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The Newsletter of the International School at Dundee
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Memorial Day No School |
26
7:55a - Chorus Pt.1
9-12noon - 2nd Gr. to Stamford Museum Nature Center
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27
7:00p - Gr.5 Parent Meeting at EMS
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28
7:55a - Chorus Pt.2
8:15a - Gr. 5 to United Nations
10:00a & 12noon - 3rd Gr. Bush Holley House
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29
Nepal Fundraiser
(wear red & blue)
9:00-9:45a - Kindergarten Performance & Reception following from 9:45-10:45a
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June - 1
Ted Scheu visits 1st & 2nd Grade
9-12noon - SMNC visiting Kindergarten Classes
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2
9-11a - ESOL Origami Activity
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4
8:00a - 2Mar Student Led Conferences, Learning Commons
8:30-12noon - Gr. 5 L.A. ALP, Shakespeare Festival at GHS
9:00-9:30a / 9:30-10:00a Kindergarten Student Led Conferences
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Dear ISD Parents,
As we wind down the month of May, I wanted to update you on some staffing news. As you know, Mrs. Verdier, our art teacher, is retiring at the end of this school year. Currently, she is on a medical leave. Another art teacher, Ferris Buddy, will be joining us in the new school year as an internal district transfer. We are thrilled to have Mrs. Buddy join us. It is actually her second time around as she was our art teacher many years ago. Mrs. Weiss, our current long term substitute, is really enjoying working with our students. It is our hope she will secure a position elsewhere in the district.
Mr. Piazza, one of our grade five teachers, is resigning from the school system effective June 30th. The staff and I were very disappointed to hear of his decision to leave education to pursue other interests. We, of course, wish him well, as he will be missed. Mrs. Moran, who has been on a child-rearing leave, has submitted her resignation as she has decided to make child rearing her primary assignment. These two resignations will impact our teaching roster in several ways as they leave "two vacancies". However, I have hired Ms. Samantha Murphy on a permanent basis as she worked in the capacity of a long term substitute for Mrs. Moran. Ms. Murphy will remain in kindergarten for the 15-16 school year. I have already started looking to hire a teacher for the other vacancy. However, I have not determined where the vacancy is, as some of our current teachers will be shifting their grade level teaching assignments. More details will be forthcoming about the teaching assignments and other staffing updates.
This week we held our spring concert which was fantastic. Our students and teachers work very hard to present us with a beautiful music program culminating their year of lessons and rehearsals. During the day performance, we expect the students in the audience to demonstrate appropriate "concert audience behavior", which translates into sitting still for the duration of the concert. I would expect the same for the evening performances. However, I noticed a lot of the younger children needlessly moving around from place to place during the evening concert. For future programs, please reinforce the expectation of appropriate audience behavior with your children. It would be very much appreciated by our teachers and performers. In addition, I have also noticed a significant increase in parents using their phones and other devices to record the concert. This often translates into people holding their phones, IPads, etc. up throughout the concert often blocking the view for others who are seated behind them. Going forward, we will invite photographs to be taken either before or after the programs but please be considerate of others so everyone can enjoy the fruits of our students' and teachers' labors.
Next Friday, May 29th, we are asking all students to wear red and blue in honor of Nepal. As I have shared, we are involved in the district-wide fundraising campaign by asking students to donate at least $1 that they have "earned". Some of our fifth graders have been actively involved in communicating this message to all of our students under Mrs. Stoga's guidance. I certainly appreciate their efforts and admire their "taking action" spirit.
Speaking of "taking action spirit", I want to wish all of you a Happy Memorial Day weekend. Please take a few minutes to explain to your children the importance of this day.
Sincerely, Terry Ricci
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GET INTO THE ACTION! SIGN UP ONLINE TODAY!
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 ISD PTA 5th Annual Beach Party
Sunday, May 31
3:00 - 6:00 pm
Todd's Point Clambake Area
Join us for games, activities, delicious food,
and unique auction & raffle items
Deadline for registration/food order: Tuesday, May 26
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| WE NEED YOU - VOLUNTEER TODAY |
 The ISD Nominating Committee continues to seek parents to fill over 150 volunteer roles to lead next year's PTA initiatives.
Thank you to those of you who have already signed up to help.
We still need assistance in the following areas: - Dragon Tales (Help design and edit the Dragon Tales weekly e-newsletter. Each team member takes 1-2 month long shifts as the editor)
- ALP Building Coordinator (If your child is in the ALP program, help coordinate communication between the district and ISD ALP community)
- Book Fair Team (Help plan and organize the ISD Book Fair in late November/early December. 1-2 Treasurers needed, as well as general help on the committee)
- Green Schools Committee (Spearhead environmental initiatives at ISD and attend PTAC Green Schools Committee meetings to learn about other schools programs)
- Hospitality (Share your talent for cooking/provisioning and entertaining with ISD. This committee provides the refreshments for the monthly Faculty Meetings, as well as a few PTA events during the year)
Please contact isdpta.volunteers@gmail.com to pitch-in and offer your help, or speak with a member of our Nominating Committee: Carisa Sykes, Patricia Carey, Marie-Jose Desnoyers, Mallika Singh, or Stephanie Woodward.
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2015-16 ISD PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD SLATE
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The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the following candidates for the 2015-2016 ISD PTA Executive Board. The final slate will be voted on at the June 12, 2015 PTA General Membership Meeting.
Co-President Returning - Kristin Lisjak
Co-President Incoming - Kaori Higgins*
Treasurer - Ann Park *
Secretary - Ana Laborde *
VP Afters - Jackie Moy*
VP Communications - C. Jean Dana
VP Education & Outreach - Stephanie Woodward *
VP Enrichment - Mallika Singh *
Co-VP Events - Jill Townsend
Co-VP Events - Suzanne Aysseh *
Co-VP Fundraising - Rosaura Artola Balaguer
Co-VP Fundraising - Maria Jose Gowland VP Nominating - MJ Desnoyers *
*Indicates the candidate is new to this office. Executive offices are recommended to be held for two, one-year terms. Other candidates are returning for their second year of office.
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| SCHOOL START TIME SURVEY |
The Greenwich Public Schools will be inviting you on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 to complete an important online survey regarding to School Start Times. The email invitation will be sent to you from William McKersie via zarca-inc.com. The subject of the email will read: School Start Time Survey. Please check your inbox on Tuesday next week for this email. The deadline for submitting the survey is Friday, June 5, 2015.
Our sole objective with this survey is to gauge the level of interest among families, students and staff in exploring a possible change in school start times. Some parents and some students have expressed interest in a later start time for the high school to better align with the sleep cycles of high school students. A change in high school start times, however, would have District-wide impact and could affect before and after school schedules and programming. The District has not yet determined whether changing school start times would be beneficial or viable or should be a priority initiative. If we were to make any changes to School Start Times, the earliest implementation would be the 2016-2017 school year, with the 2017-2018 school year more likely.
We are urging all families, students (Grades 8-12) and staff to complete the School Start Time Survey. The survey will help us discern whether or not we should establish changing school start times as a priority.
The PTA Council (PTAC) Health and Wellness Committee is sponsoring a forum on the topic of School Start Times on May 26, 2015. More information is available here:
http://www.greenwichschools.org/page.cfm?p=10923
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| FROM THE LEARNING COMMONS |
The last day for checking out books for this school year is on Friday, May 29th. All books are due back to the ISD Learning Commons by Friday, June 5th. Overdue notices have already begun to go home. If a book has been lost, you are obligated to replace the book. If you cannot replace the book, you can pay $10.00 cash. We will send home a receipt.
Please stop by the Learning Commons to see Mrs. Madoff or Mrs. Robbins if you have any questions.
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| ISD PERFORMANCE DVDS |
Relive the moment. Share memories with friends and family members that could not be there. Wonderful keepsake to cherish for years to come!
ISD's Media/Technology Department has captured these wonderful school events available for purchase. Funds go back into the enrichment programs supported by parents and teachers of the PTA.
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| SUMMER SKILLS REVIEW BOOKS - 0RDER ONLINE |
Below is a link to order Summer Skill Review Books for math, language arts, keyboarding, Spanish, and French language skills. These are by no means required: however, you might wish to use them to maintain your child's skill in these areas over the summer.
Since they are review material, you will want to order the book for the grade level your child is leaving as of June 2015. If you have any questions about the appropriate level please ask your child's classroom teacher.
http://www.summerskills.com/index.html
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FROM THE ART ROOM
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Dear Parents:
Spring is here and summer is around the corner. It's great to hear from so many how Artsonia has provided so much enjoyment to ISD parents and kids. So don't forget Father's Day is June 21, and the best place to find that perfect gift featuring your child's art---is on artsonia.com. Happy Spring to all.
Creatively Yours,
Melissa Verdier
  
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BEACH PARTY VOLUNTEERS
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Help make ISD''s Annual Beach Party a success!
Sign-up today to volunteer!
We really NEED your help to make this wonderful family event possible.
Sign up here to volunteer!
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AFTERS UPDATE
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Spring Afters will be finishing up in 2 weeks.
Please note last days:
Monday: Jun 1st
Tuesday: May 26th
Wedesday: Jun 10th
Thursday: May 28th
Friday: May 29th
Make up Date notice:
Tuesday Yoga: June 2nd
Visit to access their account
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THANK YOU
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To the lovely ISD Community,
Thank you so much for your wonderful and generous book donations. The First Grade students bagged and counted well over 1,110 books. The books were delivered to Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. They will be the basis for a children's library that will serve young patients spending weeks in the hospital recovering from serious illnesses. We really appreciate how caring you are! Sincerely, The 1st Grade
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FLUORIDE VOLUNTEERS
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 I wish to give a big thank you to all the WONDERFUL dental fluoride rinse volunteers! Thank you to Lillian Dutra, Hina Sanghi, Nadia Issa, Swapna Oak, Louise McKenna, and Kaori Higgins. Your time and help proved invaluable to the dental program. The children loved having you help with the program! Thank you again, Jeannie Schnakenberg, RDH, BS.
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LOST AND FOUND
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It's clean up time! Stop at the Lost & Found corner across from the music room.
Anything that remains unclaimed will be donated.
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS |
May 26
Teen Sleep Needs & School Start Time Panel Discussion
7pm @ CMS Auditorium
All Welcome.
June 13
Open Arts Alliance Audition
In collaboration with the Department of Parks and Recreations and The Boys & Girls Club Theatre Program, Open Arts will be producing a summer musical theater workshop that culminates in a performance of the musical ANNIE, for students ages 6-18. See flyer for more information.
August
Greenwich High School Guidance Department is partnering with the Greenwich Alliance to run a Summer College Workshop for rising seniors the last two weeks in August.
Applications should be turned into the GHS Guidance office. Click here for more information.
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| AMAZON SHOPPING |
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.
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Thank you to our many donors who have contributed
to the ISD Beach Party Auction & Raffle!
| ISD PTA | Terry Ricci | Great Play | | Rosaura Balaguer | Amanda Smith | Creations by Susan | | Sylvia Maclean | Jose Henrique | Lynnette Breier | | Margaret Mullen | Burger Bar & Bistro | Sound Beach Pilates | | Prints of Tides | Wells Noonan | Alvaro Iglesias | | Marta Beltramo | Kate Spade Greenwich | The Cliffs Valhala | | Melissa Verdier | Lilian Ruiz | Connie & Stephen Kurczewski | | Danny Simpson | Schraa Family | Keegan Family | | Originals Store | Dirt Greenwich | ISD 5th Grade Class | | Carey Family | Thomas Family | Jain Family | | Lisjak Family | John & Blakely Stinebaugh |
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Contact Information | | |
The International School at Dundee
55 Florence Road
Riverside, CT 06878
Office: 203-637-3800
OGRCC Child Care: 203-637-3659 |
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DRAGON TALES
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Deadline for Submission: Wednesday by 5pm
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