8TH GRADE Learning Community

Welcome to the Grade 8 LC!

Quarter 1 Newsletter

Helpful Resources for Parents

PowerSchool - Attendance and achievement grades/comments are recorded here. It is recommended that you and your child check this together to see how they are progressing. Click here for tutorials on how to navigate Powerschool and how to receive grade and attendance notifications.

Google Classroom - Teachers use this to support learning in class, this is a tool which students can refer back to for support at home as well. Parents, please ask your child to show you their Google Classroom.

MS Student Handbook

Meet the Grade 8 Teachers

Grade 8 Learning Community

Kelsey Hedrick - Librarian and Grade 8 LC Leader

I'm Kelsey, and it's my fifth year here as the middle school librarian. I've worked as a librarian previously in Russia, Thailand, Cambodia, and the USA. I'm originally from Iowa but completed my Master's Degree in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I love working with middle school students and am thrilled that we have a dedicated space here at JIS for our library.

Outside of school, I love trail running in the mountains as well as fitness of all kinds. I'll be coaching two sports this year and helping with the MS Play as a backstage assistant. I also love art of all kinds, visiting museums, and of course READING.

Ask any and all questions here: khedrick@jisedu.or.id

Meghan McGrew - English

Hello, my name is Meghan McGrew, and this is my 2nd year at JIS. I’m originally from New York, and this will be my tenth year teaching English. Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to teach in both China and New York City.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and a Master's degree in English Education, and I’m passionate about helping students discover their voice through reading, writing, and critical thinking.

Outside of school, I enjoy reading a good book, taking writing classes, playing board games, and baking.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at mmcgrew@jisedu.or.id.

Chris MacLean - Social Studies

Hello everyone, I'm Chris MacLean. I'm excited to teach Social Studies to your children this year. Though Canadian by birth, I was raised globally in international schools.

This is my second year at JIS, I have previously worked across grades 6-12 in schools in Thailand, South Africa, and Chile. Prior to education, I spent eight years working in international development consulting and as a humanitarian reporter. Outside the classroom at school, you'll also find me coaching the Varsity Girls Basketball team this year.

I hold a BA in Political Science from McGill University, a graduate certificate in Journalism from Concordia University, and a Master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics. I'm certified as a Secondary Social Studies teacher through The College of New Jersey.

I'm joined at JIS by my wife Laura Neagos, who teaches MS French and Spanish, and our two children—Elisa (grade 5) and Caden (grade 3). Our family has loved exploring Indonesia's incredible archipelago, hiking volcanoes, exploring reefs, and discovering all the beauty this diverse region has to offer.

You can reach me at: cmaclean@jisedu.or.id

Dave Suarez - Math

My name is Dave Suarez, and I’m excited to be your child’s grade 8 math teacher this year. I’m from St. Louis, Missouri, and after earning Engineering and Economics degrees from the University of Michigan, I felt called to teach through a program called Teach for America. I earned my California Teaching Credential and spent six years teaching middle and high school mathematics in Oakland, California. This was some time ago as the upcoming year will be my 21st at JIS! I am here with my wife, Evi, and our sons, Rafa and Ruben, who attend JIS in grades 6 and 7. I am passionate about family, food, sports, and spending time outside. Please contact me at dsuarez@jisedu.or.id if you have questions or concerns.

Evan Long - Math

Hi everyone! My name is Evan, and this will be my fifth year teaching at JIS, and it marks my 15th year teaching internationally. Before working in Indonesia, I worked in Malaysia and Russia. You will find me teaching 8th-grade math and also being the head coach of the middle school girls' basketball team. I am very much looking forward to getting to know all of you this year and learning more about this amazing country!

If you have questions, please contact me at: elong@jisedu.or.id

Khadijah Mumtaz- Science

My name is Khadijah Mumtaz, and I am very excited to join the JIS community as the 8th grade science teacher. I have over 25 years of experience working with students and teaching science at the middle & high school levels in international schools in both Asia and Europe. Most recently, I was in Vienna, Austria.

I enjoy reading, all kinds of puzzles, cooking, and traveling in general. I see science all around us, and I’m looking forward to working with your children as they explore the world further, through the lens of science. Please contact me at kmumtaz@jisedu.or.id if you have questions or concerns. Thank you!

Matt Goodchild - Science

My name is Matt Goodchild, and I am excited to begin my fourth year at JIS, teaching Grade 8 Science. This marks my 13th year of teaching, and prior to joining JIS, I spent five years teaching Math and Science at Hong Kong International School. Before that, I taught at the American School of Doha in Qatar and the American School Foundation of Monterrey in Mexico. I hold a bachelor's degree in Environment from McGill University, a bachelor's of education degree from Queen's University, and a master's degree from Buffalo State.

I am joined in Jakarta by my wife, Laura, who teaches 5th Grade, and our daughters, Olivia, who is six years old, and Sofia, who is five years old. Outside of work, I love to play sports, including soccer and golf, scuba dive, and travel.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at mgoodchild@jisedu.or.id.

Rae Merrigan - Health

Hi, my name is Rae, and this is my 9th year teaching at JIS and my 17th year teaching internationally. I'm originally from Melbourne, Australia. Previously, I've taught in Brazil and Peru, and I feel so fortunate to be teaching Health classes at JIS. I am here with my husband, Alvaro Pena (HS Biology and Photography) and my two young daughters, Alaia and Lur.

I'm passionate about health and wellness, education for sustainability, and social and emotional learning. In my free time, I love to read, cook, run, and spend time with my family. I love learning languages and travelling to experience different cultures.

If you have any questions about our MS Health program, please feel free to contact me rmerrigan@jisedu.or.id

Adam Fox - Health

My name is Adam Fox, and this is my eighth year in the JIS community. My hometown is Ann Arbor, Michigan. I attended the University of Michigan and earned a BS in Biology and an MA in science and math education.

I have been teaching internationally for 21 years. I moved to Jakarta from Dubai and have previously taught in Caracas, Shanghai, and Cape Town. In my spare time, I love playing and watching sports, observing animals, cooking, and woodworking.

My wife Andrea teaches Art at PIE. I have a daughter, Vivian, in 12th grade and a son, Lewis, in 9th grade. I am looking forward to exploring and learning together. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at afox@jisedu.or.id

Ruby Tsai - Mandarin

My name is Ruby Tsai and I teach Grade 6-8 Mandarin at JIS. It’s my 21th year of teaching and 20th year at JIS. I am here with my husband and 2 kids. I’m excited to be a Grade 8 Advisory teacher this year.

I am from Taipei, Taiwan. I obtained my Teaching Mandarin as a Foreign Language license from Taiwan and Masters of Education from George Mason University at Fairfax, USA. Outside of school, I enjoy movies, traveling, and good food. I look forward to working with you and your child this year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at rtsai@jisedu.or.id.

Lystra Lewis-Dennis - PE

Hi Fellow Advisees, my name is Lystra Lewis-Dennis, I am thrilled to be your advisory teacher for this academic year. I am also one of the six PE teachers in middle school and hopefully, I will have the pleasure of also being your PE teacher. I coach multiple sports, so don’t be surprised if you find me recruiting some of you to join our school teams.

I totally believe that students should have an all-round balance in their lives, so as much as you work hard doing your best in every subject area, you should also reap the benefits of the joy, excitement, and fun of those subjects. PE and advisory more so than any other subject (just saying…lol)

I am really looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you on a more personal level as we navigate the joys of school life in advisory classes.

Please feel free to contact me via email: lewis-dennis@jisedu.or.id if you have any questions or concerns.

Jason Maddock - Art

Hello everyone! My name is Jason Maddock, I am one of the visual art teachers for grades 6th through 8th. This is my 7th year at JIS and my 23rd year of teaching abroad. I am originally from a farm in Ohio, and my international teaching experiences include stints in Italy, Spain, and China. I received my Master's degree in Studio Art through New York University's global program in Venice, Italy. Carrying my large paintings over all those beautiful bridges was an amazing, unique experience. One of my passions is ceramics, and I have had the pleasure of working with porcelain in its birthplace of Jingdezhen, China.

Fostering the creation, curation, and showing of art with the community of JIS has been a wonderful experience. I look forward to all the exciting ideas and artwork that will emerge with every new school year.

If you have any questions about our MS art program, please feel free to contact me at jmaddock@jisedu.or.id

Dave Barrette - PE

My name is David Barrette and I come to Jakarta from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. I earned my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Windsor, my bachelor of education degree from the University of Western Ontario, and my Master of Education degree from Queen’s University.

This is my third year at JIS, and I will be teaching grade 8 Physical Education. I have taught internationally for the past thirteen years in China, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In my free time, I enjoy golfing, watching and participating in sports, and traveling. I am excited to continue to explore Jakarta and the region, try local cuisines, and learn about Indonesian culture.

Kris Carlson-School Therapist

My name is Kris Carlson and I am the school therapist for middle and high school. As a part of the Student Support Services team, I work to support the social, emotional and psychological well-being of JIS students and their families by offering individual, group, and family therapeutic interventions to those in need. I am originally from the United States, but I spent eleven years living and working in Taipei, Taiwan and am now in my eleventh year at JIS along with my husband, who works in the high school, and my two children who are attending the HS . I feel grateful to be a part of this vibrant and supportive parental community and look forward to meeting you and your children. My door is always open so please feel free to contact me at any point in time at kcarlson@jisedu.or.id.

Hannah Clare- Speech/Language Pathologist

Hello, my name is Hannah Clare and I am the Speech Language Pathologist for 6th, 7th and 8th grade. This is my second year in Jakarta.

I have been an SLP for 15 years. Prior to Jakarta I worked in Oregon, Thailand and China. I earned both my Bachelors and Masters in Communication Disorders in Spokane, Washington.

Outside of school, I enjoy reading, meditating, traveling and hanging out with my pup, Juno. I like visiting the mountains of my home state, Alaska and being outside as much as possible. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at hclare@jisedu.or.id. I am looking forward to this upcoming year!

Valentina Munro - Learning Support

Hello, my name is Valentina Munro, and I am very excited to be on the G8 team.

I am G8 Learning Support teacher, but you will also see me in your English and Math classes.

I am originally from Moscow, Russia, and I have been teaching for the past 13 years. I have a degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Education with a focus in Special Education. I was lucky to have an opportunity to travel the world, living in the USA, Australia, Switzerland, and the UK before returning home to Russia.

Outside of work, I enjoy scuba diving, swimming, hiking, mountains, and traveling. I am very excited to be a part of the G8 team this year.

David Schneer - EAL

This is my third year at JIS. Previously I taught EAL and English in Singapore for six years. That was actually my family’s second time in Singapore. Before that we were in Japan for four years, which was also our second time in Japan. In total, I was in Singapore for 12 years and in Japan for 14 years. If you add the two numbers together, you will discover that I am old. I can now honestly say that I have spent most of my life in Asia. However, before coming to Asia, I lived in the United States, mostly in Texas. In university I studied English literature and music, and I later went on to do a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). When I have free time, I love spending it with my family, studying languages, reading (I love manga.), playing guitar, playing video games and writing.

Ric Verwer - Counselor

Hello!

I am the counselor for half of 7th grade and the entire 8th grade. I'm orginally from California, but spent the last 26 years teaching in vartious parts of the globe, including Mozambique, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Ghana. While I am new to JIS, I am also not new to JIS... I worked here previously, and am very excited to return. I have a master's degree in counseling and am so happy to be able to use it at JIS to support our students.

My wife is also working at JIS, as she runs the JIS JLC Program. I have two children of my own, and both of them have gone through JIS Middle and High Schools.

I enjoy playing my guitar, reading, and exercising. One big advantage of being in Indonesia is the amazing scuba diving opportunities. Ramona and I are divers, and we look forward to exploring more dive spots in the region, and hope to make it to Raja Ampat at some point.

Hani Herawati - Bahasa Indonesia

Halo! My name is Hani Herawati, and I teach Bahasa Indonesia & Civics and Indonesian Studies for grades 6 to 8. This is my eleventh year at JIS. I completed my Bachelor's degree, in Indonesian Literature, at the University of Indonesia, and my Master of Teaching degree at the University Indrapasta Jakarta. I have taught for seven years at PEL and three years at JIS Middle School.

Outside of school, I enjoy reading, walking, trekking, and spending time with family and friends.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: hherawati@jisedu.or.id

Monia Voegelin - French and Spanish

Hello, my name is Monia Voegelin, but please call me Ms Monia.

Originally from Brussels, Belgium, I wandered through France, India, and China before returning to Belgium. My interests are as diverse as my travels. I love watching movies, diving into new books, and exploring new cuisines. Learning languages and spending quality time with friends and family are also top of my list. I am a terrible chess player, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

This is my third year at JIS, I am excited about meeting my new students in all the French and Spanish levels.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time: mvoegelin@jisedu.or.id

Erin O'Dwyer - English

Hello, everyone! My name is Erin O'Dwyer, and I am thrilled to be a part of your child's reading and writing journey this year in English. This year marks my sixth year at JIS and my fourteenth year as an international teacher. Prior to living in Indonesia, I taught middle school students in Vietnam. I have a degree in Secondary Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master's degree in Education.

I am originally from the USA and lived in California before moving overseas. I love book clubs, dinner with friends, gardening, and listening to podcasts. Although I used to compete in triathlons, I now workout by trying to keep up with my six-year-old daughter.

I am looking forward to another fantastic year at JIS!

Ramu Indrasimhan - Social Studies

This is my 13th year teaching at JIS, and my 17th year teaching internationally. I'm here with my wife, Renata Dantone who teaches in 2nd grade at PIE. We have two children; our elder son Leonardo (Leo), is almost eleven years old and is currently in 5th grade at JIS at the PIE campus. Our younger son Matteo, is almost nine years old and will be starting 3rd grade at the PIE campus. I have my Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Madras and a Master of Secondary Education in social studies from The College of New Jersey. As a third culture kid whose parents taught at international schools throughout my life, I'm very familiar with the high levels of cultural diversity that exist at an international school like JIS. I've lived in a number of countries, but my family and I typically spend our summers at our home in Portland, Oregon, and winters in Kerala, India with my parents.

I'm so excited for the new school year and can’t wait to get it off to a roaring start!

If you have any questions please contact me at: rindrasimhan@jisedu.or.id.

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