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BISB Weekly Update - October 4th, 2024

Message from the School:

Dear TUSKERS families,

Thank you to all the parents who joined us for this week's Coffee Morning and Parent Workshop. We hope you gained valuable insights from the sessions. For those who were unable to attend, the recordings are available below.

We have several exciting events coming up on campus next week. First, our Parents-Teachers Football Match on Wednesday, October 9th. We look forward to seeing our teachers and parents come together for this wonderful opportunity to strengthen our community spirit. Be sure to invite your family members to join and cheer everyone on!

Next, on Thursday, October 10th, we will host our Kinder Expo. Parents are invited to come and witness the fantastic work and progress of our Kindergarten students this semester. We encourage you to join us and celebrate their achievements!

In addition to these events, we will conduct our first Fire Drill of the academic year on Wednesday, October 9th. This drill will equip students with essential knowledge about safety procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.

Lastly, we understand the concern for student safety following recent news. We want to reassure all families that your child’s safety and well-being remain our top priority. We strictly follow our safety protocols and policies to ensure the safety of our entire community. For more details on safety procedures during school field trips, please refer to the section below.

Thank you for your continued support, and we wish you a wonderful weekend.

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Student Safety during School Field Trips

Dear Parents,

Please rest assured that the safety and well-being of your child is our top priority during all school days and school field trips.

Our School Field Trip Policy is designed to ensure the utmost safety throughout each trip. We take careful attention in planning, with particular focus on the safety of transportation. We always choose a trusted bus service that conducts routine maintenance and daily vehicle inspections, covering critical safety elements such as brake systems, seatbelts, emergency exits, and more. All drivers also receive regular emergency training, including fire safety, first aid, and defensive driving, so they are fully prepared to handle any situation.

Additionally, our teachers and staff are trained to maintain a high level of supervision throughout the trip, including headcounts, seat belt checks, and ensuring access to emergency equipment on board. Every trip includes a comprehensive risk management plan and first aid supplies to guarantee a safe and secure experience for all students.

To provide extra reassurance, a police car will lead the school buses for all trips for Early Years students. For trips outside of Bangkok involving primary students and above, a police car will escort the buses. This helps ensure safety and ensure that all school guidelines are followed during the journey.

For more details, kindly refer to the attached BASIS School Field Trip Policy, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

BASIS School Field Trip Policy

We hope this reassures you of our commitment to providing a safe and enriching environment for your child’s educational development.

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Save the date for School Events and Academic Calendar:

World Teachers Day

World Teachers Day, established by UNESCO, is observed annually on October 5th. This day is dedicated to the celebration and recognition of teachers as valuable members of society, both locally and globally. UNESCO aims to increase awareness and celebrate how teachers are transforming education, to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the path forward for the profession.

The 2024 World Teacher’s Day is celebrated under the international theme "Valuing teachers' voices: towards a new social contract for education." The theme highlights the importance of integrating teachers' perspectives into education policies and forging a supportive environment for their professional development.

BISB honors the contributions of our passionate teachers and professional educators make to foster a positive learning community. In addition to planning and delivering engaging and meaningful lessons, BISB teachers participate in school and community events, deliver professional development workshops to colleagues, hold collaborative meetings with departments, support student learning during AE, Student Hours and interventions, and contribute to school policies and reports.

Teachers are the core to a child’s everyday learning. The profession requires teachers to hold many roles and work collaboratively with the school community ensuring that the school's vision is met, to educate students to the highest international levels. Our teachers are diligent in their approaches as they offer a supportive and encouraging learning environment where students can excel and achieve at their highest potential. Every day our teachers facilitate the learning of academic knowledge and skills, model the TUSKERS values and guide students in social, emotional and physical well-being.

We would like to thank all of the BISB teachers for their dedication to the profession and the school. We thank you for your passion and hard work in providing learning opportunities for students. We thank you for the positive, lifelong opportunities that you create for students every day.

Message from Director of Academic Programs:

Dear Parents,

I hope this finds you well.

To our Grade 1-5 parents, thank you for your interest in learning more about your child’s progress as it relates to Edmentum and Fountas & Pinnell assessments as they are insightful tools used to inform literacy instruction here at BISB.

You can request a Parent Hour with your child's LET to be informed about how Edmentum and Fountas & Pinnell assessments are used to support your child's learning at school and at home. Through a one-to-one meeting with the Intervention Specialist and the LET, we can ensure the correct interpretation of student test results, as well as offer specific strategies to support the progress of your child's literacy proficiency and provide details of areas of strength and for growth. We hope that you do take this unique opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue with your child's LET.

Thank you to the high school and middle school parents who joined our AP Coffee Morning; it was very nice speaking in more depth with you about the students and their experiences at school. I hope that learning from the teachers and students about the transition of students from 8^th into 9^th Grade and 9^th into 10^th Grade gave us a lot of food for thought.

I wanted to remind about a couple of College Board items:

Our Grade 10 students will take the PSAT on Tuesday, October 29th. This is a practice test that will give useful information to help us forecast performance on the SAT, which is a part of university applications.
You can find more details about AP curricula and college entry in the College Counseling folder in SchoolZine. We will keep this folder up to date so you have access to relevant information.
AP exams happen just once a year in May, the detailed calendar per subject can be found here: AP Exam Schedule

Ahead of the PSAT, I wanted to send through a couple of useful tips to any students who would like to revise a bit before the exam. We cover these skills in our classes, but some review can help students feel less nervous.

Familiarize Yourself with the Test Format

The PSAT has specific sections: Math, Evidence-Based Reading, and Writing & Language. Get to know the types of questions in each section, the timing, and the scoring system. Doing this will help reduce test anxiety. Here is a quick YouTube video with information about the test format: PSAT

Focus on Vocabulary and Reading Skills

The reading and writing sections often test understanding of vocabulary in context and reading comprehension. Reading a variety of materials (fiction, non-fiction, news articles) and learning common SAT words will help boost performance. Practice identifying main ideas, authors' tones, and interpreting words in context.

Practice Math with Emphasis on Word Problems

The math section includes algebra, geometry, and some trigonometry, but word problems are key. Practice solving problems that require translating words into equations, working with percentages, ratios, and basic algebra, as well as mastering the use of the calculator strategically.

As always, please contact me if you have questions.

Best,
Mr. Ian
Director of Academic Programs

Early Years Newsletter:

Dear Families,

We are excited to introduce TUSKERS keychains as a way to recognize students who consistently demonstrate the expected TUSKERS behaviors since the start of the school year. Teachers will present these keychain badges in a special ceremony in the classroom, and I will announce the recipients’ names at the end of each month during our morning circle.

We understand that our students are young and still learning how to navigate school and manage their emotions. That is why we are focused on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors across all Early Years and subject classes. We look forward to partnering with you as we help our students become successful BASIS learners, ready to excel at the highest international standards.

Thank you,
Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

College Counseling Corner:

Greetings BISB Community,

Welcome to the College Corner, a snapshot of the College Counseling process at BASIS International School Bangkok. I am Kate Irving – your College Counselor.

I attended the ISAT (International Schools Association of Thailand) General Member Meeting last Friday. With 193-member schools, this network is well positioned to make changes and represent international educational models to Thai Universities. The keynote speaker, Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation spoke on the topic of AI in Teaching and Learning. With more and more tech opportunities coming to Thailand, it was a very informative and timely presentation.

We have a college visit on Monday that I am very excited about. The Associate Director of College Admissions at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will visit Ms. Dash’s Elective Art class at 3:00 PM on Monday. Students will learn more about the university and receive a presentation on Creative Careers in STEM-related Fields. All available middle and high school students interested in STEAM careers are encouraged to attend with teacher permission.

This is just the first of many colleges who will visit our campus over the years. These visits offer both an insight into colleges’ offerings as well as give students the chance to learn about and explore all the wonderful college and career options across the globe.

Thank you,
Ms. Kate Irving
College Counselor

Library Corner:

Hello from BISB Library!

Spooky season has arrived and with that comes new events and activities. This month, students can submit their own, unique two-sentence scary stories. These stories will be posted for students to read at the library entrance, and the top three scary stories will be featured in this year’s edition of The Lotus Pond. For more Halloween-themed events, including a special Escape Room activity, be sure to read next week’s newsletter!

This week our Kinder to Grade 3 classes are preparing for an exciting project. For the first time, BISB Library will participate in the Global Read Aloud! This wonderful project began in 2010 with the idea to connect schools all over the world to one story. The project has since grown and now involves students of all ages and reading levels.

For this year, Grades K – 3 will read six picture books with Ms. Erika, all written by Vietnamese-American author Minh Le, four of them illustrated by Thai-American illustrator Dan Santat. After we complete the readings, students will get to design original postcards to send to other schools in both India and the United States. We will also be receiving postcards from these schools and will display those in Connections for everyone to read. Lastly, our students will get to vote on which book they think is the best for the GRA Best Book Award 2024.

I am so excited for our school to participate in this event and look forward to sharing more with you all. You can see the books we will read over the next six weeks. These books will be available for checkout after the Global Read Aloud is finished.

Thank you and happy reading,

Ms. Erika
Librarian

ECA Corner

Dear Parents of TUSKERS,

I hope this message finds you well. We are thrilled to share an amazing opportunity for students to participate in the "IWICA CHESS TOURNAMENT OCT 2024"on Sunday, October 13th 2024.

This competition aims to bring together chess enthusiasts of all skill levels from various international schools in Thailand. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the opportunity, there will be opportunities for everyone to showcase their talents and enjoy the thrill of strategic maneuvering on the chessboard. We welcome any students who are interested in participating in this tournament.

Competition Details:

Date:
Sunday, October 13th from 09:00 a.m.- 01:00 p.m.

Venue:
IWICA CHESS SCHOOL, 375/429, BELLE Park Residence Building, Sathu Pradit Soi 19, Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120

Age group:
U8/U12/14

Participation Fee:
- THB 600 (For Early Bird, until October, 8th 2024)
- THB 700 (For late registrations)
(However, if the number of participants exceeds the capacity of the venue we will have to close the registration before the deadline.)

Prizes:
- Winner – Trophy
- 1st Runner Up – Trophy
- 2nd Runner Up – Trophy
- Best Female Player - Trophy
- Medals for all Participants.

Registration:
Please register your child using the link provided and make the payment directly to IWICA.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfU4cKTyYYAnwG7XyqJJVXtL9bT-PQUBAT5EYwUWBZrPAj_5A/viewform?usp=sf_link

* We accept Online Registrations only and Fees to be paid via Bank transfer only

Note:
* Limited seats available.
** After completing the registration and payment, you will receive a confirmation email within one week.

Notes for ECA Chess Students:

Great news for the students who are taking an ECA Chess and are interested in registering for this competition. We will offer additional training to ignite the tips, game plans and more practicing session with ECA Chess instructor for no charge. please send an email with the tournament confirmation to ECA@basis.ac.th ECA team will assist you during the training session.

We look forward to witnessing the brilliance of your play on the chessboard!

Best regards,
ECA Team

Well-being Corner:

Dear TUSKERS Families,

It is with immense excitement that we announce our upcoming "Parents Series," an engaging and comprehensive program designed to address a myriad of topics pertinent to parents throughout their journey. This event will be hosted in the Black Box, featuring Ms. Ked, Dr. Golf, and a distinguished guest host for our final session.

For those who had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Golf at last year’s event, we are delighted to share that this year, she will be collaborating with Ms. Ked, our new school counselor. Ms. Ked, a certified marriage and family therapist with a specialization in relational therapy, brings a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective, drawing from her dual citizenship in Canada and Thailand. Her dedication to raising awareness about mental health is truly inspiring.

Our series will commence in September with a compelling session on "Effective Communication with Teens," followed by a diverse range of topics each month. Please refer to the attached poster for a detailed schedule of this year’s topics.

We eagerly anticipate your participation and look forward to seeing you there!

Ms. Ked
School Counselor

Join our BASIS Community Sports Activities!

We invite all parents, students, family members, faculty, and staff to join our fun Community Sports Activities.

Here’s the schedule:

• Tuesday: Badminton (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
• Wednesday: Football (5:30 - 7:00 PM)
• Thursday: Badminton & Basketball (5:30 - 7:30 PM)

Just bring a water bottle, and if you’re playing badminton, don’t forget your racket! No reservations needed, but please sign in at reception if it’s your first time using the facilities this year.

Students aged 14 and up can join without parents but must also submit the form at reception.

We hope to see you there!

Community News

Community Event: Charity Mini-Marathon – December 8th, 2024

Get ready, TUSKERS families and friends! We are thrilled to invite you to join us for the charity mini-marathon at Nakornthon Hospital on December 8th, 2024.

This year, BASIS Bangkok is proud to partner once again with Nakornthon Hospital for the "Run with Love for the Thai Red Cross" event, marking its 14th annual run and our fourth year of support. All funds raised from the event will be donated to the Thai Red Cross, helping to provide essential medical care and social welfare for those in need.

Sign up now by scanning the QR code on the event poster! Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to make a difference and bond with the community.

We can’t wait to see you there!