Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday, November 15, 2013


Dear Parents,

We had a very good turnout last Saturday night to the Diwali Mela celebration. I would like to thank the PTA Executive for organizing this great evening. Enjoy these pictures!

Also, I would like to thank the parents who were able to join us for our third coffee morning of the year. Thank you to Ms. Karen, Ms. Seema and Ms. Dee for leading the presentation on the English as an Additional Language (EAL) program and The WIDA MODEL test. I would like to follow-up on a question that was posed to our presenters about this test. The WIDA MODEL tests academic language proficiency, and in response to parent questions about the weight of each of the four language domains, here is the answer:

Reading:  35%
Writing:   35%
Listening:  15%
Speaking: 15%

This is how the overall composite score is calculated.

In the life of international schools, this is the time of year when we recognize that some families will be moving on from our school community. For kids, as well as moms and dads, it is a transition that is both exciting, and one of challenges and fears. Please join our elementary counselors, Ms. Geetha and Mr. George, as they share a presentation specifically designed for families on the move. All parents are welcome whether you are leaving this semester or you just want to be aware of issues surrounding moving with your family. Please join us for, Families on the Move, on Monday, November 18th, beginning at 8:45 in the Hall of Light. Our counselors will also be conducting special sessions with children prior to the winter break. If you are leaving AISC next month, please be sure to notify Ms. Hazel or Ms. Cheryl in the Principal's Office.

The PTA Elementary Grade Level Representatives and the Elementary Student Council and ASA Girl Scout Troop are sponsoring a Giving Tree to support 180+ students in 5 area orphanages.  Please support these efforts as we move into the holiday season and bring year 2013 to a successful and helpful finish.

The 5 orphanages our Giving Tree will support are:

Home Of Hope for Boys by the World of Life Church – 49 Kids
Assisi Ilam Orphanage – 24 Kids
St. Joseph Social Service Center – 40 Kids
Seva Samajam Girls Home – 57 Kids
Mizpah orphanage – 18 Kids

Members of the parent community have been hard at work making arrangements for the lists of children we will have the opportunity to help and planning the overall project.  The children from the Elementary Student Council as well as the ASA Girl Scout Troop have spent time creating the stars our kids and parents will take from the tree.

The Giving Tree will be set up on November 20th in the Elementary Cafeteria.  Specific rules which include the below details will be posted by the tree.

1. Children/parents can take a star off the tree and purchase a small item useful to the child listed on the star.  We will include age and gender of recipient on the stars.   We are asking for new, non-perishable items only such as a water bottle, a snack box, or notepads/pencils/erasers.  A nice gift for a child can be arranged for under Rs. 200.

2.  We would like the present to be wrapped, with the star attached to the gift (stars will be color coded to indicate which orphanage gift will go to).  The gift is to be dropped off in a designated box in the Elementary Library.  Thank you to Mr. Jet and the library staff for helping us with this "safe" spot for the gifts.  

3.  The last day to drop off gifts will be December 11 or 12.

4.  Gifts will be dropped off to the orphanages December 15-19, by parent Gina Makawana and any other individuals who would like to help out.  Gina will be happy to share delivery date information as time gets closer with anyone who will not travel outside of Chennai over the holidays and who would like to participate.

For any specific questions related to the Giving Tree, please feel free to contact teacher Pam Thompson, parent Gina Makawana, or parent Margaret Rajan.


Thank you to the Girls Scouts and to the Student Council for your contributions!



The Swimming unit for Upper elementary (Grades 3-5) will start on Nov 25th. 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.


Lastly, please come visit the ES/MS Library and see lots of great upper elementary artwork!  Fun dragon sculptures as well as creative figure study paintings are currently on display.  We like to change the artwork throughout the year, so come back often and see what our AISC artists have made! Here are a few samples of what you will see.









Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal



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