ISB Spirit Week is Here!
ISB Spirit Week begins on Monday, November 29th. All students are invited to share their ISB spirit throughout the week!
Mon (29th November) – PJ Day
Tues (30th November) – Dress like a teacher
Wed (1st December) – Jersey Day ***this is senior class photo, seniors wear blue
Thurs (2nd December) – Intercultural Day
Fri (3rd December) – Black & Gold
iCares ES Donation of Cuddles: December 6-10
All PreK- Grade 12 ISB students have made a commitment to give back to our Thailand community in need. One way ISB is embarking on this is through our partnership with iCare Thailand Foundation. The MS and HS students have been generously donating food throughout the semester to communities in crisis. In the ES we will support through a charitable ‘Donation of Cuddles’.
As regions in Thailand transition into the cold season, iCare supports more than 2,000 dormitory students in government schools in the mountains of northern Thailand. For more information on the dormitories, please take a look at the iCare ‘Dorms of Hope’ project video.
https://www.facebook.com/iCareTH/videos/1025864591601975
To support these children, ISB students and families are invited to donate the following needed items:
- Blankets. As the weather drops to 3-4 degrees at some of the dormitories, blankets are very needed and appreciated. Any blanket in good condition is welcome.
- Stuffed toys. Once a year, iCare holds a special event for all children in the dormitories where the importance of education is emphasized and celebrated; many students are the first in their family to receive an education. As many of the kids have no toys to speak of, ISB community members are invited to donate a stuffy (soft toy).
The week of December 6-10 all elementary school students and families are invited to donate a new or gently used stuffed toy or blanket to the iCare Dorms of Hope Foundation.
Thanks again for supporting the needs of the iCare Thailand Foundation,
iCares Letter in English
iCares Letter in Thai
iCares Letter in Mandarin
iCares Letter in Korean
ES Letter Days
When we return to school on January 10th, the ES letter days will align with the published calendar, however for the rest of the first semester, the letter days will be as follows:
Weekly Message from Dr. Michael Allen
At ISB we believe that our approach to learning, our learner attributes, and the values that we cultivate will set students up for success in life. No matter where they go or what they do after they leave ISB, we work hard to provide them with a grounding foundation of skills, attitudes, and values that will help them enrich communities throughout their lives.
The ISB Learner Attributes were developed through a multi-year research and development initiative that helped us understand what skills – beyond knowledge and academic abilities – students would need to be successful in this world that is changing so quickly. These are often referred to as “soft-skills” and they are more and more notably being seen as some of the most important indicators for success in one’s personal life and career. We embed the fostering of these attributes and values into the learning taking place. We develop activities to help students become more Socially-intelligent. COVID-19 and the move to virtual learning was an example of why Adaptability is so important. We craft experiences that move students to be Globally-minded. All require unique and intentional learning experiences to become common practice and habit for our students. Our values are a way of moving through life and communities in a way that is respectful, ethical and meaningful.
One of the tools teachers and students use to discuss and define the ISB Learner Attributes can be found here. This resource outlines the key indicators for each of the attributes, and allows us to provide clear feedback to students about their learning. Take a close look and reach out to us with any questions you might have!
Your partner in education,
Michael Allen
michaela@isb.ac.th
Upcoming Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment
This past week and next, students in grades 2-8 are taking the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test. MAP testing is done on a computer and each test adapts to the student’s previous answers, so if they answer a question correctly, the test gets progressively more challenging. If a student answers a question incorrectly, the test adapts to become easier.
MAP is a standardized test and is only one part of ISB’s overall assessment plan. MAP testing is given twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. MAP provides a standardized measure of student growth in Reading and Mathematics based on our content standards. A true picture of a child’s academic progress must include a variety of opportunities to demonstrate learning such as ongoing formative assessments given regularly in class; evidence of understanding such as writing samples, projects, and presentations; and teacher designed assessments. Teachers collect a range of learning data to help them determine where students are in their learning and where they are ready to go next. MAP is a single piece of your child’s learning picture.
MAP measures your child’s achievement level compared to other students who have taken this test. However, the student sample is drawn from US public and private schools, not international schools. The test does not cover all academic skills, nor does it cover such areas as physical, artistic, or interpersonal skills.
As with any standardized assessment, students can become anxious about how they will perform. You can support your child by ensuring that s/he gets a good night’s sleep, has a healthy breakfast, and comes to school knowing that this is important, and they can do it!
If you have any questions, you can look at the NWEA website or contact Debi Caskey, ISB’s Deputy Head of School for Learning (debic@isb.ac.th).
Check and Update Your Details in Powerschool Parent Portal
Many people move houses over the summer, details change (phone numbers etc). We are in the process of updating phone numbers, addresses and emergency contacts. Please take the time to login to Powerschool Parent Portal and check the details that ISB has on record. Please update if necessary. It is really important this information is accurate, as we use this in emergency situations.
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 cholthis@isb.ac.th
Step 2. At the bottom of the left hand menu click “Contact Update”. This information will then take a day or two to update (we manually check for accuracy).
If you have any questions or queries, contact cholthis@isb.ac.th
On Campus Student Absences
When students who attend classes on campus are absent, they will be marked absent in PowerSchool and may be expected to complete missed work when they return to campus. Should a student be required to quarantine due to COVID exposure, they will complete virtual learning tasks and have check-ins with our Virtual Learning Teacher, Ms. Shannon Brown. On campus students who miss school due to travel will be marked absent and will not participate in virtual learning. Please contact ES Principal Michael Allen at MichaelA@isb.ac.th if planning an extended absence.
Parent Workshop: December 1, 2021 with Ken O’Connor-Assessment and Grading for Learning
As part of ISB’s Parent Education series, we will be offering a workshop in December with Ken O’Connor. Our topic is Assessment and Grading for Learning.
Please see the flyer below for more information and you can register here using this link. You will receive a Zoom link for the session once you register.
Looking forward to seeing you on December 1, 2021 with Ken O’Connor!
Monday, December 6, 2021 – No School
Monday, December 6, 2021 is Substitute Father’s Day. Therefore, school will not be in session. Classes will resume on Tuesday, December 7, which is an ‘F’ Day.
Looking for Lost & Found items
If you are looking for your child(ren)’s lost items, please check the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/isbptalostandfound/
Leaving ISB at the End of the First Semester?
Parents of students who are not returning to ISB in January need to notify the ES Office, Khun Kunlawan (kunlawan@isb.ac.th) as soon as possible to enable us to process school records for their next school. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
ATK Testing Information
The next ATK must be administered on Sunday, November 28 between 4:00pm and 8:00pm – with results uploaded on the ATK Form within that same timeframe. If you need assistance with the ATK Form, please write to help@isb.ac.th
ES Cafeteria Menu
Please find the KG – G5 ES Cafeteria menu for next week linked here, and here is the menu for Pre-Kindergarten.
NOTES & BOLTS: News about The Arts at ISB
While a number of arts events have been postponed or cancelled due to the recent COVID restrictions, 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…
HS Musical – November 18th-20th moved t0 April 21st, 2022
MS/HS Fall Dance Production – 3:30 pm November 25th LIVE STREAMED
MS/HS Band Concert – 6:30 pm November 30th VIRTUAL (postponed)
ES/ MS/HS Strings Bash – 6:30 pm December 1st VIRTUAL (postponed)
HS Jazz Night 1 – 6:30 pm December 7th VIRTUAL (postponed)
MS/HS Choir Concert – 6:30 pm December 8th LIVE STREAMED
ES Festival of Lights – 6:30 pm December 14th CANCELLED
HS Artists under the Stars – 6:30 pm December 16th (moved from Dec. 9th) VIRTUAL