BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Message from the School:

Dear TUSKERS families,

What a fantastic week we had before heading to our October Break!

This week, we successfully completed our first fire drill of the academic year. The evacuation went smoothly, demonstrating that our procedures and facilities are well-prepared for any emergency. We’re proud of our students for their cooperation during the drill.

Following that, Wednesday after school brought the exciting Parents-Teachers football match! It was truly heartwarming to witness the unity of our BASIS community. A big thank you to all the families who participated and cheered us on. We look forward to hosting more events like this and hope to see even more of you at our next match!

In addition, our Kindergarten hosted an incredible Kinder Expo, inviting parents to celebrate their performances and the hard work they’ve accomplished since the start of the term. It was a wonderful opportunity for parents to see firsthand the growth and creativity of our young learners. Please enjoy more photos below this newsletter.

After the October break, one of the most exciting events of the year is approaching! Mark your calendars for our Halloween Celebration!🎃Get ready to dress up in your spookiest costumes and join us for the school's Halloween parade. More details can be found in the section below.

We hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved October break! Spend quality time with your love ones, stay safe, and we can’t wait to welcome you back on campus on Thursday, October 24th!

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Term 2 Tuition Invoices & Clarification in Re-Enrollment Terms

Dear Tuskers Families,

The 2024-2025 Term 2 Tuition invoices will be sent home via email on Friday, October 25^th, 2024. Payment is due on Friday, 29th November 2024.

Payments can be made via wire transfer or credit card. Please note, there is a surcharge for credit card payments. If you have any questions about school payments or would like to make a payment, please contact the school finance department. For information regarding credit card fees and installment conditions, please contact our Finance office at bkk.billing@basis.ac.th or 02-415-0099. However, if you need more information regarding points and redemption, please contact your credit card provider(s).

Please note conditions on the Tuition & Fee Information Appendix. Also, please find the clarification on the Policy for “Deposit Refund” and “Re-Enrollment” below.

Clarifications of Re-Enrollment Policy and Deposit Refund Policy.pdf

We wish our families the very best! Stay healthy and Go Tuskers!

The Finance Office

BASIS Halloween Celebration🎃: Thursday, October 31st, 2024

We’re so excited to invite all our BASIS students to join in the fun by dressing up in their favorite Halloween costumes! Parents, you’re warmly welcome to come on campus and enjoy the Halloween parade. And if you’d like to join in the spirit, feel free to dress up and march alongside your little ones in the big parade!

Special Event This Year! - Our Parent Association will be hosting an exciting Bravery Challenge after school in the Blackbox. Dare to explore our Haunted House and enjoy some Trick or Treat fun! All parents are encouraged to join!

It’s going to be a spooktacular day filled with fun and excitement!

👻 Check out the full schedule of events below. We can't wait to celebrate with you! 🎃

American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) and Junior Maths Mastery Challenge (JMMC) - Open for Registration

It is with great pleasure to share with you that upcoming American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO) and the Junior Maths Mastery Challenge 2024 (JMMC 2024) will be conducted at BASIS International School Bangkok. Students who are interested in these mathematic competitions, the registration is now open until Wednesday, October 30th 2024.

American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO)

AMO is available for students in Grade 2 and above.
Registration Deadline with BISB: Wednesday 30th October at 16:00 p.m. through Clipboard Application. (The BISB registration is closed before the exam licensor's date due to a sufficient period of time for student preparation.)
Competition Date: Sunday, November 10th, 2024, at 09.00 – 10.30 am
Registration Fee is THB 900
You will also find additional details and sample questions in the information pack here: https://bit.ly/3ztaDpQ

Junior Maths Mastery Challenge (JMMC)

JMMC is available for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6
Registration Deadline with BISB: Wednesday October 30th, 2024 at 16:00 p.m. through Clipboard Application. (The BISB registration is closed before the exam licensor's date due to a sufficient period of time for student preparation.)
Competition Date: Sunday, November 24th, 2024, at 09.00 – 11.00 am
Registration Fee is THB 450
For more information about the competition, including sample papers, please visit the official website: https://www.phiconnections.org/jmmc

Registration Process for Both Competitions:

Please ensure that your child is registered via Clipboard Application.
Apply through Clipboard Application and student must register through their grade level.
After registering your child through Clipboard, please send your payment slip to us at ECA@basis.ac.th

We believe that these international competitions will be a valuable and enriching experience for our students. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at ECA@basis.ac.th or LINE Official.

Message from Director of Academic Programs:

Dear Parents,

Greetings and hope we are all winding down before a well-deserved break! The students have been working very hard this school year and as I often say, balance is the key to sustained excellence.

I wanted to send through a few quick reminders of things upcoming:

The 10^th graders will take the PSAT on October 29th. This will be an important milestone in their journey toward university! I'll be working with Ms. Kate on analyzing the data from the exam and we'll have meetings to discuss this after we finish that process. Exciting!
Grade 1-4 parents, you will have new Social-Emotional Reports this year that include more details about the development of life-skills essential to academic success in the future. I will be sending more details about these reports in the coming newsletters. These reports combined with report cards will give you a more well-rounded view of your child's performance in school and give our teachers more information about how to best cater to individual needs.
We will be surveying you on elective courses for next Academic Year after the October break! We will start with a wider selection for you to review with your child, and then work to hire and train our teachers to deliver a great academic experience next year!

As always, I welcome your emails and am happy to meet you anytime to discuss academics.

Wishing you and your family a great October break,

Best,
Mr. Ian
Director of Academic Programs

Early Years Newsletter:

Dear Families,

Halloween is fast approaching so I want to review some guidelines for participation.

Costumes are encouraged, not required
No weapons allowed
Masks are ok, but will not be worn on the stairs or during lessons
Please do not send treats to school. There will be an afterschool Haunted Blackbox that you may attend with your children where there will be treats.
Before, during and after the parade the students will remain with their teachers and the class.

Thank you! Have a wonderful October Break and we look forward to celebrating Halloween on October 31.

Thank you,
Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

Primary, Middle & High School Newsletter

Message from Dean of Primary School

Dear Families,

Over the past few weeks, we have been noticing how often the Primary children interact with one another by using their hands. They enjoy walking together with linked arms, they put their arms around one another’s shoulders, and even enjoy showing their care for one another by holding hands or giving each other a hug. These are all lovely gestures of friendship. There are times, however, when these gestures can cause misunderstandings. If a hug or high-five is too hard, one of the students may feel hurt. If holding hands or linking arms results in one of the children feeling pulled around, this also causes frustration. Over the past two weeks I have been teaching the children lessons about how to use their hands safely and respectfully. The students are learning how to pay closer attention to one another’s body language and facial expressions so that they are aware of how their friends may be feeling. They have also practiced telling one another, “Stop! I don’t like that” if one of their friends is causing them to feel frustrated.

We all want the children to feel safe and joyful at school. I hope that reinforcing the important lesson of using ‘safe hands’ will help all the students continue to enjoy many friendships.

I wish you a restful and memorable break with your family!

Best wishes,
Dean Jenny

Message from Dean of Middle and High School

In Middle school, the most peaceful time of the week is Monday during AE, when all our students Grade 6-8 Drop Everything And Read (DEAR). It’s a pleasure to see them all quietly enjoying a book. The deal is - at least 20 minutes of quality silent reading – then after that they can resume their normal AE activities (usually getting a head start on their assignments for the week 😊). Many choose to continue reading because they get so much enjoyment out of it.

Best wishes and have a wonderful October break.

Dean Andrew
Dean of Middle and High School

College Counseling Corner:

Greetings BISB Community,

Welcome to the College Corner, a snapshot of the College Counseling process at BASIS International School Bangkok.

There is much happening in the world of college counseling. Last Friday, Dr. Nat and I toured Mahidol University International College, Siriraj Hospital, and Thammasat University. We had a wonderful time visiting the campuses, talking with admissions, observing student life, and learning the variety of educational options in the region. Dr. Nat was the ideal tour guide as she led me around, taught me the history of each institution, and gave me an in-depth view of Thai University life. For those students interested in having Thai University as an option after graduation, our program fully prepares you for successful preparation and admittance into the program of your choice. Whether you want to examine the political life at Thammasat while bopping around the city or explore one of the 17 international majors at Mahidol’s modern and serene campus, you have options. After returning from break Dr. Nat and I will explore Chulalongkorn University.

On Monday, SCAD (Savannah College for Art and Design) visited Ms. Dash’s Elective Art class. Students in Grades 7-10 attended to learn more about Creative Careers in STEM. Mr. Dilip Padath, Associate Director of Admission SCAD, shared information on the university and how to prepare for newand upcoming majors that are creative, lucrative, and in-demand: Master of Business Innovation, Design Management, User Experience Design, Immersive Reality, Urban Design, Design for Sustainability, etc. Even if students are not interested in studying art, they learned about a variety of careers that their interest in engineering, math, computer science, technology, and other STEM fields can bring them.

Have a lovely and restorative break,

Thank you,
Ms. Kate Irving
College Counselor

Library Corner:

Hello from BISB Library!

This week we kicked off the 2024 Global Read Aloud with Grades K – 3. For week 1, we read Minh Le’s book, Let Me Finish! Illustrated by Isabel Roxas. Let Me Finish! is a lighthearted read about a boy who just wants to read his book in peace, without anyone spoiling the ending of the story. Students laughed nonstop as we read this story, and I can’t wait to continue reading Minh Le’s books after the October holiday. If you would like to follow along with our Global Read Aloud stories, please watch our first book, Let Me Finish! on YouTube.

Tis the season for all things spooky! Halloween is almost here and after our holiday break, I will have a few spooktacular events and activities for our community.

I would like to invite students and parents to attend BISB Library’s special event, The Vampire’s Lair: An Escape Room. This spooky activity will be after school on Wednesday, October 30^th from 3:15 – 4:45. This year, students do not have to register beforehand, however it will be on a first come, first serve basis. The escape room will be open to 8 students at a time, and participants will have just 8 minutes to solve the clues and escape before the sunsets, and the vampire awakens! The last entry time for the escape room is 4:45 p.m.

While students are waiting to participate in the escape room, we will have an array of activities in Connections to keep the fun going. Activities will include spooky stories, slime making, games with prizes, and more. I hope to see you there!

Lastly, on the day of Halloween, Thursday, October 31^st, students are invited to visit the library during lunch/recess for BISB Library’s annual Spooky Storytime.

For Grades 4 and 5, this is sure to be spooky, so please encourage your students to attend only if they like to be scared! For Grades 1/2/3, we will read a less spooky story which is Oliver Jeffers book, There’s a Ghost in This House, followed by a short film connected to the story.

Have a wonderful holiday and happy reading,

Ms. Erika
Librarian

P.E. Corner

TUSKERS Sports Academy: Soaring to New Heights!

Dear Parents and Students,

As we approach the October break, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the tremendous progress our teams have made in football, basketball, swimming, and badminton. Our dedicated coaches have been working tirelessly, applying new strategies to sharpen players’ skills and enhance teamwork.

In recent friendly matches and football tournaments, we experienced a mix of victories and challenging defeats. However, what truly stood out was the commendation we received from other schools, recognizing how well our students have been executing structured strategic plans. Their ability to break through defensive and offensive lines is a testament to their growth in both skill and discipline.

In swimming, particularly during the Puppy Dash event, we witnessed remarkable achievements. Several students improved their stroke times by an impressive 10 seconds, showcasing their hard work, focus, and dedication. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and progress.

Important Dates:

Saturday, 12 October 2024 – 3v3 Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament
October 13 to October 23, 2024 – NO SPORTS ACADEMY PRACTICE
Tuesday, 29 October 2024 – U9 Mixed Basketball vs. Anglo 31 @ BASIS
Tuesday, 29 October 2024 – U11 Football Boys Friendly Game @ ISB

REMINDER: Coaches kindly request all players to arrive on time in the mornings, ensuring no valuable training minutes are missed.

As we head into the October break, I encourage all students to stay active and continue working on their fitness. With numerous competitions around the corner, it’s crucial to maintain conditioning.

To make staying active more fun, I recommend trying out the Active Arcade app (available on iOS and Android). It offers a range of engaging fitness activities that the entire family can enjoy together.

Stay active, have fun, and enjoy your break!

Coach Namita
Director of Sports & Auxiliary Programs

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!

Weekly Menu Updates:

Community Health Updates

This week our records cut-off time for is Friday at 3:00 P.M. There are two cases this week.

ECA Timetable

Rock Band - Shape of You

Welcome to the Elective Band 2024! It's incredible to witness the journey of our students. Some started with no musical experience, while others had a basic foundation. Yet, in such a short amount of time, they have grown into confident musicians, demonstrating impressive skills, teamwork, and readiness to perform. Their progress has been nothing short of remarkable.

We firmly believe that this is only the beginning, and that our Elective Band has so much potential to achieve even greater things. We couldn't have come this far without the unwavering support of our parents. Thank you for being such an essential part of this amazing journey!