Coming This Week: Middle School Open House – September 5
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
We are excited to welcome our parent community to the 2019-20 school year with our Middle School Open House evening on September 5th, 6:00 PM to 8:45 PM.
Open House is a chance for parents to learn a little bit about our middle school program and meet each of your child’s classroom teachers along with the Advisory teacher.
All parents should arrive before 6 PM to collect their child’s schedule at the front of campus before entering the Chevron Theater for a 6:00 PM start. We will begin handing out schedules at 5:30 PM.
After an introduction to our program, parents will attend Advisory and each of the 8 classes of their child in 10 minute blocks. Refreshments and food will be provided outside the MS Office for parents.
Please note that his evening event is for parents, not students. Our classrooms do not have space for all parents and their children to attend class and we plan our food offerings to include the parent numbers, but not additional children.
Of course, if a child comes with their parents for translation purposes, the student must stay with their parents for the entire evening. Alternatively, if a child comes on the night and is not accompanying their parents, the student must remain in the MPB 1, where we will have HS student supervision. We will not have supervision in place for students in the office or hallways and must insist that students remain in the MPB.
MAP testing dates – Session 1, 2019-2020
by Cindy Plantecoste, MS Vice Principal
All MS students will take the NWEA Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) test in Math and Reading on the mornings of September 2nd and 3rd, 2019.
The MAP test is a computer-based test that assesses students with a baseline question and then adjusts subsequent questions to appropriately challenge each student. The testing data provides a snapshot of what the student can do at a specific point of time of the year. This information is useful to our teachers as they decide how to differentiate the learning experience for their students.
Your child does not need to prepare for the MAP tests, nor should s/he be worried or anxious about taking this test. We do recommend, however, that all students get a good night’s sleep before the tests and that they eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school. Students in grades 7 or 8 will need their laptop for the testing session. Grade 6 students will be given a laptop for their testing sessions. All students should have a book to read in case they finish their test early.
MS Reporting Timeline for 2019-2020
By Cindy Plantecoste, MS Vice Principal
In an effort to keep you informed about the progress of your child, we’ve established a communication and reporting timeline. On the dates listed below, you can access accurate information related to your child’s progress in PowerSchool, or in person, during conferences. You should always feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher and/or counselor if you have any questions or concerns related to your child’s progress.
The definitions below will help you understand our reporting terminology:
Achievement of Learning Goals:
The ISB Middle School reports on student progress towards subject-specific standards based on expected performance at the time of assessment. The middle school uses the following descriptors to report on achievement: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Advanced. Achievement may also be described as falling between levels, such as: Beginning-Approaching (BA), Approaching-Meeting (AM), Meeting-Advanced (MA)
Habits and Attitudes for Learning (HAL):
Our ISB Middle School HAL are behaviors and dispositions that support students’ progress towards achieving our Mission. Students who approach their learning with these habits and attitudes develop a growth mindset and become independent, life‐long learners.
Reporting and Communication Timeline for 2019-2020 (Sem. 1)
Please note that the first PowerSchool update on Sept. 7, when teachers will share their first HAL ratings. This would be a perfect time for you and your child to go into PowerSchool together, look at the feedback, and discuss the kinds of healthy routines, behaviors, and dispositions that will contribute to a successful learning experience throughout the year.
MS Leadership Seminar #1 – September 7
Our goal for the September 7 Middle School Leadership Seminar is to introduce participants to the concept of enriching communities through citizenship with an emphasis on understanding what it means to be a good citizen. Students will focus on understanding the concept of the greater good and how we contribute to the greater good through our own actions and interactions with others. In addition, students will continue to work on the communication, collaboration and team building skills introduced in our previous leadership seminars.
Please encourage your child to come join the fun – there will be lots of hands-on, interactive activities and it’s a great opportunity to network with students your child might not normally spend time with. You can sign your child up here.
All participants will receive certificates of participation. Registration for this activity will close on September 5, 2019.
E.sperimenti GDO: September 6th, 6.30pm
September 6th, 6.30pm in the CC Theater. E.sperimenti GDO, the exemplary dance company from Italy, is visiting ISB and working with our students within September. On Friday September 6th, they will perform their show, Convergenze, for our school community and visiting guests. Don’t miss this professional dance company, right here at ISB!
Repeat Announcement: Massed Band Festival – September 7, 2019
ISB will host its annual Massed Band Festival the week of Sept. 2nd – 7th , welcoming almost 200 band students from 9 schools across Thailand and Malaysia. The guest conductor for this year is Mr. Naoya Takizawa, Associate Director of Bands at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Kanagawa, Japan. The Gala Concert featuring the Massed Band will take place in the Chevron Theatre at 2 pm on Saturday, September 7th. We invite you to come and enjoy hymns, marches, dances, and novelty numbers as students showcase their musical talents. Admission for the concert is free and open to the public.
Repeat Announcement: Bridge Day Weaving on Display
This year’s newly minted sixth graders had a taste of what middle school might be like last June during Bridge Day. One of their many experiences on that day was to weave their individual pieces of self-selected fabric into the larger collective piece. This represented the ISB Middle School philosophy of supporting students in finding their passions and unique interests while also contributing to a larger community. The final weavings are currently installed in the MS/HS Art Quad. Stop by to check them out!
