Secondary_Years_Update

Concordian Secondary School

The 8th Chinese Temple Fair 2024

This year, the Year of the Dragon, brought us a special celebration. We enjoyed not just the traditional lion dance but also the thrilling dragon dance and sword dance, as well as the skillful singers singing Chinese festive songs.

The Fun Fair was a hit too, with games, art crafts, and the comeback of sharing delicious food. Both MYP and DP students joined in, creating a happy time for everyone.

We hope this Dragon Year brings success and prosperity to all. Special thanks are extended to all Concordians, especially to the dedicated performers, teachers, Design department, IT department, maintenance team, and office support team.

We wish everyone in the new year to “Rise Like a Dragon, Shine Like a Star.”

MYP-DP Chinese Department

Students’ reflection

I had a very good time with my band rehearsing and performing for this year’s Sing! event. It was a very eye-opening experience to perform a Chinese song, expressing our identity as a multicultural community. The band also really enjoyed the performance because it was a display of our Chinese skills.

G10 Pai

我很高兴在中国春节活动中担任主持人，同时

我感到荣幸能够成为这个重要节日庆典的一部 分，与观众分享喜庆和欢乐。这是我第一次在 异国他乡隆重地庆祝春节，我也深刻体会到了 中国文化的独特魅力，人们对传统的珍视和传 承以及泰国人对中国文化的喜爱。

Being a part of the Lion Dance Team was an incredible experience and I learned lots of new things about Chinese culture. I hope in the future many new students will be able to participate in this activity and enjoy it just as much as I did.

G10 Jean

G9 AI

This year I had the opportunity to join the Chinese sword dance activity. Initially, I was both excited and nervous about handling a Wushu sword, as I did not have prior experience with this. I would like to express my gratitude to both participants and the teachers that guided the way.

G10 Cathy 有机会在Sing！和我的朋友 Kaem 表演二重唱是一次难忘的经历， 这对学生来说是一个提高唱歌水 平和中文技能的好机会，因为我 们必须充分理解歌词背后的含 义，才能有效地表达情感。 我 很开心我们能够通过这些类型的 活动了解多种文化。

G10 Pear

The Chinese 2024 SING! was the first show I hosted as an MC and I genuinely think that it was a good experience for me. My speech delivery as a MC would not be possible without the help of two Chinese teachers. 谢谢您 Ms. Jing 和 Ms. Lina!

G10 Mei

参加这次活动让我深刻体会到 团队合作的力量和乐趣，也让 我认识到自己的潜力。通过这 次活动，我更加明白了沟通和 协作的重要性。这不仅是展示 自己的机会，也是一个学习和 成长的过程。我感到非常幸 运，也期待未来有更多这样的 机会。

G10 Yong

This year’s dragon dance was a spectacular experience for all of us. We filled the grand theater with the Chinese new year spirit, bringing joy to everybody. This unforgettable performance brought us joy, as well as our collaboration together as a team with the teachers.

G11 Haady

今年是我第二次参加 SING! 的表 演，作为一名击剑运动员，剑 舞将击剑和舞蹈合二为一，创 造出了前所未见的表演效果。

在排练的过程中，我们深入地 领略了中国古代文化和历史的 内涵。当表演结束后，我听到 老师和朋友们对我们精彩舞姿 的赞赏，心中充满了喜悦。

G9 Choné

Dragon dance was an excellent opportunity for us to improve our teamwork, collaboration, and communication abilities. This is a memory that we will cherish and be remembered as one of our final performances with our friends.

G11 Jerry 参加今年的舞狮表演是一个难 忘的经历。我们的排练既有趣 又令人兴奋。我对这一特殊的 传统有了更深入的了解。此 外，舞狮还教会了我团队合作 和努力工作的重要性。和其他 表演者一起协调动作，创造出 引人入胜的表演是非常特别 的。

G10 Pote

Funfair, Behind the Scenes:

Exciting News: High School Exchange Program with Keystone Academy Beijing!

Concordian International School is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Keystone Academy Beijing for an additional Grade 9 exchange program, set to commence in the upcoming academic year 2024-2025.

Our commitment to fostering cross-cultural experiences and academic exchange has taken a solid leap forward with the introduction of this immersive exchange program. Each year, Grade 9 students from Concordian International School will have the opportunity to participate in a two-week exchange program at Keystone Academy Beijing, and vice versa.

Keystone Academy Beijing, a leading English-Chinese bilingual school, shares our commitment to academic excellence.

Concordian International School hosted the Head of School, Dr. Emily McCarren, and the Head of Middle School, Mr. Houming Jiang, on January 15th, 2024. The visit culminated in meetings with Concordian’s senior leadership team, solidifying the agreement for this exciting exchange program.

While our existing Grade 9 exchange program in Shanghai requires students to achieve a minimum proficiency level of CLA phase 5, the Beijing exchange program welcomes students of all Chinese language proficiencies. Both exchange programs are strategically scheduled one week before the October break and during the week of the October break annually.

During their visit, Dr. McCarren and Mr. Jiang were impressed by the outstanding quality of education at Concordian, including our mission, teaching and learning, school facilities, and student accomplishments. Their positive feedback reinforces our dedication to providing the best possible education to our students.

Concordian International School is enthusiastic about the prospect of these two exchange programs in China, as they can greatly enrich our students’ immersive learning experiences in Chinese language and culture. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this transformative educational journey!

Ms. Min Li Secondary Principal

Mamma Mia!

Here We Go Again

It was a privilege to work alongside such a talented ensemble of musicians, crew, & cast – also to work with my colleagues; Ms. Hyesun Chung and Mr. Mark Palombo; special kudos also to Ms. Charne, Ms. Veronica, Mr. Jonathan and the design team and students, the tech crew and maintenance team - a true collaborative effort. I have asked some of the cast to share their thoughts:

When I think of “Mamma Mia” I think of happy memories of when I watched the movie for the first time, the themes of love, family, and friendship and the astonishing soundtrack made me fall in love with the play. When I auditioned for

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again I really enjoyed how we were able to be creative and create scenes for the play in our own groups. Even though, we had to stay late after school for rehearsals, it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life because I learned acting skills that I would not have even thought about in drama class, along with other techniques that helped me improve my singing. Lastly, I was actually very nervous to perform at first but all of the seniors were super supportive and I really felt like the cast and crew have become one big family.

Napeach Akekapobyotin (Peach), Role: Worker

This is my take: “As a lifelong ABBA fan, first hearing about the arts department’s plan for a Mamma Mia sequel production was a pleasant surprise to say the least. So, when I was asked by our dearest director, Mr. Clynt, to audition, I couldn’t turn down the opening. Despite my audition consisting of many singing mishaps (although mishaps would be an understatement), I secured the role of Rosie, Sophie Sheridan’s best friend, in the musical. During this month-long journey, the cast bonded through the task of putting on a successful performance within 4 weeks’ time–a challenge we spent countless long afternoons, evenings, and weekends overcoming. Fully developing the show in just a month was no easy feat; but with the cast’s determination and dedication, we managed to pull it off–blood, sweat, tears and all. Overall, being a part of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again was an incredibly stressful, yet gratifying experience that I would not have missed out on for anything.”

Preeyapat Lohstapornpipit (Sophia)

Role: Rosie

Being a part of ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ was one of the most memorable experiences for me as a student actor. Exploring the themes and emotions of love and family made me realize how important they are in real life as well. We faced numerous challenges, such as absences, disagreements, exhaustion, etc. Regardless, with team dedication and commitment, the show turned out to be a great success.

Kaem Watchararakkawong, Role: Sophie

This was my last year as the choreographer for the school musical. Choreographing for Mamma Mia gave me one of the most valuable experiences for me to grow as both a dancer and choreographer. I was very fortunate to have a passionate cast to work with, making my last school musical even more memorable. Even though we all had some ups and downs during rehearsals, our dedication, hard work and commitment to the play made this school play a success. My favorite moment from this experience is the day of the performance. As part of the backstage crew, I was tasked with helping the cast members get prepared to go on stage. The most challenging part of being backstage was managing the small details of the play, particularly helping the cast with their costumes. At our first dress rehearsal, I was rushed to the point that I didn’t manage to finish the costume change on time. But as I became more familiar with the costume, it took me a lot less time, as such our rehearsal became much more polished. All in all, it was definitely the right decision to join Mamma Mia. I could never ask for a better team.

Supisara Thaleongchok (Neen), Role: Choreographer

Te Arohanui, Be of Big Heart, Mr. Clynt Walker Whitaker Director – Mamma Mia Here We Go Again

Scan here to see the full show

Celebrating Dragons

Our own Concordian Dragons’ achievements outside of school are numerous and impressive! They span sports, music, dance and art - it would take us many, many pages to include them all! That is why our Elementary School Flag Raising events and Secondary School Assemblies provide a wonderful opportunity for these achievements to be celebrated at school, surrounded by supportive and proud peers and teachers. Here, we feature just a taste of what some of our students have achieved recently in the fields of sport and the performing arts.

Classical Ballet

Cathy received 1st place Duo classical ballet in the ATOD international Dance Competition Thailand 2023, and on January 19th 2024 she received her award at the ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Culture of Thailand.

Piano Competition

Tate G2C and Ty G2I participated in 2 piano competitions and received the following awards:

1. International Music Competition Bonn “ Grand Prize Virtuoso” (December 2023). Tate and Ty both received First Prize awards in the young musician category and were invited to play piano at Beethoven house in Germany in last December, but were not able to attend.

2. HKYPA (Hong Kong International Performance Arts Festival and Music Competition) on February 24, 2024. Tate and Ty both won Gold Prize in the preliminary round and participated in the International Final round in Hong Kong and both received distinction awards for Piano Age group 9 years and under.

Thailand National Youth Team 2023

Phaak, Grade 7, was selected to be a Thailand National Youth Team swimmer and represented Thailand in the 45th SEA Age Group Competition, the biggest swimming event in Southeast Asia which was held in Indonesia in August 2023.

All the Southeast Asia swimmers were looking forward to this competition and finally Phaak secured the BRONZE MEDAL with a time of 32.84 seconds on the 50m Breaststroke becoming

the TOP-ranked swimmer in Thailand in his age group and the school’s first swimming medal in an international competition.

We extend our gratitude for the unwavering support from the school in all aspects, including teachers, coaches, management, and the entire Concordian community. We hope that Phaak’s accomplishment on the international stage will strengthen our Concordian Sports Community and cultivate an environment of excellence within our school.

交流、创新、发展 Create a World without Barriers

On November 23, 2023, the Chinese Department successfully held a Chinese Speech Contest. A total of 36 students registered for the competition, and after the audition, 16 contestants stood on the stage for the final competition. This year, the theme of the speech contest was “Communication, Innovation, Development” (交流、创新、发展). Through their impressive speeches, the students demonstrated their Chinese language skills and also expressed their understanding and appreciation of culture, which further highlighted their confidence. We look forward to having more students take the stage and join the speech contest next year!

Secondary School Chinese Department

以前，我总是认为我中文的语言 能力不太好，但现在我很感激自 己敢于挑战这次的中文演讲比 赛。这次参赛经历极大地提高了 我的中文学习兴趣。通过训练， 我不仅提高了口语技巧，还拥有 更多在教室以外的地方练习中文 的机会，更有助于锻炼我的表达 能力。如果下次我可以尝试改进 的话，我肯定会使用更丰富的词 汇和更复杂的句型，来展示更自 信的自己。

G9-Peach

我认为参加演讲这次比赛是一次 很好的体验，能够让自己学会写 演讲稿，也能提高自己的表达能 力。我觉得如果我下一次再演讲 的时候不要太紧张。我应该更勇 敢，让受众能感受到我自信的声 音和神态。我觉得下次我会做得 更好！

G6-PimPim

I had an incredibly enjoyable time participating in the Chinese speech contest and am immensely proud to emerge as the winner. Winning was unexpected, but it proved that hard work truly pays off. I dedicated myself to practicing the script, rehearsing it at least five times a day at home. Heartfelt thanks to the attentive audience for listening to my speech. Lastly, I want to urge everyone: never give up easily. 加油! Keep going!

G7-Pluem

这次是我第一次报名做主持人， 在海选的时候虽然紧张却努力准 备。当我成功成为演讲比赛主持 人后，真的是喜出望外。在老师 的带领下我每天刻苦练习。通过 这次活动让我明白了无论是什么 事情，只要努力练习，事情就不 再难。

G6-Grace S

这是我小学毕业后首次担任主持人， 可谓是跳出了我的舒适区。虽然我只 是主持人，但看着那些在台下不断练 习的演讲者，让我不禁感叹“台上十 分钟，台下十年功”。他们的努力使 本届演讲比赛激动人心，参赛者的精 彩表现令人印象深刻。感谢每位选手 的热情参与，你们展示的才华和表现 力让人叹为观止。这次经历不仅锻炼 了我们的能力，也为我们提供了宝贵 的学习机会。期待未来以参赛者身份 再次登上那个舞台，变得更勇敢，台 风更上一层楼。

G9- Joanne

This was my second time participating in the Chinese Speech Competition and I was able to come away with the “Winner Award”. I would like to thank Ms. Fang for helping with my pronunciation and script revision, as well as Mr. Jun for improving my manner and stage presence. I look forward to seeing what the speech competition will look like next year!

G10-Burger

This is my third and last year participating in the final of the Chinese Speech Contest before heading into DP! Always a fun and exciting opportunity for me to showcase what I have learned, through all the school work and extracurricular activities my time management skills were put to the test. I feel extremely grateful for the experience and cherish this with all my friends and family. A huge thank you to the Chinese Department for hosting great events like these to allow students to showcase their abilities!

G10-PeiPei

一件事情的成功不是一个人单枪匹马的努力就可以

完成的，所以我想感谢在演讲比赛过程中帮助过我

的 Lina 老师，我的爸爸、我的妈妈虽然成功，但我 不能太骄傲，因为，我还不会停住脚步，还会努力 尝试一些新的比赛和挑战，不断的突破自己，完善 自己！

G7-Term

One’s success can never be achieved from an individual’s effort, which is why I would like to, from the bottom of my heart, thank Ms Lina and my parents for helping me throughout the process of this speech contest.

Concordian Winter Choir Concert

The winter choir concert at Concordian was an event filled with musical excellence, joy, and the spirit of the holiday season. The choir program, now in its second year, showcased the musical growth of the vocal students and the overall growth of the choir program. We are very proud of the students’ hard work!

For this concert the students were challenged to take on more difficult music, solo opportunities (both vocal and instrumental), logistical responsibilities, and even choreography! The students met these challenges with passion, and took risks to achieve higher levels of musicianship. The resulting performance served as a fantastic testament to their passion for music, singing, and excellence.

Highlights from the show included: a special opening performance of “White Winter Hymnal” by Con Brio, a duet performance by the DP Music students, various solo performances, invited student accompanists, and an exciting closing performance of “All I Want For Christmas Is You”.

We are excited at the growth, passion and ability of all of the vocal students. Their winter performance was inspiring and filled the audience with the spirit of the holidays. The students are already at work on a new set of repertoire for the spring concert: it is going to be wonderful!

We hope to see you there, and thank you for your support of the choir program at Concordian.

Mr. Mark, MYP Vocal Music / DP Music

Christmas Big Sing Concert at Aksra Theater

The CMA Con Brio choir members were invited to sing as part of the Christmas Big Sing Concert with Bangkok Music Society and Immanuel Orchestra on December 7, 2023 at the Aksra Theater. This was an incredible opportunity for our choir members to gain choral experience and sing alongside professional choir singers. During the concert, the students also met choir members from schools around Bangkok who share the same passion for music.

It was such a great joy to display the students’ singing and excellence and experience a coming together of different communities who have the same love for music. Parents and friends came to support the Con Brio members and enjoy the show. As the concert ended, everyone left with smiles on their faces and beautiful memories to cherish forever.

DP Fair

Parents and Grade 10 students recently dived into the details of our Diploma Programme at Concordian’s first-ever DP fair, which took place on October 18, 2023. The event started with a presentation in the Amphitheater explaining the general structure of the DP. Subject booths, where subject teachers and student ambassadors shared insights, gave everyone a closer look at the available courses. Here the Grade 10 students and parents had the opportunity to ask questions from both the subject teachers and our current DP students.

During the fair, participants also had the chance to chat with our two experienced college counselors, Dr. Tresa and Mr. Tony who were available to discuss academic decisions and to offer guidance on different course combinations.

As we look forward to the next step in the academic journey of our Grade 10 students, a big thank you to everyone who took part in making the DP Fair a success.

Mr. Markus Mattila

English Public Speaking Competition

Dear Concordians,

This year, on February 1st 2024, the English department had the honor and pleasure of running the third edition of the Speak! Public Speaking Competition. It is an event which aims at showcasing our students’ oratory skills.

All the participants selected one of two categories (formal and informal), then wrote their own speeches on a topic of their choice. This year, as there were many student sign-ups, we went through not one but two auditions to determine the best public speakers.

Once the finalists emerged, they spent almost 4 weeks editing, refining, honing, practicing, polishing, and finally perfecting their speeches.

Those that sought additional support could even participate in Mr. Jun’s public speaking CMA, where he showed them how to use their body language effectively. I am particularly proud of this year’s speeches and performances. They were of the highest quality we have yet seen, and the topics they covered were varied and amazingly thought-provoking.

Speakers, your diction and enunciation skills have vastly improved as well: it was an absolute pleasure listening to your performances. Your emotions really shone through, and your messages reached many members of the audience -- so much so that we’ve been asked for copies of your speeches, which is unprecedented!

On behalf of the English department, I would like to thank every student who signed up for the event. Even if you did not make it to the final performance, I strongly encourage each and every one of you to try again next year. I would also like to specifically mention and thank the Speak! team without whom this event would not have taken place: Ms. Viorica, Ms. Ederelene, Mr. Jun, and Mr. Maurice.

Lastly, I want to recognise that while we teachers may put in all the work in the world to support you students, ultimately the success of an event like this rests on your shoulders, and you were phenomenal. Thank you again, and here’s to an even more successful 4th edition next year!

Admiringly, Mr. Alessio

From Concordian to Shanghai: The 4th G9 Chinese Exchange Program

We successfully organized the 4th Chinese exchange program with the No. 2 High School of East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai, China, from October 15 to 28, 2023. The No. 2 High School is one of the most prestigious top-tier secondary schools in China, renowned for its science program, excellent facilities, and high-achieving students selected nationwide. Ten selected Grade 9 Concordian students studied alongside Chinese students in subject classes taught in Chinese, participated in a daily Chinese cultural course, and explored Shanghai and its surrounding areas on weekends. Two teacher chaperones, Ms. Fang and Kru May, accompanied our students on the trip.

这是我第一次离开父母那么长 时间，虽然这是一个很大的挑 战，但是我觉得这是一个很好 的经历。去上海交流的两个星 期里，我们除了和中国的学生 一起上课以外，还上了文化体 验课。我最喜欢的是茶道。看 着老师优雅的动作，品尝着清 香的绿茶，不禁让我爱上了中 国的茶文化。

Pim

I think that what I got the most was the new friendships that I made and the knowledge of Chinese culture. Some of the cultural features were how they eat, respecting teachers and adults, and many more cultural differences between China and Thailand. Tubtim

在这次的上海游学让我发现中 国的学习环境和泰国的学习气 氛是不一样的。虽然只在中国 住了两个星期，但我能快速融 入到新的环境、交到新朋友。 尽管这是我第一次来上海， 但让我觉得这次的记忆特别难 忘。我非常感谢华东师范大学 给我们的机会，还有两位的老 师Ms. Fang, Kru.May 带我们去。谢 谢老师们！

Janie

This program was an experience that will never be forgotten, it taught me great responsibility following with cooperation with peers and classmates, giving me this opportunity to open up to something new with different cultures as my country made it more unique than others. Puri

这次上海之行可谓是我十四年 来经历的最精彩的两周。我最 大的收获来自知识、文化和朋 友。首先，我在上海结识了许 多朋友，认识到了各种各样的 人，突破了自己的舒适圈，我 也深入体验了书法、茶道和中 医等博大精深的领域。这次上 海交换项目丰富了我的生活， 从一开始的不适应到离开时的 依依不舍。这无疑是我宝贵的 财富，将伴随我一生，最宝贵 的莫过于我在那里交到的朋 友。我真的非常期待他们四月 回访的时候！

Joanne

This exchange program is the most unique experience I’ve ever had. I enjoyed everything we had done for the 2 weeks. No.2 High School of East China Normal University has transferred me plenty of new knowledge and allowed me to immerse myself in Chinese culture. The small trip during the weekend was fun and interesting. I got to learn more about Chinese history and culture, and also explore the heart of Shanghai. I’m extremely looking forward to the Chinese students coming to our school next year.

Choné

I thoroughly enjoyed getting up close and personal with Chinese culture. Whether it was through architecture, interactions with people, or experiencing the thrilling circus performances that set your heart racing, or even discovering surprising talents in classmates who may appear quiet but can perform kung fu flips on stage. Each encounter was a unique and memorable experience.

Maggie

I wouldn’t have imagined that my temporary life as a student in China would have allowed me to gain such insight, not only into their education system but also into the future of living as a somewhat independent student abroad. It has allowed me to learn how to adapt to a different environment: from walking to school, carrying heavy clothes to wash, making new friends and, quite literally, adapting to the cold weather. If I had another chance to experience this again, I would jump at it in a heartbeat.

The Literary Writing Association and the Thai Alumni Association of China’ s Universities

留中总会文艺写作学会 征稿活动

MYP/DP students had a wonderful opportunity to showcase their literary talents through the writing submission event organized by The Literary Writing Association and the Thai Alumni Association of China’s Universities. Their ability to share love, friendship, unforgettable personal experiences, and heartwarming stories through their writing not only highlights their creative skills but also their capacity to connect with others through storytelling. Being selected for inclusion in the 21st literary anthology is a significant achievement and a testament to their talent and dedication.

We encourage more students to participate in the future and could further enrich this literary community and provide valuable experiences for aspiring writers.

得知我的文章被选中时，我感到非常荣幸。感谢 每一个支持我、陪伴我成长的人，他们的存在使 我的文字更具力量。这个奖项激励我继续坚持写 作，将情感和思考传递给更多人。这是见证我与 他们友情的共同荣誉。

G9 Joanne 叶伽安 当听说我写的作文被选中出版的时候，我兴奋极 了。非常感谢 Concordian 能给我们提供这么多的资 源和机会，也非常感谢中文老师们对我们的鼓 励、支持和帮助，没有你们就没有我们的今天。

G9 Pim陈婉妮 时光飞逝岁月如梭，一年又过去了。这是我第三

年参加留中总会文艺写作比赛。说真心话，每年 都让我学到很多新的知识，从不同的写作手法， 到文章格式，这些技巧都能提高自己写作能力。

我很高兴我的作品能够出版。

这篇文章在我心中 占有非常特殊的地位，因为它是关于我的家庭以 及我们如何成长的。

G11 Doudou吴宇涵

感谢学校和中文老师们给我这个机会来培养和增 强我的中文水平。

当我的祖父母读到我的故事 时，他们脸上的表情非常惊讶，因为他们从未想 过他们的故事会被出版成书，尤其是用他们的母 语出版。非常感谢所有帮助我出版这本书的人， 并通过与他人分享我们的生活故事让我的祖先感 到自豪。

G7 Ivy 陈丽婷

首先，感谢这次作文比赛给我提供了机会，就是 能够用中文来分享和表达我和家人一起旅行的 美好经历。其次，我要感谢 Lina 老师和 Fang 老师， 指导和鼓励我勇敢的去参与比赛，并帮我修改作 文。今后，我会继续认真学习，提升我的中文写 作水平。

G7 Term 马荣鑫 我收到书后，我感到很开心，也为自己骄傲，因 为我的努力得到了回报。我还有一位很好老师总 是告诉我怎么提高写作水平。

G7 Torfun 胡亮靓 今年我得到这个写作奖励的时候，我真的是太兴 奋了。我没有想到自己可以写得这么好。今年我 学会了用了成语、语言描写、动作描写等等。我 今后要读更多的中文书，这样我就可以更好地把 学到的知识运用到我的作文中。

G7 Tatar 施宇虹

A Week of Festivities Embracing the Christmas Cheer

As the Christmas spirit settled in, our school decided to light up the December atmosphere with a Spirit Week, full of festive activities that brought joy to both students and staff.

The week kicked off with laughter and holiday cheer as students embraced the charm of ugly Christmas sweaters. On Monday, we had Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, where students came to school dressed in weird designs and interesting color schemes. The school hallways transformed into a festive parade of knitted creativity.

On Tuesday, we had Santa’s Helper Day. Elves, reindeer, and snowmen took over the school as students transformed into Santa’s little helpers. The classrooms echoed with giggles and chuckles, as the school became a Winter Wonderland filled with holiday magic.

Midweek, students took the opportunity to showcase their creativity by dressing up in matching outfits with friends for Family Photo Day. The hallways were alive with the spirit of togetherness, creating memories that will undoubtedly be remembered.

The Christmas spirit was the highest it’s ever been on Thursday, with students expressing their creativity through Santa hats, ugly sweaters, and festive costumes for Christmas Outfit Day. The event turned our school into a wave of red, green, and glitter.

The grand finale of the Christmas Spirit Week was marked by an exciting in-school house competition on Friday. The entire school came together to participate in a series of athletic and academic challenges, practicing teamwork and friendly rivalry.

In conclusion, the Christmas Spirit Week not only brought a burst of holiday cheer to our school but also strengthened the bonds among students. It was a week filled with joy, laughter, and fun - the memories created will definitely stay in our hearts!

Sureen MSSG Vice-President

Secondary Sports day

Dear High School Community,

Another year has already gone by in the blink of an eye, and now we find ourselves swiftly at the halfway mark of another academic year. The HSSG would like to, firstly, congratulate us all on being able to navigate the challenges and successes that have defined the last few months. We know that this school year has been tough for us all, presenting a unique set of obstacles. Yet, amid these challenges, the HSSG have never been prouder to facilitate school spirit. Especially through Sports Day, we have witnessed incredible strength and unity in our community.

The vibrant Sports Day before the winter break was a testament to the sense of community fostered by the HSSG. It was a celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and spirited competition, where students came together not only to showcase their progress in sports like football and badminton, but also to forge lasting memories of unity and collaboration.

However, the star of our show was volleyball, a highlight for many in the SC gym. People loved the intense games that really showcased the volleyball skills of Concordian students. Amidst the cheers and the friendly banter, what stood out was the sense of community fostered by the HSSG. The event transcended mere athletic competition; it became a platform for students to learn valuable life lessons—teamwork, resilience, and the joy of healthy competition. In essence, this day was not just about sports; but it was more about coming together and celebrating.

As the day unfolded, students all enjoyed this fun day of showcasing all the sports skills we learned in PE class throughout the years. It was definitely interesting how we were able to support our house teams and work together with people who we may not have the opportunity to see everyday. Overall, this event most definitely helped bond all the students and the teachers and prepare us for a fun and happy winter break!

We hope you all enjoyed the Sports Day, and be sure that there will be more to come in these few upcoming months.

Sincerely,

Peach, Media Officer Otto, Media Officer

As the middle school president, I am delighted to report on the resounding success of our Sports Day event in December. The participants were divided into four distinct houses, distinguished by the colors green, red, blue, and yellow. The spirited atmosphere of the day was characterized by enthusiastic engagement and sportsmanship from everyone attending. The collaborative efforts of each house demonstrated remarkable teamwork and dedication to the values of fair play.

Congratulations to the victorious teams representing the green, red, blue, and yellow houses and especially green which did especially well. Your great performances led to the success of the event. We give our gratitude to all participants for making this Sports Day a memorable and enjoyable occasion.

Kenta G8C

Talent Show: Winter Wonderland

This year’s talent show, held on January 12th, 2024, in our Grand Theater proved to be a spectacular showcase of our middle and high school’s talent. Our talented performers entered the spotlight and captivated the audience with exceptional skills. From our wonderful bands to our vocalists to solo instruments to our first-ever aerial silk act, and to our dancers, each has enthralled and mesmerized us uniquely.

One of the most remarkable aspects of our talent show was the passion our fellow performers displayed for the secondary section to see. Our very own TOFU, in their farewell performance, took us on a nostalgicjourney, evoking memories of their debut of “Sweet Child O’Mine” in G7 and a heartful cover of “Need You Now For Us.” Their performance was a poignant reminder of the journey we’ve

shared and the memories we’ve created together. Nita (G7) showed us a new type of act, aerial silk! Her aerial silk routine was nothing short of breathtaking and a display of her strength which left the audience in awe of her extraordinary talent. SYNK wowed the audience with a dynamic performance that blended dancing and music effortlessly. This showcase featured a variety of dance moves accompanied by talented band members, grooving “Last Christmas’’ and “Good 4 U”. Ninja (G12) got creative with a rearrangement of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D. This incredible guitar performance showed a rock version of a classic song.

ROOT36, the dynamic band known for their electrifying performance, delivered an amazing rendition of “We Are Young” and “

with their infectious energy. Jasmine from G7 delivered a sensational performance with her lively and fresh dance of “ParadoXXX Invasion”. Her energy lit up the stage, it was like ENHYPEN was there with us on the stage. Ken G7’s performance of “Broken Vow” was just simply mesmerizing. His soulful voice and heartfelt delivery were a true testament to his talent and left a lasting impression. Don and Dol from G6 showcased their proficiency in traditional Thai instruments and the LED lights were definitely a modern touch to this amazing performance. Pei Pei G10’s cover of “Always Remember Us This Way” is an incredible addition to her repertoire of performances this year! Her soulful interpretation captivated the audience which solidified her place as a standout performer. Kaem G10’s breathtaking cover of “All I Ask” showed her

”, captivating the audience

heartfelt emotions and impeccable vocal control! She delivered a performance that moved the audience to their core. Lastly, Neen showed us a dance routine using “Sugarcoat” and “Click Like” to show off her precise and powerful dance moves which left a lasting impression as this is also her last performance for high school.

Of course, we can’t forget the teachers’ amazing surprise performances which included them singing “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey. As students, we were able to feel the notes and tones that the teachers wanted to deliver to us! The TikTok compilation by Concordian’s Dance Club and teachers proved that teachers are also trendy and can make very captivating clips! We extend our thanks to our teacher judges for overseeing the talent show voting and auditions. Heartfelt gratitude also goes to the IT, Maintenance, and Maids for their invaluable assistance behind the scenes.

Looking forward to next year already!

Sincerely,

The High School Student Government

¡Vamos a celebrar!

Let’

s Celebrate!

Birthday parties are often shaped by our culture, families, traditions or beliefs. But how do we celebrate festivals and celebrations in Hispanic countries? Which are the famous dishes that represent this region?

The Spanish ab Initio students and Maestra Lou reenacted a Hispanic birthday party!!

As part of Unit 2 - Experiences, prior to Christmas we invited the Spanish ab Initio “estudiantes”, as well as other guests to participate in this exciting event.

The table tennis room located in the Sports complex was the perfect venue to throw a birthday party with piñata, birthday cake (pastel de cumpleaños) and some “canastitas” (little baskets as little presents for the guests). Finally, we all sang Feliz Cumpleaños and enjoyed a piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. A big thank you (Muchas gracias) to Ms. Mattila and Ms. Prinz for capturing beautiful memories of this exercise. It was a fantastic way to learn more about Hispanic culture and one of the most spoken languages around the world: Español.

A new word was learned: Cake : pastel, torta (in Mexico), dulce, tarta!

How do you celebrate a birthday party in your country?

University Visits

As we embark on a new semester, the University Counseling Office is excited to bring you an update on the events and achievements that marked the first half of the academic year. Semester 1 was a whirlwind of activity, with students immersed in the intricacies of college applications and interviews.

We are thrilled that the hard work has started to pay dividends, with Concordian students receiving acceptances from some of the most competitive universities globally. Among the list of esteemed institutions are Cornell, Brown, Oxford, UCL, UBC, Toronto, Chulalongkorn, Tsinghua, HKU, and many more.

While the prestige of these universities is something we are all very proud of, it is important to emphasize that rankings are not the sole determinant for choosing a university. It is crucial for students to find a university that “best fits” with their personal and academic interests, to feel at home in a community where they will thrive and realize their potential.

In many ways, the University Counseling Office helps a student give a “final polish” to everything they have achieved at Concordian.

Reviewing university applications highlights how much our students do and also the importance of preparing their applications well in advance. We have recently met individually with all Grade 11 and Grade 10 students and we can’t stress enough the importance of planning in the application process. The summer before Grade 12, in particular, is a critical period where effective planning and organization can ensure students are not only successful in their college applications but also continue to excel in their IB Diploma studies.

Recently, we had the privilege of attending a talk by Professor Shanton Chang from the University of Melbourne, who shared valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the workplace. He highlighted the most in-demand skills and shed light on the rapidly ever-changing job market. It was heartening to hear that the skills acquired through the IB Diploma Programme ensures our students are well-equipped to seize opportunities, overcome challenges and adapt to the rapidly changing times.

University Counseling Department