October 4, 2021
MONDAY MESSENGER
UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS
THIS WEEK:
  • Tuesday, 10/5, 6:30 PM • Virtual Middle School Family Night*
  • Friday, 10/8 • No School: Professional Development Day

NEXT WEEK:
  • Wednesday, 10/13 • Super Wednesday and PSAT Test for Juniors
  • Friday, 10/15 • Last Day to Order IS Yearbooks*

LOOKING AHEAD:
  • Monday, 10/18–Friday, 10/22 • IS Spirit Week*
  • Wednesday, 10/20 • Picture Retakes
  • Wednesday, 10/20, 6:30 PM • ISPTSA General Membership Meeting*
  • Saturday, 10/23 • IS Homecoming*
  • Thursday, 10/27 • Smarter Balance Testing for Certain Grades
  • Thursday, 10/27 • No School for 10th Graders
  • Thursday, 10/28 • BSD School Day SAT Test for Juniors and Seniors
  • Friday, 11/5 • End of First Quarter
  • Thursday, 11/11 • No School: Veterans Day Observed
  • Saturday, 11/20, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM • IS Goodwill Drive Fundraiser*
  • Thursday, 11/25–Friday, 11/26 • No School: Thanksgiving
  • Monday, 12/20–Monday, 1/3 • No School: Winter Break

Click here to view the District 2021-2022 calendar for families.
* More information included in message below
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
PSAT PROCTORS NEEDED
 
International School will be administering the PSAT to 11th grade students on Wednesday, October 13. We are looking for parents who can proctor the test. Proctoring involves:
  • Participating in a short proctor training (likely prerecorded or virtual)
  • Distributing testing materials on test day
  • Reading the directions out loud to the students
  • Monitoring the testing room
  • Recording testing irregularities
  • Collecting testing materials
 
If you are the parent of a student who is NOT in 11th grade, you are eligible to proctor the PSAT. We need at least 3 volunteers but more would always be appreciated. If you are able and interested, please contact Assistant Principal Traci Sullivan at sullivant@bsd405.org.
IN NEED OF AN IT SAVVY PERSON TO FIND US A NEW EMAIL FORWARDING SERVICE

The ISPTSA needs a new email forwarding service. We currently use Site5, which is not compatible with Yahoo addresses. Are you an IS parent that can help us find the best email forwarding service to fit our budget and our needs? We would only need your help for a short period of time. Please email Secretary@isptsa.org.
GOODWILL DRIVE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are looking for adult and student volunteers to help with the Goodwill Drive on Saturday, November 20, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. Please email Emilie at president@isptsa.org if you are interested.
THESE POSITIONS NEED YOU!

  • Reflections Chair, current school year
  • Co-VP Fundraising, current school year
  • Co-VP of Communications, current school year
  • Co-VP of Outreach, current school year
  • Grade-Level Representatives, current school year

Please email board@isptsa.org to learn more and sign up. Thank you!
PTSA NEWS
SAVE THE DATE: ISPTSA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Wednesday, October 20, 6:30 PM
In-person at International School

Mark your calendar! The upcoming ISPTSA General Membership Meeting will feature guest speaker Laura Kaster, author of The Launching Years. The event is free, but there will be limited seating to maintain safe distancing. More details coming next week. For questions, email secretary@isptsa.org.
DIRECTORYSPOT NOW AVAILABLE!

Thank you to our amazing Registrar Katherine Parkin and School Secretary Ellen Stone for supplying the ISPTSA with data. The 2021-2022 ISPTSA Directory is now available online via DirectorySpot! 

Download the app, available for iPhones and Android devices, and you will always have the directory with you. You can also access the directory from your computer at DirectorySpot.net (option to self-print a copy of the directory using downloadable PDFs). Please see this page for more details. Email directory@isptsa.org for support.
ISPTSA MEMBERSHIP
 
Do you see the glass half-full or half-empty? At ISPTSA, we look at our membership at 64.5% as better than expected. It may take more than a month to get to 100%, but every member counts at IS, and we are thrilled with our membership results.

Congratulations to these lucky people on our 3rd gift card raffle drawing for Target, Woods Coffee, Best Buy, Starbucks, or Chipotle gift cards:
  • Vijaykumar A.
  • Dongjun Brian L.
  • Rishi M.

Are you in our raffle? Every PTSA member is a part of the weekly drawing. Become a member today at isptsa.org. If you have any questions, please contact Membership@isptsa.org.
SAVE THE DATE: GOODWILL DRIVE

Saturday, November 20, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
International School Parking Lot

Start gathering your donations! The International School PTSA will be hosting a Goodwill Drive on Saturday, November 20, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. Clothes, shoes, household items, small electronics, books, toys, sporting goods, and accessories can be collected. Please no large furniture. Goodwill is also a certified e-waste recycler, so they will take computers, peripherals, televisions, monitors, and other e-waste. Email president@isptsa.org with questions.
SCHOOL NEWS
WEEKLY TITAN TEACHER TRIBUTE

This week’s Titan Teacher of the Week is… SURBHI KAK! Surbhi was born in Delhi, India, earned a Master’s degree in Teaching from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and now calls Bellevue, WA, home. She has been teaching for 12 years. Inspired by her favorite Language Arts teacher, Mrs. R, Surbhi also teaches Language Arts to 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. When asked, Surbhi will tell you that the best part of her job is her students. Surbhi’s favorite food to eat is lobster, she loves visiting Peru, and if she could have any superhero power, she would read minds! Next time you are in the 100 hallway, say hi to Surbhi Kak, our Titan Teacher of the Week!

For questions about Titan Tribute of the Week, email townej@bsd405.org.
VIRTUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT

Virtual Middle School Family Night will be held THIS Tuesday, October 5 at 6:30 PM on Teams.  Arty Christianto, Middle School Counselor, will present topics relevant to 9th and 10th graders including outside learning, AP credit, and high school course credits in middle school. For questions, email MS Counseling.
ASB 6TH GRADE OFFICER ELECTIONS

Information Meeting:
THIS Wednesday, October 6–THIS Thursday, October 7
Election: Wednesday, October 13

THIS Wednesday and Thursday, ASB will be holding interest meetings for 6th Grade Officer Elections. 6th graders who are interested in being an ASB officer should attend one of these interest meetings. The meeting will provide details on what 6th graders will need to complete to be considered. The election will be held on October 13. Please email ASB Advisor Matt Lyon with questions.
BUY YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!

Sales close Friday, October 15. Our Titan Yearbook Team is hard at work to create a memorable book. Use TouchBase to purchase your student’s book for only $50! Questions? Contact the Main Office at (425) 456-6500.
IS HOMECOMING 2021 AND SPIRIT WEEK

Save the date! Homecoming is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, and Spirit Week is scheduled for the week leading up to Homecoming. More details to come. If you have questions, please email ASB Advisor Matt Lyon.  
LIBRARY NEWS: NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

We’re celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 this year. A display to honor the history, culture, and achievements of all Hispanic and Latino people was set up in the library. Our 6th graders Abigail and Jacquelyn S. set up and curated all Spanish books for this display. Both Abigail and Jacquelyn were from the Spanish immersion program at Puesta Del Sol. Please come to our library to view the display and click HERE to explore our Hispanic Heritage book collection and check out books that are related to Hispanic culture.

Library Specialist
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Last Wednesday, Associated Student Body (ASB) held their club fair before and after school. If you weren't able to make it, see the recently updated IS Student Organizations page to see available clubs and whom to contact to get involved. Questions? Email ASB Advisor Matt Lyon.
UPDATED IS WEBPAGES

Under Academic Resources, you’ll find Learning Resources for all subjects, math OneNote links, and digital textbooks for Grade 6 and Grade 7 Illustrative Math. Under Student and Family Wellness, you'll find additional counseling resources. Contact the Main Office at (425) 456-6500 with questions.
DISTRICT NEWS
EDUCATION CONNECTIONS

Mental Health and Signs of Suicide: The Data Behind the Stigma
Wednesday, November 3, 5:00 PM

Please join Bellevue Schools Foundation and Bellevue School District Educators for a presentation on current mental health trends in Bellevue's public schools. You will have a chance to hear directly from the District's experts about how students are currently supported, the impact of this support, and which tools and resources are most effective. There will be a chance for attendees to engage with educators directly through a Q&A session and learn about future programming planned. Email info@bsfdn.org with questions.
EDULOG PARENT BUS TRACKING PORTAL

Get real-time information about your child's school bus transportation with the Edulog Parent Bus Tracking Program. Bellevue School District Transportation provides the Edulog Parent Portal smartphone app to help you receive information about your student’s school bus ride. It allows you to do the following:
  • Access designated bus stop times and locations
  • See real-time information about the location of your student’s bus
  • Receive notifications when the bus is getting close

Call BSD Transportation at (425) 456-4512 if you have questions.
WEEKLY SPANISH BULLETIN

Through the Equity Communication Collaborative Action Network, a weekly newsletter in Spanish is available for Bellevue School District and Lake Washington School District families. These video newsletters include up-to-date district news, information about district or school-related programs, and ways to navigate the school system. This communication provides more equitable access to district information, allowing parents to better support their students. Check out past weekly newsletters, available every Monday. Email pubinfo@bsd405.org with questions.
ADVANCED LEARNING TESTING

The Winter 202122 Advanced Learning testing application for students in grades 2–4 and 6–11 is now available. First and fifth grade students will be automatically screened and do not need to apply. District families interested in applying for testing must apply before the Friday, October 29, 2021 deadline at 4:30 PM. Learn more on the Advanced Learning webpage. For questions, contact the Advanced Learning office via email at advancedlearning@bsd405.org or by calling (425) 456-4136.
COVID-19 TESTING IN SCHOOLS

BSD will implement two types of testing for COVID-19, diagnostic testing and screening testing in our schools. More information about the testing process has been added to our website, including how students and staff can participate, where testing will occur, and other frequently asked questions. More information will be added to the COVID-19 Testing in Bellevue School District webpage, and families will be notified as we get closer to beginning this new process. Questions? Email pubinfo@bsd405.org.
TOO SICK FOR SCHOOL?

Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school and too sick for after-school programs can be a difficult decision for parents to make. When trying to decide, use these BSD Too Sick for School guidelines to help you with your decision. For questions, contact pubinfo@bsd405.org or your school nurse.
STUDENT NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL DRILL TEAM

Tryouts: Monday, October 11, 47 PM
Sign up by THIS Thursday, October 7, 5 PM

The Bellevue High School Competition Drill Team is holding tryouts on October 11, 47 PM. Any high schooler can try out if their home school is BHS. Sign up by sending an email to Ketolac@bsd405.org by October 7th at 5 PM.
SAMMAMISH HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS

Winter sports are coming to Sammamish High School. If you are in the SHS attendance zone, this is for you!
  • Winter sports at Sammamish High School are Boys & Girls Basketball, Co-Ed Wrestling, Gymnastics, and Boys Swim & Dive.
  • Deadline to register is October 31.
  • First day of winter sports tryouts is November 15.
 
Communication is sent through Final Forms, so be sure to register NOW. Physical forms must also be completed before the first practice. Email Andi Tomlinson at tomlinsona@bsd405.org with sports-related questions.
BELLEVUE, INTERLAKE, AND NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS

Register by October 31 for BSD winter sports (boys/girls basketball, co-ed wrestling, gymnastics, and boys swim & dive).

Contact your neighborhood high school for registration, testing, and tryout information, or call BSD Athletics with questions at (425) 456-4010.
FRESH FILMS

Applications due Tuesday, October 12

In the Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program, teens (ages 13–19) dive into the world of shot lists, storyboards, cameras, lights, audio, and editing as they create short film projects and learn about the film industry from the pros. Plus, youth can join the Pathways program for soft skills training, networking sessions, on-set apprenticeships, and possibly even paid summer internships.
 
When: Thursdays, 4–6:30 PM starting October 28. New projects begin every 46 weeks through May 26, 2022.
Where: In person at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue (209 100th Ave NE, Bellevue) or virtually
Cost: FREE! No previous film experience or special equipment required
 
Questions? Email Deborah Kraft at deborahkraft@freshfilms.org.
COMMUNITY NEWS
ALL IN FOR KIDS 20212022

Help us launch the 20212022 school year by participating in Bellevue School Foundation’s annual fundraising drive. The Bellevue School Foundation’s initiatives support 20,000 students, enrolled in 29 schools, and allow all students to achieve higher levels of academic success and social-emotional well-being. This year, we are distributing $800,000 to Bellevue students and educators to fund the following:
Donate today! For questions, email info@bsfdn.org, or call (425) 456-4199.
SUPPORT OUR ISPTSA
FEATURED SPIRIT WEAR: INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL STICKER–ONLY $3!

One 3" x 3" sticker, endless possibilities. Click here to shop for this and more! Orders are available for delivery or FREE pickup from Winner's Sportswear in Bellevue. Proceeds benefit ISPTSA. Email sam_mel@yahoo.com with questions.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

Help raise funds for ISPTSA with the Box Tops for Education app on your phone. By scanning your grocery and office supply store receipts, any qualifying products will be instantly credited to our school. It's quick and easy, and it adds up fast! Visit Box Tops for Education for more information. To select IS as your school, search zip code 98005. Any questions, email vpfundraising@isptsa.org.
MASTHEAD / DIRECTORY / LINKS
President
President-Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
VP of Communications
OPEN
VP of Community
VP of Fundraising
OPEN
VPs of Outreach
Membership Chair
Grants
Advocacy Chair
Monday Messenger
Website
IS Staff Liaison
Wesley Hung
PTSA Website: www.isptsa.org
Newsletter Submissions: news@isptsa.org
CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING?
The ISPTSA is always here to help answer your IS questions.

Email us here, and we'll help you find the answers you need.
SCHOOL DIRECTORY & LINKS

Attendance 425-456-6545
Main Office 425-456-6500 
MS Counseling 425-456-6546
HS Counseling 425-456-6542 
Registrar 425-456-6535 

SUPPORT YOUR PTSA
Donate Anytime!
Write your check to the International School PTSA and send it to:
ISPTSA, PO Box 221, Bellevue WA 98009
Or, even easier, donate
via PayPal.
MONDAY MESSENGER
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
  • Please submit articles by THURSDAY at 5:00 PM to news@isptsa.org.
  • Please limit articles to 600 characters including spaces.
  • Please include contact information for questions from readers.
  • We encourage submissions that align with our mission.
  • Submissions are subject to review by the ISPTSA and may be accepted, rejected, or edited.
  • Please use a separate email for each article submitted.
  • Documents in plain text are preferred, however, you are welcome to include an image or icon as a separate attachment—please do not include them in the body of your email or document.
  • If you need to link to a registration form or document, send us either the address of the link or a pdf copy of the document.
  • If you would like your article to repeat in successive Monday Messenger editions, please resubmit it for each edition in which you would like it to appear. If you do not resubmit it, it will not be republished.
  • Note: you will receive an automatic confirmation email response once you submit material to the Monday Messenger.