La Gazette
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FAIS Hosts Conference for Admissions Groups of French American Schools
By Arezu Movahed, Directory of Admissions
Read MoreFAIS hosted the annual national conference of the Admissions Group of French American Schools in North America last week. Thirty participants from across the country were on campus for two days to discuss and share issues that are unique to the network of accredited French American schools around the country. Representatives from other Portland area immersion schools were in attendance as well. Among the speakers was FAIS’ former Head of School Jean-François Genay, who spoke to the group about the history of French American schools in the U.S. The keynote presentation was from FAIS parent Ian Symmonds of Ian Symmonds and Associates, a large marketing consulting organization in Portland. The inspiring presentation titled, the Seven Essential Characteristics of a High Performing Admissions Programs,was very well received by all the participants. One of the highlights of the conference was an engaging video clip about bilingual education prepared by the French Academy of Bilingual Culture in New Jersey. Watch the video here:
FAIS hosted the annual national conference of the Admissions Group of French American Schools in North America last week. Thirty participants from across the country were on campus for two days to discuss and share issues that are unique to the network of accredited French American schools around the country. Representatives from other Portland area immersion schools were in attendance as well. Among the speakers was FAIS’ former Head of School Jean-François Genay, who spoke to the group about the history of French American schools in the U.S. The keynote presentation was from FAIS parent Ian Symmonds of Ian Symmonds and Associates, a large marketing consulting organization in Portland. The inspiring presentation titled, the Seven Essential Characteristics of a High Performing Admissions Programs,was very well received by all the participants. One of the highlights of the conference was an engaging video clip about bilingual education prepared by the French Academy of Bilingual Culture in New Jersey. Watch the video here:
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A Note from Pam
By Pam Dreisin, Head of School
Dear Friends,
Thank you, all our FAIS families, for taking the time out of your busy schedules for our Back-to-School Nights. These evenings are a great way for FAIS teachers and families to become better acquainted and to stay connected throughout the school year.
Building community is an important part of our program, and one way we live this value is by keeping our class sizes small, so teachers can connect with each student on a personal level. Our families tell me all the time how much they appreciate our small classes, and I certainly know that our teachers are grateful to be able to teach in an environment where they get to know their students on a personal level.
This school year is off to a wonderful start, and your children are thriving. Thanks for all you do to help make FAIS such a vibrant community!
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Third Grade Portland Walking Tour
By Oliver Poida, Parent Volunteer
Read MoreOn September 25, the 3rd grade class went on a walking tour of downtown Portland to learn about the past and present of our city, and to delve deeper into their PYP Unit of Inquiry: Origins Are Important to Identity. The Portlandia walking tour started at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
On September 25, the 3rd grade class went on a walking tour of downtown Portland to learn about the past and present of our city, and to delve deeper into their PYP Unit of Inquiry: Origins Are Important to Identity. The Portlandia walking tour started at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The kids got to look for bricks in the square that had the names "Mickey Mouse" and "Elvis Presley" on them, and learn how each of these named bricks cost $15 to help raise money to build the square. Walking alongside the MAX, the tour continued past the animal statues towards Pioneer Place and then up to the Portlandia Statue on the Portland Building. Our guides challenged students to find rose emblems on city vehicles, signs, and manhole covers. At the Oregon Historical Society, our guides related the story of the Portland Penny coin toss and how it decided whether our city was going to be named after Portland, Maine or Boston, Massachusetts. Students got to drink from our now exactly 100-year-old city street fountains. Headed toward the riverfront, we passed by The World Trade Center and ended up at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Hawthorne Bridge.
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Fourth Grade Field Studies at Mt. St. Helens
By Molly Hamill, Lower School Science Teacher
Read MoreOn Friday, September 14, the 4th grade took a field trip to Mt. St. Helens. The trip was a part of their first science unit of the year, Volcanoes and Earthquakes.
It was a glorious fall day! The entire mountain was visible, and Mt. Adams could be seen off in the distance. The bus took us straight up to the Johnston Ridge observatory. The two-hour ride was spent getting to know each other and watching the visitor center movie “Message from the Mountain." Upon arrival, each student joined a chaperone to complete the assigned tasks in the visitor center and on the eruption trail. While on the trail, the students had the opportunity to witness the flying ant hatch which only happens once a year. They also were able to watch the thousands of grasshoppers and cute little ground squirrels that inhabit the area. The day was clear enough to see the fumaroles steaming away on the dome. Although the area surrounding the mountain had started to rebound from the eruption, the shattered trees and stark landscape are more like a desert than the thick vegetation normally encountered.
On Friday, September 14, the 4th grade took a field trip to Mt. St. Helens. The trip was a part of their first science unit of the year, Volcanoes and Earthquakes.
It was a glorious fall day! The entire mountain was visible and Mt. Adams could be seen off in the distance. The bus took us straight up to the Johnston Ridge observatory. The two hour ride was spent getting to know each other and watching the visitor center movie “Message from the Mountain." Upon arrival, each student joined a chaperone to complete the assigned tasks in the visitor center and on the eruption trail. While on the trail, the students had the opportunity to witness the flying ant hatch which only happens once a year. They also were able to watch the thousands of grasshoppers and cute little ground squirrels that inhabit the area. The day was clear enough to see the fumaroles steaming away on the dome. Although the area surrounding the mountain had started to rebound from the eruption, the shattered trees and stark landscape are more like a desert than the thick vegetation normally encountered.
At lunch time, the bus took us down to the Coldwater Lake Recreation area for a picnic and a hike. The students had the opportunity to see hummocks, the clear lake, and some very large fish. Then back to the bus for the trip home. It was a long ride, but the mountain was worth the drive.
Thank you so much to our chaperones. They are the reason we can continue to take advantage of the opportunities to see a volcano for ourselves, rather than watching one on a video.
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Discovery Park Coming to Life
By Helen Townes, Director of Development
Read MoreThe latest addition to our campus, Discovery Park (funded through the Special Appeal at the 2012 Annual Gala), is becoming a reality. Each week there has been progress on this non-prescriptive outdoor area where our students will learn and play. A grand opening is slated for Sunday, October 14 for all those families who donated to the project. Our teachers have many exciting plans for using this new outdoor classroom and its adjoining plaza. Come take a peek when you’re on the FAIS campus!
The latest addition to our campus, Discovery Park (funded through the Special Appeal at the 2012 Annual Gala), is becoming a reality. Each week there has been progress on this non-prescriptive outdoor area where our students will learn and play. A grand opening is slated for Sunday, October 14 for all those families who donated to the project. Our teachers have many exciting plans for using this new outdoor classroom and its adjoining plaza. Come take a peek when you’re on the FAIS campus!
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FAIS Gets Ready for Campus Expansion
By Helen Townes, Director of Development
Read MoreThe FAIS Board of Trustees met in September 2012 to go over the final plans for the School’s new Center for the Arts, to be housed in the recently purchased home on Cornell Road bordering our campus. The new Center for the Arts at FAIS will house Lower and Middle School Studio Art, Music, and Movement Arts, in addition to providing inspirational outdoor learning spaces and supporting FAIS’ Arts Week and Summer Programs. The new Center will include a large dance/exercise studio, a practice room for music, spacious areas for art and pottery, and an outdoor sculpture garden with natural amphitheater seating.
We will be undertaking a community-wide fundraising effort to raise money for this renovation project, and we hope our families, alumni, and friends will join us in supporting this exciting new expansion of our campus! The opening of the new Center for the arts is slated for the fall, 2013 school year.
