Winter Issue Sports Day Loy Krathong
United Nations Global Compact Centerstage 2020
Alumni Talk
1 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Chinese Children’s Books Exhibition
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
2
3 6 8 13 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 28 30 32 34 35 36 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 56 57 58 59
65 66 67
School Update
From the Boardroom Early Years Update Primary Years Update Secondary School Update
Alumni News
Alumni University Fair Alummni Talk 2020
Athletics News
G3U Girls Football Dragon Varsity Table Tennis Volleyball Swimming Dragons 2020 Meko Shark Swim Meet EY Sports Day PY Sports Day
Trips and Expeditions G8 Bonding Trip G9 Bonding Trip G11 Bonding Trip
Showcase
Thai Classical Music Band Sornthong Contest Centerstage 2020 Chamber Music Concert Dramatic Reading Moon Festival Chorus
Activities and Events
G8 Guzheng Instrument Class The 2nd Princess Cup Writing Competition G6 Happy Chinese Reading Challenge The 5th MYP Chinese Speech Contest Annual Concordian Intramural Chess Tournament EY&PY Wai Kru and Teacher Appreciation Week Loy Krathong Ceremonies Freaky Fun Festival 2020 MYP Career Day G1 Chinese Mini Exhibition Chinese Children’s Books Exhibition Book Fair
Student Coucil Update
What We’ve Done and Will do Haunted House
Community Service
Grade 6-10 Service Learning Updates Fundraiser Tournament Mural Service Project
Special Feature
United Nations Global Compact Cultural Heritage Preservation of Thai and International Music Concordian Goes Green
3 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
60 62 64
Editor's Note
“ประเทศชาติของเราจะเจริญหรือเสื่อมลงนั้นย่อมขึ้นอยู่กับ การศึกษาของประชาชนแต่ละคนเป็นสำ�คัญ ผลการศึกษาอบรมในวันนี้ จะเป็นเครื่องกำ�หนดของชาติในวันข้างหน้า ท่านทั้งหลายจะต้อง เป็นผู้รับผิดชอบโดยตรงในเรื่องนี้ เพราะฉะนั้น เมื่อท่านออกไปเป็นครู ท่านต้องพยายามทำ�หน้าที่ของท่านให้สำ�เร็จโดยสมบูรณ์” CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
4
พระบรมราโชวาทในพิธีพระราชทานปริญญาบัตร แก่บัณฑิตวิทยาลัยวิชาการศึกษา ประสานมิตร ๒ ธันวาคม ๒๕๐๘
W
e were so fortunate to be able to hold classes on campus throughout the first semester this year! It was reinvigorating to have so many in-person events, performances, and adventures. The ever-anticipated annual Centerstage contest is featured in this issue, along with other exciting performances including the Chamber Music concert, the Thai Classical Music Band, the Moon Festival Chorus, and more! With so many of our Concordian Alumni momentarily nearby, we welcomed them back to campus to share their experiences and wisdom with current students at the Alumni University Fair and Alumni Talk 2020. We hope to have minimal online learning during the second part of the school year, and keep our community life active. What we know for certain is that Concordians will make the best of whatever happens! Wishing everyone a happy 2021 and Year of the Ox! Megan Ames Editor
Megan Ames, Editor Wanlapha (Prinz) Sa-ardwong, Graphic Designer
CONCORDIANDRAGON THECONCORDIANDRAGONS
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Find us on Facebook or Instagram
5
School Update
From the Boardroom Dear all beloved Concordians, I have been a part of the Concordian community for more than 12 years. My eldest son graduated from Concordian four years ago and is now studying for his master degree at the University of Melbourne in Australia. My youngest son has been with Concordian since Nursery and is now in G8. I started to become involved in Concordian community work as a secretary of the PTA. After a few years, I was invited to join the school Board of Trustees and I have been a Board member for 10 years. I have experienced this school since the time when we had only a few hundred students, and now we have almost a thousand! Board members attend the Board of Trustee meetings as well as specific committee meetings. We give advice and guidance on various school related matters as needed. One area which I am closely involved in is athletics. I am the mother of an athlete so I understand the importance of many matters relating to sports. Both my sons are quite sporty. My eldest son did Showjumping and currently plays soccer and runs. My youngest son swims, plays Badminton and used to play chess. One thing I like about sports here at Concordian is that there is always an opportunity for any student who would like to try and play. The child can just try and see if they would like to continue playing. That’s it! From what I’ve seen after many years involved in sports, I do believe they can be a very important part of developing a child’s character. Children learn sportsmanship and discipline. They also gain self-esteem and self-value.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
6
I am proud that I am a part of the active support for the new Sport Complex that includes a 50-meter swimming pool. At the time when we only had a 25-meter pool, some of the swim moms presented our dream to the school administration. We never thought that our dream would materialize and expand into the beautiful 5-story Sport Complex we see today. This is evidence of how our school’s admin team and the Board are open to constructive suggestions and comments. Everything is possible for the well-being of our students. And I have to tell you school never stops improving. We always think ahead and try our best to make this community a happy place for all. This is the main reason why I continue to be a board member: to give back to this great community that lays down a solid foundation and shapes the future of both my sons. Khun Suparp Kancvalskul Board Member
School Update
Getting to Know the Board Members
Suparp Pattarathammas Kancvalskul
Michael J. Lauer
Lawyer & Mother
General Manager, Asia; DP Technology Corporation
Why is serving on the Board of Trustees important to you? I feel this school is special and important for the future of Thailand. Serving on the Board of Trustee here allows me to contribute to this special community that I hope one day will change Thailand for the better through our students.
Why is serving on the Board of Trustees important to you? I believe that serving on the Board is an honor. I am pleased to be a part of the team that guides the school to keep following its Vision and Mission in the ever changing dynamics of education for our future leaders.
What professional expertise do you bring to your role? The viewpoint of a parent and a legal professional. What makes Concordian’s Mission and Vision powerful for you? They are powerful to me because I hope the Mission and Vision of this school manifest genuinely in both my childrens’ lives. Also I think most of the parents who send their kids here have the same mission and vision in mind. What would you like the Concordian Community to know about the Board of Trustees? I would like our community to know that each member of the BOT works hard for the well-being of the school and the community. We are here to serve and make this a better place.
What professional expertise do you bring to your role? I am a USA citizen that graduated in chemical engineering and also an MBA in the USA. I have had a 25 year career in Asia while living in three different countries. Along the way I have acquired language proficiencies in Thai and Mandarin Chinese and have learned to understand and enjoy the culture differences in our everyday experiences. What makes Concordian’s Mission and Vision powerful for you? I know that many international schools focus heavily on excellence in academics. I think what sets Concordian apart is the incorporation of integrity and social responsibility into its training for future leaders by tightly weaving these elements into IB coursework and group projects.
7 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
What would you like the Concordian Community to know about the Board of Trustees? The Board is very eager to reach out and talk with parents to understand more about why they chose Concordian and an IB education, how the school is evolving, and how they feel the school is performing in pursuit of the Mission and Vision. One matter to emphasize is that the Board Members that are representatives of parents are not involved in the day to day decisions of running the school. Our focus is on school policies and long term strategy to make sure the school is meeting the needs of the parents and students.
School Update
20/5 =
Early Years Update
a(b+c) www
Early childhood years can have a Long-Term Impact on Learning
D
uring the early childhood years there is a time when many developmental changes are happening that can have profound and lasting consequences for a child’s future. It is important to note that in their earliest years, children are starting to learn about their world in sophisticated ways. Development begins in ways that are both rapid and cumulative, with early progress laying the foundation for future learning. Overall, enriching experiences in the early years will assist in supporting children’s healthy development. Here is a small snapshot of what the Early Years students are learning in just one day from Pre-Kindergarten up to Kindergarten 3
In Pre-Kindergarten
Chinese classes are enjoying themselves as they explore colors through different activities. They talked about the colors seen in the world around us and their favorite color. They also had some fun activities where they sorted and even mixed colors together to see what would happen.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
8
In Thai Class the students are learning about night time in support of their UOI.
English class worked together and practiced sharing while they decorated their collaborative art project. While painting and gluing, they practiced their fine motor skills. They even learned math while learning about shapes and using them to decorate the outline of their friends. They had lots of fun creating art with their friends.
School Update
In Music class the students are learning how to In PE the students are able to use locomotor dance using ribbons. movements to sort the colored balls and choose which color is their favorite.
In Kindergarten 1 The students in Chinese class are exploring and learning about shapes during the unit “Who We Are”. They really enjoy shape-sorting activities in the classroom.
In Thai class the students enjoyed decorating their Loy Krathong’s to help celebrate the Loy Krathong festival.
9 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
In English class they are learning about the human body. They are learning about Doctors and how they help us to take care of our bodies. The students have been working as doctors in the Doctor center, which they have set up to take care of their patients and practice using the vocabulary and knowledge they have learned during their unit of inquiry.
School Update
The students continue to learn new songs in In PE Class the students are exercising in Music class. different areas of our school and learning about lungs and healthy eating.
In Kindergarten 2 In Chinese Class the students are learning about how materials and objects can change. They are also learning about the three states of matter and the features of different materials. In English class the students are reading and learning about different materials. They love doing research!
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
10
In Thai class, when the students have finished their class work and have a bit of free time. The students chose to practice writing or drawing on mini white boards. They enjoy doing this very much!
School Update
In K2, our students begin having Art classes. Here they explored different textures by painting on the hard & smooth surface of rocks and soft & rough fabrics. In the picture the students are painting on fabric to explore the rough and soft texture. In PE class, the students are learning about healthy food.
The students are also improving their jumping and hopping skills.
In Kindergarten 3 The students in Chinese class celebrated Mid-autumn festival by listening to stories, sharing moon cakes and making a cute rabbit lantern. The students learned about the origin and tradition of Mid-autumn festival and had lots of fun sharing and crafting.
11 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
School Update
In English class the students had a great time celebrating the end of their unit of inquiry at a Pattern Party! This was a great snapshot assessment of their learning. The students showed their understanding of patterns and cycles in a variety of ways. They got to pick one cycle to explain using their oral language and conceptual understanding skills. They created a pattern on their t-shirts as a reminder of all the different patterns and cycles they have learned about.
In PE class, the students are strengthening their swimming skills.
In Thai class the students are practicing writing In Art class, the students are drawing, coloring words which have the vowel ŕš‚and painting their family portrait.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
12
In K3 ICT, the students continue to navigate Google Chrome and Typing Club website, add bookmarks, and have begun proper keyboarding. Mr. Tim Early Years Vice Principal of Student and Faculty Affairs
School Update
Primary Years Update G4 Who We Are Assembly
G
4 had a very successful Chinese-led Assembly on September 28th, 2020.
G4 students were learning about the Transdisciplinary Theme of Who We Are in their first unit of inquiry. Students needed to understand that; “Leaders possess personal qualities and beliefs which may impact society.� Students explored 6 famous leaders from different times and places. They were Mulan, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King , Rachael Beckwith, Steve Jobs, and Nick Vujicic. Students used their research skills to explore their timeline, personal qualities, changes, and influences on society. They then created a display board to share their findings and conclusions. Students also took ownership of their learning and shared what they had learned with the school community in an assembly. Some students also took ownership and action related to leadership by joining class representative elections for student council. In the Assembly, students dressed up and applied their communication skills to take turns and confidently present on the 6 leaders the class inquired into. At the end of the assembly, students changed costumes and demonstrated a complex Mulan performance that included sharing poems, actions, and flag and sword dances. While watching these performances the audience had an exciting time learning the story of Mulan and also experienced the beauty of Chinese Culture. 13 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Ms. Flora G4 Homeroom Teacher
School Update
Grade 2 and 5 Science Carnival Collaboration Grade 5 students hosted a “Science Carnival” to share their knowledge of forces in the real world. By building prototypes, the students were able to demonstrate how forces and motion act on different rides. They reinforced their knowledge of forces by teaching these concepts to their Grade 2 peers. To add to the festivities, Grade 5 students hosted DIY craft stations and carefully taught the Grade 2 students how to follow procedural instructions. As the carnival PY Chess Tournament music played in the background all the students celebrated the end of this exciting science On Nov. 14, Concordian Chess held our 4th unit, working together they developed new Annual Concordian Intramural Chess understandings about how our world works! Tournament. There were 19 remarkable participants from G1 to G5 competing in three Grade 2 students were invited to Grade 5’s categories; G1U, G3U and G5U. “Forces and Procedural Writing Carnival.” Grade 2 students were able to “see” the many forces G1U Results that take place by viewing and learning about 2nd Runner Up: Lynn (G1I) different carnival rides and the steps needed 1st Runner Up: Thi (G1S) in procedural writing by making crafts. Many Champion: Sisi (G1D) connections were made to the grade 2 UOI, How the World Works where students had been G3U Results: learning about Forces, Simple Machines and 2nd Runner Up: Kevin (G3D) procedural writing as well. The learning across 1st Runner Up: Hymn (G3C) grade levels was evident through positive Champion: Mangkorn (G2I) Approaches to Learning where grade 5 students displayed great communication and research G5U Results: skills and grade 2 displayed wonderful social and 2nd Runner Up: Kenny (G5D) self-management skills. Thank you to all of the 1st Runner Up: Zen (G4S) grade 5 students for modeling how to show your Champion: Kan (G4I) knowledge. Ms. Chalain G5 Homeroom Teacher & Ms. Shari G2 Homeroom Teacher
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
14
All of the players exerted exceptional effort and sportsmanship throughout the day. We’d like to thank Nina in G5I for her help as an arbiter, the parents for their support, the IT staff, Khun Peanut, and all those who helped us organize the event. Awesome work everyone!!! Ms. May Tournament Organizer and Facilitator
School Update
PTA Serpentarium Outing The PTA organized an amazing adding to the Siam Serpentarium. The day was filled with fun and education for parents and children alike. As families arrived at the serpentarium they were greeted by a troupe of clowns who constructed a variety of balloon animals and figures for anyone who wanted one. Once entering the serpentarium, families were given guided tours. The tours began by showing Life through the eyes of snakes and an interactive gallery walk where parents and children learned about snakes. Following that, families were able to see a variety of living snakes as well as the venom collection room. An opportunity to interact with a constrictor was offered to all of those brave enough to participate. Once the tours were complete, all families assembled in an auditorium for an educational and entertaining snake show. As families learned about the life of snakes and snake venom, they were also thrilled by exhibitions from the snake handlers. Throughout the day a number of activities such as snakeskin button making, stick coloring pages, and snake bag painting were also offered. The day concluded with a delicious lunch by the river. The PTA did an excellent job of organizing this event and everyone had a wonderful time. Mr. Craig Dean of Students
Grade 1 Worm Farm
15 15 CONCORDIAN CONCORDIANIMPACT IMPACT- -ISSUE ISSUE30 30
Grade 1 has been inquiring into Sharing the Planet and brainstorming ways to take positive action for our environment. They began this unit by thinking about all the negative environmental things that are happening in our world, asking questions, and trying to research the reasons these things are happening. For example, why do people throw trash on the ground? Where does trash go? What happens when animals eat trash? From these amazing questions, we agreed that there is too much trash on our planet and we needed to look at ways to reduce it. They learned that one way is to create a compost to decompose fruits and vegetables. By creating a compost, we can reduce the amount of trash in bins and landfills.
School Update
Grade 3 How The World Works Assembly Grade 3 students were very excited to find out at the beginning of our Inquiry unit that they would be putting on an assembly for their families. Their Unit of Inquiry theme was How The World Works, focusing on Energy. “People use their scientific understanding of energy to uncover how things work.” This was a very big concept as students investigated what energy actually was, where we get in from (sources) and how energy can be changed (forms).
But the Grade 1s came to understand that humans needed help in creating a compost! The Grade 1s invited Uncle Ree’s farm to come to our school and share the most important creature necessary for a nutrient rich filled compost: worms!! Scientists explored the life cycle of African worms and compared them to Tiger worms. Students gave the worms a bath and created “worm water,” which is necessary for strong future plant growth. They observed how worms move, grow, and function in the compost. By learning about worms, students realized how vital they are for creating soil for growing plants, and ultimately our food source, but also reducing the amount of trash. Worms are awesome! Grade 1s also discovered an amazing little insect called the Black Soldier Fly. We used our senses to describe the various stages in the fly life cycle from egg to larva to pupa to adult fly. They learned that scientists harvest these flies because they are an excellent source of protein, but also do not have a negative impact on the environment. Instead of raising cows and chickens for meat consumption, which requires a lot of land, we can consider protein from insects, which does not.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
16
After the exploration, Grade 1s added the worms to our classroom composts, where Grade 1 scientists will continue to add food scraps and observe how the soil changes. Then they will use their composts to help grow plants in the spring. By changing some small choices in how we dispose of trash, we can have a big impact. What about you? How will you impact the Earth? What can you do to Share the Planet? Ms. Heather Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher
This was a English led Inquiry and Miss Tina and Ms. Angela came up with the idea of allowing students to share their learning through an assembly. Teachers gave students a basic assembly structure, explaining that they would break the show into 3 parts as they were working with 36 students each. The students then decided what part they wanted to participate in and what specific energy learning they wanted to research and share. Well, everyone except Sun-Sun. The whole class voted that Sun-Sun simply had to be the sun. This was a 4 week process of researching and note taking, deciding what information they wanted to share, writing the script and making the digital visuals to compliment their findings. G3S and G3D implemented their debating and reasoning skills from their weekly in-class challenges. G3I and G3C included GreenScreen technology which allowed them an insight into TV production. Overall this was a very successful viewing and presenting exercise that gave our students the opportunity to interact with science in a variety of ways whilst still participating in the more traditional approaches of investigations and experiments. Grade 3s hope our audience enjoyed it as much as they enjoyed performing.
Ms. Angela G3 Homeroom Teacher
School Update
Secondary School Update
A
Service is up and running with students in each grade level working on various projects that meet one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Habitat for Humanity has gone on one build so far this year. Feed the Needy Club has organized two trips to feed those in need around our community. We had a Friendly Football Tournament where staff, students, parents, and alumi came together to raise money in support of service activities; a special thank you to the parents who not only played in the tournament, but also made an additional donation at its conclusion. Musicians in our various after school ensambles put together an amazing Charity Concert in support of an Eldery Center. The HSSG also had a clothing drive going on for most of the first semester to support those in need around Thailand.
s the first semester is fast coming to a close, I’ve been amazed at how busy we’ve all been even with the restrictions imposed upon us because of the Pandemic. I’ve also been very impressed with how our students have been doing their part in helping our school stay safe and open. I know that wearing masks all day is something that they don’t enjoy, but they keep them on anyway. Hopefully, vaccines will be Both the Middle School and High School Student dispersed soon and we can get back to normal Governments have been active as well. They’ve before the school year is out. organized Spirit Week and various House/ Grade Level competitions, as well as advocating One of the things we can’t do this year is have our students’ concerns to the management team big theatrical production. However, Mr. Clynt has in order to boost morale within the school. The already had 3 small scale adaptations of plays HSSG also put together a Haunted House to after school where students had the opportunity liven things up in the secondary school. Both to showcase their talents: Death of a Salesman, governments are also currently planning the The Illuminati, and the 12th Night. The Middle much anticipated Talent show that happens in the School English Department has had its Dramatic second semester. Readings and the Chinese Department has had speech contests for both the Middle and High As always, we greatly appreciate the assistance Schools. These events clearly demonstrated and support we continue to receive from our our students’ incredible linguistic abilities. We’ve parents. Please do not hesitate to contact me if also had 3 Bonding Trips for Grade 11, 9, and you have any questions or concerns regarding 8; Grade 10 will happen later in the year when the Secondary School. I wish you all a wonderful ROTC is over. winter break and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
17 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Sports finally came off the practice field to Mr. Bill become real competitions. Beside a few Secondary School Vice Principal friendly games that Mr. Robert scheduled for our students, both Volleyball and Table Tennis have competed in their respective AISAA Tournaments. Golf is off to a good start as well competing in two major tournaments so far this year. Please check the results in Athletic News on our website.
Alumni News
Alumni University Fair C
ollege visits to our school have been curtailed this year due to COVID, but that did not stop us from exploring other ways to educate students about universities. This year we took a great opportunity, that arose because of COVID, to change our format of Career Day and turn it into a University Fair instead. One major difference though was that University Representatives were not the ones presenting to students, but Alumni played that auspicious role. We had 17 Alumni who represented the respective universities they attended or still attend. Universities such as King’s College London, Imperial College London, Oxford University, University of Bristol, Aberdeen University, University of Melbourne, University of British Columbia, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Michigan State University, Babson College, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Tongji University, Xi’an JiaoTong Liverpool University, Les Roches, Stamford International University, Chulalongkorn University, Mae Fah Luang and Thammasat University. As can be seen, there was a nice representation of universities from around the world. It was an exciting day for the students to listen and learn about university programs from their peers who had graduated. Some comments heard was that the information shared was better than that they had previously gotten from the actual university representatives! We again appreciatively ‘Thank’ our Alumni for supporting the school and for coming in well prepared. We look forward to possible future events.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
18
Dr. Tresa Career & College Counseling Director
Alumni News
Alumni Talk 2020 W
e had a wonderful opportunity to have 11 Alumni share their life experiences with our Concordian Parents. We were fortunate to be joined by a panelist of experts: some of our former Concordian students. They shared with us some experiences of University life, living abroad, discovering their career paths, overcoming obstacles, building resilience and the benefits of studying in an IB curriculum. The Alumni talk took place on Tuesday September 29th, 2020 in the Grand Theater. We were very thankful to have had Khun Akarat Nitibhon, one of our Concordian parents, to make this event even more enjoyable with his master of ceremony skills. We also invited Max (Class of 2018) to join Khun Akarat to be the co-MC and Max did a great job on the panel too. 11 Alumni panelists were interviewed and most of them started at Concordian in Early Years and Primary Years and remained at Concordian through their IBDP Grade 12 graduation. The panelists studied in the following countries: USA: Kwan and Tan Canada: Calvin and Pat UK: Pete M., Shin, Sindhu, and Daven China: Fern, Tata, Sindhu, and Kitty Thailand: Pete J., and Yammy Alumni shared their stories about thier time at Concordian. Tan shared how he kept himself motivated to study. Pete Manakit (class of Daven who was the first student at Concordian) shared about how the IB program benefited him. A lot of parents enjoy the session and were encouraged to believe in their children! 19 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Khun Aom Admission/Registrar and Marketing Manager
Athletics News
G3U Girls Football
T
he G3U girls football team started the 2020- 2021 season with an absolute explosion of 19 new players from Grade 1. So many amazing and enthusiastic footballers showed up to the first practice in August to learn how to play by practicing dribbling, passing, running, shooting, and working as a team. The team also ad ded some new Grade 2 members, as well as returning tournament champion team players: Aiya, Lilo, Neala, Mira, Bambi, and Alicia. Rounding out Grade 3 were the returning tournament champions: Name, Vicky, Pim Pim, and Kairi. We welcomed back Richy and added Brownie and Reiko. In total, the girls team had a record 35 footballers, all coming out every Tuesday and Thursday to play together. We were honored to have Name and Kairi as co-captains this year, as the three year veteran leaders on the pitch. Since our team had so many players this year, we were so fortunate to add Coach Cez, Coach Kit, and Coach Kyle to our growing team. Together with Coach Heather and Coach Wilmer, the team began developing skills to build knowledge and love of the game. Practices i ncluded many fun activities and drills to work on speed, strength, agility, coordination, athleticism, and above all, teamwork.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
20
In September, we had our first friendly game of returning players vs. the Grade 4 Concordian girls. For many of our players, it was the first chance to watch how to play a real game, understand positions, cheer on each other, and observe skills. Then in October, all the girls were divided into smaller teams for the first of the season friendly tournament at Concordian. What an exciting day of football! Girls played 3 games each and everyone went home happy and exhausted. Then in December, there was one more friendly tournament at Concordian, but this time, parents played too! So many parents came to play and everyone enjoyed playing football together. Stay tuned for the next exciting semester for when the girls will begin tournament practices on Thursday for the upcoming tournament at the end of March 2021. Go Dragons! Coach Heather
P.S. The girls from G3U football have been practicing and improving skills for months. Coaches created a friendly tournament with all 51 players into four teams with some parent guest players. It was a blast! Now, Coaches Cez, Wilmer, Kij, and Kyle will be focusing on AISAA games and another Tournament. A heartfelt “Bon Voyage� and thank you to Coach Heather for building the football program in our younger aged girl Dragons.
Athletics News
Dragon Varsity Table Tennis
Dragons Varsity Table Tennis team, AISAA Champions for the 3rd straight year. Team Champion - Concordian Boys Champion - Man Girls Champion - Wandy Jaden earned 2nd place and Kor came in 3rd. Congratulations to Coach Tiew, Coach A, and each team member for building our strong Concordian Table Tennis program. Wandy: This is my last year playing table tennis for Concordian and I was really happy to end my last tournament with a win! Everyone in the team worked really hard and had a lot of fun competing with the other schools. I am glad to see the growing interest in the sport, and I wish the table tennis team the best of luck. GO DRAGONS!!
Jaden: The table tennis tournament this year was really thrilling! I have faced many challenges from other schools and their hard work even though some of them were new to this sport have made me feel that ping pong is evolving into a more enthusiastic and enjoyable sport.
21 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Man: It was such an honor to be able to play for the school’s team. I had a very fantastic experience during this table tennis competition. Not only do I get to play with my seniors and other school’s, I’ve been able to make connections and friendships with seniors from other international schools. I am very proud of my performance, and the most important part is that I’ve got an opportunity to enjoy a sport that I love. I am looking forward to the next school competition. I would like to thank all teachers, staff, and seniors who supported me during this competition. I would also like to thank kru Tiew and Coach Robert for setting up such an amazing tournament.
Athletics News
Volleyball Alfie: This year is my last year playing volleyball at this school and I am very happy that I am able to play this year. I am very happy that our team was able to win second place in the tournament which was a very exciting moment, not because we got second place but because our team was kind of a newly formed team but all the members are able to play beyond the expectations. I am BeiBei: very happy that I got to be a part of this team! I’ve always wanted to win first place but seeing how we grew and improved as a team Kamlai: made me feel content. I am grateful for every team We worked hard, training and practicing twice member, and most importantly the coaches. As or thrice every week. I am more than glad that a team we’ve been through so much, despite I was able to play with this team as everyone in changing coaches every year I am proud that the the team has a positive attitude and are always team member’s love for volleyball persisted. Best ready to support other team members. Let’s wishes for winning first place next year! hope we win the next tournament. Momae: I have high expectations for myself and everyone on the team and everyone did their best on tournament day. I hope we can continue to practice with enthusiasm and I look forward to our January tournament! Grace: Even though it’s my first year playing volleyball I’m really glad I joined because I got to experience many new things. Everyone was so kind and accepting even though I wasn’t really good at playing. We gave it our all in the tournament and got second place, I’m really glad I joined the team.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
22
Jade: I am so proud and grateful for having the opportunity to play with this year’s team! This year was definitely a learning experience in playing on a volleyball court and I was able to undergo such a passionate and wonderful game with our encouraging and motivating team! The whole tournament was a rollercoaster for us, yet, no matter the situation, we would always try to cheer each other up by yelling! Even when there were situations where we felt like losing, we still held our spirits and blocked the scoreboard for our teammates to not worry! Therefore, I could tell that this team is full of love and comfort and I hope we will win the next tournament next year! Prim: I’m really proud of everyone on the team, and I feel that we’ve all improved tremendously since the start of the season. We all push and encourage one another to work through challenges and learn from our mistakes, and I feel that it has made us bond together strongly. I’m extremely excited that we will be able to attend the January tournament, and I hope that we continue to play hard! Go dragons! :D
Athletics News
Swimming Dragon 2020 M
ore than 80 swimmers make up our team this year. Swimmers are in 5 groups which are Fundamental, Little blue Dragons, Junior Blue Dragons, Senior Blue Dragons, PY Advanced Dragons and Varsity Dragons. A big thank you to all of the parents for supporting your child in our swim team. During the pandemic coaches still provided online strength training and dry-land workouts to keep our swimmers fit and strong Swimming dragons train hard.Since August, we have had morning and afternoon swim training, following the government safety regulations. Attractive new equipment and lane ropes are already in use. And, the BIG NEWS is the heater for the 50m pool! No more cold water in December and January.
We deeply appreciate the constant support from all Concordian administrators and parents that always support the swim team. As coaches, we would not have the success we have had thus far without your kind and generous support. Last but not least, thank you to each of our fantastic swimmers for always being determined, demonstrating good sportsmanship, and working together as a team. Concordian Swim Coaches
Meko Shark Swim Meet
C
oncordian swimmers entered the “Mako Shark Swimming Championships 2020� at Assumption University on December 13, 2020. Concordian received 4 Golds, 9 Silvers and 2 Bronzes Medals and received the 2nd place for highest point team award out of 25 swimming clubs. Medalist are as follows:
Gail Siwapornchai G5I, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal Silver, 50m Freestyle Silver, 50m Backstroke Silver, 50m Butterfly Bronze, 100m Freestyle
Miki G7S, 1 Silver medal Silver, 50m Butterfly Pote G7I, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal Silver, 50m Breaststroke Silver, 50m Butterfly Bronze, 50m Freestyle Titan G8C, 1 Silver medal Silver, 50m Freestyle
23 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Phaak G4D, 4 Gold and 1 Silver medal, Outstanding swimmer trophy in 9-10 age group Gold, 50m Freestyle Gold, 50m Backstroke Gold, 50m Breaststroke Gold, 50m Butterfly Silver, 100m Freestyle
Seth G2I, 1 Silver medal Silver, 25m Breaststroke
Athletics News
EY Sports Day T
he Early Years division held their EY Sports Day on November 20th, 2020. The PreK and K1 students were up first showing their family and teachers their athletic abilities. Activities included kicking and throwing, tricycles, egg and spoon balance, filling baskets, an obstacle course and running! Congratulations Pre- K and K1 students! The K2 and K3 students were up next, demonstrating good sportsmanship, and their knowledge of the many locomotor, strength, and eye- hand coordination games. These included tug-of-war, pencil-roll relay, an obstacle course, gone catcher, a sack race, a running race, and the cones and feet game! What a terrific morning for all those involved! Ms. Mari and Mr. Raymond
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
24
Athletics News
25
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Athletics News
PY Sports Day
E
veryone can be good at sports, just try and practice! As many of you have seen, our PY students in G1-G5 energetically demonstrated their sports skills on PY sport day. G1 and G2 students showed basic skills, hand-eye coordination, collaboration, and perseverance by participating in each station. These included the ball race, basketball, caterpillar race, and an obstacle course. They tried their best, through teamwork, to reach their goals. G3-G5 students also performed various kinds of sports skills very well in each station. For these grade levels these included football, baseball, rugby, hockey and table tennis. The stations were spread across the SC gym, the soccer field, and the table tennis room. They applied their sports skills, interpersonal skills and communication skills to complete the challenging stations. They also perfectly demonstrated good sportsmanship, team spirit, and respect to others. It was a great day full of fun and happiness! Thank you very much to all parents for being a part of PY sport day and the best motivation for the students. And thank you so much to the admin team, PE team, swimming coaches, teachers, teaching assistants, IT & sound specialists and staff for your great support and cooperation in making this event a big success! Looking forward to the next PY sports day!
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
26
Mr. Tiew
Athletics News
27
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Trips & Expeditions TRAV E L
G8 Bonding Trip
D
uring the weekend of November 27th-29th, our grade went on a bonding trip to Khao Yai, where we were able to truly understand each other more and learn multiple things such as meditating, cooperation, and communication. We arrived at the meditation center when the sun had already set. All of us went to the cafeteria and enjoyed a nice dinner together. We met a new friend, Anon, who participated in activities with us throughout the trip. We also met his father Mr. Vivek, a meditation expert who arranged mindfulness activities for us and walked us through the bonding trip. After finishing our dinner, we went into the meditation room where we had to sit on a mat and listen to a lecture. We practiced sitting meditation by closing our eyes and being relaxed without thinking about all the strenuous events.. During the next day, many of us woke up early to the chilly weather outside and took a small walk around the area. The architecture of the meditation center was truly alluring and yet, it was one with nature. One could spot vast fields of flowers and a carefully raked sandpit which offered a calm environment away from the chaos of daily life. It was a befitting place to reflect and bond.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
28
Trips & Expeditions
We then proceeded to eat a pleasant breakfast with a variety of food including roti with condensed milk, shrimp congee, tomato macaroni, some delicious soup, and a cup of warm milo; perfect for a windy day. After that, we went back to the meditation center and continued with many activities. Some significant ones include sleeping meditation, a relaxing and calm 15 minute session where we got to lie down on our mats and fall asleep in a calm manner in a matter of minutes. Other group activities included trying to make different shapes inside a string blindfolded, and a communication game where we needed to use sign language to make a shape of an assigned fruit with our bodies as a group! Coming from our personal experiences, the trip fully allowed us to bond with each other, understand each other’s feelings and work together as a family. There were times where we played together and ran around in the tall and steep staircases, and there were times where we shed tears from hearing what others are going through. This trip overall was very enjoyable, calming and emotional for most of us. This trip was a wonderful experience, and we hope younger students look forward to it. Im, Mily, Pim, Poj, and Pud
29 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Trips & Expeditions
G9 Bonding Trip T
he natural environment and fresh, cool breeze surrounding us gave a new feeling that we don’t normally get in our busy lives at school. The sparkles that glimmered from the reflection of the sun on the pond’s surface filled our hearts with gratitude. For our most recent bonding trip, the class of 2024 travelled to a meditation center in Khao Yai for 3 days and 2 nights and had a very enlightening experience.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
30
First of all, we spent time in a natural ambience meditating, walking around in nature, and bonding with each other. We were guided by a meditation expert from the Himalayas, who taught us different uses of meditation and mindfulness coupled along with a variety of styles in meditation (eg. walking, sitting, standing in a specific position). For example, walking around in nature and enjoying the breeze opened our minds and relaxed us, since being outside just to enjoy nature is something many of us don’t do in our normal lives. We were able to sense and appreciate the little things, which made us increasingly aware of our surroundings. The teacher also taught us about energy, how there is positive and negative energy and how Apart from that, we did activities with each meditation helps bring forth the positive energy other to be able to work with new groups of we have within us. people, talk to different classmates, and form new friendships, which further deepens the bond we have within our year group. Some of these activities included a group performance where we had to perform in relation to a word we got (e.g. responsibility, gratitude, acceptance, empathy). This activity was very unique because we worked in groups with people we may not usually talk to and the different performances showcased creativity which was very exciting and humorous to watch. Another highlight of this trip was when the boys and girls were separated into 2 rooms and had deep conversations along with the sharing of ideas between us. This activity brought many of us to tears, and created an exceptionally positive mood for all of us for the rest of the day. I think this activity really helped strengthen the bonds we had and many of us were able to honestly speak with each other in ways we couldn’t before, which made us all increasingly open.
Trips & Expeditions
Finally, a huge success of this trip was the candle passing activity, where we passed a candle around and expressed things we appreciated about each other, a very wholesome activity where we were able to express our gratitude. In this activity, we were able to understand the individuals who appreciate us, allowing us to understand how much influence we can have towards our friends. On the other hand, this activity also acts as an opportunity for us to reflect, acknowledge and become more aware of our thoughts in regards to the contribution our friends have made in our lives. We ended our trip with one of the most memorable moments for all of us as a group, which was singing the song “I Want it That Way� by Backstreet Boys. Everyone was singing their hearts out, showing the true friendship we have, and the bonds created throughout this trip. During that moment, each one of our family found a quaint and peaceful moment full of pure bliss. This trip taught us that no matter what obstacles we go through, we will always get through them together. Kyla & Praew
31 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Trips & Expeditions
G11 Bonding Trip Khao Yai Mindfulness Trip D
uring this pandemic, we were really fortunate to have the opportunity to go on a bonding trip with our classmates. This trip undoubtedly pulled us even closer together. I learned many new things about my close friends I never knew before. We also had mindfulness sessions which helped me calm my mind. It was a getaway from all the hectic school work. I never knew how much I needed time away from school-related assignments. We also did sleep meditation where I felt energized after just a few minutes of meditation. This is a very good activity that I could use in my everyday life, whether meditating to calm myself or to just relax. Pinn G.11
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
32
D
Trips & Expeditions
uring these 2 nights trip in Khao Yai, I got to learn many things about my friends and was able to spend time reflecting on myself and things that are going on in my life. First of all, during this trip, I was able to spend more time with my friends without going on our phones all day like what we usually do. This allowed me to learn more things about my friends, hence creating a stronger bond between us. Games like bird-nest allowed me to get together with friends that I might not be close to, which for me was a very good opportunity to communicate with them. Activities like double circle were also a good chance for me to get to know what my friends like to do or what they enjoy. We slept in a room of approximately 20 people which taught me to respect others’ personal spaces. However, I felt like the mindfulness session with the guest speaker wasn’t that effective since most of us were really bored and the content was somehow unrelatable and hard to understand. This might be because the content was more appropriate/ suitable for adults. Nevertheless, the three guest speakers allowed me to reflect on the things that are happening around me, such as social issues or how people interact with each other. Overall, I really enjoyed this trip and it could have been better if we get more breaks during the guest speaker sessions or if they had been able to find topics that were easier for us to understand. Prae G.11
33 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Showcase
Thai Classical Music Band
C
oncordian’s Thai Classical Music Bands are bands in which students not only learn about the traditional Thai music instruments but also get a chance to learn and explore other kinds of Thai’s instruments. Additionally, they have the opportunity to preserve Thai culture by performing at many Thai events at our school. There are three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Tonchok, Grade 8, has joined Concordian’s Thai classical music band for a long time. He is in the advanced level now, and would like to share his experience with us! Kru A
H
ello, my name is Tonchok. I am a musician and play the violin, the Ranad ek, and the Saw Sam Sai. I attend Concordian International School and have been playing the violin since I was 5 years old. Currently, I am a member in the Thai Youth Orchestra which is currently one of the national orchestras under the Thai Ministry of Culture. Being in the Thai Youth Orchestra is a lot of work because the pieces we play are quite advanced like Tchaikovsky Symphony 5, Ein Heldeleben by Strauss, and Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev. Being in the Thai Youth Orchestra has given me a lot of experience both inside and outside the concert hall. I have been able to participate in concerts, studio recordings, local shows, and even fundraisers. I also had the opportunity to travel outside the country for performances in Vienna, Budapest, and Tokyo.
also for Khon and the King’s birthday. What I like about the Ranad ek is the unique sound of the instrument that is produced when the stick hits the wood. This sound cannot be found on the classical xylophone. I also play the Saw Sam Sai. The Saw Sam Sai is similar to a cello. It is basically a Thai cello that has 3 strings. The Saw Sam Sai is one of the oldest instruments in Thai history, and it is very rare to find people who still play it. Unfortunately, the instrument is fading away quickly. At school I decided to join the Thai traditional band because I want to preserve the traditions of our country from ancient times. The piece that I played on the Saw Sam Sai was a traditional Thai piece that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is very hard to control the tone of the Saw Sam Sai since in order to play a different string, you have to turn the body of the instrument not the bow. My experience in both the Thai Youth Orchestra and the Concordian’s Thai Classical Music Band at school gave me the opportunity to make lots of friends, who are both younger and older. It has trained me to be a leader and a learner which are essential skills I will use in the future. Also, it makes me proud to give back to the school, and I am very grateful to do so. I hope that my experiences might inspire you to take a path in music and see the benefits that come from helping the school in this way.
Lastly, I would like to thank Kru A and Concordian for giving me the opportunity to be able to have these unique experiences. I would also like to thank my parents for supporting me and fighting with me to achieve my dreams. From this article, I hope that Concordian parents can see the importance in encouraging their kids to participate in musical activities In addition to playing the violin, I also play Thai at Concordian International School. instruments at school. I play the Ranad ek which is a traditional Thai instrument from the Sukhothai era. I first Tonchok, G8 started playing the Ranad ek in third grade. The Ranad ek is basically a Thai xylophone and is played in many Thai ceremonies such as Songkran, Loy Krathong, and
CONCORDIAN IMPACT IMPACT -- ISSUE ISSUE 30 30 CONCORDIAN
34 34
Showcase
Sornthong Contest At first, I didn’t expect myself to pass the competition, but I guess I did. I really enjoy playing instruments, and playing Thai instruments make me feel really good. To pass, I had to work really hard and come on Saturdays to practice the song with my teacher. I guess I am pretty proud of myself for making it to this round. Thank you Kru A for teaching me these past 5 years. I have really improved since the beginning. (Rika, G6)
C
ongratulations to Hui Hui (G10), Cake (G6), Rika (G6), Tiger (G5), Becky (G5), Don (G3) and Dol (G3) who passed on the first round of the Sornthong Music Contest 2020-2021 for the trophy in honor of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklao Chaoyuhua” Last year Hui Hui, a grade 10 student now, was the only one that passed to the final round of this contest, earning second place. However, this year was the first year that multiple students passed to the Semi-Final round more. Participants included 1,722 contestants around Thailand including Primary and Secondary school. This shows great improvement and dedication! Let’s celebrate their experience. Please cheer for them!!! Kru A I can’t believe it’s my 7th year entering the Sornthong competition; time really does fly by quickly. Thank you to Kru A for your support and encouragement throughout the years. Congratulations to the kids who passed on the first round as well. I am really happy to see the younger grades taking interest in Thai music and dedicating their time into it. The future of Thai music will be brighter than ever! (Hui Hui, G10)
I felt very happy that I passed, and I have to thank Kru A and a lot more people for making this possible. I will practice everyday, and have a positive attitude while I practice. (Becky G5) I am Dol, a Grade 3 student. I play a thai instrument called the Ranad or Thai xylophone. I am happy and proud to be one of the representatives of Concordian International School for the Sornthong competition. I would like to thank Kru A for all her support and I will do my best in the next round. Every time I play Ranad, I feel very thrilled as the Ranad is a Thai traditional instrument. I want more people to play the Ranad and make it more popular. (Dol, G3) I am Don, a third grader. I play a Thai instrument called Ranad or in English, a Thai xylophone.I am very glad to have passed the first round in Sornthong. I feel lucky to be part of this competition as it is very hard. I would like to thank Kru A for helping me as she gave so much patience in our practice. She also encouraged me to do my best and to concentrate. I hope some of you will be interested in playing Ranad as it will help you to have more patience, be attentive and have self-discipline. I hope to pass the second round and go to the finals and to be an inspiration to all! (Don, G3)
35 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Before getting into this competition, I had to learn the song. I come in on weekends with my friends who would be in the same competition to learn the song. I had to practice a lot at home and also at school to get ready. I was proud of myself when I found out I made it into the competition. It was an honor to be able to participate in this competition. I hope that this competition goes well! (Cake, G6)
The Sornthong Contest rounds up people from all over the country to find the one that is the best in each Thai Classical instrument. The judges are so called “superstars” because they are experts in those instruments. One that passes to the final round and wins the whole competition will get the trophy from the king himself. I am really happy that I made it to the 2nd round, and whatever the result is I would do my best and please cheer for me! (Tiger, G5)
Showcase
Centerstage 2020
O
ctober 16th marked the 10 year anniversary of Centerstage, The PY Talent Show. Four pioneer performers of Centerstage, currently in Grade 12 – Andra, Jonas, Sybert, and Wandy, graced the opening act. Danny (G1D), Alicia (G2C), Zolar (G3C), Ivy (G4C), and Airi (G5I) were the Masters of Ceremony. Every year, Centerstage participants undergo a rigorous selection process, during which the PY’s most talented try out for the chance to perform live at the event and vie for the Super Nova award, an award for performance of excellence. This year, 28 of the 78 entries were selected by the judges to participate in the event.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
36
Showcase
A competent panel of judges made up of Mr. Laurent, Mr. Clynt, Kru Aim, Ms. Min, Ms. Mharvie, Ms. Lourdes, Mr. Jaren and Mr. Jerry collectively picked the Super Nova Awardees. The Super Nova Awardees are (in no particular order): Pat G4I – Drums; Tiger G5D – Ranad; Lilo G2D - Vocal Solo; Kitty G2D, Pisa G2D, Mona G2I, Pearie G2I, Alin G2S, Rynie G2S- Group Dance; Ken G4S – Vocal Solo; Lada G1S – Piano; Manie G5D – Dance Solo; and Icon G5D – Drums. Our sincere congratulations to all the Super Nova awardees and a huge thank you to all our student performers! All the performances were remarkably diverse and varied, and all the performers were incredibly astounding, exuding immense grit and determination! They keep getting better and better every single year, always raising the bar to a higher level! Special congratulations also to Icon and Tiger! Each of them had been given a crystal plaque in recognition for having received the Super Nova Award in the same category for three consecutive years.
37 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Showcase
However, it does not stop here. We take great pride not only of our students, but also of our PY teachers, Teacher Assistants and parents who performed with massive energy and enthusiasm for the show’s special number! They truly rocked singing and dancing to “I Love Rock n Roll”! Just like our students, we all applaud their courage to get up and perform in front of such a large crowd, and the fun that they radiated and brought out, most especially to the students! Many thanks to Ms. Jed for the dance choreography! Our heartfelt gratitude to our administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, parents, secretaries, purchasing staff, custodians, and maintenance staff, for the enduring trust, and unfaltering support and assistance. A special thank you also goes out to our PY Music TA, Ms. Allen, and our technical staff especially to K. Game, K. Max, K. Wat, and K. Santi who gave up their spare time and worked steadfastly during auditions, rehearsals and the show itself! YOU all are the reason Centerstage continues to thrive for a decade and beyond! Until the next round! Mabuhay! Mrs. Maricor and Mr. Sebert
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
38
Showcase
39
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Showcase
Chamber Music Concert
H
aydn, Mozart and Beethoven first established the tradition of chamber music in the late 1700s and early 1800s, during the so-called Viennese Classic Era. In its original sense chamber music referred to music composed for the home, as opposed to that written for the theatre or church. Since the “home”—whether it be drawing room, reception hall, or palace chamber—may be assumed to be of limited size, chamber music most often permits no more than one player to a part. It usually dispenses with a conductor. Music written for combinations of stringed or wind instruments, often with a keyboard (piano or harpsichord) as well, and music for voices with or without accompaniment have historically been included in the term. On Tuesday November 24t, students and faculty were treated to an exceptional performance by students from grades 7 to 10, performing a range of classical chamber music pieces in the Grand Theatre. As Dr. James commented post performance, what we had witnessed was the embodiment of the IB learner profile, with our young musicians taking complete responsibility for the arrangement, rehearsal and performance of their work. Having no conductor, musicians not only had their own parts to master, but had to work as an ensemble in every sense of the word; collaborating and understanding the music as a whole in order to strike the right balance in performance. To work effectively in this way requires leadership, critical thinking and commitment; and on behalf of all those in the audience who witnessed and enjoyed the performance, I would like to thank Ms. Hyesun & Ms. Bo, and of course the talented musicians for entertaining us. Te Arohanui.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
40
Mr. Clynt, Head of Department, Arts
Showcase
Dramatic Readings O
n Thursday, November 19th the Secondary English Department hosted the 2020/21 Middle School Dramatic Readings event in the Grand Theatre. This year’s event was the largest yet, but fifteen separate performances comprised of 27 students from grade 6, 7 and 8. On top of the record level of participation, the genres of the performances themselves also varied, ranging from selfwritten poetry, to nonfiction accounts, from popular modern fiction to classic dystopian novels. This year also saw the performance of The Gettysburg Address, a famous American political speech. The performers all did a fantastic job at performing their material, and all were in the running to win the three categories: Context & Setting, Vocal Performance, and Audience Engagement. Students voted for their favourite performers, and the winners of the individual categories, as well as the overall winner can be seen below. Mr. Ben
41 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Activities & Events
MYP Moon Festival Chorus
M
oon Festival, as a traditional festival with family reunion as its core value, is celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian people. This year, MYP students put together a chorus to celebrate this loving festival by singing their favorite Chinese songs. Ms. Min & the Secondary Chinese department My class sang 夜空中最亮的星 The Brightest Star in the Sky. It signifies a special someone who leads us through times of misery or leads us through a blurry road. It’s a capella with four parts singing in soprano,alto,mezzo and tenor, really challenging! We spent around two months rehearsing this performance, starting with watching a video example, then moving on to learning, analyzing, and memorizing the lyrics. To further enhance the performance, acapella attributes were added to the song. When the actual performance date arrived, we stepped on stage with the lights off, the music video of starry skies behind us, and the spotlight shimmering as we sang The Brightest Star in the Sky. The practices did pay off! We were able to sing our hearts out since we have analyzed the meaning of the lyrics. We all sang for our “brightest star in the sky”. G10 Khim
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
42
Activities & Events
G8 Guzheng Instrument Class with Guest Speaker Ms. Yang Li M
s.Yang Li, the famous Guzheng performer and personal Guzheng teacher of HRH Princess Chulabhorn, gave a special virtual lecture to our G8 music class on November 12th. She introduced the history of Guzheng instrument, explained the different playing styles and their local cultural backgrounds and characteristics, and performed three typical Guzheng songs: 高山流水 Lofty Mountains and Flowing Water, 汉 宫秋月 Autumn Moon Over Han Palace, and 春 江花月夜 A Moonlit Night on the Spring River. During her demonstration, she would pause at certain sections to explain the scenes and their emotions. Students were able to form imagination in their minds and understand the songs and this traditional Chinese instrument in depth. Thanks to Ms.Yang Li, Mr. Young, and Ms. Min for giving students such a wonderful transdisciplinary learning experience. Ms. Vanni
43 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Activities & Events
1st Place Student Award from The 2nd Princess Cup Writing Competition C
oncordian International School won another highly renowned contest “The 2nd Princess Cup Writing Competition”, which was organized by Chinese Embassy, CLEC-Bangkok, and the Thai Alumni Association of China’s Universities. This year, participants of adult, youth, student, and teacher groups competed together. Out of more than one thousand submitted essays, 174 were awarded, and out of the 174, 47 were from Concordian with three 2nd awards and two 3rd awards. Only 7 students were awarded top 2nd and 3rd place prizes and Concordian students took 5 of them. The only first prize was awarded to Mrs. Li Yang, the Guzheng teacher of HRH Princess Chulabhorn who was once Meena (Grade 6): I am a six-grade student, this is my first year in middle school. When I joined the the guest speaker to our G8 music class! Writing Competition, I felt really nervous at the On Sunday November 29th, 47 Concordian beginning and scared to compete because my writing students were invited to attend the award ceremony and skills are not really good. I spent many many days celebrate their success. Concordian received awards writing this essay, it was really challenging, but my including, second place (Lynn from Grade 12, Poj teachers gave me many suggestions to help. After from Grade 8 and Meena from Grade 6), third place I edited, edited, and edited again, I got the sense (Lina from Grade 8, Great and Hui Hui from Grade of accomplishment, and I learned how to express 10), and many other honorable awards and recogni- emotions through describing objects. Even though tions. Concordian International School also received I got second place, I still think that I should learn an additional first place Contribution Award for the varied vocabulary. I am looking forward to participating in more Chinese events in the future. outstanding achievement. The winning students are: Grade 6: Meena Grade 7: Sheen, Otto, Ice Grade 8: Poj, Ben, Ty, Haady, Tasha Grade 9: Man, Mon, Grace, Matmee, FantFant, Jinnie, Lina Grade 10: Huihui, Khim, Brim, Great, Temmy, Anna, Gail, Jenny, Jean, Pinky, Celine Grade 11: JL, A-bond, Victor, Amm, Fiona, AngAng, Nicky, High, Pinn, Kamlai, Prae Grade 12: BeiBei, Keekwang Graduated Grade 12: Lynn, Elim, Rada, Tata, June, Munmun, Shin
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
44
Ms. Min & the Secondary Chinese Department
Sheen (Grade 7): The Writing Competition was very interesting, and very supportive to the education of Chinese language. Personally, I think that this will help me further my understanding of Chinese literature because first of all, it will help me learn and use a variety of vocabulary that we just learned, improving my essay along the way. Furthermore, this year’s competition also helped me to be more creative in writing my essay, incorporating, different, new and intriguing ideas. Making my essay more unique. In conclusion, I think that this year’s writing competition is very fun, and is a very suitable event to improve and further your understanding of Chinese literature. Poj (Grade 8): The Second Princess Cup Chinese Writing Competition is a highly anticipated and sought-after competition each year. Although writing our essays is time-consuming, there is an odd satisfaction in completing this literary work. This year’s effort really did pay off as I won the second prize. However, the most truly rewarding part of the competition was learning new writing techniques throughout the writing process. I hope to continue developing more Chinese linguistic skills in the future. Finally, I would like to encourage everybody to participate and study Chinese literature as well.
Activities & Events
Pinky (Grade 10): When I went to the Hong Soon Association, I felt so proud to be one of those selected to pass the writing contest. Although I didn’t win a top 3 place, I still got the certificate. Going there, I saw many Chinese people dancing and singing Chinese songs to celebrate the 45th year association of China and Thailand. It is wonderful to see traditional Chinese songs and dances since I didn’t see them for such a long time due to Covid 19 restrictions. Great (Grade 10): Joining the Princess Cup Writing competition was a valuable experience for me to develop my prose writing skills and my writing ability. Throughout the whole writing process, I got to learn and actually understand my family’s background and cultural identity, which I never would have without joining this competition. Standing on the stage holding the prize was one of my best moments as a Chinese learner, and I think it was worth it for all the time and effort that I spent writing my prose story. Even if you are not in the top 3, you will certainly improve your writing skills and be in the top 3 as you continue joining more competitions. As Confucius once said “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop”. Thus, I hope from this short reflection about my thoughts toward this Chinese writing competition, more students will join us next year at the competition. Remember, try and you will never regret it.
45 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Activities & Events
G6 Happy Chinese Reading Challenge
T
his year, Grade 6 students participated in the Happy Chinese Reading Challenge again. It was a fun after school event organized by the MYP Chinese department aiming to engage G6 students to review the 800 most frequently used Chinese characters. Students took challenging quizzes after reading a set of booklets called 快 乐汉语 Happy Chinese written by Ms. Min Li, our MYP/DP Vice Principal and Head of the Secondary Chinese Department.
Grade 6 students usually encounter challenges when transitioning from PYP to MYP due to the different structure of teaching and learning as well as workload.This reading event was organised to support them to adjust to the new learning environment. Students had fun participating in the individual ‘tiǎo zhàn’ (Challenge) after school. They gained stars for their homeroom class from each read and the final awards were given to the winning class and individuals after the three-month competition. Ms. Vanni G6C Atta: I followed my friends to take the challenge. I found it fun and I would like to learn and practice more Chinese characters. G6I Tubtim: I want to earn more stars for my class! G6D Dean: It’s fun! My cousin participated last year and he recommended me to join. I felt I should be more responsible for my class.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
46
The 5th MYP Chinese Speech Contest
Activities & Events
B
oth the Middle School and High School Chinese Speech Contests were held successfully on Friday November 13th in the Grand Theater. 16 Grade 6-10 contestants, of Chinese language proficiency from phase 4 to LL, voluntarily applied to participate. Their speech topics spanned across many topics including environmental protection, self-growth, relationships and role models generated from the quarter one Chinese study. For most participants, it was their first try to present a Chinese speech in public. With the support and coaching from their Chinese teachers, family and friends, each and every participant eventually was able to step out of their comfort zone and present with confidence on stage. It’s an authentic showcasing opportunity aligned with what they learned in class as well as what’s happening in the real world. Ms. Min & the Secondary Chinese Department Participants: Grade 6: Pao Pao, Dean Grade 7: Pei Pei, Sheen, Richy Grade 8: Pud, Dou Dou, Tasha Grade 9: Eclair, Lina, Grace Grade 10: Pleng, Natalie, Hui Hui, William, Khim
Grade 10 Hui Hui: My legs were shaking as I was delivering my speech. I was terrified, but it was worth it. I have competed in the Chinese speech competition multiple times, and everytime I would develop new skills in the process. This year, for me, is confidence. It is not easy to look confident when you are standing in front of the stage. But through everyday practice and a pep talk before walking up, I managed to bring out my confidence and did my best on stage. Thank you to Ms. Jing who not only helped me edit my script but coached me on body and voice use as well. This is my last year competing and so I would like to thank the Chinese department for hosting such a great event, and thank them for offering so many opportunities for us during our Chinese learning.
47 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Grade 6 PaoPao: It’s such an honor to have won the first place award. Firstly, I would like to thank my friends and my loving family for supporting me from the beginning. Secondly, I want to thank all the teachers for helping with the event. And lastly, I would like to thank my teacher, she helped me practice and fix my speech a dozen times. I am so grateful for everyone that has supported me during this contest. I honestly never thought I was going to win, there were so many speeches that were so good. But to me, I tried my very best, and that’s all that matters to me, although winning is an honor it’s the process that matters most. Even if we didn’t all get first place but we still knew that we tried our very best. We are all a winner at heart. Just getting to stand up there and be able to share ideas with everyone is already so amazing. This is an experience that I will never forget, it showed me how to be confident in myself and try my very best. Overall, this was a great experience for me and I’m so grateful for all the support everyone has given me.
Activities & Events
Annual Concordian Intramural Chess Tournament O
n Nov. 14, Concordian Chess held our 4th Annual Concordian Intramural Chess Tournament. There were 19 remarkable participants from G1 to G5 competing in three categories; G1U, G3U and G5U. G1U Results 2nd Runner Up: Lynn (G1I) 1st Runner Up: Thi (G1S) Champion: Sisi (G1D) G3U Results: 2nd Runner Up: Kevin (G3D) 1st Runner Up: Hymn (G3C) Champion: Mangkorn (G2I) G5U Results: 2nd Runner Up: Kenny (G5D) 1st Runner Up: Zen (G4S) Champion: Kan (G4I)
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
48
All of the players exerted exceptional effort and sportsmanship throughout the day. We’d like to thank Nina in G5I for her help as an arbiter, the parents for their support, the IT staff, Khun Peanut and all those who helped us organize the event. Awesome work everyone!!! Go Dragons Chess!
Activities & Events
EY Wai Kru & Teachers Appreciation Week T
he students had a chance to pay respect, show their gratitude, and express their appreciation and love to the teachers and the people who support them such as school maids through jasmine garlands and apples. “Thank you for teaching us. We Love you. Wo ai ni. พวกเรารักคุณครูค่ะ/ครับ”
PY Wai Kru & Teachers Appreciation Week
T
his year, PY students expressed their respect and love to their teachers in class through the fragrance of jasmine flowers and the heartfelt cards. Teachers sent their best wishes to students. It was a simple ceremony but absolutely impressive.
49 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Activities & Events
EY Loy Krathong A
t the EY Loy Krathong Celebration this year, PreK to K3 students had a small but beautiful Loy Krathong Assembly in the Amphitheater. The assembly highlighted the diversity of Thai culture by introducing different costumes, music, and dances from four different regions of Thailand: Central, North, North-East and South. We were amazed to see little dragons being courageous on stage, presenting their cultural identity proudly and joyfully. Especially our Pre-K, K1 and K2 students for whom it was the first time ever they went on the stage of the Amphitheater and performed in front of a big audience. What a memorable moment it was! Ms. Ariel & Ms. Nicole PYP Vice Principals of Learning and Teaching
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
50
Activities & Events
Concordian’s 20th Loy Krathong Ceremony: River Consonance
T
his year’s Loy Krathong event was pretty amazing. There were Thai traditional dance performances performed by students from middle and high school. During the event, there was a candle dance, or a dance involving candles, by female students from MYP. There was also a drum performance by male students from middle and high school, where one person plays the drums, and 4 other people are playing another instrument, and dancing, also acting out a small “fighting” scene. The shows were really enjoyable and entertaining to watch. Aside from the dancing, people were playing all kinds of Thai instruments as well. Next, there was a fashion show done by teachers, exhibiting traditional Thai clothing from different eras. For each era, there was a male and female teacher walking together, and acting out a scene where they pretended to go to a river and to float a Krathong, and also releasing lanterns. Not only did teachers dress up according to each era, they also did their hairstyle to match as well. Students were cheering every time a pair came onto stage and it was somewhat entertaining. And then after that, the teachers who were on stage were asked questions about Loy Krathong, about their opinions and what they know about the festival. The way the teachers answered the question made me know that they really understand how important Loy Krathong is to Thai people, and also the significance of it.
Overall, this year’s event was an enjoyable one, and I’m looking forward to what the school has to offer in future ceremonies to come. Sarisa G9
51 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Last but not least, the Thai costume contest. Each grade had a candidate or two who participated, and also the staff as well. Winners were given an award, which was different for staff and students. I thought it was cool to see all the different kinds of costumes people were wearing. Aside from the contest, most of the students (even ones who didn’t participate in the contest) wore Thai traditional clothing.
Activities & Events
Freaky Fun Festival 2020 Finally, after too much time at home The students got to party and roam. Throughout the school while having fun And playing freaky games with everyone. The day before, the school had to close But to this problem Concordian rose And quickly setup in frenzied haste Decorating and arranging with no time to waste The moms and dads worked around the school Making the different gyms look super cool. Passing out prizes to all the girls and boys Who were super eager to receive little toys The kids looked good dressed for the day They were all extremely eager to play And to collect their treats around the school Dressed up as their favorite freaky ghoul For the first time ever a historic date To have two special holidays on our plate we combined Halloween and Loy Kratong To see how they both would get along We didn’t know just how it would go To combine them both into a single show It turns out that with a little bit of thought An environmental lesson could be taught The kids laughed and had a great time Listening to our little holiday rhyme They watched as a monster from a lake Fought back against Kratongs that were fake Wow, It was great to get our parties back on track And I know the class parents always have my back Thank you all so much for your help to create A Freaky Fun Festival that was truly great.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
52
By Mr. Joe
Activities & Events
MYP Career Day
E
ach year, Concordian organizes a Career Day for the middle school students, opening them up to the realm of possibilities available to them. In the past, speakers from outside of school have come in as experts, presenting on their different professions which might be of interest to the kids. The purpose of this is to not only inspire our children to all of the options the future may hold but to also get them actively thinking about their careers, considering what may be a good fit. This year, as with so many things, COVID 19 presented new obstacles to overcome, and we needed to get creative. Unable to bring in members from outside of the Concordian community, we looked towards our very own grade 8 students to fill in and become our experts. The grade 8 class discussed the process of selecting a career and different criteria that they may want to consider, took a career aptitude test which offered suggestions on different career paths that may be a good fit, and then selected different jobs they would ultimately be interested in learning more about. From there, students were put into pairs, based on similar interests in a career, and tasked with researching and developing presentations to give to the grade 6 and 7 students. The grade 6s and 7s overall enjoyed getting to learn from their older peers for a change. Students mentioned that, “it was fun and very engaging because they asked questions to help us understand.” “I felt special. Thank you for leading us down the right path for a career.” Not only were they able to interact with older grades in the MYP, but they gained valuable information about careers and their future in the process. “It feels like I have more jobs on my list of what I want to be in the future,” one student shared. Another noted, “It helped me think about what I like and what is best for me.”
Filling the shoes of field experts proved an exciting but also taxing challenge for the grade 8s. One student explained that during the process, “it shows the many factors of different jobs, like the education needed to apply. This gave me some insight into what future job I might pursue.” Another student realized, “ there are many types of people and more careers available than you think.” Other students enjoyed being able to take on the role of teacher, and share information with their younger peers. “It was great, I felt that the kids were able to learn something about the different careers.” “It was fun and interesting because we got to share our knowledge,” One student was surprised with how tiring it was teaching middle school students. “Our throats hurt. There should be a limited amount of time, like 5 minutes [to speak] then 5 minutes of rest.” If nothing else, hopefully, this gave the grade 8s a newfound appreciation for their teachers and all their hard work they do. Mr. Jaren MYP Counselor
53 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Activities & Events
G1 Chinese Mini Exhibition Where We Are in Place and Time
O
ur Grade 1 students had an exciting “around the world trip” and discovered so many unique types of houses. How could this happen when no one is traveling nowadays? Hmm...This is because they just finished their Chinese-led Unit, “Where We Are in Place and Time.” Their journey started by researching all kinds of materials that people in different places use to build houses. They were amazed to discover sand, mud, animal skin and even cloth can be used to build a house! Then they expanded their vision to world geography, exploring the continents, landforms, countries as well as climate zones. Next, they made connections that the house structure, the function of materials, and climates are interconnected. This reflected our central idea which was geographic location may determine the types of houses that are built. Finally, students realized that our world is a global village and houses are one of the elements representing different countries/regions’ unique cultures.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
54
Activities & Events
Ms. Ariel PYP Vice Principal of Teaching and Learning/ Head of Chinese
55 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Students ended the unit with a successful Mini-Exhibition, where parents and school community were invited to witness and celebrate their learning. All of our G1 students were confident and knowledge communicators when introducing various learning experiences with the parents such as “My Dream House” expository writings, “7 Continents and Countries” reflection journals and mapping, “Houses in Four Climate Zone” display information board … and many more. The highlights of the sharing were the different house models students built with recycling materials at home as their actions of learning this Unit. It was truly impressive to see our young students’ creativity, knowledge and artistic talents, as well as their understanding of our beautiful world.
Activities & Events
Chinese Children’s Books Exhibition “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” --- Walt Disney
T
he Center for Language Education Bangkok, previously known as the “Confucius Institution”, organized an amazing Chinese Children’s Books Exhibition called “中国孩子的书香世界” for our Concordian Grade One to Grade Five students on Thursday Nov. 26th, 2020. This exhibition event has been on a world tour and Concordian was one of a few schools that was selected in Bangkok. The purpose of this event was to promote childrens’ interest and enthusiasm towards Chinese literacy, art, and culture. Even though our students have always had access to abundant Chinese books in their classrooms and the PYP library, the books from the exhibition opened their eyes with their unique and beautiful illustrations. The illustrations presented a variety of traditional and modern Chinese art techniques and styles, featuring a variety of subjects such as culture, value, faith & beliefs, science, social development...etc. The exhibition also allowed our students to demonstrate their understanding of Chinese culture through drawings and paintings. All kinds of cultural elements came to life vividly on the paper through the students’ minds and hands. We were extremely proud that pieces of our students’ artwork was selected to be considered for a collective art book of children’s artwork. The exhibition brought our students more understanding and allowed them to discover Chinese culture and literacy. In addition, it expanded the joy and appreciation of aesthetics. The visitors spoke highly of the advanced Chinese language skills of our young students as well as their artistic talents. We look forward to more interesting events and collaboration with The Center for Language Education Bangkok in the near future.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
56
Ms. Ariel, PYP Vice Principal of Learning and Teaching/ Head of Chinese
Activities & Events
A
book fair is always an attraction for all book lovers around the world. Last November 17th—19th, the PYP library organized its first book fair of the school year. Amidst the crisis that the world is facing, we were so lucky to successfully run the fair with the support of the administration, teachers, students, and parents of Concordian, everything becomes possible. A good amount of books are sold during the fair and we were able to restock our shelves with a total of 53,000 Baht worth of good books and other learning materials that everyone will enjoy. From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you! Ms. Mharvie, PYP Librarian
57 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Student Council Update
What We’ve Done and Will Do Dear Middle School Community, In the first half of the year, there have been a number of developments in regards to the Middle School Student Government (MSSG). Although only a number of products have been visible, the MSSG is continuing to make lasting progress through the creation of new proposals/policies, management structures, events, and projects to ensure efficient management and representation of the student body. The MSSG has utilized new management strategies to increase efficiency and multi-task. We have introduced committees to work on specific tasks all at once. This will not only allow us to focus on many aspects of student government work but also give representatives valuable work experience as committee leaders and members. We have organized events such as the end of quarter Kahoot, house competitions, and the upcoming middle school Sports Day and Olympiad. Additionally, we are working on several fundraising initiatives including a dunk tank at the Festival of Love and an ice bucket dunk. The funds will be used for the implementation of house point reform where you will be able to redeem house points for rewards, which will be bought using the money raised. We hope to have this implemented by the end of this school year. Changing school policy is one of our priorities, and there will soon be many proposals to the administration. Thus, the MSSG has
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
58
implemented strategies to directly understand the needs of the student body through town halls and class discussions. Suitable ideas will be included when submitting several policy proposals in January but the MSSG is continuously working to create more solutions. Our outlook for the next semester is optimistic but pragmatic. We believe that we can implement all our betterments and make the middle school an even more enjoyable place than before. Happy New Year! Cordially, The Middle School Student Government By: Burger, Vice President of the Middle School Student Government
Student Council Update
Haunted House T
he Haunted House team started with a team of 4. That being Khaojao, William, Sybert, and myself, Title, as assigned by our hssg president, Lisa. I was very excited when we learned that we were making a haunted house. We then started gathering people who wanted to contribute to the project. That includes Chin from Grade 12 who did a wonderful job making the haunted house for next year’s school build. Chin and I pitched the idea of a funhouse theme which would turn creepy and scary. Since all 4 of us are part of the drama club known as “The Dramatizers Club”, we decided to kindly ask them to help contribute as the actors. I wanted my club members to be creative, so I gave them creative control for themselves with minor limitations. Pleng and Amy did a fantastic job as the ghost girls. Khao jao and Arthur did really well scaring the players at the start and finish. Chin did a great job substituting roles. As well as Co-directing the actors. Sybert, who was working on the sound made a massive impact on the actors’ motivation as well as creating a scary looking environment for the players. With this being my last academic year (Senior Year)I would like to thank my friends who helped contribute to the project and the HSSG for such a wonderful opportunity. I would also like to thank my club members and the actors, who shared a wonderful bond. Especially on the last day when we had a group picture. About a year ago, most of the actors had wonderful bonding moments in Oz The Musical. But this time, it is different, Chin, Khaojao, Arthur, Amy are added to the mix. It was a well done activity which ran for 6 days. By Title, G12
59 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Communty Service
Grade 6 - 10 Service-Learning Updates T
he MYP Service Program consists of four separate programs based around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): Grade 6-7 Service Program, Grade 8 Community Project, Grade 9 Individual Service Projects, and Grade 10 Service Program. The following are small snapshots of what Concordian students have been doing in service-learning so far this academic year. Grade 6 The G6 students have had a busy year of becoming initiated with the MYP service-learning program. Students have spent time learning about the different types of service areas and projects, while also working to enhance their understanding through group and independent research. In addition to expanding their knowledge, some students have already begun their first service projects by conducting beach and park clean ups, spending time with residents at elderly homes, and visiting public schools to assess how they can contribute to their needs. Students have also worked diligently to raise funds by designing their own fundraising projects, like selling protective face masks and straps, and selling small plants from recycled material containers. Overall, they are off to a strong start and looking forward to a promising year ahead. Ms. Chelsea
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
60
Grade 7 This year’s Grade 7 students have continued the two-year program they began last year in which they develop and complete several mini-projects. Differing from the first year of this program, the Grade 7 students are able to choose their own service groups, changing members after the completion of each mini-project. By the end of November, all groups had designed and undertaken one project eac. These projects included beach clean-ups, planting of mangrove trees, cleaning of temples, visiting and helping at underprivileged schools, and reading stories to members of a blind community, among other initiatives. It needs to be noted that all of these projects were developed independently by the students, and we’re all looking forward to seeing the next round of creative ideas! Mr. Ben
Grade 8 Our Grade 8 students have been hard at work this semester coming up with ideas and goals for their Community Projects. This year, each group has a unique challenge of trying to enrich their local communities in meaningful ways while also navigating the difficulties associated with the “new normal.” Thus far, all groups have come up with some very creative solutions to issues that many are facing in and around Bangkok which include digital handbooks on personal hygiene to tree planting initiatives to creating more greenspace in our communities to delivering protective equipment to underfunded hospitals. We are currently looking forward to seeing the Grade 8’s creative approaches to the fundraising portion of their Community Projects, and then eagerly await their showcase and exhibition at the end of the year! Mr Aaron
Communty Service
Grade 10 Grade 10 students have taken on a wide range of service projects so far this year to address a SDG in their local contexts. One group has been working to raise awareness of the importance of sleep among the MYP and DP students while another has been leading presentations on nutrition science, health, and wellbeing. Another group of Grade 10 students have been busy adding beautiful plants to the garden and preparing to create terrariums and bracelets to sell for the planting club. A hugely successful clothing drive planned by another group has gathered donations for students in need, and yet another group has been hard at work making and selling paper flowers to raise money for Chacheongsao Hospital. Meanwhile, another group has started a massive recycling campaign on campus and placed new bins for the grade levels to fill with recyclable goods. This is just a glimpse of what is happening Grade 9 with some of the Class of 2023! The Grade 9 Independent Service-Learning builds Ms. Michelle off of the Community Project from the previous year, and enables students to select and tailor their service-learning around their own passions and interests. Students started off the year by sharing their personal goals and ideas for projects. After pitching these ideas to the class, time was taken for students to join together based on similar interests and visions. From there, the investigation and research process began. Groups have been working hard developing their ideas, reaching out to outside groups for collaboration and information, and preparing to start taking action over the next several months. Teacher advisors were able to select projects that pertained to their own personal passions, and have been working alongside the grade 9s to help guide them towards success and sustainability. Mr. Jaren
Clothing Drive A
Robin, G11
61 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
t the service day, we started off with a presentation by GEPP Sa-Ard (Keep Clean) that helped raise awareness about Thailand’s issues with sustainability. Afterwards we were sent to different groups to work on different projects. I was assigned to Ms. Marijoy’s group where we helped organize clothes donated by the Concordian community for a clothes drive. I feel that the act of donating clothes, as well as other things, is very important. Just because we don’t need something anymore does not mean that someone else doesn’t need it. It saves us the trouble of having to throw the clothes away, and it also lets the people that may need the clothes more have an opportunity to receive clothes for no cost. I’ve heard many good things about other groups, and I cannot be more proud of our community.
Communty Service
Fundraiser Tournament O
n service day, our group spent the morning packing food items into bags. It was a bit tiring carrying the items up and down so many times. But when we got them assembled, we started working in ragons Football was finally able to play again an orderly fashion, and efficiently completed packing on September 26the with a Community Football around 230 bags. Tournament. Feeding the Needy and The Youth Fund partnered up to raise funds to help provide to people In the afternoon, we went to the slum area in that had been hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangna to donate the bags of food. We were split up into groups by our grade levels, where each group Students, alumni, teachers, and parents gathered went to different areas to donate. Seeing the elderly together on a Saturday to play for this worthy cause. smile after handing the food bags to them melted my There were 6 teams, and the event lasted from 8 in heart. the morning to late noon. There was uplifting music The Feeding the Needy will continue actions to help provided by RadioActive club to pump up players’ the people in need and we are extremely thankful to energy, and food and drinks were sold for everyone Concordian for giving us an opportunity to give back to our community. that participated and the many spectators.
Feeding the Needy
D
We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity Thank you for the donations, the funds, and to be a part of this club and make a positive impact especially for participation. in our local community. We used the funds from the tournament to buy non-perishable food items for Sanjana G.12 people who were badly affected from the Covid-10 pandemic. For us, donating food to people or organizations gives rise to a feeling of friendliness and trust among our community. The fact that we are helping others is very empowering and makes us feel happier as well as more fulfilled. The Concordian Communnity’s donations and support has greatly helped further both club’s missions, and most importantly, it has helped the people in need. Upon completion of our goals, we plan to continue giving, working and actively supporting those in need, and to organize events that bring our school community together.
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
62
Thank you Mr. Robert, Dr James, and the Concordian Service Administration team for guiding and supporting our plans through the event. Both clubs are sincerely grateful for your help to make this event possible. Thank you to everyone that joined on the September 26 Football Tournament. Thank you for the donations, the funds, and especially for participation. Parents, special shout out to you for your generosity! Your contributions have been delivered to the Bangkaew areas, and have made this event a success. Written by Prim A. and Sanjana
Communty Service
S
ervice day has shown me a different perspective of our world. Going around the slum, I was surprised to see how poor the environment was, and how it affects so many people across Thailand. The living conditions are unbelievably horrible and inhumane. Some of these people suffer from severe illnesses but have no access to medicine. One of them couldn’t even stand up or walk. The smiles and happiness from receiving the food bags made me realize how lucky we are to have the opportunity for a bright future. It made me realize how lucky we are to live a comfortable life with soft beds and warm showers. It made me realize how lucky we are to have access to good food and clean water. It made me realize how lucky we are to have access to a good education. It made me realize how some of these people are going to sleep with empty stomachs.
These people in the slum lack access to proper food and nutrition. They are forced to sleep on the floor and to deal with leaking roofs and creaking floorboards. The conditions of poverty and slums are extremely evil, and no one deserves to go through such a painful experience. We went there for almost 2 hours with a total of 208 food bags, but we didn’t even cover half of the whole slum area. Seeing these people’s living conditions made me realize how much help they need from society. On the ride back to school, I realized how we can all contribute to help these people, simply by donating clothes and usable things that could make their lives easier. Service day really taught me how lucky we all are to have such a comfortable life and how important it is to help these people out of poverty. Nemo G.9
63 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Communty Service
Mural Service Project
I
n a continuous effort to create enriched learning environments for our primary students, a group of 50 high school students embarked upon a service activity painting ten murals which took one day to complete. The aim was to make a vibrant environment for students to interact while raising awareness of the UN sustainable goals with a focus on environmental issues. The Mural service project is part of Concordians Schools’ drive to create a stimulating and conducive environment for students, as well as to pave the way for them to develop their creative talents further. We are very proud of our high school students and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their service, creativity and commitment. Mr. David
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
64
Special Feature
Concordian Participates in the United Nations Global Compact to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) I
t is our great pleasure to inform you that Concordian International School has been accepted as a Participant in the United Nations Global Compact. This is a global network of over 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business participants based in over 160 countries that are committed to building a sustainable future. UN Global Compact provides a framework for developing a more sustainable and responsible business through actions and collaboration between all sectors in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The participants will align their operations and strategies with universally-accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our mission is to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. Concordian is very proud to be part of the UN Global Compact Network to create a more sustainable world and to help make it a better place for everyone. Khun Alisa
65 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
Special Feature
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Thai and International Music
I
n late October, Concordian welcomed visitors from Thai schools in Sukhothai and Phuket to learn about cultural heritage preservation of Thai and International Music. Over 30 Music teachers from Primary and Secondary Thai schools in Sukhothai and Phuket, led by Khun Ukrist Balankura, Advisor of True Visions Group, and Khun Chatchai Sukawe (Rang Rockestra), music instructor and former lead singer of Rockestra Band, visited Concordian. The visitors were introduced to our music classrooms and learned techniques of teaching music in both Thai and International systems through the demonstrations and exemplary expertise of our Music teachers lead by Ms. Hyesun, Mr. Kim, Mr. Sebert, and Kru A. On this occasion, Concordian students welcomed the visitors with impressive performances. They showcased their outstanding talents and skills in music with a harmonious combination of Thai and International music instruments. At the end of the day, our performers had a chance to see the outstanding performance of Khun Rang Rockestra singing “The Impossible Dream”, one of the songs composed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, and “Love You Thailand or Rak Ter Prathet Thai” with his unique vocal style. Concordian is proud to have had the opportunity to share and demonstrate our value of both Thai and international cultures, help preserve the cultural heritage in music, and contribute to music education of the next generation. Khun Alisa
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
66
Special Feature
Celebrating the 20th year anniversary of Concordian International School W
e have decided to Go GREEN! Concordian International School is in the process of installing a solar energy rooftop system on our school’s roof to reduce our carbon emissions by switching to solar energy for our electricity generation for our classrooms with the total capacity of 265 kWdc. At zero cost to the school we have become more responsible global citizens. We are partnering with Impact Solar Group (Thailand), a well-established renewable energy company that is committed to investing, constructing, and maintaining the solar energy system for the next 25 years. The total amount of carbon emissions that the school will reduce is 137.2 tons, annually. Over the next 25 years, we will be helping the world reduce CO2 emissions by up to 3,430 tons, which is equivalent to 4,681 trees planted naturally and 724 cars reduced pollution. The solar energy system will be ready for operation this year and we would like to invite all Concordian Dragons to celebrate this achievement together with us. Let’s Go Green Dragons! Noon, Class of 2010
67 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
BECOME OUR ENERGY PARTNER AND
SAVE YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL WITH ZERO INVESTMENT COST TODAY!
Business Solution
Residential Solution
Private PPA Scheme
Turnkey EPC Scheme
Zero Investment Electricity Bills Discount Monthly Operation and Maintenance Included Solar Rooftop, Solar Floating, Solar Car Park, Energy Storage Application Available
Starting at 169,000 Baht 25 Years Solar Panel Warranty Free 2 Years Maintenance Professional and High Experience Staffs Battery Storage and Online Monitoring System Available
Our Success Stories
1st Private PPA in Thailand
Total Installed 93 MW
5 Years of Experience
Total Estimated Investment 3 Billion THB
CO2 saving >1.8 Million tons CO 2
CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 30
68
One Stop Service Design and Installation
Insurance
Material Procurement
Contact Information www.impactsolargroup.com http://www.facebook.com/Impactsolargroup/ 02 825 9292 info@impactsolargroup.com
Operation & Maintenance
Financing
Address Impact Solar Group (Thailand) 45/F THe Office at CentralWorld 999/9 Rama1 Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10300 Thailand