MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School
Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents ISSUE # 22
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 01 TO 05, 2010

From the Middle School Office

Dear Parents:

We had an exciting Reader’s Week in the Middle School. Focusing on the theme A Banquet of Books, the
Media Center was transformed into a space where students did some taste testing and challenged their
noses on identifying some familiar, and perhaps unfamiliar, aromas. Book lists were also made available to
the students, and we encourage everyone to keep reading so that they can cast their votes for the Bearcat
Award. Thanks to Ms. Karen Stewart and the library staff for organizing a memorable week.

Please be advised that the CWW (Classroom Without Walls) Information Session scheduled for Wednesday
February 3rd has been cancelled due to extremely low attendance in previous years. Information will be
sent out via your child’s Homebase. Please make sure to keep an eye out for the information and return the
signed permission slip to school via your child. Each grade level has been busily planning and preparing the
activities, and the week is bound to be a memorable one. If you have any questions about the activities,
please contact your child’s Homebase teacher.

Have a relaxing weekend!

Sincerely,

Danielle Fredericks Clarissa Sayson

Middle School Principal Middle School Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events PowerSchool Grade Update

February 06 International Family Fun Day

Feb. 12 - MS Progress Reports
06 Service Learning Trip: Gawad Kalinga
10 Grade 4 to 5 Student Transition Assembly (1:00 P.M., LT) Feb. 26 - Grade Update
10 Grade 4 to 5 Parent Transition Assembly (5:00 P.M., LT)
12 All (MS & HS) Choirs Concert Mar. 12 - MS Progress Reports
15 to 19 Classroom Without Walls (CWW)
22 School Holiday (EDSA Revolution Day)
23 to 26 Middle School Course Registration Information
23 Grade 8 Parent Meeting—Transition to High School
25 Middle School Parent Coffee (7:45 A.M., LT)
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Grade 5 Report Cards

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Grade 6 Report Cards

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Grade 7 Classroom Without Walls - Letter to Parents

Grade 7 Classroom Without Walls
Club Balai Isabel, February 15-19, 2010

Dear Parents,

As you know, Classroom Without Walls week is approaching fast, and we are currently finalizing the schedule
for the week away. The aim of the ISM Classroom Without Walls program is to promote students’ personal
growth and development while enhancing their life skills through an experiential program. We are committed to
providing students with a challenging, enjoyable, safe and positive out-of-school experience where they can
learn more about themselves, others, and our host country, the Philippines.

This year in Grade 7 we are focusing particularly on the concept ‘Who am I and what can I give to oth-
ers?” From Club Balai Isabel the students will participate in a trip to Taal volcano and sessions:

The great outdoors – Environmental education including kayaking, tree planting and earth art
Who am I? - Creative writing and meditation
Service to the community – work with a local school

Students will also take part in a number of other chosen activities and sports. They will work with their Home-
base in a number of activities and they will also have a chance to meet new students in mixed groups. Back in
school on Friday we will work on reflection activities, discussing and demonstrating all that they have learned
during the 4 days away.

Please note that security is something ISM takes very seriously. ISM security guards accompany the students
to each of the sites and are present for the entire duration of their stay.

The CWW Parent Info evening on the 3rd of February has been cancelled due to very low attendance in previ-
ous years. Therefore, if you have any further questions about the week away, please contact your child’s
Homebase teacher directly or email me at stannardc@ismanila.org.

Many thanks
Caroline Stannard
GLC Grade 7
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Grade 8 Classroom Without Walls - Letter to Parents

26 January 2010

Dear Grade 8 Parents:

The CWW Parent Information evening on the 3rd of February has been cancelled due to very low attendance
in previous years. Instead of an informational meeting, please follow this link http://sv0007/ms/cww/grade%
208%20page.htm for a detailed explanation about the various Grade 8 sites if your child has not briefed you
already.

Grade 8 CWW week (February 15-19) is divided into two categories:

Local sites – These are daily trips within Metro Manila.
Provincial sites – These are overnight trips that are an hour or more outside Metro Manila.

Your child made a site selection in late November. According to the preferences identified, your child was as-
signed accordingly. By now you should have already seen and signed a Parent Permission form for your
child’s site. If you have not signed a form yet, please follow up with your child; the permission form should be
given back to the site leader.

Please note that security is something ISM takes very seriously. ISM security guards accompany the students
to each of the sites and are present for the entire duration of their stay.

Should you have any specific questions please feel free to email your child’s site leader or make an appoint-
ment to meet with them.

Local Sites and Site Leaders:

PAWS – Philippine Animal Welfare Shelter – Ms. Filipa Pavic PavicF@ismanila.org
Makabata – Mr. Peter Curry CurryP@ismanila.org

Provincial Sites and Site Leaders:

Caliraya – Ms. Diana van der Merwe VanDerMerweD@ismanila.org
CCV – Chosen Children’s Village – Mr. Alan Drayton DraytonA@ismanila.org
Geo Farm – Mr. Dave Allen AllenD@ismanila.org
Subic – Mr. Giorde Pasamba PasambaG@ismanila.org
Stairway – Mr. Marc St. Laurent StLaurentM@ismanila.org

The CWW week is a vital part of our curriculum and students are expected to attend. In the rare event that
your child is unable to attend the CWW trip, please contact the Principal, Ms. Danielle Fredericks in writing
(fredericksd@ismanila.org).

The CWW week is a fantastic bonding experience for our students and also a wonderful opportunity to give
back to the community through Service Learning projects. Students from past years have often said it was one
of the highlights of their grade 8 year, and have testified of the real and meaningful bonds they have made with
others on these trips. We hope to have 100% participation in this year’s CWW program.

Ms Diana van der Merwe

Grade 8 Team Coordinator
VanDerMerwedD@ismanila.org
Contact no. 09179158218
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From the PTA Office

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Calling all ISM Parents & Teachers!!!

International Family Fun Day - ISM's annual PTA-organized site "Sari-Sari" store or cou-
event to bring an afternoon of FUN, entertainment, and an pons so that kids can enjoy
incredible international array of food to all ISM families and games and yummy treats!
faculty - is set for Saturday, February 6th, 2-6 pm on the MS Bring your family, volunteer one
Field. hour, and then spend the rest
of the time enjoying all that
To make the event a success (and help ISM's Community Family Fun Day has to offer!
Service efforts), we need MANY volunteers willing to donate
just one to two hours of their time for what really is a fun and Please consider volunteering for Family Fun Day - we need
memorable afternoon. And the first 50 volunteers who sign YOU to make this a great day - and contact Janice Powell
up will be given a special Family Fun Day tee-shirt to com- (benpunky@yahoo.com), 0916-357-7720 or Sonali Hutchi-
memorate the special day! son (sonalidale@yahoo.com) to sign up to volunteer or for
more info. Thank you!!!!! "
Helping out is even more fun since as a volunteer you'll be
an active part of the memorable day - selling items at the on-

From the ATAC Office

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From the Fine and Performing Arts Office

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Middle School Photos

If you purchased your child’s school

photos, they are available for pick
up in the MS Office.

Activity Equipment
As of Monday, February 8, activity equipment will be available for borrowing during break and
lunch. Your child has the opportunity to use the courtyard and equipment for physical activity.
Equipment will be rotated for over the upcoming four weeks.

From the Environmental Council

ECo is proud to announce the official opening of…
The ISM Community Garden!

(Photos of ES, MS and HS gardeners in action)

Interested in getting involved in a community project without leaving campus?

Want to know more about this school-wide initiative?
Looking for learning opportunities outside of your classroom?
…Or just keen to get your hands dirty?

dig no deeper,

see you on Monday, February 1st, 3:00-3:30 P.M. in the Little Theatre…
and then a short walk…

(NB. This garden is for everyone. All members of our community are most welcome)
www.ism-online.org/gogreen/
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IASAS Art & Music Festival Housing Need
Dear ISM Parents,
IASAS Art/Music Festival is fast approaching! March 3-
7th! Please see sign up letter and information included in
this bulletin.
I would like to ask for your assistance with housing for a
visiting IASAS Art/Music student. We require 160 housing
placements for this event. If you have not housed before
it is great chance to meet fantastic students from our
IASAS schools. Requirements are listed to give you an
idea of what is needed if you say yes.
IASAS Art and Music Festival: Housing require-
ments/details:
Housing needed from Wednesday night, 3rd March
until Sunday morning, 7th March (4 nights).
• A bed/futon/fold-out couch or comfortable place for
guest to sleep.
• Provide transportation to and from ISM each day.
• Provide a breakfast each morning.
• Provide one or two evening meals (Wed and Thursday
most likely. Evening meals not required on Friday or
Saturday.
• Be at home in evenings (coaches will make curfew calls
each night at 10pm to check students are at home).
• Treat and welcome your guest as you would like your
own child treated if they were attending an event at
another IASAS school and being housed.
PAGE 10
If you can assist with housing visiting students
please print out the letter attached, fill it in and return
the slip to ATAC or Fine Arts office. Please call/email
Joan in ATAC office or Rochelle in the Fine Arts of-
fice if you have any further questions.
In addition there will be a fantastic event for ISM com-
munity and lovers of the Fine Arts to attend on Fri-
day, March 5th. The Art Exhibition opening in the FAT
Gallery and then the Festival Concert in our FAT on
Friday afternoon/evening will be a great showcase of
all the hard work done by the IASAS participants.
All art pieces from IASAS delegates will be on display
for viewing prior to the festival concert featuring all
IASAS Strings, Band, Piano and Vocal delegates un-
der the direction of our visiting conductors. The high
quality of artwork on display and the incredible musi-
cal talents of the IASAS participants will make for a
great evening of arts and music at this year’s ISM Art
& Music Cultural Convention. Tickets for this art exhi-
bition/concert will go fast and will be available soon.
More details to come in upcoming bulletins.
I look forward to your support to make this a great ISM
community event.
Mark Pekin
Athletics & Activities Director
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IASAS ART & MUSIC HOUSING FORM

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Materials for Recycling

WANTED
Recycled materials for assemblage sculptures
You may need a clean up at your place. If so, feel free to recycle those unwanted goods.
♦ Old toys (can be broken or not working)
♦ Containers
♦ Jewelry or beads
♦ Utensils
♦ Ceramic plates or tiles
♦ Christmas paper
♦ Boxes
♦ Old appliances

Please deliver to room 1169 (near the clinic).

From Admissions Office

Update your contact information!
Please get in touch with the Admissions Office or Middle School Office if there has been any change in
your home address and other contact information.
We want to keep you updated with what is happening in school.

IF YOU HAVEN’T LOGGED ON TO POWERSCHOOL…

We’re on the web!
please call the Guidance Office at 840-8555 or email msguidance@ismanila.org to obtain
www.ismanila.org your username and password.