HS Flash
June 16, 2021
HS Flash
From: Matthew Groves, Senior Associate HS Principal
On behalf of the High School faculty, we would like to wish everyone a wonderful summer.
We are looking forward to coming back together as a community on August 23 feeling rejuvenated and ready to inspire students in another wonderful year of learning.
If this is your last year at AAS, we wish you well and all the best as you move on to your next school. And remember, once a Penguin, always a Penguin!
🍎 Learning This Week
Last Friday we were fortunate to host our first live music performance for the High School Concert Band. They have worked diligently this year, rehearsing both in-person and over Webex in order to be able to put on a concert for both students and faculty in the Bolshoi Theatre as well as a wider audience who joined us over livestream.
Additionally, a big thank you to Ms. Zimmerman, who interviewed students and faculty in order to put together this wonderful reflection on the year, discussing a variety of different highlights that made this year unique.
🧑🏼🏫 Update on Recruitment for new HS Faculty for the 21-22 School Year
For several years the HS has been extremely fortunate to have had low faculty turnover.
This year, the HS has a slightly higher number of HS faculty departing. One significant benefit that students will experience as part of the transition to the NKO is that we are now able to recruit teachers who hold a passport from any nation. In the long run, this possibility will increase the diversity of our faculty, bringing a broader range of perspectives to the classroom, and ensure opportunities to recruit the best possible candidates. For students in the IBDP program transitioning from grade 11 to grade 12, AAS has already reallocated staff to ensure consistency and experienced educators within this program.
We wish everyone well this summer and look forward to seeing you all again in August.
Counselors
We move into summer with a need for some rest and renewal more than ever this year.
With that in mind we would like to offer you some thoughts on how to capture some of the growth that has occurred as a result of the challenges we have all had to face. For example, this year instead of a trip outside of Moscow, several grade 9 students embarked on learning more about wellness during Discovery Days. The HS Counselors had the pleasure of meeting with some of these student groups, learning more about how this year impacted them and their peers. While challenges were noted, it was remarkable to also bear witness to student growth. Many students reported realizing that they found out that they were strong, independent learners who found ways to engage socially online, learn new skills during lockdowns, and strengthen their wellness by embarking on personal growth and development plans. These are all examples of post-traumatic growth – when we not only survive but we grow and thrive from our most difficult experiences. Feel free to read more about that here.
🏫 University Planning for all grades
Once you rejuvenate, summer can be a great time to think towards the future as a family through personal reading, following passions, learning more about universities and more.
Go to our university counseling page to learn more about what you and your child can do over summer to keep on track with university planning (on the right under resources click on “year-by-year university timelines”).
For those of you with children interested in studying in the UK for university, UCAS is having a week full of events from June 22 - 26 with workshops for students and parents. The workshops include sessions on applications, personal statements, finances, and so much more. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how to study in the UK and what the process of applying entails.
Have a fantastic summer and see you in August!
IB Office
Sean Sonderman | sean.sonderman@aas.ru
🏫 Grade 12 Results to Universities
The IB Coordinator’s Office sent out a Google Form for grade 12s to enter the university(ies) where they want their IB Results automatically sent in July.
Students can select up to 6 universities, but only 3 in Canada and the US (only 1 US school can be selected). Please make certain that the full, correct university/college name is supplied. Otherwise, your results may go to the wrong university.
If students do not request a results transcript by this date, they will have to use this link after July 6:
Request Results Transcript from IBO
AAS cannot request IB Results after June 1 for AAS students.
☀️ Grade 11 Summer Work
The Grade 11 students should be finishing up their Extended Essays this summer.
The vast majority have a great head start with 3000+ words completed. For most, an extra study, some more analysis and a conclusion and the first draft is over! Students will upload the draft, for full teacher comments, on September 12.
In addition to this major piece, some teacher will assign some Internal Assessment work for the summer. This work is meant to be independent, so the summer is a good time to knock out a few pieces of the IB pie in preparation for a first semester of grade 12 that will include university applications.
June 9, 2021
HS Flash
From: Matthew Groves, Senior Associate HS Principal
🍎 Learning This Week
This past Monday students in grade 9 - 11 shared their learning experiences and takeaways from Discovery Days with their peers and HS faculty.
We had thirty different groups presenting a wide variety of ideas on how we could make positive changes in the HS, from healthier eating habits to students can support one another’s wellness.
Next week we will convene a representative panel of students, faculty and leadership to learn more about the variety of proposals and how we can bring some of them from the page to reality.
📑 Grade 11 End-of-Year Exams
June 9 - 14
End of year exams began today for grade 11 and continue through Monday, June 14.
Grade 11 exams are an essential part of year 1 IBDP classes for multiple reasons. Most importantly, end of year exams give students an opportunity to review a year's worth of material to better understand major concepts and commit them into long-term memory. Since IB courses are two years in length, this will be the last chance in many courses to revisit concepts until the spring 2022. As with any assessment, a major benefit is that students receive feedback from their teachers on strengths and growth areas.
During this time they only have to be on campus if they have an exam and once their exams are done for the day they may leave campus.
🤪 HS Fun Day
June 15
Next Tuesday, June 15, the HS will have an alternative schedule in the morning, combining various team building activities within each grade level and our end of year academic awards for grades 9 - 11. After lunch we will have a schedule that includes all of our regular day 2 classes.
🕑 Last Day of School
June 16
Wednesday, June 16 will be our last day with students this year.
Please note that we will not have a late start on Wednesday, classes will start at 8:30. Students will see all of their Day 1 teachers and then will be dismissed at 12 on that day.
Counselors
This week, HS Counselors virtually attended the UCAS International Teachers’ and Advisers’ Conference. Interesting trends to note from the conference — there was an 8.5% increase in applications to the UK from 2020 to 2021, including a 12.6% increase from non-EU international students. However, there were 40% fewer applications from EU students themselves in 2021 compared to 2020! So Brexit is definitely having an impact on the situation in UK even though the UK continues to be a top destination for international students in general. It is also interesting to note that one of the biggest increases in international applications came from the United States, perhaps a commentary on the unpredictable nature of university admissions as well as high cost of higher education in the US.
As the end of the school year approaches, another thing to think about, whether your family is transitioning or not, is saying goodbye and doing it well. For those who are leaving, remember the acronym RAFT and for those who are staying, remember to RAKE.
RAFT stands for Reconciling, Affirming relationships, Farewells, and Think Destination.
RAKE stands for Reconciling, Affirming relationships, Keeping in touch, and Exploring new friendships.
Check out the links above for more descriptions of each transition tool.
IB Office
Sean Sonderman | sean.sonderman@aas.ru
🏫 Grade 12 Results to Universities
The IB Coordinator’s Office sent out a Google Form for grade 12s to enter the university(ies) where they want their IB Results automatically sent in July.
Students can select up to 6 universities, but only 3 in Canada and the US (only 1 US school can be selected). Please make certain that the full, correct university/college name is supplied. Otherwise, your results may go to the wrong university. Ms. Natasha needs the students’ university choices by June 1, excluding Canada and the USA, which are due June 15.
If students do not request a results transcript by this date, they will have to use this link after July 6:
Request Results Transcript from IBO
AAS cannot request IB Results after June 1 for AAS students.
🐧 Grade 11
June 9, 10, 11, 14
Grade 11 exams are beginning tomorrow!
Grade 11s will run through end-of-year exams June 9 - 11, 14. These exams are compulsory. Exams will be set in 2 hour blocks. Students should not be on campus if they do not have exam. In other words, a student can arrive late if they do not have a first block exam or they can leave early if they do not have a second block exam.
June 2, 2021
HS Flash
From: Matthew Groves, Senior Associate HS Principal
📚 Learning This Week
Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was our first experience with developing and implementing several days of on-campus learning for students that took place outside of class.
Students and faculty feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, it brought new perspectives and approaches to learning. Next week we will have reflection and share-out sessions for students to discuss what they learned and next steps they would like to see happen. As a HS, we look forward to hearing a variety of student proposals and reviewing them with a joint panel of faculty and students.
💻 Distance Learning for Grades 9 and 10
June 2
June 3
As shared yesterday afternoon, students in grades 9 and 10 will access learning via our Distance Learning pathway on June 2 and 3.
Please review our DL plan on the AAS website for reminders on the best way to set your child up for success in this learning model. Some students in grade 9 and 10 will start to return to campus on Friday, June 4; students who are still in quarantine will be able to access classes through their teacher’s Webex until they can return to campus.
If you have not yet done so, please remember to share your child’s PCR results with the Health Office before they return to campus.
It is our sincere hope that we can finish this school year in the Modified Full On-Campus learning pathway in grades 9-11.While engaging in social activities off-campus, please make decisions that limit your child’s risk of exposure to Covid.
📊 MAP Parent Session and Reports
Wednesday, June 9, 11:00 & 18:00
Next Wednesday there will be two MAP Parent Sessions offered - 11:00-12:00 and 18:00-19:00 at Kirsten Welbes' webex.
At this session, Kirsten will review how parents, teachers and the school use MAP data.
MAP reports will be sent out to parents by end of the day on Friday, June 11.
If you would like a more in-depth report for your child, please email Kirsten at kirsten.welbes@aas.ru and share your child's name, their grade and their homeroom/advisory teacher.
🗓 Last day of school
June 16
June 16 will be our last day with students this year.
Please note that we will not have a late start on Wednesday, classes will start at 8:30. Students will be dismissed at 12:00 on that day.
📝 Summative Assessments
Students in grade 9 and 10 should anticipate summative AoLs in many of their classes over the next several weeks.
These AoLs may be cumulative, though if your child joined AAS part-way through the year they will reflect the learning that your child partook in. The departments have coordinated to ensure students do not have more than two AoLs on a single day.
We recognize that there are many students in grades 9 and 10 who are accessing classes remotely for the next 10 days. Your child’s teachers are working to ensure all students have the same ability to demonstrate their learning on the upcoming assessments.
Students in grade 11 will have end-of-year summative exams from June 9 - 14.
During this time they only have to be on campus if they have an exam and once their exams are done for the day they may leave campus.
Counselors
This past week, the counselors enjoyed working with some of the 9th grade service learning groups during Discovery Days on topics such as wellness during COVID, welcoming new students, and building healthy relationships at school.
This week we are wrapping up final meetings with Grade 11 students around university planning, and making sure that everyone has a plan for completing essays and applications over the summer in preparation for a busy fall.
On Monday and Tuesday, the counselors will virtually attend the UCAS International Teachers’ and Advisers’ Conference as a way to stay current on issues that impact our students. Topics include things like Brexit, visas for international students, application preparation, and general trends in admissions. The conference also provides valuable opportunities to network with university representatives to promote our school and students.
📰 Article(s) of the week
Take advantage of this beautiful weather to get outside, take off your shoes and socks, and get a dose of “Vitamin G” (for Ground).
The positive effects of walking barefoot are numerous, according to the Washington Post article below.
If you need something with a little more science behind it to convince you to dig your toes into some dirt, you can check out the post below by cardiologist, Dr. Stephen Sinatra.
IB Office
Sean Sonderman | sean.sonderman@aas.ru
🏫 Grade 12 Results to Universities
The IB Coordinator’s Office sent out a Google Form for grade 12s to enter the university(ies) where they want their IB Results automatically sent in July.
Students can select up to 6 universities, but only 3 in Canada and the US (only 1 US school can be selected). Please make certain that the full, correct university/college name is supplied. Otherwise, your results may go to the wrong university. Ms. Natasha needs the students’ university choices by June 1, excluding Canada and the USA, which are due June 15.
If students do not request a results transcript by this date, they will have to use this link after July 6:
Request Results Transcript from IBO
AAS cannot request IB Results after June 1 for AAS students.
🐧 Grade 11
Grade 11 exams are beginning next week!
May 26, 2021
HS Flash
From: Matthew Groves, Senior Associate HS Principal
Learning This Week
⚛️ Grade 11 TOK Exhibition
The TOK exhibition for grade 11 took on a new form this year, with students presenting to one another artifacts related to a question from their course.
Students linked three artifacts of personal significance, e.g. a song, a parent’s golf trophy or a digital camera to a knowledge question, for example: ‘Is there some knowledge that we should not seek to find?’ or ‘Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?’
The variety of artifacts students shared and the stories and knowledge questions which linked them demonstrated a high degree of self-awareness, introspection and connection as students sought to examine and question the world around them. Both their peers and the faculty who spoke with them were impressed by the poise and intellectual curiosity shown by the grade 11 cohort.
🎒 Discovery Days
May 26 - 28
Grades 9 - 11 will be engaging in learning experiences outside of the classroom.
Each grade level has developed its own events and program for the three days. Some time ago we held a parent coffee to discuss the purpose, goals and activities of Discovery Days. If you weren’t able to make it, please review the video below.
📊 Summative Assessments
Students in grade 9 and 10 should anticipate summative AoLs in many of their classes over the next several weeks.
These AoLs may be cumulative, though if your child joined AAS part-way through the year they will reflect the learning that your child partook in. The departments have coordinated to ensure students do not have more than two AoLs on a single day.
We recognize that there are many students in grades 9 and 10 who are accessing classes remotely for the next 10 days. Your child’s teachers are working to ensure all students have the same ability to demonstrate their learning on the upcoming assessments.
Students in grade 11 will have end-of-year summative exams from June 9 - 14.
During this time they only have to be on campus if they have an exam and once their exams are done for the day they may leave campus.
Counselors
🍏 Wellness Week
Wellness Week from May 17-21 was a chance for everyone to think about the ways in which we “feed” all aspects of ourselves and our bodies from expressions of gratitude, to laughter, to yoga.
This is an event that we hope to expand upon in the future and hold on an annual basis as it reminds us of the importance of Wellness and it is a wonderful way to celebrate as a whole school.
With the recent lovely weather and the final weeks of school, students can become less focused and attentive to their studies. As such, this is a great time to exercise as a family (mood enhancing), make time for family dinners (connecting/support) and find things to celebrate (positive mindset/savoring). In all these ways, you are encouraging a positive healthy attitude towards completing the year strong, connecting as a family and modeling wellness.
📰 Article(s) of the week
For all of the messages that we get about the downsides of technology, have you ever heard of “digital flourishing?
This article has some interesting insights into how to find balance with technology use, promote personal wellness and help people find a happy life.
Please feel free to share your thoughts.
IB Office
Sean Sonderman | sean.sonderman@aas.ru
🏫 Grade 12 Results to Universities
The IB Coordinator’s Office sent out a Google Form for grade 12s to enter the university(ies) where they want their IB Results automatically sent in July.
Students can select up to 6 universities, but only 3 in Canada and the US (only 1 US school can be selected). Please make certain that the full, correct university/college name is supplied. Otherwise, your results may go to the wrong university. Ms. Natasha needed your students’ university choices by May 1, excluding Canada and the USA, which are due May 26.
🍎 Grade 11 Theory of Knowledge Exhibition Completed!
The Grade 11 Theory of Knowledge Exhibition was held earlier this week.
On Monday and Tuesday all Grade 11 TOK students presented their Exhibitions in the Malyy Theater to an audience of their peers, teachers, and administrators. The Exhibition is the culminating effort of the semester long IB class dedicated to applying real world experiences to how we acquire and produce knowledge. Each student is tasked with choosing one IB-produced knowledge question prompt, along with three artifacts that they use to answer the question. They also produced a 950-word Exhibition commentary that accompanies the Exhibition.
Please ask your TOK student about their TOK Exhibition work. There are some outstanding entries and the exhibition presentations were fantastic.