Vol. XII   •  Issue 26  •  March 05, 2010  |  Subscribe

From the Middle School Principal

Dear Middle School Parents,

In Michigan we have a saying about the month of March: “It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Somehow, I don't think this saying is very appropriate for the weather here in the Philippines, but it's a nice reminder that I'm not suffering the snow and cold winds of Michigan. I much prefer this warm tropical weather.

Food Fest: If you have not signed up for Food Fest, I suggest that you run, not walk, to buy your tickets today! For all newcomers to our Brent community, Food Fest is the highlight event of the year. It will feature games, music, dancing, and, of course, plenty of great food. So bring your hungry children – I promise they will be delighted with the selection of food from over 30 countries. And if you get there early enough, you will get the chance to see yours truly in the dunk tank.

SENIA: Here is a report from Mr. Ericson Perez, the organizer of the SENIA conference at Brent International School Manila:

On February 26 and 27, 2010, Brent International School Manila hosted the 8th Special Education Network in Asia (SENIA) Conference, Making Connections: Advocacy for Students with Special Education Needs in International Schools in Asia.  Ms. Tina Santilli and Dr. Tracy Alloway, the two keynote speakers, led the conference strands, Advocacy, Awareness, and Interventions.  As a practitioner, Ms. Santilli focused on the direction for special education in international schools and successful approaches for learning support teachers and developing student support programs.  As a researcher, Dr. Alloway provided insight on working memory and its impact on learning outcomes for children with and without special needs.  The conference also offered delegates workshop topics in the following areas:  social cognition and skills, reading and writing strategies, communication and collaboration, inclusion strategies for mainstream teachers, co-teaching, assessment, multi-media resources, self-advocacy, autism spectrum disorders, and parent perspectives.  Over 120 delegates, including parents and educators, from 30 different schools and organizations from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, participated in the conference. The conference was supported by donations from EARCOS and Brent’s Parent Teacher Association and Spirit Shop.

Congratulations to all the teachers, parents and organizers. Brent School was, once again, the place to be!

Progress Reports: ALL students will receive their Progress Reports on Friday, March 12. These progress reports will help you to get a better picture of how your son or daughter is doing up to this point in the second semester. It should give you a strong indication on how well they are performing in all of their classes. I hope that all the parents who have questions will be able to meet with the teachers on Monday, March 15, at Parent Teacher Conference Day.

Parent Teacher Conference Day: On Monday, March 15, there will be no school for students during Parent Teacher Conference Day. This day is set aside for parents to meet with teachers to discuss in detail how students are doing academically and socially within the classroom. Sign-up sheets are currently available in the atrium. I hope that all parents will find time to come to school this day to meet with teachers. Should you not be able to meet with teachers on this day, you are always welcome to make an appointment with teachers through the Middle School Office.

SAT9 Tests: From March 22 until March 24, middle school students will be taking their SAT 9 tests. These are designed to help us get a better understanding of how well students are achieving  three specific areas of learning: reading, writing and math. Students are not able to study for these exams as they are based on the student's ability to interpret the information that they are provided by the test. However, you can help your child by making sure that they get a good night’s rest and that they eat a good breakfast before coming to school on these three days.

Enchanted Kingdom: On Thursday, March 25, the Middle School Student Council has organized a field trip for those students who have purchased the ticket to go to Enchanted Kingdom Park at the end of the school day. Students will leave campus around noon and return in time to board the 5 pm bus for home. This trip should serve as a well-deserved reward for those students who have been working very hard for the last eight months. Congratulations to the Middle School Student Council for their initiative in organizing this event.

Temporary Contact Information Form: For general information as well as security, medical and legal reasons, we ask for your support in completing our Temporary Contact Information form if travels require you temporarily to leave a Brent student in the care of another individual. Copies of the form are currently available in each of the school offices, and it will soon be available to download from the newsletter sections of our website. We ask that you please submit the completed form to your child(ren)’s school office before your travels take place.  Thank you for your partnership as we implement new ways of supporting your children in mind, body and spirit.

Easter Break: Please remember that Easter Break will begin on Friday, March 26 until April 5.

Have a great Food Fest Weekend,

Ron Knapp
Middle School Principal

Now Accepting Applications for New Students

For the 2010-2011 School Year

If you have other children currently not attending Brent that you wish to enroll for the 2010-2011 school year, please submit an application to the Admissions Office as soon as possible. 

The application can be printed from Brent’s website. See the Admissions tab at www.brent.edu.ph. You can also pick up an application directly from the Admissions Office.

Once our office receives the completed application, a day can be scheduled for your child to take Brent’s entrance exams and be interviewed.

You are encouraged to start the process as soon as possible since waiting could result in a grade level already being full.  If you have any questions, please let us know how we may assist you with the Admissions process.

Thank you!

ADMISSIONS OFFICE