BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Message from the School:

Dear BASIS Families,

This week has been a special one for our community!

First, congratulations to our Middle School students for completing their Pre-Comprehensive Exams! This important milestone provided valuable practice, helping our students identify areas for growth and prepare them for future challenges. We are incredibly proud of their hard work! A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated teachers for their guidance and to our supportive parents for your encouragement throughout this journey.

On Thursday, we had the honor of welcoming representatives from the CCF Community Children Foundation, who presented BASIS Bangkok with a certificate of recognition for our participation in the “Voices for Change” charity project. Thank you to the generosity of our community at the “A Cappella Magic @ BASIS” concert, we have raised nearly 150,000 Baht to support the education of underprivileged children across Thailand. In total, CCF has raised more than 1 million Baht through this meaningful project. A special thank you to our talented Elementary Choirs and our dedicated Music Department for leading this wonderful initiative!

Today, we also came together to celebrate Chinese New Year, joyfully welcoming the Year of the Snake with warmth and positivity! It was wonderful to see so many parents join us this morning, it was a pleasure sharing this special occasion with you.

Important Reminders:

Traffic Safety and Environmental Awareness on Campus

We kindly ask for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and smooth traffic within our school premises. To support this effort, please keep the following in mind when driving on campus:

Reduce speed: For the safety of our students, please drive at a reduced speed when entering and exiting the school. The speed limit within the school premise should not exceed 15km/h.

No parking in drop-off area: To prevent congestion and allow for a seamless drop-off process, we kindly request that all vehicles refrain from parking in the drop-off zone.

Turn off your engine while parked: As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing pollution, we encourage all parents to turn off their vehicle engines while parked in the school car park. This small action helps improve air quality and creates a healthier environment for our students.

Car park sticker required: A car park sticker is required when parking in school. Please ensure that your sticker is placed in a visible position. Parents who have not yet received their parking sticker, please contact us via School LINE for assistance.

Importance of Attendance and Respect for School Days

We would like to remind all parents of the importance of adhering to the school calendar and maintaining regular attendance.

While we understand the value of family time and travel, extending holidays beyond the scheduled school breaks can disrupt your child’s learning progress and overall discipline. Similarly, absences just before a school break are also discouraged, as they can cause students to miss important lessons and activities that help wrap up their learning before the holiday.

We kindly ask all families to ensure that their travel plans align with the holiday dates provided in the school calendar. This will help avoid unnecessary absences and ensure a smooth continuation of learning when school resumes.

Thank you once again for your support and cooperation.

Warm regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Save the date for School Events and Academic Calendar:

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

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 Families,

We have had such fun learning about and participating in Chinese Lunar New Year Festivities. I have witnessed students learning to count to 10 in Mandarin, dancing with our own dragons crafted from recycled materials, learning the history and art of dumpling making and the significance of this celebration and the Year of the Snake. And parents, you are looking fabulous! It is a treat to see how you turn out for celebrations. You inspire us all to dive even deeper into our understanding of this important cultural event.

I want to thank you for your prompt and clear communication when your child is absent from school. Our communication systems are efficiently working.

We will see you next week for school photos. Please take note of the day your child’s class is scheduled.

Looking ahead, we have a holiday on Wednesday, Feb 12, for Makha Bucha Day and school is closed Feb 13 and 14 for a short spring break. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14, however in Early Years, we will hold our card exchanges between February 10-17. Please look for more information from your child’s teacher.

新年快乐

Xīnnián kuàilè

Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

NHS and NJHS News

Message from the National Honor Society (NHS):

We, the National Honor Society recently hosted Mental Health Days, a four-day event for middle and high school students. This project aimed to address students’ stress on upcoming pre-COMP exams by allowing students to participate in four different activities including the Scavenger Hunt, Positive Affirmation, Art Therapy, and Yoga. Hopefully, these activities allowed them to relieve stress, improve self-care, and consider living a correct lifestyle.

The goal was to raise awareness about mental health, provide stress relief, and encourage healthy self-care habits that should be prioritized and cannot be ignored. We hoped to reduce student anxiety before the big exams, improve self-awareness, and ultimately enhance academic performance by prioritizing mental well-being throughout our four-day event.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Mental Health Days II before the COMP exams.

Written by Neree & Pin 10Sn

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

P.E. Corner

Dear TUSKERS Families,

Thank you for joining us at the Sports Potluck! Your overwhelming support and enthusiasm were truly inspiring. With 99% parent satisfaction, it’s clear that our students are thriving—showcasing their skills, participation, and the incredible platform BASIS International School Bangkok provides for them to excel.

We’re also proud to share some exciting growth statistics:
📈 33% increase in Academy Registrations compared to last year.
🏆 73% growth in strong development and competitive success.

This success is only possible because of our passionate young athletes and dedicated parents who continue to walk hand in hand with the school's Sports Program. A BIG THANK YOU!

Calling All Parents – Golf, Table Tennis, and Tennis Enthusiasts!

If your child is interested in Golf, Table Tennis, or Tennis, please reach out to me directly. We’re happy to explore competition opportunities and assist with registration and other requirements.

Upcoming Golf Events:
📅 Tuesday, February 4, 2025: ISGT Bromsgrove Invitational
📅 Tuesday, February 25, 2025: ISGT St. Andrews
📅 Tuesday, March 18, 2025: BPS
📅 Monday, March 31, 2025: Rugby International
📅 Monday, April 28, 2025: Wellington

Furthermore, please see below our regular competitions schedule:

February 2025 Sports Competitions
🏀 Saturday, February 1: U11-U15 Boys & Girls Basketball Invitational @ BASIS (8:00 AM - 1:15 PM)
⚽ Saturday, February 1: U11 Boys BPS Football Festival @ Muang Thong FC Thunderdome (8:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
🏀 Saturday, February 8: U9 Mixed BISAL Basketball Tournament @ BASIS (8:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
🏀 Tuesday, February 18: U11 Boys & Girls Basketball Friendly @ Anglo 64 (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
⚽ Saturday, February 22: U13-15 Boys Football Tournament @ BPS (8:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
⚽ Tuesday, February 25: U13 Boys Friendly Football vs. King’s College @ BASIS (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
🏸 Wednesday, February 26: U13 Boys & Girls Friendly Badminton @ King’s College (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM)

Get Ready for MAD MARCH!
All Saturdays in March are packed with Swimming Competitions, along with exciting Basketball, Football, and Badminton events! Stay tuned for details.

Thanks & Regards,
TUSKERS Sports Academy Team

TUSKERS Swim Academy BLURB – Making Waves Despite the Haze!

Despite the challenges of high AQI, our TUSKERS swimmers have been unstoppable! 🌊🏊

💪 Shoutout to Cody for completing a full week of dryland training with Coach Au.

🔥 Huge applause for Matt & Leia, who have been swimming 1,000m daily and never missing a session since our return. Your dedication inspires us all!

February Training Focus:

✅ Dives & Starts
✅ Refining Stroke Techniques
✅ Swim-Readiness for a Competitive March

Let’s keep the momentum going and prepare for an action-packed season ahead. Stay strong, keep swimming! 💙🐘 #TUSKERSswimstrong #GOTUSKERS

This Month in Swim Class: TUSKERS Making Waves!
Our Grade 1 - Grade 8 swimmers continue their journey through the Swim England Pathway, sharpening their aquatic skills.

🚨 New Addition: Water Polo!

Swimmers are mastering dribbling, throwing, and hand-eye coordination while refining their freestyle technique for this dynamic sport. Their teamwork and enthusiasm have been incredible—keep it up!

GO TUSKERS! 🏆🐘🏊

Library Corner

Hello from BISB Library!

Thank you once again for your patience in the library schedule changes and postponements.

The library’s event, Storytime Science, in collaboration with the Science Department, will now be held next Friday, February 7^th from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Please note that entry to this event ends at 4:00 p.m. as the experiments require a specific amount of time. I look forward to seeing everyone attend!

Additionally, I wanted to announce a few activities kicking off for this February’s For the Love of Reading! ❤ This year we will focus on the theme of Book as Windows with programming that will peak into different experiences, highlight underrepresented voices, celebrate UNIQUE cultures, and encourage learners to engage with diverse perspectives.

In the past, Love of Reading has included a grade-level reading competition, but this year we have decided to move away from that challenge and instead focus on celebration and building a joyful reading culture. We will however have other challenges, competitions, and activities for all ages to take part in and enjoy.

Please see some of those activities below, and feel free to email with any questions or concerns. Please note there will also be other special class activities and challenges throughout the month. The deadline for all challenges and competitions is Friday, February 28^th.

❤ Early Years:

Love of Reading Raz Kids Challenge (organized by EY)

❤ Grades 1 – 3:

Read & Review - for house points (read story, complete book review & submit to Ms. Erika) Submit 5 reviews and get a prize.
Book Cover Design competition: design a book cover for any book of your choice (paper available in the library, Grades 4-5 students vote for top 3)

❤ Grades 4 – 10:

Pop Into Reading: Read & Review – for house points (read a novel, complete book review & submit to Ms. Erika) Submit 2 reviews and get a voucher for popcorn on February 28^th
Book Cover Design competition: design a book cover for any book of your choice (paper available in the library. Grades 1-3 students vote for top 3)
Bookmark design competition: design a bookmark (teachers vote on top 3)
Week of 17 - 21: Blind Date with a Book
The Lotus Pond – short story submission contest (pick up prompts from Library)

❤ WHOLE SCHOOL:

Spirit Week: Flag Day (M), Pattern Day (T), Sparkle and Shine (W), Time Travel (Th), Unity Day (F) (Feb 24-28)

I look forward to celebrating our Love of Reading all month long!

Happy reading,
Ms. Erika
Librarian

ECA Corner

Result of Junior Maths Mastery Challenge (JMMC) 2024

Dear Parents,

We are delighted to inform you that the results of the Junior Maths Mastery Challenge (JMMC) 2024 are now available! For more details, please click on the link below to view the BASIS Bangkok results.

[JMMC 2024 Results for BASIS Bangkok]

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our students and sincerely appreciate the dedication and participation of all our TUSKERS.

Out of 71 participants, 15 students achieved outstanding results:

Achievements:

3 Silver Winners

Gavin (Autumn) Kiattiwithchukul - Grade 1Mg
Anton (Aj) Schwimmer - Grade 5Co
Pachata (Matt) Suriyamongkhon - Grade 5Ni

4 Bronze Winners

Natusch (Tre) Chantchaimongkol - Grade KCL
Nithit (Tashi) Phattanaphitoon - Grade 1Mg
Nittha (Ticha) Phattanaphitoon - Grade 1Ca
Shuqiao (Nicha) Gu - Grade 5Co

8 Merit Winners

Ploylada (Lada) Klungjaturavet - Grade KF
Kritda (Bill) Yensira - Grade KCL
Choderaphee (Raphee) Srichonthan - Grade KBR
Anthea (Anya) Trytilanunt - Grade 1Be
Aiden (Aiden) Schwimmer - Grade 2Li
Shengting (Will) Gu - Grade 3Ne
Nattapat (Mona) Chokasut - Grade 4Ge
Paramet (Tonpunn) Thanachotipan - Grade 5Ni

All medalists will receive certificates and/or medals. We will notify you once the awards and certificates arrive at school.

Once again, congratulations to all participants! We look forward to celebrating their achievements and supporting their continued success.

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation.

Warm regards,
ECA Team

ECA Newsletter

We are delighted to welcome you and your children to the first week of our exciting Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) program from Monday, February 3^rd ,2025 until Friday, May 23^rd , 2025. We believe that learning extends beyond the classroom, and ECAs provide a wonderful opportunity for students to explore their passions, sharpen skills, and build friendships. We are confident this will be a fun and enriching experience for all!

We encourage you to support and cheer on your children as they embark on this journey of exploration and growth. Please find the ECA schedule and ECA calendar attached below, and we look forward to meeting you during the parental observation week.

Please note that the ECA dismissal is at the main gate of Primary of all grade levels, including Early Years.

Thank you for your continuous support.

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!