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Posted on August 18, 2023 by Phremjit ZANNIER PORZELLA

Save the Date – MS Open House

On Thursday, September 7th, we invite parents of Middle School students to join us at 6:00 PM for the Middle School Open House event.

Middle School Open House is an evening for parents to visit the MS and meet each of their child’s teachers. We follow an abbreviated schedule with 10 minute “classes” so that parents can meet all the teachers and Advisor in that one evening.

This year, with the renovation of our main theater, we do not have a good venue to host all parents on the evening. As such, MS administration will share some important information ahead of time for parents in the form of a video. 

On the night there will be an early session for parents of Season 1 MS athletes hosted by Kelley McKenna, before we begin our class schedule for all parents.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks. For now, please save the date.

 

Panther Pups Program 

Dear Parents,

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.  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:  

 

Kind regards,

Debi Caskey

Deputy Head of School for Learning

 

MAP Testing 

Dear Parents,

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.

Your partner in learning,

Debi Caskey

Deputy Head of School for Learning

 

Temporary Guardianship 

ISB requires all students to be in full-time residence with at least one of their parents or legal guardian while attending ISB. 

ISB understands that parents may need to leave town on a short term basis for a variety of reasons. In these situations parents must appoint a temporary guardian to supervise their child. Please note that household help (i.e. mae bahn or driver) and school-aged siblings are not considered suitable guardians.  

Parents need to inform the divisional office if they will be leaving their child with a temporary guardian.  If you are going to be away from home, please complete the form in your Operoo account through the Form Library or via these links:

Temporary Guardianship Form

 

Middle School unveils its House System 

In this past week, we have been very excited to kick off our House System in Middle School. We built up some excitement on the first day of school and then students found out which house their Advisory was part of at last Friday’s assembly.

It was VERY exciting!

The 4 MS Houses:


Today, we ended the week with a House Spirit Day in which students scored house points for dressing in their House colors and we hosted a “for fun” event to help the students in each of the four houses get to know each other. Grade 6, 7, and 8 mixed (one Advisory group each) in rooms to collaborate on some fun word puzzle games and learn each others’ names. Our hope is that students from all grades start to see each other in the halls and know a bit more about each other, thus building our wider community.

 

It’s been a great kick-off, with a wonderful show of fun spirit from the students and teachers alike. We look forward to more fun House events to come throughout the year.

 

Google Classroom Guardian Summaries 

Google classroom guardian summaries are emails automatically sent to guardians/parents that summarize headers and instructions of their children’s Google classroom activity. Parents can choose to see these summaries once a day, once a week, or unsubscribe and not see them at all. The summaries are “view only” and parents cannot go into the actual classroom to view/edit files, docs, or submissions. The Google Classroom is an extension of the classroom and predominantly for student and teacher interaction.

Guardian summaries provide information about what is posted in Google Classrooms in order to inform conversations with your child(ren) about what is happening at school.

We encourage parents to have conversations with their children and ask their children to show them what’s in their Google Classroom, how they know what their assignments are, and what they are learning in class. These are important lessons for self-management and teachers and parents can support students by encouraging the growth of these skills.

Soon, parents will receive an email from Google to accept and set up these weekly or daily summary emails. Please note that in these first weeks, teachers are delaying the use of Google Classroom to focus on in person work, connections, and getting to know each other in the class.

If a week goes by and you still have not received an email from Google to accept the Guardian Summaries, please fill out this form.

To start with the summaries might only show a few classes. You will not have to subscribe again later to see more. In a short time the guardian summary emails will have a more full picture of all the classes, as teachers start their use of Google Classroom.

Watch this video on the process for accepting the invitation and setting up the Guardian Summaries for each of your children in the MS.

 

MS Clubs & Activities Update 

A big part of the MS program are our clubs and activities offerings. In the next weeks we will be soliciting ideas from students and teachers for clubs and activities based on their interests. New suggestions, along with our ongoing activities will then be shared at our start of the year Club Fair on September 5th. 

Finding students with like-interests can be a great way for MS-aged students to make friends, find new connections, and socialize around their passions. We also find that students discover new interests during their MS years as they try new things. 

We encourage students to consider their club and activity choices with both Balance and Courage in mind. 

Balance – to ensure they don’t overcommit themselves and can be contributing members of their club or activity.

Courage – to try new things and/or discover new interests.

Please have your child on the look out in the Good Morning Middle School for an announcement to suggest club ideas. We look forward to getting our program started for the year.

 

MS Athletics Update 

U12 & U14 Season 1 Tryouts

U12 & U14 Season 1 sports begin on Tuesday, August 22nd.  If you child doesn’t know where to go, please remind them to go to  the breezeway (near the 25m pool and we will help them). 

U14 Tennis– meet at the tennis courts 1-7. Please bring a racket, court shoes and a water bottle

U14 Boys Basketball- meet in Rajendra. Please bring sport shoes and a water bottle

U14 Girls Basketball- meet in the HS Auxi. Please bring sport shoes and a water bottle

U12 Boys Basketball- meet in the ES Gym.  Please bring sport shoes and a water bottle

U12 Girls Basketball- meet in the SC Gym.  Please bring sport shoes and a water bottle

U12 & U14 Cross Country- meet in the breezeway. Please bring running shoes and a water bottle. 

 

Activity Late  Bus @ 5:10pm– Please note that this year the late bus for MS & HS will leave at 5:10pm. There will be no 4:40pm bus as there were not enough riders. Please remind your child that they can wait in the cafeteria or in the library if they need a space to stay until the bus leaves. 

 

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.   

 

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. 

Interested? Want to learn more? Please fill out the form HERE.   

Questions? Contact Khun Nass at msdancecoach@isb.ac.th  

 

MS Panther Coding Starts August 22nd & 23rd 

Tuesdays 4-5pm or Wednesdays 3-4pm

Ever curious about how to write computer code? In addition to the MS FLL Robotics Teams started last year, ISB now offers two computer programming classes after school on Tuesdays 4-5pm and Wednesdays 3-4pm. Session 1 starts next week but we only have a few spots available each of the two days. Interested? Contact our Panther Art & Design Coordinator, Ms. Ziskinder at pantherarts@isb.ac.th to learn more.

 

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

 

Repeat Announcement: How Parents sign up for the daily Good Morning Middle School bulletin 

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. 

 

 

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