The Newsletter of the International School at Dundee

Friday, September 18, 2015

Look what's happening at ISD!
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 Parents as Partners Cos Cob School 8am-12:30pm ___________________ SUNDAY, SEPT. 20 Ice Cream Social ISD Playground 2-4pm ______________________ September 21 3-Mansy Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe	22 Chorus, Part 1, 7:55am School Photos 3-Sangermano Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe	23 Yom Kippur SCHOOL CLOSED	24 7:45am Advanced Orchestra 2-Macri Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe 4-Stewart Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe	25 Chorus Part 2, 7:55am 4-Daur Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe 1-Iwai Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe 5K Registration Packet Pick Up, 2-4pm ___________________ SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 ISD AROUND THE WORLD 5K RUN & KIDS OBSTACLE COURSE 9am-noon
28 1-You Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe Afters Begin	29 Chorus Part 1, 7:55am 2-Martin Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe Lockdown Drill 9:30am Gr.4 Stamford Museum and Nature Center at ISD, 10am-3pm	30 Wear White for Log Off and Listen In K-S Class Coffee, 8:45am, Cafe	Oct. 1 7:45am Advanced Orchestra Open House	Oct. 2 Chorus Part 2, 7:55am

Dear ISD Parents,

This week we received the paper reports of the Smarter Balanced Assessments our 3, 4 and 5th graders took last spring. One copy will be sent to parents via mail sometime next week, while another copy will be placed in each student's cumulative file. If you had a fifth grader last year, those reports will be coming from their middle school. I will share more information about our school's performance at my presentation at Open House, which is scheduled for Thursday, October 1st.

This past Wednesday afternoon, a lot of new learning occurred for the teachers and me, in the digital arena. Some of the topics covered were using IPads for providing feedback to students in a personal and purposeful manner, how the IPad contributes to working collaboratively and some review of working with Google Docs. We all walked away a little overwhelmed but proud of our afternoon accomplishments. Mrs. Madoff serves as our mentor and trainer and as always, did a great job. This was after navigating the distribution of IPads to our fifth graders, which went smoothly.

This Sunday, from 2-4, is our annual Ice Cream Social, which is held on our school grounds. Mr. and Mrs. Romano, ISD parents, and other volunteers orchestrate a wonderful, informal get-together that both adults and especially, students, enjoy. I hope you can come. The following weekend is our 5K Run, which promises to be a lot of fun as well. Our P.E. teacher, Mr. Boland, and a committed group of parent volunteers have worked tirelessly to plan this event. I hope you join us for that as well. These events, as well as others, are important in contributing to creating and maintaining a warm and positive school culture. Being a magnet school, it means we have to work a little harder at that goal as we connect families from all around Greenwich, as opposed to a smaller, neighborhood area. But, as always, we are up for challenge and have done quite well in that area to date, thanks to the staff and parents at ISD. Currently, the PTA is in the midst of their membership campaign. Please consider joining as they truly support and enhance the educational experiences we strive to offer every student. Have a good week.

Sincerely,

Terry Ricci, ISD Principal

5K "PREP RALLY"

Thanks to all of the student artists who attended Wednesday's early

dismissal event and helped decorate signs and banners for the 1st Annual ISD Around the World 5K Run & Kids Obstacle Course on September 26.

Plan now to join the fun and help raise funds for PTA-sponsored cultural partnerships and educational initiatives.

ISD 5K RUN & KIDS OBSTACLE COURSE

Saturday,

September 26, 2015

Last Chance to Pre-register!

Pre-register by Monday and guarantee a race day t-shirt! Online registration closes on Monday (9/21) at midnight.

Click to Register TODAY!

5K Run/Walk at 9 AM - $25 Kids Obstacle Course at 10 AM - $15

Volunteers Needed!

We still need volunteers to help with set-up on Friday afternoon, September 25 and day-of activities on Saturday, September 26, to make this fundraiser successful.

Click to Volunteer

What's New at This Year's Race?

Two separate events - A 5K run/walk for all ages and abilities; and a Kids Obstacle Course (formerly the "Fun Run") just for kids age 13 and under. Everyone can join in the fun at this town-wide event. Invite your friends and family. All are welcome!

All participants will receive a race bib to wear at the event. 5K bibs will include ChronoTrack timing chips for accurate results.
Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in many 5K categories.
All participants will receive a t-shirt when registered online before 9/21.

RACE MAP

Bake Sale Reminder

Help raise additional funds by baking yummy treats for our post-race Bake Sale! Contact Kysa Englund or click here to sign up.

For help with registration or questions, please contact Kristin Lisjak

SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL!

As of September 11, the PTA is currently at 33% of its goal, with 31% of ISD families participating.

Please complete an ISD PTA Membership Form and return it to the main office to support all the wonderful programs our kids enjoy.

Families that contribute $20 or more will receive a complimentary ISD school directory. In addition, the ISD PTA will be holding a raffle each week until the end of October. The winning family/staff member will get an ISD swag bag and other ISD spirit wear. The drawing will include all families/staff who have already contributed as well as all families who submit their forms and contributions by each Friday morning.

This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and our goal is 100% participation by ISD families! Your contribution will directly fund PTA-sponsored enrichment programs and special events including Classical Caf�, grade level partnerships, family events, writing specialists and scholarships---to name just a few.

Thank you!

FROM THE ART ROOM

Dear Parents,

Our year is underway and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your children. Their great energy and wonderful ideas are coming through in their artwork. In addition to gearing up for our IB partnerships with The Connecticut Ballet Center with Third Grade and The Guggenheim Museum with Fourth Grade, we have been getting back into art-making mode. Here's a glimpse of what we are working on. Be sure to ask your children to share more of the details. You will see the results soon!

Kindergarten: We have been exploring with lines and shapes, specifically how a line can be manipulated to become a shape. The children will be using this as a stepping off point for a multimedia project that will involve watercolor paint as well as collage.

First Grade: We have been discovering texture, how to find it, and how to create a texture rubbing using a variety of objects. We will take our artwork one step further when painting using watercolor resist technique.

Second Grade: Children were asked to think about the shape of their favorite fruit(s). In a drawing exercise they have taken this shape and repeated overlapping to create new shapes. Once the drawings are finished the students are adding color, creating an abstract drawing that will be the foundation for a painting.

Third Grade: The students have been exploring the artwork of Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, and his creation of onomatopoeia word paintings. They have come up with their own words that they are designing in a style inspired by him.

Fourth Grade: When a line is repeated and changes in size and shape, a kind of movement or three-dimensional appearance is created. The students have used a shape as the basis for these lines, and are exploring how this technique of continuous line design can be created.

Fifth Grade: In an effort to get to know the students and their personalities we have been exploring the power of graffiti art and how it can be used to express feeling or personality. Students have come up with their own graffiti-inspired name designs adding elements that reflect their personalities.

Lastly, I am still in need of supplies for the Art Room. If you have any of the following please bring them by. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

All the best,

Mrs. Buddy

Art Teacher

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Newspapers

Yogurt cups-all sizes

Gently used Legos

Gently used blocks

TONIGHT!

FALL AFTERS DEADLINE

Fri 9/18 @ 8pm:

Registration deadline

Fri 9/25:

Fall Afters class list sent home

Mon 9/28:

Fall session begins!

Last chance to register for the Fall Session! Available spaces are first come, first served.

Grab the spots before they are gone! Don't miss out on the fun!

www.isdptaonline.com/afters

THIS SUNDAY!!

SEPTEMBER 20

Ice Cream Social

This Sunday, September 20

2 to 4pm

ISD Playground

Please join us on the ISD blacktop and playground this Sunday, September 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. for our annual Ice Cream Social, featuring our "celebrity scoopers." Re-connect with old friends, meet new ones, and take one last taste of summer at the first ISD Family Event of the 2015-2016 school year. Be sure to visit the welcome and spirit wear tables. In case of rain, the social will be held in the cafe.

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY: SEPTEMBER 22

School Picture Day is Tuesday, September 22. Order forms for portrait packages will be sent home in folders.

You will receive your child's portrait approximately 3-5 weeks after picture day. There will be retakes for absent students.

Orders may also be made at www.coffeepond.com.

Volunteers are needed to assist that day 8:30am-noon. Please contact Suzy Marchetti if you can help.

SAVE THE DATE:

OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 1

Immediately following Open House (6-10pm) on October 1, please join us for a drink at Lugano Wine Bar and Salumeria (1392 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich) to mix and mingle with other ISD parents.

PLEASE START SUBMITTING YOUR BOX TOPS

It's time to begin submitting Box Tops for Education!

Our first submission deadline for this school year is November 2.

You can either drop them in the house-shaped box in the hallway across from the school office OR turn them in to your child's teacher.

Please put properly clipped Box Tops in either a Ziploc bag with your child's name and class clearly marked.

Clipping Box Tops is a great way to make a difference for ALL students at ISD as proceeds from Box Tops come directly to our school. Let's work together this year to keep on clipping!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

September 22

Helping Parents Understand and Interpret the Smarter Balanced Assessments Parent Report

Havemeyer

Staff Development Room

290 Greenwich Avenue

10am-noon

Facilitated by Assistant Superintendent Irene Parisi and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ellen Flanagan. Arrive a few minutes early to get your parking pass at the BOE front desk to put on your car's front dashboard.

Click for the flyer

SETTING UP APPLE IDS

Grade 1-5 Parents:

If you have not yet set up your child's Apple ID, please follow the instructions sent to you via email as soon as possible. If your email has changed or you need help from our Media staff, please contact Jeannine Madoff or Chris Harris.

Quick Links

Community Info