by Dennis Harter
MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
Happy New Year and welcome to semester 2 of the 2022-23 school year. We are excited also to welcome 13 new students to the middle school this term, along with their families to our ISB community.
The start of a new semester is a good time to review school guidelines, expectations, and procedures – both to refresh returning families’ memories after the long break and to provide information to our new families. We couldn’t cover everything during our short orientation on Monday, so this is a opportunity to share some details.
There is a lot of text / information below. Hopefully the headings will allow you to sort through topics quickly. Most importantly, please remember that you can always ask for help from anyone in the MS Office (msoffice@isb.ac.th). Our team can always point you in the right direction.
We share the guidelines and expectations below in the spirit of clear communication and understanding between school and home.
Attendance Matters
Like any school, we firmly believe that students learn best in our classrooms with their teachers and classmates engaged in learning activities. Of course, some absences are unavoidable. If students are unwell, they should stay home and rest and recover (also to prevent further transmission). Passport renewals, doctors’ appointments, visa runs, etc. are all realities of day to day life. We hope that families can minimize the times students miss class, but we understand these things happen.
With that in mind, and knowing that being at school is best for learning, we strongly encourage that parents time vacations and trips using the scheduled school breaks and not missing school days. Teachers make the most of the learning days, knowing that breaks are happening, so when students miss long stretches of learning time for travel or family trips, there is no doubt that this impacts their child’s learning.
Our attendance policy, found in the MS Handbook (seen below), reflects this in how we determine “excused” and “unexcused” absences. In all cases, we assess student work, but the distinction in reasons for absences is important to note.
From MS Handbook, page 7
Attendance records for your child can be viewed in PowerSchool.
To communicate with ISB about your child’s attendance, please contact Khun Aor (walairaw@isb.ac.th).
Arriving On Time (and tardies)
In the same spirit of valuing time in class, we believe it is important that students arrive to class on time. Valuing punctuality is both an important skill for students to develop in their Self-Management and an indication of respect and engagement for their learning. “Tardies” (being late for class) are recorded in PowerSchool in each class period. Sometimes a student may be late and this is noted, but when records indicate high frequency or repeated lateness, then we have follow up in place with detention during lunch blocks (students still have a chance to eat). We provide a warning to students when we see tardy numbers creeping up. We hope that this serves as a deterrent for students, if they start showing up late to class regularly. Students always have sufficient time between classes to move from one class to the next, including stopping at their locker.
Uniforms
ISB, like all schools in Thailand, has a school uniform. Our’s is relatively comfortable and simple. MS students must wear the green or white ISB collared shirt. For PE, there is a designated PE uniform shirt. Students may only wear that for PE and should change back into the collared shirt for other classes. Students can arrive to school in their PE shirt if they have PE first class and may leave school in their PE shirt when they have PE last class, but otherwise should always be changing back into the collared shirt. Particularly, at this age group, this is also good for hygiene and body-odor issues.
For the lower half of the body, in MS, students may wear the ISB PE shorts throughout the day or black or khaki shorts/skirts/pants that are from our school bookstore (or similar). Random sports shorts, tights, or jeans are not allowed.
Every Friday is also Panther Spirit day and students can wear other ISB team or activity shirts instead of their collared uniform shirt.
Throughout the year we have Alternate Dress Days (often called Free Dress days by students) and/or themed spirit days. On these days students can be “out of uniform” within dress code guidelines and the guidelines of the theme is there is one. As always, students can still wear school uniform on these days (and many do).
More details regarding uniform and dress code can be found in the MS Handbook, pages 10-12.
Technology Use
MS students are provided with a school-issued laptop. Students are required to use this laptop at school and should bring it charged fully each morning. Students may have some classes that do not (or rarely) use the laptop, like PE or music. For these class periods, students can leave their laptop in their locker for safety during the day.
In the MS, we do not want students on their personal phones throughout the day. As such, we require that students leave their phones in their lockers (along with their school bag – see next topic) throughout the school day, including lunch. We value face to face student interaction and also want to prevent and avoid social media posts, drama, and messaging throughout the day. If parents need to reach their child, we ask that they call the MS office. We can always reach a student very quickly and connect them with their parents. When students need to contact their parents, they can come to the office and we can make that call for them (or they can ask permission to use their cell phone with us).
Lockers
In the MS, we require that students use their assigned lockers. Student ID cards open their unique locker. Only the office staff can open the locker otherwise. Students leave their school bag and all materials other than what is needed for the class they are going to / attending in their locker. Students may have a smaller bag for PE materials.
These guidelines are in place to ensure phones are not being carried around through the day (as a temptation to use during class) and to ensure valuables are safe. While ISB is a safe campus, in general, leaving bags and valuables on the ground, on benches, or in the cafeteria is risky and can lead to lost items. The locker is provided so that students’ valuables are safe. Students do not bring bags to class or leave them in the hallways.
Lockers are also provided in the PE changing rooms.
ID Cards
ID cards are an essential part of a student’s school day. The ID cards are required for students to enter campus at the turnstiles, open their lockers (which are required to use), check out library books, and purchase food and items at the bookstore. On occasions when a student forgets their ID card, we do have systems in place using their ID number to access campus or their Campus Card accounts for purchases, but it definitely impacts efficiency and freedom of movement for the student. Additionally, our secretaries can open their lockers for them, but this involves waiting between each period for someone to help the student.
Please help your child come up with a system or spot to leave their ID card so that they remember to bring it to school each day.
In the event that they’ve lost their ID card, students can inform K. Aor or K. Nan in the MS Office and they will arrange for a new ID card to be printed out at a charge of 200 baht to the card’s account. Once a new ID is made, the old ID card no longer works and cannot be used, if found. Only one ID card per student may be active at any time.
MS Students and Golf Carts
Middle School students are not permitted to drive golf carts (or motorcycle) on to campus. In fact, we discourage allowing MS students to operate golf carts without adult supervision, at all. Our experience is that MS students do not pay attention to pedestrians, cyclists and other traffic dangers. While people often feel that our neighborhood have safe roads, operating a golf cart still requires a license by government regulations. It is important to consider the implications of a MS student causing damage or hurting someone while operating a golf cart unlicensed. While we recognize that parents make their own decisions for their children off campus, if / when we become aware of MS students operating golf carts, we may reach out to parents to share our concerns and the inherent risks.