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Water filtration system presented to Kao Baisri School
Four charitable organizations,
the Rotary Club of Plutaluang, Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Pattaya Mail
and the Royal Cliff Beach Resort combined forces to present a water
filtration system to Kao Baisri School, at Plutaluang.
Narisa Nitikarn
Four organizations have combined forces to present a water filtration system
valued at 130,000 baht to Kao Baisri School, at Plutaluang.
The presentation was held on May 29, when president of the Rotary Club of
Plutaluang Captain Dr Pallop Subhakorn, president of the Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya Jan Abbink, managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co
Ltd Pratheep Malhotra, and Dennis Stark of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort
attended the school.
 Flasks
were also donated so that the students could take water with them wherever
they go.
Wichai Puangpakiri, deputy director of the Education Department of Chonburi
Zone 3, Mrs Ketsara Puaknang, director of Ban Kao Baisri School, and
teachers and parents welcomed the group to the school.
The clean water project was initiated because of the expense of buying
drinking water for the students. The Rotary Club of Plutaluang raised 50,000
baht from a charity bowling competition, and 80,000 baht came from the three
other supporters, totaling the necessary 130,000 baht.
Students now have access to three locations in the school where they can
have drinking water, and the organizers also donated flasks so the students
can take water with them wherever they go.
 Good
drinking water promotes good health.
Pratheep Malhotra, who is also district governor-elect of International
Rotary District 3340 said that Rotary is an organization of businessmen and
other people performing duties that are of use to society, and that the
school’s new water filtration system was an excellent example of how this
can be done.
School director Mrs Ketsara said that Ban Kao Baisri School is open for
special needs students to join classes along with normal students. In this
current education year the school has 378 students, 179 of them boys and 139
girls. Of these, 50 are special needs students.
You can see exclusive footage of this event on PMTV (Pattaya Mail
Television) on Sunday the 10th of June.
Just another Perfect Day at Garden International School
Shamayim Watson,
Year 10
It was just another perfect day at Garden International School. As the
sun rose gloriously over Phala Beach to reveal the azure majesty of the
Gulf of Siam, a couple of easy kilometres inland, children from around
the world laughed, played, ran, sang and studied around the thriving and
burgeoning campus. It’s a happy place at any time, where high academic
achievement happens in an atmosphere of relaxed concentration. A
disciplined, rigorous approach to academic and behavioural standards
generates a special atmosphere where students are happy and eager to
learn. But today was a special day, even at GIS.
 Naz
Neufeld signs for GIS, as her father Tim looks on.
The school’s recent successful development has put GIS in a strong
position to recognise and reward student achievement and potential,
locally, regionally and globally. It’s part of the ethos of the school –
that it is in giving that we receive. For the past few months,
applications have been flooding in from around the world in response to
a scholarship scheme, which has been advertised on the school’s website
(www.gardenrayong .com) as well as in local and national press.
Today, the inaugural winner of the school’s Performing Arts scholarship
came to the school to officially receive her well-earned award. The
rigorous application process had involved filling in a comprehensive
form followed by a series of interviews with the Scholarship Awards
Committee. The worthy winner is fifteen year old Nastassia ‘Naz’
Neufeld, widely recognised regionally as a brilliant, inspiring student,
whose love of learning and love of life shines through everything she
does. What tipped the judges decision in Naz’s favour was her remarkable
devotion to dance, demonstrated by a series of outstanding performances
over the years as well as her willingness to share her expertise with
others. Naz teaches dance to young kids every Saturday at the Regents
School. In bringing the community together, Naz has GIS’s blessing to
continue to share her amazing talents in this way.
As part of Naz’s scholarship contract at GIS, she is obliged to design
and implement one performance a term, either solo or as the leader of a
team. For the school’s part, GIS is contractually obliged to provide Naz
with everything she needs to achieve her obligations and indeed, her
ambitions. It’s actually very much a reciprocal arrangement between Naz
and the school, which is as it should be. Of course, it’s a still a big
decision, to take on the responsibilities of a scholarship award winner.
Naz’s father Tim, a determinedly retired classical pianist, articulated
his feelings through a huge grin, “It is gratifying to encounter a
school that places value on the student, a school that both acknowledges
as well as rewards a student’s excellence and effort. Of course it is
especially gratifying when a school recognizes the excellence of one’s
own child. Beyond the obvious financial reward of such recognition, this
scholarship has also instilled a sense of pride in me that my daughter’s
quality stands out and is seen. I’m sure on her part receiving this
scholarship is a boost to her confidence and self esteem.”
News of Naz’s arrival spread and students were quick to welcome her.
PMTV’s own Peng Janthasorn was there, as well as the region’s premier
athlete, IB diploma student Steven Gailloud and his likely successor,
Troy Coe. Naz was officially presented with her award by Ian Fraser, IB
coordinator at GIS, the man who runs the IB programme at the region’s
most experienced and highest achieving IB world school.
Overlooking serene and stunning Phala, only one thing shone brighter
than the sun; Naz’s smile. How did she feel? “I was very happy when I
received the letter confirming I’d received the award. I felt proud of
myself. Getting this scholarship means a lot to me. I want to build
people’s confidence in their performing art skills or teach them some
skills. At the same time, I hope to improve my own skills as well. Being
a Performing Arts Scholar means that I do have something special and I
can make a difference to others. It’s a great honour as well because I
have so much interest in performance and now I have this opportunity to
help others … I’m really looking forward to the challenge!” Naz will
certainly be challenged - she is in the happy position to start parts of
her IB diploma programme a year early and GIS is perfectly equipped to
guide her along this journey.
The last word goes to Tim, the proud father; “I hope that at GIS my
daughter will find the challenges and opportunities she needs to
continue growing as a person and as a student. This scholarship is an
opportunity for Naz to continue to develop initiative and show
leadership in not only performance but in all aspects of school life.
The responsibility of regular performances will also increase the
variety and quality of her skills in the Performing Arts. It’s an
exciting time - just a perfect day!”
With seven other scholarships to be awarded it looks like there will be
plenty more perfect days to come, down at GIS.
Learning in Paradise
Thai teachers have been studying hard for an important English exam
English teachers Mark
Beales (front) and Tom Pennant (rear) use computers, quiz nights, and
games to help Thai teachers prepare for an important exam.
Mark Beales
A two-week training camp was recently held for 14 teachers at Assumption
Paradise in Chantaburi.
Teachers Mark Beales and Tom Pennant ran the course to prepare the
teachers, all from Assumption College Sriracha, for the Preliminary
English Test (PET). PET is an exam organised by Cambridge University in
England.
Mark and Tom organised many activities, including music, puzzles, and a
quiz night to ensure the camp was educational and enjoyable.
Mark said: “We enjoyed the camp and found it an extremely useful way of
getting teachers ready for PET. All the teachers passed a ‘mock’ PET
test and so we are confident they will all do well when they take the
real thing later this year.
“Having PET shows parents that our Thai teachers all have attained a
good level of English.”
Many Thai English teachers will be taking PET later this year. Good luck
to everyone!
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