MS Parent-Teacher Conferences Important Information
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
After the February holiday, we return to a short student school week and MS Parent-Teacher (and Student) Conferences. This time we will be hosting them in the Rajendra Hall, which provides more space, better sound dampening, and a shorter walk.
We ask that parents arrive at the beginning of the session they are signed up for to ensure that they don’t run over time. Teacher have a busy schedule, with many seeing over 100 different families over the course of the two days. For this to work, we ask parents and teachers to limit their conversations to 5 minutes or less. If you need more time, please schedule an appointment for another date.
Also, please note that our campus access requirements still apply. These are particularly important due to the arena format and gathering of many people in a single venue. Looking after the health of our community requires the understanding and willing participation of all of our community. If you or your children will have traveled to mainland China at any time within 14 days of conferences, or are have any symptoms of being sick (fever, runny nose, cough, etc), please do not attend conferences. You will be able to schedule appointments at a later date.
Please note that the 14 day window started on February 20th, in order to be able to attend conferences on the 5th of March. We ask that any presence in mainland China after today (Feb. 21) prevent attendance at conferences.
Thank you for your understanding and commitment to the care and well being of each other. We look forward to seeing you at conferences.
Course Registration for 2020-2021 for students moving from grades 6 to 7, and 7 to 8
By Cindy Plantecoste, MS Vice Principal
Our class registration process for 2019-2020 school year is getting started for students who are currently in grades 6 and 7. Starting today, you may click on this link to access the updated Program of Studies for 2020-2021. 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.
On February 17 and 18, 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 in PowerSchool will open on Monday, March 2 and will close on Friday, March 6th, at the end of the school day. Students are also required to submit their paper registration to the counseling office by March 6th.
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). Please click here to see how your child can register in PowerSchool. Registration will be open between March 2nd – March 6th 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 will also be available during Parent, Student, Teacher conferences on March 5 and 6 if you have any questions. We want to make this process a smooth one for your child.
We hope your child is excited about planning for next year in Middle School!
Cindy Plantecoste
MS Vice Principal
** 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
MS Olympics photos
In December, our MS PE team put on our middle school-wide Olympics event – one of the highlights of the year. Thanks to Khun Eed, some teachers, and our marketing team, we have hundreds of photos from the terrific day.
You can check out the many photos here.
AMIS Students perform in ‘Home Team’ Concert
This week we were treated to a lovely performance by our MS AMIS Honor Choir students in the Cultural Center Theater. Twelve MS students auditioned and qualified for the Middle School Association of Music in International Schools (AMIS) Honor Choir event in Kuala Lumpur, which was unfortunately canceled due to the uncertainty around international travel. In order to honor their hard work since last September, these students, along with other choir members who rehearsed regularly, performed the AMIS music at a “home” concert here for friends and family.
The music and voice quality was lovely and the audience was treated to a special event. Special thank you to all the students for their perseverance after disappointing news, accompanists Keiko Arakawa and Miao-Rong Wang, and choir director Andy Marshall for putting on such a lovely event.
No School February 24-28
ISB will be on February break February 24-28. Students do not have school on these days.
School will resume on March 2nd, with a Day 5.
ISB’s Inter-School Technology Conference 2020
Dear MS/HS Students and Parents,
On Saturday, March 28th, the ISB High School Technology Council will be hosting the second annual Inter-School Technology Conference, open to all students in grades 6-12. The conference will consist of several workshops by guest speakers and 3 events: ‘Coding Approaches’, ‘Coding Competition’, and ‘UI/UX Design Challenge’.
The Coding Competition is aimed at intermediate and advanced coders in high school, the UI/UX Design Challenge is aimed for students with some background in UI/UX, and the Coding Approaches event is made for beginning coders or students with no coding experience.
- In Coding Approaches, students are introduced to basic Python code and work towards a final project collaborating with their peers. The event is perfect to gain some exposure to coding in a collaborative and supportive environment. As we would be trying our best to make this event enjoyable for everyone, your child could signup with their friends and be in the same group for the duration of the event.
- If your child does wish to explore a new area of tech, they can sign up to be part of the UI/UX Design Challenge (What is UI/UX Design?).
Prizes are available and in total, they amount to over 100,000 Baht, thanks to our generous sponsors. The event costs 499 Baht and payment and registration is made online via our website istc.isb.ac.th. We are offering limited discounts for the first 30 students at a price of 250 Baht, and an early bird discount for registration done before February 29th. Our regular deadline closes on March 6th. In addition, food will be provided at the event and a bus will be sent to Emporium for anyone living downtown. Please check our website for more information and contact us through technologycouncil@students.isb.ac.th if you have any questions.
Best regards,
ISB HS Technology Council
IASAS Cultural Convention @ ISB – March 6!!!
Despite the sad news that students from IASAS schools will not be able to travel to participate in IASAS Music, FAD, and DDT events in Bangkok, Taipei and Singapore respectively, we have put together an extravaganza of sorts to celebrate all three CC areas right here at home!!! More details to follow, but plan to attend ISB’s first ever IASAS Combined Dance.Drama.Tech. Forensics.Debate.Music Cultural Convention on March 6!!! On that Friday join the 70 plus ISB delegates in the CC Building to hear their 35 musical presentations, 12 forensics speeches, 2 dance and drama performances, and at least 2 debates (depending on the outcome of the first 4 virtual rounds held Wednesday afternoon, and all day Thursday, March 4 and 5, in the MPB’s). HS classes are invited to attend all scheduled events as are parents and community members. To the many families who had generously volunteered to house visiting musicians before IASAS Music CC was cancelled – THANK YOU!!!
Celebrations of Music Learning: Coming Soon!
Throughout the month of March, every student in kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 will be involved in a performance where they will be sharing songs, dances and games they’ve learned and created this year in music class. Please click here to see a full schedule of performances, and mark your calendars!
NBBL Community Basketball – Registration is now open
Dear ISB Community,
We are pleased to announce that this year Top Flight Basketball will take over management of the NBBL this season. We are honored and very excited to take on the responsibility of organizing this incredible community league.
Our goal is to run a professional, organized league where students will benefit from experienced professionals who share a passion for the game of basketball. In addition to teaching and reinforcing the essential fundamentals of the game, we also emphasize the importance of teamwork, self-confidence, friendship, and sportsmanship.
The NBBL is a community basketball league open to students ages 3-18 years (PreK 1 to Grade 10) of all skill levels. The season consists of an 8-week regular season and championship tournament at the end of the season.
Please have a look at some of the new features of the league this season. Click HERE to find more information.
Repeat Announcement: ES Art Exhibition February 18 – March 27 2020
The Elementary Visual Art Team welcomes you to our annual March Exhibition. “A Celebration of Learning” will be on display in clay, collage, construction, sculpture, pastels, paint, printmaking, and more!
Please join us in celebrating the creative work of our students at the exhibition opening on Tuesday, 18 February at 5:30p.m. in front of Chevron Theatre!
Every K-5 artist is exhibiting and looking forward to sharing their wonderful creations. The Student Led Conferences on March 5 & 6 will be a wonderful opportunity for your child to show you their work and discuss the learning involved to create it! The artwork will be displayed in the Chevron Theatre Foyer and throughout the school. We hope you can make it.
ISB ES Art Exhibition
18 February – 27 March 2020
Chevron Theatre Foyer, Administrative Offices, ES Office and other locations throughout ISB
