Friday, March 21, 2014

Dear Parents,

We've had a very busy few weeks for co-curricular activities with our students engaging with students from around the world in athletics, diplomacy, service and the arts. The play this weekend serves as a sort of "grand finale" to this remarkable time of year.

High School Play – “Into the Woods”
You don’t want to miss this! At the preview on Wednesday the cast and crew of “Into the Woods” gave a truly remarkable performance of this rollicking medley of fairy tales.

The show on Friday is sold out! You can get tickets at the door for the Saturday show at 7:00 p.m.  Be sure to arrive early to get a good seat. Tickets are available in three sections: Director’s Circle (Rs 500), Orchestra (Rs 300), and Mezzanine (Rs 100).  Support our creative and courageous student actors and stage crew by coming with us “Into the Woods.”

3rd Quarter Report cards
The third quarter ended last Friday and teachers have completed their grades and comments. Report cards were given to students today. Parents and students can also view report cards on Skyward.

High School Parent Coffee
On Tuesday, March 25 we will hold our next High School Parent Coffee from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. in the cafeteria. Our Service Learning Task Force, led by Mr. Jason Hicks, will share information about our efforts to build a culture of service to the local and global community. the High School Community Service Coordinator, Mrs. Kala Ganeshan, will share information about the many service activities our students are engaged in.

Spring Break Homework hiatus
Students and faculty alike need a chance to recharge our batteries. Teachers have been instructed not to give homework over the Spring Break. Students should not have any assignments due or tests or quizzes on the first two days back, April 7 & 8. Teachers will not be holding IB or AP prep/review sessions during the Spring Break.

FRIDAYS@5 PresentsBLOOD BROTHER
On Friday, April 11th, AISC’s Fridays@5 series will present a screening of the documentary, Blood Brother. Winner of two Sundance Film Festival awards, this documentary was filmed on location just outside of Chennai in an orphanage for children living with HIV and AIDS.

Blood Brother tells the story of Rocky Bratt, a young man traveling in India who comes to volunteer at the orphanage.  What happens next is a chronicle of the pain and the struggle of the children to survive both the stigma of HIV/AIDS and the disease itself, how strangers can become family, and how dedication to service comes to transform both Rocky and the children’s lives.

This documentary deals with mature subject matter, and while each family must decide what is suitable for their children, we feel this film is appropriate for students in grades 8-12. Middle school students will not be admitted alone without express consent of parents given to MS Principal, Alan Phan.

We would like to invite parents and students to see this film together as a family.  While the issues the film raises of disease, loss, and grief are hard hitting, the film itself is an incredibly well made story about lives being lived just next to ours. It is a testament to the power of love, perseverance and hope, and it adds to our conversation on the significance of service learning and the meaningful relationships we are creating beyond our school.  

We will be joined by the Rocky on the 11th of April for the documentary screening, and  afterward he will engage our community in a dialogue about film, the children, and his life with them.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Hot Weather & Fluids
The summer weather is on its way! Be sure to stay cool and stay hydrated. See tips for keeping healthy in the hot weather by reading the Hot Weather and Fluids notice in the sidebar.

Students leaving AISC 
Each year some of our students leave the school. Records from AISC are usually required by the next school. However, it takes us some time to prepare these records. If you will be leaving the school, please contact us at least as soon as possible so we can prepare the necessary documents to make your transition as smooth as possible. Final report cards and transcripts will be made available for 12th Grade students by the end of the school day on Friday, May 30. Final report cards will be available for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students by Friday, June 6.

Other news
Be sure to check the sidebar for news from our counselors, our IB and AP Coordinator and our Athletics Director for important updates.

Have a restful, enjoyable weekend.

John McCandless
High School Principal