the
HARROVIAN
The Newsletter of Harrow International School Bangkok
Bridging the g a p Volume 23 Issue 5
3rd April 2020
THIS ISSUE
KEEPING UP WITH THE LOWER SCHOOL
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UPPER SCHOOL AND BEYOND
8-11
STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE
12-13
EXPEDITION AND VISITS
14-27
LATEST UPDATES
28-31
CATCHING UP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
32-35
Designer Nitipun Sorat Editor Richard Green Advertising Queries Richard Green richard_gr@harrowschool.ac.th facebook.com/harrowbangkok
instagram.com/harrowbangkok
This magazine is printed on recycled paper
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twitter.com/HarrowBangkok?lang=en
FROM THE HEAD MASTER
Dear Parents It feels very unusual to be writing this introduction to the Harrovian, whilst the school is closed to students and online learning is happening. With this in mind, it is nice to be able to look back to earlier in the term, to expeditions week. Whilst overseas expeditions were cancelled due to the virus, domestic expeditions took place. This issue celebrates the valuable learning that occurred and the fun that was had, in the early days of the crisis before the introduction of the necessary measures to keep us safe. During this time I thank parents for their understanding and cooperation with the school. Online learning is different to traditional school, but it is essential for academic development, and we are fortunate to have such a talented team of teachers who are using their creative energies to make the experience both effective and enjoyable. We all look forward to returning to normal, and to school being reopened. We have no word from the Government when schools will be permitted to reopen, but with the number of cases of COVID-19 still rising in Thailand and around the world as I write, this situation is likely to last into term 3 now. The crisis will come to an end, and when it does we look forward to the classrooms and playing fields ringing out again with students’ voices. Stet Fortuna Domus
Jon Standen Head Master
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KEEPING UP WITH THE LOWER SCHOOL
Home Learning in EYC nothing is going to stop us from learning and playing!
When we were informed that the school would be closing to students and we would be moving to home learning, I was – naturally - slightly uncertain of how this would look in the Early Years Centre. After all, our curriculum is very practical, hands-on and playbased – heavily reliant on the fantastic provision that the EYC team set up every day inside and outside the classrooms. However, I need not have worried – being an Early Years teacher clearly also means being resourceful, creative and overall enthusiastic! There has been some amazing home learning taking place the last couple of weeks – phonics lessons have continued as normal in Reception, the students have been finding loose parts to get creative with at home and there have been lots of lovely physical development activities to keep our youngest Harrovians healthy and active. The Early Years parents have been wonderful; regularly keeping teacher’s updated on home learning through posting photographs and videos on Tapestry (our online learning journal). During my (virtual) assembly last Friday I set the students a challenge to get outside and enjoy the fresh air in the garden -if possible. It was immediately was met with a flurry of posts showing a future generation of horticulturalists – I just hope they show iCare and remember to keep watering their beautiful plants. I have had numerous recommendations for (virtual) Head Teacher’s Awards which have rewarded us with posts of smiling, proud students.
Times may be challenging, but my spirit is lifted every single time I see a post of one our youngest students showing true iGoForIt in the face of adversity – well done and thank you EYC team - students, staff and parents. Kate Umpleby Head of EYC
KEEPING UP WITH THE LOWER SCHOOL
Lower School ICT and Computing Augmented Reality
for lessons and check-in sessions using the video conferencing software Zoom. During the COVID-19 school closures, many educational companies have been offering free accounts, or adding extra free activities, so that students can access a wealth of quality online resources at home. Here are a few of my favourite sites. We are aware, however, that students are having quite a lot of screen time at present so please limit time on these websites to blocks of 20 minutes and encourage regular play and leisure breaks at home. Even a recent trip to Immigration didn’t stop Oscar with his online learning!
Students in Lower School have been experimenting with augmented reality (AR) recently both in class and during activities. AR is an interactive experience where a computer-generated image is superimposed on a user’s view of the real world. Using this technology, Nursery have been able to view an ape in their provision which has helped them to generate questions about the habitats of jungle animals. In Reception, the children have had the chance to use positional language when searching for dinosaurs in the Y1 corridor. Augmented reality has also been explored by Year 3/4 students attending the new ‘App Smashing’ activity. In the first session alone, they learnt to use the apps Keynote and Eyejack to make a storybook page come alive in preparation for Book Day. You can see their finished work by scanning the adjacent QR code. Well done to Evie, Prim, Ayden, Veeya, TuaTang, Primo, Cherry and Palmpud who contributed to this project. Online Learning As we all know, teachers, students and parents alike have all been undergoing a steep learning curve with regard to online learning! As both a teacher and a parent, I can see the learning from both sides and I what we have achieved together so far has been AMAZING! Every day I see children (including my own) engaged in stimulating lessons across the curriculum, both live and pre-recorded. Despite some issues which have been out of our control, we have worked together to embrace Google Classroom and children are now receiving and submitting work with increasing confidence. The outcomes have been wonderful to see and I know that all of the teachers have enjoyed seeing their students
EYC www.poissonrouge.com Excellent website for developing early mouse skills. Best viewed on a PC or laptop. login: corona2020 password: corona2020 This website might take a minute to load the first time and is best viewed in Chrome. If you have any problems with Flash, please email me! Pre Prep www.tynker.com Excellent for developing Coding skills. Children should use Google to sign in (click on the small rainbow coloured G). Their usernames and passwords are the same as those used for Google Classroom. We have introduced students to this website in online Computing lessons this week. www.hourofcode.com No password required. Wishing you all the best for the remainder of this school closure. Stay safe and happy coding! Mrs Emily Jones Lower School ICT and Computing Teacher Emily_jo@harrowschool.ac.th
KEEPING UP WITH THE LOWER SCHOOL
Head of Lower school This edition of the Harrovian comes out a few weeks after our expedition week. Looking back, I am so pleased that we managed to squeeze all 5 Lower School expeditions in before our school closure. As Pre Prep students work hard again with their online learning this week, I really hope this edition of the Harrovian puts a smile on their faces as they look back on what was a fun-filled and learning-rich experience and also hope that perhaps our Early Years students look forward with anticipation to what they will be able to experience in the coming years. As our young Harrovians grow older they will learn that life is full of challenges, and we owe it to our
Lower School Book Week
Another fun and memorable Book Week was had by all! Not even the school closure could stop our young Harrovians and staff from having their ‘dress up as a book character’ day. I was so impressed by the number of students who were really excited about wearing their costumes and were asking teachers when it was going to be rearranged. Our 2 guest authors were a huge hit! Janice Sanikarn’s sessions were active and engaging with volunteers taking part in the stories and everyone joining in with the sound effects and repetitive language. Paul Geraghty gave our Pre Prep students a masterclass in how to be an illustrator and had the students in fits of laughter telling stories with his own made-up
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students to equip them with a multitude of skills, not all of which can be gained in the classroom. That’s what expedition week is all about and this year I had the pleasure of spending the week with our Year 4 students in Khao Yai, trekking and completing team challenges. Even though I work with these students and teachers every day at school, the expedition experience added a completely new dimension! Throughout the week it was a joy to observe interpersonal skills such as leadership, teamwork, independence, trust, responsibility and respect develop. It was a delight to notice many quieter, more reserved students coming out of their shells and shining in a way we may not see in the classroom. I have no doubt that the powerful and inspirational lessons learned when out of comfort zones, whether that be in Khao Yai, Kanchanaburi or sleeping away from home in the Year 1 classroom, will certainly help to improve performance and relationships back at school (when we get back to school!) A big thank you to the teachers who organised the expeditions and to all staff who worked hard during the week to make the experience so meaningful! Nicholas Prockter Head of Lower School
language. We are also lucky enough to have been given 5 of his animal illustrations, which we will be displaying around Pre Prep. It was really inspiring to see our older students volunteering their time to read to children in the Early Years during their lunchtimes and all across the Lower School classes paired up with other year groups to enjoy peer reading sessions with some of their favourite books. Peter Rabbit also paid a special visit to our Nursery and Reception students to tell some of his classic stories that have been enjoyed by generations of children and adults. I would like to say a BIG thank you to all our Early Years parents who came to our ‘Stay and Read’ sessions and to all our parents for the amazing and creative book costumes! Thank you also to the staff who surprised classes as the ‘mystery reader’ and for arranging a week’s worth of fun reading activities. Our students are very lucky! Alexandra Costa Lower School Director of Studies
KEEPING UP WITH THE LOWER SCHOOL
Pre Prep Sports Day 2020 All students took part in a carousel of field activities followed by some gruelling track events in the midday heat. It was wonderful to see the athletes trying their best for both themselves and their House. There were some excellent performances throughout and lovely shows of sportsmanship. After hours of calculations, Suriyothai House were victorious overall, followed by Keller and then Nehru. January saw another fantastic Pre Prep Sports Day here on the hallowed Harrow Bangkok fields. An array of colours filled The Den as the students were incredibly excited to represent their House in numerous throwing, jumping and running activities.
Nursery’s EXPEDITION week
Well done to all students and a big thank you to all the PE Department, Sports Leaders and Lower School staff for their help. Chris Rock Head of Lower School PE
While the rest of the school were taking part in a range of expedition activities, we had our own exciting week in Nursery. We started our week by going on a ‘jungle animal’ walk around the EYC, Kopse Café and Pre Prep area. Our topic was ‘Walking in the Jungle’; we thought it was great fun to finish the term by looking for jungle animals around the school. If you look carefully, you may still see some hiding! Following this, each class visited the Upper School Science Department. It is quite a long way for our little legs! It was worth the trip however, as we saw freshwater and tropical fish and a desert gecko. Our week finished with a trip to Pre Prep’s Secret Garden, where we explored the plants and herbs and enjoyed a story. Upon arrival back to the EYC, we enjoyed a teddy’s bears picnic with a favourite teddy from home. A great end to a wonderful half term! Vicky Oswick Nursery Year Group Leader
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UPPER SCHOOL AND BEYOND
Head of Upper School
heart that we made the decision to cancel overseas expeditions due to COVID 19. It seems so long ago now that we made this decision and as things have progressed, we are certain that we made the right one. For many Year 13 students, the expedition had a special place in their hearts, the last time that they would get together with close friends in a school context before they exclusively focused on the examinations which have now also been cancelled. This is a truly exceptional time and I hope that when it ends, these students at some point in the future have an opportunity for a similar experience. We were glad that we were still able to run domestic expeditions and we hope that in this issue, you are able to see why they are so important to a well-rounded education. I sense that for many, it will bring you back to that sense of normality we now all crave.
Expeditions are a central part of the education we offer at Harrow Bangkok and it was a with a very heavy
Jonny Liddell Head of Upper School
Senior House Scrabble There were beaming smiles from both students and staff when it was announced that Senior House Scrabble was back on, having previously been postponed because of poor air quality. An excellent turn-out from all Houses on the first day set the precedent for a week of language-based fun. On Day 1, Churchill outclassed Byron in Pool A winning 4-1, while in Pool B, Suriyothai were narrowly pipped by Sonakul to a score of 3-2. Day 2 and 3 saw some tantalisingly close matches, with Churchill eventually pulling ahead of Nehru to book their place in the final with Suriyothai, who comfortably dispatched Keller in their second round.
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In the final round, Churchill and Suriyothai were pitted against each other and in the end, the literacy skills of the Churchillians were just too strong and the blue team secured the coveted Scrabble trophy for another year. Quote of the week came from Sonakul’s Head of House, Mr Dodds, who, after his own competition against foreign language guru Mr Stainer, conceded, ‘He beat me well and we were actually playing in English, not Japanese or Mandarin!’. Well done to all Scrabble enthusiasts on their participation in this year’s competition. Lawrence Prunty Head of Byron House
UPPER SCHOOL AND BEYOND
Maesot Number 3 report Over the half-term break, 42 students and staff from Harrow Bangkok visited the migrant and refugee communities in Maesot to get stuck into practical and teaching projects to help make the lives of children in local schools a little better. We went to four different schools during the trip. At Love School, we built two new playgrounds including a sandpit, new rope swings, moved a new slide into place and gave everything a lick of paint. Students also painted a number of fun murals in the library. At Farmhouse School the brief was a lot messier as students made adobe bricks from mud and rice that can be used to construct a new classroom. At Champion and Emmanuel Schools the focus was on helping with new lessons and playing games, vital for the well-being of these children. In particular, teachers were provided with science equipment and training on how to use it. Many of the children at Maesot have never previously been able to do practical science lessons and the new equipment will help to improve their understanding immensely. Kathryn Gavin Head of SR5 (Years 9, 10 and 11)
Junior Achievement Young Harrow entrepreneurs shine in business competition
Since the beginning of the term 1, two teams of entrepreneurial Year 11 students have gone through the process of producing, marketing and selling products of their own design as part of the annual Junior Achievement (JA) business enterprise competition. The efforts of both teams culminated in the JA Trade Fair on 17 January and the JA competition finals on 24 January, at which each team pitched their product and business to a panel of JA judges. Judges were impressed with the business acumen and products of both teams, an innovative desk organiser made from wood from discarded pallets produced by TA-KE and an all-in-one travel essentials kit produced by CareQuip. Each team pitched their business and product ideas through a trade fair stall, formal presentation, panel interview, TV commercial and written company report. TA-KE were awarded 2nd place in Thailand, continuing Harrow Bangkok students’ ongoing success in this prestigious enterprise competition. Congratulations to both student-led companies on their successful participation in the competition and thank you to Friends of Harrow and the school community for your continued support of the JA enterprise programme. James Beere Head of Social Sciences Faculty
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UPPER SCHOOL AND BEYOND
Prep House
Softball
After a disrupted PE and sport programme at the start of the month, Prep students were back in action on Thursday the 12th of March for Prep House softball. The Year 6 competition followed international T-Ball rules with students playing one innings in their pool matches and then two innings in the final. Nehru’s efficient fielding proved to be the difference as they came out on top against Churchill in the final. The Year 7 and 8 competitions were played in accordance with international slow softball rules. The rules meant a maximum of twelve fielders (6 boys and 6 girls) could field at any time with substitutes swapping halfway to ensure everyone got good playing time. When hitting, each team nominated a student or teacher pitcher to pitch to their own team. Girls and boys hit alternately until everyone in the tutor group had had the opportunity to hit. These games are always a tightly contested affair with this year no exception. In the Year 7 competition, Keller’s batting tactics proved decisive as they snatched victory from Suriyothai in the final. In the Year 8 competition, Suriyithai’s big hitters helped their team get around the bases and make it home, in a game that came right down to the wire against
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Nehru. Overall, Suriyithai’s consistency allowed them to clinch the coveted Prep House Softball title. Well done to everyone involved. The whole competition was played with fantastic enthusiasm and great spirit throughout. Andrew Archibald Prep House Leader (Nehru)
UPPER SCHOOL AND BEYOND
Senior House
Theatre
Sports
This event takes courage and skill and I salute the bravery and effort of all students who volunteered. Each session began with the Theatre Sports prayer and the audience were true to their word; enjoying, laughing and cheering the great talent on display, free from House rivalry. Teams engaged in a wide variety of games; from creating original uses for props to showing originality in recreating classic stories. LOLs turned to ROFLs as students took risks with the ‘words in your pocket’ round and logical thinking solved the mystery of the quirky party arrivals. Ultimately there could be only one winner, Keller besting Byron in a fantastic final hosted by the one and only Mr Herbert. Jake Dodds Head of Sonakul House
VALENTINE’S
CHARITY DAY
Two (houses) became one (fundraising team) on Friday 7th February with a highly successful Suriyothai-Sonakul Charity Day collaboration. Purple and orange hearts were warmed by love as bouquets, roses and chocolates were delivered throughout the school, although the Head of House Office seemed to be forgotten! The hard work and organisational skills shown by S12 and So12 was particularly impressive, the coordination and transportation of romantic messages was efficient and precise. Friday lunchtime offered up a delicious mix of sugary snacks, games, and games involving sugary snacks. These proved hugely popular with the Upper School masses and much money was raised for the House charities. The total collected so far, an amazing 73000+ THB, is testament to the effort put in, and the generosity and sweet tooths of our young people. Jake Dodds Head of Sonakul House
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STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE
Funto
Friday Night Challenge
A few Friday nights ago the borders were involved in an activity which was a minute-to-win-it challenge. The one minute challenge games that we played required us to get into teams of six. The games varied from eating, flying, fitting into one shirt, tossing etc. Each challenge was a minute long and everyone was on their tippy toes. Even though we started around six and ended around eight, time flew by as it felt like it was only two minutes.
Goings on in The Village this term
The challenge that we enjoyed the most was the one with the shirt. Here, each team member had to put on one large shirt and pass it to every member whilst still having one arm in. We screamed and yelled at the top of our lungs hoping we would be the winners. Another challenge was trying to blow cups away from the table with a balloon. It took a lot of effort and energy but we all started to burst into laughter when a student from Prep beat someone in the Sixth Form. There was also a game that required us to eat an Oreo using only our face muscles! The funniest expressions were made while participants were struggling to taste the bitter-sweet Oreo. These games were like an escape for some Year 11’s from their stressful week before mock examinations. It took away some of our stress through the glee and giggles from the peers around us. Beaming smiles could be seen all around the rooms, as a variation of year groups and genders could be seen interacting with each other. Kritika B11 and Muskan C11 West Acre
The term has zoomed by with lots of fantastic things going on within the boarding community. Year 11 students did a fantastic job dealing with the stresses and strains of the mock exam week. It was a pleasure welcoming a number of day pupils into the community for this week to give boarding a try. Boarding can be a fantastic place to study and to focus when exams loom. We have done some remodelling of the public spaces – notably in the Hub, where the tables are now arranged to encourage more social interaction and in the Grove where the social spaces have been reconfigured to give the house a more welcoming and homely feel. Use of the table tennis tables across the village has increased, not least because of our newly minted table tennis ladder. We also celebrate the fantastic achievements of some of our most senior boarders. Brian and Jaehwan have been given offers to Cambridge University whilst Dol has been awarded a Music Scholarship at Berklee College in the United States. Despite the widespread disruption caused by COVID-19, boarding remained open (until the Government requested the whole school close). Don’t forget you can always approach us for help if you need somewhere safe to stay. Richard Walter House Master of The Grove
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STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE
Let the battle
c omme ce en co nc e
On Saturday 8th February, the boarding village went on a phenomenal trip! We went paintballing. All of us enjoyed every minute of it.
gan between yellow 1 and green everyone rushed to open fire onto the opposing team. Darren So12 got many kills down the right flank. After an intense 15 minutes of engagement, the green team came out on top.
We arrived and received a safety briefing and were told how to operate the gun. No headshots or close-range shots were permitted. We had to wear eye protection, overalls and protective clothing. When we started playing we were assigned to either yellow 1/2 or green. When the hot-blooded match be-
The green versus yellow 2 would decide the winner. The yellow 1 quickly shot Simon and Fergus. Davi then shot Mr James. However, Billy and August took the attack to the green team and managed to defeat them all by themselves. What a fun day we had!
Weekend at the end of January 31st 2nd February: a Typical weekend in Boarding
The last weekend of January was filled with preparations for the expedition week. For the Year 11 students, preparations for mock examinations loomed closely on the horizon.
Christian N7 and Davi So 7 Bradbys House
A scrumptious seafood BBQ was enjoyed by all. This was a super way to start the weekend. The evening activity was energetic. An ‘eggcellent’ adventure executed by Max. All the students joined in and worked cooperatively in teams and had a fabulous time working as a relay in teams around the village. The lazer-web maze was one of the more popular obstacles. It was a terrific way to de-stress after a very busy week in school. Other events during the weekend included sailing and windsurfing on the lake and activities in the Sports Hall. In addition, there was an essential shopping trip to Decathlon for expedition supplies. This was a speedy shop not unlike an episode from Supermarket Sweep! The relaxing activities on offer were enjoying baking, watching football and a pyjama breakfast on Sunday. Team C
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
1
SLEEPOVER There truly was magic under the stars for your first expedition, Year 1
There was a buzz of excitement as the Year 1 children entered the campus late Thursday morning on the 13th February. There was a rumour that something magical was happening and that was the first ever expedition for some of our youngest children. Picture the scene; plenty of excited children, pizzas, circus skills and a whole lot of magic! This helped to create one of our most memorable experiences of the year. Since the beginning of Term 2A the children were counting down towards their sleepover at the school. The expedition did not disappoint. From the word go the children applied themselves to all of our activities which saw them create a starry night dome, make pizzas and cupcakes, practice their circus skills, join in in a fun swimming session and participate in a real-life magic show! We were certainly ready for our dinner at the end of all of these activities. The best part was that the dinner had been prepared by the children, it was their culinary skills that created the pizzas that they would feast on during the evening. Once dinner had been completed we prepared ourselves for one of the most magical storytellers of Year 1, Mrs Fry. She read the Year 1 children a bedtime story around our interactive campfire. We then had one of our favourite activities before bedtime‌ the torch walk! This was especially exciting as we saw bats flying in the sky and located our way around the school grounds using only the light from our torches. But it was soon time to tuck ourselves up into our comfy beds and start the journey towards dreamworld... cue excited giggles and many delighted shouts of goodnight before drifting off to sleep ready to see our parents in the morning. There truly was magic under the stars for your first expedition, Year 1. Well done! Marc Mitchell Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
2
SATTAHIP Amazing leadership and conservation attributes
Year 2 showed amazing leadership and conservation attributes throughout our expedition. Starting at the turtle sanctuary we had an informative presentation by the navy who were impressed by the children’s knowledge and understanding of the precious sea turtles and their surrounding habitat. We were lucky enough to release three turtles that were ready to go back into their natural habitat. Later that afternoon, once in the hotel the children found out who their room buddies were going to be. We had an amazing afternoon on the beach with games, sandcastles, paper crafts on the grass and a cooling dip in the pool. After a delicious buffet dinner followed by ice cream, we all enjoyed the evening activities: Lego, Jenga, turtle making, jellyfish creating and exploring books. We ended this fabulous evening with singalong, milk and cookies and story time with Mr McKillop. All staff would agree that the behaviour of the children was impeccable and it was an experience that will stay with them forever. Emily Hammond Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
3 PETCHABURI
Always an exciting and exhilarating trip The Year 3 expedition to Phetchaburi is always an exciting and exhilarating trip which leaves the children with wonderful memories. After weeks of discussion and questions, the day had finally arrived for the children to head out on the bus and take the three hour journey to Fisherman’s Resort. As soon as they had arrived and settled into their rooms the children began a rotation of thrilling activities. Each child got the chance to take part in friendship building games, a variety of arts and crafts, learning campfire songs with Miss Luna, collecting and capturing beach sounds with Mrs Jones and showing off their dance moves with Miss Rani in Bollywood dance. After a fantastic afternoon of activities, the children were ready to hit the beach! This was one of their favourite parts of the trip as they built epic sandcastles and played in the waves with their friends. But the day was still not over; after a delicious dinner, it was time to hit the dance floor! The Year 3s showed off their fantastic moves at the disco before ending their first day of expedition. That night the children quickly went to sleep, ready for another day of activities, beach, swimming, ice cream and, to
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finish the whole experience off, songs and dancing by the beach. The children left the Year 3 expedition with new friendships, fantastic experiences and beautiful memories. It was an expedition to remember! Chloe Sinclair Expedition Leader
EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
4
KHAO YAI
#yearfourontour #bornready The Year 4 children were ABSOLUTELY fantastic throughout our expedition. On our first day, we rotated around some FANTASTIC activities to help us to bond with our teams. We went swimming in the pool and had great fun making rockets and launching them across the resort. Later, we congregated in the conference room for THE BIG FAT QUIZ OF YEAR 4. The children threw themselves into this with great enthusiasm and impressive knowledge. Cuddling our soft toys, we finished off our evening with the ubiquitous ‘BEDTIME STORIES’ read by Mrs Salmon. On Wednesday, we left for Khao Yai National Park in one long convoy. We had a FABULOUS lunch under the trees before walking to the Huew Suwat Waterfall. Later in the afternoon, we went on two more treks. We were very excited to see a large group of monkeys playing in the trees. Just after, a hornbill flew very noisily over our heads. We dined on pizza, chicken wings
and fried rice whilst we waited for the sun to set. After dusk, we divided into our teams and set out on a night safari. There were sightings of porcupines, monkeys, deer, foxes and elephants! The children travelled back to the resort feeling extremely tired but full of excitement. It really was a WONDERFUL day and Khao Yai did not disappoint. On Thursday, we visited the Greenery Resort’s waterpark and had a great time playing in the splash-play and whizzing down the slides before having an Italian lunch. Back at the resort, we played some outdoor team games. After dinner, we had an ELECTRIC disco led by MC Britton and DJ Ingram. We had a brief interlude to sing Happy Birthday and share some delicious cake in honour of Khun Jew’s significant birthday. It was a FANTASTIC trip! #bornready Katherine Larkins Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
5
KANCHANABURI
A week which will live long in the memory of everyone Doing something new is always a little bit scary. Changing this expedition in length, destination and itinerary was a little nerve-wracking but the benefit was felt by all. Students (84 of them) were treated to an adventure-packed 5 days. Swimming and team games, sustainable crafts, assault course relays and more were all experienced in the incredible surroundings of iCamp. The facility in Kanchanaburi offers so much – great lodging, incredible resources but most of all the staff who work there! They make the children feel so special and enthuse the atmosphere so much. Whilst onsite was incredible, what truly made the experience were the adventures which were completed offsite. A full day was spent exploring the historical significance of the area: Hellfire Pass; the railway museum; war cemetery and the bridge over the River Kwai were all seen, experienced and investigated. What I think about is how expeditions make life-long memories – that is their power. I believe that the memories created on this day will be lifelong for the children and will mean so much more to them as it truly was a humbling experience to walk in the footsteps of so many. Were the experiences good? Yes! Was the accommodation good? Yes! But this is not what makes expedition. It is the friendships (strengthening the old and making new), the laughter (of which there was so much) and the simple time spent talking and enjoying being with others. The Year 5 expedition was a success because the children and adults who were there worked as one to produce a week which will live long in the memory of everyone. Mike Godwin Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
6 RAYONG
A store of wonderful memories of a great week
On Year Six expedition to Rayong everyone learned a lot about coastal conservation, Thailand’s marine environment and enjoyed their time by the sea. First, on Monday afternoon, Year Six joined Rayong Trash Runners and spent an hour by the sea running around helping to clean a large amount of rubbish off the beach The next day, at the Rayong Botanical Gardens we tasted traditional foods and walked on floating grass, which was wonderful wobbly fun! In the very middle of the week Year Six went out to sea and visited three islands: On the Turtle Island we learned about how turtles are being cared for. We also enjoyed snorkelling in the cool clear waters off Talu Island. In between these two activities, students took a picturesque break to enjoy lunch on the private holiday island of Munnork. Finally, our fourth and last day - the busiest. We enjoyed a market, an aquarium visit, and a lovely cool mangrove walk where we released crabs and mussels into the environment. We also planted mangrove trees and visited a warship! The nights were full of fun activities too. The Year Six teachers provided all sorts of quizzes and games for students to enjoy. At the end of the week, on Thursday night we enjoyed the traditional Year Six expedition disco. We were all surprised and amazed by a fire show put on for us by the Rayong Chalet Resort. Everyone enjoyed this trip, completed all the activities and returned to Harrow Bangkok with a store of wonderful memories of a great week. Scott Howe Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
7 KAENG
KRACHAN
An action-packed adventure in the countryside As we met in the Sports Hall for the drive to the Year 7 Expedition in Kaeng Krachan, it was clear there was a buzz of excitement and anticipation for an action-packed adventure in the countryside. As we drew close to the resort the students were clearly impressed by its vastness and the surrounding natural beauty of the scenery. Over the 5 days, the students were split into groups and rotated around a series of thrill-seeking exploits. This included a night under the canvas stargazing and learning how to cook delicious Thai food. Following on from this, the students then tested their kayaking skills on a stunning lake in the national park – many of them ending up ‘in the drink’ after trying to stand up and balance on their Kayak!
The students also took to the rugged hills on a mountain biking adventure, learned the basics of scuba diving in the resort pool, tested their orienteering ability with a GPS trek, became archers on the firing range and participated in several team-building games in the evenings. The students were fantastic at facing the challenges placed in front of them and many had the opportunity to try something new they had never done before. The trip had a truly ‘expedition’ feel to it and ended with a dance-off and disco on the final evening. It was great to see the whole year group smiling and seeing the friendships that had been formed over the week. James O’Connell Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
8 KRABI
The most fantastic expedition we have seen in Prep! This years’ expedition was completely new and after months of planning and preparation, our Year 8s went on what turned out to be the most fantastic expedition we have seen in Prep! There was a short and pleasant flight down to Krabi and, once the students were reunited, the activities began. A gruelling 18 km trek (longer if your map reading skills were sub-standard!) lay ahead for Pod 1 in the scenic Krabi countryside. A 7 km Kayak awaited Pod 2, which was stunningly beautiful amongst the mangrove, monkeys and limestone karst. Pod 3 negotiated a challenging series of rock climbs that increased in difficulty as the day went on. All three groups then rotated so that none missed any of the fun. After 3 nights of camping, the students were ready for a bit of luxury and that was provided in the stunning hotel where a well-earned rest was taken. The Year 8 students that attended our expedition in Krabi strengthened their existing friendships and made new ones. They were pioneers, working with CMRCA in this area and will surely be emulated by the other international schools for years to come. What was witnessed from the students was nothing short of High Performance Living! Adam Pape Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
9
KHAO YAI
A huge congratulations must be made to the Year 9 cohort who showed fantastic resilience and commitment throughout an extremely challenging week. Over the 5 days students partook in some physically demanding activities such as a 35km cycle over undulating terrain, stand-up paddle boarding as well as the DOE 2 day hike. Throughout all of these activities the students were put out of their comfort zone but worked together collaboratively to support one another. The students were able to show their flexibility over the 2-day DOE hike in Khao Ito due to the unexpected fires that occurred. As a result, they had to change their routes but none the less completed their practice hike effectively and within the guidelines of the DOE organisations.
All students enjoyed this valuable life experience
The team of staff who went on the trip were high in praise of the students throughout the week with them showcasing the skills we wish of a ‘Harrow student’ but also showing the traits of further leaders. It was a great joy to work with such an energetic, engaged and fun group of students and we are so pleased knowing that such a large percentage are carrying onto complete their Bronze award in the DOE. To the Year 9 cohort, congratulations! Tom Watson Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
unforeseen circumstances, hiking routes had to be amended each day, but despite the uncertainty and not knowing exactly when their activities would finish, students continued to push themselves and faced each day with great positivity.
YEAR
10 VIETNAM
A sign of the great resilience and determination that the students have Despite the cancellation of the Vietnam expedition, Year 10 students were still able to complete their Silver International Award Adventurous Journey, after a last-minute re-location to Khao Ito National Park, just south of Khao Yai. News of the cancellation was clearly met with disappointment, but the way in which they faced this new challenge and kept their spirits high was a sign of the great resilience and determination that the students have.
The end of each day was met with sighs of relief and well-deserved rest and fun around the campsite. It was fantastic to see students enjoying the outdoors and getting the most out of the experience, despite the initial setbacks of the expedition. Everyone worked extremely hard both individually and within their DoE teams to motivate and support each other through what was a very successful Adventurous Journey. A huge congratulations to Anya (N10), Perth (N10), Elaine (N10), Prim (K10), Moni (B10), Ray (S10), Mosachi (B10), Zuza (K10), Cosmo (C10), Ben (N10), Sean (K10), Leonardo (K10), Marc (N10) and Michael (K10) on completion of their Qualifying Adventurous Journey. Tom Watson Expedition Leader
Over 3 days, they hiked more than 50 km of trails in the hot and challenging conditions of the stunning Khao Ito National Park, prepared and cooked all their own meals and camped by the lakeside. Due to
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
10
CHIANG DAO Group A
Students relished the opportunity to explore their adventurous side
February saw Harrow Bangkok students from Year 10 go on an expedition to Chiang Dao. Students relished the opportunity to explore their adventurous side and take on the Chiang Dao mountainous region, putting their teamworking, resilience and fitness skills to the test. On day 1 we travelled to Nong Bua camp and completed a community service project (laying a concrete path) and explored how the coffee bean plantation works, from bean to bag! On day 2 we went caving and trekking, exploring the different natural formations and learning about the unique wildlife inside the cave. The trek certainly put our fitness skills to the test! Students had to cook their own ‘gourmet’ meal for the Food Box Challenge – and the results were certainly creative. Days 3 and 4 saw the group rafting to Pha Koh Lam (Karen Village) and Muang Khut, Mae Tong. This definitely tested their teamworking skills and perseverance, but the views were spectacular and it was well worth the effort. We rounded the trip off nicely with some toasted marshmallows and songs by the bonfire on the last night. This was surely a trip Year 10 will never forget! Emily Vicary Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
10
CHIANG DAO Group B
Full of splashes, smiles and team-work This year the expedition for Year 10 included numerous activities for the students and staff to get stuck into. After a short and uneventful flight to Chiang Mai, students started a winding, uphill journey to the hills of Chiang Dao. Once arriving at the initial campsite, half the students undertook the educational task of picking, cleaning, sorting, drying and roasting coffee beans, while the others ‘got down and dirty’ helping locals to make a concrete road, before swapping over. Day 2 consisted of a 5 km trek through the jungle and local farmlands followed by a 2-hour caving activity, where students were challenged to crawl past large spiders, squeeze through tunnels and even to get through the ‘birthing canal’! However, this was an optional challenge! Day 3 and 4 were full of splashes, smiles and team-work as students rafted down the river to their new campsites, having to work together to get over shallow waters and rocky rapids. Even though no one capsized their raft, we all somehow managed to be soaking wet by the end! On two nights and one morning, students had to group together to prepare their own dinners and breakfast in the ‘food box challenge’ with some groups creating restaurant-quality dishes, while others were not so skilled in the task but enjoyed it nonetheless. Day 5 had us up early with the local cockerels, giving us all time to pack up for the final time, before heading back to Harrow Bangkok. After a week of camping, cold bucket showers and even colder nights, everyone was glad to get back to their home comforts! Charlie Thornbery-Walker Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
YEAR
11
HUA HIN This trip is renowned for being a welcome reward for the students The Year 11 expedition had its best year ever last June because we were able to give it a massive upgrade by accommodating it in the Amari resort in Hua Hin. This trip is renowned for being a welcome reward for the students after the stress of completing their GCSEs and last year certainly fulfilled this promise. The rich range of activities such as wakeboarding, paintball and archery, martial arts and a day at Black Mountain Water Park provide the students with boundless opportunity to socialise and spend high-quality time together. The resort itself not only offers a very high standard of accommodation and dining but also a delectable culinary experience was provided by the five-star chefs that gave the Year 11s a taste of their impeccable attention to detail. The facilities in the resort are superb and the Shore Line was a fantastic venue for the prom night party that was organised by a small group of the students that volunteered to be the prom committee. For some of the Year 11s that were about to leave Harrow Bangkok for university or schools overseas, it was the last time that they could be with so many close friends therefore, it was really quite emotional. Throughout the week there was a wonderful feeling of unification amongst the whole year group as stories of past events from the many years in which they have grown up together were shared. Memories that they will treasure forever were created on this expedition. Ellis Chadwick Expedition Leader
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EXPEDITION AND VISITS
SIXTH FORM
KOH CHANG
Some meaningful and lasting bonds were formed
This year’s Koh Chang expedition was, without a doubt, the most popular Sixth Form trip on offer. The six-hour journey was worth every minute when we took in the spectacular beach sunset on our first evening. Day 1 involved a wonderful snorkelling trip around the nearby islands - our boat even had a slide! However, it was sobering to hear about the changing coral environment and reminds us of the role we all play in keeping Thailand clean. Day 2 was a fantastic outing, consisting of a
jungle trek to the magnificent Klong Phlu waterfall and we all mastered the stand-up paddle boarding activity along the stunning coastline. In the morning of Day 3, we returned to visit our friends at the Cambodian Kids Care Centre Day which involved lots of fun games and music, and within that short time, some meaningful and lasting bonds were formed. Day 3 also gave us a chance to explore the lesser-known east coast of the island. Here the groups experienced the diverse fauna and breathtaking views along the famous red bridge in the mangrove forest and meandered through this beautiful region in wooden boats and kayaks. Our trip culminated with a memorable evening meal at a nearby Mexican restaurant and students reflected on and shared their best experiences of the trip. These Year 12 and 13 students are a special group, who represented their school immaculately throughout the trip. Lawrence Prunty Expedition Leader
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LATEST UPDATES
Bach to Bacharach Boarders community and Bangkok to Berklee... In a continuum of ever-flowing creativity and musical excellence, Harrow Bangkok celebrate two Music Scholarship awards to Boston Conservatory at Berklee this year. As is Harrow Bangkok, this is an educational institution at the top of the league table. Nadol and Tim (pictured centre of the photo) are surrounded by Khun Volt and Khun Ply who themselves went to Berklee! Khun Ply is a Harrow Bangkok Music Scholarship alumni and both now form part of the 38 visiting music specialist team that deliver an outstanding musical variety to Harrow Bangkok students. Volt Be kind and generous to everyone. Keep smiling and eager to learn new things not only in music but also culturally. Get ready for this new chapter and don’t give up on anything!
The Climbing team
celebrated International Women’s Day 2020 with a special guest climber – Ploy Tomas. Ploy holds an impressive background as the Asian Youth Bronze Champion (2011), semi-finalist for women’s lead climbing in World Cup (2014) and was the youngest Thai athlete to win a medal at the SEA Games (2011). She can also lead a 7c+/8a outdoors which we know is amazingly difficult. It was fantastic for our Year 3-13 climbers to have a positive role model to guide and challenge them on our bouldering routes, as well as having a lot of fun! Climb on! Ms Sapphira School Welfare Counsellor
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Nadol I am extremely excited to be living independently and studying the thing I truly love. It has been a great honour to be awarded with a full scholarship - I am hoping to obtain all the essential knowledge to be a well-versed musician. I am very grateful for Harrow Bangkok for always being supportive. Tim I am looking forward to gaining a lot of new experiences! Ply Take advantage of all the resources available: fellow musicians and faculty staff. The opportunity is right in front of you - grab it!
LATEST UPDATES
How to
Congratulations to our TESMC
graduates
As part of the ongoing professional development training offered to staff at Harrow Bangkok, a group of teachers recently completed the Teaching ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms (TESMC) teacher development course which began at the beginning of Term 1. Recognised internationally, the TESMC qualification develops participants’ knowledge of language and learning, enhancing their ability to support non-native English speaking students in the classroom. The course consists of 9 module workshops and is a significant commitment on top of participants’ already busy teaching schedules. Congratulations to the 2020 TESMC cohort on their successful completion of the course. James Beere and Ed Chambers TESMC Course Tutors
Mac – Churchill Champion This edition, our Churchill Champion award goes to Mac C11 who is currently in ‘The Next One’ show on One31 TV Channel. They have been searching for new actors and actresses and Mac made it through more than 3,000 applicants from all around Thailand to the last 12 finalists. Those that know Mac, will not be surprised by this. His natural confidence and dramatic flair are showcased in many music concerts at Harrow Bangkok including his famous rap with Jade C11 in the winning Churchill House Shout song last year. It has been almost 4 months of intense acting classes and more, to train to become an actor, along with gaining experience on how to be part of a TV game show. We are so pleased to hear that Mac has successfully signed a contract to be an actor at One31 TV channel and wish him all the best for his acting career. Congratulations Mac! Tomoko Matsushita Head of Churchill House
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LATEST UPDATES
Gymnast of the Month – March 2020 Congratulations to the following gymnasts who have been awarded ‘Gymnast of the Month’ for March! These gymnasts have been selected for showing the following: - Hard work - Progress - Training Dedication - Good Sportsmanship
Development: Poppy
Competitive 1: Yu-Ei
Competitive 2: Opal
Performance: Maprang
Elite: Pink
MAG: Andre
Well done All! GYMNASTICS HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES The Gymnastics Academy run fun training programmes open to everyone during school holidays where pupils can learn new skills! To sign up for Summer programmes or for more information, please contact the Head of Gymnastics: Natalie Greenidge, natalie_gr@harrowschool.ac.th
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LATEST UPDATES
SWIMMING Performance Lions Day There is a quotation I really like: ‘sometimes you face difficulties not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right’, Kushandwizdom. On Saturday 2nd February, the Harrow Bangkok Lions Swim Team hosted the first ‘Performance Lions Day’. The event was designed to give Harrow Bangkok performance swimmers the opportunity to compete against their teammates with the aim to set a new PB in their home training environment. The event was a combination of team-building games in the school gym followed by competitive racing in the pool. In terms of performance, it was an extremely positive event for all swimmers involved. Many swimmers achieved new personal best times and enjoyed competing against their fellow teammates. After the competition swimmers, coaches and parents enjoyed a nice lunch recovering from the energetic day and sharing their favourite moments of the event. This team is strongest than ever, and we keep working hard to make it even better. Deeply proud of our swim team, David Escolar Ballesteros Head of Elite Swimming
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CATCHING UP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Ae
Class of 2017, was at Harrow Bangkok for 13 years.
What was Harrow Bangkok like for you? Harrow is my second home, I loved the fact that Harrow Bangkok encourages everyone to participate in every event and emphasises the concept of leadership and collaboration, shaping me into the person I am today. I love all the staff, their friendliness, their kindness, and also the way they teach. I would give anything to go back and spend my youth there again! What did you do after graduating from Harrow Bangkok? I continued my studies at Chulabhorn International College of Medicine at Thammasat University. What are you doing now? I’m currently a 4th year medical student at Thammasat University! Are there any other things you’d like to share with the Harrow Bangkok community? The healthcare system would flow a lot better people have some basic medical knowledge about their diseases and its possible treatment and outcome, and also to just simply tell the truth and work with us - we are just trying to help you out.
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CATCHING UP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Fred Class of 2013, was at Harrow Bangkok for 6 years
What was Harrow Bangkok like for you? It was really great. I made a lot of friends, participated in various school events and activities, built some strong relationships with my teachers. It’s Harrow Bangkok’s sense of community that really comes to mind when I remember the good times. What did you do after graduating from Harrow Bangkok? I started studying an International Bachelor in Communications and Media (Bsc) at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. I failed this programme within the second semester. Til this day I think this could not have been any better. I left university to come work as a Marketing Intern at Harrow Bangkok, under the wing of my boss lady, second mother, and friend Elizabeth Hammond. I did this until the academic year ended, during which I got enrolled into a new Bachelors programme at the University of Groningen - BA in Arts, Culture and Media. After 3 years, I graduated from this programme. Upon graduation, I didn’t know what to do and, again, I decided to come back to Harrow Bangkok to earn some money, reflect, and contemplate what I really wanted to do. This time I was a Graduate Marketing Intern. I stayed in this position for the whole academic year and at some point decided I wanted to do my Masters’ - really wanted to do it - I was motivated to. I got accepted and enrolled into Utrecht University for a Masters’ in New Media and Digital Culture, which I have been doing for the past year. What are you doing now? I just graduated! Two days ago I found out my grades for my thesis and internship, both of which I was, and still am, very proud of. My thesis and internship supervisor was so happy with my topic and execution that early next year, sometime in January, he would like
me to adjust my thesis to be published as a chapter in his next academic book. However, now like most graduates, I am unemployed. My plan is to head back to Thailand for 4 months to sort out some things and work on some personal projects. Once these are done I hope to move back to the Netherlands, potentially Amsterdam or Rotterdam and find a job there. Are there any other things you’d like to share with the Harrow Bangkok community? I wrote my thesis on how virtual reality might be implemented within environmental communication. Throughout my research, I have encountered really shocking facts about our human footprint on the world. We see this on a regular basis, take for instance the recent Amazon fires. I would like to share the opening passage of my thesis, which is from Naomi Klein’s book ‘This Changes Everything’: ‘Or maybe we do look—really look—but then, inevitably, we seem to forget. Remember and then forget again. Climate change is like that; it’s hard to keep it in your head for very long. We engage in this odd form of on-again-off-again ecological amnesia for perfectly rational reasons. We deny because we fear that letting in the full reality of this crisis will change everything. And we are right.” (p. 4) Fearing the future is perfectly rational, but looking away or avoiding the idea of a burdened future is not. What is rational is the realization of the idea that we, as humanity, have a responsibility to adopt towards the world.
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CATCHING UP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Prince Class of 2012, was at Harrow Bangkok for 8 years
What was Harrow Bangkok like for you? My time at Harrow Bangkok was very memorable and special to me. I learnt many things (mainly how to behave myself!) and the environment provided the opportunity to explore my creative side with equal importance to traditional academia. This has led me to complete my Master’s Degree at the University of the Arts London. What did you do after graduating from Harrow Bangkok? I continued to pursue my passion for the visual arts in London. I have since completed a BA in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London and an MA in Photography at LCC, University of the Arts London. What are you doing now? Currently, I have my hands glued to many projects, I am running health-related businesses with my sister, who is also a photographer/videographer for Vogue Thailand. Are there any other things you’d like to share with the Harrow Bangkok community? I never got the chance to properly say this, but I wanted to thank my friends and every teacher for the invaluable knowledge/upbringing you have given me. If you’re reading this you know who you are! And best of luck to the Harrow Bangkok community. It is very inspiring to see the community continue to grow and prosper into a great success that it is today. Cheers to every Harrovian!
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Green Bears Café and Refill is a fantastic new option for the local community! 5 minutes from school - on the corner of Kosumruamchai Road and Kosumruamchai 14 Alley - they sell a great range of freshly made and healthy food such as smoothies, coffee, homemade ice cream, cakes, salads and bread. Perhaps, more importantly, Green Bears is a refill station; take your empty cleaning product containers and refill them or a tub and stock up on nuts, seeds or other dry foods to reduce plastic waste. All products are locally sourced wherever possible. When things are normal, it’s a great place to while away an hour or so with a salmon and cream cheese bagel and a cappuccino or one of their super tasty green smoothie power bowls (at the moment they’re takeaway or delivery only). Then on your way out, stock up on some eco-friendly washing up liquid, for instance, or a box of eggs. Ti (wife of David Escolar Ballesteros, Head of Elite Swimming at Harrow Bangkok) is the friendly owner of this worthy venture. She believes ‘things can improve in Thailand by reducing the amount of plastic that is wasted every day with our refill service. This idea’s combined with a calm, stress-free café where you can relax and enjoy healthy, delicious snacks. We believe that people can do great things by doing a little something consistently, to help save our earth.’ Green Bears Cafe and Refill is open every day until 6:30. Why not give them a go! See them on Facebook @greenbears.refillstore
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LATEST UPDATES
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All of our students will develop as leaders contributing
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the university of their choice
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academic potential and succeed at
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