Admin News
by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent
It was great to see everyone back refreshed after our long weekend last week. It is reassuring to see evidence that our school year starting well. For example in the MHS, it was great to celebrate with our grade 12 students this morning as almost all of our grade 12 submitted the first draft of their extended essays today, demonstrating good self-management skills and respect for learning. Then in the first ES Assembly this morning, I enjoyed seeing the new ES Student Council take on the leadership role of running the assembly, and wow, I was very impressed at so many articulate and thoughtful answers detailing some of what students have learned in class over the past 3 weeks! Please see the articles below for more specific examples of what learning is occurring in various classrooms.
On Tuesday 27th of August, we held our first Parent Coffee Meeting of the 2024-25 School Year. It was wonderful to greet new parents and have our acting PTA Board Chair, Mrs. Paula Junker, give us an overview of the CIS PTA. I also took a little time to introduce our new Purpose Statement and Core Principles (outlined in the Aug. 9 Newsflash post) through an exercise where groups discussed what their “Ideal School” looked like and depicted their ideas on a poster.
Here are five critical areas we discussed that we have well-established in 
CIS, that not every school has. These are key areas that make CIS stand out as a high-quality education provider. Parents, please come to our future Parent Coffee meetings (every last Tuesday of the month – see the calendar for specific days), as in addition to a variety of PTA activities, we will occasionally explore these areas in more detail, as some may not know what they are (such as the IB ATL and LP in the slide below) if they have not been in an IB World School before!
Have a great weekend, and we look forward to another week of joyful learning next week!
Upcoming events of note
- Thu, Sept. 5: IBDP G12 Recommitment Meeting
- Mon, Sept. 9: No School (Public Holiday)
- Wed, Sept. 11: ES Parent/Student Goal Setting Conferences (online)
- Wed, Sept. 11: Grade 11 IBDP Values Meeting
- Fri, Sept. 13: Cebu World University Fair
- Tue, Sept. 17: CIS Corporation Annual General Meeting
- Fri, Sept. 20: HAD 1 (AM only-no classes/PM Faculty in-service)
- Sept. 21-27: CIS/WASC Accreditation Visit
- Sept. 22-25: IB Evaluation Visit
- Thu, Sept. 26: Coffee Morning: International Mindedness/Culture
- Fri, Sept. 27: Grade 12 DP Recommitment
- Fri, Oct 4: End of Quarter 1
Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.
Literacy Month Celebration
by Literacy Month Committee
As we kick off the new year, we’re thrilled to celebrate Literacy Month with the theme “Unlocking Imagination: The Magic of Reading.” From August 12th to September 6th, we invite the entire CIS community to join us in a series of exciting events and activities designed to spark creativity, celebrate the joy of storytelling, and deepen our love for reading. Explore our Literacy Month website at CISLiteracyMonth2024 for all the details, and let’s embark on this captivating journey together, discovering the endless wonders of books and storytelling!
We launched Book Week with a grand celebration of all things literary! Last week, everyone participated in the beloved tradition of ‘Drop Everything and Read’ each day. Students and teachers from elementary to high school embraced the joy of reading together. This collective embrace of reading helps cultivate a shared passion for books across our entire community!
Last Tuesday, August 20, our students had the incredible opportunity to engage with a diverse group of guest speakers from various fields and backgrounds, including a publisher, a shoe designer, and a diver. These interactions offered students firsthand insights into the unique journeys and experiences of each guest, much like diving into the pages of an inspiring book. The event broadened their perspectives and sparked curiosity about the world beyond the classroom. We are excited to continue providing opportunities that connect students with real-world stories and knowledge!
Last Wednesday, August 21, our lower elementary students enjoyed an enchanting storytelling session with a special guest who brought beloved books to life through engaging read-alouds. The young students were mesmerized by the magic of storytelling, discovering the joy of listening to captivating tales. This interactive event not only sparked a love for reading but also showcased the transformative power of storytelling.
The week concluded with a special in-person Book Talk, a refreshing change after years of holding it online. Students had the privilege of meeting Ms. Raynie, who shared her deeply personal journey in writing her debut book, set to be published in September. Her story, filled with heartfelt experiences and emotions, resonated with the students and inspired them to start on their own creative journeys. From ES to MHS, students eagerly began crafting their stories, thoughtfully developing characters, themes, and genres. Inspired by Ms. Raynie’s passion, they are determined to complete their stories and even aspire to publish their own books.
This week’s Buddy Reading initiative was a fantastic success! Students from different grades paired up to explore a diverse range of books, sparking lively discussions and celebrating our vibrant community of cultures. The collaborative experience highlighted the richness of our literary world and the joy of discovering new stories together.
Get ready for Spirit Day on September 6th, where students will bring their favorite book characters to life! Dress up as a beloved character from any book and join us in celebrating the magic of storytelling. This fun and creative day encourages students to express their love for literature and showcase their favorite characters through imaginative costumes. Let’s celebrate the joy of reading.
Explore creative ways to enjoy reading in unique positions and locations this year! Ensure your safety and comfort while taking your photo, and remember to submit your entries through the Google form by Friday, August 30th, before the end of the day. Let’s build a colorful showcase of imaginative reading adventures together!
Join us for the Book Cover Makeover Challenge and unleash your creativity by redesigning book covers! Each homeroom is invited to select a book and recreate its cover using photos of students and teachers. Please review the guidelines and submit your entries by the end of the day on Friday, August 30th. We look forward to seeing your imaginative and artistic book cover creations!
Visit the media center to explore our “Guess Who’s Reading”. Try to identify the teachers and staff hidden behind the books in the photos. Drop your guesses into the entry box, and students with the most correct answers will win a prize. Submit your entries on Friday, August 30th. Good luck!
Language and Literature Class
by Mr. Adom Thorne, Language & Literature Teacher
CIS the school of literary scholars! This month we commenced the year with a focus on Language & Literature with Literacy month! The school community has placed a focus on Literacy and participated in several events, including but not limited to Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.), Reading Buddies, Extreme Readers & Book cover makeover.
Continuing with the theme of Literacy month, we are off to the races in Language & Literature. Grade 6 is currently exploring “How art can share impactful messages” through their exploration of Poetry. The Grade 7 class is exploring how effectively a writer can capture the self-expression of their subject through interviewing. The Grade 9s are currently exploring how stories can connect people to the social history of countries through the exploration of short stories from around the world with a focus on The Philippines.
As we continue the school year keep an eye out for the exciting explorations we’ll be making from the Language & Literature as we encourage the students and the school community at large to have a love of READING.
“For me, literacy means freedom, for the individual & for society.” – Levar Burton
College & Careers Counselor Corner
by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor
Alumni Chats – Centennial Edition
Cebu World University Fair
To all Parents:
If you are interested in attending the Cebu World University Fair on Friday Sept 13 at 8:30-11:30am in CIS, please register here.
Participating Institutions
| Deakin University | Australia |
| Griffith University | Australia |
| Southern Cross University | Australia |
| The University of Melbourne | Australia |
| The University of Sydney | Australia |
| University of New South Wales | Australia |
| Brock University | Canada |
| McGill University | Canada |
| McMaster University | Canada |
| Trent University | Canada |
| University of British Columbia | Canada |
| University of Lethbridge | Canada |
| University of Toronto | Canada |
| University of Victoria | Canada |
| University of New Brunswick | Canada |
| NYU Shanghai | China |
| Asia Europe Business school | China |
| Hong Kong Baptist University | Hong Kong |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| City University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong |
| The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Hong Kong |
| BINUS University International | Indonesia |
| Irish Universities & Medical Schools Consortium (IUMC) | Ireland |
| Kyoto University of Advanced Science | Japan |
| Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB) | Japan |
| Temple University Japan | Japan |
| Singapore Institute of Management | Singapore |
| IE University | Spain |
| Universidad de Navarra | Spain |
| EU Business School |
Spain, Switzerland and Germany
|
| SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern | Switzerland |
| SHL Switzerland | Switzerland |
| Swiss Education Group | Switzerland |
| NYU Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates |
| Hult International Business School | United Kingdom |
| Leeds Arts University | United Kingdom |
| Teesside University | United Kingdom |
| University of Essex | United Kingdom |
| University of Huddersfield | United Kingdom |
| University of Northampton | United Kingdom |
| Emerson College | USA |
| Ferris State University | USA |
| Full Sail University | USA |
| Lewis University | USA |
| Linfield University | USA |
| New York University | USA |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | USA |
| The University of Tampa | USA |
| University of California, Davis | USA |
| University of Colorado Boulder | USA |
| University of San Francisco | USA |
| Xavier University | USA |
| Education USA (US Embassy Manila) |
Invitation from Brown, Columbia and Penn
Join us to learn more about Brown University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania!
Admissions representatives will hold a public information session for students and families about their respective universities and the highly selective college admissions process.
Topics will include: academic programs, campus activities, admissions policies, financial aid and international student life.
Manila
Joint Presentation with Brown, Columbia and Penn Friday, October 11 at 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
International School Manila, Little Theater
University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio
Enter campus through GATE 3
RSVP by October 10 by clicking here
- Space is limited and registration is REQUIRED.
- In order to provide this opportunity to as many students as possible, each student is permitted to bring a maximum of only one guest.
- On the registration form, you will be required to provide your car license plate number in case you intend to drive to ISM’s campus. If you drive to campus and this information is not provided at the time of registration, you will be unable to access campus.
- If you have questions about the information session, please email ugrad ask@columbia.edu.
- If you have signed up to be on the mailing lists of multiple institutions, you may receive more than one copy of this invitation.
SAT Update
SAT 2024-2025 Test Dates
August 2024–June 2025 SAT Registration Is Now Open
| Test Dates | Registration Deadlines | Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation and Late Registration Deadlines* |
| August 24,2024 | August 9, 2024 | August 13, 2024 |
| October 5, 2024 | September 20, 2024 | September 24, 2024 |
| November 2, 2024 | October 18, 2024 | October 22, 2024 |
| December 7, 2024 | November 22, 2024 | November 26, 2024 |
| March 8, 2025 | February 21, 2025 | February 25, 2025 |
| May 3, 2025 | April 18, 2025 | April 22, 2025 |
| June 7, 2025 | May 22, 2025 | May 27, 2025 |
*Additional Fees apply
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.