Kevin Callahan
kevinc@isb.ac.th
We hope that you have had a great break (it seems so long ago now!) and that things are off to a good start in the second semester. Wednesday, January 21st, is the last day for any class changes, but hopefully your schedules are all set by now.
9th graders:
The first week of school has seen 9th graders walking campus with a sense of confidence and grounding after completing their first HS semester. The second semester is another notch in regards to academic demands and rigor. Students will be reminded and encouraged to find balance in their lives. Part of this balance may include a free / managed period. If students find that in the first 8 days of school that they may have overloaded their schedule they are are still able and encouraged to open up a free period for themselves.
10th graders: Next Wednesday and Thursday we’ll have our third Sophomore Seminar. We’ll be combining the results that we got from the Via Character Assessment and the Career Interest Profiler to see what kind of careers might be the most fulfilling for each individual. It might be good information when the 10th graders choose their classes for next year in March!
11th graders: Parents, please remind your son/daughter to complete the Junior Packet that was given to them during Junior Seminar #2 back in November. The packet is due to the counseling office by February 2. Included in the Junior Packet is a Parent Perspective sheet that needs to be completed and an invitation for parents to attend the Junior Parent Night on Thursday, January 29 at 6:30 where the university application process will be discussed.
12th graders:Welcome back to the final semester of high school! It will be an exciting time with celebrations and many “lasts”. As we approach IB exams in May and graduation in June, please support your son or daughter in continuing a strong effort and academic record in their final semester. Any university admission offer (including to US universities), is conditional upon their final Senior year grades and/or IB grades.
While the majority of students may have submitted university applications, there are Seniors who will apply to universities with deadlines in the next few months (Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia/NZ, etc.). Those students should stay in close communication with their counselor so we can best assist them in being prepared to apply. Requests to submit documents to universities should be submitted to the counseling center three weeks before the application deadline.
If your son or daughter has received an application decision, encourage him/her to notify their counselor as soon as possible. Also on the horizon this semester, counselors will lead Seniors through a number of transition workshops as they prepare for life after high school.
Students and parents who are interested in studies in the UK: there are three large UK university fairs coming to Bangkok. They are listed below:
January 24-25 – Education Exhibition in Thailand (11am-5pm) (4 top UK universities)
InterContinental Hotel, Bangkok, 973 Ploenchit Rd.
UCL, Imperial, King’s College London, and SOAS in attendance
Workshops and presentations regarding each specific school and studying in the UK in general
January 29 – UK Education Fair (2-7pm) – 64 UK Universities in attendance
Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel
Sukhumvit Soi 21, 4th floor ballroom
January 31 and February 1 – Education UK Exhibition (12-6pm) – over 100 UK Universities in attendance
Siam Paragon, Royal Paragon Hall – 5th floor
There will also be workshops and presentations regarding study in the UK