AUGUST

MIDDLE SCHOOLMIDDLE SCHOOLMIDDLE SCHOOL

ISSUE # 2

SY 2014 –2015

WEEK OF: AUGUST 18 to 22

Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents Friday Bulletin

Inside this issue:

Events & Activities:

SEPTEMBER

25-26 CWW

30 S. Quate Parent Coffee

Dear Middle School Parents,

This week we were able to spend time in classrooms observing our students and

teachers in full action now that we are underway with the school year - our first

full week! Teachers and getting to know students is one of the most important

things that happens in the classroom throughout the year. When we know our

students, we can ensure that we are best supporting and developing their learn-

ing, increasing engagement and motivation, and understanding challenges that

are being faced to create the optimal learning environment.

We had a great turnout to our new parent coffee on Thursday morning. ISM is a

big place with many systems in place - this is a lot to learn at the beginning. We

encourage all parents if they are struggling or feeling overwhelmed with com-

munication or they do not understand something to please be in contact with

the Middle School Office, with a member of the PTA or your child's counse-

lor. We are here to help and make your transition and time at ISM as positive as

possible. Please use the parent portal accessed through our main website

(www.ismanila.org) as a one stop place to access all information - if you do not

have your log in username and password please see Grace in the Middle School

office.

Next week is a short week for students. Thursday we will have a faculty profes-

sional learning day where we will be focusing on our assessment and grading

practices along with our advisory program. Friday and Monday are then nation-

al holidays. Please note that Wednesday August 27 from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. is our

Middle School Back to School Night. You will receive an email from the Middle

School office on Monday with an invitation and the detailed program so you

know what to expect in advance.

The After School Activities (http://ms-activities.ism-online.org) sign up started

yesterday and After School Activities in the Middle School will officially begin on

Thursday, August 28. You will receive communication in advance confirming

what activities your child has been enrolled in to participate this semester.

Fine Arts / Guidance

Operations & Security

Athletics & Activities

After-School Activities

ISM Upcoming Events

22 National Holiday

27 Back-to-School Night

8-12 FCD

21 School Holiday

23 Parent Coffee

Human Resources 2

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Campus Card Update: Setting up Individual Accounts v.s. Family Account

For all those using the Campus Card (ID debit system), money that is loaded onto the indi-

vidual cards are stored initially in your family account. Parents have the option to re-

quest to have individual accounts, this will allow students to manage their own accounts

and not be connected to another sibling. Please do keep in mind that this will require in-

dividual login’s and individual loading of cards. Should you prefer this sort of set up for

your family kindly let us know by sending an email to campuscard@ismanila.org.

With an individual account, parents with campus cards will be attached to the youngest

child's account. Once this is set up, any remaining fund balance will be retained in the

youngest child's account, therefore you will need to top up the other children's accounts

so they can continue using the campus card. Please also keep in mind that all purchase

history prior to the change will be listed under your youngest child in campus card re-

ports.

Thank you.

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Continuation…

At Back to School Night and in communication from each grade level you will learn more about our upcom-

ing Classroom Without Walls September experience (September 25 and 26)... Grade 5 will be on campus,

Grade 6 will be going overnight to Island Cove, Grade 7 will be going overnight to Tagaytay, and Grade 8 will

be going overnight to Caliraya. These two days are all about team building and developing a sense of com-

munity within our Middle School.

We hope everyone had a great first full week, and we look forward to seeing you around!

Yours in Education,

Simon Gillespie, Middle School Principal

Amanda Pekin, Middle School Assistant Principal

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CALLING COMMUNITY SINGERS: ISM's 5th Annual "Great Works Concert" will feature Leonard Bernstein's

"Chichester Psalms" performed by the HS auditioned music ensembles, and guests,

on Wednesday September 24th. The choir would like to invite all interested and

experienced singers from the ISM Community to participate in this challenging

masterwork with us! Great rehearsal aids are available to help learn and review

the rhythms, pitches, and especially the Hebrew text. The timeline is short, and

the musical reward is great! Please email Melodie Hausman for rehearsal sched-

ules, questions, and music. hausmanm@ismanila.org

Access and parking within the campus are important security and safety issues. For the well-being of all members of the ISM

community, those entering the school campus are requested to take note of the information and procedures outlined below.

Parent IDs

The parent IDs issued in SY 2013/14 (black) will continue to be valid for the new school year. The old parent IDs (burgundy)

issued before this year are no longer valid and must be replaced. Standard parent cards will be issued free of charge. Parents

may, however, elect to apply for a smartcard ID which will be usable with the cashless payment system introduced into the

school for SY 2013-14. There will be a fee of P250.00 for a smartcard.

Applications for parent IDs can be processed through the Security Office.

Student IDs

All students will be issued with new ID cards at the beginning of the new school year. The cards will be compatible with the

cashless payment system. There will be no need for returning students to visit the Security Office as we will be utilizing the

photographs taken for the yearbooks.

School Passes

School passes issued to parent’s employees and representatives need to be replaced for next school year. As of August 29,

2014 the grey bordered passes will be invalid.

The security office is now accepting applications for new school passes, however the cards will not be available for collection

before July 1, 2014. These passes will not be compatible with the cashless payment system.

Each family will be given two free school passes. Additional school passes may be obtained after paying a processing fee of

Php100.00 each to the Cashier’s Office.

Visitors’ Passes

All visitors must secure a pass from the guardhouse at Gate 3. Before entry will be allowed, a telephone check will be made

with the relevant office to confirm the visitor’s business within the school. Visitors will need to surrender a photo-ID upon

entry to campus.

Car Stickers

The car stickers for school year 2014/2015 are available from the security office.

For vehicles already displaying an existing sticker, parents should submit a completed renewal form with a copy of a current

LTO official receipt. For new vehicles, parents are reminded that a copy of the vehicle’s certificate of registration and a cur-

rent official receipt need to be submitted with the application. Applications for vehicles registered with companies or other

institutions should be supported by a letter of assignment.

Each ISM family will be issued one vehicle sticker free of charge. Any additional stickers will be issued following payment of

P100 to the cashier’s office.

In order to facilitate the easy recognition of authorized cars at the gates, the stickers should be affixed to the top right corner

of the windshield. ISM stickers issued in previous years must be removed.

Vehicles not displaying a current car sticker will not be allowed access from August 29, 2014.

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Vehicular Access

During drop-off and pick-up times, vehicles may enter through Gates 2 and 3. Those entering through Gate 2 should proceed

to the drop off area and, once the student has alighted or boarded, they should exit via Gate 1. Those vehicles entering

through Gate 3 must turn into the covered parking area and use the designated drop-off areas. All vehicles must exit

through Gate 1.

Please note that Gate 2 may only be used by those drivers and passengers who have an ISM ID card and who are in a vehicle

displaying a valid ISM vehicle sticker.

Alternatively, vehicles entering through Gate 3 may park in the covered car park. The spaces reserved for parent-driven cars

should only be used by those vehicles which are driven by parents themselves. Vehicles in which parents are traveling, but

which are driven by a driver, should not use these spaces. Rather, they should park elsewhere in the covered car park or

make use of the outside spaces next to the power center.

Visitors to ISM must enter through Gate 3. There is an area for short-stay visitor parking near Gate 1.

The Pedestrian Gate

The pedestrian gate is located in the perimeter fence mid-way between Gate 1 and Gate 2. There is a paved area between

the road and the perimeter fence, allowing easy access to the gate. The pedestrian gate is solely for the entry of members of

the ISM Community at the beginning of the school day. It will only be open between 7:00 am and 7:45 am (8:00 am to 8:45

am on Wednesdays). Due to parking restrictions, and in the interests of security, it will not be open in the afternoon for pick-

ups. During the time it is open, it will be under the supervision of members of the ISM Guard Force.

Drivers should stop adjacent to the paved area and students should alight from the right side of their vehicle. The driver

should then move off, clearing the space for other vehicles dropping off students. Under no circumstances should a student

be dropped off from the middle lane. This is dangerous as the student would need to walk in front of another vehicle. Driv-

ers are reminded that traffic regulations forbid parking on the roads around ISM. Therefore, vehicles should only be stopping

for the brief time it takes for a student to alight. Drivers must not wait for anybody to return to the vehicle.

Drop Off/Pick Up Passes

Following their introduction in 2012/13, we will be continuing the use of pick up and drop off passes at Gate 3. This is for non

-regular drivers who are entering school to drop off or collect visitors or members of our community but who do not intend

to park within the campus. Our regular checks to confirm the identity of drivers and their purpose for entering the campus

will continue to be made, but we will not retain a photo-ID in return for the issued pass. The use of these new passes will

avoid delays at the Gate 1 exit and reduce traffic congestion at busy times.

Vehicle checks

The practice of inspecting vehicles will continue. During off-peak hours all vehicles will be checked before they are allowed

to enter the campus.

During peak hours (drop off and pick-up times), all vehicles without valid stickers and randomly selected vehicles with stick-

ers will be asked to undergo an examination.

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Whether an examination is conducted or not, it is important that the security staff at the gates are able to identify the occu-

pants of vehicles entering the campus; therefore IDs must be clearly displayed. Vehicles with tinted windows must roll down

windows to allow a clear view of the interior of the vehicle.

Drivers, Helpers and Bodyguards

Drivers, helpers and bodyguards should not wait on campus for students throughout the school day. After dropping off stu-

dents they should exit the school grounds and not return earlier than 30 minutes before dismissal time. Those who repeat-

edly fail to comply with the regulation will have their access privilege suspended.

Only those vehicles carrying parents or other people with business within the school will be allowed to return to the campus

before the scheduled pick-up time.

There are designated areas for unaccompanied drivers, yayas, helpers and security escorts to wait for parents and students.

Unless specifically authorized, they may not enter any other area. In the interest of security, and to prevent congestion at the

pedestrian entrances to the covered parking area, parents are requested to emphasize to their employees the importance of

cooperating with the security staff and remaining in the appropriate areas.

Firearms

All members of the ISM community are reminded that it is strictly forbidden for firearms to be brought onto the campus. This

includes concealed weapons carried by bodyguards for close protection. Any person arriving at the school with a firearm

should inform the gate guard, and arrangements will be made for the weapon to be safely and securely stored during the

visitor’s stay.

Security staff directions

Our security team is endeavoring to make the school as safe and secure an environment as possible for all members of our

community.

We ask that everybody cooperate with us in this important task. In particular, all those entering our campus are requested

to comply with any directions given to them by members of our guard force.

If you are confused or unclear as to the purpose of such instructions, please seek clarification from the security office. Please

note that it is the parents’ responsibility to advise their staff accordingly.

Thank you for your cooperation. We are looking forward to another great year at International School Manila.

Best wishes,

MIKE FLYNN

Director of Operations

And Security

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Welcome to SY 14-15 Bearcats! The ATAC (Athletics/Activities) Department hopes you settle in quickly to enjoy all that

ISM and the Philippines has to offer.

Our first match for the year is today so come on out to the MS gym to help cheer on our HS Varsity Girls Volleyball team

as they take on a visiting team from Shisedo HS, Japan. The game will start at 3:30 P.M. and be a full 5 sets of volleyball.

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.

It was great to see so many students trying out for our ES/MS and HS 1st season teams this past week. The season prac-

tice schedule is now in full swing through until mid October. It is posted on the ATAC blog and on notice boards around

school.

ES soccer players in grade 1-4 had their tryouts for the Rifa Festival competition teams earlier this week. Parents please

see more detailed information about the ES Soccer Festivals at this link http://atac.ism-online.org/atac/1st-season/es-

soccer-rifa-league-festivals/. Information flyers are also posted on the ES notice board and are posted under the big tent

at the ES field. Festival dates are posted on notice boards and the link above.

Our ATAC all year round teams also began this week (see all year round practice schedule) for Wall Climbing, Gymnastics,

Taekwondo, Aikido, Chess and Table Tennis and Sailfish swim team. New students who would like to join one of these

teams and compete at local competitions please go to the venue as per the schedule to register and meet the coaches.

The AFAC (After School Activities) program has a wide variety of recreational/experiential offerings for ES and MS stu-

dents. Links to online registration and information booklets can be accessed via the ATAC blog and by going to the AFAC

sites directly. Registration is now open for MS AFAC and ES AFAC registration opens on Mon 18th. Programs for ES/MS

AFAC begin on Aug 28th.

New Bearcat Den: Drop by our fantastic new spirit store to meet Rica and Francine and give them a big Bearcat welcome.

There is a range of new products and items to purchase including items from our service partners.

Bearcat Den hours of operation: 7:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday—Friday.

The ATAC game schedule pdf which is updated regularly by Triz Gonzalez (ATAC Athletics Coordinator) gives the most up

to date information on where/when and who our Bearcat teams will be playing throughout the school year. Access to the

game schedule is via the ISM parent portal not via power school as in the past. Use this link to access the parent portal,

log in with your user name/password and look for the ATAC Game Schedule tab. Remember to refresh the page when the

pdf schedule appears so you view the most current schedule.

Game schedules can change at short notice check often to ensure you keep up with the most current games/times and

venues.

To access season practice schedule and the all year round team schedule find them on the drop down menus under the

schedules home bar tab.

Go Bearcats!

Regards,

Mark Pekin

Director of Athletics/Activities

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AFAC start date is on AUGUST 28th !!!

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