The Owl 12/6/22
You’re Invited to Celebrate Read in Your PJs Day with us!
It’s an ISP tradition! On the last days before Winter Break, students at International School of Portland roll out of bed and straight to their classroom – pajamas and all! Our Annual Read In Your Pajamas Day is a student favorite. It’s a celebration of reading for the joy of reading.
All students can come to school in their pjs to participate. Packing a set of regular clothes is recommended.
First through fifth grade parents and other caregivers are invited to join us during your child’s English class. PreK through Kindergarten families can join us during their Specialist class! Bring a favorite book, wear your pajamas too, and spend some time reading to kids or being read to! Super simple, super wonderful. Background checks are not required to participate in class celebrations with your child.
(Times and locations for parents/caregivers to join us will be confirmed by your child’s English or Specialist Teacher)
Have you answered our Quick Parent Survey yet?
You should have gotten an email last week from Maria or Jason that asks for your participation in a very short survey. It is a simple two-minute survey per student in your family. It’s a simple way for you to let us know what we are doing well and where we can improve. The feedback from this survey helps us to shape our activities and priorities, both school-wide and in specific areas.
It will take no more than a few moments of your time. The more people that participate, the more actionable and valuable the feedback will be to the school.
**We would like EVERY parent in a household to complete it.**
Please check your email for an email from Jason or Maria with the subject “Your ISP parent feedback is requested”
Thank you very much for your input!
Come Check out the Early Childhood Book Fair!
Our annual Early Childhood Book Fair is back in person and is running all week!
What better way to celebrate the coming chilly winter months than by nestling together as a family with a pile of good books? Come visit the Scholastic Book Fair and stock up on some good books for the winter! There will be a variety of books in English and Spanish.
Inside the Stearns Hall (EC building)
Hours are from 2:50 to 3:45 except on Wednesday 1:50-2:45
Accepted forms of payment include cash, check and credit card
The profits are used to buy books for the library and classroom literature sets.
Our in-person fair runs through this Friday, Dec 9. If you aren’t able to come to our in-person fair, our Online Book Fair runs December 5-18. You will find a great selection of books along with free shipping on book orders over $25! Visit our Book Fair from the link here: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/internationalschool
Parent Network Monthly Meeting Tomorrow
The ISP Parent Network’s mission is to strengthen, enhance and encourage the educational and community environment at the International School of Portland. It serves to identify and organize volunteer support at ISP. Just as importantly, it aims to strengthen relationships, communication, and collaboration between parents, faculty, and administrators.
Join us tomorrow morning to learn more about Parent Network happenings and how to get more involved now or in the future. If you are a current parent at the school, you are already a member of the Parent Network! 🙂
Parent Network Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, December 7th, 8:30am
ISP Arthur Administration Building
122 S Arthur Ave (just up the street from the main campus)
We look forward to getting to know you better!
Global Kids: Space Available!
The Global Kids Extended Day program has openings for K-5th grade students beginning after Winter Break! Global Kids Extended Day is a fun, enriching environment for ISP students running from 3:30 (2:30 on Wednesdays) to 5:30, Monday through Friday. Enroll on our website today!
There is also space available for Global Kids Winter Break Alternative Days, from December 19th-22nd! Global Kids Alternative Days run from 8:00-3:30 during breaks and no-school days.
December Learner Profile Attribute: Caring
The ten International Baccalaureate Learner Profile traits are school values, and are means by which to support healthy social and emotional development. Our faculty focuses upon one of them each month as means.
For December, our faculty are focusing on “Caring”
Profile Overview: We show empathy, compassion, and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
In other words…
I care about others. Their thoughts and feelings are important, too!
I show that I care through kind words and actions
When I show kindness and respect, I help my whole community.
Our librarians, Amy and Tomoyo, have recommended books about Caring. They are available for checkout at the ISP Library!
3rd Grade Winter Supply Drive!
Speaking of Caring, a fabulous way to demonstrate this month’s learner profile trait is by participating in our 3rd Graders’ Supply Drive for the Queer Affinity Village!
ISP Third graders are leading a winter clothing and supply drive to collect necessary items for the residents of the QA Village. They will be collecting materials until Friday, December 16th, and then staff from the school will deliver the supplies to the Village.
Please bring supplies to the Stearns Hall or Hilltop front desks. All excess supplies will be donated to All Good NW, the operator for the Safe Rest Villages and other local shelters.
In addition, based upon the ideas and leadership of Masami’s 2 & 3rd graders students, the students will be creating bookmarks and origami filled with messages of kindness, hope, and belonging.
Oregon Battle of the Books!
Calling 3rd-5th graders: the wait is over. It’s OBOB Time! Oregon Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading motivation competition. Teams of 4 students read (or listen to) books from the OBOB book list and engage in fun and exciting “battles” that test comprehension. The school battle will take place the last week of February. If interested:
Step 1: Read this fact sheet for details about how OBOB will work this year at ISP, where to find the books, team formation, etc.
Step 2: Click here to register students for participation by December 31! (On the form students will be able to include names of previously identified teammates OR can request to be on a team that we create for you. There will be a place for everyone who wants to participate!)
Step 3: Ready, get set, READ! More info will come by email after registration. Official teams will be announced on January 9.
Metropolitan Youth Symphony Children’s Concert – Featuring ISP Alums!
The Metropolitan Youth Symphony Presents a concert for the young and young at heart will pay homage to the life, work, and legacy of Eric Carle with a screening of five animated stories by Illuminated Films.
The Magic of Eric Carle
January 8, 2022, 4:00 pm
Newmark Theatre
Three ISP alumni are playing in this concert! Kate A (Class of 2017), Liam A (Class of 2019), Naomi M (Class of 2019)
All Classical Portland radio hosts will accompany the screening with live narration, and the Symphony Orchestra will perform Julian Nott’s Music for “The Very Hungry Caterpillar And Other Stories” by Eric Carle. This distinctive, collaborative, and novel project brings beloved film tunes to the stage from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I See A Song, The Mixed-Up Chameleon, The Very Quiet Cricket, and Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me, celebrating Carle’s storytelling mastery. MYS will also include an instrument petting zoo, providing aspiring musicians an opportunity to try out instruments.
Full information and tickets, visit www.playmys.org
Free Portland Taiko Concert
Portland Taiko’s year-end party, Bonenkai, will take place Saturday, December 10th at 7:00 pm on Zoom. This free, online event will showcase new performances from Portland Taiko and our taiko students.
https://t.e2ma.net/click/1itioh/lmd4vwi/ds85n5
Bonenkai is our way of saying arigatou gozaimasu to wonderful supporters like you. Please feel free to share this invitation with friends and family.
Join us Saturday, Dec 10th at 7:00 pm on Zoom
Use the password PT2022 to access
A link to join the event will be posted to portlandtaiko.org in early December.