Newsflash: October 25, 2024

International Day: A Celebration of Community and Culture


Tomorrow, Saturday, October 26, we will wrap up this exciting week with our highly anticipated International Day celebration.

Students will take attendance in their Homeroom classes at 7:30AM as usual, and all families and friends are warmly welcome to join us from 8:00AM to 11:30AM for a Parade of Nations, cultural performances, and a food fair showcasing delicious dishes from around the world, prepared by the PTA.

This celebration offers a meaningful opportunity for our community to come together, reinforcing our shared values of inclusion, belonging, and respect for diversity.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Upcoming events of note

  • 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.

Principal’s Corner

Ms. Maureen Juanson, Elementary School Principal, PYP Coordinator, & Accreditation Officer and 
Ms. Aimee Underwood,
Asst. PYP Coordinator and Grade 5 Co-Homeroom Teacher

This week, our CIS community demonstrated remarkable flexibility and resilience as we quickly shifted to emergency remote learning due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. With a Remote Learning Day already planned for Monday, students and teachers were well-prepared, making the transition on Wednesday and Thursday smooth and effective.

This quick response reflects our Purpose Statement: “CIS empowers life-long learners in a caring environment that promotes intercultural understanding and respect. Together, we adapt, innovate, and proactively contribute to a changing world.” It also aligns with our motto: “We are responsible, respectful, and prepared.”

It was wonderful to see both students and teachers embrace online learning with open-mindedness and skill, ensuring that high-quality teaching and learning continued seamlessly.

Snapshots from Remote Learning

Today, we were thrilled to welcome everyone back on campus just in time for one of the most exciting events of the year—Culture Week and International Day!

Culture Week: Celebrating Diversity and Belonging

At CIS, Culture Week is a cherished annual tradition that highlights the diversity, belonging, and global perspective that define our community. With 27 student nationalities and 15 faculty and staff nationalities, the event reflects both the rich cultural variety within our school and the shared values that connect us all.

Throughout the week, students explored cultures from around the world through activities designed to foster empathy, respect, and curiosity. Even with the mid-week shift to and from remote learning, students remained actively engaged—taking part in language challenges hosted by the Language Acquisition teachers, joining thought-provoking culture talks and hands-on workshops, and expanding their understanding of the world. These experiences not only deepened their appreciation for different cultures but also strengthened their sense of connection across communities.

Here are some reflection from Grade 5 students after some of their Culture Week activities this week:

We need to understand history—the bottom of the cultural iceberg—and not just judge what we see on the outside, like those who tried to make samba dancing illegal. International-mindedness means being open-minded, knowledgeable, and respecting differences.

Weaving is important for the Wayuu people’s livelihood. It also reflects hard work and values and traditions passed down from moms and grandmothers. To respect indigenous cultures, we should buy original crafts, learn about the people who made them, and encourage others not to buy cheap, factory-made copies.

Samba parades are a lot like Sinulog in Cebu. Both have sections, competitions, colorful costumes, music, and dance to celebrate culture. They aren’t just for fun—they have meaning and purpose, show history, and bring people together. When we realize similarities, we appreciate different cultures more.

Guided by the IB’s mission to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people, CIS nurtures lifelong learners who embrace differences and seek meaningful connections. Events like Culture Week help our students grow into compassionate, open-minded individuals, prepared to make a positive impact in an interconnected world.

PYP Spanish

by Ms. Dina Melwani, PYP & DP Spanish Teacher

KG/1 Spanish Students Explore the Calendar in “How We Organize Ourselves”

In our ongoing Spanish lessons, the Kinder and Grade 1 students have been actively engaging with the concept of the calendar under the transdisciplinary theme “How We Organize Ourselves.” Through interactive activities and fun discussions, students have learned the names of the months, days of the week, and the changing seasons, and numbers all in Spanish!

This topic has helped students make connections between their daily routines and the broader organization of time. By exploring how calendars are used to plan and structure our lives, the students are building foundational language skills while gaining a better understanding of how we manage time.

Keep up the great work, young learners!

Grade 2/3 Spanish Students Dive into “School Life” in “Who We Are”

In our Grade 2 and 3 Spanish classes, students have been exploring the theme of “Who We Are” through the lens of school life. They’ve been learning how to describe various classroom objects, school subjects, and places within the school environment, all in Spanish!

Through engaging projects and activities, students are not only expanding their vocabulary but also gaining a deeper understanding of how school shapes their identity and daily experiences. The theme has sparked thoughtful conversations about the role of education in personal growth and development.

Great job to our Grade 2 and 3 students for embracing these learning challenges!

Grade 4/5 Spanish Students Explore Shopping in “How the World Works”

Our Grade 4 and 5 Spanish students have been diving into the exciting topic of shopping as part of the transdisciplinary theme “How the World Works.” Through this unit, they’ve been learning useful vocabulary related to stores, products, money, and the measurements —all in Spanish!

The students have participated in hands-on activities like role-playing market transactions, discussing different forms of currency, and comparing shopping experiences around the world. This topic has helped them understand the global nature of trade and the various factors that influence buying and selling.

A round of applause to our Grade 4 and 5 students for their enthusiastic participation and growing language skills!

MYP English Language Acquisition 

by Ms. Angelica Campos, English Language Acquisition Teacher

These days our students have had the opportunity to show how Banalced they can be, splitting their time and focus in multiple ways inside and outside the classroom. 

 International Week & Day Preparation
Our English Language Acquisition dedicated some of their time to making decorations for our celebrations, they researched, worked together, and used their arts & crafts skills to make wonderful pieces that were displayed and used for the International Day and the Language Challenge.

Aside from dedicating time to the celebrations, our English Language Acquisition students juggled the end of a unit full of summative assessments, and the beginning of their second one. 

Grade 6
Our grade 6s are excited to finish the graphic novel American Born Chinese, now that they have successfully made Identity Maps to describe characters! Our goal for Unit 2 is to explore new characters and understand their Perspective and how this completes a story that will teach us about Empathy and meaningful messages for life. 

Taken from geneyang.com
Made with canva.es
Made with canva.es

Grade 7 & 8
Our grade 7 and 8s finished their Story Book for Children, in which they retold in a Personal Narrative form, a childhood story of Mr. Adom! One of our MYP Language & Literature teachers.

They have begun reading part 1 of the novel Al Capone Does My Shirts, a Realistic Fiction piece about the infamous Alcatraz prison told from the perspective of a teenager. There is lots and lots of reading happening here these days!

Taken from novelunits.com

Grade 9 & 10
Meanwhile, grade 9 and 10 survived their Socratic Seminar summative, based on an adapted version of Frankenstein. Students read all about Victor Frankenstein and his Monster, then researched different sources about Scientific development and its consequences in the real world. They shared their thoughts about how responsible Victor was for his misfortune. This speaking exercise helps students prepare for important assessments such as the E-assessment oral coming up in December!

Taken from spencereducation.com

School Counselor News

by Ms. Abigail Gorgonio, School Counselor

Child Protection Orientation for our security, maintenance, and athletics staff

This past month, we engaged in important activities that promote and foster the well-being of our community. A key highlight was the Child Protection Orientation for our security, maintenance, and athletics staff. Led by our Child Protection Lead, Ms. Gerri, this initiative reinforced our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our students and the broader community.

We also conducted first-quarter check-ins with our DP students, providing opportunities for reflection and support as they navigate their academic journey. Additionally, our PYP and MYP Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) classes continued with a focus on emotional awareness, helping students develop essential social and emotional skills for personal and interpersonal growth.

At CIS, we take child protection seriously and remain committed to nurturing the potential of all community members. Our initiatives reflect our core values of respect, diversity, belonging, and advocacy, fostering a safe and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

DP students practicing teamwork, communication, and problem-solving through interactive SEL activities
PYP Early Years students practicing mindfulness, building self-awareness, and developing emotional regulation through calming activities

College & Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor

SIM – Birmingham Open Day

Click for larger image

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.

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