May 24, 2019

Dear Parents,

The last few days of school are before us. Over the next two days, there will be a variety of activities and items that will need to be taken care of. In order to help ensure a smooth end to the school year, I have outlined below the main items to be aware of.

End of the year check-out forms - On Friday, May 24, 2019, students obtained their check out forms. This form requires students to return all text and library books, clean out lockers and return locks. (grade 11 students can  keep their textbooks) Students will have time during the school day to complete this process on Monday. If the form is not completed on Monday, the office will email parents and students. Report cards and yearbooks will not be released until the form is complete and submitted. 

End of term Grades - Grades will be made available on PowerSchool on the evening of Tuesday, May 28. 2019.  As this is the end of the year, you will note that report cards do not have comments. This is done intentionally as action on suggestions for improvement cannot be acted upon.

ISY's class of 2019 will be graduating at 5:30 PM on May 27, 2018, at the Sedona hotel. Rehearsal for graduation will take place from 8:30-11:30 AM. Grade 11 and Band students will be transported from ISY and back for rehearsal. Graduation incorporates many traditions. One special event is the Traditional Lighting of the Candle Ceremony where our grade 12 students pass the light, and symbolically, leadership to our grade 11 students. We anticipate grade 11 students will take part in these important traditions. If your child is unable to attend the ceremony, please let the office know so we can make adjustments as needed.

Middle School Student Showcase for Learning: This event will take place on May 28, 2019, from 12:00-3:00 PM. Parents are requested to attend as students will be demonstrating their learning in specialist classes and will be sharing with you their learning portfolio. (Schedule)

Grade 8 Moving on Ceremony: Following the Middle School Student Showcase for Learning on May 28, 2019, at 3:15 PM, the grade 8 students will be participating in a moving-on ceremony which recognizes the transition from middle school to high school. Parents of grade 8 students are encouraged to attend.

Next school year supply list. Please take a moment to review.

Student Schedules for 2019-2020 grades 8-12: Students course lists have been shared giving students an opportunity to review what they have been registered to take for the 2019-2020 school year.  Students have been allowed to request changes and the changes that were able to be made have been completed. A final course list of courses for the 2019-2020 school year has been posted on PowerSchool for parents to review. Please check the left-hand column of PowerSchool and select 19-20 student course list.

Last day of school Wednesday, May 29, 2019.  On Wednesday students who returned their checkout forms will receive their yearbook. In addition, both Middle and High school students will participate in an end of year assembly. School dismisses at 11:30,

As some of you are already planning for the next school year, here are a few important dates to remember.

2019-2020 School Year 

We are all excited about the upcoming summer holiday but as many of you plan your holidays months in advance, I would like to call your attention to some travel dates for secondary students for the 2019-2020 school year.

• The first day of the new school year: August 14, 2019
• Secondary start time will be at 8:15 and school will end at 3:00 PM

Next school year our Week Without Walls will take place at the following times. 

Middle School WWW- October 07, 2019, to October 11, 2019
Trips will generally arrive back in Yangon by 6:00 PM on Friday evening.
Location of each trip

• Grade 6- Pyay, Myanmar
• Grade 7- Bago, Myanmar
• Grade 8- Chiang Mai, Thailand

HighSchool WWW- Sunday, December 8, 2018, to Thursday, December 12, 2018
The Sunday departure was decided in order to ensure that all students were back in Yangon on Friday so that families can travel during their holiday as planned
Location of each trip

• Grade 9- Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar
• Grade 10- Hpaan, Myanmar
• Grade 11- Kalaw, Myanmar
• Grade 12- Hong Kong
• Optional - Village of Wan Kong (UWS)
• Optional - Shwetaungyan Village (Eco trip)

May 17, 2019

Dear Parents

Next week is the last full week of the 2018-2019 school year, and there continue to be a tremendous amount of activities occurring. Below are a few essential items to be aware of followed by the list of things that are happening this week. Please contact the secondary school office if you have any questions.

ISY's class of 2019 will be graduating at 5:30 PM on May 27, 2018, at the Sedona hotel. This event incorporates many traditions. One special event is the Traditional Lighting of the Candle Ceremony where our grade 12 students pass the light, and symbolically, leadership to our grade 11 students. We anticipate grade 11 students will take part in these important traditions. If your child is unable to attend the ceremony, please let me know so we can make adjustments as needed.

Middle School Student Showcase for Learning: This event will take place on May 28, 2019, from 12:00-3:00 PM. Parents are requested to attend as students will be demonstrating their learning in specialist classes and will be sharing with you their learning portfolio. (Schedule) 

Grade 8 Moving on Ceremony: Following the Middle School Student Showcase for Learning on May 28, 2019, at 3:00 PM, the grade 8 students will be participating in a moving-on ceremony which recognizes the transition from middle school to high school.  Parents of grade 8 students are encouraged to attend.

Next school year supply list. Please take a moment to review.

Student Schedules for 2019-2020: This week High School students course lists have been shared giving students an opportunity to review what they have been registered to take for the 2019-2020 school year.  Students have been allowed to request changes. A final course list will be posted on PowerSchool by May 27, 2019.

This week in Secondary School 

Friday 

• MAP Testing continues 
• Secondary School Concert - 5pm in the Gym

Monday 

• Deadline for all Library books to be returned. 
• MAP Testing continues 
• Annual General Meeting, 6pm - Cafeteria. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend.

Tuesday

• MAP Testing continues 
• HS Theatre Parental Showcase at ISY starting at 5:30 PM

Wednesday 

• MAP Testing continues 
• Parents Association General Meeting - 8 to 9 a.m. in the Cafeteria. The final general meeting of the year, at which we will catch up on this year's activities, approve next year's budget, and elect next year's officers. All parents are invited. The PA is looking for nominees for next year's board. Any parent can serve! Nominations can be made at next week's general PA meeting. Questions? Email paboard@isyedu.org

Friday

• MS STUCO Dance from 6:00-8:00 PM at ISY SAS fourth floor
• Alumni Reunion from 6:30-8:30 at ISY gym

Saturday

• ISY High School Prom 2019 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Students who attend Prom are required to remain at the event until 8:30. In and Out, privileges will not be granted. Students who wish to leave early will need to have a parent pick them up at the gate. 

May 10, 2019

Dear Parents,

A big thank you to the PA for organizing the teacher's lunch appreciation. Thank you for the wonderful food and support.

MAP Testing will begin this week for students in grades 6-9. (Schedule). Just a reminder that the only preparation needed for MAP is a good nights sleep.

Next school year supply list. Please take a moment to review.

This Week in Secondary School 

Thursday 

• ACT Presentation - 5:00PM in the cafeteria 

Friday

• Secondary Spring Concert - 5:00 PM 

May 3, 2019

Dear Parents,

We hope to see you this evening at Broadway night or at Byblo's for Saturday's Brunch. Tickets will be sold at the door. With only a little over three weeks left of school, there is a great deal going on. Please let us know if you have questions regarding any upcoming events.

This week our grade 12 students will begin their IB exams. 

This Week in Secondary School 

Friday

• Broadway Night 6:00PM at ISY

Saturday

• UWS Bruch at Byblos 11:30 AM-3:00 PM
• SAT Exam at ISY
• YAC Badminton for Middle School
• SEASAC Jr Swim 

Monday 

• Board Meeting at 6:30 PM

Tuesday 

• Teacher appreciation 

Friday 

• Middle School MUN 

Other Important Information

Spanish Mother Tongue for Spanish Speaking Students
It is important that we celebrate and support the languages of all of our students. One way that ISY can do this is by supporting our community’s nationality and language groups to set up their own mother tongue language instruction classes as part of our After-School Activity (ASA) program. If a minimum number of ISY students are participating in the classes, ISY will provide a classroom free of charge. The program itself, including the cost of the instructor, instructional materials, and program planning, would be the responsibility of the parents of the students involved.

Ms. Whitney Elliot, an ISY parent, has expressed interest in organizing a Spanish Mother Tongue program for Spanish speaking children. On Whitney's behalf, we invite you to fill out this Expression of Interest to register your interest in having your Spanish speaking child(ren) participate in this program. The details you share will be forwarded to Whitney who will be in contact with you directly. You can also contact Whitney at whitney.elliot@gmail.com.

BYBLOS Brunch for United World Schools
Don't forget the Byblos charity brunch tomorrow at Byblos Pub and Grill between 11:30 - 3:30. All the money raised will go towards the United World Schools Project. If you haven't already bought your tickets you can buy them at the event itself.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

The SDGs at ISY
As a community of compassionate global citizens, ISY is adopting the SDGs as our guiding framework for promoting our Mission and Vision. Our Vision is to develop lifelong learners who will be a force for positive change in the world. Since we adopted our Mission and Vision near the end of last academic year, we have been reviewing and experimenting with different curriculum frameworks that ensure that our Mission and Vision are at the center of all teaching and learning at ISY. After careful consideration, we have decided to incorporate the SDGs into our existing curriculum framework.

The SDGs are applicable to learning in all grade levels and subjects areas. They directly address the intention of our Mission and Vision and will help us meet our strategic goals in relation to inclusion, service learning, environmental consciousness, culture and diversity, and technology integration. In a curriculum framework that will continue to focus on student achievement and growth, the SDGs will provide authentic and meaningful contexts for students to develop compassion, to apply their learning, and to develop important critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creative skills.