Orientation

New teachers go through a pre-orientation on Aug. 1-6 so that briefings, legal procedures, meetings and housing searches can be scheduled. This website and equivalent infokit handout aims to answer the most common concerns and questions of new teachers from overseas.
Two or three working days before the opening of school in August are designated as Teacher Orientation days. Depending on the year, Orientation may take place either on- or off-campus. Consultants may sometimes be brought in to lead Orientation or our own teachers may be asked to lead workshops. Administrators plan Orientation days with suggestions from the Teachers.

The purposes of Orientation are to:
1. Enable teachers to prepare their classrooms
2. Lay the groundwork for staff teamwork and plan jointly at the department level
3. Review current procedures, policies and schedules for all teachers
4. Share overall goals for the school year

This school year all teachers are expected to attend the Orientation on Aug. 9-11. Classes and student orientation will begin on Aug. 13, the day after the Queen's birthday.

Not directly related to the orientation is the "unofficial" staff bonding trip that some teachers organize for the new arrivals. In the past three years this involved a weekend trip to the white sandy beaches of Koh Samed, the favorite weekend getaway of many TCIS teachers. The official staff bonding trip follows a couple of weeks after school starts. This usually takes place in a resort hotel and teachers may bring their families.