30 April

Dear Middle School Parents,

It has been great seeing many of the parents at the ePortfolio Presentation and Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences in the last couple of days. We appreciate the partnership you have taken with us to ensure that your children are successful, do their best and live up to their potential in school. Students learn and grow from feedback from both their teachers and parents. We appreciate your continued support and involvement.

Middle School Art Exhibition

Please join us at the opening reception for our Middle School Art Exhibition on May 6th from 3:45 to 4:45. This show is for all middle school art students, showcasing at least one amazing work from each student who took an art course this year in the middle school. Works displayed will include paintings, sculptures, mixed-media creations, and technology projects. We encourage everyone to come see the show! The exhibition will continue from May 6th to May 15th.

End of School Year Notice

As we are approaching the end of the school year, there are a few things parents need to keep in mind. Students will need to return all textbooks, library books, sports uniform and any other items issued by the school. Everything needs to be settled before we can release the documents and before students get their yearbook.

Please note that we will only issue the report cards to students who are leaving AISC on the last day of school, 5 June. All other report cards will be sent home the following week.

Operation Smile Yard Sale

This year, Operation Smile is conducting a yard sale on Friday, 15th May to raise money for cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries. Please donate items in good condition that you no longer use at home for other AISC families/maintenance staff to purchase. You can simply place the items in bins marked Operation Smile Yard Sale placed at the high school office and reception, the middle school office and the elementary reception. These items will be sold by Operation Smile volunteers and the profits will go to the organization. Or, you can purchase a table for Rs. 1500 and sell your own items and keep the proceeds of the sale. If you wish to buy a table or if you have any questions please contact Nivi Sriram at snivedita@aisch.org.  

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

Have a good long weekend.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal

24 April

Dear Middle School Parents,

We will have the E-Portfolio Presentation on 29 April and Three-Way Conferences (student, parent and teacher) on 29 and 30 April.  Please remember that students are required to attend these conferences.  The author Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, from the Harvard Family Research Group,

“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.”            

We sent the instructions to sign up earlier in the week. If you have not done so, please follow the instructions below:

ONLINE Conference Sign-up

1. Once you are click on the link below, you will see a list of teachers with a box next to each name.
2. Select all of your child’s teachers, by clicking the box next to their names.
3. You will be asked to enter your child’s name and your name, as well as your email address.
4. You will receive an email with a link to sign up with the teachers.
5. Click on the link, which will open another page where you will see the available conference times for all the teachers. You may pick one conference time for each teacher.
6. Please do not forget to select a time slot for each teacher.
7. Click confirmed at the bottom of the page once you are done.
8. A confirmation email with all your appointments will be sent to you. Teacher room numbers will be given on the list.
9. Please double check that you have a time slot with each teacher.

You can gain access to this system by using the following link:

http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/American_International_School_Chennai_5

With guidance from their teachers, students have been given time in class to create their e-portfolios. It is completely student-driven and student-created. They are finalizing their e-portfolios, selecting the work they will share with you and reflecting on why they have chosen these pieces to share.

During this time, it will be a process where students engage in a meaningful dialogue with their family about goals, accomplishments, and learning. The aim of the conference is to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and share their academic progress with their families. This format gives students the opportunity to:

o  Reflect on their academic performance,

o  Take accountability for their own work,

o  Improve organizational and communication skills,

o  Include their parents in their learning experiences,

o  Learn to set and achieve realistic goals,

o  Take pride in their achievements.

Pops Concert

The Middle and High School choirs have prepared a showcase of all their favorite songs! Join us at our Pops Concert after school on Monday, April 27 in the FAC Cafeteria to hear some great music. This informal performance will feature solos, duets and small groups singing a wide range of popular music. See you there!

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

Have a great weekend.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal

17 April

Dear Middle School Parents,

Model United Nations (MUN)

Congratulations to all the delegates who have been selected to travel to Malaysia for the conference. They are currently in Malaysia in the middle of the conference. They will do us proud representing Spain and Pakistan on a number of issues.

Grade 8	Grade 7	Grade 6
Anna Seong Nicholas Aya Kamio Jin Young Kim Kyungjae (Peter) Jung Serin Kim Tarun Krishna Yoon Jung (Jenny) Kim Yuki Haga	Abhi Desai Gyeong Deok Park Manav Mandyam Chakravarthy Natsumi Shindo Reuben Nielsen	Luis Zink

Middle School Coffee

The last Middle School Coffee will take place on Tuesday, 21 April at 8:45 in the Hall of Light. We will be presenting the data from Lifestyle Survey that students took last month.

SAISA Track and Field

We have 30 athletes traveling to The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) to represent AISC in Track and Field Competition from 22-26 April. Of the 30 athletes, there are 12 Middle School students representing our school. We would like to with all the athletes the best of luck in the competition.  

Grade 8	Grade 7	Grade 6
Lars Ulrik Karlsson Kaitlyn Foulger Leonie Schuhmacher Liam Hall Keito Kita	Reuben Nielsen	Aaron Kusch Jeremy Keleher Futa Takahashi Junsik Yoon Ahmad Rusdy Azzim Zulfazli Miyu Ii

AISC welcomes singer-songwriter, Kathryn Claire as our Spring 2015 Artist in Residence!

After a successful residency last year, Kathryn will return for two weeks of teaching and performance.  Part of a new generation of traditionally-inspired musicians, Kathryn’s guitar and fiddle-playing exhibit a technical grace which is matched only by her truly captivating voice and her rare ability to move seamlessly across genres. She will be working in elementary, middle, and high school music classes and will conduct after school song-writing workshops with MS/HS students.

Beginning April 13th, Kathryn’s residency will culminate in a Friday@5 concert in association with R.I.S.E. on the 24th of April. Her charismatic presence and infectious smile have made her a favorite at venues and festivals around the world- and we are thrilled to welcome her back to our campus.

Coming Soon...

We will have the E-Portfolio Presentation on 29 April and Three-Way Conferences (student, parent and teacher) on 29 and 30 April.  Please remember that students are required to attend these conferences. We will send instructions on how to sign up next week.

With guidance from their teachers, students have been given time in class to create their e-portfolios. It is completely student-driven and student-created. In the next couple of weeks, they will be finalizing their e-portfolios, selecting the work they will share with you and reflecting on why they have chosen these pieces to share.

During this time, it will be a process where students engage in a meaningful dialogue with their family about goals, accomplishments, and learning. The aim of the conference is to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and share their academic progress with their families. This format gives students the opportunity to:

o  Reflect on their academic performance,

o  Take accountability for their own work,

o  Improve organizational and communication skills,

o  Include their parents in their learning experiences,

o  Learn to set and achieve realistic goals,

o  Take pride in their achievements.

Food Service Update

We would like to highlight the following offerings in our cafeterias:

• Milk and yoghurt is sold in all cafeterias.
• We have introduced a breakfast menu of toast and eggs (boiled egg/omelette) in addition to croissants, sandwiches available in both the I-Hub and ES Cafeteria.
• The sandwich bar is open in the I-Hub and ES cafeteria.  We offer tuna, chicken and vegetable options on different days of the week.
• We have several healthy options like grilled vegetables, salads, cut fruits, in the I-Hub and ES Cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• There are several freshly baked items available both in the I-Hub and ES Cafeteria.
• Our FAC Cafeteria will continue to have live 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.

Alan Phan

Middle School Principal