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Week at a Glance: 11 January 2013
Issue No. 16
School Wide News
New PYP Language Choice Deadline - Closing 18 January 2013
On 26 November 2012, we sent a Parent Advisory regarding changes to the Language programme in August 2013. These changes will see students from Grade 1 onwards select either French or Mandarin as their language of choice. In order to facilitate planning for next year, if you have a child entering Grade 1 - 4 in August 2013, please submit your language preference in this form by Friday, 18 January 2013. The original advisory can be viewed here.
New Weekly Curriculum Updates - Parent Portal
Parents are reminded that Homeroom and Advisor Teachers' weekly updates are now posted in the Parent Portal. Please login to keep abreast of curriculum updates and what is happening in class. A Parent Portal help document can be viewed here.
Having trouble accessing the portal?
A video that walks you through the portal can be viewed here. If you are unable to login, please contact communications@cis.edu.sg for assistance.
New Parent Teacher Interviews - 24 and 25 January 2013
Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on 24 and 25 January 2013. Registration for interviews will open at 7.00am on Thursday, 17 January 2013 and close at midnight on Tuesday, 22 January 2013. Registration is available on a first come, first served basis.
An important goal we have at CIS is to work in partnership with our parents in supporting each student as dynamic, confident and responsible learners who work to their potential, achieve quality outcomes and understand themselves as a successful learner.
Parent Teacher Conferences provide the perfect opportunity for discussion, planning and talking about individual learning goals. These conferences will be an opportunity for Homeroom or Advisor teachers, single subject teachers and parents to discuss progress to date, to share information, to clarify and record learning goals, and to plan and provide support for student learning and future success.
Conference Dates and Times:
Thursday, 24 January 2013
3.30pm to 7.20pm
Friday, 25 January 2013
8.20am to 2.20pm (no classes)
How and when do I register?
Registration will open to parents at 7.00am on Thursday, 17 January 2013 and close at midnight on Tuesday, 22 January 2013.
We have a new booking system this year that will be accessed directly in the Parent Portal. Next week an icon will appear on the main dashboard (screen you see when logging in) - from there you will click the link and be taken to the booking system. The system will allow you to book appointments for all children at one time. We will be sharing an information video that walks you through the new system early next week.
What appointments do I need to book?
Elementary School
All parents are encouraged to book an appointment with their child's homeroom teacher (homeroom teacher appointments are 20 minutes in duration).
If you would like to make appointments with your child(ren's) single subject teachers, you are most welcome to do so. Single subject teachers will be available and appointments are 10 minutes in duration. Please do not feel an expectation to meet with all single subject teachers, just the ones that you feel are the most important.
Appointments for Elementary are just between the teacher and parent.
Middle School
Grades 4 to 6 - conferences will be with the Homeroom teacher (20 minute appointments) and single subject teachers (10 minute appointments). Please do not feel an expectation to meet with all single subject teachers, just the ones that you feel are the most important at this point in time.
Grades 7 to 8 - conferences will be with single subject teachers and the Advisor Teachers (if needed). These appointments will be 10 minutes in duration. Please do not feel an expectation to meet with all single subject teachers or advisors, just the ones that you feel are the most important at this point in time.
Parents in Middle School are asked to leave an appointment slot between conferences to allow for sufficient travel time between appointments.
Appointments for Middle School are just between the teacher and parent.
High School
Parent Student Teacher Conferences present an opportunity to for a collaborative conversation between the student, parents and teacher about what is going well, what may not be going as well, activities students want to be involved in, and possible goals the student can set for the remainder of the year. Appointments with all teachers will be for 20 minutes.
Conferences provide parents with the opportunity to make appointments with individual subject teachers and/or advisors. Please do not feel an expectation to meet with all teachers, just the ones that you feel are the most important.
New Ice Hockey ECA Open For Registration - Begins 24 January 2013
Cost:
$325 per player (9 sessions)
Day:
Thursday mornings
Time:
7:00 - 8:00 am
Dates:
24 & 31 Jan , 7, 14, 21 & 28 Feb, 7, 14 & 21 Mar
Students in Grades 1 to 12 are invited to register for Ice Hockey which will begin on Thursday, 24 January 2013. Students must be dropped at the venue (JCube) directly. Transport to school will be provided and the bus will leave JCube at around 8.20am. Storage space for students' equipment will be provided on campus during the day on Thursday, however, students must pick it up after school on Thursday and take it home. Please note that the school is not responsible for the equipment if stored on campus.
Registration
Please email Ms Fe Pangilinan at maria.pangilinan@cis.edu.sg by Friday, 18 January 2013 to register.
Payment
Payment for the ECA must be made at the Finance counter in the main office by Friday, 18 January 2013.
New Food Festival - Call for Donations and Volunteers
The Food Festival (Wednesday, 20 February 2013) is one of the major events at CIS and provides an opportunity for our students to be risk-takers by sampling food from all over the world. View a slideshow of last year's food festival here if you are unfamiliar with this magnificent event.
The Uniting Nations Food Festival could not take place without the support of our parents. There are many ways you can help out on the day. You can donate a dish from your country, volunteer your time with set up, serving food, or with clean up, or you can volunteer to be a country coordinator.
If you can volunteer your time or a dish (or both), please provide the PTA with your details by completing this form. If you have questions, please contact the PTA at lkspta@cis.edu.sg.
Please note the following requirements for food donations:
Food should be placed in disposable containers (unless you will be helping on the day and can take the container home with you at the end of the day).
Ingredients that may cause allergies should be noted on the dish.
Portions need only be 1 to 2 bites in size.
New Sports dates
Sports dates for the upcoming month are now available on the Sports calendar of the school website. Please view this page for a comprehensive list of upcoming games and their locations.
New CIS U19 Rugby Huskies win 29-0 vs. ISS
CIS U19 Rugby Huskies won their first game with a whopping 29 point to 0 over ISS. The Huskies came out strong and scored two quick open field tries in the first quarter. When the opposition tried to retaliate, the Huskies showed their grit and drove them back with crushing tackles. As the half came to a close the opposition made a hard fought attempt for the Huskies' try line but Huskies played with real class and regained possession after a series of big defensive plays. In the second half, the Huskies controlled the rucks and loose play to opened up the score with three more unanswered attempts. The Huskies will play their next game on Monday, 14 January 2013 against UWCEA East Campus for a friendly game. Expect more big things to follow!
New PTA Documentary - The Finland Phenomenon
This month's PTA documentary, The Finland Phenomenon, will be shown on Monday, 14 January 2013 at 9:00am at the David Foster Theatre. Please come and join us for what should be an enlightening event.
About the film:
Finland's education system has consistently ranked among the best in the world for more than a decade. The puzzle is, why Finland? In the 60-minute film, Dr. Wagner guides the viewer through an inside look at the world's finest secondary education system. A life-long educator and author of the best-selling book "The Global Achievement Gap," Dr. Wagner is uniquely qualified to explore and explain Finland's success. From within classrooms and through interviews with students, teachers, parents, administrators and government officials, Dr. Wagner reveals the surprising factors accounting for Finland's rank as the #1 education system in the world.
New Volunteers Needed - Terry Fox Run
Thursday, 31 January 2013 will see the inaugural Lakeside Terry Fox Run. The event is organized by Community Outreach teachers and the PTA has been asked to provide some much needed parental support on the day. We are looking to recruit volunteers for one hour time slots to help at the event. Volunteering will entail marking each runner's arm with face paint as they complete a lap. If you were planning to come along to watch your child please consider volunteering, or if you just want to help we would greatly appreciate the extra hands.
To sign up to volunteer please complete this form.
If you have any questions regarding volunteering for the Terry Fox Run please email Tracy at lkspta@cis.edu.sg
New Fire Drills - Protocols
In December, we experienced a false alarm fire drill at the end of a school day, just as classes were being dismissed. This false alarm provided us with an excellent opportunity to examine our safety protocols to ensure that student safety is optimized. We have made some minor operational revisions to our protocols and would like to share them with you.
Emergency Evacuation Assembly Areas:
Fine weather:
Lower grass field
Inclement weather:
Undercover carpark
During and Start of School Day Protocols - Alarm before 3:15pm
Anyone who is in the building should report to the Emergency Assembly Area (the lower Field if fine/undercover carpark if raining) and wait for instructions from Security Personnel/School Administrators before re-entering the building. Most students will remember where their assembly points are. If they do, please allow them to assemble with their class.
Drivers who are about to enter the campus will be advised to park nearby as they will not be able to enter the campus until the all clear signal is given. Students cannot be dropped off at the gate if an evacuation is taking place.
Drivers who are already in their vehicles and on campus should proceed to park their vehicles on campus and proceed to the Emergency Assembly Area or the Guard House on Boon Lay Way and wait for instructions before entering the building. Please note that vehicles and pedestrians will not be allowed to exit until after the all clear signal is given.
After Dismissal - Alarm after 3:15pm
Anyone who is in the building should report to the Emergency Assembly Area (the lower Field if fine/undercover carpark if raining) and wait for instructions from Security Personnel/School Administrators before re-entering the building.
Drivers who are about to enter the campus will be advised to park nearby as they will not be able to enter the campus until the all clear is given.
Pedestrians, cyclists and people driving and already in cars will be allowed to exit the campus through the respective gates.
New Dutch Mother Tongue Classes - Providers Change of Business Name
Rijnlands Education Worldwide, the provider of the Dutch Mother Tongue Language Classes that run after school, have changed their name. The new business name is Language One. There will be no disruption to ongoing classes.
New Apple Mac Training Classes are filling up FAST! Sign up now.
Connie Gleeson, a CIS parent and Apple Certified Support Professional will be offering a two day course (from 1 to 3pm) on the following dates at Lakeside:
Monday, 28 January 2013 and Tuesday, 29 January 2013 (FULL)
Monday, 18 February 2013 and Tuesday, 19 February 2013 (FULL)
Wednesday, 27 February 2013 and Thursday, 28 February 2013 (limited spaces available)
The cost is $125 per person. Bring your own fully charged Mac Laptops and power cords. Bring iPhones and iPads if you own them as well.
Please book into the class by emailing connie.gleeson@icloud.com or filling out the enquiry form on Connie's contact page on www.conniegleeson.com.
Invitation from CIS Friends Singapore
CIS Friends Singapore - Parent Group, would like to extend a warm invitation to all parents and guardians from JK to Grade 12 to join us for a cup of coffee or tea on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 from 10.00am to 12.00pm.
Our objective - a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents and share our experiences and resources living in Singapore and abroad.
Please RSVP to Jennifer & Carmel at cisfriends.singapore@gmail.com for further details. Happy New Year!
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Elementary School
From Elementary School Principal, Rob Kiddell
Dear Parents,
Every [hu]man, who possibly can, should force himself to a holiday of a full month in a year, whether he feels like taking it or not. - William James
The holidays are over, report cards are being prepared and teachers and students are once again fully engaged in all that our school has to offer. The return from holidays saw the students renew friendships, increase their level of comfort in their surroundings and settle down to their learning. The three week break, in terms of its effect on learning, seems to have been little more than the effect of a one lane closure for tree pruning on the PIE. In summary, our "traffic" is back to normal with busy, happy students filling our halls and classrooms.
Thank you to the Grade 3's for a lively poetry slam this morning and for their QR reader artwork in the pod. Both displays were thought out and articulately presented.
Next week there are many activities. In particular, I encourage you to attend one of our three assemblies, SK, Grade 1 and Grade 2, and see our student (or perhaps teacher) performers and have a coffee or tea afterwards.
Welcome back,
Rob Kiddell
ES Principal
New End of day student pick up Lakeside Elementary
Parents should meet their students in the second floor canteen. The parents should arrive in the canteen between 3:10 - 3:15. Parents meeting children in the classroom means that we don't get children to the buses or we don't account for them properly. Thank you for your understanding.
New Changes effective January 7, 2013
Ms. Pathminy Nair is stepping down from her Educational Assistant position, in Ms. Kelly's class to care for her mother. Thank you Pat for all your hard work and help over your 13 years at CIS!
Ms. Wendy Nussey, our logistics coordinator, will take over responsibility for the ECA program (including middle school). Wendy will remain in the elementary school office and will work with our new logistics coordinator (see welcome below). Congratulations on your new role!
New Welcome to New Elementary School Teachers and Staff
We are delighted to welcome Ms. Sandra Friesen (new ECE) and Ms. Sarah Rees (new SK) to the Lakeside Elementary School community.
We are thrilled Ms. Victoria Colling is joining our office team (and will be our new logistics coordinator) and that Ms. Alison Lloyd will join us as a part time teacher (to help out in a variety of areas)
Key Dates
Tue, 15 Jan
SK Assembly and Parent Drop In
Wed, 16 Jan
Grade 1 Assembly and Drop In
Thur, 17 Jan
Grade 2 Assembly and Drop In
Fri, 18 Jan
Report Cards issued
Thur, 24 Jan
Parent Teacher Conferences
Fri, 25 Jan
Parent Teacher Conferences (no classes)
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Middle School
From Middle School Principal, Keith Bland
Dear Parents,
It was wonderful to welcome students back on Tuesday morning, and on behalf of the Middle School team I would like to extend very best wishes for the New Year to all parents. A special welcome to new families. We have had 45 new students join the Middle School in January.
I have been delighted with the commencement of the new term and the students have settled back into the routines very well and a very positive and industrious tone is evident. My classroom visit talks indicate that whilst everyone enjoyed the holidays, they are equally pleased to be back at school.
We have a busy time ahead and some of the January events include:
WAELP Block 3 for the next three Wednesday afternoons.
Excursion Week Meetings. Thank you to the Grade 6 team who hosted their meeting last night. Further details about upcoming Excursion Week Meetings can be found under Key Dates.
Student Semester 1 Progress Reports will be issued. These will be sent home with students on Friday, 18 January 2013.
Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on 24 and 25 January 2013. More information will be shared in the WAG.
Middle School Curriculum Information Coffee morning. Ms Keriann O'Rourke, our Grades 7/8 Drama teacher and Grades 4 - 8 Arts Subject Learning Leader will be speaking about the Drama programme at 9.00am on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 in the Senior Library.
Terry Fox Run will take place on Thursday, 31 January 2013. More information will be shared later.
During the day the teachers, Mrs. Caverly and I have only limited opportunities to read and respond to emails. Please feel free to telephone the Middle School office for any urgent matters and Ms. Suzi and Ms. Winnie will ensure the message is passed on.
Kind Regards,
Keith Bland
Principal
Grades 4 - 8 Middle School
Key Dates
Tues, 15 Jan
Grade 8 Excursion Week Meeting - 7:00pm at the David Foster Theatre
Wed, 16 Jan
Grade 4 Excursion Week Meeting - 7:00pm at the David Foster Theatre
Thur, 17 Jan
Grade 5 Excursion Week Meeting - 7:00pm at the David Foster Theatre
Fri, 18 Jan
Student Semester 1 Progress Reports issued
Tues, 22 Jan
Grade 7 Excursion Week Meeting - 7:00pm at the David Foster Theatre
Wed, 23 Jan
Middle School Curriculum Information Coffee morning - 9:00am at the Senior Library
Thur, 24 Jan
Parent Teacher Interviews
Fri, 25 Jan
Parent Teacher Interviews (no classes)
Thur, 31 Jan
Terry Fox Run
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High School
From High School Principal, Dr. David Ansbacher
Dear Parents,
Welcome back!
Our students have come back refreshed and focused, and we have gotten off to a great start. We had a terrific opening assembly on Tuesday morning, where I shared these thoughts with them - I encourage you to look at the presentation and generate discussions with your student about choices and goals for 2013. With reports being issued to parents on Friday, 18 January 2013 and our Parent/Student/Teacher conferences on 24 & 25 January 2013, this is a great time to take stock of progress made thus far and look at changes students can make to meet their goals.
OSSD EXAMS
OSSD exams will take place for many of our Grade 12 students the week of 21 January 2013. This schedule indicates the timing of exams, and I ask parents and students to review the Exam Protocol in advance of the exams. With this semester-based exam schedule, OSSD reports will not be issued to parents on 18 January 2013, but will be sent on 30 January 2013.
Husky Tales
We are happy to announce the release of the first edition of Husky Tales, our high school online literary magazine. Be warned, however, as this edition's theme is "Nightmares" - not for the squeamish! A big congratulations to the students whose literary and artistic works were chosen for publication and thanks to Mr. Patton and the team of editors. Submissions are being collected for the February issue, so we encourage students to pass the time with some creative writing.
University Visits
We hosted the International College of Hotel Management from Australia on Friday, and a group of Canadian universities will visit on Tuesday, 15 January 2013. Students are invited to sign up in the student services office. There are also a series of broader university opportunities this weekend and in the coming weekends that we are encouraging students and parents to explore. See below for information, or contact Ms. Green (ann.green@cis.edu.sg) for more information.
Lasalle College of the Arts Open House
Friday, 11 January 2013 and Saturday, 12 January 2013
11am to 5pm
1 McNally Street
http://www.lasalle.edu.sg/Events/EventDetail.aspx/LASALLE-Open-House-2013
Study in Australia Open Day
Saturday, 12 January 2013, 11am to 4pm
Sunday, 13 January 2013, 11am to 5pm
Pan Pacific Singapore, Pacific Ballroom
7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square
www.singapore.idp.com
Australia & UK Education Fair 2013
Saturday, 12 January 2013, 11am to 6pm
Level 4 MND Complex
9 Maxwell Road, Annex A
www.augstudy.com.sg
Study in Canada
Sunday, 13 January 2013
10:30 am to 6pm
Hilton Singapore, Vista 1 & 2, Level 3
581 Orchard Road
www.educationau-incanada.ca
Curtin Singapore Information Session
Saturday, 26 January 2013, 10 am to 1pm
For more information, or to register please go to the following website.
http://study.curtin.edu.sg/InfoSession26Jan2013.html
Sincerely,
Dr. David Ansbacher
HS Principal
Key Dates
Fri, 11 Jan
La Salle College of the Arts Open House
Sat, 12 Jan
La Salle College of the Arts Open House
Sat, 12 Jan
Australia & UK Education Fair 2013
Sat, 12 Jan
Study in Australia Open Day
Sun, 13 Jan
Study in Australia Open Day
Sun, 13 Jan
Study in Canada
Fri, 18 Jan
Reports issued (except OSSD)
Mon, 21 Jan - Fri, 25 Jan
OSSD Exams
Thur, 24 Jan
Parent Teacher Conferences
Fri, 25 Jan
Parent Teacher Conferences
Sat, 26 Jan
Curtin Singapore Information Session
Wed, 30 Jan
OSSD Reports issued
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Community News
New Join the Caring for Cambodia "Go Orange" campaign this 21 January 2013
During the week of January 21st, show your support by wearing orange, our official CFC color, and by spreading the word about the success of more than 6,400 Cambodian students receiving an education at CFC schools. The Annual CFC walk through the Botanical Gardens and surrounding neighborhoods will take place on Monday, January 21st.
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