ISH NEWS - Friday, 13 November 2009 - Issue 10 / 2009-2010

ALL SCHOOL

“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.”

–B.F. Skinner, American psychologist, inventor and author

Did you know?

Did you know that French was the official language of England for over 500 years?

A New Member of the ISH Community

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Hewitt on the birth of their son at 6:15 on Friday morning!

Invitation to the PTA AGM

All parents are invited to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in the Secondary School on Wednesday, November 25^th from 6:00pm- 7:00pm.  Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be served.  The PTA AGM was previously scheduled for Thursday the 26^th, the date of U.S. Thanksgiving.

Meal Plan Payments

ISH sends invoices for the school meal program near the end of each month.  The canteen budget is built around the number of students who have signed up for the month.  Costs are kept low and there is little cushion in the budget.  ISH has been having some difficulty this year with parents not paying the invoices on time and later notifying the school that they are not paying for the previous month’s meals.

ISH seeks to keep costs low, prevent food wastage, and keep a balanced budget.  Accordingly, starting in December, a one-day grace period will be provided for meal payments to be made.  If a student does bring in money for the meal plan within one day of the payment deadline, the student will not be served snacks or lunch until payment for the month is made.

ISH versus Delhi Public School

On Saturday the 7th of November, the ISH Junior Football Team traveled to Delhi Public School (DPS) to play a friendly match.  Since the opposition school is more than 3,000 strong, DPS had twenty players as compared to ISH’s seven.  Members of DPS joined the ISH so that the teams could play an 11-a-side practice match.  The first half was very even with chances at both ends.  Lukman and Tejus created scoring opportunities for the largely ISH Team.

Midway through the second half, the largely ISH team was trailing 3-0. Rohan  started an excellent move at the back.  Sani picked up on Rohan’s efforts and worked up and down the field.  Kwon blasted the ball into the goal, bringing the score to 3-1.  A flurry of activity from the largely ISH Team followed.  A comeback looked like it was in the cards.  In the last minute, DPS scored, ending a very enjoyable game.  Irfan captained the ISH team well.  The game provided good preparation for the upcoming TAISI Tournament in Bangalore.

ISH versus Orchids International School

Following its defeat on Saturday, the Junior Team had an immediate opportunity to bounce back against Orchids.  The ISH Team created many scoring chances in the first half, particularly due to the efforts of Sani and Lukman.  Tejus made a favorable impact ten minutes into the game, scoring with an excellent low-drilled shot.  ISH goal-keeper, Irfan, made several courageous dives to keep Orchid from scoring.

In the second half of the game, Orchids mounted a comeback.  They scored after fifteen minutes.  The ISH players kept calm and worked hard to re-gain the lead. Rohan and Saad were solid at the back; Rohan tackled strongly and continued to play even after taking a ball in the face.  Kwon made some fine runs on the left side and came close to scoring, but it was not to be.  The game ended in a fair result: a draw.

ISH Cricket versus Orchids International School

Following two victories, the ISH Cricket Team faced a difficult challenge: the team from Orchids.  The Orchids Team batted first and scored 69 in sixteen overs.  Their captain, a fine batsman, scored 30 of these runs.  Aditya was ISH’s top wicket taker with three.  Naqash was alert in making a fine catch and stumping.  Unfortunately for ISH, a few catches were dropped.

Orchids displayed some fine fast and spin bowling.  The ISH wickets fell with only Xavier and Kwon managing to stay at the crease for a sustained period.  At the end, ISH were all out for 45 runs.  Overall, a good learning experience for the players.

Need for Boxes

ISH has begun a paper-recycling program.  The recycling benefits the environment and proceeds of paper sales go to the ICRISAT Association for Community Development (IACD).  The recycling program needs large cardboard boxes so that recycling boxes can be placed in each ISH classroom.  Spare boxes should be brought to ISH’s Elementary or Secondary Office.

Need for Fabric

The ICRISAT Association for Community Development (IACD) requires donations of fabric, preferably cotton, for its sewing program.  Please bring those donations to ISH’s Elementary or Secondary Office.

International Children’s Film Festival

The 16th International Children’s Film Festival will be held from November 14th-20th.  Details may be found at www.cfsindia.org/

Hyderabad Bicycling Club

Hyderabad Bicycling Club (THBC) organizes rides on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.  The riders regularly meet at Gachibowli Stadium at 7:00AM.   More details may be found at http://www.meetup.com/HyderabadBicyclingClub

Dates for the Diary

November 14, 2009             Drawing Competition at IACD

November 18-22, 2009       TAISI Sports Trip to BangaloreNovember 20, 2009             Secondary School Trip to Odyssey Bookstore

November 24, 2009             Coffee for High School Parents

November 25, 2009             Coffee for Middle School Parents’ Anniversary

November 25, 2009             PTA AGM

November 25, 2009             Last day of After School Activities of 2009

November 27, 2009             Elementary School Sports Day

November 30, 2009             Coffee for Middle School Parents

Nov 30 – Dec 16, 2009       Bonus Classes (3:40 dismissal on Mon, Tues, Wed, & Fri)

December 1, 2009               Coffee for High School Parents

December 10, 2009             Secondary School Sports Day, 8:30AM-12:30PM

December 11, 2009             New date of IGCSE/IB Music Recital

We’re on the Web!

See ISH News at www.ishyd.org

Submissions

Submissions to ISH News may be sent to m.newmark@ishyd.org

Items for publication in the Friday issue of ISH News should be submitted on Thursdays before noon.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Safety Training

The safety of students continues to be of utmost importance.  As part of its focus on safety, ISH encourages children to develop high expectations for themselves and to take on a feeling of ownership for their actions.

ISH employs a variety of security measures in the daily effort to ensure safe and secure learning environments.  Last Wednesday, the Elementary School held an assembly where the Elementary Vice-Principal stressed the following points.

• Wear the school ID card at all times.  Parents should ensure that each of their children has his/her ID card at all times.  These ID cards are required to enter the school premises.

• Walk up and down the stairs in an orderly manner.  Elementary students had a fun activity with red and blue arrows to help keep them on the correct side of the stairs.  Parents might ask their children about this activity.

• Use play equipment – such as cricket bats, stumps, … — in a sensible manner.

Children’s Day

The 13th of November turned out to be full of special surprises in the Elementary.  It started with impressive performances by the After-School Reader’s Theatre Group.  Students from grades 1– 5 displayed their ability to change voice and convey a story effectively.  They presented a folktale from the Cherokee Nation about “How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun”.  They also presented an Aboriginal folktale about “How the Robin Stole Fire”.  Praise goes to Zelaem, Ahana, Nupur, Jennifer, Rhea, Disha, Neha, Kovida, Kevin, and Khagendra.  The group missed Nupur, who was ill on the day of the performance.  Ahana stepped up to the challenge and read the main part of Narrator without practice.  She did a wonderful job.  Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Crawley for providing key support to the Reader’s Theatre group.

A fuller celebration of Children’s Day followed. The PE instructor, Ms. Priti, changed hats and put on a wonderful dance.  Then, there was a cricket match.  No cricket match has ever been played with as much grit and determination as this one between teachers and students in the Elementary.  A tug-of-war was also a hit.  The little ones from Early Childhood enjoyed Ms. Iryna’s musical games.  The day celebrated some of the unique qualities of children and allowed students to see their teachers in a new light.

Snippets

The enthusiastic members of the Snippets Team have been busy developing & displaying their creativity week after week.  They have enjoyed working together as a group and have learnt valuable lessons about the joys and difficulties of meeting deadlines.

Keeping with current topics, this week’s focus has been on the significance of Children’s Day in India and around the world.  Their research has made them increasingly conscious of how fortunate they are to have loving families, to be able to attend school, and to have the opportunities to make their dreams come true.  Kudos to the Snippets Team and congratulations to Nandini and Shaili on their speech.  Thanks to Ms. Leela and Ms. Madhavi for their guidance.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Secondary School Field Trip to Odyssey Bookstore

On Friday, November 20th, secondary students will explore the benefits of service and doing good.  The exploration will revolve around a screening of the film, Pay it Forward. 

After snack, secondary students will depart for a field trip to Odyssey Bookstore.  At Odyssey, students will pick out books of interest to them.  The school will then purchase those books and add them to the collection of the Secondary Library.

Students will eat a packed lunch on the way back to ISH after the bookstore.  Students who have signed up and paid for the meal plan will be provided a packed lunch.  Students who have not signed up for the lunch plan should bring a pack lunch.  There will be no opportunity to purchase food or drinks during the field trip.

IGCSE/IB Music Recital rescheduled from December 3rd to December 11th

Invitation to Coffee & Cake

Parents of Secondary School students are warmly invited to ISH for coffee & cake in the Secondary School Canteen.  The chats over coffee & cake are designed to foster communication between parents and members of the administrative team in the Secondary School.

For the convenience of parents, two different dates are being offered for parents of high school students and two different dates are being offered for parents of middle school students.

Parents of High School students are invited from 9:10-9:55 on Tuesday, November 24th or Tuesday, December 1st.

Parents of Middle School students are invited from 9:10-9:55 on Wednesday, November 25th or Monday, November 30th.

Please RSVP to the Secondary Office by Thursday, November 19th.  Please note on which date you will be attending.  The Secondary School Office may be reached at +91 40 30713865 or by e-mail at l.saji@ishyd.org

ISH NEWS

Friday, 6 November 2009

Issue 9 / 2009-2010

ALL SCHOOL

Invitation to the PTA AGM

Parents are invited to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) on Thursday, the 26^th of November.  The event will be held in the Secondary School at 18:00. 

What did you Learn Today?

Learning continues to be the school’s main focus.  Talk to your children about their learning.  A good way to start those conversations is often, “What did you learn at school today?”  Such conversation can yield surprising results!

The school is now in the second week after the October break.  It has not taken long for the students to settle back into classes, After-School Activities, and Saturday games. 

The coming period is an exciting one at ISH with the PTA AGM and a Christmas Bazaar.  Additionally, a group of Elementary and Secondary students will soon be going to Bangalore for an athletics meet and there are many competitive matches planned with other schools in Hyderabad.

Update on the Building at ISH

Construction at ISH is making rapid progress. 

The security wall surrounding the ISH campus has been completed. Campus is now accessible only through 3 car portals and one pedestrian gate. The construction of the work & rest structure for support staff & of the parking area for school vehicles is approaching its completion.  This area includes a photocopying facility.

Within the month, construction begins on a set of playing fields adjacent to the school.  The first step will be the fencing off of the area to be developed.  In this area, ISH will build a football (soccer) pitch and a cricket practice field. There are plans to construct stands for spectators after those playing fields are developed.

The Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) is taking shape.  The next stage of construction on the MPH will be the addition of windows and the roof.  The MPH should be completed in a couple of months, certainly before the hot season begins.

The construction of the new Elementary School is progressing well.  Foundation holes have been dug and within the coming months the first columns will be built and the plinth level reached.   Cables for electricity & communication and pipes for water & waste are in the process of being laid.

ISH will provide regular updates on the progress of the construction at ISH.

Upcoming Drawing Contest

ISH students in Grades 1-8 to are invited to an On-the-Spot Drawing Contest on Saturday 14th November 2009 from 9am-12.30pm at IACD in ICRISAT.  The event is being sponsored by ISH, IACD, & Faber Castell; professional artists will judge the contest.  There is a 50 RS Registration Fee.  School transport is provided from the city and back for those who need it; a route appears on the registration form supplied to parents of students in Grades 1-8.  Alternatively, students may use their own transport. 

The deadline for participation forms and entrance fees to be returned to the Elementary School and Secondary School Offices is Monday, the 9th of November.

Flood Relief

The Elementary School and the Secondary School are collecting funds to help the victims of flood relief.  If each family could contribute a minimum of 200 RS, the ISH Community should be able to provide a meaningful contribution to flood relief.  Students should bring contributions to the Secondary Office or the Elementary Office.  Students will be issued a receipt for the contribution.  ISH anticipates continuing this fund-raising drive until November 10th and then sending the contribution to a relief organization with a solid reputation for doing good works.  A group of parents, faculty, and students will help identify the organization that will be the recipient of the funds collected.

Cricket: ISH versus Genesis International School

The ISH Cricket Team hosted Genesis International School last Saturday at ICRISAT for a 16 over friendly match. ISH were still on a high after winning their last match.  Mr. Raju warned on the dangers of over-confidence.

Genesis batted first in the match and faced some accurate bowling from Daniel, Varun, Kwon, Mario, Aditya, Sneha and Nikhil. They bowled straight with very few wides; this discipline allowed them to take all the wickets. Tejas, Albon, Habiba and Anirudh did some good work fielding. All fielders played their part and restricted Genesis to 40 runs.  Mario took two especially fine catches.

ISH were hit with some excellent fast bowling up front and suffered a few early wickets of Habiba, Mario and Naqash.  The situation looked to be changing in favour of Genesis.  Xavier and Kwon both scored some boundaries and singles and got the ISH score ticking along.  With only 6 runs to win and 6 wickets in hand, ISH looked in control until 2 wickets fell in quick succession.  Kwon scored twinning runs to secure victory with four wickets in hand.  Kwon deserves special commendation as he did not try to hit boundaries every ball, but instead defended and took singles at times, waiting for the right ball to go for the boundary. He was the Man of the Match for ISH.

The team has only a week’s rest until they play their next match on Wednesday the 11th of November against Orchids International School at ICRISAT starting at 10.30am.

Soccer News

The ISH Junior and Senior Soccer Teams have been training hard every Saturday for the Bangalore tournament. In preparation for the tournament, the Junior Team have a friendly match this coming Saturday against Delhi Public School at their school in Gatchibowli starting at 9am and the Senior Team have a friendly match against Indus International School on Saturday the 14th  of November at ICRISAT starting at 9am. These matches will prepare the teams for the tournament and will help to build stronger links with these schools.

Dates for the Diary

November 13, 2009             Elementary School Reader’s Theater

November 14, 2009             Drawing Competition for Students in Grades 1-8
November 18-22, 2009       TAISI Sports Trip to Bangalore

November 20, 2009             Secondary School Trip to Odyssey Bookstore

November 24, 2009             Coffee for High School Parents

November 25, 2009             Coffee for Middle School Parents

November 26, 2009             PTA AGM

November 30, 2009             Coffee for Middle School Parents

December 1, 2009               Coffee for High School Parents
December 3, 2009               IGCSE/IB Music Recital

We’re on the Web!

See ISH News at http://www.ishyd.org/

Submissions

Submissions to ISH News may be sent to Dr. Newmark at m.newmark@ishyd.org

Items for publication in the Friday issue of ISH News should be submitted on Thursdays before noon.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Invitation to Reader’s Theater on Friday the 13^th of November

The Reader’s Theater Club will present 2 short selections next week. All are invited to come and enjoy the presentation.  The presentation will take place at the Elementary School at 8.15am on Friday the 13^th of November.  The 5^th Grade Presentation that was originally scheduled on that date will be held later in the school year.

Halloween in the Elementary School 

The ISH Elementary School’s Annual Halloween Party was held on October 30th from 12:30-2:30pm at the Elementary School.  Students participated in a variety of activities including a Candy Grab, a Scary Scurry, a Chalk Walk, a Costume Parade, Giant’s Tic-Tac-Toe, Ghost of ISH and Pumpkin Chucking contest.   Although no Halloween is complete without some treats, nobody could have predicted the incredible range and quantity of treats: cup cakes, cookies, chips, brownies, fruits, popcorn, and candy. Students went home with happy faces and goody bags!  Thanks to the many parents and teachers who supported this event.  Particular thanks to the Elementary Halloween Team: Maggie Hewitt, Wayne Goodner, Sabine Guion, Hafizah Latif, Kathy Murthi, Robyn Smith, and  Padmaja for a job well done!

KG2 Students Explore a Future Home

The children of KG2 took a field trip to the site of the new Elementary School.  The field trip was an extension of their study of the topic: home.  The group stood in the lawns of the Secondary school and had a glimpse of the construction that is taking place.  The students identified some of the building materials being used -steel rods especially captured their interest –and the process of cement being mixed with sand and water.  One of the children observed, “The people are working so hard in the hot sun, while we sit in the comfort of our classrooms.” The children asked a lot of questions.  “Why are holes being dug in the soil?”  “Why are strings being tied to the holes in the soil?”  On leaving the area, several children said, “Bye, bye construction site”.  When they arrived back at the Elementary School, the class made a bank of words they had encountered including the word foundation. On the experience, one child observed, “We like learning by visiting and having fun.”

3rd Grad Students Visit to Charminar & Qutub Shahi Tombs

Students in both 3A and 3B went on a filed trip last week to Charminar & the Qutub Shahi Tombs. 

Below is a verse by 3A on aspects of that trip.

Guessing the height of Charminar,

Vendors & Hawkers at Old City,

Our tour guide & the founder of Hyderabad

Both named Mohammed.

17th Century tombs,

A dancer & a singer,

Physician & Commanders,

Six kings & a Queen,

Secret passages , Summer palace & Aurangazeb’s construction.

A trip into the past, indeed!

3B reflected on their field trip as follows.

Our field trip to Carminar and Seven tombs was amazing and marvelous. The view of Charminar was breathtaking. The name of the tombs and the founder of the city Hyderabad are the same - Quli Qutub Shah. The bus trip was exciting with all of us singing, playing Chinese whispers and munching away on our snacks.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Invitation to Coffee & Cake

Parents of Secondary School students are warmly invited to ISH for coffee & cake in the Secondary School Canteen. The chats over coffee & cake are designed to foster communication between parents and members of the administrative team in the Secondary School.

For the convenience of parents, two different dates are being offered for parents of high school students and two different dates are being offered for parents of middle school students.

Parents of High School students are invited from 9:10-9:55 on Tuesday, November 24th or Tuesday, December 1st.

Parents of Middle School students are invited from 9:10-9:55 on Wednesday, November 25th or Monday, November 30th.

Please RSVP to the Secondary Office by Thursday, November 19^th.  Please note on which date you will be attending.  The Secondary School Office may be reached at +91 40 30713865 or by e-mail at l.saji@ishyd.org

Shape of Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences in the Secondary School

To help ISH plan the shape of the next Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences in the Secondary School, please follow the URL below.

In the survey, please skip all the questions after question 3 and simply press <submit> on the page which displays question 4.

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229U9LMHZJE

Secondary School Halloween Dance

On Saturday, October 31st, ISH, the Student Council & the PTA co-sponsored a Halloween Costume Party at Ellaa Suites.  The vast majority of ISH Secondary Students attended the party.  Details about the party and of the many people to thank for organizing the party will be provided by the Student Council in the next issue of ISH News.

ISH NEWS - Friday, 16 October 2009 (with a slight Diwali-delay)  - Issue 7/ 2009-2010

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Elementary School Halloween Party

There will be an Elementary School Halloween Party on Friday, October 30th from 12:30 – 2:30 pm at the Elementary School. The PTA has come up with fun-filled ideas to help children have a Halloween they won’t forget.  Parents are welcome to join this party. 

Costumes - Kids can wear the costumes to school that day or bring it and change before the party.

Snacks - We will be asking kids to bring a snack for the party.  Sign-up sheet will be sent out on Monday October 26th with list of snacks.   Please fill the form and send it back by Wednesday October 28th.

Activities planned for the party:

Pumpkin Chucking contest - Kids who wish to join in this fun event will build a contraption, or machine for tossing pumpkins at their home with the supervision of a guardian or parent.  The pumpkin throwing machine will be built with family or friends and brought to school on Friday.  Use anything your imagination can think of to toss a pumpkin.  The only rule to this contest is the pumpkin cannot be tossed by hand.  You can get all the help from parents they are willing to lend.  You can build your own contraption or you can get a group of friends together to form a team. The pumpkin toss will be judged during lunch on Friday so have your pumpkin chucker at the Elementary School no later than 11:00.  The pumpkin flung the farthest is the winner of the contest. Have fun with this, name your chucker or team and try to enjoy the silliness of it.  If you have questions or wish to participate call Robyn at 9959614811.  

Costume parade - All students and parents are invited to join the costume parade that will be held during the party. Parents and guardians do not forget your cameras.

The Ghost of ISH – Did you know that there is a ghost at ISH?  Not really, but there is one in this writing challenge.  All students are requested to write a story about the Ghost of ISH.  You can title the story anything you wish.  You can write your story by hand, or type it out.  If you cannot write yet you may draw a picture or ask a parent to write down your idea.  We ask that all creations be submitted by Wednesday October 28th to give us time to display them for the party and publish some of the really scary ones for the newsletter.

Chalk Walk – Students will be allowed to graffiti the sidewalks of the Elementary School with their scariest (or silliest) Halloween drawings.

Monster Mash Dance – Be prepared to show off your mad monster moves.  Think of a dance move that you like or that represents the costume you are wearing and show the rest of the kids who can try it for themselves.

Halloween Joke stage – Do you know a good Vampire joke?  How about a ghost joke? You will be given the opportunity to tell some of your best jokes on the Halloween Joke stage.

The Scary Scurry – Better start practicing balancing those pumpkins on your head for this relay race.

The Candy Grab – When playing this amusing game you will be given a cup to put your candy in.  You will be given 30 seconds to pick up all the candy you can from the table and put it in your cup.  You can keep any candy you get in your cup.  No using of hands or mouths.

Skeleton Scavenger Hunt – This is a race to help the skeleton find all of his bones.

Giant’s tic-tac-toe – This is a tic-tac-toe board that is so big, you play with pumpkins and corn instead of “x”s and “o”s.

Zombie tag – If there is time, students can play this game of freeze tag for zombies.

If you have any questions/suggestions please email Robyn Smith scottgordonsmith@hotmail.com or Padmaja Yalamanchi padmaja@kidosoftware.com

Second Grade Assembly

Hours of work and fun paid off as enthusiastic second graders starred in their assembly presentation on October 14th. The students explored their learning in English, Math and Science against the rich backdrop of their topic – Hyderabad. The degree of their involvement was evident as they played their roles. Hyderabadi culture, past and present, sparkled through the presentation. At the end, the students thanked Miss Iryna for teaching them some wonderful songs and Mr. Karan for helping with the props.  Congratulations too to Ms. Urmila and Ms. Stella for their fine work on the production. 

A Warm Welcome to New Students who have Joined ISH this Week

ISH extends a warm welcome to Kiara Bhatia in Grade 1A. 

ISH NEWS Friday, 9 October 2009 - Issue 6/2009-2010

• ALL SCHOOL
• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• SECONDARY SCHOOL

ALL SCHOOL

The recent floods in Andhra Pradesh have been devastating.  The school is looking for a group of parents, faculty, staff, and students to take the lead in exploring how the ISH community can contribute most effectively to those hit hardest by the flood.  If interested in being part of such a group, please e-mail Sunita Verghese at s.verghese@ishyd.org or Mark Newmark at m.newmark@ishyd.org.

Did you know?

Every continent starts with the same letter it ends with.

Dates for the Diary

October 11 - 16, 2009                     Accreditation visit

October 19 - 23, 2009                      Diwali Holiday (no school)

October 27, 2009                              UN Day
November 8/9 - 13/14, 2009          Optional 5-day/4 night Field Trip for Grades 6-11

We’re on the Web!

See us at http://www.ishyd.org/

Submissions

Submissions to ISH News may be sent to Dr. Newmark at m.newmark@ishyd.org

Items for publication in the Friday issue of ISH News should be submitted on Thursdays before noon.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SECONDARY SCHOOL
ISH Science Teacher Joins Team of IB Examiners

Issue 5/ 2009-2010

Lunchtime Music

On the 23rd of September, a group of high school students treated the Secondary School to a lunchtime concert.  The musicians were Joel Vaz (Grade 10), Vyshnavi Koppulu (Grade 10, Abishek Veeraghanta (Grade 10), Solveig Castelli (Grade 10), Valmik Kumar (Grade 11), Anoushka Shahane (Grade 11), Dinesh Arora (Grade 12), and Navya Myneni (Grade 12).  The repertory spanned a range of moods from the melancholic to celebratory.  Songs the students performed were Blues in G, the Beatles’ Michelle, and a Yiddish tune - Tumbalalika — and the Hebrew folk-song Hava Nagila.

Differing Approaches

The American psychologist Abraham Maslow noted that “[i]f the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”  One feature of modern education is that students take different approaches to problem-solving.  To approach an issue with the tools of a geographer, a mathematician, a poet, an ecologist, an economist, … requires that students understand the methodology offered by each discipline.   Student in Grades 11 & 12 take a course called Theory of Knowledge.  That course draws on students experiences in their other classes and helps students to reach a clearer understanding of the particular methodologies of different “Areas of Knowledge.”  If students have a clearer notion of what tools available to them, not every problem will appear as a nail.

A Warm Welcome to New Students who Joined ISH this Week

ISH extends a warm welcome to new student Christopher Brady (Grade 5).

No After School Activities on October 6th & October 7th

There will be no Elementary or Secondary After-School Activities on October 6^th and 7^th owing to the conferences with parents.

Transportation on October 6^th & 7^th

On October 6th and 7th, school buses will leave at the same time they leave on Thursdays and Fridays.  If you will be coming for the parent conferences on one of these days and your child will not be riding the bus home, be sure to notify the School Office and the bus monitor.

Students Reflect on their First Experiences at ICRISAT Community School

One of the After School Activities for Secondary students involves working with students at the ICRISAT Association for Community Development (IACD), a charity arm of ICRISAT that works for the development of the people living in villages around the ICRISAT campus.  About 30 Secondary students are working with the IACD as an After School Activity.  Below are some students’ reflections on their experiences at the IACD school.

“My first experience at IACD was interesting. We were served tea and biscuits. The people were very nice and I look forward to spending more time with the group from my school and helping the people at IACD.”
– Sridhar Changalpet (Grade 7)

When I first went to the IACD center at ICRISAT I didn’t know what to expect. After I saw the building I began to wonder what it would be like to help the people here. I realized that there were so many ways to help the people there after meeting the English students and seeing the garden and the computer room. I also realized that helping people could also be fun and educational. I look forward to next Monday when I get to go the IACD center again.” — Abhijith Matur (Grade 10)

“My first experience at IACD was exciting. The people were extremely nice and served us tea. They gave us a quick tour if the campus and told us how we could help them. I really look forward to helping them in the future.”
– Nikita Shah (Grade 11)

“This is now my second year of working at the IACD. I decided to do it again as I loved the atmosphere there. It has always been fun and eventful and I hope this year will be as fun as the last.”
– Dinesh Arora (Grade 12)

Upcoming PTA Events

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is looking for parent volunteers to form subcommittees for the upcoming Halloween and Christmas Bazaar events.

Please contact Padmaja via e-mail to volunteer or to obtain further information about the PTA or PTA activities.  Her e-mail address is padmaja@kidosoftware.com 

Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conference on October 6th

Appointments for the Parent-Teacher conferences in the Elementary School may be made for Tuesday, 6th October from 2:45PM - 5:45PM.  The aim of these conferences will be to review the student’s academic progress, motivation and behaviour, as well as to set targets for the future. Please use this opportunity to meet all your children’s teachers; arranging to meet teachers on other days can be difficult.

Unlike the Secondary School, conferences between parents and teachers in the Elementary School are by appointment.  Appointments in the Elementary School are made on a first-come, first-served basis.  The last appointments scheduled will be at 5:45PM, as the bus taking Elementary teachers back to the city will be leaving the Elementary School at 6:05PM.

Please ensure you are at the Elementary on time for appointments.  Parents who arrive late for their appointments may find that the teachers cannot fit a meeting with the parents into their schedules.

Visit by the American Citizen Services

ISH sponsored a session by the Chief of American Citizen Services, Consul Celia Thompson, on 30 September 2009 in the ICRISAT Auditorium. About 15 people attended the presentation that provided American citizens and parents of American citizens an overview of the various services American Citizen Services provides.

Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti commemorates the humanity and contributions of Mohandas K. Gandhi.  Gandhi was the leading voice of the Indian independence movement in the 20th century.  He advocated a non-violent approach to political and social struggles, an approach encompassed in the concept of ahimsa.  In addition to his struggle for independence, Gandhi also fought for greater social equality, economic equality, and religious tolerance.  He denounced the evils of the caste system and championed the rights of women and untouchables.  He is sometimes called Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma being a title that literally translates as “Great Soul.”

THE ACCREDITATION TEAM VISIT

ISH has recently completed the accreditation self-study report and is now expecting the team from our accrediting agencies to come for an inspection visit. A team of nine educators from all over the world will visit and spend almost a week at ISH.

The accreditation process is a highly effective means of initiating and maintaining school improvement and demonstrating adherence to a set of publicly stated standards. 

There are a number of benefits associated with accreditation.  The main beneift of this evaluation programme is that it provides an avenue to improve the quality of the education offered at the school.  This avenue is provided through a rigorous process of self-examination and an objective external appraisal by a team of experts.  The resulting Visiting Team Report and the independent actions of the accrediting association(s) attest to the quality of education at the evaluated school.

ISH is evaluated significantly primarily in reference to its own ‘Philosophy and Objectives’ and secondarily in reference to a set of ‘Standards for Accreditation’. These Standards have been developed and endorsed by the accrediting organization. The Standards are designed to reflect the characteristics of a high quality educational experience.  The guiding principles of the accreditation programme are that a school will be evaluated in reference to prescribed standards, in reference to its own Philosophy and Objectives, and in reference to the unique demographics of the school.

The process involves these five essential stages, which are repeated on a routine ten-year cycle.

1.         The Preliminary/Preparatory Visit

2.         The Self-Study: The self-study, lasting 18 to 24 months, is the most important part of the entire evaluation and accreditation process.  The self-study is divided into seven Sections, each covering a major area of the school’s operation, for which there are Standards for Accreditation against which the school will rate itself. 

3.         The Team Visit

The primary function of the Visiting Team is to assist the school by providing an objective assessment of the conclusions of the self-study.  The Team will visit ISH from Saturday, October 10^th and remain at the school through the following week.  During this time, the Team will look into all aspects of school life and to see it in action.  Team members visit classrooms and other work places, and they talk with students, parents, members of the staff, member of the PTA, and members of the Governing Body. 

The Visiting Team will write a detailed report, which addresses every part of the self-study and sets forth a list of commendations and recommendations. 

The Visiting Team will also make an overall recommendation with regard to accreditation of the school directly to the CIS Accreditation Committee.  The Team will not inform the school of its overall recommendation; ultimate decisions are made by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

4.         Decision on Accreditation

The CIS and NEASC Accreditation Committee will carefully review the Visiting Team Report and consider the recommendations of the Visiting Team.  It will then make a recommendation upon which the CIS and NEASC Board of Directors will act:

The Board decision may be to:

a)   Award Accreditation or Re-Accreditation.

b)   Award Accreditation or Re-Accreditation with specific qualifications.

c)   Postpone Accreditation or Re-Accreditation for some specified reason(s).

d) Not award Accreditation or Re-Accreditation.

Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences in the Secondary School
On Tuesday October 6th and Wednesday October 7th, the Secondary School will have Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences from 2:45PM-6:00PM.

Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences in the Secondary School invite students to reflect on what they are doing well, what they need to improve, and what they can do to help make sure that they improve.  Such conferences provide students a greater sense of ownership in their educational progress and are an increasingly common feature of middle school and high schools around the world.

Teachers will be working with students to help them prepare for the conferences and students have been provided a template to guide them through the conference.

As these conferences will be student-led, Secondary students will need to be present.

The school will provide tea, coffee, juice, and biscuits to parents, students, & teachers.  There will be no Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences between 4:15 and 4:30 in order to allow the faculty a small break.

Tables will be set up on the ground floor of the Secondary School.  Parents & students will check in at a reception desk when they enter the school and then proceed to the table of the first teacher with whom they would like to meet. 

The teacher will introduce herself/himself and then ask the student to begin the conference.  Where appropriate, the teacher and parents may interject comments to help ensure that the student is giving an accurate representation of her/his strengths and weaknesses and a meaningful and tangible outline of ways to improve. 

There are no appointments for the Student-Teacher-Parent conferences in the Secondary School. Conferences should take about 5 minutes.  If a conference is taking more time than that, it may be appropriate to schedule a time to schedule another time to meet. 

Parents should plan to arrive at 5:00PM at the latest, as conferences will stop at 6:00PM.  The Secondary teachers need to board buses at 6:10PM.

TEA family Picnic at Lahari Resort 

Sunday, 11 October from 10:00AM to 7:00PM.
All are welcome to a wonderful day of water games, river crossings, water slides and many more surprises for the whole family.
Ticket includes: Entry to the park, welcome drink, lunch, 2 beers or 2 soft drinks, & high tea. 

TEA Members: Rs 600/adult; Rs 300/under 18      
Non-members: Rs 800/adult; Rs 400/under 18 
Under 5 years: Free 

Tickets will be on sale on Fridays at “Club Pub”  at the Walden & on Mondays from 2pm to 4pm at the HICC “TEA Space”.   To book your tickets, contact Marie Françoise (9346547268) or Zarine (9949071921) 

Dates for the Diary

October 2                               School holiday - Gandhi Jayanti

October 5                               World Teacher’s Day
October 6                               Elementary School Student-Parent-Teacher Conference

                                                + Secondary School Student-Parent-Teacher Conference
October 7                              Secondary School Student-Parent-Teacher Conference

October 11 - 16                    Accreditation visit

October 19 - 23                    School holiday - Diwali

We’re on the Web!

See us at http://www.ishyd.org/

Submissions

Submissions to ISH News may be sent to Dr. Newmark at m.newmark@ishyd.org

Items for publication in the Friday issue of ISH News should be submitted on Thursdays before noon.

Conferences between parents and teachers are excellent opportunities for the sharing of information. In the Elementary School, parents will meet with their children’s teachers on October 7th from 2:45-6:00.

In the Secondary School, there will be student-led Student-Teacher-Parent conferences on October 6th from 2:45-6:00 and on October 7th from 2:45-6:00.  As these conferences will be student-led, Secondary Students will need to be present at these meetings.  The student-led conferences in the Secondary School invite students to reflect on what they are doing well, what they need to improve, and what they can do to help make sure that they improve. Such conferences are a feature of many international middle school and high schools. Teachers will be working with students to help them prepare for the conferences.
Details regarding the making of appointments for the conferences will be shared with parents next week.

Dates for the Diary

Monday, September 28       School holiday - Dussehra
Friday, October 2                  School holiday - Gandhi Jayanti
October 5                               World Teacher’s Day
October 6                               Secondary School Student-Parent-Teacher Conference
October 7                               Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conference
Secondary School Student-Parent-Teacher Conference

Ground-Breaking Ceremony: Boomi Puja
This week, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the construction site of the new Elementary School building and new Administration building.  Grade 2 and 4 students share their experiences at that groundbreaking ceremony.

When we made the trip to the site of the new elementary school, we thought we are just going to lay a foundation stone.  So all of us hopped onto the bus, excited as we drove to the site of the new school. Se walked from the bus to the site, where a tent was put up. There, we watched as a group performed a puja. Mr. Gallinger, the Principal, performed a major part of the Puja.  We sat on our knees and watched. All the boys got kum-kum (red powder) put on their foreheads.

During the ceremony, people used turmeric powder to make a model of Ganesha. They also broke many coconuts. A table holding items for the puja was set very nicely. There were dry fruits and some bananas. There was a hole in the ground where the first bricks were laid.

It was hot and tiring, but we were excited that our new school building was getting started. Grade 4 had fun at the ceremony.   We came back and went for our snack. After snack, a girl from the puja site came and gave us chocolates. That sure was a great treat.

Physical Education: A Few Safety Tips
There has been a rise in temperatures. The midday and afternoon temperatures are sometimes exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.  Students who are taking Physical Education lessons should come prepared, wearing a hat and sunscreen.  They should also carry a water bottle that they can fill up at the beginning and middle of a lesson. Efforts are made to rest in shaded areas and to offer water breaks.

ISH and IACD: Working Together to Make a Difference
The ICRISAT Association for Community Development (IACD) is a charity arm of ICRISAT.  IACD works for the development of the people living in villages around the ICRISAT campus.  The main objective of IACD is to help young men and women develop the skills and self-confidence needed for employment.  The IACD has a Center located on the ICRISAT campus.  The Center is managed by volunteers from the ICRISAT staff and their spouses.

Currently IACD offers classes in computer literacy, spoken English, tailoring and embroidery.  The classes are popular among the villagers as a quality education is offered at a nominal fee. On the health front, IACD sponsors a medical clinic in the nearby village.

The Center grows organic vegetables and makes herbal shampoos, soaps, and other natural products. IACD also collects and sells paper for recycling.  Part of the funding for IACD activities comes from the MAMTA Shop, which sells handicrafts, pearls, clothing, and many other gift items.  The MAMTA Shop is located below the ICRISAT canteen.

ISH started its association with IACD when ISH moved to the ICRISAT campus; In the past, ISH students have visited the IACD Center to interact with students, help with the curriculum, and paint murals.  This year, ISH is broadening its partnership with IACD.  More information about the partnership with IACD will appear in future newsletters.  For more information about IACD, contact Janet Hoisington (President), Sweta Agrawal (Vice-President), or Franka Gallinger (Chairperson, Education).

Dussehra
The festival of Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over evil.  Music, theatrical performances, and dance feature widely in the celebration.  The Dandia dances in which dancers beat sticks against other dancers’ sticks are especially popular.
Elementary School Assembly
The Elementary School’s first class assembly for the 2009-2010 school year will be presented by Grade 2A& 2B on Wednesday, 14 October at 8:30AM in the Elementary School.  The Grade 2 students will showcase a wide variety of activities that they have been proudly working on over the last few weeks.  The assemblies offer parents of the presenting class to meet with their children’s teachers and see their children’s work.  Parents of children from any class are warmly invited to the assembly.

Grade 8 Geography Project
The Grade 8 students are learning about tourism, the tourist industry, and how tourism can affect the environment in their Geography class.  As part of this unit, the Grade 8 students will collect information on some interesting places for tourists visiting the ICRISAT campus.  To this end, Grade 8 students will take field trips to different parts of the ICRISAT campus on September 30th and October 7th during class time.  The students will show their mastery of concepts, skills, and content by making an attractive brochure on ICRISAT.

Saturday Sports
Saturday Sports continue on Saturdays mornings from 9:00 to 11:00.  In addition to Cricket, Junior Basketball and Soccer at ICRISAT, the Senior Boys Basketball Team coached by Mr. Prasad trains at Banjara Hills.

Students who require transport to the coaching sessions at ICRISAT must inform Mr. Courtois, the Transportation Coordinator, and Mr. Gibbons, the head of P.E., if they have not previously signed up for school transport on Saturdays.

Mr. Courtois may be reached by e-mail at j.courtois@ishyd.org
Mr. Gibbons may be reached by e-mail at e.gibbons@ishyd.org

A Warm Welcome to New Secondary Students who Joined ISH this Week
ISH extends a warm welcome to new students Ruqaiyah Iftekhar (Grade 10) and Sofiya Shazal Yusuf (Grade 7).

Late Arrivals in the Secondary School
If a student will be coming in by private transport after the start of the school day, the Secondary Office must be informed in advance of the student’s arrival and the student must check in at the Secondary Office before going to any of her/his classes.

Student Council in the Secondary School: A Student Perspective
Elections.  For many of us, elections cause us to suddenly become interested in things that we might not otherwise be involved. The Students Council (STUCO) election process that has taken place at ISH over the past two weeks have made students - and teachers - take notice.

Mr. Goodner, the faculty sponsor of the Secondary STUCO, made the following observation about the students.  “My students seldom seriously disappoint me.  I have learned to expect and demand a lot - and of the very best quality - from them, and they have very seldom disappointed me.  It encourages me and, I hope, encourages them about the importance of what a responsible, involved Students Council can do.”

Last Friday, September 18, Secondary Students met in the amphitheater by the art room to hear speeches by the candidates.  Speakers had done their homework and it showed.

As with any electoral process, there could only be a set number of winners.  The vote for Student Council President required a run-off election.

The 2009-2010 ISH Secondary STUCO members are as follow:

• President, Mohana Ramesh
• Vice-President, Shreya Chalagalla
• Secretary, Nishan Chemuduri
• Treasurer, Siddarth (Sid) Galla
• Grade 6 Class Representative, Maya Shenoy
• Grade 7 Class Representative, Nainika Devireddy
• Grade 8 Class Representative, Jaydev (Jay) Uppaluri
• Grade 9 Class Representative, Sanjukta Koppolu
• Grade 10 Class Representative, Siddarth (Sid) Galla

STUCO members met on Thursday, September 24.  Special tables were setup for the purpose at lunch.  Students discussed field trips and a possible PTA-sponsored Halloween costume party/dance.

We are proud of each and every candidate for their courage, for volunteering their time, and for their speeches.

TEA family Picnic at Lahari Resort  

Sunday, 11th October from 10:00am to 7:00pm

All are welcome to a wonderful day of water games, river crossings, water slides and many more surprises for the whole family.

Ticket includes: Entry to the park, welcome drink, lunch, 2 beers or 2 soft drinks, & high tea.

TEA Members:          Rs 600/adult; Rs 300/under 18

Non-members:          Rs 800/adult; Rs 400/under 18

Children under 5:    Free

Tickets will be on sale on Fridays at “Club Pub” at the Walden & on Mondays from 2PM to 4PM at the HICC “TEA Space.”

To book tickets, contact Marie Françoise (9346547268) or Zarine (9949071921)

For American Citizens
The Consulate General of the United States of America in Hyderabad will give a presentation on American Citizen Services at the International School of Hyderabad on 30 September 2009 from 1:30-2:30. Consul Celia Thompson, Chief of American Citizen Services, will give an overview of the services offered by the Consulate. The orientation is for adult American citizens and non-American citizens who are parents of American citizens.

We’re on the Web!   See us at www.ishyd.org

Submissions
Submissions to ISH News may be sent to Dr. Newmark at m.newmark@ishyd.org

Items for publication in the Friday issue of ISH News should be submitted on Thursdays before noon.

There will be no newsletter on October 2^nd as it is a short week with no classes on Monday or Friday.

A large number of students have signed up in the Elementary and Secondary Schools to participate in After School Activities.  In the Secondary School, the activities have been constructed to support the Secondary School’s Creative, Action, Service Program. 

After School Activities at ISH this semester are optional.  That said, the assumption is that once a student has signed up for an After School Activity, they will stay with the activity for the remainder of the program. Since parental permission was required in the sign-up for After-School Activities, parental permission is also required for students to drop out of an After-School Activity.   For Secondary School students, this permission should come in the form of a note from a parent explain what activity the child will be dropping. The student should also write a note explaining why she/he wants to drop the activity.  The philosophy behind this 2^nd requirement is to lead students to reflect on the importance commitment. 

If a parent wishes for a child to leave at 2:40 on a day when the child is signed up to do an After School Activity until 3:40, the parents will need to arrange their own transport home for the child. Since different students stay back on each day, the bus routes at 2:40 and 3:40 are different.  Adding a student to a bus who has not already been signed up to go on that bus is not really a viable option.   Math League in the Secondary School

ISH is participating in the Near East South Asia (NESA) Math League this year.  The Math League consists of four challenges that take place at different times in the school year.  The League is open to students in Grades 7-12.  Interested students in should see Mr. Prasad for details. 

Bus routes can be very complicated and the start of After School Activities last week meant the creation of many new bus routes.  Until the run-through of those bus routes with students, the school can only make rough approximations of the timings of the journeys.  ISH apologizes for the delays caused to some students and their parents.  ISH is working out alternate routes to help ensure that students have a pleasant journey back home.    Please ensure that students are ready and at the pick-up point in good time ahead of the arrival of the bus each morning.  If a student will be arriving late, will not be attending school on a given day, will be leaving early, the Elementary School or Secondary School Office to share that information at least one day in advance.  If a parent is only able to share that information on the day itself, be sure to call the bus monitor AND the Elementary School or Secondary Office.  If a parent wishes for a child to leave at 2:40 on a day when the child is signed up to do an After School Activity until 3:40, the parent will need to arrange their own transport home for the child. 

If a parent wants someone other than the person/people authorized to collect their child/children, the parent needs to supply ISH with a written note authorizing that for a particular day.  New Ending Times

School lunch in the Secondary School will be reduced from 45 to 40 minutes starting next week.  This change will allow the Elementary and Secondary Schools to dismiss students who are not participating in an After School Activity at 2:40 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and to dismiss all students on Thursdays and Fridays at 2:40.  Dismissal time for students participating in an After School Activity on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday will be 3:40 starting next week. Although the school dismisses at 2:40 and 3:40 it takes time to board the buses at the Elementary School, to travel to the Secondary School, to board the buses at the Secondary School, and to travel to the ICRISAT gates. The actual departure time of buses from the ICRISAT gates will end up being around 3:00 and 3:50. 

Late Arrivals

If a student arrives late (after attendance is recorded in the attendance register), the student must check in at the Elementary or Secondary Office to note that she/he is present. 

Elementary School Assembly

The Elementary School’s first class assembly for the year 2009-2010 will be presented by Grade 2A& 2B on Wednesday 14 October.  The Grade 2 students will showcase a wide variety of activities that they have been proudly working on over the last few weeks.  The assemblies offer parents of the presenting class to meet with their children’s teachers and see their children’s work.  Parents of children from any class are warmly invited to the assembly.  Canteen Committee

Newsletter Friday, 18 September 2009
Issue 3/ 2009-2010

After School Activities/Creative Action, Service (CAS) Program
A large number of students have signed up in the Elementary and Secondary Schools to participate in After School Activities.

In the Secondary School, the activities have been constructed to support the Secondary School’s Creative, Action, Service Program.

After School Activities at ISH this semester are optional.  That said, the assumption is that once a student has signed up for an After School Activity, they will stay with the activity for the remainder of the program. Since parental permission was required in the sign-up for After-School Activities, parental permission is also required for students to drop out of an After-School Activity. 

For Secondary School students, this permission should come in the form of a note from a parent explain what activity the child will be dropping. The student should also write a note explaining why she/he wants to drop the activity.  The philosophy behind this 2nd requirement is to lead students to reflect on the importance commitment.

If a parent wishes for a child to leave at 2:40 on a day when the child is signed up to do an After School Activity until 3:40, the parents will need to arrange their own transport home for the child. Since different students stay back on each day, the bus routes at 2:40 and 3:40 are different.  Adding a student to a bus who has not already been signed up to go on that bus is not really a viable option.
Math League in the Secondary School
ISH is participating in the Near East South Asia (NESA) Math League this year.  The Math League consists of four challenges that take place at different times in the school year.  The League is open to students in Grades 7-12.  Interested students in should see Mr. Prasad for details.
ISH Transport Service
Bus routes can be very complicated and the start of After School Activities last week meant the creation of many new bus routes.  Until the run-through of those bus routes with students, the school can only make rough approximations of the timings of the journeys.  ISH apologizes for the delays caused to some students and their parents.  ISH is working out alternate routes to help ensure that students have a pleasant journey back home. 

Please ensure that students are ready and at the pick-up point in good time ahead of the arrival of the bus each morning.  If a student will be arriving late, will not be attending school on a given day, will be leaving early, the Elementary School or Secondary School Office to share that information at least one day in advance.  If a parent is only able to share that information on the day itself, be sure to call the bus monitor AND the Elementary School or Secondary Office.

If a parent wishes for a child to leave at 2:40 on a day when the child is signed up to do an After School Activity until 3:40, the parent will need to arrange their own transport home for the child.

If a parent wants someone other than the person/people authorized to collect their child/children, the parent needs to supply ISH with a written note authorizing that for a particular day.
New Ending Times
School lunch in the Secondary School will be reduced from 45 to 40 minutes starting next week.  This change will allow the Elementary and Secondary Schools to dismiss students who are not participating in an After School Activity at 2:40 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and to dismiss all students on Thursdays and Fridays at 2:40.  Dismissal time for students participating in an After School Activity on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday will be 3:40 starting next week. Although the school dismisses at 2:40 and 3:40 it takes time to board the buses at the Elementary School, to travel to the Secondary School, to board the buses at the Secondary School, and to travel to the ICRISAT gates. The actual departure time of buses from the ICRISAT gates will end up being around 3:00 and 3:50.
Late Arrivals
If a student arrives late (after attendance is recorded in the attendance register), the student must check in at the Elementary or Secondary Office to note that she/he is present.
 
 
Elementary School Assembly
The Elementary School’s first class assembly for the year 2009-2010 will be presented by Grade 2A& 2B on Wednesday 14 October.  The Grade 2 students will showcase a wide variety of activities that they have been proudly working on over the last few weeks.  The assemblies offer parents of the presenting class to meet with their children’s teachers and see their children’s work.  Parents of children from any class are warmly invited to the assembly.
Canteen Committee
A student/teacher canteen committee has been formed.  The committee will provide suggestions for how to improve the ISH canteen and will also help organize catering for Theme Days.  Student representatives from both the Elementary and the Secondary Schools met last Wednesday for the first time to discuss the good aspects of the canteen experience at ISH and those areas of the canteen experience that might be improved.  Many suggestions were made and these will be discussed with the ICRISAT catering department.  We are hopeful that suggestions of the committee can begin to be put into place in the coming weeks.  The committee will continue to meet regularly to help ensure that the canteen experience is a good one for ISH students.
A Partnership Between Parents, Teachers, and Students
Each student in the Secondary School has been issued a School Diary.  In this diary, students record the homework assigned in each class.  ISH requests that parents/guardians of students in the Secondary School look over the homework diary at the end of each week and inquire about the assignments with their children.  While this may seem intrusive, such a process provides students the opportunity to discuss their achievements with their parents/guardians and creates a valuable partnership between parents, teachers, and students.

Students should be writing the homework assigned in each class each day. If no homework was assigned for a particular day, the student should be noting the name of the class and that no homework was assigned for that particular class.  This method of recording helps make clear that there was indeed no homework.  Each week, a parent/guardian should sign off that she/he has inquired about her/his child’s homework and is satisfied that the week’s homework for each class has been done and been done with care.

For American Citizens
The Consulate General of the United States of America in Hyderabad will give a presentation on American Citizen Services at the International School of Hyderabad on 30 September 2009 from 1:30-2:30. Consul Celia Thompson, Chief of American Citizen Services, will give an overview of the services offered by the Consulate. The orientation is for adult American citizens and non-American citizens who are parents of American citizens.

Making Music
The instrumental music program is underway for the year. Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 had their first lesson on their chosen instruments on Tuesday. The school still has several instruments available for use.  If a student is interested in learning an instrument, please speak to Mr. Jonathan or Ms. Iryna before Tuesday, September 22nd.  School instruments still available are: Violin (Grades 6-8) Trumpet, Clarinet, Flute, Euphonium (Grades 4-8). These classes are for beginners only.  Students who are already learning an instrument had an opportunity to join the school band as an After School activity on Tuesdays.

ISH hopes to re-establish a school choir.  In the past, the school has had a choir that has given a number of successful performances.  ISH strongly encourages students to join the choir.  Interested students should contact Mr. Jonathan.
Elementary School ICT and Science
Congratulations to Mr. Crawley on his appointment as Science Coordinator for the Elementary School.  ISH is looking forward to Mr. Crawley’s contributions to the science program, in particular to his integration of technology into the study of science.  Mr. Crawley is also the Elementary School ICT Teacher.
The Elementary School ICT lab continues its course of improvement.  Information on the Elementary School Lab may be found at http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/MCrawley/.

This site will grow and change throughout the school year in response to the needs of each grade level.  Visit the site and explore.  Parents who wish to have websites added to the site that address the specific interests of their child/children should send an e-mail to m.crawley@ishyd.org.

Film Screening Sponsored by the PTA
The PTA is sponsoring a free ISH Film Club screening of the film “The Railway Children.”  The film is based on a book by E. Nesbit.  The film tells the story of three Edwardian children who moved to the country when their father is mysteriously taken away.  The local railway becomes the children’s source of hope and adventure.  Sensitive without being sentimental, the film captures the magical world of childhood.  The film will be screened on Sunday, 20 September at 3.30PM at the Prasad Preview Theatre opposite Cinemax.  The screening is free for ISH students.
Updating the Telephone Directory 
ISH is presently collating the contact information of parents and guardians. This information allows the school to contact parents and guardians quickly and efficiently.  Please e-mail ish@ishhyd.org to notify the school of any changes in phone numbers or e-mail addresses.
 

Assessment at ISH
Assessment is a continuous process of gathering and interpreting evidence to make judgments about student learning. Assessment assists teachers to plan, guide and implement learning. Teachers gather evidence for learning and exercise sound interpretation and judgment for two main purposes:

• Formative assessments of student learning (assessment for learning), or
• Summative assessments of student learning (assessment of learning).

Assessment for learning
Assessment for learning informs ongoing decisions about teaching and learning. Assessment at the beginning of a teaching and learning sequence, course or program is used to determine students’ prior knowledge, understandings and skills. During the teaching and learning sequence, assessment provides information about students’ progress towards learning goals.
Assessment for learning:

• is part of teaching and learning
• requires clear identification of learning goals and communication of these to students
• involves ongoing collection of relevant data about student learning
• involves feedback to students
• involves student self-assessment
• is built on beliefs about learning and learners
• is enhanced through teacher collaboration.

Assessment of learning
Assessment of learning informs judgments of student learning achievement at the end of a teaching and learning sequence, course or program. Such assessment is used to prepare reports of student achievement and to evaluate the teaching and learning programs to inform future planning.
At the International School of Hyderabad, teachers ensure that:

• Assessment is ongoing through a variety of assessment tasks and strategies, both formal and informal, so that sufficient evidence is gathered to make sound judgements about individual students’ learning
•  Assessment is valid and that, collectively, the assessment tasks and strategies encompass the breadth and depth of planned learning goals for the student
•  Assessment tasks and strategies promote high levels of intellectual quality, are soundly based on promoting a quality learning environment and make explicit to students the significance of the task or strategy

Assessment at ISH, continued

Collectively, assessment tasks and strategies are fair and enable all students to demonstrate their learning achievements consistently, autonomously and over a range of learning contexts.

Rubrics
In 2009, in the elementary and middle schools rubrics will often be used as a tool to assess students’ work.  A rubric is an authentic assessment tool used to measure students’ work. It is a scoring guide that seeks to evaluate a student’s performance based on criteria rather than a single numerical score.

A rubric is a working guide for students and teachers, usually handed out before the assignment begins in order to get students to think about the criteria on which their work will be judged. Rubrics can be analytic or holistic, and they can be created for any content area including math, science, history, writing, foreign languages, drama, art, music, etc… It is a formative type of assessment because it becomes an ongoing part of the whole teaching and learning process.
Students themselves can be involved in the assessment process through both peer and self-assessment. As students become familiar with rubrics, they can assist in the rubric design process. This involvement empowers the students and as a result, their learning becomes more focused and self-directed.
A Warm Welcome to New Students who have Joined ISH this Week
ISH extends a warm welcome to Nalini Mathur and Rohan Doshi in Reception, Shaan Trehan in KG2, Sheen Doshi in Grade 2, and Manya Trehan in Grade 3.
TEA family Picnic at Lahari Resort 
Sunday, 11th October from 10:00am to 7:00pm 
All are welcome to a wonderful day of water games, river crossings, water slides and many more surprises for the whole family.
 
Ticket includes: Entry to the park, welcome drink, lunch, 2 beers or 2 soft drinks, & high tea. 
TEA Members:  Rs 600/adult; Rs 300/under 18     
Non-members:  Rs 800/adult; Rs 400/under 18
Children under 5: Free
 
Tickets will be on sale on Fridays at “Club Pub” at the Walden & on Mondays from 2PM to 4PM at the HICC “TEA Space.”

To book tickets, contact Marie Françoise (9346547268) or Zarine (9949071921)

Dates for the Diary
Monday, September 21  School holiday – Ramzan

Monday, September 28 School holiday – Dussehra

Friday, October 2  School holiday – Gandhi Jaynti

October 6   Secondary School  Student-Parent-Teacher Conference

October 7    Elementary School + Secondary School
                                 Student-Parent-Teacher Conference
We’re on the Web!
See us at www.ishyd.org
Submissions
Submissions to ISH News may be sent to Dr. Newmark at m.newmark@ishyd.org

Items for publication in the Friday issue of ISH News should be submitted on Thursdays before noon.
 
 

ISH NEWS   24 April 2009 Issue 30/2008-09

Every Day Counts

School attendance is vital for young people to reach their full potential.  School attendance is a priority for the International School of Hyderabad, and we are constantly monitoring pupil attendance.  We need to work together with parents to help ensure excellent attendance and punctuality from every pupil.

We are sure you will understand lateness can be very disruptive to the school day.  Missing the start of lessons means instructions and other essential information will have to be repeated which will delay the start of lessons and young people’s learning.

We would also like to remind you about our absence procedures.  Please call the school office at 30713869 and send a memo in the communication book to inform us about the leave. If you have any queries or would like to talk to anyone about attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.  Please, remember to also inform the bus monitor as it is an unnecessary wait at the bus stop if you are not using the bus. It is absolutely important that we receive the request for leave before  you avail this.

Why are attendance and punctuality important?

·          Children need to attend school regularly so they can take advantage of all the educational opportunities available.

·          Poor attendance and persistent lateness undermines children’s education and often leads to them falling behind.

·          Good attitudes toward attendance that are well established in the primary school help to prevent problems later at the secondary school.

Evidence shows that a child who has regular absences or misses extended periods of schooling will find it difficult to catch up with work that has been missed and to keep up friendships within the class. We work in partnership with parents so that all reasonable steps are taken to maximise attendance and actively discourage late arrival.

         WORLD EARTH  DAY

Wednesday, 22^nd  April was Earth Day. The kids of grade 6 made posters to put up around the school. We went for a walk around ICRISAT and collected natural objects like leaves, sand, flowers, and twigs for a collage. The caption for the day was “Save the Earth, Plant a Tree”.

Later that day, the whole school pitched in. From 1:15 to 2:00 pm , we turned off the lights, air conditioners and fans, and observed the Earth Day in our own small way.

Here are some ways in which you can help save the Earth:

·          Plant a tree. Trees take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. We need  oxygen to breathe. Too much carbon dioxide leads to depletion in the ozone layer. This makes our Earth hotter. If everyone of us plants a tree, we could be planting almost 300 trees. That’s just a tiny step in saving the Earth but every step counts !

·          Turn off the lights when you are not using them.

·          Don’t dump your trash on the roads.

·          You can carpool – if you are going somewhere and a friend nearby needs to go too, give them a ride.

·          Turn off the car engine when the car is stopping for a long time. This saves petrol and diesel

·          Have the air conditioner on only when you really need it.

·          Walk to the bus stop. If it is too far, use .your bicycle.

·          Use both sides of the paper.  This saves trees

·          Don’t use paper or plastic plates.

 By Nainika and Emma - Grade 6

After-School Activities

If you will recall, we sent out a communication to know your sentiments regarding cancelling the After-School Activities Programme as the weather has turned unusually hot very early this year.  The response was very poor.  However, now we are getting many requests for dropping out of the activities.  This causes a lot of disruption and dissatisfaction.  Teachers and parent volunteers spend a lot of their time planning and implementing  these clubs. Hence, we believe it is necessary to take a decision at the earliest to cancel or continue the after school activities.  Please let us know your views by mailing to ish@ishyd.org by Monday, 27th April.

Secondary School

Swimming Gala

We hope you have received a letter from your child concerning the annual swimming gala which is being held on Thursday, 30^th April. All students in grades 6 to 10 will be competing while students in grades 11 and 12 are given the option to sign up or continue with their lessons as normal in school. The approximate timings for the morning are as follows:

09.00              Races begin for grades 6 to 10

10.15              Snack Break

11.45              Races finish for all grades

14.30              Prize distribution held at school

15:00              Busses depart school

Please note that there are no after-school activities on the day and the busses will depart at approximately 3pm. Parents are welcome to attend as long as they have their ISH identity cards. Friends or family members who do not hold a card must ring the office before the day to gain permission to enter ICRISAT.

Benchmark  Tests

As mentioned in our earlier newsletter.  The tests for grades 2 – 4 will be between 8^th and 15^th of May and for grades 6 – 8 it will be from the 11^th to 15 of May.

Please note that the tests for students in grades 1 and 5 may be held during the last week of May or the first week of June, as the papers from England will be sent to us only after 16^th May.

The tests in english, mathematics and science are designed to give an accurate snapshot in relation to student progress in these subject areas and to support the many forms of informal assessment that take place in the classroom on a regular basis.

The papers will be marked internally according to the guidelines stipulated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in UK and reported to parents as part of our end-of-school-year reports. Teachers take every care to ensure that the tests are stress free, and that they are fair for all. Should you have any queries in the meantime,  please contact Mrs. Biswas or Mrs. Verghese who will be conducting the tests.

Friendly Reminders from STUCO

STUCO is busy with its next big project:  Peace Tree Day.  Peace Tree Day will be held on Monday, June 1.  Some of the things we are planning for the first week of June include a used-clothing drive, Taste-of-the-World food-fair, and an ISH book fair.

Regardless of our ages, many of us seem to be growing in one way or another.  (I know I am!  My waistband tells me so each morning.)  Why not start planning for the summer holiday season and start clearing those closets and drawers of your good, reusable clothing that someone in less fortunate circumstances would truly appreciate?  Donations will be accepted on the first-ever used-clothing drive on June 2.  Note:  This will be a school-wide event and both children’s and adult’s clothing will be appreciated and accepted.  This will be donated to charity.

Scholastic Books, a company with which many of us have grown up and are growing up, will be the provider for the three-day event, June 1 through June 3.  The targeted audience will be reception through grade eight but everyone will be welcome to browse.  Teachers, on Friday, May 1, Scholastic will be bringing samples of their many teaching products for you to peruse in the library.  In addition, their catalogues will be circulating through the schools all of the two weeks.

If you have any questions or comments about these future STUCO-sponsored events, please contact Mr. Wayne at

  Mr.Wayne.gdnr@gmail.com or call/SMS 97030.88852.

Trials Soon Ending

Even though you were away from ISH over the break, your learning and reading adventures were still in progress.  According to the representatives of NewsBank and EBSCO, the trials arranged through them for the ISH community were accessed very frequently.  You are still being asked to access, use, and give feedback on the electronic resources being made available from your library.  Please follow these directions to access NewsBank, EBSCO, and Destiny:

For NewsBank, go to http://infoweb.newsbank.com from any internet browser.  When prompted, please enter the username “hyderabad” and the password “hyderabad” (both lowercase and without the quotation/speech marks).

For EBSCO, go to http://trial.ebscohost.com from any internet browser.  When prompted, please enter the username “ns083649” and the password “trial” (both lowercase and without the quotation/speech marks).

For Destiny, go to http://172.1.1.119 from any internet browser while on the grounds of ISH-ICRISAT.  Simply click on “ISH Library” on the homepage and the “Catalog” tab on the next page.  Updating of your details are continuing, so you will not be logging in with user ID’s.

These resources can be also accessed through the secondary library’s cataloguing system homepage.  Please, send your comments, questions, and concerns (if any) to Mr.Wayne.gdnr@gmail.com.

REMEMBER:  Feedback.  It is needed.  It is important.

Update

I am sure you are all aware that our school is expanding and diversifying and taking on a truly international status.  All children have welcomed all of the recent changes in their daily lives. We at ISH are constantly keeping their interests in mind.

ISH has actually been a hive of activity during this Easter break. There have been significant improvements made to the facilities and these include: a new fire escape and a shaded area in the primary playground was identified.  Work is begin very soon on it. We have also invested in new playground equipment which has been installed. Children have been using the new rock-climbing wall and the younger children have been enjoying the new slides. Unfortunately, there has been a delay in the delivery of the new school buses which we hope will arrive soon.

All of the changes are very important to ensure our students have facilities that will further enhance their educational experience. However, improved facilities are only a small area that contributes to individual outcomes. A factor of far greater impact is the staff. We have superb staff at ISH and the new staff joining us this year will add to the quality we already have.

All the drivers and monitors have undertaken a first-aid training programme and will be further trained regarding the safety issues on the buses.

School Transport

Thank you to all of our families this week for ensuring that our new morning timetable has run very smoothly.   As always, we appreciate your support in ensuring that students are ready in good time for the arrival of the bus each morning.

We have noticed that many families have either left early or arrive late after the holidays without informing the school.  To prevent wasted journeys we respectfully ask that if for any reason you do not require the ISH bus service, please contact the school office on the day before or in the case of late notice, please contact the bus monitor directly on the numbers given on the front page of this newsletter.

School Photographs

The school photographer has been in school to take photos of all out students before the break.  These photographs are on sale at the elementary school office.

·          A class photograph    (6×8)        Rs.60/-

·          Whole school elementary  (A4)      Rs.100/-

·          Whole school secondary  (A4)      Rs.100/-

·          Whole school                  (A4)      Rs..100/-

Summer Heat

Summer heat is on. We request all the children to bring in caps to protect themselves from the sun during playtimes.  In addition, plastic waters bottles for fresh water should be sent.

ISH Book Club News 

Next-to-the-Last Meeting

The ISH Book Club will be meeting tomorrow, from 11:00 to 12:00, Saturday, April 25, at the usual venue of Saptaparni Book Store (Road #8, Banjara Hills – phone, 6666.7707).  Mr. Wayne has prepared a special program, so be ready for a story and an activity.

This is the next-to-the-last meeting of the ISH Book Club, and we hope to see everyone who registered this week present.  Parents, kindly remember that while parental supervision is not necessary, on-time drop-off and pickup are necessary.

Kids, remember that you will earn an extra ten points for attending and participating.  Refreshments will be provided.  See you tomorrow!

Any questions you may have should be directed to Ms. Padmaja at 92463.46724.

Dates for Your Diary

·          Thursday, 30 April  2009

            Secondary Swimming Gala

·          Saturday, 2 May 2009

            Tint ‘n’ Tone (Art & Music Festival)

·          Friday, 29 May 2009

            Graduation Day

School Contact Numbers

                Elementary Office              30713869

            Secondary Office            30713865

            Office Manager :            9347274888

All our buses can be contacted on the following  Nos;

                Route No                   Mobile No

            ISH - 1                                    9347054102

            ISH - 2                        9347054103

            ISH - 3                        9347054104

            ISH - 4                        9347054105

            ISH - 5                        9347054106

            ISH - 6                        9347931001

            ISH - 7                        9347931002

            ISH - 8                        9395101318

            ISH - 9                        9347931004

            ISH - 10                    9390034332

            ISH - 11                    9347065304

            ISH - 12                    9394881526

            ISH - 13                    9396417893

            ISH - 14                    9392526359

            ISH - 15                    9392526360

            ISH - 16                    9392526361

This is a test post by The Principal.  It serves as a demostration that the school’s principal can post messages to the public directly and engage in ‘the conversation’ on the web.