Congratulations to ISB’s World Scholars
Last Sunday, 22 ISB Middle School students participated in the Bangkok Round of the World Scholar’s Cup, hosted at Brighton College. The World Scholar’s Cup is a global academic competition with four events: Team Debate, Scholar’s Challenge, Collaborative Writing, and the Scholar’s Bowl. To prepare, students learn an in depth curriculum in six curricular areas centered around a theme – this year, “A World on the Margins.” This year’s Bangkok Round was the largest yet, with 400 participants.
Coached by Ms. Caldwell, ISB’s six teams of 3 and two teams of 2 performed very well at the competition with every student earning medals in various categories, taking top honors in several. Two of our students, Pyn Kruesopon and Sarah Luesukprasert, also participated in the talent show.
Pyn Kruesopon was selected as one of the top 8 debators in the field, participating in the Debate Showcase. Veronica Pak was selected as the second best individual writer in the competition. Lukenine Suphakarn was the top scholar in two subject areas of the Challenge and fifth scholar overall. Nadia Choophungart was ISB’s top scholar and fourth scholar overall among the 400 participants. Together among several trophies, Nadia and Lukenine, along with Jingyan Wang were awarded the Top Scholar team in Bangkok.
Congratulations to all of our ISB Middle School World Scholar’s Cup Participants (listed by team):
- Pynbhairoh Kruesopon
- Piriyakorn Piroonhapat
- Siraphop Pitpreecha
- Jason Zhang
- Aditya Kulkarni
- Passawit Jongsuebchoke
- Tamonyos Phongsphetrarat
- Athip Twinvitoo
- Gen Lojanavanich
- Jacob Zhang
- Piyaluk (Puffo) Danchaivijitr
- Seungyu Kim
- Veronica Pak
- Rumaisa Ikram
- Zara Farook
- Tess McGovern
- Sara Luesukprasert
- Kaitlyn Zhu
- Nipputi Thongthai
- Parima Choophungart
- Jingyan Wang
- Nijapa (Lukenine) Suphakarn
MS Principal’s Forum on April 2nd
We will be hosting our semester 2 Middle School Principal’s Forum on April 2nd in MPB 3 at 9:00 AM. From shared parental concerns, the following topics will be addressed:
- Wild Panthers Outdoor Education trips, Class trips and Timing
- Flex class – what is it? How are classes assigned?
- The IB Diploma in grades 11 & 12 – what should we know in middle school (this will not be an IB presentation, but we will share how this information can be shared in the future)
- Use of school facilities for non-school activities
If any of these topics interest you, we hope to see you there.
Screening of the film – Angst
Reminder: On Wednesday, April 3 from 6:30-8pm in the MPB1, the middle school and high school counselors will cohost a screening of the documentary Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety.
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of worry, fear, nervousness and apprehension. Every student experiences some level of anxiety as a part of life. Anxiety becomes a problem when it disrupts their day to day life and prevents them from doing things they used to enjoy. Angst was created to help break the stigma related to anxiety and open up the conversation around mental health. It features kids, adolescents, experts and researchers. The filmmakers believe there is power in watching Angst as a community – power to change and permission to talk about it. The film is 56 minutes long and will be followed by a discussion.
Looking for MS Student Ambassadors for 2019-20
The MS Counselors are currently recruiting Student Ambassadors for the 2019-2020 school year. If your child is interested in performing welcoming tasks for new student members of our community, please encourage your child to attend an information meeting on THURSDAY, April 4 during lunch in the MS Skybox. Student Ambassadors must be willing and able to attend New Student Orientation (on Friday, August 9 2019), Back to School Night (second or third week of school), and approximately 4 lunch time meetings during the school year.
Human Growth and Development Unit Information
On April 2nd, starting at 10:30 AM in the MPB 2 & 3, we will host parent information sessions regarding our upcoming Human growth and development – “Sex Ed” – units. Teachers will share what we cover in the units and how parents should be involved in helping their children understand these issues as it relates to their own family values.
We will run separate sessions for grade 6/7 and grade 8 and repeat the sessions so that parents who have children in both can attend both. These sessions will begin at 10:30 immediately following the MS Principal’s Forum.
Donation Drive
Second Chance Bangkok is a local initiative, fair trade organization in the Klong Toey Slum that uses donated clothing to create upcycled goods. They provide opportunities for people who have experienced barriers to employment. They also finance projects that support families in the slum.
From March 25th-April 5th we will be collecting donations for Second Chance Bangkok. Please bring in gently used clothing, books, toys, household items, etc. You can drop off donations in the grade 3 quad beginning on March 25th. If you have large items to donate you can call SCB at – 02-2491921 from Tue – Sat 10 – 4 pm. Please see poster here.
Middle School Girls Touch Rugby Club
We are starting up a Middle School Girls Touch Rugby club to run through till mid-May. All Middle School girls are welcome to join the club. From this club a team of twelve girls will be selected to play in the Jakarta Intercultural School Touch Invitational, May 10th-12th. Note, players are welcome to join, even if they don’t want to join the travel team.
Each year JIS hosts Middle School Touch football teams from ISM, ISKL and SAS. The tournament follows a similar format to IASAS, with students hosted in pairs by JIS families.
Click here to register your child for this activity.
Middle School Touch Squad Details
Training: Field D, Tuesday 3:40-5:00 and Friday 2:40-4:00
Costs: Nil
Travel Team Details:
Where: Jakarta Intercultural School
Coaches: Chad Bates and Jess Vaughan
When: 10-12th May
Costs: BHT18,000
Flights: Thai Airways, Fri 10th May TG 433, BKK-JKT, 08:00 – 11:35
Sun 12 May, TG 434, JKT-BKK, 12:35 – 16:05
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Coach Bates on chadb@isb.ac.th
Repeat Announcement: Nominations for PTA Executive Board 2018/2019 are now open!
In order for the PTA to continue to offer critical community-enhancing activities like Intercultural Day, Staff Appreciation, parent education and social support events, Welcome Wai, student activities and materials grants and MORE, we need marvelous parents like YOU!! This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact at ISB, while having fun, creating exciting memories, and getting to know even more wonderful people. We are seeking enthusiastic and spirited individuals to help make 2019-2020 another fantastic year, where our entire community feels connected! If serving on the PTA Board sounds like a possible fit for your talents and interests, please complete the electronic application form (link: https://goo.gl/forms/u2UUuPYAPhAJeUji2) and someone from the Nominating Committee will be in touch.
PTA Overview:
The ISB PTA is a parent run auxiliary with the goal to help its community and our children have a memorable and pleasant experience at ISB. PTA’s main objective is to encourage parental involvement through social events and activities that help bring the ISB community together. Among its assortment of tasks, PTA members meet monthly, share monthly activity reports, participate in budgeting, and contribute to Touchstone articles.
PTA Roles Overview:
| President – Primary liaison between PTA and the school administration. Oversees officers, chairs, and committees. |
| Vice President – Liaise and support the Community Representatives and chair the PTA Nominating Committee. PTA representative on Food, Security, and Transportation committees. |
| IFF Coordinator – Plan, organize and ensure smooth operation at IFF. |
| Adult Education Coordinator – Manages course offerings, enrollment fees & payments. |
| Secretary – Creates meeting agendas, notifies Board Members and Membership of regularly scheduled meetings, and records and reports meeting minutes |
| Treasurer – Manages all PTA budgets and financials, through the use of good accounting and in accordance with Bylaws. A background in accounting is required. |
| ES Coordinator – Organizes PTA school meetings and intercultural day activities, represents general parent interests, ideas and suggestions to the school leadership team. |
| MS Coordinator – Organizes PTA school meetings and student socials, represents general parent interests, ideas and suggestions to the school leadership team. |
| HS Coordinator – Organizes PTA school meetings, liaises & supports subcommittees, represents general parent interests, ideas and suggestions to the school leadership team. Works in team with the Principal Forum coordinator and as a liaison for communication with the HS administration and the PTA. |
| Communications Coordinator – Maintains PTA website, publishes “PTA e-news” newsletters & updates the PTA Facebook page as needed. |
| Editor in Chief of Touchstone – Oversees editing, layout, writing, proofreading, publishing, and distribution of Touchstone magazine. |
| Hospitality Coordinator – Organizes cookie appreciation day, Staff Appreciation lunch, hospitality treats and distributes cards/gifts for births, farewell & welcome for staff. |
| Welcome Wai Coordinator – Organizes parent activities like welcome coffees, new parents orientation, first point of welcome for new ISB families and assists in their integration to ISB. |
Elections for the PTA Executive Board 2019/2020 will be held on 14-May at 6pm.
Thank you for your interest!
Nominating Committee:
Bettina Bremsteller (pta-firstvp@isb.ac.th)
Katie Edsall (pta-president@isb.ac.th)
Tara Osterstock (pta-secretary@isb.ac.th)
Tiffany Romasanta (tiffanylr415@gmail.com)
Mary Ann Morse (maryannbanker1@gmail.com)
Repeat Announcement: ISB Summer School 2019 – Registration Now Open!
Our ISB Summer School Office is now open and accepting registrations for Summer School 2019 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.
New to our Special Enrichment Camp offerings this year:
- ES/MS Environmental Science Camp – 4 overnights at our EWC – 1 or 2 week options
- ES/MS Innovator’s Workshop – 1 or 2 week options
- MS Video Production Camp – 1 or 2 week options
- MS/HS Art Camp – 1 or 2 week options
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 – 11:30am.
For any questions, please email sumdir@isb.ac.th
Repeat Announcement: Parent Social at Sweet Poppy – Thursday 4th April at 8am
Petra and Jenna, welcomewai@isb.ac.th
The PTA are delighted to invite all parents to our final social event of the 2018/2019 school year at Sweet Poppy restaurant. Come and enjoy the beautiful oasis that Sweet Poppy has created only 5 minutes away from ISB. Recharge your batteries, embrace the tranquility and enjoy chatting with other ISB parents over coffee and a light bite.
To help us to plan refreshments and space, this will be a sign-up event. To secure your spot, please sign up by clicking on this link.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A2yADF7FqcAB4MboLyHhZmnvTaKkm4Q8MCQd-7b2JIw/edit?usp=sharing
