Upper School

SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 ENGLISH TEXTS

Click here for 2023-2024 English Texts

Parents and students may purchase books (hard copies or Kindle editions) from any source, but please note that the ISBNs that we provide come from Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/). In Taipei, we have shared our book lists with Caves and Eslite. While we cannot guarantee that all books will be available at either one or both of these stores, we recommend that you try to purchase the texts locally first. It seems that lately some books ordered online from overseas have been tied up in customs for a number of weeks. Waiting until the last moment to purchase books is never a good idea.

Please click here for Text and Supply sheet for incoming Grade 9 students (class of 2027)

Each year, a number of authors and artists visit our school, either as school- or PTA-sponsored guest educators. Authors spend their time giving readings of their work, presentations, and writing workshops to upper school students, and artists work with our students in classes and special projects, and give talks, presentations, or performances to students and often our community.

Homework is a necessary part of the learning process and a legitimate demand on the non-class time of students. More specific information on homework is available in our course catalog.

In cases where the Upper School deems necessary, the counseling office may assist in arranging a school-sanctioned tutor for a student, and the School may permit the tutoring to take place on campus. The approved tutor must have relevant credentials, have passed the required background check, and display a school-issued visitor’s ID at all times while on campus. (In such case, all fees are negotiated directly between the parent and the tutor and are independent of the School.) Tutoring may only take place in an assigned space, and campus access for the tutor is limited to when approved tutoring is taking place.  No other private tutoring is permitted on campus. 

All students and teachers in the Middle and Upper Schools use Canvas to document class assignments and other learning opportunities. Parent access do not have access to their child's account. We do, however, encourage parents to stay actively involved in their child's learning by asking them questions about the types of things that they are learning and documenting through these tools.

CANVAS INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL

Digital citizenship is an important part of learning for the 21st century learner. At Taipei American School, students are expected to make smart choices use technology to aid their learning in a safe, responsible, ethical, and respectful manner. The TAS values—honesty, respect, responsibility, kindness, and courage—should guide our students in all that they do, including when using technology and navigating the digital world.

Students provided with a school network account may store and retrieve files and print documents using network file servers. Users of the school system should know that network administrators may review files and communications to ensure that users are using the system responsibly, and should not expect that files stored on the school network will be private. Administrators, faculty, and staff also have the right to access student files, communications, or folders at any time and monitor computer activity in all areas of the School. TAS systems should generally be used for academic purposes only.  Disciplinary action may result from inappropriate, destructive, or irresponsible use of technology. Furthermore, students and parents should remember that certain sharing of information or comments in any electronic communications, social media posts, or files, may be a violation of not only school policies, but also have legal consequences, whether or not it is done using TAS systems.

TAS strongly recommends that students exercise great care and judgment in posting any personal information about themselves or others to social media services in order to protect TAS students' safety and confidentiality. Further, students and parents should remember that certain sharing of information or comments about other students may violate TAS’s harassment, sexual harassment, and/or bullying policies, whether or not it is done using TAS systems.

UPPER SCHOOL ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

Please consult the Faculty/Staff Directory to find the contact information you are looking for.

Faculty/Staff Directory

Parents and students should refer to the document below for the most up-to-date version of the Upper School's distance learning plan.

DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN

The grade point average that accompanies transcripts for college applications is computed on grades from all courses starting with Grade 9 up through the most recent semester computed (sixth, seventh, or eighth semester). All grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number. The numerical equivalent is listed below:

Any student whose overall quarter grade point average falls below 2.1 in core courses will be automatically placed on academic probation. In addition, administrators may place students about whom they have concerns on academic probation at any time, at their discretion. A letter informing parents of this status will be sent. Once a student is placed on academic probation, the student’s academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each quarter; if the administration concludes that TAS does not offer a program that meets the needs of a student, or if a student is not making the effort necessary to improve his or her academic standing, the student may be asked to repeat the current grade level, or may be asked to withdraw from TAS. Students will not be allowed to begin the senior year unless they will be able to earn enough credits for graduation during that final year.

• Students must maintain a full course load as is described in the course catalog.
• The drop or add period extends to the end of the second week of classes of each semester.
• During the rest of the semester, students may not request to add or drop a class—only teachers, counselors, and administrators may initiate such changes, and only the upper school administration may authorize them.

Students who establish an excellent record of scholastic achievement are honored and encouraged by having their names added to the honor roll. To be eligible for the honor roll, a student must achieve a 4.00 weighted grade point average in all courses with no grade below a B+. The honor roll is determined at the completion of each semester.

Students may fulfill some graduation requirements by taking certain TAS Summer Academy courses. For more information please contact the Summer Academy office.

Only in exceptional cases will permission to undertake an independent study course be granted. Students in Grades 11 and 12 who have completed all TAS course offerings in a subject area may request independent study. In some cases, transfer students who require a special program in order to meet graduation requirements may be required to undertake independent study. Independent study courses can be scheduled only with approval of the teacher, department head, and principal; an independent study form, provided once independent study is approved, along with a syllabus (projects and due dates), are required as part of the procedure.

The Upper School uses a combination of parent-teacher conferences, direct-to-parent feedback, progress reports, and report cards for helping parents and students understand their progress in a given course.

Please refer to the following page for the most up to date course catalog, which is published each winter in preparation for the following academic year.

US COURSE CATALOG

Students are never required to take more than two tests or exams in one day. Students may elect to take up to three tests in one day, but this will never be mandatory. Tests should be posted or announced at least one week ahead of time. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their test schedule. Should three tests be scheduled in a single day, it is the last test scheduled that the student has the option of rescheduling for an alternate time. In a case where the last test posted cannot be determined, the administration will determine which test may be rescheduled. This must be communicated with the pertinent class teacher at least two class periods before the test date. In the case of three semester exams in one day, the associate principal will arrange the scheduling of make-up exams for affected students.

Semester exams will be cumulative and cover material from the semester’s work. Students who arrive late for an exam may enter the exam but will not be given additional time to complete the exam. The only excused absence from an exam requires a doctor’s note. An unexcused absence will result in a zero for the exam. In the spring semester, if an entire class writes an AP or IB exam, no other final exam is required. While all seniors are exempt from semester exams, they will be expected to attend alternative programing on exam days.
  
 

There are counselors, nurses, speech/language teachers, academic support teachers, and a psychologist in the student support services department who specifically serve upper school students. TAS accepts and supports students with no more than mild learning differences. There is a clear system of referral and intervention.

Taipei American School’s student support services department provides a range of services to maximize each student’s social, emotional, and academic growth. The following programs are offered to Taipei American School students:

• Academic Support
• Speech and Language Therapy
• School Counseling
• Psychological Services

Academic Support Program
The Academic Support Program provides a variety of services for students with mild learning differences who need support in order to access grade level curriculum. The Academic Support Program provides individual and small group instruction aimed at strengthening academic abilities, executive functioning skills, and self-advocacy. Alternative instructional strategies and testing accommodations are also provided to students who demonstrate specific academic needs.

Mental Health Support
Taipei American School’s counselors and psychologists provide individual and small group counseling and consult with parents and teachers. More information on the school counseling program can be found through the link on the left. In addition, school psychologists conduct classroom observations, individual psychological evaluations, and behavioral assessments.

School Psychologist
Taipei American School’s counselors and psychologists provide individual and small group counseling and consult with parents and teachers. More information on the school counseling program can be found through the link on the left. In addition, school psychologists conduct classroom observations, individual psychological evaluations, and behavioral assessments.

contact the UPPER SCHOOL COUNSELorS & Support professionals

Four years (eight semesters) of upper school attendance is required with 22 credits earned in Grades 9–12. One credit is awarded for completion of a full-year course. More specific information on graduation requirements is available in the course catalog.

All students who take IB courses must sit the IB exam in order to receive IB credit and a weighted grade.

All students who take AP courses must sit the AP exam in order to receive AP credit and a weighted grade.

The following criteria will be used in the selection process:

1. The student must satisfactorily complete all requirements for graduation and graduate in May or June from Taipei American School.
2. The student must have earned credits from the TAS Upper School for two consecutive years.
3. The valedictorian’s cumulative grade point average must be higher than that of any other member of the graduating class. The salutatorian will have the second highest cumulative GPA.
4. The calculation of the GPA will be made upon completion of the third quarter during the student’s senior year.

Please refer to the following page for the most up to date information from the College Counseling team. College counselors typically begin the process of individualized support for each student starting in the fall and winter of the Grade 11 year. 

Be sure to check out the College Counseling team's latest announcements in the weekly The Parent Post and watch or attend their parent educational events, which are publicized on the College Counseling digital calendar.

If a student must transfer out of TAS for any reason, parents should first officially submit the withdrawal notice found in PowerSchool. Once this has been done, the upper school counseling office will send the withdrawal form to the withdrawing student three to four weeks before the student’s last day of school. The form requires multiple signatures before it is returned to the upper school counseling office. Incomplete forms may result in delays in transcript release to the receiving educational institution. 

Families may request unofficial transcripts at any time by writing to transcripts@tas.edu.tw.

Official transcripts, however, may not be handed directly to families. Official transcripts can only be submitted electronically or mailed directly to educational institutions specified by the student, alumni, or their family, and may be requested here.