Friday, August 23, 2019

Dear Faculty,

In our first five-day week in school, there’s been a lot of community building and learning happening. We have enjoyed our first visits to your classroom to see Number Talks, language workshop, classroom setup inquiry, reading and writing units in full swing. Thanks for all your thoughtful work at this week’s faculty meeting. We have appreciated the feedback that you provided (see below) and will look for more opportunities to feature the same types of engaging professional learning.  

Thank yous and shout outs

• Marcus & Mary Kelly for the live coaching. Way to put yourselves out there!
• Alex, Hilary and Priya for presenting coaching and seesaw at our faculty meeting
• All the members of the ESP search team for all the time and effort going into that process - Jack, Mary Kelly, Alex, Amritha, Amy, Kristina, Tara, Vanessa K, Vigna, Melissa, Jen and Fer.
• Becky, Anita and Hilary for demonstrating engagement in our first faculty forum - decisions made below.
• Dan Love for picking up a kickball recess opportunity!  

Upcoming Week at a Glance

Monday 26th August	First Full Day of Early Years Snapshot conferences (all week) Yearbook Photos (all week)
Tuesday 27th August	-
Wednesday 28th August	Faculty meeting for specialists - vertical team time (look for more information from Dan) No meeting for homeroom/EAL teachers due to Snapshots
Thursday 29th August	Titles and Treats 8:00 - 8:30 in the Library
Friday 30st August	Twitter Breakfast 7:45 - 8:15 in the Design Studio
Saturday 31st August	Maker Saturday

Q12 

Faculty Community Forum - DECISIONS

Honoring the “you” request that we offer opportunities for faculty to offer input, our first faculty community forum was held yesterday! Thank you so much to Becky, Anita and Hilary who attended our first forum! We had dialogues to gain clarity around two points, and reached decisions that are final.

1. Transition; all classes START on time. It is the responsibility of the teacher of the period before to ensure students arriving on time, no longer than 1 minute before the start of the period.
2. Cell phone - ES students can only use their phone after school in the direct presence of a teacher, or in the ES reception (e.g to call a driver).  
3. During before/after school and during recess (including indoor recess) students may NOT be using their devices. 

** Common sense media is coming out with new guidelines about why reduction of screen time is important. Read more here! 

What New Research on Young Kids’ Media Use Means for Teachers

Common Sense media has also created a new topic in their curriculum: 

Media Balance and Well-Being. They have created lessons to teach students in grades KG-12 how to balance media. I love the question for KG to explore: How do you say goodbye to technology when you don’t want to? In addition, there are family resources that accompany all the topics in all grades. The resources include take home activities and contracts for families. 

Explore the Media Balance and Well-Being Family Resources

Back to School Morning Feedback

Due to GTL unanimous decision, we changed this year to having our back to school event in the morning. This change had benefits and compromises. If you would like to give feedback, please do so here before by noon next Thursday 29th

MAP Software Check - all Grade 2-5 classes

Since students only completed their tech configuration, we are confident that students devices are ready to go for MAP tests. Please have students check this week by Thursday end of day, and send (the hopefully) one or two students to the CIC next Friday.

Twitter Breakfast - Friday 30th Aug

Please join Jen and Clinton in the STEM Lab next Friday morning at 7:45 AM for our first Twitter Breakfast! Jen will give us a tutorial on how to use Twitter, showcase #aiscelementary tweets, and share a special surprise from our 3D printer … join us! For Twitter newbies and veterans alike.  

  

Yearbook Photo Schedule next week 

Please post your class photo date on Seesaw to parents. 

Yearbook Photoshoot and Ordering Process

The info below is being communicated to parents in the Principal’s notes, the same ordering process applies to staff also. You can collect an envelope from our office. 

Our Yearbook Photoshoot is taking place August 26–30. Please look for specific information on Seesaw about date and time for your child’s class.

This year there are two ways to order your prints.

Option 1: Order photos the week of the photoshoot

• Students will receive an order envelope from their homeroom teacher by Friday, August 23.
• Indicate which package you would like to order.
• Place the exact amount of the cost in the envelope.
• Return the order envelope to the homeroom teacher.

Option 2: Order photos after reviewing the photo

• Photos will be uploaded to SmugMug a couple of weeks after the photoshoot week.
• Review your child’s photo.
• Contact the vendor directly via email or phone to order your prints. Vendor information will be provided with the SmugMug link.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Sherene Williams at wsherene@aischennai.org.

Faculty Meeting next Wednesday

• Homeroom/EAL teachers; snapshot conferences
• Specialists - vertical team time; look for further communication from Dan regarding this.

Seesaw presentation

Click here to review any of the Q & A answered about the seesaw platform during our last faculty meeting.

Protocols for Absences - this was sent to parents

As per previous years - please continue to send a direct email to your child’s class teacher AND copy Ms Hazel (bhazel@aischennai.org) if your child will be absent on a given day. It is important to stick to this protocol and not notify the teacher through Seesaw as the ES office will not get that notification and will then call you to find out why your child is absent from school.

**Should a parent message you via Seesaw with absence information, please re-direct them to the correct protocol (and also, on that day fwd the email to Hazel / Padma so they have the information). Please enter attendance on PowerSchool by 8:45 am.

India Month 2019 🇮🇳

The India Month Opening Assemblies are coming up in September, our students have begun learning different traditional and contemporary styles of Indian dancing and singing. We will continue to follow our fun tradition with yet another Teachers Dance. This year, we’re excited to be extending this opportunity to faculty and admin across all school! 

Interested? Please click here to sign up.

Questions? Write to ipreethi@aischennai.org

Seesaw/Coaching/LSS Notes

Thank you so much for your attention and meaningful feedback. In the spirit of ongoing feedback loops, here’s a summary of our faculty meeting feedback, as well as some more info where we could provide it.

Seesaw

What helped

• Clarity on tagging/folders 
• Time to hash out and clarify expectations
• Learn from the questions of others

What would help (going forward)

• 1:1 time with Priya V (please email her to schedule this!)
• See examples of effective use/practices by other teachers (coming)
• Specific help for specialists to use in their unique classrooms (reach out to Priya or a coach)

Coaching

What helped

• Seeing the models shows us what’s possible with coaching
• Knowing we are supported

What would help (going forward)

• Knowing how to “sign up” for Cognitive Coaching (Reach out to someone trained in CC via email or in person. Here’s a list of people who have done the training: Alex, Hilary, Keryn, Mary Kelly, Calley, Nigel)
• Knowing the best way to reach out to coaches, via email or in person? (either!)

LSS referrals and short term intervention

What helped

• Much appreciated clarity about the process

What would help (going forward)

• Communication to specialists about TCMs and protocols for communicating through HR teacher 
• The Team Meeting idea sounds great and we are looking forward to it (will be coming soon)

IPad Booking Policy

·         Ipads booked in the morning will not be delivered. Kindly bear in mind that the iPads need to be booked at least a day before in advance. 

·         Beginning 26th of August iPads will only be delivered to your class if they exceed above 5 in numbers.

·         If the numbers are below 5 please pick them up before the designated time. 

·         If you require any apps to be installed or downloaded to the CIC iPads please ask the IT team at least one week in advance. If an app needs to be purchased kindly consult Priya.

Room Parents Update

The PCA has now reached out to parents for solicitation in interest in being either a room parent and or a grade level PCA rep. We will keep you posted as names come in and parents volunteer. Should you have any direct questions pertaining this, or would like to suggest name(s), please let Sossity know at: ssossitypca@aischennai.org

Week 3 - Logical Consequences and Time Out

Dear RC Team,

It has been great hearing from different people about how goal and rule/agreement creation! If your class has agreements that support their goals for the year, then it's time to introduce logical consequences and time out. The timing here is different for different grade levels as K-2 may take a bit more time for rules/agreements than 3-5. As you prepare to roll out consequences and time out, take a second and watch some experts in the attached PPT and slides. In the PPT check out slides 12 and 16. In the Introducing and Using Logical Consequences PPT the videos are on slide 16. Happy watching! Please reach out with any questions or wonderings. 

Socially, emotionally and academically yours,

Alex and Elliot

Adaptive Schools Opportunity from the Office of Teaching and Learning

If you are interested in attending Adaptive Schools Foundation Training in Chennai, November 4-7, click the LINK HERE for more information and to indicate your interest.  

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Keryn, Dave, and Calley