Building the Partnership
By Dennis Harter
This week the middle school hosted our annual Open House night – a chance for parents to meet their child’s teachers to learn about their learning environment and program. Thank you to all the parents who attended the event – almost 70% of our students’ parents were there. The rains held off and we had a wonderful evening.
Hopefully, all those who came heard and felt the passion and care our teachers have for working with students in this age group. While we focused on school improvement initiatives and reporting in our opening remarks, more than anything Tico, Cindy, and I want you to know that middle school is a wonderful place for your child(ren). With us, they will grow and learn academically and socially, in an environment that is safe and caring.
We love what we do and we want your child to be successful and happy.
We hope that message shone through in teacher presentations along with meeting the advisors.
Open House was the first step of the year toward building a healthy partnership between school and home, between parents and educators, to make sure your child’s social, emotional, and learning needs are met. Student-Parent-Teacher conferences take place in early October, when you will have a chance to get more specific feedback on your child’s progress.
As always, please keep open communication lines between yourself and school. Whether that is through Haiku and PowerSchool, or more direct email contact with teachers and counselors, fostering that communication supports our shared efforts to educate and grow your child.
It’s going to be a great year in the middle school!
Big Thank you to all our G.7 and G.8 Ambassadors!!!
The counselors would like to thank all the grade 7 and grade 8 ambassadors who worked so hard to assist our parents during Open House. These ambassadors worked tirelessly to give out schedules, show parents to classrooms and to remain welcoming over a long night.
Many thanks to:
Aaron, Ken, Praj, Thee, Renata, Firishta, Firuza, Pleng, Nina, Min, Jenna, Ngan, Kaitlyn, Zyra V., Shannen, Gera, bryan, Mila, Gabriel, Well, Prang, Elm, Camilla, Zyra S., Meg, Jai and Natalie
Message from MS Counselors
The new school year is now well underway at ISB. Heading back to school after two months of vacation is a major change, requiring many to shift schedules and accommodate for different activities. For international school students, the transition can be even more complicated. Many students have spent the break in their home country, reconnecting with family and friends only to return to Thailand missing their loved ones and feeling homesick. Returning students are coming back to the same place but oftentimes without the same friends due to the transient nature of international living. New students are not only adjusting to a new school, but often to a new country and way of life. While many adults and children are capable of accepting the changes, some kids have a harder time getting used to the new aspects of their lives.
Child anxiety specialist Rhonda C. Martin, a licensed professional clinical counselor and author of “Stuck” – a guide for kids and parents dealing with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders, compiled a list of warning signs that something might be amiss in your child’s transition back to school. The following behaviors, excerpted from the article Signs Your Child is Not Adjusting to School, (CBS NEWS STAFF September 17, 2012, 12:00 PM), may indicate that your child’s adjustment is not going smoothly.
Complaints of stomach aches before or after school
Some of the most common complaints from children with hidden school issues are stomach aches, diarrhea and nausea. These kids visit the restroom multiple times while getting ready for school, don’t “feel like” participating in after-school activities and significantly change their eating patterns.
Creation of rituals or rigid routines
Children who feel distress from a loss of control during the school day often create ritual and routines that “must” be followed.
For example, a child who has a specific seven-step bedtime routine that must be carried out perfectly may be struggling with school adjustment issues. The child who sets his or her clock one hour earlier than necessary and who slowly completes morning preparations may be making a preemptive move to control the day.
Increased cravings for white flour carbs, white sugar-based foods
Significant changes in food preferences that include increases in consumption of white flour and white sugar-based foods may indicate a child’s body is trying to address excessive stress chemicals.
Anxious kids should instead eat protein, vegetables, and whole fruit to nurture their bodies. Eating the wrong foods when stressed only exacerbates the negative symptoms and continues the maladaptive stress cycle.
Significant increases in sibling rivalry
Most children become more amiable and cooperative when they have a structured schedule with predictable events. As a result of this tendency, many parents will notice deviations from the normal schedule – such as three-day weekends, winter and spring breaks – as times when there is increased conflict and disharmony between siblings. Usually during the summer months, fights between siblings are at a high as well. Most families can expect an increase in peace and harmony by the end of September. But, if an increase in sibling rivalry occurs and is maintained after the first month of school, this could be a red flag for parents.
Unable to fall asleep after third week of school
When a summer filled with late nights and sleeping-in ends abruptly, parents should expect a period of adaptation while children adjust to the new bedtime and early alarm clock. However by the third week of school, children should be used to the daily demands and calibrated to sleep at bedtime. If they haven’t adjusted, it may be a sign of a bigger problem.
Increases in use of unacceptable words, language
Using foul or inappropriate language may sometimes be due to mental exhaustion, fatigue, frustration or unhappiness in general or with a particular issue. Preschoolers may increase the words “stupid, dumb and idiot” in their vocabulary. Elementary children may repeat words used in video games such as “kill, die, death” and even some four-letter words. Older children may repeat phrases about death and killing and use a multitude of curse words. Noticeable changes in vocabulary may indicate other problems that a parent should address.
Remains stuck on minor negative events instead of focusing on evening activities
When a child comes home from school and fixates for hours on what a classmate called him or her at lunch and “refuses” to go to football practice attention is warranted. If the child is angry that another group of students would not let him or her play with them at recess and cries about this through dinner, those daytime concerns become “stuck.”
Parents should be on the lookout if their children with school stress become stuck on such issues for long periods of the evening and at bedtime as well.
Increased intolerance for directions, chores
Distressed children can only focus on one thing at a time. Interruptions, directives, transitions or chores may cause a meltdown for these kids.
A parent may ask a child to pick up her shoes, socks and backpack, but the child returns a loud shriek because she is watching her favorite TV show. A parent may indicate that it is time to take a sibling to soccer, but the child curses a string of inappropriate words while he or she continues to play a video game. In these cases, the child’s aversion to distractions may be a sign of a problem that needs to be addressed.
Cannot name four children they like at school
Most well-adjusted, happy children can readily name five to 10 children that they like at school. Many who are struggling with bullying, shyness, anxiety or depression struggle to name one or two friendly children.
Parents should ask their child to name those he or she likes and give prompts, such as, “Who is your favorite friend at lunch?,” “Who do you like to sit with on the bus?” and “Who do you play with at recess?” Make certain that the child can name a nice circle of friends including a few dependable “can always go to” friends.
Cannot be comforted with favorite things
Young children generally can be comforted with a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, doll or movie. Older children can usually relax when playing a video game, emailing a friend, engaging in a sport or going to the mall with a few friends.
Parents should be familiar with three or four comfort items/activities and present them often to the child when something seems amiss. If the child consistently remains distressed in the presence of such items, it may be cause for concern.
What to do
If you’re worried about your child’s transition back to school, or to ISB, please contact your child’s counselor (Grade 6: Carmel Keane, carmelk@isb.ac.th, Grade 7: Karen Kinsella, karenk@isb.ac.th, Grade 8: Colleen Coady colleenc@isb.ac.th)
Exciting Leadership Opportunity for Middle School Students:
By the Middle School Counselors
The JUMP! Foundation is a non-profit social enterprise that uses experiential education to advance a world in which individuals, community leaders, and global citizens realize their passions and potential. JUMP! will be on the ISB campus on Saturday, September 10 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and will provide a leadership training opportunity for 45 ISB middle school students.
The goal of this leadership training is to help students examine the characteristics of effective leaders. Students will review the roles they play in groups and be able to identify important practices for effective team leaders and, equally important, for effective team members. Students will have the opportunity to practice effective leadership strategies and skills through fun, interactive activities. In addition, students will work on their team building skills. The JUMP facilitators will be supported by members of the ISB admin team, the counseling team and the teachers.
Please encourage your child to come join the fun- there will be lots of new, hands-on activities and it’s a great opportunity to make new connections.
(Note: due to space limitations for this program, we are able to accept 15 students per grade level. The first 15 students in each grade to be signed up using this form will have an opportunity to participate in this session. We will send a confirmation email if your child receives a spot. We anticipate other similar leadership opportunities will be available to students throughout this year so if your student isn’t able to participate this time, there will be other opportunities coming soon).
Connecting to School Systems and the student laptops
Dear Parents,
Please open the following slideshow: https://bit.ly/mstech1617 to learn about how to connect to PowerSchool, PowerSchool Learning (Haiku Learning), Campus Online, and the Library system. There is also some information about enabling Parental Controls and using an application called f.lux in the student laptops. This is the information used during the parent training sessions offered in the past two weeks.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask by email or come to see me in the Coaches Office during the school day.
Regards,
Miguel Zambrano
MS Technology Learning Coordinator
Interested in Receiving the MS Daily Student Announcements in Your Email?
Dear Parents,
Some of you have already found the link on our website where you can subscribe to receive via email each day the MS Student Announcements for the day. The link is on the ISB website under MS Activities. I’ve attached a link below for your convenience if you haven’t.
If you would like to begin receiving the announcements, just click on the following link, completing the details asked for.
Best Regards,
Moe Baron-Toaldo
MS Activities Coordinator
MS Clubs & Activities Booklet 2016-2017 Now Available!
Dear Parents,
Our MS Clubs & Activities Booklet 2016-2017 is now ready! You can click here to see it. The booklet is a “living” document as it will be updated as needed through out the year. It provides you with an overview of the different club and activities being offered this year in the MS. In addition to the booklet, the MS Daily Student Announcements is another place to look to see what is happening each week. Students receive the announcements via email 5:00pm day before each school day. If you would like to receive the announcements also but have not subscribed to do so yet, click here to do so.
Best Regards,
Moe Baron-Toaldo
MS Activities Coordinator