The annual Wai Khru, Teachers Day, ceremony takes place on the last Thursday in June at the Pattaya School for the Blind. It is a day when the students pay respect to the teaching staff who work tirelessly to give the students the skills and knowledge they will need to be able to live as independent life as possible.
Students present the teachers with beautiful floral arrangements that have taken many hours, and a lot of patience to make. They sing songs, recite the student oath and promise to be good students and citizens in society.
Principal of the School for the Blind, Aurora Sribuapun, gives the welcome speech.
This day is also called Benefactors Day, when the school pays tribute to those people and groups who have helped the school over the last year.
Representatives from the Thai Red Cross, Jesters Care for Kids, Pattaya Memorial Hospital and local dignitaries were present to receive hand made flowers from the children as a way of saying thanks. Without the generosity of the people of Pattaya the Naklua based school would not be able to provide the blind children with the facilities they currently have.
Lunch was provided by the Pattaya Memorial Hospital who treated the children to burgers and fries.
The school is now in its twenty fifth year, and the anniversary celebrations will culminate with a visit in April next year by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn under whose patronage the school belongs.
More than 500 students have received an education at the school, and blind, visually impaired and multi-disability students are all made welcome and given the chance to reach their full potential. The generosity of its supporters will ensure that the school can continue to welcome newcomers.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email [email protected]
Students pay respect to Ekawat Usaneepan, deputy director of Chonburi Primary Education Region 3.
Father Pattarapong Peter Srivorakul, president of the Father Ray Foundation, receives flowers from a blind student.
Jesters Care for Kids was represented by Woody Underwood.
The teachers were presented with beautiful floral arrangements.
Even the youngest children paid their respects.
The children pay respects to their teachers.
