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Summer campers flock to the zoo
Who says
that learning English is not fun?
Ulrich Werner
On Saturday, March 20, it was time to relax after the
first week of Asian University’s English Summer Camp. 149 Thai students aged
10 to 21, twelve English teachers and ten teaching assistants enjoyed a
round trip through Khao Kheow Zoo with lots of background information about
the animals they met on their way.
Highlight of the day was the animal show, with
well-behaved pigs, a parrot mastering mathematics, a falcon picking up a
snack from a camper’s head, and an otter that turned out to be a specialist
in waste disposal. Not everybody was eager, however, to play with a
constrictor snake around one’s own neck - but all loved to watch their
friends trying it out.
The four-week English Summer Camp is offered at Asian U
twice a year from March through May and full of activities that make
learning English fun and easy. The next English Summer Camp starts on April
17.
While
she manages to eventually get a smile onto her face...
… He
already gets intimate with his new friend.
A
math-capable parrot impresses the students.
How far
did he trust a falcon picking a snack from his hand?
Well-behaved pigs do exist, at least in the zoo.
The
absolute Superstar: A garbage-collecting otter.
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Preparing for Universities at ISE
Dr.
Brewitt helps Thai families prepare for university.
Timothy Overacker
As students and parents look towards the future, there is
concern about what needs to be achieved in order to successfully complete a
university education and find a rewarding and successful career.
This was the focus of recent meetings with students and
parents from both the Thai and Korean communities at the International
School Eastern Seaboard (ISE). The presentations at these meetings provided
an opportunity to specifically address the needs and aspirations of these
respective communities.
Timothy Overacker, the International Baccalaureate (IB)
coordinator at ISE, discussed with parents and students how the program is a
specially designed pre-university course of studies that is widely
recognized and respected by universities throughout the world since its
inception in 1968.
Dr. Robert Brewitt, the director of ISE, explained that
in an environment of greater competitiveness among universities, and taking
into account the growing mobility of students, university admissions
departments around the world increasingly recognize the benefits of
recruiting IB graduates for their universities.
Research conducted in many countries demonstrates that IB
students generally enjoy higher than average acceptance rates from
universities and colleges, as they are considered better prepared for
further and higher education than many of their peers.
Our Thai instructor, M.L. Parat Charchinda, and our
Korean instructor, Ms. Min Ae Yang, facilitated this discussion by
translating and explaining these topics to the parents and by elucidating
the requirements of being admitted into universities in both Thailand and
Korea, respectively. Students also became involved by describing their
experiences with IB and preparing for university, which many students from
the younger cohorts found very encouraging.
The next meeting at ISE will be a general parent meeting
on IB and university preparation on April 28 at 3:15 pm.
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Year 10 students from St Andrews School are artistically inspired
by “flotsam and jetsam”
A
student returns with a basket of flotsam.
Students were asked to create a Goldsworthy-esque piece of land art.
Nina, Jaena, Erica and Laila devised
a giant necklace made of dead leaves and shells.
Kim Morris, Visual
Arts Teacher, St Andrews International School
The definition of “flotsam and jetsam” is usually
floating refuse, debris or discarded odds and ends. Others of you may
know “Flotsam” as a picture book by David Wiesner. If you have not seen
this wonderful book then it is worth looking at - it is visually
stunning! Inspired by ‘Flotsam,” the book, our year 10 Art group took to
Namrin Beach to see what discarded items were to be found.
Amongst a wonderful array of shells, bones, pebbles,
barnacles, wood and other natural objects, there were half a dozen flip
flops, glass bottles, toothpaste tubes, light bulbs, old rope, fishing
flies, plastic figurines (one of the seven dwarves!) and moulds for
building sand castles in the form of a seahorse.
Students also looked at the land artist, Andy
Goldsworthy. His art work is all derived from natural forms and patterns
and uses only natural materials and tools. His artwork is determined by
the weather on the day and what is available on the ground. He will only
use what is to be found. His work is transient, that is, it does not
last. It decays, melts, is washed away or fades over time.
Students will go on to use the objects within a mixed media drawing much
like the one in this picture. This drawing will form the basis for other
works in print and painting.
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Pattaya Sports Club provides Door to Door service
One of the two
properties a generous Thai man will rent to them.
William Macey
It was not an easy task to discover the whereabouts
of Ban Pak Rak Puan Home. Buried deep among trees near Mabprachan Lake,
entry is via an unmade road leading to 2 small rooms where 14 people
live and sleep - the youngest being 23 years old. Starting in 2006, Rak
Puan cares for those with HIV/AIDS and TB, an unusual combination and
the only one of its kind that I am aware of.
Patients are provided with accommodation - albeit
cramped as you can well imagine - food, healthcare and access to ARV
(antiretroviral) medicines which are provided free in Thailand.
Their income is obtained by a number of groups
contributing small amounts which is just sufficient to provide food and
limited refreshments, but personal items are beyond budgetary
restraints.
Pattaya Sports Club was asked to help to buy many
items which most of us take for granted. The bedding has been in place
since 2006 and because the sheets and pillow cases are washed by hand
frequently, they have lost any substance or colouring. PSC purchased
sufficient material, and a sewing machine, to enable one of the three
volunteers to make new, brightly coloured bedding.
Among the other items provided were pillows,
blankets, towels, shampoo, liquid soap and, a rare treat, some Ovaltine
and fortified milk.
Fortunately for the residents of Rak Puan, good news
follows bad for they were told that they had to vacate the premises
before the end of August. But they have found a generous Thai man who
will rent 2 small properties to them, at a very low rent, which they
will occupy very soon. With more sleeping, living and bathing areas,
they will even have a large garden to occupy their time. Who knows, they
may even be able to grow some fresh vegetables.
Their new home.
Some
residents with PSC representatives.
One
of their bedrooms.
The
exterior of the 2 rooms.
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Regent’s choir sings 6-part harmony at Fobissea Choral festival 2011
The Regent’s choir; Miss Karen Partyka,
Jenny, Rubby, Yunji, Amber, Sally, Caitlin and Mrs Jill Thomas.
Yunj, Sally and
Amber (students at The Regent’s School Pattaya)
On 10th of February Rubby, Jenny, Caitlin, Yunji,
Sally and Amber from The Regent’s School Pattaya KS3 along with Miss
Partyka and Mrs Thomas went to Bangkok Patana School for the Fobissea
Choral Festival.
We were all awe struck by the size of the building
and campus. We went inside and collected our folders, song books and
name tags then we were taken to the theatre for the vocal warm ups. This
is where we met all the other schools and their pupils.
We were a bit nervous as some schools had brought
many pupils and sang lots of classical songs in their school. But we
were determined to work hard and make our school proud.
After the warm up we had full choir where we started
to learn some of the songs. The songs were; The Water of Tyne, Fever and
Seasons of Love. They were really hard the first time but once we knew
them they were much easier and even now we are still singing them.
Then we were sent to KS3 choir to learn the songs
there. All the songs we learnt were for the main Festival Concert on the
Saturday.
We learnt so much during the Thursday and Friday
including musical theatre, opera theatre and even Mrs Thomas did a
presentation about her music career and our school. She was really good
and we heard a song that she wrote and recorded.
At the Festival Concert we were all nervous but it
went really well. We couldn’t believe we had managed to learn such hard
songs, some in 6-part harmony!
We all had a great experience meeting other school
choirs including our friends from Regent’s Bangkok and from around South
East Asia. We enjoyed learning together and working together for the
festival. We can’t wait until the next Festival!
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Disabled children from three Bangkok schools have a great day in Pattaya
Varuna Yacht Club hosts 250 disabled kids
The
youngsters and their care givers arrive, filled with excitement.
Elfi Seitz
About 250 disabled children from three Bangkok
schools set sail for the Royal Varuna Yacht Club and a day at the beach.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bangkok South, the
beach day for children 14 and up is always filled with fun and laughter.
Organizers Tyrone Jenkins and club president Andrew
McPherson brought many volunteers to help take care of the youngsters,
sometimes carrying them into the pool or sea.
Members of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya were
amongst the volunteers.
Following lunch, the tired, but happy children headed
back to Bangkok on their bus, many nodding off after a busy day in the
sun.
Many
took a refreshing dip in the pool before lunch.
Most
of the children have special needs.
The
joy and excitement on this special day are obvious.
The
Royal Varuna puts on a great spread of food for these special children.
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