Semester 2 Start with Virtual School
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
Happy New Year! We are looking forward to the start of the second semester for the 2020-21 school year. While we had not hoped for a Virtual School start, we are well prepared for it and will hit the ground running on Monday, January 11th. At the end of this message are some links that can be helpful through this process (they were also sent out in our earlier Virtual School message).
Student Schedules
Students will receive an individual email with their personalized semester 2 schedule, including times, along with Zoom links for each of their classes. Further information will also be shared in the Good Morning MS News bulletin email on Sunday night. Parents can help their children connect and be set up for the first classes (period 1 class) at 9:00 AM on Monday.
New students
New students to ISB will also receive an email like this, but we will copy parents since some new students have not accessed their email yet. New students do not start in class, however, and will instead join our orientation program and receive some tech training on Monday morning through Zoom (please see email with schedule and links sent to new families earlier this week).
If you are or have been been out of the country…
While we are starting the semester online, it’s important that we are aware of which students are or will be in quarantine. Please contact me, if your MS student is in quarantine now, or will be once they return to Thailand.
Pick up of school materials
This week, we will put together materials for students who may need supplies that are at school like instruments, art supplies, or essential locker contents. We will get these materials together for pick up on Wednesday, January 13th. More information will come to students about what materials are needed.
Attendance during Virtual School
Like on-campus classes, we will take attendance and expect students to be on-time to each class period. When students are not on Zoom at the start of class, our office will automatically send a standard message to inform parents and students. If the student arrives later during the period, the absence code will be changed to a “tardy”. This communication is not intended to be punitive, but rather to provide transparent and clear communication between home and school in this unique and different learning situation.
As always, if your child is unwell and unable to participate in classes, please email our office staff to inform us (msoffice@isb.ac.th).
Helpful reminders about Virtual Middle School
- MS Community Virtual School Handbook
- We will follow alternating Day 1 and Day 2 schedules while in Virtual School, with 1-hour long class blocks. Advisory will take place some days, but not every day. We will have an advisory on Jan 11th, at 11:15 AM.
- Teachers will use Zoom to interact live with students during scheduled class times.
- Students may not be on live with the teacher the entire class period – this will vary depending on the plans for that particular lesson.
- Students will be provided with the Zoom links for all of their teachers and Waiting Rooms will be used to ensure only the people who are meant to attend, will participate in the Zoom session.
- Students are expected to attend Zoom classes on time and follow teacher instructions, same as if they were in the classroom.
- We expect students to be visible during class time. They should not tilt cameras away from them, be off screen, or turn off video.
- Teachers will post work and provide resources using PowerSchool Learning. Teachers may additionally use other formats like Google Classroom, however, links and resources will all be available from PowerSchool Learning.
Safeguarding requirements – with video conferencing being used (Zoom), we want to ensure that privacy is maintained for all and that teachers and students have appropriate interactions.
- Students should dress appropriately for school. While they do not have to wear uniforms, they should avoid pajamas, sleepwear, or clothing not acceptable at school.
- It is best to use workspaces like dining rooms, desks, etc. rather than personal bedrooms. Of course, with many children in a home, this can be unavoidable. Appropriate for school virtual backgrounds should be used so that unexpected access to home environments is prevented.
- Everyone in the household should be aware that live video conferencing is happening, so that we avoid accidental privacy violations in the background (including noises and conversations).
Activities, Athletics, Trips & Events
By Anthony Giles, Arts & Activities Director
Although many student activities, practices, trips and events are cancelled or postponed until campus reopens, fees associated with any January fixtures will be adjusted or refunded once we are up and running again in February. Please be patient. Panther Activities and ISB Athletics are partnering to offer some virtual opportunities for kids soon. Look for more information about this exciting initiative next week or contact Anthony, Chris, Lucas or Mark with questions. We miss your kids!
Anthony Giles (Arts & Activities Director) anthonyg@isb.ac.th
Chris Mott (Athletics Director) chrism@isb.ac.th
Lucas Rivera (Panther Activities Sports Manager) lucasr@isb.ac.th
Mark Jaspers (Associate Athletics Director) markj@isb.ac.th