Newsflash: May 12, 2023

Principal’s Corner

by Mr. Andrew Powell, Ey-12 Principal

We are blessed with an outstanding group of Visual and Performing Arts teachers at CIS. While the work of the department has featured prominently throughout the year, this week they worked with their students to showcase some of their ongoing projects. This included an Art Exhibit, interactive posters with QR codes of student musical compositions, student musical performances during lunch and a Grade 10 Musical Revue, presented by the Grade 10 drama class. A special performance was also held for parents and PTA members, which was particularly well attended.

At CIS we intentionally strive to inspire and one of the qualities that we look to model and value is creativity. While often referred to in the context of the arts, creativity is defined by the ability to produce or use original or unusual ideas. Throughout the year there have certainly been a great deal of creative ideas, approaches, and solutions at play. 

Prospective families are increasingly looking to CIS for its creative culture. Our Virtual Arts programmes are in demand by students who are looking to nurture their creative talents. This is not only providing our students with opportunities to learn and experiment with new techniques and skills but as I have mentioned previously, it  is resulting in their heightened visibility to prospective universities.

The nature of our program encourages student agency and consequently is open to creative possibilities. While our faculty work hard to inspire, we have such an incredible group of students that they also serve to motivate our teachers. They provide them with a vivid image of future possibilities which leads to a dynamic approach to lesson planning and unit development, enhancing the overall school experience.

One important aspect of the way our visual and performing arts programmes are delivered, is the commitment that our teachers have to making this learning joyful. As a key principle of the school’s Guiding Statements, this provides a mode of learning in which students are given the opportunity to experience happiness while nurturing curiosity and interacting with meaningful content through a supportive community of peers and teachers.

Elementary: Physical and Health Education

 by Coach Jay Hermias, Elem PHE Teacher

In a recent physical and health education class, elementary students demonstrated impressive skills in a variety of games and activities. From traditional favorites like slide tag, soccer, basketball, dodgeball and kickball to newer games such as improvised capture the flag and ultimate frisbee, these young athletes showed determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship in our game tournament.

In addition to the physical benefits of these activities, students also learned important lessons about health and wellness. They were taught the importance of staying hydrated, warming up before exercise, and taking breaks when needed to prevent injury.

The students also showcased IB Learner Profiles such as being reflective, risk-takers, communicators, and thinkers, as they participated in a variety of physical activities and challenges. They demonstrated their commitment to teamwork, their ability to persevere through difficult challenges, and their willingness to take calculated risks.

Here are some highlights in PHE for the past few weeks: 

Working out to improve strength and endurance

Practicing their attacking and defending strategies in soccer

Having fun participating capture the flag

Learning the rules in playing basketball

Improving balance and control

 Students showing off their  kicking skills in soccer!

Builders Bulldozers

Attacking strategies in touch rugby

Teamwork in human tug of war

Students learning some strategies in soccer

Students learning how to pass and catch the ball

Playing dodging, coordination and agility games

Improving their arms, core strength, and coordination

Students practicing  their dribbling skills in basketball

ARTS WEEK!!

by Arts Week Committee

The Annual CIS Arts Week & Student Exhibition ran from Monday, May 8 to May 12, 2023.  The week included music and performances and a visual arts exhibition. Here are some photos of the week.

Art Exhibition

Interactive Posters:

Busking:

Grade 10’s Musical Revue Unit Summative performance

Arts Week

by Ms. Stefanny Hermias, MHS Drama Teacher

Theatre Class Presents Successful Musical Revue!

In celebration of Arts Week, Grade 10 Theatre class has just presented their highly-anticipated class production summative to an audience that included MHS students and teachers, G10 parents and PTA Board. The performance, which showcased the students’ talents in acting, singing, and dancing, was met with thunderous applause and positive reviews. 

Students had been working tirelessly for two months to perfect their musical revue, which tackled stages of love. It was filled with catchy songs, elaborate costumes, and stunning choreography. It is sure to be remembered as a highlight of Grade 10’s last year in Theatre class and MYP.

Student Reflections:

Grade 8/9 Creative Body Movement 

In 8/9 Theatre class, students engaged in a creative body movement lesson and explored various ways to use their bodies to express emotions and convey messages. With music playing in the background, the class was a flurry of energy as students experimented with different movements, from slow and deliberate to fast and spontaneous. The lesson not only helped to build physical dexterity but also fostered a greater understanding of the importance of body language in theatrical performance. During the unit, the level of  creativity and enthusiasm displayed by the Grade 8 and 9 students was remarkable and impressive! 

(Please click each  photo to watch their ‘Creative Body Movement’ videos!)

Currently, Grade 8/9 theatre students have been quite busy and working hard perfecting their waltz dance routine class. They are looking forward to their next showcase which will be at the End of Year Assembly. 

Here are giphy teasers of their Waltz dance!

CIS Touch Rugby

by Mr. Damon Freeman & Ms. Leanne Healy, CIS Touch Rugby Coaches

On Saturday May 6th, Cebu International School (CIS) hosted the inaugural CIS Touch Rugby Championship, with teams from Pardo, Guadalupe, Mango and Talamban SOS participating. The event also included exhibition 7’s (seven-a side rugby) games from Cebu Dragons Rugby Club, making it a day filled with rugby excitement.

Families, friends and teachers came out in full force to support, their presence was greatly appreciated. The players and club are fortunate to have such a strong support system, thank you all for your unwavering and generous support!

Aside from the competitive aspect of the tournament, the event also provided an opportunity for the players to develop community ties. Rugby is not just a physical sport, but also a sport that focuses on building character and forging friendships. The players had the chance to interact with other schools and make new friends, which is an important aspect of their overall development.

In the Under 12s division, CIS emerged as the champions, winning a well-deserved trophy. The coaches are extremely proud of all the players, and their hard work and dedication has certainly paid off. The U15`s and U19`s also made it to the finals, losing extremely narrowly. 

The tournament was a huge success, with all teams displaying impressive skills and teamwork. The players have clearly put in a lot of effort and enthusiasm into their training, and it was demonstrated on the field.

The Touch Rugby Championship is a testament to the growing popularity of rugby in Cebu, and it is heartening to see so many young players taking an interest in the sport. Rugby is a sport that teaches core values; Integrity, Discipline, Solidarity, Respect and Passion. It is clear that the players have embraced these values.

A note from the coaches:  

It was a pleasure to witness so many young players displaying their skills on the field. All players should be commended for their hard work and dedication, we are proud of every one of you. Thank you to all staff, parents and guardians who supported the players and event to make the day possible and filled with a community atmosphere. Congratulations to the Under 12s division for their trophy-winning efforts, and to all the teams for their impressive performances. The future of rugby in Cebu looks bright, and we can’t wait to see the players develop their game even more through the rugby events and training.

Thank you all!

College/Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner

Question of the Week:  For an incoming 12th grade student, do I need to take the SAT since I’ll be applying to college next school year?

It depends on where you are applying to and if you are going to register for the full IB Diploma.  Taking the SAT is an option especially for those who do not present a recognized high school qualification. At CIS, our HS diploma is recognized by universities abroad because we are accredited with the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) In the US, there is a growing number of colleges and universities who have gone test optional.  Here is a list list you can refer to.  This list can change so the best resource is to check the university’s website.

College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)

DATE

May 23
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex
Link to sign up

EVENT

Bond University (Australia) – An information session with the university rep to learn about the programs, scholarships and the application process.