2019-2020 Course Registration for students moving from grades 6 to 7, and 7 to 8
By Cindy Plantecoste, MS Dean of Academics
cindyp@isb.ac.th
Our class registration process for 2019-2020 school year is getting started for students who are currently in grades 6 and 7. Starting today, February, 8th, you may click on this link to access the updated Program of Studies for 2019-2020. As a first step, we would ask that you read over the Program of Studies with your child to see what s/he is excited about learning next year and to identify electives that your child might want to request. It is also important for you to review the course requirements carefully.
Throughout the week of February 4-8, we met with current grade 6 and grade 7 students to explain the registration process, distribute paper course registration forms, emphasize course requirements, as well as where your child has choice in his/her schedule. During these sessions, we also answered any questions that students had. Additionally, we reviewed the timeline for online and paper registration. Registration is open from today, Friday, February 8th and will close at the end of the school day on Thursday, February 14th. Students are also required to submit their paper registration to the counseling office by February 14th.
Your child will need to choose his/her electives: performing arts, visual arts, design technology and engineering classes, or other electives, and will also be asked if s/he would like to continue with the current world/native language, or to begin a new one. Students who take intensive studies or EAP support classes would generally be exempt from taking a world/native language class. All of our Thai Nationals must study Thai language.
Once you have completed and signed the paper registration form with your child, please have your child register online through PowerSchool (if s/he is unable to log in, please contact Khun Arintra in the MS office. ext: 4407). Along the left side, click on ‘Class Registration.’ Registration will be open between February 9th – February 14th and is NOT first come, first serve. Be sure to take the time to consider options with your child, so that s/he is confident about their selections. We create our schedule based on student requests. We’ve attached our course registration worksheets to register for grade 7 and for grade 8 to assist you in your planning (you can also find these forms at the end of the Program of Studies).
Students who are leaving ISB during, or at the end of the second semester are still required to complete the registration process. This step will ease the transition to their next school.
Should you have any questions about this process, you are welcome to contact any of us in the main office. We are happy to help make this process a smooth one for your child.
We hope your child is excited about planning for next year in Middle School!
** Registration information for 5th to 6th grade will be sent directly to grade 5 parents in the Friday folder.
**Registration information for 8th to 9th grade will be included in MS eNews by the HS at a later date.
MS Parent Coffee – Course Registration for current grades 6 & 7
On Tuesday, February 12, 9:00 – 10:00 AM, we will host our MS Parent Coffee, focused on information for parents of current grades 6 & 7 students.
Grade 8 parents will have a presentation about high school course registration in early March (more information to come).
The Parent Coffee session will provide parents information about course requirements, program choices and important ideas for families to think about as they make choices for the middle school year to come.
Photo by Flikr user, TrophyGeek
Grade 8 End of Year Social – Date Change
In order to secure the venue, we have moved the date of the Grade 8 End of Year Social event, hosted at the Best Western on Chaeng Wattana. The new date is Saturday, May 18th, 2019.
This date coincides with the final After School Dance Showcase performances, however after consultation with that director of that program, it is feasible to shift to this date.
More information will be provided to grade 8 students as May gets closer, but we wanted to update everyone on the calendar change. The online calendar now reflects this shift which is different than the print calendar.
Thank you to our MS PTA reps for helping secure the venue.
Slides from Parent Presentation by Amy Smith
Wellness is an important topic in schools across the world and personal wellness is a key factor in ensuring our students are prepared for their future. Research supports the need for strong wellness programs in schools across all grades. On Tuesday, February 5th, visiting consultant Amy Smith presented on some of the health and wellness needs of adolescents and how parents can support teenagers at home. The slides from this presentation are linked here.
Amy Smith teaches Middle School Health at the Hong Kong International School and has a passion for curriculum that is current, relevant, and adaptable. She has presented at conferences in Asia as well as SXSWedu and the SHAPE America National Conventions, and serves as the Education Editor for Choices, Scholastic’s health magazine for teens. You can find her online at thehealthteacher.com and on Twitter: @teaching_health.
2019 IFF volunteers
IFF 2019 needs your help! Attached please find the volunteer sign up for IFF 2019, parents and HS students are asked to please sign up for a shift to help the most fun event of the school year to be a big success. Come volunteer and be part of all the great fun! For further information or questions please contact Marla Groves at PTA-IFF@isb.ac.th
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ISB Steel Panthers win the Battle of Bangkok!
Two ISB Steel Panthers Teams got to the finals of the Battle in Bangkok VEX Robotics Competition. This means some of our Panthers are off to Kentucky for the World Championship!
Repeat Announcement: SEASON 3 SPORTS FOR MS STUDENTS
Season 3 is almost here and starts on Monday 11 February. Please see below the options for MS students to participate in ISB sports teams. There is no need to register prior to the tryouts, Athletes can just show up for the first day of tryouts!
If there is a lot of interest we will offer additional teams in U13 Volleyball, but practice days might vary depending on court space.
Because the BISAC games and finals are on the same days you can be on one team per season (with the exception of Track & Field)
It’s ok to try out for different sports, but please communicate this clearly with your coaches and let them know after the tryouts which team you will be playing on.
If you have any further questions please email Mr. Jaspers: markj@isb.ac.th
U13-U15 Boys & Girls Track & Field (starts Monday 11 February)
Practice on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 2:40-3:40
U15 Boys & Girls Tennis (tryouts start on Monday 11 February)
Practice on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 2:40-3:40
*Grade 9 students can try out on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 February
U13 Girls Softball (tryouts start on Monday 11 February)
Practice on Monday 3:40-5:00, Wednesday 2:40-3:40, Thursday from 3:40-5:00
U13-U15 Girls Volleyball (tryouts start on Monday 11 February)
Practice on Monday 3:40-5:00, Wednesday & Thursday 2:40-3:40
*Grade 9 students can try out on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 February
U13-U15 Boys Volleyball (tryouts start on Monday 11 February)
Practice on Monday 2:40-3:40, Wednesday 3:40-5:00 and Thursday 2:40-3:40
*Grade 9 students can try out on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 February
JV Boys & Girls Badminton
Practice on Tuesday 3:45-5:00, Wednesday 3:15-5:00 and Friday 2:40-4:25
* Grade 8 students can try out on Wednesday 20 and Friday 22 February
JV Girls Softball
Practice on Monday 3:15-5:00, Tuesday & Thursday 5:00-6:30
* Grade 8 students can try out on Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 February from 3:15-5:00
JV Boys Baseball
Practice on Monday 3:15-5:00, Tuesday & Thursday 5:00-6:30
* Grade 8 students can try out on Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 February 3:15-5:00
ISB Water Polo Season:
When: February 13th and runs to the final tournament on April 27th
Wednesday 5:00pm to 6:00pm/Friday4:00pm to 5:00pm/Saturday 9:00am-10:00am
For both ages U15 and U18
Coaches are Panther Swim Team coaches with High School and College Water Polo experience. Both Coach Paul and Coach Tan are full-time ISB Aquatics employees.
Repeat Announcement: IFF is coming up February 23, from 3-7:30 pm.
Our Raffle at IFF this year is poised to be one of the best ever! Lots of great prizes! Hotel stays, sporting events tickets, electronics, restaurant vouchers, and much more! Raffle pre-sales are already underway! To purchase your tickets, get in touch with your country rep or contact Natalie Cox at lollbackng@gmail.com For more information on IFF in general reach out to Marla Groves at pat-iff@isb.ac.th
Repeat Announcement: NBBL Community basketball registration
We have basketball leagues for boys and girls ages PK through Grade 12. Registration is now open and will close on Friday, February 22nd at 4:00pm, so please register now. Once teams are formed, it highly unlikely new players will be permitted to register, so register now to avoid disappointment!
Please go to the NBBL website here for the link to our registration system and for other important information.
The fee is THB 7,000 for all players (the fee will increase to THB 8,000 for any permitted late registrations). Players from all Bangkok schools are accepted but all games and practices take place at ISB. This fee will cover costs for a player jersey, Top Flight Academy coaches, referee and scorekeeper fees, ISB fees and photography expenses. Our fee is higher this season as we will use Top Flight Academy to exclusively provide coaches for all teams
League assessments will take place on Sunday, February 24th at ISB gyms. See attached for the assessment schedule. Please make every effort to attend the assessment for your child’s grade level as this helps us form fair and balanced teams.
Team practices will begin the week starting February 25th. See the attached practice dates and times for each age group.
We will have practice games on Saturday, March 2nd and March 9th due to conflicts with other CAO activities at ISB. Regular league games will begin on Friday March 15th and Saturday, March 16th. Games will continue every Friday/Saturday (except for Songkran break) and conclude the weekend of May 17th/18th with league championships. Click here to see draft game schedule. Click here to see practice schedule. The game schedule will be finalized after registrations.
Payment for the NBBL season can be made at the ISB Community Activity Office (CAO) which is located next to the bookstore at ISB. The CAO is open from 7:00 to 11:00AM and 12:00 to 3:00PM Monday – Friday.
If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Sypolt at ksypolt@gmail.com