Dear parents,
Feedback on our Virtual Learning Plan
We want to thank the parents who recently filled out the parent survey. We have also received feedback from parents during parent coffees, growth conferences, and individual parent meetings. We value your suggestions and consider all of the feedback we receive.
As we begin to plan for next year, we will take into consideration feedback from all stakeholders, and we will continue to refine our online program keeping the needs of our diverse student body as a priority. Here are some points from feedback that we are considering should we open virtually in August:
1). Teachers will build in more synchronous teaching time into their schedule.
2). Students will attend specialist classes with their homeroom class at a specific time.
3). We will continue with the morning meetings and 1:1 meeting with teachers.
4). We will schedule a virtual recess/social time for students to connect with peers.
5). We will continue to provide a list of tutors to interested families.
6). Tutors can communicate with teachers as needed and when appropriate.
Location Update
Please remember to email your child’s classroom teacher and ‘cc the Elementary School office (esoffice@aischennai.org) if you are leaving Chennai before the end of the school year. This is for departing and returning students.
Elementary School to Middle School Transition Parent Orientation
Thank you to parents that joined in the coffee to orient parents to the middle school. This is the first of a series of events that will support the transition for you and your child. If you were not able to make the coffee, you can view the slides here and find the video of the event here. We look forward to seeing you at our sixth grade parent coffee on Thursday, August 5. We will touch on many of the same topics in more depth. Our Back to School Night on Thursday, August 19 will further introduce you to the middle school.
Arts, Sports & Activities (ASA) - Virtual Summer Jump-Off
We look forward to providing your child(ren) the opportunity to stay active, engaged, and connected with others while at home! We are offering a 2-week Virtual Summer Jump-Off program for June 7th - 18th (Monday - Friday). Activities are FREE!. Here is the Registration link and the form will be open till Friday, June 4. Please reach out to dmonicka@aischennai.org with any questions.
From the Counselors
Transitions are challenging in the best of times. It is always hard to say goodbye to friends, teachers, and other community members, and COVID-19 has made this challenging period of transition even more difficult. What are some ways we can support our community through these transitions?
Doug Ota, in his book Safe Passage: How mobility affects people & what international schools should do about it, posits that all students are impacted by transition in different ways and that every member of our community goes through periods of arriving, staying, and leaving:
Arrivers - students who are new to the school community
Stayers - students who have been in the school community for a while and are planning to stay
Leavers - students who are transitioning out of the school community
Ota’s idea is that transition impacts everyone in our community. It is important to acknowledge the grief that accumulates from continuous transitions regardless of the age of the person when the transition took place.
Counselors, teachers, and administrators throughout the school are here to help students transition during this challenging time. Here are some helpful transition resources whether your family is arriving, leaving, or staying at AISC:
In the Time of Corona: Strategies for Grief & Loss, Transitions & Celebrations, Grief and Gratitude
Safe Passage Across Networks: What SPAN has to do with COVID-19
The Transition that Never Ends: The Ongoing Cycle of Expat Stayers, Goers, and Newbies
Remember that the counselors are here to support. Please reach out to us!
Stay safe and be well.
Regards,
Lynn Schneider, Dave Allen, and Elliot Fijman
Elementary School Leadership Team