The Eagle Beat
October 28, 2022
October:
29 Fall Festival 1-4pm
31 2-10YO trick-or-treating 3:15pm
November:
1 PSG and Director Coffee 3pm
2-3 Photo Days
4 6pm-9pm MS/Sec Costume Party
5 Full school day on Saturday
7 Holiday – NO SCHOOL
8 Victory Day – NO SCHOOL
9 Flag Day – NO SCHOOL
17 Safety Drill – Earth Quake
18 SO Assemblies
23-25 Prof Dev – NO SCHOOL
Director's Message
Dear QSI Community,
If you happened to notice I was not in front of the school greeting families and students in the morning, I’ve been at a QSI Director’s Conference for this week. If everything works correctly with my flight this Friday, I will arrive at 5 AM on Saturday. Just in time to join the festivities at school. Yeah!
I am very excited to see all the families at tomorrow’s Fall Festival. It will be fantastic to see all of the families coming together to celebrate the beginning of the fall season. It will be fun to see the decorations and games created by our student government. Happy Fall Festival!
A big thanks to the Parent Support Group for the bake sale this Friday. I saw postings of the various foods that were baked and sold. They looked so yummy!
It has been two weeks since the parent/teacher conferences. I wanted to let you know that the survey results were reviewed. Most of the feedback was positive. One area that needs a tiny bit of improvement is sending out the information a bit earlier. This advice is noted, and we will aim to share info earlier with the community at the next parent/teacher conference. Please do not think you ever need to wait for a survey to share any concern at school. I am available most times during the week to discuss anything about the school with parents.
Lastly, I appreciate the community’s support during the holiday calendar change for November. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to operate an international school in Azerbaijan. It is important our community tries to honor local holidays when possible.
I hope to see most of you this Saturday.
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Dr. Garner
A note from the Director of Instruction
Student Council has been hard at work to prepare for this year's Fall Festival. We're looking forward to having families on campus for the event on Saturday October 29th from 1-4pm. StuCo will have tables as you enter the school in order to buy tickets from them. This is StuCo's biggest fundraiser of the year. The Fall Festival raises money for StuCo to plan fun events for the student body, so know that the cost of your tickets goes back into student activities. Come and have a "spooktacular" time!
On Monday, October 31st at 3:15, the 2-10YO students will be allowed to dress up in costumes and go "trick-or-treating" throughout the school. More details will come from the classroom teachers regarding this event.
Also, school photos are next week on Wednesday and Thursday. Homeroom/advisory teachers will advise as to which day their students will have photos.
Thank you,
Mrs. Holmquist
Counselor's Corner
From the classroom, 6YOC with Ms. Pimental & Ms. Parvin
This year the 6 YOC is fortunate enough to be using a new Phonics and Reading Skills program called Really Great Reading. The program is based on the Science of Reading philosophy. The series focuses on essential foundational skills that all students should master during their early years of learning to read. It includes explicit instruction of letter-sound correspondence in a sequence that makes sense. It also includes phonological awareness, high frequency words or (heart words) and spelling. Since the students are engaged in the program 20 minutes per day, they are getting 100 minutes of foundational reading skills instruction per week. The students like the online platform and especially love using the manipulative kits. Even for students whose reading skills are more advanced, we are seeing this program address some gaps in their foundational skills. All students can become confident readers with this program.
Along with the Really Great Reading program, which focuses on the foundational skills of reading, the students in 6 YOC practice reading comprehension strategies with just right books and a variety of reading activities. The 6 YOC reading program allows each child to receive instruction at their current reading level by blending whole group instruction, small group instruction and independent work time.
Lunch Menu for Oct 31-Nov 4
(Lunch menu for Saturday, November 5 will be sent in next Friday's Eagle Beat.)
PSG's Fall Bake Sale
Congrats to the winners of the spookiest bake-off!
Flag Day Activity
Preschool Fun
Fall Activities
Field Trips
BIS Important Contacts
School phone number: +994 12 440 66 16
Director of Instruction: Katie Holmquist- katherine-holmquist@baku.qsi.org
Counselor: Michael Lewis- michael-lewis@baku.qsi.org
Business Manager: Parviz Hasanov- parviz-hasanov@baku.qsi.org
Secretary: Gunay Ibrahimli- gunay-ibrahimli@baku.qsi.org
Nurse: Sevda Kerimova- sevda-kerimova@baku.qsi.org
Security/Bus: Hayyam- hayyam-gadjiyev@baku.qsi.org
Lunch: Natavan Hatemi- natavan-hatemi@baku.qsi.org
Parent Support Group (PSG)
How do I stay informed about PSG?
PSG has a WhatsApp group that all parents are welcome to join. This group is used to communicate information as well as gather feedback throughout the year.
Please use the link below or the QR code to join the group.
Want to stay connected with BIS?
BIS WhatsApp Group
This group will be used strictly to communicate general information from BIS to parents. Announcements, updates, reminders, and the weekly newsletter will be sent via this group.
The group is set up as a one-way communication tool, so participants only receive messages but can not respond in the group. This allows BIS to communicate information without the distraction of numerous responses.
To join the BIS WhatsApp group, use the link below or the QR code.
Instagram Nametag
Baku International School
Email: baku@qsi.org
Website: baku.qsi.org
Location: Darnagul Qasabasi Str. Ajami Nakchivani Block 3097 (1.94 mi) Baku, Azerbaijan AZ1108
Phone: +994 12 440 6616
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qsi.baku