Dear Parents,
The 2016-17 year has finished, and what a wonderfully busy and buzzing year it has been in the Elementary School!
We farewell 70 students on their last day at AISC today, and wish them and their families well as they move on to new schools all around the world. Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on!
As we break today for summer vacation, we wish each and every student and their family a safe and relaxing holiday break. We look forward to welcoming you all back again next academic year on Thursday 10 August.
Today our final trimester report cards have been posted on Skyward, along with Grade 2-5 MAP test results as well as final WIDA test results for our EAL students. Please take time to read these report cards together with your children, and reflect on the wonderful successes they have had this year and the growth each and every one of them have made. After you log into Skyward, click on "Reports" left hand side menu.
Grade 4 would like to thank you all for your support in raising funds for the local orphanage, Seva Samajan. We are excited to announce that we raised more than 3 times what we hoping for. We raised Rs. 23, 600. With this money, we have purchased a water filter and the balance with be used for installation fees/filter upkeep. Thanks again!
Continuing learning over the summer!
While summer is most definitely a time to play and reconnect with family and friends, it is also a great chance to dive into a book or five. Parents, encourage your children to continue this great reading habit by setting aside 15 minutes a day to continue reading. The options are endless, read by the pool, at the beach, at a cafe or in bed before falling asleep after a great summer vacation day.
Summer is also a great time to continue writing habits. Writers who write every day helps overall literacy development in all areas.
- Rediscover the postcard - send one to Ms Keryn & Ms Lori at the school’s address! We will post any cards received in the main reception
- Create a holiday journal
- Write captions for photos
- Make lists
- Write a review for your favorite restaurant, a book you read, or a place you visited
- Create a holiday blog
- Email a friend
See more tips for summer writing here
What can we do for math practice this summer?
Parents often wonder if math practice is needed for their children over the summer. While we all agree that summer is a welcome break from studies, studies have shown that most students do experience summer learning loss, and mathematics is often the hardest hit.
Luckily, doing just three or four problems per day over the summer can prevent learning loss in mathematics. They can look at it as a daily challenge that they must complete, or a daily "to-do" to proudly check off their calendar.
We have a wealth of resources available for students at this page, which lists good Home Learning resources that align to our Bridges Program.
Parents might also consider downloading a summer math calendar like this one, which will set a daily goal for kids and parents! Or make this Summer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Jar for bored days.
Remember, most importantly, summer math should be fun. Find one of these activities that works for your child, or mix it up with options. We would encourage you to talk to your child about the importance of summer learning to prevent the summer slide.
New events in the Elementary to look forward to next year
- Next year our 5th graders will have their very own Classroom without walls (CWW) experience, with a two night overnight stay in Pondicherry. This valuable bonding experience for our 5th graders will also have service learning as well as other curricular components.
This will take place for two nights during the week of October 9 - 13, with two 5th grade classes from Monday - Wednesday, and the other two from Wednesday - Friday. More information about this exciting opportunity to follow in August. - This means our annual 5th Grade school sleepover will be handed over to our 4th Grade students to enjoy - the date scheduled for this is February 2, 2018.
- Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT) will be back with a week of musical theater fun during November. We will know the show title soon!
- We are adding an additional parent - teacher conference early on in August - a ‘Snapshot conference’ which will be your opportunity as parents to give your child’s teacher all the information necessary to enable them to teach and care for your child next year.
- Finally, family Math Mornings have been planned as a chance to get parents into the classrooms to see the hands-on conceptual ways math education has evolved since we were all in Elementary school.
CHENNAI KIDATHON - organised by Event jini
Chennai Kidathon is a one of a kind and the largest run / mini marathon organised exclusively for kids in India. The event aims to promote the message of health and fitness amongst young children. It is open to children between 3 and 15 years of age, and the run categories range from 400m to 2km.
Chennai Kidathon is a one of a kind and the largest run / mini marathon organised exclusively for kids in India. The event aims to promote the message of health and fitness amongst young children. It is open to children between 3 and 15 years of age, and the run categories range from 400m to 2km.
The event, which is the 4th edition of the hugely successful event being held over the past 3 years, is being organised by the Madras Cosmopolitan Round Table 94 in aid of charitable causes.
- Every kid is a winner and receives a medal and a certificate when they finish. The 400m, 800m, 1600m and 2km events will be well supervised with volunteers. The age and run categories are as below:
- 400 mtrs : For kids who are 3 yrs or older but below 8 yrs as on 6th August 2017 (born between 7 Aug 2009 and 6 Aug 2014 – both dates inclusive).
- 800 mtrs : For Kids who are 6 yrs or older but below 14 yrs as on 6th August 2017 (born between 7 Aug 2003 and 6 Aug 2011 – both dates inclusive).
- 1600 mtrs : For Kids who are 8 yrs or older but below 15 yrs as on 6th August 2017 (born between 7 Aug 2002 and 6 Aug 2009 – both dates inclusive).
- 2 Km : For Kids who are 8 yrs or older but below 15 yrs as on 6th August 2017 (born between 7 Aug 2002 and 6 Aug 2009 – both dates inclusive).
Student Health forms
A reminder that these two forms need to be returned to school as early as possible next year. For the immunization section, only fill that in if there are any updated vaccines received. If no changes, simply strike through and fill the remaining pieces. To attend curriculum related field trips, students must return their forms. Thank you for completing and returning these next year.
Accessing your Child's WIDA MODEL 2017 Test Results
Parents can now view their child's Spring 2017 WIDA Measure of Developing English Language (MODEL) test scores for speaking, listening, writing, reading, oral language, literacy, and the overall composite score, which is calculated as 35% reading, 35% writing, 15% listening, and 15% speaking.
For grades 1-5, you will see both a scaled score and a proficiency level score. When looking at growth across years, the scaled scores reflect learning more accurately than the proficiency levels, which have a higher expectation with each grade level completed. The WIDA performance definitions by level for speaking & writing and for listening & reading are attached. Here's how to access your child's scores:
After you log into Skyward, click on "Test Scores" left hand side menu. Then click on "WIDA-MODEL" Dated May 2017.
It is going to be another great year - and for now, we wish you a safe and relaxing summer. See you all in August!
Warmly,
Warmly,
Keryn Dowling & Lori Newman