Spirit Night, this Friday! Support Our Community! Support our Athletes!
By： Derrick Quinet, Athletic Director
derrickq@isb.ac.th
We are gearing up for our Final Spirit Night on Friday, March 23! Come out and show your support for the Senior Track & Field Championship including Varsity & JV Badminton action on Friday. On Saturday, join us for the BISAC Track & Field Junior Meet at ISB.
BOOSTER HUT!
Support your friends, community and school by wearing the panther colours! Vist the Booster hut this Friday to purchase your panther merchandise!
Booster depends on the great volunteers in our Community! Can you help?? Please sign up for a shift or two if you can.
Chantal Bremner
VP/Spirit, ISB Booster Club
092 929 1470
AMIS Housing Request
By: Anthony Giles, PK-12 Arts & Activities Director
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
Dear ISB Students and Parents,
Apologies if you are receiving this information again but we are desperate to find housing for our 192 guests! As you may or may not be aware, ISB will be hosting the 2018
AMIS MS Boys’ and Girls’ Honor Choirs April 4-8, 2018.
With 213 students (including 20 from ISB) from 17 schools around the region participating in the conference this year I am writing to ask for your help housing our visiting student delegates. Think of it as an opportunity to connect with students at other schools who may host students from ISB in the future. Or, think of it as an opportunity to give back if your family has already benefited from similar arrangements at other schools.
AMIS conferences and tournaments depend upon the good will and generosity of people like you to host visiting students from other schools. This reciprocal agreement shared throughout the region adds immense value to our programs, and provides a unique opportunity to develop new friendships, share in culture, and strengthen our connections across international communities. Honestly, it’s one of the things that makes AMIS events so special.
So, show off your new guest room. Share your favorite dessert. Get to know students from other schools. In short, be a part of this rich AMIS hosting tradition by registering HERE immediately.
Please Note: All ISB students involved with IASAS Athletics, IASAS CC, or AMIS are required to submit the housing form linked, or find someone who can host for you.
Things to consider…
- Host families are responsible for providing a safe environment for visiting students in compliance with the ISB Hosting Policy
- Student guests must be hosted in pairs, or more, with no exceptions.
- Accommodation can be fairly basic and rooms shared.
- At least one parent/guardian must be present at home for the duration of the convention. Evening supervision is required.
- Visiting participants will arrive Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
- All visiting teams will depart on or before Sunday, April 8, 2018.
- Host families are expected to provide healthy breakfasts and dinners for visiting students.
- All participants and host students must follow the IASAS Rules and Guidelines set forth by the league and host school.
- Parents will receive a curfew call from visiting coaches at 9pm every evening to check in with their students.
Board of Trustees Annual Election, 2018
By: Dr. Henrietta Bullinger, Board of Trustees
bullingerh@yahoo.com
The ISB Board of Trustees would like to announce its annual election, which will take place on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, the day of the International School Association (ISA) Annual General Meeting. (The ISA is comprised of all ISB parents and guardians and is the license holder of ISB.) Election results will be announced that evening at the 7:00 pm AGM. Board nominations open on Friday, March 16 and close on Friday, April 12.
The ISB Board of Trustees is currently composed of eleven elected positions and up to four appointed positions. This year there will be three open seats on the Board to be filled by election. Newly elected trustees will serve a two-year term, beginning August 1, 2018.
Candidates for the Board of Trustees (BOT) should be aware of the many rewards and responsibilities of serving on the Board. The Board is the guardian of the school’s mission, and as such sets policy, focuses on school governance and addresses long-term, strategic issues. The Board is not involved in day-to-day school management. The full Board meets once a month in an open regular session, followed by a closed executive session. Board meetings occur in the evenings at ISB and last approximately two-three hours. In addition, trustees attend an annual retreat in August.
Trustees also serve on one or more committees corresponding to their skills and interests. Current committees are the Business Committee, the Committee on Trustees, and the Strategic Improvement and Learning Committee. Committees meet once a month for one-two hours and are the working groups of the Board. Subjects such as financial stability, budget oversight, stewardship of ISB’s educational program, evaluation and training of the Board, and future strategic improvements in alignment with the mission of ISB, are examples of issues addressed by the committees.
Trustees are charged with the responsibility to represent ISB and the ISA as a whole, rather than any one constituency within the community. No specific professional or personal background is needed, other than ISA membership, a positive attitude, the ability to commit to the time requirements, and a deep interest to maintain and further enhance the excellence of ISB. The rewards of Board service include the opportunity to interact with our dynamic school leadership team, and the opportunity to understand and help shape ISB’s future growth and direction.
Please note these important election dates and activities:
- Friday, March 16, 2018, 12 noon – Nominations open – Nomination forms will be available at the Head of School’s office or available for download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aGB86NnAfmc7PbklKbTBBqpRF_YXq-Mr/view?usp=sharing
- Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 6:30 pm, MPB3 – “What is a Trustee?” This is an information session on what it means to be a Trustee. All interested parties and community members are welcome.
- Thursday, April 12, 2018, 12 noon – Nominations close – Nomination forms must be submitted in both electronic and hard copy by this deadline. Electronic copies must be sent to BOT Secretary Joy Davy at msjoydavy@gmail.com (with your name as the subject) and hard copies must be filed with Khun Oor in the Head of School’s office.
- Friday May1, 2018. Deadline for candidate videos. All candidates are required to make a short (1-3 minute) video clip introducing themselves, and giving some of their background and reasons for applying to be a board trustee. This process will be facilitated by the school.
- Tuesday, May 15, 2018 – Election, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm & AGM, 7:00 pm https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aGB86NnAfmc7PbklKbTBBqpRF_YXq-Mr/view?usp=sharing
Please contact Dr. Henrietta Bullinger, Chair, Committee on Trustees, with questions regarding service to the Board: 092-249-0937 or bullingerh@yahoo.com .
Committee on Trustees:
Dr. Henrietta Bullinger
John Heinecke
Grainne MacRae
Andy Richter
ISB Board of Trustees
If You Know you are Leaving ISB
By: ISB ADMISSIONS
admissions@isb.ac.th
Families who are leaving ISB at the end of the school year are asked to inform the school as soon as possible using the official Notice of Withdrawal Form. This helps us prepare school records for your child and with planning for next year. Completed forms can be dropped off at your child’s divisional office ES/MS/HS.
The gift of Blood is the gift of Life!
By: Sally Plomley, Nurse Office
sallyp@isb.ac.th
Blood donations….All Blood Types Required!
The Thailand Red Cross never has enough blood. To help with this we have organized the donation center to come to ISB on March 27 to collect blood from willing donors. This year our blood drive is called the “Khun Wut Blood Drive” to honor Khun Wut one of the ISB B&G staff members who has donated blood over 100 times. Blood that is donated will be used by the Red Cross for potentially life saving blood, plasma and platelet transfusions.
Sterile techniques are used for blood donations and all blood is screened for infectious diseases after it is donated. All potential donors should be fit and healthy on the day of donation and will need to fill in a questionnaire prior to donation (please see donation guidelines below to see if you are ok to donate). Donors should be 17-55 years old and will be reviewed by the donation team to ensure they are ok to donate (this includes a check of their hemoglobin prior to donation). Questionnaire forms are available to pick up from the ISB Health Clinic if you would like to fill them out before the day to save you time when you donate. Potential donors should ensure they are well rested, well hydrated and have a low fat breakfast/lunch prior to donating.
If you are willing to donate (and meet the criteria below) please sign up through Signup Genius (LINK) or at the ISB Health Clinic. We ask potential donors to nominate a time (30 minute time slot) they would be able to donate so we can limit waiting times and ensure the Red Cross have enough staff to cope with donor numbers. Donation times are 9am-12pm and 1-3pm.
Negative Blood Group Database:
At times the Red Cross is in desperate need of Rh negative blood as not many Thais are Rh negative. Those with negative blood can also provide contact details so they can join a database and be contacted to see if they are willing to donate when this blood type is urgently required.
Registration for the Stem Cell Donor Database:
When you donate you may also want to sign up to be on the stem cell donor register. Stem cells are used in the treatment of certain cancer and other medical conditions. Information will be provided on the day about being a stem cell donor.
Thailand Red Cross Donation Criteria
The Red Cross defines an acceptable donor as one whom:
- Is between the ages of 17-55.
- Weighs at least 45 kg (99 lbs).
Donating is not advised if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Gave birth or had a miscarriage in the past six months.
- Had diarrhea in the past seven days.
- Had dental treatment in the past three days.
- Had major surgery in the past six months or minor surgery in the past seven days.
- Have a history of drug use or been imprisoned in the past three years.
- Received a blood transfusion in the past year.
- Visited any area where malaria is endemic in the past year or actually had malaria in the past three years.
- Resided in the UK for more than 6 months during the period 1986-1999.
- Have taken any medication other than Paracetamol/acetaminophen.
- Have tested positive for hepatitis B or C in the past.
- Have asthma, epilepsy, chronic skin disease, chronic cough, tuberculosis, allergies, high blood pressure, heart/kidney/thyroid disease, cancer, bleeding disorder, etc.
- Have had ear/body piercings, tattoos made or removed, or acupuncture in the past year.
- Have received any vaccinations in the past two months except seasonal Flu vaccine.
- Have received a serum injection in the past year.
Before donating blood you should:
- Get enough sleep (at least six hours).
- Drink at least 3-4 cups of pure water to prepare your system and avoid getting dizzy.
- Do not consume alcohol in the 24 hours prior to donating.
- Eat something healthy that is low in fat. No high fat foods for 6 hours preceding donation.
- Refrain from smoking at least one hour before and after the donation.
IB Diploma Visual Arts & Film Exhibition: March 28 – April 12, M. Library
By: Anthony Giles, PK-12 Arts & Activities Director
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
The IB Diploma Visual Arts & Film Exhibition will be open from Wednesday, March 28 to Thursday, April 12 in the Main Library. Please come by and join in this celebration of learning and achievement in Visual Arts and Film.
Jazz Night – March 29th, 6:30 pm in the MPB
By: Anthony Giles, Pk-12 Arts & Activities Director
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
Come join us for our annual Jazz Night Concert featuring the HS Jazz Band! They’ll be playing songs in different jazz styles from swing and blues, to latin and funk, and feature several of our students as jazz soloists. We’ll also be featuring 2 HS jazz vocalists with the band. In addition, our elementary music teacher, Ms. Angela Wong, jazz flutist, will be joining the jazz band on a latin number, and also perform in a small combo with Mr. Marshall and Mr. Myers. Free admission and Refreshments will be served as you are entertained, so we look forward to seeing you in the MPB at 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 29th.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
By: ISB Health Clinic
nurse@isb.ac.th
At this time of year we tend to see an increase in the number of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Bangkok. We currently have 1 confirmed case in High School. Most children get exposed to this disease whilst they are young but outbreaks do occur in schools. Please read the information below and KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME IF THEY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS. We want to prevent any outbreaks in the school and if we have too many cases in a class we may need to close that class (as per the Thailand Ministry of Public Health Regulations).
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection.
The virus can spread from an infected person via contact with the fluid in the blisters, by coughing and sneezing, by contact with feces and by contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. A person will take 3-5 days to get symptoms and will be contagious whilst there is fluid in the blisters (the feces can remain infectious for several weeks).
Symptoms
- fever
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- blisters in the mouth and on the hands and feet
- a sore mouth for a few days before the ulcers or blisters appear
- in some cases there is a severe headache.
Children may refuse to eat or drink due to the pain.
Diagnosis is usually made by clinical presentation.
Treatment
Usually none is required. Use of paracetamol/acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the fever and any discomfort may be indicated. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age.
If your child is very unwell with high fevers and headaches or if they are refusing to drink you should seek medical attention.
The blisters should not be deliberately pierced or broken because the fluid within the blisters is infectious. The blisters will dry naturally.
If your child is diagnosed with Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease please notify the Health Clinic and they need to present a medical certificate to the Health Clinic stating they are fit to return to school and no longer contagious prior to going to class.
Prevention
- Exclude people with hand, foot and mouth disease from school until all blisters have dried.
- Wash hands with soap and water after toileting
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and soiled items, including toys.
- Avoiding close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with people with hand, foot, and mouth disease.
ISB is committed to your child’s overall development, both educationally and health related. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider or the ISB Health Clinic (nurse@isb.ac.th).
Native Language Survey for Parents—Open Through March 31
By： Avery Udagawa, Native Language Coordinator
averyu@isb.ac.th
As part of ISB’s Strategic Learning Plan (ISB 2025), a group of faculty are considering the role of native languages on our campus. We would deeply appreciate your opinion. Please look for the Native Language Parent Survey in your email (one was sent per family) and take a moment to complete it. It will be open for responses until March 31, 2018. We hope to hear from parents throughout our community, regardless of which languages you speak. Many thanks!
If you have not received this survey or it went to your Spam, kindly email nativelanguage@isb.ac.th
Sincerely,
ISB Native Language Faculty Committee
Join our last Welcome Wai event on Wednesday, April 4th at 9:15 a.m. in the MPB1 room!
By: PTA – Communications Coordinator
pta-communications@isb.ac.th
Join our last Welcome Wai event on Wednesday, April 4th at 9:15 a.m. in the MPB1 room!
Our own ISB Adult Choral Union will kick off the event with a mini concert presentation, followed by stories of hope by women rising out of poverty in the Klong Toey slum community through fair trade jewelry designs.
The staff of RoyRak will be our special guests—sharing their experiences and beautiful jewelry all morning. Learn more about their mission and products at royrakbeadinglove.org.
Stay for a hands-on workshop at 10:15 to learn to make your own bracelet by RoyRak staff (200 baht fee). And FREE bus from one downtown location to ISB.
Please RSVP! —-> https://goo.gl/forms/Gvb2oPGMbAmLtWdG3
ISB Summer School 2018 – Registration Now Open!
By: Maurilio Baron-Toaldo, Summer School Director
maurilib@isb.ac.th
Our ISB Summer School Office is now open and accepting registrations for Summer School 2018 at ISB! You can go to the ISB website, or click here, to access all information about dates, programs, and fees, and to submit a registration form online.
Our Summer School Office is located through the door on the right side of the ISB Bookstore where Khun Fon will be there to greet and assist you Monday to Fridays, 7:00 – 11:00am.
For any questions, please email sumdir@isb.ac.th
Best Regards,
Mr. Maurilio Baron-Toaldo
Summer School Director
Nominations for PTA Executive Board 2018/2019 is now open
By: Elin Hee, PTA
pta-firstvp@isb.ac.th
In order for the PTA to continue to offer critical community-enhancing support like Intercultural Day, Staff Appreciation, parent education and social support events, Welcome Wai, student activity and materials grants and MORE, we need YOU!
This is an incredible opportunity to make a difference in your child’s school. We are seeking energetic and dedicated individuals to help make the 2018-2019 school year the best yet!
Elections for the PTA Executive Board 2018/2019 will be held on 15 May 2018 at 6pm.
If you are interested to serve on the board, please complete the application form and the Nominating Committee comprised of the following individuals will be in touch:
Eilin Hee (pta-firstvp@isb.ac.th)
Dawn Baker (pta-adulted@isb.ac.th)
Karen Leung (pta-mscoord@isb.ac.th)
Lizette van Bergen (lizettevanbergen@gmail.com)
Vinitha Chirayil Thilakan (drvinithajayachandran@gmail.c
Positions & a brief overview of each role:
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President – Primary liaison between PTA and the school administration. Oversees officers, chairs, and committees. |
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Vice President – PTA representative on Food, Security, and Transportation committees. Liaise and support the Community Representatives and chair the PTA Nominating Committee. |
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IFF Coordinator – Recruits & leads a team of volunteers to orchestrate the annual IFF event including securing sponsorships and raffle prizes, booking vendors and games, organizing country reps to provide food booths, developing an entertainment program, and liaising with B&G to provide facility services for the event. |
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Adult Education Coordinator – Manages course offerings and recruits teachers; manages online enrollment system and collects payments; advertises program in various media; keeps accounting ledger and liaises with treasurer to disperse teacher payments. |
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Secretary – Creates meeting agendas, notifies Board Members and Membership of regularly scheduled meetings, and records and reports meeting minutes |
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Treasurer – Manages all PTA budgets and financials, through the use of good accounting and in accordance with Bylaws. A background in accounting is required. |
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ES Coordinator – Organises PTA school meetings and intercultural day activities, represent general parent interests, ideas and suggestions to the school leadership team. |
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MS Coordinator – Organises PTA school meetings and student socials, represent general parent interests, ideas and suggestions to the school leadership team. |
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HS Coordinator – Organises PTA school meetings, liaise & support subcommittees, represent general parent interests, ideas and suggestions to the school leadership team. |
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Communications Coordinator – Maintains PTA website, publish “PTA e-news” newsletters & update the PTA Facebook page as needed. |
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Editor in Chief of Touchstone – Oversees editing, layout, writing, proofreading, publishing, and distribution of Touchstone magazine. |
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Hospitality Coordinator – Organizes cookie appreciation day, Staff Appreciation lunch, hospitality treats and distribute cards/gifts for births, farewell & welcome for staff. |
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Welcome Wai Coordinator – Organizes parent activities like welcome coffees, plan & assemble welcome packs, new parents orientation, first point of welcome for new ISB families and assist in their integration to ISB. |
Cafeteria News…Did You Know about Jasberry Rice?
By: ISB Cafeteria (Michelle)
cafeteria@isb.ac.th
Jasberry Rice is a naturally, non GMO, cross-bred dark purple rice produced organically by Siam Organics. The name ‘berry’ comes from the fact that the antioxidants present in Jasberry are close to those of blueberries. In fact, the antioxidants are 3 x higher than that of blueberries and 40 x than that of brown rice, putting it right in the superfood category! Jasberry is very high in fiber and low glycemic, making it easy to digest and allowing long, sustainable energy. It contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc & magnesium. These help in combating diabetes, inflammation, cholesterol, heart disease, obesity and cancers.
Not only do we love Jasberry rice, but also the idea behind Siam Organic, who operate as a social enterprise specializing in a wide variety of organic rice using a farm management system designed to lift small-scale Thai farmers out of poverty. Siam Organic was recognized in 2017 as the grand prize winner of The Chivas Venture, an annual international search for world-changing social enterprises with over 2,000 social enterprises in 30 countries entering. Their aim is threefold: a healthy product, a better quality of life for Thai rice farmers and a better planet.
Often times we will note the name Riceberry as opposed to Jasberry. Riceberry is the ‘generic’ purple rice brand with similar properties whereas Jasberry is the brand specific to the Siam Organic production, both of which originate in Thailand.
We are proud to serve Jasberry and Riceberry rice across campus. In HS/MS it is a daily option for students to choose. In ES it is mixed together with organic jasmine rice to reduce the grainy texture and make it more appealing to our younger eaters. It is offered as the sole choice of rice in ES. Rest assured, that when your children eat rice in ES, or make the choice for Jasberry in HS/MS, they are getting a great, healthy load of nutrients on their plates. Enjoy.
ISB eNews Guidelines
By: Shelley Bragg, Director of Marketing and Communications
shelleyb@isb.ac.th
The ISB eNews provides a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. For your convenience we have provided you with our eNews 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
- A contact person and email address for further information
- Important details such as dates, location, prices, etc
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.
phremjiz@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.
pta-communications@isb.ac.th is for PTA announcements of interest to all ISB parents.
Your announcement will be submitted for review. Please note: 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 All-School eNews is for the entire community is sent out on Thursdays (or Fridays when necessary). Announcements for potential publication in this newsletter must be received by noon on Thursdays.
The ES, MS, and HS eNews are sent out on Fridays. Announcements for potential publication in these newsletters must be received by noon on Fridays.
The PTA eNews are sent out on Tuesdays. Announcements for potential publication in these newsletters must be received by noon on Mondays.