Kathy Bieser

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

On Tuesday afternoon, we will welcome our last group of exchange students of the year to ISA when a group of 15+ Central American students arrive at the school. The exchange students, many from rural indigenous communities, were chosen to represent their home countries through a highly selective process coordinated by Georgetown University and ACCD.   For six days, our visitors will live with ISA families, and participate in a variety of cultural activities as they explore San Antonio. Thank you once again to all the ISA families who have opened up their homes for this unique program and experience.

Although we are one week into Advanced Placement (AP) tests, the testing continues through Friday for students who signed up for the exams. We estimate that by Friday we will have administered of over 550 tests to our students that will be packaged up and mailed to College Board for scoring over the summer.  Students can expect to receivei online score reports in early July.  As a reminder, students must arrive at ISA and be in their testing rooms no later than 7:40 a.m. for all morning exams. Below this week’s AP tests:

Monday, May 13

Biology (AM)

Physics (PM)

Tuesday, May 14

U.S. Government (AM)

Wednesday, May 15

United States History (AM)

European History (PM)

Thursday, May 16

World History (AM)

Microeconomics (PM)

Friday, May 17

Human Geography (AM)

Spanish Literature (AM)

On Sunday, May 19, 2013,  ISA will hold the Senior Awards Ceremony at Trinity University’s Parker Chapel beginning at 2 p.m. Each ISA senior will be recognized for his or her special achievements during their four years at ISA, and we will celebrate their future plans. After the awards ceremony, families are invited to Habaneros Grill Restaurant for a Project Graduation Fundraiser.

Finally, the Allied Campus Theatre will be performing two student directed plays (The Odd Couple and Hollywood Arms) on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18. The first show begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the second show immediately following. All performances are in the Lee Black Box (Room 502), and tickets will be sold at the door. The entire ISA community is invited to attend and cheer on our fabulous students!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, May 6, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

A few weeks ago the ISA faculty gathered to select the 2013 ISA Teacher of the Year, and it is my pleasure to announce in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) and National Teacher Day (May 7) that freshman English teacher Caroline Brooks was chosen from a very impressive list of nominees as our Teacher of the Year.  While only in her second year on the campus, the faculty honored Caroline for her strong commitment to her students and their literacy, her collaboration and teamwork skills, and her dedication to ISA’s ideals and mission.  As we honor teachers this week, I invite you to send words of congratulations and thanks to Caroline or any other teacher, ISA or beyond. Words may be sent via email or you may comment to this post on Ms. Bieser’s Blog if you would like to share your thoughts with the entire ISA community.

We will celebrate teaching this week  as we also begin ten very busy days of testing. This week our freshman and sophomore students take their math, science, and social studies STAAR end-of-course exams, beginning with freshman math on Monday. At the same time, beginning tomorrow and continuing through Friday, May 17, ISA sophomores, juniors, and seniors will begin taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams. ISA counselor, Mary Reihner, asked me to remind families that every AP test-taker received a sheet with their individual exam schedule. For your reference, the complete AP testing schedule can be accessed HERE. Students must arrive at ISA and be in their testing room no later than 7:40 a.m. for all morning exams. Below is this week’s AP testing schedule.

Monday, May 6

Chemistry (AM)

Environmental Science (AM)

Psychology (PM)

Tuesday, May 7

Computer Science A (AM)

Spanish Language (AM)

Wednesday, May 8

Calculus AB and BC (AM)

Thursday, May 10

English Literature and Composition: Seniors (AM)

Friday, May 11

English Languate (AM)

Statistics (PM)

Many thanks to the ISA Amigos and the parent volunteers who have helped to monitor hallways, put together snack trays, and contributed their time or financial resources to support the school during all of the end of the year testing.  As a reminder, the ISA Amigos will be holding their last meeting of the year this Thursday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m. in the Sergiovanni Room. As the Amigos finish up the 2012-2013 school-year, they are eager to start planning for next year and new volunteers are always welcome.

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

 Dear ISA Families,

In early February, ISA conducted our annual lottery to select the incoming freshman class. Close to 3oo students and their families submitted applications, and today it is my great pleasure to welcome 120 new families to our weekly community update.  Our rising freshmen, the Class of 2017, includes students from every NEISD middle school, several private schools, and other area middle schools. This weekly email, also posted on Ms. Bieser’s Blog, the ISA Community Calendar, and the ISA Daily Bulletin are the three primary tools we use to keep families informed about the latest events, announcements, and celebrations at the school.

Last week two national publications, U.S. News and World Reports and The Washington Post, released annual reports of America’s high schools. ISA is one of only two schools in San Antonio to receive a gold medal from U.S. News and World Reports , ranking 29 in Texas and 215 in the nation.  The Washington Post also recognized our achievements, naming us 25 in Texas and 99 in the nation among all high schools. These achievements are a reflection of our students, teachers, and families’ commitment and dedication to the school.

Celebrations continue throughout this week beginning on Monday, April 29 at the National Honor Society (NHS) Induction Ceremony at 7 p.m. in the Nimitz Middle School auditorium.  New inductees should arrive at 6:30 p.m.

Two days later on Wednesday, May 1, our freshmen and seniors will be at Trinity University for more celebrations! Our freshmen will present their Make a Difference Presentations from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Trinity University’s Northrup Hall or Ruth Taylor Theater.  The most convenient parking area for families at Alamo Stadium, with Northrup Hall and Ruth Taylor Theater just a short walk across the street (follow the path alongside the fountain).

While our freshmen are presenting their projects, our seniors will be nearby in the Great Hall of the Chapman Building for the Internship Mentor Reception from 5:30-7:00 p.m.  This annual event is a chance to celebrate the culmination of our seniors’ internship experiences, express our thanks for the support their mentors provided, and engage in discussions about their experiences. Seniors should arrive at 4:30 p.m. and park at Alamo Stadium. All mentors have been invited, and parents are welcome to attend.  Please contact Victoria Woodard, ISA Internship Coordinator, at vwooda@neisd.net with any questions about the event.   Best of luck to our freshmen and seniors!

We will end a week of celebrations with the Spanish Honor Society induction on Thursday evening as we welcome new members into the organization and recognize student achievement.

Finally, the ISA Project Graduation Committee asked me to announce an ongoing fundraiser throughout the month of May at California Pizza Kitchen and Five Guys Burgers and Fries in the Quarry. Attached are flyers with all the details about the fundraising events.  All ISA families are encouraged to participate.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

This week,  April 23-25,  juniors will be taking the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS tests. We ask that you please encourage your  junior student to get a good night’s rest, eat breakfast, and arrive at school on time for these important tests. After testing, students will be attending their afternoon classes or participating in special activities planned by the  junior team. Please remember that we will follow the regular school hours (8:45 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.), and students will not be dismissed early. To help us better serve the students testing, we request that you do not ask us to release your student early after testing unless it is an emergency or a previously scheduled appointment.

On Monday night, April 22, at 6 p.m. in the Sergiovanni Community Room, we will host an informational meeting and discussion about possible travel opportunities to Japan, China and South Korea during the summer of 2014.  We will share details about the potential program offerings and measure interest before making a final decision about our destinations and travel dates.

Finally, we had two special events yesterday. Several of our Astronomy Club members spent Saturday morning at Dellview Elementary School’s Science Saturday facilitating activities for their 5th grade students.  Last night, we held the 2013 ISA Prom at Say Si Art Gallery. A special thank you our prom sponsor, Betsy Landry, and the ISA faculty members who chaperoned the event and to the parents who helped us decorate the space.

As a reminder, this is short four day week for students with Friday’s holiday.

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

Yesterday thirty-five of our Model United Nations students continued to build their dialogue and diplomacy skills by participating in RUNWAY, Reagan High School’s one-day MUN simulation.  Several students were recognized for their performance during the conference, and we are excited about all of the students’ future leadership and contributions to the program.

The ISA Junior & Senior Prom is this Saturday, April 20, from 7:30-11:30 p.m. at the SAY Sí gallery. Tickets are on sale this week at lunch in the ISA hallway for $30 per person; however, the price will go up to $40 at the door on Saturday. Please remind your son or daughter that non-ISA high school students attending as guests are required to bring a photo ID (drivers license or school ID) with them to the prom. And, once students enter the prom they will not be allowed to leave and return later in the evening. Since parking is limited, we recommend that students carpool or get dropped off for the event. There will be two NEISD police officers on duty to help with parking and to direct students.

Looking ahead, we will host an informational meeting and discussion about possible travel opporutunities to Japan, China and South Korea during the summer of 2014.  If your son or daughter may be interested in participating in one of our exchange programs, we encourage you to attend the meeting on Monday, April 22 at 6 p.m. in the Sergiovanni Community Room.

As we plan our future travel, we are also preparing to host another group of Central American students and teachers from May 14-20, 2013.  We are seeking six additional host families for girls and four host families for boys. If your family is interested, please complete this form as soon as possible. Many days the Central Americans will be participating in programs organized through ACCD. You many access the complete schedule HERE.

Finally, we have two quick reminders. First, Berta Galan, ISA Spanish teacher, asked me to announce that the Spanish Honor Society induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 2nd. Second, we encourage families and students to check the ISA Daily Bulletin routinely for important announcements and summer enrichment/internship opportunities that are being added daily.

Have a great week!

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, April 7, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

Greetings from San Diego, California! Laurie Smith (10th English), Ryan Sprott (10th World History), and I are heading home from the Deeper Learning Conference after being invited to present the work of our school, specifically an upcoming sophomore project titled “Telling History.” Along with other schools in our International Studies Schools Network (ISSN), we had the opportunity to learn from several other well known national school reform networks brought together with funding from the Hewlett Foundation in an effort to understand what deeper learning looks like in school and to better prepare students for a changing world. We look forward to sharing new ideas with the faculty in the upcoming days.

While Laurie, Ryan, and I were learning about a variety of student-directed projects from fellow educators in San Diego, over sixty ISA sophomores and juniors gathered at Trinity University to begin preparations for Model United Nations San Antonio XVIII (MUNSA), by far our largest project and undertaking each year. As the junior and senior leaders of next year’s conference, the students spent the day exploring the conference theme and beginning to identify possible topics for each of the conference committees.  Although MUNSA XVIII is scheduled for January 8-10, 2014, the work to organize and implement the largest student-led high school MUN simulation has already begun and continues throughout the summer, fall, and winter months.  Congratulations to the rising junior and seniors who applied and were selected as co-chairs and to the new secretariat who will be leading the effort.  We look forward to another fabulous MUNSA!

Tomorrow, Monday, April 8, is the first day of ISA English Mini-Courses, a longstanding ISA tradition. All ISA students selected a mini-course to attend from April 8-12.  The courses, taught by ISA faculty or ISA seniors working with a faculty mentor, allow students choice over the curriculum and the opportunity to learn with students from across grade-levels.  The course offerings vary from year to year as faculty and students design new curricula.  Here are just a few of the mini-courses being offered this year:

Ekphrastic Poetry: poetry inspired by art

Are you afraid of writing poetry? Let that fear go! April is National Poetry Month!  In this mini-course, we will let paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs inspire the wordsmith within each of us. The culminating event of this mini-course will be your participation in an optional (but highly, highly, highly encouraged) poetry reading event for the community on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:00 pm in the Serg.  Let’s start a new ISA tradition!

Flash Fiction: A Snapshot in Time and Technique

Known as micro-fiction, sudden fiction, or short-short stories, flash fiction is about brevity without forsaking technique. Join us on a creative journey as we investigate the world of flash fiction, practice descriptive writing techniques, and create our own “flash.”

World Music

In this course our ears will be travelling the world and the planes of time to explore the possibilities of music and its connections to community, mythology, and our past. To aid us on this journey, we will investigate music as a form of communication and ecstatic experience accompanied by some basic music theory to give us the tools to continue our conversation after this class with the peoples and the music beyond our immediate, Western experience. And the story–our story–begins with the Aboriginal Dreamtime.

For the next five days, ISA working in partnership with several Lee campus groups will be celebrating a week-long Community PEACE Festival. This year’s festivities conclude on Friday, April 12, 2013, with ISA Culture Fair. Each ISA advisory selected a country to represent during Friday’s fair from 4:05-6:30 p.m. in the campus’ interior courtyard. As a community event, parents, families, and friends are invited to attend as we reconnect with each other to enjoy international music, food from around the globe, and have the opportunity to learn about other parts of the world. To help students prepare their booths for Culture Fair, we are hosting an after school work session on Thursday, April 11, until 6:00 p.m. Along with the booth and poster making supplies, we will have snacks for students to nibble on as they work.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

STAAR testing begins this week for our freshmen and sophomores as they take the end-of-course exams in writing and reading.  Please help by making sure your son or daughter gets a good night’s sleep and eats breakfast, so all are ready to put forth best efforts each morning.  These testing sessions will take up only part of the day, and students will report to core and electives classes in the afternoon.   While our freshmen and sophomores will be testing according to the schedule below, all other students will follow the regular bell schedule and attend their normal elective and core ISA and Lee classes.

STAAR Testing

• Monday, April 1: English I Writing
• Tuesday, April 2: English I Reading
• Wednesday, April 3: English II Writing
• Thursday, April 4: English II Reading

When we waved goodbye to our visitors from Japan earlier in the semester, we thought it was our last hosting opportunity of the year. However, we recently learned that host families are needed for another group of Central American students and teachers, who will be in San Antonio May 14-20, 2013.  The agenda for their visit is posted here. The City of San Antonio is a new partner in this exchange, and they have arranged several interesting projects for the Central American visitors, and ISA host brothers and sisters are invited to participate in these projects as well. If your family is interested, please complete this form no later than Friday, April 6.

The Freshman Team asked me share that Make a Difference projects are in full swing. If you would like to get involved by attending events or supporting fundraisers, check out this document.  The freshmen are putting together some impressive projects. For additional information, please email Mitzi Moore at mmoore@neisd.net.

Finally, the Project Graduation Committee invites you to their fundraiser Tuesday night at Rome’s Pizza!

Have a great week.

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, March 24

Dear ISA Families,

Last Thursday night’s event marked the largest presentation of student work at ISA since the ISA design team first imagined a high school where students would be asked to demonstrate their learning through public exhibitions close to twenty years ago. Our freshmen reminded us with their enthusiasm for their Make A Difference projects of our young people’s enormous promise and caring.  The sophomores’ persuasive speeches impressed us with their knowledge and poise and educated us about global efforts to aid others in danger of losing their culture. Our seniors’ public service announcements contributed to our community’s efforts to reach the ambitious SA2020 goals while also highlighting their growth as learners and leaders over the last four years.  Congratulations to the ISA students and teachers on a job well done!  Our next and final exhibition of work this year will be portfolio presentations on May 21 (freshmen), May 21 (sophomores), May 23 (juniors), and May 29 & 30 (seniors).

The new MUNSA XVIII student leaders are already preparing for next year’s event. Currently, they are selecting juniors and seniors for various leadership roles. They asked me to share that co-chair applications (rising juniors and seniors) are due on Thursday, March 28.  The student bulletin will have additional information regarding the selection of additional positions in the coming week.

This week is a short one with Friday’s student and staff holiday before we return for a week of STAAR testing on Monday, April 1. Below is a calendar of STAAR testing.

Monday, April 1: English I Writing

Tuesday, April 2: English I Reading

Wednesday, April 3: English II Writing

Thursday, April 4: English II Reading

Please look for additional updates and information in next Sunday’s update.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

We are looking forward to welcoming students back from spring break tomorrow and beginning the final nine-weeks of the school-year! We are also excited to welcome  families to ISA on Thursday, March 21, 2013 for our final Report Card Pick-Up Night of the year. Along with picking up report cards, we will be hosting our largest exhibition of student work to date as three grade-levels share projects. Freshman, sophomore, and senior families can plan to spend an hour learning about their student’s work anytime between 6:00-7:30 p.m. While our juniors will not be presenting work tonight, families are invited to attend a 6:00 p.m. meeting in the Sergiovanni Room to hear updates and pick up report cards. In addition, all families are welcome to visit other grade-level exhibition of work to broaden the students’ audience and feedback. Below is an overview of the evening:

Freshmen (Library): Make A Difference Fair (6:00-7:30pm)

• Explore students’ Make A Difference topics and learn how their efforts are contributing to making our local community stronger.
• There will be opportunities to purchase items and/or make donations in support of the students’ efforts.
• Receive your student’s report card and newsletter update.
• Student-led conference have been postponed until May 21.

Sophomores (Cafeteria): Advocacy Fair (6:00-7:30pm)

• Learn about how an indigenous group is in danger of losing a part of its culture and how the students’ plan to aid the culture.
• The Advocacy Fair will have a winning entry. All visitors will receive three tickets to vote with when they enter the fair. Extra tickets ($1 per ticket) may also be purchased. The winning team will receive all funds donated by guests, which will go the culture they are supporting.
• Receive your student’s report card.

Juniors (Sergiovanni Room): Classroom Updates (6:00pm)

• Learn about current curriculum and upcoming events.
• Receive your student’s report card.

Seniors (Library): Public Service Announcement (6:00-7:30pm)

• Watch public service announcements created to inform the San Antonio community and promote progress toward achieving the SA2020 and United Nations Millenium Development Goals.
• Receive your student’s report card.

Finally, registration for two important programs close this Friday, March 22:  Advanced Placement online registration ends at noon and Summer PE Camp 2013 closes at noon as well for current ISA students.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bieser

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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Dear ISA Families,

On Monday, March 4, ISA juniors will take the English Language Arts (ELA) TAKS test.  We ask that you please encourage your student to get a good night’s rest, eat breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Our teachers have been working hard with students to prepare them well, and we know they will do their best.

TAKS testing regulations require us to collect all electronic devices (cell phones, iPods and other personal media devices) from students prior to testing. Students will not be able to use them during or after they finish testing in their testing room.  However, they do have access to a landline in the ISA office.  Please also remember that we will follow the regular school hours (8:45 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.), and junior students will not be dismissed early.  While our juniors are testing tomorrow, the freshmen, sophomores, and seniors will follow a regular bell schedule and attend classes as usual.

Our Project Graduation Committee asked me to invite families to this Thursday’s fundraiser.  Three venues (California Pizza Kitchen, EZ’s and The Yogurt Zone) will donate a portion of their receipts to support the ISA Project Graduation. For the fundraisers at California Pizza Kitchen and Yogurt Zone, please use the attached flyer.

Finally, the ISA Amigos will hold their monthly meeting this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at ISA.

We wish all of our students a restful and wonderful spring break.  Look for my next message on Sunday, March 17, 2013.

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