Dragon News - 09.17.21
Principal's Message
It is so great to have students back in the building again! The joy and excitement are palpable, and it is amazing to see how quickly students are absorbed into ISB culture. The IB Learner Profile is always at the forefront of everything we do, and it is wonderful to see how readily students show they are caring principled thinkers.
There are two things I’ve been holding in my mind and heart over the last couple of weeks. As a country, we just observed the twentieth anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. For our students, they have only known a “post 9/11 world.” The events of that day subsequently impacted American politics, foreign policy, culture, and identity, in turn reverberating through the world. What I recall most about the day of September 11 and the following weeks was the coming together of people. We shared our sadness, our hopes, our fears, our concern for each other, and our desire to inhabit a peaceful planet. This brings me to the second thing. On September 22, ISB will celebrate the International Day of Peace. As part of our mission at ISB we “actively embrace the promise of a peaceful world.” Whether they are aware of it or not, our students have grown up in a nation that has been at war for their entire lives. We look forward to discussing with them what it means to embrace the promise of a peaceful world, and we look forward to giving them a voice and empowering them to realize this promise.
This year’s theme for the International Day of Peace as established by the United Nations is “Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.” I wish you all peace and good health through the month of September and beyond.
Andrew Gilford
Principal
International Day of Peace
September 16 - Discussion and video making in Advisory class.
September 22 - Wear white to school! ISB will make a giant peace sign on our field. Videos of student statements about what it means to ”actively embrace a peaceful world” will be shared.
Back to School Night/Community Picnic
Due to COVID restrictions, our Back to School Night/Community Picnic to be held on October 7 has been cancelled. Similar to last year, teachers will make videos sharing class information that will be posted for parents in Canvas. There will be more information in the next newsletter about it.
PSAT Registration
ISB will not be offering an opportunity to take the PSATs this fall as we did pre-pandemic. We may offer them in the spring depending on conditions.
Counseling Update
All schedule changes will be completed by September 21, the official add/drop deadline for Beaverton School District. For class, schedule, and general counseling related questions please reach out to your student’s counselor.
Jack Rossing - all students Grades 6-7 jack_rossing@beaverton.k12.or.us
Kathryn Hirsch - students last names A-L Grades 8-12 kathryn_hirsch@beaverton.k12.or.us
Tracy Muilenburg - students last names M-Z Grades 8-12 tracy_muilenberg@beaverton.k12.or.us
Senior Portraits - Due by Nov. 23rd
Senior portraits are due by November 23rd, the last day of school before Thanksgiving Break. All senior photos should align with the specifications below. If they do not, the photo will not be put in the yearbook. Also, if senior photos are sent in after November 23rd, there is a chance they will not make it into the yearbook, and the student’s school-taken photo will be featured instead.
Head/shoulder shot, not full body
Vertical layout
5x7 photo with 300dpi
No props, pets, or distracting backgrounds included in the photograph
Clothing needs to follow school guidelines for dress code
Full color digital photograph with clear focus
To submit the senior portraits or if you have any questions, please email Yearbook advisor Andrew Ashkinos at andrew_ashkinos@beaverton.k12.or.us.
Yearbooks for Sale
Yearbooks are now out for sale! If you bought one already, thank you! For those of you who haven’t purchased one yet, don’t forget! The yearbook is a hard bound, 116 colored page book of wonderful memories for your son or daughter to cherish. The cost is $40 as of now and will raise to $45 after Winter Break. You can have your son or daughter either bring in cash or check to Ms. Meyer in the office or you can purchase it online. To purchase it online, you just go here: https://or-beaverton.intouchreceipting.com/
Thank you for supporting ISB and helping to make this a great year!
Volunteers Needed
Culture Corner: We would love to have a parent (or a few) volunteer to do a write up for each newsletter (twice a month) featuring information about upcoming holidays from cultures around the world. This would be at most a couple of paragraphs describing the history, background, and meaning of the holiday as well as a description of how it is celebrated. If you are interested in doing this please let Maritza Grasty know at maritza_grasty@beaverton.k12.or.us
World Language Assistance: French, German, Arabic, Spanish
We are looking for parent volunteers who can support our Diploma Program students in their studies of literature in their native languages. Languages for which we need volunteers are Arabic, French, German, and Spanish. Parent volunteer tutors will:
Be comfortable with and confident in reading, speaking, and writing about literature at a college level in the target language
Meet with and be trained by the IB English teacher who supervises the Self-Taught Literature students regarding the requirements of the subject area
Be willing to be familiar with the nine works of literature in the target language the student is reading
Meet with the students on a bimonthly basis / at least once per quarter to discuss ideas and evaluate the quality of responses to and interpretations of the literature
Respond to concerns and questions from the students as they arise outside of the designated meeting times
Regularly communicate with the supervising teacher regarding any issues that arise during the process of tutoring the students
If you are interested in helping in this way, please contact David Ruff at david_ruff@beaverton.k12.or.us.
ISB Parking Lot
Everybody’s favorite topic! Please continue to be patient, drive slow, and follow the guidance of ISB staff in the parking lot. As soon as Blanton Street backs up, it becomes impossible for vehicles to leave the parking lot creating gridlock. Students are moving through multiple lanes of cars to find their parents, and in some cases crossing Blanton St. Please drive slowly, keep a sharp eye for students, and advise your own kids to be extra careful when finding you after school. Some suggestions to make it a little better:
If your schedule allows, come after 2:15 when the parking lot is mostly cleared out.
Pre-arrange a spot for your student to meet you a couple of blocks away from school.
If your student doesn’t have a phone, use some type of signal so they can easily find you. One parent has been waving a flag above their car. This is wonderful!
Help ISB Maximize Instructional Time
The following strategies will help parents and office staff avoid interrupting instructional time:
On Time and Ready to Learn
Parents who drive their students to school in the morning should leave home early enough to enter the parking lot no later than 7:20 am. Students who arrive later tend to be late to their first class of the day. Support your student's success by ensuring they arrive on time and ready to learn each day.
Delivering Items During Class
From time to time students forget their lunch, books, homework, etc. at home. Please let your student know that if this were to happen, you will drop the item in the main office and he/she is responsible for picking it up during passing time or lunchtime.
Sending Messages to Students
Families are asked to please coordinate how the student is getting back home prior to the start of the school day. We understand that during the day an emergency may arise, we will only make exceptions to send messages to students in case of an emergency.
Picking up Students Early
If you know you will be picking up your student before the end of the school day, please send a note with them indicating the date and time they will be picked up as well as the reason for the absence. They should show the note to the Attendance Secretary when they arrive at school so she can write a pass for them to show to their teacher. At the indicated time, the teacher will send them to the main office to meet you. Allow at least five minutes for your student to show up. A parent/guardian must sign out the student before leaving campus.
Washer and Dryer Request
We are in need of a stackable washer/dryer to wash art/sculpture aprons and rags, tablecloths, and cleaning cloths/towels. If you have a stackable washer and/or dryer you can donate to the school, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Maritza Grasty at maritza_grasty@beaverton.k12.or.us with any questions.
Fall Food Resources
Fall Food Resource programs have begun this week and a list of school site pantries and mobile markets can be found here:
Recursos de Comida Alimentos Durante el Otoño
CONTACT AND FOLLOW US
International School of Beaverton
Andrew Gilford - Principal
Email: isb_communications@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/schools/isb/
Location: 17770 SW Blanton St, Beaverton, OR, United States
Phone: (503) 356-3690
Facebook: facebook.com/isbdragons
Twitter: @isb_dragons
The Beaverton School District prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any basis protected by law, including but not limited to, an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, veteran status, or because of a perceived or actual association with any other persons within these protected classes.