September 23, 2024

MONDAY MESSENGER

Visit Our Website

Donate to PTSA

Translate Newsletter

UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS

THIS WEEK:

  • Tuesday, 9/24, 6:30 PM • 12th Grade Parent Night (Date Change)
  • Wednesday, 9/25, 1:40 PM • Club Fair
  • Friday, 9/27, 7:00–8:30 PM • Middle School Social
  • Saturday, 9/28 • Practice SAT Online*

NEXT WEEK:

  • Wednesday, 10/2, 7:30–10 AM • Picture Day*

LOOKING AHEAD:

  • Wednesday, 10/9 • Super Wednesday (PSAT/SAT)*
  • Wednesday, 10/9 • Curriculum Night
  • Thursday, 10/10, 3:15 PM • Hall Decorations
  • Friday, 10/11 • No School
  • Monday, 10/14–Friday, 10/18 • Spirit Week
  • Saturday, 10/19 • Homecoming Dance
  • Tuesday, 10/22 • 9th/10th Grade Parent Night
  • Wednesday, 10/23, 6:30–8:30 PM • ISPTSA General Membership Meeting
  • Friday, 11/1 • End of First Quarter
  • Tuesday, 11/12 • 11th Grade Parent Night
  • Friday, 11/15 • Drama Performance "Little Women" (Show Change)
  • Saturday, 11/16 • Drama Performance "Little Women" (Show Change)
  • Tuesday, 11/19 • 6th Grade Parent Night
  • Thursday, 11/21 • HS Band Concert
  • Thursday, 11/28–Friday, 11/29 • No School: Thanksgiving Break


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

Click here to view the District 2024–2025 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 to the ISPTSA for the following grants to our school:

  • Scholastic NY Times $3,200.78
  • Scholastic French Magazines $711.04
  • High School Retreat $9,000

A huge thank you to all of the amazing folks that have helped by donating to the ISPTSA to help pay for these school items and activities!

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PTSA NEWS

TAKE AN SAT PRACTICE TEST!


Practice before Super Wednesday!


The ISPTSA, in partnership with The Princeton Review, is offering practice SATs for 11th and 12th Graders on Saturday, September 28 at 8 AM. Digital tests remain open for 30 days to accommodate schedules. Find out more and register here through the ISPTSA website by THIS Thursday, September 26. Questions? Email Melissa Richardson, VP of Fundraising.

ISPTSA MEMBERSHIP


All ISPTSA members are Washington State PTA and National PTA members. Please click the link to the websites WSPTA member discounts and National PTA member offers for special member discounts, such as: 15% off concert and event tickets at the Seattle Symphony;  25% Off Rentals at Avis Car Rentals; 30% off at Great Wolf Lodge; Special Rates for Printing at FedEx Office; and much more.


We are inviting every IS family to join ISPTSA to help us reach the 100% membership goal and help you with some amazing discounts. Please Sign in to Renew OR Click here to Join today! Remember, memberships have to be renewed every year.


Questions? Contact membership@isptsa.org.

BACK TO SCHOOL COFFEE


Thank you parents, teachers, Vice Principle K and Principle White for attending our Welcome Back Coffee hosted by our PTSA. It was a great time to meet new families and catch up with returning parents. What a great start to the school year. Go Titans!  Special thank you to all volunteers who helped make this event possible. Questions? Email Maggie Lo, Co-VP of Community.

RAISE THE TORCH

Raise the Torch is ISPTSA's annual Fall Fundraiser. Find out more here and donate today to help support our amazing community. Questions? Email VPFundraising@isptsa.org.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PTSA NEWS

BELLEVUE PTSA COUNCIL WANTS YOU TO READ!


The Bellevue PTSA Council hosts a book club and would like to invite you to join! They read books read by students in the Bellevue School District and then discuss them to help parents understand what their kids are reading in school.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

When: Monday, September 30, 11 AM-1 PM

Where: Woods Coffee, Lincoln Square, Meeting Room

Why: Read by 9th Graders


The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

When: Saturday, October 5, 9:30-11:30 AM

Where: Woods Coffee House, Lincoln Square

Why: Part of the partnership between PTSA and BSD named "Education Matters" that will be a series of events that will ultimately include Dr. Aramaki and the author, Jonathan Haidt.


Questions? Email Melissa Richardson.

SCHOOL NEWS

PLEASE TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN!


The field is now closed during lunchtime because kids are not cleaning up after themselves. Staff have also noticed that many of the tables in the Commons are being left messy. Please talk to your children about making sure they clean up after themselves so that they can once again spend time outside on nice days.

IS OFFICE VOLUNTEERS


The IS Office needs help in the office! Please consider volunteering for a regular weekly or biweekly office shift and help our school run smoothly.

Day

Time

Frequency

Start Date

Mondays

12:15-3:15

Weekly or rotate every two weeks

Immediately

Fridays

10:15-12:15

Rotate every two weeks

Immediately

Fridays

12:!5-3:!5

Rotate every two weeks

Immediately

If you are interested, or have any questions, please contact Mary Pyrah on pyrahm@bsd405.org.

Picture Day

PICTURE DAY VOLUNTEERS


We need six volunteers for Picture Day on Wednesday, October 2 from 7:30-10:00 AM, please. Sign up here. Questions? Email Mary Pyrah, IS Office Manager.

YEARBOOK AND SENIOR GRAD ADS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!


International’s 2024-25 yearbook is available for purchase online for $55. Find it under Back to School items on TouchBase. (Log in, pick student, pick "my school," and then "back to school" under categories.)

 

Seniors: Purchase your full-page grad ad for $40 no later than Oct 13. Senior portrait, baby picture, and senior thank you due 9/23. Digital art for grad ad due by Nov 13.

STUDENT NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES

SPELLING BEE VOLUNTEERS


Cherry Crest Elementary needs high school volunteers for our 2024-2025 Spelling Bees! Help us create a memorable experience as pronouncers at our competitions.


Information:

  • When: Wednesday, November 6, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM and/or Wednesday, February 5, 6 PM – 8:30 PM
  • Where: Cherry Crest Elementary, 12400 NE 32nd St, Bellevue, WA 98005

Sign Up:

Details:

  • No experience required. Volunteer hours are available.
  • Volunteers’ responsibilities include:
  • Please read the Pronouncer Role and Responsibility document prior to signing up.
  • Please arrive by 5:45 PM and stay until 8:30 PM to help clean up.

For questions, contact Abhishek Sinha at spellingbee@cherrycrest-ptsa.org.

CHERRY CREST ELEMENTARY NEEDS STUDENT VOLUNTEERS


Cherry Crest Elementary School has volunteer opportunities coming up that we'd love high school volunteers for:

  • Cherry Crest Elementary Carnival on Friday, October 4. Many different opportunities to lead games, distribute prizes, sell food/tickets, etc. We'll need hundreds of volunteers and it should be an amazing, fun time. Sign up here.

When students sign up, please put in the comment that you are a high school volunteer so I can expect your volunteer hours form. Questions? Email vp.6@cherrycrest-ptsa.org.

STUDENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY


The Orchard Gardens at Holy Cross is holding our annual Apple Picking and Cider Pressing Festival on the afternoon of THIS Saturday, September 28. We need plenty of volunteers to help guide families through the process of picking, washing, cutting, pressing, boiling, and tasting the freshly made cider. There are a variety of roles available, so students can explore and learn as they volunteer.


This is an outdoor event, so please dress accordingly. Sturdy shoes are recommended.


Where: The Orchard Gardens at Holy Cross, 4315 129th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98006 (on the grounds of the former Holy Cross Church)


When: Volunteers are needed from noon to 4 PM. (Please commit to at least an hour of volunteering.)


For questions, please email mickilarimer@gmail.com.

REGISTRATION OPEN!


Are you zoned for sports at Bellevue High School? If you are, registration is now open for winter and spring sports. Find out more here. Questions? Email Kelli Mayer, BHS Athletics.

BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

GET INVOLOVED IN A DISTRICT DESIGN TEAM!

Read more here.

SUPERINTENDENT'S BLOG: THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IN THE BSD


Find out what Bellevue School District Superintendent Dr. Aramaki has to say about the first week of school here!

PSAT TESTING AND SCHOOL - DAY SAT (SUPER WEDNESDAY)


Bellevue School District will offer an opportunity for juniors and seniors to take the PSAT and/or SAT during the school day in the 2024-25 school year. We are pleased to be able to offer the PSAT and SAT during the school day free of charge to ensure access to the exam for all students. Read more here.


International School's Super Wednesday will be on October 9 and, as mentioned under the ISPTSA News section, the ISPTSA is offering PSAT's to help our student get ready for it!

BSD NEWSLETTER


An e-newsletter was sent to BSD staff and families on Thursday, September 12. Read it here. Don't receive the district newsletter? Sign up here! You can see all newsletters here. Questions? Contact BSD.

COMMUNITY NEWS

FREE BLOCK PARTY!

The Bellevue Schools Foundation Block Party is THIS Saturday, September 28 from 11 AM - 4 PM at Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 NE 4th St. Find out more here.

FREE MUSIC CONCERT TICKETS


The Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series is celebrating our 17th year of celebrating community and the creative power of music. Live performance is a hallmark of a great urban center, and we believe a city should take every chance it can to present it.

 

We are thrilled to offer our local area students and their families complimentary tickets to either one of our headliner shows at Meydenbauer Center Theatre:

 

 

Click on the link(s) above and it will prompt you to advance with ticket reservations via Eventbrite. Questions? Email Mike Ogliore.

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 Fundraising.

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.

MASTHEAD / DIRECTORY / LINKS
Serving International School in the Bellevue School District

President

Jennifer Green Li

Secretary

Li Zhang

Ji Gao (Interim)

Treasurer 1

Amanda Johnson

Treasurer 2

Rina Vasudeva (Interim)

VP of Communications

Emilie Castle

VP's of Community

Maggie Lo

Farangis Sepheri

VP's of Fundraising

Melissa Richardson

VP's of Outreach

Shan Angela Gao

Yue Mao

Membership Chair

Judy Cam

Grants

Qiong Chen

Monday Messenger

Jennifer Green Li

Website

Honglian Gao

Member-at-Large

Phil Bloch

IS Staff Liaison

Open

Local PTA #2.3.121
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 

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.
PTSA Website: www.isptsa.org

Newsletter Submissions: news@isptsa.org

SUPPORT YOUR PTSA
Donate Anytime!
Preferred
or
Please note that PayPal has transaction fees.
Or write your check to the International School PTSA and send it to:

ISPTSA
PO Box 221
Bellevue, WA 98009

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.
International School PTSA
P.O. Box 221
Bellevue, WA 98009-0221
Stay Social With Us:
Facebook