Dear Middle School Parents,
The start of the 2017-2018 school year is fast approaching with the first day of school on Thursday, 10 August. We have been busy preparing the school and the classrooms and looking forward to welcoming all the students to a new school year.
New Student Orientation
We will welcome middle school students and their parents who are new to the AISC community at an orientation session on Wednesday, August 9, from 10:00 to 1:00 beginning in the FAC. After an initial introduction, the students will meet with the counselors and student ambassadors to learn more about the school and what to expect on the first day of classes. The parents will stay behind for a Q&A session with the middle school administrators. Students will also have a lunch and time in the pool so please remember to bring a bathing suit.
Student Schedules: All middle school students will start their first day with an advisory period, where they will receive their schedule. When they arrive to school, there will be panels up at the entrance of the school where they will see this list of advisory groups. Students will need to report to that room first thing in the morning.
Bring-Your-Own-Technology (BYOT) Program
All Middle School students are required to bring in a laptop that meets a minimum set of specifications to support student learning. If you have any questions regarding the specification students may choose between a laptop with either the Mac or Windows operating system. In order to configure the devices, we ask that students bring their own device on these days:
- Thursday, 10 August: New students
- Friday, 11 August: Grade 6 All Students
- Wednesday, 16 August: Grade 7 & 8 Returning students with new laptops
Please remember to set your operating system language to English in order for our IT department to configure devices.
Introducing New Teachers
We welcome a new class of teachers to AISC this year. They all have come from other international schools before Chennai. Here is a brief introduction of the new faculty members:
Name
|
Position
|
Previous Post
|
Ms. Kim Cavender
|
MS EAL and EAP
|
Turkey
|
Ms. Lisa Daniels
|
MS Spanish
|
USA/Bangladesh
|
Mr. Mike Simmons
|
Grade 7 Social Studies
|
Qatar
|
Mr. Nick Pollman
|
Associate Teacher
|
China
|
Mr. Remy Liotard
|
MS French
|
Qatar
|
We also welcome Ms. Allison Jacobson, who will be teaching Grade 7 Language Arts. While she taught in the elementary school for the past two years, she has taught MS and HS Language Arts for many years in the United States.
STUDENTS NEED TO BRING TO SCHOOL: Accordion folder for their core blocks of language arts, social studies, math and science, assorted pens, pencils, eraser, highlighter pens, whiteout, scissor, water bottle, book bag/backpack, headphones, appropriate running shoes with non-marking soles, a towel and soap for showering, and a bathing suit during their swimming unit. It is highly recommended that students have sun-cream, a ball cap or sun hat, and swimming goggles. Students should have a separate bag for their PE kit.
TO HAVE AT HOME: Ruler, pencil sharpener, glue stick, scotch tape, color markers, color pencils crayons, and access to the Internet and a printer.
All students that are participating in music class (either band or choir) will need a ‘concert outfit’ which includes a pair of long black dress pants and black enclosed dress shoes (no sandals). Students will need to purchase a black music polo shirt from the school prior to the first performance to finish off their concert outfit.
Students who plan on joining a sports team or other co-curricular activities that will be representing the school while travelling and participating in tournaments or events must adhere to a dress code requirement. Students must have a khaki-coloured skirt or trouser and enclosed dress shoes, and a ‘Raptor’ collared polo shirt purchased through the athletics office.
From the Health Office
Each year families will need to submit a Physical Examination form for each child enrolled at AISC. Please submit this form, when completed, to the Health Office.
In addition, new families also need to fill out a Health Form for each child. Returning families need to update the Health Form for each AISC student. If there are no changes to be made in the Health Form, please still fill in the Medication Permission page. Please submit the Health Form to the Health Office.
We appreciate your cooperation with this matter.
A Note from the Athletic Director, Mr. Ryan McFarland - Student Health Forms
Welcome to the 2017/2018 school year. I hope all of you had a fantastic summer break and are ready for the new school year. As a quick reminder, all AISC returning students are required to complete the "Student Health Form" and "Physical Exam Form" by the beginning of this school year. This form was sent to each of you in the final version of Principal's Notes last June.
Any student wishing to participate in ASIAC Table Tennis or Badminton and SAISA Swimming must have this form returned to the school by no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Students that have not returned these forms by this deadline, will not be permitted to practice or participate.
Looking Ahead at Parent Coffees
The first coffees will following the same format as last year. We will hold one for Grade 6 parents and a combined Grade 7 and 8. All MS Coffees will take place in the Hall of Light:
- Grade 6: Friday, August 18 8:45 - 9:45
- MS Parent Tech Coffee: Friday, August 18 10:00 - 11:00
- Grade 7 & 8: Monday, August 21 8:45 - 9:45
Have a great weekend and see you next week!
Sincerely,
Alan Phan & Andrew Ranson