Singapore American School

This guide also contains information about the minimum SAS graduation requirements, the credits recommended by colleges, and the wide range of academic opportunities available at our school. As students begin choosing courses for next year and beyond, keep in mind that students will perform best when a program is selected that includes courses that are personally interesting and at an appropriate level of challenge.

Current SAS students are asked to choose courses each spring for both semesters of the following school year. Students new to SAS will meet with a counselor to select courses prior to enrollment. All students are responsible for taking the time to fully understand what a course will cover, the prerequisites, and whether or not there are any expectations beyond what might be considered “normal” for a course, such as additional labs, rehearsals, research, or readings. Not all courses are available to all grades.

All members of the SAS faculty are available to assist students and parents as courses are selected for the next academic year. Feel free to contact us.

 

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Advanced Studies

Advanced Topic (AT) courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses together form our Advanced Studies offerings at SAS. These are college level courses that have been approved by the College Board or vetted through a rigorous process at SAS to ensure quality, relevance, and a greater focus on our desired student learning outcomes (DSLOs). We now proudly offer over 40 Advanced Studies courses. These exceptional learning opportunities are detailed in the Advanced Studies section of this guide.

For 2019–20, we are pleased to introduce a number of additional Advanced Topic courses: AT English: Literature, AT Geography & Field Research, AT Psychology, and AT Historical Inquiry & Research. As a complement to our Advanced Topic courses, students have access to over 20 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and AP examinations. See Appendix III and IV for an overview of the courses and exams offered.

Co-Crediting with Syracuse University

We are very happy to be continuing our co– crediting partnership with Syracuse University. The Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) program is a concurrent enrollment program that links the university with secondary schools. Through this partnership, qualified students who are enrolled in select Advanced Topic courses have the opportunity to concurrently enroll in Syracuse University courses for Syracuse University credit. During the 2019–20 school year, SAS students taking AT Computational Physics, AT Economics: Globalization, and AT Psychology are eligible for concurrent enrollment in Syracuse University courses. Please see the descriptions for these AT offerings for additional course-specific information.

For more information regarding the Syracuse University Project Advance program, please see the Advanced Studies section of this guide. To determine whether participation in this program is a fit for your long–term goals, please speak with your counselor or the Advanced Studies Coordinator.

Additional Self-Paced Courses Offered

As we continue to personalize learning in meaningful ways at SAS, we are pleased to announce that we are expanding self–paced options. Sections of AP Economics have been operating in a self–paced format for a number of years at SAS. In these sections, students have increased autonomy and have the ability to progress more flexibly through course content and requirements. While this format will not be a fit for every student, it provides students with increased agency and additional flexibility to manage their own time. In 2019–20, we will offer sections of self-paced AP Chemistry if there is sufficient student interest. Regular sections of AP Chemistry will continue to be offered.

Quest Program Now Open to Eleventh Grade Students

We are thrilled that the Quest program will be graduating its third cohort of students as part of the Class of 2019!

Quest is an exciting and innovative year-long program for juniors and seniors at SAS. Quest provides structure and time for students to pursue their intellectual curiosities and personal ambitions. Instead of taking a traditional course load, students engage in interdisciplinary projects and institutional partnerships (internships) that are tailored to their interests. The program is designed to allow flexibility in scheduling so that students have the time to explore, innovate, and develop skills needed in college and various careers. Students in Quest complete rigorous academic work and work with experts in various industries which can differentiate them from other students in the college application process.

Students may apply to participate in Quest during either their junior or senior years. Please see the Quest section of this guide for more information.

Seal of Biliteracy Will be Offered

We are proud to announce that students in the SAS graduating classes of 2019 and beyond will be eligible to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy serves to formally certify attainment of biliteracy and is recognized on high school diplomas. It is a statement of accomplishment that helps to signal a student’s linguistic and cultural readiness not only for career and college, but also for engagement as a global citizen. As of December 1, 2018, the Seal of Biliteracy was already being awarded by high schools located in 35 US states.

In order to earn a Seal of Biliteracy at SAS, students must demonstrate via school–designated external assessments that they have attained a minimum of Intermediate High proficiency in four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). For more information, please see the World Languages section in this guide and our website.

New Courses for 2019–20

• AT English: Literature
• AT Geography and Field Research
• AT Psychology
• AT Historical Inquiry and Research

Changed Courses for 2019–20

• We are proud to be providing students with more flexibility than ever before in our mathematics program. Beginning in 2019- 20, we will begin offering a semester-long AP Calculus BC course for students who have already completed AP Calculus AB. We will also begin offering semester-long AT Multivariable Calculus and AT Linear Algebra courses. These new semester offerings complement our two existing semester offerings (AT Finite Mathematical Modeling and AT Post-Euclidean Geometry), giving students the ability to customize their math course pathways in a number of new ways.
   
• After carefully considering the needs of students, the English department will be offering a new year-long course that combines “Reading, Writing, and Publishing in a Digital World” and “Communications.” This is the first year-long English course that has been offered to juniors and seniors outside of our Advanced Studies program. We expect the course to be a desirable option for 11th- and 12th-grade students who might enjoy the added stability of having the same teacher throughout the year as well as for students interested in learning how to think critically, respond thoughtfully, and create responsibly in the digital age.

English Social Studies Mathematics Science
World Languages Technology, Electives, and Capstone Visual and Performing Arts Physical Education
Health and Wellness Quest Learning Support and Other Courses

Administration

Darin Fahrney, Principal
dfahrney@sas.edu.sg

Stephen Ly, Deputy Principal
sly@sas.edu.sg

Amy Zuber Meehan, Deputy Principal
azubermeehan@sas.edu.sg

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