News - 23 January 2015 08:19

NIST News - 23 January 2015

You may have noticed you're getting fewer emails from us! As we continue to develop ways to consolidate information on the new website and blog, we'll also be pushing more content into NIST News to accommodate those of you who are not able to visit the sites on a regular basis. In particular, updates from Head of Elementary Brett Penny and Head of Secondary Judith Curtis--as well as the occasional personal message from them--will be wrapped up here when possible.

Thank you for the many positive responses we've receive to these changes, and we invite you to continue sending ideas and feedback to development@nist.ac.th!

WHOLE SCHOOL

New NIST Website & Blog Now Live!

If you've visited the NIST website or blogs over the past two days, you've likely noticed the major differences from their previous versions. We've tried to make changes that consolidate much of the old content, and make it easier for you to access key systems and information.

We highly encourage you to read the brief guide on The NIST Link, particularly if you are a mobile user. Additionally, you may want to bookmark the parent page on the website.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

House Hat Uniform Expectations

Several years have passed since we introduced house hats as part of our uniform in the Elementary School, and they have proven to be quite popular. However, an increasing number of cases have occurred in which students are wearing other hats, and many lost hats are going unclaimed. For more information, and to find out where you can check for misplaced hats, visit this NIST Link post.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Middle School Dance

We will host a middle school dance on Friday, 6 February from 6:30 to 9:00 PM on the 4th floor of The Hub. To attend, our child must pick up a permission form in the Secondary Office and return it, signed by you, in order to purchase the ticket (100 Thai baht). Tickets will be sold in the morning at the front gate and at lunch time in the cafeteria. The deadline for returning the permission form and buying a ticket is Wednesday, 4 February.

On the evening of the dance, please drop off your child no later than 7:00 PM. Pick-up time at the end of the dance will be between 8:45 to 9:00 PM.

NLCS: Year 11 Information Evening

At 6:00 PM on Monday, 2 February, we will host a NIST Learning Community Seminar for year 11 students and parents to outline the options available for Years 12-13. This will include presentations from Deputy Head (DP) Paul Cooper and the high school counsellors. Heads of departments will also be available to answer questions regarding student choices for their final years at school. A full schedule can be viewed here.

ECAs & SPORTS

As a brief reminder, Session 2 of the NIST ECAs Programme finishes on 29 January, and Session 3 will run from Monday, 2 February to Friday, 8 May.

Join Us for the NIST Production Once on this Island

Based on Rosa Guy’s My Love, My Love, the Caribbean musical, Once on this Island, reimagines Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Little Mermaid, exploring the early history of the island of Haiti and creating a fable of racial and social injustice. From the Tony award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Seussical, Ragtime), this highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including best musical, book and score.

The NIST production boosts over 50 talented student actors, dancers, singers and band members from Year 7 to 13. The audience can expect outstanding performances for all cast members, particularly our year 13 students Rais Clarke-Mendes ( Ti Moune) Ellis Cox-McAllister (Goddess of the Earth, Asaka) and Sarah Tolan (Sly Demon of Death, Papa Ge). These students have chosen this production as their independent project for IB DP Theatre.

Celebrate storytelling with this rousing Calypso-flavored tale of one small girl who finds love in a world of prejudice. The shows runs from February 17-19, with a 7:00 PM curtain each evening and a total running time of two hours with the intermission.

Tickets are available outside the NIST Security Office and in the Admissions Office at 200 Thai baht for adults and 100 Thai baht for students. For more information, contact Randy Moss.

BISAC Season 2 Results

Congratulations to our varsity Falcon athletes on their performances at last weekend’s BISAC U19 basketball, tennis and rugby tournaments. NIST was host to the U19 boys basketball tournament, and the atmosphere and spirit on display was fantastic. Our teams performed at a high level both in their play and their conduct, and all teams finished in the top 4 out of the 11 schools in BISAC.

Well done to them, thanks to the coaches and parents who came out to support our athletes all over Bangkok.

BISAC Boys U19 Tennis Champions
BISAC Girls U19 Tennis 2nd Place
BISAC Boys U19 Basketball 2nd Place
BISAC Girls U19 Touch 3rd Place
BISAC Girls U19 Basketball 4th Place
BISAC Boys U19 Rugby 4th Place

NIPTA (NIST PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION)

NIPTA Gourmet Cooking Club

Date: Tuesday, 27 January
Time: 9:00 AM – 12 noon
Venue: CAB Kitchen

These very popular cooking classes are back! This time you can learn how to cook some delectable Vietnamese dishes, including fresh spring rolls, chargrilled pork with noodles, and traditional Vietnamese-style coffee. Please RSVP nipta.activities@gmail.com by Sunday, 25 January and pre-pay 300 Thai baht to Khun Wanpen at the front office by Monday, 26 January. There are still a few spaces remaining.

Lotus Leaf Canvas Painting

Date: Thursday, 29 January
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Venue: Himpan Gallery, Sukhumvit Soi 31

All parents are welcome to join this very popular and creative activity in Bangkok. No artistic or painting skills are required (range from amateur to pro abilities suitable). Just come to enjoy learning how to make a beautiful canvas to take home and decorate your wall. Plus, it's a wonderful reminder of your time in Bangkok! Expert and personalized instruction will be provided, with complimentary tea/coffee and snacks.

Price ranges from 2,500 Thai baht upwards depending on the size of canvas you select. Places are strictly limited to 12, and there have already been many inquiries, so please email nipta.activities@gmail.com as soon as possible to reserve a spot. More information will then be emailed to you about the different sizes and price options of the canvases. Prepayment at the school front office will be required by Wednesday, 28th January. No refunds/cancellations possible.

Super Bowl Celebrations

Date: Monday, 2 February
Time: 8:00 AM onward
Venue: The Game Sports Bar & Grill, 137 Sukhumvit Soi 9 (under Nana BTS)

As part of NIPTA’s Lunches of the World series, the USA & Canada Country Group will be hosting a special live super bowl viewing and breakfast party. Come on down and join us for a true East vs. West gridiron battle as the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks. The management is offering six different American-style breakfast specials, all for under 250 Thai baht. For those of you in the true Super Bowl mood, beer and cider are available (as well as soft drinks). Face painting and NFL jerseys are optional.

If you plan to attend, please email nistusacanada@gmail.com by Wednesday, 28 January.

Chinatown Foodie Night Tour

Date: Thursday, 12 February
Time: 5:45 PM meeting time for 6:00 PM tour, Exit 4 of Hualamphong MRT Station

Please join us for a nighttime tour around Chinatown, a 200-year-old district filled with ethnic traditions and delicious food. During the tour, we will explore Bangkok’s biggest street food bazaar and famous local eateries, sampling a variety of Chinese cuisine while taking a closer look at this unique neighborhood, meeting lively characters and visiting religious and cultural landmarks. The tour will end in Yaowarat Road. Please RSVP nipta.activities@gmail.com and pre-pay 1,100 Thai baht to Khun Wanpen at the school front office. If you are vegetarian or have specific food allergies, please do let us know in advance so that food can be adjusted for you.

Family Fun Day Fair

Date: Saturday, 14 February
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Venue: NIST

Come and enjoy a fun-filled family event, hosted by the Thai community at NIST! Tickets cost 600 Thai baht per person and include food, drinks, games and a lucky draw. Prizes include iPhone 5s, a Bumrungrad health check-up package and Samsung Tab to name a few. Tickets will go on sale from Thursday, 22 January.

The event will also feature the NIST's Got Talent show...in which you can participate! Group performances will be prioritized, but individual performances are also welcome, and we will limit the event to a total of 15 performances, each a maximum of five minutes.

To participate, please forward an email with your details and the following information to nisttalent@gmail.com by 3 February: name of performance, name of performer(s) and year level(s), status (student/faculty/parent/etc.), approximate performance length, type of performance (singing, dancing, comedy, etc.), your contact number, your email and any equipment required (piano, backing track, etc.). Any backing tracks must be submitted by 5 February. All performers will also receive a small gift of appreciation!

UPCOMING EVENTS

24-25 January: Thailand Google Summit (See details at The Professional Learning Hub)
26-28: Year 5 Trip to TE Asia & Pine Resort (See details in Veracross)
28 January: EY & Year 1 Parent Information Evening (See details in Veracross)
27 January: NIPTA Gourmet Cooking Club - Vietnamese Cuisine (See details in NIPTA)
29 January: Lotus Leaf Painting at Himipan Gallery (See details in NIPTA)
2 February: USA & Canada Country Group Superbowl Viewing & Celebration (See details in NIPTA)
2 February: 5th ASEAN Event Series - Bridges: Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace, featuring Professor Bruce Beutler (See details in press release)
2 February: NLCS for Year 11 Students & Parents (See details in Secondary)
6 February: Middle School Dance (see details in Secondary)
12 February: Chinatown Nighttime "Foodie Tour" Walk (See details in NIPTA)
17-19 February: Once on this Island (See details in ECAs & Sports)
Early March (TBC): Bangkok Bike Tour
6 March: Travelling through the Decades - NIPTA Community Quiz Night

This Week in Sports

26 January: U15 Boys Soccer vs. RIS (3:30 PM at NIST)
26 January: U19 Girls Touch Rugby vs. BPS (3:30 PM at NIST)
28 January: U11 Boys Soccer B Team vs. RIS (2:30 PM at NIST)
29 January: U15 Boys Soccer vs. BPS (3:30 PM at BPS)
30 January - 1 February: SEASAC Basketball Tournament at NIST
30 January - 1 February: SEASAC Tennis Tournament at BPS
30 January - 1 February: SEASAC Rugby & Touch Rugby Tournament at UWC Dover, Singapore
31 January: BISAC U17 Boys Basketball at ASB
31 January: BISAC U17 Girls Basketball at ICS
31 January: BISAC U15 Boys Badminton at BPS
31 January: BISAC U15 Girls Badminton at BPS
31 January: BISAC U13 Boys Football at SHB
31 January: BISAC U13 Girls Football at NIST (hosted by Traill)
31 January: BISAC U13 Boys Badminton at ISB
31 January: BISAC U13 Girls Badminton at BPS
31 January: BISAC U11 Boys Football A, B & C at HIS
31 January: BISAC U11 Girls Football A at BIS
1 February: BISAC U17 Touch Rugby at ISB
1 February: BISAC U15 Boys and Girls Football at BPS