A Great First Week!
It has been delightful to have smiling students, full of energy and enthusiasm for all the possibilities of a new school year back on campus this week. Settling in well is important for both students and families – please feel free to ask questions of teachers, other parents and of us as we are here to help!
Kelly Armitage
Diana Drummond
ES Welcome Back Assembly – Friday, 22nd August
Our annual student ‘Welcome Back’ Assembly is scheduled for next week. All classes, PK to 5, will join together as one to celebrate the start of our 2013/14 learning adventure. This is not a performanced-focused assembly and is a time for our student community to bond. Please note that this assembly is for students only – space and safety concerns restrict our ability to open the assembly for parents. Many thanks for your cooperation.
Required Medical screening: Comprehensive Physical Exam report forms
All returning students are required to have the Comprehensive Physical Examination Report form completed by the start of school year. If you child(ren) have already completed the physicals, please send the forms to the nurses office. If your child(ren) have not completed the physical check up please do so as soon as possible.
Registration for ES Panther Chorus and ES Junior Panther Choir!
The ES music department is happy to announce the expansion of the ES Choirs this school year! Two choirs, the “Junior Panther Choir” (students in Grade 2 and 3) and the “Panther Chorus” (students in Grade 4 and 5), will be offered as a year-long after school ensemble starting September 3. Both choirs will perform several times throughout the year including school assemblies and evening concerts. To register your child for either group please fill out this form here. Click here to see a calendar for both ensembles for the first half of the year.
Send In Your Recorder!
Students in Grade 4 and 5 will start working with recorders in the next couple of music classes. Some students already have their recorders at school, but if your child brought has one at home, please send it in. If your Grade 4 or 5 child is new to ISB and does not have a recorder, one can be purchased at the ISB Bookstore for 138 baht.
ES Strings Program
Our ES strings program will be held after school on Mondays and Thursdays from 2.10 – 3.20pm. Beginning Strings is open to all students in Grades 4 & 5. Intermediate Strings is open to students in Grades 3, 4 & 5.
The purpose of the ES Strings Program is to introduce elementary students to the various instruments of the string family, and to have them play their instrument in an ensemble setting. Students may choose to study the violin or cello.
This year we will be offering two classes:
Beginning Strings: (Grades 4 & 5) Students who do not have any experience with a stringed instrument may join Beginning Strings. This year long class meets twice a week and teaches students the basic techniques of how to play a stringed instrument such as posture, tone production, and note reading, as well as playing in an ensemble setting. Musicianship and music listening are also part of the course. All Beginning String students are required to purchase their own instruments.
Intermediate Strings: (Grades 3, 4 & 5) This year long course will concentrate mainly on ensemble skills and more advanced playing techniques. Students will cover a variety of string ensemble repertoire and will have several opportunities throughout the year for performances. Students are required to have one year or more playing experience on a stringed instrument and have basic note reading skills. Students are also required to own their own instruments.
PLEASE NOTE: If a student has registered for Beginning Strings, they will need to be measured in order to determine the appropriate size before purchasing an instrument.
John Secomb will be available to meet with parents and students for instrument sizing and purchase after school during the week of August 18th-22nd 2014 from 2:05-2:30pm in the String Room (123) on the first floor of the Cultural Centre Complex.
Classes will begin on Thursday, September 4th 2014. Registration is available online, linked here.
John Secomb
Orchestra/Strings Teacher
After school Thai class 2014-2015
Thai Nationals enrolled in our pull-out English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and pull-out Learning Support (LS) programs are required to learn Thai during after school sessions. These lessons are scheduled every Monday and Thursday afternoon. The first class starts on Monday, August 18 at 2:15 – 3:00pm in Thai classroom numbers 110 and 111. Our Thai teachers, K. Ying and K. Charuwan will teach these classes.
ES Open House – August 28
Please mark your calendars for Thursday, Aug. 28 starting at 6:30 pm. More details in next week’s e-news.
ES After School Activities
This semester’s After School Activity (ASA) program will begin on September 22.
Important dates for you to note in your calendar:
August 29: Activity Listing & important registration information to be found in your child’s Friday folder. The ASA booklet will also be available online via the ISB parent portal. This is also where you register for ASA.
September 1, 2 and 3: Printed registration forms along with exact payment can be dropped in the red drop box outside the ES office.
September 12: Confirmations of ASA placement will be sent home via the Friday Folder·
September 22: After School Activities begin!
Livnat Ziskinder
ES After School Activities Coordinator
New surface on the playgrounds
Both the Big Toy and the Pre K/KG playground were re-surfaced during the holidays. They look beautiful and provide a soft landing for our students as they play on the equipment. Please help us to keep the new surfaces in good condition by not wearing high heeled shoes on the playgrounds.
Arrival and Departure Plans for All Students
These important forms were sent home with students this week. Please return as soon as possible to the ES Office. Linked here is a copy of the note should you not have received one home. The school would like to ensure that your child arrives and departs school safely and keeping us informed of normal travel arrangements helps with that.
Safe Haven Guardian Permission Form
These important forms were sent home with students this week. Please return as soon as possible to the ES Office. Linked here is a copy of the note should you not have received a letter home.
Are you interested in playing sports on an ISB school team?
Students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade can all play U11 sports, assuming they meet the age requirement. There are no cuts and all are welcome. U11 Basketball and Cross Country begin on Monday, August 25 and Thursday, August 28. Times are from 2:10 – 3:10. Girls basketball will be in the ES Aircon Gym and the boys will be in the New Sports Complex. Cross country will meet on the track. If you have any questions you can email the U11/U13/U15 Athletics Director, Kerry Dyke, at kerryd@isb.ac.th
| Sport | Team | Coach | Location |
| Cross Country | U11 Boys | Brinya Tananone | Track |
| U11 Girls | Caroline Reiss | Track | |
| Basketball | U11 Boys A | Jim Armitage | New sports complex (near gymnastics) |
| U11 Boys B | Steve Perkins | New sports complex (near gymnastics) | |
| U11 Girls A | Boom Fitzgerald | ES Aircon gym |
ISB is a Nut-free Campus
As stated on p. 31 of the Parent Student Handbook, ISB is a nut-free campus. We have many students at our school with serious nut allergies. In order to keep them safe, we do not allow any kind of nuts on our campus at any time. This includes the snacks and lunches that you might send to school with your child. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our children safe.
Using the Playground
Families are welcome to use the ISB playgrounds after school hours, with supervision. However, during the school day from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, the playgrounds are to be used only by students for scheduled recess. This includes the PK/Kinder playground. After 1:00 PK dismissal, the playground should only be used by Kindergarteners for their scheduled recess. After hours, the PK/K playground should only be used by children under 7 years of age, for safety reasons. Your cooperation is appreciated.
After School Supervision
Please ensure you know where your child is each afternoon and that maids and nannies understand ISB policy around supervision after school. For safety’s sake, ES students MAY NOT be on campus after school unless supervised by an adult in charge, appointed by the family. Thank you for your cooperation.
Calendar of Events
August 2014
| Aug. 16 | Community Activities Office Information, Registration & Payment Day |
| Aug. 19 | PTA Executive Board Meeting 10:00 am |
| Cub Scouts Parent Night | |
| Aug. 27 | Girl Scouts Parent Info Night |
| Aug. 28 | ES Learning Support (LS) Tier 3 and English as Additional Language (EAP) Parent Meeting 5:30 pm |
| ES Open House 6:30 pm | |
| Aug. 29 | ES After School Activities Registration Open |
| Board of Trustees Retreat 7:30 am |