Two positive days of learning conversations
by Dennis Harter
Over the past two days, we have had terrific conversations with parents about the learning progress of our students. The MS Parent-Teacher conferences were well attended and we thank all parents who came for their time and efforts in supporting their child’s learning in partnership with our teachers.
This year the middle school tried an “arena” format for conferences, with all teachers in the sports hall and parents booking two hour time blocks to circulate and see all the teachers. This format provided parents greater access to ALL of their child’s teachers and managed wait time with the freedom to move between teachers. We limited the number of parents in any one session and parents and teachers were mindful of keeping conversations focused and timely. While there were occasions of longer wait times in some cases, our observations were that parents were able to move between teachers and not wait “too long.”
Since this was our first attempt at this format, we would appreciate parent feedback on how it went. We identified some areas for improvement as we were doing it, but we’d love to hear from you. Please take the time to complete this short feedback survey so that we can improve the conferences for March.
Thanks again for your role in the partnership with us in helping your child be successful and happy.
MS Principal Forum
By MS Coordinators
MS Principal forum is coming. What is it? Why do we need your input?
The Principal forum is an anonymous channel of communication between parents and the Middle School Administration. Parents sent to the MS coordinators any general issues (concerns, questions, ideas, suggestions, etc.) concerning Middle School. Then the tow MS Coordinators, together with a pre-selected group of parents will discuss this issues and give a report to the MS Administration.
On November 8th at 9:00 The MS Administration will answer each one of the issues that the community had.
We need your input before October 14th, so please if you have any issues please send them to mscoord@isb.ac.th
Karen and Rosalina
MS Coordinators
NaNoWriMo and Parent Workshop
By Dr. Selena Gallagher
If your child is participating in NaNoWriMo this year, please consider coming along to our ‘NaNoWriMo for Parents Workshop’ in the ES MPR on 20th October from 7:45 to 8:45am. This will be an opportunity to ask questions, familiarize yourself with the NaNoWriMo experience, and learn how to best support your child at home throughout this project. For more information, click here.
Keeping our kids safe
by Dennis Harter
dennish@isb.ac.th
In our next middle school PTA meeting, on October 13th, our middle school counselors will present a workshop focused on keeping teens and tweens safe in Bangkok and our local community. The Middle School counselors will share tips for keeping your child safe during playdates (or hanging out as they call it now), sleepovers, going out with friends, and “unsupervised time.”
As we try to do our best as parents, it is helpful to have an accurate sense of what other parents are doing. Too often we hear from our kids what “everyone” does, has, or is like. For this purpose, we kindly request that you (and all MS parents) complete our short anonymous survey regarding the guidelines and expectations you have with your child.
In the session on October 13th, we will share the overall data from this parent survey to help open dialogue about communicating with each other. Counselors will also review some ideas for keeping your child safe online. This workshop will offer opportunities to connect and interact with other middle school parents and we hope you will attend.
More information on this can be found in this eNews newsletter under the Counselor Corner heading (there is also a link to the survey there). Please complete the survey to help us ensure that the data collected reflects our community.
If you have not yet had a chance to register, please do not delay.
Bangkok Baseball Softball Association (BBSA) has organized baseball/softball play for the past 56 years in Bangkok. There are leagues for boys and girls ages 4-18. Please note registration is open from now until November 11th. We must register players now so we have time to hold player assessments, form teams and order player uniforms before play begins. Current fees per player are THB 3,600. Registration fees will increase to THB 4,100 on November 12th so be sure to register prior to that date.
Please click here to go to the BBSA website. You will see the registration link there.
You can make your payment at the Community Activity Office (CAO) or pay by Thai bank wire transfer. Cash, credit cards and Thai baht checks are accepted for payment at the CAO office. The CAO Office is open Monday –Friday, 7:00AM to 11:00AM and 12:00PM to 3:00PM.
Please note that BBSA is switching to fast pitch softball for the intermediate and senior girls softball this year since ISB high school will begin playing fast pitch softball this year in IASAS competition.
Player assessments will be held on Sunday November 13th at the ISB Fields. Assessment sessions allow the coaches to create fair and balanced teams, and parents will be contacted about the specific time for their player assessment session. Assessment sessions are NOT tryouts. All players will be placed on a team.
Practices will begin during the week of November 14th with Opening Day for baseball/softball on Saturday, Nov 19th. All games are played on Friday evenings and Saturdays at ISB. Games will continue every weekend until the league championships the weekend of February 24-25 There will be no games during the winter break at ISB but we will continue play on Saturday, January 7th 2017.
All teams will practice once per week during the season as a weekly practice is important to skills development and to learn the fundamentals of teamwork, etc. Most practices will take place at the ISB fields on weekday evenings (Monday – Thursday). We have arranged a downtown Bangkok location for an optional weekly practice at NIST. Parents will have to pay THB 500 for the season for this practice because NIST charges for field usage. But all players should register to play even if they cannot commit to attending all weekly practice sessions.
On the registration form you will also have an opportunity to volunteer to be a coach, assistant coach or team parent. Please consider helping out with your childs team in some way. The kids really love having their parents helping out with their team and you will have a great time. No previous baseball experience is necessary.
BBSA has purchased a limited number of fielding gloves for players who need them. These will be sold on our assessment days on Sunday, Nov 13th. Please note that the BBSA no longer has any baseball cleats to sell. So parents who want baseball cleats will need to obtain them on your own.
If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Sypolt at ksypolt@gmail.com