Principal’s Corner
by Mr. Andrew Powell, Early Years – Grade 12 Principal
During the October Break many countries celebrated World Teachers’ Day. While initially commemorating UNESCOS’s recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers on October 5, 1966, the day now celebrates how teachers are transforming education. As a community we have much to thank our teachers for and I am always delighted by the clear respect and appreciation that our students and many parents provide to our staff.
A quick survey of some of our students provides a small snapshot in relation to how our students think about their teachers. If categorized using a Head-Heart-Hands Model for Transformative Learning, the responses were overwhelmingly of the heart and hands nature and signify the importance that passion, encouragement, connection, and kindness play in learning along with a feeling of connectedness to the school.
We are blessed to have a genuinely committed and talented faculty. What our students are clearly grateful for is how our teachers make them feel. Their approach and the supportive CIS school environment combined with subject-specific knowledgeable and strong teaching practices has a transformational effect. We see this in our strong student learning results and know that this will have a lifelong impact.
Please wish all of our teachers a belated Happy World Teachers Day!
International Day is coming up! Parents, please contribute snacks through your regional booths via the PTA email at pta@cis.edu.ph.
Here’s a teaser made of our upcoming Culture Week leading up to the International Day on Sunday!
Upcoming events of note
- Oct. 17-21: Culture Week
- Oct 22 (morning): International day
- Oct. 24-28: Book Week (Book Parade 28)
- Oct 25: Parent Coffee 8-9 am (CIS Annex)
- Oct. 31-Nov. 2: School and Public holiday
Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.
PYP Grade 4/5 Students Take Action
by Mr. Sten Coppin, Grade 4 Teacher / Ms. Aimee Underwood, Grade 5 Teacher
In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), students from a young age learn to develop and transfer important knowledge, understanding, and skills to real-life situations in their local and global communities. Students take action individually and collectively through participation, advocacy, social justice, social entrepreneurship, and lifestyle choices. As they do so, they develop international-mindedness and see themselves as competent, capable, and active agents of change who “help to create a better and more peaceful world” (IB Mission Statement).
Read how a Grade 5 student has chosen to report on the action she and her classmates have taken. The students are just beginning to develop their news reporting skills as part of their new unit.
Please click on the image below to view the virtual gallery.
DP Biology
by Ms. Rebecca Devadoss, DP Biology Teacher
Grade 12
Human Impact on the Environment was one of the subtopics that was explored in quarter one. Several issues related to increased global temperatures were discussed in class. Students also learned about specific chemical reactions that cause acidification of the oceans, which lead to coral reef bleaching and the loss of marine biodiversity. Also, the thinning of the calcium carbonate shells of marine mollusks is due to the change in the chemical composition of the oceans. Those that threaten their survival. The shift in climatic conditions from tropical, temperate, and arctic belts was studied in terms of the impact on the available nutrients, and this was taught using Gersmehl diagrams.
Students watched two documentaries: “Before the Flood,” presented by National Geographic, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio; and “The Case for Optimism on Climate Change” by Al Gore (TED 2016). Following that, posters based on the impact of increased global temperatures were prepared and presented by them.
Posters portray various impacts of global climate change, such as an increase in the frequency and intensity of typhoons, flooding, fires, droughts, coral bleaching, rising sea levels, loss of habitat, and many more.
Grade 11
With the return to face-to-face classes, the Grade 11 students performed two of the IBDP prescribed practicals.
Practical 1: Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues, with the drawing of cells.
Students prepared slides using Allium cepa (onion peels) and viewed them under the microscope. Total magnification 100 x
Slide prepared by Dennis.
Practical 2: Estimation of osmolarity in tissues by bathing samples in hypotonic and hypertonic solutions.
Osmosis experiments are a useful opportunity to stress the need for accurate mass and volume measurements in scientific experiments. Students also produced a detailed lab report.
An important real-world application based on this concept is that tissues or organs to be used in medical procedures must be bathed in a solution with the same osmolarity as the cytoplasm to prevent osmosis. Saline solutions are also isotonic to the cytoplasm. This ensures that the cells do not get excess water molecules and lyse or lose water and shrivel.
Grade 9 Visual Arts
by Ms. Gerri Ancajas Jumao-as, Visual Arts Teacher
The Grade 9 class explored identity as the key concept in their ‘Who Am I’ unit. They investigated the related concepts of composition and representation through a series of formative drawing tasks. They are now planning and preparing to apply their creativity and art skills in an artwork that will communicate who they are through personal expression.
Composition Framework Exercise: The goal of this exercise is to explore how the elements of art can be organized and composed according to the principles of composition.
Here are some students’ work.
Face Proportion Drawing Exercise: The goal of this exercise is to improve observation skills and improve proportions for drawing portraits and faces.
Here are some students’ work.
Drawing From Different Angles Drawing Exercise: The goal of this exercise is to grasp the concept of the element you are studying and to understand how it works and what it may look like in different states. The task is to observe the objects and note the differences between each form at various perspectives.
Here are some students’ work.
Self Portrait in Different Genre Exercise: The goal of this exercise is to explore different genres and examine how artists render portraits.
Here are some students’ work.
Symbolism Exercise: The goal of this exercise is to investigate how artists convey meaning to their audience. This task allows students to develop their artistic expression and represent abstract ideas.
Here are some students’ work.
Dragon’s Print
As the world slowly goes back to normal, we are now able to engage in truly missed school activities, one being ISAC. For many of our student-athletes, ISAC is crucial in their experience at CIS and it is something they look forward to every year. As our first face-to-face ISAC since the pandemic approaches, let’s explore what ISAC is and why it is important. Hear from our veteran players at http://dragonsprint.cis.
College/Careers Counselor Corner
by Ms. Jenny Basa, College/Careers Counselor Corner
College Essay questions
Here is an example of a personal insight question an applicant needs to answer in 250-350 words if one is applying to any campus at the University of California.
College Events (Virtual and Face to Face)
DATE
Oct 19
(All schedules are US Eastern Time – if you register, you will have access to recordings on their website)
EVENT
University of Virginia Virtual Fall Event Series
Wednesday, October 5th (6-7PM): Financial Aid at UVA
Learn about the financial aid process, including different types of financial aid and how to apply, directly from the Office of Student Financial Services. Register here!
Wednesday, October 19th (6-7PM): Hoos Talking-Diversity at UVA
This event will give you a chance to learn about the academic and cultural opportunities available at UVA from current diverse voices on Grounds. Learn about how student advocacy has shaped the University’s community that we see today. Register here!
October 21
Friday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex
University of British Columbia (Canada) – Info session with the university rep with Q&A.
October 21
Friday
11:45 – 12:20pm
Canteen Annex
Simon Fraser University (Canada) – Info session with the university rep with Q & A
October 25
Tuesday
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Canteen Annex
City University of Hong Kong – – Info session with the university rep with Q & A
SAT UPDATE for 2022-2023
2022–23 School Year Test Dates
| SAT Test Date | Deadline for Registration, Changes and Regular Cancellation |
| December 3, 2022 | November 3, 2022 |
| March 11, 2023 (Digital) | February 24, 2023 |
| May 6, 2023 (Digital) | April 21, 2023 |
| June 3, 2023 (Digital) | May 19, 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.