Es Parent Bulletin Vol 20 (29 May 2009)

International School Manila

ES PARENT BULLETIN 29 May 2009

Volume 20

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Dear Elementary School Parents,

JUNE 2

Distribution of Report Cards Distribution of Section Cards (Accounting Office) Grade 4 Moving On Ceremony @ 8-9am, Fine Arts Theatre Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony @ 10-11am, Fine Arts Theatre

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From the ES Administration

Early Student Release @ 12 noon End of 2nd Semester

Our final week of the 2009/2010 school year has come. I would like to thank you for all of your support this school year. Earlier this week, students received a copy of the second semester edition of Bamboo Shoots, our student publication. This is a great example of the learning that has occurred this semester at ISM, please take time to sit down with your child and read the magazine together and reflect on the learning activities. Next week you will also receive a copy of our yearbook, this is a great keepsake from your child’s year at ISM and will hopefully be cherished for years to come.

One-Page School Calendar for Next School Year (SY 2009-2010)

On Tuesday you will receive your second semester report card from your child’s class teacher. If you will not be here for the remainder of the school year, please be in contact with the ES office to make arrangements for receiving your child’s report. On the last day of school you will be able to receive your child’s section card for next year which will identify their classroom teacher for the next school year. In order for you to receive the section card there are some requirements from the accounting office which you will find on page three of this publication. Our first day back is Thursday August 6, 2009. If you will be late in returning back, please notify the ES office. If you will not be re-enrolling next year and you have not completed the withdrawal process, please do so as soon as possible to help us with determining our enrollment for next year.

is now available on page 6 and in the ISM Website. Please visit www.ismanila.org and click on News & Calendar to download the file or you may type this url in your web browser:

We wish each and every one of you a safe and relaxing holiday break. If you are leaving ISM we hope that your next school and country provides you with an exciting new learning adventure. Take care, and we look forward to seeing you in August.

AUG 6

Start of School

http://www.ismanila.org/_Rainbow/images/ default/FINAL_2009_2010_Calendar_ (12May2009).pdf

Yours in Education,

Simon Gillespie

Elementary School Principal

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the PE Department School holidays are less than one week away. Thank-you for all your support this year for the ES Physical Education program, especially to those many parents who assisted in the Grade 5 Amazing PE Races, Sports Day, and our swimming program. Thank you to those parents who joined us this past week for “Are You More Coordinated Than a 5th Grader?” It seems as if some of you are! It is a delight to track the progress that students make in physical education classes in terms of not only physical skills, but their growing awareness of the value of sportsmanship. Never before has it been so important for every child to feel comfortable and competent in a physically active setting. This is critical in order for them to grow into active adults - especially in a world where sedentary activities, such as computers, now dominate recreational time. Sportsmanship allows everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy being active. It is wonderful to see children learning to make encouraging comments rather than comparative comments. Our emphasis is always on ‘learning’ rather than ‘winning’ in PE lessons. We also see many ‘firsts’ in elementary physical education in terms of physical skills. Rather like those all important first steps a child takes! Some of the ‘firsts’ we have witnessed this year include diving into the swimming pool, swimming across the deep scuba pool, juggling 3 balls, jumping a short self turned rope and double dutch, punting balls, backward rolls and cartwheels. The smiles say it all when students successfully perform a new skill for the first time! I hope your children have shared some of their achievements in physical education this year with you. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for a healthy holiday that the students have suggested! DO • • • • • •

Wear sunscreen and hat outside Try a new sport i.e. ice skating Be active for one hour most days Eat fruit and vegetables every day Play sports with parents Travel with jump ropes and juggling scarves – take up little room and very portable. Makes a welcome break from the Nintendo DS.

DON’T • Wear out the Nintendo DS or Play Station console • Spend all day watching TV • Replace all physical activity with ‘onscreen’ activity • Eat too much junk food • Let your sports equipment gather dust!! We also say goodbye to Coach Perry and wish her well in her new school. Have a safe and active holiday.

Amanda Pekin ES Physical Education Department 2

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the Information Technology Department During the summer break you child can still access some of their favorite online resources. To find the web address, you just need to type the title into a search engine.

The internet is fascinating and is full of all kinds of interesting information and entertainment. Using the internet is becoming part of our everyday lives. However, it is important to make sure your child is safe when using the Internet. That is why you should check out KidZui. It is an online browser for kids 3 to 12 that will allow your child to explore more than 500,000 child appropriate Websites, pictures and videos which are grouped by topic. There are also plenty of games to master and virtual worlds to navigate.

Username: ismanila Password: ismanila Only available 7AM - 5:30PM (Manila time)

This safe, online environment will allow your child to explore the Web in a safe manner. Give it a try and have fun!!! www.kidzui.com

Username: ismanila Password: books

From the Art Department Hi again parents, A final request from the ES Art Department for recyclable materials. Especially for those of you who are moving on or are just moving house and have lots of stuff to get rid of. We want your junk! Please deliver any items to room 1147 across from the clinic. Many thanks, Olivia Jones

From the Accounting Office Dear Parents: Procedure for the Release of Elementary School Section Cards: Elementary Section Cards will be released by the Accounting Office (P054) on June 4, 2009 provided the following requirements are met: 1. Re-enrollment Clearance Form for SY2009-10 is submitted to Accounting Office (P054) with duly accomplished SIGNATURES for Steps 2,4,5,6. 2. All tuition and other fees for SY08-09 and $1,000 deposit for SY09-10 are settled PRIOR to June 4,2009, otherwise, Parents will be advised by the Accounting Office to proceed to the Cashier to settle the unpaid accounts. Please note that for those who will settle their outstanding accounts for SY08-09 and / or $1,000.00 deposit for SY09-10 ON June 4, 2009, their section cards will be made available at the Cashier’s Office only after payment has been made.

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Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the Admission Office

From the Treasury Office

Dear ISM Parents,

Dear Parents:

Greetings from the Admission Office! The Re-Enrollment Requirements for School Year 2009-10 will be available for pick-up in the Admission Office starting next week. All of the generic re-enrollment forms are ALSO available on the website if you wish to download and print the forms from there. The forms can be found under Admission and then under the ReEnrollment & Withdrawal tab.

Please note a change (in bold below) in the payment of the $1,000 deposit for company sponsored Students under Reenrollment Clearance Form for SY09-10 for STEP2 – Deposit Payment: Step 2: DEPOSIT PAYMENT. To guarantee a place for the coming school year, the Cashier must receive $1,000 or its equivalent payment, on or before May 15, 2009. This deposit will be applied to the tuition for the first semester. Except for US Embassy & ADB (Cashier’s signature still required), parents and other companies with sponsored students are directly responsible for the payment. If the student subsequently withdraws, the enrollment deposit will be refunded via a graduated refund guideline (available at the Cashier’s Office for review). No refund is available within two weeks prior to the opening day of school.

The complete Re-Enrollment Packet will include the… 1. Re-Enrollment Clearance Form for SY2009-10 (2-pages) for each child in the family. 2. Health Clinic Clearance Procedure (1-page) letter 3. Health Clinic Updating Form (2-pages) for each child in the family 4. Tuberculosis Screening Form (2-pages) for students entering Grades 1, 5, or 9 5. Parent and School Shared Agreements (4-pages) form for each child in the family 6. OPTIONAL Board Proxy Form (1-page) for each family 7. OPTIONAL PTA Directory Form (1-page) for each family

URGENT…if you know that your child(ren) will not be returning to ISM for the 2009-10 school year, please inform the Admission Office as soon as possible if you have not already done so. We currently have very few families indicating that they will not be returning and consequently there are an ever growing number of applicants in a WAITPOOL for possible openings. This is causing great distress and anxiety in those families (and in the Admission Office). If you are sure that your child will be leaving ISM, please submit a Withdrawal Notification Form or contact and verify with the Admission Office (840-8488) that he/she is listed as not returning for SY2009-10. The Withdrawal Notification Form can be obtained from the Admission Office or from the ISM website under the Admission tab and then click on Re-Enrollment & Withdrawal. This will be a great help for our planning and to the many families waiting to be admitted to the school. Thank you.

From the Uniform Shop Hate to wait and be in a long line?!? Purchase your uniforms in advance for School Year 2009-2010… Just visit the ISM Uniform Shop at Room P069 (beside the Security Office) every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. See you there!!!

VAT EXEMPTION FOR DIPLOMATS To our valued clients, All diplomats who would like to avail of VAT exemption in the Uniform Shop should submit the following requirements in order for us to process the exemptions: 1. Certified true copy of the VAT Exemption Certificate (VEC) signed by the authorized officer and/or 2. VAT Exemption Identification Card (VEIC) signed by the authorized officer Due dates for submission are June 4th for first semester (July 2009 to December 2009) and December 1st for second semester (January 2010 to June 2010). Please take note that the Uniform Shop may not be able to extend any VAT discounts without the requirements listed above. Thank you very much. Uniform Shop Management 4

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the School Clinic Dear Parents, I am sure that some of you are looking forward to international journeys during the summer holidays. If you are, however, worried about the possibility of contracting H1N1 influenza or any other communicable disease during your travels, please consult the websites below for information which is constantly updated. Even if you are remaining in the Philippines, it is wise to consult these validated websites to ensure that the information you receive is both accurate and appropriate and not subject to media ‘hype’. If you wish to know more about H1N1 influenza, there is a notice board in the clinic which is updated every day with relevant information and we are happy to try to answer any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing you all in school again in August – feeling healthy and refreshed after your summer break. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ Best wishes for continued good health during the vacation from everyone in the school Clinic.

ISM Clinic

From the ATAC Office

From Go Green

On behalf of the ATAC Department I would like to thank all students for the time and effort they have given to being a member of a school team for this year. Your desire to be involved and to represent ISM to the very best of your ability whether in local sporting or cultural events here in Manila or overseas at an IASAS event is much appreciated. We look forward to seeing everyone back in August and ready to represent ISM proudly in school year 09-10. Our first big ISM event for next year is hosting IASAS Soccer in October. This is going to be a fantastic tournament for our school community to get behind and support. We will need housing for 160 visiting athletes from the IASAS schools and I trust that the ISM community will give its full support to make this an “ISM Special Event” to remember.

Many thanks for continuing to support the INVISIBLE Institute. We need your: • Plastic bags • Dry cleaner bags • CDs • Cassette tapes • Old VHS tapes • Fabric scraps There are collection boxes for your waste in the ES, MS and HS office areas. This waste will then be crocheted into beautiful bags for sale. By donating this trash, you will be helping to provide an income for some of the poorest women in Manila. Bags will be on sale outside the canteen on Monday June 1st from 11am onwards Be part of the solution, not the pollution.

Good luck to all the Bearcats in the graduating class of ’09 and thank you for your efforts to support the school Athletics/Activities program during your years at ISM. To all ES/MS/HS Bearcats have a great vacation! “Remember Bearcats stay fit to stay healthy”

Let’s Go Green. www.ism-online.org/gogreen/

Mark Pekin Athletics & Activities Director 5

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the Operations & Security Department A MESSAGE FROM THE OPERATIONS AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT I. IDs for the New School Year Parent IDs Current parent IDs will continue to be valid for the new school year 2009-2010. Parents who require replacement school IDs due to loss or damage can acquire these from the Security Office upon payment of Php100.00 to the Cashier. Student IDs All students will be issued with new ID cards at the beginning of the new school year. To facilitate this they should visit the security office before the end of the current school year for the taking of their photograph. School Passes School passes issued to parent’s employees and representatives need to be replaced for next school year. As of August 31, 2009 the blue bordered passes will be invalid. The security office is now accepting applications for new school passes, however the cards will not be available for collection before July 1, 2009. Each family will be given two free school passes. Additional school passes may be obtained after paying a processing fee of Php100.00 each to the Cashier’s Office. 2, Car Stickers for the New School Year The car stickers for school year 2009/2010 will be available from the security office beginning July 1, 2009. For vehicles already displaying an existing sticker, parents should submit a completed renewal form with a copy of a current LTO official receipt. For new vehicles, parents are reminded that a copy of the vehicle’s certificate of registration and a current official receipt need to be submitted with the application. Applications for vehicles registered with companies or other institutions should be supported by a letter of assignment. Each ISM family will be issued one vehicle sticker free of charge. Any additional stickers will be issued following payment of P100 to the cashier’s office. I would like to thank all members of the ISM community for their cooperation across this school year in helping us maintain ISM as a safe and secure environment for our children. M I KE FLYNN Director of Operations and Security

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Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the Superintendent’s Office

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Elementary School Parent Bulletin

29 May 2009

From the Boy Scouts SCOUT TROOP 351 WRAPS UP EXCITING SCOUT YEAR Boy Scouts of America Troop 351 wrapped up an exciting Scout year with its Court of Honor held at ISM on May 16th. ISM High School history teacher, Mr. Dale Hutchison, was the guest speaker. During the ceremony, three Scouts were awarded the rank of Tenderfoot while five Scouts advanced to First Class and many merit badges were presented for archery, environmental science, fingerprinting, music, personal management, photography and swimming. Scouts moved a vote of thanks for all the adult volunteers who supported them in 2008/2009 including ISM's Ms. LaRita Hamilton, MS English teacher, and Ms. Karen Stewart, MS librarian, who assisted as merit badge counselors for Communications and Reading, and Mr. Michael Flynn, charter organization representative. Troop 351 enjoyed five camp outs during the past year, capped off with a two-nighter on historic Corregidor Island (see photo). During the summer break fun will continue off campus with activities for Lifesaving, Hiking, Computers and Reading merit badge. Troop 351 would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the ISM community who supported Scouting in the past year. Boys of any nationality, between the ages of 11 and 17, are welcomed to join Boy Scouts of America Troop 351. For information on joining contact the Scoutmaster, Mr. Terrence Thompson ([email protected]).

Scouts of Troop 351 inspect the big guns on historic Corregidor Island.

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