Dragon Tales: ISD News - Friday, November 21, 2014

The Newsletter of the International School at Dundee

Friday, November 21, 2014

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Nov. 24

Adv. Band (Gr. 5)

7:55am

All Chorus

7:55am

Adv. Orchestra

7:45am

Early Release

1:15pm

HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!!

Schools

Closed

Dec. 1

Adv. Band (Gr. 5)

7:55am

All Chorus

7:55am

Adv. Orchestra

7:45am

Word Masters Meet 1

Grades 3-5

All Chorus

7:55am

Early Release for Elementary conferences

1:15pm

Author Visit

Jarrett Krosozcka

Gr 2-5

Adv. Band (Gr. 5)

7:55am

All Chorus

7:55am

Early Release for Elementary conferences

1:15pm

Adv. Orchestra

7:45am

Book Fair

7:30am - 4:00pm

Gym

All Chorus

7:55am

Classical Cafe

Book Fair

9:00am - 6:00pm

Gym

Evening Conference's 6:00pm - 8:00pm

A Message from the Principal ~

Dear ISD Parents/Guardians,

If you attended the PTA meeting held earlier in the week, then you came away much more knowledgeable about digital learning in the Greenwich Public Schools. Mr. Phil Dunn, Chief Information Officer for the school system, spoke about the goals of the district's digital learning plan and the implementation phases. Phase One implementation took place during the last school year when staff and students at both, Hamilton Avenue School and Riverside School, received devices. In that case, the device was the IPad. This school year, all sixth graders in the district received Chromebooks as part of Phase Two. For Phase Three, all students in elementary school will receive a device next fall during the 15-16 school year. As of this date, a decision has not been made as to which device will be chosen. There is more information on the district's website regarding digital learning and certainly, more information will be shared with you as details become available.

The Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) that assess the CT Core Standards will be administered in the spring to all third, fourth and fifth graders. Testing is done on line and we will be using our laptop carts and computer lab. The schedule is as follows: Gr. 5 Testing Period is between March 17th through April 10, while Gr. 4 and Gr. 3 Testing Periods are between April 20th and May 13th. Please note these dates on your calendar but there will be more information as we approach the starting date.

The cold weather, along with wind chill factors, arrived in a big way this week. Please make sure students are well equipped for this weather with heavier jackets, hats, gloves, etc. They do go outside on most winter days, so it is important for them to be dressed properly.

Thank you to all who contributed to our cereal drive. Staff from Neighbor to Neighbor will be here on Wed., Nov. 26th, to pick up the many boxes we have collected. If your child has not contributed and would like to, they may do so up until that morning before Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I want to wish all of you a warm and happy Thanksgiving holiday. It is wonderful to have a special day dedicated to giving thanks for all the joys and gifts we are fortunate to have in our lives. Enjoy.

Sincerely,

Terry Ricci

ISD GENERAL MEMBERSHIP PTA MEETING

Thank you to everyone who ventured out on a very cold night. We are grateful to Mr. Phil Dunn, Chief Information Officer, GPS for his very informative presentation on the Digitial Learning Environment.

Thank you to the parents in attendance for your thoughtful questions and contributing to a great dialogue on this important subject.

FALL FUNDRAISER ORDERS HAVE ARRIVED!

wrapping paper Thank you for your generous support of the ISD PTA's Fall Fundraiser. Please stop by the ISD Cafe starting next week, before or after school, to pick up your Innisbrook order. Your child's package is labeled with his or her name and organized by class (KF, 2Mac, 4W, etc.). If you paid online with a credit card, your order was delivered directly to your home.

Please email Catherine Keenan or Michelle Liew with any questions.

ISD BOOK FAIR DECEMBER 10 & 11

Two, Four, Six, Eight

The Book Fair is coming

So SAVE the Date!

The ISD Book Fair Committee is getting ready to stack the shelves for this year's Book Fair that will take place on Wednesday, December 10th and Thursday, December 11th. The fair will be held in the ISD Gymnasium, and will include an early morning opening and a late day closing time to accommodate as many parents' schedules as possible.

Please see class schedules below so you may join your child's class.

	Wednesday, Dec. 10	Thursday, Dec. 11
9:00am - 9:30am	3 - Mansy	3 - Millspaugh
9:30am - 10:00am	K - Shane	3 - Sangermano
10:00am - 10:30am	1 - Peters	5 - Stewart
10:30am - 11:00am	K - Freeda	5 - Murray
11:00am - 11:30am	2 - Macri	5 - Piazza
11:30am - 12:00pm	K - Murphy	2 - McAuley
12:00pm - 12:30pm	4 - Daur	4 - Mink
1:00pm - 1:30pm	1 - Garafalo
1:30pm - 2:00pm	4 - Williams
2:00pm - 2:30pm	2 - Martin
2:30pm - 3:00pm	1 - Iwai

If you would like to volunteer to help with set up, fair hours, and break down, please use the sign up link below to view and choose a time that works for you. We appreciate all of your help and support! Sign up here

If you have any questions, please email Kimberly Thomas.

Looking forward to the next chapter!!!
The Book Fair Committee

HAVE YOU STARTED HOLIDAY SHOPPING?

The ISD PTA is proud to introduce a NEW fundraising program from Amazon!

Amazon's School Rewards Program contributes up to 10% of every purchase made at Amazon to the ISD PTA. It is very simple: when you buy at Amazon, please do it via the below link, and at no extra cost you will help ISD!

Click Here then bookmark the page and use it every time you shop.

Money raised will help fund PTA-sponsored enrichment programs and special events including author visits, High Touch/High Tech Classroom Enrichment Programs, Math Night, Science Night, Monster Mash, Movie Night, and much more.

Thank you for your support.

DRAGON LAIR

Please check Lost & Found for those wandering hats, lunch boxes, sweaters, jackets, books & much, much more!

Hurry to the lost and found corner across from the Music & Art Rooms before the Thanksgiving Holiday break.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH!

Knowledgeable icon

Every month we will be asking a survey question. We will gather this information over the course of the year to see where we need to improve our PTA. Please take a moment to answer so that we may serve ISD in a better fashion.

Click here for survey question.

Thank you!

GPS SEEKING PARENT VOLUNTEERS

The Greenwich Public Schools (GPS) are committed to promote social-emotional learning and prevent bullying among our students. Come be a part of a GPS parent committee dedicated to fostering social-emotional learning in our students and help prevent bullying.

We are currently seeking parent volunteers to join us in planning and promoting district wide events. We need your help!!! If you would like to join our committee and be part of this initiative please contact Alina Boie.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

CLASSICAL CAFE - DECEMBER 11

music

Join your child for lunch on Thursday, December 11

and enjoy live music. Parents and child-care providers are invited to join their child during his or her 30-minute lunch period to hear a short musical performance and discussion with the musician(s).

Lunch periods are:

11:00 Grade 4 and 3S

11:30 Grade 5, 3Ma & 3Mil

12:00 Grade 1

12:30 Grade 2

1:00 K

For safety reasons, the district does not allow younger siblings to attend lunch.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

November 29

Turkey Trot 2014

Arch Street Teen Center
100 Arch Street

9:30/10am