Dear Students and Parents,
Congratulations SAISA athletes - win or lose they played with heart!
Course Registration Update
Earlier this week students in grades 9 - 11 attended a registration meeting in which Ms. Larsen and Ms. Crouch reviewed the registration process and shared the changes in our course offerings for next year. You can view their presentation here. Please note that it include a voice over and make take some time to load. Our full curriculum guide which includes the changes highlighted in the presentation can be found here.
Students are to complete their registration forms no later than Monday, February 16th. Their requests will then be entered into our student information system. In March we will share these requests once again with students so they have a chance to reconfirm their courses or make any necessary changes before we begin to build the master schedule.
In the next month Ms. Larsen will be working with all grade 9 students during freshmen seminar to develop a four year plan and talk through the courses they may wish to take next year. She will also be meeting with each grade 10 student and their parents to discuss an academic plan for the final two years of high school. Ms. Crouch, our IB/AP Coordinator, will join these grade 10 meetings for students who have indicated an interest in the IB Diploma program. Finally, Ms. McGlamery will meet with each grade 11 student and their family to start the college advising process and to discuss courses for their final year of study.
It is important that all students participate in the registration process. Students who know for certain that they will not return for the 15/16 school year are encouraged to complete their registration form so a copy can be sent to their next school.
Should you have any questions about the registration process, please contact either of our counselors.
Social Justice Educator Visiting AISC
In a community as diverse as AISC, providing space for young people to engage in structured courageous conversations around issues of identity (in regards to culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, faith, ability, etc.) is a critical need. As we seek to help our students understand themselves and their interactions with others, we invite Muneer Panjwani, a social justice educator, to AISC to work with middle and high school student groups. Muneer has worked with youth around creating accepting and inclusive environments for over ten years. He is a talented and skilled facilitator of empathy based interactive workshops and discussion.
Within the workshops, students will develop a common language around social justice issues, explore concepts of prejudice and identity and learn concrete actions we can all take to build a space where all people feel comfortable and proud to be who they are. We are hopeful that Muneer’s work will be a springboard for an open dialogue at AISC around how we each make our unique contribution to this diverse and dynamic world.
While at AISC, Muneer will meet with parents, faculty and student groups in the middle and high school. In each context, the workshops will be developmentally appropriate for the student groups and will provide students with the space, structure and support to explore, discuss, learn and challenge themselves. This will not be easy work; Muneer’s visit will provide an opportunity for courage, creativity, confidence and compassion to come alive in our community as our students begin to explore issues of identity and social justice in a safe, supportive way.
Message from the Performing Arts
Guest Artist on Campus-After-school Workshops!
Dear Parents and Students-
From next Monday the 16th to Friday the 27th AISC has the honor to host three artists from Sukawati village on the island of Bali.
Sukawati village is the center of puppet theatre in Bali and the lead artist, I Kadek Budi Setiawan, belongs to a world renown family of Balinese puppeteers.
Kadek will be joined by his accompanists, I Komang Ariawan, and the 15 year old gamelan sensation, Made Prameswara. Over their residency they will work with art, music and theatre teachers from the elementary, middle, and high school.
Students who would like to learn more about Shadow Puppetry, Balinese Dance, and Gamelan Music are invited to take the after school workshops in the FAC theatre room 2709, from 3:45-4:45, Mon-Thursday.
Students who attend after school workshops will be invited to perform in music and puppetry with the artists at the school wide R.I.S.E. event on February 27th.
To take part in this exciting opportunity Sign Up HERE.
Contact Mr. Shawn for more information (oshawn@aisch.org).
SAISA Track and Field Announcement
SAISA Track and Field
(5th Grade-12th Grade)
Starts February 16th
Practice Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Time: 6:15a.m.- 8:00a.m.
Mandatory Practice if you are a jumper or interested in learning how to long/high jump.
*February 18th and February 25th
*3:45PM-5:00PM High Jump and Long Jump Clinic Mandatory!
(this clinic will count as one of your practices for that week)
5th Grade Athletes: Attend 2 days a week practice
6th-12th Athletes: Attend 4 days a week practice
*Athletes should attend the first practice with running shoes (preferably fairly new running shoes) Water Bottle and Change of Clothes
FYI: SAISA Track Meet @ Oman - April 23rd- April 25th
Contact Head Coach Younglove @ yholly@aisch.org if you have any questions.
Interesting Article about the Teenage Brain
Last week Maclean’s published an article titled Inside Your Teenager’s Scary Brain. It outlines recent adolescent brain research and shares a number of very interesting and important points about teenage development. For example, did you know that teen’s IQ can rise or fall depending upon teens treat their brains during adolescence? From possible explanations of addiction, the long term effects of chronic stress and the effect of “pruning” on IQ, the article both interesting and highly accessible. We hope it gives you some food for thought!
High School Library Announcement
Moving? Want to de-clutter your bookshelves? Are your books in good shape?
Then please consider donating the following items to the High School Library:
Travel Guides, Foreign Language Books, Newer fiction or non-fiction, Young Adult books, Graphic Novels
If we can use the books they will be added to our collection, if not, they will be donated locally.
Many thanks from Ms. Alevy
Summer Opportunities for Students
It's time to start thinking about summer plans! Students who are interested in participating in summer programs should check out the Counselor's Blog on the HS Counseling Moodle page. There is a page dedicated to summer enrichment programs which the counselors are updating as new information comes to them. Please check it out! If you are aware of programs that you'd like to share publicly, please email information to Ms. McGlamery or Ms. Larsen.
Sincerely,
Joelle Basnight
High School Principal
Jason Hicks
Secondary Associate Principal