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The 2005-06 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 of
October 31 - November 4, 2005! Please note that the ISM news brief is now available
to ISM families during regular school weeks via our website no later than 7:30 p.m. each Monday (Tuesday, if Monday is a holiday), unless otherwise noted. To request hardcopy notification, please contact Business Administrator / news brief editor Lisa Griffin Burns
at lburns@ismonterey.org
or call at 583-2165.
Please note: Past newsletters can be found
here.
: This year's Halloween
activities have been graciously organized by Janice Barker
(parent of Kasey, Grade 2). The undertaking was huge, given our increased
size this year and the need for even more activities to entertain and
bewitch. So, join us in thanking her profusely for what has been weeks of
coordination efforts!
The format was similar to previous years, but with additional programming
available. Students changed into their costumes following lunch (the 3rd-8th
grade recess was shortened) and then the fun began! The parade, costume and
pumpkin-carving contests were held from 1 - 3 p.m. with the booth
activities occurring in Field Day fashion, i.e., each class moving from one
area to another as a class. Since there were only three areas with at least
five activities each, the time in the area was free-flow; however,
youngsters spent 30 minutes in each area and then they proceeded to the
next staging area.
New this year was the "Trick or Trunk" event in which community
members decorated their car or van trunks and truck beds and students
"trick or treated" to each vehicle, with prizes being awarded for
"Most Spirited" entry. We were pleased to have nearly a dozen
entries ranging from Halloween to beach themes. The 7th and 8th grade
Haunted House was a spooky delight for all, except the Kindergartners and
1st graders whom we determined may have been frightfully impacted from
venturing through the wickedly scary darkened hallways of the
"house". A comical side-effect of the Haunted House was the
timely arrival of the Seaside Fire Dept responding to the fire alarm which
was tripped by the ever-efficient fog machine creepily filling the rooms of
the mansion, located on the stage in the multiuse room! We thank the 35 plus
volunteers who re-arranged their schedules to help us make this a memorable
event for our students! For those of you who took festive Halloween photos
while on campus today, we would love to have them appear in the yearbook;
please submit event photos to the "Yearbook" cubby in the admin
office.
: High-performing ISM middle-schoolers were
recognized for their academic success during last Thursday morning's
assembly. Overall, 37 students in grades 5 - 8 achieved either
"Honors" or "High Honors" status based on a cumulative
grade point average of 3.25 - 3.74 or 3.75 or above, respectively. In Grade
5, Kevin Lin, Hannah Gordis, Carli Hambley and Cyrus Ruediger were
High Honors recipients, while Honors awards went to Deepti Gopinath,
Karishma Gupta, Kyle Neeley, and Will Perkins. In Grade 6,
kudos go to Cobi Allen, Iljin Cho, and Victoria Hutchins for accomplishing
"High Honors" marks, while their colleagues Sohee Cho, Ariana
Favaloro, Luke Kim, Mariah McAdams, Maile Murphy, Emily Shifflett, Jasmine
Villegas, and Anna Welsh attained "Honors" recognition.
Singularly achieving "High Honors" marks was 7th grader Jordan
Fernandez who joined his fellow classmates Lily Burns, Cassandra Curatolo, Anna
Dobrokhodova, Nathan Elsensohn, Marta Flinn, Catrina Fuentes, Alyssa Hicks,
Maggie McNabb, Erik Ruediger, and Robert Willoughby who collectively joined
the ranks of "Honors" students. Lastly, Lesley Hasegawa was the
only 8th grader to receive "High Honors" grades. Five of her
colleagues, however, were awarded "Honors" status; they are: Ruth
Callaway, Candice Kennedy, Aiden Melac, Josephine Ordaz-Hoang, and Katie
Weber. Congratulations to all of our honor roll recipients! We are proud of
you!
: Due to parent conferences at our attending schools, the Gifted
and Talented Education (GATE) program will be on a minimum day schedule
from Monday, October 31st through Friday, November 18th, 2005. At the end
of the GATE day, buses will pick up students at Fitch Middle School (GATE)
at 12:25 p.m. and return students to their home schools.
:
A. CHARTER RENEWAL / MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS MEETING - WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 2nd, 6:30 P.M.: ISM's current charter is up for renewal
at the conclusion of this academic year. This meeting is designed to
explain the charter renewal process / re-application with our chartering
agency, MPUSD, and to solicit input from parents on the future direction of
ISM. Additionally, all parents, but particularly parents of middle school
students, are invited to hear strategies for the high school years here at
ISM. Come one, come all to ISM's multiuse room to become informed and
contribute to our forward movement.
B. ISM FAMILY ASSOCIATION MEETING - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, 6:30
P.m.: Under the capable leadership of Volunteer Coordinator Ellen
Gaucher, the ISM Family Association is making headway to gather needed
volunteers for upcoming school-wide special events and to increase the
opportunities parents have to "meet and greet" one another to
strengthen the bonds of our ISM community. If you are interested in seeing
how you can uniquely help, please attend this Thursday's meeting to be held
in the Library at 6:30 p.m. Thank you to those of you who stopped by the
Coffee Club tables last Wednesday and signed up to help for various duties,
to include our most pressing need of recess / lunch duty monitors.
C. PICTURE DAY AT ISM - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4th: This Friday,
November 4th will be "Picture Day" at ISM! Photographer Richard
Herbert has been retained to take class (campus locations) and student
photos on the stage in the multiuse room using a backdrop. Richard Herbert
took the excellent staff photos in August for our staff ID badges and these
same photos will be utilized for the 2005-06 faculty photos for the
yearbook.
As we continue to receive inquiries regarding the photographer's release
contained on the order form, we wanted to reiterate once again that by
signing the release, parents will be allowing ISM to use student images in
its publications, and Mr. Herbert to use images for self promotion, but not
any other commercial use or website publication. We apologize for the
confusion. Any reservations parents may have can be noted on the release
prior to signing to further clarify the agreement.
Once again, it is the intention of Richard Herbert, as well as ISM staff,
to only use these photos for purposes of parent-ordered photo packages,
student ID cards (possibly), as well as yearbook photos. To order photo packages,
please complete the "Portrait Order" section of the order form,
attach a check made payable to "Richard Herbert" and return to
ISM in your child's folder or forward to Richard's collection box (in the
admin office by the teacher cubbies) prior to Picture Day! Please note that
class photos as well as the school-wide photos are available for an
additional fee over and above listed package prices.
D. MIDDLE SCHOOL HARVEST DANCE - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 6:30 - 8:30
p.m.: ISM's multiuse room will be transformed by the warm colors
of Fall on Friday evening for our first-ever Harvest dance. Once again, we
will be joining forces with Chartwell School to offer a festive, fun-filled
evening of dancing, socializing, and, of course, eating for our wonderful 6th
through 8th graders. ISM students will be responsible for the decorating
scheme, while Chartwell organizes the hip, age-appropriate D.J. tunes. As
with previous dances, chaperones from both ISM and Chartwell staff will be
on hand to supervise the fun! Please note: Students may have invited
guests, but no more than two per student, and they will be asked to respect
fellow guests and ISM policies and procedures or they will be asked to
leave the event.
E. FIRST ANNUAL P.E. HEALTH FAIR - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 1:30 -
4:30 p.m.: Sixth through Eighth Graders will be taking part in the
First Annual Health Fair and parents are invited to stop by the multiuse
room to view the fascinating projects to be displayed. Student projects are
due to Ms. Livingston, ISM's P.E. instructor, by Monday, November
14th and they account for 50% of each student's
Physical Education Grade for Quarter 2! Those students who do not submit a
Health Fair project will not receive a passing grade in P.E. As all
youngsters have already chosen their project topic, they should now be in
the process of researching their respective topics; please note a
"sources check" is due this Friday, November 4th.
If you or your child have ANY questions related to the Health Fair, please
email Ms. Livingston directly at jlivingston@ismonterey.org.
She is also looking for anyone in the health care field (such as, nurses,
doctors, environmentalists, etc.) to serve as a judge from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Please refer any recommendations to her at the above email. Thank you!
 : Next Tuesday, ISM's library will be
transformed into a local polling location for Seaside from 7:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m. on November 8th, giving ISM students a first-hand glance into the
voting process and exercising one's civic duty! Manzanita Elementary School
has historically served as a polling location and will continue to do so
for the upcoming election. We did dialog with the Elections Office to
inform them of the modified use of this campus since last January,
specifically the shared-use nature of the campus and the increased traffic
flow, based mostly on non-neighborhood ISM families. To assist with
possible parking issues, there will be several folks from the Elections
Department who will be on hand Tuesday to direct voters to available campus
or street parking, so be on the lookout for them.
Programs displaced by the polling use of the library include all classroom
visits regularly scheduled for Tuesdays as well as the After School
International, which will operate out of the right-hand side of
the multiuse room for that afternoon. For our efforts and support, ISM and
the ASI program may benefit from a donation by the Monterey County Elections
department following the election.
:It
is not uncommon for students to occasionally experience situations,
academically or socially that produce sadness, tension, frustrations,
stress, anxiety, or even anger. Teaching our students a few tools and
techniques for shifting emotions and attitudes when needed (or until the
issue can be resolved) can be beneficial for calming and possibly relieving
unpleasant emotions. Please heed and adhere to any medical conditions
and/or physician advice.
Take 3: Breathing is an unconscious behavior necessary for
sustaining life. Often times, individuals are unaware of how they are
breathing or how the awareness of breath can be beneficial. Taking three S-L-O-W,
long, D-E-E-P and quiet breaths (without interruption, if possible) can be
a wonderful technique that may assist in the process for releasing pent-up,
unpleasant mental and neurological emotions. While there are many types of
deep breathing exercises, following a simple "Take 3" process is
a great start for calming ones' emotions.
Providing there are no medical conditions or concerns (i.e. asthma, etc.),
begin by uncrossing the legs and arms. Focus on the BREATHing every step of
the way. 1) SLOWly breathe in through the nose (to a SLOW count of three),
filling and expanding the lungs and abdomen completely, 2) Hold the breath
(to a SLOW count of three), 3) Then, release the breath SLOWly, (to the
count of three) through slightly parted lips; releasing the breath from the
lungs and gently pressing the abdomen towards the spine, while exhaling.
This releases air that may be trapped in the abdomen.
Focused BREATHing can be beneficial anytime for students and adults -
before or during classes, tests, homework and times of conflict or
discomfort. Consistently practicing this breathing technique is a life
skill for everyone's toolbox. Remember to: Stop & Take 3!
:
"A rising tide lifts all ships." So says Schoolwide Enrichment
Model Creator Joe Renzulli. Last Friday, ISM launched a
new round of SEM classes. One program highlight was a local orthodontist,
Dr. Jarvis, who presented on teeth and related science through LCD projections
and hands-on models. Indeed, this frequently-complimented session resonates
with an informal goal of SEM at ISM: Somehow, sometime, over eight years,
we hope to "hook" every student on something fascinating and
positive --something about which they might become passionate and desire to
spend the rest of their life developing an expertise in. (Standardized
tests, by the way, are not part of this particular equation!)
How does Dr. Renzulli define SEM? Well, in slightly more academic terms:
The Schoolwide Enrichment Model is an organizational plan for delivering
enrichment and acceleration. Services provided by the model range from
general enrichment for both wide-ranging and targeted subgroups to highly
individualized curriculum modification procedures for rapid learners and
first-hand investigative opportunities for highly motivated individuals and
small groups. For more on SEM,
check out Thanks to all of our SEM instructors, and to Barbara Peters, who
help to make ISM's SEM a grand success!
:
A. GRADES 5, 6, 7, AND 8 TO ATTEND FESTIVAL OF CULTURES EVENT -
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1st: We are pleased to say that our upper grades
will be enjoying a first-ever outing to Toro Park next Tuesday from 9:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to participate in the fantastic Festival of Cultures
event put on by Green Meadow Productions. To quote event organizers, the
goal is to "educate children and adults about the diversity and
splendor of different cultures from around the world" with
representation by native performers from Africa, Europe, Mexico, Polynesia
and Native America providing "powerful music, beautiful songs, and
nimble dancing". Refer to their website at http://www.greenmeadowsproductions.com/NewFiles/FstoCulture.html
for more details.
B. GRADE 4 FIELDTRIP TO SAN JUAN BAUTISTA STATE HISTORIC PARK -
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd: Both Grade 4 classes will be visiting the
State Historic Park at San Juan Bautista, departing ISM at 9:00 a.m. for a
full day visit. The students will tour the adjacent California mission as
well as the Plaza Hotel, Plaza Hall and stable, blacksmith shop, granary,
jail, and the Castro Breen adobe, structures all built in the 1800's.
C. GRADE 6 FIELDTRIPS RELATED TO NATURAL HISTORY OF MONTEREY COUNTY
UNIT: - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7th - 11:10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Exploring
basic concepts of geology (such as plate tectonics, weathering and erosion,
geologic time, rock types, etc.), students will travel to Olmstedt, Santa
Catalina, and Toro Roads to continue their investigation of the Monterey
Formation. There, they will collect rock samples per layer. Fieldtrip will
be from 11:10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On Monday, November 14th, from 11:10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
the 6th graders will continue their studies at Point Lobos guided by former
US Geological Survey geologist Ed Clifton. All trips will include lunch out
on the trail!
D. GRADE 4 OVERNIGHT FIELDTRIP TO GOLD COUNTRY - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
17TH - NOVEMBER 18TH: As part of their "Settlers and
Explorers" IPC unit, the intrepid students of Ms. West/Ms. Wharton and
Mrs. St. Germain will be trekking to Gold Country, with visits to the
Sutter Creek mine, Columbia State Park, and Knight's Ferry. They will be
departing on Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. with a return time of 6:00 p.m.
the following day. Arrangements have already been made for an overnight
stay at the Sutter Creek Days Inn and parents are forwarding deposit checks
to Business Administrator Lisa Griffin Burns to fund this exciting trip.
:
A. CHESS FOR KIDS: The second session of Chess will resume
this Wednesday, November 2nd at 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. in Mr.
Brandau's Grade 8 classroom, Portable 6. Parents of returning students
interested in continuing on in the program are asked to re-register before
next Wednesday. Additionally, new students are warmly encouraged to join
this popular class! The cost is $60 per session with instructor Lev
Frenklakh generously donating 15 percent to ISM. Please submit check made
payable to "ISM" with a completed application form available on
the credenza in the admin office to Business Administrator Lisa Griffin
Burns.
B. CHINESE LANGUAGE LESSONS: Sign up now for session 3 of
ISM's Afterschool Mandarin Chinese language lessons, offered on Monday and
Thursday afternoons. Classes are scheduled for November 14th, 17th, 21st,
24th, 28th, December 1st, 5th, and 8th and will be held in Room #22 (Mrs.
Augustine's Grade 2 classroom). The cost is $80 per student. Registration
forms are available at the ISM office. Please make checks payable to
"ISM", attach to the registration form and forward to Business Administrator
Lisa Griffin Burns.
C. TAIKO DRUMMING LESSONS AT ISM: Hello to all present and
past Taiko participants! Classes will continue to be offered on Monday
afternoons in the multiuse room from 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. for Grades K-2 and
4:15 - 5:00 p.m. for Grades 3 - 8 and adults. The future dates for this
program are as follows:
Session 3: Nov 21, 28, Dec 5, 12 at a cost of $40.
Session 4: Jan 9, 23, and 30, 2006 at a cost of $30.
Please note that a minimum of 14 paid registrants are required to ensure that
each session is offered, so please register early if interested. This
program offers participants both mental and physical benefits and
encourages new friendships within our ISM community. If interest continues,
further sessions may be scheduled in the spring, with committed
participants performing at the Spring Music concert and perhaps the
International Festival in June 2006. Wouldn't that be great? Contact Denise
Hasegawa at dthasegawa@aol.com for more
information or to sign up!
: Listed below are a few things desired by
community members:
1) Library Bookends: Our wonderful team of volunteers who
staff the ISM library are calling for bookends. As regular help is now
available on a weekly basis to help students check out books and reshelf
books, it is becoming apparent that bookends are needed to maintain order
in the library. Please donate, if possible. Thank you so much!
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