AISConnect | 2020–2021

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Together we inspire a love of learning, empowering all students with the courage, confidence, creativity and compassion to make their unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

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The Purpose of the PCA at AISC is to nurture, support, and celebrate the AISC community and mission.

PCA Executive Committee 2020 -2021

Karine Delalande PCA President

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Anitta Abildgaard Clausen PCA Vice President

Hanne Noergaard PCA Secretary

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A Message from Head of School Andrew Hoover Reflections on the 2020–2021 school year Dear AISC, Welcome to AISConnect! This will be the first issue that has been planned, written, produced, and published completely virtually following a year of virtual living and learning as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This issue is a reminder that nothing—absolutely nothing—gets in the way of a community focused on its Mission.

Since March 13, 2020, we have been a community living through the global pandemic. When we went on Spring Break last year, we were a community of 830 students in one country. When we started this school year in virtual learning, we were 590 students spread across 15 countries.

Since then, we have been a community in virtual classrooms, teaching and learning in our homes, building relationships and relishing our connections to one another. Our high school students and faculty finally and courageously began coming back to campus on January 19th, 2021. Through this, we have maintained an unrelenting commitment to ensure continuity and evolution of instruction and to assure that our community spirit continues to flourish.

It has been and still is hard for all of us—the uncertainty, the loss of control, the remorse, the sense of loss, the relentless ambiguity and complexity, and, for so many, the homesickness and distance from those we care about most. We have grown through this and the signs are good that we are growing beyond it.

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These challenges have also presented us with opportunities.

The past 12 months have been a masterclass on how to be nimble and responsive—to be able to adapt living and learning spaces to be spaces without walls or boundaries. We have learned that learning happens anywhere and anytime, and that community traditions and celebrations are vital to cultural cohesion.

We have learned, among many things, of the importance of reflection amidst noise, of gratitude amidst loss, of movement amidst paralysis, of haste amidst indecision, of clarity amidst uncertainty, of energy amidst inertia.

Like communities across the globe, this has also been a year through which our students, staff, faculty, and parents have persevered through the exercise of courage. Of practicing courage, American sociologist and author Brené Brown has written, “Courage is…a habitus, a habit, a virtue: You get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.”

We have couraged by engaging our patience, our resilience, and our creativity. On more than one occasion (to say the least), my own wells of patience, resilience, and innovation have seemingly run dry and I have had to search hard for new sources of energy. We all have. A most reliable source of that energy is the community well—the connections, the belonging, the interactions, and togetherness—that are hallmarks of our community right here at AISC. This year, we have indeed couraged as we have accomplished the previously unimaginable.

Well done, AISC! Enjoy this year’s 10th annual issue of AISConnect! Many thanks to our Advancement Team, our PCA publishers and editors, and the vast team of contributors who helped create this most vital celebration and appreciation of our community spirit.

Looking ahead—be well, stay connected, and continue to practice patience and grace.

Sincerely, Andrew A. Hoover Head of School

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International Community Celebrations

By Karine Delalande Davin, President, PCA Executive Committee (2020–2021)

Each year, the AISC community celebrates the International Day of Peace, promoted by the United Nations around the world on September 21. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, by observing 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire.

The United Nations International Day of Peace is a strong part of the AISC genes as we are a community of 30 different nationalities. In a typical year, the UN International Day of Peace is celebrated on campus with the Parade of Nations and then with the International Day Picnic, a fun-filled, joyous culinary celebration of our diversity!

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We were unfortunately unable to be on campus this year to celebrate. Nevertheless, in the spirit of continuing vital traditions virtually, the PCA pulled off another International Community Celebration.

The virtual International Picnic became a website dedicated to introduce each country represented at AISC. Involved in creating or choosing a 2-minute video to introduce their country to other members, our community submitted 30 videos with country stamps The Parade became an online Zoom meeting with 1118 hidden in them. Like our in-person celebrations, kids community members joining us. Together, we watched a were able to fill up their passports by screenshotting video parade that featured a student and the country virtual country stamps! With 707 unique visitors, our they represent at AISC. International Community Celebrations this year was a huge success!

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Plagues, Internet Connectivity, and Virtual Backgrounds How theater continues to survive at AISC

By Renato Luna Dezonne, Secondary Theater & Theater Manager

Opening night at the theater: Actors frantically running backstage getting ready, the audience enters a dim room quietly talking to each other, pointing out who they know on the program. The house lights go down, the stage lights go up, and the room is buzzing with excitement.

While this would be the norm every year, this year’s HS Productions of “Fortunes Told Virtually" and "A Mystery Murdered” were different. Audience members registered for an online webinar, actors set up their cameras in their rooms, maybe headed down to their kitchen for a quick pre-show snack before the show began. Being in a virtual theater production may be missing the electricity of sharing a room together, but it still has soul. Ritika (Grade 9) said that the virtual production was “something to do outside of class that is fun—it’s nice to collaborate with other people outside of school.” Not only is the acting experience different but so are the technical elements.

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Ayush (Grade 10) commented: “Actors don’t move around a huge stage. We don’t get to act personally. But we can use any virtual background, filters, and sound effects—and that really adds to the show.” Both nights of performance ended up with higher than expected audiences and actors still felt the joy of performing as

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they heard and saw their friends and families applaud through the crackling speakers of their laptops. It is an infamous fact that Shakespeare wrote some of his best work during the plague, which comes to show you that theater and creativity will always prevail under hardship. And here, at AISC, is no exception.

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PCA Diwali Mela

By Karine Delalande Davin, President, PCA Executive Committee (2020–2021)

Diwali, Deepavali or Divali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists (Newar Buddhist). It is from the Sanskrit dipavali meaning "row or series of lights": dipa for "lamp, light, lantern, candle, that which glows, shines, illuminates or knowledge"; and avali for "a row, range, continuous line, series."

Even if for each faith Diwali marks distinct historical events and stories, the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

Diwali Mela is also a community tradition and celebration at AISC. The PCA Diwali Mela was held virtually for ten

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days, from November 12–24, 2020. One of the most tutorials, a kids’ corner, and even one booth dedicated exciting parts of our mela was the performances by to memories from previous years.

AISC community members.

Many thanks to those members to make this event To carry on this tradition, even on virtual, we had happen as usual! Once again, it was a 10-day highlight several virtual booths. Many of our community with 651 visitors to the Diwali Mela’s website. members performed and created videos with different themes: cooking, storytelling circle, yoga, art and crafts (Rangoli, Kolam, Mehndi), a virtual photo booth, dance

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Reimagining After-School Activities Innovation in the Arts, Sports & Activities program

By Jack Bissonnette, Associate Athletics & Activities Director & Physical Education Teacher

The expansive and diverse menu of face-to-face ASA (Arts, Sports & Activities) opportunities at AISC were shifted to a virtual setting in the Spring of 2020.

These first virtual activities were used as a trial period and were carried over into virtual summer camps.

Throughout the summer, ASA instructors developed an array of learning experiences that promote creativity, confidence, and positive relationships—virtually!—in preparation for the 2020–2021 school year. There have been both challenges and successes in the transition from face-to-face activities to virtual ones.

reimagining what could be possible while sparking creativity and learning from one another, ASA instructors and the Athletics & Activities Department were able to develop a list of 45 quality virtual ASA offerings for the first season of the 2020–21 academic year.

This transition and reimagining of the program led to many successes, despite the adversity at hand.

For example, instructors expanded upon the Design Thinking & Coding programs being offered. In the third season, there were a total of 7 brand new offerings Prior to campus closure and virtual schooling, AISC was oriented around Design Thinking & Coding. able to offer over 75 different ASA programs per season. Some of the most popular activities included Students have also noticed positive changes from the swimming, dance, guitar, multicultural arts and crafts, transition to virtual activities. When talking about one soccer, and wall-climbing, just to name a few. By of the music ASAs, a middle schooler stated, “If we

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were in class (on campus), it would have been harder for everyone to practice at the same time. Whereas here, we can put ourselves on mute and practice.” By identifying and developing activities of student interest in a virtual setting, the ASA program continues to grow and thrive at AISC.

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begin to emerge in the distance. In the meantime, the Athletics & Activities Department will strive to continue offering an array of virtual learning experiences, while fully processing new learnings to enhance the program’s promotion of creativity, confidence, and positive relationships in our return to campus.

As some grades transition back to campus for classes, the horizons of offering face-to-face activities once again

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CHEMUN XIV: Equity Amidst Turmoil Person to person to virtual to world

By Srivatsan Ramaswamy (Class of 2021) and Varna Ramaswamy (Parent)

Model United Nations has been an institution at AISC since 2006. This three-day annual conference for high school students showcases their passion for and insights into contemporary international relations. As a simulation of the United Nations, CHEMUN (Chennai Model United Nations) encourages students to collaboratively research, caucus, debate, support, and pass resolutions solving issues of global importance.

Participants come from local Chennai schools and a small number of international ones. The recent 14th Annual Conference, “Equity Amidst Turmoil,” was not only significant for highlighting recent global movements like Black Lives Matter, but special for occurring during the most significant global calamity.

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced, impacted, and prompted the MUN Secretariat to innovate. Although other conferences cancelled, CHEMUN pivoted quickly, acknowledging that they would not be able to conference in-person. The old playbook would not work: no physical spaces for committees, no snacks, no inperson social hours, no runners, no scribes. Quickly they found the best virtual conferencing platform, Airmeet, and reached out globally to participants, classmates, AISC alumni, teachers, and advisors. Amazingly, what

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they created was an all-virtual conference with 330 delegates from 21 schools representing Chennai and 14 countries. CHEMUN provided leadership experiences for 65 chairs on 19 committees, all organized by a nine-person Secretariat!

Secretariat for CHEMUN XIV: Srivatsan Ramaswamy, Secretary General, Jae Hyeok Kim, Director General, Deputy Secretary Generals: Yoon Kang, Yoobin Yoon, Varun Krishna, Yu-Jin Jeung, and Juyang Kim, and Vikram Noronha, President of Special Committees. Director: Pepper McFarland and Advisors: Chandini Jude and Jack Bissonette.

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Snapshots from CHEMUN XIV The conference’s Press Team published “CHEMUN Chatter” every day, highlighting relevant global topics from COVID to cyber security, and “conversations” with delegates and chairs.

The CHEMUN Press Team: Anya Kumar, Anya Mall, Eris Kang, Johaan Mittra, Jueun Cho, Kavya Krishnan, Mayan Reddy, Samira Mani, Seojin Kim, and Veke Sankar. Here are some takeaways from CHEMUN attendees.

Q: What were the challenges of having a virtual CHEMUN conference?

“MUN is a conference that connects and simulates interactions between people from different backgrounds, cultures, and regions. Since everything is happening virtually, we have to constantly communicate online through emails or Google Hangouts. I personally miss mingling with one another for preparation…”

Yoobin Yoon - Deputy Secretary General Q: Please explain the theme of CHEMUN XIV “Equity Amidst Turmoil.”

"This year’s theme of CHEMUN XIV “Equity Amidst Turmoil” examines the current times we live in and it is necessary that all impacts are weighed and examined through all lenses and designed to succeed. How can we reach a compromise?

How can every party be motivated to engage in our world’s future? How can costs be examined and minimized? How can we eliminate our biases, prejudice, and stigma? How can we learn to support everyone differently to reach a common goal? That is essentially the essence of solving dissent-fueled turmoil with equitable solutions."

Srivatsan Ramaswamy - Secretary General Q: So how is virtual CHEMUN different?

“It's all a lot different, in the sense that things are just super easy when you can just go and talk to someone, versus having to text them and hoping they see it. I have three windows with 15 tabs open because there's just so many things that I have to take care of. So there's just so many different things that I'm in charge of doing. Everything is literally on one screen in front of me. “ PCA Publication - Edition 10

Q: How does CHEMUN differ from other MUNs? “It’s different—not only in the procedure but also to be a part of it. It's very easy, everybody's really welcoming, everyone is very respectful of each other's opinions. And I think it's just really amazing to see how everybody is so nice to each other.”

Karan Chakravarthy - Chair, Environmental Committee II, AISC

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Q: How does this conference differ from other conferences that you've attended in different regions?

Q: What was the funniest moment in CHEMUN that happened this year?

“...The main difference of course is that it is virtual, the committee sizes I would say are small… Having the Crisis Session (a sudden crisis is introduced), it’s good online because many conferences won't even manage to do it physically.”

“I guess not the funniest but the most interesting was when we had a lot of interesting debates that may or may not be the most diplomatic within our committee. It was definitely memorable.”

Aras Karlidag, Delegate in General Assembly 6 - Legal, American Robert College of Istanbul, Turkey

Abigail Cho, Chair, Economic and Social Committee, Taipei American School, Taiwan

Q: What fears or concerns did you have about CHEMUN before it started? How did you overcome it?

Q: What has been the most interesting part about CHEMUN?

“My biggest fear of CHEMUN was an actual debate and making speeches during the conference... so I was afraid of making mistakes. But I was able to overcome this problem because while I attended CHEMUN and started the debate, I understood what I was doing…”

“...being able to connect with people whom I never thought I would be able to connect with, especially regarding nationality, and just life experience. I never thought that I would be able to meet such a diverse group.”

Ava Tikekar, Delegate, Historical Security Council, AISC

Daeun Jung, Delegate, Environmental Committee, AISC

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The Director of the MUN program, Ms. Pepper McFarland, has spearheaded MUN at AISC since she first arrived. Ms. “Mac,” as she is very fondly referred to by her students, started as a Language Arts teacher in the MS, and is now on the HS Social Studies faculty. She planted the seeds of HS leadership when she established the Middle School MUN. MS students become a part of CHEMUN as delegates and administrative staff. This pipeline provides an opportunity for growth, a way to gain experience, leadership, and confidence as they enter high school and perhaps beyond. Additionally, Ms. Mac has organized students to travel to other conferences in Taiwan, China, The Hague, Malaysia, Qatar, and Italy, where they have gained valuable international experiences as delegates and chairs. Three years ago, she guided the formation of the “MUN Impact” club, which targets UN Sustainability Goals through projects with both local and global communities. She explained, “Many students have felt that they want to do more than just think of solutions for these issues. They want[ed] to take action, and MUN Impact gives them the space to do that. I think it also has opened their eyes to different solutions they may not have thought of before.” Ms. Mac is known for setting the bar high, which makes sense as the high jump coach. She expects dedication, hard work, attention to detail, commitment to looking beyond local to global and vice versa, and finally, leading by example for all of her students. And they happily oblige!

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Jan Jamboree 2021

By HS Photography and Journalism Club

Jan Jamboree is an annual community-building and fundraising event, where elementary and middle school students enjoy activities prepared by the High School Student Council (STUCO) and HS club leaders.

Like many aspects of life since the COVID-19 outbreak, the situation necessitated this year’s Jan Jamboree to make drastic changes, especially transitioning from large festival booths to small boxes on the Zoom screen. Changes were unfamiliar and often limiting in terms of what participants could enjoy and what club leaders could provide. However, it also created opportunities for each participating club to re-envision entirely new activities that aligned with their respective focuses and could be done and enjoyed online. For example, Operation Smile prepared a Mini-Game Obstacle Course for this year’s event in place of

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Capture the Flags, where attendees competed, not by flag-snatching, but through a series of games like TicTac-Toe and In-house Mystery Hunt. Instead of choosing from readymade face-painting templates, Art Sustains’ Character Design enabled attendees to create models of themselves with their own artistic interpretations.

And through their Color Scavenger Hunt activity, the Photography & Journalism club redirected attendees’ attention to often dismissed colors in our environment.

Including the aforementioned three, a total of 18 HS clubs participated in this year’s Jan Jamboree, with a total of 22 activities provided during the event.

Overall, 60 participants attended the event, with many signing up for both the first and the second session.

Under challenging circumstances, the unceasing efforts of many club leaders, teacher supervisors, members of PCA Publication - Edition 10

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the Student Council, and especially the Grade 12 Class Coordinators—who led and organized the event— made this virtual Jan Jamboree possible. And their creativity, resilience, and initiative are worth noting.

It is hard not to reminisce about past Jan Jamborees’ shared laughter, sense of intimacy, and of course the

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candy that virtual settings simply cannot replace. But the joy and sense of community that this year’s Jan Jamboree stimulated were no less than its precursors’ and perhaps more valuable after the long period of physical separation.

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Serving the Local Community During a Pandemic

By Gemma Adderley (MS Health & PE) and Balajee Ginjapalee (Service Learning Coordinator)

A fun and engaging part of middle school is SEVAI— the service learning opportunity where students are able to connect with our local community. Doing this during a pandemic posed some challenges but middle school students and teachers fully embraced those challenges!

Working with our existing community partners, students were able to choose a project of their choice to learn through a two week module. Throughout the module, students demonstrated incredible self-management and awareness to adapt virtually in building positive relationships with their peers and local community. They learned more about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and were able to apply this knowledge to make connections with what they are learning and what

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is happening around the world. All student work is showcased on this website, and some example projects are detailed below.

Students were able to support the Blue Cross by making water bowls, learning what nutrition dogs need, and then preparing a meal. The Hope Foundation was excited for our students to take on the role of teacher.

AISC students made educational videos on learning new arts and crafts skills, tutorials on curriculum support for a range of subjects, and supporting English development by sharing a range of very engaging read-aloud and sing-along videos. Students connected with Seva Samajam by designing and recording fitness videos to motivate students to be physically active.

Students learned how to grow their own vegetables at PCA Publication - Edition 10

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home and the benefits of doing this for themselves and the environment. AISC students connected with the TREE Foundation by learning about the dangers that turtles face and then created awareness videos on what the local community can do to support endangered turtles.

origami, art and playing games over Zoom. Clubs such as DEP (Design, Engineering, Physics) overcame connectivity challenges by creating offline science worksheets for the students at Hope Foundation school, to help them prepare for their final exams.

At the High School, our students connect with community partners through different service clubs. During the ongoing pandemic, they found innovative ways to keep the community partnership alive. Children from local schools used their parents' mobile phones to engage with us. Clubs such as Interact Club and MUN Impact scheduled online classes in English, communication, and personality development after school and on weekends. The girls at Jeevaratchanai HOPE House, our latest NGO partner, found themselves learning

Our annual community service event, The Giving Tree, also went completely online with the PCA supporting six different local NGOs—each working on a unique cause. We created Amazon wishlists based on the NGOs’ needs and the PCA were able to buy the donations directly for the NGOs.

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Even as the world around us changes, our connection with the local community has only become stronger!

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PCA Faculty Appreciation Day

By Hanne B Noergaard, Secretary, PCA Executive Committee (2020–2021)

Every year, PCA Faculty Appreciation Day is a unique opportunity for parents to show their appreciation by providing a meal for those who support our kids at AISC. It’s a tradition that expresses gratitude towards teachers, assistants, and office administrative support staff for their tireless efforts in creating a stimulating and healthy learning environment. They are, after all, the strongest connection between AISC and our learners and their families.

This year was no different. In February, parents showed creativity by cooking up snacks for everyone to enjoy.

There was an abundance and variety of snacks, including kebabs, samosas, chicken wings, kimbap, seasoned chicken, dhokla,pasta salads, mini quiches, sandwiches, and spanakopita.

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Everyone with a sweet tooth also had an indulgent experience, as parents brought cookies, warabi mochi, matcha cannoli, crepes, orange loaf cake, chocolate chip cookies, butter biscuits, ginger cookies, chocolate cake, fruit salad, snickerdoodle cookies, muffins, various brownies, kaju katli, and soan papdi.

Amidst the world pandemic, even though we were not able to meet up at campus, the Faculty Appreciation Day went on as usual, thanks to the care and innovation of all involved. All parents brought in their snacks to campus security so that 218 bags of home-cooked goodies were packed up. AISC took charge and faculty received the treats they deserved!

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Celebrating India Month

By Bindu Krishnamurthy (ES Indian Studies) and Gretchen Galaty (MS Counselor)

The Elementary School takes great joy in celebrating our host country, India. This year, students and faculty participated in a week-long celebration which included storytelling with Ms. Janaki Sabesh, sketching with cartoonist Mr. Ajit Narayana, and a conversation with Mr. Shekar Dattatri, a wildlife photographer who is also an animal enthusiast. In addition, there were opportunities for students to engage in handson activities like cooking, craft-making, language explorations, music, dance, and a variety of art forms like doodling and mandalas.

We kicked the week off with a story titled, “Vanakkam India,” where the narrator took us on a trip around several states in India, making meaningful cultural connections. Upper Elementary students engaged in an interactive cartoon drawing session with Mr. Ajit, learning how illustrators use simple strokes to Indianize

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characters. Lower Elementary students listened to Mr. Dattatri who shared his knowledge about fauna in India. He took us on a virtual tour with the help of photographs he and his animal conservationist enthusiasts have clicked over the years. It sparked a great deal of curiosity in the students and they engaged in a question and answer session, sharing their knowledge and gathering more information.

One of the highlights of the celebration included the faculty dance and a virtual celebration has no reason to curb our enthusiasm. There were many other small celebrations in homerooms such as Indian readalouds, Spirit Week with Indian themes for each day of the week, and conversations demonstrating a sense of appreciation for the diverse and incredible host country we live in.

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India Month in the Middle School Middle School students engaged in a month-long virtual celebration of India! They learned and experienced our host country and home city, Chennai. There were a variety of virtual activities for the students to participate in. It started off with a Kahoot: India Month Edition, with fun and interactive cultural questions. Then we ventured on a creative path of activities, including Mehendi Monday, kolam drawing, Indian cooking challenges, classical Indian dance, a Friday Games Day of Ludo and Snakes and Ladders, and culminated with a Chennai story trail by Ms. Priya Venugopal, our very own Technology Integrator. This was an opportunity for our students and teachers to appreciate the wonderful riches that our host culture offers. Thank you, Incredible India!

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“A Really Nice Way to Connect” Wellbeing in the HS Discovery Program

By Shari Abbott, HS Personalized Learning Coordinator

This year of Covid has brought immeasurable challenges to our students. In the High School, we’ve learned how to learn through a module system, how to collaborate through platforms like Zoom, Jamboard, Flipgrid and Kami, and how to interact with each other in hybrid mode. None of this has been easy, but we learned by doing!

Through all this, our students have been champions at being flexible and adaptive. We’ve also recognized as teachers that our commitment to Wellbeing in the High School is more important than ever. In the classroom, we always look for ways to support a student as a whole, not just as an academic learner, but as a social collaborator, a personal reflector, and a resilient problem-solver. To ensure all HS students were well-supported, this year we created new programs like HS Orientation Days and the Wellbeing Program.

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We also refined existing programs like Crew and Discovery Days. So despite the Covid pandemic, HS students have had spaces which in their words, became “a really nice way to connect to people you might not have spoken to before” and “a great experience.”

Last August, the HS began with a two day HS Orientation schedule, a mix of activities that were fun, information-shares, designed to build community and a sense of excitement for the upcoming year. The activities encouraged students to share themselves in personal or creative ways through video and in real time, learn or be reminded of self-management strategies, and connect socially. Despite the uncertainty of school beginnings, Orientation successfully met the goal of building community with class meetings and mixed-grade social time.

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Our Crew program this past year was the core of our Wellbeing efforts, and every lesson was intentionally linked to one petal of the Wellbeing “flower.” Our lessons always included ways for students to connect and for the teacher to “check their temperature,” since we knew that the pandemic increased isolation and stress. One lesson, for instance, focused both on selfawareness and positive relationships with an activity expressing gratitude for our hardworking AISC staff.

Other lessons centered on academic reflections, exploring self-identity, and stress-reduction techniques.

Students were overwhelmingly positive about Crew, one describing it as “a safe and enjoyable environment to be able to connect and communicate with your fellow peers and teachers.”

The two Discovery Programs with the most dramatic shift this year were Discover India, a High School highlight that had to be cancelled, and Discovery Days, which had to become entirely virtual. Although popular programs like surfing at Kovalam, visiting Blue Cross, and beach cleanups couldn’t occur, our faculty, along with HS student leaders, coordinated a meaningful variety of options. Some sessions explicitly promoted positive relationships in service to others, including six options to mentor ES students, while others explored the worlds of Coding, Mindfulness, 3D Art, Adulting 101, Yoga, social issue documentaries, or trivia. Centered on student voice and choice, Discovery

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Days in November and March provided HS students leadership opportunities, authentic engagements, creative fun, and a chance to learn new skills.

An entirely new addition this year was time explicitly devoted to Wellbeing. A team of HS faculty and staff capably offered 3-session cycles of programming designed to introduce research-based practices for Wellbeing. These included social time with 2nd and 4th graders, exploring positive thinking activities, meditation, physical fitness, book clubs, and creative pursuits in art, music, and cooking. Students have shared that Wellbeing sessions were “actually really helpful in releasing stress,” while others noted that “Mindfulness was my favorite,” and “I loved meeting up with the little kids.” While many commented that all these activities would be more preferable in person, we are certain that Wellbeing will remain a part of the HS student experience, even when we are able to be connected in person.

As the Discovery Program coordinator, it has been profoundly meaningful to watch our HS faculty tirelessly focus on the wellbeing of our students. The Discovery Program will remain closely tied to the Wellbeing “flower” framework, for we have recognized that all members of our community: faculty, staff, students and family members, need the time, encouragement, and peer support to keep ourselves healthy in mind, spirit, and body.

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ASIAC Music

By Jason Kennedy (Dept. Chair Performing Arts) and Bob Krebs (MS/HS Music)

The ASIAC music festival is traditionally a wonderful opportunity for music students from the American Embassy School (Delhi), American School of Bombay, and AISC to connect, collaborate, and perform together for a live concert. This year, the music festival required a shift in thinking, planning, and execution. How can we replicate the experience of a music festival, learning and performing together, while on a limited virtual platform?

We decided to separate the ASIAC music festival into three parts based on the theme of “Connection.”

phrase Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, which means "Give us this day our daily bread." During composition, I envisioned a warm, safe, connected space where we can each ask for what we need—to ask for our daily bread, for the things that sustain us, literally and metaphorically. As you play this melody, think about what makes you feel most alive, what keeps you going, and send gratitude for your daily bread into the world with your music.

1. Reena Ismail is a female Indian-American composer who, inspired by the lockdown of March 2020, wrote a song designed for musicians to perform within the technological restrictions of the internet. Her message to the musicians is as follows:

“Panem Nostrum” is a melody that is constructed to be aleatoric, which means random choice or free from the confines of the structure of time. This allowed our musicians to record their melodies, expressing themselves in their own way, without the restrictions of following a conductor or keeping track of specific time signatures, durations, and beats. Our students recorded

“Panem Nostrum” came from my setting of the

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themselves on their devices. We compiled the work into ever had. Though I have participated in two ASIACs, one artistic presentation, which was performed live for the second one by far was the most fun I've had. Not the community on December 16th, 2020, via Zoom. only did we get 1:1 or 2:1 time with the teachers, we got to spend a lot of time meeting everyone and 2. February 27th: ASIAC Super Saturday playing games.

Workshops We created four workshops that students could ASIAC this year was VERY well done and very fun!” choose from:

-Keshav, Class of 2026

• Coffee House, where students perform "I never knew about school event called ASIAC. When and receive feedback for their April 10th I first saw the ASIAC event, I thought it will be a rare performances; experience for me. Mr. K helped me to improve my • Homemade Instruments, where students built instrument skill and commended me. And I learned that their own instruments from materials found at I need more practice to make better improvements (just home; my thinking)."

• Music Technology,l where students recorded -Wonhee, Class of 2026 and created music using an online recording "ASIAC music this year was so different and unique studio called SoundTrap; and compared to the ASIAC music festivals in the past two • Small Ensembles, where students collaborate on years. Being able to collaborate with peers from other a piece of music together. schools during these unprecedented times allowed me We also invited our community to support our to experience a new level of music. One that gives joy to performers in the coffeehouse workshop on April 10th, the universe, peace to the mind, flight to the imagination, 2021, via Zoom. For more information, please email expression of emotions, interconnectedness, and life to kjason@aischennai.org. everything."

Student Testimonials

-Melchi, Class of 2025

“For me, ASIAC Music this year was the most fun I have

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Virtual Experiences with the PCA

By Anitta Abildgaard Clausen, Vice-President, PCA Executive Committee (2020–2021)

Every year, the PCA at AISC hosts a number of outings and social events. This year has been no different, although the format has changed quite significantly due to the ongoing pandemic. We have travelled wide and far, as well as explored within the heart of Chennai.

We have heard tales from the distant past and shared experiences across borders from the confinement of our homes, and been able to explore new skills.

In the fall of 2020, historian Pradeep Chakravarthy shared with us the secrets of the Tanjore Saraswathi Library, letting us in on some of the interesting stories in the rare manuscripts, covering areas from medicine and food to arts and philosophy.

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Our local community partner, Story Trails, continues to guide us through numerous virtual excursions this year.

The history is, as always, presented with precision. But what really makes these tours so special and personal is the ability of storytellers Lakshmi and Akila to dig out the smaller, unknown details from history to bring these stories to life.

We also had the opportunity to learn how to do calligraphy in the spring of 2021. Our very own parent, PCA volunteer and skilled artist, Jigna Parekh, who holds a degree in Calligraphy, shared a very interesting presentation on the subject at a PCA

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meeting. It was followed up by a series of online classes for our community, bringing together a group of parents in exploring new skills.

The monthly PCA meetings have covered a wide range of topics from the wellbeing of parents and children to the traditions of celebrating Diwali. Presenters have guided our community through meetings with presence and enthusiasm, just as if we all had been able to meet at campus. All opportunities to meet, interact and engage with our community, to socialize and to learn something new.

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National History Day Celebrations

By Benjamin Fouchard (HS Social Studies & HS Learning Support)

In October of 2020, a new cohort of Grade 9 students embarked on a memorable journey to create their very own National History Day (NHD) project. This journey would be filled with ups, downs, and many challenges but more importantly, a time for them to engage with the past in a unique manner.

Throughout October, students researched their topic, developed a claim, and organized the flow of their project. They utilized online resources, skills learned from Unit 1: Historians Toolbox, and a peer review process to ensure that their topic, project, supporting details, and vision matched in a cohesive manner.

National History Day (NHD) is a U.S-based nonprofit organization that operates a three-tiered school competition (Local, Regional, and National) that focuses on History. This year’s theme was "Communication in History: The Key to Understanding" and Grade 9 students were tasked to choose and research a topic that would connect deeply with the yearly theme. For many, creating a project of this size was a first-time experience but each individual and group accepted the challenge.

By the end of the semester, students were required to submit their Projects, Annotated Bibliography, and Process Paper as part of their Semester 1 grade. But their creation process did not end there. Over the holidays and upon returning back to school in January, students refined and prepared for arguably the hardest part of their project—the presentation phase and judge’s interview. On Friday, January 15th, AISC hosted History Day Celebrations where students were offered the opportunity to present their projects to

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fellow students, parents, teachers, and judges. There were a total of 36 NHD projects! Some were websites, while others were viewings of documentaries and a performance. The celebration ran for two hours as audience members were able to go from one virtual presentation to another to view the wide variety of historical topics. There were projects on Alan Turing, the O.J Simpson trial, Charles Darwin, Gandhi’s Salt March, and even one on the History of Kabuki Theater.

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The History Day Celebrations went off without a hitch and offered the students the ability to assume the role of expert on a topic of their choice. Each Grade 9 student was able to explore the topic of their choice and share their passion, culture, identity, and depth of knowledge of this topic. NHD and the History Day Celebrations have become cornerstones of the Grade 9 experience and, for the time being, is here to stay!

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My Favorite Things: Chennai Edition

By Varna Ramaswamy and Sossity Smith (Parents and Past PCA Executive Committee Members)

Photo: www.skyscrapercity.com

Hearing the word “Chennai” means many things to many people. Chennai is home to our American International School in Taramani. It means “Madras” to us old timers. It is colorful people and places. It is the sounds of horns and traffic. Our favorite auto-rickshaw ride, the ocean and beach view, cheese from “The Farm” or coconut water fresh from the coconut… It could be a “rocket” dosai, an idli from Murugan Idli or Woodlands, juice-dribbling mangoes, and all her people—Chennaites we have met along the way. For me, it has always meant family and tradition. We asked some of our current and alumni parents what their “favorite things” were and are.

Varna Ramaswamy (‘21) loves the light and family traditions of Chennai.

Jodie Sovak (‘24 and ‘27) had to be away from Chennai this year because of the pandemic and says, by far, she’s missed fresh coconut water.

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Suzanne Harrison (AISC ‘19) says: “This shows so much of what I love about Chennai— skill, color, industry, friendship, women, smells, chai, and so much more.”

Mercedes Cendan (AISC 2016–2019) “I miss a lot of things from Chennai and from school. A big loss for me was the Madras Cafe. A place to meet other parents, I know now during Corona times not possible, but it was a great place to socialize, wait for children, and have a snack or coconut.”

“The flowers are what I love,” says Aydan Oncul (‘22 and ‘28).

Shabri Roberson (‘22, ‘24, ‘28) loves the Chennai beaches.

Shankari Raman (‘24 and KG) loves the textures of Kanchipuram Sarees, the intricate patterns of Kolams, the shapes of yummy Murukku snacks, the sounds of the Margazhi music season, and the food traditions of Chennai’s Ellai Sapadu (banana leaf feast.

For Lisa Payne (AISC ‘16 and ‘18): “There is nothing like experiencing Chennai by auto-rickshaw. Its sights and sounds and her wonderful people. No matter how many rides I have taken, there is always more Chennai has to offer!”

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Sossity Smith (‘22) loves the festivals. All the colors, music, and excitement. “My favorite festival from the very beginning has been Navarathri. I love seeing the Jaya Patwardhan (‘12 and ‘09) says, “I LOVE the different Golu collections people have and visiting beach vibe and coastal balminess of Chennai!”

Mylapore to shop for sets of my own.”

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Sweets, Treats, and Things that Go Yum in the Night!

By Varna Ramaswamy and Sossity Smith (Parents and Past PCA Executive Members)

Indian Sweets and Snacks:

Sri Krishna Sweets (https://www.srikrishnasweets.com/)

Shree Mithai (https://www.shreemithai.com/)

Sri Krishna is famous for its Mysore Pa (Pak). This is a sweet prepared with ghee (clarified butter) and the texture is similar to a buttery dense cookie. They also have a selection of snacks, chips, Indian pickles, and rice mixes.

This is one of the famous North Indian-based sweet shops/restaurants in Chennai which maintains very good quality. Famous for milk and nut-based Indian sweets, as well as chaat snacks.

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Pure ghee and honey sweets are their speciality. They have a variety of snacks using millets, along with a nice cashew pakoda and packaged South Indian ricebased lunch items. They are also a great place to get produce.

Grand Sweets and Snacks (https://grandsweets.com/) The Grand Sweets and Snacks was founded by a first generation entrepreneur capitalizing on his wife’s culinary skill, dipped into her personal recipes and started making and selling the snacks—traditionally made by the elder ladies of the house in South India.

Traditional Indian sweets like laddoo, jangiri, jalebi, poli, Bengali sweets, pedas, etc., and savouries like murukku, thattai, cheedai, mixture etc., along with readymade rice mixes like pulikkachal, paruppu podi, and thokkus (a thick pickled sauce) of onion, coriander, curry leaf, tomato, kadambam (mixed vegetable).

They have a tradition of providing a “taste” of one of the traditional foods every day.

Treats: The Farm (https://www.thefarmchennai.com/) The Farm is a working farm on OMR. They have everything from meats and cheeses, breads, organic vegetables, and desserts. But the showstopper is the chocolate ganache and their salted caramel fudge.

Zükà Chocolates (https://zukachocolates.com/) Suriya Sweets & Greens (https://www.

“Happiness is chocolate shaped.” Zuka Chocolates facebook.com/pages/category/Candy-Store/ carries a range of signature chocolates that are Suriya-Sweets-Greens-732321763527931/) perfect for the special events and people in your life.

You can also pick up some cakes, desserts, pastries, and coffee at this shop.

Fabelle Chocolates at ITC Grand Chola Hotel (https:// www.fabelle.in/societedechocolat/hotels/grandchola.html) This shop specializes in one-of-a-kind, luxury handcrafted chocolate creations. Located within the ITC Grand Chola, you can pick up boxed chocolates for takeaway or sit and enjoy some amazing delights in the shop.

The Cake Shop at the Leela Palace (https:// www. theleel a. com/en _us /h otel s - i n - c h e n n ai /

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the-leela-palace-hotel-chennai/dining/ The-Cake-Shop) Located within the Leela Palace, The Cake Shop offers handcrafted cakes and pastries and other desserts, along with traditional German and Italian breads. You can find treats to please everyone here.

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banana bread, and many other delights.

Bread and Chocolate (https://www.facebook.com/ breadandchocolateindia/) Along with many options for breakfast and lunch, Bread and Chocolate offers tasty treats that everyone can enjoy.

Ambrosia Bakery and Cafe (https://www.facebook. com/AmbrosiaChennai/) This bakery specializes in Korean-baked foods. You can find everything from breads, cakes, muffins, bagels, waffles, and honey bread here. Definitely worth a visit!

Pumpkin Tales (https://pumpkintales.com/)

Bakeries: Tryst Café (https://www.trystgourmet.in/)

Along with being an excellent restaurant with an amazing breakfast/lunch/dinner menu, the Pumpkin Tales Bakery specializes in using environmentally sustainable and high quality ingredients to create delicious and wholesome treats that include, tarts, cookies, breads, bagels, pies, scones, and many other delights.

Tryst is a café, bakery, and gourmet food producer based in Chennai with cafés on the East Coast Road in Neelankarai and the Express Avenue Mall in the city. They have a wide range of freshly baked breads, pastries, cakes, quiches, tarts, and sandwiches. Along with gourmet products, they have their own line of easy DIY meal kits “Smart Food” easy dinner options and readymade foods as well. The cafe serves a variety of breakfast items, snacks, burgers, and Chinese Cuisine on their menu.

Brød a Bakery (Danish/Indian ) (https://www.facebook. com/brodbakeryin/) Visit this bakery for their delicious daily fresh-baked breads. Or pick up some gourmet brownies, cookies, cakes, or buns. You won't be disappointed.

Old Madras Baking Company (https://www.ombc.in/) Along with meats, cheeses, sandwiches, and salads, Old Madras Baking Company offers a wide range of breads and treats. Stop here for cinnabombs, bagels, PCA Publication - Edition 10

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Being RaptorSafe!

By Ryan McFarland, Athletics & Activities Director, RaptorSafe Czar

AISC IS

SAFE!

Staying safe and healthy, together.

Just as the science around understanding how COVID-19 is contracted has developed, the effort to be able to open the AISC campus to students and staff while remaining safe developed over time. Early on, we identified that there were five essential actions we needed to take to keep everyone safe.

a special app to ask health and quarantine questions to everyone that enters also helped to make sure that everyone coming to school was first thinking about their own wellbeing before entering campus. We also implemented regular COVID-19 testing of all adults on campus.

First, in order to minimize risk to everyone we needed to screen those coming to campus. The government stipulated that everyone entering needed to have thermal screening to ensure no one with a fever was admitted. Handheld thermometers were easy to deploy but in order to better track and document the entry of everyone, we installed a system with a camera and computer to save their entry temperature. Implementing

Our second essential action was to ensure hygienic practices. We implemented an enhanced cleaning schedule where classroom desks and chairs were wiped down between classes, as well as frequent cleaning of any shared surfaces like doorknobs. An assessment of the campus to identify any areas where we had unnecessary contact with surfaces led to removal of things like our entry turnstiles, and modification of the

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restroom entrances. We also installed hundreds of wallmounted shelves inside and outside of almost every door on campus that holds an automated hand sanitizer dispenser. Dozens of free-standing kiosks were placed to hold the dispensers in places with high traffic. We also had foot-operated hand washing stations placed in outdoor eating areas where plumbing was not available.

The third way we knew we needed to keep people safe on campus was through physical distancing.

The classrooms were measured and assessed for occupancy to allow for ample distancing between

students. We also flooded spaces with visual cues to help with distancing. Thousands of footprints spaced 6 feet apart and a center line down hallways and stairwells were installed. Visual reminders to keep left were placed on walls, the face of stairs, and on pillars.

Spaced raptor claws were placed on floors, six feet apart, in areas of high traffic.

Fourth, and most prevalent in all of our lives, has become the use of masks. Everyone on campus was to wear a mask at all times unless they were eating or drinking. This included people that had their own office and even applicable to teachers on campus at times when students were not expected.

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The last area of effort has been the most intensive, expensive, and possibly effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 on campus. We focused on indoor air quality and improving ventilation. HEPA filters were installed in our existing air handling and air conditioning systems. Further sterilization of the air indoors was achieved through the installation of ultraviolet lights in the air handling system and split AC units. We also put air purifiers in every classroom and office and installed large systems in rooms like the gymnasium, larger meeting rooms, and libraries. We also installed screen doors on all classroom and office doors and modified windows in every space possible to allow for

more fresh air. We cut into walls and installed screens and fans to allow the existing air handling systems to draw in more fresh air or to pull fresh air into rooms with poor natural air flow. Restroom doors were changed to allow for privacy but also constant air flow with bi-swing saloon-style doors coupled with fans.

Lastly, we leveraged our wonderful outdoor spaces to encourage eating outdoors by serving food outside and creating physically distanced shaded areas that could accommodate students as they removed their masks to eat.

Certainly, COVID-19 has caused changes to the world and few places are as evident as the AISC campus— with our myriad safety practices and modifications to our facilities. While this isn’t a comprehensive list of all of our efforts, it gives a good glimpse into just how seriously AISC has taken the safety of all community members. We hope that you get the opportunity to see the campus soon if you have not already!

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MASK UP!

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» Wear a mask... properly » Three layer-mask with no valve » Keep an extra handy » Dispose of medical masks in medical waste bins

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! » Hallways/stairwells marked with directional cues to facilitate traffic flow » Max occupancy determined for all rooms » Clear signage and visual cues to foster social distancing habits

BE AIR AWARE! » Re-outfitting indoor spaces with screened doors/windows/exhaust fans so that fresh air intake is maximized » UV/HEPA filters installed in HVAC systems » Air purifiers in every room » Real-time data tracking with Air Quality monitors » Taking advantage of our vast outdoor spaces (for collaboration, dining, etc.)

BE WISE, SANITIZE! » Sanitizer stations throughout campus » Minimizing high-touch points (contactless water dispensers/taps, portable handwashing stations, etc.) » Heightened cleaning protocols during after-school hours

SAFE AND HEALTHY, TOGETHER! » Emphasizing community and personal responsibility » Staying home when unwell » Duly answering the ParentLocker self-attestation questions » Following health-safety measures at home and when out in public » Keeping the Health Office updated with medical records

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CAMPUS MEASURES: BY THE NUMBERS

50+

260+

70+

117+

TOUCHLESS TAP SENSORS

HAND SANITIZER STATIONS

TOUCHLESS WATER DISPENSERS

CLASSROOMS FITTED WITH SCREENED DOORS/WINDOWS/ EXHAUST FANS

215+

2

315+

20+

AIR PURIFIERS IN ALL ROOMS

UV STERILIZATION TUNNELS FOR SHARED RESOURCES

UV/HEPA/ FILTERS IN AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS

REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY MONITORS

6000+

200+

200+

500+

HALLWAY FOOTPRINT STICKERS

DIRECTION STICKERS IN STAIRWELLS

SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDE STICKERS

HEALTH-SAFETY POSTERS

Together we inspire a love of learning, empowering all students with the courage, confidence, creativity and compassion to make their unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

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Photography and Journalism Club: A Senior’s Farewell

By Anya Kumar, Class of 2021

This was a strange year for all of us. As the Photography & Journalism Club, we lost the opportunity to go out and explore with our cameras and write about things we experienced and saw. We lost the opportunity to physically meet our new members and have our routine mid-meeting tea breaks. That chance to catch up casually with people in between work is what we lost.

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But there are things we gained. Our new members were great to work with from the beginning and the ease of sharing things online came with the “Zoom era.” It was tough holding virtual meetings and keeping everyone engaged after a long day, but people were still enthusiastic and ready to participate.

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As a senior, this year was especially difficult. With our first semester entirely virtual, we missed out on many things like our senior treats, our last Discover India trip, various SAISAs, and most importantly, seeing each other in person.

With all those ups and downs, we seem to be having the most “normal” senior year we could have at a time like this, and I’m certainly grateful for that. With only a few months left in school, I’d want to make the best of it, with my friends, teachers, and AISC itself.

We had hoped for the second semester to be different, and we were lucky with how it turned out. We could finally see our friends and teachers in person, and we had the senior treats that the parents so kindly organized for us. The best change personally was seeing my fellow seniors more recently as an entire batch, since we were separated initially. The greatest

Leaving the P&J club will be hard, as Anya Mall and I have built it up and grown with it for 3 years. We’ve seen members come and go, we’ve worked with Ms. Lisa over the years and had people produce some fantastic work, and we’ve enjoyed exploring our own creative passions through the club. That being said, we know it’ll be in good hands, and we look forward to its progress after our departure.

thing about coming to school in person was having a physical environment that allowed me to learn and focus better.

Every moment with our members has been enjoyable, and we hope the club grows into something beautiful for future members to have a chance to explore their creative passions.

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Hard to Say Goodbye: Perspectives from a Leaving Family

By Varna, Sunder, and Srivatsan Ramaswamy (Class of 2021)

It is with a very heavy heart that I write about my own family leaving. For five years I have helped to put together and write about other people leaving the AISC Family for the AISConnect Magazine. My family arrived in 2015 when my son Srivats was in the Middle School (7th Grade), and we planned to stay 2 years in Chennai, the home of my closest relatives. Our stay extended to four additional years and little did I realize, we would gain even more family, many from the AISC Community. Little did I know the people who I waved to in the Unity Courtyard would become some of my best friends. We gained a community that will continue to be with us as we geographically move to another place, but the connections are strong and the experiences significant and impactful. As graduation approaches after a great international education for my son, my family took the time to carefully answer the questions knowing it may help other families find the happiness that we have at AISC. So here goes...

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What is the best kept secret in Chennai that you think everyone should know about?

Chennai has been a home for us before this last six years and our India home base for many of the summers.

Learning the history of the place you live is key and one of the best places to start is at the site of the “British Invasion.” No not the Beatles, but in 1639 when the British East India Company came to Chennai; they built Fort St. George and established Georgetown. The drive to Fort St. George Museum (https://chennaitourism. travel/fort-st-george-museum-chennai) is along one of the longest beaches in Asia, Marina Beach, and the museum is simple and has a very underrated portrait gallery. In the realm of entertainment, my son assures me Chennai is the only place he has ever seen Soap Football (http://www.soapfootballchennai.com/ ). It is the place where they gear up with helmets and pads to play football or soccer on an inflated field that is PCA Publication - Edition 10

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drenched with soap and water. Lots of slipping, sliding, and good clean fun is had by one and all. If you want a unique and modern way to try traditional South Indian food, try going to Avartana, located in the ITC Grand Chola Hotel and Conference Center. This restaurant was three years in the making, utilizing techniques of molecular gastronomy while perfecting traditional South Indian flavors. My final hidden gem is Mridula’s Embroidery School (http://www.mridulas.com/). If you are a crafter or beginner like me, this might be a place for you to learn how to do the variety of traditional Indian Embroidery techniques. I will be ever grateful to a group of AISC parents that introduced me.

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most memorable was this year’s virtual CHEMUN XIV and his MUN trip to The Hague in the Netherlands.

How has this past year changed your perspective on living in India/abroad?

This last one and a half years of the pandemic has been challenging. Lots of messages saying: “What are lockdowns?”, “Where do I get….?”, “Vaccines?”, “What are your numbers like?” “Mask maker, mask maker, make me a mask?” What I appreciate is that the community of friends who met here in India continued to support each other no matter where we were located now. Spread over Australia, Germany, Mexico, USA, What is a fond memory you have of being a member Singapore, we stayed close-knit with everyone around the world going through the same types of obstacles of the AISC community? and situations, which helped immensely. It made me I cannot just think of just one thing. My family made feel that no matter where we are in the world, that the most of our time at AISC; I am proud to say we with the help of technology, we can stay connected, walked-the walk and talked-the-talk at our school as close, and supported. far as involvement is concerned in order to give back and build this community. This included participating in Where is your next adventure taking you? the Board of Directors, Council of Advisors, Grade and Our son will graduate from AISC in May. Go “the SAISA/ASIAC Coordinators, AISConnect Magazine, the brave, resilient, flexible” AISC Class of 2021! His PCA celebrations and initiatives like the International adventure will start with a return to the US as a “third Day with Team India and Team USA. The camaraderie culture kid” to learn the culture again, like how to drive, amongst both country groups is unforgettable. For get a job, and plan a gap semester of new adventures. example, our meetings with Team India were noisy, He will go to Middlebury College starting in February colorful, creative, eventually productive, just like of 2022, interested in all things international. We, as a India! We, as India, were the home team and had to family, will return to the US after more than 12 years make sure that we properly showcased the culture away from Vermont and Middlebury College. Coming and flavor of diverse India. From games to gifts to back home to Vermont with our two Indie (Indian Street a unique banner and theme that was created each dogs), who are wondering will the US dogs understand year. Attending and participating in lighting diyas at their barks? I may be wondering the same as we all the Diwali Mela, building baskets at the PCA Ball, and begin our new adventures! most satisfyingly saying “Thank You” at the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon and giving back at the Giving Tree was always performed with dedicated, hardworking, and creative parents. Each event was stellar!

For my son, we are ever grateful for Model United Nations (and Ms. Mac), MUN Impact, Student Council, Student Advisory Council, SAISA, Honor Society, ASIAC, Student Voices Forum... all the opportunities provided to our kids to be involved and actively learning! His PCA Publication - Edition 10

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Wellbeing: More than Just a State of Mind at AISC

By Michele Ness, School Psychologist and Linda Gerberich, ES Counselor

Throughout the 2020–21 school year, the core principles of wellbeing have shaped the thinking, planning, and execution of our educational programming at AISC. Decisions were made that prioritized the safety and wellbeing of our school community. We are so grateful for the strong positive relationships that have always been at the heart of AISC. The dedication and care from our AISC teachers has made a significant impact on the perspective and experience of virtual learning for each student in our community.

All parents and children have their own unique story to share about this past year of COVID-19. Many parents worked virtually alongside their children, taking multitasking to a whole new level. Everyone was resourceful at turning paper and Amazon boxes into exciting crafts and finding novel activities for their children to do. Above all, parents and guardians were extraordinary in their care and teaching of their children.

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We, the AISC Counseling Team, supported our students in their classrooms and in our community with activities and lessons that built resilience and emotional capacity, offering social/games times, individual meetings with students, and responsive outreach to our youngest and oldest learners—and all of our students in between.

The Early Years classes learned about feelings with Kimochis. Learning about feelings helps children learn to recognize and manage their own feelings while being caring toward themselves and others.

Credit: https://www.kimochis.com/

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In kindergarten, the students enjoyed activities during morning meetings to start the day with happiness and a sense of belonging. Grades 1–3 learned about the Zones of Regulation. Zones are 4 colors: green, yellow, blue, and red. Each Zone represents different feelings and needs. Grade 3 were also “bucket fillers,” such as doing kind things to keep their invisible buckets full as well as their own buckets. Grades 4 and 5 worked on identifying their own feelings around the COVID-19 school year and focusing on what they could control in their own lives, even while we were in virtual learning.

They processed the “silver linings” around COVID-19 such as increased time with family members, and learned strategies for managing and reducing stress and anxiety.

Our amazing Middle School hosted Wellbeing Days for all students in October, December, and February.

Advisory lessons were embedded with social-emotional themes and content throughout the year. In Health classes, a focus on Wellbeing by grade level was prioritized. When students needed one-to-one support and connection with a trusted adult, our MS Counselor met for regular weekly check-ins, to ensure that our students were safe and supported. Parent Coffees for MS parents were offered throughout the year, and new student orientations were customized to meet the needs of families transitioning into our school this year.

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the beginning of the year, they led wellbeing and mindfulness workshops, offered pre-exam meditation sessions, and engaged with the High School student community by leading activities on Discovery Days.

Case management of students who were struggling with online learning was an important component and this individualized and tailored support resulted in students overcoming the personal hurdles associated with virtual school. The counselors planned and executed an online virtual college fair attended by over 40 universities so that our juniors and seniors could have the experience of investigating what post-secondary options await them after their high school journey is complete.

Over the course of the year, our AISC Counseling Team hosted Parent Coffees and discussion groups focussed on the NESA parent education webinar series, taking a deeper dive into the intricacies of parenting during this historic time. Our Counseling Team participated in various Wellbeing Committees throughout the School, and have served essential roles in their support and outreach efforts to faculty, students, and our amazing parent community. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to form even stronger and more meaningful relationships with our students, faculty, and parents during these unprecedented times and are eager for the positive changes that lie ahead as we begin to plan for success for the 2021-22 school year.

Our tremendous High School Counseling team adapted their counseling delivery model to reflect With gratitude, the unique needs of our students as we moved from Your AISC Counseling Team virtual to hybrid during this eventful school year. From PCA Publication - Edition 10

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Spirit Week

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Coming Home to AISC

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#AISC25 Mela: Celebrating 25 Years of Flourishing with Chennai

By Archana Abraham, Creative Consultant Anniversaries are special. Milestone anniversaries, even more so.

Early in the 2019–2020 school year, we began planning a celebration that would commemorate AISC’s 25 year legacy here in Chennai and the world. This celebration would also bring together our community members and key partners from the local community. We wanted to celebrate more than just a milestone; we wanted to celebrate over two decades of flourishing in and with the city of Chennai!

AISC’s 25th Anniversary Mela was envisioned as a community-planned event that would feature immersive art experiences designed by local artists and our students, interactive booths hosted by key community partners, studentdesigned installation pieces that told our unique story, and more.

However, in the wake of the global pandemic, our vision for the mela had to be adapted very quickly to fit a virtual format. And adapt we did! Our planning committee worked closely with key partners— new and old—in Chennai and beyond to bring bespoke virtual experiences to our community at our #AISC25 Mela.

that unfolded across a virtual recreation of our beloved campus.

The mela offered twenty bespoke experiences from community partners in Tamil Nadu and beyond—mapped across our virtual campus—and designed to appeal to various sections. Each partner experience was facilitated by a staff or student volunteer, making this mela a true community effort. Despite our community members being scattered across the world, we had over 580 visitors from around the world, logging in to celebrate 25 years of AISC history together with their families!

This all-school shared virtual celebration was a testament to the AISC spirit, to the strength of our partnerships, and to the resilience of our community. During truly unprecedented times, we as a community managed to thrive and find moments of joy despite our shared challenges.

Use the hashtag #AISC25 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to relive key moments from our 25th Anniversary Mela.

Take a walk down memory lane and discover milestones from AISC Our #AISC25 Virtual Mela was a history at our virtual timeline! rich, immersive digital experience

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