Feb. 14-18 February Break – No School
We have one more week of school before our February holiday. Have a nice break, Panthers! Classes resume on Monday, February 21. It will be an ‘B’ Day. Enjoy the time!
ISA for Grades 3, 5, 7 & 10
Students in grades 3, 5, 7 and 10 take the annual ISA assessment in February. Grades 3 and 5 will take this online assessment on February 23 and 24. The International School Assessment is designed to offer comparable assessment data for students in international schools. The ISA assesses students in the three domains of Mathematical Literacy, Reading and Writing. More details about the ISA can be found here: https://www.acer.org/id/isa If you have any questions, please contact ES Principal, Michael Allen michaela@isb.ac.th
Information collected by ACER regarding your child will be used only for the purpose of the ISA program. Any data identifying the student by name will only be provided to the school. ACER’s Privacy Policy may be found at the ACER website www.acer.edu.au or you may obtain a copy by writing to the Privacy Officer, ACER, Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia.
Gr. 2-5 MAP Testing Results & Parent Session
December 2021 MAP testing results will be available on PowerSchool on Friday, February 11th at 2PM for students in Grades 2-5. Please follow the steps below to access the MAP results:
- Log on to PowerSchool (shown below)
- Click on Grade and Attendance on the left side (as seen in gray highlighted)
- Copy password (label in red) to open MAP results
A NOTE ABOUT MAP: All parents will find their child’s mathematics and reading test results for the December 2021 Measures of Academic Progress assessment (MAP) on PowerSchool. Within this PDF you will find very detailed information regarding our MAP assessments and explanations of the scores from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA).
Standardized tests like the MAP do not assess all of what it is that make each of our children special and unique. The people who create and score these tests do not know each child the way our ISB teachers do and certainly not the way you do. They do not know that your child fluently speaks two or more languages. They do not know that your child can play a musical instrument or that he/she can dance or paint. They do not know that your child writes poetry or songs, plays or participates in sports, wonders about the future, or that sometimes he/she takes care of a little brother or sister after school. They do not know that your child has traveled to fascinating places around the world or that he/she knows how to tell a great story or that he/she really loves spending time with special family members and friends. They do not know that your child acts with integrity and can be trustworthy, compassionate or thoughtful, and that he/she tries, every day, to his/her very best…the attached scores will tell you something, but do keep in mind that they will not tell you everything.
The ES Principals will host a “Parent Introduction to MAP” on Thursday, February 24 @ 745AM via Zoom. Please join us to learn more about the MAP assessment or have your questions addressed. ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4732749923
ATK Distribution
In early December, ISB distributed ATKs to families for each student. The calculation of supplies was based on their use only at the scheduled and required ISB times. For the week of January 17-21, we required daily ATK testing which used 3 tests per child more than our original count.
As such, by our calculation, each student should have enough ATKs for Sunday and Wednesday testing to last until the Feb. 20th test, following the February break (we do not require testing during the breaks), before school restarts. This includes (Jan 30, Feb 2, Feb 6, Feb 9, Feb 20).
If ATK’s provided by the school are used by families for additional testing purposes then we ask for you to replenish them yourself by purchasing ATK’s from a pharmacy (Abbott or similar).
As shared in a recent message from Dr. Davies, our recent review of neighboring pharmacies is that most have ATKs still available for sale.
The next distribution of ATKs for ES students will take place Feb 10 & 11 ahead of the break.
Grade 5 to Grade 6 Transition Session
Greetings parents of Grade 5 students! To support you with your child’s registration process for middle school, we will host a Grade 5 to 6 Parent Information Webinar at 8:00AM on Feb 9th, 2022. Please register for the webinar here.
This session is an opportunity for parents to learn about our Middle School, meet the administration and our current G6 counselor, and learn about the language and music choices your child will have for their G6 schedule; please read our MS Program of Studies with your child to see what s/he is excited about learning next year, and to consider the options available. The session will also allow you the chance to ask any questions that you may have.
SWIM, BIKE, & RUN FOR EVELYN!
Tri Kids Triathlon @ ISB
Sponsored by Amorn Group
February 27th, 2022
All registration fees collected for this year’s event will go to help Evelyn and her family.
Tri Kids Triathlon info:
- Ages 4-18, ISB students only
- Try a Tri – 50m swim, 600m bike, 200m run (Prek 2, KG, 1st, 2nd )
- Standard – 200m swim, 5.5km bike, 1.1km run (Grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
- Do the Double – 400m swim, 11km bike, 2.2km run (Grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
Or, if you don’t want to race alone: - Relay Team of 2 Standard – 200m swim, 5.5km bike, 1.1km run (Grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
- Relay Team of 3 Standard – 200m swim, 5.5km bike, 1.1km run (Grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
- Relay Team of 2 Do the Double – 400m swim, 11km bike, 2.2km run (Grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
- Relay Team of 3 Do the Double – 400m swim, 11km bike, 2.2km run (Grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
A Song for Evelyn
In the coming weeks, PK-G5 students will be putting their understanding of Artistic Citizenship into action by learning the song “Count on Me” in their music classes. They will dedicate this song to our young ISB Panther Evelyn and her family. Feel free to lift your voice along with us using the recording and lyrics here.
Join Us on Line!
Did you know that close to 250 ES parents are connected via the ES PTA LINE GROUP? Be sure to join us via this QR code!
ES PTA Line Group Terms of Usage:
- All PTA related LINE groups are to be used to disseminate information regarding ISB related activities.
- Commercial advertising is strictly prohibited.
- Privacy and reputation-protection are priorities: using names of individual children or teachers is not allowed.
- Airing of grievances, settling of disputes or other negative activity on these PTA LINE groups is strictly prohibited.
- ISB community member Code of Conduct must be followed at all times.
Sunday & Wednesday ATK Testing
Students will be required to take ATK tests every Sunday and Wednesday between 4:00pm and 8:00pm – with results uploaded on the ATK Form within that same timeframe. The next ATK test is required on Sunday, February 6. If you need assistance with the ATK Form, please write to help@isb.ac.th
It is very important that all test results are entered into the ATK Form within the specified time in order to ensure campus access the following day. The ATK Form is linked to the ID cards and ISB turnstiles system.
Weekly Message from Dr. Michael Allen
Thank you to the parents who were able to join us for yesterday’s interactive February Parent Engage session. Based on the feedback we gathered via the Parent Engage Survey, we used the time together to take a deep dive into friendship skills. We discussed the essential skills and strategies to help guide and support our children.
The session also provided us to share excerpts from a wonderful parent resource called “Yardsticks”. The book, Yardsticks, is a comprehensive guide that helps parents and educators better understand students’ social and academic behavior through a developmental lens. Through age-by-age narratives, developmental characteristics, and activities, Chip Wood gives thoughtful, research-based, practical strategies to meet students’ needs.
- Developmentally informed tips
- Typical growth patterns by age and how they relate to learning
- A peek into developmental milestones and behavior at home
If you’d like to see an excerpt from the text that aligns with the age of your child, please email me at michaela@isb.ac.th. This book is also available via Amazon and would be a great addition to your home library!
Your partner in education,
Michael Allen
michaela@isb.ac.th
ISB Parent Safeguarding Workshop
All parents, PreK-Grade 12, are invited to join our ISB Parent Safeguarding workshop at 8:00 AM on February 10 with our counseling department. At this workshop we will discuss:
- Safeguarding at ISB
- Defining boundaries and types of boundaries
- How to talk with your child about boundaries
- Using boundaries to keep your child safe
- Teaching your child to respect others’ boundaries
We hope you will be able to join our workshop and learn together about safety, consent and boundaries at ISB and beyond. In order to help us with our planning, please sign up here if you plan to attend this workshop. We hope to see you on February 10!
-ISB Counseling Team
ES Counselor Update
During the month of January/February in classroom guidance lessons in PreK-Grade 5, the counselors will be teaching two lessons about personal safety. This includes learning about what safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches mean as well as teaching rules about keeping safe in various situations. Examples may include traffic, fire, and street dog safety; what to do if you get lost; and the importance of asking before going anywhere without a parent, or accepting a gift from someone else. Click here for the full version of the informative parent letter.
Calling Grade 3-5 String Musicians: Openings in Panther String Ensemble!
Musicians in grades 3, 4 and 5 who love to make music on violin, viola, cello or double bass should consider signing up for the Panther String Ensemble. This ensemble will begin meeting in person on Tuesday, March 8th, from 3:00-4:00 pm in the CC building (8-123). Panther Orff Ensemble is free of charge! Click HERE to learn more and sign up!
ES Cafeteria Menu
Please find the KG – G5 ES Cafeteria menu for next week linked here, and here is the menu for Pre-Kindergarten.
Week 1 of Panther Activities Done & Dusted
As we wrap up week 1 of the new session of Panther Activities, we wanted to say thank you for your patience as we continue work through some of the kinks with our new sign up platform and reconcile the details of the more than two thousand registrations. Please see the summary of activities HERE as a quick reminder of the what, where, and when for each program.
Payment Window Postponed: February 11th-25th, 2022
For general questions contact Anthony or Lucas at PantherActivities@isb.ac.th.
Or, for program specific questions, please contact our Panther Activities Coordinators at the email addresses listed below.
PantherArts@isb.ac.th, PantherBaseballandSoftball@isb.ac.th, PantherBasketball@isb.ac.th, PantherDance@isb.ac.th, PantherExplore@isb.ac.th, PantherFitness@isb.ac.th, PantherGolf@isb.ac.th, PantherGymnastics@isb.ac.th, PantherMusic@isb.ac.th, PantherNativeLanguageAcademy@isb.ac.th, PantherRugby@isb.ac.th, PantherSoccer@isb.ac.th, PantherSwim@isb.ac.th, PantherTennis@isb.ac.th, and new this semester… PantherXtreme@isb.ac.th
ES Panther Explore Coming Soon!!!
Second Semester’s Panther (ES) Explore Program will begin on Monday, March 7th. The following are some important dates for you to note in your calendar. ES Explore Program Booklet
- Online registration opens – Friday, February 11th at 3:00pm.
- Online registration closes – Friday, February 25th 3:00pm.
- Confirmed Activities – Friday, March 4th.
- Activities Begin – Monday, March 7th.
Hanuman Film Festival Postponed to March 24, 2022
We invite you to participate in the Hanuman Film Festival happening on March 24th! This is open to all grade levels and we are currently accepting entries until March 17. Any creative original film is welcomed! Please sign up using this link (or using the QR code) – https://forms.gle/Dpaxh9X7Ea8mXGPcA and send your film or questions you have to hanumanfilmfestival@isb.ac.th !
ISB Athletics News
ISB Athletics season 3 starts on Monday 7th February. Your child’s coaches will be in touch soon, but you can also access the season information letter on the Athletics website. Please go to the season 3 team pages for the different sports Elementary School Athletics Main Page to find the information letter.
Upcoming events
Saturday 5th February
BMAC U14 Volleyball @ ISB
BMAC U12 Volleyball @ BPS
BMAC U14 Softball @ BPS
Season 2 game schedules can be viewed on www.isbathletics.com.