Dear Parents,
Happy Friday! Thank you for all collecting your children promptly last Wednesday for our first early release. This made our dismissal go so smoothly.
Protocols for Absences
As per previous years - please continue to send a direct email to your child’s class teacher AND copy Ms Hazel (bhazel@aischennai.org) if your child will be absent on a given day. It is important to stick to this protocol and not notify the teacher through Seesaw as the ES office will not get that notification and will then call you to find out why your child is absent from school.
Holiday September 2nd, No School
A reminder that due to a calendar change there will be no school on Monday 2nd September. Campus will remain closed.
Snapshot Conferences - Next Week
Thank you all for signing up for a snapshot conference with your child’s class teacher next week. Teachers are looking forward to listening and learning from you about your child and their hopes and needs.
Some ideas you may like to share with your child’s teacher include:
- Favourite parts of school in previous years
- Hopes for the year
- Fears
- Special people, places
- Family circumstances
- Languages spoken at home
- Friendships and relationships
Thank you to so many parents who attended our Back to School mornings. We had a great turnout! If you missed it, or would like to review any points covered please find the Upper and Lower Elementary overview, as well as each grade level’s presentation below.
EY-Grade 2 OverviewGrade 3 - 5 Overview
EY
Kindergarten
Grade 1 & 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 2-5 MAP Tests - September 3rd - 13th
Grades 2-5 will begin MAP testing starting on Tuesday, September 3rd. Students will be assessed in Reading, Math, and Language. Grade 3, 4, and 5 will also be assessed in Science. This is a computerized adaptive test. As a student answers questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down in difficulty. There is no preparation required for MAP testing. Results from the MAP tests are used by teachers to make instructional decisions for increased student growth and achievement. Please remind your child to charge their laptop or tablet each night. We recommend that students have adequate sleep and a good breakfast before they come to school for the MAP Test. Make up tests are available for students who miss tests due to absence.
Yearbook Photoshoot and Ordering Process
Our Yearbook Photoshoot is taking place August 26–30. Please look for specific information on Seesaw about date and time for your child’s class.
This year there are two ways to order your prints.
Option 1: Order photos the week of the photoshoot
- Students will receive an order envelope from their homeroom teacher by Friday, August 23.
- Indicate which package you would like to order.
- Place the exact amount of the cost in the envelope.
- Return the order envelope to the homeroom teacher.
- Photos will be uploaded to SmugMug a couple of weeks after the photoshoot week.
- Review your child’s photo.
- Contact the vendor directly via email or phone to order your prints. Vendor information will be provided with the SmugMug link.
September Lunch Menu & Order Links
To order a school lunch for your child, please use this Payonline link.
Elementary Lunch Menu Links: (Grades EY- 3 Pre-order) and (Grades 4 & 5 - No Preorder)
AISC UN International Peace Day, Parade of Nations - September 13, 2019
This year's UN International Peace Day celebration will be held on Friday, September 13! The Parade of Nations will be held in the FAC Theater and students are encouraged to dress in their national attire.
Upon arrival, class teachers will bring Grade 1 through Grade 12 students to gather in the gymnasium. Once assembled by their respective national flag, students will proceed to the FAC Theater stage for the beginning of the parade.
Teachers will gather Early Years and Kindergarten in the FAC Theater lobby. Upon arrival of Grade 1 to Grade 12 students, Early Years and Kindergarten students will lead the school into the parade. Early Years and Kindergarten students will exit the auditorium upon parading across the FAC Theater stage.
Once they finish the parade, Grade 1 to Grade 5 students will be seated in the FAC Theater for a short program. Grade 6 to Grade 12 students will proceed to the cafeteria for live streaming of the program.
The Parade of Nations will be followed by a regular school day.
How does the school determine what country students represent?
Students are grouped by their passport of record. If you would like to have your child(ren) parade with a country different from their citizenship of record, kindly send an email to Deborah Allen, Director of Admissions and Parent/Alumni Relations at admissionsdirector@aischennai.org [Please specify Subject Header: Parade Flag Change]. Please let us know no later than August 30, 2019.
Full days for Early Years - repeat announcement
Starting next Monday our full day programme begins for our Early Years students. We invite EY parents to talk with their children about what this will look like, and bring in any items such as blankets for nap/quiet time.
Maker Saturday - August 31, 9:00 - 12:00, ES Discovery Studio - repeat announcement
Our first Maker Saturday will take place on Saturday August 31. You can read more details of the challenges and registration process here.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Keryn Dowling, Dave Allen, and Calley Connelly
Elementary School Leadership Team