Dear all,
Setting up your classrooms √
First two full days of school √
Welcome back Assembly √
Having a beverage of your choice to celebrate the week…..up to you!
We think you deserve it! Our section looks amazing, and so many children already told Lori and I how “fun” and “happy” they have been these last two days.
We are still a work in progress, particularly with changes to some of our systems over the summer so we ask you to please…..
Thank you’s (anyone you’d like to celebrate? Let Lori or I know and we can add it here)
- Many teachers have noticed the confidence and comfort of some of newest students to English who participated in the Jumpstart Program over the summer. Bravo! Well done, teachers in the program: Sweety, Daphne, Lakshmi, and Shirene!
- Thank you Rachael and Hilary who were super efficient data entry assistants yesterday in getting all the WIDA and running record data to homeroom and EAL teachers
- Specialist teachers and TAs who welcomed new students and acted as tour guides in showing each family to the right room
- Karen for helping present about inclusive classrooms
Presentations for your reference
NSO - so you can refer to any logistical information families received
Welcome back ES faculty session & Nuts and bolts - all in same presentation
IT office hours
Someone will be in the IT office before 8am every morning if you have tech issues to solve. (Thanks Tiffany for the suggestion!)
Outdoor Learning Centre - Official Opening - Friday 18th August, 9:50am
Our newly designed Early Years Outdoor Learning Centre will have the official opening celebration next Friday 18th August. Coincidentally it is also the birthday of AISC, so cake and coffee will be served - all faculty welcome to join us!
Our newly designed Early Years Outdoor Learning Centre will have the official opening celebration next Friday 18th August. Coincidentally it is also the birthday of AISC, so cake and coffee will be served - all faculty welcome to join us!
Snapshot conferences
Also known as ‘Listening In’ conferences - these are designed for you to get all of that vital information from parents about the students in your class. You are welcome to send home a questionnaire to parents in advance to help them think about some of the information you may like to know. You set the scene, and the parents do all the talking. Some areas you may want to know include
- Favourite parts of school in previous years
- Hopes for the year
- Fears
- Special people, places
- Family circumstances
- Languages spoken at home
- Friendships and relationships
These are scheduled for anytime within the week of Monday 21st - Friday 25th August. There is no section meeting that week. Each homeroom teacher can devise a schedule to invite parents in during your preferred time slots; this can be before or after school, during a prep block or even lunch. Please ensure you have enough time blocks offered for all your students, plus around 5-6 extra slots per class.
Example. If you have 12 students, create 18-20 x 10 min slots throughout the week.
EAL teachers should please join with the HR teachers as much as possible, and if there is a child with special needs, HR teachers could also invite specialists to join where possible.
Homeroom teachers need to make a COPY of this document, and then personalise the time slots to suit your schedule. This needs to be posted on Edmodo by each homeroom teacher on Monday 14th August.
EAL teachers should please join with the HR teachers as much as possible, and if there is a child with special needs, HR teachers could also invite specialists to join where possible.
Homeroom teachers need to make a COPY of this document, and then personalise the time slots to suit your schedule. This needs to be posted on Edmodo by each homeroom teacher on Monday 14th August.
Report card committee
We will be reconvening the report card committee next Wednesday 23 August at 7:30am. The purpose is to finalise the overarching conceptual standards we will be reporting out on each trimester, as well as define the indicator/levels of learning to potentially replace our existing Beginning, Developing, Applying and Exceeding.
Those interested in being on this committee should let Keryn know by next Monday 21 August.
Those interested in being on this committee should let Keryn know by next Monday 21 August.
Edmodo - from Hilary and the IT office
Your Edmodo accounts should be up and running, with your first introductory post already made. Please remember this is the only way we communicate to whole class or grade - we do not send bulk emails nor do we send home paper newsletters.
If you are experiencing any type of problem, please email itsupport@aischennai.org. On Monday, you may get parents that are having trouble with their Edmodo accounts. Please send them to the CIC and one of the IT staff will provide them support. I received my first Edmodo note yesterday from my teacher, Mrs. Amy. Remember that Priya is available to support you and provide you with training on anything Edmodo.
Duties
This year’s duty schedule includes not only new timings for recess and lunch, but some new locations as well.
Message from Carl in the Discovery Studios
Our primary goal is to add value to what you are teaching in the classroom. Over the last couple of years we have worked closely with the classroom teachers developing projects for the different engineering standards at each grade level. Last year we expanded our role and worked in many different subject areas doing everything from short little provocations for upcoming units to weeks-long projects. We are happy to meet with teams or individual teachers to plan out different activities. No idea is too crazy to be developed into something for the students.
Some nuts and bolts.
- To book the room(s) just use the FIND A TIME feature on google calendar under my name kcarl@aischennai.org.
- The Discovery Studio has space for 2 classes at a time; 3 if they are small. Classes can come in together with others or individually. If a class is coming by itself to use the room please mark on my calendar which side of the room you want DS-1 or DS-2 along with your class name. That way other classes can use the other side.
- If you have booked the room(s) but not planned something in advance with me, please give me a heads up as what you want to use the room(s) for so I can get tools and materials ready for you in advance and help out with your activity.
- Small groups of students are welcome, but please do not send them to the Studios without putting it on my calendar first.
- I am happy to lend out materials and equipment. Just ask and make sure it finds its way back.
- Grades 4-5 Lunch recess will be open studio time for the students unless the room is already booked by lower school classes.
As of Monday, Aug 14th you are free to book the Discovery Studios. We will also be offering 2 activities for your kids: an hour long Intro/Tool and Materials Hunt and an hour and 15 minute Make a Toy challenge for grades 2 to 5 and an hour for EY5 and grade 1. We would really like it if every class can sign up for the Intro so I can meet every class. The second one is optional.
Drop by for a visit if you have not been here yet or send me any questions you may have! Lastly, We are always on the hunt for junk the can be used to make stuff.
BYOT device configuration
Grade 5: 14th August
Grade 4: 16th August
Grade 3: 17th August
The tech team will install the following technology - MAP, WRAP testing, EASY MP3 and Chrome
All the students will be given a form that requires the parents to sign and give us the basic information that will help the tech team to configure their devices. The forms have been given to each and every teacher. If they do not have them for some reason you may share the google doc and they can print.
The homeroom teachers need to have their students drop of their devices first thing in the morning at the ES CIC. The devices need to have the form attached.
The devices can be picked up at the end of the day. If there are any issues with any of the devices the teach team will send home a note.
Operation Appreciation
Operation Appreciation is designed to celebrate those who help us everyday at AISC!!
The basic idea is this:
~ On a certain predetermined day, a predetermined group of about 20 teachers bake or make about 20 - 25 'treats' each (cookies/ brownies/snacks... hopefully with a home-cooked feeling to them.)
~ These are then delivered in specific predetermined quantities to certain offices such that everyone in that 'sector' gets one.
For example: It is coordinated that 100 treats (or whatever the right number is) are delivered to Mr. Ilangovan's office. He makes sure that each cleaning lady and maintenance gentleman gets one and knows that these are shared a a small token of a great deal of thanks and appreciation from the faculty/staff.
The same is happening on the same day to the transportation office, the security office, the business / finance office, the tech office, the administrative assistants and so on....
The OpApp team will send out an invitation for anyone to join in making and delivering treats. You can respond to the mail and participate - and there will be at least 4 opportunities to show our gratitude throughout the year. It is easy and, of course, fun!
Have a great weekend!
Warmly,
Keryn & Lori
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