NYA Newsletter

Asking Questions and Active Listening

A student’s social and emotional growth significantly impacts their academic achievement; each is equally important.

When kids develop the ability to successful interact with peers and adults in their community it makes a difference. When kids gain a sense of ownership and purpose within a community it makes a difference. And, when kids feel as though they are a valued member of a community because of their contributions and service to others it makes a difference.

New York Academy is committed to growing our students social and emotional growth. New York Academy is committed to our School Community.

Knowing our kids is the key. We are able to know and understand our kids on a social and emotional level simply by asking insightful questions and actively listening. The aim is to gain perspective and empathy as to how they feel about themselves; in other words, how do they feel and how to they see themselves fitting in and being valued members of our community. Having a sense of perspective and empathy is important.

The following questions are effective prompts to engage kids in conversation and support their social and emotional growth:

QUESTIONS TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR

• How are you feeling?
  
• How can we help you feel welcomed at school?
  
• How do you like to be greeted?
  
• What strengths do you bring to classrooms? The school?
  
• What do you like most about school? What would you like to see changed?

QUESTIONS TO SHOW YOU CARE

• When do you feel confident in school and among classmates? Among teachers?
  
• Do you feel you are being listened to?
  
• Do you feel your voice is respected?
  
• Do you feel cared for and about?
  
• Do you get a chance to be a leader?
  
• Do you feel safe/unsafe?
  
• When do you laugh at school?
  

QUESTIONS TO MEASURE A SENSE OF BELONGING

• What is your contribution to the school?
  
• Who believes you can succeed?
  
• What happens in school that makes you afraid? Frustrated? Defeated?
  
• When do you feel challenged and supported?
  
• What inspires you in school?
  
• Who helps you bounce back from setbacks?
  
• Who is always happy to speak with you?
  
• When do you feel it’s OK to make a mistake, or show that you don’t know something or how to do something?
  

BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER

At New York Academy we ask questions such as these often, and we are committed to being active listeners. We demonstrate active listening when we look at the person speaking and ask more questions based upon what the person has said; and then we listen some more.

Think About It. Active listening affirms thoughts and ideas and shows that we care. Kids need to express their thoughts and feelings without being given advise.

Showing that we, as teachers and parents, truly care because we ask questions and actively listen gives a kid a sense that we trustworthy.

When we know and understand our kids on a social and emotional level, we can help them find answers to questions that really matter. Such questions are essential to gaining perspective and empathy to support a kid’s social and emotional growth.

Please accept our apologies for the delay in Teacher/Class Newsletters.

Teachers will send their first Class Newsletters of the School Year next Monday by the end of day.

Thereafter, you can expect a Newsletter every other Friday. The Newsletters will include 3 sections:

1. Two Weeks in Review
   
2. Two Weeks Ahead
   
3. Important Notices and Dates
   

In addition, to keep you updated on the the work being done in class, we will soon launch "See Saw." This is a dynamic, but simple app that allows us to share photos and videos of your children engaged in learning on a day-to-day basis. Stay Tuned!

On Tuesday, August 14, New York Academy celebrated India Independence Day. Students enjoyed arts and crafts, and we all gathered to sing India's national anthem.

Next Wednesday, August 22 there will be no school to honor Eid Ul Adha.

Then, on Thursday, August 23, NYA will have a Bakrid/Eid-Ul-Adah Day Celebration. Classes will explore the meaning of the festival and engage in projects.

Eid -Ul - Adha (Bakr ID) is a festival that Muslims celebrate with special prayers, greetings, and gifts. It is referred to as the festival of sacrifice.

Id-ul-Adha (Bakr Id) is a festival that is celebrated with traditional gaiety in India and the world. Many Muslims wear new clothes and attend an open-air prayer meeting during Id-ul-Adha.

NYA will be celebrating this festival with great fervor and excitement. Teachers will engage students to build and shape their understanding of the meaning, purpose, and importance of this celebration. We would like to encourage our students to dress up in their traditional attire and enjoy a special feast of Non-veg/Veg Biryani with Raitha and delicious Sheer Khurma (Dessert).

This year, the NYA Foreign Language Program will have a new approach:

• Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten students will receive instruction in both French and Spanish and the classes will be play-based instruction. It is what we refer to as a dual language approach. Research supports exposing young children to the sounds of multiple languages.

• Grades 1-3 students choose either French or Spanish and the classes will use a combination of play-based instruction, audio-lingual, TPR, (Total Physical Response), and towards the end Project Based Learning.

• Grades 4-7 will work on themed units that will involve some of the above strategies but will also include Units of Study, which will introduce contextual experiences with specific vocabulary, readings and grammatical structures.

In addition, all students will have Hindi Language and Cultural lessons two times a week.

Please pay your Tuition and School Fees either in Full or for Term One (40%)
on or before Monday, August 20th, 2018.

Please know that timely payment of the School Fees is mandatory.

Tuition and School Fees Due:

· Tuition Fee in Full

· Tuition Fee Term One (including 1/3 of deferment for Term One - 5,000))

· Technology Fee: 30,000

· Lunch Fee Due: 30,000 INR (optional)

HOW TO PAY STEPS

1. You can make Fees Payments by credit card at NYA Front Desk (please know that there is a minimal processing charge).

2. You can make Fees Payments by bank to bank transfer (details provided in invoice)

3. Immediately after completing the payment by bank card or credit card, please email us or call us with the following:

· Name of Student

· Grade

· Amount Transferred

· Date of Transfer

· Transfer Reference Number

VERY IMPORTANT
If we do not have the above information we would not be able to issue you a receipt
of the payment made and it will be considered not paid. So, again, please send us the above information immediately.

4. We will confirm the details given with the accounts team and provide a receipt of successful payment.

Please support your child's educational success.

It is very important that students are in class BEFORE 9:00 AM and ready to learn. Students are expected to arrive at school no later than 8:50 AM.

And, it is important that students are in school. Unless sick, students should not stay home.

• WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22 NO SCHOOL, Bakrid/Eid-Ul-Adah Day Celebration
  
• THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 School-Wide Bakrid/Eid-Ul-Adah Day Celebration