What a week!
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
Just like that, we’ve completed the first week of school! On behalf of all of our teachers and staff, we are happy that to have the students back in the building.
After a great first day of advisory time, community building, games, grade level meetings, and an assembly, students attended their first day of classes on Wednesday and Thursday. Throughout the week, students and teachers have been smiling and enjoying their time together.
We are looking forward to a terrific year ahead, with wonderful learning, collaboration, and fun to be had. For all of our new families, we welcome you to our community. Together we raise each other up and bring out the best in our learners.
Middle School is like a Mixtape
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
At our opening assembly for the year, I asked the students whether they knew what this was:
Some of our students did and that can be mostly attributed to recent pop culture movies and shows that have included the 80s icon of recorded music, the cassette tape.
I shared with the students in particular, this tape was a mixtape – like a playlist, only with significant restrictions:
- Only with a limited amount of time
- No chance to skip songs
- No shuffling
- You could only use the music you owned
- You can’t add on later – when it’s set, that’s how it’s going to be
The key to a good mixtape was getting the mix just right. And I shared some ways that we could make this middle school year for ourselves and each other terrific, like a great mixtape. For some of you out there who maybe too young yourself to remember mixtapes, here are some keys to a good mixtape and a great middle school year:
- Plan ahead
- Get the combination right
- Sometimes go big, other times take it down a notch – Figure out which one fits the moment
- It’s got to have variety
- Keep track of time
- Try not to get unwound and all tangled up.
- But if you do, someone – a teacher, a counselor, a friend – will be there to help you get untangled.
- Include the stuff you love
- But try some new stuff too
Ultimately, like a mixtape, the 2019-20 school year will be a reflection of who you are that moment in time, so let’s be great together. Each song, each person combining to make the perfect mix. In the end, it’s the mix that makes it great, not any one individual.
And like every mixtape, each one is unique.
Just like each of our students.
Just like this years’s middle school.
Just like this year.
Let’s make it a great mix!
New Cafeteria – cashless is faster
The opening of our new cafeteria has been a big success, as students and adults alike have commented on how comfortable, functional, and aesthetically beautiful it is. The new sound tiles in the ceiling have significantly reduced the echo and the cafeteria has become a lovely gathering place at lunch time.
Of course, the start of any cafeteria experience begins with getting and paying for the food. To help everyone move efficiently through the line, we hope that as many students as possible employ our cashless system using their ID cards.
By topping up the accounts using ID cards and cash at our on-campus kiosks, students can ensure that they move through the cashier line as quickly as possible. Parents may also top up accounts through the parent portal on PowerSchool. Top ups can also take place at our school bookstore. We encourage everyone in our community to ensure that there is money in your account and to use their ID card so that our food services can be as efficient as possible.
Thank you in advance for being part of the community solution.
Panther Run Series – Race #1 – August 24
Feel like jump starting your fitness now that school has begun and summer is a distant memory? Come join the ISB Cross Country Runners at the first Panther Run this Saturday, August 24. There is a 5km and a 3km race, and everyone is welcome to join. All proceeds go towards Operation Smile.
Registration/Warm-up: 6:40 AM in the Breezeway
Race Start: 7:15 AM sharp.
Cost: 200 Baht for Adults; 100 Baht for Students
See you on the track!
Child Safeguarding Training for Student Assistants and Instructors
IMPORTANT: Child Safeguarding Training for Student Assistants and Instructors – 2:30pm-3:00pm Wednesday, August 21 MPB3
All students planning to serve as a student instructor or assistant for any activity at ISB this year are required annually to complete, or renew, the Student Child Safeguarding Training. Sign up HERE to reserve a spot at next week’s session and then join Dr. Keith Collins, Director of Student Services, at 2:30-3:00pm Wednesday, August 21, in MPB3 to complete your training. BY POPULAR DEMAND: Second Session Offered 2:30pm-3:00pm Monday, August 26 MPB3. Sign up HERE.
Repeat Announcement: How to sign up to receive the Good Morning MS Student Announcements this school year…
Dear MS Parents,
If you would like to begin receiving the MS student announcements each day via email, please complete and submit the enclosed subscription form.
Please note – If you were on the list last year, you will need to re-subscribe using the above link as we build the parent database from scratch start of each school year.
Repeat Announcement: U13-U15 Sports season 1
By Mark Jaspers
The season for U13 & U15 sports starts on Monday 19 August.
There is no prior registration needed for tryouts, athletes can register with their coaches on the first day of tryouts.
Athletes who want to try out for multiple sports should communicate with both coaches to coordinate their attendance but should try and attend at least 2 tryout sessions.
More information will be sent out through the student bulletin in the first week of school.
PRACTICE TIMES
Tryouts start on Monday 19 August
U13 Tennis (A & B team): Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 2:40-3:40
U13-U15 Cross Country: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 2:40-3:40 (No formal tryout, every athlete makes the team)
U13-U15 Basketball: Monday 3:40-5:00
Wednesday 2:40-3:40
Thursday 3:40-5:00
U13 Basketball B teams: Monday & Thursday 3:40-5:00
U13 Boys Rugby & Girls Touch: Monday & Thursday: 2:40-3:40
U15 Boys Rugby & Girls Touch: Monday 3:40-5:00
Wednesday 2:40-3:40
Thursday 3:40-5:00
Tryout venues day 1
BASKETBALL
U15 Girls (New Sports Complex)
U13-U15 Boys (HS Auxi Gym)
U13 Girls (ES AC Gym)
TENNIS
Court 1-7
U13-U15 RUGBY
Reinsch Field (Field C)
U13-U15 TOUCH
Field D
ISB provides late buses at 3:50 and 5:10 after practices for athletes who live downtown Bangkok.
More information about our team and athletic policies can be found on the ISB Athletics Team pages.
Repeat Announcement: ISB PANTHER GYMNASTICS PROGRAM
by Torill Haga Olufsen
contact: cao.gymnastics@isb.ac.th
Open House
Please visit us on Saturday August 17th from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at the Sport Complex Gymnastics Gym. Meet our coaches, ask all questions you have about gymnastics and see our professional FIG installations & equipments. Experience some of our passionate gymnasts demonstrating what ISB students can learn with our program. It is an informal gathering to answer all your questions and to introduce you to our Club.
Gymnastics
Semester 1 runs from Monday, August 19th to Thursday December 19th 2019. Any ISB MS student interested in learning gymnastics skills for fitness, recreational or competition reasons is welcome to join.
Recommended classes:
Gym – Tuesday – 4:40 am – 6:40 pm (2 hours)
Gym – Thursday – 4:40 am – 6:40 pm (2 hours)
Gym – Saturday – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (2 hours)
Gym- Friday – 4:40 pm to 6:40 pm (2 hours)
Tumbling Gymnastics training
We are offering a special Tumbling Gymnastics training for MS students with or without any experience in gymnastics. Your child like parkour, is jumping constantly, writing on snapchat and doing handstand at the same time, or dream to do a double flip on the dive board, well let’s sign her/him for the LEARN TO FALL, LEARN TO FLY PROGRAM; a secure and inspiring environment to explore and learn great skills: Wednesday: 3:40 pm – 5:40 pm and/or Friday: 4:40 pm – 5:40 pm.
Every MS student can enjoy gymnastics even if they never did it.
Please consult the schedules, prices and the registration link here.
Best regards,
Torill Haga Olufsen