BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Message from the School:

Dear TUSKERS families,

We hope you enjoyed celebrating the Loy Krathong Festival with us as much as we did. It was a truly special evening filled with tradition and cultural significance, providing our TUSKERS with an opportunity to learn and appreciate Thai culture. Thank you everyone who contributed to making it such a memorable event. Stay tuned for many more stunning photos, which will be shared with you on our LINE Official soonest.

Next week, we are delighted to invite all families to the Term 1 Award Ceremony. This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students. We look forward to sharing this proud moment with you. Kindly help remind your child that all students are requested to wear their BASIS polo shirt for the ceremony. Please find the schedule for each grade below:

During next week, from Monday to Friday, November 18^th –22^nd, it’s our ECA Parent Observation Week for Semester 1. This is a great opportunity to observe your child's classroom environment and the learning experiences they are part of. For more information, please visit the ECA Corner in this newsletter.

Lastly, we’d like to remind parents of students in Grades 3 and above to check your email for the 2024 Fall Parents Survey. This survey is an opportunity for you to share your honest feedback about your experience with BASIS International School Bangkok. Please take a few moments to complete it by Wednesday, November 20^th, 2024. Your insights are incredibly important to us and help us continue to grow and improve as a community.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement.

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Save the date for School Events and Academic Calendar:

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Precautions and Vaccination Information

Dear families,

There is currently a spread of Whooping Cough (Pertussis) circulating, and Thailand Department of Disease Control (DDC) urges parents to monitor for symptoms and consult a physician if necessary. It's also important that our families stay in touch with the school if students or any family members are at risk or affected by Pertussis. We are asking for your cooperation to keep our community safe.

Furthermore, while students typically receive vaccines at young age, the guideline by DDC recommends booster vaccine for children ages between 11-18, as antibody levels tend to decrease over time. While the vaccine cannot prevent all cases, it significantly reduces the severity of the disease. Families interested in vaccination, particularly those who have never received the Pertussis vaccine, should contact their pediatrician for specific advice.

For your information, Nakornthon Hospital has the Pertussis vaccine available for 1,000 THB per dose (excluding doctor & hospital fees). This is valid until December 31st, 2024 and only for those whom it has been more than 5 years since the last dose. Appointment can be made by calling the Children’s Health Center at 0-2450-9901 or via Line @nakornthon.

Please monitor your child(ren) and let us know of any updates or specific risks observed. The school is committed work with the local government health officer to determine the safety boundary and implement necessary protocols to help protect our community. Your monitoring of family members and timely report is crucial for this community's objective. Thank you for your continued cooperation in reporting necessary health updates to the school.

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Early Years Newsletter:

Celebrating Community and Growth in Early Years

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the beautiful festival of Loy Krathong. The students were excited to share with us the honoring of nature and community.

Many of our classes are learning about community helpers. Students are discovering the roles of people who contribute to our school environment, from chefs in the canteen to gardeners, security staff, and medical professionals. These visits help students understand teamwork and respect for everyone’s contributions to a healthy, happy school community.

Students in our Early Years program will benefit from the recent professional development attended by four of our teachers, focusing on two key areas: supporting students' transition from mark-making to writing and embracing diverse developmental and behavioral needs. These insights are shared with all Early Years teachers and will enrich your children’s learning experience underscoring the BASIS commitment to continuous growth and adaptation to meet each child’s needs.

Lastly, a friendly reminder to remove stickers from children’s lanyards. This is essential for safety and security, as adults in the school need to clearly see each child’s face, name, and ECA information.

Thank you,
Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

Primary, Middle & High School Newsletter

Today, during assembly, Dean Andrew shared valuable insights from the recent Parents Series session on "Screen Time," led by Dr. Kulnida Temchavala (Dr. Golf), our Psychiatrist Advisor. The session focused on promoting effective social media use and equipping students with essential strategies for online safety.

College Counseling Corner:

Greetings BISB Community,

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

This week, I will focus again on College Counseling at BASIS International School Bangkok. With Trimester 1 and high school student one-on-one meetings complete, I am ready to help Grade 8 students navigate through their future choices. The BASIS Curriculum was designed to prepare students for any life path they may choose. At BISB, we fortify high school students for college and careers through the six pillars of our educational model; English, fine art, history, math, science, and Thai language & culture. Our graduates will be competitive at top universities with a globe full of opportunities.

This month, I concluded my first round of one-on-one meetings with high school students. We discussed academic goals, career and personal interests, and summer plans. Each student and family received a message with an individualized list of summer programs to review. I will follow up with students next week and help them navigate their options. The summer is an excellent time to build an impressive portfolio for future university applications.

All Grade 10 students took the PSAT last month, and the scores are out! I am impressed with our inaugural class's results. This practice test will demonstrate to students their academic strengths and the skills they need to sharpen in preparation for the SAT. Next week we will review their score details in class and make a strategic plan for success on their first SAT exam in August.

Grade 8 families, I know that next school year may feel far away, but we will now begin to focus on preparing for the next stage of your child’s evolution: high school. Dr. W, Dean Andrew, and I will meet individually with Grade 8 families to discuss your child’s progress, successes, challenges, and help plan for next year. In Friday’s middle school assembly, I shared information on the high school program and look forward to meeting with them for one-on-ones in Trimester 2 as they begin course planning for next year.

Happy Loy Krathong,
Ms. Kate Irving
College Counselor

ECA Corner

Parent Observation Week Semester 1

Next week, from November 18^th to 22^nd, we cordially invite parents for the ECA Parent Observation Week for Semester 1. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to observe your child's classroom environment and the learning experiences they are engaged in.

During this week, parents are welcome to visit and observe classes, with entry time starting at 3:20 – 3:50 PM Early Years and 4:10 onward for Grade 1 and above.

However, we kindly ask that you do not disturb the class in any way. We want to ensure that the learning process continues smoothly for all students.

Please note that parents are allowed to observe only their own child(ren)'s classes.

Parents may observe in the following areas:

Gym
Canteen
MPR
Field

For other classroom, please note that observation is permitted only from outside the classroom.

Please contact our team at the Reception if you are interested.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Taekwondo

This semester, we will arrange the belt promotion test for both Early Years and Above. You can register for the belt promotion test via this link by Wednesday, November, 27^th, 2024:

Click here for registration

The test will be held on Tuesday, December 3^rd ,2024 following a normal ECA schedule. The belt promotion test will be conducted by Coach Ryan from International Taekwondo Academy along with external Taekwondo Master Examiners.

Library Corner:

Hello from BISB Library!

First off, I want to start by saying thank you to all of the amazing students, and the supportive parents, that turned out for the So You Think You Know Books book trivia competition. A huge congratulations to our 1^st Place Winner Nina in 5Ni, our 2^nd Place Winner Megan in 6Cu, and Bua in 5Co! These 3 students will serve as our team captains for the Kids Lit Quiz competition in March. Also, a big congratulations to our co-captains and second highest scoring competitors: Alex in 6Fe, Mona in 4Ge, and Tina in 5Ni! And finally, congratulations to our other competitors and this year’s 2025 Kids Lit Quiz team members, Anya in 5Co, Narvy in 4Si, Tham in 4Ge, Bond in 5Co, Emma in 5Co, and Gutjang in 5Ni! I can’t wait to read and prep with this amazing team. Congratulations again and great job!

Lastly, I would like to invite students and parents to this month’s Dinovember story time: Dino Discovery! This storytime and activity with focus on all things dinosaur, paleontology, and fossils. It is open to students of all ages from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Library/Connections space on Wednesday, November 27^th. Please note any students in Grade 3 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. I look forward to exploring the world of dinosaurs with you, see you then!

Happy reading,

Ms. Erika
Librarian

TUSKERS of The Week

Congratulations to Matt from Class 8Ti on his remarkable achievement in the International KH Piano Competition!

Matt’s dedication, hard work, and passion for music have truly paid off, earning him well-deserved recognition on this international stage. We are incredibly proud of you, Matt!

Thailand International Music Competition (TIMC) 2025

We are excited to announce an incredible opportunity for our young musicians to showcase their talent on stage! The Thailand International Music Competition (TIMC) 2025 for Brass and Woodwind is just around the corner. This competition is a unique platform to develop musical skills, connect with fellow musicians, and gain invaluable performance experience.

We encourage all interested students to take this opportunity and register early to secure your spot! GO TUSKERS!

BASIS Winter Camp 2024 is Now Open!

Give your child an action-packed holiday filled with creativity, fun, and new skills! From exploring arts & crafts to mastering gymnastics, swimming, archery, dance, Taekwondo and even cooking and many more, there’s something to ignite every child’s passion!

Let’s help them grow, make new friends, and build confidence this winter!

Camp Dates: 23-27 December 2024 & 6-10 January 2025

Age Groups:

CUKI TOTS (3-5 years old)
CUKI (6-12 years old)

Don’t miss out! Call or LINE to register today:

CUKI TOTS (Coach Joey): 081-143-6792 or LINE @cukitots

CUKI (Mineyo): 080-240-3330 or LINE: cukimineyo

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 Dr. Golf and a distinguished guest host for our final session.

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!

Gentle Reminder – Term 2 Tuition Payment

Dear Tuskers Families,

We would like to remind you that Term 2 tuition invoices for the 2024-2025 school year had been sent to your email on Friday, October 25th, 2024. Payments are due by Friday, November 29th, 2024.

For questions on payments, credit card fees, or installment options, please contact our Finance Office at bkk.billing@basis.ac.th or 02-415-0099.

Best regards,
The Finance Office

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!