Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year!
Greetings, and welcome to the 2021-22 school year! Thank you for choosing ISB and trusting all of us with your child’s education and wellbeing. You and your child are about to embark on another memorable year at ISB!
The start of a school year is a new beginning for everyone: starting a new grade virtually, meeting new teachers and friends, and for many, a new school and a new country. We are sensitive to the many challenges involved in adjusting to these changes, and we will work in partnership with you to help make this transition a healthy, happy and successful one. Together, we will work to ensure that the Elementary School is a place where every child feels safe, and experiences the joy of learning and growing regardless if they are on campus or engaged in virtual school.
ISB Elementary School has a caring, committed, and skilled staff dedicated to providing a challenging, supportive, and student-centered learning environment for each child. Central to this process is our partnership with parents. We encourage you to be involved in your child’s education by staying well informed, engaging in student-teacher-parent opening sessions, attending ES Parent Engage Workshops, and attending school events once we are able to have parents on campus again. We know that you will also be an effective partner in your child’s education by establishing and maintaining open communication with your child’s teachers. Please do not hesitate to contact a teacher or one of us should you have any questions or concerns.
On behalf of all of the entire ISB Elementary School faculty and staff, we welcome you and look forward to a wonderful school year together.
Sincerely,
Michael Allen, Elementary Principal
Sarah Fleming, Elementary Vice Principal
Jeff Scott, Elementary Vice Principal
Very Important Dates
The ES Virtual School Handbook states “A strong focus on the social emotional needs of your child” as the first of several key features of virtual school. In order to successfully launch the 2021-22 school year virtually, focus on the social emotional needs of each child, and partner with families, the following will occur:
- August 11 – PreK-Grade 1 Meet the Teacher Appointment Sign Up
Families with children in PreK-Grade 1 will receive a detailed email to sign up for an individual meeting with their child’s new homeroom teachers. The meetings will occur on August 16/17. - August 13 @ 9AM – Welcome Letter from Grades 2-5 Homeroom Teachers
Families with children in Grades 2-5 will receive a Welcome Letter from their child’s homeroom teacher at 9AM on Friday, August 13, so please keep a close eye on your inbox! Included in the letter will be a Zoom link to the 2PM Meet the Teacher Virtual Class Meeting. - August 13 @ 2PM – Grades 2-5 Virtual Class Meetings
Students will participate in a Meet the Teacher Virtual Class Meeting at 2PM where the classroom community building process will begin. The Zoom link for the session will be emailed to families at 9AM. - August 16/17 PK-G1 Virtual Meet the Teacher Meetings by Appointment
Parents with children in PreK-Grade 1 will participate in an individual meeting with their child’s new homeroom teachers on August 16 and 17. The purpose of these meetings will be to get to know your teacher, talk about Virtual School, share information about how your child learns best and ask any questions you may have. - August 16 Grades 2-5 Virtual School Begins
Virtual School for students in Grades 2-5 begins on Monday, August 16th. Class meetings start at 8AM. Homeroom teachers will share the detailed schedule for the week with all the needed Zoom links prior to the first class meeting. - August 16-20 Grades 2-5 Student-Parent-Teacher Connection Zoom Calls
During the first week of school, Grades 2-5 students will participate in a Zoom call with their parent(s) and homeroom teacher. The purpose of the Grades 2-5 Student-Parent-Teacher Connection Zoom Calls is for students and families to feel connected to their new homeroom teachers. It is an opportunity to discuss the child’s past virtual school successes and challenges, and launch the home-school partnership for the year. Each conversation is limited to 15 minutes and will be facilitated by the teacher. - August 16-20 G2-5 Modified Virtual School Homeroom Schedule
In order to launch the new year successfully and attend to the needs of students, the homeroom schedule for the first week will be modified in order to effectively: build a strong classroom community (introductions, peer connections, games, inventories, etc.); set students up for success in virtual school (tech skills, agreements and lessons); and connect with families via Student-Parent-Teacher Connection Calls. - August 17 Grade 1 Virtual School Begins
Virtual School for students in Grade 1 begins on Tuesday, August 17th. Class meetings begin at 8AM. Homeroom teachers will share the detailed schedule for the week with all the needed Zoom links prior to the first class meeting. - August 18 PreK2 and KG Virtual School Begins
Virtual School for students in PreK2, KG & Grade 1 begins on Wednesday, August 16th. Class meetings begin at 8AM. Homeroom teachers will share the detailed schedule for the week with all the needed Zoom links prior to the first class meeting. - August 18-20 PreK1 Partnership in Learning Days
PreK1 students and parents participate in Partnership in Learning Days in smaller groups where together they will be gently supported as they transition into school, experience aspects of the Virtual School routine, and become comfortable with both synchronous and asynchronous learning. - August 23 PreK1 Virtual School Begins
Virtual School for students in PreK1 begins on Monday, August 23rd. Homeroom teachers will share the detailed schedule for the week with all the needed Zoom links.
Materials Pick Up August 13 & 14
An essential aspect of ES Virtual School is that all students have access to their ISB iPad loaded with all necessary applications. All ES families are asked to come to campus to collect their child’s iPad kit and other learning materials from the collection points located at the pickup/dropoff areas of ISB.
To ensure ISB staff and parent safety, iPad and Learning Materials pick up will be limited to a certain number of families per time slot on Friday and Saturday. Please use the form link below to sign up. Safety procedures will be required including masks, physical distancing and hand sanitization.
If you are not able to come to ISB to pick up the iPad and learning materials, please indicate this via the form below. The ES office will be in direct contact with you to make delivery or other pick up arrangements the week of August 16. Until students receive their iPad, parents will need to provide another device for their Grades 2-5 child to access Zoom for the Friday, August 13 2pm Class Meeting and August 16 classes.
iPads/Learning Materials are more quickly distributed to students if they can be picked up at ISB on August 13 and 14.
Please complete this form for each of your ES children before 5:00PM Tuesday, August 10th so we can plan accordingly.
https://form.jotform.com/212167920104446
New ES Parent Orientation
We are thrilled to welcome all our new families to ISB, and look forward to supporting your family during your transition! In addition to your individual Zoom session with an ES Counselor as well as support from the ISB Admissions team, we are offering a New ES Parent Orientation on August 13 @ 11:30AM session where you’ll meet the ES Principals, counselors, and get a brief technology/Seesaw update regarding setting your child up for success for virtual school.
The session will be recorded and shared with new parents who are not able to attend.
Zoom Link Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4732749923
Virtual School Handbook
As the 2021-22 school year will begin virtually, we ask all parents to please refer to the ISB Virtual School resources on the ISB website for details: https://www.isb.ac.th/learning-isb/isb-virtual-school/
The ES Virtual School Handbook includes detailed information about our contingency plans for continued learning when extraordinary events force a closure of the campus. ISB uses a combination of online tools and resources to keep student learning moving forward and keep students connected to their teachers and peers. Virtual School can never replace in person learning; however, we strive to ensure that virtual learning experiences are engaging, based on our learning objectives, and as meaningful as possible.
ES 2021-22 Parent/Student Handbook
As a school, we will strive to keep you informed on a regular basis through our weekly eNews and the Parent Portal. Please ensure that you also review the ES Parent/Student Information Handbook before the start of school. It contains important information on learning, school activities, programs, and school policies. We strongly encourage you to take the time to read through it and ensure that both you and your child understand the information.
ES 2021-22 Faculty & Staff
The 2021-22 ES Faculty and Staff look forward to welcoming your family to the new school year! Take a peek at the new and returning members of the ISB Elementary School Team here!