IHS May Newsletter

• April 26th-May 17th: IB TESTING at various locations
• Monday, May 20--IHS Celebration
• Monday, May 27--Memorial Day--NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, May 28--French Immersion Graduation
• Tuesday, June 4--Spanish Immersion Graduation
• Wednesday, June 5th--IHS Closing Assembly; Senior Graduation Rehearsal
• Friday, June 7th--Last Day of School for Seniors; IHS Graduation at Hult Center (6:00 pm)
• Friday, June 14th--Last Day of School for 9th-11th Graders

We are so proud to announce that this year, SIX of our IHS teachers were nominated for Golden Apple Awards! The Golden Apple is an award that recognizes outstanding, inspiring teachers who tirelessly support students, both in and out of the classroom. Teachers were nominated by parents, students, colleagues, and administrators. We know that all of our IHS teachers deserve to be acknowledged for their dedication to our school and our students, but this month, we want to recognize these six teachers and their Golden Apple Nominations: Amy Duncan, Sheela Hadjivassiliou, Jenny Hehnke, Lisa Joye, Kayla Punt, and Julia Von Holt. Congratulations to you all!

This year, Eugene IHS launched Global Civics and Engagement, a new civics-driven course for our students in 10th grade. We have spent the last three quarters building skills and knowledge in a variety of subjects related to civics and government, from the very local to international affairs. We are excited to end the school year with a quarter-long Community Action Project, in partnership with the Civics Learning Project.

Community Action Projects is an inquiry-based student action program adapted by the Classroom Law Project from Project Citizen, which was developed by the Center for Civic Education over 30 years ago. Since then, every year thousands of students around the country research and collaborate to develop new policy around issues that are important to them in their communities. Using proven student engagement methods, Community Action Projects can transform civic engagement for all types of learners.

Objectives of the Project:
● Put their classwork into practice by connecting with policymakers and officials to evaluate an issue that concerns them
● Practice teamwork, problem solving, and civic participation
● Analyze problems and determine multiple solution options
● Support decisions with evidence, practice, and follow-up

Our 10th graders are already hard at work! At our three IHS campuses, we have students investigating and developing actionable policy plans on a variety of community topics:

• Improving access to mental health care
• Creating new pathways for students to engage in the arts/arts programming
• Wild fire prevention
• Modifying the 4J school schedule
• Social media regulation
• Climate change
• Police reform
• Women's rights, gender and sports
• Local housing issues
• and many more!

Some students will showcase their projects at our annual IHS Celebration on May 20th at the Oakway Center. Come check out all their hard work!

The Eugene IHS Student Government is excited to host the EUGENE IHS CELEBRATION! This year our celebration will take place on May 20th from 5:30-8:00. Join us for food and fun as we take over the Oakway Center!

The Eugene IHS Celebration will take place at Oakway Center on Monday, May 20, 2024 from 5:30-8:00pm. Alumni, retired teachers, current staff and students are all invited to elebrate our shared history of international education.When you eat at one of the participating restaurants in the Oakway Center during the event, Eugene IHS will receive a percentage of the proceeds toward funding student government and future events. This event has been a great success in the past, both in helping to raise money to improve our school and in providing the Eugene IHS community with a day to come together and relax and have some fun. There will be games, entertainment, and a student art auction. So mark your calendars for May 22nd.

Many thanks to Oakway Center and local businesses for supporting Eugene International High School. We hope to see you there!

Our final IHS Site Council meeting of the school year will be held on Tuesday, May 14 from 4:15-5:15 at South High School in room 539. All IHS family members are welcome to attend!

Every year, IHS holds an Opening Assembly in September and a Closing Assembly in June--this closing assembly also serves as our graduation rehearsal for seniors a few days before graduation. We hold our assemblies in the South Eugene auditorium--these are the only two opportunities we have all year to gather all 1,000 IHS students together in one place. The Closing Assembly serves as our chance to honor our graduating seniors and to celebrate the accomplishments of all our IHS students for the year.

This year, our Closing Assembly will be held on Wednesday, June 5th from 9:30-11:00 am. Students from Sheldon and Churchill will ride busses to and from South Eugene HS to attend this event. New district policies require us to gather permission slips for students who are leaving their home school campus---these permission slips must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Permission slips have been sent home with 9th-11th graders at Sheldon and Churchill--if your student attends these campuses, please make sure to sign the form and have your student return the signed form to the IHS office. Seniors meet at South HS earlier that morning for graduation rehearsal and therefore do not need permission slips.

Bonjour Frenchie Families--The Frenchie graduation is almost here!!! Below are some important logistics.

When: Tuesday, May 28th, 6:30pm

• Graduates - Meet at 6:00pm at the Charlemagne Elementary playground for a group photo

• Ceremony starts at 6:30pm and should last approximately 1-1.5 hours

Where: The gymnasium of Charlemagne Elementary School, 3875 Kincaid Street, Eugene.

Wear: Graduates wear Cap & Gown as well as any honors cords/sashes.

Ceremony: Graduates please be prepared to speak in 30 seconds or less your plans for next year and your favorite memory from the French Immersion program.

We will have cold drinks and popsicles for a short social after the ceremony.

Ask: If each family can send 3 photos - 1 each from elementary, middle and high school - to me at natashapangburn@gmail.com or upload to this Google folder for a slideshow that will be played during the graduation ceremony.

Please direct any questions you might have to Leslie Pelinka at lpelinka@gmail.com or Natasha Pangburn at natashapangburn@gmail.com. We look forward to celebrating all of the Frenchies' hard work together with some of their former teachers and families!

Hello S.I. families.

Our kids are about to graduate from high school together! It's hard to believe that it was 13 years ago when many of them began kindergarten together at Buena Vista. As per tradition, we will gather there, in their grade school's cafeteria to honor their Spanish immersion accomplishment and award Oregon's Seal of Biliteracy Medal, to be worn as they walk at the IHS and Sheldon Graduations.

We have the cafeteria at B.V. reserved for a 6:30pm ceremony on Tuesday, June 4th. We'd like to begin the evening with a dessert reception for students, friends, families, and teachers. That will be followed by a presentation from the graduates and the awarding of medals by Sr. Zapata Bello and Sra. Albrich. Kaden Jacobson and Lilli Wright have agreed to be the emcees and Tilly McNamara, Emma Brown and Jill Potter are choreographing and teaching the graduation dance this year!

Here is a link to a volunteer sign-up for desserts, set-up, and clean-up. ​https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44ABA82FABF58-48635514-spanish#

Also, a big task we'd love to have someone take on, is creating a slide show. Photos from their Buena Vista years up through their Sheldon years would make for a great addition to the celebration. If you'd be willing to create that, please contact Tiffany Wright at 541-968-2002. Lastly, there have been some additional elements to previous SI graduation events that are great, but they require a volunteer to coordinate. If anyone would enjoy working on t-shirts for the kids to wear that night or on a photo book for the kids to keep as mementos, both projects have templates.

We look forward to seeing you at BV on June 4th.

Tiffany, Sydney, Sarah, Leslie and Ben

Congratulations to our Eugene International High School Model UN team for their outstanding performance at this year's Model UN Conference!

**PLEASE NOTE THESE TRIPS ARE NOT SPONSORED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH IHS or 4J**

Switzerland: Explore the Alps (8 days, June 2025)

Explore Iceland North and South (8 days, August 2025)

Feel free to email Lisa Joye for more information: TravelwithLisaJoye@gmail.com

We still need several more parent volunteers for IB testing! This year, IB exams begin on April 25th, and we have an exceptionally high amount of students testing this year at several different test sites. Please consider volunteering a few hours of your time this spring to help us with another successful IB testing season!

Here is the link to the exam calendar: IB Exam Calendar. Morning exams begin at 8:30 and afternoon exams begin at 12:30. You will be working with an experienced proctor, helping to set up testing materials and monitoring students as they sit for the exam. Parents are not allowed to volunteer for an exam their own child is taking, so please make sure you know which exams your child is registered for before contacting Kathy.

If you would be interested in volunteering for one or more exams, please contact Kathy Ruggles, volunteer coordinator at SEHS, ruggles_k@4j.lane.edu or 541-790-8012. Volunteers must complete the 4j Volunteer Application: https://www.4j.lane.edu/volunteers.

Thank you for considering volunteering--we cannot make it happen without your help!

Eugene IHS Timeline:

– End of April: Eugene IHS Graduation Inserts available in April. Eugene IHS Graduation Announcement Inserts to mail along with the host school graduation announcements will be available at no cost in the Eugene IHS offices by the end of April.

– Monday, May 13: Eugene IHS Graduation Tickets will be available in Eugene IHS offices beginning May 13. There will be no charge for graduation tickets, limit 6 tickets per senior May 13-24. After May 24 tickets available until we run out.

– Wednesday, June 5: Eugene IHS Graduation Rehearsal for ALL SENIORS: June 5, 8:30-9:35am, South Eugene High School Auditorium.

– Wednesday, June 5: Eugene IHS Farewell Assembly: June 5, 9:45am-11:00am, South Eugene High School Auditorium. Seniors will stay for this following graduation rehearsal.

– Friday, June 7: Eugene IHS Graduation Tech Rehearsal at Hult Center for Performers/Speakers Friday, June 7 at 2:30pm. Details will be shared with the performers/ speakers as we get closer to the event and students will be excused from their 8th period classes.

– Friday, June 7: Eugene IHS Graduation: Friday, June 7, 6:00pm, Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets required for entrance. (Seniors arrive at 5:00pm for group photo. Doors open at 5:15 for seating.)

Eugene IHS offices will be closed in the afternoon on June 7th due to preparation and set-up for graduation so make sure you get your graduation tickets before the day of graduation.