Dear Students and Parents,
High School Parent Coffee - Next Week!
The February HS Parent Coffee will take place on Tuesday, February 24th, at 8:45 am in the cafeteria. The agenda includes a brief presentation of proposed changes in graduation requirements primarily affecting the class of 2019 and beyond, an overview and rationale of our upcoming Virtual School Day Drill and, finally, the majority of the coffee will be used to present and discuss the results of the Student Lifestyle Survey. While an overview of the results of the survey results will be shared in next week’s notes, we strongly encourage parents to attend the coffee to hear the full presentation.
Social Justice Educator - Visiting Soon - March 16-20
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.
Please mark your calendar now for Muneer’s parent meeting. We will merge the HS and MS coffees for the month of March so the HS coffee for March will be on the 17th at 8:45 am.
Virtual Learning Drill - March 25th - Message from Kevin Crouch
Distance learning for continuity of instruction is a complex process requiring considerable training, alignment, and communication. To be ready in the event of a forced school closure, AISC must help all stakeholders build capacity to support distance learning.
On March 25th, AISC will host a comprehensive virtual learning drill in which all students PK-12 will stay at home and complete one full day of learning consistent with AISC’s Continuity of Instruction Plan. Teachers will be on campus during this exercise. All athletics and after-school activities will be cancelled on this day.
To learn more please read more about the event in our full brochure HERE, or read the frequently-asked-questions in a text-only format HERE.
To help parents with their Internet access at home, AISC will host an Internet provider business fair on March 5th & 6th in the Main Entry. Kevin Crouch will also be on hand at next week's parent coffee to answer any questions or concerns.
Course Registration Update
Students have been submitting their registration forms throughout the week.
While some students remain undecided about which courses to take next year it is important that an initial registration form is submitted. This allows our office to enter the information into our student information system in preparation for the verification process.
On March 16th students will receive a copy of the requests they have submitted at this time. They will have another opportunity to change any courses they have reconsidered and submit their verification form to the office no later than March 20th. After this date no further changes will be made as our office will begin the master schedule building process.
Between now and March 16th our counselors and AP/IB coordinator will continue to meet with each grade 10 and 11 family. Grade 9 students will work with their counselor during freshmen seminar.
Please note that our full curriculum guide which includes the changes highlighted in the presentation can be found here.
Official Skyward Update Available Today
This afternoon marks our next official Skyward update. Teachers have been asked to make sure their marking is up to date and posted so that families are aware of their students’ progress. The next official progress report date is March 13th when mid-semester written progress reports will be sent home in preparation for Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences on March 17th and 18th.
Yearbook Photos 2014-2015
We are pleased to announce the sale of photos from the January photo shoot for those students who did not get their photos taken in August. On the All School Moodle page, you will find a folder- Yearbook photos 2014-15. Parents who missed ordering photos last semester may also place the orders now.
Order Forms may be downloaded from Moodle or picked up at the Cash counter. Instructions are on the order form. Please complete the form, make payment and submit the form at the respective section office.
Please submit all requests for photos not later than March 6. Prints will be ready for pick up after April 12.
If you have any questions about the ordering process, please contact the Administrative Assistant of your child's school section.
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