September 9, 2024

MONDAY MESSENGER

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UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS

THIS WEEK:

  • Tuesday, 9/10 • ISPTSA Back to School Coffee*
  • Wednesday, 9/11 • 6th Grade Retreat
  • Thursday, 9/12–Friday, 9/13 • High School Retreat*


NEXT WEEK:

  • Friday, 9/20, 6:30–7:30 PM • ISPTSA Ice Cream Social*


LOOKING AHEAD:

  • 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
  • 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
  • Friday, 11/1 • End of First Quarter
  • Tuesday, 11/12 • 11th Grade Parent Night
  • Friday, 11/15 • Drama Performance "Radium Girls"
  • Saturday, 11/16 • Drama Performance "Radium Girls"
  • 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.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PTSA NEWS

ISPTSA BACK TO SCHOOL COFFEE


Join us at our Back to School Coffee THIS Tuesday, September 10, 8:45-10:15 AM in the school Library. In past years this has been the tailgate held at the nearby park, but this year we are going to change things up and meet in the Library so that staff members can attend! Come enjoy some coffee and pastries while mingling and getting to know other parents and staff. We hope to see you there! Questions? Email Maggie Lo and Farangis Sepheri, ISPTSA Co-VP's of Community.

ISPTSA ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL


Friday, September 20, 6:30–7:30 PM

International School Commons


Our IS community is invited to an ice cream social on Friday, September 20 from 6:30–7:30 PM in the IS Commons. Ice cream with all the toppings, even a cherry, will be available for FREE. Bring your student(s) and your family and connect with other families while letting your students have a great treat and social time.


Volunteers needed to help set up, scoop, and clean up. Help make this a great kick-off to the year! Contact VPCommunity@isptsa.org for volunteering or questions.

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.

BACK TO SCHOOL STAFF LUNCHEON


On Wednesday, August 28, the ISPTSA provided and served food to the International School staff as a welcome-back-to-school gesture. We love our staff and appreciate you all greatly. Thank you for being part of this amazing community. We look forward to working with you this year and continuing the International School tradition of maintaining a great relationship between families and staff.

JOIN THE ISPTSA


Complete the first item on your Back-to-School Checklist: Join the International School PTSA (ISPTSA)


The ISPTSA is one of the few parent-teacher-student associations (PTSAs) in Washington State that has a tradition of reaching 100% membership! We need your help to keep our tradition this school year. To join the ISPTSA, click this JOIN link. The process is quick and easy, and we encourage you to join today.


Your PTSA membership helps support school activities and programs. In addition to voting, you also receive membership benefits available to all Washington State PTA members like discounts at the Fed-Ex Store and the Great Wolf Lodge. Learn more about the discounts available on the WA PTA website.


  • Family Membership - 3 people: $35
  • Dual Membership - 2 people: $25
  • Single or Student Membership - 1 person: $15
  • Teacher/Staff – 1 person: $10


These dues are paid to the WA State and National PTA, but additional donation amounts go directly to the ISPTSA to be used for the benefit of our students. We also have scholarships available for membership dues. If you have any questions about the ISPTSA or the membership process/scholarships, please feel free to reach out to us at membership@isptsa.org.

SCHOOL NEWS

HELP A TEACHER!


Do you love to laminate? Do you love to cut things out? Janet Towne needs your help! If you are interested in volunteering your time to laminate and cut out various classroom materials, please email Janet Towne, International School AP World History- Modern and Human Geography Teacher at townej@bsd405.org. Thank you!

GARDEN CLUB


The garden club is accepting donations of snowdrop bulbs for early fall planting. The club is also accepting donations of winter/spring blooming perennial plants, in particular hellebores, perennial candytuft, Totally Tangerine geum and Biokovo Karmina cranesbill. Thank you for your support. If you have questions, please contact garden club advisor Gwen Geslin, geslinm@bsd405.org.

2024 HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT: WE NEED YOUR HELP!


THIS Thursday to Friday, September 12–13 at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, WA


The High School Retreat will be here before we know it and we need help! We need chaperones, session ideas, and instructors. This overnight trip is only possible with your support. We need your participation for a successful retreat. Read all about how you can help here.

Sign-Up Here

Questions? Email Abigail Horsfall or Charise Hallberg.

STUDENT NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES

BELLEVUE GIRLS SELECT BASKETBALL TRYOUTS


Registration is now open for the 2024/25 Season!


The Bellevue Girls Select Basketball Program is the only skills & development program that feeds directly into Bellevue High School. We service 4th through 8th grade. Kids interested in playing for the BHS girls basketball team should participate in this program. Remember, as an International Student, you can play sports at whichever High School you are zoned for. If you live outside of Bellevue, you can play for BHS.


Tryout Schedule:

THIS Saturday, September 14 & Sunday, September 15

  • 6th Grade: 10:00-11:30 AM
  • 7th and 8th Grade: 11:30 AM-1:00 PM

Location will be announced once finalized.


Questions? Email bellevuegirlsselect@gmail.com.

BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

ATTENTION PARENTS! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HEARING SCREENINGS!


Bellevue School District seeks volunteers for hearing screenings in September and October 2024. Help ensure students have equal access to learning by identifying potential hearing issues early.


How to Help:

  • Volunteer your time (training provided).
  • Sign up today if you're available in mid-to-late September or October.
  • Flexible morning shifts, commitment to two schools.


Links:


Contact Kristen Oulton at oultonk@bsd405.org or 425-456-4667 for more info.

Thank you!

BSD NEWSLETTER


An e-newsletter was sent to BSD staff and families on Thursday, August 22. Prepare for the first day of school with district resources, learn how to use the new district website, save the date for community events, and more! Read it here. Don't receive the district newsletter? Sign up here! You can see all newsletters here. Questions? Contact BSD.

COMMUNITY NEWS

IT'S SALMON SEESON AGAIN!


The Salmon SEEson program shares the best stream and river locations in King County where people can see salmon as they return from the ocean in late summer and fall. Some locations are self-guided, while others feature volunteer naturalists to guide visitors in seeing salmon and learning about their lifecycle, efforts to protect them, and restoring habitat.


Salmon are an important cultural, economic, and environmental resource for our region, especially to indigenous people. Local governments, Tribes and community groups around King County and Puget Sound are working to recover salmon populations by protecting and restoring habitat; managing polluted and untreated stormwater runoff from streets and other hard surfaces; and educating people about what they can do to help protect salmon. Use the map below to find viewing locations, and when you go, please remember to recreate responsibly! Questions? Check out the website.

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!
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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
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