Dear Parents,
On behalf of the AISC
Elementary School faculty and staff, it is truly my pleasure to extend a warm
and heartfelt welcome to you as we begin the 2015-2016 school year. This
is the time of year to reconnect with old friends and welcome new friends. To
those students and parents who are new to AISC, we extend a very warm
welcome. You have joined a very special community.
We also welcome the
following new faculty and staff members to the elementary school:
Faculty: Allison Clark (Grade 4), Allison
Jacobson (Gr 3 EAL), Barbara Abidin (Grade 5), Barbara Wilson (Grade 3), Brian
Blanck (Grade 4), Carl Knudsen (Science and Discovery Studio Coordinator),
Hilary Barron (Technology and Learning Coach), Jana Rogers (Kindergarten),
Jonathan Rusch, (Physical Education), Kelly Rusch (Grade 5), Lorna Paterson
(Grade 2), Meg Jones (PK-2 Counselor), Marianne Brooks (Grade 5), Nancy Taylor
(Learning Resource), Ron Wilson (Grades 3-5 Counselor), and Tiffany Filter
(Grade 3).
Teacher Assistants: Angela Bryner
(Kindergarten), Priya V (Pre-school 3+), and Uma Singh (Elementary School CIC).
Following is some
important information that I want to share with you prior to August 6th, the
first day of school.
Identification (ID)
Badges
There are
approximately 3,000 students, parents, faculty and staff in the AISC community.
For safety and security reasons, we ask that the ID badges of all adults be
visible at all times while on campus. We appreciate your understanding. Please
note:
1. New families will
receive ID badges on Orientation Day, August 5.
2. Returning
community members will be able to collect their new ID badges from the help
desks located in the Main Reception area (MS and HS parents) and the Elementary
School Reception area (ES parents). We have revised our ID badges and all
students and parents will receive new ID badges.
3. Parents who have
children in multiple sections will need to pick up their badges from the help
desk situated at the Elementary School Reception. Please note that any funds
that were on the old ID card have been transferred to the new card.
4. Community members
who do not have a badge or have forgotten to bring their ID badge to school,
must collect a temporary visitor's badge at the Front Security Desk or at
Elementary School Reception Desk.
5. Adults on campus
without a visible badge will be asked to display the badge or sign in and get a
temporary badge to be on campus. We need community understanding and support to
keep our campus safe.
6. All AISC photo
identity badges are not transferable. Lost or damaged ID badges should be
reported to the security staff.
ID Badges for
Drivers/Household Staff
AISC has phased out
nanny/driver access to campus however drivers and nannies as authorized by
parents will be allowed in registered vehicles inside the vehicle gates (not
inside the turnstile gate points) and will be able to pick up and drop off
students at the security desks.
If a driver or nanny
has been authorized by a parent to drop off and pick up their student an ID
badge will be issued. Please follow this process is authorization has been
granted:
For returning
families,
please inform the security help desks if you have a returning driver or
domestic staff member who has previously been issued an ID. We cannot assure
admission to the campus without a confirmation from you. Email Umasekar Mohan
(securitymanager@aisch.org), or inform one of our security personnel at the
Security Help Desks at your earliest convenience.
For new families, a household staff
and driver ID badge application form will be issued at Security help desks in
Main Reception and Elementary Reception area. A passport photo and a valid
government issued ID of the household staff is required for processing the
application. Drivers and household
staff are not allowed to pick up students without direct confirmation either
from the concerned parent or teacher until they are issued with an ID.
If you have a new
nanny/driver who has not been issued an ID badge, please email our Security
Manager (securitymanager@aisch.org) and Ms. Cheryl (fcheryl@aisch.org) or
Ms. Hazel (bhazel@aisch.org) in the Elementary School Principal’s Office with
the name of your driver and/or nanny.
ID badge for nannies
and drivers will be processed on the same day by receiving the filled in
application form. The old ID badges for drivers and household staff and car
decals from the last year would be valid till August 15, 2015.
Food Services
The Taj Madras Flight Kitchen
(TMFK), our school-wide food vendor, will begin selling meals and a la carte
items at both cafeterias (ES & FAC) and I-Hub beginning on August 6th. Please note:
·
Information regarding food and menu
options will continue to be communicated as needed through the this blog.
·
AISC Access Cards (photo IDs) will
also serve as smart cards (prepaid debit cards) for all purchases on
campus. Cards can be charged on campus at the I-Hub, both cafeterias, the
cashier’s window located off the main courtyard and pay online using
credit/debit cards.
·
Cash will continue to be accepted
for purchases through August 29. From August 31, only smart
cards will be accepted in all the outlets.
·
Cakes for special occasions can be
pre-ordered in both the cafeterias.
In
the spirit of continual improvement, AISC food services will focus on a new
pattern of menu choices with keeping nutrition standards for students as the
centerpiece and incorporating feedback received from the community.
Elementary School Pre-Ordering Options
The
elementary lunch menu will be published on a monthly basis. It will be
communicated to parents through the Elementary Principal’s Notes and will be
available on the Elementary moodle page. Four options are available for
Elementary students, all of which include a serving of fruit and dairy or
juice.
Vegetarian
Meal – Rs.170
|
Non-Vegetarian
Meal – Rs.200
|
Soup
|
Soup
|
Vegetables
|
Vegetables
|
Main course Veg
|
Main course Non Veg
|
Fruits
|
Fruits
|
Dairy – Flavored milk/flavored
yogurt/Juice box
|
Dairy – Flavored milk/flavored
yogurt/Juice box
|
Veg.
Soup – Rs.140
|
Non-Veg. Soup – Rs.170
|
Veg Soup
|
Non Veg Soup
|
Bread accompaniments
|
Bread accompaniments
|
Fruits
|
Fruits
|
Dairy – Flavored milk/flavored
yogurt/Juice box
|
Dairy – Flavored milk/flavored
yogurt/Juice box
|
To
cater to our diverse community, the menu will feature various food options
alternating between Continental and Asian food. Grades 3 – 5 students may
purchase sandwiches, salads and savories at the counter without a pre-order.
Ordering process
Lunch menu link
(click
on links to open)
Please
note that there is a 24 hour cut off time for ordering (you cannot order on the
day of the lunch, using the links).
Credit card payment
To pay by credit
card, you may place an order using AISC's payonline site.
Cash payment
To
pay by cash, you may place the order using the order link below and pay at the
cash counter, on or before the 10th of the month.
Class Lists for
2015-16
Class lists will be
emailed to parents Monday afternoon. If you do not receive your child’s class
placement, please call the Elementary School Office on Monday (2554 9000
extension 5) or email Ms. Cheryl (fcheryl@aisch.org) or Ms. Hazel (bhazel@aisch.org).
Teachers and
counselors spent a great deal of time creating the class lists, reflecting a
balanced approach to cultural groups, language acquisition, gender and
individual needs. We do no expect to make any changes. We ask that you
encourage your child to make new friends in their new class on the first day of
school. We understand that for a few children, the challenge of a new class and
making new friends is difficult. If you find this is the case, please check in
with your child’s teacher or grade level counselor if you observe this. If your
child is in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2, the counselor
to see is Ms. Meg. If your child is in grade 3, 4 or 5, then please see Mr.
Ron. Please contact Ms. Prisca (pprisca@aisch.org) to schedule an appointment
with either one of the counselors.
Elementary School
Handbook
You will soon receive
the Elementary School Handbook 2015-16. It is very important that your family
takes the time to familiarize yourself with its contents. I would like to draw
your attention to page 53, the “Signature Page.” We require a parent signature,
and ask that every student in grades 3, 4 and 5 sign the signature page. You
may have more than child in the upper division (grades 3 to 5). If so, we ask
that each child sign the page. Parents are asked to remove the perforated page
from the handbook and take it to Ms. Prisca in the Elementary Reception.
Alternatively, students can give the page to their homeroom teacher. The due
date for returning this page is Friday, August 14th.
After
School Activities
ASA FAIR – August 7, 2015:
This fair is primarily for parents
to meet the guest instructors who will be leading the paid activities. It is
optional for students to attend the fair after school with parents.
Time: 3.00 pm – 4.30 pm
Venue: Elementary
cafeteria
Registration
Process
·
Activity
registrations will be on first-come-first-served basis, as the activities will
be capped depending on their nature.
·
Online
registrations open on August 6 and
end on August 9, 2015. We
encourage parents to register online.
·
If
you miss the online registration, in-person registrations can be done on August 10 & 11, 2015 at the
Elementary Cafeteria from 8:00 – 9:30
am.
·
A
fee of 4000 Indian Rupees will be charged per activity for one semester (once a
week for 16 weeks).
·
We do not accept payment by cheque. Payment cannot be
dropped off at the receptions. Payment may be made using AISC's payonline site →
http://payonline.aisch.org/ or by cash at the ASA office (room MC 1B behind
the business office).
·
Students
may enroll in as many paid activities as they wish.
·
There
are some activities that require uniforms or kits. These will be provided by
the respective ASA teachers at an additional charge.
Principal's Notes
Every Friday, I will
provide an update on the events taking place in the elementary school and share
other important information with the elementary school community. An email
reminder, with a link to my blog, will be sent to you each Friday afternoon. Please
read these notes carefully to stay informed about what is going on in the
elementary school. Your child's grade level teachers will keep you updated on
news from the classroom.
Questions or Concerns
Please remember that if
you have a question or concern about any aspect of your child's educational
experience, please contact the classroom teacher first. In most cases, your
question or concern will be resolved after speaking with the teacher. In
the rare case that it is not, please make an appointment to see the associate
principal, Ms. Newman. If your question or concern remains unresolved at this
level, please make an appointment to see me. Please contact Ms. Cheryl or Ms.
Hazel to schedule an appointment. You are also welcome to make an appointment
to see a guidance counselor by contacting Ms. Prisca (pprisca@aisch.org).
Looking forward to a
fantastic year!
Kevin Hall
Elementary School
Principal