Dear Parents,
Thank you to Mr. Jeff, Ms. Sobha, Ms. Rosario and Ms. Shiney for organizing our Sports’ Days yesterday and today. These days would not have been possible without the support of our maintenance team, school nurses, teachers and over 40 parent volunteers. Below are some pictures that were taken at each event.
Please click here to view photo gallery, Password is "raptors13"
Please click here to view photo gallery, Password is "raptors13"
John Coy, Visiting Author
It was a pleasure to host John Coy at AISC this week. Mr. Coy is an American children’s author best known for his books on basketball, Strong to the Hoop, Around the World, and Box Out, as well as Night Driving and his coming-of-age novel about sports and decisions, Crackback. This week, Mr. Coy had sessions with students in Kindergarten through grade 5. Session topics included:
Kindergarten and Grade 1: Creating a picture book
Grade 2: Creating a picture book and Where do you get your ideas?
Grades 3-5: Where do you get your ideas and Revision: Seeing your story again
Below are some pictures that were taken during John’s work with our students.
Parent Coffee with the ES Administration
Our next parent coffee will be held on Tuesday, February 11 beginning at 8:45 in the FAC Cafeteria. Ms. Karen Sumaryono, our Elementary School English as an Additional Language (EAL) Coordinator, and members of her team, will talk about our EAL program. This information session will be of particular interest to parents who joined our school community this month and who have children in the EAL program.
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Our next parent coffee will be held on Tuesday, February 11 beginning at 8:45 in the FAC Cafeteria. Ms. Karen Sumaryono, our Elementary School English as an Additional Language (EAL) Coordinator, and members of her team, will talk about our EAL program. This information session will be of particular interest to parents who joined our school community this month and who have children in the EAL program.
Standards Based Grading and Reporting
I am currently in Muscat, Oman attending a two-day workshop that begins today with four other elementary school teachers (Ms. Chris, Ms. Kristie, Ms. Brenna and Ms. Becky) on standards based grading and reporting. The workshop is being led by Dr. Tom Guskey and Mr. Ken O’Connor. Dr. Guskey is a Professor of Educational Psychology in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. Mr. O’Connor, a teacher by training (in Canada and Australia), has been an independent consultant since 1999 and has been a staff development presenter and facilitator on assessment, grading, and reporting throughout North America (44 US states and 9 Canadian provinces) and internationally (15 countries).
The four teachers I mentioned above, along with Ms. Andrea, Ms. Dorcy, Ms. Kristina, Ms. Megan, came together one year ago and formed the Standards Based Report Card Committee. Throughout this past year, we have researched grading and reporting practices, held a parent information session and have consulted with and gathered input from home room and subject-specialist teachers. The culmination of our work will be the new Standards-Based Report Card which will be introduced in the 2014-15 school year.
Over the next two days, we will focus on: content standards, performance standards, behaviors and learning skills, the role of formative and summative assessments, homework, dealing with late and missing assessment evidence and academic dishonesty, and communication with parents. We also will have the opportunity to talk to other schools in the region who have launched, or are about to launch, a standards-based grading and reporting. Look for further information about standards-based grading and reporting in future Principal’s Notes and in an upcoming Parent Coffee with the ES Administration this spring.
India Week: February 17th to 20th, 2014
Our students will soon begin preparing for the much awaited India Week. There will be two separate assemblies with student performances - one by the lower elementary and the other by the upper elementary. You are welcome to attend both. Performances will be in the FAC auditorium. Students are encouraged to wear Indian clothes on the day of their performance. They are welcome to wear Indian clothes throughout the week.
Student Performances:
Pre-School-Grade 2: Tuesday, February 18 at 8:45
Grades 3-5: Thursday, February 20 at 8:45
During this week, students will attend demonstrations on dance, musical instruments and participate in yoga activity. They will also have the opportunity to decorate their hands with Mehendi (henna).
Incredible India Photo Gallery
Ms.Megan is organizing an "Incredible India Photo Gallery" in which the photo contributions of our elementary students will be displayed. For more information, kindly refer to the Principal’s Notes sent on the 10th of January 2014. If you have any questions, please contact Ms.Megan at mmegan@aisch.org
Indian Lunch
Students will be served an Indian Lunch catered by our Taj Madras Flight Kitchen on Thursday, February 20th. The lunch served will be Poori, Corn Pulao, Nutri & Peas Khorma, Aloo Bonda (potato snack), Chicken Tikka and Jalebi (Indian sweet). Spices in the food will be minimal. Parents who do not want their children to have this meal may kindly send a packed lunch from home.
PTA Giving Tree: I have received more pictures from the very successful PTA Giving Tree drive that took place prior to the winter vacation. Below are a few more pictures taken on the day our community gifts were distributed.
PTA Giving Tree: I have received more pictures from the very successful PTA Giving Tree drive that took place prior to the winter vacation. Below are a few more pictures taken on the day our community gifts were distributed.
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Have a great week,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal