Newsflash: March 14, 2025

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

Is attendance important?

A report titled Present, Engaged, and Accounted For* highlights the need for students to be “present and engaged” in order to learn. 

“Common sense and research suggest that attending school regularly is important to ensuring children develop a strong foundation for subsequent learning.” The report notes this is especially important in the early years (elementary school) and high-poverty areas. Middle and high school teachers will similarly verify that their students, particularly those in rigorous college preparation courses such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, will also be negatively impacted by missing significant amounts of instructional time.   

Chronic absenteeism (loosely meaning missing over 10% of classes) diminishes the educational experiences of not only the child who is absent but also children who attend school regularly. Tardiness (beginning late) can likewise contribute negatively, as classes are missed and disrespectful behavior patterns are developed.  

A summary of the negative effects of excessive tardiness and absenteeism is as follows:

• It is impractical for all instruction to be given again, so an absent student will simply not be able to get the same level of instruction upon their return.
• The impact of this is excessive absences will affect your child’s academic and social progress – at both MHS and at the ES level! (Refer to the graph on the right showing the  impact on performance in G1.) 
• Teachers have to do extra work to follow up on students, re-explain work missed, and adjust lessons when members do not turn up (especially if presentations, tests, etc. are planned). This extra work negatively impacts other students as teachers end up having to divert some of their attention to meet the learning and social needs of children who miss classes.
• When a group member is absent, Other students have to carry the burden of group work. The absent student also misses out on valuable social learning opportunities that can not be re-created by catching up when they return. Social interaction may also be part of the assessed learning task.
• Avoidable tardies not only disrupt a class when a student arrives late, but also contribute to reinforcing disrespectful and undisciplined behavior that if not corrected, can lead to future difficulties later in life. Tardy students also miss out on announcements causing more work for the teachers to catch up with them at a later time if it is urgent, and in some cases, the student will miss out on time-sensitive announcements.
• It is harder for some students to stick to school regulations when others consistently ignore them. High school students in particular are role models to younger students, as are Student Council members who represent their class.
• All students, but particularly elementary students, work best when they follow regular routines. Being absent disrupts not only the absent student but also the class upon their return. 

That being said, it is important to note that there will likely be times when absences or tardies are unavoidable (such as illness, or a death in the immediate family). If the tardiness is due to a lack of adequate planning, however, that should not be considered unavoidable (such as allowing spare time for variable traffic times when coming to school!). Another important note is that, while it would be preferable that poor habits were not allowed to develop, if they do, students will typically need support to help overcome them, not simply be told off.

Here are some practical tips for parents to help (adjust for age appropriateness!):

• Discuss the issue openly with your child and emphasize the seriousness of the habit. Note the negative consequences that occur if the situation is not rectified. Refer to the attendance policy in the parent and student handbook, and go through it together. If a student is denied credit, they may have to make up work (even over the summer!), and in severe cases, may not qualify to move to the next grade or graduate as planned.
• Parents of more mature students, do not take the blame for your child when they don’t make an effort to improve their habits. As a parent, you need to guide them into making the right choices, but letting a student learn to take responsibility for themselves is an important aspect of growing up. At the same time, be aware of your responsibility to help, especially if you are affecting their chance of success (such as if you are driving them to school and you are the one not leaving enough time to get them there in time!).
• Ensure your child gets adequate sleep, an appropriate diet, and exercise. In addition, if they are participating in excessive out-of-school activities (such as tutorials, part-time work, sports, etc.), please discuss if these are appropriate, considering the absences.
• Encourage your child to get help with approaches to learning skills such as organizational skills if they are taking excessive lengths of time to complete homework. Organized students will plan for “crunch” times, plus if there is going to be a deadline conflict, they must approach the teacher early (NOT just before it is due), so something can be worked out. Students are not expected to consistently study into the morning hours – that is not effective and they end up coming to school tired and inattentive, or not coming at all. Needless to say, parties and late-night socializing on nights before school should be avoided. 
• If a student feels they are getting too much homework, review how effectively they are studying, and again, help them consider how to develop effective study habits. Trying to do homework with the TV on or constantly checking devices for social media while doing homework has been proven to be very inefficient. Ask them to discuss their challenges with their teachers to get help – do not think their teacher is not interested in helping them, they are!
• Procrastinating (putting things off) will not get required learning engagements done. Time should be planned, including short breaks to stretch and get refreshed. Studying late at night is not efficient.
• Book holiday flights early, and respect calendared school days. Arranging overseas travel can be challenging, especially with prices rising during holidays, but it is important to keep in mind the impact of missing even one day of school. The beginning and end of school terms are particularly important to help students settle in socially, get a good introduction to a subject, and complete assessment tasks respectively. For older students, consider leaving/returning a few days later/earlier to give your child the opportunity to catch up on their home learning – especially around assessment periods. 

This article is intended to raise awareness of the importance of student attendance. 

Has it? When considering absences from now, will your first question be, is this planned absence avoidable? I hope so! A good start to acting on this knowledge is to discuss the points above with your children so they can also consider the impact of missing learning opportunities. Successful CIS students are responsible, respectful, and prepared!

References & notes:

1. *Hedy N. Chang and Mariajosé Romero (2008): Present, Engaged, and Accounted For – The Critical Importance of Addressing Chronic Absence in the Early Grades http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_837.html
2. Images from a) nccp.org b) © Cebu International School  c) Pixabay.com (free non-attributable license)
3. This article was updated in March 2025 after originally being written by Dr. Gwyn Underwood in November 2010. 

Upcoming events of note

• Mar 17-31: IB Art Exhibit @ CIS
• Mar 19-23: ISAC 3 @ BISM (19th & 23rd travel days)
• Fri, Mar 28: Centennial Showcase (CIS Got Talent)
• Apr 1-4: STEM Week
• Wed, Apr 9: School Day (Day of Valor: Compensatory holiday-Apr 11)
• Thu, Apr 10: G12s last day of classes
• Thu, Apr 10: TOK Exhibition (DP1)

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

Siglo: A Centennial Production by CIS

For the first time in years, CIS is taking the stage beyond campus for a special Centennial Showcase! Join us on March 28 at Oakridge Studio, 12F Oakridge IT Center 3 for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, talent, nostalgia, and celebration as we commemorate 100 years of Cebu International School.

🎟 Tickets are now available at the CIS cashier! Bring your family, friends, and loved ones—this is a show you won’t want to miss! Stay tuned for more details on the cast, synopsis, and story.

Grade 3 Class

by Ms. Katrina del Mar, Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher

Where We Are in Place and Time

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” by Abraham Lincoln

Grade 10: Math Class

by Mr. Daniel Monfre, MYP Math Teacher

Exploring Trigonometry in the Real World!

In Grade 10 Math, students take their learning beyond the classroom and into the real world! As part of their trigonometry unit, students have been applying their knowledge of right triangle trigonometry to estimate the heights of various structures around the school, including mountains, statues, and towers.

Working in small groups, students measured two angles of elevation from different points and recorded the distance between these two points. Using tangent functions, they then calculated the height of their chosen structure. This hands-on activity not only deepened their understanding of trigonometry but also reinforced the importance of precision in mathematical measurements.

After completing their calculations, students compared their results with their group members, analyzing any discrepancies. They engaged in discussions to justify the accuracy of their measurements, considering factors such as measurement error, estimation techniques, and external variables. Finally, they reflected on whether their results made sense in a real-world context, connecting their mathematical reasoning to practical applications.

Through this activity, students gained valuable insight into how mathematics is used in various fields, such as engineering, architecture, and surveying. We are proud of their engagement, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving skills as they applied trigonometry to meaningful real-world scenarios!

Happy π Day!

Every year on March 14th (3/14), we get to celebrate π(P)i Day! Why? The value of pi is approximately 3.14 and the date written in Month/Day format is 3/14, same number!  It’s basically a math party, filled with fun games, math puzzles, songs, and puns. Pi pops up everywhere, from circles to how stuff moves, to angles, and more. 

If you’re looking for a fun excuse to do some mathy stuff, eat some pie, and just have a good time thinking about numbers, then you should celebrate too!

As part of the celebration at CIS students were involved in pi memorization challenges, classroom games, pi songs, and the pi day challenge from pidaychallenge.com! They’ve got a bunch of fun math puzzles and challenges that’ll get your brain working. It’s not just for math whizzes either; anyone can give them a shot. So, grab your family, jump online, and see how many puzzles you can solve. It’s a great way to celebrate Pi Day and learn something new! Have a happy pi day!

Theory of Knowledge Class

by Mr. Damon Freeman, TOK Teacher

In our Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class, we recently took an exciting detour from our already thought-provoking curriculum to host our first-ever Ethics Olympics. Ethics is a cornerstone of TOK, encompassing questions such as What is ethics? How do we apply ethical frameworks? How does ethics intersect with relativism? This event provided students with a hands-on opportunity to explore these fundamental concepts at a deeper level.

Structured as a competitive yet intellectually stimulating debate, the Ethics Olympics assigned specific roles to students: three acted as judges, two teams of three debated ethical dilemmas, a separate team devised the ethical scenarios, and a debate manager oversaw the proceedings. Each team presented arguments supporting their stance, engaged in rebuttals, and defended their perspectives under scrutiny. The panel of judges established criteria to evaluate the strength of arguments and awarded points, ultimately declaring a winner.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand the Ethics Olympics into an inter-class and inter-grade competition, creating an even broader engagement with ethical reasoning. However, the true value of this initiative lies beyond the competition itself. By grappling with complex moral dilemmas, students cultivate critical thinking skills, develop empathy, and recognize the nuanced implications of ethical decision-making in the real world. While many ethical questions lack clear-cut answers, the ability to thoughtfully engage with them is what shapes responsible leaders and conscientious global citizens.

This event marked an excellent beginning, and we are eager to see how it evolves in the future—challenging students to think, debate, and reflect on ethics in ways that will empower them long after they leave the classroom.

Professional Learning Community

by Ms. Angelica Campos, Optimal Learning Coordinator

As part of our continuous learning, the teachers at CIS work hard at becoming more aligned with UDL (Universal Design for Learning) practices to benefit all students in all subjects. This year I am lucky to belong to the PLC that works with “Supporting students in making thinking visible”. Teachers from Early Years up to Middle High School sit to design a plan to achieve our goal of supporting students in making thinking visible. 

We started by talking about what we wanted to achieve in our class and for our particular students, always considering the importance of the ATL (Approaches to Learning) across the curriculum. 

We mapped out what our year of learning would look like, and what we would have to have achieved by the end of the year.

We have been doing research on different sites in order to find the most suitable Thinking Routines that support our students according to their grade level, preferences and language needs.

At this point, our PLC is in the experimenting, gathering evidence part of our learning journey. Teachers have tested various Thinking routines with our class, we have also collected the data and information that will help us improve these routines next year in order to become better educators. Take a look at our students’ thinking made visible! 

College & Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor

DATE

March 19, 2025
6:30 PM Singapore time
LINK to register

EVENT

Information Session on the National University of Singapore (NUS) Summer Programs- Students will get an opportunity to engage with University Professors, Researchers, Industry Experts, experience NUS’ campus life and network with learners from different schools/countries building new friendships and beautiful memories.

SAT Update

SAT Registration Is Now Open

*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.