Dear AISC Middle School Families,
The start of the 2013-2014 school-year is fast approaching with the first day of school on Tuesday, 6 August. We have been busy preparing the school and the classrooms, and we are looking forward to the start of the new school year.
Student schedules: All middle school students will start their first day with an Advisory period. For returning students their schedule were be couriered to their Chennai address on 30 July, and for new students they will receive their schedule on 5 August at the new family orientation day. We anticipate that a few students may have a change in their schedule as new students are currently being admitted which may result in re-balancing class sizes or some room changes.
Items supplied by the School: All textbooks, a PE uniform, and a musical instrument (if enrolled in the band course), are supplied by the school.
Students need to bring to school: A binder for their core blocks of humanities and math/science, and a set of dividers, a USB memory stick, assorted pens, pencils, eraser, highlighter pens, whiteout, scissor, water bottle, book bag/backpack, appropriate running shoes with non-marking soles, a towel and soap for showering, and a bathing suit during their swimming unit. (It is highly recommended that students have sun-cream, a ball cap or sun hat, and swimming goggles). Students should have a separate bag for their PE kit.
Bring-Your-Own-Technology (BYOT) Program
Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, all Middle School students will be required to bring in a computing device that meets a minimum set of specifications to support student learning. Students may choose between a laptop with either the Mac or Windows operating system, or an iPad with a keyboard. Please see the following link for more detailed information about the program. bit.ly/aiscbyot
In order to configure all the devices, we ask that students bring their own device in on the date assigned below. Please do not bring the devices in earlier.
Grade 8: Tuesday, 6 August
Grade 7: Wednesday, 7 August
Grade 6: Thursday, 8 August
To have at home: Ruler, 2 hole paper puncher, paper clips, rubber bands, pencil sharpener, glue stick, scotch tape, color markers, color pencils crayons, dictionary appropriate for middle school students, and access to the internet and a printer.
All students that are participating in music class (either band or choir) will need a ‘concert outfit’ which includes a pair of long black dress pants and black enclosed dress shoes (no sandals). Students will need to purchase a black music T-shirt from the school prior to the first performance to finish off their concert outfit.
Students planning on joining a sports team will be representing the school while traveling and participating in tournaments; hence, there is a dress requirement. Students must have a khaki-colored skirt or trouser and enclosed dress shoes, and a ‘Raptor’ collared polo-shirt purchased through the athletics office.
Lunch program: The cafeteria will be open the first day of school. Students who choose to purchase food at school will have two options: the cafeteria and the AISC Spirit Store. The cafeteria will provide hot lunches from several cuisines and a la carte items. The AISC Spirit Store will have snack foods, drinks, and pre-made a la carte items from the cafeteria.
Students also have the option of bringing a lunch to school as the cafeteria has several refrigerators which may be used by students to keep their lunches cool. It also has some microwave ovens for use in warming food.
The timings of our lunches are 12:40-1:35 on Tuesday and Thursday and 12:50-1:35 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students may also purchase food before school, during the morning break and afterschool.
ID badges: Returning students are to use their ID badges from last year. If students have lost their ID badge over the summer, they need to sign-in through security and a new card will be issued to them. New students will be issued their ID badge at the New Student Orientation on 5 August. Students who lose their cards during the school year will incur a charge of INR 1000 for a replacement card.
Our ID badges are not only used to open the turnstiles at the security gates, but they also function as Smart Cards to pay for food and drinks at the cafeteria and AISC Spirit Store.
For the first two weeks of the school year, middle school students can purchase items either by paying cash or by using their ID badges as a Smart Card. After 20 August, we will move to full Smart Card use. Students and parents can load credit on their ID badge/Smart Card at the Cashier’s office near the main reception. We are exploring the option of being able to load credit on the Smart Card through on-line payment. Note that after the second week of school, cash will no longer be accepted in either the cafeteria or the AISC Spirit Store.
If a student or parent loses their ID card/Smart card, it should be reported to the Cashier’s office as soon as possible. The Cashier will immediately put a block on the use of the card to prevent misuse.
Our school hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In the morning, students are to wait on the ground floor until the first bell rings at 8:15 am. After this time, students are allowed to proceed to the upper floors. After 3:45 p.m., students not involved in a sanctioned after-school activity, are required to wait in the drop off/pick-up area at the front of the school. Students are to be picked up by 3:45 pm unless enrolled in an adult-supervised after school activity. Please be prompt in delivering and picking up your children.
Email Addresses: Much of our communication between the school and parents will take place electronically. It is vital that we have your current email address. If your email address changes or you suspect that you are not receiving communications from the school, please contact the Middle School Administrative Assistant, Ms. Aziz at sazizunnisa@aisch.org or call the school at 2254-9000.
Starting Friday, 9 August, parents will receive a link to the Principal’s Notes by email. The Principal's Notes contain important information regarding events taking place in the Middle School. Please read it regularly to keep up to date on what is going on in the school.
Thank you for reviewing this information and we look forward to the start of the new school year.
Sincerely,
Alan Phan