The Owl 3/6/24
5th Grade Capstone Study Abroad and Send Off!
Next week, our Spanish and Chinese track 5th graders will be off on their Capstone Study Abroad trips! We had a special Send-Off Ceremony this morning, where 1st – 4th graders got to hear about their trips and wish the 5th graders good luck!
This year, the destinations are as follows:
Spanish: Saltillo and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Chinese: Suzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing, China
Like their Japanese track counterparts, who had their Capstone in the Fall, the Chinese and Spanish tracks will spend part of their time attending school with local students. They will be visiting important historic and cultural sites and engaging in local traditions and customs. These trips cap off their time at the International School of Portland, where most have been students since preschool. Tuition covers the student travel for these trips.
We will be sharing photos and videos of the Capstone Study Abroad trips over the next few weeks. Have a great time, 5th graders!
Introducing Deborah Marion
Please say hello to Deborah Marion, our new Alumni & Community Engagement Manager!
Deborah comes to us most recently from SMART Reading, where she worked for many years, serving most recently as the Area Director. She has also worked as a coordinator for an International Student exchange program and as an instructor at Saturday Academy and The Princeton Review.
Deborah says: I’m very excited about refocusing my development work on building authentic relationships and cultivating the community connection among current and former students and families. I’m also excited to immerse myself in the parent community as the first of my three children will be starting his ISP journey as a kindergartener in the fall.
Welcome, Deborah!
Owly Mascot 5th Grade Fundraiser Update!
Thank you so much who everyone who has supported the ISP fifth graders as they raise funds for a costume of “Owly,” the ISP mascot! The fifth graders organized a “Walk for Owly” this weekend from ISP to OMSI, complete with a bake sale back on campus. Thanks to their efforts, they have already met their initial fundraising goal for the costume! Way to go, fifth graders!
While they have met their original goal, they could use a little more funding to buy some fun additions for the costume, like seasonal accessories and a cooling vest for the wearer of said costume (imagine wearing a head to toe fur suit on a hot September day)…
Want to help complete the students’ fundraising efforts to buy the school an Owly costume? You can contribute here: https://intlschool.org/donate-now/ **Please Choose 5th-grade class gift from the drop-down menu for “designation”**
We are so proud of the students and the actions that they are taking to achieve their goal! Our target is to have Owly done before the end of the school year so that these 5th graders can see the product of their efforts.
A hearfelt thank you to all contributors from the 5th Grade students and their Teaching Team!
IMPORTANT Parking Reminders: Caruthers and Parking Behind Stearns
As the year progresses, we are seeing increasing traffic on South Caruthers Street, especially during afternoon pick up. Slowdowns on Caruthers cause slowdowns to pick up and drop off for all families!
- Caruthers Street Parking is for Early Childhood Families ONLY.
- We have witnessed several Elementary families using Caruthers during student drop off and pickup. We will be contacting Elementary families directly if we continue to see their use of Caruthers.
- Please do NOT idle on the Caruthers turnaround. Please find a parking spot. This blocks traffic from efficiently circling and exiting the street.
- The small parking lot behind Stearns is for auction family parking ONLY. If you did not win a parking spot at the 2023 Gala, please do NOT park in those spots. We have received multiple complaints from parents with assigned spots that others are parking in them, thus preventing access to their spots. This ALSO causes blocks and delays along Caruthers.
- Please do NOT park in front of the Stearns parking lot driveway or in front of fire hydrants.
- Early Childhood families: If you plan on spending extended time at ISP after school, please consider parking elsewhere. We often have families waiting in the dismissal line for spots on Caruthers to open up. We need to be expeditious on dropping off and picking up.
- And finally: Please do NOT stand in the street talking! It should go without saying that this causes major safety issues and traffic delays.
We ask all of this so that we can get everyone to and from school as safely and as efficiently as possible.
Interested in joining the ISP Board of Trustees?
International School of Portland’s Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing and safeguarding the mission of the school for the long term. The Board sets policies and procedures that are consistent with the mission. The Board is also responsible for overseeing the acquisition of financial resources, facilities, and equipment that enable the school to pursue its mission effectively. Its work may also include short and long-term planning and budget review and approval.
The Board is currently recruiting individuals who have diverse backgrounds and skill sets. In particular, individuals with experience in finance, accounting, fundraising and equity and inclusion work could join the important work being done on the Operations, External Affairs, Governance and Equity Committees.
Are you interested in becoming a Trustee? This brief presentation will provide further information, as well as the process of joining. Thank you for your interest!
– ISP Governance Committee
March Learner Profile Attribute: I am a Thinker
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 March, our faculty are focusing on “Thinker”
Profile Overview:
We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
I solve problems
I try different strategies
I learn from my mistakes
I challenge myself so that I can grow
We use our thinking skills a lot at school- when solving a math problem, when writing a story, when taking a test. But we also use our thinking skills outside of class too – at recess, in the hallway, or when we play with friends. Learning how our brains work helps us better understand ourselves and the things that challenge us. We can think about our thinking. We can reflect on how our thoughts change our behavior and feelings. We can embrace challenges and celebrate mistakes as an important part of learning.
Our librarians, Amy and Tomoyo, have recommended books about being Thinkers. They are available for checkout at the ISP Library!
ISP’s DaGamers at OBOB Regionals!
The winning ISP Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) team, DaGamers, represented our school over the weekend at the OBOB Regional Competition at Oak Creek Elementary in Lake Oswego. Kian, Thomas, Owain, and Liam competed against other local teams in some very challenging battles. In the end, Hallinan and Westridge Elementary were victorious and will be headed to the state competition.
We are very proud of DaGamers for giving it their all and for being supportive teammates! Way to go, DaGamers!