Category: Newsflash

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

This morning we held our first face-to-face elementary assembly. To say it was a long time coming would be an understatement. Many of the students in the elementary school had never been to a face-to-face assembly before or couldn’t remember attending one given the disruptions brought about due to the pandemic. The experience was certainly one to remember. In addition to the introduction of our ES Student Council members, there were various other presentations and the most memorable series of dances put on by our teachers. The atmosphere was fun-filled and served to highlight our unity and commitment to each other.

 We look forward to a gradual return to various face-to-face activities this year, and in doing so I want to highlight the benefits that events such as these provide.

The opportunity to assemble in one place at the same time to engage in a common experience is powerful. We hope that assemblies, along with other activities such as House Activities Day, our Production, and Alumni Chats serve to cultivate school spirit, instill a sense of belonging and motivate students to make the most of the opportunities CIS has to offer. It also provides us an avenue to showcase Filipino culture and be proud of the many positives of the country and its people.

School assemblies, whether in person or online, provide students with the opportunity to develop confidence and share their ideas with others. While some students may do this more naturally than others, with the right inspiration, students who are not normally confident in front of others can be inspired to be risk-takers and present their ideas or performance in a respectful environment. Our preference for students to develop and run these events, even in the elementary school, is in keeping with our commitment to nurturing confidence and capacity in our students.

Assemblies provide us with an opportunity to share life lessons with our students. Aligning these experiences with the school’s core beliefs and values is especially important and a great way to develop respect for self and others while valuing diversity in all forms. As an IB World School, we also showcase the Learner Profile Attributes and Approaches to Learning which are inherent in our core beliefs.

There is more to school than what goes on in one classroom. It is important that we provide our students with a well-rounded school experience and opportunities to develop and share experiences and understandings. As a school, we promote a diverse range of after-school offerings and believe in the benefit of students engaging with older and younger students. We want our students to participate in fun activities with their peers and in doing so develop their leadership and participate in activities they may not have learned about otherwise. The return of face-to-face experiences such as the Alumni Chats and university/ college visits provides our older students with a window into the wider world and a diverse variety of opportunities that await them.

Upcoming events of note

• Aug. 26: School holiday    ← Note we have a 4-day long weekend from tomorrow 
• Aug. 29:  National Heroes Day (Public Holiday) ← Enjoy the break!
• Aug. 30: Parent Coffee Meeting (CIS Annex) 
• Sept. 9: Osmena Day (Public Holiday)
• Sep 15: ES Goal Setting and Conferences day (no classes for ES students)
• Sep 16: House Activity Day (HAD) 1 (half day of morning events/home at 11:30am); Teacher Inservice afternoon
• Sept. 20: CIS Corporation Meeting (see info-poster below)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar (http://cis.edu.ph/school-calendar/) for the complete calendar of school events.

Please note: The deadline to apply for CIS Corporation Membership is August 31, 2022.

Elem Media Literacy

by Ms. Mary Jean Cordova, Media Literacy Teacher

As we kicked off our first unit in Media Literacy, How We Organized Ourselves, students in elementary shared their understanding of Digital Citizenship. Being on remote learning for two years has helped the students develop their media literacy skills. During one of our discussions in class, students in Kinder and Grade 1 shared how they responsibly use their gadgets at home. They shared that they only use their devices on weekends or alternate days with the time limit in mind. When asked what we call those people who used different gadgets to communicate and get information, students identified some of the IB Learner Profile Attributes. According to them, those people are called communicators and thinkers. We will continue to widen our understanding of Digital Citizenship in the following weeks as we explore how we can be responsible and safe online. 

Class notes during our Media Literacy class with Kinder and Grade 1

Students in Grade 4 shared their individual understanding of Digital Citizenship.

Students in Grade 5 shared their group understanding of Digital Citizenship.

Student in KG1 reading a nonfiction book about reptiles.

Grade 11: Chemistry 

by Ms. Christine Enrile, Chemistry Teacher

As the students start their journey in DP Chemistry, it is important to set them up for success.  This is reinforced with knowing the expectations of command terms which are used in instruction and assessments.  With this, the students started the process of being familiar with the command terms through the collaborative matching type activity.

It is also important to let the students apply their skills in measurement and data processing since these are used in the prescribed practicals and internal assessment (IA).  Through the exploration of determining the density of water at room temperature, the students demonstrated their skills in using the laboratory apparatus, developing a procedure, collecting and processing data.  After the discussion and formative tasks on Measurement and Data Processing, the students were then asked to reflect on their practical work and make revisions.  

Initial phase:  A portion of the lab report is shown.

Revision Phase:  A portion of the lab report is shown.

Data and results.

A. Raw data

B. Processed data

Critical thinking was highly evident throughout the process particularly in the revision phase.  The students were able to apply their understandings and skills to make empirical data more scientific and valid.  

Here are the lesson takeaways from the students.  

Reflections

MHS Spanish

by Mr. Antonio Melgar, Spanish Teacher

Hola, ¿qué tal? In Spanish in Grades 6 and 7 students are having fun while discovering how to describe a person based on physical appearance but also using personality traits like intelligence, kindness and hard work. They are using the newly acquired vocabulary to describe themselves, classmates, peers and people relevant to them either at home or school, and at the same time they are emphasizing how important is to show respect and kindness for people that are different to them. Because at the end of the day, we are all different.

Grade 8 and 9 students are working on discussing the dangers of the social media, and the challenges that it poses for them. As part of the unit, they are considering how they can protect themselves from anything that can be perceived as a menace to their integrity. Discussion goes from rules and regulations to permissions and what can be posted and what is not allowed, depending on the social media platform and their ethical values. In order to achieve that, they are reading and listening to audio intended for native speakers. Please see how one student has extracted the relevant information from this video file.

Grade 10 students are working really hard on describing family members, including their pets in a more sophisticated manner, discussing conventions and listening to authentic material that will enable them to understand native speakers with greater ease.

CIS Centennial: 1924 – 2024

by Ms. Jenny Basa, Alumni Liaison

Did you know that Cebu International School is turning 100 in 2024?  Can you recognize the locations of the 3 campuses of CIS?

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

August 29
Monday
9:00AM
Link to register

EVENT

Temple University – Japan Campus (online session)
Learn about the application process, scholarships, financial aid and engage in a Q&A session.

September 6
Tuesday
9:15-10:00AM
Canteen Annex

University of Sydney (Australia) – In-person visit with the university rep for an information session with Q&A.

September 13
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00am
Venue: Canteen Annex

Savannah College of Art & Design (USA, France)
In-person info session with the college rep from SCAD.  Learn about their programs, the application process, scholarships, portfolio preparation and more.

September 27
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00am
Venue: Canteen Annex

York College Pennsylvania (USA) – In-person info session with the college rep with Q&A.

October 4
Tuesday
Venue & Time – To be confirmed

New York University – Abu Dhabi – In-person info session with the NYUAD rep.  Since this is during the quarter break, the venue & time will be confirmed later next month.

October 11
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex

Hawaii Pacific University (USA) – Info session with the university rep with Q&A.

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

Dear CIS Community Members,

We are pleased to have had a relatively quiet week of school after the bustle of last week. As our Middle and High School students return to campus after their week of remote learning, we would like to remind everyone yet again of the importance of continuing to be diligent in following our health and safety guidelines. To help take this seriously, please note that the US Department of State has just raised the Philippines Travel Advisory to level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution (from 1, out of 4), due to “a high level of COVID-19”. We are confident that, providing all of our guidelines are followed by all members of our community, we can manage the risks of Covid spreading, and continue to provide our students with a safe on-campus learning experience.

I was asked by a young student with a group of friends the other day, “Are you the owner of CIS?” I gave them my short answer – no, your parents do! That caused a few confused looks, and as I think there are probably more who are not sure how this works, here is the longer explanation!

Cebu International School Inc. (CIS) is a “non-stock, non-profit school, secular institution, primarily established to meet the specialized educational needs of foreign and Filipino students” (Cebu International School Inc. Amended By-laws 2012)  and designated as an “educational institution of international character” under the Republic Act of 9190. In simple terms, this means:

• We are not owned by any one person, family, or company. In essence, CIS parents as a community are caretaker owners while they are CIS parents. 
• We can determine our own international curriculum including languages to reflect our international character.
• CIS parents are automatically eligible to join the CIS Corporation, a body set up to provide a structure to support the governance needs of the school. The CIS Corporation members elect a 10-person Board of Trustees, who are ultimately responsible for the oversight of the school. 
• The Board of Trustees have the following roles:
  • Legal—exercises fiduciary role to ensure the organization is properly managed. Maintains corporation status.
  • Financial—Approves an annual budget. Conducts periodic reviews of financial reports. Ensures that proper internal controls are in place.
  • Planning—Establishes mission and program direction. Reviews program plan and progress. Conducts or reviews program evaluation plan.
  • Policy—Sets policy.
  • Personnel—Adopts and reviews personnel policies. Hires the Superintendent and reviews performance. Sets salary and compensation levels.
  • Board governance—recruits new board members.
• The Superintendent is responsible to the Board of Trustees, and serves as the Chief Executive Officer, being responsible for managing and administering the School.
• As a non-profit school, 100% of fees collected are used to operate and continue to develop the School. Our budget (including annual fees) is set by the Board.

Each year at this time, we send out an invitation for parents to join the CIS Corporation. There are two Corporation meetings held each year to elect new members to the Board when terms expire (Sept. meeting) and to receive a report from the administration on the status of the school. If you are interested in joining or if you have any questions, please contact Ms. Lory Romano our Administrative Secretary <lromano@cis.edu.ph> for details.

Grade 3 Class

by Ms. Katrina del Mar, Grade 3 Teacher

We are Important Pieces of the Puzzle

Going back to school was hotter than the summer break for our Grade 3 students. Their beaming smiles on the first day of school were as bright as the glaring sun. The energy they brought was sure to jumpstart the new school year.

Grade 7: Language and Literature

by Mr. Corryn Smith, Language & Literature Teacher

Unit 1: Short Stories
Key Concept: Descriptive Writing (Showing versus Telling )

In Grade 7 Language and Literature, students are learning the key elements of effective short story writing. As students prepare to craft their own original short stories, they are first tasked with exploring some of the main content of the unit essential for building effective narrative writing. This includes completing journal writing exercises and short writing pieces displaying sensory language designed to “show” the reader the essence of the subject being described rather than merely “telling” the reader what the subject is.

Students explore the various features of effective descriptive writing including imagery and sensory language through numerous examples. In the examples below, students responded to the following journal prompt applying the features of descriptive writing they have explored so far. “Describe your favorite place”. The second examples below demonstrate the students’ growth in descriptive writing after receiving both peer and teacher feedback.

Original student descriptive writing sample.

Revised student descriptive writing sample.

Grades 11 & 12 Spanish

by Mr. Antonio Melgar, Spanish Teacher

Hola! This term our students from Grade 11 Spanish B SL are discussing the components of a culture. They share relevant information about the culture of diverse Spanish speaking countries as well as some of the most intriguing and fascinating cultures around the world. Through this, they discover the culture’s contributions, singularities and the causes of their development and disappearance.

To learn more about the Etruscan culture  please check Bella’s work

If you wish to know more about the Mayan culture, kindly review Sofia´s research

Grade 12 Spanish B SL are discussing the topic of Beauty and how it impacts our understanding of what is good, correct and positive. They analyze beauty from the views of diverse philosophers and artists, and review texts and videos in Spanish about how the concept of beauty changes from culture to culture and from time to time.

Picture of the students google sites with their notes on it Blog de Soledad

HKUST visits CIS for an info session with Dana Te, CIS Alumnus & HKUST Student Ambassador, Mr. Carl Tang

The CommonApp Essay

SAT Update

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

We have had a whirlwind of a start to the new school year. A certain highlight was being able to welcome students back to campus. Our new families were especially pleased to be able to undergo their orientation in person with our students spending quality time with their teachers and classmates.  New parents had the opportunity to meet each other in a relaxed atmosphere and listen to a formal presentation about the school, the nature of our programs and our ethos. Our new teachers, a quality group of educators that they are, have settled into Cebu well and have been incredibly impressed by our students. We are also thrilled to have welcomed our first group of students to our Student Residence.

As we begin the new school year we look forward to new possibilities. The following framework are important elements that will help position us for a positive year ahead, despite the inevitable challenges that we will face.

Social processes are inherent within schooling and as a small community it is crucial that we make time to intentionally connect with others. During Faculty Orientation our teachers have had an opportunity to engage in professional and fun activities that have helped to establish and develop personal and professional relationships. An emphasis on this approach has been carried over into the way in which they work with students and our first week has focused on students connecting with their peers in order to develop healthy relationships and appropriate support structures. We trust that this will support engaged learning and well-being as we move through the year.

As progressive educators we are committed to working together at all levels of the school. Collaboration builds collegiality, it encourages the sharing of expertise and promotes ownership. We believe in the importance of teaching our students how to work together so that they may embrace each other’s strengths, demonstrate agency, and build capacity. Working together should be fun and engaging, something that we prize at the beginning of a new school year. Working together also incorporates working together with our parent community.

Classroom and school routines in general serve to increase student familiarity, confidence and comfort levels as learners know and understand what is expected of them in different situations. Set routines are also helpful in regulating children and teens as they become more independent. They are also particularly important during times of uncertainty. Should we need to move to and from Remote Learning you will note the attention given to consistency and routine. We have also been working with our older students who are preparing for their final years of study in order to help them benefit from a weekly routine that balances their study commitments with the necessary downtime and self-care required to be well and be successful.

…and focusing on things you can control
Structure and routine provide a sense of predictability. However, things don’t always go as planned and so it is important that we are able to stay positive and focus on things that we can control. I am constantly amazed by our Early Years teachers who seem to have infinite patience and are experts at developing focus and a sense of calmness. When we face situations when we’re unsure of what tomorrow will bring or how it will look, it is important to focus on what we can control. Mindfulness experts encourage us to move away from “what-ifs” and instead ground ourselves in the present moment. Focus on what you can control and what you can get done while staying positive in the process.

We’ve been through a lot over the past eighteen months and the need to remain flexible has become inherent in everything we do. As a school we have very much appreciated the flexibility and support of our whole community over the past week and appreciate the positivity that this brings.

Kindness matters! Acts of kindness may make others happy but they also serve to make us feel good. Acts of kindness can boost feelings of confidence, happiness and optimism. I’m proud that we are a kind community. Kindness also extends to being kind to ourselves and I think that this is something that we don’t always place enough attention on. The reality is that self-kindness is an essential component of good mental health.

I trust that you will consider these elements and how they apply to your life, your family and engagement with the school. Our faculty are looking forward to an engaging year ahead.

I wish you all a safe and restful weekend.

Finance News

PTA News

Early Years

by Ms. Aimee Valenzona, EY Teacher

Welcome to the school year 2022 – 2023!

In the Early Years, we started with our structured classroom routine and explored different areas in the classroom. As our young explorers continue to discover the world around them, they are starting to learn more about themselves and others.

IB Diploma Programme

by Ms. Emily Cornet, Assistant Principal – DP

As we start the new year for the Diploma Programme, we see the results of those who just graduated, and welcome in our newest batch.

May 2022 Results
Our recently graduated students got their IB Results in early July, continuing the trend of strong performance despite two years of challenging circumstances.  Our students performed above world averages across multiple subjects, including two subjects (Spanish B SL and Chemistry SL) earning more than a full point above their world average!  Our graduates are now moving on to their next step, including many universities around the world.

New Grade 11s come together for DP Orientation
In early August, all of our Year 1 DP students gathered together in the Media Center in order to get to know the Diploma Programme, but even more importantly to get to know each other! The afternoon session allowed students to learn key information to help their first week be successful.  They were able to interact with their classmates and teachers in a face-to-face mode, learning more about their new cohort.

Grade 10 MYP Personal Project

by Mr. Jonathan Denton, Assistant Principal – MYP

Congratulations to our Grade 10 students who received their IB moderated grades for the Personal Project last week!

2021/2 marked CIS’s very first cohort of Grade 10s to be externally moderated by the IB. The purpose of moderation is to ensure that all internal assessment marks are of an equivalent standard. This means a student would get the same mark for the quality of their work at any of the 1500 plus MYP schools around the world.

All our evaluations were accepted which is a remarkably good achievement, especially in our first year. What is even more remarkable is that 70% of our Grade 10s received a SIX or SEVEN compared to the worldwide average of 9%.

This says a great deal about us as a school and shows how the educational experience students are receiving at CIS compares favourably with other MYP schools throughout the world.

A big thank you to all those teachers who helped mentor our students through the process. Grade 10 students, your IB MYP Course Results Certificates are in the mail and will be here shortly.

Donation Drive

by Mr. Ace Pierra, CAS Coordinator

CIS Recognized by DepEd Schools

As part of CIS conitinued efforts to collaborate and to share our learning experiences to various communities in the island of Cebu, schools from the Deparment of Education recognized CIS’s efforts through their annual stakeholder summit and Brigada Skwela Adopt a School Programs. This recognition also signifies CIS’s commitment in achieving one of its core beliefs that learning includes contributing to the world through service learning. CIS will value this commitment and collaboration with the  DepEd Schools and will continue to strive to become a positive change not only in our own community of learners but also to other communities with whom we shared the same responsibility of achieving the UN Sustainable Development goals. 

Cebu International School Hand-over Boats and Aid to Typhoon Odette Victims

Beyond our core beliefs as an IB Continuum School, we at Cebu International School will continue to collaborate with various communities in the region regardless of the limited opportunities and possibilities caused by this pandemic. Our service learning trips continue to give our community members and recipients valuable experiential learning.

Last July, a group of CIS volunteers had a trip to Coahagan Island in Olango to hand over close to thirty self-paddled boats to 28 families who lost their boats from Typhoon Odette. The boats will be used as a source of sustainable livelihood for the fishermen and their families, giving them hope to rebuild their lives and gradually move forward after the devastation of the typhoon. The boats will also be used as transportation to the neighboring island of Pangan-an island for some high school students 

In the same month, the same group of volunteers also turned over sixteen boats to the fishermen of the Talisay coastal community who were also victims of Typhoon Odette. 

The recipients of these boats also signed an agreement to become protectors of marine life, particularly endangered species, and become advocates for responsible fishing. They committed to picking up floating plastic rubbish and to dispose of it properly. They also agreed to become ambassadors of goodwill in their own fishing community. Some CIS students also joined the trip and handed over ten school bags to ten Grade 4 and Grade 5 students. This collaboration will definitely result in more projects on the island for our CAS and Service Learning Programs. 

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Question of the week: I am interested in applying to Ateneo de Manila University and I heard they have resumed the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET). Do I need to take the exam even if I am pursuing the IB Diploma?

Students applying with an IB Diploma may apply with this qualification instead of taking the Ateneo entrance test.  If you are a senior and would like to apply, set an appointment with the college counselor.  Ateneo applications opened last August 1 and will close on September 30.  

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Admin note

As the school year draws to a close it has been wonderful to have the opportunity for our students to share in each other’s successes and achievements. While this has taken place in the formal sense through our Graduation and our PYP exhibition and Personal Project Showcase, our students have also had the opportunity to participate in a range of more informal but equally as important engagements which have provided an insight into the learning that takes place at other grade levels.

Our Middle School drama students have entertained the whole community through the productions which they have written and performed. This has inspired our elementary students, who have also put pen to paper and starred in their own mini-performances as part of their units under the transdisciplinary theme of “how we express ourselves”. These performances have ranged from shadow puppetry to talent shows and featured dragons, ninjas, and superheroes. A literary luncheon also provided students with the opportunity to share and publish their favorite poems, while in the Middle School a mock legal trial was conducted in front of an enthralled audience.

I have previously referenced the power and importance of building a strong sense of community and the provision of opportunities for our students to share in cross-age experiences actively helps to cultivate respectful, supportive relationships. It also provides our younger students with an insight into what lies ahead of them from an academic perspective, and this was embodied beautifully by our Grade 7 Individuals & Societies students as they shared some of their projects with the Grade 4s late last week.

As a school we believe in each and every one of our students and trust that despite the challenges and unpredictability of the year, our students feel that they are valued, have learnt and grown. Returning to campus has certainly provided us all with richer relationships, and a greater sense of community and purpose. I know that many of our students have expressed a desire for the school year to continue as they will miss the companionship of their peers. Others, I know, are more than ready for a break and the opportunity to recharge energy levels.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and restful summer. This is an opportunity to take a much needed break from electronic devices and enjoy time with friends and family. I can’t emphasize enough the power of literature and hope that many of our students will spend time quietly reading.

On behalf of the CIS community, we would like to congratulate our students on their successful completion of the year. Thank you to those individuals that have contributed and helped shape our community. Thank you, parents/guardians, our PTA and supportive Board of Trustees, our faculty and staff, as well as students past and present.

As with each year, we have a small number of families and faculty moving on to new adventures. We wish you well and hope that you will look back fondly on your time at CIS.

I wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday and look forward to the new school year.

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal, and the Admin Team

Upcoming events of note

• June 10-Aug 2: Summer vacation
• June 13-24: Summer Activities Program
• August 3: Family Orientation Day (details will be sent closer to the date)
• August 4: Classes start

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar (http://cis.edu.ph/school-calendar/) for the complete calendar of school events.

Grade 11: First year of the IB Diploma Programme

by Ms. Emily Cornet, IB DP Coordinator

Grade 11s complete their first year of the Diploma Programme

On Wednesday, June 8th, the Grade 11 students and their Homeroom teachers came together to celebrate the completion of their first year of the Diploma Programme with the Grade 11 End of Year Awards Assembly.

While the circumstances this year have been challenging for students across the school, Grade 11 students also engaged in the first year of the rigorous IB Diploma Programme and all that it entailed. Students continued their studies in Mathematics and English Language and Literature, while also diving deep into new courses in the Sciences, Individuals & Societies, Art, and Theory of Knowledge. Students have also begun the work on their Extended Essay, the 4000-word piece of research that is one of the hallmarks of the IBDP Core.

The Grade 11 students are to be commended for their adaptability to new teachers, new classmates, new courses, and a new level of expectations with the IB Diploma Programme. We celebrate their accomplishments in this first year, and look forward to their successes in Year 2.

Grade 3: Diamante Poems

by Ms. Katrina del Mar, Grade 3 Teacher

Did you know that you can make your writing sparkle? The Grade 3s studied how to make their poems shine like diamonds. They have written different kinds of poems in their last Unit, How We Express Ourselves, but the Diamante Poem was special.

A Diamante is an unrhymed poem with 7 lines. The first and last lines are the shortest and the middle lines are longer giving it a diamond shape. There are two types of diamantes: synonym diamantes and antonym diamantes. In a synonym diamante, the words at the top and bottom mean the same thing. An antonym diamante’s beginning and ending words are opposites.

Writing a Diamante Poem is like hunting for treasure. The Grade 3s poured a lot of hard work throughout the writing process. First, they began by digging for ideas. Definitely, it was not as easy as pie. It turned out their minds had a lot of hidden jewels to choose from. Then, drafting was quicker. Writing down their thoughts on paper gave them a clearer picture of the gem they wanted to write about. Editing and revising were messy. They saw letters that needed capitalizing, words that required substituting, and lines that had to be removed altogether. Pieces of paper flew back and forth for feedback. Finally, publishing was done with utmost care. They made sure to spell each word correctly with their best handwriting. The Grade 3s learned that good writers, and poets, never give up.

Below are the Diamante Poems written by the Grade 3 students. You might want to wear your sunglasses on before reading them. The poems glow brightly!

MYP Spanish

by Señor Antonio Melgar, MYP Spanish Teacher

Grade 10

Grade 6

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Upcoming Virtual Events and Fairs: (students & parents are welcome)

DATE

June 16
4:00 pm
Link to register

EVENT

Study Melbourne Info Session – Philippines

Hear from The University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University, Federation University and Swinburne University (TBC) and learn more about studying in Melbourne and Victoria.

June 18
12:00pm – 6:00pm
Link to register

Study Abroad Expo 2022 (Virtual Event)

Meet representatives from these institutions

• Australian Catholic University
• Bond University
• CQUniversity
• Curtin University
• Deakin University
• Federation University
• Flinders University
• Griffith University
• Kaplan Australia
• Kirana Colleges Australia
• Macquarie University
• The University of Queensland
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Western Australia
• University of New England
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• University of Wollongong
• UNSW SydneyWestern Sydney University

June 14, 22 and 29

Taster Classes with Massey University (New Zealand)

June 14, 2022 – 4:00PM PHT
Are NFTs and Cryptocurrency good investments?
LINK to register 

June 22, 2022 – 4:00PM PHT
The Beneficial Properties of Honey
Link to register

June 29, 2022
4:00 PM PHT
The Role of Interaction Design in the Creative Economy
Link to register

SAT Update for 2022-2023

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.

Below are the confirmed test dates for the paper/pencil SAT at Cebu International School.  

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

As an international school with 23+ nationalities represented, you can imagine the variety of social backgrounds we share and the associated norms that go with each one of these cultures. When you further factor in the number of different cultures, religions, and even personalities within each of these representative countries, imagine how challenging it would be to try to identify all of the unique groups that co-exist in the CIS community! With so much diversity, have you ever wondered how we manage to get along so well? And have you ever noticed how some groups lean towards certain behaviors, while others act almost opposite to others?

A large factor influencing these behaviors is whether the person is from a collectivist culture or an individualistic culture – or simply put, a community group-focused versus individual self-focused culture. As culture has a strong influence on how people think and behave, knowing what culture one has been brought up in will help you understand their frame of reference, reducing misunderstanding and enabling awareness of different perspectives.

Image credit: Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash (free license for use)

Charlotte Nickerson explains:

• People who live in individualist cultures tend to believe that independence, competition, and personal achievement are important. Individuals in Western nations such as the United States, England, and Australia score high on individualism (Oyserman, Coon, & Kemmelmier, 2002). 
• People who live in collectivist cultures value social harmony, respectfulness, and group needs over individual needs. Individuals who live in countries in Asia, Africa, and South America score high on collectivism (Hofstede, 2001; Triandis, 1995). 

The implications of this are numerous, but it is particularly important to note the values of the culture you identify with will influence your personality and dictate your accepted social norms and perception of appropriate social behavior. Having an awareness of cultural differences will enable you to be prepared for others to act in different ways you might expect, and you can be prepared to be tolerant of their differences. The CIS philosophy of respect for others and the IB Learner Profile attribute of caring are two key attributes that will help you to do this and ultimately enable you to build friendships and trust with others even though they may hold differing views. 

As we approach the last week of our school year, let’s all consider our role in the CIS community, and regardless of if we come from a collectivist or individualist background, let us focus on student learning as our shared purpose, so as to enable us to work together within a respectful, supportive environment. 

Upcoming events of note

• June 9: Last Day of School – Class celebrations, Moving Up Ceremonies, and End Year Assembly (half-day of school); Reports published
  • 7:30 am ES/ 7:45 MHS: HR
  • 8:30 am: G5 Moving Up Ceremony (virtual*)
  • 9:00 am: G10 Moving Up Ceremony (virtual*)
  • 10:00 am: Class Celebrations
  • 10:45 am: EOY Whole School Assembly (virtual*) [Time subject to confirmation]
  • 11:30am ES/ 11:45am MHS: Classes dismissed for summer vacation

*The link to these events will be distributed for parents optional viewing via email prior to the event

*For health and safety reasons, please note any snacks for the class celebrations must be brought from home for individual use/no sharing

• June 13-24: Summer Activities Program

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar (http://cis.edu.ph/school-calendar/) for the complete calendar of school events.

Grade 2 Poets

by Ms. Maureen Juanson & Ms. Marina Ocleasa, Grade 2 HR Teachers

What is an inspiration? What inspires you? These are some of the questions that provoked the thinking of our Grade 2 students at the beginning of our unit, How We Express Ourselves. As we further inquired into self-expression, the Grade 2s realized that inspiration moves us to create something. These creations can range from written pieces, spoken words, performances, sounds, music, arts and crafts, and stories.

As creative communicators, the Grade 2s learned to express themselves through poetry. Throughout the unit, the students immersed themselves in different types of poems, such as free verse, chant, acrostic, alliteration, and diamante. We spent some time reading like writers to notice how they are written and what writing techniques can be used in writing them. In the process, students also deepened their understanding and appreciation of language, like figures of speech, shades of meaning, and parts of speech.

We invite you to immerse yourselves in some creative poems written by our Grade 2 poets.

Science Class

by Ms. Haydee Montero, Science Teacher

Grade 6  

How does electricity work?

Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles such as electrons or protons. It is considered as a secondary source of energy, which means it is neither a renewable (solar, hydro, wind or geothermal source) nor a nonrenewable source (coal, fossil fuels, nuclear etc). It is called a secondary source because  it is produced by converting primary sources of energy from either renewable or nonrenewable sources. 

In the last exploration of Unit 4. “How does electricity work?” with the Statement of Inquiry: “Energy transformations lead to development in systems for an improved way of living”, the grade 6 students were so engrossed and were carefully probing on alligator wires, batteries (as source of power)and transistors/switches in order  to light their bulbs.

However, learning online is different from Rodd’s end. While using the PHET Simulation on CIRCUIT as an enhancement tool for the in-class students, the simulation App  serves as the primary and ultimate tool in navigating electric circuitry for his online learning.

“Electricity works when electrons travel or flow from the battery down to electric wires all the way through the wires down to the bulb. The resistor and transistor/switch control the flow of the electricity and control the light of the bulb”-Rodd

Here are some snapshots of their actions caught on cam and their realizations on how electricity works:

Whatever their realizations  based on their explorations on electric circuitry, one thing is for sure, there is so much power in electricity. 

“ Electricity can transform people’s lives, not just economically but also socially” –Piyush Goyal

Grade 7

The world is in constant motion, don’t get screwed!

Forces play a crucial role in our everyday lives. It can cause a moving object to:  accelerate, decelerate, change direction, and even change shape. Forces enable people to create materials into something that is useful for them if not improve the quality of one’s  living.

From navigating and measuring forces, the Grade 7 students ended up with their own contraption of an innovative machine, as an application of their understanding on how simple machines (lever, inclined plane, wheel & axle, pulley, wedge and screw) work.

Guided by the SOI “Understanding systems and how forms work enables us to design models to foster ingenuity and progress”, the students came up with their own innovation, a conglomerate of two or more simple machines. 

Here are few examples of their works:

Ray-Ray,  the industrious box is an innovative compound machine that saves time, energy and work more efficiently. To help you work more efficiently for example when you want to practice playing basketball so you can beat or impress your friends you might want to practice accuracy, well my product can help you with that! Someone you know might move Ray-Ray around while you stand behind a line far away. Because Ray-Ray is a bit small, it will help you improve your accuracy, according to (Nordland, 2019).- Chloe

This compound machine uses 2 different simple machines. This uses wheels and axles and an inclined plane. The wheels and axles are located at the bottom of the cart. The inclined plane is located inside the cart. The inclined plane uses gravity to make objects in the cart slide in 1 direction. The wheels on the bottom of the cart multiply force, using friction to push the cart in 2 directions (front and back) depending on where the cart is being pushed. The purpose of this cart is to help carry any heavy items which a user of this cart is struggling with. The inclined plane helps shift the force of the objects inside the cart into 1 specific direction. The wheels and axles of the cart help the user of the Supply Cart maneuver around with any objects in the cart with ease.-Niño

With so many challenges affecting the globe on a daily basis, I decided to use science and simple machines to assist solve one of those concerns in a more efficient and secure manner. The problem is that traveling alone at night or in a dangerous neighborhood can put you at risk from strangers. For instance, suppose you see or are being followed by an unknown individual and need to defend yourself. Willyam, the flashy defender, on the other hand, is here to save the day! as in literally. Willyam, the flashy defender, will guarantee that you have something to rely on in no time with the advantages of increasing force, lifting loads, and reducing human energy. By using science, this machine includes a wedge, inclined plane, screws, lever, and there you have it, a flashlight! The enemy is no match for Willyam, the flashy defender, and the defender will save time trying to save oneself by employing this product instead of their hands. Willyam will be there for you every step of the way in any “Stranger Danger” scenario. – M

My innovative machine is an upgrade of a ruler, not just because it’s longer than the original ruler, but because it is foldable to carry the machine more wisely. Originally it is 28 cm long, but if it’s unfolded it has a total length of 56cm which is 26cm longer than the original ruler. My innovative machine contains two simple machines: wedge & screw. The screw is used to attach the rulers and a wedge is attached for cutting like an exacto knife. The total length of the ruler can be advanced by attaching more and more rulers on it. (if it’s sold) This ruler will cost 350 php,  made out of steel. – Andrew

 These students may not be able to create the innovative machine just as they would have wanted it to be, but they were able to discuss and analyze the various implications of using Science and its application in solving a specific problem. THEY INNOVATE!

Paulo Coelho says,  “Everybody has a creative potential from the moment you can express this creative potential, you can start changing the world”.

Grade 9 

Ecosystem: Equilibrium is the key!

Keeping the ecosystem balanced is what everyone should consider at all costs. With an ecosystem set in an equilibrium state, sustainability is most likely achieved. The grade 9 students had been busy investigating the interplay between abiotic and biotic factors in the ecosystem to help maintain a homeostatic condition. 

Each of them is working on specific scientific exploration that involves a common understanding on how an ecosystem operates guided by the SOI: Different systems within living organisms and ecosystems function and interact with each other.

Gab is working on, “The Effect of the Type of Soil on The Arachis hypogea (peanut plant) Plant’s Growth.
The  independent variable is the type of soil (sand, clay & loam) used. This is because this is the variable that has been intentionally changed to see if it affects the plant’s growth.
The  dependent variable is the growth in plant (height of the plant) — how much the plant has grown and developed. This determines how well the type of soil has helped the plant to grow as fast as it can — to see and observe if the plant’s growth has been stunted or not.

Adam is working on, “An Investigation on the Rate of Decomposition on Malus sp.(apple)” .
The independent variable is the “cutting” or “non-cutting” of the apples. This is the one being manipulated in finding out which one will rot faster.
The dependent variable is the rotting of the fruit which is being observed and measured.

Elijah is working on, “The Effect of the Type of Seed ( Corn, Mongo, and Tomato Seeds) on the Speed of Germination”.
The independent variable is the types of seeds.  This is because using 3 different types of seeds, and placing them in different Petri dishes to see which of the seeds will germinate faster, given the same conditions.
The dependent variable is the speed of germination because that is what we are trying to find out in this experiment.

Nika is working on “ The Investigation of Hand Sanitizers’ its effect on Controlling Bacteria “
 The use of different brands of hand sanitizers is the independent variable because it is the factor that was manipulated and can change the results of the spittle. 
The inhibition of bacterial growth is due to the results of the spittle reacting to the hand sanitizers being applied to it.

These explorations help provide a clearer perspective to these students coming from different cultures and beliefs regarding their role in the ecosystem. After all, “The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”-Lady Bird Johnson

Media Center/Library Reminders

by Ms. MJ, Media Center Staff

We are now in our few weeks before the school year ends. The Media Center would like to inform you that you may now return the books that you currently checked out before June 7, 2022. You may return the books to the main office with Ms. Kim or drop them in the Media Center. If you wish to keep the books over the summer, please send an email to Ms. MJ (mcordova@cis.edu.ph) and attach a photo of the books. You can also borrow books for the summer and send your requests in the second week of June. Please be informed that the turnaround time of the books that you’ll be checking out for the summer can be delayed due to COVID restrictions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Library/Media Center Staff, Ms. MJ (mcordova@cis.edu.ph ).

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

CommonApp Essay Prompts 2022-2023

For Grade 11 students who are applying to universities via the CommonApp, here are the essay prompts for next school year. The essay should be at least 250 words and a maximum of 650 words in length. 

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The essay is an opportunity for students to advocate for themselves and give the admissions committee a glimpse of their personality through their response to these prompts. 

Upcoming Virtual Events and Fairs: (students & parents are welcome)

DATE

June 16
4:00 pm
Link to register

EVENT

Study Melbourne Info Session – Philippines:Hear from The University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University, Federation University and Swinburne University (TBC) and learn more about studying in Melbourne and Victoria.

June 18
12:00pm – 6:00pm
Link to register

Study Abroad Expo 2022 (Virtual Event)

Meet representatives from these institutions

• Australian Catholic University
• Bond University
• CQUniversity
• Curtin University
• Deakin University
• Federation University
• Flinders University
• Griffith University
• Kaplan Australia
• Kirana Colleges Australia
• Macquarie University
• The University of Queensland
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Western Australia
• University of New England
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• University of Wollongong
• UNSW Sydney
• Western Sydney University

June 14, 22 and 29

Taster Classes with Massey University (New Zealand)

June 14, 2022 – 4:00PM PHT
Are NFTs and Cryptocurrency good investments?
LINK to register 

June 22, 2022 – 4:00PM PHT
The Beneficial Properties of Honey
Link to register

June 29, 2022
4:00 PM PHT
The Role of Interaction Design in the Creative Economy
Link to register

SAT Update for 2022-2023

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.

Below are the confirmed test dates for the paper/pencil SAT at Cebu International School.  

Test dates after the 1st semester will be published as soon as available, these will be digital examinations.

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

On Thursday our Student Council teams in both divisions of the school organized a Spirit Day with the theme of twins/ multiples. While it was great to see our students enjoy the opportunity to get creative with their outfits it was also another opportunity for some student-driven bonding. In this context, and with the end of the school year quickly approaching, I thought it worthwhile to spend some time highlighting the importance of school spirit.

School spirit may mean different things to different people but from my perspective it is about the development of a strong emotional connection with school. It helps to foster a sense of belonging for students, faculty, staff and parents. A strong sense of connection fosters pride and a school culture in which community members are happy, motivated and willing to work for one another. We recognise that when our students and teachers are invested in each other the whole community benefits in terms of social and emotional wellbeing along with academic performance.

As you will note, school spirit does not happen in isolation. While Spirit Days and other events such as House Activity Days bring our community together with a shared sense of purpose, it’s what happens on a daily basis that fosters spirit. Positive relationships are at the heart of this, and our faculty strive to ensure that learning takes place in a way that helps to foster and develop collaborative practices and relationships. A number of programs in place at the school, including our After School Activities also promote students working with their peers in different grade levels which helps to widen friendship opportunities and their sense of belonging. As one Grade 10 student put it, “the relationships that I’ve made with my teachers and peers have made me feel as though I am at home”.

When people work hard together for a common goal, they are typically more invested in each other. We see that in team sports and through our service learning projects. School spirit looks like teamwork. It involves collaboration and bringing members together in a way that celebrates success and creates togetherness. School spirit is contagious and when students and staff show enthusiasm it encourages greater participation, morale and increases the likelihood of success.

As we prepare for our Virtual Graduation this evening, I would like to highlight the spirit and determination that our 2022 graduates have shown during times of exceptional hardship. Many have been with us for much of their school lives and embody the values, core beliefs and school spirit that we hold so dear. They have needed to draw on deep reserves of spirit over the past year to work their way to graduation, but I know that this has made them stronger, closer and more resilient. We trust that as they look to begin new journeys as young adults, that they will remain connected to CIS and play active roles as alumni.

We encourage you to share in this event with us at 5pm this evening.

Congratulations Class of 2022!

Summer Activities & Sports Programs 2022

Early Years

by Ms. Russell Aimee Sesbreño-Valenzona, Early Years Teacher and Ms. Freya Gae Abella, Teacher Aide

The Early Years started the week by reading the story, “Firenze’s Light” written by Jessica Collaco. The story is about ​​a feisty firefly who discovers the beauty and power of her light. The EYs checked their understanding of the story and made connections to the importance of light. We shared our ideas about how light bounces off objects which allowed us to see things around us. Our EY explorers were also able to identify Firenze’s light as a natural source of light. We continued our inquiry by looking into different kinds of glasses such as eyeglasses to help us see things clearly, sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sun’s light, and goggles to see things underwater. These eye gears were mentioned during our discussion which led us to talk about how these objects are similar and different from one another. As we observed these eye gears, we noticed that they differ based on how it reflects light. Eyeglasses and some goggles are examples of transparent objects while sunglasses and some goggles are examples of translucent objects. Therefore, transparent objects allow all light to pass through while translucent objects allow some light to pass through. Then, we continued our discussion about shadows by participating in a shadow guessing game! 

In literacy, we continued identifying and writing letters and letter sounds. A few of our EY learners have started identifying sight words through bingo games and book reading. Some have also started picture reading and creating their own stories using the story elements – characters, setting, beginning, middle, and end. Check out Baz, Declan, and Lincoln’s online books!

As we continue learning to solve minor problems through Kelso’s Choices (Reference: kelsoschoice.com), we also started solving simple math problems. We began solving simple math problems and started explaining our answers through drawings, tally marks, or by using counters. 

Awesome week, EYs! We’re proud to see everyone’s growth and successes!

PYP World Language – Spanish

by Ms. Gloria Rodriguez, Spanish Teacher

In Spanish KG / G1 students have reviewed shapes, numbers, colors and sizes while using new vocabulary in our unit about homes. KG / G1 students have identified the shape,  color and size of houses around the world. They have also named rooms and objects  in a house. They are practicing expressions to  locate family members in each room of the house and name the activities they do.

G2 / G3 students have practiced expressing likes and dislikes while identifying food items such as fruits and vegetables.  The last two weeks students have started reading and writing about  animals. They picked their favorite animal and  described the animal´s color, size, likes and dislikes. 

For the last two weeks G4 / G5 students have identified and named different landforms and water forms. They have practiced their research skills to find and recognize different landforms and water forms in their own countries and in some Spanish speaking countries.

MYP Language and Literature

by Mr. Corryn Smith, L & L Teacher

In Language and Literature for quarter 4, students have been analyzing aspects of dramatic visualization in literature through their exploration of key scenes in the novel Bamboo People by author Matali Perkins. To better understand how authors of fiction bring their characters and conflicts “alive” for the reader, students were asked to select one key scene from the novel to depict in a graphic, 6-panel comic strip like the example shown below. Additionally, students were challenged to develop their analysis into a “shout out” poster exploring the key features of a graphic comic strip and how those features contribute to aspects of dramatic visualization. 

Dragon’s Print

This is our fourth issue of Dragonfruit, an online magazine that showcases the “Stories of Our Seniors”, which contains highlights of the Class of 2022’s experiences, along with artworks and written works created by CIS students.

Read the magazine over at http://dragonsprint.cis.edu.ph/

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Upcoming Virtual Events and Fairs: (students & parents are welcome)

DATE

May 28
Saturday
1:00 – 4:30pm PHT
Link to register

EVENT

University of Sydney (Australia)

The Undergraduate Taster Series:This is a series of real-time online demonstration classes for potential international undergraduate students. The taster classes will include content from various faculties and schools presented by their world-class academics.

• 1–2pm B Pharmacy/M Pharmacy Practice: Medical Curiosities – From History to the Future of Pharmacy
• 1–2pm B Engineering (Honours): Solving the equation: Circular Economy = CE = Chemical Engineering
• 1–2pm B Advanced Computing: Deciphering First Year Data Sets
• 2:15–3:15pm B Commerce: Leading and Managing a business in a post-covid world
• 2:15–3:15pm B Arts (Socio-legal Studies): Discuss “settler colonialism” and its role in shaping social and legal relations

June 18
12:00pm – 6:00pm
Link to register

Study Abroad Expo 2022 (Virtual Event)

Meet representatives from these institutions

• Australian Catholic University
• Bond University
• CQUniversity
• Curtin University
• Deakin University
• Federation University
• Flinders University
• Griffith University
• Kaplan Australia
• Kirana Colleges Australia
• Macquarie University
• The University of Queensland
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Western Australia
• University of New England
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• University of Wollongong
• UNSW Sydney
• Western Sydney University

SAT Update for 2022-2023

Below are the confirmed test dates for the paper/pencil SAT at Cebu International School.

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

As the only Continuum IB World School in the Philippines (offering all three IB academic programs), CIS is fortunate to be able to benefit from comprehensive coherence across the programs through:

• The learner and the learner profile as the center of importance
• Embedded Approaches to Teaching and Approaches to Learning (ATL)
• International-mindedness underpinning all programs
• Structures of the programs and aligned subject names
• As demonstrated by our recent events, a comprehensive culminating experience in each program.

We recognize all of the effort our students and their teachers have made to get to these impressive levels – take a look through their work, I am confident you will be impressed!

An IB Education:

Upcoming events of note

• May 24: Parent Coffee Meeting 9-10 am run by the CIS PTA (virtual)
• May 26: Student Council Spirit Day (Dress up as twins/multiples)
• May 27: CIS Virtual Graduation (Premiers at 5pm)
• June 9: Last Day of School – Class celebrations & Moving Up Ceremonies (half-day of school); Reports published
• June 13-24: Summer Activities Program

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar (http://cis.edu.ph/school-calendar/) for the complete calendar of school events.

Elementary PHE

by Mr. Jaydil Hermias,  PHE Teacher

Swimming: Such a positive experience!

It has been wonderful to have the pool open and the elementary students have certainly enjoyed the opportunity to learn in a different environment. The program is differentiated for various levels with a focus on having fun while developing swimming skills. Safety and survival skills are also an integral part of our program so that students are well-equipped to enjoy the ocean and swimming pools that they frequent.

The following are some highlights from some of our Grade 4 students:

English Language Acquisition Class

by Ms. Lana Lautamus, ELA Teacher

Unit 4

Grade 6 & Grade 7 have been studying the statement of inquiry connected to Comic Book Characters: “Heroes and villains are creative identities, with empathetic backstories, that are expressed through human values and beliefs.”  

To express our understanding of this unit, we practiced our speaking skills in our formative task by each receiving a portion of a comic strip. Without showing our picture to each other, we described our image, and the other student in the class drew it. We had some hilarious results, but an excellent task for practicing our clarity when communicating.

We also worked on our writing skills in our second formative task by adapting a portion of a comic book into a short story. Using this prompt, the students had choices to write the backstory to this excerpt, write from a character’s perspective or write how they thought the story would end.

Alternatively, students could also do a book response to our graphic novel we are reading: “Avatar: The Last Airbender”.

We are now in the process of creating our own comic strip to share with the other English Language acquisition classes next week, where we will discuss the inquiry questions and knowledge and skills we delved into during the last 6 weeks using a Pechakucha style presentation.

In Grade 8 & Grade 9, we are in the final stages of our unit “The Music We Love (& Poetry)”. Our statement of inquiry, “Music (& poetry) mean different things to different people and is shaped by the audience and cultures that make it” has had us looking at music from our own cultures (Israel, Korea, China and Japan) and also types of popular & culturally-specific music, audience reactions and interpretations and the meaning of lyrics. 

We have also connected music with poetry, and investigated the conceptual understandings of poetry’s form and function. We have also made poetry responses to both musical lyrics and other poetry pieces. We “stole like an artist” and made our own blackout poetry, inspired by Austin Kleon, using lyrics from our favorite songs.

Our second formative task involved a choice board, where students could choose 4 poems. There was choice in responses ranging from blackout poetry, book spine poetry, mad lib poems, rhyme time, texting couplets and others.

A poetry adventure for the Newsflash audience this week! Read this poem from top to bottom, and then read it again from the bottom line first up to the top!

For our summative, we are currently working on poetry responses to a Spoken Word/Poetry Slam presentation, this written piece (“Refugees”) and finalizing our own digital poetry booklets that we will share with a larger audience next week.

Grade 11: DP History

by Ms. Joy Pierra, MYP I&S & DP History Teacher

The four (4) great Grade 11 historians are about to end the first year of their IB History journey with flying colors. Amidst the challenges that they have encountered this semester, the COVID-19 pandemic and the typhoon Odette, their ability to bounce back is one the significant factors that contributed to their success this school year. Here are their thoughts about the course.

A quote in Ms. Joy’s room states, “If you want to understand today, search yesterday.” This is one of the main reasons why we took up IBDP History. We have been able to learn from the struggles of the past, including the fight for civil rights in the United States, the South African apartheid, and India’s independence movements. We are currently learning about Cuba’s independence, which we’ll move on to compare with India’s history. We started off with doing some self-research and discussion, then moved on to creating a physical poster to display in the History classroom (one of the benefits of having physical classes). This poster is a yearbook-themed timeline of the Leaders of Cuba during 1902 to 1925, the years following their independence from Spain and the U.S. occupation.

Moreover, we’ve been working hard on our Internal Assessments (IA), which make up a significant percentage of our final grades for the IBDP curriculum. For this, we research and write a 2000 word essay on a historical event of our choosing including different perspectives and also a cumulative argument. It must contain the following sections: evaluation of our sources, investigation, and reflection. The Internal Assessment allows us to demonstrate our learning and evaluative skills to dive deeper into a topic we are interested in.

As a whole, we have developed our critical thinking skills and media literacy skills. We have become skilled at evaluating a source in-depth and analyzing various sources to determine what really happened back then.

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

College Statistics for the Class of 2022

A few students are waiting for admission results from Singapore, Japan, Australia and the Philippines.  Some scholarships will be awarded after IBDP results are released in July.

Upcoming Virtual Events and FAIRS: (students & parents are welcome)

DATE

Links to Register”
Masterclass 3
(May 7, 9 & 10)

EVENT

Glion Institute of Higher Education (Switzerland)
Masterclass 3:  The Art of Leadership and Multicultural Team Management

May 25
Link to register

University of Oxford Webinar Series
May 25: This ‘Writing your personal statement’ webinar will be interactive, and is designed to help students on what makes a good personal statement, the role of super and extra-curricular activities, and what tutors look for.

May 21
Saturday
Link to register
Quest Hotel – Cebu
(in-person event)

Enderun Colleges (Philippines) – Join the Admissions Roadshow at the Quest Hotel & Conference Center

May 24
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:15am
Venue: Studio
Zoom Link to join for online students

Mini Workshop on Writing your Statement of Purpose (College Essay) – This is a mini-workshop arranged by the school with an admissions rep from York College Pennsylvania.  All 11th graders are required to attend.

May 28
Saturday
1:00 – 4:30pm PHT
Link to register

University of Sydney (Australia)
The Undergraduate Taster Series:This is a series of real-time online demonstration classes for potential international undergraduate students. The taster classes will include content from various faculties and schools presented by their world-class academics.

• 1–2pm B Pharmacy/M Pharmacy Practice: Medical Curiosities – From History to the Future of Pharmacy
• 1–2pm B Engineering (Honours): Solving the equation: Circular Economy = CE = Chemical Engineering
• 1–2pm B Advanced Computing: Deciphering First Year Data Sets
• 2:15–3:15pm B Commerce: Leading and Managing a business in a post-covid world
• 2:15–3:15pm B Arts (Socio-legal Studies): Discuss “settler colonialism” and its role in shaping social and legal relations

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

Celebrating Learning
As we move further into May we find ourselves in the position of measuring the remaining school year in weeks rather than months. While there continues to be a focus on teachable moments in the classroom it is also a time to celebrate learning that has and is taking place. A few recent and upcoming events help to crystalize this.

G12 Graduating Class of 2022 Celebration
We held a delightful celebration for our Graduating Class of 2022 yesterday. Students, parents, faculty, and staff were able to share in the significant accomplishments of this cohort as they celebrated the completion of all their required coursework and assessments. It was great to be able to share in this moment and listen to memories of CIS as well as the future aspirations of our students. We look forward to their next steps and know that they will contribute positively to society and the making of a better world.

Arts Week
On the back of our recent production success, Arts Week was launched this week. Please do take some time to view the Virtual Gallery of work that features a range of media from the various grade levels and subjects. It is incredible to note the growth that our students demonstrate as they have developed their skills through creating, performing, and presenting. The depth of thought and reflection that accompanies their work particularly in the older grades, is especially poignant.

ES Celebration of Learning
On Wednesday, May 18 our elementary students will be showcasing the growth and development that they have made throughout the year. Elementary parents have been invited to sign-up for a virtual, three-way conference with their child’s teacher on this day so that they may celebrate the learning that has occurred. There will be no face-to-face classes for EY – Grade 5 students on Wednesday, May 18 but students will be assigned asynchronous work to complete when not involved in their conference.

Theory of Knowledge Exhibition
Our Grade 11 students will be sharing their Theory of Knowledge Exhibition virtually on May 18. Students have been provided the opportunity to select from a variety of prompts to demonstrate their knowledge of the course themes and the way in which Theory of Knowledge concepts are manifested in the world around us. Students have identified three objects and their specific real-world contexts and have created individual exhibitions which explain the links between the objects and the chosen prompt, along with justification for the inclusion of each object.

Personal Project Showcase
On Wednesday, May 18 our Grade 10 students will be presenting their Personal Project Showcase. This is the culmination of a year-long project in which students had the opportunity to explore their own personal interests and has resulted in a diverse range of products. Students will showcase their achievements on this day and have also submitted a 13–15-page report for moderation by the IB. The quality of the work is exceptionally high and will make for great viewing.

TEDx Cebu International School
One of our schools’ core beliefs is that learning includes contributing to the world through service learning. We are proud of the various ways that this takes place at CIS. This weekend, a group of Grade 11 students led by Selly, Katrina, Renoa and Anya have organised the first ever TEDx event at CIS. Inspired by challenges faced during the pandemic, these students have created an event in which speakers have been invited to share their experiences of overcoming challenges and proving that anything is possible. They hope that this event provides opportunities for people in our community to reconnect with new and familiar faces, producing fruitful conversations and relationships as they rediscover and reignite their desire to learn and create.

Grade 5 PYP Exhibition

Mrs. Aimee Underwood, Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher

Last Thursday, the Grade 5 students successfully launched their Virtual PYP Exhibition Showcase with an hour-long synchronous event on Google Meet. Approximately 200 attendees joined from across multiple timezones to engage in stimulating conversations with the students about their unique learning journeys. To quote a visitor, “It was truly fantastic to hear the students speaking so articulately about how their central ideas and inquiry have helped them develop their understanding of the UN SDGs!” 

As the event came to a close, words cannot describe the incredibly moving scene that unfolded in the Grade 5 classroom. The students united as one to sing “Change The World” and the many tiny tiles on our computer screens filled with proud beaming smiles, as well as tears of pride and joy all around. Logging off the call, the Grade 5s were then immediately greeted by students and teachers from across the Elementary and Middle High School who rushed over to clap and cheer for them in person. Congratulations! Well done! That was amazing!

While this event was most visible and memorable, it is important to also highlight the learning that occurred behind the scenes. The PYP Exhibition–as with much of what we believe to be true about education–focuses on the “process” rather than the “final product.” Indeed, the Grade 5 students have sharpened a wide range of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, reflected on and overcome failures and false starts, capitalized on the serendipitous lightbulb moments, and celebrated the many milestones, successes, and massive achievements throughout each stage of the PYPx. 

If you have not had a chance to do so already, we invite you to take a glimpse of their journey in the Opening Video and explore each student’s experience through their individual websites.

We also recognize that the learning journey does not end here. In fact, it has only begun with many new doors opened to further ideas and possibilities! We look forward to seeing how this talented group of students–armed with important life-long learning skills, knowledge, understanding, and passions guided by purpose–will continue to “help create a better and more peaceful world” (IB Mission Statement). Here are a few highlights from the students themselves:

Student action! Check out Diana cultivating a love of reading in students, Ari encouraging responsible diving, Ofri learning and teaching about clean water, Creag raising awareness of the refugee crisis and promoting empathy, Riku demonstrating the importance of trees, Aubrey teaching others to sew and participate in sustainable slow fashion… and more!

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Grade 5s through their PYPx journeys — faculty, staff members, family and community members, and everyone who visited the Showcase synchronously and asynchronously! It has been a truly remarkable community experience that united us all this year.

Mathematics Analysis and Approaches Higher Level

by Mr. Daniel Monfre, MYP and DP Math Teacher

Grade 11

The grade 11 Math AA HL students have recently completed their introductory unit to differential calculus. This unit is often one of the most challenging units for students and can take a long time to master. There is a quote attributed to Albert Einstein that says “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” After studying derivatives and related rates the students completed a summative test to demonstrate their understanding, then to further show the depth of their understanding the students created videos explaining the solutions to the problems from the test. Below are some examples of the videos that the students have created.

Grade 7 

Students in grade 7 math have been studying 3D solids, naming the shapes, labeling and identifying their parts, and calculating the surface area and volume. 

To help students better understand the surface area of shape we ask students to draw the net (a 2D shape that can be folded to make the 3D figure.) These nets show students the different 2D shapes that are present on the surface of the 3D figure. Seeing the shape in 2D helps them to connect the 3D figure to the shapes they learned about in previous years. 

As a final project, students created a “Book of Shapes” that has diagrams, definitions, and formulas for all of the shapes we studied in class. To really make the connection between 2D and 3D students created “pop-up” pages of their books where the 2D net of a shape can be transformed into its 3D form by pulling a string. Take a look at some animations of their pop-up books: 

School Production 2022: Fireworks – Dream and Believe

by Ms. Stefanny Hemias, MYP Drama Teacher

Despite the pandemic and typhoon Odette, our school production titled “Fireworks- Dream and Believe” was successfully premiered on Friday, April 29, 2022. It’s our second year of producing a virtual production which showcases elementary, middle and high school students’ talents in acting, singing and dancing. The production team was able to come up with an original story and also featured several popular songs and dances such as Celebration by Kool & The Gang, Firework by Katy Perry, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and a lot more. Though students encountered some struggles when rehearsing online, recording their voices and filming on the green screen, these didn’t hinder them from giving their best performance in order for us to produce an entertaining and exceptional virtual production. 

If you have not watched the show yet, please click on the link.

Students Supporting Students

In the following article, Sophia N. reflects on how she and her friends are supporting the education of other students through their Akyat Aklatan project.

Looking back, my friends and I often took school libraries for granted — research gold mines, hangout spots, and study havens all in one — simply because we could access them anytime we wanted. We realized as we got older that not everyone had the privilege of being able to access educational materials as easily as we did, and that was what we had in mind when we started Akyat Aklatan: a long-term legacy to further the education of high school students just like us.

Balao National High School was one of the sites we encountered in our search for a beneficiary, and there we saw the rundown infrastructure, their improvised classrooms, and finally their (former) library — a little closet no bigger than a parking lot space that the librarian described as “more of a stockroom of books than a library”.

“Mawad-an sila’g gana mo-tuon [They lose their appetite to study] because we don’t have the books or the space,” she told us.

And thus, we set to work to change that. We got a team together, planned the project, proposed it to the Rotary Club of Metro Mandaue 2006, and launched last August 2021. With several fundraisers like the Rhythm of Hope concert (some of which were led by my fellow classmates here in CIS!), we were able to raise more than 700,000 pesos to donate not only a fully-furnished library last April 18 but also a brand-new printer, 3 laptops, and more than 700 books! 

It especially touches us to know that at this very moment the students of Balao NHS are using the library, especially since they commenced face-to-face classes last March. Currently, we intend to carry on Akyat Aklatan in the future beyond physical structures, potentially through mentoring programs in public high schools. Once again, thank you to everyone who supported Akyat Aklatan!

Dragon’s Print

All throughout history, 13 has been associated with bad luck and misfortune. If you’ve noticed some hotel elevators lacking the 13th floor, you know what I’m talking about. Okay, so 13 is an unlucky number, but why? Read more about Friday the 13th on http://dragonsprint.cis.edu.ph/.

PTA Notice

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Question of the Week: What do I write about in my College Essay?

Most universities in North America and the UK will require a student to write an essay or a personal statement. The content of the college essay entirely depends on where you are applying to. If you are applying to a US university, there is usually a prompt that is provided by the university. Here are some sample questions from the CommonApp:

1) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2) The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3) Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4) Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5) Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6) Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7) Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Upcoming Virtual Events and Fairs: (students & parents are welcome)

DATE

Links to Register”
Masterclass 3
(May 7, 9 & 10)

EVENT

Glion Institute of Higher Education (Switzerland)
Masterclass 3:  The Art of Leadership and Multicultural Team Management

May 11
Link to register

May 18
Link to register

May 25
Link to register

University of Oxford Webinar Series

 May 11:  This is ‘An introduction to applying to Oxford’ webinar will be interactive, and is designed to help students understand the different aspects and stages of the application process.

May 18: This is a webinar for parents on “ Supporting your child’s application to Oxford.” It will cover information about the UCAS form, admissions tests and interviews, and again opportunities to ask questions.

May 25: This ‘Writing your personal statement’ webinar will be interactive, and is designed to help students on what makes a good personal statement, the role of super and extra-curricular activities, and what tutors look for.

May 17
3:00PM CDT
LINK to register

Engaging Distinctive Universities: a collaborative, engaging virtual event hosted by Emory University, Rice University, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington. Join this session to help you decide which college is the best fit for you.

May 21
Saturday
Link to register
Quest Hotel – Cebu
(in-person event)

Enderun Colleges (Philippines) – Join the Admissions Roadshow at the Quest Hotel & Conference Center

May 24
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:15am
Studio

Mini Workshop on Writing your College Essay – This is a mini-workshop arranged by the school with an admissions rep from York College Pennsylvania.  All 11th graders are required to attend.

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

PYPx Showcase

Yesterday (May 5), the CIS community was treated to an exciting, informative PYPx (exhibition) virtual showcase by our wonderful grade 5 students. Thank you to the estimated 175+ attendees, I am confident you enjoyed yourself as the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. You will be treated to an article in next week’s Newsflash, so for now, please drop positive comments for the students on their PYPx website, and congratulations to the students, teachers, PYPx mentors, and parents for all of their hard work and support.

Health and Safety reminders

We have been on campus for over 6 weeks now – thanks for your efforts to minimize the known risks so as to make it thus far with no known Covid-19 cases (knock on wood!)! Not having any cases can contribute to a subconscious relaxing of awareness, however, so I would like to just highlight the need for continued vigilance following protocols. In particular, please note the following areas:

Masks: I have been impressed by our community which has been overall very good at maintaining a safe mask culture. Please keep it up/encourage our students (and each other!) to keep it up and not relax the expectations.

Social Distancing: This is an area that we are still working to establish amongst both students and adults. It takes time to change life habits, but if everyone is consistent in conforming and informing, we will be able to establish the “at least 1m” protocol.

Communicating Potential Cases: Our primary goal is the safety of all of our students, but also that of our employees and community members. As a reminder, it is important that you:

• Check your child’s health status each morning before sending them to school. If they have any COVID-19 symptoms, please keep them at home until the symptoms are gone, and inform our school nurse Ms. Lory so we can monitor them when they return to school. 
• Be considerate with your outside-of-school activities as well, as if you do not follow recommended health protocols outside of school, you could easily become a source of infection for others. 
• Be prepared mentally for the possibility that at some point, your child may get infected, despite all the precautions you take. Fortunately, there are fewer cases with children, and symptoms tend to be milder, but it is still not pleasant. Similarly, it is possible that we will have to have classes or grade levels quarantined at home if there is a case at school.

We are very grateful to be able to run face-to-face classes, and we would dearly like to keep it that way by continuing to minimize the risks and ensure we do what we can to learn in a healthy environment! “Kudos” to you for overcoming the multiple challenges you have faced over this school year!

The idea of overcoming is always fascinating to me. It’s fascinating because few of us realize how much energy we have expended just to be here today. I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit for the overcoming. — Maya Angelou

Upcoming events of note

• May 9-13: CIS IB Art Exhibition (virtual)
• May 13: Graduating Class of 2022 Celebration event (G12 students and families – refer to emailed details)
• May 18: Whole School Celebration of Learning: ES Student-led parent conferences, MYP Personal Project Showcase, DP TOK Showcase (virtual)
• May 24: Parent Coffee Meeting 9-10 am run by the CIS PTA (virtual)
• May 27: CIS Virtual Graduation (premiers at 5 pm)

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar (http://cis.edu.ph/school-calendar/) for the complete calendar of school events.

Summer Activities & Sports Programs 2022

Grades 4 & 5: Philippine Language and Culture Class

by Ms. Fresh Abcede, PLC Teacher

Influential People

What is your passion? Who are the people who share the same passion like yours? What actions did they take in response to the issues related to your passions? In our unit Who We Are, Grade 4 and 5 students have been inquiring into the different Filipino influential people who contributed positively to the community.

We looked into influential people’s characteristics by connecting them to the IB Learner Profile to understand how and why they are influential. We identified and made some connections to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address the issues related to their passions.

Moreover, they reflected on their own beliefs and values about their passion and how these affect their decisions, attitudes, and actions. The students will continue to inquire about various Filipino influential people and learn the importance of taking action, helping, and empathizing with others.

Grade 11: Math Applications and Interpretation SL

by Ms. Maria Victoria Bacus, Grade 11 Mathematics/Applications & Interpretation SL Teacher

Applications and interpretation is the course with an emphasis on statistics, modelling relationships and use of technology. 

In the first semester, students were introduced to the unit of Number and Algebra, where the connection between compound interest and geometric sequences were explored. The students utilized the Financial application on their Ti-84 calculators in various compound interest, amortizations and annuities calculations. 

In this last quarter of Year 1 of the Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation) SL course, students will encounter opportunities to further enhance their use of technology in the unit of Statistics.

The students will complete different investigations related to collecting, organizing, presenting,  analyzing and interpreting data. The use of desmos, spreadsheets and GDC (graphic display calculators) will be very essential again for the success of this course.

Use of Technology in Math AI SL classes

We started the introduction of the unit by completing a Desmos activity determining the difference between discrete and continuous data. Students were asked to identify if the type of data given is numerical or categorical, discrete or continuous.

Once the types of data were identified and collected, they were then organized and presented in Google sheets by creating tables. Calculations were done through inputting formulas for mean, standard deviation, etc.

Students will both understand the step-by-step calculations of different measures of central tendency and dispersion of data as well as use and interpret the variables in the GDC one-variable statistics’ functions.

Student’s Feedback on the Use of Technology in Math AI SL classes

Desmos

Spreadsheets

Question 1: How do you feel about almost completing Year 1 of the Math AI-SL course? Were you as ready as you expected to be?

Question 2: What are some of the things you look forward to in Year 2 of Math AI-SL class?

G11 Math AI SL Students

Art Class

by Mr. Jessie Saclo, MYP/DP Art Teacher

“An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.” —Edwin Land

The IB acknowledges the arts as a universal form of human expression, a unique way of knowing and understanding that engages us in effective, creative, imaginative and productive activities. 

The PYP, MYP, and DP are frameworks designed for the enrichment of learning. Each framework is a learning pathway that provides students opportunities to develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive in an ever changing world. The arts in particular, give students the support they require to explore their sense of identity and individuality, and to openly experience opportunities to function as artists as well as learners of the arts. Through age-appropriate activities and criteria, students develop their social, emotional, intellectual and personal intelligence through the arts; providing students the opportunities to create, perform, and present arts in methods that engage, convey feelings, experiences and ideas. CIS promotes development in the arts as a dynamic process where students practice to acquire new skills and master those skills developed in prior learning. 

The arts subjects of drama, music and visual art allow students to develop their creative thinking skills, along with other ATL skills which are essential to holistic development. These along with curiosity and practice allow students to acquire, learn, refine and master the skills necessary to develop learning. Fostering creativity as an essential element in the arts addresses the need for student-centered learning to stimulate innovative strategies in creating and performing, and understanding the broad and extensive scope of the arts. 

At CIS we cultivate learning in the arts as an aesthetic experience for our students. An experience of perception through the senses resulting in self-expression, creative work, exploration, and technical proficiency. Through this approach learning is established as a creative process where students identify failure as an element for development.

We invite you to take part in supporting our students as we celebrate the Arts Week from May 10 to 13 where we will feature the creative work of our students in drama, music, and visual art https://sites.google.com/cis.edu.ph/artsweek2022/home

Showcasing Student Work

Patricia (Reesha) Sy – Art Portfolio

We’d like to recognise G11 student Patricia (Reesha) Sy who has been drawing some attention from prospective universities due to the quality of her visual arts portfolio. Reesha joined CIS this year to take advantage of our Arts program and her first portfolio showing wasn’t what she expected.

“I’m a person who, like most artists, finds my work to be very personal so the thought of sharing my portfolio to experienced and professional artists was terrifying. I joined the portfolio viewing and to my surprise, the viewers were very supportive. Seeing professionals share the same enthusiasm and passion for my works as I did, was incredibly mind-bending and unexpected. They loved the works which showed who I was, and finding people who were genuinely interested in the meaning behind each work was new and a little overwhelming.”

Reesha was not only enthused by the interest in her work and the inspiration for her ideas but by the nature of the feedback she received. Instead of receiving constructive criticism, Reesha found that conversations focused on the “why” and the “what next” of her work. She was enthused by viewers wanting to know what kind of person she is and how that is represented in her artwork. The focus on her as a person has encouraged Reesha to rethink and reframe what and who her work represents.

“As a person who likes to hide behind her art, knowing that what the university wants to see is what kind of person I am, and getting excited over that, was new. I honestly really appreciated it. It reminded me of why I love art and why I want to become someone who creates it every day.”

We look forward to Reesha continuing to develop her skills and techniques over the coming year and can’t wait for her to showcase more of her work.

Dragon’s Print

If you’ve scrolled through Tiktok or any form of social media, you may have seen guides to personalities based on a person’s “zodiac sign”. It might seem preposterous to some to judge one’s own and even others’ personalities based on the day they were born, but this belief has a cult following both online and in real life. Read more about zodiac signs at http://dragonsprint.cis.edu.ph/.

Admissions Notice

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Question of the Week:

I am in 9th grade, what can I do to be ready to apply for college?

Focus on getting good grades and balancing your school work with extracurricular activities.  Colleges look at applications holistically and most universities look at how a student is well rounded in terms of academics and activities outside the classroom. These may be through your After School Activities, sport, and other activities where you pursue a hobby or an interest. Achievements in Grade 9 and onwards are also considered in the evaluation process of college admissions.  Aside from strengthening one’s resume’ when applying to college, it also helps an individual achieve a balanced student life. Also, it is important to know that when you apply to college, the academic grades in Grades 9 through 11 will be examined by the admissions committee.

For more information, you may set an appointment with the College Counselor.  You may email  Ms. Basa at jbasa@cis.edu.ph to set an appointment or visit the office. 

Upcoming Virtual Events and Fairs: (students & parents are welcome)

DATE

Links to Register”
Masterclass 3
(May 7, 9 & 10)

EVENT

Glion Institute of Higher Education (Switzerland)
Masterclass 3:  The Art of Leadership and Multicultural Team Management

May 11
Link to register

May 18

Link to register

May 25

Link to register

University of Oxford Webinar Series
 May 11:  This is ‘An introduction to applying to Oxford’ webinar will be interactive, and is designed to help students understand the different aspects and stages of the application process.

May 18: This is a webinar for parents on “ Supporting your child’s application to Oxford.” It will cover information about the UCAS form, admissions tests and interviews, and again opportunities to ask questions.

May 25: This ‘Writing your personal statement’ webinar will be interactive, and is designed to help students on what makes a good personal statement, the role of super and extra-curricular activities, and what tutors look for.

May 12
Thursday
LINK to register or use the QR code in the poster

Art & Design Universities in Canada (ADUC):learn more about the international student experience of those who study art, design and media in a specialized Canadian institution.
Participating universities:  Emily Carr University, Alberta University of the Arts, Ontario College of Art & Design and Nova Scotia College of Art & Design

May 17
3:00PM CDT
LINK to register

Engaging Distinctive Universities: a collaborative, engaging virtual event hosted by Emory University, Rice University, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington. Join this session to help you decide which college is the best fit for you.