BASIS International School Bangkok eNewsletter

Important Updates from Head of School & Head of Operations:

Dear TUSKERS Families,

As we enter the month of October, we wanted to remind everyone to take great care of yourselves and their families, the viruses are still spreading around. It is important that we follow the necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy. To our students who are feeling unwell and off campus, we want to extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Please take the time to rest, take care of yourselves, and get well soon. We look forward to seeing you back at school in good health.

Due to unfortunate incident happened this week, we would like give assurance that our campus is highly protected and safe. We are now in preparation of a Lock Down Drill for our students, teachers and school staff this upcoming week. Stay tuned on this!

On another note, we would like to express our gratitude to all of you for your support and encouragement during the recent Basketball Tournament on Sunday and Football Friendly Match on Monday. Our TUSKERS displayed exceptional athletic skill and sportsmanship, and we are incredibly proud of their performance.

Furthermore, our academic team has implemented Math and Literacy Extension Programs. Our apologies for any confusion, for more information please see the message below under the Primary, Middle and High School Newsletter.

Finally, we were happy to welcome Ms. Kate Irving in our school this week and she has spent her time meeting with our Grade 8 and Grade 9 students and parents. We had a successful Parent Session Forum with Ms. Kate and Dr. Nat from our College Counseling Team. It was a valuable opportunity for our parents to gain insight into the university admission process, both in Thailand and other countries. We hope that the session provided you with useful information and guidance for your child/children education journey.

Once again, thank you for your ongoing support, and please do not hesitate to reach us out if you have any questions or concerns.

Upcoming events next week:

On Saturday, October 7^th – Puppy Cup 08:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. at Bangkok Prep International School (On-Nut Campus)
On Wednesday, October 11^th – Drop in session for Residential Trip: Grade 6-8 at 4.00 – 5.00 P.M. at Black Box
On Thursday, October 12^th – Kinder Around the World Expo at 2.00 – 3.00 P.M. at Black Box

Best regards,

Dr. W. and Ms. Kwan

Head of School and Head of Operations

Save the date for School Events:

Saturday, October 7th - Puppy Swim Cup at Bangkok Prep International School

Session 1 (8 yrs and under) from 7:30 -10:30 A.M.
Session 2 (9 yrs -11 yrs) from 11:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Wednesday, October 11th - Drop-in Session for Grade 6-8 Parents/Students "Residential Trip" from 16:00 - 17:00 P.M. at Black Box.

Thursday, October 12th - Kindergarten Around the World Expo from 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. at Black Box.

BASIS Halloween Celebration: Tuesday, October 31st 2023

We cordially invited all of our BASIS students to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes! Parents are invited on campus to watch the Halloween procession and to take part in fun activities. If moms and dads want to dress up too – they are most welcome, and may even join your child for the big parade.

Please see the schedule of events in the attached file:

Early Years Newsletter:

Message from Director of Early Years:

Greetings to our Parents and Families of Early Years,

We have now installed four additional hair dryers at the Early Years swimming pool. That will hopefully alleviate concerns about wet hair after swimming.

Thank you to all the parents who approach me with constructive ideas for improvements. I appreciate the collaboration and understand that we all have the best interests of our children in mind.

I am evaluating our schedule and anticipate making some changes so that we are not as crowded. Our playground is beautifully designed for play. It is when the number of children on the playground is too large that we are having incidents or when our students wish to engage in large full body movements, like running. In P.E., our students are learning how to fall safely. We have padded mats and Coach Fern explicitly teaches how to protect the head. One way that you can help your child is to practice at home and on the weekends. Take your child to a park where they can run and climb, play chase and tag and practice falling with them. Modeling expected behaviors is an effective way to convey concepts and skills

And I have also is to please check your child’s nails. We have had some unintentional scratches due to long or jagged nails. I look forward to seeing our Kinder families at our Kinder Around the World Expo next week!

Thank you also to the parents who have volunteered to share their careers with our students and those that are volunteering to chaperone our upcoming kindergarten field trip. We appreciate you.

Sincerely,

Ms. Annie Fletcher

Director of Early Years

Primary, Middle & High School Newsletter:

Math Extension and Literacy Extension Programs:

Dear Parents,

At BASIS, academic support is a huge component of our students’ achievement. All ranges of students are provided academic support in various ways.

For students performing below grade-level expectations, learning opportunities such as student hours, AE, and interventions are also provided to improve their ability to meet expectations.

Students on-level or meeting grade level expectation (average) are provided academic support through differentiated classroom instruction, our unique co-teaching model, and a spiraling curriculum during school.

For students who regularly outperform grade-level standards, the Interventions Department has developed an opportunity to expand the learning for our highest achievers through Literacy and Math Extension Programs.

These programs provide accelerated extensions that allow consistently high-performing students to increase their level of knowledge and skills in these subject areas. 

Student selection for this program is based on the following. Students must meet  two of requirements below  per subject to join the Extension Program: 

Literacy:  

3+ reading levels  above  grade level expectations using Fountas and Pinnell (F&P) Running Record Benchmark Assessments   
Proficiency  score of  Exceeds  using Edmentum Diagnostics (Reading and  Language Arts)  
Formal Assessments (greater than 90% class average)

Math: 

Proficiency score of  Exceeds using Edmentum Diagnostics (Math)  
Proficiency score of  Exceeds using Edmentum Diagnostics (Reading)   
Formal Assessments (greater than 90% class average)

Students who fully meet these requirements will be offered an invitation to join Literacy Extension and/or Math Extension program. The Extension Program will happen in 3 sessions throughout the year (see below). Student eligibility to join the Extension program will be reassessed in between each session.

Session 1: 2th October – 30th November 

Session 2: 15th January – 8th March 

Session 3: 1st April – 24th May  

Snacks will be provided without any charges. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this program or your child’s eligibility, feel free to email any of the teachers below for more information

Ms. Selby Piokliang: s.piokliang@basis.ac.th 
Ms. Shaneika Edmond: s.edmond@basis.ac.th 
Mr. Andrew Taylor: a.taylor@basis.ac.th 
Mr. Nick Irvine: n.irvine@basis.ac.th
Mr. Joshua Levenson: j.levenson@basis.ac.th

Thank you in advance for your support of our new initiative!

Ms. Shaneika

Primary Intervention Specialist 

Message from Dean of Primary School:

Dear Parents,

A gentle reminder that first period begins each day at 08:00 a.m. Please ensure your child is dropped off no later than 07:45 a.m. in order to make sure they have enough time to organize and reach their lesson on time. Repeated lateness can undermine your child’s learning as well as that of the rest of their class.

Thank you so much for your support

Ms. Selby Piokliang

Dean of Primary School

Message from Dean of Upper School:

Dear Upper-School Parents,

IAMS (Independent Arts Music and Sports) sign-ups are completed for those students who have requested to take part in specific student-led projects. Starting next week, groups of our students will be participating in the following.

Extra sports practice
Roller-skating
Arts and crafts
Chess club
Debate club (already started)

This is in addition to the many other enrichment activities that our students have already begun, including the THAIMUN, The Editorial Team and the BASIS Arts Committee

Please note that IAMS takes place solely during AE period and It will not affect Student Hours or student pick-up and drop-off times.

If you have any questions are queries regarding IAMS, please feel free to contact me.

Kind regards

Andrew Taylor

Dean of Upper School

Art & Drama Corner:

In a harmonious blend of cultural diversity, Grade 5Co and 5Ni recently orchestrated a mesmerizing music performance for the kindergarten students at our Thai house. The young musicians showcased their talents using resonator bells, creating a symphony that resonated with cultural richness.

The performance featured a delightful trio of songs, each representing a different corner of the world. "Free Jacques" echoed the charm of French melodies, "Ani Kuni" transported the audience into the sacred realm of a Native American prayer, and "Kookaburra" brought the lively spirit of Australia to the forefront. The students not only mastered the technical intricacies of playing the resonator bells but also demonstrated their ability to seamlessly unite as an ensemble.

Guiding them through this musical journey was the skilled accompaniment of Mr. Jason, who played the keyboard with finesse. His expertise added an extra layer of depth to the performance, enhancing the overall auditory experience.

The event, held on Tuesday, 3rd and 5th October, showcased the dedication and talent of Grade 5Co and 5Ni. The mini-class performances not only entertained but also served as a testament to the power of music in transcending borders and fostering a global understanding among young minds.

Jason Rowe,

Dean of Student Activity

Dear TUSKERS Families,

"Sports is a way of life"and with this powerful theme in mind, we have been moving forward, providing our students with a platform to showcase their incredible talents.

The recent basketball tournament held at BASIS on 1^st October 2023, for our students in the U9 to U16 age categories was a testament to their dedication and spirit.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parents who not only ensured that their children arrived on time but also supported and cheered them on throughout the event. Your encouragement is invaluable and has ignited the true TUSKERS spirit in our young athletes.

As we continue our journey of sports excellence, we have an exciting Photo Shoot week scheduled from October 9^th to 12^th October 2023. This is a great opportunity for our young athletes to capture their passion for sports and teamwork and serve as inspiration to the entire BISB Community!

Here is a schedule for a photoshoot:

Monday, October 9th:

7:15 A.M. - U9-U11 Basketball

Tuesday, October 10th:

5:15 P.M. - U9 Football

Wednesday, October 11th:

7:15 A.M. - U13-U15 Basketball
5:15 P.M. - U13-U15 Football

Thursday, October 12th:

5:15 PM - U11 Football

We kindly request that all students wear their old basketball and football jerseys, if they have them. In case they do not have jerseys, don't worry; they will be provided on the day of the photo shoot.

Looking ahead, we have some exciting sports events on the horizon:

October 28th:

U9-U11 and U13-U15 Football Tournament. Stay tuned for updates from Coach Namita.

October 31st:

U9 and U11 Mixed Friendly Football Game at ISB. Coach Namita will provide all the details next week.

We are excited about the upcoming sports events and the opportunity for our students to showcase their talents and sportsmanship. Let's continue to support our young athletes as they embrace the TUSKERS spirit!

Best regards,

Coach Namita

Director of Auxiliary Programs

Well-Being Corner:

Dear TUSKERS Parents and Guardians,

Join us for an engaging and informative Expert Talk/ Parent Seminar designed to empower parents in fostering the development of executive functions in their children. Executive functions play a vital role in helping children navigate daily challenges, achieve academic success, and develop essential life skills. This workshop aims to equip parents with practical strategies and insights to support their child's executive function growth.

You can expect to learn during this session:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of executive functions and their importance in your child's development.
Explore the different components and practical strategies for improving inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, planning, and problem-solving skills.
Engage in interactive discussions and share experiences with other parents on how to establish a structured and supportive environment that promotes the development of executive functions.

Don't miss this opportunity to empower yourself as a parent and gain valuable insights and strategies to help your child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Together, let's unlock your child's full potential by nurturing their executive functions.

Date: Monday, 30^th October 2023

Time: 08.30-10.00 A.M.

Location: Black Box.

For registration and more information, please contact: bisb.counselor@basis.ac.th

We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching Expert Talk/ Parent Seminar.

Best regards,

Wellbeing Team

Updated Student Hours

Please see the attchment below for your reference:

Student_Hour_Schedule.pdf

Winter Camp is available - BASIS Winter Camp 2023 is now available for registration

Winter Camp is available - BASIS Winter Camp 2023 is now available for registration. The winter camps made available for all age from 3-12 years. Join us for a fun variety sets of activities for each camp and make this winter one to remember for your child and children. The camp is open to both BASIS and non-BASIS students.

Please see the detail below of each camp available

**Space is limited, and to register. For more detail, please contact school line @bisb or email at communication@basis.ac.th

Expert Talk : Children with Special Needs

Community Health Updates:

This week our records cut-off time for is every Fridays at 15:00 hrs.

Sport Activities for BISB Community

We are also happy to announce the resume of sports activities for the BISB community (between parents and staff) after school.

Please note that all attendees must sign in at the front desk with proper identification. Proper sports attire is also strongly recommended in order to avoid any unnecessary injuries and/or damage to school facilities.

Please see below the schedule as follows: