ISSUE # 26

SY1617
MIDDLE SCHOOL

WEEK OF:
Friday Bulletin Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents

MARCH 20 TO 24
Inside this issue:
Dear Parents,
After School Activities 3
This week, the MS Office has received a few inquiries about our digital citizenship poli-
cy. This important aspect of life in a digital age was also echoed in conversations with the
Fine & Performing Arts 4
MS Parent Representative Group (PRG). In light of these inquiries, and in an effort to be
responsive to parent needs, we decided to dedicate this weeks Parent Bulletin to how we
can work collaboratively in order to promote the responsible use of technology.
Treasury Office 4
Wed like to highlight that our Responsible
Digital Use policy and related guidelines can be Athletics & Activities (ATAC)
Clinic 5
found in the MS Student Planner on pages 25 -
28. Our guidelines include how to be a respon-
sible digital learner and citizen, guidelines for Athletics & Activities 6
the proper care and use of computers, a list
highlighting what responsible use looks like, and
our stance on social media and gaming. Every Parent Community
Athletics & Activities (ATAC)
Association
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student should have a Student Planner but if
your child has left this at school, a digital ver-
sion can be accessed via the school website Admissions & Advancement 10
following the steps below:

www.ismanila.org ISM Upcoming Events 12

Middle School tab
Academic Program tab
Click on the link under the image of the
Student Planner
GUARDIANSHIP AGREEMENTS
Device Free Break and Lunch:
It is important to note that in the MS we have device free break and lunch times so students When both parents are going to be
have the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with their friends and peers . In such a away temporarily, It is important for
screen-dominated society, we want to make sure our students are developing essential so- them to notify the Middle School Office
cial skills and dispositions such as making eye-contact, interpreting nonverbal cues and culti- in advance, stating who will be responsi-
vating empathy. ble for the student and who the school
should contact in case of emergency.
Filters at Home: Domestic helpers or emergency con-
Some MS parents have inquired about whether they should install a filter at home. Please tacts in Powerschool do not qualify as
guardians. For more information please
note that the decision to install a filter at home comes down to parental choice and par- contact the Middle school office.
enting style. If you are considering a filter, we recommend Open DNS as a way to help pro-
tect students from inadvertently stumbling across inappropriate content as they surf the E-MAIL:
Internet. A filter basically provides a protective barrier from undesirable sites that students ms@ismanila.org
may not be ready to view and process from a developmental standpoint.
PHONE:
Great Parent Resource: 840-8550
When it comes to navigating life in the digital age it is helpful to have a trusted go to 840-8553
source for guidance regarding key concerns and questions. A wonderful resource that we PLEASE CLICK HERE TO
use in the MS is www.commonsensemedia.org. This website covers a wide range of topics DOWNLOAD THE TEMPORARY
GUARDIANSHIP AGREEMENT FORM
from movie, book and game reviews and top pick lists
through to guidance on a wide range of common parent
concerns - including privacy and internet safety. The site
offers guidance for parents by key developmental age rang-
es (Preschoolers, little kids, big kids, tweens and teens) and
the site organizes their advice as FAQs, articles and quick
tips/lists. If you are not already familiar with this site, we
suggest you check it out and bookmark it for future refer-
ence. Were sure you will find it an invaluable source of
support!
Remember: These are untimed, adaptive, mul-
tiple-choice tests taken on a comput-
er. Students do not need to study for these
tests.
COMING UP SOON:
Monday, March 27th:
Student-Led Conferences:
Date: Monday, March 27th (Please note this is
a date change from the date published in the
ISM hard-copy calendar!)
Time: 12:30 - 5:00 p.m.
12:30 - 2:30 = Surnames beginning with A - K
3:00 - 5:00 = Surnames beginning with L - Z
No ATAC and AFAC activities for MS on this
day (See respective blogs for details)

NEED TO KNOW:

Student-Led Conferences (SLC):

The SLC brochure will be sent home on Friday, March 24th
so parents can review the order of events. The brochure
includes an overview of the event, guiding questions for
parents to use to prompt student thinking and the pro-
posed order to visit classes to avoid over-crowding in any
given class.

PCA Cultural Show, International Buffet and Silent Auc-

If you are looking for a book, we also recommend, The Big
Disconnect by Catherine Steiner Adair which can be found
in our library.
THIS WEEK:
Monday, March 20th - Friday, March 31st
Middle School MAP Testing Window
What: MS Measures of Academic Progress
(MAP) Testing Window
Who: All students in G5 - G8
When: During regularly scheduled classes
Math MAP Test - will take place during Math
class
Reading MAP Test - will take place during Eng-
lish class
Language Usage MAP Test - will take place
during Social Studies class
tion:
You are cordially invited to the PCA Cultural Show, Interna-
tional Buffet and Silent Auction.
Date: Saturday, March 18th
When and What?
Cultural Show = 4:30 p.m. in the FAT
Buffet = 6:00 p.m. in the ES Gym
Silent Auction = 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Please come for an afternoon of homegrown entertainment
as we showcase the diversity within the ISM communi-
ty. This event will also include a special performance by
Ballet Manila! Tickets are available from the PCA and Cash-
ier Office.
Adults = Php500
Students = Php250
COME AND SUPPORT THIS WONDERFUL PCA FAMILY
EVENT!
Kind regards,
Rachel Harrington, Middle School Principal
Amanda Pekin, Assistant Middle School Principal
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 ISM DANCE COMPANY TRY-OUTS
ISM Dance Company's class placement tryouts will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. It held in the HS Dance Room
(3050) from 3PM-4:45PM. The sign up list is on the Fine Arts Office notice board.

Requirements:
Prepare a 2-minute dance routine of your choice that demonstrates your dance skills and ability. Take note that the dance
routine should be a self-choreographed dance. You should not have sought any professional help or assistance in preparing
your choreography.
Technique class in contemporary or modern jazz will be given followed by 2 short routines (adagio and allegro dance com-
binations).
Wear something form-fitting (black shorts and tights or black dance pants with a form-fitting top), wear proper dance
shoes and have your hair tied-up.

Best Regards,
Marsha Hillman
Fine and Performing Arts Director

To: Parents and Company Sponsors

For the purpose of clearing the accounts of students for SY16-17, the following are school CUT-OFFS in accepting checks
from parents and sponsors:

Dollar Checks:
Pre- School to Grade 12 - March 30, 2017- For Dollar checks that are not cleared within the US territory these are
considered collection checks and are routed longer, will take not less than 28 days to clear . Additional bank fee is col-
lected for routing and collection purposes. ( e.g. Citibank Philippines checks)
Pre School to Grade 12 April 17,2017 - For Dollar checks cleared within US check territory and with shorter clear-
ance period

Peso Checks:
Grade12 May 5,2017
Pre- School to Grade 11 May 22,2017

This is to allow enough time for the checks to get cleared by the bank in time for the student clearance in June.
Please also note that US dollar coins are not accepted by the cashier. Charges billed with dollar cents can be settled con-
verting it to its peso equivalent.

Other Notes:
- Pursuant to the endorsement of the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC), please be informed that effective Jan-
uary 04, 2016, any peso check that shows or indicates on its face any erasure or alteration shall no longer be eligible or
acceptable for clearing. The cashiers will only accept peso checks with complete details and without any alteration(s).

- For payment related queries and in sending a copy of the bank confirmation payment to Cashiers please contact Elmer
Esguerra( 840-85-12) and Ma Luisa Refran( 840-85-01) (esguerrae@ismanila.org or refranm@ismanila.org).

For billing, Rhoda Villa at 840-85-22 and email address villar@ismanila.org, or Marissa Dulay at 840-85-06 or email
to dulaym@ismanila.org/ 4
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Practice schedule for S3 sports are posted. S3 HS sports
are (Golf, Track and Field, Baseball/Fast Pitch Softball,
Badminton)
S3 MS sports are (Track and Field, Mixed Touch and Bad-
minton) S3 flyer for practice schedule at MS office notice
board and on ATAC blog.
Please note a Baseball and Fast Pitch Softball develop-
ment program for MS boys and girls will take place during
S4 beginning after the April break until the end of May.
Good luck to Bearcats gymnasts who will compete at the
BSM meet this coming Saturday!
Housing requests for upcoming IASAS events- We are
calling for community support to host student athletes
for IASAS Badminton (April 5-9 need 80 beds- online bad-
minton housing registration ) and for IASAS Golf (April
8 need 42 beds one night only- online golf housing regis-
tration )
All S1, S2 athletes and MUN/Cul Con delegates who have
been this year please help out and house to fulfil your
hosting responsibility as a Bearcat athlete/delegate for
this year. We need your support!
Online housing form links for these events are available
as listed above and are at IASAS housing and hosting tabs
on ATAC blog or under the helpful shortcuts on ATAC blog
main page. Should you require further information about
hosting for IASAS events go tohttp://atac.ism-
online.org/iasas/iasas-housing/ or contact ATAC office or
email pekinm@ismanila.org
Upcoming events- (full match schedule available at ATAC
Game schedule)
Mar 18 British School Gymnastics meet
Mar 18 Golf team at Mt. Malarayat
Mar 18 Varsity Baseball tourney away/Varsity Soft-
ball tourney at ISM
Mar 18 Badminton at Brent
Mar 24 ISM twilight track meet
Mar 25 Badminton Invitational at ISM
Mar 25 Golf team at Mt. Malarayat
Mar 25 Varsity Baseball tourney at away/Varsity Soft-
ball tourney at ISM
Mar 26 Varsity Baseball vs Brent at Brent
Apr 1 Varsity Baseball away tbc?
April 5-8 S3 IASAS Championships Badminton/Golf at
ISM, Track at ISB, Baseball/Softball at SAS
Apr 22-23 Sailfish International meet at ISM
May 6 ISM Goodwill Gymnastics Meet
May 12-14 Jakarta MS Mixed Touch tournament
To find out details of all the Bearcats matches mid week
and on weekends go to the ATAC game schedule page-
link is provided below and follow the instructions to find
out when and where our Bearcat teams will be playing.
The ATAC(Athletics) Game schedule is housed within the
parent portal to ensure secure access for ISM par-
ents http://atac.ism-online.org/schedules/
Please take the time to navigate the ATAC blog http://
atac.ism-online.org/ as it is our one stop shop for all in-
formation related to the competitive ISM sports program.
For our All Year Round teams- Wall Climbing, Chess, Judo,
TKD, Aikido, Table Tennis -As these programs are year
round it is possible for students to join during the year as
long as space is available. See link to information and
schedule to attend and meet the coaches. All year round
sports teams See schedule for our All year round
teams program here
Please note the practice times for ATAC programs for SY
16-17 are as follows: ATAC all year round teams- 3:15-
4:30. For our Sailfish swim team program please check
the Sailfish blog for information http://sailfish.ism-
online.org/
ATAC Gymnastics team practices 3:10-4:50 M/W/F
All HS seasonal teams practice from 3:05- 4:50pm on
their respective practice afternoons. MS seasonal teams
practice from 3:15-4:45pm.In order to clear the campus
prior to 5pm all after school programs will conclude
by 4:50pm or earlier. The last bus is 4:55pm this is due to
the ever increasing traffic concerns in our area.
Parents and students please take some time to peruse
the ATAC blog it has a wide variety of information and
links to our sports and activities program. If you have any
questions regarding the competitive program of sports at
ISM after reading the information on the blog please send
an email to pekinm@ismanila.org and I will endeavor to
assist you as best I can.
Bearcat Den- drop by our fantastic spirit store. There is
a a range of products and items to purchase including
items from our service partners. Bearcat Den hours of
operation- 7am-4pm Mon-Fri.
Best Regards,
Mark Pekin
Director of Athletics/Activities
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Hello ISM Families,

The PCA International Buffet is your ticket to try the delectable dishes from the 33 participating coun-
tries and territories from our community! These are just some of the dishes you will get to taste in the
buffet:

Africa/Kenya/Egypt: Mandazi, Samosas, Boerewors, Rusks, Crunchies

ANZ: Lamington, Pavlova, Anzac Biscuits
Denmark: Danish Open Sandwiches (5 kinds) and Danish cheeses
France/Switzerland: Quiche Lorraine, La Provencale Pasta, Le Lillois Sandwich, Crepe, Fruit Tarts
Italy: Freshly sliced Prosciutto and Mortadella, Lasagna
India: Samosas, Paneer and Chicken Kathi, Chola, Laccha paratha, Gulab jamun
Indonesia: Chicken satay, Yellow Rice, Lemper Ayam, Klepon, Stuffed Tofu
Japan: Sushi, Chicken Teriyaki, Tempura, Yakitori
Latin Countries: Carne Mechada
Colombiana, Tacos Fritos Mexi-
canos, Frijoles Centroamericanos,
Chistorras Espanola
Malaysia: Nasi Lemak, Roti Jala-
with Chicken Curry, Meehon,
Onde Onde
Middle East: Falafel, Taboula,
Humus, Koshary, Kobebea
North America: Chili, Wings,
Cornbread, Macaroni & Cheese,
Apple Crisp, Nanaimo Bars,
Brownies
Philippines: Lechon, Embotido,
Lechon Manok, Leche Flan, Pas-
tillas
Sri Lanka: Young jack fruit curry,
Chicken curry, Pol rotti, Seenisam-
bal, Fish cutlets, Coconut rock,
Mung kavum

These are just a sampling! The other

groups are keeping their menu a total
surprise. We cant wait to see what
they will have for all of you. So please
join us for a night of food and culture.
This is an event for your ENTIRE
FAMILY!
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