| | | The 2007-08 calendar is now available on our ISM website at website. Click the link to view. | |
Welcome to ISM's 2007-08 bi-weekly newsletter covering Tuesday, October 30th - Friday, November 9th, 2007! The ISM news brief will be updated monthly and available to ISM families on our website at their convenience, unless otherwise noted. To request hardcopy notification, please contact Business Administrator / Newsbrief Editor Lisa Griffin Burns at 583-2165 or email at lburns@ismonterey.org. To submit Newsbrief contributions, please forward contributions per email by the Wednesday prior to the publication date. On your subject line, please clearly indicate "Newsbrief contribution" and subject area, such as "Celebrating Success" or "Family Association". Thank you!
Please note: Past newsletters can be found here.
Over the past few months, we have had to say "goodbye" to a few members of the ISM community who have moved on to other schools locally or moved out of the area. We fondly say "adios" to Chace and Chandler Simmons who relocated with their parents to Virginia. Locally, we also say "goodbye and good luck" to the following students, all of whom transferred to area public schools: Jamie Wrighton who is attending a neighboring Seaside elementary school, Omar Alladeen who transferred to a Spreckels school closer to his home (he is thrilled to be able to take the bus to school), and Lucas Melac who now attends his home school in Pacific Grove. We wish each of these students and their families well; they will be sorely missed!
On the same note, we would like to welcome new students who have joined ISM over the last few months. In September, 4th grader Eliza Garcia joined Ms. Wharton's class and 5th grader Sid Roth joined classmates in Mr. Riquelme's classroom. Additionally, 7th grader Jalsa Hilber who has two other siblings already attending ISM, joined us this October in Miss Shephard's class. Join us in welcoming each of these students, especially as it can be more challenging to transfer to a new school several months into the school year.
We wanted to take a moment to remind parents of the process when using the "drive up" process in the afternoons. First of all, please practice safety and courtesy AT ALL TIMES -- this benefits fellow community members, ensures the safety of students and parents, and frankly, makes the process smoother, less stressful, and more enjoyable. ISM staff are not traffic police, nor do we want to be, so please practice the following procedures each day when coming to pick up your child(ren):
1. When turning into ISM from Yosemite Street, please ALWAYS remember to loop through the lower parking lot. This prevents (most of the time) traffic from backing up onto Yosemite Street during the busy after school time period. The only exception to this rule is if you arrive later (prior to 3:45 p.m.) and the line in non-existent. Staff working the afternoon pick-up are fielding complaints on a daily basis that fellow parents are by-passing the "lower lot loop" and cutting in front of those who are following this process.
In addition, if a parent has arrived earlier in the afternoon and has parked their vehicle in the lower lot while taking care of business at ISM, please be courteous when they are trying to back-out of their spot at the end of the school day. We have also received complaints that folks are not being allowed to back out of their spot by the parents/guardians in the pick-up loop. This is a discourteous practice; do the right thing and please allow the driver to back-out and safely and smoothly leave campus with their children. It is only going to delay someone's pick-up process by a couple minutes, which are negligible when you consider the benefit to the greater ISM community. Thank you for your attention and consideration to these important matters!
It came as a surprise to me to find out that many other public schools in neighboring school districts no longer celebrate Halloween with and for their students during the school day. Fall Festivals are held instead on a weekend day during October. On the other hand, we still offer a fun-filled, entertaining afternoon for our students on Halloween, which also serves as a community builder as parents, who are vital to providing many elements of the day, throw themselves into the spirit of the day and equally enjoy the opportunity to don a costume and be a little wacky. The fun will kick off at 1:30 p.m. following the lower grade lunches. Please remember to send your child in uniform for the earlier part of the day; students will then change into costumes before 1:00 p.m.. Here's the line-up for tomorrow's Halloween festivities;
1. Pumpkin Carving Contest: Carved pumpkins can be dropped off on tables in front of the multiuse room until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. Judges will then determine the winning entries for the Funniest and the Scariest pumpkins. Prizes will be awarded in each of these categories for Grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Judging will take place at 12:45 p.m. and winners will be announced at the end of the afternoon.
2. Costume Contest: We encourage all students to participate in the Costume Contest; however, as we are a K-8 elementary school, we caution against costumes, especially those worn by middle-schoolers, that are too gory or scary. If we believe a costume to be inappropriate, we will ask the student to make "adjustments" that soften the costume. With that said, we will be judging costumes for the Scariest, Funniest, and the Most Creative in each age category of K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Judges will be assigned to each different age group and judging will take place in the classrooms beginning at 1:00 p.m. Great prizes are being awarded and winners will be announced at day's end.
3. Activities: With the exception of the middle-schoolers who will convene to the multiuse room at their regularly scheduled lunch period at 1:00 p.m. for a costume contest and to watch a "frightfully appropriate" movie, the rest of the students will come down to the lower lawn at 1:30 p.m. to enjoy more than ten different activities! Three different stations have been developed in the Garden/Library, the blacktop, and the lower grass area and students will move with their class through these stations, much like our end-of-year Field Day event. Activity highlights include the ever popular "Trick or Trunk" in which students can "trick or treat" at car trunks decorated for the event, pumpkin races, cup cake walk, and two-headed monster races, just to name a few!
4. Healthy Snacks: Understanding that our children accrue a mountain of sweets and candy in a typical Halloween trick-or-treat evening, we opted again this year for healthy Halloween snacks. Room parents have been extremely helpful in communicating to parents about the Halloween Celebration and the call for volunteers and Halloween snacks. Thank you so much for that! Tables will be set up in front of the multiuse room tomorrow for collecting holiday snacks, so if you are dropping off food, please leave your contribution there or in the staff lounge. If possible, label your dish or plate so that it can be returned to you following the event.
5. Halloween Decorate A Door Contest: As a precursor to tomorrow's festivities, we held a door decorating contest and participating classes were able to show their Fall "spirit"! Judging took place yesterday and the winners are: (drum roll please!) Mr. Cohen's Grade 2 class for won for K-2, Ms. Arnow's Grade 4 class won for 3-5, and Ms. Fogle's class won for 6-8. Each class will win either a fruit smoothie or ice cream party for their creative efforts. The photos featured in this newsbrief are from this contest. Good job to the winning classes!
6. Trick or Treat for UNICEF: For five years, ISM has participated in this fundraising program. Teachers distributed the collection boxes to students last week and we are encouraging that when students go trick-or-treating tonight that they consider asking for donations at the homes that they visit. For those students who gather donations, please have them label their box with their name and grade, bring it back to school, and return it to their homeroom teacher by November 5th. Coordinator Sally Burns will then follow up with a personalized "thank you" to each student. This is, of course, a voluntary program, yet we are pleased to support the valuable work done by UNICEF through our participation.
We are thrilled to announce that with Read-a-Thon participation from each of our sixteen classrooms, students read a total of 121,266 minutes and submitted pledge monies of $11,423! Based on the phenomenal support of students, parents, staff, pledge supporters, and the amazing coordination efforts of parent volunteers Janice Barker and Yvette Satchell, we will be able to target 50 percent of this money to further enhance literacy materials for the library and classrooms! The remaining 50 percent will be forwarded back to participating students in "book money" to be used at the Fall Scholastic Book Fair, which will be offered next month from Wednesday, November 14th - Wednesday, November 21st.
Now here's the fun part! A prize of an ice cream party will be awarded to the following three classrooms based on the participation of EVERY student in the class, meaning that each submitted a reading log with minutes read:
* (1) Ms. Zytkoskee's Grade 1 class; (2) Mr. Cohen's Grade 2 class; and (3) Mr. Mills' Grade 3 class! Congratulations to each student, thank you for your amazing participation, and enjoy your party! It is well-earned!
Additionally, for those 54 students who took up the "Triple Challenge" and read for ten days, arranged ten sponsors of $10 or more, and submitted their reading and sponsor logs, they earned a free Klutz kit of their choice! These kits have been ordered and should be arriving for distribution very soon! Once again, thank you to all who made this year's Read-a-Thon a brilliant success! Even with the amazing organizational leadership that parent coordinators Janice Barker and Yvette Satchell provide, it takes ALL working together to achieve and $11,000 plus success story. Thank you all!
Thanks to the organizing efforts of instructor Sally Burns and the many ISM students who compassionately participated in the Lee Denim Day fundraiser on October 4th, ISM sent off a donation of $434 to that organization. The Lee National Denim Day organization fundraises on behalf of the Women's Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) and 100 percent of the monies donated are forwarded onward to the Women's Cancer Programs of the EIF. Together, we supported the fight against breast cancer, which is so appropriate as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Thank you to all who participated in this important fundraiser!
Master Rogers, ISM's Taekwondo's afterschool instructor, will be heading to Korea in early November. He has been chosen to judge the Second World Poomsae Championships in Korea. This tournament is the crowning achievement for Taekwondo athletes competing in forms, and as for the judges, they are selected from those [judges] whom have demonstrated the highest proficiency in the understanding of the technical aspects of WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) Taekwondo Poomsae." Congratulations to Master Rogers for this honor. In his absence from Thursday, November 1st through Wednesday, November 7th, Master Rogers will be arranging coverage for his afterschool Taekwondo students. For further information, contact Master Rogers directly at MasterR@mac.com
Please note that prior to the Winter Holiday break, we will be three days in which students will be released early at 11:30 a.m.; mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 21st, Thursday, December 6th, and Thursday, December 20th. November 21st represents the end of Trimester 1 and early dismissal will allow families to get a "jump start" on their Thanksgiving holiday plans; the December 6th early release allows staff to finalize preparations for Student-led conferences the following day on Friday, December 7th (see below), and the December 20th dismissal comes just prior to the two-week long Winter Break. On each of these days, all children must be picked up no later than 11:45 a.m. from the front lawn. Additionally, lunch will not be served at all, nor will the Afterschool International (ASI) program be offered on early dismissal days, so please plan accordingly.
Additionally, on Friday, December 7th, students will not be in attendance on this day so that staff can meet with families for student-led conferences. As time gets closer, staff will communicate their individual schedules with parents so that you can sign up for a convenient conference time in advance. The Afterschool International (ASI) program will also notbe operating on this day, so arrange appropriate childcare, if necessary.
NOVEMBER LUNCH MENUS: November lunch menus are now available online at our ISM website at www.ismonterey.org/lunchASI.html. Families may go online to print copies of the monthly menu and lunch order forms. Hardcopy menus were also sent home with students last week. Please remember when submitting menus to clearly mark the meals your child is ordering, be sure each order form has a name on it, and payment --- either a check to "ISM" or cash -- is attached. Just as a friendly reminder: that lunch orders are due EACH Wednesday for the coming week. No exceptions will be made as shopping is done on Thursdays and Fridays based on the final lunch orders received by each Wednesday. Please submit orders directly to Coordinator Lisa Wichael-Loomis' box in the admin office. Thank you!
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A. GRADE 4: ARNOW AND WHARTON: TRIP TO SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST
As part of their "Kingdoms to Colonies" IPC unit, both Grade 4 classes will be traveling to San Juan Bautista State Historic Park and Mission to learn more about California missions ant the towns that grew around them. Students will travel by parent carpool, departing campus at 8:45 a.m. and returning by 3:00 p.m. Participating students are asked to bring a sack lunch for this trip.
B. GRADE 5: BURNS AND RIQUELME: RETREAT TO CAMP OCEAN PINES, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH
The combined 5th grade classes will revisit Camp Ocean Pines (first visited in Spring 2007), located on the coast in Cambria. Set among thirteen acres of pine trees overlooking the ocean, students and chaperones will enjoy a variety of activities and events in an amazingly beautiful setting. Wildlife is plentiful and sightings of deer, otter, and seals are commonplace. This retreat will serve to expand on students' scientific exploration. Students will depart by 8:00 on November 5th and return by 6:00 p.m. on November 8th.
C. GRADE 8: BRANDAU: OVERNIGHT TRIP TO FREMONT PEAK, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH
This popular and engaging overnight trip provides students an opportunity to learn about Black Holes and experience first-hand the Fremont Peak Observatory telescope! Students will also enjoy a night hike, gazing at the stars, barbecuing dinner, and ultimately, sleeping under the stars. Students will need to bring tents, sleeping bags, warm clothes, a flash light, sturdy hiking shoes, and a great attitude! Following the school day on Friday, students will depart for Fremont Peak at 3:30 p.m. and return to campus the following day by 2:00 p.m.
D. GRADE 4: WHARTON: DOWNTOWN MONTEREY HISTORY WALK, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH
Continuing their IPC unit study of "Kingdoms to Colonies", Ms. Wharton's 4th graders will explore downtown Monterey's History Walk, including the Maritime Museum, Pacific House, and the Custom House. Students will travel by parent carpool, departing campus at 8:45 a.m. and returning by 3:00 p.m. Participating students are asked to bring a sack lunch for this trip.
E. GRADE 4: WHARTON: MARITIME MUSEUM AND CASA SERRANO, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH
The final fieldtrip related to the "Kingdoms to Colonies" IPC unit will take Ms. Wharton's 4th graders to the Maritime Museum and Casa Serrano for a more in-depth visit. Students will travel by parent carpool, departing campus at 9:00 a.m. and returning by 1:00 p.m.
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A. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 1:30 - 3:15 P.M.: HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION AT ISM
B. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST: ENROLLMENT WINDOW #1 BEGINS FOR 2008-09 Beginning this Thursday, we will start accepting applications for the coming 2008 - 09 academic year for grades Kindergarten through 8th. We will continue to collect applications during this window until January 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.. We will then follow-up on February 4th, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. and process all the applications collected during this period during a random public lottery. A second enrollment window period will be held, but interested applicants have the best chance for placement or a lower waiting list number if they apply during Enrollment window #1. Visit the Admission section of the ISM website for applications and more information.
C. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND: LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS ACCEPTING LIBRARY BOOK DONATIONS If you have books that you would like to donate to the ISM library, please do so on the first Friday of the month; the next available drop date will be Friday, November 2nd as we did not have an October Work Day prior to the Fall Break. Please arrange to bring your donations on November 2nd. Library volunteers will then sort through the donations during the November Saturday work day on Saturday, November 3rd. Please DO NOT drop off books at any time other than this time-period. We appreciate your cooperation. Thank you!
D. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 6:00 - 8:30 P.M.: STUDENT COUNCIL HALLOWEEN DANCE FOR 6TH - 8TH GRADERS The multiuse room will be transfigured into a spookily fun dance environment for this Friday's student council Halloween dance. All students in grades 6 - 8 are welcome to participate; however, a permission form signed by the student, parent and any guests are required for entry into the dance. Additionally, a $5 admission fee will be charged for each student and guest, if applicable. This fee can be paid in advance or will be collected at the door. For more information, contact Student Council advisor, Grade 6 instructor Danielle Fogle at dfogle@ismonterey.org.
E. NOVEMBER 3RD FROM 9:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.: NOVEMBER SATURDAY WORK DAY: Hosting this month's Saturday Work Day will be Steve Moore, a veteran Work Day Chair! Parent volunteers who assist with the monthly Saturday Work Days, are not only meeting their mandatory volunteer hours, but providing critical support by ensuring that projects that are difficult to achieve during the busy work week are completed in a timely fashion! Additionally, we are able to complete tasks ourselves, rather than relying on the often slower MPUSD maintenance work order process to complete these tasks. We encourage you to bring your great attitude, an interest in meeting other ISM families, and especially your hammers, drills, screwdrivers, nails and screws, saws, rakes, and brooms....and we will see you on Saturday, November 3rd. Email Lisa Griffin Burns at lburns@ismonterey.orgfor more information.
F. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH: VETERAN'S HOLIDAY: No school!
G. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST: FALL SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR IN ISM LIBRARY Following up on the success of the 2nd annual Read-a-Thon, parent coordinators Janice Barker and Yvette Satchell, have organized the Fall Scholastic Bookfair to be held in ISM's library for six days from November 14th - 21st. All ISM community members are invited to stop by the Bookfair (hours of availability will be communicated shortly) during these days and browse the wide variety books and gifts available for all age groups. Shop early for holiday gifts or buy something for yourself!
H. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST: EARLY DISMISSAL AT 11:30 A.M.
I. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY Enjoy your holiday!
J. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH: FREE DRESS FRIDAY AND PIZZA FUNDRAISER LUNCHEON
 : A gentle reminder to parents participating in Afterschool programming at ISM, specifically Chess, Chinese, Jewelry, and now Soccer classes. Payment can be made to "ISM" and checks MUST be accompanied by a registration form! We will no longer accept payment without registration forms. Thank you for your support!
A. CHESS FOR KIDS : Lev Frenklakh, a longtime Chess at ISM, will return to offer Session 3 of Chess from Wednesday, November 14th through December 19th, excluding November 21st . Chess is offered on Wednesday afternoons from 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. and is being held in Room #1. Full session fees have gone up nominally to $75 per session. Please note that chess participants must accompany their classes down to the front lawn for afternoon pick-up and Mr. Lev will collect them from there at approximately 3:40 p.m. Lev generously donates fifteen percent of session fees to ISM. For further information, contact Lev at 384-1116 or by email at Belquest51@yahoo.com.
B. FIRST TEE PROGRAM: The First Tee of Monterey County and ISM are pleased to announce the continuation of our new Golf and Life Skills class! All ISM students ages 7 years and older are eligible for this class, which is held at the Laguna Seca Golf course on Tuesday afternoons from 3:45 - 5:15 p.m. First Tee registration is valid through December 31st, 2007. These golf classes are FREE, based upon paying a $35 First Tee (TFT) membership fee. All members receive a hat and t-shirt as well as discounted green fees and range balls at Twin Creeks Golf Course, located in Salinas. Memberships will be renewable, effective January 1st, 2008. To sign ups for the 2007-08 school year, complete a "Membership Application" form available on the information credenza in the front office or with ASI Program Coordinator Lisa Wichael-Loomis at lwloomis@ismonterey.org . Please note that parents are responsible for arranging transportation to Laguna Seca; ISM will not be providing transportation!
C. JEWELRY CLASSES NOW OFFERED ON MONDAY AFTERNOONS : Jewelry-maker Nick Trachsel continues to offer his popular afternoon jewelry class and Session 2 just got underway this past Monday; however, space is still available, so register now! This class is offered on Monday afternoons from 3:45 - 5:00 p.m. in the Art room located in the multi-use room. Session #2 is scheduled through December 17th, excluding November 12th, and the fee is $80 per student. This Afterschool jewelry class is designed for students ages 9 and up as well as adults. Nick also generously donates fifteen percent of collected fees to ISM. Please note that a $10 materials fee is included in the price for each session. For further information, contact Nick at 372-7865 or by email at njtrachsel@sbcglobal.net. Registration forms are available on the credenza in the front office.
D. MANDARIN CHINESE LANGUAGE LESSONS AT ISM : For the 2007-08 sessions, instructor Yu Chuen will be offering instruction geared for third year students. Class time is from 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Students will learn simple Chinese characters and everyday phrases, sing Chinese songs, learn Chinese folk dance, as well as play games in Chinese. Registration is currently being accepted for the November session offered from November 1st through 29th at a cost of $72 per student. Flyers are available on the information credenza in the front admin office. Please return all registration forms and fees directly to the ISM office. Questions can be directed to Yu Chuen at 224-6470 or www.mandarinorange.org/index.htm . Space is limited to 10 students per class.
E. SOCCER INTERNATIONAL AT ISM : Last Monday, October 22nd was the last class period for the Fall session of soccer. This new class, offered by ISM parent and coach, Ash Vasanji, and his wife, Monique, was extremely well attended and well-received by students and parents alike. The program was offered to boys and girls in Grades 5 - 8. It covered all the fundamentals of the world's most popular sport, to include ball skills, understanding rules, strategy, and how to play a "smart" game, while also building confidence, sportsmanship and understanding teamwork in a fun and exciting environment. Stay tuned for new session dates following the Winter Holiday break! We are pleased to say that Coach Ash generously donates 15 percent of the program's registration fees to ISM. For further information, contact Coach Ash at ashthecoach@yahoo.com.
F. AFTERSCHOOL TAEKWONDO PROGRAM : Master Daniel Rogers of Okada Martial Arts offering a flexible two to four day per week after-school alternative to traditional childcare. Master Rogers teaches a Taekwondo class in the multi-use room here on the ISM campus directly after school until 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays as well as operating a Taekwondo studio on nearby Fremont Avenue.
Kindergartners who participate in this afterschool class will be picked up at their classroom by Master Rogers, but ALL other students are directed to come to the multi-purpose room either by themselves or with parent assistance. Once enrolled, please inform your child's teacher that s/he will be taking Taekwondo and the days involved. Also, all students will need to sign in when arriving to class, and parents are required to sign them out at pick up time. This is to ensure student safety!
Program costs vary depending on the number of days per week a youngster is enrolled. However, the down payment for all single student options is $275 and $495 for families. For further enrollment options and schedules, please stop by the front office to pick up a brochure, visit the multi-purpose room after school on Tuesdays through Fridays, call Master Rogers at: 641-220-5503, or e-mail him at: MasterR@mac.com .
Please note that ALL students must be picked up or forwarded to the ASI program by 5:00 p.m. every day. For any child who is not picked up by 5:10 p.m., Master Rogers will send them to the ASI program and parents are responsible for any charges incurred. Master Rogers will be departing campus at that time daily to attend to managing his Fremont Taekwondo studio. Thank you for your understanding.
: Listed below are a few things desired by community members:
1) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPANISH INSTRUCTORS: ISM's Spanish team needs volunteers to check and file homework (work can possibly be done at home), assist in the classroom, and on fieldtrips. Volunteers do not need to speak Spanish in order to help. Please contact Natalie Webb at njwebb@nps.edu or call her at 656-2013 for more information.
2) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MONTEREY BAY HALF MARATHON: SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 11TH: We have the chance, once again, to work at an aid station for the Monterey Bay Half Marathon and receive money for ISM for our time. Anyone who volunteers for this event will also receive credit towards mandatory ISM volunteer hours. What a great deal!! The event is held in downtown Monterey, along Cannery Row to Pacific Grove. Volunteer duties are to set up an aide station at Lover's Point before the runners and walkers arrive at 6 a.m. and pour and serve water and energy drinks to the participants as they pass the station. The time commitment is approximately four hours from 6 to 11 a.m. on that Sunday morning. This is a fun and exciting way to serve your ISM volunteer hours AND help raise funds for the school. Older students are welcome to help too! Come join the fun! Email Resource Aide Mary Welsh at: mcwelsh@redshift.com for more information or to sign up.
3) Empties 4 Cash RECYCLED PRINTER CARTRIDGES: UPDATED INFORMATION: This program regularly generates revenue for ISM, so we definitely want to encourage as much participation as possible! Feel free to drop off your cartridges with Karen in the front office or alternately, we do have postage paid mailing envelopes available at the front desk so you can forward your cartridges to Empties 4 Cash directly, if that is more convenient. Please spread the word to family members, colleagues, neighbors, and forward their used inkjet cartridges to ISM! Acceptable brands include HP, Lexmark, Xerox, Compaq, Brother, Dell, Canon, and Apple; however, Epson print cartridges cannot be accepted as they are produced without a print head. If possible, please submit cartridges either in their original packaging or a Ziploc bag to keep it safe from damages and spills. Thank you!
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