MS eNews – Friday, April 26, 2013
Updated MS Calendar of upcoming events:
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 in MPB3
Wednesday, May 1
- May Day (School in session for students and Certified Staff; holiday for Classified Staff)
Thursday, May 2
- Grade 5 – 6 “Bridge Day” (Grade 5 visits Grade 6 in the MS)
- Grade 5 Parent Meeting re: Grade 6 Program, 7:00pm in the Chevron Theatre
Monday, May 6
- Coronation Day Holiday (No School)
Tuesday, May 7
- MS Parent PTA Meeting at 9:30am in MPB3
- Grade 6 and 7 Student Meeting re: Grade 7 and 8 Programs, 1:35pm in the Chevron Theatre
- Grade 6 and 7 Parent Meeting re: Grade 7 and 8 Programs, 7:00pm in the Chevron Theatre
Thursday, May 9
- MS Band Concert at 6:30pm in the Chevron Theatre
Friday, May 10
- MS Alternate Dress Day
- MS Student Music Assembly at 1:00pm in the Chevron Theatre
- MS Grade 6/7 Student Social at 5:00 – 7:15pm in the MPB
Saturday, May 11
- BISAC Gymnastics Championships (at SHB)
- BISAC U15 Team Tennis (Boys at BPS, Girls at ISB)
- BISAC U15 Girls Softball Tournament 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, 7:00 – 10:00pm (off campus)
- 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)
Thursday, June 6
- Gr. 8 Moving Up Ceremony at 8:00am in Chevron Theatre
- Gr. 6 & 7 Off campus trips
Friday, June 7
- Last day of 2012-2013 School Year – all students dismissed at 11:30am
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/
MS PTA Meeting on Tuesday, April 30th
A reminder our next MS PTA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30th at 9:30am in the MPB3. Items on the agenda are:
- ISB IT Director, Chad Bates, presenting on some IT issues
- MS Principal, Tom Burgess, providing an update on departing teachers and new incoming teachers for 2013-2014
- Q & A with MS Principal
Wednesday, May 1(School in session)
Reminder that school is in session May 1st for students and Certified Staff. It is a holiday for the Thai Classified Staff in recognition of the Thai, May Day Holiday.
Monday, May 6 (No School)
Reminder, ISB will be closed this day for the Thai, Coronation Day Holiday.
Grade 6 and 7 Parent Information Meeting, Tuesday, May 7th
There will be an information meeting for all parents of present 6 and 7th graders about the 7th and 8th grade programs here at the ISB Middle School for the 2013-2014 school. An overview will also be presented of the process, procedures, and due dates for students to follow to submit their course requests for next school year. Earlier on the same day, all 6 and 7 students will attend a presentation of the same information. A separate information meeting for all 5th grade students and parents has been scheduled for Thursday, May 2 regarding the 6th grade program for next school year as announced in today’s ES eNews.
MS Art Exhibit
Got ART! Contemplate the artistic creations of middle schoolers by stopping by the Chevron Theatre Foyer between now and Thursday, May 2nd to check out the MS Art Exhibit. Also, join us for our Middle School Art Celebration on Monday, April 29 at 12:00 in the same venue. There will be paintings and prints, singing and snacks for your enjoyment. 
Annual Father and Daughter Dance, Tickets…
The tickets are selling fast to the annual Father and Daughter Dance “A Red Carpet Affair”
Don’t miss out get your tickets today. For more information, see enclosed Flyer.
Contact: lindastuckey@midcircle.com for questions.
LAST CHANCE to register for the 14th Colgate Kids Triathlon! Registration closes on Monday, April 29th
The 14th Annual Colgate Kids Triathlon is just around the corner. The race will take place on Monday, May 6th (Coronation Day substitute) at 7:30AM starting at the two ISB pools. It’s shaping up to be an incredible event! Again this year the triathletes will receive timing chips to wear around their ankles for accurate time and distance recording. The Relay Race will again allow relay teams in each age division (based upon the oldest participant in the relay team), so athletes can form teams of three people to participate together. One of the relay team members can be a teacher or other adult this year.
The distances this year will be:
5-6: 50m swim, 1 km bike, 450m run
7-8: 100m swim, 2.5 km bike, 800m run
9-10: 150m swim, 4.5 km bike, 1.2 km run
11-12: 200m swim, 4.5 km bike, 1.7 km run
13-14: 250m swim, 6.8 km bike, 2.4 km run
15+ : 350m swim, 9.1 km bike, 3.1 km run
Registration will close on Monday, April 29th or when total participants reaches 200, whichever comes first. No late registrations will be permitted so make sure you register before the close date! The fee per participant is THB 500 (THB 1,500 for relay teams). All participants will receive a water bottle, towel and race bag.
All registrations must provide one volunteer to help on race day or pay a THB 1,000 (no volunteer fee)
Please note that all bike riders must have their own bicycle and must wear a helmet.
More information and the registration link can be found at our Kids Triathlon website:
https://inside.isb.ac.th/cao/2011/08/16/colgate-kids-triathlon/
Thanks,
Kevin Sypolt
+66-84-388-7715
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.
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
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.
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
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.