ISB Communication Single Page View

SAFETY ALERT! – Pedestrian Cross-walks

by Rick NELSON
rickn@isb.ac.th

SAFETY ALERT!

Pedestrian cross-walks should not be used for dropping off or picking up students. These pedestrian crossings include those at the main entrance gate, Elementary School gate and the New Sports Complex. In addition, no one should park near these pedestrian zones and entrance gates. We continue to have very dangerous near collisions between bikers/walkers and drivers at these crossing zones. ISB security guards have been directed to keep vehicles out of these zones. Drop-off and pick-up of students must take place inside ISB at our regular drop-off and pick-up spots at the front of the school (in front of the Panther).  In addition, Nichada Thani does not allow any motorized vehicles to drive or park in the designated bike lanes anywhere in Nichada.  Please respect  the directions of our ISB security guards and our ISB and Nichada Thani procedures that help us prevent accidents to our students and other community members.

 

Influenza

by Sally PLOMLEY
sallyp@isb.ac.th

Other the last few days we have noticed an increase in children presenting to the Health Clinic with influenza type symptoms. We wanted to make sure parents are aware of the symptoms and that influenza may present with nausea and vomiting. Please read the information below and keep your children at home if they are unwell to help us prevent influenza spreading throughout the school.

How influenza is spread?

Influenza virus is spread when someone with influenza coughs or sneezes, producing airborne droplets that come into contact with another person. Droplets can be spread through the air. Infection may also be spread by contact with hands, tissues and other articles soiled by infected nose and throat discharges.

Symptoms:

• rapid onset of fever
• headache
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• sneezing
• running nose
• sore throat
• a cough.
• may have nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain

Most people recover within a week, although the cough and fatigue may last longer. Influenza is much more serious than the common cold. It can lead to pneumonia (lung infection or inflammation) and other complications, and even death.

Once you are exposed to the influenza virus it is an average of 2 days for seasonal influenza (range 1 to 4 days) before you get symptoms.   You are usually contagious from 1 day before onset of symptoms until 7 days after the onset of symptoms.

Treatment:

Most people recover with rest, drinking plenty of fluids and use of paracetamol/acetaminophen for the relief of pain and fever.

If the influenza virus is detected on throat/nasal swab antiviral medication can be given. This should be started within 48 hours of the onset of the illness and may decrease the duration and the severity of the illness. The entire course of the antiviral medication should be taken.

It is important that children are able to recover fully prior to returning to school otherwise they will relapse and risk spreading the infection to their peers. They should be fever free without medication for 24 hours prior to returning to school.

If your child is diagnosed with influenza they need a medical certificate presented to the Health Clinic stating they are fit to return to school and no longer contagious prior to going to class.

When to seek medical advice

Seek medical advice if:

• you are concerned about the symptoms
• symptoms are getting worse
• shortness of breath
• difficulty breathing
• confusion
• inability to keep liquids down because of vomiting
• symptoms of dehydration (such as being dizzy when standing or passing much less urine than normal).
• If you want to see if antiviral medications will help.

Prevention:

• If children are unwell they should stay away from school until there has been no fever for 24 hours (without using a fever reducing medicine such as paracetamol/acetaminophen).
• Wash hands as soon as possible after sneezing or coughing and after contact with nose and throat discharges or articles soiled by these. Use soap and water or an alcohol based hand rub.
• Wipe down all frequently touched surfaces regularly with a cleaning cloth dampened with detergent, or a large alcohol wipe.
• Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your arm, not with your hand. Drop used tissues immediately into a rubbish bin, then wash your hands.
• Flu vaccines reduce the risk of getting severe influenza. Influenza vaccination is required every year as the influenza virus is constantly changing and each year the influenza vaccines are altered to provide protection against the strains that are circulating.
• Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for anyone 6 months of age or older who wishes to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza.

ISB is committed to your child’s overall development, both educationally and health related. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider or the ISB Health Clinic (nurse@isb.ac.th).

 

 

Board Chair Letter – 7 September 2015

by Marc de Vries
marcwjdevries@gmail.com

Board Chair Letter – 7 September 2015

On 28 August the Board held its beginning of the year retreat at school in the MPB. The objectives of the retreat included a review the school’s improvement plans, setting Board and Head of School goals for the year, appointing officers, and determining committees. In addition, the Board discussed the progress of some specific agenda items such as the PSA 2550 Charter submission and the potential for an outdoor education campus. In this letter I would like to share with you some background on PSA 2550 and the Board’s decision to submit the school Charter.

PSA 2550

In its current ownership structure, ISB is owned and governed directly or indirectly by the International School Association (ISA), of which all parents are members. The ISA elects eleven Trustees from its members to form the Board and govern the school. Subsequently the Board of Trustees has the possibility of appointing four additional members who may or may not be members of the ISA.

The Private School Act (passed in 2007) requires ISB to submit a new Charter changing its ownership structure and transferring all its assets such as land and buildings to a new entity called “International School Bangkok”. Under this Act, the school itself, rather than ISA will own the assets and operate ISB. Furthermore, the Act requires that the school is governed by an Executive Board consisting of representatives from ISA (which holds the school license), administration, teachers and parents.

In the beginning, the implications of PSA2550 for ISB were unclear. Consequently for the next seven years ISB requested, and kept being granted, extensions of submission of the Charter with the Ministry of Education until the consequences were better understood. By 2014 the last remaining uncertainty related to the tax liability the school would incur after the transfer of assets.

In preparation to comply with the law a Charter was approved by the ISA at the AGM in 2014, with a minor change approved at the AGM in June of this year. However, submission of the Charter was withheld until a Royal Decree was issued ensuring there would be no tax implications in relation to transferring assets and operations from ISA to the School.

This Royal Decree was issued in July 2015 clearing the way for ISB to submit the Charter. As a reminder, the Charter was drafted in line with ISA’s By-Laws and guarantees ISA members still govern the school. The ISA still elects its Board of Trustees and each Trustee will have a seat on the school’s Executive Board. The Board of Trustees further nominates and appoints each of the other 4 Executive Board members. This enables the members of the Board of Trustees to continue directing the affairs of the school, as originally stated in the ISA By-Laws.

With the Royal Decree issued, the Board approved submission of the Charter at the retreat.

The next step is to plan the transfer of assets and migrate operations from ISA to the school. This will be a major administrative task but won’t have an impact on students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders. A significant advantage of this migration is that ISB will be able to simplify its complicated ownership structure of various assets such as land plots and teacher housing now held by several different companies.

Board of Trustees Officers 2015-2016

The Board elected its officers as follows:

Marc de Vries                    Chair

Janewit Kraprayoon        Vice-Chair

William Harvey                  Treasurer

Sumiter Broca                    Secretary

The next Board meeting is at 6PM on Tuesday 15 September and is open to all stakeholders.

 

ISB School Board Meeting – September 15th

by Walairat Wattanaungkoon
walairaw@isb.ac.th

ISB School Board Meeting,September 15, 2015 (Tuesday)

The next School Board regular meeting will be on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 6:00 pm at the MPB 3.   Please see the attached agenda.

All ISA members are welcome to attend.

Board Agenda 15 9 15

 

 

New Parent Portal login

Recruiting – Rugby & Touch Coaches

by Derrick Quinet
derrickq@isb.ac.th

ISB is looking for experienced and enthusiastic rugby and touch coaches to work within our high school program. These coaching positions are for the second season, October 26-January 31. If you are interested or would like to know more please contact the ISB Athletic Director, Derrick Quinet, at derrickq@isb.ac.th

 

Revised Policy – Rules & Regulations for Parents Using ISB Fitness Rooms

by Bob Connor
bobc@isb.ac.th

Dear ISB Parents,

For those of you who have been using either the weight room or back fitness room (old dance studio), we would like to inform you of new policies, regarding revised rules & regulations for using these facilities. The rationale for these regulations involve safety and liability, as we feel it is necessary to establish a better overall system, maintaining proper security at all times.

Attached are two documents:

– FITNESS ROOM RULES & REGULATIONS 2015-2016 (Including designated hours that the rooms will be open for: Students, Teachers-Staff, Alumni, & Parents-Community); And a number of guidelines and proper etiquette for using the rooms and the equipment/machines.

– RISK ACCEPTANCE & MEMBERSHIP CONTRACT – which all students/teachers/staff/alumni/parents MUST complete, sign & turn in.

We expect to start these new policies/rules/hours of usage on next Monday, Sept. 14. In order to be able to use the rooms from that day forward, you must complete and turn in the risk acceptance/membership contract. You may print out the attached document, and copies will also be available with Amir Mirzaie, our Fitness Room Supervisor/Coach-Trainer; and also in the Community Activities office, Athletics office, and at the security guard’s station in the breezeway.

Please turn in the completed/signed form in the CAO or the Athletics office. Additionally, please have your ISB ID to show when using the room, as you will be asked to sign in at the supervisor desk during each visit.

We will be keeping an ongoing, updated “Member List” so that we can monitor the overall usage of the rooms. Eventually, we hope to implement an automated entry system, with an ID card swipe granting access to the rooms.

We appreciate your understanding and support. Please let us know if you have any questions at this time.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY HAPPY!

Bob Connor
Community Activities Coordinator/Athletics Assistant

Risk Acceptance Membership Contract
Fitness Room Rules & Regulations 2015-2016

 

Massed Band Festival – September 12th

by Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th

ISB is once again hosting the annual Mass Band Festival that involves international school students from Bangkok and surrounding areas. Students come together for a day of rehearsing with a guest conductor and then perform in a gala concert that will take place in the Chevron Theatre on September 12 at 2 pm. The concert is free and all are invited. This year’s festival will involve six schools and over 200 students. The guest conductor will be Dr. Erin Bodner, of Graceland University in Iowa, USA. Dr. Bodnar is originally from Canada and has previously taught at Mahidol University. Come listen to some of the finest literature for wind bands written today on September 12 at 2 pm in the Chevron Theatre.

 

Panther Run Series, Race #2 – September 12th

by Derrick Quinet
derrickq@isb.ac.th

Let’s make that 4th Bullet point a reality and HABL it up this Saturday at the second Panther Run of the season.  A 3 km and a 5 km option.

If it’s your first race this year, please register at this link.  If you’ve been before, you’re all set.  Prizes for anyone who can beat Rohit.

7:00 Warm-up and Registration

7:30 Race Start

100 Baht for Students

200 Baht for Adults

All proceeds go to Operation Smile

See you on the track,

Dave, Dan, Dellisa and Mike
ISB Cross Country Coaches

 

Space available in Small Motor Vehicle Training Course – September 13th

by Rick NELSON
rickn@isb.ac.th

High school students can still sign-up to take part in the Small Motor Vehicle Safety Course.  The full day course is being put on by the Interdisciplinary Center for Road Safety.  The training will take place this coming Sunday, September 13th at ISB. The training runs from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Students or parents can sign up for the course by clicking on this registration link and then paying the participant fee of 1,000 Thai Baht to the CAO office (near the ISB Health Center).

If you are a parent concerned about your high school student riding golf carts or small motor cycles around Nichada or out on the Thai roadways, then this is the perfect course to ease your fears.  The course will address the safety issues and technical skills needed when driving on any roadway.  For more information on the Interdisciplinary Center for Road Safety, you can click here to go to their website.

Bangkok All-Stars Tournament Baseball Teams –Tryouts on September 13th!

by Andy Minckler
andy@mincklermail.com

Dear Parents,

The Bangkok All-Stars are travel and tournament baseball teams, with 4 age groups:  U10s, U12s, U14s and U18s.  Teams are very competitive and kids from all over Bangkok are eligible.  Tryouts are mandatory and will be held on Sunday, 13th September at ISB fields.  See below schedule and the attached flyer for the age cut-offs and information about the program.   Players selected for this team are required to participate in local and overseas tournaments, as well as attending extra practices each week.  Registration in the BBSA is also required, but the commitment to play on these teams means your son must attend any practices, scrimmage games and/or tournaments, over and above participation in the BBSA.

Bangkok All-Stars Tryout Schedule

Date                     Time                    Location Team

Sunday, 13 Sep   9:00am – 11:00m    Field B   U10s
Sunday, 13 Sep   11:00am – 1:00pm  Field B   U12s
Sunday, 13 Sep   2:00pm to 4:00pm  Reinsch  U14s
Sunday, 13 Sep   4:00pm to 6:00pm  Reinsch  U18s

If your son is interested in trying out for the team, please register him in advance online with our sign-up sheet by clicking here:

At the tryout, make sure your son wears proper attire and brings their own baseball glove.  Bats and all other equipment will be provided.  Cleats are recommended, but please also bring a pair of sneakers / trainers in case of rain – we will use indoor facilities and cleats are not allowed indoors.  Having your own water bottle is also recommended, though water will be provided at the fields.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please email the appropriate coach contact as provided in the flyer.

Thank you!

Bangkok All-Stars

 

AEP Fall 2015 – Online Registration Begins Monday, September 14th!

by Gabriela Alvarez
ISBAdultEd@gmail.com

AEP FALL 2015 – ONLINE REGISTRATION BEGINS MONDAY 14th!

Adult Education Program is right around the corner… Come and join our Program, meet new friends while learning a new skill.

A variety of classes and an amazing group of teachers are waiting for you!

The Fall 2015 Class Catalogue is ready. Please have a look at it by clicking here: inside.isb.ac.th/parentportal/adulteducation, and sign up for as many classes as you wish…

• Online registrationopens Monday September 14th, at 7:00AM.
• Registration and payment drop-off box available at theAdmissions Office (just below the main library) from Monday to Friday (7am – 3pm), from September14th till September 21st. 
• Exact Payment to be dropped in the yellow payment box in an envelope with the printed online receipt.

For further information and for any questions you may have, do not hesitate to contact us at ISBAdultEd@gmail.com.

Best wishes,

Gabriela Alvarez F.
​Jesmin Tarana​ Ara
PTA ISB Adult Education Coord

It’s Time to Roar!

by ISB Booster Club
isbbooster@isb.ac.th

Booster Club Needs Spirit Crew and a Co-Vice President

by ISB Booster Club
isbbooster@isb.ac.th

Here’s an exciting opportunity to support our students and be a part of a crew that is in charge of setting up/running/breaking down our Spirit Tents which sell concessions and Spirit Gear to support the students involved in athletics and the fine arts. It is a great way to stay involved and be an active part of ISB’s community. Training and laughs provided and 100% guaranteed fun. Interested in a challenging and rewarding position as a VP? Please contact Lynn Jones at lynnandaj@icloud.com with questions regarding any of these opportunities to join!

Team Connect – Success!

by Derrick Quinet
derrickq@isb.ac.th

The Team Connect program kicked off successfully last week, as members of our high school varsity squads linked up with our KG and 1^st Grade classes during PE, Music, and Art classes. Both groups of students had a great time getting to know one another, sharing, laughing, and learning together.

The teams will continue visiting these classes throughout the season, building relationships and nurturing new connections across the divisions. Team Connect provides a unique platform for our students to practice mentoring and leadership, build school spirit, and reinforce that learning is fun at any age! One important aim is for the students to deliver mutual support at ISB’s showcase events – for the varsity teams the Spirit Night, Friendship Tournament, and IASAS, and for the ES students at their performances, exhibitions, or invitational events.

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 25. It’s Spirit Night at ISB, and everyone is invited to cheer on our JV and Varsity volleyball, soccer, and cross-country teams! Next week’s upcoming games are listed here. Go Panthers!

 

ISB Panther Gymnastics

by Charlotte Staib Hansen
ISB Panther Gymnastics Coordinator
isbgym@gmail.com

The ISB Panther Gymnastics club has reached an all-time record of 260 gymnasts, all working hard to master the different skills of artistic gymnastics. If your son or daughter missed the registrations for one of our classes, we have a few spots on the following classes:
Pre-K basic gymnastics – Wednesdays and/or Fridays 1:30-2:15 pm
Level 1 and up – Wednesdays and/or Fridays 3:30-5:30 pm
Level 1 and up Skill Refinement – Saturdays 9-11 am
MS/HS gymnasts only (beginners and experienced gymnasts) – Saturdays 11-1pm
If you are interested in joining our team, please send an email to isbgym@gmail.com and we will check for availability – first come, first serve.

 

 

Lost your ISB ID Card?

Cost is BHT200, the replacement ID Card can be collected from the Business Office.  Allow 24 hours for printing.

 

eNewsletter Guidelines

by Tony Arnold
anthonya@isb.ac.th

ISB eNewsletters provide a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. Please see our eNewsletter guidelines below.

Submitting an announcement for publication
ISB accepts announcements from ISB families and ISB staff 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
• An image or photo (optional)

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.
dennish@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.