Friday January 29

 Dear Parents and Students,

 

This week we welcomed MS teachers to campus to orient them in person to the health and safety measures in place on campus. Teachers also participated in training with the cameras, monitors and microphones that will be used to deliver hybrid instruction when we are able to resume middle school classes on campus. Look for teachers experimenting with this technology in the coming weeks as a way to prepare for using the equipment in hybrid mode!

 

February Parent Coffee

Our February Parent Coffee is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9. A zoom link for the event will be shared next week in this blog. Topics for the meeting will be: strategies for keeping open parent-child communication, an overview of MS Wellbeing Day lessons, and an overview of STEAM. Looking forward to seeing you then!

 

STEAM

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) units are underway in the Science, Math and even Language Arts and Social Studies classes across grades 6-8. STEAM is just one way we ensure innovation and inquiry is embedded in the middle school curriculum. Students participated in a STEAM launch on January 11 to orient them to the themes for this year’s STEAM projects. Curious to know more? Ask your child about their STEAM project or what they are learning about the driving question in their grade level. Here are the themes by grade level:

Grade 6: renewable and sustainable resources

Grade 7: water resource management

Grade 8: urbanization

 

Parents Logging into PS 

Today is the mid-point of a learning module for students. Each module is two weeks in length. The mid-point and end of the module are bench marks for students to complete assignments. If you have not logged into PowerSchool to check your child’s progress over the past weeks, ask your child to log in and show you their assignments and gradebook. You can log into PowerSchool here and visit our Parent and Student resources in the Digital Skills Academy for directions on how to access and navigate PS. 

 

When you log in with your child, he/she can also share with you the feedback received and content of the modules. 

 

Paper Document Request

We are now able to print documents. If you need past reports or this semester's report card in paper copy, please contact the middle school office with your request. Documents will be available for pick up at the security gate. Only one copy of the report or document will be printed by the office.

 

JanJamboree

-From HS Student Council

Hey MS, are you looking to have some fun on a Saturday? Well, we have just the thing for you! On January 30th, AISC will be hosting our annual Jan Jamboree. From arts & crafts to trivia, we have prepared a ton of fun activities for you to play with your friends! 

List of Activities HERE

Sign up HERE,

Sign-ups will close this Tuesday (January 26th).

Come join us and encourage your friends!

 

Request to Issue Transfer Certificate/Past Records

Our form to request documents for students withdrawing is now available for you to sign online. You can access the form here: https://signnow.com/s/bdKn7vop

If you are unable to access the form, please contact the MS office. 

 

Have a great weekend,

 

Jessica Pechhold

Middle School Principal

 

Friday January 22

Dear Parents and Students, 

 

In the coming week, you may see teachers teaching from classrooms! While we do not have a return date for MS students, we are preparing for the possibility of transitioning to hybrid mode this year. More below about AISC’s hybrid learning program.

Calendar Change for Thursday January 28
Thursday, January 28 has been declared a state-wide public holiday for the Thaipoosam Festival by the honourable Chief Minister. AISC’s Virtual Learning program and all campus activities are cancelled for that day. 

 

Semester One Report Cards

On Thursday, Semester One report cards and Learning Habits reflections were published. Please see your email to access report cards in PowerSchool. Each student’s Learning Habits reflection is attached to this email and can be download as a PDF.

 

Paper Document Request

We are now able to print documents. If you need past reports or this semester's report card in paper copy, please contact the middle school office with your request. Documents will be available for pick up at the security gate. Only one copy of the report or document will be printed by the office.

JanJamboree

-From HS Student Council

Hey MS, are you looking to have some fun on a Saturday? Well, we have just the thing for you! On January 30th, AISC will be hosting our annual Jan Jamboree. From arts & crafts to trivia, we have prepared a ton of fun activities for you to play with your friends! 

List of Activities HERE

Sign up HERE,

Sign-ups will close this Tuesday (January 26th).

Come join us and encourage your friends!

Director of Technology Parent Coffee Video

-From Greg Clinton, Director of Technology

We are ready and eager to launch our hybrid program in the high school. If you would like more detail on the purpose and setup of the hybrid systems, here is the video of a recent parent coffee on the subject: Parent Coffee, Jan. 21, 2021, Hybrid Learning at AISC. We discussed what hybrid classrooms look like, how they function, and what students can do to be ready for hybrid classroom learning. Questions? Feel free to email me: cgreg@aischennai.org

 

AP and IB Programs at AISC: Informational Presentation

Wednesday, January 27th 10:45-11:45 am. Zoom link here (passcode HS).  An overview of the IB and AP programs from Mr. Malone.  This is appropriate for parents of 8th, 9th and 10th graders as you support your child’s course selection for 2021-2022.

 

Request to Issue Transfer Certificate/Past Records

Our form to request documents for students withdrawing is now available for you to sign online. You can access the form here: https://signnow.com/s/bdKn7vop

If you are unable to access the form, please contact the MS office. 

 

Have a great weekend,

 

Jessica Pechhold

Middle School Principal

Friday January 15

Dear Parents and Students, 

Welcome back! I hope you found the winter break relaxing and a welcome rest! Thank you to everyone who attended this week’s Leadership Team Townhall Meeting. Below I am sharing a brief summary of the MS plan for reopening when we are able to bring students back to campus. 

MS Reopening Plan Summary

WHEN we are able to reopen, here are broad points that describe what our return to campus will look like for middle school students. Please note that there is no reopening date as of now for middle school students. It is a choice for students to return to campus. We will offer a virtual learning option for the remainder of the school year.

• Middle school students will be divided in two groups:
  
        Mango: Students with last names A-K will come to school Monday & Tuesday
  Blue: Students with last names L-Z will come to school Thursday & Friday
• Grades 6, 7, and 8 will be phased in over two weeks. Students will be cohorted in advisory groups until all middle school students in all cohorts are reoriented to campus.
• The goal of these two weeks is to acclimate students to classrooms and the campus, practice new routines and attend to students’ wellbeing during this transition.
• When arriving on campus, students will report to advisory each day so that we can maintain social distancing before classes begin.
• Each day, students on campus will have additional contact time with their advisor from 8:45-9:00am for clarifications on procedures and information.

The timing of our class schedule will remain the same as it is now. There will be no change in class times for students on campus.

 

At-A-Glance Information for Yearbook Headshots

• Please read the instructions carefully.
• You can use the back camera of a mobile phone to take your child’s photo. The instructions in the Google Forms have detailed info on taking a good photo.
• Make sure you use a plain background with no pictures or décor.
• [IMPORTANT]: Rename your child’s photo accordingly. We will not be able to accept submissions if you do not rename the photo.
  For ES: Homeroom_First Name_Last Name_ID No. For MS/HS: Grade_First Name_Last Name_ID No.
• Make sure to log in to your child’s Google account to submit the photo using the Google Form.
• Last Day to Submit: January 22, 2021

If you have any questions, please email media@aischennai.org.

Report Cards                                                                                                                                                You can expect the first semester report card on January 21, 2021. Reports will be issued electronically. Students’ reflections on their Learning Habits will be issued along with report cards. 

Paper Document Request

We are now able to print documents. If you need past reports or this semester's report card in paper copy, please contact the middle school office with your request. Documents will be available for pick up at the security gate. Only one copy of the report or document will be printed by the office.

Have a great weekend,

 

Jessica Pechhold
Middle School Principal