Message from HS Principal
Justin Aexander
justina@isb.ac.th

Dear Parents,

We enjoyed an excellent second week of school with our students settling into their work and their learning with great support from their teachers. Attendance has been great and energy levels are still up. I was able to join a few classes (via zoom) this week and it was great to see our kids smiling and (mostly) happy faces during their lessons and of course our teachers challenging our kids to think, take risks and express themselves in class.

However, we do know that virtual school is not necessarily the favorite way of ‘doing school’ for some of our students and so we encourage them to ask for help, reach out and let their teachers and counselors know if things are not going as well as hoped for. We have a strong team of teachers, counselors and administrators here in the HS all ready to help.

Thank you to all of our students that participated in the club fairs this week and pre-season training for Season 1 sports. Clubs, athletics and other activities all begin next week so please encourage your child to sign up, join up and turn up!

Mark your calendars for the upcoming HS Open House on Tuesday September 7th at 6pm (virtually). We will be sharing more information in next week’s Enews about how you can come along and meet the teachers, learn about the curriculum and the expectations of each class.

Have a great weekend.

Regards
Justin Alexander

Check and Update Your Details in Powerschool Parent Portal
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th

We are in the process of updating phone numbers, addresses, passport details and emergency contacts.

Please take the time to login to Powerschool Parent Portal

Instructions

Step 1. Login to Powerschool

If you are new, you should have received an email with your login details, if not please contact help@isb.ac.th
If you have forgotten your password, please contact arisap@isb.ac.th,

Step 2. Please click “Personal Information Update” on the left hand side.

Review your information that ISB has on record. Please update if necessary. It is really important this information is accurate, as we use this in emergency situations.

This information will then take a day or two to update (we manually check for accuracy).

If you have any questions or queries, contact arisap@isb.ac.th

Upcoming Focus Meetings for HS parents
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th

A quick heads up to save the date, for informational meetings, focused on different groups in the High School.:

IB Matters for Gr12 – September 10th at 10:30AM

This meeting is aimed at current Gr12 parents of students taking either the full IB Diploma or IB Yr2 courses leading to certificates. We will provide an overview of the year ahead, with tips of how you can support your child through this year in preparation for the IB exams in May 2022. We will send out a Q&A catcher ahead of the webinar so that we can help answer all your questions and prepare the meeting accordingly.

IB Matters for Gr11 ‘Welcome to the IB’ – September 24th at 10:30

This meeting is aimed at current Gr11 parents of students who have just begun their 2 year IB journey. We will provide an overview of the program, including focus on IB assessment, academic honesty, and your role as a parent of an IB student.

Informational Meeting for parents new to the High School – September 29th at 10:30

This meeting is aimed at new HS parents (Gr9-12) who would like to know more about academics in the HS. If you are not a new parent, you are of course also welcome to attend! More details about the venue and agenda will be shared in the coming weeks.

All meetings will be held as live webinars, with an interactive Q&A session. Further details and agendas will be published closer to the date. Later on this semester, we will hold an ‘IB Basics’ meeting, an Advanced Placement Program (AP) meeting, as well as other meetings focused on academics and student life in the HS. Watch this space for further details.

DELVE
Peter Asimakopoulos
petera@isb.ac.th

Dear Parents,

We have been closely monitoring the impact of our situation on our planned DELVE trips in December.

After much thought and investigating different options available, we have made an early decision to postpone our DELVE trips to the end of the school year. With the current restrictions in Thailand and the uncertainty of the next few weeks/months, we cannot start the work we intended for our DELVE trips. It is difficult to make any firm plans, confirm bookings or itineraries with any of our providers at this stage. Considering the lead-up time required to successfully plan DELVE and all the unknowns surrounding future restrictions and regulations, we are unsure when the work can properly start.

While we may be back in school face-to-face before the scheduled DELVE dates, the preparation time is too short to make commitments to our providers.

We hold hope that by May/June 2022 the reasons that have caused us to postpone DELVE in December will have changed, and we will be able to run the complete set of local Thailand DELVE courses for our students.

We have not yet finalised the exact dates for this postponement, but this will be firmed and communicated in the coming weeks as there may be some re-shuffling of the calendar required for this to occur.

Similar to last year, by moving to the end of the school year, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer the DELVE trips to our Senior Students based on the timing of IB examinations and graduation. However, this is still to be confirmed.

Although the postponement of DELVE may be disappointing for our students, we hope that we will be in a better position in May/June 2022 to host meaningful and purposeful DELVE options for our students.

The days that were to be DELVE at the end of semester one are now replaced with regular school days as follows:

13 December: Day 2
14 December: Day 3
15 December: Day 4
16 December: Day 5 & Mid-Year Graduation (Moved from 9 December)
17 December: Adjusted Day Schedule & Closing Assembly (Moved from 10 December)

Many thanks,
Peter Assimakopoulos
CAS & Service Learning Coordinator

CAS Meetings for Juniors & Senior

Peter Asimakopoulos
petera@isb.ac.th

For the next two weeks, 11th and 12th graders will meet with Mr Assimakopoulos to go over the graduation requirements for CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service). Grade 11 and 12 students will meet with Mr Assimakopoulos during their Core block (period 8) between now and September 3rd.

News from School Counselor

Jackie Valenzuela
jackiev@isb.ac.th

Yesterday was the last day students were able to make changes to their schedule. Overall, there have been few requests which leads us to believe students are happy with their choices and settling into their classes.

Next Thursday, September 2, from 2-3pm (BKK time), the PreK-12 counselors will host a Zoom session, Supporting Your Child’s Social/Emotional Needs in the Time of COVID, for all ISB parents. Please sign up HERE. The day prior, we will send a Zoom link for the session to your email address.

Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions regarding their academics or social/emotional wellbeing. Our email addresses are as follows:

Kevin Callahan (kevinc@isb.ac.th)
Shannon Leoni (shannonl@isb.ac.th)
Jackie Valenzuela (jackiev@isb.ac.th)

News from the College Counselors

Debbie McDowell
debbiem@isb.ac.th

Students and counselors seem to be getting back into the swing of school.

This week the Seniors joined their first Senior Seminar on Thursday. There was a wealth of information shared about dates & deadlines, the Senior Questionnaire (needed for the Counselor Recommendation), creating a balanced university application list, and getting students’ Cialfo and Common Application linked in the system. Please work with your senior on getting the Senior Family Conference set up as soon as possible. This is a mandatory meeting which sets the foundation for the university application process this year. Seniors were reminded that if they are planning an application to OxBridge, UK Medical, Dental or Veterinary programs, they should inform their university counselor right away.

Please mark your calendars. Grade 12 Family University Night will be held next week on Wednesday, 1 September at 6:30 PM. Watch your email for the reminder with the link to the presentation. We look forward to seeing seniors and parents at the event!

Be sure to check the Virtual University Visit list for university visits that are scheduled exclusively for ISB students and parents. In addition, there are many virtual events available for any students interested in gaining more information about particular institutions. Be sure to check the Virtual University Visits list on the ISB University/College Counseling website.

The Greater Bangkok University International Fair will take place on 13-16 September 2021. Students and parents will be welcomed to online university fairs on Monday (13 September), Tuesday (14 September), and Wednesday (15 September). There are nearly 200 universities from around the world registered for the fairs! On Thursday, 16 September there will be two events: UK University Admissions Panel and US Case Study Session. Watch this space for more information. (Soon a link will be provided for registration for the US Case Study Session.)

News from HS Library

Christopher Bell
christob@isb.ac.th

Please click News from HS Library

News from Athletic Office

Chris Mott
chrism@isb.ac.th

ISB Athletics Season One Registration

Registration for Season One Athletics will open on Friday 20th of August.

All High School students are asked to register their participation for Season One 2021/2022. Season one consists of Volleyball, Soccer and Cross Country.

Students can register their participation on the ISB Athletics website – https://inside.isb.ac.th/isbathletics/

Season One begins on Monday the 30th of August. Further information will be sent to all students who register.

Let’s go Panthers!!!

Upcoming Events

28th & 29th August: Panther Pride – Walk, Run and Bike
30th August: Start of season one (Virtual)

iCARE

Chris Mott
chrism@isb.ac.th

iCare Thailand Foundation is a charitable organisation that is committed to meaningful community development that helps the underprivileged. With the COVID pandemic at a record high in Thailand, they need our help to provide food and supplies to those in home isolation in 7 different slums. Due to the order locking down construction camps, iCare also provides food to 7 different construction camps in need.

A food supply bag costs 450 baht and a fresh produce bag costs 115 baht. Every little bit counts towards helping our communities in need. Consider making a small contribution this weekend during our Panther Run. The iCare donation box is located at the ISB Guard Station at the front of the school.

Panther Purrrfect Episode 1 with 4-time Olympian, Coach Nuk!!

Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th

Watch Panther Purrfect, Episode 1 with 4-time Olympian, Coach Nuk!!!

Click HERE for more information about how to register!!!

Panther Dance

Panther DANCE
pantherdance@isb.ac.th

https://www.isb.ac.th/after-school-dance

Panther Pride, Walk, Run & Ride (Repeat)
WHEN?

Any time on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August.

WHAT IS IT?
Run, Ride or Walk alone or with your family wearing your ISB Panther Spirit Wear. Staying Active and showing your Panther Spirit.

Complete your Run, Ride or Walk on the weekend of the event. Send in your photo wearing your Black & Gold colors and complete the entry form HERE with your total distance and photos.

SPECIAL GUESTS
Our ISB Panthers (Spirit & Shadow) will also join. Try and catch a photo with one of them. They will be in Nichada

Saturday 28th – 8:00am – 9:00am
Sunday 29th 5:00pm – 6:00pm

WHO IS IT FOR?
This event is open to all ISB community members.

Don’t have Panther Spirit wear? Or do you want to refresh your wardrobe?
Check out the Booster Hut Online Catalogue HERE and place your orders today!

REMINDER
Remember to stay safe and continue to practice physical distancing as you take part in this community effort to remain active and connected!

Debate Society: Arguably the Best (REPEAT)