19 December

Dear Middle School Parents,

Welcome to the last day of the first semester. As always, the teachers and I appreciate your involvement, not only in your children’s lives, but also in the school community. Thank you for your time and dedication to AISC.

It is also that time of the year to say goodbye to students who are leaving. There were a lot of tear shed today and it is always difficult for departing students, but it is also difficult for their friends who stay. Please know that they can always come back for a visit when they are in Chennai.

With the holidays around the corner, it’s always good to remind ourselves that we should appreciate what we have but also think about others. I read an article that is applicable to both parents and teachers about An Awesome Way to Make Kids Less Self-Absorbed. Enjoy.

Reading for Pleasure

Please encourage your children to read over the break. In case you want some ideas, here is a large reading list created by our MS Librarian, Mr. Jet: MS Reading List. Many books can now be bought as ebooks and you can always place the order and get them over the break, wherever you may be.

ASA News: Online Registrations for Semester 2

Online Registration Dates : January 12 to 15, 2015

Dear Parents, we are happy to introduce the new online registration system for the after school activities for the following semester.

The first window for after school activities registration will be open exclusively through Pay Online.  If you have not yet used Pay Online, please refer to our Pay Online User Guide. This system allows you to register for after-school activities and pay for them using a debit or credit card.  Both local and international cards are accepted.  

If you need help at any time, please email itsupport@aisch.org with your question or issue and we will respond promptly.  

FAST-Fitness and Swimming Technique

Are you a swimmer? Need a reason to get into the pool at least once a week? Would you like to work with a coach to improve your strokes to swim FAST?

Coach Donna is offering a new program next semester that will meet on Friday afternoons from 4:00-5:00 pm.  MS/HS Students are welcome! See Coach Donna for more information!

Have a restful, relaxing and fun break with your family.

Happy Holidays.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal

12 December

Dear Middle School Parents,

A big thank you goes out to our music directors: Mr. Cary Stewart, Ms. Deborah Lee and Mr. William Kumar and our accompanist, Mr. Edwin, for putting on an amazing Band and Choir Concert this week and also for bring in our guest performers from the KM Music Conservatory Chamber Choir. Below is the link to see the pictures for the show: http://aiscgallery.smugmug.com/. Password: raptors14.

Looking for a GREAT family activity? Raptorthon 2 is here this weekend, Sunday, 14 December 2014.  If you did not sign up, please come out and cheer everyone on.

What is STEM Fest?

Our students practice Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math everyday.  The STEM Fest is a formal opportunity for our students to combine all four disciplines into one project.  They will then present this project to receive feedback from the AISC community.  This multi-week project will begin when we return on 12 January. Projects will be completed by 13 February. On the STEM Fest Day, Thursday, 19 February, we will share these projects; parents and community members will be welcome to attend. Please save the date on your calendar. You can support your son or daughter by encouraging, giving ideas, and helping with research; however, the building of the designs will be completed by students alone.

Middle School Girls and Boys Volleyball

There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, 17 December @7:45 in the Breezeway Conference Room (next to iHub). Any Middle School boy or girl, no matter the skill level, is welcome to join for an informational meeting on the upcoming 2015 ASIAC Volleyball Season. The first practice will be held on Tuesday, 13 January at 6:30am.

Girls Volleyball Coaches: Jenna Schaller and Pepper McFarland

Boys Volleyball Coaches: Michelle May and Suresh

Please remember that you can always visit the Athletic Direct0r’s page and weekly notes to get more information regarding our program.

ASA - Tennis had a match on December 6, 2014. Students from various schools like Vales Billabong High, Gateway International, Sankara - Adyar, St. Johns Universal and Pon Vidhayasaram participated. The winner of the game was Rahul Giridhar (Grade 6) from AISC and runner was Ilya Sikharulidze (Grade 6) again from AISC.

Congratulations to the winners and all the participants!

Food Service Update

Designing a better food delivery system.

At AISC, we continue to make progress in our food delivery system. On Monday, December 15,  around thirty parents and a few staff will be meeting to sample and share feedback on our lunch options. The feedback from this meeting will inform TMFK’s efforts to improve our food offerings for the next semester.

• The sandwich bar which is open in the i-Hub and the ES cafeteria is doing extremely well. We offer tuna, chicken and vegetable options on different days of the week. Several students have expressed their appreciation for our sandwiches.
• We have introduced a Soup and Sandwich counter at the i-Hub.  Soup and sandwich combos can be ordered from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The i-Hub also offers several juice and smoothie options from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Our FAC Cafeteria will continue to have Dosa and Wrap counters. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are Dosa Days and Tuesdays and Thursdays are Wrap days.
• We continue to offer beef and chicken options each day in our lunch menu. Fish is offered once in two weeks.

Should you have any questions with regard to food service, please email Josephine Ronald – directorpersonnel@aisch.org.

Have a great weekend.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal

5 December

Dear Middle School Parents,

There will be a Winter Party this afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00pm. Please encourage your children to come and enjoy some music and snacks and have some fun, especially with friends who are leaving at the end of the first semester.

November Middle School Coffee Presentation

If you missed last month’s coffee, please click on the title above (link) to see it. It is a presentation about standards-based grading, assessment and reporting. It contains a lot of new ideas and concepts so if you have any questions, please come and see us in the Middle School Office.

Hour of Code

Students are invited to an unique experience at AISC - An "Hour of Code" on 9th and 10th December 2014.  This is a global movement to interest all ages to enjoy learning about programming.  The mission of the movement is: "The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. No experience needed. Make games and have fun!" Join the movement!

What:  Hour Of Code @ AISC - Enjoy Pizzas and Coding!

When:  December 9th and 10th - both the days from 12:15 to 12: 45 (PIZZAS Served for lunch!)

Where: CIC

Details: http://hourofcode.com/in/en

Remember:  No Prior Experience Necessary!!! Come and Have some Fun!!

How:  Sign up through this Google Form

National Honor Society (NHS) Food Drive

Charles Dickens once said, “No one is useless in the world who lightens the burdens of others.” In the nature of the giving season, the National Honor Society is hoping that we can embody Dickens’ words by hosting our second annual Food Drive. The donations will go to a local non-profit organization called Little Sisters of the Poor. As an organization, the Little Sisters receives elderly people of all, aged 65 and above, regardless of religious or caste background. Those who live with the Sisters usually have been abandoned or have families that can no longer care for them. Therefore the organization relies on donations to feed and keep its inhabitants healthy and happy.

You may show your support by sending in food donations (rice, flour, curry powder, dhal, oil) and sanitary items (ex. soap, shampoo) from December 8th - 12th. There will be collection tables next to the Main Office on the first floor after the security gate and at the security gate of the Elementary School where NHS members will be at tables collecting donations from 8:00 - 8:20 am every morning that week.

Through this Food Drive, we hope to “lighten the burden” of the elderly living with the Sisters and ensure that they have the essential to care for those in need. We also hope to involve as many members of the community as possible to make a greater impact and support for the Little Sisters of the Poor.  

For any further questions, please contact Chaitra Subramaniam (schaitra@aisch.org) or Sofia Nicholas (nsofia@aisch.org).

AISC Literary Journal

We are proud to announce AISC's first school-wide online literary journal, The Raptor Reader.  The Raptor Reader is a public platform for students to showcase creativity through original writing, photography, and book reviews.  Please check out the first edition, with submissions from all three sections, at http://raptorreader.com.

Students may submit work by emailing it or sharing it with raptorreader@aisch.org.  The next publication deadline is Friday, February 13th.  Happy reading!

Withdrawing Students

Any students that are withdrawing will need to contact Ms. Aziz in the middle school office a minimum of two weeks prior to the withdrawal date to ensure all necessary documents can be compiled in a timely manner. Records from AISC are usually required by the next school. However, it takes us some time to prepare these records. Please note that the report cards for the first semester will not be ready until Friday, 23 January.

Middle School Concert

We invite all the parents to come to the MS School Band and Choir concert on Wednesday, 10th December 2014 @2:00 pm. Students have been working hard all semester so please come and support their musical talent. We also encourage everyone to stay for the performance by the KM Chamber Choir at 4:00pm.

Week Without Walls

Please find the link for the Grade 7 video and Grade 8 pictures for Week Without Walls.

Grade 8 WWW Pictures: Password:  raptors14

Grade 7 WWW Video   

Looking for a GREAT family activity? Raptorthon 2 Is Coming!!!  December 14, 2014.  See attached poster.  Please click here to register and for more detailed information.

Have a great weekend.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal

21 November

Dear Middle School Parents,

We are in the spirit of keeping students healthy and keeping them and you involved. Ready to participate in a fun community event? Need a reason to get in shape? Ms. Donna Fava, our Aquatics Director, will be putting on AISC's SECOND ANNUAL RAPTORTHON - Swim 150m/Run 1600m/Swim 150m - will take place on Sunday, December 14th! Great for the whole family! Participate as an individual or as a team (one swimmer, one runner).  The event will be followed by a potluck breakfast and the awarding of certificates. Watch for more details in the near future. Contact Donna Fava at: fdonna@aisch.org if you have any questions!

It’s also Thanksgiving time in the US and we think about what we are thankful for and think about how we can help others as well. The High School National Honor Society (NHS) will be holding a Food Drive starting 1st December. Please support the NHS students and the local community.

Middle School Coffee

The next Middle School Coffee will be on Tuesday, 25 November @8:45 in the BBT. We will be discussing and introducing you to standards-based grading and reporting in the Middle School. This will be one of many meetings we will have regarding this topic.

Withdrawing Students

Any students that are withdrawing will need to contact Ms. Aziz in the middle school office a minimum of two weeks prior to the withdrawal date to ensure all necessary documents can be compiled in a timely manner. Records from AISC are usually required by the next school. However, it takes us some time to prepare these records. Please note that the report cards for the first semester will not be ready until Friday, 23 January.

Week Without Walls (WWW) Photos

In general, we have hundreds of pictures from these trips. Once we have collated all the pictures from the chaperones, we will share these pictures with you.

New Shelves in the Cafeteria

In addition to the refrigerators for student lunches that need refrigeration, we have now added two shelves for lunches that do not require refrigeration. Please pass the message on to your children.

Middle School Concert, 10th December 2014 @2:00 p.m.  

Please mark your calendar for this wonderful musical event.

Here is a reminder for our performers:

The neat, uniform appearance of Band and Choir members contributes greatly to the formality of the event. Looking sharp increases our students’ pride of accomplishment and the audience’s perception of the ensemble. Students that will be participating in the MS music program must wear special clothing for concerts consisting of a pair of full-length black dress pants, black dress shoes (no sandals), black socks and black belt. These pants and shoes can be purchased locally at Bata and other stores. Ask for school uniform pants and shoes.

In no case will black jeans, tights, skirts, shorts/pedal pushers, or sandals be an acceptable onstage attire.

A black music shirt purchased from the school store rounds off the concert outfit. This is a special, semi-formal shirt with our school’s official music logo. Any student who already possesses an AISC Music logo polo shirt may use it again.

The polo shirt will be available in the iHub store.

                                Boys                                                  Girls

AISC Middle School Band and Choir - looking good, sounding great!

Middle School Production

Thank you to Ms. Diane Reid and Ms. Deborah Lee putting on a great Middle School production, Once on this Island. In case you missed the production, there is video posted on our website and some beautiful pictures in the following link:

http://aiscgallery.smugmug.com/Once-On-This-Island/. Password: raptors14

Please note that there will be no Principal Notes next week. We will be back on the 5th December.

Have a great weekend.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal

14 November

Dear Middle School Parents,

We had a very high percentage of parents signed up for the parent teacher conferences in the last two days. It shows how much parents are involved in their children’s education at our school. Thank you. Please remember to continue this support throughout their school years and meet with teachers should any issue arise.

I came across another great article about parenting and children which I think you will find very interesting. On Forbes.com, leadership expert, Dr. Tim Elmore talks about the 7 damaging parenting behaviors that keep children from becoming leaders – of their own lives and of the world’s enterprises:

1. We don’t let our children experience risk.
2. We rescue too quickly.
3. We rave too easily.
4. We let guilt get in the way of leading well.
5. We don’t share our past mistakes.
6. We mistake intelligence, giftedness and influence for maturity.
7. We don’t practice what we preach.

To read the whole article, please click on the link below:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2014/01/16/7-crippling-parenting-behaviors-that-keep-children-from-growing-into-leaders/

Week Without Walls

Grade 7 and 8 students will be leaving on Monday for their respective trips in India. Please remember to bring your children to school on time. The arrival time is an estimated arrival time as of now. Should there be any delays, we will be in touch:

	Departure Monday, 17 November	Arrival Friday, 21 November
Grade 7	Come to school as normal at 8:30AM	Friday, 1:00PM
Grade 8	Monday, 5:45AM at AISC	Friday, 4:50PM

Middle School Coffee

The next Middle School Coffee will be on Tuesday, 25 November. We will be discussing and introduction you to standards-based grading and reporting in the Middle School. This will be one of many meetings we will have regarding this topic. Please save the date.

Middle School Production

Thank you to Ms. Diane Reid and Ms. Deborah Lee putting on a great Middle School production, Once on this Island. In case you missed the production, there is video posted on our website and some beautiful pictures in the following link:

http://aiscgallery.smugmug.com/Once-On-This-Island/. Password: raptors14

What’s on the AISC Preschool Horizon?

If you are interested in the future planning and programming of our Preschools, we invite you to join us on Monday, November 17, 2014 for a World Cafe conversation. We are seeking input and ideas as we move ahead in revisioning our Early Childhood programs. There are two sessions planned, so pick the time that works best for you:

Timings:  Monday, 17 November:  8:45 - 10:15 or 1:45 - 3:15

Location: Hall of Light

The Collaboration and Inquiry Center (CIC)'s New Saturday Hours are a Huge Success!

Our new hours have seen a great turnout of students, parents, and staff coming through the CIC's doors on Saturdays!  Since September 6th, when Saturday hours first began, the CIC has received 63 visitors on average each Saturday for the last six weeks. During that time visitors have been able to come in and use the CIC for projects, reading, Internet, and book checkout (over 350 books on Saturdays so far). Our new hours are part of AISC's continued commitment to literacy and learning, and is a great way for students, staff, and parents to utilize our print and digital resources even more. This is a space open to all students in grades preschool to twelve, so come on in and enjoy the CIC!  

As a reminder, please note that we will be closed on student 3-day weekends and during school breaks (this includes closing the CIC on Saturday, October 18 and October 25 of Diwali break).  We look forward to welcoming back to on Saturdays beginning November 1st.

Here are a few CIC Saturday Reminders:

• We are open 8:30-12:30.

• Please sign-in on clipboards when coming to the CIC on Saturdays.  This will help us with supervision as well as collecting data on Saturday usage.
• Please enjoy food and drink outside the CIC.
• ES students must be accompanied by a parent on campus during non-school hours (ES school policy).  ES students should come to the CIC on Saturdays with a parent.
• MS and HS students should only be on campus during non-school hours when they are part of a school-organized activity or sport.  Saturdays in the CIC counts as a school-organized activity.  If students leave the CIC, but are not taking part in another school activity or sport, they should leave the AISC campus.

Thank you! If you have any questions, please email Jeremy Willette at wjeremy@aisch.org.

Have a great weekend.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal