Dear Parents,
Three questions:
Measures of Academic Progress® Tests
For more information on resources for parents, download the Parent Toolkit at www.nwea.org >> Partner Support.
Student-Led Conferences
http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/American_International_School_Chennai_1
This video will guide you through the sign-up process.
If you do not have internet access at home, you are welcome to use a computer in the CIC.
You can visit art, music, physical education, Indian Studies, Spanish, French on a drop-in basis. You do not need to sign-up online for a conference.
What to Expect During the Conference
• The main focus will be on goal setting with the child. A baseline portfolio will be shared, to show the “starting point” for the child and so growth can be documented by the second conference.
• In grades PK-2, the student will be present, and the teacher will orchestrate the conference, involving student and parents in all aspects of the discussion.
• In grades 3-5, students will take on more of the conference leadership. This may vary if your child is an English Language Learner and his/her comfort level.
• We ask you to switch off your mobile phone during the conference so your child or teacher can present without interruption.
• Please provide encouragement and feedback as your child proceeds. Ask questions to clarify and try to let your child maintain control over the conference. Teachers will also support your child during the meeting.
• Expect your child to share strengths, successes, and areas for improvement. We hope this information is helpful.
Please note:
1. We will provide child-care for brothers and/or sisters who are waiting while their parents are conferencing with another child. This is short-term child-care only. Please drop your child off immediately prior to the sibling's conference, and pick them up immediately after.
2. Childcare will take place in the following rooms: 2132, 3616 and 3607. I will provide parents with further information next week about this option.
3. All students must be signed in and out, and please provide a mobile number where we can reach you if needed.
4. Childcare is for enrolled students only (no babies, toddlers, or non-enrolled siblings).
5. Students must follow the instructions of the supervising adults and remain in the same room at all times until signed out.
Please note that the playgrounds will be closed on Friday. As per our safety and supervision guidelines, elementary children must be supervised directly by an adult at all times while on campus.
Use of Technology in a Grade 5 Math Class
Watch and listen to Ms. Becky as she explains how her students are using technology during math class. This serves as a great example of our students, and their teacher, demonstrating our Student Learning Objectives.
One of AISC’s amazing traditions is the celebration of UN Day, which takes place as UN International Peace Day on Friday, September 19. Dot Day, an acknowledgement of the spirit of individual identity from the illustrated book by Peter Reynolds, is also marked on our calendars for Monday, September 15. This year, we are marking our values of diversity and identity, our respect for the efforts to bring peace to nations and groups throughout the world, and our responsibility to engage global awareness campaigns regarding the rights of all peoples to peace.
The Dot Day - UN International Peace Day
In the coming days, we will be focusing on three themes school wide:
Identity
International-mindedness
The rights of peoples to peace
Among the many experiences happening next week are:
Monday and Tuesday, September 15 & 16
Thursday, September 18
Wear White For Peace - Please make sure your child(ren) wear a white shirt on this day. We would love to have 100% participation.
Friday, September 19
Parade of Flags Assembly (8:50 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.), FAC Auditorium & International Country Pavilion (10:30 a.m.), Gymnasium
Questions About the Week?
1. So what’s the book “The Dot” about?
2. Are you interested in watching the event from work or home?
We will live stream this assembly. Go to our Events page to watch between 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. on Friday, September 19.
3. Are you interested in a DVD after the event?
Have a great weekend,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal
We had 30 parents come to our first Parent Coffee with the ES Administration on Tuesday. Our topic was, “Transitioning into a New School and New Country." At the end of the presentation, Ms. Geetha, Mr. George and I asked parents to complete a brief survey consisting of three questions and a place to write comments. Twenty-two parents responded and the feedback is below.
Three questions:
1. Did the presentation give you some new information to think about? 21/22 said yes
2. Did you have enough opportunity to talk? 19/22 said yes
3. Has today’s talk given you new ideas to help your child through the current transition? 21/22 said yes
Comments:
1. Could you do this presentation in January to new parents as well?
2. Maybe a bit more time to talk.
3. Provide handouts.
4. Good to highlight children’s behaviors that are to be expected in transition.
5. Enjoyable.
6. You guys covered pretty much everything. Thank you.
7. It really helped us a lot.
8. It was a great experience to be a part of this discussion. I would love to continue coming for this discussion in the future.
9. Actually a very beneficial morning. I nearly did not come as I thought I was not a “new” parent anymore but I now have a better understanding that I should be more tolerant of some of the children’s behavior.
10. It was indeed a very good presentation and now that you have given us the seed, we will see it grow.
11. A bit more time for group sharing and interaction at the tables would benefit the workshop.
12. Got to meet new people and make new friends.
13. Thank you for a well-thought out conversation. I’m walking away with a few new ideas and I’m thankful for that, as well as the opportunity to chat with others.
14. Would you consider leading a study group on this topic?
We really appreciated the comments about wanting more time to talk. That feedback tells us that participants found the topic quite interesting.
Measures of Academic Progress® Tests
Beginning September 17th, 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, language usage and science (grades 3 to 5). 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. Your child will take the tests on a computer. Beginner EAL students who enrolled after August 17th will not write these tests.
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. You will receive a MAP Student Progress Report prior to the Fall Break.
For more information on resources for parents, download the Parent Toolkit at www.nwea.org >> Partner Support.
Student-Led Conferences
We will be hosting our first round of Student-Led Conferences on Thursday, September 25 from 3:45 pm to 6:25 pm, and all day on Friday, September 26 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Conferences will be conducted in your child’s homeroom and will be 20 minutes in length. We do request that all families make an appointment to attend on either on of the two days. Conferences are scheduled online, and you can do so now by clicking on the link below:
http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/American_International_School_Chennai_1
This video will guide you through the sign-up process.
If you do not have internet access at home, you are welcome to use a computer in the CIC.
You can visit art, music, physical education, Indian Studies, Spanish, French on a drop-in basis. You do not need to sign-up online for a conference.
What to Expect During the Conference
• The main focus will be on goal setting with the child. A baseline portfolio will be shared, to show the “starting point” for the child and so growth can be documented by the second conference.
• In grades PK-2, the student will be present, and the teacher will orchestrate the conference, involving student and parents in all aspects of the discussion.
• In grades 3-5, students will take on more of the conference leadership. This may vary if your child is an English Language Learner and his/her comfort level.
• We ask you to switch off your mobile phone during the conference so your child or teacher can present without interruption.
• Please provide encouragement and feedback as your child proceeds. Ask questions to clarify and try to let your child maintain control over the conference. Teachers will also support your child during the meeting.
• Expect your child to share strengths, successes, and areas for improvement. We hope this information is helpful.
Please note:
1. We will provide child-care for brothers and/or sisters who are waiting while their parents are conferencing with another child. This is short-term child-care only. Please drop your child off immediately prior to the sibling's conference, and pick them up immediately after.
2. Childcare will take place in the following rooms: 2132, 3616 and 3607. I will provide parents with further information next week about this option.
3. All students must be signed in and out, and please provide a mobile number where we can reach you if needed.
4. Childcare is for enrolled students only (no babies, toddlers, or non-enrolled siblings).
5. Students must follow the instructions of the supervising adults and remain in the same room at all times until signed out.
Please note that the playgrounds will be closed on Friday. As per our safety and supervision guidelines, elementary children must be supervised directly by an adult at all times while on campus.
Use of Technology in a Grade 5 Math Class
Watch and listen to Ms. Becky as she explains how her students are using technology during math class. This serves as a great example of our students, and their teacher, demonstrating our Student Learning Objectives.
One of AISC’s amazing traditions is the celebration of UN Day, which takes place as UN International Peace Day on Friday, September 19. Dot Day, an acknowledgement of the spirit of individual identity from the illustrated book by Peter Reynolds, is also marked on our calendars for Monday, September 15. This year, we are marking our values of diversity and identity, our respect for the efforts to bring peace to nations and groups throughout the world, and our responsibility to engage global awareness campaigns regarding the rights of all peoples to peace.
The Dot Day - UN International Peace Day
In the coming days, we will be focusing on three themes school wide:
Identity
International-mindedness
The rights of peoples to peace
Among the many experiences happening next week are:
Monday and Tuesday, September 15 & 16
DOT Days, FAC Atrium, All day - Student will be placing their dots in the form of a peace sign in the FAC gallery space. All of the AISC community are welcome to view and participate in the project. The final collaborative art piece will be hung as the backdrop for the UN parade in the auditorium on Friday.
Thursday, September 18
Wear White For Peace - Please make sure your child(ren) wear a white shirt on this day. We would love to have 100% participation.
Candlelight Vigil, FAC Auditorium Stage, 3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. We invite teachers, students, and families to take part in a candlelight vigil focused on peace and justice. This will be a time to reflect on what peace and justice means to us. We ask all participants to wear white to show their support of peace. Important Note: ES students must be accompanied by parents.
Friday, September 19
Parade of Flags Assembly (8:50 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.), FAC Auditorium & International Country Pavilion (10:30 a.m.), Gymnasium
K-12 students will gather in the gymnasium between 8.30 a.m. and 8.50 a.m. The PK students will gather in the auditorium lobby and then lead the school, with the UN Flag, when the parade begins. The PK students will not, otherwise, carry their national flags nor country signs. They will lead the procession and jointly march solely under the UN Flag.
8:30 - 8:50 a.m. - All parade spectators should be seated in the auditorium.
8:50 a.m. - Greeting and Opening Remarks by Head of School
8:55 a.m. - Middle School Choir sings “Shosholoza” accompanied by High School Percussion
9:00 a.m. - MUN Secretary General speaks
9:05 a.m. - MUN Secretary General begins parade: Pre-K students lead procession, followed by ES/MS/HS
9:35 a.m. - Student Body President makes closing remarks
9:38 a.m. - High School Choir sings “Inscription of Hope”
9:42 a.m. - Head of School thanks students, teachers, & audience (After dispersal of parents, students are released)
10:30 a.m. - Parents, International Country Pavilions for Students (Gymnasium)
There will be limited parent seating in the auditorium. PK students will exit the auditorium when they finish their role in the parade. Once our K-5 students finish their role in the parade each of them will be seated in the auditorium for this event. Once our 6-12 students complete the parade, they will be seated in the cafeteria with live streaming of the assembly in the auditorium.
R.I.S.E. (Resilience, Innovation, Service, and Entertainment Forum), FAC Auditorium, 5:00 p.m. - AISC will host its first R.I.S.E event which will bring inspirational speakers, thought leaders, and entertainers to AISC to infuse new vision and dialogue relative to our mission, core values and student learning objectives. One of these speakers is Chintan Modi, who has offered his time to work with classrooms around the theme of peace through the power of friendship. Chintan is the founder of Friendships Across Borders: Aao Dosti Karein, a social media initiative that builds on the power of personal friendships to transform the long-standing hostility between India and Pakistan. We are also joined by Dr. V.R. Devika, the Founder and Managing Trustee of The Aseema Trust. Dr. V.R. Devika is known for her passion for traditional performing arts and education. She conducts regular workshops on peace education and communication skills for students and teachers. You can read more about the program here.
Questions About the Week?
1. So what’s the book “The Dot” about?
To view and listen to The Dot, please visit our online subscription to TumbleBooks!
Here are steps on how to access it:
Go to the following address on the Internet: www.tumblebooks.com
Click on the green box
Enter the following information: username: aisc password: chennai
In the search box in the top left hand corner, type The Dot and click the blue arrow.
Scroll down until you find The Dot on the left side of the page.
Click “Read Online.”
2. Are you interested in watching the event from work or home?
We will live stream this assembly. Go to our Events page to watch between 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. on Friday, September 19.
3. Are you interested in a DVD after the event?
Sometimes filming or getting pictures during an event is too difficult. Too many photographers at an event can be a distraction. We will be giving DVDs of the event to anyone who asks. Stay tuned for ordering directions.
4. How does the parade work?
Unless a parent has requested otherwise, students will be marching under their citizenship of record as listed in Skyward. ES teachers will help students make sure they are with the right group on the morning of the assembly. If students wish to wear national dress, they are welcome to do so.
Have a great weekend,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal