MS eNews – Friday, April 12, 2013
Updated MS Calendar of upcoming events:
Saturday, April 13 – Sunday, April 21
- ISB closed for Songkran/Spring Holidays
Monday – Friday, April 22 – 25
- Earth Week
Monday, April 22
- MS Earth Week Assembly at 1:00pm in the Chevron Theatre
Wednesday, April 24 – Thursday, May 2
- MS Art Show in the Chevron Foyer
Saturday, April 27
- BISAC U13 Softball (Boys at NIST, Girls at SHB)
- BISAC U13 Volleyball (Boys at TCIS, Girls at NIST)
- BISAC U15 Volleyball (Boys at BPS, Girls at ISB)
Tuesday, April 30
- MS Parent PTA Meeting at 9:30am (location TBA)
Wednesday, May 1
- May Day (School in session for students and Certified Staff; holiday for Classified Staff)
Monday, May 6
- Coronation Day Holiday (No School)
Thursday, May 9
- MS Band Concert at 6:30pm in the Chevron Theatre
Friday, May 10
- MS Alternate Dress Day
- MS Grade 6/7 Student Social
Saturday, May 11
- BISAC Gymnastics Championships (at SHB)
- BISAC U15 Team Tennis (Boys at BPS, Girls at ISB)
Sunday, May 12
- BISAC Gymnastics Championships (at SHB)
Tuesday, May 14
- MS Choir/Strings Concert at 6:30pm in the Chevron Theatre
Saturday, May 18
- MS Grade 8 Student Social
- BISAC U11/13/15 Track & Field Championships (at ISB)
Wednesday, May 22
- MS Drama Production at 3:00pm in the Cultural Center Theatre
Thursday, May 23
- MS Drama Production at 6:30pm in the Cultural Center Theatre
Friday, May 24
- Visaka Bucha Day (School in session for students and teachers, holiday for Classified Staff)
MS Activities and Athletics Weekly Update
Check out some of the highlights that have happened, or will happen soon. For the most up-to-date information, click on the following link: https://inside.isb.ac.th/inthemix/https://inside.isb.ac.th/inthemix/
Ask.fm: a particularly nasty website
By Mr. Bates
ISB IT Director
Up until recently the choice social media sites of our students have been Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. A relatively new player in the market is “Ask.fm”, a question and answer site that allows people to post anonymous comments and questions to a person’s profile page. The anonymity part is what sets this site apart from the more traditional social networking sites, while Facebook gathers as much information as they can about their users; Ask.fm prides itself on the guaranteed, complete anonymity of its users. Perceived anonymity sadly brings out the worst traits and behaviors of people e.g. bullying and harassment.
Why is Ask.fm proving so popular with our MS and HS students? Adolescence is an age where students are trying to fit in, they want to be popular, they want to know what others think of them, and they like to know people are interested in them. Ask.fm checks all these boxes. Many of the questions and comments posted are harmless and mundane, however because of the anonymous nature of the site, some will use the site to post nasty, hurtful questions often of a sexual nature. For a student using Ask.fm to seek positive affirmation from their peers, the resultant abusive comments can be particularly destructive to the individual’s self esteem.
How would I know if my child has an Ask.fm account? While question and answer sites like Ask.fm continue to allow complete anonymity, there is very little good that can come out of using it. Students should delete their Ask.fm account. Evidence of Ask.fm use can be found in a student’s Facebook timeline, they post links to Ask.fm inviting their Facebook friends to comment.
What can I do as a parent? The most important piece of advice I can offer to any parent is to have conversations with your child. Conversations should include discussions about:
- The importance of presenting your best self-online.
- Do not share private information about yourself with strangers. Watch this video
- What to do if they are a victim of online bullying, or witness to bullying.
- Online is permanent, don’t post things you may regret later.
More detailed information specific to Ask.fm can be found here: https://www.webwise.ie/AskfmGuide.shtm
This site also offers some great tips for parenting in an online environment. As a school we will be running sessions to speak directly to the students about these issues.
9th Annual Earth Week, April 22 – 26
By Mr. Dyke kerryd@isb.ac.th
Find out what our eleven new events are. Come and see Miss Universe and others help us in our campaign about shark finning. Click on the following link for more information.
Grade 6 – 8 MAP Testing – Tuesday, April 23 – Monday, May 13
All MS students will complete their Spring-2013 MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) tests in Reading and Mathematics during their Humanities and Math class sometime between Tuesday, April 23 and Monday, May 13. Individual student results from these tests will be provided in May to all MS parents.
Earth Week Community Sing-a-long!
By Ms. Peterson coleenp@isb.ac.th
Come join us in a sing-a-long (led by the Middle School Choirs) as we kick-start Earth Week 2013!
When: Monday-Friday, April 22-26
Time: 6:45 – 7:10am
Link to songs with lyrics for practice + karaoke tracks can be found HERE.
Earth Day Movie – SHARKWATER
By Mr. Dyke kerryd@isb.ac.th
Join us at 2:15pm on Monday, April 22 (Earth Day) in the Chevron Theater for the showing of the movie Sharkwater. It’s free!! This movie is sure to change your mind about sharks!
See link for more info: https://www.sharkwater.com/
Summer School at ISB
Summer is just around the corner. It’s a wonderful time for students to improve skills and learn new things with Middle Classes:
- English/Reading and Writing
- Math
- English as an Additional Language
- Musical Theater Camp
For more information check out our Summer School Website at the following link or drop by the Summer School office at the top of the zigzag. https://www.isb.ac.th/Summer_School/default.aspx
NOT DONATING ISB uniforms in the neighborhood – Please
Dear ISB Community,
Recently, we have received reports that a few people in the neighborhood were wearing donated ISB uniforms (ISB P.E uniforms and other ISB logo t-shirts).
We understand that some families may start to prepare for their move and will be giving away clothes that are not needed. However, due to safety and security reasons of ISB, please do not donate uniforms to the people in our neighborhood. Donation of uniforms can be given to the White Elephant, 2nd floor of Oasis shopping Center on Samakee Road; or to the Changwattana community Church, at lakeside inside Nichada. Both organizations will send the uniforms to refugee camps upcountry. Or alternatively, contact Dianne Parker at 083 600 3831. She is in charge of display of lost and found items here at ISB.
Thank you for your kind cooperation,
Kind regards,
Usa Somboon
Cafeteria Update…
The Cafeteria will be closed from today and reopen again on Monday April 22. Earth Week kicks off that same day. During this week, we will be adding a 2 baht charge for any plastic bag being used from Epicure to raise awareness of waste and plastic. On Wednesday, April 24 of that same week, there will be a 20% discount for the first 200 customers who bring in their own reusable cup for beverages, again to raise awareness of waste and recycling.
As of yesterday, and to be continued upon our return, you will notice an upgrading of the Grind area and notice some new, delicious items on offer. Stay Tuned.
From the Epicure Team, wishing you all a Happy Songkran!!
Michelle Ihrig
Epicure Catering
Manager of Operations ISB
Tel. 02-963-5800 ext. 7728
M: 082-322-7531
Cafeteria News… Did You Know…?
Mango Mania is back at the Grind!! There are actually some blessings that come along with April’s scorching, hot weather. One of the best is the naturally ripe, sweet fruit we can savor at this time. This would include the ‘King of Fruits’, the yellow mango. We’re whipping up fresh Mango smoothies such as our Mango Madness, Mango Strawberry Kiss and Mango Blueberry Bang (the last two made with yoghurt), and are also serving Mango with Sticky Rice. For those wanting to savor the fruit itself, it can be purchased all on its own. The health benefits of Mango are so numerous, this blurb is not able to do them fair justice. However, we will just have to mention a few: Mangoes are rich in antioxidants and alkalizing properties which help combat cancer causing agents and inflammation, contain high levels of fiber and vitamin C which lower cholesterol and boost the immune system, and are high in vitamin A which improves vision. For further good news on Mango, we invite you to take your own journey into the wonders of this fruit. Welcome Mango Mania. Enjoy.
Michelle Ihrig
Epicure Catering
Manager of Operations ISB
Tel. 02-963-5800 ext. 7728
M: 082-322-7531
Leaving ISB?
If you are leaving ISB before, or end of this semester, please contact Khun Fon in the MS Office at supanniy@isb.ac.th – she will send you paperwork that needs to be completed in order for her to get your child’s school records ready for his/her next school.
eNewsletter Guidelines
By Tony Arnold anthonya@isb.ac.th
ISB eNewsletters provide a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. For your convenience we have provided you with our eNewsletter guidelines below.
- Submitting an announcement for publication ISB accepts announcements from ISB families for potential publication in our eNewsletters. The announcements are generally intended to highlight events that occur at ISB and/or highlight information about ISB.
- What to include in the announcement • A title for your announcement • An email contact for further information
- Where to submit your announcement
- 4publish@isb.ac.th is for announcements of interest to the entire ISB community
- tinaratr@isb.ac.th is for Elementary School announcements of interest to ES families
- maurilib@isb.ac.th is for Middle School announcements of interest to MS families
- vijitl@isb.ac.th is for High School (HS) announcements of interest to HS families
Your announcement will be submitted to the appropriate Principal and/or to our Marketing Director for review. ISB reserves the right to determine which announcements will and will not be published, and to edit announcements that are approved for publication.
- Frequency of eNewsletter mailings
- The ISB eNewsletter that is for the entire community is sent out on Thursdays. Announcements for potential publication in this newsletter must be received by noon on Thursdays.
- The ES, MS, and HS eNewsletters are sent out on Fridays. Announcements for potential publication in these newsletters must be received by noon on Fridays.