MONDAY MESSENGER

January 20, 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

I LIKE GOLD, BUT I LOVE PLATINUM EVEN MORE!

Yeah, we reached Gold level membership. That's 110% over last year’s membership. Can you help us get 15 more members in order to become Platinum? Only two high schools in Bellevue are working toward full school membership. Bellevue HS has reached WA state platinum level, and we need 15 more members to reach that too. Can you help us?  

Do you see a friend not listed as a member who you could encourage to join? Maybe you could inspire another parent or grandparent to become a member? All this helps us create community and support each and every student at IS.  You can do this by clicking here.

Questions? Please contact  [email protected].

ISPTSA NOMINATING COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR HELP

The ISPTSA needs 3-4 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] .

SPRING SOCIAL IS COMING UP ON MARCH 28, 2020!

Help make Spring Social a success for our students!

The PTSA will host our Annual Spring Social Fundraiser to celebrate our students, our school, and our community on the evening of Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the Hilton Bellevue. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and the Spring Social Committee is hard at work planning what is sure to be a fun night for the community.  

Here’s how you can help now:

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

KIDS AND SCHOOLS

Dear IS Parents, 

Today is focus day in Olympia. If you aren't here in person, please print and mail the postcard below. Or go online today and mail your legislator about an issue that you are passionate about! The legislative session is short this year; we have a critical window where we can get laws passed for our kids and schools.  

--Krista Hammer, ISPTSA Advocacy Chair 

Postcard

WSPTA has created a postcard that individuals or PTAs can print, write a personal message on, then mail or hand-deliver to their legislators.

Legislative Priorities

To learn more about the WSPTA legislative priorities:

Advocacy Week: February 24–28, 2020

In addition to Focus Day, in Olympia, WSPTA will be asking members to take action from home or your phone throughout an entire week. To participate, subscribe to the  WSPTA Action Network  to stay informed. Further details of this 2020 event will be available soon.

BOOKS DON'T SELL BOOKS, PEOPLE DO! PLEASE VOLUNTEER AT THE BOOK FAIR!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming February 4–7.  This is an awesome event for Middle Schoolers at IS. Our last Book Fair was in November 2018, and students are waiting impatiently for this Grand Event!

Learn about the e-wallet set-up for your student, volunteer opportunities, and the exciting books that will be available to buy at our IS Scholastic Book Fair Home Page .

Volunteers Needed! We are in need of a few volunteers in the early morning, at lunchtime, and after school. Can you spare an hour? Training is always provided, but it's all easy to learn!  Click here for volunteer sign-up.

2020 BOND: INVESTING IN STUDENTS

The Bellevue School Board approved a resolution asking the community to consider a capital bond in the February 11, 2020 election. Last week, International School PTSA's Board of Directors voted to endorse the capital bond.   

What will the bond do if approved by voters on February 11, 2020?  

School districts rely on voter-approved funding measures to cover costs that are not funded by the state, including major construction projects. If approved in February, the local tax rate for our schools will increase by 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase of less than 1 percent. For the average home of $850,000, a Bellevue resident currently paying $2.43 per $1,000 of assessed property value for local school property taxes, will see an increase by 3 cents a year, to $2.46 per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $25.50 per year total for the average valued home.  

For more information, visit:  www.bsd405.org/2020bond  or https://bellevuequalityschools.org/about/.

BITE OF INTERNATIONAL 2020

—NEW DATE: FEBRUARY 28—

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!

URGENT ATTENTION: DATE CHANGE

Due to a school event conflict, we have changed the date of the 2020 Bite of IS to February 28, 2020.

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.

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

Volunteers Needed for Bite of IS

We are seeking Food, Crafts, and Entertainment Volunteers for our annual Bite of IS on Friday, February 28! 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. 

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.

ATTENTION: CLASS OF 2021

Class of 2021, click here  to sign up fo r a Junior Appointment to discuss your college list with our high school counselor. Meetings are up to 45 minutes long and for both student and parents.

IS 2020-21 LOTTERY APPLICATION IS OPEN

Applications for next year’s 6th-grade class are open this month.  All 5th-grade siblings need to fill out the online application by January 31, 2020 at 4:30 PM.  If a sibling does not apply, they will not be able to attend International School for 6th grade next year.

Please click here for more information and to apply.

WORLD LANGUAGE CREDIT TEST —NEW DATE: APRIL 1, 2020—

International Students can test at Sammamish High School on APRIL 1, 2020!

High school students can earn up to 4 credits for a Language that they already know! This test is for World Language credit, so it is about language learning and is focused on basic reading, writing, speaking and listening.

 

NEW - Online Self-Assessment   to determine:

 

World Language Credit Program provides opportunities for bilingual students to:

 

The ACTFL-aligned proficiency assessments are provided by commercial testing companies that give nationally-normed results. To meet the needs of all the languages in our community, we use six different testing companies. This causes wide variations in cost.

           

 

For further information, click here or email:  [email protected]

Click here to register by March 18 .

STUDENT NEWS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

CHINESE NEW YEAR STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON INVITES ALL FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS 18TH YEAR

First of all, for those who are new, welcome to the IS Community! Although this is our 18th year hosting Chinese theme teachers’ appreciation party, this is the first time we invite every family to join and have fun together!

Who we are:

We are volunteers. We are ISPTSA members.  We welcome everyone from different countries speaking different languages. 

What we do:

Every year, we arrange a Chinese theme New Year party to show the teachers and staffs our appreciation. During the party, we offer a lunch with fancy food, pack each teacher a gift, enhance the teachers’ lounge with Chinese decorations and artworks, and our kids even get a chance to serve their favorite teachers.

Why we do it:

 

How you can help:

 

Party date and time: 

Wednesday, January 29, at 11:40 AM in the staff lounge.

 

Your student’s name will be listed on the luncheon menu (unless you choose not to). The staff always enjoy the chance to celebrate the season together and it is really a fun and festive luncheon. Hope to see you all there! Thank you so much!

TITAN ROBOTICS CLUB NEWS

At last Saturday’s FTC robotics inter league competition, both of our Titan Robotics teams 3543 and 6541 went into the final round. Team 6541 was in the winning aliance and got advanced to State level and also won the Design Award and the runner up for Control System Award. Special thanks to our volunteer mentors who have devoted so much time and effort to the Titan Robotics Club! Congratulations and go Titans!

Congratulations to all students who competed, and thank you to all the mentors that help run the teams! Good Luck to team 6451 at the State Championship!

SCREENING OF SCREENAGERS: NEXT CHAPTER

Thursday, February 6, 5:15–7:30 PM

Chinook Middle School Commons

Bellevue Schools Foundation and the Chinook Middle School PTSA, Enatai Elementary PTSA & International School PTSA invite you to join us for a special screening of the new documentary Screenagers: Next Chapter and to hear from special guest speak er Dr. Don Shifrin.

Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with Screenagers: NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience —a film that examines the science behind teen’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.

Dr. Don Shifrin, distinguished pediatrician and expert on childhood health and media issues will address parents and answer questions following the screening. Dr. Shifrin is seen on TV weekly as the resident pediatrician on KING 5 Morning News on KONG. He is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. For 39 years, he was in private practice at Pediatric Associates, now Allegro Pediatrics. Dr. Shifrin has an extensive background speaking about children and screen time. He represented the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at the national level, including testifying on its behalf before the United States Congress at a House committee hearing regarding the effect of media images on children.

Since 1997 Dr. Shifrin has voiced the Minute for Kids radio spots airing Monday through Friday on the CBS flagship station, WBBM in Chicago, and available on podcast. Always up-to-date on the latest issues, Dr. Shifrin is a dynamic communicator with a knack for dispensing parenting advice in a memorable and engaging way.

Please click here to register to attend.

2020 BSD COLLEGE CONFERENCE

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

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: VOLUNTEER FOR PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER'S CAMPS FOR CURIOUS MINDS

Are you a high school student? Do you enjoy inspiring a passion for science?

BECOME A SCIENCE EDUCATOR IN TRAINING (SET ) and join us for a summer of science fun!

Volunteer for Pacific Science Center’s Camps for Curious Minds at one of our many Puget Sound locations for up to ten weeks this summer.

As a SET, you will:

Benefits:

Applications due February 29, 2020. Click here to learn more and apply online.

Questions? Contact Dakota Spear at (206) 443-2902 or [email protected] .

HS STUDENTS: APPLY FOR PAID PUBLIC-SERVICE INTERNSHIP

Teens In Public Service (TIPS) hires high school students ages 15–19 and provides them with paid summer internships working at nonprofit organizations in the Greater Seattle area. Teens interested in giving back to their community through a summer internship working for a nonprofit organization can now apply for the 2020 TIPS Summer Internship Program.

TIPS interns work with a variety of organizations in the Puget Sound area to support community-based initiatives and participate in leadership trainings, service activities, and public speaking events. Students receive applicable work skills, a paycheck, and a venue to put their values into action, working for an organization that allows them to address the needs of their community.

 

The deadline to apply is Friday, February 28, 2020.  All applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (due March 4, 2020). Full information about our program and application can be found here.