MONDAY MESSENGER

September 23, 2019

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THIS WEEK:

NEXT WEEK:

LOOKING AHEAD:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

PLEASE HELP YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY!

IS and the ISPTSA are currently seeking the following volunteers:

Click  here to learn more and sign up.

PTSA NEWS

RAISE THE TORCH FOR CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT! 

 

Did you know the ISPTSA has budgeted about $50,000 this school year toward a wide range of grants which enrich the curriculum at IS? 80% of that total is recurring, meaning they are budgeted year after year, so teachers and faculty can depend on the funding as they plan their curriculum. Math, Science, French, Art, PE, Band/Orchestra/Choir, and the Library depend on grants each year, which means each and every student at IS benefits.  

RAISE THE TORCH for Curriculum Enrichment at IS with a donation to the Fall Fundraiser today. To see a more robust list, please check out What Your Donation Supports.

 

We invite all families to participate in this campaign, because your contribution—no matter the amount—makes a difference!  We ALL benefit from the community, academic excellence, and reputation our students were fortunate to join. This is our chance to give back and build on that legacy.  

Choose a support level that works for you:  Gold $500,  Silver $250,  Bronze $100, or define your own amount. For those families who can, we ask you to consider becoming a  Titan Torch supporter with a donation of $1,000 or more. All donations to the Fall Fundraiser you give today are tax-deductible and 100% goes back to the IS community.     

Please, DONATE ONLINE NOW!

Prefer to write a check? Fill out this donation form and mail it back to the ISPTSA. 

 

Questions?  Please contact  [email protected] .  

Thanks for your consideration! 

Go Titans!

DID YOU REMEMBER TO RENEW?

PTSA, like any professional membership, has an annual membership. Thank you to the over 350 parents and guardians who have either become members or renewed their memberships for the 2019-2020 school year! We are now over 60% of the way to our goal of full school membership—587 PTSA members. Check out our roster of supportive members. 

You can become a member or renew your membership online by clicking here , or you can stop by our membership table in the next three weeks. ISPTSA membership will be represented at the following events, where we can take cash, credit, or check for you to join the ISPTSA or renew your membership:

Questions? Contact  [email protected].

PTSA ADVOCACY NEWS

Parent To-Do: Sign up to receive Action Alerts from the State PTSA 

Do you want your voice be heard for children and youth during the upcoming legislative session? Sign up for action alerts! It's a quick, easy way to communicate with your legislators on active topics.  

Go to the  Focus Areas  tab on the WSPTSA homepage  and select  Advocacy . Click the green box at the top right of the advocacy page to get action alerts.  

Krista Hammer 

2019-2020 ISPTSA Advocacy Chair 

REFLECTIONS SUBMISSIONS DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15

 

For over 50 years, National PTA’s  Reflections  program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas; develop artistic literacy; increase confidence; and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and life. Each year, hundreds of thousands of students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create and submit original works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: dance choreography, film, literature, music, photography, and visual arts.

 

The 2019-2020 theme is  Look Within . All International submissions are  due by Friday, November 15 . All forms and rules will be available at the Reflections bulletin board in the coming week.

Please send questions to  [email protected].

PLEASE SUBMIT GRANT PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS TO ISPTSA

The International School PTSA invites grant proposal submissions for the first half of academic year 2019–20. There will be two opportunities to apply for ISPTSA grants: once at the beginning of each semester. The grant proposals are  due by October 4, 2019, at 3:30 PM  and  MUST  be  emailed to [email protected]  with the required signatures. The next opportunity will be in January 2020.

 

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 grants 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 Website's grants page .

 

The ISPTSA Grants Committee will review and recommend proposals to ISPTSA board for final approval at their meeting in October 2019. The grant applicants will be notified of the ISPTA board's decision by end of October 2019.

 

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

MAKE YOUR MORNINGS STRESS-FREE (OR AT LEAST A BIT LESS STRESSFUL) BY CARPOOLING!

 

We are looking for families who are interested in forming carpools with other IS families in their home area. Do you have one more space in your car that you could fill? 

If you are interested, contact Beverly ( [email protected] ) with “carpooling request” in the subject line. Please provide your name, your student(s) name(s), grade(s), and the area from which you would like to carpool. 

ISPTSA provides this as a service to families, and once we receive requests, we will forward information to interested parties.

We currently have families from Clyde Hill, Enatai, Lake Hills, Medina, Norwood Village, Somerset, Tam O’Shanter, W. Lake Sammamish, Wilburton, and afternoon sports transportation to BHS looking for carpool partners.

HAVE YOU VERIFIED YOUR DATA?

BSD's Online Student Data Verification process for the 2019–20 school year has begun. 

The ISPTSA gets updated data from the district in early October. Please note that if you chose to be exempt from inclusion in directory listings, your data will not be included in the ISPTSA directory, DirectorySpot. 

Click here for info on how to verify your student(s) data.

DISCOUNT ON SAT TEST PREP FOR IS STUDENTS—IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ISPTSA

There's a short registration deadline, so hurry. You don’t want to miss out on this discounted event in partnership with ISPTSA! (We're so excited to get you this HUGE discount!)

 

PrepNorthwest SAT Course: Prepping for the December 7 SAT Test

 

Registration

 

Payment

 

Questions

Check out FAQ page or contact either PrepNorthwest at  [email protected] / 425-825-0702, or International School Contact Renuka Getchell at  [email protected].  

GRADE 7 & 9 PARENTS & GUARDIANS—GRADE-LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES STILL NEEDED!

If you are interested in getting to know other parents from your child(ren)'s grade, this is a perfect volunteer opportunity! Grade-Level Representatives plan grade-level parent/guardian social events, organize parents to support staff appreciation, and act as another channel of information in support of ISPTSA.

A detailed list of the responsibilities for each grade level can be  found here.

Please  sign up here  , or contact   [email protected]   to apply!

2019–20 UPDATED BUS INFO

The updated BSD bus information for the 2019–20 school year should be here, but it's not (as of this mailing, BSD is still posting info for the last school year).

Here's a document with this year's bus info that you can use until the BSD site gets updated.

NEED HELP PAYING FOR SCHOOL EXPENSES?

Click here  to a pply for assistance and opt into sharing on Option 5 to be eligible for fee waivers. You must re-apply every school year.

DOES YOUR STUDENT INTEND TO TAKE AN AP EXAM FOR A SUBJECT THEY'RE NOT STUDYING AT IS?

If your student intends to take an AP exam for a subject they are not studying at International School, ask them to email Jill Follett, Counseling Secretary, at [email protected]  to register for the $94 exam. 

DO YOU HAVE TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS?

Please feel free to call Casey at the district office: 425-456-4512 .

THE TITAN TIMES (DAILY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS) ARE ONLINE!

Do you have a student who doesn't alway tell you what's going on at school? Well, you're in luck! You can read the IS daily announcements online and get caught up on all the goings-on each day. But you have to check in each day, since they're only up for one day and not archived.

Click here to read the Titan Times.

NEW TO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TECH INFO NIGHT

Thursday, October 3, 5:30–6:30 PM in the Library (before Curriculum Night)

 

Please bring your student(s) and their laptop(s) to learn about the technology used at IS.

 

Note : If your student can’t attend, please bring their school laptop, username, and password, so you can interact during the event!

DON'T BE LEFT WITHOUT A YEARBOOK!

Did you know that yearbooks need to be ordered now for delivery in June 2020? That's right. You definitely don't want June to arrive and then realize you never placed your order!

Orders are due by the end of September 2019 , and you will NOT be able to purchase a yearbook past this deadline— especially NOT in June 2020 !

Order NOW via BSD's online payment system!

It's your last chance!

ATTENTION: CLASS OF 2020!

Class of 2020, please submit the following by  Monday, September 23 :

If you would like to purchase a Grad Ad, please pay online. These are due  Monday, November 18 .

A document with all the details may be found here:  19-20 yearbook dates.

SCHOOL CLUBS!

Are you and your students curious about the clubs at International? Here's link to the school's club webpage . The clubs are run by students, and many are not organized and set up yet—new officers are being elected and decisions are being made—so this page will be updated for this new school year shortly.

If you see a club listed that you believe would be a good fit for your students, remind them to listen to announcements or suggest they go talk to the club advisor during tutorial to find out more.

STUDENT NEWS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

CAMP KINDNESS COUNTS FAMILY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

At Camp Kindness Counts, we empower and inspire kids to be the catalyst for positive change with their curiosity, courage, and kindness. Kids in our programs practice service learning, collaboration, mindfulness, building positive character virtues, and ultimately make a positive difference in themselves and those around them. 

Come join Camp Kindness Counts as we spread kindness and community-building throughout the year! We host a Family Community Service Day the first weekend of every month (alternating Saturday/Sunday). Our events range from family + community building, multicultural events, and community service projects. Check out our upcoming events and sign up here.

STUDENT SPORTS & OPPORTUNITIES

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

The boys Ultimate frisbee team came out on top in their home opener with Eastside Catholic High School last Tuesday, September 17. The final score was 15-1. Our next home game will be played Tuesday, September 24, 4:30 PM, against Seattle Waldorf High School at North Robinswood Sports Field (150th Ave SE and SE 20th St). Our current record is 2-1.

For more information on Bellevue's High School Ultimate Frisbee program, go to  http://bellevueultimate.org .

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OFFERS HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND MORE

Parents, are you looking for a safe after-school place for your students? The (non-profit) Bellevue Boys & Girls Club offers a daily after-school homework assistance program at their Lake Hills location— Club 6/7/8   for middle school students and   BE GREAT: Graduate  for high school students. Mentors/tutors are on site each day to work with students and stay in contact with their schools. The positive, supportive atmosphere helps students stay on track and succeed.

Students also have access to  The Club Teen Center . Staffed by professionals, The Club  offers programs in a state-of-the-art technology lab, audio recording studio, art room, teaching kitchen, and a bicycle repair/building lab.  The Club  space also has recreation available: a ping pong table, a pool table, a foosball table, a board games table, video games, and a sport court for basketball, volleyball, and badminton. For teens who want to get involved in leadership,  The Keystone Advisory  provides guidance and opportunities.

All Boys & Girls Club programs are free, and transportation is provided from school. Snacks are available every day, and a Teen Feed dinner is offered every Thursday. 

For more information, please visit the  Boys and Girls Club website  , or call: 425-429-3203.