Admin News
by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent
As we approach the end of our school year with four and a half weeks remaining in the 2024-25 school year, many of you are likely thinking about the upcoming changes in your lives. Teachers are wrapping up the academic year, students are getting ready to advance a grade or graduate, and some families are preparing to leave CIS and Cebu. During this transitional period, it’s important to acknowledge the impact these changes can have on us and our families. I’d like to share an adapted article that I find particularly useful at this time of year, to help us all prepare for what’s ahead.
Building your Transition RAFT
In their seminal book Third Culture Kids: The experience of growing up among worlds, David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken outline the transition process as a normal process that uses the following associated feelings:
As we navigate transitions, it’s crucial to address the emotions involved to manage any related stress effectively. Unaddressed, these emotions can lead to an unhappy transition and poor reintegration into new environments. This is especially true for students, as it can significantly impact their social and academic achievements.
Pollock & Van Reken also developed the acronym and visual image “RAFT” to help explain pre-departure processes needed for successful transitions. Here is a summary of what each acronym represents:
Reconciliation – Begin building your raft by asking yourself if you have any relationships that need mending. Is there any unfinished business between you and someone you are in a relationship with? This is the time to give and receive forgiveness. Bitterness and regret stemming from a lack of closure and resolution inhibit good grief and adjustment to a new location.
Affirmation – This is the time to thank the people who have been involved in your life. Affirm the relationships you have made and what they have meant to you. Take the time to tell people what you have learned from them and how grateful you are for them. Try to leave as little unsaid as possible when you leave a place.
Farewells – Say goodbyes to people, places, pets, and possessions that have mattered to you. Take lots of pictures. Take the time to say culturally appropriate goodbyes. Some cultures require a lengthy departure process. Particularly difficult farewells are the ones that are generally rushed or put off, so plan ahead and give the farewell due attention.
Think destination – Think and dream about where you are going and what it will be like. Be very honest about the expectations you have for the people and situations that you are going to. Be honest with yourself about how you feel about this transition. Think ahead to what scares you or excites you about where you are going. Research the realities of your destination. If at all possible, put concrete plans in place. (RAFT summary adapted from The Irrational Season)
These last few weeks will pass quickly. Please take time to build a RAFT for your transition, and go out of your way to help your friends build theirs. Consider how change may impact the feelings of all of our students, whether they are leaving or not, as the process will help them face new situations as they move into a new grade, and as some of their friends and teachers leave.
Upcoming events of note
- Apr 28 – May 21: IBDP Exams
- May 5-9: Busking Week
- Mon, May 12: Local Elections – No School
- Sat, May 17: CIS Touch Rugby
- Thu, May 22: 2nd Sem. ASA’s end
- Fri, May 23: G12 Graduation (No PM classes)
- May 24-25: CIS/MFC Friendship Cup (Soccer)
- Tue, May 27: PTA Coffee Morning
Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.
Dear CIS Community,
You are invited to the CIS Centennial Gala Dinner!
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate Cebu International School’s 100 years of learning, community, and connection at the Oakridge Pavilion this Saturday, June 7, 2025.
This business formal event will bring together alumni students, alumni parents, alumni faculty, current parents, faculty & staff, and cherished friends—past and present—for a night of celebration, storytelling, and shared memories.
Enjoy a delicious dinner, heartwarming moments, and conversations that reflect CIS’ rich history and the journeys we’ve taken together.
The ticket includes a sit-down event with dinner, with the venue offering both seating and open spaces for mingling and reconnecting.
Ticket price and more details will be communicated in the coming days. We look forward to celebrating with you!
CIS Summer Activities & Sports Programs 2025
We are back again with fun and exciting Summer Activities and Sports Programs this June 16-27, 2025!
Open to everyone, whether you’re from CIS or other schools. Join us for 2 weeks of creative, fun, and active learning on campus.
Registration form: https://go.cis.edu.ph/summer
More information: https://go.cis.edu.ph/summer-info
Elementary Art Class
by Ms. Kres Jorgiet Bajamonde, PYP Art and PHE Teacher
The Early Years have been joyfully exploring how our senses can inspire artistic expression. As part of our current unit, the students have been inquiring into how sights, sounds, textures, and even smells can spark creativity and help us express our feelings and ideas. With wonder and excitement, they have experimented with textured collages, sand painting, and sensory-rich materials like fabric, clay, and natural objects. Through these playful encounters, they are beginning to understand how artists make purposeful choices about materials to communicate and connect with others in meaningful ways.
In the Kindergarten and Grade 1 Art class, our young artists explored the imaginative world of Salvador Dalí through lines, shapes, and surreal creativity. With wide-eyed curiosity, they transformed paper plates into whimsical melting clocks, inspired by Dalí’s iconic artwork The Persistence of Memory. Using feathers, crepe paper, paint, and markers, students experimented with flowing lines and distorted shapes, learning how these elements can express ideas and feelings. Through this playful mixed-media experience, they discovered that art is not only about what we see, but also about what we feel and imagine.
In the Grade 2 and Grade 3 Art class, our young artists have been exploring how perspective functions in drawing to create depth and space. As part of our current unit, students were introduced to one-point perspective through engaging demonstrations and inspiring examples from artists like Leonardo da Vinci and M.C. Escher. They practiced drawing simple scenes, such as roads, boxes, and buildings, with focus and creativity, using vanishing points and converging lines. Through peer sharing and feedback, they reflected on how their use of lines helped make their drawings appear more three-dimensional and realistic.
In the Grade 4 Art class, students have been exploring the powerful role of artists in advocating for fairness and equity. Building on our artist carousel featuring Banksy, Judy Baca, and Keith Haring, students examined how visual tools like symbolism, color, and typography can convey strong social messages. They then selected causes they cared about, from environmental protection to inclusion, and used planning sheets to brainstorm ideas and begin sketching drafts of their advocacy artworks. Through media experimentation and peer feedback, they reflected on the clarity of their messages and the emotional impact of their chosen symbols, deepening their understanding of how art can inspire change and raise awareness.
In the Grade 5 Art class, students embarked on a creative journey that fused their PYPX passions and advocacy into powerful visual expressions. Through grid drawing, they captured what they love with precision and care, translating their passions into detailed artworks. Simultaneously, they explored sculpture as a tool for raising awareness about issues they care deeply about, using mixed media to bring their advocacy to life. Guided by the central idea that artists can influence change in their communities, students engaged in peer critiques to refine their work, ensuring their messages were both clear and impactful. Each piece stands as a reflection of their voice, values, and vision for a better world.
College & Careers Counselor Corner
by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor
Alumni Spotlight
“Yes to Study Abroad” is an intensive, hands-on course that equips high school students with the knowledge and skills to apply to universities across various countries and systems.
Open to CIS and non-CIS students!
What you will learn (and apply later!) in this course:
- How to understand and meet international university application requirements
- Writing a strong and personal application essay or statement
How to prepare and practice for university interviews - A clear overview of how admissions work in different countries
- Students will also create their resume and prepare a personalized application portfolio and gain confidence to apply to universities abroad
Whether you’re aiming for the US, UK, Australia, Canada, parts of Europe and even in Asia, this program will help you manage your study abroad applications with confidence, from start to finish.
Course Fee: ₱18,000 for 5 days
We are now a Common Sense School!
by Ms. Mary Jean Cordova, Grade 5 Co-teacher, Media Center Coordinator, and ICT & EdTEch Committee Co-chair
We are proud to share that our school has been recognized as a Common Sense School, an achievement that highlights our commitment to teaching students essential digital citizenship skills.
Being a Common Sense School means we prioritize teaching our students to think critically, use technology responsibly, and navigate the digital world safely. This recognition reflects our efforts to create a positive digital culture, empowering our students to thrive both online and offline.
SAT Update
SAT Registration Is Now Open
| Test Dates | Registration Deadlines | Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation and Late Registration Deadlines* |
| 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.