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GIS Reception takes field trip to Rayong Aquarium
Enjoying
the aquarium trip with our teacher
Ms. Jane and our class assistants Ms. Altiza and Ms. Pui.
Ms. Jane Vincent
On Friday, April 1st the GIS Reception class of 18
children, their teacher, two teaching assistants and a parent, set out on
their much anticipated field trip to the Rayong Aquarium. This trip was
particularly exciting for the class as they had taken part in the process of
choosing the destination and mode of transport of their trip as part of
their study into ‘Journeys’.
The people at the aquarium were kind and inviting. Even
when one of our children’s hats fell into the turtle tank they fished it out
and washed it off for us.
Many of the children had visited the aquarium before but
were excited about sharing the experience with their peers after having
discussed why, how and where we take journeys in our lives. We stopped at
the aquarium to eat our lunch and made sure we left the eating area clean
before we left, collecting our rubbish and depositing it in the rubbish bins
provided.
As part of the day’s outing the children also visited their teacher’s
house on the return journey to stop and have a snack. It was an outing
together we will remember for a long time.
Yummy
lunch! Wanna have some?
Such an
exciting trip to remember.
Woooh!
The sea creatures are amazing!
It’s a
lot of fun tidying up and collecting rubbish.
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Successful graduates
Three
young men who are now qualified and looking for work.
Derek Franklin
Three teenage boys of similar ages all have a similar
story.
One boy lived with his grandmother in Buriram, but at the
age of ten he became addicted to playing computer games and regularly played
truant from school so he was placed in a government institution.
Another boy from Khon Kaen can remember seeing his mother
once in his life, and his father is too poor to provide his son with a
decent life so he was sent to live in a government children’s home.
They were moved from one institution to another, until
they eventually ran away and made their way to Pattaya.
The third boy, along with his family, left the province
of Sa Kaeo and arrived in Pattaya hoping to find work and a better life.
Unfortunately the family found themselves living in one of the poorest slum
areas.
All three boys came together at the Father Ray Drop-In
Center. It was where they found a safe place to live and the support they
needed to help them make a decision about their future.
With an interest in motorbikes, two boys decided that
they would like to become mechanics so they enrolled at a vocational school
in Lampang. The third let it be known that he would like to become an
electrician, so he traveled each morning to the HRH Princess Sirindhorn
Vocational Training Center in Banglamung.
All three worked hard and have now successfully graduated
from their respective colleges, and are now looking for full time employment
in their chosen field. They are currently living at the newly opened Father
Ray Half Way House where they are learning to live an independent life, but
support is still available to them if needed.
The Father Ray Drop-In Center is part of the Father Ray Foundation. More
information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email [email protected]
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Regent’s students busking for Japan
The
awesome guitarist at The Regent’s Pattaya.
By Andrew Chambers
The Regent’s School Pattaya students and staff have
been working together to raise money to help with the tsunami and
earthquake relief work in Japan. With a number of Japanese students in
school, everyone has been keen to get involved and show support.
Some of our year eleven students have taken charge of
the fundraising effort - amongst them Toshiki, Kenny, Apinan and Eye,
and they have helped to organise a number of activities over the past
couple of weeks.
Students set up a busking area and then had a brass
band, rock band and pianist performing at lunchtimes. Students also
created their own Japanese t-shirt designs, and these have been sold
both inside and outside of school with the help of Goldfish plc. The
school also has held 2 special Japan non-uniform days, where students
who bought the t-shirts could wear these to school.
With all their hard work, the students have currently
collected over 70,000 baht - which is a tremendous achievement. This
money will be passed on to our partner Round Square school in Tamagawa,
Japan, to distribute to those in need.
Toshiki says he is delighted with how much the school
has raised. “We’re really happy that everyone has got involved. We were
amazed by how many people have rallied round. Thanks to everyone who has
helped out.”
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St Andrews students Visit UNESCO
St. Andrews students
Thomas, Aun, Beverly, Tiggy, Lera, Jasmine, Evelyn, Sunny, Earth, and
Marie, and teacher Mr. Phillips, prepare to set out for UNESCO in
Bangkok. (Also on the trip but not shown are students Rebecca and Tee.)
Tiggy Walters
On Monday April 4, at 6:30 a.m., 12 St. Andrews
students set off all dressed up and ready to go to Bangkok to attend the
UNESCO meeting focusing on relations between Africa and Asia and
sustainable development. Leading the students was Mr. Brendon Phillips,
Geography teacher at St. Andrews.
After a long trip to Bangkok, the students nervously
trooped into the conference room. There they were exposed to business
aspects of the trade issues of Africa and Asia.
Several guest dignitaries from around the world
enlightened the meeting of issues and solutions. After lunch was served
the students headed back to school. It was an informative experience and
pupils from St. Andrews learned valuable lessons about sustainable
development and it’s importance to cultural cooperation.
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New equipment for the children with special needs
Alison Shale (second left) receives a donation from Arlette Cykman.
Derek Franklin
The Center for Children with Special Needs is one of
the Father Ray Foundation’s newer and smaller projects.
Another happy young girl who attends the physiotherapy classes.
Each day youngsters and teenagers with autism,
cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and attention deficit disorder arrive to
receive physiotherapy and an education.
Many of the children who are living with cerebral
palsy are in desperate need of regular physiotherapy. They need to
strengthen their muscles and gain more flexibility, which will hopefully
make them more mobile.
Each Wednesday morning many parents arrive at the
Center with their children where they are met by volunteer Alison Shale
and her team.
Alison provides physiotherapy to each and every
child, and each child has a plan that has been adapted to their own
particular needs.
Equipment is limited to just a few basic items, and
much more specific items are needed. Standing frames, a tilt table and
small weights are needed, and now thanks to a very generous donation of
40,000 baht from Arlette Cykman, the Center will be able to purchase
much needed equipment.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected]
Children with cerebral palsy benefit from these sessions.
This
frame is a huge help to the young children.
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New bedding material always welcome
Pattaya Sports Club Update
Material provided by PSC.
William Macey
In late 1995 Father Giovanni established the
Camillian Social Centre (CSC) in Bang Chang - Rayong. Their aim is to
provide medical care and shelter to the homeless children living with
HIV/AIDS.
Father Giovanni is spending much of his time in
Bangkok at the moment and the everyday activities are now the
responsibility of Father Peter. The center now has 74 children in their
care. Helped by many others, one unexpected feature has been 2 or 3
former child patients have studied medicine in adult life and returned
to the Camillian to care for the other children.
The first thing you notice when visiting the CSC is
how happy the children are, all down to the efforts of Father Peter and
his crew. For instance, Lot, who is 6 years old. When she arrived she
was very shy, could not walk or talk. She is now a happy, bouncy little
girl, making friends with everyone.
It is a sad fact that in the 90s the Asian financial
crisis resulted in a significant reduction in the budget for HIV
prevention and control. But in the year 2000, antiretroviral drugs
started to be used in Thailand to help prolong the lives of those living
with HIV. They are now distributed free of charge by the Thai
government.
All the children at CSC have been infected by their
parents but, and there is some good news, where the appropriate drugs
have been used, the possibility of other children being infected by
their parents has been reduced from 30% to 1%.
Pattaya Sports Club have been providing brightly
coloured material for 11 years now and this is then cut and sewn, by
local volunteers, to make sheets and pillow cases. As you can see from
the photograph, this is well received by the children.
There are some heartbreak cases at the Camillian, so
if you would like to make a donation, or visit the centre please contact
the Pattaya Sports Club.
Having a day off from school.
Lot
with a PSC member.
Lunch time.
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Diana Group makes generous
donation to People
with Disabilities
Derek Franklin
Managing Director of the Diana Group of companies,
Sopin Thappajug (2nd right), presents a donation to the value of 414,386
baht to Brother Denis Gervais (3rd left), Vice President of the Father
Ray Foundation.
This generous donation will assist the Redemptorist
Foundation for People with Disabilities in its plans to organize a brand
new call center offering advice and support for people with
disabilities.
The donation will also help provide an outlet for products produced
by people with disabilities living in the local area.
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