Kevin Davy
kevind@isb.ac.th
Grade 9
This week in Freshman Seminar students had the opportunity to reflect upon their personal character strengths. The VIA survey on character strengths is a very well researched and established tool to help identify our own personal character strengths. It’s a tool that been used by millions of people all over the world from different cultures. Please ask your son or daughter about their top 5 personal character strengths. Better still, take the survey yourself and compare your strengths. Do you see those strengths in each other? When and how have you used them, or seen your son / daughter use those strengths? Here is a link to the assessment: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register
In the next couple of weeks the school will be looking at semester courses and any adjustments we have to make. You might want to be aware of the following:
- consider asking that school you might move to (If you know it) what their science requirements are. In the past we have had some students take Chemistry 2 instead of Biology 1 or Physics 1 second semester. This is because sometimes students need a full year of Chemistry to transfer. This is often the case when transferring to the U.S.A
- The master schedule is tight and there is not a lot of flexibility for movement to accommodate changed electives.
- From time to time to balance courses etc we sometimes have to switch core courses. If this happens we always make the best effort to keep you with your current teacher for that course.
- Think about your Freshman Seminar / Free Period this semester – how has that helped you balance your time and commitments. Over half students elect for the free period. If you find that you have a full schedule and you would like me to take an elective out for a free period – please let me know ASAP.
- If you chose Biology and now want Physics – or visa versa – let me know ASAP.
Grade 10
10th graders have been continuing in Advisory in thinking about what they might like to do in the future. Activities and exploration have included enhancing their understandings of their strengths, understanding what careers in different areas/industries entail, and looking at strategies that successful people have used in reaching their goals in career and life. It seems that many of your sons and daughters have a very good sense of their strengths and how that can help them be successful in the future.
Lots of teens are worried about themselves because they are constantly comparing themselves with others. That’s part of being a teenager and dealing with self-esteem and peer issues. How can you help? It’s never too late to help support a child’s self-esteem. Take a look at this short article on helping boost adolescents’ self esteem:
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/raising-your-teens-self-esteem/#.WDanvVtQlD4
Grade 11
Counselors met this past Thursday with 11th graders in their 2nd Junior Seminar to visualize and identify what an ideal college that best fits their needs and wants looks like. Juniors learned how to properly research universities and the resources available to help them get started.
Student Homework – Students need to research 2 universities and write a self recommendation. Guidelines were handed out and reviewed in the seminar and can also be accessed on Haiku.
Parent Homework – You also have an assignment called “Parent Perspectives.” This is your chance to share very helpful information about your student with the counselor as begin to move forward with the college process. You can complete this on the paper given to your students, or on a Word document (students can download from Haiku), or through your own parent Naviance account.
The student and parent assignments are due by Monday, January 16…but of course earlier is always better!
Mark your calendars! Junior College Night is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30pm in the MPB. Both 11th grade students and parents are encouraged to attend when we officially kick off the college search and application process.
Last month, 11th graders took the PSAT. CollegeBoard has designed a new system for PSAT score delivery to students this year. According to CollegeBoard, results should arrive electronically to students around December 12. To understand more about what the reports mean, access the following video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzCSIilL3WQ
Grade 12
This has been a busy week with students turning in transcript requests (officially notifying their counselor and ISB of where they plan to apply).
Please remind your student to schedule an appointment to submit their applications sooner, rather than later. All applications to universities with December and January deadlines need to be submitted with the counselor by Thursday, December 15. We suggest that students applying to Canada submit their applications prior to the December break as well.
College News
Here is the link to university visits for the upcoming week:
https://sites.google.com/a/isb.ac.th/isb-hs-university-advising/university-visit-calendar