Friday, November 22

Dear Parents,

On Wednesday, November 20, twenty-seven students from the Elementary Student Council and ASA Girl Scouts came together with our PTA Elementary Grade Level Reps to decorate AISC’s first Giving Tree in the Elementary Cafeteria.  The Giving Tree will benefit 188 children in 5 local orphanages.  Please come with your child, take a star, purchase a gift for the child on the star, and wrap it. Be sure and attach the star to the wrapped gift.  Gifts should be returned by December 11 to the Elementary Library.  Please see the back of the star for gifts appropriate for the child.

As AISC is a generous community, we may be lucky enough to have more families who want to help than available stars.  So if you do not get a star in time, but still would like to help, consider making the following contributions:

Seva Samajam Girls Home:  donations of sanitary pads, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Assisi Ilam Orphanage:  A4 paper, pens, pencils, chart paper
St Joseph Social Service Center:  A4 paper, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes
Home of Hope for Boys by World of Life Church:  Stationary supplies
Mizpah Orphanage:  recreational games like board games and cricket sets

Parent Gina Makawana has confirmed gift delivery dates and times with the 5 local orphanages and the time table is as follows for anyone interested in helping drop off the gifts donated by our AISC community.  You may contact Gina at gina_makawana@yahoo.com or call her at 9884222246 to get details about joining her for the gift delivery.  Your child is most welcome to help.

1.  Seva Samajam Girls Home (56 girls)
29 Casa Major Road, Egmore
Dec 14, 2:30  pm

2.  Assisi Ilam Orphanage (24 kids)
15 Nethaji Nagar, St Thomas Mount
Dec 15, 11 am

3.  St Joseph Social Service Center (40 kids)
4/92-62 Magazine Road, St Thomas Mount
Dec 18, 4pm

4.  Home of Hope for Boys by World of Life Church  (49 kids)
Mahibalipuram
Dec 15, 5 pm

5.  Mizpah Orphanage (19 kids)
Mahibalipuram before Pondicherry
Dec 16, time unconfirmed as of yet

Thank you to all the helpful students and to Student Council Staff Advisors Pam Thompson, Deanna Doherty and parent and Girl Scout Troop Leader JoAnn Restuccia, for focusing on the Giving Tree project for the last couple of weeks with the kids.  Also, a big thank you to the entire staff of the Elementary School who supported the set-up of our Giving Tree.  Lastly and mostly, a big thanks to you for supporting this project and sharing some simple items with children who need some help and attention. Go see the tree with your child in the Elementary cafeteria and take a star or two!

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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: Please mark Monday, December 2nd on your calendars and join us at The Hyatt for our third annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The elementary school, community and high school advanced choirs will welcome in the holiday season as they sing festive songs. There will be plenty of food and drinks to go around. This is always a fun event and I guarantee that you and your children will have a fantastic time.

Friday, December 13th: All students will be dismissed at 12:30. Students will eat lunch before heading home. The PK-2 students will eat from 11:45-12:00, and students in grades 3-5, from 12:05-12:20. The playground will be closing at 12:45 so we kindly ask that all students and families leave the campus by this time.

Elementary Sports Days: The Pre-School to Grade 2 Sports Day will be held on Thursday, January 23. The Grades 3-5 Sports Day will be held on Friday, January 24th. Both events will be held in the morning. Each child is given a special t-shirt to wear, however, we ask that parents order the t-shirt by clicking here. To help you with sizing, we included the approximate dimensions (in centimeters) of each shirt size. You can also look at samples that are available in the Elementary Reception. Colors are assigned to each grade, so you do not have to worry about choosing a color. Please place your orders prior to the winter break.

Taking children out of school before dismissal time: The following information serves as a reminder and is taken from page 22 of the Elementary School Handbook:

• Students are required to remain on campus for the entire school day. The school day
begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Students are not to leave campus during the
school day unless they have permission and have signed out at the Elementary School
Office.

• Students who are injured or become ill during school hours should see the school
nurse. If it is necessary for a student to go home, the nurse will phone the parent or
legal guardian to inform them and arrange for transportation. The school nurse will inform
the office that the student is checking out. The student must get a pass to leave campus
from the office.

• Students who become emotionally upset should go to the Guidance Office or to the
school nurse for help.

• If a non-medical emergency develops that requires the student to leave, the parent
is asked to inform the secretaries in the Elementary School Office.

Reminder from the Physical Education Teachers: The Upper Elementary students swim unit will start next week. Lower Elementary students will be on the field.

ASA News:

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Hall
Elementary School Principal