School starts this Thursday at 8:15 AM. Welcome back, International School Community! See our daily schedule. There will be no after-school Tutorial this week.

Click here to view the District 2022–2023 calendar for families.

* More information in the message below

What a fun day it was at Back to Business Day last Thursday! I saw many parents and students and was so glad to reconnect. I also saw so many great examples of persistence. We had a parent who persisted in helping us sign her up for ISPTSA membership. Another parent was not getting school emails and persisted in finding the reason with the school administration, AND finally, the persistence of students trying to open lockers. For many of these students, it has been a never thing, and for others, it has been two years since they opened a locker. In the coming days of school, we will see persistence play out over and over again as classrooms are found, lockers opened, and school traditions started up. President Coolidge said “persistence and determination alone are omnipotent," and at IS, I believe it.

ISPTSA President 2022–2023

THIS Friday, September 2, 8:15–9:30 AM

Kelsey Creek Park parking lot, 410 130th Place SE, Bellevue

Kelsey Creek Park parking lot, 410 130th Place SE, Bellevue

As we start a terrific year at International School, ISPTSA welcomes our parents and guardians to meet at the nearby Kelsey Creek Park parking lot right after drop-off. Enjoy coffee and treats between 8:15 and 9:30 AM and take this great opportunity to meet other families before heading off to your day. Middle School Tailgate will be held THIS Friday, and High School Tailgate will be on Friday, September 14. Just show up for a quick bite or stay for longer! For questions, email Qiong Chen, VP of Community.

Time to renew or begin your annual ISPTSA membership! By becoming a member, you support first-class and challenging school programs for our students. Join today!

If you're a new subscriber to the Monday Messenger, welcome! Back issues can be found here. For those who are already subscribers, please pass the word along to new families to subscribe to the Monday Messenger, ISPTSA's award-winning weekly newsletter. We look forward to a great year together! For questions, email Thyda Tsai, Monday Messenger Editor.

For questions, email the WA State PTA Reflections Chair or our ISPTSA VP of Outreach, Melissa Richardson.

Warm Beach Camp, Stanwood, WA

This overnight trip is only possible with your support. We need your participation for a successful retreat and require male and female chaperones who can stay overnight. Chaperones attend free of charge. Please contact IS Teachers, Tamara Truax or Lee Holt, to join the fun!

Warm Beach Camp, Stanwood, WA

Would you like to share your Middle East or North African culture with our high school students? We invite you to share traditions in dance, art, craft, language, sport, etc. or examine challenges facing Middle Eastern or North African societies. Sessions are 45 minutes and repeat 6 times on Wednesday, September 14. An IS teacher will assist you! Students and chaperones stay overnight and return to school Thursday, September 15, but you are free to leave at the end of the sessions. Email IS Teachers, Tamara Truax or Lee Holt, for more details or to volunteer.

You can now order your 2022–2023 yearbooks online on Touchbase until Thursday, September 8. Books will be distributed in June 2023.

For parents of seniors, Grad Ads are also available for purchase. $40 for full-page ads. $30 for half-page ads. These are popular! Reserve your ad today. For questions, email Jill Follett, Counseling Secretary.

Warm Beach Camp, Stanwood, WA

High School Retreat returns this fall! This overnight retreat helps build the foundation for a strong and caring learning community. We also honor our commitment to a globally-focused education with this year’s focus on the Middle East & North Africa. Check out this flyer for more information. You can prepare now for the High School Retreat by completing the following:

Questions? Please email IS Teachers, Tamara Truax or Lee Holt.

Our middle school fall sports at International School will be Girls Basketball, Girls Golf, and Boys Soccer. Parents register their students on Final Forms beginning THIS Thursday, September 1, and the season is planned for September 19 to November 2. Practices for all sports will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm. Game days are Wednesdays and fall in a time window of 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

We need adult volunteers for 6th-grade Boys Soccer and 7th/8th-grade Boys Soccer. Depending on player turnout, this could be down to one adult volunteer if we have only one boys' soccer team.

If you can volunteer or if you have questions about fall sports, email Trent Stauffer, Club Jubilee Advisor.

Principal Russell White sent an email on August 25 from internationalschooloffice@bsd405.org to all current IS families. It includes great information to start the new school year. If you haven't seen it, check your spam/junk folder. Questions? Email the International School Main Office.

No problem! Back-to-Business Day was last Thursday, August 25, but students can still take care of business online or at school:

For questions, email the International School Main Office.

For questions, email the IS Main Office.

An e-newsletter was sent to BSD staff and families on Wednesday, August 24, which includes back-to-school resources for families and district updates in advance of the 2022-23 school year. Find out about the first day of school and other district back to school resources. For questions, email BSD.

Nutrition Services uses PayPAMS for online payments for school meals.  If your PayPAMS account has been deactivated due to inactivity over the past school year, please register again here. You will need to re-add your student to your new account. Please note your student's account balance is still available at the school cafeteria. Once the student is added to your account, the account balance will display in PayPAMS within 1–2 school days.

For questions, click here to email or chat with PayPAMS Customer Support, or email the BSD Nutrition Services Department.

Every year, all BSD families are asked to update student information through the online student verification process through Parentvue. Online data verification is now available for the 2022–2023 school year. Language support in 22 languages is available to families to help complete data verification. The first time a family logs in, they will be directed to data verification. Verification allows families to update student and contact information, submit the required proof of residency, manage emergency contact lists, and update photo permissions. For questions, email BSD Data Verification.

Get a head start on the new school year by updating your student forms on FinalForms! FinalForms is a platform the district uses to manage student participation in all clubs, activities, and school/class field trips. Families are required to register their students once each year. Click here for more information on how to register in FinalForms as well as sports offerings and registration dates for the school year. Email Jeff Lowell with questions.

Registration for high school sports and activities is open. Check your neighborhood high school’s Athletics and Activities website for requirements, registration, and contact information. The most current COVID guidance for athletic programs was released on August 5. Read it here. For questions, email your neighborhood athletic director or email Jeff Lowell, District Director.

BSD is still in search of Kitchen Assistants! Click here to see a flyer or visit BSD Jobs to learn more and apply. For questions, email BSD Human Resources or email Wendy Weyer, Director of Nutrition Services.

Kick off a new school year by diving deeper into a favorite passion or discovering a new interest. Try programming, better your writing, or explore architecture. Learn more about UW Youth & Teen Programs. Fall registration deadline is September 20. For questions, email UW Youth & Teen Programs.

Have your purchases help International School! To order with AmazonSmile, simply go to smile.amazon.com on your web browser. You can also activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app on your iOS or Android phone by doing the following:

Set it and forget it. 0.5% of your purchases will be donated to International PTSA. Thank you!!! Email Paul Bloch, VP of Fundraising, with questions.

Made with quality finishes like double-needle stitching and bartack reinforcements for the front pockets, this International School Champion Fleece Hoodie will have you covered this school year. 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.