ICS PTSA NEWSLETTER

November 3, 2024

See the ICS Calendar for more upcoming event dates.

FUNDRAISING DRIVE EXTENTED UNTIL NOVEMBER 14

This is our final call - we need your donations NOW to keep our 2024-25 school year going strong. 9th and 11th graders are this close to reaching a 75% participation rate - just one or two more families donating from these grades will help your students earn a pizza party! 6th, 8th, and 12th grades, when a few more families step up and donate, your kids will earn Friday donuts.

7TH AND 10TH GRADE FAMILIES - WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!



EVERYONE, please show up for ICS and DONATE HERE NOW!

THE NEWSLETTER TEAM NEEDS YOU!

Are you looking for an at-home volunteer opportunity? Join the newsletter team! The ICS PTSA newsletter helps our community stay connected and informed. On Sundays, we publish actionable information to the ICS community, including upcoming events and deadlines, volunteer opportunities, and important announcements.

This is a good fit for a volunteer who has a couple of hours to work on the newsletter over the weekend (including Friday afternoon) for the few weeks of the year you are on shift. We are looking for volunteers with great communication skills, editorial judgement, and a discerning eye. Training is provided! The work is very doable for someone with basic word-processing skills. For more information, please email Jennifer at jbenner@icsptsa.org.

SKI BUS SECOND BUS ADDED - SIGN UP TODAY!

Want to learn to ski/snowboard, improve your skills or just have fun on Wednesdays in January and February? Signup for the ICS Ski Bus is now open!: CLICK HERE.

Signup will continue until we reach the bus capacity. We are open for siblings and friends. 

For more details and questions – please join WhatsApp group: or email Boris at bbaryshnikov@icsptsa.org.

PROFE BRANDY LOOKING FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING PARENTS

Spanish teacher Profe Brandy is looking for Spanish-speaking parents who would be willing to visit his classes and talk about themselves and with his students! Schedule is open and flexible, and any time is greatly appreciated! Please email cbrandy@lwsd.org. Thank you!

REFLECTIONS 2024-25 CALL FOR ENTRIES

This year's theme is Accepting Imperfections. The due date for entries is Thursday, November 7 by 11:00 PM. The complete rules are listed on our website. For further questions, contact reflections@icsptsa.org.

A FANTASTIC ART DAY STARTS NOW!

Parents, the Art Day Committee is gearing up for another fantastic Art Day event for ICS students. This is an annual event in which students have expressed much interest and excitement. The tentative date for Art Day is Jan 27, 2025. We would appreciate your help with a few items as the planning continues. 

We will need the following volunteers:

• Art Day Committee Co-Chair
• Tech Team - Need 2 Volunteers with coding skills (Our app is GO / C++ but we welcome any language).

We need ideas for Art Day course options, i.e. Dance, Henna, Sculpting, Cooking, etc. The sky is the limit! Add more ideas by clicking this form.

Or email artday@icsptsa.org. Thank you! The Art Day Committee

Light up those lamps and bring out the sparkle, it's time for Diwali. Diwali for the year 2024 is celebrated/ observed on Thursday, October 31. Millions of Hindus and South Asians across the world will celebrate the Festival of Lights with parties, dinners, food and prayers. Diwali is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals.

About Diwali-

The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means "row of lights," which devotees light outside their homes during the festival to represent the light that guards against spiritual darkness and symbolize good over evil. The festival, that is spread over a period of five days, also marks the beginning of the new year in the Hindu calendar and celebrates the year’s last rice-crop harvest.

When is Diwali?

Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu month of Kartik, which typically falls between the middle of October and the middle of November. This year, Diwali falls on October 31.

How is Diwali celebrated?

Diwali celebrations begin by devotees deep cleaning their homes and surroundings to prepare for the goddess' arrival. The next day, they decorate using clay lamps, candles and other lights and draw colorful patterns of flowers, powder, rice or sand on the floor, an artistic practice called rangoli meant to bring good luck.

The main celebration takes place on the night of the third day, which marks the end of the Hindu calendar year. Devotees dress up in their finest outfits, make offerings to Lakshmi, light fireworks and sparklers, and enjoy a sweet feast. Over the next two days the celebrations continue as people host gatherings and visit family and friends to celebrate the new year.

Click here to see where to celebrate Diwali in Seattle!