Dear Parents,
The
excitement that always marks the end of the school year is starting to build. The
Seniors have finished their coursework and are taking advantage of a
well-deserved rest. They will head off on a retreat early next week for one
last opportunity to be together as a class and to reflect on their experiences
at AISC. Their comments and suggestions are helpful to the faculty and
administration as we seek to continuously improve the way we do things.
The
underclassmen still have a way to go, with one more week of classes and then
semester exams beginning on June 3. Nonetheless, the end-of-year celebrations
have begun.
At
today’s Awards Assembly we celebrated the academic and athletic accomplishments of our students. Our
outstanding athletes received several awards, after which we presented the President’s
Awards for Educational Excellence and Educational Achievement. We announced the
Valedictorian and the Salutatorian of this year’s graduating class the National
Honor Society inducted new members into their chapter.
You
can see the program, including the names of the students who received awards,
clicking on the following link: High School Awards 2013. You can read the
citations for those awards by clicking on this link: Awards Citations.
The
High School Prom will take place tomorrow
night at the Park Hyatt Hotel from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. This is an opportunity
for the underclassmen to recognize the Seniors for their many contributions to
the life of the school and to wish them well in the years to come. It is always
great to see the students dressed formally, and the Student Council has worked
hard to make it a memorable event for all of the students.
A note on After-Prom parties – It is not uncommon for students to organize events at which they can continue to celebrate the end of the school after the Prom is over. Parents should note that these parties are not sanctioned by the school. Nor does the school provide any supervision. While these parties can be wholesome opportunities for the students socialize, it is also possible that alcohol and other drugs are present and/or there is no adult supervision. If your child is planning on attending one of these parties, it is a good idea to take the time to find out where he or she will be, whether responsible adults will be present and whether alcohol will be available.
Next
Thursday the faculty and the Seniors will meet one last time at the Senior-Faculty Dinner. Then on Saturday
we will hold the main event, the Commencement Exercises marking the graduation
of the AISC Class of 2013. The ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Theater
and will be followed by a reception for the Seniors, their families and their
guests. We are very excited about holding it in the Theater this year, and hope
to make it the grandest AISC graduation yet.
Semester Exams – The end of the school year is drawing near, which means that the semester exams will take place soon. These are summative assessments that help teachers determine the extent to which each student has met the learning outcomes for the course. Students in grades 9-11 will take their exams starting on June 1 and ending on June 6. To ensure the integrity of the assessments, final exams will not be given prior to the exam dates. A final schedule will be posted in the Daily Bulletin and on the bulletin boards around the high school.
A Note from the Nurse - Each year, returning students are
required to present evidence of a physical examination in the previous calendar
year as well as evidence that they are up to date with their immunizations. The
following information is required:
ü contact information,
ü evidence of a physical
examination by a doctor
ü authorization for medication
ü permission to seek treatment in
the event of an emergency
ü immunization record
ü evidence of TB screening
Two
forms are used for this purpose: the Students Annual Health Form and the
Physical Examination Form. These forms will be distributed to students on Friday,
May 24.
These
forms must be presented to the school nurse along with immunization records and
evidence of TB screening at the beginning of the new school year in August.
Please do not return these forms prior to that time.
BYOT Configuration Workshop - To assist families in configuring student IT devices
ahead of the new school year we are offering a device configuration workshop on May 30-31.
If your child will have a device before this date, please sign up for one
of the available times using the form in the Head of School's
notes or
on the Moodle All School Page (guest
password is raptors12).
IB
and AP News – The IB and AP exams are in full
swing. Be sure to keep up with updates from the IB Coordinator and the AP Coordinator regarding the exams. This week’s IB
Coordinator’s Notes have news about the ascent of an IB Diploma graduate to the
throne of the Netherlands.
Yearbook
orders– Orders for the 2013 AISC Yearbook can be placed starting on
Monday, April 15. The cost is US $50. This year we will be using an online
ordering system that will allow you to choose additional options for such as "Hear the Year", a news
summary of the year in photos, a plastic cover or photo pockets. Just click on the link below or
go to the AISC webpage under “Quick Links.” Payments can be made using a credit
card. (Note: There may be
transaction fees assessed by your bank if it is not a dollar account.)
Have a relaxing weekend and wonderful
week ahead.
John McCandless
High School Principal
Quick Links:
