Rounded education: Phuket
International Academy Day School takes a giant step forward in gaining
recognition as an IB world school.
Phuket International Academy Day School (PIADS) is
delighted to announce it has achieved International Baccalaureate (IB)
authorization to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP).
The prestigious authorization now enables the burgeoning
academy to be recognized as an IB World School, representing a significant
move in the school’s development towards becoming a full three-programme IB
World School.
Incoming PIADS Head of School, Dennison MacKinnon, said
the transition to IB World School status will confirm the academy’s already
solid reputation as one of the leading educators in the region.
“The educational beliefs and values of the school and the
school’s community, which are based on the IB Learner Profile, reflect the
IB philosophy, and this has been recognised and commended by the
International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO),” he said.
Best in class: Recruiting the
best and most experienced teachers lies at the heart of PIADS success in
gaining IB recognition.
“Our commitment to an inquiry-based approach to teaching
and learning, promoting the development of critical-thinking skills, has
always been the school’s priority. We have also always been fully committed
to staff training in IB pedagogy and are pleased that all staff members have
embraced it whole-heartedly. We are thrilled to have achieved the PYP
authorization and now move towards the next step in implementing all three
IB programmes.”
PIADS’ resources and support structures were commended by
the IB, as they help to ensure an efficient and successful implementation of
the IB programmes. They include providing qualified staff to implement the
programme and mindfully recruiting experienced teachers with either IB PYP
training and experience or an educational philosophy that aligns to the
philosophy and practices of the programme.
Ahead of the curve: In
addition to its facilities and resources, PIADS’ ‘virtual’ learning
environments were singled out for commendation.
Special mention was made of the staff members, who are
committed to learning and developing the implementation of a
transdisciplinary programme.
“Strategies such as visible thinking tools,
pre-assessments, student reflections and diverse articulations of the
learner profile and attitudes were in evidence throughout the learning
spaces,” the IB added in a letter to the school.
Ahead of the curve: In addition to its facilities and
resources, PIADS’ ‘virtual’ learning environments were singled out for
commendation.
PIADS offers its 210 students - currently from 25
different nations - five-star facilities, including spacious classrooms and
unique access to the entire Thanyapura complex, comprising the Thanyapura
Sports and Leisure Club and the Thanyapura Mind Centre. These forward
thinking facilities offer an extraordinary dimension to the education the
school provides.
“We are also developing an across-school social and
emotional learning and mindfulness programme to be integrated with the IB
Learner Profile, which will add tremendous scope to the teaching and
learning programmes,” said MacKinnon.
“It follows the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies
(PATHS) programme, one which enhances social and emotional literacy and
capacity, and builds self-esteem. PATHS has also been shown to improve
academic performance, particularly in developing attention and thinking
skills,” he said.
In terms of mindfulness, the programme is modelled on the
renowned Susan Kaiser Greenland’s InnerKids programme. Both PATHS and
InnerKids are best-practice evidence-based programmes and, as the school
further develops, a service learning emphasis is also evolving as an
integral part of the school ethos.
The IB PYP is from Kindergarten to Grade 5. The academy
currently has IB candidate status for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in
Grades 6 to 9. This will be extended to Grade 10 in due course.
“We aspire to be a three-programme IB World School,
culminating with the IB Diploma (DP) studies in Grades 11-12. The IB Diploma
is a highly regarded university entrance qualification, which is globally
recognized as the ‘gold standard’ of university entrance qualifications,”
added Mr MacKinnon. “We will then have in place a “best practice” continuum
across the three Programmes (PYP, MYP, and DP).”
Father Michael Picharn
Jaiseri (right), vice president of the Father Ray Foundation, talks with
Labor Minister Padermchai Sasomsap (center), thanking him for his support
for the 1479 telephone hotline.
Phasakorn Channgam
The Labor Ministry has added its backing to the
Pattaya-based 1479 telephone hotline helping the disabled find jobs and
learn about human rights and education.
Father Michael Picharn Jaiseri, vice president of the
Father Ray Foundation, and top Redemptorist Center for Persons with
Disabilities executives and staffers summarized results of the hotline
program for Labor Minister Padermchai Sasomsap July 17 in Bangkok.
Father Michael thanked the ministry for supporting not
only the hotline project, but the Nong Khai Charity Marathon, both of which
have goals of raising funds for construction of the Redemptorist Vocational
School’s Nong Khai campus.
Members of the Redemptorist
Center for Persons with Disabilities committee prepare to meet with top
government officials.
The two sides also discussed drafting disabled career
promotion announcements from the senior committee; regulations and process
of concessions; organizing venues for distributing merchandise or services;
and hiring contractors, interns, help providers and/or caretakers for the
disabled.
As for the 24-hour 1479 hotline, it has taken calls from
more than 3,250 people since its start in May. About 25 percent of the calls
were inquiring about how to find employment. Father Ray Foundation officials
said the center has met with hundreds of people who called in and were able
to be placed into 67 jobs.
The hotline also has taken 105 health-related questions,
106 on education and vocational training, and 131 on other topics.
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2012, Sponsored
by Glencore International and Canadian Jackalope Open
Russell and Mark, who will be
emcees for both of our events again this year, are shown receiving their
certificates of appreciation from Lewis Underwood for the great job they did
last year.
Lewis Underwood
Our annual events are nearly upon us now and our pace
quickens as we continue to fund-raise for underprivileged kids in need of
shelter free of abuse, scholarships for school and special learning for the
handicapped. If you too would like to join in, please visit our website to
see how you can help. www. care4kids.info
Jesters Children’s Fair is
next month!
Now that August has arrived at record speed, there is no
chance of putting on the brakes with only 37 days to go until Fair Day! The
date is Sunday, September 9th, at the Diana Garden Resort, in North Pattaya,
where it has been held for the last 10 years.
Generally, at this time of year we go into a frantic
mode, as our organizational meetings now become weekly. But then after 14
years, we feel that we’re finally getting it right. At this juncture, never
have we been better prepared:
* All of the stalls are now booked.
* The entertainment program is sorted.
* The black event shirts are in hand and on sale.
Martin Simonsson and his wife
receive their certificate of appreciation from the Jesters for this year.
For those early birds, who already booked stalls, please
remit your 1500 baht fee at your earliest convenience. Funds can be
transferred directly to the Fountain of Life Center, Krung Thai Bank,
Pattaya Klang, account no. 227-1-36586-4, KRTHTHBK. Once you have done that,
please email us at: fairsitecoordinator @care4kids.info or treasurer
@care4kids.info.
For black event shirts, they can be bought at Viking
Beachcomber, TQ and/or by emailing us at contact@ care4kids.info. Shirts are
400 baht apiece, 2 for 700 baht or 3 for 1000 baht.
Jesters Gala Party Night
is booked too!
The second event is our Gala Party Night, which follows
the Fair 13 days later on Saturday, September 22nd at
the Amari Orchid Pattaya. This is a sit-down buffet dinner affair with
complementary wine and beer and highlighted by a variety of entertainment,
as well as biddings on auction items and drawings for raffle prizes.
At present, all of the 25 tables for 10 persons are now
booked. However, it is possible that places might come available at tables
for individuals or couples, if the booking parties end up with extra space
at their tables. So if would like to get on a waitlist, please contact us
and we will try our best to get you a place.
Ways you can still help!
* You can join our corporate and individual sponsorship
program. This continues to be the biggest source of our fund-raising.
There are 6 levels: Diamond (Bt. 400,000), Platinum (Bt. 100,000), Gold (Bt.
50,000), Silver (Bt. 25,000), Bronze (Bt. 10,000) and Pledge (less than Bt
10,000).
* You can donate a grand raffle prize or auction item,
for our Gala Party Night. You can also buy grand raffle tickets in books
of 12 for 500 baht and make bids on our current auction items by going to
our website.
* You can also donate by advertising in our 48-page A4
yearbook, which will be used for both events this year plus PR next year:
Black and white ads are 3500 baht for half-page and 6000 baht for full-page.
Colored ads are 5500 baht for half-page and 9500 baht for full-page. Inside
covers are 12,000 baht and the two-page fold out is 19,000 baht.
* You can donate a case of canned beer, or 850 baht
equivalent, to the Jesters Beer Tent at the fair. Your donated beer will be
sold at 50 baht per can at the Fair, which increases the value of your
original donation from 850 to 1200 baht. Beer sales typically cover the
entire setup cost for the event. If interested, please go to
http://www.care4kids .info/events/childrens-fair. html or email us.
We hope you are getting ready for September, because we are certainly
ready to go! If you would like to learn more about our events and ways you
can help, please visit us at www. care4kids.info or www. facebook
.com/jesterscare.forkids.
The back of our black event
shirt shows our major sponsors.
