Pbissue03

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friday Bulletin Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents

ISSUE # 03 WEEK OF AUGUST 24 TO 28, 2009

From the Middle School Office Middle School rocks! This is how we close each MS assembly with the students, and it is oh so true of life in the middle. This week was a busy one with new student luncheons, grade level assemblies, and the general buzz of school. We are seeing students engaged in a variety of learning experiences from presentations to group discussions to scavenger hunts, and it is quite rewarding to observe students and teachers involved in the learning process. As the dust settles and students move into their third week of school, we look forward to the experiences that lie ahead. Thank you to the parents who attended the New Parent Coffee in the Little Theater. It was a pleasure to welcome you to ISM and learn more about you and your child. If there are any questions or concerns about the Middle School or your child’s academic program, please feel free to contact us, the teachers or the guidance counselors. Friday, August 21 is a national holiday in honor of Ninoy Aquino and school will be closed. This particular holiday is considered a “Special Holiday”. Please be reminded of the note listed on the bottom of the school calendar: This year we have decided to specify the country’s usual “Special Holidays” to enable parents, faculty and staff to plan the year more accurately. The asterixed holidays will be fixed according to the dates so marked in the calendar, and we shall not amend these if any subsequent official announcement positions them earlier or later. Classes resume on Monday, August 24. After school activities begin on Monday, August 24. A variety of exciting and enriching programs are on offer and we encourage all students to get involved. After school activities are a great way to discover new interests and enhance previously learned skills. Please be advised that if students are not involved in an after school club, they are expected to be off-campus at 3:00 P.M. since there is limited supervision. We kindly request that the necessary transportation arrangements be made so that your child is picked up promptly at dismissal time. If a student is waiting for a car/driver, the student is expected to wait in the designated drop-off/pick-up areas. As policy, helpers and drivers are not permitted to wait for students in the halls or by classrooms. Please note that PowerSchool will open to parents on Friday, August 28. If you do not have a password to access your account and check on your child’s progress, please contact the MS office. Enjoy the 3-day weekend! Sincerely, Danielle Fredericks Middle School Principal

Clarissa Sayson Middle School Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events August

27-28

September 04

PowerSchool Grade Update

Student Council Representative Voting

Aug. 28 - Grade Update

New Student Social Activity

Sept. 04 - MS Progress Reports

05

Service Learning: Gawad Kalinga

08

Middle School Open House (5:00 P.M., FAT)

10-11

School Holiday (Faculty In-Service)

14-18

FCD Visit

Sept. 18 - PowerSchool Grade Update

NEW STUDENT LUNCHEON Grade 8 - Aug. 25 (12:40 P.M., Rm. 1057)

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From the Guidance Office Next week we will continue to meet with new students and have our grade 8 new student luncheon on Tuesday during lunch time in room 1057. We will provide a meal for your child and provide a forum where students can share their stories about transitioning to ISM. This is also a good opportunity for them to get to know the other new students in their grade level and forge some friendships. Another group of students dealing with transitions are the grade 5 and 6 students. Check out this web site http://www.greatschools.net/LD/managing/smoothing-your-childs-transition-to-middle-school.gs?content=980 for suggestions to help our newest members to Middle School. Parents can pick up their PowerSchool username and password from the MS Guidance Office anytime. Michelle Katz

Marc St. Laurent

Ms Guidance Counselor , Surname A-K

MS Guidance Counselor, Surname L-Z

[email protected]

[email protected]

From the Admissions Office Update your contact information! Please get in touch with the Admissions Office or Middle School Office if there has been any change in your home address and other contact information over the summer. We want to keep you updated with what is happening in school.

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].

From the Service Learning Chosen Childrens village (CCV) in Tagaytay is hosting a champagne brunch with top chefs volunteering their services, here at the Fort, on October 11th 2009. The event is to raise money for the home and to celebrate its 15th birthday. Tickets can be purchased for P3000 from 872-4936 or 872-5022 and ask for Ms. Xenia Cruz. CCV is an organization the school supports, which provides a home for orphaned children, usually with physical and mental disabilities. There are now 80 members in the family from 8 months to 21 years old, and they love to have visitors. If you feel you have services/skills you can offer to help out please contact Caroline Stannard.

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From the Security Office 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 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. 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

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

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From the Athletics & Activities Office 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 5 P.M. 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. MIDDLE SCHOOL Soccer: Our MS teams have gotten 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.

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. 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: In summary the week ahead for HS athletes: Thursday, Aug. 27: (after school)

• HS Aspirants VS. British School Manila (BSM) • Varsity VS. BSM Friday, Aug. 28 (“Friday Night Lights”- after school, BBQ and Food/Drinks for Sale)

• Varsity/JV Volleyball VS. Faith Academy – HS/MS Gyms from 4 P.M.

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. 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. 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 8 A.M. until Noon. MS Volleyball/Cross Country: We have had large numbers come out for these 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

• Varsity Boys and Aspirants Boys Soccer VS. Faith HS Field Saturday, Aug. 29:

• Cross Country race at Faith Academy for MS/HS teams • JV girls Soccer VS. La Salle Antipolo at ISM 5:30 P.M. – HS Field under lights. 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. Go Bearcats! Mark Pekin ATAC Director

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