ICS PTSA NEWSLETTER

September 17, 2023

See the ICS Calendar for more upcoming event dates.

FROM THE PTSA

ICS RUNS ON DONATIONS

At last week's parent meeting we passed our annual budget, which funds the unique programs and traditions that make ICS work. Now we need parent donations to help to fund it. We ask for a $250 donation per family, with additional corporate matching funds when possible. Thank you!

ICS-COMMUNITY BACK TO SCHOOL MULCH PARTY

It is time to prepare our grounds for fall with mulch, mulch, mulch! We will be working on the east side of the building (ICS side) for our first event, September 23, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.

We meet RAIN or SHINE. Please bring shovels, pitchforks and wheelbarrows if you have them. LABEL your tools. Do not take home tools that do not have your name on them.

Water will be provided. There will not be bathroom access, please use the facilities before you come. Children are welcome if they are able to contribute - load, unload, wheel, etc. Younger children should be left at home.

Please print, sign and bring this waiver when you arrive. SignUp here. Report your hours on the ICS PTSA website.

Both ICS and CS families are welcome to participate. There will be a second event in October to mulch the west side of the building.

2024 ART DAY PREPARATION

There are many ways to contribute to Art Day this year. First of all, you can join the Art Day Committee; we have the following chair openings:

Movement and Dance Chair: Coordinate movement and dance classes and help class instructors

You can also run a class! Art Day classes are learning sessions that offer art experiences from different cultures. Each Art Day class runs for three 90-minute sessions, with about 20 students per session. Parents can submit Art Day ideas at

Art Day 2024.

Please don’t forget to leave your email address along with your idea to help us contact you. Please contact artday@icsptsa.org Albert Li (ali@icsptsa.org) if you are interested in volunteering opportunities or have any questions.

ICS SKI BUS 2024

We are planning to run ICS Ski Bus 2024 similar to how it was run last year. To read about the last year program, please see the description here. If you are interested in participating this year, please fill out the interest form by September 30. If you have further questions, join the WhatsApp group. For the program to run we need at least 40 students signing up.

ICS MATH CLUB

The registration for Math competitions throughout the academy year 2023-2024 is now open. This year ICS PTSA Math Club is going to continuously help ICS Mathletes to participate in school-based competition events such as MATHCOUNTS (MC) and MATH IS COOL (MIC).

1. MATHCOUNTS provides engaging math programs to US middle school students of all ability levels to build confidence and improve attitudes about math and problem solving.
2. Math Is Cool is a fun and popular mathematics competitions in Washington State emphasizing mental math, problem solving with speed and accuracy, and team work collaborations. 

This year, ICS PTSA Math Club won't be able to host AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) competitions (AMC 8/10/12 and AIME). The students who are interested in the competitions, can find alternative locations at MAA website.

Math Club will host an information session at 7:00 PM, September 30, via Teams Meeting, about the registration and the competition. Please stay tuned with Math Club.

FALL CAMP

Camp runs from October 4-6. It is a very exciting activity for our school. Please read closely all emails from the principal regarding this event. Many details are still being worked out, but the final plan will be great! All our chaperone spaces, except for High School Dads (able to commit to both nights), are full at this time. Email questions to president@icsptsa.org, we will be happy to answer as we know more.

FROM THE DEI COMMITTEE

Welcome to the DEI section of the Newsletter! Each week we will bring you information to highlight different aspects of DEI in addition to sharing cultural celebrations that are occurring throughout the year. Our goal is to bring awareness to what DEI is and how we can celebrate our similarities and our differences! So what exactly is DEI? 

D stands for Diversity. Have your student look around the classroom- what do they see? People from different races, genders, ages, religions, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, language, physical ability and socioeconomic status. It’s our diversity that gives us different ideas, opens our minds and teaches us different ways of seeing the world. Let’s be open to learning how others think and let's take the time to learn about each other!

E stands for Equity- Fair treatment and equal opportunities for everyone. Everyone is treated the same and given the same opportunity to learn, join clubs, play sports despite their race, where they come from, language they speak, religion, physical ability, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender or religion.

I stands for Inclusion- Let's create an environment in which anyone feels welcome and feels supported and valued to participate.

ICS is a school where we embrace diversity, where we include everyone and offer the same opportunities for everyone and celebrate our differences. Be on the lookout for events the DEI committee will put on throughout the school year and if you have ideas on events you would like to see or join our committee, we would love to have you! Contact Tarek at tazoz@icsptsa.org

The first holiday we want to highlight is Rosh Hashanah, which translates to "Head of the Year." This year it starts on September 15 and is celebrated for 2 days. It is also known as the Jewish New Year. On Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the previous year and think about our goals for the upcoming year. Jewish families eat challah (traditional bread) that is round shaped, symbolizing the eternal cycle of life. Apples are dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet New Year, and the shofar (ram’s horn) is blown to symbolize the start of the New Year. Want to learn more? Watch this short video to learn how Rosh Hashanah is celebrated!

REPEATED ARTICLES

ICS LOGOWEAR ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN

We are excited to announce that the Logowear Online Store is now open! Order your spirit gear using this link and be sure to put your child's name on the order especially if you choose to pick up at school. The online store is open for a limited time - only through September 30th, so get yours before it's too late. Samples for some sizes, materials and styles are available at the student services office. Orders will arrive at the end of October. If you choose "pick-up" as your shipping option, your order will be delivered to ICS.