Friday, December 16, 2016

Dear Parents,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  This half year has certainly been exceptional, and I wish you a wonderful and relaxing three weeks with your families and friends.

Our children bounced back into school on Thursday with smiles and many stories to tell after Cyclone Vardah.  I hope that each of you are as proud of their resilience and emotional maturity as we are.  Many children need time to process natural disasters; linked here is an article posted on our website for helping children cope in such times.

Thank you to Ms Shireen and our Elementary Choir for this morning’s wonderful performance.  Such a fun and festive way to end our calendar year together.  More pictures like below are now on our website gallery.

Farewell to leavers

At this time we farewell friends and families who are moving on during this break.  We wish you all the best for your new adventures, and encourage you to keep in touch with classmates and teachers here.  

Access to Photo Gallery

For those who are leavinng, please remember to visit our Photo Gallery at http://photos.aischennai.org/2016-2017/  to take a look at the pictures of all the past events.

Password: raptors16.

Make-Up School Days

Due to missed school days as a result of local events and weather in the past two weeks, the following days in January will be official school days: Saturday, January 21 and Saturday, January 28

Why these days?

We are engaging these days as make-ups for two reasons:

1.     They are at the start of the second semester when all students and teachers across the school can make effective use of extra learning and teaching time.

2.     They are Saturdays at the end of 4-day weeks with calendared holidays. Students and teachers will not have 6-day study/work weeks.

Further, please note that the two Early Release Days in January (11th and 25th) will be full days of school in order to provide more instructional time in the month we return from the break.

Field Day - Change of Dates

Our PK - Grade 2 Field day which is on the calendar for January 19th has been changed to Friday 27 January. This is also a HS Discover Day which allows us the opportunity to work together with HS students to host this great event for our youngest students.

Our Grade 3-5 Field Day has moved to Thursday January 19th due to ASIAC soccer rescheduling.  We thank you for  your understanding with these date changes.

ASA Semester 2 Information - For January 23 to May 26, 2017 (repeat announcement)

ASA forms will be sent on January 9. Online registrations will open from January 10 till 12. If you miss the online registration, you can come for In-person cash registration at the Elementary cafeteria on January 17 & 18 from 8:00 till 9.30.

Activities for semester 2 will begin on January 23.

Raptors swim club - Try-outs: January 9-20 after-school from 3.45-4.30 pm. If your child has already been in Raptor's Swim Club, they do NOT need to try out again. We may have two sessions for this program, if numbers are high. Session 1 will be from 3:45-4:45 for beginner and intermediate students. Session 2 will be from 4:45-6:00pm, for advanced swimmers. Group division will be determined after the first week of ASA.

PAY ONLINE REGISTRATION

Online registration opens on January 10 (midnight) and closes, on January 12, 2017.

Please go to (https://payonline.aischennai.org/), login and register.

If you are unable to register through pay online due to any problem (username/password) please write to itsupport@aischennai.org. IT will reset your username and password and you may register thereon.

If you face Internet problems at home, please resolve and then register.

Kindly note that payments made through credit card will carry a service charge.  This fee is  charged by the bank and not by the school.

We encourage parents to register through pay online.

The ASA handbook will be available on the school website, click here for the quick link to After School Activities.

Upcoming Dates For Your Calendar
Monday 9 January Welcome back to school

Tuesday 10 January ASA Online Registration begins

Monday 16 January Pongal Holiday (no school)

Tuesday 17 January ES Parent Coffee 8:45am - 9:45am

Thursday 19 January Grade 3-5 Field Day

Friday 27 January PK - Grade 2 Field Day

Monday 23 January ASA Semester 2 Begins

Thursday 26 January Indian Republic Day Holiday (no school)

Looking forward to seeing you all back again in January.  Relax, recharge, refresh - and most of all be safe.  

Warmly,

Keryn Dowling

Saturday, 10 december, 2016

Dear Parents,

What a most extraordinary week it has been!  Thank you for your continued patience and understanding in these exceptional circumstances.

These last two days (including Saturday) we have seen great resilience and compassion in our children; how they have spoken with feeling and understanding about surrounding circumstances and shown great flexibility in adapting to different schedules and changed events.

Winter Concerts

All parents are welcome to attend the upcoming winter concerts. PreKindergarten to grade 2 students perform at 2pm on Wednesday 14th December, and Grade 3 to 5 students perform at 2pm on Thursday 15th December.

Elementary Choir - Christmas Performance

Due to the cancellation of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency, the Elementary Choir will perform for us on Friday 16th December 8.45 - 9.30am in the FAC theater. Parents as well as all Elementary classes are welcome to this final celebration of 2016, and at this time we will also farewell any leaving students.

Grade 3-5 Art Exhibition

Since this week was truncated, from Monday 12th through Friday 16th December, we welcome you to come view the Art Exhibition set up in the FAC Atrium.  All children’s work will be on display and we look forward to sharing this with you all.

ASA Semester 2 Information - For January 23 to May 26, 2017

ASA forms will be sent on January 9. Online registrations will open from January 10 till 12. If you miss the online registration, you can come for In-person cash registration at the Elementary cafeteria on January 17 & 18 from 8:00 till 9.30.

Activities for semester 2 will begin on January 23.

Raptors swim club - Try-outs: January 9-20 after-school from 3.45-4.30 pm. If your child has already been in Raptor's Swim Club, they do NOT need to try out again. We may have two sessions for this program, if numbers are high. Session 1 will be from 3:45-4:45 for beginner and intermediate students. Session 2 will be from 4:45-6:00pm, for advanced swimmers. Group division will be determined after the first week of ASA.

PAY ONLINE REGISTRATION

Online registration opens on January 10 (midnight) and closes, on January 12, 2017.

Please go to (https://payonline.aischennai.org/), login and register.

If you are unable to register through pay online due to any problem (username/password) please write to itsupport@aischennai.org. IT will reset your username and password and you may register thereon.

If you face Internet problems at home, please resolve and then register.

Kindly note that payments made through credit card will carry a service charge.  This fee is  charged by the bank and not by the school.

We encourage parents to register through pay online.

The ASA handbook will be available on the school website, click here for the quick link to After School Activities.

Upcoming Dates For Your Calendar

Tuesday 13 December         ES Parent Coffee (8.45 - 9.45am) in the BBT

Wednesday 14 December    Grades PreK - 2 Winter Concert 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. FAC Theater

Thursday 15 December         Grades 3 - 5 Winter Concert 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. FAC Theater

Friday 16 December              Last day of School before the Winter Break begins (regular school hours)
Monday 9 January         Welcome back to school

Thursday 19 January         Grade 3-5 Field Day (new date)

Friday 27 January         PK - Grade 2 Field Day (new date)

Have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday and see you for our last week starting Monday.

Warmly,

Keryn

Friday, 02 December, 2016

Dear Parents,

December and the rainy season is finally upon us!  With two weeks of school remaining until our Winter Break, it is important we keep mindful during this busy time.

This also unfortunately brings about coughs, colds and fevers and we ask parents to ensure any child running a fever is kept home until they have been fever free for 24 hours.  We are doing all we can at school to avoid spreading illness and we ask for your support in this.

Grade 3-5 Art Exhibition

Starting Monday the 5th December, we welcome you you to come view the Art Exhibition set up in the FAC Atrium.  All children’s work will be on display and we look forward to sharing this with you all.

Hour of Code

This also begins next week during the school day. Ask your children what they have been doing to participate in this growing worldwide event.

ES Parent Coffee

We will reflect on all the aspects of contemporary International Elementary Education we as an Elementary Section have been working on this half of the year.  We will host a discussion together with parents and also a protocol to obtain feedback from you all. Please do join us on Tuesday 13th December 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. in the BBT.

PreKindergarten - Grade 2 Field Day - Change of Date

Our PreKindergarten - Grade 2 Field day which is on the calendar for January 19th has been changed to Friday 27 January.  This is also a High School Discovery Day which allows us the opportunity to work together with High School students to host this great event for our youngest students.

Winter Concerts

Coming up in our last week of school are our winter concerts, put on by our Music team.  All children will be involved in performing songs and music at these festive events and we welcome you to the FAC Theatre for these events.  Dates are posted below.

Upcoming Dates For Your Calendar

Monday 5 December         Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hyatt Regency 6:00p.m

Mon 5 - Fri 9 December         Grades 3-5 Art Exhibition (FAC Atrium)

Wednesday 7 December        Early Release Wednesday (2.00pm dismissal)

Tuesday 13 December         ES Parent Coffee (8.45 - 9.45am)

Wednesday 14 December      Grades PreK - 2 Winter Concert 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday 15 December          Grades 3 - 5 Winter Concert 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Friday 16 December                Last day of School before the Winter Break begins (regular school hours)
Monday 9 January Welcome back to school

Friday 20 January Grade 3-5 Field Day

Friday 27 January PreKindergarten - Grade 2 Field Day

Happy weekend everyone!

Warmly,

Keryn

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Dear Parents,

Happy Thanksgiving!  At this time of year it is wonderful to have the reminder to be thankful for all that is good in our lives and for the opportunities we have to be part of the AISC Community.  I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all of you who make this community so special - parents, teachers and students. Your addition of daily smiles and gratitude makes it a pleasure for all of us to be here every day, and we thank each and every one of you.  

As Ralph Marston said “What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it-would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.”

Grade 3 - 5 Art Exhibition

Students and teachers from Grades 3-5 as well as Mr Ken and Ms Priya cordially invite you to view and enjoy a sampling of artworks created from the first half of the school year. These works will be on display in the lobby of the FAC (the Middle and High School Fine Arts Center) from Monday, December 5th through to Friday, December 9th.  

Christmas Tree Lighting

A reminder that our Elementary Choir will be performing at the Hyatt Regency at 6pm on Monday 5 December, as part of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.  The hotel is generously providing food and soft drinks, and we look forward to welcoming our families there.  Children who are performing in the choir will travel together by bus to the Hyatt Regency, and families will take children home directly after the ceremony.

Hour of Code

Hour of code will be celebrated December 5-9. According to code.org, "There are over 8,079 events around the world in over 180 countries. To date, over 100 million students have participated, and girls in particular are being given a greater opportunity to learn programming than ever before." Last year, students in grades 1-4 participated in Hour of Code. We are hoping to get even more participation this year. During hour of code, students will participate at their pace in online tutorials learning the basics of computer programming. Learning to program requires students to use thinking skills, pay attention to details, patience, the ability to predict an outcome and much more. Bill Gates states, "Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.”

ES Parent Coffee
On Tuesday 13 December we will have our next Elementary Parent Coffee where we will have time to discuss ideas, projects and initiatives the Elementary School has been working on this year, and invite parents to offer feedback.  We look forward to welcoming you in the BBT at 8.45am - 9.45am.

Student Council Toy Drive

The holiday season is upon us once again! The ES Student Council has started the fifth annual Holiday Toy Drive. The Toy Drive began on Monday, Nov. 14 and goes through Friday, Dec. 2.  

We are collecting clean and gently used unwanted games, toys, or books for children in local orphanages that need holiday cheer. Students are asked to place the donated items into the box in their homeroom.   

Thank you in advance for your support. Please do not hesitate to contact our student council advisors, Ms Pam, Ms Deanna and Ms Nicole  if you have any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Dates For Your Calendar

Thur 24 - Fri 25 November        Thanksgiving Holiday

Monday 5 December Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hyatt Regency 6:00p.m

Mon 5 - Fri 9 December             Grades 3-5 Art Exhibition (FAC Atrium)

Wednesday 7 December           Early Release Wednesday (2.00pm dismissal)

Tuesday 13 December ES Parent Coffee (BBT 8.45 - 9.45am)

Wednesday 14 December         Grades PreK - 2 Winter Concert 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday 15 December              Grades 3 - 5 Winter Concert 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Friday 16 December            Last day of School before the Winter Break (regular school hours)

Happy Holidays everyone!  Enjoy this time together and remember to be thankful!

Warmly,

Keryn Dowling