September 29, 2011
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September 29, 2011
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Upcoming EventsAll School News
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| Upcoming Events | back to top |
 | Week At-A-Glance Pre-K Conferences Volleyball Home Game Cross Country Meet Monday, October 3 Seventh Grade Outdoor Education Sibling Parent Admission Orientation Thursday, October 6 Professional Development Day - No School, Childcare Available |
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| All School News | back to top |
 | New Session Added to Coffee & Questions Series The PA is bringing you two more coffee & question events in the series. Next Thursday, October 6, Assistant Head of School/Middle School Director, Elizabeth Larose will be on hand to answer your questions. Come by 57B for some coffee and get to know Elizabeth.
You Shop and Stores Donate to CAIS! Our Parents Association provides the funds for many community-building events such as the back-to-school picnic and Holiday Faire and by signing up for eScrip you can too can raise money for all of these fun community activities. eScrip is a fast easy way to get stores to donate up to 5% of your purchases. Safeway is a major contributor, so register your Safeway card and every time you shop, a percentage of your grocery bill will come back to CAIS. No eScrip account? Sign up here. No Safeway card? Sign up here. Already signed up for eScrip but have new Safeway or credit cards? Update existing accounts here. You don't shop at Safeway? Donate through online purchases by accessing stores from here. A small effort from each parent will add up to a great benefit for our school community! Thank you in advance for signing up for the eScrip program. Veracross Quick Tip: How to Sort Through Families in the Online Directory The Veracross Quick Tip column will highlight tips and tricks to help you navigate your way through our new information system. If you have a particular question you would like addressed, please email us and we will feature your question and answer in a future Quick Tip column. How to Sort Through Families in the Online Directory There is a plethora of information you can access in Veracross. If you haven’t poked around the family directory yet, we encourage you to do so. You can sort the directory in many ways that you were never able to in the past, which is just another reason why we love Veracross. Ever wonder who are your CAIS neighbors? Well now you can sort by families who live nearby. Here are easy steps to get you started exploring your family directory.
New Chinese Resource for Families ChildRoad Inc. is an online story resource for children learning Chinese. The site has over a thousand popular Chinese books arranged by age level, content and length and the stories are read by professional TV and radio hosts. It is a useful resource that can be used on any electronic device that will support Flash. Click here to explore the website and to sign up for free samples. CAIS Celebrates 30 Years with Multiple Events For those wondering how CAIS is celebrating its 30 years of success in Chinese-English dual language and culture education. Our fall and spring celebrations will culminate during two very special weekends. Alumni Reunion Weekend The weekend starts on Friday, when CAIS alumni families will come together for a fun-filled day at CAIS - the Alumni Reunion Day. They will be offered school tours of our Oak Street and Waller Street campuses and time to catch up with their friends and their past teachers. In the evening at the Founders' Reception, the alumni families will join the founders of CAIS, whose innovative spirit led to the founding of the first Chinese immersion education program in the country. On Sunday, the weekend will culminate during the 30th Anniversary Celebration, an outreach event at the Four Seasons San Francisco that brings all our alumni families and friends together to honor our thirty years as a community while kicking off a new alumni program that promises to engage our students long after they have left the halls of CAIS. ShowCAIS - 30th Anniversary Gala While the Alumni Weekend activities will build new and reinvigorate existing relationships, ShowCAIS is slated to be an extravaganza for our current families. The biggest annual fundraising and community event at CAIS will bring you exciting online, silent and live auctions, wonderful food and dancing until your feet fall off. While paying tribute to CAIS’s 30 years of achievements, we will be giving back to our children’s education. Order Your 30th Anniversary Swag Now Through October 24
CAIS Head of School and Chinese Program Director Invited to Join Leaders From Across the U.S. Next week, Head of School, Jeff Bissell and Chinese Program Director, Kevin Chang will travel to Washington DC to join other leaders in Chinese immersion education to participate in a new exploratory project on Chinese language learning in the early grades.The purpose of the event is to assess the needs and state of the field of Chinese language immersion and to bring together key practitioners to contribute ideas and information to a report that Asia Society is planning to release at the 2012 National Chinese Language Conference in April. The report will address best practices and key strategies in early Chinese language and immersion. This event will be the beginning of an ongoing series of collaboration among key thought leaders in the field of early Chinese language learning. |
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| Development | back to top |
 | CAIS Celebrates 30 Years with Multiple Events For those wondering how CAIS is celebrating its 30 years of success in Chinese-English dual language and culture education. Our fall and spring celebrations will culminate during two very special weekends. Alumni Reunion Weekend The weekend starts on Friday, when CAIS alumni families will come together for a fun-filled day at CAIS - the Alumni Reunion Day. They will be offered school tours of our Oak Street and Waller Street campuses and time to catch up with their friends and their past teachers. In the evening at the Founders' Reception, the alumni families will join the founders of CAIS, whose innovative spirit led to the founding of the first Chinese immersion education program in the country. On Sunday, the weekend will culminate during the 30th Anniversary Celebration, an outreach event at the Four Seasons San Francisco that brings all our alumni families and friends together to honor our thirty years as a community while kicking off a new alumni program that promises to engage our students long after they have left the halls of CAIS. ShowCAIS - 30th Anniversary Gala While the Alumni Weekend activities will build new and reinvigorate existing relationships, ShowCAIS is slated to be an extravaganza for our current families. The biggest annual fundraising and community event at CAIS will bring you exciting online, silent and live auctions, wonderful food and dancing until your feet fall off. While paying tribute to CAIS’s 30 years of achievements, we will be giving back to our children’s education. Annual Fund Campaign Continues its Momentum Give Now | Pledge | Match | Transfer Stock The Annual Fund drive is going strong and we would like to thank our new donors this week: Terry Wong and Amy Chiu, Joe Lui and Mary Martinez, Lee and Sarah Clancy. If you have yet to give or pledge a gift, you can expect to be contacted by someone in the Development Office or by your Class Captain this week! Click here to see this week's Annual Fund progress. Before any other opportunity, please consider giving to the Annual Fund First. Meet Your First Grade Annual Fund Class Captain, Robert Capelli
It’s sometimes perceived that it's not always easy making calls and asking your peers for money, but Robert finds being an Annual Fund Class Captain a rewarding volunteer opportunity. When asked to share his thoughts, he was quick to let us know his feelings about his volunteer position. "Personally, I feel rewarded about volunteering as a class captain and helping to raise money for my child’s school. CAIS isn’t just a school to me – it’s a great “cause” that is raising the teaching standards in the national education and immersion field. That’s why CAIS is a priority in my family’s giving plan every year and why I dedicate my volunteer time as a Class Captain. Luckily, I see the results every day when I’m home with my daughter Seti. I believe in this place so much and have seen how much she has grown since she started. I can’t imagine what she will be capable of doing when she graduates. But knowing she has had a CAIS education, I know she will be able to accomplish anything." When Robert isn’t making phone calls on behalf of the Annual Fund, he builds small businesses and is the founder of Park Monkey and co-founder of curoMD. He is passionate about education, athletics, cooking and enjoys spending time with his family. We thank Robert for his hard work on this year’s Annual Fund. With Robert’s help and yours, we hope to meet our goal. |
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| Early Childhood Division | back to top |
 | School Photos Available Soon In a few short weeks we will provide you with a link to your child’s cute school photos for you to order to send to relatives. We will let you know through Veracross as well as remind you to check Veracross in an upcoming Flash news item. All ordering happens online and once you place your order, prints will be generated within the 48 hours and sent directly to your home. |
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| Lower School | back to top |
 | CAIS and FAIS Families Connect for International Walk to School Day - Wednesday October 5 There are lots of reasons why we should all walk to school every day, but with time and geographical constraints, it’s just not always feasible. However, next Wednesday, October 5, we encourage you to leave your car at home and walk, scooter, skate, bike or take Muni with your kids to school. CAIS and FAIS families will participate in the city wide International Walk to School Day. Join the fun! CAIS families will meet at Patricia's Green, the park at Hayes/Octavia Streets at 7:20 a.m. and walk the two blocks to school in groups Parent volunteers Mai Mai Wythes, Judy Waitz and Patricia Johnston will be there to hand out reflectors and lead the walk. If you do choose to drive, as many families must, consider carpooling or try parking five or six blocks away and come in from there. When you arrive on foot to school in the Hickory Yard, you will be greeted by middle school volunteers with coffee, bagels and treats for the kids. To make International Walk to School Day truly *International* you are invited to stay past 8:00 a.m.to meet-up with FAIS parents in the Hickory Yard. Kindergarten families are welcome to join the FAIS families who will gather at 7:50 a.m. at Patricia's Green, and walk the two blocks to school. Walk to school is a parent-led initiative of the PA Council and FAIS Lower School Parent Board. Online Lost and Found We have good news for you — SF Green Clean has agreed to continue providing both CAIS and FAIS with an amazing free state-of-the-art lost and found service. When your child loses an item of clothing, it will first go the lost and found hut in the Oak Yard. If the item hasn’t been claimed after two weeks, it will be picked up by SF Green Clean to be cleaned, photographed and posted to their website. Please check sfgreenclean.com/lostandfound/chineseamerican regularly to claim your items and request delivery to your home or office. Or pick them up yourself from their Presidio location. Best of all, it's a FREE service. Special thanks to the Lower School Parent Board at French American for making this happen! Please remember to put your child's name and "CAIS" on all their belongings. It really helps. In order to provide this service, we need parent volunteers to help round up lost items and hang them in the hut. Time commitment is less than an hour a week. Please contact PA President, Fiona Smythe to volunteer. The URL for CAIS is: www.sfgreenclean.com/lostandfound/chineseamerican and there is also a link in the ‘quick links’ section on the homepage of our school website. Check it out, you might just find that beloved jacket your child lost a few weeks back. Meet Your First Grade Annual Fund Class Captain, Robert Capelli
It’s sometimes perceived that it's not always easy making calls and asking your peers for money, but Robert finds being an Annual Fund Class Captain a rewarding volunteer opportunity. When asked to share his thoughts, he was quick to let us know his feelings about his volunteer position. "Personally, I feel rewarded about volunteering as a class captain and helping to raise money for my child’s school. CAIS isn’t just a school to me – it’s a great “cause” that is raising the teaching standards in the national education and immersion field. That’s why CAIS is a priority in my family’s giving plan every year and why I dedicate my volunteer time as a Class Captain. Luckily, I see the results every day when I’m home with my daughter Seti. I believe in this place so much and have seen how much she has grown since she started. I can’t imagine what she will be capable of doing when she graduates. But knowing she has had a CAIS education, I know she will be able to accomplish anything." When Robert isn’t making phone calls on behalf of the Annual Fund, he builds small businesses and is the founder of Park Monkey and co-founder of curoMD. He is passionate about education, athletics, cooking and enjoys spending time with his family. We thank Robert for his hard work on this year’s Annual Fund. With Robert’s help and yours, we hope to meet our goal. Read Along with your Child with Scholastic BookFlix CAIS is sharing a subscription to the Scholastic BookFlix service with FAIS this year to bring you an online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks to help build a love of reading and is an engaging way to link fact and fiction. Parents are encouraged to use the online books and stories that you can show to your children on any computer, or if you prefer, there are several computers in the third floor library that you can use with your child. Media specialist, Warren Wright is more than happy to help you get started. If you prefer to access this at home.
School Photos Available Soon In a few short weeks we will provide you with a link to your child’s cute school photos for you to order to send to relatives. We will let you know through Veracross as well as remind you to check Veracross in an upcoming Flash news item. All ordering happens online and once you place your order, prints will be generated within the 48 hours and sent directly to your home. |
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| Middle School | back to top |
 | New Session Added to Coffee & Questions Series The PA is bringing you two more coffee & question events in the series. Next Thursday, October 6, Assistant Head of School/Middle School Director, Elizabeth Larose will be on hand to answer your questions. Come by 57B for some coffee and get to know Elizabeth.
CAIS and FAIS Families Connect for International Walk to School Day - Wednesday October 5 There are lots of reasons why we should all walk to school every day, but with time and geographical constraints, it’s just not always feasible. However, next Wednesday, October 5, we encourage you to leave your car at home and walk, scooter, skate, bike or take Muni with your kids to school. CAIS and FAIS families will participate in the city wide International Walk to School Day. Join the fun! CAIS families will meet at Patricia's Green, the park at Hayes/Octavia Streets at 7:20 a.m. and walk the two blocks to school in groups Parent volunteers Mai Mai Wythes, Judy Waitz and Patricia Johnston will be there to hand out reflectors and lead the walk. If you do choose to drive, as many families must, consider carpooling or try parking five or six blocks away and come in from there. When you arrive on foot to school in the Hickory Yard, you will be greeted by middle school volunteers with coffee, bagels and treats for the kids. To make International Walk to School Day truly *International* you are invited to stay past 8:00 a.m.to meet-up with FAIS parents in the Hickory Yard. Kindergarten families are welcome to join the FAIS families who will gather at 7:50 a.m. at Patricia's Green, and walk the two blocks to school. Walk to school is a parent-led initiative of the PA Council and FAIS Lower School Parent Board. Upcoming MS Activities Student government has some fun things in store for middle school students in the weeks ahead. Triplet Day is happening Friday, October 21. Students that would like to participate will be assigned a group to dress alike. "Falloween” Festival on Friday, October 28 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. students will participate in a variety of activities to celebrate fall. Dance at Live Oak School on Friday, October 28. Middle school students are invited to a dance hosted by live Oak from 7:00-9:30 p.m. School Photos Available Soon In a few short weeks we will provide you with a link to your child’s cute school photos for you to order to send to relatives. We will let you know through Veracross as well as remind you to check Veracross in an upcoming Flash news item. All ordering happens online and once you place your order, prints will be generated within the 48 hours and sent directly to your home. |
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| Parent Association | back to top |
 | CAIS and FAIS Families Connect for International Walk to School Day - Wednesday October 5 There are lots of reasons why we should all walk to school every day, but with time and geographical constraints, it’s just not always feasible. However, next Wednesday, October 5, we encourage you to leave your car at home and walk, scooter, skate, bike or take Muni with your kids to school. CAIS and FAIS families will participate in the city wide International Walk to School Day. Join the fun! CAIS families will meet at Patricia's Green, the park at Hayes/Octavia Streets at 7:20 a.m. and walk the two blocks to school in groups Parent volunteers Mai Mai Wythes, Judy Waitz and Patricia Johnston will be there to hand out reflectors and lead the walk. If you do choose to drive, as many families must, consider carpooling or try parking five or six blocks away and come in from there. When you arrive on foot to school in the Hickory Yard, you will be greeted by middle school volunteers with coffee, bagels and treats for the kids. To make International Walk to School Day truly *International* you are invited to stay past 8:00 a.m.to meet-up with FAIS parents in the Hickory Yard. Kindergarten families are welcome to join the FAIS families who will gather at 7:50 a.m. at Patricia's Green, and walk the two blocks to school. Walk to school is a parent-led initiative of the PA Council and FAIS Lower School Parent Board. New Session Added to Coffee & Questions Series The PA is bringing you two more coffee & question events in the series. Next Thursday, October 6, Assistant Head of School/Middle School Director, Elizabeth Larose will be on hand to answer your questions. Come by 57B for some coffee and get to know Elizabeth.
You Shop and Stores Donate to CAIS! Our Parents Association provides the funds for many community-building events such as the back-to-school picnic and Holiday Faire and by signing up for eScrip you can too can raise money for all of these fun community activities. eScrip is a fast easy way to get stores to donate up to 5% of your purchases. Safeway is a major contributor, so register your Safeway card and every time you shop, a percentage of your grocery bill will come back to CAIS. No eScrip account? Sign up here. No Safeway card? Sign up here. Already signed up for eScrip but have new Safeway or credit cards? Update existing accounts here. You don't shop at Safeway? Donate through online purchases by accessing stores from here. A small effort from each parent will add up to a great benefit for our school community! Thank you in advance for signing up for the eScrip program. Online Lost and Found We have good news for you — SF Green Clean has agreed to continue providing both CAIS and FAIS with an amazing free state-of-the-art lost and found service. When your child loses an item of clothing, it will first go the lost and found hut in the Oak Yard. If the item hasn’t been claimed after two weeks, it will be picked up by SF Green Clean to be cleaned, photographed and posted to their website. Please check sfgreenclean.com/lostandfound/chineseamerican regularly to claim your items and request delivery to your home or office. Or pick them up yourself from their Presidio location. Best of all, it's a FREE service. Special thanks to the Lower School Parent Board at French American for making this happen! Please remember to put your child's name and "CAIS" on all their belongings. It really helps. In order to provide this service, we need parent volunteers to help round up lost items and hang them in the hut. Time commitment is less than an hour a week. Please contact PA President, Fiona Smythe to volunteer. The URL for CAIS is: www.sfgreenclean.com/lostandfound/chineseamerican and there is also a link in the ‘quick links’ section on the homepage of our school website. Check it out, you might just find that beloved jacket your child lost a few weeks back. Order Your 30th Anniversary Swag Now Through October 24
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| Library | back to top |
 | Read Along with your Child with Scholastic BookFlix CAIS is sharing a subscription to the Scholastic BookFlix service with FAIS this year to bring you an online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks to help build a love of reading and is an engaging way to link fact and fiction. Parents are encouraged to use the online books and stories that you can show to your children on any computer, or if you prefer, there are several computers in the third floor library that you can use with your child. Media specialist, Warren Wright is more than happy to help you get started. If you prefer to access this at home.
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