September 13, 2013

Dear Elementary School Families,

We had an excellent turnout at our first parent coffee of the year. Over 70 parents came to our presentation on student-led conferences led by Ms. Sherman, Ms. Sweet and Ms. Chris.

We are truly excited to be launching our first student-led conferences on September 26^th and 27^th. Our research into student led conferences actually started one year ago, when the teachers mentioned above, along with Ms. Deepa and Ms. Kristina, formed the Student-Led Conference Committee.

Student-led conferences give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves as learners, build self-confidence and self-esteem, be empowered, foster pride and develop ownership of their goals and achievements and teach students the process of self-evaluation and reflection, thus enhancing their critical thinking skills. All of these benefits support our school mission and student learning objectives.

Each conference will last for 30 minutes which we believe is appropriate for the first time. We want to be sure to give each child the amount of time they need to talk about their portfolio and goals, plus answer questions about their school day. Please see Page 12 of the Student –Led Conference Parent handout (this is the one which was distributed at the parent coffee) which describes what your child’s conference will look like.

Parents and students are also requested to meet with a minimum of two specialist teachers. Last week families were asked to complete a form indicating which specialist teachers they will visit. If you did not receive this form, please click here. This form is to be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher. It is not necessary to reserve a conference online with a specialist teacher.

You can now sign up for a conference by going to this website. Parents have until 12 noon on September 25^th to sign-up for a conference. Our IT Integrator, Laura Blair, has created a video which gives you step-by-step instructions in how to complete this process. To access this video, please click here.

International Dot Day

Courage, creativity, confidence, and compassion are components of the AISC Mission and they are artfully illustrated in Peter Reynolds’ book, The Dot.  With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark – and follow where it takes us. In the months since the school Strategic Plan was adopted, The Dot has come to symbolize our mission’s goal of making a unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

Today, we observe International Dot Day through creative expressions: music, art, poetry, and the spoken word, across the AISC campus.  Everyone on campus, including parents, are asked  to consider how they make their mark in the world... and courageously wear it on a dot badge.

During lunch time today, stations will be set up in the covered area for students, parents, and staff to express themselves, following the lead of Vashti, the unsuspecting heroine of The Dot.

There will also be artwork, writing, and photos inspired by the day around campus and on the school website as a visual representation of our courageous, confident, creative, and compassionate community.

To view and listen to The Dot at home, please visit our wonderful online subscription to TumbleBooks!  Here are steps on how to access the book:

Go to the following address on the Internet:

1. http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/customer_login.asp

2. Enter the following information: Username: aischennai    Password: books

3. In the search box in the top left hand corner, type The Dot and click the blue arrow.

4. Scroll down until you find The Dot on the left side of the page.

5. Click “Read Online”

Photos From Dot Day

                                     

Library News

We love having people use the library after school.  We have lots of great books, tables, and other resources for students and parents to use.  This is just a friendly reminder that the elementary school supervision policy requires students to be supervised by a parent after school if they are not part of an ASA program.  We are also pleased to announce two after school extended learning opportunities in our libraries.

Reading and Homework ASA – 4^th and 5^th Grade

Starting September 23, we will begin a new Reading and Homework ASA for fourth and fifth graders in the Elementary Library every day from 3:45-4:30.  We are excited about this new ASA because it will give students an opportunity to work independently in a quiet area.  This is flexible in that students can come on the day(s) they choose.  There will be no formal sign-up procedure, although we ask students to go to the Elementary Cafeteria Library ASA Table on the day they will come. Students will be brought back to the Elementary Cafeteria at 4:30 for parent pick-up, just like other ASAs. Between Sept 23 and Dec 13, we will be collecting data to determine how this ASA should look in the future.

Extended AISC Library Hours

Should elementary students with their parents wish to use campus library services beyond 4:30, the high school library will now remain open until 5:30. Please contact Mr. Jet if you have any questions (wjeremy@aisch.org).  

Physical Education News

We hope the school year has started off great for your child and they are finding joy in their Physical Education classes. We are excited to remind you that starting on September 16, our classes will take place in the swimming pool. Please equip your child with goggles, swimming cap, swimming suit, towel, sunscreen and flip flops/sandals. If for any reason your child cannot participate in the pool, please send a note from home or from the doctor. If you have any questions regarding the pool or the upcoming unit, please contact us as soon as possible.

Keeping Healthy

This is the time of year that Chennai receives a lot of rain.  It is important to remember that some sicknesses become more prevalent during the rainy season, namely dengue fever and malaria. Please consider these preventative measures: closing all doors and windows in your house after 5 pm, using repellents when outside, avoid storing open water inside the house and standing water outside your house. You may even consider using a mosquito net around your beds.

Water and food related problems like typhoid and hepatitis are also prevalent. Avoid eating in roadside eateries, and remember that uncooked food like paneer, cream, chat items, salads, chutneys, and eggs can harbor harmful bacteria. It is always a good idea to get vaccinated against these illnesses.

Also know that walking in puddles can cause rat urine fever (leptospirosis). Warning signs of leptospirosis include high fever (lasting more than two days) and rash. You are advised to wash your feet should they get wet after stepping into a puddle.

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall

Elementary School Principal