ES Virtual Open House – Aug. 27 @ 6:00-8:00PM on Zoom
We warmly invite you to our ES Virtual Open House on Thursday, August 27 from 6:00-8:00PM on Zoom.
Please join us as we launch the 2020-21 year of home and school partnerships! Open House is an important night to meet your child’s teachers and learn about the learning your child will experience at ISB this year. You will be able to meet homeroom and specialist teachers (PE, Music, Art, World Languages, Learning Support and EAL).
The schedule and Zoom links for specific sessions will be shared by classroom teachers. Families with children in multiple grade levels might need to divide and attend different classes at the same time.
The purpose of Open House is to provide parents with an opportunity to connect with their child’s teachers as well as learn more about ISB programs. If you have information to discuss about your child, please arrange to meet with your child’s teacher privately at another time.
August 24, 2020 ES Pick Up Procedures
Effective Monday, August 24, ES parents and helpers with ID cards who are escorting their children to after-school activities are permitted on campus anytime after 1:30PM. Parents/helpers will enter campus through the Business Office turnstiles, meet their children in the ES cafeteria and then walk them to their activity. Please refrain from going in the ES hallways and quads. All other dismissal procedures will continue.
Summary of ES Dismissal Procedures
- PreK dismissal is at 1:10pm.
- KG-Grade 5 dismissal begins at 2:25pm.
- After-School Activities:
- KG and Grade 1 students will meet their parent/helper in the ES Cafeteria and then go to the activity accompanied.
- PK2 students – homeroom teachers will be in communication regarding arrangements.
- Grades 2-5 students may go directly to their activity. Parents/helpers may pick up their child afterwards at the activity location or at the front entrance of the school.
- Parent pick up for students not participating in activities:
- a) PreK: Parents of PreK1 students may enter the early childhood playground for pickup. Parents of PreK2 students may wait at the early childhood gate for pick up.
- b) KG: Students will be in the early childhood playground waiting for pick up. There will be a covered waiting area for guardians to wait outside the early childhood entrance. The teacher or IA will bring the child to the parent/guardian (students will pass through the turnstiles to be picked up).
- c) G1-G5: Students will pass through the ES turnstiles and then meet parents along the front of the school next to the first letter of their last name.
- Walkers and bikers will be dismissed first, followed by bus riding students, and then car pick up. In order to reduce congestion, we encourage students who live in Nichada to walk or bike.
- Students who take buses will be guided to their bus.
Upcoming Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment
In the coming weeks, learners in grades 2-8 will be taking the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test. MAP testing is done on a computer and each test adapts to the student’s previous answers, so if they answer a question correctly, the test gets progressively more challenging. If a student answers a question incorrectly, the test adapts to become easier.
MAP is a standardized test and is only one part of ISB’s overall assessment plan. MAP testing is given twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. MAP provides a standardized measure of student growth in Reading and Mathematics based on our content standards. A true picture of a child’s academic progress must include a variety of opportunities to demonstrate learning such as ongoing formative assessments given regularly in class; evidence of understanding such as writing samples, projects, and presentations; and teacher designed assessments. Teachers collect a range of learning data to help them determine where students are in their learning and where they are ready to go next. MAP is a single piece of your child’s learning picture.
MAP measures your child’s achievement level compared to other students who have taken this test. However, the student sample is drawn from US public and private schools, not international schools. The test does not cover all academic skills, nor does it cover such areas as physical, artistic, or interpersonal skills.
As with any standardized assessment, students can become anxious about how they will perform. You can support your child by ensuring that s/he gets a good night’s sleep, has a healthy breakfast, and comes to school knowing that this is important, and they can do it!
If you have any questions, you can look at the NWEA website or contact me (debic@isb.ac.th).
Results will be shared with parents and an informational meeting scheduled after the testing is completed.
Your partner in learning,
Debi Caskey
Deputy Head of School for Learning
NOTE: For those students who are learning virtually during the testing window, we will be in touch if remote testing is possible.
After School Supervision
Any elementary school student on campus outside of regular school hours, who is not participating in a school-sponsored event, must be actively supervised by an adult in charge, appointed by the family. This includes being in the elementary Learning Hub (library).
ES HUB Access
ES Cafeteria Menu
Please find the ES Cafeteria menu for next week linked here.
Panther (ES) Explore
First Semester’s Panther (ES) Explore Program will begin on Monday, September 14th.
Panther (ES) Explore Booklet is available online.
For viewing or downloading go to https://www.isb.ac.th/student-life/activities/elementary-school-activities/ click “Activities booklet”.
Registration and payment will be open online on Friday ,August 28th (at 3 pm) until Wednesday, September 2nd.
Livnat Ziskinder
Panther (ES) Explore Coordinator
esactivities@isb.ac.th
PTA – Welcome Back Coffee
Let’s enjoy a coffee together with our ISB community members!! It’s a great opportunity to meet new families who have recently arrived and to say hello returning friends!!
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020
Time: 1:30-2:30pm
Location: MPB1-3
Updated Mask Policy
Please note our updated mask policy, which is linked on the ISB website.
Parents should be supplying their child with an extra mask, especially if the kids are using disposable types. If kids are crying during the day, the mask could get ruined and they will need a replacement.
(Repeat) Check and Update Your Details in Powerschool Parent Portal
Many people move houses over the summer, details change (phone numbers etc). We are in the process of updating phone numbers, addresses and emergency contacts. Please take the time to login to Powerschool Parent Portal and check the details that ISB has on record. Please update if necessary. It is really important this information is accurate, as we use this in emergency situations.
Instructions
Step 1. Login to Powerschool
- If you are new, you should have received an email with your login details, if not please contact help@isb.ac.th
- If you have forgotten your password please contact cholthis@isb.ac.th
Step 2. At the bottom of the left hand menu click “Contact Update”. This information will then take a day or two to update (we manually check for accuracy).
If you have any questions or queries, contact cholthis@isb.ac.th
(Repeat) ES Parent/Student Handbook
Our ES Parent/Student handbook can be accessed through the Powerschool Parent Portal . We recommend families read this carefully, as it contains detailed information about the elementary school.
(Repeat) Attendance, Tardiness, Absence
If your child is going to be absent from school, please notify us by 8:00am by either calling the ES office or e-mailing K. Tom (cholthis@isb.ac.th) as well as your child’s teacher.
(Repeat) School Calendars
The eldest child of the family received a calendar this week to bring home.
All new families should have already received a calendar during the admissions process. If you would like to purchase an additional calendar (100 THB), please come to the Community and Arts Office.
(Repeat) 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.
(Repeat) 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/link here regarding the race.
(Repeat) ES Music Ensemble Sign Ups
Panther Orff Ensemble, Panther String Ensemble and Panther Choir begin the week of September 14th. Click HERE to learn more and register for one of these ensembles. These ensembles are only for students in Grades 3, 4 or 5. Enrollment for some ensembles is limited, so sign up quickly!
eNews Guidelines
Shelley Bragg
shelleyb@isb.ac.th
ISB eNewsletters provide a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. For your convenience we have provided you with our eNewsletter guidelines below.
Submitting an announcement for publication
ISB accepts announcements from ISB families for potential publication in our eNewsletters. The announcements are generally intended to highlight events that occur at ISB and/or highlight information about ISB.
What to include in the announcement
- A title for your announcement
- An email contact for further information
Where to submit your announcement
4publish@isb.ac.th is for announcements of interest to the entire ISB community.
naiyanar@isb.ac.th is for Elementary School (ES) announcements of interest to ES families.
phremjiz@isb.ac.th is for Middle School (MS) announcements of interest to MS families.
vijitl@isb.ac.th is for High School (HS) announcements of interest to HS families.
Your announcement will be submitted to the appropriate Principal and/or to our Director of Marketing and Communications for review. ISB reserves the right to determine which announcements will and will not be published, and to edit announcements that are approved for publication.
Frequency of eNewsletter mailings
The ISB eNewsletter that is for the entire community is sent out on Thursdays. Announcements for potential publication in this newsletter must be received by noon on Thursdays.
The ES, MS, and HS eNewsletters are sent out on Fridays. Announcements for potential publication in these newsletters must be received by noon on Fridays.
Calendar of Events
August/September 2020
| Aug. 27 | ES Virtual Open House, 6:00-8PM via Zoom |
| Aug. 28 | Panther (ES) Explore Program Registration Opens |
| Sept. 1 | 1:10PM ISB Early Dismissal |
| Sept. 2 | Panther (ES) Explore Program Registration Closes |
| Sept. 3 | ES Parent Engage 7:45AM |
| Sept. 3-4 | ES ‘Out of School Uniform’ Days |