So Proud of Our Middle School
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
As we complete our 11th week of online learning and campus closure, I remain astounded and impressed by the terrific engagement our middle school students have demonstrated in this time of Virtual School. I want to share my deep appreciation for the support at home of parents and the commitment to learning of each and every student. While it has been an unnatural and challenging learning environment for many – students continue to try, to engage, and to learn.
Credit is also due to our teachers and counselors who continue to work with students, support their wellbeing, and make the learning interesting. The catch phrase, “building a plane while it’s in the air” gets used a lot to describe organizations that adapt on the fly and do something impressive as they do so. There is no more deserving group for this recognition than the educators who have adapted, created, and succeeded the way our faculty have. It is with awe and appreciation that I celebrate the work that they’ve done for your children.
With 3 weeks of school remaining, we will be wrapping things up and there will be a lot of communication about closure, end of year procedures, and celebrations. I thought it was important before we got lost in that to acknowledge the hard work of parents, students, and faculty and staff that has made this difficult time as successful as it has been.
Collecting materials
As we look ahead to the end of the school year, we are putting together a plan for the collection and return of school materials. We are also planning for the return of locker contents and distribution of Yearbooks during the last week of school. More information will come on that in the coming week.
May 29 No Virtual School
Please note that on next Friday, May 29th there will not be any Virtual School. This day “off” is a school holiday shifted over from the Songkran break.
School will resume on June 1st.
Update on ISB Virtual Summer School
Dear Parents,
We’ve received close to 700 registration requests for our upcoming free ISB Virtual Summer School! With all the uncertainties due to the COVID-10 pandemic, our scheduled summer school will definitely be virtual this year.
We are presently processing all registrations and scheduling classes. A reminder that there are a limited number of seats available so students are being scheduled based on the order their registration was received and each individual class is only being scheduled if we have sufficient enrollment for that class. Submitting a registration does not guarantee your child a spot.
Our goal is to complete all the scheduling by the end of next week. Once completed, you will either receive an email with your child’s scheduled summer school class(es), or a note to let you know your child is on the waiting list etc.
At that time, we will advertise which classes are full and which still have some space for students.
A reminder, the ISB Virtual Summer School Program is only open to all students enrolled at ISB for the 2019-20 school year and to new students joining ISB in August (new students will be able to participate only if there are seats available).
Purpose of the ISB Virtual Summer School Program:
To provide students with supplemental academic learning and/or enrichment opportunities, and to provide some opportunities to explore areas of interest through a variety of virtual “camps”.
Dates and Times for ISB Virtual Summer School 2020:
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Opens – Monday, June 22
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Closes – Friday, July 3
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Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Bangkok time
Students can sign up for either the academic program or enrichment camps, but not both. Please read carefully the more specific information provided about each program and special interest camp tentatively being offered and for the registration procedures, by clicking on the respective links below, or via the Summer School webpage on the ISB website.
For any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mr. Maurilio Baron-Toaldo
ISB Summer School Director
THE CC DRAMA THAT NEVER WAS: Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka
Wednesday 27th May ~ 4pm 45 minutes – no intermission
Link to join Webinar
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85208514610
The final dress rehearsal was as far as this year’s CC Drama piece – Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka – ever got. Cast sickness and the descending cloak of Covid-19 meant that the show never got to achieve its final performances for audiences, and now lives on only in memory…….. and in this handycam footage from the tech booth! Only a dress rehearsal, this was never meant to be seen by audiences, but now this footage is having its moment to shine. Come and watch the live streaming of the CC Piece That Wasn’t, and help celebrate the achievements of the eight actors involved: Kate Hansberry (Grade 10), Lia Zahar (Grade 10), John Jackson (Grade 11), Ashleigh Kennelly (Grade 11), Nonthaporn Tanomvorsin (Grade 11), Ariel Wile (Grade 11), Kate McArthur (Grade12) and Robert Yepes (Grade 12). They worked tirelessly for over three months to prepare a performance they were proud of, and we are all now proud to showcase our final rehearsal for you.
Anon(ymous) is loosely based on Homer’s ‘Odyssey’. It follows a young boy named Anon, a refugee who’s been separated from his mother, as he travels across the United States trying to find her. The piece is a timely reminder of the struggles faced by refugees all over the world, and how even in a place in which they have sought safety they still face trauma, danger, and isolation. The piece is a mix of ensemble-based physical theatre and naturalistic scenes which are both funny and tragic.
ISB DESIGN, FINE & PERFORMING ARTS ALUMNI PANEL
3:00pm, Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Join nearly a dozen ISB Design, Fine and Performing Arts Alumni from across the world for a discussion about life after ISB pursuing art and design degrees and careers.
Link to join Webinar
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82595302751
LEGS 4 LEGS CHARITY CONCERT – 3:30pm May 26, 2020
ISB dance-arts students are helping raise money for the Thai Prostheses Foundation with the annual Legs 4 Legs event. Join us May 26th @ 3:30 to see MS, HS, and adult community performances in a virtual extravaganza of dance!
Link to join Webinar
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85963705810
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 21 ISB Languages
Many ISB families are enjoying Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone this month, thanks to the MS Faculty Read-Aloud. Did you know that this book is free online in many languages during COVID-19?
To browse the ebook, audiobook, and print versions available in Thailand, visit Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 21 ISB Languages!
(Tip: log in to Sora first.)
Time spent reading or listening to books in any language counts for the Panthers Pounce Reading Challenge!
IB VIRTUAL ART EXHIBITION ON NOW!!!
The IB Diploma Visual Arts class of 2020 cordially invites you to visit their Virtual Diploma Visual Arts Exhibition https://sites.google.com/isb.ac.th/high-school-art/home or https://inside.isb.ac.th/community/ starting today. View this dynamic exhibition and celebrate the achievement of these amazing young artists. (S. Madden)
Repeat Announcement: Join the ISB Amazing Race of Thailand from 15 May – 8 June
This event is open to all ISB Community members and their extended families and encourages families and friends to stay fit! You can register as an individual, family or as a team of friends. You can choose different levels of challenges so everyone can do it!
All information and registration links can be found on the website: https://inside.isb.
Did you miss the deadline? No worries. You can start later too, just register as soon as possible. But you will have some catching up to do!
