MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friday Bulletin
Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents
ISSUE # 04
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 05 TO 09, 2011

From the Middle School Office

Dear Parents: As part of our wellness program and ongoing commitment to health education, consultants from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) Educational Services will visit ISM from September 5 9. FCD is a nonprofit organization that provides substance abuse prevention education for schools and colleges in the United States and around the world. Since 1976, they have taught over a million students of all ages. Their mission is to:

Inside this issue:

MS Academic Bowl Tryouts From the Fine & Performing Arts Office From the Office of Advancement From the Athletics & Activities Office ISM Gymnastics Team 2 3 4 5

Provide

educational communities with the guidance and training necessary to implement comprehensive, effective approaches to substance abuse prevention students, parents, teachers, and school administrators on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs awareness of drug addiction, including alcoholism, as a progressive, chronic and often fatal disease students and adults how to recognize the early warning signs of substance abuse and to intervene appropriately young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding alcohol and other drug use drugs during the growing years.

UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
05 to 09 06 10 12 to Oct. 06 15 16 17 22 23 28 to 30 29 to 30

Educate

Promote Teach

FCD Visit (Freedom from Chemical Dependency) FCD Parent Meeting (10:00 A.M., LT) Service Learning Trip MAP Testing Student Council Leadership Training (3:00 P.M., P045) No Classes (Faculty In-Service) Service Learning Trip Parent Coffee (7:45 A.M., LT) Courtyard Event (3:00 P.M., MS Courtyard) Grade 8 Team Building Grade 5 to 7 Team Building

Empower

Encourage and support the non-use of alcohol and other illegal or illicit
For the duration of their stay, FCD presenters will meet with students, counselors, wellness teachers and administrators. Based on feedback from last year, we are confident that this program will be a valuable educational experience for our school community. We hope you will join us on Tuesday, September 6. A parent meeting on Tuesday, September 6 starting at 10:00 11:15 A.M. in the Little Theater has been scheduled and all parents are invited to attend. This will occur during the HS Parent Coffee which begins at 9:30 A.M. The HS Principal Team will speak to High School matters from 9:30 to 10:00 A.M. They will then handover the time to an FCD Counselor at 10:00 A.M. Progress reports for students with a Developing, C- or below will be processed during the week of September 5. If a concern arises, encourage your child to take initiative for his/her own learning and see a teacher for assistance. We also encourage you to check PowerSchool and discuss your childs assignments, progress and level of achievement with them. Enjoy the weekend! Regards, Simon Gillespie Middle School Principal Clarissa Sayson Middle School Assistant Principal

October
01 04 07 08 10 to 11 14

Service Learning Trip PTA Travel Expo (7:30 A.M., LT) Grade 5 & 6 Party (5:00 P.M.) Service Learning Trip Parent Teacher Conferences (Early Student Release, 12:00 noon) Grade 7 & 8 Party (5:00 P.M.)

24 to Nov. 01 School Holiday

POWERSCHOOL GRADE UPDATE September 09 Grade Update September 23 Grade Update October 07 October 21 Progress Reports Distribution Grade Update

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Middle School Academic Bowl Tryouts

Does your child know lots of interesting facts and general knowledge? Is he or she fast on the buzzers? Does he or she want to compete in the Battle of the Brains Academic Bowl competition? Then your child can come and tryout!!! WHERE Room P046 WHEN Thursday, 8th September Friday, 9th September Monday, 12th September Tuesday, 13th September TIME 3:00 to 3:30 P.M. Successful students will represent ISM at the next Academic Bowl meeting between ISM, Faith Academy and Brent International School. All Middle School students are welcome to tryout. If you have any questions or queries, please speak to Mrs. Birchenall or e-mail her at birchenallv@ismanila.org

From the Fine and Performing Arts Office

We have been back at school four weeks now, and I am sure for many of you, the summer holidays seem to have happened a long time ago. Fear not, the Fine and Performing Arts students and teachers have jumped right back into work with both feet. There is a high buzz of excitement in the classrooms and rehearsal spaces as they begin working towards creating some more outstanding work to share with you throughout the year. Here are some highlights from the last month: High School Auditions and crew sign ups were held for the HS play from August 8-12 and the cast and crew have already been assigned their roles on and off stage and rehearsals are well underway. This years HS Production will be an adaptation of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. For those of you who were hoping for a musical this year you wont be disappointed. ISMs version of Romeo and Juliet will feature live musicians and vocalists not to mention our wonderful dancers as well. Our publicity team is starting to work on their publicity plan, so more information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks. Middle School AFAC dance and music classes are underway as of last week. We are very pleased with the number of students who have signed up for these after-school programs, as all of our facilities are in constant use during the activity period. AFAC arts students will be working towards recitals to be held in November. Elementary school ES AFAC programming off and running as well and the programs are so popular Toni in the AFAC office is working feats of magic to find spaces for our smallest dancers, artists and musicians. The ES students will be working toward recitals in November as well. Please check out our new Fine and Performing Arts Blog (http:/www.arts.ism-online) for the event calendar, more updates and information about all events happening at ISM this year. As always, if you have any questions about our events or would like some assistance as you plan your groups events on campus, please drop by the Fine Arts Office where Malou (talense@ismanila.org) and I will be happy to assist you. Its great to be back! Vicki Close Performing Arts Director

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From the Office of Advancement

2011. 8.20 2011 . , , ISM . : 2011 9 19 , 9-11 : Little Theater

(0928-506-7616).

***
Our very own Noah Ramos, 7th grader, reprises the lead role of Jojo in Repertory Philippines' production of Seussical. This is a colorful, fun-filled musical for the entire family. Hope you can catch Noah's performances until December 18th.

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From the Athletics & Activities Office

Last Friday, our volleyball teams had their first matches of the season against Brent. Our Varsity boys were not strong enough to get a win but played well in patches whilst our varsity girls played another nail biter but came up a bit short to lose 12-15 in a very close 5 set match. The JV girls were defeated by Brent and the JV boys had a good win. Out on the soccer field our varsity girls played a close and low scoring first half against Miriam College but the game opened up in the second half with 6 goals being scored and Miriam ran out winners in a very tight match 4-3. For those parents interested in the 1st Season IASAS championships at Singapore, you can now access the full tournament draw with details of all events on the ATAC blog. Our teams will depart for Singapore on Wednesday, October 19 and return to Manila on Sunday, October 23. Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances our Judo Coach is unavailable to start coaching until next week, September 5th. Coach Mon our previous Judo instructor has taken up employment in Singapore and we are now finalizing his replacement. We apologize for this delay to our Judo program. The ES/MS RIFA Soccer Schedules are now posted on the blog and on ES/MS notice boards outside the offices. The festival venues have changed as of Monday, August 22nd so please check these carefully. All our C teams will play festivals at CSA this year and the E1, E2 and G teams will play at ISM. Check the links in helpful shortcuts on the blog home page for exact details. The ATAC Blog (http://atac.ism-online.org/) is the one stop shop for information related to the sports/activities program. Please take some time to peruse the blog for information. Power school has opened this week from Aug 31st. Follow directions to access the game schedule. GAME SCHEDULE PDF (access to game schedule information) Information about all mid week/weekend fixtures for ISM teams can be found via the ATAC blog. Please note the game schedule does change often due to involvement with many local schools so please check the page regularly to find out the latest information of where and when the Bearcats teams are playing. Click on schedules tab or the Bearcat logo to be directed to the http://powerschool.ismanila.org/public/. You will need your PowerSchool username and password to access the game schedule pdf. Upcoming Bearcat Action: Saturday, September 3

Cross Country at Brent Volleyball at ISM Varsity girls Soccer vs. Faith at ISM Varsity boys Soccer vs. La Salle Antipolo at ISM JV Girls Soccer vs. LaSalle Lipa at ISM MS Midgets B Soccer vs. DBTI at ISM

Sunday, September 4

Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Southridge at Southridge

BEARCAT DEN Regular Opening Hours for the Bearcat Den:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 11:30 A.M. 1:00 P.M. & 2:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M. Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, from 2:30 - 4:00 P.M.

Thanks to all our great volunteers who have gotten the den off to a smooth start this year. If you are interested in joining our group of volunteers in the Bearcat Den, please contact our BCD volunteers coordinator Radhika radhikasavantmohit@yahoo.com or pop in to the Den near the HS Cafeteria and talk with one of our volunteers. They will be very happy to make you welcome. Regards, Mark Pekin Director of Athletics/Activities

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ISM Gymnastics Team

CONGRATULATIONS TO
ISM GYMNASTICS TEAM

for participating in the Milo- Friendship Meet 2011 August 21, 2011 (Sunday) at N0.5 Brixton St., Brgy. Capitolyo
Elementary
VAULT 1. Johanna Olafsson 2. Kayla Markley 3. Alaina Hauber 5th 4th 6th 2nd 2nd BARS BEAM 1st FX 2nd 3rd 1st AA 2nd Place 4th Place 2nd Place

Middle School
VAULT 1. Awe Mccallum 2. Yehjin Katrina Lee 1st 1st BARS 4th 1st BEAM 1st FX 2nd 4th AA Champion 4th Place

Elementary (Boys Team)

VAULT 1. Hiroyuki Tabe 1st P. BARS 1st P. HORSE 1st FX 4th AA Champion

LEVEL 1 TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 1st Runner-Up