FROM MR. HOTCHKISS
SEPTEMBER 2007

Hooray!  We have completed the first week of our new school year and everything has fallen into place beautifully.  The air conditioning is working well after our opening day flood.  The students look wonderful in their new uniforms.  The construction on our building is almost finished which will provide additional parking.  Teachers are teaching, students are learning and the spirit of our school is much improved. Our new Student Council is in place and is doing a great job for our students. We are looking forward to meeting with and hearing from the PTA.

We have expanded our electives offerings to include French and Politics in the 21st Century.  We are beginning the process of a major curriculum review and upgrade.  We have also added additional support for our English program with a Classic Novels elective with Ms. Kaine.

I want to take a moment to thank all our parents for their support in our transition to uniforms.  It has really gone quite well.  There is still some confusion about shoes.  In our parent meetings last spring, it was decided that the students should be in black or brown casual leather shoes (K-12).  Because of several student requests, I am willing to allow black or dark blue sneakers on a trial basis.  The most important thing is uniformity which takes the students minds off what they are wearing and puts it on their studies.  Please assist me in getting this final piece of our uniform in place. Thank you again for your help.

Also we have added a separate computer lab for our elementary students on the 5th floor so they can have better access to and more time with computers. Our athletics program continues to expand under the capable leadership of Mr. Baker with the assistance of Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Sullivan, Ms. Serralvo, Ms. Wunderink and Mr. Elie.  We are continuing to upgrade our science program with new staff and materials, and expect to add an AP physics class next year.

IMPORTANT NOTE! We have just been informed our annual KORCOS (The Korea Council of Overseas Schools) teacher training session will be October 19th. This means that students will not be coming to school on that day. However it will be a normal work day for teachers and staff. Also we are moving our normal teacher in-service from Sept. 21 to Oct. 4 to take advantage of a guest speaker from outside Korea. So the 21st will be a normal school day and Oct. 4 will be a half day for students. Please mark this change on your calendars.

Finally parents, please help your children to get to their school bus pickup point before time. We are trying to get the buses to school by 7:50 so the students have time to get to their lockers or whatever and still not be late. 

May God bless us all and may all have a great ChuSok Holiday!   

Mr. Robert Hotchkiss