Dear Community Members,
I would like to begin my blog this week by thanking the seventy-five parents who attended our September Parent Coffee with the ES Administration. What a fantastic turnout! Leading this session were two trainers, Pia Hanson and Jennifer Christiansen, from The Math Learning Center. Our presenters provided parents with an overview of our new math resource called, Bridges. During the presentation, they shared a great resource for parents. Check out this link for more information about this resource, including strategies and games that you can use with your child. For the remainder of the their time with us, Pia and Jennifer conducted professional learning sessions for teachers.
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| Parents learning about the new Elementary School math resource |
Dot Day at AISC
Our community celebrated Dot Day this week on Tuesday, September 15th. Dot Day is a worldwide event where participants do numerous fun activities to celebrate creativity and where we explore ways through which we can make positive contributions to the world around us. Inspiration for the day started a few years ago when Peter H. Reynolds’ book “The Dot” was published, a book in which the main character goes through a powerful self-transformation as she taps more and more into her inner creativity.
Kids at AISC took part in several activities not only on Dot Day itself, but during the entire week leading up to UN Day. The school community designed dots that they wore around school like a badge of pride - dots with inspirational messages, drawings, and personal affirmations of how we are all living our school mission. We also had display boards housed near the main courtyard where people could then display their dots for everyone to see and learn from. Kids also made digital dots! Students designed dots on special paper and then used the Quiver app to make them spring to life. The CIC team would like to extend special thanks to our tech coach, Hilary Barron, for helping us with this project. Students also had several opportunities to hear and interact with “The Dot” story itself, both in digital and print form. 220 students took part in activities on the official Dot Day, with a total of 410 students participating in activities during the week.
UN International Peace Day Celebration
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981, and in 2001, September 21st was set as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire. The United Nations General Assembly chose this day to demonstrate a commitment to the ideals of peace among all peoples of all nations. The theme of this year’s International Day of Peace is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace. Below is a picture of our Graffiii Wall located outside of the High School. Throughout the week, many students, parents, faculty members shared their thoughts, images, examples of what "Dignity for All" means to them.
Fun in the Science and Discovery Studios
Last Friday afternoon, students from 3A and 3B went into the Discovery Studio and attempted a design challenge to move water from the top of a table to the floor. Students were limited to using 3 different types of containers, string, and tape. They were allowed to use drills under close supervision, and worked in teams to complete the challenge. It was an incredibly fun and engaging opportunity to practice our engineering and design skills. The students enjoyed a wonderful experience thanks to the hard work of Mr. Carl and Mr. Dilip.
Parents will have an opportunity to visit our Science and Discovery Studios during the Parent Coffee with the ES Administration on Tuesday, October 13th.
20/21 Learning Dialogues: Please join us on October 8
As a 20 year-old learning organization, we want to continue to explore trends, issues, stories, conversations, and topics that are relevant to our community. We want to look ahead to the next 20 years.
To help us do this, we will have a series of dialogues that are open to parents, alumni, MS/HS students and faculty.
On Thursday, October 8, we will be talking about creativity. Doors open at 3:45 p.m., and the event starts at 4:15 p.m. It will end at 5:45 p.m. The location of this dialogue will be decided soon.
We will hear from community members and dialogue in small groups. Refreshments will be provided.
If you have any questions, please contact Kirsten Welbes (wkirsten@aisch.org), Director of Advancement.
October Cafeteria Menu and Orders
You can access the October lunch menu here.
You may use either the Payonline or the Lunch Pre-order system to order lunch for your child(ren).
The Payonline System
Payonline allows parents 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.
Access Payonline here.
Lunch Pre-Order System for Cash Payments
This system allows parents to pre-order lunches for the 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.
Access the Lunch Pre-Order System here.
If you have any difficulties logging in or ordering, please notify itsupport@aisch.org by email and we will resolve it immediately.
Food Services Update
There are several new offerings in both the Elementary School Cafeteria and the iHub beginning next week. The first is the Salad of the Day. The Taj Madras Flight Kitchen will be offering 5 different veg and non-veg salads such as (Greek salad, Waldorf salad, Fattoush salad, Som tum salad, Sprout bean salad, Chicken Caesar salad, Russian chicken & egg salad, Mexican chicken salad, Tuna salad, Hawaiian chicken salad) and the cost will be (Veg-Rs.80, Non veg- Rs.130). We will also begin offering a Vegetable Juice of the Day as well in both locations. Tasty juices like (carrot, avocado with milk & honey, beetroot & apple, cucumber with celery & ginger, detox veg) will be offered in both locations for (Rs.80).
Food services at AISC are always in continual improvement. Should you have questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact Food Service Manager Prakash Shanmugam (sprakash@aisch.org), Elementary School 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 I Hub or Secondary Cafeteria, please join us. We would love to hear your feedback about the food at AISC.
Early Release Day
Our next Early Release Day is on Wednesday, October 7th. The school day ends at 1:30 pm.
Celebrate India Month
We will kick-off India Month with an opening assembly on October 7th. Students will watch a performance of Traditional Folk Dances of India. During the month, 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:
Lower Elementary: Wednesday, October 21st at 8:45 in the FAC Theater
Upper Elementary: Wednesday, October 28th at 8:45 in the FAC Theater
Indian Month Photo Display
October is, “Celebrate India Month.” All Students and Faculty can submit photos for the India Month Photo Display. Please submit a picture of India that you have taken (with you in the picture or not). These photos can be shared hard copy or digitally. Please upload the image to http://tiny.cc/tntp2x or drop of the hardcopy with Pradeep. These images will be displayed during the month of October. The deadline for submission is October 5.
Students will be performing in one assembly during India Month. Students in KG-2 will perform on October 21 from 8:45 to 9:45 and students in grades 3-5 will perform on October 28, also from 8:45 to 9:45. Both assemblies will be held in the FAC Auditorium.
Fall Break
Our next Early Release Day is on Wednesday, October 7th. The school day ends at 1:30 pm.
Celebrate India Month
We will kick-off India Month with an opening assembly on October 7th. Students will watch a performance of Traditional Folk Dances of India. During the month, 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:
Lower Elementary: Wednesday, October 21st at 8:45 in the FAC Theater
Upper Elementary: Wednesday, October 28th at 8:45 in the FAC Theater
Indian Month Photo Display
October is, “Celebrate India Month.” All Students and Faculty can submit photos for the India Month Photo Display. Please submit a picture of India that you have taken (with you in the picture or not). These photos can be shared hard copy or digitally. Please upload the image to http://tiny.cc/tntp2x or drop of the hardcopy with Pradeep. These images will be displayed during the month of October. The deadline for submission is October 5.
Students will be performing in one assembly during India Month. Students in KG-2 will perform on October 21 from 8:45 to 9:45 and students in grades 3-5 will perform on October 28, also from 8:45 to 9:45. Both assemblies will be held in the FAC Auditorium.
Fall Break
Our Fall Break begins next Saturday. We will have a full-day of school on Friday, September 26th. Our expectation is that all children will be in school unless sick. If child is away from school on Friday, he/she will still be required to submit any assignments or write tests upon return in October.
Fall Break Shopping Ideas
We encourage children to wear Indian clothing on the day of their performance, but this is not mandatory. Also in October, on the 30th, we will have a Halloween Celebration in the afternoon. Students may bring a costume to school that they change in to after lunch. We do ask students not to wear scary costumes and to leave toy weapons at home. Fall break may be a good time to pick up Indian clothing and a costume.
Fall Break Shopping Ideas
We encourage children to wear Indian clothing on the day of their performance, but this is not mandatory. Also in October, on the 30th, we will have a Halloween Celebration in the afternoon. Students may bring a costume to school that they change in to after lunch. We do ask students not to wear scary costumes and to leave toy weapons at home. Fall break may be a good time to pick up Indian clothing and a costume.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal
Elementary School Principal