Dear Parents and Students,
Thank you for your support this semester. Our success online to an attribute to your support and partnership. Have a relaxing, safe and healthy winter break and a happy new year!
MS Winter Performance
Over 80 students, teachers, and parents joined our lunch concert on Wednesday!
Thank you to Mr. Jason Kennedy for organizing this special virtual event to celebrate the ASIAC music collaboration and individual music talent. Well done to all MS students who participated in the ASIAC performance! An additional round of applause to students shared their own Ode to Joy performances: Adiran and Maelin, Jimin, and our MS student band members: Keshav, Melchi, Isiah, and Tom.
As the ASIAC schools were not able to meet in person to rehearse and perform together for the annual music festival, however, we were able to find ways to connect and to make music. Students from middle school and high school choir, strings, guitar, band, and percussion classes at the American School of Bombay, the American International School Chennai, and the American Embassy School in New Delhi found a unique way to collaborate and connect. Inspired by Panem Nostrum from “Concerto for You” by composer Reena Esmail, students explored, discussed and reflected on the meaning of connection. They created visual artifacts and recorded their music making from the various locations around the world where they have been doing their learning. Here is the recording of the collaboration.
Sixth Grade: This I Believe
Grade 6 Students invite you to visit Flipgrid and listen to their This I Believe Personal Narratives exploring the question: What does it mean to be human? We hope you notice how students have synthesized their learning in social studies and language arts this semester.
Listen for how these young social scientists and writers grappled with big ideas about humanity and try narrative techniques such as simile, metaphor, dialogue, inner thinking, and hyperbole. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments.
Athletics & Activities Department
ASA Season 2: Showcase
Check out all of the learning and enjoyment students gained while participating in Season 2 ASA’s on the Season 2 Showcase Document! (click on the raptors to see the links for each activity)
ASA Season 2: Showcase
Check out all of the learning and enjoyment students gained while participating in Season 2 ASA’s on the Season 2 Showcase Document! (click on the raptors to see the links for each activity)
ASA Season 3: January 11 – March 6
If you are interested in having your child(ren) of all ages engage in FREE virtual activities for Season 3, please check out the Athletics & Activities Blog for more information and complete the Registration Form. ASA Season 3 will begin Monday, January 11th and run through March 6th.
Winter Break Jump-Off Camp: January 4 – January 8
If you are interested in having your child(ren) of all ages engage in FREE virtual activities for Winter Break Jump-Off Camp, please check out the Athletics & Activities Blog for more information and fill out the Registration Form. Winter Jump-Off Camp will begin Monday, January 4th and run through Friday, Jan. 8th.
Service Opportunities
PCA Giving Tree
IMPORTANT: Submitting Student Yearbook Headshots (January 18–22, 2021)
At-A-Glance Information for Yearbook Headshots
Service does not need to stop just because our formal SEVAI module is completed. Ms. Gemma and Mr. Balajee have compiled a list of service activities students can complete individually or with community partners over the break. Give it a try and get others involved!
It's that time of the year again! Christmas is coming - the New Year will soon be upon us.
It is also a time to think of the less privileged members of our community and we give you the opportunity to give, in the spirit of the holiday. This year the PCA Giving Tree will be online. In collaboration with the organizations, we have created Amazon wish lists, which enable you to purchase books, craft materials, food, blankets, feeding bowls etc. and it will be delivered directly to the organization. Please see the PCA blog for more information. The organizations we are supporting are (alphabetic order):
- Annai Charitable Trust (Namma Beach / Namma Chennai) - need of blankets and food - Amazon wish list
- ARK INDIA Service Society (Orphanage for HIV+ girls) - need of food and educational materials - Amazon wish list
- Atmalayam Senior citizens Homes - need of food and tea - Amazon wish list
- Blue Cross of India (animal welfare) - need of pet food, collars, feeding/water bowls- Amazon wish list
- HOPE Foundation Matriculation High School (local school) - need of books and educational materials - Amazon wish list
IMPORTANT: Submitting Student Yearbook Headshots (January 18–22, 2021)
The Yearbook Team will be collecting student headshots for the Yearbook virtually using Google Forms. You can read the instructions and see the forms here:
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 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.
STEAM Launch!
On January 11, our grade level teams will officially launch activities that will lead to student STEAM projects. Students will received calendar invites for activities during class connection times to explore the grade level themes and begin developing their own ideas on the theme and project.
STEAM is an important feature of our middle school program. It is a unique transdisciplinary project that supports inquiry and innovation across subject areas. Units across subjects and individual student projects will culminate in STEAM fest in March.
ASIAC E-Sports
New Titles in Sora
Congratulations to our first ever e-sports team on their participation in the ASIAC e-sports tournament! Great job to Keshav, E-Dern, Isaiah, Alex, and Jamil and coaches Mr. G and Mr. Fletcher.
New Titles in Sora
Wondering what you can read over the break? Sora has the answer! We have recently purchased new titles for staff and families that will be perfect reads over the holidays. Check them all out in the "New Arrivals" collections!
PS and Semester Grades
Please note that details in the PS unified classroom dashboard will be disabled after December 18 as teachers begin to input comments and grades for students in preparation for semester reports. This view below will be disabled. After reports are published, all details will be accessible.
End of Semester 1
Returning/Departing Chennai
If your family is returning to Chennai or leaving Chennai for the holiday break, please contact the middle school office msoffice@aischennai.org for changes in your time zone.
Have a wonderful break!
Jessica Pechhold
Middle School Principal
The first semester ends on December 18. 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.
Second Semester
Withdrawals
If your child will
not be continuing at AISC in the second semester, please complete the “Request
to Issue Transfer Certificate/Past Records” form linked in the Quick Links
section of the blog in the sidebar. Please complete this form and submit it to
the MS office msoffice@aicschennai.org.
Returning/Departing Chennai
If your family is returning to Chennai or leaving Chennai for the holiday break, please contact the middle school office msoffice@aischennai.org for changes in your time zone.
Have a wonderful break!
Jessica Pechhold
Middle School Principal