What a Wonderful Week
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
After months of off campus school, we have been so excited and joyful to have students in our halls and classrooms once again. This week, we have felt like a school again.
Thank you to our students who have worked hard to adhere to our safety expectations. They have been really great at responding to instructions and reminders and keeping their mask on throughout the day. We really appreciate their part in our team effort to keep everyone safe.
Also, a special thank you to our teachers and staff who have balanced the safety expectations with in-class teaching on online connecting. There are a lot more factors to be aware of while teaching their classes than a typical year, but our teachers have handled this with professionalism and smiles on their faces.
We will continue to work through technical difficulties or hiccups as we practice this new paradigm of in-class students with remote learners as well. We appreciate the support we’ve received from the parent community and recognize how fortunate we are to be able to run school as we are.
Talk to your child about how the first week has gone. We hope that they have enjoyed it all. We are glad to be back!
Schedule Changes still taking Place
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
After two days of middle school classes (and one Welcome Day), we have seen our middle school enrollment thrive. As such, we have had to add some additional elective sections to better balance class sizes and meet scheduling needs.
As such, students may have a change in their schedule in the coming week. We do our best to keep students with the same teacher that they have met this past week, but they may chance class periods. We understand sometimes this may feel strange after attending one meeting of another class, however it is essential to ensure that classes aren’t overcrowded and that students have the best possible learning environment.
This year, in particular, keeping class sizes even and well distributed is essential to allow for proper distancing. We appreciate the understanding of our students and parents. We do our best to resolve all scheduling issues in the first few days of school so that students can build a routine and follow a consistent schedule.
Students with a schedule change will be notified and called to the office to pick up a new schedule.
Laptops at home – setting expectations and guidelines
As you know, ISB middle school students are assigned a laptop for school and home use starting in grade 6. This year, unlike our usual practice, even the grade 6 students have the laptops at home. We did this to be prepared for any sudden requirement to switch to “Virtual School,” which we hope won’t happen, but prepare for.
We understand that despite the laptops being powerful learning tools that they can also be a distraction, a pull for further screen time, and, at times, counterproductive for family time. As such, it is important to set guidelines and expectations for your child about their use of the laptop at home.
This week we sent home a Laptop Agreement form with all students. This form requires a conversation between parents and their child about home expectations around technology use. We ask that all parents go through this with their child, each filling in the answers agreed upon together on the two copies provided. One copy will be returned to school by Tuesday, August 18th and one can stay home with you to reference if you ever feel the expectations agreed to aren’t being met.
Middle school aged children are in a key developmental stage and learning to balance their tech use is important learning during this time. We will be running digital citizenship lessons with students in the coming weeks through our Advisory program and we encourage these ongoing conversations at home. Together we can help your child navigate this important part of their realities.
MS musical instruments guidelines
As part of our safety protocols, we want to be sure that no one besides your child has touched their musical instrument. As such, middle school students who bring their instruments to school in the morning must take them directly to their band or orchestra classroom at the start of the day. They can be stored in the room until used and picked up at the end of the day from the music rooms.
Please help your child by allowing enough time in the morning at arrival so that they can still make it to class on time. At the end of the day, students have plenty of time before buses leave to collect their instruments as well.
We will not be providing a trolley to transport the instruments any longer.
Important Information for Varsity/JV Tryouts
Tryouts for Cross Country, Soccer and Volleyball are open to all HS students on August 13, 14 & 17. All runners, soccer players and volleyball players should come during the first 3 days and join our community of ISB Athletes. “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” Bill Bowerman (Co-founder of Nike).
PANTHER RUN SERIES
Please join us and register for this year’s Panther Fun Run Series (August 22, September 5, October 3). These three charity races will benefit Operation Smile. You only need to register once HERE
This year, the run is only open to ISB families and only participants who pre-registered will be allowed on campus you find a link to complete the self-disclosure form HERE.
Due to the strict COVID guidelines, we will have a physically-distanced start. Please ensure to wear your masks at all times until you are starting the race and put it back on after you reach the finish area. We will not hand out race bibs nor provide timings at the end of the race. It’s a true fun run to enjoy with your family. If you want to run hard, bring your running watch and time yourself!
Fun Run Dates: August 22, Sept. 5, and Oct. 3
All races will begin at 7:15 am. Meet at the main field before 7:00 am and wait until you are invited to move to your starting position.
Instead of a registration fee, we will have donation boxes for Operation Smile at the start of the event. Please bring some cash before the race to donate to this wonderful organization. Operation Smile is a non-profit organization providing life-changing cleft-palate surgeries for children.
For more information, see the promotional posters around school/attached to the email regarding the race.
Panther Activities Fair and Booster Pancake Breakfast
Please join us for ISB’s annual Panther Activities Fair this Saturday, August 15 from 9:00am to 12:00 noon, where representatives from Panther Activities and ISB Athletics will be set up in Rajendra Hall to answer questions about the various programs on offer, and to assist with registrations on CHQ. Then, grab some grub in the Main Cafeteria at the annual Pancake Breakfast from 8:00am to 11:00am.
Apologies for the late notice, but different than earlier communications, campus entry on Saturday morning for either the Panther Activities Fair or the Pancake Breakfast will be limited to ISB families only who have met the COVID-19 requirements for campus access, including completing the disclosure form HERE. Entry will not be allowed without an ISB ID or equivalent linked with the electronic disclosure form. Face masks must be worn at all times and capacity in each venue will be capped at 200 participants as per government regulations. Please expect queues and maintain a 1 – 2m physical distance from others.
If you can’t make it to the fair this weekend, no problem. Coordinators and Coaches will be available through email HERE to help you out. In addition, with the same COVID-19 protocols used this weekend in place, we are hoping to open campus access up soon to ISB parents and family helpers.
Parent, Staff & Student Voices needed: “One Voice” ISB Community Music Video Project
In honor of the International Day of Peace (September 21, 2020), we invite the ISB community members (parents, students and staff) to help us with a community music video project. If you love to sing, and you’d like to be part of this meaningful experience, please click here for more information. Please note, the deadline for video submissions is August 21st.
Panther Dance (ASD) offers Classes to ISB Families
Panther Dance (ASD) offers Classes to ISB Families in –
Pk 1, Pk 2, Kg Pk/Kg Dance
Gr 1 Jazz, Ballet, Tap
Gr 2 – 5 Jazz, Ballet, Street/Hip Hop,Tap
Gr 6 – 12 Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Street/Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap,
Panther Dance (ASD) Expression of Interest closes 15th August 12.00pm.
Please complete the Google Form to request classes –
https://forms.gle/9NsyQ99HzcgHYQSL6
No Payment is Due at this time.
Placement Assessment Sessions – Grade 4 – 12
Thursday 13th OR Friday 14th August – CC Theatre (2nd Floor or the Cultural Center)
2.35pm Gr 4 / 5
(We will collect Gr 4/5 Dancers at the Hard Top and take them to the CC Theatre)
4.00pm MS
6.00pm HS
Pk and Kg, Grade 1 – 3 Dancers do not need an Assessment.
Accept Placement Register / Pay through CHQ – from Monday 18 th August (afternoon)
For more information please email isbasd@isb.ac.th
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.