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CMIS celebrates its 51st year
Kevin Morse
Chiang Mai International School kicked off its 51st year
with a “Welcome Event” sponsored by the school’s Parent-Teacher Group
(PTG) on Friday, August 27. A large group of parents, teachers and students
enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of fun, conversation and food after school.
 CMIS
parent (and event organizer) Patrick Roberts serving drinks and ice cream.
Newly-appointed CMIS Principal Terry Gamble was in
attendance and took the opportunity to welcome and get to know families in
the school community. “The best schools are ones with strong parent
support,” Gamble noted, “and it’s wonderful to see that CMIS parents
are so involved.”
The crowd enjoyed the opportunity to meet new families
and reconnect with old friends. Free ice cream, drinks and snacks were
available in abundance, provided by the PTG and parents. The event was
coordinated by parents Patrick Roberts, Muriel Schachtel, Dr. Ittisak
Siamphukdee, Rudklow Patanaanunwong and Khunying Pimjai Kupadakvinij.
On Monday, August 16 CMIS opened its doors to its maximum
capacity of 400 students, more than 80 of them new to the school. More than
26 nationalities are represented in the student body and the “Welcome
Event” gave both new and returning families the opportunity to get to know
each other, celebrating the school’s diverse community.
The Parent-Teacher Group has been a vital part of the CMIS community for
several decades now, encouraging students and teachers and raising funds for
various special projects. Their current fund-raising drive is for a new
quarter of a million baht playground set for the CMIS Elementary School.
17 year old wins Chiang Mai To Be Number One singing contest
A star is born
Staff Reporters
The final of the ‘Chiang Mai To Be Number One Singer
Contest 2004’ was held at the Lanna Music Hall in Central Airport Plaza.
More than 500 spectators had come to watch and encourage the 12 excited
youngsters who made it out of the initial 316 contestants.
(From
left) Vice Governor Kwanchai Wongnitikorn, 2nd runner up Golf, 1st runner up
Cat, winner Bae, Dr. Chao Duangduan Na Chiangmai and Khunying Pimjai
Kupadakvinij, the chairwoman of the singing contest.
It was visible that these teenagers had gone through some
serious practicing and training. The final was the day to give it their all,
to make all that preparation pay off. From Thai country music, to well-liked
pop and soft jazz, the variety was enjoyable and gave the jurors a hard
time.
 2nd
runner up was Golf - she is being congratulated by the chairwoman of the
event, Khunying Pimjai Kupadakvinij.
During the break when all votes were being counted, four
famous Thai artists took over the stage of the Lanna Music, with strong
voiced ‘Da Endo-phine’, sophisticated ‘Dice’, the soft
‘Saeksarn’ (Oh) who is adored by daughters and mothers alike and sweet
Mint kept everyone’s attention during the agonizing wait for the final
results.
 Bae
receives his cheque from Dr. Chao Duangduan Na Chiangmai.
Since it was obvious that all the finalists were
“winners” in one sense, they all received T-Shirts and 1,500 baht from
Voice Studio Chiang Mai. The three top spots were awarded to 2nd runner up,
14-year-old Golf, who favored ‘old time songs’ and who was overjoyed
that she made it.
1st runner up was 16-year-old Cat from Chiang Mai, a
student from Prince Royals College who had a distinctive jazz voice.
The winner was 17-year-old Bae, whose voice reminds one
of Al Jarreau and you forgot that it was a 17 year old, singing these soft
and jazzy love songs. Bae was the audience’s popular choice too, winning
‘Mr. Popular’ which brought him another 5,000 baht on top of the winning
cheque of 30,000 baht.
There were others who recognized his talent, with RS Promotion already
offering him a contract. We will be hearing more from this young man, in
more ways than one!
GIS opens new primary school building
Saksit
Meesubkwang
Grace International School held their Primary Building
Dedication ceremony on August 27, attended by guests, parents, students,
teachers, the local Hang Dong police and dignitaries.
It began with the national anthem sung by the GIS
students, and opening prayers in Thai by Maranatha Luckanachai, English by
Mark Perkins and Korean by Soo Jee Kim.
 GISEF
chairman Paul Utley (left), at the introduction.
Phrayad Cherdchoochart, the president of the Grace
International School Education Foundation (GISEF), welcomed guests and
dignitaries and introduced GISEF chairman Paul Utley.
Bill Hampton delivered the keynote speech, while Scott
Hansen, vice-consul of the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai, congratulated
GIS.
Uthai Khattiyod, superintendent of the 4th Education
Area, presided over the opening ceremony, and Uthai and Chalerm Ratchanakul,
assistant inspector of the Ministry of Education, cut the ribbon marking the
opening of the building.
GIS
primary school students and parents attending the celebration.
The GIS staff said that the public had become involved
with and supported the development and construction of the new building.
Chumley Eckerle was the master planner and facilities manager. He invested
countless hours coordinating and overseeing the construction down to the
most minute details.
Chumley’s goal was to make this the most comfortable and efficient
building possible for the primary school. Throughout the design and
construction phase, Jennie Garcia, the principal, provided creative details
about how the needs of the 400 students could best be met with this
facility.
EGAT offers rural schools brighter future
Autsadaporn
Kamthai
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)
has helped the government by supporting 30 schools around the country to the
tune of about 2 million baht over the next three years.
Students
dressed in traditional clothes present their scientific projects.
This is in response to the government’s campaign of
“One District, One School in A Dream” that aims to provide better
educational activities and opportunities for students in rural areas of
Thailand. It is also hoped that this would decrease the number of rural
students who move into towns to study, by improving the standards in the
rural schools.
EGAT is supporting five schools in the North - Wiang
Haeng School in Chiang Mai, Chiang Kam School in Phayao, Mae Moh School in
Lampang, Tar Klang School in Uttaradit and Sam Ngao School in Tak.
The financial support is going towards improving the
schools’ educational activities, personnel and equipment, following input
from the schools themselves.
A ceremony was held at Wiang Haeng School in Wiang Haeng
district, Chiang Mai to show off the improvements to the school. EGAT has
donated more computers, a sound lab and electronic learning library. Under
this support scheme, the school is able to employ native English-speaking
teachers.
As it is situated in a border district, the school
previously lacked educational equipment and competent personnel. The school
had only 18 teachers to teach 400 students.
It is interesting that the government education scheme has to rely on a
utility provider to accomplish the educational aims.
AKamin Lertchaiprasert and Rirkrit Tiravanija Retrospective Exhibition
Another look at ‘Modern Art’ at CMU
Sasiwimon
Wongjarin, CMU Art Museum Coordinator
There will be a retrospective exhibition at the Chiang
Mai University Art Museum from September 10-30, when it presents
‘Nothing’: a retrospective exhibition by Kamin Lertchaiprasert and
Rirkrit Tiravanija. The opening will be at 6 p.m. on September 10.
Kamin Lertchaiprasert and Rirkrit Tiravanija will present
works that slip through institutional cracks with ideas that can be
interpreted on a simple level. They draw attention to, and raise questions
about, the daily experience of simply doing (only partially, if at all,
related to art).
The artists’ works will be organized in reverse
chronological order, starting from the decade of the 1990s and working back
to the 1980s. Kamin will exhibit two dimensional mixed media works (Normal
and Nature, 1997) and serial sculptures.
In contrast to Kamin’s more introspective process,
Rirkrit plunges into the social sphere with ‘ready-made’ installations
that seduce people beyond their mere viewing pleasure and operate beyond
himself as a celebrated persona (move over, Warhol). For this exhibition
sampling, Rirkrit will feed you (Pad Thai, 1999), he’ll shelter you
(Untitled tomorrow can shut up and go away, 1999, 2004 copy edition),
he’ll even rock you (Untitled (D), 1995).
The retrospective will also focus on the artists’
approach to collaboration, social consciousness, and the everyday. To what
extent have the artists’ engaged their audience? What is their definition
of the ‘everyday’? In what social contexts have they produced their
works? Rirkrit is internationally known for his relational situations in
gallery spaces. Kamin has provided the young art community in Chiang Mai an
alternative space for discussion, activities, and exhibitions.
In tune with the artists’ support of the local
community, the exhibition will also showcase paintings by art students from
Chiang Mai University.
By holding this exhibition, the Chiang Mai University Art
Museum hopes to build a greater awareness of contemporary art in the
northern region of Thailand. It is a firm step in the museum’s engagement
with contemporary art as a tool for building social consciousness and
community.
Curator: Gridthiya Gaweewong, email: jeab@dangermuseusm
Assistant Curator: Karen Demavivas, email: cmuxhibition
@yahoo.com
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