November 27, 2015

From the Desk of your PCA Team ....

The week has been a tough one for many with the weather conditions that have been. Many areas are just seeing the water clearing.  There is a sense of joy with the loss.  Many from all over the country have come forth to help flood victims with basics of clean linens, to food, and shelter.  We look at the trials relief personnel have done to help others.  It is an astounding amount of work.  There is still more that can be done.  One can be a part of it by donating funds for the relief effort.  We all hope to be an integral part of the new story for Chennai as we rebuild.  

Where did November go?  December is here.  As the month is beginning, memories of decorated Christmas trees and the taste of eggnog.  Christmas is also the season of giving. For our school, it is the time we go home or go on vacation with the family.  We look forward to meeting a few persons from the travel arena to give you ideas of where you can find unique vacations in and outside of India.  Look forward to that in our next PCA meeting.  

Here is signing off this week....

                           ---------------------------

Event Change

PCA Ball Date Change

We have had to change the PCA ball from April 9th to May 7, 2016.  We have had to do so for the following reasons:

1)  we needed a location which could house up to 350+ persons as this is the 20th anniversary ball.  Thus we look forward to even more participation this year.

2) we needed something which fit into a budget of rs.3500-3800/ticket for food.

3) we wanted a place that gave us either liquor in the meal price, or was going to give us good pricing for drinks overall.  

4) we needed a place that gave us a good selection of food.

Given these requirements, our teams did a lot of research collecting different price quotations from multiple hotels. Two hotels only give us the space -  Leela and ITC.  For our original date, April 9, 2016, ITC was booked.  We approached Leela and got a price that was well out of our budget.  Thus we approached ITC, and got a price, which fulfilled all of the requirements, but a month later.  Thus as a group of nearly 30 persons, we decided that we will choose ITC on May 7th.

We look for you all to join us for the PCA on May 7, 2016.

                          ---------------------------

Upcoming Events

November 29, 2015 - Kids Cooking at Design Hotel

December 1, 2015 - PCA Meeting - 8:45-9:45 in BBT

December 1, 2015 - KPA Meeting - 2:30-3:30 in BBT

December 2, 2015 - Early Dismissal at 1:30 p.m.

December 5, 2015 - Kids Cooking Demo at Westin, Velachery

December 7, 2015 - Christmas Tree Lighting - 6:00 p.m. at Hyatt Regency

December 7, 2015 - December 11, 2015 - Hour of Code

December 9, 2015 - PCA City Tour

                          ---------------------------

Community Events

Giving Tree

The Elementary School, Mr. Balajee, who is AISC’s Service Learning Coordinator, children and teachers, and the PCA Elementary Grade Level Representatives are sponsoring our school’s 3rd annual Giving Tree to support approximately 350 students in 6-8 area orphanages.  Please support these efforts as we move into the holiday season.

Mr Balajee and the PCA grade level representatives have been hard at work making arrangements for the lists of children we will have the opportunity to help and planning the overall project.  Our children will be involved over the next week creating the stars that will be put on the tree, led by some of our dedicated teachers in the elementary school.

The Giving Tree was set up this morning in the Elementary School Cafeteria. Please make note of the following information, which will also be posted by the tree.

1. Children/parents can take a star off the tree and purchase a small item useful to the child listed on the star.  We will include name, age, and gender of recipient on the stars. The children at the orphanages will request specific items, within reason.  We feel these requests will be in the Rs 500 price range.

2.  We would like the present to be wrapped, with the star attached to the gift (stars will be numbered and tracked so we know which orphanage they will go to and to ensure the gift is given to the correct child).  The gift is to be dropped off in a designated box in the Elementary School CIC.

3.  Gifts may be dropped off beginning December 6. The last day to drop off gifts will be on December 16.

4.  The gifts will be delivered to the orphanages beginning December 18. There will be opportunities for parents and children to help with the delivery. More information about this process will be included in this blog before we leave for the Winter Break.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Mr. Balajee or your grade-level PCA representative.

Charity Luncheon

OWC will be having a Charity Luncheon on December 1, 2015 next month.

Flood Relief Effort

The school is no longer taking donations in-kind, but will be accepting monetary donations. You can make a cash donation at the cashier's window.

To keep up with the continuing to support the orphanage Annal Home for Children. Please follow their situation on the Facebook page and here in this blog.

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November 20, 2015

From the Desk of your PCA Team ....

This week, I look back, I remember all the areas of chennai that had water issues due to the rain.   We all saw so many drastic pictures, from water being logged at 3 feet to over two stories high.   Many families suffered due to the water.  The banks of lakes to the north of us, flooded over which caused many families to loose their basic necessities. During all the rain, our state and national civil services must be thanked. From the fire department, to police, to the national defence personnel who were deployed to help all those in need.  Chennai has always seen rain, but never this severe.  The response of our personnel terrific.  

With many in need, our school children, with the support of the school, have started a campaign to help the survivors of the floods. Many of you have received the email from the PCA grade level reps.  Please do participate.  My mother used to tell me, alone we fall, together we can make an impact. So let us, as a community (parents, students, and staff) work together to make the impact.  Below, again is the message sent to us all. 

As I look towards next week, I am reminded of the US holiday of Thanksgiving.  This is a holiday as it sounds, a day of giving thanks for all we have.  The history behind this was a day where the first Pilgrims and Indians of the US came to eat a meal together to celebrate -- that they lived!  In spring of the first year of Thanksgiving, the second settlement of Pilgrims to the US took stock of the population.  Many has died in the winter due to cold or starvation.  Many were weak.  The remaining were not sure what to grow as their seed to grow new plants was near done.  As the season began, they had also begun their friendship with their neighbors - the Indians.  Their friends had begun to show the Pilgrims how to till the soil, to sow and produce good yield of crops.  Thus, after the season was over, both Pilgrims and Indians shared a meal together to give thanks for the bounty they had received from the harvest.  Thus began the tradition of Thanksgiving. 

As we look forward to Thanksgiving, we should also give thanks to the ones who are survived the recent floods.  We should give thanks for all who have helped to make life better for all in our city.  

We hope that we can get near 100% participation from our community for relief in our area.  Hope all of you stay safe. 

Here is signing off this week....

                           ---------------------------
Event Change

We have had to change the PCA ball from April 9th to May 7, 2016.  We have had to do so for the following reasons:

1)  we needed a location which could house up to 350+ persons as this is the 20th anniversary ball.  Thus we look forward to even more participation this year. 

2) we needed something which fit into a budget of rs.3500-3800/ticket for food. 

3) we wanted a place that gave us either liquor in the meal price, or was going to give us good pricing for drinks overall.  

4) we needed a place that gave us a good selection of food. 

Given these requirements, our teams did a lot of research collecting different price quotations from multiple hotels. Two hotels only give us the space -  Leela and ITC.  For our original date, April 9, 2016, ITC was booked.  We approached Leela and got a price that was well out of our budget.  Thus we approached ITC, and got a price, which fulfilled all of the requirements, but a month later.  Thus as a group of nearly 30 persons, we decided that we will choose ITC on May 7th. 

We look for you all to join us for the PCA on May 7, 2016. 

                           ---------------------------

Upcoming Events

November 25, 2015 - PCA City Tour - DATE CHANGED DUE TO WEATHER

November 26, 2015 - Thanksgiving Holiday - Thanksgiving Lunch at Leela - Contact Laurinda Porter for reservations

November 28, 2015 - Kids Cooking at Design Hotel 

                           ---------------------------
Community Event

OWC will be having a Charity Luncheon on December 1, 2015 next month.

November 13, 2015

From the Desk of your PCA Team .....

Hope everyone came back from a few days off of relaxation and time with the family for the Diwali Holiday's.  In the south, we have what is called the receding monsoons. Typically during the month of June, the Monsoon season starts in the northern part of India, to go traverse across the plains up to the Himalayas.  Beginning about October into December, the same rain clouds come down from the Himalayas across the southern part of India, delivering the "liquid sunshine" we are getting these days.  In the Indian Subcontinent, we have multiple film songs in regards to the Monsoon weather. It is the cause of romantic moments shown in multiple movies.  The uniqueness of the Monsoon weather in India is that the weather is still warm outside with the rains.  As children, we would go out in the rain and be drenched from head to toe.  Come in, have something warm and being again with splashing in the water puddles that formed in the areas we lived.  Such wonderful childhood memories we all have had. 

Today, we thought to share with you a bit about the Monsoons....

Monsoon

Monsoon (UK: /mɒnˈsuːn/; US: /mɑːnˈsuːn/) is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation,but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase.

Southwest monsoon

Onset dates and prevailing wind currents of the southwest summer monsoons in India.  

The southwestern summer monsoons occur from July through September. The Thar Desert and adjoining areas of the northern and central Indian subcontinent heats up considerably during the hot summers. This causes a low pressure area over the northern and central Indian subcontinent. To fill this void, the moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean rush in to the subcontinent. These winds, rich in moisture, are drawn towards the Himalayas. The Himalayas act like a high wall, blocking the winds from passing into Central Asia, and forcing them to rise. As the clouds rise their temperature drops and precipitation occurs. Some areas of the subcontinent receive up to 10,000 mm (390 in) of rain annually.

The southwest monsoon is generally expected to begin around the beginning of June and fade away by the end of September. The moisture-laden winds on reaching the southernmost point of the Indian Peninsula, due to its topography, become divided into two parts: the Arabian Sea Branch and the Bay of Bengal Branch.

The Arabian Sea Branch of the Southwest Monsoon first hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state of Kerala, India, thus making this area the first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest Monsoon. This branch of the monsoon moves northwards along the Western Ghats (Konkan and Goa) with precipitation on coastal areas, west of the Western Ghats. The eastern areas of the Western Ghats do not receive much rain from this monsoon as the wind does not cross the Western Ghats.

The Bay of Bengal Branch of Southwest Monsoon flows over the Bay of Bengal heading towards North-East India and Bengal, picking up more moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The winds arrive at the Eastern Himalayas with

Advancing monsoon clouds and showers in Aralvaimozhy, near Nagercoil, India

large amounts of rain. Mawsynram, situated on the southern slopes of the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, India, is one of the wettest places on Earth. After the arrival at the Eastern Himalayas, the winds turns towards the west, travelling over the Indo-Gangetic Plain at a rate of roughly 1–2 weeks per state[citation needed], pouring rain all along its way. June 1 is regarded as the date of onset of the monsoon in India, as indicated by the arrival of the monsoon in the southernmost state of Kerala.

The monsoon accounts for 80% of the rainfall in India[citation needed]. Indian agriculture (which accounts for 25% of the GDP and employs 70% of the population) is heavily dependent on the rains, for growing crops especially like cotton, rice, oilseeds and coarse grains. A delay of a few days in the arrival of the monsoon can badly affect the economy, as evidenced in the numerous droughts in India in the 1990s.

The monsoon is widely welcomed and appreciated by city-dwellers as well, for it provides relief from the climax of summer heat in June. However, the roads take a battering every year. Often houses and streets are waterlogged and slums are flooded despite drainage systems. A lack of city infrastructure coupled with changing climate patterns causes severe economic loss including damage to property and loss of lives, as evidenced in the 2005 flooding in Mumbai that brought the city to a standstill. Bangladesh and certain regions of India like Assam and West Bengal, also frequently experience heavy floods during this season. Recently, areas in India that used to receive scanty rainfall throughout the year, like the Thar Desert, have surprisingly ended up receiving floods due to the prolonged monsoon season.

The influence of the Southwest Monsoon is felt as far north as in China's Xinjiang. It is estimated that about 70% of all precipitation in the central part of the Tian Shan Mountains falls during the three summer months, when the region is under the monsoon influence; about 70% of that is directly of "cyclonic" (i.e., monsoon-driven) origin (as opposed to "local convection").

Northeast monsoon

Monsoon clouds in Kolkata

Around September, with the sun fast retreating south, the northern land mass of the Indian subcontinent begins to cool off rapidly. With this air pressure begins to build over northern India, the Indian Ocean and its surrounding atmosphere still holds its heat. This causes cold wind to sweep down from the Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic Plain towards the vast spans of the Indian Ocean south of the Deccan peninsula. This is known as the Northeast Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon.

Western Ghats on August 28 in rainy season, 2010

While travelling towards the Indian Ocean, the dry cold wind picks up some moisture from the Bay of Bengal and pours it over peninsular India and parts of Sri Lanka. Cities like Chennai, which get less rain from the Southwest Monsoon, receive rain from this Monsoon. About 50% to 60% of the rain received by the state of Tamil Nadu is from the Northeast Monsoon. In Southern Asia, the northeastern monsoons take place from December to early March when the surface high-pressure system is strongest. The jet stream in this region splits into the southern subtropical jet and the polar jet. The subtropical flow directs northeasterly winds to blow across southern Asia, creating dry air streams which produce clear skies over India. Meanwhile, a low pressure system develops over South-East Asia and Australasia and winds are directed toward Australia known as a monsoon trough.

As the weekend progresses, the Monsoon weather will remain.  Enjoy the liquid sunshine and stay safe this weekend. 

Signing off for this week....

                           ---------------------------

Upcoming Events

November 16, 2015 - Cooking demo at Design Hotel - Thanksgiving Meal made with local ingredients
November 18, 2015 - PCA City Tour
November 26, 2015 - Thanksgiving Holiday - Thanksgiving Lunch at Leela - Contact Laurinda Porter for reservations
November 28, 2015 - Kids Cooking at Design Hotel 

                           ---------------------------
Community Event
November 22, 2015 - Our own Veronica Medina, will be working with Leela Chefs to make a delicious Mexican Lunch.  This will include starters, main dishes and desserts.
Just book your table calling to Leela Palace, Spectra restaurant.  Don't miss our very own Veronica at this event!

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References
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon

November 6, 2015

From the Desk of your PCA Team .....

As we begin the weekend, we are looking a at five days of time for the family.  As Diwali begins, we will hear crackers, and see chinese lanterns take up the night sky.  If you get the chance to, take the time to see the beauty of the night sky.  

Here is wishing all a wonderful Diwali holiday.  Have fun, stay safe.

Signing off for this week....

                             ---------------------------

Upcoming Events

November 13, 2015 - Cooking demo at Westin 
November 16, 2015 - Cooking demo at Design Hotel - Thanksgiving Meal made with local ingredients
November 18, 2015 - PCA City Tour
November 26, 2015 - Thanksgiving Holiday - Thanksgiving Lunch at Leela - Contact Laurinda Porter for reservations
November 28, 2015 - Kids Cooking at Design Hotel 

                                ---------------------------

Community Event

October 30, 2015

From the Desk of your PCA Team .....

Diwali is the festival of lights.  A Mela is equivalent of a carnival in the west.  This year, our Country Coordinators and the school have worked very hard to put together our fantastic event - The Diwali Mela.  The Diwali Mela will be filled with food, traditional Dances to see and take part in, games for all, a bazaar for all to enjoy.  Kids will have a bouncy house and popcorn to enjoy.  Activities such as the mendi, making/coloring pots at the potter’s wheel and cane arts will be items to name a few. To top the event, our food caterer will be  serving rolled kulfi (ice-cream).  This is ice-cream on a cold stone wheel which is favored to one’s liking. This is treat for all.  

The programme will begin with lighting of the Diwali lamp and then promptly will begin with performance at 5:30 in the FAC with our younger ES kids. From the FAC, the Mela will travel down to the field where there will be further performances of our students, followed by performances by professional dancers; And then the floor will be open for open dancing for all. Professional dancing will include north Indian dancing of Garba, and south Indian dancing of Thappattam and Karagattam.  

Other Activities and Sponsors

Food, which includes north Indian chaat (such as samosas) and south Indian chaat (such as mini-idlis) will be available with the main course also served.  Our HS kids have come out in full flow to have different games for children to partake.  ALL PROCEEDS from the Games will go to the HS Students’ Charities of their choice.  Other sponsors have also come for the event, who are selling different items, which may interest you.  Items begin at about Rs.100 and go up, based on value.  A list of all the games, and sponsors are listed below. We urge all parents, faculty and staff to come and support our kids.

For our young kids we will have bouncy castle and free popcorn and cotton candy.

Stalls by HS Kids, Co-Sponsored	Games
MIOT Hospital	Mendhi
Sitaram Jewelers	Mendhi
PMR Relocations	Photo Booth
Universal Relocation	Marbles Game
The Right Moo	Pin the flame game
HDFC	Water pots game
GRT Hotels	Musical Chairs
	Rangoli - learn to make rangoli

Sponsors selling items	Items being Sold
Ajnabee Snacks	Indian snacks and sweets
CocoaTrait	Chocolatier
Pasha Beads	Beads, costume jewelry, etc.
Cache	Gift items
M.Rm.Rm. Cultural Foundation (NGO)	Straw Baskets
Momoyama	Chicken dumplings, and Kimbab (veg only)
Ambrosia	Breads and Cookies
Speed Trust (NGO)	Handbags

Dinner Options

Diwali Mela Menu (No Charge)

1. Regular food vendor:

We will have two counters each of counter nos 3,4,5,6 to avoid long Queue.

Extra items on Menu (Charged)

2. Kids menu
1. Popcorn
2. Cotton candy
3. Korean Food
1. Chicken Dumplings
2. Kimbab (vegetarian)

Performances from our kids totaling over 2 hours!!  Thus, do stay for the evening and see the performancing from our kids while enjoying the different foods offered at the Mela.

Pictures

There will be a photographer who will take pictures, which is charged.  If you would like a picture at 4” x 6”, it will be Rs.200 and for a 6” x 8” it will be Rs.400.  If you would like photo frames, it will be charged at cost.  The photographer will be set up across from the GRT booth for Musical Chairs.

Tickets will be Rs.600 for adults and HS students.  Kids from 8th grade to PS3+ will be Rs.500, under that age are free. We will begin selling tickets on the 21st of October till the 30th of October. Tickets will not be able to be purchased at the door.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Diwali Significance

Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) every year.  Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness.  The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes and offices.[8] On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After puja, fireworks follow,[9] then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Diwali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.

Diwali is an important festival for Hindus. The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts of India,[11] the festivities start with Dhanteras, followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Diwali on the third day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife–husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhau-beej dedicated to sister–brother bond on the fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.

Diwali festivities include a celebration of sights, sounds, arts and flavors. The festivities vary between different regions.  Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit fusion word Dīpāvali, formed from dīpa (दीप, "light" or "lamp") and āvalī (आवली, "series, line, row"). Dīpāvali or Deepavali thus meant a "row" or "series of lights".  Its celebration include millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed.

History

Diwali dates back to ancient times in India, as a festival after the summer harvest in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika. The festival is mentioned in Sanskrit scriptures such as the Padma Purana, the Skanda Purana both completed in second half of 1st millennium AD but believed to have been expanded from a core text from an earlier era. The diyas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Purana to symbolically represent parts of sun, the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life, who seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.  Hindus in some regions of India associate Diwali with the legend of Yama and Nachiketa on Kartika amavasya (Diwali night). The Nachiketa story about right versus wrong, transient wealth versus true wealth, ignorance versus knowledge is recorded in Katha Upanishad composed in 1st millennium BC.

King Harsha in the 7th century Sanskrit play Nagananda mentions Diwali as Deepapratipadutsava, where lamps were lit and newly engaged brides and grooms were given gifts. Rajasekhara referred to Diwali as Dipamalika in his 9th century Kavyamimamsa, wherein he mentions the tradition of homes being whitewashed and oil lamps decorating homes, streets and markets in the night. The Persian traveller and historian Al Biruni, in his 11th century memoir on India, wrote Diwali being celebrated by Hindus on New Moon day of the month of Kartika.

Significance

Diwali is one of the happiest holidays in Nepal and India with significant preparations. People clean their homes and decorate them for the festivities. Diwali is one of the biggest shopping seasons in Nepal and India; people buy new clothes for themselves and their families, as well as gifts, appliances, kitchen utensils, even expensive items such as cars and gold jewelry. People also buy gifts for family members and friends which typically include sweets, dry fruits, and seasonal specialties depending on regional harvest and customs. It is also the period when children hear ancient stories, legends, myths about battles between good and evil or light and darkness from their parents and elders. Girls and women go shopping and create rangoli and other creative patterns on floors, near doors and walkways. Youth and adults alike help with lighting and preparing for patakhe (fireworks).

There is significant variation in regional practices and rituals. Depending on the region, prayers are offered before one or more deities, with most common being Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity. On Diwali night, fireworks light up the neighborhood skies. Later, family members and invited friends celebrate the night over food and sweets.

Spiritual significance

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs to mark different historical events, stories or myths but they all symbolise the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.

The Yoga, Vedanta, and Samkhya schools of Hindu philosophy share the belief that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. The celebration of Diwali as the "victory of good over evil" refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things, and knowledge overcomes ignorance. Diwali is the celebration of this inner light over spiritual darkness, knowledge over ignorance, right over wrong, good over evil.

Hinduism

Diwali is celebrated in the honour of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India, depending on the school of Hindu philosophy, regional myths, legends, and beliefs.

Many see Diwali honouring the return of the god Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana from exile of 14 years, as told in the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana. To some, Diwali marks the return of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas in the other ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata. Many other Hindus believe Diwali is linked to the celebration of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of the god Vishnu. The five day festival of Diwali begins on the day Lakshmi was born from the churning of cosmic ocean of milk by the gods and the demons; the night of Diwali is the day Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her husband and then married him. Along with Lakshmi, devotees make offerings to Ganesha who symbolizes ethical beginnings and fearless remover of obstacles; Saraswati who symbolizes music, literature and learning; and Kubera who symbolizes book keeping, treasury and wealth management. Other Hindus believe that Diwali is the day Vishnu came back to Lakshmi and their abode in the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her good mood, and therefore are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being during the year ahead.

Hindus in India's eastern region, such as Odisha and West Bengal, worship the goddess Kali instead of Lakshmi, and call the festival Kali Puja. In India's Braj and north central regions, the god Krishna is recognized. People mark Mount Govardhan, and celebrate legends about Krishna. In other regions, the feast of Govardhan Puja (or Annakoot) is celebrated, with 56 or 108 different cuisines prepared, offered to Krishna, then shared and celebrated by the local community.

In West and certain Northern parts of India, the festival of Diwali marks the start of a new Hindu year.

                             ---------------------------
A note from HOS

As you may already know from my Head's Notes, four candidates for the Elementary Principal position (starting 2016-2017) will visit campus, interview, and meet community members on Monday/Tuesday, November 2-3. There will be open meet and greet coffee sessions with the candidates on Monday and Tuesday mornings before school in the ES cafeteria. There will also be an open session for parents to listen to the candidates on Monday, November 2 starting at 8:45 a.m. (BBT). Please feel free to join us.

I will take feedback on all candidates and then based on the feedback, the references, and an assessment of “right fit for the future,” the best candidate will be offered a position starting next year.

Through a fairly exhaustive search and interview process, which has included inputs from leadership, faculty, and external references, our four finalist candidates are (their dossiers are available for review on Moodle/All School/All School Communications/ESPrincipal Candidates):

Keith Collins

Keith is the Elementary School Assistant Principal at the International School of Beijing, China where he has been since 2012. He holds a Doctorate in Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the Fairmont State University, Fairmont, West Virginia. Keith spent five years as Assistant Principal at the Yowell Elementary School, Culpeper, Virginia. Keith has also been a technology and Grade 5 teacher.

Keryn Dowling

Keryn is the Early Childhood and Lower School Curriculum/Primary Years' Program Coordinator at the Zurich International School, Switzerland, where she has been since 2011. She has a wealth of international teaching experiences from across the globe. Keryn holds a Master’s degree in Education Administration and Leadership from The College of New Jersey, USA, and Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Teaching both from Massey University, New Zealand. Keryn has also taught grades 1, 2, 4, and served as a drama teacher.

Lori Newman

Lori is not new to us. She has been the Elementary School Associate Principal at AISC since 2014. Lori has broad experiences as an international educator. Lori joined us from the American School in Japan (Tokyo) after sixteen years, where she served as the Assistant Director of Learning and elementary classroom teacher. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Calgary in Canada. Lori has also taught grades 2 and 4 in Venezuela and Japan.

Rachel Griffin

Rachel is the Head of Lower School at the Leman Manhattan Preparatory School, New York, USA where she has been since 2012. Rachel has also been an Assistant Head – Lower School and Director of School Curriculum (Lower School) at Leman and she served as the Assistant Head – Lower School at The Chapin School (NYC). She holds a Master’s degree in Education Leadership from Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the Bank Street College of Education, New York, and a Bachelor’s degree in French from the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts. Rachel has also taught kindergarten and grade 3.

I do hope you will be able to find some time to listen and learn about our candidates next week. It is invaluable for me to understand how individuals and various stakeholder groups perceive our candidates.

                             ---------------------------

Upcoming Events

November 3, 2015 - PCA Meeting - 8:45-9:45 - BBT
November 3, 2015 - KPA Meeting - 2:30- 3:30 - BBT

November 6, 2015 - Cooking demo at Westin 

                                ---------------------------

Community Event

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Open Positions

There are still open positions on the PCA.  We are looking for energetic persons whose goal is to enrich the lives of their kids through parent sponsored activities. We have open positions for Vice President on the Executive Team.

If you are interested, please do give us an email at pca@aisch.org.  

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali