May 19, 2011

Thursday Flash: CAIS Community E-Newsletter
May 19, 2011
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Upcoming EventsAll School NewsDevelopmentLower SchoolMiddle SchoolShowCAISParent AssociationAthleticsLibrary
Upcoming Eventsback to top

Upcoming Important Dates

Pre-K Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, May 20

Last Day of Friday Enrichment Classes
Friday, May 20

PA Family Camp
May 20-22

MS Art Exhibit at de Young Museum
Through May 22

Ultra Arts Family Fair
Sunday, May 22

Scholastic Book Fair
May 22-27


Student/Teacher Futsal Game
Monday, May 23

HS Info Night for Seventh Grade Families
Monday, May 23

State of the School Event
Tuesday, May 24


Please check our school calendar for details about upcoming events. The calendar is updated on a regular basis as events are created. Please check back regularly.



 

All School Newsback to top

Correction: Welcome New Families for the 2011-12 School Year

Last week we welcomed all new students who will be joining our community next school year. In doing so, we inadvertently listed our two incoming seventh graders as first grade students. Our apologies for this mistake and welcome seventh graders Jonathan Chu and Ava Van Natta to CAIS.



CAIS is Turning 30 and We're Ready to Celebrate

With ShowCAIS 2011 complete, we are already starting to plan for CAIS's 30th anniversary next year, and we want YOU to join us in the celebration.

The 30th anniversary celebration will consist of a series of events throughout the 2011-2012 school year that honors the students, parents, faculty/staff, Board members and friends of CAIS from the past 30 years, as we look forward to promising future. All this will culminate in the 30th anniversary ShowCAIS extravaganza next May.

We are currently looking for members of our community who want to help in planning next year's series of events. Shortly, a Steering Committee will be formed to guide the direction of the celebration. If you are interested in getting involved or would like more information, please contact JP Lor in the Development office.



Ultra Arts Family Fair This Sunday

The Ultra Arts Family Fair is happening this Sunday and will celebrate student visual, performance and media art from pre-k through eighth grades.

A lot of time, work and planning has been put in by not only our student artists, but our visual art and music and movement departments and we hope you and your child will join us this Sunday, May 22 from noon to 4:00 p.m.

There really is something for everyone at the Ultra Arts Family Fair. Here are some of the highlights. Click here for a sneak peek of a schedule of the performances.

  • Free parking will be available at the FAIS lot at Octavia and Oak Streets.
  • Hickory Street will be closed to traffic for safe crossing between school and Hickory Yard
  • Pre-K and lower school hands on art activities happening in Hickory Yard.
  • Visual art from all grades will be showcased in the Hickory Street lobby and throughout the first floor. Hickory entrance foyer will feature Pre-K and Kindergarten art; FAIS side of first floor will feature third-fifth grade art; CAIS side of first floor will feature first-second grade art.
  • Basement will feature middle school art and performances in 57B, performing arts room and lower cafe. Performances include drama, Chinese dance, hip hop, Chinese music, African music and music ensembles.
  • The Oak Street yard will feature six food vendors with a variety of items for purchase.
  • Scholastic and Chinese book fair will be happening in the lower level library, adjacent to the lower cafe.
  • Family fun at the last all-school event of the school year.

Get ready to be blown away by ALL of our CAIS students in every aspect of the arts, from visual arts to hip hop and drama -- all will be represented at the Ultra Arts Family Fair this Sunday, May 22.



Need Summer Reading Books? Come to the Scholastic Book Fair

Everyone is invited to check out our Scholastic Book Fair that commences on Sunday, May 22 at the Ultra Arts Family Fair and continues through Friday, May 27. There will be a large selection of books for all ages including Chinese books for sale. It's a great place to purchase books for summer reading.

The book fair offers students access to great books at affordable prices. Children are more likely to read books they personally choose and the wide variety of choices offered at the book fair ensures that there will be something for everyone!

  • Fair Dates: May 22 - May 27
  • Shopping Times: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Special Events: Ultra Arts Family Fair on Sunday, May 22
  • Location: Lower Level Library, basement of our Oak Street campus



Can the Adults Win Against our Firedragons?

Ready to take on our championship-winning futsal team? You too can participate alongside our teachers, including Head of School, Jeff Bissell at the annual student vs. teacher/parent futsal game on Monday, May 23 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. If you are over the age of 14, can still run or cheer (at least a little) and would like to play for the "adults" please email Debbie Talbot and you will be put on the roster!



Veronica Reilly Chosen for the ASCD Emerging Leaders Program

Veronica Reilly, Director of Diversity and Service Learning has been chosen from a competitive national pool of applicants to participate in a two-year leadership development program with ASCD, called the Emerging Leaders Program. This program offers participants the opportunity to develop their ability to positively impact education on the local and national level. It includes complimentary attendance at ASCD's L2L (Leader to Leader) event, mentoring from experienced ASCD leaders and a variety of other benefits.

Founded in 1943, ASCD is an educational leadership organization dedicated to advancing best practices and policies for the success of each learner. They have 160,000 members in 148 countries, who are professional educators from all levels and subject areas----superintendents, supervisors, principals, teachers, professors of education and school board members. Veronica is very excited about increasing her involvement in ASCD and educational leadership.



State of the School Community Meeting Happening Tuesday

Please join Head of School, Jeff Bissell for a community meeting on Tuesday, May 24 to recap all of the accomplishments at CAIS during this school year and look to the work that lies ahead next school year. Incoming Lower School Director, Peter Moore will be at the event and will be available for our community to talk with him during the meet and greet. Event details are below.

  • Tuesday, May 24 -- 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. with refreshments and meet and greet immediately following.
  • Lower Cafe of our Oak Street campus.
  • Childcare is available, please contact Kevin Lee to make arrangements.



 

Developmentback to top

We're Almost There



Thank you to all the families who have helped us reach 85% parent participation. As the year winds down, please remember your pledges to the Annual Fund. We are just 50 families away from reaching 100%! A gift of ANY amount will make a difference at CAIS.

Before any other giving opportunity, think of the Annual Fund First: Give Now.


 

Lower Schoolback to top

Correction: Welcome New Families for the 2011-12 School Year

Last week we welcomed all new students who will be joining our community next school year. In doing so, we inadvertently listed our two incoming seventh graders as first grade students. Our apologies for this mistake and welcome seventh graders Jonathan Chu and Ava Van Natta to CAIS.



Needed: Girls Clothes for Student-run Clothing Drive

Thanks to everyone who has donated to the student-run clothing drive spearheaded by sixth graders Alvan Cai and Robert Leachman. We are still in need of items - particularly girl's clothes for a six-year-old, size seven - before the end of the drive on May 30. There are two donation bins located on each of the third and fourth floors, where your clothes can be placed. By donating your lightly used children's clothing, you are not only helping others, but also making use of your old things.

The main focus of the clothing drive is to provide a family that Middle School Director Elizabeth Larose knows in Louisiana with the proper clothes they need. The father was laid off during the Gulf oil spill in 2010, and the mother recently passed away. There are four children who need your help. Please contribute your used clothes to support a family currently in need. If we collect more clothes than the family can make use of, the rest of the clothing will be donated to a local charity. Look for the bins located on the third and fourth floors through the end of May. Please email Director of Diversity and Service Learning, Veronica Reilly with any questions.



Lower School Morning Procedures

For the safety of our students, we do not allow lower school children to be in the hallway during early morning before 8:00 a.m. without supervision, unless they are accompanied by their parent. There are designated areas with supervision for all students and we encourage families to drop or walk their child to these areas which include Hickory yard, MPR rooms or the Oak yard.

Thank you for your cooperation.



 

Middle Schoolback to top

Kenya School Fundraising Project a Success!

Middle school students have been working with Veronica Reilly and Michele Douglass since May of last year to raise enough money to build a school in Kenya. This month, one year later, they met their goal! The students, led by student government, have held a variety of fundraisers, including a coin drive, a bingo night and bake sales to raise the needed funds.

The school will be built in the Eor Ewuaso community, in Kenya's Rift Valley, in partnership with Free the Children. There are approximately 340 children under the age of 18 living in Eor Ewuaso. In 2000, due to wind destruction, many classrooms in Eor Ewuaso primary school and the surrounding villages were destroyed. The current education system is overcrowded and suffers from a high dropout rate.

Congratulations to CAIS middle school students for making a difference in the lives of so many children, and thank you to everyone who helped make the campaign a success. Special thank you to middle school parent Kim Theriault-Shay for rolling all the coins from the coin drive.



Veronica Reilly Chosen for the ASCD Emerging Leaders Program

Veronica Reilly, Director of Diversity and Service Learning has been chosen from a competitive national pool of applicants to participate in a two-year leadership development program with ASCD, called the Emerging Leaders Program. This program offers participants the opportunity to develop their ability to positively impact education on the local and national level. It includes complimentary attendance at ASCD's L2L (Leader to Leader) event, mentoring from experienced ASCD leaders and a variety of other benefits.

Founded in 1943, ASCD is an educational leadership organization dedicated to advancing best practices and policies for the success of each learner. They have 160,000 members in 148 countries, who are professional educators from all levels and subject areas----superintendents, supervisors, principals, teachers, professors of education and school board members. Veronica is very excited about increasing her involvement in ASCD and educational leadership.



Needed: Girls Clothes for Student-run Clothing Drive

Thanks to everyone who has donated to the student-run clothing drive spearheaded by sixth graders Alvan Cai and Robert Leachman. We are still in need of items - particularly girl's clothes for a six-year-old, size seven - before the end of the drive on May 30. There are two donation bins located on each of the third and fourth floors, where your clothes can be placed. By donating your lightly used children's clothing, you are not only helping others, but also making use of your old things.

The main focus of the clothing drive is to provide a family that Middle School Director Elizabeth Larose knows in Louisiana with the proper clothes they need. The father was laid off during the Gulf oil spill in 2010, and the mother recently passed away. There are four children who need your help. Please contribute your used clothes to support a family currently in need. If we collect more clothes than the family can make use of, the rest of the clothing will be donated to a local charity. Look for the bins located on the third and fourth floors through the end of May. Please email Director of Diversity and Service Learning, Veronica Reilly with any questions.



 

ShowCAISback to top

ShowCAIS Billing

Still owe some money for a raffle ticket you purchased? Didn't get a chance to pay for that auction prize you won? Don't worry! The Development team and business office are putting your bill in the mail soon. Be sure to clear your balance by the end of the school year to make it count.



Check out Our Community all Dressed Up!

Photos from ShowCAIS are available here on SmugMug.


Password: please ask


If you have any photos from ShowCAIS that you would like share with the community, send them to ShowCAIS@cais.org and we'll post them in our gallery.



ShowCAIS Raises $310,000 Net!

The numbers are in! ShowCAIS 2011 brings in $310,000 net for our school. ShowCAIS 2011 is the highest-grossing gala event in the school's history, due, in part, to a large spike in attendance and even more ways to give back to CAIS before and at the event. A significant portion of the proceeds came from this year's Fund-A-Need, a paddle raised for support and training for our invaluable teachers. Fund-A-Need brought in over $93,000 of much needed revenue for CAIS.

ShowCAIS 2011 was truly a celebration of our community, our teachers and our children.The numbers are in! ShowCAIS 2011 brings in $310,000 net for our school. ShowCAIS 2011 is the highest-grossing gala event in the school's history, due, in part, to a large spike in attendance and even more ways to give back to CAIS before and at the event. A significant portion of the proceeds came from this year's Fund-A-Need, a paddle raised for support and training for our invaluable teachers. Fund-A-Need brought in over $93,000 of much needed revenue for CAIS.

ShowCAIS 2011 was truly a celebration of our community, our teachers and our children. Thank you to everyone who participated in this triumphant event.



And the ShowCAIS Raffle Winner is...

Robert Fong and Shirley Tse, parents of Mckenna in Kindergarten gold won the sought after raffle prize of dinner at ten of the Bay Area top restaurants. The second prize, a Blue Man Group family package, goes to Roger Kuo and Julia Wong.

Further congratulations to Kindergarten gold class! On Friday, May 20, the class will be treated to a movie and popcorn party for selling the most raffle tickets. The the raffle raised over $11,000 for CAIS! Thank you to all the families for making this possible.



 

Parent Associationback to top

The Votes are In - Welcome New PA Council Members

Thanks to everyone who participated in the nomination and voting process for our 2011-12 PA Council members. We'd like to welcome our four new members Dana Ellsworth, Kiko Guedez, Lynda Sakseangvirat and Mary Powell.

Your entire PA Council for the 2011-12 school year includes:

  • Lisa Auer
  • Cynthia Barbera
  • Judy Chan, Holiday Faire
  • Jenny Chang
  • Brad Chou-Green, Treasurer
  • Dana Ellsworth -- new member!
  • Harry Eng
  • Kiko Guedez, Vice-President -- new member!
  • Joachim Li, eScrip
  • Suzanne Li/Stephanie Reynaga, Picnics/Autumn Moon Festival
  • Ed Lukawski, Family Camp
  • Chloe Lukins, Classroom Liaisons
  • Mary Martinez, Secretary
  • Mary Powell -- new member!
  • Lynda Sakseangvirat -- new member!
  • Fiona Smythe, President
  • Grace Wei



 

Athleticsback to top

Can the Adults Win Against our Firedragons?

Ready to take on our championship-winning futsal team? You too can participate alongside our teachers, including Head of School, Jeff Bissell at the annual student vs. teacher/parent futsal game on Monday, May 23 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. If you are over the age of 14, can still run or cheer (at least a little) and would like to play for the "adults" please email Debbie Talbot and you will be put on the roster!



Championship-winning Year for Firedragons

The Firedragons have had and incredible athletic year, winning the volleyball, basketball and futsal championships in the league. The trifecta of championships is the first time one school has won in every season of sport in single year in our SFAL league. Quite an honor!


To make the wins even more special, the championships were shared among the entire span of the Firedragon athletic program. It was not one single talented group of players that dominated the league, but a true team effort.


Thank you to our Athletic Director Debbie Talbot along with her team of dedicated coaches for their unwavering dedication to our athletic program and of course, congratulations to the hard work of our eighth grade co-ed Volleyball, fifth/sixth grade JV boys basketball and co-ed seventh grade co-ed futsal teams.


 

Libraryback to top

Need Summer Reading Books? Come to the Scholastic Book Fair

Everyone is invited to check out our Scholastic Book Fair that commences on Sunday, May 22 at the Ultra Arts Family Fair and continues through Friday, May 27. There will be a large selection of books for all ages including Chinese books for sale. It's a great place to purchase books for summer reading.

The book fair offers students access to great books at affordable prices. Children are more likely to read books they personally choose and the wide variety of choices offered at the book fair ensures that there will be something for everyone!

  • Fair Dates: May 22 - May 27
  • Shopping Times: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Special Events: Ultra Arts Family Fair on Sunday, May 22
  • Location: Lower Level Library, basement of our Oak Street campus



Time to Return Your Library Materials

As the school year is ending, the date to return all books and videos is Thursday, May 26. Please help your children check their rooms for any school library books to return. Your child will not be given his or her yearbook until all books have been returned.