Press Releases

July 1999

Greetings! It is with pleasure and excitement that I send you a few lines as I begin to become acquainted with the International School of Monterey community. Since this is my first opportunity to share some thoughts with you, please accept the personal nature of this letter.

Education has been my professional life and international education my passion. I've been fortunate in having lived and worked as an educator in Pakistan, Jamaica, Norway, Bangladesh and, most recently, fourteen years in Japan. Having just completed nearly twenty years as a school superintendent, most of which has been in international schools, I can easily say I would not trade the personal experience and only wish every child had an opportunity to study and learn in an international school setting. Why?

Simply speaking, I believe learning in an international setting helps a child see the world as their home, every race and nationality their neighbor and helps develop a "can do" mentality. What gifts to give your children!

Speaking of children, my wife and I are very blessed to have three wonderful children who are young adults. All three studied and attended international schools around the world and graduated from Stanford University. I am proud of each of them because of the type of people they are; they do see the world as their home, with all the responsibilities and joys that can bring. My wife, Sandy, is also an international educator and learning development specialist. She is the best at what she does, but more importantly, has been a wonderful life partner for thirty-two years. She also is my editor and best friend.

Thanks for allowing the personal introduction.

A little about my beginning with ISM. As I have had the opportunity to visit Monterey and meet with the Board members, I am absolutely struck by the enormous potential of the ISM concept. The beliefs, expectations and hopes for the development of the school are exciting. I look forward to the challenges and opportunity to work together with the community in helping take the practical steps to put the pragmatic pieces of the dream into place. As with any new venture, there will be "hiccups" and surprises, but the philosophy and goals for ISM are worthy of our efforts as the developmental stage continues.

I look forward to meeting many of you in person and hope to do so in August, following the marriage of my second daughter in late July. Together we will share in continuing to launch this international educational venture on the Monterey peninsula.

Sincerely, Dr. Stuart J. Young
Managing Director
International School Monterey

ISM Mission

The mission of the International School of Monterey is to educate all students toward becoming conscientious, compassionate, and responsible citizens of the world by:

• Creating a strong sense of self-motivation in all students to discover and develop their uniqueness while striving to reach their full potential

• Incorporating proven standards and effective practices using a recognized and innovative international curriculum

• Generating a multicultural environment that promotes respect, understanding and appreciation of diversity

• Building a strong partnership with home and community

• Developing the whole child including adaptability, self-confidence, autonomy and creativity.

ISM Receives Sizeable Matching Grant

As many of you may have heard, we have recently been awarded a $250,000 matching grant. This grant will aid us tremendously in attaining the fundraising goals we have set for ourselves.

Mr. Harold "Red" Poling, former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Ford Motor Company and father of our Board Chair, Kathryn Poling Krone, is the generous donor of this matching grant. It is now up to us to raise the funds to be matched!!

Logo for the Next Millennium

With the creative assistance of Nina Temple of Nina Temple Design, ISM has a new, energetic logo that will take us into the new millennium. Nina has taken the different components of our Mission (see below) and translated these into the logo shown here.

"The energy and versatility of this new logo is very exciting. The Marketing committee is going to have a lot of fun with this," states Chrissie Jahn, head of the Marketing Committee.

Updating our Database

With the help of some student interns at CSUMB, we are in the process of updating our entire database. Please take a few moments to speak with the callers to ensure that we have your most current information. You would not want to miss out on a future Newsletter, now would you?

Golf & Barbecue

Last month we announced our proud sponsorship of the 1st Annual Monterey County Junior Open Golf Championship. The tournament, held July 26th and 27th at both the Monterey Pines and Bayonet Golf Courses, attracted outstanding young talent from as far away as Eureka with impressive handicaps. The 81 entries, including the 20 less financially able that ISM sponsored, were closed in near record time.

Besides the young athletes, the tournament also drew the support of many golf personalities and local businesses including, National long-drive champion Brian Pavlet and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. who donated the food for the barbecue held Tuesday, July 26th. Even Forrest was present!

More Food

While we are on the subject, the preschool committee had a picnic for parents and children involved with the preschool on Sunday, July 25th at Via Paraiso Park. Approximately 15 families were present a great start for the preschool.

Where is the Preschool?

Site and money. Money and site. These two recurring issues are incredibly intertwined.

We have followed up on every lead we have been given with many disappointments along the way. However, we have very good prospects with a location in old Monterey and should have the final word by the beginning of August. We will keep you posted.

Cons Agbannawag

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Constante "Cons" Cabrera Agbannawag. Cons died Wednesday, July 7th of a heart attack suffered while camping with his son's Boy Scout troop in Big Sur.

Both Cons and his wife, Cheryl, jumped right into our effort; Cons on the Marketing committee and Cheryl on the Technology committee.

Our hearts go out to Cheryl and their two children, Antonia and C.J. Cons will be sorely missed.