MS eNews – Friday, February 21, 2014
Updated MS Calendar of upcoming events:
Monday, February 24
- Season 3 U13 & U15 Boys & Girls Tryouts After School – Softball
Wednesday, February 26
- Season 3 U15 Boys Tryouts After School – Softball
Friday, February 28
- MS Parent Walkabout at 9:50am – 12:00pm in the MS Skybox (Room 4-309)
Friday, March 7
- Professional Day – No school for students
Tuesday, March 11
- Grade 8 Student Information Meeting Re: Grade 9, 1:20 – 2:05pm in MPB1
- Grade 8 Parent Information Meeting Re: Grade 9, 6:30pm in MPB
Thursday, March 13
- MS PTA Meeting at 11:00am – 12:30pm in MPB1
Thursday – Sunday, March 13 – 16
- MS SEA Choir and Orchestra at ASG
Tuesday, March 18
- Early Dismissal – students dismissed at 1:00pm
Wednesday – Monday, March 19 – 24
- Grade 8 students can submit grade 9 course requests online
Thursday – Friday, March 20 – 21
- MS Parent-Teacher Conferences, 7:00 – 3:00pm
Saturday – Sunday, March 22 – 23
- BISAC U15 Open Tennis Singles Invitational at BPS both boys and girls
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: Link to MS Activities and Athletics
Important Notice From The MS Counselors About Upcoming Wellness Lessons
Dear MS Parent/Guardian,
Because your child’s health is important to us, we are writing to inform you of an upcoming unit on Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) in our Wellness classes.
The purpose of Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) is to provide knowledge and understanding of how the human body changes during puberty, and the processes of human reproduction within the context of relationships based on love and respect. Students will develop understanding and attitudes, which will help them to form healthy and happy relationships.
If young people can start their transition into adulthood with good information and the confidence and knowledge to understand what is happening to them, they will hopefully grow into confident and healthy adults able to make positive choices. This can start with learning the basics about growing up and the sessions in school may reinforce what you are already doing at home.
The key aims of SRE are to:
- Provide accurate and relevant information about the physical and emotional changes that children and young people will experience through adolescence and into adulthood.
- Foster students’ self-awareness and self-esteem.
- Develop students’ sense of responsibility and respect for themselves and others.
- Acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes, and values that inform responsible decision-making.
All teaching materials are developmentally appropriate to the age and emotional maturity of the students. The content will be presented in an objective, balanced and sensitive manner. Our approach is based on evidence-based resources that focus on identifying and choosing behaviors that keep them physically and psychologically safe and healthy.
The program will cover:
- Values and Positive Relationships (grades 6-8)
- Puberty (physical, emotional and social changes) (grades 6 and 7)
- Personal Hygiene (grade 6)
- Reproduction and conception (grade 7)
- Self esteem and body image (grade 7)
- Coping with peer pressure (grade 7 and 8)
- Reducing risk in relationship (grade 8)
Our next Counselor Connection for parents will be held on Thursday, March 6, and will focus on Human Growth & Development in adolescence. We will specifically address the topics covered by grade level in Wellness and explore how to talk to your child. Details are provided in this MS eNews. Additional resources that may help in your conversations with your child.
https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/resources-and-publications/info/parents/
https://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/talk_about_puberty.html
We appreciate the role of parents, guardians and families in building values and supporting positive choices. If you have any questions or concerns about the curriculum or materials, please contact your child’s school counselor. The grade 6 and 7 program will begin next week; the grade 8 program will begin the last week of March.
Warm regards,
| Mrs. Nordmeyer
Grade 6 School Counselor cynthian@isb.ac.th |
Mrs. Greenwood
Grade 7 School Counselor jackieg@isb.ac.th |
Mr. Tague
Grade 8 School Counselor rosst@isb.ac.th |
New Dates Scheduled For Recently Postponed MS Grade-Level Trips
We are pleased to announce that we have been able to reschedule all three MS Grade-Level Trips and for them to occur in the same week! The trips are scheduled as following:
- Grade 8 – leave after school on Monday, May 19 returning around 7:00am on Friday, May 23
- Grades 6/7 – leave 7:30am on Wednesday, May 21 returning by 2:00pm on Friday, May 23
You will be receiving updated permission slips and information from the trip coordinators in the near future.
Upcoming MS Parent-Teacher Conferences
Our MS Parent-Teacher Conferences for this semester are scheduled to occur 7:00am – 3:00pm both on Thursday and Friday, March 20-21. There will be no MS classes in session these two days. More information about the conferences and how to schedule your appointments will be published in Friday, March 7th’s issue of the MS eNews.
Next MS Counselor Connection: March 6, 2014
We welcome MS parents to join the school counselors on Thursday, March 6 from 10:00-11:00am in the MS Skybox, 3rd floor. Coffee and pastries will be provided. In our Wellness classes we will be starting our unit on Sex and Relationship Education (SRE), so we will focus this Counselor Connection on the key aims of the unit and an overview of what the program covers.
Please RSVP by clicking on the following link: Counselor Connection: March 6, 2014 Sign Up Form
Because we will be facilitating a discussion, we can accommodate the first thirty parents who submit this form. This form will close once the spots have been filled. We hope you can join us.
Middle School Counselor
International School Bangkok
02-963-5800 x4484
Update on the MS AMIS Honor’s Girl Choir Festival Happening This Weekend in Hong Kong
We received the following update earlier today from Ms. Peterson, our MS Choir teacher:
The Girls’ Honor Choir Festival is going really well! The girls are learning so much and are so inspired by our Guest Conductor Dr. Angela Broeker. I thought I’d share where all of the photos are as well as the link to the live feed of the concert on Saturday.
Thank you so much for your support of this amazing event!
https://tinyurl.com/AMSHGC2014 —–Photos
https://sysops.hkis.edu.hk.event —–Live Stream
ISB Welcomes Award-Winning Author Ralph Fletcher March 3-7!
This March 3-7 ISB will be fortunate to host award-winning author, poet and writing teacher Ralph Fletcher. Ralph Fletcher has been writing delightful novels, picture books, and books on how to teach writing for the past 20+ years. His genuine care for the reading and writing lives of students is evident in all his work.
Ralph will be working with Elementary and Middle School students as a writing coach, guest author and teaching consultant. He will be using his multifaceted talents to inspire and instruct students, faculty and parents.
Parent Training with Ralph Fletcher
Don’t miss a parent training with Ralph Fletcher–Boy Writers. He will be discussing the challenges faced by boy writers. If you have a boy or a girl, you can gain valuable insights into how writers grow and thrive. This will be fascinating. Thursday, March 6 at 8:00am in the ES MPR!
Ralph Fletcher’s books are on sale NOW in the ES HUB! Come have a look through his many titles and sign-up to pre-order a copy of your favorite!
BISAC Update
By Mr. Dyke
kerryd@isb.ac.th
Softball tryouts were canceled on Wednesday, February 19th due to school shutting down early. Tryouts will continue next week on Monday February 24th 2:10-3:40pm as following:
- U13 boys – A field (inside the track)
- U15 girls – B field (far corner field)
- U15 boys – C field (infield is dirt)
- U13 girls – D field (artificial turf)
If you would like to know when upcoming BISAC games are please click here
If you would like to follow the league scoreboard please click here
Repeat: Next MS Parent Walkabout for 2013-2014 Coming February 28th!
Dear MS Parents, you are invited to come see learning in the MS in action! Our next MS Parent Walkabout of the school year will be on Friday, February 28th at 9:50am – 12:00pm. We will begin in the MS Skybox (room 4-309) at 9:50am for the first 10 minutes for an introduction going over our expectations for parents visiting classrooms. Parents are then welcome to visit classrooms. At 11:30am we will reconvene in the MS Skybox and have an opportunity for a follow-up discussion with the MS Administrators about the MS programs.