Click here to view the District 2021–2022 calendar for families.

* More information in the message below

Please email the ISPTSA Board to learn more and sign up. Thank you!

Dear ISPTSA members, thanks to your generosity, we have collected enough membership scholarships to sponsor 20+ PTSA members! The member scholarship is confidential and available to everyone to join fee-waived.  We are inviting everyone in our community to join ISPTSA. Please invite your friends, grandparents, and even businesses to join ISPTSA. Encourage them to use fee waived membership if needed. Please help us reach our goal to support 100% of IS students by Tuesday, March 1. Questions? Contact membership@isptsa.org.

TOMORROW, February 8, 9–10 AM

Click here to join the meeting.

The next Principal Coffee will be THIS Tuesday from 9–10 AM. The topic will be Focus Week as we prepare for making requests for this year’s activities. We will discuss how Focus Week works, the timeline, and the impacts to consider in light of the current environment. For questions, contact the IS Main Office.

This year’s spring musical is Mamma Mia! Performances will be on March 4, 5, 11, and 12. As we did for the fall drama performance, tickets will only be available for presale from February 7–18 through Touchbase. No tickets at the door. There will be assigned seating for family pods with 6 foot distancing to adhere to COVID guidelines. These purchases are associated with a student account, so any extended family purchases should be made at the same time. For questions, please email Karen Gath, Drama Coordinator.

Register by Friday, February 18

The IS French Department is inviting ALL students to participate in Le Grand Concours, a French-language national competition organized by the American Association of Teachers of French. Le Grand Concours is on the list of approved tests published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. All participants receive official certificates, and medals are awarded to some participants based on scores. The competition will be held in person at International School and will take about 1.25–1.5 hours to complete. The fee per student is $6. For payment, use the school payment system and choose the Miscellaneous category. Click HERE for a helpful screenshot. Once payment is made, teachers will take care of registration with AATF and will convey optional review material to students. Do not hesitate to contact your French teacher if you have questions.

Monday, February 28 is the last day for late registration (+$40) of AP exams. Exams begin Monday, May 2. See the schedule HERE. Check with your AP teachers for details on review sessions. Questions? Email Jill Follett, IS Counseling Secretary.

The staff at International School would like to thank the parents and students for all of the wonderful food gifts we’ve received recently. The PTSA Staff Taco Bar Luncheon fed us for days. The coffee and chocolate gifts from December still power a nice caffeine and sugar buzz into January. The Chinese New Year’s Breakfast was a wonderful start to the day and second semester. The support of staff by the IS community is valued and appreciated. Thank you! Questions? Email Stephen Miller.

We are grateful to have robust counseling and mental health support for our students. Thank you to our generous ISPTSA for funding one of our Youth Eastside Services therapists—we love PTSA! Currently, we have two therapists from Youth Eastside Services, Ellie and Madison, along with our two MHAT Counselors, Alison and Melissa. We encourage all students and families to reach out if they need support. If you are interested in accessing any of our services, email Arty Christianto, MS Counselor.

FEBRUARY 8 (TOMORROW) ELECTION: TWO LEVIES RENEW FUNDING FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND SCHOOLS

Don't forget to turn in your ballots by TOMORROW!

Bellevue School District is asking our community to consider two levies in the February 8 election. These levies are not new taxes but renew current levies that expire later this year. These levies bridge the gap between state funding for our district and the cost of staff, tools, programs, and facilities our students need to become creators of their future world. Click here to learn more about our levy renewals.

On the ballot:

Continues funding for critical day-to-day school operations to ensure EVERY student in our district has access to high-quality teaching and learning, supports to ensure the wellbeing of students, student programs, and opportunities for students such as performing arts, athletics, and after-school activities.

Maintains our investment in student technology and facilities, so every BSD student has access to a safe and modern learning environment. Renewal of the Technology and Capital Projects Levy continues critical funding for student technology, classroom technology, technology training for educators, and maintenance and updates to our school buildings to ensure they are healthy, comfortable, and safe.

For questions, contact the Bellevue School District.

BSD COLLEGE CONFERENCE—CONNECTING STUDENTS TO THEIR FUTURE

THIS Wednesday, February 9, 6–8:30 PM

BSD will hold its annual College Conference virtually this Wednesday. Representatives from university programs will provide an overview of how applications are reviewed and answer your questions. Session topics will include Trends in Public Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, College Athletics, Fine Arts Programs, and Paying for College. Read more HERE. For questions, email BSD College Conference.

In this edition of Let’s Talk, Dr. Jarvis, Interim Superintendent, talks to Heather Edlund, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, about the importance of keeping schools open for students’ academic, social and emotional health. Dr. Jarvis also thanks staff across the district for their extraordinary, professional efforts to make this possible while keeping students and staff safe. Watch the full video here. For questions, contact the Bellevue School District.

It's not too late! Even though the registration deadline passed for middle school volleyball, middle school students are still welcome to come. Please join and get the word out! Questions? Contact Trent Stauffer, Club Jubilee Advisor.

The Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP) announced the results of the 2021 High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) on January 28. A total of 705 teams, representing 303 schools and 20 countries, competed. Students work as a team and improve their modeling, problem-solving, programming, and writing skills in this event.

Congratulations to International School students Anthony Chen, Yuzhang Sun, Ted Guan, Keira Chen, and Advisor Alex Chen, who won the Finalist Award! The group created math models to forecast water levels, identified periods of drought, and found solutions for water shortages at Lake Mead. They will compete again in 2022 and welcome other students to join. If you're interested in joining or if you have questions, please email Gang Chen.

Thank you to International School parent, Melissa Richardson, for helping us host Middle School Game Room. It's a great place to build new connections and friendships. Board games and card games are available. Questions? Email MS Counselor, Arty Christianto.

Donate your used ACT, AP, and SAT test prep books to Washington Book Exchange at IS, WBE’s newest branch! Place books in the blue box in the front office. Need a book and can’t afford it? Request one here for pick up one at IS. Questions? Email Lauren Dex (10th grade) via Teams or email Jill Follett, IS Counseling Secretary.

“Coaching my first flag football season was a great experience. Thank you to all the players and high school volunteer coaches who put in the time and effort to help make it a fun and successful season.” —Coach Trent Stauffer

Flag football offered by Jubilee Reach and Coach Trent Stauffer was a success at IS. About 45+ middle school students signed up and played weekly from November to January against teams from Big Picture, Tyee, Chinook, and Highland. Coach Trent Stauffer will be coaching middle school basketball with registration beginning Monday, March 7. Questions? Email Coach Trent.

Register NOW to be sure your paperwork is completed in time for spring high school sports and activities (many begin on February 28). Learn more on the BSD Athletics Webpage and your neighborhood high school athletics webpage:

Contact your neighborhood high school for registration, testing, and tryout details, or call BSD Athletics with questions at (425) 456-4010.

For baseball players whose neighborhood school is Bellevue High School, BHS Baseball Season is less than 6 weeks away! Interested players can sign up for more information and the season schedule by emailing Carl Hellings, BHS Baseball Boosters President. 

Bellevue School District is working with our community vaccine partners to organize future clinics for our students THIS Wednesday, February 9, and on Wednesday, March 2, 1–5 PM, at the Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC) at 12241 Main Street in Bellevue. Click here for the consent form, and click here to sign up for an appointment. Visit the BSD Vaccinations webpage for more information. For questions, contact the Bellevue School District.

With 60+ camps, Summer J Camp is 10 weeks of fun. Running June 21–August 26 with options for kids in pre-K through 10th grades (and job opportunities for anyone older). Bus transportation is available along with an extended care program and swim lessons. Registration is open. Sign up by March 11 to get our Early Bird Discount and save 10%. Click here to learn more! Email Aliza Glatter from SJCC with questions.

THIS Wednesday, February 9, 5 PM

Inspiration and Incubation (i2) Grants fund inspiring projects that involve multiple schools, pilot new curriculum or instruction, engage students in critical issues, involve youth in service of other students/schools, or build school communities and partnerships. Hear from our Bellevue School District educators and curriculum developers about the new i2 grants they recently received. Questions? Contact Bellevue Schools Foundation.

Registration is now open for Wise Camps Summer Camps! Wise Camps have a reputation for being the best camps around because of our ability to balance a rich academic curriculum with plenty of fun! Watch this video to learn more. Following are the summer 2022 dates and locations of the camps:

For questions, email Wisecamps.

ISPTSA has partnered with Smith Brothers to raise money for our organization! Click here and use our code InterPTSA at checkout to set up a new account with home grocery delivery. YOU get $15 off your first delivery order and International School will receive a gift of $50! You'll even get the iconic porch box with your first delivery. For questions, email Wendy Clough of Smith Brothers.

FEATURED SPIRIT WEAR: INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL COMPETITOR T—ONLY $12.50!

Lightweight, roomy and highly breathable, these moisture-wicking tees feature PosiCharge technology to lock in color and prevent logos from fading. Click here to shop for this and more! Orders can be picked up from Winner's Sportswear Bellevue for free or delivered. Proceeds benefit ISPTSA. Email Melissa, VP of Community, with questions.

Raise funds for ISPTSA with the Box Tops for Education app. By scanning your grocery and office supply store receipts, qualifying products will be instantly credited to our school. It's easy and adds up fast! Download the app on your phone, and select IS by searching zip code 98005. Questions? Email ISPTSA Fundraising.