Dear Parents,
What a
night! The Prom at the Westin Hotel last Friday was a great success. The
students looked stunning in their ball gowns and suits. There was lots of
dancing and a moving tribute to our departing Seniors. A good time was had by
all. Kudos to the Prom organizers – Juniors Susmera Cholayil, Seoyeon Jeong and
Caleb Sager – along with their many helpers for making this one of the best
Proms in AISC history!
It is,
once again, a season of the arts in the high school. Just after Spring Break it
was the IB Visual Arts student exhibition. Last Tuesday the AP Studio Art
students held an opening for an exhibition of their work. The exhibition is
being held in the Foyer of the Fine Arts Center and runs through May 2. If you
haven’t seen it yet, be sure to stop by and view the creative efforts of our
students.
AISC's first international
theater festival
This weekend AISC and the International Schools Theatre
Association (ISTA) welcome six schools from across the world and one from here
in Chennai to explore the theme of gender equality through the language of
theater. I had the opportunity this morning to observe an opening session
in which the students learned about the plight of many women in India. Shortly
after that the group left to explore the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and enjoy a
traditional India lunch there before visiting a shelter for homeless women that
is run by The Banyan, an NGO devoted to providing care for the mentally ill.
Tomorrow and Sunday the
students will be writing scripts and creating performances to share what they
have learned about India and gender inequality. Our community will have the opportunity to see
these performances on Sunday, April 27 at 5:00 p.m. in the Theater. Everyone is invited to
attend. More than a "show", this will be a presentation of the
process students have gone through in their learning and self expression on the
theme. We hope you will be able to join us.
High
School Parent Coffee
On
Tuesday, April 29 we will hold our next High School Parent Coffee from 8:45 to
9:45 a.m. in the cafeteria. Mr. Kevin Crouch, our IT Director, will share news
about the direction of the Bring Your Own Technology for next year. In
addition, I will discuss the progress the high school faculty has made this
year in our review of our grading and assessment practices.
High School Spring Concert, Friday
May 2Friday @ Five is going to be so much fun next week that it is spilling over its label. Friday @ Five, starting at 4:30 on Friday, May 2, will feature the Spring Concert of AISC's top musical ensembles. Join us as the Symphonic Band, Advanced Choir, and more serenade us with their spring repertoire of classical and pop music. And if you liked the Jazz Band's rocking performance at last week's PTA Brunch at the Westin Hotel, then you'll love their new tunes. Plus, a special guest appearance by our very own multi-talented Ms. Rachel Kessler ensures everyone will have a good time!
We don't want to be too dramatic, but I don't think there will be many dry eyes in the house as our
graduating seniors perform their last-ever concert at AISC. Come witness our
seniors' final musical triumph of their high school careers. Join us next Friday,
May 2 for the High School Spring Concert, exclusively at Friday @ Five Four-Thirty.
IB
and AP Exams
IB and AP exams will start on May 5. These are
important exams both for our students and for the faculty. For the students
these exams provide a measure of their achievement in these advanced subjects.
For the faculty, they provide external measures of the effectiveness of our
curriculum and instructional methods.
While these exams are important, we must be aware
that they are one-time measures of a student’s achievement and as such are
inherently limited in their reliability. Even the best of students can have an
off day. Illness or stress, whether over the exam or some other factor, can
have a significant impact on a student’s ability to demonstrate his or her
knowledge and skills. The range of knowledge and skills learned in a typical IB
or AP course is extensive; the exam measures only a part.
With so many variables, what is most important on
exam day is that each student is well-rested, healthy and confident. All-day or
all-night cramming is not likely to result in additional learning and may well
result in fatigue, which affects the student’s ability to think and to recall
information. Ergo, a relaxing evening, a good night’s rest and a good breakfast
may well be the most effective pre-exam strategies. Words of encouragement and
unconditional support will go a long way in building confidence, leading to a
better exam result.
Due to the exam schedule, there are special rules
for attendance for those students taking exams are put in place. These rules for Attendance for Students Taking IB and AP Exams can be seen by following the link
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.
Requests
for letters of recommendation
Summer is approaching, which means that many students are in
need of letters of recommendation for summer programs and new schools. As this
is a busy time of year for the faculty, please be mindful that any requests for
letters and/or recommendation forms should be presented at least one week in
advance of the deadline. Writing a recommendation takes thought and time.
Students should communicate directly with the teacher from whom they are
requesting the recommendation so that, together, they can determine that
teacher is the most appropriate person to write the letter.
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
