Dear ISD Parents, 

Our fifth graders and teachers have launched their Exhibition, a requirement for all IB schools.   Students are expected to participate in a research project process, which affords them the opportunity to apply all they have learned throughout their elementary years to a topic they are interested in.  Groups of students work together gathering information from a variety of resources under the guidance of a mentor (staff member) and one of the grade five teachers (not necessarily their own).  After the research phase is completed, students decide on a method or manner to present their newly acquired acknowledge to an audience.  Over the years, many "creative outlets" have been chosen by the students to showcase their learning. Additional information and references to the Exhibition will be included in our weekly TV program, the ISD news.  The actual dates when our students' learning will be shared are Wednesday and Thursday, June 5th and June 6th.  (Specific details about actual times will be shared at a later date.)  Our entire ISD community is invited to come see the groups present, whether they have a fifth grade family member or not.  Please consider supporting the students and staff throughout this process.  

This week's early dismissal afternoon resulted in teachers garnering more training in curriculum and instructional practices.  Our kindergarten teachers attended a session on assessment practices in reading, while our first and second grade teachers had a choice between math and reading strategies to support the Common Core Standards.  Teachers in grades three through five attended workshops on literacy performance assessment tasks, while specialists attended a variety of workshops related to their specific field. 

Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring the Mad Science program that was held on two separate nights this week.  Students (and parents) enjoyed watching the hands on experiments that reinforced some of the same concepts students are learning through the GPS curriculum.  Also, thank you to Stacy Loveless and Kyoko Sorensen for spearheading Travel the World, along with the hosts and hostesses, who opened their homes and offered their hospitality last Saturday.  It was a great event (as usual) and a good time was had by all who attended.  

Congratulations to our former teacher and Assistant Principal, Mr. Gene Schmidt, who was appointed Principal of Cos Cob School.  We wish him the best.