MS Outdoor Education beginning 2017-18
by Dennis Harter
dennish@isb.ac.th
This past Wednesday evening, we hosted a parent information session for parents of grade 7 and 8 students in the coming 2017-18 school year. The purpose of the session was to share our excitement over our new Outdoor Education learning program for all MS students, as well as provide important safety and logistical information to parents. More information will of course be provided as we near the end of this semester and at the start of the new year. Elliott Bowyer, the Director of our “Wild Panthers” program described the program and safety measures in detail and shared our excitement for the student learning and experiences that we are putting in place.
One of the important questions that surfaced was around the current Class Trips program. These trips have been in February and included the full grade at once. Part of the implementation of this new Outdoor Education program is a reallocation of financial resources to support the new program. As a result, the grade level class trips will not run next year. This is disappointing, of course, as the Class Trips provided some bonding and other opportunities that are not the same in smaller groups (while other aspects of the smaller group Outdoor Ed program will be much better in other respects). This is not ultimately desirable, but a reality of responsible budgeting.
All of the information from the Parent presentation are linked below. We also video recorded the session, which we’ve linked below.
All Outdoor Education Resources
Note that the slides from the presentation are in Keynote software format, or there is a PDF version that can be viewed.
A view of the new Environmental Campus from above.
Selling Band Instruments
By Kentaro Udagawa, kentarou@isb.ac.th
Dear ISB Bands families,
Next year’s grade 6 band students will soon be hoping to purchase instruments for next year. Some will be looking for second-hand instruments to purchase.
If you have band instruments in good condition that you wish to sell (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, alto/tenor/baritone saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium/baritone, tuba and/or percussion kit), please contact <kentarou@isb.ac.th> and bring your instruments to the MS band rooms (#119 or 107, first floor in the Cultural Center) before Thursday, May 4 for us to evaluate and give an estimated price. We will then send a list of available instruments to parents who are interested in purchasing second-hand instruments.
Please be advised that we are not able to guarantee that all instruments will be sold due to the condition or interested buyers.
If you have further questions, please feel free to write to <kentarou@isb.ac.th>.
Kentaro Udagawa and Brent Poling, MS Band
For Parents of Our 8th Graders
Our 8th Grade End of Year Student Social is scheduled for Saturday, May 13th at 7:00 – 10:00pm at the Best Western Hotel on Chaengwattana. This social is open to ALL present MS grade 8 students to celebrate their completion of middle school and transition to HS. This is the fancy dance with a great buffet dinner included! You can see thepermission form for more information regarding dress code, transportation, etc.
Please note, permission form and money are due by 2:45pm next week on Wednesday, April 26th as the hotel has asked us to submit by then, total number of people that will be attending. Please contact Mr. BT with any questions at maurilib@isb.ac.th
After the Wave Benefit
On Tuesday, May 2nd at 6:30PM in the Middle School Choir Room (CC 8-140), ISB’s Middle School AMIS Vocal Ensemble will be presenting an After the Wave Benefit concert featuring music from this year’s AMIS Honor Boys and Girls Choir Festival in Jakarta and conducted by Mr. Anthony Giles.Tickets are 150 baht at the door and all proceeds will go to After the Wave in support of the R-35 School in Khao Lak.
PTA Touchstone
Pratip Mandal, Editor Touchstone
Our PTA magazine the Touchstone is looking for creative articles, pictures, cartoons and jokes from the students, parents and teachers too! Send your contribution by email by 25th April, 2017 or contact your editors for further information. Please send pictures and text separately.
HS editor: Rebecca Carey
MS editor: Sharon Wong
ES editor: Kahdija Siddique
Booster Club editor: Inderbir Broca
Address your contributions to touchstone@isb.ac.th
Summer School at ISB Update…
By Maurilio Baron-Toaldo
Dear MS Parents,
Registration for summer school is going well. Reminder to register your child(ren) by Friday, April 28th to receive the Early Bird tuition rate!
If you are only around the first couple weeks of our summer break, reminder, we do have three special enrichment camps available:
ES/MS Computer Science For All – “Arduinos, Drones, and Robots – More Than Just Fun” class on June 12 – 23
ES/MS Panther Musical Theater class on June 12 – 16 (this year’s production will be Wicked – The Untold Story of The Witches of Oz)
ES/MS Science and Technology class on June 12 – 16
You can go to the ISB website, or click here, to access all information about summer school dates, programs, and fees, or visit Khun Fon in our Summer School Office (located through door on the right side of the ISB Bookstore).
For any questions, please email sumdir17@isb.ac.th
Best Regards,
Mr. Maurilio Baron-Toaldo
Summer School Director
International School Bangko
Spring Cleaning for Earth Week
If it’s time to clear the closets and drawers at your house, please consider making a donation of your Clothes, Toys, Shoes and Games to ISB next week April 24-28. Also being collected is eWaste: old or broken Electronics of all kinds, as well as CD’s DVD’s and Batteries.
Your charity and responsibility is appreciated!
THE ADDAMSFAMILY MUSICAL:
The long awaited ISB HS production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL is coming to the Chevron Theatre April 22nd, 24th and 25th ! Get your tickets online, in the drama/dance office located in the CC building from 7:00-3:00, or at the door 1 hour before each show. You won’t want to miss this original show about love, family, honesty and growing up. (Mr. Giles.A)
18th Colgate Kids Triathlon registration is now open
Don’t miss out!
Registration for the 18th Colgate Kids Triathlon is now open. We only have room for 100 additional participants so please don’t delay your registration if you are interested. Registration will close on Sunday, April 30th or when we reach our maximum participants, whichever comes first.
Wednesday, May 10th (Visaka Bucha – School Holiday) – 7:30am
- The Colgate Kids Triathlon has been held for 17 years at ISB and Nichada
- It is a great opportunity for kids to have a real triathlon experience (including using timing chips)
- Participants do NOT have to be ISB students. We have many students from Patana, NIST and Shrewsbury who participate.
- Kids from age 5 – 18 can participate
- There is a 500 baht fee to participate
- All registrations must provide one volunteer to help on race day or pay a THB 2,000 (no volunteer fee). The Organizing Committee will use this money to hire High School students or others to help out on the day.
- Please note that all kids must have their own bike and must use a helmet during the biking portion of the triathlon.
NEW RACES & FORMAT THIS YEAR!
We are looking forward to two great races at the heart of our day along with two side events for those interested. This year, the races are as follows:
The Main Events
- Try-a-Tri:(designed for 8 years old & under) / Swim – Bike – Run
Students will start with a 50-meter swim (25-meter pool), followed by an 800m bike ride in the ISB parking lot and a 500m run around the track. Participants will not be timed, and all will receive a participation medal.
- Triathlon:(designed for 8 or 9 and older) / Swim – Bike – Run
A 200 meter swim (50-meter pool), 5 km bike ride and 1 km run will allow all students a nice, healthy challenge. Everyone will start and race together but with the help of “chip timing” results, ribbons will be awarded for First-Second-Third place finishers in three divisions: U11, U14, & U19 (Girls & Boys). Participation medals will also be awarded.
On The Side
- “Do the Double”:Designed specifically for established athletes who have been exercising regularly for a long period of time, this event doubles each of the regular triathlon distances, 400m Swim (50-meter pool), 10 km Bike, 2 km Run. If you’ve been swimming, biking and running regularly, feel free to take on the challenge. Everyone will start and race together but with the help of “chip timing” results, ribbons will be awarded for First-Second-Third place finishers in three divisions: U11, U14, & U19 (Girls & Boys). Participation medals will also be awarded.
- Duathlon:(Any age group/division may enter) / Run – Bike – Run
Want the challenge without the swim? Then consider a new Run-Bike-Run event! Athletes will run 1 km, then bike 5 km, then run the same run distance, 1 km a second time. Ribbons will be awarded for First-Second-Third place finishers in three divisions: U11, U14, & U19 (Girls & Boys). Participation medals will also be awarded.
*** NOTE: There will not be any relays this year.
Additional helpful information, course maps and a link to register can be found on the CAO – Kids Triathlon website link: