Dear Community Members,
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. August is the time of year to reconnect with old friends and welcome new friends.
This morning, we held our “Welcome Back Assembly." Ms. Newman and I introduced our new teachers, teacher assistants and students. Following introductions, some students from grades 2 and 4 sang a song called, “One Big Family.” Our assembly concluded with Ms. Newman and I conducting a read aloud.
Morning Drop Off/Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures
Students should arrive each morning between 8:00 and 8:20. While the majority of our students come to school with their parents, there are a few who come with their nanny and/or driver. If your nanny and/or driver brings your child to school, do know that school personnel will be stationed at the Elementary Reception every morning to receive pre-school and kindergarten children. Pre-school children will be escorted to the classroom. Kindergarten children will be escorted to the kindergarten play area. All other children will pass through the turnstiles and will be supervised on the playground by staff.
The school day ends at 3:30. Below are the pick-up procedures:
Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1
At 3:30, parents will come to the classroom to pick up their child and assume responsibility for the supervision of their child. Kindergarten and Grade 1 students who have an After-School Activity (ASA) will be escorted to the ASA meeting point, which is the elementary school cafeteria. Students who are picked up by a nanny and driver will be escorted through the turnstiles at the Elementary Reception. There is a designated pick-up spot for each grade level. Drivers and nannies will have to come to this spot to collect your child. Please note that students will assemble with their grade-level peers, so siblings will not be together, but will be in the same area. Please inform your driver and nanny that they should pick-up children at 3:30, although it will be a few minutes after 3:30 before students are brought to their pick-up point. Students who have an older sibling participating in an after-school activity in the elementary, middle and/or high schools can remain on campus only when under the direct supervision of the parent.
Grades 2 to 5
At 3:30, teachers will bring classes downstairs to the same spot where they pick up children in the morning. For grades 2, 4 and 5, the pick-up point is the covered play area. For grade 3, it is the hallway between the grade 1 and pre-school classrooms. Students who have an After-School Activity (ASA) will be escorted to the ASA meeting point, which is the elementary school cafeteria. Parents whose child is not participating in an ASA must report to this pick-up point to collect their child. The remaining students will be escorted through the turnstiles at the Elementary Reception. We will have a designated pick-up spot for each grade level. Drivers and nannies will have to come to this spot to collect your child. Please note that students will assemble with their grade-level peers. Please inform your driver and nanny that they need to pick-up children at 3:30, although it will be a few minutes after 3:30 before students are brought to the pick-up point. If a driver and nanny fail to show up within a few minutes, school personnel will contact the student’s mom or dad to find out when the driver and nanny will arrive. Students remain supervised, but the expectation is that the driver and nanny will be ready to pick-up the child just after 3:30. Students who have an older sibling participating in an after-school activity in the elementary, middle and/or high schools can remain on campus only when under the direct supervision of the parent. Students are not permitted to walk to the middle school or high school to meet an older brother or sister. Older siblings can meet their brother or sister at the pick-up point beyond the Elementary School Reception.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this process. My email address is: esprincipal@aisch.org
Student Handbook Signature Page
Thank you to the parents and students who have already turned in the Signature Page of the Elementary School Handbook 2015-16. We require the signatures of your child (grade 3 and above) and a parent or legal guardian. This page can be found on page 53 and it is a perforated page so it is easy to detach. Returning families, please note that today we sent home the handbook and the AISC Community Calendar with the youngest elementary school-aged sibling.
Back to School Afternoon
Please join us for Back to School Afternoon on Wednesday, August 26, beginning at 4:00 pm. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher, meet other parents in your child’s class, and to learn more about classroom routines and the curriculum. Be sure to check my Principal’s Notes next week for specific details.
Food Services
AISC continues to work with the Taj Madras Flight Kitchen and improve the food quality and food service on campus. In order to meet the nutritional standards adopted by the school last year, all non-veg meals and soups now include protein, vegetable, fruit and dairy. The dairy portion takes the form of milk, flavored milk or flavored yogurt. Students who do not, or cannot, eat dairy will have the option of a juice box instead. Starting Monday, all veg meals and soups will have a protein component as well.
Each day, in both the elementary and secondary cafeterias, students will have a choice of either veg/non-veg meals and veg/non-veg soups. Below is a graphic of different meal options:
Food services at AISC are always in continual improvement. Should you have questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact Elementary Associate Principal Lori Newman (nlori@aisch.org) or Secondary Associate Principal Jason Hicks (hjason@aisch.org). If you have not had the chance to have a meal in the iHub or Secondary Cafeteria, please join us. We would love to hear your feedback about the food at AISC.
We have recently released a lunch pre-order system for cash payments that complements our Payonline system to help families order lunches and pay at the cash counter. Following is a description of the two systems.
The Payonline System
Payonline allows parents of students at AISC to charge their child’s smart cards online, order and pay for lunches, and register and pay for after school activities. Payment is completed online using a credit or debit card. You need a username and password to access this system. Please see the user guide HERE for help using the system.
Lunch Pre-Order System for Cash Payments
This new online tool replaces the Google form that was used previously in order to integrate cash payments with our Payonline system. This system allows parents to pre-order lunches for a full month and pay with cash at the cash counter. Login using just the email address we have on file at AISC. Please see the user guide HERE.
You may use either system to order lunch for your child(ren). If you have any difficulties logging in or ordering lunch for any of your children, please notify itsupport@aisch.org by email and we will resolve it immediately.
Bring Your Own Technology Configuration Dates
Grade 5
Students in Grade 5 are asked to bring in their devices to school on Wednesday, August 12th. We will configure devices on this day, however, parents may send a device with their child anytime after this date. To enable the IT department to properly configure the device, please disable all passwords temporarily on that day and ensure the operating system is set to English.
Grades 3 and 4
We are pleased to announce the launch of our optional Bring-Your-Own-Technology (BYOT) program in grade 3 this year, and the continuation of the program in grade 4. Many of you have chosen to purchase a device or send an existing device with your child to school this year. Although grades 3 and 4 students will have access to shared devices in their classrooms, a variety of other devices can enhance the learning experience for students. In addition, students bringing their own technology can access the digital side of their learning after school and from anywhere with an Internet connection. This device may include any of the following:
• Laptop (PC or Mac)
• Tablet (Android or iPad)
Students in grade 4 are asked to bring in their devices on Thursday, August 13th. Grade 3 students are to bring their device to school on Friday, August 14. We will configure devices on the day they are brought in, however, parents may send a device with their child anytime after this date. To enable the IT department to properly configure the device, please disable all passwords temporarily on that day and ensure the operating system is set to English.
Parent Coffee Sessions with the ES Administration
Bring Your Own Technology Configuration Dates
Grade 5
Students in Grade 5 are asked to bring in their devices to school on Wednesday, August 12th. We will configure devices on this day, however, parents may send a device with their child anytime after this date. To enable the IT department to properly configure the device, please disable all passwords temporarily on that day and ensure the operating system is set to English.
Grades 3 and 4
We are pleased to announce the launch of our optional Bring-Your-Own-Technology (BYOT) program in grade 3 this year, and the continuation of the program in grade 4. Many of you have chosen to purchase a device or send an existing device with your child to school this year. Although grades 3 and 4 students will have access to shared devices in their classrooms, a variety of other devices can enhance the learning experience for students. In addition, students bringing their own technology can access the digital side of their learning after school and from anywhere with an Internet connection. This device may include any of the following:
• Laptop (PC or Mac)
• Tablet (Android or iPad)
Students in grade 4 are asked to bring in their devices on Thursday, August 13th. Grade 3 students are to bring their device to school on Friday, August 14. We will configure devices on the day they are brought in, however, parents may send a device with their child anytime after this date. To enable the IT department to properly configure the device, please disable all passwords temporarily on that day and ensure the operating system is set to English.
Parent Coffee Sessions with the ES Administration
Once again, I will host a a number of information sessions throughout the school year. Here’s a preview of topics we will be covering in our September, October, and December sessions:
September: Bridges Math- our new math program (target audience: Kindergarten to Grade 5 parents)
October: Next Generation Science Standards and a tour of our new Science and Discovery Studios (target audience: Kindergarten to Grade 5 parents)
December: Transitions: Preparing children for a move (target audience: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5 parents who may be leaving Chennai in December or soon after).
2015-16 SAISA Swimming
The SAISA Swimming season begins, Monday, August 10, 2015 (4PM-6PM). Students in grade 5 are eligible to participate. Further information:
• Come to practice with swimsuit, swim cap, goggles, water bottle and towel!
• Weekly Practice Schedule: Monday-4-6pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 6:15AM-8AM
• Coaches: Donna Fava, Lily Clarke and Ilona Horchler
• Big Bad Blue Swim Meet@AISC - September 18 and 19
• SAISA Swim Meet - Muscat, Oman - October 29, 30, and 31
Have a wonderful weekend, and once again, welcome back to school!
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal