Ms Pb No. 24

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friday Bulletin Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents

ISSUE # 24 WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16 - 20, 2009

From the Middle School Office Dear Parents: This week we have been honored to host the AMIS Honor Band and to have band directors and over 70 students from other international schools share their music with the ISM community. The students have spent a great deal of time in rehearsal and we invite you to attend the AMIS Festival Concert on February 14 at 5:30 P.M. in the Fine Arts Theater. The performance is sure to be a delight for the ears! On Monday, the Middle School Classroom Without Walls (CWW) activities get underway. The teachers and students have been busily preparing, excitement has been building, and the time has finally arrived. The Grade 6 students will be working at a GK777 site and discovering more about the Philippines when they visit Intramuros and Corregidor Island. The Grade 7 classes will be traveling to Balai Isabel on the coast of Lake Taal and doing some work with a local school. The Grade 8 students will be at different locations within and outside of Manila and be engaged in various service activities. We are confident that the students’ experiences will be memorable, leave a lasting impression and raise their awareness of how to become an active citizen. When your child returns from the trip, please take some time to engage your child and discuss ways that your child can build on the experience. We are now halfway through the third quarter. Progress reports for students receiving a C- or below will be distributed starting Monday, February 16. If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s teacher and continue to access PowerSchool to monitor your child’s progress. Please note that the parent meeting Transitioning to Middle School will not take place on February 27 as listed in the school calendar. The meeting will be rescheduled and details will be communicated through the Parent Bulletin. As printed in previous issues, a change has occurred in the school calendar for April due to the latest proclamation from the Philippine government regarding holidays for the year 2009. Below is the update:

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Monday, April 6 is a now a holiday to commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan or Bataan Day. This was not originally scheduled as a school holiday.

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Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8: regular school days.

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Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10: school holidays; no classes.

Please mark your calendars accordingly. Enjoy the weekend! Sincerely, Danielle Fredericks

Clarissa Sayson

Middle School Principal

Middle School Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events February

March

26

MS Parent Coffee (7:45 A.M., LT)

26

Grade 8 Course Registration/Transitioning to HS

26

Grade 8 Parent Session Transitioning to HS (5:30 P.M., LT)

02

Grade 8 Course Registration (Homebase)

09 to 13

ERB Testing (in English Classes)

09 to 13

MS Math Honors Testing

PowerSchool Grade Update

February 27 - Grade Update March 13 - End of Quarter 3 (grades only)

F R I D A Y B U LLETIN

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From the Clinic Recently, we have seen many cases of children with flu-like symptoms including fever, aching joints, coughs and colds and sometimes vomitting. This seems to be a particularly nasty strain of viral flu which can make the children feel quite ill. In an attempt to reduce the infection rate, I would like to ask all parents to be vigilant for the above signs and symptoms and to keep their children at home if the child has a fever and ensure that they get rest and plenty of fluids. Please do not send your child back to school until their temperature has been within normal limits for 24 hours, without the aid of medication. If a child comes to the clinic with a fever, we will send that child home immediately. Let’s work together to protect our children and the ISM community as a whole. Many thanks for your cooperation and understanding. I am sorry to say also that there have now been two confirmed cases of dengue. Thankfully, both children should make a full recovery but this is a wake up call for us all. Please read the information below carefully: Search and destroy the breeding places of denguecausing mosquitoes which may be found in old tires, coconut husks, gutters, discarded bottles, flower vases and other vessels that can hold stagnant water. These containers are good breeding places of female AEDES AEGYPTI mosquitoes, day biting female mosquitoes which are responsible for transmitting the dengue virus to human beings. These mosquitoes like to rest in dark corners of your home so keep mosquito nets closed to avoid letting them in. Self protection measures include wearing long sleeves or long pants, or using mosquito repellant to protect yourself from mosquito bites

Seek early consultation; visit the doctor when a person exhibits the early signs of dengue. Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with: a high fever

muscle and joint pain

rash

nausea and vomiting and

severe headache

loss of appetite

pain behind the eyes The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "breakbone fever." Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. Signs and symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever include: Bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums Bruising Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases, mostly among children and young adults. Prompt medical treatment is necessary in all cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Debbie Duckworth Clinic Administrator

From the Treasury Office In line with our intention to continuously improve our billing system, we would like to inform everyone that the School plans to start sending the billing statement on the tuition fee and other charges via e-mail starting March 2009. In this regard, we would like to request all parents and guardians to please update e-mail addresses by contacting the Middle School Office or Guidance Office.

We’re on the web! www.ismanila.org

CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES? Please inform the Middle School Office if you recently changed your contact information (i.e. Home Address, Home/Office Telephone Numbers, Mobile Numbers and Email Addresses). You may contact us through 840-8550 or 840-8553

F R I D A Y B U LLETIN

From the Athletics & Activities Office Last weekend’s IASAS Results: GOLD- Boys Tennis SILVER- Girls Touch 4th Place – Boys Rugby, Boys and Girls Basketball 5th Place – Girls Tennis 6th Place – Swimming Congratulations to all athletes and coaches.

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Upcoming Event

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Other Announcements

SY 2009-2010 One-Page School Calendar is now available 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: http://www.ismanila.org/_Rainbow/images/default/CALENDAR_09_10_FINAL(as_of_5Feb09).pdf

F R I D A Y B U LLETIN

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From Service Learning Help one of ISM's longstanding charities and get delicious coffee in return. CCV (Chosen Children’s Village) located in Silang, Cavite, is an orphanage for children who are physically and/or mentally challenged. The village consists of several cottages, a school, a rehabilitation center, and other facilities, such as a gym, a canteen, and a playground. Our ISM students will visit the orphanage at least six times this year to play with the kids and assist in feeding them and in other chores. Our interactions with the CCV children have created strong bonds between us and the ‘chosen children’.

when ISM will be at CCV are:

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March 7, Saturday

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May 9, Saturday

AVAILABLE COFFEE: Pinili Extra Fancy Beans or Ground at Php. 300.00 per 1 lb. (the largest sized beans). Ground or beans. • Pinili Classic Beans or Ground at Php. 250.00 per 1 lb. (medium sized beans). Ground or beans. • Pinili Beans or Ground at Php. 200.00 per 1 lb. (smallest sized beans). Ground or beans.

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SERVICE LEARNING CALENDAR

CCV’s fundraiser is their PINILI coffee, an organic Robusta coffee which is grown in the CCV Hacienda. The beans are handpicked and processed by the children and staff and the product is delicious. If you would like to purchase CCV coffee, email Filipa Pavic ([email protected]) with your order. The ISM CCV club members will pick up your order and deliver it back to ISM for your pick-up and payment. The dates

March 07

Chosen Children Village

March 14

Samahan Bukas Palad

April 04

Gawad Kalinga, EPIC, Child Hope

April 18

WILD

May 02

Gawad Kalinga

May 09

Chosen Children Village

From the Bearcat Den To all parents, Please come and visit our Bearcat Den located in the HS cafeteria. Our new stock of ISM hoodies are available in sizes from Elementary to High School...So drop buy and take a look at our ISM polo shirts, Dri fit polo shirts, Girls and guys track pants, Spandex shorts, Travel and gym bags to name a few! Let ' s Go GREEN at The Our Banner bags made from ISM recycled Banners and Streamers are also on sale. Our opening times

BEARCAT DEN BUSINESS HOURS Monday

11:15AM to 1:15PM 2:30PM to 4:00PM

Wednesday

11:00AM to 1:00PM 2:30PM to 4:00PM

Friday

11:15AM to 1:15PM 2:30PM to 4:00PM

We would really like to have more volunteers to help with Bearcat activities so if you are interested please contact Jan Harris for more information. Mobile no. 09193466046 or Email [email protected] GO BEARCATS!!!