High School Upcoming events (Please click):
https://inside.isb.ac.th/parentportal/?p=25965
Parent/Teacher Conferences Reminder
Philip Bradley
philipb@isb.ac.th
Please note that High School Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on Friday 2nd October, this is not an instructional day for students. Students are strongly encouraged to join their parents (uniforms are not required).
Conferences will be held in the HS Gym.
Session 1: 7:30 to 11:15
Lunch: 11:15 to 12:00
Session 2 12:00 to 14:30
Parent/Teacher conferences are NOT pre-booked. Rather parents queue to meet each teacher. The conference format works very well but does not allow for lengthy conversations, 5 minutes is typical. Arriving with specific questions is a good plan especially if you have a concern that needs to be addressed. If you require an in depth / follow-up discussion with a teacher, please make an appointment for another day. Session 2 is typically less busy, so if you have any flexibility, come after lunch; of course if everyone follows this suggestion it will be interesting!
Please note that the following faculty will not be present on Friday: Mr. Andy Weiser, Ms. Jennifer Melton, Ms. Ryan Haynes and Dr. Nancy Le Nezet.
Global Citizenship Week (GCW) Registration for Grade 9 & 10
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
Registration for Global Citizenship Week courses opens Monday, 28 Sept at 7:00pm for students in Grade 10 and Wednesday 30 Sept at 7:00pm for students in Grade 9. We strongly encourage that prior to this date you have conversations with your child about expectations – both cost and experience.
Important guidelines:
- Students are required to complete a Category 1 (in Thailand) course before they graduate.
- Note: Internships do not count as Category 1
- Students may only select a Category 3 (outside Asia) course if previously completed Category 1 (in Thailand).
- Students should list courses by preference. If one choice is full, we will try the next course in order.
- Students should communicate with parents before registering. Any changes after registration will result in students moving to the end of lists.
- Students will receive an email to their school account confirming registration (Please note that this has been going to students Spam folder).
- Students should register online using their ISB username and password.
- Registration site: https://www2.isb.ac.th/gcw
- Handbook site: https://www.isb.ac.th/Global_Citizenship_Week/aspx
IB Examinations
Phil Rogers
philr@isb.ac.th
It might seem early to be talking IB Exams considering they do not happen until May 2016. However the registration and payments for these exams are due very shortly.
All Grade 12 and some Grade 11 students have now received their IB exam registrations and associated invoices. Students who are completing the second year in any IB course are expected to complete the course by sitting the examination, as detailed in our HS Program of Studies. Universities also expect students completing an IB program or course to have fulfilled all assessment requirements of the course, of which the examination is the culminating assessment.
Please note that invoices are payable to the cashier by 9th October.
Counseling News
Ryan Haynes
ryanh@isb.ac.th
Grade 9
This week in Freshman Seminar, students created their own individual goal plan. This plan included 3 goals, which could be personal, academic, community, family, activity based. Students were also given a presentation from Mr. Vaughan (Dean of Students) on the process on signing up for Global Citizenship week; many students had good questions for him.
Students are reminded that teachers are available for extra help after school during the Flex period from 2:15 – 3:10. It is encouraged that students make the most of this opportunity, especially when they are in need of extra support or clarification of what they are being asked to study / create.
Grade 10
Sophomores: We encourage parents to keep track of the progress of their sons and daughters. Looking on PowerSchool once a week or so will help you to keep up to date on their performance and attitudes to learning. (No need to look every day and add to the stress of your son or daughter.) Seeing their progress in PowerSchool will help you in having conversations with their teachers in the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences next Friday, October 2nd. The best starting point is the HAL (habits and attitudes to learning) mark for your son or daughter. Ask the teacher to comment on that mark; it will be a good conversation starter. See you next Friday!
Grade 11
The PSAT is coming up on October 14 with pre-registration taking place on Tuesday, September 29 during Flex. The PSAT is excellent practice in preparation for the SAT, but ISB understands not all students need the SAT or (ACT) for college/university entrance. Beginning this year, the PSAT is optional for Grade 11 students. ISB encourages and highly recommends the PSAT for the following students:
-Anyone applying college/university in the United States
-All IB Certificate students (Non-IB Diploma students)
If a student, with parent permission, opts not to take the PSAT, there is a Blue Form that needs to be completed. Please see Khun Mai in the High School Counseling Office or your counselor for the form.
Grade 12
Seniors met with their counselor Thursday for their second Senior Seminar. Seniors discussed in the group if it was better to be extraordinarily good at one thing vs. pretty good at many things, saw a video from Colgate University professors and students about the value of asking for help, and were reminded of some important dates and deadlines. Finally, students took some time to self-assess where they were in their classes and self-predict their IB Grades. Teachers will make IB Predictions later at the end of October.
Students applying to university in Korea, Japan, Australia, and other countries with application deadlines later next year, were encourage to continue focusing on doing their best academically. That is their main goal right now. While students with university deadlines in the next 4 months were reminded of the following:
- Teacher Recommendations – Students should have already asked teachers for these and completed the appropriate form and had their counselor approval.
- Early Applications – Transcript request forms for universities with deadlines in November are due by October 9.
- Transcript Requests – Requests for materials from ISB for application deadlines of December – January are due by November 23.
University Visits
- Saturday, September 26 (MPB – 2:00pm)
Brandeis University
Case Western Reserve University
Emory University
New York University
University of Rochester - Monday, September 28 (Rm. 203 – 10:20am)
University of Southern California - Tuesday, September 29 (Cafeteria – 10:00am)
KIC UnivAssist College Fair (10 U.S. universities) - Wednesday, September 30 (Rm. 203 – 10:20am)
American College Dublin
Maastricht University (The Netherlands)
New College of the Humanities (London)
University College Roosevelt (The Netherlands) - Thursday, October 1 (Cafeteria – 10:20am)
Linden University Fair (35 U.S., Japanese, European, and Canadian universities) - Saturday, October 3 (Downtown – Shangri-La Hotel – 3:30pm)
CIS/EARCOS University Fair – 100+ universities from around the world
The 21st Annual Bangkok International Choir Festival (BICF) Gala Concert
Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
THE 21st ANNUAL BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL (BICF) GALA CONCERT will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, in the Chevron Theatre. This year’s festival will feature choirs from Bangkok Patana School, Bromsgrove International School, International School Bangkok, NIST International School, Ruamrudee International School, St. Andrews, St. Stephens, and Thai-Chinese International School under the direction of guest conductors, Dr. Leslie Guelker-Cone and Vic Oakes. A cake reception follows the concert and admission is free.
SPIRIT NIGHT / BLACK & GOLD DAY / FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT
Derrick Quinet
derrickq@isb.ac.th
Come out and support our teams, coaches, and students on Friday, Sept. 25th during Spirit Night! It’s also Black & Gold Day at ISB, so come dressed to impress your fellow Panthers. Check the SPIRIT POSTER for details, schedules, and where/when to buy your ISB memorabilia. Schedules for this weekend’s Friendship Tournaments are here: Soccer / Volleyball!
eNewsletter Guidelines
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.