Dear Parents,
As we close on another busy week, take a moment to reflect individually or with your family how this week was for you all?
We found this week again to be highly successful - again with over 95% attendance across our Elementary section. We continue to see wonderful evidence of learning coming through Seesaw posts, photographs and even videos! Thank you parents and families who are facilitating this for our youngest learners. Please join us in sharing your experiences with #AISCAtHome and #AISCVirtual.
Continuity of Instruction Reminders for Week Three
- Classes will continue to offer opportunities for children to connect virtually ‘face to face’
- The weekly plan will again be shared at 8:00 a.m on Monday
- Expectations for daily attendance: daily engagement and submission of learning i
- Streamlined specialist schedules will continue
- No school on Friday 10th April; Good Friday holiday
Optional making challenges for AISC students!
Check out this week's choices inspired by the Innovator Vision of a Learner attribute on the AISC Design Challenges website. Like Dog Man by Dav Pilkey? Take a look at his challenge to create a desk for Dog Man. Or use paper you have to make an animal or paper airplane. Just two of the choices from this week plus you can always try any of the previous challenges.We would love to see what you are doing! Share at aiscesdesign@aischennai.org or tweet with the #AISCESDesign!
Well Week: April 6-9
Next week we will put a spotlight on Wellbeing with Well Week at AISC. The intention of the week is to bring attention to our well being and share our experiences. Students will receive instructions on how to engage in Well Week activities. We encourage parents to join in as well. Please see the focus of each day below:
Monday: Positive Relationships: Gratitude and Kindness Challenges
Tuesday: Self Awareness: How are you feeling? Get creative.
Wednesday: Self Management: Share your tips: #AISCWellbeing
Thursday: Healthy Habits: Try something new.
Student Protection and Virtual Learning
As part of our approach to maximise the support and learning of our students in the virtual environment we feel it is important for our faculty to connect with students in one to one conversations as they do in the regular school setting. This may be done via one to one video calls or chats using the school's email platform. If you would like to opt-out of this type of support please indicate that on this form.
For your reference, we have also recently created these guidelines to support faculty in keeping students safe in the virtual classroom.
From the Counseling Team:
The Counseling Team will be putting out resources to support families. This article from the National Association of School Psychologists in the US discusses some important points to consider in guiding your children through the Covid-19 pandemic. Please contact your child's counselor if there is anything you'd like to discuss in more detail.
Talk to our Counselors (repeat announcement)
Elementary School Counselors are here and ready to support you and your child(ren) during this uncertain time. We are working to make sure that you receive quality school counseling services in this online environment. We want to stay connected to you and encourage you to make an appointment by emailing us. We are available 12 - 2 p.m and 4 - 6 p.m Chennai time every day. Appointments are available for routine social/emotional concerns you may be wondering about with your children in this current dynamic situation.
Linda Gerberich (Kindergarten; Grade 1; Grade 4; Grade 5): glinda@aischennai.org
Vanessa Kim (EY3; EY4; Grade 2; Grade 3): kvanessa@aischennai.org
Elementary Virtual Design Challenges
Click here to go to a website AISC Design Challenges, Ms Jen and others have been building to engage with a whole load of fun design and making challenges while you're at home! This site is here to provide ideas for engaging enrichment STEAM opportunities.
Each week, there will be a new choice board of activities related to the AISC Vision of a Learner Attributes. Feel free to try as many as you would like! You can do the challenge on your own or with another person in your family.
MS Elective Selection Form for Grade 5 Students
Today a message was shared with Grade 5 students regarding making choices for Middle School elective classes. The message contains three important things: a video description of all the elective choices, made by MS elective teachers, a written list of elective course descriptions for the 20-21 school year, and a link to a form that students need to complete, indicating their top four choices for elective classes next year.
Please take some time to look through the descriptions and discuss the elective options with your children. The form needs to be completed by next Thursday 9, April. This applies to returning Grade 5 students only. However, if you are not 100% certain that your family is departing, please have your child fill out the survey.
Have a relaxing screen free weekend!
Keryn Dowling, Dave Allen, and Calley Connelly
Elementary School Leadership Team