Dear Community Members,
For the past few weeks, Grade 2 students have been working on their SEVAI service-learning project. Students produced items in collaboration with 40 students from Seva Samajam that were sold at a craft bazaar on Wednesday. This was an integration of their economics unit exploring the exchange of goods and services, consumers and producers and the choices people make when purchasing goods and services.
This service-learning project afforded students from both schools the opportunity to work together and to form friendships. The bazaar was a huge success! Approximately $2000 was raised which will help buy art supplies and other resources for the school. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Missoula Children’s Theater
The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT), the largest touring children’s theatre in the US, is coming to elementary school from May 3rd to May 7th. The tour team will arrive with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play, The Secret Garden.
The Secret Garden, an original Missoula Children’s Theatre rendition, is a joyful retelling of a story of hope and celebration and all good things in life. Mistress Mary Quite Contrary embarks on a journey from India to her uncle’s home in England. Along the way she makes friends with the hilarious Canadian Geese and the colorful Giant Bugs that Rock! In time she learns to appreciate everything around her, including the Moor Animals and the helpful Fireflies. Add to that a good healthy dose of caring, and what happens? Colin, Martha, Archibald - well the whole household - begin to enjoy the return of health and happiness in a garden carefully tended…until it blossoms once more.
Approximately 90 students have registered for an audition. This is incredible! It is important to know that only 60 children can be casted so not all of the children auditioning will receive a part. Casting the show will be at the sole discretion of Alex and Erin, the directors, and roles will be announced at the end of the audition. Alex and Erin will make sure that no one is singled out while doing their best to ensure that everyone leaves with a positive feeling.
Bring-Your Own-Technology Information
Each year in April, we host representatives from our technology vendors who bring devices for our families and teachers to review and purchase. All students in grades 3-12 next year will need a device in our Bring-Your-Own-Technology (BYOT) program, so if you plan on purchasing a device in India, please take advantage of this opportunity. Please see the recommended student devices for Grades 3-5 for next year that includes estimated prices in both India and the United States.
Bring-Your Own-Technology Information
Each year in April, we host representatives from our technology vendors who bring devices for our families and teachers to review and purchase. All students in grades 3-12 next year will need a device in our Bring-Your-Own-Technology (BYOT) program, so if you plan on purchasing a device in India, please take advantage of this opportunity. Please see the recommended student devices for Grades 3-5 for next year that includes estimated prices in both India and the United States.
Student-Led Conferences: April 21st and April 22nd
Our second and final round of student-led conferences will be held on Thursday, April 21st from 3:45 to 6:00 and all day on Friday, April 22nd. Your attendance is required on either one of these dates.
You can now sign up for a conference. To do so, please visit this website.
Parents will be able to sign up until the evening before the conference day.
We have created a video that will guide you through the sign-up procedures. You can access the video here.
Conference format: What can you expect? Please click here.
Supervision during conferences:
We will provide child-care for school-aged 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 up immediately after.
Preschool: On Thursday, Preschool children will be supervised in room 1122 (1A classroom) and on Friday 3144 (Level 3 – the music room, located directly above the Principal’s office). Please drop off and pick up your children from this room.
Grades KG – 5 students: On both days, students have the option to play outdoors in the Elementary play areas or use the Elementary CIC if they wish to remain indoors. Our staff will supervise these areas 3:40 - 6:00 p.m. on Thursday & 8:20 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday.
Childcare is for enrolled students only (no babies, toddlers, or non-enrolled siblings). Elementary students must follow the instructions of the supervising adults and remain in the designated areas.
The soccer field will be closed on both days for SAISA soccer.
SAISA Track and Field
Coming up this week on April 21-23rd, we will be hosting the 2016 SAISA Track & Field Meet here at AISC. This will be a really exciting Meet and we are looking forward to hosting this great event. We have 189 total athletes, of which 159 visiting are visiting from six schools from five countries including: Nepal, Bangladesh, Oman, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Click here for the schedule, results and live streaming.
Please come out and support all of our Raptors and visiting Track & Field athletes.
World Language Selection Process
All students will learn a World Language starting from Grade 3. The languages we offer are French and Spanish. Native Spanish and French speakers will be automatically assigned to the other language because we do not offer a native speaker’s option. When a language fills to capacity, students will automatically be assigned to the open language, even if it was not their first choice. Students will be allowed to change languages only at the start of the following school year.
Parents of current Grade 2 students
Please make a World Language choice for your child for the next school year (in Grade 3) by accessing this form.
Parents of current Grade 3 & 4 students
Your child will continue in the same language class as this year (French/Spanish).
Please fill this form out ONLY if your child wishes to change languages. Please note that students may not select their native (home) language, as we do not offer a native speaker program.
Click here to access the link:
The selection links will close at 5 pm on Friday, April 22.
Class Placement Procedure
We will soon begin the process of creating class placements for the upcoming school year. Our aim is always to create the optimal learning community for each student. In doing so, we consider the following factors in creating balanced groups: gender, nationality, English language proficiency, academic achievement, social skills, special needs, and a blend of returning and new students.
If you have specific information regarding your child’s placement that needs to be considered as part of the process, I invite you to email Ms. Meg for preschool to Grade 2 placements and Mr. Wilson for grades 3 to 5 placements. Please send this information by April 22nd. To help us help you, in your email please:
1. List any insights you may have about your child’s learning style.
2. Describe the type of learning environment in which your child may experience the most success.
3. Describe any thoughts you have about your child’s school experience.
4. Add any other important information that you wish to share.
Examples of comments that everyone agrees upon are: “We want a warm, nurturing, caring classroom environment for our child,” or “We want our child to be challenged.” We take these comments as a given; our teachers provide a nurturing, challenging and safe environment for every student. Sorry, but given the complexities of placing students, we cannot take requests for friends to be placed together.
Since we will continue to enrol children up to the first day of school, class lists will only be ready for distribution the afternoon of Monday, August 3rd. Your child’s class placement will be sent to you by email.
Coffee with the ES Administration
Thank you to the parents who were able to come to Ms. Meg’s presentation on mindfulness. Below are Ms. Meg’s presentation notes.
May & June Lunch Orders
If you wish to order a school lunch for your child, you can access the elementary lunch menu here. You may use either the Payonline or the Lunch Pre-order system to order lunch for your child(ren).
The Payonline System
Payonline allows parents to charge their child’s smart cards online, order and pay for lunches, and register and pay for after school activities. Payment is completed online using a credit or debit card. You need a username and password to access this system. Please see the user guide here for help using the system. You may access Payonline here.
Lunch Pre-Order System for Cash Payments
This system allows parents to pre-order lunches for the month and pay with cash at the cash counter. Login using just the email address we have on file at AISC. Please see the user guide here. You may access the Lunch Pre-Order System here.
If you have any difficulties logging in or ordering, please notify itsupport@aisch.org.
Family Withdrawal Notification
Sadly, the end of the school year is a time when we say, “so-long” to many of our friends. If you are not returning to AISC for the next academic year, fill out the withdrawal notification form and submit to the Principal's Office / or pick up one at the office, to get the withdrawal process started.
Have a great weekend,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal