A Successful First Week!
Mike Simpson
Secondary School Principal
August 23, 2024
The year has started very well. Each morning we have checked in as a Secondary School and spoken a lot about how we all have an individual responsibility to uphold our school’s compassionate Mission. We spoke a lot about our Belonging strategic theme and how we are an inclusive environment for all. There is a very positive energy about the campus and it is wonderful to see our new students being brought into our ISY family.
We have also shared with our students what our faculty had been studying over the summer – student wellbeing and learning and the role that technology plays.
On Monday, we will come together in our Chinthe Communities for the first time. All Secondary School students are in a Chinthe Community of approximately 22 students from different grade levels. One purpose of these communities is to nurture connections and friendships between students from different grade levels and groups. They also provide meaningful leadership opportunities for our older students to mentor our younger students. Throughout the year we will join with corresponding Chinthe Communities in the Elementary School for whole school events.
After School Activities (ASAs) will be starting on Tuesday, September 3. See below for details.
Our first parent school event will be Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 4. This is a great opportunity for you to meet and learn about our academic program from your child’s teachers. More details about this evening will follow in this blog next week. In the meantime, your child’s teachers and I are always happy to hear from you to answer any questions you may have.
Kind regards,
Mike
Secondary School Events
Upcoming Events:
Back to School Night: Wednesday, September 4: 5:30pm – 7:30pm. More details will follow in this blog next week.
Activities & Athletics
Here is a link to Ms.Rebekka Jensen’s Athletics and Activities Blog for up-to-date information regarding Activities and Athletics at ISY.
‘Little Big Things’
This week, we have spoken to our students about the importance of doing ‘Little Big Things’ right.
These are little actions that have a big impact on learning and our community. These actions include the language we use, being on time, and picking up after ourselves.
Being on time to school is very important and we are focusing on this as we start the school year. To help our students develop good time management skills (a very important lifelong learning skill), we will be very closely monitoring lateness.
It is not a discipline issue but if a student is late twice in a Quarter, we will notify their parents and the student will spend some time catching up on work during their free time. This is a logical way to make up for lost learning time.
Thank you for your support as we focus on these ‘Little Big Things’ and please do not hesitate to message me if you have any questions.
After School Activities (ASAs)
After School Activities (ASAs) – Session 1 ASAs will start on September 3, and end on November 22.
Please check today’s Friday Notices email from our Communications Department for the ASAs Booklet.
Sign-up on PowerSchool will start next week on Monday, August 26 at 7 PM, where you can choose 2 activities. On Tuesday, August 27, starting at 7 PM you can sign up for your remaining activities. Registration will close completely on Wednesday, August 28 at 7 PM. Here is a step by step guide if you need help.
Chinthe Expeditions This Year
As Dr. Hedger wrote in his End of Year Message to our community, last year was particularly productive. In his message, Dr. Hedger referred to the return to our Chinthe Expeditions as being a real highlight. These expeditions focused on internationalism, belonging, service, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Chinthe Expeditions will run again this year. More details will follow later in the school year but we wanted to remind you of the planned dates and locations for each grade level’s expedition:
Sunday, December 1 to Friday, December 6, 2024
- Grade 12: Malacca, Malaysia.
- Grade 11: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
- Grades 9 and 10: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sunday, January 5* to Friday, January 10, 2025
- Grades 6, 7, and 8: Chiang Mai, Thailand.
*Please note that Sunday, January 5 is the Sunday before school starts back after the December holidays. This fits the direct flight schedule between Yangon and Chiang Mai.
We are really looking forward to another series of enjoyable and meaningful expeditions. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.
The International School Yangon
20 Shwe Taungyar Street
Bahan Township
Yangon, Myanmar
+95 (0) 9 880 441 040