Archive - MS News
- June 15, 2022
- June 8, 2022
- June 1, 2022
- May 25, 2022
- May 18, 2022
- May 12, 2022
- April 27, 2022
- April 20, 2022
- April 6, 2022
June 15, 2022
What's Up
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!
☀️ Have a Great Summer!
From the MS Faculty we would like to extend a hearty thank you to all of our MS families for a great year.
Although it has been challenging, our community has worked together to find success. To those of you who are returning, have a safe, relaxing and wonderful holiday. To those of you who are moving on, farewell, but remember you will always be a part of the AAS family! Once a Penguin, always a Penguin!
🗓 Last Day Schedule
Friday, June 17
On Friday, 17 June we will be closing the 2021-22 school year.
Below you can see the schedule for MS students.
🐧 Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony
This Friday we will be celebrating our Grade 8 students who will be “moving up” to high school.
The ceremony will be held online and begin at 10:00 am. Grade 8 families may join using the link below.
If you have not already RSVP’d for the ceremony, please do so here: Grade 8 Ceremony RSVP.
For those Grade 8 students and families who are in Moscow, we invite you to join us in the Maly to watch the ceremony on screen. Following the ceremony, there will be a small reception in the Hall of Flags for the Grade 8 students on campus.
📖 Yearbooks
The 2021 - 2022 yearbook is now available online, the password is Learning@AAS.
It is a fantastic celebration of our community and all the wonderful individuals within it.
Grade 8 students in Moscow will receive a printed yearbook at the Moving-Up Ceremony. Other MS students who are in Moscow may pick up a printed yearbook from one of the security booths starting Friday, 17 June.
🗂 End-of-Year Records
At the end of the day on June 17 you will be able to access end-of-year report cards in PowerSchool.
Official leaving packs will be available beginning the following week. To request official records and leaving packs, please complete this form.
💙 A Final Thank-You
Because I will be moving on from AAS at the end of this school year, I do want to express my gratitude to the students, faculty and family of the Middle School.
It has been a real pleasure serving the AAS community as both MS Associate Principal and Principal over the last six years and the MS students and families will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope you all have a fantastic summer and take this time to read, relax, and rejuvenate!
Ms. Cormier
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Thank you to all MS families.
We are grateful to have been part of such a fantastic community, and we hope next year’s transition goes well for all of you.
June 8, 2022
What's Up
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!
⭐️ Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony
This Friday we will be sending out more details for the Moving-Up Ceremony that will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10:00 am online.
We will be inviting Grade 8 families in Moscow to view the ceremony on campus.
📖 Yearbooks
The 2021 - 2022 yearbook is now available online, the password is Learning@AAS.
It is a fantastic celebration of our community and all the wonderful individuals within it.
Grade 8 students in Moscow will receive a printed yearbook at the Moving-Up Ceremony. Other MS students who are in Moscow may pick up a printed yearbook from one of the security booths starting Friday, 17 June.
📚 Library Materials
If you are in a position to do so, please consider how you might return library, or any other school materials to AAS.
There may be items that can be dropped off at school before the academic year is complete. If you have any questions about materials that are checked out on your account or that of your child, please contact the library.
🗂 End-of-Year Records
At the end of the day on June 17 you will be able to access end-of-year report cards in PowerSchool.
Official leaving packs will be available beginning the following week. To request official records and leaving packs, please complete this form.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
During these last few days of a very challenging school year, we encourage you to take some time to check-in with your child(ren) about the transitions they are experiencing.
It’s a time of significant change, and whether your family is moving on or staying in Moscow, times like this can leave us all feeling unsettled. Taking a few minutes in the car or at the dinner table to acknowledge this fact can go a long way towards opening a conversation with your child. It can help you understand your child's feelings at this point in their transition, and give you a chance to remind them how important it is to reflect on and appreciate all of their good memories of friends, of AAS, and of Moscow.
For additional ideas on supporting your family during this time of change, we invite you to watch the recording of the AAS counseling team's recent PK–12 Parent Transition Session below. If you prefer, you can look over the presentation's slideshow.
Please get in touch with us directly, if you would like to speak about your child.
June 1, 2022
What's Up
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!
🍿 MS Movie Night
Thursday, June 16
Mark your calendar because on Thursday, 16 June, AAS will host a movie night for MS students.
We will share more details in next week’s newsletter.
📸 MS Photo Contest
Last week we shared the first group of student photo winners. Students earned points for their house for both entries and winners.
Best Landmark Photo
Arkesh (grade 7) - Chinstraps
Best Being Active Photo
Yumiko (grade 8) - Galapagos
Best Sunrise/Sunset Photo
Aahan (grade 8) - Macaronis
Best Place to Read Photo
Lucie (grade 6) - Macaronis
🏫 Connecting with MS Leadership
Tuesdays, 14:00 MSK
MS Leadership is hosting drop-in office hours for parents each week.
This will provide a chance to ask questions or share feedback in an informal setting. We aren’t sharing any new information or presentations at that time. These meetings are every Tuesday from 14:00 - 14:30 MSK in Ms. Cormier’s Google Meet.
🐧 Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony
June 17
This week a letter went out to all Grade 8 families with details regarding the Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony.
This ceremony will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10:00 MSK online. We will be inviting Grade 8 families in Moscow to view the ceremony on campus.
📚 Library Materials
If you are in a position to do so, please consider how you might return library, or any other school materials to AAS.
There may be items that can be dropped off at school before the academic year is complete. If you have any questions about materials that are checked out on your account or that of your child, please contact the library.
🗂 End-of-Year Records
At the end of the day on June 17 you will be able to access end-of-year report cards in PowerSchool.
Official leaving packs will be available beginning the following week. To request official records and leaving packs, please complete this form.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Thank you to the parents that were able to attend the PK-12 Parent Transition Session last week.
It was wonderful to have you join us and engage in this conversation. If you were unable to attend, you are welcome to watch the recording or review the presentation.
We hope that you are able to use this information to support a smooth transition for you and your child(ren) as you move on from AAS.
Please get in touch with us directly, if you would like to speak about your child.
May 25, 2022
What's Up
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!
⭐️ MS Spirit Week
May 23–27
This week the MS has two more Spirit Week dress up days.
Students who participate in these days will earn points for their House.
Thursday
National Colors Day
wear your national dress or colors
Friday
House Colors Day
📷 MS Photo Contest
In today’s MS Assembly, the winners of the MS Photo contest were announced.
Students earned points for their house for both entries and winners. Here are the first few winners. We will share the others in the newsletter next week.
Best Pet/Animal
Aahan (G7 - Macaronis)
Best Food/Meal Photo
Ansiia (G7 - Chinstraps)
Best Nature/Landscape
Leo (G6 - Chinstraps)
📝 Grade 5-6 Transition - Parent Meeting
June 1, 2022
Next week, the MS Leadership team will be meeting with Grade 5 students to talk about the transition to Middle School.
We will also be hosting a Grade 5-6 Transition meeting online for parents on Wednesday, June 1st at 10:30 MSK. More details, including a link to the meeting, will be sent directly to Grade 5 parents next Monday. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Cormier, MS Principal.
🏫 Connecting with MS Leadership
Tuesdays, 14:00 MSK
MS Leadership is hosting drop-in office hours for parents each week.
This will provide a chance to ask questions or share feedback in an informal setting. We aren’t sharing any new information or presentations at that time. These meetings are every Tuesday from 14:00 - 14:30 MSK in Ms. Cormier’s Google Meet.
🐧 Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony
June 17
This week a letter went out to all Grade 8 families with details regarding the Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony.
This ceremony will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10:00 MSK online. We will be inviting Grade 8 families in Moscow to view the ceremony on campus.
🗂 End-of-Year Records
At the end of the day on June 17 you will be able to access end-of-year report cards in PowerSchool.
Official leaving packs will be available beginning the following week. To request official records and leaving packs, please complete this form.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
The AAS counselors would like to invite all parents to a short presentation and discussion about Transitions. We will speak about some of the ups and downs of the transitions process, and share some resources that might be of interest to you.
The meeting will take place this Thursday, 26 May, at 13:00 MSK. You can attend the meeting by using the link below at that time
We will record and share out the session for those parents who are unable to attend.
If you would like to speak with one of us about how your child is doing, please email us, and we can set up a time to meet.
May 18, 2022
What's Up
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!
✏️ NCTE Promising Young Writers
Congratulations to two Grade 8 students - Nour-Rita B. and Vihaan G. who were identified as NCTE Promising Young Writers with Certificates of Recognition.
This is based on submitting writing from students around the world.
⭐️ MS Spirit Week
May 23–27
Next week the MS will be having Spirit Week dress up days.
Students who participate in these days will earn points for their House.
Monday
Pajama Day
school appropriate
Tuesday
Crazy Hat
or
Crazy Hair Day
Wednesday
Sports Jersey Day
Thursday
National Colors Day
wear your national dress or colors
Friday
House Colors Day
🏫 Connecting with MS Leadership
Tuesdays, 14:00 MSK
MS Leadership is hosting drop-in office hours for parents each week.
This will provide a chance to ask questions or share feedback in an informal setting. We aren’t sharing any new information or presentations at that time. These meetings are every Tuesday from 14:00 - 14:30 MSK in Ms. Cormier’s Google Meet.
🐧 Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony
June 17
This week a letter will be going out to all Grade 8 families with details regarding the Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony.
This ceremony will be held on Friday, June 17.
🗂 End-of-Year Records
At the end of the day on June 17 you will be able to access end-of-year report cards in PowerSchool.
Official leaving packs will be available beginning the following week. To request official records and leaving packs, please complete this form.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
As we enter these last weeks before the end of the school year, we would like to share some reminders to help ensure a smooth transition for you and your child(ren).
If you need supporting documents to apply to new schools for your child, please use the form below to do so. Once received, we will be sure to prepare the documents requested and send them to the appropriate schools.
AAS Counselors from all divisions recognize that, this year, students are transitioning under a variety of circumstances, in many cases leaving no time for the usual routines or traditions normally put in place to support these moves. The counselors, therefore, are offering a transition session for parents to provide information, resources, and strategies as you support your child and family through this next move. More information will be coming next week.
We all know how different we feel when we get a good night's sleep. Please enjoy this podcast on The Science of a Good Night's Sleep to learn more.
Please reach out to us directly, if you would like to discuss your child’s well-being.
May 12, 2022
What's Up
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!
We hope that everyone had a restful and relaxing break during the May holidays. Teachers and students are gearing up for the final push to the end of the school year.
📸 MS Photo Contest - Deadline extended to Friday
Yesterday in our MS Assembly, the Student Council extended the MS Photo Contest deadline until Friday, 13 May.
- These photos will be submitted on the Google Form shared on the grade level Google Classroom
- Each submission will be awarded house points
- The top 3 submissions for each category will be awarded extra house points.
- Photos are due Friday, 13 May, by 4:00pm Moscow time
⭐️ Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony
Next week we will be sharing more information with our Grade 8 families regarding the Grade 8 Moving-Up Ceremony.
This ceremony will be held on Friday, 17 June. A separate email will be sent with more specific detail information.
🖼 Grade 8 Art
Please check out the fantastic Grade 8 Art students who used symbolism to represent their personal identities by creating a visual life story.
We celebrate their resilient and creative approach, experimenting with new digital mediums and adjusting to the available materials during distance learning.
Huge thank you to Ms.Maria for putting together the video!
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Welcome back. We hope that the time off was both relaxing and re-energizing for all of our MS students and their families.
The ongoing context, and the demands of these last weeks of school, may continue to feel stressful to many members of our community. One habit that may help is finding time to focus on the positive. This short video – How to Notice Good Things in Your Life – describes an easy way to integrate some positive thinking into our lives. The video is geared towards younger children, but the activity it describes is adaptable for all ages, including adults. For example, rather than doing the activity individually, families may consider incorporating the habit into their regular dinner conversations.
Please reach out to your child’s counselor, if needed. We are here to support you and your family.
April 27, 2022
What's Up
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!
📝 Progress Reports
Families should now be able to see Quarter 3 progress reports.
Grades and Approaches to Learning are updated. Comments are only noted for quarter long classes as well as any areas for concerns. Any students who left AAS at the end of Q3 will see summary comments for their yearlong courses.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the MS Office.
📸 House Activities - MS Photo Contest
At today’s MS Assembly, the MS Student Leadership team launched an AAS MS House Photo Contest.
Rules are below:
- There are SEVEN categories of photos
- Best Place to Read
- Best Sunset Photo
- Best Nature/Landscape Photo
- Best Landmark Photo
- Best Being Active Photo
- Best Food Photo
- Best Pet/Animal Photo
- Maximum one photo per student per category!
- Theses photos will be submitted on the Google Form shared on the grade level GoogleClassroom
- Each submission will be awarded house points
- The top 3 submissions for each category will be awarded extra house points
- Photos are due Tuesday, 10 May, by midnight Moscow time
🐧 Athletics and Activities
If your child didn’t get to sign-up for Penguin Life activities or athletics last month, registration is still open.
Please visit Penguin Life MS webpage for times and sign-up information. They have activities for students both in and out of Moscow.
🎉 Enjoy your break!
We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday break.
As a reminder, after this week, classes will resume on Wednesday May 11.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
We recently came across this quote by the American writer, Anne Lamott: "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." The quote put us in mind of the coming break from school, and of how many of us will be choosing to spend our time. It’s worth reflecting on the importance of time in our lives: time to work, time to relax, time to play, and time to heal. With so much happening in our lives right now, with the push to move forward and to find new paths and new answers, it isn’t surprising that we often overlook the importance of time just TO BE. And a reminder about "being in the moment" is not only helpful for adults during challenging times; it's also an important part of healthy child development.
This article, "The Benefits of Boredom," explores what our children can learn from managing their own free time. Here's a key quote from the article: Boredom "helps kids build tolerance of less-than-ideal experiences. “Boredom might not be super distressing...but it’s not fun. Life requires us to manage our frustrations and regulate our emotions when things aren’t going our way, and boredom is a great way to teach that skill.” The full text goes into additional detail about these ideas, and offers suggestions as to how parents can support this process for their children.
We wish you and your families all the best as you go into this week away from school. Please reach out, if needed. We are here to support you during your transitions.
April 20, 2022
What's Up
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!
Welcome back!
We hope everyone had an opportunity to rest over the spring break and spend time with friends and family.
☕️ Grade 8 Parent Meeting
Thank you to the Grade 8 parents to attended the Grade 8 Families Transition meeting yesterday.
Below is the slide deck we shared if you were not able to attend.
Some questions came up from parents regarding advice on options for students either in Moscow, outside of Russia, or online programs. We are happy to share out specific resources with families directly. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Cormier, Mr. Lopez or Mr. Villers to discuss any of these options further.
Further, for Grade 8 parents. Just a note that more information will be coming out soon regarding the Grade 8 Hoodies. We are starting to make our plans for the Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony which will be re-scheduled to be held sometime during the last week of our school year, June 14-17.
🏫 MS Reporting
Teachers are currently working on Q3 progress reports for students.
Families will be able to access a Q3 progress report in PowerSchool at 16:00 MSK on Monday, 25 April.
⭐️ MS Distance Learning PE Challenge Competition
Our MS PE department has been running PE challenge competition and the results were shared at our weekly MS Assembly today.
Grade 6 topped Grade 7 and 8 with the most challenge points. And the first student from each grade to complete the entire challenge board was recognized: Max vT (6), Angie G. (7) and Tim M. (8).
Well done, Penguins!
📊 MAP Testing Update
AAS has decided to not administer MAP testing this Spring.
To ensure validity of assessment results, it is key that we offer a common, proctored environment to all participants. Because of the quantity of students and staff currently not able to be on campus, to offer the MAP assessment at this time would be inappropriate. For internal and external purposes, we will utilize our Fall 2021 assessment results and we hope to provide additional assessment opportunities when we are back on campus in the Fall of 2022. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kirsten Welbes.
📝 Requesting AAS Records and Recommendations
As you complete applications to other schools, please use the link below to let us know what documents the other school is requesting.
Please only complete this once you have made an application and the school has requested documents.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
The number and size of the changes impacting the AAS MS right now likely has many of us feeling overwhelmed. And feelings like that can make it hard to stay focused on--or motivated to take care of--the needs of right here and right now. Decreased motivation is certainly understandable in the current context. But what can we do to help those students who may be struggling with it?
This short article from the Australian Department of Health is full of ideas and suggestions about getting motivated and staying motivated. Goal setting is a fundamental part of this process, because having goals gives us something to get motivated for. The strategies listed here are general, but can be applied to our unique situation. The article also links to additional resources that could be helpful in boosting motivation.
Thank you to those grade 8 parents who attended Tuesday’s meeting about supporting your transition to a new school. Please refer to the main section of the MS newsletter for the slideshow from that meeting.
If you would like to discuss the wellbeing of your child, please get in touch with us via email.
April 6, 2022
What's Up
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-Student-Teacher Conferences
Thank you!
Thank you to all the students, parents, and teachers who made our most recent conferences a success. We truly appreciate the opportunity to come together and talk about student learning. Once again, if you weren’t able to speak to a particular teacher, you can always reach out to set up a meeting to connect.
📝 Applying for a New School
We realize with the most recent news that some families will be changing schools sooner rather than later.
We have updated out procedures to streamline requests for families. If your family is moving to another school, please note the procedure below:
- Contact the admissions office of the schools you are applying to, in order to learn their application requirements
- NEW STEP Fill out the MS Application Request form
- AAS MS will take care of the following:
- Ms. Skvortsova will organize and gather required reports
- Teachers will complete our AAS Recommendation Form (that mirrors most private school application forms)
- AAS MS will send necessary documents to the school(s)
☕️ Grade 8 Parent Meeting
Tuesday, April 19, 14:00 MSK
In an effort to support our Grade 8 families in finding a new school for their child next year, we will be hosting a Grade 8 Parent Meeting on Tuesday, 19 April at 14:00 MSK.
During this meeting we will discuss ways we can support you and your child in their transition. The session will be held in Ms. Cormier’s Webex.
If you are not able to attend, and have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Cormier, Mr. Lopez or Mr. Villers.
🐧 MS Electives
When we return from the break, students will start their Quarter 4 Electives.
Today the new elective options were shared during our MS assembly and students were asked to sign up for their preferences. The form they should fill out is on the grade level Google Classroom. Elective options can be found on the MS webpage.
📊 MAP Testing Update
AAS has decided to not administer MAP testing this Spring.
To ensure validity of assessment results, it is key that we offer a common, proctored environment to all participants. Because of the quantity of students and staff currently not able to be on campus, to offer the MAP assessment at this time would be inappropriate. For internal and external purposes, we will utilize our Fall 2021 assessment results and we hope to provide additional assessment opportunities when we are back on campus in the Fall of 2022. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kirsten Welbes.
🎨 Art Corner
Please check out the fantastic artistry of our Grade 6 and 7 students.
Thank you to Ms.Maria who made both videos!
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Finding calm during a storm can be challenging.
The number and frequency of changes, the growing list of to-do's, the roller coaster of emotions, and the amount of multi-tasking required to navigate sudden changes often results in a sort of tunnel vision, where seeing outside of the immediate circumstance is difficult. Our ability to see the bigger picture and to move forward can both be greatly impacted.
The article below offers 4 practical ways to regain our mental and emotional balance: breathing, self-compassion, connection and compassion for others. These tools allow us and our children to gain control of our emotions and to broaden our perspective beyond our current troubles, and hopefully help us find some peace of mind.
Please know, we are committed to being a continued support to you and your children through the remainder of the school year, and as you transition to new schools. Here are some of the ways that we can support you with your plans moving forward.
- Family meetings to discuss schooling possibilities for next year, managing transitions, and the impact of choices on planning for the future, including university applications.
- Student meetings to discuss the challenges that they are facing and to provide support and resources.
- Application support for new schools:
- Contact the new schools’ admissions offices, in order to learn their application requirements
- Email Ms. Larissa Skvortsova and your student’s counselor (Mr. Villers for grade 8; Ms. Iana for grades 6 or 7) to receive a records request form
- Complete one form for each of the schools you are applying to
- Send your completed forms back to Ms. Skvortsova and the respective counselor
- Ms. Skvortsova will organize and send the required reports
- The counselors will facilitate the sending of letters of recommendation
For any other needs, particularly any concerns about your child’s well-being, please reach out to us. We are here to support.
- March 30, 2022
- March 23, 2022
- March 16, 2022
- March 10, 2022
- March 2, 2022
- February 16, 2022
- February 9, 2022
- February 2, 2022
March 30, 2022
What's Up
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-Student-Teacher Conferences
March 31
April 1
Our spring conference days are planned for this Thursday and Friday.
Please use these days as an opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers via Webex and engage in meaningful conversations about their learning and next steps for this spring.
For technical reasons we have to transition our conference sign-ups to a new platform. You can still sign up for Friday conference appointments using the link below.
We have also created a brief tutorial on how to use the new platform. Please review the video below to ensure that you are able to see a full picture of available times and dates for each teacher.
The meetings themselves will still take place on Webex. Sign-ups will be available until 16:00 the day before the meeting. We will be able to take new appointments until 16:00 Thursday for appointments on Friday.
⭐️ American Mathematics Competition
Congratulations to all of the students who participated in the AMC 8 - the American Mathematics Competition for Middle School.
Among the group who participated, there were several students singled out for individual awards:
- First Place AAS & Honors (top 5% in the world)
&
School Certificate of Merit (team score over 50)
Sangwoo P. (grade 8)
- Second Place AAS
&
School Certificate of Merit (team score over 50)
Kyurim K. (grade 8)
Jungwook H. (grade 8)
Yuljin P. (grade 8)
- Third Place AAS
Soheun L. (grade 8)
Shangchen S. (grade 8)
- Certificate of Achievement
(for students in grade 6 or below
with an outstanding performance)
Lucie L. (grade 6)
🐧 After School Activities for Kids
In a regular year, 90% of MS students engage in our Penguin Life program of after school activities and sports.
While we are excited to be able to offer opportunities at AAS for those students who are still in Moscow, if you are a family who has traveled back to your home country we encourage you to find ways for your child to engage in activities outside of the school day. This might be local art classes, club sports, or other activities for teens. Being able to socialize with peers in person as well as pursue their interests will be beneficial.
📝 Reference Procedures
We realize with the most recent news that some families will be changing schools sooner rather than later.
We are ready to support families with that transfer process. If your family is moving to another school, please note the procedure below.
Process for applying to a new school
- Contact the admissions office of the schools you are applying to, in order to learn their application requirements
- Email Ms. Larissa Skvortsova AND your child’s counselor to receive a records request form
- Ms Iana Sigitova
(Grade 6 and 7 Counselor) - Mr. Villers
(Grade 8 Counselor)
- Ms Iana Sigitova
- Complete one form for each of the schools you are applying to
- Send your completed forms back to Ms. Skvortsova and Mr. Villers
- Ms. Skvortsova will organize and gather the required reports
- Mr. Villers will facilitate letters of recommendation (letters are sent directly to the school)
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Last Friday’s news has many of us feeling unsettled. Please know that we are available to support. The transition will mean a lot of changes. And this, for many of our families, will include the need for official school documentation in support of new school applications.
The process for applying to a new school
- Contact the new schools’ admissions offices, in order to learn their application requirements
- Email Ms. Larissa Skvortsova and your student’s counselor (Mr. Villers for grade 8; Ms. Iana for grades 6 or 7) to receive a records request form
- Complete one form for each of the schools you are applying to
- Send your completed forms back to Ms. Skvortsova and the respective counselor
- Ms. Skvortsova will organize and send the required reports
- The counselors will facilitate the sending of letters of recommendation
For any other needs, particularly any concerns about your child’s well-being, please reach out to us. We are here to support.
March 23, 2022
What's Up
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!
❤️ Connecting as a Community
We would like to thank the Penguin Life team for all that they did to put together a new and unique spring season for MS and HS students.
We have seen significant student and family interest in participation and look forward to the upcoming season. If you haven’t signed up yet but are still interested, you can still participate in both our on- and off-campus events and MS Activities.
🍽 Lunch clubs
Based on student interest, next week will begin some of our Lunch Club offerings.
These will be optional sessions for students to gather with their peers around topics such as: book clubs, art/drawing, games/puzzles.
🔺 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
March 31
April 1
Our spring conference days are planned for next week, Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1.
Please use these days as an opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers via Webex and engage in meaningful conversations about their learning and next steps for this spring.
For technical reasons we have to transition our conference sign-ups to a new platform. The sign-up directions will be sent to families by email Thursday.
The meetings themselves will still take place on Webex.
Sign-ups will be available until 16:00 the day before the meeting. We will be able take new appointments until 16:00 on Wednesday for Thursday and 16:00 on Thursday for Friday.
🏫 No Classes for Students
Friday, March 25
This Friday, 25 March, is our spring Professional Development day for teachers.
During this time teachers are engaged in meetings, trainings, and planning sessions. Students will not have classes on this day.
💻 Connecting with MS Leadership
MS Leadership is hosting drop-in office hours for parents each week.
This will provide a chance to ask questions or share feedback in an informal setting. We aren’t sharing any new information or presentations at that time.
These meetings are every Tuesday from 14:00 - 14:30 MSK in Ms. Cormier’s Webex.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
In MS advisories, students have been learning about the vital skill of stress management. While some degree of stress can help performance, too much can negatively impact overall health and well-being. Advisors, therefore, are working with students to help them recognize how stress impacts them and how to focus their energy on the stressors over which they have control.
For some of us right now, the higher than normal levels of stress we’re experiencing can actually transform into a different type of emotion or state of mind. Sudden changes, leaving without goodbyes, and separation from loved ones are all events that can bring on a sense of loss and sadness, or grief. What can parents and teachers do to support young people at this time? The article linked below shares 5 straightforward strategies to support our children and ourselves as we work through this grief, including: connecting with community and nature; noticing, naming and navigating feelings; modeling self-care; empowering youth; and helping to find flow.
If you are planning to move your MS child from AAS to another school, whether temporarily or permanently, please notify the MS Office (ms.office@aas.ru) and your child’s counselor (iana.sigitova@aas.ru for grades 6 and 7; james.villers@aas.ru for grade 8). We will be happy to help organize the necessary application documents – such as reports and recommendations – and offer moral support to you and your child, as well. A transition can be difficult under normal circumstances; the suddenness of the one our community is facing may be adding extra stressors and pressures. We are here to help.
Finally, the MS counselors will be available during the upcoming parent-teacher conferences. Contact us directly for an appointment, if you would like to discuss your child.
March 16, 2022
What's Up
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!
🌐 Connections
Although we currently cannot be together on campus, we are making sure our MS community can connect in and outside of the classroom.
One way to connect is through our weekly MS Assemblies on Wednesdays. During today’s assembly we reviewed Distance Learning expectations, played a geography game, and met in breakout rooms to brainstorm ideas for Lunch Club offerings.
Another way to connect is through our Penguin Life program. There is online Esports for students both in and out of Moscow. If your child is in Moscow, students can engage in on campus Penguin Life activities. You can find the link to all of these activities below.
See Penguin Life MS Activities
💻 Distance Learning
Thank you to all parents and students who have shared feedback regarding Distance Learning, what is going well and how we can support families.
In addition, we are meeting with families regularly to discuss questions and concerns, please reach out if you have a specific question that you’d like to meet about.
If your family circumstances have changed, please reach out to the MS Office. We would particularly like to hear if students are enrolling in a new school temporarily this year or if students are in North/South America and working asynchronously.
🏫 Connecting with MS Leadership
Thank you to those parents who were able to attend our MS Drop-in Session on Friday, March 11. You can find the slidedeck from the presentation below.
MS Leadership would like to continue some drop-in office hours for parents each week. This will provide a chance to ask questions or share feedback in an informal setting. We wouldn’t be sharing any new information or presentations at that time.
We look to schedule these meetings for Tuesdays from 14:00 – 14:30 MSK in the afternoon. We will hold our first drop-in office hours this Tuesday, March 22 at 14:00 MSK in Ms. Cormier’s Webex.
⭐️ Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, March 31
Friday, April 1
We are still planning to host Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, March 31 and Friday, April 1.
We will share more information with you next week regarding times and sign up procedures.
❤️ Reminders about Support for Students and Families
Please remember that if you have any questions or concerns about your child, you can alway reach out to the MS Counselors – James Villers and Iana Sigitova, or to MS Leadership - Karisti Cormier and Alex Lopez, or even your child’s advisor.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
If you are planning to move your MS child from AAS to another school, whether temporarily or permanently, please notify the MS Office (ms.office@aas.ru) and your child’s counselor (iana.sigitova@aas.ru for grades 6 and 7; james.villers@aas.ru for grade 8). We will be happy to help organize the necessary application documents - such as reports and recommendations - and offer moral support to you and your child, as well. A transition can be difficult under normal circumstances; the suddenness of the one our community is facing may be adding extra stressors and pressures. We are here to help.
We have moved into our second week of distance learning, with no indication yet of how long it may last. And while many of our students may be coping successfully with the forced changes, others may not be.
Here are some things our MS is doing in order to support student well-being at this time:
- weekly check-ins via the Pulse app
- regular conversations with advisors
- office hours for teachers and counselors (meetings can also be requested and scheduled via email)
- social-emotional learning lessons on vital topics like stress management and self-care
- building opportunities for students to stay connected with one another outside of the virtual classroom
Even with these systems and structures in place, your child may still need extra support. If you feel this need exists, please email us right away.
March 10, 2022
What's Up
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!
Although we know the transition to our Distance Learning pathway has been a challenging one, we appreciate the support and engagement from our students and parents. It was nice to come back together yesterday and engage with each other on Webex.
🎛 MS Distance Learning Dashboard
Earlier this week we shared the resources that will ensure students have a successful distance learning experience.
MS Distance Learning Dashboard for Families is a one-stop resource for families.
🌏 Location for Learning
To best support your children, it is important that we know where they are located.
If you have not already done so, please make sure you have filled out the AAS Families Location during DL form. If your child is in a timezone that makes it difficult to connect on Moscow time, please let the MS Office or the advisor know.
📨 Family circumstances - recommendation letters
We do understand that circumstances may have changed for some families, particularly if you are back in your home country.
If you plan to apply to a new school for the interim, please contact your child’s guidance counselor – Iana Sigitova (Grade 6 and 7) or James Villers (Grade 8). They will be able to help you with any paperwork or documentation needed.
💻 Drop-in Session Friday
Friday, March 11, 15:00–16:00 MSK
This Friday from 3:00 - 4:00 we will be holding a Drop-in Session for MS parents in Webex.
During this time we review our distance learning plan as well as answer questions you may have. If you have not already done so, please fill out the short feedback form so we may address some of your concerns during the meeting.
❤️ Support for Students and Families
Please remember that if you have any questions or concerns about your child, you can alway reach out to the MS Counselors – James Villers and Iana Sigitova, or to MS Leadership - Karisti Cormier and Alex Lopez, or even your child’s advisor.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
In keeping with this week’s celebration of International Women’s Day, it seems appropriate to share this topic (thank you to Ms. Will, one of our HS counselors):
We have all heard of the “fight-or-flight” response to threat, and most of us accept it as normal human instinct. What may be less known is that the studies that originally discovered this particular “human” response included mainly male subjects. In a UCLA study from 2000, however, psychologists found that women often have a “tend-and-befriend” reaction to threatening or stressful situations. In other words, women’s response came from an instinct of caring, rather than one of aggression or fear. As we move forward during these challenging times, this example of care and nurturing is one to guide and inspire us to support one another.
Many of our MS students may be aware of and questioning the current global situation. There are many resources available to help guide conversations you might want to have with your child at home. Nearly all of them include some version of these basic tips:
- Take cues from your child: Don’t assume you know exactly what they’re thinking or feeling. And if they’re not thinking or feeling anything about the situation, that’s okay, too.
- Look for signs that they’re upset or anxious: Let them know you’re there for them, if they want to talk. Sometimes, simply listening to someone can be the best form of support.
- If they ask, offer what you can in terms of information, but keep it appropriate for your child’s age. Don’t overload them with too many details or images.
- Reassure them of their safety.
- Help provide them with structure and normalcy. For example, focusing time and energy on staying connected with friends and with teachers. Having a regular schedule (separating work and free-time) can also help.
If you would like to discuss your child’s well-being with us, please get in touch via email. We are available to meet virtually with you.
March 2, 2022
What's Up
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!
🌐 Recent Events
Our hearts go out to all of those families and individuals who have been impacted by the recent world events.
As a community we will continue to stay strong and support each other. Monday was a great opportunity for students and faculty to connect together - whether they were on campus or outside of Moscow.
We know that each family is processing recent events in their own way. Here are some resources you might find helpful to address those topics with your children:
- How to Talk to Children About Difficult News from the American Psychological Association
- Helping Children Cope with Frightening News from the Child Mind Institute
- Explaining the News to Our Kids from Common Sense Media
Please remember that if you have any questions or concerns about your child, you can alway reach out to the MS Counselors - James Villers and Iana Sigitova, or to MS Leadership - Karisti Cormier and Alex Lopez, or even your child’s advisor. Please keep in mind that many staff will be in transit over the next week, so a response might be delayed.
🏫 Distance Learning
As we move into our Distance Learning pathway next week, we will be making adjustments to maximize learning for our students.
This is based on feedback from students as well as community feedback; we will use what we have learned to ensure engaging distance learning experiences. Early next week we will communicate more details regarding what that adjusted daily schedule will look like.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
It seems we have to deal with uncertainty for a little while longer. For the time being, it seems more practical to assume that it will be only temporary.
Even temporary upheaval, however, can lead to feelings of fatigue and distress. Please rely on your supports around you, and reach out to us if there is anything that we can do to help.
With that in mind, we want to offer some resources that you might find useful. This article from the Child Mind Institute offers tips for helping children cope with disturbing things they may hear or read about in the news; there is both a “quick read” and regular version of the article.
And in the more general context of dealing with prolonged uncertainty, please consider the strategies bulleted below. They are pulled from Greater Good Magazine and the American Psychological Association (these two links will bring you to the complete articles, where you’ll find additional strategies and greater detail about each one):
- Engage in healthy self-care: a full night’s sleep and regular exercise, for example, will help increase resilience
- Limit exposure to news media
- Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control; focus your energy on what you can
- Don’t believe everything you think: stress can cause us to engage in catastrophic thinking; combat this tendency with positive self-talk
- Seek support from those you trust
Please stay safe and well, and reach out to us if you would like to discuss your child.
February 16, 2022
What's Up
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!
❤️ Valentine Treats - Thank you!
We would like to thank the PTO for providing Valentine’s Day treats for our MS students.
The chocolate was very well received!
📝 Semester 1 Report Cards
Report cards for Semester 1 were sent by email on Monday afternoon.
You may also find it inside the PowerSchool portal on the landing page. If you did not receive the reports by email, please let us know so we may update your contact information.
☕️ Parent Coffee
Thank you to those parents who joined us for our virtual parent coffee yesterday - Parenting out of the Pandemic.
We had the opportunity to speak about how, through the school/home partnership, we are able to support our students during this time. If you were not able to attend, you can find the presentation information below.
🌏 Current Events
As we head off to a well-deserved break next week, we would suggest students bring home any materials or resources that they would need to successfully engage in learning after the break should we have to change learning models.
Similarly, if you are departing Moscow for the break, your child should bring with them what they would need to participate in classes should they have to do so remotely.
If the organization or embassy sponsoring your family’s visa is requiring that you relocate from Russia as a result of recent circumstances, please contact the MS Office and Admissions.
Currently, we are able to offer Webex access for students who are not able to be in Russia for this reason, please contact the MS office and admissions for more information. We anticipate these transitions to be temporary; as such, we are regularly reviewing the situation and what we can do to support students and families.If you have a question about your situation, please reach out to the MS Leadership - Karisti Cormier or Alex Lopez-Barton.
🔐 MS PE Locker Rooms
After the February break, the locker rooms will be reopened to MS students for PE class.
This means all students should be coming to school in their regular uniform and change for PE class. Students will no longer be allowed to wear their PE kit during the school day.
❄️ MS Winter Field Day Moved to March 4
Our MS Winter Field Day has been moved to Friday, March 4.
Our Winter Field Day will look a bit differently this year as we will be using the entire day to engage in different activities. Students will engage in small group, large group, student-led and teacher-led activities.
This week the MS gathered together on Webex for an assembly.
During the assembly we celebrated Valentine’s Day, shared gratitude and discussed integrity through a series of quotes. We started with “Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.” by Henry David Thoreau.
That “being true” - being honest or showing integrity - is illustrated in so many ways they interact at school.
Work
Are students doing their best? Are they doing their own work? Are they crediting sources when doing research?
Word
How do students speak with each other? Is their word trusted?
Friend
How do they interact with their peers? Are they a good friend? Are students also willing to be an upstander if something isn’t right?
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
MS advisories continue to focus on content and issues important for all students' social and emotional learning.
Lessons and discussions are adjusted to fit the developmental stage of a particular grade level, but many of the themes are consistent. The recent overall focus has been bullying and harassment; this content also includes specific or general behaviors that fall under the category of mean or hurtful. Not all mean behavior is bullying; but just because a comment or action isn’t technically bullying, that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable or should be tolerated.
Studies show that social and environmental factors can contribute to harassment and mean behavior. For example, if students believe that this sort of behavior is acceptable (a social factor), it tends to occur; and if adults are not around to supervise (an environmental factor), mean behavior can increase, sometimes exponentially.
In discussing these concepts with our students, we typically emphasize the importance of standing up against mean behavior. This upstanding becomes even more crucial because of the fact that so much of our children’s current interpersonal interactions happen online, where:
1) people believe that hurtful behavior is acceptable and
2) there is little adult supervision.
Our students need significant support in navigating the social dynamics of this online world.
Parents play a critical role in helping teens learn how to behave appropriately and supportively in a community. If you have not discussed your child’s online life with them, we encourage you to do so. And we will be happy to provide resources that can help you with this important interaction.
Please also check the main section of the newsletter for a video recording of this week’s parent coffee, during which the MS principals and counselors shared information and resources meant to strengthen the ever-important home/school partnership.
Please email us if you would like to discuss your child.
February 9, 2022
What's Up
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!
📝 End of Semester Reporting
February 14
Semester 1 Report Cards will be emailed to families on Monday, 14 February after 15:00.
☕️ Parent Coffee
Tuesday, February 15, 10:00
Our next MS Coffee will be held Tuesday, February 15 at 13:30 in Ms. Cormier’s Webex.
The topic of this coffee will be Parenting out of the Pandemic.
🎿 PE Winter Unit
Just a reminder that MS students are currently engaging in their PE Winter Unit.
This means students will be spending their PE class outside cross country skiing and winter hiking. It is important that they come appropriately dressed on their PE days.
❄️ MS Winter Field Day Moved
March 4
Our MS Winter Field Day has been moved to Friday, March 4 instead of Friday, 18 February.
More details about the field day will be shared before the break.
❤️ Valentine’s Spirit Day
Monday, February 14
MS students are encouraged to dress in red, white, pink or hearts on Monday, 14 February for our Valentine’s Spirit Day.
🏫 Updated COVID Protocols
After recent changes in both local government guidelines as well as recommendations from the CDC, AAS has revised its Covid Protocols.
The most recent update was shared with the community yesterday. These changes will continue to keep our campus a safe place for learning while allowing more students to be on campus. Please see here for our Covid page and this link for our Covid response flowchart.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
MS advisories continue to focus on content and issues important for all students' social and emotional learning.
Lessons and discussions are adjusted to fit the developmental stage of a particular grade level, but many of the themes are consistent. The recent overall focus has been bullying and harassment; this content also includes specific or general behaviors that fall under the category of mean or hurtful. Not all mean behavior is bullying; but just because a comment or action isn’t technically bullying, that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable or should be tolerated.
Studies show that social and environmental factors can contribute to harassment and mean behavior. For example, if students believe that this sort of behavior is acceptable (a social factor), it tends to occur; and if adults are not around to supervise (an environmental factor), mean behavior can increase, sometimes exponentially.
In discussing these concepts with our students, we typically emphasize the importance of standing up against mean behavior.
This upstanding becomes even more crucial because of the fact that so much of our children’s current interpersonal interactions happen online, where:
1) people believe that hurtful behavior is acceptable and
2) there is little adult supervision.
Our students need significant support in navigating the social dynamics of this online world.
Parents play a critical role in helping teens learn how to behave appropriately and supportively in a community. If you have not discussed your child’s online life with them, we encourage you to do so. And we will be happy to provide resources that can help you with this important interaction.
Please email us if you would like to discuss your child.
February 2, 2022
What's Up
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!
💻 Distance Learning
As we have had to pivot to Distance Learning this week, there are several documents that will help you and your child with any questions you might have.
These documents have also been shared with students on their Grade Level Google Classroom.
MS Tips for Successful Distance Learning
Calendar rotation
See the AAS Calendar, Choose MS Academic Calendar
📝 End of Semester Reporting
PowerSchool will close to families Friday, February 4 for teachers to do report cards.
It will re-open to families on February 14th after 3pm.
📸 Picture Retakes
If your child did not have their pictures taken in October, there will be a picture retake day on February 7 or 8.
❄️ PE Winter Unit
Next week all MS students will be engaging in their PE Winter Unit.
This means students will be spending their PE class outside cross country skiing and winter hiking.
Just as a reminder, the following are highly recommended every day during the unit:
- Winter Jacket & Snow/Ski Pants (waterproof)
- Winter Gloves
- Scarf/Neckwarmer
- Snow Boots (waterproof)
- Hat
- Layers of Warm Clothing
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
AAS has moved temporarily to distance learning, and many MS students may make the shift from in-school to at-home with few difficulties. Others, however, might need some strategies to help them stay focused and productive. The MS Office has created a document with some FAQs about Distance Learning that students and parents will find helpful.
Here are some additional tips and habits we feel could be useful for students:
- continue to get enough sleep, regular exercise, and healthy food
- check email at least 3 times each school day – morning, midday, and afternoon
- remove distractions when it’s time for class or work – phones aren’t allowed in classrooms at school; follow the same rule even when working at home
- break work into manageable chunks of time; take breaks away from your desk and chair
- keep in touch with teachers (or counselors) if problems or questions arise
If your child needs help with the transition from at-school to distance learning, or for any other reason, please let us know.
January 26, 2022
What's Up
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!
💻 Distance Learning
We look forward to being able to start welcoming some of our MS students back on campus after their quarantine period.
Please see the email that went out to all AAS families earlier today for details on your child’s return.
If a student is engaged in distance learning, they should be ready to start class at the beginning of the period. Often teachers will give students instructions, they allow them some independent work time.
🦠 Impact of Covid in the MS
Recently the MS had to transition Grade 6 and Grade 8 to our Distance Learning (DL) pathway.
The shift to DL has been done when the vast majority of a grade is close contacted, because at that point we see a diminished learning environment as students feel disconnected from their peers. We do not take the decision to move a grade level to Distance Learning lightly as we understand the value and importance of in-person learning.
To illustrate how the Covid landscape has changed, the recent Omicron variant has led to nine student and three faculty members testing positive in the last ten days (January 16 – 26). In comparison we saw only four students and one staff member test positive in the four month period from August to December. This is a huge change and we have had to react quickly and thoughtfully.
While we still have our strong mitigations in place, the Omicron variant is clearly having an impact on our community. Although the reduction of close contact quarantine time will improve our ability to have students on campus, the frequency of the cases can seriously disrupt the flow of learning. We will continue to regularly assess impacts on learning and make decisions to balance the safety of our learning community with providing the highest quality learning possible. Depending on the unfolding situation, these decisions may include the Distance Learning Pathway which can provide continuity of learning while reducing the cases and close contacts on campus and the toll these take on our students, families, and staff.
📝 End of Semester Reporting
Semester 1/Quarter 2 will end on Friday, 28 January.
Please take this opportunity to remind your students to check PowerSchool for any work that is missing. PowerSchool will close to families Friday, 4 February for teachers to do report cards. It will re-open to families on February 14th after 15:00.
👕 Uniform/Dress Code
Starting January 31, the first day of Semester 2, the uniform/dress code will go into effect.
The Penguin Store is now open and students can purchase elements of the uniform they are missing. If you have questions about what the AAS daily uniform is, you can find that information below.
Students will still be wearing their PE kit to school until the February break.
🔐 PE Lockers
Upon our return in February from the February break, MS PE locker rooms will start to be used for PE classes.
This means students will need to change for PE as well as wear their regular AAS uniform to school each day.
📸 Picture Retakes
February 7, 8
If your child did not have their pictures taken in October, there will be a picture retake day on February 7 or 8.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Many of our MS students have moved – hopefully only temporarily – to distance learning. While many students may make the shift from in-school to at-home with few difficulties, other students might need some strategies to help them stay productive and focused. The MS Office has created a document with some FAQs about Distance Learning that students and parents will find helpful.
Here are some additional tips and habits we feel could be useful for students:
- continue to get enough sleep, regular exercise, and healthy food
- check email at least 3 times each school day – morning, midday, and afternoon
- remove distractions when it’s time for class or work – phones aren’t allowed in classrooms at school; follow the same rule even when working at home
- break work into manageable chunks of time; take breaks away from your desk and chair
- keep in touch with teachers (or counselors) if problems or questions arise
If your child needs help with the transition from at-school to distance learning, or for any other reason, please let us know.
January 19, 2022
What's Up
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!
💻 Distance Learning
If your child is engaging in Distance Learning due to Covid or having been identified as a close contact, you can find some reminders on how to navigate Distance Learning through our MS Distance Learning FAQs.
🐧 MS Assembly
Tuesday we had our first MS Assembly of 2022.
We started the assembling by revisiting our MS Community Agreements as well as a few of our MS expectations about technology use, recess, and uniform. We also shared the work a few of the electives have produced this quarter - you can see some highlights at the end of this section.
👕 Uniform/Dress Code
Starting January 31, the first day of Semester 2, the uniform/dress code will go into effect.
The Penguin Store is now open and students can purchase elements of the uniform they are missing. If you have questions about what the AAS daily uniform is, you can find that information below.
Students will still be wearing their PE kit to school until the February break.
🔐 PE Lockers
Upon our return in February from the February break, MS PE locker rooms will start to be used for PE classes.
This means students will need to change for PE as well as wear their regular AAS uniform to school each day.
📝 End of Semester Reporting
Semester 1/Quarter 2 will end on Friday, 28 January.
Please take this opportunity to remind your students to check PowerSchool for any work that is missing. PowerSchool will close to families Friday, 4 February for teachers to do report cards. It will re-open to families on February 14th after 15:00.
📸 Picture Retakes
February 7, 8
If your child did not have their pictures taken in October, there will be a picture retake day on February 7 or 8.
⭐️ Elective Highlights
Here are a few highlights from Quarter 2 Electives.
Follow the link below to see the entire presentation.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
The 1st semester ends on 28 January. Now is an excellent time for students to be sure they are on the right track towards academic success. Talking with their teachers, checking their assignments on Google Classroom, and checking their assessment results are all effective ways to make this happen. There is still time to plan and, if needed, catch up on any missing work.
If you haven’t recently spoken with your student about their current academic status, please have that conversation today.
The recent and ongoing increase in COVID cases in Moscow have us all dealing, once again, with uncertainty. While having to anticipate the unknown can feel overwhelming, there are ways to decrease those feelings, and to make them more manageable.
Here are some recommended strategies, pulled from Greater Good Magazine and the American Psychological Association (the links will bring you to the complete articles, where you’ll find additional strategies and greater detail about each one):
- Engage in healthy self-care: a full night’s sleep and regular exercise, for example, will help increase resilience
- Limit exposure to news media
- Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control; focus your energy on what you can
- Don’t believe everything you think: stress can cause us to engage in catastrophic thinking; combat this tendency with positive self-talk
- Seek support from those you trust
These same strategies are relevant for all members of your family. If you would like additional information about any of the above, or if you or your child could use some support, please reach out to us.
January 12, 2022
What's Up
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!
⭐️ Welcome back!
We hope that all MS families had a wonderful and restful break. We are excited to see students back on campus this week.
❄️ Outdoor recess
Just a reminder that students are expected to go outside for both recesses each day.
We do go outside until it is -18C. This means students should come to school every day with appropriate clothing to be outside for 20 minutes at a time - this means hat, glove, scarf and a winter coat, and boots. Now that we have snow on the ground, students should have two pairs of shoes for school - an indoor pair and an outdoor pair (preferably boots). Students may leave their extra pair of shoes in their lockers.
💻 Webex Access
Please remember that the one-way Webex period following this vacation continues through 14 January.
Beginning Monday, 17 January, Webex access will again be limited to students recovering from Covid, close contacts and students who are out of the country for visa-related reasons.
📊 End of Semester Reporting
Semester 1/Quarter 2 will end on Friday, 28 January.
Please take this opportunity to remind your students to check PowerSchool for any work that is missing. PowerSchool will close to families Friday, 4 February for teachers to do report cards.
📸 Picture Retakes
February 7, 8
If your child did not have their pictures taken in October, there will be a picture retake day on February 7 or 8.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Welcome to 2022, and welcome back to school. We hope all families had a warm and wonderful holiday break.
The 1st semester ends on 28 January. Now is an excellent time for students to be sure they are on the right track towards academic success. Talking with their teachers, checking their assignments on Google Classroom, and checking their assessment results are all fantastic ways to make this happen. There is still significant time to plan and, if needed, catch up on any missing work. If you haven’t recently spoken with your student about their current academic status, please do so.
This article from Greater Good Magazine summarizes a recent report on how people in 17 countries around the world have found meaning during the pandemic. Here is a representative quote from the article: “There is a common thread that runs through multiple domains of meaning: connection to others. People around the world feel that family, romantic partners, friends, community, and pets can all make life more meaningful—an insight that confirms decades of scientific studies into the roots of well-being.”
Please get in touch with us via email if you would like to discuss your child.
December 15, 2021
What's Up
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!
🎉 Artistic Holiday Greetings
Some of our Grade 6 artists have created animated holiday greetings for our community.
⭐️ Spirit Week
Students will have two more opportunities this week to participate in spirit dress up days.
Thursday is Twin Day and Friday is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.
👕 Uniforms and Locker Rooms
Upon our return in January from the winter break, MS PE locker rooms will start to be used for PE classes.
This means students will need to change for PE as well as wear their regular AAS uniform to school each day. The Penguin Store is now open and students can purchase elements of the uniform they are missing. If you have questions about what the AAS daily uniform is, you can find that information on AAS Uniform page.
🎁 Holiday Gift Bags
Thank you to our MS families for supporting our Holiday Gift Bags for the Vyshegorodskaya Resource School Internat (located near Naro-Fominsk) and the Noy Organization.
These children greatly appreciate the gifts we have provided.
💻 Webex Access After Break
January 9 - 13
For those students who are traveling to be vaccinated over the break, we will be providing 1-way Webex access from January 9-13.
🎄 Thank You and Happy Holidays!
Our school community has continued to show flexibility and resilience during the first part of our school year.
Thank you to all of our students, teachers and families for their hard work and efforts. Here in Middle School we hope you use the break to take the time to rest and relax. Enjoy this special time safely with family and friends.
We look forward to everyone returning healthy and refreshed in the New Year!
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Uncertainty is an ever-present part of our lives during these challenging times. And while we may not be able to remove uncertainty, we can do things to minimize the stress and strain that it can place on us.
“How to deal with (even more) Covid uncertainty” offers these overall strategies and mindsets:
- acknowledge what you’ve lost
- make plans, but stay flexible
- lean on your support networks
- avoid thinking about the worst
- focus on what’s in your control
- stay hopeful (and grateful; see here (The Gratitude Experiment) and here (Why Gratitude is Good) if interested in knowing more)
Please see the full article for further details.
We hope that all MS families have a warm, safe, and relaxing holiday. We look forward to seeing you in the new calendar year.
December 8, 2021
What's Up
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!
💻 Webex Access
Just a reminder that the only students who are able to have Webex access to classes are those who have been identified as having Covid, being a Covid close contact.
We have not changed the rules about Webex access. All divisions are only providing Webex access for vaccination quarantine after the Winter break for one week. Students are not able to access Webex due to:
- Early departure for the holiday
- Non-Covid illness where a student is home for a few days
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the MS Office.
🔐 Locks on Lockers
As students are needing to have more winter clothes and shoes here at school, we recognize the need of re-introducing the locks.
Each student will have received their lock by the end of the week. Just a reminder that in accordance with our handbook only school issued locks can be used.
❄️ Outdoor recess
Just a reminder that students are expected to go outside for both recesses each day.
We do go outside until it is -18C. This means students should come to school every day with appropriate clothing to be outside for 20 minutes at a time - this means hat, glove, scarf and a winter coat, and boots. Now that we have snow on the ground, students should have two pairs of shoes for school - an indoor pair and an outdoor pair (preferably boots). Students may leave their extra pair of shoes in their lockers.
🎄 Holiday Gift Bags
MS Advisories are finishing up the MS Gift Bag Project this week.
We are working with the Vyshegorodskaya Resource School Internat (located near Naro-Fominsk) and the Noy Organization. These children have some learning challenges and come from families with low incomes.
Each advisory has been asked to help out with this initiative by providing gift bags for 2-3 of these children. Your child has selected an item or items to contribute to the gift bag.
Items are due to the advisory by December 10th.
😷 Close Contact Requirements
As shared in the Director’s email on Monday, Dec.6, the quarantine period for identified close contacts is 14 days.
📷 School Photo Orders
We expect to have the photos delivered and distributed to the students by the end of this week.
👕 Uniforms and Locker Rooms
Upon our return in January from the winter break, MS PE locker rooms will start to be used for PE classes.
This means students will need to change for PE as well as wear their regular AAS uniform to school each day. The Penguin Store is now open and students can purchase elements of the uniform they are missing. If you have questions about what the AAS daily uniform is, you can find that information on AAS Uniform page.
🌐 Digital World of Teens - Resources
Common Sense Media provides some thoughts on common questions parents have about social media.
Here they discuss “How do I keep up with the latest social apps and sites teens are using?”
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
While the coming holiday season may feel less restrictive and subdued than last year’s, it unfortunately still seems accurate to say that the situation around the world has not yet returned to normal.
A recent article in France 24 reports on polls recently taken in France, the US, and the UK. In each of the polls, anywhere from 1/3 to nearly 1/2 of respondents reported increased anxiety and decreased happiness during these weeks heading into the holiday season.
“This is a cross-cultural collective trauma,” the article says. “Holidays are times for gatherings with loved ones and there is great anticipation of good times to be shared, but there’s no respite from baseline anxiety caused by the pandemic.”
Positive coping strategies - as a fundamental part of our regular life routines - are possibly the best defense against life’s anxiety-causing events. A balanced diet, regular sleep patterns, and frequent exercise can do so much to help us get through stressful times, because they increase our resilience.
For a different approach, families can consider combating stress and adversity with gratitude. According to some studies, gratitude has been found to have significantly positive impacts on people’s attitudes, moods, and overall well-being.
More information - and practical activities to try - can be found below.
On a related note, AAS has launched a “Keep Calm, Stress Less” activity this week.
Students can join MS Counselor, Ms. Iana, on days B and D during the second recess for a short, re-energizing session on mindfulness, breathing, and yoga practice.
Please get in touch with us via email if you would like to discuss your child.
December 1, 2021
What's Up
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!
⭐️ Conferences Update
We had two fantastic days of conferences on November 25 and 26.
Thank you to those students, parents, and teachers who participated. We have had positive feedback from parents and teachers alike about the set times as well as the ability to have everyone around the “Webex” for the conversations - even if they were in different locations.
We had excellent attendance as well:
- Grade 6 - 90%
- Grade 7 - 96%
- Grade 8 - 85%
🤖 Robotics Tournament
Friday, December 3
Good luck to our students participating in CEESA Robotics tournament on Friday, December 3!
🎁 Holiday Gift Bags
MS Advisories are participating in the MS Gift Bag Project.
We are working with the Vyshegorodskaya Resource School Internat (located near Naro-Fominsk) and the Noy Organization. These children have some learning challenges and come from families with low incomes.
Each advisory has been asked to help out with this initiative by providing gift bags for 2-3 of these children. Your child has selected an item or items to contribute to the gift bag. Items are due to the advisory by December 10th.
❄️ Outdoor recess
Just a reminder that students are expected to go outside for both recesses each day.
We do go outside until it is -18C. This means students should come to school every day with appropriate clothing to be outside for 20 minutes at a time - this means hat, glove, scarf and a winter coat, and boots.
Now that we have snow on the ground, students should have two pairs of shoes for school - an indoor pair and an outdoor pair (preferably boots).
💻 Digital World of Teens - Resources
DQ - Digital Intelligence - How can you as a parent be helping support your child in their digital choices?
Here is a great video from the DQ Institute on how to help your child Be Better as a digital citizen.
If you scroll down the Global Standards page, you can see the Digital Parenting standards to help guide you in developing your own skills as a parent in this digital age.
🔐 Uniforms and Locker Rooms
Upon our return in January from the winter break, MS PE locker rooms will start to be used for PE classes.
This means students will need to change for PE as well as wear their regular AAS uniform to school each day. The Penguin Store is now open and students can purchase elements of the uniform they are missing.
If you have questions about what the AAS daily uniform is, you can find that information here.
🐧 MS Learning Snapshot
Today Ms. Lambert’s Humanities 6 class worked on claim-evidence-reasoning by doing an artifact gallery walk.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
November has passed, and we are less than 3 weeks away from the December/January holidays.
While the warmer weather we’ve been experiencing may feel atypical for this time of year in Moscow, the limited hours of daylight do not. For those new to this part of the world, some impacts of decreased sunlight can include feeling more run down, or even less enthusiastic than usual. Fortunately, there are things we can do to combat these effects. Getting 20-30 minutes of light per day is beneficial, whether that light comes from the sun or from a specially-designed light source. Regular exercise, regular sleep patterns, and a healthy diet can strengthen both our mental and physical states. And many medical and science professionals believe that sticking to daily routines helps us maintain our internal 24-hour clock, or circadian rhythm.
Kidshealth.org has a clear breakdown of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as well as some ways to counter its negative effects.
MS advisors continue to work with students on issues and topics related to having a healthy, balanced online life. This week students will consider and discuss the existence and impact of digital drama.
Specifically, students will be challenged to:
- reflect on how easily drama can escalate online;
- identify de-escalation strategies for dealing with digital drama; and
- reflect on how digital drama can affect not only them but also those around them.
If you would like to discuss your child, please get in touch with us via email.
November 24, 2021
What's Up
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-Student-Teacher Conferences
Tomorrow and Friday!
Just a reminder to the families that the conferences sign up link will close the day before the meetings.
Conference bookings will close at 4pm Wednesday for Thursday conferences and at 4pm on Thursday for Friday conferences.
If you are having issues signing up let the MS office know.
💻 Parent Technology Meetings
Thank you to those parents who attended our parent tech meetings that talked about the online world of the adolescent.
Below you can find the links to the recordings of both sessions as well as the slide deck with hyperlinks. We do feel this is only the beginning of our conversations about how to work together to support our adolescents.
Watch November 18
Afternoon recording
Watch November 18
Evening recording
💝 Holiday Gift Bags
The Middle School will once again be providing holiday cheer to the Vyshegorodskaya Resource School and Noy House by creating gift bags for the young people in both of these organizations.
Some items that will be collected include: socks, mittens, t-shirts, arts/crafts, candy, etc. More information will be coming out to the students on Monday, November 29.
🙏 Gratitude Project
MS students spent time in Advisory on Tuesday writing notes of gratitude.
These notes will then be displayed next week in the MS. This project was spearheaded by our MS Student Council leadership team.
⭐️ Uniform
Now that our Penguin Store has opened - families are able to purchase the uniform apparel necessary for MS.
Visit the Penguin Store Online
When we return from the winter break in January, we will be expecting students to be dressed in the appropriate school uniform each day. We will also be returning to using the locker rooms, which means that students will need to change for PE each day - only wearing their PE kit for PE class - and wearing the school uniform the rest of the day.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
This week’s Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences are a great opportunity to hear directly from your child’s teachers.
These conversations typically result in shared expectations, as well as recommendations and strategies for a more successful school experience. We hope that all parties—parents, students, and teachers—find the conferences insightful and productive. Counselors are available for meetings, too. If you’d like to meet, please email us directly to set up a time.
MS advisors continue to work with students on issues and topics related to having a healthy, balanced online life. This week, and probably next, students will consider and discuss the existence and impact of digital drama. Specifically, students will be challenged to:
- reflect on how easily drama can escalate online;
- identify de-escalation strategies for dealing with digital drama;
- reflect on how digital drama can affect not only them but also those around them.
Thank you to those parents who attended last week’s principal/counselor discussion on the online lives of teens and tweens. Please check the main MS newsletter for links to the slides and recordings of the two sessions. And interested parents can also look over this document: a condensed summary of Teens, Tech, and Mental Health.
If you would like to discuss your child with us, please get in touch via email.
- November 17, 2021
- November 10, 2021
- October 27, 2021
- October 20, 2021
- October 13, 2021
- October 6, 2021
November 17, 2021
What's Up
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!
📝 MS Progress Reports
Hopefully parents have been able to see their student’s progress as PowerSchool went live on Monday.
We had a successful drop in session Tuesday where we were able to clarify some elements of where to find information as well as gather feedback to the progress report process.
Unfortunately, we did not record the session, but did want to share the following points that were clarified:
- The PDF contains AtLs/comments only for Advisory and Quarter 1 classes such as electives, Health, and Drama.
- All other AtLs and comments can be found under either the Grades/Attendance tab or the Standards Grades.
- If you are seeing all NA when you open the Standards Grades for a class, please let the MS Office know as that means there is a setting that is turned off and we can correct it.
- If you are having trouble accessing the reports or have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Cormier - karisti.cormier@aas.ru
🌟 MS Play - The Little Prince - Livestream
Thursday, November 18, 14:15
The Little Prince is finally here!
Families will be able to enjoy the play via Livestream on Thursday, November 18 at 14:15.
💻 Parent Technology Meetings - Tomorrow!
November 18
Tomorrow, November 18, we will host two parent sessions regarding technology and the online world of the adolescent.
The first session will be at 13:00 and the second session will be at 19:00. Both sessions will cover the same material, but will provide flexibility for parents who might not be able to attend the afternoon session.
In preparation for the session, we ask that parents participate in a survey about technology and online habits they see in their own children.
If you have not already filled out the survey, you may do so here:
MS Parent Technology Survey 2021
🐧 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences - Next Week!
November 25, 26
On Monday all MS families received an email with instructions on where and how to sign up for Parent/Student/Teacher Webex Conferences on Thursday and Friday November 25 and 26.
If you are having issues signing up let the MS office know.
💙 Movember
In October, AAS marked Pinktober to raise awareness of breast cancer research. In November, we will be marking Movember - which raises money to raise awareness of men’s health issues.
All MS students are allowed to wear BLUE clothing instead of uniform on Thursdays during the month of November.
❄️ Outdoor Recess
As the temperature continues to drop, students are still expected to go outside for our recesses each day.
This means students should come to school every day with appropriate clothing to be outside for 20 minutes - this means hat, gloves, scarf and a winter coat. Students also must bring an extra pair of shoes to school - one for outside wear and one for inside.
⚽️ Last Week of Penguin Life Football
Our football teams competed in their final intramural tournament last week - and the teams did a great job.
Here are some shots from the final matches.
And a quick video.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
We hope you will be able to attend one of tomorrow’s two sessions focused on what parents need to know about the online lives of their teens and tweens.
The first session will be at 13:00 and the second session will be at 19:00. Both sessions will cover the same material, but will provide flexibility for parents who might not be able to attend the afternoon session. The sessions will take place in Ms. Cormier’s Webex. There is no need to RSVP; an email reminder should be coming out from the MS Office.
In MS advisories this week, students are continuing to discuss ways they can respond when they witness hurtful behavior in their social gatherings online. They are also spending time looking over their recent progress reports. In these reports, teachers have provided important feedback on students’ Approaches to Learning, and it’s beneficial for students to read and understand that feedback.
As reported last week, the MS has begun using a new way to monitor and support student well-being. The online tool is called Pulse. Here again is a short FAQ document with additional information.
If you have questions beyond what is provided here, please let us know.
If you would like to discuss your child with us, please get in touch via email.
November 10, 2021
What's Up
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!
⭐️ MS Play - The Little Prince - Back on stage!
Thursday, November 18, 14:15
The Little Prince will be visiting our planet next week.
Families will be able to enjoy the play via livestream on Thursday, November 18th at 2:15pm. The link will be shared with all families in the next newsletter as well as in a separate email from the MS Office.
💻 Webex Access Reminder
When students are absent from school because of general travel or short term illness, they should simply check Google Classroom and email their teachers about any assignments.
Students have access to two-way Webex if they are sick with Covid or identified as a close contact. This week, students whose families have traveled to receive vaccinations will have access to one-way Webex.
🧑💻 Parent Technology Meetings
November 18
We know that the school/home partnership is very important in helping our students make positive choices.
On November 18th, we plan to host two parent sessions regarding technology and the online world of the adolescent. The first session will be at 1:00 pm and the second session will be at 7:00 pm. Both sessions will cover the same material, but will provide flexibility for parents who might not be able to attend the afternoon session. The Webex links will be emailed directly to parents next week.
In preparation for our sessions next week, we ask that parents participate in a survey about technology and online habits they see in their own children. It should not take more than 10 minutes and we will share the results during the presentation.
📄 Quarter 1 Progress Reports
Monday, November 15
Tuesday, November 16
Progress reports will be live for parents to see in PowerSchool on Monday, 15 November.
You can see information about PowerSchool and how to view the portal Viewing Grades and Comments in PowerSchool.
We will also be hosting a drop in session for parents answering questions about grades and comments in PowerSchool on Tuesday, 16 November from 9-9:45 in Ms. Cormier’s Webex.
🤝 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
November 25, 26
Middle School will be holding Parent/Student/Teacher Webex Conferences on Thursday and Friday November 25 and 26.
There will be no school on these two days. Parents and students will be able to sign up for a Webex conference with any of their Quarter 2 teachers. The sign-up link with instructions will be shared in a separate email to families soon.
💙 Movember
In October, AAS marked Pinktober to raise awareness of breast cancer research. In November, we will be marking Movember - which raises money to raise awareness of men’s health issues.
All MS students are allowed to wear BLUE clothing instead of uniform on Thursdays during the month of November.
🍁 Outdoor Recess
As the temperature continues to drop, students are still expected to go outside for our recesses each day.
This means students should come to school every day with appropriate clothing to be outside for 20 minutes - this means hat, gloves, scarf and a winter coat. Students also must bring an extra pair of shoes to school - one for outside wear and one for inside.
📊 MAP Parent Information Sessions
November 16, 18, 22
Beginning in mid-September, Grade 2 - 10 students participated in the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP®) testing, an externally-created and measured standardized test. Over the next two weeks, Kirsten Welbes, AAS Secondary Learning Coordinator will be offering 3 parent sessions, with the reports going home to parents after parent conferences on the 26th of November.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
We hope that all students and their families had a safe, restful break.
In the next week or so, the MS will begin a new way to monitor and support the well-being of our students. We will use an online tool called Pulse, which gives students a weekly opportunity to tell us how they are feeling. Here is a short FAQ document with additional information. If you have questions beyond what is provided here, please let us know.
MS advisories are continuing to explore topics related to digital safety and citizenship. This week, students are discussing cyberbullying, hate speech, and harassment, including how they can respond when they witness hurtful behavior.
One key term from the discussions is ‘upstander’; a student is being an upstander when they stand up and support someone, or stand up for their own principles and values. Standing up, however, can feel daunting to many teens, so advisors explore different ways of doing so, some less intimidating than others. For example:
- Confront the perpetrator: Say something.
- Ask them to explain: “Why is this funny? I don’t get it.”
- Reach out to the person being targeted to support them.
- Leave the chat where the situation is happening.
- Tell a trusted adult about the situation.
- Report or flag the post to the website or app.
- Raise awareness about hate speech at school or in your community.
Children benefit the most from their education when there is an effective partnership between school and home. This statement is especially true in the context of digital citizenship. A large part of students’ online lives are lived outside of school hours; but how students feel about those online lives often sticks with them as they come to school.
If you haven’t yet done so, please explore some of the parent topics found at commonsensemedia.org. And speak with your child about how they’re behaving online. Some parents find this Family Media Agreement to be a helpful resource; it is meant as a guideline for discussion, and can be adapted to the values you hold as a family.
If you would like to discuss your child, please email us, and we will arrange a time to meet.
October 27, 2021
What's Up
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!
🏁 End of Quarter 1
This week marks the end of Quarter 1.
Our MS students have had some excellent engagements over the last 9 weeks. From science experiments, to mathematical models; from shadow puppet theater to learning more about the forest just across the road. The learning has been engaging and thoughtful.
When we return from break, our new student directed MS Community Agreements as well as House assignments will be shared. It will be a great opportunity for our MS community to come together in some new ways.
📝 Reporting Progress
At the end of Quarter 1, the MS shares progress reports with students and parents.
Teachers will be providing feedback on all quarter long classes as well as information regarding the Approaches to Learning in all classes. Progress reports will be live for parents to see on Monday, 15 November.
Between now and November 9 (when we close PowerSchool to update progress reports) you can see how your student is doing in PowerSchool. You may use the document to Viewing Grades and Comments in PowerSchool to help guide you in finding information in the PowerSchool gradebook.
💻 Distance Learning
October 28, 29
As shared last week after the recent Mayor’s decree, on Thursday and Friday of this week (October 28 and 29), we will be moving to our Distance Learning schedule.
We shared some guidance in an email to all MS families on Monday, 25 October. However, you can also find a few more tips for a successful Distance Learning Experience below:
Structure at Home
- Establish and maintain clear routines about waking-up and getting ready for school during off campus days.
- Designate and maintain a clean and appropriate workspace.
- Limit screen time by encouraging “screen breaks” and having a technology curfew in evenings.
Have a question about something Distance Learning related? See our MS DL FAQs below!
🐧 Learning Pathway After the Break
Looking ahead, we will communicate with the AAS community on or before November 5 with information regarding the learning model as of November 8, 2021.
🎭 MS Play
Unfortunately we had to postpone the MS play - The Little Prince.
We plan to have the performances after the break. Please watch the newsletter for details about the livestream when we return.
📰 Parents as Partners - Tech Education
It is hard to avoid social media - as an adult and especially as a teenager.
Here is a great article from KQED that talks about ways both parents and educators can help students navigate social media experiences.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
The relatively sudden shift to distance learning may have caused stress to your student. If that is the case, please don’t hesitate to reach out to counselors or teachers. We are here to help.
Please be aware of the following process for families leaving AAS during or at the end of this school year.
Parents should notify:
- the Admissions Office
admissions@aas.ru - your child’s school counselor
james.villers@aas.ru for G8 families
iana.sigitova@aas.ru for G6 and G7 families - and the MS Office
ms.office@aas.ru
- We will send you our transcript request form
- The MS Office will organize the sending of academic reports and MAP scores
- If needed, counselors will help coordinate teacher recommendations
We hope that all families have a safe, healthy, and restful vacation, and we look forward to reconnecting after the break.
October 20, 2021
What's Up
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!
🎭 MS Play - The Little Prince
October 28, 14:15
The Little Prince will be visiting our planet next week.
Families will be able to enjoy the play via livestream on Thursday, October 28th at 2:15pm. The link will be shared with all families in the next newsletter as well as in a separate email from the MS Office.
🥳 Spirit Week
October 25 - 29
Next week the MS will be celebrating Spirit Days with dress up days.
Monday
Pajama Day
Tuesday
Sports Day
Wednesday
Pinktober
Wear your pink!
Thursday
Little Prince Day
Wear yellow or green or come as a Little Prince character
Friday
Halloween costume
You may wear your Halloween costume all day!
Please keep in mind that costumes should not include weapons and must be respectful to others and their cultures.
🏁 Quarter 1 Ends
October 29
Friday, October 29 will mark the end of Quarter 1 for the MS.
On November 9, we will temporarily close PowerSchool grades for teachers to be able to start entering marks and comments.
On November 15 PowerSchool will reopen and you will be able to see a progress update on your child’s Approaches to Learning and reports for quarter long classes like Health and Drama.
🤝 Parents as Partners
November 18
As we mentioned in last week’s What’s Up?, MS students are going to be spending some time in advisories talking about Integrity and what it looks like here at school as well as in their online world.
We also know that the school/home partnership is very important in helping our students make positive choices. On November 18, we plan to host two parent sessions regarding technology and adolescents. One of these sessions will be held during the day and one will be in the evening. Specific dates and times will be shared in next week’s newsletter.
In addition to these sessions, we plan to share some resources with parents regarding technology and teens. This week we would like to share two resources.
The first is an article from Harvard’s Usable Knowledge about “Digital Drama”.
This article explores how teens can receive support from peers and adults in their lives to deal with the drama in their digital world.
The second resource is from Common Sense Media and is the “Parents Ultimate Guide to Discord”.
Common Sense Media does reviews of frequently used media and Discord is a social app that is used by many of our MS students.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
“Digital citizenship is the responsible use of technology to learn, create, and participate” (Common Sense Media), and many students need direct instruction in how to achieve this responsibility.
Lessons in digital citizenship topics and themes, therefore, are happening during advisory in the coming days and weeks, and as needed in the months that follow. The aim of these coordinated efforts is to help create a more positive and supportive culture in the MS around the use of technology and media. And to encourage students to come to us when they’re struggling with anything related to this pervasive part of their lives.
Some of the broad themes we will cover:
- relationships and communication,
- cyberbullying,
- digital drama,
- hate speech,
- media balance and well-being.
Children benefit the most from their education when there is an effective partnership between school and home. This statement is especially true in the context of digital citizenship. A large part of students’ online lives are lived outside of school hours; but how students feel about those online lives often sticks with them as they come to school.
If you haven’t yet done so, please explore some of the parent topics found at commonsensemedia.org. And speak with your child about how they’re behaving online. Some parents find this Family Media Agreement to be a helpful resource; it is meant as a guideline for discussion, and can be adapted to the values you hold as a family.
If you would like to discuss your child, please email us, and we will arrange a time to meet.
October 13, 2021
What's Up
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!
💙 MS Assembly
This past Tuesday, the MS gathered for a Webex assembly.
Some highlights from the assembly were:
- Introduction to our MS Student Leadership Officers - President Vihaan G. and Vice President Soheun L.
- Integrity and what it looks like here at AAS as well as in the online world. We will be talking more about these topics in advisory over the next few weeks and throughout the school year.
- Reminders about uniforms as well as device use at break time.
- Some elective highlights from Quarter 1.
⭐ National Honor Society (NHS) - Peer Tutoring Program
HS students are offering a Peer Tutoring program - this can be useful to those students who feel like they need extra help with some of the subjects or just want to get ahead.
The program is free of charge. Students can sign up by filling out the Google Form below.
More information about the program will be emailed to all students directly.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
MS advisory time has recently been focused on the important social-emotional learning domains of Self-Awareness and Self-Management.
Activities and discussions have specifically centered on goal setting and overcoming obstacles. And the particular skill that many grade 6 and 7 students are learning is forming If-Then Plans.
Here’s a short example
For a student with the goal of getting to class on time, an If-Then Plan might be: IF I see my friends on the way to class, THEN I will say “hi” and move on so I’m not late.
Grade 8 students have been more focused on how they might use their many strengths to overcome obstacles, but the principle remains the same.
Finally, the MS counselors, with significant help and expertise from Mr. Permiakov in the HS, have created a short informational video for students. In it, we explain who we are, what we do, and why a student might want to meet with us. Watch the video below:
October 6, 2021
What's Up
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!
💝 Thank you to the PTO!
Thank you to the PTO for providing treats to the MS students today at lunch time!
🔔 No School for Students
October 7,8 and 11
There will be no school for students on October 7,8 and 11 due to professional development days for teachers.
✈️ International Travel Over the Long Weekend
If you choose to travel internationally over the long weekend, please keep in mind that, depending on the vaccination status, your child will be required to complete a 7 day quarantine, as well as provide a negative PCR test in order to return to campus.
More on international travel procedures can be viewed here. If you have any questions please feel free to address them to the Health Office.
📸 MS Photos
We have completed the MS Photos for this fall.
If your child wasn’t able to get his or her photo taken, he/she will have another opportunity in February.
🎨 MS Learning Snapshots
Our MS Art students have been engaged in art focus on the self - whether it is the Symbolism poster, the half self-portrait, or the lines and shading portraits.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
In preparation for an upcoming parent coffee, the MS principals and counselors once again explored the supremely useful website of Common Sense Media. They are an independent, non-profit organization based in the US, but with global reach.
Parents can set up a free account, which will give extended access to their articles, reviews, and tips. But even without an account, the site is worth a visit from time to time. Information is searchable by topic or age group; just hover the cursor over the “Parents need to know” link near the top of the page.
Or view this article for a sample of what Common Sense Media has to offer:
Parents' Ultimate Guide To YouTube
We encourage all students to take a break from their screens during the upcoming vacation days. Get some rest, get outside, and get a much needed short break.
And as always, if you would like to discuss your child, please email us, and we will arrange a time to meet.
September 29, 2021
What's Up
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!
📸 MS Photo Days
September 27 - 30
MS Students will have their annual school pictures taken September 27 - September 30.
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 - the schedule will be shared in a separate email Thursday morning. Students who are not on campus during the photo days will be able to have their picture taken in October during other classes. Moreover, official picture retake days are scheduled in February.
Outdoor Recess
As the weather is getting colder, students need to come to school prepared to be outside for recess twice a day.
This means coats, hats, and gloves when needed.
Pinktober
Every Wednesday in October
The MS is joining ranks with the HS to raise awareness for Breast Cancer research by participating in Pinktober.
Every Wednesday in October, students are allowed to wear PINK clothing instead of the regular uniform.
🔔 Absences
If your child is going to be out of school, whether it is for part of a day, the whole day or an extended period of time please let us know by contacting the MS Office.
This will help us let teachers know about any upcoming absences.
No school for students
October 7, 8 and 11
There will be no school for students on October 7, 8 and 11 due to professional development days for teachers.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
MS is a time when students are beginning to develop values, interests, and skills that will become integral parts of their identity. But it is also a time when students may worry about the perceptions of others; and that worry may impact truly healthy identity development.
You can help your student with some of these complexities by having conversations at home. Some questions you could use to spark a conversation around identity:
- What do you think about the phrase ‘just be yourself’? What does it mean to you?
- How can trying to fit in with a group affect your ability to be yourself?
- Can you be yourself when you're with a group of people whose values are different from yours? What can make it easier to be yourself in that situation?
- Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in with the people around you? Were you able to be yourself? Why or why not?
On a related note, this short video from ParenTeen Connect offers tips on how to get talking with your teenager.
If you have questions or concerns about your student, please get in touch, and we will arrange a time to meet.
September 22, 2021
What's Up
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!
😷 Close Contact Procedures
Several parents have had questions regarding our close contact procedures here at school.
First, our standard procedure can be found on our AAS COVID Response Flowchart, which is located on the school website.
There are also some questions around vaccinations for students. We have provided answers to several of these questions in this document: Parent Questions - MS Close Contacts.
🐧 MS Discovery Day
On Monday, 20 September we held our first Discovery Day built around advisory activities during the last block of the day.
Students worked as advisory teams to complete a photo scavenger hunt around the school, build a tower out of spaghetti, tape and a marshmallow. Watch the AAS social media pages for photos later this week, or check the Student News section of the newsletter!
☕️ Parent Coffee
Thank you to those parents who attended our first MS Parent Coffee of the year.
During the coffee we shared the MS Goals, some photos of our Discovery Day activities, and answered parent questions. You can find the recording of the meeting and the slide deck (which includes the student videos that were soundless yesterday) below.
Watch the Recording See the Slides
We hope to have more opportunities to engage with parents this year. If there is a topic you would like us to cover, please complete this form 21-22 Parent Coffee Topics.
📸 MS Photo Days
September 27 - 30
MS Students will have their annual school pictures taken September 27 - September 30.
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.
Those families who need to purchase a white shirt and a tie are able to do that by placing an order via the Google Form below.
The deadline for orders is next Monday, September 27th at 8:00.
Photos will be taken during Humanities class - the schedule will be shared in a separate email Thursday morning. Students who are not on campus during the photo days will be able to have their picture taken in October during other classes. Moreover, official picture retake days are scheduled in February.
🔔 Absences
If your child is going to be out of school, whether it is for part of a day, the whole day or an extended period of time please let us know by contacting the MS Office.
This will help us let teachers know about any upcoming absences.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
Now that Fall MAP testing is complete, MS advisories will spend some of their weekly time on social and emotional learning (SEL), which is a fundamental part of our MS.
SEL “is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”
During this first quarter, all grade levels will focus on the overarching theme of Mindsets and Goals, but each grade will have a slightly different take on that theme.
In the next week or so:
- Grade 6 will describe challenges they might face as they start middle school, and identify resources where they can get help.
- Grade 7 will be able to explain how practicing something difficult helps the brain grow new neural pathways.
- Grade 8 will be able to name unique and important aspects of their identities, in order to build on their strengths and to consider their personal values.
If you have questions about social and emotional learning in the MS, or if you would like to speak about your child, please get in touch via email.
September 15, 2021
What's Up
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!
💙 MS Common Agreements
MS students have been working on identifying common agreements as to what it means to be a community of integrity.
Grade level agreements have been collated and then students will select what our MS Common Agreements will be for this school year.
🔐 PowerSchool
Please remember to activate your PowerSchool account as this will allow you to receive emails and updates from your student’s teachers.
If you are not able to access PowerSchool, please email distance.learning@aas.ru.
📈 MAP Testing
September 16, 17 & 20
Middle school will be MAP testing on September 16, 17 and 20.
Students should come with their laptops fully charged. To prepare, students must install the NWEA Lockdown Browser app.
⭐️ Discovery Day Afternoon - Post-MAP Testing
Monday, September 20
On Monday, 20 September, MS students will engage in Discovery Day Activities for the last 90 minutes of the day.
These are a great opportunity for students to bond with their classmates, learn some new skills, and come together as an advisory and as a grade-level team.
Activities planned include:
- a forest walk
- advisory team challenge
- scavenger hunt
💻 End of One-way Webex
As part of our phased approach to the start of the school year we are now approaching the end of our one-way Webex access for students not on campus.
Beginning Monday, Sept 20th, AAS will no longer be able to have regular Webex access for those students.
If you believe your child will not be on campus for an extended period of time after Sept 20, please contact the MS Office.
☕️ Parent Coffee
September 21, 14:00
On September 21 at 14:00, we will be having our first virtual parent coffee of the year.
Parent coffees are great chances to hear about middle school topics of interest. The first parent coffee will include sharing our MS Goals for the year as well as providing time for questions from parents. MS Leadership and Counselors are also looking to have some single-topic coffees this year, but would like to hear from parents what topics are of of the greatest interest to them.
Please take some time to complete the interest form below:
👕 MS Uniform/Dress Code
When students are on campus, it is important that they are in school uniform.
This means blue/black/khaki trousers or a skirt and a red or white polo shirt.
If it is a PE day, students should wear their PE kit to school. Our Penguin Shop is not yet up and running, so if you are a new family and cannot find red or white polo shirts in Moscow, students can wear an all red or white shirt until one can be sourced.
📸 MS Photo Days
September 27 - 30
MS Students will have their annual school pictures taken September 27-30.
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. We are currently working with the Penguin Shop to procure AAS ties, particularly for our new families.
Photos will be taken during your student’s Humanities class and the schedule will be shared with parents in an email next week. For those students who are not on campus yet, there will be picture retakes scheduled in February.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
This week, we would like to share a couple of highly recommended parenting resources with you.
Common Sense Media provides families with a wealth of information and advice related to the ever-changing world of technology and media.
When you visit their site, be sure to check the “Parents Need to Know” section for articles and resources on important tech topics, like Online Privacy and Safety, Social Media, Screen Time, and much more. You don’t need an account with them to access much of their content; but a parent account is free, and makes available even more worthwhile material.
ParenTeen Connect is another valuable site
"...designed by social-emotional learning experts as an at-home, family-engagement resource. This online experience is loaded with videos, resources, and useful advice to help teens and the adults in their lives address hot-button topics,” like Screen Time, Independence, Responsibility, and Communication.
If you would like to discuss your child’s well-being, please reach out via email, and we will set up a time to meet.
September 8, 2021
What's Up
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!
🌃 Back to School Night Thanks
Thank you parents for attending our 2021-2022 Back to School Night evening last Wednesday.
If you were not able to attend, you can find the slide deck and recording from the evening linked below. Remember, you can always reach out to teachers if you have any particular questions about your student or a class.
View the Slides Watch the Recording
☕️ MS Parent Coffee
September 21
On September 21st we will be having our first virtual parent coffee of the year.
Parent coffees are great chances to hear about middle school topics of interest. The first parent coffee will include sharing our MS Goals for the year as well as providing time for questions from parents.
🏫 MS Assembly
Yesterday we had our first MS Assembly of the year.
Students heard about our Community theme for the year as well as more about our core value Integrity. We also took the time to review some important information regarding expectations in the Middle School this year.
🌐 Expand Your Impact
Another part of our MS Assembly discussed the student-driven service learning cohort started in the CEESA region.
This year the cohort is challenging students in Grade 6-12 to take action through Expand Your Impact. The challenge involves a conference in September and March and ongoing collaborative work with other CEESA schools in between the conferences. Our High School students are already involved and you can see some of them in the video linked below which highlights service and our need to be involved and make a difference. MS who are interested in participating can find more information on their grade level Google Classroom.
🗓 MAP Testing
September 16, 17, 20
Middle school will be MAP testing on September 16, 17th and 20th.
Students should come with their laptops fully charged. Schedules will be adjusted to provide time for a morning testing session.
📘 Morning Library Hours for MS
We are excited to announce that MS students will have access to the Library from 8:00-8:30 each morning to check out, return, and just look for new books.
🐧 After School in the MS
Students are allowed to stay after school if they are:
- Involved in after school activities, athletics, or the MS play
- Working with a teacher
Once students are finished with their activity, they should head home. If they need to wait for a HS sibling or a bus, they should do so on the couches at the main entrance of the school.
📚 Current Learning Pathway
AAS remains focused on ensuring that we are able to continue in our current learning model, Modified Full On Campus.
We also know that not all families are able to be in Moscow yet, please review this document for how we will continue to support your child’s learning until they are able to be on campus.
Please note that September 3rd was the last day that we provided two-way Webex access for students that are off campus. September 6th we begins a two-week phase of one-way Webex access for students that are off campus.
If you know that your child will not be able to join us on campus by September 17th please reach out to the MS Office so we can connect about your situation.
MS Counselors
James Villers | Grade 8 | james.villers@aas.ru
Iana Sigitova | Grades 6 & 7 | iana.sigitova@aas.ru
In advisory this week, conversations and activities have centered on creating MS Common Agreements, with the goal of strengthening our community.
While there may be variety in how advisors are working on this task, the common threads running through all of the advisories are:
- student voice in creating these agreements;
- the AAS Core Value of “Integrity” as a way to focus the discussion.
Please stay tuned to the MS Newsletter for additional information about our MS Common Agreements.
🔔 For Grade 8 Parents
This week, students in grades 8-12 will take part in an anonymous, informational survey from FCD (Freedom from Chemical Dependency).
FCD is a global non-profit substance abuse prevention organization. AAS has sponsored FCD visits since 2009 in alternating years, and has gathered data since that time as well. This data helps inform leadership on the needs of our community, and assists presenters in preparing for their visit. If you have any questions, please speak with Mr. Villers or MS Leadership.
Your MS counselors have begun short, individual meetings with students. These general check-in conversations are informal, and typically focused on how a student is feeling about school work and/or friendships. We always end with an invitation to get back in touch if they ever feel the need.
If you would like to discuss your child’s well-being, please reach out via email, and we will set up a time to meet.
September 1, 2021
What's Up
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!
🌃 Back to School Night
Tonight at 18:00
We are looking forward to seeing parents tonight at our Virtual MS Back to School Night.
All parents were sent their students’ schedules with Webex links to join the teacher’s classroom. If you did not receive an email with a PDF schedule attached, please contact the Middle School Office.
We will begin in Ms. Cormier’s Webex at 18:00. Leadership and counselors will be there to share some information about life in the MS. Then, you will be able to move through the course of the student’s day starting with Advisory and meeting all of the different teachers at the assigned times. Please remember, this is a time to learn about your child’s teacher as well as the class. If you have specific questions about your child, you can follow up with an email or request for a separate meeting.
🌐 PowerSchool Portal
This past Monday families should have received information regarding setting up an account in PowerSchool, our new Student Information System.
This email contains directions as well as the codes you need to link to your student(s), specifically called the Access ID and Access Password. If you did not get the PowerSchool email earlier this week, please email distance.learning@aas.ru.
📚 Current Learning Pathway
AAS remains focused on ensuring that we are able to continue in our current learning model, Modified Full On Campus.
We also know that not all families are able to be in Moscow yet, please review this document for how we will continue to support your child’s learning until they are able to be on campus.
Please note that September 3 is the last day that we will be able to provide two-way Webex access for students that are off campus. Starting September 6 we will begin a two-week phase of one-way Webex access for students that are off campus.
If you know that your child will not be able to join us on campus by September 17 please reach out to the MS Office so we can connect about your situation.
🆔 MS ID Badges
We are in the process of getting all of our new students ID badges.
These badges are used for printing, purchasing lunch at school and identification. All students should have a valid badge. If your child is a returning Grade 7 or 8 student and does not have a badge, they should stop at the Security Desk at the Main Entrance to order a new one.
❇️ MS Electives
MS Electives are up and running.
Students are engaged in everything from Romeo and Juliet, to Outdoor Education, iPhoneography, Media Production and more!
MS Counselor
During Back to School Night, you will have a chance to hear from your child’s advisor.
Advisory is a key component of how the MS supports your child’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and the MS Counselors work closely with the advisors to help that learning. In addition, advisors rely frequently on a research-based learning program called Second Step® Middle School. Comprehensive in nature and developmentally appropriate for each grade level, Second Step is designed to improve students’ social-emotional skills, such as emotion management, impulse control, problem solving, and empathy, skills that are important both in and outside of the classroom.
Unit themes include:
- Mindsets and Goals
Helping students develop a growth mindset and resilience, as well as in making plans for their own success. - Recognizing Bullying and Harassment
In addition to learning how to recognize these, students will learn strategies to help them safely stand up safely to bullying, and to respond appropriately to harassment. - Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions
Students learn how to recognize strong emotions and unhelpful thoughts, and to apply strategies to manage their feelings and reduce stress. - Managing Relationships and Social Conflict
Students learn strategies for developing and maintaining healthy relationships, perspective-taking, and dealing with conflict.
Thank you for all that you do to support your child’s social-emotional learning.
If you have questions about any of the above, or if you wish to discuss your child, please email your counselor.
August 25, 2021
What's Up
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!
Welcome back MS Families!
It was fantastic to have students back on campus yesterday. Students found their way around the building, met their new teachers, and reconnected with friends or made new ones. We are looking forward to an exciting year of learning and growing together.
🎉 Back to School Night
Wednesday, September 1
Next Wednesday, September 1st, we would like to welcome all MS parents and guardians to participate in our Virtual Back to School Night. You will have an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers as well as hear about the courses they are taking.
- The evening will run from 18:00 until 21:00
- We will begin with a presentation from Ms. Cormier and Mr. Lopez
- Then parents will “move” from class to class following Webex links for each teacher
More details regarding the evening will be sent out early next week.
🏅 PE Classes - Kids at home
For the first two weeks of the school year, teachers are running two-way Webex into their classrooms.
However, PE classes are difficult through two-way Webex. If your child is participating from home, they should check in for PE class attendance with Ms. Tamara, our attendance secretary. Then, the PE teachers have provided at home learning activities for students to engage in. These activities can be found on their PE Google Classroom.
✍ Elective Sign-up
MS Students are learning about their Q1 Elective options in assemblies this week.
Students are able to sign up for an elective that will run opposite of music class. You can find the Elective options on the MS webpage. Please note, for Grades 7 and 8 where there are mixed classes, not all electives are available due to being offered in different blocks.
📝 First Day Packs
Yesterday your child’s advisor shared important documents for you to review, update if necessary, sign and return to the MS Office.
Please make sure to ask your daughter or son about this folder and go over the documents with them. For any questions please contact the MS Office.
😷 Covid-19
For any questions about our Covid-19 safety protocols and procedures, or the school’s previous communication on this important topic, please visit this portion of our website.
📖 Learning in the MS
Students and teachers were getting to know each other on the first day of school.
Here are some photos from a few classrooms.
MS Counselor
Welcome to the start of the new school year.
The MS Counseling team consists:
- Ms. Iana Sigitova, Grade 6 and 7 Counselor
- Mr. James Villers, Grade 8 Counselor
Studies have shown that MS students benefit most from the collaboration of the adults around them. This year, we look forward to working with you parents, and with the MS teachers and leadership, in support of your children’s continued academic, social, and emotional growth.
We use the newsletter for a variety of purposes, including updating you about parent events (like coffee chats or book discussions) or linking to websites and articles related to parenting. If you discover a resource or article that you think might be interesting or helpful to our school community, please do not hesitate to forward it to either one of us. The same invitation applies to parent forums: if you would like to request a particular topic of discussion, just let us know.
Please contact us if you would ever like to discuss your child. Email is absolutely the best way to get in touch. We will get back to you as soon as possible and schedule a time to meet. During the start of this year at least, any meetings will be virtual.
August 18, 2021
MS 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!
Dear Middle School Families,
We would like to welcome back all of our returning Middle School families as well as extend a special welcome to our new families. We are excited to have you all as a part of our MS community.
As the summer holiday comes to a close, we hope that you and your family have been able to relax and recharge. Perhaps you were finally able to reconnect with family and friends outside of Russia. If you weren’t able to travel abroad to see family, hopefully you were able to spend some quality time together here.
In looking back at the 2020-2021 school year, it is amazing how flexible, resilient and dynamic our students, teachers, and families were. Being able to adjust to different learning pathways all while maintaining quality learning experiences is not an easy task. Although it wasn’t always perfect, our community came together to learn and grow from those experiences. We hope to use what we learned in the last year to make 2021-2022 an even better year.
❇️ Open House and On-Campus Orientation
August 23
An email with a detailed schedule for the Open House will be shared with our community on Saturday, August 21. Some MS students will get an invitation from the MS Office for an in-person orientation on Monday morning.
Grade 6 Orientation
We are excited to be able to invite our Grade 6 students to campus for an open house orientation on Monday, 23 August from 9:00 - 10:30.
During this time Grade 6 students will get to meet their advisors, tour the Middle School and learn about life as a 6th Grader at AAS. This is open to ALL Grade 6 students - new and returning. Parents, if your child will attend this orientation, please RSVP to the invitation that will be sent out directly to Grade 6 families.
New Student Orientation - Grades 7 and 8
We are also excited to invite our new students in Grade 7 and 8 to campus for an open house orientation on Monday, 23 August from 9:00 - 10:30.
During this time students will get to tour the Middle School and learn about life as a student at AAS. This is only for Grade 7 and 8 students who are new to AAS. Parents, if your child will attend this orientation, please RSVP to the invitation that will be sent out directly to new Grade 7 and 8 families.
🖼 Want to be Included in our Virtual Opening Ceremony?
Share a picture of yourself holding a poster you made that describes how you feel about your AAS friends, teachers, and other community members.
Share your picture here
Hurry! We are accepting submissions only until this Friday.
🗓 Increased Scheduling Flexibility
The 2021-2022 school year holds some changes for the Middle School.
In order to have more flexibility in scheduling students, we will be moving away from the cohort model - having students travel as groups to Humanities/Math/Science. This will provide more flexibility to focus on student needs for particular classes.
🍏 Improved Student Learning
We will also be combining Grades 7 and 8 for music and world language classes.
This decision was based on research and work teachers have done with consultants on how to best facilitate student learning. This will allow students to be grouped with peers more similar to their level. Throughout the year we will evaluate these structural shifts to see if these changes will remain in the years to come.
🔵 Core Values
This year AAS will be focusing on the core value of Integrity - the idea of being honest and honorable.
MS students will have an opportunity to delve deeper into what Integrity looks like and sounds like at AAS.
📚 New Grade Books
We are also transitioning our grade books in MS and HS from JumpRope to PowerSchool.
This update will provide a common platform for the two divisions and will provide you and your child improved communication and connection with their classes and learning. We will be in touch again shortly with information on how to login PowerSchool and follow your child’s learning progression.
🙏 MS Counselors
Another exciting change is that our counseling department will return back to our previous model of having two counselors working with our Middle School students and families.
Iana Sigitova, our new counselor, will be responsible for Grades 6 and 7
James Villers will be working with Grades 8 and 9
Both counselors are looking forward to working with you this year.
🏫 Starting The Year On Campus
Based on the current epidemiological situation and our expanded faculty and staff vaccination rates, we plan for the Middle School to return to the Full On-Campus Learning Pathway in just a few short weeks.
We will continue to employ many of the mitigations that allowed us to protect student on-campus learning for extended periods of time while still including things like after-school activities through Penguin Life.
Understandably, there is always a possibility that the Covid situation might impact individuals’ ability to be on campus. We do expect all students in Moscow to be on campus when school begins, but also realize that there may be some families that are a bit late in joining us. The details for our phased opening for those impacted families can be found by following the link below.
As always, we will continue to be responsive to the developing situation.
⚡️ What’s Up in the MS?
During the school year, there are several ways you can keep up to date with what is happening in the Middle School:
- the “What’s Up” Newsletter
(you are reading it now)
- AAS Calendar
(scroll to the bottom of the page to see it)
- MS Facebook Page
(click here to visit the page)
We will also hold four parent coffees throughout the year to share what is going on in the MS in more detail. The first virtual coffee will be held Tuesday, September 21. We look forward to seeing you on Webex.
Finally, we are truly looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and can’t wait to see students back on campus August 24!
Kind regards,
Karisti Cormier
MS Principal
Alexander Lopez-Barton
MS Associate Principal
June 16, 2021
What's Up
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!
☝️ Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony
On Monday we were able to hold our modified Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony.
The link to the video of the ceremony was shared with Grade 8 students and parents Wednesday morning and the photos will be available on Flickr by end of this week.
📊 Report Cards
Semester 2 Report Cards will be emailed out on Wednesday, June 16 at the end of the day.
Report cards will be sent digitally in the same manner as all other reports this year.
📚 Leaving Packages & Yearbooks
If you still have not picked up the leaving package or the yearbook please contact the MS Office to arrange a pick-up.
❤️ Gratitude
From the MS Faculty we would like to extend a hearty thank you to all of our MS families for a great year.
Although it has been challenging, students, teachers and parents have worked together to find success. To those of you who are returning, have a safe, relaxing and wonderful holiday. To those of you who are moving on, farewell, but remember you will always be a part of the AAS family! Once a Penguin, always a Penguin!
We hope you all have a fantastic summer and take this time to read, relax, and rejuvenate!
Stay healthy!
June 9, 2021
What's Up
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!
☝️ Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony Change
June 14
On Monday, June 14, we will be holding the Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony for students and advisors during the first block of the day.
Photos and video will be taken and shared with families.
Students should come to school dressed nicely. They do NOT need to wear their formal uniform. If students want to, they may bring a change of clothes for the rest of the school day and we will provide time for them to change before their next class.
Typical dress for ceremony:
- Girls – dress pants, skirt, or dress
- Boys – dress pants, shirt and tie, jacket optional
- No jeans or sweatpants
❤️ Thank You PTO
We would like to thank the PTO for all of their support this year with the MS Socials.
The final social was held last Friday, June 4. All three grades had a wonderful time hanging out with their peers.
🚙 Early Departures
The last day of school for students is Wednesday, June 16.
Teaching and learning does continue up until the end, so we request that you do not take your child out of school early. However, if your student will be leaving school before June 16, you must contact the MS Office ahead of time as there are check-out procedures that all students must complete before they depart.
🗓 Last day of school
June 16
Please note that we will not have a late start on Wednesday, June 16. Classes will start at 8:30. Students will be dismissed at 12:00 on that day.
🤪 MS Fun Day
June 15
Next Tuesday, June 15, the MS will have an alternative schedule in the afternoon, with various team building activities within each grade level.
Before lunch we will have a schedule that includes all of our regular day 2 classes.
MS Counselor
In the spirit of the end of this oh-so-challenging school year, I’m sharing two articles related to recharging and relaxing during the upcoming, much-needed summer.
- How to Have a Healthy, Brainy, and Fun Summer offers ideas to keep our students’ brains active, while still allowing for fun.
- Celebrate Summer reminds us - students and parents - that summer is meant to be savored, and that the sooner we get down to enjoying ourselves, the more rejuvenating the summer weeks can be.
June 2, 2021
What's Up
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!
🎉 MS Socials
Friday, 15:45 - 17:45
This week we will hold our last MS Social of the year for Grade 8 students.
The social will be from 15:45 - 17:45 and held on the North Field and 4-Square area.
The theme for the social is Beach/Summer.
Students will be able to dance, hang out with their friends, play games, and have some great food supplied by the PTO.
If your child’s bus schedule needs to change due to the social, please contact TLS at aas@transportlinkservice.net. Friday, 10:00 is the latest to place a bus request.
🎭 MS Drama - In the Middle
Congratulations to the cast of In the Middle who put on a great performance last week.
We apologize for any issues that you may have had with the sound quality.
📜 Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony Change
Due to rising case numbers in Moscow and on campus, we will be shifting our Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony to a student-only function.
We will shift the time and provide a recording of the ceremony for families to watch. Details will be sent to Grade 8 families by email.
📊 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.
📖 Read-a-Thon
The MS READ-A-THON took place from Thursday April 29, 2021 - Friday, May 14, 2021.
During that week, the AAS Middle School read a staggering 89,141 total minutes. In the Color House race, the Humboldts and Chinstraps read for a combined total of 28,835 minutes. However, the Macaronis house led the way with a total of 21,642 minutes while the Galapagos and Rockhoppers houses finished close behind with 19,551 and 19,113 minutes, respectively.
The goal of this initiative was to raise money for the Noy House & Vyshegorod Resource School.
The AAS community thanks you for making a difference and pledging to one of these causes. If you didn’t make a pledge, but would like to still donate, you may do so through the following ways:
- Noy House
- Vyshegorod School
Cash can be sent in an envelope with students and delivered to the MS Office marked with the following:- Student Name
- Amount
- Vyshegorod Resource School
👋 Early Departures
The last day of school for students is Wednesday, June 16th.
Teaching and learning does continue up until the end, so we request that you do not take your child out of school early.
However, if your student will be leaving school before June 16th, you must contact the MS Office - ms.office@aas.ru ahead of time as there are check-out procedures that all students must complete before they depart.
🗓 Last day of school
Wednesday, June 16
Please note that we will not have a late start on Wednesday, June 16th.
Classes will start at 8:30. Students will be dismissed at 12 on that day.
MS Counselor
This week, I’m once again sharing the short video I made for those families leaving AAS this year.
Watch 2021 Successful Transitions Video
One key facet of saying goodbye - whether it’s for the summer or forever - is expressing the gratitude we feel for the friends and community members who have had a positive impact on our lives. In a community like ours, and during the sort of year we’ve all had, that step should feel necessary for everyone, whether we’re leaving or staying. And fortunately, saying “thank you” has significant mental and physical health benefits, even outside the context of saying good-bye.
If you’re interested in learning more about the positive power gratitude can have on our bodies, minds, and relationships, you’ll find details in this article, “Why Gratitude is Good,” published by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.
The article includes a thorough list of the many benefits gratitude can have, as well as suggestions on how to tap into this powerful force for well-being.
May 26, 2021
What's Up
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!
🎉 MS Socials
June 4
Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring our Grade 6 and Grade 7 socials the last two weeks.
We have one more social coming up for Grade 8s on Friday, June 4. Students will be able to dance, hang out with their friends, play games, and have some great food supplied by the PTO. Transportation information will be shared in next week’s newsletter.
🎭 MS Play - In the Middle
Thursday, May 27
Next Thursday, 27 May, MS drama students will perform their series of scenes entitled In the Middle.
The performance will be held during the last block of the school day for a select audience of students in order to maintain our Covid mitigations. The play will also be live streamed and recorded for families. The performance will begin at 14:15, and you can find the live stream on the official AAS YouTube channel.
😷 House Masks
During Quarter 3, Ms. O’Neal-Lopez’s Mask Decorating elective developed creative ways to decorate as well as design masks.
One of the tasks was to design masks for our House system. The student body voted on their favorite design. The winning designer was Gaeon K and here you can see her House mask for the Galapagos.
Students will be receiving their House masks starting this week.
🌅 Discovery Days
We had three fantastic Discovery Days last week in the Middle School.
Students engaged in sessions led by their peers, competed in a photo scavenger hunt down at the beach and made their way around Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo Park with a topographic map! You can find some photos from last week below.
🧑🎓 Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony
Monday, June 14, 16:30
Save the date!
The Middle School is pleased to announce that we are planning to hold the Grade 8 Moving-up Ceremony on Monday, June 14 at 16:30. This date and time will allow us to invite parents to campus for the event, as all other students will have departed for the day. The ceremony will be held outdoors on the North Field. Only immediate family will be able to attend. Next week we will send out an invitation directly to Grade 8 families.
MS Counselor
📷 MS Student Pictures Slideshow
Friday, June 4
If your family is leaving the MS this year, please remind your child to send me 2-3 of their favorite pictures from their time at AAS before Friday, June 4.
I am creating a good-bye slideshow. In June, we will email a link to the completed presentation, so please help make sure your child sends pictures, even if your family is leaving before mid-June. Looking through pictures together can even provide some necessary closure during this time of transition.
In addition, I have made a short video with some thoughts on transitions. I hope you find it helpful, and will get in touch if you have any questions.
Watch 2021 Successful Transitions Video
May 19, 2021
What's Up
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!
📊 MAP Testing
May 20
MS has one more day of MAP testing this week.
On Thursday, students will take the Language test. MAP make-ups have also begun and students will be notified.
🎉 MS Socials
May 21
This Friday we will be hosting the Grade 7 Social.
Students will be able to dance, hang out with their friends, play games, and have some great food supplied by the PTO.
If your child’s bus schedule needs to change due to the social, please contact TLS at aas@transportlinkservice.net.
Friday, 10:00 is the latest to place a bus request. If there is rain on Friday, May 21, we will need to postpone the social to another date. We will make the call on whether the social will go ahead on Thursday afternoon.
Dates for the other MS Socials:
-
Grade 8 - Friday, June 4, 15:45 - 17:45
🌅 Discovery Days
May 20
Thursday, May 20, is our last MS Discovery Day.
Students have had some great fun over the last two days and look forward to the final day. In case of inclement weather, we will have a regular school day. Please make sure students are coming with hats, appropriate clothing, water bottles, sunscreen, and a packed lunch (if they are headed to the beach).
Grade 6. Campus | BBQ lunch
Grade 7. Forest | Cafeteria lunch
Grade 8. Music rehearsal / Beach | Bring a packed lunch
🎭 MS Play - In the Middle
Thursday, May 27
Next Thursday, 27 May, MS drama students will perform their series of scenes entitled In the Middle.
The performance will be held during the last block of the school day for a select audience of students in order to maintain our Covid mitigations. The play will also be live streamed and recorded for families. More information about the live-stream and recording will be shared in next week’s “What’s Up”.
🧑🎓 Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony
Monday, June 14, 16:30
Save the date!
The Middle School is pleased to announce that we are planning to hold the Grade 8 Moving-up Ceremony on Monday, June 14 at 16:30. This date and time will allow us to invite parents to campus for the event, as all other students will have departed for the day. The ceremony will be held outdoors on the North Field. Only immediate family will be able to attend. As we get closer to the date we will send out more information.
MS Counselor
📷 MS Student Pictures Slideshow
If your family is leaving the MS this year, please remind your child to send me 2-3 of their favorite pictures from their time at AAS, so I can include them in a goodbye slideshow.
It would be good if I had those photos as soon as possible. In June, we will email a link to the completed presentation, so please help make sure your child sends pictures, even if your family is leaving before mid-June.
Looking through pictures together can even provide some necessary closure during this time of transition.
- April 14, 2021
- March 31, 2021
- March 24, 2021
- March 17, 2021
- March 10, 2021
- March 3, 2021
- February 24, 2021
April 14, 2021
What's Up
Welcome Back!
We hope students and families had a great spring break. It is wonderful to have everyone back on campus. MS students have been taking advantage of the sunshine at both recess times. Please keep in mind that even in gray weather and misty rain, students head outside, so they should come prepared with the appropriate clothing.
🩺 Health Screening
April 13 - 20
The Health Office will be doing Health Screening of our MS students April 13-20.
This consists of height/weight, vision and hearing testing. If your child wears glasses, please make sure they have them at school the day of screening. If parents do not wish to have their children screened, they should notify the Health Office prior to the scheduled date of screening. Health screening is done privately and the results will be kept in your child's school health record.
👕 School Uniform
When students are on campus, it is important that they are in school uniform.
This means blue/black/khaki trousers or a skirt and a red or white polo shirt. If it is a PE day, students should wear their PE kit to school.
📈 Quarter 3 Reporting
April 20
Friday, April 2 marked the end of Quarter 3. If your child is struggling to meet course expectations, teachers will leave a comment in JumpRope by April 20. Comments from the quarter long classes, Drama, Health and Electives will also be live on April 20. Full Semester 2 report cards will be sent in June.
🎨 Grade 8 Artwork
Students learned about symbolism and then designed a work of art that would visually communicate their life story. These impressive works of art capture the identities of each student while also showcasing their artistic skills in various media.
MS Counselor
As we begin the fourth quarter, please be aware of the following process for families leaving AAS at the end of this school year:
- Please notify our admissions office, admissions@aas.ru, and CC me, james.villers@aas.ru
- I will send you our transcript request form
- I will then help coordinate teacher recommendations, if needed
- MS Office will coordinate the sending of academic reports
📰 "Parents, Stop Talking about the Lost Year"
This article dives into the idea that MS students have enough resiliency in their brains and their emotions to successfully emerge from the isolation and limits the pandemic has forced on them.
Here is the quote I find most encouraging: “Getting a full picture of what’s going on with middle schoolers — and being ready to help them — (experts) agreed, requires holding two seemingly contradictory ideas simultaneously in mind: The past year has been terrible. And most middle schoolers will be fine.”
This is an optimistic perspective, and one that I find helpful in my work with AAS families. If your child is someone who continues to struggle with life’s current demands, please get in touch with me or your child’s teachers.
March 31, 2021
What's Up
🚦 Conferences Update
We had two fantastic days of conferences on March 25 and 26.
Thank you to those students, parents, and teachers who participated. We had excellent attendance as well:
- Grade 6 - 90%
- Grade 7 - 87%
- Grade 8 - 80%
🍭 PTO - Thank you!
We would like to thank the PTO for provisioning snacks for teachers on conference days as well as providing ice cream treats to MS students on the first day of Modified Full On-Campus Learning.
Teachers and students were very happy with their treats!
📚 PTO Book Fair
This Thursday and Friday the PTO is sponsoring a Used Book Sale in the MS Hallway.
PTO is asking for a minimum 200 RUB donation, which the students can put in the donation box displayed on the table. The students can choose up to 5 books to take home.
🥸 Spirit Days
Thursday & Friday
We have two days left of our MS Spirit Week:
- Thursday - Crazy Hat/Hair Day
- Friday - Pajama Day
📷 Picture make-ups
April 1 & April 2
Students who were not on campus for our previous picture days will be able to have their school photos taken this Thursday or Friday.
Students should come dressed in their formal school uniform.
🩺 Health Screening
April 13 - 20
The Health Office will be doing Health Screening of our MS students April 13-20.
This consists of height/weight, vision and hearing testing. If your child wears glasses, please make sure they have them at school the day of screening. If parents do not wish to have their children screened, they should notify the Health Office prior to the scheduled date of screening. Health screening is done privately and the results will be kept in your child's school health record.
🌱 Spring Break
We would like to wish all of you a restful and relaxing break.
See you back on Monday, April 12.
Please remember that if students have traveled outside of Russia for the break, they will need to quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus.
MS Counselor
The combination of students on campus and the sunny weather have brought an almost festive feeling to the MS this week. The MS team, however, is still aware that this transition might be easier for some students than others. If your child is struggling with any aspect of being back on campus, please get in touch with me or your child’s teachers.
A recent NY Times article does such a fantastic job of explaining anxiety in a teen-friendly way that I just had to share the article with teachers and with you: “Teenagers, Anxiety Can Be Your Friend.” The article breaks down a few common myths around anxiety, and draws a clear distinction between helpful and unhelpful anxiety. My favorite quote from the article: “Try to view anxiety as your own personal warning system. It’s more often a friend than a foe, one that will help you notice when things are on the wrong track.”
Have a safe and relaxing April break.
March 24, 2021
What's Up
🐣 Newest (and tiniest) Member of the Middle School
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Suzanne Lambert, MS French, on the birth of her son, Zachary Frederick Groves, Monday, 22 March.
🚦 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
March 25 & March 26
Middle School Parent/Student/Teacher Webex Conferences are this Thursday and Friday March 25 and 26.
You should have received notifications when you signed up for conferences. Below is an example of that notification and the arrow points to where in the email you can click to see all of your appointments in one place.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the MS Office.
📘 Learning Pathways
Monday, March 29
We continue to prioritize the Learning Pathway that has been determined by the school for each class, grade level, or learning cohort. All students are expected to be on campus for in person learning when they are scheduled to. Some learning experiences will continue to only be available to those students while on campus and in person. We appreciate your collaboration so that we can provide the best learning environment for each student.
Beginning Monday, March 29th, the MS will start Modified Full On-campus Learning. All students in grades 6-8 are expected to be on campus on March 29th - which will be a Day 1. This week we had grade-level assemblies to go over what this new learning pathway will look like. You can see that presentation following the link below.
🔢 Mathcounts
Friday, March 26
The Middle School MathCounts team met with great success this season.
All team members took the Chapter Competition in February and from there Zio (8) and Yanxi (6) advanced to the Chapter Invitational Competition. We are excited to announce that this Friday, March 26, Yanxi will be representing AAS and competing in the State Invitational Competition.
We congratulate the MS MathCounts team on their great success this season and wish Yanxi the best of luck this Friday. Go Penguins!
🥳 Spirit Week
Monday - Friday
To celebrate the return to modified full on-campus learning, the MS Student Council has organized spirit dress up days.
- Monday - Penguin Gear / Black and White Day
- Tuesday - Sports Day - Dress as your favorite athlete or in sports gear
- Wednesday - Favorite Character Day - from a book, film or TV show
- Thursday - Crazy Hair / Hat Day
- Friday - Pajama Day
MS Counselor
The MS team has been working hard to prepare for next week’s Modified Full On-Campus Learning (MFOCL).
An important part of that preparation includes making sure we are supporting students who might feel nervous about the change. Advisors regularly check in with students to see how they are feeling, and we also urge students feeling anxiety to contact the counselor. If your child is struggling with any aspect of MFOCL, please get in touch with me or your child’s teachers.
In addition to academic standards, AAS MS students are evaluated on their Approaches to Learning (ATLs). These are:
- Engagement in Learning;
- Managing Assignments;
- Preparedness for Class;
- Self-Motivated Learning;
- Social Responsibility.
These behaviors and dispositions--and the feedback teachers provide related to them--are meant to help students move towards their academic potential; they are reported on both in report cards and in JumpRope.
The ATLs are an excellent and practical way to help MS students develop the skills and behaviors needed for academic success. Having a conversation with your own child about their performance on the ATLs can have a positive impact on your child’s academic growth. And the ATLs can also provide a useful structure for conversations during parent-teacher conferences.
I will be available for meetings during this week’s conference days. Please email me directly if you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss your child.
March 17, 2021
What's Up
🚦 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
March 25 & March 26
Middle School will be holding Parent/Student/Teacher Webex Conferences on Thursday and Friday March 25 and 26.
The conference sign-up link will remain active until Thursday, March 25th at 16:00
📘 Learning Pathways
Monday, March 29
We continue to prioritize the Learning Pathway that has been determined by the school for each class, grade level, or learning cohort. All students are expected to be on campus for in person learning when they are scheduled to. Some learning experiences will continue to only be available to those students while on campus and in person. We appreciate your collaboration so that we can provide the best learning environment for each student.
Beginning Monday, March 29th, the MS will begin a transition to Modified Full On-campus Learning. All students in grades 6-8 are expected to be on campus on March 29th - which will be a Day 1. Please see Dr. Schuster’s email from Monday, March 15th to review the plan in greater depth. In the coming week we will also have additional information posted on the website about this new learning model.
📸 Learning Snapshot
Art 6 and 7 students have been working on their drawing skills such as line, shading, proportion, and value.
See below some of the self-portraits and teacher camouflage portraits from our MS Art Gallery.
MS Counselor
Coming back to full on-campus learning - while, in some sense, a much needed return to "normal" - is also a transition that may be causing anxiety for some of our students.
As a step towards helping students feel safe during this upcoming transition, MS Counseling has been offering voluntary support sessions this week. The sessions have given students the opportunity to speak about how they are feeling, and we have also provided guidance in managing anxiety during times of uncertainty. The sessions have been happening during lunch recess when students are at school for their huddle day; if needed, we will offer future sessions, as well.
You can view our presentation slides here:
And as an additional resource related to this topic, our school psychologist, Dr. Joseph Graybill, put together some information linked below to help AAS teachers in their support of students. We thought it would be useful for parents to see, as well.
Talking to Students about MFOCL
If your child is experiencing anxiety, whether related to the return to campus or to any other issue, please email me, and we can schedule a meeting.
March 10, 2021
What's Up
🥞 Maslenitsa Celebrations
March 11 , March 12
This week MS students will have a chance to learn more about Maslenitsa as well as offer wishes on the Maslenitsa Padlet.
Thursday and Friday students will receive petushki candy in advisory and blini at lunch to celebrate.
At 15:10 on Friday, MS classes will join the AAS community in watching the live stream of the burning of the effigy to welcome spring.
🚦 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
March 25 & March 26
Middle School will be holding Parent/Student/Teacher Webex Conferences on Thursday and Friday March 25 and 26.
This will follow the same model as the fall where parents/students will be able to sign up for an Webex conference with any of their Quarter 3 teachers. Students play a key role in these conferences as they are able to identify where they are now in their learning and what their next steps are.
The conference sign-up link will remain active until Thursday, March 25th at 4pm
🥨 After-school Snacks
Monday - Thursday, 15:30 - 15:50
The South Cafeteria will be open for MS students to purchase snacks between 15:30 - 15:50, Monday-Thursday.
There will be a variety of options available, and students must pay by card . MS students are not able to access the North Cafeteria, only the South Cafeteria.
🧑💻 Webex
When students are participating in class from home, they are expected to sign-in to Webex using their AAS credentials. This allows us to make our classes secure from any outsiders.
Teachers will not admit students to Webex if they are not logged in.
If students cannot get logged in, they should email distance.learning@aas.ru for help.
📚 Hybrid Learning
We continue to prioritize the Learning Pathway that has been determined by the school for each class, grade level, or learning cohort.
All students are expected to be on campus for in person learning when they are scheduled to. Some learning experiences will continue to only be available to those students while on campus and in person. We appreciate your collaboration so that we can provide the best learning environment for each student.
MS Counselor
Recently, in visits to grade 8 advisories, and with the intention of starting some informal conversations about high school, I’ve been discussing with students the importance of paying attention to the Approaches to Learning (ATLs): Engagement in Learning; Managing Assignments; Preparedness for Class; Self-Motivated Learning; and Social Responsibility.
These behaviors and dispositions - and the feedback teachers provide related to them - are meant to help students move towards their academic potential; they are reported on both in report cards and in JumpRope.
Many students tend to overlook teacher feedback on these ATLs, but we hope to change that tendency. The ATLs are an excellent and practical way to help all MS students, no matter their grade level, develop the skills and behaviors needed for academic success. Having a conversation with your own child about their performance on the ATLs can have a positive impact on your child’s academic growth. And the ATLs can also provide a useful structure during parent-teacher conferences.
If you would like to discuss your child in the context of the ATLs, or in any other context, please do not hesitate to contact me.
March 3, 2021
What's Up
💖 Thank You, PTO!
A huge thank you to our PTO parents who provided treats for both Huddles Thursday and Friday.
The sweet treats were much appreciated by all of the MS students!
🏊 Virtual Swim Meet
Congratulations to our MS Swimmers who participated in a Virtual Swim Meet this past weekend!
SEE THE VIRTUAL SWIM MEET PHOTOS
🎉 MS Parent Coffee
In case you missed it last week, here you can find the recording of the presentation as well as the slides from the MS Parent Coffee held on February 24.
WATCH THE RECORDING SEE THE SLIDES
🚦 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
March 25 & March 26
Middle School will be holding Parent/Student/Teacher Webex Conferences on Thursday and Friday March 25 and 26.
This will follow the same model as the fall where parents/students will be able to sign up for an Webex conference with any of their Quarter 3 teachers. Students play a key role in these conferences as they are able to identify where they are now in their learning and what their next steps are.
Sign-ups for conferences will be sent out next week.
🧑💻 Webex
When students are participating in class from home, they are expected to sign-in to Webex using their AAS credentials. This allows us to make our classes secure from any outsiders.
Teachers will not admit students to Webex if they are not logged in.
If students cannot get logged in, they should email distance.learning@aas.ru for help.
📚 Learning this Week
In Ms. O’Neal-Lopez’s Mask Making elective, students have had the opportunity to create as well as design masks for a particular audience.
Most recently, they designed House masks. The MS student body will be voting for the best mask for each house, and then we will have the winning design made into real masks that the students can wear. Here are just a few of the great designs:
MS Counselor
Supporting our children academically and emotionally is a complex and ongoing effort this year.
I hope these two articles offer some helpful strategies relevant to those efforts.
In “How to Help a Teen Out of a Homework Hole,” the author reminds us that emotional support can be as important as practical tips. The nature and duration of the pandemic has made it difficult for many teens to concentrate and be productive. An empathetic approach can result in more rewards than a frustrated or angry one.
Along the same lines, but from a slightly bigger picture perspective, the writer of “How to Do School When Motivation is Missing,” breaks down the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and how each can be useful in helping a teenager get back on the path towards productivity in school.
If you would like to discuss your child in the context of school work or motivation, or for any other concerns, please get directly in touch with me, and we can schedule a conversation.
February 24, 2021
What's Up
☕️ MS Parent Coffee
Thank you to those parents who came to the MS Parent Coffee this morning. We had an opportunity to speak about Standards-Based Learning and student well-being.
WATCH the RECORDING DOWNLOAD the SLIDES
🧣 Outdoors
With temperatures dipping down into the negative double digits, it is important that our students are still prepared to be outside for recess. We do still have outdoor recess until the temperature is -20, which is closely monitored every day, and all students are expected to go outside (even in cold temperatures). We ask that students come prepared to be outside for both 20-minute recesses by wearing a warm coat, boots, scarf, hat, and gloves. In addition, snow pants are optional.
👾 Webex Learning Procedure
When students are participating in class from home, they are expected to sign-in to Webex using their AAS credentials. This allows us to make our classes secure from any outsiders. Teachers will not admit students to Webex if they are not logged in. If students cannot get logged in, they should email distance.learning@aas.ru for help.
📚 Hybrid Learning
We continue to prioritize the Learning Pathway that has been determined by the school for each class, grade level, or learning cohort.
All students are expected to be on campus for in person learning when they are scheduled to. Some learning experiences will continue to only be available to those students while on campus and in person. We appreciate your collaboration so that we can provide the best learning environment for each student.
🌳 A Healthy and Safe Campus
It is great to see more and more students joining us on campus and carefully following our safety procedures.
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If a student travels internationally over February break they will have to wait two weeks from the date of their return to Russia before they can return to campus with their huddle
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If a family member or student receives a COVID test result, please send this to the AAS Health Office
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Everyone should wash their hands regularly for at least 20 seconds
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If your child is identified as a close contact, either from being on campus or at home, they should be PCR tested as soon as possible
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This gives prompt identification of positive cases who may be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic as these patients can still transmit the infection to others
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This would help us identify further close contacts and help to minimize further spread
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This allows AAS to continue to monitor any impact a positive case on our campus might have
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Please follow our AAS COVID Response Flowchart
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You can see the number of COVID cases on campus by reviewing this chart
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Please remember to accurately complete your child’s Daily Health Pass each morning before your child leaves for school
⌨️ Technology
If your child is having any access issues with school-related technology - Email, WebEx, or JumpRope - please contact distance.learning@aas.ru
MS Counselor
Thank you to those parents who attended our parent coffee this morning.
The principals explained how we provide feedback on standards-based learning, and I spoke briefly about the work we do to monitor and help students achieve well-being. If you’re interested in seeing the recording, please check the links below.
WATCH the RECORDING DOWNLOAD the SLIDES
📊 Wellness Tracking Changes
- February 10, 2021
- February 3, 2021
- January 27, 2021
- January 20, 2021
- January 13, 2021
- December 16, 2020
February 10, 2021
What's Up
📑 End of Semester Reporting
In our first distribution of the MS Semester 1 Report Card there was a technical issue with the colored bars and proficiency language. We were able to fix the reports and resend on Tuesday evening.
We apologize for any confusion or undue stress this might have caused families.
If you have any questions, please contact the MS Office.
❣️ Spirit Days
Thursday and Friday
MS students will have Pink/Red/White spirit days on Thursday and Friday this week to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
This means they do not need to come to school in uniform if they are wearing Valentine’s colors.
👕 School Uniform
When students are on campus, it is important that they are in school uniform.
This means blue/black/khaki trousers or a skirt and a red or white polo shirt. If it is a PE day, students should wear their PE kit to school. Now that it is winter, a quick reminder that students should bring a pair of shoes to change into from their outdoor boots.
❄️ Outdoors
With temperatures dipping down into the negative double digits, it is important that our students are still prepared to be outside for recess and PE.
We do still have outdoor recess and PE until the temperature is -20, which is closely monitored every day, and all students are expected to go outside (even in cold temperatures). We ask that students come prepared to be outside for both 20-minute recesses by wearing a warm coat, boots, scarf, hat, and gloves. In addition, snow pants (or two layers of trousers) are optional for recess, but are a requirement for PE class.
☕️ Parent Coffee - Save the Date!
February 24
After the break, on Wednesday, February 24 at 9:30am, we will be hosting a MS Parent Virtual Coffee. During this coffee will be talking about student wellness as well as Standards-Based Learning in the MS.
The Webex link for the virtual coffee will be sent out to all MS families on Monday, February 22.
MS Counselor
📊 Wellness Tracking Changes
February 3, 2021
What's Up
💻 Hybrid Learning
❄️ Winter Unit
🏫 A Healthy and Safe Campus
- If a family member or student receives a COVID test result, please send this to the AAS Health Office: health.office@aas.ru
- Everyone should wash their hands regularly for at least 20 seconds
- If your child is identified as a close contact, either from being on campus or at home, they should be PCR tested as soon as possible
- This gives prompt identification of positive cases who may be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic as these patients can still transmit the infection to others
- This would help us identify further close contacts and help to minimize further spread
- This allows AAS to continue to monitor any impact a positive case on our campus might have
- Please follow our AAS COVID Response Flowchart
- Please remember to accurately complete the Daily Health Pass each morning, when we return to campus, before your child leaves for school
📝 End of Semester Reporting
👕 School Uniform
📸 School Photos
MS Counselor
📖 Now is the time of year when the grade 8 advisory team starts to think about helping students with their upcoming transition to high school. Rather than focusing on logistics like course scheduling, these initial weeks are centered around small group and one-on-one conversations. I am currently arranging visits to grade 8 advisories to share general thoughts about getting prepared for HS, as well as answer questions.
😉 In other advisory news, students in grades 6 and 8 are learning to recognize bullying and harassment, and how to make responsible decisions when such situations occur. Grade 7 students, who have already worked through that material with their advisors, are now learning about the interplay of feelings and thoughts, and how to manage strong emotions when they arise.
💙 Lastly, a reminder that the AAS Counselors maintain a page on our school website related to wellness. It is full of resources to help you and your children maintain balance in this challenging time.
If you would like to discuss your child’s well-being, please email me, and we can schedule a conversation.
January 27, 2021
What's Up
MS Counselor
We’re happy to have students back on campus this week, and they seem to be happy to be back, as well.
If your child is having any problems adjusting to the hybrid learning schedule or routines, let me or their teachers know right away.
👨💻The Upside to Screen Time is a recent article from the NY Times. While the author doesn’t argue that all learning and socializing should be done digitally from now on, she does assert that our kids may be getting more positives from the online lives they’re living than we realize. If you read the article and feel like sharing your thoughts, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
💬If you would like to discuss your child for any reason, please email me, and we can set up an online meeting.
January 20, 2021
MS Counselor
January 13, 2021
MS Counselor
December 16, 2020
What's Up in MS
- Grade 7 Art: Advocacy Posters
- Grade 6 Art: History Remix
MS Counselor
Percussion Workshops in Jan 2021
Percussion workshops with Virtual Guest Artist: Matt Savage
All sessions will be held in Mr. Waltho’s Webex room: https://aas.webex.com/meet/mark.waltho
Schedule of sessions(for both dates)
- Wednesday 13th and 20th January 2021
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm – MS Foundations workshop
- 1:30pm – 2:30pm – MS/HS Intermediate Level Workshop
- Drum circle – all welcome (HS & MS) 2:45pm – 3:30pm (Bring along something you can hit!)
Any Musicians in High School or Middle School are welcome to attend the Drum Circle sessions.