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APIS meets Elementary and Middle School parents
Kathryn Phillips
Parents of Elementary and Middle School students visited
the American Pacific International School recently. They were welcomed by
the Head, Keith Wecker and other members of the Senior Management Team
before moving to their children’s classrooms to hear more about this
year’s program.
Tiffany
explains and the parents listen.
Each Grade had its own focus, with the class teacher
explaining the curriculum and activities used to support learning. Later,
the parents were joined by their children and shown the children’s work,
including enjoyable activities. Students in Miss Lisa’s class explained
their ‘Compliments Jar’ where they collect notes which say something
nice about another member of the class or their teacher. At least one Middle
School student challenged his mother to a game of table tennis!
Keith Wecker has always enjoyed meeting parents and involving them in the
development of schools. Two further meetings are scheduled this month: the
first, for the parents of day students in Grades 1-12 at APIS, will be held
at the Headmaster’s house on the APIS campus starting at 10 a.m. next
Tuesday November 16, while the second will be held in Bangkok on Sunday,
November 21, for parents of Bangkok-based boarders.
Pilot program at Prem
brings two worlds together
David Michaels
Photos by Lori Krajczar
The structural integrity of a bamboo hut can be
attributed to not only the strength of Asia’s most functional wood, but
also the teamwork and perseverance of its dedicated builders.
Last week, Grade Nine students at the Prem Tinsulanonda
International School joined forces with their age counterparts from
Australia’s Kardinia International College for a week of nature,
adventure, and Thai cultural immersion.
 Som
appreciates the beauty of her finely handcrafted green umbrella.
Kardinia is one of the many schools from around the world
that sends its students regularly to participate in Prem’s Visiting
Schools Program (VSP). Schools that have recently been engaged in the
Visiting Schools Program include the United World College of Southeast Asia
at Singapore, Germany’s Gymnasium Starnberg, and the American School in
Hong Kong.
 Prem
students learn the painstaking craft of constructing an umbrella frame.
The students took field trips every day with Prem teacher
Lori, VSP teacher John, and Ajahn Phil, the Kardinia supervisor. One day
they visited a Thai handicraft market. On another day the students went
trekking near Chiang Dao, where they learned about different species of
bamboo and elements of the ecosystem that affect its growth and survival.
By all accounts, the students’ favorite activity was
the building of traditional Thai bamboo structures, led by Prem’s Ajarn
Robert. According to Lori, “The students learned the importance of bamboo
to the Thai culture and all the products that can be made from it. They also
gained an appreciation of the labor that goes into building one of these
structures.”
This particular group of Kardinia’s Grade Nine students
will be at Prem until December, and last week’s program was one way to
make their experience in Thailand a more well-rounded one. To enjoy the
beautiful surroundings of Northern Thailand is one thing, but to form
relationships with Thai and international students of their own age serves
to make their time here that much more meaningful. Likewise, Prem’s own
students benefit from their campus being not only a school, but also a
center for international studies.
Having been such a success, this program will certainly continue for
Prem’s Grade Nine and future students from the VSP. According to Lori,
“This was really a trial run and I think it went amazingly well for a
project of its size.”
Another great performance by Payap’s Symphony Orchestra
Cory
Croymans
Payap University continued with its 30th anniversary
celebrations with a performance of Payap’s Symphony Orchestra on Saturday
November 6, 2004. This 60 musicians Symphony Orchestra was again directed by
Professor Sompong Wongdee.
The
Chiang Mai Symphony Orchestra
The two opening pieces were both from Mozart: his First
Symphony in E minor (K.16) and his Concerto in C Major for Flute and Harp
both in 3 movements. The spirited soloists for Mozart’s Concerto for Flute
and Harp were Annette George (Flute) and Judith Utley (Harp).
As this was an orchestra with (mostly) Thai musicians who
graduated from Payap (or are in the process of graduating), they also played
some well known Thai music including H.M. King Bhumibol’s “Love in
Spring” (Lomnaow) and “Falling Rain” (Saifon), as well as Master
Montree Tramoj’s “Malay Dance” (Laoduangdokmai) which were all warmly
received by the full house.
To close a successful evening, Payap’s Symphony
Orchestra played Haydn’s Toy Symphony. It was quite obvious that every
musician seemed most comfortable with this piece and they played their heart
out.
Congratulations for this great initiative go to Payap
University and its enterprising Music Department.
We hope that such quality evenings will have many more to
follow and that Professor Sompong Wongdee will get the support he will need.
The next performance will be on February 16, 2005 at Payap University
Chapel.
After last month’s great success of the Chiang Mai Symphony Orchestra
at Kad Theatre which attracted over 1300 paying spectators, it became quite
clear to me that Chiang Mai’s music lovers are prepared to pay for quality
music. Perhaps Payap should consider a modest seating charge next year?
“Kids Only” team provides activities for Chiang Mai students
Nopniwat
Krailerg
The TV “Kids Only” team arranged activities for over
200 Chiang Mai secondary and high school students on October 30 at Payap
University, Chiang Mai.
TV
program production given by Karen Thomson, a senior director from USA.
Ten enjoyable activities were introduced to the students
including Voice Training, where Ajarn Tianchai Sooktiang, director and
teacher at the Voice Studio Chiang Mai taught students how to sing and
breathe while singing.
 Members
of the Kids Only group.
The second activity was acting lessons from Ajarn Budsaba
“Kru Kob” Waesorhor from Kad Performing Arts Academy who taught them
about acting, use of eye, voice, and emotion.
The third activity was Creative Design where the students
were taught about print media design by Kant Jaru-ankkura, graphic designer
and manager of the Good On Ya Idea.
Creative Writing was the fourth where Pattama
Jongsuwanwattana and Sainam Nateekunnatham taught students techniques for
producing good copywriting for advertising, radio script and slick slogans.
Other activities included Creative Thinking which had
Somporn Moonsarn, producer of the “Kids Only” program teaching students
to practice their thinking in creative and innovative ways.
Another interesting activity was on being an MC. Karen
Klongtruadrok and Lakkhana Saengsuwan gave them useful advice and
techniques. Song Writing was covered by Weera Wattanachantrakul, song
composer and the owner of the Little Voice Studio.
The final activity was TV program production, where Ajarn
Karen Thomson, a senior director from USA, gave advice on how to produce
television programs.
The Kids Only Program is produced by the CBN Siam Company broadcast on
Channel 11 and receives good ratings from over 2.2 million fans.
Santi’s Piano Studio students excel at Trinity piano competition in Payao
First prize for Chiang Mai piano students
Ajarn Santi’s students from Santi’s
Piano Studio excelled at the latest Trinity piano competition held in Payao.
The competition was held during October covering four
different age groups, and over 80 students from the northern region of
Thailand were part of the piano competition from 10 to 19 years of age.
Chiang Mai’s “Jirapat” and “Lukjan” made it to
the finals and showed much dedication as well as expertise. “Un-un” (not
in the photo) won 3rd prize in her age group.
The Santi Studio students who were amongst the awarded musicians were
“Gift” (2nd from right) who won the 2nd prize from 13 year age-group;
“Mim” (2nd from left) won the 2nd prize from 19 year age-group and
“Wan” (extreme right) who won the 1st prize from 19 year age group.
Vampires and cupcakes mark Halloween at Prem
David Michaels
Cross-cultural celebrations have always been important to
the diverse community at the Prem Tinsulanonda International School. Last
Friday, such a tradition became apparent as the Junior School celebrated
Halloween in style. The festivities involving costumes, cake, candy, and fun
lasted from morning until evening.
Grade Four hosted the school-wide Halloween assembly. In
the morning, the students marched into the auditorium in costumes ranging
from witches to fairies. They sang and explained the history and customs of
Halloween.
During the middle of the day, Junior School students
paraded around campus, showing off their costumes to the Senior School.
Although the little ghouls, ghosts, and ninjas were excited to be out and
about, nothing could compare to the fun which lay in store.
Up in the Junior School classrooms in the afternoon, it
was one big party. Children devoured cupcakes, candy, and cookies while they
danced the day away to Halloween songs. They told jokes, had fun, and soaked
in the holiday merriment. Kazuki from Grade Two even performed a magic show
for his classmates. In talking with the children, it was apparent that the
fun was nowhere near over. According to Alexandra Milvin, “I’m going to
go trick-or-treating and have a pillowcase full of sweets!”
Amidst all the excitement and organized chaos of the
afternoon, several teachers were able to take a step back and reflect on the
broader meaning of the celebration to them. Dutch-born Diana van Mersberger
explained, “In Holland, we don’t have Halloween. I’m glad that we can
experience it now.” Canadian teacher Cecile Poulan related her feelings on
the day: “It’s nice for teachers who come from places where Halloween is
celebrated to continue our traditions. This is a way of bringing a piece of
home to Prem.” In the world of Prem, where many people are far away from
their original cultures, that is what tradition is all about.
Opportunity for young movie makers
48 hour ‘movie-thon’ November 19-21, 2004
“Shambles”
A 48-hour filmmaking contest is open to high schools in
Asia, to be shot over the weekend of November 19-21, with the annual Film
Festival to screen the winners during April 11-16, 2005. You can still get a
team organized and send an email to rfriedericks @ hkis.edu.hk to register!
You will get an email at exactly 5 p.m., giving you the theme, prop, and
line of dialog that MUST be in your movie to qualify! No pre-created video
or music can be included - everything must be created during the 48 hours.
Submissions for the Film Festival in April can include
the 48 hour movies or others produced during the current school year in the
following categories: 1) Animation, 2) Ads or Promotional, 3) Short Films
(Drama or Comedy), 4) Music Videos, 5) Documentaries.
The next High School Film Festival is scheduled for the
week of March 28 - April 2, 2005. Submissions from International Schools in
Hong Kong and the rest of Asia are welcome!
Categories include:
1) Animation
2) Ads or Promotional
3) Music Videos (no copyrighted songs/music/video/graphics accepted without
documented permission)
4) Short Film (drama/comedy/action/mystery) and
5) Documentary
Students completing videos in video production classes,
as projects for other classes, clubs and service groups or independently may
submit them to d*Net Flicks. Students from other schools are also welcome to
submit productions! Please contact Richard Friedericks
rfriedericks@hkis.edu.hk for details.
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