The Newsletter of the International School at Dundee

Friday

April 4, 2014

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
7 7:45am Adv. Orch.	8 7:45am Beg. Orch. 7:55am, Chorus Part 1 9:30am Lockdown Drill 10:30 Gr. 3 Woodcock Nature Ctr 6:30pm PTA General Meeting Media Center	9 7:45am Adv. Orch.	10 7:55am, Chorus Part 2 Band Lessons Classical Café	11 7:45am Band Rehearsals and Lessons
14 Spring Recess	15 Spring Recess	16 Spring Recess	17 Spring Recess	18 Spring Recess
21 7:45 Adv. Orch. Spring Afters Begin	22 7:45am Beg. Orch. 7:45 ALP Testing Gr. 3 & 4 Café 7:55am Chorus Part 1 Wordmasters Meet 3 Gr. 3-5	23 7:45 Adv. Orch. 7:45 ALP Testing Gr. 3 & 4 Café Audubon Workshop Gr. 2 @ ISD 12 - 3pm SBAC Testing Gr. 5 thru May 16	24 7:55am All Chorus 7:45 ALP Testing Gr. 3 & 4 Café BOE Mtg Riverside 7pm	25 7:45am Band Rehearsals and Lessons 7:45 ALP Testing Gr. 3 & 4 Café Spanish Spelling Bee Gr. 5 6pm Media Center

Dear ISD Parents,

We are required to have two lockdown drills per year, along with ten fire drills. Our second lockdown drill will be held on Tuesday, April 8th. To assist us in the drill, representatives from central office, the police department, as well as the fire department will be here. Teachers will have reviewed the procedures with the students so everyone is aware of how to proceed. Unlike the lockdown drills, fire drills are not announced ahead of time. When the alarm goes off, students are expected to line up quickly with the teacher and proceed to the nearest exit. They do not stop to put on coats or sweaters. The drill has to emulate a real emergency. Attendance is taken and collected. If a student is in transit and not with the class, they have been told to go out the nearest exit door and find an adult to stand with. These drills, which are timed, are taken very seriously both, by the adults, as well as the students.

This week I am enjoying spending quite a bit of time in two fourth grade classrooms, Mr. Stewart's and Mrs. Williams. As part of the teacher evaluation process, each teacher must conduct a Unit of Study where their evaluator is in the classroom daily throughout the duration of the unit. Mr. Stewart chose the grade four science unit on electricity as his unit. There is definitely a buzz in his classroom (no pun intended) as students make sense of wires, circuits and batteries. They immerse themselves in the inquiry-based experiments he puts forth leading to exciting learning. The same can be said of the unit going on in Mrs. Williams' classroom where her focus is on Poetry. (Did you know April is Poetry Month?) It is amazing to see the students discuss their interpretations supported by the words and lines in the poems they are studying. Both situations are examples of some of the impressive learning that is happening on a daily basis at ISD.

This Saturday is the parent event, Travel the World, with a Mediterranean Feast theme. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely, Terry Ricci

NEWS

ISD PTA General Meeting April 8th at 6:30pm

The General PTA Meeting on April 8th will be followed at 7:00pm with a special presentation

by Dr. Julia Trebing on

"Positive Parenting".

Due to the generous support of ISD families, the ISD PTA is in a position to move forward with the outdoor

play space enhancements, a project that was approved by the General Membership in June 2013. The PTA Executive Board has approved a spending request of $55,000 which requires General Membership approval.

If authorized by the General Membership, the purchase will need to be approved by various Town governing bodies which may include the Board of Education and the RTM. It is our intention that the children have a voice in selecting the equipment that is purchased, however this will only be done once the necessary approvals have been received.

The General Membership will also vote on proposed amendments to the ISD PTA By-Laws.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Vera Merrill or Patricia Carey, ISD PTA Co-Presidents.

TRAVEL THE WORLD SOCIAL APRIL 5TH

FUN ~ FOOD ~ FESTIVITIES ~ MEDITERRANEAN FEAST

Saturday, April 5th

7pm - Midnight

It is not too late!

Click here for a sign up sheet.

Bring it Saturday and hand to one of the hosts.

K & 4th Grade Hosts Greece Home of Angie & Jonathan Hartofilis 36 Deepwoods Lane 7-10pm	2nd & 3rd Grade Hosts Italy Home of Louise & Chris McKenna 3 Kensington Court 7-10pm
1st & 5th Grade Hosts Spain Home of Liz and Mazz Keegan 32 Highmeadow Road 7-10pm	All Travelers Desserts Home of Lynette Breier 11 Harding Road 10pm - Midnight

Contact Ann-Caroline van der Ham with questions.

SPRING AFTERS

Spring Afters begin
the week of April 21st.

Look for the final class lists sent home in backpacks this week.

PTA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

ISD Globe Logo

ISD PTA Volunteer Nomination Period March 28 - May 2

Parent volunteers are an important part of the ISD Community.

We need YOU... your voice, your talent, your commitment.

To see how you can get involved click here.

To nominate yourself for a role click here.

For inquiries or further discussion, please contact Carisa Sykes, VP Volunteers, or other members of the Nominating Committee: Vera Merrill, Jill Townsend, Rosaura Artola (Balaguer), or Cathy Steel.

BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH FAMILY & FRIENDS EVENT

Take Me Out to The Ball Game!

Sunday, May 4 @ 1:05pm

This fun filled day includes:

Pre-Game autograph session at 12:10pm
ISD recognition over the PA system and on the scoreboard
Post-game run around the bases for kids

Tickets $11 per person with registration form returned to office by Wednesday, April 23rd.

For inquiries contact Charlie Ginste,Margaret Mullen

or Cathy Steel.

BEACH PARTY: SAVE THE DATE JUNE 1

ISD's Community Beach Party

Sunday, June 1 from 3pm to 6pm

Food, Live Music, Games,
and Activities

Please help us gather donations for this much anticipated 2014 Annual ISD Beach Party & Fundraiser supporting PTA events and programs.

The Silent Auction will be targeted toward adults. Raffle items will be targeted toward kids.

Looking for Ideas?

Restaurant Certificates, Spa Certificates, Vacation Home Weekends, Tickets to events, Game tickets, Evening at the Movies, Kid Friendly Electronics... the possibilities are endless.

Most Local Businesses welcome the opportunity to contribute to their community and advertise to their customers.

Please return completed sponsor forms (also below) to the ISD office - Attn: ISD 2014 Beach Party & Fundraiser. Email Kysa Englund with questions, comments, ideas and volunteer interests.

ISD PTA BY-LAW AMENDMENTS

The ISD PTA Executive Board has approved proposed by-law amendments that will be voted on by the PTA General Membership at the April 8 PTA Meeting. Proposed by-laws are available for viewing in the office. If you would like a copy of the proposed by-laws, please contact the PTA Secretary, Debra Hess, to arrange for a copy.

DRAGON'S LAIR

Be sure to check the Dragon's Lair for lost and found items before spring break. All accumulated items will be donated.

CLASSICAL CAFE