The American International School of Rotterdam
SHARK 16.03.12
Bulletin...
From the Interim Director and Elementary Principal If you had been in school on Tuesday you might have been surprised to see many book characters walking around the hallways. This was part of the Annual Reading Month Celebration. The winners of the best costume, who will receive a book are: Isabella from Pre k 2: The Cat “The Cat in The Hat” Elysa from Grade 3: Finkelhooper “Frog Cheers” Angelina from Grade 4: Annabeth “Percy Jackson” Coming up in the near future will be a Book Carnival. More information about this event will be sent out closer to the time. I have also included some pictures of COR Moments throughout the school. I think the photos speak for themselves. The COR Ambassadors have spent the past 2 weeks "Capturing COR Moments". Students have been recognizing their classmates and peers for the COR behaviors and actions they have displayed during the school day. Students have captured these moments by taking pictures and presenting COR tokens. We thank all of our students who model the values of our Community of Respect each day.
Reminders: Report Cards will go home next Friday, March 23. Summer Language Academy - don't forget to send back the survey before Friday March 23. A new study has found that children who spend their free time watching TV or hanging out with friends perform less well in school. “The 'Growing Up In Ireland' study found that nine-year-olds who take part in cultural activities in their spare time have better reading and maths skills than children who watch too much television. Children from middle class backgrounds are more engaged in cultural activities than those from disadvantaged areas - one in three compared to less than one in 10. Launching the study, the Education Minister Ruairí Quinn said that parents have a responsibility to make sure their children are taking part in extra-curricular activities. “The television has become the all-present electronic baby-minder, or baby distracter if you like, and I think an active involvement by parents is part and parcel of the message,” he said. The classroom cannot solve everything, and this study shows, in fact, that the home from which you come, and that’s across the social spectrum, can be a nurturing home, or can be one that’s indifferent.”
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Dinner Dance tomorrow night. Have a lovely weekend,
Anne-Marie Blitz a.blitz@aisr.nl
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The American International School of Rotterdam
SHARK 16.03.12
Bulletin...
From the Secondary Principal and Curriculum Director Once again, thank you for your interest and feedback on the homework club letter sent out last month. We are moving ahead and will start our very own AISR Homework Club, commencing on Monday, the 19th of March, 2012. Registration forms are attached and are also available from the front office. Please contact Irene Houlder (i.houlder@aisr.nl) or Katie Modic (k.modic@aisr.nl) with any questions. Goal of the Homework Club The AISR Homework Club is a structured time and space for students at AISR to independently set and accomplish homework goals. Students develop a habit of planning for and completing their homework assignments to a high standard. Homework Club supervisors assure that the students are on track to accomplishing their homework goals. They can help students prioritize their work and/or organize their agendas. The Homework Club is not a tutoring session. Supervisors are not necessarily experts in specific subjects and don’t have a detailed insight into students’ assignments and projects. It is the students’ responsibility to come to the club with an agenda that includes all assignments and any materials that are required to complete the assignments. AISR CAS students will also be available at the homework club to support with content-specific work. Upcoming Dates: • Coffee, Croissants and Curriculum for Secondary: Friday, March 30th from 8:15-9:15 • NECIS Swimming: March 22nd-24th • Global Issues Network Conference: March 22nd-March 24th • Model United Nations Conference: March 23rd-25th As mentioned previously, I will be sharing some food for thought about the current trends in education with regards to E-Learning during the month of March. There is much discussion and debate about the role of technology in education and this is an issue schools around the world are facing more and more. The excerpts come from Bridget McCrea and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Trend # 3 - Social Awareness: More Facebooking and Twittering Like it or not social networking looks like it's here to stay. Rather than fight the movement Stephen Canipe said the K-12 sector should embrace social networking and use it to its advantage. "In 2012 we're definitely going to see more of it," said Canipe, a program director at Walden University's Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership. "Both in terms of traditional sites [like Facebook and Twitter] and social bookmarking sites [such as Delicious and Diigo]." Using Diigo, for example, teachers can set up electronic reading lists and post assignments that students can access on their own time and without having to be reminded via email about the postings. And unlike public social networking sites, these bookmarking options can be made private. That's a particularly important point for education, since it is expected that social networking will continue to grow. "These tools enable collaborative learning," said Canipe, "without putting more work on the teacher's plate." Please don't hesitate to contact me at anytime for further information or if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached at a.lipp@aisr.nl or by calling the school at extension 316. Enjoy the weekend,
Alison Lipp a.lipp@aisr.nl
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The American International School of Rotterdam
SHARK 16.03.12
Bulletin...
From the Library...
Elementary Reading Month Elementary Reading Month has been going strong! So far, we've Skyped with Australian Author, Sherry Clark on World Read Aloud Day, had a book swap, and paraded on Dress-Up as your Favorite Book Character Day.
Students are really enjoying this reading month and we hope that everyone is logging their reading in their Book Logs (due March 29th). Please also, save May 11th from 3-5 as our 1st ever “Parent/Child Book Carnival�. There will be lots of fun activities. More info to come later. Happy Reading! Enjoy the weekend, Regards,
Mrs. van Ringelesteijn m.vanringelesteijn@aisr.nl
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