Friday, January 29, 2016

Week 19 in the Middle!

Semester 1 Report:

I am very happy to report that the 2015-16 Standards Based AISB MS Semester report is now live on Veracross.  The report includes the following: 
  • Academic Achievement descriptors for grades 1-7. 
  • Reporting Criteria for each standard being assessed.
  • Habits of Learning descriptors.
  • Progress indicators for Habits of Learning across subject areas.
  • Academic progress for all core and exploratory courses.
  • Course summaries and personalized student narrative comments. 
We certainly hope you find the report to be a thorough summary of progress for your child and that the overall layout and format is both appealing and easy to navigate.

Please keep in mind that the academic feedback on this report is based on the most consistent and recent student performance relative to our academic standards.

As our Middle School community is at the mid-year point of implementation of Standards Based Grading and Reporting, please feel free to view the following video for supporting information.  

Should you have specific questions about your child's progress at this point in the school year, please feel free to communicate directly with teachers.  As you review this mid-year report as a family, it's a great opportunity to reflect on and celebrate successes to date. And, it's also the perfect time to discuss areas for potential growth for the second half of the school year.  Please consider setting reasonable and attainable goals together with your child in support of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.  It's critically important to strive for this balance between academics, involvement in athletics/ clubs and social time with friends and family.  

7th Grade Advisory:


Catch It If You Can-Grade 7 Advisory Challenge - Perseverance, Collaboration, Creativity, Reflection, Responsibility

Grade 7 students were challenged to build a device that will launch ping-pong balls and to build a structure that will catch them. With their advisory peers, students were given a specific set of materials to use and strict time limits to finish construction of the launcher, the catcher and have time to practice.  Strategies were devised, building commenced and final structures are currently hidden away from the eyes of opposing advisories. The competition day will be on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd. Grade 7 students will be competing against other grade 7 advisories and the office staff which included Mr. Ball!   

Mrs. Robin Mahon
Grade 7 Science



Student Life Update:

I am happy to report that 71 Blazers have signed up to participate in the Prizma School Fun Day which will take place on Saturday, February 6th from 9:20 to 12:45. This beats the previous all-time record of 61. The Student Life Dept. continue to be impressed by the level of involvement and commitment that our Blazers are showing each and every day. Last Wednesday, we met at lunch to talk about what the day would look like, what to expect and to appeal for help in getting the gift bags for the Prizma Kids full of small toys, chocolates, candy and fun school supplies.

We have 46 wonderful Prizma Kids coming, and we will be giving them the gift bags at the end of the Fun Day. Should you have any items to donate for the bags, please don't hesitate to bring them to the student life office.

In other news, we have 23 Blazer Barkers who have signed-up to take part in the next dog shelter trip which will take place on Saturday, February 27.

Three of our Blazer Activity Groups are leaving for CEESA events next week! Good luck to CEESA Choir who will be traveling to Bulgaria, CEESA Band who will be traveling to Bucharest and CEESA Math Counts who will be going to Lithuania.

Lastly, stay tuned for the Awesome Blazer Barker Book Drive which will take place the week of February 8-12.

Have a great weekend,

Marc Lavoie
Middle School Student Life Coordinator / M.S French

PSA News:

All parents are welcome to come and celebrate the Chinese New Year with Middle School staff and students on February 8th at 9:45 a.m. in the building B lobby. Our Chinese parents have prepared a special celebration, where all students will be presented with a Chinese knot, which is meant to bring good luck. After the celebration all parents are invited by the PSA to stay for coffee.

Please note that there has been a change of date for our February PSA meeting. The meeting will take place on February 23rd at 9 a.m. in the Faculty Dining Room.

Athletics:

Dear AISB MS Basketball Families,

One of the highlights of our winter sports season is to host the annual AISB Jamboree this weekend January 29-30.  We will have an exciting mix of basketball games and the Danube Valley Athletic Conference (DVAC) swim meet for all MS Athletes participating in sports teams this season.  Visiting guests will include other MS athletes from various international schools in Vienna, Belgrade, Salzburg, and Bratislava.  It promises to be an exciting few days indeed. 

Please find the schedules for these events below and a request for volunteers from the Booster Club and Athletics Department.

BASKETBALL JAMBOREE SCHEDULE
Click here to see the schedule of basketball games for AISB MS boys & girls A & B teams

Mr. Matt Fleming
AISB Athletic Director

Upcoming events:


Monday, Feb 1:    MS Boys & Girls Basketball Teams practice 15:40 - 17:30
Homework Club 15:30 - 16:30
CEESA MUN 15:40 - 17:30
Makers Club 15:40 - 17:30
MS Swim Team Practice 15:40 - 17:30

Tuesday, Feb 2:   Blazer voices 12:15 - 13:00
MS Tech Crew mtg. at 15:30 in Mr. Savic’s room
CEESA Band 15:40 - 17:30

Wednesday, Feb 3: CEESA MS Band Bucharest
CEESA MS Choir Sofia
MS Assembly/Advisory 11:15 - 12:05
MS Boys & Girls Basketball Team Practice 15:40 - 17:30
MS Swim Team Practice 15:40 - 17:30
Minecraft 15:40 - 17:30
Dungeons & Dragons 15:40 - 17:30

Thursday, Feb 4: CEESA MS Band Bucharest
CEESA MS Choir Sofia
CEESA MS Math Counts Vilnius
Digital Photography 15:45 - 17:30
Homework Club 15:30 - 16:30
Parent Book Club 14:00 - 15:15

Friday, Feb 4: CEESA MS Band Bucharest
CEESA MS Choir Sofia
CEESA MS Math Counts Vilnius
MS Floorball 15:30 - 16:30

Have a great weekend!

Andrew Ball
Middle School Principal
American International School of Budapest

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