Friday, September 27, 2019

Friday, September 27, 2019

Dear all,

Can you believe that it is already Fall Break? Please enjoy your well-earned stay-cations and travels.  We look forward to rejoining together after Ayuda Puja, on Tuesday Oct 8.  
This week we hosted almost 80 visitors from the US consulate to learn about our LEED status and hear about the great work we are doing with environmental responsibility. Twelve of our 4th grade students who had learned about our catchment area spoke knowledgeably with confidence and poise to our visitors. Congratulations to Sihwan Kim, Hyerin Cha, Yulong Ni, Junu Baek, Yeonu Seok, Ashwath Prabhu, Johana Jung, Bianca Peyron, Jihoo Kim, JeongIn Choi, JiEun Kim and Johannes Clausen…  and to Ross and Ula - your students  represented the elementary school well!

Please check your mail cubby for your copy of the Community Directory.

Thank yous and shout outs
  • Thank you to all of the teachers and teams who participated in math mornings this week!  Great mathematical teaching! Note that the copies of presentations have to shared with parents in today’s blog.
  • Grade 2 would like to recognize Fer for being our wonderful and hard-working team leader this year. She has helped keep us grounded through mindfulness, organized and caffeinated!!
  • Thank you to Hilary for your help with our Social Studies unit. Your enthusiasm for Social Studies built more excitement around the learning that is happening in our class. Marcus
  • Thank you to Sunita and Preetika for being brilliant co-workers who are always positive and a pleasure to work with - from Marcus and Janna. 
  • Thank you vision project teams for your engagement this week!  Our students are fortunate to have such dedicated teachers.
  • Sarah H and Finny, for teaching our students those beautiful Indian songs
  • The Early Years Team, Zahida, Lakshmi, Valar, Hannah and Vinita, for teaching those spectacular dances for IM performances
  • Joseph, Anita.H, Priya and Prasanth, for all of the Student Artwork adorning the FAC walls.
  • Every Teaching Assistant, Homeroom Teacher and Specialist Teacher for your support during the India Month rehearsals.
  • Clinton, for helping Preethi backstage and being everywhere at once.
  • Jane, for graciously letting the teachers use the Dance room for their dance practice.
  • Vinita for her support and assistance to Preethi and the IM rehearsals these past few weeks. A BIG thank you
  • Preethi for all her help and instruction and encouragement given to all the teachers who participated in the Teacher Dance! Rowdy Babes, you rocked! 
First week back after the break:
Monday 7 October
No school - Ayudha Puja
Tuesday 8 October
Wednesday 9 October
Early Release - STRAND PD Session #1
Thursday 10 October
Vision and Hearing Screening
Inspiration Conversation
Friday 11 October
Vision and Hearing Screening
Saturday 12 October
PCA Diwali Mela
Board of Directors Meeting

Vision Project Week Launch
  • You can click here to see all the different projects we will offer during our first ever project week, as well as watch the trailer/promo videos!  Vision Project Menu
  • First Friday back;  Friday 11 October at 8:45a.m all Grades 3-5 should be assembled in the FAC theatre.
  • During this special assembly, all students will be given this viewing guide. Please have them come with a clipboard and pencil.
  • Following this assembly, information to parents will be sent home via our principals blog
  • Students will use MM time on Monday 14th to sign up for their vision projects
  • All teachers involved in Vision Projects  should be present in the FAC during this time
Change in Drop off/Pick Up Procedures
Now that we have all settled into the routines of the beginning of the year, and children are familiar with their specialists and TAs, we are going to move to a more equitable allocation of pickup and drop off duties for HR and specialist teachers and TAs in Grades 3 and 4.  
Note: Grade 5 students are responsible for their own transitions.  HR teachers always handle drop off, so there is no change to Grade 5 procedures.
  1. PE drop off/pick up will always be a TA.
  2. Recess/lunch Pickup:  Whoever has the class following snack or lunch recess should pick up the students.  This will mean that you need to set up a meeting place for your students.  Please model this starting after break.  Ask homeroom teachers for suggestions as needed.
  3. After school drop off: Whoever has the class for period 7 should facilitate drop-off.  Students may need to walk back to class to pick up backpacks.  Please take your class to the students’ usual drop off location (they will know that location).
Please be aware that we realize this does impact the specialist teachers’ schedules: it will mean that you add about 5 minutes of contact time per each of your Grade 3 or 4 classes. Upon considering this change in procedures, we examined the schedule and noted two important data points:  pickup frequency, and total contact time.  
Total contact time for specialists is at least 3.5 hours per week less than home room teachers.  This difference is in planning time.  While specialists have more total students, the difference in contact time has a significant impact.  This change will reallocate pickups/drop-offs among HR and specialists and give some planning time back to HR.  
Does your team have questions or concerns about this change? Please reach out to your supervisor.  
India Month Activities
October is our “Celebrate India” month. We have many exciting experiences planned for our students that will help them explore the different facets of India and its incredibility!
During this time, our students will have an opportunity to explore a variety of activities related to Indian culture through experiential learning. We will have experts leading sessions in Pottery, Tie and Dye, Indian Design Challenges, Yoga, Jewellery making and more. 
Grades 1, 2 and 3 (FLEX - IS) will take part in these activities during Indian Studies, and other grades’ teachers can sign up for these activities!


Indian Snack and Lunch (provided by the school) Thursday, October 24th
All faculty and students will be provided a complimentary Indian Snack and Lunch, catered by our Taj Madras Flight Kitchen on Thursday, October 24th. Spices in the food will be minimal. 
Snack menu: Carrot sticks and cucumber sticks with ranch.
Indian Flag- Tricolor Themed Healthy Snack
Lunch menu: Jeera rice (rice cooked with cumin seeds and garnished with coriander leaves), poori (wheat bread), raitha (yoghurt with chopped vegetables), paneer masala (for vegetarians) or chicken tikka (for non-vegetarians), soan papdi (dessert), vadaam (rice crisps) and fresh juice (lime/sweet lime).

Requesting Books from the Library 
If you'd like to request books for class use from the library, please fill out the form here. If you list specific titles, library staff will gather the books and email you when they are ready. We can also deliver the books to your class. If you offer us general guidelines on what books you need, we will get back to you within two days. Thank you!

Vision and Hearing
Vision and Hearing will take place in the Madras Hall on Thursday 10th & Friday 11th October. See Schedule here.

And this week’s Twitter Award goes to ….
Ms Julia Davis!
 
Keryn, Dave, and Calley


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