Dear Parents,

We have parent conferences next week on Wednesday. This event in the Elementary School is for parents only, there will be no school for students. They will be an opportunity to discuss your child’s Quarter 1 Progress Report and general progress with their teachers. Next week is also Spirit Week, please see below for our special theme days. Friday there will be a costume parade starting at 2:15 and treats from our Parent Association. Do not forget to drop off candy donations on the front steps. We has an assembly today with lots of sharing and celebrating, congratulations to those who received the Pride of the Principal award this time (see below).

PROGRESS REPORTS

Here are the instructions on how to access them. How to access progress reports

There is no written progress report for Chinthe Cubs this round; however, you should sign up for a face-to-face conference with the class teacher. 

Instructions for scheduling a Parent Teacher Conference (PTC):

• Please see these PTC Instructions for Parents. Conferences will be booked through PowerSchool.

• All scheduled conferences are 15 minutes in length.

• Conference booking will close at 3 p.m. on Monday, October 28th. Your conference schedule will be emailed to you on Tuesday, October 29th. 

• The following teachers (who teach in both the Elementary and Secondary Schools) will not have scheduled conferences through PowerSchool but will be available in the Gym for you to talk to them during the day on the 30th:

• Ms. Samia Khattab (Art Grades 4-5)

• Ms. Kirstin Hedger (Art Grades 1-3)

• Mr. Peter Diglin (Music Grades 1-5)

• Ms. Patty Amundson-Geisel (Counselor)

• Ms. Sicard (World Language English)

• Ms Wotton (Support Program)

• Ms Khaing (Myanmar History, Language, Culture, and Geography)

• Ms. Feller (Librarian) will be in the Library.

• The following times have been blocked off for Elementary School drop-ins for language teachers (French/Mandarin). They will be in the Gym. 

9:00 am – 9:28 am

11:00 am -11:28 am

4:00 pm – 4:28 pm

MAP

Measures of academic progress (MAP) testing is an internationally recognized standardized assessment tool that provides teachers with data to help support student learning. MAP data shows student growth and allows our teachers to plan and implement lessons to continue challenging and growing students through rigorous units of study. 

ISY has completed our first round of MAP testing, which highlights strong growth across the school in math, reading, and language usage. As in previous years, ISY continues to perform well above the average for international schools, including those in South East Asia. An analysis of the data further indicates that students who have been at ISY over several years substantially outperform same age students on the international averages.

Birthday Reminders:

Reminder: Birthday celebrations happen at the end of the school day in collaboration with the classroom teacher. We encourage healthy food sharing. In keeping with our no-single-use plastics policy, we ask parents to use reusable plates and utensils and avoid candy and soft drinks. Birthday gift bags are not allowed.

We are excited to share our new video showcasing our amazing school. Please tune in and discover more about our outstanding Chinthe Fund partnerships and the remarkably compassionate community at ISY. The video can be found here.

Discover the Chinthe Cubs at ISY

We are thrilled to share a special video showcasing the Chinthe Cubs, a Reggio Emilia-inspired program.

Warm regards,

Ms. Sandy Sheppard

SPIRIT WEEK

We Belong Together: A Grade 1 Learning Story 

Please take a moment to read our new learning story.

ISY Featured: Service learning – A powerful vehicle for learning in Myanmar

Take a look at the ISY service learning article featured on Expat.com.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Parents Supporting Social-Emotional Development

As parents, we all want to see our children grow into successful, happy, resilient individuals who can navigate the challenges life brings. A key part of this growth is developing their social-emotional competence—the ability to understand, manage, and express their feelings, build meaningful relationships, and confidently explore their surroundings. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and responsible decision-making are all essential components of social-emotional competence, and as parents, we play a critical role in nurturing these skills.

Here are a few ways you can support your child’s social-emotional development:

• Model positive social-emotional skills. Practice empathy, active listening, and problem-solving. When your child comes to you with a problem, listen attentively and guide them through possible solutions, rather than brushing off their concerns or telling them to ignore the issue.
• Create a nurturing environment. Foster a sense of belonging and security by showing unconditional care while setting clear, affirming boundaries that help them feel safe.
• Encourage open communication. Give your child the space to share their thoughts, worries, and ideas. When children feel comfortable talking to their parents, it strengthens your relationship and makes it more likely they’ll turn to you for support when needed.

By integrating these practices into your daily interactions, you’ll help your child develop the emotional intelligence and resilience they need to thrive.

If you’d like to learn more about the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) at ISY, please contact me at escounselor@isyedu.org.