Dear Community Members,
We had a fantastic turnout Monday night at the Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Hyatt. Thank you to our three choirs and music teachers for putting on a great show. Speaking of shows, it is soon time for our annual winter concerts. The KG to Grade 2 concert will be held on Wednesday, December 11 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. The Grades 3-5 concert is the following day, also from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Both concerts will be in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium. A videographer will record each concert and parents will be able to purchase a DVD at a later date.
Clothing for the K-2 concert: We would like the children to wear, if possible, red, green or white clothing. Please send these clothes in a separate bag in the morning. The children will change into their performance clothes after lunch.
Clothing for the 3-5 concert: We would like the boys to wear, if possible, combinations of green and white and girls red and white. Please send these clothes in a separate bag in the morning. The children will change into their performance clothes after lunch.
Elementary Sports Day T-shirt order: The Pre-School to Grade 2 Sports Day will be held on Thursday, January 23. The Grades 3-5 Sports Day will be held on Friday, January 24th. Both events will be held in the morning. Each child is given a special t-shirt to wear, however, we ask that parents order the t-shirt by clicking here. To help you with sizing, we included the approximate dimensions (in centimeters) of each shirt size. You can also look at samples that are available in the Elementary Reception. Colors are assigned to each grade, so you do not have to worry about choosing a color. Please place your orders prior to the winter break.
Counselors' Update: Counselors in the Elementary School are pleased that both the parent community and students have had the opportunity to participate in presentations and discussion on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) through this first semester of school.
Parents were all invited to a coffee morning back in October that covered the construct of being a TCK, and the discussions that have followed indicate increasing awareness that our overseas kids experience a different upbringing to those of us that grew up in just our home cultures. This was followed in November with a parent discussion and presentation for those families leaving AISC. The impact of multiple changes for kids with an emphasis of how to best future proof kids resilience was thoughtfully discussed.
Students through grades 1 - 5 have all had a series of counselor lessons that have not only explored being a TCK but given new emphasis to the meaning of maintaining close friendships when kids follow their parents as they move globally. Also, like the parent community, all leaving kids have met with counselors for discussion that if they leave well they will have the confidence to enter the next place well.
As we move into semester 2 after the winter break, counselors will continue with a new series of class lessons that builds the importance of friendships for our TCKs.
Giving Tree Update: We are so grateful for the generous spirit here at AISC and happy to say that every star has been taken from our Elementary Giving Tree, and that means we will be sharing our blessings with over 180 children in 5 orphanages in the next two weeks. As December 13 is our first delivery, please remember to return your wrapped gift, with the star attached, to the elementary library by next Wednesday, December 11. If for some reason you have lost your star, it is ok! Please contact Parent Margaret Rajan at 9500048550 or Parent Gina Makawana at 9884222246 and be assured that the gift will make it to the right child!
Parents were all invited to a coffee morning back in October that covered the construct of being a TCK, and the discussions that have followed indicate increasing awareness that our overseas kids experience a different upbringing to those of us that grew up in just our home cultures. This was followed in November with a parent discussion and presentation for those families leaving AISC. The impact of multiple changes for kids with an emphasis of how to best future proof kids resilience was thoughtfully discussed.
Students through grades 1 - 5 have all had a series of counselor lessons that have not only explored being a TCK but given new emphasis to the meaning of maintaining close friendships when kids follow their parents as they move globally. Also, like the parent community, all leaving kids have met with counselors for discussion that if they leave well they will have the confidence to enter the next place well.
As we move into semester 2 after the winter break, counselors will continue with a new series of class lessons that builds the importance of friendships for our TCKs.
Lunch Pre-Order Form: January 6 to 31:
Lunch menu - January 2014
Lunch order form - January 2014
Please place your online orders before January 3rd, and pay on or before January 10, 2014.
Giving Tree Update: We are so grateful for the generous spirit here at AISC and happy to say that every star has been taken from our Elementary Giving Tree, and that means we will be sharing our blessings with over 180 children in 5 orphanages in the next two weeks. As December 13 is our first delivery, please remember to return your wrapped gift, with the star attached, to the elementary library by next Wednesday, December 11. If for some reason you have lost your star, it is ok! Please contact Parent Margaret Rajan at 9500048550 or Parent Gina Makawana at 9884222246 and be assured that the gift will make it to the right child!
If you did not get a star in time and still wish to offer something to the orphanages, here is a short wish list. Please do not wrap these items as we will group them together and put in a box to the right place:
Seva Samajam Girls Home: donations of sanitary pads, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Assisi Ilam Orphanage: A4 paper, pens, pencils, chart paper
St Joseph Social Service Center: A4 paper, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes
Home of Hope for Boys by World of Life Church: Stationary supplies
Mizpah Orphanage: recreational games like board games and cricket sets
Gina has confirmed gift delivery dates and times with the 5 local orphanages and the time table is as follows for anyone interested in helping drop off the gifts donated by our AISC community. You may contact Gina at gina_makawana@yahoo.com or call her at 9884222246 to get details about joining her for the gift delivery. Your child is most welcome to help.
1. Seva Samajam Girls Home (56 girls)
29 Casa Major Road, Egmore
Dec 13, 5:00 pm
2. Assisi Ilam Orphanage (24 kids)
15 Nethaji Nagar, St Thomas Mount
Dec 15, 11 am
3. St Joseph Social Service Center (40 kids)
4/92-62 Magazine Road, St Thomas Mount
Dec 14, 2:30 pm
4. Home of Hope for Boys by World of Life Church (49 kids)
Mahibalipuram
Dec 15, 5 pm
5. Mizpah Orphanage (19 kids)
Mahibalipuram before Pondicherry
Dec 16, time unconfirmed as of yet
Thank you to each and every one of you. This act of kindness will considerably help out the children and the orphanages caring for them. It is a beautiful thing for our own children to learn to reach out and help others.
Have a great weekend,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal