Friday 16th September 2016

Dear everyone,

Only two weeks left until our October break - the year is off to a flying start and we thank you for all your commitment and energy you are bringing in every day.  This week’s faculty notes are FULL and require careful reading and responding!

Thank you

To everyone who contributed to our great United Nations Day Preparation Assembly this morning, especially our music team with several items.

To Meg, Ron, Karen and our Learning Support team with being flexible with their schedule to meet Jodi O’Meera.

To the KG team for being flexible with new ideas for UN Day itself.

To Carl for the donuts!

To all the teachers who hosted HS students for their Discovery Day.

TCRWP

Christy Curran will be heading out from NYC to work briefly with us on Thursday and Friday.  The purpose of her visit is to really see our strengths and areas of growth within the workshop model and give us feedback to move forward.  

As you’ll see on her schedule (to be shared by Dan), most of her time with the ES will be observing workshop in action - so please keep to the time stated to teach workshop!  Ideally, she would be able to observe part of your ML and/or or conferring with students. Her schedule reflects an attempt to see a wide cross section of grade levels, though not every teacher was able to be scheduled for a visit.

She will be offering two PD workshops -

Friday 23 - 1.30 - 2.30 ‘Workshop 101’

• for new teachers or teachers who feel they need more of the basics.  Sign up here if you would like to take part.

Thursday 22 - 3.45 - 4.45 - Co-teaching the Workshop

- for all KG -5 Homeroom and EAL Teachers

- Although a Thursday required PD is unusual, these are the dates Christy is with us.  Please talk to Keryn directly if you are really unable to attend.

Goal Setting Conferences

Thank you to so many of you who have shared ideas or sought clarity around these conferences.  It appears the purpose of these has become a little muddied and therefore, for clarity, please read and discuss the below points in teams.

*Grade 2-5 students attend with parents

*KG - 1 - optional student attendance (moving towards not attending in following years)

*PK students will not attend due to age and developmental appropriateness

Regardless of the make-up of the conference, this is a teacher facilitated conference with the purpose of sharing student learning goals.  Older students who are present need a role in also sharing their goals, but the teacher remains the facilitator of this meeting.

This differs from the student-led conference which happens in April where students will be the main facilitators.

Personnel Update

High school PE teacher Ryan McFarland has accepted the position of Activities and Athletics Director starting in 2017-2018. He will be working closely with Ron Thomson this year to assure a smooth transition. Congratulations Ryan!

PGE Goals Due Date and New Pathway

While you might be familiar with it from previous years. Please take a few moments to note your supervisor & review & confirm the different pathway options for you.

Here are some other guidelines:

• Professional Growth Pathway & New Teachers - create your goals in Google Doc by making a copy of this template  
• Please note that if you are in your third year (or any multiples of three), you must select one of the Self-Assessment Pathways.
• Anyone in their 4th or 5th year can choose the Professional Growth Pathway or stay in a Self-Assessment Pathway.
• If you need more details, take a look at the PGE Handbook on Moodle. Below are the due due dates for confirming goals and meeting with your supervisor:

Professional Growth Pathway 30 September

New Teachers: 19 October
Self-Assessment Pathway - Standards (SAP S): 19 October
Self-Assessment Pathway - Educator Profile (SAP X): 19 October

Here are the links to the spreadsheets to sign up for a meeting with your supervisor.

        Lori      Keryn

Edmodo PD

We would like to offer some PD around Edmodo - and would like to canvas interest in this opportunity.  Please read the below blurb from Hilary and fill out the survey if you would like to learn more!

Edmodo empowers you to build relationships with your students in an environment they know and love, collaborate with other teachers to improve learning outcomes, and discover new resources that unlock the full potential of your classroom and your own professional development. Come learn to connect, assess, personalize, and explore with Edmodo. Please fill out this short interest survey.

Personal Leave

Thank you to all those who have applied for leave in a timely manner.  Thank you!  This really helps with planning for sub cover and ensuring our students’ learning is not too disrupted.

A reminder that personal leave is exactly that; ‘personal’ needs that need to be attended to.  This can include, but is not limited to:

1. Required religious holidays
2. Immigration and customs department appointments
3. Personal business that cannot be scheduled after school hours
4. Legal court appointments
5. For other reasons at the Head of School’s discretion.

TGIF

Yay - we will kick the year off with our first TGIF at the Park Hyatt on Friday September 23rd.  Save the date!  The exciting addition is that this year all TGIF’s will be whole school so we can continue to make greater connections school wide.

WELLNESS

Are you interested in seeing what is happening with wellness at AISC and in Chennai? If so, click here to stay updated. We have lots of exciting events planned so be sure to check in!

Celebrate India Month - from Bindu and Anu

As published in the calendar, October will be ‘Celebrate India Month’. Major events include:

• Opening Assembly by a group of professionals on Wednesday, 10th of October
• Student performances on the 3rd and 4th of November
• Glass blowing, music demo, storytelling, yoga, and more (in specialist classes)

Everyone will have the opportunity to decorate their palms with Mehendi and students and faculty will be served an Indian meal on Friday, 4th of November.
Please discuss in teams on how you could possibly integrate India in your classes within the framework of your curriculum.

Student performances are a highlight of the month so we request UE teachers to give us time for practice sessions. This is usually between 3.00 and 3.30 in the afternoon. We will share the schedule shortly.

To better organise purchases from the glass blower this year, Bindu and Anu have added sign up sheets to each class edmodo page.  The glass blower will have 10 days to make the orders and deliver it when we return after fall break. Students can bring money to IS classes.

Before we close for fall break, Bindu and Anu will send more information regarding different activities that happen during this month. You may contact us if you have any questions.

Reminders

• Jodi O’Meara is with us until Wednesday of this week.
• Wednesday is an early release day; sign ups and information has come directly from Lauren.
• Check UN Day information from Todd.
• UN Country station schedule is here.
• Big Bad Blue Swim Meet is happening next Friday afternoon and all day Saturday - good luck to all our 5th Grade swimmers!

Thanks for making it to the very end!

Warmly,
Keryn & Lori