Admin News
by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent
CIS Hosts the ISAC Season 1 Boys and Girls Volleyball Tournament
CIS has been abuzz with excitement since yesterday when we kicked off the first of three ISAC (International Schools Activities Conference) tournaments for the school year, but the only one to be hosted in Cebu!
You can check out how our teams are going (very well!) on the ISAC website which also includes a live feed (courtesy of CIT University), and feel free to pop on to campus tomorrow for the final day of games!
Balancing Competitiveness and Sportsmanship in Tournaments
CIS believes sports offers numerous benefits to students, from improving physical and mental fitness to building teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. As athletes compete in tournaments, however, one area to be aware of is the tension that arises between competitiveness and sportsmanship.
- Competitiveness pushes you to give your best, strive for victory, and push your limits. This drive is crucial for personal growth and team success. When the desire to win becomes overwhelming, however, it can lead to unsportsmanlike behaviors such as aggression, and disrespect, or unethical behaviors such as bending the rules. Such actions negatively impact the positive experience of the game, and cause conflict and ill feelings between participating teams, as well as teammates.
- Sportsmanship, on the other hand, emphasizes fair play, respect for opponents, and integrity. It encourages athletes to uphold the spirit of the game, win or lose. Striking a balance between being competitive and showing good sportsmanship ensures that both you and your opponents enjoy a fulfilling and respectful competition.
We wish all participating athletes and coaching teams all the best as they compete with good spirit in this tournament, and remember: whether you win or lose, do so with grace, honor, and humility!
Thank you CIS Supporters!
In addition to the vocal support of CIS Supporters attending the games, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many supporters of ISAC 1 2024!
- Thank you so much to the generous donors who contributed to our ISAC 2024 Fundraising drive. We are pleased to announce we raised 1,040,000PhP (close to our target) which was invaluable in ensuring we provided a high level of hosting services. Feedback from guests so far has been overwhelmingly positive, in part due to this generous support!
- The CIS PTA has also donated time and funds to support the athletes as they represent our school and learn from the competition experience.
- Those of you who have enjoyed the great quality live feed on the ISAC website will join me in thanking Mr. & Mrs. Bernard and Clementine Villamor and the Cebu Institute of Technology team for providing amazing coverage over the full 3-days of the tournament!
- And last but not least, a special thanks to our CIS Parent artist Mr. James Doran-Webb, for not only creating amazing custom-made dragon trophies for the tournament (see below), but ALSO for kindly sharing his world-famous dragon sculpture (recently displayed in Singapore Gardens by the Bay, and before that in the Chelsea Flower Show in England!). Come to see it on the CIS campus – only on display for a limited time!
And finally, a huge thank you to the dedicated ISAC Committee, led by Mr. Ace Pierra (Community and Student Engagement Coordinator), and everyone who participated in so many ways towards the planning and running of the tournament. Go Dragons!
Upcoming events of note
- Oct. 17 – 19: ISAC Season 1 Volleyball @ CIS
- Mon, Oct. 21: Whole School Remote Learning Day
- Oct. 21 – 25: Culture Week
- Sat, Oct. 26: International Day (half day)
- Fri, Nov. 1: Public Holiday (All Saints Day)
- Sat, Nov. 2: Public Holiday (All Souls Day)
- Nov. 9-10: EARCOS Prof. Learning Weekend (Faculty)/Staff Sat. only (TBD)
- Mon, Nov. 11: School Holiday
Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.
Grade 4 & 5: Philippine Culture Class
by: Ms. Jade Berdon, G4/G5 Philippine Language Culture Teacher, G4/G5 Educational Assistant
Students Debate on the Power Dynamics of Philippine Governance
The Grade 4 and 5 students delved into the transdisciplinary theme “How We Organize Ourselves”. Here, they focused on the central idea of how leaders work together with communities to achieve shared goals. They found how community leaders weave the fabric of the cultural lives of their communities.
After a thorough research, students learned to better understand how the branches of government are interconnected and serve the community. They realized that for effective leadership, all parties involved have to collaborate and cooperate.
A particularly engaging activity that the students went through was a thought-provoking debate, arguing the comparative significance of the branches of the Philippine government. Students came to present some persuasive arguments drawing on their research and personal insights. Although there were different opinions, the debate actually stimulated thinking critically and deepened respect for the complexities of governance.
Here are some notable excerpts from the debate:
Robeen: If the judicial branch makes sure that the laws made by the legislative branch are good for the people and the executive branch enforces it, then it is ultimately dependent on the legislative branch. That is why it is important because without us making laws you have nothing to do.
Evan: I would argue that the legislative branch does a lot of flip-flopping with your laws. It is the judicial branch that is more important because we make sure your laws are good and not bad for the people.
Rain: I agree with that, I would say that the legislative branch is just writing down the laws, it does not mean protecting the people.
Ellaine: I disagree with that because what we are making, which are the laws, are protecting the people’s rights.
Robeen: Without laws, it will make our community in chaos. There will be a lot of people who will become victims of crimes.
Arrah: The Judicial branch claims they are the most important. I would argue that it is not, because you are not doing your job well, it takes a long time to resolve cases, and this is frustrating for people who want to take it fast and the executive branch has the function to approve the law which our branch is making, if we do not make them and our branch is gone, you have nothing to do, nothing to enforce, nothing to interpret for the judiciary. In another way to say it, we are the chef, we are making the food and you are the people who will eat it, if we do not make it then you have nothing to eat. That is why we are important.
Cameron: We are more important because the executive branch will be the one to veto it and will not approve the laws that you are making.
Evan: Actually, in practice each of them are all important because we have a system of checks and balances that will help make sure that each of the branches are operating well.
Ellaine: Without a system of checks and balances everything will be uneven and there will be unequal power on the three branches.
The debate on the most important branch of the Philippine government revealed how highly the three branches are interrelated and dependent on one another. All of them agreed that, while each is very important, a functional democracy cannot exist without the others. It is the legislative branch that creates the laws, the executive branch that puts them into effect, and the judicial branch interprets and upholds the laws. The system of checks and balances makes sure that no branch is in control. The debate instilled in the students a more important aspect: that the collaboration and cooperation between branches best serve the needs of the community.
Overall, the students’ exploration of “How We Organize Ourselves” equipped them with very important knowledge of community leadership and the importance of collaboration in achieving shared goals. They emerged from this experience as better-informed and active citizens to take part in the betterment of their community.
Grade 7: Math Class
by Mr. Daniel Monfre, Math Teacher
Creating a Model World
In Grade 7 Math, students have been learning about ratios and proportions. To apply these concepts, students were given an assessment in which they had to select a real-world building and create a 3D model scaled down to fit on a 30cm by 45 cm base. They researched the building’s dimensions and used ratios to calculate the measurements, making a smaller version of the original structure.
The project took two weeks to complete. During this time, students worked individually, completing several steps: researching their building, performing calculations to adjust the size using ratios, and constructing a 3D model. They finished by writing a report explaining their process and how they applied math to create their model.
This hands-on project allowed students to see how math can be used in the real world, beyond the classroom. It also encouraged them to use creativity and critical thinking while problem-solving. Each student had the chance to demonstrate their understanding of ratios in a practical way and take pride in their finished product.
Below are photos of the students’ process and their final products.
Psychology Classes
by: Dwi Astuti, IB DP Psychology HL/SL Teacher
Grade 11 Class
In the first year of the IBDP Psychology course, grade 11 students learn fundamental skills to critically understand research studies in Psychology. They develop skills such as identifying research methods, analyzing ethical considerations, assessing the validity and credibility of research studies, and evaluating any biases present. They also learn to explain how the sampling method and research setting impact the generalizability of research findings. These skills are crucial for success in the two-year IB Psychology course.
To develop these skills, students not only study examples of research studies but also engage in designing interviews and imagining themselves conducting observations in real-life settings. For example, they are designing an interview to understand the challenges for grade 11 students to adapt to the demands of the IB diploma program. In that discussion, they come to realize that their status as first-year IB DP students may become the source of researcher bias. Hence, they discussed what a researcher can do to minimize bias in research.
Students’ comments:
Psychology is a subject I’m very interested in because I’ve always been curious about how the human mind works and why people behave the way they do. I enjoy using the concepts I learn in class in my daily life, which helps me expand my vocabulary and gain a clearer understanding of these ideas. Since I was already interested in psychology before taking the DP course, I feel more motivated to study and perform well in this subject.
Took up Psychology not really knowing what I was getting into, all I knew is that I wanted to understand the behavior of the people around me. This is a very new subject that I have no prior experience in but thankfully we’re starting from scratch. We’re still learning the basics and it’s been easy and comprehensive (for now‼️). The conversations around cases have been very interesting, especially the Milgram experiment. I love the discussions we have in class and can’t wait to dig deeper!
Grade 12 Class
In the second year of the Psychology course, grade 12 students delve into the biological aspects that influence human behavior. They explore brain neural workings and the physiological processes, such as neurotransmitters and hormones, that can impact human actions.
Additionally, they study the primal instinct of finding a suitable mate for survival and the preservation of the species. While recognizing the value of understanding biological aspects, students also critically examine the reductionist approach of biologists and evolutionary psychologists in explaining human behavior.
Students’ comments:
I think psychology is one of the most interesting subjects to take in IB. You get to learn about behavior and emotions, which to me are very intriguing.
Last year, I didn’t get the chance to fully dive into it, so it was exciting to explore this new aspect of human behavior and the brain. Understanding how our biology like brain structures, neurotransmitters, and hormones affects our thoughts, emotions, and actions opened up a new perspective for me. It’s meaningful because it helps bridge the gap between the physical and psychological, showing how closely our mental processes are tied to our biology. Learning about the brain’s role in behavior also made me appreciate the complexity of human beings even more.
Understanding the behavior from the biological perspective has given me a new perspective on mental health, and I like how it can explain things like why we feel stressed or how we form memories.
College & Careers Counselor Corner
by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor
Summer Internship 2024
SAT Update
SAT 2024-2025 Test Dates
SAT Registration Is Now Open
| Test Dates | Registration Deadlines | Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation and Late Registration Deadlines* |
| November 2, 2024 | October 18, 2024
(Closed) |
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.