Dear Students and Parents,
On behalf of the High School Faculty, I would like to welcome you to the 2015-2016 school year. I hope you have had a restful, enjoyable summer and are looking forward to the coming school year! I am thrilled to share that this year represents our 20th anniversary year at AISC! We all look forward to the various celebrations that this year will bring!
It is my pleasure to introduce you to the new members to the high school faculty:
Shari Abbott - English
Mike Malone - EAL
Rob Gold - Social Studies
Todd Welbes - Theater
Peter Jacobson - Librarian
Beth Rappe - Learning Resource
Grace Gahagan – EAL Intern
I hope you will join me in welcoming them into the AISC community!
New Student Orientation
To help welcome high school students and their parents who are new to the AISC community, we will hold an orientation session on Wednesday, August 5, from 11:30 to 2:00 beginning in the High School Library. After an initial introduction, the students will meet with the counselors to learn more about the school and what to expect on the first day of classes. Parents will have a question and answer session and then will be taken on a tour. The parent orientation will end at 12:15 p.m. at the iHub so that parents will have an opportunity to enjoy a coffee or snack as they wait for their students. Student orientation will continue until 2:00 pm and lunch will be served during the session.
First Day of School
Thursday, August 6th, is the first day of school for all students. The day will begin with an assembly, after which students will attend their Day 1 classes (blocks A, B, C and D) during shortened periods. Friday, August 7th, will be a Day 2 (blocks E, F, G and H) with the regular schedule of classes
Students should plan on arriving a few minutes early on August 6th. We will distribute student schedules in the Foyer of the Fine Arts Center from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m.
New Rotating Timetable
I am excited to share that this year we will follow a new rotating timetable (see chart below). Students will continue to at attend four classes per day (Day 1 and Day 2) but the blocks will rotate within the days to allow students to experience their classes at different times of the day. This also allows us to more easily schedule field trips attached to lunch or the end of the day and to share our crossover teachers with Middle School (as they will follow the same rotation). Teachers and students alike may take a week or two to settle into this new timetable but I sincerely believe that, once used to it, students will enjoy the new system.
To help everyone keep track of the timetable the day will be posted on various notice boards within the High School and the rotation is listed, by day, in the community calendar.
Save the Date: High School Back to School Night
Please mark your calendars for the High School Back to School Night on August 20th and come and experienced an abridged version of a “day in the life” of your student(s). Teachers will share an overview of their course and will answer general questions you may have. You can pick up your student’s schedule between 5:30 and 6:00 pm which will be followed by a brief welcome in the new and improved Black Box Theater. Classes will start promptly at 6:20 pm and end at 8:15 pm. Please join us!
New Tardy Policy
Last year the faculty and the student advisory forum, a 20 member group of representative students, reviewed the tardy policy and suggested changes for adoption. Please note the new policy as it appears in the student handbook.
It is essential for students to be on time to all of their classes to fully engage in the class. When students arrive late, they miss important introductory information and directions. Late arrival also disrupts the class and is disrespectful to other students and the teacher.
Teachers are responsible for dismissing students from class on time so that they have the full passing time to reach their next class. Teachers will inform students when they are being marked late to class. Students will not be subject to additional consequences beyond the school policy.
Any student who arrives after 8:30 am is expected to sign in at the high school office before going to class.
Consequences for Unexcused Tardies
Acceptable reasons for being late to class are the same as for excused absences. The consequences for unexcused tardies per semester are as follows:
- 2 unexcused tardies - the student receives a warning letter
- 3 unexcused tardies - the student is assigned a lunch detention
- 6 unexcused tardies - the student is assigned a Friday after school detention
- 9 unexcused tardies - the student is assigned one day of In School Suspension
- 12 unexcused tardies - the students is assigned two days of In School Suspension
- 15 unexcused tardies - the student is assigned a one day Out of School Suspension
- 18+ unexcused tardies - the students will face additional consequences as determined by the administration.
Please note that In School Suspensions are not recorded on official records. Out of School Suspensions, on the other hand, are reported to colleges, universities and on school record requests for transfer.
Skyward Reporting Dates
As was done last year, families will receive regular updates about academic progress throughout the year. Progress reports with grades and comments are sent home and posted online in the middle of each semester. Report cards are sent home at the end of each semester. Approximately once per month in between these official reports teachers will update their marks in our student information system Skyward for your review. We call this a “Skyward Update.”
For your information the reporting periods this academic year will be as follows:
September 18 – Skyward update
October 16 – Progress report with comments
November 6 – Skyward update
December 11 – Skyward update
January 14 - Report card with comments
February 12 – Skyward update
March 4 – Progress report with comments
April 22 – Skyward update
May 20 – Skyward update
June 10 – Final report card
Student Schedule Changes
Please note that the drop/add period for schedule changes is limited to the first six days of school. This deadline is in place to help students settle into their classes as soon as possible. Schedule changes made during this time do not require parents signatures. This means that it is very important for families to discuss potential schedule changes before the student seeks out his or her counselor. If a family feels strongly that no schedule changes should take place without written parent permission they are encouraged to contact the appropriate counselor.
Please note that it is our expectation as a school that students made wise choices regarding their schedules last spring during the registration process. As such, we expect students to pursue schedule changes only when truly necessary. We will not entertain changes motivated by a desire to be in class with particular friends or to seek out a particular teacher. Our counseling staff works very hard to balance our schedule such that no class is overloaded or too small. This is to everyone’s advantage in terms of student learning.
Cashier & Vending Sites – Hours of Operation
Please be aware of the following hours of operation for our on campus vendors and cashier:
Main Courtyard Cashier: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
ES Cafeteria: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Main Cafeteria: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
I-Hub: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
Parent MC Café: 8:00 am – 9:30 am and 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Food Service Update
- The Taj Madras Flight Kitchen (TMFK), our school-wide food vendor, will begin selling meals and a la carte items at both cafeterias (ES & FAC) and I-Hub beginning on August 6th.
- Information regarding food and menu options will continue to be communicated as needed through the principals.
- AISC Access Cards (photo IDs) will also serve as smart cards (prepaid debit cards) for all purchases on campus. Cards can be charged on campus at the I-Hub, both cafeterias, the cashier’s window located off the main courtyard and pay online using credit/debit cards.
- Cash will continue to be accepted for purchases through August 29. From August 31, only smart cards will be accepted in all the outlets.
- Cakes for special occasions can be pre-ordered in both the cafeterias.
In the spirit of continual improvement, AISC food services will focus on a new pattern of menu choices with keeping nutrition standards for students as the center piece and incorporating feedback received from the community.
Communication is Key
Each week I will update my Principal’s Notes, an online newsletter that shares that shares important information with students and parents in the high school. The Head of School, Andrew Hoover, also publishes notes weekly. Please do your best to read these notes weekly so that you are as informed as possible.
There will also be opportunities throughout to meet in person. Most months I will host a Parent Coffee that will help you to gain greater access to what goes on in our classrooms. Student/Parent/Teacher conferences take place twice yearly (October and March). Please do refer to the community calendar so that you do not miss these important opportunities!
Welcome to another great year at AISC! I am looking forward to working with you in the coming year as we continue to build a learning community that helps our students develop into knowledgeable, caring and responsible citizens of the world.
Sincerely,
Joelle Basnight
High School Principal