‘Resilience, determination and commitment’
Justin Alexander
justina@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents,
Congratulations to our season one Student Athletes on the successful completion of their season which culminated in the season one awards evening on Thursday night. As has often been the case this year, circumstances beyond our control (the small matter of the pandemic) have caused us to re-evaluate and adjust some of our events and practices. The season one Awards night and banquet being the latest of these events. A huge thank you to our athletics team and coaches for putting together a wonderful first season of practices, games and tournaments for our students that many of us in June/July thought might not be possible at all and for capping the season off so nicely at the awards ceremony last night in the Chevron.
Whilst the MVP, coaches awards and most improved player awards are important, I was especially touched by the Spirit of ISB award presented last evening and the story behind our winner. The effort, struggles and unrelenting determination, commitment and desire of this particular student to make a school team was well worth sharing and for me was the highlight of the evening. Congratulations to one and all and especially to our student athletes who work so hard at their academics and their athletic endeavours.
Looking ahead we will see our student-thespians-actors-artists-debators take centre stage in the coming weeks with the staging of the HS Play, Romeo and Juliet and IASAS MUN, Art and Film conventions taking place. There are more details in the E News below, but for now I encourage you to book a seat for the Play. Performances are on Tues, Wed, Thursday this coming week (click HERE to reserve your seats) and to be ready to enjoy the visual delights of our IASAS CC Art and Film students.
Have a great weekend.
Justin Alexander
High School Principal
HS Parent Workshop: Assessment and Pathways (Mathematics, World Language, Science)
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th
On Wednesday 18th November, we will be running a workshop for HS parents. This workshop will be split into two parts:
Part A – Focused on Assessment in the HS
Time: 12:30 – 1:15 PM
Part B – Focused on pathways in World Languages, Science and Mathematics in the HS
Time: 1:30 – 2:15 PM
Both workshops will be held in MPB 1.
These workshops provide an opportunity to address some of the questions that have been raised through the Principal’s Forum, including more in depth focus on Assessment and Grading in the HS and how our pathways in science, world languages and mathematics align with the IB Diploma.
You are welcome to come to one or the other, or both workshops. We will have a short coffee break in between each session.
IB Roundtable for HS Parents
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th
During the recent HS Principal’s Forum, it was clear that there is a lot of interest in learning more about the IB Diploma, with many parent questions surrounding university recognition, assessment in the IB, subject choices and how we prepare and support students through the program at ISB.
If you are interested in learning more about the IB and would like to have specific questions answered about the IB program, you are welcome to attend our IB roundtable discussion. This will take place on Thursday 26th November at 9:30 AM, in MPB 1.
Please note, this is not a presentation where we will go over the basics of the IB Diploma. This is more of an opportunity to engage in conversation about the IB at ISB and questions that came up at the Principal’s Forum.
There will be an IB Basics Night offered on January 21st, 2021 at 6:30 PM (save the date). This will be a presentation about the IB aimed at parents new to the program offering a thorough overview of the IB Diploma.
News from the College Office
Sonya Ohlsson
sonyao@isb.ac.th
Seniors:
Seniors had that 4th Senior Seminar this week with plenty of time to work on their applications, essays and do research. Approximately 60% of seniors had or have an early deadline (October 15-December 1). We hope that most students will have completed their applications before the December break, even if they don’t submit them until the middle or even after the break. It’s good to just get the paperwork done so they can re-focus their energies back on their academics and just be done with college apps!
November 18 is the deadline to submit transcript requests for all college deadlines up until February 15. We will be submitting documents before the December break. We will keep an eye on those who may hear back from their ED school before we go on holiday and if the answer is positive we will not send the documents for their other schools.
It’s also important for students to remember to send their test scores directly from the testing agencies to any colleges or universities that require them or that the student has decided to share them with.
The College Office is busy submitting all the school-related documents for the early applications this week. It is very important to be aware that students may get an email or portal status back from the schools they apply to that documents are still missing. This is an automatic response and so they will not have had time to even check to see if they have received the documents. Be aware that it can take the universities up to 2 weeks to process the thousands of documents they are getting from all over the world. Just because it’s electronic, doesn’t mean it’s instantaneous!! So, please be patient.
SAT Saturday, November 7:
All students must bring their school ID to get on campus. ALL STUDENTS must bring their Passport or Thai National ID and Admissions Ticket to gain entrance to the test rooms. No student will be admitted without a Thai National ID or a Passport and their Admissions Ticket. A school ID is NOT accepted for testing purposes. There are no exceptions–College Board makes these rules, not us. All phones will be turned off for the entire testing time and students may not access them until the tests are completed. We will let students in at 7:30am.
Juniors:
The next Junior College Seminar is November 17. A reminder email will be sent to all juniors as the date gets closer. Right now, as it has been for this semester, focusing on academics is the top priority.
Parent Coffee:
Our next Parent Coffee will be next week on Wednesday, November 11 at 8:00am. It will be virtual and the topic will be Rankings: Are They All that They Seem to Be? Just a reminder that all questions will only be able to be taken via the chat feature on the zoom. A recording will be made available on our website, listed below, after the event.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84986656854
ISB Virtual University Visits Next Week:
Nov. 9 Vassar College 11:00am
Nov. 9 NYU Abu Dhabi 7:00pm
Nov. 11 Syracuse University 11:00am
Nov. 11 University of Exeter (UK) 7:00pm
Nov. 13 Sophia University (Japan) 11:00am
For more information on all virtual visits (how to register and join in on a call) as well as links to other resources, please look here: tinyurl.com/isbcollege
News from HS Counselors
Kevin Callahan
kevinc@isb.ac.th
High School students have taken the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) this past week. The SDQ is a self-reported survey that uses responses to measure students’ emotion, conduct, hyperactivity, peer relations, and social behavior. The results are used to follow up with students of concern in quiet conversations, and to gather data to check on the well-being, concerns, and general mental health of our ISB student body. It’s an excellent tool to gauge both individual and general concerns about students, and we’ve had some great conversations with students as a result. If you have any questions about the SDQ, feel free to ask your student’s counselor.
News from The Main Library
Chris Bell
chrisb@isb.ac.th
This week in my newsletter, I encouraged students to ‘Take a Chance.’ I have been giving book talks in classes and when I do this essentially I am trying to give some insights or pique their interests in books. It is part of the way we encourage reading for pleasure and overall appreciation of literacy. A couple of things to share about this process are that I let them know, “There are somewhere between 600,000 and 1,000,000 books published every year in the US alone”. (Forbes) This is important to know so they, and you, should not feel obligated to finish a book that doesn’t appeal, offends, or is just bad. There are enough books published each year that you should always be able to find something you WANT to read. The other thing I share is my 20 Page Test. Basically, if in 20 pages the book hasn’t captured your attention enough to make you want to finish it then consider finding something new. I have used these methods for a while and the point is to give students the agency to make good decisions about books they read for pleasure. Additionally, to ensure them there is something out there for them.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
The of Racing in the Rain ~ by Garth Stein
Offered a tough read last week, so I needed something a bit lighter. This was it! Told from Enzo’s (the dog) perspective this is a heart wrenching story of a family dealing with illness and loss. While it sounds depressing, it is uplifting and at times very funny. The connection that the family has to each other and Enzo’s role in that family make for great storytelling. I haven’t seen the movie, but I will! Enjoy this one when you need a break from the day.
TECH RECOMMENDATION
Privacy is something that we have less and less of today. With that in mind it is important to protect what we have for the future. Something you can do yourself and with your family is to run through Facebook’s Privacy Check Up. Facebook has done, in my opinion, a nice job of creating a comprehensive way to look at your information on their site. Take a few minutes and go through the steps and you might be surprised.
As always if you have other questions or concerns or would like me to cover something in this section you can email me at: christob@isb.ac.th.
News from The Athletics
Chris Mott
chrism@isb.ac.th
Season One U13-U15 Sports Celebration (16 November)
The season One U13-U15 Sports celebration will be held on Monday 16 November.
Due to COVID-19 Restrictions, only coaches and athletes can attend this year.
Dress code: Smart Casual
4:30 – 5:00 -Team rooms
5:00 – 6:00 – Awards presentation in Chevron (streamed for parents)
6:15 Downtown bus will leave from the Panther
Season One Athletes and parents will receive further information via email.
Outgrown Your Football Gear?
Graham DeLashmutt
21053@students.isb.ac.th
Dear ISB Community,
Do you have outgrown football boots around the house? Extra shin guards, shorts, T-shirts or socks in your closets?
Let’s work together to give the Maharaj Boys the equipment they need to play a sport they love! Please consider donating gently used football/soccer equipment to the Maharaj Boys Home.
Before COVID restrictions, the Maharaj boys would come to ISB on Sundays and play football with members of the Maharaj Boys Club. After a long break, we have just received permission to host the Maharaj Boys back on campus!
Please help us welcome the boys back to ISB and bring in your football/soccer equipment to the box located outside of the Booster Hut by Friday, November 20, 2020!
Thank you for your time and attention! We want to make our next Sunday playing football together extra special!
Graham DeLashmutt
Maharaj Boys Club
21053@students.isb.ac.th
High School Fall Production – “Romeo and Juliet”
Anthony Giles
- November 10th – 6:30pm
- November 11th – 6:30pm
- November 12th – 3:30pm
Location: Cultural Centre Theatre
Shakespeare’s classic love story, Romeo and Juliet, tells the tale of two young lovers from warring families who fall in love against the wishes of their parents. Hope that this union can unite the two sides for good is overshadowed by the hatred and bloodshed that follows, and the world’s most famous tragedy reminds us, particularly in these turbulent modern times, that we should focus on the things that unite us, rather than our differences.
Admission is free, on a first-come-first-served basis, but due to restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the performance is only available to be watched live by those with ID card access to ISB’s campus. If you wish to pre-book tickets please use this Ticket Reservation Form.
BBSA Opening Day Ceremony – 10:30am Saturday, November 14 at Reinsch Field
Anthony Giles
Please join us at 10:30am on Saturday, November 14th for the BBSA Opening Day Ceremony to kick off Bangkok Baseball and Softball Association’s 70th annual season where we will dedicate the newly refurbished Reinsch Field in loving memory of Bill Reinsch and his decades long relationship with baseball and softball in Bangkok as well as ISB. Come early to catch the first games at 8:30am, or stay after for the later matches scheduled at 10:30am.