Newsflash: September 6, 2024

Elementary Principal News

by Ms. Maureen Juanson, Elementary School Principal, PYP Coordinator, & Accreditation Officer

As we wrap up our first month of school, it’s incredible to see how quickly our students have settled into their learning journeys. Over the past weeks, they’ve been actively involved in assessing their current learning levels and identifying the next steps with the guidance of their teachers. This reflective process is vital in shaping their learning pathways and building the skills and confidence they need to grow as learners.

So, how can we, as educators and parents, support our students in bridging the gap between where they are now and where they aspire to be?

According to the article of the Midwest Comprehensive Center at the American Institute of Research entitled “Student Goal Setting: An Evidence-based Practice,” student goal setting is a key educational practice that enhances learning-to-learn skills like agency, intrinsic motivation, and self-regulation. Research shows that setting goals improves students’ academic performance and self-efficacy across various subjects. Effective goal setting involves specific, challenging, and mastery-oriented goals, supported by planning, self-evaluation, and feedback. The U.S. Department of Education classifies goal setting as a “promising” evidence-based practice (Tier III), meaning it has shown positive outcomes in studies.

Furthermore, the Everfi article “The Importance of Goal Setting in Education” highlights that goal setting not only enhances academic performance but also develops critical life skills. It emphasizes that setting clear, actionable goals helps students stay focused and motivated, fostering a growth mindset. By setting goals, students learn to manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and persevere through challenges. The blog also underscores the importance of involving students in the goal-setting process, as it encourages them to take ownership of their learning and builds self-efficacy.

A crucial aspect of goal setting is regularly checking in and reflecting on progress. This practice helps students stay on track and make necessary adjustments to their goals and strategies. Here are some prompts that teachers and parents can use to engage students in this reflective process:

• What actions have you taken this week toward achieving your goal?
• Are you closer to reaching your goal than you were one week ago?
• As you work towards your goal, do you still feel it’s important to you? Is there anything you want to change about your goal?

By regularly reflecting on their progress, students can gain insights into their learning process, identify obstacles, and celebrate their achievements. This ongoing reflection helps them remain motivated and committed to their goals.

By engaging in goal setting, we help our students become agentic learners who can influence and direct their own learning, make informed choices, and express their ideas. This process also nurtures them as assessment-capable learners, enabling them to reflect, assess, monitor, and adjust their learning strategies.

Next week, our CIS students will take part in goal-setting discussions with their teachers and parents, identifying their strengths and areas for growth. Together, they will outline the strategies, resources, and support needed to achieve their goals. Let’s encourage our students—both at home and in school—to set SMART goals for the year ahead, ensuring their continued progress and success.

School Counselor Updates

by Ms. Abigail Gorgonio, Guidance Counselor

Fostering Well-being and Academic Success

The Guidance Office at Cebu International School has been actively working to support students’ overall well-being and academic success. In August, a variety of activities were organized to promote these goals.

• Dorm Team Cohesion Activity: The Office partnered with the Residence Management Team to host an event aimed at fostering camaraderie among dorm residents.
• SEL Goal-Setting Session: Students were guided by counselors to set personal goals for the academic year. These goals were displayed on an interactive bulletin board to serve as a constant reminder and motivation.
• New Students Check-in: To ensure a smooth transition into the school environment, new students participated in intake interviews to assess their needs and challenges.

These activities are just a few examples of the Guidance Office’s commitment to providing holistic support to students. By focusing on both academic and personal well-being, the office aims to create a positive and supportive learning environment for all.

Kinder and Grade 1 Readers and Writers

by Ms. Maffy Ocleasa, K/G1 Teacher

Read Like Writers
Our Kinder and Grade 1 readers have been immersing themselves in different mentor texts and exploring the world of fiction this week. Building upon their narrative writing skills, they’ve been crafting imaginative stories using the essential elements of storytelling.

The Writing Process
After investigating the elements of a story, our Kinder and Grade 1 writers have been learning about the different steps of the writing process, starting with prewriting, where they build and plan their stories using materials and a story planner.

Next, they write their rough drafts, letting their creativity flow and putting their ideas on paper.

Once they’ve completed their rough drafts, it’s time for revision and editing. To help improve their writing, they learn about the ARMS (Add, Remove, Move, Substitute) and the CUPS (Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling) techniques, focusing on adding adjectives and using correct punctuation marks.

Peer Feedback and Growth
One of the most valuable learning experiences is receiving feedback from peers. Our writers have been participating in peer reflections, sharing their work with classmates, and providing constructive feedback using the TAG (Tell something you like, Ask a question, Give suggestions) method.

IB Learner Profile attributes and ATL skills 
Throughout this week’s activities, our students have developed important IB Learner Profile attributes. 

• They have demonstrated what it means to be balanced by managing their time effectively and completing their narratives on time. 
• They have demonstrated open-mindedness by exploring and embracing new ideas in their stories.
• Their caring nature has been evident in their willingness to help and support their classmates. 

Moreover, they have also been practicing ATL skills such as thinking (analyzing their work), self-management (organizing their time and materials), and social skills (collaborating with peers and providing constructive feedback).

College & Careers Counselor Corner

by Ms. Jenny Basa, College Counselor

College  Visit – September 11 Wednesday

Alumni Chats – Centennial Edition

Cebu World University Fair

To all Parents:

If you are interested in attending the Cebu World University Fair on Friday Sept 13 at 8:30-11:30am in CIS, please register here.

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

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.