Dear Parents and Students,
As we near the end of the school year, all grade level teams are planning virtual end of year recognitions for students. Sixth and seventh grades will continue with a virtual version of their end of year student gatherings to say goodbye, celebrate, and highlight the Vision for a Learner. We are planning for our Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony as well along with a more intimate virtual farewell for eighth graders. All end of year assemblies will take place the week of May 25. Grade level advisories will tune in to the events together.
We are also planning for class sessions, class reflections and celebrations as part of the modules during the last week of school. Finally, we intend to collect data from our students about their cumulative online experience in each class. We will use this data to have a comprehensive view of what has worked for our students during our time online. More information about grade level ceremonies and student surveys will be coming next week.
This week we are showcasing the seventh grade portfolio conference selfies! Thank you seventh grade parents and students!
Withdrawal Forms
If you are certain of your withdrawal from AISC at the conclusion of this school year, please complete the Request to Issue Transfer Certificate/Past Records document linked in the “Quick Links” section of the blog. This will help the middle school office prepare your withdrawal documents in a timely manner.
SEVAI Showcase
SEVAI Showcase is live! Visit the SEVAI Showcase padlet to learn more about the aims of SEVAI, our community partners, and students’ reflection on their learning.
Parent Meeting Follow Up
Below is a few points that came up at yesterday’s parent meeting:
· How can the middle school offer more social opportunities for students online?
· Can the middle school create connections between students in other time zones for academic/social purposes?
· Can the middle school consider expectations around live connections: shifting from “optional” to “required.”
· Praise and gratitude for the current program.
Here are the slides.
From the Counseling Team
The end of the school year typically brings much excitement and also a bit of sadness. This year we add the challenge of saying goodbye virtually. As we look back over the past 8 weeks, there have been many good things that have happened for families as well as some difficult changes. The ending of this school year is quite different than we expected a few months ago. With that in mind, The Child Mind Institute offers Strategies for Staying Calm. These are so welcome right now.
1. Keep a sense of perspective - There are many things out of our control right now. What do we have control over?….. We can plan for the short term using our solution-focused thinking (thinking about what is working well now and doing more of that), we can say goodbye to the school year and leavers. If you are leaving you can say goodbye virtually and know you will be missed. We can connect virtually and be kind to one another.
2. Acceptance - This end of the year is not going to look like how we imagined it 2 months ago. But we can reach out to one another with gratitude and goodbyes. Our gratitude will be enough. We will get through this.
3. Lean on each other - many of you are helping others in and beyond the AISC community. This is very important. The memories of our current isolated life will eventually fade away but we will remember the help others gave us. Students will remember friendships, the joys of life on campus, and the creativity and comradery of ending the year online.
We hope you find some calm during these last couple of weeks and, as always, know that we are here to support you and your children. ~AISC counselors
Arts, Sports and Activities
After successfully piloting a Virtual ASA Season for the last 4 weeks of school, the ASA department is ready to offer a Virtual Jump-Off Summer Camp! Are you interested in having your child(ren) participate in activities like: Funk & Jazz Dance, Building & Design, Soccer, Keyboard, Coding, Cooking, Fitness Training, Guitar, and even Swimming for the first 2 weeks of June? Look out for more information and the registration form next week!
Have a safe and healthy weekend,
Jessica Pechhold
Middle School Principal