February 25th, 2011
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your responses to the feedback sheet you received at Parent-Teacher Conference day.
I promised you I would publish the answers to the two questions.
To the first question, " Were you able to get a clear picture of your child's progress from reading the report card?" the responses were as follows:
91% of those who responded, answered, "Yes" to this question with a small number adding that having the conference helped them to clarify their understanding and ask questions. A small number also asked for more clarity over the use of the descriptors, "thorough, sound, basic and limited."
5% of those who responded, answered that they, "Would have preferred some sort of grade".
4% of those who answered found the information "Difficult to understand".
1% simply answered, "No".
To the second question, "Do you think it is a good idea to have a conference immediately after you receive the report card?" the responses were:
100% of those who responded, answered, "Yes" with many adding that "Having the conference so close to the report cards allowed them to ask for further explanations and to have questions answered."
The teachers have received your feedback and spent part of their Professional Development day on Friday discussing your feedback and also sharing their own experiences with each other.
We were delighted by the overwhelmingly positive nature of your responses and we thank you for taking time to share your thoughts with us.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you of our Math Open Morning on Wednesday March 2nd. We look forward to welcoming you into the classrooms on that morning. Prep, Grade One and Grade Two are from 9:00-9:40 and grades Three, Four and Five are form 9:45- 10:25.
We will also be serving coffee so that you can spend some time socialising with other parents.
Kind Regards,
Teresa Coffey
Deputy Principal
25.01.2011
Elementary School Mathematics Workshop
Dear Parents,
Here are some announcements to consider before we break up for Ski Week.
Math Open Day: Please join us on Wednesday, March 2nd for our Mathematics Open Day. You are invited to join
- Prep to Grade 2 between 09:00 and 09:40
- Grade 3 to Grade 5 between 09:45 and 10:30.
The children will share some of the math games that are used during the school day.
Lost Property: Please check the lost property containers before we break up for Ski Week as everything will be donated to Frauenhaus during the holidays.
Elementary Extension: As many of you know, the construction of the new Elementary Extension will begin during Ski Week. This means that when we return from the holiday a significant section of our playground and car park will be fenced off. Half of the parent parking spaces will disappear temporarily so many of us will either need to park further away from the school or use the drop-off system.
From next week onwards, students who normally exit via the Art/Music room stairwell will exit down the central stairwell at the end of the day. I would ask that all parents wait in the playground to collect their children as it will be too congested inside the school at this time of day.
Even though we are temporarily losing some playground space, we will proceed with our plan to introduce table tennis tables (courtesy of the parent volunteer fund) and swing ball poles to enrich recess opportunities for our students. We will also use the holidays to secure the bicycle stands and re-arrange the playground bins into colour-coded re-cycling stations.
The construction project is scheduled to be completed in time to begin the new academic year in August 2011, however no internal work will begin until the end of this academic year. The extension will house our new fifth grade wing. The library will be relocated to where the current 5th grade classrooms are, allowing Reception to move into the space where our current library is situated. We will become a 3 section school from Prep to Grade 3 and a 4 section school in Grades 4 and 5. In addition to this, there will be a multi-purpose room that can be used for movement, music and drama.
Sodexo Price Changes: After Ski Week Sodexo will be increasing the prices of their food and drink tickets. Upper Elementary Children (Grades 3 – 5) will only be able to use pink tickets. Lower Elementary Children (Prep – Grade 2) will only be able to use yellow tickets. Please remember that no money is exchanged in the cafeteria. All purchases are made with tickets. These can be bought at the snack bar in the front foyer before or after school. The food prices are as follows.
Pink (big meal) 3.50 euros
Yellow (little meal) 2.00 euros
The price of cappuccino in the front foyer will also increase to 1.50 euros. Please direct all inquiries to Mr. Andreas Tegeler. He can be contacted at isd.3107@sodexo.de
Thank you for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks. We will do all we can to ensure that the construction project has a minimal impact on our students' learning.
On behalf of all the teachers and staff at the school, I wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable Ski Week.
Warm regards,
Alan Lorenzini
Elementary Principal
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your responses to the feedback sheet you received at Parent-Teacher Conference day.
I promised you I would publish the answers to the two questions.
To the first question, " Were you able to get a clear picture of your child's progress from reading the report card?" the responses were as follows:
91% of those who responded, answered, "Yes" to this question with a small number adding that having the conference helped them to clarify their understanding and ask questions. A small number also asked for more clarity over the use of the descriptors, "thorough, sound, basic and limited."
5% of those who responded, answered that they, "Would have preferred some sort of grade".
4% of those who answered found the information "Difficult to understand".
1% simply answered, "No".
To the second question, "Do you think it is a good idea to have a conference immediately after you receive the report card?" the responses were:
100% of those who responded, answered, "Yes" with many adding that "Having the conference so close to the report cards allowed them to ask for further explanations and to have questions answered."
The teachers have received your feedback and spent part of their Professional Development day on Friday discussing your feedback and also sharing their own experiences with each other.
We were delighted by the overwhelmingly positive nature of your responses and we thank you for taking time to share your thoughts with us.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you of our Math Open Morning on Wednesday March 2nd. We look forward to welcoming you into the classrooms on that morning. Prep, Grade One and Grade Two are from 9:00-9:40 and grades Three, Four and Five are form 9:45- 10:25.
We will also be serving coffee so that you can spend some time socialising with other parents.
Kind Regards,
Teresa Coffey
Deputy Principal
25.01.2011
Elementary School Mathematics Workshop
Mark your calendars for the morning of Wednesday March 2nd. We hope to build on the success of last year's math day. So please join your children in their classrooms for our second parent –student math open day.
You are invited to participate in one of our regular math workshops sessions. During the session we will play some of our interactive math games on the computers and the whiteboard. This is an opportunity for you to deepen your understanding of our constructivist approach to mathematics as your children move through the school. We hope to do this in a way that will be informative and fun for you and your children.
We will offer two sessions. The first will be from 9:00-9:40, when prep, grade one and grade two will be open for parents. The second will be from 9:45 - 10:25, when grades three, four and five will be open for parents
For parents who arrive early or who finish the session early we will be serving coffee in the foyer from 9:00-10:30. This will be a good opportunity for you to socalise with other parents. Please check out our in-house television screen over your coffee. You will see some of our budding mathematicians demonstrating their learning.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Teresa Coffey
Deputy Principal
Dear Parents,
As you know, we have changed the format of the report cards. Please click on the link below where you will find information about the changes.
The report cards come home with the children on Friday January 28th. and the Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Thursday February 3rd.
Regards,
Teresa Coffey
Newsletter - December
Dear Parents,
Thank you for all your support this year. Here are some final messages before we break up for Winter. This letter can also be found on the classroom blogs.
Frauenhaus: Thank you for your generous support. On Thursday, a representative from this organization received all our gifts. She again expressed her appreciation to the ISD community for caring. This year we will build on this initiative with the help of one of our parents, Antje Laqua. At regular intervals, we will send all our lost property to Frauenhaus and collect women's clothing too. More information about this will be provided in due course.
Bike Stands: When we return from the Winter Break, we will have a new place to park our bicycles. All the bike stands will be moved so that they stand under the cover of the front of the school building. Apart from the fact that this will keep everything dry, it is a necessary change in preparation for all the upcoming work on the Elementary School Extension. This project will commence on the March 7th, during Ski Week.
Report Card Changes: Thank you to everyone who was able to join Mrs. Coffey earlier this month. She provided a snapshot of the professional development the teachers recently received as well as an overview and explanation of the newly formatted report card. The feedback we received was extremely positive.
Conference Reminder: Finally, please remember that our next day of scheduled conferences is on February, Thursday 3rd. These are different to the Student Led Conferences that were held in November. These are adult to adult conferences to discuss student progress, and they are scheduled a week after you receive the report cards.
Thank you again for all your support during this semester. May I also take a moment to thank everyone for all the personal words of kindness I have received in the past few weeks since my family's upcoming move was announced. I wish you all an enjoyable and peaceful Winter Break.
Warm regards,
Alan Lorenzini
Elementary Principal
Newsletter - November
Dear Parents,
Thank you to all of you who were able to join us this month for Portfolio Days and the Reflective Conference Day. The students were thrilled to see you and share their work and thoughts with you and the teachers.
I trust you all had an enjoyable and relaxing long weekend while the teachers had the opportunity for some outstanding professional development. We were privileged to have Dr. Anne Davies join us and share her expertise on assessment for learning. Her books have been the cornerstone of our assessment practices and it was very re-affirming to see that we are so well aligned to current, research based ideas around ‘best practice’.
One visible consequence of this visit will be some revisions to our report card. We took the opportunity to consider ways to more carefully align our written, taught and assessed curriculum with our recording and reporting systems. I would like to invite everyone to a brief presentation with Mrs. Coffey at on Thursday, December 9th to hear a snapshot of Dr. Davies workshop as well as an overview and explanation of the newly formatted report card.
On a slightly different note, I would like to take a moment of your time to remind you of one of our most meaningful annual projects. In addition to the ISD walk-a-thon, the Frauenhaus, a home for battered women and their children, is our second big community service project of the year. Our project begins on November 30th and ends on December 14th. During this time we encourage our ISD families to speak with the children about those people in the world who are not as fortunate as they are. Some of these people live in Düsseldorf and we try to help them for the Christmas Season. This year the Center asked for the following donations:
· Small games and puzzles for different age groups.
· CDs/ Cassettes (children’s songs or radio plays in German).
· New and almost new baby/children’s clothing up to 12 year olds.
· Arts and crafts supplies.
· Small stuffed animals (no bigger than 30 cms./12 inches long)
· Baby toys
The generosity of the ISD community has been overwhelming in the past. Please help us make this Christmas special for these women and children who have so little. Thank you for your support during this season of giving and for helping our children learn the value of thinking about others.
Warm regards,
Alan Lorenzini
Elementary School Principal
Newsletter - October
Dear Parents,
Welcome back. I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable break. Please take a moment to read the follow up to some of the messages that went out before the holiday.
Lost Property: We have quite a lot of lost property gathered from the start of the year. Please take some time next week to look through our collection of clothes and containers. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all the lost property will be displayed outside by the school entrance. We will be donating everything that is left over to the Frauenhaus.
Library Times: The library is now open until on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For those of you who do not have internet connections at home, you are more than welcome to come and send emails from school. This service is only available to adults.
Another Entrance into School: The entrance at the end of our field by the I-Garden is now open between and to parents and children coming to school from Altelandstrasse. We hope to be able to extend our opening time to the afternoons in the future.
Portfolios and Conferences:
- Over the coming weeks we will be inviting everyone to our portfolio days. This is an opportunity for students and parents to look over the learning that has taken place in these opening months. As a follow up to these portfolio days, you and your children will be invited to join us on November 16 to reflect on the learning you saw during portfolio days.
- As explained in my previous letter, we would also like to invite you to a parent/teacher conference on Thursday, February 3rd (instead of May) as a follow up to the January report card. The purpose of this conference will be an adult to adult discussion about student progress.
- Of course you are welcome to come in any day between and to briefly discuss student related matters with teachers. If you need to discuss something with homeroom teachers or specialists that requires more time, then we encourage you to schedule appointments at mutually convenient times.
Thank you as always for your continued support.
Warm regards,
Alan Lorenzini
Elementary Principal
Newsletter - September
Dear Parents,
With October Break fast approaching, this seems like a good time to bring you up to date with some recent events and developments.
Emergency Procedures: Earlier this month we practiced our fire drill. We evacuated our school in less than two minutes and lined up on the artificial field in absolute silence. We also practiced our Intruder Alert. In less than a minute, our students were inside the classrooms with shutters down, lights off, and doors locked. Next week, it is your turn. We will activate our parent emergency phone tree on Monday at .
Parent Teacher Conferences: This year we would like to run two parent conferences again, but we would like to adjust the purpose of these conferences. The first one which is on Tuesday, November 16th will take the usual format as a follow up to the portfolio days. However, we would like to run the second conference in February (instead of May) as a follow up to the January report card. The purpose of this conference will be an adult to adult discussion about student progress.
Library Times: We will be extending the opening times of our library after October Break. From October 18th, the library will be open until on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Another Entrance into School: We are currently looking into the possibility of opening a second outdoor gate before and after school. The gate at the end of our field by the I-Garden would be a convenient entrance for parents and children coming to school from Altelandstrasse. We hope to be able to do this when we return from October Break. Please remember to keep an eye on toddlers before and after school.
Walkathon and I-Garden: On Tuesday, we were blessed with sunny weather, and we had a fantastic time. The children returned from their walk and ate their lunches outside while the Wonderful Wednesday team provided fresh fruit and vegetables. The students went on to play football, dance, play with a parachute and work in the I-Garden. The I-Garden is now officially 1 year old. We will put some photos up in our foyer for you to look at.
Thank you again to all our volunteers who help to enrich our student’s lives.
Warm regards,
Alan Lorenzini
Elementary Principal
Newsletter - June
OPENING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER FOR AUGUST 2010
June, 2010
Dear Parents,
I hope that you and your families are enjoying your holidays!
Please read the following newsletter carefully, along with the Parent Handbook. Both documents will give you the information you need to ensure a good start. The Parent Handbook will be distributed to all the students on the first day of school. We look forward to seeing you in August.
What is new this school year?
As always, there is a great deal that is evolving. Here are some of the more significant changes.
- Faculty and Staff: There have been numerous internal changes this year (please see attached list). In addition to this, we will welcome 2 new teachers. Mrs. Dodson will replace Mrs. Morton-Clark and Ms. Thielmann will cover for Mrs. Meyer. We will also be welcoming approximately 100 new students!
- Classes: The most significant change is that we will begin the year with two Prep classes instead of three. This will increase again to 3 Preps the following year when we extend the current Elementary School facilities. Our aim is to maintain maximum class sizes of 22 students.
- Programme: We will begin to explore the implications of using all the new PYP continuums in our planning, assessing and reporting processes. We will consolidate the work carried out in mathematics last year and we will continue to develop Drama and Dance beyond the lower elementary classes. Drama will now be scheduled and supported by a specialist teacher from Reception through to Grade 5.
- Home/School Link: We will continue to enhance this link as we adapt to a more dynamic learning environment and embrace new, innovative technologies. The Lower Elementary families (Reception to Grade 2) will continue to use home/school diaries to communicate regularly while Upper Elementary families (Grade 3 to Grade 5) will now rely on emails for regular communication. During August, all grade level teams will send out newsletters. At Back to School Night, on August 27th, the teachers will explain how future communication will take place. Furthermore, we will try to keep all the information that parents need at the start of the school year in a single handbook.
Is there an orientation day for new students?
- Yes, there is a general orientation for all new students and parents on Wednesday, August 11th between and . Everyone meets in the elementary school cafeteria. Students and parents are introduced to teachers, shown around the school and asked to fill in some contact details.
- Families with students who have just completed Reception at ISD do not need to attend orientation as the students have already been introduced to their new surroundings.
On what day does school begin?
- School begins on Thursday, August 12th. School starts at and ends at . Please remember that students are not allowed in the school building until .
What do we do on the first day of school?
- Bring your children to the playground at . There is supervision from every morning.
· The first bell rings at . Everyone (including parents) will be asked to stop, be quiet and listen for directions.
· When the second bell rings the children collect their belongings and line up in their respective areas. Teachers and assistants will be in the playground the first two days of school to lead the new classes into the building.
· Teachers will be holding signs with the class and grade; this makes it easier for everyone to see where they need to go. Parents are asked to kindly make space for the children to line up.
· If it rains heavily on the first two days of school, the bell will ring at and teachers will take the children directly into the classrooms.
· Reception will line up 5 minutes later than everyone else so that they can be received at .
How do I know which class my child is in?
Class lists are posted in the Elementary foyer the day before school starts (orientation day for new students). These lists were compiled after many factors were considered to achieve a balance beneficial to students.
When the bell rings, should I go with my child into the classroom?
· No, please do not accompany children into the building or bring their supplies into school beforehand. Only parents of Reception students may accompany their children into the Reception foyer, but please do not follow students into the classroom.
· We need to keep the corridors clear to provide sufficient room for the children at the beginning (and end) of the school day and to leave teachers and assistants free to concentrate on the students.
· There are approximately 400 children who need our full attention at the start of the day and most particularly at the beginning of the school year. Your cooperation and support on these points will make the children's comings and goings calm, manageable and stress free.
What if my child cries?
Any parent who thinks their child may experience separation difficulties is invited to wait in the Elementary foyer for as long as you think necessary. Some little ones become particularly distressed at being separated from their parents. We will come to you if this should happen and either bring you to the classroom or take your child to you. The teachers are skilled in this area and very often a child stops crying minutes after the parent leaves. If you are waiting, we will come by periodically to give you an update.
What about dismissal?
Please send your Reception, Preparatory, First and Second Grade child with their name, address, phone number and method of going home written down; i.e. drive-by, collected by parent, older sibling or designated adult. The home/school diary is the best place to write this information. If going home plans change throughout the year, please let the teacher know in writing by means of the home/school diary or by email.
- The procedure for dismissal is the same every day, despite the weather.
- Reception children are collected from the Reception Foyer between and .
- Prep to Grade Two have supervised dismissal. They are accompanied to the playground where their parents collect them, or they are escorted to the car-line waiting area situated directly outside the Elementary cafeteria. These students will exit through the main yellow doors and are supervised as they get into cars when their names are called.
- Grades 3, 4 and 5 students dismiss on their own. You need to arrange with them beforehand where you will meet in the playground and how they will get home. If you are collecting them by car they need to join the car-line waiting area which is situated directly outside the Elementary cafeteria. These students will exit through the main yellow doors when their names are called.
What happens if I am delayed?
If you are delayed the children come to the Elementary office to phone and wait to be collected. They should, under no circumstances, attempt to make their way home on their own.
What happens if there is a last minute change of plan?
Last minute messages can be phoned through to the Elementary office. Last minute messages should be for exceptional circumstances only. We ask that you do not phone every day to give the same message.
When do we get time to speak with the teachers?
There are many opportunities for informal chats with teachers when collecting students after school. Every parent has access to any teacher in the school between and . No appointments are necessary for these interactions and drop-in visits. If you need to see a teacher for a longer time, please make an appointment via the home/school diary or by email. Appointments are recommended for more formal meetings to ensure sufficient time is available to discuss the matter in hand.
What can I do to help my child prepare for a new school year?
- You can help your child by discussing all that is written in the Parent Handbook and making him or her aware of the school’s expectations. This is particularly true for those children who do not speak English.
- Talk to your child about road safety and stranger danger. These topics will be introduced and reinforced throughout the school year, but it is important that the first teaching in these areas comes from home.
- Become familiar with the Elementary School Parent Handbook so that you can reinforce school expectations with your child. Working together to achieve the same objectives is a powerful learning experience for our youngsters. We count on your cooperation.
- The Parent Handbook will be sent home the first day of school. You will also receive a separate packet of permission forms to sign and return to the homeroom teacher as soon as possible (Handbook Acknowledgement Form, Computer Network Acceptable Use Policy, Media Permission Form & Day Fieldtrip Permission Slip).
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and is in bed early. They will come home tired until they get into a new routine.
- Prepare everything they will need for school the evening before. Help them to develop a good habit of taking responsibility for their belongings.
When do the children eat and what happens at lunchtime?
· Reception students will prepare there own morning snacks with the teachers. It will not be necessary to send any food for this, but please inform the teachers of any significant food allergies. Please prepare packed lunches for your children’s main meal in the afternoon.
· Prep to Grade 5 students have a snack and recess break mid-morning. A drink and a small healthy snack are usually adequate for the younger students. A substantial snack is recommended for students in Grades 3 to 5.
· We suggest that new students (including returning Prep) bring a lunch for the first week until they become familiar with the menu selections and lunchtime routine.
· Preparatory to grade five have a one-meal hot lunch option per day. Menus are sent home the first week of school. All lunches are purchased with tickets only.
· Lunch tickets can be purchased from the Sodexo Snack Bar in the Elementary Foyer. Please write your child's name and grade on the back of the ticket.
· You may purchase tickets for either a small lunch or a bigger one. Separate tickets are sold for drinks. The tickets are a different color and vary in price. Ask for clarification at the Snack Bar.
· All children eat lunch in the Cafeteria and must remain there for at least 15 minutes before going out to play (the younger children remain for at least 20 minutes). Children who need longer to finish their lunch are allowed to stay longer. This gives all children sufficient time no matter how quickly or slowly they eat.
· Unfinished packed lunches are taken home so that parents can monitor what their children manage to eat. We ask children to keep old wrappers in the lunch box too.
· There are two lunch sessions every day. The first session is for Prep, Grade One and Two; the second session is for Grades 3 to 5.
· Occasionally, students forget or lose their lunch tickets. Homeroom teachers have a couple of extras that they keep for these occasions. If your child receives this assistance, please reimburse teachers as swiftly as possible so that this service can be extended to others.
· The hot lunch program begins on the first day of school. Tickets can be purchased the day before at the same prices as last year.
What will my child need for clothes and supplies?
All students from Prep to Grade 5 will need to bring a pencil case containing pencils, erasers, sharpeners, glue sticks, scissors and colored pencils. It will be the family’s responsibility to keep the pencil case well-stocked. All other stationary will be supplied by the school. In addition to this, students should bring,
- Art smocks (Prep – Grade 3): Your child will need protective clothing for art. This can be an old over-sized shirt, or apron, material rather than plastic is preferred. Short sleeves are better for the little ones.
- PE kits (Prep – Grade 5): On the days students have Physical Education, please dress your child in casual comfortable clothes that they find easy to change. Depending on the weather their PE kit should consist of: shorts/sweatpants, t-shirt/sweatshirt, socks and proper indoor shoes. For younger children we recommend that you purchase Velcro-closing trainers or gym shoes. Look for the words ‘non-marking outer sole’ somewhere on the shoes. Gym shoes remain in school. The shoes need to be put into a bag with a drawstring top. All students change for PE class. There are no shower facilities, so a clean t-shirt to change into is recommended.
- Change of clothes (Rec & Prep): Students will need an extra pair of underwear and a change of clothes, including socks, to be stored in school. These should be in a plastic bag marked with the child's name on the outside.
- Library bags (Prep & Grade 1)
- Rubber boots/wellies and indoor slippers (Rec)
The children use 'cubbies' to store their bags in the classroom; this space is limited. Please purchase smaller rather than larger schoolbags. The size of the ISD black schoolbag is recommended for Elementary School. A range of bags can be purchased from the ISD store which is situated in the Senior School Commons Room or from local stores. Please label all articles of clothing and school supplies including bags. We cannot stress enough the importance of this. It is very difficult to match a child with a lost article when there is no name.
What is the home/school diary mentioned in this letter?
The home/school diary is required for every student from Preparatory to Grade 2. These books are intended for regular communication between home and school. If you need to write a note to the teacher, please use the diary. Conversely, if the teacher needs to send a message home, he or she will do so the same way. We ask that you check the diary each evening and initial it. Each morning the class teacher/assistant checks it.
When is the ISD School Shop open and where is it located?
The ISD store is located in the Commons Room in the Senior School
Where can I park my car?
Parents can park in any space that is not designated for faculty. There are some parking spaces at school but not enough for the whole parent community. To avoid accidents and congestion use the school drive-by system to drop off and collect your children. There are parking spots on Neiderrheinstrasse and two public car parks in Kaiserswerth within walking distance of the school. Please do not park on the pavement. It is unsafe and blocks the vision of drivers entering or exiting the parking lot.
What should I know about the School’s safety and security measures?
The regulations listed below are designed to achieve maximum safety for our children. Your cooperation in making them work is necessary and much appreciated.
After School Hours
Students are not allowed to remain in any part of the school building, including the playground, unless they are supervised by an adult or participating in a school sponsored activity. School personnel do not supervise the playground after school hours.
Badges
All adults who come to school on a regular basis are issued with a photo ID badge. All other visitors are given a temporary pass. We ask all parents to bring their badges when they come to school. If you are not recognized by security (i.e. you are new to our community or we have a different person monitoring the entrance) you will be asked to display your badge. Please understand that you may be asked to pick up a temporary pass if you are not carrying your ID badge. No stranger is allowed on elementary school premises without a badge. This system relies heavily on the cooperation of our entire community.
Emergency Procedures
Procedures are in place for a range of emergencies. Emergency drills such as evacuating the premises and activating parent/faculty phone trees are practiced regularly.
Gate
The school has a fenced in perimeter. Entrance to the playground is by means of a controlled gate. This gate is opened at in the morning and is monitored by Security until .
Main Entrance
To gain entrance to the elementary school, all visitors must first check in with Security. Only approved visitors will be admitted through a locked, electronically controlled door.
Phone Tree
Procedures are in place and a phone tree is used to notify parents of an emergency closing or evacuation. The emergency phone tree is designed to communicate information to as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. The phone tree is up-dated periodically throughout the year.
Scooters, Bicycles and Skates
Scooters, bicycles and skates may not be ridden on campus. To avoid accidents, students and parents and teachers are asked to dismount and walk the bicycle or scooter to their destination.
Drive-by system
Parents may drop their children off in the morning in the drive-by system and collect them in the afternoon from the collection bay outside the main yellow doors.
Will there be an information evening?
Yes, ‘Back to School Night’ will be held on August 27th, at . The evening provides an opportunity for parents to meet the teachers and hear about the classroom program.
Are there any other dates I should keep free?
- Yes, there are two Progress Conferences scheduled for November16th and May 27th. These will both be preceded by Portfolio Sessions. Further information will be sent home closer to the date. Conferences are held throughout the day. There is no school for children during Conferences.
- There are also a number of parent presentations and open days planned. An Introduction into the PYP is a must for any parent who does not fully understand our Primary Years Program. This workshop will be given on September 9th and repeated on January 20th.
Can I volunteer?
Yes, there are many opportunities to volunteer in the school. The purpose of volunteering is to enhance what the school is able to offer to all students. Apart from the occasions when teachers ask for assistance with learning experiences such as fieldtrips, there will be a menu of meaningful volunteering possibilities that directly benefit elementary students. These include;
- Homeroom Parents
- Wonderful Wednesday
- Cafeteria Supervision
- Celebrating Diversity
- Mentoring
- Gardening
- Cycling Proficiency (tentative)
- Drama Club
These opportunities make a genuine difference to the learning experiences of our students. They also say something powerful to our children about how much parents value our school. Parents wishing to participate in volunteering can contact Louise Mather (Parent Volunteer Coordinator) at pvc@isdedu.de .
You will learn more about Elementary School happenings as the year unfolds through the Parent Handbook, presentations, letters from the principal, workshops, websites, blogs, diaries, newsletters and of course face to face conversations. In addition to this you can read the ISD Quarterly and the weekly Friday notes. We hope that with your support we will continue to nurture a positive home/school partnership.
Warm regards,
Mr. Alan Lorenzini
Elementary School Principal
