IMPACT ISSUE 4 JANUARY 2012
BY CONCORDIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL INTEGRITY - VISION - INTELLECT - COMPASSION
CONCORDIAN FIGHTS BIG FLOOD
KIKI’S ART EXHIBITION
INTERVIEW WITH PING: SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
CONCORDIAN
FUN FAIR
NEW BUILDING UPDATES
COMPETITION WINNING ESSAYS HAPPY DRAGON YEAR 2012
新年快乐 HAPPY NEW YEAR
สุขสันต์วันปีใหม่ ๒๕๕๕ ขอ ให้ทุกท่านมีแต่ความสุข ความ เจริญ สมหวังดังปราถนา
Wishing you good health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year of the mighty dragon.
恭喜发财 年年有余 岁岁平安
CETA Study Tours 2012 Secondary School Summer Program Specialist
ars
Over 9 Ye Experience
Australia England China
Program Details (July)
• Over 9 years Educational Study Tour experience • Study tours to Australia, England and China • Opportunity to study in top secondary schools in full immersion programs with local students • Designed to suit students at different age groups and level of experience Program Type Full Immersion (Join class and activities with local students) Academic Program (Junior & senior program, preparation for next academic year with choice of IB subjects) Chinese & Academic English Pre-University Program (Grade 10-12) Intensive English Program Individual Program
Program Name, School The Scots School, Albury, Australia
Academic Summer at Sidcot School Bristol, England Beijing Shuren-Ribet Private School Beijing, China Young Leadership Program, Trinity Institute, Residential College, University of Melbourne, Australia Avalon College, Geelong, Australia Oxford Study Centre, Oxfordshire, Taunton Private School, Taunton, England
• Includes touring to famous cultural attractions in host countries as part of the fun balanced programs • Full care on tour led by Andrew or Tracey Gray, Managing Directors and/ or experienced Thai staff
China
Study Tour Program 2012 GMM Grammy Place, 16th Floor, Room B5, Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke Road) North Klongtoey, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel. (66) 02 665 8100 Fax. (66) 02 665 8105 Email:study@ceta.co.th www.ceta.co.th
CONTENT Father’s Day 6 Notes from the Director and Principals
Note from K. Varnnee and Aj. Vichitvong Note from Dr. James and Mr. Laurent
7 8
Counselor 9
P. 12
Counselling in the PYP
Impact the Nation
Concordian Fights Flood 12 Concordian’s Flood Relief Efforts 13 Concordian Visits Nakorn Pathom Province 14 Boiled Egg Project 15 Cleaning Kru May’s House 16 Run Fight Flood 17 Library: Mission Impossible 18
Concordian Showcase
The 7th Junior Dublin Literary Awards of Thailand Interview with Ping: Scholarship Winner Prima: Teenager’s Photographic Prize 5
P. 28
20 - 21 22 23
Early Year Programs
Nursery 24 Kindergarten 1 25 Kindergarten 2 26 Kindergarten 3 27
Primary Year Programs
P. 32
Grade 1 28 Grade 2 29 Grade 3 30 Grade 4 31 Grade 5 32
P. 37
Student Council 33 Middle Year Program
Mini Funfair 34 Ploenchit Fair 35 Dr. Miguel’s Class Essays 36 - 37
Diploma Program
Creativity, Action, Service 38 IB Retreat 39
Extra Activities
CIS Athletic Program 40 Music: Christmas Concert 42 Art: Kiki Exhibition 43
Scholarship Announcement 44 Important Announcement of New Policies 45 New Building Updates 46 - 47 TEDxYouth Krungthep 52
P. 42
6 Father’s Day
CONCORDIAN HONORS HIS MAJESTY THE KING’S 84TH BIRTHDAY His Majesty the King Bhumibhol – the heart and soul of the Thai nation – has, during the past 6 decades, overseen a multitude of some 4,000 Royal Projects or Royal- Initiated Projects, mostly agricultural. These projects that have been conceived and implemented, are the apparent outcome of His Majesty’s talent as a scientist, and with his being very familiar with his people’s livelihood problems. He mapped out, planned, and instigated development projects focusing on rural development. But before these projects could become feasible, they underwent a lot of scientific procedures involving studies, data collecting, testing, experimentation, analyzing of ideas, formation of theories, and on-site interviews and inspections. In his younger years, His Majesty tirelessly made frequent trips to the project sites to oversee the progress, help solve problems and obstacles, and give moral support to the people. Besides contributing to the Thais’ well- being in the field of agriculture, His Majesty’s success and methods in promoting agricultural and rural development have proved to be beneficial to other countries as well. Those other countries have learned from his innovations, techniques, and demonstration models, most significantly in the areas of rice production, cultivation of staple food crops, and the ways and means to provide food security to the people, all conducive to sustainable agriculture. Concordian International School honored His Majesty and these achievements with a ceremony with loyalty and respect. This ceremony included the presentation of gifts, a Thai musical instrument performance, the singing of Thai poems, and a Thai dance performance by grade 4-5 students. Staff and students alike demonstrated their affection and loyalty to him with prayers to the Holy Triple Gem and all the sacred things in the universe to bless His Majesty with good health, happiness and the strength to carry on his onerous task.
Notes from the Director and Principals 7
NOTE FROM K. VARNNEE Dear Concordian Community, On Saturday, November 19, 2011, I had a chance to visit the flooded area in Nakorn Pathom Province with a group of students and staff members. What looked like a huge lake to us was actually thousands of hectares of flooded rice fields and plantations. And after a 45 minutes boat ride from the road, we reached a temple where villagers took refuge from the flood. Upon talking to the villagers, we found out that the area had been under water for more than a month, lacking food and basic necessities, including toilets. The students asked the villagers what they wished for us to bring for them. To my surprise, the list was very short and simple. All they asked for was dry food, floating toilets, and one life vest per family for small children and the elderly. At the time we were there, the water was still well over one meter deep. However, at the temple, I saw no frowns on their faces and heard no complaints at all. They were all smiling and just happy to see us bringing them cooked meals for the day. A week later, I returned to the area with more students and staff members. We brought what was requested and more, as I believe that it is in our hands to help each other, as Thai people and as citizens of the world. It is in a time of need such as this one that we see the true character of the people, both the victims and those giving help. Through this unfortunate incident, I was touched by the character of Thai people. Maybe this is why I truly love Thailand and Thai people so much. We can always smile and look forward to the future even when the worst situation is upon us. We have learned to give to others in need. Maybe the concept of Sufficient Economics has truly been embedded within us.
Now that it’s the beginning of a new year with so much more to come, I only wish everyone prosperity, love, good health and happiness and that all sorrows be gone. And just as the saying goes “there’s always sunshine after the rain”. Happy New Year 2012 Happy Year of the Dragon! Varnnee Ross School Director
NOTE FROM AJ. VICHITVONG สวัสดีปีใหม่ 2555 ขอความสุขสวัสดี จงมีแด่ทุกๆท่าน หลังจากหลายๆ ท่าน ผ่านพ้นจากน้�ำ ท่วมอย่างแสนสาหัส มากบ้าง น้อย บ้าง ตามสภาวะของธรรมชาติ ขอให้ประสบการณ์นั้นเป็นโอกาสที่ดี ที่จะให้คิดเรื่องการวางแผนการดำ�เนิน ชีวิตให้อยู่กันอย่างปกติสุข จึงจะ เรียกได้ว่า ใช้วิกฤตให้เป็นโอกาสได้อย่างแท้จริง ในโอกาสขึ้นปีใหม่ ขออำ�นาจสิ่งศักดิ์สิทธิ์ที่ทุกท่านเคารพ นับถือ ได้ดลบัลดาลให้ท่านประสบแต่ความสุข และมีสุขภาพแข็งแรง วิจิตรวงศ์ ชนะรัตน์ อาจารย์ใหญ่
8 Notes from the Director and Principals
NOTE FROM DR.JAMES & MR.LAURENT International Mindedness International mindedness is an integral component of all three IB programs -- PYP, MYP and DP. It must be fostered and nurtured in becoming part of our character, principles, concern or attitude toward individuals and needs in our local and global communities. This was exemplified in our students’ response to the flooding crisis in Thailand, whereby students gave of themselves to assist those in need. It must be practiced daily and not be solely dependent on cataclysmic events. The question that must be consistently asked is, ‘ What can I do daily to make our planet a better place to live?’ We are global citizens and every issue that affects our very survival on this precious planet must be addressed individually and collectively.
Dr. James Leung High School Principal and Academic Dean
Dear Concordian Community,
We hope you had a refreshing winter break and that you are energized for the next phase of our learning journey together! As we begin 2012 we often reflect on the year that has just drawn to an end. I would like to share with you some thoughts on how we, school and parents, can work together in helping our students find success at school. It is widely known that success at school begins at home. Parents are the most important variable in a child’s schooling. Parents model both a silent and spoken language in front of their children daily; you are the most important role model they will ever have, and what you do is often more important than what you say to them. Concordian International School has a strong tradition of supportive, hard-working parents. Parents join the PTA, volunteer in fund raising events, read to their children and help in many other ways. It is important to your child that you are involved in some way at school. It is a good way to let your child know that you think school is important. Parents often ask what they can do at home to support their child, especially at the Elementary level. They read to their child every day, they try to create a learning environment, but they would like to do more. We believe that “routines” may be one of the keys to success for most students. Teachers establish school standards and rules, specific routines for the children to follow. They often spend hours, even days, reinforcing routines. When blended with the teacher’s consistent standards, routines truly create a smooth running classroom where the children find a secure environment for learning, and are reinforced positively for their contributions. Parents, you can do this at home as well! Many families build a daily “quiet time” when the television is turned off, when children are to complete their homework or when they can enjoy recreational reading. The routine of a daily quiet time provides an opportunity to develop selfdiscipline, stimulate imagination, and enhance reading skills. Routines can also make completing chores easier for both children and parents. If your child is consistently expected to complete routine household duties at the same time on the same day in the same place, they soon begin to develop responsibility for their commitment and contribution to the family. Please take a moment to think about whether you have routines at home or whether it is something you’d like to consider trying at home. Please keep in mind that childhood is a special time of learning, exploration and growth. Children need to be provided free time to explore their world and experience the joy of discovery. Free time can be scheduled and be part of a well thought-out routine. Concordian strives to deliver the best learning environment for all our children and commitment to the best for our children on the part of parents, students and staff is the key to our success with the children we teach. I look forward to working with your children this year and wish all of you a fantastic year 2012. Sincerely, Laurent Goetschmann EYP/PYP Principal
Counsellor 9
COUNSELLING IN THE PYP By Suzie PYP Counselor Hi! I am the PYP counselor, Suzie Shih. It is an honor to have the opportunity to tell you a bit about the counseling program for our younger students. The first time I meet with my students, I tell them that I am someone who will listen to them when they have a sad or angry day. It is totally fine to have these feelings that make us feel uncomfortable. However, sometime these uncomfortable feelings can make learning difficult for us. My job is to help them think through what is upsetting them and find out ways to solve problems through good choices. Matters that bother us can be something that is happening at home, on the playground, in class, between siblings or friends, or just ourselves! Sometimes we get stuck with problem solving and we think there is only one way to solve a problem. We get frustrated and disappointed. When this happens, we use the relaxation skills, problem solving skills, and healthy coping skills we learn in class to take a step back and soon we will see many different options through our creative minds. I am a strong believer in our children’s ability to overcome their challenges and I share this with them. I tell them every day that they can overcome the challenges they are facing and that we are all here to support them. The school counseling department seeks to assists our student with emotional, social, behavioral and academic issues for a successful learning journey. The counseling programs provide support to students, teachers and parents through guidance lessons, individual special time with students, group meetings, and consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers and administrators. We keep a list of community resource, and counselors can offer referrals to outside agencies. Classroom guidance lessons (Thai/Values) are scheduled for grade 1 to grade 4. The topics that we cover include: getting along with others, feeling good about ourselves, appreciating our differences, learning how to solve problems, practicing healthy coping strategies ,and positive attitudes such as caring, respect, and responsibility. I meet with students individually and in small groups to enhance social skills and self esteem. There are many ways that a student can be referred to me for an individual or group meeting. The students are welcome to talk to me on their own or to leave me a note at my door. Parents can contact me through e-mail, phone, or in person if they have concern about their child. Teachers, administrators and I work together very closely to meet the needs of our students. For students who require support services, school counselors facilitate the Student Success Team (SST) process where student needs are discussed and an action plan is created.
When might you want to talk to me? I know that parents have concerns about classroom performance, family changes, stress at home, classroom behavior, sudden change in their child’s behavior, peer relations, adjusting to our school, and many more. These are all good reasons to talk, and I am happy to meet with you!
12 Impact the Nation
CONCORDIAN FIGHTS FLOOD
CONCORDIANS RESPOND WITH FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS By Ms. Milichu The whole Concordian community -- administrators, parents, teachers, and students of all ages and grade levels responded with dignity, integrity, compassion, solidarity, recognition, and mediation to the national appeal to help fellow citizens who are suffering. It’s worth reminding ourselves what these terms mean. Dignity: an inherent nobility and worth. Integrity: adherence to strict moral or ethical code. Compassion: deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it. Solidarity: a union of interests, purposes or sympathies among members of a group. Recognition: an acceptance as true or valid, as of a claim. Mediation: the act of intervention. As teachers, we felt so deeply involved with two things, our school mission statement, and our true reason to be teachers. We will continue to guide our youngsters to bring love and comfort to the ones who are in need and less fortunate than many of us.
Hip! Hip! Hooray CIS!!!
Impact the Nation 13
CONCORDIAN’S FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS
better world for all today” “Giving affection through our hearts and minds to build a - quoted from The Concordian song -
The Concordian community continues to give from its heart and to reach out its hands to those in need. We know that we have the power to help and make other’s lives better. We have raised more than 408,000 Baht to help with the flood relief effort. Our students, parents, teachers, and staff have all been involved. We have gone to the flooded areas, donated survival bags and medicine, volunteered at foundations, and brought food (and some smiles too) for the flood victims.
“One by one we are all mortals. But together we are all eternal”
14 Impact the Nation
CONCORDIAN VISITS NAKORN PATHOM PROVINCE
By Bell and Ms. Milichu
In November 2011, a group from Concordian visited Nakorn Pathom Province. There they witnessed a village that had been flooded to a depth of 1.5 - 3 meters for almost two months. Residents of 145 households had to migrate to the temple or live on the second floor or sometimes even on the roofs of their houses. Plantations, schools, and roads were all under water. The only source of food and water was from donations. Transportation to the shelter via motor boat took 45 minutes. The residents had no access to modern toilets for at least a one month period. We donated 150 survival bags filled with essentials such as dry food, 290 packs of rice, 180 life vests, 3 floating toilets, and one water filter which can convert ground water to drinkable water.
The visit had a profound effect on Ms. Milichu. Here’s what she had to say: Our visit last November to Nakorn Pathom give me the most wonderful lesson on dignity, solidarity, love and affection. As a teacher that has had the privilege to work in different countries and has seen people around the globe in the most difficult situations, the atmosphere surrounding the 145 families of Nakorn Pathom does not bear any resemblance to many other people in distress. They waited patiently, content to be handed the different items that will help them, in part, to overcome the difficult time they are going through. There was no pushing, shouting, or scratching as we have sometimes witnessed in other parts of the world when a food delivery arrives. Incredible! But true! What a great lesson for all of us teachers and students!!!
Impact the Nation 15
BOILED EGGS PROJECT For 6 consecutive weeks, Concordian students, teachers, and staff members worked together on the Boiled Eggs Project to help with flood relief efforts. Each Friday, Concordian individuals would bring at least 2 boiled eggs to school to be donated, and many brought lots more. There are parents who donated 500 – 1,000 boiled eggs! And at the same time, the school ordered 1,000 eggs weekly to add to those donated. We thank Sodexho helped to boiled these extra eggs each week. Students and others wrote words of encouragement on the egg shells, hoping to bring smiles and raise the spirits of the victims. Ruamkatanyu Foundation picked up the eggs each Friday to distribute to flood victims in various areas where they were most needed. By the end of this project, on the last Friday before the Christmas break, the Concordian Community had donated approximately 15,000 boiled eggs. Thanks to everyone who helped!
16 Impact the Nation
CLEANING KRU MAY’S HOUSE AFTER THE FLOOD
“We have come to this world as brothers. Let’s then walk holding hands and one in front of the other” “The good we do will be doubled in pleasure if we share it”
Impact the Nation 17
RUN FIGHT FLOOD
A great day. A great event. For a great cause. Wing Soo Flood, or Run Fight Flood, organized by the Concordian PTA was a blast for all !!! This charity event showed the heart and spirit of the Concordian community. Four hundred people turned up early on a Saturday morning to run for a good cause – raising funds for flood victims . It was so great to see both adults and children united in this effort, and also having fun as they ran, laughed and played together.
18 Library
CONCORDIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
During the flooding crisis in Thailand, many people were asking about the CIS library. We were very lucky to have been spared any water damage in the library. During the crisis, while we continued to hope for the best, we prepared for the worst. Because the library sits in a daylight basement, a team of 16 people worked for 12 hours moving over 30,000 books, DVDs, and other items to higher ground. Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and in this sense we now have confirmed that our library is an integral part of our school. Because the uncertainty about the flooding lasted for quite a long time, the library was closed for about 6 weeks. The children missed coming here and parents and teachers missed the educational supplements that the library provides--both high-tech and low-tech-- each and every day. Even when the full library was closed, we did have a temporary “Mini-Library” - a small collection full of a variety of items available for checkout. We also continued to provide daily newspapers and magazines in English, Chinese and Thai languages. Of course, modern libraries are no longer limited to their 4 walls, and CIS Library is no exception. You can extend your opportunity to explore our books, read articles and find educational websites in the comfort of your own home. Just log on to CIS homepage, then look for the “Online Library” link in the upper right-hand corner. If you log on with your bar code number, you will have even more access to information through our library and you can manage your own library account, make a reading list for you or your student, and more. Students of all ages can conduct research by clicking on the websites that surface during an Online Library search, and parents can relax knowing that all the websites on our system are pre-approved by Follett’s international standards as accurate and safe for our students. We welcome feedback on these and our other library services through our Facebook page or at CIS. Please contact Meg in the library with any questions:meg@concordian.ac.th; Facebook- Concordian International School Library. We are thrilled to be open for business again now, and happy to see students, parents, and teachers once again taking advantage of the wealth of resources we have to offer. Please stop in and say hello!
20 Concordian Showcase
THE 7TH JUNIOR DUBLIN LITERARY AWARDS OF THAILAND Congratulations to four Concordian students: Joshua (Siravich Joshua Chaomuangbon) G10, Bright (Gunpod Lertkomolsuk)G10, Aei (Prima Ongvises)G10, and Tip (Hathaitip Nantiyakul) G12 for being among the 15 finalists in the central region in the 2010/2011 Junior Dublin Literary Award for Thailand. Furthermore, Thip won the second runner up prize and Aei won the consolation prize in the national round.
ONE FINE DAY
And Congratulations to Concordian International School for having the largest number of students being selected for the final round.
By Bright
What does a “Fine Day” include? Is it the day where you wake up and hear birds chirping a symphony of your favorite song? Or the day that it’s raining so hard that your school closes? Some days might be the finest day for one family, but another family might lose someone they love on that same day. Each and every day is viewed differently by different people. A “Fine Day” might be on Monday, the day you destroyed your obstacles. Or Tuesday, the day you faced your worst fear and overcome it. Wednesday might be the day that you go home with abashment because you weren’t familiar with being a risk-taker. Thursday might be the day you find out that you won the writing contest. Friday might be the day you had your first love, even though you’re not yet thirteen. Saturday might be the day that you get promoted at your workplace. Sunday might be your greatest birthday. My one fine day occurred at Borneo, Malaysia, in a tiny village where I made a difference. The morning shone in to the student’s tents, and it woke me and my friends up. The looks on the students’ faces were as mundane as going to school on Monday because they know it’s the community day. We were on a field trip to Borneo, in the south of Malaysia. We were divided into groups to do different tasks for charity. One big issue of this poor village was that no one helps them remove the mud from one specific place up on the mountain, and it affects the water system of the village. I volunteered to go help with a group of boys. So we walked 2 kilometers from the village to the spot up on the mountain. I had a shovel in my hand, digging into the drenched mud on the floor. My friends and I dug the mud from 8 in the morning to 12 noon. Our clothes were as dirty as a soldier’s in a war. We were so tired of working at the dam because we expected fun on a field trip. I thought to myself: why should I pay the school, so that I can work for some small village. I walked down from the mountain and visited my friends who were painting the school. It was a lot more beautiful than when I had seen it while walking up the hill. I saw the condition of one kid who didn’t wear pants and whose shirt looks like it had never been washed. I realized that the fact that we came and visited this village really made them happy. The smile on the kid’s face woke me up and told me that I was here to make a difference.
The task wasn’t finished yet, because I had to build a toilet for the community. After I finished my lunch, I continued building the toilet in the hot sun. Hitting my hammer onto the hard rock on the ground hurt the wound I had gotten from the morning work. It vibrated my whole body when the hammer destroyed the powerful rock. We worked for 2 hours, and even though it wasn’t finished, we still did a lot of work. We jumped into the lake beside the village to wash ourselves and relax, and I thought about what I had done today. This made me really happy because I got to do something good for other people. My mom always says when you’re happy, you have gained endorphin. Right at that moment, I felt this “endorphin” running through my veins. The next activity was all about fun, like all of us wanted. We got to play soccer with the local people. When I got there, I could see how their shirts were as dirty as mine, and some of the kids and adults were wearing sandals to play soccer. I wondered if this was some kind of joke. They invited us to dominate their soccer game? The game started , but I still let my thoughts flow in my head as if I wasn’t one of the players. The ball swept by me and the locals scored a goal. I finally got my head back in the game, and looked at the players faces. They all seemed so happy, smiles lighting up all their faces. The game went on, and I couldn’t believe that this was happening. Our team was losing like I’d never expected. It was 6-2 already. I looked back at my teammates, and still saw the smiles on their faces. During the break, my teacher gave the guy a tag in the hand when he scored a goal. I turned around, and saw my friends being taught by the locals. I felt ashamed. Slowly my brain began to process this. It was second time that I learned a valuable lesson that day. I looked around me, and could see the way people learn about each other. I had been oblivious to my surroundings. This was all about cultural exchange. A kid slid right into me just before I was about to make a goal, and I also injured him in the face with my elbow. I was so afraid that he was going to stand up and hit me, but instead he stood there smiling, gave me his hand, and said “that’s alright”. At the moment I learned another valuable lesson. It was about forgiving others, and leaving vengeance behind. I got back to where we were staying. I had my dinner served on the table, and it was raining slightly. We all had to wash our own plates, but my friends and I played a cup game, and the loser had to wash all the dishes. Of course, for some reason, I lost every game. I was so stubborn that no matter what happened, I was not going to wash the plates for others. There was a slight altercation between me and my friends about this dish washing. I knew I was wrong, but I just ignored that fact. Suddenly one of my friends stood up, and carried all the plates into the kitchen. I couldn’t believe that he would wash all the plates for others, even though he hadn’t even played the game. I learned one last lesson of the day. It was a lesson of sacrifice. It had been such a long day. I slept in the tent staring at the stars. I reviewed the lessons I had learnt – that I have to give, forgive and sacrifice. It turned to be a fine day. I realized that I had learned about the characteristics of love, and therefore I knew how to “love.”
By Thip
Concordian Showcase 21
On no particular day of a particular week before November came to an end, the rumble of an engine gave way to a melancholy cough before falling silent. A door slamming resonated throughout the cliff, leaving the peeling purple UV film on the driver’s door trembling like the overhanging leaves.
A hooded figure wandered out from under the shaded woods. The wind was heading inland. Salty sprays left dark spots on the figure’s jumper as she move closer and closer to the edge of the cliff that tumbles down into the sea. The figure’s shadow shortened as it slumped down on the rocky rim with a huff. Although the sigh would be audible to Aunt Bupha and her superhuman ears any day, today, it was drowned out by the relentless waves. The hood flipped back to reveal onyx hair. “You would have had me tie it up at once.” But since she’s not here, now, Maai left it whipping around her sea-browned face. Eight years back, she could still remember dodging Auntie in her own house whenever she came over for family gatherings, which happened often enough – four times a year – for a nervous niece. This tradition of getting together to pay respect to ancestors followed by a scrumptious family lunch has been with Maai as long as she could remember. As she stood on her tiptoes to peer over the edge of the wooden table, the array of steaming buns with hidden fillings, aromatic soups, assorted golden fries, not to mention the platter of succulent fruits and delicate sweets, would make her mouth water. And if there was a way of remembering people, Maai’s way was with taste. She would remember each person’s specialty so she could very nicely ask them to make it again for the next time. Auntie didn’t cook. But her iron grasp, iron face and iron-colored hair lingered nevertheless. Auntie was willowy and medium height. A year later, Maai shot up like a tree past a hundred-sixty, which was more than average for women in the generation before her. Other aunties, uncles and elder cousins took turns bringing this issue up with the warning, “Stop growing already! Mind you, you won’t be able to find a tall enough boyfriend.” It can make a girl laugh and worry a little about the impending future. Three people did not say it and those were mum, dad and Aunt Bupha, whose face would remain placid. As it turned out in 2550, this girl is medium height and single even when potential boyfriends are tall. Do our appearances matter? The possible truths made her chuckle to the sea. If society only sees the surface of the water, then yes, it does. Maai wore her favorite fleecy brown jacket during this time of year. One reason was for warmth, the other was for sun-protection even if there seemed to be no sun in the sky, only wispy sheets of clouds. Six years ago, Maai moved school for the first time in her life. The change was not out of necessity and practicality, like some of her friends had had to do. Some simply relocated to another part of town while others flew beyond the horizon. Her change was voluntary. A change of environment might help to broaden her little world. But there were some good things she had learned in that familiar little world that shouldn’t be lost. If they are then Maai was sure to receive a long lecture completed with theory and practice. In Maai’s case, it was manners. Auntie had been lecturing for a long time before Maai moved school, scolding her for dragging her feet around the house and again for stomping off with that soap-opera attitude when miniature Maai got crossed. Maai never escaped for doing things out of time and out of place, for example, singing at the dining table. Whilst Maai and her cousins were growing into young adults, the family’s governess, that is, the one and only Aunt Bupha, she had a lot of work to do. Looking back with a slight smile, “These things do take time and constant nagging and nudging…don’t they Auntie?” The sea pines sang in response. It was five years ago when Aunt Bupha’s absence was noticeable. Time had passed and respect outgrew childish apprehension. No more fear of being chastised. No more scrutinizing patterns on the floor when being disciplined. No more slinking around the house like a ninja. The following year, Aunt Bupha was admitted to hospital. The doctor said her days were limited. Then again, all our days are. Auntie’s days were shorter than it could have been. She spent it by giving and her gifts are still with Maai. That summer her iron grip was weak. In the colorless room, she said softly to Maai, “Your hand sure is warm.” All that Maai had the energy to do was try to return her Aunt’s most caring and gentle smile… Breaking out of the reverie of the past, Maai jumped back to her feet. Running a hand through her slightly damp and tangled hair, she inched forward and closed her eyes, filling her lungs to the brim. The woods were rustling. The wind was still rushing by but it felt warmer on her skin. Opening her eyes, she found herself bathed in the morning sun. When she was young, Auntie was there to guide her. Now that she has grown, Auntie was gone. But for all one knows, perhaps not. In the cycle of life, beings are reborn in one form or another. They don’t disappear altogether. This reminded her of her high school physics class about Newton’s Conservation of Energy; the one that says energy cannot be created or destroyed, though it can be transferred. Aunt Bupha probably has a fit new form by now, Maai thought. Little did she know that next to where she had been sitting, a plant was peeping out from the shadow of a rock, its plump bud glistening with moisture. Auntie won’t be coming back to pick up things Maai drops along the way. “It’s time I gather the fallen pieces and mould myself like she taught me.” Ease crept on to Maai’s face as she headed back to the beaten truck parked under the fringe of the pines. She would be heading for university soon. Although she’s no fortune teller, she can now embrace this change with open arms because she knows what she ought to take with her, from her little world. An abdominal grumble reminded her that nothing had yet reached her stomach since she woke up. The engine came to life, as always, to take her home. The sun lit up the landscape and the wind kept whistling. A flurry of dust went round and round the strongly rooted plant, and its white petals opened up. It’s another one fine day in a changing world.
22 Concordian Showcase
AN INTERVIEW WITH PING
Grade 12 student Ping was a Young Leadership Scholarship Program winner and shares some of her experiences from the program she attended at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. What did you have to do in the program? The Young Leaders Winter School program is comprised of two parts which are the “Persuasive World” and “Social Justice” so activities varied during the two weeks. In the first week, we focused mainly on persuasion and psychology in which the lectures were given by Dr. Maureen Vincent. We had a lot of activities, for example, we had to figure out whether our peers were lying by using the lie detector test. We also went to the County Court where we had a chance to take a picture with the judicator! As for the second week, we worked collaboratively in teams on a scenario to solve an imaginary island called Terra Fuga which was flooded. However, activities organized for us weren’t only limited to the themes of the week. We played numerous games which helped us bond and know each other better. We did challenging activities like rock climbing and circus training and I really enjoyed it. We also had other entertaining activities like karaoke night, movie night, cultural night, hip-hop and Bollywood dancing etc. What did you get out of the program? Due to the program, I’ve expanded my field of knowledge and experiences. I’ve learnt a lot about persuasion, especially lots of surprising facts about the marketing strategies. I was able to listen to informative lectures and inspiring talks from guest speakers which educated, encouraged and motivated me to find my passion and to pursue it. Obviously, I also made lots of new friends from many different countries and I believe that these friendships are priceless. Furthermore, the mentors were also very kind. I was able to learn more about University of Melbourne and its education system from talking to them and also tour through the university to know it better. What do you like most about the program? I really liked that Trinity College saw the importance of a balanced lifestyle which incorporates both hard work and great fun. As a result, I feel that all of us truly enjoyed the program. Due to the nature of the activities, we were able to bond and become close because we had to constantly work as a team but also simply because we were having a great time. The organizers and the mentors were really attentive to us and they really gave us the freedom to do many of the things we wanted as well, so that was fantastic. Please share with us your experience living on a college campus? Living at Trinity College was also one of my favorite aspects of the program. It was a chance for me to really experience and become familiar with the college lifestyle beforehand. I love the overall scenery of the big paddock, the vintage yet classy buildings, and the Harry Potter-like dining hall. Staying at the college allowed convenient interactions with other people which made living there so much fun! Thanks to Trinity College, I’m very much anticipating my university life! Would you recommend this program to other Year 11 Students for their “Summer” time? -Why? I would definitely recommend Trinity College’s program to other students. First of all, it’s a terrific program which gives an opportunity for self improvement. It is designed to make you challenge yourselves, explore new possibilities, think creatively, work collaboratively with others etc. By participating, not only do you get to develop these skills, you also broaden your horizons with new knowledge and ideas that you receive from others. On the other hand, as I have mentioned, you also have loads of fun. Each day at Trinity was never boring since it was always packed with activities to do. Last but not least, I highly recommend it because you will end up making great friendships which you will always cherish! Overall, did the leadership experience give you a clearer insight into what you would like to study at University? With the first week being about psychology and persuasion, I was given the chance to really explore and see for myself whether it is an area which I would like to study later in university. As it turns out, my experience at Trinity really proved to me that it’s something I’m interested in. Learning about the forces behind our thinking, the reasons why we do specific things are things which I find really interesting and I always want to know more about. So I’m definitely thankful for this opportunity that I’ve received.
Concordian Showcase 23
CONGRATULATION TO PRIMA, GRADE 10 Prima’s Photograph has been selected for printing and entry into the Snap Shot 2011 Teenager’s Photographic Prize, exhibition at Penrith Regional Gallery in New South Wales, Australia. Congratulations!
GUESS WHO: WINNERS & ANSWERS
FROM LAST ISSUE
CONGRATULATION: 1. Jan G12 2. Green G3b 3. Chris G8a
Ms. Aloha Lavina
Mr. Laurent Goetschmann
*Please redeem your 500 Baht Asia Books gift voucher prize with P. Bell at K. Varnnee’s office.
24 Early Year Program
s r e n r a e L st e tl t i l r u O o t A BIG Welcome By the Nursery Teachers
O
ne by one the students arrive at their nursery class, some with big smiles and others with a bit of sadness at saying goodbye to their family for the day. Each child changes their shoes and then carefully chooses an activity to immerse themselves in. As more students arrive they join together to play in pairs and groups, roaming the room to expand on their imaginations and discoveries. The sounds of conversation and excitement build over new findings, creations, and questions. Individuals are starting to learn how to interact with one another, to problem-solve and create, and to begin to work as a group. Nursery is the beginning of becoming part of a larger community that shares the lifelong process of learning and developing. This initiation in to a caring, knowledgeable, and reflective atmosphere for education is a giant step for these little people into an even larger global community. Their day may consist of running around on the playground, creating painted pictures that only they can decipher, building and destroying grand block towers, and learning those crucial basic skills such as how to hold a pair scissors. But all of these actions are the building blocks for developing responsible, joyful members of society who act with integrity and intelligence. This year’s nursery students have done a wonderful job of entering this new world. We praise them for their bravery and enthusiasm during this big change. Let’s all encourage them in their journey as the newest members of our Concordian community.
y r e s r u n
Early Year Program 25
Who Am I? What can I do? T
he central theme of our “Who Am I” UOI was that ‘Each of us is special and good at different things.’
As part of this UOI the K1 students worked very hard on creating different images of their faces and bodies. They took on the task of painting and drawing a self portrait of themselves. They were asked to examine their skin color, eye color, hair color and their similarities and differences with each other. The first step was to paint a skin color in the template of a face shape. Next, we looked at our hair. Was it long? Or short? And what color was it? Finally we looked in the mirror to draw our features in. This is Who I Am! We also talked about what we like and what we can do. Students practiced saying “I like….” and “I can….” sentences. Based on this, we made a book “All About Me” and compared ourselves with our friends. Our differences make us special. We read books about being special and how each child is special. As a group we found special things about each other in the class. The K1 students enjoyed this unit and discovered a lot about themselves , while at the same time building their vocabulary in both English and Chinese.
kindergarten 1
26 Early Year Program
We Like Bugs! By the K2 Teachers
I
n K2 we began the year with our first Unit of Inquiry: Bugs and Insects. This unit proved to be a very interesting study for the K2 students. We learned about everything from how spiders make their webs to why ladybugs eat aphids! Many children made strong connections to this unit and took it upon themselves to bring in books, images, and even real live bugs to share with their classmates. Our classroom became home to many creepy crawlies! One of the highlights of the unit was the K2 bug dressup day. Students were asked to come into school dressed up as the insect of their choice. This activity really brought out the creativity in our students. We had many little K2 insects running around on the playground. Students chose to become butterflies, ladybugs, spiders – and we even had a praying mantis! All the K2 classes got together and we played games outside to reinforce learning. The day was a huge success and we are very proud of the enthusiasm our students showed! Excellent work K2!
2 n e t r a kinderg
Our UOI
Early Year Program 27
By the K3 Teachers
T
he first UOI that we explored in K3 was Family Histories. The central idea was that every family has its own personal history. The students investigated their family’s histories. After conducting an interview with their families at home, they used our classroom world map to identify the countries where their relatives were born. They created their own “big book” which consisted of their family tree, personal timeline, and important events that happened in their life. They enjoyed creating the big books to capture important facts about their family’s histories. They also learned a way of comparing two families by using a Venn diagram that helped them to identify the similarities and differences between their own family and a friend’s family. After studying about Family Histories, K3 moved on to something completely different with their next UOI: Color & Light . The central idea here was to learn how color and light affect how we see and feel about the world around us. They made colored cellophane glasses and used them to see how different the world around them looked. They experimented with the primary colors and discovered how other colors could be created by mixing primary colors together. Finally, students were asked to design a bedroom. They selected which color they would use along with adding furniture and decorations. They discussed their color choice and how it made them feel. They also shared whether or not they would change anything if they were to do this activity again. The students enjoyed being designers and sharing their final product with their friends.
kindergarten 3
28 Primary Year Program
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! By the Grade 1 Teachers The grade one students enjoyed the recent UOI: There’s no Place Like Home! Writing and drawing about dream houses and strange houses was one of the students’ favorite activities in Chinese class. Students individually wrote about the location of their dream house, the typical climate there, the materials used to build the dream house and listed their reasons for choosing it. Students’ choices of dream houses are quite varied: from Thai traditional wooden houses to skyscrapers, from igloos to mud huts, from mobile houses to caves… Wow! What a diversity of choices for dream houses! For the somewhat more unusual houses, the students used different shapes that they learned about in Math class to make their house. They enjoyed presenting their house to their peers.
1 e d Gra
Throughout the UOI the first graders read the story Flat Stanley in English class, which ignited their imaginations as they started to think about what it would be like if they were flat, and the kinds of adventures they could have. We decided to make some Flat Grade 1s and put them right to work to learn all about houses around the world! The students began to inquire about different homes around the world, and came up with questions that they could send in their e-mails along with their flat children. Last month our Flat Grade 1s traveled to many different countries and we have been receiving photographs and answers to the children’s questions ever since! If you have time, please stop by the Grade 1 hallway and check out the pictures from our Flat Grade 1s adventures around the world, as well as the creative houses the students made to demonstrate their learning.
Primary Year Program 29
LET’S STAY HEALTHY! By the Grade 2 Teachers During our last Unit of Inquiry - Health and Well-Being - the central idea was ‘A balance between food, exercise and relaxation helps to keep our body healthy’. The students did a lot of inquiry and research about healthy foods and other aspects of being healthy. The students learned some new vocabulary about keeping our bodies healthy as well as what kinds of activities we should try to do more of to become healthier. The students enjoyed finding out about different and new exercises, activities and games that can help make our bodies healthy.
Grade 2
As part of the assessment for this unit, the students used the computer, and their imagination, to design their own brochures about health spas that other students would like to visit.. The brochures included many different aspects on becoming healthier- very healthy menus for the restaurants, different ways to relax including getting a massage or doing some yoga as well as some other activities and exercise classes the spa would offer. Who knows? Maybe some time in the future some of these students will own their own spas and they will be able to put into practice some of the things they learned in the unit. In both the English and Chinese classes, students learned how to keep their bodies healthy by having a good balance between diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques. It was a very enjoyable unit and we hope the students will have the opportunity to teach others by our example on how to live healthy lives.
30 Primary Year Program
THE GLOBAL VILLAGE By the Grade 4 Teachers Imagine living in the year 2111. Planet Earth would most likely be overcrowded with little or no room for growth and development. People would be forced to live in small spaces in the most unimaginable places. Now imagine, at the same time, astronauts discovering a brand new planet which was very similar to Earth and that it was your job as a town planner to establish a village on that planet. As a professional, it would be your duty to know about different landforms, diverse maps and various survival techniques, in order to persuade the world leaders why you would build a village there. Over the last two months, grade 3 students were presented with this scenario which took them on a journey through time and place, to look at why settlements around the world were found in similar locations for similar reasons. Their UOI titled the “Global Village” explored basic world geography, major economic and domestic factors determining the location of settlements, and the reasons for settlements being found in different locations. Grade 3 students were asked to design a landscape with many different types of landforms, produce a 3D model which included a corresponding map with a key, and use their persuasive skills to convince the world leaders why they should build a village from these recommendations. After weeks of hard work and determination, the summative assessment was a huge success!
Grade 3 Student work is currently being displayed in the halls for the whole school and community to see. Each design is unique in its own way and offers amazing suggestions to those who would be interested in building a “Global Village.”
Primary Year Program 31
CHOOSING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE By the Grade 4 Teachers During the last semester G4 students explored various aspects of Global Warming in one of their UOIs, and then headed into a new study on NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). We studied about different climatic regions, and then shifted our attention to look at what factors can make the climate change. We have reflected on our daily activities and how those have an impact on climate change by carefully recording, reflecting and rethinking. We have also discussed, as a class, what we could do to change the prevalent attitude and behavior of society to lessen the impact of global warming and promote acceptance and responsibility as individuals to make a real difference. G4 discussed our findings and concluded that our daily activities do have an impact on the environment; sometimes we tend to choose the instant conveniences at the sacrifice of the environment. Our final assessment was based on an animation or Powerpoint presentation demonstrating our awareness and understanding of the importance of being more caring and environmentally aware. Because of the flooding situation in Thailand, G4 students have been encouraged to think locally and how that relates to what others are doing globally, and also encouraged to take personal responsibility. It is amazing to witness how young minds take things seriously and discuss issues passionately with their classmates. The students have tried their best to use the target language of the classroom, through extending the target language vocabulary and sentence patterns, and then applying them to discussions in context so as to build an understanding of the UOI. Beautiful efforts from Grade 4!
Grade 4
32 Primary Year Program
THINKING LIKE SCIENTISTS By the Grade 5 Teachers
Grade 5 The Grade 5 classes have studied the Scientific Method. Although children are born with a natural wonder and amazement about the world, it can be difficult to make sense of it all. Indeed, just knowing how to make sense of the world around us is quite a challenge. It takes work, not just guesses, and it’s certainly not a matter of faith. Any scientist who makes a claim about something must be ready to back up that claim with consistent facts gained from careful observations and analyses. And so the task given to our young scientistsin-training was to develop and demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for this method. To help spark their interest, we visited the National Science Museum in Rangsit and witnessed Mr.Malcom as he demonstrated how strong egg shells are. The students were in awe as he showed us what liquid nitrogen (at a temperature of about -200 degrees Celsius!) does to a raw egg. Later in groups, we examined each floor of the museum and became specialists on the various displays on each floor. In addition to the Science Museum we explored our natural surroundings with a walk outside school. Upon our return to the classroom environment, we used our new found investigative and analytical skills to test our hypotheses on tooth decay from various liquids, water bottle rockets and air pressure, variables with drinking straw flyers, and more. CIS is very fortunate to have on its staff a highly educated and experienced physics teacher, Dr. Miguel Portuondo, who invited us into the High School lab where he patiently taught the 5th graders how to measure the density of various materials and liquids as well as how to measure the time it took various weights of pendulums to complete one cycle. Many new ideas were explored and new ways of thinking about problems are now part of our student’s skills. Most importantly, our 5th graders have learned how to create their own original hypotheses and test them correctly to discover whether or not they are true. And if a hypothesis turns out to be false, which it did in a few cases, all the better! Our open-minded students are able to accept that some of their beliefs may have been wrong, and now they are ready, willing and able to find out why!
Primary Year Program 33
THE PRIMARY STUDENT COUNCIL By Mac Recently the Primary Student Council was formed and the students from grade 1 - grade 5 elected these students to be in leadership positions:
President: Li (Grade 5)
Vice President: Katherine (Grade 5)
Secretary: Gunn (Grade 4)
Media: Mac (Grade 5)
Treasure: Mammoth (Grade 4)
Classes also voted for their own class representatives. G1A: Nano and Jasmine G1B: Jean and Tonnam G1C: Pinky and Safe G2A: Zander G2B: Nick G3A: Ploy G3B: Bei Bei G4A: Aoey G4B: Kin Ms Inese and Ms Pat are helping the Student Council, which has met every Thursday and decided on their two goals for the year. 1. The Primary Student Council will try to help people in need. 2. The Primary Student Council will work to make school a happy place for everybody.
The first activity we planned was a holiday theme dress up day. The money raised from this went to help the flood victims. We also organized basic hygiene kits by bringing items from home such as spare soap, toothbrushes, band-aids, disposable razors, re-sealable plastic containers, and Ziploc bags. These were put together to make small kits and given to people in need.
34 Middle Year Program
MYP Student Council Fun Fair Raised 40,000 Baht For Flood Victims Since the day we were elected, we promised the whole MYP that we were going to do our best. We recently made that promise come true by holding a Fun Fair on November 18th, which raised 40,000 baht for flood victims. This event provided fun for students, but more importantly, helped Thai society. It was a great experience, and almost all the students want to do it again. The student council worked hard and helped each other to keep the booths running. Every student that was there participated. A lot of Angry Birds, candy, and big prizes were given out. The piñata was so strong that it would not break. Sand was spilling from the stacked cans that were whacked by students throwing tennis balls at them. Students tried their luck and skill at darts, a “Guess Who” game, and a “Choose the Right Planet” game. Prizes were given out to the lucky winners of the lucky draw.
Thanks to the success of the Fun Fair, we were able to donate money to both the Princess Pa Foundation and the Veterinary Association (for animals affected by the flooding). We gave the Princess Pa Foundation approximately 30,000 baht and the other 10,000 baht to the Veterinary Association. MYP Student Council also raised 6,000 baht from a previous bake sale. And this is only the start. We have so many more things that we want to accomplish this year. We will continue to help our Concordian community, and make ourselves worthy of being elected. We want to listen to students’ problems and try to fix them. We went to donate at the Princess Pa Foundation and Veterinary Association for flood animals. We gave the Princess Pa Foundation estimated 30,000 baht and the other 10,000 baht to the Veterinary Association.
Middle Year Program 35
“CRAZY SCIENCE” at the PLEONCHIT FAIR By Mr. Gabriel
The Grade 8 Science class spent Saturday, November 26th working at Concordian’s science-themed games booth at the 2011 Pleonchit Fair, held at Bangkok Pattana School. The booth included Chemistry Ping Pong Bounce, Target the Solar System, Unhappy Avians and Balloon Blow games for the kids at the fair to participate in. The kids at the fair enjoyed all the games and the Concordian booth was one of the busiest game tents at the fair. And Concordian was the only school whose booth was operated and organized entirely by students. CP also generously donated food for sale to help the fundraising effort. The students spent the last month designing and testing the fair games and showed great enthusiasm giving their time to help raise funds for the British Community in Thailand for the Needy. It was great to see our students interacting with the public and showing their school and community pride. Well done to all Grade 8 students!
36 Middle Year Program
DR. MIGUEL’S CLASS ESSAYS Following are two essays written by two students in Dr. Miguels’s Grade 9 Physics class. Dr. C, as his students call him, challenged his students to write a really good essay on the topic they had just finished studying – waves. We thought Impact readers would like to hear just how much our Grade 9 students have learned about waves. These have been edited and condensed a bit to meet our space requirements.
ONE WORLD ESSAY By Yanisa Lelapinyakul (Lee) What is electromagnetic (EM) spectrum? Everyone has an idea of it; you don’t know the exact meaning of ‘electromagnetic spectrum’. Electromagnetic spectrum is a name that scientists give to different types of radiation. Radiation is energy that spreads out as it travels, like radio waves that you hear from the radio station, or even light from your Christmas ornaments! Here is the list of the EM spectrum from low energy to high energy: Radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays. Radio waves, with the lowest energy, is a kind of energy that the radio station sends out into the air, and your radio turns it into sounds. We can also use radio waves to look out and see the pattern of the stars and space. Microwaves, a very familiar name, can cook your food thoroughly in just a few minutes, but astronomers use microwaves in space to see the structure of nearby galaxies and our own Milky Way. Infrared (IR) is the one that makes us be seen in the dark when our skin emits it, and, in space, IR light maps the dust between the stars. And the one that we can see, visible light, it emitted by everything, from little bumblebees to stars in the sky. Ultraviolet (UV) can cause us skin damage when you’re under the sun too much, because the sun is the source of its energy! And another familiar name, X-rays, are what your doctor uses to scan your bones and teeth included. And lastly, the most dangerous, gamma rays, can help treat cancer. But with too much of it, it can cause you mutations. Scary. But what good can UV light do? Ultraviolet is part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches from the sun to the earth, and that is classified into three types: UVA,UVB and UVC. UVA has the longest wavelength (300-400mn/nanometers) (nanometers = billionths of a meter). UVB, which is in the middle, ranges from about 290-320 nm. And UVC, the shortest, is absorbed by ozone and can’t reach the Earth. The good thing is, our ozone blocks out UVC, which is the most dangerous one. The wavelength of ultraviolet is shorter than visible light and longer than x-rays. The word Ultraviolet has a very interesting meaning. The word ultra is a Latin word meaning ‘beyond’, whereas the word violet is the colour with the shortest wavelength of visible light. Even UV radiation which is not visible to human eyes can cause damage. When you can’t see something that doesn’t mean that it’s not there. Examples are wrinkles, too much skin damage that can cause a serious cancer, like melanoma, or sunburn you can get when you go to the beach. UV rays can also cause damage to skin cells from too much exposure. Sunburns cause blood to rush to the area where it’s affected as the body is trying to cool the burn. The damaged skin eventually peels away. Ultimately, sunburn can cause skin cancer! And your eyes and hair can be damaged as well. Signs of eye damage are temporary blindness or blurry vision which can lead to cataracts if you don’t protect your eyes. Damage can occur to places where there’s no sunburn as well. And dark people can get skin damage from UV rays just as much as fair people can. But this won’t happen if you protect yourself from the ultraviolet rays well. Yes, there’s a way. Wear sunglasses, which protect your eyes. You MUST wear them, especially around 10AM-4PM when the UV rays are the strongest. Wear hats to protect your hair, neck and face. If you’re a girl, those floppy big hats are perfect, and better yet, they’re in style right now! UV rays can cause wrinkles, and the best way to fight off UV rays is to WEAR SUNSCREEN. Find one which prevents both UVA and UVB, called broad spectrum sunscreen), and the bigger the number the more protection it provides. SPF 15 or more is best. Tanning beds are also not good cool for you. If you want to get tanned, try a bronzer or tanning lotion, which are types of makeup that can make your skin darker temporarily. UV rays do have some good things about them too. They make Vitamin D, which strengthens bones and teeth, and help with building immunities to help protect us from diseases. And they also have commercial uses like sterilizing and disinfection. “Be smart, cover up, use sunscreen and enjoy the sunshine!”
Middle Year Program 37
HOW ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES INFLUENCE OUR LIVES By Naam Passachon Srisaard Electromagnetic waves (EM waves) are all around us – but some people might not even know it. Other than visible light, which is one and the middle of the EM spectrum, the other six are not visible including radio waves, microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays. All EM waves are useful in various ways and each has different levels of physical harm to humans and our environment which, in one way or another, affects humans socially, economically, ethically, culturally and politically. The second safest physically and the generally harmless among all others is microwaves. Microwaves have more benefits and limitations than you might have known – no, it is not only used for cooking in the kitchen. Microwaves are a type of radio wave with high frequency (about 1 GHz to about 40 GHz). They’re transmitted by various types of transmitters. Like other EM waves, microwaves travel at the speed of light. For normal people, including me, the term ‘microwave’, makes them think of the microwave oven in the kitchen. The basic principle of it is that a microwave oven uses a magnetron to produce microwaves which are absorbed by objects inside the oven causing water molecules to move faster, creating heat. This technology led to the invention of ready-to-eat meal boxes which are very convenient. The invention socially impacted the world – and also ethically for me as a Thai person – and totally changed a big part of humans’ lifestyles. However, that is only one of the many applications of actual microwaves. Mobile phones use microwaves which can be generated using a small antenna to allow users to communicate over electromagnetic signals. I, as a teenager in the 21st century, think that it is impossible for anyone to not have a mobile phone. I can’t even imagine how hard and sad life was when there wasn’t a way for me to contact my mom or anyone when there’s an emergency. This indeed affected the world but more specifically in economics. Without the ability to communicate across the world, the economy today would be unimaginable. Because of microwaves’ ability to penetrate and pass through atmospheric conditions (smoke, fog, pollution, etc), microwaves are also very useful as radar for forecasting, satellite imaging, air traffic control and navigation. Microwaves enable us to “see” things that are invisible by recording reflections (echoes) of them from other objects. This greatly impacts our environment and humans’ knowledge because with microwaves, we know the condition of Earth and so we could come up with a solution to fix a problem seen from upper space. Microwaves are sometimes more useful than drugs to cure illness because it can heat water to kill extra tissues inside humans. A security system could be set up so that as soon as there is any movement in a designated area, an alarm would ring. This politically has an impact because governments indeed use super strict security. Despite all the benefits of microwaves explained above, there are some limitations. According to the principle of the microwave oven, transmitted microwaves heat water. Inside the human body there is water, therefore severe exposure to microwaves can cause some major health complications due to the heating and burning of tissues. Microwave leakage can be severely hazardous especially to pregnant women. For mobile phones, because of its portable size, in order to get the strongest signal, phone companies would need to have a lot of signal transmitters all around. I believe that all benefits and limitations of microwaves have affected parts of the world culturally. New advanced technologies and scientific knowledge are always being created, so it is normal for beliefs of different age groups to change accordingly. Microwaves – commonly known about because of microwave ovens – but yet most people do not know the details.
38 Diploma Program
CREATIVITY, ACTION, SERVICE By Ms. Ker Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) is at the heart of the IB Diploma Program. It is one of the three essential core elements in addition to the six academic subjects. It involves students in experiential learning through a range of artistic, sporting, physical and service activities. At the IB Retreat this year, Grade 11 students were introduced to the framework of the Diploma Program requirements, including CAS. The session helped them to understand what CAS is all about. Since the IB retreat, the year 1 IB students have been doing great. They came up with excellent ideas of their own for CAS activities and projects, such as . . .
Band A few G11 students have shown their passion for music by forming their own band group in the school. They gather and practice during their free period in the school music room. Hopefully they will be able to put on a concert at the end of the school year.
My School Build Project This year, Grade 11 will be helping a school at Huai-E-Kang, Tak province to build classrooms, and will also be bringing in essential learning materials for the school. The class has organized themselves into different groups such as fundraising and activities planning. The students seek out sponsors for furniture, medicines and stationary. They also organized a lock-in night, bake sale, and a donation box at Siam Paragon to raise funds for the project. This project is ongoing. And the year 2 IB students are continuing with their great idea as well. Grade 12 student Kiki decided to make full use of recyclable materials by making them into a Christmas tree. The idea of this is to raise the awareness of recycling in our community and to help children in the foundations that our school has been working with. The Christmas tree was placed in the school lobby for and toys were collected and books were collected for disabled and needy children.
Diploma Program 39
IB RETREAT READIES GRADE 11 FOR “BATTLE” By Betty and Jess International Baccalaureate. Those two unfamiliar yet renowned words would define the next two years of our high school lives. At the beginning of this school year the IB1 freshman class went on an IB Retreat with Dr. James, Ms. Baertschy, Ms. Tresa, Ms. Milichu, Ms. Ker, Mr. Clynt, and Khun Ja-aye to find out what IB is all about.
Excitement. Anticipation. Fear. Curiosity. The room was filled with nervous emotions, and the students could already smell the “bloody battlefield” of IB, as General James cleared his throat and began introducing our IB “battle strategy.” We expected some lethal commands. Ready for battle, we soldiers concentrated on his words. Finally, our tightened shoulders started to relax and our lips gradually curled into smiles of exhilaration. Selecting courses we would like to study and concentrate on sounded interesting, and not as daunting as we’d thought it would be. Then, Ms. Tresa gave an inspiring speech about passion and perseverance. Next, Ms. Baertschy shared her expertise in TOK as we tried to answer the difficult question: “How do we know?” The room was soon filled with cheerfulness as Ms. Milichu explained to us the joys of CAS and Ms. Ker explained to us the process of documenting the CAS activities. As Dr. James wrapped up the session, and as students asked some questions about IB, we started to learn that IB is not a destination, but an experiential journey. After all of the IB presentations, the teachers treated us to a water rafting activity. One student started singing, soon others joined in, and created a harmonious sound together. Our friendship and teamwork strengthened from this activity and we were sure we’d make a great team during the IB years. The IB retreat bound the Grade11 class together like united battalion, and we’ve also learned to enjoy the IB year. YES, WE IB!
40 Extra Activities
CIS ATHLETIC PROGRAM By Mr. Robert
The principles of the Concordian Athletics Program are unique in that we are not catering only to the capabilities of the more physically skilled students. Along with good sportsmanship, participation in the Athletics Program helps in the development of moral qualities, social skills, emotional maturity, and mental alertness. Our objectives are to develop citizenship traits such as cooperation, leadership, self-discipline, fairness and honesty in dealing with others, and respect. We are developing as wide an Athletics Program as possible to give each student the opportunity to discover a sport or sports in which he/she has an interest. Currently Concordian International School offers the following sports: - Basketball
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Golf
- Badminton
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Stay tuned for Basketball updates in the next issue
Staff vs. Student Boys Soccer Update! The boys varsity soccer team had games against TCIS, Wells, the Concordian staff, and a semi-pro team, KAYA FC. Captain Ong and the team are happy to be playing again and have shown rapid improvements in the past few matches. Justin (G12) and Pol (G9) deserve special mention for their performance in the game against Wells. Well done! Please check the website for upcoming matches and come and cheer on the Dragons ! Dragons and Staffs Unite to Help Flood Victims The boys varsity soccer team recently had a “Keep Them Warm” donation drive for flood victims needing blankets, jackets, and sweaters. The culminating activity was a School Unity Soccer Game with the Concordian staff. It was great to see the guys from the office, canteen, gardeners, and other workers in a different setting. And there were a lot of staff and student spectators too. The Staff made a good showing, scoring first and winning in the end 8-7. The Dragons had good positioning throughout the game, showing improvement in passing and teamwork as the game went on. It gave me a good feeling to participate in this unifying school event that was part of a very good plan to help the people who were forced from their homes. Go Dragons !!
42 Extra Activities
A GIFT OF MUSIC AND SONG By Mr. George
On Dec. 8th in the Amphitheater, the MYP music program presented an instrumental concert. Both seasonal and non-seasonal selections were performed by the bands of grades 6-10. The ASA choir, directed by Mr. Seibert, also performed. Kru Dear accompanied Ying for her alto saxophone solo of “Silent Night�. This was a wonderful way for parents, students, teachers alike to start the holiday season with a gift of music and song from Concordian students. They are performing wonderfully and have improved so much this year.
Extra Activities 43
THE BIRTH OF KIKI-ISM
Lin Ya-Chi (G12), commonly known as Kiki, has been interested in the world of art and creativity for years. She loves creating her art pieces from various media and materials. Her art pieces are captivating and distinctive and she finally showed it to us in her very own exhibition in December 2011 in the school MYP Lounge. The exhibition has attracted much attention from students, teachers, and staffs as they walked by. Her unique forms of art were eye opening for many people and it was inspirational for students and adults as well. Many who have seen the exhibition said “that’s so Kiki”. Who knows, maybe one day, there will be a new art movement -- “Kiki-ism”.
CONCORDIAN STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS ! s b a r g p for u
Are you a G10 student who has been at Concordian since G6 and has an average grade of 6.0 in G9 and G10?
If so, apply for a
SCHOLARSHIP NOW!
Deadline for applications: March 30, 2012 For more information, contact K. Aeo or K. Bell For applications, contact K. Aeo only. K. Aeo: 02-706-9000 ext. 211 or aeo@concordian.ac.th K. Bell: 02-706-9000 ext. 502 or sarunya@concordian.ac.th
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT New Policies for Sibling and Non-Sibling Enrollment in Nursery to K3 for the 2012-2013 School Year We would like to inform you about the following changes to our school’s admissions criteria.
NURSERY
Students must be: 1) 2½ + years old, 2) fully toilet-trained, 3) no longer drinking from baby bottles, and 4) able to follow simple directions. If a student who enters the program does not meet all four of these criteria, the parents will be asked to temporarily withdraw their child until he/she does. In this case, there will be no tuition refund for the period of withdrawal from the program. Please note that students whose age is below 2½ will be required to postpone enrollment to the following school year, when they will be placed in K1.
KINDERGARTEN-1
Students applying for admission to K1 must also be fully toilet-trained, no longer drinking from baby bottles, and able to follow simple directions. In addition they must have attended a nursery program for at least a half year, either at Concordian or at another school. They must attend summer school at Concordian during the summer directly before they enter K1.
KINDERGARTEN 2-3
Students applying for admission in Grades K2 to K3 must speak some English in order to be considered for admission. Based on the results of the admissions testing and/or interview, they may be required to attend summer school at Concordian during the summer directly before they start the regular school year. ESL and/ or CSL support programs may be required during the school year.
GRADE 1-5
Students wishing to enter at Grade one and above must have a very good level of English or Chinese. We will not admit students who do not pass our language assessment, even if they have siblings at the school. Sincerely,
46 New Building Updates
NEW BUILDING UPDATES
Concordian International School is undergoing an expansion project with construction underway for Science, Art, and Technology Center and PYP Learning Center, two new elements in our multi-purpose campus. The concept of these two buildings is not only to serve as knowledge centers but also to provide innovative spaces which encourage creativity and spiritual elements as well. In all designs, of course, child safety is paramount. Therefore, turning this concept into a physical design is a challenging task for the architect and interior designer.
New Building Updates 47
Just as nature is the foundation of a home, education is the foundation of a person. The liveliness of nature is the main inspiration for the designs of these buildings. Colours and shapes of nature have been adapted to suit the purpose of each available space. This creates a balance in both the designs and the purpose of the buildings. All details must be thoroughly considered to provide a vibrant atmosphere for happy learning experiences.
ADVERTISE WITH IMPACT IMPACT by Concordian International School is a free magazine distributed within the Concordian community. It is issued 3 times a year in full colour, A4-size, 36 – 48 pages format. This publication showcases our school activities, events, student’s achievements, and happenings. Receivers of this magazine include approximately 580 students from over 400 families, owning around 300 companies; and over 150 foreign and Thai teachers and staff members. The publication is also distributed to visitors and guests of the school. Therefore, this magazine is an excellent platform for you, as a business owner, to reach the Concordian community. Advertising with us allows others to learn more about what you have to offer. Companies that wish to do Business-to-Business advertising and those in service businesses whose potential customers are children, family units, and foreigners are highly recommended to advertise with us. IMPACT magazine hopes to be able to link each individual in our community together, thus to create a well connected and supportive society.
Size: A4 Number of pages: 48 - 60 (full colour) Number of copies distributed: 1,000
To reserve your pages, please fill in the request form on the back of this page and fax to 02-706-9003, Attn. K. Bell, or contact K. Bell at 083-989-5869, or sarunya@concordian.ac.th Editor: Shelley Harris Layout Editor: Sarunya Aroonsirichoke (Bell) Layout Designer: Patcharaporn Arunsirichok (Jean) www.behance.net/jean-a
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