Communication

WHOLE SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

The ASM NEWSFLASH is a weekly newsletter emailed to all parents with important announcements and information about events.

LOWER SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Lower School Teachers utilize Seesaw as a communication tool and upload weekly news (in addition to evidence of student learning). Parents should email teachers directly with questions as Seesaw is not a social media tool.

COMMUNICATION NORMS AND PRACTICES 

Open communication is essential to support the partnership between parents and teachers. Regular and timely communication between faculty members, parents, and students is encouraged and expected. Because both the faculty and parents have the best interests of the students in mind, it is important that communication be open and constructive.

Parents are encouraged to keep their child’s teachers apprised of important information or changes that may affect the child’s learning. Notes can be sent to the teacher via email, a written note carried by the student. Teachers are generally unable to check emails during school hours, so a call to the office is the best way to communicate if something is urgent. Please allow a 24-hour turnaround time for email responses during the school week. Teachers are not required to check their email during the weekends or vacations.

Parents are asked not to call teachers at home or to contact them via WhatsApp.

Channels of Communication

Issues, questions, or concerns relating to a student should first be referred to the classroom teachers. If an item remains unresolved, parents can refer to their child's Counselor or the Lower School Director. If needed, parents can also contact the school Headmaster. 

NEW STUDENT/PARENT ORIENTATION 

A New Parent-Student Orientation Day for Grades 1 to 5 will be held before the beginning of school.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER MEET AND GREET 

The Lower School office will contact all parents of students in K1, K2, and K3 with information on how to schedule a Meet and Greet with the classroom teacher before the start of school. These opportunities for the child to visit the classroom with their parent are required before starting in our Early Childhood Center.

OPEN HOUSE

The K1-5 Open House will be an evening event for parents to learn more about the Lower School Program and to meet and connect with other parents in their child's grade level.  

We ask that students not attend the Open House event.

FALL AND SPRING LEARNING CONFERENCES: PARENT / TEACHER / STUDENT

Twice yearly, the Lower School hosts a special communication event to allow the parents, teachers, and students to connect.

These Fall and Spring learning conferences are for all students and parents in Kinder 1 to Grade 5. These conferences will be virtual through Google Meets. Parents will be sent an email from the Lower School office with instructions for how to schedule the conferences via Scolastico. 

If needed, parents and teachers can schedule additional times to meet at any point during the year. However, these Fall and Spring Learning Conferences (when regular classes are not scheduled) require student attendance.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

• Parent attendance at these important learning shares is highly requested on the days scheduled. (The Lower School Director will be included in any requests to reschedule the Lower School Learning Conference to another date.)

• There will be NO CLASSES for Lower School students on these days.