Message from HS Principal
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your support of our students participating in IASAS MUN, Art and Film conferences this week here at ISB. Although our students are not physically joining their peers from our IASAS sister schools this week, they are connecting with them virtually or in other ways. We look forward to hearing more about the results and outcomes of their respective conferences next week, but it has been great to see the MUNer’s debating and preparing motions for discussion and to hear of the great activities and workshops that our Art and Film students are involved in. More next week on the IASAS conference.
Thank you to the 70 or so parents that joined us on Thursday afternoon for two information sessions – one on Assessment and grading and the other on Pathways in Science, Math and World Languages at the High school level. Ms. McMillan will share more details and links to the presentations later in the newsletter.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Regards
Justin Alexander
High School Principal
Presentation Available from HS Parent Workshop
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th
Presentation Available from HS Parent Workshop: Assessment and Pathways (Mathematics, World Language, Science)
On Wednesday 18th November we held a presentation for parents on Assessment and pathways in World Languages, Science and Mathematics.
HERE are the slides used for this presentation.
If you have any questions about this presentation, please contact Justyna McMillan, the HS Dean of Academics.
IB Roundtable for HS Parents – Sign Up Required
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th
On Thursday 26th November, we will hold a roundtable discussion focused on the IB Diploma at 9:30 AM, in MPB 1.
Please note this discussion is primarily aimed at parents whose children are currently studying in the IB or about to choose IB courses for next year. If your child is in Gr 12-10 and you have specific questions related to IB assessments, university recognition and would like to learn more about how we support IB students at ISB, please make sure to sign up. As this is a morning session, we do need to know how many parents will be on campus at this time.
HERE is the sign up form.
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 HS Counselors
Kevin Callahan
kevinc@isb.ac.th
On Tuesday, November 24th, the 10th graders will take the Morrisby Profile for some really valuable information about their abilities, interests, and what future studies and types of careers they might find interesting and rewarding. This is an exciting new development for our 10th graders and the early release day is a perfect day for them to finish this tool for getting good information in consideration for planning for the future, whether it be 10 years down the road or for choosing next school years’ courses. See more about the Morrisby in the High School Counselors’ enews.
It is a fine line for many of our students to perform at their best by preparing for their assessments and completing their projects, and still being able to get a reasonable night of sleep. Finding that balance could well be the key to maximizing their academic performance. A student who doesn’t get enough sleep because they’re being extra careful in their review or editing, may well be working at cross purposes. Take a look at this article from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine that studied over 800 high school freshmen, their sleep time and GPA’s, and gives some good tips on how to get a good night’s sleep.
News from the College Office
Sonya Ohlsson
sonyao@isb.ac.th
Seniors:
A strong reminder to seniors to make sure you have made your final list and checked it twice . . . with your counselor! We, and you, need a balanced list that is aspirational but realistic.
We are gearing up for the sending frenzy that happens in a few weeks. The vast majority of seniors will be completing their applications and our office will be sending the school-related documents that must be sent to make an application complete and ready to read. We will be coordinating the sending of approximately 5-6,000 documents all over the world. This is why we ask that students make their transcript requests well in advance of their university deadline.
Also, don’t forget the UCAS deadline of Dec. 1. It is submitted to your counselor, who reviews it, puts in the reference and your predicted grades, and then we send it to UCAS. So, if you want feedback on your UCAS Personal Statement, don’t wait until November 30!
Juniors:
We held the second Junior College Seminar this week. We had them break up into groups and take a “Blind Taste Test” and rank three colleges using data alone and not their names. It was a great exercise in looking beyond the name brand of a school and looking deeper at who they really are!
Students also got their first assignment of creating a personal life Missions Statement. This is the first step in practicing self-reflection, which will be at the core of each student’s university search.
Grade 10:
Deciding on your future can be daunting. Some adolescents have a clear vision of their interests, talents, and the direction of their future, while others grapple with answering questions like, “What do you want to study in university?” or “What career most interests you?”. ISB is introducing the Morrisby Profile to all Grade 10 students on the 24th of November. Students should make their way to their correct location and be ready to start at 1:20pm
Students will stay at school after our scheduled early dismissal and report to the Cultural Center Theater to complete this important career planning assessment.
Students who normally take assessments in the Hub and students in our EAL/EAP program will complete the assessment in the Learning Hub and rooms 3-109. Mr. Barker will let each student know which location they will be in by email.
We look forward to working Grade 10 students next Tuesday on this exciting new initiative at ISB. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to one of the contacts below.
- Alex Becker : HS College Counselor (alexb@isb.ac.th)
- Matt Barker: Grade 10 Level Leader (mattb@isb.ac.th)
- Andy Vaughan: HS Dean of Students (andyv@isb.ac.th)
Other News:
Last week, the American Overseas Schools Project held two opportunities for people to join in on a Admissions Leaders Roundtable discussion. This is the recording of that even if you were not able to attend. It will also be listed on our College site: tinyurl.com/isbcollege on the Resources page.
Overseas Schools Project Admissions Leaders Roundtable
Date: Nov 12, 2020 8:00 PM EST
Meeting Recording Access Passcode: n4kfL&^@Bt
PSAT & SAT:
Juniors who took the PSAT in October should be receiving their results sometime in December– we have not been told the exact date. They will be sent to the student’s email–or the email the student filled in when they registered.
The next SAT after December will be March 13, 2021 and the registration deadline is February 12, 2021.
ISB Virtual University Visits Next Week:
Nov. 25 Birmingham-Southern College (USA) 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
Sonya Ohlsson
Head of College Counseling
News from The Main Library
Chris Bell
chrisb@isb.ac.th
This week in the library we are highlighting two important things. The first is diversity. The LGBTQ club has done a massive display in front of the library. Stop by and check it out. There are books, a giant poster, and they are planning even more for next week. This is one way we can communicate diversity to our community. The incorporation of books that also talk about many types of diversity gives our community a chance to get a deeper understanding of the differences and/or similarities between groups of people.
Communication is the other highlight. COVID made us get creative about our communications, and it also served to draw attention to the ways we need to communicate. For example, when we teach research we try to slip in a moment where students talk to their peers about the research they are conducting. I call these Research discussions, and the idea is simply to get feedback and to expand student perspectives on a topic. As a researcher I found this to be an essential step in the process. Remember that by communicating with others we learn about them and we broaden our perspectives.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Killing Commendatore~ by Haruki Murakami
This is a strange, yet intriguing book. Our narrator is a painter and moves to a house in the woods of Japan to get away from it all. While there he is visited by a unique individual. This ‘individual’ visits and torments our narrator throughout the book. True to form, Murakami paints a vivid story of his own with images of the forest, beautiful architecture, and amazing characters. This is his latest book and a real treat!
TECH RECOMMENDATION
I am getting more and more into audiobooks. When I am commuting somewhere, when I just want to relax and sit and listen to a story-teller, or even when I am working out, the audiobooks are really enjoyable. In looking for other sources I stumbled upon Open Culture’s free media on the web. They have over 1,000 books that can be downloaded and put on a Kindle, iPad, or the audio version. They are old enough to be in the public domain and free to everyone!. Some greats are in there, Jane Austen, The Martian Chronicles, and many more. Check out this great free source!
Tech at Home
Chris Bell
chrisb@isb.ac.th
Dear All
We are happy to announce that we will be offering a series of informational sessions for parents to help ensure that your tech needs are met at school and at home. The session topics are based on a culmination of feedback from principals, parents, teachers, and students. However, we are open to other ideas and willing to consider other suggestions. Our first training is focused on Tech at Home.
Tech at Home
DATE: Dec. 3, 2020
TIME: 9:30 – 10:30 am
LOCATION: ISB Main Library
AUDIENCE: MS and HS Parents
PRESENTERS: Chris C., MS Tech Coordinator and Chris B. HS Librarian and Tech Coordinator
Even before COVID we all had homework or projects that needed to be done at home. Now it is even more important to have established routines and workspaces. Having a workspace and tech tools set up for success is something we can all do to improve performance, comfort, and output. Bring your questions and concerns as there will be a Q and A session at the end. Training will include information and resources on:
- Establishing Routines for work, and breaks
- Effective Workspaces
- Healthy Environments
- Tech Tools
Warmest Regards,
Christopher Bell
High School Technology Coordinator and Librarian
christob@isb.ac.th +66 963-58900 ext 1193
News from the Athletics Office
Chris Mott
christm@isb.ac.th
ISB Bangkok Invitational – 27th/28th of November
Varsity Swimming, Varsity Basketball, Varsity Touch, Varsity Rugby and Varsity Tennis will be participating in the ISB Bangkok Exchange on Friday the 27th and Saturday the 28th of November.
Friday the 27th will begin at 4:00pm and finish at approximately 9:00pm. The teams participating will be:
- Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming
- Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball
- Varsity Girls Touch
- Varsity Boys Rugby
Saturday the 28th will begin at 9:00am and finish at approximately 5:30pm. The teams participating will be:
- Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball
- Varsity Girls Touch
- Varsity Boys Rugby
All ISB parents of participating athletes are invited to attend the tournament.
Below you will find the schedule for
Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Schedule
Varsity Boys and Girls Touch/Rugby Schedule
The Athletics Office is excited to have another great event happening here at ISB.
Spirit Night – Friday the 27th of November
On Friday the 27th of November the Athletics Office will be hosting this year’s first Spirit night.
4:00pm – 9:00pm all High School students (grades 9-12) are welcome to attend Season Two Spirit Night.
This will be your opportunity to come and support, celebrate and enjoy the Bangkok Exchange Tournament happening.
Upcoming events
27-28 November – ISB Bangkok Invitational
28 November – U15 Soccer tournament at BKKP
12 December – U13-U15 Badminton tournament at ISB
For the latest information on games, please visit www.isbathletics.com
Strings Bash Concert – Wednesday, December 2nd:
Anthony Giles
anghonyg@isb.ac.th
On Wednesday, December 2nd, 100 string musicians from 3rd-12th grade will join together for the annual Strings Bash. This event is a wonderful display of commitment, community, and musicianship. The concert will feature The ES Panther String Ensemble, MS Beginning Orchestra, MS Concert Orchestra and HS String Orchestra, under the direction of Adrianna Gricius.
Visiting Artist, Kitti Narod, at ISB
Anthony Giles
anghonyg@isb.ac.th
20 November – 4 December
Internationally renowned painter, K. Kitti Narod, will be working with elementary, middle, and high school students during his time at ISB, focusing on the idea of what people do in public spaces. During his studio time from 10-Noon each day he will be taking ideas, suggestions, and drawings for a collaborative community piece. Stop by the ES Art Quad to watch this painting develop!
HS Visual Art Exhibition featuring Ralph Kiggell – Open now in the Chevron Gallery
Anthony Giles
anghonyg@isb.ac.th
Please enjoy artwork buy this year’s IASAS Visual Artists along with works by ISB Artist in Residence, Ralph Kiggell on display now through December 4th in the Chevron Gallery. Or, come and hear the Stuart Hawkins Jazz Trio and meet the student artists at the Exhibition Opening in front of the Chevron Theatre on Monday, November 23rd at 5:00pm.
HS Visual Art Exhibition featuring Ralph Kiggell – Open now in the Chevron Gallery
Anthony Giles
anghonyg@isb.ac.th
Please enjoy artwork buy this year’s IASAS Visual Artists along with works by ISB Artist in Residence, Ralph Kiggell on display now through December 4th in the Chevron Gallery. Or, come and hear the Stuart Hawkins Jazz Trio and meet the student artists at the Exhibition Opening in front of the Chevron Theatre on Monday, November 23rd at 5:00pm.
Holiday Band Concert – 6:00pm/6:30pm Tuesday, November 24th Chevron Theater
Anthony Giles
anghonyg@isb.ac.th
The MS Symphonic Band and the HS Wind Ensemble will hold their concerts on Tuesday, November 24th in the Chevron Theater. The Symphonic Band concert will be at 6:00 pm and the Wind Ensemble concert will begin at 6:30 pm. Each concert will feature a variety of repertoire representing many musical genres. Sign up for tickets is needed as our audience capacity is limited.
Tri Kids is back for another year of racing!
Lucas Rivera
lucasr@isb.ac.th
The Deadline to sign up is approaching quickly, November 30th so claim your spot.
Race Day:
December 7th, 2020, we will host the 22nd annual triathlon @ ISB, this year in partnership with Amorn Group Thailand as main sponsor. The registration fee will go to benefit iCare Thailand Foundation with the mission to raise money for bikes to be bought and provided to impoverished children to help them get to and from school. These kids walk 5-15 km to and from school, along rural paths making it difficult to maintain good attendance throughout the school year, and impacting their grades and general well being.
We’ve found that a bicycle has a direct measurable impact in the children’s results, not to mention overall well being and state of mind, which makes a huge difference to attendance and the length of time the kids actually stay in school. iCare Thailand Foundation is a charitable organization that is committed to long-lasting and meaningful community development through projects that empower youth and help the underprivileged. iCare Thailand Foundation is driven by the belief that every life has value and that within each person lies the capability to reach out to those in need and make a positive contribution to society.
Tri Kids Triathlon info:
Ages 4-18, please follow the below link for more information and to sign up via CHQ:
- ISB student please login via PowerSchool : HERE
Try a Tri – 50m swim, 600m bike, 200m run (Ages 4-8years) Not timed, but great for ages 4-8
Standard – 200m swim, 5.5km bike, 1.1km run (Ages 8 -19 years)
Do the Double – 400m swim, 11km bike, 2.2km run ( Ages 8-19 years)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Relay Team of 2 Standard – 200m swim, 5.5km bike, 1.1km run (Ages 8 -19 years)
Relay Team of 3 Standard – 200m swim, 5.5km bike, 1.1km run (Ages 8 -19 years)
Relay Team of 2 Do the Double – 400m swim, 11km bike, 2.2km run ( Ages 8-19 years)
Relay Team of 3 Do the Double – 400m swim, 11km bike, 2.2km run ( Ages 8-19 years)
Questions?
Please contact Lucas Rivera at pantheractivities@isb.ac.th
Best regards,
Lucas
Lucas P. Rivera
Panther Activities Sports Manager
+66 (0) 62 658 0761
Panther Den
Sports Science & Technology at Mahidol University – December 7 (Repeat)
Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
Ever want to combine your love of science with sports / dance? Then join a Field Trip to MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY’s world-class SPORTS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY laboratories! You’ll see the latest technology and clinical testing behind the human machine and elite performance capabilities. MONDAY, DEC 7 (no school) from 9:00 – 13:00. Click the link HERE if you’re interested. (J. Price)
ISB Film Festival – 4:00pm Monday, November 23 CCT (Repeat)
Anthony Giles
anghonyg@isb.ac.th
Filmmakers of ISB have come together to organise a unique ISB film festival experience! On November 23rd, we will be showcasing IASAS delegate films, the films created during IASAS weekend and films made by independent ISB filmmakers. Doors open at 3:30PM in the CCT foyer and the showing will run from 4 to 5pm! 80 baht tickets go on sale starting from now to the 23rd (100 baht at the door), and all proceeds will go directly to Operation Smile. We’ll also have photo booths and photographers! Come out to have a good time and celebrate the achievements of ISB’s talented filmmakers. Order your tickets HERE.
P.S. If you have your own films you’d like to show, it’s not too late to submit (LINK FOR SUBMISSION). (D. Wall)