High School Upcoming events (Please click):
https://inside.isb.ac.th/parentportal/?p=25965
Message from Principal
Philip Bradley
philipb@isb.ac.th
After much anticipation GCW is upon us with the first students about to depart – listening to the conversations in school this morning you can tell something different is about to happen! As you will be aware our HS students are heading in many directions, some local, some within Asia and some intercontinental. Wherever they are heading I know that GCW is a highlight for students offering new learnings, insights and friendships – that stay with them a lifetime. GCW is also a massive logistical undertaking; for months now teachers and support staff have spent countless hours on making this experience the best it can possibly be. I would like to thank all who are involved and wish them all well – especially our overnighters.
GCW is here!
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
As students head out for Global Citizenship Week in the coming days, please know that our sponsors will do their best to look after them, ensure their safety, and provide a fun learning environment. Part of that learning centers around the students taking on some independence and responsibility away from home, yet in safe settings.
For this reason, we ask that you let them go a little this week so they can fully immerse themselves in a new culture, habitat, and overall experience. In cases of emergency, please contact me (at any hour) and I will reach the group and put you in contact with your child. They are off to wonderful experiences and will return with stories, memories, and a new outlook on friends, themselves, and the world.
For those students in local (non-overnight) courses, please remember to sign their provided Gate Pass (will be sent home with students on Monday) if you give permission for them to leave campus before 2:05pm – students will not be allowed to leave campus for lunch. Please remember that 5:00pm buses will not be running during GCW.
My contact information is as follows:
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
Mob: +668 7514 9550
Work: + 662 963 5800 ext.3304
Grade 10 Course Selection Evening – Monday 29th February 6:30pm MPB
Philip Rogers
philr@isb.ac.th
Please save the evening to come along with your grade 10 child to speak with grade 11 course teachers about the different options available in grade 11.
The transition from grade 10 to 11 is the time when students have the most choice available about what course they can study. It can prove to be hard to make these choices and we hope that having the opportunity to talk to teachers will help that decision to be an informed one.
More information regarding available courses will be available after GCW for all grade levels.
Grade 12 Exam Schedules both Mock exams and for May 2015 – Important information
Philip Rogers
philr@isb.ac.th
Our Grade 12 students will be undertaking Mock exams from Friday 18th March to Friday 25th March (including the Monday 21st March which is a holiday in Thailand). The Mock exam schedule will be sent to students after GCW.
All Grade 12 students will all finish formal classes on Wednesday 27th April and start study leave the following day. The exams start on Monday 1st May and go through to Friday 20th May. There are IB exams on both Thai holidays during this period.
Individual IB and ISB exam schedules can now be found on PowerSchool. They are located on the top right corner of the quick lookup page. Please check them carefully and record the dates in your family calendar. All exams are in MPB with AM (mornings) starting at 7:30am and PM (afternoon) starting at 12noon.
High School Counseling Newsletter
Kevin Callahan
kevinc@isb.ac.th
Grade 12
Last week, we shared a few quotes from ISB alumni who visited campus in January. Read more about their advice in this new section of the ISB University Advising site: https://sites.google.com/a/isb.ac.th/isb-hs-university-advising/resources/alumni and https://sites.google.com/a/isb.ac.th/isb-hs-university-advising/transitions
Those students who plan to apply to universities in India, Japan, Korea, and Australia/New Zealand are still in a waiting pattern for applications periods to open. Students should communicate closely with their counselor as they prepare for this process.
Grade 11
If you took the PSAT and are experiencing difficulty accessing your PSAT scores, please see your counselor.
Have fun on GCW!
Grade 10
The counselors presented to the 10th graders last week to give information about their course selections for the next two years. Students began to draft a list of their possible schedule, and we gave information about graduation requirements, IB Diploma, options in specific subject areas, and more. Please speak with your son or daughter about their choices, and bring your questions to the Grade 10 Course Selection Evening on Monday, February 29th.
Grade 9
We are excited for our Freshman to have their first GCW experience – hopefully it will be a great one for your son / daughter. Mr Davy and our two interns Ms. Brelsford and Ms. Perkins have started meeting with students individually to review first semester progress. Conversations have been insightful, honest, and reflective on the student’s part.
From time to time students are going to need extra help or clarification in a subject. Students are encouraged first to see their teacher after school. Flex time is 2:10 – 3:05 and nearly all teachers are in their rooms readily available to assist students with their queries. Please encourage your son / daughter to take advantage of this time if they are having difficulties in a subject. In addition, we have a peer tutoring program where students might be able to get individualized assistance from a peer who has volunteered their services. Students should drop by to see Mr. Callahan in the counseling office if they are interested in either getting help or helping others. Lastly, we do have a list of outside tutors which is vetted through our administrative office. If a student needs tutorial beyond the above forementioned then our HS front office can be contacted for the most up to date version of tutors offering their services.
No university visits next week – GCW!
Congratulations to our ISB Panthers – Second Season Wrap!
Derrick Quinet
derrickq@isb.ac.th
ISB wrapped up the second season last weekend, with IASAS and BISAC tournaments here and abroad! The ISB swimmers made headlines as the girls stormed to a strong third place finish despite being down two athletes. The boys swim team finished second to claim silver and were neck and neck with JIS throughout the competition. Congratulations to all swimmers, record breakers, medal winners, and seniors on a spectacular finish at IASAS.
ISB hosted what was overwhelmingly considered to best IASAS Tennis Tournament to date. The Panthers community pulled together and once again showed our unbeatable community spirit, immense hospitality, and school pride. Our students had the opportunity to watch and enjoy the tennis, on-court, like never before. ISM and JIS earned the gold this year while our boys and girls teams finished fourth. The real winner is tennis at ISB, and the future is bright for our program!
The basketball teams traveled to Kuala Lumpur to compete at this year’s IASAS, and the competition was fierce. Both teams showed their courage and character, bouncing back from a tough first day to quality for the quarterfinals. The boys upset ISKL in the first round and then gave eventual champions SAS all they could handle in the semifinal before losing a close one to TAS for 3rd. The girls’ team continued to improve throughout the tournament, eventually putting it all together in their best showing of the year to defeat JIS for 5th place. Congratulations, Panthers!
The IASAS Rugby/Touch Tournament was moved to Manila, but the organizers and community didn’t miss a beat in putting on a fantastic tournament for the athletes. The Touch competition was balanced and as intense as ever, with only the slimmest of margins between victory and defeat. Our girls finished 4th this year but pushed every team to its limit. Our boys rugby team fought valiantly and persevered through
injuries to finish 6th this year. The Panthers’ determination, grit, and resilience were the envy of the tournament, and kudos to our players and coaches on their positive spirit and play.
The JV teams finished the BISAC season in style, with the girls’ basketball and girls’ touch teams winning the league championship. Both teams led the league from start to finish and credit goes to the coaches and players on their overall improvement. The boys’ basketball team played a championship-caliber all season. The boys ran into Trail in the final and it was an incredible game, with ISB earning the silver medal. The boys’ rugby team also had a season to be proud of, winding up third in BISAC. The boys grew by leaps and bounds over the season, so credit to the coaches and the players.
The 2nd Season Sports Banquet is Tuesday, February 16. Please purchase your tickets (for parents/siblings) at the Athletics Office by February 12.
eNewsletter Guidelines
Tony Arnold
anthonya@isb.ac.th
ISB eNewsletters provide a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. For your convenience we have provided you with our eNewsletter guidelines below.
Submitting an announcement for publication
ISB accepts announcements from ISB families 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
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.
maurilib@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.