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The IB* Art class at Escola Americana is a two-year course designed to support expression of the fundamental human need to create personal, social, cultural, and aesthetic meaning through visual arts. Students learn to create a relationship between research and artistic production. Their work in the art studio synthesizes art concepts and skills in works that are personally, socio-culturally, and aesthetically meaningful. Their critical research and artistic reflection is documented in a research notebook and their final project and accompanying essay demonstrate in visual and written form how personal research has led to an understanding of the topics or concepts being investigated. These projects are sent to local and international examiners for evaluation and grading.

Some of the projects that were produced by our IB art students this year are reproduced here. Inspired by artist Lecia Dole-Recio, Sophia (image on right) provides an unusual perspective on urban landscapes.

Paloma provides an unusual perspective on icebergs and the human condition:

Gonzalo seeks insights into the challenges that President Obama faces:

Come view the works in the Middle/Upper School corridor. They will be on exhibit through Friday, March 27.

*The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a rigorous two-year course of study with a curriculum that is essentially at college level. Students at Escola Americana who are academically motivated may opt to do all, or part, of the Diploma Program in 11th and 12th grades.

There are several ways in which a student can spend a productive vacation during the June to August break. While every teen needs some down time to relax, read, catch up on sleep, meet friends and be with extended family, the six weeks of freedom sometimes becomes too long for both the idle student and the busy parent. Depending upon the activity, NOW may be the time to make plans. Some of these activities require applications with teacher references, grades and other documentation.

Attending a summer course or camp in North America or Europe, performing worthwhile community service in a project that takes commitment, working a part-time job whether paid or unpaid, or undertaking learning a new skill, sport, language, or musical instrument are all wonderful options. Any of these activities offer opportunities for growth on a personal level and enhance the profile of the student applying to university, and even for jobs later on.

Summer courses or pre-college courses of several kinds are popular. Students may look for an enrichment course in a topic of interest, an academic course in a specific subject, a college or SAT preparation course, a career exploration course or a remediation course for a difficult subject. Ideally, a summer course will offer residency on the campus and supervised extra activities or excursions will be available in the evening or weekends to complement the academic classes. Some of our EA students have chosen to participate in language/culture courses in Europe and some have gone to sports training camps in the U.S. or Brazil.

While many options can be found by checking the Peterson’s Guide to Summer Opportunities for Teenagers at www.petersons.com , or surfing www.mysummercamps.com , there are also resources available with the Counselfing Offices of both the Middle and Upper Schools. One may also check online for pre-college courses offered by specific universities that are of interest to them or by the subject area or prospective career interest. A wealth of information available on the internet.

The benefit of a good experience during the long vacation has been a definite plus for some students in their application process to competitive universities. Admissions counselors ask, “How did this student spend his/her high school summers?” This question is also often asked in college interviews. Seeking an adventure that provides a learning environment on one level, and expands one’s repertoire of personal experience, brings immense value to the long vacation days.

Kristine Werner, College Counselor

Curriculum maps, covered in the November 26 Extra Edition, are an instrument whereby teachers develop key aspects of their course, including the:

Objectives, including the standards and benchmarks their students should achieve, the enduring understandings that they should acquire; and the essential questions that they should ask and be able to answer;

Learning plan – the day-to-day activities and teaching as well as resources that students and teachers will use;

Assessments to determine if students, and teachers, are meeting the standards and benchmarks.

While it is easy to imagine many of the objectives, standards, benchmarks of core courses such as math, sciences, social students and language arts, what about PE? And what about PE for the little guys? In fact, the same rigorous curriculum planning is used across the board in all disciplines and all grades.

Preschoolers are currently finishing up a unit on gymnastics where they pass through obsta

cle courses, walk on balance beams, tumble down ramps, walk across ladders, do cartwheels, stand on their hands, to name of few of their many activities.

What are some the essential questions that students will be able to answer after this unit? Preschoolers and kindergarteners will be able to explain the importance of gymnastics for their physical development, the importance of respecting safety rules and why gymnastics is different from other PE activities. They will also be able to discuss the various activities that they did and name the equipment and body parts. A great example of learning and having fun at the same time!

Thank you to Mr. Carlos, Mr. Marcelo and Ms. Rosana as they channel their many years of experience and wisdom into making such a successful PE curriculum for the youngest members of our community.

The Upper School Service Oriented Students (SOS) Club is going strong and their upcoming Walk Against Cancer will raise money for a project to build a pediatric cancer hospital and simultaneously contribute to community building at EA.

Last year SOS raised R$20,000 and their hope to reach this goal this year.  We also thank Coca Cola for its generous support of this event.

To encourage students to participate and to raise awareness as to the prevalence of cancer in our lives, the SOS, with the help of Annette Dam, organized an assembly for Middle and Upper School students.  The guest speaker, Ms. Sara Wicht, our 8^th grade English teacher,  explained to the spellbound audience that the incidence of cancer in her family is so high that the question for her and her doctors is not whether she will develop cancer, but when.  She explained the importance of supporting research to find a cure

A representative from the National Cancer Institute (INCA) spoke about the projects they are working on, including the pediatric cancer hospital to which the funds that SOS raises will be donated.  The third guest speaker, a representative from the Fundação do Cancer, which is the private foundation that supports INCA, also described its fund-raising activities.

Our SOS students, coordinated by Paulo Oliveira and Nathalia Sang have been working hard to organize and publicize this event.  By purchasing a T-shirt, cap and water bottle, EA community members and friends contribute to the fight against cancer.  By walking around the Lagoa, starting at Parque dos Patins, on Sunday, March 22 at 10:00 am you can support and raise awareness about a very important cause and enjoy the company of many EA community members in a very enjoyable walk.  EA’s birthday celebration will take place on the same day.

To order T-shirts and other gear, click on http://www.earj.com.br/upper/HdFileDownloadServlet.pdf

We are counting on you!

CARNAVAL BRASILEIRO, o mais famoso e divertido de todo o mundo, foi comemorado com muita animação na Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro no dia 20 de fevereiro.

The Brazilian Carnaval, the most famous and fun in the world, was very lively at Escola America during the February 20 celebration.

As crianças realizaram ricos projetos sobre este gigantesco espetáculo de música, dança e magia. Nas aulas de Português do Lower School, os alunos pesquisaram sobre o Rio antigo, o carnaval do Nordeste e as Escolas de Samba do Rio de Janeiro. Os trabalhos foram muito apreciados numa Mostra Carnavalesca.

Students did encriching projects about this gigantic spectacle of music, dance and magic. During Portugues classes in the Lower School, student researched Carioca history, Carnaval in the Northeast of Brazil and Samba Schools in Rio. The projects were well received in Carnaval display.

Houve uma homenagem à Carmen Miranda com a apresentação da graciosa aluna Verónica na 3rd grade. A celebração foi contagiante com alunos e funcionários, dançando e cantando ao som do grupo “Batucada GIG” composto por membros da EARJ.

Carmen Miranda, expertly portrayed by Verónica, 3rd grade, was a star attraction. The celebration was contagious and students and staff hit the stage to dance to beat of Batucada GIG, our local band.

Carmen and Ms. Eleanor sambando

Carmen and her back up artists with Batucada GIG.

Photos:  Isabel and Juan Manuel, Carmen’s parents

Congratulations and thank you to the Lower School Portuguese Department, the Committee to Promote Brazilian Culture, our Batucada Gig musicians and our students and staff .

Although the sounds of student voices and the social language in the hallways might lead one to believe the composition of our student body is mostly made up of host country nationals, this year’s Senior class is evidence that there is more diversity at EA than first meets the eye.

Of the 51 students in the class of 2009, 14% are U.S. citizens and several more are from families with permanent U.S. residency (“Green Cards”). International students make up 18% of this year’s graduating class, including passports from Israel, Mexico, Japan, Nicaragua, Spain, India, Angola, Uruguay, and Argentina. Another 26% are “dual nationals” which include nationalities of Austria, Australia, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Mexico, Japan, United States, and Brazil.  The remaining students have one passport which is of Brazil only, so they are defined as our host country nationals.  

Of all these students, whether they be originally of the U.S., Brazil, or the 14 other nations represented by the Senior class, many have lived some part of their childhood in countries scattered far and wide. Many have had other international school experiences in addition to EA.  Some of our students list as many as six countries of prior residence in their brief childhood on their college applications, whereas others have been lifelong Cariocas and attended EA since age 3, adding to the continuity of the school.  In addition to the student diversity, many of our teachers also had an array of experiences from around the world, while studying, living, or working in other environments or other international schools during either childhood or adulthood.

The beauty of all this diversity is the richness it adds to our current Senior class and the potential interchange of ideas and experiences available to learn from each other.  While we are an American style school, located in Brazil, offering U.S., Brazilian, and International Baccalaureate diplomas, we are more than the sum of our parts. We have the positive dimension of including many TCKs (Third Culture Kids) who are growing up in a different culture than their country of birth or passport.  We also have the students who have always made their home here and are a resource for the local culture and language.

In principle, our graduates will ultimately enter the work world with the ability to see and understand other perspectives because of the exposure they have had at EA. This skill is highly valued in this increasingly small and global environment with instantaneous communication and shifting economic tides. Ideally, our EA students will be among future leaders and problem-solvers, scattered as widely around the world as the countries in which they have lived or from which they originated.

We trust they will make us as proud as the many graduates of EA who have already walked these halls and now form a worldwide network.  For more information on the Senior class, contact Kristine.Werner@earj.com.br, who wrote this article.

The Service Oriented Students Club (SOS) is preparing for the famous annual Walkathon that takes place in March. They need your help designing a t-shirt. More information at:

http://www.earj.com.br/upper/sos-club

The PTA has had a busy week! Under the coordination of Ana Paula Alexandrescu, President, and the able assistance of VP Daniela Meyn, they organized a Welcome Breakfast for new parents. It was a delicious success, thanks to Dona Thelma and her staff. Check out the photos.

They did it!

Thank you to breakfast organizers, Ana Paula and Daniela.

Dads:José, David, João and Jason

At the same time she was organizing the breakfast, Ana Paula has been restructuring the retail division of Escola Americana, aka (also known as) the Little Shop. Her job included reviewing merchandise policies, overseeing construction and putting on the gala inauguration event.

Ms. Julie, Desirée, Nina, Amy and Isabel

One of the biggest challenges in the restructuring is the merchandise policy. In light of the plans to remodel the Snack Shack and Senior Canteen, Ana Paula sought to find products that were educational and could raise funds. She discovered Webkinz®, which are stuffed animals that come with a secret code. Once the code is typed into the Webkinz® site, “pet owners” gain access to their pet’s room and have the responsibility of taking care of them, an educational and entertaining experience. Ana Paula found a supplier which sells the creatures almost at cost and most of the savings are passed on to EA families.

Mr. Marcelo Englehart, Architect, and Mr. Werner, cut the ribbon.

Photo: Ana Paula Alexandrescu