ISSUE # 32

SY 2014 2015

MIDDLE SCHOOL
WEEK OF:
MAY 4 TO 8

Friday Bulletin

Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents

Inside this issue:

Dear Middle School Parents,
Today was our Middle School second semester activity day - a great opportunity for students
to interact with each other in a different context outside of the classroom. Students took part
in a series of four different sessions from friendship bracelet making to board games to different sports and games. Teachers and students left the walls of the classroom behind for the
day to focus on finding balance and building connections with others they normally wouldn't
interact with. It was an extremely hot day and so we ended up modifying the track and field
event as we did not want students outside for too long.
Next week we will present to our community the musical Wind in the Willows under the direction of Ms. Carrie Grev. Students across Middle School will perform on Wednesday for the
Elementary School and then performance for the community on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, with a Saturday matinee performance. The content is suitable for children and
adults of all ages, come and enjoy and be taken away to the forest.
Amanda has been away this week with Pearson Education training with PowerSchool and
building our schedule for next school year. With 720 students and the different courses
offered, building our schedule is a complicated process to ensure that we provide students
with their choices and balanced schedules of students, along with teachers having schedules
that support collaborative planning time to enhance learning. After the schedule is build and
we then take time looking at each individual students schedule and class groupings.
The Middle School Art exhibit opens next week in the Fine Arts Theater lobby. Art from all
grade levels in Middle School will be displayed, with the official opening taking place on Thursday May 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Yours in Education,
Simon Gillespie, Middle School Principal
Amanda Pekin, Middle School Assistant Principal

Dear Parents,
We are looking for some parent volunteers to come in and speak with a small group of grade 8 students about
a variety topics related the grade 8 Advocating for Change (AFC) project. The Topics are:
Climate Change
Contemporary Slavery
Gender Equality
Infectious Disease
Water

Overpopulation
Poverty & Hunger
Renewable Energy
Urbanization

If you think your work experience/background could help students understand this topic better and your
willing to come in for a 45 minute session please email stlaurentm@ismanila.org and we can send you more
information.
Thank you,
Marc St. Laurent, Middle School Counselor

Athletics & Activities

Clinic
Superintendents Office

Admissions & Advancement

ISM Upcoming Events

Events & Activities:

MAY

National Holiday

4-14

MS Art Exhibition

7-9

MS Play

13

MS Concert

15

Grade 4 - 5 Parent
Transition Meeting

28

Grade 8
Advocating for Change

After-School Activities Office:

Fourth Season Dates:
April 13 - May 29, 2015

May 16: K-12 Dance Recital

May 29: Last day of AFAC

The practice schedule for HS season 4 is posted on notice

boards and on the ATAC blog. Season 4 runs from Apr 13th
to June 3 and is an opportunity for some 'off season' training
opportunities for the HS teams in readiness for next SY. Not
all sports are catered for however quite a few of the coaches
are keen to get started and see the students getting involved
and prepared. Current gr. 8's who will be freshman next SY
are welcome to join. All HS athletes intending to tryout for
teams are encouraged to attend during 4th season however
training is not compulsory and cannot be mandated by
coaches.

Parents and students please take some time to peruse the

ATAC blog it has a wide variety of information and links to
our sports and activities program. If you have any questions
regarding the competitive program of sports at ISM after
reading the information on the blog please send an email
to pekinm@ismanila.org and I will endeavor to assist you as
best I can.
Bearcat Den- drop by our fantastic spirit store. There is a
range of new products and items to purchase including items
from our service partners. Bearcat Den hours of operation7am-4pm Mon-Fri.

Well done to our ISM climbing team and the Sailfish swim
team members who took part in last weekend's trip to Cebu The ATAC game schedule pdf which is updated regularly by
and our swim meet here at ISM. . Check Sailfish blog for meet Triz Gonzalez (ATAC Athletics Coordinator) gives the most up
result details.
to date information on where/when and who our Bearcat
teams will be playing throughout the school year. Access to
Good luck this weekend to our ISM Bearcat Gymnasts who
the game schedule is via the ISM parent portal. Use this link
will be traveling to Singapore to compete at the SACAC Gym- to access the parent portal, log in with your user name/
nastics meet. This will be great preparation for our own
password and look for the ATAC Game Schedule tab. RememGoodwill meet May 9th here at ISM. Best of luck to our parber to refresh the page when the pdf schedule appears so
ticipants and coaches.
you view the most current schedule.
Best Bearcat wishes to HS touch athletes Ali Preysler, Andy
Mark Pekin
Preysler, Ysabel, Ayala, Kayla Uytengsu, Coach Dodd and
Director of Athletics and Activities
Coach Wislang who are taking part in the Women's World
Cup Touch competition this week in Australia as a part of the
Philippine National Touch team. Good luck to our ISM participants, ISM alums who are part of the squad and the entire
Philippine Python National team squad members.
Upcoming dates:
May 1-3: SACAC Gymnastics meet at Singapore
May 8-10: MS Mixed Touch trip to Jakarta
May 9: ISM Goodwill Gymnastics Meet
May 16: ISM Judo Meet
Saturday Community Tennis for semester 2 is ongoing. See
link for information on dates and how to book. Use of the
courts is only available to ISM community members. Outside
guests are not allowed http://atac.ism-online.org/atac/
saturday-community-tennis/
Please note the practice times for the following ATAC programs: ATAC all year round teams- 3:15-4:30. Sailfish/
Gymnastics and all HS seasonal teams now conclude practice
at 4:50pm each day. MS seasonal teams 3:10-4:45pm. The
last bus is now 4:55pm and all after school programs will conclude by 4:50pm in order to try and clear the campus prior
to 5pm due to the ever increasing traffic concerns in our area.

Tetanus (Lockjaw) Vaccination

Tetanus (Lockjaw) is caused by the Clostridium Bacterium. Their spores are resistant permanent forms which are
found worldwide in garden soil or dust.
The disease causes painful tightening of the muscles,
usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw
so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus
leads to death in 50% or more of all cases.
As a teen or adult, do I need this vaccine?
Everyone needs protection from tetanus. If you have not
had a booster shot in 10 years or more, you should receive
a tetanus shot. However, you should get the Tdap vaccine
(the tetanus booster that also protects against pertussis) as
soon as possible if you have not yet received it. You can get
Tdap no matter when you last got a Td booster shot.
It is good practice and clinic routine to give a booster
shot without delay after the slightest scratch acquired outdoor, if the person is not protected. This can be quite disruptive if travelling. Smaller hospitals outside the NCR often
do not carry the vaccine.
College freshmen are generally required to have an updated immunization record.
While all our young students are protected - since the
vaccination is a school requirement - students aged 16
years and older, teachers and parents may need a booster
to be protected for another ten years.
What are the risks from Td vaccine?
With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance
of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their
own. Serious reactions are also possible but are rare.

Dear Parents,
I do want to remind you of the importance of completing the registration process for your children before the deadline date of May
22nd. PowerSchool closes on that date, and our assumption will be that a student who has not registered by then is leaving at the end
of the school year. We have many applicants at every Grade level on our Waiting List, and on May 25th we shall begin the process of
offering all available slots. As I am sure you understand, for those people relocating to the Philippines, their plans are on hold unless
and until they have guaranteed places in school for their children.
If you know already that you are departing in June, please inform Admissions of this as soon as possible. By doing so, you are making
life much easier for incoming families. The deadline for informing us of your planned departure is May 22nd. Please note that past
practice is that those who let us know they are leaving after this date will forfeit $1000 of their Facilities Upgrade Deposit.
The school year is galloping toward the finishing line, and we are looking forward to examinations, performances and graduations. I
hope these next seven weeks bring your children all that they hope for.
Best wishes,
David Toze
Superintendent

Leaving ISM?
Please be reminded that parents are obliged to officially inform the School in writing through a WITHDRAWAL NOTIFICATION FORM if their children will not be returning in August for School Year 201516. Families are encouraged to submit the Withdrawal Notification Form, stating the student's final
date of attendance, immediately. Forms must be submitted on or before May 8. Failure to submit the
form by that date may lead to a deduction of US$1,000 from the Facilities Upgrade Deposit (FUD), in
compensation for having held a space for your child, preventing the School from offering that space
to another candidate.
The Withdrawal Notification Form can be obtained from the Admissions Office or directly from the
ISM website under Admission > Re-Enrollment & Withdrawal > Withdrawals
Please feel free to contact the Admissions Office at 840.8601 for questions or clarifications.

Important information on Re-Enrollment for SY 2015-16

Dear Parents:
We will begin on-line Re-enrollment for school year 2015-16 on Monday, March 16. As before, parents will have to log into PowerSchool in order to
do this. Below are instructions to help. If you are not sure of your PowerSchool log-in or need support, please contact your school office.
Please note that you must complete re-enrollment by May 22nd at the latest. PowerSchool will close on that date until the start of the new school
year. We have over 500 students on our waitlist, and we will assume that your children are leaving if you have not completed the re-enrollment process.
Step 1: Log-in to PowerSchool
Step 2: Look for the Re-enrollment Clearance icon on the left hand panel. Click on the icon.
Step 3: Create your Re-enrollment Clearance Form. You will receive an email notification verifying that you have been successful updating your childs
record.
Students entering Grade 6 will be required to
download and complete the Physical Examination Form
(including ECG results) which should be submitted to
the ISM Health Clinic
Students entering Grade 7 will be required to
download and sign the Drug Policy Form which should
be submitted to the MS Office.
Step 4: Tuition and Fees: Please settle your accounts
through our Cashiers Office.
You must settle your accounts for SY14-15 and pay the
first quota of tuition fees for SY15-16 to receive your
Final Clearance Notification for your child to attend class
on August 6, 2015.
Re-enrollment must be complete in order to receive a
students Class Schedule.
Class Schedule distribution dates are as follows:

August 03, 2015: Grade 5 and 6

August 04, 2015: Grade 7 and 8
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Sign up to host grade 10 and 11 students for the week of June 8 12th. For Career Experience Week to be successful it will need the
support of the ISM community, please sign up today!
Sign ups are easier than ever before, just contact me and fill out the
survey with basic information regarding your company or organization!
Google Sign up form: http://goo.gl/forms/2z6tncYDOR
Or contact Crystal Cappuccio at cappuccioc@ismanila.org

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