Dear Middle School Parents,
It was great to see many of you last night. The two articles I referred to last night can be seen in the links here: Involved Parents and Parent Involvement Fact Sheet. Just as one of the articles suggested, please continue to “participate in events at school, monitor homework, provide experiences and materials that supplement course work, and help children with organizational strategies.” We appreciate you working in tandem with us and supporting your children at home.
Week Without Walls (WWW) Grade 7 Parent Meeting
The Grade 7 Team will be meeting with students next week to inform them about the WWW trip in November. They will also hold an parent informational meeting on Friday, 6 September at 3:45pm in the Hall of Light.
Middle School Parent Social – Wednesday, 4 September, 8:45 – 9:45, cafeteria
Open to all parents & guardians of Middle School children. Come and meet the parents of your children’s friends, discuss what to eat, where to go, and what to do in and around Chennai. Learn how to stay involved in your child’s schooling (but remain invisible). Bring your ideas for discussions later this year. See you there. Questions? Email your MS Coordinator:
Middle School Model United Nations (MUN)
MUN is a simulation of the real United Nations with students serving as delegates from a variety of different countries. They come together in a formal setting to solve global issues and, in the process, come to understand their role as future leaders. MUN conferences are formal public speaking events. Students participate in lobbying and formal debate while negotiating, collaborating, and solving global problems.
We have extended our long tradition of MUN excellence in the High School to the Middle School by establishing a club and the possibility of conference attendance. We look forward to bringing this rewarding experience to the middle school.
The first informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4th September at 1:00 pm in Mrs. Pepper McFarland’s room 3113. Please encourage your child(ren) to attend the meeting to get more information.
Pepper McFarland
Rema Vishwanath
Brooke Johnson
MS MUN Coordinators
Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Testing: 9 -24 September
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a computerized adaptive test. Students will take tests in Reading, Math, Language and Science. MAP tests students with engaging and age-appropriate content. As a student responds to questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down in difficulty. Our team uses the data to inform instructional decision-making for increased student growth and achievement.
The school is reviewing our science curriculum; therefore, we will be testing students in science for the first time to get baseline data for the science curriculum review.
Please remind your children to charge the laptops each night, especially during testing week. There is no preparation required for MAP testing. We do, however, recommend that students get adequate sleep and a good breakfast before they come to school for the MAP test.
Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD)
FCD is a non-profit organization that provides alcohol, tobacco and other drug education to school and colleges worldwide. They will be visiting our school and doing workshops with students in middle and high school, parents, teachers and administration The 7th and 8th grade students will each be receiving two workshops and one grade level assembly. The FCD will be offering an assembly to 6th grade students on “Healthy Decision Making.” The intensive education program that the FCD will be offering the 7th and 8th grade students will focus on areas of prevention, recognition of early warning signs of substance abuse, encourage and support the non-use of alcohol and other illegal or illicit drugs and empower young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding drug and alcohol use. If you would like additional information of the FCD, please visit their website: http://www.fcd.org/content/index.asp.
There will be FCD presentation for Middle School Parents on Tuesday, 10th September from 8:30-9:20am in Hall of Light.
Taking Care of Laptops
We are beginning to see students leaving their laptops lying around. We will remind students to keep their laptops with them at all times or locked up in the locker. Please help us reinforce this at home. For its safety, any laptops found lying around will be taken to the Middle School Office. We will keep a log of it and repeated offenders will require a parent to come and collect it from us. We appreciate your support to keep their expensive educational tool safe.
Greetings to all Cabaret Auditionees!
Thank you and congratulations to everyone who auditioned for Cabaret 2013-2014. There were many excellent acts in a variety of genres. For example, we saw more Carnatic acts and more rap acts in contention this year than in any previous year. And you achieved all of this success six months earlier than the traditional Cabaret season! You, the performers, are building on previous experience to reach for the next level of artistry. The teachers all agreed that listening to auditions was way more fun than we expected it to be--and that is because of your hard work and courage!
These acts are invited to begin rehearsals immediately for Cabaret. With continued hard work, these acts will be in the show show on October 5:
You Only Live Once
Mardy Bum
Balloon
Starlight
Round and Round
Holiday
Ho Hey
Chain of Fools
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I Won't Give Up
Step Off
Memory
The Periodic Table Song
Itakodejima
Shankarabharanam Varnam
Valachi Vachi
To a Wild Rose
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Libertango
3rd Line Maebong Station
Bollywood Medley
Crawl
Falling in Love/Do you Love Me
What's Your Name/Bring it Back
Pecori Night
Schubert Viola Conzert
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MC auditions will take place Friday, August 30, at 3:45 in room 2709 with Mr. Shawn. MC signup is in the Daily Bulletin.
Alas, despite seeing so many very talented students, we could not fit everyone in the show--and believe me, we tried! Having auditioned (and survived to tell about it) is the best preparation for next year's audition. The second best way to learn before next year's audition is to see the show from the inside as a member of the Tech Crew. With these experiences under your belt, you will know exactly how to approach your next audition. To join the Cabaret Tech Crew, look for an announcement in about two weeks.
For questions about Cabaret, speak to Mr. Stewart or any Performing Arts teacher.
Sincerely,
The Cabaret Design Team
Mr. William, Ms. Lee, Mr. Shawn, Ms. Di, Mr. Stewart
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ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS UNTIL
BIG BAD BLUE
IF YOU WANT TO GET CLOSE TO THE ACTION….PLEASE COME AND VOLUNTEER!!!
If you have lots of spirit, come and cheer our hard-working swim team on!
CONTACT DONNA FAVA AT….. fdonna@aisch.org
September 13, 2013
4:00-6:00PM
September 14, 2013
8:30 AM-5:00 PM
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The Pool Schedule for the week of September 2-8 is posted on the new Athletics Weebly Site under Aquatics.
Have a great weekend!
Alan Phan
Middle School Principal