May 29, 2014

Dear parents,

my second-last post...I can't believe one year is almost gone...I remember the moment I decided to jump in the PCA and the first time I realised I took the commitment, I was so scared not to be able to understand at the meetings or to communicate my thoughts or if I could to be really helpful.
I'm so happy now that Sam - the ex President of PTA - believed in my potential!
I had a wonderful last year at AISC! Thank you to all of you who helped me in building so many good memories!

I hope you are enjoying all the celebrations in your kids classes and around the school as well.
Greek celebrations, Sports Awards, today the 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony was bringing tears in many eyes...including mine!
The teachers were so sweet talking about the students and the students so proud of being awarded on their last year of elementary school.

Saturday the Class of 2015 will held the Graduation Ceremony in AISC Auditorium: for sure again so much emotion will accompany parents during it.
Enjoy every day.

For you to know:

Lost and Found

Lost and Found items are stored near the MC rooms. Sonia David in the main reception holds the valuable items. Kindly visit these areas if your child has lost something. 

These items that have been found will be displayed on tables in the main entrance from Wednesday, June3rd through Friday, June 5th. Please stop by to see if any of these belong to your family.Those items not claimed by Friday, June 5th will be donated to local orphanages.

Book donations needed!

Our AISC mission is alive and well for staff as well as students!  Pursuing her passion of service, former EAL teacher and current Literacy Coach, Megan McCrindle, is headed to Pune "make her unique contribution" at a new school, aimed at providing world-class education for promising Indian girls.

Preparing to open its doors this summer, Avasara is looking for donations of gently used English language books.  If you have any you’d like to give, please bring them to the box at Main Reception.  We’ll accept donations through Wednesday, 3 June.

Avasara believes that when inspirational young women work with inspired teachers, mentors, and curricula, there are no limits to what can be achieved. 

Avasara Academy is a progressive secondary school opening in August 2015 that will educate girls of exceptional promise for a lifetime of leadership and contribution to society. Outstanding students selected on merit to attend Avasara will engage in a specialized curriculum designed to couple academic excellence with Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Indian Studies.  Avasara believes that a student's ability to pay fees should not affect their chances to experience this unique and holistic educational opportunity, and they offer admission to exceptional girls, with a financial assistance program seeking to ensure that all admitted students can attend. Here is a short video on the school: https://youtu.be/vYEHckI_TLg

Thank you and help spread the word about this new school! Feel free to contact Megan (mmegan@aisch,org) to learn more about Avasara and how you can get involved.

As Megan says:  “It takes a village to start a school.”  Thanks for being part of our global village.

And if you have gently used books in other languages which you would like to donate, please bring them to the MS CIC.

A box has been arranged in Main Reception. 

Thank you all.

The PCA TEAM 

wishes you a wonderful Week-end.

May 22, 2015

Dear parents,

Looks like quiet weeks are just passing with this heat to remind us that Chennai has Hot, Hotter and Hottest Seasons...but we all know that many of us are actually pretty busy at home packing and selecting items to bring back home or to move to the next destination or also to leave here.
There will be hard weeks for many of us, not easy to say goodbye with the promise of trying to stay connected and to meet someday somewhere, but sure is that technology is by our side and through Mail, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr, Twitter...and so on, connection is an easy task.
Enjoy your next weeks!

Believe it o not...we are still missing 3 of the PCA Executive Team's Positions: if you are not sure if to take it but still thinking...now make the right decision and step into it...so that Simona - the only candidate to the VP position - can have a restful and serene Summer!

WE are looking for President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Here you can check what the Bylaws says about the 3 positions. 

Anyway, you also must know that a Team works together and together the result is easier: the Administration will support you all along the year with so much passion and willingness that you will be touched. 

It will be fun and the experience out of it will be amazing: guaranteed!

Lost and Found

Lost and Found items are stored near the MC rooms. Sonia David in the main reception holds the valuable items. Kindly visit these areas if your child has lost something. 

These items that have been found will be displayed on tables in the main entrance from Wednesday, June3rd through Friday, June 5th. Please stop by to see if any of these belong to your family.Those items not claimed by Friday, June 5th will be donated to local orphanages.

Book donations needed!

Our AISC mission is alive and well for staff as well as students!  Pursuing her passion of service, former EAL teacher and current Literacy Coach, Megan McCrindle, is headed to Pune "make her unique contribution" at a new school, aimed at providing world-class education for promising Indian girls.

Preparing to open its doors this summer, Avasara is looking for donations of gently used English language books.  If you have any you’d like to give, please bring them to the box at Main Reception.  We’ll accept donations through Wednesday, 3 June.

Avasara believes that when inspirational young women work with inspired teachers, mentors, and curricula, there are no limits to what can be achieved. 

Avasara Academy is a progressive secondary school opening in August 2015 that will educate girls of exceptional promise for a lifetime of leadership and contribution to society. Outstanding students selected on merit to attend Avasara will engage in a specialized curriculum designed to couple academic excellence with Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Indian Studies.  Avasara believes that a student's ability to pay fees should not affect their chances to experience this unique and holistic educational opportunity, and they offer admission to exceptional girls, with a financial assistance program seeking to ensure that all admitted students can attend. Here is a short video on the school: https://youtu.be/vYEHckI_TLg

Thank you and help spread the word about this new school! Feel free to contact Megan (mmegan@aisch,org) to learn more about Avasara and how you can get involved.

As Megan says:  “It takes a village to start a school.”  Thanks for being part of our global village.

And if you have gently used books in other languages which you would like to donate, please bring them to the MS CIC.

A box has been arranged in Main Reception. 

Thank you all.

AISC Connect Magazine is READY for you folks!!!!!!!

Your younger child, if in ES or MS, received a copy of it. Hope you found it and you liked it.
If your youngest or only child is in HS, they may pick up your family's copy of the magazine from Sunita at the HS Office.
Lots of pictures and articles from our big community! Don't miss it!

The PCA TEAM 

wishes you a wonderful Week-end.

PCA Feedback

During the last Monthly Meeting we asked you to fill a Feedback paper, to give the next PCA suggestions.
We'll try to give you answers to what we learned from you:

1. Asking why we cannot have Fire Works during Diwali Mela: FireWorks are not allowed, because first of all they use Child Labor to produce them; secondary they spoil the Field and pollute and last but not least they are dangerous for our kids. The school doesn't want to give these messages to the community
2. Asking for more City Trips: there is one every month. We could think about giving you sometimes the chance to put together a special group on request and check Viraj's availability.
3. You suggested the PCA Team members attend more meetings and coffee mornings: unfortunately we don't have that much time; besides our meetings we attend Town Hall Meetings, Boards of Directors and Monthly meetings with the Admin, plus our own meetings.  We come to as many other gatherings as we can.
4. You suggested we Ask for more help! We actually spend 80% of our time asking for help and that is also a fine line, some people say we ask too much! The community knows very well we are always happy if someone offers time to help!
5. Someone asks: is it necessary to have events just because we have had them in previous year? The Events we take good care of are: UN Day, Diwali Mela, PCA Ball, Faculty and Staff Lunch, Volunteer Brunch and AISC Connect Magazine - Do you feel these Events add/don't add value to the School Mission?  What shall we do?  What shall we not do?  Please give us details.
6. You suggested we consider celebrating UN DAY on a Saturday, because kids could enjoy it more: the first reply would certainly come from the Teachers, who will maybe not be available to come to school again on Saturday and work.
7. Someone says You do too much Fundraising: the first part of the year was mainly social - with  UN Day, and Diwali Mela. Yes, the ball and the AISConnect Magazine are about money.  We try to support the programs of the School with some money as well as with our time.  We finish up with the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Lunch and the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, to thank those who have done so much good work during the year. 

Thank you for your comments .....  we appreciated ......  Good luck to next year's team...

May 15, 2015

Dear parents,

A lot is still going on at school to help rebuild NEPAL!

The Quilt raffle organized from some Grade Reps Moms was another great success: today I received this message

Dear All,

I am so happy to let everyone know that our generous and caring school community came together with a final donation to the Lincoln School Fund supporting Nepal relief of Rs. 31,300.  Total tickets for the Quilt raffle sold across the week were 313.  This is a wonderful add on last week's bake sale led by Betsy!  Parent Aura ended up having the winning ticket.

Thank you to the school and especially Kevin and thr ES office along with Sonia in the main office for giving us the venue to help and Gina,JoAnn, and Shanti for selling tickets everyday!  Parents Sara, Gina, and Lucy also donated second draw prizes to award, which was very kind!

We hope this small amount stretches far and wide to begin to rebuild a normal life for the people in Nepal.

Margaret, Gina, JoAnn and all the ES Grade Reps

We are still missing 3 of the PCA Executive Team's Positions: if you are not sure if to take it but still thinking...now make the right decision and step into it!

WE are looking for President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Here you can check what the Bylaws says about the 3 positions. 

Anyway, you also must know that a Team works together and together the result is easier: the Administration will support you all along the year with so much passion and willingness that you will be touched. 

It will be fun and the experience out of it will be amazing: guaranteed!

The last Tournaments of the Year 2014/2015 have just finished and the fun and the satisfaction in the eyes of the students, as well as their parents, is the best reward for themselves and the coaches that dedicated so much time pursuing this goal.

Thanks to all our wonderful coaches, directors and sponsors and to you RAPTORS who gave our school so much recognition during the year! 

The Middle School Awards Ceremony yesterday was the final celebration of the great year for all participants in an ASIAC Sports, Band, Choir, MUN, Math Counts or the M.S. Musical. This was the first time we have ever had an all-inclusive recognition and it has been very exciting.
SAISA sports recognition events will begin next week, on Monday 18th in the afternoon.

Because it is important always to remember where we are...  for your information, here is what a Teacher from our school is doing, inspired by the love of teaching and service:

Our AISC mission is alive and well for staff as well as students!  Pursuing her passion of service, former EAL teacher and current Literacy Coach, Megan McCrindle, is headed to Pune "make her unique contribution" at a new school, aimed at providing world-class education for promising Indian girls.  Avasara believes that when inspirational young women work with inspired teachers, mentors, and curricula, there are no limits to what can be achieved. Avasara Academy is a progressive secondary school opening in August 2015 that will educate girls of exceptional promise for a lifetime of leadership and contribution to society. Outstanding students selected on merit to attend Avasara will engage in a specialized curriculum designed to couple academic excellence with Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Indian Studies.  Avasara believes that a student's ability to pay fees should not affect their chances to experience this unique and holistic educational opportunity, and they offer admission to exceptional girls, with a financial assistance program seeking to ensure that all admitted students can attend. Here is a short video on the school: https://youtu.be/vYEHckI_TLg    

Feel free to contact Megan (mmegan@aisch,org) to learn more about Avasara.

AISC Connect Magazine is READY for you folks!!!!!!!

Your younger child, if in ES or MS, will receive a copy of it.
If your youngest or only child is in HS, they may pick up your family's copy of the magazine from Sunita at the HS Office.
Lots of pictures and articles from our big community! Don't miss it!

The PCA TEAM wishes you a wonderful Week-end.

BAKE SALE - Fundraising pro NEPAL

Dear AISCH Community!!!

Yesterday, Friday May 8, we all came together to make a difference! 

And the difference was hugh!!! 

With all of our efforts - baking, buying, baking, buying, buying, buying - we were able to make 

160,382 rps. in 2.5 hours to benefit Nepal in their time of need!

This tremendous effort from our community is testament to the things we are able to do if we pull together to make great things happen!

Thank you to everyone who baked, helped, sold, and bought. We all made that little difference today for Nepal!

AMAZING....

May 8, 2015

Dear Friends,

What a joy was to see so many of you at the last meeting on May 5!
It was the best way to finish a year in your company, with all your smiling faces following our talking and talking.
I was about to tell you that this is my last year at AISC - for the new parents I'm Silvia the tall curly hair Italian Secretary of the PCA - but I was not sure if my voice could bear the brunt of the news...so I foster the communication to this blog!
Many of you already know that: it was kind of a last minute decision and thinking of leaving India, the School, the friends...made the whole family very sad! 
As expat, we are all aware of that, this is our life, one day will be the last...but you are never really prepared to that!
Sure is that I will miss my life here in Chennai so much and I will always think about this experience as one of the best in my life. 
Chennai and the School gave me so much in these years, I will always have a special place dedicated to it in my heart!!
I really hope to manage to stay in contact with all of you, wonderful people.

Moving on to the very important communication for this week:
As you all know already we are having a

****BAKE SALE at school **** - TODAY 8 May- from 2:30 until everything is sold! 

We wanted to take the chance to make a small difference for the people of Nepal who are suffering as a result of the earthquake.
We planned to have a HUGE bake sale with your help to raise money for this cause!
We asked EVERYONE to bake or buy baked goods to sell at school today.
The Event will be in the area in front of the Administration Offices, but also in the Elementary Area and next to the swimming Pool!
We hope you BAKED BAKED BAKED and that you will BUY BUY and BUY!!

Please help to make a small difference for the people of Nepal.....and spread the news among all your friends.

Thank you!

All the collected money will be transferred to the Lincoln School in Kathmandu, Nepal, that of course is aware of the most needed way to invest our fundraising.

PCA Ball - Professional pictures from Photographer 

The Photographers were on campus last week trying to find the guests who didn't pick up their payed pics during the evening...and at the same time they took orders for the photos that were displayed in the Main Entrance.

If you still miss some pictures, please contact siddarthfilmz@gmail.com or call him at +919840928495.

OPERATION SMILE

This year, Operation Smile is conducting a yard sale on Friday 15th, May to raise money for cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries. Please donate items in good condition that you no longer use at home for other AISC families/maintenance staff to purchase. You can simply place the items in bins marked Operation Smile Yard Sale placed at the high school office and reception, the middle school office, the elementary reception, the iHUB, the cafeteria and the high school library. These items will be sold by Operation Smile volunteers and the profits will go to the organization. Or, you can purchase a table for Rs. 1500 and sell your own items and keep the proceeds of the sale. If you wish to buy a table or if you have any questions please contact Nivi Sriram at snivedita@aisch.org.  

Thanks,

Nivi

You know of course that this week-end will be busy at school with Basketball and Swimming ASIAC: if you are hosting THANK YOU!  If you are volunteering and helping in swimming  THANK YOU!  If you prepared the Welcome Baskets for the Athletes  THANK YOU! If you are coming to support our Teams and the Mumbai and Delhi ones  THANK YOU! If you baked for the NEPAL BAKE SALE...  THANK YOU! 

From your PCA Team this week is all...have a nice sport week-end and....

GO RAPTORS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Mano, Susan, Pip and Silvia 

PCA Monthly Meeting - May 5, 2015