Dear Elementary Families,

Around this time each year, as we head into Chinese/Lunar New Year celebrations, our Chinese Language team takes the opportunity to provide a “cultural week”  culminating in  an opportunity to wear cultural dress.  The theme for this Friday's dress-up day is “Wear Your Culture with Honor”.   A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Chinese language team and the many parent volunteers for their tremendous effort in creating meaningful cultural experiences and learning opportunities for our students, as we look forward to celebrating the Chinese New Year.

At ICS, we  adhere to ACTFUL World Readiness Standards for culture, which encourage our students to use language and engage in experiences that help them investigate and reflect on the diverse practices and perspectives of various cultures.

From a biblical perspective, we strive to cultivate a worldview that not only respects other cultures but also helps us discern how these cultural perspectives align with, or contrast to, the teachings of the Bible and the lessons we draw from the Gospel.

This Wednesday, our fourth-grade students beautifully exemplified this by identifying historical figures from various cultures who have worked to end oppression, promote access to education for all children, advocate for racial equality, and foster respect. It is important to note that while some of these individuals were not Christians, the goodness of their work resonates deeply with us, reflecting the core elements of the Gospel as expressed by the Old Testament prophet Micah:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8

ICS is committed to building a culture that reflects these values. While these principles are shared across many cultures around the globe, our motivation as Christians comes from our love for God, which inspires us to love our neighbors as Jesus loves us.

Thank you for your continued support in nurturing these important lessons in our school community.

A Reminder on School Outerwear

With the temperature fluctuating, we all want to make sure that our children are sufficiently warm.  Please be reminded that students must wear school uniform outerwear (sweatshirts, hoodies, fleece vests/jackets & and shells) at school.  

Please also be sure that your child’s name is written on their uniform outerwear so that it can be returned to them if left behind.

The Elementary School has a provision in the handbook for cold-weather days (12 degrees or below) where students may wear their cold-weather parkas from home.  In the classroom, however, students must wear the uniform and uniform outerwear.