Head’s Corner
May 12, 2008
TRAFFIC AND PARKING
Meeting for the first time on Wednesday, May 7, the Traffic and Parking Committee quickly came to the conclusion that everyone knows there are traffic and parking problems, but nobody knows a solution that fits the whole school. The committee is searching for a solution that will bring safety to all children and satisfaction to most, if not all, parents. Want to take part in formulating a great plan? The committee is looking for diverse membership. Potential members should send a message to Lynda Wannamaker lynda@wannamaker-consulting.com and include information about where you usually park, car pool, children’s ages, and the building(s) your family uses this year.
SCHOOL ACCREDITATION
On Wednesday, April 30, The International School was examined by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. This important event may result in The International School’s first full accreditation certificate.
The 8:30 to 4:30 school evaluation ended with a verbal report from Dr. Richard Darst, Oregon Director of NAAS and leader of the Visiting Team. He spoke to the TIS Head, Principal, and Lead Teachers. When the full report arrives, we will find out whether TIS has been awarded full accreditation status or been given an additional year of provisional status during which to prepare for a second Accreditation Visit.
Tara O’Neill, Pat Maquire, and Kathy Kaiser, school administrators from private, charter, and public schools, made up the rest of the Visiting Team. They toured the school and grounds; spoke with administrators, teachers, students, and parents; reviewed faculty surveys on the effectiveness of the TIS education program; attended classes; reviewed profiles of the student body, graduates, and teachers; sat in on an Administrative Staff Meeting; inquired about school finances and Board Governance; and took a close look at The International School’s plans for improvement.
In the verbal report, Dr. Darst gave The International School eight commendations and six recommendations.
Commendations:
- A very unique, interesting, and challenging program.
- A passionate and hardworking staff.
- All appearances indicate The International School is moving forward in the right direction.
- Students are ready and willing scholars.
- In both the written Self Study and verbally, The International School’s responses are refreshingly honest in describing school strengths and challenges.
- The Head of School is closely in touch, highly supportive of the staff, and aware of school needs.
- The day care programs before and after school are a benefit to parents.
- Great use of limited facilities. Clean, well lit, and inviting classrooms.
Recommendations:
- More and better written policies and procedures
- Provide training and resources to help teachers fill “specialist” roles. TIS classroom teachers fulfill guidance counselor, special education teacher, and remedial teacher roles. These are roles filled by specialists in larger schools.
- Improve Staff Development. Provide more staff development opportunities.
- Use the data generated in the Self Study to further develop specific, targeted, measurable goals.
- Move quickly forward to create facilities that better meet student and instructional needs.
- Improve instructional leadership. This will be challenging because of the unique nature of the school and the diversity of teachers in three tracks.
Prior to the visit, the school prepared a comprehensive Self-Study and sent it to the Visiting Team so they would be familiar with the school’s profile, beliefs, mission, and student learning expectations. TIS teachers participated in eight surveys evaluating TIS’ fulfillment of NAAS standards. Chapter Four of the Self-Study is made up of 13 Actions Plans for School Improvement. If you would like to read the Self-Study, please contact Phil Sylla.
In a follow-up email message this week, Dr. Darst wrote, “The team was clear in their perspective that you have a unique program and one that appears to be serving students overall well. I am currently working on the report and it should be back to you in a couple of weeks.”
Phil Sylla
Head of School
psylla@intlschool.org
Time Again for the Mile Run @ YMCA Track!
May 12, 2008
Hello to all TIS families of First grade and above.
I am very excited for our annual mile run event at the YMCA track. All 1st - 5th grade students will do a timed mile at the YMCA track to complete the President’s Challenge. All of these students have already run more than a mile during PE class. This year the runs will be on MONDAY MAY 19th and FRIDAY MAY 23rd. Children should wear running shoes, shorts and bring a water bottle.
In order for your child to participate, I must have your permission to transport him/her to the YMCA track on Macadam during the normal P.E. class on May 19th or 23rd. TIS parent volunteers will transport the children, just like on field trips. I have e-mailed and given out permission slips - please return the slip to school or send me an EMAIL with your child’s name and your okay (rbrigliatis@yahoo.com).
I will need parent volunteers to transport children. The volunteers will also help with the ”sit and reach” flexibility test. I will need at least 5 to 6 volunteers for the larger P.E. classes. Please let me know if you can help.
Please take the time to mark your calendar of the following:
MONDAY MAY 19:
9:00AM Fernando Spanish 3rd. 14 students
9:50AM Wenny Chinese 2nd. 12 students
10:40AM Maria Spanish 4th AND Hong Chinese 4th. 17 students
11:30AM Jennfer Chinese A 1st AND Mieko Japanese 1st. 21 students.
1:15PM Ivonne Spanish 1st. 19 students.
FRIDAY MAY 23rd:
9:50AM Sharon Chinese 3rd. 12 students.
10:40AM Yukako Japanese 4th & 5th AND Constanza Spanish 5th AND Ya Fei Chinese 5th. 19 students.
11:30AM Cynthia Spanish B 1st. 12 students.
1:15PM Hu Nan Chinese B 1st. 13 students.
2:05PM Masami Japanese 2nd & 3rd AND Pilar Spanish A 2nd. 18 Students.
This is my fourth year running The President’s Challenge Fitness Test. All students age 6 years through 5th grade participate in the same 5 events that many parents performed when they were in school. The mile run is by far my favorite event. The children are much farther along than in any year past. The Chinese second grade decided to use their ‘free time’ to continue running during our distance day and two children ran 4 miles, with almost all the remaining children running 3 miles on that day.
Kindergarteners will run a 1/4 mile course measured out in the lower playground during one of their PE classes in May.
Thank you,
Coach Robert
Robert A. Briglia
Director/Instructor Physical Education
(503) 226-2496 x257
rbrigliatis@yahoo.com
Post-Auction Bazaar - May 29
May 12, 2008
This year’s auction is over, but the fun continues! Believe it or not, there were some extra items that did not find their way to Montgomery Park in November, so we are having a Post-Auction Bazaar. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, May 29 from 2:30 to 4:00, when an assortment of fantastic items will be on sale — no bidder numbers needed!
Kate Schweitzer
kate@northrimcommercial.com
Want Summer Volunteer Hours?
May 12, 2008
If you will be available to help out this summer or specifically want to get next year’s volunteer hours done over the summer, please let me know. We will notify all parents just once or twice about summer volunteer needs, but if you are interested, we’ll make a special effort to get in touch with you when needs do arise.
Sample needs - please let me know if there is anything particular in this list that interests you:
- collating mailings
- painting walls
- helping welcome new families at the summer picnics for new families
- miscellaneous office work
- construction help
- moving furniture
- school supply distribution (the week before school starts)
Thank you!
- Linda Bonder, Marketing Director, LBonder@intlschool.org, 503-226-2496 x104
Scholastic Book Fair is Here!
May 12, 2008
Get your books for summer! The Scholastic Book Fair has English & Spanish books for all ages. And TIS teachers will get to choose FREE books for their classrooms valued at 50% of our total book fair sales!
The fair will be open:
The week of May 12, every afternoon from 2:30 until 4:00pm.
and Wednesday, May 14 from 11:30 to 12:30pm (especially for 1/2 days families
and - new time - Friday morning, May 16, from 8 to 8:45am.
Thank you to all the volunteers who are helping to make this happen!
Linda Bonder, Marketing Director, LBonder@intlschool.org, 503-226-2496 x104
International Pot Luck at the PTO Meeting, Wednesday, May 14th
May 12, 2008
Everyone in the TIS community (parents, teachers and staff) is invited to participate in the end of the year international pot luck at our last PTO meeting on Wednesday, May 14th. Here are some questions that you might be having and need an answer to:
Q1. Do I have to bring food in order to come to the PTO meeting?
A1. Absolutely not. However, we would love to try anything you can bring.
Q2. How much food should I bring?
A2. One dish that can serve 6 along with a serving spoon.
Q3. Do I have to make the food or can I buy it?
A3. It would be great if you could cook it, but hey we are all busy men and women so we do understand that not all of us will be able to bring a home cooked dish. It is perfectly okay to sweat behind a hot steering wheel as you drive to the grocery store to pick up something rather than sweating in front of a hot stove.
Q4. Do I need to bring silverware or plates/napkins?
A4. No you do not need to bring silverware, plates or napkins. We will take care of these details.
Q5. Do I need to bring any drinks?
A5. No you do not. We will supply the beverages.
Q6. Will I have access to a microwave?
A6. Yes. All classrooms have a microwave an you are welcome to use them.
Q7. Why are you doing this?
A7. We believe that it will make the end of year meeting a celebration of all we have achieved together and it will give us all a better reason to come to the PTO meeting and hang out together.
Any further questions feel free to contact Ellen Goldsmith at ellengoldsmith@mac.com.
We hope we see you and look forward to breaking bread together!
Group Bike Ride to TIS
May 12, 2008
Please come join us for a weekly group bike ride to TIS. We will meet every Friday until the end of the school year.
Time: 7:50 AM
Place: West side of the Hawthorne Bridge at the fountain
For any questions contact Emily Platt at platte@ohsu.edu
May 14 PTO Meeting Agenda
May 12, 2008
6:30pm in the Stearns Hall Music Room
Agenda:
6.30 – 6.50p.m.
Meet Organic Fresh Fingers – Evann Remington
(Organic fresh fingers Inc. is a local company that provides fresh organic lunches to schools. Evann will share information about her company and products with us. )
6.50 – 7.10 p.m.
English Dept Update – Lara F
(The English dept will go over the details of State test taking for current and future test takers).
7.10 – 7.30 p.m.
School Safety Update – School Administration
(Phil/Maria will go over the various safety concerns and the plans to address them)
7.30 – 7.45 p.m.
2007 – 2008 year PTO wrap up – Binny
(Binny will provide a brief wrap up of the year, covering the changes we made and things that worked and things that still need work)
7.45 - 8.00 p.m.
2008 – 2009 PTO Officer Elections
TIS’s first Intl potluck will be held during this meeting
Please bring your favorite food to share
We hope to see you there!
All Library Materials Due May 27
May 12, 2008
After a highly successful first year, the library media center will close to library classes May 23 to allow the librarian time collect and inventory materials before the end of the school year. Please return all library materials no later than May 27. Materials not received by this date will be billed. Some materials were reported as lost earlier in the year or were returned in damaged condition. If you found your child’s lost book, please return it now and avoid being billed. Please contact the Librarian if you have questions.
Tamara Fornell
Librarian
library@intlschool.org
Summer Camp is Filling UP
May 12, 2008
TIS Summer Camp is a fun way for TIS children to keep up with their target language or to learn a new one!
AND - they can bring their non-TIS friends because it’s open to everyone! (no language experience required at any age).
BUT - some sections have already filled up, so register soon! (see availability at http://www.intlschool.org/about-tis/summer-camp/)
QUESTIONS? Ask Carol (503-226-2496 x103, office@intlschool.org) or Summer Camp Director Pilar Arias (PArias@intlschool.org)
