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R U Ok? Day 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, everywhere. As the coronavirus pandemic rapidly swept across the world, it induced a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the world’s population and among certain groups in particular, such as older adults, care providers and people with underlying health conditions. In public mental health terms, the main psychological impact has been elevated rates of stress or anxiety. As new measures were introduced by governments worldwide to stem the pandemic, such as quarantine, the impact on mental health increased.  One of the ways people have attempted to combat the stress and anxiety felt by self-isolation is to reach out to each other and talk. Whether it be online or face to face, people have meaningfully connected to ask each other how they are coping with life’s up and downs. Formed in 1995, R U OK? is a national Conversation Movement that is equipping Australians with the skills and confidence to support those struggling with life. Their goals are to: 1. Boost confidence to meaningfully connect and ask about life's ups and downs 2. Nurture a sense of responsibility to regularly connect and support others 3. Strengthen a sense of belonging because we know people are there for us 4. Be relevant, strong and dynamic Thursday, September 10 is R U OK? Day in Australia and to mark that event, students in the Secondary school have been discovering ways to ask their friends and family if they are okay. In their Positive Education lessons, students have been learning how to ask the question, R U OK?  They have discussed the importance of active listening, encouraging action and regularly checking in with those friends and family who are not coping. We understand that young people cannot be expected to fix someone’s problems, nor know the best way to help and support them. However, they can listen to what their friend is saying, let them know they care and tell a teacher or trusted adult if they are worried about their friend. 2020 has been a tough year and we are all in this together. Nobody is untouched. That is why I am proud to be part of a very supportive and caring community at AISB that is willing to ask the tough question: Are you okay? Written by Mr Mark, Head of Middle and High School Swimming Swimming is one of the best forms of full-body exercise. Not only does it provide students with a much-needed cool down from the heat in Bangkok, but it also allows students to improve both cardiovascular and muscular fitness. The swimming lessons focus on stroke correction and introduction of various stoke techniques. Some lessons will focus on watersports such as water polo which helps with improving stamina and hand-eye coordination. For most students their once a week swimming class is the only form of exercise they do for an entire week. For teenagers, this is not enough. We strongly recommend that you encourage your child to bring their swimming attire to school weekly and participate fully in the lesson. However, if for some reason they cannot swim please notify the Head of Middle and High School by email and he will assign other work for them to do. Written by Mr. Andre and Mr. Dayne Year 8 English In Year 8 English, the students finished and published a news report about the day Mt. Vesuvius erupted in Pompeii. The reports were written in third person using past tense verbs and used clear, concise, informative language to summarise the previous day's event. They also made sure to choose a short and snappy headline to grab the readers' attention. Written by Ms Jennifer , Year 7 and 8 English

The Social Dilemma Do you feel urges to use social media more and more? Do you use social media to forget about personal problems? Do you often try to reduce your use of social media without success? Do you become restless or troubled if you are unable to use social media? Do you use social media so much that it has had a negative impact on your job or studies? These are just some of the questions the Year 9 to 11 Positive Education class have been pondering this week as we watch, analyse and discuss the new Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma”. “The Social Dilemma” attempts to expose the ways in which technology giants have manipulated human psychology to influence how we behave. Social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google and YouTube use sophisticated artificial intelligence and algorithms to create a psychological profile of the user and by then feeding infinite push notifications and scrolling, they keep the users constantly engaged. Actions are predicted and influenced, turning users into easy prey for advertisers and propagandists. The dangers of social media on a teenager’s self-worth and identity has been acknowledged before, but this documentary shines a harsh light on how the social media that connects us, also control, manipulates, polarises and monetises us. It is designed to become addictive. As one interviewee states: “It’s the gradual, slight, imperceptible change in your own behaviour and perception. It’s the only thing for them to make money from: changing what you do, how you think, who you are.” We will spend the next couple of weeks exploring the issues arising from “The Social Dilemma.  I also urge all families to reflect on their own personal use of social media and have a family roundtable discussion about how to regulate it. The “The Social Dilemma” website gives valuable information for parents to do this effectively. Please look it up: https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/ Secondary School Assembly The first Secondary School Assembly for the academic year will take place on Tuesday 29 September at the Innovation Centre Hub. At this stage, parents are unable to attend due to Covid 19 restrictions, but we are hopeful that will change soon. The assembly will include an address from Mr. Greg, musical items, student reports including Student Council and monthly academic awards. We have changed the structure of monthly awards for the Secondary School. Academic awards will be given to a student from Years 7 to 11 for each subject: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Art and Design, Music, Health and Physical Education, Technology, Foreign Languages, Thai and Positive Education. There are no Bounce Back awards. As in the Primary School, these awards gain house points which will go towards the Spirit of AISB shield. A full report of this month’s assembly will be included in the next newsletter. Written by Mr Mark Weber, Head of Middle and High School Subject in Profile - Science The AISB Science Department continues to move forward at full steam, as students push towards their final projects, labs, and examinations before the midterm break. Years 9 and 10 had their first large examination this week, covering the requirements of life, cellular structure/function, endosymbiont theory, the scientific method, and enzyme structure/activity. Students will also be conducting research on a phenomenon known as The Tragedy of the Commons in the weeks to come.  They will be divided into groups and tasked with preparing a presentation on a common resource that has been overexploited.  The presentations allow students to hone their public speaking skills while relating their knowledge of Biology and Chemistry to some of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. Years 7 and 8 Science students have been building a foundation of scientific knowledge, recently focusing on biological molecules and physiological systems. Students completed a lab investigating the molecular makeup of common foods by testing for the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.  This week, students dissected a pig’s heart in order to learn about the cardiovascular/circulatory systems and the role they play in transporting nutrients and gasses around our bodies. Written by Mr. Anatole Colevas and Ms Caitlyn Brugger The Creative Space Haiku A haiku is a Japanese poem consisting of three short lines that do not rhyme. They consist of 3 lines, with the first and last line having 5 syllables and the middle line having 7 syllables. A haiku is considered to be more than a type of poem; it is a way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper. It should leave the reader with a strong feeling or impression. Year 8 has written haikus about water. Raindrops down below Covering cars in droplets Late to work again By: Amelia It swells to the clouds Towering over the town The wave crashes down By: Tilly The calm, cool water Lily pads float on the top Murky frogs jumping By: Zac The colorful boats Soft rocks under the water Beautiful fish swim By: Latifah Waves crash onto rocks Green seaweed dances nearby The beautiful sea By: Hye Won Freezing cold water Thin layer of ice on top Fishies swim inside By: Ayesha