September 30, 2010

Progress Reports
The children should have brought home their first Progress Report of the new school year. This report is to give you an initial impression of how your child has settled into school and to reflect the start they have made with their work. Please send the brown envelope back to school so that we can use it again.

Student Council
The Student Council would like to thank everyone who was involved with making the Backyard Café such a success. The café raised 31,857 tenge and the money that was donated to the Student Council will be used to support several charities.

The Student Council are currently planning to hold a “movie night” in October, they would like to get the snack cart underway so they can sell goodies at Saturday Sports and they are also about to begin work on a ‘Dress-Up Day”.

QSI-DAIS Activities
We have been working with the QSI school to arrange some inter-school events and we hope to be able to firm up plans so we can share some activities with them before the October holiday.

Reading Aloud With Children
In the next few editions of the Gazetta Ms. Carlson would like to share a few thoughts about the benefits children receive when they continue to be to read aloud to even as they grow older. We often read aloud with the younger children but many benefits can still be gained from reading aloud to children from material that is a little above what they themselves are reading on their own.

Here is the first section on this topic.

Cuddling up for a good read is one of the most special times in the lives of a family. Yet, as our children grow as readers, and become more independent in their reading, it becomes easier and easier for us to give up our “read-alouds”.  However, one thing that we can definitely do to help our children grow as readers and learners is to continue to read aloud.

The Benefits of a Read Aloud
• helps our children know what it is to lose themselves in the drama of a story
• develops a positive attitude toward books as a source of pleasure and information
•  increases vocabulary
• expands the child's knowledge base
• satisfies and heightens curiosity
• stimulates imagination
• stimulates understanding of language patterns
• sharpens observation skills
• enhances listening skills
• promotes self-confidence and self-esteem
• offers many new friends since book characters can become quite real
• helps develop problem solving skills and critical thinking
• encourages positive social interaction
• helps them to become successful readers who love books

Saturday Sports
12.30-1.30 Kindergarten through 3rd grade               1.30-2.30 4th grade through 8th  

Brown Bag Lunch
September-December 2010

Please let Charles know if you can volunteer to supervise any of the days not yet taken.

Please Mark Your Calendar

• Sept 30th: Progress Reports.
• October 15th: to 24th Fall Break
• October 30th: Fall Festival