Friday, October 30, 2009

October 31st - Halloween and SILC Saturday - Exciting coincidence

Dear SILCers:

Tomorrow is Halloween October 31st. And it is also our SILC Saturday.

This coincidence is sure exciting and I am sure all the kids (and some adults) will love wearing their costumes to SILC tomorrow.

In this spirit, all of you - Students, parents, board members, teachers, volunteers - are all encouraged to come in Halloween costumes to SILC tomorrow.

Usually, candy is not served as a snack at SILC; But tomorrow is an exception where we will give out candy in addition to snack.

See you all tomorrow in costumes.

Yours sincerely
Siva Jasthi
Principal

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Diwali Celebrations and Picture Day : Thank you

Dear SILCers:

Thank you all for making Diwali celebrations at SILC a success and fun event.

It is good to see you all today at SILC. You are all dressed for the diwali celebration and picture day. .

Thank you all for bringing a sweet or snack or dish to share. Many of you have spent lot of time, effort in preparing a variety of very yummy dishes. It is very satisfying to see all of you enjoying the food and festivities.

Some of you have shared how Diwali is celebrated in different parts of India. Thank you for sharing those experiences. One particular story Riya told on how Diwali is celebrated in her native Punjab stuck to me -- lighting the lamps and keeping the doors open during the night so that Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) will come inside the home. Is it possible to do keep the doors open during diwali while living in Minnesota - the ice box of America? I couldn't resist this thought and the chuckle.

SILC is growing. And it is growing big. I think this is the first time where getting all the SILCers into a group picture proved to be a challenge. But Ralph - our official photographer (I took the liberty to give him that title) managed to get the group picture. Thanks to Ralph for taking all the family pictures with the backdrop of arts class creations. We will share these pictures with all of you soon.

Decoration of diwali diyas is fun. I can see many kids and grownups - immersing themselves in that craft. It appeared to me that the tables got too crowded. Each experience at SILC teaches us something - so, it is going to 200 diyas spread across 4 different tables :) next year. Thanks to Neelam for arranging the diyas and Lisa for coordinating the decoration and to all the parents who helped in this activity.

It is all colorful joy all around.

The first issue of "The SILC Times" is released today. A big thanks to Erin - our Asst Principal and editor of the news letter, Lisa - our art teacher and the composer of the news letter and Anushka, Kavya, Mahima, Meera - our editorial team - for bringing out a beautiful and best issue out. Hope you all had a chance to read it. Please make sure that you do the quiz from the news letter - to know your teachers better.

There will be two more issues of the news letter (one on January 23rd and another April 24th). There will also be graudation year book at the end of the current academic year. Please start thinking about contributing to these these issues.

As outlined in the news letter, please make sure that you visit SILC Blogs to catch up with the news and announcement; and also to see the lesson plans/assignment your teachers are posting.

You can go to http://www.silcmn.com and click on "Classes" to visit different SILC Blogs. For the current academic year, the main blog is http://silc0910.blogspot.com (the one you are currently reading now). For each class, there is a separate blog (silckannada, silctamil, silcart, silcpreschool, etc. all followed by .blogspot.com).

Enjoy visiting these blogs and please feel free to leave a comment or feedback to the SILC blogs.

Sincerely yours
Siva Jasthi
Principal

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Happy Diwali

Dear SILC:

Happy Diwali.

Hope you are all getting ready for Diwali celebration at SILC on 10/24.

Note that we will just have language class on that day followed by celebrations. It is also picture day. We take pictures in the language class. These pictures will go into year end graduation book. Please make sure that you attend SILC on that day.

Also, please bring some snacks/sweets to share with others. Food is a big part of the festivities in any celebration.

Feel free to bring a friend or family to SILC on that day - if you want to show them what SILC is offering.

Finally, here is a message from president Obama wishing you all Happy Diwali.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

SILC @ Sonu Nigam Concert

SILC setup a booth at Sonu Nigam Concert today. Around 1500 folks might have come to the concert, primarily adults and parents, with a few kids here and there.

It is always heartening to see people stopping by at SILC booth and telling us that their kids went to SILC 20 years back or they have taught a language at SILC in the past or they have volunteered at SILC.

Being around the block for a long 30 years itself is a testimony to the role SILC plays in the community.

Several parents have expressed interest in SILC. And we can expect some more students at SILC. The strength of SILC is in its flexibility in accommodating the students irrespective of when they join SILC community. Let us continue to welcome new familiries!

Friday, October 2, 2009

October 2nd is Gandhi Jayanthi


“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be closed. Instead, I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”.

Mahatma Gandhi