We are in the midst of Senegal Art Week, and next week on Thursday we will be enjoying a communal Senegalese lunch in Senegalese dress under the trees. More on this, plus additional WCM items below....

One more thing to mention - there is no school on Monday.

Notes:

1. Summer Camp: We are sending a letter home today (one per ES family) where you can sign-up for the Pre-K - Gr 5 Summer Camp. It is also attached at the end of the blog:

Depending on sufficient interest, this will run from June 15-19. 

We will put a second week on also, if there is sufficient interest from June 22-26.

9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m

Send a nutritious snack and lunch each day.

Group Size, approx. 10, Grouped by grade/age

Activities offered in the past: Swimming, Outdoor games, Games in the gym, Arts and Crafts, Singing, Kitchen Skills and Cooking, If it rains - quiet reading or movies

The fee will be CFA 50,000 in cash for the week (do not send yet)

There is only room for 70 students per week. 

Parent who pre-indicate an interest on the sheet being sent will have priority

Camp is only for enroled ISD students

Camp Coordinator: Linda Bockarie

2. Senegalese Lunch/Dress-up: On Thursday, April 9, all of the K-5 classes will be having a communal Senegalese lunch under the trees. Children will not need packed lunches or Shady Shack lunches. Mr. Gaucher tells me the meal will not contain nuts, and will be rice and meat with vegetable sauces. There will be juice served and also an option for vegetarians.

3. More WCM Information: Three more announcements from Mr. Gaucher:

a) Cooking class (Senegalese meal and juices)

There will be a cooking class (April 17, 2015 from 3:45 pm to 6:00 pm) as well as a class on how to make local juices; Bissap and Bouye (April 24 from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm) on campus. We are going to introduce “Poulet yassa” and we will go through the cooking process from the ingredients, vegetables and chicken to the cooking itself. Rabi, our favorite cook will also show you how you can make juices using bissap and bouye. The fee is 10,000 f cfa per person and the maximum number of participants is 20. 

We will not hold the class if we don’t have 10 interested people and who paid in advance. The deadline for registration is Monday April 13. First come, first served. Should you need more information, please, feel free to contact Gaucher (WCM coordinator): gaucher@isd.sn / 77 645 05 62

b) Country booths & World items exhibition reminder

Following up with the information we shared regarding World Cultural Month, we would like to remind you about your participation in the country booths and the world items exhibitions events on April 30, 2015 (Closing day). Once again, we invite you to come volunteer to give ISD students the opportunity to know more about your countries but also to provide us with one or more items from your countries that will be exhibited in the gym for students, teachers and the communities to see and appreciate.

So far, we have 6 countries (Senegal, USA, France, Malaysia, Spain, Australia) that already signed up for the country booths as we are looking forward to having at least 25 countries represented this year. Feel free to contact me anytime you wish for any further details. gaucher@isd.sn / 77 645 05 62

c) Cultural lunches & Senegalese dress up day

Before the cultural lunch and Senegalese dress up day for elementary students on April 9 and the secondary school on April 15, we will bring a tailor on campus to take your measurements if you and your kids are interested in wearing a local outfit. 

The tailor will be on campus Tuesday, April 7th from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm ready to make up a beautiful boubou or dress for you. Your contact person for this project is Jeanne FAYE, Prek 4 / W assistant teacher. Should you need more information, please, feel free to contact us: jeanne@isd.sn and gaucher@isd.sn

4. No Cleats/Studs in School: Please note that students are not permitted to be wearing cleats, or studded soccer boots to play soccer at recess. If your child has Gaucher Soccer, please also send sneakers so they have something else to wear. 

5. Talking at the Dinner Table: Here is a link to some great conversation starters for the dinner table. Do try them out with your kids!

http://mm.sixsistersstuff.com/4ugpf37/articles/41845/50-Family-Dinner-Conversation-Starters

6. Tech Presentation Powerpoint: Thanks for coming along to Pam and John's tech presentation. I hope those who came found it valuable. 

At the bottom of the page is the powerpoint with the books listed on the last page, and the set of parenting FAQ's. Please do take a look if you couldn't make it.

7. World Cultural Month - Upcoming Events: Here are some dates for the upcoming WCM:

- APRIL 6 - APRIL 14 - SENEGAL ARTS WEEK Glass painting - sand painting - batik - recycling during art class. To be displayed later.

- APRIL 9 - CULTURAL LUNCH & LOCAL OUTFIT DAY ISD sponsors the lunch for the elementary department. Students are encouraged to dress up in Senegalese wear.

- APRIL 17 – FACULTY/PARENT COOKING CLASS A class on how to make a Senegalese dish (TBD). This class is opened to faculty and to parents.

- APRIL 24 – FACULTY/PARENT COOKING CLASS A class on how to make local juices (Bissap, bouye and cocktail). Opened to faculty and to parents.

- APRIL 29 - BAZAAR (Day 1) - 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Local artists and artisans are invited on campus for your summer shopping.

- APRIL 30 - CLOSING CEREMONY  2:00 pm - 3:10 pm • Country booths visited by students • Parade of the nations • Elementary school performance • Concert • World items exhibitions • Bazaar (Day 2)

8. Soiree Literraire: From the PTO:

Last chance to buy tickets to the April 11 Soiree Litteraire event!

This is a fun PTO fundraiser for parents and teachers with dinner at a host home, followed by dessert/drinks at ISD with a live performance by the band Wawzers. You can purchase tickets (20,000 cfa each) after school this week or by emailing the PTO at pto@isd.sn. Ticket sales close on Friday at 5pm. There are lots of great dinner selections to choose from in both English and French. We hope you join us for this fabulous event!

The PTO

9. WCM Opening Assembly: Alan Knobloch led our World Cultural Month opening ceremony, and we were lucky enough to listen to some music from Shula Ndiaye. 

It is always great for the younger children to see the school coming together: