PTO News and Calendar

Dear AAS Community,

My name is Leyla Beck and I am on the PTO Executive Committee in the role of Secretary.

We arrived in Moscow in the summer of 2019. We have one daughter, Sophia, who is in 2nd grade. I am from Istanbul, Turkey and my husband is from Berlin, Germany with Polish background. 

As the secretary, I am in charge of producing and distributing the agendas and minutes for the PTO Executive Committee. I also support the PTO President with ad hoc administrative duties and I help to monitor and reply to the PTO volunteer email account. So, if you ever plan to volunteer and write to our email, pto.volunteers@aas.ru, I will be the one to immediately get you on the PTO team.

With “MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK” in mind, we would like to thank each and every one of our VOLUNTEERS, who are willing to spend time to enrich our kids’ school experience. 

Moscow was very generous with its sunshine for the long weekend and I am hoping that you all had the chance to enjoy it. Winter is on its way but let’s not get scared; the PTO has many points of interaction planned in the coming weeks to help us forget about the coming cold days.

Many thanks and cheers to all our students, staff and parents!

Warmly,
Leyla Beck 
AAS PTO ’21-’22 
pto.secretary@aas.ru

☕️  PTO Community Coffee

 October 19, 8:45 

Gerdi (PTO MS VP) will be welcoming you at the front gate of Pokrovsky Hills. Once everyone arrives, we will go on a walk and talk through the forest.

• What
  PTO Community Walk and Talk
   
• Where
  Meet at the Pokrovsky Hills Main Entrance
   
• When
  Tuesday, October 19, 8:45 (we begin our walk at 9:00)

Please let us know if you are joining us by signing up below.

Sign up Here
 

📚  Online Autumn Break New Book Fair

 October 13 - 22 

The Autumn Break is coming, and you might like to cozy up to a good book over the break!

1. We have prepared a stock list with 1250 books exclusively available for the AAS community with a 30% discount on the market price in Russia!

Check out the BOOK LIST

The Book List spreadsheet is easy to navigate – it includes: ISBN code, Age, Book title, Author, Publisher, Price, and hyperlink containing more details about the book.

2. Start browsing and note your favorite books on the ORDER FORM below:

Book Order Form

Your ORDER FORM needs to be submitted by October 22

3. Your book order will be completed on October 25 - 28.

Doorstep delivery: 500 RUB; FREE for orders above 2500 RUB

Pick-up: FREE; the pick-up point is the English Book company office:

Leningradskoe Shosse 57k1
(‘Rechnoy vokzal’ Metro) 
Hours: 9am - 8pm
Phone: +7 (495) 128-21-04

4. Payment upon the delivery or pickup. For delivery orders, please prepare the exact amount of money and place it in the envelope or similar.
 

If you have any question, please contact Gerdi van Twillert at pto.ms@aas.ru

HAPPY AUTUMN BREAK READING! 
 

Hello parents!

My name is Julie Michaels and I am serving in the position of PTO VP-Internal this year. VP-Internal is in charge of all social activities for the community, such as new and used book fairs, craft fair and parent social events. I am also responsible for the PTO popcorn machine which student clubs use for events and fundraising.

I am a relatively new parent to AAS; my children joined at the start of last school year. However, I am not a newcomer to Moscow - I have lived here off and on since 1993! I am originally from California and I met my Australian husband in Moscow. We have three children - Abby in 8th grade, Clayton in 11th and another son in his second year of university in the U.S. 

I am committed to making the most of my position despite ongoing Covid mitigations that prevent us from hosting large scale events on campus. Although we don’t know yet what many of our events will look like this year, I am working with the entirety of the PTO Executive Committee and AAS leadership to help organize as many events as possible. I am always eager to hear new ideas so if you have any suggestions as to what we can safely do please send me a message. Also, we are always looking for parents to lead these events; if you are interested in getting more involved please let me know.

Please don’t forget that we have several social clubs for you to join! For instance, the newly-formed AAS Dads’ club met for drinks and a movie last week and has plans to meet in the coming weeks for sporting events and whiskey tasting. And we also have a newly formed Russian films & conversation group. Check out all the PTO Social Clubs, and if we don’t yet have an activity that you are interested in, please let me know and we can start a new club!

And finally, our friends at local tour company, Bridge to Moscow, have offered AAS parents a free walking tour on Friday, October 15 of many of Moscow’s prominent and exciting sights. Send an email to pto.secretary@aas.ru to RSVP for this tour.  

Looking forward to an active social year for our AAS community!

Julie
PTO VP Internal
pto.internal@aas.ru

🍨  PTO Treats for MS

Thank you PTO for providing MS students with a sweet treat today!

 Events for Parents 
 

🌉  Bridge to Moscow Walking Tour

 Friday, October 15, 11:00 

Our partners at local tour company, Bridge to Moscow, are offering a FREE, guided walking tour of some of the most iconic Moscow sights!

Walking Tour of Moscow Center

Date & time:
  Friday, 15 October at 11:00

Place:
  in front of the Bolshoi Theatre at the fountain

Tour duration:
  approximately 2 hours

RSVP:
  pto.secretary@aas.ru by Wednesday, October 13

Tour description:
We invite you to explore central Moscow, learn the story of the most iconic sights of the city and get some tips where else to go, what else to see, where to dine, etc.

Over the course of this tour you will discover: What is the secret of the remarkable acoustics of the Bolshoi Theatre Where is the hotel Moskva and why is its facade asymmetrical?  Was it possible in 1930s to move a house with people inside? What is the age of Red Square and why was it called Red? Who was Saint Basil and why was the church named after him?  Join our tour and learn the most intriguing stories behind many major Moscow attractions.

We will finish the tour in one of the cafes of GUM, where you can have a coffee and ask some more questions.
 

Dear Parents,

My name is Lena Feygin, I moved to Moscow almost 8 years ago from New York. I have two children; Joye is in Kindergarten at AAS and Abe is 14 months old.

This year I have joined the PTO Executive Committee as the VP-External, which means that I am responsible for all external connections that the school needs for the organization of events and activities. Historically, most of the juices and sodas, tables, decorations, and other in-kind donations are provided by corporate partners or parents working at organizations who are friendly to the school.

This year I will also be reaching out to parents, not only for your support of in-kind donations, but also to build strong relationships with the companies in Moscow. We’d like to explore internships for High School students, scholarships for students who excel academically, and other initiatives with corporate partners that will help us build an exceptional environment for our children.

Some parents have reached out already with invitations to movie screenings and museum tours for groups of our students and their parents; thank you! We will explore these offers, while keeping in mind the current COVID risks.

And while I am getting acquainted with everyone if you would like to be proactive please feel free to reach out to me at pto.external@aas.ru. I’d be more than happy to meet and discuss our next steps to a stronger community here at AAS.

I am looking forward to yet another fantastic year at AAS with our students, staff, and the community of amazing parents!

Warm wishes,
Lena Feygin
PTO VP External

 Events for Parents 

Dads Social Club Meeting

 Friday, October 1 

The newly formed Dads Social Club is meeting the evening of Friday, October 1 for drinks and to see the movie Dune at Pioneer Hall 1 (Kutuzovsky Prospect, 21).

Contact the club leader, Fred Ledbetter at fledbetter@goldenreach.com for full details.
 

Bridge to Moscow Walking Tour

 Friday, October 15, 11:00 

Our partners at local tour company, Bridge to Moscow, are offering a FREE, guided walking tour of some of the most iconic Moscow sights!

Walking Tour of Moscow Center

Date & time:
  Friday, 15 October at 11:00

Place:
  in front of the Bolshoi Theatre at the fountain

Tour duration:
  approximately 2 hours

RSVP:
  pto.secretary@aas.ru by Wednesday, October 13

Tour description:
  We invite you to explore central Moscow, learn the story of the most iconic sights of the city and get some tips where else to go, what else to see, where to dine, etc.
  Over the course of this tour you will discover: What is the secret of the remarkable acoustics of the Bolshoi Theatre?  Where is the hotel Moskva and why is its facade asymmetrical?  Was it possible in 1930s to move a house with people inside? What is the age of Red Square and why was it called Red? Who was Saint Basil and why was the church named after him?  Join our tour and learn the most intriguing stories behind many major Moscow attractions.
  We will finish the tour in one of the cafes of GUM, where you can have a coffee and ask some more questions.