Boarding newsletter 27th june 2014 by The Regent's International School Bangkok

REGENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S newsletter

Boarding primaterm 3 june 2014

In this issue:

Welcome

benjakiti park

National science museum

positive behaviour

MR KIRK WADSWORTH HEAD OF BOARDING kirk.wadsworth@regents.ac.th Dear Boarding Community, In the blink of an eye, our academic year has come to an end. I can remember so vividly, arriving in Bangkok in the early hours of the morning, to the heat and the traffic with three jet-lagged children in tow. I am astounded at how quickly the year has passed by and as I reflect, I am amazed at how much our boarding community has packed into the last 10 months.

dinner activities

face painting

senior SOCIAL

Also... ARMENIAN NIGHT GAP STAFF the regent’s, uk

graduation

Pool competition

When you delve a little deeper into this, our final Boarding Newsletter of the year, you will see that our House Parents have detailed our boarding highlights. Therefore I will focus on two areas of boarding that have been less dependent on this year’s calendar. The first topic is ‘ What’s best about Boarding?’’ When our boarders are asked to identify the three best things about boarding, they rarely talk about tangible things. Instead, they list the strong friendships that they forge with each other, the fact that they are surrounded by people who they trust and who they care for, and about a supportive environment where their views and aspirations are deemed important. Our community then, when distilled, is really about the people within it and the energy and spirit that is

created by these people. This is how it should be. If you get this right, everything else falls into place. The second is Positive Stamina. Anyone who has spent time in a boarding house, or any close community for that matter, will know that amidst the ups and downs, it is always those who smile and remain cheerful throughout that motivate us and keep us moving forward. Theirs is the glass that is always full... to the brim. We are fortunate to have an abundance of these characters in both houses. They are not always the loudest but when they speak, others listen and their contributions are invaluable to the success of a house and a community. This year has seen individual and collective growth on an enormous scale. I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to this growth, to our successes and to our bright future. I wish you all an enjoyable and peaceful summer holiday and look forward to seeing you all in August. Best wishes,

Kirk Wadsworth Head of Boarding

REGENT’S

newsletter

national science museum Benjakiti park

By jeeyoo ahn from Korea

Location: Benjakiti Park. Activity: Park visit and bike ride. Favourite part of the trip: I like whenever I ride bicycles with my friends. Best memory: Taking pictures and talking to the friends that I usually don’t talk to. Superstar of the trip: Me! Quote of the trip: I love science!

By claudia kiitsak from estonia On a Saturday morning we headed off to Bangkok Science Museum about 45 minutes away. We were all excited not knowing what would be waiting for us when we got there and we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves in an interactive and interesting centre of science. The museum consisted of about 6 floors from which each had a certain theme. For example a floor dedicated to different transportation methods throughout history, part for electricity, future science, sound etc. My favourite part was probably the second floor where different physical phenomenon were represented, like light and sound illusions. Although the objective of this museum trip was to give us more information we left with even more questions and felt even more curious. I hope that everyone else enjoyed the trip as much I did.

REGENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

recent news & events

wednesday dinner activities

by anurag guduri, gap staff from india

Every Wednesday night, after our evening meal, the boarders participate in a series of events. These events range from short games and quizzes to discussing interesting news items. Offering a refreshing break from the rest of the week, the events have become a key part of the boarders’ lives here at Regent’s Bangkok. The boarders are encouraged to interact with other members of their community by joining teams, which are composed of members from different year groups and different nationalities. Senior boarders are given the opportunity to lead the other boarders and form bonds with each other, allowing the whole boarding community to feel more like a home, than a boarding house.

Doughnuts all round for our birthday girls.

It may not be cold, but there’s al ways time to knit one, purl one! Well done to Ms Cel for passing on the knitting bug.

pool competition

by matthew svenningsen, boarding assistant from South Africa

The boarders and a few members of the staff decided to make good use of their new pool table and put on a simple round robin format pool competition. This option of round robin was more favoured than that of simple knock-out as it allowed everyone to play an equal amount of games. We had some great undercover pool players that came out of nowhere and took the crowd by storm and showed some great pooling skill. In an exciting turn of events we had two players with the exact amount of wins meaning an epic final was to be played between Artyom from Armenia and Mikey from China. After some intense shots and great skill, Mikey came out as champion and won himself a large pizza, a popular prize in the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boarding house!

Endless Zumba and fitness sessions keep energy levels high!

REGENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S newsletter

Congrats to our

graduating

boarders! Maria Lustsikov Estonia Gor Martirosyan Armenia Monica Lilian Australia Davit Avetisyan Armenia Lenka Moravcikova Slovakia

Our IB students reach the finish line and celebrate in style. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.

Senior Social 2014

REGENT’S newsletter

Our own word search!

A Q R C B D Q E Z M O T H D R R X D O W I B M G P C M X C T A X F M V N J D I C N B E U M G S R M O D O E Q O P R X H F A F I U G E B R N M B U P W Z Q U E N U P O I D P S U E X D J L N I I E A D Z A U E R E T K C D T D N R W P N A J I X J V X S Y A D D G Z I G B E A J X W H L N E I W K O R P N M V M A I R C N N G R N O O C P Y N H P Q E C G Q H S W E E L Z U I K M K E L M B H T L C E F Y Y O Y I T V P X I H A X Q F

Our 272 hours of prep this year would not have been possible without the support of the teachers who offer expert academic support every night. Thank you.

E H N J U U O X Y P S V G J Z •boarding •community •companionship •example •experience •friendship •growth •guidance •home •independence

The record is 120 seconds can you beat it?

dream world

By Rafik Mkhitarayan from armenia

Dream World is an amazing place where people of all ages can have great fun. Some attractions are really scary, for example Tornado, American Hills and the Horror House. They were also selling Coca Cola bottles with special designs from the World Cup, they’re limited edition, which was pretty cool! After all that fun we were very hungry so we went to KFC for some lunch. All those attractions will get you hungry so don’t forget your wallet!

REGENT’S newsletter

being a ‘gap’ at the regent’s

by Lindy Joubert, gap staff from South Africa

From exciting adventures around Thailand to early morning routines in boarding and a few lazy days off in between, being part of the GAP Staff at The Regents School, Bangkok offers it all! A wide variety of cultures make up the GAP Staff at the Regent’s School Bangkok; from Colombian to Australian, German, South African, and Indian. With such a wide variety, there are many different reasons and opinions about the GAP programme. Why did you decide to come on a Gap Year? I took a gap year because I didn’t feel ready to go to university and I wanted to have a break from studying after two really intense years. I also wanted to travel, experience more and meet new people. I felt that the gap year could offer me all of this in one package! Miriam Why did you choose Thailand? I chose Thailand because it was completely different from home. I wanted to pick up a completely new culture and somewhat of a new language. Thailand was a new adventurous place to come and experience, and I had heard a lot of good reviews about it. I also knew someone that had previously gapped in Thailand and they absolutely loved it. Jordan Explain your role as GAP Staff. I am the connection between the staff and students. I assist the Boarding Staff in any way possible. I also help teaching in Year 1 and 2 and Maths in Year 3. I also help out in the library and the EAL department. In the boarding house I help organise after school activities, ensure that all boys are on schedule and doing what they are meant to be doing. Anurag What is your favourite part of your job? Being in Thailand, because it’s a nice country, there is

so much to do and experience. It is a new place with lots of potential and lots of happy people; it really is the land of smiles. Jordan What are your plans for next year? Next year, I am moving to Melbourne, Victoria to study Paramedics and Nursing at Monash University. I am really looking forward to this. Miriam Do you think taking a Gap Year was a good idea? Yes. The things I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve had here are far from conventional and that’s exactly what I needed/wanted after high school. Juanita Overall the GAPs are very happy working at The Regent’s School. They find that there is a good balance between work and play. Every second weekend they get to take off to explore. Holidays are divided up between all the gaps so you either go on a school trip or get the holidays off. It’s a win for all! Being a GAP at The Regent’s School has definitely proved to be well worth the experience and we can’t wait to make more happy memories here - it is now our home away from home!

REGENT’S

newsletter

A MAGICAL YEAR WITH THE GIRLS

By Mrs Kerri wadsworth from the uk The end of term is in sight and I have a house full of very excited girls that like myself, can’t quite believe that we have already completed a year. We have been in full flow over the past few weeks and I feel like I have been working hard to keep up with our busy routine and action packed programme of events and activities. We have had weekend sailing trips, service project visits, creative workshops, sports competitions, staff versus boarder games, shopping and cultural trips, boarding social events, the list goes on. There have been significant challenges this term and it was quite a logistical undertaking organising the Year 11s going on study leave, then popping back for exams, the Year 13s too were subject to a demanding exam timetable that required careful planning. Fortunately for those girls the hard work and the IB is behind them and they have moved on to new and exciting adventures, however, it is emotional for everyone when they depart, leaving the remainder of the girls more than a little envious. That said, by all accounts, returning to the bleak, wet weather of Europe already has them missing Thailand and us!

the wind in our sails

By jordan rose from australia

We packed the buses and slip slop slapped on our sunscreen and headed to have some fun in the sun. On Friday 30th May the school had a public holiday; it was the perfect opportunity for boarding to take advantage of this entirely full day. It turned out to be the most beautiful day with not one cloud in the sky. Some kayaked and sailed, some listened to music and some played games along the park. Everyone was in great spirits on this perfect day. We all ate picnic lunches together in the shade. At around 3pm everyone had exhausted themselves and was ready to get back and have a swim in the pool. It turned out to be a perfect day.

Fortunately amongst some sad departures we are welcoming some lovely new students who are already adding value in their own special ways, which has a great impact on our community. The girls in the house that are getting closer to the end of their school year are truly flourishing; they are positive, energetic and inspiring to be around. Their work ethic is excellent and they use their allocated prep time wisely, which allows them to make the most of free time, during which they carefully balance sport and relaxation. As a boarding house of both staff and students, I now feel that we all understand each other, we know the boundaries and expectations, understand and empathise with individual personalities and live together with mutual respect for one another.

We have established a few regular features in our routine and I look forward to the Friday movie nights (often with a delicious concoction of something chocolatey by Michelle) when the majority of the house comes together. We have attacked our Zumba workouts with vigor and the attendees seem to grow every session! We have added an excellent Brownie Recipe to our charity bake sale offerings and the presence of the Badminton nets out the front of the boarding house has added a little bit of healthy competition between the boys and the girls houses. Surely, I don’t have to tell you who the winners are?! There have been a few disruptions to our programme in light of the recent political challenges. However, despite a cancelled trip or two and the disappointment that comes with it, the girls never complain. Fortunately, the decision was made to hold the long awaited Senior Social and the girls used this opportunity to dig out the pretty frocks, high heels and lipstick. I was very proud to see them all dressed up which allowed them a little bit of glam and disco action and we had a great evening. The last couple of weeks have seen the girls surviving internal assessments at school, contribute to a wonderful school production and learn more about each other’s cultures during International Day. Round Square week is upon us and before they know it, most of the girls will be back home. The excitement of reuniting with families and friends, home cooked food and chilly nights is looming, but I am confident for many that whilst they look forward to returning home for a well deserved break, they will look forward to coming back to be reunited with their new friends. This is truly one of the magical things about living in a boarding community.

The support staff close the gap on goal difference but the boarders clinch another win in style. Our termly football game has become routine and is set to continue next year. Will 2015 be the year that the support staff steal a win?

A welcome change from our own dining room . Our boarding community head into the city for some pizza and ice cream .

REGENT’S

newsletter

prep room makeover

By annaliis lehto from estonia

On the 14th June a group of boarders helped to give a make-over to our prep-room with intentions to make the study space inspirational and cosy. Fortunately, extensive art skills weren’t required so we all could take part and (quite surprisingly) make something beautiful. To decorate the plain walls we used inspirational quotes from famous people. Some boarders painted portraits of celebrities with their quotes on a canvas to hang up and others just painted the words onto the wall. Some of our previous anxieties about lacking art skills proved to be unnecessary as we worked as a group, enjoyed the process wholly and were absolutely pleased with the surprising outcome.

Our marathon badminton tournament saw male, female and mixed pairs compete for the coveted De Rosas Trophy (and Pizza)! The screams of elation and defeat could be heard around Bangkok, as teams were eliminated from the competition. In the end, the boys’ house staff clinched victory in a hard fought final against Ronnie and Mike. The pizza went to the boys but the title and trophy went to the staff. Well done everyone for a great competition and thanks to Mr De Rosas for organising the competition and umpiring every game.

REGENT’S newsletter

A couple of steps to the finish line

By edDIE leorato from brazil

The Boarders join in to celebrate the start of the world cup. Will Mr Leorato’s prediction of a 6th world cup victory for Brazil come true?

This has been a very exciting year for the boys’ boarding house and there has never been a dull moment throughout the action packed terms. It is hard to recount all of the events and initiatives but I will remember this past year for the successes both in and out of the boarding house. There have been challenges. When 40 plus young men live together, this is certain, but the way in which individuals have come together to form one community has been impressive and humbling.

travelling at full speed and enjoying everything that a busy school and boarding community had to offer. This final term has passed by incredibly quickly and it has been a period of mixed emotions for us all. It has been hugely rewarding to see the boys reach their peak and perform to their very best, whilst it has been sad to say farewell to those moving on.

As the term and the academic year comes to an end, the boys (and staff) have become weary. It is time to The first term saw the boys get to grips with the new head home to our families and enjoy important time with them. The holiday will be a welcome rest for us all routine and of course each other. Friendships were made that spanned continents and cultures and most but I am confident that all of the boys towards the end of summer will relish the thought of returning, reuniting were united for the love of football. No matter the with their comrades and lacing up the football boots weather, the mood, the situation, there was always once again. time for a kick about, which lifted the spirits and injected energy. I am privileged to be part of a developing boarding community and I am thankful to the boys for their Term two saw the boys return to a fully refurbished efforts and hard work this year. I hope everyone has a boarding house that was equipped with new fun and wonderful summer holiday. furniture and new social spaces. The pool table competed with the field and the boys began to find their rhythm. By half way through the year, we were

We say farewell to Elli and Juanita who have enriched us all with their commitment to our community this year. We thank them and wish them well on their journey’s and hope that they will visit us again soon .

Unfortunately we have come to that time of year where we have to say farewell to some GAP Staff that have become family. Juanita and Elisabeth will be leaving in July to carry on with their lives. Juanita has been accepted to work at Bromsgrove School next year which lies on the outskirts of Bangkok, so we will hopefully be seeing more of her. Elisabeth is heading back to Germany where she plans on studying Economics. We are sad to see them go and will surely miss their positive energy around.

OUR BOARDERS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THIS YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PRIZE GIVING CEREMONY

Thai as Additional Language: Mitsumasa Kiyohara

ROUND SQUARE AWARD: Michelle Hlavata

ROUND SQUARE AWARD: Claudia Kiitsak

Year 10 Award: Meeri-Triin Tomson

ROUND SQUARE AWARD: Meeri-Triin Tomson

ROUND SQUARE AWARD: Ngawang Chhoedron

Drama: Meeri-Triin Tomson

The King Constantine Medal: Chimmi Namda Psychology: Michelle Hlavata

Spanish: Hamlet Tigranyan

REGENT’S

newsletter

The boarding year in pictures...

REGENT’S newsletter

Have a great summer holiday and we look forward to seeing you in August.

REGENT’S newsletter