June 3rd

Dear Parents and students,

This week we celebrated our 8th grade students who are moving on to High School. They are a very diverse set of students who left their unique mark on our Middle School. The tree they planted as a group, as well as their six word memoirs displayed in the moving on ceremony was a creative window into their personalities. Here is their final group photo as 8th grade students and here is their graduation video.

We wish them all the best as they move into High School either here at AISC or elsewhere.

June Day Camp:

If you are interested in having your child(ren) engage in activities for Summer Camp, please fill out the Registration Form before Saturday, June 4. Summer Camp will be a 2-week program that begins on Monday, June 6, and will run through Friday, June 17, 2022. Activities will run Monday to Friday. The fee for each activity will be INR 4,000 for 10 days. 

 

July Day Camp:

July Camp is a great opportunity for your child(ren) to meet new AISC students who are participating in JumpStart and engage in multiple sports and extracurricular activities in late summer. The dates are from July 11 - 22, 2022 (Mon - Fri). The fee for each activity will be INR 4,000 for 10 days. Here is the Registration Form.

For more information, please email Monicka (dmonicka@aischennai.org). 

 

First day of school:

The first school day for students is August 2nd, 2022. On the first two days of school we will have an Orientation for students that will prepare them for their classes and allow them to create bonds with their classmates and teachers. We look forward to seeing everyone on the first day of school and to welcoming our new 6th grade students to Middle School. Student Ambassadors will be ready to welcome all new and returning students to a new school year.

First week of school:

Once we have completed Orientation on the first two days of school, we will have normal classes on Thursday and Friday. That way students will have a chance to meet all their teachers and visit all their classrooms twice. During that first week all new and returning students will have the chance to become familiar with our campus, their teachers, and fellow classmates in their new grade level. Students will meet their Advisors and Counselor and can count on them for any assistance they might need during that first week. 

 

Digital Yearbook:

Our 2021–2022 digital yearbook is live and available online now! Relive events from this past year by clicking on the link below. Congratulations to Ms. Lakshmi, Mr. Nick, and the Student Yearbook Team for creating such a great record of this past year!

Click here to view the digital yearbook (password: aischennai@2022ybk). Please keep this link and password private, and limited to close family members.

Students and faculty can also click here to use the Online Digital Signing Pages feature! Click on the link and follow the instructions to create your account. A unique link is then generated that you can share with friends and family to sign. Once created, your Digital Signing Pages can be downloaded and printed!

Please note that the printed yearbooks will be distributed in August 2022. Those leaving AISC who are interested in receiving a printed yearbook should leave a forwarding address with their sectional assistant.

Week Without Walls 2022:

AISC is planning for our experiential learning trips for 2022 to resume.  If you're not familiar, in middle school we go on a week-long trip as an entire grade level.  These experiences expose students to physical challenges, pushes them outside of their comfort zone, and provides opportunities for learning outside of the normal classroom setting.  Next year the trips will depart on September 26th and return on September 30th. There is no additional charge for participating in the trip, though you may want to make sure your child has the following items: bathing suit, sun hat, rash guard (long sleeve top for in the water), sturdy shoes for hikes, and footwear that can get wet but not easily fall off like sandals with a heel strap. Trip-specific details will be shared in the fall.  This year we will provide a mixed grade-level experience for students who are unable to travel, which will stay in Chennai while still engaging students with locally available opportunities.

Get Caught Reading This Summer!

The libraries @AISC want to see where your family gets caught reading this summer! Take a photo of your child(ren) reading this summer and upload it to this folder. Ms. Babs will collect all the photos for a celebration of reading when we return to school in the fall! Happy reading! 

Summer Reading on Sora:

Did you know that we update Sora with new titles each month? We do! In addition, we have added three new collections that middle schoolers will love this summer: Middle Grade Summer Recs, Manga and Graphic Novels, and Mythological Books! Students and families can use Sora throughout the summer to read ebooks and listen to audiobooks, so if you need a refresher on how to access these titles, please click here. The password for families is: Chennai21. Happy reading!

Travel safely this summer and be well!!

Take care,

 

Jennifer Bertram

Middle School Principal

May 27th

Dear Parents and students,

We hope you had a great week and that you and your children are looking forward to the final week in the 2021/22 school year. Our last week of this school year together will be filled with activities and events that will allow our students to enjoy each other’s company before they begin summer vacation. Students will also be collaborating with classmates to finish up projects and synthesizing their learning from the year. They will be engaged in reflective activities regarding their Learning Habits as well as updating their student portfolios. There are several activities next week which include parents. We hope to see you on campus!

Here is the calendar of upcoming events:

Date	Event		Details
May 29	Order the complimentary MS school lunch
June 2	Grade 8 Social Justice Exhibition		Parents welcome - more details to come!
June 2	Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony 3:00-3:30 p.m.		See details below
June 3	MS Grade level pool parties (Student only event)		Held at various times in the day:  students will need bathing suits as well as towels and items to shower with
June 3	Grade 7 Recognition Ceremony		VfL Recognition Assembly from 8:30 - 9:40 a.m in Madras Hall. Parents please plan to arrive by 8:15 a.m.
June 3	Grade 6 Recognition Ceremony		iAwards Recognition Assembly from 10:00 - 11:10 am in Madras Hall. Parents please plan to arrive by 9:45 a.m.
June 3	MS End of Year Assembly (Student only event)		3:00-3:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria
June 3	MS Semester Report Cards & Spring MAP Reports		Sent electronically to all students Paper copies for leaving students

For Eighth Grade Parents:

June 2nd will be a special day for grade eight students! We are excited that students will have a half day of celebration on campus to mark their transition to High School. The day’s schedule will include their Social Justice exhibit in the REC Gym and the formal celebration in the FAC Theater. You are invited to join us in the REC Gym for the Social Justice exhibit at 2:15pm. While admiring their exhibits and performances, engaging students in conversations related to their projects is encouraged. Following a transition break, we would like you to transition with us to a more ceremonial setting in the FAC Theater at 2:55 pm. After an introductory speech, students will be individually recognized on stage and formally handed over to the High School Administration. Recommended dress code - semi-formal. The day’s schedule will end as usual at 3:30 pm.  

A gentle reminder about our Raptor Safe protocols - for parents, a COVID vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test is required to enter the campus. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We would be honored to have you with us!

~Grade Eight Team

 

Our 2021–2022 digital yearbook is live and available online now! Relive events from this past year by clicking on the link below. Congratulations to Ms. Lakshmi, Mr. Nick, and the Student Yearbook Team for creating such a great record of this past year!

Click here to view the digital yearbook (password: aischennai@2022ybk).
Please keep this link and password private, and limited to close family members.

Students and faculty can also click here to use the Online Digital Signing Pages feature! Click on the link and follow the instructions to create your account. A unique link is then generated that you can share with friends and family to sign. Once created, your Digital Signing Pages can be downloaded and printed!

Please note that the printed yearbooks will be distributed in August 2022. Those leaving AISC who are interested in receiving a printed yearbook should leave a forwarding address with their sectional assistant.

Week Without Walls 2022:

AISC is planning for our experiential learning trips for 2022 to resume.  If you're not familiar, in middle school we go on a week-long trip as an entire grade level.  These experiences expose students to physical challenges, pushes them outside of their comfort zone, and provides opportunities for learning outside of the normal classroom setting.  Next year the trips will depart on September 26th and return on September 30th. There is no additional charge for participating in the trip, though you may want to make sure your child has the following items: bathing suit, sun hat, rash guard (long sleeve top for in the water), sturdy shoes for hikes, and footwear that can get wet but not easily fall off like sandals with a heel strap. Trip-specific details will be shared in the fall.  This year we will provide a mixed grade-level experience for students who are unable to travel, which will stay in Chennai while still engaging students with locally available opportunities.

Library News Checkouts: 

The first floor of the ES/MS Library is getting new shelving this summer, so we need to pack all the books up on Friday, June 3rd. We will begin packing books away Thursday after school at 3:30 pm and continue throughout the day on Friday. Because of this, we won't be able to check out on Friday, June 3rd. Please be sure to get what you'd like for the summer before then and let Ms. Babs know if you have any questions.

Summer Reading on Sora:

Did you know that we update Sora with new titles each month? We do! In addition, we have added three new collections that middle schoolers will love this summer: Middle Grade Summer Recs, Manga and Graphic Novels, and Mythological Books! Students and families can use Sora throughout the summer to read ebooks and listen to audiobooks, so if you need a refresher on how to access these titles, please click here. The password for families is: Chennai21. Happy reading!

Repeat information: From the Counselors

Transitions are challenging during the best of times. It’s always hard to say goodbye to friends, teachers, and other community members. What are some ways we can support our community through these transitions?

 

Doug Ota, in his book Safe Passage:  How Mobility Affects People & What International Schools Should Do About It, posits that all students are impacted by transition in different ways and that every member of our community goes through periods of arriving, staying, and leaving:

• Arrivers - students that are new to the school community

• Stayers - students that have been in the school community for a while and are planning to stay

• Leavers - students that are transitioning out of the school community

Ota’s idea is that transition impacts everyone in our community. It is important to acknowledge the grief that accumulates from continuous transitions regardless of the age of the person when the transition took place.

 

Counselors, teachers, and administrators throughout the school are here to help students transition during this challenging time. Here are some helpful transition resources whether your family is arriving, leaving, or staying at AISC:

 

• Safe Passage Across Networks:   What SPAN has to do with COVID-19

• Transitions and Third Culture Kids - Building a RAFT

• The Transition that Never Ends

 Remember that the counselors are here for support. Please reach out to us!

 

Repeat information: Arts, Sports & Activities (ASA) - Summer Camp '22

If you are interested in having your child(ren) engage in activities for Summer Camp, please fill out the Registration Form before Wednesday, June 1. Summer Camp will be a 2-week program that begins on Monday, June 6, and will run through Friday, June 17, 2022. Activities will run Monday to Friday. The fee for each activity will be INR 4,000 in total for 10 days. 

For more information, please email Monicka (dmonicka@aischennai.org).

Repeat information: Masks optional outside
Masks may again be removed while outdoors.  Please continue to wear your mask while in the entry/exit area of campus, and at all times while indoors.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

 

Jennifer Bertram

Middle School Principal

May 20th

Dear Parents and students,

Today students enjoyed watching the MS students perform Teddy and Rikki Tikki Tavi. There are 27 Middle School students in the cast as well as other MS students who are stage managers. This collaborative effort was watched by all Middle School students, as well as all the 5th grade students watched the performance today at 2:30. It was a fantastic rendition of a well-loved children’s tale with a modern twist. Opening night on Thursday May 19th was a huge success. There were many parents, students and teachers in the audience and many of them are planning to return again for the Saturday matinee performance.

In addition to the performance yesterday, students attended the MS Art Show Opening at 3:45pm. Here are a few highlights of the student artwork you can view in the Atrium until May 27th.

If you are coming for the MS Teddy & Rikki Tavi performance on Saturday, please spend some time perusing the Middle School students’ art work. 

Here is the calendar of upcoming events:

Date	Event		Details
May 15	Order the complimentary MS school lunch
June 2	Grade 8 Social Justice Exhibition		Parents welcome - more details to come!
June 2	Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony 3:00-3:30 p.m.		See details below
June 3	MS Grade level pool parties		Student only event
June 3	Grade 6 and 7 Recognition Ceremony		More details soon
June 3	MS End of Year Assembly (student only event)		3:00-3:30 p.m.in cafeteria
June 3	MS Semester Report Cards		Sent electronically to all students Paper copies for leaving students

 

Break Legs Cast & Crew of the MS Spring Production: Teddy & Rikki Tavi 

Book your tickets here: https://pages.aischennai.org/play/

Saturday, May 21st @ 2pm 

This weekend we premiered the MS Spring Production; Teddy & Rikki Tikki Tavi. The MS students have worked hard for the past few months to prepare this production. There is still one more performance this weekend on Saturday so book your ticket now! 

MS Art Exhibition:

The Middle School Art Exhibition opened yesterday with a reception from 3:45 - 4:45pm. If you missed the opening reception, you can also see the artwork on display from May 19th to May 27th in the FAC Atrium. There are wonderful prints, colorful ceramics pieces as well as VR and digital installations. The beautiful colors of the murals on the Atrium walls as well as the watercolors, really showcase our students’ creativity. Please come and enjoy the artwork the showcases our students’ talents.

Eighth Grade Parents:

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, June 2nd. The 8th grade students will have a half day of celebration on campus to mark their transition to High School. They will have a special schedule in the afternoon and you are invited to the formal part of the event from 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm. More information will be shared with you on May 27th here, in the MS Principal’s Blog.

Letters of Recommendation - Date extended:

If you will be leaving AISC at the end of the school year and need a letter of recommendation please make the request to the middle school counseling office by May 23rd. This will ensure that we will get you the documents needed before the faculty leave for summer. If letters are requested after school has gone on summer holiday we can not ensure that we will get you a letter in a timely manner. Thank you for your understanding. Email requests can be sent to smargaret@aischennai.org

Request to Issue Transfer Certificate/Past Records - Date Sensitive:

The MS office has updated the form to request a transfer certificate and school records. You can access the form by clicking on the link above. You can also stop by the office to pick up a paper copy. Please be aware of the following points when requesting documents or a transfer certificate:

• The office requires 5 working days' notice in order to process the transfer certificate request.

• Transfer certificate and/or past records will be issued on the student’s last day at school provided all school materials and fees are accounted for.

• One set of documents will be issued by the school. Additional copies if required (not more than 10 sets) can be made by family and brought to the office for school stamp / seal.

From the Counselors:

Transitions are challenging during the best of times. It’s always hard to say goodbye to friends, teachers, and other community members. What are some ways we can support our community through these transitions?

 

Doug Ota, in his book Safe Passage:  How Mobility Affects People & What International Schools Should Do About It, posits that all students are impacted by transition in different ways and that every member of our community goes through periods of arriving, staying, and leaving:

• Arrivers - students that are new to the school community

• Stayers - students that have been in the school community for a while and are planning to stay

• Leavers - students that are transitioning out of the school community

Ota’s idea is that transition impacts everyone in our community. It is important to acknowledge the grief that accumulates from continuous transitions regardless of the age of the person when the transition took place.

 

Counselors, teachers, and administrators throughout the school are here to help students transition during this challenging time. Here are some helpful transition resources whether your family is arriving, leaving, or staying at AISC:

 

• Safe Passage Across Networks:   What SPAN has to do with COVID-19

• Transitions and Third Culture Kids - Building a RAFT

• The Transition that Never Ends

 Remember that the counselors are here for support. Please reach out to us!

 

Arts, Sports & Activities (ASA) - Summer Camp '22

If you are interested in having your child(ren) engage in activities for Summer Camp, please fill out the Registration Form before Wednesday, June 1. Summer Camp will be a 2-week program that begins on Monday, June 6, and will run through Friday, June 17, 2022. Activities will run Monday to Friday. The fee for each activity will be INR 4,000 in total for 10 days. 

For more information, please email Monicka (dmonicka@aischennai.org).

ASIAC Season End Date:

As your child probably told you, the ASIAC Season ends on Friday, May 20th (today!!!). This means that for the remaining two weeks of school, we will not have practices for badminton, basketball, table tennis, soccer, volleyball and tennis. Please make the necessary transportation adjustments and do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions at lcristian@aischennai.org.Thank you so much for supporting our young raptors to lay the groundwork for next year's athletic successes!"

Repeat information: Masks optional outside
Masks may again be removed while outdoors.  Please continue to wear your mask while in the entry/exit area of campus, and at all times while indoors.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

 

Jennifer Bertram

Middle School Principal