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IGCSE stars at GIS
Ben Bartlett.
Chris Stokes
Deputy Head Teacher, Upper Secondary
Garden International School (GIS) is celebrating after
another batch of successful IGCSE results. As always they are even better
than the national averages in the UK for GCSEs and are an improvement on
their own results for the third year running!
Seeing as GIS is a non selective school which accepts
students of all abilities and nationalities (over 30 at present) this high
score reveals a high value added element invested by the teachers here.
Heta Shah.
This year’s GIS figures revealed that 79.2 percent of
students achieved an A*-C grade. Of the 264 entries for this year’s exams, a
total of 209 achieved A*-C grades.
In 2010, the pass rate in the UK between grades A*-C was
69.1 percent.
Star students included Mehar Satya Shirin Chappidi and
Heta Shah, who were both awarded 7 A*s and 1 A grade.
Parth Shah gained 6 A*s and 2 As while Ben Bartlett was
awarded an impressive 7A*s and a single C grade.
IGCSE Coordinator Chris Stokes said, “These are brilliant
results. This is a testament to the students’ hard work and also to the
teachers who have helped everyone achieve such great grades. We are now
looking forward to equally good grades for next year.”
Mehar Satya Shirin Chappidi.
Parth Shah.
Achievers in GIS pose for a
class photo with the IGCSE coordinator,
Mr. Chris Stokes.
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Getting inspiration from the
Neilson Hayes Library in Bangkok
There are so many books we are spoilt for choice
in our Library Quest.
Twanya and Jade, Year 9
students, St Andrews International School
Year Nine set off on the buses to Neilson Hays Library in
Bangkok, on Silom Road. We spent the day learning about the library and the
many joys of reading. The buses arrived at the library at around 10:40 a.m.,
and the tour of the library began.
As the class entered, the hundred year old floorboards
creaked beneath our sock covered feet. The smell of both old and new books
filled the air and took us back into the past. Our attentive eyes and ears
were drawn to Libby the librarian, a heart-felt volunteer, who was one of
the activity directors during the day. She explained the way things were
going to work and told us the fabulous history of the treasured building and
all it contains.
It was fascinating to discover that the library was at
least ninety years old, and was built in honour of the love Dr Hays felt for
his beloved wife, Jennie Neilson. (The evidence is engraved on to a marble
and displayed on top of a doorway in the library.) She was committed to the
library and donated most of her money to it before she died of cholera. Dr
Hays, the founder, was also a close friend of the Royal family, especially
Prince Vadjiravudh, who later became King Rama the VII. He donated both a
desk and chair that now stands in honour of his majesty although no one is
allowed to sit on it!
After learning these historical facts, we set off, in our
groups of five, rotating our way around the various stations in the library.
We had a chance to read famous quotes about the beauty of reading and create
our own masterpieces. Our quotes were then chosen to be displayed in the
library in the future.
We also discovered our inner-selves, whilst studying the
incredible paintings on show in the art gallery and wrote inspirational
poetry.
We were told about the letters that were exchanged
between Dr. Hays and the Prince during that time and even saw the actual
letters that were exhibited in a glass case. After studying the language and
the style of the letters, we had a chance to write our own versions of how
we felt Dr. Hays would thank the Prince for his contribution to the library.
All in all it was a fantastic day. We would like to take
this opportunity to thank our teachers, especially Mrs. Bertuzzi for
organizing the trip, as well as all the volunteers at the library who gave
up their time to reinforce how important it is for us to appreciate books
and reading in an increasingly technologically-dependent world.
We would definitely recommend a visit to Neilson Hayes
Library as it is a journey into the past and has a fantastic selection of
books, newspapers, magazines and art. If you are in Bangkok and want to
escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, then this is where you will
find peace and tranquility. The library also has a fantastic cafe and often
organizes events and workshops so check out the website:
www.neilsonhayslibrary.com.
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Students attend “Who am I?” seminar at Asian University
Pupils start into the “Who
am I?” seminar in a good mood.
Ulrich Werner
On August 20 and 21, 83 students from all over
Thailand attended the ‘Who am I?’ seminar that Asian University offered
together with AFS (Thailand), the international student and culture
exchange organization.
Pupils from grade 8 to 12 (M.2 to M.6) wanted to take
a look behind the curtains of academic disciplines since the all -
sooner or later - have to opt for a specialization in their education.
Grouped by interests and aptitude, the students
attended programmes introducing them to business & management,
engineering & technology, and liberal arts.
The Saturday evening came with some sports and social
activities, and the night was spent in the Asian U dormitory on campus.
AFS (Thailand) alumni and students at the College
@AsianU took care of the guests, who all agreed on Sunday: Now it’s much
clearer what interests them - and what does not.
Regent’s School
inducts new staff
New staff at
a Buddhism briefing.
Emily Kay
New staff of the Regent’s School were met with a warm
welcome by the senior management team on arrival at Bangkok Airport. On
the first full day in Pattaya all of the new staff along with some
current staff gathered for a welcome barbeque, where names were
exchanged and friendships established.
The next day was the first proper visit to the
Regent’s School Pattaya campus, where new staff were given a tour and
introduced to the local Thai staff. The new staff were inundated with an
interesting array of Thai culture; ranging from what the colours of the
Thai flag represent to the way of life of a Buddhist monk.
Regent’s staff helping out
at a local school.
To enhance the understanding of the local culture,
there was a trip to a local temple where everyone was lucky enough to be
given a tour by a resident monk who openly discussed what life was like
for a Buddhist monk and the history of the religion.
On Friday all staff (old and new) were given an
amazing opportunity to visit some of the Regent’s local community
partners; among many others the trips were to partners such as the Bear
Sanctuary, Tamar Centre, Fountain of Life Children’s Centre, Pattaya
Orphanage, and Guranyawet Disabled Ladies Home.
Staff were able to participate in numerous activities
from baking at the Rayong Bakery to learning how to read and write
Braille. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the local
community and get an insight into what these amazing organisations
provide for the local people.
The Staff Induction was hugely appreciated and
worthwhile as it immediately immersed us in the culture of our new home.
Students learn to type
Braille.
Welcome barbeque and
social.
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Regent’s hold Round Square Week 2011
Students doing a sponsored walk for Croston
House.
Katrin Puutsa
The Regent’s School Pattaya held its annual Round
Square Week in the last week of term three in June. During this week the
whole school has the opportunity to participate in residential or local
activities organized by staff to promote the IDEALS (Internationalism,
Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service).
The residential trips ranged from full on adventure
activities such as caving in Thailand’s longest caves, kayaking through
rapids and trekking for hours to reach a Karen Hill Tribe in the
mountains as a part of the Check 1, 2, Cave Lodge Crew activity.
Gibbon Safari and Flight of the Gibbon included zip
lining as well as other fun action activities. Over 20 people chose
hiking in the Himalayas in India as an activity to test their endurance
and part of our popular International Award programme.
Environmental and Service trips included a trip to
Singapore to work with ACRES and Louis Ng, one of our community partners
featured at the RS conference We Walk Together.
Cooking delicious
international food.
Volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang
Mai was another popular trip where the students got to bathe and feed
elephants as well as make sure they were enriched and learnt more about
these magnificent animals.
Students even had the chance to visit the Koh Phi Phi
International Community Centre (PICC) and work with the local students
and help finish building the centre for the sea gypsy community.
Apart from these amazing trips away from our
localities there were also many activities running in and around Pattaya
with lots of fun options to choose from. The students could learn how to
break dance with professional B-boy break dancers from the Abundant Life
Home. They could build an enrichment area for bears at the local bear
sanctuary and also raise money for Croston House Children’s Home, one of
our long term community partners, through sponsored cycling, swimming or
walking. More than 14,000 baht was raised for this project.
Some students spent time at the Disabled Ladies Home
and brightened up their day by running fun activities, such as karaoke,
making t-shirts and decorating flip flops; and others enjoyed spending
time with children volunteering at the Pattaya Orphanage or Father Ray
Children’s Village. Others learned to dive with Mermaid’s Dive Centre,
who is also keen to maintain beach and marine environment; and on campus
students had fun cooking food from all over the world in the
International Kitchen activity.
Children from Primary School could also choose from
other fun projects and activities such as Cover and Floating, RS
Olympics, Eco Bags, Munching Mushrooms, Animal Adventure and MTV stars.
Learning new moves with
B-Boy Breakdancers.
The different House groups took turns to visit the
Mercy Centre, yet another community partner, either playing with the
children, gardening and/or painting.
An extra special project involved our Primary
students making their annual visit to Baan Koh Phi Phi School and this
time including our good friends from Baan Maelid School in Mae Hong Son,
the first time that these students had been to the south of Thailand and
swam in the sea!
Round Square Week is a much anticipated week every
year and the opportunities that are presented are valuable for everyone
taking part. Overall it was a busy and enriching week for everyone
involved and all are keen to keep up and strengthen the relationships
with our community partners in the future.
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