Friday, September 21, 2018

Dear all,

Happy Friday! One more week and we hit our first long fall break. Next week will be busy with growth conference preparation and also finishing up the first progress reports, and we thank you in advance for your attention to these important pieces of communication that tell the ES growth story.

Thank yous…

• Jack for getting the soccer league underway again - much appreciated!
• Hilary from Scott and John for all of her tremendous support during our Forces and Interactions unit. We really appreciate all of her hard work!!
• Scott and John for taking on the above mentioned and truly inquiry forces and interactions engagement
• Jane, Kay, Marea, Ula, Fer, and Sarah for celebrating their students’ learning this week in a new space - thanks for being amazing risk takers!
• Julia, Becky, Preethika, Adithya, and Jack for chaperoning the first CWW Pondicherry trip - the kids loved how engaged you all were with everything

Upcoming Week at a glance

Monday 24 Sept	Grade 1 Family Math Morning 8:45 - 10:15 a.m GTL Meeting 3:45 - 5:00 PM SHED
Tuesday 25 Sept	Grade 2 Family Math Morning 8:45 - 10:15 a.m 5EF and 5VL leave for CWW in Pondicherry - chaperones;  Elliot, Vanessa, Salome, Linda, Dave and David Hassler
Wednesday 26 Sept	Grade 4 Family Math Morning 8:45 - 10:15 a.m Faculty meeting - ES Section meeting in Madras Hall (Growth story conferences.  Please bring your data packet for one child with you.)
Thursday 27 Sept	Grade 3 Family Math Morning 8:45 - 10:15 a.m
Friday 28 Sept	5EF and 5JL return from CWW in Pondicherry

India Month Rehearsals

The FAC rehearsal timeline spans between next week (September 24th - 28th) and will be continued when we get back from our Fall Break (October 8th and 9th).

All the dance performances will have 3 rehearsals and the singing will have 2 rehearsals during this time. During this time, the students must ALWAYS be accompanied by a teacher (HR/EAL/Specialist) or by a TA.

However, on October 10th (Wednesday), we will have a final run-through of both the performances. As scheduled for the main event, we will wrap up in 45 minutes (less than 45 minutes in this case, as there will be no lighting of the diya, the slideshow, the teachers dance and the thank you's).

Lower Elementary- 9:05 - 9:45 a.m

Upper Elementary- 10:55 - 11:35 a.m

At this time, we will familiarise our students with our expectations at the FAC with their specific grade-wise entry, seating, waiting backstage, performance and exit. Our student MCs' will also get a chance to practice their respective parts with the flow of the events.   I will also communicate the specific instructions for lights, sound, curtain cues, and usage of risers for every performance to the theatre manager. So we're ready to go on the 11th and 12th of October!

*I will need the TAs to be present during this time.

Here is the spreadsheet for the both the schedules (Rehearsals and Final run-through).

Thank you, Preethi

Growth Story Conferences

Coming up after the break - Monday, 15th October after school and Tuesday 16th October all day.

 
The purpose of these conferences is to share the data points that tell the growth story for each child. The one-page progress report that focuses on learning habits and personal/social/emotional growth will be given to the parents at this conference in hard copy to take home.

Growth conferences will be 20 mins in duration; EY - G2 it is only parent/teacher; G3-5 it is parent/child/teacher.  Childcare for siblings will be provided in the CIC.

Conference Sign-up (Edmodo)

Please make a copy of this template for parents to sign up for Student Growth Conferences. Second, please send the signup sheet to parents before the end of the day on Thursday 27 September.

Upcoming Student Growth Conferences and Progress Report (repeat announcement)
All teams by now should have seen the progress report format. These report cards will communicate progress around our learning habits as well as one PSE narrative comment. This comment should focus on transitions to the new grade/class/school, relationships formed, learning habits and choices being made and as much as possible use the language from the AISC Vision of a learner.  

A reminder of deadlines for these as well as proofreaders can be found below. Here is the report card writing style guide for your easy access. If you would prefer to send a sample PSE narrative comment to your proofreader for helpful feedback, please do so well in advance of the deadline!

** Here is the video on how to enter grades and comments on progress report.

Progress Report Card Timeline

Wednesday 26 Sept	Faculty meeting focusing on growth story conferences - HR, EAL and LSS teachers Please bring data for one child to practice telling growth story;  this can include but is not limited to:  F&P, early literacy checks, writing on-demands, math pre and post assessments, unit formative assessments etc etc
By Thursday 27 September	Homeroom teachers completed narrative comments given to EAL co-teacher to proof  **vital step
F A L L    B R E A K
By Monday 8 October (end of day)	Comments  (google doc) due to admin for final proofing (can be shared with admin proofer over break if ready early)
Wednesday 9 October	Edited comments returned to teachers, can begin entering narratives into PowerSchool
By Thursday 10 October 3pm	All report information entered into PowerSchool
Friday 12 October	Reports printed by ES office, final check
Monday 15 October	Reports given to HR teachers to give to parents at growth story conference

ES Classroom Volunteering for Discovery Day on October 19th ​

The first High School Discovery Day of the year will take place on Friday, October 19th.  Discovery Day is an opportunity for students to learn something outside of the normal class schedule and structure. One Discovery Day activity that has been successful in the past involves high school students working with elementary school teachers in their classrooms.  This is a great opportunity for high school students to gain experience in a classroom setting and to learn skills that encourage empathy, confidence and compassion. For elementary students, it provides a fun opportunity to interact with older students, and for teachers, it could be a great opportunity to try something new!  Please complete this Google Form to indicate your interest in participating. Please contact Josiah Laposky at ljosiah@aischennai.org if you have any questions.  Thank you for your consideration!

Have a great weekend!

Keryn, Dave and Calley

Inspiration Station - Optional Reading

Stop reading now if you choose, or keep scrolling for something completely different.

Weekly faculty notes will now include some inspirational, fun, thought-provoking, or heart-warming bits at the end of the required reading.   Do you have an article, a link, a story or something else special to share?  Please email Calley!

Last week our students from elementary through high school shared inspiring messages of Peace.  I was touched by the messages of our human right to peace, which has sadly been so often out of reach for many.  In a recent victory for peace and reconciliation, the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments ended a violent 20 year conflict that kept families separated.  Judging from the video footage of the celebration at the border opening, the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea rejoiced at this good news and reunited with their friends and families.