Sunday, October 31, 2010

SILC: Weekly Digest (10/31/10)

Dear SILC Students, Parents, Teachers and Volunteers:

Hope you all had a fun Halloween weekend.

[1] It is very energizing to see SILC operating every saturday morning.  We have not achieved military precision on our operations yet. However, students and parents are finding their way out and all the classes/proceedings seem to be progressing as planned.  Thanks for the dedication and efforts of our volunteers - who always try their best to bring back some order from chaos.

If any of you have an idea or thought on how we can run SILC in better and more organized way, please drop us a note. We need you.

[2] SILC  went to field trip today to "Sundari Aur Nag (aka Beauty and Beast)" by Katha Dance Theatre at O'Shaughnessy (St Catherine University).

The two-part program of North Indian dance and live music - show cased kathak yatra (the journey of Kathak dance) and also Sudari Aur Nag, an Indian rendition of Beauty and Beast.  "Wonderful", "Amazing", "Beautiful" are some of the experiences I have felt and heard from other SILCers.

For those who couldn't make it, please read the reviews at http://www.kathadance.org/Site/Upcoming_Performance.html

[2] November 1st Monday is the due date for submitting the articles for the first news letter:  Please send your articles for the first News Letter to Shiv Bhatia, Assistant Principal (shivbhatia66@yahoo.com)

[3] Thank you for volunteers who signed up to bring snacks and sweets for Diwali celebration day on November 13;  We still have more slots left. Please sign up next week or send a note to "Lakshmi Buddhavarapu" <lakshmi.buddhavarapu@medtronic.com> or "Lakshmi Ramesh Wariar" <lakshmiwariar@hotmail.com>. You can also contact them if you have any questions on the sweet/snack signup

[4] Please note that November 13th is  Diwali Celebration  Day and SILC Picture Day.  We will have language classes on that day. But there won't be social studies or elective classes.  Class pictures will be taken during the language class (these pictures will be published into SILC year book).  We will also take group picture in the hallway for publication in the year book.  After the group picture, there will be diwali-related arts/ crafts /cultural activities. 

All teachers and studens should plan to attend SILC on that day. Please ensure that you adjust your schedule so that you can make it on that day

Please wear your traditional / festive /Indian dresses for this event;

Parents may want to get an alternate / optional outfit as well for their kids so as to ensure that their festival dress doesn't get messy during art/craft/cultural activities.

[5] I am sending this email each and also posting this message to our blogs; if you are not receiving the mail, it may mean the email in our records is not correct or your registration information is not entered into our system. Please see me at SILC if you are not getting emails.


--
Regards
Siva Jasthi

President
School of India for Languages and Culture
http://www.silcmn.com
siva.jasthi@gmail.com
info@silcmn.com
(mobile) 612.217.4821

Sunday, October 24, 2010

SILC: Weekly Digest (10/24/10)

Dear SILC Students, Parents, Teachers and Volunteers:

Hope you all had a wonderful MEA break this week.

[1] Please note any new registrations are now CLOSED for this year.  Considering the record enrollments we have so far, we realized that letting in any more registrations this year will disrupt the functioning of the classrooms now. Hence, this change and decision of closing out the registrations this year.

[2] This is gentle reminder that articles for SILC News Letter 1 are due by November 1st.  All teachers and families  to SILC are especially encouraged to contribute the articles to the news letter.  Have you travelled to India during the summer and visited any interesting places? You may want to write a travelogue.  Have you watched any Indian movie or read a book? You may want to write a review about it?  Do you have a sketch or drawing on Indian themes or symbols? You may want to pass it on to news letter. Are you  excited and happy to be part of SILC community? Share your experiences with the rest of the community. Please send your articles to Shiv Bhatia, Vice Principal (shivbhatia66@yahoo.com)

[3] Note that October 31st (Sunday) is our field trip day to 'Sundari Aur Nag (aka Beauty and Beast).  Those who signed for the field trip - please make sure that you collect your tickets on 30th october during SILC time.

[4]  NOTE:  Wearing Halloween costumes to SILC on next Saturday 30th is encouraged.  Entire SILC community is welcome to come in costumes on next Saturday. Typically, SILC doesn't distribute candy as a snack. However, next Saturday is an exception. At the end of SILC session, after 'jana gana mana', candy will be given out . 

[5] We have received several complaints from Como School classroom teachers that the are finding the classrooms in disarray when they came to school on Monday mornings. Your cooperation to ensure that classrooms are left in the same state is much appreciated (boards cleaned at end of SILC, no gargbage on the floor, chairs/tables in their original place, kitchen is cleaned after its use, etc.).

--
Regards
Siva Jasthi

President
School of India for Languages and Culture
http://www.silcmn.com
siva.jasthi@gmail.com
info@silcmn.com
(mobile) 612.217.4821

Sunday, October 17, 2010

SILC Weekly Digest (10/17/10)

Dear SILC Students, Parents, Teachers and Volunteers:

[1] Please note that there is no SILC next week (on October 23rd) due to MEA Week (Minnesota Educators Association) as the school building is closed.

[2] ARTICLES  FOR  SILC  PUBLICATIONS  Here is an update from Shiv Bhatia, Assistant Principal who is coordinating SILC News Letters and Year Books

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Dear SILC Parents,
 
As announed last week, we intend to release three publications this school year:-
  • News Letter 1 (Diwali edition - November 2010)
  • News Letter 2 (February 2011)
  • Year Book (Graduation Day)
If you or your child would like to contribute to the first newsletter which will be published next month, please send your articles to Shiv Bhatia, Vice Principal (shivbhatia66@yahoo.com) by November 1st.

This is a great way for your child to develop her/his writing capabilities and contribute towards the growth of our publications. I will request you to encourage your child(ren) to contribute as much as they can. We have three issues, so we need all the material that you can send to us.

Some of the older editions can be found on the SILC website. You can visit this link ( http://silcmn.com/newsletter.html ) to get an idea of what to contribute.

Once again, the due date for submitting articles for the Diwali edition is November 1st. (We will need time to format and print it before Diwali....so please stick to this deadline).

Questions, if any, can please be directed to Shiv Bhatia, Assistant Principal (shivbhatia66@yahoo.com).
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[3]  Thank you all for signing up SILC field trip (Sundari Aur Naag for October 31st 2 PM performance).   To get the best out of this field trip, please access the STUDY GUIDE  here. I encourage to print this out and give to your child.

You can still signup for the field trip by sending mail to Erin Oberdorfer, Principal (oberdorFer.erin@dorsey.com) before Tuesday 5 PM CST  (You can bring the payment on 10/30, that is OK. We want to ensure that all SILC families take advantage of this field trip and participate in this activity). 
Erin is planning to order the tickets on wednesday morning.

As you are aware, SILC will be picking up much of the expense and is providing discounted tickets to registered students and teachers.

Katha Dance Theater is performing Sundari Aur Nag (Beauty and the Beast) at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium (on the campus of St Kate's) on Oct 31 at 2pm. SILC will subsidize tickets for all REGISTERED students interested in attending. Tickets will be available for $5/ SILC student (any age) and for SILC Teachers. Non-registered persons can also order tickets for $13/child (12 and under) or non-SILC student with an id and $20/adult. Tickets must be prepaid (to SILC) by Saturday Oct 16.  We will hand them out at SILC on 10/30.
[4]  Amla International ( http://www.amlainternational.com/ ) which provides translations and interpretrations for over 150 languages is seeking some volunteers in Indian languages. If any of the parents are interested, please let me know or contact Paul Amla directly.  Typically, there will be honorary payment ($25 per hour for example) for your services.  They are looking for Telugu interpreter for this Tuesday October 19th at an Apple Valley School.

[5]  Please note that NOvember 13th is  Diwali Celebration  Day and SILC Picture Day.  We will have language classes on that day. But there won't be social studies or elective classes.  Class pictures will be taken during the language class (these pictures will be published into SILC year book).  We will also take group picture in the hallway for publication in the year book.  After the group picture, there will be diwali-related arts/ crafts /cultural activities. 

All teachers and studens should plan to attend SILC on that day. Please ensure that you adjust your schedule so that you can make it on that day
Please wear your traditional / festive /Indian dresses for this event;
Parents may want to get an alternate / optional outfit as well for their kids so as to ensure that their festival dress doesn't get messy during art/craft/cultural activities.

We are working out detailed planning on this event. Please stay tuned for further details on this event.


Regards
Siva Jasthi

President
School of India for Languages and Culture
http://www.silcmn.com
siva.jasthi@gmail.com
info@silcmn.com

Sunday, October 10, 2010

SILC: Weekly Digest (10/10/10)

Dear SILC Students, Parents, Teachers and Volunteers:

With record number of registrations this year (> 185), we are all working hard to streamline the learning experience of our students, parents and families. 

Many of you have stepped up to volunteer and to teach at SILC. Your help and support in this process are well appreciated.


[1] The first issue of SILC news letter is planned to be released on "Diwali Celebration Day" (13th November 2010).  We are looking for student reporters to contribute the articles, stories, travelogues, interviews, photos, drawings etc. - anything that show case the creativity of our students.  Teachers and parents can also contribute to SILC news letter.

Past issues of SILC news letter can be found on our web site; Click on News Letters  or  at  http://silcmn.com/newsletter.html 

Please contact Shiv Bhatia (Assistant Principal) for further details on SILC News Letter

[2] Finally, if you have not formally registered or have not paid the registration fee, please do so immediately;  In earlier years, SILC is flexible and is letting the registrations continue through out the year. Due to the growth we are experiencing this year, it is required to have a deadline by which we no longer accept registrations.  October 23rd (MEA week - there is no SILC on that day) is that date.  If any one is not formally registered by that date, they will have to wait until next year to register. Please spread this word to your friends and families

[3] SILC will be giving $500 worth of 'community outreach scholarships' to those who  would like to attend but may find it difficult to pay the yearly fee.  Please see the attached for more details.  Please avail this scholarship if you are in need (if you have already paid, you will be given refund) or pass on this information to others who may be interested.

[4] At the end of the year, during the graduation program, we recognize top 5 students who have the best attendance at SILC.   The language teachers will be taking attendance during the first period and Principal will tally those records to identify and recognize the top 5 students.

[5] SILC operates by renting the classrooms from St. Paul School district. Please ensure that you leave the classrooms as you enter them.  Please do not throw garbage on the floors; Please wipe out the blackboards after use; And please do not disturb the placing of chairs/tables.

[6] The success of SILC is based on its volunteers. With large number of registrations and growth of SILC, we are looking for more volunteers in many areas.  Here are some of the volunteers we are currently looking for. Please contact any of SILC board members if you are interested to volunteer for any of these (or more)


    1. Official Photographer – 2 volunteers, 1 year commitment
    2. Official Videographer – 2 volunteers, 1 year commitment
    3. SILC HOLI: Co-Chairpersons – 2 persons, 1 year commitment
    4. SILC MELA : Co-Chairpersons – 2 persons, 1 year commitment
    5. SILC Yearbook: Owner is , 1 year commitment
    6. SILC Outreach Director: – 1 volunteer, 2 year commitment
  i.      Keeping the “Friends of SILC” group alive & well
   ii.      Making sure SILC Newsletter reaches “Friends of SILC”
  iii.      Forwarding invites to “Friends of SILC” for the HOLI, MELA, FON performances etc
  iv.      Reaching out to Community Organizations as needed

[7] SILC is planning for a field trip  (Sundari Aur Nag  aka Beauty and Beast; by Katha Dance Theatre) during the last week of October. It will be on friday October 29th / sunday october 31st; We are working on the logistics, timing and discounted pricing details. Please stay tuned for further details and please be prepared to sign up for this event on next Sat



--
Regards
Siva Jasthi

President
School of India for Languages and Culture
http://www.silcmn.com
siva.jasthi@gmail.com
info@silcmn.com
(mobile) 612.217.4821