue and strengthen faculty/staff year-round off-campus housing for faculty. • exchanges (short professional development Continue and increase the pace of instructional visits). • More actively coordinate faculty technology upgrades. committees and teams working on EAL curricula, Middle School: Restructure and focus College Counseling, Learning Support, and Grades 6-8 to build a distinct identity, Admissions. increased academic and social support, Sustainability: Explore all possible options cohesive administration and faculty, and for containing costs, keeping tuition as a more developmentally-appropriate affordable as possible, and promoting program. • Increase collegial teamwork with environmental sustainability and steward- age-appropriate curricular, instructional, and ship on campus. • Tighten controls on assessment practices. • Move toward a single budgetary compliance and assess all current campus area for MS classrooms, common programs for economic sustainability. • Promote space, boarding rooms, faculty apartments, and simple means of conservation and stewardship administrative offices. (closing doors and windows, turning off lights, Admissions: Increase applicant pool to reducing water use, recycling) more aggressively improve selectivity as we move toward with students, faculty, and staff. • Conduct a our long-term target enrollment of 740 comprehensive independent audit of energy students in Grades Pre-K through 13. use on campus – aiming to reduce waste with Increase percentage of native English- heating, lighting, and the use of electricity and speakers (particularly Americans). Increase water. re-enrollment. • Expand the Admissions team. The Global Village: Continue with the • Expand and personalize the admissions process sequence of the Global Village Master for prospective Elementary School families. Plan projects at the most appropriate pace. • Improve assessment instruments to allow • Open the Palestrina/Arte classroom facility more clear decisions on general academic by September, 2012. • Complete the Campo suitability and grade/course placements. Science Center capital campaign by 2013-2014 • Collect, analyze, and use more effectively and open the building by September, 2014. data from enrolling, continuing, and departing • Construct an on-campus parking lot (65 families. • Pursue creative marketing strategies cars) and swimming pool by 2015.