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ORIENTATION: YOUR GUIDE TO ASP
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to call: Reception: 01-41-12-82-82 Admissions & Bus: 01-41-12-86-55 Lower School Office: 01-41-12-82-78 Middle School Office: 01-41-12-82-74 Upper School Office: 01-41-12-82-88
ORIENTATION EDITION AUGUST 2011
INSIDE theASPect:
ORIENTATION Table of Contents:
2
3
Calendar
12
Getting to Know You
4
Orientation Day Program & Goals
14
Investing in Excellence
6
Map of ASP Campus
16
Parent Faculty Association
8
Welcome Program
20
ASP Online
10
Welcome from the Head of School
21
After School Activites
11
‘Bienvenue’ from the Board
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Useful Resources Section: (see this page for full contents listing)
AUGUST 2011
2011-2012 CALENDAR August
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
21 28
22 29
23 30
24 31
25
26
27
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 1
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
8 15 22 29
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
3 10
4 11
5 12
6 13
7 14
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
www.asparis.org
Aug 22: Teachers return Aug 25: First day of classes
Oct 10: Parent-Teacher Conference Day (No School for Lower School & Middle School) Oct 24 - Oct 31: Autumn Break Nov 1: "Toussaint" - Bank Holiday (School Closed) Nov 11: Armistice Day - Bank Holiday (School Closed)
Dec 19 - Jan 2: Winter Break
Feb 23 - 24: Professional Development Days (School Closed) Feb 27 - Mar 2: February Break
Apr 9: Easter Monday - Bank Holiday (School Closed) Apr 16 - 27: Spring Break
May 1: May Day - Bank Holiday (School Closed) May 8: Victory Day - Bank Holiday (School Closed) May 17: Ascension Holiday – Bank Holiday (School Closed) May 28: Pentecost Monday - Bank Holiday (School Closed)
1 8 15
2 9 16
Jun 15: Last day of school – School closes at 12:00
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New FAMILY ORIENTATION DAY 2011-2012 August 24th - Starts promptly at 8:00 AM *ESSENTIAL FOR NEW FAMILIES*
PROGRAM
LOWER SCHOOL 8:00
MIDDLE SCHOOL
UPPER SCHOOL
ALL FAMILIES CHECK IN (GYM) Please check in at the alphabetized tables in the Gym and receive your Registration Packet. Complete any outstanding paperwork in the packet. Enjoy breakfast and visit the stands run by our parent volunteers.
8:45
9:00
Students to HOMEROOMS
Students meet your BUDDIES
Parents take Students to their Homeroom Classes.
Students check in at the Middle School tables and meet up with their Buddies.
Homeroom assignments and maps of the Lower School are available at the Lower School tables in the Gym.
Parents remain in the Gym, enjoy breakfast and complete paperwork.
Upper School Parents and Students remain in the Gym. Enjoy breakfast and complete all paperwork. .
All Parents and Upper School Students proceed to the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
9:15
The ASP Student Presentation
“Our aspirations for every ASP student” Performing Arts Center
9:45
LOWER SCHOOL PARENT MEETING
MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT MEETING
UPPER SCHOOL PARENT MEETING
Lower School Library Meet Margaret Coleman, Director of Lower School.
Room 464-468 Meet Kathy Miner, Director of Middle School.
Performing Arts Center Upper School Students will leave the PAC to meet with current ASP Upper Schoolers. Parents remain in the PAC and meet Aaron Hubbard, Director of Upper School.
10:15
COFFEE BREAK
10:30
Meeting Continues...
The Cube
COFFEE BREAK Lower School Atrium
10:45
COFFEE BREAK
11:00
Meeting Continues...
Meeting Continues...
Lower School Foyer Parents collect children from the Homeroom classrooms.
BBQ LUNCH & COMPLETION OF PAPERWORK
11:30
Parents and students are invited to a BBQ lunch by the Cafeteria Terrace. This is also the time to return to the Gym if you have paperwork to complete or want to spend time visiting the other “help” tables for buses, cafeteria cards, Parent Faculty Association etc.
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AUGUST 2011
WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF PARIS! ON ARRIVAL:
ALL FAMILIES
GYM
should make their way through reception into the for Registration. Our special Orientation Team- all dressed in RED T-SHIRTS - will be on hand to direct you and answer all your questions and help you through the day. We invite all new students and parents to attend a BBQ lunch at the end of the morning’s program.
Welcome to the American School of Paris! Our Goals for Your Family Orientation: Here is what we hope you gain from your first day with us: Sense the ethos of the American School of Paris. We want you to feel immediately welcome. Understand our clear purpose for teaching and learning at ASP. We are a school that knows where we are going and why for every student. Understand our personalized approach to knowing and addressing the needs of our students. Discover our mandate to work closely with you. A strong partnership between home and school makes all the difference for learning and good citizenship. Understand how we use technology to communicate and build community. Feel confident that your children enthusiastically greet their first full day of school and quickly set aside any normal fears or concerns about their new learning home. Hear the unequivocal message that we are here to help everyone in your family make a strong beginning at ASP and within the Paris region. We will always welcome your questions.
Checklist: ALL PARENTS please note and check off the following items: I registered for and/or picked-up my Vehicle Registration Sticker at the ID Table I registered for my Parent ID badge at the ID Table (Only for parents who did not receive their badge already in their Orientation Packet) I completed and turned in the Family & Emergency Contact Information Sheet at the Completed Forms Table (Only for parents who did not return this form over the summer) I have visited the Cafeteria table and understood the options for my child(ren) and/or cafeteria card system (Upper and Middle School) and/or the Lower School Lunch Program) I have my chil(dren)’s bus cards and understand the location of the stops (Only for families signed up for the bus program) I have visited the PFA tables run by our parent volunteers in the Gym
Orientation Activities will conclude at 1pm
www.asparis.org
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MAP OF ASP CAMPUS
LOWER SCHOOL 3-5
GET TO Know your way around!
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>> LOWER SCHOOL K-2 (Lower school library downstairs)
ROOM 464- 468 (upstairs)
PAC
AUGUST 2011
AMERICAN SCHOOL OF PARIS 41, rue Pasteur - B.P. 82 - 92216 Saint - Cloud Cedex - France Tel. 01 41 12 82 82 Fax 01 46 02 23 90 www.asparis.org
CAFETERIA TERRACE
GYM All families CHECK IN here first
PARKING
VISITORS’ ENTRANCE
ROUTE TO THE PAC
www.asparis.org
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WELCOME PROGRAM WELCOME TO PARIS! WELCOME TO ASP! At ASP we understand what it is to be new… everyone here was once new! Every year we welcome hundreds of new families, and so we have developed an extensive Orientation and Welcome Program to help you find your feet, new friends and feel right at home! Working with the Admissions Office, the Division Directors and the Parent Faculty Association, our program is designed to help you and your family integrate into the ASP and Paris communities as quickly and effortlessly as possible. From the online resource center and buddy programs to a Fun Sports Day, Living Skills seminars and our Community Connections Fair, our goal is to help.
Orientation Day Wednesday August 24 8.00am This special day is mandatory for all new families. Scores of ASP parents will be on hand to welcome you and help you and your children discover what the year ahead at ASP holds. Starting with registering the students, you will receive information packets and the children will be taken to their classrooms, while parents are invited to attend special presentations for each division. (For a detailed program see the website: www.asparis.org/starting_school )
Upper School Placement Testing Monday August 22 12.45pm In order to make sure that the Upper School students will be properly placed in classes, they will have an oral test in French and Spanish and a written test in mathematics. The students should not be overly anxious about these tests; they are given in order to help place students into the levels that are appropriately challenging. And of course, parents are welcome to stay and meet current ASP parents and other new families at our informal ‘coffee house”. Light snacks and refreshments will be available and computers set up for you to discover all ASP’s online resources with the helping hands of our Parent Faculty Association.
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Orientation Day is an exciting moment for the students to see the campus more fully, meet their teachers and some of their new classmates. This is their first real introduction to the school! Parents will be able to collect their pre-prepared security ID badges, car stickers (if car details are known ahead of time) and the student cards which serve as bus, library and cafeteria cards (see the website for the downloadable forms and details). This is also a good opportunity to be introduced to all the groups of the Parent Faculty Association (PFA) and find out how you can also get involved at the school. And at the end of a busy morning, enjoy a relaxing moment at our BBQ lunch.
Upper School Welcome Back Picnic Saturday September 3 5pm to 9pm All our Upper School families are invited to hang out, listen to music from our students and faculty, play some sports and enjoy a wonderful BBQ. A chance for the teenagers to get to know one another and the parents to relax in the sun (hopefully!) and get to know the Upper School teachers and other ASP families.
Community Connections Fair Monday September 5 9am-11am This is your chance to discover the many English-speaking resources and services available in and around Paris. While the kids are in school make the most of the morning Fair. There will be more than 50 groups and organizations set up in the ASP Gym for you to wander around, picking up ideas and information, both practical and inspirational. Representatives will include; local language schools, travel agencies, clubs, cooking schools, churches and other faith organizations, publications, health and beauty services, computer support services, insurance and English banking services by HSBC, our sponsors.
Living Skills Seminars Tuesday Sept 13 9-12:30am Friday Sept 16 9-12:30am Tuesday Sept 20 8:30am-2pm At these information seminars you will meet new friends, be informed on issues related to living in France, and once again, have many of your questions answered. A culinary expert will provide information on what to buy and what to avoid when shopping at the local market as well as the French equivalents of your favorite foods. A nurse working in Paris will tell us what to do in a medical emergency, and how the French medical system works. There will also be presentations on travel and transportation, cross-cultural issues, and the best ways to enjoy the vibrant city of Paris. And for the final session there will be lunch for all those attending to swap stories and exchange ideas.
New PARENT Cocktail Wednesday September 7 7pm to 9pm This is a ‘parents-only’ event giving all our new families the chance to meet each other without worrying about the children! We will even give you a list of possible babysitters from our Upper School students. And the invitation comes with a ‘no paper work’ promise! Take a break from organizing your new lives and join us in The Cube for an evening with new friends. It is also our chance to give you a brief introduction to some of the ways in which you might like to get involved at ASP. Come and enjoy a glass of wine and some delicious treats from our cafeteria team.
www.asparis.org
Bienvenue Cocktail Saturday October 1 7pm to 9pm All ASP parents, faculty and staff are invited to join the Head of School, Mark Ulfers and the Board of Trustees to celebrate the start of a new school year and to welcome everyone back. This is a great opportunity for our families to socialize with our teachers and enjoy being part of the ASP family! This is a chance to dress up and enjoy one of Paris’ sumptuous event venues – and perhaps go on for dinner ‘in town’ with new found friends!
Please note that all of the above events are offered to you by ASP and the Parent Faculty Association. There are no charges associated with any of the listed events.
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL WelcomE! Dear ASP Student and Parents, Our school is flourishing, and all the more because you and your family have joined us in the grand adventure of 21st century learning.
The American School of Paris is a remarkable school, nearing 70 years of excellence in college preparatory teaching and learning. Spending any amount of time with us at ASP – be it one, two or twelve years – becomes a lifetime experience built on the strength of relationships among students, parents and highly-skilled teachers. High expectations for each student’s learning are matched by an environment of caring and support. We are all part of a new age where both exciting possibilities and unsettling questions exist. In response, our students must develop adaptable skills today to greet the jobs, opportunities, uncertainties and technology that await them tomorrow. We want our young people to have all the tools to get to the future and to thrive. Our ideas and decisions on how we engage students in learning are measured against our new ASP mission– and you expect and deserve a school with strong direction. We emphasize traditional knowledge and skills, yet ensure new fluencies for critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, environmental stewardship and communicating in multiple languages. Our students become
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Our Mission The American School of Paris is a vibrant, international, family-oriented community. Our mission is to inspire and prepare every student to achieve personal and academic excellence as an engaged global citizen by providing a challenging, innovative program within a compassionate environment.
whole-minded thinkers who are flexible in working analytically, creatively and compassionately – and are people of uncompromising character. As we actively imagine our school’s future together, we point to the value of our freshly minted strategic plan. Our ambitious blueprint for action looks beyond the present to a future where we ensure a broadly diversified education and excellence in teaching. The backdrop is an environment of heightened expectations within a dynamic curriculum for learning, facilities, technology and resources to engage our young people intellectually, emotionally, physically and ethically. We are proud to be a founding school of the International Baccalaureate and are one of the few international schools in the world that also offers Advanced Placement coursework– so a rigorous curriculum and the wholeness of learning are dominant in the DNA of our school.
for the 2011-2012 school year. We do so as a school very much on the move. Talk to any teacher or current ASP parent and they will fill you in on our actions to continually improve. Our mandate is to respond with thoughtful and innovative change and ensure every student of ours achieves personal and academic excellence. The days and years ahead hold remarkable possibilities for teaching and learning– especially now that you are here with us.
All Good Wishes.
Mark E. Ulfers, Head of School
As one school year ends, we are very ready to open our doors to your family
AUGUST 2011
BIENVENUE FROM THE BOARD Dear Parents, Students, Faculty and Staff,
OUR BELIEFS We Believe That:
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Every person has equal worth. Honesty and integrity are central to all we do. Individuals are responsible for their choices and actions. We best meet the needs of learners when we understand them as individuals. Through hard work and determination individuals can achieve their potential. Every member of a community has the responsibility to contribute to the greater good. Seeking to understand diverse cultures, ideas and practices enriches a community.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, welcome to ASP and welcome to the start of the 2011-12 school year. The American School of Paris is a place where your children are offered outstanding opportunities to learn, grow and appreciate the unique experience of an American style education in an international environment and a fascinating host country. If you are new, please be remember that we have all been new once - some more recently than others. Staff, faculty, students and parents are looking forward to doing all they can to help you feel at home here and make the transition as easy as possible. As in many other schools, the Board of Trustees is responsible for the long term viability of the school, strategic and financial management. We work in partnership with the head of school to ensure that resources are allocated and used optimally and that the programs to continue to develop and serve the needs of the ASP community as a whole. The Board is currently composed of fifteen trustees including ASP current parents, former parents and alumni. Seven different nationalities and a cross section of skills and experience are represented and we all are volunteers.
A culture of high expectations and striving for excellence leads to higher achievement. Learning is a continuous lifelong endeavor. Great schools nurture passion, curiosity, creativity, self-expression and joy. Going beyond the familiar and taking risks stimulate growth, innovation and self-discovery. In a rapidly changing world, achieving excellence demands commitment to continuous improvement.
• Everyone shares responsibility for our global community and environment.
Board of Trustees 2011-2012 OFFICERS Mrs Lis Seeley, President Mr David Tancredi, Vice-President Mrs Ilse Willems, Secretary COMMITTEE CHAIRS Mrs Sue Carden, Treasurer Advancement: Co-Chairs, Mrs Lois Fink & TRUSTEES Mr Peter Barnet Mr Zarif Badruddin Mr Peter Barnet Education: Mrs Betsy Blackwell Chair, Mrs Giovanna Monnas Mr André Brenninkmeijer Finance: Chair, Mrs Sue Carden Mrs Lois Fink Mrs Giovanna Monnas Trustees: Chair, Mrs Ilse Willems Mr Eric Olsen Mr Andrew Plump For more information see the Mrs Claire Staniforth Trustees area of the website Mr Mark Taplin under About Us or click: Mr Tomek Ulatowski www.asparis.org/trustees
On Saturday, October 1, we invite you all to our Bienvenue Cocktail. This event is enjoyed by parents, faculty and staff alike and is a terrific way to start off the year. An information night will be held in November. This is an opportunity to hear more about the work of the Board as well as ask questions in a group setting with fellow parents, Trustees and administration in attendance. Details for both of these events will be announced in September. There are many, many opportunities, activities and events as the school year gets underway which all the family will benefit from being a part of. We look forward to meeting you at any of those and welcoming you in person to ASP.
Elisabeth Seeley President of the Board of Trustees 11-12
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GETTING TO KNOW
YOU!
In the same way that we organize an extensive Welcome Program for ASP families and parents, we also organize trips at the start of the year with the sole aim of getting new ASP students integrated as quickly as possible. All Middle School grades undertake a week’s trip with Outward Bound – either here in France, in the French Alps of Savoie (Grade 6), or in the British Lake District (Grades 7 & 8). And in Upper School there are two retreats (one for Grades 9 and 10 and another for Grades 11 and 12) also organized in the first weeks of school. In Upper School, both retreats will take place at the Château de Grande Romaine, a retreat center in Lésigny (a suburb of Paris). The program is run by professionals and chaperoned by ASP faculty. The students are involved in a range of team-building and initiative exercises while also having time to relax and simply
enjoy themselves. They will learn more about the school and its expectations as well as profiting from several seminars on health. The longer trips for Middle School create an amazing first impression for everyone!
“I made so many friends.”
“We really learned to work together as a team.”
US RETREAT
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AUGUST 2011
“Can we stay another week?”
And when you hear these sorts of comments at the end of a week of Outward Bound, you know you’ve reached your objective; it’s the reason why we’ve been going for over 30 years.
Our Middle Schoolers spend a week working with two Outward Bound teachers assigned to our Advisory groups of 12-14 students. The goal is for each group, along with its ASP advisor, to gel—for the students to develop a sense of trust, friendship, cooperation and good spirit.
They go through a series of challenging outdoor activities, including a gorge walk, high-ropes course, tunneling, canoeing, rock-climbing and an overnight expedition in the mountains. Only by working together can the group succeed, and through the de-briefing sessions that follow the activities, they grow to understand each individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Importantly, they also learn to respect and listen to each other. It’s a lot of time to take out of the academic schedule, for sure; especially at the beginning of the school year. But the teachers would tell you that especially for students of middleschool age, the benefit is tremendous. It builds a foundation for cooperative learning that will carry on throughout the year. It creates a pool of shared memories which are still reference points in June. After our week at Outward Bound together, there are no longer any new students in the Middle School!
OUTWARD BOUND
www.asparis.org
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ADVANCING ASP INVESTING IN EXCELLENCE What is The Excellence Fund? ASP is an exceptional place to learn and we warmly welcome all our new families into this dynamic and vibrant community. Unlike schools that are funded by government resources (taxes), ASP is a private, independent school relying primarily on tuition revenues. And as in the case of private schools everywhere, ASP seeks additional funds from grants and corporate sponsorships, as well as from our families and alumni in order to honor our mission and fulfill our vision. At ASP we have The Excellence Fund. For more than 60 years, the American School of Paris has prepared and inspired students to excel in a changing global
society. Today, the unique advantage of an international education is vital to the future success of our children. Delivering an ASP education requires considerable resources. Annual tuition covers basic costs; philanthropy enables us to further assure academic excellence, expand and deepen the student experience, and invest in faculty development. The Excellence Fund, ASP’s annual giving program, positions the school to fund strategically those programs and initiatives that enable our school to remain “at the forefront of international education.” For more information do not hesitate to contact Lara Tilley, ltilley@asparis.fr
Academic Excellence
Investing in the future Our dynamic curriculum educates the “whole child” through a combination of strong core academic subjects along with fine arts, theater, music, and sports. The Excellence Fund will position ASP to realize goals such as expanding the role of technology in the classroom, enhancing the learning environment, and expanding programs to ensure an unlimited horizon for every child.
Faculty Investment
Teachers you remember for life ASP teachers are the foundation of both academic excellence and the student experience. The Excellence Fund will help ASP enhance a competitive package that includes ongoing seminars, workshops, and conferences to further develop and retain top-level faculty.
The Student Experience
Bringing learning alive
Learning at ASP creates lifelong memories from exceptional opportunities in and beyond the classroom. The Excellence Fund will invest in inspirational speakers, extraordinary field trips, and global travel to deliver an unparalleled education.
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Why Give? As a nonprofit organization, our tuition and fees only cover operational expenses; philanthropy provides a measure of sustainable excellence As an independent school, ASP is not funded by government or other public sources ASP is committed to financial stability with less dependence on tuition and other fees Your gift makes a difference today and secures the future of the School
Why I Support The Excellence Fund:
“As an ASP teacher for the past 23 years and an ASP parent of two children since 2001, I have come to know the school in a way few others have. The superb academic program and the varied and excellent extra-curricular offerings in sports, theater, art and service combine to make ASP an international school without peer. By making a long-term contribution to The Excellence Fund, Florence and I are reinforcing our commitment to the future and continued excellence of this wonderful school.”
“Over the years, my children have received so much from ASP. The Excellence Fund just seemed a natural way to begin to thank the school and the faculty for our family’s incredible experience. In addition to the rich and diverse academic program, my children have greatly benefited from all the ‘extras’ provided at ASP, inlcuding Outward Bound and other field trips exploring France, string ensemble and honor choir, swimming and soccer, Model United Nations and on and on. Our wish is that future students of ASP have the same opportunities to enjoy these and other wonderful programs.”
- Hal & Florence Judis Parents of children in grades 7 & 9 Hal is also an ASP Upper School Social Studies Teacher
- Ilse and John Willems Parents of children in grades 6, 9, & 11 Ilse is also a member of the Board of Trustees www.asparis.org
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PARENT FACULTY ASSOCIATION
www.asparis.org/pfa
Welcome to the pFA! What is the PFA? The PFA or Parent Faculty Association is an organization run by the parents to enrich and support everyday life at ASP by offering additional activities, events and volunteer opportunities for parents at the school. Throughout the year, the PFA also raises funds to give back to ASP in various ways.
PFA Key Contacts 2011-2012 Executive Board President
Theresa Schott pfapres@asparis.fr
Vice President
Terry Bachmann pfavp1@asparis.fr
Treasurer
Yvette Haddock pfatreas@asparis.fr
Secretary
Catherine Sinegal pfasec@asparis.fr
Parliamentarian Joanna Perkins pfaparl@asparis.fr
Welcome Program US Testing
Thuan Mai pfawelcome@asparis.fr
Orientation Day
Joanna Perkins pfawelcome@asparis.fr
Living Skills
Bonnie Guth pfafol@asparis.fr
Holiday Boutique DeeDee McCabe pfaHB@asparis.fr
International Day TBC pfaID@asparis.fr
Newsletter
John Krueger pfanewsletter@asparis.fr
PFA Kitchen & Storage TBC pfakitchen@asparis.fr
Sports Boosters TBC pfasb@asparis.fr
Saturday Sports LS
Mendy Brady Alexis Prempeh pfasatsportLS@asparis.fr
School Portraits LS Kristi Palmer pfapics@asparis.fr
Darla Pape Terry Bachmann pfawelcome@asparis.fr
School Portraits MS
School Portraits US
Organization Heads Community Bulletin Board TBC pfabulletin@asparis.fr
Community Room Michele Biggins pfacs@asparis.fr
Friends of the Arts Sherry Steiner pfafoa@asparis.fr
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Friends of the Library
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Yvette Haddock pfapics@asparis.fr TBC pfapics@asparis.fr
Website Liaison
On behalf of the ASP Parent Faculty Association, welcome to the start of another exciting school year. For our children, it’s the anticipation of new teachers and friends. For the parents, it’s a new year filled with many possibilities. If you are new to Paris, ASP or a returning family, this is the time to meet new friends, reconnect with old ones and hopefully participate in many of the exciting opportunities sponsored by the ASP Parent Faculty Association (PFA). At the beginning of the school year, everything may seem a little overwhelming especially if you are new. Don’t worry, this is normal and we all have experienced it at some point. We have an amazing group of parent volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge ready to be shared. Please don’t hesitate to contact myself, any PFA Board Member, Parent Grade Liaison or Parent Neighborhood Liaison with questions you may have. Just send me an email and I will make sure that you are put in touch with the right people! pfapres@asparis.fr At the beginning of the school year, there are several events you will definitely want to attend: Community Connections Fair on Monday, September 5 from 9am to 11:30am in the ASP Gym. This is your chance to discover the many English speaking service providers, groups and organizations in and around Paris. Living Skills Seminars on September 13, 16 and 20 from 9am to 12:30pm in the ASP Performing Arts Center. These PFA sponsored seminars will help you with adjusting to life in France. Subjects covered include health care, transportation and shopping. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new and current ASP Families and have many of your questions answered. Check out the full welcome program under Events in the Community section of the ASP website: http://www.asparis.org/pfa What makes ASP such a successful school and incredible community is the involvement and support from our parents. Each family is automatically a member of the PFA and we encourage you to attend our monthly PFA meetings. We have many events planned throughout the school year and invite you to come see all the ways you can become involved. Have a wonderful school year and we look forward to meeting you soon,
Jean Srivastava pfaweb@asparis.fr
Volunteer Coordinator Yael Elfassy pfavolunteers@asparis.fr
Senior Parents Lynne Sprague pfaseniors@asparis.fr
Theresa Schott ASP PFA President 11-12 pfapres@asparis.fr
AUGUST 2011
The following explains some of our activities and how our groups are involved. Community Room You will always find a warm welcome in this light, bright room which serves as a HQ for the Parent Faculty Association at ASP. The Community Room is located on the ground floor of Building 6. Apart from being a meeting place for ASP parents, you can also: Buy Logowear to support our athletic teams. Buy second-hand English language books. Borrow a film through our Video Vault exchange project.
Find out more:
www.asparis.org/community_room
In addition to these activities the PFA organizes three major community events each year >> Thanksgiving Fair November 22 2pm – 4.30pm Get your turkey, sauce, pies and gifts for the Holiday and don’t forget your ASP champagne!
Holiday Boutique December 3 11am – 4pm
GROUPS:
Friends of the Arts support the drama, fine art and music departments by assisting with events and programs. They raise funds to help support: post concert receptions, drama and musical productions, student art exhibits, IB film festival, MS Honor Band Festival, replace musical equipment and sponsor the “Diane Flaum/Bev Price Arts Scholarship.
A wonderful opportunity to buy seasonal gifts while the children make crafts in the Ginger Bread House or visit Santa. This event allows the whole family to get into the spirit of the Holiday Season accompanied by festive music and food.
Friends of the Library support the Lower and Middle School library and the Upper School library. They provide a program called “Birthday Books”, where parents can buy a book and donate it to the Library in their child’s name. They raise funds to provide our libraries with author visits, guest speakers and additional computer programs/software.
Sport Boosters support ASP’s Middle School and Upper School athletic sports program. They raise funds through the sale of ASP logowear and concessions.
Saturday Sports Program works with the Athletic Department to coordinate the sports program for ASP’s Lower and Middle School students. Senior Parents help plan special activities and events every year to keep our hard-working seniors sane and to celebrate this, their special year! They do this by raising funds for the senior class events with champagne sales and other fundraisers. They coordinate graduation announcements, monthly treats, senior t-shirts, organize the Prom, award luncheon, graduation dinner, class gift and senior directory.
International Day May 19 11am – 3pm Food, games and more from around the world for the family to enjoy and celebrate our truly international community.
Welcome Program organizes with Admissions, the Orientation Program including the Community Connections Coffee and Living Skills seminar for the new families twice a year, August and February. School Portraits: This small group coordinates the taking of school pictures with an outside photographer and the yearbook department. They schedule, collect funds and distribute pictures to the students. Homeroom Parents: In Lower School the Homeroom Parents support the teacher in small ways every week from organizing chaperones for trips to reading projects or parties!
PFA Liaisons: See the Liaison section on the next page. www.asparis.org
many ways Volunteering is just one of the l of Paris. to support The American Schoo ! support17 Get involved, we welcome your
PARENT FACULTY ASSOCIATION GETTING CONNECTED... If you are new to Paris and your French is a little rusty, do not despair, there are plenty of easy to use and easily available English language resources on the web. And if you are still living out of packing cases and don’t have internet access at home yet, you are welcome to use the computers in both the ASP libraries. Don’t forget that you will also find an extensive selection of services and clubs at our Community Connections Fair on Monday, September 5 at 9am in the ASP Gym.
English language online resources: www.paris.angloinfo.com www.expatica.com www.theparistimes.com www.parisvoice.com www.fusac.fr/en www.timeout.com/paris www.messageparis.org www.wice-paris.org www.woac.net/bloom/bloom.html www.famizen.com
Liaisons:
PFA International Liaisons 2011-2012 Brazil Maria Almeida pfabrazil@asparis.fr
Greece Andrea Sterckx pfagreece@asparis.fr
Israel Lital Sela pfaisrael@asparis.fr
Italy Elisabetta Beccari pfaitaly@asparis.fr
Norway Linda Pekot pfanorway@asparis.fr
Portugal Maria Almeida pfaportugal@asparis.fr
Spanish-speaking (Argentina) Rosana Echt pfaspanish@asparis.fr
Sweden Maria Einarsson pfasweden@asparis.fr
Canada
ASP Marché Whether you are just arriving in Paris and are still missing some crucial home comforts or having a small clear out and want to get rid of stuff – ASP Marché is the place for you. ASP Marché is an online service for the ASP community to help match up buyers and sellers.
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Edith Lemieux Pierce Cumberlege pfacanada@asparis.fr
Japan Siko Kirkham Tamako Sanno pfajapan@asparis.fr
Turkey
And that is not where it stops… You can also post apartments to rent, or holiday homes for swaps. This is truly a marketplace!
Emel Cankat pfaturkey@asparis.fr
All details are outlined on the ASP Marché webpage which you will find under the ASP Community area on the website or click through directly:
Ada Tersigni pfavenezuela@asparis.fr
www.asparis.org/asparis-marche
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Venezuela
AUGUST 2011
PFA Grade Liaisons 2011-2012 LOWER SCHOOL LIAISONS
MIDDLE SCHOOL LIAISONS
Head Liaison
Head Liaison
Bonnie Guth pfalslhead@asparis.fr
Deborah Ludtke pfamslhead@asparis.fr
Kindergarden 1 & 2
6th Grade
Kristi Palmer & Brooks Turner pfalslK@asparis.fr
Nicci Brenninkmeijer Beth Babin pfamsl6@asparis.fr
UPPER SCHOOL LIAISONS
1st Grade Lori Piper pfalsl1@asparis.fr
2nd Grade Yvette Haddock pfalsl2@asparis.fr
3rd Grade Lea Holcomb pfalsl3@asparis.fr
7th Grade Yael Elfassy Nathalie Chorna pfamsl7@asparis.fr
8th Grade Kira Brandman Christine Murphy pfamsl8@asparis.fr
4th Grade Nicola Cole pfalsl4@asparis.fr
5th Grade
Head Liaison Thuan Mai pfauslhead@asparis.fr
9th Grade Amy Lowry Diena Kaser pfausl9@asparis.fr
10th Grade Thuan Mai Nasreen Badruddin Carol Olsen pfausl10@asparis.fr
11th Grade Mara Harrington pfausl11@asparis.fr
12th Grade Susanne Wahlers Betsy Dwyer (Sellers) pfausl12@asparis.fr
DeeDee McCabe pfalsl5@asparis.fr
PFA Neighborhood Liaisons 2011-2012 Saint Cloud/Suresnes TBC pfasaintcloud@asparis.fr
Garches Krista Schwab pfagarches@asparis.fr
Vaucresson/Marnes La Coquette/Versailles/ Ville d’Avray/Le Chesnay/Sevres
St. Nom la Breteche/L’Etang la Ville/Noisy Le Roi/ Bailly/ St Germain en Laye/Le Vesinet TBC pfalevesinet@asparis.fr
Paris 5/Paris 6 Debbie Kupitz pfaparis6@asparis.fr
Paris 7/Paris 8
Laura Cunningham pfavaucresson@asparis.fr
Kim Sheehey pfaparis7@asparis.fr
La Celle Saint Cloud/Louveciennes/ Bougival/Rueil Malmaison
Paris 15/Paris 16/Paris 17
Amy Lowry pfalacellesaintcloud@asparis.fr
www.asparis.org
Sherry Steiner pfaparis16@asparis.fr
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The ONLINE ASP COMMUNITY AN INTRODUCTION The Cafeteria For Upper and Middle School students, parents can recharge their children’s cafeteria cards through our online recharge system. You will receive an access code, password and instructions before the start of school. Use the Cafeteria card recharge link in QUICKLINKS on our website homepage.
www.asparis.org/cafeteria
Lower School parents should go to to find information about the hot lunch program for their children.
You will have already discovered that the ASP website
www.asparis.org
has a wealth of resources about our programs and community. You will find information specific to each division under the TEACHING & LEARNING tab, including special start of the year resources for new and returning students. Please also browse the OUR COMMUNITY tab for school wide information.
Community Login This feature will be launched later in 2011. Our aim is to provide a private, password protected side of our website for ASP community members, and to streamline access to our main online services with a single sign on procedure.
Online Research Resources ASP subscribes to a growing number of research resources which are accessible to all members of the community including:
Families within the American School of Paris community receive a Community ID for each student when they begin at school. This consists of a Student ID number (used as a username) and a Family ID number (password).
Destiny Library Catalog - Search our libraries by title
This Community ID will grant you access to the following online resources:
Grolier – a collection of online encyclopedias
The American School of Paris network
journals, magazines and periodicals
When on the ASP campus, you can use computers in the libraries and computer labs.
Poodle
http://www.asparis.org/poodle Poodle is the school’s online learning portal. Many teachers use Poodle to augment and extend the classroom environment. For the ASP student, Poodle provides access to a variety of resources and information related to classes, clubs, and other activities.
PowerSchool
http://www.asparis.org/powerschool PowerSchool is ASP’s online database, where a variety of information – student and family demographics, contact information, student schedules, attendance data, grades and report cards – is available through a web-based interface.
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If you have any problems or questions concerning cafeteria payment please email cafeteria-online@asparis.fr
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or topic, browse the library shelves from home and check availability
EBSCO – an incredibly powerful research tool Newsbank - A huge selection of global newspapers,
Grove Art Online - More than 45,000 signed articles on painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, textiles, jewelry, design, furniture, and more.
Questions? For Community ID (username and password) queries please contact our IT Manager, Michel Lami: mlami@asparis.fr For queries about Poodle please refer to our Educational Web Coordinator, Chris Chater: cchater@asparis.fr For more about our online research resources contact our librarians Mario Chioini (US/MS): mchioini@asparis.fr or Meg Seaver (LS): mseaver@asparis.fr For any other questions about ASP’s technology services, including the main website, please contact our Technology Director, Larry Love: llove@asparis.fr
AUGUST 2011
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITES Lower School After-School Activities
Middle School After-School Activities
Upper School CLUBS & Activities
Many different extra-curricular activities take place either at lunchtime or after school. You can find full details in the Student Handbook, which you can download from the Middle School homepage: www.asparis.org/middle_ school and which will be updated after the Outward Bound trip.
Here is an example of the extensive range of clubs and activities are available for Upper School students. Please contact the division offices for further details.
Activities in the past have included:
A wide range of after school activities are also run at ASP for children in Grades 3 and up. From fencing, math, studio arts and cooking through to softball, flag football, ping pong, judo, basketball and tennis there is something for everyone. In addition there is an athletics program for Lower School on Fridays and Saturdays. The after-school activities have a costonly fee and children from Grade 3 and up can use the late buses at 5pm when the activities end. A full program will be advertised on the Lower School website, www.asparis.org/ lower_school, within the first few weeks of school and for further information you can contact Stacey Wilson McMahon: swilson@ asparis.fr
The Student Council coordinating numerous activities throughout the year that serve the school community as well as the wider world. Model United Nations bringing students into the world of global politics and international conferences. The Yearbook Club, involving MS students on its staff producing the MS section. Arts and Crafts Club Lunch in the Library Green Team
CAS (Community, Action, Service) Film Club Green Team Habitat for Humanity Improv Jazz Band Kenya Club Kids’ Home Club Knowledge Bowl Literary Magazine Math Club/Math Team Junior & Senior Model United Nations Musical National Honor Society Newspaper Club Romania Club Soccer Club Spanish Club Student Council Student Run Service Club Yearbook
The ASPress - the MS student newspaper. Knowledge Bowl - a challenging but fun academic competition, run like a television game show. The MS Drama Production and the MS Musical - two major events in our school community. String Ensemble for developing string musicians. Homework Club Life in the Middle – a student produced video highlighting daily life in Middle School. Private music lessons – Several Englishspeaking music teachers come to ASP to offer private music lessons after school.
Spotlight on MUN: (MS) The Middle School Model United Nations team has literally impressed the world bringing home awards from every conference despite being, very often, the youngest participants. We have attended conferences in Luxembourg, Madrid, Switzerland, Norway and Spain, as well as organizing international conferences at home at ASP. The trips combine sightseeing with the more serious business of debate and in MS MUN tradition always a royal feast at the local Burger King! www.asparis.org
Spotlight on Performing Arts: (MS) Amongst the Middle School drama productions, Middle School Musicals are always a delight for the spectator and performer. Our Performing Arts Center has been transformed into Rydell High for a dazzling production of Grease, and a Dr Seuss paradise with our own musical ‘Seussical’. As with all productions, every student is welcome to take part and from set design and construction through to backstage team and of course those center stage, it is a truly student production. And there are also concerts for the band, choir, strings and guitar groups each trimester.
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USEFUL RESOURCES SECTION Table of Contents: ASP LIFE
1
Note from the Business Office
2
ID and Access
3-5
Bus: Letter, Rules & Regulations & F.A.Q.s
6
Lower School Cafeteria
8
Lower School Supplies List
10
Middle School Supplies List
PARIS LIFE
12
Transport: Navigo Pass
13
How to Write a Check
14
Know your numbers in French!
16 17
22
Sample Certificate of Enrollment (certificate de scolaritĂŠ)
Notes
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Calendar Notes & Important Dates (Cut it out for easy reference!)
AUGUST 2011
ASP LIFE
NOTE FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE Payment of Tuition Fees and other fees: Payment of Tuition Fees and other fees for the 2011/2012 school year should be received by ASP by May 30th, 2011 for all returning families, and three (3) weeks after invoice issue date for new families. If tuition and fees are paid in total or in part by a third party, it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that payment is made to ASP on time. In the case of students enrolling after the beginning of the school year, payment of tuition fees is due within three weeks of billing. Unpaid tuition fees may result in students being put on a waiting list or suspended from the school, report cards and transcripts are withheld by the school and, in the case of failure to pay, the account is transferred to a recovery agency. Do not hesitate to contact the Business Office if you have problems paying tuition fees.
Personal Insurance: It is important that your children are covered for their activities related to the school. Your household insurance policy, in French, assurance multirisques, may cover incidents involving your child for which you could be held personally liable (responsabilité civile). Some policies exclude liability coverage for extra-curricular activities, use of the school facility outside normal school hours, or school-sponsored sporting events. Please double-check to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage before a problem occurs. If your policy is incomplete, your housing is provided by your employer, or if you do not have an assurance multirisques, we recommend you purchase a student liability policy. You will find a list of Insurance companies on the US Embassy website under the section “Living in France”.
Health Services: All students are required to provide the school nurse with a current list of vaccinations. Vaccinations must be up to date. Parents should make sure that the B.C.G. vaccination for tuberculosis or the Tuberculin (TB) skin test is valid. Please take care of these vaccinations before school begins.
Accidents or Illness at School: All accidents or illnesses occurring during school hours are reported to the school nurse. If the nurse recommends immediate medical treatment, she will contact the parent or the emergency contact. If there are medical expenses incurred as a result of treatment ordered by the nurse, you must submit the claim to French Social Security, and to your supplementary insurance (Mutuelle), or health insurance carrier for reimbursement. The school’s insurance policy provides limited third party coverage for medical costs. It will intervene only for the portion of the medical expense that remains unpaid after the parent has claimed reimbursement through his medical plan. Thus, if your insurance will not cover the expense, even partially, neither will the school’s. Please review your medical coverage to verify coverage for accidents or illnesses that may occur while your child is at school. Should you require assistance in any of the items aforementioned, please do not hesitate to contact me. Joyce Kearney Dir. Finance & Human Resources jkearney@asparis.fr
www.asparis.org
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ASP LIFE
ID & ACCESS Parent ID & ACCESS In order to follow the required steps regarding our security procedures, please fill out the form available from the Admissions Office, at Reception, in your packet or on the website Admissions Page - Starting School (www.asparis.org). Each parent is required to have an access badge, even if it is only for dropping off his/her child(ren). If you have already handed in the relevant forms and id photos, you will find your parent id badges and car sticker(s) in your Orientation packet. If you have not yet done this, please fill in the form and hand it in with parent id photos to Reception. Parents entering the campus with a personal car are also required to have an ASP sticker so that we can easily identify the car on campus. This can be obtained with the same request form.
Access to campus The only access for dropping off your child(ren) will be the main school entrance also known as “Garches Gate”. Please make sure you have with you your access badge or car sticker. The “Middle Gate” is for EXIT ONLY. No one will be allowed to enter campus through that gate. The “Paris Gate” is only for pedestrians with a valid school ID.
Please park your car on the “Garches” parking lot. For the safety of your children, please respect the speed limit of 10 km/h on campus.
FAMILY INFORMATION You will find a Family and Emergency Contact form in your packet (as well as on the websit). Please take time today to update this form. It is vital that we have at least one local French telephone number for you. If you cannot give us this new information today, you can access and update your personal information on Powerschool directly from the website. Your codes for access to Powerschool are enclosed in your packet.
STUDENT ID A card is issued to all middle and upper school children as school id, cafeteria, library and bus card. Only lower School students who take the bus also have a card. Your child(ren)’s card(s) are in your packet but if not, it is possible that we have not been able to make it/them up yet as we do not have a photo of your child(ren) or a bus route. It is not compulsory for students to wear the card in school but should be kept in their school bag to use/show as and when necessary. These cards can be replaced. Any broken ones should be brought to the Admissions office and a replacement one will be made up free of charge. If a card is lost, there is a charge of 10 euros for a new one. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Wishing you a very warm welcome to the American School of Paris!
Admissions Office admissions@asparis.fr 01.41.12.86.55
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AUGUST 2011
ASP LIFE
BUS: LETTER
Dear ASP Parents and Students, The ASP bus system is very diverse and transports children not only in the suburban areas near the school, but also in far removed and often isolated areas of the western suburbs and in numerous sectors of Paris. The difficulty of this system lies in the fact that the buses are limited in their routes by road weight limitations, narrowness of the roads and streets, and quite often, especially in the morning, by snarled traffic conditions. Yet, an intensive effort is made to minimize the travelling time the children spend on the bus to and from school. Because of the above hindrances and due to the language barrier between the drivers and the students, the school relies on children’s understanding of correct behavior and on the Bus Monitors selected from the student body of the Upper School to ensure a safe and comfortable ride for everyone. Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to your Bus Monitor(s) by email, phone call or on the bus. Communication of any problems/ emergencies on your bus line is done by SMS text direct to your cell phones. Please ensure that we have your numbers and send us any changes that may occur during the school year. In addition, please have your cell phones with you and in service during bus hours. All Middle and Upper School students will be required to show their school ID cards before boarding the bus. Lower School students should have their ID/ bus cards in their possession (in their backpacks is ideal!) at all times.
The tasks of the bus monitor are:
a) To ensure that all the students behave in a safe and sensible manner
Wear seatbelts at all times
NO eating or drinking
Keep noise level down
b) To make sure Lower School children are met at the bus stop in the
afternoons by a parent/guardian or are accompanied by a Middle
School/Upper School sibling/friend
c) To report any unruly or aggressive behavior to the Division Directors or
the Admissions Office immediately upon arrival in the morning
d) To help with new students joining the bus throughout the year e) To report any other problems The communication between the school and the monitors occurs on a regular basis through the use of a weekly bus monitor report. Any unacceptable or dangerous behavior is reported to me immediately upon arrival to school. The settlement of the situation involves parental contact, discussion with the youngster(s) involved, and eventual discipline measures as described on the “BUS RULES & REGULATIONS” form. Please note that ASP and the SAVAC bus company are not responsible for objects left/forgotten on the bus. We ask that you please label all your children’s items with their names so that we can easily contact you if the object is found by the bus driver and returned to our office. If your child forgets an item on the bus, please contact us immediately so that we can try to find it and return it to you. The buses often have other clients immediately following the ASP bus line service and therefore, forgotten items may be picked up by the following bus users without our knowledge. I am confident that with your cooperation and frequent reminders and discussions at home with your children about the bus rules, we will be able to offer the best bus service possible and minimize eventual problems. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at bheussaff@asparis.fr or 01.4112.8245 or Solange, Bus Secretary, at sfaille@asparis.fr or 01.4112.8659 should you have any comments, concerns or questions. Kind regards,
Brenda Heussaff Director of Admissions and Bus Coordinator
www.asparis.org
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ASP LIFE
BUS: RULES & REGULATIONS All Lower School children should be in the company of an adult or a high school student while waiting for the morning bus. In the afternoon, Lower School children should be met by an adult, or accompanied by a Middle School of Upper School student when descending at their stop. In case of an unforeseen problem where the adult is not at the stop to meet the bus, the child must STAY ON THE BUS AND BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE SCHOOL after the bus has finished its route to be picked up by the parents at the school. Please instruct your young children not to get off the bus if you or a baby-sitter/guardian are not there to pick them up!
It is forbidden for Lower School students to sit in the first row of seats on the bus. Seating for Lower School students is from the back exit forward to row 2.
There is a strict rule concerning the use of objectionable language on the bus. Any violation of this rule must be reported to the bus monitor or to Brenda Heussaff immediately.
In the interest of safety, ALL students must be seated and facing forward with their seat belts on while the bus is moving. *** Disruptive behavior can be dangerous! Any violation will be viewed as a serious offense.
Food and drinks are prohibited on the bus. Trash should never be left on the bus. The drivers arrive with a clean bus and the children should leave a clean bus at the end of the route.
ASP is not responsible for items left on the bus; nevertheless, please contact us immediately (01.4112.8245, 01.4112.8659, or admissions@asparis.fr) if your child leaves something on the bus and we will do our best to coordinate with the bus company to find the item. Please write your child(ren)’s name on backpacks, lunchboxes, sports bags, etc. to help us return found items to you. Enter the bus by the front door only.
Please remember that the bus monitor is on the bus to assure that safety and correct behavior are observed. They are to be respected, as you would want them to respect you.
***Any conduct which endangers the safety of students on the bus will result in a phone call and letter to the parents and the student being removed from the bus for a period of one week.
All other violations of bus rules will result in a warning letter being sent to the parents outlining the student’s behavior. After a second violation of the bus rules, the student will be removed from the bus for one week. Additional violations will result in additional suspension from the bus and additional sanctions until the bus privilege is finally removed permanently.
Thank you for taking the time to review the above information with your children.
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AUGUST 2011
ASP LIFE
BUS: FAQS
Welcome to ASP! We are delighted that you are now a part of our community and honored that you have entrusted us with your child. The first few days and weeks of school can sometimes feel chaotic as you and your child get acclimated to life in Paris. To help allay some of your concerns, here are answers to some of the questions most frequently asked by new families. Please also review the list of bus rules and regulations with your child.
Q:
Can I change to another bus stop on the same route?
Q: Can I change to another bus?
A: Yes, but please inform Brenda Heussaff. A:
Please contact Brenda Heussaff before switching buses. Some buses, particularly those serving Paris neighborhoods, are quite full.
Q:
A: No. Your child is guaranteed a seat on the bus to which he/she is assigned.
Q:
A: All students are issued bus cards and they should carry these with them at all
I’m going to take my kids to school for the first few days and then I will start putting them on the bus. Do I have to notify anyone about this?
Does my child need to show his/her bus card to board the bus?
Q: Can parents ride the bus? Q:
Who will be helping younger children with their seatbelts?
Q: Can I ask the driver to stop in between two stops or at a former stop?
times. For younger children, you can put the bus card in a secure spot in their backpacks (for example, a zippered pocket) so they always have them. Starting this year, middle and upper school students will be required to show their bus cards on boarding. This is just to ensure that everyone is riding the bus to which he/she is assigned.
A:
In general, no. Even if it looks like there is room at your stop, consider that other kids will be boarding at later stops. Also if many parents board on days when there are special events at school, that could result in there being no seats for students.
A:
Upper school students are assigned as monitors on each bus and are responsible for communicating with the driver, reminding students about rules and regulations, and making sure that all children are buckled in. We will also be experimenting with adding paid adult monitors to several of the Paris buses this year although plans are not yet finalized.
A:
No. We’ve mapped out the routes and bus stops based on where students live and a reasonable estimate of how long children should be on the bus. Adding additional stops slows down the commute for everyone.
Q: What happens if we’re running late A: Please make every effort to be on time. in the morning? Can we call someone to make sure the bus waits for us?
Q:
Can I get the phone number of the bus driver for my child’s bus?
The bus driver may wait for two minutes past the scheduled departure time but cannot wait longer than that. If you cannot make it to the bus stop by that time, you will need an alternate plan for getting to school.
A:
Bus drivers change every now and then depending upon the needs of the bus companies with which ASP contracts. In addition, we want to be sure that the drivers are focused on the road and are not distracted by calls from parents and others. If you have concerns, talk to Brenda Heussaff. If you have a last minute problem, exchange phone numbers with other parents at your bus stop or the bus monitors.
In case of a true emergency, contact Brenda Heussaff on her cell phone at 06.85.31.51.17.
www.asparis.org
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ASP LIFE
LOWER SCHOOL CAFETERIA
Welcome to the Lower School Cafeteria At ASP our Lower School students can either enjoy the Hot Lunch Program provided by our French chefs or can bring with them to school each day a packed-lunch from home. The dedicated Lower School Cafeteria has several microwaves to allow children with packed-lunches to heat up food brought from home with supervision.
our Cafeteria Manager Patrick Ginestet explains the Hot Lunch Program further: It is our belief that students who are enrolled in the cafeteria program should receive a healthy and satisfying meal every day. Our goal is to prepare meals that are nutritionally balanced and pleasing to the children. We will also integrated organic food when possible.
Students enrolled in the lunch program may join for a trimester or the year. Register for our lunch program on-line: see the next page for detailed instructions. Packed lunch on Field Trip days provided: All children participating in the lunch program will be provided with packed lunch when going on a day trip. We continue to look for ways to ensure that our cafeteria is eco-friendly. As always, if your child has allergies or requires a special diet, please inform us.
Please, feel free to contact me if you have any questions, Many Thanks,
Patrick Ginestet Cafeteria Manager pginestet@asparis.fr
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Signing up for the Lunch Program 1. Click through to the SIGN UP SITE after carefully reading the instructions below. 2. Once you have clicked through, enter your ID and password (if you didn’t receive it, please contact urgently IT Manager Michel Lami: mlami@asparis.fr 3. Select payment for the current trimester OR year payment and confirm (‘valid’) your choice 4. Fill in the banking data and submit 5. Make sure you valid at the end of the transaction 6. You will be registered when this message appears: “Your transaction has been recorded” 7. Click on “Back to the shop” to exit
Cafeteria Prices 2011-2012 Price for Full Year (includes a 5% discount) Kindergarden & Grade 1: 1072€ Grades 2-5: 1040€
Price for TRIMESTER 1 (DATES: 25.08.11 to 16.12.11) All Grades: 485€
Price for TRIMESTER 2 (DATES: 03.01.12 to 30.04.12) All grades: 445€
Price for TRIMESTER 3 (DATES:02.05.12 to 14.06.12)
Kindergarden & Grade 1: 200€ Grades 2-5: 167€
www.asparis.org
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ASP LIFE
LOWER SCHOOL SUPPLIES LIST 2011-2012 Kindergarten 1 2 1 1
boxes paper tissues plastic transparent folder with elastic plastic cup with handle
Kindergarten 2
1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
box paper tissues glue sticks Set of markers , fine or medium point box or case to hold markers plastic folder with elastic ribbons (any color) red plastic folder with elastic ribbons paint smock with long sleeves water bottle with top for drinks (to be taken home & washed weekly) pair of scissors plastic folder for music erasers “fat” pencils set of colored pencils pencil sharpener
1st Grade
6 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 1 1 1 1
2nd Grade 4 1 1 10 1 1 1 4 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1
large glue sticks set thin felt tip markers set thick felt markers lead pencils with erasers set colored pencils large eraser pencil sharpener Elastic closing folders 1 green, 1 red, 1 yellow, 1, blue large format spiral bound “Travaux Pratiques” Notebooks (24x32cm) Note: these must be as specified soft side pencil cases as needed pair children’s scissors boxes paper tissues small water bottle plastic sleeves folder for Music highlighters of different colors backpack (not on wheels)
sharpened pencils (to be replenished) large erasers ** French Teachers may have specific pencil sharpener requests depending on French level large set of at least 10 thick tipped markers set of watercolors pair of scissors large glue sticks liquid glues spacious zip bag pencil case spiral notebooks, 240 x 320 mm (“Travaux Pratiques”) folders - red, blue, green - with elastics box paper tissues water bottle with top for drinks (to be taken home & washed weekly) set of markers for homeroom pack of at least 8 colored pencils
** French Teachers may have specific requests depending on French level
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AUGUST 2011
3rd Grade 2 2 4 1 6 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1
plastic folders with elastic (1 green/1 red) plastic sleeves folder for music and French (100 pages) notebooks (cahiers 24 x 32cm), book bound (no spirals) pair scissors pencils with erasers pencil sharpener eraser glue sticks (large) set of highlighters stored in a ziplock bag set of thick felt tip markers stored in a ziplock bag set of colored pencils stored in a ziplock bag big soft pencil case with zipper, no bigger than 23cm x 12 cm box paper tissues pads of POST-IT notes (7.5cm x 7.5cm) Clipboard backpack (not on wheels)
5th Grade
** French Teachers may have specific requests depending on French level
4th Grade 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 1
1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1
pencil case Pencils Pens Erasers colored pens/pencils/markers large stick of glue pair scissors boxes of tissues stapler & box of staples roll of scotch tap binder with dividers Plastic sleeve folder for Music plastic sleeve folder for French (100 pages) plastic folder for homework pads post-it-notes (7.5 cm x 7.5cm) Clipboard
large A4 notebooks (no spirals) plastic folders with elastic band set of markers, felt pens or colored pencils set of pencils pencil sharpener pencil case ** French Teachers may have specific Erasers requests depending on French level Scissors large glue sticks red marking pens clipboard for field trips plastic sleeve folders with 200 + pages for Music and French boxes paper tissues scotch tape roll
** French Teachers may have specific requests depending on French level
www.asparis.org
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ASP LIFE
MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLIES LIST 2011-2012 These lists reflect the items that we are sure that all students will need. Almost all supplies can be bought in the larger supermarkets and in most department stores. Below is the supplies list in a shopping list format. On this page the supplies are listed by subject so students know what is needed in which class.
Supplies required for Grade 7
1
Supplies required for Grade 6
3
A4 size tri-fold folders with elastic bands
1
small (17 x 22 cm) non-spiral (not wirebound) notebook of 96 pages in grands carreaux format
1
large (21 x 29.7 cm) non-spiral (not wirebound) notebooks of 96 pages in grands carreaux format
2
large (24 x 32 cm) non-spiral (not wirebound) notebooks of 96 pages in grands carreaux format
Supply of lined A4 paper
a pencil case containing:
10
pencils eraser blue/black/green/red pen(s) glue stick scissors pencil sharpener white out small stapler
A4 size, 4 ringed binder, (classeur lÊger A4 – 2cm) and dividers (for English)
2-3 packages of notebook paper (grands carreaux format) to fit in the binder and for use in other classes 50 plastic sleeves for saving papers
1
notebook or section of binder for math (+ paper for homework)
a pencil case containing:
pencils eraser blue/black/green/red pen(s) glue stick scissors pencil sharpener white out small stapler
a set of colored pencils or markers
a 30 cm. ruler, a compass and a protractor
a box of tissues to keep in the locker
a French-English translating dictionary for use at home (Larousse or Robert)
USB memory stick
a simple calculator
a set of colored pencils/markers
USB key (labeled if possible)
a 30 cm ruler, compass and a protractor
A lightweight clipboard
a simple calculator
a clipboard (for use on field trips)
a box of tissues to keep in the locker
French- English dictionary (Larousse or Robert) for use at home
English language dictionary
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AUGUST 2011
Supplies required for Grade 8
a pencil case containing an on-going supply of:
pencils pens colored markers/pencils pencil sharpener eraser scissors simple calculator white out stapler & staples
a ruler (15 cm)
a lightweight clipboard (General Use)
5 A4 sized 4-ring binder/classeur – 4 cm thickness (All subjects)
100 plastic sleeves – A4 size (Math, English)
lined A4 paper - graph paper (Math)
Spiral Notebook – 100 pages (Math)
5
Page dividers for binder - to fit A4, 4-ring binder and paper (All Subjects)
Lined A4 paper - grand format/grands carreaux, perfore (French)
2
tri-fold folders with elastic bands (French, Social Studies)
2
soft-cover folder with 60 pages of plastic sleeves/ porte-documents 60 vues (1 for Science, 1 for Social Studies)
2
poster boards (Social Studies)
100 index cards (Social Studies)
French-English translating dictionary for use at home (Beginner to Advanced French)
French-French dictionary (Larousse ou Petit Robert) (Francophone)
other things to consider:
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tissues water bottle USB key
Additional information for Algebra I & Geometry students For advanced math students who will be taking Algebra I or Geometry, a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Silver Edition calculator may be used but is not required; this model will be used in the following years in the Upper School mathematics courses. As these graphing calculators are expensive, you should only purchase one if you are not likely to misplace it! (You may find these to be less expensive in the United States or in a duty-free store.) Otherwise, a scientific calculator (with sin, cos, tan, square root, and exponent ^ features) is fine.
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PARIS LIFE
TRANSPORT: NAVIGO PASS If you wish to apply for a student Navigo pass (transport card at a reduced price), please pick up a packet (as shown for 2011-2012) from your local railway or metro station. Complete the form and have our Admissions Office stamp it. You can send it off in the envelope provided. Each year, you will receive a pre-filled form at your home address for renewal. Please note that Paris is zone 1-2; ASP is in zone 3. You must choose at least two zones. Students may use the card over all the zones free of charge during the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), and on public holidays .
FOR NEW FIRST-TIME APPLICATIONS PROVIDE A PHOTO
Each Year color Changes
Student Details
Last Name First Name Day Mo Year
ZIP TOWN
HOW TO FILL OUT THE NAVIGO PASS APPLICATION
SCHOOL ADDRESS & DETAILS
SCHOOL STAMP
SEE ADMISSIONS
GRADE EQUIVALENT ZONES DATE & SIGNATURE
DO NOT FILL IN PAYMENT CHECK YOUR DETAILS
OR
DIRECT DEBIT
YOUR DETAILS
ACCT. 12
BANK DETAILS
the ASPectDATE & SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
AUGUST 2011
www.asparis.org
AMOUNT
PAYEE
A.S.P.
PLACE
neuf et 77 cents St Cloud
John Doe
SIGNATURE
28/08/11
99=77
DATE
AMOUNT in #
Sample check :
AMOUNT WRitten In Words Qyattre - vingt dix PAYER
STUB
PARIS LIFE
HOW TO WRITE A CHECK
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PARIS LIFE
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS IN FRENCH http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/ss/numbers.htm 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
zĂŠro un deux trois quatre cinq six sept huit neuf dix onze douze treize quatorze quinze seize dix-sept dix-huit dix-neuf vingt vingt et un vingt-deux vingt-trois
30 trente 31 trente et un 32 trente-deux 40 quarante 41 quarante et un 50 cinquante 51 cinquante et un 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69
soixante soixante et un soixante-deux soixante-trois soixante-quatre soixante-cinq soixante-six soixante-sept soixante-huit soixante-neuf
70 soixante-dix 71 soixante et onze 72 soixante-douze 14
the ASPect
73 74 75 76 77 78 79
soixante-treize soixante-quatorze soixante-quinze soixante-seize soixante-dix-sept soixante-dix-huit soixante-dix-neuf
80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89
quatre-vingts quatre-vingt-un quatre-vingt-deux quatre-vingt-trois quatre-vingt-quatre quatre-vingt-cinq quatre-vingt-six quatre-vingt-sept quatre-vingt-huit quatre-vingt-neuf
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
quatre-vingt-dix quatre-vingt-onze quatre-vingt-douze quatre-vingt-treize quatre-vingt-quatorze quatre-vingt-quinze quatre-vingt-seize quatre-vingt-dix-sept quatre-vingt-dix-huit quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
100 cent 101 cent un 125 cent vingt-cinq 200 deux cents 201 deux cent un 243 deux cent quarante-trois 1,000 2,000 2,500 10,498
mille - 1 000 or 1.000 deux mille - 2 000 or 2.000 deux mille cinq cents - 2 500 or 2.500 dix mille quatre cent quatre-vingt-dix-huit 10.498 or 10 498
1,000,000 un million 2,000,000 deux millions 3,800,107 trois millions huit cent mille cent sept 3.800.107 or 3 800 107 a billion
un milliard AUGUST 2011
A QUICK EXPLANATION For the French numbers 20 through 59, counting is just like in English: the tens word (vingt, trente, quarante, etc.) followed by the ones word (un, deux, trois). The only difference is that for 21, 31, etc., the word et (and) is introduced between the tens word and one: vingt et un, trente et un, quarante et un, etc. But then when 70 rolls around, instead of a new “tens” word, soixante is kept and the “ones” word continues counting from 10. So 70, soixante-dix in French, is literally “sixty-ten.” 71 is soixante et onze (sixty and eleven), 72 is soixante-douze (sixty-twelve), and so on, up to 79. There is no word for “eighty” in standard French,* instead 80 is quatre-vingts, literally fourtwenties (think “four-score”). 81 is quatre-vingt-un (four-twenty-one), 82 is quatre-vingt-deux (four-twenty-two), and so on, all the way up to 89. There’s no word for ninety either, so you continue using quatre-vingt and adding from ten. 90 is quatre-vingt-dix (four-twenty-ten), 91 is quatrevingt-onze (four-twenty-eleven), etc. In French, 100 to 999 work just like in English - just say how many hundreds and then add the other numbers. Note that when cent is at the end of the number, it takes an s, but when it’s followed by another number, the s is dropped.
1,000+ are also similar to English, but there are a few things to note:
The separator is a period or space, rather than a comma (learn more) Mille never takes an s When reciting a long number, you can pause to take a breath at the separator (after mille, million, or milliard)
Pronunciation note The consonants at the end of the French numbers cinq, six, huit, and dix are pronounced when at the end of a sentence or in front of a vowel. However, they drop the final sound when followed by a word beginning with a consonant (such as cent, mille, million, mois, or livres). For example, huit is normally pronounced [weet] and huit élèves is [wee tay lehv], but 800 is pronounced [wee sa(n)].
www.asparis.org
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PARIS LIFE
SAMPLE CERTIFICATE OF ENROLLMENT Please contact the Admissions office for certificates of enrollment, (admissions@asparis.fr ). You may be required to have this document for visa or social security applications.
16
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AUGUST 2011
NOTES
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KEY DATES FOR THE START OF THE ASP YEAR! CUT THIS OUT And Stick on the Fridge FOR EASY REFERENCE!
ASP KEY DATES! AUGUST 22
All teachers return to school
Upper School testing
24 25 29 31
Orientation Day for new families FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Sport try-outs start Middle School Open House (7pm)
SEPTEMBER 1 2 3 5
MS Outward Bound packing day (no school Gr.7&8)
MS Gr.6 Outward Bound trip departs (5th – 9th)
7 9 12 13 15 16
New Parents Cocktail (7pm)
Many of you will still be st ruggling to get internet acces s at home and organize ema accounts. il Here is a sum mary of some of the import ASP dates up ant to the Toussa in t Vacation at of October. the end The listing co vers the rang e of activities extended field from trip departure d ates and Divis Open Houses, ion to PFA meetin gs and social events. For further in formation or cl arification ple contact the div ase ision offices.
MS Gr. 7&8 Outward Bound trip departs (2nd – 9th) US Welcome Back picnic (5-9pm) Community Connections Fair (9-11.30am)
First sports weekend at home Parent Faculty Association 1st general meeting (9am) Living Skills Seminar 1 (9am-12.30pm) LS Open House (6.30pm) Living Skills Seminar 2 (9am-12:30pm)
US Gr. 9&10 retreat starts (2 days)
18 20 23 28
US Gr. 11&12 retreat starts (2 days) Living Skills Seminar 3 (8.30am-2pm) First sports weekend away (Holland) Upper School Open House (7pm)
OCTOBER 1 10
21
Bienvenue Cocktail (7pm) Parent Teacher Conference Day – School closed for Lower & Middle School only Last day of School (Toussaint Vacation)
AMERICAN SCHOOL OF PARIS 41, rue Pasteur - B.P. 82 - 92216 Saint - Cloud Cedex - France Tel. 01 41 12 82 82 Fax 01 46 02 23 90 www.asparis.org