WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF FOR
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005

Welcome to ISM's weekly newsletter for the week May 23 - 27, 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.

1.GOOD LUCK TO DEPARTING ISM STUDENTS: ROUND 2 In the coming days and weeks, a number of our military families will be moving on to their next postings, beginning with Dillon Cox, Grade 7, and his family this Thursday, May 26th, followed later by Rebecca Kinstler and Victoria Stokes, Grade 6. We certainly appreciate the strong and consistent contributions made to our ISM community by these students and their families and we will miss them greatly. In a fitting acknowledgement, we are including here a wonderfully honest and enlightening goodbye letter written by Victoria:

But, since I'm also moving to, there are a lot of high points as well. I get to start over; I get to meet new friends as well as keep in touch with old ones. I get to see relatives before going overseas all over again. I get the special attention of all my classmates and am not shunned the last day of school because all everyone is doing is groaning and moaning about not seeing their crushes again until next year. I get to go sightseeing in ITALY! I get to play on different sports teams. I get to be anyone I want! I can buy my prom dress in the fashion capital of the world.

And you know which part of the glass I choose to look at? In this situation, I see the glass as half-full! Even though I'm going to miss the things that I won't be here for, I have something even more special than that. I do not know where I will be in the near future, whom I will meet, or how I will change. I am not put in the same school for all my life; I don't have the same group of friends forever. I get to move to exciting and exotic places. I get to meet people from all over the world and learn about many other cultures.

I get to plan my future path; my future doesn't plan my path!

2. GRADES 1, 2, 2/3, AND 7: ON THE MOVE ON FRIDAY Last Friday may be a worthy snapshot of life at ISM that makes us "a little different" from more traditional public schools as we had not one, but four classes participating in field trips off campus, one of which was an overnighter. Miss Touryan's first graders joined forces with Ms. Diamond's second grade class to attend DLI's annual Language Day events. Together with Spanish instructors Rene and Alejandra Candia, and parent volunteers Janice Barker and Cynthia Duvall, they were transported by a DLI-provided luxury coach to downtown Monterey. The kids LOVED the bus, by the way! From all accounts, they had a blast dancing on stage, watching cultural performances, talking with foreign language experts, and playing with snakes (part of a wilderness exhibit). ISM's student participation for the second consecutive year, one of only a handful of elementary schools present, was even noted by the MC! Perhaps a little weary from their adventures, they were back on campus by 1:30 p.m.

Mr. Spedding's Grades 2/3 study of boats, boating, and hull design culminated last week with an overnight camping visit - Friday to Saturday -- to Lake San Antonio, in south Monterey County. Accompanied by our resident surfer, Mr. D., and Miss Wharton, not to mention a bevy of parent chaperones, students tested a variety of watercraft, including their flotilla of class-designed, built, and decorated skiffs, made from a single sheet of plywood. These were the boats on display recently outside Mr. Spedding's classroom. From the photos attached, you can see the youngsters clearly had a fabulous time. Thanks, once again, to all who made this trip possible!

Lastly, Mr. Landrum spearheaded a trip with the 7th graders on Friday to the beautiful Point Lobos State Reserve to allow his students to take their observation skills outdoors. They surveyed shrubs, flowers, trees, algae, birds, otters, sea lions, and harbor seals. There is an abundance of life, ranging from Monterey Cypress trees, harbor seals, Monkey flowers, and poison oak to trentepohlia (bright orange algae). Mr. Landrum extends a big thanks to all his parents who drove students to the reserve without whom the trip would not have been possible.

The 1st, 2nd, and 7th graders were all back on campus by 2:00 p.m. in time to take part in SEM, Schoolwide Enrichment Model, classes. The line-up this last 5-week session is quite varied, thanks again to our amazing parent volunteers who have stepped forward to share their interests. Examples include hiking, volleyball, swimming, PowerPoint, jewelry making, floor hockey, book club, garden construction, and science for kids. These opportunities, considered "extra", curricularly non-essential, perhaps a "liability", or simply impossible in other school settings, are designed to augment our inquiry-based goals at ISM and we all - students, staff, and parents alike - benefit from the expenditure of time and effort!

3. SPRING "GLOBETROTTERS" CONCERT 5/26/05 The Spring "Globetrotters" Concert is this coming Thursday, May 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the multiuse room. Concern spread last Tuesday when parents and students alike thought they had missed the Spring concert; they had noticed the painted canvas sign hung in the front of the campus advertising Manzanita's concert and believed it to be our event. Alas, there is no need for alarm, as the creative team of Dvorak and Moore, better known as "Mr. D." and "Miss Anna", will unveil their unique "Globetrotters" concert this Thursday evening. The evening will also highlight ISM's band and orchestra directed by Mr. William Gee, our Instrumental Music instructor, as well as ORFF-Schulwerk inspired music performances led by Mr. D and staged by Miss Anna. For those of you who attended our "Ocean of Rhythms, Sea of Voices" December show, you will, once again, appreciate the non-traditional approach to showcasing student achievement in music and the arts at ISM. We look forward to seeing you all there! PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A REQUIRED STUDENT EVENT WHICH REPRESENTS A PORTION OF EACH STUDENT'S INDIVIDUAL MUSIC GRADE. PLEASE DISCUSS EXEMPTIONS FROM PARTICIPATING WITH MR. D PRIOR TO THIS WEDNESDAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!

4. 2005-06 3RD AND FINAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD Tonight is the lottery for the third and final enrollment window for 2005-06 applications received by Thursday, May 12th at 5:00 p.m. This is important as community members dispense information regarding ISM and our application process. We are no longer accepting applications for the coming school year and are turning our focus to registering our 100 new students as well as re-registering returning students. For friends, colleagues, family members, and acquaintances interested in ISM, please let them know that we will begin accepting applications for the 2006-07 school year November 1, 2005. Depending on wait list length, we may, in the coming months, be accepting applications in the upper Grades for 2005-06. If that occurs, we will post that change on our website, so encourage interested parties to visit our site regularly.

5. GRADE 6 PREPARES FOR INAUGURAL ISM SCIENCE EXPOSITION As the school year winds to a conclusion, Grade 6 students have been busy focusing on individual science projects. Using the scientific method, they have designed and performed a variety of experiments over the past several months. In addition to presenting their projects in class, 6th graders will have an opportunity to share their work with the ISM community during an evening Science Exposition on Wednesday, June 1st from 6:30 - 8 p.m. This evening will mark our first-ever Grade 6 ISM Exposition and the further strengthening of scientific inquiry in the Middle Years Program. Refreshments, to include pizza, will be provided by ISM with parents contributing flavorful side dishes. This event is open to the all ISM students and families, so please stop by. Anyone interested in judging student displays on Tuesday, May 31st, contributing food, or assisting with set-up/clean-up, please email Mr. Landrum at mlandrum@ismonterey.org.

6. FIRST-EVER ISM TALENT SHOW / FIELD DAY In addition to Field Day being held on the last day of school, Friday, June 10th, we will also be debuting our first-ever student talent show in the morning during an all-school assembly beginning at 9:05 a.m. Auditions were held last Wednesday (5/18/05) on the lower blacktop with Miss Anna, Miss Wharton, and Ms. Rodda serving as judges and the variety of talent was amazing! Incredibly, over 50+ students - representing 30 acts -- will share their musical (instruments, song, and dance), athletic (gymnastics, karate, jump rope, and yo-yo), and entertainment (comedy and magic) talents. All grades are taking part and the event was the brainchild of our Student Government President, Jordan Kausin. Thank you to all who auditioned! Following the talent show at approximately 10:40 a.m., Field Day will kick into high gear under the direction of Miss Livingston. Those parents who have volunteered in the past are encouraged to do so again and newcomers are eagerly welcomed, as well. Contact our P.E. instructor at 583-1265.

7. INCOMING 2ND GRADE TEACHER SEEKS APARTMENT REFERRAL Bridget Sweeney, our incoming 2nd grade instructor, will be arriving in the Monterey area by July 20th and is asking the ISM community for assistance in locating a suitable apartment for rent. What follows is her wish list for her "dream apartment": monthly rent of $900 - $1100, possible carriage house / guest house in someone's yard or attached to a home with a separate entrance, 2 bedrooms and any number of bathrooms, and located in Monterey, Seaside, or Pacific Grove. Additional amenities could be: kitchen with dishwasher, balcony or patio, close to beach or park/nature trails, as many utilities included as possible, approved for cat, cable/internet hook up, and fireplace. Anyone who has any leads on an appropriate apartment for Bridget are asked to contact either Lisa Griffin Burns at lburns@ismonterey.org or Chrissie Jahn at cjahn@ismonterey.org.

8. LYCEUM SUMMER CLASSES "Join us for Summer fun!" is the invitation that Lyceum class providers offer summer program attendees. The Lyceum of the Monterey Peninsula is a wonderful non-profit locally and one that we can heartily recommend for summer fun alternatives. Please visit their website at www.lyceum.org or call them 372-6098 to learn more about their offerings or to register for known classes.

This section is for news from the ISM Foundation.

1. DON'T FORGET: BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION! Where's the excitement? Where's the love? Our classroom collection boxes are hungry! So, feed them! This is the fourth and final week of our Box Tops For Education classroom competition which concludes this Friday, May 27th by 3:20 p.m. Our last collection yielded $250 for ISM. Remember, the class that brings in the most Box Tops will receive an ice cream party and the winning teacher will be treated to a Starbucks gift card. So collect, clip, and submit by Friday! Please contact our Box Top Coordinators, ISM parents Lisa Seva'aetasi and John Nahas, with any questions.

This section is for non-ISM activities and events of interest to our school community. If you have an activity that you are supporting and wish to share with the ISM Community, please submit details on the news item to Erin by the Thursday prior to the week when you would like to see the item appear. You can bring your items into the office in hard copy, or you can email them to Erin at emorita@ismonterey.org.