Igniting Global Spirit through IASAS - #uniquelyISB  

It takes a lot to make a school great - it comes with hard work and a relentless determination to strive for excellence in academics, activities and a strong sense of community.

All good schools will offer educational and recreational facilities and opportunities for students to excel, discover their interests and ignite a passion for learning. Truly great schools will do all that and much more - creating those unique extra touches that give students the best possible educational experience as well as lifelong happy memories of their time at school.

Time to Take a Look at Our #uniquelyISB fact Number 3 - Our Unique Position as the Only International School in Thailand to Be a Member of IASAS

‘ISB’s membership of IASAS - the premier league of schools in Asia - affords High Schoolers with unrivaled opportunities to ignite their global spirit through athletics competitions, arts and cultural exchanges. #uniquelyISB’

IASAS, the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asia Schools, officially came into existence 40 years ago, but the seeds of the conference were sown long before that.

In 1962, Singapore American School (SAS) and International School Bangkok (ISB) had devised an annual, multi-sport event called the Singapore-Bangkok Games, which subsequently attracted interest from other larger top international schools in the region, looking for some great competition opportunities for their talented athletes. Eventually, four further schools committed to an annual athletics/activities conference, becoming IASAS in 1982. Many alumni fondly remember traveling to these schools and competing in collegiate spirit, often forging lifelong friendships and connections with fellow participants.

Over the ensuing years, various activities have been added to the agenda, offering opportunities for all students to participate in cultural exchange, collaboration and competition. Activities running now include Model United Nations, Math, Chess, Drama, Dance, Technology, Forensics, Debate, Music, Art and Film, alongside decades-old sports fixtures such as Soccer, Baseball/Softball, Track & Field, Swimming, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Rugby/Touch, Badminton, Cross-Country and Volleyball.

Celebration and Community Spirit

In normal years, IASAS events are one of the highlights of the year, with many families traveling across borders to support their children and enjoying local hospitality with their host school’s families. It is a moment of anticipation, celebration and community - in this case, spanning six countries in South East Asia. For the students, the opportunity to compete and collaborate with equally globally-minded students is invaluable. They share not only absolute pride in their school but a sense of togetherness, teamwork and are truly ambassadors of their country/ host country. It is no surprise then, that if globally-mobile families need to move to another ‘IASAS’ country, the choice of school is natural and obvious. The only thing to remember is whether you are an Eagle or a Panther on the field!

IASAS Schools

International School Bangkok

Singapore American School

International School Kuala Lumpur

Taipei American School

Jakarta Intercultural School

International School of Manila

IASAS Event Coordinator, and ISB Alumni Coordinator, Harold Albert, has been involved with the conference for many years. He recalls one of his favorite IASAS memories, the IASAS Softball tournament in 1999. “The event took place at ISB, and the championship game was between the ISB boys team that I coached versus our arch rivals, the SAS Eagles.” he says. “The grandstands at Reinsch Field were packed for the Saturday evening game, but the ISB home fans were silenced as SAS jumped out to what appeared an insurmountable 10-0 lead. The Eagles were seemingly unstoppable, and at the start of the 3rd inning I called my boys over and told them that I didn't care if it was 10, 20, or 30 to nothing, they were still my boys, and to keep hustling and to keep their heads up. That Panther team somehow found a way to outscore that outstanding SAS squad 19-5 over the last 5 innings of that memorable game to earn the gold medal, 19-15. My biggest memory of that night was how loud it was on the field, and certainly the home field advantage was instrumental in our victory. That championship, incidentally, completed the third IASAS championship for teams that I coached during the '98-'99 school year (Girls Soccer, Girls Touch, Boys Softball), an unprecedented achievement (I still claim that none of it was my doing, by the way) and one that got me my nickname, "The Legend."

ISB, home of the Panthers, welcomes applicants for 2022 and beyond (IASAS or otherwise!). Please visit our website www.isb.ac.th or you can send an inquiry directly to our admissions team by clicking here.