Dear Parents,

I met with all the classes to share a few stories and listen to their thoughts about 2012-13. The reflections they shared made me realize how far your children have come since we began last August.

As we enter our last few days not this school year, I should like to pass on my thanks from teachers for all you do. So many of you have helped out with presentations, performances, booths, field trips and in many other ways.

it takes a village to raise a child.

Yearbooks: The yearbooks look amazing, and will be handed out on the last day to the eldest child in the family. If you would like additional copies, they are available for 6,000cfa from the cashier's office on Wednesday. Thanks Chantal Gesland and the yearbook team for all your work!:

Calendars: Rachel Pregont has been selling these ISD calendars outside school. She has created these from the photos sent to the photo competition - they make great presents for families elsewhere!

KG Robo-Expo: Our Kindergarten classes showed off their environmental robots last week. It is a culmination of a multi-dimentional project run for both classes by Gina Barker. Here are some photos, and more on Facebook:

MAP Reports Update: Due to a "data glitch" we are told that NWEA will probably not be able to get our MAP reports to us by the end of the year. We will email the MAP reports to departing student parents, and other parents will receive a paper copy on their return. If you are staying and would like yours to be emailed, please let Emefa know in the office. We apologize for this, but I'm afraid there was nothing we could do to speed this up. 

Summer Reading?: Colette Chalier has added links to the web site so that you can access the Tumblebooks, Tumblereaders and other resources for keeping the kids reading through the summer. Here is the link.

Wednesday is a 1/2 Day: Please remember that Wednesday is a half-day. Report cards will be handed out on Wednesday, as will some other classroom items, I am sure. Please send in an extra bag!

Report Card and Attendance: One more reminder regarding report cards and absences: 

Elementary School students must have at least 80% attendance for a trimester to earn a full report. Less than 80% attendance will gain a “narrative only” report. No reports will be given for a student attending less than 40% of a trimester’s classes.

This is because, as with MS and HS students, we need a certain level of attendance to calculate and ascertain grades for the report card. There will be a letter of explanation in those report cards concerned. 

In addition, we do not give out report cards before June 12; they take a long time to compile and are not printed until the year's end. If a child is not in attendance on that day, they will be mailed if a forwarding address is given, or scanned and emailed. Copies are always kept on file in the office.

Imagination Afrika: I don't usually publicize events, but this time of year, I know how many of you not in the Summer Camp will be looking for activities. I know I am! This is from Ms. Amelia, whose niece is running the event paired with Brooklyn Children's museum:

Mosaic Latest: Here is the almost completed mosaic, with our ISD baobab now in front:

Upcoming Events: