MONDAY MESSENGER

February 3, 2020

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THIS WEEK:

NEXT WEEK:

LOOKING AHEAD:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

LOOK AT ALL THESE FUN WAYS TO HELP OUT!

IS and the ISPTSA are currently seeking the following volunteers:

Click here to learn more and sign up.

PTSA NEWS

SCHOOL BOND BALLOTS ARE IN THE MAIL! PLEASE VOTE!

Did You Know?  

For a school bond proposal to pass, two things have to happen: 

The last day to turn in your ballot is February 11.   

Register to vote now on the  VoteWA website .

You have until Monday, February 3, to register to vote in this election. If you have recently moved, February 3 is also the deadline to change your address in order to vote.

Have questions about the bond?  Go to www.bsd405.org/2020bond  or  https://bellevuequalityschools.org/about/ .

The 2020 school bond has received endorsements from ISPTSA Board , Bellevue PTSA Council , and the Bellevue City Council , among others. 

A ISPTSA GRANTS SUBMISSION REQUESTS

The International School PTSA invites grant proposal submissions for the second half of academic year 2019-20. The grant proposals for this semester are  due by February 7, 2020 at 3:30 PM and  MUST be  emailed to [email protected] with the required signatures. 

The ISPTSA grants support and supplement programs and activities that enhance and enrich student learning at International School and will be prioritized in alignment with the International School Goals & Key Strategies from the 2018-19 IS School Improvement Plan (excerpt below): 

“International School provides opportunities for every student to develop essential knowledge and skills: 

International School Teachers, Staff, Students, and Parents are eligible to submit grant proposals. The funds for the grant are generously made available by the ISPTSA for encouraging learning and engagement at our school. 

The details on the grants process and the application forms can be found on the ISPTSA grants page .

The ISPTSA Grants Committee will review and recommend proposals to ISPTSA board for final approval at their meeting in February 2020. The grant applicants will be notified of the ISPTA board decision by end of February 2020.

Your grant proposals are a fantastic way to help us highlight and prioritize how the ISPTSA allocated funds are spent. We look forward to your proposals.

Thank you,

ISPTSA Grants Committee

PLATINUM WE ARE!!!

Thanks for the membership signs-ups by IS parents and grandparents and teachers/staff. We are growing... we may still not hit the 586 all-school membership, but we have one month to go in order to reach that goal. Help us reach it and create community by supporting each and every student at IS.  You can do this by clicking online here .

 

Questions? Please contact  [email protected].

“You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential.”

— Steve Garvey, Former Professional Baseball player, holds the title for most consecutive games played

ISPTSA NOMINATING COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR HELP

The ISPTSA needs 3 people to be on its Nominating Committee. Not sure how a nominating committee works? You can find the details  here . In a nutshell, the Nominating Committee contacts potential candidates to fill next year’s volunteer openings—either by phone, email, or in-person—with the purpose of describing the volunteer position and asking if the person would be willing to consider filling the position.  

The ideal nominating committee member is one who is friendly, outgoing, and has lots of connections. Please consider joining the Nominating Committee. It is very likely the most influential committee and has a huge impact on future years at International. The time commitment is a few hours per week from March through mid-April. 

If you have any interest or additional questions, please contact [email protected] .

DONATED ITEMS CAN NOW BE SUBMITTED ONLINE!

It’s now easier to help make Spring Social a success! The Spring Social committee is hard at work procuring items for our fundraiser on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the Hilton Bellevue.  We need your help to procure or donate items to auction off at the event. Procuring items is easy, fun, and for a great cause—our students! Donate or procure for the auction by March 14.  You can now  submit your donated item online . If you prefer a printed copy of the form, it is available to download  here .  



Need ideas?

Sponsorship opportunities are available to provide valuable visibility to your business and help underwrite the costs for the evening. If you own a business or know of someone who would be interested, please contact  [email protected] . 

  

If you have questions or would like to join the planning committee, please contact Dori Kelleran at   [email protected] .

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Do you care about giving students long enough to eat lunch, firearm safety, and positive social & emotional classroom climates?  

Keep up with bills and committee hearings related to WSPTA member-generated legislative priorities by utilizing the  WSPTA Bill Status Report . Updated each week, you can scroll quickly through to identify bills listed as high priority. Click on the bill number and then select "comment on this bill" to leave a brief message for your legislators. Legislators say that short personal stories about how an issue impacts your family can really make a difference. 

Krista Hammer 

ISPTSA Advocacy Chair 

In photo: IS students  Julia Ruan  (6th) &  Jessica Massey  (10th), parents  Qiong Chen  &  Krista Hammer  and former IS parent and current school board member Carolyn Watson

THE BOOK FAIR IS HERE!

Give your student the opportunity to buy a good book to read!

 

The  Scholastic Book Fair  opens its doors this Tuesday at 7:30 AM. YEAH!

  

Students spend from $10–$20 for books and knick-knacks. Cash and debit/credit cards accepted.

 

BOOK FAIR HOURS: 

Tuesday, 2/4

7:30–8:30 AM, 12:45–1:30 PM, 3:00–4:00 PM

Wednesday, 2/5

11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 1:30–2:30 PM

Thursday, 2/6

7:45–8:30 AM, 12:45–1:30 PM, 3:00–4:00 PM

Friday, 2/7 Last chance!

12:45–1:30 PM

 

Thank you for all the volunteer sign-ups! We need a few more during the open hours to make sure the book fair runs smoothly. It's easy, fun, and you'll never have to work by yourself!   Please click here for volunteer sign-up.

 

Contact Meribeth with questions.

CALLING ALL 7TH-GRADE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS!

It's our first social of the year! While the kids enjoy their IS Movie Night this Friday, we can enjoy meeting up for dinner at the nearby Pho Ever Vietnamese Restaurant. Not up for a big dinner? No problem, just drop in and order a snack or a drink. It will be a great time to meet other 7th-grade families and build our community.

Who:

All 7th-Grade Parents and Caregivers are welcome

Where:

Pho Ever Vietnamese Restaurant, 12015 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98005

When:

Drop in this Friday, February 7, between 6:45–8:45 PM

Organized by your 7th-Grade Parent Representatives,

Thyda Tsai and Sylvie Sanguin

Please email [email protected] for more info.

REFLECTIONS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BELLEVUE PTSA COUNCIL

Congratulations to Ainsley Chisman for her literature submission of Crimson Red . She was awarded Outstanding Interpretation from the Bellevue PTSA Council and will be moving on to the State PTA Competition. Additional congratulations to Julianne He and Rachel He for receiving the Award of Merit for their Visual Art submissions. 

WELCOME NEW HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR KERINCE BOWEN

Welcome Kerince!  Kerince Bowen , our new high school counselor, comes to us from California, where she was the Head Counselor at a 7–12 school of nearly 4,000 students. We are so excited to have her! Please give her a warm welcome if you see her on campus! If you’d like to meet with Kerince, please request a meeting by email at  [email protected]  or at the Counselor Kiosk in the office.

From Kerince: I recently relocated to the Seattle area to be with my husband. I have been a secondary school counselor for 18.5 years. I was the Head Counselor for seven years, at my previous school. I enjoy spending time with my family. In my spare time, I love to try new foods and new restaurants. I also thoroughly enjoy relaxing, while watching the latest romantic comedy.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP FOR STUDENTS

Dear parents and caregivers,

 

Every year your student participates in lessons about digital citizenship. We use a variety of standards and curriculum to create lessons and units.

 

Common Sense Education is one resource we use to helps kids learn the habits and skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly in school, at home, and beyond.

 

WHAT IS DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP?

Kids today may seem like experts at using technology, but the digital world requires all kinds of skills and habits that kids don’t just pick up as they go. Digital citizenship helps them learn those skills. The lessons help students reflect on their tech use and make thoughtful choices about how and when they use it. Kids also learn about how to stand up to cyberbullying, use social media carefully, and look critically at the news. 

 

WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO?

Common Sense Education provides resources to help you support your student's learning. You can visit the Common Sense website at  www.commonsensemedia.org  for more information. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Working together we can prepare today’s kids to think critically and use tech in positive, creative, and powerful ways.

 

These are a few resources from the Common Sense Education website:  https://www.commonsense.org/education/toolkit/audience/family-engagement-social-media-devices

 

Family Media Agreement  (English)

Family Media Agreement (Spanish)

Family Tips for Social Media  (English)

Family Tips for Social Media   (Spanish)

Family Tips for Social Media   (Multilingual: Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese)

 

Thank you,

Arty Christianto and Tara Jones

FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED FOR BSD COLLEGE CONFERENCE

International School is co-hosting this year’s BSD College Conference with Bellevue High School on, Thursday,  February 6 . Our co-hosting duties include providing food items for our guest and staff presenters to enjoy before the event. We will need to provide enough appetizers, salads, fruit, and desserts for 40 people. Please click here to sign up to help! Contact [email protected] for more info.

OUR LOST & FOUND IS OVERFLOWING AGAIN!

Jackets, pants, and shoes! Please ask your students to check the area right outside the office and claim their items by this Friday, February 7.

18TH ANNUAL CHINESE NEW YEAR LUNCHEON CELEBRATED THE YEAR OF THE RAT

The Lunar New Year staff appreciation luncheon for the Year of the Rat was successfully held on January 29. Thank you to all the parents who contributed, organized, and volunteered for this event that IS staff enjoyed so much!

MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVIE AND GAMES NIGHT

THIS FRIDAY , February 7, 6:30–9:00 PM

We are so excited to have your students join us for a night of community! The Middle School Movie and Games Night is presented to you by IS Next and ASB. There will be Zootopia playing in the commons, basketball & lawn games in the gym, and card & board games in the library. We will have popcorn available but no drinks (just the water fountain!).

This event is FREE! The only thing students need in order to attend is a signed permission slip turned into the Front Office.

 

PARENTS: We are also in need of parent chaperones! Please email Arty Christianto if you’re interested in chaperoning. Chaperones will need to arrive by 6:00 PM on Friday, February 7. 

 

We hope to see your students there!

SIGN UP FOR THE NATIONAL FRENCH CONTEST

The National French Contest (Le Grand Concours) is an annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Students of French in grades 6–12 can choose take a written test on their comprehension and language skills and compete against students from around the country. The test takes place at IS on Wednesday, March 18 at 2:00 PM and should last about an hour. Encourage your child to participate!

 

The test costs $5.00 and students can pay at the cashier—cash or check.  The deadline to register is Friday, February 7.  Please contact Tami Wietfeldt, [email protected] , with any questions.

IS MAKER EVENT

Thursday, February 13, 5:00–6:00 PM at International

(Parents Must remain on campus!)

A special Coding Activity for IS Students will take place during the PTSA Meeting from 6:00–6:45 PM.

PLEASE RSVP TO HELP MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH MATERIALS! 

Sponsored by: Makerspace Technology Team, Computer Club, KCLS, Samlabs, and Titan Robotics Club

This year's materials funded through: BSF, ISPTSA, and WEA

Please contact Tara Jones with questions.

BITE OF INTERNATIONAL 2020

Join the International School community at our annual Bite of IS fundraiser on Friday, February 28, from 6:00–8:00 PM in the IS Gym!

This year, all proceeds will benefit  Water First International , a non-profit organization helping people in poor countries implement water, sanitation, and hygiene-education projects.

Ticket: $10 per person  (suggested donation)

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the front office or at the door on the day of the event.

This event can't happen without strong community support.  We need volunteers to bring food, crafts, and/or entertainment reflecting a country, region, or heritage.  Sign up for a food/craft booth by filling out this form. Sign up for a performance by filling out this form. Each booth host will receive one ticket for the event. 

For more info, contact Arty Christianto or parent coordinator Josephine Anderson.

FOCUS WEEK DONATION WINDOW NOW OPEN!



*CLICK HERE TO DONATE*

Students are not  required to pay to attend Focus Week, but we depend on parent support for the success of our activity offerings! We are working hard to reduce the cost of Focus Week by using parent drivers, public transportation, and reduced food expenditures. Focus Week expenses will be an estimated $200 per participant. Please consider donating to cover the cost of providing these enrichment opportunities. Any and all amounts are appreciated in order to make focus week successful!

Our donation drive for Focus week will run until February 28 , and families can donate at  TouchBase Lite  or in person in the main office.

The exception to Fee-Free Focus Weeks is for overnight trips. Students selecting to take part in Focus Week activities that have overnight excursions will be charged for these activities. This year, overnight trips include Sixth Grade Camp (and its 11th and 12th grade counselors), the French Exchange, the Taiwan Trip, and the Mount Rainier Trip. If students take overnight trips, they will be charged a fee for the week. Scholarships are available.

STUDENT NEWS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

SCREENING OF SCREENAGERS: NEXT CHAPTER

THIS THURSDAY , February 6

5:15–7:30 PM

Chinook Middle School Commons

Don’t let the movie title,  Screenagers: NEXT CHAPTER, mislead you. This new documentary is not just for parents of teenagers who use screens. Children at much younger ages are being handed screens. The  latest study shows the average child receives their first smartphone at 10.3 years old. By age 12, 50% of children have their own social media accounts.

Screenagers: NEXT CHAPTER (2019) focuses on the science behind our children’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age.

Come examine the parenting dilemmas and strategies relating to screen usage, and join the discussion which will follow this thought-provoking film. Special guest speaker will be media expert and noted pediatrician  Dr. Don Shifrin , seen weekly on  KING 5 Morning News on KONG-TV.

This new film is a follow-up to the groundbreaking film,  Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age (2016). The  Bellevue Schools Foundation is sponsoring the February 6 screening at Chinook. The PTSAs of Chinook, Enatai Elementary, and International School will co-host.

Admission is free and open to the public.  Advance registration is requested.

Chinook Middle School is located at 2001 98 ^th Ave. NE in Bellevue.

2020 BSD COLLEGE CONFERENCE

THIS THURSDAY, February 6, 2020, 5:45–8:30 PM

Bellevue High School, 10416 SE Wolverine Way, 98004

(Also February 5 at Sammamish High School)

The College Conference is a great opportunity for high school families to listen to professionals discuss the ins and outs of preparing for college. Our presenters come from colleges and businesses from across the country and are available to answer your questions. We are pleased to offer a wide range of sessions that are sure to fit your needs.

Click here for more info.

STUDENT SPORTS & OPPORTUNITIES

GIVE YOUR SOPHOMORES A HEAD START FOR A CAREER IN SPACE

Western Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is an online distance learning course and summer experience specifically designed for high school sophomores interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pathways through the exploration of space and space travel. The online curriculum is a University of Washington college course focused on NASA’s space exploration program as well as topics in Earth and Space Science.

 

Why Students Should Participate

Click here to learn more about Western Aerospace Scholars.

Click here to apply. Application Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2020

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PATHWAYS AT MERCER SLOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Be curious with us! Inquisitive middle schoolers are invited to join us for five Saturday sessions this spring to explore wetland ecology and practice field science skills. We’ll have fun learning how to identify native plants, surveying for macroinvertebrates in Polliwog Pond, getting our adventure on while canoeing the Slough, and more. 

 

Program details:

Register online here.

Limited scholarships available. For scholarship application, please email [email protected]. To learn more, contact us at 425-450-0207 or  [email protected].