Missoula International School

MessengerSpring 2012

innovación sin limites

CLICK HERE to watch, “The Challenge and The Choice” video presented at Salsa Ball 2012.

SALSA BALL 2012 RISES TO THE CHALLENGE!Thanks to all of you- 48 parent volunteers, 11 musicians, 107 businesses, 20 paper lanterns, 1000 poker chips, 3 Havana Girls, 238 Salsa Ball supporters and one Legacy Challenge- we raised over $38,000! We are now over 90% of our 2011-2012 $250,000 goal to build a legacy of educational excellence for generations of MIS students. A complete list of gifts to MIS will be published in the Fall 2012 Annual Report. Thank you for making MIS aware of any corrections.

SPONSORSAUCTION DONATIONS

SALSA BALL SUPPORTERS

American Mortgage, A Division of Network Funding, LPAnderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C.Bernice’s BakeryBoyle, Deveny & Meyer, P.C.Dr. Brott and Associates O.D.P.C.First Security BankFomentoGood Food StoreMann MortgageMerrill LynchMissoula Veterinary ClinicNoteworthy Paper and PressTwin Cranes Dental Group

The BadlanderChristian BakerBernice’s BakeryMyra BaumesBig Sky Brewing Co.Biga PizzaBlack Coffee Roasting Co.Boom SwaggerBuffalo Wild WingsCaffe DolceCanvas Studios, Sarah SchaferCaras Nursery and LandscapeAdriana and Fernando CardozoCarmike CinemasChildren’s MuseumCity Brew CoffeeClear Water TherapyAmy Ratzlaf and Sneed B. Collard IIICowgirl SalonCracker Barrel Old Country StoreDaily’s Premium MeatsDazzlers Car WashDDC Downtown Dance CollectiveThe DepotDillard’sJanet DuncanEye of the BeholderFamous Dave’sFood and FunFreestone Climbing GymFundamentals of LearningFuddruckersJenny GómezGreat Harvest BreadThe Green LightGrizzly AthleticsGrizzly Bare WaxingHiggins HallmarkHome ReSourceThe Huckleberry PeopleHunter Bay CoffeeJakers Bar and GrillJames BarKumon Learning CenterLa Bella VitaLe Petit OutreLewis and Clark AdventuresChristine and Marco Littig

Loopy Knit CrochetLoose CabooseMagicMeadow Sweet HerbsCaryn MiskeMISMO GymnasticsMissoula Bicycle WorksMissoula Country ClubMissoula Osprey’sMissoula Valley RecyclingMomentum Athletic TrainingTed MuhsMustard SeedMo NeffJesse NewmanBlake NicolazzoKim OlsonOutback SteakhousePet SmartPink GrizzlyPlay Gr8 GolfReal Deals Home DécorRockin’ Rudy’s Rustic CharmSalinas and McElroy FamiliesLance SchelvanSecure FenceSelvedge StudiosFeather ShermanSorella’s Salon and Day SpaSummit BeverageSwan WoodsTargetTear it Up, LLCTen Spoon Vineyard and WinerySean Kelley’s Stone of Accord The Trail HeadTom Jenni’s Reel MontanaV-TecW ChiropracticWalking Stick ToysWhippersnappersWholistic ChiropracticWilma TheaterYMCAYour Garden Coach, Kari Brittain

Joann and Tom MageeJennifer and Jeremie Marrow Karen McElroyNerissa Koehn and John MillerJeanne and Paul MoseleyEmily and Simone MuscoMary NellisKelly NoeLauri Lindquist and C. Brian NorthManolita and Christopher O’ConnorSarah Borge and Christian OrregoJulie Osborn and Scott PankratzAlice and Shawn PaulSandra and Mark PaulAl and Selma PutnumErin and Michael ReedAngie Jackson and Sherry ReidEmily and Chris RichardsonPaulette and Thomas RitmanJulie and Pete SalinasLois and Lance SchelvanMelisa and Luke SchelvanDanielle and Adam SebastianBeth and Charles SeitzAmber and Colin SherrillShannon Maloney Size and Mike SizeAndi Hoelzel and Ian SmithPatricia Cano and Colin SorensonNicole and Mitch StimacMargo and Nat SturgisMary and Will SurberBecky ThomasMichelle and Carl ThornbladeLaura and Anuj TimbloChristina and Jeff TwohigAmie Thurber and Lauren Varney

Bruce AndersonCindy and Ray AtenNatalie and Christian BakerSou Mayahi-Barrett and John BarrettLisa and Ross BaumesSusan and Carter BeckJen and Nate BiehlStacy Ohrt-Billingslea and Kevin BillingsleaLaura Reed and Anthony BooteJenifer and Christopher CaldwellKristy Pilgrim and Keegan EisenstadtBreanne and Ed EnderGini Aten Erving and Rich ErvingNicole and Aaron FeistCaryn Miske and Craig FitchBetty GarnaasRenée and Mark GarnaasSusan and Steve GrissomElizabeth and Stan HowardMary JenniMC and Tom JenniWaldina JensenGillian and Jeff KesslerRoseann and Mort KesslerCourtney Babcock and Miles KeyGita Saedi Kiely and Jason KielyKay Grissom-Kiely and Daniel KielyElizabeth Dove and Bill KinderwaterJennifer Leutzinger and Glenn KreiselCaroline and Willis KurtzHeidi Brott and Dan LarsenJulie LennoxAndy LennoxShirley and Terry LindquistChristine and Marco LittigSarah Lupfer

Click on the sponsor links at left.

Julie and Michael VetterKristen and Peter Von DoerstenEmilie O’Donnell and Tony WardNancy Winslow and Doug WebberKim WestHarriet WestenfelderLori and Karl WestenfelderBrenda and Glenn Wheeler Michele Wheeler

THANK YOU!

Missoula International SchoolMESSENGER• Spring 2012

COVER PHOTO:“The Tree,” by Owen McCubbinPhoto taken during the middle school student photography elective, taught by Elizabeth McCubbin and Adrienne Keith.

Julie Lennox, Head of SchoolJeff Kessler, Assistant Head of School

Joann Magee, Office ManagerGary Cram, Director of Finance

Bethany O’Connell, Director of DevelopmentKristi Havlik, Administrative Assistant

Layout and design by Bethany O’Connell

Rob Fleming President

Doug WebberVice President

Norm WilliamsonTreasurer

Amber SherrillSecretary

Kristen Von Doersten PA Council Representative

Ray AtenBetsy Maier

Martha CheneyKay Grissom-KielySandra Simmons

Board of Trustees 2011-2012

curiosidad creativitad conexióncuriosity creativity connection

• TABLE OF CONTENTS •2

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Innovation Without LimitsRob Fleming, President, Board of Trustees

Photography...A New Perspective on Life Isabella Salinas and Lorraine Gardner

OUT IN TOWNVisiting the MAM Avery Fleming, Otis Peterson, and Georgia Littig

Bernice’s Bakery VisitAvery Fleming, Otis Peterson, and Georgia Littig

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Innovative K/1 NewsSamples of recent PYP Unit of Inquiry

Classroom ConnectionsMiddle School Spanish presentation blends modern art, language, theater and history

Aztec Danceby Itzel Yarger, 3/4 Preschool Teacher

Samples of Aztec, Incan, and Mayan Displays by 4th/5th grade multiage students

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MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER STAFFOtis PetersonGeorgia LittigAvery FlemingLorraine GardnerIsabella Salinas THANK YOU

Emily Musco and Caroline Kurtz, Student Newspaper Elective Instructors

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To accomplish great things we must dream as well as act.

– Anatole France”“

This issue of the Messenger highlights “Innovation without limits.” Spend just one day at Missoula International School and your mind will be buzzing with possibility as inventive ideas get bounced around playfully in each classroom. You might find students learning about ancient cultures through collaborative playwriting, or creating a new holiday to celebrate Rock Stars, or producing a full-scale performing arts production for the entire MIS community. To nourish ideas and inspire student-led action, rather than dictating information from above, is at the heart of the teaching philosophy at MIS. Every day, in many ways, MIS students find inspiration to think about and see their learning in new and innovative ways. Striving to become a lifelong learner, and innovator, MIS Board President and middle school parent Rob Fleming reflects on his recent source of inspiration at the national conference for the National Association of Independent Schools. Enjoy planting a few seeds of possibility as your new ideas take root and blossom this spring.

Bill Gates, to give him the freedom to expand his vision and continue to reach beyond the classroom. The other story taught a lesson in the need to give teachers the freedom for innovation. John Hunter’s superintendent made a bold move in the late 1970’s when he hired the young African American teacher fresh out of school to teach the new gifted program in a predominately white area of Virginia. Mr. Hunter was proud and

excited, but at the same time, very nervous. He finally plucked up the courage to ask, “What do I do? I’ve never taught the gifted program!” His boss turned to him and said, “Well, what do you want to do?” Given the freedom to figure it out, Mr. Hunter developed the World Peace Game over thirty years ago and today it is the subject of a powerful new documentary film, “World Peace and Other Fourth Grade Achievements.” I strongly encourage you to view the trailer, it’s simply amazing.

The conference was an incredible experience. It delivered the powerful message of independent learning and how to embrace change and innovation as tools to take us into tomorrow. As the President of NAIS Pat Bassett said, “Being out of the mainstream allows us to be an incubator of new ideas.” I cannot think of a more perfect way to summarize what we learned in Seattle. MIS, both by virtue of its more remote geographical location and a focus on developing critical thought, demonstrates every day how being out of the mainstream provides the ideal environment for hatching originality and dreaming big.

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Recently, I had the privilege of attending the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Conference in Seattle with the MIS Leadership Team: Vice President of the Board Doug Webber, Head of School Julie Lennox and Assistant Head of School Jeff Kessler. It was remarkable to take our small team and join the ranks of over 4,000 attendees from independent schools across the country. The theme of the conference was “Innovation.” From the keynote address by Bill Gates to the conclusion by Amy Chua, author of, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, two full days of informative workshops and inspirational speakers expanded our view of education today. The conference not only affirmed the innovative path our small school is forging, but filled our minds with endless ideas and possibilities. Independent schools across the country shared how they are addressing tough topics such as diversity, bullying, economic recession, financial aid, strategic planning, sustainability, fundraising, and a vast array of legal issues. We also reviewed strategies for strengthening board and administrative leadership. Through workshops on global service, leading through change, and infusing technology into the classroom, we learned practical lessons from peers and professionals around the United States. The practical information we gathered was incredibly valuable, but my biggest inspiration came from two stories, shared by the computer mogul Bill Gates and the reflections of a humble public school teacher named John Hunter. Gates was being questioned by the headmaster of his alma mater at Lakeside School who asked what made his independent school education so special at a time in his life where learning was so crucial. He said simply, “You just got out of my way.” Imagine how different the world might be today if teachers hadn’t gotten out of the way of

Innovation Without LimitsRob Fleming, Board President

Imagine how different the world might be today if teachers hadn’t gotten out of the way of Bill Gates, to give him the freedom to expand his vision and continue to reach beyond the classroom.

CLICK HERE to link to the conference speakers!

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Tour EiffelLorraine Gardner

6th grade

MESSENGER BEATMIS Student Newspaper

PHOTOGRAPHYA New Perspective on Life

By Isabella Salinas and Lorraine Gardner

MIS middle school students Elan West Badminton, Lorraine Gardner, Gabriella Stokstad, and Owen McCubbin took a photography class for their elective last semester. Middle School parent Elizabeth McCubbin and Adrienne Keith of Optimystical Studios taught the fourteen week course. The students learned many different things in the class, such as how to edit pictures using technology and different techniques for taking a picture. We present some of their photographs and what they had to say about them.

Basket of LeavesGabriella Stokstad

6th grade

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Lorraine Gardner learned about editing photos and the different types of pictures you can take. She made cool effects on her photos. For instance, when she was in Paris she took this photo, Eiffel Tower, because it is a famous and beautiful structure. Lorraine said, “For the Eiffel Tower picture I thought that adding this effect would make it different and interesting.” When she returned home she took a picture of a daisy. “I took this picture because it reminded me of summer and being happy,” she said.

DaisyLorraine Gardner6th grade

Dead LeavesGabriella Stokstad

6th grade

Gabriella took this photo, Basket of Leaves, because she thought that the angle was interesting and she likes taking pictures of leaves. She learned many different photography concepts in this class such as the rule of thirds and about contrast and perspective. She thought the shot was pretty in Dead Leaves and she knew exactly the way she wanted to edit it. She wanted to work with it in black and white. When she was taking this picture she learned many different editing tecniques. Overall, Gabriella learned a lot while having a fun time in this class.

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Elan took this picture of Kristen because she wanted to photograph people from the school and try to capture the personality of the person standing in front of the camera. She learned from this picture about color quality of good photos and bad photos. She took Creepy House because she thought the house looked very cool and when she edited it (sharpened it) she thought it had a nice effect. Something she learned about this picture is that if you sharpen the picture too much it will become blurry.

KristenElan West-Badminton6th grade

Creepy HouseElan West-Badminton6th grade

Once when Owen McCubbin was taking a walk he stopped to take a picture of a light post. McCubbin took this picture because at the time the sun was aligned with the post and he thought that looked cool. He took another picture of a tree (See cover photo.) “I took this picture because I really like

climbing trees,” he said. During this elective McCubbin learned that photography isn’t just taking a picture when you see something that interests you, it’s taking pictures that you love. He also learned that photography is a combination of art and technology.

Light PostOwen McCubbin6th grade

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At Bernice’s Bakery on January 12, 2012, Otis Peterson, sixth grade, interviewed Kyle, Bernice’s manager. While Kyle busily flattened dough, he explained that he enjoys his job because the 33-year-old bakery has great employees and always serves “baked deliciousness.” “I swear,” says employee Aaron Curtis, “there are days when I literally talk to 100 people.” Hungry customers continue to file in. Loyal Bernice’s customer Kelly Goss reveals that her favorite item is the caramel roll. After our interview, we celebrated with scrumptious cinnamon rolls while watching the customers eye the cupcakes. Then Kyle said, reading everyone’s thoughts, “Bernice’s future must go up and onward!”

MIS photography and newspaper elective students visited the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Missoula Art Museum in January. The museum had approximately one hundred and fifty inspiring black and white photographs on display. Students enjoyed a full tour of the Adams exhibit by Education Director Renee Taft. Each student chose one photograph that they felt was most interesting or inspiring. Avery Fleming chose Oak Tree, Sunset City because the contrast and lighting are very beautiful. Georgia Littig chose the photo, Dog Wood, Yosemite National Park California, 1938. She chose this photo because she felt the essence of Ansel’s love of nature. Otis Peterson decided on, Eggs in a Bowl, 1930. Peterson chose this photo because he was drawn to its emptiness. Ansel Adams was born on February 20, 1902. His top two interests were piano and photography but he had to choose between the two. Ansel started taking photos at age sixteen with a black and white camera that his parents gave him. He took his first photographs at Yosemite National Park. Adams expressed his hopes and dreams by putting all of his time into what he loved. He died April 22, 1984 of heart failure aggravated by cancer.

MESSENGER BEATMIS Student Newspaper

K/1 multiage students were inspired to complete their recent unit on celebrations around the world by designing an entirely new holiday and writing a front page newspaper article about it.

Out In Townby Avery Fleming, Otis Peterson, and Georgia Littig

K/1 multiage is taught by Roció Muhs, Jenny Gomez and John Kratz

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• CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS •

Missoula International School inspires principled global citizens and lifelong learners through a challenging bilingual education from preschool to eighth grade.

Elan: El grado sexto escribió un ensayo y escribió una obra sobre los aztecas. La obra trata sobre la leyenda de como los dos volcanes Iztaccihuatl y Popocatépetl recibieron su nombre. La obra trata sobre una joven dama llamada Iztaccihutl que se enamora de un guerrero llamado Popocatépetl pero un guerrero malvado quiere ser el emperador y casarse con la doncella. También el sexto grado ha escrito de ensayo sobre los aztecas y su historia. Hemos trabajado muy duro en esto esperamos que les guste.

Avery: Nuestra clase empezó la unidad de México en febrero. Nosotros estudiamos un poco de los aztecas y los mayas además leímos y escribimos sobre leyendas de México. Aprendimos mucho de la vida de Diego Rivera. Estudiamos a Rivera porque él es un artista famoso de México. Diego nació en 1886 en México. Él fue uno de los muralistas importantes de México. Él fue a Europa a estudiar arte. Cuando regreso José Vasconcelos le dice que él necesita pintar para el pueblo de México. Diego pinta sobre cosas que pasan o pasaron en México. El pintó en el Palacio Nacional y en el Rockefeller Center. Él se casó con Frida Kahlo y ella es una artista también. Diego pinto toda su vida hasta 1957 cuando murió.

Ariella: Estamos haciendo un mural con tres eventos. Los eventos que escogí fueron el tsunami en Japón, el 11 de septiembre, y los derrames de petróleo en el golfo de México.

Ava: El ataque en las torres gemelas afectó mucho la seguridad en aeropuertos y empezó la guerra con Iraq. Escogí este evento porque es un gran evento en la historia de los Estados

Unidos y cambió muchas vidas. En mi mural el desastre de 9/11 está representado con una imagen de las torres gemelas ardiendo en llamas.

Luke: La guerra de Vietnam ocurrió en Vietnam desde 1965 hasta 1975. Los soldados de la U.S.A. y los soldados de Vietnam fueron involucrados. También las familias de los soldados y civiles de Vietnam fueron involucradas. Este evento influenció la humanidad porque fue una guerra larga y muchos murieron. También, los Estados Unidos perdió la guerra. Muchos de las personas involucradas son ancianos, como mi abuelo que peleó en la guerra.

Molly: Huracán Katrina fue un horrible ciclón que golpeó a Florida, Las Bahamas, Alabama, Luisiana y Misisipi que ocurrió en 2005. La tormenta fue peligrosa en Luisiana especialmente en la ciudad Nueva Orleans. Hay vientos hasta 240 km/h. El viento no fue tan fuerte en Florida, Los Bahamas, Alabama y Misisipi pero si en Nueva Orleans (Luisiana). Las personas en Nueva Orleans perdieron las casas y coches porque la tormenta los destruyó. Este evento afectó la humanidad porque Nueva Orleans era un lugar de cultura para el mundo.

Dónal: El tsunami ocurrió en marzo de 2011. Ocurrió en el golfo de Japón y afectó a todas las personas que viven en el Japón. Este destruyó casas, coches, robots, etc. Muchos murieron o fueron, heridos o no tenían una casa o comida. El tsunami representa un desastre que la humanidad atravesó.

Recent Middle School Spanish Presentation Blends Modern Art, Language, Theater and History

Students wrote Spanish essays about their research on Aztec legends, the murals of Diego Rivera, and their own murals depicting recent historic events. CLICK HERE to see highlights from the presentation.

Middle School Spanish is taught by Karim del Pozo

4th/5th grade multiage students created large murals depicting different aspects of ancient Aztec, Incan, and Mayan culutres during a recent PYP (Primary Years Program) unit on ancient to modern connections.

Aztec DanceItzel Yarger, 3/4 preschool teacher

I started practicing Aztec dance in my little town of Nepantla in Central Mexico, where dancing is an important part of

traditional gatherings like weddings, town celebrations and religious ceremonies. Aztec dance is a living heritage because there is no guide book. You learn the dances from your family, teachers, or friends. Therefore, it is a heritage transmitted to generations, from one living human to another living human until is preserved for hundreds of years. Through dance we are connected not only to our culture but to our ancestors. The Concheros dance spans hundreds of years of practice in Central Mexico. It is always performed with live music using the Aztec drum, “hue huetl” and the sound from the ayoyotes, which are tied to the dancers’ ankles. Another characteristic of this dance is that it is a community performance. Dancers gather in circles to dance together.

Dancers can dance all day long, stopping only to eat. Aztec dancing is filled with symbolism, teaching today’s youth about the past by preserving ancient wisdom as a living art.

Click Here to learn the basics of Aztec Dance with Itzel on Youtube.

4th/5th grade Multiage teachers are Ted Muhs and Jessica Eirkson

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• CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS •

Missoula International School1100 Harrison StreetMissoula, MT 59802

406.542.9924www.mismt.org

Coming Up!

SPRING EVENTS

MIS families explored the sights, sounds, and tastes of the world at the UM International Culture and Food Festival on March 25th.

TALENT SHOWCASE AT THE VARIETY SHOWOn March 30th the first MIS Variety Show presented the talents of MIS K-8th grade students. This event was the final presentation for the middle school elective class, Theater Production, taught by Stacy Ohrt-Billingslea.

EVENTS AROUND MISSOULA: •Kyi-Yo Pow Wow at the University of Montana Native American Center, April 20-21st •International Wildlife Film Festival and Wild Walk Parade, May 6th in the Caras Park Pavilion

EARTH DAY

*This is a Family School Day for MIS

CLICK HERE to watch Variety Show highlights!

8th GRADE MEXICO TRIP

6th and 7th GRADE TETON SCIENCE SCHOOL TRIP

8th GRADE GRADUATIONEND OF YEAR PROGRAM

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR UPCOMING SUMMER PROGRAMS: http://www.mismt.org/missoula-summer-school.html

April 29- May 6thIn cooperation with Ecology Project International.

April 30- May 5thIn cooperation with the Teton Science School.

FIELD DAYFriday, May 25thA day of fun outdoor activities for MIS students. Get your MIS beach towels at the Spirit Shop Sale!

April 21st 10am-1pmWork with students on fun projects and river cleanup.

5th GRADE PYP Wednesday May 23rdStudents present collaborative presentations in English and Spanish on topics from pine beetles to exotic species.

small school, BIG ideas

Friday, June 1stJoin us in honoring our eighth grade graduates at our all school final presentation.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

Being Bi-lingual makes you smarter, according to a recent New York Times article. Read about the latest studies by CLICKING HERE.