AIAN will be a widely respected school providing a model US based educational program with an internationally minded community. November 4, 2011. Dear Community, Week eleven of the school year ended today. The Student Council Halloween party and dance last Friday was a great evening. The student Council did a good job with the organization and many students from across the school attended. Do take the time to thank the Student Council for their work. The week started with the successful Halloween Parade and the PTA must be thanked for the wonderful event and fantastic foyer decorations. Also on Monday, we held a successful author visit with Lisa Carducci. We appreciate everyone's interest in this event and the attendance was very good. The report cards for the fist quarter went home on Wednesday and I hope that all the parents received their child's card. If not, contact the school office and let us know. Please read the Parent Teacher Conference (PTC) information below. Wednesday also saw the school watching a super production of Cinderella. The students who took part are to be congratulated for a job well done. Of course, Ms. Jenkins and her able crew of supporting faculty are to be thanked for working on the production. Other items for you attention are, PARENT TEACHER CONFERNCES (PTC's) Following the distribution of report cards on Wednesday there are PTC's scheduled Monday and Wednesday, November 7 and 9. The purpose of the PTC's is for parents to discuss the reports with the teachers concerned and gain greater insights in to the comments made. The PTC's start at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. All parents are encouraged to make appointments through the school office on 86869999 to conference with the teachers of your child. You may reserve a fifteen minute slot with each teacher. If the days indicated are not convenient for you, please take advantage of the teachers invitation for appointments on other days and call the school office to arrange this. AIAN Middle School News Vol. 5 The Middle School Teachers want ensure that WE as middle school teachers have constant communication with our parents and students. Please call our 86-574-8686-9999 to make an appointment for conferences with the middle school teachers for Monday, November 7 or Wednesday, November 9, 2011. Middle School Students have reflected on first quarter academic grades and learning outcomes and will be goal setting for the second quarter. Congratulations to the following students for being OCTOBER Pride Assembly Winners for the Learning Outcome #3: Life Long Learning 6 th grade: Siti Fatima 7 th grade: Moe Sakamoto 8 th grade: Daniel Hsu Core Values Kid: Elena Shortes Check out our pictures of International Awareness Day, Halloween and other school events at: http://www.aian.org.cn/photos.asp Middle school Subject news: Core Values Last Month Our Core Value was Compassion. Students made poems and compassion cards for this Value. This month the AIAN Core Value is Cooperation . We will work to learn more about the idea cooperation and effective cooperative skills. Also, we will continue our study or ¡°The 7 Highly Effective Habits of Teens¡± by Sean Covey. http://aianmiddleschool-corevalues.wikispaces.com/ Math Grades 6, 7, 8 and Social Studies Grades 6, 7 Be sure to check out Mr. Jack's NEW website: www.aianjack.org Middle School General Science Grades 6, 7, 8 Be sure to check out Ms. Higley's website: http://www.teacherweb.com/CH/AIAN/MsH Middle School General Science Grades 6, 7, 8 BIG Idea: Matter 6 th Grade: Student's continue to work on scavenger hunt project ¡°What's the Matter in Your Neighborhood¡± project. Students are gathering element specimen's to display knowledge of matter. Students will continue to investigate the essential question, ¡°What is matter and how does it apply to my life?¡±. Continue your scientific collaboration under Reading and Science at http://higley6science2011-2012.wikispaces.com/ , and post your second quarter book choice for Science Fiction, Non-Fiction or Biography. Congratulations to Siti Fatima for being October's Scientist of the Month ! 7 th Grade: Students just finished Adopt a Element found in Soil project. Next week, they will be investigating the physical and chemical properties of soil and minerals. Continue your scientific collaboration under Reading and Science at http://higleyscience7.wikispaces.com/ , and post your second quarter book choice for Science Fiction, Non-Fiction or Biography. Congratulations to Moe Sakamoto for being October's Scientist of the Month ! 8 th Grade: Students continue to work on the Soil Element Baby book. Currently, they are learning about the Atomic Theory and Periodic Table (Chapters 17 & 18). Next week, they will be investigating the physical and chemical properties of soil and chemical bonding (Chapter 19). Continue your scientific collaboration under Reading and Science at http://higley8science2011-2012.wikispaces.com/ , and post your second quarter book choice for Science Fiction, Non-Fiction or Biography. Congratulations to Eun Seo Lee for being October's Scientist of the Month ! Check out our pictures of International Awareness Day, Halloween and other school events at: http://www.aian.org.cn/photos.asp COUNSELOR'S CORNERThe school uses the International Schools Assessment (ISA) testing protocols with the Grade 3 to 10 students in February of a given school year. Please find a more detailed explanation of the ISA below. What is the International Schools' Assessment (ISA)?The ISA assessment program is designed especially for students in international schools in Grades 3 to 10. It is based on the internationally endorsed reading and mathematical literacy frameworks of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Who uses the ISA? International schools and schools with an international focus, whose language of instruction is English, take advantage of the ISA. When is the ISA offered? AIAN uses the ISA February testing period each year. What does the ISA provide?
Uses of ISA
What does the ISA Measure?
It is not possible to specially prepare students for this assessment in the few weeks leading up to it. Rather, it is the work that occurs in school over the year in Math and literacy that is assessed in the tests. We are proving this information early so that parents and students are aware of the testing and also to help reduce any concerns there may be over being involved in the testing. PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) A great big THANK YOU to everyone that contributed to the fabulous food festival on United Nations/Peace Day at AIAN! Everyone's food looked and tasted so good and I know the all students enjoyed themselves. I am very impressed at the dedication and hard work shown by the parents of AIAN! Thank you too, to the administration that helped us enormously with the set-up preparations, drinks, food from Chef Bob and all of the service items. Don't forget to send your recipe on to PTA@aian.org.cn to be included in a recipe book later this year! Thank you also to all of the women that showed up to decorate the entrance foyer for Halloween and that contributed to their child's party. By now, your child's teacher should have passed on the room parent forms to parent volunteers along with a list of all of the parents in the grade so that contact is easier. If you have any questions about room parents, please speak to your child's homeroom teacher as I have given all of the completed forms back to them to use and forward on to interested parents. Our next event is the Holiday Bazaar coming on November 25th and 26th. If you know of anyone that would be interested in selling something, please have them contact us through the PTA email address. As always, if you have any comments or inquiries, don't hesitate to contact your PTA board members at: PTA@aian.org.cn Sincerely, Kathryn Ruhe, PTA Chairperson. FACULTY PD DAY, NO CLASSES On Friday, November 18 the faculty is involved in professional development and the students will not have classes. Thus, the students have a long weekend from November 18 up to and including Sunday, November 20. Classes resume as normal on Monday, November 21. Also, on Wednesday, November 30 the school will close at 2.30 p.m. and students will go home. This time is also for faculty professional development. DATES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMEBER FOR YOUR DIARIES. November 7th and 9th Parent Teacher Conference November 18th No School, teacher PD Day November 24th Pride Assembly November 25th Progress Report Cards Day for the second quarter. The PTA Bazaar. November 26th PTA Bazaar November 30th Short Day, early finish at 2:30pm Thank you. Regards, Mark Bretherton , Head of School. |