Dear Students and Parents,
For families who are traveling next week, please be sure to inform Ms. Sunita of your departure date. She, in turn, will alert teachers so all synchronous lessons can be recorded and made available.
Three cheers for the High School Art Exhibition! Congratulations all!
Semester Two Exam Schedule - Update
We understand that some families have or will leave for their home country before the end of the semester and are concerned about the impact of travel on traditional semester exams. We want to give families as much flexibility as possible.
Mr. Malone and I met this morning to confirm adjustments to our exam schedule. Please make note of the following:
Grade 12 Exams
Grade 12 AISC exams will continue as planned on May 20 and 21 on India Standard Time. There are few seniors who need to take these exams and our understanding is that all plan to remain in Chennai. Should you, as a family, relocate between now and May 20th, please contact Mr. Malone directly to arrange for an alternative exam schedule.
Grade 9 - 11 Exams
Grade 9 - 11 AISC exams will continue as planned between May 28 and June 3rd. Two timetables for exams will be offered and two versions of exams given.
Timetable One will be based on India Standard Time as was previously published for students who are in India, South East Asia and East Asia.
Timetable Two will be based on Eastern Standard Time for students in North America, South America and Europe.
We understand that some families may be in flux in terms of their travel plans. To help us plan as best we can, if your family anticipates being in Europe, South America or North America by late May, please complete this quick form. The form is not binding, it simply will help us anticipate how many students may need Timetable Two. We will reconfirm directly with families regarding their location shortly before exams begin.
Exam.net will be used for all traditional semester exams. Students have used this software in the past for summative assessments. Exam.net provides a lockdown browser to support academic honesty.
Library Use - Update from Ms. Babs
The AISC libraries have stopped providing curbside checkout service and book delivery to classrooms because of protocols put in place to safeguard library staff. The return boxes will remain at the main and ES entrances, so library materials can be returned at any time. Thank you and please let Babs know if you have any questions.
From the Whole School Counseling Team
With the pandemic hitting India hard and many transition plans changing for the summer holiday or farewells, we think these statements are good things to tell ourselves as well as
our students and children. Know that AISC counselors are here to help and support.
Returning School Materials - Repeat Announcement
Whether your family decides to depart India before or after the end of the semester, we will be contacting families with a list of school materials which should be returned to the school before departure. Families are welcome to drop these items at security whenever convenient, but before June 3, in a well marked bag with the student’s name and grade level clearly visible.
Requesting School Records - Repeat Announcement
As the end of the school year approaches, many families will need copies of school records. Please contact Ms. Priya to make arrangements. Records pertaining to last semester and before can be made available immediately. Records for this semester will be available for Grade 12 after May 27 and for grades 9 - 11 after June 10.
Important Announcement: Semester Two Report Card/Transcript Option - Repeat Announcement
We recognize that the recent surge in COVID 19 cases across India, coupled with our return to virtual learning through the end of the semester, has been a disruptive and disquieting experience.
Last year we offered the option of shifting to a credit/no credit rating for second semester scores. We will offer that option again this spring. This option is intended to relieve pressure for students not achieving at the level they hoped and should not be viewed as permission to disengage from school in the final weeks of studies.
The credit/no credit option for students will be for semester two only. Families need not take any immediate action at this time. We are sharing this option now simply to raise awareness. We believe that most families will decide to keep the reports as is, with achievement scores in place and we will continue to support individual families as needed.
As your family considers this option, please make note of the following:
Students are expected to meet our attendance criteria and complete all summative assessments. This includes the final assessment for the semester (May 20 - June 3). This can be done from anywhere in the world.
Students will receive report cards in the same format as semester one. These scores will continue to be used for determining eligibility for next year's courses.
Student achievement results will be available on PowerSchool as of the end of day May 24th (for grade 12) and June 3rd (for grades 9 - 11). This can be seen by clicking “quick look-up.”
Families will have then have a few days to decide if they wish to opt for “credit/no credit” and should contact Mr. Malone or Ms. Basnight via email before May 28th (grade 12) or June 9th (grades 9 - 11) to make the request.
For students opting for credit/no credit, the achievement scores on the report card and transcript will be replaced with “CR” (score of 3 or above) or “NC” (score of 2 or below).
The option of credit/no credit is only available for all courses this semester, not by individual course. For context, a note will be added to the transcript indicating that students were given the choice to opt for credit/no credit for the semester.
Again, no action is needed at this time. We hope that this shift supports the health and wellbeing of students (and families) as they navigate the last weeks of the school year.
Summer Programs - A Note from Counseling - Repeat Announcements
Summer programs can be a way to experience something new and to enrich your learning. If you are interested in diving deeper into a subject that you are passionate about or want to explore, check out the Summer Programs listed here. Many of the programs will be virtual this summer. Please let your counselor know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Joelle Basnight
High School Principal
