June 2008

! We would like to say "adios and good luck" to the ISM staff members who are departing this year. They include: Associate Head of School Larry Cummins, Instructors Ronen Cohen (Grade 2), Alicia Wharton (Grade 4), Danielle Fogle and Tod Spedding (Grade 6), Maria Emilia Gatica (Spanish), Lia Hansen-Cohen (Drama), and Instructional Aides Judy Karas and Elissa McLaurin. Each and every one of these individuals has contributed to the overall success of ISM through his or her dedication to this organization, our students, parents, colleagues, and to their profession! We wish each of them all the best in their future endeavors, both overseas and here locally. We hope to hear many fascinating stories of the adventures that they encounter, whether in Africa, Eurasia, Asia, Big Sur, or in their very own living room! Once a member of the ISM community, always a member!

Thank you to each of you for making your mark on ISM! We will always remember the amazing times that we have had with you! Take care and good luck!"

May 2008

! After winning the County-wide finals for 4th/5th grade Poster category in the History Day competition sponsored by the Lyceum of Monterey, International School of Monterey 5th graders Josh Cunanan, Joseph Gordis, Cameron Mann and Parker Smith along with the other ISM
5th grade team of Chloe Estes, Jannel Mendoza, Eliza Perkins and Gina Sakoda traveled to Sacramento to represent Monterey County in the 25th Annual History Day In California State Finals put on by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. The theme for this year's competition was "Conflict and Compromise."

The boys' topic for their poster was "Baseball: Breaking the Color Barrier." Their approach centered around the ordeal that Jackie Robinson went through as the first person of color to play baseball with a major league baseball team. Their presentation asserted that this historic
event led the way to desegregation in many other areas of American life.

After meeting with the judges and presenting their project Saturday morning, May 10th, the boys found out that evening that their group, along with 7 others, had been chosen as finalists out of 23 other group projects competing in this category.

As the group and their family members attended the awards ceremony held at 9:00am on Sunday morning, May 11th, they learned that their entry had won top honors in the California State Finals which is the highest level for any 4th or 5th grade entry in this competition. This marks the first time since ISM has been competing in California History Day that a team has won the top honors in the State competition. We are very proud of these students and the dedication their 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Sally Burns, has shown to this important event.

For a complete listing of the entries in this category, go to: http://www.crf-usa.org/history_day/posters.pdf

! Congratulations to International School of Monterey music students Justin Vu (Kindergarten) and Talia Awerbuck (Grade 2) for their performances at the annual Music Teachers' Association String Scholarship Awards audition, which took place on Saturday, May 3rd in the Recital Hall at Santa Catalina School. The competition included 38 violin, viola, and cello students, each of whom performed two pieces from memory. All of these students performed their recital pieces in front of two judges as well as general audience members.

In the Lower Junior Division, Justin earned 1st Place for his violin recital as well as a $75 award! In addition, Talia, also performing on the violin, placed 2nd overall in her category and brought home a $50 award!

Congratulations to both of these young musicians!

! In a ceremony on Saturday, May 3rd at Monterey Peninsula College, top winners in the National Steinbeck Center's Young Authors contest were named. We are pleased to announced that 8th grader Katherine Hargrave won 2nd place in the Jody Award category geared for proficient and advanced writers. Her winning essay, based on Steinbeck's "The Red Pony", can be read here. As a second place finalist, Katherine was awarded $200 for her efforts. Awards were also given in other categories, such as the Gabilan Award presented to emerging writers, the Billy Buck Award for English language learners as well as the Judges Award.

As mentioned in Sunday's Monterey County Herald article, "more than 4000 students from 23 schools in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties participated in [a] day long event April 4 at the National Steinbeck Center" in which students were joined up with writing coaches who "reviewed their work" and assisted the students in improving their essays. The final assessments and awards -- announced this past Saturday --were done by a panel of experts.

In addition to Katherine, three other ISM students participated in the free all day writing workshop on April 4 at the National Steinbeck Center. They were 6th graders Michelle Parra-Feygin and Everaldo Villegas and 8th grader Maile Murphy. They were chosen based on two previous essays written in class, which demonstrated the greatest level of improvement among their peers.

We congratulate Katherine on her success!