Dear Elementary School Families,

Thank You

• We would like to thank all of the Room Parents and parent volunteers for the effort you have put into making our Grade Level Holiday Class Parties a wonderful way to end the last day of school for 2019.

Holiday Dress

• Tomorrow, students may wear Holiday Dress or their regular uniforms.

DAY 2B

• The first day of school for 2020 is Monday, January 13. It will be a Day 2B in the Elementary School.

ES ART

• This Semester, ES Art Students have been introduced to a different approach to art education. Choice Based Art and Teaching for Artistic Behaviours (TAB) places the student at the centre of everything, allowing for greater agency and personalised learning.
• Through a choice based approach, and continuing to apply the mantra “You are the artist, and this is your studio”, we believe all students will be more invested, engaged and inspired, as this will appeal even more so, to their natural curiosity and personal interests.
• Through allowing choice, and providing more of a ‘workshop’ environment, students can work at their own pace, and with increased independence, whilst meeting curricular objectives.
• Throughout the year, we shall focus on the understanding, or Central Idea, that ‘Artists practice a series of behaviours, which lead them through a process, resulting in an artwork which conveys personal meaning to them’.
• We will continue to ask ourselves “What do artists do?” and “Where do ideas come from?”

 

• This semester, students have focused on developing their sense of ownership over their artistic experience and environment by practising exploration of materials and tools, organisation of workspace, and the generation of ideas.  Students are entirely responsible for thoughtfully planning for, and selecting materials and tools in order to initiate exploration/experimentation, observational and/or imaginative work. Emphasis is also placed on the documentation of achievements, via Seesaw. All pieces are kept, as they provide opportunity for reflection, and are valuable evidence of process.
• As we work through the transition to a full choice based program, students are beginning to become familiar with the Studio Habits of Mind which can be directly linked to the National Core Art Standards, PYP learning outcomes and Learner Profile. These are early days, and the depth of exposure and understanding is dependent on individuals and Grade level. The Studio Habits of Mind can be found at the foot of this notice.
• To end the Semester, students have been busy producing a W.O.W piece of art. Please view our ES bulletin boards which are currently being adorned with Wonderful Original Works of Art. A W.O.W art work is one which students have committed two to three lessons to, one which they have carefully thought through, planned, gathered feedback, perfected and persevered until the end. With such personal investment in these pieces, students are experiencing a sense of pride in their efforts and learning process. Please take time to enjoy our W.O.W Gallery and subscribe to the ES Art Blog in order to follow our journey through Choice Based Art, in the New Year.

Studio Habits of Mind & PYP Attributes

Develop Craft: Learning to use tools, materials, artistic conventions, and learning to care for tools, materials and space (PYP Caring and Knowledgeable)

Envision: Learning to picture mentally, what cannot be directly observed, and imagine possible next steps in making a piece (PYP Inquirer)

Express: Learning to create works that convey an idea, a feeling, or a personal meaning (PYP Communicator)

Stretch & Explore: Learning to reach beyond one’s capacities, to explore playfully without a preconceived plan, and to embrace the opportunity to learn from mistakes (PYP Risk Taker)

Observe: Learning to attend to visual contexts more closely than ordinary ‘looking’ requires, and thereby to see things that otherwise might not be seen (PYP Inquirer)

Reflect: Learning to think and talk with others about an aspect of one’s work or working process, and learning to judge one’s own work and working process, and the work of others (PYP Reflective)

Engage & Persist: Learning to embrace problems of relevance within the art world/or of personal importance, to develop focus conducive to working and persevering at tasks (PYP Open Minded)

Understand (Arts) Community: Learning to interact as an artist with other artists (i.e. in classrooms, in local arts organizations, and across the art field)

 

The ES Leadership Team would like to wish all of you a Happy Holidays. We hope you have safe travels and are able to spend quality time with friends and family. We also wish you a very Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you in 2020!

 

The ES Leadership Team

Julie, Eric and Jeff

• In the last few weeks, we have visited each class in ES to have safety discussions with the students. If you have not done so recently, please have a safety discussion with your family. 
  • The links below can assist with family discussions. 
    • PK-2 Safety Plan 
    • 3-5 Safety Plan
    • Boss of My Body Music Video shown in upper elementary safety lessons. ​​​​​​​
    • Consent for Kids Video shown in Grade 5 Parents of younger students may want to watch alone first. 
  • Please contact Sharon PK-2 or Donna 3-5 if you have any questions or concerns. Wishing your family a safe and happy holiday season!
• Love and Logic Parenting Workshop We invite parents of all ages to join us for Love and Logic Parenting Classes. This is a great workshop that includes reading material, videos, discussions and the opportunity to learn and practice effective parenting skills. It’s a fun time to get with other parents, share the joys, challenges and humor of raising children. We will be running Love and Logic for 6 weeks on Thursday mornings and we encourage that you commit for all 6 sessions if possible as the sessions build upon one another and are most effective when taken as a whole. If you can’t make all 6 you are still welcome to attend and learn some new effective parenting tools. Some parents who have participated in Love and Logic may also be interested in attending some of the sessions as a refresher. All are welcome but please let us know you are coming so we have resources for you.  
  • Dates: January 16, 23, 30, February 13, 27, March 12
  • Day and Time: Thursdays 8:45 - 10:15
  • Location: Community Room
  • Cost: Workbooks 600 Rubles
  • Register by emailing donna.hinton@aas.ru  or sharon.ronan@aas.ru.
  • Please contact Donna or Sharon if you have any further questions. 

Read Our Elementary School Blogs

Sean Sonderman   sean.sonderman@aas.ru

Bryn Will bryn.will@aas.ru
Lauren Zimmerman lauren.zimmerman@aas.ru

Have a wonderful and relaxing holiday!  See you all in the New Year!

Activities Coordinator:  Elena Plyuta   | elena.plyuta@aas.ru

ES Penguin Clubs

• Registration for the Winter Term of Penguin Clubs is now open and closes on January 14, 2020.
• Winter Term offerings are comprised of outdoor winter sports and indoor pool activities. Spaces are limited.
• Parents are reminded that during Winter Term students may only be registered for 1 club a week.
• Winter Term registration link is available on the ES Penguin Life section of our website at https://www.aas.ru/student-life/penguin-life/es
• Here's a direct link to the ES Winter Term Penguin Clubs Registration

Athletics/Aquatics: Kirby Boychuk | kirby.boychuk@aas.ru

• Saturday Swim Program (SSP)
  • In order to provide AAS Moscow Aquatics Programs' with our continued safe environments, we are delaying the start of the SSP.
  • Our SSP instructors will be involved in instructing and assisting with the Lifeguard certification courses during the month of November and December. 
  • AAS will have a full squad of Lifeguards ready to GUARD over the Saturday Swim Program starting on January 1.
• Individual Swimming Lessons
  • Read ALL INFORMATION in the Individual Swimming Lesson Section of the website 
  • Registration for Individual Swimming Instruction is now available. 

• With Thursday, December 19 being the last day of classes before winter break, we will be arranging the donation of all unclaimed items from the Lost&Found to charity on the first day of break, Friday, December 20. 
• AAS Security keeps an inventory of all items in the Lost&Found.
• If you or your child is missing an item, please stop by the main security desk to check if the item has been recovered in the Lost&Found. 

Helping Children Learn Through Sensory Integration

• Date: Friday, January 24, 2020
• Location: Community Room
• Time: 8:30-10:00
• Cost: Free! 

NHS PEER TUTORING

Email Us |  ecogreen@aas.ru       
Eco-Green Blog |   http://blogs.aas.ru/green/  
Facebook   |  Click here

• Earth Charter is organising an online course for educators to integrate education about sustainable development into classrooms and curricula. This online course runs from 15 January - 24 June 2020.

• Our next meeting is Saturday, December 14, 2019, in the South Cafeteria at 3:00 PM
• This will be a general meeting. Stop by and see what Scouts have to offer.
• Sign up your child K-5^th grade and don’t miss out on the next fun adventure.
• Our Girls group is growing.  Girls in grades 2-4 are encouraged to join.
• For more information, you can email us at cubscoutsofmoscow@gmail.com

PTO Community Coffee 

• Thank You to all the parents and leadership team members who joined us yesterday for our holiday coffee morning and celebrations. 
• A big thank you to our HS Choir for the holiday carols and Alisher for teaching us about the Speech and Debate program at AAS. 
• The Next PTO Community Coffee will be on Tuesday, January 21, at 8:45 in the South Cafeteria.

PTO New Book Fair- Thank you!

• The New Book Fair was again a huge success - Thank You Bettina and Victoria for taking the lead and getting a wide variety and favorite books to our children before the holidays. 

Divisional Updates

Reminder! PTO Charity Matching Fund

Volunteer Here

• Being a volunteer is a great way to meet people, have fun and give back to the AAS community.
• If you are interested in volunteering for the PTO, please contact Ines Cremers (PTO Secretary) at pto.secretary@aas.ru

• Join us in exploring Moscow!  
• Every month we offer new activities, new tours -  we will visit unique attractions of our host city together, we will have lunch together, we will go and visit theaters together, we will join in sports together, every month something new! Everyone is welcome! Please send an email to pto.internal@aas.ru
• Watch this space for the January Tour.  

PTO EXCHANGE:

• A place to swap gently-used ES, MS, and PE uniforms, books, skates, and shoes.
• New! Get your children and yourself ready for the skating season!
  • SKATES are available at the PTO Exchange for 6 SwapTickets (or 600rub), as well as a limited number of skate bags.
  • Open-air skating rinks are already open in Moscow since the first week of December. 
• Click here to view the full information, open hours are Monday-Thursday, 14:45-16:00

PTO SHOP:

• In time for the Holidays!The shop has a new Hoodie and a crew neck T-shirt design available for sale now! These or one of various other T-shirt designs at the shop make perfect presents for friends and family.
•  Holiday items are already on display at PTO Shop. Please drop in and have a look. 
• Click here to view full information, including opening hours.