Dear Middle School Parents,
In preparation for the Three-Way Conferences on Thursday and Friday on 24 (4:00pm to 7:00pm) and 25 April, please remember to bring your child’s report card, come with questions and be sure that your child attends to the conferences. Earlier in the year, I shared what the author Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, from the Harvard Family Research Group, said about conferences. She
“believes children should be present at parent-teacher conferences — after all, she argues, they’re the only ones who know completely what’s going on both at home and at school.“Children can be wonderful authorities, very wise, very honest, very candid, very insightful about what their experience is,” Lawrence-Lightfoot said during a PBS NewsHour piece. “And that’s a valuable perspective to have in a parent/teacher conference.”
MS Coffee
Please remember to join us for the the last Middle School Coffee will take place on Tuesday, 22 April. Mr. Phan will be discussing the changes for next year: Schedule, Math Progression, World Language and Fine Arts contact time and the students, along with the advisors, Ms. Trish and Mr. Jet, will present Peer Mediation Program.
MS Choir Concert
There will be a special concert on Wednesday, 23 April at 5:00pm in the FAC Auditorium. Our choir students will perform and we will also have guests from Crotchets and Quavers, a local children’s choir in Chennai as guests who will perform as well. Please mark your calendar to listen to some wonderful music.
Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Testing: 21 - 30 April
MAP testing starts on Monday, 21 April. Please remind your children to charge the laptops each night, especially during testing weeks. 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.
Counseling Corner
As we are approaching the end of the school year, we also face with the departures of friends. Here is something from our counselor, Ms. Trish, to keep in mind:
Helping children say goodbye…..
When children face a move, they deal with the nervous anticipation of moving to a new place and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to friends. Not to mention the total lack of control over the situation.
Help Your Child Look to the Future
Be honest with your child about how he or she can stay in touch with old friends. If you’ll be able to visit your old town, let your child know that you can visit friends in the future. If you won’t be able to visit, focus on other ways to stay in touch.
- Explain to a young child that he or she can stay in touch with friends via social media, email or by the old-fashion method mailing letters and drawings.
Help Your Child Plan a Farewell Party
Before the move, plan a farewell party and invite your child’s friends. Do not make the farewell party a surprise. Your child could become depressed if it seems like no one cares that he or she is leaving. Make sure your child is involved in planning the party. This will give your child control over some aspect of the situation.
Tips to make the most of a farewell party:
- Take pictures at the party and make a scrapbook. (Polaroid pictures are fun because guests can write a note on the image.)
- Take a group photo of everyone at the party. Have everyone at the party sign a large white mat that can later be used to frame the image.
- Make a video to have friends record a message.
- Have your child’s friends make handprints on or write messages on a T-shirt, a bed sheet or a banner.
Sources: http://www.allconnect.com
Academic Corner
The Middle School Art Show is coming up on the afternoon 7th of May. Students are currently working with photography medium and they will be selecting their piece for the show. We will have more details in the coming weeks.
Grade 6: Students are working individually or collaboratively on a self-directed project of their own choice. The mediums are limitless, so they can choose to work digitally (video production/ graphic design/ digital imaging) or with traditional techniques (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.). There are also a few groups focusing on installation art and mixed media!
Grade 7: Students are focusing on photography: cyanotype contact prints (also known as sun prints-this is where blueprints originated from, and scientists also used this contact printing method to document plants), then they will be moving onto digital imaging via Photoshop. They will have a choice for their final project before the art show
Grade 8: Students are working the same project as Grade 6 with an emphasis in developing their topic through in-depth research, planning, and reflection. They work individually or collaboratively on a self-directed project of their own choice. The mediums are limitless, so they can choose to work digitally (video production/ graphic design/ digital imaging) or with traditional techniques (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.). There are also a few groups focusing on installation art and mixed media!
Have a good long weekend.
Alan Phan
Middle School Principal