Austin International School
April 9, 2014
 

We've got so much going from now until the end of the year, please read on to find out about all that is going on at school. We're excited to be hosting our last information session for prospective parents of this school year tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please share our Facebook event with your social network and tell your friends, family, and co-workers about it. We also have several fun and important announcements. Enjoy!
Write the Next Chapter of your Child's Education
New Library and Media Center Fund
Many of you have already seen the renderings and peeked through the doors of the foyer to see the incredible progress being made on the new wing of the school. Our fabulous new library and media center is set to open its doors by this July! 
 
As mentioned a few weeks ago, we are offering our families the chance to be a unique part of this development by inviting anyone who feels passionately about the library to be a "founding member" of the new construction. Those who make a donation of $50.00 or more to this specific fund will be included on a special recognition wall by the library, highlighting parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren, friends and family who care deeply about the importance of the library in our school. 
 
 
We have already received nearly $16,000 in committed donations for the library - thanks to our amazing grandparents and two very special leading gifts above the "Muse" level made in honor of students Harry and Will Jacks and Alan and Duncan McEwan. We are so incredibly grateful for your generosity and for your commitment to your children and grandchildren's education. 
 


Donation cards (attached) are in the reception area - just fill one out and drop it in the grey box! If you would like to be part of supporting the library, but prefer to make your gift in the 2014-15 year or wish to make a larger donation in installments, you can commit your contribution via our online pledge form to be paid at a later date. Please contact Kyle for more details or to further discuss these options. 
 
Many thanks again to everyone for your endless support and enthusiasm for our school! 

Announcements

AIS Moving forward with ISAS accreditation
We are happy to announce that we have received the green light to move forward with the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) accreditation. Throughout the next year, we will be preparing our self-study in preparation for a site visit by ISAS staff in August 2015. Each step of the process is educational, and time for reflecting on our strengths and growth opportunities. We look forward to this much anticipated process over the coming year. For more information on ISAS and what it means for independent schools like ours, please visit their website.

Les Explorers Summer Camp Registration is open!
While technically the first day of summer this year is June 21, Les Explorers is going to be in full swing by then! Let us do the entertaining, the stimulating, the engaging work of learning with your child during the summer. We're throwing a language immersion party like you've never seen! 
 
This summer AIS offers a variety of camps for children ages 7 to 12, and an awesome cultural experience with hands-on activities for children ages 3 to 6! On the slate this summer is Mini Mashup, Global Kitchen, Creative Geniuses: Bilingual Arts and Science, and Languages of the Stage. We also have sibling discounts. Full details and forms available online. Contact Laurence Raud with inquiries.
 
Community Book Drive
Several AIS Girl Scouts are conducting a charity book drive to benefit BookSpring of Austin. If your child's home library is getting a little full, now is the time to donate some of those gently used (or new) books to a good home. Look for the donation box near Hilary in Reception. Thanks for helping us support our community! For any questions, contact Tracey Manuel: 512-897-7994 or jtcmanuel@gmail.com. 
Dates to Know

Did you know our full school calendar is available online? 

 

Tonight | 6:30 p.m.

Board of Directors Meeting

Parents are welcome to attend the public portion of tonight's monthly board meeting.

 

Tomorrow, April 10 | 9 a.m.

Next Information Session for Prospective Parents

We'll be hosting our next information session for prospective parents next month. This morning session during the school day is a great opportunity to meet with the admissions team, see the classrooms in action and ask, and have answered, all of your questions about how AIS expands minds and broadens perspectives. Please help spread the word to your friends and co-workers. Share our event easily on Facebook.

 

April 18

Field Day

We'll be hosting our first Field Day. We'll be having races, outdoor games, fun competitions and physical games while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, on campus. PS, MS, GS, and CP will have field day from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m.; CE1 through CM2 will have field day 1:15 to 2:445 p.m. Students can look forward to three-legged races, parachute, tire roll relay, scooters, water brigade, jump rope and hula hoop competition and more. 

 

April 24 and 25

Childcare during (shortened) April Break
There are a few spots remaining for the child care for April 24 and 25. If your child needs care, please email Laurence Raud with the day/days you need care and also leave a check of $65/day/child (additional $13 per day for after hours care, 3:15 to 6 p.m.) at the reception desk to confirm and hold registrations. Hours are 9:00 am to 3:15 pm. Early drop off begins at 7:30 a.m. and is available at no charge, and late pick-up until 6 p.m. is available for $13 per day. Payment is required at time of registration.



CM2 Graduation Ceremony
Save the date for our CM2 graduation ceremony, to be held in the foyer. We look forward to celebrating our fifth graders' successes and sending them off to a new educational journey!
Kids in after school drama class doing their best portrayal of "something sharp". So creative!
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.
 

The PTO will be out again on Friday after school with our yummy selection of baguettes, pains au chocolat and croissants for $3.00 each.  We are still looking for volunteers to drive our baked goods to the school from the Artisan Bistro in Lakeway during Fridays in May.  If you are able to help out with this, look for the  signupgenius.com link on the Facebook page or email us at the PTO address.

 

Pizza Friday Makeup Day

Because bad weather this winter, we missed some Pizza Fridays.  The PTO will be making up on Wednesday, April 23.  If you can volunteer for that day, please contact us.

 

Volunteer Opportunity for the Whole Family This Saturday

Please join the PTO on Saturday April 12 at Balcones District Park just down the road from the school at the intersection of Amherst and Duval.  The PTO is sponsoring AIS's participation in Keep Austin Beautiful's Clean Sweep again.  Amelia Despre is organizing this event for us.  We will meet near the play-scape at 9 am and help clean up the park until 11am.  You then have the opportunity to attend the volunteer party hosted by KAB at Fiesta Gardens from 11 to 1:30 that day.  All ages are welcome to help with this.  We hope to see you there!

 

PTO OFFICER ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON!

We have only TWO more PTO meetings before the end of the year.  Our next meeting is TOMORROW, April 9 at 5.30 pm.  We would rather you just show up than be on time, so stop in to the meeting even if you can't be there at 5.30.

 

If you are interested in having more of a say in PTO activities, considered volunteering as a member of the PTO Board.  Hanifa Smine will be taking over as President next year, but on May 14 elections will be held for Vice President (President Elect), Treasurer and Secretary.  If you haven't been to many (or any!) meetings this year but you think you may want to get more involved next year, come on April 9 and learn more about these important positions and come and vote for your PTO Officers on May 14. 

 

Voting for officers will take place on May 14 and we are going to open this up to everyone since you will all be members of the PTO next year.


Box Tops Update - - Class Competition Countdown

 

There are just about three weeks left in this year's class competition, which ends May 1. If you've been building up a nice collection of Box Tops at home, now's the time to bring them to school. Two classes have already tallied more than 1200 Box Tops, but all the other classes are still well positioned to come from behind with your help. A couple of classes last year came roaring back in the final weeks to contend for the winning spot. This year's winning class receives a smoothie party in their classroom.

 

Please submit your Box Tops on collection sheets, in envelopes or baggies with your class name and leave them in the YELLOW Box Tops folder among the reception-area PTO mail folders.  Thanks to all who have participated. Thanks to you, our school will receive a spring check of $442.79 based on Box Tops earnings from November to March 1. This is in addition to the $429.10 we received at the end of the fall semester.   Outstanding!