Dear Parents and Students,
This has been a great week for us! We were busy doing many activities such as:
Running mock a MAP test setup inAdvisory so students are comfortable next week
Setting up student accounts for MAP testing and checking their technology
Training teachers to be MAP proctors
Conducting new family and student tours
Coming together as a Middle School community in the monthly Assembly
Celebrating the Student Ambassadors with a milk and cookie community celebration
Having fun in the grade level socials
Here are some photos from our Assembly and a snippet of the Advisory skits videos:
Upcoming Dates:
Sept. 6th - 9th: MS MAP Testing
Sept. 10th: Yearbook Photos due!
Sept. 14th: Parent Coffee @ 8:45 in two parts:
How can attendance lead to academic success?
What are the burning questions for 6th grade parents?
Sept. 17th: UN International Peace Day
Advisory:
This week in Advisory, Advisors started connecting 1:1 and in small group meetings with your child/children. Now that we are in module two of our learning, teachers may need to be contacting Advisors and students about missing work. Please note that emails may start coming home to help students and parents understand what assignments and engagement are missing and need to be completed in order to be successful middle schooler learners. We also prepared students for the MAP testing sessions next week. Remember to help your child get a good night’s sleep, have a healthy breakfast and drink water. Arriving 5 minutes before the MAP testing session will be beneficial. Wishing you a great week.
Attendance:
In Middle School and at AISC, we talk a lot about engagement! We know that if a student is engaged in classes, learning happens. We also know that being part of a community of learners is an important part of the learning process. In an attempt to support our students as best we can in the virtual setting, we are going to be recording attendance for students for each block. Therefore, a student who does not attend connection time in his/her blocks will be marked absent. The same will be true for Advisory.
When a student is in class we expect that they have their cameras turned on and that they unmute their microphones when asked to. We also require students to move into breakout rooms when asked. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent a student from following these guidelines, please encourage your child to communicate with their teachers.
We want to make sure that we are keeping track of students in a way that best supports their learning and engagement in classes. As a result, we are asking you to please inform the msoffice@aischennai.org or sazizunnisa@aischennai.org if your son/daughter will be absent from a class. Absences on the report cards will be listed in terms of missed blocks rather than missed days, as was previously stated.
Teachers will be updating attendance records for all their students every block and we will be collecting information on absences and communicating that to teachers daily. Please ensure that you inform the Middle School office regarding absences.
Handbook Links & Digital Signature - We still need more signatures!!!
Each year it is a requirement that all students and parents read and sign the Middle School Student Handbook.
1. Please review this year’s handbook here. It is linked to the MS page of the AISC website.
2. After reviewing the handbook, parents and students will need to sign the signature page of the handbook together. Follow this link to the signature page of the handbook: https://signnow.com/s/P8xoAEtZ to sign.
Review and sign the signature page as soon as possible. The Middle School Office will be in contact with families who have not submitted a signature page.
MAP Testing:
Beginning on September 6th, we will commence MAP with Middle School students. As you may know, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are a series of computerized adaptive tests that measure general knowledge in reading, mathematics, language usage and science. This is a test intended to measure our students’ growth and is not recorded in a student's report card. On Wednesday Sept. 8th, students will be testing on an early release day, where the blocks are shortened. In order to accommodate these timings, we have arranged an appropriate test for that day. We will be conducting the testing in the first block of the school day and will be administering the following tests:
Monday @ 9:00 - 10:15am: Reading Test.
Tuesday @ 9:00 - 10:15am: Math
Wednesday @ 8:45 - 9:55am: Language Usage
Thursday @ 9:00 - 10:15am: Science
It is important that students are ready to take the tests at 9:00am in the morning, by being well rested and having had a nutritious breakfast. We will be spending time in the coming weeks preparing students for the tests in Advisory to ensure that their technology is up to date to run the MAP test virtually.
MS Math Counts:
We are starting up our Middle School Clubs, as you may know, and Math Counts is one that is very popular with students. We are recruiting Mathletes and interested students to flex their mathematical muscles and hone their skills. Our HS Math Teacher, Kala Ganeshan, has written a lovely welcome letter for students and parents that you can access here. Please read through the invitation letter and consider your child for this exciting opportunity!
Parent Coffee:
On September 14th @8:45 am we will try a different method for our Parent Coffee and divide it into two parts. The first part of the Parent Coffee is an important one where we will discuss the importance of prioritizing attendance so that students will achieve higher levels of academic success. We will share tips, but also outline the changes we have made to our attendance policy this year to support students and their engagement in academics.
The second part of the Parent Coffee is especially for 6th grade parents. We are hoping to hear from 6th grade parents about outstanding questions about our Middle School program. These questions may have surfaced now that we have been in school for some weeks. Please send any questions to bejennifer@aischennai.org and we will be sure to address your concerns.
SAVE THE DATE:
UN International Day of Peace Virtual Assembly & Parade of Nations (Friday, Sept. 17)
This year’s theme for the UN International Day of Peace is "Recovering Better for a Sustainable and Equitable World." With student speakers and participants from Elementary to High School, we are excited to continue bringing annual traditions to you virtually. Stay tuned for more details on how you can join us on Friday, September 17, 2:45 p.m.
PCA International Community Celebrations: September 17 Onwards
One of the highlights of the AISC annual calendar is the PCA International Day Picnic. In partnership with the PCA and the many Country Coordinators that represent our diverse community, International Day is a true celebration of AISC’s cultural identity.
This year, as we continue to bring you shared virtual experiences, the PCA and Advancement will be launching an International Community Celebration webpage, complete with country-specific activities and pre-recorded content for you to celebrate our internationalism. More details to come!
Yearbook Available for Pick up:
The printed copies of the 2020-21 AISC Yearbook are in. Returning 6th-8th graders may pick up a copy from Security. Please email Ms. Aziz (sazizunnisa@aischennai.org ) the day and time that your driver will be coming to school, so that Security can be prepared to hand over the Yearbook. Emailing ahead is essential!
Yearbook Photos - NEW!!!
IMPORTANT: Submitting Student Yearbook Portraits
[EXTENDED!] Last day to submit: FRIDAY, September 10, 2021
We are extending submissions for Yearbook Portraits until Friday, September 10. You can read the instructions and upload the photo by visiting this website. A big “Thank You” to all those who submitted your portraits already!
At-A-Glance Details
Please read the instructions carefully.
You can use the back camera of a mobile phone to take your child’s photo. Make sure you use a plain background with no pictures or decor.
You can also consider taking your photo professionally at a studio if you have access to one in your area; make sure to request for a grey background.
IMPORTANT! Please rename your child’s photo accordingly. We will not be able to accept submissions if you do not rename the photo.
Grade_First Name_Last Name
e.g. 7_Harry_PotterLast Day to Submit: Friday, September 10, 11:59 p.m. IST
Thank you for your support! Please write to media@aischennai.org if you have any questions.
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer Bertram
Middle School Principal