Parent Contact Info Needed
With the recent announcement that the ISB Board Elections will be held through electronic voting, we want to ensure the contact information we have is accurate (in particular parent email addresses). Please take some time to login to the ISB Parent Portal, and click “Personal Information Update” (left hand menu), to check the details, and update if necessary.
If you are having trouble accessing your Parent Portal please write to help@isb.ac.th.
ES Parent Engage Session!
Please join us for the last ES Parent Engage of the 2020-21 school year on Thursday! The session will focus on your child’s transition to the 2021-22 school year and summer learning resources. Join us via Zoom when your child’s virtual school day ends @ 1:30PM.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4732749923
Learning Materials Pick Up
Should campus remain closed on May 17th, all ES families will be asked to come to campus to collect their child’s Learning Materials kit from the collection points located at the pickup/dropoff areas of ISB. Families will be invited to pick up the materials Monday, May 17 anytime between 11AM-2:30PM.
ATTENTION MONTRI BUS RIDERS: Families who use the Montri bus service will be welcome to come to campus to pick up their child’s materials or can complete a digital form that will be sent via email so the materials can be delivered to their home.
Weekly Message From Principal Allen
During these past two weeks of virtual school, ES homeroom teachers and/or EAL and Learning Support teachers have been connecting with families to gather feedback regarding what has been going well during virtual school and what have been some challenges that they can help address. Thank you for sharing your feedback with teachers via phone, Zoom, email, etc!
When reviewing the feedback you shared, different themes emerged including these regarding what has been going well during the return to virtual school:
- Appreciative and/or positive responses from the overwhelming majority of parents who provided feedback.
- Communication, schedules, routines, etc. have been helpful.
- Teacher flexibility and understanding; families like the option of not attending ALL sessions. Appreciate how teachers are meeting the individual needs of kids/families.
- Students seem to be enjoying the daily contact with their teachers and peers via Zoom.
- Appreciative of small group Zoom sessions.
- Seesaw and Zoom are easy to navigate.
Parents also shared various challenges. While most challenges and areas in need of home-school problem solving were specific to the unique needs of the child, some common themes emerged including the following:
- Zoom fatigue and too much screen time for some students.
- KG Woot Woot Wednesday schedule was too tight as it included no breaks between classes (this was resolved for the May 5th Woot Woot Wednesday schedule and beyond).
- Students require significant parent support to navigate various aspects of virtual school.
- Some students are unmotivated, unable to remain focused and/or follow directions.
Please continue to reach out to our teachers, counselors and myself with any additional feedback you may have. We’re eager to work in partnership with you as we work together to support each child!
Your partner in education,
Michael Allen, Ed.D.
michaela@isb.ac.th
ISB Virtual School Info Link
For all your ISB Virtual School information, please refer to this link via the ISB website.
https://www.isb.ac.th/learning-isb/isb-virtual-school/
Early Departures – Please Let Us Know
ES Parents who plan to leave BKK prior to June 11 are asked to contact Dr. Michael Allen, ES Principal, at michaela@isb.ac.th to share details. Please note that when virtual school ends and classes resume on campus, virtual learning for students who don’t return to campus will continue in the form of asynchronous learning tasks and assignments.
Counselors’ Corner
Our Counselors and ES Psychologist have open Zoom office hours for parents at various times throughout the week. This is a venue for parents to drop in to ask questions, share concerns, or ask advice.
Kate Kersey – PK1, KG, G1, and G2 Counselor
katek@isb.ac.th
Zoom Office Hours: Wednesdays from 10:00 – 10:40
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142692734
Meeting ID: 814 269 2734
Passcode: espanthers
Doug Williamson – Gr. 3 – 5 counselor
douglasw@isb.ac.th
Zoom Office Hours: Wednesday’s from 10:00 – 10:40 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5764617863
Meeting ID: 576 461 7863
Passcode: espanthers
Matt Johnson – ES Psychologist/PK2 and KG (Swanlaw) Counselor
matthewj@isb.ac.th
Zoom Office Hours: Monday and Thursday from 10:00-10:30
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89969739043
Passcode: espanthers
ES Library Hub Materials Available for Pick Up
In addition to online books via Sora and Epic, parents are welcome to request library books from the ES Hub for pick up! Please complete this form (or scan the QR code below) to either request materials or receive suggestions from our Hub team:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAEfhoobJQq3qB6Qou8GPrVIytVuuM6MlmrVM_lUUTPf-suQ/viewform
The ISB ES Hub website is also a great resource for your family as you look for more information about available online and on campus resources:
https://library.isb.ac.th/hub
NOTES & BOLTS: News from Design, Fine and Performing Arts at ISB
While a number of arts events have been postponed or cancelled due to the recent campus closure, many are still on tentatively, or will be available to share virtually at a later date (details to follow). Please see the list of what is on and off below.
What’s On & What’s Off…
ES Music Spring Concert – 6:30pm May 24th VIRTUAL (details to follow)
MS MindStorms Robotics Event @ ISB – May 10th CANCELLED
HS BOrCh Concert – 6:30pm May 18th VIRTUAL (details to follow)
Legs for Legs Dance Recital – 4:00pm May 25th VIRTUAL (details to follow)
MS Choir & Strings Spring Concert – 6:30pm May 27th VIRTUAL (details to follow)
MS Band Spring Concert – 6:30pm June 1st VIRTUAL (details to follow)
MS Visual Art Exhibition – June 1st through September 1st (details to follow)
Panther Dance Performances – TBA June 4th VIRTUAL (details to follow)
PAW PRINTS: News from the Panther Den
Panther Activities Refunds Coming Soon
With uncertainty about when the ISB campus will open again, refunds for all cancelled Panther Activity sessions from April 6th onward will be organized via wire transfer for receipt by the end of the school year or before. Please note that should campus open for activities earlier than expected and with fewer restrictions than currently mandated, new sessions would be organized and offered as soon as possible. Questions? Contact Lucas or Anthony at PantherActivities@isb.ac.th. We miss your kids!!!
Welcome to ISB Virtual Activities!
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 10th of May to Friday the 14th of May, 2021. 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 Panther Activities for which fees will be adjusted once campus is open and regular activities are back on.
Go Panthers!!!
Chris, Lucas, Mark and Tony
chrism@isb.ac.th
lucasr@isb.ac.th
markj@isb.ac.th
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
Booster Hut Online Catalog is Now Available
Don’t let virtual school get you down! The ISB Booster Hut is still keeping the “panther spirit” alive and well. We are currently taking orders for Friday Nichada deliveries. Living downtown? We can send your order directly to your home for an additional charge. Here’s how to order.
- Click on the following link to see the catalog.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d9ZZXE76kpZA-rj0VGYi9yYjMUYNt28Mic-3ADtmJSw/edit?usp=sharing - Send your order to isbbooster@isb.ac.th
- Include your address, phone number and how you would like to pay (either cash or Campus Card only).
- We will get back to you within 24 hours with an order confirmation.
(Repeat) PARENT ACTION REQUIRED: Student Tracking Locations
Even during VS, all ES parents are required to login to Powerschool and update their journal for the week, listing locations visited outside school hours. All schools in Thailand are required by the Ministry of Education to have their students/parents keep and complete a daily journal of their whereabouts after school hours.
Logging into Powerschool, you will see a notification to update the Journal:
Each Sunday, complete the journal for the preceding week for each ES child. If you are having trouble accessing Powerschool or are unable to see your students in Powerschool, email ES Powerschool Secretary, Khun Tom <cholthis@isb.ac.th>
