Return to Campus on Monday
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
On Monday students and teachers return to campus after 3 weeks of Virtual School. We are excited to return to learning with each other, face to face.
Of course, the pandemic continues globally and here in Thailand and we must all do our part to keep each other and ourselves safe. ISB has put in place many safety measures to look after the safety of our community as we reopen.
First and foremost, it is essential that parents have completed the COVID Self Declaration form, accessible through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, for each of their ISB children. Students will not be able to access campus without this form having been completed by parents in advance. ISB has reached out to families who have not completed this form.
On campus we have important rules around mask wearing and distancing, along with expectations around hand-washing, locations for eating and drinking, and hand and classroom sanitizing. In order for our precautions to be successful, we ask for your support at home in developing a mindset in students that wearing masks and following the guidelines is responsible, safe for themselves, and caring of others. When people believe in the importance of these guidelines, they are more likely to engage in them collectively.
We have also emailed this safety briefing video to all students through the Good Morning MS bulletin. Students will also get this safety briefing during the first block class on Monday.
Please let me know (email address above) if your child will not be coming back to campus next week.
We look forward to joining our students on campus next week. Together we can ensure that we keep each other safe. Thank you for your support at home in maintaining this message.
Virtual School Wrap Up
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
As we build up our excitement to return to campus on Monday, Feb 1st, we also bring this stint of Virtual School to a close. During the past 3 weeks, I have been incredibly pleased and impressed by the engagement of our students, the support of our families, and the dedication and skills of our teachers.
On behalf our Ms. Plantecoste and myself, I want to thank everyone in our community for being adaptable, self-managing, and creative during these unusual times. It would not be our first choice to learn online through Zoom classes and working in isolation. But put in the situation, the ISB Middle School community came together, set high expectations, and made learning progress. The support for each other has been wonderful to see. Thank you to everyone!
While I hope that we can now remain on campus for the foreseeable future, I am confident that our community can handle any change successfully.
Well done, ISB family!
Grade 8s Registering for High School Courses
Hello Grade 8 Parents!
The high school Dean of Academics, Justyna McMillan, and school counselors would like to invite you to a Webinar on Thursday, February 4 at 8:30am.
same information.
Early next week you will receive an invitation via email to attend the Webinar. See you on the 4th!
MS Drama Production Auditions this week
Middle School Drama would like to welcome everyone (back) to the Spring Play 2021. We are jumping right into Auditions and Backstage Interest meetings as classes and activities return in February, which means Wednesday & Thursday, February 3 – 4, with Friday for possible Callbacks. After school and after-sports times are available.
Our production is IN A GROVE: JAPANESE GHOST STORIES and features Obosan, an old monk, who steps forward from a grove of trees. He explains it was once the village of Kogisu — and he was once the village priest. Where did all the people go? What happened to the homes and shops and pathways? Obosan promises to answer all of these questions through our selection of plays.
All Middle Schoolers (Grade 6 – 8) can try out to play a part, whether that’s in acting (major and minor roles available) or with backstage (props, sets, costumes, tech, and more.) We are anticipating a great production and are including all safety protocols to ensure everyone can both have fun and be safe, too!
If students have not signed up already, there’s still time! They can find more info and find sign-up forms HERE,
“GANBATTE NE!”
(“Go for it!”)
Athletics Upcoming Events
By Mark Jaspers, Associate Athletic Director
Monday 1st of February – returning to season two trainings
Monday 8th of February – U13 – U15 season two sports celebration
Thursday 11th of February – JV and Varsity Season Two Awards
Thursday 11th of February – Official end of Season Two
Monday 15th – Friday 19th of February – ALL Season Three Tryouts U11 – Varsity
Athletics NEW Season Three Start date and Season Two extension
By Mark Jaspers, Associate Athletic Director
Season 3 will officially start on Monday 15th February for all of our teams (U11-Varsity)
As we can return to campus on 1st February, we will resume practices on this day for all of our season 2 teams. The season will be extended for 2 more weeks, until Friday the 12th of February.
Please be mindful that the COVID-19 safety measures that were in place before the holiday need to be strictly adhered and remind your athletes about mask wearing before and after practices, hand washing and physical distancing when possible.
Our goal is for all of our season 2 teams to have at least one more game in the final week to close out the season. This is dependent on being allowed to travel and/or host school teams.
As games are scheduled these will be shared with individual coaches and teams.
PANTHER ACTIVITIES TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 8th!!!
And it’s not too late to sign up! Although registrations for Semester 2 offerings closed in December, there are still a number of programs that have space available including the Panther Golf Academy offered at the new ISB Golf Center. Check out what’s available by going to CHQ through PowerSchool, and then contact any one of the Panther Activities Coordinators listed HERE for more information, or to register. The payment window, also on CHQ, will be open from 11:00am on February 1st with payments due before activities begin on February 8th. Season 2 Panther Activities that are mid-session will pick up where they left off in December. Please look for more details about specific Panther Activities from area coordinators next week.
Thanks,
The Panther Activities Team
Welcome to ISB Virtual Activities Week 3
Please note the below information to ensure that your child can take advantage of the Virtual Activities being offered during this time at home.
The activities schedule found HERE represents ALL activities being offered during the week of Monday the 1st of February to Friday the 5th of February, 2021.
Look for a schedule of the following week’s activities (1st to 5th of February) in the Whole School Enews next week. For the best experience, please adhere to the grade level groups represented on the activities schedule.
Remember, the after school Zoom Activities here are FREE, and not offered in lieu of cancelled pay-to-play sessions for semester 2 Panther Activities for which fees will be adjusted once activities are back on.
Go Panthers!!!
Chris, Lucas, Mark, Corry and Anthony
chrism@isb.ac.th
lucasr@isb.ac.th
markj@isb.ac.th
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
corryd@isb.ac.th
Virtual Panther Run extended to 7th February
By Mark Jaspers, Associate Athletic Director
Due to the recent poor air quality the submission date for Virtual Panther run has been extended until Sunday 7th February.
When you take part in this virtual event, please make sure to follow the safety guidelines below.
1. Try and run during daylight hours and wear colorful or reflective clothing
2. You are on an open road, so follow traffic rules and look out for cars, bikes, dogs etc.
3. For our younger participants: try and run with your parents, who can help you stay safe (and you help them to stay fit!)
4. Check the AQI before your go out to make sure it’s safe to run
DON’T FORGET TO ENTER YOUR TIMES AND UPLOAD PHOTOS HERE