ES Open House Schedule – August 24 @ 6:00pm
The most important night of the school year is coming soon! Open House 2023 is on Thursday, August 24th and is essential in our launch of our home-school partnership for the year. This is a wonderful night to meet your child’s teachers, understand classroom procedures and expectations, and learn more about the learning your child will experience at ISB this year. If possible, it will be important for both parents to attend Open House, especially if you have more than one child in the Elementary School. Families with children in multiple grade levels might need to divide and attend different classes at the same time. Please keep in mind that this evening is for parents only and there will be no child care provided.
Homeroom Teachers will post the Open House Schedule via Seesaw, however you can view the complete schedule for the Elementary School here:
Weekly Message from ES Principal
Congratulations go out to all members of the ISB community for coming together to support our students during the first eight days of the new school year! Parents sent children to school well prepared with plenty of rest, uniforms, ID cards, and a positive attitude about all the changes and newness that come when entering a new grade level with new teachers and classmates. ISB teachers and IAs worked together to build classroom communities and help all children begin to develop a deep sense of belonging.
This morning PreK2-Grade 5 students participated in the student-led ES Welcome Back Assembly where we sang our ISB welcome songs, recognized new students and faculty, and student leaders reviewed how we live our core values each day with some fun skits targeting our shared expectations of how we treat each other on the playgrounds, in the cafeteria, and in the hallways. Like the members of Paw Patrol, each with their unique skills and abilities, we are BETTER TOGETHER!
The most important day of the school year for launching our home-school partnership is on Thursday, so please save the date and join us for Open House at 6PM. Watch for the detailed schedule from your child’s homeroom teacher and view the complete schedule for the Elementary School here.
Until then, please continue to partner and reach out to your child’s counselors/teachers to let us know if there’s anything we can do to better help support your child as they transition to their new classroom and grade. We truly are BETTER TOGETHER!
Your partner in education,
Michael Allen
michaela@isb.ac.th
Panther Pups are back!
Research supports the value of animals in providing support and comfort to people of all ages (This New York Times article summarizes and links to a recent study). Therapy dogs, emotional support animals, and service animals play many roles in our homes and communities. We are excited to introduce you to the ISB Panther Pups program. Last spring, we shared this pilot program with our community, focusing the initiative in the HS, particularly during exams.
Our pilot program was very successful with students and adults finding the support of the dogs to be valuable in multiple situations. This year, we will be continuing with this initiative and expanding it into the Middle School and Elementary School.
A team of administrators in collaboration with Stefan Schmidt and Fabia Feuerabendt, Certified Dog Trainer and Behaviorist have worked to develop the parameters and guidelines for this program to ensure the health and safety of all students and adults as well as the wellbeing of the dogs. Currently we have four trained dogs as part of our Panther Pups pack: Charlie and Xena are both golden retrievers, Poe Poe is a Westie, and Simba is a lab-cattle dog cross. When on campus, Simba (pictured) is in the elementary school. This is not a bring your pet to school program, but another element of our dedication to health and wellbeing. All dogs participating have been evaluated by a professional trainer and canine evaluator for temperament and training and are under the supervision and control of their handlers at all times. The dogs and their handlers are also expected to maintain and extend their levels of training.
Starting August 21, the dogs will be on campus regularly to provide comfort and support to students as well as enhance the overall positive climate of ISB. The benefits of having trained dogs at school are many and include:
Benefits:
- Providing a calming effect on students and reducing stress
- Improving self-esteem, relieving anxiety and lifting mood
- Increasing openness and socialization with others
- Teaching compassion and respect for other living things
- Reducing blood pressure and stimulating the senses
What do our students say about the benefits of dogs in school?
They make my day better!!–Grade 11 Student
Whenever I see them my mood is immediately lifted, even when I am having a very bad day. seeing them always makes me happy and I’m sure many other people feel the same way–Grade 10 Student
It positively lifts my mood and relieves my anxiety for a bit. –Grade 12 Student
Considerations:
- All of our Panther Pups are required to have and maintain a high standard of training and be professionally evaluated for temperment.
- All of our Panther Pups will be on a leash and wear a collar when on school grounds; they will not be free to roam.
- All of our Panther Pups’ vaccines are up to date and they are bathed/groomed regularly.
- All of our Panther Pups will have access to food and water and will be taken outside for bathroom breaks throughout the day.
- All of our Panther Pups will have a designated area when not in classrooms or engaging with students.
Locations:
- Charlie’s designated area will be in the counseling offices, Xena in the Admissions area, Poe in the Risk Management area, and Simba in the Elementary offices.
- All of the dogs will be available to join in classrooms as requested by teachers.
- Students will be given opportunities to schedule time with the dogs through their counseling offices or division coordinator(s).
- The dogs may also be in the hallways interacting with students.
If you do NOT want your child to interact with the dogs due to allergies or for any other reason, please sign and return this FORM.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:
- Jackie Valenzuela, HS Counselor (jackiev@isb.ac.th)
- Louise Saddington, MS teacher (louises@isb.ac.th,
- Jia Jiin Chu, MS teacher (jiac@isb.ac.th)
- Farah Thaxton, Elementary Vice Principal (faraht@isb.ac.th)
- Mark Hevland, Dir. of Risk Management (markh@isb.ac.th)
- Debi Caskey, Deputy Head of School for Learning (debic@isb.ac.th).
Kind regards,
Debi Caskey
Deputy Head of School for Learning
ES Parent Book Club Sign Up Opportunity
The ES counseling team is excited to let you know about our next Elementary School Parent Book Club!
The book club, which we have run for several years both here and in other international schools, is at its’ essence a means of informally discussing different topics that are both timely and relevant in our community, about education and parenting.
The book we will be reading is: Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine, by Michele Borba. It’s an interesting read that will certainly lead to discussion!
The ES Book Club will be running from 7:45-9:00am (in person) on the following dates:
- September 7
- September 21
- September 28
We ask that parents be able to commit to two out of the three meetings.
Please keep in mind that Book Club numbers are limited – as such, we will be randomly selecting participants – if interest is high, those not able to attend this first round will be prioritized when the book club is offered again this school year.
This book is available for purchase as an audible book, a digital book, or a paperback – more information can be found on Amazon or other websites you might use instead.
Does this sound interesting?
Please send an email to: kathrynm@isb.ac.th by Monday, August 28th.
We will then provide more details about reading assignments, location, etc. once your participation is confirmed.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
Yours in partnership,
Kathy Manu & Doug Williamson (your K-Grade 5 Counselors)
Upcoming Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment
In the coming weeks, learners in grades 2-8 will be taking the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test. This allows us to measure growth, address areas of concern, and build on strength areas.
MAP is a standardized test and is only one part of ISB’s overall assessment plan. MAP testing is given twice a year, usually in the fall and in the spring. You will receive specific dates from your division leadership.
MAP provides a standardized measure of student growth in Reading and Mathematics based on our curricular standards. MAP testing is done on a computer and each test adapts to the student’s previous answers, so if they answer a question correctly, the test gets progressively more challenging. If a student answers a question incorrectly, the test adapts to become easier.
A true picture of a child’s academic progress must include a variety of opportunities to demonstrate learning such as ongoing formative assessments given regularly in class; evidence of understanding such as writing samples, projects, and presentations; and teacher designed assessments. Teachers collect a range of learning data to help them determine where students are in their learning and where they are ready to go next. MAP is a single piece of your child’s learning picture.
MAP measures your child’s achievement level compared to other students who have taken this test. However, the student sample is drawn from US public and private schools, not international schools. The test does not cover all academic skills, nor does it cover such areas as physical, artistic, or interpersonal skills.
As with any standardized assessment, students can become anxious about how they will perform. You can support your child by ensuring that s/he gets a good night’s sleep, has a healthy breakfast, and comes to school knowing that this is important, and they can do it!
If you have any questions, you can look at the NWEA website or contact me (debic@isb.ac.th).
Results will be shared with parents later this semester; watch for information from division principals.
ES Attendance
It is expected that all students will be present and on time each day. After 7:40am, late comers must get a tardy slip from the Elementary Office. IF YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL THE ES OFFICE (esattendance@isb.ac.th) AND YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER BY 8:00 AM.
Regular attendance is critical for optimal learning to take place, the ES office will closely monitor attendance. We are here to partner with you and your family to support student attendance. When students are excessively absent from school, parents will be asked to address the issue via a letter from ES Administration.
Please Refer to the ES Handbook for the complete Attendance Policy here.
Replacement ID Cards
We have created a new procedure for ordering a replacement card for students who lose them. Students/Parents will now come to the divisional office and the secretaries will order them from security. The cards will be printed and returned to the divisional office to be distributed. The campus family account will be charged 200 baht.
ES Cafeteria Menu
Please find the ES Cafeteria menu for next week linked here, and here is the menu for Allergen Free.
NEW!!! ISB’s COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE 9am-2pm Sat. Aug. 19th
Join us this Saturday from 9am-2pm for ISB’s first ever Community Marketplace!!! Enjoy food, arts and crafts by local vendors with participant proceeds going to support iCare. Questions? Come see us on the 19th, or contact our team at communitymarketplace@isb.ac.th.
NEW PANTHER DANCE CLASSES!
By popular demand, we are able to provide a few more spots available.
Hip Hop Gr. 2-3 – Wednesday 14:40 – 15:40
Jazz MS/HS – Wednesday 17:15 – 18:15
Interested? Please contact Yoona: pantherdance@isb.ac.th
Panther Activities, Panther Athletics and U11 Athletics Begin Next Week!
A friendly reminder that Season 1 begins next week. Please make sure to double check your child’s schedule over the weekend.
Please check out our ES After School Athletics Campus Guide to help with where your activities are located.
U11 Athletics (Soccer and Cross Country) Meeting Locations for Tuesday, August 22nd (2:40-3:40pm)
U11 Boys Soccer– meet on the bleachers on Field A– please bring cleats, water bottle, and a hat
U11 Girls Soccer- meet on the bleachers on Field B– please bring cleats, water bottle, and a hat
U11 Cross Country- meet on the steps right past the ES cafeteria, near Field E– please bring water and a hat
*We encourage you to send a healthy snack for your child to eat as they make their way to practice.
If your child does not know where to go, please tell them to go to the ES cafeteria and we will help them find their way.
Cub Scouts Information Meeting – 23 August at 5pm
Active outdoor fun, hands-on learning about our natural world, collaboration and respectful play with peers, healthy living through exercise and good nutrition, skill development and life lessons in a safe and welcoming environment – these are a few of the goals that guide our activities in Panther Cub Scouts.
Please join Jamie Hawk, Cubmaster, for an informational meeting about Cub Scouts on
Wednesday, 23 August, at 5pm in MPB1. We’ll discuss the program, expectations for scouts and parents, fees, etc. Kids are welcome, though they are not required to attend this meeting.
Cub Scouts (for kids KG-G5) generally meets 2-3 times per month for Den Meetings (scouts of the same grade) and once per month for Pack Meetings (scouts of all grades KG-G5). Days and times will be set based on the schedules of registered scouts.
Questions? Please contact Jamie at panthercubscouts@isb.ac.th – thank you!