MS eNews – Friday, May 9, 2014
Updated MS Calendar of upcoming events:
Saturday, May 10
- BISAC U15 Softball Invitational at BPS
- BISAC U 15 Team Tennis (Boys at BPS, Girls at HIS)
- MS Grade 6 & 7 Social at 5:00 – 7:00pm in the ES Gym, theme is Hawaiian
Tuesday, May 13
- Visaka Bucha Day (School in session – holiday for Classified Staff)
Wednesday, May 14
- ES and MS Strings & Choir Concert at 6:30pm in the Chevron Theater
Thursday, May 15
- MS Play – A Midsummer Night’s Musical at 3:30pm and at 6:30pm in the CCT
Friday, May 16
- MS Play – A Midsummer Night’s Musical at 6:30pm in the CCT
Saturday, May 17
- MS Grade 8 Social at 7:00pm (off-campus)
Monday, May 19
- Grade 8 Annual Trip – all leave after school
Wednesday, May 21
- Grade 6 and 7 Annual Trips – all leave at 7:30am from ISB
Friday, May 23
- Grade 8 Annual Trip – all return 7am, no school rest of day
- Grade 6 and 7 Annual Trips – all return to ISB by 2:00pm
Tuesday, May 27
- Early Dismissal at 1:00pm
Thursday, June 5
- Grade 8 Moving On Ceremony at 8:00am in the Chevron
Friday, June 6
- Last day of 2013-2014 school year
- MS Alternate Dress Day
- MS Final Assembly at 7:20am in the Chevron
- All student dismissal 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: Link to MS Activities and Athletics
Important Request for All MS Parents for the Upcoming Grade Level MS Trips
The dates for our Middle School overnight field trip departures are quickly approaching. 8th grade students will depart after school on Monday, May 19th and 6th and 7th grade students will depart 7:30am on Wednesday, May 21st. For any students that require administration of prescription or non-prescription medication (especially Epi Pen, inhaler, antibiotic, etc.) during the class trips, parents must bring these medications to the ISB Nursing Clinic no later than Thursday, May 15th. The medication should be in the original container and must have proper instructions in terms of dosage and time to be given. If your child needs to carry their medication with them during trip outings (Epi Pen or inhalers) please indicate your permission to do so by signing the appropriate form in the Nursing Clinic.
In addition, a few parent volunteers that are licensed nurses in the United States will be joining the class trips. These nurses will be happy to provide care to your children while on the class trips but please remember that these nurses are not licensed in Thailand and therefore not liable for treatments provided.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and if you should have any questions, please feel free to reach Kristin Simpson, our Health Consultant at 081-107-6800 or email kristins@isb.ac.th.
For Parents of Current Grade 6 and 7 Students – Math Placement Procedures for 2014-2015
We’d like to inform you of the math placement guidelines we are 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 mathematics 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, as well as their Habits and Attitudes for Learning. Thus, our Grade 7 and 8 Mathematics programs are specifically designed to provide appropriate and challenging mathematical problem solving opportunities for all students. Each grade contains three separate core mathematics programs. By providing different levels of programs, we believe we are able to provide a challenging math curriculum, based on readiness, for all students.
|
Grade 7 |
Math 7 |
Math 7 Advanced |
MS Algebra |
|
Grade 8 |
Math 8 |
MS Algebra |
Integrated Math Higher Level I |
How will students be placed in grades 7 and 8 for their math?
The MS Math Department and Administration will meet before the end of the school year and review the following criteria for each student to make placements:
- Math Post-Assessment scores (compared to Pre-Assessment in the Fall)
- Standards-based grades on semester report cards for the entire year
- HAL scores on end of year report cards
- MAP scores and growth shown on the MAP assessments (Fall to Spring)
- Teacher recommendations for placement
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.
Is this placement final?
No! During the first week of school in August, all students will be taking the Pre-Assessment for the mathematics course they are placed in. At that time, any student who performs significantly well will be considered for possible shifting into the next mathematics program level.
Our goal is to provide a MS Mathematics Program that is loaded with opportunities for us to challenge each student at their level of readiness and to enrich their study of mathematics. It is our ultimate goal at ISB to foster a love of mathematics in all students, 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 P. Regis, MS Mathematics Department Head
Moe Baron-Toaldo, MS Vice-Principal
Tom Burgess, MS Principal
For Parents of Current Grade 8 Students – Moving On Ceremony
Dear Parent(s) of Grade 8 Students,
Please join us in the Chevron Theatre on Thursday, June 5th at 8:00am to commemorate your child’s move from middle school to high school (Arrive early, we will begin on time). It is a significant step in their lives, and we would love to celebrate this moment together with you through a student-led ceremony lasting approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. It will be followed by a reception in the MPB until approximately 10:15am. This is an important day for your child and your family. Please plan to attend the entire morning’s festivities.
Since this is a special celebration, we expect students to dress appropriately. Boys should wear dress pants, a dress shirt, a tie, and dress shoes. Suits and sport coats are not necessary. Girls should wear a dress, or blouse with a skirt, and dress shoes (with heels that are not too high as they need to climb up and down the stairs to the stage). Hems are not to be more than 8 cm above the knees. Dresses with sleeves are preferred. Jeans, shorts, sleeveless shirts, tuxedos, or formal dresses are not appropriate.
After the reception, the students will continue their celebration with a BBQ in our cafeteria, then move to our new pool from 11:45am to 1:45pm. Since students already have permission to swim in PE classes, only parents that provide documentation to have their student NOT swim is required. Swimming is an option for all students, as we will also have the Gymnasium and other open spaces in the new complex for them to hang out and spend their last day together. They should have a change of clothes for after the reception that they can wear over their swimwear.
NOTE: Students must have swimwear that meets the ISB P.E. requirements (no bikinis) and should bring a towel. We will dismiss students from the pool area at the end of the school day. Hats, sunglasses, and sun block are suggested. The pool does have shaded areas, as well as the indoor gymnasium for students wanting to stay out of direct sun.
Please put this important date on your calendar. All family members are invited to attend the ceremony and reception for the students.
If you have any questions, please contact us at the school. We look forward to celebrating your child with you on this special day.
Sincerely,
Dr. Troy P. Regis
Grade 8 Team Representative
ES & MS Strings and Choir Concert – May 14th
Let the music flow through you! Come here our musicians and singers on Wednesday, May 14th at 6:30pm in the Chevron. Please click here to see the poster.
MS Choir Camp – May 17th
An invitation to all MS students that will be, or are thinking of, taking Choir in the MS next year to our Choir Camp occurring on Saturday, May 17th! Please click here to see the poster with more information.
MS Production – A Midsummer Night’s Musical – May 15 and 16
It’s time to get out your 80’s costumes and buy your tickets to the Middle School Production “A Midsummer Night’s Musical”!
Show Dates: Thursday May 15 at 3:30pm and 6:30pm, and Friday May 16 at 6:30pm
200 Baht – Adults and 100 Baht – Students.
Tickets on sale in the cafeteria and at the front of the school. Get in quick!!!
If you loved the 80s, like to laugh and don’t mind a bit of Shakespearean comedy, then you will love this show. It promises to be lively, magical and just a little but silly! Click here to see poster.
Presentation from the Grade 6 and 7 Parent Info Meeting Regarding Grade 7 & 8 Programs for 2014-2015
Dear Parents of Present 6 and 7th Graders,
Please click here to access the presentation from the parent information meeting held earlier this week on Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30-8:00pm in the Chevron Theater regarding the 7th and 8th grade programs for the 2014-15 school year in the middle school.
Cafeteria News…Did You Know…?
…That we make it a top priority to serve chicken at ISB which is FREE of both Antibiotics and Growth Hormones! Why is this so important for you and your family? Because long term exposure to antibiotics and hormones, whether taken directly or through another source, actually weaken our immune systems by reducing our bodies’ natural ability to fight infection and bacteria, thus leaving us much more prone to illness. Furthermore, sources which impact our own hormone balance, in this case with growth hormones in food, can have all sorts of negative side effects for our kids which appear in different ways. Rest assured knowing your children can enjoy all the healthy chicken items on our menus at school. This is great news considering these dishes are, hands down, some of the school wide favorites! Enjoy.
Repeat: Next MS Counselor Connection Parent Meeting
We hope you can join us on Thursday, May 15th, from 9:00-10:00 in the MS Skybox, 3rd floor, for our last Counselor Connection of the school year. Our focus will be on transitions, a timely topic given that the end of the school year signals a time of change — families moving and students thinking about what the next year and grade will bring. We will discuss the features of transition and welcome a panel of MS parents who will share stories and advice from their own experiences. We welcome grade 5 parents to join us as they prepare for their children’s middle school adventure. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Given the limitations of the venue, we can accommodate the first thirty-five parents who submit this form. The form will close once the spots have been filled. We hope to see you on May 15th!
Please RSVP by completing the form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OZn-0I31o3vgmYBWDJo_syFBAAdYekHFIdb_w2MYWYM/viewform?usp=send_form
Warmly,
Cynthia, Jackie and Ross
Middle School Counselors
Repeat: Bangkok Youth Soccer (BYS) registration for the 2014-2015 season is now open!
The season will kick off when we return to school in August. It’s very important that you get registered as early as possible. Please DO NOT wait for the last moment to register. If you know your child will want to take part in BYS please register NOW. Please click here or go to the CAO webpage to register
Reminder: Leaving ISB End of This Semester?
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.
Reminder: Information – MS Summer School, 2014
MS Summer School is open to all students who are presently in Grades 5 to 7 in the 2013-2014 school year. For general information about the MS Summer School, dates, times, sessions being offered, and costs, please click on the first link below. For more information about specific program offerings, please click on links 2, 3, and/or 4 below.
3. Coding and Robotics Offering
4. Musical Theatre Camp Offering
If your child is presently in 8th grade and is interested in attending summer school, please use the following link to see summer school information for the other divisions: ISB Summer School – https://www.isb.ac.th/Summer_School/default.aspx