The Owl 3/19/24
Capstone Update
Spanish and Chinese track students are back from their weeklong homestays and school visits! We are so proud of how open-minded, mature, and brave they have been! They are all walking a little prouder and taller now.
CHINA
Chinese track students spent a busy week with their host students at the Suzhou Experimental Elementary School, a large school located in Portland’s Chinese sister city. They’ve been very busy traveling to ancient cities and sights within the region. They made a stop at the Bund in Shanghai, recognized as the city’s former “Wall Street, “ from the 1850’s-1920s.
After reuniting with their families, the students went off to Xian, where they rode bicycles along the Great Wall! They then spent the day visiting the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. They then headed off to the Qinling Mountains, where students observed the four national first-class protected species in China: the Takin, Golden Monkey, the Crested Ibis, and Giant Panda!
Next up: a few days in Beijing!
MEXICO
While on their homestays, Spanish track students attended Harmony School, an IB school in Saltillo. While at Harmony they got a taste of their very first French classes! They’ve also been introduced to the “pleasure” of conjugation tables, which are not typically taught in immersion (or single-language) environments. Students visited various local museums, including the Museum of the Desert and the Museo de la Revolución Mexicana.
The students and parent chaperones have since reunited and relocated to the state of Nayarit, where they’ve been visiting a number of artisans and farmers, learning about their crafts and hearing stories about their life experiences. They’ve also gotten time for some futbol, swimming, and plenty of Mexican candy!
We are so excited to hear about their next adventures!
ISP 2024-25 School Year Calendar
Hello, families! Below are the “no school” and other key dates for the 2024-25 school year. The official Calendar feed will be updated shortly.
Class Visits/Fall Fun Fair
Monday, August 26
First Day of School
Tuesday, August 27
Labor Day – School Closed
Monday, September 2nd
Curriculum Night (virtual)
Wednesday, September 25
Faculty Inservice Day (No School for students)
Friday, October 18
Parent Teacher Conference Day (No School for students)
Friday, November 1
Veteran’s Day (observed) – School Closed
Monday, November 11
November Break (for students)
Monday, November 25 – Friday, November 29
Winter Break
Monday, December 23 – Monday, January 6, 2025
First Day of Class 2025
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr Day – School Closed
Monday, January 20
ISP Global Gala
Saturday, February 1
International Festival (tentative)
Friday, February 7
President’s Day – School Closed
Monday, February 17
Parent Teacher Conference Day (No School for students)
Friday, February 28
Spring Break
Monday, March 24 – Friday, March 28
Faculty Inservice Day (No School for students)
Friday, April 11
Student-Led Conference Day (No School for students)
Friday, May 9
Grading Day
Friday, May 23
Memorial Day – School Closed
Monday, May 26
Curriculum Alignment Day (No School for students)
Monday, June 2
Last Day of School
Wednesday, June 11
Now Enrolling New Families for Fall! Spring Discovery Day is coming up!
ISP has begun offering admissions to families new to the school for Fall 2024. We still have some openings in our Preschool and Kindergarten classes.
Know anyone who might be interested? Jan Williams, our Director of Enrollment Management, is happy to chat with them or provide them with a personal tour.
Families can contact Jan directly at admissions@intlschool.org.
In addition, please invite them to our Spring Discovery Day! Many of you might have attended Discovery Day (formerly Open House) yourselves, where we provide a general overview of International School of Portland and a group tour of our campus.
ISP DISCOVERY DAY
Friday, April 5th
9:00 am – 12:00pm*
2305 S Water Ave, Portland
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO RSVP
The event includes presentations by school leaders, a Q&A, and a campus tour.
*Presentations will repeat at 9 AM and 10:30 AM.
Exchange Student Host Families Needed
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is looking for volunteer host families for three wonderful high school exchange students coming to our area for the upcoming school year.
Our students will attend the high school closest to their host family and can take school transportation or carpool. They speak good English and have their own medical insurance as well as their own spending money to cover their personal expenses.
Volunteer host families come in all shapes and sizes; retired, single parents, couples with or without children of any age, etc. A host simply puts another plate on the table and welcomes the student as one of their own!
These students are:
Macarena: 16 year old girl from Spain
Nicolas: 15 year old boy from Mexico
Andreas: 15 year old boy from Germany
Please contact Sophie Grimes (below) if interested. They can also visit www.ciee.org/host for more information. If a family you refer ends up hosting, CIEE will send you $200 as a thank you!
Sophie Grimes, CIEE Local Coordinator: Sophiegrimes@frontier.com, 503-317-0848