Mr.Snider
Head Primary School Teacher and Grade 4A Homeroom Teacher

All parents know that good sleep is important for their child’s health. This knowledge can easily be forgotten, though, in our busy modern lifestyles. Good sleep, both of our own and that of our children, is often one of the first things to be neglected when we have too much to do. Recent scientific research is discovering that quality sleep is crucial to our overall physical, mental, and emotional health. For children, quality sleep may mean the difference between normal and abnormal development and learning. Parents need to take sleep very seriously. Many people know that good sleep is necessary for our bodies and brains to rest and reset. Scientists are now discovering that sleep is needed for much more than just rest. It is during sleep that our brains sort through the day’s experiences and record the important ones as new memories. Sleep is thus essential to learning. Sleep is also when our brains rid themselves of waste chemicals.  Human growth hormone, which is crucial to a child’s physical development, is primary released during sleep.

Inadequate sleep has been linked to numerous physical and mental health issues. People who don’t sleep enough have a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and depression. Inadequate sleep can lead to attention hyperactivity issues in children. Children who don’t sleep enough have difficulty regulating their emotions properly, which can lead to problems in many aspects of their lives. And, as any teacher can tell you, sleep deprived children simply don’t learn as well.

The National Sleep Foundation in the United States offers the following science-based recommendations for how much children should sleep. Preschoolers should get between 10 and 13 hours of sleep per day, children between the ages of 6 to 13 should get 9 to 11 hours of sleep per day, and teenagers should get 8 to 10 hours a day.

Besides getting enough sleep, children and parents should also practice good “sleep hygiene” to make getting to sleep easier. Electronics and televisions should be removed from the bedroom. Because the blue light emitted from the electronic devices interferes with the brains’ ability to fall asleep, children should not use any screens (tablets, phones, computers, TVs) at least 30 minutes before bed. Practices like meditation and mindfulness can help prepare children fro bedtime. Snacks before bedtime should be high protein (nuts, unsweetened yogurt, peanut butter, cheese and crackers) instead of high sugar. Finally, form a regular bedtime routine and stick to it.

Good sleep and good learning go hand in hand. Make getting good sleep a priority for both your children and yourself. More information about the importance of sleep can be found at https://sleepfoundation.org. 

Ms. Kay
Grade 1A Homeroom Teacher

For the Primary School’s 2nd Annual Geography Bowl, students from the three WIS campuses (On Nut, Bang Na, and Thong Lor) came together for a friendly competition on various geography topics. These topics ranged from general facts about continents and oceans to specific facts about capitals and flags. Family involvement and encouragement played a crucial role in preparing students for the competition. Students were placed in teams and worked together with their classmates to discuss and answer questions. All students had the opportunity to test their geography knowledge and practice team work in an engaging and fun way! They look forward to participating in the next Geography Bowl!

 

Ms. Dana
Grade 5B Homeroom Teacher 

On September 15th, Grade 5 took their first ever field trip to Bangkok’s Metro Forest. This man-made forest was designed as an outdoor exhibition space that encourages environmental awareness. The students were taught about local forest ecology, and how Bangkok has been affected by deforestation. After the students learned how the forest was intended to take on its own ecosystem, based on local tree species, the students walked through the forest on an elevated walkway. They had a guided tour through the forest and saw everything up and close, from up high. The fresh air and shade felt a world away from Sukhumvit Road!


 
 

October 6th – Parent Teacher Conference
October 13th – Rama IX Memorial Day (No school)
October 18 – Its a Jungle Out There Mid-Term Show
October 23 – 27 – Midterm Break
October 30 –  Classes Resume
October 31 – Halloween Trick or Treat at School