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CMIS Grade 3 poetry recitations
Kevin Morse
Parents and teachers at Chiang Mai International School
(CMIS) were treated to afternoon tea and a poetry recitation hosted by Julie
McRady’s Grade 3 class recently. Students spent several weeks selecting
and memorizing their favorite poems, then invited parents and school
administrators to a special performance.
Members
of the Grade 3 class at CMIS during their recent poetry recitation.
The classroom was converted to a performance area by the
students, and desks were covered with tablecloths and decorated with
orchids. Every student recited at least one poem, and many had a humorous
twist eliciting chuckles from proud parents.
One of the most memorable was a verse by American
children’s poet Shel Silverstein about a little girl who dies because her
parents do not buy her the pony she has been nagging for (intended to be a
lesson to the parents in the audience)!
The Grade 3 class not only showed promise in public
speaking, but also that they were learning about public performances, and
about being good hosts. They produced beautiful hand-made invitations,
finger sandwiches and cut fresh vegetables for the tea.
After the performance, students escorted their parents to
the tea tables and served snacks and drinks before sitting down to read
aloud their first self-published stories.
The afternoon left parents proud and students encouraged, in their
literary pursuits.
International academic
center opens its door
Nopniwat Krailerg
An international academic center, EQ Mall, was officially
opened on November 20. Many parents and students attended the opening
ceremony, and a performance by students of Siam Music Yamaha, pianist Saksit
‘To’ Wechsupaporn and a choir from Think Earth project was given to
entertain the guests.
Three prominent academic institutions are situated at EQ
Mall - Siam Music Yamaha, Nakornping Branch 2; King’s Group of English
Language School; and Pitcha School of Arts.
The curriculum in the Siam Music Yamaha class is the same
as in 10,000 schools in 44 countries and includes piano, electric guitar,
singing, violin and popular music lessons. Children aged over 4 years as
well as adults may enroll. Please telephone 0-5330-6652-3.
The King’s College of English (Thailand) has been
approved by the KET (Key English Test), PET (Preliminary English Test) and
the FCE (First Certificate in English). Classes are limited to 10 persons
and are open to students aged over 4 years. All lessons are taught by native
English speaking teachers and based on the curriculum of King’s College,
England.
Pitcha School of Arts has been operating for over five
years in Bangkok and has now expanded to Chiang Mai to give local children
the opportunity to learn all types of art. For more details, please contact
0-5330-6736.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Chiang Mai Assistant Governor
Pongsak Wangsamur and Dr Pornthep Pornprapa, manager of Siam Music Yamaha
and director of the Think Earth Project.
Prem student receives IGCSE Certificate with Distinction
David
Michaels
Anita
Witbooi is happy to receive her IGCSE Certificate with Distinction.
Prem Tinsulanonda International School presented 26 students with their
IGCSE (International General Certificate for Secondary Education), given
under the authority of England’s Cambridge University. Anita Witbooi is to
be congratulated for earning the IGCSE Certificate with Distinction.
APIS celebrates American Thanksgiving
It’s as American as apple pie!
Staff
reporters
It was a ‘first time’ for many of the 200 children
and teenagers at the American Pacific International School and Kindergarten
(APIS) who had invited parents and teachers to a ‘real’ American
holiday.
It was also a first time for the new headmaster Keith
Wecker who welcomed everybody to the cultural feast that he had been looking
forward to all week.
Keith
Wecker, new headmaster of American Pacific International School and
Kindergarten welcomes students, teachers and parents.
He said, “As a true American school with an American
curriculum it is a ‘must’ that we get together on the traditional day to
say thanks. Thanksgiving had its origins in autumn harvest festivals
celebrated by eastern tribes of Native Americans. The modern American
Thanksgiving dates back to 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared it a national
holiday.” He continued, “And as is the custom in most families, a
special prayer of thanks precedes the meal. In many homes, family members
will each mention something they are very thankful for. I am touched and
happy that all our children through all grades prepared a list of what they
feel thankful for. I want you to feel at home in our school family and hope
that you will adopt traditions and memories that last a lifetime.”
The new
APIS choir.
The little ones from kindergarten and first grade sang,
and afterwards told the audience that the new APIS choir had their first
official appearance, especially for Thanksgiving. The Thanks from the
students ranged from, “I am thankful to my parents who gave me life,”
and “I am thankful for my brother who always listens to my problems and
helps to solve them”.
And as is the custom, it ended with the children and adults, eating huge
turkeys with all the trimmings of mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, apple pies
and ice cream.
Pencil rendering – a new approach to an old medium
Krerkrit Saiyao
Raffles LaSalle Chiang Mai will hold a three hour drawing
workshop at the Arts and Cultural Center (behind the Three Kings Monument)
on Wednesday, December 8 from 5-8 p.m.
It will be run by Brian Anthony Curtin, Ph.D. from the
University of Bristol and is based on the idea that a person’s hand may
function in the same way as a machine. That is, a person’s hand may be
‘programmed’ to carry out certain drawing functions.
The workshop is divided into two parts. First, students
are instructed in using a variety of pencils to create man different types
of lines and shading effects. Following this, examples of these line and
shading effects will be applied to the drawing of an object (from the
student’s personal possessions). A number of drawings are produced before
the student decides to finalize one.
The basic objective of this project is to introduce
students to rendering techniques for effective communication. Importantly,
the student acquires the idea that certain rendering techniques may be
memorized and put to use, without the need for a time-consuming study of an
object. The final drawing will be recognizable but does not need to be
realistic.
The cost will be 300 baht and more information can be
obtained at the office of RafflesLaSalle International Design School in
Nimmanhamin Road, or by phone at 0 5389 5278.
NIS teams with Mae Rim
school to speak English
Government realizes English language skills essential
Jon Van
Housen
Following a suggestion made by the office of Thailand’s
Prime Minister, Nakorn Payap International School (NIS) has become a
‘partner’ with a Thai school in Mae Rim.
Thai
students (wearing uniforms) take a mathematics lesson taught entirely in
English.
Part of the relationship is an effort to help Thai
students feel more comfortable speaking English. One afternoon a week, 14
students from Mae Rim Wittayakom School monitor classes at NIS, listening to
instructions spoken exclusively in English. They are able to ask questions
and interact with NIS students — all in English.
“Obviously one afternoon a week is not going to have a
huge impact,” said John Allen, NIS Principal, “but it is a step in the
right direction by helping them be comfortable around different cultures
which are speaking English.”
The students are all members of a tourism club between
Grade 10 and 12 at Mae Rim Wittayakom who hope to pursue careers in tourism
or hospitality.
On a recent visit to NIS, students heard a talk by Dr.
Amnuay Tapingkae, former president of Payap University, who now serves as an
advisor to the NIS board. He encouraged them in the pursuit of English
excellence. On another afternoon, the Mae Rim students joined in an English
games afternoon led by veteran ESL instructors at NIS.
The other side of partnership sees the Mae Rim school
invite NIS students to join after-school clubs, particularly those related
to Thai language and culture.
“While the suggestion made by the government is an effort to improve
educational standards in Thailand, we also see it as a way we can give back
to the community to students who may not be as fortunate as some of ours,”
John Allen said.
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