Monthly Newsletter - January 2026

AISB News
2 days ago
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Updated: 6 hours ago

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Our Director's Update

Teaching and Learning

STEAM

English as Additional Language - EAL

Our Director's Update

As we begin the year, I have been incredibly proud to see the energy, warmth, and sense of belonging that has filled our campus from Early Years through to Secondary. January has been a wonderful reminder of what makes AISB such a special community, our students’ curiosity and resilience, our staff’s commitment and care, and the strong partnership we share with our families.

Across Early Years and Primary, it has been a joy to see classrooms quickly settle into routines, friendships reconnect, and learning come alive through celebrations such as Maths Week and Australia Day. These experiences, alongside our ongoing focus on wellbeing, integrity, and handling emotions, reflect our shared commitment to nurturing confident, happy, and capable learners.

In Secondary, our students continue to impress through their maturity, leadership, and global outlook. From outstanding achievements at the KMIDS Model United Nations Conference to preparations for our very first Secondary School production, The Witches, it is clear that our students are embracing challenge, collaboration, and creativity with confidence.

I am also grateful for the continued work across STEAM, EAL, Sports, Music, and Teaching and Learning, where collaboration and innovation remain at the heart of our practice. It has been particularly rewarding to celebrate student successes beyond the classroom and to welcome visiting educators who enrich our professional community.

Thank you to our staff, students, and families for such a positive and purposeful start to the year. I look forward to the many learning moments, celebrations, and connections that lie ahead as we continue to work together to help every student achieve their personal best.

Warm regards,

Henri Bemelmans

Director

Celebrating Success

Celebrating Our Year 12 University Successes

We are incredibly proud to congratulate Roman (Year 12) on receiving university offers from the following institutions:

University of Glasgow – Aeronautical Engineering
University of Brighton – Aerospace Engineering
UWE Bristol – Aerospace Engineering

These offers reflect Roman’s strong commitment, passion for engineering, and consistent hard work throughout his senior years. His achievements highlight resilience, curiosity, and determination, and we wish him every success as he takes his next steps towards an exciting future in aviation and aerospace.

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Pimmada (Year 12) on her outstanding achievement of being unconditionally accepted into the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University.

This remarkable milestone is a true reflection of her dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. Her passion for learning and hard work have led her to this well-deserved opportunity, and we could not be prouder of her journey and accomplishments.

Both Roman and Pimmada’s successes are an inspiration to our school community, and we look forward to seeing all that they will achieve in the next chapter of their journeys.

Early Years Update

Written by Sheridan Musto, Head of Early Years and Soi 20 Campus

The first few weeks of the new term have been filled with energy, reconnection, and a wonderful sense of community across our Early Years campus. It has been a pleasure to welcome students and staff back after the break and to see classrooms quickly settling into routines, friendships being re-established, and learning spaces buzzing with curiosity and enthusiasm.

We are also delighted to welcome many new families to AISB this term and hope that you are already feeling part of our community. A special welcome to our new staff members - Mr Simon, our EAL teacher, and Ms Maria, the new Potoroos class teacher - who have both settled in beautifully and are already making a positive impact with students and staff alike.

One of the highlights of the term so far has been Maths Week, which brought lots of fun, creativity, and problem-solving into classrooms. Students enjoyed the Maths Dress-Up Day and participated in hands-on activities, including the popular Foundation and Year 1 Jelly Bean Guessing Competition.

A very special thank you to Yuan’s mum Sophia from PreK1 Cockatoos for the wonderful number-themed cookies - they were a big hit with both children and staff!

We also enjoyed a fantastic Australia Day celebration on Monday 26 January, with students immersing themselves in Australian culture through games, music, and a delicious Aussie-themed menu including sausage sizzle, lamingtons, fairy bread, and corn on the cob. The green space was alive with traditional outdoor games, and it was extra special to be joined by our friends from 313 Blue Wrens, making it a truly shared community event.

Alongside these celebrations, we have also launched our 4th Spirit of AISB Values Challenge, which is focusing on Wellbeing. They engaged in a range of challenging outdoor games and physical activities, where they can demonstrate wellbeing through teamwork, resilience, positive risk-taking, and perseverance. This challenge supports our ongoing commitment to nurturing not only academic growth, but also the social, emotional, and physical development of every child.

These early weeks have reflected the strong sense of belonging, collaboration, and positive learning culture that we value so deeply at AISB.

Thank you to our staff, students, and families for contributing to such a warm and successful start to the year - we are very much looking forward to an exciting and meaningful term ahead.

Primary Update

Written by Hannah Carew, Head of Primary

What a joyful start to the year it has been on the AISB Primary campus. Students and staff returned in January with wonderful enthusiasm and positivity, which has continued well into Week 4. Even when faced with challenges such as air pollution, our community showed flexibility and resilience.

With a quick change from outdoor to indoor activities, our AISB Values Challenge Days were still able to go ahead, allowing students to proudly demonstrate our school values through their everyday actions.

Celebrating Our BounceBack Awardees: Optimism in Action

We are proud to congratulate our BounceBack Awardees, who were recognised during our recent assembly for demonstrating optimism in their everyday learning.

This month’s focus highlights students who approach challenges with a positive mindset, show resilience when things don’t go as planned, and continue to believe in themselves and others. Their ability to stay hopeful, try again, and look for solutions reflects the values we aim to nurture across our school community.

Introducing our Primary House Captains

These students have shown leadership, responsibility, and a positive attitude, and we’re proud to see them step into this role for the school community.

This month, students enjoyed learning more about Australia through Australia Day activities. They dressed in Australian colours and enjoyed an Australian-themed lunch, which was a highlight for many of our Primary students.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Year 5 Explores the Thai Parliament

Year 5 had an unforgettable learning experience as we visited the Thai Parliament to bring our HaSS unit on Democracy to life. Students explored how laws are made, discovered the roles of key leaders, and learned how citizens’ voices help shape decisions in a democratic society.

From the impressive architecture to the important conversations happening inside, it was a fascinating day that sparked thoughtful questions, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of how democracy works in the real world.

Looking ahead, we are excited for a busy and engaging month ahead. Sports Day for Years 3–6 is coming up soon, with the Foundation to Year 2 Sports Day scheduled for later in the term. We also look forward to our International and Multicultural Week celebrations, including parades, a food festival, and a “World Tour” around the campus where students will learn about a variety of countries and cultures.

Please continue to stay informed about upcoming events and activities through your child’s homeroom newsletter.

School Value - Integrity

Throughout the month of February, students will be learning about our school value of Integrity. At AISB, integrity means being honest and trustworthy, and taking responsibility for our actions, behaviours, words, and decisions. This value is explicitly taught and reinforced to support students in making positive choices and becoming respectful, responsible members of our school community.

Bounce Back theme - Handling Emotions

At AISB, students are learning about emotions and the important role they play in our daily lives. Every day, we experience a wide range of emotions, all of which support our wellbeing and learning. Pleasant feelings help children understand what brings them joy and build resilience, allowing them to bounce back from challenges more easily. Unpleasant emotions are equally important, as they act as warning signs, encourage reflection on difficult experiences, and support problem-solving and decision-making. By learning to recognise and express their emotions in positive and respectful ways, students develop greater self-control, resilience, and the skills needed to navigate challenges and build positive relationships.

Secondary Update

Written by Michael Bryce, Head of Secondary

Welcome back to Term 2.

I hope all our students and families enjoyed a restful break and are feeling refreshed for the weeks ahead. This term promises to be a busy and rewarding one, filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and community connection.

AISB Students Achieve Outstanding Results at King Mongkut's International Demonstration School (KMIDS) Model United Nations (MUN) Conference

AISB at the King Mongkut's International Demonstration School (KMIDS) Model United Nations Conference

AISB students represented our school with maturity, confidence, and professionalism at the KMIDS MUN Conference. Many delegates attended their very first MUN, supporting one another, sharing advice, and working collaboratively throughout the day.

Conference Highlights & Student Achievements 🏅

We are incredibly proud of the outstanding recognition received by several AISB students:

• Abigail (Year 9) achieved an exceptional result, winning Best Position Paper in her committee and Best Overall Position Paper across the entire conference.

• Chloe (Year 10) had an outstanding conference, winning Best Position Paper and Best Delegate in her committee, and receiving an Overall Honourable Mention—an honour awarded to only a small number of top delegates across the conference.

• Plookboon (Year 9) received an award for his position paper—an impressive achievement at his first MUN conference.

Beyond awards, our students engaged deeply in debates, delivered speeches, drafted resolutions, and took on specialist roles such as the Press Corps and tribunal simulations, confidently collaborating alongside experienced delegates from other schools.

Building Community and School Spirit

Our first assembly of the term provided a meaningful opportunity for reflection, with students delivering thoughtful presentations on what it means to be kind and how kindness shapes our school community.

We also recently held a Year 7, 8 and 9 camp information meeting for parents, where families had the opportunity to speak directly with the camp master and learn more about the upcoming camp experiences.

To celebrate Australia Day, students took part in a one-period sports event, enjoying a fun and energetic afternoon filled with teamwork, participation, and school spirit.

Secondary School Play: The Witches

AISB is proud to invite the school community to attend our first-ever Secondary School production, The Witches by Roald Dahl, adapted for the stage by David Wood. This exciting milestone for the performing arts at AISB is open to all members of the school community and is perfect for the whole family.

Performance Details

Date: Wednesday, 11 February

Location: Kirribilli Hall

Doors Open: 4:10pm

Show Starts: 4:30pm (prompt)

Duration: Approximately 75 minutes (including intermission)

The Witches tells the story of a young boy and his grandmother who discover that witches live among us, disguised as ordinary women and plotting to get rid of children forever. When a holiday at a British seaside hotel turns into a witches’ conference, chaos ensues—especially when the boy is transformed into a mouse. What follows is a fast-paced, humorous and clever story full of courage, teamwork and quick thinking.

Our cast and crew are currently in the final stages of rehearsals and have been working incredibly hard to bring this production to life. From performance and character work to costumes, movement and ensemble scenes, this show is a true celebration of collaboration and creativity.

The performance is free to attend, and all audience members are asked to sign up via the link to secure tickets. Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.

We warmly encourage families, staff and students to come along, support our performers and celebrate the talent, commitment and energy of our Secondary Drama students. We look forward to welcoming you to the theatre!

Music Notes

Some of AISB’s music students have been performing extensively recently, both inside and outside of school.

Aiden, Kai, Hana, Sierra, and Vinnie performed at both Live at Lunch and our school’s final assembly at the end of last term. They performed to an exceptional standard, doing both performances in consecutive days. They drew a crowd in the playground at Live at Lunch, who thoroughly enjoyed the performance and gave them a warm reception.

Aiden, Kai, Hana and Sierra also performed at the Hilton Hotel, Sukhumvit at the Hilton’s Pop Up Market event recently on Sat, 17th Jan. The students performed fantastically and received compliments from members of the public who witnessed their set. We are very proud of these students, as they represent AISB in the wider community, and showcase our school’s musical talents.

Key Dates and Upcoming Events

February

6 – Sports Day
11 – High School Play

March

18–20 – Year 7, 8 & 9 Camps
21–27 – Harmony Week
23–27 – A Level Mock Examinations
27 – International Food Fair

April

9 – Songkran Assembly (last day of Term 2; Interim Reports issued)
25 – ANZAC Ceremony at school
28 – Study leave begins for Years 10, 11 & 12 (Summer Exams)

May

18–29 – End-of-Year Examinations for Years 7 to 9

June

10 – Academic Awards Ceremony (Years 7 to 11)
11 – Year 12 Graduation

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to another successful term together.

STEAM Update

Written by Gareth Openshaw

The STEAM department has made a strong start to the second semester. Following the Christmas break, we have rotated Primary subjects: Lower Primary students are now focusing on Visual Art and Design, while Upper Primary students have moved to Digital Technologies.

Our teachers are collaborating closely to align these units, creating exciting opportunities for cross-subject projects that deepen student learning.

Developing a Shared Definition of Global Citizenship at AISB…continued

To commence the new term all staff worked with information proved by colleagues, members of our community, and students to develop a shared definition of what Global Citizenship means to AISB. The level of engagement, discussion, and collaboration reflected the very principles we aim to foster in our students: respect for diverse perspectives, openness to learning, and a commitment to collective action.

During the session, staff worked together through three key activities designed to build a common understanding and shared language around Global Citizenship.

This collaborative approach reflects our approach to Global Citizenship; learning together, valuing multiple perspectives, and working collectively toward shared goals. We thank all staff for their thoughtful contributions and invite our wider community to continue engaging in this important work as we shape a shared, lived understanding of Global Citizenship at AISB.

Mark Pearce

Deputy Head of Primary

Head of Teaching and Learning

Welcome to Term 2: Ready to Learn, Ready to Care

As the new term begins, a smooth return to school is best supported by re-establishing simple, predictable routines rather than strict rules. Consistent bedtime and morning routines help children feel calm, capable, and ready to learn, with adequate sleep playing a vital role in wellbeing, mood, and self-regulation. Gradual adjustments to sleep schedules, calm evenings, and preparing school items the night before can significantly reduce stress and support independence.

The start of Term 2 is also an ideal time to reset screen habits, particularly before bedtime, and to reinforce shared expectations between home and school. At AISB, familiar routines and values—Respect, Integrity, Community, Wellbeing, Personal Best, and Global Outlook—support students in making positive choices and contributing to a caring community. When families and schools work together on routines, sleep, and healthy digital habits, students return feeling secure, focused, and ready to make Term 2 their Personal Best.

Mark Pearce

Deputy Head of Primary

Head of Teaching and Learning

Sports and ASA

Our ASA Cooking Classes for Nursery to Year 1 continue to be a popular and engaging experience for our youngest learners. Carefully planned each week, activities are tailored to support children at different developmental stages. Younger children explore foods through sensory play—mixing, stirring, pouring, and tasting—while older students develop skills such as cutting, measuring, following simple recipes, and understanding how ingredients change. Along the way, children build fine motor skills, hygiene awareness, safe kitchen habits, and confidence as they take pride in what they create.

Children practise Personal Best by trying new skills, Responsibility through caring for tools and tidying up, and Respect by sharing resources and working together. Many students eagerly share their creations at home, strengthening their sense of connection and achievement. We thank families for their continued support, including providing reusable containers to help promote sustainability.

Athlete Spotlight: The 7th Amnuay Silpa School (ANS) Titans Sprint Challenge

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Jimin An (Year 4) following his impressive performance at the 7th ANS Titans Sprint Challenge.

Jimin demonstrated exceptional skill and perseverance in the pool, securing a podium finish and high overall rankings in a competitive field:

3rd Place: Boys 7-8 25m Butterfly

3rd Overall: Individual Rankings (Boys 7-8 Category)

Congratulations, Jimin, on your dedication and success. We look forward to seeing your continued progress throughout the season.

Chess Player of the Month tournament

Students proudly took part in the Chess Player of the Month tournament, developing important skills such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, and concentration. Throughout the games, students planned their moves carefully, showed patience, and demonstrated resilience as they responded to different challenges on the board.

The tournament provided students with an opportunity to practise fair play and sportsmanship while building confidence in a supportive environment. Whether winning a match or learning from a loss, students showed a positive mindset and enthusiasm for improving their chess skills, making the experience both meaningful and enjoyable.

Congratulaions to the winners:

Mako, Y5 Osprey
Ko, Y4 Redbacks
Sara, Y5 Numbats

English as Additional Language - EAL

Welcome back to Term 2, and we wish all families a positive start to the new term. Along with consistent routines, EAL learners benefit from regular opportunities to use English at home through simple conversations, shared reading, and discussing daily activities. Encouraging children to explain ideas, retell events, or ask questions in English helps build confidence and vocabulary.

Families can also support learning by reviewing key vocabulary before school, practising listening skills through songs or audiobooks, and praising effort when children use English independently.

We value our partnership with families and look forward to supporting each EAL student as they continue to develop their English skills and succeed in Term 2.

Timothy Dickens

Head of EAL

Associate teachers from Macquarie University

We are delighted to welcome our visiting Associate Teachers to AISB and thank them for the valuable contribution they have made to our learning community. Our Visiting Teachers are graduates from universities in Sydney, Australia. They joined our community for two weeks to work alongside our classroom teachers to develop their professional practice, and apply theory to real classroom contexts while supporting student learning and wellbeing.

Teachers have enjoyed the opportunity to share new perspectives, and engage in reflective dialogue and evidence-informed teaching. Through observation, collaboration, and guided practice, they have deepened their understanding of curriculum, pedagogy, and the diverse needs of learners. We appreciate the professionalism, enthusiasm, and care our Associate Teachers have brought to AISB, and we are proud to support the next generation of educators.

"Our two-week placement at AISB Bangkok was an incredibly positive and enriching experience as associate teachers from Sydney, giving us the opportunity to work across a wide range of year levels.

We were warmly welcomed by staff and students alike, and we gained valuable insight into an international school environment that emphasises collaboration, inquiry-based learning, and student wellbeing. Observing and participating in lessons across different stages allowed us to broaden our teaching practice, adapt to diverse learning needs, and appreciate the consistency of high-quality teaching throughout the school.

The supportive mentoring from classroom teachers and the inclusive school culture made the experience both professionally rewarding and personally memorable."

Hear them share their AISB journey, growth, and classroom learning here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CNPJBducE/

That's all for this month!

We hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter. If you have any feedback or news you'd like to share for our next newsletter, please send us an email at enquiries@australianisb.ac.th.