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
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
News from the Library Media Center
May 5, 2008
A large order of Japanese language books has recently arrived from Japan. These books are currently being cataloged and processed by Akiko Soehl, a library volunteer. Mrs. Soehl plays a key role in the library and has not only donated dozens of Japanese books, but has learned to catalog and process them as well.
The Library Media Center is the recipient of two grant awards in April. The first award is a We the People “Created Equal” Bookshelf from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The library will receive books in English and Spanish reflecting this fundamental value, its role in American history, and Abraham Lincoln’s contributions to our understanding of human equality. The second award is for Japanese teaching materials and books from The Japan Foundation. These materials will be kept in the library for teacher and student borrowing. Thank you to Akiko Soehl who researched and wrote this grant for the school.
Tamara Beecroft-Fornell
Librarian
library@intlschool.org
PTO Notes
May 5, 2008
Hello Everyone,
Next week is teacher appreciation (May 9th) and our school Ambassadors (Amy K - SpK, Debbie R -S
Sp1, and Holly S - SpK) have been hard at work planning a very special breakfast and lunch for our teachers. Do thank the ambassadors for their hard work and thoughtfulness when you see them and remember to let the teachers know how much we appreciate them each day of the year and especially next week.
Also, I would like to thank Molly S (Ch-PK & K) who without much fuss, single-handedly organized the McMenamins “Friends and Family night” that pulled in approximately $1500 to benefit technology at our school. Kudos to Molly for a job well done and thanks to everyone who took part in the event!
The last PTO meeting of the year is around the corner. We have an exciting and relevant agenda planned and I hope that all of you can make the meeting or at least part of the meeting.
As you may already be aware we have been looking for ways to provide a lunch option at school on all 5 days of the week. Evan Remington of “Organic Fresh Fingers” will introduce us to her company and products. We are considering adding “Organic fresh Fingers” lunches to the school’s lunch line up along with Pizza and Bento boxes.
The English dept will take time out of their busy schedule to join us at the PTO meeting and update/educate us on details of state testing. What to expect? Does the student have to prepare for it? Several questions along these lines will be answered.
Phil or Maria will address the many safety concerns that have been raised during this school year and the plans to address the issues, thus making our school a safer place.
I will provide a brief wrap up of the year covering the changes we made this year and things that still need to be done.
Following this will be the most exciting event of the day “PTO officer elections” for the 2008-2009 academic year. Watch out! If you don’t show up to the meeting you raise your chances of being nominated and voted into one of these positions (just kidding). I hope that many of you have been thinking about these openings as well as the various committees that will need chairs next year. We hope that you can fit one of these opportunities into your plans for next year.
Finally, Ellen has been masterminding the “First International PTO potluck” to be held at the PTO meeting on May 14th. Look for her note in the ITK that provides more information on the details of this event and do join us for the potluck. There will be a variety of foods to sample and excellent company to enjoy the festivities with.
See you all at school,
Binny Arcot (PTO Pres. Going, Going almost Gone)
Library Media Center Update
April 28, 2008
The Library Media Center is already bursting at the seams with over 3,500 items! There are even more books to catalog and process, but no space for bookcases to store them. The staff and students are looking forward to our larger space next year. In the meantime, here is a breakdown of the current materials:
Books 3,226
A/V Materials 78
Audiobooks 10
Other 39
Periodicals 100+
There are currently 404 items checked out. The students are doing a great job taking care of the books and returning them on time. However, a few of you may have lost or damaged a book. In such case, please contact the librarian so that your child may continue to check out books. Bills for lost or damaged materials will be sent out at the end of May.
Thank you to all who have donated books and other materials to the library in recent weeks. Thanks to your generosity the students are enjoying Chinese language Disney movies, English and Spanish Goosebumps books, getting to know Laura Ingalls Wilder and craving more graphic novels!
Tamara Beecroft-Fornell
Librarian
library@intlschool.org
Head’s Corner: 2008-04-21
April 21, 2008
New Compensation Plan Starts Next September
At last week’s faculty meeting, teachers discussed a Broadband Compensation plan that will offer new opportunities and higher salaries starting in September 2008. The plan rewards level of training in the teacher’s area of specialization, experience, leadership, and merit/accomplishment.
The TIS Broadband Plan is based on research of “best school practices” with modifications made for TIS’ special needs.
Teachers who are not certified are required to get the credentials to advance out of Band I within four years. All teachers are required to participate in 45 clock hours of professional training every three years. Strong incentives are offered to move to Band IV (Master’s degree in Education or Bachelor’s degree + 30 semester credits) and Band V (Doctorate in Education or Masters + 30 credits).
The Human Relations Committee, with Board, Teacher, and Administration members, wrote the TIS Broadband plan after a series of meetings throughout the school year. Discussion at the faculty meeting was brisk. Initial reactions seem to be enthusiasm for the emphasis on professionalism and the opportunities for self-advancement.
Phil Sylla
Head of School
PTO Notes - Log your 25 volunteer hours; become a PTO Officer; vote for Officers May 14!
April 15, 2008
Hello Everyone,
The year is rapidly coming to a close. Please do not forget to fulfill your volunteer hour commitment. Each family (irrespective of number of children at TIS) has to complete just 25 hours of volunteer work at the school. This is a great opportunity to participate in your child’s school life by volunteering for “in class” needs or you could volunteer for school wide projects which are usually highlighted in “ITK” or are circulated via the Room Parent loop. Once you complete your hours, do remember to log them into the “Parent Volunteer Log” that is maintained in your child’s classroom.
If you are planning ahead and looking for volunteer opportunities for next year and have questions, just send me an email and I will be happy to answer your questions or help you find a fit between your skill sets and the school’s needs.
You can always get around having to keep close track of your volunteer hours by signing up for a “PTO Officer” position. As you may have noticed there are several sign up sheets around school that are geared towards identifying future PTO officers. If you are interested in any of these positions please sign up on one of the “sign up” sheets and we will throw your name into the hat for the upcoming elections on May14th.
Elections for next year’s PTO officers will be held at the last PTO meeting of this year on May the 14th.
See you all at school.
Binny Arcot
PTO President
Head’s Corner: 2008-04-14
April 14, 2008
This year for the first time, the school is bidding for Full Accreditation status with the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. TIS has been provisionally accredited since 2003.
On April 30, Dr. Dick Darst, NAAS Oregon State Executive Secretary, will visit the school with a team of educators, known as the “Response Team.” The purpose of the Response Team’s visit is to assess The International School’s readiness for Full Accreditation.
• The school must demonstrate readiness in several ways:
• Fulfillment of The International School Mission Statement
• Expectations for Student Learning
• Student accomplishments
• Teacher qualifications
• Meeting NAAS’ Eight Standards
• Plans for continuing improvement of student performance
A Self-Study document presenting evidence-based school evaluation materials will be sent to the Response Team before their visit. The Self-Study is a comprehensive look at the school as it exists today as well as its plans for the future.
The Self-Study document will be reviewed and up-dated annually. It becomes the basis for school planning. Copies will be available for interested parents.
Phil Sylla
Head of School
News from the English Department
April 8, 2008
The newly developed English Department is in its seventh month of implementation. Two of the three rounds of assessments have been completed. January assessment results reveal positive learning growth across grade levels. As we approach the Spring grading period, it has become apparent that the English program’s continued success will require more professional development for staff and allocation of planning time to assure the longevity of the program and teachers. On April 18 and May 9 students will remain with their homeroom teachers for one extra hour a month to accommodate professional development time. This extra time will allow the English department staff to plan collaboratively, develop lessons, manage program needs, and further develop the writing and reading curriculum used in the classroom. We appreciate the continued support for the English program, and the teachers.
Community Service - Update
April 8, 2008
The food barrels are all picked up and the food has been weighed by the Oregon Food Bank. We collected a total of 953 lbs of food. This food will translate into 20 emergency food boxes. One emergency food box can feed a family of four for 3 to 5 days.
We should all be proud of these results. We have far exceeded our goal of 500lbs of food. Thank you so much for your participation and enthusiasm. We hope to make this an annual event at TIS.
Please look for information about this event next year too. If you would like to chair this event next year please let me know.
Also, do keep in mind that hunger is a year round problem and we can all continue to help in many different ways though our food drive has ended. Please visit the Oregon food bank website to learn more www.oregonfoodbank.org.
Binny Arcot and Jamie Anderson
