TIS Sweatshirts for Sale!
November 10, 2008
TIS sweatshirts have arrived just in time for the cold weather! The sweatshirts are hooded, blue and white, and have the TIS logo on both the front and back. We have both children’s and adult’s sizes. They can be purchased for $20 each from the Stearns Hall receptionist. Get one while they last!
Sally Foster - Thank You!
November 3, 2008
A big thanks to all of you who supported Sally Foster. While we don’t have exact numbers yet, we raised over $2,100 which will go to the Capstone Academic Trips abroad, the trips taken by all 5th grade classes to a country of their adopted culture.
A special thank you to our top three sales earners - way to go!
The Bendis Family
Lux Preciado-Solis & family
The Brazie Family
It’s not too late! You may order Sally Foster products on-line at any time before December 31st. This is a great way for grandparents and other friends or family members who don’t live locally to support our school. Here is the information you’ll need for internet orders:
- go to www.sallyfoster.com to purchase items
- during the check-out process you will be asked if you want to enter a group/account number - click on that and enter 62008 when prompted to ensure that TIS receives credit for your purchase
- alternatively, you may go to the TIS website and click on the Sally Foster logo - this will identify you as a TIS buyer and you will not have to enter our account number
- orders over $70 receive free shipping
- on-line orders will be shipped directly to your home
For those of you who ordered through the catalog, your order will be delivered to the school on or around November 17th. For those of you who ordered on-line, your order will be delivered directly to your home and should arrive in early November.
Susan Marcus
Sally Foster Chair
obanmarcus@comcast.net
Holiday Staff Party - December 13th
November 3, 2008
Our thanks to everyone who has generously offered to serve or donate items for the school’s annual holiday staff party. We’re off to a good start, but are still in need of servers and donations. Here are ways you can help:
1. Serve at the party - being a server is the only way a parent can attend this very fun event
2. Create a homemade appetizer, salad, entree or dessert for the party - we can give you specific suggestions for what we need
3. Donate beverages - wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages are needed
4. Donate cash - this helps us buy items that are not donated
This event is sponsored entirely by the parent community as a way of sharing the holiday spirit with our wonderful teachers and school staff. Please let us know if you are able to donate food or beverages for the party.
Thanks for your help,
Heidi Fouser
fouser@comcast.net
Susan Marcus
obanmarcus@comcast.net
Thank You Volunteers!
November 3, 2008
A big thank you to all the parents who took time to volunteer at our first Open House of the year on October 24. The event drew a number of prospective families, many of whom are seriously considering the school for their children. We received a number of application at the event for both this school year and next.
Since this is one of the few formal occasions prospective families are able to talk with current parents, these are important events, and again I want to say “thank you” for your time.
Jan Williams
Director of Admissions
admissions@intlschool.org
A Trailblazing Idea from Coach Robert
October 27, 2008
Here’s a new opportunity to meet other TIS families while rooting the Portland Trailblazers on to victory. TIS Physical Education Specialist Robert Briglia is currently coordinating a group ticket purchase for his daughters’ soccer teams to watch the ‘Blazers thrash the L.A. Clippers on December 12. As a big believer in the power of extra-curricular activities to build community, Robert is extending the offer to TIS families too. “I’ll take care of all the details,” he says, “but if you’re interested, you’ll need to act soon.”
Due to the team’s resurgence, tickets are going fast. Robert says he is reserving a block in the 300-level, with tickets priced at around $17 each. No payments are due yet, but Robert hopes to place his order as soon as possible. Room parents will be coordinating the number of tickets needed in each class.
“I think this is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow TIS families while supporting the comeback of Portland’s hometown favorites,” he says.
If you have any questions, contact Robert at robertb@intlschool.org.
Holiday Staff Party
October 27, 2008
Every year the parent community at TIS rallies together to throw a wonderful holiday party for our teachers and staff. It’s our way of thanking them for their hard work, dedication, and love for our children. This year’s party will be on Saturday, December 13th at the beautiful home of Alan and Victoria O’Kain. This is the third year the O’Kains are opening up their home for this event and we appreciate their generosity.
Since this event is sponsored entirely by the parent community, we are relying on you for help. Here are ways you can contribute:
1. serve at the party - it is an incredibly fun evening and being a server is the only way a parent can attend the party
2. create a homemade appetizer, salad, entree or dessert for the party - we can give you specific suggestions for what we need
3. donate beverages - wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages are needed
4. donate cash - this helps us buy items that are not donated
The holiday party is a wonderful evening that the staff look forward to every year, and is made possible by the generosity of our parent community. Thanks in advance for your support!
Heidi Fouser
fouser@comcast.net
Susan Marcus
obanmarcus@comcast.net
Unclaimed Lost and Found Items To Be Donated
October 27, 2008
At the end of each month, we take unclaimed lost and found items to Goodwill. This is your last chance to pick up those missing jackets and sweaters before they are donated. Please take a moment this week to look through our overflowing lost and found bins located in the reception area of Stearns Hall and next to the gym.
Video filming at TIS - Nov 5
October 27, 2008
The International School – One of 170 Schools Participating in Oregon Walk and Bike To School Day
October 13, 2008
Our campus, tucked away between South Waterfront and Downtown Portland, is not necessarily easy to access by bicycle or foot. Yet, many families do find their way to TIS without a car. On Wednesday, October 8, five TIS families made up the 14 riders gathered at Salmon Street Fountain for a bike brigade to school. The early arrivers enjoyed a beautiful sunrise over the Willamette River. If you stood at the bottom of Sherman Street on Wednesday morning – you could see several other families riding in together. There were students riding on their own, on an attachment bike, or in a cozy carrier. Parents and at least one teacher joined in on the fun. Chinese, Japanese and Spanish Tracks all had students biking to school.
Here’s a picture of Rich Read, Chika-Sensei and Nehalem (5th grade Japanese) on the South Waterfront.
**If any students rode a bike or walked to school on Wednesday, October 8 and have yet to receive a “prize pack”, please contact Jessica Duke and she will get one to you! Please send student’s name and classroom to jessica@urbatsch.com.
City’s reply on Transportation Strategy
October 12, 2008
Those from our community who wrote comments to Art Pierce received the following letter on Oct 6.
Dear International School parents, teachers and staff,
Thank you for your comments and concerns regarding a variety of motor vehicle projects being evaluated through the North Macadam Transportation Strategy (Transportation Strategy). It is always encouraging to see interest and participation in City planning processes.
As I hope you are aware, the Transportation Strategy is charged with developing a long range plan for multimodal transportation projects to support the North Macadam Urban Renewal Area over the next 20 -30 years. This strategy has developed an array of short and long range motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit project proposals with the aim of creating a more balanced transportation system in this area of Portland as it continues to grow. As part of the Transportation Strategy, a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC), comprised of representatives from the neighborhood, businesses, and property owners, including The International School (TIS) representatives, has spent numerous hours over the past year collaboratively discussing the needs for the area and the projects proposed.
Per your comments, the project that appears to have resulted in the strongest concern from The International School is MV-2, the Sherman Roadway Extension. This project was carried into the Transportation Strategy from its initial concept in the Harbor/Naito Development Plan developed in 2004. The plan is intended to show conceptually, what could occur in the Harbor/Naito area with the maximization of development potential for the area. With that plan, the Sherman roadway extension was proposed to provide additional local access to the International School and adjacent properties and was not proposed as an additional connection between outside destinations.
As such, the Sherman St Roadway Extension (MV-2) is not identified as a high priority in the Transportation Strategy. Rather it is a local improvement and will only occur through initiation and funding by property owners, including TIS, to support future development, such as the middle school included in your Strategic Plan. To ensure that this connection would not unintentionally serve as a cut through route, the closure of SW Water/Sheridan and/or traffic calming measures were proposed to happen concurrently, should property owners initiate this local access improvement.
As The International School has not developed a detailed master plan for its expansion, the Sherman Roadway Extension was included in the Transportation Strategy to serve as a placeholder for the additional street infrastructure that would be required to provide sufficient and safe access to the site. Alternative circulation proposals could be developed by a TIS transportation consultant through its master planning process and reviewed by the City of Portland Office of Transportation to ensure adequate level of service.
The other motor vehicle projects listed of concern in your letters have a broader context of providing portal capacity for the entire North Macadam Urban Renewal Area (including The International School) and would be difficult to fully address in this email. I encourage you to attend the October 7th Open House to obtain additional information about future access issues in this area and the variety of solutions that are currently being considered.
If there is interest I am happy to coordinate and present at TIS to provide for a more targeted discussion of your transportation needs. In addition to the motor vehicle projects that were shared with you, there are a number of pedestrian, bicycle and transit projects (including a trail connecting the Eastside Springwater Trail to Downtown Portland on SW Caruthers Ave) that I believe would also be of great interest to the TIS community. I have also attached a copy of the proposed High Priority Project list and map for your reference.
I hope that you will continue to be engaged in this planning project and shaping its outcome and I look forward to meeting you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Art Pearce
Project Manager
Attachment - Top Priority Projects N Macadam Trans Strategy100408
Art Pearce
Project Manager
Portland Office of Transportation
Bureau of Transportation Engineering and Development
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 800
Portland, Oregon 97204
503-823-7791
Background
In late September, TIS learned that the City of Portland had plans to significantly and adversely affect the streets around the school. The school sent its own formal and detailed comments on the proposals, and asked as many parents as possible to provide public comment to the City on or before October 7, 2008.
Resources
These documents are all as of late September ‘08
- Click here for a draft letter/email with the school’s comments on the plan. Many parents personalized this draft to sent to the city.
- Click here for a list of the city’s top priority projects
- Click here for the city’s project evaluation matrix
- Click here for details of the proposed Sherman Street extension
- Click here for the city’s transportation solutions chart
- LARGE FILE: Click here for details of ALL the city’s vehicle plan projects (this is a 3 MB file)
- Click for some of the city’s maps showing project options: Map1, Map2, Map3, Map5
And - links to the City’s pages:
- The City’s project page for the North Macadam Transportation Development Strategy
- The North Macadam Transportation Development Strategy graphics and reports
- The Portland Development Commission’s project page for the North Macadam Urban Renewal Area
