BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Message from the School:

Dear TUSKERS Families,

Thank you to our Early Years parents for joining us at the Swim Gala on Monday. Our young swimmers truly impressed us with their developing skills, confidence, and enthusiasm in the water! The event was filled with teamwork and heartwarming moments that captured the spirit of friendship and family. A big thank you to our amazing PE Team for organizing such a wonderful event!

This week, our Middle School students began their preparations for the upcoming Pre-Comprehensive Exams, which will take place next week. Guided by our dedicated teachers, students have been reviewing and practicing to strengthen their knowledge and skills. Best of luck to all our students, keep striving for excellence!

Next week, we are thrilled celebrate Chinese New Year on Friday, January 31st, 2025! Parents are warmly invited to join us for the Lion and Dragon Dance Show, which will take place on the Sports Field. The day will also feature exciting in-school activities and a special Chinese lunch menu for students and teachers to enjoy. To honor this festive occasion, we encourage all students to wear traditional Chinese costumes or red clothing to embrace the spirit of the celebration.

Let’s come together as a community to celebrate this joyous tradition and welcome the Lunar New Year with good fortune and happiness!

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

The Journey to Eco-Concept for BASIS

The Eco-Concept for BASIS follows the core principles of the US LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) framework, without pursuing formal certification, and aims to deliver long-term environmental benefits. The initiative is built around several key components, as outlined below:

Building Envelope
Air Conditioning System
High Indoor Air Quality
Safe and Healthy Swimming Pool Environment
Lighting and Power Systems
Waste Management

These initiatives collectively reflect BASIS’s commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship, creating a healthier, more sustainable future for its community.

For more detailed information, please see the attached document below.

The Journey to Eco Concept for BASIS

BASIS Photo Week – Family Photo Shoot Reservation

Dear Parents,

We are excited to announce the upcoming photo shoot week at BASIS International School Bangkok, scheduled from February 3–7, 2025. Please find the details below to ensure your child is prepared for their photo session:

Class Photo Schedule:
Each class has a designated photo shoot time. Kindly check the schedule for your child’s class and ensure they are wearing their school polo shirt and are ready for their session.
Parent & Student/Sibling Photo Shoot Sessions (After School):
If you have booked a parent-student or sibling photo shoot session after school, we kindly ask you to arrive 15 minutes earlier at the Blackbox Theatre prepared and ready before your scheduled booking time. This will help ensure a smooth and timely process for all participants.
Booking Information:

You can make your booking for the parent-student or sibling photo session via the school reception or through our School Line Official account.
Time Slots are limited, so please secure your preferred time early.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation in making this event a success and look forward to capturing memorable moments for your family and our BASIS community.

Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Best regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Save the date for School Events and Academic Calendar:

Disclaimer: Kindly note that event dates and times are subject to change. We encourage you to check the latest newsletter closer to the event for the most accurate information.

Early Years Newsletter:

Dear Early Years Families,

I hope this message finds you well.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents who signed up their children for our recent Swim Gala. It was truly wonderful to see so many of you actively participating—even getting into the pool! Your enthusiasm and support made this event a joyous celebration of our swimming program and a fantastic opportunity to recognize the tremendous progress our swimmers have made. Learning to swim is a vital life skill and we are so proud to foster this ability in our students.

As we move into the heart of the academic year, we are immersed in assessing potential new BASIS students. We are honored to have a program that is highly sought after, with a waiting list for entrance. This reflects the strength of our curriculum and the vibrant, supportive environment we’ve built together.

Sincerely,
Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

Message from Director of Academic Programs

Dear BISB Parents,

I hope this finds you well. We have a few academic milestones approaching so I wanted to give some reminders here to keep us on track. I’ll send multiple reminders for some of these.

All Grades: Academic Calendar 2025-2026 is here! Have a look and get excited; let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

End of Term: Term 2 ends on Friday, February 28^th, so we are roughly one month away from the end of the trimester. Time to make our last push for academic excellence for this term!

G6-8: Pre-Comprehensive exams are here! This is a reminder that while these exams are held under high stakes testing conditions, they are primarily used as a diagnostic for our academic practices and do not affect university applications, High School GPA, or other things of this nature.

To prepare students for the real high-stakes tests that they will take in high school and the future. Practice makes perfect.
To assess and forecast academic performance in the future and identify areas where our teachers and we as a school can meet your children’s needs.
To celebrate the hard work the students have put in thus far and look forward to verifying these accomplishments with even better results on the Comprehensive exams later this year.

G5-10: Please take a moment to complete this Course Preference Survey for courses next year. This helps our office prepare the courses and teacher training required to ensure a joyful, rigorous environment that reflects the learning preferences of the students.

G5 Parents: We have some exciting things coming up for elective selections as your children enter Grade 6. Please stay tuned for more news!

We are all proud of what the students have accomplished and we look forward to the last month of learning for this term.

As always, my door is open if you’d ever like to speak.

Sincerely,
Mr. Ian
Director of Academic Programs

Primary, Middle & High School Newsletter

Message from Dean of Primary School

Dear Parents,

During the month of January our Tuskers focus in Primary is “Being a Thinker”. We’ve reviewed previous Tuskers assemblies and lessons and discussed how we’ve learned to think about being respectful and kind. Our focus over the next few weeks in Connections and AE lessons is learning about being a flexible thinker. As the students consider other ways to solve problems, be open to taking risks, and consider new ideas, they are being challenged to change their thinking. This is not only important for the students as they develop in their learning, but it is also an essential life skill!

At home, please consider encouraging your child to be more flexible as they consider new ideas, other people’s feelings, engaging in a new experience, or simply trying to solve a problem.

We are noticing that many children are opting out of their weekly swimming lessons. These lessons are an integral part of our PE curriculum, and we’d like to ask that all of the children participate as often as possible. If your child is unable to swim for a health reason, please send a doctor’s note to Reception and your child’s LET/Academic Coach. These teachers will communicate your child’s excuse to the swim coaches. Without a note from your child’s doctor, we will expect that all the children will participate with their class in the swimming lesson. If your child misses more than one lesson without a note, we will contact you directly for further information. We appreciate your consideration of our time and ask that you inform us as soon as you receive the medical excuse. Thank you for understanding and for supporting our programs that are aimed at developing the whole child.

Thank you to all of the parents who joined us for the Grade 5 Coffee Morning! As always, we value your feedback and welcome your input.

I hope to see many of you at our Chinese New Year Celebration on Friday, 31^st January!

With best wishes,
Dean Jenny
Dean of Primary

Message from Dean of Middle and High School

This week, the NHS organized Mental Health Days on campus. Our middle and high school students took part in four different awesome stress-relieving activities ahead of their Pre-COMP exams next week. There was Yoga, hosted by Ms. Annie. A goal setting and positive affirmation workshop by Ms. Alyssa, ‘Art Therapy’ hosted by myself and Ms. Kate, and an exciting scavenger hunt run by Mr. Dan and Mr. Nick. Everything was planned NHS member Neree and her team, a valuable first experience of project management – with the aim of supporting out middle and high school community. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the event.

Here are some of the best photos from the past few days.

NHS and NJHS News

We were so proud to hold our third BISB National Honor and Junior Honor Society (NHS/NJHS) induction ceremony. This time-honored tradition is kept by NHS and NJHS chapters around the world to officially recognize new members Thank you to all of the family and friends of our members who attended the induction ceremony, and congratulations to all our new members. We look forward to seeing your continued efforts and contributions to our TUSKERS community.

New NHS Members:
Apitchaya (Pin)
Nannaphat (Fangfang)
Neree Chen (Neree)
Phanuwich (Jiaxin)
Sasipat (Hua)

New members joining NJHS:
Thatchatorn (Titi)
Chathichar (Thichar)
Natakorn (Ang)
Pimlada (Rainy)
Ruxuan (Sally)

BISB Books for Migrant Children - Meg 8Ti

Thailand is home to over 300,000 migrant children (UNICEF, 2020). These children, born in refugee camps or brought to Thailand by their parents, come from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Unfortunately, their lack of legal status traps them in a vicious cycle of poverty, where they and their families face discrimination, exploitation, and the lack of basic human necessities in the workplace, in their homes, and more.

The BISB Books for Migrant Children project is a community outreach initiative aimed at providing education, specifically reading skills, to children at the Migrant Children’s Learning Center in Samutsakorn. It is a well-established fact that reading has a positive impact on a child’s mental and physical development. Thus, by sending a group of student volunteers to read to these children and begin a BISB Book Club at the center, we hope to foster a love for learning and offer them the opportunity to dream bigger dreams– and hopefully, to escape the cycle of poverty.

We invite all BASIS students, parents, and teachers to contribute to this cause by donating the books BASIS Students will use to read to these children. Book donations can be collected at the reception in a large box underneath a poster. For additional information, or if you’re interested in volunteering, you can contact me, megan.kierna@gmail.com (Meg V. 8Ti) or matt.kavivat@gmail.com (Matt V. 8Ti).

Hopefully, with time, we can also teach them math, science, and more. However, for now, together, we can help these children reach their full potential, one book at a time.

Written By: Megan Vongkitbuncha

Library Corner

Hello from BISB Library!

To start, thank you for your patience regarding my absence this week. I am hopeful I'll be back in the library next week with normal library hours resuming.

That being said, I would love for you to join me next week for Story Time Science, in collaboration with the Science department! This story time event will include 3 stories, 3 scientists, and 3 experiments. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 29th after school from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Please note that there is no entry before 3:30 to accommodate testing schedules, and no entry after 4 p.m. to ensure the experiments can be done on time. Lastly, please ensure that all students under Grade 3 are accompanied by an adult.

I hope to see you there!

Happy reading,
Ms. Erika
Librarian

ECA Corner

Dear Parents,

Thank you for enrolling your child in our upcoming ECA program. We are excited to offer a range of enriching clubs and activities this semester and we appreciate your support in helping make this possible.

We would like to inform you that we are currently in the process of finalizing the list of clubs that will be able to open, please be assured that we are doing everything we can to accommodate as many students as possible, and we will keep you informed of any updates by next week.

Please note that refunds will only be issued if the number of participants in a class does not reach the minimum requirement. Alternatively, you may choose to enroll your child in another club. We understand that these changes may require some flexibility, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure that all clubs run smoothly and successfully. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Save the date that our ECA will begin on Monday, February 3rd, 2025. Thank you once again for your participation in the ECA program. We look forward to an exciting and enriching experience for all of our students!

Best regards,
ECA Team

Gymnastic

We are excited to invite our gymnastics students to participate in the 12th Annual BLACK&GOLD Invitational Gymnastics Competition and represent BASIS International School Bangkok! The competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 10th-11th, 2025, at ISB.

The Thai Canadian Community Sports (TCCS) will be coaching our students for this event. To register, please contact TCCS directly, providing your student’s name, gymnastics level, and school name. For more information please contact via LINE: @thaicanadian

We look forward to seeing our athletes shine at this exciting competition!

Black Gold 2025

Teacher-LED Club : 🚀 Join the VEX Robotics Club with Mr. Martin! 🤖

Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of robotics and technology? Join our VEX Robotics Club after school and discover how fun and rewarding engineering can be! Led by Mr. Martin, a Computer Engineering Specialist, this club is perfect for students interested in building, coding, and problem-solving while working with cutting-edge robotics kits.

Why should you join?

Competition Ready: Work towards participating in exciting VEX Robotics competitions!
Hands-On Learning: Build and program your own robot using VEX Robotics kits.
Teamwork: Collaborate with fellow students to solve engineering challenges.
Real-World Skills: Gain experience with coding, mechanical design, and troubleshooting.
Innovation & Creativity: Let your imagination run wild as you create unique solutions to robotic problems.

Skills & Learning Outcomes:

Coding & Programming: Learn how to write code to make your robot move, respond to sensors, and complete tasks.
Engineering & Design: Understand the principles of mechanical design and how to construct robots that can perform various functions.
Problem-Solving: Develop critical thinking skills by solving real-world engineering challenges.
Collaboration & Communication: Work in teams to brainstorm, plan, and build robots, enhancing your communication and teamwork abilities.

Get ready to challenge yourself, learn new technologies, and have fun while exploring the world of robotics with Mr. Martin! 🛠️💡

Sign up today – space is limited!
Grades 2-5
Monday 16:00-17:00 (Staring Monday February 3^rd ,2025)

*Please register via email with Mr. Martin (m.shores@basis.ac.th) or through School Line.

TUSKERS of the Week

Congratulations to our young TUSKERS, MJ (Grade 2) and Shogun (Grade 4), for their outstanding achievements at Thailand's first F1 in Schools National Final 2024! Competing in the Entry Class among 24 teams, as part of “Ammonite Racing,” their hard work and dedication over 10 months paid off!

We are incredibly proud to celebrate their success in earning: 🏆
2nd Place: Best Verbal Presentation Award
3rd Place: Best Design Portfolio Award
3rd Place: Overall Championship Trophy Award

Their accomplishments are a testament to their passion and teamwork. Well done, MJ and Shogun!

BASIS String Orchestra

We are excited to welcome students interested in joining the BASIS String Orchestra! This is a great opportunity to enhance musical skills and perform in school events.

This program offers a wonderful opportunity to learn and master string instruments, including violin, viola, cello, and double bass, while building teamwork and performance skills.

Please refer to the catalog below for more details.

Contact us via School Line Official @bisb, Email: ECA@basis.ac.th or reach out directly to Mr. Ben at b.detrick@basis.ac.th

Come and be part of our musical journey!

BASIS_String_Orchestra_Catalog.pdf

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!

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!