ICS PTSA NEWSLETTER

May 14, 2023

See the ICS Calendar for more upcoming event dates.

An Open Letter

from Senior Daughters to Our Mothers

Dear Mom,

How are you doing? What’s up? I think if I answered that question for you, it would be a lot closer to what you would say than you’d guess.

I pick up on a lot more than you think. I notice when you’re sad, angry, disappointed, happy, excited, and content.

I see your irritation when we respond to your questions with monosyllabic answers.

I hear your suppressed laughter when you’re downstairs watching fail compilation videos.

I sense your exhaustion after a long day of work.

I feel your worry when you call your aging parents about their deteriorating health.

I also know that you do want the best for me, through every lecture, pointed finger, and harsh word.

I understand you mom. I see you: flaws and all.

Through conversations with friends and observation of other adults, I’ve learned that perfect parents don’t exist. Parents who are close to perfect don’t exist either. But parents who try do.

As I’m getting older, my appreciation for you grows as you expand beyond the role of disciplinarian and parent to my equal, supporter, and friend.

I feel this when we laugh at Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber, when we gossip about school drama, when we console each other after disappointments.

Thank you for your endless support as a parent, but even more, thank you for your friendship.

Happy Mother’s Day,

From your senior daughter

ICS PTSA Recognition

Outstanding Educator - For outstanding support of ICS students through education, encouragement, and guidance​

• ​Randy Huberman, FBLA Lead​ - Guided FBLA to regionals, state and nationals with outstanding results​

Phoenix – For an exceptional job on a task or committee at ICS​

• Shirley Li: Board Member At Large ​
• Janet Chee & Hanyue Jiang: Co-Treasurers​
• Bagmita Mohapatra & Pavel Khijniak: Science Olympiad Team

Golden Acorn – For outstanding service and dedication to students at ICS​

• Srini Venugopal, PTSA President

Matching Fund

Hello ICS Parents,

Thank you so much to all families who have donated to ICS PTSA!

Our school year-end is approaching! A gentle reminder to families who have donated volunteer hours and/or $: Please submit your donation matching to International Community School PTSA 2 8 89 [Tax ID/EIN Number: 911801111].

Requesting a matching gift or volunteer grant is normally a five-minute process that must be initiated by you or your spouse, the donor/volunteer. You can do this by filling out and submitting through an electronic submission process or a paper match form provided by your employer.

If your company needs a donation receipt, you can send a receipt request to ICS PTSA treasurers (treasurer@icsptsa.org)

Many companies have matching gift programs. Some, such as Microsoft and Google, match gifts through an organization called Benevity; some do it on their own.

For questions regarding your company's matching programs, please contact your employer's HR or community giving department. Much of the necessary information may also be available on your company's intranet.

If you have any questions, please email matchfundadmin@icsptsa.org.

Thank you!

CHECK YOUR VOLUNTEER STATUS!

Planning to help with Focus Week or any upcoming on campus opportunities. Confirm that you are an approve LWSD volunteer at https://www.lwsd.org/get-involved/volunteering-in-lwsd/volunteer-application-process. You will be asked to leave campus if you are not an approved volunteer.

6/15/23 Deadline

for Expense Reimbursement Requests

Hello parents, please submit any outstanding expense reimbursement requests ASAP to the VP or Chair of your appropriate budget category, and include all supporting documentation.

The cut-off date for reimbursement submissions will be Thursday, June 15th. If expenses will be incurred after this date, then notification prior to the June 15^th date will be required, so that we may allocate funds from the current school year budget. Reimbursement checks will be mailed out by June 30th.

No reimbursements will be processed for notification or submissions after June 30, 2023, when our books close.

https://www.icsptsa.org/icsptsa/images/forms_and_documents/fillable-reimbursement-form.pdf

Please e-mail: treasurer@icsptsa.org with questions.

9th Grade End-of-Year Barbecue

Calling all 9th graders for the last class social event of the year! Immediately after school on Friday, May 19th, the 9th grade class is gathering at the home of one of our 9th grade families for a barbecue. For more information and to sign up your child, click this Sign Up Genius link. 

Looking for parent volunteers for Prom

ASB (associated student body) is looking for parent volunteers to help chaperone, set up, and clean up for Prom (a formal dance for juniors and seniors)! Prom will be on May 20th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Thanks so much! This includes parents from all grades and PTSA service hours will be granted!

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/805044babaf2ba2f94-parent

REPEATED ARTICLES

Volunteering for Senior & Teachers Luncheon

Great volunteering opportunity to support the Senior and Teachers Luncheon event on June 7th, please signup here by June 2nd.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Meghana Sathe (sathemegh@gmail.com)

New Board Members Elected for Next Year (effective July 1, 2023)

o  Co-Presidents: Kristin Trace, Cassandra Andriychenko  

o  VP Curriculum Support: Lei Kou  

o  VP Activities Support: Lucia Liu  

o  VP Community and Facilities: Sanjeevini Mittal  

o  VP Information Support: Tom Resing  

o  Co-Treasurers: Hanyue Jiang, Shirley Li  

o  Co-Secretaries: Jeanie Lee Kleinpeter, Khris Vogel 

Adolescent Parenting Workshop

Parenting an adolescent or teen? Interested in finding connections, resources, and support?

PEPS (in collaboration with your PTSA) would like to offer a tailored 1-hour free workshop for the parents of ICS featuring any of the adolescent parenting topics that are most relevant to you in this time of vulnerability.

Please fill out a 2-question interest form to let us know what you would like to learn, the parenting concerns that are rising for you, and the questions about teen development that are bothering you.

Come and learn from subject matter experts and also participate in small group discussions PEPS style.

Quote from a PAT participant:

“…I found that learning alongside and making connections with other parents of teens is such a powerful way to increase my skills and confidence as a parent. Just knowing…that we all encounter challenges and can face them together…makes it easier to handle the challenges.”