Friday, September 19, 2014

Friday, September 19, 2014

Dear Parents,

This week, we focused on three themes school wide: identity, international-mindedness and the rights of peoples to peace. On Monday and Tuesday, students placed their dots in the form of a peace sign in the FAC gallery space. Thank you to the members of the AISC community who came to view and participate in the project. The final collaborative art piece was displayed as the backdrop for the UN parade in the auditorium today. Yesterday was, Wear White for Peace Day. We had planned to gather on the soccer field at the end of the school day and have everyone gather in a circle to form a dot. Unfortunately, it rained and we had to cancel this event, however, we are very proud of our students for almost 100% of them wore white yesterday. The rain did not prevent us from holding our candlelight vigil in the theater- a time to reflect on what peace and justice means to us. We had a wonderful turnout. In fact, we distributed over 400 candles. This morning we held our Parade of Flags procession and later in the day, students had the opportunity to visit the country pavilions in the gymnasium.

It takes an entire community to pull off an exciting week like this one. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this week a success. 

Student-Led Conferences

We will be hosting our first round of Student-Led Conferences on Thursday, September 25 from 3:45 pm to 6:25 pm, and all day on Friday, September 26 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Conferences will be conducted in your child’s homeroom and will be 20 minutes in length. We do request that all families make an appointment to attend on either on of the two days. Conferences are scheduled online, and you can do so now by clicking on the link below:


This video will guide you through the sign-up process. Please sign up by Wednesday at 12 noon. If you do not have internet access at home, you are welcome to use a computer in the CIC.

You can visit art, music, physical education, Indian Studies, Spanish, French on a drop-in basis. You do not need to sign-up online for a conference.

What to Expect During the Conference

• The main focus will be on goal setting with the child. A baseline portfolio will be shared, to show the “starting point” for the child and so growth can be documented by the second conference.

• In grades PK-2, the student will be present, and the teacher will orchestrate the conference, involving student and parents in all aspects of the discussion.

• In grades 3-5, students will take on more of the conference leadership. This may vary if your child is an English Language Learner and his/her comfort level.

• We ask you to switch off your mobile phone during the conference so your child or teacher can present without interruption.

• Please provide encouragement and feedback as your child proceeds.  Ask questions to clarify and try to let your child maintain control over the conference.  Teachers will also support your child during the meeting.

• Expect your child to share strengths, successes, and areas for improvement. We hope this information is helpful.

Please note:

1. We will provide child-care for 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 them up immediately after.

2. Childcare will take place in the following rooms: 2132, 3616 and 3607. You may take your child to anyone of these rooms. If a room is full, we will guide you to an alternate room.

3. All students must be signed in and out, and please provide a mobile number where we can reach you if needed.

4. Childcare is for enrolled students only (no babies, toddlers, or non-enrolled siblings).

5. Students must follow the instructions of the supervising adults and remain in the same room at all times until signed out.

Please note that the playgrounds will be closed on Friday.  As per our safety and supervision guidelines, elementary children must be supervised directly by an adult at all times while on campus.

Celebrate India Month

Our students have started preparing for the much-awaited Celebrate India Month (October) formerly known as India Week.  There will be two student assemblies, one by the lower elementary and the other by the upper elementary. You are welcome to attend both. Performances will be in the FAC Theater. Students are encouraged to wear Indian clothes on the day of their performance, but this is not mandatory. They are welcome to wear Indian clothes throughout the month.

Student Performances:

PS-Grade 2 Wednesday, October 8th at 8.45
Grade 3-5 Thursday, October 16th  at 8.45

We will kick off India Month with a opening assembly on October 1st. Students will watch a performance of Traditional Folk Dances of India. During this month, they will participate in various art and craft activities and yoga. They will also have the opportunity to decorate their hands with mehendi (henna). Additionally, they will watch a demonstration by a local potter and a glass blower. Students may bring Rs.50-Rs.100 if they wish to buy artifacts made by the glass blower. Parents may wish to purchase items after-school. Once confirmed, I will communicate the date of his visit in my weekly Principal’s Notes.

Indian Meal

Students will be served an Indian Lunch catered by our Taj Madras Flight Kitchen on Friday October 17. The lunch served will be Jeera Pulao, Veg makhini, Poori, Channa, Aloo Tikki ( Aloo Cutlet), Chicken tikka, Jalebi, Pappad and Pickle. 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. The Taj Madras Flight Kitchen will not be preparing other meals that day.

October Lunch Menu and Order Form

 Please click on the links below to access the October lunch menu and order form

Lunch menu 

Lunch order form

Food Service Update 

AISC is excited to announce their new Food Services Manager, Mr. Prakash Shanmugam. Prakash has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Madras. He has eight years of working experience with the Taj Fisherman’s Cove, starting off as a Food & Beverages Associate and then as Restaurant Manager since November 2012. Prakash’s love of food and vast experience in the hotel industry has already made a huge difference in the variety and quality of the food served at AISC.

• Our FAC Cafeteria now has a Dosa and Wrap counter. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are Dosa Days and Tuesdays and Thursdays are Wrap Days. We also have a sandwich bar in the I-Hub and FAC and ES cafeteria’s every day.

• TMFK has added beef to our menu options. In addition to chicken and fish, we now serve beef on all days except Friday.

• TMFK has also introduced Korean and Thai cuisine. We will serve Korean on Mondays and Thursdays and Thai on Wednesdays.

• The Parent MC Café which has not been operational since 8 August, is open once again from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Should you have any questions with regard to food service, please email Josephine Ronald.

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal

at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)