Friday, December 13, 2013

Dear Parents,

It is so hard to believe that we are have finished the 18th week of school and that the winter break is here. Whether you are traveling out of Chennai, or staying home, have a safe and relaxing holiday. School resumes on Monday, January 6th.

Winter Concerts: Thank you to the many parents and family members joined us on Wednesday and Thursday. To all of the children, do know that your family and teachers are so proud of you! Thank you to music teachers, Ms. Shireen, Mr. Vasanth and Mr. Finny, our lower elementary art teacher Mr. Joseph, and to our stage crew. I hope you enjoy these concert pictures. Please use the password, raptors13.

PTA Giving Tree and Student Council Toy Drive: Thank you so much to everyone who participated in both of these drives. There will be many thankful and happy children in the community this holiday season!

Jan Jamboree: As one of its community building projects, the High School Student Council is organizing the “Jan Jamboree” on Saturday, January 18, 2013 from 2 – 5 pm on the AISC Soccer Field. This event is for AISC families and guests. 

There will be a Rs 200 Entry Fee for ES and MS Students. This is because once they enter the Jamboree, they will have unlimited, free of charge access to the over 20 games and activities organized by HS Students, their “Big brothers and Sisters.” Games and activities include: Cookie Decorating, T-Shirt Decorating (extra charge for cost price of t-shirt), Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Sponge Throw, Splash, Beat the Keeper, T1 Car Racing, Bouncy Castle, Balance Beam Pillow Fight, Lime and Spoon Race, Pin the Tail on the Raptor etc. 

There is no entry fee for Adults and HS age students! Come and enjoy the food and drinks on sale, get the chance of winning exciting prizes in the Raffle, see the kids have a great time and spend a fun afternoon with family and friends.

Funds raised through this event will be used to support a variety of community service clubs and projects.

We truly hope you will be able to join us as a family for this wonderful event. Thank you from the High School Student Council.

Attention All Student Photographers!

We invite all elementary photographers to participate in the first annual AISC Incredible India Photo Gallery.  During India Week in February, we will be displaying ES students' photos of India in the FAC gallery.  

Here is how to join the fun:

* Each ES student may submit one photo, taken in India, no larger than 5x7 size.  Photos must be taken by the student.

* Photos may be submitted to the main office (near Ms. Sonia's desk) beginning January 20th.

* Photos should show something incredible about India :)

* Photos should be labeled with student's name and homeroom on the back. The photos may also be given a title.

All photos will be displayed in Fine Arts Center during India Week.  We look forward to seeing our amazing ES photographers' work displayed for all to admire.  So get out your camera and start taking pictures!

If you have questions, please contact Ms. Megan at mmegan@aisch.org

Have a wonderful holiday. I will see you in January.

Kevin Hall

Elementary School Principal

December 6, 2013

Dear Community Members,

We had a fantastic turnout Monday night at the Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Hyatt. Thank you to our three choirs and music teachers for putting on a great show. Speaking of shows, it is soon time for our annual winter concerts. The KG to Grade 2 concert will be held on Wednesday, December 11 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. The Grades 3-5 concert is the following day, also from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Both concerts will be in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium. A videographer will record each concert and parents will be able to purchase a DVD at a later date. 

Clothing for the K-2 concert: We would like the children to wear, if possible, red, green or white clothing. Please send these clothes in a separate bag in the morning. The children will change into their performance clothes after lunch.

Clothing for the 3-5 concert: We would like the boys to wear, if possible, combinations of green and white and girls red and white. Please send these clothes in a separate bag in the morning. The children will change into their performance clothes after lunch.

Elementary Sports Day T-shirt order: The Pre-School to Grade 2 Sports Day will be held on Thursday, January 23. The Grades 3-5 Sports Day will be held on Friday, January 24th. Both events will be held in the morning. Each child is given a special t-shirt to wear, however, we ask that parents order the t-shirt by clicking here. To help you with sizing, we included the approximate dimensions (in centimeters) of each shirt size. You can also look at samples that are available in the Elementary Reception. Colors are assigned to each grade, so you do not have to worry about choosing a color. Please place your orders prior to the winter break.

Counselors' Update: Counselors in the Elementary School are pleased that both the parent community and students have had the opportunity to participate in presentations and discussion on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) through this first semester of school. 

Parents were all invited to a coffee morning back in October that covered the construct of being a TCK, and the discussions that have followed indicate increasing awareness that our overseas kids experience a different upbringing to those of us that grew up in just our home cultures. This was followed in November with a parent discussion and presentation for those families leaving AISC. The impact of multiple changes for kids with an emphasis of how to best future proof kids resilience was thoughtfully discussed. 

Students through grades 1 - 5 have all had a series of counselor lessons that have not only explored being a TCK but given new emphasis to the meaning of maintaining close friendships when kids follow their parents as they move globally. Also, like the parent community, all leaving kids have met with counselors for discussion that if they leave well they will have the confidence to enter the next place well.  

As we move into semester 2 after the winter break, counselors will continue with a new series of class lessons that builds the importance of friendships for our TCKs.

Lunch Pre-Order Form: January 6 to 31:

Lunch menu - January 2014

Lunch order form - January 2014

Please place your online orders before January 3rd, and pay on or before January 10, 2014.

Giving Tree Update: We are so grateful for the generous spirit here at AISC and happy to say that every star has been taken from our Elementary Giving Tree, and that means we will be sharing our blessings with over 180 children in 5 orphanages in the next two weeks.  As December 13 is our first delivery, please remember to return your wrapped gift, with the star attached, to the elementary library by next Wednesday, December 11.  If for some reason you have lost your star, it is ok!  Please contact Parent Margaret Rajan at 9500048550 or Parent Gina Makawana at 9884222246 and be assured that the gift will make it to the right child!

If you did not get a star in time and still wish to offer something to the orphanages, here is a short wish list.  Please do not wrap these items as we will group them together and put in a box to the right place:

Seva Samajam Girls Home:  donations of sanitary pads, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Assisi Ilam Orphanage:  A4 paper, pens, pencils, chart paper

St Joseph Social Service Center:  A4 paper, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes

Home of Hope for Boys by World of Life Church:  Stationary supplies

Mizpah Orphanage:  recreational games like board games and cricket sets

Gina has confirmed gift delivery dates and times with the 5 local orphanages and the time table is as follows for anyone interested in helping drop off the gifts donated by our AISC community.  You may contact Gina at gina_makawana@yahoo.com or call her at 9884222246 to get details about joining her for the gift delivery.  Your child is most welcome to help.

1.  Seva Samajam Girls Home (56 girls)

29 Casa Major Road, Egmore 

Dec 13, 5:00  pm

  

2.  Assisi Ilam Orphanage (24 kids)

15 Nethaji Nagar, St Thomas Mount 

Dec 15, 11 am 

  

3.  St Joseph Social Service Center (40 kids) 

4/92-62 Magazine Road, St Thomas Mount 

Dec 14, 2:30 pm 

  

4.  Home of Hope for Boys by World of Life Church  (49 kids)

Mahibalipuram 

Dec 15, 5 pm 

  

5.  Mizpah Orphanage (19 kids)

Mahibalipuram before Pondicherry 

Dec 16, time unconfirmed as of yet

Thank you to each and every one of you.  This act of kindness will considerably help out the children and the orphanages caring for them.  It is a beautiful thing for our own children to learn to reach out and help others. 

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall

Elementary School Principal