Friday, 27 September 2019

Friday, September 27

September 27

Dear Parents,  
This week, all of our students demonstrated resilience and versatility during their Weeks
Without Walls adventures. The variety of team and individual activities on each trip provides students with a range of experiences to demonstrate strengths and areas of growth during physical and emotional challenges. Inclement weather led to changes in the daily schedule for all of our teams, but our middle school faculty adapted and adjusted, making it possible for the adventure to continue regardless of weather.  



Week Without Walls is part of our Experiential Learning in the Middle School. Our purpose for Experiential Learning is to provide opportunities beyond the classroom that promote connections to our community, the environment and local culture and promote students’ self-management, self-awareness, and positive relationships through applied learning and reflection. Students will formally be sharing their learning from their experience during our Celebration of Learning on October 30. 
In the meantime, as you learn about your child’s Week Without Walls experience, ask them how they connected to the Vision for a Learner and our Experiential Learning purpose statement. Lastly, thank you for sending your children prepared for the week and following our communication guidelines to support students’ self-management! 

Reminder: All School Schedule Change
Please remember that school is closed on Monday, October 7 to observe Ayudha Puja. This is a change from the published Community Calendar. Classes resume on Tuesday, October 8, with a B8 Day. 

Hearing & Vision Screening
Hearing and vision screenings will take place the week of October 8. The schedule for the screenings will be posted in the student daily bulletin.  

Early Release Wednesday
Wednesday, October 9th is the next 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. 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.

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences
Student/parent/teacher conferences will take place On Thursday, October 17 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm and Friday, October 18 from 8:00am – 4:00pm. Please note that there will be no MS classes on Friday, October 18. Conferences are an opportunity for students and teachers to share their reflections on student learning with parents. Conferences are by appointment with your child’s teachers. You will receive an email with directions and a link to sign up for conferences on Wednesday, October 9. Conferences can only be made through this email link and are on a first come, first served basis. 

Blue Form
October is the month when many middle schoolers will be traveling for ASIAC soccer (October 10-11) and SAISA swimming (Oct 16-20). Students who know that they will be missing school are expected to complete the Blue Form, which can be obtained in the Middle School Office. The Blue Form helps the student keep track of assignments and expectations for each class that he or she will miss during the absence. The Blue Form is to be completed by the student and returned to Ms. Aziz in the Middle School Office before the absence begins. 

Season Two ASAs
The month of October will see the conclusion of our first season activities: ASIAC Soccer, SAISA Swimming and the Middle School Play.  Continuing from the first season are Math Counts, Open Art Studio, Running Club, Student Voices Forum, and the MUN programs.  The second season ASIAC activities that begin will be Choir, Band, Table Tennis, and boys and girls Basketball.  Not on this list yet but by the end of October will be added are the practices for SAISA Track & Field, post-season Soccer, Raptor Swim Club, pre-season Volleyball and pre-season Tennis.






Friday, 20 September 2019

Friday September 20

September 20

Dear Parents,

We are ready for Week Without Walls! Please see below for arrival times on campus Monday morning. Links to packing lists are also included in the information below. Thank you to all parents and students who dropped off passports Thursday and today. We appreciate your cooperation with this to ensure all students are prepared with their travel documents for Monday morning. Team leaders, our school security staff and I are monitoring weather in each of our destinations. We are also in touch with our trip providers to ensure that we can travel and engage in our activities safely. 

WWW Departure Information
As you begin to prepare for WWW, please see the departure and arrival information below. Please note the times students will need to be on campus for departure. Packing lists for each grade level are also linked.

Grade 6

Outbound flight (Monday 23rd September)
Indigo flight 502 - 8:30 a.m. 
Students should come to AISC at 5am 
**(Buses will depart to airport at exactly 5.30am)**

Inbound flight (Friday 27th September)
Indigo flight 302 -  Returns to Chennai: 15:40
Estimated arrival time to AISC: 6 pm

Grade 7

23rd Sept: Indigo 6E 905    Dep: 11:05 from Chennai    Arr: 14:15 in Goa
Students report to school at 6:45 am.
Buses will depart at 7:30 am.                                           

27th Sept: Indigo 6E 381     Dep: 14:40 from Goa      Arr: 17:55 in Chennai
Students will reach school by 6:45 pm.

Grade 8

Departure:
23 Sep - 3:30 AM students report to school
Flight - SG 6289 - 6:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Buses will depart for the airport at 4 am.

Return:
27 Sep- 6E 5344 -12:55 - 15:05
Expected arrival time on AISC Campus 17:30


Communication during WWoW 
A week away from home is exciting and at times anxiety producing for children and parents alike. We also realize that when children are out of their comfort zone, minor concerns can seem like major concerns at the time. We understand that communication between parents and children is a way to lessen anxiety and provide comfort. Given the location and schedule of the WWoW trips, communication with students or teachers on the trip may not always be immediate. We ask that you please take into consideration the following during the WWoW trip:
  • Understand that cell phone service to the teams may not be reliable at all times because of the location of camps & activities. 
  • Please direct questions about the trip to the middle school office. We will be in contact with team leaders daily. 
  • If you must urgently contact your child during school hours, please the contact middle school office. 
  • If you must urgently contact your child after school hours, contact AISC security. 
  • Do not contact teachers directly. Teachers are working around the clock on the trip to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in their advisory group. Their role is to engage with students and the activities at all times. When it is time for lights out, teachers will be resting or meeting. 
  • Your child’s advisor is their first point of contact for students during the trip. Concerns or questions coming from children can be most easily addressed if they share their concern or question with their advisor immediately. Advisors will ensure students are comfortable and safe, emotionally and physically. 
  • The middle school office will send out daily updates from each grade level trip as we receive information from the teams. Thank you for your understanding. Please contact the middle school office if you have any questions or concerns regarding communication during the trip. 
Yearbook photos- Digital and Printed Packages
Please find the photos taken by the yearbook photographers 
here (password raptors2019). Please feel free to download the photo of your child for your personal use or to arrange your own printing. If you would still like to order prints (portraits or group photos) from Konica, please contact Raji Srinivasan at +91 98414 16519 or raji@konicadigital.com.

Printed packages from orders placed during the photoshoot were sent through students last week.Please note that if your child did not have their photo taken yet, retakes are available in January. If you have further questions, please contact 
Sherene Williams, at the Head of School Office.

Homework Club
Homework club will begin October 14. Homework club is a safe, supportive, positive space where students can seriously attend to schoolwork or quiet reading, and receive
support from school faculty. Homework club sponsors will provide support in:
● Language Support
● Organization
● PowerSchool
● Clarifications
● Feedback
● Learning Habits



More information about homework club can be found here and on the agreement. Please complete the agreement and return it to Ms. Margaret in the MS Counseling Office if your child would like to participate in the club. 

Have a great weekend!

Jessica Pechhold             Andrew Ranson

Middle School Principal  MS Associate Principal 

Friday, 13 September 2019

Friday September 13



Dear Parents,

Thank you for joining us this week at our parent coffee and for our celebration of UN International Peace Day. We look forward to seeing you at our International Day celebration tomorrow from 11:00am-3:00pm.  This week our language arts teachers, Ms. Lydia Otukoro-Seck, Ms. Vinitha Rajkumar, and Ms. Heidi Sager shared an overview of how standards are applied in language arts. They also shared some changes you will see on student reports for how learning in language arts is communicated. You can view the slides from the presentation are here. 

Interested in knowing a little more about language arts and meeting the teachers? Click on their screencast videos:

Teacher Introductions 
See our new feature "Teacher Introductions" to the right, just above "Important Dates." Click on the link to access teacher introduction videos.


Homework Club
Homework club will begin October 14. Homework club is a safe, supportive, positive space where students can seriously attend to schoolwork or quiet reading, and receive
support from school faculty. Homework club sponsors will provide support in:
● Language Support
● Organization
● PowerSchool
● Clarifications
● Feedback
● Learning Habits
More information about homework club can be found here and on the agreement. Please complete the agreement and return it to Ms. Margaret in the MS Counselling Office if your child would like to participate in the club. 


Yearbook Photo Distribution
Students received yearbook photos in advisory on Thursday. If you have not received your photos, please contact Sherene Williams. If your child was absent Thursday, please contact Ms. Aziz in the MS office for your photos. 

Passport Collection for Week Without Walls
The middle school will collect passports and visas before the departure of the trips so that we can increase the chances of a smooth departure on Monday, 23 September. There will be four drop off times for documents before students depart. The collection point will be in the BBT. Drop off times are: 
           Thursday, 19 Sept -- 8:00am-9:00am 
          Thursday, 19 Sept -- 3:00pm-4:00pm
          Friday, 20 Sept -- 8:00am-9:00am 
          Friday, 20 Sept -- 3:00pm-4:00pm
Request to parents: Drop off your child’s current passport and visa paper/residence permit/OCI card during one of these times. 
AISC staff will sort the passports and secure them on campus until departure on Monday, 23 September. During the trips, advisors will have possession of the student passports. Parents picking up students on Friday, 27 September will need to get the passport and visa from the student’s advisor.

Communication during WWoW 
A week away from home is exciting and at times anxiety producing for children and parents alike. We also realize that when children are out of their comfort zone, minor concerns can seem like major concerns at the time. We understand that communication between parents and children is a way to lessen anxiety and provide comfort. Given the location and schedule of the WWoW trips, communication with students or teachers on the trip may not always be immediate. We ask that you please take into consideration the following during the WWoW trip:
  • Understand that cell phone service to the teams may not be reliable at all times because of the location of camps & activities. 
  • Please direct questions about the trip to the middle school office. We will be in contact with team leaders daily. 
  • If you must urgently contact your child during school hours, please the contact middle school office. 
  • If you must urgently contact your child after school hours, contact AISC security. 
  • Do not contact teachers directly. Teachers are working around the clock on the trip to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in their advisory group. Their role is to engage with students and the activities at all times. When it is time for lights out, teachers will be resting or meeting. 
  • Your child’s advisor is their first point of contact for students during the trip. Concerns or questions coming from children can be most easily addressed if they share their concern or question with their advisor immediately. Advisors will ensure students are comfortable and safe, emotionally and physically. 
  • The middle school office will send out daily updates from each grade level trip as we receive information from the teams. Thank you for your understanding. Please contact the middle school office if you have any questions or concerns regarding communication during the trip. 
WWW Departure Information
As you begin to prepare for WWW, please see the departure and arrival information below. Please note the times students will need to be on campus for departure. Packing lists for each grade level are also linked.

Grade 6
Outbound flight (Monday 23rd September)
Indigo flight 502 - 8:30 a.m. 
Students should come to AISC at 5am 
**(Buses will depart to airport at exactly 5.30am)**

Inbound flight (Friday 27th September)
Indigo flight 302 -  Returns to Chennai: 15:40
Estimated arrival time to AISC: 6 pm


Grade 7
23rd Sept: Indigo 6E 905    Dep: 11:05 from Chennai    Arr: 14:15 in Goa
Students report to school at 6:45 am.
Buses will depart at 7:30 am.                                           

27th Sept: Indigo 6E 381     Dep: 14:40 from Goa      Arr: 17:55 in Chennai
Students will reach school by 6:45 pm.


Grade 8
Departure
23 Sep - 3:30 AM students report to school
Flight - SG 6289 - 6:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Buses will depart for the airport at 4 am.

Return:
27 Sep- 6E 5344 -12:55 - 15:05
Expected arrival time on AISC Campus 17:30





Have a great weekend!

Jessica Pechhold                 Andrew Ranson
Middle School Principal    Middle School Associate Principal