On Thursday, October 27, Their RoyalHighnesses Felipe de Borbón and LetiziaOrtiz, Prince and Princess of Asturias,received the school’s Board of Trusteesand Administrative Team in audience tohonor ASM’s 50th anniversary. Duringthe audience, which took place at theirhome residence at Palacio de la Zarzuela,Prince Felipe commended the school onits highly-valued academic program andstressed the importance of educatingstudents in becoming respectful,independent, and open-minded worldcitizens. ASM extended an invitation tothe Royal Family to visit the school inthe near future.

Royal Family Celebrates ASM’s 50th

By Mr. Steven Schaver, President of the ASM

Board of Trustees

A big welcome to all new families andstudents who have joined the ASMcommunity! ASM is proud to say thatwe have 173 new students this year whorepresent 25 countries. There are 97 newfaces in the Lower School, 34 in theMiddle School, and 42 in the UpperSchool. They join us from four continentsand many countries including Argentina,Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria,Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Greece,Guatemala, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait,Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal,Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, SouthKorea, UK, USA and Venezuela. What awonderful cultural mix!

In commemoration of the tenthanniversary of September 11th, the USEmbassy dedicated a memorial treegrove to commemorate victims of theacts of terrorism, as well as celebratelife and the resilience of societyeverywhere. ASM students were invitedby the Embassy to represent the Americanschool and work as volunteers at theceremony, directing guests and VIPs.The grove of ten trees is located in ParqueJuan Carlos I and the ceremony was wellattended by Americans living in Madridas well as local Spanish citizens. PrinceFelipe and Princess Letizia of Spainattended as well as ambassadors anddiplomats from many different countries.

The dedication was a special event tobe a part of as ASM volunteers wereprivileged to shovel earth on top of thenewly planted trees and speak with USAmbassador Alan Solomont and Mrs.Solomont. The ten trees now serve asan enduring symbol of the ten years ofhealing after September 11th as well asthe unwavering unity of people every-where.

Welcome to the ASM Family!Sholeh Farpour, Admissions Head

ASM volunteers were privileged toparticipate in the tree planting ceremonyand to speak with US Ambassador AlanSolomont and Mrs. Solomont.

Ms. Rosario with students in 1965.

50 Years of Excellence - Ana Suarez, Development Head & Community Liason

Founded in 1961, the American School of Madridcelebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2011-2012 school year. In honor of this specialbirthday, ASM faculty, staff and communitymembers have been working hard to learnmore about the school’s impressive history.Some of the 50th inspired projects include:“Did you know?” fun facts about ASM historyin the weekly e-NewsFlash, interviews of long-term faculty and staff in the monthly Insidere-newsletter, and the eye-catching HistoricalPanels outside the library entrance, designedby alumna Elisa Gómez Sobelman (’99).

During the month of September, revered Lower School Spanish teacher RosarioGayarre, who has taught at ASM since its beginning, spoke at various assembliesabout ASM’s early years. Focusing on the decade of the 60’s, Rosario explainedthat ASM was founded by a group of American businessmen, rather than the

embassy or military as many assume, to providean American curriculum for their children. Shealso showed pictures of the school’s originallocations in downtown Madrid, explaining thatthe move to our current Aravaca campus in 1967was quite a shift. At the time, Aravaca wascompletely undeveloped and the only trafficaround was the local sheperds and their flocks.As special guests, Rosario invited faculty membersJuan Ortiz and Tica Echols, both graduates ofASM and students during the 60’s, on stage torecount some amusing memories as well.

Ms. Rosario continues to teachSpanish in the Lower School.

September 11th Commemoration Ceremony in MadridEmily Belin, Executive Student Council President

Family Day at ASM was a terrific kickoffto the 2011-2012 school year. Heldevery September, Family Day offers afun and relaxed picnic atmosphere forthe ASM community. It is the perfectopportunity for returning families andalumni to reconnect with old friendsas well as for new parents and studentsto discover new ones. The grill anddessert bar were busy as always witha very skilled and international crewof volunteers. Whether you were plantedout on a picnic blanket or preferred tomingle among the crowds, Family Daywas a lovely event for parents, teachers,alumni, and children alike.

Witches, ghosts, ghouls and goblins,along with an assortment of othercreative characters, could be foundenjoying themselves around ASM’scampus on Sunday, October 30th, forthe annual Halloween Carnival.Attendees of the event snacked onhamburgers, hotdogs, chili and delicioussweet goodies, while also participatingin different events arranged by Middleand Upper School students. The studentsmanned their booths as they raisedmoney either for charity or for classevents. As with every year, it was a“ghoulishly” fun event for people ofall ages.

Every Thursday the Kinder 2 Drama Groupmeets to act out stories. Sometimes thestudents use costumes and props, whileother times only their imaginations—but no matter what, they always havefun! There are even non-speaking partsalways available for those with a bit ofstage-fright. So far the K2 thespians haveproduced “Little Red Riding Hood”,“Corduroy”, “Christopher Columbus” (ina three part saga), “Elmer the Elephant”,and “The Scarecrow Story”. Break a leg,Kinder 2!

This fall the Third Grade completed their“Where in the World?” unit of study. Thisfour-week unit guided students in learningall about the geography of our world.The unit taught cartography skills suchas reading map keys, measuring andconverting map scales, and understandingthe differences and similarities of mapsvs. globes. Additionally, new conceptssuch as the prime meridian, weather andtime patterns, lines of latitude andlongitude, and the hemispheres wereintroduced. The students had severalopportunities for hands-on learning. Oneof their favorites was being able toexamine maps used by a pilot, a surgeon,a zookeeper, and a cardiologist. What away to learn!

On September 30, fifth graders gatheredin the Multipurpose room for a special5th Grade Challenge, the first in a seriesthis year. Testing their ASM LearnerSkills, students from all three classeswere mixed up into groups and wereasked a difficult task: separate a stringof ten paper clips without using theirhands! Despite the challenginglimitations, students showed their skillsas resourceful thinkers, collaborators,and persevering problem-solvers.Congrats, 5th graders!

A Community of Young Writers - Erica Trobridge, Lower School Literacy Coach

To the Stage!Mary Nichols, K2 Teacher

The Perplexing Paper ClipChallenge Karen Cambell, 5th Grade Teacher

Halloween CarnivalMolly Belin, Upper School PVC Coordinator

Where in the World?Nicole Florez, 3rd Grade Teacher

Third graders put their new map skills touse!

Through the K2 Drama Group, studentshave also been learning lots of usefultheater vo cabulary, such as stage, scenery,costumes, props and cues.

Kinder 3 students share their stories withconfidence and pride!

During the Paper Clip Challenge studentswere given 2 pencils as tools. But therewas a catch—each individual was onlyallowed to use one pencil at a time!

Family Day & Alumni HomecomingTracy Seem, Middle School PVC Coordinator

Have you ever wondered where five-year-olds get all of those creative stories? Orhow they can tell such an elaborate tale from a picture they have drawn? Since thebeginning of the school year, the Kinder 3 students have been learning how toshare ideas and experiences through drawing and writing. These students havebeen learning from favorite picture books to discover how they, too, can elaborateon the details of their lives, just like famous authors. As their teachers model thecraft of writing, the carefully chosen words of Dr. Seuss and others provide dailyexamples of how to tell a story. Focusing on the things they know best—a walk inthe park, a birthday party with friends—students feel successful and confident aswriters, as well as people, with important things to share. We hope you enjoy theirstories throughout the year as they become even better storytellers and writers!

Students in grades 6 – 12 have theopportunity to study Mandarin this yearat ASM. The beginning course focuseson developing the language skills oflistening, speaking, reading, and writingwith the expectation that students willbe able to read approximately 400characters and to communicate in asocially appropriate way. As they developtheir ability to read, write, and speak inMandarin, they will also increase theirknowledge of the Chinese culture in orderto ensure more successful communicationand reduce cultural misunderstandings. 大家好（Hello, everyone! Pronounced:Da jia hao).

Each quarter, the Middle School Houseprogram celebrates one of its Jamborees,a culminating field day activity that unitesthe Middle School in a spirited andcompetitive activity. The fall Jamboreeconsisted of four team-building events:turn over a new leaf, river crossing,electric fence, and an event called thewater relay. Students in each House—Agua, Fuego, Tierra, and Viento—workedtogether to earn House points bysuccessfully completing each activity.

October 3-7, ASM’s Grade 6 studentsand teachers made their twelfth annualtrek to the Gredos Field Study Centerin Navarredondo de Gredos. Immersedin idyllic natural surroundings, thestudents gathered, described, identifiedand categorized wood and stream insectsas part of their study of animals inScience. In anticipation of their studyof astronomy later this year, theystargazed into the crystalline skies ofthe Gredos Mountains to spot meteorsfrom the Draconid Meteor Shower and

used a telescope to identify the mare,craters, and highlands of a brilliantquarter moon. On a practical level, theylearned how to set up and take downcamp tents and how to safely shoot aflight of arrows. By virtue of the FoodWeb game, they learned about theinterdependency of all living creaturesand the plight of both predator and preyin the natural world. And, of course,they had fun! Everyone agreed at trip’send that the Gredos experience is onethey will never forget.

With Halloween spirit in the air, the Musicdepartment decided to showcase theMiddle School Music program with theHalloween “Spooktacular” Concert onOctober 27.The MS Choir presented foursongs to bedazzle and frighten theaudience including “Jack’s Lament” fromthe movie The Nightmare BeforeChristmas, featuring eighth grader RocioChristensen as “Jack,” and “RememberMe This Way” from the movie Casper,which featured eighth graders BettyGonzales and Claudia Moericke on vocalsolos and Orietta Ibarrando on piano.

The MS Orchestra shared theirarrangement of songs from Pirates ofthe Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, and

the theme from Beauty and the Beast.They wrapped up their portion of theconcert with a fun jazz piece called “Inthe ‘Creepy’ Cool Department,” whichfeatured eighth grader Mylo Duval oncello solo.

To top off the evening, the goblins andmonsters of the MS Band played a medleyof scary movie tunes that included themesfrom Ghostbusters, Werewolf in London,and Scoobie Doobie Doo titled “A Rockin’Halloween,” This was followed by thetheme song from the movie E.T. Thegrand finale featured a combined ghoulishperformance by the MS Band, US Bandand US Jazz Band students, playingMichael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

A Spooktacular Event! - Chris Suazo, MS and US Music Teacher

ASM Library’s Very Own Author Jana Roth, Upper School Librarian

Middle School House Jamboree Mike Nugent, Middle School Director

大家好 (Hello, everyone!)Joanne Reykdal, Upper School Director

ASM would like to congratulate LibraryAssociate Mario Crespo, whose first novel,LS6, was selected as one of the Spanish “firstnovels” for the Festival du Premier Roman.This festival, held in Chambery, France eachspring, is France’s leading Readers’ Festivaland the only festival where guest authorsare chosen by readers. You can find out moreabout the LS6 as well as Mario’s other bookson his Facebook page “Cuento Kilometros”.Mario would like to extend his appreciationfor the support he has been given by theASM community. What a wonderful honorand achievement for Mario!

Mr. Mirer was the Master of Ceremonies,narrating the performance with his hystericalHalloween humor.

Grade 6 students identify and classifyinsects on the Rio Mesegoso during theirtrip to Gredos. What a beautiful place andsunny day to learn!

Students show their team spirit as theydress up for the first jamboree of the year.

Mandarin teacher Shihman Lee engagesthe classroom as they practice readingaloud.

Grade 6 Celebrates its 12th Anniversary at the Gredos Center - Linn Peterson, Middle School Science Teacher

ASM Today © 2011. Designed and edited by the American School of Madrid Development Office. For information email development@asmadrid.org or alumni@asmadrid.org. All rights reserved.

Educating Future Voters - Mike Tribe, Upper School Social Studies Teacher

SPORTS NEWS: ASM Student Plays for Spanish National Team Anna Banerjea, Alumni Coordinator

ALUMNI NEWSBy Anna Banerjea AlumniCoordinator

Three generations of ASM families poseafter the volleyball game during FamilyDay & Alumni Homecoming. Alumniteams played matches against the BoysVarsity Soccer team and Girls VarsityVolleyball team. In both cases the Alumniteams prevailed. Go Lancers!

ASM alumna Eli Sanchez (’06) returnedfor 40 Hour Theater share a little of whatshe learned while studying at the RealEscuela Superior de Arte Dramatico.

From individuals like Eduardo Baeza(’96) and Eli Sanchez (’06) (both featuredabove), to alumni parents, faculty andstaff, ASM is lucky to have a dedicatedalumni community. Events like FamilyDay and Halloween Carnival are anothertestament to alumni enthusiasm, asalumni are always in attendance!

This year's 40 Hour Theater took a differentturn than in years past. Instead of focusingon improvisation, this year's focus wasShakespeare. We examined severalaspects of production from unlockingthe text to stage combat. At theperformance on October 7, studentsshowcased what they learned -- includingfencing, images from Measure forMeasure, and a condensed version ofTaming of the Shrewwhich they managedto get through in just over three minutes.Thank you to all of those who made thisspecial weekend possible.

In preparation for the Spanish GeneralElections, Upper School students attendedtwo informative assemblies led byrepresentatives of the PP, Partido Popular,and the PSOE, Spanish Socialist Party.On Tuesday, October 18th, Eduardo Baezafrom the Partido Popular came to speakabout the political campaigning process,the significance of the upcoming elections,and the importance of public service.Edu was a student at ASM from 1990-93,and went on to study law at Madrid’sUniversidad San Pablo and to earnmasters’ degrees from the Sorbonne,the University of Chicago and Harvardbefore joining Mariano Rajoy’s team ofadvisors. Edu’s absorbing presentationwas followed by a lively question andanswer session.

On Tuesday, October 25th , students heardfrom Jesus Greciet and Beatriz Talegonfrom the youth wing of PSOE. Mr. Graciet

spoke about the history of the party andhow elections were organized while Ms.Talegon focused on the difference invalues between the two major parties.Both speakers emphasized the importanceof active participation in the politicalprocess, a duty shared by all citizens.The presentation was followed by anotheranimated question and answer session.

On Saturday, September 17, ASMinaugurated its largest IB diploma classin history. Sixty-one new IB diplomacandidates attended the IB orientationon Saturday. The students learned abouttopics that IB Diploma candidates willbe encountering in their two years in the

program. Michael Vetrano, IB Coordinator,discussed IB regulations and theCommunity-Action-Service program;Upper School Guidance Counselor MeganCorazza spoke with them about stressand time management; history teacherMike Tribe and librarian Jana Rothunraveled the extended essay, and UpperSchool Dean of Students Kim Cullen gotthem all fired up about academic honesty.All students were also treated to awonderful breakfast, thanks to MiguelBonilla in the cafetería, and a pizza lunch.The day was a great success, and studentsleft feeling more comfortable and confidentabout the IB Diploma. Since the orientationin September, Junior IB students haverapidly delved into their extended essayresearch and CAS projects.

This fall Junior Clara Aranguren had the special opportunity to travel to Azerbaijanand represent Spain as an athlete. In addition to her IB academic course load,Clara juggles another, less typical, responsibility. She is a goalkeeper on theSpanish National Soccer team competing in the Women’s Under 17 2011-2012UEFA European and 2012 FIFA World Cups. The team traveled to Azerbaijan forthe first phase of the tournaments, playing Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, and

Azerbaijan. Clara played in two out ofthe three games, describing theexperience as “incredible”. “The mostrewarding moment,” she says, “waswhen the starting eleven ran out onthe field and we put our arms aroundour neighbors’ shoulders to listen tothe Spanish national anthem. I felt soproud to be able to represent mycountry.” Dedicated athlete andcommited student, Clara was back oncampus and ready to learn the veryday she arrived back from thetournament. Congratulations, Clara!

Defending goal, Clara blocks a shot byUkraine. The Spanish team proceeded towin the game, 7-0. After winning all 3games in Azerbaijan, they will play in thenext round next spring.

40 Hour Theater... With A TwistBrian White, Upper School English Teacher

IB students collaborate on school projects.

Social Studies Teacher Mr. Tribe with alum-nus Eduardo Baeza (‘96).

New IB Student Orientation - Michael Vetrano, IB Coordinator