Newsflash: September 20, 2024

Admin News

by Dr. Gwyn Underwood, Superintendent

Congratulations Student Council for a successful HAD (House Activity Day) today!

Joint Accreditation Visit at CIS

This coming week, we welcome visiting teams from three organizations that we are accredited with and authorized by: The International Baccalaureate (IB), The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Council of International Schools (CIS, but to avoid confusion with CebuIS we will use CoIS!). Why are we doing this, you may be asking? I am glad you asked!

Accreditation is…

Firstly, let’s define what accreditation is in schools! In their book “Connecting the Dots of Accreditation: Leadership, Coherence, and Continuous Improvement”, Dr. Barry R. Groves and Dr. Marilyn S. George write:

“Accreditation is a process of continuous school improvement that examines all aspects of the school program and operations in relation to the impact on high-quality student learning. 

It can be explained as a quality assurance process that involves the school in evaluating and monitoring its program and operations based on quality standards to ensure these are being met.”

The Accreditation Process is as follows:

Process adapted from “Connecting the Dots of Accreditation: Leadership, Coherence, and Continuous Improvement” by Dr. Barry R. Groves and Dr. Marilyn S. George 

Step 1: Self-study
A comprehensive self-study is carried out by the school using CoIS standards and IB Programme Standards and Practices, and a report is submitted to the accreditation agencies and IB.

Step 2: School Visit by Educators
A committee of professional educators visits the school to assess the effectiveness of the school’s programs and operations and their impact on student learning. 

Step 3: Assessment Against Standards/Criteria
 The school is assessed on the degree to which it is meeting standards/criteria that emphasize the important aspects of ongoing improvement.

Step 4: Review of Visiting Committee Report & Accreditation Status Granted
The accrediting organization reviews the visiting committee report and grants an accreditation status if they reach the required standards. 

Step 5: Visiting Team Report on Student Achievement and School Capacity
A Visiting Team report indicates the degree to which “high achievement by all students is occurring; the capacity of the school to implement, monitor and accomplish an action plan aligned to the areas of greatest need impacting student achievement.” 

Step 6: School Implements Continuous Improvement Plan
  The school uses the report to create action plans and consider how to develop the school in the specific areas noted.

→ Back to Step 1: The process repeats in a cycle of improvement.

The process is rigorous, covering all aspects of operating a school, from operations and governance to learning and resources, and includes stakeholder input to ensure authentic data is used to drive improvements.  

Thanks to all who have participated in this process over the past two years, and those who will be meeting the various visiting team members over the coming week. We look forward to the outcomes, which we are confident will highlight what a unique and caring school CIS is, and provide us guidance on the areas we can further develop to ensure we continue to provide a quality program that enables our students to develop their unique potential and confidently face future challenges, contributing to creating a better world.

Upcoming events of note

• Sept. 21-27: CIS/WASC Accreditation Visit
• Sept. 22-25: IB Evaluation Visit
• Tue, Sept. 24: Parent Coffee Morning (PTA)
• Fri, Oct 4:  End of Quarter 1
• Oct. 7 – 11: Mid-Semester Break
• Mon, Oct. 14: Start of Quarter 2
• Oct. 14 – 18: Digital Citizenship Week

Please refer to the CIS Event Calendar for the complete calendar of school events.

Mid-Autumn Festival in the Mandarin Classes

by: Ivy Guo, Mandarin ES/Mandarin ab initio and Elaine Jin, Mandarin MYP/Mandarin B 

The Mid-Autumn Festival, known as 中秋节 (Zhōngqiū Jié) in Mandarin, is one of the most significant traditional Chinese festivals, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar with a full moon at night. It is also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, a time for family reunions and moon gazing. 

The festival dates back over 3,000 years and is rooted in moon worship, marking the end of the autumn harvest. The celebration is famed for its mooncakes, round pastries that symbolize completeness and reunion, and is also associated with various legends, most notably the story of Chang’e, the moon goddess. 

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time of joy and festivity, observed not only in China but also in other parts of East and Southeast Asia, each region bringing its own customs and interpretations to the celebration.

ES Mandarin class

ES language learners enjoyed a special storytelling session where they learned about the heroic archer Hou Yi ，the moon goddess Chang’e and her Jade rabbit. The legend, rich with adventure and romance, captivated our students and provided a deep cultural context to the festival’s celebration.

Following the stories, students had the opportunity to taste different flavors of mooncakes. Additionally, they engaged in hands-on craft activities, creating a range of items from mooncake designs to lanterns.

MHS Mandarin class

At MHS, Mandarin students have gained a comprehensive understanding of the Mid-Autumn Festival, known as **中秋节** (Zhōngqiū Jié). This important Chinese celebration occurs on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, a time when families come together to admire the full moon and share traditional mooncakes. The students have explored the festival’s rich cultural and culinary traditions, delving into the legendary stories associated with this special occasion, including “Hou Yi shoots the sun” (后羿射日 Hòu yì shè rì), “Chang’e flies to the moon” (嫦娥奔月 Cháng’é bēn yuè), “Jade Rabbit makes medicine” (玉兔捣药 Yùtù dǎo yào), and “Wu Gang cuts down the laurel tree” (吴刚伐树 Wúgāng fá shù). A key part of their learning experience involved creating vibrant artwork inspired by these legends while enjoying traditional mooncakes. This immersive cultural journey has allowed students to embrace the essence of Chinese culture and the spirit of unity that the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates.

Grade 11/12 Mandarin ab initio – Deepening Cultural Connections

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Grades 11 and 12 Mandarin ab initio learners deepened their understanding of this significant Chinese holiday through a comprehensive lesson on 中秋节 (Zhōngqiū Jié). They explored traditional activities and realia associated with the festival and watched a video on the process of making mooncakes. To personalize their learning experience, each student hand wrote a greeting card to send to a family member or friend, extending wishes for a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival and a reunion with loved ones. 

DP Mandarin B 

The DP Mandarin B class created artwork inspired by the Mid-Autumn Festival, incorporating elements such as the rabbit, moon, mooncake, and Kongming lanterns. Demonstrating their creativity, the students also crafted beautiful lanterns using paper, glue guns, and popsicle sticks to create Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns. No celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival would be complete without enjoying mooncakes, and both the DP Mandarin B and Mandarin Ab Initio classes came together for a comprehensive exploration of the festival. As part of their immersive experience, the students participated in the traditional dice game, a popular Mid-Autumn Festival activity that added excitement while deepening their understanding of the holiday’s customs. This collaboration between the two classes offered students not only the opportunity to learn about the Mid-Autumn Festival but also to experience its traditions firsthand, fostering a stronger connection to Chinese culture and language.

The Mid-Autumn Festival‘s most famous food is the Mooncake. The students tried four different flavors of the mooncake this year: jujube paste with salted egg yolk (枣蓉蛋黄), lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk (莲蓉蛋黄), red bean paste (豆沙), and pineapple (凤梨). 

College & Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor

Tips from Axelle – from the Alumni Chat this week

Invitation from Brown, Columbia and Penn

Join us to learn more about Brown University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania!
Admissions representatives will hold a public information session for students and families about their respective universities and the highly selective college admissions process.
Topics will include: academic programs, campus activities, admissions policies, financial aid and international student life.

Manila
Joint Presentation with Brown, Columbia and Penn Friday, October 11 at 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
International School Manila, Little Theater
University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio
Enter campus through GATE 3
RSVP by October 10 by clicking here

• Space is limited and registration is REQUIRED.
•  In order to provide this opportunity to as many students as possible, each student is permitted to bring a maximum of only one guest.
• On the registration form, you will be required to provide your car license plate number in case you intend to drive to ISM’s campus. If you drive to campus and this information is not provided at the time of registration, you will be unable to access campus.
• If you have questions about the information session, please email ugrad ask@columbia.edu.
• If you have signed up to be on the mailing lists of multiple institutions, you may receive more than one copy of this invitation.

SAT Update

SAT 2024-2025 Test Dates

August 2024–June 2025 SAT Registration Is Now Open

*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.