Upcoming Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
On October 6 & 7, Middle School will host Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences. We will be using a combination of spaces around the middle school including the library, MPB areas, and classrooms. With nearly 400 students worth of parents, our conference requires that parents have short sessions with individual teachers which will take place in a 2-hour block per child. Students join their parents for these conferences with teachers.
Parents will be able to sign up for their preferred day and 2-hour block of time, starting Tuesday of next week. A special email will be sent with sign up information and how to create a “Pick-a-Time” account or login to your existing one. This is the platform we use to book parents for conferences. Please note that each time block has a limit on the number of sign-ups, in order to ensure that teachers are able to see all the parents who sign up in that block.
Parents and students will have up to 5 minutes with each teacher (we actually have to force them to use a timer) so that all parents are able to meet with teachers over the two days. There will, of course, be some waiting, when a teacher is occupied with another family.
Please be on the lookout for this sign up email on Tuesday.
Please also note:
- High School Conferences take place the week before on Sept. 29 & 30.
- Elementary School Conferences also take place on October 6 & 7, same as Middle School.
- High School is hosting IASAS volleyball and Cross Country on October 6 & 7 with visiting schools from Singapore, Taipei, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila.
We look forward to the upcoming conferences.
Understanding MAP test results
A few weeks ago, MS students took the NWEA Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) test in Reading and Mathematics. Now that the testing window has closed for the whole school, the result reports are available through PowerSchool – each family’s password to open the reports is located in individual PowerSchool accounts.
To access your child’s report please follow these instructions:
The MAP results reports have a lot of information in them and some of the terminology or scoring may be new for some. We have provided the following resources for you to better understand how to read the reports.
1) Quick Reference Guide from NWEA
2) Video tutorial from ISB
MS PTA Rep – Welcome!
We are happy to welcome Yajie Zhang (Portia) to our Middle School team as the new MS PTA coordinator. We look forward to working with Portia on fun events for MS students this year. Portia can be reached by parents at the email address: pta-ms@isb.ac.th
Welcome to MS Portia! We appreciate your willingness to volunteer and help us make this a great year for our students.
Safety measures outside of school
As all parents know, it is important to help our children understand how to be aware and safe when out and about. While we provide a safe environment at school, middle school aged students sometimes spend time at shopping centers, movie theaters, activity centers and more.
Sometimes incidents in Bangkok come to our attention that we feel are important to pass along to parents. Late last week we were informed by our friends at another international school that there had been some instances where young students had been inappropriately approached by a man in downtown malls. Thankfully, the students recognized their discomfort and took appropriate steps, removing themselves from those situations. In the time since we heard that information we also got confirmation that the man in question was identified and quickly left the country.
That good news aside, it is a good reminder for us all to talk to our children about safety in numbers, avoiding interactions with strangers, and ways that they can seek out help. While we all know that Thailand feels safe, we recognize that these are important skills for children to learn to keep themselves safe.
Welcome gathering of Chinese parents
A enjoyable coffee morning to welcome new families and appreciate the volunteers was offered to all the Chinese community members on Monday Sep 19th, 2022. It has been a while since we last met on campus from the previous year. This year, it is our great honor to have Dr. Andrew Davies, Ms. Debi Caskey, Mrs. Usa Somboon, Mr. Michael Allen, Ms. Honey Tondre, Ms. Farah Thaxton, Mr. Dennis Harter and Mr. Justin Alexander to join us to share and celebrate the exciting moments in person. It is not only a great opportunity to build up bonds within the growing number of the new and returning families, but also a sign of the recovery from the past two years. This is a fitting point in time to embrace the flourishing future life at ISB during the new academic year 2022/2023.
MS Clubs and Activities Starting Up
Next week, we will kick off our MS Clubs and Activities program with an assembly on Monday and a Club Fair on Tuesday. This will be a chance for students to learn about the various options for lunch time or after school activities offered in the MS. Some clubs are initiated while others may be long-standing ISB institutions or new faculty offerings.
This has taken some time to establish and build a schedule for, this year, as we have revamped our offerings to provide more choices. With many new faculty to take the lead on clubs, a newly developed after school schedule for athletics (impacting students’ and teachers’ schedules), and a lengthy process of collecting student ideas for new clubs (and finding teachers to sponsor them), it has taken some time to build a schedule and assign meeting times. For example, MS athletics practices(involving over 100 MS students) take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays this year, which many of our clubs have tried to work around.
We try to work around existing programs within the MS, but recognize there are also CAO activities, Panther Athletics programs outside of the U14 and U12 programs, and individual conflicts with tutors, lessons, or outside interests. The best we can do is plan around our own MS activities. Now that our schedule is in place, we are able to communicate with students about the program offerings. Next week’s eNews will include this information, but please also talk with your children on Monday and/or Tuesday afternoon.
We understand that there may be conflicts for some students on some days with a club they are interested in and an existing commitment. It’s okay if a student is unable to start the club right away. They can still express interest and join the club later in the year when their schedule allows. Our goal is for clubs to be inclusive of anyone who wants to participate, but we recognize that schedules sometimes end up with conflicts.
We are excited for the many opportunities that our clubs, leadership councils, and activities provide students for connecting with others, developing interests, and engaging in some fun.
BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL STRINGS FESTIVAL
Please join us at 2:00pm Saturday, September 24th in the CC Theater for the 2022 Bangkok International Strings Festival Gala Concert featuring 150+ string musicians from around the region. Campus access requirements apply including a current ISB card, ID exchange for visitors, and a COVID declaration.
BACK YARD THEATRE ENSEMBLE
ISB DRAMA DEPARTMENT PRESENTS:
BACK YARD THEATRE ENSEMBLE
IN
A new theatre piece devised by the 2021/22 BYTE ensemble:
Amalia Krueger, Bianca Conry, Rhian Wilson, Verity Wood
and Joachim Matschoss.
Suitable for students from Grade 8 upwards.
PARENTS ARE INVITED TO TWO PERFORMANCES IN THE CC THEATRE
9:20am to 10:40am Monday, September 26th
1:30pm to 2:50pm Tuesday, September 27th
This new theatre piece looks at the four heroines from the classical theatrical canon, Nora (from Ibsen’s ‘Doll’s House’, Julie from Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’, Hedda from Ibsen’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ and Nina from Chekov’s ‘Seagull’). These four women meet and talk about their dreams, desires, and everything in between. Apart from the original plays, the adaptation uses letters between Ibsen and Strindberg, Chekov’s diaries, short stories, and other secondary literature to create a vibrant new theatre-piece.
A recent review from the Edinburgh Festival
BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL
Please join us at 2:00pm Saturday, October 1st in the Chevron Theater for the 2022 Bangkok International Choir Festival Gala Concert featuring 150+ singers from around the region. Campus access requirements apply including a current ISB card, ID exchange for visitors, and a COVID declaration.
Bangkok International Festival of Dance & Music
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR ISB FAMILIES
As ISB is an official sponsor of the 24th Annual Bangkok International Festival of Dance & Music, ISB families have been offered a 25% discount off of any available tickets, for any remaining shows. Simply look through the list of performances HERE, then email the date and name of the show you wish to attend, and how many tickets you want to purchase to info@bangkokfestivals.com using the subject line: ISB Discount. You will receive a discount code via email specifically for you along with instructions
on how to purchase your tickets.
Invention Center After School & Saturday Programs
Want to learn how to use a Band Saw? Come to the Invention Center on Saturday, September 24th and get hands-on training on how to operate the saw safely as well as learning various techniques that this very versatile machine is capable of. We will have 3 spots available starting at 10am and 3 spots available at 11am. This lesson is free and open to any high school students, ISB parents, or staff. Contact Travis Dynes at travisd@isb.ac.th to sign up. Please indicate your preference for 10am or 11am.
A reminder that the Invention Center is open to students and parents every day after school until 6pm and on Saturdays from 8am-2pm (elementary students need to have a parent present for supervision).
ISB and IASAS needs your help! IASAS Student Athlete Housing Request
Wednesday October 5th – Sunday October 9th
Dear Parents and Student-Athletes,
The 2022/2023 IASAS Volleyball Tournament and IASAS Cross Country Championships are fast approaching. Our entire community is gearing up for a spirited and competitive event, the first one in Three Years! ISB will host the five IASAS visiting schools, 180 athletes, from October 5th – 9th, 2022. These season-ending events provide an exceptional opportunity to showcase our teams, our students, and our immense ISB hospitality! We aim to put on an unforgettable event, but in order to do so we require your help. Register: here
IASAS tournaments depend upon the goodwill and generosity of our ISB families to host the visiting IASAS athletes. This reciprocal hosting exchange adds immense value to our athletic program, and it provides a unique opportunity to develop new friendships, share in culture, and strengthen our connections across international communities.
With just two weeks before the IASAS Volleyball and Cross Country events we are in need of help from the ISB Community. Host families can anyone in the ISB community. This includes Elementary, Middle and High School families.
Calling All Bakers- Panther Pops Need You!
Enjoy baking and looking for a way to support our ISB students from the comfort of your own home? Read more as per below.
Watch Jamie baking Panther Pop demonstration in the video.
By Panther pops coordinator,
booster-pantherpops@isb.ac.th