January 13, 2023 – Newsflash

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, EY-12 Principal

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming events of note

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

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

Philippine Culture Week 2023

by Philippine Language and Culture Teachers

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

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

Grade 12: Theory of Knowledge

by Mr. Alejandro Guerra Tibocha, TOK Teacher

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

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

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

All the best to all the students and thank you!

Spanish Class

by Mr. Antonio Melgar, Spanish Teacher

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

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

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

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

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Celebrations of the Week!

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

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

SUNY Korea: Live virtual information session with the university rep

January 17
Tuesday
5:00PM
Link to register

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

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

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

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

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

SAT Update for 2022-2023

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

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