Director's Message
Rhonda Norris | rhonda.norris@aas.ru
Dear AAS Community,
As we end this three-day learning week for students and plan towards transitioning to Distance Learning next week, AAS recognizes that this move to Distance Learning is disappointing because it removes the opportunity for students to be on campus. AAS educators are also disappointed with the local epidemiological situation in Moscow, which as of yesterday had reached levels of concern with 4,082 new cases, an accelerating spread rate of 1.42, and at least 1,000 new medium to serious new Covid related hospitalizations. Health and safety continues to be a priority in our decision making. Along with your support and collaboration, AAS is grateful that our decisions and protocols to this point have been successful at mitigating the risk such that we have not had a positive case on campus during Hybrid Learning which has ensured our students and staff are healthy and could remain on campus.
A friendly reminder that this Thursday and Friday have been scheduled as staff professional development days since last school year when the final calendar for 2020/2021 was reaffirmed and approved by the Board. Professional development is an essential part in a high quality educational organization. Particularly during the current period of rapid change and adaptation, these opportunities are critical to ensure we provide the highest quality learning environment and care for our students. Our educators will be committed during these two days to gaining additional knowledge and skills to enhance and enrich the learning opportunities for our students in these new and evolving learning environments.
Due to the pandemic, we are all engaging in less face-to-face communication with one another, which can at times challenge clarity in communication. To provide for increased understanding and the most successful interactions within our community, Leadership is sharing this flowchart as a visual reminder of our protocols for communications. In addition, there will continue to be a range of opportunities for interactions, including at the Director Community Connections, Division Coffees, Community Relations Focus Groups, PTO Community Coffees, etc.. as well as there will be surveys for your feedback on specific topics to help our teams enhance learning.
We appreciate the ongoing partnership with parents in support of Learning of AAS as we all continue to manage and collaborate in these different learning models in the best interest of students.
After the October Break, AAS will be hosting a series of parent focus groups designed to harness the experience of our community, collect feedback, and develop ideas that can help AAS prosper. If you would like to contribute to these efforts, please express interest by completing this short survey form.
Warm regards,
Rhonda Norris
Director
Anglo-American School of Moscow
ES Express
ES Principal Jeff.Hinton@aas.ru
ES Associate Principal Julie.Villers@aas.ru
ES Associate Principal Eric.Burnett@aas.ru
Dear ES Families,
We hope you are having a great week.
Distance Learning Pathway
As we move into Distance Learning next week, we would like to thank you in advance for supporting your child(ren) by helping them to identify a dedicated place for learning with the tools they need, assisting them to be ready for their scheduled classes through Webex, encouraging them to participate in both synchronous and asynchronous lessons and partnering with us. We very much appreciate all you do to support your child(ren) so they can engage in learning. We understand that all have unique circumstances and situations, so your partnership with us to create learning opportunities for your children is acknowledged with thankfulness. Thank you also for working together with us through any technical glitches that might arise along the way (please email distance.learning@aas.ru for these). We can’t do this without you.
PD Days
Tomorrow and Friday our Professional Development Days for all AAS Educators. We are very thankful that we have this opportunity to learn from each other and our consultants as we continue to improve our practice. It is important that we continue to learn and grow as professionals. Professional development is an essential part in a high quality educational organization and with our current environment where many of our strategies are new, particularly around positive engagement for students in a Hybrid learning environment, these opportunities remain a priority to ensure we provide the highest quality learning environment for our students.
ES Virtual Parent Coffee
In case you missed our ES Virtual Parent Coffee yesterday, here is a link to the Slideshow and the recording of the Webex . It has a wealth of resources for supporting the digital aspects of Distance Learning, with lots of tips as well.
Shout Out
Shout out to the Grade Two Instructional Assistant team for planning and executing a math review lesson with the at home Huddles. We hope that the Grade Two students benefited from this important review of math practices and standards.
Shout out to the Grade Two Instructional Assistant team for planning and executing a math review lesson with the at home Huddles. We hope that the Grade Two students benefited from this important review of math practices and standards.
Please keep safe and enjoy your long weekend,
The ES Leadership Team
ES Counselors
What's Up in MS
MS Principal, Christopher Schuster chris.schuster@aas.ru
MS Senior Associate Principal, Karisti Cormier karisti.cormier@aas.ru
MS Associate Principal, Alex Lopez alexander.lopez-barton@aas.ru
Click here to like AAS MS on Facebook!
Move to Distance Learning - As we move to Distance Learning (DL) next week, we would like to share the weeklong and daily schedule. As we do not need to utilize our Huddle system for DL we will not have Day 1A and 1B, the schedule will transition from Day 1 on Monday directly to Day 2 on Tuesday.
MS Open House Evening
Although we are not able to have our typical Back to School Night, we are trying something new. On Wednesday, 14 October, the MS Leadership Team will be hosting a MS Open House evening - at 7 pm. Join us to hear an overview of programs and systems in the MS. At the end of the evening, we will share short teacher prepared presentations about classes in the MS.
House Spirit Days - All MS students have been assigned to one of five Houses in our House System. Next week we will have our first House Spirit Days. Students should dress in their House colors. House shirts have been ordered, but until those arrive, students should just wear what they can in their House color. Students can find more information on their grade level Google Classroom.
Pinktober - The MS is joining ranks with the HS to raise awareness for Breast Cancer research by participating in Pinktober. Every Wednesday and Thursday in October, students are allowed to wear PINK clothing instead of the regular uniform.
Absence Tracking -. Please report any absences which prevent students from engaging in learning (due to illness, appointments, etc) to the MS Office ms.office@aas.ru.
No School - Please remember there is no school for students on Thursday and Friday, October 8th and 9th. Both of those days will be intensive professional development days for staff and faculty.
Thank you and enjoy the long weekend!
MS Counselor
James Villers| james.villers@aas.ru | Room 2075
At different times during the year, the counseling team offers informal coffees on various parenting topics. These events are typically cross-divisional in nature, and are a combination of presentation and discussion. They will be virtual, of course, for the foreseeable future. But having these group conversations is always useful in strengthening the partnership between school and home. If you’d like to share your content ideas with us, please complete this short survey. Thank you for your time, and watch this space for further updates.
A few weeks ago, I shared this parenting article from NYTimes: The 2020 Back-to-School List for Teens' Emotional Well-Being. This week, the same writer/psychologist has published an article directed at teens themselves: Dear Teenagers, Here’s How to Protect Your Emotional Well-Being. Use either or both short articles to start a conversation with your child about how they’re feeling these days.
If you have questions about any of the above, or wish to discuss your child with me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
HS Flash
HS Principal, Christopher Schuster chris.schuster@aas.ru
HS Senior Associate Principal, Matthew Groves matthew.groves@aas.ru
HS Senior Associate Principal, Matthew Groves matthew.groves@aas.ru
HS Associate Principal, Andrew Wiese andrew.wiese@aas.ru
Distance Learning
Following the announcement last evening that AAS is transitioning to Distance Learning (DL) next week, we would like to share the weeklong and daily schedules. As we do not need to utilize our huddle system for DL we will not have a Day 1A and 1B, the schedule will transition from Day 1 on Monday directly to Day 2 on Tuesday.
Here are some routines and ideas for how to support your child while they are learning from home:
- Establish and maintain clear routines about waking-up and getting ready for school.
- Designate and maintain a clean and appropriate workspace.
- Limit screen time by encouraging “screen breaks” and having a technology curfew in evenings.
When your child encounters challenges, instead of trying to solve the problem ask them the following:
- Did you check Google Classroom?
- Have you asked your teacher in Webex or in person?
- Have you emailed your teacher?
- Have you looked at teacher feedback to see if it helps you solve the problem you are facing?
HS Hybrid Learning Survey
The HS needs your feedback on how hybrid learning is going for you and your child(ren). Please take 2 minutes to fill this survey today!
Grade 9 & 10 Parent Coffee
We are hosting a parent coffee next week and would love to see you there.
JOIN US on October 13 at 14:00 Moscow time. The focus of the meeting will be on Standards Based Grading and Assessment, we will have a brief presentation followed by an open Q&A for parents.
Virtual Back-to-School Night
- On Thursday, October 15, there will be an opportunity for faculty to introduce themselves to you during our virtual back-to-school night. In the afternoon we will be sharing videos that each teacher has made, introducing themselves and giving you an overview of the curriculum of the class your child is in. If you have a specific question for a faculty member please reach out to them directly to set up a meeting.
- At 19:00 on October 15 the HS leadership team will be hosting a brief presentation followed by an open Q&A session for parents that would like a chance to meet us and connect regarding questions related to the overall school community.
Teaching Across Multiple Audiences
This is an image from an English class earlier this week, please note how the teacher is using the iPad to simultaneously involve the students in the at-home huddle while they interact with the children in school. It is an incredible balancing act that faculty are becoming more and more skillful at.
MAP testing We are gathering important data on student growth and learning in grades 9 and 10 and look forward to being able to share that out in the near future. Please review the MAP testing section of this newsletter and contact Kirsten Welbes if you have any additional questions.
HS Clubs Take Over Instagram
Did you know that AAS HS Clubs have been taking over Instagram to promote their work and recruit more students? Follow AAS Instagram to see what the HS Clubs are up to!
Ask your child about the HS Club Fair
HS Lunch This Week
IB Office
Sean Sonderman sean.sonderman@aas.ru
Grade 12
Individual Planning Meetings
Mr. Sonderman is meeting with all Grade 12 students individually for the next couple of months to discuss Year 2 in the IB, progress on major works such as IAs and the Extended Essay, university plans, and Predicted Grades. The meetings are meant to provide context for the year and to identify weak points that need to be addressed. They are also intended to give each student a range of expectations for the Predicted Grades that are sent to universities. Many meetings will take place via webex this year. Please discuss the results of your child’s meeting with Mr. Sonderman.
Extended Essays are back to the Students
EE Supervisors returned student EEs back to their supervisees this past week. They were permitted to give feedback related to research, the structure of the paper, and quality of analysis. Students will now have one month to make edits, finalize the formal aspects of the EE such as the citations and bibliography, and apply the feedback. On November 6, seniors will upload the final Extended Essay! This will conclude a year’s worth of research and writing for our grade 12 students.
Grade 11
Goal Setting Meetings Underway
Mr. Sonderman is currently meeting with all Grade 11 students in the final phase of the goal setting process. The process is designed to motivate students and to lay the groundwork for setting personal and academic goals, including university aspirations. Individual students set academic goals related to their respective slates of Diploma courses. The baseline set from this process provides perspective, as well as a dose of reality, as students move closer to the most challenging semesters of the IBDP, semester 2 of Grade 11 and semester 1 of Grade 12. If your child has not set an appointment yet they can go to https://calendly.com/sean-sonderman/goal-setting. Please ask your child about their meeting.
HS Counselors
Bryn Will bryn.will@aas.ru supports students with last names beginning with L-Z
Lauren Zimmerman lauren.zimmerman@aas.ru supports students with last names beginning with A-K
Lauren Zimmerman lauren.zimmerman@aas.ru supports students with last names beginning with A-K
Your HS Counselors held a Counselor Coffee last week on the topic of university visits and how to help your child make the most of these opportunities. We had a great showing for this event and for those who were unable to attend or want to revisit the information, please click on the links. The link to the presentation is here and the link to the recorded session is here. It is wonderful to be able to offer these events to all HS student grade levels this year and we have scheduled 68 universities from 19 countries to “visit” with our students. Each visit is an incredible opportunity to learn about the variety of higher education options.
Next counselor Coffee will be on 29 October and will focus on Maia Learning - What is this program and how we use it to support students in personal and career exploration as well as university planning. We hope you can join us then!
Have other topics you would like to discuss or learn more about from your HS Counselors?
We want the counselor coffees to be timely, pertinent and meaningful for you so your thoughts and ideas matter. Please share your ideas by responding to this short survey.
Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) is an organization that visits AAS in alternating years to speak with our students about the effects of substances on their health and wellbeing. This organization always shares regular information related to teen wellness and this article was recently shared with us and is focused on how parents can support teens in staying healthy during these unpredictable times.
Penguin Life
Email: plife@aas.ru
Penguin Life Fall Season continues.
Due to school transitioning to Distance Learning, practice schedules may be adjusted for the participants of PL Activities and Sports. Changes will be communicated shortly either by a coach, or the Penguin Life office. If you have any questions about the Penguin Life schedules for next week, please contact us at plife@aas.ru
Lifeguard In-Service
- We are offering the first In-Service of the year for currently certified student-lifeguards. In order to start working at the AAS Swimming Pool, currently certified lifeguards must participate in this in-service. This is a great time to repeat all the skills and refresh the knowledge.
- During the in-service lifeguards are given the opportunity to practice their emergency situation response and skills in a safe and controlled environment. Giving lifeguards the opportunity to maintain and improve upon their lifeguarding skills is an invaluable tool.
- The In-Service will be offered this Saturday, October 10, 2020, 12:00 – 16:00.
- In order to register for the In-Service, student-lifeguards will have to go through the new registration system HERE and follow the guidelines below:
Guidelines
If you are using this new system for the first time start with choosing the “First time user” link below the Login bar to create your password.
Use email already registered with AAS (tip: use the email address that the newsletter is sent to)
- Username: your email registered with AAS
- Password: one that you create for this system
Choose the “Lifeguard In-Service October 10, 2020” as the Activity in order to register for the course. Deadline: October 8, 2020.
Virtual Cross Country Competition
Library News
Librarians: kelsey.hedrick@aas.ru & kris.feller@aas.ru
You know Sora, Epic, and Tumblebooks… Check out ABDO, this great digital platform for books!
The username is aasmoscow and the password is penguins. There are stellar non-fiction books there that can support your children.
What does “curbside library” mean?
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Parents and High School Students can request books for pick up from the AAS library.
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These curbside days will replace our upcoming Saturday open days.
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The next curbside dates are:
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Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 8:30am - 9:30am
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Thursday, October 15, 3:00pm-4:00pm
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How does it work?
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Request some books that you would like on our handy form.
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Wait for the “You’ve Got Books” email.
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Come to school on the days we have indicated in the emails.
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Drive to school (or walk, or taxi, or bus) with your badge to come to the Main Gate.
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Give your name to the librarians and pick up what you’ve requested.
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Return any books that you’ve finished.
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Enjoy your books at home!
NYTimes
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If you have error messages on your NYTimes, you may need to resubscribe. Email library@aas.ru if you are having trouble.
We look forward to helping you out! Please email library@aas.ru if you have any questions.
Please visit Kris and K’s “digital libraries." Click around and enjoy!
Health Office
Flu Vaccine News!
Email: health.office@aas.ru
- Flu Vaccine
- The Health Office expects flu vaccines to arrive after the Fall Break.
- The cost of each vaccine will be 1550 rubles.
- We will share the flu vaccination sign-up form this week.
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We are using Vaxigrip Tetra, made in France (not Russia) and it contains all the components recommended by WHO for this year’s flu vaccine.
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Protecting Your Health and the Health of the AAS Community
- Considering the current COVID situation in Moscow, we are strongly advising to avoid crowded public places. Do to take walks outside, but, please remember to take care of yourselves and your families by maintaining the recommended distancing precautions, wearing your masks, and thorough handwashing!
MAP Testing
Changes to the MAP schedule!
As you have read in the Community Message from October 6, AAS is transitioning to Distance Learning for the week beginning Monday, October 12. This impacts our MAP testing schedule, as offering the online Distance MAP test to all students in Grade 2-10 is not feasible. Our current MAP plan is to finalize the MAP Math and Reading tests this week and postpone the Language test until we return on campus.
Please see the email to parents and middle and high students for more information.
If you have any MAP related questions, please contact Kirsten Welbes at kirsten.welbes@aas.ru.
Yearbook Theme Survey
AAS Parent-Teacher Organization
email us at: pto@aas.ru
MESSAGE FROM THE PTO EXCHANGE
Irina Elizarov | PTO.exchange@aas.ru
Dear AAS Community,
Greetings from the PTO Exchange team! We miss seeing you, chatting with you, and helping you find the right items in our stock. Rest assured, we are ready to open the moment we get a chance! Meanwhile, stay safe and keep us in mind when you sort your children's uniforms.
Further in this newsletter you will find information about the PTO Enhancement Grant Program. Having been coordinating this program for the past few years, I strongly encourage you to read the Grant applications and take an active part in voting. This way you decide how the PTO money - your money - will be spent, and have a better understanding of ways in which the PTO supports and enhances our children's learning.
Have a great week, and enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts!
Yours,
Irina
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPDATE
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Thank you to everyone who attended our Class Parent introductory session this morning via Webex.
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It’s not about what we can’t do this year, but what we can do as Class Parents for our ES Community!
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We still need Class Parents, please sign up here.
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All Classes can expect to receive an introduction email from their Class Parent or from VP ES.
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For any questions or comments please contact VP ES Ines Cremers at pto.es@aas.ru
PTO ENHANCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM
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The PTO Enhancement Grant Program is an important way the PTO contributes to the AAS Community. Each year we have Fall and Spring Enhancement Grant application rounds. Any community member (student, teacher, parent, or staff) is invited to submit ideas for projects that will enhance the learning experience at AAS. Enhancement Grants can fund innovations or existing programs, purchase equipment for classrooms or activities, or sponsor visits by expert guests who bring a new dimension to learning.
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Last year, the Spring round hadn't been completed due to the early end of on-campus learning, and a decision had been made to hold the community e-vote on the proposals in the Fall.
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We are pleased to announce that we are ready to resume the Enhancement Grant program. We have two Grant proposals that have been previously approved by the PTO Executive Committee and AAS Administration. You can access the proposals by following the links.
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The proposals will be presented to the community at the next PTO Community Coffee on October, 13th, where you will have a chance to ask any questions regarding the proposals.
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Community e-vote is planned for next week, a separate email will be sent to every PTO member.
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Results will be announced in a future newsletter.
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If you have any questions please email pto@aas.ru
PTO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2020-2021 CANDIDATES for vacant positions
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We have one candidate for our Middle School VP position, and per our by-laws we need to hold an election to ratify our candidates at our next Community Coffee on 13th of October.
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We kindly ask you to take a few minutes to review the candidate's statement of interest.
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The PTO Executive Committee will present the candidate (together with candidates for VP Internal affair and Secretary position) at the next monthly PTO Community coffee for approval by the entire community joining the Community Coffee.
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If you have any queries about the process, please send an email to pto@aas.ru
email us at: pto@aas.ru
PTO COMMUNITY COFFEE - October 13, 10-11 AM
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Join us for another virtual coffee https://webex.com/meet/pto
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Take along your favorite coffee mug
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Wear something pink to support Pinktober
ON THE GO WITH PTO
PTO CONNECT - South Field Parking lot, 28/29th of October, 2 - 3.30 pm
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Join us for our 2nd casual get-together
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Meet old friends and make new ones
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Wear something orange and win some Halloween treats
CULTURAL TRIP - Kitay Gorod, 2nd of November 10am
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Last Tuesday we had our first walk to Zamoskvorechye
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We had it all, beautiful area of Moscow, great weather, interesting guide and amazing company of 10 ladies
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Cultural Tour November: Kitay Gorod
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Tour duration: about 2 hours
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Tour cost: 1000 RUB per person paid directly to the guide
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Meeting time: 10 am
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Meeting point: TBA
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Sign up deadline: 30th of October at pto@aas.ru
ES Class Parents Needed!
PTO MUG DESIGN COMPETITION only 3 days left
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There is still time to submit your design at pto@aas.ru
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Participate, be creative, and get rewarded!
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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DESIGN!
See some of our newly-submitted designs below.
