MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friday Bulletin
Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents
ISSUE # 21
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 06 TO 10, 2012

From the Middle School Office

Dear Parents: Each grade level has been busily planning and preparing activities for the Classroom Without Walls (CWW) week from February 20 to February 24. CWW is part of the regular Middle School curriculum and affords students the opportunity to discover more about the Philippines and what it has to offer. The activities that the teachers plan also aim to cultivate a stronger sense of community and service. For these students, the trips often become their most treasured memories of Middle School. Information has been sent out via your childs Homebase. Please make sure to keep an eye out for the information and return the signed permission slip to school via your child. If you have any questions about the activities, please contact your childs Homebase teacher. On Friday, February 10 is a Middle School party for grades 5 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Permission slips have been distributed to students. In order to attend, your child must submit a signed permission slip and purchase a ticket. Please be advised that students are expected to attend the duration of the party. In the event that a student must leave before the end of the party, it is requested that a parent notify the office in writing or by phone in advance. When informing the office of the early pick-up, please tell us who will pick up your child and the time so that the MS Office can inform security. Please understand that we request this information to ensure the safety of the students who leave the event early. We encourage all students to attend and are looking forward to 100% participation. The party will be a great opportunity to spend time with friends! Looking aheadwe will be hosting a Middle School Parent Coffee on Thursday, February 16 from 7:45 9:00 A.M. in the Little Theater. The topic of discussion will be online social networking, its influence on your child, and what a parent should keep in mind. We hope you can join us! Have a great weekend! Regards, Simon Gillespie Middle School Principal Clarissa Sayson Middle School Assistant Principal

Inside this issue:

Middle School Academic Bowl Congratulations to MS Boys Rugby Team Final Yearbook Photo Shoot iBelieve Photo Contest Filipino Courses for Parents 2012 From the ATAC Office IASAS Rugby/Touch Schedule ISM Aquathon 2012 3 4 5 6 7 2

UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY

08 to 12 10 16 16 to 19 17 20 to 24 23

AMIS Honor Band MS Party (Gr. 5 to 8) MS Parent Coffee (7:45 A.M., LT) ISTA Festival No Classes Classroom Without Walls (CWW) Gr. 8 Parents HS Course Selection Information Night (5:30 P.M., Lofthouse)

MARCH 05 to 09 08 to 29 10 20 24 26 to 29 30 to Apr. 09 APRIL 14 16 to 20 Service Learning Trip ESL Placement Testing Course Registration MAP Testing ISM Goodwill Gymnastics Meet Parent Teacher Conferences Service Learning Trip Spirit Week School Holiday (Spring Break)

POWERSCHOOL GRADE UPDATE

REMINDER:

February 10 February 24 March 09 March 16

Grade Update/Progress Report Distribution Grade Update Grade Update Grade Update/Progress Report Distribution

Yearbook Photos are now available! Those who ordered photos may pick them up in the MS Office.

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Middle School Academic Bowl

Do you know lots of interesting facts and general knowledge? Are you fast on the buzzers? Do you want to compete in the Battle of the Brains Academic Bowl competition? Come and TRYOUT!! WHERE Room P046 WHEN Monday, 6th February Thursday, 9th February TIME 3:00 3:30 P.M. Successful students will represent ISM at the next Academic Bowl meeting between ISM, Faith Academy and Brent International School. All Middle School students are welcome to tryout. If you have any questions birchenallv@ismanila.org. or queries please speak to Mrs. Birchenall or e-mail her at

Congratulations to MS Boys Rugby Teams

Coach Cormer and Coach Quinlan would like to say congratulations once again to the MS Boys Rugby Teams. We had a great season and all the skills and training were put to the test last Friday afternoon over at BSM. The Under 12s got in a good game with a few of the BSM players spread between our players. Unfortunately they didnt have much completion this season but the level of play and skills the team has developed is going to make them into a powerful squad in the coming years. The Under 14s were facing the British School in our 5th match of the season with 3 wins and a tie already against the boys in blue. Both teams played hard and battled back and forth as they put points on the board. As time ran down and fatigue was setting in, the game was down to a tie. At this point light was fading fast and the referee announced that in 2 minutes hed have to stop play. With heart, determination, and every bit of energy they had left our boys dug deep and the game was finally put to an end with ISM coming out victorious! It was a glorious win and certainly proved that our Middle School Boys Rugby teams came to play like warriors and win like gentlemen. Great season boys, well played! Congratulations!

Final Yearbook Photo Shoot

If your child missed the Yearbook Photo Session, the last schedule will be on Thursday, February 09, from 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. in room P045. Your child can drop by at break or lunch time to have their photo taken. The photographer will still accept photo orders. Please get an order envelope from the MS Office. Payments should be placed inside the envelope and should be brought by the student on the day of the shoot to be given directly to the photographer.

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iBelieve Public Voting & Silent Auction Now Open!

Drop by our booth: Every Wednesday & Friday (during lunch breaks), outside HS/MS Canteen OR Visit us at the Advancement Office (at the Plaza Level, beside Admissions) For more information, check us out online at ibelieve.ism-online.org!

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Filipino Courses for Parents 2012

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From the Athletics & Activities Office

IASAS RUGBY/TOUCH: I hope many of our community have been able to come along and support our rugby and touch teams. There has been a real buzz and great atmosphere around the school the past two days and finals day tomorrow is sure to be exciting! The IASAS format for this event is great in that all games for rugby and touch are played on our HS field. Three rugby games are played followed by three touch games morning and afternoon each day, so if you have not come along yet, come out and cheer for the ISM BEARCATS! I would like to thank all families who have agreed to support this important part of the tournament by housing the visiting athletes, without your support this event cannot happen. All the athletes really appreciate the hospitality they are shown. IASAS Venues for 2nd Season: Traveling teams departed last Wednesday, February 1st and will return on Sunday, February 5th. Along with our rugby and touch teams, dont forget to support our IASAS traveling teams by keeping up to date with their progress via the sites listed. We wish all our traveling teams and coaches all the very best for the 2nd season championships. Rugby/Touch @ ISM http://iasas.ismanila.org Basketball @ ISB Bangkok http://inside.isb.ac.th/athletics/iasas-basketball2012/ Swimming @ Jakarta Tennis @ ISKL Kuala Lumpur For live streaming and results of IASAS 2nd season events as they happen, go to www.iasas.asia. Host schools will have their live sites information accessible and this will be the fastest way to access information during the tournaments. ISM will be streaming all Rugby and Touch games from our HS field. This link will provide direct access to the website and live streaming of rugby/touch games at ISM: http://iasas.ismanila.org. Congratulations to the following teams/coaches who finished off the local season in fine style last weekend: Varsity girls basketball team - won the local league final last Saturday vs. La Salle Zobel, 59-56 JV girls Touch won the UP Touch Invitational at UP MS Girls Touch came runners up in the UP Invitational at UP JV boys Rugby won the PRFU/MANSAC League Final vs. Faith JV, 36-0 3rd Season starts soon: February 6th sees the start of 3rd season for (Track and Field, Badminton, Softball for MS and HS students and Mixed Touch for MS students only) Tryouts information and practice schedules are now posted to the blog and on school notice boards. GAME SCHEDULE PDF: (access to game schedule information) Information about all mid week/weekend fixtures for ISM teams can be found via the ATAC blog. Please note the game schedule does change often due to involvement with many local schools so please check the page regularly to find out the latest information of where and when the Bearcats teams are playing. Click on schedules tab or the Bearcat logo to be directed to http://powerschool.ismanila.org/public/. You will need your Powerschool username and password to access the game schedule. BEARCAT DEN: Regular Opening Hours for the Bearcat Den: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 11:30 A.M. 1:00 P.M. & 2:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M. Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, from 2:30 - 4:00 P.M. If you are interested in joining our group of volunteers in the Bearcat Den, please contact our BCD volunteers coordinator, Radhika at radhikasavantmohit@yahoo.com or pop in to the Den near the HS Cafeteria and talk with one of our volunteers. They will be very happy to make you welcome. Regards, Mark Pekin Director of Athletics/Activities

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IASAS RUGBY/TOUCH SCHEDULE

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