Update from Alfonso – 3/12
Dear Friends,So much going on these days in the run up to Spring break.
First I want to remind people that we have two posts open with Jhoanna’s departure. One is a compliance and operations manager and the other is a half time educational tech person who will primarily assist teachers and students in the use of technology. Please find both job descriptions at intlschool.org/contact/employment/ and send them to anyone you know who may be a good fit.
We said goodbye last week to our grade 5 Capstone travelers who headed off to Mexico, China and Japan. All have arrived safely and will be settling into their school schedules and host families about now. See information about their blogs below – more posts are coming daily.
During March students will have a short visit to a class of the next grade so they can start to get a feel for what’s coming up. Your child’s teacher can tell you when their class is visiting. Fourth graders will visit after spring break when the fifth graders are back from Capstone.
I want to commend Hong’s grade 5 Chinese class who, before they left for China, spent a day serving meals to people in need at the St. Stephen’s Table at St. Stephen’s parish church.
Kudos also to our grade 4 students who last week participated in the Choir Festival at the French American School. We had a preview of their international song list in assembly and I am sure it was a hit. Thanks to Peter for working with students to prepare.
Kudos also to art teacher Julie Jansen who has been honored with a Fulbright grant. Julie will first go to San Francisco this April to join her Japanese and American colleagues at a conference. Then in June she will go to Japan for two weeks to work with Japanese colleagues on teaching sustainable development.
Kudos to all of us at ISP and specifically to the teachers in the Chinese program. We have been informed that this coming June at the Annual Gala of the Portland Suzhou Sister City Association we will receive this year’s Leadership Award in Education.
And finally kudos to kids and teachers who come in every day with a smile and determination to learn and discover and grow. Have a great week and see you at the corner!
Alfonso
Dr. Alfonso Orsini, Head of School, AOrsini@intlschool.org, 503-226-2496 x122