|
Loy Krathong comes to GIS
Let me help you - an IB
student lends a hand.
Mark Beales
Photos by Ritche Guisona
Students celebrated Loy Krathong at Garden International School (GIS) with
an array of cultural activities.
The school’s Thai department organised an afternoon show on November 6 to
mark one of Thailand’s most popular festivals.
Students from Primary and Secondary performed traditional Thai dances, gave
a display of Muay Thai boxing and made their own krathong using
biodegradable materials. Parents were invited to come along and watch the
show.
Indorama was the gold sponsor and Blue Sky Developer Company Ltd., was the
silver sponsor for the school’s Loy Krathong event. GIS is based in Ban
Chang, near Pattaya.
Take that! A Muay Thai expert
performs a high kick.
Young Muay Thai boxers put on a fantastic show.
Many GIS teachers dress up for the occasion.
Students from Secondary perform a traditional
Thai dance.
I think this goes here - Primary students figure
out how to make a krathong.
Secondary students from GIS have fun making
their krathong.
Away it goes! Releasing their krathong.
|
|
|
 |
Young guests at Holiday Inn Pattaya enjoy an adventure in English
Children on vacation enjoyed two fun-filled days of
English-language activities.
There was no time to relax by the pool for staff at Holiday
Inn Pattaya and Regents International School Pattaya on 25 and 26 October. The
British boarding school and the family-friendly hotel worked together over the
busy Chulalongkorn weekend to offer children on vacation two fun-filled days of
English-language activities.
“Adventures in English” is the British school’s unique English-language activity
programme, designed to show children aged 5 to 13 how much fun learning English
can be. Over the course of two days, Mr Jamie - one of the teachers at Regents -
and his assistant Ning guided the children through activities like ‘the jungle’
and ‘the underwater world’. These adventures took place in the hotel’s colourful
Kids’ Club, where the youngsters laughed, learnt some new English phrases and
created some wonderful artwork.
Mr Jamie and his assistant Khun
Ning guide the children through activities.
“At Holiday Inn Pattaya, we celebrate family time, and the
precious moments families can have on holiday together. Adventures in English is
one of our various activities made keeping in mind our very special guests -
kids. This activity combines fun with learning, giving mums and dads the chance
to make their kids’ holiday truly memorable one. Kids are really special to us.
That’s why at Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts worldwide, kids stay and eat for free
- making it that much easier to turn holiday dreams into reality without
breaking your budget!” said Kate Gerits, general manager of Holiday Inn Pattaya.
Tim Eaton of Regents International School Pattaya commented, “As a British
boarding school based in the countryside beyond Pattaya, we’re a popular choice
with parents, particularly those living in the capital who don’t want their
children to spend all their time in Bangkok. We have students of 50 different
nationalities enrolled here, so we are truly an international school, but Thai
families are such an important part of our community and the children we met
this weekend were really enthusiastic learners.”
Both the hotel and the school are looking forward to offering another round of
Adventures in English later this year.
The kids learn some new English
phrases and create some wonderful artwork.
One of the young guests with her
masterpiece.
|
|
Oxford graduate returns to GIS
Lauren with IB Coordinator Mr
Beales and budding lawyer Berenice.
Mark Beales
Photos by Ritche Guisona
An Oxford graduate who was one of the first ever students at an international
school near Pattaya has returned to her old classroom.
Lauren Dingsdale was one of the first students to study at Garden International
School (GIS) in 1994. GIS is based in Ban Chang, near Pattaya.
As the school prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Lauren came back for a
look around. She was photographed in the Pattaya Mail as the first student to
walk through the school gates when GIS opened.
Lauren is now a successful lawyer for a major law firm in the UK. When she
returned to GIS, several students who are interested in becoming lawyers were
able to interview her and ask for advice on how to enter the legal profession.
 Oxford
graduate Lauren Dingsdale - one of the first ever students at Garden
International School!
After leaving GIS, Lauren was granted a scholarship to go to a private Sixth
Form College and completed her A levels in English Literature, Mathematics,
Economics and Government and Politics. Lauren then attended Oxford University
and, after that, law school.
Today, Lauren lives back in England, as a corporate lawyer. She said: “We
specialize in competition law. I really like my job, I’m very happy there and
I’m very lucky - it worked out very well. My company works for Google, Royal
Mail and the UK government.”
Lauren said she decided she wanted to become a lawyer after watching a film. She
explained: “The movie Legally Blonde inspired me! I also watch Law and Order and
Silk but Boston Legal was my favourite.”
Today, GIS is the largest international school in Rayong, but back in 1994,
things were relatively small. Lauren remembered: “There were about 12 students
in my class, but Year 7 had about three students. I had some English friends
here and the other students were mainly Thai and Japanese. I enjoyed my time
here.
“I remember at GIS we had a Bluebirds’ Club, which was like the Guides or Scouts
and I remember sitting around the circle that’s in Primary taking an oath. We
also did a school play based on Star Trek. At the time there were the original
Star Trek and Batman series on TV for two hours a day so all the children
watched it.
“I played Scotty’s assistant in our play. We made the scenery ourselves, we
spray-painted cups to make them look like buttons.”
Do you have any memories or photos of studying or working at GIS? If so, email
them to [email protected].
|
|
|
