Dear Parents,
Happy Halloween and Happy Diwali to all Elementary students, families and friends! Today we delighted in scaring one another as witches, zombies, superheroes and monsters! Thank you to everyone who helped by organising and creating costumes at home, and also to parent helpers providing a spooky class atmosphere and party today.
Toddlers on playgrounds
Whilst we welcome younger siblings into our cafeteria in the mornings and open our facilities to the community, we ask that parents with toddlers and babies who wish to climb and play do so only on the Kindergarten section of the playground. We have noticed an increase in very young children on some of our larger structures and we ask you to please avoid this to ensure the safety of your children.
Parent Cafe - Tuesday 8 November - 8.45am BBT
On Tuesday, November 8 Bernajean Porter, world-renowned digital storytelling expert, will be sharing her work and vision with parents at the ES Parent Coffee. Bernajean will be visiting AISC that week as an Artist in Residence. She will be spending time with several grade levels working with students in the classrooms to inspire them to share their stories with the world. Bernajean’s core question for schools is “What is the Return-on-Learning [ROL] for technology’s role in curriculum?” How might technology accelerate learners sharing what they know and understand? A powerful way to do this is to give learners more opportunities to tell stories about what they are learning. Storytelling takes vision, planning, practice and execution and is a powerful life skill.
On Tuesday, November 8 Bernajean Porter, world-renowned digital storytelling expert, will be sharing her work and vision with parents at the ES Parent Coffee. Bernajean will be visiting AISC that week as an Artist in Residence. She will be spending time with several grade levels working with students in the classrooms to inspire them to share their stories with the world. Bernajean’s core question for schools is “What is the Return-on-Learning [ROL] for technology’s role in curriculum?” How might technology accelerate learners sharing what they know and understand? A powerful way to do this is to give learners more opportunities to tell stories about what they are learning. Storytelling takes vision, planning, practice and execution and is a powerful life skill.
Missoula Children’s Theatre - Sign ups close next Thursday 3rd November
Sign ups are still open for any child, from KG - Grade 5 if they would like to take part in ‘Blackbeard the Pirate’. Although signing up does not guarantee a role in the play (these will be selected by the MCT directors), it is a commitment that your child will be available for the performance on Friday 18 November, at 4pm. All are welcome to watch the public performance which will be in the FAC Theatre.
Indian Meal - Friday November 4
Students will be served an Indian Lunch catered by our Taj Madras Flight Kitchen on Friday,
November 4th. This is provided by the school at no charge. Spices in the food will be minimal. The
menu is: Vegetable Pulao (Rice with Carrot, Peas, Beans), Poori (fried whole wheat bread), Chickpeas with Gravy, Chicken tikka (boneless), Jelebi (Sweet), Vadams (wafers), and Tropicana Juice.
November Lunch Menu & Order Links
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).
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).
Yearbook Photo orders
You can now view and order your child's yearbook individual and class photo using this form. Please order by November 7th; prints may be collected at the Elementary School Office after December 11th.
View the photos on Moodle: 'Login as a guest' using password: raptors16. Then:
• Choose 'All School page' and click on "Yearbook Photos 2016-17" link.
• There is an 'image no' below each photo. Enter this number on the order form, against the package of your choice. Pay at the cash counter and submit the form at the Elementary Principal’s office.
• Choose 'All School page' and click on "Yearbook Photos 2016-17" link.
• There is an 'image no' below each photo. Enter this number on the order form, against the package of your choice. Pay at the cash counter and submit the form at the Elementary Principal’s office.
Art Sustains
Art Sustains would like to formally invite you to our 2nd annual AISC craft fair. This event will take place Tuesday, November 1st through Friday, November 4th in the BBT and Saturday, November 5th during the Diwali Mela.
Art Sustains is a service organisation that works towards supporting the sustainability of the arts in Tamil Nadu and throughout India.
Student Protection Curriculum at AISC
Abuse prevention is a fundamental strategy of our Student Protection Program at AISC and as such we have worked over recent months to review and develop our Student Protection Curriculum.
The curriculum we have chosen to guide our program is the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC), developed by the South Australian Department of Education and Child Development. It is an evidence based, best practice curriculum developed collaboratively with child protection specialists, teachers, educational leaders and other professionals.
Given the importance of protecting all students at AISC we are not seeking permission from parents to have their child participate in this curriculum, we encourage parents/caregivers to seek further clarification if required and to provide their homeroom teacher/counselor with any relevant information about their child that could alleviate any concerns.
There are 2 main themes:
- We all have the right to be safe
- We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust
There are 4 focus areas: the right to be safe, relationships, recognizing and reporting abuse and strategies for keeping safe.
Child protection and safety are an important part of the Elementary and Early Years Learning Framework. Fundamental to the Framework is a view of children’s lives as characterised by belonging, being and becoming. Aspects of child protection and safety are embedded throughout the 5 learning outcomes:
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators.
PreK 3-4
The right to be safe
- feelings, exploring the topics of safe and unsafe, warning signs
Relationships
- identity and relationships, fair and unfair, trust and networks
Recognising and reporting abuse
- privacy and names of body parts, touching, recognizing abuse, secrets
Protective strategies
- strategies for keeping safe.
Grades K-2
The right to be safe
- feelings, being safe, warning signs, risk taking and emergencies
Relationships
- trust and networks, rights and responsibilities, use and abuse of power
Recognising and reporting abuse
- names of parts of the body, recognizing abusive situations and secrets
Protective strategies
- practising protective strategies, persistence.
Grades 3-5
The right to be safe
- exploring the concept of safety, reviewing the concept of warning signs, unsafe situations and acceptable risk taking
Relationships
- understanding rights and responsibilities, trust and networks, developing personal identity, power in relationships
Recognising and reporting abuse
- privacy and names of parts of the body, recognizing abuse, neglect and unsafe secrets, internet, telephone and media safety
Protective strategies
- problem solving and keeping safe, review of networks.
The focus areas will be covered within the classroom. For more information on the Student Protection Program at AISC please refer to the AISC Student Protection Manual 2016-2017 which is linked to the Information and Reminders section of the Heads Notes.
Please contact Ms Meg or Mr Ron if you have any questions about the program.
Inspiration Conversation: Unity in Diversity, Thursday, November 3
Students, parents, faculty and community members are invited to join together to turn their ideas into action as we consider how we embrace unity in diversity at AISC.
The Inspiration Conversation will start out at 3:45 in the Main Courtyard where we will dedicate the Unity Fountain. Then the conversation will continue in the Hall of Light starting at 4:15. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Join us!
We especially want students to participate in this event!
We especially want students to participate in this event!
Refugees and Theater: A Solution for Europe, Tuesday, November 8
Will Europe be able to live up to its new challenges? How can the arts be helpful in creating contact and understanding?
Since August 2015 the decision of German chancellor Angela Merkel to open the European borders has led to an influx of Syrian refugees into Germany. On the one hand this brave and unexpected decision has triggered the largest movement of the German civil society since WW II: millions of Germans have volunteered to welcome the Syrians, accompanying them on their way into a new German culture. On the other hand many countries in Europe experience a backlash into conservative and nationalistic views, often accompanied by open racial hate crimes.
Since October 2015 Refugee Academy started to offer theatrical workshops and trainings in refugee camps in Berlin, thus providing vitally necessary activation and cultural activity. Using improvisation, music, dance, singing as well as fine arts we enable new creative experiences and a lot of practical fun coupled with sustainable language acquisition.
Come learn more about this from TeeKay, a visiting expert, in the BBT from 4:00-6:00pm.
Upcoming Dates For Your Calendar
Monday October 31 Diwali Holiday
Monday October 31 Diwali Holiday
Wednesday 2 November Early Release Wednesday (2.00pm dismissal)
Thursday 3 November Grade PK - 2 India Month Assembly (8.45am - 9.30am)
Friday 4 November Grade 3 - 5 India Month Assembly *Time changed (2.15pm - 3.15 pm)
Thursday 3 November Grade PK - 2 India Month Assembly (8.45am - 9.30am)
Friday 4 November Grade 3 - 5 India Month Assembly *Time changed (2.15pm - 3.15 pm)
Friday 4 November Report cards for Trimester One uploaded on Skyward
Monday 7 November Scholastic Book Fair begins
Monday 7 November Scholastic Book Fair begins
Monday 7 November Vision and Hearing Screening week
Tuesday 8 November ES Parent Coffee with Bernajean Porter(8.45 - 9.45am)
Mon 14 - Fri 18 November Missoula Children’s Theatre
Have a wonderful weekend!
Warmly,
Keryn Dowling