Friday, February 13th, 2015

Dear Parents,

This week, the elementary school celebrated Book Week and our theme this year was “Books and the Arts: Connecting Text and Creativity!” During five fun-filled days, students engaged in numerous activities that brought books to life through the visual and performing arts. Librarians taught special lessons in the CIC, classroom teachers did extension activities, and art and music teachers made connections between their subject areas and books. Many students also took part in several optional activities at lunchtime including readers theater, mural design, and dance. However, our special guests were the highlight of the week! Ms. Lauren Stringer, author and illustrator (laurenstringer.com) and Ruby Smith, an international dance instructor, (rubyjosephine.com) joined us to talk about creativity, an important piece of our school mission statement. Our guests led an assembly for students, presented at our parent coffee on Tuesday, and led numerous student and teacher workshops. Both Ms. Lauren and Ms. Ruby mentioned that they loved visiting AISC and were extremely impressed with our students’ creative ideas and imagination! Below are some pictures of students participating in a mural-making workshop. Special thanks to the PCA for  helping to sponsor this visit through the Distinguished Visitor's Fund.

Trimester Two Report Cards

Trimester two report cards will be ready for parent viewing in Skyward at 6 pm on Thursday, February 19th.  If you have not previously accessed Skyward or do not know your login, please reset your Skyward password by clicking on this link or by copying the following URL and pasting it into your web browser:
https://aiscskyward.aisch.org/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsEAplus/skyportforgot

1. When you access this link you will be asked for your username  (<Login>) or email address.

2. Enter your username or email and then click the "Submit" button.

3. Check your email to confirm your password reset.

4. When you click the link in your email, it will open to the password reset page where you will enter your desired password twice.

5. The Skyward login screen should appear (if not, you may access Skyward in the Quicklinks menu on the school website).

6. Enter you username  (<Login>) and password.

Once you have completed these steps, you will be able to view all the information that relates to your child, including your address, telephone numbers, email address and your child's health information. Please check this information and contact the Admissions Office should any changes be required.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions or have any difficulty in accessing Skyward. Email itsupport@aisch.org if you have any login issue or any other Skyward problem.

Safe Internet Browsing at Home

While at school using the AISC network your child is safe from the risks of finding inappropriate adult content online.  At home, however, they may not be protected by the same restrictions.  Do you know how to be sure your child is safe while searching the web?  Whether its a spelling accident or curiosity, be prepared at home by locking safe search on student devices.  Here's how to do it:

1. Sign in to Google with a Google account other than your child's.

2. At the bottom of the screen choose Settings->Search Settings

3. Tick the box Filter Explicit Results and click Lock Safe Search

4. You will be asked to enter your password again.  Use your password, not your child's.

5. Click Lock Safe Search again and wait for it to complete.

6. Complete this on other installed browsers such as Safari, Internet Explorer and Firefox.

7. When you search, you will now see some colorful balloons in the upper right. 

8. If your child is using his or her laptop in line-of-sight from you, you should be able to see this symbol to be assured.  

AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools)

AMIS runs music festivals at international schools around the world. The participants are selected through a rigorous audition process. This year we have two students have received the honor to participate in this festival: Yoon Jung Kim  for Oboe and Suzu Toyonaga for French Horn. Congratulations to these two young musicians. 

From February 11th to 14th, AISC will be hosting 87 participants from 16 of the best international schools from around Asia, along with their band directors and a panel of AMIS officials. The festival will involve many hours of focused rehearsals, leading up to a gala concert on tomorrow at 6.00 p.m. in the FAC Auditorium. There is no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than listening to the beautiful music of these young Mozarts, Bachs, Louis Armstrongs, and A.R. Rahmans. Please join us for some fun music on February 14!

Read Alouds in the CIC

The Elementary/Middle School CIC is hosting a French read-aloud for students on Tuesday, February 17, a Korean read-aloud on Tuesday, February 24, and an Italian read-aloud on Wednesday, February 25. All three are from 3:45-4:15. The read-alouds are for students in preschool to grade two and take place on the ground floor of the CIC. As a reminder, parents are asked to accompany their children to the read-aloud. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Jet (wjeremy@aisch.org).

Elementary School Choir

The February 2015 Choir Concert Program, "Lift Every Voice,” is on Thursday, February 19th at 5.00 p.m. in the FAC auditorium. In the past, only the Middle and High School Choirs and the Community Choir performed. This year, the Elementary School Choir is also participating. Please do come!

Guest Artist on Campus: After-School Workshops!

From next Monday the 16th to Friday the 27th, AISC has the honor to host three artists from Sukawati village on the island of Bali. Sukawati village is the center of puppet theatre in Bali and the lead artist, I Kadek Budi Setiawan, belongs to a world-renowned family of Balinese puppeteers.

Kadek will be joined by his accompanists, I Komang Ariawan, and the 15 year old gamelan sensation, Made Prameswara.  While here, they will work with art, music and theater teachers from the elementary, middle, and high schools. 

Elementary students (grades 2-5) who would like to learn more about Shadow Puppetry, Balinese Dance, and Gamelan Music are invited to take the after school workshops in the FAC theatre room 2709, from 3:45-4:45, Mon-Thursday. Registered students will report to the ES Cafeteria as they would for a regular ASA. There will be a placard with, "Guest Artists" written on it. Students are asked to assemble at this point. School personnel will take students to the FAC and bring them back around 4:50, which is a little later than a normal ASA pick up. Students who attend after school workshops will be invited to perform in music and puppetry with the artists at the school wide R.I.S.E. event on February 27th.  

To take part in this exciting opportunity are asked to sign up here.

In closing, take a look at this awesome picture of our grade 1 students, teachers and teacher assistants who have formed a heart to celebrate their Friendship Day! Thank you to the parents who helped organized this great day for the students.

Have a great weekend!

Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal