Student Council: Spy Day

The Student Council organized Spy Day with specialized assistance from Mr. & Mrs. Phelps, proved to be an excellent activity. All the children had to employ the cunning and intellect of a master spy as they tried to solve several clues left for them around the school. The promise of a class popcorn party certainly added to their motivation!!

Dance Presentation; Thursday 27^th November

At 2:45pm on Thursday 27^th November Ms. Zhanna’s DAIS Dance class will perform for their parents and DAIS children in the school lobby. Ms. Zhanna will bring some of her Atyrau dance students who will also perform.  If other parents and members of the community would like to watch the performance they are most welcome to attend.

Christmas Program: Sunday 7^th December at 5pm

Scenery: Here is a message from the initial meeting of parents helping with scenery.

• Calling all volunteer artists! The set designers for our Christmas program will begin working on Monday 24^th Nov. in the school lobby at 9:30am. All interested persons are invited to come and help out. Future work dates will be determined on Monday. See you there!! Requested donations for props are:
• • Christmas wrapping paper
  • Empty boxes to be wrapped (food boxes are fine)
  • Ribbon/bows etc
  • 5-6 foot tall unadorned Christmas trees
  • Inflatable palm trees

• Rehearsals: The Middle School will be rehearsing on the stage in the school lobby from 11:30am to 12:00pm each morning. So that the surprise of their play is not spoilt please don’t come into the lobby until their rehearsal has ended. I think you will be able to see when they have finished from the warmth of the Social Club lobby area. Thank you.

• Family Choir: Please let me know if you think you would like to be part of our Family Choir. The Family Choir provides an opportunity for a parent(s) to sing with their children as part of our Christmas program. We have two or three simple songs that we could try for this year.

Secret Santa

During school tomorrow the children will be pulling names out of a “hat” and they will become the “Secret Santa” for the person whose name they draw. The children will come home with all the directions they need to obtain a suitable present. The teachers will also speak with them about the Secret Santa activity during school time which will be helpful for our students who were not here last year.

All gifts to be deposited in the school office by Wednesday December 3^rd and the gifts will be given out by Santa after the carol singing on Friday 5^th December.

Each gift will need the name of the recipient clearly marked on the outside of the present.

Report Cards & Conference

The children will be bringing home their report card today. Please return the report card envelope to the teacher as we re-use this envelope. Teachers are also sending out invitations for conferences so please let your child’s teacher(s) know if a report card and conference invitation does not reach you.

Carol Singing on Dostyk Village: Friday 5^th December

5:45pm: Children to meet in the Music Room to collect caroling booklets and candles.

6:00pm: Caroling begins on the Village following a pre-determined route.

7:00pm (approximately) Everyone returns to the Social Club for refreshments.

7:15-7:30pm (approximately): Santa arrives followed by gift giving in the TV room.

This year ESS has taken on the responsibility of decorating the Social Club for the Christmas period.

DAIS Leaving/Memory Books

Unfortunately five children are leaving around Christmas time.

Rachel Meltzer (3^rd grade)      Zachary Billiter (3^rd grade)      Noah Billiter (2^nd grade)

Amanda Billiter (2^nd grade)    Filipe Chialina (Pre K)

• As we have done before we would like to construct a memory book for each child departing with a page from each family remaining.
• Please decorate the page entirely as you wish.  You may use photos, drawings whatever you would like. 
• The pages will then be included in a ring binder folder for presentation.
• Please return the pages to the school office by Friday November 28^th. 

This is a great opportunity to provide a wonderful keepsake for the children who are moving on to their next adventure. 

Any questions please call Debra Laidlaw TH #163

Visit to Senior Citizens Home in Atyrau: Tuesday 9^th December

We hope to take the children in Grades 1-4 to the senior citizens home that we visit once or twice a year. In addition to singing and playing instruments the children take food gifts for each resident. In the past we have made up some simple individual bags of food. The food items have been donated by DAIS families and they are very much appreciated by the residents. We hope we will have your support this year so that we can provide some seasonal cheer. Details to follow in another Gazetta.

School DVD

We continue to make progress with the school promotional DVD that will be used to help potential TCO families and teachers decide if they would like to come and live and work in Atyrau. Later this week and next week some of the children, whose names came out of a “hat” and teachers will be recording a few words for the DVD.

Student Council Activities

Below is a schedule of activities and events the Student Council are planning for November and December. Please make a note in your diary.

November

        22:             Snack Cart (after Saturday sports)

December

        12:             Christmas movie and dress up day

Brown Bag Lunch: Parent Supervision