Dear Middle School Parents,
As we are approaching the end of the school year, which means that you will have received three trimester standards-based reports, I thought that you might find this interesting article from the NY Times, “Putting Grit in Its Place.” While it does not talk about standards-based grading, it talks about what we have moved away from, which are letter and number grades that goes into the grade point average (GPA). It’s a great article that connects grit and GPA, but also hits on many other areas that both parents and students are thinking about today’s schooling.
If you are leaving straight away after school is out, you may want to stop by a bookstore or order some Summer Reading books for your children online. The link will bring you to the most popular young adult books, with a small description and genre. Additionally, here is a another Levelled Book List, sorted by the reading level of each book.
MS Band Spring Concert
The MS Band classes will be putting on their end of the year concert for us on Thursday, 26 May at 2:30pm in the FAC Theater. Please join us to listen to some beautiful music as the students show off their musical skills that they have been practicing on all year.
End of Year Recognition Assemblies
As we are coming close to the end of the school year, there will be some celebration done for each grade level at the End of year Recognition Assemblies on Thursday, June 2nd. Each grade level holds a year-end assembly that celebrates and is tailored to their age level. This approach to end-of-year recognition is in keeping with the middle school philosophy and is a positive and meaningful celebration for all of our students.
The 6th graders will be celebrating the important goal that each student feels that they have accomplished and will be given a certificate stating the attainment of their goal. The 6th grade I-awards will be held in the BBT. All sixth grade parents are invited from 10:00 - 11:00 on Thursday, June 2nd to celebrate and recognize the emotional, intellectual, and social achievements that sixth grade students have made.
The 7th grade recognition assembly will also be in the BBT. The 7th grade will present certificates recognizing student with the 4 C’s Awards during this formal part of their assembly. All seventh grade parents are invited to this portion of the assembly from 8:30 - 9:30 on Thursday, June 2nd Afterwards, the ‘fun’ awards will be presented for only grade 7 students.
The 8th grade will have a day of celebration on campus on June 1st. Invitations will be sent to parents by Wednesday, May 25th with further details about the event.
National Robotic Competition
On Saturday, May 28, from 9:30-4:00, students from AISC, Chellammal, and a Corporate school in Tiruvallur will participate in AISC's Robotics Competition. AISC students are coming from the elementary, middle and high school. Chellammal is a local school that is generously supported by Caterpillar, and the Corporate school in Tiruvallur is supported by Ford.
This is the final step in a journey that began in November, when these students came together to create and compete with robotics.
The three teams that won the November competition were originally slated to compete at IIT Madras in March; however, due to the floods, IIT Madras could not host the competition, and it was moved to Mumbai.
This new location proved a challenge, so AISC decided to host its own final competition with the support of Lema Labs of IIT Madras. The competition component of the activity will take place from 1-4:00pm in the ES Cafeteria on Saturday, May 28, and spectators are welcome.
What: National Robotic Competition (For the winners of November Competition)
When: May 28th Saturday 10 am to 5 pm (3 hours of refresher + 1 hour of lunch break + 3 hours of competition )
Organizers: American International School Chennai and IIT Madras - Lema Labs
Participants: AISC winners + Chellammal School (Caterpillar Sponsored) + Corporation School, Tiruvallur (Ford Sponsored)
From AISC: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners
- Karthik Narayan - Grade 8
- Harish Srinivasan - Grade 8
- Arjun Sherwal - Grade 8
- Jared Sager - Grade 11
- Vishal Sriram - Grade 10
- Anand K. Suresh - Grade 11
- Hakin Sivakumar - Grade 5
- Jules Soria - Grade 10
- Jordan Archer - Grade 10
- Efflam Joseph Rol - Grade 6
- Cyril Drexler - Grade 6
- Ahsir Haime - Grade 4
- Ashira Haime - Grade 9
Message from Chirag Sherpas
Chirag Sherpas club is working with Danirasa Foundation for Rehabilitation Centre to help school kids who were affected during the floods. They are initiating a free sports camp in the flooded areas for the kids in Thirunindravur area. They have 70 kids in the age group of 6yrs to 16 yrs. They have a coach who has volunteered to train these kids. AISC students from the Chirag Sherpas club request request the following items as donation:
1. Volleyballs
2. Footballs
3. Volleyball net
4. Chess boards
5. Carom boards
6. Shoes
7. Bandages
8. Old sports clothes
9. Socks
10. Sports medicines ( neo sprin, violin,
11. Board games
12. Cereal
13. Any fiber rich foods.
There will collection bins outside the main reception for people to drop off the items.
Reminders...
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, Thursday, 2 June. All other report cards will be on Skyward the following week.
Lost and Found
Lost and Found items are stored near the MC rooms. Sonia David in the main reception holds the valuable items such as mobile phones and watches. Kindly visit these areas if your child has lost something. These items that have been found will also be displayed on tables in the main entrance starting Thursday, 26 May. Please stop by to see if any of these belong to your family. Those items not claimed by Thursday, June 2nd will be donated to local orphanages.
Have a good weekend!
Alan Phan
Middle School Principal