Middle+School+Newsletter

WIS Middle School Newsletter **Issue #1: August 2011** Dear Parents, We would like to welcome everyone to a new school year at Wroclaw International School. The aim of our monthly newsletters is to keep you updated about what is going on at the school and in our classes. Issue #1 is a hard copy, but from next month our newsletters will be posted on the community wiki site. You will be given information about how to use this site very soon! All the teachers here at WIS are excited about being part of an authorised IB Middle Years Programme School and are looking forward to working with you and your children and of meeting the challenges that lay ahead.

Meeting the Staff I was born in Puerto Rico and formed my early love for reading and learning as a student in its educational system. My twin “first languages” are Spanish and English. After serving in the United States Army I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching certification from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. Following several years as a middle school Spanish teacher, I earned my Master of Library Science degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ and was a primary, middle, and high school librarian for about ten years. My Administrator’s credentials are from New Jersey’s NJEXCEL program, offered through Thomas Edison State College of New Jersey. It may be hard to know who I am at WIS this year because I will be wearing several hats. Students at both Beyzyma and Zielinskiego campuses will know me as their Librarian, while parents are more likely to recognize me as the Middle Years Programme Coordinator. Teachers will probably see me as the Assistant Head of School. My contact details are: franco@fem.org.pl || I am the grade 8/9 Advisor and the Middle Years Programme Mathematics teacher. I am excited about seeing all my students and working with them! It is going to be a great year! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me either through the wiki or by email : puzanowska@fem.org.pl || My email contact is: cooper@fem.org.pl || My email contact is: vansice@fem.org.pl || My email contact is: bullock@fem.org.pl || My contact is: muszynska@fem.org.pl || My contact details are: craig@fem.org.pl || I'm excited to start the new school year and don't forget that if you have any questions, feel free to contact me by e-mail: gaborit@fem.org.pl || My e-mail contact is: radek.tokarz@gmail.com. || I previously worked as the school counselor at WIS from 2007 until 2009. I left and returned to my home in Vancouver, BC. I spent 18 there and I am really delighted to be returning to the position of School Counselor again at WIS. I will be working on both campuses, and this year I am fortunate to have an office in both schools. My goals are to help students and parents transition from their country into Poland. I enjoy helping families adjust, and I also enjoy helping students become responsible, respectful individuals. I work both in the classroom as well as seeing individuals on a one to one basis. I truly believe that taking a proactive approach, as well as a solutions-based approach, helps the school community to be both successful in their relationships as well as their academic endeavours. My contact details are: foulkes@fem.org.pl || Upcoming events We already have some dates for you to pencil into your calendars. More information about these events and activities will follow soon.
 * [[image:Nina.jpg width="236" height="233" align="center"]] || My name is Nina Franco and I am starting my second year at WIS.
 * [[image:ewa.JPG width="160" height="229" align="center"]] || My name is Ewa Puzanowska. I was born and raised here in Wrocław. I have been working at the Foundation of International Education for 6 years. This is my fourth year at WIS but I also taught in ATUT school for five years.
 * [[image:Nate's_pic.JPG width="222" height="182" align="center"]] || My name is Nathan Cooper and I come from the United States. I teach Physical Education and this is my 7th year teaching at WIS. I’m looking forward to an exciting year. Go Wolves!!
 * [[image:Van_Sice.JPG width="143" height="187" align="center"]] || I teach Art, Design Technology and fifth grade ICT in the middle school. This is my second year here at WIS. Before coming here, I taught in the US and in Denmark. I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Art, a teaching credential from Notre Dame College of Ohio and a Master of Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University. I was also a second language learner when I studied printmaking at Il Bisonte in Florence, Italy.
 * [[image:bullock.JPG width="148" height="168" align="center"]] || This is my second year of teaching MYP Science here in Wroclaw, Poland. This year I will be the grade six advisory (MYP1) as well. I am from Austin, Texas, USA where I was a high school science teacher for seven years (2 years in Austin, Texas, and 5 years in San Antonio, Texas). I enjoy living in Europe and have learned so much about different cultures through my experiences here. I am excited about this new school year. It is going to be a great one!
 * [[image:Dagmara.JPG width="170" height="366" align="center"]] || I'm Dagmara Muszyńska from Poland. I have been a Polish language teacher for 11 years. I started my teaching experience in Russia in 2000. Since 2005 I have taught Polish language in WIS. This year I will be teaching Language B Polish. I will also be working in the library and will be organising the Community and Service Programme.
 * [[image:jill.JPG width="240" height="180" align="center"]] || My name is Jill Craig and I’m from England. I am the grade 10 (MYP 5) Advisor and Middle School Language A (English) teacher. I will also be teaching a TOEFL course this year. I have taught at Wroclaw International School for five years and I have really enjoyed seeing the school grow and embrace the Middle Years Programme! Before Poland I was teaching in London and Japan. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
 * [[image:Jerome.JPG width="265" height="189" align="center"]] || My name is Jérôme Gaborit and I am from France. For the last 12 years I have worked as a teacher in France and in Poland. Now I’m the MYP language B French teacher here at WIS, and I’m also working for the NKJO (Wroclaw University) and at the Alliance Française.
 * [[image:Jerome.JPG width="265" height="189" align="center"]] || My name is Jérôme Gaborit and I am from France. For the last 12 years I have worked as a teacher in France and in Poland. Now I’m the MYP language B French teacher here at WIS, and I’m also working for the NKJO (Wroclaw University) and at the Alliance Française.
 * [[image:Radek.JPG width="160" height="235" align="center"]] || Hello, my name is Radek Tokarz, I'm called Mr. Radek. I'm from Poland, I was born in Wroclaw. I've been teaching for 13 years and have been at Wroclaw International School since October 2004. I teach music in PYP and MYP.
 * [[image:norma.JPG width="192" height="281" align="center"]] || I was trained at the University of British Columbia in Canada and I received my B. Ed in Education and M. Ed in Counseling Psychology. I worked as a School Consultant in the Vancouver area of Canada and also as a registered Clinical Counselor in a private practice for many years. My travels have taken me to International Schools in Turkey, Australia, Romania and finally Poland.

**Assemblies** We will be holding monthly assemblies in the Middle School to give students the opportunity to share their learning with the rest of the school and the WIS community. **Parents are invited to attend these assemblies.** They will usually take place on the last Wednesday of the month at 11:25 in the theatre, but you will be informed about exact dates and assembly programmes prior to each assembly. **Student Expectations** We would like to share with you the information about daily routines and expectations that we gave the students. We would appreciate it if you could take the time to read the list so that you know what our expectations are and can support us. **Daily Routines and Expectations** **Lockers** **Morning drop off**
 * < * Integration Trip (Grades 6-10) ||< * September 21st – 23rd ||
 * < * Ropes Course Field trip (Grades 6-10) ||< * Date to be announced ||
 * < * Warsaw Trip (Grades 5, 8 & 9) ||< * October 5th – 7th ||
 * You will be given your own locker to store your schoolbag and personal belonging. Please keep your locker clean and tidy. You will need to return the key at the end of the school year or when you leave the school if before that. If you lose your key, you will need to pay approximately 30 zloty to replace it.
 * The library will be open from 07:30. Students are welcome there from this time but should vacate by 07:55 to prepare for morning advisor.
 * All bags, coats, hats and outdoor shoes must be kept in your locker.
 * Please be aware that outdoor shoes will not be permitted in the classrooms.
 * Classes begin at 08:00, but you are welcome in the classroom after 07:45. If you arrive at school before 07:45, please wait in the foyer area.

**Interrupting classes**
 * Homeroom**
 * There is a short homeroom from 08:00-08:05. Please be in your classroom at this time as class advisors need to take attendance and may have announcements to make. You will also need to use this time to get your materials ready for the first lesson. First lesson will begin promptly at 08:05.
 * Please make sure that you take all necessary materials to class as you will not be allowed to interrupt lessons in your homeroom to pick up stuff you have forgotten. Also, please be aware when your homeroom class is being used for a double lesson and prepare for your classes accordingly.
 * Please move swiftly from one class to another. It is not permitted to buy refreshments from the cafeteria between classes. This should be done at morning recess or lunchtime.
 * Eating will not be permitted in class.


 * Afternoon pick up**
 * Regular lesson will finish at 15:10 this year. Please drop into your homeroom at the end of each day in case there are announcements or letters to be taken home.
 * If you are on campus after the end of the school day, you should be in a supervised area such as the library or at an extra curricular activity.


 * Food and meals**
 * You have a snack break at 09:35. You need to bring a healthy snack from home. High sugar snacks (candy, chocolate, soda drinks) are discouraged.
 * You need to bring your personal drinking vessel. No plastic cups will be distributed or be available for student use.
 * Our lunch break is at 12:10. You can either:
 * Bring your own packed lunch from home or
 * Pay for a school dinner. Meals can be paid for in advance or you can order a meal before 09:00 on the day. However, please ensure that you order your lunch before 08:00 so that you are not late for classes. You will not be permitted to leave class to purchase your lunch.


 * Recess time**
 * At morning recess you will have the choice of going outside or staying in. If you stay inside you must be in the WIS corridor, the foyer area of the cafeteria.
 * At lunchtime you must stay in the cafeteria until 12:25 then you will go outside (This will be reviewed when winter comes). You should change shoes and line up quietly outside the cafeteria. The cafeteria should be vacated by 12:30.


 * Absences and leave**
 * Please tell ;your teacher if you know that you will be absent from school and bring a note signed by the parent.
 * In the case of an unexpected absence, please bring a note from your parent when you return.
 * If you are sick at school, you must notify your advisor teacher or the teacher whose class you are in. They will send you to the office where the secretary will contact your parents. When your parent arrives they must go to the office to pick you up.
 * You are responsible for catching up with work when you have been sick.


 * Homework**
 * You can expect homework from Monday to Thursday however no homework will be set over weekend or holidays. The amount of homework should increase as students advance through middle school and the approximate expectations for each grade are:
 * MYP 1 - 60 minutes
 * MYP 2 - 70 minutes
 * MYP 3 - 80 minutes
 * MYP 4 - 90 minutes
 * MYP 5 - 100 minutes
 * On top of this you should also spend some time reading each day.
 * You are required to have a homework diary which you should take to every class to record homework.


 * Cell phones**
 * Cell phone should not be used during lesson time and must be on silent mode to avoid disruptions.


 * Personal laptops**
 * You are welcome to bring personal laptops to school. However, the school is not responsible for loss or damage.


 * Physical Education**
 * Please leave your PE clothes at school (in your locker) - but remember to take them home at the end of each week for cleaning! Your PE shoes should remain at school during the entire year and are only to be used for PE lessons.

We look forward to working with you over the coming year.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, //The Middle School Staff//