Tel: (237) 23342 1437 www.asddouala.com

Editor and Design : Jacqueline Bindzi

IN THIS ISSUE: National Honor Society, Lower School Stduent of the Month, College Counselor’s Corner, Physical Ed. and Swimming News

American School of Douala

Edition 2015-2016 Issue 20 January 22nd, 2016

As mentioned in an earlier edition of Talking Drums, ASD is creating a school chapter of National Honor Society for eligible 11th and 12th graders. Membership of National Honor Society benefits student members as it is a nationally-recognized organization in the United States, and provides recognition and confirmation of a student’s strong academic achievement, their character and their commitment to service.

Students need to be in excellent academic standing (3.25 GPA or above), as well as demonstrate outstanding character, leadership and service.

TALKING DRUMS

TALKING DRUMS

Accredited by

Dear ASD Community, Greetings to ASD community once

again. I have returned to the school

after being away for a little over a

week. Given the welcoming nature of

the school, I really felt like I was

coming back home when I arrived

last evening. Thank you!

Tomorrow is the Family Fun Day at

ASD. I look forward to a chance to

interact with the greater school

community. Please be sure to join us

tomorrow, Saturday, for this lively

and fun event. I hope to see you

there.

Dr. Paolo Johnson Director High School Principal

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Lower School Students of the Month

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Edition 2015-2016 Issue 20

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January 22nd, 2016

We will be creating a Faculty Council to select student members based on the criteria above. To remain in National Honor Society, students will need to maintain their academic standing and participate monthly in service activities.

We are working on selecting appropriate service projects for our NHS members. We will also seek input from our student members in order to match them to service projects that interest them. They will also be invited to use their own initiative to develop appropriate projects in the wider community as well as within school.

Please be on the lookout for an ASD National Honor Society application which we will distribute to 11th and 12th grade students. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Best,

Chris Guttridge

cdguttridge@gmail.com

Feb. 1st

Mark your Calendars!

REPORT CARDS sent home

Mar. 7th -11th SPRING BREAK – NO SCHOOL

AISA Conference

Feb. 11th YOUTH DAY – NO SCHOOL

Jan. 22nd Quarter 2 Ends

Jan. 25th Quarter 3 Begins

Feb. 26th Progress Reports given to all

students

Jan. 22nd Last day for Quarter 2 After

School Activities

Feb. 2nd Quarter 3 After School Activities

begin

Jan. 25th -29th SIGN UPS for Quarter 3 After

School Activities

Jan. 23rd FAMILY FUN DAY

Sophia - Grade 1 December student of the month

Eve - Grade 2 December student of the month

Xiao Yan - Grade 3C December student of the

month

Edition 2015-2016 Issue 20

Tel: (237) 23342 1437 www.asddouala.com 3

January 22nd, 2016

Karla is a hard working, neat and organized student. She is strengthening her social skills and has made good friends with her classmates. During the holidays she read 35 books gaining 350 points. She is currently class president and reader of the month! (Mrs. Bah Tanwi)

KARLA –GRADE FIVE WINNER

Hamoody has made great improvements in all areas of school - he gives every assignment, whether academics or the latest creative project like sewing or calligraphy, 100% effort. AND he never tries to take any shortcuts. Hamoody has a great sense of humor, and follows all the rules to the best of his ability. (Mrs. Raymond)

.

HAMOODY – GRADE FOUR WINNER

SOPHIA – GRADE ONE WINNER Sophia has a positive attitude towards others and learning. She strives to be a good citizen by following class room and school rules. She is respectful to peers as well to all her teachers. She is developing into a thoughtful writer and has made great progress from the beginning of the academic year. Sophia is kind, patient, interested in what the teacher and students around her are sharing, and ready to talk about the connections and learning she has made at any given moment. Thank you Sophia for making good choices and helping our school be a safe and fun place to learn! (Mrs. Deb)

EVE – GRADE TWO WINNER Eve is a creative student who is always looking for new ways to show old ideas. She is a critical thinker who is eager to ask questions and to listen to others. She is willing to seek help when needed and to give help to her classmates. Eve can always make connections among topics to draw a big picture of content. This will definitely make her grow as a lifelong learner. Keep shining Eve. (Mrs. Sargi)

XIAO YAN – GRADE THREE C WINNER

Xiao Yan loves to read, and reads all kinds of books, from fantasy to realistic fiction to nonfiction. Her love of reading shows through in her writing, which is always full of interesting ideas and juicy words. She always has strategies for solving math problems quickly and efficiently, and she thinks about how numbers work, showing a deep understanding of what we are studying. (Mrs. Cochran)

.

SERENA – GRADE THREE F WINNER

Serenna has made remarkable progress in class and makes sure all her assignments are turned in on time. She works really well in group situations and takes the initiative to help out her friends. She is becoming more and more careful with her things accepting of responsibility for her actions. Serenna is polite, kind-hearted, and always shows concern for her mates. (Mrs. Forlemu)

Edition 2015-2016 Issue 20

Tel: (237) 23342 1437 www.asddouala.com 4

January 22nd, 2016

GREAT NEWS!!!

Beginning May 7, the American School of Douala will be an official CollegeBoard SAT Testing Center. This means our students will be able to take the May 7 and June 4 SAT tests right here at ASD! Please be aware that registration procedures and deadlines remain the same. We cannot make any changes or exceptions to the CollegeBoard’s rules.

High school grades are important to colleges. The first semester ends January 22nd and report cards will be sent home on Monday, February 1.

Mrs. Fuller is making Saturday School available to any upper school students needing to complete make-up work. School starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 12:00. Please see Mrs. Fuller if you plan to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

Reminder for seniors to see Mrs. Fuller with any questions concerning SAT’s, college applications, and/or graduation information.

Good luck to those registered for the January 23 SAT Test.

THE NEXT SAT DATE IS MAY 7TH.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS APRIL 8.

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TO THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE SAT THIS YEAR.

Check this out! Free world-class SAT practice is available at https://www.khanacademy.org/sat.

COLLEGE COUNSELOR’S

CORNER

Karla- Grade 5 December student of the month

Hamoody- Grade 4 December student of the month

Serena - Grade 3F December student of the month

Edition 2015-2016 Issue 20

Tel: (237) 23342 1437 www.asddouala.com 5

January 22nd, 2016

The PE department has been carried away by the train of studies. We have contributed in our own way to the success of each of the kids at our disposal.

There is more in action than in words. Come try us at PE time and you will be blown away at how much we have learnt so far.

We have been able to run, skip, jump, crawl, hop, play various games, twist and turn on the mats, and why not danced away our stress in aerobic sessions.

No time for talking, we get right away into action and this has created room for the little ones to learn how to manage and share self as well as general space. The elder students have learned to keep their shyness away and partake in a variety of ways to make every PE lesson successful. We spend our time judiciously. Proudly from Perk to Upper School we have come to terms that there is no sweet with no pain and for PE to work out well, it should be fun-filled.

This year, students have so far been exposed to a general physical conditioning which is the foundation for all the activities proposed by the ASD PE curriculum. Different movement patterns using upper and lower body segments, Handball and volleyball have all come and gone. Basketball and Badminton and other net games will provide additional activity time for the kids in 3rd quarter. Slowly but surely, the 4th quarter will creep in and with it, comes the soccer season a time most students can’t wait to see.

With their heads high, students are sweating all the

way as they crave for success in all their activities

Coach Ice

Edition 2015-2016 Issue 20

Tel: (237) 23342 1437 www.asddouala.com 6

January 22nd, 2016

It’s been an interesting and busy half year in the ASD pool! The ASD “Goldfish” kicked off the swimming program during 1st Quarter, where the focus was on water confidence, developing basic skills, and enjoying the water. The quarter also saw the formation of the first ASD Swim Team. The students travelled to Dakar, Senegal and represented the school beautifully, bring home bronze and silver medals for the girls’ relay events.

We have just finished up this week with the “Stingrays” program for intermediate swimmers. This quarter, swimmers focused on correct freestyle and breaststroke technique, and building stamina in the water. Students have also been learning how to play water polo, a physically demanding, but fun, game.

We are looking forward to welcoming the Tadpoles next week in the Pre-K, K5 & Grade 1 classes.

Swim Squad will be up and running again in 3rd Quarter, with both Junior & Senior Squads. We look forward to coaching the future champions of ASD!

Marianne Grant and Eric Windeu

Upper school water polo

Free style technique with Aymeric

Melvyn demonstrates some middle school style