One of the many specialized programs we offer at ISM is the ESOL department. This department focuses on improving key students skills across many different areas of the English language. Almost all students at ISM have been involved with, or received some form of ESOL support during their time here. The ESOL teacher works alongside the homeroom teacher, the common core curriculum, and it utilizes its own specialist platform which is WIDA. 

What is WIDA?

WIDA stands for the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment. It’s a group that focuses on helping English Language Learners (ELLs) succeed in school. They create resources and assessments to measure how well ELLs are learning English and mastering academic content.  

WIDA provides teachers, schools, and districts with tools and support to effectively teach ELLs. This includes standards, assessments, professional development, and resources. By using WIDA’s resources, educators can better understand the language needs of their ELLs and provide them with the support they need to thrive.

How do we use it at ISM?

All students in the ESOL program undergo a WIDA assessment at the beginning and end of each year.   The reason we do this is because we want to create an action plan in order to assist each student on their journey.  The ESOL department along with the homeroom teacher, ES counselor and ES principal, analyze this data, and decide the best course of action going forward.  This could be scheduling additional lessons with the ESOL teacher, monitoring the student in the classroom environment, or simply communicating with parents, as to some self study the student can do at home.  Each student’s needs are different and this is why the hard data from WIDA is so useful. 

Author

Joe Macpherson
ESOL Teacher
Elementary School

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ISM and WASC Accreditation
The International School of Myanmar (ISM) is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) for over 16 years. This accreditation confirms that ISM meets high-quality educational standards and ensures that its students are well-prepared to apply to prestigious universities in the U.S., the UK, and beyond.
What are the benefits of attending a WASC-accredited school?
1. Global Recognition
Programs at ISM are widely recognized by universities and colleges worldwide. Students are well-positioned to apply to globally renowned institutions, including those in the U.S. and the UK.
2. High Academic Standards
WASC-accredited schools adhere to advanced educational benchmarks. They provide an environment fostering innovation, adaptability, and holistic development, preparing students for challenges in a globalized world.
3. Opportunities for Growth
ISM’s curriculum, developed under WASC guidelines, focuses on critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship, ensuring students gain essential skills for the 21st century.
4. Community Support
Schools accredited by WASC typically attract vibrant learning communities. This creates a supportive and enriching educational environment for students.
Why Is WASC Accreditation Important?
For families in Myanmar seeking an international education, the collaboration between ISM and WASC offers a strong assurance of their children’s future. This accreditation not only ensures compliance with high standards but also promotes excellence, innovation, and accountability, aligning with global educational practices.
Choosing ISM allows students to enter a globally competitive education system, preparing them for success in the 21st century. WASC accreditation underscores ISM’s commitment to advancing world-class education in Myanmar, opening pathways to international opportunities and success on the global stage.

Download A Pathway to International Opportunities Through WASC Summary

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Our first Parent Coffee was a heartwarming success and a great way to start building our community. It was a pleasure to see familiar faces and welcome new members to our ISM family. These gatherings are invaluable in fostering a strong partnership between our school and parents, and I look forward to many more in the coming months.

Our after-school activities are off to a fantastic start! It’s a delight to witness our students eagerly participating in a variety of areas. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated teachers and staff who make these activities possible.

Our Student Council has hit the ground running, exemplifying leadership and initiative. They have been working tirelessly to create positive change within our school community. Their efforts in organizing events such as Movie Night, voicing student concerns through the suggestion boxes, and rewriting our Dragon Cheer are truly commendable. We are immensely proud of their dedication to making our school a better place for all.

One of the exciting developments this year is the introduction of student-hosted assemblies. This initiative not only provides a platform for our students to showcase their talents, but also nurtures crucial life skills such as public speaking, teamwork, and event coordination. Watching our students take the lead on these assemblies has been nothing short of inspiring. It is a testament to the incredible potential each child possesses. These assemblies foster a sense of belonging and pride in our school community, and I believe they play a vital role in developing well-rounded individuals.

As we move forward, I am filled with anticipation for all the growth and achievements that lie ahead. Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to the success of our students.

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Lead Organizer, Founder, and Current President of TEDxISM 

On February 25, 2024, my dedicated team and I hosted the 2nd TEDx event at ISM. This year’s theme, “Create Your Tomorrow,” inspired a forward-thinking mindset, prompting participants to contemplate and discuss their future. It served as a platform for the younger generation to express their hopes and plans for a brighter tomorrow while allowing those with more life experience to share wisdom from their past in shaping their futures.

We were honored to have five distinguished speakers:

1. Dr. Asabha is a meditation master currently performing missionary work in Myanmar and several other countries. A devoted Buddhist from a young age, he holds a B.A. degree from the State Pariyatti Sasana University in Mandalay, Myanmar, an M.A. degree from the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka, and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Mumbai in India. His talk focused on the four predominant factors: desire, effort, consciousness, and investigation.
2. Ms. Hsu Shin Moe, also known as Scarlet, is a freshman at the International School of Myanmar. Despite her seemingly whimsical nature, she faces the common teenage struggle of procrastination and dwelling on the past. However, these challenges have revealed another aspect of her personality and provided valuable lessons she was eager to share. Her talk centered on the role of being a big sister and the impact of procrastination on shaping our future.
3. Mr. Joseph Costello is the Economics and Business Teacher at the International School of Myanmar. An Educational Leader and Athletic Developer with an M.Ed and MBA, he has achieved the roles of 4x All-American, 2x National Champion, President of the Cambodian Lacrosse Federation, and was the Former head of Men’s and Women’s lacrosse at Durham University. He shared his insights on the three essential factors for success in life.
4. Ms. Daewe Aung is a student at the International School of Bangkok. A passionate writer and reader, she enjoys journaling and reading published articles and op-eds in her free time. She won the Harvard Debate Council in the summer of 2023, demonstrating exceptional speaking skills. Her talk looked more closely at college admissions, privilege, and how we can shape our future.
5. Mr. Tianhao Chua is an entrepreneurial visionary with a passion for empowering others. He co-founded Foodmania, which includes popular brands like Ocha Bubble Tea and Mook Mookata Buffet Restaurant, with over 20 outlets across Myanmar. He also co-founded Theco, a consultancy and coaching firm aimed at guiding enterprises through the complexities of entrepreneurship, fostering resilience and sustainability. His talk discussed the OUT principles and his challenges as an entrepreneur.

I am grateful to the International School of Myanmar for their sponsorship and support and Dr. Hill for his guidance. I’m also proud of my team’s resilience in overcoming challenges to make this TEDx event successful. Lastly, despite their busy schedules, I appreciate the speakers’ dedication and cooperation. Their contributions made our event truly special. Thank you all!!!

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Our program was a great success thanks to the presence and support of our ISM students, staff, and faculty. We sincerely thank Young Min Kim, our ISM student band, Ms. Suzy, Mr. Orlin, Khine Pyone Wai, Dr. Hill, Kalayar Zoe ISM Alumni, and Khant Thu Hein @Henry, our Student Council President, for their outstanding contributions to the program. Their speeches, performances, and messages captured our school’s mission, history, and legacy.

We are immensely grateful to all our guests and supporters for joining us on this momentous occasion. Your presence, enthusiasm, and support made our celebration an unforgettable experience. We look forward to continuing our journey of academic excellence, working towards our vision of ISM students being innovators who positively impact Myanmar and the global community.

Once a Dragon, always a Drago

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This month, at ES we have been exploring different cultures of the world. This might be new for the younger children, a lot are just discovering what the word “culture” means. I tell them quite simply that it is a group of people and the way that they live including food, country, language, traditions, religions, and clothes. These might be different in all cultures but there are also aspects of cultures that are the same and things that are universal. This is how Art ties in as Art can be a universal language. Cultural Art is an expression of the culture’s beliefs and values and in most cases the culture’s spirituality, as well. It is interesting to me that most cultures, even on different sides of the world, have masks, and each culture has its own designs and shapes unique to them. 

This month, we have gotten inspiration from cultural art and used some of the culture’s ideas or techniques for our Art projects, however I encourage the children to use their own creativity and come up with their own idea for their art that is meaningful to them.

Join me now, for a Distance Learning tour around the world. We will start in KG in South America and in Africa. We collaborated with Miss Elsa’s Class and Mr. Kincaid’s class in looking at the beautiful beaded jewelry of the Zulu tribe and the Amazon people in Brazil. Both classes made masks and jewelry with paper plates and paper, as well as an Amazon head dress in Mr. Kincaid’s class. 

Next, we travel to India in 1^st grade with our celebration of Diwali. We traced our hand, drew henna designs, and then in the background, drew mandalas. We discovered similarities and differences between Thadingyut and Diwali, both are Festivals of Light in Myanmar and India. 

Next, we travel to Europe to see the Art of the first humans, and then imagine what it would be like to be a Cave  man or woman. We had such interesting discussions in class about the first humans and lots of curious questions. The students are learning to draw animals and this is a good practice for them as well as learning about Art history. First, they dyed paper with coffee or tea to make the paper ancient looking. Some of the students were really successful with this in creating a rock like texture that would resemble a cave wall. Our next couple of projects are connected to the Cinderella book series that 2^nd graders are reading. In their class they read “The Rough Faced Girl,” a Native American Cinderella story. Travelling to North America in the Pacific Northwest, the students are making their own Totem Poles to connect with this cultural story. 

The 3^rd Grade is doing a unit on cultural identity, we also connected with this in Art by making traditional Myanmar puppets out of paper and recycled materials. We really did start from scratch to create these marionette puppets with materials we could find in our homes. They also did drawings about their own culture that they come from. 

The 1^st grade and 4^th grade have explored Aboriginal Dot Painting in Australia. The first graders traced their hands and made patterns with dots. The fourth graders were able to dive deeper into the symbols and meaning of the culture as well as making aboriginal maps with symbols and animals of their choice using their own creativity. We just took the technique of dot painting to add variety, patterns, and symbols to our Art. I do like how each artwork turned out completely different for each student.

The last stop on our global tour is 5^th grade. We looked at cultural masks for inspiration and once again, using recycled materials or things they had in their home, they made cultural masks of their own choosing. One reason I like traveling is learning about other cultures and meeting different types of people from each culture. There is beauty in the differences but it is also one way to see how we are all connected. 

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This course “engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.”

After successfully completing the AP Seminar, students take the second course in the AP Capstone – the AP Research. AP Research “allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000-5000 words and a presentation with oral defense.”

Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. On the other hand, students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four other AP courses will earn the AP Capstone Diploma. Both awards are increasingly recognized and valued by universities and colleges.

Participating in the AP Capstone experience would not only help students stand out to colleges in the application process and possibly earn college credit. Much more important than these is the development of key academic skills (e.g. communication, critical thinking, and collaboration) that help students become successful in college and the life beyond.

“AP Seminar.” AP Central, 25 Sept. 2020, https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-seminar/course.

“AP Research.” AP Central, 25 Sept. 2020, https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-research/course.

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Journey to the South – by an ISM AP Biology student.
On this episode of Magic School Bus, we will be going back in time to a glorious day right before the covid-19 event at a high school named ISM. We can observe a kind, brilliant Einstein look-a-like teacher passing out fresh baked cookies to his first class of the day. These cookies look delicious and students are delighted to get one each. Students do not hesitate a second and start feasting on the treats. By their high levels of the Ghrelin hormone, we can assume that they probably skipped breakfast coming to school on time or they just really love the teacher’s cookies.

Let’s shrink down our magic school bus and hide inside one of the cookies. The cookie was quickly eaten by a student. It is ingested through the mouth where the teeth and tongue initiate mechanical digestion. The enzyme amylase in the saliva is also capable of breaking down starch into simple sugars. We can observe the walls lining the oral cavity being made up of stratified squamous epithelium cells. The bus goes down with the chewed food through the esophagus, a tube that leads to the stomach. The wave-like muscle contraction moving the food is called peristalsis and it helps move the food around. Once we reach to the stomach, we fell down into the gastric juices of the stomach with digestive enzymes that help breakdown all the food. And of course, our bus did not corrode by the stomach acid, it’s a magic school bus. After a few minutes later, we find ourselves in a mixture of gastric juices and digested food called Chyme and as expected of a teenager’s diet, far too much sugar in one meal.

This Chyme mixture is further headed to small intestines. The gallbladder is notified of the high fat content and to release more bile to aid digestion of fat, turning them into fatty acids. The bile if produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. On the other hand, the pancreas is capable of producing enzymes to aid in digestion: trypsin and chymotrypsin for proteins, amylase for carbohydrates and lipase for fats. 

As we get to the small intestines, we see a whole canal walled with tentacle-like structures coated with smaller tentacle-like structure. These are called Microvilli which have very thin walls and a blood supply. The sugar, salts, fats, vitamins squeeze through the walls and go into the bloodstream. There are even lots of friendly bacteria which help digest the food and make vitamins for the body. They accompany us in this long journey. We had to go through a long time through the small intestines. More and more digested food contents get absorbed and fibers are the only ones to survive the digestion.

With a sharp turn, there lies a huge dark path where we almost fell into. It is the infamous appendix. We did not want to be trapped inside there. By being cautious, we made our way into the colon, the big intestine. Here, the walls squeeze and clasps the food contents absorbing out the water and making the waste material sturdy. Right in front of us lies, the anus where the waste is excreted out of the body. Before we end up in a shady place of ISM, we were able to teleport back into the world, magically. So that is the end for the trip through the digestive system.

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Every year, in May, the ISM Elementary School has a “Creative Arts Night” combined with the music program and we have a big Art Show with lots of student work hung around the school like a museum. However, this year we are unable to do that because of the virus. Instead, Ms. Phyu and I have put together a Virtual Art Show online, set up like a museum or gallery.

I am featuring some of our art from the Art Show in the newsletter with a water theme, including the art of Hanna and Jerry with their 4^th grade mandalas, Hazel’s rainbow fish (KG), Leo’s watercolor orca (5^th Grade), YoYo’swaterlilies and Mary’s sea turtle (1^st Grade.)

We are also featuring some cosmic themed art made by 1^st graders Aung, Aaron, and Zach, as well as Rosa from 4^th grade, Alexander from 5^th, and Ji Yeon from 5^th grade.

Lastly, please walk through our Virtual Art Show for the ISM Elementary School featuring art from Kinder-5th Grade. Press ctrl and click this link to view:

https://www.artsteps.com/view/5ebb8c969df06a42985b4112?currentUser

On the outside of the building, to the right of the virtual doorway, you will notice the welcome sign. Please give it a moment to download and then click on the door to enter.  You can navigate through the Art Show by clicking the footsteps where you want to go, or you can click on the little map in the bottom left corner and click the room you want to go in. There is a wall and room for each grade level.

You can also go to https://www.artsteps.com and in the search, type in “ISM Elementary Art Show 2020.”  Enjoy and have a great summer!

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