It's Not Too Late to Sign up for the Air Show

Dear ISM Parents,

It's not too late to sign up for the Air Show! We still need volunteers for the event. If you cannot volunteer for the full day, please consider volunteering the hours that work for you.

New parents, you are welcome to sign up and meet a wonderful group of ISM parents!

We need adult volunteers to sell parking tickets from 2pm-8pm Friday, Aug 7th, and 7:15am-3:30pm Saturday Aug 8th and Sunday Aug 9th. We need reinforcement during peak hours, so if you cannot be there the whole time but can help from 9am to 2:30pm, or any length of time that works for you, it will be much appreciated. Having part-time volunteers provides relief to parents who work there full time.

We will be standing by the side of the car lanes to sell parking tickets, so please do not bring young children with you. Older siblings over age 18 and friends are welcome to volunteer for ISM too!

Please e-mail Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net to sign up or for inquiry.

Moving Volunteers for Saturday, 4/27

Moving help is needed this coming Saturday morning. Parent volunteers and trucks are needed.

The task will involve moving wooden cubbies, tables (approx. 8), preschool chairs, preschool play equipment, a couch, desk, children's trikes, a large Art drying rack, and a larger wooden planter. All of these items have been generously donated to ISM by Dina Nasrallah, mother of rising 6th grader Kaila, who has operated Ridgewood Preschool in Seaside for the past five years. In order to take advantage of her donation, these items must be picked up by the end of the month... and we are hoping to "make the move" this coming Saturday morning, potentially from 9:30 - 12 noon.

If you are able to help, please contact Lisa Griffin Burns and indicate your availability and if you have a truck to donate to the cause.

Thank you!
Regards,

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

ISM NEEDS Volunteers for the Air Show in August! Second Notice

The Salinas Air Show has been one of the great outside fundraising sources for ISM. For the 2009 Air Show, the Blue Angles will fly for three days in August.

We need adult volunteers to sell parking tickets from 1 pm to 8 pm on Friday, August 7th, and from 7:15 am to 3:30 pm on both Saturday Aug 8th and Sunday Aug 9th. I have received more than 10 sign-ups from last week's announcement, but I need more response from the ISM community to be sure we have enough people to sell the tickets, especially on Friday, 7 Aug.

Even though it is still two months away, as the show will be held a week before school starts, I need to know NOW how many volunteers we can get approximately for this event before ISM commits to this event.

Please let me know if you'd like to work for the event and for what day(s). If you are interested but not sure if you will be available, please indicate "very likely", "likely", or "maybe". Please also provide an e-mail address and a phone number that I can reach you during summer.


If it looks like we will not be able to do it and some other organizations take over our responsibility, we may not be able to get it back next year. So it's important that you sign up now.

Please e-mail Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net ASAP.

Stoves, Pets and Picnic

Hello all,

Just a few items for you...

We have been collecting pennies (and other change - Thank you all for that!) to help with supplies for families in the country of Georgia where our former ISM family, the Parrishes, are living. We heard from them yesterday that the families who have become refugees in the war are in great need of cooking stoves. There are 54 families in need and the stoves cost $30 each. Our class has about $10 dollars collected so far. We would like to send money to purchase at least one stove. The problem is, we need to get the money by this Friday before their school year ends in Georgia. If you have any change you'd like to send in, we would gladly accept it and send it on to Georgia for the stoves. Every penny counts!

If anyone has the time and desire to adopt one of our class pets over the summer, please let me know. We have 3 aquariums. One with red-bellied toads, another with crawdads and fish and the third with 2 anole lizards. They are all fairly low maintenance but do require someone to keep an eye on them.

I still need field trip forms from the following students for the class picnic on Tuesday, June 16th: Mercury, Camille. Halie, Ariana, and Vincent. Thank you to all who have offered to drive. With your help, we are in good shape for seats for everyone. Everyone will need to bring a food item to share. Please see the list sent home for the item your child will bring.

Thanks everyone,
Mary Welsh

Volunteer Opportunities

International Cafe (Sat. June 6): This event really needs help with the morning stage set-up. Please contact Lisa Burns ASAP if you are available. More information about the Cafe is available on the ISM home page. In order to reduce our paper/plastic waste, the event organizers are encouraging a B.Y.O.P (Bring Your Own Plates & Utensils!) if possible.



Field Day (Thurs. June 18): Mr. Robby needs 20 more volunteers for the DRY field events only. Easy, fun... and warmer than the WET stations! This is a great opportunity to watch the students' demonstrate their best athletic skills in silly games. Volunteers are provided with a delicious BBQ lunch. Contact Mr. Robby directly with your availability.

New Family Connections (on-going): If you've been an ISM family for years and can provide guidance for incoming families, then the New Family Connection could use your help! Please review this linked overview document and complete the form found on the ISM homepage. http://www.ismonterey.org/Documents/FamilyAssociation/NewFamilyConnectionOverview09.pdf

ISM Summer Pool Party: Meet, greet and relax at the ISM Summer Pool Party - Carmel Valley Community Pool, July 26th, from 10:00am-noon (exclusively ISM), and then noon-? (open to the public). More information to come via invitation email.

Got Popsicles?

Dear Parents,

The students all made it through the 6X, 3 minute timed test of "Multiplication Road" last week.

The deal was that we would all have popsicles to celebrate this accomplishment. Is there anyone out there that would like to provide the popsicles this time? It would be a help to me and my family's budget. (Let me know so we don't end up with too many... a nice problem to have however.) We are planning an ice cream party when all complete their 12 times problems in less than 3 minutes. There are just 7 kids left to pass that. If anyone wants to sponsor the ice cream party, please let me know.

Thank you,

Mary

Friday's Field Trip (5/15/2009)

Dear Parents,

We just had a cancellation from a driver for the trip on Friday and we do not have enough seats to transport everyone to USGS in Menlo Park. We are 3 seats short. It would be tough for me to drive for this one as we need to drop the students off in one location and move the cars to park in the parking areas. If you can help, please let me know asap.

Thank you,
Mary

Volunteers Still Needed

Hello ISM families,

If you still need to log some volunteer hours, we have some special needs. Clara Wang is heading up the volunteers for the Castroville Artichoke Festival, May 16-17. Please email her at: clarawang@comcast.net

The art smocks are badly in need of a wash. If you could take them to a laundromat and/or home to wash (be careful with the blue paint!), it would be a great help. Contact Miss Welch or send me an email at njwebb@nps.edu

Finally, Spanish/English data entry is needed in the library. Please contact Janice Barker at barkerjf1@comcast.net

Mr. Robby needs volunteers for Field Day, Thursday, June 18th. Please email him at rfabry@ismonterey.org.

Thanks for your support!

Natalie Webb
656-2013 (office)

Exciting Addition to our Apple Store Trip... Earth

We have a great opportunity to use our pizza money on Wednesday to see the film "Earth" at the Del Monte Center. Attached and headed your way by kid mail is a notice of this change - no need to return it, as we already have your permission slips.



PLEASE be sure to pack a sack lunch for your child on Wednesday, as we will not be at school for school lunch.

We will return to school at 2:30, not 12:30 as originally planned.

SPECIAL NOTE: Parents who are planning to drive for the field trip: Does this timing work for you? Is there anyone who will not be able to drive? I don't have my list with me at this time. Please let me know.

You can also drop the kids off and come back at the end of the movie if that works better.

Thanks!
Mary

Costumes Needed for Drama Classes

Dear Parents:

Spring is a time for cleaning out closets and noticing how much our children have grown during the year. As you do your Spring sorting of clothes, hats, shoes, purses, robes, costume jewelry, etc., please keep the ISM drama department in mind and donate any items you might want to pass on.

We are getting ready for grades 1-3 skits and plays and would like to have the children dress up in costumes and accessories. Our closet of used costumes could use a helping hand to expand the choices for our students.

Any donations can be brought to my office in the Mutipurpose room (Mr. Robby's office) or left in the room just off the stage. Thank you for thinking of ISM.

I will keep parents posted of performances coming this Spring with grades 1-3.

Thank you,
Elisabeth Lane
Drama Teacher, ISM
elane@ismonterey.org
831-601-6790

ISM 2008-2009 Online Yearbook

We have made a decision to have an FREE online yearbook this year! We are very excited about this option in today's economy. This will be a by email invitation only yearbook, from which you can order pictures printed as you wish! In order to have a successful ISM 2008-2009 Online Yearbook available, we need volunteers and support.

We are very fortunate that Marc Dyer (ISM Staff) has agreed to be the Online Yearbook Coordinator. THANK YOU SO MUCH MARC!

Submitting Photos
If you have any photos that you would like to submit, you may upload them (and captions) using the following "ISM Yearbook Photo Upload" tool:
http://www.coastclick.com/welsh/yearbook/

Thanks,
James Moberg, 4th Grade Communications Room Parent

Big Sur Marathon Volunteer Sign-ups Closed! Sign up for the Artichoke Festival!

The Big Sur Marathon, once again, proves to be the most popular outside-school event for ISM parent volunteers. We have more than 50 volunteers signed up. To keep the number of volunteers manageable, no further sign ups will be taken.

But there is another chance to help ISM raise funds, and we still have many volunteer spots to fill. The Artichoke Festival will be held on May 16 and 17, and we need volunteers to work from 9-2 or 1-6. We are in great need of adult volunteers. If we cannot find enough volunteers, we will not be able to do a good job. The e-mail sent out on Monday about this event is included below.

ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL
We have the chance to raise as much as $2,400 for ISM by working with the Artichoke Festival again this year (May 16 & 17). We will be in charge of the children's inflatable activities (e.g. slide, jumping house) this year. We will sell and collect tickets, keep the kids under control, and in some cases help with safety harnesses (inflatable company staff will also be there to help).

There will be two shifts on both days -- 9am-2pm and 1pm-6pm on Saturday, 9am-2pm and 1pm-5pm on Sunday. We need at least 12 adults at all times so we can make sure the operation runs smoothly.

Unfortunately, ISM students will not be allowed to work as volunteers. In order to work at the Festival, a student HAS to be at least entering their Freshman year of High School. So, if you have a child in high school, you can bring him/her! Any family members that are too young will not be allowed to hang out with you while you are working, so you are not distracted. Non-volunteer family members have to purchase entrance tickets to get in if they want to come along.

To sign up, please e-mail Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net ASAP. Please indicate the shift and day (or shifts and days!) you'd like to work.

Volunteers Needed for 7th Annual Field Day (6/18/2009)

ISM is hosting the 7th annual Field Day on Thursday, JUNE 18TH!

Please help by volunteering for our fun-filled day! You will receive volunteer hours, a free picnic lunch AND provide students with a lasting memory!

FIELD DAY SCHEDULE
8:30-9:30 Set-up

KINDERGARTEN – 5TH GRADE MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8TH)
10:00-1:00 All events + lunch 12:30-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Field + Water Events

If you can help with this enjoyable event, please fill out the bottom of this form and return it to Mr. Robby by Friday, April 27th.

If you have any questions or special requests please email me at:
rfabry@ismonterey.org. I really appreciate your help in making this a fun-filled day
for our students at ISM!

Yours in fun and fitness for kids,
Robby Fabry
ISM PE Instructor

---

YES! I am available to volunteer for Field Day on Thursday, June 18th!
Please return this form to Mr. Robby’s mailbox by April 27th.

VOLUNTEERS NAME:
Phone number:
Email address:
CHILD'S NAME:

___ I am available from 10-1 to help in the Water stations (you will probably get wet)
___ I am available from 10-1 to work in a very dry Field stations
___ I am available from 10-1 to help with the BBQ Lunch (set-up, grilling, serving, cleanup)

Extra Hours
___ I am available from 8:30-9:30 to help with set-up
___ I am available from 1:00pm-2: 15pm to help with the middle school stations

Volunteers Needed for Big Sur International Marathon

Once again, we will be able to help at the Big Sur Marathon and earn cash for our school. We need volunteers on Sunday, April 26th, from early morning to a little after noon. This is a fun event, and students fourth grades and up are welcome to help! Our job is to serve water and energy drink to the runners.

Our captains are Anu and Murali Tummala, parents of 7th grader Neeli Tummala. We will meet at the Barnyard shopping center around 6:30 am (exact time to be confirmed later), and carpool to our aid station, which is about 6 miles south of the shopping center. We will carpool back to the shopping center around 12 or 1 pm, depending on when the race is over. Traffic will be closed, so you will not be able to drive to or from our aid station on your own.

To sign up, please e-mail Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net as soon as possible. Please also indicate the T-shirt size you prefer, S, M, L, XL or XXL. I will send the volunteers more specific information after the captains' meeting the weekend before the event.

Staff Appreciation Day Volunteers Needed

International School of Monterey
Staff Appreciation Lunch – Spring Theme
Wednesday, May 20, 12:00-1:00

This year the staff will be treated to lunch prior to receiving further professional development on our minimum day in May. This is a way for parents to express their appreciation for all of the significant efforts contributed to our children by the amazing staff at the International School of Monterey.

We are asking for four parents to volunteer as Table Hosts. This obligation entails providing a centerpiece for your designated table and a party favor for each guest table (9 guests per table). The table decoration should be reflective of Spring. We will provide the food, tablecloths, utensils, etc. The goal is to make each table special and unique.

Table Hosts should be available to set up their Table decorations at 11:00 am on May 20th. Table decorations will be returned to the Table Hosts either immediately following the event, or the next day.

Please contact Jeannine Nale if you are interested in volunteering as a Table Host. She can be reached at 214-3940 or jjnale@comcast.net.

Artichoke Festival Volunteers Needed! Saturday May 16th andSunday, May 17th

We have the chance to raise as much as $2,400 for ISM by working with the Artichoke Festival again this year (May 16 & 17). We will be in charge of the children's inflatable activities (e.g. slide, jumping house) this year. We will sell and collect tickets, keep the kids under control, and in some cases help with safety harnesses (inflatable company staff will also be there to help).

There will be two shifts on both days-- 9am-2pm and 1pm-6pm on Saturday, 9am-2pm and 1pm-5pm on Sunday. We need at least 12 adults at all times so we can make sure the operation runs smoothly.

Unfortunately, ISM students will not be allowed to work as volunteers. In order to work at the Festival, a student HAS to be at least entering their Freshman year of High School. So, if you have a child in high school, you can bring him/her! Any family members that are too young will not be allowed to hang out with you while you are working, so you are not distracted. Non-volunteer family members have to purchase entrance tickets to get in if they want to come along.

To sign up, please e-mail Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net ASAP. Please indicate the shift and day (or shifts and days!) you'd like to work.

Items of Note

ISM BIG SUR MARATHON AIDE STATION – SUNDAY APRIL 26TH

Once again, we will be able to help at the Big Sur Marathon and earn cash for our school. We need volunteers on Sunday, April 26th, from early morning to a little after noon. This is a fun event, and students fourth grades and up are welcome to help! Our job is to serve water and energy drink to the runners.

Our captains are Anu and Murali Tummala, parents of 7th grader Neeli Tummala. We will meet at the Barnyard shopping center around 6:30 am (exact time to be confirmed later), and carpool to our aid station, which is about 6 miles south of the shopping center. We will carpool back to the shopping center around 12 or 1 pm, depending on when the race is over. Traffic will be closed, so you will not be able to drive to or from our aid station on your own.

To sign up, please e-mail Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net as soon as possible. Please also indicate the T-shirt size you prefer, S, M, L, XL or XXL. I will send the volunteers more specific information after the captains' meeting the weekend before the event.



ISM GALA CLASSROOM BASKET NEWS
Hello Everyone,

The time is near and here. The classroom Gala baskets are due this Friday 3 April. You may drop them off at the front office. When you drop them off, please let the staff know it's for the Gala.

Thank you so much for all your hard work. You may contact me at mykdar@yahoo.com, venus.watson@chomp.org, or 917-1114 (cell) if you have any questions.

Venus


MATH AROUND THE WORLD FESTIVAL – FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH

Dear Parents,

On Friday, April 17, Lawrence Hall of Science is facilitating a Math Festival titled “Math Around the World”. Lawrence Hall of Science writes:

Take a mathematical trip around the world! Timeless games from across the globe come together to challenge students' probability, logic, and strategy skills. From Native American Game Sticks to Lo-Shu Puzzles of China, students exercise their ability to focus and problem-solve—traits necessary for succeeding in math. Maps and historical information blend social studies and geography with mathematics.

Mrs. Madden is still looking for parents to help with the Math Festival scheduled for Friday, April 17. There will be 12 stations set up and a volunteer is needed for each station. Check your calendars and come help out!


Volunteers Needed !!!!!!
Math Festival Station Supervisors

Friday, April 17
Session 1 (Grade K-2). 9-9:50 am
Session 2 (Grade 3-5). 10:05-10:55 am
Session 3 (Grade 6-8). 12:25-1:15 pm
*each volunteer must arrive at least 20 minutes before their scheduled session (for a station orientation).

Role:
- each volunteer will be in charge of a single station.
- volunteers make sure students who come to that station, 1) understand the activity, 2) get a chance to participate.
- volunteers will be given an information sheet with a brief description of the activity and some pointers as far as how to help the students.
- volunteers will also maintain the equipment at the station and tidy up the station between sessions, and pack up equipment at the end of the event

Please contact Nikki Madden ism.nmadden@gmail.com or nmadden@ismonterey.org if you are available to support this important (and fun!) educational opportunity for our ISM students. Thank you!

Volunteers Needed: Math Festival Station Supervisors

Friday, April 17
Session 1 (Grade K-2). 9-9:50 am
Session 2 (Grade 3-5). 10:05-10:55 am
Session 3 (Grade 6-8). 12:25-1:15 pm
*each volunteer must arrive at least 20 minutes before their scheduled session (for a station orientation).

Role:
- each volunteer will be in charge of a single station.
- volunteers make sure students who come to that station, 1) understand the activity, 2) get a chance to participate.
- volunteers will be given an information sheet with a brief description of the activity and some pointers as far as how to help the students.
- volunteers will also maintain the equipment at the station and tidy up the station between sessions, and pack up equipment at the end of the event

Please contact Nikki Madden (ism.nmadden@gmail.com) if you are available to support this important (and fun!) educational opportunity for our ISM students. Thank you!

Gala Preparation Volunteers

ISM Gala coordinator Carrie Miles has issued a "please help" request for gala preparation volunteers. She needs a few people to help stuff the Gala invitation envelopes this week so they can be sent out by the week's end. This can be as simple as picking up a stack of invitations and envelopes at the front office and assembling them conveniently at home.

If you are available to assist with this time-sensitive project, then please contact Carrie Miles for further instruction (clmiles33@aol.com). You can, of course, log this time towards your monthly volunteer hours!

School Site Committee Membership Openings

The ISM School Site Committee is is a group of parents and school personnel charged with the responsibility for surveying and interpreting the ISM school communities' opinions regarding all aspects of the school program. The School Site Committee is also charged with the responsibility for providing input into the development of ISM school programs.

Parents serve 3 year terms of membership on the ISM School Site Committee. There will be three openings for parents to serve on the School Site Committee beginning this month, January of 2009.

If you are interested in serving on the ISM School Site Committee, please contact me immediately.

Eric Pearlstein
Associate Director
(831) 583-2165
epearlstein@ismonterey.org

Open House - January 19, 2009 1:30-4:30pm

Hey ISM Families,

You are receiving this email from me as it was suggested you might be a wonderful asset to the ISM Open House this Saturday. We are in need of families to help familiarize the potential incoming families next year with our amazing school. Children are welcome and can assist with helping the incoming students with getting to know our school too. Your role for the most part would be to mingle with the families and take them on tours. If you are at all interested and available please let me know as soon as possible so that I can ensure enough families are in attendance.

The open house is from 2 to 4, so your help is welcomed from about 1:30 to 4:30... we can do shifts too!

Thank you so much for being a part of the ISM Community and for your support.

Best Regards,

Wendy Bluhm
ISM Family Association

Parent Letter - 12/9/2008

Dear Parents,

Here is an update to the weekly update:

We are planning to visit the Gateway Center for developmentally disabled adults next Tuesday morning. Our plan is to leave school right after recess at 10:10 am. We would arrive at the Gateway Center in Pacific Grove at approximately 10:30 am. We will to sing one or two songs, present the residents with homemade ornaments and holiday cards the students make. We will also bring a few food items to either share or leave for them. We will load the cars to come back to school at 11:15 and should arrive back by 11:30 or so. I will send permission slips home tomorrow.

If anyone can spare a couple hours out of their Tuesday morning to drive, it would be most appreciated. We will need 24 seat belted seats and you need to have been finger printed and a copy of your car insurance left at the ISM office. Please let me know if you can help.

The students have one more writing project to complete by next Wednesday. It is on how a geologic event on Earth affects or has affected people. We are working on them in class as much as we can. You can support your child on this by helping them find information on their topic. They can use one internet site. They can use the online encyclopedia from the Monterey Library as another reference. They need to have 3 references in all. The result should be a 5 paragraph essay due December 17th. They will present their topic and paper in class.

I am thinking of having a "Secret Santa" sort of gift giving for the class. Though we have not talked about it as a class, Ms. Bene gave me an idea for making it fairly simple. The students would all choose a secret gift recipient from the class. Next week on Wed., Thursday and Friday we would give the gifts.

• Wednesday's gift would be a small treat.
• Thursday's gift would be something homemade.
• Friday's gift would be something under $5.

If this seems o.k. with everyone, we'll go ahead and choose names. I will try to have a couple of extra things in the class if anyone forgets their gift.

Best wishes,
Mary Welsh

Items of Note

1. Report cards will be sent home with your children tomorrow, Wednesday, December 10th so please ask your child about them when they arrive home.
   
   
2. Many parents have asked about help in setting up carpools, on the ISM website, at the following link, is full instructions about how to go about setting this up with ISM's carpool coordinator, Denise Wood: http://www.ismonterey.org/ISM_carpool.html All of this info and much more is located in the Parent Resources section of our website.
   
   
3. For those of you who are having difficulty with logging your volunteer hours on our new PTO Manager website, Natalie Webb, the PTO Manager will be here this Thursday, December 11th from 2:50-6:00pm to help guide you through the process. You can meet her by the mailboxes in the front admin office.

Thank you!

Volunteers needed for Fund Drive

Hello all, I am writing today as I am looking for your help any day or days next week to help get the message out regarding our current financial situation at ISM. The goals for the week is to raise $15,000.00 and to educate as many families about their need to help fund their child's education. I will need people from 7:30-8:30 every morning next week, handing out flyers and talking with folks. The flyer will be simple and created by The Foundation outlining how money comes into ISM and how it is spent and what happens when there is not enough... the consequences. This flyer will also be in English and Spanish. We will also pass out donuts to folks that give. Can you help? Please e-mail me the day or days you may be available to help.

I look forward to raising $15,000 in needed funds and to getting as many folks educated regarding the cost of an ISM education.


Ellen Gaucher
2060 Baldwin Court
Seaside, CA 93955
831-394-1395 voice
831-393-2858 fax
elgaucher@sbcglobal.net

Volunteers needed soon!

Dear ISM families,

Lou Perske called me yesterday and made a special request for ISM. He would like to make the school look cheerful for the holiday season, and asked me to coordinate getting enough people and materials so that we could tie some evergreen sprigs (branches?) with red ribbon and put them on all ISM doors.

If you could contribute in some way to this project, please let me know as soon as you can. I don't have any special expertise with the materials, making door decorations or hanging them, but I'm willing to coordinate.

Thank you!

Natalie Webb
volunteerPTO@ismonterey.org

Halloween Festival "Thank You" to Volunteers

Lisa and I would like to express our most sincere thank you for all of your help in communication, donations and of course your time. Without all of you we would not have had a successful Festival. This year was a tremendous exercise in patience and flexibility of which we are deeply appreciative of your parent volunteers and the staff.

As the day progressed, I was unable to capture everyone's name that assisted. Please remind your parent volunteers to log-in their time on the PTO. Finally, we would love to hear your feedback. Please email your thoughts, observations and suggestions on making next year better and more fun for all to swanstom@gmail.com. With this review from you, we will be able to improve and grow next year.

Once we have pictures available from our fabulous photographers, we will let you know.

Thank you again,
Michele Swanston & Lisa Moberg

Permission Slips, Money and Drivers Needed

Dear Parents,

Our upcoming field trips are in jeopardy of being canceled. We do not have all of the permission slips, money or drivers to make the trips happen. Please send in your child's forms and money by Tuesday, Oct. 28th.

If you can drive on either trip, please let me know asap. We need 12 more spaces for the Wednesday trip this week and 15 spaces are needed for next Thursday's trip. I know it is a lot to ask of you but, I hope you will be able to join us and learn about the history of California on the trip too.

Does it sound like I'm begging yet?

[Names of students and the forms and funds needed was sent via email.]

Thank you for all of your support!

Mary Welsh

Come Cheer for ISM Teachers at Big Sur Half Marathon!

Fourth grade parent Jun Meng (father of Charles Meng in Ms. Arnow's class), Mr. Robby, Mrs. Stephanie and Mr. Brandau are running in the Big Sur Half Marathon! Come cheer for them while you volunteer. They need all your support!

Volunteer hours are from 6am to 11am, on Sunday, November 9th. Our duties are to serve water and energy drink to runners when they pass our aid station. Students 3rd grade and up are welcome to help too.

To sign up, please contact Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net, or sign up through PTO Manager. The race is less than two weeks away, so sign up today!

Thank you!
Clara Wang

Parent Update 10/26/2008

Dear Grade Four Parents,

First of all, I'd like to thank all of the parents who helped to drive and chaperon our field trip last Thursday. We had a great visit to the sand dunes at Seaside Beach and learned a lot about the habitat and restoration. We are looking forward to starting the seeds we collected and going back to the dunes in the winter to plant the seedlings we grow. None of this could have been done without the help of parents who helped us out that day at a very short notice. Thank you one and all!

The 4th grade picnic at Casanova Oak Knoll Park on Friday was a very nice and well- attended event. Thank you to all who came and joined in on the fun and meeting one another. The food and company were wonderful. Thank you all for the birthday card and singing!

We have another busy and fun week ahead. We have our field trip, along with Ms. Arnow's class, to San Juan Bautista Mission on Wed., Oct. 29th. We still need drivers (!), field trip forms and payment for the trip. If you have not sent in your child's forms and money, please do so tomorrow. We will have to cancel the trip if we don't have enough drivers.

Our next trip, the following week, Thursday. November 6th to the Monterey State Parks for the Rancho program, also still needs drivers, forms and payment. Please send this in as soon as possible as well. Thanks for your response!

Boxtops are due on Monday so we can be part of the contest to win a movie and smoothies in class. We hope to be the winners!

Our class will be taking a standardized test in Math on Tuesday morning. This is just a practice test for McGraw Hill Company. Please assure your child the test does not count but we hope they all will do their best. Each class taking the test will receive some money from the company. We will save to these funds to help with field trips.

Halloween is Friday. The ISM Halloween Festival on Friday starting at 1:00pm. Students can bring their costumes and can put them on at lunch recess. Costumes should not be worn to school although it is a free dress day.

Spelling will resume this week. Look for your child's words in their planners and bags to sort and write at home. In math, we will be working on number stories and true and false number sentences, The McGraw Hill test will take place during one of our math periods. In reading we are continuing with book clubs and, in writing, working on writing good paragraphs with topic sentences, main ideas and conclusions.

Conferences will take place next week. Look for a note about sign-up times in your child's homework folder this week. Please remember we are on our field trip to the State Parks on Thursday, Nov. 6th during the early dismissal for conferences so, I am adjusting my times to help that happen.

Have a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Mary Welsh

ISM Halloween Festival - Friday, October 31

Hi Parents,

Don't be frightened, but we have attached a letter and included a link to some flyers from the Halloween Festival organizers for you to read. Please do. It looks like it will be a fun day. Everything's been planned out and organized really well, now what's needed are some volunteers and a few items donated. Here is an overview of what's happening, and what you can do to help:

The festival will be from 1:00-3:00 on the 31st, with many fun activities held at various locations on campus, beginning with a costume parade. Volunteer responsibilities have been categorized per class, and ours is running the Die-Cut Photo Frame activity table. We need two volunteers per 4th Grade class... Anyone, Anyone?

As far as what our classes are responsible for in terms of supplies and food/water, we have been asked to provide the following:

• 10 Cases of Water per class (perhaps 1 case each for 10 people per class?)
• Die Cuts for decorating frames and photo printer paper

Also, there will once again be a carved pumpkin contest, but this year the organizers have asked that students bring their pumpkin(s) to their classroom on Thursday, Oct. 30.

If Trick Or Trunk is something you want to participate in, you can sign up on ISM's volunteer website or through Lisa Moberg at lisa@landolinks.com.

Parent Letter
http://www.coastclick.com/pdf/IntroLetter_Halloween08.pdf

Check out the ISM volunteer website and this file containing flyers to find more details about the day:
http://www.coastclick.com/pdf/2008_HalloweenFest_Parent.pdf

Finally, please e-mail or call us with questions or to sign up for the volunteer or supply opportunities specific to our classes.

Thanks!

~ Karen Monahan and Barbara Okamura

Half-Marathon Volunteer Opportunity and Box Tops Contest Information

Half Marathon Volunteers Needed - Sunday 11/9/08 from 6-11am

We have the chance to work at the aid station at Lover's Point for the Monterey Bay Half Marathon again this year. Our duties are to set up tables and prepare energy drinks before the runners arrive, serve water and energy drinks to them when they pass our station, and sweep the cups away with rakes. Students 3rd grade and up are welcome to help too. They will mainly be pouring water or energy drink into paper cups. It is a fun event for the whole family. Come join the fun!

To sign up, please contact Clara Wang at clarawang@comcast.net or sign up through PTO Manager.


Kids bring in your Box Tops!

The class that collects the most Box Tops will win an in-class movie and enjoy made-to-order smoothies.

Turn in your Box Tops to your teacher by Monday, October 27th

ISM Help with a Ladder, Lunch or Recess, and Spanish Tutoring

ISM needs help. If you can do any of the following, please read the paragraphs below and respond directly to Mr. Eric Pearlstein, epearlstein@ismonterey.org.

Thank you!

1. Loan ISM a tall extension ladder
2. Help with supervising lunch or morning or afternoon recess
3. Tutor Spanish (for new ISM students who have little or no Spanish background)

Here's the longer request from Mr. Pearlstein:

1. Is there a parent with a tall extension ladder. I would like hang our "Dream Flags" for our celebration of Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 which will take place at the flag pole. We would need to install eye hooks the week prior and then string the flags Tuesday morning before the ceremony.
   
   
2. Would there be one or two parents who might be available one or two days a week to help supervise during lunch periods? The idea would be for children to have the option of eating outside on the grass one or two days each week. The teachers assigned to supervise could split up, one inside and one outside and then a parent could provide supervision, watching as children leave the lunchroom and walk to the grass area.
   
   Might there be any parents available to help supervise during morning or afternoon recess? With the loss of aides we could use a few more adult sets of eyes.
   
   
3. Would there be parents or grandparents who are native Spanish speakers or fluent in Spanish who could tutor children who are new to ISM? Often these kids have little or no background in Spanish. The program we might develop, and how it might work would depend on the background of the tutors and the time they might be available.

ISM SEM "Elementary Chinese" help needed (Fridays)

We have a SEM on Friday that has had a bit of a snafu with having a permanent instructor. SEM's started last Friday, 9/19 and this session runs through November 21st with the Fridays of 10/10 & 10/17 off due to the break, 10/31 off due to Halloween & Nov. 7th off due to conferences. The SEM is "Elementary Chinese" and has about 20 students ranging in grades from 1-4th grade with one (1) 6th grader.

We are looking for anyone with a knowledge of Chinese culture or who is creative enough to come up with a template for a session who would like to step up and run this SEM either for the whole rest of the 7 week session or even just pieced together one week at a time with different instructors. The SEM's are from 1:50PM TO 3:10PM and we could supply you with a helper if needed. The content of the SEM would be entirely up to you. As you know, most of our kids are so hungry for knowledge about anything international, they would be thrilled with whatever you have to offer.

Please let me know immediately if you can help tomorrow, 9/26 and/or any other week during the SEM session.

Thank you so much!

Karen Kushel
Office Administrator
kkushel@ismonterey.org

Drivers for Wednesday 9/24 Field Trip

Here is the list of drivers I have for the field trip on Wednesday, Sept. 24th to the Monterey State Historic Parks for the Native American program:

- Barbara Okamura
- Kathleen Hill
- Sonia Perez
- Debra Istenes
- Ming-Chiann Chou
- Therese Mayone (maybe)

If there is someone I missed that can drive, please let me know. Mrs. Mayone has another commitment and driving for the field trip would be difficult on Wednesday. We plan to leave school around 8:30am to be at the Pacific House by 9:00am for our program. We will be leaving Monterey around 2:30pm to come back to school.

Remember, if you can make it to the beach clean-up tomorrow morning, we will meet at Del Monte Beach near Wharf #2 (where people fish) at about 9:00am. After the clean-up we will hang out at the beach to build sand castles and eat. Bring hats, sunscreen, food for yourselves and some food to share (if you can). We should be around until about 12 unless the turn out is low.

Have a great weekend,

Mary Welsh

Coastal Clean-up Day and the 4th Grade

Hello parents,

If you don't have plans this Saturday, please think about joining us at the beach for Coastal Clean-up Day, Sand castle building and fun.

Ms. Welsh

Dear Grade 4 Parents:

Here is a great opportunity for us to have a fun get-together and do a quick service learning project at the same time. It is very short notice, so don't worry if it won't work out for you and your family, but we thought it would be fun for those who can make it.

This Saturday is California Coastal Cleanup Day. It's a day when communities up and down the coast get together to clean our beaches. You can check out the Monterey County Coastal Cleanup website at

http://www.parks.ca.gov/montereycoastalcleanup

We are planning to be at the Del Monte beach site from 9 to 12. Afterwards, let's have a potluck lunch and build some sandcastles! If you are planning to join us, please fill out the waiver (PDF) and send it back to school. (It's okay to just show up, too.)

Looking forward to doing the right thing and having fun, too!

Laura and Mary

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

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)

ISM Volunteers Needed for the Salinas Airshow

We have a fantastic group of ISM parents signed up to work the parking area at the Salinas Air Show on the weekend of Sep 27 and 28th, and yet we still need more people to make it work. We are hoping to fill 24 spots for both days, 7:15 AM to 3:30 PM.


click for creditsISM volunteers will sell parking tickets at the show for this event. Our volunteer work will bring money to the school from the Air Show as well as put ISM positively and visibly in the community. Bring friend to volunteer with you for ISM, their hours count as your hours, and you can enjoy the show together. What a great deal!

We are asking for adult volunteers only because of the money exchange involved. As we will be selling tickets right by the car lanes, please do not bring young children along unless you have someone to supervise them.

All volunteers get access to the Air Show, and lunch and beverage will be provided.

To sign up or ask questions, please e-mail clarawang@comcast.net and don't forget to log your hours using PTO Manager!