November 26, 2014

Dear Middle School Parents,

What an amazing busy schedule we have had over the last four weeks! Students have finished Quarter 1 and started the Quarter 2.  Students are now almost halfway through the second quarter. Students have finished one season of sports,clubs and activities and now signed up for new set of activities.

Below you will see various slideshows from some recent Middle School events (Hungarian Revolution; Co-Curricular; Parent Student Teacher Conference). We are in the final performances today of the MS drama performance this year of Romeo and Juliet. Students have been working extremely hard on this production and hopefully you will be able to see the production.

We hope you enjoy the holiday this week with your friends and family.

(Counselor's Update;See PE Update; 6th Grade Portal Update; 8th Grade Portal Update)

Report Cards:

We will no longer being using these EFFORT and BEHAVIOR indicators on Report Cards and instead will be using HABITS OF LEARNING starting quarter two. We will start using the Habits of Learning for the second quarter and provide student feedback at the end of the quarter.  Click on link for more information.

We believe that the Habits of Learning provide clearer feedback and evaluation opportunities about a student’s learning, growth and challenges than EFFORT and BEHAVIOR. 

The Habits of Learning include: Responsibility; Perseverance; Reflection; Creativity; Collaboration. There are descriptors / criteria for each Habit of Learning to tell students and parents what they look like and mean in the classroom / learning environment. 

FCD Visit:

We have concluded our visit from FCD and the feedback from students and faculty has been positive. Students were engaged and involved in the classroom based discussions with the FCD counselor, David.  We also had an opportunity for two parent meetings and the feedback from those was positive as well. This is part of an ongoing discussion topic that teachers, parents must be role models for our children who need our support and guidance throughout this period.  

As an aside it was interesting to have the FCD visit at the same time as the Budapest Festival Orchestra was here performing for Middle and High school students. The performance the students saw focused on decision making and the importance of having all the information in order to make a good decision.  This was a wonderful connection with the FCD visit as we work to provide students with the facts, skills and a mindset to effectively problem solve issues related to Drugs, Alcohol and peer pressure.

MS PSA:  

Many thanks to the parents involved in the PSA for all their contributions during the first part of the school year. We are able to provide a lot of additional experiences due to the contributions of the PSA and we are extremely thankful for their collective efforts.  The next celebration will be Wednesday, November 27th's supper.

All School Clothes Drive- December 1st-5th; Actual Sort-December 6th

We hope you and your family will able to contribute items or time towards our All School Clothes sort.  Please click on the link more information.

1957 Assembly: Hungarian Revolution

Middle School Co-Curricular Assembly

Parent-Student-Teacher Fall Conferences


Counselor's Corner
All MS students had the opportunity last week to interact with David Sherell, Freedom From Chemical Dependency (FCD) presenter.  David was impressed with the knowledge, understanding and input from our students about healthy lifestyle choices.  Many students remembered last year's meetings, and hearing David's information about alcohol, tobacco and other addictive substances.  



This year additional topics were added directed at video games and social media behaviors.  David added two lunchtime discussion sessions to directly target new information about brain activity during gaming, and how students can address possible overuse of gaming and social media that all students were invited to participate.  Some of the questions discussed on these topics included: How much is too much?  When do you need help?  What's happening with your brain during excessive use of video gaming and social media?  

Please check:   

FCD.org.  For more information.
Nancy Seibel
MS Counselor

November 9, 2014

Dear Middle School Parents,

We had a wonderful turnout at the most recent Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences last week.  We will be sharing the results of the surveys with you in a coming blog post.  We have a busy week ahead with the Hungarian Revolution Assembly and the MS Co-Curricular Celebration planned for Wednesday. We hope you will be able to attend these events.  

Also coming this week is the hosting of CEESA Middle School Speech and Debate.  Many thanks to all the parents who are helping out in this event by hosting some of the visiting students from the nearly ten schools who are taking part.  Go Blazers!

Also check out the Grade 6 Portal; Grade 8 Portal and the various tabs at top of this page.

Hungarian Revolution Assembly 11:15-12:00 AISB Theater

The sixth grade students will be honoring the 1956 Hungarian Revolution with an assembly this Wednesday, October 12 at 11.15 until 12.00 in the theater.

Fine Arts Announcement November 18th

The Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce that on Tuesday 18th November the The Budapest Festival Orchestra, one of the world’s ten best orchestras, will perform at AISB. We will watch their 30 minute opera for youth called the 'Jasager- School Opera'. The opera was written for schools by Kurt Weil and Berthold Brecht, two of the greatest names in 20^th century German music and theater. Aside from the obvious musical connections, the piece is presented in the style of Japanese NOH theatre, offering even more cross-curricular opportunities.  We are pleased to offer our students such a rich experience and hope that it will spark some interesting discussion at the dinner table on Tuesday evening. 

If you would like further information please see the links to see  clip of opera performance in Berlin and an introduction to the opera.

MS Drama Performance Night  Family Dinner November 26th at 5:00pm

Enjoy a festive holiday Italian dinner before the MS play "Romeo and Juliet" on Wednesday, November 26 from 5:00-6:00 pm in the MS cafeteria! The play begins at 6:00. The menu for the holiday dinner includes baked ziti with meatballs, antipasto salad, bread, tiramisu, and mineral water. The dinner costs 1800 huf per person and must be paid at the ES and MS/HS cafes by Tuesday, November 25.

Brief Results from the Parent-Student- Teacher Conference Day

Parent Feedback Survey November 4, 2014 : 

86% of Parents attended the MS Conferences.

89% of 8^th Grade; 78% of 7^th Grade; 91% of 6^th Grade

We will be sharing more of the results at a later date with all parents.

Anti-Bullying Presentation Wednesday, Nov 12 @ 8:45-9:45, Theater

Cyber-bullying expert Perry Aftab will be speaking with students in grade 6 and 7 on Wednesday.  For more information, click on this link or visit her web site here.

Middle School Co-Curricular Celebration  November 12th at 16:00-17:45

All parents and family members are invited to this celebration. This will be a chance to showcase students for their ability to overcome obstacles and for taking initiative to broaden their experience at AISB. Every student who has participated in a sport or activity will be given a certificate and recognized by his or her coach or sponsor. 

More information in the calendar section of the blog

Freedom From Chemical Dependency (FCD) Visit- November 17-21

Background:

For the past five years AISB has invited a Prevention Specialist representing The Freedom from Chemical Dependency Educational Service (FCD) to work with our community.  FCD Prevention Specialists are highly trained professionals who have achieved long-term recovery from alcohol or other drug addictions. Their unique perspective enhances the credibility of their message.

All students in the Middle School will have an opportunity to meet with the FCD counselor to learn from and ask questions.  The sixth grade students will meet once and the 7^th and 8^th grade students will meet twice with the specialists in a classroom setting with our MS counselor present.  There also will be two opportunities for parents to meet and ask questions of the visitors from FCD on Tuesday, November 18^th at 6:30 and also Wednesday at 12:00-1:00 in the curriculum room.

Additional information available from this link.

AISB Holiday Bazaar  Friday, November 21, 2014   9:00-5:30

Please come and join us for this extra ordinary event. Clink on link for mere details

Counselor's Corner

As the weather changes, holidays are approaching, and winter break comes into view, the excitement of seasonal change is also coupled with feelings of sadness for friends who will be leaving AISB.  Departing families are a part of International School life.  Whether a student friend, a parent colleague or a valued neighbour, it's important to acknowledge, process and celebrate with those who are leaving our school. 

THIRD CULTURE KIDS by David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken addresses dealing with transition as one of the main themes of globally mobile children and families. I frequently use their suggestion of building a "RAFT".  I assist departing students and their close friends on the process of "Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewells, and Think Destination".  Please take a look at the discussion of building a RAFT described in THIRD CULTURE KIDS,and check out other expat books at:  

www.expatbookshop.com

I encourage you to contact our MS Secretary and/or me if you know that you will be leaving AISB in the near future.

Best regards!

Nancy Seibel

MS Counselor