We are quickly settling into our daily routines! We are now into our regular rotation and students are becoming familiar with their new classes and teachers. Teachers and students are building the foundations in each class to ensure a successful year ahead. This coming week, we hope to see many of you on campus with our Grade Seven & Eight parent coffee and Back to School Night. Details for both can be found below.
Grade Six Parent Coffee
Thank you to all Grade Six parents that joined us this morning the coffee. We hope that the information you received is helpful for you to become more familiar with the MS. Here are the slides for your reference. We welcome your questions at any time. Please inquire with the MS office or send questions to msprincipal@aischennai.org. Include your child’s name and grade level.
Grade 7&8 Parent Coffee
Tuesday August 20 from 8:45-9:45 is our first coffee for the year for Grade 7&8 parents. In addition to updates in our program, we will be sharing details about Back to School Night.
Back to School Night
The MS will host Back To School Night on Thursday, August 22 beginning at 5:00pm. This year, we will follow a different format. Instead of visiting each teacher’s classroom, you are invited to “meet” each teacher by watching a video and presentation they have each created and posted on their PowerSchool course page. This is a wonderful opportunity for MS students to guide parents through PS to access class pages and the videos!
During Back to School Night, parents will meet face to face with their child’s advisor and learn about our advisory program. Each grade level team will lead a Week Without Walls presentation for parents as well. Our program will include optional tours of MS learning spaces. The schedule for the evening is below.
4:30-4:55 (Optional)
|
FAC cafeteria
|
Optional Tours of MS learning spaces led by Student Ambassadors
Refreshments will be served in the FAC Cafeteria
|
5:00-5:15
|
FAC cafeteria
|
Welcome and Introductions
|
5:25-5:40
|
Advisory Classrooms
|
Meet your child’s advisor & advisory presentations
|
5:45-6:15
|
Week Without Walls presentations in designated areas:
Grade 6: FAC Cafeteria
Grade 7: BBT
Grade 8: Madras Hall
Refreshments will be served in each area
|
You will receive a paper schedule with your child’s advisor, advisory room and Week Without Walls meeting area upon arrival in the FAC cafeteria.
Student Daily Bulletin
The student daily bulletin is the daily communication middle school students receive to keep up to date on school activities and co-curricular events. You can follow the daily announcements here.
Student Voices Forum
Student Voices Forum is the middle school platform for students to be able to provide input on program policy, procedures and school-wide initiatives. Students complete an application process to participate. The application is available to download on the student daily bulletin. Applications are due by Wednesday September 5 in the MS office.
Last year, SVF shared input on:
·ideas for a future MS commons space
·defining wellbeing for our school-wide wellbeing summits
·school's environmental responsibility framework
·new foods offered by our food-service provider
·student use of technology during breaks and lunch
·Week Without Walls
·issues that may be worth exploring in the future. The issue that was identified by the end of the year was further reducing waste from consumables at school.
If your child is interested in participating and has questions, s/he can reach out to Ms. Gold, Ms. O, Ms. Heidi or Ms. Pechhold.
ES/MS Library Twitter
Please follow the ES/MS Library on Twitter. We will post information about events and happenings that you will want to keep up with!
The handle is: @biblio_babs
Guests on Campus
Throughout the year, many students have friends and family members who visit. We welcome visitors to our campus. If students would like to bring a friend or family member to campus for the day, please email the MS office to request permission for a visitor to attend classes two school days before the visit so that arrangements can be made.
Yearbook Photoshoot and Ordering Headshots
Our Yearbook Photoshoot is taking place on August 26–30. Watch this space to learn more about the photoshoot schedule. This year there are two ways to order your prints. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Sherene Williams at wsherene@aischennai.org.
Option 1: Order photos the week of the photoshoot
1. Students can pick up their order forms from the MS Office by Thursday, August 22.
2. On the day of their scheduled shoot, students can bring
their order form with the exact amount and pay the vendor directly.
3. Photo prints will be ready in two weeks from the date of order.
You can collect the prints from the MS Office.
Option 2: Order photos after reviewing headshots
1. Photos will be uploaded
to SmugMug a couple of weeks after the photoshoot week.
2. Review your headshots.
3. Contact the vendor directly via email or phone to order your prints. Vendor information
will be provided with the SmugMug link.
First Early Release Wednesday
On Wednesday August 21 we will have our first Early Release Wednesday. Students are expected to depart campus in a timely and organized fashion upon dismissal at 2:00 pm. We appreciate your patience with traffic on these days as all three sections are picking up students at the same time. In preparation, please plan on allowing longer time for entry and exit to the school at release time. For our Middle and High School students, hot lunch will be served. Please note that the iHub will be open to provide an air conditioned waiting space until 2:40 pm in case drivers are delayed. Food services in the iHub will close at 1:50 pm.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Jessica Pechhold Andrew Ranson
Middle School Principal Middle School Associate Principal