Monthly Newsletter - September 2025
- AISB News
- 5 days ago
- 17 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
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Our Director's Update
Dear Parents and Friends,
It’s only the second month of the school year, but already we are seeing a wonderful rhythm of learning, connection, and growth across all our campuses. It’s clear that our students have settled well into their routines and are engaging deeply with everything school life has to offer.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting classrooms and events across all three campuses. Whether it’s the laughter of young learners in Early Years, the teamwork on display during Primary’s Spirit of AISB Values Challenge, or the creativity and ambition shown in our Secondary programs, it’s clear that our students are stepping into the year with confidence and purpose.
Our Donuts for Dads mornings were a great success — a warm reminder of the strength of our AISB community and the importance of those everyday moments that build connection between home and school. I’d like to thank all the families who attended and supported these events.
In Primary, the focus on values like Respect and Personal Best is coming to life through assemblies, class activities, and playground conversations. Our Child Protection learning has equipped students with important tools to keep themselves and each other safe — a critical part of our wellbeing program and school culture.
In Secondary, students are already making strong academic progress. It’s been inspiring to see our learners tackle lab experiments, design hub challenges, and international competitions with such focus. Recent highlights include the impressive performance of our football squads, and standout entries in the International Drama Competition — all of which showcase the breadth of student talent at AISB.
I’d also like to highlight the work happening behind the scenes — our teachers are actively engaged in professional learning and lesson refinement, ensuring that classroom experiences are purposeful, inclusive, and grounded in best practice. Across the school, our focus remains on helping every student grow — academically, socially, and emotionally.
As we continue this journey together, I am deeply grateful for the strong partnership we share as a school community. The energy, curiosity, and kindness we see each day are a powerful reminder of what makes AISB such a special place.
Yours in education,
Henri Bemelmans
Director
Early Years Update
Written by Sheridan Musto, Head of Early Years and Soi 20 Campus
What a joyful few weeks at our Early Years campus.
Our Donuts for Dads morning filled the campus with smiles as dads and special adults joined children for play and conversations. Thank you for the wonderful turnout - events like this knit our community together and create memories children talk about all week.
In the same spirit of giving, we’ve donated a large portion of our older furniture and resources to a local school in the Klong Toey area and to Bangkok Community Help Foundation. We’re proud to support our neighbours while keeping useful items in circulation as part of our sustainability goals.
Learning has been vibrant across the year levels.
Nursery and PreK1 are experimenting with materials—paper, playdough, and fabric—discovering how to roll, stretch, tear, twist, and join, often using recycled items. PreK2 are deepening social–emotional learning through Kimochis: naming feelings, practising keys to communication, and finding safe ways to self-regulate.
In Foundation, young scientists studied the parts of a plant, examined flowers up close on a nature walk, photographed their observations, and combined them into a collaborative plant collage. Year 1 mathematicians have been building number sense by counting on—using playdough models to “squish and count” from the larger number and then recording their thinking in 2-digit + 1-digit number sentences.
In Year 1 writing, we read Edwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement, created our own emus, and used them to inspire super sentences. Our interesting words were announce, require, and perfect; the children practised using these words in their own sentences—both spoken and written—to build rich vocabulary.
We were thrilled to host our Spirit of AISB Values Challenge on Soi 20, with our 313 Blue Wrens joining us for the morning. In house colours and hats, students rotated through energetic stations—think Tunnel Ball, Hula Hoop Toss, and Captain Ball—earning points for participation and for living our focus value of RESPECT. We loved seeing children cheer for peers, take turns, care for equipment, and celebrate effort. Thank you to the staff team who planned and ran the stations, and to families for helping children come ready to play.
Alongside learning, wellbeing and safety remain front and centre. During Child Protection Week, children explored ways to keep themselves safe, practised asking for help, and identified trusted adults at school. Dress to Impress Week has refreshed our focus on the full school uniform; we’ll keep working together toward white ankle socks and solid black shoes for all students—thank you for your support. We’re also continuing our short daily wellbeing and mindfulness routines to help children settle, focus, and return to learning with calm bodies and minds.
Finally, as we mark World Teachers’ Day, a heartfelt thank you to our teachers and TAs for the care, craft, and consistency they bring every day. We celebrated with a staff afternoon tea, and we are grateful to families who shared kind words and notes of appreciation.
We are deeply proud of our students and thankful for the strong partnership we share with you—together, we’re building a joyful, safe, and purposeful start to school life.
Primary Update
Written by Hannah Carew, Head of Primary
Welcome to September at AISB
September has been a busy and exciting month at AISB! Our children are now happily settled into their 2025–2026 classes, building many new friendships and developing positive connections with their teachers and peers. With routines established, the energy across the school is one of curiosity, enthusiasm, and joy for learning. It has been wonderful to see students embracing new challenges, showing resilience, and already demonstrating our school values as they begin another year of growth and discovery.
September brought us many events and learning to each week starting with Donuts for Dads. Where we were delighted to welcome so many happy dads to our Donuts for Dads morning at the start of September. This event coincided with Australian Father’s Day and was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all the special things dads bring to family life. We look forward to hosting a similar event in May for Mums, aligning with Australian Mother’s Day.
Spirit of AISB Values Challenge
We had a wonderful start to the year celebrating our school values through the very first Spirit of AISB Values Challenge. All primary students took part in engaging activities and games that encouraged them to think strategically, collaborate, and support one another. From balancing together on shrinking islands to working as a team to achieve shared goals, the day was filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of house points earned along the way!
We look forward to next month’s Values Challenge, where students will focus on the value of Personal Best and explore how teamwork and perseverance help us reach our goals.
Child Protection and Protective Behaviour Lessons
During September, all primary students took part in Child Protection lessons to build awareness, resilience, and safety skills. They learned how to recognise unsafe situations, set personal boundaries, and identify trusted adults for support.
We are so proud of our students for the maturity and engagement they showed in these important lessons, and for knowing how to respond and seek assistance when needed.
Bounce Back Assembly
This month we celebrated students who demonstrated strong effort in their learning and lived out the Bounce Back themes of Core and Social Values.
A special thank you to:
Year 3 Bandicoots and Year 3 Crocodiles for their poems and song about Respect.
Year 6 Curlews and Currawongs for their live skit and rap performance on Respect.
We are so proud of the courage and confidence shown by students who performed on stage, demonstrating both Respect and Personal Best.
October AISB Value Focus: Personal Best
This month, our community is focusing on the value of Personal Best. At AISB, Personal Best means fostering a sense of belonging and school spirit while striving for growth and excellence.
We encourage students to embrace:
Resilience and Perseverance – staying determined and bouncing back from challenges.
Confidence – adopting a growth mindset and learning from mistakes.
Passion – approaching learning with enthusiasm and dedication.
Recognition and Celebration – appreciating achievements—our own and others’.
Improvement and Advancement – striving for continuous progress.
Goal Setting – setting challenging but achievable goals to unlock potential.
Bounce Back Theme for October: Resilience
Resilience is the ability to cope with difficulties, setbacks, or disappointments and to “bounce back.” Children will face everyday challenges, such as mistakes, friendship issues, or competition, as well as bigger life challenges. Building resilience helps them grow stronger and more independent.
How parents can help build resilience at home:
Display resilience reminders at home to prompt positive thinking.
Encourage age-appropriate independence (packing their bag, walking to school).
Talk openly about worries and brainstorm solutions together.
Challenge negative self-talk with positive alternatives.
Allow children to face some challenges without stepping in to solve them all.
Model problem-solving by thinking aloud.
Avoid “quick fixes”—help children sit with big feelings, knowing you’re there to support them.
Stay Connected
As always, we encourage families to stay connected by checking the school calendar regularly and reading your child’s homeroom teacher’s newsletter every Friday. These updates are a great way to stay informed about the exciting learning and events happening in the classroom and across the school.
Secondary Update
Written by Michael Bryce, Head of Secondary
A Busy and Successful Term for the Secondary School
It has been an incredibly busy and productive term in the Secondary School, with students actively participating in a wide range of academic, sporting, cultural, and leadership events. From high-stakes international competitions to vibrant school-wide initiatives, our students have demonstrated enthusiasm, resilience, and a strong commitment to excellence in everything they do.
In the classroom, students have been deeply engaged with practical, hands-on learning — particularly in the sciences, where lab practicals have provided opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge through experiments and investigations.
Similarly, in the Design Hub, students have taken on exciting creative and technical projects, developing prototypes, solving real-world design challenges, and showcasing innovation and teamwork. These practical experiences have been instrumental in developing both critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Student Leadership - House Report
The start of the school year has been filled with energy, enthusiasm, and plenty of House spirit!
We kicked things off with the Golden Ticket Assembly, where both students and teachers worked together in challenges, cheered each other on, and celebrated their House pride in front of the whole school. This was followed by our first major competition of the year, the Golden Rope Tug of War. After a series of tightly contested battles, it was Telopea who showed incredible teamwork and determination to claim the victory and the Golden Rope for 2025.
We are also very proud to announce our new House Captains and Vice-Captains for the year:
Acacia – Captain: Jessica | Vice-Captain: Aahana
Correa – Captain: David | Vice-Captain: Zoe
Eucalyptus – Captain: Kaushik | Vice-Captain: Anderson
Grevillea – Captain: Aiden | Vice-Captain: Ryleigh
Telopea – Captain: Prisha | Vice-Captain: Momona
Wollemi – Captain: Chommanaad (Paint) | Vice-Captain: Kazuki
Our new captains will not only lead their Houses in upcoming sporting events such as the Swimming Carnival and Athletics Day, but also play an important role in wellbeing, encouraging new friendships, strengthening our sense of belonging, and inspiring everyone to always do their best.
Meanwhile, students across all year levels have already been busy earning valuable House points through their effort in class, participation in special teacher projects, and contributions on the sporting field. Every point counts, and it’s been wonderful to see students and teachers working side by side to make the House system such a vibrant part of school life.
Thanks to their success in the Golden Rope Tug of War, Telopea has taken a firm early lead in the House points tally, with all other Houses very close behind. With so much still to come this year, the competition is wide open and the excitement is just beginning.
Mr. Peter
House Master
Mr. Max
Assistant House Master
Academic Progress
Students continue to engage in their preparations for the International Biology Competition, demonstrating their commitment to academic excellence.
Year 7 and 8 students have completed the PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) in English, Mathematics, and Science. Individual reports will be sent home shortly, giving valuable insight into student progress in these core areas.
Reporting and Assessments
We are currently awaiting the finalisation and upload of our Term 1 report format via iSAMS. While we hope to release reports before the break, please be assured that they will be shared with parents as soon as they are available.
Looking Ahead: Fundraising for a Cause
Advance notice to all families: I will soon share information regarding an important upcoming fundraising event in support of breast cancer work in Thailand. This is an external event, and last year we saw some participation from our school community. We hope to see even greater involvement this year.
Upcoming Events:
September 25 – IGCSE and A-Level resit exams commence
October 2 – Eco Fashion Show
October 3 – Mathematics Competition
October 10 – Awards Assembly
October 17 – End of Term 1
October 28 – Students return for Term 2
We are incredibly proud of our students for their continued enthusiasm, effort, and engagement in all areas of school life. Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and wonderful students for making this term so successful.
Until next time,
Mr. Michael
Head of Secondary School
Secondary Drama: A Month of Creativity and Discovery
Secondary Drama is buzzing with energy as students across all year groups immerse themselves in a wide range of exciting units and theatrical styles.
Year 7 – Performer’s Toolkit & Haunted House
Year 7 began the year by building a Performer’s Toolkit, focusing on voice, mime, and body language. They are now exploring a Haunted House unit, using physical theatre to bring a mysterious mansion to life. From doors that vanish in a mist to rocking horses that whisper, students are learning how to create tension and atmosphere on stage.
Year 8 – Page to Stage: A Monster Calls
Year 8 have been delving into A Monster Calls, experimenting with abstract physical theatre, ensemble storytelling, and emotional expression. Using movement, proxemics, vocal techniques, and pace, they are discovering how to convey complex relationships and themes of truth and grief with power and sensitivity.
Year 9 – Introduction to IGCSE Drama
Year 9 have stepped into the world of theatre practitioners and companies, studying Stanislavski, Brecht, Frantic Assembly, Gecko, and Artaud. After conducting independent research, students led their own practical workshops to share their findings. They are now preparing their first devised piece as a rehearsal for future coursework, exploring the theme of “home” and how it holds different meanings around the world.
Year 10 – IGCSE Coursework & Three Sisters
Year 10 have launched into their final IGCSE coursework, devising a Cluedo-inspired murder mystery packed with dramatic comedy. Alongside this, they’ve begun studying Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. To set the scene, the class celebrated with a “birthday party” inspired by the play’s opening, bringing its world vividly to life ahead of their June examination.
Year 11 – A-Level Beginnings
Our new A-Level students have started with Small Island by Andrea Levy, adapted by Helen Edmundson, a sweeping story of love, loss, and the complexities of migration and identity. For their scripted coursework, they have chosen The Wasp by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, a tense psychological drama about two women confronting dark secrets from their past.
From haunted mansions to psychological thrillers, Secondary Drama students are developing their skills and imaginations, ready to share their talent with audiences throughout the year.
Many thanks,
Ms Jane
HS Drama Teacher
Growing Together as Global Citizen
This term, Primary staff engaged in a lively professional learning workshop centred on Global Citizenship — one of our AISB’s core values guiding principles. Through interactive activities and collaboration, teachers explored what global citizenship means for us, our students, and our wider community.
At its heart, global citizenship is about interconnectedness — a sense of belonging to a shared humanity and recognising the political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental ties that link us locally, nationally, and globally. It is about nurturing humility, empathy, and curiosity, and ensuring these qualities are deeply embedded in our learners.
Staff worked together to identify what is and is not global citizenship. Discussions highlighted that true global citizenship goes far beyond “food, flags and festivals” — it embraces diversity, tolerance, cooperation, and fairness, while asking learners to think critically about the world and their role in shaping a sustainable and just future.
One powerful activity asked: What skills, attitudes and values do we want our students to have? What do they already bring? Why are these important? This reflective task sparked rich conversations about our values of Wellbeing, Respect, Integrity, Community, Personal Best, and Global Outlook, and how they guide us to intentionally grow these qualities in our students.
A globally minded person embraces diversity, seeks to understand multiple perspectives, and is willing to act for positive change. But this raises the question for us all: How do we know a student is becoming a global citizen?
At AISB, we believe the answer lies in the everyday choices our students make — showing empathy, respecting differences, collaborating across cultures, and engaging with real-world issues. By embedding global citizenship across our curriculum and school culture, we are equipping our young people not only for academic success, but for their future roles as responsible, compassionate citizens of the world.
Mr Mark Pearce
Deputy Head of Primary & Head of Teaching and Learning
Teaching and Learning Update
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a young person enjoying their learning experience. The smiles that came with overcoming challenges, the growing confidence as milestones are reached and new skills acquired, and the connections that students make with their classmates and teachers - all of this, and so much more, makes every day at AISB rewarding.
Guided Reading and Explicit Instruction
This month, a key focus in Primary has been Guided Reading and the continued development of explicit teacher instruction. In early primary student learning is scaffolded through the use of decodable texts to build strong foundations in phonics and early reading, before progressing onto more comprehension-based activities. These activities support the development of literal, inferential, and evaluative skills, while also strengthening vocabulary, fluency, and overall reading confidence. Teachers are intentionally scaffolding these stages to ensure every learner has the tools to become an independent, reflective, and enthusiastic reader.
Professional Review Cycle
Across the school, the Professional Review cycle has been in full swing, with staff engaging in observations, reflective conversations, and targeted feedback. This process provides valuable opportunities to share best practice and strengthen teacher proficiency, ensuring that instructional approaches remain aligned to achieving the best possible learning outcomes for students. It has been an affirming process of professional growth and a reminder of the collective commitment to excellence in teaching and learning at AISB.
Professional Learning Focus
Professional learning has also been a highlight this month. In Secondary, teachers participated in workshops on the application of cognitive science strategies, particularly the use of chunking, retrieval practice, spaced practice, and interleaving to support sequencing of learning and long-term memory retention.
Primary teachers focused on data-informed practice, examining how deep knowledge of our learners supports tailored instruction, differentiation, and next steps for progress. Both strands of professional learning reflect our shared commitment to research-informed teaching and continuous improvement.
Celebrating Collaboration
Finally, we celebrate the collaboration of our teams and the mutual support of colleagues in creating stimulating learning environments. Together, we continue to nurture and inspire, living our school mission of empowering compassionate young leaders for life.
Mr. Mark PearceDeputy
Head of Primary & Head of Teaching and Learning
EAL
This month in Teaching and Learning, we’ve been reflecting on how important it is to build strong partnerships with parents and guardians. Research — and our own experience — shows that when families are actively engaged, students thrive. Following Strategy 39 from The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox, we’ve been finding ways to make communication with parents more consistent, collaborative, and welcoming.
Rather than seeing communication as one-way, we’re encouraging families to share insights about their children’s strengths, challenges, and cultural backgrounds. This helps us tailor support in the classroom and ensures that learning continues at home in meaningful ways. By creating this shared responsibility between teachers and families, we’re not just supporting language development — we’re building a stronger, more connected learning community.
Mr. Timothy Dickens
Head of EAL
Enrichment
Research into the ‘Science of Reading’ shows that children learn best through carefully structured and explicit teaching of phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. To complement our InitiaLit program in the early years, we have introduced MiniLit Sage and MacqLit small-group programs this term to provide extra support for some students in these areas.
In these groups, students are actively engaged in targeted lessons that reinforce their foundational skills and build steady progress in reading and spelling. We know that not all learners progress at the same rate, and these programs enhance our ability to differentiate for a range of students’ points of need.
Ms. Rebecca Hannan
Enrichment Coordinator
Smart Choices Online: What Our Students Are Learning
Mr. Gareth Openshaw, Head of STEAM and Assistant Head of Primary
This past month, our students have been focused on Digital Citizenship during their homeroom and Digital Technologies lessons.
They have learned about a number of important, age-appropriate topics, including:
Being respectful online: Understanding how their words and actions affect others.
Protecting personal information: Keeping their private data safe.
Making good choices online: Thinking before they post or share.
Balancing screen time: Managing the time they spend online.
Handling online risks: Knowing how to identify and respond to dangers like cyberbullying.
To recognize their hard work, we are producing Digital Citizenship certificates, which will be given to students soon.
We encourage you to continue these conversations at home. For more information on online safety, we recommend visiting the parent section of the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner website. It has many free resources, videos, and guides to help parents.
Celebrating Success
AISB football squad
A huge congratulations to our AISB football squad for their fantastic performances this September!
U15 team – BISAL Champions! With teamwork, determination, and passion, they empowered one another to give their personal best and proudly showcased true AISB spirit on the field.
U13 team – demonstrating resilience, respect, and commitment, they gave their personal best and secured 6th place in a challenging competition.
These experiences go beyond the pitch—empowering our students to grow, strive for their personal best, and develop lasting sportsmanship. Well done, Team AISB!
International Drama Triumph for Our Students!
Three of our talented drama students have achieved outstanding results in the International Speak Up Drama Competition, hosted by Drama Matters, a UK-based drama teacher network.
At the end of last academic year, we held an in-school “Speak Up” challenge where students devised original performances on issues that matter to them. The winning pieces were then submitted to the global competition, which attracted entries from over 100 schools worldwide.
Enija impressed judges with a thought-provoking monologue exploring the hidden pressures of being a so-called “popular girl.” Her piece revealed the conflict between social expectations to lead and her personal dream of auditioning for the school musical—showcasing both vulnerability and inner strength. Enija’s performance earned her a place as a Finalist in the KS3 Monologue category.
Hana and Nayantara captivated audiences with their dynamic duologue about the intense pressure faced by Olympic gymnasts, highlighting the sacrifices, relentless training, and mental strain behind the glamour of elite sport. Their powerful teamwork and nuanced portrayal led them to win the KS3 Duologue category.
Both performances also featured at our CAPA Festival 2025, where they inspired peers and staff alike.
These accomplishments highlight not only the students’ exceptional creativity and commitment, but also the vibrant, imaginative storytelling that thrives within our Drama Department. Congratulations to Enija, Hana, and Nayantara on this remarkable achievement!
Mental Math World Cup
We are proud to share that several of our students recently competed in the Mental Math World Cup, with very impressive results. This international online competition challenges students to solve complex math problems entirely in their heads—quickly and accurately.
Three of our students ranked in the top 10 in Thailand in the Grandmaster category (ages 12 and above).
Sakiho (Year 8) achieved an incredible 1st place in Thailand, and also ranked 16th worldwide in the highly competitive Zen Master category, which is open to all ages.
Congratulations also go to Thanaphon Jencharoenku (Year 9), who placed 4th in Thailand, and Surkhab Singh Bajwa, who placed 9th in Thailand in the Grandmaster category. We are so proud of these students for their hard work, dedication, and impressive results!
Sci-Art Competition 2025
2D Art
Congratulations to Karina Ungkurapinan (Year 7 Kakadus) for placing 12th in the 2D Art Category with her piece “The Deep Blue Layers.”
Karina’s delicate watercolour and drawing work explored the layers of the ocean and the marine animals that inhabit them. Full of detail and scientific insight, her artwork stood out for its beauty and educational value. A stunning blend of science and creativity—well done, Karina!
3D Group Entry
Congrats to Karina, Ryleigh, and Aiyara — joint winners of the 3D Group Entry category.
Their sculpture "Hibiscus Pollination" beautifully combined science and art, showcasing the flower’s structure and pollination process with creativity and precision.
3D Group Entry - Group 2
Big congrats to Sakiho Baba, Nayantara Rastogi, and Seowon Lee (Year 7) for their 3D group entry "Pastel Animal Cell" — a soft-sculpture model that wowed judges with its creativity and scientific accuracy.
Their work tied for 1st place in the 3D Group category.
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.
