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A PYP IB Authorized and MYP Candidate School
 
 
Corrales International School
Backpack Express
Knowledgeable
September 16, 2013
Issue No.7
Corrales International School Newsletter
In This Issue
Nutritional Lunches
  
We  encourage families to pack the healthiest lunches and snacks for their children.   We strongly discourage energy drinks or soft drinks at the school and hope that families will choose drinks that are not high in sugar or caffeine.   Our School Advisory Committee will be considering some guidelines for school lunches and hope that families will provide some input for our discussions.    
  
  IMPORTANT NOTICE
This school year we will not be able to have any type of nuts or peanuts at our school.   We have some children attending our school that are extremely allergic.  Even the powder and oils of nuts or peanuts could be detrimental to their health.  Please be cautious in packing your child's lunch and do not send any snacks or food that contains peanuts or tree nuts.

SUPPORT CIS

 

If you are a Smith's shopper and have a Rewards Card, be sure to designate CIS (Identification No. 80166) as the school to receive the rewards available as part of Smith's Community Outreach. This can be done on-line with this link.

 

Each vote online with Target earns CIS $1 in supplies from Target!  Click here to vote!  Each person can vote once per week. You can vote every few days!

 

WIN $5,000 for OUR SCHOOL
by writing a review! Go here
to write a review of CIS and we will be enteredfor a chance to win $5,000!
  
ATTENTION
  
Parents, if you need to meet with your child's teacher/s, please contact them directly via email and schedule a meeting time. 

Our excellent and dedicated teachers are working with your children, or prepping to work with your children each day at the following times:
    • 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday & Friday
    • 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday (tutoring)
    • 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wednesdays
CIS staff embraces our engaged parents and recognizes the many benefits that engagement brings to our children's education!
  
  
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Friday, September 20
�GLOBALQUERQUE! whole school field trip
 
Monday, September 23
NO SCHOOL IN-SERVICE
  
Wednesday, October 2
Standard Early Release
5:00pm
SAC meeting
  
Thursday, October 3 
Fall Picture Day
  
Wednesday, October 9
5:00pm
GC Meeting
  
Friday, October 11
NO SCHOOL FALL BREAK
 
Monday, October 14
NO SCHOOL IN-SERVICE
  
Monday, October 14
NO SCHOOL IN-SERVICE
  
Friday, October 18
Makeup Picture Day
MYP REPORT CARDS
 

Dear CIS Families,

 

We are beginning our NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAPs) testing this week (click here for the schedule). Students are tested 3 times per year on this test to help inform our teaching and monitor student learning. All students are tested on the MAPs, which is administered on a computer. This initial test gives us a baseline as to where students are in their learning at the beginning of the school year. The schedule for the testing is below as well as a request for snacks for students from our PTA. Click here to see a Parent Toolkit that is helpful in understanding the NWEA MAPs assessment with some tips on preparing children for testing.

 

As we continue in our 2013-2014 journey of learning at CIS it is essential that we continually reflect on our work as parents and educators. Being reflective parents and educators means looking at what we do, thinking about why we do it, and thinking about whether it works - a process of self-observation and self-evaluation. By collecting information about our interactions with our children, analyzing and evaluating the information, we identify and explore our own practices and underlying beliefs. This may then lead changes and improvements in our teaching and parenting.

 

In the spirit of promoting reflection, this year the Governing Council and I are implementing an evaluation process for my work as the Head of School. The process involves surveying parents and teachers three times per year to gather input on my work as the Head of School. We have taken the list of CIS families and divided it into three parts, Fall; Winter; Spring. Some of you will be receiving an email asking you to take 10 minutes from your busy schedule and reply to the Fall survey. The survey will provide valuable information to me on the areas that are working and the areas that need to be improved. If you do not receive the survey this Fall, you will have an opportunity to reply to either the Winter or Spring surveys. Your responses to the surveys are critical in helping me reflect on my work in leading the school towards our CIS vision.

 

Thank you for everything you do to support your child/children and our school.

 

I hope you have a great week.

 

Respectfully,

Dr. Elsy Diaz

Head of School

Corrales International School

IB WORLD SCHOOL


==================================

 
The Learner Profile for the Month of September is:

Knowledgeable

  

Knowledgeable students develop and use conceptual understandings, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines.  Students engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

  

Activities for parents

  • Encourage your child to read books at home that correspond to the topics being covered in school. 
  • Ask your child about what they are learning in school and engage them in conversations about it:

"Why do you think that is an important thing to know about?"

"Can you think of anything happening in the world today that might be similar to that aspect of History?"

  • Encourage your child to become familiar with current events and to read the newspaper and watch the news when appropriate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqMZ1uXOZ80

  

  
Dear CIS MYP Parents,
Corrales International School is in a period of transition in our Middle Years Program (grades 6 to 10).
One of the major changes we are instituting is with our grading or assessment philosophy as it is called in the
International Baccalaureate curriculum. Below is a concise description of how MYP assessment works.

Criterion Related
Each subject has a set of between 3 and 6 different goals or criteria that our students are measured against. Criterion related assessment differs from traditional grading because students are measured against these specific criteria rather than against their peers in the class. As the year progresses, students should improve in their understanding of the specific criteria within each subject.

Rubric Scoring
To assess how well our students understand each of these criteria, CIS teachers rate their students using scoring rubrics. The scoring rubrics, which vary between 6, 8, and 10 point scales depending on the subject, list the qualities or attributes a student should have to reach a certain score. When students hand in a completed assignment, the teacher will read or check their assignment and then decide where the student falls within the rubric by using the specific level descriptors listed in the rubric. Rubric scoring differs from traditional scoring because there are no percentages or letter grades. Rubric scoring is more beneficial to students because it lets them know exactly why they received a certain score and also what they specifically need to do to achieve a better score just by looking at their rubrics.
*Both the subject criteria and the scoring rubrics are not written by individual CIS teachers. They are prescribed by the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program curriculum.

Why the change?
By moving the focus of student assessment away from performance against their peers, and towards specific learning goals, students change their mindsets. In a traditional grading environment, students fall into a trap of believing their intelligence is fixed, e.g. "I am a A, B, or C student etc...," will seek out work they already know how to do well, and avoid work where they may have difficulty or make a lot of mistakes.
However, in MYP assessment with its specific learning goals, students are oriented towards the mindset that their intelligence is expanding or growing. With this mindset, our students will be more likely to challenge themselves, take risks, and be less afraid of failure because they will see themselves as overcoming obstacles to achieve these specific learning goals.
Progress Reports / Powerschool
In completing this transition from traditional scoring to criterion based rubric scoring, the MYP has had to make some major changes within the Powerschool system. More specifically, we are in the process of uploading all the specific subject criteria and their corresponding rubrics on to the Powerschool system. We have not fully completed this system change yet. So, in lieu of the traditional Powerschool progress reports, we will be distributing teacher generated progress reports for the first quarter. Thank you for your understanding.
  
Mr. Josh Ripp
CIS MYP Coordinator

September 

AFTERSCHOOL CLUB INFO

 

If you are interested in offering a club activitiy this year, please contact Tara at [email protected].  All sponsors must secure an APS background check and can pick up the form from Miss Patti at the front desk.

 

Parents, if you would like your chld to participate in the CIS PTA sponsored after school enrichment clubs you must contact Tara at [email protected] and indicate your child's top 3 club choices and note how your family will participate in the club activitiy--either by volunteering to periodically help in the room, sending group snacks, or assisting with outside activities to support the sponsor and the children (ie attending Chess Tournaments or helping the Journalism club distribute the school paper, etc)

 

We need a volunteer coach and assistant coach for boys mid-school basketball 5-8th grades. If YOU, one Iof our wonderful CIS families help, it would mean the world to our boys. Practices begin the week of Sept 23, games begin in October. If you can help please contact Kimberly Romero at [email protected] (CIS Athletic Director).  Thank you, CIS families!

 -------------------------------------

MONDAYS

Math Club, Jason Brazell and Jainisha Shah starting Sept 9th from 330-430 pm

  

Dia de Los Muertos Art Club, Norma Gianini for grades 4 and up  will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays and begins this Wednesday.

 

Guitar Club, Mati Heck for grades 5 and up will meet from 345 to 430. Students must bring their own guitars.  Rental suggestions provided.  This club will begin on September 30.

 

Dance/Cheer, Ruth Roberts and Amy Hughes, for grades 5 and up. This club will cheer at the Flag Football games for the CIS team!  The club will meet after school on Mondays and Thursdays.

 

PYP soccer, Sandy Clough from 315-430 pm

September 9- December 16 weather permitting

This club is closed to enrollment.

 

TUESDAYS

Flag Football with Josh Ripp and Bill Young (2 practices and one game)

 

Yearbook Club with Shellee Bratton and Sheley Wimmer will meet on Tuesdays beginning Sept 17th.

 

WEDNESDAYS

Bug Club, Tara Armijo-Prewitt and Anna Prewitt begins Sept 11th at 12:45 to 1:45pm

 

Suzuki Violin and Piano, Heather Trost begins Sept 3rd 12:45 to 1:45pm

this is a fee-based club

 

Dia de Los Muertos Art Club, Norma Gianini on Mondays and Wednesdays for grades 4 and up begins this Wednesday

  
Journalism Club,
Bryant Furlow and Scott Blackwell starting on Sept 11 from 1-2pm
  
Fencing, with Toby from Albuquerque Fencing starts Sept 11.  This club is closed to enrollment.
  
Slam Poetry with Albuquerque's Poet Laureate, Hakim Bellamy.  Start date TBD
  
Taekwondo with Brooklynn Carlisle from Blackman Taekwondo Academy - This club is closed for enrollment for this session.

 

THURSDAYS

Chess Club, Coach Oren Stevens on Thursdays has started and there is still room for participation

 

Spanish Battle of the Books, Ana Perea and Dr. Nicole Montague begins this week for PYP students, grades 2-5.  There is still room for enrollment!

 

Maker Club, Sheley Wimmer and Mati Heck will meet on Thursdays  

 

 

FRIDAYS

Flag Football with Josh Ripp and Bill Young (2 practices and one game per week)

 

 ============================

Meeting Days/Times TBD

  • MYP Scrapbook Club, Sheley Wimmer
  • RoboRave, Scott Copley and Gregory Kehoe (MYP) begins in November
  • RoboRave, Linda Kehoe (PYP) begins in November
  • American Girl Book Club, Jennifer Sandoval
  • MYP Girls Volleyball, Dorothy Lee and Wendy Barrios
  • MYP Girls Basketball, COACH NEEDED begins in October
  • MYP Co-Ed Soccer, Jose Torres SPRING SPORT ONLY
  • MYP Boys Basketball, Josh Ripp begins in September
  • JV Girls Basketball, Kim Romero begins in September
  • Clay Sculpting with Daniel Kronberg to be held in the Spring
  • Cross Country (COACH NEEDED)

 

We still need a PYP and an MYP Battle of the Books sponsors, Boys Basketball and Cross Country Coach!  Or if  you have an idea for a new club, email [email protected]

MYP Community Service

 

  

CIS Youth-Aid Brigade - Kids helping kids for a cause.


Community & Service is incorporated into the CIS MYP curriculum to encourage students to think of themselves as thoughtful members of their local community and the world at large. Working within six Global Context areas:

  • Identities & Relationships
  • Orientation in Space & Time
  • Fairness & Development
  • Personal & Cultural Expression
  • Globalization & Sustainability
  • Scientific & Technical Innovation

what starts in the classroom extends beyond as students contribute to causes that support other young people in their community. We are our way to an active and productive year!


Trash for Cash / Reuse to Amuse - Demonstrating Personal & Cultural Expression

Students will create works of art (cardboard murals, can robots, yard decorations, and chimes) using recycled objects. Art will be displayed auctioned during craft venues & various school functions. (Please help us with this project-- see donation list!)


World Food Day (Oct 16) - In supporting Globalization & Sustainability 

CIS students will mobilize their families and friends by hosting a World Food Day meal within the school to promote the GROW method - 5 very simple actions we can take to have a positive impact on creating a better food system: save food, eat seasonally and locally, eat less meat and dairy, support small farmers, and cook smart. http://


Scientific & Technical Innovations

GeoCaching - Operation Around the World - Investigating Orientation in Space & Time and manipulating
Students will locate objects hidden around the city using GPS receivers (cell phones). Each class will create and hide caches. Through the use of tracking devises, students will follow their items around the world. This geography-based approach to problem-solving is an engaging way to evaluate students' understanding of longitude and latitude, global navigation, and the Global Positioning System, while at

the same time giving them the opportunity to communicate with those in others about the specific needs.

 

Health is the New Wealth - Pertaining to the context of Identities & Relationships

Students will work together to assemble health-related demonstrations and displays during a school-wide health fair. Part of this unit will require them to assemble fun packets for the Presbyterian Children's Center and Ronald McDonald House.

Charities we are supporting this year include: Casa Esperanza, Ronald McDonald House, Presbyterian Children's Center, S.A.F.E House, Store House West, CLN Kids,  La Puerta De Los Ninos, Make-A-Wish New Mexico, Children's Grief Center of New Mexico, Special Olympics New Mexico, and the Barrett


Example List of supplies: Your garbage is our canvas and paint!

Bottle Caps, Plastic Bottles, Buttons, Candy Wrappers, Cardboard, Cookie Boxes, Drink Cans, Egg Cartons, Egg Shells, Empty Yogurt Containers, Keys, Food Storage Containers, Jar Lids, Junk Mail, Locks, Magazines, Milk/Juice Cartons, Metal screws, locks, nuts, bolts, News Papers, Plastic Lids, Old Cards, Old Cds, Old small Toys, Paper Towel Rolls, Pill Bottles, Spoons, Tin Cans, TP Rolls, Wallpaper Books, Wine Corks

 

Thank you!

  
Globalquerque
  
CIS will once again participate in the Globalquerque School Day! On September 20th, all grades and staff will go to the concert at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
  
Globalquerque! is New Mexico's 9th Annual Celebration of World Music & Culture and will be held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center's Plaza Mayor, a lovely outdoor venue. Please make sure your child is wearing sunscreen, and brings water and a sack lunch as we will remain on the grounds of the NHCC and have our sack lunches there before returning to CIS.
  
Each grade will require many parent volunteers to chaperone!  Chaperones MUST have an approved background check on file with CIS in order to participate.  Once cleared, these security measures are valid for 2 years.  If your background check is expired, or if you have never had one done, please pick up a form from Ms Patti at the front desk and head over to APS on Uptown Blvd to have it done. Once cleared, please contact your child's teacher to indicate your interest in chaperoning!
  
  
Resources   
  
PRONUNCIATOR ONLINE LANGUAGE CLASSES

Our local libraries have many resources available to us - including the Pronunciator program, online language classes! These free classes are available with your local library card, by visiting this site.

 
KHAN ACADEMY

Sign your child up for a free account at khanacademy.org!

  

Are you looking for extra tutoring in Spanish outside of CIS?

CIS Substitute Teacher, Fabio Diaz
Cortes is offering Spanish classes outside of CIS. Contact him directly to learn more about scheduling and fees.

 

spanish class flyer 

NAMA CATERING

Dear Corrales International Families,

 

It has been our pleasure to feed the wonderful students at Corrales International School!

 

A few updates....

We are working to make the ordering process easier and we appreciate your patience while we work this out. Until otherwise notified please

 

Print out the menu.
  • Write the student's name and grade.
  • Circle the lunches your child wants to eat.
  • Submit the menu along with the payment into the Nama Catering Box.  
  • Menus must be filled out and turned in to the box by 11:00 am the day before to receive lunch.
      
    We regret to announce that we will not serve breakfast in September. We simply didn't have enough orders. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
      
     Thank you for the opportunity to feed your children colorful, healthy, and delicious lunches! As always feel free to email me with any questions.

     

    Jamie Belen and the Nama Staff

    Jamie@namacatering.com