Vol. 01, Issue: 01: January 2017
A Message from our FOUNDER and CEO Greetings to all members of the NIVA Family! As we all know, NIVA International School has been in operation for the past 25 years since 1991. As we enter into a new year, and I reflect on the past 25 years, I realize how far our school has come since our humble birth in a single shophouse with fewer than a dozen students. Today, we have bloomed into the modern school that we are all so proud of. The journey of 25 years has been fantastic! So many of our students have received scholarships, gone overseas, have studied or are studying in prestigious Thai universities and are doing great in their married and working lives. As the school is growing in infrastructure and scope of services, we as teachers, administrators, students and parents must also grow. This is what you will be experiencing this year as we move forward. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of those special people, from teachers and students, to parents and to the community who have been instrumental in our growth and our continued commitment to excellence in education. It is exhilarating that 2017 marks both our 25th year as a school and the year that we will all remember as one of the most fruitful yet!
Hello NIVA!
A Message from our HEAD OF ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION
It’s a New Year and may it be one filled with promise and possibility for all. I first want to send my sincere thanks to all of you for your warm welcome to the school. As I mentioned the first time I met you at the flag line, the New Year is often a time for making resolutions and I made mine: I will ensure that everyone here at Niva will be successful! I am truly looking forward to working, learning, discovering and enjoying new experiences together. Let’s move forward together and enjoy the rewards that are going to come our way and whatever we choose to do, we will succeed!! Dr. Lisa Marie MacLeod Head of Academic Administration
EDITORIAL
Hi NIVA students, faculty and parents, my name is Gabriel Pierce and I will be the Editorin-Chief of the brand new, super spectacular NIVA Post! The Post is a monthly newsletter that will be used to share student, faculty and school successes in a fun and easily accessible format. Each month we will choose different editorial, informative and congratulatory aspects of our school to highlight to the greater NIVA community. The NIVA Post will be generated by the newly formed Journalism Club which I will be leading. The Journalism Club and The NIVA Post are a great way to become more involved in our school and an excellent way for students to showcase their English language skill sets as they begin to apply for university. All students wishing to be involved are encouraged to come see Mr. Gabe at their earliest convenience.
NIVA Post is an online newsletter showcasing activities and information about the school. For any inquiries or to submit articles, send an email to gabrielp@nivais.com. To submit photos, email the pictures to beme@nivais.com. This month’s layout and design was done by Mr. Bem Era.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
for FEBRUARY
2-4 = MS Camp; 3 = U13 + U15 Boys Basketball 6 = U13 Girls Basketball 8 = Open Girls Basketball 9-10 = G1-3 Camp 13 = Substitution for Makha Bucha Day 14 = Valentine’s Day + U11 Futsal 15 = U15 Boys Basketball 16 = U15 Girls Basketball 20-22 = Y2 Rawdor 20-24 = Y3 Rawdor 23 = U13 Futsal 24 = Track & Field @ Ramkamhaeng Stadium 28 = U11 Futsal
Kicked off the New Year with baskets! Niva Middle School Gryphons were invited to participate in KhaoYai U13 Basketball Competition. The selected squads were fortunate enough to play against challenging opponents. During the twoday competition, the boys defeated the other teams all the way through the final. The experience helped them bring the Championship back to school on January 15 th . At the same time, we cannot ask the girls more for their amazing spirit and enthusiasm in each game. Both the boys and the girls showed the best sportsmanship throughout the games. Congratulations! Reported by Ms.Marlar
Special Thanks: To the NPSC for donating THB 1,000 baht for each championship we bring home.
TEACHER HIGHLIGHT: Mr. Patrick Mr. Patrick joined us this school year and teaches grade 3. Hi! I’m Patrick. It’s so nice to be here at Niva. I’m a mountain biking, surfing, photographer, traveler, coffee drinker, movie buff, ex chef, ex firefighter, and past business owner. I have taught primary, middle school, high school and college levels, and now the Grade 3 Teacher here with Niva. This term, grade 3 is working on “Our Place in the Environment”. We are looking at endangered animals and plants. The students have been studying how, and why this happens, and what we can do to maybe help prevent this, or save them.
This month’s
High School Camp This year’s High School camp was bigger, better, and more exciting than ever before! Students grades 9-12 went to Kanchanaburi for 2 nights and 3 days of fun and adventure. Students enjoyed activities ranging from paintballing to ropes courses, and trust-building exercises and games of all sorts. All emotions were on display at camp this year; from fear to joy, students learned that camp is a roller coaster of fun. By the time everyone arrived back at NIVA on Thursday night, students and teachers alike were exhausted and elated at what was certainly the best high school camp in recent memory!
More photos online HERE!
A Birthday and an Idea!
January 12, 2017 was a wonderful day. A grade 4 student, Gracy, was celebrating her birthday with her classmates with pizzas and cake. What was already exceptional became extraordinary. As 4th grade students, conscious of the importance not to waste food, were generously offering their leftover pizza slices to teachers and students of other grades, they had to face the dire reality that everyone was full. As they slowly began to reflect on the possibility to keep it, all changed when Mr. Anthony, the owner of the school, suggested they sell it after school. Going back to their class, they had the visit of
by: Mr. Philippe
Mr. Gabriel who triggered their reflection by reintroducing the concepts of loss and profit. Though the lesson should have been an English one, seeing the wonderful opportunity for an authentic learning activity, their homeroom teacher used the lesson to let the students complete the required calculations to ascertain they would make profit. The end result was simply outstanding; not only did the grade 4 students sell all of their pizzas, they managed to generate profit while at the same time reimbursing the parents who had bought the pizzas, and bringing home with them a wonderful experience.
“Extra, extra... read all about it!” Badminton and Ping Pong Fridays – Gear up for “Badminton and Ping Pong Lunch Hour” on the 4th floor every Friday. Let’s make this a fun time and cheer for your representatives. This is open for all secondary students who want to compete. For more information, contact Mr. Jason.
Kindergarten Career Day The NIVA Kindergarten is well on their way to figuring out what they want to do when they grow up! Students in the Kindergarten had an absolute ball dressing up as the adults they hope to become. There were firemen and policemen, businessmen and scientists who all were able to explain in English which direction they plan to go in after they finish school. After the description, students played games and danced as a part of the Children’s Day activity. At the end, prizes were given to those students who were able to quote the Children’s Day slogan….this year the prizes were books and the students were THRILLED!
More photos online HERE!
Kindergarten Chinese New Year Arts and Crafts
This year the Kindergarten students had a blast celebrating Chinese New Year! The students began the celebration by making red roosters out of paper cups and red construction paper….it was so cool. Ms. Tang oriented the students with the animal this year and Ms. Fang made sure the roosters could make clucking sounds! After making the Year of the Rooster items, students sang Chinese songs and danced in their classrooms. At the end Ms. June read all the children a Chinese story-KG students said it was the best Chinese New Year ever!!!
More photos online HERE!
GET YOUR GEAR “BACK IN SHAPE” The I.T. and Support Help Desk is our first student driven in-house work education program. It is located next to the store on the first floor. The students will be available to offer their services to those in the school who require assistance with technical issues such as: • • • • •
Computer related problems Program installation Internet assistance or issues Virus removal Basic hardware and software troubleshooting • Google apps assistance • Email assistance • etc. Please support our students and drop by with any issues you may have.
School Internet Doubled Because of the high demand of online resources for education, the school needed a solution to meet the requirements of a modern classroom where students are able to access materials for research, extra learning, and project ideas. Many of the resources today are in the form of interactive media and videos. The elementary classrooms each have a smart TV where the teacher can access a sea of information through the internet. In order to meet those needs, the I.T. Department requested an upgrade in our internet speed. Now, our students can access online resources with ease as we have doubled our internet fiber optic line from 50 mbps to 100 mbps speed. The next step in the coming months is to install more access points in the classrooms so that more students will be able to simultaneously access the internet with ease.
NIVA’s BEST for the month of JANUARY 2017 Nanu, Grade 7N This month’s “Best Use of English” Student I am from Nepal and have been staying here in Thailand my whole life. I’ve been in Niva for 7 years and throughout the years my English has improved tremendously. When I first came to Niva my English was very bad. Ms. Maria my first grade teacher helped me improve my English. Learning English had a big impact on me because now I am able to communicate with different people. Because of English, communication is easier.
Best Word of the Month
Chutzpah
Pronounced as “Hoot Spa” and sounds like “Foot Spa” :D
It is the quality of bravery, courage, and boldness for a superior effect. The Yiddish word derives from the Hebrew word ḥutspâ ()הָּפְצֻח, meaning “adventurous”, “dauntless”, and “fearless”
Our “Artist of the Month” goes to Otto from Grade 1 Mr. Philippe “Best Dressed Teacher” of the Month
"Best Decorated Classroom" Grade 2 Under Ms. Charity
Grade 2 Science Project: A Model of the Layers of the Earth
Students working in groups where they get to build interpersonal skills. Each one is a unique learner and working together they help each other grow.
Chinese New Year Activity Ms. Fang’s and Ms. Tang’s respective Chinese classes have been busy, busy, busy preparing for a fantastic Chinese New Year celebration that was held on Friday, January 27, 2017! Students have been creating posters displaying the different elements of Chinese cuisine in both English and Chinese. As students complete their posters, they presented them to the elementary classed in and explained to them in English and Chinese languages SO FUN! Grade 7 displayed chinese delicacies during the break and our school canteen, cooked scrumptious Chinese delights for the entire school to enjoy during snack time and lunch. The Year of the Rooster will be a fun filled year in Chinese class and Ms. Tang and Ms. Fang are so pleased with the student’s work so far this year!
More photos online HERE!
The students rolled layers of clay in varied colors. A part is cut off to show how it looks like from the inside. Tons of learning and fun doing on this! The best part is the show-and-tell.
Click for More! www.niva.ac.th /nivaschools @niva_international NIVA Collection NIVA Post on issuu.com NIVA Location on Maps
NIVA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
18 Soi Phokaew 3, Yaek 9. Klong Chan, Ladprao 101, Bangkapi, Bangkok, 10240 Thailand
Tel: 02-948-4605-7