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High School Upcoming events (Please click):

‘A funny thing happened to me on the way to the Forum’

Dear Parents,

Thank you to the parents who joined us on Wednesday at the HS Principals’ Forum in the Literary Lounge to hear about some of the ‘hot topics’ in the High School at the moment. It was long but hopefully a helpful and an informative meeting for the parents who were in attendance. As promised all parents can view the slideshow of the meeting by clicking on this link. At the forum, we addressed many of the questions that were brought to the HS Principals Forum committee over the past few weeks.

Items discussed included:

The consistency of grades across teachers
How the schedule is built to maximize student choice
Combination HL/SL classes
Information about careers and internships for students
Teacher Absences
Teacher evaluation process
Student survey results etc

I also asked parents in attendance to please do contact the school as issues, questions or concerns arise so that we can address them or clear up any misunderstandings or misconceptions. The carpark conversations about a problem or issue might be cathartic to the individual, but it is not likely to help find a solution to the problem or address the concern. Please do let your child’s teacher know about concerns as they arise or contact a counselor or HS administrator if it is a bigger concern or problem as we are all here to help support each and every one of our students.

We wish our traveling MUN team all the best with their conference this coming week in Manila and all the best with the IASAS Season 2 teams who will be traveling next weekend to compete at the IASAS Exchange events. For parents wanting to get a taste of the IASAS Exchange spirit, you will be able to come along and watch the second annual APAC/IASAS Swim event held on Friday, November 16th and Saturday, November 17th at our very own 50-meter pool.

Have a great weekend
Justin Alexander
High School Principal

December Exam Schedule
Susan Canobie
susanca@isb.ac.th

Please find the link to the Dec. Exam Schedule here. Exams are for Grade 9 & 10 English, Social Studies, Science and Math and for any student who takes a non-IB world language class. Note, Grade 9 and 10 students, and will NOT be in classes from Thursday Dec. 6– 12. Dec. 12 is an Assessment & Grading day, noting there are no Grade 9 & 10 classes. In addition, world language classes will not continue during this exam period. All other Grade 11 and 12 classes will continue as usual. Individual student exam schedules will be placed in PowerSchool on the QuickLookup next week.

Upskilling Seminars for Gr 11 Extended Essay Students
Matthew Kelly
matthewk@isb.ac.th

Next week sees the introduction of an exciting new initiative for the Grade 11 Extended Essay programme. Each Gr11 EE student is to attend one seminar during the week. A schedule has been circulated amongst students. It is being offered multiple times to be flexible to the fit around regular classes and commitments.

In 80 minutes we will explore some of the complexities and expectations of this challenging research project; a core component of the IBDP. Some of the topics to be covered are listed below;

How do you develop a Research Question?
What does academic research look and feel like?
What’s the importance of citations? And how does MLA 8 work?
Why is reflection important? How to reflect meaningfully?
What are some good study/research tips?
What’s the role of the supervisor?
Q&A

Also, a special World Studies EE seminar is being offered for all interested in pursuing this path, Rm 3-311 at 3pm on Thursday 15th November. All welcome.

FInally, one important upcoming deadlines requires students make their EE subject area choice by Friday 16th November through a circulated google form.

For more information please contact Mr Matt Kelly at mathewk@isb.ac.th

College Counseling News
Jennifer Melton
jenniferm@isb.ac.th

College Counselors held another Parent Coffee earlier this week. The presentation on The College Search Process and How Colleges Make Decisions linked here. It was wonderful to hear such positive feedback. College Coffees will return on January 21 at 8:00am and will focus on the topic of US Higher Education.

There is a large university fair this Saturday and Sunday called the OCSC Fair at Siam Paragon. Many universities will be here from Australia, Canada, Europe (including the UK), Japan, New Zealand and other destinations. Some of these schools will also be visiting ISB. Please visit our college visit calendar for more information.

If you are an 11th grade parent, do ask your student to share their Personal Mission Statement and Resume with you and have a discussion specifically with students about what they value and what matters to them personally. College Counselors collected these items last week though some students still need to turn theirs in. These two items are a great way for College Counselors to get to know students and it should help them get started on the necessary process of self-reflection. Later this month, College Counselors will meet with 11th graders to focus on how to properly begin researching universities.

The next month and a half will be extremely busy as many 12th graders are applying to university. Do be sure to give them a pat on the back as it’s sure to be an exciting and anxious time.

Do you have leftover toiletries from hotels?
Becky Hansberry
beckyh@isb.ac.th

Do you have leftover toiletries from hotels? If you do, please help the needy in Bangkok by donating them to NNR Charities. There are two boxes where you can put the shampoo and other toiletries, one is located in the PTA lounge and the other is in the high school office. Thank you for your help.

Intercultural Day is here!
Becky Hansberry
beckyh@isb.ac.th

Show your cultural pride on Friday, November 16th and come to school dressed in your favorite country colors or national dress. Get excited for the 2nd Annual Intercultural LunchFest from 10:20 to 11:30 in the cafeteria where there will be food and crafts for sale representing different cultures.

ISB Strings Bash 2018
Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th

On November 29th, over 120 string musicians from 3rd-12th grade will join together for the annual Strings Bash. This event is a wonderful display of commitment, community, and musicianship. Come out to see the ES, MS, and HS String Orchestras under the direction of Adrianna Gricius, on Thursday, November 29th at 6:30pm in the Culture Center Theater. Free Admission.

HOST NEEDED FOR IASAS IASAS vs. APCA SWIM EXCHANGE
Derrick Quinet
derrick@isb.ac.th

We need your help! ISB is hosting the second ever IASAS vs. APAC Swim Exchange next weekend, Nov. 16-17. This is an electric event featuring the top swimmers from international schools across Asia.

Friday night delivers a spirited team relay competition, as league schools are combined to follow a dual meet format.

If you are able to host TWO or more swimmers from our visiting IASAS schools, please sign up to host below. We can’t run these phenomenal events without our community support, and ISB is known for pour great hospitality. Sign up. join us, and be a part of this amazing event, next weekend at ISB.

HOST FOR IASAS SWIM EXCHANGE – SIGNUP

GO PANTHERS!!
Derrick Quinet
Athletic Director

PTA Parent Workshop – Introduction to Mindful Practices at ISB

PTA – President
pta-president@isb.ac.th

Perhaps you’ve heard about mindful practices or mindfulness on social media, or perhaps your child has had some experience in the classroom with mindful practices – but you’re not quite sure what it’s all about! Come join us for a brief parent workshop to learn more about mindful practices in education, and explore the skill of mindful parenting. Parents will have the opportunity to try mindful practices themselves, understand the research behind mindful practices in schools, and explore further opportunities to take mindfulness courses offered in the community.

Tuesday 20 November, 11:35- 12:15, MPB 2

All parents are welcome to this event!

Katie Edsall

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.