Family Association Meeting

Hey ISM Community,

It's that time again. Thursday night, Sept 25th at 6:30pm in the Library. We welcome you to attend our working meeting.

Vision Statement: All families will participate in activities that enrich the educational experience at The International School of Monterey (ISM).

Mission Statement: The Family Association will build a community of families by:
Working with school staff to develop motivational and fun events that complement the ISM academic program encouraging and coordinating family talent and effort.

If you are interested in finding out ways you can support ISM or just want to know what the Family Association is working on to ensure our vision and mission, please attend our meeting. Hope to see you there.

Best Regards,

Wendy Bluhm
Family Association Chair
wendy@wendybluhm.com

Fieldtrip and Math Homework

Dear Parents,

My apologies for this late note. The internet was down at school today and I was unable to get this out to all of you.

Just a couple of quick bits of information:

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Monterey State Parks in downtown Monterey for the Native American program. Student need to bring a lunch. They can pack it in a regular lunch box to reduce the amount of waste. There will be some "Native American" snacks provided: nuts, seeds, berries and beef jerky. I am aware there are several students who can not or do not eat these foods. Since we will not have another opportunity to have our own snacks before lunch at 1 pm, please make sure your child has a substantial breakfast.

Math homework: I made a mistake on the parent letter list for math homework tonight. So, if your child is saying they already did 2.8 and need to do 2.9, they are correct. You'll have to field any other excuses for not doing their homework. Sorry for any confusion.

Thanks for all of your support for the classroom in so many different ways!

Mary Welsh

ISM Prop 39 Intent to Reinroll Form

Deadline to submit form - Friday, September 26, 2008

Parents and/or guardians must complete this form for their children currently enrolled in ISM by Friday, Sep 26, 2008. Please indicate whether you intend to re-enroll your child(ren) at ISM for the coming 2009-10 academic year.

International School of Monterey Intent to Re-Enroll Form:
http://www.ismonterey.org/Documents/Office/Prop39Int2Reenroll.pdf

Undated Re-enrollment Letter/Email:
http://www.ismonterey.org/Documents/Office/Intent2Re-enroll_Ltr.pdf

Sincerely,

Karen Kushel
Office Administrator
International School of Monterey
kkushel@ismonterey.org

Request for HELP on getting a Grant

Dear ISM Community,

We need your help if you can. Dr Volante was just made aware of an opportunity to request a grant for our school. At the bottom of the email is detailed information from Dr. Volante and just below my name is a sample letter that you could use to help our school obtain this grant. If you have the time, please HELP. The deadline is Wednesday, Sep 23 at 2pm. Contact Dr. Volante with any questions.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Wendy Bluhm

Sample Letter

There is a Grant opportunity available that I want to apply for on behalf of ISM. It is through the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Parks, Open Space and Coastal Preservation Grant Program and time is of the essence. ISM is required to submit community support letters (on business letterhead) and parent support letters with the Grant application. The deadline is this Wednesday, 2:00 pm.

The ISM Grant Committee does not have time to apply for this Grant, as ISM just learned details on Friday. This grant is offered each year, and it is my understanding that each year ISM learns of this grant opportunity late, without adequate time to submit an application. This year I decided to do the best I can to submit an application with community/parent support letters. I feel it is important for ISM to at least apply.

Here is a briefing, though a bit long... and perhaps a bit redundant, as I cut and pasted from earlier request letters. Thanks for understanding.

ISM is requesting parent and community support, as ISM applies for the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Program (MPRPDP), Open Space and Coastal Preservation Grant Program.

Community support letters on business letterhead and personal parent support letters are required for the MPRPDP Grant application. Support letter are to share the importance of obtaining grant money for improving the 'open space' area of the ISM Children's Garden/Nursery and for blending natural science education with nutrition, nature, and community service restoration projects (details below).

ISM's Grant application is to improve the 'open space' on our current campus - the ISM Children's Garden & Nursery- by purchasing a walk-in greenhouse/nursery, protective fencing, nursery/gardening tools, planting pots, dirt, compost, compost bin, garden plants, seeds and other supplies, and to rebuild current ISM Children's Garden area. ISM's Children's Garden been vandalized several times. That piece of information may be helpful in the support letter.

Briefly, so you have an idea, the Grant proposal will included, but is not limited to:
- How the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Parks, Open Space and Coastal Preservation
Grant Program Grant will provide a wonderful experiential opportunity for ISM students, to further their natural sciences education and to participate with the local community and the coastal California parks and recreation areas, by improving an 'open space' area on campus and giving back to the community through growing native Californian plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and organic vegetables and participating in restoration projects, while blending in natural sciences education.
- The benefits of having a portable greenhouse,/nursery that can be relocated to the Hayes location when the school moves, next summer
- Fencing to enclose the ISM Children's Garden area and greenhouse, to protect against vandalism
- This project would benefit ISM students to be further educated in the importance of 'going green' understanding and sharing benefits of organics and native growing, living, and provide opportunities for participation in native environmental planting restoration projects with the regional parks (Big Sur, Marina Dunes, etc.)
- Our students will grow native plants in the greenhouse for improving our community, assisting to restore costal areas to encourage the natural habitat and to have experiential learning opportunities with community organizations.
- I would LOVE to have ISM students (those interested) and families to have a 'planting day' at Big Sur or the Marina Dunes, after growing native plants.
- Money from growing and selling organic vegetables and flowers will go to the continual purchase of seedlings and starter trees, plants, and shrubs, to be nurtured until they are large enough to be transplanted at local and regional park areas.

My goal is to gather several community and parent support letters and submit an application by 2:00 pm, this Wednesday.

Attached is a sample parent letter, written by a parent unable to provide a support letter for ISM. You may use this as an example, perhaps adding information from above or other information you may want to add. Feel free to call me for further information.

ISM would be grateful for your assistance with this grant application, on such short notice. If you are able to provide a letter, please let me know. I completely understand any regrets.

Say a prayer for me. I have a lot of work to do, but I am determined!

Best Regards,

Dr. Neli Volante
Counselor / Student Services
International School of Monterey
nvolante@ismonterey.org
831-583-2172

Big Saturday Work Day Thank You!

Good Morning Saturday Work Day volunteers!

I wanted to extend to each of you a sincere thank you for your efforts in making this past September Saturday Work Day a genuine success!

It started early with a Friday afternoon visit by parent and electrician, Mr. Cabanilla, who was not going to be available for the Work Day on Saturday as he was working. So, instead, he came by Friday to replace a cracked electrical outlet in Portable 3!

Noticeable improvements were made throughout the campus on Saturday, to include important several other safety-related tasks. Hours were spent shoveling sand from the lower blacktop and this was arduous work. Thank you to those of you who took on this challenging task and improved the safety of the blacktop for all of our students and staff. In addition, safety assessments were also done on the ramps for Portables 3 & 4.

Thanks, too, to the painting crew who greatly improved the attractiveness of the admin building by scraping, priming, and painting the wooden panels beneath the windows on the south side of the building. It looks super!

We do indeed have a great parent community here at ISM and the fourteen of you who took time out of your Saturday to volunteer your time are a prime example of that!

I would also like to express a special "thank you" to Bob Brown for serving as this month's event chair. He accepted the role willingly in early August and will be returning to host at least one more Saturday Work Day this school year! Thanks again, Bob!


Regards,

Lisa Griffin Burns
ISM Operations / HR Manager

ISM Saturday Work Day for September: 9/13/2008 9:30 am - 1:00pm

Saturday, September 13th from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., will be a Saturday Work Day here at ISM.

The event is being chaired by parent Bob Brown, who comes well-equipped to the task as he serves as CSUMB's Director of Campus Facilities and Operations.

Tomorrow's task list includes:
(1) TASK: Removing sand from the lower playground as our top priority safety task.
Volunteers are asked to bring flat-bladed shovels, brooms, and wheelbarrows to assist with this task. We will need a good number of volunteers to complete this task.

(2) TASK: Repairing a cracked electrical outlet in Portable 3 (Arnow) (This task is for a volunteer with electrical experience only)

(3) TASK: Painting wooden panels on south side of Admin building (Using supplies provided by MPUSD, please scrape, sand, wipe down, and paint wooden panels underneath windows on south side of Admin building.)

(4) TASK: Assessing / Repairing ramps to both Portables 3 & 4: The tops of both ramps have wood damage, posing a safety and trip hazard. If possible, please secure wood ramp pieces to the support structure. Tools needed: larger power tools & wood screws

(5) TASK: Paint railings to MS Portables (Portables 1, 5, & 6) (Please sand, wipe down, and paint railings for Portables 1, 5, & 6.)

(6) POTENTIAL TASK: Assess Technology Server Room in Library:
(Under direction of IT staff or committee member, please test computer hardware (monitors, drives, mice, etc.) to determine functionality. Mark items for eWaste disposal and mark items for use.)

ONGOING MONTHLY TASK: The campus ALWAYS needs trash pick-up, especially in the area around the lower blacktop, and the area in and around the portables. This is a great task to get children involved. Rubber gloves and trash bags are available for use for this task.

ONGOING MONTHLY TASK: City of Seaside upper playground: Please rake & level wood chips level in the upper playground. This is a safety issue task that we try to complete each month.

ONGOING MONTHLY TASK: Sort "Lost & Found" items ­ in basket in library as well as the multi-use room -- to separate clothing with names from items that are unlabeled. Once sorted, items with names can be returned to students via classroom teachers.

So whether you are a long-time Saturday Work Day supporter or new to ISM and looking for an opportunity to meet your monthly volunteering commitment to ISM, please join us for this and every monthly Saturday Work Day.

So, bring your enthusiasm and your tools -- shovels, brooms, wheelbarrows, power tools, paint rollers, brushes, nails, and screws -- and we'll see you tomorrow, Saturday, September 13th from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Operations/HR Manager Lisa Griffin Burns at 831-583-2165.

Regards,

Lisa Griffin Burns
ISM Operations / HR Manager

Student Drop-off Zone

Dear ISM Community,

You may have noticed that we now have a nicely painted zone in front of the school that is designated for student pick-up and drop-off. This area is to be used by parents, car pools, and mini-school buses for both ISM students as well as the MCOE Special Education programs on campus.

We are asking for your cooperation to use this area as a loading and unloading zone only; do not park and leave your vehicle in this location during the morning hours before school (7:30 - 8:20 a.m.) as well as the afternoon hours (2:00 - 3:40 p.m.) in order to accommodate pick-up and drop-off for both ISM and MCOE students each day. It's very difficult for students in wheel chairs to get on their buses when cars are parked in that space.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
Lisa Griffin Burns
ISM Operations / HR Manager

Request for Science Unit Supplies

We need your help in gathering supplies for our in-class science activities. Please review the list and contact nmaeng@aol.com regarding any items you can provide. We will then contact you with a confirmation prior to your bringing the items to class.

Your contribution will have a direct impact on your child's science learning experience. If any of you work for or with companies that may be willing to donate some of these supplies, please consider approaching them and let us know if you will need a donation form from ISM.

Our goal is to have communication from all of you by this coming Monday, September 15, and all of the supplies actually in our classrooms no later than next Friday, September 19.

ISM 4th GRADE SCIENCE SUPPLY LIST
EARTH'S SURFACE UNIT - 2008/09

(Quantities noted are for both classes combined)

• Samples of limestone, quartzite, sandstone, slate, and pumice -- should be small and of consistent size, about 2- or 3-inch cubes
  
• Sandpaper (10 packages)
• Straws (200)
• Modeling clay (2 lbs.)
• Safety goggles (20)
• 20 clean jars with lids, 12-ounce size, smooth sides for observation, no labels.
• 10 plastic paint trays with 1/2” hole drilled in the bottom – even better would be 10 long bus trays, also with a hole drilled at one end
• 10 5-gallon buckets (detergent or cat litter buckets are fine, no lids needed)
• 10 pint- or quart-size plastic yogurt/cottage cheese/sour cream containers to use as scoops
• Cool rocks from different places
• Play sand, 50 pounds per classroom
• Pea gravel or small rocks, 1 cu ft to share between the classrooms
• Bagged soil, 1 cu ft to share between the classrooms
• Astroturf scraps (about 1 square foot per classroom)
• Paper cups (200)
• 20 large cartons (i.e. paper boxes)
• 10 dishtowels
• Hardboiled eggs – 2 dozen (teachers will probably have to provide these)
• Plastic knives and spoons (50 of each)
• Toothpicks (2 boxes)
• Oranges, 2 dozen
• 10 Aluminum turkey trays

Barbara Okamura (Tanner's Mom)

Childcare Available for Tonight's "Helping With Homework" Workshop

Childcare is available for school-aged kids. We are requesting a donation of about $2 per child to cover the cost of the providers. Hope to see plenty of parents there! Registration is free and it's okay to register on arrival.

Ms. Arnow

We have ants...

Ants have found their way into our portable and some of the student's lunches yesterday and today. The best way to avoid problems with them is to make sure your child's lunch is completely sealed in a reusable container or ziplock bag. I prefer not to spray for ants around the students and their personal items so, if we can keep the food sealed up, we should be able to avoid problems.

Thank you.