Director's Message
Rhonda Norris | rhonda.norris@aas.ru
Dear AAS Community,
We are so grateful for sunny Moscow weather which allows students to spend more time outside this week. Being outdoors and active are great opportunities benefiting learning and our overall health.
AAS staff feel fortunate for the partnership we have with parents working together for the benefit of the AAS students. Our community has shown great resilience and commitment to supporting one another. While all members of our learning community respect and support each other, our students are truly remarkable in their commitment to learning, their adaptability, courage, and their depth of care for others. It’s wonderful to be part of a community where the students, just like the adults, model positive behaviors consistent with AAS’ core values. Our school’s Facebook page has a great collection of student stories and celebrations across all grade levels. With parents supporting student learning at home more than ever, we would love to capture your perspective on student academic and holistic learning. Hit reply to this email to share a photo, a video, or a story of your child embodying AAS Guiding Statements through their actions.
As we look forward into October and beyond, AAS would like to remind families that our school calendar for the remainder of the school year has not changed and can be found at https://www.aas.ru/calendar. The AAS October week long break will begin on Saturday, October 17. With the health and safety of our community as our top priority, we remind families that any individual that travels internationally will not be allowed to access campus for 14 days and will be required to obtain a negative Covid-19 test before returning to campus. Unless there is a shift in the guidance from local and world health organizations, this rule would also apply to Winter break which begins on Friday, December 18. AAS continues to follow both local and international health requirements and recommendations to inform our decisions about the appropriate learning model, ie..Full on-campus, Hybrid, or Distance Learning, to balance the health and safety alongside sustained, quality learning.
I would like to thank the AAS PTO for their collaboration and commitment in keeping our community connected. Please remember next week’s opportunities to meet with the PTO and other parents as well as access the PTO Shop via our south parking lot PTO tent. We encourage you to stay engaged by connecting with your child’s teacher for learning or sharing feedback, celebrations, and ideas via communications@aas.ru.
Please read the other sections of this week’s newsletter to learn more about MAP testing and yearbook photos (both taking place over the next few weeks), as well as upcoming parent engagement opportunities within each division and with the AAS PTO.
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 Elementary School Families,
It looks like Fall has given us a bit of a break with some warmer weather and sunshine this week. We hope you enjoy it.
Room Parents
There is still a need for Room Parents in many of our classes. If you are willing to help out in this rewarding and much-valued responsibility, it would be greatly appreciated. Learn more and register here.
Goal Setting Conferences
We look forward to connecting virtually with all of you at our upcoming Goal Setting Conferences on September 24 and 25. All conferences will be held through Webex, allowing children and parents to attend, even if one parent is not in the same location as their child.
What is a Goal Setting Conference?
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The purpose of this meeting is for the parents, student, and teacher to get to know each other better, find out how your child is adjusting to the school year, and to collaboratively create specific student goals and identify student strengths (academic, social, organizational, etc.)
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Thursday and Friday, September 24, and 25 are non-instructional days. However, we ask that students join conference times with their parent(s) since they are the centerpiece of the conversations.
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Out of courtesy and respect to other parents, please be on time and adhere to the schedule. These meetings are valuable, and it is important that all parents attend. You will be in a virtual Webex waiting room until your conference begins.
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Students are required to wear their Formal School Uniforms or other similar attire.
How do I sign up online?
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Registration will end today, Wednesday, September 23 at 14.00.
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Conference times can be scheduled from 08:00 to 16:00
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Select your child’s grade level below and then their teacher. Times available are a light blue rectangle. Select a time, fill in the required details, and submit. You will need to complete a separate booking for each child.
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Grade Two and Grade Three
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Grade Four and Grade Five
Learning Pathways
We acknowledge the challenges of Distance and Hybrid learning for all involved. The optimum learning environment for our students is learning experiences that are consistently face-to-face and on campus, especially for younger learners. Therefore, AAS strives to have all students back on campus as soon as it is safe to do so. While we are not in a position to have all AAS students on campus every day at this time, we will continue to look at research and recommendations as they continue to evolve while evaluating what is best for students based on the social, emotional and academic needs of students, balanced with high regard for safety. Until further communication, we will remain in our current Hybrid Learning Pathway.
We acknowledge the challenges of Distance and Hybrid learning for all involved. The optimum learning environment for our students is learning experiences that are consistently face-to-face and on campus, especially for younger learners. Therefore, AAS strives to have all students back on campus as soon as it is safe to do so. While we are not in a position to have all AAS students on campus every day at this time, we will continue to look at research and recommendations as they continue to evolve while evaluating what is best for students based on the social, emotional and academic needs of students, balanced with high regard for safety. Until further communication, we will remain in our current Hybrid Learning Pathway.
MAP Testing
Our classroom teachers have spent the last few weeks getting to know your child from many perspectives. The teachers have learned about your child’s likes, dislikes, learning styles, and academic strengths and areas for growth. In the coming weeks, our Grade 2-5 students will take the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment which will provide our teachers with another view into your child as a learner. The children will take the Math, Reading, and Language forms of the assessment. The MAP assessments provide us with external data that compares your child’s performance with a set of recognized norms. Because the assessment is adaptive, we are able to gather information about children outside of the constraints of grade-level bands. This is not an assessment that your child can study for. In order to help her or him do their very best, please ensure that your child gets plenty of rest and eats a healthy breakfast. You will receive information about your child’s performance on the MAP assessment after all students have completed the tests. For more about the MAP assessment, you can read the document at this link.
As a school, we look at the results of the MAP assessments to help us understand each learner as well as our programs. Our classroom teachers will spend time together looking at MAP results, as one piece of data, that is used in conjunction with other pieces of data about learning. We use multiple data points over time to help us understand student strengths and possible next steps.
Yearbook Photos begin next week. Click HERE to see the overall ES schedule in order to find when your child will have their picture taken. Students should wear their Formal School Uniforms or similar attire if they have not been able to purchase all of the components yet.
New Families
As new families continue to join us, here is an information page to support students in being ready to learn.
Reminder
As a reminder to parents/drivers/nannies involved in picking up students, please remain in your car and your child will be brought to you, remain 1.5 meters away from others, and wear your mask when on campus. All should be leaving the campus immediately after picking up their child.
World Language
Due to the nature of our current World Language content and instructional delivery environments, should a World Language teacher require a substitute teacher, learning will be completed through asynchronous activities. Teachers will be sure to communicate with students and/or parents when these instances occur with instructions on where to go in order to engage in the self directed learning opportunities.
We hope you have a great week,
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!
Parent Coffee - This afternoon we held our second MS Parent Coffee of the year. During this time we talked about navigating hybrid learning and supporting the well-being of students, teachers, and parents. During the coffee we also asked parents to fill out a feedback survey about Hybrid Learning. Please take time to share your thoughts. The recording for the coffee will be available Friday on the Communications page.
MS Activities and Athletics - Students are in their second week of participating in activities and athletics after school. It is a great way for students to meet new friends and learn about something new.
MS Photo Days - MS Students will have their annual school pictures taken September 28-October 5. Formal school uniform (white button-down shirt with AAS tie) must be worn for photos. You can see pictures of the formal school uniform on the MS Uniform page. Photos will be taken during Humanities class and you can find the schedule here: MS Photo Days. For those students who are not on campus yet, there will be picture retakes scheduled in January.
MS Counselor
James Villers| james.villers@aas.ru | Room 2075
Friendships matter immensely to middle and high school students, and for good reason: having friends helps them feel connected. But when friendship gets confused with “popularity,” that confusion can become a source of stress. And to make matters even more complicated, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how our children make and maintain friendships. How to Help Your Child Maintain Friendships in COVID-19 is an article that addresses some of the complexities of this issue, and offers some ways to support your child. As always, please get in touch with me, if you’d like to discuss how this issue, or any other, is affecting your child.
Next week, in this space, I will be asking for your feedback on topics for upcoming parent coffees. These coffees 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.
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
As we start to settle into the rhythm of hybrid learning and a new reality of schooling this year, it is important that students and families continue to practice appropriate social distancing practices during social engagements off-campus. Extending these behaviors and habits to all evening and weekend social events is a vital piece in our ability to continue to engage in hybrid learning without having to transition back to distance learning. These practices are also key in preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the broader AAS community. We thank you for your support and help in this partnership.
Virtual Parent Coffees
- Grade 11: October 1, at 14:00 Moscow time.
- The focus of the meeting will be on assessment, we will have a brief presentation followed by an open Q&A for parents.
- Grade 9 and 10: 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.
Photo Days
School photos for individual students are beginning September 24th and continuing through October 1st. Please see here for the schedule for grades 9-11. Grade 12 students should have received their time slot for cap and gown photos last Friday. If you did not receive this or have other questions about photo day please contact the HS Office.
We will have photo make up days this winter for students that are not yet in Moscow or are currently on self-isolation.
First Day Pack
For families whose child is coming to campus for hybrid learning, please make sure to sign and return the first day pack.
Hybrid Learning
In our Hybrid Learning pathway, students are expected to attend all of their classes daily. It is vital for students to be fully engaged even when they are not on campus. If you have questions about attendance or participation, please contact Mr. Groves or Mr. Wiese. If your child will not be able to attend their class from home because of illness, please contact the HS Office so we can make a note for teachers.
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. Most meetings will take place via Webex this year. Please discuss the results of your child’s meeting with Mr. Sonderman.
100% of Seniors Uploaded their Extended Essay First Drafts!
The first complete draft of the Grade 12 Extended Essays, the 4,000-word culmination of a major research topic of a student’s choosing, were due Monday night. Happily 100% of the students turned in the draft. This is a critical piece and marks an important turning point in the IB Diploma Program for the students. The Supervisors will return the drafts by October 6 so that students will have time to complete edits and formal presentation components of the papers by the November 4 Final EE deadline. Well done Grade 12s, especially given the context of COVID-19, DL, and hybrid learning. This is a testament to your hard work and perseverance.
Grade 11
Mr. Sonderman met with the Grade 11s in a series of three assemblies over the past few days. The first two assemblies focused on a welcome to the IB Diploma Program. The assemblies dealt with the nuts and bolts of the program as well as the overarching aims of the Learner Profile, Global-mindedness, and Approaches to Learning that anchor the International Baccalaureate. The third assembly addressed resilience and goal setting. Each student was asked to complete a Goal Setting Survey by last Wednesday. Mr. Sonderman will collect the results and sit down with each Grade 11 student individually to complete the process of forming realistic academic goals during September and October. Please discuss the process with your child.
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
We have set a date!!!
Our Annual University Fair will take place on December 11th. The fair will continue with the blind format this year and it will also be virtual. Please watch this video from last’s year blind fair to better understand the blind fair format and rationale. We have 40+ universities from 12 different countries signed up already. In addition, the fair will be attended by all students in grades 9 -11 so it will offer younger members of our HS the chance to start their university research and learn more about the amazing opportunities that exist around the world. Stay tuned for more information as the date gets closer.
In addition, we will be continuing to offer university visits in a virtual format. University visits will take place on Wednesdays during lunch and we will post the list of dates and the universities that are “visiting” on the university counseling page of our school website soon. Reminders and sign-ups for students are located in Maia Learning along with information about each university.
The landscape of university admissions is certainly changing with the advent of more virtual tours and visits, as well as a shift in how universities look at test scores (or don’t look at test scores!) There have been some insightful articles about what might be different this year and in years to come. Read this interesting take on what could change from Inside Higher Ed. In this article, the author references an Op Ed piece from the New York Times by Frank Bruni, as well as a new book coming out soon by Jeffrey Selingo that does a deep dive into the admissions process at three highly selective schools in the United States.
Library News
Librarians: kelsey.hedrick@aas.ru & kris.feller@aas.ru
Please visit Kris and K’s “digital libraries." Click around and enjoy!
We are encouraging all our patrons to put holds on books in order to have them delivered to class! See some tips here to find out more.
What does “curbside library” mean?
- Parents and High School Students can request books for pick up from the AAS library.
- These curbside days will replace our upcoming Saturday open days.
- The next curbside date is Saturday, October 3, 2020
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!
We look forward to helping you out!
Please email library@aas.ru if you have any questions.
Penguin Life
Email: plife@aas.ru
PL Fall Season continues and we welcome new participants to join if they were not able to do that earlier.
For students that are not yet in Moscow, Penguin Life offers opportunities to join the following Activities remotely:
HS Robotics, Huddle A and Huddle B
HS Speech & Debate, Huddle A and Huddle B
HS MUN, Huddle A and Huddle B
Please contact plife@aas.ru if you’d like to register your student for distant participation.
Health Office
Email: health.office@aas.ru
- Flu Vaccine
- Look out for the upcoming flu vaccine administration dates! Final numbers are gathered and we are in the process of ordering.
- Everyday Health
- A kind reminder to continue wth precautions (especially masks, handwashing, and distancing), considering it is becoming colder outside, more people are sick with cold/flu/covid? - higher chances of becoming sick.
- Immunization Records
- The AAS Health Office is still awaiting a number of student immunization records. Please submit these ASAP.
MAP Testing
MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) is a standardized test that the Anglo-American School of Moscow (AAS) uses as one point of learning data for students in Grades 2-10. MAP is an adaptive test, which creates a unique test for each student based on their responses. AAS usually administers the MAP test twice a year, in the Fall and Spring.
For Fall of 2020, MAP testing will be administered in person during the school day for Huddle A and B students attending AAS from September 28-October 16. For those students who are not in Moscow, in Moscow but not coming to campus, and those in quarantine, AAS will offer a Distance MAP test.
This Distance MAP test is offered to students in Grade 2-10. The Distance MAP test will be taken by the students in their home; however, the student will need a proctor, which can be a parent in this situation. Since we know that many students who are eligible for the Distance MAP are located in different parts of the world, we will be working with families to set up testing times that work for their time zone.
In order to express your interest in your child(ren) taking the Distance MAP test, please fill out this FORM. We will provide a few Distance MAP Information Sessions, and we will share a Distance MAP Proctor Guide. We will also provide live assistance during the Distance MAP testing times.
Kind regards,
Kirsten Welbes
AAS Cafeteria
AAS Cafeteria: mos.cafeteria@aas.ru
D&D Catering are proud to support Learning@AAS with healthy and tasty nutrition!
- Pre-Order ES student lunches for the week ahead using our handy ES Order form
- Online Prepayment for your student's badge activated cafeteria account Prepay Here
AAS Parent-Teacher Organization
email us at: pto@aas.ru
MESSAGE FROM THE PTO Shop Manager
Pauline van der Sman-Archer | PTO.shop@aas.ru
After these first several weeks of school, we hope students and their families have settled into a good routine and you have (re)gained the sense of community that we love about AAS. Wearing the school uniform as well as the popular Penguin Spirit Wear add to the sense of school community for our children and our PTO Shop volunteers. They have worked hard to provide you with all items by doing business as usual, just in an unusual way! You have adapted very fast and graciously to sending your orders via email or text, and then meeting our volunteers to get your orders. Thank you for making this a great start of the year!
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We will launch the sales of our Pinktober Shirts again this year in support of HS's Awareness and Charity initiatives.
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All profit will go to a Breast Cancer Charity selected by HS.
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Come and see/order Pinktober shirts at the PTO Coffee Connect Event next Tuesday, 29 September and Wednesday, 30 September at the South Field Parking. Please join us there and support this great HS initiative!
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Please look for more information from the school about purchase opportunities and Spirit Days in October when all students are invited to wear their Pinktober wear in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
Yours Sincerely,
Pauline van der Sman-Archer
PTO Shop Manager
WE NEED YOU!
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Calling YOU for becoming an ES Class Parent!
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For more information & to sign up, go to Sign Up Genius link
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Please email Ines Cremers at pto.es@aas.ru with any questions.
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Thank you for volunteering!
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
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We need your support
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Be a part of your child’s MS or HS experience by volunteering as a grade representative
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We are looking for few volunteers for each grade
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If interested to be grade representative for grade 6 - 8 please contact Antonella at pto.ms@aas.ru
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If interested to be grade representative for grade 9 -12 please contact Linda at pto.hs@aas.ru
ON THE GO WITH PTO
PTO CONNECT - South Field Parking, September 29/30, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
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Join us for a casual get together and wear something PINK
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Enjoy our PINK lemonade
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Get your PINKtober wear
Sign up at pto@aas.ru , and we will have a small PINK surprise for you!
CULTURAL TRIP - Zamoskvorechye walk, October 5, at 10am
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What was it like to be a tourist in Moscow in the 17th century? Can you imagine gardens with pineapples in Moscow? Or people boating along the flooded streets?
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The tiny streets of Zamoskvorechye, which can be translated as the area beyond the Moskva river, hide lots of historical secrets and architectural masterpieces. The streets hide chambers and churches of the 17th century, mansions of rich merchants and industry owners of the 19th century, the famous Tretiakov gallery, and footprints of the early Soviet period.
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During our tour, we will read the memoirs of the medieval tourists, learn how the first Russian businessmen built their wealth, and even see the church, which was saved from a fire by Napoleon.
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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: 2nd of October at pto@aas.ru
AAS MUG COMPETITION
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Are you participating in our AAS Mug Competition?
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It is fun, easy, and rewarding
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Submit your design to: pto@aas.ru
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Deadline: 10th of October
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Reward: Set of mugs with your design
See some of our newly-submitted designs below.
PTO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2020/21 CANDIDATES for vacant positions
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We have one candidate per each position (Secretary and VP Internal affairs), and per our by-laws we need to hold an election to ratify the 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 statements of interest
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The PTO Executive Committee will present the candidates at the next monthly PTO Community coffee. Positions with only one candidate are approved at the meeting.
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If you have any queries about the process, please send an email to pto@aas.ru