International School Manila

For ATTENDANCE concerns, please contact the HS Office (Sam Ramos or Laurie Atilano) Tel: 840 8650 / 840 8653 email HSOffice@ismanila.org For GUIDANCE concerns, please contact Bella, Eloisa or Jasmin Tel:840-8655 / 840-8660

September20,2012

A weekly bulletin for Parents and Students

Message from the Administration:

Dear Grade 9 and Grade 10 Parents, From September 24 to October 17, ISM will conduct tests called Measures of Academic ProgressTM (MAP). What are MAP tests? MAP tests are an external assessment from the United States, used to assist in determining students instructional level. Currently, there are 370 international schools in 123 countries, including 56% member schools of EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools), who conduct MAP testing. Who does MAP testing at ISM? Students in Grades 3 to 10 take MAP tests. Students receiving Learning Support and ESL support will be given the opportunity, where appropriate, to participate in the MAP testing. Parents will be contacted individually regarding any modifications taking place. What do MAP tests assess and how often do they occur? These tests will measure academic growth across the school year in the areas of Reading, Language and Mathematics, and are administered twice a year at ISM. They will be taken again in Semester 2 of the 2012-13 school year. How do MAP tests work? Your child will take the tests on a computer. MAP tests are unique in that they are adaptive. The test becomes more difficult the more questions the student answers correctly. When a student incorrectly answers a question, the following test question is adjusted accordingly and is at an easier level. In this way, your child will take a test specifically created for his or her learning level. How are MAP tests reported? Your childs MAP results are reported in RIT (Rasch Unit) scores. This is a different type of score than a typical test that provides a percentage correct. Parents will receive a report that shows their RIT score, the normative RIT scores for the grade level at ISM, and the normative scores for students in the United States within the same grade level. These reports will be available in November. What does ISM do with the information that MAP provides? Teachers use the data from MAP testing to inform learning and teaching. It assists in determining which skills require enhancing, which skills students have already developed, and which skills need to be introduced. MAP tests also provide our school with a reference point for the ongoing development of the school-wide curriculum. This data allows us to look for trends within certain areas of our curriculum. How do I prepare my child for MAP testing? Factors such as sleep and how a child is feeling can affect the results of a standardized test. Your class teacher will let you know which three days in the coming weeks your child will sit the tests. Please talk to your child to help avoid him/her feeling anxious about MAP testing.

Lastly It is important to remember that MAP results provide one piece of assessment data in the process of acquiring information and making judgments about student progress toward intended learning. At ISM, we believe sound assessment involves creating a multitude of ways to measure and communicate student learning over time a photo album versus a single snapshot. For more information on MAP testing, please consult the NWEA (North West Evaluation Association) website at In addition, parents can access the MAP Parent Toolkit at www.nwea.org. http://www.nwea.org/support/article/930/parent-toolkit, or please do not hesitate to contact the High Office. Sincerely,

William R. S. Brown High School Principal

Michael Dickinson Assistant Principal

FROM THE PTA OFFICE:

Dear Fellow Grade 9 Parents, We hope you and your student are experiencing a good start to High School. My name is Kathleen Lewis-Workman and together with Ruchira Goswarni we are the Grade 9 PTA Liaisons. This year the PTA is hosting a Meet & Greet for all Grade 9 and 10 parents, administrators, guidance counselors, and faculty. This is great chance for you to get to know other parents and your son or daughter's teachers while fostering school community for the class of 2015 and 2016. If you are new to ISM you can get to know more parents - if you have been at ISM a while you can get to know new people! Date: Thursday October 4, 2012 Time: 6:00-8:30 Location: FAT Lobby Wine, beer, soda and finger foods will be served. P450 per person will be collected at the door. Please RSVP by September 28th to highschoolpta@gmail.com We hope you can make it to this community social event. Feel free to contact Ruchira or Kathleen if you have any questions. Best Regards, Your PTA Grade 9 Liaisons, Kathleen Lewis-Workman KathleenLW@mac.com Ruchira Goswami ruchiralahirig@yahoo.co.uk

HS CALENDAR:
Monday,September24: MAPTesting(Grade9&10) Tuesday,September25: MAPTesting(Grade9&10) CollegeEssayWritingWorkshop(34pm) Wednesday,September26: LateStart MAPTesting(Grade9&10) Thursday,September27: MAPTesting(Grade9&10) CollegeEssayWritingWorkshop(34pm) Friday,September28: MAPTesting(Grade9&10) IB2EconHCommentaryDUE Saturday,September29 PhotoshootforKawayanYearbookforSeniors(P045)

UPCOMING EVENTS: October15:UnderclassmenKawayanPhotoTaking October1617:ParentTeacherConference(PTC) October25:Filipiniana October26November2:SchoolHoliday November5:ClassesResume

Message from the Korean Parent Community: The annual meeting for Korean parent will be s on Sep, 24 Monday at the Little Theater, ISM. Minjoung, Park

FROM THE COUNSELING OFFICE: AnEveningwiththeUniversityofPennsylvania ElisabethO'Connell,associatedeanforinternational admissions,willbehostinganinformationsession Wednesday,Oct.3,68p.m.intheFAT.Alumniwillbe present,andafilmofcampuslifewillalsobeviewed. RSVPisrequestedforthisevent,evenforISMfamilies. Pleasegoto:www.admissions.upenn.edu/e/philippines AnEveningwithBrownUniversity JamesKytta,associatedirectorofadmissionatBrown,willbe visitingISMonMonday,Sept.24.Aspecialmeetingfor ONLYISMstudentsandparentsissetfor5:306:15p.m.in theFAT.Ameetingforthegeneralcommunitywillbeheld 6:157:30p.m.,alsointheFAT. AnyoneinterestedinattendingtheeventintheFATshould havealreadyregisteredat:Erin_Packer@Brown.edu UniversityVisitsatISM BelowareuniversitieswhichwillbeatISMduringthelunch periodinSeptember.Universitiesarecontinuingtoschedule visits (and make minor changes), so keep up to date by checking the HS Friday Bulletin and Family Connection (Naviance). SeptemberUniversityVisitsatLunch 24UniversityofMiamiandRitsumeikanAsiaPacific University 25WesleyanUniversityandSt.Mary'sCollegeinCalifornia 26EmersonCollege 28ISCAHMMakati OctoberUniversityVisits 3LewisandClark 3(Evening)UniversityofPennsylvania(Location:FAT) 8PepperdineUniversityandSouthernMethodistUniversity 11SingaporeManagementUniversity 15EnderunCollege 19UniversityofOregon,UniversityofConnecticut, UniversityofMinnesota(Location:PO45) 22FranklinCollegeSwitzerland 24FordhamUniversityandLoyolaUniversityNewOrleans NovemberBelookingformoreinformationaboutan upcomingAustralianUniversityfairhereatISM!

FROM THE ATAC OFFICE:

The IASAS venues for the Season one championships Oct 10 14 are Soccer at Bangkok, Volleyball & Cross C ountry at KualaLumpur.SchedulesfortheSoccerandVolleyballgames are now available on the blog at the following link http://atac.ismonline.org/iasas/iasas1stseasonschedules/ Friday night lights Sept 28th: Come out and support the Bearcats vs Faith. Cheer hard and cheer loud for our teams. ShowyoursupportonSept28thFridaynightlights! Girls Volleyball at ISM: Varsity v Faith and JV v Faith from 4:15pmatISMMSgym ISM MS Field 4:15pm ISM JV girls v Faith JV girls soccer followedbyISMAspirantsvFaithJVboyssoccer, ISM HS Field 4:15pm Boys Varsity ISM v Faith (Rifa league game) followed by ISM girls varsity vs Faith varsity girls approx.6pm Note*BoysvolleyballJVandVarsityplayawaygameatFaith NewTennisFacility:Manyparentshaveexpressedinterestin the new roof top development being constructed at school. This new construction will be the home of ISM tennis with 8 new ITF artificial grass courts, new locker rooms, bleachers andtheareawillalsoserveasamultipurposesportsfacilityto improve our available teaching space for PE classes. The project is well underway with completion set for early October.TherewillbeanopeningceremonyonThursdayOct 4th, any interested parents are invited to watch a student exhibition game and if you are a tennis player please bring your racquet and come dressed in your tennis attire as you willalsobeabletohaveagameonthenewcourtsonthisday. Theopeningfunctionwillbeginat4:45pmwithaceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Mr. Toze, followed by two student exhibitiongames55:30pmandthenthecourtswillbeopen for parents to have a game until 7pm on this day. Please contacttheATACofficetoregisterifyouwouldliketoattend thisevent.Seeflyerattachedforthisevent! 2nd Season ATAC sports: Tryouts and Practice Schedule for MS&HSsports(Basketball,Tennis,VarsitySwimming,Boys Rugby and Girls Touch) are now posted on the blog and on notice boards around school. For interested Basketball playersseetheflyersinthisbulletinforupcomingBasketball campsbeingheldatschoolforISMstudents. InformationaboutourESsoccerteamsandtheRIFAfestivals can be found here http://atac.ismonline.org/atac/1st season/essoccerrifaleaguefestivals/ and flyers have been posted on ES notice board and on the notice board located underthetentattheESfield.TheinformationlinkfortheMS CteamsandMSGirls7asidesoccerteamsisavailableat

http://atac.ismonline.org/atac/1stseason/mssoccerrifa leaguefestivals/ IMPORTANT:Parentspleasenotethevenuesforthe7aside C, E, G and MS Girls festivals on Sept 22. Please check the venues and times below carefully. Permission slips have and willbeissuedtoallplayersviathecoachesattrainingpriorto each festival. Please consult the ES and MS Rifa League links belowtogetthelatestinformation. IMPORTANT: Please note due to the cancellation of soccer festivals last Saturday the Sept 15th festival has now been rescheduledtoOct6th.Venuesstilltobeconfirmed! SaturdaySept22ndBoysFestival#2andGirlsFestival#1 Midgets C teams (C1, C2, C3 and C4 Coach Eric/Chris/Kleng andJaysteams)atAteneokickoffat10am. MidgetsEteams(E1andE2CoachPopoyandCoach Francis teams)atISMHSFieldkickoffat8am Midgets G teams (G1 and G2 Coach Mike and Coach Isas teams)atISMHSFieldkickoffat1pm. MSGirls7asidefestivalatAteneo1pmkickoff Saturday Oct 6th Boys Festival #3 and Girls Festival #2 (rescheduled date due to Sept 15th cancellation!)Midgets C teams (C1, C2, C3 and C4 Coach Eric/Chris/Kleng and Jays teams)Venueandtimetobedecided! MidgetsEteams(E1andE2CoachPopoyandCoach Francis teams)Venueandtimetobedecided! Midgets G teams (G1 and G2 Coach Mike and Coach Isas teams)Venueandtimetobedecided! MSGirls7asidefestivalsVenueandtimetobedecided! Rifa Festival Finals will be played at Ateneo on Oct 13th for teamsthatqualifyviaresultsfromtheearlierfestivals. WelldonetoallmembersoftheISMCrossCountryteamwho raced at Taipei last weekend, results for all the meets completed during the season can be found on the Cross Country results page. http://atac.ismonline.org/atac/1st season/crosscountryraceresults/ Our Sailfish team had their first official meet of the year last SaturdayatBrentwithover100swimmersracing.Resultscan befoundviaCoachAndysSailfishblog. AgreatwaytostayintouchwiththeISMATACprogramisto subscribeviaRSSfeedtotheATACblogandalsotofollowvia twitter (see twitter feed on the blog home page). Each Monday I will post the weeks happenings and highlight importanteventsforstudentsandparentsinformationonthe ATACblogandintheregularFridayparentbulletins.

GAMESCHEDULEPDF:(accesstogamescheduleinformation) Information about all mid week/weekend fixtures for ISM teamscanbefoundviatheATACblog.Pleasenotethegame schedule does change often due to involvement with many localschoolssopleasecheckthepageregularlytofindoutthe latestinformationofwhereandwhentheBearcatsteamsare playing. Click on schedules tab or the Bearcat logo to be directed to the http://powerschool.ismanila.org/public/ You will need your power school user name and password to access the game schedule pdf. This service will not be open untilpoweropenstothecommunity. HS Student registration for ATAC activities: (new for school year1213)AGoogledocregistrationisnowavailableforall HS students who will take part in any ATAC seasonal sports teams, MUN and Cultural Convention programs. Please take thetimetocompletethisonlineregistrationforactivitiesthat you plan on joining next school year. Please access the form via the HS Student Registration tab found under the Helpful ShortcutsbarontheATACbloghomepage. PSAT Testing on October 17
The PSAT test will be given to students in grades 10 and 11 at ISM on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Students must register for the test by paying the fee of $20 USD to the ISM Cashier. Deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 1, at 4 p.m. No late registrations will be accepted. The PSAT test is an excellent practice for the SAT as the same skills are evaluated - critical reading, math and writing. While the PSAT is optional, students who are considering university admission in the U.S. should take the PSAT. Additionally, students not completing the IB Diploma and considering university admission to other countries, including the UK, Canada and Australia, may also need to take the SAT and therefore would benefit by practicing with the PSAT. In January, students will receive their scores along with their test booklets so they are able to review specific questions. Students also receive feedback regarding their strengths and weaknesses in each section of the test. This information can then be used for SAT preparation. In addition, students taking the PSAT will have access to the College Board's My Road program, a career and college search resource. Students registered for the PSAT will need to bring #2 pencils and a calculator (with extra batteries) on the day of the test. Students will be assigned a testing location, and should plan on testing from 7:30 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. If you have specific questions about the PSAT, please contact your child's high school counselor.

*please note this is for HS students only and you must use yourschoolemailaddresstoaccessthelink.Personalgmailor hotmailaddresseswillnotallowyoutoaccessthepage. BEARCATDEN:http://atac.ismonline.org/bearcatden/ Our Bearcat Den is up and running and open for business, please drop by to check out the range of Bearcat products. Wehaveagreatteamofvolunteerswhorunthedenandare always looking for more people to help out. If you are interestedinjoiningafantasticgrouppleasecontactMelanie Ballatmelaniehball@gmail.comourvolunteercoordinator. We have a new range of dri fit tshirts now available along withnewBearcatbags RegularOpeningHoursfortheBearcatDen:WedandFridays from11:30am1:00pmandeachafternoonfrom2:304pm. HaveagreatyearattheHomeoftheBearcats!

HS Parent Book Group for Fall 2012:

The high school counselors will host a book discussion group in September and October for parents with students in grades 912. We have chosen WHY Do They Act That Way?: A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen by David Walsh, Ph.D. In this U.S. bestseller, the author explains exactly what happens to the human brain on the path from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. This is one of the first books to explain the changes in teens brains and show parents how to use this information to understand, communicate with and stay connected to their kids. If you are interested in being a part of this book group, please reserve your space by contacting Bella Velasco at 840-8655 or VelascoM@ismanila.org. For discussion purposes, we are limiting the number of participants. You will need to obtain a copy of the book. It is available in digital form for e-reading devices, and we have a very few copies in the HS Counseling Office that you can check out - first come, first served. Book discussions will be 8:30-10:30 a.m. in the Little Theater on Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24. Those who sign up for the book group will be sent additional information. For additional information at this time, contact Lisa Ball, grade 11-12 counselor, at BallL@ismanila.org.

BEARCAT CAREER EXPLORATION WEEK January 14 to 18, 2013 ISM Community Request for Presenters
Bearcat Career Exploration Week is an opportunity for representatives from companies to speak to a larger number of our high school students at ISM about their industry, their particular company, the types of careers that exist within the company/industry and what the company/industry looks for in new employees. As a result, this week becomes a VERY important opportunity for students to learn more about the potential careers that await them after their formal education is completed. The presentations are expected to be 30 minutes in length (including some Q and A) and those presentations will be fit into 10 session slots throughout the Career Exploration Week. The size of your audience will depend on our students interest in that particular industryand realistically, could range from 5 to 50 students As a presenter, we would then also like to invite you to a special thank you lunch at ISM (for all speakers) on Wednesday January 16 from 11:30am to 12:30pm. If the idea of presenting is of interest to you, please email me regarding your area of expertise/company/industry. I can then send you more details as far as the Career Exploration Weeks program and coordinate a possible presentation time. Thank you. Contact Information Doug McQueen Gr. 9/10 HS Counselor (Surnames A Lh) mcqueend@ismanila.org

FROM THE SECURITY OFFICE:

Traffic Re-routing Advisory from the Bonifacio Estate Service Corporation:

Dear BGC Locators and BGCEA Members,

This is regarding the collapsed road along 11th Avenue near the corner of 11th and 36th Street, which happened at around 6pm of Sunday, September 16. The collapsed portion of the road is adjacent to the excavation works being undertaken by Megaworld Properties located at the former "Napolcom" area. Please note that the Napolcom area is not part of Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The investigation of the cause and remedial action to be undertaken are still ongoing. Initial assessment is that it would take weeks, if not months, before the road is restored. As a precautionary measure, and for the safety of everyone, we have completely sealed the collapsed portion of 11th Avenue from all motorists and pedestrians. In the meantime, Megaworld Properties and BCDA (its lessor) have decided that additional portions of 36th Street will be opened in order to connect to 8th Avenue and help ease the traffic, particularly for those going to and from the international schools. Additional marshals will also be deployed. Please see attached map for your reference. We request your understanding for the inconvenience that this incident has and will cause. We are coordinating with Megaworld and BCDA to ensure that this road is restored in the soonest possible time.

TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING PLAN

Theory of Knowledge Presentations

Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to recognize that you know it; and when you dont know a thing, to recognize that you do not know it. That is knowledge. Confucius On October 1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th the Little Theatre will be filled with Theory of Knowledge students completing their Internal Assessment presentations for the course. Students will be presenting investigative reports on various topics from the realms of art, history, natural science, and the human sciences. TOK students must explore the nature of their selected topic and critically evaluate beliefs and knowledge claims involved. These findings must be communicated clearly in their presentations. We cordially invite parents to visit the Little Theatre and witness/discover what these students have accomplished thus far in the course. Each student will be given a schedule and will present in one of the five sessions either a morning or an afternoon slot on one of these dates. Each student will be required to be in attendance in the Little Theatre for the full session for his/her ToK class so he/she may have an early arrival or late release depending on the schedule. Please be aware that students cannot simply arrive at the time scheduled for their particular presentation. The schedule and the presentation topics will be posted on the ToK blog next week. http://tok.ism-online.org/ We encourage parents to drop in. It will give you a real sense of what the Theory of Knowledge course is all about and the opportunity to see your children in action. Sincerely, TOK Teachers Rob Anderson David Birchenall Justin Cook

Wendy Gifford Dylan Marshall

Mike Relf Neil Woods

ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES (ATAC)

2ND SEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE SY 2012-13 (Oct 22nd to Jan 30th)
TEAM Varsity Boys JV Boys Varsity Girls JV Girls MS Boys Gold MS Boys Green MS Boys White MS Girls Gold MS Girls Green Varsity Rugby JV Rugby Varsity Touch JV Touch MS Boys Rugby MS Girls Touch MS AFAC Soccer Club TIME 3-5pm 3-5pm 3-5pm 3-5pm 3:15-4:45 3:15-4:45 3:15-4:45 3:15-4:45 3:15-4:45 3-5pm 3-5pm 3-5pm 3-5pm 3:15-4:45 3:15-4:45 3:15-4:30 MONDAY HS Gym ES Gym MS Gym TUESDAY BASKETBALL HS Gym MS Gym ES Gym WEDNESDAY THURSDAY HS Gym ES Gym MS Gym FRIDAY HS Gym HS Gym MS Gym ES Gym Covered Court

MS Gym ES Gym Covered Court 1 Covered Court 2 Covered Court 1 Covered Court 2 HS Field
MS Field

Covered Court 1 Covered Court 2 Covered Court 1 Covered Court 2 RUGBY / TOUCH HS Field Fitness HS Field HS Field HS- twilight touch 5pm MS Field
HS- twilight touch 5pm

HS Field HS Field

HS Field MS Field ES Field

MS Field MS Field ES Field ES Field

MS Field ES Field Tennis V Girls V Boys

Courts 1, 2, 3, 4 (Mket Mket end) 3-5pm Courts 5, 6, 7, 8 (HS Field end) 3-5pm 3-4pm Tennis Fitness Varsity Swimming 3-5pm

V Girls V Boys

MS Girls(3:15-4:45) MS Boys(3:15-4:45) V Girls

V Boys V Girls

MS Girls(3:15-4:30) MS Boys(3:15-4:30) V Boys

Varsity Swimming ISM Swimming Pool (see sailfish blog for squads and training sessions)

HIGH SCHOOL
2nd Season Tryout Schedule SY 2012-13
Early release PT conferences

10-Oct WED
BOYS GIRLS BOYS GIRLS HS GYM

11-Oct THURS
HS GYM

12-Oct FRI
HS GYM

15-Oct MON
HS GYM MS GYM HS Field MS Field

16-Oct 17-Oct 18-Oct 19-Oct TUE WED THU FRI

No training No training No training No training No training
Prac sched begins

BASKETBALL
MS GYM MS GYM
Prac sched begins

RUGBY
HS Field MS Field HS Field MS Field HS Field MS Field

TOUCH
Prac sched begins

TENNIS
GIRLS Crts 1-4 GIRLS Crts 1-4 BOYS Crts 5-8 BOYS Crts 5-8 GIRLS Crts 1-4 GIRLS Crts 1-4 BOYS Crts 5-8 BOYS Crts 5-8 Prac sched begins

Varsity SWIMMING
SEE SAILFISH WEBSITE (sailfish.ism-online.org) No training
Prac sched begins

Students must attend all tryouts to be selected for 2nd season teams TRY-OUT TIME: 3:00PM - 5:00PM
Tryouts Oct 10, 11 & 12 except those at 1st season IASAS *NOTE- Girls Basketball tryouts are Oct 15, 18 and 19th Tryouts Oct 15 is for all including 1st season IASAS returnees.

ATAC MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM TRY-OUTS

STUDENTS MUST ATTEND ALL TRY-OUT SESSIONS TO BE SELECTED TO THE TEAM
PRACTICE SCHEDULE BEGINS FROM MONDAY OCT 22ND EXCEPT FOR BASKETBALL WHICH STARTS FROM TUES OCT 23RD

18-Oct
Thursday

19-Oct
Friday

22-Oct
Monday

BASKETBALL
BOYS GIRLS Girls Touch Boys Rugby BOYS & GIRLS Covered Court ES GYM MS Field ES Field Covered Court ES GYM MS Field ES Field Covered Court ES Gym

Girls TOUCH and Boys RUGBY

ES Field

TENNIS
Tennis Courts # 5-8 Tennis Courts # 1- 8

TRY-OUT TIME:

3:15PM - 4:40PM

10