International School of Havana

News from the Head of Secondary:

The examination week has passed. I saw many students quite engaged during the writing and a quite a few felt they had done well. We will know by next week Friday, when we give out the reports.
The end of year tours will start on Monday June 16. The Grade 6 and 7 students should be at school at 8:00, the Grade 8 and 9 students at 8:20. I hope the students will have an enjoyable journey with lots of learning about the Cuban environment, culture and history. There are a few students who will not go on the tour; they should be at school from 8:15 until 14:35. They will be asked to work on projects as they would have done if they had gone on the tour.
On Thursday June 19, the students will present what they have learnt and done during the tours. This will be in the library at 13:50. You are all welcome to join.
On Friday June 20, students can organise a class party. This will start at 10:05 and last until 10:50. Report cards will be given out at 11:30 on that same day.
I wish you an excellent holiday and hope to see you back in August.

Mr. Richard

From the Librarians:

From now on the Library is not offering loan service due to the end of the school year. Please, make sure you have returned all the books you have at home. Thanks in advance,

Ms Yudy and Ms Celia

Advice & Tips
Incorporating Reading Into Everyday Life

It's hard to find time as a family to sit down and read. Just dealing with every day life — school, work, sports and activities, chores, and friends — can leave barely enough time to get everything done, let alone read a book. However, a busy schedule can include time to read, even if there isn't time to read an entire book. Read on for some tips on sneaking reading into your daily routine.

Morning

• If your family eats breakfast at the table, divide up the newspaper so everyone can read their favorite section. If your children are young or find it hard to eat and read, read aloud headlines and stories to them as they munch.
• Many families eat breakfast on the go. If this sounds familiar, then encourage your children to read the back of the cereal box as they pour or the packaging on their food wrappers.
• No matter how your children get to school — on foot, on the bus, or in a car — there are ways to get some quick reading in. Walkers can listen to a chapter of an audio book on a Walkman. Kids who ride the bus or are driven can read a magazine or comic book. This reading can be quick and fun, since kids have little time and a school day to face.

Afternoon

• Serve your children their after-school snacks in a space that's designated just for reading. Let them choose a light-hearted book, magazine, comic book, or catalogue as they eat and unwind from the school day.
• On the way to sports practice or other after-school activities, read out street signs, billboards, or storefront signs. Or have your child read aloud to you in the car as you drive.

• As dinner cooks, sit down and read a chapter of a book together. While you're adding ingredients or setting the table, begin telling a story together, taking turns adding the next part.

Movies and TV time

• Before turning on the TV or a video game, spend 15 minutes reading together. This could be something short or a chapter of a longer book that you read everyday. Continuing stories could keep kids interested day-to-day. 
• If your TV allows for closed-captioning, turn it on and encourage your children to read along with the text.
• When you get a movie a few minutes early, read aloud the ads that show up on the screen before the previews. Have your child read to you as much of the ad as possible before the next one shows up.

Evening/Bedtime

• After dinner, take your dessert into another room and read aloud. This can become an after-dinner ritual for the family.
• Too tired to read aloud? Then get the family together in the living room and put on a book-on-tape for 15 minutes.
• After an intense homework session, take 10 minutes to read a silly humor book or comic book.
• Read aloud in the bath — either you or your children can do the reading.

From the Science Department:

Science Department last question on Safety of the academic year 2007-2008!!!!!!

Look at the symbol carefully. have you ever seen it before? may be you do, but you have not focused your attention on it. However, it is extremely important that you know its meaning because it represents very important information for you. If you find the meaning of the symbol, come to the science Lab and drop yopur answer in the Safety Box. We will report on the best answer in the school assembly on Friday, next Week.

From Miss Xismara

The end of academic year 2007-2008 is here! After a surely exhausting but certainly successful school year, we all crave for some rest and lots of fun.

Lots of things have happened in the past ten months. Some were sad, yet many more were enthusing and inspiring experiences for our community. Countless accomplishments and a glamorous grade 12 (IB) graduation! Let's feel proud. We have done a lot together. Let's keep our expectations high and recharge batteries to embark in a new academic year filled with challenges, true learning and plenty of fun.

A word of advice for our students- During the summer holidays, read, enquire, and communicate, be kind, thoughtful, honest, respectful, confident, responsible and safe, show care for the environment.

Represent ISH wherever you go!

See you all back in August!

From ISH- Accounting Office

Dear parents,

We kindly appreciate if you collect your invoice(s) for next Academic Year

2008- 2009.

Thank you very much!

PTA NEWS….

one week to go

Dear ISH community!

The school year is almost over and most of us are very busy organizing end of year parties, farewell parties, holidays and packing up. We had a very busy and productive year! Thank you for your endless support to the PTA and the school.

“Time flies when you're having fun.” I must have had a lot of fun because it feels like it was September only last month….I'm proud to be a part of this community and happy to have the opportunity to work with fantastic people: the PTA members, parent volunteers, teachers, students, all support staff, heads of section, principal and the Board of Directors. Our school is constantly growing and changing. We as parents can be a positive link in these changes. So please don't be shy next year and volunteer! I'm looking forward to working together with all of you again when school resumes in August.

For those families and students leaving us, GOOD LUCK! To all others - see you again in August!

Next PTA meeting:

Tuesday, August 26th 2008 at 3.45 pm in the school's meeting room! Contact me if you would like to receive the minutes and agenda.

Wishing you safe travels and enjoy your holidays!!!

Karin den Dulk
PTA CHAIR
07 2048281
hadulkie@gmail.com or
pta.ish@gmail.com