So excited to get started
by Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
We have had a terrific (and busy) Prep Week and our faculty and staff are excited to welcome students back onto campus for our first day of school on Monday. Today, we were privileged to welcome our “new-to-middle-school” families with orientations throughout the day – first for our new G7 & G8 students and parents and then for all of our G6 students and parents for this big transition.
A key message of our orientation, which we want to pass along to all of our MS community is that “We are all in this together.” The partnership between home and school is essential for the success of your child’s MS experience. Please keep communication lines open with us and we will continue to share with you what is happening at school, how you can support your child’s learning, and how you can get involved.
Please be sure to update your Personal contact information in the Parent Portal, so that you receive the ATK form SMS and other important school communication.
We look forward to our hallways and classrooms being filled with students again! Welcome to our new families and welcome back to our returning ones. As I shared with faculty, earlier this week, there is a terrific energy in our community and excitement about the new school year. To quote Ted Lasso, “Smells like potential.”
First Day of School Plans
We are looking forward to the first day of school. The school day starts at 7:40 AM, so students should arrive to school around 7:20 to 7:25 AM.
In the morning on Monday, MS students should come to the outdoor space next to the MS Office area (grade 8 quad) and look for their name and their Advisory assignment. This will be the classroom they go to at 7:40 when school starts.
Our focus for the Welcome Day is on building community and students will connect in Advisory, along with grade level meetings and a whole school assembly. This Welcome Day has a special schedule which students will see in the morning, in Advisory.
On Tuesday, August 16th, we will then start the “rotation”, beginning with a Day 1 that day.
- Monday, August 15 – Welcome Day Special Schedule (start in Advisory)
- Tuesday, August 16 – Day 1
- Wednesday, August 17 – Day 2
- Thursday, August 18 – Day 3
- Friday, August 19 – Day 4
Students will receive their complete schedule in Advisory.
ATK Form Link
On Sunday, ISB will send an SMS reminder to complete ATK tests and submit the form indicating the results and your child’s COVID status.
We hope that all new families update their personal information page in the Parent Portal to ensure we have your Thai mobile phone numbers. In case ISB doesn’t have that information yet, here is the link to use for the ATK form, after 4:00 PM on Sunday.
https://form.jotform.com/222151242582447
You will still need your family’s passcode, which we send via sms and email.
Signing up for the Student Daily email Bulletin
Dear New/Returning ISB Middle School Parents,
MS students are automatically enrolled to receive the Good Morning ISB Middle School – Daily Student Announcements in their student ISB email account approximately around 5pm the evening before each scheduled school day.
Parents, if you were already on our list last year to receive the MS student announcements each day, please note this parent database is rebuilt from scratch at the start of each school year so you will need to resubscribe if you would like to continue receiving the announcements this year.
If you would like to start receiving these announcements in your own email each day for this school year, please complete and submit this subscription form to do so.
Key MS contact information
For your reference, here are some key MS contact details:
MS Office:
- Phone: 02 963 5894
- email: msoffice@isb.ac.th
MS Attendance Matters – Khun Aor
- Phone: 02963 5894
- email: walairaw@isb.ac.th
PowerSchool Questions – Khun Arintra
- email: arintrat@isb.ac.th
Counseling Office:
- Khun Namwan: sariyam@isb.ac.th
- Kevin Nelson: kevinn@isb.ac.th
- Colleen Coady: colleenc@isb.ac.th
MS Administration:
- Khun Nan: phremjiz@isb.ac.th
- Cindy Plantecoste: cindyp@isb.ac.th
- Dennis Harter: dennish@isb.ac.th
School Supplies
Monday, August 15th, will be the first day of school for the 2022-23 school year. MS G7 & 8 students should bring their laptops and writing instruments to school that day. If students have notebooks that they plan to use they can bring that as well or they can purchase the at the ISB Bookstore, which will be on Monday morning.
On first day of school MS students will not have any academic classes as we focus on building communities and welcoming everyone back. During the first days of classes (Tuesday and Wednesday) students will hear from their teachers what materials they will need for the class. Students should not worry if they don’t have the materials before those first classes.
School Uniform Expectations and Reminders
The start of the school year is always a good time to communicate expectations and guidelines. For new students, this can help a child feel comfortable about starting in a new place and for returning students, this can serve as a reminder of responsibility within the community and provide clarity.
School Uniform Shirt (also comes in white)
Students should be in school uniform starting Monday, August 15th. See below for more specific information.
The MS Student Handbook is published online for reference. To help start the year, please note the school uniform expectations for Middle School.
Uniforms
Our school uniform helps create a comfortable and focused learning environment and identifies you as part of the Middle School. It is a reflection of the seriousness of purpose for your academic experience. The uniform is also designed to be respectful to our multicultural community and our host country of Thailand. Unless otherwise stated, you need to wear your uniform for the entire school day.
Please keep the following in mind:
-
Example of school shorts
All uniform shirts must be purchased at the ISB Bookstore.
- Students must wear uniform shorts / pants / skirts purchased at the ISB Bookstore or shorts that look similar to the ISB uniform shorts in style and color. Logos, tears/rips, prominent stitching, etc are not permitted.
-
PE Shorts (can be used throughout the school day in MS)
MS PE shorts may also be worn for classes, with the regular school uniform shirt (not PE shirt).
- You show respect for the school by wearing uniforms that fit properly, are clean and pressed with no holes, tears, frayed areas, or patches.
- School uniforms must be worn as purchased and should not be altered, modified, or rolled up.
- An ISB sweatshirt, hoodie, or pull-over (purchased at the ISB Bookstore) may be worn over an ISB uniform shirt. No non-ISB, commercial logos, or other designs are permitted.
- A solid white undershirt or white ISB t-shirt with no commercial logos or designs may be worn under your official ISB uniform collared shirt.
- For your safety, shoes must be worn at all times. Only appropriate and safe footwear with heels lower than 4 cm or 1.5 inches are permitted.
- Single plug flip-flops, beach or sport sandals (slides) are not permitted during the school day without administrative permission.
- In case of disagreements of what is acceptable uniform MS Administration makes the final decision.
On Fridays, we acknowledge Panther Spirit days and students may wear ISB Panther team gear, club shirts, or other ISB-related clothing, in accordance with Special Dress, Game and/or Performance Attire guidelines.
PE Shirt (must be worn for PE)
Panther Native Language Academy 2022-23
After-school native language classes are open for registration! In . . .
- Nederlands
- français
- Deutsch
- עברית
- 日本語
- 한국어
- 中文
- español
- ภาษาไทย (PreK2)
More languages, such as Bangla, may be added in Season (Session) 2!
Contact Avery Udagawa: PantherNativeLanguageAcademy@isb.ac.th
Native Language @ ISB Blog: https://inside.isb.ac.th/nativelanguage/
About the Panther Native Language Academy
Our after-school native language classes best suit students who are (a) unable to take a native language class during school, or (b) students who need extra support as determined by the teacher of the native language class in school.
A native/near native language is generally described as a language that is used on a daily basis with at least one parent. This is fundamental to ensure that the language can be supported outside of the classroom. We believe that native language learning happens best when students experience a strong home-school partnership.
In the Panther Native Language Academy, our goal is to offer meaningful learning activities in reading, writing, speaking, and listening that reflect ISB’s vision, mission, attributes and values. We aim to keep students moving forward in their native language learning and connected with their peers.
For all students in Kindergarten and up whose families pay for one Panther Native Language Academy class session per week (500 THB/one-hour session, due when the term begins), ISB funds a second session per week if there is adequate demand. PreK 2 classes meet once per week only. External language programs hosted at ISB may require different considerations.
Occasionally, ISB has “hidden multilinguals” whose native/near-native languages are not spoken at home, having developed through a prior childcare or school experience. Families of “hidden multilinguals” who might benefit from Panther Native Language Academy are encouraged to contact us.
Please kindly see more information and our concluding video from 2021-22. Here’s to a language-rich 2022-23 school year!
