A Message from the Principal ~

 Dear ISD Parents/Guardians,

This week was a short, but busy week at ISD. On Wednesday, Oct. 15th, we held our Math Game Night, which once again, turned out to be a fun and engaging event for all who attended. Thank you to the teachers who facilitated the grade level activities and to the PTA who helped sponsor the event. The message is math can be fun, especially when applying the skills in a game format with other people. Based on that criteria, it was a success.

Our third graders were a big hit this week in their dance performances. Their group dances not only allowed them to learn specific dance steps but they truly captured the essence of the historical time period they were showcasing. Kudos to them and of course, their teachers, for facilitating their learning and growth during this IB unit of How To Express Yourself. Parents, Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Hopper, and many others were also valuable in this display of teamwork. Our gratitude to the PTA for their sponsorship of this partnership with CT Ballet.

Next Tuesday, Oct. 21st, Mrs. Stoga, School Psychologist and I, will hold two important meetings for parents of students in grade one (9:00) and also for parents of students in grade four (10:00). The topic for each meeting is personal safety. This topic is part of the health curriculum and addresses the issue of protecting one's body from others. Mrs. Stoga will conduct lessons in the grade one and four classrooms and I feel it is important for parents to understand the content of this component of the curriculum before it is actually taught to the students. The meetings will be held in the cafe. Please try to attend the meeting(s) if you have children in one or both grade levels.

Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 1:15 so teachers can participate in a professional learning session here at school. As I shared with you last week, the teachers are reading a professional book on visible thinking and using Schoology for sharing their thoughts and ideas with each other.

Lastly, there is a meeting for parents of fifth graders on Thursday, Oct. 23rd at 9:00 am on the topic of the Exhibition. The Exhibition is a required component of the IB program where all fifth graders conduct research on a topic, work together in groups and then present their learning to the ISD community. The topic they have chosen is personal wellness and the Exhibition, which is open to all students and parents, will be held in early December.

Sincerely,

Terry Ricci

Last month, we conducted a survey in Dragon Tales to determine a desired speaker topic for our general PTA meeting. Click for the survey results. Our parents were most interested in the District Digital Learning Plan and the Common Core. There are several community workshops/programs that will address these topics in the immediate future.

• On October 21, the PTAC SIP Committee will host the first of 2 workshops on Digital Learning. The workshops will be facilitated by Mrs. Irene Parisi, Assistant Superintendent, and Mr. Phillip Dunn, Chief Information Officer. Please find more details on dates, times, and location in Dragon Tales.

• The League of Women Voters of Greenwich and the Greenwich Alliance for Education will host "All You Need to Know About the Common Core" on October 28 at 7pm at Central Middle School. Dr. William McKersie, Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools, and Mrs. Irene Parisi, Assistant Superintendent, will be the presenters.

The ISD PTA general meeting will follow in November with a speaker related to Digital Learning. Please look in future editions of Dragon Tales for more information.

Additionally, in an effort to improve communication, we will be including a quick set of survey questions in Dragon Tales from time to time. It is our hope to receive feedback from parents on the PTA, our events, programs and projects in order get a better understanding of the needs and desires of the community.

We look forward to seeing all of you at one or more of our upcoming PTA events:  

• ISD Playground Celebration - Wednesday, October 22nd, 1:15pm.
• Monster Mash - Friday, October 24th, 5:30pm - 8:00pm.
• Parent Social - Saturday, November 8th, 8:00pm.

We encourage and welcome your feedback, suggestions and questions. You can reach us via email at isdpta.ct@gmail.com or by leaving a note in our mailbox in the main office.

Thank you.

Patricia Carey & Kristin Lisjak

ISD PTA Co-Presidents