MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School
Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents ISSUE # 23
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 08 TO 12, 2010

From the Middle School Office

Dear Parents:

On Tuesday, we were extremely fortunate to have Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year, speak to the
Middle School students. His message was an inspiring one and he encouraged each of us to find the hero
within and unleash it. We encourage you to ask your child about Mr. Penaflorida’s message and discuss
ways that they can make a difference in this world – no matter how big or small. We hope that by hearing
his story the students will reflect on ways they can show responsibility in action.

As of this Friday, we are five weeks into the second semester, and it’s time to reflect on student progress.
For individuals who are currently earning a C- or below, a progress report will be sent home. If you have any
questions or concerns about your child, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or guidance
counselor.

Looking ahead…The Middle School Classroom Without Walls (CWW) activities will get underway the week
of February 15. The teachers and students have been busily preparing for the week-long activity and
excitement has been building. Please take some time to talk to your child about their grade level’s
destination and activities. If you have any questions about the activities, please contact your child’s
Homebase teacher.

Have a relaxing weekend and see you at Family Fun Day!

Sincerely,

Danielle Fredericks Clarissa Sayson

Middle School Principal Middle School Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events PowerSchool Grade Update

February 10 Grade 4 to 5 Student Transition Assembly (1:00 P.M., LT)

Feb. 12 - MS Progress Reports
10 Grade 4 to 5 Parent Transition Assembly (5:00 P.M., LT)
Feb. 26 - Grade Update
12 All (MS & HS) Choirs Concert
15 to 19 Classroom Without Walls (CWW) Mar. 12 - MS Progress Reports
22 School Holiday (EDSA Revolution Day)
23 to 26 Middle School Course Registration Information
23 Grade 8 Parent Meeting—Transition to High School
25 Middle School Parent Coffee (7:45 A.M., LT)
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Middle School Media Center Reading Week & Bearcat Awards

• Last week, all students participated in
MSMC Reading Week. Students had the
opportunity to read in class time each day,
and to join in several competitions related
to the theme, “Book Banquet.”
• The Aroma Test winners were: Kelvin
Minguell and Aastha Dora. Both students
guessed 14/20 smells correctly. All stu-
dents who participated received a prize.
• The Team Tasting Challenge was held on
Tuesday 26th January at lunch time.
Around 100 students were happily blind-
folded and tasted a variety of food, includ-
ing broccoli, vegemite and avocado. After
10 courses there was a tie between two
teams from Grade 5 and Grade 7. Prizes
were given to the winners and all partici-
pants.
• The Creative Writing Competition continues
until Friday 12th February. Parents are encour-
aged to enter the adult division, and can pick
up the entry form at the MSMC. The prize is a
P1000 Gift Certificate from National Book
Store. Entries will be judged by a panel. Win-
ners will be announced before Spring Break.
• Please visit the MSMC to collect a brochure
containing the MSMC Bearcat Award List for
Grades 5 & 6, and Grades 7 & 8 for 2009-10.
All Middle School students have time to read
before casting an electronic vote (in March) for
the book they think is the best. Books from pre-
vious years have become popular choices for
borrowing.
Karen Stewart
MSMC Librarian

Change the World

The Grade 5 to 12 All Choirs Concert is this Friday,
February 12, 2010 at 5:30 P.M. in the Little Theater.

Activity Equipment
As of Monday, February 8, activity equipment will be available for borrowing during break and
lunch. Your child has the opportunity to use the courtyard and equipment for physical activity.
Equipment will be rotated for over the upcoming four weeks.

Middle School Photos

If you purchased your child’s school

photos, they are available for pick
up in the MS Office.
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ISM GOODWILL GYMNASTICS MEET

Our ISM varsity gymnastic team will be proudly representing ISM on February 13th at the ISM Good-
will Gymnastics Meet.

Meet starts at 8am and runs all day and with over 200 gymnasts competing in bars, beam, floor and
vault you are sure to see some great action. Please stop in and see the MS gym transformed with
gymnasts twisting/tumbling and paparazzi of photo taking parents a plenty.
This day is the biggest on the calendar for our gymnastics team and the gymnastics parent booster club who assist greatly
in the set-up and organization of the meet.

Hope you can come on Saturday Feb 13th to cheer and support our ISM gymnastics team.

Please see below the program for the day.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP

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(continued from page 4)

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IASAS Art & Music Festival Housing Need
Dear ISM Parents,
IASAS Art/Music Festival is fast approaching! March 3-
7th! Please see sign up letter and information included in
this bulletin.
I would like to ask for your assistance with housing for a
visiting IASAS Art/Music student. We require 160 housing
placements for this event. If you have not housed before
it is great chance to meet fantastic students from our
IASAS schools. Requirements are listed to give you an
idea of what is needed if you say yes.
IASAS Art and Music Festival: Housing require-
ments/details:
Housing needed from Wednesday night, 3rd March
until Sunday morning, 7th March (4 nights).
• A bed/futon/fold-out couch or comfortable place for
guest to sleep.
• Provide transportation to and from ISM each day.
• Provide a breakfast each morning.
• Provide one or two evening meals (Wed and Thursday
most likely. Evening meals not required on Friday or
Saturday.
• Be at home in evenings (coaches will make curfew calls
each night at 10pm to check students are at home).
• Treat and welcome your guest as you would like your
own child treated if they were attending an event at
another IASAS school and being housed.
PAGE 6
If you can assist with housing visiting students
please print out the letter attached, fill it in and return
the slip to ATAC or Fine Arts office. Please call/email
Joan in ATAC office or Rochelle in the Fine Arts of-
fice if you have any further questions.
In addition there will be a fantastic event for ISM com-
munity and lovers of the Fine Arts to attend on Fri-
day, March 5th. The Art Exhibition opening in the FAT
Gallery and then the Festival Concert in our FAT on
Friday afternoon/evening will be a great showcase of
all the hard work done by the IASAS participants.
All art pieces from IASAS delegates will be on display
for viewing prior to the festival concert featuring all
IASAS Strings, Band, Piano and Vocal delegates un-
der the direction of our visiting conductors. The high
quality of artwork on display and the incredible musi-
cal talents of the IASAS participants will make for a
great evening of arts and music at this year’s ISM Art
& Music Cultural Convention. Tickets for this art exhi-
bition/concert will go fast and will be available soon.
More details to come in upcoming bulletins.
I look forward to your support to make this a great ISM
community event.
Mark Pekin
Athletics & Activities Director
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IASAS ART & MUSIC HOUSING FORM

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Materials for Recycling

The ES art department would like to request your assistance in the collection of recyclables
to be used in art projects. Plastic bottles, caps, lids (plastic and metal), gift wrap, broken or
unwanted toys, tins, small boxes, Styrofoam trays, packaging, ribbon, yarn, keys, broken
tools and anything else you imagine we could make use of. Please ensure all donations
are clean and safe. If you have any questions please refer them to joneso@ismanila.org . Donations can be
taken to room 1189 opposite the ES gym.

Thanks in anticipation,
Olivia Jones.
***
KEEP ON RECYCLING AND BRINGING IN THOSE RING PULLS! PCF
needs us so whenever you come across a ring pull or glossy magazine, remember to
bring it to you Homebase teacher.

From the Athletics and Activities Office

Congratulations to our varsity teams for their efforts at February 20 Track meet in ISM HS/MS from
IASAS last week. 7:30 A.M.
February 20 Badminton in ISM
RESULTS: February 21 Boys Softball ASSL league games in
Girls Touch – GOLD Ateneo
Girls Tennis – 4th February 27 Swim meet in ISM
Boys Tennis – 5th February 26-28 Boys Softball exchange in Bangkok
Rugby – 5th March 12-14 Nike track meet in Bangkok
Swimming 6th March 12-14 Girls softball exchange in Taipei
Basketball girls/boys – 5th March 13 Track meet in Brent
March 19 Twilight track meet in ISM
3rd SEASON UPDATES: April 7-11 IASAS (Track in SAS, Softball/
February 7 Boys Softball ASSL league games in Badminton in ISB)
Ateneo April 10 JV Badminton in ISM
February 13 ISM Goodwill Gymnastics Meet in MS April 12 HS Academic Bowl in Brent
Gym at 8:00 A.M. April 13 MS Academic Bowl in Brent
February 13 Badminton in Brent April 24 Swim meet in Brent
February 13 MS Boys B Tennis vs. Ateneo B in
CSA at 8:00 A.M.
February 13 Track invitational in Brent HS/MS
at 7:30 A.M.
February 14 Boys Softball ASSL league games in
Ateneo

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