September 27, 2013

Dear Parents,

I would like to thank the parents who attended our first student-led conferences! We know from data taken from the online conference scheduler that 98% of our families signed up for a conference. Of the remaining 2%, there were a few families who made an appointment directly with the teacher, so more than 98% of our families registered.

Rick Stiggins, and authority on authentic learning and assessment, writes that the student-led conference is “the biggest breakthrough to happen in communicating about student achievement in the past century.” (Source: Student Involved Assessment for Learning, p. 359).

Over the past two days, many parents, teachers and students have commented on how much they enjoyed the student-led conference. Thank you for sharing your comments with us. I would like to gather feedback from more families. Would you mind taking a few moments to complete this anonymous survey?  Although the survey is written in English, our Korean families can refer to this document for assistance. To complete the survey, please click on the "survey" link, using the "document" only as a guide. (설문 조사를 완료하는 데 지침으로 만 "문서"를 사용하여 "설문 조사"링크를 ​​클릭하십시오.)

Below are some pictures that were taken during student-led conferences in one of our World Languages classrooms.

We will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on Tuesday, October 1st in the FAC auditorium, beginning at 8.45. The KG, grade 1 and grade 3 will sing a song about Gandhi and peace and the grade 4 students will perform a skit. Students in grades 2 and 5 have created artwork on Gandhi and his teachings, and these will be on display. The PTA meeting that was originally scheduled to begin at 8:45 has been rescheduled and will now begin at 10:00 am. Children may want to wear Indian clothing for the assembly, but this is optional.

We have mentioned the importance of parents being sensitive to being in and around middle and high school students’ learning and social spaces while in use by students before, during, and after school. During the school day, middle and high school students need a sense of ownership of their spaces. We are a busy campus and we recognize that community members come and go all day long. The iHub, however, is a place for students to gather, socialize, and collaborate. As such, we request that parents be sensitive to its use during school hours 8:30-3:30, especially right before and right after school, and during all breaks, which happen throughout the day. We encourage parents to use the Parent MC Café during these times.

Last Friday after-school, our first artist in residence, Kathyrn Claire, held a performance in the auditorium. We taped this performance and should you wish to view it, you can access it here.

In PE, the children are engaged in the swimming unit. Swimming is a compulsory part of the curriculum and all students must take part. In the case of sickness, please provide a doctor’s note for your child to be excused.

To share the joy of the upcoming Diwali with elders and other underprivileged neighbors, the High School National Honor Society (NHS) is initiating a food drive. NHS members encourage students to contribute at least 1kg of rice, dal, or vegetable oil. Students and parents can take their contributions to the ES Reception between September 30 and October 11.

The Parent Curriculum Coffee on Thursday, October 3rd, will spotlight our EAL programming at AISC. Please join the EAL Team for an information session on how parents can partner with the school in supporting their children as they learn English, academics, and further develop their cognitive skills.  The coffee will be held in the BBT from 8:45 - 9:45 on Thursday, Oct. 3rd.  We hope you can join us.

The IB senior CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) group is initiating a community service program in association with the CSI School (an underprivileged school in Chennai for the deaf and mute). The CAS students are starting with a drive for clothes, shoes and personal care items that they will donate to the 100+ students of CSI. These children sleep on thin mats and have one pair of shoes and very few changes of clothing. Please help us by donating clothes, shoes or toiletries! Also, remember that the items you donate need to be in nice condition. Collection boxes will be placed in the ES Reception. We look forward to your participation. You will make a difference in these students' lives!"

Lastly, please do join Ms. Sweet and I on Tuesday, October 8th for our second Parent Coffee with the ES Administration. Counselors will hold a presentation and discussion on being a third-culture kid (global kid/global nomad) and how making change can be a positive impact on their lives. What is a third culture kid, or TCK? Formally defined, TCKs are people who have spent a portion of their formative childhood years (0-18) in a culture different than their parents’. (http://www.denizenmag.com/third-culture-kid/)

Have a great weekend. Remember, there is no school on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal

September 20, 2013

Dear Parents,

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting our first artist in residence, Kathryn Claire. Throughout the week, Kathryn performed for students during music class and helped each class compose their own music.  Thank you, Kathryn! We do hope you enjoyed your stay at AISC!  Below are some pictures of Kathryn and our students.

Jogging Club: The PE teachers would like to remind Jogging Club members to come rain or shine! If it is raining the morning the club meets, students will run laps in the gym.

Student-Led Conferences: There is still time to sign up for the student-led conferences that will take place next Thursday and Friday. Please visit this website to register. Parents have until 12 noon on September 25^th to sign-up for a conference. Our IT Integrator, Laura Blair, has created a video which gives you step-by-step instructions in how to complete this process. To access this video, please click here.

October Lunch Menu and Order Form: Please click on the following links to access the lunch menu and order form: October Lunch Menu and Lunch Order Form.  Please place your online orders and pay at the cash counter before Oct 4th.

Reading and Homework ASA – 4^th and 5^th Grade

Starting Monday, we will begin a new Reading and Homework ASA for fourth and fifth graders in the Elementary Library, every day from 3:45-4:30.  We are excited about this new ASA because it will give students an opportunity to work independently in a quiet area.  This is flexible in that students can come on the day(s) they choose.  There will be no formal sign-up procedure, although we ask students to go to the Elementary Cafeteria Library ASA Table on the day they will come. Students will be brought back to the Elementary Cafeteria at 4:30 for parent pick-up, just like other ASAs. Between Sept 23 and Dec 13, we will be collecting data to determine how this ASA should look in the future.

Building Connections: The IB senior CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) group is initiating a community service program in association with the CSI School (an underprivileged school in Chennai for the deaf and mute). The CAS students are starting with a drive for clothes, shoes and personal care items that they will donate to the 100+ students of CSI. These children sleep on thin mats and have one pair of shoes and very few changes of clothing. Please help us by donating clothes, shoes or toiletries! Also, remember that the items you donate need to be in nice condition. Collection boxes will be placed in the ES Reception. We look forward to your participation. You will make a difference in these students' lives!"

Dot Day and Big Bad Blue: Please click here to view pictures taken during Dot Day last Friday and at the Big Bad Blue local swim meet held last Friday and Saturday.

Keeping Healthy

This is the time of year that Chennai receives a lot of rain.  It is important to remember that some sicknesses become more prevalent during the rainy season, namely dengue fever and malaria. Please consider these preventative measures: closing all doors and windows in your house after 5 pm, using repellents when outside, avoid storing open water inside the house and standing water outside your house. You may even consider using a mosquito net around your beds.

Water and food related problems like typhoid and hepatitis are also prevalent. Avoid eating in roadside eateries, and remember that uncooked food like paneer, cream, chat items, salads, chutneys, and eggs can harbor harmful bacteria. It is always a good idea to get vaccinated against these illnesses.

Also know that walking in puddles can cause rat urine fever (leptospirosis). Warning signs of leptospirosis include high fever (lasting more than two days) and rash. You are advised to wash your feet should they get wet after stepping into a puddle.

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall

Elementary School Principal

September 13, 2013

Dear Elementary School Families,

We had an excellent turnout at our first parent coffee of the year. Over 70 parents came to our presentation on student-led conferences led by Ms. Sherman, Ms. Sweet and Ms. Chris.

We are truly excited to be launching our first student-led conferences on September 26^th and 27^th. Our research into student led conferences actually started one year ago, when the teachers mentioned above, along with Ms. Deepa and Ms. Kristina, formed the Student-Led Conference Committee.

Student-led conferences give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves as learners, build self-confidence and self-esteem, be empowered, foster pride and develop ownership of their goals and achievements and teach students the process of self-evaluation and reflection, thus enhancing their critical thinking skills. All of these benefits support our school mission and student learning objectives.

Each conference will last for 30 minutes which we believe is appropriate for the first time. We want to be sure to give each child the amount of time they need to talk about their portfolio and goals, plus answer questions about their school day. Please see Page 12 of the Student –Led Conference Parent handout (this is the one which was distributed at the parent coffee) which describes what your child’s conference will look like.

Parents and students are also requested to meet with a minimum of two specialist teachers. Last week families were asked to complete a form indicating which specialist teachers they will visit. If you did not receive this form, please click here. This form is to be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher. It is not necessary to reserve a conference online with a specialist teacher.

You can now sign up for a conference by going to this website. Parents have until 12 noon on September 25^th to sign-up for a conference. Our IT Integrator, Laura Blair, has created a video which gives you step-by-step instructions in how to complete this process. To access this video, please click here.

International Dot Day

Courage, creativity, confidence, and compassion are components of the AISC Mission and they are artfully illustrated in Peter Reynolds’ book, The Dot.  With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark – and follow where it takes us. In the months since the school Strategic Plan was adopted, The Dot has come to symbolize our mission’s goal of making a unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

Today, we observe International Dot Day through creative expressions: music, art, poetry, and the spoken word, across the AISC campus.  Everyone on campus, including parents, are asked  to consider how they make their mark in the world... and courageously wear it on a dot badge.

During lunch time today, stations will be set up in the covered area for students, parents, and staff to express themselves, following the lead of Vashti, the unsuspecting heroine of The Dot.

There will also be artwork, writing, and photos inspired by the day around campus and on the school website as a visual representation of our courageous, confident, creative, and compassionate community.

To view and listen to The Dot at home, please visit our wonderful online subscription to TumbleBooks!  Here are steps on how to access the book:

Go to the following address on the Internet:

1. http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/customer_login.asp

2. Enter the following information: Username: aischennai    Password: books

3. In the search box in the top left hand corner, type The Dot and click the blue arrow.

4. Scroll down until you find The Dot on the left side of the page.

5. Click “Read Online”

Photos From Dot Day

                                     

Library News

We love having people use the library after school.  We have lots of great books, tables, and other resources for students and parents to use.  This is just a friendly reminder that the elementary school supervision policy requires students to be supervised by a parent after school if they are not part of an ASA program.  We are also pleased to announce two after school extended learning opportunities in our libraries.

Reading and Homework ASA – 4^th and 5^th Grade

Starting September 23, we will begin a new Reading and Homework ASA for fourth and fifth graders in the Elementary Library every day from 3:45-4:30.  We are excited about this new ASA because it will give students an opportunity to work independently in a quiet area.  This is flexible in that students can come on the day(s) they choose.  There will be no formal sign-up procedure, although we ask students to go to the Elementary Cafeteria Library ASA Table on the day they will come. Students will be brought back to the Elementary Cafeteria at 4:30 for parent pick-up, just like other ASAs. Between Sept 23 and Dec 13, we will be collecting data to determine how this ASA should look in the future.

Extended AISC Library Hours

Should elementary students with their parents wish to use campus library services beyond 4:30, the high school library will now remain open until 5:30. Please contact Mr. Jet if you have any questions (wjeremy@aisch.org).  

Physical Education News

We hope the school year has started off great for your child and they are finding joy in their Physical Education classes. We are excited to remind you that starting on September 16, our classes will take place in the swimming pool. Please equip your child with goggles, swimming cap, swimming suit, towel, sunscreen and flip flops/sandals. If for any reason your child cannot participate in the pool, please send a note from home or from the doctor. If you have any questions regarding the pool or the upcoming unit, please contact us as soon as possible.

Keeping Healthy

This is the time of year that Chennai receives a lot of rain.  It is important to remember that some sicknesses become more prevalent during the rainy season, namely dengue fever and malaria. Please consider these preventative measures: closing all doors and windows in your house after 5 pm, using repellents when outside, avoid storing open water inside the house and standing water outside your house. You may even consider using a mosquito net around your beds.

Water and food related problems like typhoid and hepatitis are also prevalent. Avoid eating in roadside eateries, and remember that uncooked food like paneer, cream, chat items, salads, chutneys, and eggs can harbor harmful bacteria. It is always a good idea to get vaccinated against these illnesses.

Also know that walking in puddles can cause rat urine fever (leptospirosis). Warning signs of leptospirosis include high fever (lasting more than two days) and rash. You are advised to wash your feet should they get wet after stepping into a puddle.

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall

Elementary School Principal

September 6, 2013

Dear Parents,

This has been an exciting week of learning for teachers, teacher assistants and administrators as we have had the privilege of working with and learning from two writing workshop trainers from Columbia University in New York. During the week, teachers engaged in activities that focused on:

·    The central role of curriculum development and planning in the teaching of writing

·    Units of Study across the year in the writing workshop

·    Methods of holding students accountable for doing their best work

·    Assessing and planning for work with individuals and small groups

·    Using literature to help students craft their writing

·    Classroom structures that support inquiry and collaboration

Parent Coffee with the ES Administration

Please join Ms. Sweet and me on Tuesday, September 10 for our first coffee morning of the year. We will be meeting in the Fine Arts Center (FAC) Cafeteria, not the ES Cafeteria. Our topic will be student-led conferences, which the elementary school is introducing this year. Please note that this is a repeat of a session we held last spring.

The student-led conferences will take place on Thursday, September 26^th and Friday, September 27^th. Parents sign up for conferences online. Next week in my Principal's Notes, I will include sign-up instructions. Please remember, there are no classes on these two days. 

Image Source: blogs.yis.ac.jp

News from our Counselors

Our elementary school counselors have finalized a series of three "newcomer meetings" with our new elementary students, and enjoyed welcoming kids from around the globe into our school community. We recognize them as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), and that their single most significant challenge right now is making a successful transition into our school and Chennai. We invite parents to join us at the October 8^th Parent Coffee with the ES Administration where will talk more about transitioning into a new country and school.

              Image source: davetgc.com

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Tests

Beginning next week, most children will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress^® (MAP^®). We give students in grades 2-5 MAP tests to determine each child’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year in the areas of math, reading and language usage. When administered at regular intervals over time, it is possible to find out whether an individual, or an entire grade level, is making satisfactory progress in these basic skill areas. This year, we are introducing the MAP science test. Your child will take the tests on a computer. Beginner EAL students who are new to the school this year will not write these tests. 

Image Source: teachers.saschina.org

MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. The tests are not time-based but take on average 45 minutes to complete.

New parents often ask how their children can study for these tests. Really, the best ways to prepare for these tests are to make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before a test and has breakfast the morning of the test. These are healthy practices in general. Students cannot study for a MAP test.

MAP test scores are not reported on the elementary school report card. Rather, the school will send you a MAP Student Progress Report in October.

For more information on resources for parents, download the Parent Toolkit at www.nwea.org >> Partner Support.

International Dot Day

Courage, creativity, confidence, and compassion are components of the AISC Mission and they are artfully illustrated in Peter Reynolds’ book, The Dot.  With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark – and follow where it takes us. In the months since the school Strategic Plan was adopted, The Dot has come to symbolize our mission’s goal of making a unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

On Friday, September 13th, we will observe International Dot Day through creative expressions: music, art, poetry, and the spoken word, across the AISC campus.  Everyone on campus, including parents, will be asked that day to consider how they make their mark in the world... and courageously wear it on a dot badge.

Stations will be set up in the elementary and secondary sections (in the FAC cafeteria, libraries, ES covered area, and main reception) for students, parents, and staff to express themselves, following the lead of Vashti, the unsuspecting heroine of The Dot.

There will also be artwork, writing, and photos inspired by the day around campus and on the school website as a visual representation of our courageous, confident, creative, and compassionate community.

To view and listen to The Dot at home, please visit our wonderful online subscription to TumbleBooks!  Here are steps on how to access the book:

Go to the following address on the Internet:

1. http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/customer_login.asp

2. Enter the following information: Username: aischennai    Password: books

3. In the search box in the top left hand corner, type The Dot and click the blue arrow.

4. Scroll down until you find The Dot on the left side of the page.

5. Click “Read Online”

Celebrating Music!

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall

Elementary School Principal