Important Dates
17th March 2017
March
18
23
24
24
26
27
30
30 & 31
TEDx Youth Event, 2:00-5:00pm
“The Importance of being Earnest”, 6:30pm in The QE Theatre
Red Nose Day
“The Importance of Being Earnest”, 4:30pm in The QE Theatre
CLOCKS GO FORWARD 1 HOUR AT 01:00
National Honor Society Induction, 4:00pm in The QE Theatre
EARLY DISMISSAL AT 11:00AM
Parent-Teacher Conferences
April
3
4
4
6
7
8
10-14
PTO Meeeting, 9:30am
Grade 11 Group 4 Project Gallery Walk, 4:00pm-5:00pm
Grade 11 Class Trip Parent Meeting, 5:00pm-6:00pm
HS Field Day
TEACHER IN-SERVICE - STUDENT HOLIDAY
ACT
SCHOOL SPRING BREAK HOLIDAY
4 From the Head of School
Dear Parents,
The best part about being an educator is working with students. Children and young people are
inspiring; naturally inquisitive and excited about learning. They openly question what they are told
and are eager to make a difference in the world. Two years ago, Isabella Kajiwara-McQuaker and Elly
Harland requested a meeting with me to discuss the possibility of starting a Youth Amnesty group at
ISA because they wanted to make a difference. They were keen to raise awareness about world
issues and to have a positive impact locally and globally. Their club has been extremely popular in the
school and they have had several successful initiatives, including the Human Rights Week this past
December. The TEDxYouth is another initiative that came out of the Amnesty youth club and
tomorrow, after months of planning and preparation, The TEDx Ripple Effect event will take place at
ISA.
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"The Ripple Effect signifies that you, as an individual, can start something. You then have the ability to
start the spread of that one thing. This spread has no limits." - Brenda Ukah, TEDxYouth@ISA
curator.
"The effect that one person, by changing one thing, can have on people around them, or even society
as a whole." - Charlotte Delcros, TEDxYouth@ISA Head of Sponsorships.
There are still some tickets available and I hope that you will consider this special event. To learn
more about the distinguished speakers who will be giving their talks and more about the event, please
see the link below. We are so very proud of the students at ISA!
http://isabellamcqk.wixsite.com/tedxyouthisa
Kind regards,
Sarah Bruce
Head of School
4 From the MS/HS Principal
Dear Middle/High School Parents,
Recently, you will have received details of how to access the Parent-Teacher Conference booking
system which opens on Monday. I hope you will be able to find a time to meet with your child’s
teachers and discuss their progress.
Taking part in these conferences and attending ‘open house’ sessions is an important aspect of being
involved in what your child is doing. Some research I read recently, however, advocated that the
single largest impact that could be made to a child’s learning comes when parents are engaged with
what they were learning. Examples of engagement could include asking children to take you through
their assignments or probing for reflections on what was learnt in a particular class. Asking children
about their school day as part of a daily routine will likely have a positive impact on their academic
performance.
The upturn in the weather coincides with students soon being able to go back out into the hills as
part of their Duke of Edinburgh programme. Routes are currently being planned by the teams for
expeditions next month; this is an extremely collaborative process. If your child is presently in Grade
8 or above, they would do well to consider joining this programme for the next academic year and
should see Mr Crock for details. Those already in the programme should be looking to close out
sections with the necessary supervisor signatures.
Also this week, students performed at the Aberdeen Youth Jazz Festival, and our Grade 7s held an
activity to raise funds for the Kiva projects they have chosen to sponsor. Significant upcoming events
include the Spring Drama Production and TEDx Youth seminars. I hope you have been able to
secure tickets for one or both of these occasions.
Angus Carmichael
MS/HS Principal
Page 2 of 6
4 From the Elementary Principal
· Parent Conferences
As teachers, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to conference with parents on 30th and 31st
March. Details of specific dates and times were mailed to all families last week. Parents are
encouraged to make appropriate requests to see any other teacher, in addition to the grade level
(classroom) teacher who works with their child(ren).
Our School is so successful because it’s a place where students, parents, and teachers work together
on the common goal of excellence in education. After the conference, be sure to review with your
child(ren) the important goals set for the remainder of the school year. If you have any questions
about your conference times, please contact Mary Rayne.
· Visit from the French School
On Thursday, fifteen students from the local French School spent most of the day at ISA sharing
activities with the second grade class. The students and teachers had a wonderful time getting to
know each other. It was a busy day as the students participated in PE, Art, crafts, cooking (making
shortbread), and enjoyed language activities in both French and English. Last month, our second
graders went to the French School for a visit. At lunch and recess times it was particularly easy to
see how the students from the two schools were enjoying their time together.
· Red Nose Day
Friday, 24th March is Red Nose Day throughout Britain. At ISA, we don’t like to be left out of
important community events and, therefore, will also continue our tradition of participating in this
fundraising event. In an hour-long event, children will march, pace, saunter or stroll several laps
around the School, inside and outside, to raise money for charity. Middle School students will be
accompanying the Elementary in their walk. Our students can be assured that their efforts will make
a big difference to help those less fortunate than themselves. Please look out for the fundraising
sponsorship forms that went home this week along with the letter from the Red Nose Committee.
Red Noses have been selling fast in The Street throughout the week.
Best Regards,
Don Newbury
Elementary Principal
4 From the Fine Arts Department
“The Importance of Being Earnest”
Thursday, 23rd March at 6:30pm
Friday, 24th March at 4:30pm
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre
£7.00
The Importance of Being Earnest is the most renowned of Oscar Wilde’s comedies. It’s the story of
two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named
Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who,
conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own
stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. The elaborate plot
ridicules Victorian sensibilities with some of the best loved, and indeed bizarre, characters to be
found on the modern stage. Wilde originally wrote it in four acts, but during the first rehearsals
George Alexander persuaded him to shorten it down to three.
Page 3 of 6
A don’t miss performance!!! Tickets on sale all next week and at the door!
Well done to Sarah Trenholm, IB Art student, for a wonderful exhibition on Wednesday afternoon!
BRAVO!
Enjoy the beautiful artwork around the school! Bravo ISA Art Department!
GREAT PERFORMANCE by the ISA Jazz Band in the Aberdeen Youth Jazz Festival at The Blue Lamp
on Thursday! WELL DONE!
The ISA Fine Arts Team
4 From the National Honor Society
The ISA National Honor Society would like to congratulate the following High School students on
their acceptance into our School’s chapter:
Jude Adi
Antonia Duncan
Justin Field
Osamagbe Igiehon
Eloise Lyall
Caroline Reid
Pendar Sadeghi
These students have successfully demonstrated the attributes of scholarship, leadership, service, and
character that membership in the NHS requires.
The induction of these new members will take place on Monday, 27th March at 16:00 in The Queen
Elizabeth Theatre. All are welcome to attend and join us in congratulating these students.
Alexia Lafeuille
NHS President
Luke Klopp
NHS Advisor
Page 4 of 6
4 From the School Nurse
Hi everyone,
So the lighter nights are here along with the sun – no, wait, I forgot we are in Scotland!
With the longer days comes more adventurous activities. We have already seen the results in school
of these activities, ie crutches, slings, etc. I am all for fun, but please take care.
With the ‘better weather’, we have noticed that the lighter jackets, shoes instead of boots, etc, are
coming out of the closet. Can we make sure that the clothing, shoes, etc, are still suitable for both
indoor and outdoor use.
That’s all for now! Have a great weekend!
Karen Munro
School Nurse
4 From the Middle School Student Council
Thank you to everyone who participated in the MS Spirit Week and in the Lunchtime House
Challenges. There are some great pictures on our notice board next to Mrs Brand’s Office. Come
and check out some of the fabulous and outrageous outfits!
The White House won the Spirit Week and Lunchtime House Challenges - well done, guys! And,
everyone had fun at the Red Carpet Dance last Friday.
Next dance will be on the 5th May, the last one of the year. We will get in touch with all the details
nearer the time!
Have a good weekend,
MS Student Council
Page 5 of 6
Join us in this aristocratic journey through the catwalk of hats, tea and muffins. Oscar
Wilde’s much loved and brilliantly witty masterpiece “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST”.
ISA Fine Arts Department is proud to present our 2017 spring production, beautifully
performed by high school and middle school drama students.
The Importance of Being Earnest is known to elegantly lampoon the hypocrisies of a
Victorian society that opens as two bachelors, the dependable John Worthing, J.P. (Justin
Field) and upper class playboy Algernon Moncrieff (Tyler Nokleby), feel compelled to create
different identities in order to pursue two eligible ladies: Cecily Cardew (Lily Callaghan) and
Gwendolyn Fairfax (Sophie Reid). The hilarious misadventures result from
their subterfuge, their brushes with the redoubtable Lady Bracknell (Anna-Maryia Blue) and
the uptight Miss Prism (Irmak Goktug) in a plot that twists and fizzles with some of the
finest dialogue to be found in theatre. David Madu, Cameron Traa, Dylan Nokleby and Anika
Prakasen also join this clever performance.
PERFORMANCE in The QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE:
Thursday, 23rd March at 6:30PM
Friday, 24th March at 4:30pm
Tickets on sale for the next week after school in the ISA Foyer. 10% of all proceeds will
go to charity.
Page 6 of 6
WEEKLY NEWS
THE PTO NEEDS YOU!!
THE PTO BOARD IS CURRENTLY
LOOKING TO FILL THE FOLLOWING
POSITIONS FOR 2018-2019 SCHOOL
TERM.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MARCH
30TH!
• SOCIAL CHAIR (2 PEOPLE
NEEDED)
• HIGH SCHOOL CEC
REPRESENTATIVE
• SPIRIT WEAR CO-CHAIR
• BOOSTER CO-CHAIR
• ADVERTISING/FUNDRAISING
• COMMUNICATIONS
• BUDDY COORDINATOR
• LOWER SCHOOL CEC
REPRESENTATIVE
• SPIRIT WEAR CO-CHAIR
APPLICATIONS AND THOROUGH
JOB DESCRIPTIONS WILL BE
LOCATED ON THE PTO BULLETIN
BOARD AND SENT OUT VIA EMAIL
FROM YOUR CEC’S.
CONTACT A PTO MEMBER OR
YOUR CLASS CEC FOR MORE
INFORMATION!
CONGRATS TO OUR
VOLUNTEERS OF THE
MONTH!
JANUARY:
FIONA LESTRANGE
FEBRUARY:
SWATI POTDAR
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK
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ISA Parent Teacher Organization
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