On this past Wednesday, an email with important information about the upcoming Grade 6 trip was emailed from Mr. Assimakopoulos. It may have gone to your spam or junk email folder, given the number of addressees.
If you did not receive it, please check your spam folder as it holds important information for you and your child and mark the sender as an approved sender for future communication.
For your convenience, we’ve included the contents of the message below.
Dear Grade 6 Parents,
We are very excited to announce that on Tuesday, October 15th, our Grade 6 students will head to iCamp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Students will be participating in a 3-day and 2-night retreat in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The Grade 6 Retreat will provide students with new opportunities for learning. The retreat is deliberately placed at the start of the year so that our Grade 6 students get to know each other and build lasting and meaningful relationships with one another. Our main goal for students is to interact, work together and get-to-know each other in their grade level community.
Throughout the trip, students will be presented with information in a way that meets different learning modalities. This will provide students with the ability to learn by doing! This retreat is where our ISB’s learner attributes and values will come “off the page and into practice” through this powerful shared experience.
This email shares important information for the trip. If you are interested in seeing what the campgrounds look like, please take a moment to view the following video (linked). If you would like to speak to me in person, please take a moment to meet with me during Parent Conferences this Thursday or Friday.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Times:
Please note the pick-up and drop-off times below – it is very important that all students are ready on the day of departure to ensure a smooth trip with minimal delays.
Tuesday, October 15th meet at the Panther and check in with your advisory at 7:20 am.
Thursday, October 17th students dropped off at ISB at 14:30 (2:30 pm).
Safety
Safety is absolutely our number 1 priority. We have a working connection with iSOS and emergency response service that allows us contact with doctors 24 hours a day and recommendations about the best facilities to treat any issues. All our guides and accompanying teachers are First Aid Certified and two ISB nurses will accompany the trip.
We have taken all manner of safety precautions but we also remind students and parents that we are engaging with nature and activities in the real world. Additionally, nuts and peanuts are not permitted on this trip as some of our students are severely allergic. Students need to follow instructions, be mindful of their own safety, and respect the safety of everyone in the group. We appreciate parents’ support in reiterating this message to their children.
Technology
This trip is a no-tech trip. Communication with parents will be every night via email with highlights from the day from one of our teachers. Students are asked to leave their phones and technology at home. This trip is an opportunity for your child to unplug, connect with nature and with each other. We appreciate parents’ support in ensuring technology is left at home. Your support with this is vital so we are not policing students throughout the trip, but rather encouraging interaction.
Itinerary
Students will participate in several activities throughout our stay in Kanchanaburi. The itinerary is detailed below.
We will hold an informational meeting with all Grade 6 students on Monday during advisory. The slides/information can be found here (linked).
Packing List
CLOTHING and FOOTWEAR
- Extra Shirts and ShortsISB PE shirt and shorts
- Long pants (optional)
- Long-Sleeved shirts (optional)
- Pyjamas
- Swimming Suits
- Sneakers/Shoes
- Flip Flops/Sandals
TOILETRIES
- Towels
- Comb/Hairbrush
- Soap/Shower gel
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
OTHER
- Water Bottle
- Personal Medication and Vitamins
- Sun Block Cream
- Insect Repellent/ Bug Spray
- Flashlight
- Hats/ Caps
- Cards/Boardgames
Please note: We do not encourage students to bring sensitive, expensive clothing or expensive items that may get lost or get damaged.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Warmest Regards,
Peter Assimakopoulos and Moe Baron-Toaldo