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