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November 12, 2010 Volume VI, Issue 10   Home Letter from Lynne Dear Parent(s), In Lower School, children succeed at different levels in different disciplines; their rates of progress, as well, vary tremendously. These variations can owe to ranges in talents, developmental levels, prior experiences, and a host of other factors. Some amount of success, however, can be attributed to the individual girl’s motivation to succeed. At the Lower School level, what motivates many children is a desire to please the significant adults in their lives – their parents and their teachers. In Upper School, students continue to demonstrate vast differences in their academic progress and, again, the reasons are many. Motivation toward success cannot be underestimated at this level, either. As students age, many still want to please their parents and teachers, but the incentives of a solid grade point average, keeping lots of college options open, and even advancement toward a career goal play increasingly meaningful roles. It’s a different story for many Middle School girls. Part of their development as adolescents dictates a gradual shifting away from their dependence on parents, though most do not wish to create antagonism and most still desire their parents’ approval. Likewise, young adolescents often enjoy their relationships with their teachers, and strive to maintain those relationships as positive, but they are not generally motivated to succeed for their teachers. And what about college choices, careers, etc.? These rewards are just too far down the road to prove consistently motivating for the typical Middle School girl, though as they move into eighth grade we see increasing glimmers of the inducement that can be provided by distant goals. What then, encourages success among students of this age? And even more powerfully, what can do more than probably any other factor to discourage success? The answer is the same for both: classmates. Peer influences are such an integral part of adolescent behaviors outside the classroom, it should come as no great revelation that they hold the same sway in matters of academia as well! In far too many middle schools, the messages from peers are loud and clear: it’s not cool to raise your hand in class; it’s dumb to waste time studying; and, so damaging for girls, how you look is more important than what you know.    We’re lucky. While it would be unusual for Middle School students anywhere to encourage each other overtly toward academic success, an attitude permeates our classrooms and hallways that supports achievement. At AIS, it’s normal to care about your performance; it’s acceptable and even admirable to raise your hand, study, put forth effort, do your best, and feel proud of your accomplishments. While parents cannot control all the factors that contribute to their children’s success, AIS parents can at least feel assured that they have placed their daughters in a learning environment where academic success and peer approval are not mutually exclusive!  Lynne   Enjoy photos from the kick-off bonfire and faculty/student volleyball game last night! Photos courtesy of Katie McCollum '10 and Gerald Lawrence, father of Grace '16 and Virginia '21. Coming Up at AIS ... Today: Schedule of Events ·         Noon dismissal ·         Cross Country Race starts at 12:30 p.m. ·         Hall of Fame Introduction of Inductees, Soccer Field, at 1:15 p.m. ·         Tennis starts at 1:30 p.m. ·         Soccer starts at 2:00 p.m. ·         Field Hockey starts at 3:00 p.m.   Please note the slight time changes due to Daylight Savings.   Sat., Nov. 13: Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 6:00 p.m.   Looking Ahead ... Mon., Nov. 15: Winter Sports start   Wed., Nov. 17: Campus Improvements Information Session- Coffee and Presentations 1.      US Assembly Room, 8:00-10:00 a.m. 2.      Upper School Lobby, 6:30-8:30 p.m.   Thurs., Nov. 18: Fall Fundraiser- Dining 101- Kick-off Breakfast at Merion Cricket Club, 8:30-10:00 a.m. Click here for more information   Thurs., Nov. 18: Upper School Musical Life Is..., West-Wike Theatre, 7:00 p.m. 8th graders, please see special invitation located in the ‘Announcements’ section   Fri., Nov. 19: 7th grade Culture Fair, M/U Gym, 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.   Fri., Nov. 19: Trustee Visiting Day   Fri., Nov. 19: Upper School Musical Life Is..., West-Wike Theatre, 7:00 p.m.   Sat., Nov. 20: Upper School Musical Life Is..., West-Wike Theatre Two Performances: 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.   Tues., Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Assembly in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 9:45- 10:15 a.m.   Announcements   is finally here!!  Make sure you know where to be and when by having the schedule of events handy!   The Upper School Musical Life Is ... opens Thursday, November 18th at 7:00 p.m. Click here to download your ticket form   Curious about the Middle School Musical? Click here to read everything you ever wanted to know about it!   8th Graders! Please view this special invitation from Upper School Student Government for next Thursday, November 18th.      Manna Pies As you might know from years past, every year our school participates in selling pies for MANNA. Every month, MANNA provides and delivers over 70,000  meals to people and families living with HIV/AIDS, cancer or other illnesses. MANNA's staff and 1,500 volunteers deliver meals to these people, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week.This year we will once again be selling pies, and the deadline is very soon! This year there is an online registration as well as order forms that will be available at AIS/EA day on Friday afternoon. The due date for all orders is Friday, November 19th, so let’s try to sell a lot of pies! Pick up will be at Agnes Irwin on Tuesday, Novemeber 23rd. This is a great opportunity to donate to this great cause so we hope everyone will be interested! Our personal link to purchase the pies is http://www.mannapies.org/AgnesIrwin