September 12, 2016
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
9/12 - 9/20
Immediately
Following Drop Off

Grade Level "Tailgate" Meet & Greets
Details Below
9/12
3:00 PM
Play Auditions
9/13
6:30 PM
New Student / Family Tech Night
9/13
7:00 PM
PTSA Board Meeting
9/22
7:00 PM
Senior Parent Night
9/27
6:00 PM
PTSA General Membership Meeting
9/28
7:30 AM
Picture Retake Day
9/29
7:00 PM
9th & 10th Grade Parent Night
9/30
7:00 PM
Middle School Social
PTSA                   
The ISPTSA Needs You!

Please consider volunteering for one of these crucial positions to help continue to make our PTSA a strong organization that works toward the goals of serving our International School students, staff and community:
 
VP Fundraising
Responsible for working with volunteers to organize and manage the Fall and Spring Fundraising campaigns to meet budget revenue goals.
 
Advocacy Chair
Keeps IS community informed about national, state, and local education issues, policies and legislation.

Grade Level "Tailgate" Meet & Greets: Mon. 9/12 - Tues. 9/20
 
Updated Dates - Please Review Below:

Join us between 8:15 AM and 9:30 AM for a meet & greet with other parents in your child/children's grade. We'll meet in the Kelsey Creek parking lot at right after drop-off for a tailgate party with coffee and bagels, doughnuts or pastries.  Stop by to get to know the parents of children in your child's grade to build a strong community! Stay and chat or take a walk with new friends afterwards. Looking forward to seeing you there!


Monday, Sept 12- 12th grade
Tuesday, Sept 13- 11th grade
Wednesday, Sept 14- 10th grade
Thursday, Sept 15th- 9th grade
Friday, Sept 16th- 8th grade
Monday, Sept 19th- 7th grade
Tuesday, Sept 20th- 6th grade

Monday Messenger Subscriber Updates: Mon 9/19

If you are a parent from the Class of 2016 and have additional students continuing through International School, please update your profile this week.  We will be removing the email addresses from the graduating lists and we would hate for you to not receive your future Monday Messengers if you still have children attending.  

Please click the Update Profile/Email Address link on the bottom of this email by Monday, September 19th to ensure that you continue to receive Monday Messenger.
Family Dinner & PTSA General Membership Meeting: Tues. 9/27

Please join us for a family dinner and the first PTSA General Membership Meeting of the year.

September 27th, Commons 6:00 pm

You are invited to come enjoy dinner with old friends and new and learn about the International School PTSA plans for the year.  This is a long standing International School tradition.  Parents and students are welcome to attend.  It's a great way for all families, especially new families, to meet people and learn more about IS.

RSVP here.  Dinner  is provided free of charge by the ISPTSA.  By registering we can make sure there is enough food for everyone.

 
New Microwaves Provided By ISPTSA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The International School PTSA purchased 4 new microwaves to replace older ones and add additional microwaves this year.  With the shorter lunch period, demand is higher. Its you're PTSA dollars at work! 

This is one example of how your PTSA donations are put to work to support the school and our children. 

Visit our website keep informed about what is going with ISPTSA including meetings, programs and community events and activities. We hope it will be your home for joining the ISPTSA, volunteering, signing up for the Messenger weekly newsletter and keeping current on what is happening at the school.  
Please take a moment to:
1) Create an ISPTSA account or update your current information. We will be using this for directory information. We will also have an online directory which will be available to ISPTSA members.
2) Join the ISPTSA, just click on the link that says Join.
3) Sign up for the Monday Messenger weekly e-newsletter, this is the best way to get the most current information on what is happening at school.
4) Volunteer - There are lots of ways to volunteer, both from home and at school. Parent involvement in creating and staffing programs such as Reflections, Staff Appreciation, Grade level representatives, awarding grants and editing the website is what makes IS unique.
5) Donate - Your donations to the PTSA allows us to invest, approximately $100,000 a year toward the school's mission of academic excellence through a broad spectrum of curriculum extension grants, programs, clubs, and community building.
  
School News                 
Titan Robotics Club is Looking for Adult FIRST Lego League Coaches
 
Titan Robotics Club is looking for adult coaches to help run our FIRST Lego League program for middle school students. We ideally are looking for at least 3 adults to help run our teams with the assistance of a team of high school mentors that will know all the material and technology required. Adults are to help with keeping students on task, coordinating the meeting, program development and coaching the team(much like any other team sport). While you are encouraged to learn the technology, you do not have to become an expert, the high school students are there for that. We have previously run our program on Wednesday afternoons but are considering moving it to evenings or weekends in order to involve a team of adult volunteers. It is an approximately a 2-3 hour a week commitment from middle of September until typically the middle of December, possibly middle of January if a team qualifies for the State Championship. If you are interested in becoming a coach please contact Amy McIvor at [email protected] and include your availability. We are looking to build a team of adults that would like to build a competitive program and can not run this program without adults. If you have any questions please let us know. 

Family University: Tues. 9/13
 
Families are invited to attend Family University held in the IS Library Tues. 9/13 from 6-7PM to learn about the Lenovo Yoga Laptops and a variety of technology programs. Bring your students and their laptops. If you wish to stay from 7-7:30 there will be a session for questions.
Know a Good Instructor?
 
We're looking for possible Focus Week guest teachers.

Did your student attend a cool summer camp? Do you have a friend who teaches something interesting? We are looking to add to our pool of guest teachers for Focus Week and would love to know more. Examples are artisans, chefs, coders, builders, seamstresses, black belts and more. Email Sally Fouche or Lori Hunt with names and a brief background and we'll do the rest. Sally [email protected] or Lori [email protected].
Music for Life Concert
 
Please join us at the 4th annual Music for Life Concert supporting Bloodworks Northwest organized by Seniors from International, Bellevue & Interlake High Schools.

Time:   Saturday, Sept. 17 2016, 2pm
Place:  Congregational Church @ 4545 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island WA 

Come early to check out silent auction items from 911 Driving School, Costco, Trader Joe's etc., then sit back, relax & enjoy some great music.
Refreshment will be served after the concert.

Purchase tickets here in advance or purchase tickets at the door for $15.

Calling all 8th - 11th graders musicians or not. This is the last year Jesse Hainze, senior at International, & friends will organize this concert, we'd love to see it carried forward in the future. This fundraising concert has opened up doors for these seniors to other community services and summer internship opportunities. If you are interested, please come to the concert and we'll help you get started.

Questions? Please contact Susan Hainze [email protected]
Catalina Blanco Award Scholarship to Space Camp
 
This summer 7th grade IS student, Catalina Blanco, was awarded a full scholarship to attend Space Camp®at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center®.
 
Scholarship competition is intense, requiring a student to submit an application with a detailed description of a science experiment, two essays, a mission patch design and three letters of recommendation. Only 26 percent of those applying this year received full scholarships.
 
"This process attracts bright, motivated students from across the world," says Dr. Deborah Barnhart, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center®, home to the Space Camp programs. "To win a scholarship, a student must submit a truly outstanding application. I congratulate Catalina on earning a place in the 2016 scholarship class."
    
Space Camp has been helping to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians to reach for the stars for more than 30 years and is an internationally-known program with more than 700,000 alumni. The camp, which is based on NASA's astronaut training program, focuses on teamwork and leadership skills. 
 
Real-world applications of math, science and technology are presented as students take part in space missions aboard an International Space Station simulator, complete astronaut training simulations and build and launch rockets. Scholarships were also awarded to Space Camp® Robotics and Aviation Challenge® Camp.
 
For more information about Space Camp® programs, visit www.spacecamp.com .   
Jesse Hainze Honored as Academic All-American 
 
Last Thursday, three Bellevue Wolverines were honored as Academic All-Americans by USA Water Polo for the 2015-16 school year.  Senior captain Jesse Hainze, junior Ethan Wlaschin, and junior Holly Harris received the recognition for their exceptional work in the classroom. Both Hainze and Harris earned the special distinction of Outstanding Achievers for having GPAs at or above a 4.0.

Congratulations to our athletes for their achievements in and out of the pool!
Sports Opportunities                   
High School Athletic Opportunities
 
Does your child want to get involved in High School Athletics? 
Of course they do!

Find all registration information on the District Athletic Page:
Bellevue Girls Select Basketball
 
Calling all 5th - 8th grade Girls! Do you love to play basketball?
 
Tryouts for Bellevue Girls Select Basketball will be held on
September 25th. Potential players need to live within the Bellevue High School boundary (but don't need to attend Bellevue public schools).  

For tryout times and locations, and to register, visit the website- www.bgsbc.org
Messenger Submissions

Want to submit information to publish in the Messenger? Please submit your information by FRIDAY.  (Submissions are subject to PTA approval).   Plain text is preferred, although you are welcome to send along an image or icon to include. Need to link to a registration form?  Send us the link to include or a pdf copy. Note: you will no longer receive an automatic confirmation response when submitting.

 

Questions or submissions should go to [email protected]
  
In This Issue
School Directory and Links
ATTENDANCE                425-456-6545
MAIN OFFICE                  425-456-6500 
COUNSELING                 425-456-6542 
REGISTRAR                    425-456-6535 

Supporting PTSA 


 

You can donate at any time by simply writing your check to the International School PTSA and sending it to school: 445 128th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98005

Or even easier - just donate via PayPal!


 

Will your employer match your IS contributions?

 

Donate 
International School Store

Show your school spirit! Shop for sweatshirts, t-shirts, duffel bags and more! Visit the International School Fieldhouse store. Proceeds benefit the International School ASB.


  
Contact Us:

President: David Doud
E-Mail: [email protected]

President-Elect: Meribeth Nordloef-Pedersen
E-Mail: [email protected]
 
VP -  Outreach:  Carolyn Watson  and Allison Stirret 

VP - Community: Liying Tan and Shannon Dong
E-Mail: [email protected]

VP - Fundraising: 
E-Mail: [email protected]
    
VP - Communications: Leo de Barros Barreto
 
Treasurer One: Marjorie Blanco
E-Mail:  [email protected]

Treasurer Two: Michelle Lee
E-Mail:  [email protected]

Secretary: Amy Frei
E-Mail: [email protected]
  
Membership: Sylvia Abrahamsson
E-Mail: [email protected]
 
Advocacy: 
E-Mail: [email protected] 
 
Monday Messenger: Stephanie Winkler-Hadley
E-Mail: [email protected]

PTSA Website: www.isptsa.org

Newsletter Submissions:  [email protected]