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Prem students model the United Nations
Sally Williams (teacher)
The Model United Nations is a simulation of the United
Nations system. Students assume the roles of ambassadors to the United
Nations and debate current global issues. Participants seek ways, through
diplomacy and negotiation, in which the world community can deal with
complex global concerns such as the environment, human trafficking, AIDS,
conflict resolution, and economic aid.
 Prem
Students Jaime, Jesse, Ali, Kylie, Kikou, and Sonya represent their school
at the Model United Nations conference in Bangkok.
Last month eight lucky students from Prem Tinsulanonda
International School were invited to participate in a weekend conference
organized by the New International School of Thailand in Bangkok.
Representing countries as diverse as China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia,
and the Netherlands, the Prem team debated and discussed ways of solving
some of the world’s most pressing issues.
 In
Bangkok, Prem students simulate a United Nations conference.
They were amongst a group of 151 students from other
Bangkok schools, who were known as ‘delegates’ at the conference, and
represent not necessarily their own views, but those of their given country.
They go into their respective committees to canvas support in attaining
solutions to the issues that would be supported by their country’s
position. This requires much background research and preparation on
countries and their current events, as well as confidence in standing up and
addressing an audience.
Although most were new to the Model UN and public
speaking, all participants thoroughly enjoyed the day and experienced a
great deal of personal growth especially as confidence grew when policy
statements and resolutions were delivered. Our Colombian delegate even won
the chair’s superlative for the ‘most outspoken’ on human trafficking!
The Model UN is an ideal forum for students in making new friends and
ultimately in enhancing awareness of some of the world’s problems.
Participation gives first hand experience in decision making processes and
diplomatic work at the United Nations. Despite being just a simulation; the
value in such an event is in the reflection of the problems in our world
today, and with fresh ideals, continues to give hope for the future. These
informed students after all, are members of our up-coming generation of
voters, decision-makers and maybe even in some areas, leaders.
Local Community Service effort unites Thai and international schools
Anna Kaufmann (Intern with the Visiting Schools Program at the Prem
Center)
It was an exciting day for the Year 8 students from the
Sekolah Pelita Harapan (SPH) School in Indonesia and Prem Tinsulanonda
International School (PTIS) when they took part in a cultural exchange and
community service effort.
 Community
service and cultural exchange between the students at PTIS and a school from
Indonesia.
The students met each other at the Prem Center in the
morning before splitting into two groups comprised of both SPH and PTIS
students. While one group departed for ‘Ban Muang Pha Maharaj 5’ local
school, to paint the cafeteria and school fence, those students who remained
at the Prem Center took part in a cultural exchange between the two
countries.
The students learned Thai dancing led by Nalee Intharanun
of the Voranun Music School in Chiang Mai and Ban Muang Pha local Pavinunt
Sopa.
Afterwards the SPH students presented a classroom video
depicting life in Indonesia as well as a local Indonesian dance, in which
the PTIS students participated.
Both groups met at ‘Maharaj 5’ and, along with the
students of the local school, enjoyed lunch outside. After lunch it was back
to work for everyone, one group participating in a similar cultural exchange
as the morning one, while the other completed painting the school.
The day was deemed a great success, everyone involved benefited from the
opportunity to learn about another country and its culture as well as
contribute to the local community.
Laos University supported
by colleagues from Chiang Mai
Saksit
Meesubkwang
Chiang Mai University has donated 30 computers, two laser
printers and textbooks to the National University of Laos and the newly
established Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang. The handing-over took
place at the CMU president’s office on October 28.
CMU
president Assoc Prof Nipon Tuwanon (third right), hands over a gift to the
vice-governor of Luang Prabang province, Vongchan Phromsawat (third left).
The CMU and National University of Laos signed an
agreement towards academic cooperation and have close relationships,
especially in the fields of engineering and architecture. The recently
organized “Conference on Engineering and Architecture for Sustainable
Development in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region” attests to this.
The CMU hopes the computers will increase the students’ opportunities
in learning IT and strengthen their academic careers.
The removal of Native
Americans from North America
Tomu
Oshidari G12 (Japanese student studying at APIS)
This poem was originally written for our Independent
Research Project (IRP) class. Currently, we are learning about the Native
Americans’ history and culture. I have learned some interesting facts, so
I decided to put the knowledge into poem format and write it from a Native
American point of view.
I did not want to make the expressions so straightforward
so I decided to use much metaphor. For the Natives, the winter was the
season with little food. It was not a positive time. I connected that with
the coming of the white people and their destruction of Native American
culture.
The snow covering the land is the white people taking
Native Americans’ land. Winter’s coldness represents the brutality of
the whites. The hail is the gun the whites used.
Snow melted into water of anger has the whites introduced
the liquid of sorrow, anger, happiness, alcohol. The buffaloes (sacred
animal of some tribes) were hunted down and the eagle (now the symbol of
America, then the symbol of the union of some of the tribes) was stolen from
the Natives.
‘Vanish along with silence’ reflects the fact that
where Native Americans once lived peacefully, the whites have built a major,
noisy, railroad.’
Snow is starting to cover our land
Winter will freeze our hand
In the coldness we will perish
Even the fiercest warrior cannot survive their hail
It took everything from us,
Took everything from us
Snow melted into water of anger
Happiness and sorrow is what we encounter
Buffaloes disappear and eagles stolen
Our people vanish along with the silence
It took everything from us
took everything from us.
Godspell musical in production at CMIS
Performing arts team working hard
Vincent Leutwiler
(student)
The CMIS performing arts team is working hard under the
supervision of Miss Jonnell Uptin on this year’s CMIS musical Godspell.
The musical, which was written by Stephen Schwartz, was
first performed in London in 1971. It is a hippie musical about Jesus and
his disciples and the music is from the sixties and seventies. Godspell
tells the story of the last seven days of Christ’s life.
The musical was originally written in English but the
team has decided to translate parts of it into Thai as well as this year’s
concept is ‘CMIS gives back’, so they wanted to give something back to
Thailand. The key parts of the story are in English and in Thai so that a
non-English speaker understands it but a non-Thai speaker will not be
missing any details either.
The performing arts team practices almost every day
during performing arts class and after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
They go through each scene carefully making sure the optimal effect is
delivered and of course that everybody knows his or her lines.
The 26 actors will perform ‘Godspell’ at the Kad
Theater at Central on December 3 and 4 and will then go on tour to the north
of Thailand in Fang and Chiang Rai from December 6-11.
Miss Jonnell who is currently working on this musical also directed
‘Joseph and the Technicolor Dream coat’, as well as ‘Alice’.
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