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T H E G E C K O E C H O
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
It was an action packed first semester. Our community has seen a
great deal of success as a school in L-D Debate, Forensics, Math
Court, volleyball, swimming, and soccer. Plus, we had students
participate in several off-island tournaments representing the CNMI in
tennis, swimming, and soccer.
Beyond the realm of competition, our high school students made a
strong showing in their PSAT results with both the Juniors and
Sophomores scoring above the national average for Juniors. The SAT
results for Seniors and Juniors were also above the national average.
Our students have read more than 6,700 books (66 million words!) and
taken AR quizzes on them. Between the grades 2-10, teachers are
implementing Achieve 3000 to improve student skills in the reading of
non-fiction material. The Juniors successfully launched our first season
of Gecko Talk News and the Seniors will continue the show in the spring.
The Scoop received an upgrade as well as our school website. We added a new security system with
seven cameras to monitor our campus. Our wireless network has been repaired and improved
allowing teachers and students more reliable Internet access. The elementary computer lab was
upgraded with faster processors and more memory; in addition, Windows 7 and Comic Life 3 were
installed on all the lab computers. We have solved a rodent problem by purchasing some electric
traps. Plus, we are in the process of improving the efficiency of our lights by replacing the old
florescent bulbs with LED bulbs. This will cut the number of light bulbs on campus by half and reduce
kilowatt usage of the entire school. The old oven was replaced with a new one which works better and
is more energy efficient.
As the Headmaster, I would like to thank the community for the support and trust you show by allowing
us the honor to educate your children. I truly hope that during the first semester of SY2014-15 the
community has noticed the improvements to our school. SIS will continue its commitment to providing
a quality education for all students.
Tim Bray
NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
School Year 2014-15 MidYear Newsletter
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
1
@SaipanGeckos
Table of Contents
Teachers 3
Elementary Reflections 4
Secondary Reflections 6
Academic Achievements 13
Sports 14
Celebrating Diversity 15
ETC 16
Credits 16
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Saipan International School opened in 1994 with 45 elementary
students after a group of parents identified a need for a quality
educational program that would foster academic, emotional and
social growth. A four year high school was later added. In 1998, a
new four-classroom building was constructed as a new science
lab, media center and classroom building in 2002. Most recently, a
new building, housing grades nine through twelve and a library,
was completed in 2008. Presently, SIS enrollment is
approximately 200 students from K5-12th grade.
HISTORY
Saipan International School is a private, non-profit organization
that offers instruction in preschool through twelfth grade.
Instruction is theme oriented and based on national standards and
benchmarks from the United States. SIS is fully accredited
through the year 2017 by the Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC) from K5 through 12th grade. The school is
authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien
students.
MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY
The mission of SIS is to help each child reach his or her full potential by providing a positive environment
that fosters academic, emotional, and social growth. This environment is created when trust, respect, and
acceptance are values shared by students, parents, and school staff.
Saipan International School is committed to creating an educational environment that affirms a wide
variety of learning styles, experiences, skill levels, and interests. SIS also maintains the highest academic
standards, and challenges students to perform at the peak of their potential. Each child is encouraged to
develop creativity, enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills, and build a feeling of self-worth.
Small class sizes, averaging 18 students, give teachers an opportunity to meet the needs of a diverse
student population in a secular, nondiscriminatory environment.
Students explore multiculturalism both in theory and practice. Our students originate from locations
around the world, including the Pacific Islands, Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South
America. Daily interactions give knowledge that leads to a deeper appreciation and respect for all
people.
WHAT DO GRADUATES SAY?
At SIS, I learned to be confident in my abilities. Through activities like L/D Debate, Destino Peru,
volleyball, and Student Council, I learned how to lead, how to write and speak well, and how I
shouldn't let any opportunity pass me by. Carpe diem, as a former teacher once told me. All of this
created a solid foundation from which I was able to successfully pursue my studies at New York
University.
Henry Chan (2007), New York University
SIS as an institution supported me in everything that I did, from school to volleyball to Lincoln-Douglas
debate, and I found that support to be an incredibly profound part of my high school experience. SIS
teachers and faculty prepared me for life post-graduation and pushed me to strive for more, giving me
the extra push to apply to universities like USC, Middlebury, and Stanford. They wanted me to be the
best that I could be, which inspired me to be the best that I could be. I have nothing but love and
respect for SIS now, and hope it continues to inspire students as much as it inspired me!
Amber Roberts (2012), Stanford University
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
2
@SaipanGeckos
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
OUR TEACHERS
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
3
@SaipanGeckos
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY REFLECTIONS
In our second grade classroom I try to
focus as much as possible on doing
hands-on science and technology
projects. We use popsicle sticks to
build bridges and catapults early in the
year, and later we use the sticks to
create large scale boats from several
cultures around the world as part of a
unit on oceanic exploration.
Each building project encourages
teamwork and cooperation, develops
real-world math skills, and promotes
the daily use of vocabulary directly
related to technology and construction.
During the exploration unit we turn the
central part of the classroom into a
miniature boatyard complete with
materials, staging areas, scaffolding
for the boats, and it becomes
commonplace to hear words like "hull",
"parallel", and "reinforce" bounce
around the classroom.
Students who might otherwise struggle
to communicate with each other in
English, drop their guard and through
the hands-on distraction of boat
building, find themselves becoming
more and more comfortable talking
openly with their classmates.
Saipan International School enjoys a
uniquely wonderful and open style of
learning that promotes a strong central
curriculum augmented by opportunities
for teachers to be creative and share
with students the things they
themselves have a passion for.
For me, I love to guide students
through the stages of building and
constructing machines, both simple
and complex. And though the
models, siege engines,
and bridges we build
may never survive the
testing process, the
e n t h u s i a s m a n d
w o n d e r t h e y
generate in the
hearts and minds
of the students is
w o r t h e v e r y
patiently placed
drop of glue along
the way.
Mr. Wright
G2
Saipan International School - MP, 96950
#sisgeckos
4
@SaipanGeckos
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that
won't work.” -Thomas Edison
Last semester, the 3rd and 5th grade class had one goal
in mind: to grow a pumpkin. Just ONE. Of course, that
wasn't what we all hoped for in the beginning of the
project. But, as our little patch battled through rain,
drought, and insect infestation, we were happy to just
see one measly pumpkin. Being novice gardeners, we
failed epically. Here are some reflections the students
wrote about our project.
I like gardening. I like my rain boots in the mud. I don't
care if my hands are dirty. But I do not like plants dying.
Animals eat our plants. Growing plants is hard. But I
want to try again. However, please, please don't die
plants. -Stephanie Kim(G3)
I enjoyed gardening because I like to dig and plant.
What I didn't like was getting sweaty. I learned that we
needed to pay more attention to what is going on with
our plants and find ways to help it survive. I think we
could do some research and have someone help us. I
felt really sad when the pumpkins didn't grow because
the class and I didn’t have any pumpkin pie.-Aiden
Chekoldin(G3)
Gardening was funner than I thought. It was quite hard,
too. The first time we planted, I was very shocked
because the weekend rain drowned all our tiny sprouts.
The next time we planted, we put them by our classroom
window. The little sprouts grew taller and taller everyday.
We watched it lean towards the window, even if you
move the plants around. My teacher, Ms. Kathy, said it
was trying to get some sunlight. I learned a lot of other
things, too. When the sprouts were big enough, we
transferred them to the ground. The first weeks started
out good, we even saw the pumpkin flowers growing.
Then one day, the leaves just started to dry out and
soon die. I think that we should start again. -Jaden
Castro(G3)
I did not like gardening because you have to dig and pull
out weeds everyday. You also have to water it often.
When it dies, we have to start again. I would not do
it again because it is a lot to take care for in 3rd
grade. -Sophia Heras(G3)
The majority of the students voted to try
again. Personally, I think this
lesson taught me more than it
did the students. It
showed me how patient
and compassionate an
elementary student could be.
They worked hard to pull out the
weeds and worked even harder to
keep it alive. Maybe we won't have
to try 10,000 times for it to work,
but we sure will try again. 2015,
watch out for our garden!
Ms. Ruszala
G4
5
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
SECONDARY REFLECTIONS
S- S is for the sun that shines from the blue sky.
A- A is for the tasty apples that are in the supermarket.
I- I is for the international school in Saipan.
P- P is for the sweet tasty papaya that are planted in Saipan.
A- A is for the amphibians that live in Saipan.
N- N is for the knees get scratched whenever people playing
under the burning sun.
Acrostic Poem by Mary Zon Tybaco(6)
iPad
Thin, Smart.
Complicating, Answering
Researching, Taking pictures
Calling, Texting
Touch, Flash
iPhone
Hair
Silky, Soft
Washing, Drawing
Wig, Braids, Coat, Blanket
Warming, Cooling
Fluffy, Warm
Fur
Water
Liquid, Healthy
Hydrating, Moving
Transparent, Colorful
Flavoring, Sweetening
Sweet, Sugar
Juice
Lava
Hot, Hard
Harming, Global Cooling
Magma, Gas, Red, Flames
Boiling, Roasting
Ash, Cook
Fire
Diamante Poems by
EunBi Choi(6)
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
Soccer is an interesting sport It requires a
lot of teamwork
It is hard to win
It is hard to score
You need a lot of equipment
I don’t really like to read book
Teachers tell me to read a lot
I love to read now
But I am a lazy reader
I want to read a lot faster
My house always has problems
That is why our house is busy
It is a problem
It is very fun.
Limerick Poem by Tony Kim(6)
6
School is fun
Classes are enjoyable
Holidays block me from going to school
Our class has 10 students
Outdoor activities in school are fun
Luckily, I got lots of friends at school.
Acrostic Poem By Tony Kim(6)
Mr. Beyer
English
@SaipanGeckos
G8 English class spent a great time reading
the book Lord of the Flies . After finishing the
famous novel, their teacher Ms. Hampel
assigned the #sisgeckos with several
activities from which they learned the value of
team work, cooperation and helping each
other. Everyone is good at something and bad
at something. Ms. Hampel adds, the people
around you can help you with what you are
bad at, and you can help them with something
they are bad at. So everyone needs to help;
you just have to ask, "Do you need help?"
Don’t be shy and ask. Asking
won’t hurt you.
It was an interesting activity and
everyone got a special
memory for their 8th
grade school year.
We learned another
lesson about life.
Help each other,
ask, offer, and cooperate
with each other. These things
will make you a better person
throughout your life. Don't be
selfish, be helpful.
Ms. Hampel
English
&
Drama
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
7
I like it when we do projects and reviews.
Projects because if I have a project to do, I
need to know what I'm learning about. It helps
me study. I like reviews because without
reviews I probably wouldn’t understand
anything. Grace Choi(8)
I like Mrs. Ayeras. She has bunch of
experiments that are exiting. Also I like the
subject life science. It’s an interesting subject.
Rex Kim (7)
I like that we get to have fun while learning.
That is probably the best thing I like about our
school. I also like that we get to have different
events in school like the science olympics to
get to know about people in different grades.
Since this school is an international school, we
get to meet different people around the world.
We have friendly teachers that help us with our
problems. Another thing I like is that we get the
chance to earn extra credit to raise our grades
up. Ruth Park(8)
I like life science with Mrs. Ayeras because she
teaches really well, and I learned lots of new
things. Also, she gives us lots of extra credits,
which helps our grades. Malika Miyawaki(7)
My likes were that we had group projects, and
we had discussions to learn it better. We had
projects like the Rube Goldberg, and I like the
most in the physical electrical, I learned a lot,
friction power, static friction.
In series, learned a lot. Angela(8)
I like Physical Science with Mrs.Ayeras
because she gives us fun activities to do. We
got to build rockets, and mouse trap cars. It
was really fun. She also helps us with
MathCourt, and how to get better at math.
Even though she sometimes gives us lots of
homework and tests, it helps us learn
more things and get better at them Tania
Tan(8)
In science, the thing that I think it's the
m o s t interesting is the part
when we dissected animals,
and get to know what's
it's like in the animal, we
h a d fun, and we
learned from
our experience.
I also think the
time when we did
experiments together
i s f u n . A m i
Tsukagoshi(8)
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Ms. Ayeras
Science
8
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
In 12th grade Physics we had the opportunity
for a hands on experience with what we were
learning regarding projectile motion. Ms.
Andrews gave us the project of building a 2ft
cubed (max) catapult that would launch at
least 1ft. (most launched much further!) She
let us divide into our own groups, gave us
glue, rubber bands, and Popsicle sticks, and
told us we could use any extra supplies to
help better our catapults. Most people bought
extra wood in order to improve their
catapults. We started building our catapults
and after finishing the basic structure, we
tested the power and trajectory of the release
of the ball. At this moment we adjusted the
weight and position of our catapults in
order for the ball to go far, but in a
consistent place. While building
the catapults with our groups
we had a better idea of the
c o n c e p t o f w h a t i s
h a p p e n i n g d u r i n g
projectile motion. We had
a better grasp about
how the angles of
release and initial
velocity affect the ball's
trajectory- it's max
height, distance, and
time. This was a fun
way to put in action the
concepts we learned in
c l a s s ! - N i c h o l e
Arenovski(12)
Ms. Andrews
Science
&
Math
9
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
ART & YOGA
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
Everyone at SIS loves #art classes. Doing art is a
way to express yourself. Ms. P, the yoga teacher, is
also an art teacher. She has been doing art since
2006 and she likes how you can express yourself
through painting. “Painting is like self expression,”
said Ms. P. She was inspired to teach art because
she found it similar to yoga. You can find a certain
sense of peace and freedom. Her favorite type of
art is painting, more specifically, self-expressive
painting. Ms. P has different grades paint murals in
the library, the high school hallway, and create
recycle art in the playground. Yoga and art are
related to each other. Ms. P said, “Yoga is a journey
to you, to within. Art is also a journey. You paint for
process, not for product. Let go of the result and
appreciate the journey. Express from the heart.”
What she means by this is that the outcome is not
important, but the journey that led you to the
outcome is. Ms. P also has art classes for adults
and teens. Teen art is on Monday afternoons, and
Adult art is on Saturday mornings.
Yoga is becoming more and more popular
because it is a great exercise for children of all ages.
Yoga is designed to reduce stress and find peace from
within. Here in Saipan International School (SIS), Ms.
Peterson teaches the yoga classes. Ms. P was inspired
to do yoga because she heard many wonderful things
about it. She likes finding peace and finding some ways
to calm her mind, especially when she gets super busy.
The purpose of doing yoga, for Ms. P, is that it allows
her to go within herself. It lets her listen to her
experiences, listen to herself, find peace, and be happy.
Yoga has helped her live her life with passion and have
confidence and courage to live her dreams. She has
b e e n doing yoga for about 10 years. She has
been teaching yoga since 2011. She
loved how yoga made her feel so she
took teaching training classes and got
certified. She wanted to pass on the
benefits of yoga to the teens of
SIS. Ms. P has started
yoga classes for adults, kids,
and teens. The kids and teens
l o v e t h e g a m e s a n d
movements, while the adults
take it more seriously. Adult
classes are Mondays and
Wednesdays at SIS, while the
kids yoga is on Tuesdays. Teens
yoga is during school hours.
By: Jennifer Tan(11)
Ms. Peterson
10
@SaipanGeckos
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
Mrs. Bray
SIS is a 1:1 school starting from G7.
Therefore, adding a Digital Citizenship
class into it’s curriculum was crucial. This
class is about collaboration, discussion,
creating authentic projects using their own
devices. All units spiral to address digital
literacy and citizenship topics. Among the
topics students learn are cyber-bullying,
safe talk online, strategic searching
techniques, scams, copyright issues,
digital footprint, and reputation online.
Lessons are designed to teach students
about staying safe, being responsible, and
respectful online as well as get better at
computing by creating. If you would like to
see some of the projects our students
created, you may scan the QR codes at the
bottom of the page.
11
@SaipanGeckos
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Have you ever expected a final exam to be fun and enjoyable? Probably not. In o u r e i g h t h
grade Mandarin class, however, the final exam was to make a Chinese video! In the video, everybody
has to speak Chinese and we have to discuss what we have learned over the previous years in
Mandarin class. This is a very fun and active way to improve our fluency.
It sounds like it would have been easy, right? Well, you are wrong. We had two weeks to work on
this assignment, and we were given ten topics that were mandatory to be brought up
during the video, such as making a plane, talk about weather, directions, sickness, order
food and drinks in a restaurant or over the phone. It was very challenging, but we all
enjoyed doing this assignment. Our ability to speak Mandarin improved in an
environment outside of the classroom. Also, our relationships with each other grew
closer as we worked together to get a good grade.
We also had lots of fun while we were watching the videos in the class.
It’s so interesting to see the people who you know speak like a native
Chinese person! “Making the mandarin video and watching it makes you
have the pride on our acting skills and make us feel like actors. We love
this project.” AJ said.
HAVING FUN IN CHINESE CLASS
By: Michael Lee(8) and Morgan Kim(8)
Ms. Marshall
Chinese
Language
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Mandarin Chinese is the most prominently spoken
foreign language. Chinese classes have the highest
number of students out of all of the other languages.
SIS has two Chinese teachers on staff. However, there
are also other languages that the students are
interested in. Those prefer to study through an online
program called Rosetta Stone (Japanese, Korean,
Italian, Tagalog, Portuguese, predominately Spanish,
and many others). Students who take Chinese classes
study with a Chinese teacher while other students study
Rosetta Stone. Students taking Rosetta Stone class
have to finish two units each quarter and every lesson
should have above a 90% to be considered a "pass."
Rosetta Stone class is a self-study class. However,
some students run into problems. Jie, a sophomore
here at SIS, said, “Sometimes I cannot understand what
the words really mean because the program only shows
pictures.” Jie, along with some other students at SIS,
are having trouble completing the assignments due to
the difficulties the program exhibits. Overall, students
who have self motivation to study any language get to
be successful by either self study program or with a
teacher of SIS.
ROSETTA STONE By Lu Song(G11)
12
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
During the first week of December, SIS
received an early Christmas present from the
College Board, when the PSAT results were
returned.
For Juniors, the PSAT results are a gauge to
performance on the SAT as well as a qualifier
for the National Merit Scholarship program. In
the 2014 PSAT the national average score for
Juniors was 141.9. The SIS Junior class
average was a 160.3. The class high score was
a 220. The Sophomore class also showed a
strong performance with an average of 149.2
and a high of 198. The Freshmen class average
was 126.3 with a high of 174.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
G9
G10
G11
PSAT
0
200
400
600
800
Reading Math Writing
Average Score SIS highest Score
This fall the SAT test results came and we are
proud of #sisgeckos accomplishments.
Average Reading score was 515 and our
highest score was a 710. Average Math score
was 626 and our highest score was a 770.
Average Writing score was 567 and our
highest score was a 780. These scores once
again show the outstanding academic abilities
of our Geckos.
SAT
ACCELERATED READING (AR)
ACHIEVE 3000
This year we are in the process of implementing the Achieve
3000 program into grades 3-10 at SIS. The program is dynamic
and challenges readers at their current reading level. The
program was designed to improve the reading of non-fiction
material, which becomes more and more important as students
move toward college. We have seen excellent growth in all the
classes using the program with reading levels jumping across the
grade levels.
Accelerated Reader was first introduced to us by
our G5 teacher Amy McRoberts in 2009 and
since then it is used at SIS to support the
development of reading in all grade levels. After
reading a book, students take a quiz on the book
to demonstrate their comprehension. Over the
course of the year, students who actively engage
in the program can see dramatic improvements in
their reading ability. We encourage you to read
20 to 30 minutes a day with your child to support
his/her learning.
G3
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
0 25 50 75 100
Growth
0
17.5
35
52.5
70
K-8 9-12
Goal Actual
Engaged Time
School year to date Total Books Read
6,766
Words Read
66,401,924
Based on Reading Practice Quizzes passed
13
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
SIS completed its amazing run this season with
a third straight MISO boys volleyball crown in
tow, foiling GCA’s title bids in the same number
of years. The Geckos swept the elimination
round and earned the first finals berth after
breezing through the double elimination bracket
on the final day. They enjoyed a twice-to-beat
advantage after going undefeated. “All games
were amazing and the quality of the plays was
great. The skills of both SIS and GCA players
made the finals worth it by all means,” said SIS
coach Mili Saiki, who was assisted by J.R.
Gechig and John Nekaifes.“As the SIS coach,
I’m very happy and proud, not only with the
Geckos’ performance, but the other schools as well. This is, in my opinion, the year we have
seen the best volleyball skills so far.” Quintin Ramsey, William Fong, Chris Park, brothers
Allen and Chris Cepeda, Daniel Lim, Chan Woo Jeong were the other members of SIS’ three-peat
winning squad. Article from Saipan Tribune, Nov. 26, 2014.
U12 SIS IFL SOCCER
Our SIS junior varsity volleyball team was in the finals against
MCS and it was a very close game. The first set started off
slow, but when AJ Hudkins got his power serves in while MCS
had game point (24), they finally caught up to them. However,
SIS ended up losing the first set 24-26. They would also go
on to lose the second set 14-25. Captain AJ says, "It was a
real good experience to play with this amazing group. My
favorite part of being on the team is having all the good
laughs we had, and everything that we accomplished
together. We did well and second place is actually pretty
good." AJ Hudkins and Grace Choi received an all star award
for the SIS White team. By:Adele Hudkins(G11)
MS VOLLEYBALL
Saipan International School joined the elite circle of champions
in the NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League, following a
2-1 win over William S. Reyes Elementary School in the 2014
season finale played at the Hopwood Junior High School Field.
Bruce Berline and Mayling Colombo coached the champion
squad, which also had Daniele Colombo, Go
Sekiguchi, Do Hyeon Kim, Matthew Berline, Jabez
Sebastian, Patiphon Benchakarn, Jung Woo Yoon,
Brian Youn, Brandon Lee, Sean Gil, Hyun Jae Park,
and Min Jin Cho on its roster. Article from Saipan
Tribune, Dec. 16, 2014.
SPORTS
HS MISO BOYS VOLLEYBALL
14
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
The SIS Thanksgiving Feast was on the 26
th
of
November and many people of the SIS community
worked hard to make the feast a memorable one.
SIS had many kiosks set up separately by
nationality, and had most of the food representing
Asian cultures. This Thanksgiving, just like any
Thanksgiving, reminded us that it's important to
know what you're thankful for. This is exactly what
I asked our headmaster Mr. Bray. He responded
as fast as I finished the question answering, “I'm
thankful for the parents’ support we have here at
SIS because without them, we’d have a very hard
time getting by.” When questioned about the
reasoning behind having this SIS feast, Mr. Bray
responded, “Everyone will celebrate their different
ethnicities that make up SIS. We plan to have
many ethnic groups present from different
nationalities, and maybe some costumes.” The
purpose of the SIS Thanksgiving festival is to
celebrate the different ethnicities that make up the
SIS community and to give thanks to anything you
have in life, such as family and friends. Although
Thanksgiving may not be a holiday in most
countries outside the US, SIS connects its
students to this important holiday. No matter what
country you're from, you should always be thankful
f o r w h a t y o u h a v e i n y o u r l i f e .
-By John Stewart(G11)
Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
INTERNATIONAL FEAST
15
@SaipanGeckos
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
EDUCATIONAL TAX CREDIT(ETC)
Business owners on Saipan have an
opportunity to directly help any school on
the island through Public Law 10-73.
1-2-3... Giving is easy!
1. Write a check to SIS between $10 and
$5,000.
2. SIS will give you a receipt.
3. Attach the receipt to your monthly or
yearly tax return.
SIS is one of only a few Saipan schools
that operate without regular funding from a
religious or corporate organization so we
depend upon ETC fundraising to help
purchase books, resources, and
technology for students. Please help
continue the SIS tradition of excellence in
education. Donate if you can; if you can't,
spread the word about ETC donations to
friends with Corp businesses. If you need
more information, stop by the office and
pick up an ETC information packet in
English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese or
Russian.
If you want to know more
about the ETC, scan the QR
Code on the right.
If you have further questions,
please get in touch with the Headmaster,
Mr. Tim Bray, or the Office Manager, Ms.
Mili Saiki.
Mr. Tim Bray: tim.s.bray@gmail.com
Cell:2853171 Office: 2889660
ACA Corporation
Ace Hardware CNMI,
Inc.
Bank Pacific
Century Tours Inc.
Deloitte and Touche
Ginen Saipan
Kosta LLC
Soi In Corp.
Danbi Choi LLC
L & F Incorprated
Law Office of Sean
Frink
Hardt Eye Clinic &
Diabetes Education
Center
Pacific Airport
Services
JP World Corporation
To watch SIS Video, you may
scan the QR Code on the right.
To visit SIS homepage and get
an application form you may
scan the QR Code on the left.
To visit our Facebook page you
may scan the QR Code on the
right.
This newsletter was brought to you by the efforts of the
students and teachers of SIS. Special thanks go to Mrs.
Aysem Bray who dedicated her time to create our first The
Gecko Echo Newsletter.
CREDITS
How do these funny shapes work?
1. Get your smart phone out.
2. Find an application called QR Code Reader
and download the app for free to your smart
phone.
3. Once the download is finished, open the app and scan the
QR Code you see in this newsletter. You will be directed to
the webpages, youtube videos, and many more items of
interest.
No more typing long web addresses into your computer and
finding out that you made a tiny mistake and you need to
retype the whole address. You now have QR
Codes all over. Simple, fast, and secure!
S a i p a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l S c h o o l
A s L i t o R o a d , P O B o x . 5 0 3 1 2 1 T e l : 6 7 0 - 2 8 8 9 6 6 0
Minori Saipan Corp.
Moylan’s Insurance
Underwriters, Inc.
National Office
Net Care Life and Health
Insurance
Okadaya
Pacific Fertility Institute
Inc.
Quincy Corp.
Salty Saipan Corp.
Sea Lago
Seas, Inc.
Seashore Inc.
Sin Ho Development Inc.
Smile Marianas
Vaughan, Victoria.
and
Wing Corporation
And a big thank you goes to:
You are on our Honor Roll!

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Gecko Echo, 2014

  • 1. T H E G E C K O E C H O SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL It was an action packed first semester. Our community has seen a great deal of success as a school in L-D Debate, Forensics, Math Court, volleyball, swimming, and soccer. Plus, we had students participate in several off-island tournaments representing the CNMI in tennis, swimming, and soccer. Beyond the realm of competition, our high school students made a strong showing in their PSAT results with both the Juniors and Sophomores scoring above the national average for Juniors. The SAT results for Seniors and Juniors were also above the national average. Our students have read more than 6,700 books (66 million words!) and taken AR quizzes on them. Between the grades 2-10, teachers are implementing Achieve 3000 to improve student skills in the reading of non-fiction material. The Juniors successfully launched our first season of Gecko Talk News and the Seniors will continue the show in the spring. The Scoop received an upgrade as well as our school website. We added a new security system with seven cameras to monitor our campus. Our wireless network has been repaired and improved allowing teachers and students more reliable Internet access. The elementary computer lab was upgraded with faster processors and more memory; in addition, Windows 7 and Comic Life 3 were installed on all the lab computers. We have solved a rodent problem by purchasing some electric traps. Plus, we are in the process of improving the efficiency of our lights by replacing the old florescent bulbs with LED bulbs. This will cut the number of light bulbs on campus by half and reduce kilowatt usage of the entire school. The old oven was replaced with a new one which works better and is more energy efficient. As the Headmaster, I would like to thank the community for the support and trust you show by allowing us the honor to educate your children. I truly hope that during the first semester of SY2014-15 the community has noticed the improvements to our school. SIS will continue its commitment to providing a quality education for all students. Tim Bray NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER School Year 2014-15 MidYear Newsletter Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos 1 @SaipanGeckos
  • 2. Table of Contents Teachers 3 Elementary Reflections 4 Secondary Reflections 6 Academic Achievements 13 Sports 14 Celebrating Diversity 15 ETC 16 Credits 16 SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Saipan International School opened in 1994 with 45 elementary students after a group of parents identified a need for a quality educational program that would foster academic, emotional and social growth. A four year high school was later added. In 1998, a new four-classroom building was constructed as a new science lab, media center and classroom building in 2002. Most recently, a new building, housing grades nine through twelve and a library, was completed in 2008. Presently, SIS enrollment is approximately 200 students from K5-12th grade. HISTORY Saipan International School is a private, non-profit organization that offers instruction in preschool through twelfth grade. Instruction is theme oriented and based on national standards and benchmarks from the United States. SIS is fully accredited through the year 2017 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) from K5 through 12th grade. The school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY The mission of SIS is to help each child reach his or her full potential by providing a positive environment that fosters academic, emotional, and social growth. This environment is created when trust, respect, and acceptance are values shared by students, parents, and school staff. Saipan International School is committed to creating an educational environment that affirms a wide variety of learning styles, experiences, skill levels, and interests. SIS also maintains the highest academic standards, and challenges students to perform at the peak of their potential. Each child is encouraged to develop creativity, enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills, and build a feeling of self-worth. Small class sizes, averaging 18 students, give teachers an opportunity to meet the needs of a diverse student population in a secular, nondiscriminatory environment. Students explore multiculturalism both in theory and practice. Our students originate from locations around the world, including the Pacific Islands, Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. Daily interactions give knowledge that leads to a deeper appreciation and respect for all people. WHAT DO GRADUATES SAY? At SIS, I learned to be confident in my abilities. Through activities like L/D Debate, Destino Peru, volleyball, and Student Council, I learned how to lead, how to write and speak well, and how I shouldn't let any opportunity pass me by. Carpe diem, as a former teacher once told me. All of this created a solid foundation from which I was able to successfully pursue my studies at New York University. Henry Chan (2007), New York University SIS as an institution supported me in everything that I did, from school to volleyball to Lincoln-Douglas debate, and I found that support to be an incredibly profound part of my high school experience. SIS teachers and faculty prepared me for life post-graduation and pushed me to strive for more, giving me the extra push to apply to universities like USC, Middlebury, and Stanford. They wanted me to be the best that I could be, which inspired me to be the best that I could be. I have nothing but love and respect for SIS now, and hope it continues to inspire students as much as it inspired me! Amber Roberts (2012), Stanford University Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos 2 @SaipanGeckos
  • 3. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OUR TEACHERS Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos 3 @SaipanGeckos
  • 4. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ELEMENTARY REFLECTIONS In our second grade classroom I try to focus as much as possible on doing hands-on science and technology projects. We use popsicle sticks to build bridges and catapults early in the year, and later we use the sticks to create large scale boats from several cultures around the world as part of a unit on oceanic exploration. Each building project encourages teamwork and cooperation, develops real-world math skills, and promotes the daily use of vocabulary directly related to technology and construction. During the exploration unit we turn the central part of the classroom into a miniature boatyard complete with materials, staging areas, scaffolding for the boats, and it becomes commonplace to hear words like "hull", "parallel", and "reinforce" bounce around the classroom. Students who might otherwise struggle to communicate with each other in English, drop their guard and through the hands-on distraction of boat building, find themselves becoming more and more comfortable talking openly with their classmates. Saipan International School enjoys a uniquely wonderful and open style of learning that promotes a strong central curriculum augmented by opportunities for teachers to be creative and share with students the things they themselves have a passion for. For me, I love to guide students through the stages of building and constructing machines, both simple and complex. And though the models, siege engines, and bridges we build may never survive the testing process, the e n t h u s i a s m a n d w o n d e r t h e y generate in the hearts and minds of the students is w o r t h e v e r y patiently placed drop of glue along the way. Mr. Wright G2 Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos 4 @SaipanGeckos
  • 5. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” -Thomas Edison Last semester, the 3rd and 5th grade class had one goal in mind: to grow a pumpkin. Just ONE. Of course, that wasn't what we all hoped for in the beginning of the project. But, as our little patch battled through rain, drought, and insect infestation, we were happy to just see one measly pumpkin. Being novice gardeners, we failed epically. Here are some reflections the students wrote about our project. I like gardening. I like my rain boots in the mud. I don't care if my hands are dirty. But I do not like plants dying. Animals eat our plants. Growing plants is hard. But I want to try again. However, please, please don't die plants. -Stephanie Kim(G3) I enjoyed gardening because I like to dig and plant. What I didn't like was getting sweaty. I learned that we needed to pay more attention to what is going on with our plants and find ways to help it survive. I think we could do some research and have someone help us. I felt really sad when the pumpkins didn't grow because the class and I didn’t have any pumpkin pie.-Aiden Chekoldin(G3) Gardening was funner than I thought. It was quite hard, too. The first time we planted, I was very shocked because the weekend rain drowned all our tiny sprouts. The next time we planted, we put them by our classroom window. The little sprouts grew taller and taller everyday. We watched it lean towards the window, even if you move the plants around. My teacher, Ms. Kathy, said it was trying to get some sunlight. I learned a lot of other things, too. When the sprouts were big enough, we transferred them to the ground. The first weeks started out good, we even saw the pumpkin flowers growing. Then one day, the leaves just started to dry out and soon die. I think that we should start again. -Jaden Castro(G3) I did not like gardening because you have to dig and pull out weeds everyday. You also have to water it often. When it dies, we have to start again. I would not do it again because it is a lot to take care for in 3rd grade. -Sophia Heras(G3) The majority of the students voted to try again. Personally, I think this lesson taught me more than it did the students. It showed me how patient and compassionate an elementary student could be. They worked hard to pull out the weeds and worked even harder to keep it alive. Maybe we won't have to try 10,000 times for it to work, but we sure will try again. 2015, watch out for our garden! Ms. Ruszala G4 5
  • 6. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SECONDARY REFLECTIONS S- S is for the sun that shines from the blue sky. A- A is for the tasty apples that are in the supermarket. I- I is for the international school in Saipan. P- P is for the sweet tasty papaya that are planted in Saipan. A- A is for the amphibians that live in Saipan. N- N is for the knees get scratched whenever people playing under the burning sun. Acrostic Poem by Mary Zon Tybaco(6) iPad Thin, Smart. Complicating, Answering Researching, Taking pictures Calling, Texting Touch, Flash iPhone Hair Silky, Soft Washing, Drawing Wig, Braids, Coat, Blanket Warming, Cooling Fluffy, Warm Fur Water Liquid, Healthy Hydrating, Moving Transparent, Colorful Flavoring, Sweetening Sweet, Sugar Juice Lava Hot, Hard Harming, Global Cooling Magma, Gas, Red, Flames Boiling, Roasting Ash, Cook Fire Diamante Poems by EunBi Choi(6) Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos Soccer is an interesting sport It requires a lot of teamwork It is hard to win It is hard to score You need a lot of equipment I don’t really like to read book Teachers tell me to read a lot I love to read now But I am a lazy reader I want to read a lot faster My house always has problems That is why our house is busy It is a problem It is very fun. Limerick Poem by Tony Kim(6) 6 School is fun Classes are enjoyable Holidays block me from going to school Our class has 10 students Outdoor activities in school are fun Luckily, I got lots of friends at school. Acrostic Poem By Tony Kim(6) Mr. Beyer English @SaipanGeckos
  • 7. G8 English class spent a great time reading the book Lord of the Flies . After finishing the famous novel, their teacher Ms. Hampel assigned the #sisgeckos with several activities from which they learned the value of team work, cooperation and helping each other. Everyone is good at something and bad at something. Ms. Hampel adds, the people around you can help you with what you are bad at, and you can help them with something they are bad at. So everyone needs to help; you just have to ask, "Do you need help?" Don’t be shy and ask. Asking won’t hurt you. It was an interesting activity and everyone got a special memory for their 8th grade school year. We learned another lesson about life. Help each other, ask, offer, and cooperate with each other. These things will make you a better person throughout your life. Don't be selfish, be helpful. Ms. Hampel English & Drama SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 7
  • 8. I like it when we do projects and reviews. Projects because if I have a project to do, I need to know what I'm learning about. It helps me study. I like reviews because without reviews I probably wouldn’t understand anything. Grace Choi(8) I like Mrs. Ayeras. She has bunch of experiments that are exiting. Also I like the subject life science. It’s an interesting subject. Rex Kim (7) I like that we get to have fun while learning. That is probably the best thing I like about our school. I also like that we get to have different events in school like the science olympics to get to know about people in different grades. Since this school is an international school, we get to meet different people around the world. We have friendly teachers that help us with our problems. Another thing I like is that we get the chance to earn extra credit to raise our grades up. Ruth Park(8) I like life science with Mrs. Ayeras because she teaches really well, and I learned lots of new things. Also, she gives us lots of extra credits, which helps our grades. Malika Miyawaki(7) My likes were that we had group projects, and we had discussions to learn it better. We had projects like the Rube Goldberg, and I like the most in the physical electrical, I learned a lot, friction power, static friction. In series, learned a lot. Angela(8) I like Physical Science with Mrs.Ayeras because she gives us fun activities to do. We got to build rockets, and mouse trap cars. It was really fun. She also helps us with MathCourt, and how to get better at math. Even though she sometimes gives us lots of homework and tests, it helps us learn more things and get better at them Tania Tan(8) In science, the thing that I think it's the m o s t interesting is the part when we dissected animals, and get to know what's it's like in the animal, we h a d fun, and we learned from our experience. I also think the time when we did experiments together i s f u n . A m i Tsukagoshi(8) SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Ms. Ayeras Science 8
  • 9. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL In 12th grade Physics we had the opportunity for a hands on experience with what we were learning regarding projectile motion. Ms. Andrews gave us the project of building a 2ft cubed (max) catapult that would launch at least 1ft. (most launched much further!) She let us divide into our own groups, gave us glue, rubber bands, and Popsicle sticks, and told us we could use any extra supplies to help better our catapults. Most people bought extra wood in order to improve their catapults. We started building our catapults and after finishing the basic structure, we tested the power and trajectory of the release of the ball. At this moment we adjusted the weight and position of our catapults in order for the ball to go far, but in a consistent place. While building the catapults with our groups we had a better idea of the c o n c e p t o f w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g d u r i n g projectile motion. We had a better grasp about how the angles of release and initial velocity affect the ball's trajectory- it's max height, distance, and time. This was a fun way to put in action the concepts we learned in c l a s s ! - N i c h o l e Arenovski(12) Ms. Andrews Science & Math 9
  • 10. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ART & YOGA Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos Everyone at SIS loves #art classes. Doing art is a way to express yourself. Ms. P, the yoga teacher, is also an art teacher. She has been doing art since 2006 and she likes how you can express yourself through painting. “Painting is like self expression,” said Ms. P. She was inspired to teach art because she found it similar to yoga. You can find a certain sense of peace and freedom. Her favorite type of art is painting, more specifically, self-expressive painting. Ms. P has different grades paint murals in the library, the high school hallway, and create recycle art in the playground. Yoga and art are related to each other. Ms. P said, “Yoga is a journey to you, to within. Art is also a journey. You paint for process, not for product. Let go of the result and appreciate the journey. Express from the heart.” What she means by this is that the outcome is not important, but the journey that led you to the outcome is. Ms. P also has art classes for adults and teens. Teen art is on Monday afternoons, and Adult art is on Saturday mornings. Yoga is becoming more and more popular because it is a great exercise for children of all ages. Yoga is designed to reduce stress and find peace from within. Here in Saipan International School (SIS), Ms. Peterson teaches the yoga classes. Ms. P was inspired to do yoga because she heard many wonderful things about it. She likes finding peace and finding some ways to calm her mind, especially when she gets super busy. The purpose of doing yoga, for Ms. P, is that it allows her to go within herself. It lets her listen to her experiences, listen to herself, find peace, and be happy. Yoga has helped her live her life with passion and have confidence and courage to live her dreams. She has b e e n doing yoga for about 10 years. She has been teaching yoga since 2011. She loved how yoga made her feel so she took teaching training classes and got certified. She wanted to pass on the benefits of yoga to the teens of SIS. Ms. P has started yoga classes for adults, kids, and teens. The kids and teens l o v e t h e g a m e s a n d movements, while the adults take it more seriously. Adult classes are Mondays and Wednesdays at SIS, while the kids yoga is on Tuesdays. Teens yoga is during school hours. By: Jennifer Tan(11) Ms. Peterson 10 @SaipanGeckos
  • 11. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP Mrs. Bray SIS is a 1:1 school starting from G7. Therefore, adding a Digital Citizenship class into it’s curriculum was crucial. This class is about collaboration, discussion, creating authentic projects using their own devices. All units spiral to address digital literacy and citizenship topics. Among the topics students learn are cyber-bullying, safe talk online, strategic searching techniques, scams, copyright issues, digital footprint, and reputation online. Lessons are designed to teach students about staying safe, being responsible, and respectful online as well as get better at computing by creating. If you would like to see some of the projects our students created, you may scan the QR codes at the bottom of the page. 11 @SaipanGeckos
  • 12. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Have you ever expected a final exam to be fun and enjoyable? Probably not. In o u r e i g h t h grade Mandarin class, however, the final exam was to make a Chinese video! In the video, everybody has to speak Chinese and we have to discuss what we have learned over the previous years in Mandarin class. This is a very fun and active way to improve our fluency. It sounds like it would have been easy, right? Well, you are wrong. We had two weeks to work on this assignment, and we were given ten topics that were mandatory to be brought up during the video, such as making a plane, talk about weather, directions, sickness, order food and drinks in a restaurant or over the phone. It was very challenging, but we all enjoyed doing this assignment. Our ability to speak Mandarin improved in an environment outside of the classroom. Also, our relationships with each other grew closer as we worked together to get a good grade. We also had lots of fun while we were watching the videos in the class. It’s so interesting to see the people who you know speak like a native Chinese person! “Making the mandarin video and watching it makes you have the pride on our acting skills and make us feel like actors. We love this project.” AJ said. HAVING FUN IN CHINESE CLASS By: Michael Lee(8) and Morgan Kim(8) Ms. Marshall Chinese Language FOREIGN LANGUAGE Mandarin Chinese is the most prominently spoken foreign language. Chinese classes have the highest number of students out of all of the other languages. SIS has two Chinese teachers on staff. However, there are also other languages that the students are interested in. Those prefer to study through an online program called Rosetta Stone (Japanese, Korean, Italian, Tagalog, Portuguese, predominately Spanish, and many others). Students who take Chinese classes study with a Chinese teacher while other students study Rosetta Stone. Students taking Rosetta Stone class have to finish two units each quarter and every lesson should have above a 90% to be considered a "pass." Rosetta Stone class is a self-study class. However, some students run into problems. Jie, a sophomore here at SIS, said, “Sometimes I cannot understand what the words really mean because the program only shows pictures.” Jie, along with some other students at SIS, are having trouble completing the assignments due to the difficulties the program exhibits. Overall, students who have self motivation to study any language get to be successful by either self study program or with a teacher of SIS. ROSETTA STONE By Lu Song(G11) 12
  • 13. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL During the first week of December, SIS received an early Christmas present from the College Board, when the PSAT results were returned. For Juniors, the PSAT results are a gauge to performance on the SAT as well as a qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship program. In the 2014 PSAT the national average score for Juniors was 141.9. The SIS Junior class average was a 160.3. The class high score was a 220. The Sophomore class also showed a strong performance with an average of 149.2 and a high of 198. The Freshmen class average was 126.3 with a high of 174. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS G9 G10 G11 PSAT 0 200 400 600 800 Reading Math Writing Average Score SIS highest Score This fall the SAT test results came and we are proud of #sisgeckos accomplishments. Average Reading score was 515 and our highest score was a 710. Average Math score was 626 and our highest score was a 770. Average Writing score was 567 and our highest score was a 780. These scores once again show the outstanding academic abilities of our Geckos. SAT ACCELERATED READING (AR) ACHIEVE 3000 This year we are in the process of implementing the Achieve 3000 program into grades 3-10 at SIS. The program is dynamic and challenges readers at their current reading level. The program was designed to improve the reading of non-fiction material, which becomes more and more important as students move toward college. We have seen excellent growth in all the classes using the program with reading levels jumping across the grade levels. Accelerated Reader was first introduced to us by our G5 teacher Amy McRoberts in 2009 and since then it is used at SIS to support the development of reading in all grade levels. After reading a book, students take a quiz on the book to demonstrate their comprehension. Over the course of the year, students who actively engage in the program can see dramatic improvements in their reading ability. We encourage you to read 20 to 30 minutes a day with your child to support his/her learning. G3 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9 G10 0 25 50 75 100 Growth 0 17.5 35 52.5 70 K-8 9-12 Goal Actual Engaged Time School year to date Total Books Read 6,766 Words Read 66,401,924 Based on Reading Practice Quizzes passed 13
  • 14. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SIS completed its amazing run this season with a third straight MISO boys volleyball crown in tow, foiling GCA’s title bids in the same number of years. The Geckos swept the elimination round and earned the first finals berth after breezing through the double elimination bracket on the final day. They enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage after going undefeated. “All games were amazing and the quality of the plays was great. The skills of both SIS and GCA players made the finals worth it by all means,” said SIS coach Mili Saiki, who was assisted by J.R. Gechig and John Nekaifes.“As the SIS coach, I’m very happy and proud, not only with the Geckos’ performance, but the other schools as well. This is, in my opinion, the year we have seen the best volleyball skills so far.” Quintin Ramsey, William Fong, Chris Park, brothers Allen and Chris Cepeda, Daniel Lim, Chan Woo Jeong were the other members of SIS’ three-peat winning squad. Article from Saipan Tribune, Nov. 26, 2014. U12 SIS IFL SOCCER Our SIS junior varsity volleyball team was in the finals against MCS and it was a very close game. The first set started off slow, but when AJ Hudkins got his power serves in while MCS had game point (24), they finally caught up to them. However, SIS ended up losing the first set 24-26. They would also go on to lose the second set 14-25. Captain AJ says, "It was a real good experience to play with this amazing group. My favorite part of being on the team is having all the good laughs we had, and everything that we accomplished together. We did well and second place is actually pretty good." AJ Hudkins and Grace Choi received an all star award for the SIS White team. By:Adele Hudkins(G11) MS VOLLEYBALL Saipan International School joined the elite circle of champions in the NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League, following a 2-1 win over William S. Reyes Elementary School in the 2014 season finale played at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. Bruce Berline and Mayling Colombo coached the champion squad, which also had Daniele Colombo, Go Sekiguchi, Do Hyeon Kim, Matthew Berline, Jabez Sebastian, Patiphon Benchakarn, Jung Woo Yoon, Brian Youn, Brandon Lee, Sean Gil, Hyun Jae Park, and Min Jin Cho on its roster. Article from Saipan Tribune, Dec. 16, 2014. SPORTS HS MISO BOYS VOLLEYBALL 14
  • 15. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL The SIS Thanksgiving Feast was on the 26 th of November and many people of the SIS community worked hard to make the feast a memorable one. SIS had many kiosks set up separately by nationality, and had most of the food representing Asian cultures. This Thanksgiving, just like any Thanksgiving, reminded us that it's important to know what you're thankful for. This is exactly what I asked our headmaster Mr. Bray. He responded as fast as I finished the question answering, “I'm thankful for the parents’ support we have here at SIS because without them, we’d have a very hard time getting by.” When questioned about the reasoning behind having this SIS feast, Mr. Bray responded, “Everyone will celebrate their different ethnicities that make up SIS. We plan to have many ethnic groups present from different nationalities, and maybe some costumes.” The purpose of the SIS Thanksgiving festival is to celebrate the different ethnicities that make up the SIS community and to give thanks to anything you have in life, such as family and friends. Although Thanksgiving may not be a holiday in most countries outside the US, SIS connects its students to this important holiday. No matter what country you're from, you should always be thankful f o r w h a t y o u h a v e i n y o u r l i f e . -By John Stewart(G11) Saipan International School - MP, 96950 #sisgeckos CELEBRATING DIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL FEAST 15 @SaipanGeckos
  • 16. SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL TAX CREDIT(ETC) Business owners on Saipan have an opportunity to directly help any school on the island through Public Law 10-73. 1-2-3... Giving is easy! 1. Write a check to SIS between $10 and $5,000. 2. SIS will give you a receipt. 3. Attach the receipt to your monthly or yearly tax return. SIS is one of only a few Saipan schools that operate without regular funding from a religious or corporate organization so we depend upon ETC fundraising to help purchase books, resources, and technology for students. Please help continue the SIS tradition of excellence in education. Donate if you can; if you can't, spread the word about ETC donations to friends with Corp businesses. If you need more information, stop by the office and pick up an ETC information packet in English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese or Russian. If you want to know more about the ETC, scan the QR Code on the right. If you have further questions, please get in touch with the Headmaster, Mr. Tim Bray, or the Office Manager, Ms. Mili Saiki. Mr. Tim Bray: tim.s.bray@gmail.com Cell:2853171 Office: 2889660 ACA Corporation Ace Hardware CNMI, Inc. Bank Pacific Century Tours Inc. Deloitte and Touche Ginen Saipan Kosta LLC Soi In Corp. Danbi Choi LLC L & F Incorprated Law Office of Sean Frink Hardt Eye Clinic & Diabetes Education Center Pacific Airport Services JP World Corporation To watch SIS Video, you may scan the QR Code on the right. To visit SIS homepage and get an application form you may scan the QR Code on the left. To visit our Facebook page you may scan the QR Code on the right. This newsletter was brought to you by the efforts of the students and teachers of SIS. Special thanks go to Mrs. Aysem Bray who dedicated her time to create our first The Gecko Echo Newsletter. CREDITS How do these funny shapes work? 1. Get your smart phone out. 2. Find an application called QR Code Reader and download the app for free to your smart phone. 3. Once the download is finished, open the app and scan the QR Code you see in this newsletter. You will be directed to the webpages, youtube videos, and many more items of interest. No more typing long web addresses into your computer and finding out that you made a tiny mistake and you need to retype the whole address. You now have QR Codes all over. Simple, fast, and secure! S a i p a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l S c h o o l A s L i t o R o a d , P O B o x . 5 0 3 1 2 1 T e l : 6 7 0 - 2 8 8 9 6 6 0 Minori Saipan Corp. Moylan’s Insurance Underwriters, Inc. National Office Net Care Life and Health Insurance Okadaya Pacific Fertility Institute Inc. Quincy Corp. Salty Saipan Corp. Sea Lago Seas, Inc. Seashore Inc. Sin Ho Development Inc. Smile Marianas Vaughan, Victoria. and Wing Corporation And a big thank you goes to: You are on our Honor Roll!