MS Grade Level Overnight Trips Parent Meeting
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
ISB Middle School is excited to be able to bring back our Class Trips during the first week in February. On these trips, students travel in grade levels to different parts of Thailand to:
- connect with students and teachers in an environment outside of school
- appreciate the culture and beauty of Thailand
- experience activities that they might not otherwise try
- engage in shared experiences that help define their middle school years
Each grade has a different experience and in order for parents to learn more about these trips, we will be hosting a parent information session about each trip on Thursday, November 26th, 8:00 – 9:00 AM in the MPB (at the top of the zig zag). We will stagger the presentations of each trip according to the following schedule:
- Grade 6 – 8:00 – 8:20 AM
- Grade 7: 8:20 – 8:40 AM
- Grade 8: 8:40 – 9:00 AM
Information from the presentations will be shared with all parents via email as well. A brief description of each trip is below. After the presentations, we will also be surveying parents about whether they will provide permission for their child to participate.
Grade 6 (3 Days / 2 Nights)
Grade 6 students travel as a whole class by buses to iCamp – a self-proclaimed “North American style camp” located here in Thailand. ISB grade 6 students and teachers are the only residents of the camp during this time and they engage in team building activities, outdoor fun, and visit an elephant sanctuary nearby. Last year, our grade 6 students had a terrific experience at iCamp.
Grade 7 (3 Days / 2 Nights)
Grade 7 students will break up into smaller groups of around 23-25 students to travel to different locations around Thailand. They will engage with local communities and environments to dig into the essential question of “how does Thailand balance human and environmental needs?” Each location will have specific activities for students to have fun and learn more about the issues related to this question. There will be a trip option for students to engage with this question in Bangkok, without an overnight component (students sleep at home each night and do day trips into the city). These trips are new this year.
Grade 8 (4 Nights / 3 Days)
The Grade 8 trip is a long standing tradition in our middle school and frequently seen as a rite of passage by many of our students. All grade 8 students and teachers take the overnight train from downtown Bangkok to Chiang Mai on a Monday night, arriving in Chiang Mai on Tuesday morning. The group goes to the Traidhos Center where they are hosted in dormitories connected to the Visiting Schools Program at Prem International School. Students engage in team building and cultural activities throughout the day and spend the 2nd night at the Traidhos Center. On the Wednesday morning, students break into smaller groups (based on sign ups) and engage in activities including zip-lining, mountain biking, hiking, cultural village visits, elephant sanctuary visits, or kayaking to name a few. Depending on activities, students will then spend the night at nearby lodging (including some remaining at Traidhos Center). On Thursday, students continue activities, get cleaned up, and then board the train to return to Bangkok. Friday morning students return to ISB and have the day off of school to rest and recover.
More information will be presented at the meetings and in follow up communication regarding specifics, safety protocols, and adjustments being made related to COVID-19 measures.
We hope to see you at our presentations and if not, please expect more information next week.
MS students as passionate, reflective learners – learning from mid-semester narrative comments
By Cindy Plantecoste, Middle School Vice Principal
As we shared in the MS eNews of November 13th, this past week your children took part in a reflection and goal-setting process related to the mid-semester narrative comments from their teachers. This process took place in advisory classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We hope that your children have asked you to read over the mid-semester comments, as well as their reflections, the goals they have targeted for growth, and the strategies they have identified to make progress. If you have not done so yet, please read the narrative comments in PowerSchool and respond to your child’s reflection and goals by including a written response on their form.
We encourage you to use this as an opportunity to engage in a conversation with your children about their learning; celebrating areas of success and discussing the steps they have outlined to show growth in other areas.
Mid-semester comments were uploaded to PowerSchool this past Monday, November, 16th.
Tech at Home
By Christopher Bell, High School Technology Coordinator and Librarian
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 Tool
Tri Kids is back for another year of racing!
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
Youth Empowerment Open Mic – HS Lunch Friday, November 27th Outdoor Stage
GIN x Arts Council will be organizing an Open Mic for the 27th of November during lunch. Signup here to perform or speak at this event! Themed ‘Youth Empowerment,’ this Open Mic will serve mainly as a space allowing individuals to voice their opinions on global issues they care about (e.g. racism, gender discrimination, etc.). You can use this opportunity to read an open-letter, perform a song, perform some poetry, as well as express through other mediums. Note: All speeches and presentations will have to be vetted by Mr Giles or Mr Assimakopoulos beforehand.
Holiday Band Concert – 6:00pm/6:30pm Tuesday, November 24th Chevron Theater
Visiting Artist, Kitti Narod, at ISB
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!
MS Upcoming Athletic Event
By Chris Mott, Athletic Director
5 December – U11 Girls Soccer Tournament at ISB (new date)
12 December – U11 Boys Soccer Tournament at ISB
For the latest information on games, please visit www.isbathletics.com
Repeat Announcement: Artist Talk on Monday, 16 November at 10:50-11:20 CCT
By Anthony Giles, Director of Arts & Panther Activities
Join us to hear about the artistic practice and work of Ralph Kiggell (ISB Artist in Residence 16-21 November) at his Artist Talk on Monday, 16 November at 10:50-11:20 in the CC Theatre. Ralph is a woodblock printing artist who studied traditional and contemporary woodblock printing techniques in Japan for several years. He has established his studio in Thailand and from there creates a variety of print works, large and small, in books and via installations, infused with his observations and interpretations. Visiting Artist Ralph Kiggell 16-21 November
Ralph will be working with ISB’s IASAS Cultural Convention Visual Arts delegates for the week.
Repeat Announcement: Sports Science & Technology at Mahidol University – December 7
By Anthony A. Giles, Director of Arts & Panther Activities
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)
Repeat Announcement: Raising Multilinguals How? Unlocking the World Through Language-Rich Experiences
By Avery Udagawa, Native Language Coordinator
How can parents nurture native language besides speaking it with their children and enrolling them in classes?
Find out by joining us on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, from 8:15-9:45 a.m., for the workshop Raising Multilinguals How? Unlocking the World Through Language-Rich Experiences.
In this workshop, a followup to Raising Multilinguals, we will explore how families can promote literacy (reading and writing) and rich conversation, in support of the family language plan.
Parents of students in PreK through Grade 12 are welcome! Please sign up here if you plan to attend. The workshop will be held in the MS/HS Library’s Literary Lounge, unless sign-ups require a larger room to meet physical distancing guidelines. If you have any questions, please write: nativelanguage@isb.ac.
