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Victory for Provinces
Linda Buck
Photos by Eric Little
Cricketers in the provinces continued their development
with a fine victory over the visiting Bangkok squad. Considering the limited
resources available to the provinces teams, this was an incredible
achievement.
Cricket
children from Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen pose with their coaches, the Khon
Kaen coach (left) and on the right, David Buck, the Chiang Mai coach.
The weekend started on Saturday with a fitness and skills
program led by David Buck, director of cricket for Chiang Mai. He was
assisted by coaches representing Bangkok.
This was followed by a practice game which enabled all
coaches to view the ability of players. After a demanding day’s training
the boys and their sponsors enjoyed the welcome hospitality at the Star Inn
in Chiang Mai.
 Khon
Kaen batsman.
The following morning saw Dr Paes, representative from
the Asian Cricket Council demonstrate basic cricket routines. Following
this, a 30 over game between the provinces (Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen) -vs-
Bangkok began. Bangkok won the toss and elected to field.
Bangkok enjoyed early success in the first over, but
Chiang Mai batsman Bank (Montfort), and the left hander from Khon Kaen, Tam,
steadied the situation and began to build a solid partnership. After the
drinks interval Tam was out LBW and further success for Bangkok came with a
minor collapse of the mid-order batsman.
The game was turned around again by the major partnership
between province Captain Chi and Khon Kaen Sua, with some fine stroke play,
which enabled the provinces to total 116. The major scorers for the
provinces were Bank (Montfort) 25, Sue (Khon Kaen) 24 and Chi (Chiang Mai)
24.
Bangkok’s openers struggled to score due to some very
fine bowling from Tow (K.K.), Bank (Montfort), Tam (K.K.) and Gan (C.M.).
After drinks Bangkok made slow progress until at 40 they lost their first
wicket. Further pressure on the Bangkok batsman was achieved with the
introduction of Bank (P.R.C.) who claimed three quick wickets.
Bangkok, having no wicket keeper, used the services of a
Khon Kaen player, Nut, who duly came into bat and turned the game on its
head. After playing some delightful straight drives and hooks he was finally
caught for an excellent 26. The remainder of the Bangkok side could not make
any more impression on the Province bowlers and fell short by 14 runs.
The purpose of this weekend was to select a squad of 16
to represent Thailand in the up and coming tournament against Malaysia, Hong
Kong and Singapore in December.
It was a very proud moment for all involved, and no doubt
the boys on the Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen teams will play a huge role in the
new Under 13 Thailand Squad.
David Buck said that in such a short time the provinces have shown that
with limited resources, a dedicated team can succeed with commitment. The
boys have come a very long way and the future of cricket in the provinces is
very bright.
St. Ebbe’s Primary School Oxford visits Wat Rong Or in Chiang Mai
Linda Buck
David Buck, director of cricket, Chiang Mai, along with
his fellow coaches, Eric Little and Chris Simmonds, had the privilege of
escorting Norman Buckler, representing St. Ebbe’s School, Oxford, to the
Temple School of Rong Or.
Ajarn
Prasert and Norman
The purpose was to propose the twinning of the two
schools, not only with financial help but also with cultural experiences to
the benefit of the children in both schools.
The party was shown around the school by the headmaster,
Ajarn Prasert, who welcomed the proposal and looked forward to further
developing the relationship.
After his visit, Buckler said that he was honoured to
have had the opportunity to see the school, and was flattered by the amount
of time the headmaster had spent with him - especially as he was on holiday!
Buckler was very impressed with the children’s work displayed around
the school, which demonstrated staff dedication. Before he left, Buckler was
presented with a DVD of the school which will be shown at St. Ebbe’s on
his return to England.
Reading with Role Models
Book Buddies builds community spirit at Prem’s Junior School
David
Michaels
One item that both teachers and parents like to see is an
environment in which students of all ages can learn and interact together.
It is the sign of a strong community when the old help the young and the
latter in turn have a newfound respect for their mentors.
These values can be exemplified by the Book Buddies
Program in the Junior School at the Prem Tinsulanonda International School.
Once a week, for forty minutes, students in Grade Four get together with
kindergartners and pre-kindergartners to read storybooks to them. The
program is run by the three teachers of those classes, Ajarns Sara, Amanda,
and Casey.
Of course, reading is an important skill that is
sharpened in these sessions, but Book Buddies goes even deeper than that.
For some of the Grade Four students without younger siblings, this is their
first chance to interact with younger children. Likewise, many of the
pre-kindergartners do not have older siblings, and they consequently look up
to their Book Buddies.
Pre-kindergarten teacher Sara Shadravan thinks that Book
Buddies is wonderful for Prem, “The program fosters relations between
older and younger students and builds a connection between the lower Junior
School and Upper Junior School.” She commented that one can see the
results when walking in the hallways and passing students on the playground.
Because of Book Buddies, the children recognize each other and interact
outside the classroom.
The community-building of Book Buddies is an important part of life at
Prem. As these students grow older, we are sure to see the effects of this
program in the years to come.
Garage Sale at Grace International School coming November 6
Attention everyone! Garage sale at Grace
International School on Saturday, November 6 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Lots of
food and drinks, lots of great stuff to buy - including Christmas gifts and
ornaments from NGO’s! Come one and all. Fun for everyone!
Grace International School is at the World Club just off
Hang Dong Road. Go to the Sameong traffic light and do a U-turn
(construction right now).
Rotary makes donation to schools in Hang Dong
Members of Rotary Club Chiang Mai West
traveled to San Patong to donate money to the agricultural projects of
nineteen area 4 schools. Working together as partners for the last three
years, the Rotary Chiang Mai West and Rotary North Berwick in Scotland
successfully applied for matching funds to Rotary International for this
project. The money will be used to purchase fish and agricultural animals as
well as vegetable seeds.
 PP
Dr. Tinnkorn Sathiparat, Pres. Preecha Wongsakul, PE Frank Weicks, and PP
Marc Dumur from the Rotary Club Chiangmai West sort out the paperwork.
The agricultural programs of the recipient schools uses
the animals and produce they raise to supplement the diet of its students
and to teach the students agricultural skills that can help them earn a
living and support their own families once they leave school.
Ajarn Yuwan Pujeenaphan serves as liaison between the school district and
Rotary Chiang Mai West. School district Area 4 supervises 126 public schools
and services 28,000 children every year.
APIS Middle School tackles obstacles
John
Keisker (student)
Mr. John and Mr. Craig, this year’s Middle School
teachers, have worked at APIS for more than a year. This year sees them
working as specialists in their own curriculum area across the two grade
levels as well as teaching their ‘core’ subjects.
Mr. John
and Middle School students get wet.
So you can see Mr. John around the campus making
scientific discoveries with either grade while Mr. Craig deals with the
English, Geography and History that is included in the courses. Together
with the Deputy Head, Holly Gardner, they have developed a very special
course for this year’s Middle School students and so far, it seems to be a
huge success.
 Mr.
Craig tries not to get wet.
The Middle School has been doing some exciting activities
so far this year. To develop self confidence and team spirit, we have been
on a few outings. Our favorite has been the military camp in Mae Rim which
we have visited twice in the last three weeks.
On our first visit we tackled the obstacle course. Our
middle school students climbed, balanced, swung, jumped, crawled and
rappelled their way through this demanding circuit in an admirable fashion.
Most of them were soaking wet, muddy and tired by the end of it but were
left with a real sense of accomplishment in their weary bones.
Our second visit was for the last and most frightening
part of the course, the zip line. We were all very impressed with the
courage of these youngsters as they held on for dear life, stepped off the
three storey platform and went ripping down the line towards the landing
platform. We are proud to say that all 6th and 7th graders who came that
Saturday were brave enough to take the leap.
We have also had a 6th, 6th and 6th grade team bowling
competition to mix the students up, giving them a chance to form some new
bonds and pull together as a team. Nobody did this as well as Houda, Felix
and Yong, who won the competition and a midweek trip to Robinsons.
All in all we are off to a terrific start here in the middle school and
it looks to be a very promising year both in and out of the classroom.
UK Soccer Academy scores in Chiang Mai
Anna
Kauffmann
Last week the UK Soccer Academy returned to the Prem
Tinsulanonda International School. The five day intensive soccer training
camp for children of all ages was kick-started at the opening ceremony on
Saturday. Each participant was presented with an official UK Soccer Academy
kit followed by a demanding but fun day of soccer training.
 John
received the ‘Best and Fairest Award’ from the coaches.
Every day participants were involved in learning
concentrated skills and putting them into practice with fun games. Each
session was concluded with a warm down, debrief and summary of the day’s
activities.
Starting on the first day all the participants were
involved in a mini-World Cup tournament. Four teams representing England,
France, Korea and Scotland battled it out throughout the program,
culminating in the final match on Wednesday between England and France.
(England was victorious after an exciting game that was won by a narrow
margin. A portent of things to come, perhaps?)
At the end there were presentations of certificates,
evaluations and trophies.
Another UK Soccer Academy will be held at the Prem Center in April, next
year. For more information please contact enquiry@ prem center.in.th
PM Thaksin reveals how Catholic education played a formative role in his youth
Offers to host “ASEM Youth Games” in June next year
Mike Nelson
What many people don’t know is that Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, raised in a Buddhist family, is a product of Catholic
education. And he is proud of it.
The PM revealed some interesting details of his private
life when he gave a keynote address at the opening session of the world
congress of international Catholic journalists and media specialists at
Mater Dei School in Bangkok on October 13.
About 400 participants from the International Catholic
Union of the Press, that has its general secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland,
met at the private girls’ school run by the religious order of the
Ursuline Sisters.
PM Thaksin told his audience, which included Catholic
archbishop of Bangkok Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, “Mater Dei School
is, of course, highly familiar to me since my two daughters graduated from
this very fine institution. I am well aware of the important role that the
Catholic Church has played in the promotion of education in Thailand for
over three centuries, through the establishment of many outstanding schools
and universities.
“I myself am the proud product of Montfort College
(founded by the Roman Catholic Brothers of St Gabriel) in my hometown of
Chiang Mai.” Here he received not only a very sound education but also
exposure to many noble values.
“I also found that all religions have the same
objective in common: to teach their followers to be the best people they
possibly can be, and to serve as a valuable member of society,” he said.
Turning to the theme of the world congress, “Media
Challenges amidst Cultural and Religious Pluralism”, the PM continued,
“In carrying out our respective duties, respect for different cultures,
religions and freedoms is indispensable in today’s world.”
He had stressed this point at the recent Fifth
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Hanoi, Vietnam, he said.
“Indeed, we must make serious efforts to promote
cultural dialogue and cooperation since many ethnic and cultural differences
have been exploited to sow the seeds of religious and cultural conflict.
These are among the root causes of much of the violence and terrorist acts
that we see in the world today.”
That was why Thailand had pledged to do its part to
contribute to cultural dialogue within ASEM by offering to host the “ASEM
Youth Games” in June next year.
“I believe that sports is a very effective medium for
promoting understanding and goodwill among our youth,” the PM said.
The media also had a significant role to play.
“Virtually everyone, whether monarchs, prime ministers, religious and
business leaders, or the common man-in-the-street, rely on you to some
extent for their daily information and knowledge. You can therefore play a
central role in building a healthy and caring society in which people are
brought up in mutual understanding and harmony,” PM Thaksin told the
journalists from Thailand and the rest of the world.
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