SISB VOICE

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM SISB CHIANG MAI

APRIL/MAY 2019 | ISSUE 9 | VOL 1                                    WWW.SISB.AC.TH

WELCOME BACK FOR TERM 3!

With the Songkran holidays and festivities complete,
we are back at school for the final term of the
academic year.

We would like to thank all the parents for their

support and understanding during the interruptions
caused by the last month's poor air quality. The LONG LIVE THE KING
school is currently devising plans to make the SISB CHIANGMAI
situation more manageable next year, and we'll
inform you as soon as the plans are confirmed. WOULD LIKE TO OFFER
OUR SINCERE
During this final term the students and teachers will
be working hard to ensure that all the content from CONGRATULATIONS TO
this academic year has been completed and the HM KING RAMA X
students are ready to move on to the next stage of
learning.
MAHA
VAJIRALONGKORN
Before Term 3 is complete, there will be assessments,
field trips, an end-of-year performance and the
ON THE AUSPICIOUS
Kindergarten 2 graduation ceremony. We'll be OCCASION OF HIS
sending you more details about all of these activities
CORONATION
in the weeks to come.
Teacher Daniel
NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN NEWS
Before the Songkran holidays, the K1 students visited Helping
Hands residential nursing home as part of our community
programme. It was just a typical day but it was really special. Our
students held a yoga session for the elders. They were so excited
to do the show and eager to be part of it. They also brought the
cards they had made earlier for all the elders as well. 

Just before we left, I saw a special reaction from one of our

students which made me feel so proud to witness the moment. 
It was the moment when one of our students gave a hug to one
of the elders and told her to live happily, stay strong and he
would come back to visit her again for sure. That hug and those
words had brought her to tears as she hugged him back and
said thank you. This was a truly magical moment between these
two generations. 

Before the trip, the kids had been practising their yoga and T.Cat
and I taught them about expressing our love and empathy to
others. We encouraged them to show their love to our school
cleaning staff on Valentine's day by helping them wipe tables
and scrub the floor. What a lovely Valentine's day! 

As a teacher, I personally think that teachers and students can't

survive without one another. Everyday we learn from each other.
We teach them life lessons and they teach us to be a better
grown ups. Once you look into their eyes, you will understand
what I am talking about. 

I was honored to be part of this residential trip and feel so lucky

to be in K1. Everyday with these 20 energetic, fun and smart
students, I have gained lots of teaching skills. Especially,
teaching them that while we are pulling ourselves up with one
hand, it is nice to pull other people up with the other hand as
well. 
What a fantastic field trip we had! Good job K1! 
 
T. Nan
 HOW IS SINGAPORE MATH DIFFERENT FROM
OTHER COUNTRIES MATH CURRICULUMS?
Singapore Math is more than just DOING math or dealing with numbers but really in the BEING -
becoming a thinker and problem solver. This goes much deeper than just getting the right
answers or just dealing with numbers.

The main difference therefore would be the motivation behind studying mathematics.

Why do we study Mathematics? Now, many people have answers for this. If you ask parents, the
answer would be: “Being good in math means you can get into a good course in university”. If you
ask a student, the answer would sound something like: “We study math because it’s a subject in
school and we have to”.

Singapore Math however, sees the reason WHY we study math in a different way and this is what
sets it apart from how other countries teach it. Singapore believes that “Mathematics is an
excellent vehicle for the development and improvement of a person’s intellectual competence”
Meaning, we are using Math as a means to reach the end goal of making our kids more
competent. What does it mean to make our kids intellectually competent?

In this 21 st century, this means that our kids need to be critical thinkers, communicators, creative
problem solvers who are willing to take risk and tackle challenges with a positive attitude. That
being said, Singapore Mathematics therefore uses teaching techniques that aim to train your kids
to BEING these kind of people who are competent to meet the needs of the changing world.       

It is therefore no surprise to know that we do

not emphasize or reward just the correct
answers but we highly prize the reasoning
behind, communication and presentation of
HOW they got to the correct answer. We want to
train students who have the qualities of:

1) Metacognition - the ability to think about their

own thinking.
2) Perseverance - not giving up when they face a
problem but having the grit to pull through it.
3) Confidence - being confident to stand for
their answer because
they know why they do what they do.
4) Good communicator - able to convince and
explain what they
are doing and why their idea is good or better.
5) Creativity and resourcefulness – coming up
with new and different ways to do the same
thing or solve the same problem.

It is a quest to train a child to be competent and

ready for life. This is what Singapore Math has
done and is doing for kids. It is not an easy kind
of training but it is definitely a worthwhile one.

Teacher Gloria
 ACTING SMART AND STAYING HEALTHY 
Songkran is behind us, but the skies aren’t quite blue yet. Pollution readings at the end of April
hit the unhealthy level (150+) each day. And yet, the common reaction is, “It’s so much better!”

It is so much better, and I’ve been guilty of going out without a mask -- until I realize that my
perspective is a bit skewed. The air is no longer the world’s worst, it’s true. Earlier this year we
had AQI levels above 300 daily, and in one dramatic week, hitting 700. Compared with those
numbers, 150+ sounds like the top of the Swiss Alps.

It isn’t, though. At 150, a mask is recommended for all residents, regardless of age or health
level. From 101-150, the air is unhealthy for “sensitive groups,” including children, the elderly, and
the unwell. So how do we protect ourselves?

First: Remember that a hospital mask prevents germs, not air particles. Those nice little green
or white masks are far more comfortable on hot days, and they’re very affordable, but they are
useless in the face of air pollution. A face mask’s effectiveness depends on two factors: Its ability
to filter out particles in the air, and its fit around the face. Disposable paper masks such as the
hospital dispenses showed up to 60 percent leakage in one study. Make sure your masks are
rated N95 or higher and that they fit well.

Soon, the rains will bring their relief, the air will clear, and the wise among us will not shelve our
air quality concerns for another year, right next to the Songkran water shooters. If you do not
use your air filtration systems year round, now is a good time to change those filters. Buy your
masks for next year. Examine your home and find how best you can seal it tightly and keep the
air inside clean. Enjoy the clean air when it comes, and prepare for the future, because burning
season will return.      
Teacher Lisa
COMMUNITY LIAISON
OFFICE OF US CONSULATE
GENERAL CHIANG MAI  The teachers and staff from SISB all offer
We'd like to thank the Lorri-Ann Smith,
Community Liaison Officer of US Consulate
General Chiang Mai , who took time out of
her busy schedule to visit Singapore
International School Chiangmai last month.
We look forward to a long and fruitful
relationship.
SINCEREST
CONDOLENCES
their heartfelt condolences to the
Laowong family for the loss of Dr Taksaorn
Laowong who passes away last month.
Our thoughts are with her daughter and
the entire family.

SISB POP-UP BOOTH

AT CENTRAL FESTIVAL
We'd like to thank all parents, teachers,
students and staff who joined our 'Pop-up'
booth at Central Festival Shopping Mall.
The event was a great success with some
great performances and presentation.
If you missed this year's event, be sure to
catch us next year!