High School Upcoming events (Please click):
Important Warning Message
Philip Bradley
philipb@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents
I am writing to share with you concerns raised across a number of international schools here in Bangkok regarding recent dangerous behaviour by some of our students. We have excellent relationships and are always keen to send out shared messages on matters that may affect our students.
These concerns are not entirely new to us but we would prefer to repeat ourselves since there is some evidence these activities are ongoing.
The first concern involves students taking pictures of themselves/each other at high floors of buildings in Bangkok. Apparently, groups of students enter the buildings, which may be empty or under construction and then try to find exposed, roof edge areas where they can take pictures. This is clearly extremely dangerous and has already resulted in one student from another school sustaining serious injuries after a six floor fall – they are lucky to be alive. We believe that this may involve students as young as 13.
The second concern relates to the inhalation of chemicals from pain relief sprays, ‘huffing’. The sprays are legal and are easily available in pharmacies. This is linked to a previous concern we shared regarding possible student use of nitrous oxide, similar to laughing gas. These seem to be variations of the same basic idea, which is to inhale a substance to obtain a temporary ‘high’. All of these practices are extremely dangerous and potentially fatal with many references to tragic cases in global media.
In both instances some students are using social media to share photos and show others what they are doing; this introduces a competitive element that increases risk taking.
Please feel free to contact me directly, or your child’s counselor, with specific questions or concerns. I don’t wish to alarm you unnecessarily regarding these practices but would encourage you to speak with your children and share this concern.
Yours sincerely
Philip Bradley
High School Principal.
Grade 9 – 11 Examinations
Susan Canobie
susanca@isb.ac.th
All students in grade 9 – 11 can access their examination schedules through PowerSchool. Exams will run from Thursday 1st June through to Wednesday 7th June. Further information will be circulated closer to the time.
Study Leave Grade 12 Students
Susan Canobie
susanca@isb.ac.th
Study leave for all grade 12 students started on Tuesday 25th April with IB, AP and ISB exams going through until Friday 19th May. Exams continue on all public holidays in this period.
Students are expected to be in school uniform when on campus during the school day or taking their exams. To leave campus during the school day a grade 12 needs to use their gate pass.
Teachers are available to assist students during the exam period. The ISB Library will be available to students on Saturdays and Sundays for the next three weekends, dependent on ISB Faculty volunteer supervision.
A reminder that all Seniors are expected to attend Senior Breakfast and Graduation Practice on Wednesday 7th June.
Grade 10 & 11 Students with IB or AP exams
Susan Canobie
susanca@isb.ac.th
Any G10 or 11 student with an IB or AP exam in the next three weeks may take study leave the day prior to the exam (excluding Monday exams).
News from HS Counseling
Kevin Davy
kevind@isb.ac.th
The High School runs an internship program for our grade 9-11 students at the end of the 2016-17 school year. The program will run from June 12-22 and includes workshops (prior to the actual internship) on resume-writing, interviewing skills, and other information related to success on the job. We work with businesses that are happy to sponsor one or more ISB students in an appropriate, stimulating internship where they have a chance to learn about the workings of a business/career while gaining valuable experience in what it takes to be successful in a job. The cost of the internship is 18,300 baht. If you think that your son or daughter would benefit from such an experience, have them contact Mr. Callahan at kevinc@isb.ac.th and he will help them with further steps in securing an internship.
Grade 9
It was great to see another event where students took some risk in putting themselves forward to represent in the student counsel for next year. Well done to all those that took that risk and congratulations to those elected. Throughout the year I have been able to see many students take risks through joining clubs, trying out for a team or performance, taking challenging courses, trying new approaches to learning and many more. The outcome sometimes will be successful and sometimes not – its OK to “fail forward” as we learn; the growth comes in the process. In the community in which we live hopefully our students feel in a safe place where they will be supported in taking on new challenges by those around them acting as safety net.
Temperatures and humidity are extremely high, as you know. It is so important to keep encouraging hydration for both health and learning purposes. Keep Hydrated:)
Grade 10
Many parents wonder about the best times for their sons and daughters to take standardized tests that are
used for university application/selection. Some start as early as 9th grade, and some parents become
anxious when they aren’t doing the same as their children’s peers. Some thoughts to consider:
Taking the PSAT in 11th grade, and their first SAT in the second semester of 11th grade, keeps students right on track for maximizing their scores. Take the second in May-June and third, if necessary, in fall of senior year. Students very rarely increase their scores after the third try. Developmentally, it is much better to prep for a test designed for 11th and 12th graders when the student is closer to that age, and the curriculum of ISB in math and English will certainly be adding to their skills and ultimate scores. Plus, and maybe most
importantly, there is no need to add further to students’ stress and anxiety about the future by making them study outside of school for a test two or three years down the line. Please consider this plan when thinking of your student’s future… and present.
Grade 11
Counselors met with Juniors in the last seminar of the year this past week. Students took a self-assessment related to their college planning and identified their personal “to do” list. Ask them about it! We discussed summer visits to colleges, the need to find balance in Senior year with enjoying what is the final year at home for most students, and making a plan for testing, recommendations, and essay writing. Students have access to resources on Haiku to get them starting to think about how to write for the US and UK.
As the last few weeks of 11th grade fast approach, help your student reflect on what has gone well this year and where they’ve met success. This will help students identify what is important to them as they prepare for life after ISB. Many classes will start final exam review soon. Help students find balance in what can be a hectic time ensuring they get plenty of rest and downtime to stay recharged through June 9!
Grade 12
IB Exams are now underway. Please remind your seniors to get plenty of rest, set a study plan, and confer with teachers for any necessary exam support. This can be a time of many mixed feelings for students and parents. Counselors are still available to support students in any way.
Senior Transition Day will take place on Wednesday, June 7 from 7:30am-2:00pm. Attendance is mandatory for all seniors.
Students were given their Leaver’s Form a few weeks ago and will need to turn them in by Friday, May 19th. School records will not be released if the form is not completed and submitted to their counselor. Laptops are also due by this date. There is also a Senior Graduation Survey in Naviance that students need to complete.
University Decisions – Seniors need to notify their counselors of admission decisions. If a student decides NOT to attend a university to which they’ve been accepted, they should notify the university of their decision. This can be done through an email or an online portal as directed in the acceptance notification. Please read university acceptances very carefully for details. Finally, students should have deposited to US universities by now and just a reminder that only ONE deposit should have been made.
Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India Applicants- Students met with a counselor a few weeks ago to begin planning for upcoming applications. Students and parents should speak with their counselor and plan accordingly especially if deadlines are beyond graduation.
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
Touchstone Info
PTA – Touchstone
touchstone@isb.ac.th
Prompt 1 : from parents of the graduating class of 2017, we need a passport size picture of your kid along with a life quote that defines them. For example : ” Earn your leadership, every day ” by Michael Jordan could be what motivates your kid. Ask them to tell them yours. One passport sz picture of your senior with one inspirational life quote. That is all we need from them. This is a must for all graduating kids from class of 2017.
Prompt 2 : 22nd April is Earth Day : prompt is…..what are the environmental issues that plague our world today and how do you as a student perceive to protect and nurture it for a greater sustainable good? This could be in the form of drawings / short write-ups and applies to all age group of kids from the school.
Under this very category we are also looking for Earth day, go green recipes. Create one, attach a picture of the dish with you holding it and submit. Best recipe wins and gets printed.
Prompt 3 is funny and interactive : 1st April fools day . We invite parents / students / faculty alike to share their personal stories / musings and pranks of this day.
Prompt 4: 4th May is star wars day. We are asking for pictures of you ( if you are a fan) and your child’s favorite character from the movie and why you identified with the character from this franchise. We will need pictures of you all dressed as them with a tiny one liner stating reason why you lived to love the character from star wars! Look into your Halloween pictures and voila!!!! You are bound to find something.
Please note a few key details.
All entries due by 10th May 2017 latest. These need to be sent directly to Touchstone@isb.ac.th. Please make sure you have the prompt name as a headline when you send the mail.
eNewsletter Guidelines
Shelley Bragg
shelleyb@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.