Category: Newsflash

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

The first Core Belief in our Guiding Statements is that learning is a joyful, creative and open-ended exploration. Joy can be defined as an emotion induced by well-being. It involves experiencing delight or happiness. Joyful learning in the context of education refers to the positive intellectual and emotional state of the learner(s) when an individual or group is deriving a sense of engagement and satisfaction from the process of learning. As our elementary school students engaged in Week Without Walls this week, I can confidently say that their experience lived up to this expectation. For many of our students, I know that it was the highlight of their school year.

Our students were provided with a range of purposefully planned activities that provided them with the opportunity to develop skills and attributes in ways that are not possible during regular classes. It was also a week of firsts for many children. Some of the activities that children engaged in included visiting a farm, learning First Aid, sewing, cooking, using tools, gardening, and learning to light a fire. Our Grade 2-5 students were also provided with the opportunity to sleep at school, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Students were highly engaged in their experiences while demonstrating a sense of wonder and curiosity.

A characteristic of the week was a sense of shared interest and purpose. Learners of all abilities were provided with the opportunity to interact meaningfully with various challenges while also interacting with one another in supportive academic and social interchanges.

These experiences would not have been possible without the commitment of our faculty, who certainly went above and beyond to support their students. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional group of educators working at the school.

We look forward to offering a highly engaging experience to our MHS students from April 24 – 27. Planning is underway and has also included students so that their voices are heard, and interests accounted for.

Class of 2023 College & University Acceptances

We are proud to announce the initial admission offers from the Class of 2023. This is a partial list since most universities release offers in March & April.

(Click on the images to view the larger version)

Music Class

by Ms. Marie Briones, Music Teacher

What is the Sound of Silence?

In our latest unit the K/G1s have been exploring “Sounds Around Us.” The students looked into how sounds can come from living and nonliving things. They also explored the sounds that they can imitate, sounds that are made by different materials, sounds from nature and the planets, and sounds from gadgets.

 However, in order to develop IB learners who are open-minded thinkers and risk-takers, the K/G1s have been challenged to see (and hear) things from multiple perspectives.  During their previous meeting, K/G1s listened to a book being read, entitled “The Sound of Silence” by Katrina Goldsaito. When asked about the importance and the relationship between sound and silence, the students immediately made connections between two seemingly opposing concepts, that of Sound and of Silence. Through their very own student-driven discussions, they recognized how both concepts are two sides of the same coin, and that Silence served both a pragmatic and an aesthetic purpose in relation to sound and the senses. Here are some thoughts from our open-minded thinkers: 

Grade 8 Science Class

by Ms. Christine Enrile, Science Teacher

Sustainable Gardens 

“Sustainability involves Adapting scientifically tested Resources, for their appropriateness to perform specific Functions, that promote environmentally friendly solutions.” – Statement of Inquiry, IDU of Science and Design

The Grade 8 students have the opportunity to explore an interdisciplinary unit in Science and Design which focuses on sustainable gardens.  They will do inquiry-based learning to promote recycling of water, reducing energy costs, sustainable use of materials and growing food in small spaces.  To be able to do this, the students are learning scientific concepts on the classification and properties of matter as well as the changes they undergo.  Several formative tasks and practicals were done to help the students gain a deeper understanding of the lessons.

In this unit, the students will be creating their sustainable gardens in a designated area in school.  This task will allow them to apply their transfer skills which challenges them to combine knowledge, understanding and skills to be able to create a sustainable product.  In Science, the students will investigate the feasibility of the materials for the vertical garden scaffolding and the plant holders.  They will need to consider the different properties of the materials as well as the reactions involved as these will be exposed to several environmental conditions.  With this, the students have been engaged in testing the durability of several materials for the garden scaffolding.  These include wood, aluminum, iron, and tin.  They developed their own methodology, taking into consideration all relevant variables to make the testing scientifically fair and valid.

Kudos to the Grade 8 students for their diligence and for being critical thinkers!

Grade 11/12 Math Applications and Interpretation SL

by Ms. Maria Victoria Bacus, Math Teacher

As our seniors are completing their mock exams this week, here are some of the strategies they wanted to share, the do’s and don’ts before taking or during an examination as well as some common mistakes that were valuable in their learning. 

Before Taking/During Examinations:

DO’s

DONT’s

As the students worked through the different IB exam-style questions, here are some common mistakes that they hope to be avoided:

• Not reading the questions properly, not putting the answer in the correct units/format
• Not considering the command terms when answering an IB-style question.
• Not writing complete solutions and misreading some information
• Not reading before the exam. Reading before the exam helps you plan how much time you need for each question and which you need to focus on.
• Not using their formula booklet for hints.
• Not paying attention to the points available per question
• Not realizing that the questions are connected so one mistake in one number can affect the others
• Using the wrong formula in the formula booklet

Suggested Strategies for future Math AI SL students:

Grade 11 students have been introduced to Coordinate Geometry, Voronoi Diagrams and Trigonometry this semester.  

Students were busy exploring various resources to help them demonstrate their understanding.

They have used Geogebra and/or Desmos to investigate different concepts as well as gain a better understanding of the graphs of linear equations. 

Learning how to use different ratios to find missing information, solve problems and how it is applied in the real world are some of the essential skills for this unit.

As students continue to enhance their knowledge in a variety of contexts, a cumulative task on applying Pythagorean theorem to find missing sides of right triangles was assigned.

This provided students with the opportunity to work through a series of trigonometry problems that built on one another and to provide multiple and appropriate solution paths. 

Here is the trigonometry pile up task by William Emeny:

Student Reflections: 

As the students worked through this problem, some of them noted the following crucial steps: 

Dragon’s Print

As the end of the third quarter approaches, dealing with exam anxiety and stress can be extremely overwhelming. To serve as a distraction and to help you relax, Dragon’s Print has compiled 5 must-see films to add to your watchlist. Ranging from Fantastic Mr. Fox to Everything Everywhere All At Once, you are sure to find a film you’ll love. To see all the recommendations visit us at https://dragonsprint.cis.edu.ph/!

Dragon’s Report Card

As the second season of ISAC ends, the CIS Dragons share their experience playing girls basketball and boys football against other international schools in the Philippines! Hear from captains Andrew and Sofia, and players Liam and Arianna on the challenges the teams faced, their own advice, and more!

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Update from the University of the Philippines (for students from the Class of 2024 who are interested in applying to UP)

The UP College Admission Test is back! UPCAT will be held on 3 – 4 June 2023. The UPCAT 2024 application period will officially open in the first week of March 2023 with the online portal Form 1 (Applicant’s Personal Data) again accessible. Ms. Basa will hold a series of sessions for all students who will apply to UP in March when the applications open. Click here for the official announcement from the UP Media & Public Relations Office.

College  Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

February 19,
Sunday
Radisson Blu
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Link to register

AUSTRALIA EDUCATION FAIR:  Meet university reps from Australian universities and learn about their programs.

Below is the list of participating universities:

February 21
Tuesday
11:00PM
Link to register

Bocconi University – Don’t miss the chance to learn more about life at our Summer School by listening to past Students who share their experience, Faculty who are going to teach labs and Staff organizing the program.

March 23
Thursday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
For all Grade 11 students
Venue: Canteen Annex

Writing a College Essay – A hands- on session for all Grade 11 students with Mr. Christian diGregori0 – Head of International Recruitment for York College of Pennsylvania

SAT UPDATE for 2022-2023

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

It was lovely to join the Grade 11 and 12 Art students this past Wednesday for the opening of our annual Grade 11/12 IB Art Exhibition. Each year, I am so impressed not only by the range of artistic talent on display but also by the creativity and critical thought that students put into their work. What makes this more meaningful is knowing how much effort each piece takes, so congratulations, art students, and thank you for sharing!

As I reflected on the artwork in preparation for the opening, I was reminded of the following quote by author Gary Fenchuck (and I added “creativity” as I think it is an apt addition to his quote in this case!):

“Surprise and confound the world with your enthusiasm and optimism [and creativity]; you know something they don’t.” 

I love the challenge for us to “surprise and confound” (meaning to cause confusion)! Students, even though you are young, you are unique, and you know something others do not, so are in a position to provoke others (“the world”) in the hope they might think more critically about the essence of life, as portrayed in your artwork. 

Our Elementary School Week Without Walls (WWW) will occur next week. Cebu International school’s Guiding Statements highlight our belief in the importance of experiential, constructivist learning, and the explicit development of a wide range of skills and attributes identified as Approaches to Learning (ATL) and Learner Profile (LP) attributes. Our WWW programs are designed to engage students in purposefully planned activities that enable them to develop many of these skills and attributes in ways that are not possible or are more difficult, in a classroom setting. (Note, the MHS WWW has been rescheduled for April 24-27.)

Upcoming events of note

• Feb 13-20: G12 Mock Exams
• Feb 14-17: ES Week Without Walls
• Feb 23: School Holiday
• Feb 24: Cebu City Charter Day (Public Holiday)
• Feb 28: CIS Parents Coffee Morning (8-9am CIS annex)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

EY 2/3 Class

by Ms. Aimee Valezona, Early Years Teacher

Living things depend on each other for survival 

The Early Years have had a very successful week this week! We continued our planning and began constructing and setting up our chosen habitats while incorporating our concepts and understanding of living things. The majority of the students have so far explained how plants, animals, and people grow, breathe, and why they are all dependent on one another to survive. They created several models of living things in our small groups based on the habitats to which each one is best suited. The students have discussed the kinds of food that animals and people eat while considering the different living things we created in diverse habitats. They also discussed the various types of animal body covering, people’s clothing, and how these are essential.

The Early Years were inspired to explore and expand their knowledge after creating, setting up, and seeing our classroom transformation by asking questions about the type of body covering, and types of food that animals need to survive in specific habitats.  Additionally, they were able to explain how and why habitats have an impact on living things’ choice of food and ability to survive. We’ll keep learning more about living things and explaining how everything on earth is connected. 

Excellent work this week, EYs!

Grade 6: Individuals and Societies

by Ms. Joy Pierra, I & S Teacher

The Light Bulb Goes Off

This quarter, the Grade 6 I&S class explores the unit “The Light Bulb Goes Off.” This focuses on the use of sustainable and renewable sources of energy. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming an increasingly relevant topic because of the number of challenges humans face at present, including growing concerns about climate change, the depletion of finite resources, and the issue of sustainability. The use of renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass provides clean, abundant, and sustainable power that can help address these critical challenges. This unit also supports and promotes UNSDG #7, clean and affordable energy.

First, the I&S 6 students identified the different renewable energy sources and examined how each one works. 

Then, students evaluated the pros and cons of using these sources of energy.

One of the primary advantages of using renewable energy sources is that they are less harmful to the environment than traditional fossil fuels. In contrast to oil, coal, and natural gas, which emit greenhouse gases when burned, renewable energy sources emit almost no greenhouse gases and are thus beneficial to the environment and public health. Furthermore, renewable sources like wind and solar are limitless, which means they can support future generations (“Benefits of Renewable Energy Use,” 2017).

Currently, the I&S6 class is investigating the factors that influence the success and failure of using renewable energy sources, as well as determining whether these sources are viable in the Philippines. Students will create a video depicting various Asian countries that have been successful in using these energy sources.

Grade 11 & 12: DP Chemistry

by Ms. Christine Enrile, DP Chemistry Teacher

MYP Personal Project

by Mr. Jonathan Denton, Personal Project Teacher

With just FIVE weeks until project products are due, we are well and truly at the business end of the Personal Project, and what a year it promises to be! 2022/23 will be the fourth year the MYP Personal Project Showcase has been part of the CIS calendar and this year will be the first FACE-TO-FACE. Before I give you a little taste of what to expect this year, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

• 2020 SHOWCASE – Deandra’s foley clips, Jenny’s re-cut trailer, Keenan’s football juggling, Johan’s suspense film, Sean’s boxing, Luna’s animations and much, much more
• 2021 SHOWCASE – Andrew bulking up, Selly’s fast fashion artworks, Renoa’s lookbook, Roy’s shoes, Igu’s golf tips, Chewon’s dragons, and a whole lot more 
• 2022 SHOWCASE – Marianne’s black swan, Mahati’s graphic novels, Max’s criminal law case, Ivan’s skating dairies, Hyein’s 3D artworks, and so much more. 

Some of what is coming up on April 14th, 2023:

Essence Art Exhibition

by Victoria B., Grade 11

The CIS Grade 11&12 IBDP Visual Arts students invite you to the virtual showcase of our Essence Art Exhibition. Please click on the image to navigate to the gallery.

Essence is the exploration of the life we live. As individuals exposed to various facets of life, we gradually discover and create aspects of our identity. Our life experiences cultivate us and mold the interpretation we have of our world. 

Each of our artworks were created prior to selecting the theme and as such each student has taken a different approach to the exhibition in terms of diversity of styles, media, and techniques, meaning that each of the students have their own interpretations of essence. We are delighted to be sharing the exhibit with the community and our face-to-face interactions have provided us with the opportunity to dialogue about our work and listen to the interpretations of visitors to the exhibition.

On behalf of Grade 11 & 12, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Saclo and Ms. Gerri for guiding us in our artistic endeavors.

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

February 11
Saturday
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Link to register

EVENT

SIM Global Roundtable Series: We have then gathered three (3) of our existing Filipino students to share their experiences and motivations in deciding to study in Singapore and at SIM. Get ready to meet Anne (SIM-University of London), Venus (SIM-University of Wollongong), and Micah (SIM) as they generously share their education journey “thus far” at SIM.

February 11
Saturday
11:00PM
Link to register

Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs at Johns Hopkins: Are you ready to change the world through the power of engineering?  Are you an intellectually curious high school student with an interest in math and science? Join this webinar to find out more.

February 19, 
Sunday
Radisson Blu
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Link to register

AUSTRALIA EDUCATION FAIR:  Meet university reps from Australian universities and learn about their programs.

Below is the list of participating universities:

February 21
Tuesday
11:00PM
Link to register

Bocconi University – Don’t miss the chance to learn more about life at our Summer School by listening to past Students who share their experience, Faculty who are going to teach labs and Staff organizing the program.

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

CIS Student Residence

by Mr. John Devadoss, Head of Student Residence

“There is no health without mental health” – World Health Organization

A young person’s social environment (such as their boarding environment) can have an impact on their health. Therefore, we deliberately leverage and modify to create a harmonious and happy environment here at the Student Residence.

We know that happiness is pivotal to a student’s emotional stability. “An excellent boarding school is one that is happy, and happiness is seldom arrived at through the exercise of routines that deprive dignity’ – Tim Hawkes.

Sometimes, happiness needs to be taught and the route to happiness is found by ensuring that students have;

• A pleasant life (a pleasurable life that generates positive emotion)
• An engaging life (finding fulfillment through engagement in worthwhile activity)
• A Meaningful life (forging friendships, understanding each other)

CIS Boarding provides the above to ensure that the students in our care are happy and have a positive sense of self-esteem. For students, CIS Student Residence is a home away from home. We are Caring, Inclusive, and Supportive.

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

Experiential learning is an important component of the programs that we offer at CIS. In very simple terms, it can be defined as the process of learning by doing. We believe that by engaging students in hands-on experiences and reflection, they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

You will note from the contributions to this week’s Newsflash that our students engage in this in varying ways as they move through the school. There are examples from our young artists and photographers, along with an article on the way in which we promote Mathematical Mindsets in the Middle Years Programme (MYP). Our Senior students also feature in this week’s Newsflash as they share the process and results of their self-initiated exploration of a topic of their choice for the Extended Essay.

Throughout the school, our teachers and students are guided by an inquiry cycle that guides teachers and learners beyond the development of a series of activities and towards a more thoughtful process that assists students to move from the known into the unknown, and as such, engage in the deeper exploration of knowledge and understanding.

This process is also paired with Kolb’s theory of experiential learning, which involves concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This process couldn’t have been better modeled by our Grade 12 Art class last week as some of the students delved deeply into each other’s artwork in preparation for the opening of their Art exhibition on February 8th. The depth of thought, action, and the ability to articulate the active conceptualization of abstract concepts were incredible. It also serves to underscore the talents of our students and teachers, as well as the effectiveness of our program.

Experiential learning encourages cooperation and enables students to engage in the development of creative solutions to problems. Next week we will also showcase a taster of one of the Grade 10 Personal Projects in which a student has programmed over 800 lines of code to solve a Rubik’s Cube puzzle from any position in under five seconds.

In closing, I’d also like to recognize our ISAC athletes that traveled to Subic Bay for the football and basketball competitions last week. I know that they return much better for the experience both as athletes and people. There was overwhelming agreement from all schools involved that our students conducted themselves especially well and were the standout team when it came to positive attitudes and getting along with others. Our basketball team battled valiantly while the football team came second overall due to a last-minute goal in the final.

We should be especially proud of these players’ characters and performance. Congratulations on your efforts!

Upcoming events of note

• Feb 13-20: G12 Mock Exams
• Feb 14-17: Week Without Walls
• Feb 23: School Holiday
• Feb 24: Cebu City Charter Day (Public Holiday)
• Feb. 28: CIS-PTA Coffee Morning

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

PYP Arts

by Mr. Fher Jun Guiritan, PYP Art Teacher

The EY2/3 students are so diligent in painting a tree using poster paint on their big box to be used as the main background for their forest nature habitat diorama.

Mixed media gives the flexibility for newer materials in conjunction with older materials to be explored, and a wider range of products, arts and crafts can be created.

Grades 2 and 3 are exploring symmetry, scale, and proportion in art. Balance is an even use of elements throughout a work of art. Symmetry is a very formal type of balance consisting of mirroring portions of an image.

Grade 3 students working on some simple exercises on symmetry.

This student is still working and painting the right eye of her sister, making sure she applies the right proportions to the eye and the nose.

The grade 2 and 3 students are learning about picture planes – foreground, middleground, and background.

Do you look to get outside and make art? Our K/G1 students do!

These students are having so much fun collecting natural materials that can be found at school and with some imagination, created an image that they had in their minds. 

What better way to make a self-portrait using only natural materials than using those that can be found in the kitchen?

Mathematical Mindsets

by Mr. Jon Denton, Assistant Principal-MYP

Last week parents were invited to a workshop that looked at the “revolution” that is happening in the way Mathematics is being taught in the classroom. We started the morning by discussing our own experiences with Mathematics. With participants from China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines the experiences were diverse in some aspects, but interestingly,  strikingly similar in others. 

The goal of the meeting was to illustrate how everyone can be successful in Mathematics, there is no such thing as a “maths person”. We explored how Mathematics can be a wonderfully creative subject about creating solution paths that others can see, discuss, and critique. Most importantly, we discussed how depth is much more important than speed – a Maths class is about learning, not performing.

The following three activities are from Jo Boaler’s wonderful You Cubed website (linked below). Each of these is a “low floor high ceiling” task where anyone has the ability to begin the activity, and work at their level, while also being able to extend to higher levels of mathematical understanding. 

The first task, “Paper Folding”, explores our understanding of surface area while also developing mathematical reasoning. Participants are asked to build shapes and then justify their findings through mathematical facts and reasoning.

The second is a group task all about exploring patterns. It is “low floor” in the sense that everyone is able to see how the pattern is growing and would be able to describe or show others in the group. The interesting aspect is that some may see it grow in different ways than others. There are multiple ways to solve problems in Mathematics, which is why it is very much a creative subject. The task gets more challenging as we are asked to predict and then verify how many squares would be in the 10th case. This problem is “high ceiling” as you could discuss what would the pattern look like in the cases of 0 and -1.

The final task I will share is a simple one that works with the order of operations. You need to find all the numbers from 1 to 20 using only four 4s and any operation. It is up to you to make it as challenging as you want. 

For Example

Recommended websites:

• You Cubed offers a lot of free resources and activities –  https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/
• NRich Mathematics is an excellent source – https://nrich.maths.org/
• Illustrative Mathematics is an all-time favourite of mine – https://hub.illustrativemathematics.org/s/
• Desmos Classroom has plenty of fun activities – https://teacher.desmos.com/

Extended Essay Cafe

by Ms. Emily Cornet, IB Coordinator

One of the major pieces of the IB Diploma Programme is the Extended Essay (EE) – a 4,000 word essay which students embark upon during Grade 11, and complete in the first semester of Grade 12.  During this journey, students must identify a topic/subject, develop their own research question, conduct academic research, and then write the paper.  Students work with a supervisor throughout their process in order to stay on track, get feedback, and maintain their motivation.

Earlier this week, CIS Grade 12 students participated in the annual EE Cafe, where they prepared presentations of their journey to share with fellow students, parents and families, and faculty/staff.  These presentations were displayed on a website so that audience members could return to them at another time.  During Homeroom, the Grade 10s, Grade 11s, and Grade 12s all had the opportunity to watch the videos and give feedback on what they learned from each.

This particular group of Grade 12 students underwent much more complicated circumstances than previous groups as they started Grade 11 still attending remote classes online, shifted to offline work in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, returned to online classes, before finally being able to come back to face-to-face classes.  Our students are to be commended for their hard work and dedication as they continue to strive towards completing their journey through the Diploma Programme. 

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

February 10
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

EVENT

Istituto Marangoni (Italy) – Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

February 11
Saturday
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Link to register

SIM Global Roundtable Series: We have then gathered three (3) of our existing Filipino students to share their experiences and motivations in deciding to study in Singapore and at SIM. Get ready to meet Anne (SIM-University of London), Venus (SIM-University of Wollongong), and Micah (SIM) as they generously share their education journey “thus far” at SIM.

February 11
Saturday
11:00PM
Link to register

Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs at Johns Hopkins: Are you ready to change the world through the power of engineering?  Are you an intellectually curious high school student with an interest in math and science? Join this webinar to find out more.

February 21
Tuesday
11:00PM
Link to register

Bocconi University – Don’t miss the chance to learn more about life at our Summer School by listening to past Students who share their experience, Faculty who are going to teach labs and Staff organizing the program.

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

The CIS community was treated to a wonderful Chinese New Year Assembly this week – well done to all the students involved, and our Mandarin teachers Ms. Elaine Jin and Ms. Zirong Chen. Please enjoy this Newsflash featuring the Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration & Activities at CIS over the past few weeks!

We also want to recognize our student athletes who have traveled to Subic Bay this week to compete in the second ISAC Tournament for this year. Months of hard training will culminate in this tournament, and we trust our Girls’ Basketball and Boys’ Soccer teams will do their best and enjoy putting their playing skills and teamwork into practice in an intensely competitive atmosphere. What a great learning opportunity for them – we wish them all the best. Go Dragons!

As we end this week, I wanted to comment on a quote from an article titled “​The Great Delusion Behind Twitter” by Ezra Klein that highlights how our society has become so busy that we are in danger of being distracted from the things that matter most to us.

“I think there is a reason that so little has gotten better and so much has gotten worse. It is this: The cost of so much connection and information has been the deterioration of our capacity for attention and reflection. And it is the quality of our attention and reflection that matters most.”

Over the weekend, how about setting a little quiet time aside to reflect on what matters most to you and your family? Are there areas that need your attention, but are not getting the attention they deserve? As a school, we are also cognizant of the need to do this, both in the classroom to aid learning, and also as an organization. Stay tuned for more on how you can contribute to this as we seek input from various stakeholder groups to review our school’s guiding statements! Have a connected, high-quality weekend.

Upcoming events of note

• Jan 31: Parent Coffee Meeting – “Global Citizenship” (8-9am, Annex)
• Feb 13-20: G12 Mock Exams
• Feb 14-17: Week Without Walls
• Feb 23: School Holiday
• Feb 24: Cebu City Charter Day (Public Holiday)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Google Reviews

Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration & Activities

by Ms. Elaine Jin and Ms. Zi-Rong  Chen, Mandarin Teachers

Chinese Lunar New Year is the biggest traditional holiday celebrated by Chinese people all around the world. It took place on Sunday, January 22, 2023, which welcomed the year of the Rabbit. In Mandarin classes, we participated in a range of different activities to celebrate this important holiday

ES Mandarin class
In Elementary School, children have been preparing and practicing for our New Year performances. Grade 2 and 3 played the most important role during the opening of the Whole School Assembly and performed a joyful Dragon Dance 舞龙 (Wǔ lóng) and greeted the audience. Grade 4 and 5 learned “Wing Chun” 咏春, a form of Southern Chinese kung fu and close-quarters system of self-defense. Students have been practicing this kung fu to gain a deeper understanding of this traditional martial arts, and also to have the chance to exercise themselves. Click here to watch the kung fu performance.

Grade 1 and Kindergarten presented a lovely dance to the audience with wishes of good luck and fortunes for the coming Year of the Rabbit. Click here to watch the dance video.

MHS Mandarin class
More than just a modern-day celebration, the Chinese New Year is filled with rich customs and meanings. In MHS, Mandarin students have done different activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year. They have watched some videos to learn about the traditions, legends, celebrations, activities and the meaning of this festival. They have also experienced some activities by themselves. Apart from experiencing the celebration activities, the students also contributed their effort to our first whole school assembly in the second semester which took place on Tuesday.

The MHS students have presented their performance in the whole school assembly and showed their enthusiasm in celebrating traditional holidays. Grade 6/7 Mandarin class has prepared a play about 十二生肖(Shí’èr shēngxiào)-twelve zodiac animals. They have presented the reason we celebrate the New Year along with different animals. They have been working on making their face masks, prompts, and practicing their acting skills. Grade 8/9 class has presented us with fan dances. One group painted their own fan and showed us what a round fan dance looked like and the other group showed us a modern dance with traditional fans. The Grade 10 class ended our assembly by a dance “Rabbit Run Run Run” and called the whole school to dance with them. The Grade 12 Mandarin B representatives, Jia and Rhett, provided us with a lovely rendition of a traditional New Year song while some DP students played the role of MCs and guiders of the CIS Promise. 

Please click the following pictures to watch the video of the MHS performance.

Spanish Class

by Ms. Dina Melwani, PYP and DP Spanish Teacher

As we start the New Year at CIS, the Spanish primary kids were able to celebrate the day of the Three Wise Men. Some of us might not be so familiar with this festival so here is an introduction to the wonderful festival.

Every year, weeks before the arrival of Christmas, children in Spain and some Hispanic countries begin to think about the gifts they want from the Three Wise Men. It is that time to write the letter to the Three Wise Men, a moment of enormous illusion and fantasy for the little ones. In it, the children tell how they have behaved throughout the year and what gift they would like to see in their living room on January 6 when they get up.

There is no standard manner of writing these letters, but each child can choose the format that they like best; just as there are multiple ways to send their requests. Some choose to deposit them in the mailbox of supermarkets or toy stores, and others ask their parents to seal it and send it by conventional mail. The grade 12 students in Spanish were given a template in which they had to ask what they wanted to give back to the community.

It is tradition to leave something to eat and drink for the Kings and their camels. Something sweet or fruit with a little water will surely come in handy to regain strength and fulfill their mission. The Three Kings Parade is celebrated in all Spanish cities, and some Mexican ones, on the afternoon of January 5. The three wise men, accompanied by their assistants, parade in floats through the streets of the municipalities throwing sweets at all the children, representing the path they traveled in their day to Bethlehem. The primary Spanish students got some sweets on that day.

It is a magical night in which tradition is mixed with faith and hope, the illusion of children with the adoration of the Kings to the child Jesus. Every year, during the early morning of January 6, the Three Kings go to the houses of the children to leave their gifts, in the same way that they brought gold, incense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. The grades 1 to 5 were shown videos of the Three wise men and then they were given worksheets on who they were and what they brought on their visit to Jesus.

According to tradition, one of the things required by the Three Kings for children to receive their gifts is that they have behaved correctly and have been good during the year. Those who meet these demands receive gifts, but those who do not behave as they should, instead of gifts, they receive coal, a sweet coal that symbolizes the need for the child to change their attitude.

January 5th is a special day to be with the family. The children are nervous to discover what their majesties will leave them at night and, the older ones, will enjoy seeing their innocent gaze. On the morning of January 5, it’s time to get up early. You don’t have to set your alarm clock, but you don’t have to stay in bed until noon either. There are many things to do!

A fantastic idea that the Three Wise Men will surely appreciate is that the children leave them a letter hand-written, giving them encouragement for that evening of work and to thank them for coming by. If they don’t know how to write yet, they can draw a picture. And since the children know that after coming from the East, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar will be exhausted.

It is also very important to clean shoes and leave them next to the nativity scene, so that they know the exact place to leave the presents.The children will never know what time the Kings will arrive, so it is advised that they have an early dinner and something light. This will be easy, but the most difficult thing will be for them to go to bed. So that they have sweet dreams and last the whole night without waking up, it is known for parents to show them beautiful stories about Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar.

For many children, the Three Wise Men are their great references and even their greatest heroes. Throughout the year they are not very present in their day to day, but the little ones in the house know that they are always being watched. 

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Question of the Week: 

Are local universities in the Philippines at par with universities abroad? What are the Big 4 in the Philippines?  Yes. In 2022, 16 universities in the Philippines made it to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University rankings

The big 4 are located in Manila namely:  University of the Philippines – Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas.

The QS WUR 2023, led also for the 11th year by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the United States, ranked almost 1,500 universities around the world with institutions assessed across categories or indicators that capture university performance: Academic reputation, Employer reputation, Faculty/student ratio, Citations per faculty, International student ratio, and International faculty ratio.

This year’s QS ranking reveals two new indicators – International Research Network and Employment Outcomes – to gather feedback from institutions ahead of its full inclusion in next year’s edition. The two categories’ scores did not affect the overall score of the universities. (https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings)

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

January 29
Sunday
1:00 – 5:00pm
Link to register

EVENT

Study in Japan – Learn about studying in Japan and the opportunities that come with it.

February 3
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

University of Essex (UK) –Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

February 10
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

Istituto Marangoni (Italy) – Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

Last week, our students were involved in a number of Culture Week activities, culminating in our annual Sinulog Family Day. For those who are not aware of what Sinulog involves, here is a short outline of its history:

Sinulog Festival is an annual religious and cultural festival held in celebration of one of the country’s most famous historic relics: the Santo Niño de Cebú. This was the statue of the baby Jesus that was handed to the Rajah Humabon of Cebu by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. This festival has grown to become one of the most important events in the religious history of the Philippines, as it paved the way for the birth of Christianity in the country. Source

Sinulog Family Day @CIS combines house activity day (HAD) activities in the morning that are organized by our student councils, a street parade and performance by a group of Sinulog Dancers, and a PTA-organized lunch. It was wonderful to be able to do this in person again, and we are glad everyone enjoyed the festivities. We hope those who attended also enjoyed learning more about the friendly, colorful Philippine culture in a multitude of ways over the course of Culture Week. Thank you to the multiple organizers of the day, your efforts are very much appreciated! Please enjoy the photos of the events below!

Photos by Mr. Marlowe Guinto

Next week, we will celebrate another cultural event, our annual Chinese New Year! The Mandarin classes have already been investigating what this involves and will share details and photos of our celebrations next week. For now, we hope you enjoy the 4-day long weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Xin Nian Kuai Le | 新年快乐 | Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Upcoming events of note

• Jan 20 – 23: Chinese New Year Holiday
• Jan 24: ASAs Start (ASA selection has commenced – refer to the sign-up form send via email from Mr. Pierra)
• Jan 25: ES Conferences (no face-to-face classes for ES students)
• Jan 25-29 ISAC 2 Boys Football & Girls Basketball Tournament (Brent Subic/Wed. & Sun. are travel days)
• Jan 31: Parent Coffee Meeting (8-9am, Annex)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Philippine Culture Week

Classroom Activities

Sinulog Dance

Weaving

Jeepney Ride

House Activities Day (HAD 2)

by Seohyun and Jooha, Student Council

Saturday, January 14 was a memorable event for the CIS community. Students got to enjoy the school’s second successful HAD after a two year-long break from online classes.

This HAD stood out from the rest because it was integrated with some of the best aspects of Filipino culture: the food, people, and Sinulog! Through traditional games such as Bato Lata, Takyan, and the Coconut Husk Race, the students from grades 2 to 12 worked together in an attempt to bring their houses up on the leaderboard.

Seohyun and I mainly walked around each station, ensuring that the games were rolling out efficiently. It was definitely hard to resist the temptation of playing the games due to the loud cheers of endless school spirit. Whether it was cheering for their respective teams in the Coconut Husk Race, or celebrating their win when the last bottle got knocked down in Bato Lata, the team spirit was present throughout the day.

The whole event wouldn’t have been possible without the involvement of the Student Council members, teachers, admin, maintenance team, PTA, and the students. On behalf of the Student Council, we would like to thank everyone for their participation in providing an unforgettable experience for this year’s HAD/ Sinulog Family Day. 

Throughout the day, we have seen everyone have fun playing the games, but we would like to recognize the final results for HAD 2. Tied in first place, Mahogany and Molave earned 80 points each. In third place, we have Acacia with 43 points. Finally, in fourth place, we have Narra with 37 points! Now the question is, who will be the winner of the next HAD 3?

Grade 7: Language & Literature

by Mr. Corryn Smith, ELA Teacher

Unit 3: Novel Study
Point of View: How is a character’s point of view shaped by their feelings in a story? 
Connecting to a character’s point of view through sensory language/ description.

In grade 7 Language and Literature, students are exploring the key elements of a character’s point of view in a work of fiction. In this case, students are learning about the first part of our class novel Bamboo People as told through the main character’s(Chiko’s) point of view. Since Chiko is the narrator, there is explicit dialogue told with every little detail. This gives us (the reader) a very good sense of what is going on around the character (his thoughts and feelings; his attitude towards all of the things happening in his life).

Students demonstrate their grasp of Chiko’s point of view through a series of journal responses exploring their own thoughts and feelings during a challenging time in their own lives: the pandemic. 

In the examples below, a student responded to the following journal prompt analyzing the features of descriptive writing and connecting with the tone of the narrator Chiko. Since quarter one, students have been building upon the skills of descriptive writing and sensory language and how these features communicate a writer’s tone:  “What family treasures do you value at home? How were they a source of comfort during the pandemic? Be specific and detailed in your descriptions. Consider the use of sensory language. For example, this can include descriptions such as the sounds of your sibling’s laughter or the smells of a home-cooked meal.”

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

February 3
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

University of Essex (UK) –Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

February 10
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

Istituto Marangoni (Italy) – Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

Our elementary students have had a delightful week of activities that have focused on Philippine Language and Culture with the most anticipated activity being the opportunity to take a jeepney ride this morning. As I rode with one of our Kindergarten/ Grade 1 groups it was great to listen to the children’s conversations, observations and some insightful questions that were prompted by what they saw, along with the nature of the ride.

I know that many of you are excited for the return of a face-to-face Sinulog Family Day tomorrow. While it will be wonderful for families to be able to meet and have lunch, we are privileged to have the opportunity to experience the magnificence of the festival through our guest dancers. This is exciting, especially for those members of the community that are yet to experience this festival.

I’ve previously mentioned the importance of establishing and maintaining family traditions and this notion proves to be true of the traditions and experiences that we provide to our students, especially as they relate to local culture and traditions. These positive experiences last for a lifetime and are memories that nurture connection and a greater sense of belonging to the school and its community.

As an international school we naturally place an important focus on global citizenship and how we may prepare our students to successfully contribute to a changing world. While our students are drawn from diverse cultures and engage with an international curriculum, local culture and traditions are important, and a shared commonality through which our students may view the world.

We trust that the focus on Philippine culture, language and traditions as part of our global framework serves to stimulate awareness and pride in the wonders of the country and the various cultures that contribute to such a vibrant way of being. At the same time it serves as an excellent grounding from which to examine dismissions of global citizenship such as respect, service, environmental stewardship and international-mindedness.

 I look forward to seeing you at Sinulog Family Fun Day tomorrow.

Upcoming events of note

• Jan 20 – 23: Chinese New Year Holiday
• Jan 24: ASAs Start (ASA selection has commenced – refer to the sign-up form send via email from Mr. Pierra)
• Jan 25: ES Conferences (no face-to-face classes for ES students)
• Jan 25-29 ISAC 2 Boys Football & Girls Basketball Tournament (Brent Subic/Wed. & Sun. are travel days)
• Jan 31: Parent Coffee Meeting (8-9am, Annex)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Philippine Culture Week 2023

by Philippine Language and Culture Teachers

The elementary school teachers and students celebrated Philippine Culture Week to promote and show appreciation of the host country culture by engaging in different Filipino activities. This meaningful celebration has opened an avenue for the students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Philippine culture.

The students have shown their knowledge and skills they acquired and their appreciation by participating in arts, sports, games, and dances hosted by our Filipino teachers. To culminate this cultural experience, our students have enjoyed their experience on the most popular and iconic Filipino public transportation, the jeepney.

Grade 12: Theory of Knowledge

by Mr. Alejandro Guerra Tibocha, TOK Teacher

One of the most important tasks from the core components of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is the Theory of Knowledge Essay. Students in Grade 12 have been working diligently on the final version to submit next week. The TOK Essay is an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of knowledge and the process of knowing in different contexts. This is a formal piece of academic writing that provides a response to one of six Prescribed Titles (Essay Statements) focusing on the different Areas of knowledge, namely Arts, Mathematics, History, Human Sciences, and Natural Sciences. 

In general, the process has been challenging for the students as they must explore and provide appropriate evidence for some of the possible connections between knowledge and the world around us. One student states that “starting a TOK essay is not easy. From choosing a prescribed title to searching for examples to use, each step in the TOK essay challenged me.” To add on to this idea, another student asserts that “One of the main challenges in my essay was knowing how to write and think critically in the lens of TOK, especially in making implications from my arguments.” As well, some of them are convinced how “reading about the topic and asking help from my teachers when I was confused equipped me with everything I needed to know to write a good TOK essay.” 

Most of the students have nearly finished their final versions after going through a series of formative practices involving three individual interactions that offered feedback according to each stage in the process. Using one student’s words “…getting feedback on my original drafts helped me identify the points in my essay where I could improve on or ponder on a little bit more. Seeing how I did on the mark scheme also helped me identify what I could do to make a better essay…” which also “made finishing the essay all the more worthwhile.” Another student comments “…the feedback has really contributed to the quality of my draft in a way where it offered better word choices to make my essay more focused on the prompt itself. Additionally, the feedback gave relevant insights and ideas that improved the arguments/counterarguments as well as their implications.” And, to add to the idea of implications, one last student concludes that “…feedback from my TOK teachers greatly helped me on this issue as I learned that I only needed to make a slight adjustment on the way I phrase my ideas. This seemingly minor suggestion then greatly improved my essay and overall writing skills.” 

All the best to all the students and thank you!

Spanish Class

by Mr. Antonio Melgar, Spanish Teacher

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Our amazing students of Grades 11 and 12 Spanish B High Level are starting to read an original book, written in Spanish, by the Nobel Prize awardee Gabriel García Márquez. The above-mentioned book is called El Relato de un Náufrago and narrates the story inside the story of a castaway crew member during a tropical storm in the Caribbean. It incorporates his perils, survival, ascension to the status of national hero and then his downfall when the truth comes out. What is the truth of the
story?

Our Spanish Grade 8 and 9 students designed Día de Reyes cards, to introduce ways to write formal and informal holiday letters as part of their Travel and Tourism topic. Students discovered how to use the dates in Spanish, diverse ways of greeting people and how to wish happy holidays, and bid farewells. Students are now working on how to arrange travel plans to touristic attractions, they are discussing weather conditions, costs and other necessary information for their trip..

Spanish 6 and  7 worked very creatively to design a Rey Mago, filled it with candy and  gave it to some teachers wishing them happy Three Kings Day, as part of our unit on Festivals, Holidays and Traditions.  As of now, we are discussing how each of our families celebrate (or not) Christmas, New Year and we are identifying each culture’s most important celebration, to promote internationalism  and cultural sensitivity.

Grade 10 Spanish students are now working hard to analyze the diverse levels of complexity in human creations, and in particular technological innovations. We are aiming to develop a deep understanding of the world by considering the advantages and disadvantages our creations have given us. Questions asked are: What is technology? Can animals have it too? To what extent is technology always positive for humans? What are the most important inventions that changed human lives for good? Is it dangerous? What could be the ethical issues to be considered?

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Celebrations of the Week!

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

January 17
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex
(Uni rep will zoom in)

SUNY Korea: Live virtual information session with the university rep

January 17
Tuesday
5:00PM
Link to register

Carl Benz School of Engineering (Germany)
Everything you need to know when applying to the Carl Benz School and the CBS College Program conveniently packed into one info session! The live Q&A session afterwards will give applicants the opportunity to speak directly with the expert team about any open questions you might have regarding admission requirements and our application process.

January 18
Wednesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex
(Uni rep will zoom in

Kyoto University of Advanced Science: Virtual Info Session with the university rep with Q & A including a chat with an undergraduate student.

February 10
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

Istituto Marangoni (Italy) – Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

Dear Parents,

I hope that you were able to spend some quality time with your family over the holiday break. Given the significance of the season, it is a time in which family traditions contribute to the development of lasting memories and the strengthening of family bonds, which provide children with a sense of belonging and help shape who they will become and what they hold dear.

As we commence the second semester of the school year, we are excited about the return of a face-to-face Sinulog Family Day on Saturday, January 14th. For those of you that have been on campus lately, you will have noted the bright decorations that are appearing in anticipation of the event. As we move towards this tradition our students will be celebrating Philippine Culture Week, which is an opportunity for them to learn and celebrate the wonders of the country and the various cultures that contribute to such a vibrant way of being.

Our Middle and High School reports will be released to students and parents today. As with the Elementary reports that were distributed prior to the break, they provide an overview of your child’s progress so that you have a clear idea of their performance at this point in time. We hope that it enables you to have meaningful conversations with your child about specific subjects and their approaches to learning. Should you require further information about your child’s progress, please feel free to contact the relevant teacher.

With reports being released, and as it is the first week of a brand-new year, it is an appropriate time for students to engage in reflection on their strengths and areas for development. It is also a good time to begin to plan and implement routines that may help bring about positive change. This will look different for each student, especially given their various stages of development but could range from steps to gradually engage in more exercise and eat more healthily through to refining the amount and nature of study taking place at home.

Setting a goal can be easy but it is important to think about what it will take to accomplish a goal or resolution. For those wanting to make positive change, it is important to not only focus on the specific outcome but rather creating an action plan with small, short-term achievable goals that will lead to that long-term outcome. I know that many of our Grade 12 students will be thoroughly invested in this process as they plan out their final semester of school.

No matter what your goal or resolution is for the year, I wish you well, and I am excited that we are back on campus for what promises to be a busy and engaging semester.

Upcoming events of note

• Jan 9 : Sem 2 ASA/Club Registration
• Jan 9 – 13: Philippine Culture Week
• Jan 14: Sinulog Family Day/HAD2
• Jan 20 – 23: School Holiday (Chinese New Year)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Sinulog Family Day

Medical Team Corner

by Ms. Cybil Risos (School Nurse) & Ms. Lory Romano (Administrative Secretary)

This is just a friendly Health and Safety message from the school’s Medical Team!

We have all been excited to have everyone back on campus after the holidays. As we prepare for next week’s Sinulog festivities both on campus and all over the City of Cebu, we wish to remind everyone of our responsibility, as a community, of reducing the risks of getting infected with COVID-19 and keeping everyone safe.

While we will continue to ease aspects of our protocols, we also need to continue to promote awareness and diligent practice of the key precautions that have proven to be effective at reducing Covid-19 risks significantly. These include the proper wearing of appropriate quality masks when in the vicinity of potential carriers, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and maintaining airflow in enclosed spaces.

PHE Invasion Unit

by Mr. Ace Pierra, Athletics Director

Basketball and Frisbee
This lesson focused on the value of teamwork, how to accept and give support, and how to cooperate in order to achieve a common objective. Additionally, the unit aids students in achieving higher degrees of success for the unit’s goal and promotes learning development across the MYP. At the end of the unit, students were offered authentic and challenging assessments to demonstrate what they know, understand, and can do.

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Question of the Week?

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

January 9
Monday
7:00AM (virtual)
Link to register
-a recording will be sent to registered participants

EVENT

Johns Hopkins University – Pre College Programs in Engineering
What’s summer without stimulation for the brain and engaging in amazing activities? The Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Program is the perfect way for talented high school math and science students to spend the summer.

January 12
Thursday 
Link to ask a question

University of Sheffield (UK) – Live Q & A: Studying engineering often brings prestige, leading many students to select this industry to study in university. But what does it actually mean to study engineering? A discipline dedicated to problem solving, engineering is the designing, testing, and building of machines and processes using mathematics and science. If you’re interested in building, creating, or maintaining structures, and you’ve had an interest in learning about how an engineering degree can benefit you in the long-run, this is the session for you. Join this session to hear from university representatives and undergraduate students how you can prepare for a degree in engineering and what exactly it means to pursue a degree in engineering in university.

January 17
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00AM
Zoom link to follow

SUNY Korea: Live virtual information session with the university rep

January 18
Wednesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Zoom link to follow

Kyoto University of Advanced Science: Virtual Info Session with the university rep with Q & A including a chat with an undergraduate student.

February 10
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

Istituto Marangoni (Italy) – Face to face info session with the university rep: Learn all about the programs and application process.

SAT Update

2022–23 School Year Test Dates

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

As we end our first semester, I want to congratulate the entire CIS community for pulling together and successfully completing our first semester. While it has been great to be back on campus, I think most of you will agree that it has also been particularly challenging this year. Over the semester break, please take some time to reflect and rejuvenate.

Reflect on how you have been coping.

• Are you on track to reach your learning and personal goals for the year?
• Have you been able to keep up with your work commitments?
• And have you done so while ensuring you look after your social and emotional well-being?
• Have you maintained your attention to relationships? The pandemic has reminded us how important these are.
• Do not be afraid to ask for help or advice, or even just share your feelings with a friend or family member.
• Then once you have reflected, consider actions to improve for the coming semester!

Rejuvenate basically means to get your energy back. Over the break:

• Relax, take time do things you really enjoy!
• Build relationships – spend time with family and friends, even if it is just connecting if you are unable to do things together.
• Get bored! Providing you are not putting off something important, your brain benefits from being given time to get creative!
• Read a lot, write and draw! And older students, some of you could take the opportunity to catch up or get ahead with your studies.

Have a safe, restful holiday, everyone, Malipayong Pasko / Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Upcoming events of note

• Dec. 11 – Jan. 2: Christmas Break/Sem. Break
• Jan 3:  First Day of 2nd Semester
• Jan 9 – 13: Philippine Culture Week
• Jan 14: Sinulog Family Day/HAD2

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Tree of Giving

by Ms. Emily Cornet, IB Coordinator/Asst. Principal-DP

On Saturday December 3rd, MHS Student Council members gathered at school for the culminating act of this year’s Tree of Giving: the distribution of the gifts.  While covid concerns prevented us from hosting the children from Umapad Dumpsite on campus for a half day of activities, the school community still came together over the past month to make sure that the children of Umapad would get gifts of essential items.  With around 400 gifts in total collected, MHS Student Council students spent part of their Saturday loading the gifts into the trucks to be brought back to the children at Umapad.

MHS Student Council extends its sincerest thanks to the students, families, staff, and faculty who donated gifts to help make this event possible.  We look forward to a return to pre-covid times (hopefully next year) when we can host the children of Umapad on campus.

Grade 2/3: Endemic Plants and Animals in the Philippines

by Ms. Ann Codoy, Philippine Language and Culture Teacher

The Grade 2 and 3 researchers started exploring endemic plants and animals in the Philippines under the transdisciplinary theme, Sharing the Planet. We started with solving puzzle pieces of different species and used the SEE-THINK-WONDER routine to encourage students to make careful observations and thoughtful interpretations, stimulate their curiosity and inquiry from the puzzle they solved. This inquiry led to unlocking the word “endemic” and provoked students to share the different species of plants and animals in the country and apply their research skills to categorize them into endemic and non-endemic animals. Below are some of the puzzles they solved and explored.

Moreover, as we continue our conversation on the different species we can find in the Philippines, students continue to apply their communication and thinking skills to build up their knowledge. Grade 2 and 3 students carried on with their questions and encourage themselves to research their wonderings to answer their curiosity. This positive attitude of students is an excellent kickstart to discovering more about our new unit focusing on the different wonders of the Philippines and how they connect to the Filipino culture.

Grade  4/5: Leadership in the Philippines

by Ms. Freshal Abcede, Philippine Language and Culture Teacher

The Grade 4 and 5 inquirers applied their prior knowledge about leaders and their responsibilities in the Philippine community under the transdisciplinary theme How We Organize Ourselves. This inquiry led to identifying a leader’s values and beliefs and allowed the students to share their perspectives on what qualities and values a leader must possess. By exploring the different qualities of leaders, our inquiry widened our understanding of their various functions in the community.

The students acquired the understanding and connections that leaders and their leadership styles could be influenced by their family’s upbringing, experiences, or education. We learned about the story of Antonio Meloto, who was from a poor family and founded the Gawad Kalinga Foundation. This discussion led to revisiting the Sustainable Development Goals as they discovered that Antonio Meloto’s foundation is trying to help five million families out of poverty by 2024. Learning about this unit helped Grade 4 and 5 students see the world’s reality and how leaders work to contribute to the welfare and improvement of people’s lives.

The students showcased their research, communication, self-management, and social skills through this inquiry. The students shared their speech campaigns and participated in the student mock elections to better understand how the election works in the Philippines. In addition, we reflected on the importance of choosing leaders who can effectively support the people. The students shared that one citizen’s decision can affect the whole country.

IB Diploma: Group 4 (Sciences) Project

by Science Teachers

The Diploma Program in CIS offers Biology, Chemistry and Physics which comprise the Group 4 courses.  In studying any of these courses, the students become aware of how scientists work collaboratively and communicate with each other.  This is the unique experience which Group 4 Project offers to them.  It is an interdisciplinary activity in which students studying the different disciplines in Science work together to analyze a problem using biological, chemical and physical concepts.  

The Group 4 Project aims to: 

• develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines;
• develop and apply 21st century communication skills in the study of science; and
• promote critical awareness of the ethical implications of using science and technology.

The Grade 12 students are engaged in the planning, action and evaluation stages of this endeavor.  This year, the theme for the Group 4 Project focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  There is a wide variety of research problems and these have been investigated using the scientific method.

The activity culminated with the presentation of outputs.  Critical thinking and collaboration were highly evident.  Thought-provoking questions were asked which enhanced the discussion.

The students were also given time to reflect on their experiences particularly on how they had contributed to the investigation as Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics students.  

These are some of their reflections.

Student Achievement

The Dragon’s Report Card Podcast

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

January 17, 2023
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

EVENT

SUNY Korea

January 18
Wednesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

Kyoto University of Advanced Science: Virtual Info Session with the university rep with Q & A including a chat with an undergraduate student.

Note: College visits will resume in January so students can focus on end of semester assessments.

SAT UPDATE for 2022-2023

2022–23 School Year Test Dates

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

It has been a busy first semester and much has been accomplished during that time. I have been extremely proud of the way in which our students have sustained their drive and commitment to their studies and After School Activities over the past few months. The whole-school production of Elf was simply incredible and I know that our student athletes were pleased to be able to resume their involvement in ISAC sports. The energy and engagement in classes  is commendable. Our students have one more busy week to work through until their well-deserved holiday break. I wish our students, particularly in Middle and High, the very best as they work on their final assessments for the semester.

December is typically a time of giving and our students have been engaged in an array of school and personal projects to support communities in need. This year’s Tree of Giving is one such example and the Student Council are thrilled that our community has been able to reach their proposed target. This will light up the lives of many.

While acts such as these make a positive difference to the lives of others it is important that we also consider the importance of giving to our students. We are a school that very much values service as an important way to engage in principled action. Research is often quoted that shows that the simple act of giving can be as rewarding as receiving. I certainly see this in the acts of kindness and respect that take place in our virtual classroom environments. In the context of the vulnerable communities that we support however, some have such critical needs that we need to consider the long-term implications of the dispositions we are fostering in our students rather than a short-term “feel good” reward.

 At CIS, our intentional commitment to service learning is such that over time our students are developing a greater awareness and a better understanding of communities’ contexts and our students’ responsibilities. We trust that our students will be the leaders of tomorrow, whether that be here in the Philippines or in various locations around the world. Providing them with a sense of duty, empowerment, and ability to influence and advocate others for the betterment of society and the environment is incredibly important.

I wish our students and families a positive final week of the semester.

Upcoming events of note

• Dec. 3: CIS Tree of Giving
• Dec. 11 – Jan. 2: Christmas Break/Sem. Break

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Grade 3: How the World Works

by Ms. Katrina del Mar, Grade 3 Teacher

How does the world work? The Grade 3 researchers stepped outside the classroom and went on a nature walk to start answering this question. They felt the warm sun kiss their skin, saw the tall trees, and heard chirping birds. It was a world full of wonder.

Has the Earth always looked the same as it does now? No. After watching a timelapse video of photos taken by Google Earth in different places across the globe, the Grade 3s concluded that the Earth is changing year by year. They wondered what caused the change.

What causes the changes to our physical environment? To answer their question, the Grade 3s conducted a short research project and presented the information they gathered to the class. They found that natural phenomena such as earthquakes, typhoons, and landslides, among others, can change the Earth’s surface.

How does our understanding of our physical environment affect our lives? The effects of natural phenomena on the Earth can sometimes be disastrous. The Grade 3 students saw the need to prepare by performing drills and making posters to inform people about safety tips before, during, and after a natural phenomenon. 

What will the Earth look like in the future? Although natural phenomena cause changes to the Earth, they found that human activities change our world too. Some activities can bring positive effects, some can bring negative ones. The Grade 3 global citizens conclude that the answer to this question can in part be up to us.

Grade 7: Making Mathematical Connections

by Mr. Dan Monfre, Math Teacher

One of the most important aspects of teaching mathematics is to show students how that math can connect to their lives outside of the classroom. Luckily for our students at CIS, the IB program makes this a key component at all levels of the IB continuum. This can look different at each grade level but the concept of bringing mathematical connections into everyday life remains the same. In grade 7 students have been working on balancing expressions and solving equations. This concept is often one of the first times students are exposed to abstract math. Now that we have learned the basics of solving abstract equations we have been applying these skills to word problems using real-world examples to make the abstract more concrete. For the summative of this unit students are working on writing mathematical story books, where each page contains a new word problem. The grade 10 students have taken their equation solving to the quadratic level. They have been looking into how to graph and transform parabolas by identifying roots and key components of the function. To bring these concepts into the real world students found parabolic shapes in the real world and plotted parabolic curves to match the images as shown below.

ELF The Musical

by Ms. Stefanny Hermias, Production Director

Elf The Musical was a product of three months of rehearsals and hard work put in by the students in Elementary and Middle/High School. A big THANK YOU to all the teachers and staff who worked behind the scenes.  Huge kudos to the cast and crew for giving us an amazing musical stage play on Friday, November 25, 2022.

Here are a few reflections and comments from the cast:

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

December 3
Saturday
7:30 – 9:30 PM
Link to register

EVENT

Worldwide Webi Fair: A Virtual College Fair that allows you to explore over 30 institutions from 6 countries.

December 6
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Media Center Conference room

Alumni Chat:  Chantal Elise Schmidt (Class of 2019) – Miss Universe Cebu City representative for 2022, will talk about “Work-Study Balance while in College”.  Chantal is one of the 40 under 40 exemplary individuals. She was selected due to her advocacy for mental health.

“I personally do not believe in settling for one advocacy,” she said. “The very core of being an activist is extending your help to anyone, anywhere. However, while I am very vocal about animal welfare and the emancipation of women, I am mostly recognized for my work regarding suicide prevention. Upon concluding my Miss Universe Philippines journey, I received an influx of messages from hundreds of people, not just Cebuanos.”

December 6
Tuesday
6:00 PM
Link to register

Studying in the UK – Imperial College London and University of St. Andrews (UK): You are invited to join a talk on studying in the UK by two of its best, and very different, universities – Imperial College London and the University of St Andrews. They will cover  the differences between the English and Scottish university system to help you find the best fit when considering the UK as a study destination. You’ll also hear from current students in a live Q&A to  find out all about their student experience.

December 7
Wednesday
10:00 AM
Link to register

University of Southern California Summer Programs Virtual Info Session: The session will highlight the benefits of attending USC Summer Programs, dive into our USC Summer experience, and discuss application best practices and common mistakes.

December 8
Thursday
10:00 PM
Link to register

Virtual Study in Netherlands Fair – Meet up online with representatives of Dutch higher education institutions. Learn more about the English-taught study programmes they are offering. Drop by the virtual booths to have a chat. 

Participating institutions:

Note: College visits will resume in January so students can focus on end of semester assessments.

SAT UPDATE for 2022-2023

2022–23 School Year Test Dates

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

After months of hard work, sweat, and yes, even tears at times, we are so excited to have our wonderful Production team perform the Broadway musical Elf, the Musical to the CIS Community this evening! Here is a sneak preview from the dress rehearsal yesterday – photos of the actual event will be highlighted next week!

As we enter the two-more-weeks-to-Christmas-break period, it is not surprising to experience a bit of “red zone” behavior. This is a period of time when people tend to get impatient and grouchy easily due to the pressures they face over this time. If you are on the receiving end of any grumpiness, please try to be understanding and tolerant, and not react. If you are feeling stressed and in danger of becoming a grouch, then I have a great suggestion for you, summarized from Dan Rockwell’s Leadership Freak article 4 surprising times to express gratitude:

#1. When tempted to complain express gratitude.
A closed mind rages against an unalterable past. Find a way to express gratitude in every situation. You can’t be thankful for tragedy. You can be thankful for helpful people. Honor painful circumstances by learning from them. Feeling like others need to learn but you don’t produces ungratefulness. External adversity forms internal character.

#2. When tempted to quit express gratitude.
Grumbling comes before quitting. Gratitude is energy to keep going. Challenges make contribution relevant.

#3. When tempted to feel sorry for yourself express gratitude.
Ungratefulness finds reasons to moan when others have it easier than you. Kill envy with gratefulness. Say, “Good for you,” when others shine. You’re smaller than the person you tear down.

#4. When tempted to feel resentment express gratitude.
Bitterness poisons attitudes and contaminates relationships. Grateful leaders [and people] build safe environments. Ungrateful leaders [and people] build self-protective teams.

• Gratefulness sees advantage where ungratefulness sees obstacle.
• Unexpressed gratitude is ungratefulness.
• Expressing gratitude shifts your thinking from burden to opportunity. The greatest power of gratitude is it changes you.

I trust these words of wisdom will help you to consider how you can choose to act positively when tempted to react negatively. In addition to the red zone, these are also useful to consider for the upcoming holiday period as well!

Enjoy your weekend, and Production Team, we are proud of you – get some well-earned rest and see you ready to get stuck back into your learning activities next week!

Elementary: Language Acquisition-English

by Ms. Evangeline Belono-ac, K-5 LA-English Teacher 
     Ms. Claudette Colinares, K-5 LA-English Educational Assistant

In Language Acquisition-English classes, students engage in different learning activities to develop the four language domains- listening, speaking, reading, and writing and improve their English language proficiency. They explore words related to their units of inquiry to build their vocabulary, improve their comprehension, and support them in accessing the curriculum. They learn different grammatical rules and structures to improve their oral and written communication skills.

During Culture Week, the students celebrated their diversity and shared their culture with each other.  They learned to appreciate their similarities and differences, developed their research, thinking, and communication skills while embracing the opportunity to be open-minded, principled, and risk-takers. As they learned greetings in other languages, created presentations, read stories, played games, and shared their beliefs and traditions, the students were able to make connections and understood the importance of respecting each other’s diversity. 

Language Acquisition

by Ms. Zirong Chen, PYP Mandarin / DP Mandarin ab initio Teacher
     Ms. Dina Melwani, PYP Spanish / DP Spanish ab initio Teacher

Culture may be defined as a ‘social heredity’ transmitted from one generation to another generation with the accumulation of individual experiences, or a mode of activities differentiating people of one society from another society. Culture cannot be a biological phenomenon but a learned pattern of social behavior to be followed. It is a wonderful and unique phenomenon of human society with colorful diversity always changing its patterns which is the greatest beauty of human society. Culture forms beliefs, conveys ideas, and shares knowledge on customs and values. All of these characteristics are communicated through language which is an integral part of culture.

Culture as a social process deals with the use of language and communication experienced by people in given circumstances. They tend to learn more than one language for the satisfaction of communicative needs in their academic and professional career. The process of learning a second or foreign language not only requires an individual to practice linguistic forms but also necessitates to become familiar with the culture of the target language in order to interpret intercultural communication.

Below are some pictures of how we celebrated different cultures in the Mandarin and Spanish classes.

Grade 11: DP History Internal Assessment

by Ms. Joy Pierra, DP History Teacher

One of the essential components of the DP History course is the Internal Assessment (IA) or the historical investigation. It comprises 25% of the overall grade of a standard level (SL) student and 20% for a higher level (HL) student. It’s an inquiry-based investigation that enables students to demonstrate the application of their skills and knowledge. They can engage in an exciting, stimulating, and personally interesting historical topic of their choice to be the focus of their IA.

The IA exposes students to the methods used by historians to conduct research, such as formulating thesis questions, gathering, analyzing, interpreting data, drawing conclusions, and making decisions. It also allows them to evaluate the factors that could affect a historian’s interpretation of the past.

The Grade 11 History students have begun planning their IAs. They started by identifying their topics, formulating thesis questions, and gathering resources. Here is the range of topics that they’ve picked and their thoughts about them.

DP Visual Arts

by Mr. Jessie Saclo, DP Visual Arts Teacher

“The IB Diploma Programme visual arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries” (IBO, 2017).

The IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts course is a rigorous two-year program geared to cultivate students’ creative abilities through three assessment criteria: the comparative study, the process portfolio, and the exhibition. This thought-provoking course develops critical and analytical skills through the process of art-making and art critique. By studying and creating art from different cultural perspectives and contexts, students are exposed to an extensive range of traditional and contemporary techniques, styles, and media. 

At the heart of the visual arts core syllabus are three interrelated areas; communicating visual art, visual arts in context, and visual arts methods. These have been designed to interlink with the assessment criteria component tasks fully and are central to the students’ holistic learning and understanding. Within the visual arts course, students apply their knowledge and understanding of the relationship between these areas and how they inform, inspire, acquire, and impact their work in visual arts.

The comparative study challenges students to independently explore and contextually analyze artworks, objects, and artifacts from different cultural contexts. Students have the liberty to choose, examine, and compare at least three artworks with contrasting contexts by at least two different artists. This intensive investigation will feature a comparison and analysis of the selected works and evidence of how their work and practices have been influenced by the art and artists they examined. The completed work will be marked against these criteria; identification and analysis of formal qualities, analysis and understanding of function and purpose, analysis and evaluation of cultural significance, making comparisons and connections, presentation and subject-specific language, and making connections to own art-making practice.

Take time to appreciate some excerpts from the initial comparative study work our grade 11 DP visual arts students produced in their journey through the IB DP visual arts course. 

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Celebration of the Week

Congratulations to Renoa (Class of 2023), Chantal (Class of 2019), and Samsam (Class of 2003) for making it to the list of Sunstar’s 40 under 40 outstanding individuals in the field of public service, advocacies and support for mental health.

Renoa is the youngest among all 40 individuals. She founded Set Forth PH which transforms communities by providing equal and accessible learning opportunities for Filipino children. “I can confidently say that our biggest achievement would have to be involving more people in our cause. I truly believe that change can only be made through collective efforts as a community, and time and time again, I have seen how fellow Filipinos, most especially Cebuanos, have shared their time, effort and blessings to support underprivileged children to obtain access to quality education,” she said.

Chantal was Cebu’s representative in the recent Miss Universe 2022 competition held in Manila. “I personally do not believe in settling for one advocacy,” she said. “The very core of being an activist is extending your help to anyone, anywhere. However, while I am very vocal about animal welfare and the emancipation of women, I am mostly recognized for my work regarding suicide prevention. “

Even though he has a legacy behind him, Mayor Samsam Gullas of Talisay City is not afraid to challenge the times and has made his own mark, an “Aksyon Agad” governance which means immediate action. “The City government of Talisay is definitely not one man. Everyone is working hand-in-hand. If there are compliments, it’s not just the mayor—I’m just one person.”

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

November 26
Saturday
1:00 PM (JST)
Link to register

EVENT

Ritsumeikan University (Japan) – A webinar on the undergraduate application process to RU.  A recording will be sent to those who register.

December 7
Wednesday
10:00 AM
Link to register

University of Southern California Summer Programs Virtual Info Session: The session will highlight the benefits of attending USC Summer Programs, dive into our USC Summer experience, and discuss application best practices and common mistakes.

Note: College visits will resume in January so students can focus on end of semester assessments.

SAT UPDATE for 2022-2023

2022–23 School Year Test Dates

Test dates labeled Digital means that students will bring a device to the test center and take the exam using their device.  The College Board may provide devices for test-takers who do not have access to a device.  All test-takers for Digital SATs are still required to report physically to the test center to take the test.

To register for the SAT, you may click on this link.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to email Ms. Jenny Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph.