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

Keith Allerton - Drama and Grade 8 LC Leader

My name is Keith Allerton and I’m the Grade 6,7,8 Drama Teacher. A bit about me; this is actually my 23rd year teaching at JIS and my 34th year teaching overall. (I can't believe that). Previously, I worked for 16 years at the Pattimura Elementary campus where I was a classroom teacher for 10 years and then for 6 years I was the Drama and Music Teacher. This is my 7th year at the Middle School. I come from a small town in Upstate New York named Catskill, and before JIS I taught in Upstate New York and Seattle, WA for 11 years.

More importantly I'm a proud parent of a 2025 JIS High School Graduate, my daughter Abby is a Freshman at James Madison University in Virginia majoring in Musical Theatre. Not only do I have the best job, but I get to work with such amazing students. My hobbies include Musical Theatre (of course) and traveling in this beautiful country that I’m proud to call home.

Kelsey Hedrick - Librarian and Grade 8 LC Leader

I'm Kelsey, and it's my fourth 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 I’m excited to be joining the JIS community this year. 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.

Shelby Fowler - Social Studies

My name is Shelby Fowler and it is my first year at JIS. I am looking forward to becoming part of the Dragon community. This is my 11th year teaching internationally.

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Social Science Education from the Florida State University. I hold a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas.

This is my 12th year teaching Middle School Social Studies. I began teaching an All Boys Middle School in Tampa, Florida and then spent 6 years teaching in Cairo, Egypt. Most recently, I taught MYP Individuals & Societies in Kazan, Russia.

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

Chris MacLean - Social Studies

Hello everyone, I'm Chris MacLean. I'm thrilled to be joining the JIS community to teach your child this year. Though Canadian by birth, I was raised globally in international schools.

I bring ten years of teaching experience across grades 6-12 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 4) and Caden (grade 2). Our family is excited to explore Indonesia's incredible archipelago through 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 20th at JIS! I am here with my wife, Evi, and our sons, Rafa and Ruben, who attend JIS in grades 5 and 6. 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 fourth year teaching at JIS, and it marks my 13th 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

Angie Sauer - Science

My name is Angie Sauer, and I am excited to begin my seventh year at JIS, teaching Grade 8 Science. I have over 20 years of experience teaching science at both the middle and high school levels. I am here in Jakarta with my husband, Adam Douglas, a middle school Robotics, Electronics, and Coding teacher. Previous to JIS, we were in Bogotá, Colombia, for five years. I have also taught in Poland and Northern India, as well as Iowa and North Carolina in the U.S.A. I enjoy reading, knitting, traveling and hiking, and being outdoors in general. I love using science to answer my questions about the world, and I’m looking forward to working with your children as they explore their own scientific questions. Please contact me at ansauer@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 third 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 five years old, and Sofia, who is four 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.

Liam Claydon - PE

Hi! My name is Liam Claydon, and this is my 6th year at JIS, and 3rd year teaching middle school PE here. I am in Jakarta with my wife, Arma, and daughter, Allegra, who is a future dragon!

I am from the UK and have had the pleasure of teaching for 12 years in London, Yokohama, and Jakarta. I studied Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Essex, and I have since completed a Masters degree at Endicott College.

Alongside teaching in the middle school, I am the Head Coach for JIS boys varsity soccer, and coach many sports in the middle school athletics program. When I am not teaching, I love to read, play chess and sports - including soccer, which I play competitively in Jakarta.

If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: lclaydon@jisedu.or.id.

Ryan Harwood - JIS Studio (HUM) G7 & G8

I'm excited to embark on my fourth year as a part of the JIS Studio. I'm originally from North Carolina (USA) where I earned a History degree from Appalachian State University and a Master's degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I'm joined here at JIS by my wife who is an ES Counselor at PIE and our two children who are in high school. We have been teaching internationally for ten years with stops in Accra, Ghana and Amman, Jordan on our way to Jakarta. I've taught various subjects, from social studies to design tech, and I'm looking forward to combining all my experiences to help continue to develop the amazing JIS Studio program.

I read, listen to and play music, create art, and goof around with my kids in my spare time. I love to be outside and I'm happy to continue exploring the beaches of Indonesia and surfing with my family.

Chris Calvert - JIS Studio (STEM) G7 & G8

Hi everyone. My name is Chris Calvert and I’ll be teaching JIS Studio and Grade 8 Science this year. I was born in Houston, Texas, but have lived overseas for most of my life including attending Middle School and High School in Singapore in the 1990s. In fact, my first trip to JIS was back in 1996 to play soccer as a high schooler. Much has changed since then! I’m a dad of a 5 year old boy and my wife and I have enjoyed learning along with him these past few years. I look forward to getting to know you all and learning together this year.

Rae Merrigan - Health

Hi, my name is Rae and this is my 5th year teaching at JIS and 12th 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 2-year-old daughter, Alaia.

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.

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 20th 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 & Health

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 second year at JIS, and I will be teaching grade 8 Physical Education and Health. I have taught internationally for the past twelve years in China, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In my free time, I enjoy golfing, watching and participating in sports, and traveling. I am excited 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 join the G8 team.

I will be 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 12 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 CrossFit, scuba diving, swimming, hiking, mountains, and traveling. I am very excited to be a part of the G8 team this year.

Lidiya Reese - EAL

Hi! My name is Lidiya Reese, and I am an EAL teacher. This will be my 11th year teaching, and my fourth year at JIS. I earned a Bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Michigan University with a focus in English and a minor in TESOL. Along with that, I also earned a M.Ed. degree in TESOL from the University of North Dakota. I began my teaching career in Arizona and then moved across the ocean to China to teach English and EAL.

I grew up in Michigan, where I loved visiting the Great Lakes and visiting apple orchards in the fall. In my free time, I love reading a book with a cup of coffee in hand, keeping a healthy lifestyle, and trying out new recipes in my kitchen. I am looking forward to the 25/26 school year here at JIS!

Sara Burke - Counselor

I'm Sara Burke! I am the counselor for half of 7th grade and 8th grade. I'm from Northern Virginia, but spent the last 6 years teaching in South Korea. I have a master's degree in counseling and am so happy to be able to use it at JIS to support our students. Before coming to the middle school, I helped with counseling and learning support in the high school, and was the grade level coordinator for 9th grade. I'm excited to join all the fun that middle school has to offer and I love friendly competition (go team Rinjani!).

I enjoy cooking and eating spicy food, and I like to exercise, and play card games. Since coming to Indonesia with my husband, Ryan, I've started to learn how to scuba dive and can't wait to make it to Raja Ampat and Flores. We have a lot of Indonesia to explore and welcome any recommendations you may have.

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

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 second year at JIS, I am excited about meeting my new students in all the French levels.

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

Rebekah Christofi - English

I am delighted to be your child’s English teacher this year! I’m from Massachusetts, USA. I taught in my home city for 7 years, but my husband Stephen, a math and science teacher, always wanted to live abroad. In 2015, we packed up our then 2-year-old daughter, Aria, and moved to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where we taught for 4 years. We then moved to Austria where we welcomed a second daughter, Genevieve and taught for 2 years. I am now looking forward to my fifth year teaching English at JIS.

I have an English degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Master's degree in education. Do not hesitate to contact me at rchristofi@jisedu.or.id if you have questions or concerns. Thank you!

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