by Dr. Andrew Davies
andrewd@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents,
At ISB, we take the view that providing a safe and secure environment for our students, staff and community is always our most important priority.
To this end, we ask that parents familiarize themselves with some very important information provided below related to both safety and security.
Safety Updates for the 2013/14 School Year
Please be reminded that all visitors coming by bicycle (students and adults) are required to wear helmets to gain entry onto the ISB campus. We understand that this rule is not universally supported and that different practices occur in different countries, but we ask for your cooperation in providing a safer environment for our children. Children are more likely to wear helmets if they see adults adopting this practice. Please also speak to your children about ensuring helmets are strapped on for the entire journey.
Coming shortly for parents, staff and MS/HS students are stickers to be affixed to the back of the ISB ID cards. These stickers will provide details of ISB emergency contact numbers (nurses, security, administration, and WMC hospital). We will be in touch again shortly with more details.
Our climate here is often hot and humid and this means that we should take certain precautions when exercising or playing outside (particularly children). We are asking that parents help to reinforce the following messages to children:
· the importance of remaining hydrated (drink water often)
· the need to take frequent rest, shade and water breaks when exercising outside
· the need for a period of acclimatization before undertaking strenuous exercise
· the necessity to talk to an adult if feeling unwell before, during, or after exercise
The Sports Medicine Australia website provide some excellent information with respect to heat related illness and good practices. Click here for details.
As a school, we are making a number of improvements with respect to safety and details can be reviewed by clicking here. Some improvement highlights from this summer:
· Around 130 Classified Staff members were trained in First Aid and CPR.
· Montri drivers and bus monitors were also trained in First Aid and CPR.
· 59 faculty members took part this week in a workshop entitled “ Emergency Care in Your Classroom”.
· An additional AED was purchased.
· Physical Check ups have been expanded to include MS as well as HS students and an EKG (ECG) is now required.
· A committee has been established to write guidelines with respect to appropriate precautions for exercise in hot & humid weather.
ISB’s Approach to Security at ISB and our Expectations for the ISB Community:
As educators we are not experts in security matters so we rely greatly on the support provided by several security experts who advise us. For example, the Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy is consistently helpful while additional advisors come from a number of other embassies, the Royal Thai Police, and major corporations.
The security procedures described below have been developed over time and based on expert advice. Periodically, our advisors visit the ISB campus to audit our security procedures and make additional improvement recommendations.
1. Our security advisors tell us that terrorists carefully plan their attacks. They use observers to watch routines and collect information. This means that vigilance by all members of the ISB community really matters. If you see anyone near the campus taking video or photos or simply watching, please call Khun Usa or me. If you carry a cell phone, we ask you to enter our numbers into your contacts so that you can call quickly. Our location makes us somewhat safer from terrorists than other international schools in Bangkok, but vigilance is still important.
2. We have a Crisis Response Manual that includes protocols for a number of crisis situations as well as emergency contact procedures and practice schedules.
3. We have a school-wide digital telephone system to detect and record any threatening calls that the school receives.
4. We have developed procedures for school cancellation, safe haven, and early dismissal. In the event a procedure is implemented, we communicate with parents via email, SMS, and the ISB website.
5. We use an SMS system to quickly contact parents and staff in case of an emergency. If something happens and we need to close school on short notice or get out a safety/security related message, all ISB parents and staff members will receive SMS messages on their cell phones.
To check the mobile number we have on record, please check your “Family Information” in the Parent Portal <https://inside.isb.ac.th/paren
6. We have routine contact with national and local police leaders. They provide both uniformed and plainclothes support and surveillance.
7. We have 11 emergency buttons around the school that bring armed police on campus within a few minutes.
8. We send security e-mails to parents and hold parent meetings as needed regarding changes in security.
9. We have installed more than 130 video cameras around the campus perimeter and within the school. These are monitored 24/7. We have also installed blast resistant coverings for our windows and a campus-wide public address system.
10. We work closely with our bus contractor regarding safety and security procedures.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding safety and security, please do not hesitate to contact our Headmistress (Usa Somboon) or me.
Dr. Andrew Davies: Hand Phone – 081-851 6277 Email andrewd@isb.ac.th
Usa Somboon: Hand Phone – 081 937 0069 Email usomboon@isb.ac.th
Dr. Andrew Davies
Head of School