International Day at The Regent’s
On Thursday 15th February The Regent’s School staged a
celebration of the international nature of the school community with their
annual International Day. Lessons were suspended for the day as all students
and staff dressed up in nationally appropriate dress in order to promote
their countries.
Students
from the Fountain of Life also enjoyed the culinary delights from around the
world.
43 nationalities are represented at The Regent’s and each one took over a
corner of the school to decorate with souvenirs, posters, factsheets and
other memorabilia associated with their home nation. Many countries also
provided representative food samples, so that visitors could have tea and
scones in England before diving into India for samosas and then visiting
Taiwan for dim sum and milk tea. Key Stage 1 classes turned their classrooms
into continents and there was even an Early Years nation.
As well as the food provided by each country, a group of parents led by
Louise Grant set up an International Cafe. This proved a particularly
popular attraction and raised in excess of 20,000 baht to support Round
Square service projects such as the hill tribe project in Baan Ompai, Mae
Hong Son. Meanwhile, the nearby stage hosted performances by the school’s
choirs, as well as some national performances - particular highlights
included the South African band, the Korean fan dance and the Taiwanese
ribbon dance.
Each student was issued with a special International Day passport to enable
them to enter each country’s area. In return for completing an activity in a
country’s room, students collected visa stamps from around the world. There
was also a prize raffle, with prizes generously donated by Pattana Golf &
Sports Resort, and a range of games on the Oval.
After a grand parade of nations in the afternoon, the Secondary School
entered the Globe Theatre to watch an International Day bonanza. This
featured countries as diverse as Canada, Bhutan, Korea and New Zealand
performing presentations to demonstrate the unique features of their
countries. Meanwhile, the Primary School took part in a range of activities
before entering the Globe for their own celebration of internationalism.
Overall, this was a suitably colourful celebration of the international
make-up of The Regent’s School’s student body. Special credit needs to go to
those students who helped organise the day, particularly Michael Tenisch,
Melissa Farnworth and Angela Ahn.
Norway and the USA.
The flags of some of the
countries represented at the school.
The parade of nations.
Some of the Primary School
students in their national dress.
Jesters and PILC jointly fund
new toilets at Nikom 9 School
Woody and Rosanne
officiated by cutting the ribbon to open the facility, on February 27.
Woody and Rosanne receive
a certificate of thanks from the school.
The school children
present a loud cheer and a big thank you.
The Jesters’ Care for Kids’ and the Pattaya
International Ladies Club jointly funded a project to buy and install
new toilets at Nikom 9 School.
Rosanne, Ingrid and Alison represented PILC with BIC, and Lewis ‘Woody’
Underwood on behalf of the Jesters.
The project was a joint venture with each organization putting in 50,000
baht to enable a splendid new toilet block to be built for the 130
primary level children and 9 teachers.
Woody and Rosanne officiated by cutting the ribbon to open the facility,
on February 27, receiving a loud cheer and a big thank you from the
assembled children.
The intention is for the Jesters and PILC to continue giving joint
support to this fine school.
Jesters Care for Kids and
PILC jointly funded new toilets at Nikom 9 School.
Asian University students in free enterprise
Meeting the local
administration.
A team of students at Asian University have just
returned from a training session with SIFE in Bangkok. Students in Free
Enterprise (SIFE) is a global non-profit organization active in more
than 40 countries. It is funded by financial contributions from
corporations, entrepreneurs, foundations, government agencies and
individuals. Working in partnership with business and higher education,
SIFE establishes student teams on university campuses. The team members
use their skills and knowledge, and that of their faculty advisors and
local businesses, to implement programmes of real benefit to their local
communities.
Each year, national and international competitions are held between SIFE
participants.
There are several other Thai universities taking part in SIFE projects,
including the larger Chulalongkorn, Thammasat and Mahidol Universities.
This weekend a group of Asian University students visited a local
village where charcoal is produced, to find if there are ways that they
could help improve the production or the conditions for the workers.
Most of the charcoal is produced from waste from furniture makers, and
after 7 - 10 days in the “ovens” the charcoal is sifted and bagged. The
familiar blue bags of charcoal are sold locally to restaurants and
shops, and transported as far away as Chachoengsao and Bangna. The area
where the charcoal is burnt used to be forest, and the industry grew
when the saw-mills were first established about forty years ago. Now the
villages have grown and surround the charcoal burning. The students are
now considering if there are any ways that they can help the villagers
using their contacts and resources.
Students gather
information about charcoal production.
Students meet with the
villagers.
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