March 12, 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES
3/13/2018 7:00 pm High School Band Concert
3/14/2018 8:15 am - 1:40 pm Even Wednesday
3/14/2018  7:00 pm Orchestra Concert
3/15/2018 7:00 pm Middle School Band Concert
3/16/2018 8:15 am - 3:15 pm
No School - Professional Development Day
3/19/2018 8:15 am - 3:15 pm
No School - Professional Development Day
3/20/2018 7:00 pm High School Choir Concert
3/22/2018 7:00 pm Middle School Choir Concert
3/23/2018 7:00 pm ASB Talent Show
3/27/2018 7:00 pm Angst: The Movie 
4/27/2018 TBD BSF Spring for Schools Benefit Luncheon
PTSA NEWS
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Hello Everyone
 
I love what PTSA does for this school. This week, the board was making a final vote on the winter grants for teachers and staff. Many of the grant requests are for innovative curriculum enhancements in particular subjects such as French and PE and Music and Math. One of the great opportunities we have as a small school is to try out new curriculum, new teaching methods and innovative technology for classroom teaching and learning. Decisions about the grants are made by PTSA members. The BSD budget does not have the funds to allow these opportunities to be given to our students. ISPTSA Makes it Happen.
 
We are planning the Campus Improvement Day for May this year. Last year ISPTSA planted and cleaned and swept and made our campus pride worthy. All this is done by PTSA parents and IS students. The BSD budget does not have the funds to beautify our campus. ISPTSA Makes it Happen.
 
At the April 25 th general membership meeting, the membership will vote on the officers to run next years PTSA. The PTSA limits our terms to a maximum of two years. This limit does two things, helps prevent burnout of officers in PTSA executive positions and brings in new people to keep the organization vibrant with energy and emphasis in new areas that they are passionate about. The majority of our members work but still find time to serve as a board member and make a difference at IS for our community. We need our PTSA members to think about stepping up and serving on our board for next year. The ISPTSA fills in with funds and people and support where needed. Please help us continue this tradition at IS.
 
We are looking at the following positions to fill this year: President-Elect( President 2020-21), Secretary, Treasurer 2, VP of Community, VP of Communications, VP of Fundraising, VP of Outreach. If you are  interested in exploring what these positions do with no obligation, please contact  president@isptsa.org
 
Best
Meribeth Nordloef-Pedersen
ISPTSA President 2017-2018
"Community Creates Success at IS"
MEMBERSHIP: 
572 MEMBERS SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL



A Big Thank You to each and every PTSA member of our IS Community that is supporting each and every student at IS for their success. As a unique choice school in the Bellevue School District, we are showing the community that "Community Creates Success at IS". Please take a moment to see all of our supportive parents, guardians, teachers, staff and students that make up our ISPTSA community membership. You can still be a part of our ISPTSA community, if you haven't joined yet, Please Join Us!. Or if you would prefer to send in a check, download and fill out the form and drop it off at the office.  

Any questions, please contact Joanie Chang at membership@isptsa.org.
GIVING BACK TO OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF: 100% MEMBERSHIP PARTY
The ISPTSA will be celebrating our 100% membership and the support of each and every student with a cookies and treats given out at break on March 22  to our student and teacher/staff body. If you would like to come and help pass out cookies and treats supplied by BSD nutrition services, please contact  to VPCommunity@isptsa.org to sign up. We need about 7 volunteers for about half an hour, from 10:45 am - 11:15 am

Community Creates Success at IS!
SOPHOMORE FAMILIES: MARCH 21 STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH

Please use the following Sign-up Genius to support our staff with an Italian-themed lunch on March 21.  There are opportunities for you to contribute either food or time. We especially need set-up and clean-up volunteers.
 
Here's the link:
 
BSF'S SPRING FOR SCHOOLS LUNCHEON NEEDS TABLE CAPTAINS ON APRIL 27

 
The 30th Annual Bellevue School Foundation  Spring for Schools  Benefit Luncheon is just around the corner, and registration is open. This year's Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, April 27, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Table Captains are needed! Click here to sign up.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What's important to you at IS?:
 

SCHOOL NEWS
NOTES FROM FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY - CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE

Our International School community is grieving for the loss of two treasured members of our community, Declan Ervin, a junior at International, and Niko Suokko, a senior at Interlake who attended International previously. We have come together as a community to support each other in our grief. Thank you to everyone for your support of students and staff as we process this tragic loss.

To all who were touched by Declan
Your outpouring of love, friendship and memories are more helpful than we can say. Thank you and please keep them coming. Even if we cannot respond at this time, know that we feel your love. We are planning a celebration of Declan's life to honor and remember him on March 24. More details to follow soon. In the meantime, in lieu of flowers, if you are so inclined, please make a donation to the Northwest Avalanche Center ( www.NWAC.US) or to the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance ( www.evergreenmtb.org), #iridefordeclan.

Niko Suokko's Celebration of Life h 25th
You are invited to join us in celebrating the amazing life of Niko, who was suddenly taken away from us in a tragic avalanche accident at the Snoqualmie Pass. We lost a dear son, caring brother and an amazing friend. This is a gathering for friends, family and our extended community to celebrate how we all shared our lives and passion for life with Niko. For event and RSVP details, and to access the donation link for avalanche safety for youth via the Niko Suokko Memorial Fund, please visit the event site at  http://niko.eventbrite.com.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A HUGE SUCCESS!

 
Congratulations to the IS students who were involved in Beauty and the Beast on a job well done! Whether you were on stage, back stage, or in the tech box, you helped to put on a wonderful show. Be proud!   

Kudos to the following students for all of their hard work in making the show such a success:

Ann Sophie Abrhamsson, Cecilia Abrahamsson, felix Abrahamsson, Isaac Anderson, Bridgette Baron, Grace Baumgartner, Matthew Bedrosian, Tenley Brown, Ariel Chang,  Anika Chauhan, Sanjana Chauhan, Jasna Chong, Issac Cook, Sage Cook, Medha Dhital, Arjan Dillon, Sofie Fenstermacher, Rachel Ferry, Anneliese Finley, Alli Follett, Yasmine Fotoohi, Nora Fotoohi, Keele Frangooles, Casin Frei, Chloe Frei, Ronaldo Fuentes-Monroy, Priya Getchell, Sejal Getchell, Kavita Getchell, Makenna Ginn, Poojitha Gottepu, Vivien Guo, Danielle Hardy, Hannah Heywood, Lauren Haywood, Weston Hunt, Sung-Joon Im, Stephanie Johnson, Aishwarya Kalaga, audun Konig, Melia Laird, Jayna Laserna, Tyler Lombardo, Julainna Ma, Caitlin Marinelli, Brian McMurray, Jack McMurray, Sully Misner, Michelle Munoz, Maya Nathani-Sim, Riley Notton, Sid Sasikumar, Abby Seaton, Nusha Sepheri, Ethan Sloan, Khanjan Soni, Audrey Stevens, Jacqueline Stevens, Griffin Sumpter, Kieran Sumpter, Anni Suokko, Lucy Surkan, Niyati Trivedi, Maja Wohlan, Miranda Wood, Keira Wong, Eitana Wyle, Laura Zhang.
STUDENT EXPRESSION ON MARCH 14TH

The recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida continues to resonate with our students and staff and has sparked a national discussion about school safety. At International, we continue to evaluate our safety procedures and to practice our emergency response plans through monthly drills with students and staff.

If you are interested learning more about the steps we are taking as a district to keep our schools safe, I encourage you to attend either of the two upcoming information sessions with our Safety and Security Department. The sessions will be held on  Thursday, March 8th, from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm in the Bellevue High School Library and on  Tuesday, March 13th, from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm in the Interlake High School Library

Following the school shooting in Parkland, student leaders across the country are emerging as advocates for their own safety. Students are calling on their peers to observe this tragedy by leaving their classrooms for 17 minutes on March 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., one minute to observe each life lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We know that some International students are planning to participate in this demonstration by leaving their classrooms during this Wednesday's Community period.

We encourage our students, for any social cause about which they feel passionate, to exercise their constitutional rights and to express themselves in a responsible manner that balances free expression with the need to respect our school's learning environment. Under Board Policy 3220, we recognize the free expression of student opinion as an important part of education in a democratic society, and we encourage students' expression of opinion on school premises as long as it does not substantially disrupt the operation of the school. Also, under Board Policy 3223, peaceful demonstrations are permissible as long as they do not disrupt classes or other school activities.  
 
We do remind students and families that if a student leaves class during scheduled class time, it will be considered an unexcused absence. We will not, however, penalize or impose disciplinary consequences against students who participate responsibly in this act of free expression. 

We have also reminded our staff that they are not authorized to participate in this student-led demonstration and are expected to perform their regularly-assigned duties. We have, however, designated specific staff to maintain supervision and proximity to all students who choose to participate in order to ensure our students' safety.  

As students step forward to express themselves, we are reminded of the power of student voice to create change and the importance of preparing all students to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and responsible members of their communities.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SHOWCASE CONFERENCE ON MARCH 14

We are looking for volunteers for the Showcase Conference on March 14th. Please let us know if you are available any time during the day.
 
1. We need someone to register visitors from 8:00 am -10:00 am at Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC) 12241 Main Street Bellevue, WA 98005.
 
2. We need someone to register late attendees and show them to their rooms at International 10:30 am - 3:00 pm.
 
3. We still need more parents from 2:50 pm - 3:40 pm to sit on a parent panel to discuss, "Why they wanted their child or children to attend a school like International, their role in supporting the school, and what they have noticed as we have moved to 1:1."
 
Please contact ShowcaseIS@bsd405.org with any questions!
IS HOSTS 'ANGST': A FILM ABOUT ANXIETY ON MARCH 27, AT 7:00 PM, IN THE IPAC

Please join us on T uesday, March 27th at 7:00 pm in the IPAC for a showing of Angst, a film that explores anxiety, its causes, effects and what we can do about it. The filmmakers' goal is to have a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety. Angst features candid interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they've learned about it.  

The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources and tools. Following the showing, we'll have a question and answer session about anxiety and teens with Dr. Laura Kastner, Ph.D., a clinical professor in the department of psychology and the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at U.W.  

There is no cost to attend this event thanks to funding from the PTSA. For more information about the movie and Dr. Kastner, please click here.
A NOTE ON MORNING DROP-OFF AND PARKING
 
Thank you for ensuring the safety of all of our students and staff during our busy morning drop-off time. Please help us maintain a safe arrival period for all by helping us with the following:

  • Ensure that we keep the Metro & Safe Lane clear from car traffic at all times so that we may continue to honor our agreement with Metro Transit which allows us to maintain service to IS.
  • Due to such limited parking for staff and students, all students should be dropped-off from the Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up Only Lane.  Please refrain from using parking spaces in the morning in the Staff or Student Permitted Areas.  There are a limited number of visitor spots that are accessible from the Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up Only Lane.
Families have found that leaving just 10 minutes earlier can have a significant impact on how long they wait in line to drop-off.  Students can also help with traffic flow by ensuring they have all of the items they are bringing to school ready to go upon approach to the drop-off zone.  Thank you for your partnership!    
STUDENT NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
2018 BACCALAUREATE - SENIORS' FAMILIES - MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Senior families and students, please mark your calendars for the 2018 Baccalaureate Celebration.

The Baccalaureate will be held Saturday, June 16, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This is a fun, non-religious event that showcases each individual student, his/her accomplishments, creativity and talents. There ill be laughs, maybe some joyful tears, a lot of pride, and the memories will last forever.

Also, please make sure that sure your senior students don't book other commitments for these days:

- Friday, June 15 Baccalaureate rehearsal is in the afternoon - keep calendars open till 6:00 pm for the rehearsal (students only).

- Saturday, June 16 (2:00-4:00)- Baccalaureate celebration (not a religious event) - plan to arrive by 1:30 pm ish.

More information will be provided soon!  
IT'S SPRING FLING!

ASB is hosting a high school dance on Saturday, March 31, from 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm. Chaperones are needed to help check-in students, sell tickets, serve snacks and general oversight.  

If you are interested in helping, please email Carol Anne at: yamamotoca@bsd405.org.
YEARBOOK PHOTOS NEEDED - CALL FOR CANDID PHOTOS OF STUDENTS

Are your kids star soccer players? Do you have the best family photos? Did you have the best summer vacation?

Please send summer, sports or sibling photos to   internationalyearbook@gmail.com to get your kids featured in the yearbook! Please include the names and grades of your kids too!"

TITAN TIMES STUDENT NEWS NOW AVAILABLE TO PARENTS

Hello Parents! Did you know it's Badminton and Flag Football Season for Middle School Students? Did you know that the Green Team is helping to reduce trash? Here's another way to stay connected with what's happening in the school. The Titan Times contains school news and updates and broadcasts over the PA System every day at 8:15 am. The link is updated around 3:00 pm for the next day. 
STUDENT SPORTS & OPPORTUNITIES
TRYOUTS FOR BELLEVUE CHEER ARE COMING UP!


Tryout dates are Monday 3/26 - 3/30.

For more information go to Bellevuecheer.com or email Bellevuecheer@gmail.com.
BELLEVUE AND MORE (BAM) ULTIMATE FRISBEE GIRLS TEAM

Bellevue will have its first ever Girls Ultimate Team this spring. Any girls who attend Bellevue schools and might want to join this history-making team are welcome to join. The Girls team will compete as a JV team in a 5 on 5 league that runs from March 12 into May with weekday games to be scheduled. The cost is only $6 per player. Players will have the option but not obligation to play on the Mixed BAM team as well (those games are all on Saturdays during the same time frame). No experience necessary. 2 weekdays after school max commitment.

Contact  David Hasbrook with  any questions: 425-453-6191 land, 206-200-9082 mobile.
JUBILEE REACH SPORTS AT IS!
Greetings Middle School Parents!

IS SPRING CLUB SPORTS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
International School offers wonderful after school club sports for middle schoolers through Jubilee Reach.

Boys & Girls Co-Ed Basketball, (April 16 - June 15)
Boys & Girls Co-Ed Soccer (April 16 - June 15)
Girls Golf (April 17 - mid June)

Jubilee Athletics & Activities is the cornerstone of Jubilee REACH service in schools. Coaches Sterling and Brock have extensive Intermural sports backgrounds and relish bringing students of all abilities together to build an inclusive community, providing support and strengthening relationships through healthy competition.

REGISTER at http://jubileereach.bonzidev.com/athletics.
A membership application only needs to be filled out once per year.

To add your student's name to rosters, email IS site coaches Sterling Brown and Brock Hay.

Sterling Brown, Managing Site Coach, brownste@bsd405.org
Brock Hay, Site Coach, hayb@bsd405.org
KING COUNTY SPORTS RESULTS

Check King County Sports results here.
MESSENGER SUBMISSIONS
MONDAY MESSENGER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
  • Please submit your information by FRIDAY at 12:00 (noon)  to  news@isptsa.org.
  • We encourage submissions that align with our mission. Click here for the PTSA mission statement.
  • Submissions are subject to a review by the IS PTSA and may be accepted, rejected or edited.
  • Please use a separate email for each article submitted.
  • Subject line should include the Section Header where you want your information and the title: Here's a list of sections:  
    • PTSA News
    • School News
    • Student News & Opportunities
    • Help Wanted
    • Sports News & Opportunities
    • Summer Camps & Opportunities
  • 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.
  • For the "Help Wanted" session, feel free to also contact the IS PTSA to ask for support.
  • Note: you will receive an automatic confirmation response when submitting.

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.  
In This Issue
Color Key
Content titles are colored coded for easy navigation:

GREEN New Content
RED : Changes to Content
BLACK: Repeat Content
Contact Us:
President
                 President-Elect                  Ching Guo       
                     VP - Community                            Li Wu                                    Sylvia Abrahamsson
VP - Communications
Treasurer 1
Treasurer 2
Secretary
Membership
  Advocacy
  Monday Messenger 
Website
IS Staff Liasons
PTSA
Website: www.isptsa.org
Newsletter Submissions:  news@isptsa.org
 
School Directory and Links
ATTENDANCE                 425-456-6545
MAIN OFFICE                  425-456-6500 
COUNSELING                 425-456-6542 
REGISTRAR                    425-456-6535 

Supporting PTSA 

Donate at any time. Write your check to the International School PTSA and send it ISPTSA at 445 128th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98005


 

Or even easier - Donate via PayPal!

  

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