The meeting of the PSA was called to order at 8:40 a.m. by MS Chair, Mala Raghavan. Minutes from the last meeting were approved.

• The PSA will have a new website linked to the AES website by next week. It will contain what used to go out in the PSA newsletter, together with a Classified Section for parents to participate in, minutes of PSA meetings and important flyers.

• Parents are urged to email the PSA to communicate any thoughts, suggestions, complaints, etc. at any time.

• Each part of the school has had successful coffee mornings/ evenings. Some of the key issues raised by parents were as follows:

  • Elementary
    • teaching foreign language at any earlier age
    • nutritious food in the cafeteria
    
    
  • Middle
    • adolescent battles (‘everyone else is doing it’)
    • manners
    • banning of soda in cafeterias
    • cell phones (can have but must be switched off in class)
    
    
  • High
    • IB programme
    • Study hour (thought to help a lot)
    • Up-dating of dress code (but still must dress decently, respect local ways)
    • Senior Leader’s body looking for HS parent help for Fall Fiesta 16th Nov.
    
    

    All agreed that coffee mornings were a useful forum for discussion. If anyone has views on any of the above (or other) but was unable to attend, please e-mail the PSA.

    Next coffee mornings:
    
    

    Elementary	Nov. 19 (time to be determined)
    Middle	Oct. 9 (evening time to be determined)
    High	Oct. 8 (7 pm; topic: mini-courses)

  
  

• ES Publishing Center’s next volunteer meeting is Tues. 24th 8.35am, #331 Ashoka Bldg.

• Next PSA function is “India Night Under the Stars.” Volunteers can still sign up to help plan for décor, food, sponsors, etc. Next meeting is Tue. 24th at 2pm in PSA Lounge.

• A volunteer is also needed to collect names/addresses of those interested in participating in the ‘Halloween Trick or Treating’ and from those names, one parent from each of the neighborhoods to participate will need to do the final coordinating for that neighborhood. Please contact PSA.

• International Food Fair meeting will be in the Board Room on Oct. 4 at 8:45 am. Parents interested in representing their home country are requested to attend, as there should be a booth to represent every country that has students in school.

• An art exhibition will be held at Jonlea Hetzel’s apartment on October 4-5; look out for the posters!

• UN Bake sale is Thursday, Oct. 17. Please donate sweets or savories (drop off at Gates #2 and #5 all morning) or make purchases. ES parents are asked to send their children with a little money to spend.

• Issue of High School students smoking just outside school gates was discussed. The administration has tried many things, including the signs, education of cancer, etc. but since they are not on school property, the children cannot be forced to stop. It was generally felt that it was the responsibility of individual parents and students.

• An apparent controversy over students being told they would get “extra credit” if they attended the Coffee for Peace relative to Sept.11 was discussed. Apparently it was the music teachers who wanted their students to attend because of the musical part of the program. Send any comments to your PSA rep.

• Malika explained the role of the Curriculum Council and its schedule of review. Several parents requested that more challenging work be assigned to those children who could benefit, especially in Elementary school math, either within the class scenario or within an ‘enhanced’ class. Malika will communicate views back to the council.