Wanted: Your Passion for ISLA!

Looking for a way to help support the mission and oversight of our amazing school? ISLA needs you! We are looking for interested community members, teachers, and parents to fill several upcoming vacancies for three-year terms, beginning June 30, 2017. No previous experience necessary, but some areas of expertise we currently need include law, finance, human resources, marketing, fundraising, or education.

Because ISLA is a charter school, ISLA’s Board of Directors operates as its own school district. The Board is responsible for overseeing the general operations of the school, implementing policies and procedures, and long term financial planning. There are a number of different committees on which Board members can serve.

Questions can be directed to Gina Rumore, Election and Nominating Committee Chair, at grumore@isla-academy.org.

If you are interested in applying, please submit a Statement of Interest to the Election and Nominating Committee by April 6, 2017.  Click here for Statement of Interest 2017. A sample ballot, including nominated candidates, will be posted on the school’s website in April 2017 and the election for office will occur in connection with the annual meeting in May 2017.

Extra-curriculars Spring 2017 Deadline Coming!

Session Details

• Date: March 27 –     May 19
• Time: 3:45pm to     4:45pm
• Location: ISLA

Sign-up Details

Register here

• Registration     Deadline is March 22nd
• Registrations     accepted on a first come first serve basis
• Late     registrations are not accepted
• Please make     checks payable to: ISLA-PTO

Additional Details

• Please have     your student bring a nutritious snack and a water bottle for after-school     snack time
• Please be prompt to pick up your     children. Any student not picked up by 4:50 will be sent to Compañeros

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Lunch Ordering

Due to spring conferences, April lunch ordering will open Friday, March 17th and close at 10 pm on Sunday, March 26th.

Please login to Order Lunches at OrderLunches.com to place an order.

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Spring Conferences Coming up

Spring student-led conferences will be held on Thursday, March 23 from 1 – 8 pm and Friday, March 24 from 8 am – 2 pm.    There will be no school for students on these days other than their conference times. 

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Student-Led Conferences

Student-led conferences are scheduled for March 23 and 24.  Conferences will be held from 1 pm-8pm on Thursday, March 23rd and 8 am-2 pm on Friday, March 24th.  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. 

Sra. Holzbauer  
Sra. Patino-Johnson 
Sra. Martinez 
Sra. Alfaro 
Srta. Ortiz 
Srta. Hester 
Srta. Pfeiffer 
Sra. de la Cruz 
Srta. Olesen 
Sr. Allueva 
Sra. Adams 
Sra. Maldonado 
Sra. Devers 
Sra. Ashby 
Sr. Diaz 
Sr. Martin 
Sra. Slininger

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International Day of Happiness

Every year on March 20, people around the world celebrate International Day of Happiness. A profound shift in attitude is underway all over the world. We are starting to understand that happiness should be a basic human right. Advertisers tell us that we need to buy their products to be happy, celebrities and the media claim happiness comes with beauty and fame, and politicians say that nothing matters more than growing the economy. But the latest research from the science of well-being shows that there are several key areas that can make a difference to our happiness and they are within our control.

Happiness is sustainable and starts from the awareness that we are enough; and that we have all the resources we need for happiness already inside of us. We can practice happiness habits, and like any habit, they eventually become our automatic, no effort way of being. These 7 Happiness Habits are coordinated for each day of the week, to help you and your family get started celebrating happiness. We will also be celebrating some of these habits at school during the next week.

• Soulful Sunday--A life of meaning contributes to sustainable happiness and helps you live longer. There are many ways to experience meaning; conversations with a trusted friend, getting in touch with nature, quiet moments that connect us to inner guidance, as well as something greater.
• Mindful Monday--The practice of focusing awareness on the present moment is a proven way to reduce stress, increase focus, enhance emotional intelligence and decrease anxiety.
• Grati-Tuesday--By intentionally focusing on the good things, we are affirming that there is goodness in the world, so the feeling of positivity grows. The best things about gratitude is that it not only increases positive emotion up to 25%, it also sustains it. If you want to jumpstart your well-being, this is where to start.
• Wellness Wednesday--Simply put, happiness is good for your health. Choose a form of exercise that you love. Get enough sleep. Choose foods that energize the body instead of dulling the mind. Take care of your body to feel energized and happy!
• Thoughtful Thursday--To feel good, do good. Giving to others releases endorphins, activating the parts of our brains that are associated with trust, pleasure and social connection.
• Friday Freedom--Being your authentic self allows you to live with greater freedom. Forgiveness is a byproduct of living authentically and vulnerably. Practicing forgiveness doesn't only benefit the person we forgive, but it also has tangible benefits for ourselves as well.
• Social Saturday--Everyone needs connection to survive and thrive. Connection is important in boosting mental and physical health and even increases immunity and longevity. Make time for friends and family--your well-being depends on it!

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Announcing…

The International Spanish Language Academy 2016-2017 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: 9747917
Standard book  $22.50
Add any extras for an additional price:

• Hard Cover $5.50
• Zoom $2.00 
• Personalized Cover $5.50 
• Autograph Insert $2.50 
• Stickers $2.00

Orders due by March 31

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VISIT THE ISLA BOOK FAIR!

Looking for authentic Spanish-language books?

From local vendor CAZALIBROS. Get a sneak peek at caza-libros.com

March 23 from 1-8 pm
March 24 8 am-2 pm

10% of profits donated to ISLA!

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Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age

Are you watching kids scroll through life with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span? 

Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her own kids and learned that the average kid spends 6.5 hours a day looking at screens. She wondered about the impact of all of this time and about the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time—friction she knew all too well.

In Screenagers, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, Ruston takes a deeply personal approach as she probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore the struggles over social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction. Through poignant and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, Screenagers reveals how tech time impacts kids' development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.

Join us for a free screening and community panel!

Hopkins Public Schools, in partnership with Hopkins One Voice Coalition, is hosting a community-wide, free screening of the award-winning documentary, Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age.

When: Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 p.m., with a Resource Fair and Hopkins Public Schools student art show at 6 p.m. 

Where: Hopkins Center for the Arts, main theater, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins

Who: Open to the public. Families and students grades 4 through high school encouraged.

After the 68-minute film stick around and engage in a dialogue with a community panel offering perspectives and resources to help parents and their children navigate expectations and realities with the use of technology. The panelists include a Hopkins Public Schools staff member, therapists from myHealth Teens & Young Adults and Traverse Counseling & Consulting, and a young Hopkins graduate. The event will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Not a ticketed event, it is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served.

For questions about the event, contact Hopkins One Voice Coalition Coordinator Holly Magdanz Holly.Magdanz@hopkinsschools.org(link sends e-mail). 

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