Terrific Start
By Dennis Harter, MS Principal
dennish@isb.ac.th
And we’re off! The first few days of 2023-24 have been terrific filled with smiling students and teachers, fun learning activities, and the beginnings of a wonderful community. We have enjoyed having students in our hallways and classrooms again. We hope that your child has enjoyed their first few days and can see a positive school year ahead.
On the first day of school, our focus was on building community and getting to know our students. Students spent chunks of their day in Advisory, getting to know each other and learning about MS expectations. Grade Levels gathered for information and fun activities. We also hosted our first MS Assembly of the year to bring us all together and celebrate this year’s unique combination of people.
On Thursday and Friday, students attended their Day 1 and Day 2 classes, seeing each teacher and classroom once before the weekend. Teachers connected with their students and shared expectations and supply needs. Your children should be aware of what they need to bring to class next week. Typically items are available at the ISB Bookstore.
In the coming weeks, please be on the lookout for some parent tech training sessions. We will communicate more about this and other upcoming events in next week’s eNews.
We know it’s been an exciting start to the school year and a bit of adjustment for our students (and teachers) after the summer break. The 3-day weekend will provide a nice early rest break and we look forward to getting the learning and fun going again on Tuesday, August 15th.
Next Week’s Schedule
ISB joins Thailand in recognizing Mother’s Day on August 12th. With the special day taking place on Saturday, Thailand has designated Monday a national holiday as a substitute. ISB will be closed on Monday, August 14th. We will return to school as usual on Tuesday, August 15th, with a Day 3 on our schedule rotation.
Here’s the schedule for the week:
- Monday, August 14 – HOLIDAY, NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, August 15 – Day 3
- Wednesday, August 16 – Day 4
- Thursday, August 17 – Day 5
- Friday, August 18 – Day 6
Sharing MS Student Expectations
Having consistent guidelines at school helps students understand what is expected of the so that their time and focus can be on their learning while at school. This week we have been sharing school expectations that are in place for student success and aligned with school values of Respect, Commitment, and Responsibility. We share some of these below so that parents can help at home. You can find the entire MS Student-Parent Handbook online.
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. Punctuality is both an important skill for students to develop for their own Self-Management and an indication of respect and engagement in their own learning. “Tardies” (being late for class) are recorded in PowerSchool for each class period. When a student is late to class it is noted. We provide a warning to students when we see tardy numbers creeping up. If it continues happens with high frequency and the student is repeatedly late, then consequences may include spending some of their free time during lunch in the office. We hope that this serves as a deterrent for students. Our goal is for students to maximize their valuable time in class. Students are provided sufficient time between classes to move from one class to the next, including stopping at their locker.
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 materials – other than what is needed for the immediate class – in their locker. Students may carry a smaller bag for PE gear.
These guidelines are in place to ensure phones are not being carried around throughout the day (which would be a temptation to use during class) and to ensure valuables are safe. We do not want phones in locker rooms (unsafe) or in hallways, where they become a focus of students’ attention. 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 nor may they leave them in the hallways.
Lockers are also provided in the PE changing rooms.
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. Grade 6 laptops will be charged overnight at school until they start taking them home in a few weeks. During the school day, if students are not in class, they may not use their laptops (e.g. lunch, breaks between classes).
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 allow students to be on their personal phones throughout the day. As such, we require that students leave their phones in their lockers 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 (02 963 5800, ext 4404). 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).
If a student is found using their cell phone during the school day, we confiscate the phone and keep it in the MS Office until the end of the day. In repeated cases, we inform parents of the ongoing concerns.
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 they 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. Our secretaries can open their lockers for them, but this involves waiting between each period for someone to help them.
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.
Attendance and Absences
The start of the year is a good time to emphasize the importance of school attendance. Like many schools, ISB MS highly values the face to face learning time that students have in the classrooms when they are in school. While students get limited assignments and tasks for home learning (aka homework), “doing the work” isn’t really where the learning happens. Learning takes place via the interactions within classrooms, through the instruction from teachers, and by the questions and answers that take place daily. When students are away from school it impacts their learning.
Of course, we understand that sometimes students are unwell, in which case, it is certainly most important that they focus on rest and recovery. We ask that students who don’t feel well stay at home both for their own recovery and to prevent the spread of illness that will impact others’ learning as well.
Because we know that students may miss school when unwell, it is all the more important that students don’t compound the impact on learning by missing significant amounts of days for other reasons. We ask that parents use the ISB calendar to plan trips or appointments to minimize the amount of time their child misses learning at school. We understand that some events arise that are very important for families and these may be inevitable absences. We hope that these can also be managed, because we see the impact extended absences have on students’ learning. We appreciate the efforts of parents to keep their children at school as much as possible.
When your MS-aged child is unable to attend school, needs to arrive late, or depart campus early, please contact Khun Aor (walairaw@isb.ac.th) in the Middle School office. You can call Khun Aor also at 02 963 5800 ext 4404. When a student is marked absent and we have not heard from parents, Khun Aor will typically call home to confirm the child’s absence. We do this for safety reasons to ensure that the child was not on their way to school, but never arrived.
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.
Parents, how to Subscribe/Resubscribe to receive the Good Morning ISB Middle School – Daily Student Announcements…
Dear New/Returning ISB Middle School Parents
MS students were automatically enrolled to receive the Good Morning ISB Middle School – Daily Student Announcements in their student ISB email accounts. The announcements are sent at approximately 5 pm 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 new school year.
New/Returning parents, 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.
Clubs and Activities will be starting soon
A great part about middle school is getting involved in clubs and activities. Clubs and activities provide students ways to find others with common interests and ways to contribute to the wider community. We will be hosting our annual Club Fair soon and more information will be provided about clubs, service opportunities, and other activities next week in the Good Morning Middle School newsletter.
These photos are scenes from last year’s Club Fair.
Golf Carts and a Safe Community
With many new members in our community, it is important to communicate this safety message regarding golf carts and other motorized equipment and Middle School students.
Middle School students are not permitted to drive golf carts (or motorcycles) 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, particularly when they are driving with their friends. While people often feel that our neighborhood is sheltered and relatively, it is important to remember that operating a golf cart still requires a license by Thai government regulations. The roads of the neighborhood are still considered public. It is important to consider the implications (both personal and legal) of an underaged, unlicensed driver causing damage or worse hurting someone while operating a golf cart or other vehicle.
While we recognize that parents make their own decisions for their children off campus, ISB may still reach out to parents to share our concerns and the inherent risks. We do this as members of the wider community concerned for community safety and to mitigate the risk of harm or property damage. We do not want to find ourselves wishing we had said something that could have prevented an accident, after the fact.
For clarity, please note that MS-aged students will not be allowed to drive motorized vehicles on campus. We have also been informed that Nichada Thani will not allow students to park their golf carts at other parking lots to walk into school.
If you live in the neighborhood, please encourage your child to walk or ride a bicycle to school. It’s safer and healthier for everyone.
From MS Student-Parent Handbook p. 14
MS DANCE (TEAM) TROUPE AUDITIONS AUGUST 21ST 3-4:30 CC BLDG
All 7th and 8th grade students are invited to try out for the MS Dance (Team) Troupe on Monday, August 21st from 3-4:30 in the CC Dance Studio 8-204. Practices will be on Mondays Season 1 and 2. Questions? Contact Khun Nass at msdancecoach@isb.ac.th
NEW PANTHER DANCE SEASON!!!
Welcome back to another exciting season of PANTHER DANCE with a performance on stage with costume in May! Registration opens August 7th at 6pm. Relive the magic of our last performances We’re Back, Again! ES Video, MS/HS Video
Interested? Contact Yoona : pantherdance@isb.ac.th
The NEW 2023 Shakespeare Tournament!
The Shakespeare Tournament returns! This special speech & drama festival is open to all MS students, even those not in a Drama class right now. This event is perfect for anyone who likes performing, likes dramatic or funny bits, or likes to try something new. Both experienced and new performers are welcome!
This is the chance to:
- Be a part of a team, a small group, or go solo!
- Practice with afterschool rehearsals, then perform on stage in October!
- Win a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or special ALL-STAR medal!
Anyone interested can come check out the information and try some group activities on Wednesday, August 16, afterschool, in the MS Drama room 8-202.
The next medal could be yours!
MS Athletics Update
Welcome back MS Parents! It has been great to have your children back on campus. As we get back into the school rhythm, here is some hopefully helpful information from Athletics.
Understanding MS Athletics
We know that there are many ways to be active at ISB and that it can sometimes be confusing, especially if you are new. Please look at this presentation to help you understand the different athletic options for your child(ren).
Important Dates:
Saturday, August 19th: Panther Run #1 – join for a fun, friendly, community 3km or 5km
Monday, August 21st: Panther Activities & Athletics begin
Tuesday, August 22nd: U12 & U14 Tryouts Begin
U12 & U14 Season 1 Tryouts
U12 & U14 Season 1 sports begin on Tuesday, August 22nd.. Please make sure that you have registered your child for Season 1 on CCA, which you can access through PowerSchool.
Contact Information:
MS Athletics (U12/14)- Kelley McKenna kelleym@isb.ac.th
Panther Athletics – K. Fon punnanuw@isb.ac.th
Panther Native Language Academy 2023-24
After-school native language (mother tongue) classes will open soon for registration! In Nederlands, français, Deutsch, עברית, 日本語, 한국어, 中文, ภาษาไทย (PK2) … more languages may be added as the year goes on! Please see more information and our concluding photos from 2022-23. Here’s to a language-rich 2023-24 school year!
Contact Avery Udagawa: PantherNativeLanguageAcademy@isb.ac.th
Native Language @ ISB Blog: https://inside.isb.ac.th/nativelanguage
Hidden Multilinguals
Dear Parents,
ISB’s after-school Panther Native Language Academy (PNLA) aims to support multilingual students unable to take a class in their native language(s) during the school day, or who need additional support as determined by the daytime teacher.
A native language is generally described as a language used on a daily basis with at least one parent. We typically send PNLA information to families we know use the languages taught in PNLA.
However, we sometimes miss “hidden multilinguals” whose native/near-native language(s) we don’t know about. Examples:
- Korean student who attended school in French in Africa
- Thai student who studied Chinese intensively at prior school
If your child(ren) are “hidden multilinguals” and may benefit from PNLA, please get in touch: PantherNativeLanguageAcademy@isb.ac.th
The after-school language classes open for registration for Season 1 are native Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Thai for PK2.
More details about native/near-native language classes at ISB are here.
Please let us know if you have any questions!
PantherNativeLanguageAcademy@isb.ac.th
Best,
Avery Udagawa
Native Language Coordinator