Austin International School
December 18, 2013


Please take a quick moment to inform yourself on our newest announcements. If you have an item to submit, please email Suzanne Krause by Tuesday for publication the following Wednesday.
 
Check out our school blog, Curriculum Connection, for pictures, posts and stories!
 
Check out our latest videos on our YouTube Channel! 
Words of Wisdom on the Middle School Choice
7 Tips for Middle School Choices Deciding on a middle school once your child leaves AIS shouldn't be hard, but it is a challenge. Christine Christy offers some helpful tips on what to ask yourself, your child and new schools to help make a great choice. Read our 7 Tips here!

And hear from AIS alumni themselves!
Dates to Know

Did you know our full school calendar is available online? 

 

December 23, 2013, through January 3, 2014

Winter Break

School will be closed for the winter break. We hope you will enjoy a safe and happy time with family and friends.

 

February 8, 2014 | 6 - 10 p.m.

Annual Spring Gala 

Who will you bring? Please save the date for our Third Annual Spring Gala. This year's fun, festive event will again be held at the beautiful Headliner's Club downtown. We will have student art, a live and silent auction, a grand raffle prize, live music and more! Please plan to attend this wonderful yearly event in the company of fellow AIS parents, friends and supporters. Parties are better when you come with your friends! Tables on sale now - individual tickets on sale January 6!

 

Love AIS? Help spread the word about your school by reviewing our listing on Great Schools and on Yelp, by posting to our Facebook page and our website's blog. Thank you!
Top 10 Moments of GS1 (Courtesy of Charlotte Favrin)
1. Every morning, when students are happy to come to school and enter the classroom with a smile.
 
2. When the whole class started to sing the Alphabet song out of nowhere (and got it all right!)

3. Witnessing one student's first...(Click to read all TOP 10!)
Announcements

 

Pardon our Dust!

We've begun construction on the auditorium side of the building. We will send you details in the new year.

 

Hot Lunch Menu for January

The hot lunch menu from January 6, 2014, will be posted on the website of The Studio Kitchen (http://www.thestudiokitchen.com) on December 30, 2013. 

  

For inquiries about the hot lunch menu or how to sign up, please contact Chuck Wright at chuck.wright@thestudiokitchen.com.

 

End of Year Paperwork
As December 31 approaches and we head into a new year, some of you may have already started collecting paperwork for your tax returns. Please contact Kyle Carroll if you need a copy of any letters of acknowledgment for your donations to the school, a compiled list of your donations for the 2013 calendar year, or any other tax-deductible contribution information. Kyle can also provide letters of acknowledgement for in-kind donations if needed. Please contact her with any questions. 
 
There are still 13 days to get in a 2013 end-of-year tax deductible donation to AIS! Simply donate online or drop a donation in the reception box. Thank you for your support!
 
Surveys
In the new year, please look for two school surveys as we gather your feedback to assess the school community and our after school activities.
 
Extracurricular Activities
After School Activities: Fall 
If you haven't yet, please check your parent folder: You will find the curriculum review for the activities that your child attended to during the first semester. These reviews are meant to give you feedback of the content that has been studied and, for some classes, the progress of your child. 

 

After School Activities: Spring
Learn Storytelling in Spanish!
Thanks to you all parents and students, all classes are happening, except for:
soccer on Thursday, story telling on Wednesday, Science (CE2) on Thursday, study hall on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, Science III on Thursday, yoga II.
 
We are so excited to be offering Storytelling in Spanish - storytelling is a real skill that takes practice to learn properly - Gregor will make it super fun - and speaking and storytelling is an excellent way to absorb the Spanish language! 
 
***Please note: This will change if other students register before this Friday, December 20. View our lineup of activities online. 

Pick up Lost Clothing, Shoes, Lunchboxes, Bags
Can't find your child's winter coat? Lost a lunchbox? For the next three days, we are going to set the lost and found bins out in the front of the school at pick-up time to remind students and parents that there are a lot of items to be taken home! All clothing and containers without a name will go to charity during the break. Please make sure to look in the lost and found bin before the break if you want your things. 

PTO News 
 
The AIS Facebook Group is the unofficial hub of PTO chatter, and it's bustling! Join up and get in on the conversation.


PTO Bakery Sale Resumes in the New Year 

Made by a Frenchman - real Galette de Roi!

The PTO will NOT be holding it's weekly bread sale this week.  We'll be back in January when the PTO will have for pre-order only galette de rois!  The "king's cake" will be available every Friday in January.  The price is $26 for a cake that serves 8 to 10 people. 

   

Next Meeting | January 8

Our next PTO meeting will be held January 8 at 5.30.  Prior to the start of that meeting the PTO will be holding a sale of second-hand uniform items donated by Sharon Munroe and Little Green Beans!  Items will be available for $2 each. 

From the PTO Board - have a safe and happy holiday!