Taipei American School MS Dance for Kindness

Press Release >> Taipei American School Middle School Dance for Kindness

Character: (n) Moral or ethical quality. The Taipei American School 8th Grade Student Character Council is a group of representatives, two from each homeroom that promotes the TAS Values amongst its peers. Every few weeks, the representatives are called together for a meeting to come up with a plan of how they can help manifest true character and really make it a part of everyone’s lives. They might generate a lesson to share during Wednesday character discussions, or choose a video that involves a theme that compels others to think about how it relates to their daily lives and the TAS Values. And so far, the projects have been successful, especially the extraordinary Dance for Kindness that was accomplished on November 10th, 2014 during the middle school lunch period.

In October, the Grade 8 Character Council and teachers Mr. Fox and Mr. Thornberg presented the idea of Dance for Kindness 2014. The Life Vest Organization coordinates a Dance for Kindness annually across the globe; this project was created in order to celebrate World Kindness Day on November 13th. Every year, just a few days before November 13th, people all around the world perform a flash mob that is dedicated to kindness; the best part about this flash mob is that everyone participating follows the same choreography.

The Character Council was thrilled to participate and represent Taipei American School, as well as all of Taiwan. Students volunteered to serve as photographers, flag wavers, enthusiastic audience members, and of course to dance. MS dance teacher, Mr. Hall, helped to teach the choreography. Then, the big day came. All the students were ready. All participants wore student-made bright orange shirts with the text “#DFK2014”. The tables and chairs were cleared out of the cafeteria, the sound system was brought in, and the entire middle school was waiting for what was going to happen. Right before the flash mob, students from the Character Council, the MS dance class, and Mrs. Johnsen’s third grade class demonstrated acts of kindness, such as hugs, handshakes, helping others off the ground, and picking up items. They posed in silence for three minutes. Then the lower school students cleared the dance floor.

“FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! BAM!” Middle school students shot their hands up in the sky with a unified striking pose. It was extraordinary to see so many students celebrate kindness. The middle school crew bumped and knocked into each other with every twist and turn. They soon realized the carved out space in the cafeteria was smaller than the MS dance room where they practiced. However, it just added to their joy. The crew received a standing ovation from students and teachers from all divisions. What a wonderful experience!

It was an incredible opportunity to take part in Dance for Kindness with thousands of others around the world. The Character Council hopes this project has a lasting impact, and that next time anyone thinks of committing an unkind act or deed, they think twice and remember the importance of kindness and the difference it can make in the world.

By Jacquie Miao, TAS Grade 8 Student and Mr. Chris Fox, TAS MS Social Studies Department Chair and Teacher

Press Release >> ISE Student Awarded Top Prize in Junior Dublin Literary Contest

On Thursday, April 2nd 2015 Justin Potisit, a ninth grade student at ISE International School, was selected as the Bangkok/Central Regional winner in Thailand’s largest English-language essay contest that attracted over a thousand submissions under the theme “Two Worlds”. The Junior Dublin Literary Awards which provides winners scholarships as well as a publication medium for student writing marked their tenth anniversary this year. The anniversary event celebrated the accomplishments of student authors with a gala dinner and awards ceremony at a prestigious Thai hotel.

The Irish Ambassador, Brendan Rogers, presented the awards and spoke of his support for the literary contest as it strengthens ties between the two countries with an educational focus. Potisit’s essay entitled “A Superficial Schism” explored an extended metaphor of his journey as an international student in Thailand with an American mother and a Thai father.