Es Parent Bulletin Vol#1 2009 Aug 20

International School Manila

ES PARENT BULLETIN Volume 01

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER AUG 21

School Holiday for Ninoy Aquino Day - No Classes

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First Day of ES After School Activities (Grades 1-4)

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“Back to School Night” for Preschool, ECLC and Grade 1 • 5.00pm Refreshments in the lobby of Fine Arts Theatre • 5.30pm Everyone in the Fine Arts Theatre • 6.00 - 7.00pm In your child’s classroom

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Wednesday Morning Student Late Start @ 8.30am “Back to School Night” for Grades 2 - 4 • 5.00pm Refreshments in the lobby of Fine Arts Theatre • 5.30pm Everyone in the Fine Arts Theatre • 6.00 - 7.00pm In your child’s classroom

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School Holiday for National Heroes Day - No Classes

From the ES Administration Dear Elementary School Parents,

We are now at the end of our second week of the 2009/2010 school year. Thank you to all of our students for making the start a great success. Students have settled into their classes and teachers have been working on building their classroom communities, establishing routines and building the foundation for a great year of learning. Our teachers and guidance counselors spend time ensuring that each child is settling in to their new class where each child feels safe and respected. If at any time you feel your child is having difficulty beginning the new school year and settling in, please let your class teacher know so that we can support the transition to the new grade level, or new school. We look forward to meeting you all next week at our “Back to School Nights” on Tuesday August 25 (Preschool, ECLC, and Grade 1) and Wednesday (Grades 2, 3 and 4). The purpose of these meetings is for you to develop an understanding of the program and the expectations for each grade

20 Aug 2009

level. You will have the opportunity to meet with class teachers, specialist teachers and support staff who will be working with your children throughout the year. In order for you to support your children, we would like to give you an insight into the routines and procedures your child experiences each day. We hope this will help you in talking with your child about school and encouraging them in becoming independent and responsible for their daily routines. Many of you will have questions you may like to ask the teachers. Please keep these of a general nature. This evening is not for individual parent teacher conferences. However, if you have some concerns that need to be addressed individually, your child’s teacher will be more than happy to arrange a time when you can meet. Those parents with children in the ESL program will begin at 5:00pm by meeting their child’s ESL teacher in their ESL classroom. At 5:30pm, we will all meet together in the Fine Arts Theatre at which time we will be giving an overview of the curriculum and our Elementary School goals for the year. This will be followed by a brief introduction to each of the specialist teaching areas in the school. At 6:00pm, you will be invited to go to your child’s classroom where each grade level has prepared a presentation for you until 7:00pm. You will also be provided with a copy of the 2009/2010 Parent Handbook and Elementary School Program Guide, which can also be found on our website. This week our Elementary School Program Leader team met with our Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Parent Liaisons and executive members. The purpose of this meeting was to begin planning how we will work together this year to enhance our connections with parents, and to support students’ learning. Monica Boentaran is our Elementary School PTA Vice President, and she is joined by a Parent Liaison from each grade level. The following key areas of support were agreed upon and forms the “job description” for Parent Liaisons in the Elementary School: • Facilitator between Program Leader and room parents (disseminating of information) • Assisting with school wide special events to be coordinated with ES Principal/Assistant Principal and PTA Vice President (Filipiniana, International Day, Concerts, Sports Day) • Assisting with grade level special events (determined by the Program Leader) • Helping to find volunteers for special events (both school wide and grade level), for field trips, for assisting in the classroom (Continued on page 2)

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

20 August 2009

From the CMC Welcome back! We are looking forward to an exciting new year here in the Children’s Media Center. Our Faculty and staff for 2009-10 includes: • Rebecca Pierce, Teacher Librarian • Jo Cayabyab, Instructional Assistant • Pepper Real, Senior Library Assistant • Ellen Viray, Library Assistant • Grace Caparros, Library Assistant All elementary students will visit the CMC weekly to read and borrow books. Preschool through Grade 2 have a fixed schedule and will borrow and return books the same day each week. Grades 3 and 4 use a flexible schedule that allows teachers to integrate use of the CMC into their classroom lessons. This flexible schedule also allows grade 3 and 4 students to borrow and return books on an as needed basis. Wondering how many books your child can check out at a time? • Preschool and ECLC – 1 book • Grades 1 and 2 – 2 books • Grades 3 and 4 – 4 books We welcome parents to drop by during the day or after school to explore the new books, meet our staff or spend some quiet time reading. We’d love to get to know you!

From the PE Department We look forward to seeing parents at Open House next week where you can hear a brief overview about child’s PE program. Many parents comment on how different PE is today compared to their own experiences. Come and see for yourself the positive changes in your child’s PE program and how parents play an important role in physically educating your child. New to Manila? Looking for something active for your children to increase physical activity time and decrease the amount of “on screen” time? The ES PE department has an extensive list of physical activities and sports available for children in Manila. Visit http:// sportsmanila.wikispaces.com/

From the ES Administration (Continued from page 1)

• Class parties (held at the end of each semester) – to coordinate with teachers, and other parents • To meet once per month with the ES Principal/ Assistant Principal to discuss the role of the PTA and what is happening around the school. • The role of the PTA Parent Liaison is not to be the go to person for parents filing complaints. If a parent liaison is contacted by a parent, the parent liaison will direct them to the correct person to communicate with, whether that is the class teacher, Program Leader, or Principal/Assistant Principal

This includes activities at a club level or on a ‘drop in’ basis. We also ask for parental help to update and add to this site. If your child attends sports lessons or is a part of a sports club or you simply know a great place to go and be active, then we would like to hear about it, including contact details. Many students often share with us verbally all the great activities and sports they do on the weekends. We would like to make the most of this valuable resource by sharing contact details with ISM families. Please e-mail the addresses, phone numbers and any name of a contact person if you can assist. If you would also like to share news of your child being successful in sport please e-mail me with details. This can serve to encourage others to pursue sports. Recommended guidelines for physical activity for children is one hour minimum per day every day.

We have been spending time the past two weeks in classrooms, and are excited by the level of engagement of our students, and the communities that are being built in each classroom. We are available to meet should the need arise, and can be contacted by email or by appointment made through the ES Office. We look forward to working together with you this year.

Amanda Pekin

Simon Gillespie

Yours in Education,

ES Principal

ES PE [email protected] 2

Michael Rourke ES Assistant Principal

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

20 August 2009

Pizza Day!

From the Art Department Welcome Parents, to the new school year! We are looking forward to seeing you at Back to School Night soon, where we can give you a quick brief of the year to come in art. The classes seem to be settling in well and some are getting stuck into some messy painting business already. We have aprons here in class, but if you prefer your child to be ‘better protected’ from colorful adventures, feel free to send him/her in on art days with an oversized old t-shirt to wear over his/her uniform. We can keep the t-shirts here in the art room all year. Just please be sure to clearly mark the shirt with the child’s name and class. Many thanks.

Every Friday is Pizza Day for Elementary School. The pizzas are being supplied by Piadina. Pizzette Quattro Formaggi Pizzette Margherita

- Php 60.00 - Php 50.00

Coupons will be sold at the undercovered ES playground every Friday from 6:30 a.m. up to 7:30 a.m. These coupons are then redeemed by the students at the ES Canteen during their lunch break.

Helen Arnold ES Art Program Leader

From the Asst. Superintendent’s Office From the School Clinic

ESL TEACHER for Adults International School Manila is seeking an experienced teacher of English as a Second Language for adults. Classes include beginners to intermediate level. Should be flexible, dynamic, and highly-committed. Send resume to [email protected].

The Clinic is pleased to announce the schedule for the vaccination program for this school year 2009/10. Vaccinations are supplied and administered by GlaxoSmithKline. Planned vaccination dates: Date

Price (Php)

Oct. 7, 2009

Hepatitis A and B vaccine (1st dose) (Junior/adult) hepatitis A, …………………………… 1125(junior)/2249(adult) each vaccination junior/adult) hepatitis B, …………………………….. 355(junior)/ 630(adult) each vaccination junior/adult) combined hepatitis A and B).………... 1000(junior)/2000(adult) each vaccination Nov. 11, 2009 Hepatitis A and B vaccine (2nd dose) Feb. 10, 2010 Typhoid vaccine……………………………………… 795 Apr 28, 2010 Hepatitis A and B vaccine (3rd dose) May 5, 2010 Influenza vaccine …………………………………… 560 (We will attempt to purchase a number of H1N1 influenza vaccines when they become available in the Philippines.)

If you would like more information or you wish to sign up to receive any of the above vaccines, please contact the clinic on the number/email below or call in to pick up a price list and registration form (next to the elementary canteen). Only people with a valid ISM ID may participate in this program. PAYMENT FOR THE FIRST VACCINATIONS, SCHEDULED FOR 7TH OCTOBER, MUST BE MADE TO THE CASHIER DEPARTMENT BY NO LATER THAN FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT NO PAYMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT A REGISTRATION FORM FROM THE CLINIC. FOLLOWING THE FINAL PAYMENT DAY, VACCINES WILL BE ORDERED AND NO FURTHER REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Many thanks

Debbie Duckworth

Clinic direct number: Email:

ISM Clinic Administrator [email protected] / Tel: 840 8581

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840 8580 [email protected]

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

20 August 2009

From the Music Department

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Elementary School Parent Bulletin

20 August 2009

From the ATAC Office sports over the past week and half. MS volleyball coaches have now finalized the teams to represent the school in local league competition and for those students that did not make school teams the MS activities program will begin next Tuesday and Thursday on the Covered Court for you to continue to play and improve your volleyball skills. Signs ups are via Mr. Allen, the MS Activities Coordinator, if you are interested in the club volleyball program.

Elementary School: It has been great to see so many soccer players at training for our school teams this past week. Squads have now been finalized, uniform measurements taken and we are now into full training in preparation for the first of the RIFA Soccer Festivals this year on Saturday Aug 29th at ISM from 12 noon until 5pm. The coaches will give children information about the match dates at training the week before the games and also for away festivals permission slips will be sent home. You can check on the dates for entire first season of soccer matches by going to the ATAC page on the school website and clicking on game schedule. Please remember dates do change and to check this page on a regular basis for updates.

MS Cross Country runners the first race for the year is Saturday Aug 29th at Faith Academy, please let Coach Curry/Heggie know if you are going to race on this day. High School: Our HS program kicks off this coming week with Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country teams all starting their seasons with matches/events:

Middle School: Soccer:

In summary the week ahead for HS athletes:

Our MS teams have got off to a great start with an oversupply of numbers in some age group teams and a couple of teams a bit thin on numbers. It has been difficult to anticipate the spread of numbers with the grade 5’s now a part of the MS sports program and as such we have had to amalgamate/ blend some players in order to balance teams in terms of numbers of students wanting to play, the age group restrictions we have to adhere to with the RIFA League and to balance the number of teams able to practice on the ES field.

Thursday Aug 27: (after school) HS Aspirants v British School Manila (BSM) Varsity v BSM Friday Aug 28th: (“Friday Night Lights”- after school, BBQ and Food/Drinks for Sale) Varsity/JV Volleyball v Faith Academy – HS/MS Gyms from 4pm Varsity Boys and Aspirants Boys Soccer v Faith HS Field

Our goal is to ensure players get to play on a team and have an opportunity to represent the school at either the RIFA League or ISSA League Soccer Festivals.

Saturday Aug 29th: Cross Country race at Faith Academy for MS/HS teams JV girls Soccer v La Salle Antipolo at ISM 5:30pm – HS Field under lights.

If your child has had an alteration to their training sessions posted on notice boards around the school it is due to an overload of teams and players on the ES field for a particular afternoon. The coaches will advise the students involved of any changes to the published practice schedule. An updated practice schedule will be posted next week to reflect any changes.

As always please consult game schedule on ATAC page of the school website for an up to date schedule. Dates do change; check this page on a regular basis for updates.

We have 3 MS girls’ teams this year to represent the school in the RIFA League Girls Soccer Festivals. The first girls’ festival is on Aug 29th at ISM from 8am until Noon.

GO BEARCATS!

MS Volleyball/Cross Country:

Mark Pekin

We have had large numbers come out for these

Athletics & Activities Director 5

Elementary School Parent Bulletin

20 August 2009

From the Operations & Security Department Car stickers The car stickers for school year 2009/10 are available from the security office. For vehicles already displaying an exiting 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 Php100.00 to the cashier’s office. In order to facilitate the easy recognition of authorized cars at the gates, the stickers should be affixed to the top right corner of the windshield. Further to this, old ISM stickers issued in previous years should be removed. Vehicles not displaying this year’s car sticker will not be allowed access from August 30. ID Cards Parent IDs Parent IDs issued for the school year 2008-2009 will continue to be valid for the new school year 20092010. 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. School Passes School passes issued to parents’ employees and representatives need to be replaced for this school year. As of August 31, 2009, the blue bordered passes issued for the school year 2008/2009 will be invalid. 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. Visitor’s Passes All visitors must secure a pass from the guardhouse at Gate 3. Before entry will be allowed, a telephone check will be made with the relevant office to confirm the visitor’s business within the school. Thank you for your cooperation. We are looking forward to another successful year at International School Manila. Regards,

Mike Flynn Director, Operations & Security 6