Weekly Publication for Middle School Parents
Dear Parents:Welcome to school year 2009 – 2010! After a busy orientation period and hours of preparing the classrooms,we are delighted to have the children back in school.The first day of school went smoothly and we thank everyone for contributing to a successful start. Theenthusiasm on the students’ faces as they greeted one another in the halls, made new friends, and attendedclasses renewed life on campus. We are thrilled to have all of our students from Grade 5 to Grade 8 liveningup the halls and rooms of ISM. Together with the teachers, we are looking forward to an exciting year ahead.As the school year commences, please take note of the following points:
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Since after school clubs and activities have not yet started, students are expected to be off campus by3:00 P.M. Please make the necessary transportation arrangements so that your child is picked uppromptly at dismissal time.
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Student planners have been distributed during Homebase. Please spend some time with your childreviewing the student handbook portion of the planner. Important information regarding grades,homework, discipline and other policies is contained in the handbook. It is expected that all students befamiliar with and adhere to established policies and procedures. At the back of the planner is anacknowledgement letter that we ask all parents to sign and return to school.
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It is vital that the office has the most current contact information for each family in the event of anemergency or school closure. Please call the office to update your landline and/or cell phone number.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education here at ISM, please contact theMiddle School Office at 840-8550. We look forward to working with you and your child throughout the year.
Sincerely,Danielle Fredericks Clarissa SaysonMiddle School Principal Middle School Assistant Principal
From the Middle School Office
ISSUE # 01
W
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AUGUST 10 TO 14, 2009
Friday Bulletin
MIDDLE SCHOOL
August 14
Student Council Event
17-26
Student Council Representatives’ Campaign
17
Grade 5 Assembly (2:20 PM, LT)
18
Grade 6 Assembly (2:20 PM, LT)
19
Grade 7 Assembly (2:20 PM, LT)
20
Grade 8 Assembly (2:20 PM, LT)Aug. 20 - Grade UpdateSept. 04 - MS Progress Reports
PowerSchool Grade Update
Upcoming Events
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ULLETIN
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From the Superintendent’s Office
Dear Parents:Welcome everyone to the School Year 2009/10. I shall be sending to you alla more comprehensive message through our News Bulletin, but in the meantime, I did want to take anearly opportunity to address a problem that is much on everyone’s mind: Swine Flu or A H
1
N
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.As one would expect in these times of global travel, cases of swine flu can be found in every corner of theworld and the Philippines is no exception. There have already been deaths here due to this virus. Asevery day passes, there are more statements and more warnings and more advice and much of this iscontradictory.I want to tell you how we plan to deal with this matter, since there will certainly be more cases of infectionin Manila and very likely within our own school community. But before I start, I must add that we shall re-view constantly our response in order to meet the needs of what will certainly be a changing situation.
It is highly unlikely that there will be an effective vaccine available to all before December. The proposi-tion that we close the school every time there is a flu case within the community might well mean that wehave no classes until after Christmas. That is obviously unacceptable. Meanwhile, we all know that, evenif we did suspend classes, parents and children - and teachers for that matter - would still go to shoppingmalls, would still go to cinemas, would still attend churches, and would certainly take local and interna-tional plane flights - all places where they would be just as likely to catch the virus as they are here inschool.Here then are the rules that we would like all community members to abide by:
1. Children with flu-like symptoms and/or a temperature of 38C or more, must NOT come toschool. Parents should check their children’s temperatures EVERY DAY.2. If one member of the family has flu or flu-like symptoms, please keep all students AT HOME;this particular type of flu is extremely contagious and may have been passed on before symp-toms have developed.3. Students should not return to school until they are completely symptom-free.4. Notify the school if your child is off school due to flu-like symptoms.5. Notify the school of any confirmed case of H
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within the family.
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6. Take these everyday steps to protect your health, as advised by the CDC:
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in thetrash after you use it.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
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Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
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Stay home if you are sick for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have beensymptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others andspreading the virus further.
7. Anyone presenting at school with fever and/or flu-like symptoms will be quarantined and senthome. Parents should aim to pick up their children as quickly as possible.8. ES classrooms will have hand sanitizers available in each classroom.9. MS and HS students should bring a small supply of hand sanitizer to school for personal use.10. Use of masks during the school day is a personal choice.
In school, we shall have a program of continual cleaning and disinfection of high contact areas and adaily full disinfection of the clinic area. Canteen and food concession staff will be checked every day for symptoms and sent home if there any doubts about their health. In the meantime, our IT coordinatorsare preparing for the online delivery of our educational service to help us maintain our program of studyfor individuals or small groups who are sick or, in a worst-case scenario, for when the entire school isobliged to close.A H
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is no more virulent or dangerous than regular seasonal influenza – and tens of thousands of people every year die from the flu virus. That said, we have to recognize the widespread anxiety thatexists in our community. We shall view and review our practices with robust common sense and ahealthy prescription of caution.David Toze
CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES?
Please inform the Middle School Office if you recently changed your contact information(i.e. Home Address, Home/Office Telephone Numbers, Mobile Numbers and Email Ad-dresses). You may contact us through 840-8550 or 840-8553
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