News
Notes from the AIS Board…
Some Board facts….
? The Fiscal position on the Board is a nonvoting position on the Board that oversees, and supervises operations to be according to laws and bylaws of the school association.
? General Assemblies are done according to the policy in the Association guidelines of Costa Rica.
? The Board ordinarily meets once a month the first Thursday of each month at 6pm in the school library. All associates are welcome to attend the open sessions of these meetings.
Recent Achievements at AIS
? Approval for new lockers for all students 6 grade and up.
? Ramps built in compliance Costa Rican Law 7600 “Ley de discapacitados “
? New computer funding for upgrades, and audiovisual aids such as computer projectors. This was possible with US embassy funding.
? Completion of renewal process with the Immigration Ministry
? Scholarship Trust review and committee selection in process
? Vision Building Committee to move our school forward as a community.
? Completing process for residency applications for Foreign Hires.
? Contracts for all faculty
? Ongoing work with Targeted Leadership Consulting (TLC) and the Leadership Team, advancing the program of Bringing Writing to Life.
A note from the secretaries…
We especially encourage all our Associates to attend the General Assemblies. The next one is November 15th in the library at 6pm. The second one of the school year is in May and reminders will be sent closer to that date.
You may communicate with us through our email at Board@aiscr.com or with attendance at our monthly open session Board meetings. If you would like to have time to speak formally at our monthly meetings please make us aware and we will place you on the agenda.
At the November 15th General Assembly …
we will receive a report from the Director, Austin Briggs Jr. and from the Board President, Ronny Ramirez, the Board Treasurer Oscar Alpizar, and the Board Fiscal Chuck Piacentini. We will also nominate and elect a new Fiscal due to the early departure of Mr Piacentini to the United States. We will end with a proposal pertaining to the tuition payment.
AIS Board of Directors
Ronny Ramirez, President reelected May 2006 country of origin - Costa Rica
Lisa Callaghan, Vice President elected 2007 country of origin - United States
Oscar Alpizar, Treasurer elected 2007 country of origin - Costa Rica
Laura Gomez, Vice Treasurer reelected 2007 country of origin - Costa Rica
Lisa Cozzarelli, Secretary elected 2007 country of origin - United States
Natalia Quintero, Vice Secretary elected 2007 country of origin - Venezuela
Lola Napolitiano, Vocal elected 2007 country of origin - Venezuela
Susane Raine, Vocal elected 2007 country of origin - United States
Chuck Piacentini, Fiscal elected 2007 country of origin - United States
From Principal’s office:
The school year is going by quickly. We have entered the second quarter of the school year. There are a lot of innovated things happening at school to help students achieve higher standards of academics. We have created a committee which in turn is providing students, teachers and parents with the appropriate tools to achieve this goal. The Instructional Leadership team has continued with the focus on “Bringing Writing to Life at AIS” adopting the 6+1 Traits school and walkthroughs school-wide. The administration is also implementing walkthroughs and classroom observations daily. AIS believes in the whole student therefore we try to provide students with opportunities to succeed not only in academics but also in art, sports, music and socially.
We started a committee which concentrates only on academics and it is composed of teachers from LSP, ESL, Counselor, College Counselor, Principal and Director. This team overlooks with students who have needs in academics and supplies strategies for teachers improve student achievement across all content areas and across all grade levels.
The student review committee meets every Thursday focusing on strategies and ideas that research has proven to make a difference for all students. We have met with the teachers and purposed to start with tutoring. Tutoring by the subject teacher is an effective strategy for addressing the needs of low performing students. AIS is offering tutoring after- school from 3:05 -3:30 everyday except on Wednesday. Teachers are also engaging in conversations with students and parents. School home communication is one of the keys for student success academically and socially.
The team has set up meetings with parents, students and teachers to discuss each case individually. We are meeting by grade level and sharing strategies that work for teachers. We are gathering best practices and sharing it with the faculty.
The Instructional Leadership team has continued with the focus on “Bringing Writing to Life at AIS adopting the 6+1 Traits school. The Instructional Leadership Team is putting together a seminar for parents in December on the 6+1 Traits that way, parents will be able to engage in their child’s school life
AIS is moving away from classrooms visits only when we needed to conduct formal teacher evaluations. We are trying a more effective practice of stopping in and walking through a few classrooms every day. These frequent, short, unscheduled visits foster focused, reflective, and collaborative learning. Teachers welcome the opportunities for feedback and discussion that walkthroughs provide. We establish ourselves as campus leaders and instructional mentors, influencing teaching, learning, and ongoing school renewal. Students also see that both administrators and teachers value instruction and learning and this aspect is important for the school to foster academically.
AIS believes in the whole student. We provide opportunities for all students to achieve a sense of high self –esteem and self-worth. We expose students to opportunities to be successful not only in academics but also in art, sports, music and socially. This month, the boys and girls volleyball team played an AASCA tournament hosted by Country Day School and our girls received second place. Coming up is soccer season in Nov. and our teams will be practicing in another AASCA tournament in El Salvador. After school, we have variety of activities including soccer, basketball, and music and coming up soon, Art. We also have NHS and Student Council organizations which students have been elected. They are working on various projects including collecting items for the Costa Rican Flood victims and a Halloween Dance for Middle School /High School on Oct. 26, 2007. I believe this first quarter has been very fruitful and AIS is working towards success in all areas of students’ life.
GENERAL HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS *
Homework can have many benefits for young children. It can improve remembering and understanding of schoolwork. Homework can help students develop study skills that will be of value even after they leave school. It can teach them that learning takes place anywhere, not just in the classroom. Homework can benefit children in more general ways as well. It can foster positive character traits such as independence and responsibility.
• Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.
• Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available.
• Help your child with time management.
• Be positive about homework.
• When your child does homework, you do homework. For example read while your child is reading.
• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers.
• Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework.
• Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration.
• Reward progress in homework.
Parents and families play an important role in the process. Together, families and teachers can help children develop good study habits and attitudes to become lifelong learners.
* Article from US Department of Education
Monthly Sports Newsletter
Dear AIS Parents,
In October we held many sports activities such as the Elementary Hand Ball Tournament (during lunchtime), the winners were Team “B” with the following students: Yessenia Koontz, Victor Prudencio, Matthew Callaghan, Nicolas Ovares, Mackenzie Beriault, Paul Kelly and Luis David Muñoz; and the Middle school and High School Basketball Tournament (lunchtime), the winners of the Yellow team were: Carolina Cuadra, Derek Galan, Eduardo Benitez, Lorenzo Castaño, Nikolas Cyr, Alan Kerbel and Daniel Andrade. The best shooter was Eduardo Benitez, as well as in volleyball and indoor soccer games between teachers and students.
Additionally our middle school and high school teams are currently participating in the National ACTION Volleyball Tournament.
Our high school volleyball teams participated in the AASCA Volleyball Tournament hosted by Country Day School, together with other American Schools from Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The Boys came in 5th and the Girls came in 2nd.
During November there will be a dodge ball tournament for elementary and an indoor soccer tournament for middle school and high school, both held during lunchtime (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and basketball boys and girls (Tuesday and Thursday).
The semifinals and finals of the Volleyball ACTION Tournament will take place during the first and second week of November, respectively.
Our athletes are making an extraordinary effort to be able to play.
ACTION SOCCER is around the corner!
November Monthly Bulletin
Mr. McCray will be out of school Thursday and Friday November 15th and 16th to install his exhibit of drawings, paintings and sculpture in Galeria Amon. The exhibit is entitled Genghis Khan's Eternal Blue Sky. Mr. McCray will exhibit over 40 pieces of work in a wide variety of medium. All are invited to join him at the opening 7:30 p.m. on Friday November 16th. A field trip to the gallery is planned for the morning of Monday the 19th to take the students from the Studio Art, Art & Film, and AP Studio Art classes.
Galeria Amón
250 meters North of the kiosko in Parque Morazan
Barrio Amón, San José.
223 9725
www.amon937.com
NHS
Dear AIS Parents:
NHS wants to thank all of you for helping us make the Metarmorphic Party such a success! We would like to remind you that if you want to help the victims of the floods please put your contributions in the box at the main entrance of the school. The Flood Drive will occur sometimes in November. The annual Toy Drive will take place in December. Wait for more fun activities!!
FROM: THE NURSE
TO: TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS
HAND WASHING
Please share this information with your families:
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to clean our hands.
STEPS FOR CORRECT HAND WASHING
1. Wet your hands and apply liquid, bar or powder soap
2. Rub hands together vigorously to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
3. Continue for 20 seconds – It takes that long for the soap and scrubbing action to dislodge and remove germs – Imagine singing “Happy Birthday” TWICE to a friend!
4. Rinse hands well under running water
5. Dry your hands using a paper towel
6. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet
Clean your hands..............
? After you use the bathroom
? Before you eat
? Before, during, and after you prepare food
? When your hands are dirty
? After handling animals or animal waste
? More frequently when you, or someone with whom you come in contact is sick
FACTS: HOW DISEASE CAN SPREAD
? One of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or eyes after touching somenone or something that is contaminated with the cold virus (rhinovirus)
? Rotavirus – a disgusting germ that causes gastrointestinal illness – can be transferred from a dry, laminate surface to a clean hand as long as 20 minutes after the surface has been contaminated.
? Certain strains of E. Coli, Salmonella, and other bacteria can live on surfaces, like cafeteria tables and doorknobs, for up to two hours.
Do not be a transmitter. Follow this simple habit and we will have healthier families, and a healthier school!
From: OTEC Viajes
OTEC and American International School is giving students the possibility of acquiring the International Student Identification Card (ISIC) and Youth (IYIC). This is the only UNESCO recognized Identification that certifies a student or young person internationally.
The benefits that students may earn apart from recognition are:
? Discounts in more than 35000 commercial establishments (hotels, food, etc) in more than 100 countries.
? Special entrance to educational and cultural services around the world: museums, theaters, parks.
? Special airfares with 120 worldwide airlines.
? Discounts in more than 100 commercial establishments in Costa Rica.
The ISIC Card is approved by the Education Ministry as a I.D. To present the national exams.
This year, for you to know the advantages of using the card, OTEC will be having an stand the School next Tuesday, issuing cards to all students that would like to have one: you only have to bring $ 10 which is the card cost or 5200 colones. Take into consideration some of the advantages that the student may have, for example, at Cinepolis, for all Thursdays, the ISIC students obtain a 2X1 promotion, so the entrance costs only 900 colones: 3 times of use and the cost will be covered!
Furthermore, after a strategic alliance with SONY BMG, all students that buy the ISCI Card will have a “Special Edition” music CD, and discounts coupons for KFC and Quizno´s. All students will also participate automatically on raffles that our affiliate commercial establishments offer.
Other institutions already have this Agreement with OTEC in Costa Rica, such as: Inter-American University, Sciences and Arts University, Medical Sciences University, Humboldt School, Panamerican School, Saint Peter’s School, San Laurence High School, Blue valley, and others.
Please count with our help for any matter you may need and thank you for the attention.
1st Annual
AIS Charity Road Run
On September 29th A.I.S. held it's first annual 2.5 Charity Road Run with the participation of students, teachers and parents and invited runners from the community.
The "Road Run" had 49 participants of all age groups and the circuit was in the Cariari area. Students from Student Council and N.H.S. with their advisors Ms. Eugenia Rodriguez, Ms. Barbara Cruz and Ms. Mildred Hipolito, respectively helped with the water stands and fruit stands along the circuit and at the finish line.
The award ceremony was hosted by Coach Abraham Nuñez and Ms. Tatiana Gonzalez. First, Second and Third place winners were awarded medals in each age category.
This year's first run was a complete success. Proceeds (¢41,082) of will be given to a local charity.