Dear Parents,

Thank you to all the parents who attended our parent conferences this week. These are important opportunities to ensure good home and school connections, so we can work together to meet your student’s learning needs. Thank you also to the Parent Association for supporting our costume parade today, by handing out treats to our students. It is always wonderful for our students to see the parents involving themselves in school life.

Myanmar National Anthem

Every morning at 8:30 am, we pause while the Myanmar National Anthem is played. Pursuant to advice from the Myanmar Ministry of Education, our students are now required to stand and sing the anthem. Our students are learning to sing the anthem in Myanmar Studies classes and from Monday, we will be asking all students to stand and sing it together in class.

Birthday Reminders:

Reminder: Birthday celebrations happen at the end of the school day in collaboration with the classroom teacher. We encourage healthy food sharing. In keeping with our no-single-use plastics policy, we ask parents to use reusable plates and utensils and avoid candy and soft drinks. Birthday gift bags are not allowed.

We are excited to share our new video showcasing our amazing school. Please tune in and discover more about our outstanding Chinthe Fund partnerships and the remarkably compassionate community at ISY. The video can be found here.

Discover the Chinthe Cubs at ISY

We are thrilled to share a special video showcasing the Chinthe Cubs, a Reggio Emilia-inspired program.

See below for our latest Chinthe Communities project – the wall is dedicated to all our students and the wonderful community they help to create here at ISY.

Warm regards,

Ms. Sandy Sheppard

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Parents Supporting Social-Emotional Development

As parents, we all want to see our children grow into successful, happy, resilient individuals who can navigate the challenges life brings. A key part of this growth is developing their social-emotional competence—the ability to understand, manage, and express their feelings, build meaningful relationships, and confidently explore their surroundings. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and responsible decision-making are all essential components of social-emotional competence, and as parents, we play a critical role in nurturing these skills.

Here are a few ways you can support your child’s social-emotional development:

• Model positive social-emotional skills. Practice empathy, active listening, and problem-solving. When your child comes to you with a problem, listen attentively and guide them through possible solutions, rather than brushing off their concerns or telling them to ignore the issue.
• Create a nurturing environment. Foster a sense of belonging and security by showing unconditional care while setting clear, affirming boundaries that help them feel safe.
• Encourage open communication. Give your child the space to share their thoughts, worries, and ideas. When children feel comfortable talking to their parents, it strengthens your relationship and makes it more likely they’ll turn to you for support when needed.

By integrating these practices into your daily interactions, you’ll help your child develop the emotional intelligence and resilience they need to thrive.

If you’d like to learn more about the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) at ISY, please contact me at escounselor@isyedu.org.