Middle School Remote Learning Plan for School Opening
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
If your child will be starting the 2020-21 school year away from ISB, connecting online to the learning program, please inform the MS office – msoffice@isb.ac.th. Teachers need to know who is studying remotely so that they may provide the best support and instruction.
We are excited to be opening the ISB campus and starting the 2020-21 school year with students back in classrooms with their teacher and classmates. While we are fortunate to be in Thailand – a country and population that has handled the global pandemic admirably – we understand our own role in maintaining safety precautions to prevent any transmissions. With the right precautions in place, students will resume in-classroom learning on campus at ISB, beginning the week of August 10th.
Of course, we also recognize that many students will not be able to start the year on campus and in classrooms physically. Whether due to travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, or home health concerns, these students will start the year by accessing the “learning remotely”. It is our goal to provide students with online access to the classroom learning as much as possible (and where it makes sense), so that students may listen to the teacher, engage with the class activities, and, if connecting live with the class, participating in class discussion.
Brief Summary of Remote Learning in the Middle School
For most classes, teachers will activate a live broadcast of their class as it is happening, using the web platform Zoom. If off-campus students are connected to the live session, they will be able to hear the teacher’s instruction, see any slides or resources being projected by the teacher to the class, and even participate in small discussions, with other students in the class (either in the classroom or also connected remotely).
All broadcasts will be automatically recorded and stored online. Links to lessons will be uploaded to the class’s PowerSchool Learning online site, so that students who miss the class may watch the lesson on their own schedule. This allows students in far off time zones to still see the classes.
There are some classes that this format will not work as well for. P.E., for example, will provide students with a program that will keep them physically active and support wellness. (It would not be productive for an off-campus student to watch others having fun in P.E.)
How will I know the schedule and the appropriate Zoom links?
Schedules will be emailed to students and PowerSchool will be opened soon so that students can view their timetable and assigned teachers. Students will receive schedules and zoom links before school starts on August 11th.
Teachers will be reaching out to students who are connecting remotely with instructions and specifics about links and where to access materials and submit work.
When does Remote Learning start?
Middle school classes begin on Tuesday, August 11th with several advisory sessions and a “Welcome Day” for students on campus. Students connecting remotely will be included in some advisory sessions and grade level meetings will be Zoom broadcast. This will help them feel connected to what’s happening with their peers.
Following that, Wednesday, August 12th is a holiday, so middle school classes begin on Thursday, August 13th with a Day 2.
What time are classes and advisory?
The middle school typical day will be using the schedule rotation below. Please note the DAY number determines the order of periods for that day. All times are Bangkok Time GMT+7.
Who do I contact if I have technology problems or difficulty connecting?
For class-specific questions, please contact the teacher directly. For technology questions or problems with Zoom or other online platforms (PowerSchool, Google Classroom, etc.), you may contact the MS Technology Coach, Mr. Michael Boll (michaelb@isb.ac.th).
How will my child login to the school accounts (PowerSchool, Zoom, etc.)?
Returning ISB students should know their login information.
For new students, during the week of August 3-7, the ISB technology department emailed to parents the login information for their child. Please look for this email, if you haven’t seen it already, and share it with your child.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the class schedule?
For questions about course schedule, please contact the school counselor.
- Grade 6: Mr. Kevin Nelson (kevinn@isb.ac.th)
- Grade 7: Mr. Nelson or Ms. Coady
if you don’t know who our child’s the counselor is, email sariyam@isb.ac.th - Grade 8: Ms. Colleen Coady (colleenc@isb.ac.th)
Who do I inform that my child will be participating in Remote Learning?
Please write to your child’s counselor (see above), or the middle school office (msoffice@isb.ac.th), if your child is participating in remote learning to start the 2020-21 school year.
We hope that this information is helpful. You will soon be hearing from teachers with more specific instructions about each class. This is a new process for students and teachers alike, as it is quite different from the fully online, Virtual School, that ISB ran successfully last school year.
There will be technical glitches and mistakes made as we get underway. This is natural with any new initiative and learning process. We are committed to improving as we go, collecting feedback from parents and students, and ensuring learning growth for our learners.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
First Day of School for Middle School
By Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
It’s finally here! The first day of school is upon us. Teachers, counselors, admin and staff are excited to be welcoming students back on campus again to start the 2020-21 school year.
Middle School students will start school on Tuesday, August 11th.
Before students come back onto campus, families must have completed the self-declaration form. Please do so if you haven’t do so already.
We ask all students to also watch the ISB Safety Video so that they know what to expect on their first day on campus.
We will send more specific middle school safety procedures in the student bulletin which will be emailed to students on Monday evening.
The Middle School will be using a special schedule on Tuesday, in which students will spend the morning getting to know their advisors and Advisory classmates, understand our safety requirements, and have some fun together.
After lunch, students will meet each of their teachers for a short 15 minute class period.
Wednesday is a Holiday and there is no school.
On Thursday and Friday, students will attend their first full days of classes. It will be a Day 2 on Thursday and Day 3 on Friday.
Adjustment to MS School Uniform Policy
Middle School students must wear ISB school uniform to attend school.
This year, due to safety requirements, we have adjusted our uniform guidelines to allow for less time spent in locker rooms before and after P.E.
To start the 2020-21 school year, middle school uniform expectations are:
- When in class or the hallways students must be in the green or white ISB school uniform shirt
- When in P.E., students must wear the ISB P.E. uniform
- Students may wear the black shorts/skirts/pants from the ISB bookstore, or similar black shorts/skirts/pants purchased from another vendor that are plain without prominent logos, rips, or designs
- Students may also wear the ISB P.E. shorts with their green or white ISB school uniform shirt (this is new for 2020-21)
How to Subscribe/Resubscribe to receive the Good Morning ISB Middle School – Daily Student Announcements…
Dear New/Returning ISB Middle School Parents,
If you would like to start receiving in your email each day, the Good Morning ISB Middle School – Daily Student Announcements, please complete and submit this subscription form to do so.
If you were already on our list last year, please note this parent database is rebuilt from scratch at the start of each school year so you will need to resubscribe if you would like to continue receiving the announcements this year.
ISB Athletics introducing Chris Mott
Dear Parents, Students and Panther Community,
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the 2020/2021 school year! We are excited to have you all back on campus.
The ISB Athletics Office is ready to begin with Season One Athletics and we are all here to support and assist our students returning to the fields, courts and pools. While you will notice some changes, our programs will remain the same.
This is my first year in the ISB community and I am looking forward to meeting and working with you all. I am originally from Australia and have most recently moved from Lima, Peru and The American School of Lima, where I had been for the past five years. I am joined by my family, Eve (entering grade 4), Hudson (entering grade 1) and my wife, Georgina.
Season One School Sports Teams will begin in August on the dates listed below. Please also note the changes in sign-up procedures for all programs. Detailed information on this process is also linked below.
Parents will have to login to PowerSchool to register their children in CHQ for all ISB Athletics teams (you can find detailed information below).
This new requirement is consistent across all ISB Athletics and Panther Activities, and will assist us all in ensuring our student community is safe. Thank you all in advance for your support in this change in procedure.
More information about our program and teams can be found on the Athletics website: https://inside.isb.ac.th/isbathletics
Should you need any further assistance or have a question, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of us and we will be happy to assist as needed.
Athletics Director – Chris Mott: chrism@isb.ac.th
Associate Athletics Director – Mark Jaspers: markj@isb.ac.th
Season One Start Dates:
Thursday 13 August (3:30)
Varsity Tryouts: Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country
Tuesday 18 August (3:55)
JV Tryouts: Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country
Wednesday 19 August (2:55)
U13 Cross Country, Basketball Tryouts
U15 Cross Country, Basketball, Tennis and Rugby/Touch Tryouts
Monday 24 August (2:45)
U11 Cross Country and Basketball begins
NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR ISB ATHLETICS & PANTHER ACTIVITIES OPENS AUGUST 6
Welcome to CHQ, ISB’s new registration platform for ISB Athletics and Panther Activities.
Season One sign up opens at 12:00pm on Monday, August 10. Parents must register their children to participate.
How to use CHQ
Step by step instructions for navigating CHQ can be found HERE. Once logged in to PowerSchool, press the CHQ button on the left side of your screen to find an account for each of your children. In each of their accounts, you will only be able to see the activities for that child’s age group and grade level. Where available, you may click the blue “i” to the right of each activity title for a description of that activity.
Panther Activities Fair
Want to know more about what’s on offer at ISB? Join us at the annual Panther Activities Fair scheduled in Rajendra Hall from 9:00am until 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 15, where you can meet the program reps, ask questions about the different activities, and register.
Make a morning of it by swinging by the annual ISB Booster Pancake Breakfast. We look forward to seeing your kids on campus soon, doing all of the things they love to do!
Please note that the Panther Activities Fair as well as the activities on offer will take into account the safety measures and physical distancing guidelines as set forth in ISB’s reopening plan.
Questions?
For ISB Athletics, contact Chris Mott at chrism@isb.ac.th, or Mark Jaspers at markj@isb.ac.th.
For Panther Activities, contact Anthony Giles or Lucas Rivera at pantheractivities@isb.ac.th.
Cashless Payment in the Cafeteria
Please note that MS/HS cafeteria, as well as The Grind and Upper Grind will operate on a cashless basis only and payment can be made by Campus Card. Campus cards can be topped-up online (through PowerSchool, at the top-up machine by the ATM’s and at the Bookstore).
This measure is necessary in order to speed up the queues at the cashier’s desks and help us maintain physical distancing in the cafeteria.
Panther Dance (ASD) – Dance Styles Expression of Interest Now Open
Dear Dancers and Families,
I hope everyone is ready for a new School year filled with Dance.
We are excited to introduce our new, highly recommended instructors –
Mr. Game will be taking over Ms. Pear’s Street/Hip Hop Classes.
Kru Art will be teaching Tap,
We hope to be able to offer Adult Ballet when Campus reopens. If you are interested please email me directly for further details.
STEP 1 – Complete Google Form (see link below) for On-line Dance Style Expression of Interest as soon as possible but before 12th August 12.00pm.
https://forms.gle/9NsyQ99HzcgHYQSL6
No Payment is Due at this time.
STEP 2 – Attend a Placement Assessment Sessions –
Thursday 13th OR Friday 14th August – in the CC Theatre (2nd Floor or the Cultural Center)
2.35pm Gr 4 / 5 (A Teacher will meet Dancers at the Hard Top to walk them over to CC Theatre)
4.00pm MS
6.00pm HS
Pk and Kg, Grade 1 – 3 Dancers do not need an Assessment.
Dancers Grade 4 to Grade12 should come to one of their Grades scheduled sessions prepared for a Dance class (appropriate shoes / clothes / hair). Dancers will be asked to copy dance steps with a group of dancers of a similar age.We have implemented numerous social distancing procedures to make Assessments as safe as possible, we ask for your patience as we deal with the new guidelines.
We recommend Dancers with last names A – Q come to assessments Thursday and R – Z come Friday – WHERE POSSIBLE.
STEP 3 – Payment / Registration –
Monday afternoon 17th August to 12.00pm Wednesday 19th August through the new Online Registration System.
Students should be aware that attending a Placement Session does not guarantee that ASD will be able to accommodate all requests. Dancers returning to the same style that they participated in February 2020 will be given priority.
Classes start on Monday 24th August.
Looking forward to a new year with Panther Dance (ASD).
Regards
Helen
https://www.isb.ac.th/after-school-dance
