Dear Community Members,
Welcome back! Whether you traveled or stayed in Chennai over the Spring Break, I truly hope that you had a relaxing holiday. It is hard to believe that we are now in the month of April. This is just a reminder that Friday, April 29th has been rescheduled as a school day following the missed days in December due to the floods.
We now have just nine weeks left in this school year; we are not winding down, rather, winding up! Please be sure to read this blog next week as I will share important information about our class placement procedure and world-language selection process. Also from next Friday, parents will be able to sign-up for the student-led conferences, which will be held after school on Thursday, April 21 and all day on Friday, April 22. There will be a link in this blog directing you to a website where you can sign-up online.
Upper Elementary School Swim Gala
Yesterday we held the Upper Elementary Swim Gala. Thank you to the many parents who came to watch the children! Below are some pictures taken at this great event. Thanks to everyone who made this a great day for our kids.
Design Saturday - April 9th, 10:00 am 1:00 pm - ES Science and Discovery Studio
Our last Design Saturday of the year is shaping up to be an amazing experience. We'll have woodworking, wearable tech, rubber band-powered cars, and coding with turtle art. To help us plan for materials, we do ask that you sign-up for this to ensure you have access to the activity you want.
Please SIGN UP HERE.
Homework Survey
The elementary school is currently reviewing its homework policy. The purpose of this survey is to learn about your opinions about homework practices given by the teachers at AISC. Please complete this survey for each child. All surveys are anonymous. This survey is adapted from the book, “Rethinking Homework.” You can access the survey here. The survey will be open until April 11.
Grade 2 Service Learning
Today Grade 2 hosted 40 students from Seva Samajam as part of a their SEVAI (service learning) project. The students worked alongside one another to make items that will be sold at a craft bazaar later this month. This is an integration of the grade 2 economics unit which explores the exchange of goods and services, the role of the consumer and producer, and the choices people make when purchasing goods and services. The teachers adopted a project-based approach integrating economics and persuasive writing.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Testing
Beginning April 4th, most children will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP). We give students in grades 2-5 MAP tests to determine each child’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year in the areas of math, reading, language usage. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 write an additional test in science. When administered at regular intervals over time, it is possible to find out whether an individual, or an entire grade level, is making satisfactory progress in these basic skill areas. Your child will take the tests on a computer. Level 1 EAL students who been enrolled less than one month will not write these tests.
MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. The tests are not time-based but take on average 45 minutes to complete.
New parents often ask how their children can study for these tests. Really, the best ways to prepare for these tests are to make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before a test and has breakfast the morning of the test. These are healthy practices in general. Students cannot study for a MAP test.
MAP test scores are not reported on the elementary school report card. You will receive a MAP Student Progress Report later in in the spring.
Homework Survey
The elementary school is currently reviewing its homework policy. The purpose of this survey is to learn about your opinions about homework practices given by the teachers at AISC. Please complete this survey for each child. All surveys are anonymous. This survey is adapted from the book, “Rethinking Homework.” You can access the survey here. The survey will be open until April 11.
Grade 2 Service Learning
Today Grade 2 hosted 40 students from Seva Samajam as part of a their SEVAI (service learning) project. The students worked alongside one another to make items that will be sold at a craft bazaar later this month. This is an integration of the grade 2 economics unit which explores the exchange of goods and services, the role of the consumer and producer, and the choices people make when purchasing goods and services. The teachers adopted a project-based approach integrating economics and persuasive writing.
Beginning April 4th, most children will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP). We give students in grades 2-5 MAP tests to determine each child’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year in the areas of math, reading, language usage. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 write an additional test in science. When administered at regular intervals over time, it is possible to find out whether an individual, or an entire grade level, is making satisfactory progress in these basic skill areas. Your child will take the tests on a computer. Level 1 EAL students who been enrolled less than one month will not write these tests.
MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. The tests are not time-based but take on average 45 minutes to complete.
New parents often ask how their children can study for these tests. Really, the best ways to prepare for these tests are to make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before a test and has breakfast the morning of the test. These are healthy practices in general. Students cannot study for a MAP test.
MAP test scores are not reported on the elementary school report card. You will receive a MAP Student Progress Report later in in the spring.
Music Consultant Visits the Elementary School
From April 4-8, AISC is pleased to welcome music consultant Ms. Sarah Hassler to our school. Sarah is a music specialist with Carmel Clay Schools in Indiana. She serves as an associate conductor with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and does teacher training in Orff Schulwerk at Anderson University in Indiana and DePaul University in Chicago, IL. She is a frequent workshop presenter and conductor for children’s choirs in the United States.
Sarah will be working closely with our music teachers next week and has graciously offered to run a special event for students in grades 3-5 who love to sing. Sarah will be teaching the students that choral singing, vocal techniques and singing in 2 and 3 parts is FUN!!
EAL Consultant Visits AISC
On Tuesday, AISC welcomes the return of Dr. Virginia Rojas. Dr. Rojas has worked with AISC on developing our EAL program since 2012 and will be back in April to work with teachers and administrators. Dr. Rojas is recognized for her leadership and her commitment to the development of second language proficiency among school populations, especially within an inclusionary context. She believes that strategies for assisting English language learners are beneficial for all learners and that ESL and classroom teachers need to work together to provide a seamless language development and educational program.
Parents, please join Dr. Rojas for an information session on Friday, April 8th from 8:45 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. in the Hall of Light to learn about the theory behind our inclusive EAL program.
Coffee with the ES Administration
Please join us on Tuesday, April 12 at 8:45 in the BBT for our second last parent coffee of this school year. Ms. Meg will provide an in-depth look at what mindfulness is and is not, combined with a look at Rock and Water and the balancing of both programs at AISC to help children develop their emotional intelligence – EQ.
The Rock and Water Program aims to apply a physical/social approach to assist boys and girls in their development by increasing their self-realization, self-confidence, self-respect, boundary awareness, self-awareness and intuition. A specific goal for the course is teaching boys and girls to deal with power, strength and powerlessness.
IB 2 Art Exhibition
Please join the high school community on Monday for the opening of the IB 2 Art Exhibition. Through traditional, new and non-traditional media, the emotionally charged artwork explores pressing global and social issues through the eyes, personal connections and reflections of 4 very talented AISC art students. The exhibition will be on display through April 17th.
April Lunch Orders
If you wish to order a school lunch for your child, you can access the elementary 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. You may 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. You may access the Lunch Pre-Order System here.
If you have any difficulties logging in or ordering, please notify itsupport@aisch.org.
After-School Woodworking
Below are a few pictures of students in the Thursday afternoon Woodworking ASA. Their task this semester is to build something. So what are the students building? A doghouse and a cabinet to name a few! These kids were really focused on their activity and were having a lot fun at the same time!
Have a great weekend,
Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal