Dear Students and Parents,
Thank you to everyone for their flexibility and understanding for the disruption earlier this week. An additional thank you to all who attended our first History Day Celebration.
Upcoming Parent Coffee - Save the Date
Please join us for our first HS Parent Coffee of 2017 on Tuesday, January 31st at 8:45am in the BBT to learn about Course Registration for 2017-18. Counselors will share information about the upcoming course registration process and Mr. Malone will share new course offerings for next school year.
SAT Test Preparation Course Fair
Earlier this year the Student Advisory Forum requested that the school host a fair to help connect them to SAT preparation courses offered in the city. To that end, we have organized an informational fair on Tuesday, January 31st from 9:00 - 10:15 am in the main courtyard. This will be an opportunity for parents and students alike to meet with organizations offering preparation courses in the area. Please note that AISC does not endorse any of these programs. We are hosting the fair to make connecting with such services more convenient for community members.
IB and AP Registration Information Session
Following the parent coffee and the SAT preparation course fair, Mr. Malone will offer a focussed session on our IB and AP programs to aide in the registration process. The session will begin at 10:00 am in the BBT with the aim to inform but not overwhelm. Mr. Malone will explain the basics of the programs to help you better navigate the Curriculum Guide when making registration decisions with your children. This session is especially helpful for grade 10 parents though all are welcome to attend. General clarifying questions are encouraged while individual questions will be answered in the upcoming individual one-on-one sessions for all grade 10 students and their families expressing interest in the programs during registration.
Introducing Social Studies - A Note from the Head of Department
Last night, the AISC community had the pleasure of watching Grade 9 students present their findings from an extended historical research project at AISC’s first History Day Celebration. These National History Day (NHD) projects were no small accomplishments; students selected their own topics, researched them using primary and secondary source materials, documented their findings in an annotated bibliography, recorded their process through regular reflections and a final process paper, and created one of four original products: exhibit, website, documentary film, or live dramatic performance. At the celebration, all students presented their projects to a public audience of parents, students, teachers, and contest judges. While every student received feedback on his or her work, several projects will also be selected to represent AISC at an upcoming NHD regional competition that will be held in Jarkata in March.
This project and celebration are part of a larger shift that’s happening within the HS Social Studies department. Last year, as a result of a full-school review, the Social Studies team adopted new curriculum standards, ones that emphasize inquiry-based learning over more rote and traditional instructional practices. The new Social Studies 9 course, along with its History Day Project, is the first of many changes that are being implemented within the high school. Next year, Modern World History 2 will be replaced by an updated Social Studies 10 course, which aims to build upon the ninth grade experience. We’ll also have two great new electives, Entrepreneurship and Comparative Government, both of which will be driven by student inquiry and collaborative projects. Even the present Economics and Psychology electives will see some revisions to make them more aligned with our standards. We are very excited about this expanded set of offerings and hope that they will continue to prepare, enrich, and enliven our student’s experiences with the study of Social Studies at AISC.
You Are Invited to the MS Production - A Message from Mr. Phan
Middle School Theatre students proudly bring you a new, exciting and spectacular adaptation of the novel by Victor Hugo. The young man Quasimodo has been locked up in the cathedral of Notre Dame for twenty years. When he sneaks out to look at the Festival of Fools, he is suddenly thrust into a world which he does not understand. And so begins this tale of love, courage, and comprehending the value of true inner strength.
With stunning costumes, music, lighting and a breathtaking set, this original production promises to bring to life this classic tale. Tickets are on sale before school in the Middle and High School Entrance, and after school at Elementary School. Tickets are 200 rupees. Performances are on the 2nd and 3rd of February, at 5pm. Tickets go on sale next week. We have a hunch you’ll love it!
Upcoming SAISA Housing Needs - A Note from Mr. Thomson
On February 1-5, 2017, AISC has the honor of hosting the SAISA Boys Soccer Tournament and SAISA Art Festival. As you know, the ONLY way that we can do this is with your help in hosting the visiting players. This is a time-honored SAISA tradition and is practiced by every school that hosts a SAISA event. If your child has traveled with a SAISA or ASIAC team or activity, a family of the hosting school has housed them. It is now time to return the kindness. Hosting is an opportunity to interact with people from different countries and cultures, helps our programming and is an enormously positive experience.
We still need to house 14 BOYS Soccer players and 32 Art Festival (13 Girls and 19 Boys) participants. It is our school policy to house boys with boys and girls with girls. Because we have a dual event, we are contacting the families of our male and female athletes, musicians, artists and thespians.
Please help us by contacting us as soon as possible to let us know how many athletes and artists you can host, by contacting Ms. Sally Victor at vsally@aischennai.org. A hard copy has been sent home with your son. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Joelle Basnight
High School Principal
