International School Manila

ES PARENT BULLETIN
Volume 6 8 November 2013

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

NOV
8, 22 13, 20, 27 12
Parent Bulletin Wednesday Morning Student Late Start, 8.30AM Parent Meeting with ESL Specialist Dr. V. Rojas, 7.30 - 9.00 AM (LT) International Family Fun Day (ES Field) Parent Coffee, 7.30 - 8.30 AM (LT) 2nd Quarter Assembly, 8 9 AM (FAT)

From the ES Administration

Welcome back after the holiday break and a special welcome to the new families who have just joined our community. Our thoughts are with those who are currently being affected by typhoon Haiyan, known as Yolanda in the Philippines; more information will be forthcoming about how we as a community are supporting those in need. Again, we appreciate your support as we closed the school today to ensure the safety of our students. Learning at ISM This weekend (weather permitting) will see over two hundred teachers involved in their own professional learning at ISM. Dr. Virginia Rojas will be conducting a workshop with our teachers on translating brain research into effective language and literacy instruction. We will also be hosting a Google Apps. Summit for educators, where a host of learning opportunities will be available for teachers, focused on using technology in our classrooms as a tool for learning. We believe that we are models of learning for our students and as such, as a community we are continually developing our learning and understanding, in various areas of pedagogy.

16 19 22

DEC
4, 11, 18 6, 13 2, 3 6 18 19 - Jan 3
Wednesday Morning Student Late Start, 8.30AM Parent Bulletin

This learning then extends into our community with two upcoming parent sessions. On Tuesday 12th November from 730 am 9 am, Dr. Rojas will conduct a parent workshop on English as a Second Language learning. We can highly recommend this session for all parents, as we continue to build an inclusive community at ISM. The following Tuesday 19th November from 730 am to 9 am, we will be conducting an Elementary specific session on technology. In this we will be addressing the following questions: How do we use the internet safely, both at home and school? What is an appropriate amount of screen time? Is all screen time equal? Have a safe weekend.

AFAC Recital, 2.15 4.15 PM (AMR)

Grade 1, 2 Concert (LT) Early Student Release, 12NN No Classes: Semester Break

Adam Campbell
ElementaryPrincipal

Michael Rourke
ElementaryAssistantPrincipal

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

From the Music Deartment

SAVE THE DATE!!!!

Making Music Our Own

Friday, December 6, Little Theater
Grade 1 Music Concert 8am Grade 2 Music Concert 1pm

From ES PE Team
The Elementary School Annual Sports Day is scheduled for February 14th 2014. This event is an all day event involving all ES classes. Our focus is on having fun being active, cooperation, and sportsmanship. This is a fantastic full day event. All parents are invited to attend. Students will also be given the opportunity to design a team logo and name to be printed onto their own class t-shirt over the next month. These shirts have a huge visual impact and promote great team spirit (and it also makes it easier to keep track of each class!). Although its not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to purchase one in order to make this day even more memorable. Each child will bring home an order form to purchase a t-shirt for 380 pesos this month. Please complete and return the form to your childs classroom teacher before Nov 29th 2013. You will receive more information about the specific activities and facilities closer to the event.

Amanda Pekin
ES PE Program Leader

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

From Operations and Security Office

ParentIDs We are now issuingnewparent IDs forthe school year 2013/14.To reduce the inconvenience toparents ofthis replacement pro gram,theoldparentIDcardswillbevalidforschoolaccessun ltheendoftherstsemesteronDecember18th,2013.Thestand ard new parent cards will be issued free of charge.Parents may, however, elect to apply for a smartcard ID which will be usable withthenewcashlesspaymentsystembeingintroducedintotheschoolforSY201314.TherewillbeafeeofP250.00forasmart cardwhichcoversinparttheregistra onfeetheschoolisrequiredtopayforeachcardissued. Thesecurityoceisnowprocessingapplica onsforthenewparentIDs.Aswerequirenewphotographsforthecards,parentsare askedtovisitthesecurityoceforthetakingoftheirpicture. Drivers,HelpersandBodyguards Drivers, helpers and bodyguards should not wait on campus for students throughout the school day.A er dropping o students theyshouldexittheschoolgroundsandnotreturnmorethan30minutesbeforedismissal me.Thosewhorepeatedlyfailtocom plywiththeregula onwillhavetheiraccessprivilegesuspended. Only those vehicles carrying parents or other people with business within the school will be allowed to return to the campus be forethescheduledpickup me. Therearedesignatedareasforunaccompanieddrivers,yayas,helpersandsecurityescortstowaitforparentsandstudents.Unless specically authorized, they may not enter any other area. In the interest of security, and to prevent conges on at the pedestrian entrancestothecoveredparkingarea,parentsarerequestedtoemphasizetotheiremployeestheimportanceofcoopera ngwith thesecuritystaandremainingintheappropriateareas. Termina onofEmployment Intheeventofthetermina onofserviceofafamilyemployee,parentsareaskedtosecuretheformeremployeesISMIDcardand return it to the Security oce.If this is not possible, it is important that the Security Oce is s ll informed of the change of cir cumstances. Firearms All members of the ISM community are reminded that it is strictly forbidden for rearms to be brought onto the campus. This in cludes concealed weapons carried by bodyguards for close protec on. Any person arriving at the school with a rearm should in formthegateguardandarrangementswillbemadefortheweapontobesafelyandsecurelystoredduringthevisitorsstay. Thankyou,

Michael Flynn
Director, Operations & Security

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

From the Professional Learning Department

International School Manila ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES (ES-AFAC)

ES After-school Activities sign up for 2nd semester will be on November 18-22, 2013 (Monday to Friday). AFAC office will only start accepting registration at 7am of November 18. The forms will be given through homeroom teachers on November 15(Friday). A letter of confirmed activities will be sent on December 9th. Registration is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

From the Art Department

TheESArtteamishavingaveryproduc vestarttotheyear.We wouldliketoaskforyoursupportindona nganynewspapers ormagazinesyouhaveathomeaswellascentertubesfromtoi let ssueandkitchenpaperrolls.Thiswillbeusedforaspecial project!Also,ifyouhaveanyoldshirtsortshirtsthatyouno longerusewewouldreallyappreciatethemtouseasextra smocksforpar cularlymessyprojects!
Thanks,

DEAR PARENTS! Check out our new CMC Blog.

http://cmc.ism-online.org/

ES Art Team
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Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

From the Admissions & Advancement Office

UPDATEYOURCONTACTDETAILSTHROUGHTHEISMPARENTPORTAL

DearParents, WearepleasedtoinformyouthatyourchildsPowerSchoolaccountmaybeaccessedthroughtheISM ParentPortal.AsidefrombeingagatewaytoPowerSchool,theParentPortalalsoprovidesinforma onon schoolevents,usefullinks,aswellaschildspecicacademicblogsandstudentpor olios.Shouldyouneed tomakeanychangestoyourcontactinforma on,visittheParentPortalandfollowthestepsbelow:

STEP1:GOTOwww.ismanila.org

Note:PowerSchoolopensinanewtab,allowing userstoreturntotheParentPortalany me.

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

Note:Anemailno ca onwillbesenttoyour registeredemailaddressregardingthechangesmadeon PowerSchool.

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

From the Admissions & Advancement Office

LeavingISM? ForthosestudentsthatwillbewithdrawingfromInterna onalSchoolManilathisschoolyear(SY1314),thefollowingprocedure applies: ParentsareobligedtoociallyinformtheAdmissionsOceinwri ngthroughaWithdrawalNo ca onFormatleast een(15) dayspriortoyourchildslastdayofschool. Forthoseleavingattheendoftheschoolyear,youMUSTsubmitaWithdrawalNo ca onFormonorbeforeMay09,2014. Failuretodosowillleadtoadeduc onofUS$1,000fromtheFacili esUpgradeDeposit(FUD)incompensa onforhavinghelda spaceforthechildandthuspreven ngtheSchoolfromoeringthatspacetoanotherchildpriortothesummerholidaybreak. TheWithdrawalNo ca onFormcanbeobtainedfromtheAdmissionsOceordownloadedfromtheISMwebsitehere.Admis sions>ReEnrollment&Withdrawal>Withdrawal WehopethatyourchildhashadanenrichingstayatISMandwishyouandyourfamilytheverybestinthefuture. Regards,

Stephanie Hagedorn
Director, Admissions & Advancement

From the ATAC Office

TheMS/HS2ndseasonprac ceschedulewhichrunsfromOct23toFeb7isnowpostedonno ceboardsaroundschool,andis alsonowavailableontheATACblog.h p://atac.ismonline.org/schedules/hs/ Our2ndFridaynightLightsisNov15th.Wewillhaveagreata ernoon/eveningofHSsportonshow,Rugby/TouchvsBrentand Faith,BasketballvsFaith.Comeoutandcheerforourteamsastheykickstarttheirseason.Allgameswillstartfrom4:15pmun l around7pm.TheHSstudentambassadorsandtheBearcatCouncilwillbearrangingsomefungamesandtherewillalsobefood/ drinkbooths.ESstudentsarewelcometostaybuttheymusthaveparentalsupervision. ISMwillhostthePreIASASBasketballexchangeonNov2224.Weneedhostfamiliesfor72playersfromISB/JIS/ISKL.Pleaseassist uswiththisimportantprepara onforourbasketballteams.Gotothislinkh p://atac.ismonline.org/iasas/iasashousing/ basketballexchangehousingle er/printandcompletethesignupandreturntoATACocebythedeadline.Manythanks! ISMproudlyhostsIASASswimmingFeb59,2014andhostfamiliesarerequiredtohousethevisi ngIASASswimmers.Thehousing le erisavailableviatheATACblogandviatheSailshblog.Pleaseassistustomakethisawonderfuleventforourcommunityby housingapairofswimmersforIASAS.h p://atac.ismonline.org/iasas/iasashousing/iasasswimmeethousing le er/Pleaseprint,completeandreturnthesliptotheATACoce. Newfamiliespleasetakesome metoperusetheATACblogasthiswillhelporientateyouwiththewidevarietyofcocurricular programsISMoers. AgreatwaytostayintouchwiththeISMATACprogramistosubscribeviaRSSfeedtotheATACblogandalsotofollowviatwi er (seetwi erfeedonthebloghomepage) EachMondayIwillposttheweekshappeningsandhighlightimportanteventsforstudentsandparentsinforma onontheATAC blogandintheregularFridayparentbulle ns.

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

GAMESCHEDULEPDF:(accesstogamescheduleinforma on)Informa onaboutallmidweek/weekendxturesforISMteamscan befoundviatheATACblog.Pleasenotethegamescheduledoeschangeo enduetoinvolvementwithmanylocalschoolsso pleasecheckthepageregularlytondoutthelatestinforma onofwhereandwhentheBearcatsteamsareplaying.Clickon schedulestabortheBearcatlogotobedirectedtothepowerschoolsecuresiteh p://powerschool.ismanila.org/public/ Youwillneedyourpowerschoolusernameandpasswordtoaccessthegameschedulepdf. BEARCATDEN:h p://atac.ismonline.org/bearcatden/ TheBearcatDenisopenforbusiness,pleasedropbytocheckouttherangeofBearcatproducts.Wehaveagreatteamofvolun teerswhorunthedenandarealwayslookingformorepeopletohelpout.Ifyouareinterestedinjoiningafantas cgroupplease contactanyofourdenmembersduringdenopeninghoursorpleasecontactCarolynChingfordetailscarolynqching@yahoo.com. WearealwayslookingfornewvolunteersandencourageparentsfromES/MStojoinourgroup. HaveagreatyearattheHomeoftheBearcats!

Regards,

Mark Pekin
Athletic Director

Message from the Clinic

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

FROM THE PTA OFFICE:

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

8 November 2013

FROM THE PTA OFFICE:

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