Dear Students and Parents,
Please join me in thanking and congratulating all of the students who represented their classes during the Celebration of Learning on Thursday. Congratulations to the student volunteers who helped write and ask interview questions of the visiting candidates for the position of the Director of Teaching and Learning (Jaehun Jeong, Peter Jung, Aya Kamio, Yuyeong Kang, Yaron Ludwig, Yusuf Mehmood, Ann-Sophia Nesselhauf, Jeonghwan Song, Nivi Sriram and Anand Suresh). Additionally, congratulations to all of the IB Diploma students who successfully delivered their TOK presentations in front of captivated students, parent and faculty. Finally, many thanks to Krishna Chittur for acting as the High School spokesperson at Wednesday’s India Month assembly.
Student to Teacher Feedback Surveys Next Week
Last year the Student Advisory Forum, consisting of five student representatives per grade level, requested that students be able to complete two teacher feedback surveys per year. The faculty was happy to accommodate this request and, as a result, our first round of surveys will happen on Monday and Tuesday, October 26th and 27th.
It is important that students take this opportunity to give constructive feedback to teachers in as specific a way as possible. This is an excellent time for students to highlight something that is done in class which they have found to be especially helpful as well as to request something new or different that would support their learning even more. All surveys are anonymous and students do not complete surveys in the presence of the teacher they are completing the survey about.
Save the Date! Upcoming Parent Coffee - Final Reminder
Please mark your calendars for the October High School Parent Coffee on Tuesday, October 27th at 8:45 am in the HOL. This month Donna Fava start us off talking about swimming and pool use. This will be followed by a presentation and question/answer period with our Math Department. They will talk about tiered instruction in Algebra II as well as discuss our new inquiry based Integrated Math program. As I will be engaged in an on-campus professional development training, Mr. Alan Phan will be present as the administrator for the coffee. Mr. Phan was also the administrative lead for the curriculum review cycle for mathematics for the last two years.
Indian Food Only - Thursday, October 29th
Please note that in honor of India Month our school catering services will serve only Indian food on Thursday, October 29th. This will include jeera & peas pulao, carrot and beans poriyal, chicken tikka, poori, channa, jalabi, vadagam and milk/juice.
Reminder - Wednesday, November 4th - Early Release Day
The next early release Wednesday will be on November 4th. On Early Release Wednesdays, we will run a special schedule and school will end at 1:30 (this schedule will include lunch). Please note that on Early Release Wednesdays, there are no after school activities, clubs or sports and students are expected to be off campus immediately following dismissal. On these Wednesdays, teachers will be collaborating and learning together in order to support the work they do with your children.
As a reminder, the Early Release Wednesdays are:
- November 4th
- December 2nd
- January 20th
- February 10th
- March 9th
Save the Date! HS Band/Choir Concert
Please join us on Thursday, November 5th at 4:30 pm in the Auditorium for the upcoming High School band and choir concert!
Semester Exam Schedule Available
As you begin to plan your winter vacation please make note that our semester exams run from the 14th - 17th of December. It is our expectation that students are in attendance for all exams. Please note that our policy is that we do not give exams early. Thus, if your vacation plans require you to leave before exams are finished make-up exams will be scheduled for the first few days of school in the second semester. The semester exam schedule can be found here. All exams will take place in the gym. Please note that only written exams are reflected here. All alternative assessments like papers, practicals or portfolios are due before exam week begins.
The seating chart for each exam can be found by scrolling past the schedule itself. Students should arrive to the covered play area outside the gym 10-15 minutes before exams begin and should stand in front of the letter representing their assigned row. They will then be guided into the exam hall 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Students are only allowed to bring required materials (pens, pencils, etc.) and a water bottle into the exam hall. All electronics and other valuables must be locked in their lockers before reporting to the covered play area. Students leaving valuables unattended during exams do so at their own risk. Further, students may not leave bags in the gym locker rooms during exams as this area is off limits.
Is participation in Discovery Day mandatory? Yes!
Discovery Day - November 12th - A Note from Mr. McFarlnad
November 12, the day after Diwali break and day before the Discover India trips, will be the High School's first Discovery Day.
What is Discovery Day? It is a day of experiential learning similar to the purpose of the Discover India trips. It is an opportunity for students and staff to explore interests that may not fit into the normal school schedule. Activities range from a few hours long to a full day experience. Some of the activities are off campus. Some have requirements like having a camera with a telephoto lens or require payment of a fee. Some are teacher interests and others are organized by clubs. Here is a list of all activities.
How do students select activities? Students were sent a form to their email to complete a prioritization of their choices. They were asked to rank the full day, morning and afternoon activities and then were assigned based on their choices. Everyone that submitted the form on time was placed on at least one of their top choices.
What about pursuing a personal interest? Students in grades 11 or 12 may elect to develop their own plan for the day. Mrs. Crouch is coordinating with those students.
Is participation in Discovery Day mandatory? Yes!
Discover India Arrival and Departure Times - A Note from Mr. McFarland
Here is the departure and return schedule for the Discover India trips. Please note that you should plan to be at the school at least 15 minutes prior to the bus departure times. Staff on each trip may set the gathering time even earlier. The return times are estimated and will depend on the actual arrival time of flights and trains. The full schedule of flights is available here. Please note that all students must travel with the group, including on the return bus to the school.
Departure
|
Bus leaves
|
Return
|
At school
| ||
A
|
Yercaud Camp
|
Nov/13
|
5:00 PM
|
Nov/19
|
5:15 AM
|
B
|
Himalayan Foothills Hiking
|
Nov/13
|
4:15 AM
|
Nov/19
|
7:00 PM
|
C
|
High Himalaya
|
Nov/13
|
3:15 AM
|
Nov/20
|
11:00 PM
|
D
|
Inflatable Kayaking
|
Nov/13
|
4:15 AM
|
Nov/19
|
8:00 PM
|
E
|
Mahakali Rafting Expedition
|
Nov/13
|
3:15 AM
|
Nov/19
|
5:30 PM
|
F
|
Tour de' Himalayas
|
Nov/13
|
3:15 AM
|
Nov/19
|
11:00 PM
|
G
|
Tri Challenge
|
Nov/13
|
7:30 AM
|
Nov/19
|
7:00 PM
|
H
|
Bison Country
|
Nov/13
|
8:00 AM
|
Nov/19
|
7:30 PM
|
I
|
Dilli Champs
|
Nov/13
|
10:00 AM
|
Nov/19
|
5:30 PM
|
J
|
Photographing Varanasi
|
Nov/13
|
4:15 AM
|
Nov/18
|
11:00 PM
|
K
|
Ceramics in the Garhwal Himalaya
|
Nov/13
|
8:00 AM
|
Nov/19
|
7:00 PM
|
L
|
Surfing and Service
|
Nov/14
|
8:30 AM
|
Nov/20
|
4:15 PM
|
M
|
Camel Caravan
|
Nov/13
|
10:00 AM
|
Nov/19
|
10:30 AM
|
N
|
Little Tibet
|
Nov/13
|
3:15 AM
|
Nov/19
|
11:00 PM
|
O
|
Nature Photography & Conservation
|
Nov/13
|
5:00 PM
|
Nov/19
|
10:45 AM
|
P
|
Anaman Natural History
|
Nov/13
|
9:30 AM
|
Nov/20
|
6:00 PM
|
Q
|
Chennai Area
|
Daily
|
Variable
|
Variable
|
Food Service Update
The response of students and teachers to several new menu items has been good. The Salad of the Day in the Elementary Cafeteria and in the iHub are proving to be popular. Sales of the vegetable juices are increasing as well. We are expanding our offerings of whole fruit to include imported plums, grapes, and pears. Remember that we are also offering imported apples and oranges and local bananas. We are now popping our own popcorn in order to meet our nutritional guidelines, and the sales have been brisk.
Food services at AISC are always in continual improvement. Should you have questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact Food Service Manager Prakash Shanmugam (sprakash@aisch.org), Elementary Associate Principal Lori Newman (nlori@aisch.org) or Secondary Associate Principal Jason Hicks (hjason@aisch.org). If you have not had the chance to have a meal in the I Hub or Secondary Cafeteria, please join us. We would love to hear your feedback about the food at AISC.
Yearbook Photos Ready for Review and Order
Parents and students can now review the recent yearbook photos by clicking on the "Yearbook Photos 2015-16" link from the All School Page in Moodle. You may access Moodle using User ID -guest and the password - raptors15. Families interested in ordering photos should complete and return this Form by November 7th. Prints will be ready for pick up after December 11th.
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Sincerely,
Joelle Basnight
High School Principal