School Update
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cademics are certainly at the center of Concordian’s rigorous High School program. But to achieve our school’s mission, the High School embraces a whole child philosophy. To achieve this, we have a vibrant sports program, growing service clubs, a thriving Model United Nations program and much, much more. These experiences help complete a High School education at Concordian and develop students and people who are able to make a real difference in the world. Another important component of our High School program that helps enhance the quality of student life is our House System. In this system, each grade level or “house” competes against each other for medals and points. For the second straight year, the Class of 2018 ultimately became the winners. The High School Student Government is purchasing a plaque that will go alongside our Hall of Fame for Academics to permanently enshrine the Class of 2018’s spirit and success in a myriad of competitions throughout the year.
By: Mr. Rich
As you read this, we will have a newly elected High School Student Government in place to continue advocating for High School students and improving and enhancing Student Life and learning in the High School. I am fully confident that our newly elected High School Student Government will continue to build upon our House System and further enhance student life in our high school. I would be remiss if I did not thank our three graduating officers. Sunny (President), Kevin (Vice-President) and Mild N (Treasurer) will be missed and difficult to replace as they dedicated a great amount of time and energy to improving our high school.
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School Update
Written by: Andra, Ploy, and Lisa
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hroughout the second semester of Middle School, students have not only gained knowledge from the nine different subjects Concordian has to offer, but also achieved success in other aspects of school life, such as sports and extracurricular activities. The middle school students have participated in a vast array of sports; from soccer to swimming to table tennis to badminton. Concordian athletes are diligent and always try their best despite any challenges. The hard work paid off for the U13 Boys, who earned themselves the title of TISAC Soccer Champions and won the inaugural Earth Day Football Tournament; they finished the season undefeated in all events. We have not only excelled in athletic activities, but are academically adept as well. An excellent example is the Pan Asia Math Challenge, where chosen students from Grade 6 to Grade 8 participated to represent Concordian. Pan Asia Math Challenge is an annual math competition with extremely difficult questions that force students to use prior knowledge learned in their math classes and logical reasoning to overcome unfamiliar challenges. With the strong math foundation that Concordian provides, our students earned numerous individual awards for the first round and was the only school to have all grade levels represented in the second round. Individual Gold Medals: Grade 6 - Khao Jao (Overall Individual 2nd place) Grade 7 - Esther and Nicky Grade 8 - Sybert and Best
Team achievements: Grade 6 - 3rd Place (Brim, Khao Jao, and Keith) Grade 7 - 3rd Place (Esther, Nicky and LK) Grade 8 - 1st Place (Robin, Best and Andra) As Grade 8 students, we would like to pass on some of our hard earned lessons and advice to next year’s Middle School students. Time management is vital, especially learning to prioritise wisely and avoiding procrastination. In class, stay focused as distraction leads to unfinished work that then becomes homework. Ensure your electronic devices needed for school are fully charged and bring your chargers every day. Another important aspect of Middle School is teamwork because collaborating well with others is essential in completing group tasks successfully. A lack of teamwork causes emotional and mental stress that can lead to arguments and broken friendships. Establishing strong friendships is probably one of the most important aspects of Middle School because it’s your friends that will help you improve, grow, and develop as a student and a person.
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Although Middle School might seem overwhelming to those who are just entering Grade 6 due to more subjects are being taught and projects/tasks given out, but it is also an opportunity to display your talents and creativity in events like mathematics competition, Chinese Speech contests, Art/Talent shows, and sports competitions. Three years of middle school may at first seem like a long time, however, in the blink of an eye it will be over and you’ll be 19 starting the next chapter of your life; High School.
Activities and Events
By: Pop Grade10 Factory Trip Reflection
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n March 3 to 5, the grade 10 students went to Khao Yai to visit four of Charoen Pokphand Foods Limited Company (CPF) factories – CP Meiji Factory, Bangkok Produce Company (Sausage Factory), Chicken Processing Factory, and Thai Roong Ruang Sugar Group (Lin Sugar). At each factory, the staff narrated and displayed the factory’s background information and maintenance, food manufacturing processes, usage of technologies, company’s exports and profits, etc. During this trip, one of the most important lessons which I have learned is that in order to be successful in nowadays competitive
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society, the company should be able to follow our developed world and serve the needs of international clients. I recognized that all CPF factories apply innovative technological innovations to produce various types of products with massive quantity and high quality. Meanwhile, the diversity of product is very beneficial. Since one product can suit the preference of a group of clients, having a lot of products means that more groups of clients from worldwide will be attracted. As more clients approach, more profits will surely be obtained. Therefore, I also realized that humanity and development grow together. As more people are born to see this world, people who cannot move on from their old methods will never be able to pass beyond people who have the capability to apply novel materials to enhance their performances.
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Activities and Events
By: Pheammy Grade10 Reflection Business Trip (Khao Yai)
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s a class, we went to a total of four factories, including Meiji Company, Sausage Company, Chicken Processing Company and Thai Roong Ruang Sugar Group (Lin Sugar). During the trip, we were divided into groups and each group was assigned a factory that they had to make a video about. My group was assigned the Sausage factory. We were able to tour around the factory and got to explore the 6 different processes in making the sausage; tumbling, stuffing, cooking, cooling, packaging and metal detecting.
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This trip was rewarding for me since I was able to experience and see the different production stages in the factory before the final product. These production stages are connected to each other so I realized that if the factories are not organized and one of the processes failed, it will have an effect on the others. Moreover, this trip allowed me to discover that the business field is also within my range of interest. I was able to understand the different factors that contributed to the success of these factories such as hiring a right amount of workers in the factory or else the production of the product might not flow smoothly. Running a business involves managing people, maintaining an appropriate amount of resources used, and ensuring that the machines do not malfunction. As the improvement of technological innovation increases, machineries become more important to industries since they are capable of mass productions; which has the benefit of saving time and human labor. Running a business is not simple; the investors must take risks and have a clear and rigorous understanding of the consumers’ needs.
Activities and Events
From the Director’s armchair
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here are many theories related to the art of directing and I have tended to use fairly traditional approaches with high school musicals – until this year – with Ever After. All teachers at Concordian International School must set professional development goals for the year. I decided to focus on the stage rather than classroom, with the objective of using a more contemporary approach to directing – one which places much greater emphasis on building the ensemble over several weeks – and to withhold the scripts for a lot longer than is normal practice. The technique places responsibility for developing character with the actor – with very little if any explicit direction on how to bring the role to life from the director. I have to say my lasting impressions of this production center on the strong characterization realized on stage by our student actors. Not one role was weak (in my objective opinion!) and not one actor dropped out-of-role during the two performances. It is one of the strongest ensembles I have worked with – and full credit must go to them, our wonderfully talented musicians and maestro Mr. George, the technical team and Mr. Eulalio for his encouragement, expertise and choreography. Te Arohanui.
Clynt Walker Whitaker, Director.
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Director with the Evil Queen!
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Director with Snow White&Cinderella
Serious actors!
s Ever After really as happy as everyone expected? In a hilarious parody of daytime TV, host Monterey Jack Chesterfield Williamson wonders if time truly heals all wounds. He invites Cinderella and her middle-aged ’beauty-impaired’ stepsisters to reconcile with each other after being estranged for 20 years. What about Snow White and the Evil Queen? This hysterical fractured fairy tale has it all: a trash-talking clairvoyant mirror, an unfortunate prince who is turning slowly back into a frog and even Jiminy Cricket — now an occupational therapist and author of the book “My Life as Your Conscience.” The musical is punctuated by questions from obnoxious studio audience members and ridiculously funny infomercials for fairy tale related products, such as the Practical Princess Crown which doubles as a purse and makeup case. Get ready for some kneeslapping and hand-clapping with great foot-tapping songs like ’Beauty Impaired’ and ’Dainty Do-Gooder’!
Activities and Events
By: Chin
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ttending this fighting animal extinction camp was an amazing and fun experience. It’s a new experience for me, where I not only had fun but I learned how to be a researcher and how to manage my time. This project really requires a lot of time, and I have to manage my time between school work and fighting animal extinction. You can also learn something new that normal students wouldn’t be able to do like a sample plot. I will try my best to continue fighting animal extinction, as I wish for other animals to get included in this project.
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Activities and Events
The Songkran Festival in Concordian International School 2017 Sa-was-dee-wan-Songkran kha.
“Play water nicely in the correct way as you should according to Thai culture. Be careful and ongkran, or Thai New Year. The word try to use the least water as possible to help the Songkran is derived from Sanksrit and means environment”. “Astrological Passage”. Songkran starts on from Thank you for all your help and support and the 13th of April to the 15th of April. being involved in our Songkran Ceremony in 3 Conventionally, friends and family celebrate sections (EY, PY, MY/DP) this year. Songkran by splashing water on each other in the form of a wish for a year filled with blessings. Special thanks to “Mituna Sonnpan and Friends
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Songkran’s ceremony in Concordian International School was held on Friday, the 7th of April 2017. The Thai department has organized the ceremony for all Concordian students - “Rod Nam Dam Hua” or the pouring ceremony. The students had a great memorable time by pouring scented water on the hands of teachers to show their respect and in return, the teachers gives students advice and blesses them. Due to the passing of the King Rama 9, the extended mourning period for one year, the Thai Department has agreed that we should only have the Songkran ceremony and no fun outdoor activities.
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Group (class of 2018)” G11 for a Fantastic Exhibition “From Siam to Thailand: The Story of Rattanakosin Live History Exhibition” It made our Songkran day very special. By: Kru Dear
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Showcase
T By: Mr. Martin
he Senior Art Students presented an incredible array of art at the Annual Senior Exhibition. More than 120 art works presented personal perspectives under the banner of “Its a Strange, Strange World”.
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Senior artists took the opportunity to dialogue with their peers, teachers, administrators parents and guests on the nuances and subtleties of these challenging art works. Many visitors responded to the question “HOW MUCH do you like my painting?” by buying the artwork!
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I would like to thank Mild, Waad, Jeen, Max, Mei, Shawn, Zen, Nam, Chada, Reaw and Sunny for their dedication and insightfulness this year - they can be really proud of the sophistication of the art works they produced.
Showcase
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School Update
● Ling 这个学期，我们的学校建立了一个新的图书馆。这个 图书馆很干净，很漂亮，很大，有上下两层。下面的 一层有很多排列整齐的书架，分成英文图书区，泰文 图书区和中文图书区，书架上放满了书，数不胜数。 其中有武侠小说，有抒情散文，有童话故事，有诗词 歌赋等等。还有很多的沙发，沙发上散落着许多软软 的、五颜六色的抱枕，让进去读书的读者感觉十分舒 服。上面一层有许多小隔间，为了提供给学生一个安 静的环境去独自学习或者小组学习。整个图书馆时刻 保持着安静，同学们一进到这里就放轻脚步，没有人 大声喧哗。而一进门，就可以看到两位尽职尽责的图 书馆管理员——Ms.Cathy和Mr.Roxy。他们是学校的 好老师，更是学生的好朋友。有任何问题，只要去找 他们，没有什么是解决不了的。走进这里，选一本好 书，坐到窗户边，沐浴着金灿灿的阳光，抱着一个抱 枕，静静地阅读，这是一件多么享受的事情啊！我喜 欢这个新的图书馆，因为我在这里不仅收获了知识， 更收获了一份心里的宁静。
This term, our school built a new library. This library is very neat, very beautiful, and very big. It has two floors. The first floor has many orderly bookshelves. They separate in three parts: English book zone, Thai book zone and Chinese book zone. The bookshelves are full of countless books. There are Kung fu novels, lyric prose, fairy tales, verses, ditties, odes and songs... There are also many sofas, and the soft, colorful bolsters make readers comfortable. The second floor has many cabinets for providing students a quiet environment to study individually or work in a team. This library keeps quiet all the time, students are light in their steps here, no one makes a racket. As we come in, we can see two conscientious and responsible librarians——Ms. Kathy and Mr. Roxy. They are good teachers at CIS. Moreover, they are good friends of students. If we have any problems, they can help solve everything. Come in this library, choose a nice book, sit near the window, hold a bolster, read steadily. What an enjoyable thing! I love this new library, I acquire knowledge from the books, also get peace for my heart.
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School Update
● Ploy, Grade 8, a Poem There’s poodle in the library, And many more things. In the books both sweet & scary full of fantasy, star & wings. There are tyrants in the library, And soldiers and wars. In history books that carry, Facts of empires and forgotten shores. There are tables in the library, with lights and chairs too. Working space is necessary, For learning something new. But what makes this place the best of all places? Is the ever-constant stream of friendly faces. And along with every other amazing part, The library is truly a miracle that warms the heart.
● Otto The library is filled with books that you could enjoy. The new library is excellent, compared with the old one that we had. The atmosphere in the library is great too. I like the new library because the library is huge .... so [everyone] can work peacefully. But I hope that the library can open a little longer after school!
● Ken Lemony Snicket once said, “A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them.” Though the high school library is quite neat, thanks to maids cleaning it every day, maybe it is just me, but I love to touch the smooth bindings of ancient and new books. Hearing nothing but the quiet peaceful sounds of paper and minds wondering with their curiosity. I urge everyone to spend more time in the library, especially if you are a book-worm or a potter head, and you will soon find the beauty of our new high-school library. It’s quite magical how we may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the Earth.
● Li Think the library is just a place where old textbooks and dusty novels are stored? You thought wrong! A place full of wonders and moments of exhilarating exploration. The new secondary library is a haven for creative thinking, research and inspiration. Not only are the students able to complete their homework and assignments in the library, but the well-accredited resources such as credible internet databases and encyclopedias, come together to complete the boundless research journey of a student.
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As a tenth grade student here at Concordian, I personally regard the library as a place full of opportunities for students. Additionally, as the founder of the Tutoring Club, and a tutor myself, the library is the ideal place for tutoring students as the resources and the learning environment compliment the studying experience of students. Most importantly, since the tutoring club tutors students from grades 6 – 8, the library is the perfect location, accessible and student-friendly. I would like 33 to thank both Ms. Kathy and Mr. Roxy for allowing us to use the library as our tutoring location. Cheers on the opening of the new secondary library!
Community Service
Operation Smile Student Mission and My First Impression “It was amazing getting to see an actual surgery being carried out just before our eyes, a site where usually can only be seen in videos or television. For students who are interested in the medical field, especially in becoming a surgeon, this is a great opportunity that definitely shouldn’t be missed out on. Not only does it give us an overall idea of how a surgery is like nor does getting to ask questions answered by professionals, but it also gave us a chance to feel the experience of being in an operating room, which helps in a way to get used to seeing blood and flesh.” Long Long (G 11W) The Four Pillars of Student Mission
Leadership
“Operation Smile for me has been a very valuable experience because I was able to experience much about caring for patients and being compassionate to those who are less fortunate than us. I voluntarily raised funds for the club during the Festival of Love and directly experienced cleft lip/palate patients and witnessed their operations during the club’s annual Mission to Mae Hong Son. Notably, I learned how in order for us to truly care for people and make a difference, we will need to learn leadership skills, because a good leader can lead others to do good, and thus successfully make a difference.” Thon (G 11W)
Education
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We had an opportunity to participate in the Smile mission 2017. Smile mission provides volunteers with once in a lifetime opportunity to visit children who are not only in need of surgical and medical services, but also education. Most of the patients are minor ethnic groups from outreach Northern areas of Thailand, who lack proper education, and schooling system. Most of them do not speak or understand Thai, making their living condition in Thailand more complicated and difficult when it comes to hospitalization. After this experience, I’ve become more appreciative in the importance and value of education. Hopefully in the future, I wish to initiate a charity project for education providing the next generation of minor ethnic groups to have more chances to access a better education. May (G11 K)
Community Service
Service
This year has proven to be another fruitful year to Concordian’s Operation Smile Club, as can see by our participation in the 2016 Smile Carnival hosted in the National Stadium in cooperation with multiple other international schools, and our trip to Mae Hong Son. On February 21st, a group of our club members ventured into their first experience with real surgical procedures. It was there that they developed leadership skills by providing support to the children pre and post op, learning about the real life of doctors, and developed lasting, genuine, bonds with the patients and their families. The final event of the year was the Carnival, where our team set up a game booth, which attracted a generous amount of customers. The diversity in the participants was great; children came with parents, friends came together, and some parents even came to play together. These experiences have led us to hoping for a continued spirit next year, striving to see more smiles. Sa-e (G11 K)
Awareness
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Operation Smile is a non-profit organization which raised awareness of cleft lips and palates as well as the funding for the less fortunate people’s surgery. The risk of these deformities could be reduced with proper preparation during pregnancy. While the organization organizes missions to perform surgeries free of charge, they would educate the volunteers and the villagers in the area, which they could spread the knowledge and the awareness of the deformities. At the same time, one of the purposes of the club is also to raise awareness of the organization. The donation received by the organization could be used to cover the cost of medical tools, not includ- 37 ing the payment for the doctors as they are also volunteers. Every single baht matters, as more missions could take place, similar to the Mae Hong Son mission. Pena (G11 K)