December 14th 2012

Wishing Everyone a Joyous Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!!

 

                                           Student Ambassador Celebration and holiday party!

December 7th, 2012

Up coming........

1. A fond farewell to all our Middle School students who will be leaving AISC and beginning a new adventure in another place!!

2.  Student Ambassador Celebration and Holiday party will be help in the BBT on Tuesday December 11th from 3:35-4:30

3. Advisory new theme of "Honesty" will starting December 7th until February 28th.

4.  A fun holiday MS lunch time caroling will be taking place on Wednesday, Dec. 12 and Thursday Dec. 13th. come out and enjoy!!


Time Management:
As our holidays are approaching and end of semester is not far off, it is important to have a timely schedule of everything that needs to be done. Stress is accentuated when one feels overwhelmed and frustrated with the amount of things to do and no plan is in place. To alleviate some of the stress, make a well thought out timely plan and stick to it. Build in some relaxation and time for yourself as well. Once you know that all can be completed within your timeframe, you can begin to relax while you accomplish your tasks.

Friendships and Farewells:
This is a time of year when some families and friends are moving on to new countries or returning home. It is a bitter sweet time, a time to say goodbye and also a time to embrace a new adventure. If you are moving on or a person who has a friend that is moving on, take time to spend a little extra quality time with your friend. You can make a special card for them to show how much they will be missed and how much you care. Once you are separated, send an email or skype in a timely manner so that you feel connected and get caught up all the happenings of the other person. It is always difficult to say good bye, there is no easy way. If your friendship stands the test of time, know that you will most likely see that person again and you will still have your friendship intact, in fact, it may be stronger.

Enjoy the holidays and travel safely!

November 29th, 2012

Up coming...

1. Student Ambassador Celebration and Holiday party!
          Tuesday, December 11th 3:45-4:30 in the BBT! We will be recognizing all the student Ambassador Achievements since August, having a "Secret Santa" gift exchange and eating some yummy snacks. Gifts should be thoughtful, between Rs.250-500 , gift wrapped. See you all on December 11th!!


Congratulations! To all Student Ambassadors who led the Advisory activity in the Advisory classes. You all took your leadership and interpersonal skills to the next level, showing that you were prepared, could engage the students in the activity and make it fun and interesting for them. Everyone enjoyed learning the activity from the Student Ambassador Training Retreat Session.

Stress Free.....As we enter and prepare for the holiday season we are constantly reminder of the day to day tasks that need to be accomplished. At this time, it can be very stressful and some of us are facing this stress load and wondering how we will make it through. Here are a few tips to help you lessen your stress and make it to the holidays in good form....

   1.  Make your to-do-list:
                List all the things that you have to get done between now and the holidays start.   
                Prioritize your items.
                Make a time schedule, date and time  for all the things you need to accomplish, 
                     starting with the most important things 

2. Let some things go:
                Look at what you either let go completely, or move until a later date, maybe after
                     your get back from the break. 

3. Take some R&R:
                 Take some time for yourself and enjoy the days. Choose to follow an interest, go see
                        a movie, talk with a friend, have dinner outside or order in, meditate or do    
                        yoga or spend time with family or friends.

4. Think Positive!
                  Remember to tell yourself, things will get better! Try to focus on the positive
                          things around you and try to see them. If a negative thought arises, refocus
                           yourself to the positive.

5. Talk to a friend or family member:
                  Friends and family are great resources for you to express how you are feeling and
                        help you move forward with positivity. They are probably going through similar
                        circumstances, so you can be a mutual benefit to each other.
 

Enjoy the last 2 weeks before the break and relish in your accomplishments!!

November 16th

Up coming.....

1.  New Student: Welcome to Catherine McCarthy, 6th grade who will be joining us on Tuesday November 20th


Advisory Visits
The Student Ambassadors will be leading the Advisory groups 6th-8th grade in activity called "Alphabet Search". The ambassadors will introduce and lead the Advisory group in the activity and debrief  with follow up questions based on the theme, "making good choices".  This will be a chance for the Student Ambassadors to use their leadership skills they have acquired while working with their peers. congratulations and good luck to all Student Ambassadors!!

 "Truth or Dare?"
For those of you who do not know this game, it is a game some students have been engaging in at school during break times, lunch and other opportune times. It is a game where one student will ask another student which do you want to do...a truth or a dare... If the student chooses a "truth", then they will have to answer a question, if the student chooses a "dare" they will have to do something. it all sounds very innocent to begin with, but what happens if the answer to a question is incriminating, or hurtful to someone else, or if the dare is to hit someone or kiss someone. One can imagine the awkward, embarrassing and potentially resenting situations can result for some students.  Since this game has been played by students across grade levels and has caused stress and anxiety and hurt for some students, we have met with students and have instructed that it be stopped. There are many other games that the students play at lunch  time which are better choices  and more positive for all concerned.  Parents can support this by talking to your child about the repercussions of this game on others, and how others may feel if they are t the receiving end of it.  We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

November 2nd, 2012

Up coming...

1. Middle school Advisory assembly: Monday, November 5th. The grade 8 students will be presenting and leading an activity  for the rest of the middle school students to work on cross grade levels.  The debriefing for this activity will tie into the Advisory theme of "Making Good Choices" and decisions the students had made as they went through the activity.

 2. 7th grade Student Ambassadors will lead the 7th grade Advisory groups through an activity that they learned in their Ambassador training retreat. This will be an opportunity for Student Ambassadors to sharpen their leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, work together as a Student Ambassador team and as well as get to know new people in their grade level.

 

We will be welcoming the new students who have joined middle school since our last assembly in September. The Student Ambassadors will introduce the new students to the rest of the middle school. 

   Warm welcome to:

1. Mirabel Nicklas, 6th grade

2. Yujin Kim, 6th grade

3. Dajeong Song, 8th grade

4. Tyler Sibal, 8th grade

October 26th 2012

October 26th, 2012

Upcoming

1. Departing student: Good bye to Danielle Tan, 8th grade.We will miss you in 8th grade at AISC and as a student Ambassador!! We wish you the best in your new school.

Student Ambassadors

 New students

Our Student Ambassadors are still hard at work. They are regularly having training workshops and learning ways of improving their role as student Ambassadors. Two improvements that they are implementing now is to having regular check ins with new students, once every two or so weeks to to see that they are adjusting well and to observe that they are participating and happy in middle school. 

Advisory Activity Leader

All Student Ambassadors will be leading an Advisory group in an activity called " Alphabet Activity". After the fun activity is over, the Student Ambassadors will be facilitating a discussion on what the students learn from this activity and how it relates to making good choices, which is our Advisory theme at this time. To prepare for this, all the Student Ambassadors attended a meeting on October 24th. We discussed what kind of questions would be appropriate. Each group of Ambassadors are collaborating to make questions that could be used with this activity. We have shared it on Google Docs and the final 5 questions will be ready next week. Each grade level group of Student Ambassadors will meet at lunch to finalize the presentation of their Advisory activity. 

6th grade Student Ambassadors will visit 6th grade Advisories on November 16th

7th grade Student Ambassadors will visit 7th grade Advisories on November 9th

8th grade Student Ambassadors will visit 8th grade Advisories on November 16th

Advisory Update                                  "Making good choices"

The Advisory classes are well into way working with the them, "Making Good choices". Each Advisory have been working through a series of activities based on the theme that help the students learn more about themselves, what are values, what are their values and how do I make choices based on my values and beliefs.


The following are just a sample of some of the activities that the students have done so far in Advisory class.

Myers Brigs Personality Test

"I like everyone who....."

What's important to you?

What's in a name?

"I am" poem

Different values 

What are my values

October 18th

Middle School Counselor

October 18th, 2012

Upcoming:

1. Friday October 18th. Welcome to our new 6th grade student, Yujin Kim! Jenny will be her Student Ambassador!

2.  Wednesday, October 24th 3:35-4:30pm  Student Ambassador meeting. All Student Ambassadors are expected to be present.

3. Friday October 26th. Professional Development day for teachers. No school for students.

Note:

 I  will be out of the office on Friday, October 19th for a Counselor's conference in KL, Malaysia. There will be over 40 counselors and psychologists in attendance. There will presentations on Advanced counseling skills, self harm, Anger, Anxiety and Depression as well as Bullying Prevention, Expressive Arts for Sexually Abused Children and Adventure Based Counseling. I am looking forward to networking with  the counselors in our region and participating in the workshops. 

Welcome back to our 7th grade students on their WWoW trip!!

They are having a wonderful adventure in Nagarhole, visiting the local school and interacting with the students of Kutta. They have had great weather and food and participated in team building activities, talent show, nature walks and safaris and many more activities. They saw their first TIGER last evening!!

Social Interactions

Getting along with people and learning how to keep friends is a skill that can be learned and is an on going challenge for many of us. Everyone is unique and  has has their own way of thinking and doing things. As we enter our adolescent years, we want to "fit in", we want to "be one of the group" and worry when we stand out or don't "fit in". "Trying" to fit in sometimes has the the opposite result because you are trying to be someone you are not. Be yourself and true to your values and beliefs and you will be respected and accepted for who you are. 

Here are some tips on  friendships:

1. Be yourself: Never change who you are to try and fit in. If your friends don't accept you for you, they're not really friends. 

2. Be kind and caring: Always say positive things and make someone else feel good. People like compliments and to feel good around you.

3. Assume the best: Always assume that someone is doing something well or in your best interest. Ask them questions first before you jump to conclusions.

 4. Be open: Communication is paramount! express how you feel and ask questions to find out how the other person is doing.

5. Be honest with others: If something is bothering you or you are not feeling well,  tell someone how you are feeling rather than ignoring them. They are not mind readers and may think that it is about them, when really it is about you are going through.

October 12th 2012

Middle School Counselor 

October 12th 2012

Upcoming
1. October 16th-19th: Grade 7 WWoW trip to Nagarhole Tuesday October 16th-19th
2. Monday, October 15th: Welcome back 8th grade from WWoW trip!
3.October 24th 3:30-4:30pm  Student Ambassador meeting for all Student Ambassadors


Congratulations to all our wonderful middle school swimmers for your performances and hard work  in the SAISA swim meet over the the past weekend!! Your contributions have been commendable!

Advisory Theme

Making Good Choices 

September-December 1st

Middle school students have been engaging in activities based on the theme: Making Good Choices. The activities components are  knowing yourself, what are values, knowing your values, and how to make a good choice/decision for yourself.   The following article shows how to be a successful student in middles school.  These habits fit nicely with our theme of making good choices. We can reinforces these habits at home, iat school and in the community. Habits are formed after repeated usage and trials. Sometimes they take a long time to form, but if we keep practicing them, they will become a habit:-)

Eight Habits of Successful Middle School Students

http://www.bvps.org/vmscounseling/eight_habits_of_successful.htm  

1. Be Responsible and Know Yourself

• When the word “responsibility” is broken down, the key words are “respond” and “ability.” A

successful person has the ability to respond to challenges.

• Choose your own response to a difficult situation beforehand, rather than wait for it to

happen and not be prepared.

• Begin by looking honestly at your personal strengths and weaknesses, and determine your

own sense of responsibility for your behavior, and for your family and friends.

2. Reflect Success

• Have a clear picture of the kind of person you would like to become and the types of goals

that you want to achieve.

• Identify a positive adult role model, who has achieved the same goals and reflects the same

success that you desire. You can imitate similar pathways to success.

• Not every role model has to be a famous basketball player or movie actor. Some of the best

role models are in your own neighborhood, schools, churches, and even your own home.

3. Aim Toward Your Goal

• Put life, family, friends, and values in a good perspective.

• To design a successful career, start by first identifying the end goal, and then determine the

steps necessary to obtain it.

• Find a caring adult who will be able to help you put your plan into place one step at a time.

4. Prioritize and Maximize

• Now that you have a successful vision of yourself, you can begin prioritizing your daily

routine so that you are able to make the best use of your time and your energy.

• Don’t get caught up in things that may take you away from your goal, such as alcohol, drugs,

or negative people.

• Anything that does not benefit your vision of success does not benefit you.

• Organize your work area and keep it free from distractions.

• Improve your organizational skills by using a daily planner, a personal “To Do” list, and a

regular personal evaluation meeting with an adult or a mentor to check your progress.

5. Be a Winner

• Build relationships in which you and the other person both succeed. These are called “winwin”

partnerships.

• These “win-win” partners should be friends whom you can call on for support, tutoring, or for

conversation that helps you stay on track.

• Teachers, coaches, principals, and mentors could be partners who help you succeed.

6. Communicate

• Communication is the essential key to understanding.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and when answers are given be sure to listen.

• The cycle of communication is usually broken when you try to second-guess what others are

trying to say.

• Try to understand the motivations and goals of others around you. This can improve your

communications and increase your network of positive partnerships.

7. Connect to a Good Power Source

• Having access to strong, positive partners will increase your ability to succeed.