GIS students attain 100% pass rate for IB Diploma exams
Garden’s successful graduating class all passed
the IB Diploma Programme.
Ian Fraser
(IB Coordinator, GIS)
Garden International School, Rayong, is celebrating after
its students scored a 100 percent full diploma pass rate for its IB Diploma
Programme.
2010 was an exceptional year for Garden with the
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme examination results
giving passes to all in the graduating class of 14 students.
The top three IB students at GIS for 2010 - Tanya
Sookmanus, Jaemin Shin and Stian Jonsgard - achieved full IB Diplomas with
superb scores of 41, 39 and 37 out of a maximum possible total of 45 points.
This total is based on six subjects as well as overall performance in the IB
Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge components. Other students gained
excellent total scores, with the overall average being 33 points, one of the
highest ever for GIS.
GIS has proudly offered the well-respected and
internationally-recognised IB Diploma programme since 1997. In that time it
has had more than 50 successful graduates who have carried the GIS flag as
international students at many prestigious universities worldwide.
Well done to all of the IB2 students of 2010 and their
teachers for producing these outstanding results. Garden is now eagerly
awaiting examination scores for its next graduating class in May 2011.
For more on GIS, visit www.gardenrayong.com. If you are
interested in the IB Diploma Programme, come to an information evening at
the school on Tuesday, March 8 at 7pm.
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A new experience
Carolyn
Link guides one young girl around the course.
Derek Franklin
The Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya usually
welcomes guests from the higher echelons of society to watch the polo
matches and equestrian events. The Club is currently hosting the B. Grimm
Thai Polo Masters Cup and the Queens Cup La Martina Pink Polo Cup.
Harald
Link, co-owner of the Thai Polo Club, escorts a blind student around the
course.
In between matches the Polo Club has invited the children
of the Father Ray Foundation to visit and ride the ponies.
Students from the School for the Blind and the Special
Needs Center, as well as the youngsters from the Drop-In Center for Street
Kids were met by the co-owner of the Thai Polo Club, Mr. Harald Link and his
daughter Carolyn, who warmly welcomed the children and introduced the
youngsters to the ponies.
Many of the children were a little nervous at first,
especially the younger children, but in the end all the children got to
ride. For many it was the first time the children had ever been close to a
horse and for the blind children it was a brand new and wonderful
experience.
Several
children were nervous, but not this young boy.
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The Whole School Choir
performs at Tiffany’s
Members of the Regent’s School Whole School
Choir perform at Tiffany’s.
Karen Partyka
On Sunday 13th February The Regent’s School Whole
School Choir sang with the internationally renowned Korean Tenor Opera
Singer, Mr Kim Jun Man. The choir started working for this concert at
the start of term 2 and they were asked to accompany Mr Kim singing a
beautiful Latin song called Panis Angelicus. The song is very hard to
sing but all the pupils rose to the challenge, from our Year 1 pupils to
our Year 12 pupils.
Leading up to the concert we were lucky enough to
have Mr Kim visit the school to work with the children in preparation
for the concert. From meeting Mr Kim the pupils were in awe and
thoroughly enjoyed working with him.
On Sunday morning we were taken up to the huge stage
which was beautifully decorated. All the pupils were stunned at where
they were getting to perform. It was their big moment, they were nervous
but excited. They waited anxiously until we were introduced.
First of all the Regent’s Whole School Choir sang
‘Change my World’ which they sang at the International Round Square
Conference 2010 which took place at Regent’s School. The wonderful
soloists were Chloe Delango, Francis Calalang and Beatrice
Chawalitnititham. Then the choir were joined by Mr Kim to perform Panis
Angelicus. Our soloists were Tanya Hill and Joshua Thomas.
The performance was spotless and all the pupils
performed magnificently. Overall it was a fantastic experience and
Regent’s Whole School Choir are looking forward to our next performance
and to hosting Mr Kim at Regent’s Summer Concert 2011.
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A Wizard of Oz coming to Regents
The
Performing Arts of the Regent’s School, Pattaya have been working
incredibly hard to create and perform the upcoming production of A
Wizard of Oz. The production is scheduled for the Globe Theatre from the
8-11th March at 7.00pm. The slight alteration to the title indicates a
clue towards a different take on this version of the Wizard of Oz that
became famous by the iconic Warner Brothers film starring Judy Garland.
The students had a few things to say about this
upcoming performance: “Our school has altered the Wizard of Oz and made
it our own, most of the main elements are still influence by the
original but our slight alterations to the story should bring new
dimensions to the production. This play will definitely be a great
success by reimagining the classic story, creating a new experience for
the audience familiar with the film.” (Lisa Durant who plays Dorothy
Gail).
“I strongly believe through teamwork and positive
energy that the cast and crew would give the performance that will be
remembered for years. With all the hard work put into the production
would be paid of, and the feeling of being a part of such a great
production will never be forgotten. I wish the cast & crew all the
wishes for a great sellout.” (Eddy Rudram as Mayor of Munchkinland).
“We are working hard on the production, and I’m
pretty psyched about how the play will turn out in the end. I hope a lot
of people come to see it.” Helena as the Tinman
“I am so excited to be a part of this production! A
Wizard of Oz is guaranteed to be an exciting and memorable play, which
incorporates music, dancing and great humor! With a dedicated,
enthusiastic cast ranging from Years 2-12, we, as the actors, are more
than ready to put on a show for all to enjoy. I and the rest of the cast
passionately believe that this could potentially be one of the best
productions ever from The Regent’s. Everyone is encouraged to come and
witness this unique version of the classical Wizard of Oz and join in
with our adventurous journey to the Emerald City along the Yellow Brick
Road!” (Sierra Sanchez as Scarecrow).
Over a 100 students, cast and crew, have been working
together to make A Wizard of Oz a success. As well as entertaining the
audience the money raised from this production will be donated towards
our community partners and Round Square projects, such as Croston House,
an orphanage in Lamphun, Camillian Centre in Rayong and the Father Ray
Foundation here in Pattaya. Tickets will be sold on the night outside
the Globe Theatre on the evenings of the performances at the cost of 200
baht. For reservations on the tickets please call 038 418 777 or mobile:
0847598644.
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A running start for the second term at GIS
A
good game of tug of war.
Thomas Grogan
Garden International School is no stranger to sports,
with several very successful and active sports teams under the P.E.
department, so it may come as no surprise that the annual “GIS Sports
Day” is a major event each and every year when the days start to grow
longer and warmer here in Thailand.
All of the students in the school from Reception to
Secondary are divided up into their respective “houses” and everyone
comes out to participate in the events which this year stretched across
3 days from the 22nd to the 24th of February.
The “house system” is an important feature of the
school to encourage teamwork across the levels and at no other time of
the year is the competition between the houses highlighted more,
especially during our annual Sports Day.
On each respective day for their events the students
and children come to school dressed in their red for ‘Tigers,’ yellow
for ‘Eagles,’ blue for ‘Cobras,’ and green for ‘Geckos’ to spend the day
chanting, singing and cheering for their “houses.”
The event is divided into 3 days for the different
levels to ensure that each and every student at GIS gets the chance to
be involved and shine, whether they excel at the 50-meter dash, long
jump, relay races or Javelin throw.
“It was very close and very competitive but I think
the main thing was that all the children and staff (and parents that
came) had a really great time,” said Robert Grisdale, Head of Primary at
Garden International School.
The parents at Garden International School love to be
involved and Sports Day was no exception. Some of the parents and
teachers in GIS Primary were also invited to join in the fun and compete
in the sport events as well, with the teaching staff taking a close
victory in most of the “extra” competitions of the day.
The students finished off the day with some
lighthearted, yet highly fun activities like sack races, fill the bucket
with the sponge, and the timeless classic everyone loves to get their
hands on … a good game of tug-o-war.
Having an annual “Sports Day” is an excellent way to celebrate,
encourage, and foster a healthy lifestyle and at Garden International
School. We do this while trying our best to foster community spirit for
everyone in the GIS family.
Enjoying the fill the bucket with the sponge relay race.
Getting closer to victory.
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Cycling sister is nearly here
Cyclists Catherine and Liz are cycling from London
to Thailand to raise money for charity.
Two women who are cycling from London to a school
near Pattaya have nearly achieved their marathon ride.
One of the cyclists, Catherine, has a sister, Lucy
Howett, who works at Garden International School in Ban Chang, Rayong.
Catherine, and her friend Liz, will be arriving in
Ban Chang on March 20. There will be a celebratory last lap at 2 p.m.
from the Camel Bar to the Camillian Centre, which is one of the
beneficiaries of the event. Participants will include local bike clubs,
motorbike clubs and parents and friends from school.
The trip is taking place to help gather opinions from
young people about why they think HIV/AIDS continues to devastate lives.
This is research for Voices, a project that captures opinions from
around the world in video clips. The ladies are also raising money for
two charities: the Food Chain in London and the Camillian Centre in Ban
Chang.
Anyone is welcome to visit their pair on March 20, or
you can view their progress by going to www.onelittlewheel. com.
Students at Garden have been monitoring the cyclists’ progress and once
they arrive, the ladies will be holding workshops in the school.
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Asian University attends
SPET annual dinner
(L
to R) Yutthanai Siparhan (4th Year Engineering), Jarupa
Chuengyingruangrung (3rd Year BA), Dr Chaleo Maneelert and Panit
Nilubon, vice president of admission at Asian University.
Kevin Higgins
On January 20, Dr Viphandh Roengpithya and Panit
Nilubon, along with Yutthanai Siparhan (4th Year Engineering student)
and Jarupa Chuengyingruangrung (3rd Year BA), as Asian University
representatives attended the Society of Professional Engineers Thailand
(SPET) annual dinner at Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok.
At the party, it was full of laughs. Everybody
gathered together to share ideas, experiences, and joy. There were talks
from Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya about Asian University scholarships, and
Mechai Viravaidya about his newest project “BREAD: Business for Rural
Education And Development”.
It was a great opportunity for two Asian University
students to have the chance to meet great people at the party. We are
looking forward to meet again next year.
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