Due to personal reasons, Mr. Dean Jackson has had to return suddenly and unexpectedly to Australia. He is on Personal Leave effective Friday, September 26. Regular physical education classes in grades 1-6 will continue. However, any extra-curricular activities or private lessons (such as gymnastics or swimming) previously run by Mr. Jackson are suspended pending further notice.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and we appreciate your understanding in these matters.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
School Cancelled Today
Due to the typhoon 8, all classes are cancelled today, Wednesday, September 24th. The school will not be open.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Afternoon Sections of PK Cancelled
Notice to Parents: The afternoon sections of Pre-Kindergarten have been cancelled due to the T3 warning issued for this afternoon. Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten classes will continue, however, if parents would like to pick up their children, they may so do. Please let the main office know if you are picking up your children early.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Addressing Concerns About Milk Products
Important notice to parents of all JK/SK/Grades 1&2 students
Due to the recent fears about Melamine in milk products coming from China, on Wed Sept 17 Red Spot Café changed to the well-known foreign brand Nestle “Dairy Farm” milk/yogurt products. We took this action even though the milk/yogurt we had been using was not of the affected “Yi Li”, “Mengniu” or “Guangming” brands. However, as you may be aware from reports on the weekend, supplies in Singapore of foreign brand “Dutch Lady” milk (using milk from mainland China) have also been found to contain Melamine. Although there is no connection between “Dairy Farm” and “Dutch Lady”, we can no longer assume that just because milk distributed in Asia is sold under a foreign brand name, it is safe to drink.
We have thus decided to take the following step : Until further notice, Red Spot Café will not be distributing any milk or yogurt products to TIS students.
• If you ordered milk/yogurt for Sept 22-25, we will replace it with a Vita fruit juice drink or Yakult.
• If you ordered milk/yogurt for October, you can switch to another drink (Vita fruit juice drink or Yakult) or get a refund for the milk products. Please contact Red Spot Café to let us know what replacement drink you would like for your child.
We apologize for any inconvenience. Our intention is simply to take precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of the children. We hope to be able to offer milk/yogurt products again, once it has been proven safe to do so.
Nina & Gary Lichtenstein, Red Spot Café
Note: TIS has not participated in the DSEJ milk program for the past two years.
致国际学校JK/SK以及1&2年级学生家长的重要申明
由于内地奶制品含有三聚氰胺曝光问题，在9月17日，星期三，红点餐厅改用了国际知名品牌雀巢的牛奶/酸奶制品，虽然我们一直没有使用受影响的“伊利”和“蒙牛”。
然而，您可能从上周末的报道中得知，新加坡知名牛奶品牌“荷兰夫人”（使用来自中国的牛奶）被查出含有三聚氰胺。
虽然雀巢和荷兰夫人之间没有联系，但是新加坡事件之后，我们不能认为在亚洲销售的外国牛奶品牌就绝对安全。
我们作出以下决定：
在另行通知之前，红点餐厅将不再向TIS学生提供任何牛奶或酸奶制品。
·如果您定购了9月22—25日的牛奶/酸奶，我们将换为维他果汁或益力多。
·如果您已经订购了10月牛奶/酸奶,您可以转为其他饮品（维他果汁或益力多）或者退订。请联系红点餐厅，告知我们您为您的孩子选择的饮品。
很抱歉给您带来不便，我们的一举一动只是出于对您孩子的健康的保证。一旦牛奶/酸奶制品被证明可以安全饮用，我们将再次提供牛奶/酸奶制品。
Nina & Gary Lichtenstein, Red Spot Café
Due to the recent fears about Melamine in milk products coming from China, on Wed Sept 17 Red Spot Café changed to the well-known foreign brand Nestle “Dairy Farm” milk/yogurt products. We took this action even though the milk/yogurt we had been using was not of the affected “Yi Li”, “Mengniu” or “Guangming” brands. However, as you may be aware from reports on the weekend, supplies in Singapore of foreign brand “Dutch Lady” milk (using milk from mainland China) have also been found to contain Melamine. Although there is no connection between “Dairy Farm” and “Dutch Lady”, we can no longer assume that just because milk distributed in Asia is sold under a foreign brand name, it is safe to drink.
We have thus decided to take the following step : Until further notice, Red Spot Café will not be distributing any milk or yogurt products to TIS students.
• If you ordered milk/yogurt for Sept 22-25, we will replace it with a Vita fruit juice drink or Yakult.
• If you ordered milk/yogurt for October, you can switch to another drink (Vita fruit juice drink or Yakult) or get a refund for the milk products. Please contact Red Spot Café to let us know what replacement drink you would like for your child.
We apologize for any inconvenience. Our intention is simply to take precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of the children. We hope to be able to offer milk/yogurt products again, once it has been proven safe to do so.
Nina & Gary Lichtenstein, Red Spot Café
Note: TIS has not participated in the DSEJ milk program for the past two years.
致国际学校JK/SK以及1&2年级学生家长的重要申明
由于内地奶制品含有三聚氰胺曝光问题，在9月17日，星期三，红点餐厅改用了国际知名品牌雀巢的牛奶/酸奶制品，虽然我们一直没有使用受影响的“伊利”和“蒙牛”。
然而，您可能从上周末的报道中得知，新加坡知名牛奶品牌“荷兰夫人”（使用来自中国的牛奶）被查出含有三聚氰胺。
虽然雀巢和荷兰夫人之间没有联系，但是新加坡事件之后，我们不能认为在亚洲销售的外国牛奶品牌就绝对安全。
我们作出以下决定：
在另行通知之前，红点餐厅将不再向TIS学生提供任何牛奶或酸奶制品。
·如果您定购了9月22—25日的牛奶/酸奶，我们将换为维他果汁或益力多。
·如果您已经订购了10月牛奶/酸奶,您可以转为其他饮品（维他果汁或益力多）或者退订。请联系红点餐厅，告知我们您为您的孩子选择的饮品。
很抱歉给您带来不便，我们的一举一动只是出于对您孩子的健康的保证。一旦牛奶/酸奶制品被证明可以安全饮用，我们将再次提供牛奶/酸奶制品。
Nina & Gary Lichtenstein, Red Spot Café
Friday, September 19, 2008
Secondary Computer Program Prepares Students For The Future
We live in an information age and preparing students for life in a technological world is an essential part of their education at TIS. Mark Harrison plays a key role in that preparation as the school’s secondary computer teacher.“Technology is a part of our lives and will just continue to grow. Learning about technology allows students to be active and participating members of the global community.”, he says.
The secondary computer program consists of two different curricula. Students in grades 7 to 9 participate in the ICT or “Information and Communication Technology” program, while students in grades 10 to 12 take the CTS or “Career and Technology Studies” program.
ICT classes teach students the basics about different technologies such as computers, cameras, projectors, interactive whiteboards, scanners, printers as well as different types of software. Students are assigned projects that not only require them to apply what they’ve learned, but that also support core subject areas. Last year for example, grade eight ICT students designed and produced a tri-fold travel brochure about Japan, a country they were also studying as part of a social studies unit.
The more advanced CTS classes enable students to further their knowledge of various technologies and software. They choose areas of study or “strands” from a range of topics including communication technologies, design studies, enterprise and innovation, financial management, information processing, and management and marketing. The program is self-guided and students take responsibility for their own learning under the guidance of Mr. Harrison. “This type of learning teaches students discipline. It also teaches them that if they want something, they have to work for it and do it for themselves.”, he says.
The secondary computer program consists of two different curricula. Students in grades 7 to 9 participate in the ICT or “Information and Communication Technology” program, while students in grades 10 to 12 take the CTS or “Career and Technology Studies” program.
ICT classes teach students the basics about different technologies such as computers, cameras, projectors, interactive whiteboards, scanners, printers as well as different types of software. Students are assigned projects that not only require them to apply what they’ve learned, but that also support core subject areas. Last year for example, grade eight ICT students designed and produced a tri-fold travel brochure about Japan, a country they were also studying as part of a social studies unit.
The more advanced CTS classes enable students to further their knowledge of various technologies and software. They choose areas of study or “strands” from a range of topics including communication technologies, design studies, enterprise and innovation, financial management, information processing, and management and marketing. The program is self-guided and students take responsibility for their own learning under the guidance of Mr. Harrison. “This type of learning teaches students discipline. It also teaches them that if they want something, they have to work for it and do it for themselves.”, he says.
TIS To Host Canadian Student-Teachers
TIS will participate in a new pilot project aimed at providing international field experience to advanced practicum students from the University of Alberta in Canada. Five students from the Faculty of Education will travel to Macau in February and spend three months at TIS student-teaching in a variety of secondary classes, with current TIS teachers serving as their mentors. The student teachers are highly trained, having already completed at least three and a half years of university as well as experience with previous placements in Alberta schools.
The practicum is a required component of the education degree at the University of Alberta; however, the pilot project represents the first time it has been undertaken outside of the province of Alberta. TIS Principal Real Hryhirchuk says having the practicum at TIS makes perfect sense. “Since TIS teaches the Alberta curriculum, the student teachers will receive the same training as they would if they were in Alberta. They’ll also gain some off-shore teaching experience, which will serve them well in their future careers”. If deemed a success, the practicum program at TIS would become a regular offering to University of Alberta
students.
The practicum is a required component of the education degree at the University of Alberta; however, the pilot project represents the first time it has been undertaken outside of the province of Alberta. TIS Principal Real Hryhirchuk says having the practicum at TIS makes perfect sense. “Since TIS teaches the Alberta curriculum, the student teachers will receive the same training as they would if they were in Alberta. They’ll also gain some off-shore teaching experience, which will serve them well in their future careers”. If deemed a success, the practicum program at TIS would become a regular offering to University of Alberta
students.
Friday, September 5, 2008
New Campus Improvements At TIS
A number of renovation projects aimed at improving the school's technical capabilities and facility offerings were completed this summer. Secondary students are now using brand new Mac computers, installed as part of a major upgrade to the secondary computer lab. Other technical improvements include new computer projectors in all grade 4 to 12 classrooms as well as 15 new interactive white boards located in various classrooms from grades 3 to 12.
Facility improvements were also a top priority. The student recreation area received a major facelift with the installation of a rubberized safety turf, which replaced the grass area that often became a big mud puddle during wet weather. Young TIS students will enjoy the new sandbox in the playground plus some kid-friendly basketball hoops located near the artificial turf. Otherfacility enhancements include three new music practice rooms, elementary and secondary counselling centres on the second floor, an expanded drama room, central P.A. and bell system,
new PE equipment including gymnastics apparatus, new sidewalks and a larger grass field at the front of the school.
TIS Welcomes New Elementary Vice Principal
TIS has a new Elementary Vice Principal. Mrs. Maureen Atherton brings a wealth of knowledge to the position with 21 years of teaching and administrative experience. Prior to joining TIS, Mrs. Atherton spent four years as the Principal of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School in Ottawa, Canada. In her new role at TIS, Mrs. Atherton will be responsible for kindergarten and elementary programs, admissions, student discipline and resource orders.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Curriculum Night
A warm welcome to all of our TIS families! Whether you are returning after the summer holidays or are new to the school this year, we look forward to working with you to ensure your children have a successful year at TIS.
Parents are invited to meet with their child's teacher(s) to learn about the educational program at TIS and what parents can do to help support it. Curriculum Night will be held on Thursday, September 11 from 6-8 p.m. Parents of elementary students (PK-Gr. 6) are asked to come to the MPR first for a short presentation at 6 p.m.
Parents are invited to meet with their child's teacher(s) to learn about the educational program at TIS and what parents can do to help support it. Curriculum Night will be held on Thursday, September 11 from 6-8 p.m. Parents of elementary students (PK-Gr. 6) are asked to come to the MPR first for a short presentation at 6 p.m.
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