Monthly Newsletter - October 2026
Updated: 14 hours ago
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Our Director's Update
Dear Parents and Friends,
October has been a wonderful month at AISB, filled with student achievements, exciting developments and meaningful learning experiences across our school community.
We are proud to see our students continuing to excel both inside and outside the classroom, demonstrating their talents, creativity, determination and commitment to their personal best.
Across our campuses, students have continued to learn, explore and grow through new developments at Soi 20, Student-Led Conferences, STEAM projects, sporting activities and opportunities to connect with the wider community. We have also continued to strengthen our focus on innovation, sustainability and student wellbeing.
As we look ahead to November, there is much to look forward to, including residential experiences, Sports Days, opportunities to strengthen digital wellbeing and our upcoming Secondary production of Alice in Wonderland. Thank you to our students, families and staff for your continued energy, care and commitment. Together, we look forward to another exciting month of learning, growth and connection.
Warm regards,
Henri Bemelmans
Director
Celebrating Success
Congratulations, PK
A big congratulations to Phuttakhun (PK) from Year 7 Kakadu and his teammates from the Grizzly Bear Ice Hockey Team for winning Gold in the U15 Division at the Frozen Face Off 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!
This achievement reflects their dedication, teamwork and commitment to the sport. We’re proud to celebrate PK’s success and the hard work behind this achievement. Well done, PK!
Celebrating Surkhab’s Book Launch
Congratulations to Surkhab from Year 10 Namadji, who has written and published his first book, a children’s story with a meaningful message for young readers.
Having spent the past four years at AISB, Surkhab has dedicated his first copy to the school community where he has continued to learn and grow. He recently presented four signed copies of his book, Mighty Coach, to the Primary School Library, where they were warmly received by Primary Librarian Ms Bowie, Deputy Head of Primary Mr Mark Pearce and Head of Secondary Mr James Worland.
This is a wonderful milestone that reflects Surkhab’s creativity, initiative and passion for storytelling. We’re proud to have his work on our library shelves and look forward to seeing our Primary students discover and enjoy his story in the years to come.
AISB U13 Football Team Wins BASIS Football Tournament
The AISB U13 Football Team enjoyed a successful day at the BASIS Football Tournament on Saturday, 24 October, finishing the competition unbeaten with three wins from three matches.
Competing in a round-robin format, the team demonstrated teamwork, determination and composure throughout the tournament, scoring seven goals and conceding just one across their three matches.
Congratulations to our U13 players and coaching staff on this achievement. We are proud to see our students' hard work, commitment and team spirit reflected in their performances, both on and off the pitch.
Congratulations to Sean and Skyy
Congratulations to Sean (Year 6) and Skyy (Year , who competed as a team in the International School Golf Tour (ISGT), a premier junior golf series in Thailand connecting student golfers from leading international schools. Both students won their respective age groups, a fantastic achievement.
A special shout-out to Skyy, who also competed in the Jack Newton International Golf Tour in Australia earlier this month, securing first place. What an outstanding result!
We are incredibly proud of both students’ dedication, hard work and commitment to their sport.
Celebrating Pasit’s Robotics Achievement
Congratulations to Pasit from Year 7 Kakadu on competing at the Australian National Robotics event, the RoboCup Junior National Championships, in Canberra, Australia!
Pasit took on the challenge of competing against numerous high school robotics teams, demonstrating his technical skills, problem-solving and determination throughout the event.
Well done, Pasit! We’re proud to celebrate your efforts and dedication.
Early Years Update
Written by Sheridan Musto, Head of Early Years and Soi 20 Campus
A New Chapter for Soi 20 – Canberra !
One of our biggest highlights has undoubtedly been the opening of the Canberra buildings, parent waiting area, and our newly expanded outdoor space.
It has been wonderful to see our campus transformation taking shape, providing children with even more opportunities to play, explore, connect and learn.
Our expanded Meadow, new multipurpose spaces and improved campus facilities are exciting additions to our learning environment. These developments are about much more than new buildings; they reflect our ongoing commitment to creating engaging, flexible and welcoming spaces where children can thrive.
We have also introduced new arrival and dismissal arrangements, and we sincerely thank our families for their patience, flexibility and support as we settle into these changes.
Opening Doors to Our Community
In early October, we were delighted to welcome prospective families to our Soi 20 Open Day. Visitors had the opportunity to explore our learning environments, meet our educators and experience the warmth and energy of our school community.
From our youngest learners in Nursery through to our confident Foundation and Year 1 students, the morning showcased what makes learning at AISB so special: strong relationships, purposeful play, curiosity and a genuine sense of belonging.
Our Student-Led Conferences (Primary) and Parent/Teacher meetings (EY) were another wonderful opportunity to celebrate children's learning. Seeing children share their achievements, talk about their experiences and take pride in their progress reminds us just how capable and confident our young learners are becoming. Thank you to our families for being such important partners in their learning journeys.
Celebrating Belonging, Kindness and School Spirit
October also brought plenty of colour and excitement to Soi 20!
Our Halloween celebrations were a delightful occasion, with children proudly showing off their costumes, enjoying their class parades and sharing plenty of smiles with friends and teachers. Our family photo booth added a special touch to the morning, capturing some lovely memories along the way.
We also introduced House Shirt Fridays for PreK2, Foundation and Year 1, giving children another opportunity to celebrate their House identity and strengthen their connection to the wider AISB community. These small but meaningful traditions help children develop a sense of pride, belonging and teamwork from an early age.
Throughout our classrooms, educators continue to place a strong emphasis on kindness, respect, friendship and emotional wellbeing. Through programs such as Kimochis and BounceBack, children are developing the language and strategies to understand their feelings, build positive relationships and navigate everyday challenges with growing confidence.
Learning Together – Strengthening Our Parent Partnerships
Our recent Parent Mathematics Workshop was another valuable opportunity to bring learning and home together. We were pleased to welcome parents into school to explore how mathematical understanding develops and how families can support children's confidence and curiosity through everyday experiences.
Across Early Years, mathematics is so much more than numbers on a page. It is found in construction, patterns, sorting, measuring, problem-solving, games and the countless discoveries children make through play. We value these opportunities to share our teaching approaches with families and strengthen the connection between what children experience at school and at home.
Expanding Opportunities – Saturday Swimming and English Language Boost
We are also excited to introduce two initiatives that further enhance learning opportunities for our students.
Our Saturday Swimming Program helps children build water confidence, develop essential swimming skills and stay active in a supportive environment, extending learning beyond the regular school week.
Our new English Language Boost (ELB) Program offers targeted small-group learning to strengthen vocabulary, communication and confidence in expressing ideas through engaging, personalised activities.
Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to helping every child grow in skills, confidence and independence, both inside and outside the classroom.
Sheridan Musto
Head of Early Years & Soi 20 Campus
Primary Update
Written by Hannah Carew, Head of Primary
Primary School – October Highlights and November Excitement!
Despite the mid-term break in October, Primary certainly packed a lot of exciting learning and activities into the month!
One of the highlights was our Student-Led Conferences, where students had the opportunity to share their Term 1 learning with their parents. It was wonderful to see our students confidently showcasing their work, explaining what they have been learning and reflecting on the progress they have made. We are incredibly proud of the way our students took ownership of their learning and were able to share their growth and achievements with such confidence.
Our School Leadership Team also had the pleasure of welcoming a group of parents to share their perspectives on our guiding statements, our Definition of High Quality Learning and the characteristics they believe should be representative of an AISB graduate. Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. Your insights and feedback are incredibly valuable, and it was lovely to hear your aspirations for the school and the learning experiences you want for your children.
We finished October on a wonderfully creative note with Eco-Ween, organised by our Student Council. What a fantastic turnout! Our students and families certainly demonstrated their creativity, designing and wearing some amazing costumes made from recycled materials.
It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm for sustainability, imagination and reusing resources. Well done to everyone who participated!
Looking Ahead to November
November is shaping up to be another exciting month for our Primary students!
Our Year 4, 5 and 6 students are looking forward to their residential experiences, with plenty of outdoor adventures, new challenges and opportunities to build friendships and independence alongside their peers and teachers. There is certainly a lot of excitement building, and we cannot wait to hear about their adventures!
Preparations are also underway for our Winter Concert. Students have already started learning their songs, while our wonderful costume committee is busy preparing outfits to help our performers look spectacular on stage. A big thank you to our dedicated parent volunteers who work alongside our Arts and Music teams to bring this special event together. Your time and enthusiasm make such a difference!
We also have our Primary Sports Days approaching, with more information to follow. Our first events will be:
Year 1 and Year 2: Tuesday 10 November at the Amaroo Campus.
PreK 2 and Foundation: Thursday 12 November at the Amaroo Campus.
Years 3 - 6: Friday 20th November
We are looking forward to seeing lots of smiling faces as our youngest learners participate in a range of fun sportiIt’s been another busy and rewarding month in Secondary, with plenty happening across our school community. While there is much we could share, this month we’re focusing on a wonderful article written by our students about their recent Global Perspectives visit to a local nursery. It’s a great example of learning extending beyond the classroom and the meaningful experiences our students are gaining along the way.
We also have some exciting events coming up in Secondary, details of which have already been shared with families. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to another great month ahead!
ng activities. These events are a wonderful opportunity for children to demonstrate teamwork, collaboration and sportsmanship while earning valuable points for their House!
There is so much to look forward to this month, and we cannot wait to see our Primary students continue to learn, grow, challenge themselves and make wonderful memories together.
Bounce Back Theme: Courage
This month, we are focusing on Courage as part of our wellbeing learning. Children are encouraged to understand that everyone feels scared or nervous sometimes and that courage is not about having no fear, but about having a go and facing challenges even when something feels difficult.
Everyday courage can be as simple as trying something new, speaking in front of the class, navigating friendship challenges or standing up for someone who needs support. We are also helping children understand the difference between being courageous and taking unnecessary risks. Parents can support this learning by sharing examples of times they have faced their own fears, celebrating their child's efforts to try new things and reminding them that the more we practise facing challenges, the more confident and capable we become.
Courage helps us grow, build confidence and become stronger.
School Value Focus: Personal Best
This month, our focus is on Personal Best and what it means to continually strive to be the best we can be. We are encouraging students to build resilience and perseverance by embracing challenges, learning from setbacks and recognising that mistakes are opportunities to grow.
Through developing confidence, showing passion and setting achievable goals, students are encouraged to take pride in their progress, celebrate their own achievements and recognise the successes of others. We also explore how striving for our personal best extends beyond the classroom through contributing to our school and wider community, building a strong sense of belonging, connection and school spirit.
Secondary Update
Written by James Worland, Head of Secondary
It’s been another busy and rewarding month in Secondary, with plenty happening across our school community. While there is much we could share, this month we’re focusing on a wonderful article written by our students about their recent Global Perspectives visit to a local nursery. It’s a great example of learning extending beyond the classroom and the meaningful experiences our students are gaining along the way.
We also have some exciting events coming up in Secondary, details of which have already been shared with families. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to another great month ahead!
Secondary Global Perspectives students spearhead field trip to Mercy Centre Orphanage
On October 22nd, Year 10 IGCSE Global Perspectives students Kimaya Kriangsaksakul, Myra Kumar, and Alayna Chawla organized a field trip to the Mercy Centre Orphanage for 15 students. Their aim was to further investigate poverty and inequality within orphanages here in Thailand to answer the research question, “What are the main challenges that orphanages face due to lack of resources, and how does this affect the children's education and daily lives?” Additionally, the team wished to learn what resources or actions could be taken by the AISB community to improve the education and daily lives of children in orphanages.
The project kicked off with a House Competition Donation Drive between the six houses of Acacia, Grevillea, Telopea, Eucalyptus, Wollimi, Correa. Students were urged to donate daily necessities, hygiene products, school supplies and flood recovery supplies - due to the recent floods in Thailand, which heavily impacted the orphanages.
Over the course of two weeks, AISB pupils brought all kinds of items including: clothing, toys, and books. In addition, the three organizers Myra, Kimaya, and Alayna contributed hundreds of food items and raised more than 4,000 baht in donations.
During the half-day field trip, the team ran a games workshop for forty kindergarten children with activities such as arts and crafts with crown decorating, duck-duck goose in the playground, and a freeze-dance station. Afterwards, the team stayed to interview staff and gain deeper insight into Mercy’s fundamental role in the community providing education and shelter for children from impoverished households. The Mercy Centre kindergarteners and staff noted that the children had a fun and enjoyable time while AISB students had a glimpse into the lives of young children attending Mercy Centre.
Down the Rabbit Hole!
AISB Secondary Presents Alice in Wonderland
Get ready for a journey into a world where nothing is quite as it seems! AISB is delighted to announce its upcoming Secondary School production of Alice in Wonderland, adapted for the stage by Brainerd Duffield from the much-loved stories of Lewis Carroll.
Follow Alice as she plunges down the rabbit hole and finds herself swept into a madcap world of curious creatures, eccentric characters and wonderfully absurd adventures. From the mysterious Cheshire Cat to the delightfully chaotic Mad Hatter and the formidable Queen of Hearts, Alice encounters a kaleidoscope of action, madness and unexpected twists as she tries to make sense of Wonderland.
Drawing on episodes from both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, Duffield’s adaptation brings Carroll’s imaginative and satirical world to life in a fast-paced theatrical adventure filled with humour, suspense and surprises.
Our Secondary Drama students have been working hard to bring this fantastical story to the stage, developing their characters and performances while collaborating with a creative team on costumes, props, set and other production elements. The result promises to be a vibrant celebration of imagination, creativity and teamwork.
We warmly invite the AISB community to join us for this exciting production and support the talent and dedication of our Secondary students!
Performance Details
📍 Venue: Kirribilli Hall, AISB
📅 Date: Thursday 3 December
🕓 Doors open: 4:10 pm
🎭 Performance begins: 4:30 pm
Book Your Tickets
Don't be late for this very important date! Secure your seats using the booking link below:
We look forward to welcoming you to Wonderland for an unforgettable theatrical adventure!
Drama Students Experience Twisted Tales at Bangkok Patana School
Our IGCSE and AS & A Level Drama students visited Bangkok Patana School to watch Twisted Tales, a devised performance by Black Box Theatre Company.
The experience gave students valuable insight into live theatre, exploring how performers use voice, movement, physicality and teamwork to bring stories to life. Following the performance, students also joined a Q&A with the actors, learning more about the creative process and what it takes to pursue a career in professional theatre. An inspiring opportunity to connect classroom learning with the world of performing arts!
The visit was a wonderful opportunity for our Drama students to engage with live performance, learn directly from practising theatre-makers and further develop their understanding of the creative process and the professional performing arts industry.
STEAM Update
Written by Mr Gareth, Assistant Primary Principal and Head of Steam
Innovation Celebration Week
Our Soi 31 Primary students recently took over Kirribilli Hall for their annual Innovation Celebration Week, diving into this year’s theme: Eco-Tech! Guided by our Art, STEAM, and Digital Technologies teachers, students engaged in a series of interlinked hands-on activities:
Visual Art & Design: Lower Primary innovators created adorable "owl buddies" using real pinecones and eco-friendly materials, while Upper Primary students transformed cork into personalized coasters showcasing sports logos, quotes, and original artwork.
STEAM: Students put their engineering skills to the test by designing, building, and weather-testing forest-material shelters to protect their new buddies from tropical rainstorms.
Digital Technologies: After exploring eco-friendly homes of the future, students stepped into the realm of modern tech by crafting AI prompts to visually bring their own sustainable city concepts to life.
Click the link below to see our young innovators' incredible creations in action!
Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC)
Our Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) programme provides children with a welcoming space to play, learn, socialise and unwind beyond the regular school day.
This term, we have increased opportunities for outdoor play, including regular use of the bike track to develop balance, coordination and confidence. Children also enjoy a variety of creative, sensory, imaginative and active experiences, from balloon painting and nature exploration to construction and outdoor games.
Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), our programme supports children's wellbeing, independence, communication and relationships. With a balance of purposeful activities, child-led play and opportunities for rest, OSHC provides a positive continuation of each child's day at school.
Learning Through Chess
This term, our chess sessions have focused on understanding how each piece moves and recognising legal and illegal moves. Children first explore these concepts together before putting their knowledge into practice through real games.
They enjoy handling the pieces, testing their skills and learning through play. Regular practice is key to building confidence and improving their game.
Alongside practical skills, children are also discovering the history of chess and learning about famous players, including Bobby Fischer and Wilhelm Steinitz of Austria, the first official World Chess Champion.
Maths Trek Investigations: Thinking, Challenging and Applying Mathematics
If you walked into an AISB mathematics lesson during a Maths Trek Investigation, you might see students designing a marble ramp, working within a budget, analysing data, planning a journey or testing different solutions to a problem. There will certainly be plenty of mathematics taking place, but perhaps not always in the way we traditionally imagine a maths lesson. This is an important part of our approach to Mathematics at AISB.
Maths Trek is our whole-school Foundation–Year 6 mathematics program, aligned with the Australian Curriculum. The Australian Curriculum develops learning across Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics and Probability, alongside the important mathematical proficiencies of understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem-solving.
While explicit teaching and regular practice are essential for building secure mathematical knowledge, we also want students to know when, why and how to use what they have learned. This is where Maths Trek Investigations play an important role.
Putting mathematics to work
Investigations present students with extended, often real-world problems that require them to draw upon mathematics they have previously learned. Rather than simply completing another set of similar questions, students need to make decisions, select strategies, test ideas, make connections and explain their reasoning.
The experiences develop in sophistication as students progress through Primary. Younger students might organise an Oz Animal Olympics, design a hopscotch course, experiment with ramps or plan a visit to a pretend café. The mathematics is purposeful: students may need to measure, calculate, collect data, work within a budget, recognise patterns or compare possible solutions.
This reflects Maths Trek's emphasis on immersing students in unfamiliar, extended mathematical problems where they apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts.
“I thought that this investigation would be easy and not fun at first, but this investigation was one of the most fun and challenging maths related things I have ever done! I wouldn’t mind making another maths puzzle again.” - Irich Y6
Learning to think critically
An important feature of Investigations is critical thinking. Students are encouraged to move beyond “What is the answer?” towards questions such as:
How do you know?
What evidence supports your answer?
Can you prove it? Is there another way?
Which solution works best, and why?
Maths Trek explicitly teaches students the language associated with this thinking. Cognitive verbs such as explain, compare, justify, prove and evaluate are modelled so students learn how to construct well-reasoned mathematical responses.
This matters because being successful in Mathematics is not simply about performing a calculation. At AISB, we want students who can calculate, explain, reason, justify and apply their mathematical understanding.
“We really enjoyed our Maths Trek investigation because it felt like planning a real trip! Our favourite part was looking up flights between Australian cities. The Biggest challenge came when we arrived in a city late, we had to wait until the next day for another flight. Even with those delays we completed our journey in 28 hours and 18 minutes - well under the 48 hour limit!” - Isabelle and Willow Y5
Challenge means going deeper
Investigations also provide valuable opportunities for challenge and enrichment. Challenge does not necessarily mean moving students prematurely to the mathematics of the next year level or simply giving them more questions.
Instead, a student who has mastered a concept can be challenged to investigate a more complex possibility, identify multiple solutions, justify why a strategy works, evaluate the efficiency of different approaches or respond to a higher-order inquiry question. Teachers can simultaneously adjust questioning, scaffolding, grouping and expectations so that all students can participate successfully.
“I had a lot of fun doing this activity and had a lot of fun with my partner. I used my creativity and learnt about how to think about what is one thousand. We learnt how to multiply and had to sometimes use minus, plus and division.” - Edwarde Y3
Maths Trek Investigations help our students see Mathematics as something to explore, question and use. We want every AISB student to see themselves as a mathematician, someone who is curious, willing to tackle a challenge and confident enough to say not only “This is my answer,” but “This is how I know.”
Mark Pearce
Deputy Head of Primary
Head of Teaching and Learning
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.
