October 12, 2020
MONDAY MESSENGER
UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS
THIS WEEK:
  • Wednesday, 10/14, 11:00 AM–12:30 PMDrop-In College Application Workshop for Class of 2021 (PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE)
  • Thursday, 10/15, 6:30–7:30 PM • Virtual Junior Parent Night
  • Friday, 10/16 • Yearbook Sales End

NEXT WEEK:
  • Thursday, 10/22, 7:00 PM • Virtual ISPTSA General Membership Meeting (more info below)

LOOKING AHEAD:
  • Wednesday, 10/28 • Virtual Spirit Week Assembly
  • Wednesday, 11/4 • Virtual Veterans Day Assembly
  • Wednesday, 11/11 • NO SCHOOL—Veterans Day
  • Friday, 11/13 • PTSA Reflections Entries Due
  • Thursday–Friday, 11/26–27 • NO SCHOOL—Thanksgiving
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
THESE POSITIONS NEED YOU!

IS and the ISPTSA are currently seeking the following volunteers:

  • ISPTSA President, current school year
  • ISPTSA President Elect, current school year
  • ISPTSA VP Communications, current school year
  • Grade-Level Representatives, current school year (more info below)

Please email board@isptsa.org to learn more and sign up. Thank you!
PTSA NEWS
SAVE THE DATE:
ISPTSA VIRTUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 7:00 PM

Please mark your calendars for the International School PTSA General Membership Meeting to take place on Thursday, October 22, at 7:00 PM. We will send out more information on agenda topics as well as the link for the virtual meeting as we get closer to the date.
2020 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PTSA SURVEY

There is still time to respond to the ISPTSA Survey! If you haven't already, please share your perspective by responding to this quick survey (only 10 questions!). Your feedback will help us prioritize the work that we do this year to support our International School community. 


Thank you to those who have participated so far!
RAISE THE TORCH FOR NEW AND RECURRING GRANTS BY THE PTSA!
  
The next ISPTSA General Meeting will take place on Thursday, October 22. We hope to have robust discussions around our budget, which will give financial support beyond what is provided by BSD and the state. The new budget includes over $50,000 in grants toward Curriculum Enrichment across all departments, as well as over $20,000 toward Student Activities & Support resources. The ability for the PTSA to continue to support new and recurring grants to the school depends on generous donations by families like you. To see a more robust list of what your donation will support, please click here.

Join the over 50 families who already committed to RAISE THE TORCH with their generous donations. Your participation matters! Your contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference! All donations to the Fall Fundraiser you give today are tax-deductible and 100% goes back to the IS community. 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. 


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

Questions? Please contact vpfundraising@isptsa.org.  
Thank you for your consideration!
Go Titans!
DID YOU FORGET?
 
Did you know that the number one reason people did not sign up for ISPTSA membership was because they just forgot? Well, welcome to the club!

Our signups this year have been understandably slow, as people are focusing on their students' success with distance learning, however, we have nearly 180 signups—including 19 students! Can you help us reach 200 by next week?

Any questions, please contact Meribeth, membership@isptsa.org.
PTA REFLECTIONS ENTRIES DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps 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 not only in school, but in life.

Students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is I Matter Because… 

Students submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.

STAY CONNECTED!

FIND US ON FACEBOOK! Stay connected with the IS Community through one of the Facebook groups (links below)!

Share ideas and ask questions. Keep up-to-date on school, district, and community events and information.



SCHOOL NEWS
UNITY DAY IS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21

The goal of Unity Day is to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. 

We would love to have you and your loved ones participate in our Virtual Unity Day this year! Here are some ideas to show your International School UNITY. You can email counselor Arty Christianto a picture or a video clip of:
  • What Unity means to you
  • You and/or your loved ones wearing orange
  • Unity themed baked goods
  • Art, dance, musical, drama pieces about Unity
  • Spoken word or poetry
  • Unity sidewalk chalk art 
  • Any other ideas! 

Please submit your pictures and clips to Arty Christianto at christiantoa@bsd405.org by Sunday, October 18. She’ll be putting all of your submissions together to share with our community on UNITY DAY.
We hope you participate!
IS CLASS OF 2021 POINSETTIA & WREATH SALE 
For all IS families

It’s that time of year again! The leaves are falling, and the holidays are around the corner. It’s time for our ANNUAL SENIOR CLASS POINSETTIA & WREATH FUNDRAISER!

Poinsettias from Squak Mountain Nursery in Issaquah come in red, white or shades of pink for $15 each. Click here for poinsettia order form.

Wreaths, also from Squak Mountain, are 24 inches with ornamental pine cones and sell for $25 eachClick here for wreath order form.

These beautiful plants make perfect holiday gifts for friends, neighbors, and co-workers! They serve as festive holiday decor—especially this year, when most of us will stay at home for the holidays. 

You may also order a poinsettia for a teacher or staff member as a holiday gift! What better way to show your appreciation for all that they do for our IS students every school year? We’ll make sure that all the teachers receive their beautiful plants. 

We need your participation! All proceeds go to the IS Senior Class of 2021 and will help with the costs of Graduation activities!

Deadline for orders: Monday, November 5 (the sooner the better)
 
Pickup: Tuesday, November 24 (time to be announced), at IS (pickup will be organized as a drive-through with safety measures in place)

The Class of 2021 thanks you all for your support!!!

Please email Petra Sixl at Petra.Sixl@gmail.com with questions.
DISTRICT NEWS
HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL MEALS?

While Bellevue’s Nutrition Services Department is currently providing free meals, this support is made possible by temporary USDA funding. If this changes, the District will be required to charge families for the meals that are provided based on their student’s eligibility for free, reduced price, or paid meals. Apply today at www.bsd405.org/freeandreduced
 
If your family qualified last year, you need to reapply this year to ensure that your student receives access to free or reduced priced meals once the current free meal program ends. If an application is not processed for a returning student by October 16, 2020, the student’s account will be automatically transferred to a paid status on the next school day. Please know that the number of eligible students for free or reduced priced meals connects directly to the District’s Title I funding which provides additional support at schools to help students succeed. 
 
Completing the annual application for free or reduced priced meals can additionally connect students and families who qualify with free or discounted fees for eligible school items (ASB dues, athletic fees, IB and AP test fees, summer school tuition, etc.), community support resources offered by our Family Connections Centers, and Vision Support coupons offered by Nursing Services.
 
Families needing assistance with completing the application may contact the Nutrition Services Department at 425-456-4507 or nutrition@bsd405.org.
HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING TRACK OF REMOTE TO IN-PERSON LEARNING PHASES?

STUDENT NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY

The Bellevue Chamber and the Bellevue School District have partnered over the last several years providing an opportunity for students to consider participating in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy for the middle and high school students in the Bellevue School District. This year, we will begin the virtual class in October and it will run for four weeks. There is an application process and a fee associated with the program. We typically have 15–18 students participate. This year we will run two sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring. Hopefully, we can also have a summer program. The students learn all about the necessary steps to start a business from idea to business plan to pitch to investors. In addition, there is a national competition in the spring for one student to present to national corporate leaders. The applications will be due no later than October 5. 
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS & INFORMATION
BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FALL CAMPAIGN

YOU can make a difference for students in all 29 Bellevue Schools. Help us raise $350,000 to invest in distance learning technology; provide online mental health services to students feeling depressed and isolated; and fund Family Connection Centers to provide food, rent assistance guidance, and technology support needed for every child to thrive.

Make YOUR gift today. Donate HERE.
BSF Donor Relations Manager
 
The Bellevue Schools Foundation is looking for a Community Relations Manager to facilitate relationships with community donors and maintain relationships with donors in the 29 Bellevue Public Schools. This is a paid position and a great way to be more involved in your community while working with some amazing people. If you want to know more, view our job posting HERE.
WISECAMPS OFFERS VIRTUAL CAMP FOR GRADES 1–6 ON VETERANS DAY

Grades 1–6, November 11 (Veteran’s Day—No School), Online

Let’s spend a day where you get to explore your interests in science, technology, engineering, art, and math! Yes, there will be games! Yes, there will be prizes! We can’t wait to have you! Half-day or Full-day options are available! Zoom links will be sent at least 48 hours before the start of camp!  
Fee: $150 for half day and $250 for full day

MASTHEAD / DIRECTORY / LINKS
President
Azfar Moazzam/OPEN 
Secretary
Ann Ross-Clarke
Treasurer 1
Tony Wang
Treasurer 2
Zena Heywood
VP of Communications
OPEN
VP of Community
Melissa Richardson
VP of Fundraising
Emilie Castle
VPs of Outreach
Beverly Ni & Hao Sun
Membership
Meribeth Nordloef-Pedersen
Advocacy
OPEN
Monday Messenger
Julie Molinari/OPEN
Website
Li Zhang
IS Staff Liaison
Marrene Franich & Wesley Hung
PTSA
Website: www.isptsa.org
Newsletter Submissions: news@isptsa.org
SHOP FOR THE BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Enter Amazon.com through this link and Amazon will donate 8% of every purchase you make to support Bellevue students, including those at IS! Share the link and spread the word to family and friends anywhere.
SCHOOL DIRECTORY & LINKS

Attendance 425-456-6545
Main Office 425-456-6500 
MS Counseling 425-456-6546
HS Counseling 425-456-6542 
Registrar 425-456-6535 

SUPPORT YOUR PTSA
Donate Anytime

Write your check to the International School PTSA and send it to:
ISPTSA
445 128th Ave. SE
Bellevue, WA 98005
Or, even easier, donate
via PayPal.
Visit the International School PTSA Store. Proceeds benefit the International School PTSA.
CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING?
The ISPTSA is always here to help answer your IS questions.

Email us here, and we'll help you find the answers you need.
MONDAY MESSENGER
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
  • Please submit articles by FRIDAY at 12:00 PM (noon) to news@isptsa.org.
  • We encourage submissions that align with our mission.
  • Submissions are subject to review by the ISPTSA and may be accepted, rejected, or edited.
  • Please use a separate email for each article submitted.
  • Documents in plain text are preferred, however, you are welcome to include an image or icon as a separate attachment—please do not include them in the body of your email or document.
  • If you need to link to a registration form or document, send us either the address of the link or a pdf copy of the document.
  • If you would like your article to repeat in successive Monday Messenger editions, please resubmit it for each edition in which you would like it to appear. If you do not resubmit it, it will not be republished.
  • Note: you will receive an automatic confirmation email response once you submit material to the Monday Messenger.