Dear
Parents,
The past week was one of highs and lows. Over the
weekend we learned the sad news
On Sunday evening the ISTA Festival came
to a close with a remarkable performance by all of the student actors who participated.
The performance included music, dance, and shadow puppetry in a mature and
thoughtful expression of the awareness that the students had gained over the
weekend as they explored the issue of women’s rights in India and elsewhere. Many
thanks to our theater director and theater arts teacher, Shawn O’Docharty, for
all of the time and effort he put into organizing this event. Many thanks as
well to Ms. Josephine Ronald and the entire support staff for helping to ensure
that the festival was a success.
Spring Fest 2014
This afternoon was full of fun and
games as we celebrated our annual Spring Fest. It was organized by 10th
grade Student Council representatives Meyyammai Muthia, Nivedita Sriram and Roshan
Raju and their advisor, Ryan McFarland. The activities included a battle of the
bands, soccer, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, capture the flag, face painting,
a trivia contest and speed chess, capped off with a tug-of-war. The four houses
(Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin) consisting of mixed grade
levels competed for the trophy that they will hold for the coming year. Far
more important than that, we all had a chance to relax and have some fun
together before the IB and AP exams begin next week.
MAP testing
Next
week the high school will for the first time administer the Measures of
Academic Progress tests in reading, language, mathematics and science to
students in the 9th and 10th grades. These
standards-based assessments are given in schools worldwide and have been given
in our middle and elementary schools for many years. The results of these tests
will allow us, by comparing with the results of previous MAP tests, to have an
external measure of each student’s academic progress and will help to inform
decisions about our curriculum and instructional program. The MAP results have
no impact on a student’s grade in any of his or her courses.
IB
and AP Exams
IB and AP exams will start on Monday. 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 Attendance Rules for Students Taking IB and
AP Exams can be
seen by following the link in the sidebar.
Be sure to keep up with updates from the IB Coordinator and the AP Coordinator regarding the exams.
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.
Seniors in non-IB or AP classes in English, Foreign Language, Social Studies,
Science and Math classes will take their exams on May 19-21. All other students
will take their exams starting on May 26 and ending on May 29. 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.
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
