‍

‍

‍

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Albert Einstein

Queridas Familias, 

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!  I would like to wish the ISLA community a very happy new year!  We are excited for the new year and the many challenges and opportunities which it will bring.   Perhaps energized by the extra day of vacation which was imposed upon us by the snowstorm, the children were full of smiles and cheer as they came off the buses and made their way back into the school after winter break.  The excitement and energy to be back in school was palpable, and this holds true for the staff and teachers as well.

I attribute much of this to the positive school climate that has been created by you as parents, by the staff and teachers, and of course by the students themselves. The holistic nature of the International Baccalaureate is indeed creating global citizens here.  In only one short week, as I have wandered the halls and sat in on classes, I have seen how the use of inquiry and the emphasis on the IB Learner Profile’s attributes and attitudes are helping develop their social, emotional and academic skills. 

Thanks for all of your constant support that you give to ISLA to make it a great place for your child to learn and grow. Here are a few updates: 

• Interest in ISLA is growing every year, and we are positioned to have our most robust lottery yet for the year to come.   We already have nearly 150 applicants for the  next school year, so please spread the word to your friends and family so that they don’t miss the lottery date next month. 
• We are applying a great deal of pressure on our bus company to fulfill a contractual requirement of having GPS capabilities for our routes.   We know the whole ISLA community is looking forward to this feature. We are cautiously hopeful about recent updates from them that indicate that their technical issues with this implementation are coming to a close, and this service will be up and running soon. 
• As was stated before winter break, at the last board meeting in December the ISLA board approved the concept of restructuring next year’s 3rd and 4th grades to include 2 sections of Third Grade, 2 sections of Fourth Grade, and one Multi-Age Classroom of Grade 3 and 4 together.  We will be having an informational meeting about the curriculum structure for this programming next month.  As we speak to more and more parents who are excited about this innovative opportunity, we expect that we will need to conduct a mini lottery of sorts in order to handle the demand for this cohort. 

Atentamente, 
‍

Jeremy

‍

‍

Join the ISLA School Board!

Looking for a way to support the mission and shape the future of ISLA? Join the ISLA Board of Directors!  The Election and Nominating Committee is seeking interested community members, teachers, parents, grandparents, and guardians to fill upcoming vacancies on the ISLA Board for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2023.  No previous board experience is required, but there is a specific need for individuals with expertise in fundraising/development, marketing, and human resources.

The ISLA Board is responsible for overseeing the general operations of the school, implementing policies and procedures, and long-term strategic and financial planning.  In addition, there are a number of different committees on which Board members serve. Click here for descriptions of the various committees. The Board meets in the evening on the third Tuesday of each month.

If you are interested in seeking a Board seat, please submit a Statement of Interest (available here) to the Election and Nominating Committee by Friday, February 3.  Questions about Board service and the election process can be directed to Liz Crouse, Chair of the Election and Nominating Committee, at lcrouse@isla.school.

‍

‍

Great Gatherings, Gift Baskets & Donations: We are collecting donations for our live & silent auctions! Host a great gathering or advertise your business with a special item in our auction! Great Gatherings can be just for kids, parents only or both!! Donation items & great gathering ideas can range from:

• Themed gift baskets or gift cards
• Tickets to a local sporting event
• Complimentary chiro/massage service from your business
• Custom cupcakes or cake
• Hosted play date at Sky Zone
• Bike ride or play day with pizza at a local park
• Themed picnic
• Pool party
• Yoga/spa/margarita day for ISLA Moms
• Grill out for Dads
• Consider co-hosting the event with another family! These events are a great way to get to know others in the ISLA community.

The deadline for submissions is February 3rd!! Events can be planned through Fall 2023. You can find all the donation form links and more info on the ISLA PTO website here! These ideas are just a starting point, and we’d love to see what unique idea you come up with! If you need help working out the details of your donation, please email us at fiesta@isla.school

What does the Fiesta de la Primavera support? The funds raised go directly to the Language Ambassador (LAs) program and the school as a whole. They are an invaluable support for our teachers & students and we want to ensure we have the funds to bring back the amazing LA’s next school year!!

Want to volunteer? We are 100% volunteer run and led! We would love to see more of our ISLA parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles to join the fun!! If you would like to find out more or have any questions, please reach out to us at fiesta@isla.school

Quick Links:
Community/Parent Donations - Click here!
All donation forms are available here!
Tickets are available here!

‍

PickUp Patrol

Please remember to keep PickUp Patrol updated with any changes to your end of day routine. This includes if your child will be going to an extra-curricular activity or drop-in care at Aventuras. Teachers rely on this information to get your child to where they need to be at the end of the day. We appreciate your cooperation.

‍

‍