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The new calendar is now posted on our website
and is also available on the credenza in the front office.
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Welcome to ISM's weekly newsletter for the week May 16 - 20,
2005. Please note that the ISM news brief is now distributed to
ISM families primarily via email, unless otherwise requested,
thereby saving time and money. We appreciate your continued diligence
in accessing the information contained in this document. To request
hardcopy notification, please contact editor Lisa Griffin Burns
at lburns@ismonterey.org
or call at 583-2165.
Over the past several weeks, we have said good-bye and good luck to seven wonderful students who have departed ISM to attend other schools in the area or who have moved out of state. This will always be a characteristic of our fluid ISM community and although it is sad, we are appreciative of the time they did spend at ISM, their amazing contributions, and the wonderful memories we have of each of them. They are: Grade 7: Mariah Heller and Cody Gabel; Grade 6: Jor-el Vaasborg; Grade 5: Waleed (Willi) Nafei and DaEun Shim; Grade 4: Connor Gabel; and Grade 3: YoungEun Shim. Prior to or shortly after each student's departure, we do conduct an exit interview with each family to gather vital information, such as why a student is leaving, forwarding telephone numbers and addresses as well as positive and constructive feedback regarding our curriculum. As we are a developing school with many more years of growth ahead, the information garnered from our outgoing families is shared with staff, incorporated into program and curriculum evaluations, and overall serves to further strengthen our school.
Mr. Spedding's Grades 2/3 class rightfully deserves huge kudos for their very professional presentation last Tuesday of Yeh-Shen! The staging, music, acting, lighting, and narrating of this traditional Chinese Cinderella story was done amazingly well by the youngsters of Mr. Spedding's class. Looking around the multiuse room that morning was rewarding as all audience members' eyes were glued to the stage, intent on not missing the next element of the musical. Congratulations to all involved in making Yeh-Shen come so beautifully to life, to include all the parent contributors who donated materials, suggestions, and their valuable time.
Last Tuesday, May 3rd, Alexander Crosby, Executive Director of the Chapman Foundation, and Bob Cole, Director of Intensive English Programs from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS), visited ISM to see first-hand how our students are benefiting from technology integration in our Spanish language curriculum. For several years now, the Chapman Foundation has funded ISM's Spanish and Arts program and this year, based on a Chapman grant also awarded to the MIIS, we entered into a collaborative relationship in which our Spanish instructors were able to gain expertise in implementing technology in the classroom through year-long instruction at MIIS. Mr. Crosby and Mr. Cole were thrilled to see our "kids in action", comfortably displaying their ability to use technology in school, via internet research, PowerPoint presentations, and the Candia-designed Spanish websites. Mr. Crosby was pleased to see that the Foundation's grant monies had been well spent on the projects and trainings and he was very impressed with our students' energy and enthusiasm. He took the opportunity during his visit to congratulate teachers as well. (See item #1 below in the ISM Foundation section of the news brief to read more about the latest Chapman grant that ISM will receive.)
"Please spell the word congestion." Deepti Gopinath, a fourth grader in Ms. West's class heard this request and after spelling this seventh grade word correctly, became ISM's first ace speller, beating out nearly 60 fellow classmates to win ISM's first-ever K-7 spelling bee. The concluding Spelling Bee Assembly was held last Thursday, May 5th with five students, Charlotte Chuen and Neeli Tummala (Grade 2), Deepti Gopinath and Harry Tregenza (Grade 4), and Maile Murphy (Grade 5) making it to the final round. Charlotte and Neeli were ousted by the fifth grade words of "compensate" and "expansion", respectively, while Harry was bested by the seventh grade word "analyze" and Maile incorrectly attempted the 8th grade word "exhilarate". We were pleased with the number of students who participated in this event - nearly one third of the student body -- as well as the consistent support students in the audience displayed for the spellers who were eliminated. Congratulations, Deepti! We'll see you next year as you challenge other students for your spelling crown.
Sixth and seventh graders at ISM are invited to join middle schoolers from neighboring King Academy (Grades 6 - 8) for their final dance this coming Thursday, May 5th from 3:15 - 5:00 p.m. To attend, students need to purchase a ticket for $4.00 from King representatives who will be stopping by ISM tomorrow. For those who do not pre-purchase their tickets, they may still attend; however, the cost jumps to $10 at the door. Dancing games, musical chairs, food and drink will be available as well as pizza for sale. It is bound to be a fun, afterschool party!
During the weeks of May 16 - June 1, 21 of Ms. Shephard's seventh graders will be presenting their Affinity Projects, representing year-long research on a student-chosen topic of personal interest. Thirty-minute presentations will take place in the ISM library and students will be speaking in front of a panel of interested adults who will provide feedback on each student's work. Encouraged to take a responsible and professional approach to their presentations, students will be arriving early on the day of their scheduled presentations to set up the room and may either wear dress appropriate to their topic or "business attire". To be fully prepared, students must have the following displayed at the presentation: a research report, a journal (with 12 one-half page entries), a poster, PowerPoint, Hyper Studio, or movie display, a demonstration, and an artifact. Affinity Project topics include anime (Japanese animations), fossil hunting, dragons, archery, taekwondo, gymnastics, safe and fun computer use / instant messaging, firearms, color guard, Kevin Smith movies, Women's National Basketball Association, photography, history of hip hop, history of rock music, juvenile law, hula, basketball, and skateboarding. Community members interested in serving on an Affinity Project panel are asked to contact Mrs. Shephard at 583-2165 (school), 883-1066 (home) or via sandral50@yahoo.com.
Emily Shifflett, Grade 5, will be boarding a plane bound for Washington, D.C. next October to participate in the Eisenhower Leadership Conference! Recommended earlier this year by her teacher, Ms. Sally Burns, Emily will spend a week touring the nation's capital and learning about our country's political process and heritage. Students who have shown an interest in political affairs and leadership were recommended by their teachers for this program, and it is no surprise that Emily was chosen. Since stepping foot on the ISM campus three years ago, she was an eager advocate for launching ISM's student government program, regularly meeting with Mrs. Jahn to discuss her ideas. Congratulations, Emily!
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The Spring Arts Concert entitled "Globetrotters" is just two weeks away, taking place on Thursday, May 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the multiuse room. In an exciting programmatic twist, this concert will showcase ISM's music and drama programs, under the superb direction of Mr. Michael Dvorak and Miss Annalisa Moore, respectively. Audience members will take an hour-long journey around the world via international music and an exploration of worldwide animal rights issues. If your child will not be attending this special event, please let Mr. D (mdvorak@ismonterey.org) or Ms. Anna (amoore@ismonterey.org) know immediately, so that any necessary changes in the program can be accommodated now. Thank you!
Please note that the deadline to register for this in-house summer camp program provided by Lisa Wicheal-Loomis, our Afterschool International and Fresh Lunch Program Coordinator, is Monday, May 30th. To date, interest has been minimal among existing families, with incoming students' families registering the greatest response. The themes will be: June 13 - 17: Kidlympics, June 20 - 24: Crazy Characters and Their Awesome Adventures, and June 27 - July 1: Road Trip USA. Camp will be offered Monday through Friday at 8:20 a.m. until 4:20 p.m. at a cost of $110 per week. If minimal enrollment is not met, the camp may be cancelled, so do not delay in registering if this is a serious summer care option for you. The registration deadline is firm as it allows Miss Lisa adequate time to order and receive necessary camp-related supplies prior to the start of the program.
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