MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School
Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents ISSUE # 19
WEEK OF JANUARY 11 TO 15, 2010

From the Middle School Office

Dear Parents:

Happy New Year!

We hope you all had a restful break with your friends and family.

There are wide range of learning experiences planned this semester and we look forward to working
together. Among these events are MS Readers’ Week, Family Fun Day, All (MS & HS) Choirs Concert, and
Classroom Without Walls. We will also be sending Middle School students this January to the AMIS
International Asian Middle School Honor Band in Shanghai American School Pudong.

Report Cards for semester 1 will be distributed in hard copy via courier as of Monday, January 18.
PowerSchool will be accessible again on Friday, January 15 at 4:00 P.M. Parents are encouraged to review
the reports with their child and use it as an opportunity to open dialogue with teachers.

For the new members of our ISM community, we will be hosting a New Parent Coffee in the Little Theater on
Thursday, January 21 starting at 7:45 A.M. This will be an opportunity to meet other families and learn more
about life in the Middle School. Please join us if you are available. We look forward to welcoming new
families to the ISM Middle School.

Looking ahead… on March 3 to 7, we are hosting the IASAS Art and Music Convention. We are expecting
160 students from Asian schools. We need your help in housing students from Wednesday, March 3 until
Sunday, March 7. Please see the form on page 8 for details on how you can sign up to support our IASAS
Art and Music Convention.

Sincerely,

Danielle Fredericks Clarissa Sayson

Middle School Principal Middle School Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events PowerSchool Grade Update

January 11 to 15 ARTMud & ARTSculpt Exhibit (FAT Lobby)

12 ARTMud & ARTSculpt Exhibit Opening Jan. 15 - PowerSchool opens
(2:45 P.M., FAT Lobby) Jan. 18 - First Semester
15 MS Courtyard Activity (3:00 P.M.) Reports Distribution
20 New Student Luncheon (11:00 A.M.)
21 MS New Parent Coffee (7:45 A.M., LT)
25 to 29 MS Readers’ Week
27 to 31 AMIS Honor Band
February 06 Family Fun Day
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From the Operations and Security Office

Access and parking within the campus are important security and safety issues. For the well-being of all members of the
ISM community, those entering the school campus are requested to follow the procedures outlined below.

Vehicular Access
During drop-off and pick-up times, vehicles may enter through Gates 2 and 3. Those entering through Gate 2 should pro-
ceed to the drop off area and, once the student has alighted or boarded, they should exit via Gate 1. Those vehicles enter-
ing through Gate 3 must turn into the covered parking area and use the designated drop-off areas. All vehicles must exit
through Gate 1.

Alternatively, vehicles entering through Gate 3 may park in the covered car park. The spaces reserved for parent-driven
cars should only be used by those vehicles which are driven by parents themselves. Vehicles in which parents are travel-
ing, but which are driven by a driver, should not use these spaces. Rather, they should park elsewhere in the covered park
or make use of the outside spaces next to the power center.

Please note that Gate 2 may only be used by vehicles displaying a valid ISM vehicle sticker.

Family/company drivers should not remain within school once they have delivered a student. They should exit the school
and return no sooner than 1:45 A.M. in the afternoon for pick up.

Visitors to ISM may only enter through Gate 3. There is an area for short stay visitor’s parking near Gate 1.

The Pedestrian Gate

Location
The pedestrian gate is located in the perimeter fence mid-way between Gate 1 and Gate 2. There is a paved area between
the road and the perimeter fence, allowing easy access to the gate.

The pedestrian gate is solely for the entry of members of the ISM Community at the beginning of the school day. It will only
be open between 7:00 and 7:45 A.M. (8:00 to 8:45 A.M. on Wednesdays). Due to parking restrictions and in the interests of
security it will not be open in the afternoon for pick ups. During the time it is open, it will be under the supervision of mem-
bers of the ISM Guard Force.

Drop-off Procedure
Drivers should stop adjacent to the paved area and students should alight from the right side of their vehicle. The driver
should then move off, clearing the space for other vehicles dropping off students. Under no circumstances should a student
be dropped off from the outside lane. This is dangerous as the student would need to walk across the front of another vehi-
cle.

Drivers are reminded that traffic regulations forbid parking on the roads around ISM. Therefore, vehicles should only be
stopping for the brief time it takes for a student to alight. Drivers must not wait for anybody to return to the vehicle.

Car Stickers
The car stickers for the school year 2009/2010 are available from the security office.

Each ISM family will be issued one vehicle sticker free of charge. Any additional stickers will be issued
following payment of Php100.00 to the cashier’s office.

In order to facilitate the easy recognition of authorized cars at the gates, the stickers should be affixed to the top right corner
of the windshield. Further to this, old ISM stickers issued in previous years should be removed.

CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES?

We’re on the web! Please inform the Middle School Office if you recently changed your contact information
www.ismanila.org (i.e. Home Address, Home/Office Telephone Numbers, Mobile Numbers and Email Ad-
dresses). You may contact us through 840-8550 or 840-8553
 M I D D LE S C H O O L F R I D A Y B U LLETIN PAGE 3

(continued from page 2)

ID Cards
ID cards should be worn at all times while on campus. If you have not been issued an ID card, or you have lost it, you
should obtain one by visiting the security office and completing the appropriate application form.

Vehicle checks
The practice of inspecting vehicles will continue. During off-peak hours all vehicles will be checked before they are al-
lowed to enter the campus. During peak hours (drop off and pick-up times), all vehicles without valid stickers and ran-
domly selected vehicles with stickers will be asked to undergo an examination.

Whether an examination is conducted or not, it is important that the security staff at the gates are able to identify the occu-
pants of vehicles entering the campus; therefore IDs must be clearly displayed. Vehicles with tinted windows must roll
down windows to allow a clear view of the interior of the vehicle.

Drivers, Helpers and Bodyguards

Drivers, helpers and bodyguards should not be waiting on campus for students throughout the school day. After dropping
off students they should exit the school grounds and not return more than 30 minutes before dismissal time.
Those who repeatedly fail to comply with the regulation will have their access privilege suspended.

Only those vehicles carrying parents or other people with business within the school will be allowed to return to
the campus before 1:45 P.M.

There are designated areas for unaccompanied drivers, yayas, helpers and security escorts to wait for parents and stu-
dents. Unless specifically authorized, they may not enter any other area. In the interest of security, and to prevent conges-
tion at the pedestrian entrances to the covered parking area, parents are requested to emphasize to their employees the
importance of cooperating with the security staff and remaining in the appropriate areas.

Termination of Employment
In the event of the termination of service of a family employee, parents are asked to secure the former employee’s ISM ID
card and return it to the Security Office. If this is not possible, it is important that the Security Office is still informed of the
change of circumstances.

Finally, I would like to thank all members of the ISM community for their cooperation in helping us maintain ISM as a safe
and secure environment for our children.

Firearms
All members of the ISM community are reminded that it is strictly forbidden for firearms to be brought onto the campus.
This includes concealed weapons carried by bodyguards for close protection. Any person arriving at the school with a fire-
arm should inform the gate guard and arrangements will be made for the weapon to be safely and securely stored during
the visitor’s stay.

Security staff directions

Our security team is endeavoring to make the school as safe and secure an environment as possible for all members of
our community. We ask that everybody cooperate with us in this important task. In particular, all those entering our cam-
pus are requested to comply with any direction given to them by members of our guard force. In the event that anyone is
unclear as to the purpose of such instructions they can seek clarifications from the security office. Please note that it is the
parents’ responsibility to advise their staff accordingly.

Thank you for your cooperation. We are looking forward to another successful semester at International School Manila.

Regards,

MICHAEL FLYNN
Director
Operations & Security
M I D D LE S C H O O L F R I D A Y B U LLETIN PAGE 4

From the Guidance Department

The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and
Material Advantage Are Creating
a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids

From Scientific American

Wandering among suburban estates, sports clubs and prep schools are overlooked children of a
perplexed generation. Their lives overflow with abundance and praise, yet ironically, the mask of
apparent health and success may hide a gloomy world of emptiness, anxiety and anger. Strangely,
argues Madeline Levine, a clinical psychologist practicing in Marin County, California, the nation’s
latest group of at-risk kids comes from affluent, well-educated families. Despite advantages, these
children experience disproportionately high rates of clinical depression, substance abuse, anxiety,
eating disorders and self-destructive (even self-mutilating) behaviors, according to various studies.
Based on criteria from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Levine says these
children "are exhibiting epidemic rates of emotional problems beginning in junior high school and
accelerating throughout adolescence." One may brush off these youngsters as overindulged prod-
ucts of wealthy, narcissistic parents. But Levine says many of these kids are really ill. They suffer
from a weak sense of self, often struggling to fill inner emptiness with objects and praise. Too often
they know something is wrong and grope desperately for help yet fail to escape a downward spiral.
Could it be, Levine wonders, that privilege, high expectations, competitive pressure and parental
over-involvement yield toxic rather than protective effects? Levine explores such issues as social
isolation, the fine line between parental under-involvement and overindulgence, and the perverse
role of money and material goods in creating false promises of fulfillment. Yearning for outward
approval, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the delusion that wealth causes happiness. In
many cases, a rude awakening occurs only after many years of anxiety and depression. Levine’s
writing is surprisingly reflective and interesting. A constructive therapist, she offers practical guide-
lines and parenting strategies for those struggling with troubled teens. The advice is useful to any
parent of any income level and includes ways to foster healthy autonomy, impulse control and
sense of self. Levine emphasizes the importance of discipline, monitoring and limit setting as ways
to encourage kids to construct healthy "inner" homes. More important, parents must "stand on their
own two feet" before expecting their children to stand on theirs—noting that many parents scold
their children for social behaviors that they themselves cannot manage, such as substance abuse
and lack of self-discipline or self-assertion. Parents must strive to get their own inner homes in or-
der before they can expect kids to straighten out theirs.
Richard Lipkin
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(Continued from page 5)

Sound interesting?
The Price of Privilege… is the book we will be reading for the next
Parent Book Group starting on Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 8
to 10am. This is a ten week course and regular attendance is ap-
preciated. Group facilitators are from the PreK-12 Guidance De-
partment. These groups are open to ALL ISM parents, PreK-12!
Spaces are limited so sign up soon. If you or someone you know
is interested, please contact Myrna Perez in the ES Guidance Office
(840-8455) to reserve your space or for more information.

From the Clinic

TIME TO SIGN UP FOR TYPHOID VACCINATIONS

Date Price (Php)

February 10, 2010 Typherix – typhoid vaccine 795

This vaccination should be renewed every 3 years and is recommended for people who travel to endemic areas (including
many areas of the Philippines) and also for the following target individuals:

• food handlers such as dietary personnel, cooks, waiters, servers and microbiology lab technicians
• persons with close exposure to an S. Typhi. carrier or patient

If you would like more information or you wish to sign up to receive the above vaccine, please contact the clinic on the num-
ber/email below or call in to pick up a registration form (next to the elementary canteen). Only people with a valid ISM ID
may participate in this program.

PAYMENT FOR THESE VACCINATIONS MUST BE MADE TO THE CASHIER DEPARTMENT BY NO LATER THAN FRI-
DAY, 29TH JANUARY. VACCINES WILL THEN BE ORDERED AND NO FURTHER REGISTRATIONS WILL BE AC-
CEPTED.

Clinic direct number: 840 8580

Email: [email protected]

Many thanks

Debbie Duckworth
ISM Clinic Administrator
840 8581
[email protected]
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Upcoming Event

WANTED
Recycled materials for assemblage sculptures
You may need a clean up at your place. If so, feel free to recycle those unwanted goods.
♦ Old toys (can be broken or not working)
♦ Containers
♦ Jewelry or beads
♦ Utensils
♦ Ceramic plates or tiles
♦ Christmas paper
♦ Boxes
♦ Old appliances

Please deliver to room 1169 (near the clinic).

 M I D D LE S C H O O L F R I D A Y B U LLETIN PAGE 7

From the Athletics and Activities Office

Welcome back students and parents! Brent
We have a busy couple of months ahead for a wide • Jan 23 - PRADA boys only swim meet at Brent
range of activities and sports events on our calendar. • Jan 23 - UP Touch Invitational at UP Sunken Gar-
Please keep track of sports fixtures/dates via the den
game schedule page on the ATAC or divisional web- • Jan 27-31 - 3rd Season IASAS Swim team to SAS,
site pages. These dates and venues can change often Rugby/Touch/Tennis teams to Jakarta, Basketball
so please check regularly! Teams to Kuala Lumpur

MUN:
UP COMING MAJOR EVENTS:
On Jan 23rd, our THIMUN group departs for their an-
• Jan. 15-17 – Swim team to Taipei and Rugby nual participation in the prestigious THIMUN conven-
team to Bangkok for Pre-IASAS exchange week- tion at The Hague, Netherlands. Mr. Hobbins and Ms.
end Hutchinson will lead our outstanding
• Jan. 16 - MS Tennis competition begins (see group of ISM MUN participants for this
game schedule on website for dates/venues) event. The students selected for this trip
• Jan. 16 - Swim meet at Brent have been working hard since the be-
• Jan 16 - ISM Touch Invitational at ISM ginning of the school year last August
• Jan 16 - JV Rugby at Brent and will no doubt represent ISM
• Jan 20 - (Wed) Varsity/JV Basketball v Faith at proudly. We wish all of them the very
ISM Games start at 4:00 P.M. best for this trip.
• Jan 22 - (Fri) Varsity/JV Basketball v Brent @

Dear ISM Parents,

IASAS Art/Music Festival is fast approaching! March 3-7th! Please see sign up letter and information included in this bulletin.
I would like to ask for your assistance with housing for a visiting IASAS Art/Music student. We require 160 housing place-
ments for this event. If you have not housed before it is great chance to meet fantastic students from our IASAS schools.
Requirements are listed to give you an idea of what is needed if you say yes.

IASAS Art and Music Festival: Housing requirements/details:

Housing needed from Wednesday night, 3rd March until Sunday morning, 7th March (4 nights).
• A bed/futon/fold-out couch or comfortable place for guest to sleep
• Provide transportation to and from ISM each day
• Provide a breakfast each morning
• Provide one or two evening meals (Wed and Thursday most likely. Evening meals not required on Friday or Saturday.
• Be at home in evenings (coaches will make curfew calls each night at 10pm to check students are at home)
• Treat and welcome your guest as you would like your own child treated if they were attending an event at another IASAS
school and being housed

If you can assist with housing visiting students please print out the letter attached, fill it in and return the slip to
ATAC or Fine Arts office. Please call/email Joan in ATAC office or Rochelle in the Fine Arts office if you have any
further questions.

In addition there will be a fantastic event for ISM community and lovers of the Fine Arts to attend on Friday, March
5th.
The Art Exhibition opening in the FAT Gallery and then the Festival Concert in our FAT on Friday after-
noon/evening will be a great showcase of all the hard work done by the IASAS participants.
All art pieces from IASAS delegates will be on display for viewing prior to the festival concert featuring all IASAS
Strings, Band, Piano and Vocal delegates under the direction of our visiting conductors. The high quality of art-
work on display and the incredible musical talents of the IASAS participants will make for a great evening of arts
and music at this year’s ISM Art & Music Cultural Convention. Tickets for this art exhibition/concert will go fast and
will be available soon. More details to come in upcoming bulletins.

I look forward to your support to make this a great ISM community event.

Mark Pekin
Athletics & Activities Director
M I D D LE S C H O O L F R I D A Y B U LLETIN PAGE 8

IASAS ART & MUSIC HOUSING