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ICS PTSA NEWSLETTER
January 29th, 2023
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Carpool to School Month
February is Green Team’s Carpool to School Month! Carpool to School Month is about getting students use more eco-friendly transportation, such as using the bus or biking to school.
Each student will get a calendar to fill out the kind of transportation they took to and from school each day. At the end of the month, students will turn in their finished calendars at a dropbox in front of the Green Team board.
Winners will be randomized to receive a prize. So get ready for February and fill out the Carpool to School Month calendar!
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FBLA Masquerade Ball Call for Volunteers
ICS FBLA is looking for three parent volunteers to supervise the set up, cleanup, and check in desk of the Masquerade Ball, which will take place on February 10th. Volunteering times vary, but this is an after-school event from 7:30-11:00 PM. Please email icsfbla@outlook.com for more details.
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From the DEI Committee
We are launching Volume II of our ICS International Cookbook and we need your recipes. You can view last year volume here
Everyone knows a foodie in their house, and/or someone who cooks amazing food and loves to share it. In many cultures food is more than just sustenance for the body. Food is seen as something that ties people together through fellowship, love/care, and good times. With COVID being something that has shaken up everyone’s lives, we have not been able to share meals with our loved ones, friends, and/or coworkers. However, through sharing recipes we can have a little of that feeling back, even if it is by making the recipe ourselves.
We are fortunate to have families from across the world so we would like to give everyone an opportunity to contribute. Please fill out the ICS International Cookbook form and be a part of this initiative, Buon Appetite!
Questions? Email Tarek Azoz at tazoz@icsptsa.org
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From the DEI Committee
Welcome to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusive (DEI) part of the newsletter brought to you by the DEI Committee! Periodically, we’d like to highlight local DEI events as well as feature different cultural holidays and traditions celebrated around the world and in our very own ICS community.
In January we would like to highlight Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities, among others. Tied to the lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. The New Year typically begins with the first new moon that occurs between the end of January and spans the first 15 days of the first month of the lunar calendar—until the full moon arrives. In 2023, Lunar New Year begins on January 22.
Each year in the Lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals, which are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The year 2023 is slated to be the year of the rabbit.
Each culture celebrates the Lunar New Year differently with various foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity, abundance and togetherness. In preparation for the Lunar New Year, houses are thoroughly cleaned to rid them of inauspicious spirits, which might have collected during the old year. Cleaning is also meant to open space for good will and good luck. Some households hold rituals to offer food and paper icons to ancestors. Others post red paper and banners inscribed with calligraphy messages of good health and fortune in front of, and inside, homes. Elders give out envelopes containing money to children.
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Nominations Committee Seeks New Board Members
The Nominations Committee has begun the process of finding new ICS PTSA Board members to replace those who are leaving their positions at the end of this school year.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the following positions are open and need to be filled by May 2023:
- Co-President - 2
- VP Activity Support
- VP Information Support
- Co-Secretary -2
- Treasurer - 2
All ICS PTSA members who would like to take a more active role in supporting our school and students are welcome to apply. Serving on the ICS PTSA Board is a great opportunity to be more engaged in school life and to quickly earn volunteer hours.
To nominate yourself or another parent, send an email to Nominations@icsptsa.org with the following information:
- First and Last Name,
- Mobile Phone Number,
- Email Address, and
- Board Position of Interest.
More information about the roles and key responsibilities can be found on the ICS PTSA web page. Board positions require a 2-year commitment and participation at all PTSA Board and parent meetings.
All nominations should be sent to the Nominations Committee by February 28. The Committee will then interview all nominated candidates.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us (Elizabeth Vogel, Usharani Mandava, and Roberto Baselli) at Nominations@icsptsa.org
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Summer Trip to Mexico
With the district's decision to disallow international travel during focus week, Señora Del Toro is planning a México trip for high school students this summer in order to continue learning about Hispanic cultures.
México. Put into practice what you have been learning at school. Would you like to experience a little bit of the culture of México, starting from the Mayas until modern times? The 8-day trip includes activities for each day from the arrival students will be able to connect with culture and a magnificent opportunity to a community service, explore a Cenote, Chichén Itza and Tulum pyramids, and wonderful beach to explore.
Students will need to reserve a place and sign up on the Explorica website before January 31st to secure the price. We realize that this time of year the cost will not be feasible for many. To find out more details about the trip and to register, go to Explorica if you are interested in attending, you'll need to register. The tour ID is DelToro-4642 (need to include the hyphen). There are different payment options, and you don’t have to full price in order to register.
Contact email: sdeltoroics@gmail.com
Dates: June 29 to July 6, registration deadline until Jan. 31
Cost: $3,281.00
Eligibility: current grades 9-12
Number of students: 15 with 1:5 Chaperone Ratio
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FBLA is looking for volunteers
ICS FBLA is looking for 2 parent volunteers to chaperone students at the Winter Leadership Conference, which will take place on Saturday, February 4th at North Creek High School. Volunteers are asked to supervise students as they prepare for their competitions from 7:30 to around 2-4 PM. Please email icsfbla@outlook.com with questions and to confirm that you will volunteer.
ICS FBLA is also looking for 5 volunteers to help judge the Winter Leadership Conference. Judges will be grading presenters on their projects, but no business knowledge is required. If interested, please fill out this form ASAP.
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From Ski Bus Club
Ski Bus has several open seats for the remaining Wednesdays (Jan 18, 25, Feb 1, 8, 22) going to Alpental. Want to come and free ski? Grab a friend and take them with you. We depart at 3PM and return around 8PM. Cost of the roundtrip ride is $55 per person. Bring your own gear and a lift ticket/pass. You can sign-up as late as the day of the trip. Paying guarantees your seat. Interested? Contact Boris at bvbar@hotmail.com
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In-person meeting survey
Now that things are opening up again, we have the option to return to meeting each other in person again. Online meetings have been convenient and average attendance has gone up. We will keep some meetings online, maybe all, if there isn't interest.
However, PTSA participation has dropped.
- Membership is down
- Donations are down
- Volunteer hours are down
In-person meetings offer a chance to meet the board, the administration, student leaders, and other parents face to face and build relationships that help put the community in International Community School.
How often would you like to meet in-person? Let us know in the survey.
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Senior Ads
Hello parents,
Senior ad submissions are due on February 9th. Senior ads are a great way for families to send a message to their kids congratulating their achievements.
If you’re interested in submitting senior ads to honor your child’s achievements, please go to this link and order one before February 9th.
On the website you will be asked to make an account to create an ad, please do so.
You are required to send in a small message about 2-3 sentences long about your kid. Please send in baby photos, dance competition photos, sports photos, or any photos you think would best showcase your child. These senior ads will be featured in the yearbook for your kids to read at the end of the year!
The price for an ad is $65.
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Parent Meetings
This Teams Link will take you to the recurring meeting; it works for all meetings this school year.
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