Message from HS Principal
Justin Alexander
justina@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents,
We just enjoyed a great week of school and learning for our students. The percentage of students coming on campus each day continues to rise with 90% of all HS students coming to school on the days that their cohort has scheduled classes on campus. There are just a few students that are not in Thailand yet, but with the relaxation of quarantine rules, more of these families are returning to Thailand and to on-campus learning. You will have read in yesterday’s school message that we are hopeful for a November 15th return to campus for all students and hopefully we will be very close to having all students here with us on campus at that time.
Upcoming Events:
The HS Principal Forum meeting is on Tuesday, October 26th at 9 am. Please register HERE to attend and please read the rest of the ENews for more information.
The Student Parent-teacher conferences will be held virtually on November 18th and 19th from approximately 8 am to 3.30 pm. We will be sending out registration and sign-up details close to that date, but please note that you will need to sign up within the timeline in order to book a zoom meeting slot with teachers on our system.
Have a great weekend.
Justin Alexander
HS Principal
Pfizer Vaccinations at Medpark
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
On Wednesday, 27 October, our students who received their first vaccination on 6 October will receive their second Pfizer vaccinations at Medpark Hospital. These appointments are spread throughout the day. We will still be running classes throughout the day; both live for Grade 9 & 10 and virtual for Grade 11 & 12.
According to an announcement made by the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health (dated 20 October 2021), the second dose of Pfizer vaccination may be administered to male students between 12 and 16 years of age, with the written consent of both parents and students. Please note this is not an obligation for re-entering school.
For attendance next Wednesday, if your child has an appointment for this round of vaccinations, please do not email or call Khun Gade to release your child from school or to inform of your child’s absence for this vaccination as we are aware of their appointment and timing.
If your appointment is later in the day, please arrange directly with your child what time you will pick them up from school and ask your child to come to the HS office to get a gate pass in order to leave campus. We have a record of all appointments and will release your child to meet you at the front of school. If you have an early morning appointment, your child can come to school after their appointment and enter campus with their ID card as normal.
All students who have an appointment will have the attendance code ‘SPC’ (Special Event) on PowerSchool for all their classes for this day. Please note that this code is an indicator for teachers if your child is not in class and does not count towards absences in any class.
Pfizer at Westgate Mall
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
On Thursday, 28 October, any students who have not been vaccinated will also be eligible to receive a first vaccination at Westgate Mall. This has been communicated to parents over the past few days and registration for this opportunity closes at 5pm today.
Please register at this link by 5pm today: https://bit.ly/3Ceoaxu
If your child is confirmed for next Thursday with an appointment for vaccination, please do not email or call Khun Gade to release your child from school or to inform of your child’s absence for this vaccination as we are aware of their appointment and timing.
If your appointment is later in the day, please arrange directly with your child what time you will pick them up from school and ask your child to come to the HS office to get a gate pass in order to leave campus. We will have a record of all appointments and will release your child to meet you at the front of school. If you have an early morning appointment, your child can come to school after their appointment and enter campus with their ID card as normal.
All students who have an appointment will have the attendance code ‘SPC’ (Special Event) on PowerSchool for all their classes for this day. Please note that this code is an indicator for teachers if your child is not in class and does not count towards absences in any class.
Attendance during Hybrid Learning
Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
Our attendance on campus has continued to increase in the percentage of students who are now attending school live for learning. We are now at 90% attendance on campus.
Tracking attendance and having the most accurate data for teachers about students’ mode of learning continues to be challenging due to the multitude of scenarios that our students are currently learning in, whether it is accessing learning from a very different time zone or country, being in-country but virtual or attending live, although we are seeing most students now back in the country from our original lists, with 81% of students who started the semester out of Thailand now back in Bangkok.
In order to assist teachers in planning for assessments and classes, once a decision has been made for your child to start attending school in person, your child should remain in that mode of learning and not move back and forth between virtual and in-person learning. Please also note that students should not choose to attend school virtual for a day or for a class. In situations where there is an in-class, in-person assessment, students who are listed as attending school in person will need to take this in-person.
When your child needs to be absent from school for a particular reason (e.g. visa or medical appointments or sickness), please continue to email Khun Gade with a request for these absences (sasivimb@isb.ac.th).
In situations where there is a need to shift back to virtual learning for a longer period of time, please email Justin Alexander (justina@isb.ac.th) or Andy Vaughan (andyv@isb.ac.th) to request this change and to ensure this can be communicated to the teachers of your child.
Graduation Committee & Donations
Selma Benmoussa & Kelly Mott
parentgradcom@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents of the ISB Class of 2022,
If you are anything like us, you may be asking yourself “how is it possible that I have a graduating senior?!” It is an exciting time for all of our families and especially our sons and daughters. It has been a tradition at ISB to acknowledge this special milestone with several small celebrations throughout the school year that culminate in the graduation ceremony. Celebrations such as monthly Senior Treats, Mock Exam Bags, Faces on Fences, and the Golf Cart Parade are all a part of what the SENIOR PARENT COMMITTEE is about.
Although this year has not started out the way we have all hoped, there continue to be signs that the worst is behind us and we are ready to start to make plans. The parents of Class of 2022 are a solid group that have been involved in many Booster Club/PTA activities over the years. We are currently looking for help with a variety of subcommittees mentioned above. To find out more on the various subcommittees and to sign up to volunteer, click this link.
2022 ISB Parent Graduation Committee Registration
Finally, we realize not everyone is able to volunteer but would like to contribute. In past years, the committee has graciously received 1000 baht per graduating senior to pay for such things as mock exam packs and other goodies for seniors, custom made water bottles, printing of banners and posters, parade decorations, treats and other small graduation presents. This year we are able to accept these donations from your campus card or in cash. Please indicate how you’d like to contribute at the link below:
Looking forward to celebrating with all of you soon.
Best Regards,
Selma Benmoussa and Kelly Mott
Academics in the High School – link to webinar presentation
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents,
Thank you to those parents who were able to attend our webinar on October 8th, focused on Academics in the High School. Although this was primarily aimed at parents new to the HS, we had a range of attendees and we hope the webinar was useful. We covered a variety of important topics including:
- Learning at ISB
- Our curriculum and pathways
- Assessment, Grading and Reporting
- Support in the Academics
If you were unable to attend, we are sharing the webinar link and presentation slide deck.
Have a lovely weekend!
Justyna McMillan
High School Dean of Academics
Payments for IB Exams for the May 2022 session
Justyna McMillan
justynam@isb.ac.th
Dear Gr12 Parents,
Over the last few weeks, we have been busy registering students for their IB exams, scheduled in May 2022. All registrations were checked by individual students and we have now been able to process invoices for the exams.
On PowerSchool, you will find the exam invoice along with a copy of what exams your child has signed up for. Please make sure to download the invoice and make your payments as stated by November 1st. You can find the invoice under Grades and Attendance on PowerSchool:
Students who are completing the second year in any IB course are expected to complete the course by sitting the IB examination, as detailed in our HS Program of Studies. Universities also expect students completing an IB program or course to have fulfilled all assessment requirements of the course, of which the examination is the culminating assessment.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in reaching out to Justyna McMillan, HS Dean of Academics.
Principal Forum
Dhooleka Raj & Debbie Gunderson
hsppforum@isb.ac.th
Please join us on Tuesday, October 26th at 9 am for the Principal’s Forum where the HS admin team of Justin Alexander, Justyna McMillan, and Andy Vaughan will answer questions posed by parents to the PF committee in recent weeks. Questions addressed will cover the following areas – assessment, IB grading, college and school counseling in the HS, curriculum (math and world languages), lunch, Covid plans and safety, teacher professional development, and many more. Registration details are below
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Oct 26, 2021 09:00 AM Bangkok
Topic: Principals Forum
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kSj8Bt6jSgi2nXAJqLi6Jw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Regards
Principals Forum Coordinators
Dhooleka Raj
Debbie Gunderson
Time to Cook – Get in on the action!
Peter Assimakopoulos
petera@isb.ac.th
ISB’s UNHCR (United Nations Human High Commissioner will start delivering the ingredients for an Afghan dish called Borani Banjan in a package that YOU can make at home. The delivery time will span the whole week to fit your schedule. By purchasing this package you will be able to taste authentic Afghan food and support their nation that is going through hard times.
We will include the recipe, an info card, and all the ingredients (except salt, oil, and water).
This dish is vegetarian but would be tasty with chicken over rice!
The package will cost 500 baht, as ALL money will go to Global Refugee Campaign UNHCR Thailand to aid Afghan refugees.
This is the website that the money will go to: https://www.unhcr.or.th/en/donate/afghanistan-situation?utm_source=unhcr.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TH_PS_EN_AFS&utm_content=popup
We would appreciate it if you paid at the door with cash.
Make sure you sign up so you and your family get in on the action!
Form to sign-up:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fQqtqxrKASpnbMev7NqVnPr3fY-VKDS0vfwIV5sjmO4/edit
Delivery will be on the evening of Tuesday, October 26th.
For more information, please contact:
“Hannah C. MERRITT” <19246@students.isb.ac.th>,
“Lucas (Luca) CRIMI” <17467@students.isb.ac.th>,
“Pornsiri (Pinkie) TEMCHAROEN” <15806@students.isb.ac.th>,
Yongyi ZHOU <20902@students.isb.ac.th>
News from the College Counselors
Debbie McDowell
debbiem@isb.ac.th
This week, Senior Seminar was dedicated to making sure the students are prepared for their ED/EA applications that are due 1 November or 15 November as well as a short overview about applying to the University of California system. Just a reminder that each student should have their essays and application reviewed by their counselor before the university deadline. As the deadline date approaches, the counselor’s calendar will be very busy next week so please encourage your child to set that appointment early and get their applications submitted well before the deadline! If your child is applying to the US and is not a US citizen, now is also the time to confirm with your child if any financial documents are necessary for their applications. The next big deadline is 23 November when all Transcript Requests are due for any applications with a deadline before 15 February. So this will include applications to all UK and most European universities.
During Junior Seminar this week, the 11th graders completed the pre-registration for the PSAT which will be administered next week on Tuesday, 26 October at 7:50AM in the Rajendra Hall. The test will take approximately 3 hours. University Counselors strongly encourage Juniors to take the PSAT as it is an opportunity to get an idea of what it is like to sit a standardized test and results will not be reported to any university. When scores are returned, a detailed report will provide the student an opportunity to study for the SAT at no cost through Khan Academy.
Parent Coffee:
The next Parent Coffee will be on Wednesday, 3 November @ 9:00 am. The topic will be University Rankings: What you should know! Click on this link to join the counselors on 3 November
Interested in learning more about US University Admissions?
Consider joining the U.S. University Admissions Roundtable that the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools is hosting in partnership with the College Board on November 10 for students and families. The roundtable will cover applying to U.S. colleges in these uncertain times and help guide students on any policy changes or enhancements resulting from COVID-19. The panel was very well-received by participants last fall. We will run the roundtable twice to accommodate for multiple time zones. Here are the registration links for quick access:
November 10, 2021 o 8:00 am Eastern Time o Register here!
November 10, 2021 o 8:00 pm Eastern Time o Register here!
Confirmed speakers include:
- Shawn Abbott, Assistant Vice Provost for Admissions, Financial Aid, & Enrollment Management, Temple University
- Adele Brumfield, Vice President for Admissions, University of Michigan
- Doug Hartog, Director of Admission, University of Virginia
- Diane McKoy, Senior Associate Director | Undergraduate Admissions, Director of Training and Professional Development, Columbia College | The Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, Columbia University
- Elisabeth O’Connell, Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, University of Pennsylvania
Upcoming Virtual University Fairs:
8 November, UK / Irish University Fair: 4:00-6:00 PM (Thai time). Pre-registration with school email (Student email) will be required prior to the event. Registration link will be provided closer to the event.
Tentative participants include:
| Name of university |
| Aston University |
| Bangor University |
| Birmingham City University |
| Brunel University London |
| Cardiff University |
| De Montfort University |
| Durham University |
| Falmouth University |
| Imperial College London |
| King’s College London |
| Lancaster University |
| Leeds Beckett University |
| Leeds Beckett University |
| London School of Economics and Political Science |
| Loughborough University |
| Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Newcastle University |
| Nottingham Trent University |
| Queen Mary University of London |
| Queen’s University Belfast |
| RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences |
| Regents University London |
| Royal Holloway, University of London |
| The University of Manchester |
| Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin |
| University College London (UCL) |
| University of Bath |
| University of Birmingham |
| University of Bristol |
| University of Cambridge |
| University of Dundee |
| University of Edinburgh |
| University of Glasgow |
| University of Leeds |
| University of Leicester |
| University of Limerick |
| University of Liverpool |
| University of Nottingham |
| University of Plymouth |
| University of Reading |
| University of Salford |
| University of Southampton |
| University of St Andrews |
| University of Strathclyde |
| University of Surrey |
| University of Warwick |
| University of Westminster |
| University of York |
| University Sussex |
30 November, Thai University Fair: 2:30-4:30 (Thai time). Pre-registration will be required. A school email will be required to register for this event. Registration link will be provided closer to the date.
Virtual university visits: The university counselors are hosting many virtual visits with universities from around the world (7:15-7:45 am, 12:50-1:15 pm, and 3:00-3:45 pm) for ISB students and parents. Be sure to check the Virtual University Visit list for university presentations that are scheduled exclusively for ISB students and parents (highlighted in yellow). In addition, there are many other virtual events available for any students interested in gaining more information about particular institutions so please check the Virtual University Visits list on the ISB University/College Counseling website for loads of information!
News from School Counselors
Shannon Leoni
shannonl@isb.ac.th
We hope that everyone had a restful and enjoyable October break.
As we look towards the next few weeks, we know that this time of year can often feel fast-paced and sometimes hectic. We’d like to remind students of some helpful tips that will be beneficial in prioritizing work and improving focus. One tip that we like is the “2 Minute Rule”, meaning that if something takes less than 2 minutes to complete, do it right away. Those 2 minutes will add up, and help students to feel more productive and motivated.
Motivation is a key factor in ensuring students are making the most of their classes and staying positive. For helpful resources in discussing motivation, we like these tips from Empowering Parents that include discussion questions. One helpful idea is to frame a conversation around short-term vs. long-term, and framing decisions in terms of students completing tasks they have to do in order to get to a place where they’re doing what they want to do.
Another resource that specifically addresses motivation is found in this article that highlights how a sense of competence can boost a child’s motivation and self-esteem. “A sense of mastery can develop when your child tackles a task easy enough to complete, but difficult enough for them to feel challenged.”
As always, the counseling team is here to support your children, and we are also happy to have a conversation about any of the above resources.
News from HS Library
Christopher Bell
christob@isb.ac.th
Please click News from HS Library
IASAS Model United Nations Showcase
Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
IASAS Model United Nations Showcase – 3:15pm Thursday, October 28 in Mr. McMillan’s Zoom Room: Please join our MUN delegates as they showcase their debate and protocol skills for the IASAS MUN Conference on November 11-13, hosted by SAS. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7119698596
Looking for IASAS CC Theater Tech Delegates
Anthony Giles
anthonyg@isb.ac.th
We are looking for students who are in the Theater Tech Club and interested in applying to be CC Tech delegates for IASAS Cultural Convention 2021. If you are interested and not a member of the club, please do so.
The IASAS CC this year will be on Thursday, March 3 – Saturday, March 5, 2021. This will be a good opportunity for you to develop your skills in many areas such as working as a team, communication, leadership, and Theater technical skills and also make new friends from other IASAS schools.
Other than enjoying working with those IASAS CC talented delegates, you will be benefited from many workshops run by professional people in the theater and entertainment industry. Please complete the application by Oct 31. Registration Form. or scan QR Code.
Questions? Contact Khun Sathit at sathitk@isb.ac.th.
