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News and ViewsSeptember 2, 2010
Dear Parents, With the arrival of September it is clear to see that our Middle School community is fully engaged in learning. With the support of their teachers we have seen our students embrace and display the CAC student learning outcomes of thinking, communicating, care giving and caretaking. We have announced to forty students and their parents a pilot program related to a “blended classroom environment” which takes our commitment to using instructional technology to a whole new level of learning. Watch this film clip to learn more. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ Middle School students were caregivers as our Global Issue Network class collaborated with parents and other students to raise funds for Pakistan flood relief. Thank you for your contributions that will go to international aid agencies involved with helping families impacted by the flooding. At the same time our first emergency drill of the year reinforced our commitment to care taking. It was a successful practice and allowed us to enhance procedures now that the new Elementary School is open. The Middle School House system had their first formal activity today and tonight we celebrate the completion of three weeks of classes with an outdoor student social that includes swimming, a film and pizza. We hope to see many of you at the Middle School Iftar on Tuesday evening where you can celebrate the holy month of Ramadan as a school community. Finally please keep in your thoughts this weekend the world leaders gathered in Washington D.C. With international peace day coming on September 21st we hope that these individuals will have the courage to act and bring about true peace and justice for the people of the Middle East. Have a good weekend and thank you for your support of the Middle School at Cairo American College.
Middle School Activities
Middle School Swim in Movie On Thursday, September 2nd, the Middle School will sponsor its first social event of the year. This is a great opportunity for new and returning students to meet and develop new friendships. We will show an outdoor movie, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” by the pool. Students can swim, play basketball, enjoy pizza and drinks, and socialize with their friends. Students should arrive at 7:30 pm, with their CAC Photo ID card and 10 LE for admission. Pizza and drinks will be sold at the event. We are asking that parents please be at the front gate at 9:30 pm to pick up your child. Middle School Iftar Date Change The Middle School will sponsor its annual Iftar on Wednesday, September 7th. The Iftar will take place on the Middle School Field from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. All Middle School families are welcome to attend this event. We thank our Middle School Community Advisory Team (CAT) members and PTO reps for their help in coordinating this event. Please contact your grade level CAT representative if you plan to attend and we hope to see you next Tuesday! CAT Team Roster http://www.cacegypt.org/ms/PDF/CATTeamRoster10.pdf Middle School Student Council Election Results 2010 With the help of Mr. McGuigan and the Model United Nations class, the Middle School Student Council elections were held last Thursday and determined to be free and fair. After spirited campaigns, clever posters, and excellent speeches, the tough decisions had to be made. It was a close election. All students who ran for offices are to be congratulated. Each of them showed a strong commitment to service and school spirit. The clear message from the student body is all of these great student leaders are needed in our Student Council. Congratulations to our new officers: President: Achindra Krishna, Now the hard work begins as the student council starts their plans for the participation in World Peace Day, our first social, and our first opportunities to reach out the community beyond our school. Congratulations and Thank you to Nary Gawdat, Summer Kashwa, Jessica Korte for running for President; Aida Abbashar, Ozzie Alkhayat, Abigail Cotton, Nadia ElRashidy, Nathan Farag for running for Vice President; Taymour Ahmed, Rawie Elnur, Drake Murphy, Alessandro Wedeman for running for Treasurer; and Lina Aboul Fatouh, Lyric Bowditch, Kielan Croft, Anna Spreyermann for running for secretary. We hope you will each consider holding a position as grade level representative because we need your voices.
Introducing the New CAC Middle School Student Report Card For those parents who were unable to attend our presentation of the new Middle School report card at Back to School Night this week, we will sponsor additional information sessions on Wednesday, September 22nd. We will host a morning session from 10:00 am – 11:00 am and another session that evening from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Both sessions will take place in Room 600. We believe that the changes to the grading and reporting system will further enhance student learning and improve how we communicate on student progress. Please plan on joining us on September 22nd if you would like to learn more. Homework Club Several parents have asked exactly what happens in Homework Club, so we would like to take this opportunity to explain the set up and purpose for you. Homework Club runs each day, except Tuesdays, from 3:15 – 4:15. Bus students are let out in time to catch their bus. On Sundays and Wednesdays it will be supervised by Mrs. Flora in Room 95, and on Monday and Thursday by Ms. Riley in Room 97. Homework Club provides a quiet place for your child to work with teacher help available to him or her. Students are expected to be in place by 3:15 and to stay until they are dismissed. They should work quietly during the time they are there, and be working on their own homework, not on group projects. If they finish their homework before dismissal, they should read for the rest of the time. They may come on the days they want to, and do not need to sign up in advance. Laptop carts will soon be available each time. While Homework Club is a great place to be, it is not always the right place. For example, if your child is working on a group project, the library is a better place, as students are allowed to talk quietly there and work on collaborative projects. In Homework Club we emphasize that this is a place for quiet, sustained work, to enable students to make a good start on their homework without interruption. Arabic Club Arabic Club is for all beginner non-native speakers in Middle School. The purpose of the Arabic Club is to help you learn survival Arabic or to improve your speaking and listening skills in Arabic through fun activities. The club will take place after school on Wednesdays starting on August 25, from 3:15 - 4:10 pm. If you plan to come please see Mr. El Bably in Room 74 to sign up for this after-school activity. Thank you in advance for your support in learning Arabic. Shokran Health Office Reminder Thank you to all of the families that have turned in the forms required by the Health Office. For those who have not yet turned in the forms, the deadline is September 15, 2010. The form required from EACH student is the “Annual Student Information.” Also, each new student, as well as those in grade 7, are required to have a “Student Medical Examination” form, filled out and signed by a physician. Thank you for providing the completed forms, allowing us to give the best care to your child.
News from Performing arts
Middle School Play Auditions for ZAP are completed and the students are working on the production!!! ZAP is by Paul Fleischman who was the visiting author from last year. Please save the dates – October 15-16 to witness this first CAC drama production of the academic year.
Sports and Athletics American Red Cross Learn To Swim Classes Begin Soon! The CAC Saturday Swim School begins on September 4th. Classes for all levels, Infants through Adults, are offered. Refer to the CAC Aquatics Website for details, times, course fees. Visit: www.cacegypt.org/aquatics/home
Fall Age Group Swim Team The Fall age group is a FUN team for all ages in Grades 1 to Grade 12. The season extends from September 13 until November 6, 2010. Signups: Old team members email Coach Char: cwebb@cacegypt.org with your full name, age, grade, birth date and which days you prefer to practice – Sunday/Wednesday or Monday/Thursday. New team members sign up, in person at the pool, or visit the CAC Aquatics Website for details about tryouts and practice times.
THREE CHEERS
Three cheers to all those students and teachers who conducted a safe and effective emergency drill this week.
Counselors Corner
Becoming a Love and Logic Parent - Workshop Please join Susan Tennyson and Zach Secrist, the CAC school psychologists, as they explore the Love and Logic approach to parenting. This workshop consists of 8 sessions of discussion, activities, and videos that offer ideas on how to raise responsible children from the preschool ages through high school ages. When: Where: Please note that there will be a total of 8 sessions, with each session building on the previous learning. Your consistent attendance is vital to getting the most out this learning opportunity! Registration required by September 12th or Zach Secrist, zsecrist@cacegypt.org, 2755-5205 **If you were able to purchase the book, “Parenting with Love and Logic”, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay, as was suggested last school year, please begin to read this now. It is an excellent supplement to this parenting skills course. Five Ways to Help Your Young Adolescent Be Successful in Middle School Know what your young adolescent is doing by talking to him every day. Don't grill him, but find a time when you can sit down and really talk about his day. Many families still make it a priority to sit down for dinner most nights where they can talk about the events of the day in a calm and unhurried manner. If dinnertime doesn't work for your family, perhaps a short walk in the evening or a time before bed when you can connect and talk about what is important. Stay in touch with the school. Know your child's teachers and stay in contact. Many teachers have web sites with lots of information about the school. It doesn't take long to stay in touch so you know what is going on. Encourage your young adolescent to become an active citizen this year. Have your child practice doing for others. Visiting a special senior citizen; helping with community clean-up; or becoming an advocate for recycling, literacy, or kindness to animals will help your young adolescent be an involved member of society and maintain that balance between caring for others and attending to her own needs. Remember that middle school is a time for students to explore new opportunities. Doing well on tests and learning are critical, of course, but students are also learning a great deal about themselves. So, think carefully about what being successful really means. Is it more than receiving all A’s? Is it learning to be a self-starter? Is it learning to follow through on commitments? What Parents Should Know About Homework
As these needs suggest, young adolescents search for personal meaning in their lives. They attempt to determine who they are and what kind of person they will become as they participate in activities that give them a sense of accomplishment. (adapted from NMSA, The Family Connection)
Schedule At a Glance
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