ISLA and ISLA-PTO Newsletter
Emily Smith
2nd Grade Engineering Fair
Last Friday our 2nd-grade engineers added a splash of color to ISLA’s spring canvas of showcasing the importance of how scientists and engineers communicate the discoveries of their inquiries. The students developed an understanding that we all can be engineers as we learn to observe our surroundings and look for answers to solve problems that can improve how our communities function. Our students experimented and tested the concepts of balance and motion in relation to how bridges are constructed and expanded on their knowledge of how engineers use the engineering design process. The Bridges Engineering Fair celebrates the creative process of designing, testing and improving bridges and explores how "failure" is a positive catalyst for improvement and innovation.
Spring Break
March 26-30 is Spring Break at ISLA. There will be no school for students or staff. Enjoy your break!
MCA Testing
MCA testing will begin next week for 3rd-6th grade students and continue after Spring Break. Please make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before coming to school each day.
March 19-26 is the last week of Winter Extra-curricular Activities. Monday Minecraft, Wednesday Young Rembrandts and Role Playing will have make up sessions the week after spring break. Spring activities will begin the week of April 9th.
First Grade Casitas
This week the first graders rose to the challenge as their teachers presented them with a provocative question: How can you build a house with earth materials that will withstand a tornado and an earthquake simulation? Based on the research they did to further their understanding of the central idea, The Earth provides materials that help meet human needs, the students took on the challenge to become contractors and developed models to present to ISLA's 5th grade civil engineers. Through the engineering design process the students learned to question, imagine, plan, create and improve their construction
ISLA Sixth Grader Advances to MathCon Finals
We are extremely proud to announce that Geo Beach has qualified to advance to the MathCon Finals in Chicago on Saturday, May 5th! For the second year in a row, ISLA fifth and sixth graders joined over 50,000 students to compete online with questions covering algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, number systems and pre-calculus. Out of 51,400 participants competing nationwide, we were overjoyed to find that Geo finished in the 99th percentile, and is one of only 576 students to be invited to compete in Chicago at the finals. Way to go, Geo!
All-school Assembly
Students attended an all-school assembly on Tuesday, March 20. They enjoyed an African dance and drum performance by Christian Adeti from Ghana.
Student-Led Conferences
Student-led conferences are scheduled for April 5-6. Conferences will be held from 12pm-8pm on Thursday, April 5th and 8 am-2 pm on Friday, April 6th. These conferences with your child are meant to be an informative and rewarding experience. As you probably know, your role in this conference is that of active listener. As your child reports to you on his/her progress, feel free to record any questions or comments you have.
The time will be structured so that the conferences occur simultaneously. You will first meet with your child and discuss the portfolio of work for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes the teacher will join the conference to review fall goals, discuss and answer questions. All parties must do their best to adhere to the schedule, as there is no lag time between one group finishing and the next one beginning. If you feel the need to continue the conference beyond 30 minues, you can schedule a time with the teacher at a later date.
This conference is a time for open and honest discussion with your child about his/her progress in school. Children are involved in the conference in an effort to continue optimal communication between child/parent/teacher. If you have a concern that you would prefer to address with the teacher in prívate, please let him/her know and you can make arrangements to communicate with one another at another time.
Click here to sign up: https://goo.gl/yykHah
Spring Extra-Curricular Activity Registration Now Open
Check out the activities we have available. Week of April 9 to May 18 Click here to register: https://goo.gl/forms/1BqALgB1MABSdIYz2
Young Rembrandts Drawing Class sign up is: https://twincities.asapconnected.com/#EventID=901633
Spring Conference Pot Luck Sign Up
A favorite tradition at ISLA is to provide food and drinks for our ISLA teachers and staff during conferences. Please consider signing up to bring an item in the links below.
Thank you for your continued support of ISLA!
Thursday, April 5th http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044daaaf2ca2fa7-20181
Friday, April 6th http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044daaaf2ca2fa7-2018
Announcing…
The International Spanish Language Academy
2017-2018 YEARBOOK
Our yearbook is planned to include:
• All color pages that vibrantly capture school memories
• Sturdy soft cover, Original Design
Add on any of the following yearbook extras:
• Zoom, a full-color current events insert that captures the top news stories of the year
• Student's name printed in foil on the cover adds a personal touch
• Durable, high-quality hard cover protects treasured memories for a lifetime
• Autograph insert to share messages with friends
• Fun, repositionable stickers to decorate and personalize yearbook pages
Please order your yearbook by visiting: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com
School ID code: 9747918
Standard book $23.00
Add any extras for an additional price:
HardCover$5.00, Zoom $2.50, Personalized Cover $5.00, Autograph Insert $2.50, Stickers $2
Orders due by March 30
Looking for 2018-2019 Language Ambassadors (LAs) Host Families!
Want to know more about the LA program, and what is expected of a host family?
Look for the LA INFO table at conferences:
- Thursday, April 4: 5:30pm to 7:00pm
- Friday, April 5: 9:00am to 10:30am
This school year is not yet over and we still have lots of time to enjoy our current LAs! But, can you believe that planning for the 2018-19 LA program has already begun?! The applicants are being interviewed and the search for next year Host Families is underway. Hosting is an unbelievable opportunity to expose your children and family to the Spanish language and culture – one that will gift your family with a lasting friendship and close bond to another country, while possibly improving everyone’s Spanish!
If you are interested in hosting and/or want more information, please contact Kim Gelperin at kimgelp@gmail.com.
LAST CALL! 2017-18 Yearbook Pictures Needed!
The yearbook committee needs photos of ISLA students, teachers, and staff! Please upload photos from school events to https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B8M4CyhIOQsxajYyZXdhb3B2NGM?usp=sharing. We can only use well lit, in focus photos. For the yearbook photos of kids facing the camera are almost always better (with the occasional exception of an artistic type photo or one showing their ISLA shirts.)
Questions? Contact Katie Gitler islasyearbook@gmail.com. THANK YOU!
2018-2019 School Supplies Order!
Looking for a way to take the headache out of school supply shopping this summer? New for this coming school year (2018/2019), all ISLA families will have the opportunity to skip the hassle and have SchoolKidz do all the shopping for them! With an easy online ordering process, school shopping can now take 5 minutes and also raise money for ISLA.
Orders for next fall will need to be complete by the end of the school year. The order window will be from April to June. More information will be coming soon!
Restaurant Night Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who joined the PTO at the Knollwood Panera last Wednesday, March 14. We earned 239.45. Proceeds will support PTO activities
