The Owl Weekly Parent Bulletin 4/29/19

Education Town Hall – TOMORROW

As we approach the end of the school year, the Educational Leadership Team (ELT) would like to invite you to our Spring Education Town Hall meeting. Held twice a year, our Town Halls allow parents to pose questions or comments about any part of the academic program or general operations of International School of Portland. They offer a way to expand interaction between the ELT and the parent community, as well as to help build and promote clear communication.

We are trying something new this time around. Due to parent feedback, this Town Hall will be virtual! You’ll be able to attend the meeting from your own home, office, or desert island, provided you have internet access. Please join us on the evening of Tuesday, April 30 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. To RSVP for the Town Hall, please click here.

In an effort to identify the most pressing questions you might have, please complete this survey in advance of the meeting. We will prioritize the responses in order to help focus the discussions at the meeting.

We hope that you can join us tomorrow!

LAST CALL: Vote for International School of Portland for Best Summer Camp!

UNBELIEVABLE! We’ve been nominated in THREE categories this year in the NW Kids Magazine’s annual Best Summer Camp contest! Head on over to NW Kids and vote for International School of Portland for Best Language Camp, Best Academic Camp, and Best General Camp!! YAY!!!

We won Best Language Camp and Best Academic Camp last year. Let’s do it again!

It takes only a few seconds to VOTE – you don’t even have to enter an email address

Vote NOW! Contest Ends April 30!

Walk & Roll Challenge Month Begins this Week!

Bike & Roll to School Challenge Month is neigh upon us!
Pick up a scorecard at any front desk (Hilltop, Stearns, Learners) and fill out the number of trips you make May 1-31. If you also walk or bike home after school, please indicate that on your scorecard. You get double points for doing the round-trip.

At the end of the month, we’ll be handing out prizes, including backpack, bike lights, and water bottles. Everyone who participates gets swag! Katherine Cole has again generously volunteered to donate a good bottle of wine to the cause, and I will throw in a couple of large bottles of premium beer. This will allow us to have a 1st place winner and a runner up, with the family that makes the most people powered commutes in May getting to choose between the beer or wine. May 1st will be the first day to start recording.

BIKE PARADE! Next  Wednesday, May 8th is National Bike to School Day! We’ll meet up at the Salmon Street Springs fountain area to form a massive, unstoppable bike brigade parade to school.

• Please get there between 7:35 and 7:40. If you are coming from the Southeast, it will be easier to come across the Hawthorne bridge that day rather than the Tillicum. Just like old times.

• The “safe routes to school” fairies will be visiting the bicycles of good little children that day to leave goodies. If you use a tandem or tagalong and it doesn’t stay at school, we are trying to arrange for the fairies to leave goodies for pick up at the Stearns hall office.

Go ISP! I look forward to seeing you May 1st, if not before, on your bike.

Please e-mail me with any questions, but make sure to put “Bike challenge” in the subject header, that way if it ends up in my junk folder, I can spot it more easily.

Cheers, Chris Ginocchio(Lila H’s dad, 5th grade Chinese)

Japanese Children’s Day Celebrations – Join Us!

Sunday, May 5 is Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day ) a Japanese national holiday celebrating kids. meet us after school on Friday, May 3 for some snacks and other Children’s Day activities! Thanks to Candy & Angel Trujillo for all of your help organizing this!

In addition,  The Portland Japanese Garden has invited ISP to have a role in the festivities!  Taka’s 4/5th grade class will be performing at 12pm,, and our own resident origami artist, Eros Minera, is leading origami classes there that day! ISP parent Chef Naoko will also have a food booth. Come join us at the celebration from 10:00am – 1:00pm.

Here is some more information about Kodomo no hi

Moving for Music and Art: REMINDER

Thank you for all of those who have turned in their sponsor forms and payment!   The grade level with the highest percentage of students turning in a sponsor form with at least one sponsor gets a popsicle party!  Right now LowK is in the lead! Here are the current standings:

FORMS DUE:  The sponsor forms are due by May 1, 2019 along with any payments made by check or cash.  Forms and payments can be dropped off with any teacher or the front desks of Stearns or Hilltop.  Sponsors pledging and paying online will have their cards charged the week of April 22.

PLEDGE/PAY ONLINE:  Sponsors wishing to sponsor and pay online, they can do so on our website at  www.intlschool.org/mma.  Sponsors can pledge by lap or pledge a flat amount.

Head of Elementary Coffee – May 8

All members of the community from First Grade to Fifth Grade are invited to attend a Head of School Coffee next Wednesday, May 8th from 8:15 to 9:15 in Learners’ Hall. In this final Head of School Coffee of the school year, I will not set the topics to discuss but will be guided by you.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Bodo Heiliger, bodoh@intlschool.org

ISP Parent Social – NEW Location

ISP Parents: Come join fellow ISP parents for a little fun and chat! As a new event this year, this casual mixer will be a nice way to catch up with old friends and get to know new ones! VENUE CHANGE: Due to an unforeseen conflict, please meet us at  Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 6 – 9pm.

Adults only, please!

Parent Network Meeting this Thursday

Come learn about parent volunteer opportunities and Steering Committee positions for next year!  We have lots of fun things already planned for 2019-20. Join us this Thursday, May 2nd at 8:30am at the Arthur Administration Building conference room, up the street from the Main Campus.

Parent Network meetings are open to all ISP parents.

Grandparents Tea – May 19

Grandparents and special friends are invited to join International School of Portland on campus on Sunday, May 19 for a fun afternoon of tea and a celebration of the arts at ISP.  Guests will be treated to tea and treats with Head of School, Robert Woods, followed by a tour of our student art show.

Seating is limited and this popular ISP event will soon be full!  RSVPs are requested to ensure sufficient seating. Sign up soon to ensure space for your ISP student and their grandparents or special friends.  You can RSVP via this link or can contact Lauren Reigelnegg at 503-226-2496 x 117 or at laurenr@intlschool.org.  RSVPS must be received by May 15.

We are seeking volunteers for this event.  If you are able to help us with set up, clean up, tea serving, or helping with tours, please indicate your availability on this form.

Upcoming Events

ISP Education Town Hall (Virtual) – Due to parent feedback, the Spring Education Town Hall will be virtual! You’ll be able to attend the meeting from your own home, office, or desert island, provided you have internet access. Please join us on the evening of Tuesday, April 30 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. To RSVP for the Town Hall, please click here.

In addition, we ask that you please complete this survey in advance of the meeting.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

Walk & Roll Challenge Begins! May is Walk + Roll Challenge Month! Pick up your tracking sheets at Stearns, Hilltop, or Learners’ Hall.

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THURSDAY, MAY 2

Parent Network Monthly Meeting – ISP Parent Network Steering Committee  meetings are open to all ISP parents. Come learn about Steering Committee positions and volunteer opportunities for next year!  8:30am at the Arthur Admin Building (up the street from the Main Campus)

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FRIDAY, MAY 3

Japanese Children’s Day ISP Celebration –  Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day ) is a Japanese national holiday celebrating kids. Meet us after school on Friday, May 3 for some snacks and other Children’s Day activities! Thanks to Candy & Angel Trujillo for all of your help organizing this! 3:10 – 4:10, ISP Lower Playground

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SUNDAY, MAY 5

Japanese Children’s Day at the Portland Japanese Garden. The Portland Japanese Garden has invited ISP to have a role in the festivities!  Taka’s 4/5th grade class will be performing, and our own resident origami artist, Eros Minera, is leading origami classes there that day! Come join us at the celebration from 10:00am – 1:00pm.

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MONDAY, MAY 6

ISP Annual Art Show Begins – The Annual Art Show will take place in Stearns Hall and run through Thursday, May 23rd. Volunteers still needed – please Sign-up HERE!!!   if you want to help!

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

Head of Elementary Coffee. Please join Bodo Heiliger for an Elementary Coffee. This will give members of the community an opportunity to come and hear about developments in the school, as well as provide an open forum to ask questions or voice concerns. Open to parents of students in grades 1st-5th. 8:15-9:15am, Learners’ Hall

Bike & Walk to School Bike Parade! Meet up at the Salmon Street Springs fountain area to form a massive, unstoppable bike brigade parade to school with swag for all riders. Please get there between 7:35 and 7:40.  

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FRIDAY, MAY 10

ISP Parent Social. Come join fellow ISP parents for a little fun and chat! As a new event this year, this casual mixer will be a nice way to catch up with old friends and get to know new ones! VENUE CHANGE: Please meet us at  Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 6 – 9pm. Cash Bar.

Interested in Girl Scouts?

Hello, parents of soon-to-be Kindergarteners!  

Several LowK parents are interested in starting a Girl Scouts troop for our kindergarten girls this fall (Daisies). There are currently two other Girl Scout troops at ISP. It’s really fun and a great way for students to make friends in different classes and language tracks. If your daughter is interested, please let me know!

Also, please let me know if you’d be interested in being a co-leader! Typically, the troop meets after school every two weeks.

– Veronica Lim (veronicalim124@yahoo.com)

ISP and Reed College Host Program

The Office of International Student Services at Reed College has teamed up with International School of Portland to seek interested families to participate in a Host Family Program for international students and language scholars.  The Host Family Program is a non-residential friendship program. The goal is to introduce international students and scholars new to Reed  to a local family who will befriend them, introduce them to the local community, support their student or scholar’s experience at Reed, and enjoy the opportunity for cultural exchange.

While a non-residential hosting program, families seek to provide a “home away from home” for students whose families are often very far away and often play an important part in helping international students adjust to Reed and the U.S.  The relationship begins when families and students and scholars communicate over the summer and coordinate welcoming their student or scholar to Portland by picking them up from the airport, bringing them to campus, and helping them settle into their residence halls.  During the school year, host families and students/scholars establish and define a relationship that works for both sides.

Most get together at least once per month, and the International Student Services office also organizes three structured on-campus events to bring international visitors and their host families together as a group.  We will likely host an event or two at ISP as well, and enable the Reed students to visit our classes to share about their cultures.

To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit here . It is ok if you apply after May 1.

For further questions, please contact Dana Lawson at International Student Services at iss@reed.edu.  Please be sure to mention that you are a family with International School of Portland!