Parent and Student Surveys May 2009

The ISM School Site Council (SSC) has as one of its primary goals to facilitate communication between ISM families, students, staff and the school. The School Site Council consists of: Executive Director Eric Pearlstein, Kindergarten Specialist Instructor Kim Reimer, Grade 1 Instructor Audrey Shapiro, Grade 3 Instructor Peggy Brown, and ISM Parent Lynn Goldstein.

On an annual basis, a series of three online Zoomerang surveys -- a Parent Survey, Staff Survey, and Student Survey -- is disseminated to the ISM community to collect valuable feedback from each of these groups. Information gathered from these surveys is then used to provide input to update the ISM Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan serves as the road map to direct all aspects of ISM's growth and development.

We have now launched the online Zoomerang surveys and the Parent and Student surveys can be accessed by following the respective links below. The Staff survey will be forwarded separately to the ISM staff.

SSC Parent Survey May 2009
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB2296EY37FDX

SSC Student Survey May 2009
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22966RN2F72

We kindly ask that all ISM parents take 5 - 10 minutes in the coming days to complete the Parent Survey. Simply click on the top link and follow your way through the online survey. Your feedback is so valuable.

In addition, we also encourage you to assist your child to take the Student Survey. The process is the same. Click on the Student Survey link and complete the survey in 5 - 10 minutes.

The deadline to respond is TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009!

On behalf of the School Site Council, we thank you so much!

Lisa Griffin Burns
ISM Operations / HR Manager
Tel: 831-583-2165
Cell: 831-521-4900
Email: lburns@ismonterey.org

Celebrating Success: ISM Students @ 2009 State Science Fair

Hello All!

As we head into this three-day Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to be sure to sing the praises of (1) our 6th and 7th grade students who recently competed in the State Science Fair competition, and (2) announce that an ISM 8th grader has been chosen to participate in the People to People Sports Ambassador Program! Here's the good word:

1. ISM STUDENTS COMPETE AT STATE SCIENCE FAIR:

This past Monday, May 18th and Tuesday, May 19th, nine current ISM students (and one ISM graduate) and their families traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the 58th State Science Fair held at the Science Center adjacent to University of Southern California. In this competition, there were 900 student entries from throughout California. Our participating ISM students had the opportunity to view a wide variety of remarkable projects, listen to exciting speakers, as well as present their own projects at the state level.

With much pride, ISM had nine students qualify for this honor! They are as follows:

* Sinead Casey, Grade 6
* Justin Clausen, Grade 6
* Logan Allen, Grade 6
* Edenne Flinn, Grade 6
* Riley Gaucher, Grade 6
* Robin Myers, Grade 6
* Daniel Noel, Grade 6
* Jack Morgan, Grade 6
* Brian Clark, Grade 7
* Jared Clark (brother of Brian, former ISM Student, and current 9th grader at York School)

We are so proud of these students for their success at the Monterey County Science Fair and for their involvement in and experience gained at the State Science Fair! Thanks also go out to their wonderfully encouraging parents for supporting their attendance in Los Angeles.

I would also like to specifically thank ISM parent Ellen Gaucher for reporting in details for this announcement!

2. ISM STUDENT & SEASIDE ATHLETE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN PEOPLE TO PEOPLE SPORTS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
(as reported in a People to People News Release)

We are thrilled to announce that "Cody Washington, a Seaside resident, athlete, and 8th grade student at the International School of Monterey (ISM) in Seaside has been chosen to participate in the People to People Sports Ambassador Program. In July 2009, Cody will travel to Europe where he will train for and compete in the sport of football at the Youth Friendship Games in Vienna, Austria. Cody is 1 in 25 athletes from the United States who will be competing in the 13-15 year old group.

In addition to building athletic skill, Cody will earn University credits while getting to know the people, culture and history of Austria. He will take part in a variety of activities such as donating to a children's charity, visiting the Mauthausen concentration camp and talking to a Holocaust survivor.

Selection into the Sports Ambassador Program is a honor. After being chosen, Cody participated in a successful interview with program coaches and leaders.

Cody will be met overseas and accompanied by a team of experienced coaches and teacher-leaders. The athletic delegation will be escorted by a local delegation manager who coordinates the cultural and recreational excursions and is very familiar with local customs."

ISM students and staff are so very proud of Cody's success and look forward to hearing first-hand of his experiences upon his return from Austria!

Congratulations again to each of these students and their parents for their success!!!

Have a great holiday weekend!

Lisa Griffin Burns
Operations / HR Manager
Email: lburns@ismonterey.org

MBARI Field Trip Reminder (5/22/2009)

Dear Parents,

Just a reminder of our field trip tomorrow to MBARI in Moss Landing.
Students may wear free dress. They need to wear layers as it is often cold there.
Everyone needs to bring a lunch and drink. We will be eating on the beach so the less waste in the lunches, the better.

Thank you,

Mary

Thursday Night (5/21/2009)

Dear Parents,

On Thursday night for the Spring Arts Night, our class decided to dress like beach/surfer folks and Gold Miners. The beach/surfer dress should be appropriate for the performance - long shorts and beach t-shirt or something like that. Boys long swimsuits would be fine with a shirt.

Girls could also wear long shorts and a beachy shirt. Swimsuits for girls would NOT be appropriate for the performance. The miner's would wear jeans or work pants and a long sleeve shirt (possibly plaid or similar). A straw hat for the minors would be fine too. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.

Students will need to be in the classroom at 6:15 pm. You can pick them up after the program back in the classroom.

Thank you,
Mary

Study Guide for Math Test

The study guide for the math test tomorrow is below. The students will also be given a copy and we are reviewing today.

Study Guide – Unit 10

Part A

1. Draw shapes with no, one, two or multiple lines of symmetry.
2. Identify a translation.
3. Identify a rotation.
4. Use a transparent mirror to draw the reflection of the preimage.
5. Use a transparent mirror to draw the other half of the figure across the line of symmetry.
6. Give fraction, decimal and percent equivalents.
7. Add and subtract fractions.

Part B

1. Add positive and negative integers.
2. Solve a number story involving addition of positive and negative integers.
3. Identify and measure an angle.
4. Estimate the products and quotients of problems involving decimals.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Free today (5/20)

I've been meaning to make sure you all know that the aquarium is free today to Monterey County residents. It might be a nice way to spend some of the afternoon if you have the time on this early release day.

On each 20th of the month until October 20th, the aquarium is free to Monterey County residents as a gift to the community to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Note: I still need field trip forms from Kareem, Cy, Ariana and Tanner for Friday's trip to MBARI.

Lastly, thanks to those watchful parents who have caught my typo on group C's spelling words. "neckace" should be "necklace". Sorry about the mistake.

All the best,
Mary Welsh

Reminders - 5/20 Early Dismissal, Book Fair and 5/21 Spring Concert

We wanted to remind you of three important events for this week:

Early Dismissal day – Wed. 5/20
Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20th is an early dismissal day, school is out promptly at 11:30am and children must be picked up immediately as all staff attending a meeting at 12:00 noon. Please be sure to make any arrangements you might need to have your children picked up on time.

Spring Concert - Thursday , May 21st at 6:30pm
This Thursday, May 21st is the Spring Concert for ISM. Please make sure all K-5 students attend the event, as they all have specific roles to play in their performances. Students should go directly to their classrooms at 6:15pm to wait for their turn to perform. You may then pick them up in their classroom after the concert is over. As this is a community event, we would like middle school students to attend as well. Middle school art will be on display in various locations throughout the school, mainly in the MUR and art room and the art teacher, Karen Welch, will be here to answer any questions you might have. The MUR will be open at 6:00 p.m. for parents to view the 6th-8th grade artwork.

ISM BOOK FAIR WED. 5/20 THROUGH THURSDAY 5/28
The ISM book fair is beginning tomorrow, and will be open various hours through the next week. It will also be open the evening of the Spring Concert on Thursday so you have many opportunities to shop for great reads!

Thank you,
ISM staff

Parent Update - 5/18/2009

Dear Parents,

Thank you to the many parents who helped out on the field trip last Friday to the US. Geological Survey Open House. We couldn't have done it without you. Though it was a long drive, the students all found interesting things to do and learn. My group had fun playing Geopardy, Gold Panning, making their own earthquakes and other hands-on activities. Others also learned what to do in case of an earthquake, saw a bald eagle and other fun things. Please thank Claudia Paul, Leann Ruffin, Glenn Harrell, Barbara Okamura, Debra Istenes and Theresa Curatalo for their help in making the field trip happen.

There are several things going on this week for you to be aware of. Wednesday is an early dismissal day. The students will be out at 11:30 am. Afterschool care is available but you must sign up in advance. Thursday evening is the Spring Arts Festival in the evening. The program starts at 6:30 pm. Students need to meet in the classroom at 6:15. Our class will be singing the California state song as taught to them by music teacher, Sherry Porter. We are still working out what the students will wear. We will determine this tomorrow in class and I will let you know.

Friday is our field trip to MBARI to test our thermosensors made in class with Mr. Wheat and Ms. Paul. I have not received all of the field trip permission slips yet so, if you haven't sent it in, please do so tomorrow. We are still in need of drivers for the trip. At this time, we have space only for 13 students. If you can drive, please let me know. We will be back in time for SEM classes.

Homework this week will be:

Monday
Math: Study Links 10.5
Handwriting: Page 83
Reading: Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Spelling: Sort and write words

Tuesday
Math: Study Links 10.6
Handwriting: Page 84
Reading: Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Spelling: work with words

Wednesday:
Math: Study for test
Handwriting: Page 85
Reading: Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Spelling: work with words

Thursday:
Come to the Evening program
Reading: Read 20 minutes and record in planner
Spelling: Study for test

All the best,
Mary Welsh