Weekly 10-10-14
Transcription
Weekly 10-10-14
PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/2014 Important Dates 11 Oct: Libraries Open Doors (10:00am:12:00pm) 9-12 Oct: CEESA MS Girls Tennis (Cyprus) 13 Oct: University Visit - Universita Catolica del Sacro Cuore (11:25am, Secondary Library) 14 Oct: PTA Meeting (8:45am), followed by the Coffee with Secondary Principal ‘Introduction to MYP and Secondary School’ 15 Oct: Primary ParentTeacher Conferences 15 Oct: Primary School dismissed at 12:00m (Secondary School dismissed at 3:00pm), ASAs for both Primary and Secondary school cancelled 15 Oct: PTA Bake Sale (11:30am - onwards) 17 Oct: Fall Trips Assembly (8:45am - 9:55am, Gym) 17 Oct: University of Glasgow (11:25am 12:25pm) A Place Where We Belong An IB World School since 2000 Director’s Message Dear Students, Parents and Community Members, Change is a wonderful but scary thing! Over the coming months, there will be several changes to the school IT systems. Our aim is to communicate well and work closely with families through these steps. The first one is very simple and requires no work at all. This month we will switch to a new PSI website that has been under construction for six months. The web address remains the same as do many of your favourite pages. The addition of new information, social media content and a more modern ‘look and feel’ are all quite exciting. Through the Friday Weekly and Facebook, we will inform you shortly as to when we go live! In November, we release our new Veracross Parent Portal. Initially this will be for Primary School parents only, with the Secondary School being added in the new year. A ‘one stop’, secure site for each family (and all siblings) will provide enrolment and family contact information, daily attendance data, timetables, calendars / assessment schedules, homework information, curriculum overviews, a reports database and classroom websites. Stay tuned for more information every two weeks in this important area. The PSI Monthly Magazine Goes Quarterly Recently I have been asked, where is the PSI Monthly Magazine?! Our magazine will be a quarterly publication this year. It also has a new name, PSI Life. It will still maintain a focus on teaching and learning but will be presented and published at a higher standard. Editions will include articles and photos from school leaders, teachers and a greater focus from students, too. Our first edition will be published as we break for the October holidays and will be available both electronically and also as a professionally printed hard copy. By John Burns, PSI Director 7a Victora Zabily, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039 | Tel: (380-44) 377 5292 | Fax: (380-44) 377 5242 [email protected] | www.psi.kiev.ua A Place Where We Belong PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/14 From the Primary Principal Dear Parents: As many of you already know, attendance in school is crucial for a child’s success academically, socially and with learning English. To support strong attendance, the school has an Attendance Policy (LINK) to deal with students who miss too much school. However, it is much better to focus and reward those who adhere to our policies and miss fewer than 10 days of school per year. That is why both the Primary and Secondary schools award house points twice a year for good attendance. In January, those students with 5 or fewer absences will receive points for their team. At the end of the year, this is repeated, PLUS students who have missed no school whatsoever receive an Amazon gift certificate. I look forward to awarding many house points this year! I would like to clarify that dismissal time on Wednesday, October 15th is 12 noon. There have been different times posted. When both secondary and primary are dismissed early, the time is 11:30 (when Secondary lunch begins). When just primary is dismissed, it is noon (when Primary lunch begins). I look forward to seeing many of you at my presentation on Learning to Read and Reading to Learn. If you have not yet done so, you may sign up for one of the times offered on the Conferences Sign Up link. I will be offering the same information every hour on the hour. I would like to remind everyone that Primary After School Activities are cancelled on Wednesday due to Parent Teacher Conferences. By Tatiana Lopukhin From the Secondary Principal Dear Parents: In this upcoming week, we have two great opportunities for you to visit our Secondary School. On Tuesday, 14th October at 9:45am in Room 301, we’ll meet with Grade 6 parents, parents new to PSI and any others who’d like to come. We’ll talk about the changing needs of your pre-adolescent and adolescent child and explain the IB Middle Years Programme. Wednesday: Please note that there are no ASAs, but athletic games will continue as usual. On Friday, 17th October at 8:35am in the Gym, we’ll hold our annual Fall Trips Assembly. Each grade level will give a brief presentation about where they went, what they did and – most importantly – what they learned. We hope you can join us for one or both of those events. In the meantime, as always, I encourage you to connect with your child’s teachers. We’re just about halfway through the first quarter, so it’s a great time to check in and find out how your child is doing in school. Our teachers are always happy to talk to you. I hope to see you soon! Regards, Patricia Puia House Points Totals, October 10th Khoriv - 84 Kyi - 90 Lybid - 89 Schek - 68 Schek - 68 Important Information for the day schedule on Wednesday, October 15th • Primary students are dismissed at 12:00pm. Secondary students - at 2:55 pm. • Please note that ASAs are cancelled for both Primary and Secondary students. However, Secondary Sports (HSG & HSB Football) will still be taking place. • Buses will run at 12:00pm, 3:00pm and after the Secondary Sports are over on this day. 2 PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/2014 A Place Where We Belong Student Council Initiative Dear members of the PSI community: The Student Council will be selling T-Shirts with the Ukrainian trident from now on. Please click here to see a PDF of the advertisement with product photos. If you wish to buy a tee shirt, please fill out this survey. You will then be contacted by a Student Council representative for the money. If any questions, please contact Oksana at [email protected] K/G 1 News Our Kindergarten and Grade 1 parents turned out to learn how their children are taught the ‘learning to read’ process through the Daily 5 CAFE strategies and to see the process in action in the classroom. One child noted that parents were very well behaved! Halloween Ceelbration Secondary Week in Sports Monday, October 13th HSB Football vs KIS JV @ Novaselki 4pm HSG Football vs KIS @ KIS 4pm Tuesday, October 14th MSG Football vs KCA @ House of Football 4pm MSB Football vs KCA @ House of Football 5pm Wednesday, October15th HSB Football vs KIS @ KIS 4pm HSG Football vs KCA @ Novaselki 4pm Thursday, October 16th MSB (2) vs KIS (2) @ House of Football 4pm MSB vs KIS @ House of Football 5pm MSG vs KIS @ KIS 4pm Friday, October 17th HSB/G Football Practice @ House of Football On Friday, 31st October, the Primary School will celebrate Halloween from 5-6 PM. Students are invited to come to school in their costumes and trick-or-treat for candy in the primary classrooms. There will also be a Haunted House in the cafeteria, face painting for a donation to support a Secondary CAS project, and the opportunity to make a Halloween or autumn card for rehabilitating Ukrainian soldiers. We are currently in need of Halloween candy. If you would like to donate, please send candy to Ms. Tatz’s office by Wednesday, October 29th. New House Teams T-Shirts Our new House Team t-shirts are now on sale. To purchase a team t-shirt please do the following: 1. Fill out the House Team t-shirt order slip (available at Reception and from the PSI Cashier). 2. Pay for your t-shirt in UAH at the Cashier (all t-shirts are 140 UAH) 3. Take your signed order slip to the Uniform Office at the following times to receive your t/shirt. October - (Tuesday and Thursday only) - 8.30am to 10:00am and 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Note: The Uniform Office is located in Secondary School building basement (next to the music room). 3 A Place Where We Belong PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/14 Ure dolore vel ing eugue Different News and Updates PSI Board Report 3 - October Board Meeting 6/10/2014: This week the Board met for its second meeting of the School year. The following items were part of the agenda, discussions and decisions made. Presentation - At each meeting the Board does some ‘learning’. A presentation was provided about our accrediting agencies, support service companies, external testing providers and recruitment agencies. • International Accreditations • Council of International Schools in Europe and New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the USA. • IB World School Status International Baccalaureate • International Services Organisations • European Council of International Schools and Central East Europe Schools Association • International Recruitment Search Associates and International School Services Boards Goals - The Board approved their annual goals PSI Welcomes New Students: We would like to welcome the following students : Anna (Grade 8) Wishing them the best academic results! Winter Gas & Crisis Planning - Update 2 and KPIs for the year. There are four broad goals this year; • Goal A - Governance and Strategy Committee Develop board and governance best practice • Goal B - Governance and Strategy Committee - Design, evaluate and deliver academic greatness • Goal C. - Finance and Risk Committee - Ensure a strong and compliant legal financial and legal position • Goal D - Facilities and Building Committee - Define and launch Phase 2 Directors Goals - The Board approved the Directors annual goals and KPIs. Included are focuses for; literacy and numeracy standards, new school year marketing plans, promoting ‘school spirit’ and the ongoing improvement of business systems. The full document of goals can be viewed at this link. School Budget - The 2014 / 2015 budget was approved and includes several contingency funds to address any decline in students numbers due to the ‘Ukraine Crisis’, heating and additional electricity use over the winter and the ongoing devaluation of local currency and its impact on our budget. have responded by identifying two authorised shelters in walking distance of the school and are currently updating our evacuation plans with this information and the procedures necessary for students. Key documents in this area: • Link to ur original letter regarding ‘limited gas for winter’ and all plans (Link). Every two weeks we will provide updated information in these two important areas. We do this not to worry • PSI Emergency Communication Procedures (Link). families or to preempt any danger but to keep the • Ukraine Crisis Management Procedures / Documents community informed of ongoing planning in this area. (Link). Our 60 external classroom heaters have been ordered PSI Reminders and paid for and we expect delivery shortly. We are also investigating with our facilities management company Community Emergency Communication Policy prices for an external fuel generator and solid fuel Please follow the link to this important information. boilers. Quotations will be presented at our Board School Calendar - Is available to all families for your Facilities and Building Meeting next week. semester and holiday planning. Click here. Recently several families contacted the school about letters being posted on apartment buildings notice boards by government departments about ‘air raids in Kyiv and air raid shelters. Our work with local embassies tells us this is very much precautionary. We 4 PSI Facebook - We use Facebook every day at PSI. Please visit our site to ‘Like Us’ and join in. Feedback - PSI welcomes feedback, questions and concerns. Please email [email protected] A Place Where We Belong PSI Weekly Issue #7 10/10/14 PSI in Brief PTA News Last weekend the first Quiz Night was held. And what a fantastic evening it was. Lots of teams signed up, lots of fun questions were answered, as well as games played between the rounds. The money raised is going to the charity of the winning team’s choice: a refugee centre in Kotsyubynske, a center of 150 people of whom 72 are children. Thank you, Pam and Melissa, for organizing, Michael, for being a fabulous quiz master and John for organizing fun games in between the rounds. This coming Wednesday, 15 October, PTA will host a bake sale to help fund upcoming PTA events. Please come and support this cause, either by donating baked goods or by buying all these goodies. The bake sale will be held from 11.30 until sold out. Upcoming PTA events: Next PTA meeting will be held on October 14. The meeting is followed by coffee with the Secondary Principal. October 15: Bake Sale: to help fund upcoming PTA events. November 14: International Night: a great all family evening to celebrate our nations and our unique customs through a potluck type fair. Save the dates! PSI VZSC Band Presents.... Gate Security Cards - To issue security cards for your family, we kindly ask you to fill out this Parental Security Form. Please send your photographs to this email address: securityphoto@psi. kiev.ua For additional information please contact the PSI Security Office: [email protected] Secondary School Smart Cards - All Secondary School students are reminded to use their gate security as a ‘cash smartcard’ in the cafeteria. Money can be charged to your cards before and after school and then it is used daily for all purchasing. As we get more students involved this will help our waiting lines move more quickly. Saturday Sports Programme Days for Season 1: During Season 1, the following Saturdays will have Saturday Super Sports activities as well as Secondary Ukrainian Mother Tongue lessons: • 11, 18 October • 1 November Menu for the Next Week Please click here. PSI Social Media Links PSI Contacts PSI Reception: Olga [email protected] PSI Cashier: Oksana [email protected] After School Activities: Natasha & Melissa asa@ psi.kiev.ua School Buses: Lilia [email protected] Security Cards: security [email protected] PE Uniform Orders: Oksana [email protected] 5