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Posted on May 10, 2013 by Moe Baron-Toaldo

MS eNews – Friday, May 10, 2013

Updated MS Calendar of upcoming events:

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/

 

 

BISAC Tournaments This Weekend

U15 Girls BISAC Softball and Tennis are held at ISB this Saturday.  Tennis will start on old tennis courts at 8:00am and Softball will start on B field at 12:00.  As well, our Boys teams will go to BPS for the same tournaments.  Good luck to all teams!

 

 

MS Choir and Orchestra Concert Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30pm in the Chevron Theatre

Please join us for an amazing night of music.  Members of the MS Rainbow House Club will be in the Chevron Foyer collecting donations to help build a new, safe playground at Rainbow House, a local home for orphaned children with disabilities.

 

 

Early Dismissal on Tuesday, May 14

Reminder, all ISB students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, May 14th, our next scheduled Early Dismissal Day.  School buses will leave at 1:15 pm.  There are no scheduled after school activities this day for MS students.  Early Dismissals allow ISB Staff to collaborate and further their professional development, providing a common meeting time in all three divisions.  Please note that no instructional time is lost, as we have added additional school days to the academic year.

 

Present Gr. 6 and 7 Student Parent Presentation

Please click here to access a PDF of the presentation given at the Grade 6/7 Parent Information Meeting on May 7, 2013 regarding the new MS Programs for grades 7 and 8 this coming August (It is a large file so please note it may take several minutes to load).  Please note that the slides listing elective courses is not a complete list, rather just a sample of courses possible. However, complete information about the MS Programs and course options for next year will be available in the very near future in the MS Program of Studies once it is finalized.  We will send an announcement when it is ready with directions on how to submit course requests for next year.

 

Grade 8 End of Year Social

On Saturday, May 18th at Muang Thong Thani starting at 7pm. Permission forms are available outside the SOAR Center, or online HERE. To get an accurate count for transportation, we would like to have permission forms in by Tuesday, May 14. Please note that there are several events happening in Muang Thong Thani that night, including a concert, so you may wish to take this in consideration when deciding on transportation. We will provide buses from and to ISB, as well as from several locations downtown.

 

 

Eco Trip for Next Weekend, May 19 Still Has Some Openings…  

Please see link for details or contact Mr. Dyke at kerryd@isb.ac.th

 

 

Common Responses to the Death of a friend or classmate

Last week, ISB was greatly affected by the death of our community member, Patrick Haney. Though we are beginning to ease back into our routines, many of us will continue to deal with strong feelings, and memories associated with Patrick and his death.  With this in mind, we think it is important to provide some information on common reactions to death as well as strategies to help us through the grief process.  If you have further questions or concerns, please contact a counselor or school psychologist on staff.

For 2-3 weeks, the following symptoms are normal:

  • trouble sleeping
  • unable to concentrate
  • poor appetite
  • reliving the experience
  • inconsistent crying or displays of anger

If any of these symptoms persist beyond 2-3 weeks, further exploration is warranted.

Strategies to support us through the grief process:

  • Getting back into routines
  • Getting plenty of sleep at night.
  • Regular physical activity
  • Mindfulness strategies like mindful breathing or meditation can help to manage intrusive thoughts and images

Grief Support Groups

The middle school guidance counselors will be offering support groups for students in need of support following the death of Patrick Haney.  The intent is to further support the students as they deal with their feelings associated with Patricks’ death.  The groups will be facilitated by Ellen Bagnato and/or Kevin Davy, the Middle School Counselors.  The goal of the group is not to provide therapy.  Rather, our goals for the group are as follows:

  • Discuss the stages of grieving and common reactions to the death of a close friend or relative.
  • Discuss ways to take care of self during the healing period

Support groups will begin next week (May 13) and continue for a total of 3 sessions.  By signing your child up, he/she commits to attending all 3 sessions.  It is important that attendance is consistent in order for us to attain our goals and assess if further support may be necessary for your son/daughter.  In order to participate, students must have parent permission.  To give permission, you may stop by the middle school guidance office and sign a permission slip or email the middle school counselors directly at kevind@isb.ac.th or ellenb@isb.ac.th
Support Groups for Students who are Moving

Middle School Counselors will be offering grade-level support groups for students leaving ISB at the end of this school year.  Support groups will take place during lunch beginning the week of May 21 and ending on June 5.

 

 

For Parents of Present 8th Grade Students

Dear Parents of 8th Graders, you are all cordially invited to our 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony being held at 8:00am in the Chevron Theatre on Thursday, June 6th.  Please see the attached document for more information regarding dress code expectations for your 8th grader on that day, and for the permission slip you need to sign for your child to attend the 8th Grade Pool Party at the Nichada Pool later that same morning. Please click for the document:  Gr8 Ceremony Parent Invite and pool permission slip May 2013

 

 

Middle School Math Placement Guidelines for Next Year’s Grades 7 and 8 Students

Dear Parents of Present 6 and 7th Grade Students,

We’d like to inform you of the math placement guidelines we will be following to place students in the appropriate math program in grades 7 and 8 for the next school year.

Why are all students not placed into the same math program?

We know that children develop cognitively at differing rates just as they develop physically at different rates.  We also know that the developmental readiness of a student is an important factor in determining the type of math in which a student will be successful.  All our students eventually develop the cognitive ability to deal with higher levels of abstract thinking. However, they do not all develop this ability at the same time.  Developmental readiness is not a measure of intelligence, but is a measure of the developing maturity of student thinking skills.  Thus, our Grade 7 and 8 Math Programs were specifically designed to provide appropriate and challenging math opportunities for all students.  Grade 7 and 8 each contain three separate core math programs.  By providing these different core programs in both grades 7 and 8, we believe we will be able to provide a challenging math curriculum, based on readiness, for all students.

What are the different math options for students in grades 7 and 8 next year?

Grade 7 Math 7 Math 7 Advanced Math 7 Algebra 1
Grade 8 Math 8 Math 8 Algebra 1 Math 8 Accelerated Geometry

How will students be placed in grades 7 and 8 for their math?

The MS Math Department and Admin will meet before the end of the school year and review the following for each student and make placements taking into account the following:

  • Algebra Predictor score for students being considered for Algebra
  • End-of-Year Math Assessments
  • HAL scores on end of year report cards
  • MAP scores and growth shown on the MAP assessments (Fall to Spring)
  • Standards-based grades on semester report cards
  • Teacher recommendations

When will placements be made?

Based on the information above, all students will be placed by the end of this school year into the Math Program we feel is best for each student for the coming school year in August.  Your child’s math placement for August will be sent home in June as part of his/her Semester 2 Report Card.

Is this placement final?

No!  During the first week of school in August, all students will be taking the pre-assessment for the math course they are placed in.  At that time, any student who performs significantly well on the pre-assessment, will be considered for possible shifting into the next math program level.

Our goal is to have a Middle School Math Program that provides opportunities for us to challenge each student at their level of readiness and to enrich their study of math.  It is our ultimate goal at ISB Middle School to foster in all students a love of Mathematics together with the conviction and confidence that they can enroll in, and master, the most challenging Mathematics in high school and university.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Troy Regis, MS Mathematics Department Head

Maurilio Baron-Toaldo, MS Vice-Principal

Tom Burgess, MS Principal

 

 

All Library Materials Due Back By Friday, May 17

Please be aware that all materials (including books, DVDs, and Kindles) are due on Friday, May 17th.  Your child will receive a notice indicating if he or she has any overdue books before then. Please ask them to double check if they have anything checked out and remind them to turn in their library materials as overdue materials will result in a hold on their semester 2 report card.  They will be able to check out books for summer reading as of Monday, May 20th.  Thank you so much!

 

 

Tickets for the MS Production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

Dear Parents,

We welcome you to the MS Production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.

Show times:  Wednesday 22nd May at 3pm.  Thursday 23rd May at 6.30pm.

Adults 200 baht    Students 100 baht

This year’s Middle School play explores themes of prejudice, love, and friendship in this new adaption of the Victor Hugo story.  Serious drama and comedy blend together as we retell the story of Quasimodo the bell ringer.  The student performances are looking amazing and the set is coming together!

Tickets for the play go on sale at HS and MS lunchtimes in the cafeteria next week. Please note that the content of this play is not suitable for below grade 5. 

From the same team that brought you “Star Wars”, “Switching Principals” and “I Never Saw Another Butterfly”, we welcome you to the show.

 

 

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 the ISB Withdraw Form that needs to be completed in order for her to get your child’s school records ready for his/her next school.  Or, you can download the form attached here, complete it, and then return to Khun Fon or the Cashier in the Business Office.

 

 

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

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.
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