BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Message from the School:

Dear TUSKERS Family,

It’s been a great first week back to school and we are excited to share the recent facility enhancements with you! During the Spring Break, our facility team worked diligently to further improve the safety and comfort learning environment for our students.

Here are the key improvements we have made:

Additional shading for Early Years outdoor activities – Ensuring our youngest learners have a more comfortable outdoor space to play and explore.
New water play station – Enhancing sensory learning and outdoor fun for our Early Years students.
Sports field renovation – Upgrading the field to provide a better experience for physical education classes, Sport Academy practices, and school events.
Additional lighting traps to prevent mosquitos – To maintain a safe and hygienic environment for all students.
Deep cleaning of all floors – Keeping our learning spaces fresh and well-maintained.

We are committed to continuously improving our school facilities to support the well-being of our students. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to a fantastic remainder of the school year!

Warm 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.

Re-Enrollment for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Dear Parents,

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we would like to inform you about the re-enrollment process for 2025-2026. Re-enrollment ensures your child’s place while allowing the school to plan resources for an optimal learning experience. The non-refundable re-enrollment fee will be applied toward next semester’s tuition.

This re-enrollment fee has always been an important part of our process, helping us plan effectively to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Last year, we tried making an exception for this payment, but it led to unexpected challenges that disrupted the smooth transition of our students. With this process in place, your commitment allows us to plan with confidence and continue providing a well-prepared and enriching environment for all our students.

An invoice for the 80,000 THB re-enrollment fee will be issued on Monday, February 24, 2025, and is due by Friday, March 28, 2025.

Special privilege for payment made by March 7, 2025; Visa & MasterCard payments will not incur a credit card fee while American Express payments will have a reduced 1% fee.

After March 7, 2025, regular credit card fees apply while bank transfers are accepted without any fees.

To secure your child’s place for the next academic year, the re-enrollment fee must be received by March 28, 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact our Finance Office. We appreciate your trust and look forward to another wonderful year ahead.

Best regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Academic Staff Updates for Academic Year 2025-2026

Dear BASIS Families,

As we look ahead to the next academic year, we would like to share important updates regarding our teacher recruitment. Please find attached a letter from Dr. W, Head of School, for more details.

Academic Staff Updates for Academic Year 2025-2026

We are grateful for the dedication of our teachers and appreciate your ongoing support as we continue to build a strong learning community. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Best regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

Message from Director of Academic Programs

Hello BISB Parents,

I hope this finds you well. Most of the following are reminders for dates and other items that you should be aware of.

Following a successful pilot of the Electives Fair for the rising Grade 6 students, we have decided that, starting 2025-2026 Academic Year, we will host an annual Electives Fair for all Middle School and High School Electives where students and parents can come to meet teachers and discuss these exciting offerings.

All: Trimester 2 ends of Friday February 28^th and Report Cards for Trimester 2 will be sent home on Friday March 14^th. Last push to end T2 on the highest possible note!

G6-8: your children will have received their Pre-Comprehensive Exam Reports this week. If there are questions about the reports, please contact the relevant teacher(s).

EY & G1-4 parents: We are working on the Social Emotional Reports! These will be sent home with report cards to summarize the improvements the students have made. You will receive these on Friday, March 14^th.

G5-10: Academic Year 2025-2026 Registration Form will be sent to you on Friday, February 28^th. Here are some important things to note about enrollment:
- For Electives, we have asked for your preferences in order to ensure proper planning.
- Middle and High School elective courses descriptions can be found here.
- For G5-7 parents – We do not anticipate issues regarding elective capacity, but we have added courses and created a system for enrollment in case such cases occur. Here are some details on how to select students to enroll if a class is fully enrolled:
  - First priority for elective registration is given based on seniority. Older students have fewer chances to take the electives of their choice.
  - Second priority for elective registration is given based on a first come, first serve basis. This means that students/parents who complete the form first will have priority. We use an electronic form to ensure we have a record of completion time and date.
  - Some classes require a prerequisite course, teacher recommendation, or taking an assessment in order to enter. These are the courses:
    - Academic English (teacher recommendation)
    - MS Computer Science (Intro to Engineering & Computer Science or pass assessment)
    - Intermediate Visual Art (Intro to Visual Art or teacher recommendation)
  - For G8-10 parents – Ms. Kate, Dean Drew, and myself will send further communication to you next week regarding the special procedures for High School registration.
    - Please note that you’ll be asked to select the math and science course in addition to the elective courses. If you are unsure about selection, please speak to the teachers, Dean Drew, Ms. Kate, or me about the best path for your child.

As always, my door is open if and when you would like to speak about your academic questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Mr. Ian
Director of Academic Programs

Early Years Newsletter

Dear Families,

What a wonderful week we’ve had celebrating Valentine’s Day! Our students enjoyed exchanging Valentines with their partner classes—check your class newsletter for more details. Our staff also had fun finding their Valentine matches, often with the help of their students! It has been a great way to spread kindness, joy, and collaboration throughout our school community.

We encourage families to be mindful of the media their children are exposed to and to guide them toward age-appropriate shows, books, and games. If you’re looking for engaging, safe alternatives, we’d be happy to share recommendations. Here is a great resource for checking the suitability of movies, TV shows, books, apps, and games; https://www.commonsensemedia.org

It can be challenging to keep up with everything children are exposed to, and this site provides detailed reviews to help families make informed choices.

Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for all our students.

Warmly,
Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

Primary and Upper Schools Newsletter

Dear Primary Families,

This past week we have been celebrating our UNIQUENESS! One way this TUSKERS quality has been celebrated is in our first Grade Humanities class. The children have transformed their classroom into a living ‘Museum’, sharing their research about the accomplishments of many influential individuals. We will continue to focus on our unique qualities throughout the month of February and into March as well.

This week we have also begun preparing our Kindergarten students for their transition into Grade 1. Ms. Allison and I had the pleasure of giving a school tour to each of our Kindergarten classes. They practiced walking quietly in the hallway and learned how to use the Primary playground safely. We also walked through the canteen and had a peek at all the delicious food that the children will be able to choose to eat next year. Over the next few weeks, we have planned additional activities to help the children become more comfortable in the Primary setting. Our grade 1 students and teachers will be included in these welcoming activities as well.

We are very proud of the growth we are seeing in so many of the Primary students! Thank you for your continued support and encouragement of their efforts, both academically and behaviorally. The partnership we share in this educational journey is the biggest part of their success!

Dean Jenny
Dean of Primary School

College Counseling Corner:

Greetings BISB Community,

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

All Grade 9 and 10 students are invited to visit with Dita Mahmud, recruiter and advisor from the University of British Columbia. She is very interested in meeting with our students to present on the university and education opportunities. UBC is a global center for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university. Through international research partnerships, student exchanges, joint-degree programs, and publications the university has always kept the global engagement a priority and continually expanded its learning horizons and stayed connected with top research talent around the world.

The UBC has been ranked 44th by the ARWU World, 47th by the QS World, 37th by the Times World, and 35th by the US News & World Report. At the national level within Canada, the university is ranked 3rd by the QS National and 2nd by the ARWU, Times, and U.S News & World Report National. In Maclean's 2022 rankings, it was ranked 2nd in Reputation and 3rd in Medical/doctoral categories.

University Visit

University: UBC (Canada)

When: Thursday, February 27

Where: Connections Space

Time: 3:00-3:40 PM

All high school students are encouraged to attend and can register here UBC BISB Visit. Registering allows UBS to keep track of student interest and keep them updated on university opportunities.

Thank you,
Ms. Kate Irving
College Counselor

Seeking Summer Volunteer Work Opportunities for BISB High School Students

Dear BISB Families,

As our school continues to grow, so do the exciting opportunities available to our students. This summer, our high schoolers are preparing to participate in university programs both online and globally. To further enhance their portfolios and career readiness, we are now seeking to connect with local companies that can offer meaningful volunteer work experiences for our students during the summer break.

Our Grades 9 and 10 students are talented, motivated, and have demonstrated interest and experience in fields such as:

Architecture
Art and Design
Business
Computer Science
Finance and Investing
Research
Medicine

Can you or your company help support these students on their career preparation journey?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

Company Name: Let us know who we’re collaborating with.
Expectations: A brief overview of the experience you can provide.
Requirements: Any specific skills or qualifications students should have.
Hours: Choose from 24, 36, or 48 hours of volunteer work.
Small Projects: Assign manageable tasks or projects to help students gain real-world experience.

What BISB will provide:

Motivated students with interests in fields such as Finance, Investment, Architecture, Art & Design.
Student résumés and interview preparation to ensure they are ready for the experience.
Preliminary support and guidance to help students succeed in their work experience.
A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Certification issued by our Director and Head of School.

Your involvement can make a meaningful difference in preparing our students for their future careers. If you or your company are interested in supporting a BISB student this summer, or if you have any questions, please reply.

Thank you for being an integral part of our students’ journeys.

Ms. Kate Irving
College Counselor

Library Corner

Hello from BISB Library!

To start, thank you to everyone who submitted creative, adventurous photos for the Extreme Reading Challenge! House points will be awarded to each of those students for participation and be sure to check out the awesome submissions in the folder at the end of this newsletter. Also, check out next week's library video to see them on the screen!

For the Love of Reading continued this week with new stories in the library. For Grades PK1 to 3, we read The Color of Love by Poppy Harlow and Laura Jarrett, illustrated Elisa Chavarri. For this story, students were asked to think about someone or something they love and share what color they feel represents them. Students shared so many thoughtful examples of love including family, animals, friends, games, and more! It was a lovely, reflective activity.

For students in Grades 4 and 5, we continued hearing from diverse voices with the book, The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. In this story, students learned about the historical African National Memorial Bookstore and the life of Lewis Michaux who was a bookseller and civil rights activist.

Additionally, this is a reminder that all book cover, bookmark, and short story competition submissions are due next Friday, February 28^th! Students can drop them off to me anytime during the week or give them to their LETs.

Lastly, For the Love of Reading will come to an end with D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read) Day on Friday, February 28^th! Students will not be informed of the time of day but should be ready with a book at all times. Please ensure your students (Grades 1-10) have a book with them on this day. If they don’t have one, send them to the library before school begins. We look forward to this book-filled day!

Happy reading,
Ms. Erika
Librarian

Important Update: Kangaroo Math Exam Registration Deadline Moved to February 26th, 2025

Dear Parents,

We are writing to inform you of an important change regarding the registration deadline for the Kangaroo Math Exam. To ensure a smooth preparation process for exam materials, the registration deadline has been moved up to Wednesday, February 26^th, 2025 (instead of February 28th).

We kindly ask that you finalize and submit your child(ren) registrations by this new deadline to allow us ample time for processing and preparation of materials. Your cooperation will ensure that everything is ready for the exam.

Should you have any questions or need assistance with the registration, please do not hesitate to contact us via School Line: @bisb or Email: ECA@basis.ac.th

Thank you for your understanding and prompt attention to this matter.

Best regards,
BASIS International School Bangkok

ECA Corner

ECA Highlights

Spirit Week 2025

Get ready for an exciting Spirit Week like no other as we celebrate our theme: "Love of Reading: Books as Windows"—highlighting multicultural influences from the African diaspora! Each day will bring a new opportunity to express creativity, celebrate uniqueness, and cultivate unity!

📅 Spirit Week Dress-Up Days: Monday 24 February – Friday 28 February):

Monday 24 February – Flag Day: Choose the flag of any African nation and wear the colors to match!

Here's more information about the national flags of Africa’s 54 countries. Once your child picks a flag to match their outfit, take a moment to share its history with them—it’s a great learning opportunity!

Tuesday 25 February – Prints & Patterns Day: Wear your favorite animal prints or bold patterns.

Wednesday 26 February – Dress to Impress: Show up in your fanciest attire!

Thursday 27 February – Throwback Thursday: Travel back in time and wear dress like an elderly person!

Friday 28 February – Unity Day: Wear all black to show solidarity and strength!

🎉 More Celebrations Leading Up to Spirit Week:

🖤 Feb 18-20: Black History Living Museum – Bringing historical hidden figures to life!

🔬 Feb 18 –19: Science Experiments Inspired by Diverse Scientists – Hands-on learning rooted in innovation.

📖 Feb. 21: Virtual Author Event in Library 7:15am – 7:55am – Open to only students!

Join us in the spirit and let’s celebrate the power of books, uniqueness, and community this Love of Reading month! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details. 🚀📖✨

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!