ICS PTSA NEWSLETTER

February 12th, 2023

See the ICS Calendar for more upcoming event dates.

PTSA Parent meeting in person for March

March 14, 2023 PTSA Parent meeting will be in person at ICS Lyceum from 7pm-8:30pm. Please plan to attend in person for greater engagement and community connection.

Based on the survey feedback from the last PTSA parent meeting 65% of parents voted for one or more meetings each year to be in person. We heard you. We will be trying out in person meeting in March and then publish a schedule for future meetings.

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 February we would like to highlight Black History Month

Black History Month (BHM) is an annual celebration across multiple months in the year. It is a focused observance of Black history and culture and a time to honor both prominent and previously unsung Black figures for their accomplishments while simultaneously acknowledging present-day Black figures exemplifying excellence within their respective fields and communities. 

African American historian Carter G. Woodson is known to have played a significant in the creation of this annual event. Starting as "National Negro History" week in 1926, the second week in February was chosen in relation to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. The rise of the civil rights movement in 1960 aided in the popularity and practice of this week, eventually becoming a celebrated month on many college campuses.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976. He urged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

REPEATED ARTICLES

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!

Please contact carpool@icsptsa.org if you have any questions.

Parent’s Talent Show

Hi Parents please join Parent’s Talent Show “ Mingle or Perform ! We would like to see you All !!

Get your volunteer hours done !

Attend : 1 hour, bring Food : 1 hour and Performer : 5 Hours !!

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  

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

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

From Ski Bus Club

Ski Bus has only a couple of trips remaining this season (Wednesdays, Feb 8, 22) going to Alpental. We skip the week of mid-winter break.

Want to come and free ski? Grab a sibling, a friend or even your parent and go. 

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