April 1, 2024

MONDAY MESSENGER

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THIS WEEK:

• Tuesday, 4/2, 6:40 PM • IS HS Choirs Sing National Anthem at Mariners Game*
• Wednesday, 4/3 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 7th Grade Families*
• Friday, 4/5 • Quarter 3 Ends

NEXT WEEK:

• Monday, 4/8–Friday, 4/12 • No School (Spring Break)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Tuesday, 4/16, 6:30 PM • 8th Grade Parent Night
• Monday, 4/22–Friday, 4/26 • Spirit Week
• Thursday, 4/25, 6:30 PM • ISPTSA General Membership Meeting
• Saturday, 4/27, 8 PM • Prom
• Monday, 5/6–Friday, 5/17 • AP Testing
• Monday, 5/6–Friday, 5/10 • Staff Appreciation Week*
• Friday, 5/10, 7 PM • MS Social
• Wednesday, 5/8 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 8th Grade Families
• Monday, 5/20–Friday, 5/24 • Focus Week
• Monday, 5/27 • No School (Memorial Day)
• Tuesday, 5/28–Friday, 5/31 • Testing Week
• Wednesday, 5/29 • Senior Board Day
• Tuesday, 6/4, 6 PM • MS Band Concert
• Tuesday, 6/4, 7 PM • HS Band Concert
• Wednesday, 6/5 • Seniors & Staff Luncheon Hosted by the 12th Grade Families
• Wednesday, 6/5, 6 PM • MS Orchestra Concert
• Wednesday, 6/5, 7 PM • HS Orchestra Concert
• Thursday, 6/6, 11:15 AM–12:25 PM • 5th Grade BBQ
• Friday, 6/7, 7 PM • Moving Up Dance
• Monday, 6/10 • Déjeuner en Blanc
• Monday, 6/10, 6 PM • MS Choir Concert
• Monday, 6/10, 7 PM • HS Choir Concert
• Tuesday, 6/11 • Commencement Rehearsal
• Thursday, 6/13, 7:30 PM • Class of 2024 Commencement
• Thursday, 6/13–Friday, 6/14 • Laptop Collection
• Tuesday, 6/18 • Last Day of School

Click here to view the ISPTSA Calendar, which can be added to your personal Google or Outlook Calendar.

Click here to view the District 2023–2024 calendar for families.

*More information in the message below

Orange denotes new/updated calendar entries.

SHOUT-OUTS

The following are shout-outs and thank-yous from various members of our community.

Thank you, International School parents for the support and encouragement you generously give to my colleagues and me. From the amazing Lunar New Year lunch, the emergency extra copies you make in a rush, and the time and talents you lend to Focus Week, you show up big! Your active support makes a difference. I love teaching your students and being in a community with you. Thank you, parents! 

Sincerely,

Janet Towne

Thank you to PTSA Grant Committee Chair Edward Chung for reviewing IS Grant history data with Finance Club students!

IS HS CHOIRS WILL SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE MARINERS GAME!

The International High School Choirs will be combining to sing the National Anthem at the Mariners game THIS Tuesday, April 2 at 6:40 PM! Come join your fellow International Families for a fun night at the ballpark while supporting our students! You can still buy tickets through the ISPTSA for $25 per person, but seats in the same section are no longer guaranteed. The deadline to buy is TODAY, Monday, April 1. The Mariners will be playing against the Cleveland Guardians. Come cheer on the Mariners and our amazing choir students! Buy tickets here!

Questions? Contact Emilie Castle, ISPTSA Co-President

7TH GRADE STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

The 7th Grade Families will be hosting a Staff Appreciation Luncheon THIS Wednesday, April 3 from 11:40 AM to 12:15 PM. All 7th Grade Families that are interested in volunteering to help show our wonderful staff how much we appreciate them, please sign up here. Questions? Contact Jin Xu and Yue Mai, 7th Parent Reps.

FINANCE CLUB STUDENTS COMPLETE FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSES AND VISIT LOCAL BANK BRANCH

Under the guidance of teacher-volunteer Dan Davidson, finance club students successfully completed Financial Beginnings Washington's comprehensive courses covering budgeting, credit, investing, protection, and spending. Their recent visit to the First Fed Bellevue branch, where Dan serves as branch manager, proved invaluable. Dan offered hands-on guidance, demonstrating ATM usage, and explained banking operations. Our gratitude extends to Dan for his dedication and to Financial Beginnings Washington for providing the course materials and their invaluable support.

Furthermore, the First Fed Foundation's $25,000 donation to Bellevue Schools Foundation’s Early Learning Initiative last year underscores the community's commitment to education and financial empowerment. These experiences fortify students' financial acumen, fostering community engagement and empowerment through collaborative efforts.

ISPTSA 2024-2025 BOARD NOMINATIONS

The deadline to nominate is Tuesday, April 9!

Join the International School PTSA Board! Be in the know, build strong teacher/staff/volunteer relationships, and lend your voice to carrying out our PTSA's mission. You can self-nominate or nominate someone you believe in! 

The following positions are open for nominations:

• President
• VP of Community
• VP of Outreach
• VP of Communications
• VP of Fundraising
• Secretary
• Treasurer 1
• Treasurer 2

Position descriptions can be accessed here or here. Position training will be provided. Nominations for the 2024-2025 International School PTSA Board can be sent to nominations@isptsa.org. You can volunteer for more than one position, but please rank them in order of preference.

Questions? Contact the Nominations Committee.

STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK CHAIR NEEDED!

Join our team as the Staff Appreciation Week Chair! Coordinate events to honor our hardworking staff during the week of Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 10. Work closely with the various Grade Level Reps and our Co-VP's of Community to help show our staff how much we love and appreciate all they do for us. Have questions or want to volunteer? Email VPCommunity@isptsa.org.

BELLEVUE PTSA COUNCIL NEWS

TAKE ACTION AND PROTECT WA KIDS!

THIS Monday, April 1, is Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action 2024!

Don't let our kids be a target!

Big Tobacco's deceptive practices are still targeting our kids! The tobacco industry uses clever marketing to make their products seem harmless, especially to young people. E-cigarettes with fruity flavors and sleek designs can be particularly appealing. Take Down Tobacco Day is a chance to stand up and say "NO" to Big Tobacco preying on the next generation.

Here's what you can do:

• Sign the "Flavors Hook WA Kids" petition: Ask WA State lawmakers to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products here.
• Tell the White House to finalize the rule to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars here.
• Write on our wall and tell us why you #takedowntobacco.
• Spread the word! Bing tobacco won't stop until we make them. 

Together, we can call Big Tobacco’s bluff and expose them for who they are: jokers who gamble with people’s lives.

Learn more at Take Down Tobacco. To get involved locally, or if you have any questions, email hello@highlandptsa.org.

WASHINGTON STATE PTA NEWS

2023-2024 WSPTA REFLECTIONS WINNERS

Congratulations to our WSPTA Reflections Winners. Those that have earned 1st place/Outstanding Interpretation awards advance to the National level for judging. See the list of 2023-2024 WSPTA Reflections finalists here.

Among the winners are some International Students:

• Justis Truitt, Photography, Award of Merit, for "In Her Hands"
• Kristine Zhao, Visual Arts, Award of Merit, for "A Musical Journey to Radiant Shores"
• Justis Truitt, Visual Arts, Award of Excellence, for "Requiem for a Tree"

Congratulations to Justis and Kristine!

Questions? Contact WSPTA.

IS LEARNS ABOUT NOWRUZ AND HAFT-SEEN

Last week some community members set up a table at International School to introduce students to Nowruz and Haft-Seen, the Persian New Year. Want to know more? Ask your student what they learned or check out this website. Questions? Contact Farangis Sepehri.

IS LEARNS ABOUT RAMADAN

This month, the International School community had the opportunity to learn about Ramadan and its traditions. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it begins at the first sight of the new moon. Muslims all over the world observe Ramadan by engaging in various acts of devotion through fasting, prayers, charity, and self-reflection.

Our students and staff were able to explore a display created by one of our IS parents that had vibrant decorations and educational materials. They helped everyone gain a deeper understanding of this holiday while enjoying some traditional Ramadan dates and dried fruits at the display.

As the month unfolds, we would like to extend warm greetings to all our IS community members observing Ramadan and we wish them a happy month. Questions? Contact Shaimaa Ali.

IJAZZ WON!

iJazz won Second Place at the Commencement Bay Vocal Jazz Competition on Saturday, March 16!

Four students received Outstanding Soloist Awards: Jayna Laserna, Ella Garris, Jennifer Sun, and Isaac Cook

Four students received an Outstanding Rhythm Section Awards: Calla Dang, Isaac Cook, Illiath Selph, and Daniel Faith.

Congratulations to all of you! What an amazing job!

For questions about iJazz, email Joanne Whang, Choir Director. 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL UPDATE

An International School Update was sent through email on Monday, March 25 to all current IS families with great updates. Questions? Email the IS Main Office.

REIMAGINING MIDDLE SCHOOLS - MARCH UPDATE

The Reimagining Middle Schools (RMS) design team would like to share an update on their recent advancements. Building on recommendations from the 2022-2023 school year, the team has developed two models for consideration. These models have been carefully crafted to address the social-emotional and academic needs of middle school students, with a strong emphasis on a student-centered approach. Read more here. Questions? Email RMS@bsd405.org.

2024 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WINNERS

BSD is proud to announce its 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program finalists. Congratulations to all of the students who entered and will be considered for National Merit Scholarships this spring!

Congratulations to International School students Yuzhang Sun, Finalist, and Anthony Y. Chen, Semifinalist! These two students achieved scores that are in the top 1% of US high school seniors!

Questions? Email communityrelations@bsd405.org.

NEW WEBSITE PROJECT UPDATE: CONTENT AND WEBPAGE OPTIMIZATION, STAFF TRAINING

The new website project continues in the development portion of the Design and Development phase. Content and webpage optimization is currently taking place, along with broad staff training and ongoing advisement from our learning community. Read more here. Questions? Contact BSD.

BSD NEWSLETTER

An e-newsletter was sent to BSD staff and families on Thursday, March 28. Learn about the 2024 College Conference Series, nominate someone or apply to join the school board, sign up to attend informational events, and more. Read it here. Don't receive the district newsletter? Sign up here! You can see all newsletters here. Questions? Contact BSD.

JURASSIC QUEST

THIS Friday, April 5 - Sunday, April 7

Seattle Convention Center

Walk with our larger-than-life dinosaur herd with your friends and family as Jurassic Quest roars through Seattle!

There’s no better place to make pter-iffic memories playing with adorable baby Dinos, excavating fossils, or even training a raptor while surrounded by behemoths like sky-scraping Spinosaurus and, the King himself, Tyrannosaurus rex! Get your tickets for Seattle now before they go EXTINCT!

Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest, most popular Dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family. Observe our herd of life size dinosaurs including Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, and an INCREDIBLE T-rex!

Buy tickets here. Questions? Contact them via their website.

THE SPRING CLEANING MARKET

THIS Saturday, April 6, 10-3 PM

Infinity Farm Issaquah

FREE public event at Infinity Farm Issaquah on Saturday, April 6 from 10 AM-3 PM. FREE entry & parking! Family & Pet friendly

All vendors (excluding food trucks) will have at least half of their inventory at a discount! Shop from 60+ local vendors, dine at a local food truck, and enjoy kid activities (including feeding our alpacas, cows, and chickens) at the farm!

Find out more info here. Questions? Email InfinityFarmIssaquah@gmail.com.

PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Monday, April 8, 10:39 AM to 12:21 PM

There will be a partial solar eclipse in Bellevue on Monday, April 8. It will start at 10:39 AM, peak at 11:29 AM, and finish at 12:21 PM. Do not look directly at the sun! Protect your eyes. Find out more info here. Want to know more, or have questions about the eclipse? Ask NASA.

WASHINGTON STATE SPRING FAIR

April 11-14 & 18-21

Washington's Biggest Celebration of Spring! Can you feel that? Spring is in the Fair! Break out of the winter chill with two full weekends in Puyallup, blooming with rides, fuzzy critters, and local flavor. Gather the family, bring a date, or break brews with buddies starting April 11! Find out more and buy tickets here. Questions? Email info@thefair.com.

SUPPORT OUR ISPTSA

SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT!

Check out our wide variety of International School spiritwear! Hoodies, T-shirts, bags, and more, order now! You can pick up your order from Winner's Sportswear in Bellevue or have it delivered. Questions? Email Melissa Richardson, VP of Outreach.

SMITH BROTHERS FARMS MILK FUND PROGRAMS

Sign up for Smith Brothers Farms Home Grocery Delivery and when you do, you'll receive $15 off your 1st delivery & ISPTSA receives a $50 gift donation from SBF! It's a win-win! You get the iconic Porch Box with your 1st order & it can be filled each week with milk that is 2-days-fresh from the farm, eggs that are 3-days-fresh, fresh produce, almond & oat milk, and hundreds of grocery items that are primarily from local PNW companies!

Delivery is free with just a $10 order & there are no monthly fees, no contract. Give it a try - we get the donation if you get one delivery or remain a customer for years. Questions? Contact Smith Brothers Farms.