High School Upcoming events (Please click):
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On GCW Cost
Peter Roback
peterro@isb.ac.th
Today is the deadline for payments for GCW. We will be following up on all missing payments next week. Related, it is useful to share that the costs of GCW courses are based on travel costs, charges by the organizing companies, lodging and food costs, and often other factors. For each course, there are different circumstances ranging from companies that have single, all-inclusive charges to trips on which each facet requires individual payments.
ISB does not retain any money on these courses, so estimated costs for parents is based solely on the charges the course requires. We always try to find the best costs possible, in order to save parents’ money, however, we prioritize safety, first. The companies we use ensure first aid trained guides, safe equipment, and high standard experiences. Please contact me if you have any questions on this.
Celebration and Holiday for the King’s Birthday
Peter Roback
peterro@isb.ac.th
Thursday, December 5th is a school holiday. On Wednesday, December 4th, at 10:30 am, ISB students will be celebrating His Majesty, with song and poetry.
School Uniform Policy – Sweatshirts, Exams, and more
Peter Roback
peterro@isb.ac.th
Just a reminder that as the weather gets cooler, HS students must still adhere to the rules on school uniform. Students may wear sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets that are ISB issue only. These range from those sold at the Booster Hut to any ISB team or club sweatshirt. Students must wear their school uniform underneath. Non-ISB cardigans, sweatshirts, or sweaters are not allowed and are confiscated when worn to school.
Also, please note the regular uniform rules apply during HS Exams. Students must be in school uniform for exams. Students who arrive out of uniform will be asked to changed, which could affect the time they have for their exam.
The final day of the semester, December 20th, is an Alternate Dress day.
Last Day of the Semester
Peter Roback
peterro@isb.ac.th
Please note that December 20th is a shortened school day. On that Friday, school ends at 11:30 am. For HS, this day is an Alternate Dress Day.
December Examinations
Philip Rogers
philr@isb.ac.th
December Examinations – All students should have received their exam schedules. If you have not seen it, please ask your son or daughter.
- December 2013 exams run from Wednesday 11th December to Wednesday 18th December. The full exam schedule can be found on the Parent Portal through this link.
- There are 3 exam sessions each day which have 7:20, 10:10 and 1:00 start times, except for students with accommodations, who have separate schedules. Students should arrive at their exam venues 10 minute early. Students will not be permitted to leave an exam early.
- Student are expected to bring pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, ISB ID card, calculator (if required) and a clear water bottle to each exam.
- Students who do not have an exam on a day may stay at home to study or use our Library for private study.
- Students can leave school early after an exam by completing an exam early departure form which will be posted on the Parent and Student Portals or hard copies available from the HS Office. Students will need to have a parent-signed, completed form for each instance they wish to leave campus.
- Students are expected to take each exam as scheduled. Students who are sick for an exam must contact the HS office immediately. Medical certificates MUST be provided.
- Thursday 19th December and Friday 20th December are exam feedback days where normal attendance is expected. Teachers will look at group and individual feedback, review markschemes and success criteria, look at exemplary answers and develop future goals. School will still finish at 11:30am on the Friday following the HS end of year assembly.
PowerSchool will be closed to student and parent access from 7am on Wednesday 11th December until after the exam period.
Counseling News
Cathy Curtis
cathyc@isb.ac.th
Final Exams around the corner:
Although it is difficult to believe, final exams start on December 11th. All students have received their schedules for the exams so now planning ahead, getting prepared early and feeling confident are the important tasks to help students be relaxed during the exams and are definitely keys to having successful exams. Putting final exam preparation off to the last minute can not only add to student stress but can make the exams less productive in evaluating student knowledge. Any encouragement you can give to help students to start planning their study program early will be helpful. If students need help in ways to plan for their exams or would like tips on alleviating stress, please have them come see a counselor.
University Visits next week:
We have one more university visit for this semester. WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management at lunch on December 6. WHU is a government-accredited private business school in Germany with a mission to pursue Excellence in Management Education. It is considered as a renowned and top-German business school, and it also enjoys an outstanding international reputation. The Bachelor in Business Administration program can now be completed entirely in English. With this new track, offered in addition to the established partly German/partly English track, we’re aiming to attract global-minded international students, foster cross-cultural dialogue in the classroom and beyond, and prepare our students to become excellent business managers and mindful leaders in today’s global environment.
College Spotlight (managed and maintained by parent volunteers!)
Check out the College Spotlight bulletin board – this week the College Spotlight is the Temple University in Japan.
Freshmen – 9th Graders finished their last Freshman Seminar Session this week. The focus of the session was Exam Preparation – many good strategies and tips were shared between students and hopefully they picked up some additional ones from the session presentation. Students also had the chance to give some feedback on the Seminar, how much they valued each session and how generally it has helped in their transition to High School.
Sophomore – With very few exceptions, all of the Sophomore students have completed Sophomore Seminar assignment on their personalities. It is time for them to begin to concentrate on studying for their final exams. They now have their schedule and should begin to consider their study plan.
Next semester, they will be getting the results from the PLAN back and we will work more on their career options.
Juniors-Juniors had their second Junior Seminar Flex on November 28th (Thursday). They received a packet during this session as well as help on how to research universities (world wide) as well as an invitation to you (so don’t forget to ask about it!) to attend the Parent Night. You will get a Parent Perspective (green sheet) from your student, which is a way for the counselors to learn more about your son/daughter from your point of view. These are not questions you don’t know, but perhaps ones that you’ve never had to articulate before. We use the parent perspective to help us to write the most thorough and informative letter possible next year for universities. Insights are helpful. Your ‘assignment’ is due to Khun Vannee by January 29. You may either turn it in yourself, or send it along with your son/daughter.
The students also received a copy of their transcript, so they can see just how they are doing at this point in their high school career. Their assignments are also due by January 29. When all of the assignments are in, students may make an appointment for their Junior Conference which they must schedule during their free period as well as a time that you will be available too. The conferences run from February 3 to March 13.
Seniors-Seniors continue to come in to submit their university applications in a timely manner and the process is going smoothly. Seniors must remember, though, to get as many applications submitted before December 6th as possible, as they don’t want university applications to interfere with their final exams. To be sure that students have as many opportunities to send off their exams as possible, counselors will again be available on specific evenings (5:00 – 8:00pm) by appointment only the week of December 2. Please remember that December 5th, though, is a national holiday and ISB will be closed.
The LAST university lab will be on Monday, December 2 from 2:15 – 3:15. Any student still needing help with applications should come to room 203.
Naviance presentation to JPC
Debbie McDowell made a presentation to a group of Japanese parents on Naviance this week to explain not only the way Naviance is used at ISB but also how parents are able to use Naviance as well.
Counselors spreading the word about ISB & making University Visits.
Kevin Callahan visited five UK universities last week. On his tour he had an opportunity to speak with the admissions deans from the University of Sussex, University of Surrey, Royal Holloway, University of Brighton and University College London.
CIS Conference
Some of the take-aways from the CIS conference attended by Ryan Haynes, Debbie McDowell and Kevin Callahan:
Summer School programs:
Three types – Direct operations (where the university runs the summer school program), Partnerships (where the university and the summer program are partners) and then just facility rentals. It’s a good idea to check to see which type of program your son/daughter might choose.
For example, Yale has 19 programs, only one of which is actually run by Yale University.
Lower cost options for universities
Ireland
Holland
Oklahoma – where a full IB diploma student will receive in state tuitionCommunity Colleges in the US – here’s one option:
The partnership agreements that Indian Hills Community College has with our Regents universities, and the options that students have in the transfer process from IHCC to one of these schools. I followed up with my director about meeting you, and he wanted me to get in contact with you. Our institution would like to offer up to three $1,000 scholarships for students from your high school that would start at IHCC in August 2014. The estimated total cost for one year at IHCC is $13,600 (this includes tuition, housing, food, and health insurance).
We also have an electronic brochure available on our website, and the link to our brochure ishttps://www.indianhills.edu/internationals/docs/international_viewbook.pdf. This includes a lot of great information regarding the services we offer to international student, our programs, our campus, and much more.
Transitions to university
Students should bring paper copies of all important information – their phones, computers, or iPads may not work at first and they need to have those paper copies (passports, phone numbers, addresses, etc).
It was also noted that. Students who arrive without their families usually make a better transition as they tend to rely more on newly made friends.
ISB counselor again receives the Peggy Templeton Strong Award from the Council of International Schools
For the second year in a row, an ISB counselor was awarded the CIS Peggy Templeton Strong award “for significant and lasting contribution to the field of international school guidance and counseling”. This year Debbie McDowell was the recipient of the award. Congratulations Debbie, a well deserved recognition!
Are you leaving Thailand and ISB at the end of this semester??
If you will be leaving ISB at the end of this semester, please contact the Registrar, Khun Namwan, as well as your son/daughter’s counselor.
The Winter Dance
Kerri Fitzgerald
kerrif@isb.ac.th
Winter Dance “A NIGHT IN NEW YORK” is on Saturday night Nov 30th 7 – 10:30 pm at the Intercontinental Hotel in Chitlom (near Central World). Many other dances and balls are continuing in the city so it is business as usual. We have very good ticket sales so it is going to be a fun night with lots of dancing and fine food. Encourage your teen to attend! Please note that the parent permission form MUST be signed by a parent / guardian before a student can buy a ticket. Tickets will be 1200 THB at the door (they have been selling at 900 THB prior to the event) and your teen must bring this signed permission form. Dress code is clearly outlined on the permission form – super short dresses and jeans are not appropriate.
Music Concerts
Kerri Fitzgerald
kerrif@isb.ac.th
The Festive season is upon us and what better way to celebrate this wonderful world than through music. Two large concerts are on next week hard on the heels of this week’s Thanksgiving String Concert. Both are sure to be an enjoyable hour to get folks right in the holiday spirit!
Tuesday, December 3rd, the ISB High School Bands perform their Holiday concert in the CCT at 6:30 pm. Highlights include the Intermediate Band and Wind Ensemble combining to perform music from “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” and the Jazz Band will be doing a fun arrangement of “The Nutcracker” in jazz rock style. The concert is free of charge, and all are welcome.
Come early for caroling outside the Chevron on December 4th as singers from the Thai School for the Blind join our HS and MS choirs for their end of semester concert 6:30 pm. There will be songs & carols from around the world including the classic Louis Armstrong “What a wonderful world”.
Come and celebrate a successful semester!
Cafeteria News…Did You Know…?
Michelle Ihrig
cafeteria@isb.ac.th
..Each year around this time, our very own Bakery starts making Christmas cookies, using a traditional German recipe (Muhrbeteig, my Grandmother’s very own in fact!). What makes them unique, is that they are not sweet. You just taste simple goodness and hints of butter. We will start selling them after lunch and after school at the Grind on Wednesday Dec 4. They come in a multitude of ways: Individually, bagged in pairs and wrapped seasonally to show your appreciation for a teacher or friend, or order them boxed by the dozen to take home for yourself or to share at a holiday party. Looking to do some cookie decorating yourself? Order them without the festive icing and do it yourself. All larger orders are required 3 school days in advance. Here’s to making the Holidays special. Enjoy.
eNewsletter Guidelines
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 (ES) announcements of interest to ES families.
maurilib@isb.ac.th is for Middle School (MS) 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.