Austin International School
April 16, 2014
 

We've got library developments just in time for Library Appreciation Week, a new yearbook ready for pre-order, summer camp registration heating up and much more. Read on for all this week's school happenings. Happy reading!
National Library Appreciation Week
Celebrate Literacy with Us!
During National Library Appreciation Week, we hope you'll take a moment to share with your child all the great things about libraries, including their special literary corner at school. With thousands of materials in French, Spanish and English supporting students' cultural and literary exploration, our library is working hard to deepen the classroom experience. We know the library is central to education - that's why we're opening the new library and media center this summer. 

We are offering everyone 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 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 more than $17,000 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. Thank you!
04-16-2014 16:54:00 PM

...Bookworms! Or, maybe one of these great international children's books! It's National Library Appreciation Week, so we want to share with you what's the most recent top 10 selections with our children here at the AIS library. Whatever they're native... Read More...»



04-16-2014 15:24:02 PM

This project is being managed by Ester Muyot Snodgrass, AIS Deputy Directory of Administration, who has been with the school for more than a decade. With so much to prepare for the upcoming self-study process, I thought it would be interesting to ask Ester about how this project came together... Read More...»


 

Summer Camp -  The Global Kitchen @ Les Explorers
Session One of our Les Explorers Summer Camp (for the 7-12 year old group) is the Global Kitchen, led by seasoned cooking club leader and AIS French teacher Charlotte Favrin. Charlotte is a very engaging camp counselor with a real flair for teaching children the joy of cooking! She will be taking campers on a culinary journey through the different regions of France, from the seafood of the coastal north and Brittany's buckwheat galette, to the vegetables, cheeses, berries and fruit down through the central to southern regions - you'll soon be asking for an adult camp too! It's a delicious experience that immerses children in another culture with practical cooking and grocery experiences.
 
Give your child a taste of France with this interactive game with French regions and recipes (and ask them to make you something they've learned!). Learn more about our Les Explorers Summer Camp on our webpage.

"My daughters absolutely loved summer camp at AIS. Never before have I seen both children excited to get up in the morning, and they couldn't wait to get started each day! They are very proud of learning new languages and about other cultures. The instructors are kind and gentle, and make everyone feel welcome. This program is a winner for us!" - parent Stacie George
Announcements

Traffic Pattern Changes
On Thursday, April 17, the Coronet Street driveway will be closed from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. due to the ongoing construction project. Thus, parents and staff are requested to use the Adelphi Lane driveway to enter and exit the campus during this period.
 

On Friday, April 18, in order to accommodate all the games and activities planned for Field Day, parts of the school's driveway and parking area will be closed to traffic.

The driveway in front of the auditorium building all the way to the staff parking area will be blocked off from 8:35 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Parents who will be dropping off their children after 8:35 a.m. as well as Pizza Friday parent volunteers may park their cars on the side of the auditorium and walk to the reception. Please use the Coronet Street driveway to enter and exit the campus.

 

Pre-Order Your Yearbooks by April 25

We're excited to be wrapping up our yearbook this year after lots of hard work by CM1 and CM2 students in Yearbook Club. Members have been typing, designing and photographing their way to a really lovely document of the school year. We hope you'll share the fruits of their labor by ordering your copy of this year's yearbook. Simply fill out the online pre-order form and mail or drop off your check or cash payment to the school (no credit card/online payments). 

 
The details: yearbooks are sold by pre-order only for $37. Please place your order by Friday, April 25. Books arrive during the last week of school. Books are full-color, hardcover, 116 pages.

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?  

 

April 17 | 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Yearbook Club Order Table

Meet the producers of this year's yearbook, see past books, and pre-order your copy at our sales table outside of school during pick up.

 

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 2:45 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
Thanks to all of the families who signed up for our April Break childcare; the childcare is now full.

May 2 | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Summer Camp Information & Enrollment Booth
Join Laurence Raud, our amazing summer camp coordinator, outside during pick up time and let her give you all the fun information and helpful details about this year's Les Explorers Summer Camp. Don't miss the action - camp begins in June!




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!
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.
 

Bakery & Pastry Sale - Seeking Volunteers 

 

The PTO will be back this Friday after school with the bread and pastry for sale.  As usual we will have baguettes, pains au chocolat and croissants for $3 each.

 
We still need your help with a few pickup dates in May.  Please use this link to Sign Up Genius to help us out!

Congrats on the Park Cleanup! 
AIS students enjoying their newly freshened up park!
On April 12, AIS-PTO participated in Keep Austin Beautiful's Clean Sweep again. Amelia Despre organized this event for us and it was so fun!  We spent about an hour picking up trash in Balcones District Park just down the road from the school at the intersection of Amherst and Duval and another hour just hanging out.  Thank so much to everyone who attended and a huge thanks to Amelia for organizing it!  If you couldn't be there, please join us on May 10 for a campus cleanup. More details to come. 
 

Pizza Wednesday!

Wednesday, April 23 is Pizza Friday.  No hot lunch will be served that day.  If you child is enrolled in the hot lunch program but not PizzaFriday, please pack a lunch for your child that day.  If your child is enrolled in Pizza Friday, you do not need to pack a lunch.

 

We also need parent volunteers that day to serve pizza to the children.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Linda Connor at lconnor30@yahoo.com.

  
End of Year Picnic
On May 17, the PTO will host the End of Year Picnic on campus.  The PTO will provide a water slide, bounce house and snow cone, you just bring some lawn chairs, blankets and lunch and enjoy a fun afternoon with friends!  

 

Box Tops Countdown - Class Competition Ends May 1

Thanks to all who've been collecting Box Tops for our classroom competition.  We've collected more than 5000 so far! Please keep bringing them to school - just place them in the Yellow Box Tops folder in the PTO section near the front door with your child's class name on the sheet, envelope or bag. 


As you plan your summer travel adventures, please consider effortlessly earning even more BoxTops for our school online through the Box Tops Marketplace!  Just sign in at  www.boxtops4education.com as a supporter of AIS, school code 956890, then choose your favorite store or travel site from the Earn Online Marketplace page.   Participating sites include Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Expedia, Travelocity, Marriott Hotels, Choice Hotels, Hotwire, Ramada Hotels, Ibis Hotels, Sofitel, Novotel, Wyndham Hotels, Sea World, Southwest Airlines Vacations, Hotels.com and lots more.