Community Engagement Middle School
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t the beginning of the 2024-25 Academic Year, the secondary Service Department launched a new program for all students from Grade 6 to Grade 8, where students were able to sign up for mini service trips that would take place either during shortened day afternoons, or on Saturday mornings.
Before the school year began, five local communities were chosen based upon several factors such as student interest, proximity to Concordian, and variety of community engagement activities.
The chosen communities were Satit Bangkaew Kindergarten, Khlong Palat Priang School, Baan Heng Kwarm Wang Onnut
Satit Bangkaew Kindergarten
Concordian students visit the kindergarten to help the teachers and kitchen staff serve afternoon snacks to the kindergarteners after they wake up from their nap. Students then join the kindergarteners for one afternoon class, assisting the teacher with guiding the kindergarteners through their homework exercises in small groups. Afternoon class usually ends with fun, quick games and songs.
Childcare centre and Wattananiwad Foundation elderly home for Wednesday afternoons, and Khao Khiao Wildlife and Nature Education Center for Saturday mornings.
The change in program allows our students, and school, to form lasting connections to these communities, providing benefits to both sides. By exposing our middle school students to a variety of different types of service, we hope to nurture their compassion, and grow their interest in helping the world around them.
Mr. Ben, Service Coordinator and Mr. Jay, Service Liaison
Slum Child Care Onnut (Baan Heng Kwarm Wang)
The facility serves as a daycare center for underprivileged children ages 3 months to 5 years old. Concordian students assist the caregivers with serving afternoon snacks of milk and treats, before afternoon activities with the children including reading, music, playing with toys, and supervising their playground time.
Wattana Niwat Foundation (มูลนิธิวัยวัฒนานิวาส
The facility serves as a home for the elderly where they can reside together in a small community. Concordian students visit to assist with facility-upkeep activities, before engaging in fun activities with the residents, such as singing and ball-game competitions.
Khlong Palat Priang School is a primary school that Concordian has visited for Service activities in past years. Concordian students work on worksheets (English, Mandarin Chinese, Math) with small groups of primary students (G1-G3). At the end of the session, students from both schools stand together in front of the class to present by counting out loud from 1-10 in Mandarin Chinese, so that the primary students get to try speaking a language that is not offered in their curriculum.
Khao Khiao Wildlife and Nature Education Center (ศูนย์ศึกษาธรรมชาติและสัตว์ป่าเขาเขียว)
The Wildlife and Nature Education Center is located in Chonburi province and was the first semester’s Saturday trip option. Upon arrival, students heard short briefings on tree planting and building artificial nests from the local experts, before getting their hands dirty to apply what they had learned by doing it themselves. After completing these sessions, students were also able to try birdwatching using binoculars and telescopes.
