BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Message from the School:

Dear BASIS Families,

Welcome back! We hope everyone had a refreshing Songkran break!

This week, our Earth Day activities happening across campus. At BASIS International School Bangkok, we recognize the importance of fostering environmental awareness and responsibility in our students. Through hands-on experiences like recycled paper making, presentations, and creative writing in Earth Day theme, our students are learning to appreciate the Earth and reflect on how they can contribute to a more sustainable future.

We’re also thrilled to share a major highlight of the week, “BASIS ARTFINITY: The AP Art Experience,” our very first AP Art exhibition, now open at Q Stadium, EmQuartier, from April 24 to 27! From art exhibitions to student performances, this event truly showcases the diverse passions of our students.

We are incredibly proud of our AP Art students, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our inspiring art teacher, Ms. Aza, for her guidance and mentorship. A huge thank you as well to our talented students from BASIS Got Talent and the Thai Dance performance who took the time to perform at today’s event. Your talents added so much vibrant to the experience. We’re also excited to share that more student performances are coming up this weekend, don’t miss them!

Our appreciation goes out to the entire school community for your collective effort in making this event possible. Your support continues to make BASIS Bangkok a place where students are empowered to shine.

BASIS ARTFINITY runs until Sunday, April 27, don’t miss it! We invite all our families to visit the exhibition and enjoy an inspiring day together.

A Ribbiting Day in Grade 7 Biology

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of joining Teacher Jenna and our curious Grade 7 students for a truly unforgettable Biology lesson: Frog dissection day!

As part of their Animal Body Systems and Classification unit, students rolled up their sleeves and pulled on their gloves to explore frog anatomy up close.

The activity wasn’t just about cutting things open, it was a hands-on opportunity to observe bilateral symmetry, cephalization, and the frog’s coelom, helping students make real-world connections to the concepts they've been studying.

They also spotted classic Chordata features: backbones, dorsal nerve cords, and segmented muscles, all with a mix of awe, focus, and just a hint of squeamish excitement!

Not one to sit on the sidelines, I suited up in my lab coat, goggles, and gloves and partnered with a student. Together, we opened the frog’s mouth to examine its tongue and teeth, then gently turned it over to carefully explore its internal organs, heart, liver, and more. Let’s just say: it was a very hands-on and a bit bloody experience.

Beyond the biology, what struck me most was the students’ enthusiasm and their ability to apply scientific vocabulary and thinking in such a meaningful way. This lab was not only great preparation for their upcoming Comprehensive Exams but also a powerful reminder of how engaging science can be when it jumps off the page, or in this case, the lily pad.

I like to thank Ms. Jenna and the Grade 7 students for having me visit their lesson.

Dr. W
Head of School

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

🌍 Earth Day Celebration Highlights 🌱

Dear Families and Friends,

This Earth Day, our community came together with joy, curiosity, and care to celebrate the planet we call home and what a wonderful celebration it was!

🌸 Our Early Years Garden is Thriving!
Our little gardeners have been busy planting and caring for an incredible variety of plants. From the blooms of morning glory, zinnia, and sunflowers to the tasty promise of tomatoes, beans, cilantro, pumpkin, and spring onions, our Early Years garden is a beautiful and growing reminder of the wonders of nature and the importance of nurturing life from the ground up.

👕 Creative Reuse with Nursery Students
In a fun and meaningful activity, our nursery students explored how we can give new life to old clothing through tie-dye! This hands-on experience sparked creativity and taught our young learners the importance of reusing materials instead of throwing them away. The results were as colorful as they were inspiring!

🏖️ PK1 Ocean Cleanup at BASIS
Our PK1 students dove into the important topic of protecting our oceans through a simulated beach/ocean clean-up right in our sand and water area. They worked together to remove "trash," learning how small actions can make a big difference for marine life and our environment.

💚 A New Display of Earthly Love
Our canteen will soon showcase a brand-new display. It will feature creative expressions from our students showing love for our planet Earth and celebrating a sense of belonging—because caring for the Earth means caring for each other, too.

🧠 Coming Up: Kindergarten Human Body Expo – Friday, May 2
We’re excited for our students to experience the Kindergarten Human Body Expo on Friday, May 2! Our young scientists are eager to learn, and we are especially grateful to the parents and family members in the medical field who will be joining us to share their expertise. Thank you in advance for enriching this special experience!

📅 Friendly Reminder: No ECAs April 30
Please note that there will be no ECAs Wednesday April 30. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time, especially during a slightly more crowded dismissal. Thank you for your continued support!

With gratitude and green thumbs,
Ms. Annie
Director of Early Years

College Counselor Corner

Greetings BISB Community,

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

Welcome back from a much-deserved Songkran break, and Happy Thai New Year! We hope you enjoyed time with family and feel refreshed for the final stretch of the school year.

Our high school students have shown tremendous dedication in preparing for their upcoming AP Exams. Over the past year, they have:

Completed multiple review packets
Taken unit and mock exams
Engaged in intensive study sessions
Built academic and mental stamina

Please join us in congratulating them on how far they’ve come and continue encouraging them through these final few weeks of exams. They are almost there!

What’s next? The Independent Research Proposal

Though AP exams mark the end of the AP curriculum, learning continues! All students will shift gears to begin an Independent Research Proposal through their AP classes. This exciting academic experience helps students build strong portfolios for future college applications and prepare for Grade 12’s Senior Project.

What is the Independent Research Proposal?

A post-AP, student-driven research project
Focused on individual interests related to a career path, academic major, or personal passion
Students will be guided through methods for scholarly research, inquiry, and proposal development

This Year’s Focus: China

Students will explore topics through the lens of China—for example:

Architectural innovations in Shanghai
Technology breakthroughs like flash memory research at Fudan University
Social, cultural, or environmental themes unique to China’s development

Those attending the Overseas Project Week Trip to Shanghai will gain firsthand experience that enhances the depth and authenticity of their research.

End of Year Showcase

Students will present their research proposals in a professional-style defense during the Project Week Showcase on the last day of school. This project builds vital college-ready skills and lays the foundation for their Grade 12 Senior Project.

Learn more about the BASIS Senior Projects here:
https://basisindependent.com/academics/the-senior-year/senior-projects/

Stay Tuned

More details about the Research Proposal, Project Week, and the Shanghai trip will be shared with families soon.

As always, thank you for your support, and welcome to an exciting final term!

Best,
Ms. Kate

NJH and NJHS News

NHS and NJHS Fundraiser Success!

Thank you to everyone that supported our fundraising efforts through ticket sales. Your contributions will go a long way to supporting the Soi Dog Foundation and the Thai Red Cross Society.

I would like to personally thank the many NHS and NJHS members who worked hard during BISB’s Songkran Festival. Thank you for your time and dedication.

PE Corner

Structured Homework Time for Sports Academy Students

Dear Parents,

To support our student-athletes in maintaining a healthy balance between academics and sports, BASIS International School is introducing mandatory homework time for all Sports Academy students before their training sessions.

Time: 4:00 – 4:30 PM (Monday-Friday)
Location: Designated area at the Canteen
Supervision: School staff will be present to ensure a focused environment.

Guidelines:

All Sports Academy students must utilize this time for homework.
Parents are not permitted in the designated area during this period.
This initiative aims to encourage academic discipline and responsibility.

We appreciate your cooperation in fostering a structured and supportive environment for our student-athletes.

Regards
Namita Sinha
Director of Sports

Library Corner

Hello from BISB Library!

This week, the Library has been full of creativity and celebration. We kicked off Earth Day celebrations with “Magic Trash”: An Earth Day Story Time and Design Challenge, in collaboration with the Science Department. Our students made some wonderful, unique creations using only recycled materials. Check out some of their creations in the photos below!

I also wanted to take a moment to thank the following students for volunteering for this month’s Lunchtime Legends: Circe and Thichar in 7Ga, Tiwat, Sean, Alex, Niko, Watong, in 6Fe, Rohan, Juno and Tyler in 6Cu. These students earned 50 house points when they read nonfiction stories to primary students about legends like Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, and Cristiano Ronaldo!

Additionally, our Early Years and Primary students have been learning about endangered species with this week’s focus being on sharks! For Early Years we read a nonfiction book entitled, Oceans Alive: Sharks! And discussed the importance of sharks to keep our ocean life balanced. In Primary, we read Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating and Marta Alvarez Miguens. Our “sharkweek” activities closed with a recess activity where students colored and cut out sharks to add to a community mobile that we will hang in the library soon. It was a fun, shark-filled week!

Lastly, I am excited to invite parents to join next month’s parent-teacher book club, The Page Turners! This is a free book club gathering open to parents, teachers, and staff to encourage a love of reading and build community. This time around, we will read Kristin Hannah's novel, The Women, a work of historical fiction set during the Vietnam-American War. Our meeting will be on Friday, May 30th from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Connections, with light refreshments provided.

Please read the book in its entirety before the event. I will have copies available in the Library beginning next week for check out. To register, please use this link: https://forms.gle/7pXDWKF62WQDYRqr5 I hope to see you there!

Thank you and happy reading,

Ms. Erika
Librarian

LIBRARY CLOSURE: Please be reminded that the library will be CLOSED Monday, April 28th to Wednesday, April 30th. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

ECA Corner

ECA Reminder:

No ECA classes on Wednesday, April 30,2025

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!