May 27, 2016

Thank you to the 2015-2016 PCA Team:

Viraj Thakore

PratyushaVenepally

Babitha Pelluru

Vidhubala Ajit

Sudheera Reddy

Thank you to all of the volunteers for making this year successful!

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

Henry Ford

Look for us in the Courtyard at the New Student Orientation on 

Wednesday, August 3rd from 9 a.m. -12 p.m.

 to welcome the new families!

Country Coordinators, Grade Level Reps, and all PCA Members are welcome to come and help!

Our first meeting for the new school year will be 

Tuesday, August 9th at 8:45 a.m. in the BBT!  

Please join us and bring your ideas for next year!

Thank you to those who have already volunteered for next year.
We welcome anyone who would like join our group!  

Welcome to our new PCA Secretary, Sossity Smith!!  

Contact us:

Laurinda - plaurindapca@aischennai.org

Lisa - plisa@aischennai.org

Sarah - zsarahpca@aischennai.org 

May 20, 2016

Welcome to the PCA Blog!  

Here you will find all the information you need about PCA activities and events for the parents at the school.

Hello from the new PCA Executive Team for 

2016-2017!!  

President - Laurinda Porter

Vice President - Lisa Payne

Treasurer - Sarah Zuzulock

We are very excited to begin working on all the activities planned for next year. We look forward to meeting many new people and working with old friends. Here are a couple of reminders as you leave for the summer:

UN Day will be on Friday, September 23, 2016

Think about what you will need to decorate your tables, what food you will serve, games to play with the children, and any give-aways for students! 

Look for information from your country coordinator with requirements for your country including items you can bring back to Chennai if you are traveling home.

PCA Ball

This glamorous event will be here again before we know it!  Each country donates a basket for the silent auction. Remember to pick up items from your home country for your basket! Beware of expiration dates.

Volunteers!!!

We need volunteers to make our organization function effectively. 

There are many different ways you can help.  

Let’s all work together to make next year a great one. 

Many hands make light work!! 

Please send an email to Lisa at plisa@aischennai.org if you are able to help. 

Volunteer opportunities are:

 

Country Coordinators

We are looking for country coordinators for next year!

The country coordinators organize their home country families for participation in UN Day, organize the country baskets for the PCA Ball, and welcome new families into our school. The coordinator also acts as a liaison between the school and families from their country.

Grade Level Representatives

Would you like to be a Grade Level Representative? 

Grade Level Representatives are the communication link between the school, PCA, and parents of every grade.  They will also coordinate directly with Principals. Elementary Grade Representatives will also communicate to the Classroom Representatives for their respective grade level. This is a very important role as you serve as an ambassador between parents and the school.  

Other Volunteer Opportunities

We need committee members for each of the following events:

Diwali Planning Team (November) - 6-8 people

PCA Ball (April) - 6-8 people

Teacher and Staff Appreciation (April) - 4-5 people

PCA Volunteer Brunch (May) - 2-3 people

If you are willing to serve on other committees such as SAISA/ASIAC/Performing arts Coordinator, Service Learning Opportunities, or Chennai Chapters, please let us know so that we can begin planning for next year.  

We would love to have many different people on the committees to help plan all of these fun events!!  Please contact Lisa Payne at plisa@aischennai.org to volunteer.

Please come to our first meeting of the year on 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 8:45 a.m. in the BBT 

to find out what exciting events we have in store for next year!

From the Departing PCA Team

From the Desk of your PCA Team ....
As we all begin to wind down the year, we look forward to our respective homes we go back to.   I urge you to take time to sit with your kids and create a "bucket list" if things the whole family can do together.  It sometimes is the smallest of details that make the difference.  Each year when we go back to Wheaton, we make a trip to our favorite candy shop called, The Popcorn Shop.  The shop was created in the alley way between two buildings.  The shop can fit one person and a small child at any given width of the shop. That is how small it is.  But we -- oh my the candy it used to sell.  The gummies and the jaw breakers .... Brings water to my mouth.  As I write this, I request you all to experience these things with your kids.  These are your memories, but also where their parents came from.  As we talk about belonging, this will create a point of belonging for our kids.  Kids who have grown up in so many places, this can also be their home.  Enjoy the summer with them making memories.
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Upcoming Events


May 21, 2016 - HS Prom
May 23, 2016 - Senior Week
May 26, 2016 - MS Band Spring Concert 
May 26, 2016 - Lost and found Display
 

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Chirag Sherpas Club 

Do take some time to work with our kids. 

Danirasa foundation for rehabilitation centre is for the school going kids who were affected  during the floods. They are initiating a free sports camp in the flooded areas for the kids in Thirunindravur . They have 70 kids in the age group of 6yrs to 16 yrs. They have a coach who volunteered to train these kids. Chirag Sherpas club is working with Danirasa  foundation to support this sports camp. As part of it Aisc students from Chirag Sherpas club would request request the following items.

1. Volley balls 

2. Foot balls 

3. Volley ball net 

4. Chess boards

5. Carom boards

6. Shoes

7. Bandages 

8. Old sports clothes

9. Socks

10. Sports medicines (neo sprin, violin)

11. Board games

12. Cereal 

13. Any fiber rich foods.

Please note that there will collection bins at the main reception for people to drop off the items. 

In case of any enquiry please contact :

Pratyusha 9840188630

As our year comes to a close, we are all in the process of cleaning out our closets. Due to the floods, there are many who are still need.   We urge you to please donate your unwanted items to those who can utilize them.  Danirasa, an organization being supported by our Chirag Sherpa's,  is an organization which is helping those in need.  Sherpa's are collecting a number of items for Danirasa, see the list below.   Please do donate to them. See information below for more details. 

With a few weeks left of the school year,  we look forward to our respective homes we go back to.   I urge you to take time to sit with your kids and create a "bucket list" of things the whole family can do together.  It sometimes is the smallest of actions that make the most impact.  For us we go back to Wheaton, we make a trip to our favorite candy shop called, The Popcorn Shop.  The shop was created in the alley way between two buildings.  The shop can fit one person and a small child at any given width of the shop -- that small;    But oh my the candy it sells.  The gummy bears and the jaw breakers .... Brings water to my mouth, as I write this.  I request you all to experience your favorite places with your kids this summer.  As we talk about belonging, this will create a life point for our kids to remember; the kids who have grown up in multiple cultures.  Enjoy the summer making memories with your kids.
Signing off for the year......

May 13, 2016

From the Desk of your PCA Team ....
It is nearly 15 days before the end of the school year. Things are coming to a close. We are saying goodbye to friends whom we will see in their respective countries.  A bittersweet time to spend with our friends.  Many will come back next year, for which we are making plans to meet with and things to do with each. 

PCA Ball 
Last week was the end of much of the PCA Events for the calendar year.  We had the PCA Ball on the 7th.  A wonderful time was had by all at the PCA Ball.  We hope that all of you had an excellent time.  We won't spoil your surprise. Do click on this sentence to see the pictures. You can download any or all of them that you like. 


Korean Cooking Demo 
The final activity we had was the Korean Cooking demo.  The Demo was held at the Park Hyatt on the 12th of May.  Chef Greg, was excellent to give us a wonderful cooking demonstration.   We first made Persimmon punch. He was able to spice up the punch with some apples. What a taste!  The pumpkin soup was next on the agenda.  As we made the soup, one of the parents who has come to many of the demos commented that this is now the third preparation of  pumpkin soup that is quite different from the other preparations we have learned in different demos.  Then we made the preparation for Kimchi.  The Kimchi

was made a particular manner that Chef Greg was used to, which is different to what many of our parents make. Then JJ and Genie stepped in to explain to us how to make it differently.  The last three items we made were the seafood pancake, Bibimbap and crispy chilli chicken.   Yum!  For photographs of the event, please click on this sentence. 

For parents who would like to know more how to make these dishes, Genie was kind to send me You Tube links for all the foods. 


Crunchy Korean Chicken
https://youtu.be/jSh6VJYRV-g
Traditional Kimchi
https://youtu.be/eTucCw1w6Ak
Kabocha - Pumpkin Soup
https://youtu.be/5b9pWbn0qMo
Permission Punch
https://youtu.be/TEXQko6yBg0
Green Onion Pancake
https://youtu.be/RXcsHj1l-Pc


Bibimbap  

https://youtu.be/6QQ67F8y2b8

Also, many parents asked for the location of a Korean store in/outside of Chennai where we can get multiple items.  The below link is for Seol Store
https://goo.gl/maps/cFRoi2s9KWz

A Big Thanks
We are so thankful as a team to all the parents who have helped to make this activity a success this year. You have given of your time for working with our partner chefs to tailor a menu that is able to be eaten by all.  Making vegetarian dishes for may cuisines, is a challenge. Thus, we thankful that you were able to cater to all palettes. 

Signing off for this week.......   

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Upcoming Events

May 20, 2016 - HS Progress Update
May 20, 2016 - HS Recognition Ceremony
May 20, 2016 - MS Strings & Choir Concert at 2.30
May 20, 2016 - MS End of the year party 4.30
May 21, 2016 - HS Prom

                                             

May 6, 2016

From Desk of your PCA Team ....

The PCA Elections have just completed.  Laurinda Porter will be Vice President and Lisa Payne will be the Secretary for the 2016-2017 year. The role of President and Treasurer are still open should anyone be interested. We are looking for energetic folks who can participate to make this school a better place by being part of any of the roles for the PCA.   Thank you 

This week we had the PCA Appreciation Breakfast after the elections this year.  All had a wonderful time for the brunch.  The brunch was catered in by Gateway Hotel.  The management was wonderful in sharing stories and giving thanks to the parents who have volunteered. Thank you to the administration for the constant support to the PCA for all the work that we do.  Thank you to all the parents who have given of their time each event beyond their normal days, to make this school such a wonderful place to be from the students, staff and parents.

 There are more pictures that you can see by clicking on this link.

Signing off for this week.......   

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Events Past

Cinco De Mayo

Cinco de Mayo (pronounced: [ˈsiŋko ðe ˈmaʝo]; Spanish for "May 5th", or literally, "Fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken to be Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16.

Events leading to the Battle of Puebla
Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the French occupation of Mexico, which took place in the aftermath of the Mexican–American War of 1846–48 and the 1858–61 Reform War. The Reform War was a civil war which pitted Liberals (who believed in separation of church and state and freedom of religion) against the Conservatives (who favored a tight bond between the Roman Catholic Church and the Mexican State). These wars left the Mexican Treasury nearly bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years. In response, France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, at the time ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor French interests, the Second Mexican Empire.

French invasion
Main article: Battle of Puebla
Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat. Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City, the French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans close to Puebla, at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The 6,000-strong French army attacked the much smaller and poorly equipped Mexican army of 2,000.  Yet, on May 5, 1862, the Mexicans managed to decisively crush the French army, then considered "the premier army in the world".

Mexican victory
The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large. In the description of The History Channel, "Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement." As Time magazine remarked, "The Puebla victory came to symbolize unity and pride for what seemed like a Mexican David defeating a French Goliath." It helped establish a much-needed sense of national unity and patriotism.

Events after the battle
The Mexican victory, however, was short-lived. A year later, with 30,000 troops, the French were able to defeat the Mexican army, capture Mexico City, and install Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico. The French victory was itself short-lived, lasting only three years, from 1864 to 1867. By 1865, "with the American Civil War now over, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French". Upon the conclusion of the American Civil War, Napoleon III, facing a persistent Mexican guerilla resistance, the threat of war with Prussia, and "the prospect of a serious scrap with the United States", retreated from Mexico starting in 1866. The Mexicans recaptured Mexico City, and Maximilian I was apprehended and executed, along with his Mexican generals Miguel Miramón and Tomás Mejía Camacho in Cerro de las Campanas, Querétaro. "On June 5, 1867, Benito Juarez finally entered Mexico City where he installed a legitimate government and reorganized his administration."

Significance
The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons. First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much-better-equipped French army. "This battle was significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years." Second, since the Battle of Puebla, no country in the Americas has subsequently been invaded by any other European military force.
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PCA Elections
We are still looking for President and Treasurer and PCA Grade Level Reps and Country Coordinators. Each role is key to making our school a much better environment for our kids.  If you have not had a chance to sign up, please click on the below links to print a self nomination form:

If you would like to be a part of the team of dedicated individuals who give of their time for volunteering for the PCA Executive Team, please fill out the form and submit it for our records.  It is a selfless job, but important, and of great impact for our kids and community is tremendous. Click on this link to download the form.

If you wish to hold another representative position within the school, please just fill out the form through the following links so that your information is recorded for contact purposes. Click here to download the form.

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Upcoming Events

May 9, 2016   - MS/ES Scholastic Book Fair 
May 10, 2016 - ES Parent Coffee
May 12, 2016 - Korean Cooking Demo
May 13, 2016 - MS Band and Choir Spring Concert 4.30 pm

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References

1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo