Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the First Edition of the ARIS Newsletter!
We are thrilled to introduce the first edition of our newsletter for the 2024-2025 academic year. This newsletter will serve as a regular update, keeping you informed about important events, developments, and exciting initiatives at ARIS. We value the strong partnership between home and school and believe keeping you engaged with the latest news will further support your child’s success.
A New Year of Learning and Growth
As we embark on this academic year, we are committed to our school’s core mission of Inspiring, Empowering, and Transforming the lives of all our students. This year, our theme is ‘Enriching and Empowering Learning’, and we are excited to work with you and your children as we continue to enrich and personalize the learning experience.
Redesigning of our Curriculum in MYP 1-3
This year, we are thrilled to share that Secondary School has implemented the Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI) framework for students in Years 7 to 9 across English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities. This innovative approach pushes students to think beyond basic facts, focusing instead on larger ideas and overarching concepts. It aims to promote deeper understanding, stimulate inquiry, and help students make meaningful connections across different subjects.
In addition, we are placing a strong emphasis on Service Learning throughout all our programs. Every subject will incorporate service-oriented projects, allowing students to apply their learning to real-world situations. This integration is designed to nurture empathy and global citizenship, aligning with Empathy to Impact initiative.
Staff Professional Growth
To provide your children with the best educational experience, our staff are continually involved in professional development. This year, they are participating in:
- Highly Able and Gifted Training (HAGT): Strengthening our capacity to challenge and support high-achieving students, our consultant is collaborating with the team to develop a comprehensive framework and policies tailored to their needs.
- Service Learning Workshops Training: To ensure teachers are well-prepared to lead students in meaningful community engagement projects, our team is collaborating with a consultant to integrate Service Learning as a core component in every unit, across all subject areas throughout the school. This will allow students to apply their learning in real-world contexts, fostering a deeper connection between academic content and community impact.
- Blended Learning: Blended Learning: Integrating cutting-edge tools to enhance Universal Design for Learning, with a focus on supporting our personalized learning model at ARIS. Our team will participate in a two-day intensive workshop with Dr. Catlin Tucker on September 20th and 21st, and will continue working with her to guide and lead the implementation of these strategies across the school.
These efforts ensure that we are prepared to meet the diverse needs of every learner at ARIS. Our commitment to personalized learning is stronger than ever.
Open House
We successfully concluded our Open House with Year 12 and Year 10 parents on August 28th, and MYP1, MYP2, and MYP3 students on September 11th. This event offers parents the chance to engage with program coordinators and teachers, providing a platform for open discussions about their child’s learning experience at ARIS. We strongly encourage all parents to attend and share their valuable perspectives on their child’s educational journey.
Important Dates to Remember
23 September 2024: No School – Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day
26-27 September 2024: MAP Growth Test MYP 1-3
27 September 2024: Secondary Arisversity – Module 1 – IB learner Profile
30 September 2024: Investiture Ceremony
8 October 2024: Morning Coffee
12-14 October 2024: Student Leadership Training with Jump Foundation.
14-18 October 2024: Mid-Semester Break (No School)
25 October 2024: Secondary Arisversity – Module 2 – IB Core
Kindly refer to the attached Calender for helping you plan your schedule and prepare your child for all upcoming activities . We will continue to keep you updated if there are any changes with a calendar of events and key milestones throughout the year.
University & Career Guidance Calendar
These are the upcoming activities:
16th – 20th September: One-on-one Meeting with Year 12 Parents at ARIS Campus.
19th September, 2024: SCAD and University of Toronto Visit to ARIS 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM. This is a workshop to help visual art students on how to prepare a portfolio.
19th September, 2024: University of Toronto Visit to ARIS 12:40 PM – 1:20 PM.
30th September, 2024: Year 12 parents meeting College Application Forum.
3rd October, 2024: Hungarian Fair at ARIS Campus from 12:40 PM -1:20 PM.
9th October 2024: UK and USA Fair at ARIS Campus from 12:30 PM – 1:20 PM.
More details about these events will be communicated with parents.
Thank You for Your Support
We look forward to working closely with you throughout this academic year. Your involvement and support play a critical role in your child’s success, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us. Together, we will continue to inspire, empower, and transform the lives of all learners at ARIS.
Please keep an eye out for future editions of this newsletter, where we will share more updates, achievements, and opportunities to connect and collaborate.
Warm regards,