RIS AD ASTRA - REACH FOR THE STARS by Ruamrudee International School Bangkok

Publication Information: AD Astra is published three times a year by Ruamrudee International School. The objective of the publication is to report on and communicate happenings at Ruamrudee International School. At least 1,400 copies are printed per issue to send directly to all students and their families. AD Astra is also distributed among our faculty and staff numbering over 500, and published on our website. The RIS family is a large and growing community of international citizens.

Ad Astra Team Editors:

Tam Fawcett Will Hayman Elisia Brodeur

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Coordinator:

Rajeepan Techapahaphong

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Ruamrudee International School

6 Ramkhamhaeng 184, Minburi, Bangkok 10510 Tel: +66 (0) 2791 8900 Fax: +66 (0) 2791 8901-2 Website: www.rism.ac.th E-mail: info@rism.ac.th

4 Message from the School

Chaplain Father Leo Travis 5 My King Sudarat T. Attanawin 6 What peace means to me? 7 Belle’s Peace Poem 7 Jin Jiang Global Chinese Taekwondo Grand Prix 8 Middle School Council Fundraiser for the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees during Peace Week Ta-Ta 9 My Eyebrows Suksidee Lilian Fletcher 9 My Worst Holiday Ever Teema Boonbandansook 10 8th Grade Community Services 15 Asian Science Camp 2016 16 HS Senior Convocation 18 When the South African Wilderness Became My Classroom Pimbuppha Pongtornpipat & Manaka Saito 20 A Knowledge Enriching Summer at Yale Napat Sakulsaengprapha

21 Ad Astra Student Voice 22 World Scholar’s Cup

Global Round 2016 Tom Wash World Scholar’s Cup Global Round 2016 Amp Burapachaisri RIS Students Photographer Association Club Ono. Punn and Por Por. T Good Shepherd Scholarship Fundraising Program Panpailin Jantarasombat Leo Club Dodgeball Chaniya Miller The RIS High School Choir Community Hannah Diopenes International Food Fair

32 RIS Welcomes New Teachers 39 You’re Somebody’s (Blood) Type 40 RIS Alumnae 42 Photos of the Day

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

APPROACHING OUR SIXTIETH My Dear Friends, As we receive this edition of AD ASTRA, we recognize that some of this year’s programs have been accomplished, while others are underway or are being planned for the weeks and months ahead. It is time now, in this month of November, to pause a moment to celebrate the special Feast of Thanksgiving Day on November 24th. We celebrate this feast for we are urged to be thankful to God for His protection and love. Prayers and Masses will be offered on November 24th, in the early hours of the school day for all who wish to join us to show gratitude for God’s care for our school. We now prepare for our 60th Anniversary of the founding of Ruamrudee International School, and we surely will celebrate! It was Thanksgiving Day, 1956, when circumstances began to fall into place for the founding of a new school. A community of sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus had arrived from Malaysia with some members from Europe. These sisters agreed with Father Godbout, Pastor of Holy Redeemer Church, to start a school. Thai parishioners, like Doctor Lert Srichandra, and Filipino parishioners with Mrs. Nenet of Little Home Bakery, and the early members of Holy Redeemer Church gathered for Thanksgiving Day, 1956. It was a glorious occasion. They thanked God for the decision to start a new school in May of 1957. The people of Holy Redeemer Church were delighted that their children and others would have a Catholic School. The history from that blessed decision many dozens of years ago causes us to rejoice, even today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2016. God has blessed Ruamrudee International School. Recent writings have emphasized that RIS is a school “With a Heart”! We know that this is true. Today the sisters of the congregation “Daughters of Mary of the Holy Rosary” have come to carry on our blessed traditions of faith and inspiration among our students. Over these nearly sixty years, “Having a Heart” has been preserved by our leaders, teachers, students, parents, sisters and priests. We have pledged “Union of Hearts thru Caring” daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, throughout these glorious 60 years. We celebrate Thanksgiving Day, this 24th of November, grateful for the traditions, the excellent education, the yearly successes of our graduates, and for the value of all the loving members of our RIS family. We are thankful for all. May God bless us all.

Father Leo Travis C.Ss.R. RIS Catholic Chaplain

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

MY KING

By Sudarat T. Attanawin, Director of Strategic Initiatives/HR

IS joins the nation in mourning the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and extends heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of Thailand. His Majesty, Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, was crowned on 5 May 1950 and, like other Thai, I grew up knowing him as my only King, a rock of stability and a Father. The King once said, “The members of a family are expected to help one another whenever there is a need for assistance. The giving of aid is a merit in itself. The giver does not expect to hear others sing his praises every day; nor does he expect any return. The receiver is nevertheless grateful. He too, in his turn, will carry out his obligations.” Throughout his amazing reign, his Majesty indeed spent his life serving his family, the Thai people. The King constantly travelled to remote villages, up in the mountains and into the fields. Yes, he went places to help real people in dire need, but, more importantly, it was his reason for going. His Majesty was a hands-on leader who tried to understand the problems and tirelessly tackled challenges to improve lives of those marginalized. Over his lifetime, the King introduced thousands of development projects that truly empowered those at the very grassroots. He did all of it not to earn praise, not to get anything in return, but because he perceived it as

an obligation that he did for his family. In a documentary, The Soul of Nation-1979, a BBC correspondent asked His Majesty for his view on the role as the Thai Monarch. His Majesty replied, “To explain the meaning of the term monarch seems to be a question quite difficult to answer, especially in my own case, as I’m being known generally as the MONARCH. In fact, my role is far from being a duty of a monarch as generally understood. My present duty is to do whatever is useful. If asked how many plans I have for the future, my answer is I have no plan. We don’t know what will happen in the future. But no matter what happens, I will choose to do only useful things. That’s good enough for me.” Just think of the King’s “useful” work and achievements in the seven decades. Through it all, His Majesty was instrumental in making Thailand a successful country, providing leadership despite the difficulties of political upheaval and momentous economic and social change. Through it all, His Majesty instilled in his people Thai pride, national identity, courage and a strong sense of family commitment. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s journey was truly a life of giving and of serving. We are fortunate to be His Majesty’s family. Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

What peace means to me? P

eace is about being humble and kind. It is about loving one another and caring for one another. Being peaceful means you engage these qualities in your everyday life. Being peaceful also means to be forgiving like how God is so forgiving. As Catholics, being peaceful is an important part of our live. It is an essential part of our lives to be peacemakers as says the beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God”. You can be a peacemaker in the small acts of peace that you do. I am a peacemaker through my actions of let’s say, helping my sister with her homework. That doesn’t mean I do it for her, I help her understand it. Another example would be, like if I stopped my friends from fighting. Little things like this help make peace in our world. You can do it too. Nathan, Gr. 8 Hi! My name is Bene! I am here to talk about what peace means to me. Close your eyes and try to imagine with me for a moment. Imagine that each and everyone of you on earth has one piece of a bandage that shows, we have all been hurt in one way or another. Our peace was taken away from us because we were hurt. Therefore, the peace in the world is broken for all of us. Do we all want peace in the world? The answer is Yes! Can we all do our part to bring peace? I strongly believe we can. We need TEAMWORK to stop the world’s peace from falling apart. If we all work hard in being peacemakers,

then peace will ring across the world and be with us. We, all of us, need to be peacemakers everyday and everywhere so peace can always be with us! Think about one time you had a small problem. At the end, you probably would have thought that it was just a little thing. “Why did I even get mad because of such a small situation?” One big way to be a peacemaker is to control our anger and impatience and stay calm when we face problems. Friends, starting from right now, I want us all to become peacemakers who allow the pureness of peace to shine through by what we say and do! Remember Peace begins with each of us so let’s all be peacemakers who go out into the world and welcome peace!

The Peace Week Pinata “It’s peace week! I came up with the idea to make a pinata that looked like the Earth. First, we gathered the materials. Second, we blew up the balloons, and stuck the newspaper pieces onto the balloons with glue and water. Third, we left it to dry. Fourth, we glued colored paper onto the balloons. We accomplished one perfect pinata balloon, but the other one had many holes. I think the one with many holes represents that teamwork is lacking when we are not taking care of it. But the nice one is like when we have teamwork 6

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and together we make the world a wonderful place.” Bene, Gr. 3 “It was so fun doing the pinata with my friends! We all have a great time doing the pinata. We like teamwork.” Nana, Gr. 3 “In my EDP class, we made the pinata doing PEACE week so we can make peace with our earth.” Paul, Gr. 3

around the world when each one of us take a part in it.” Aom, Gr. 4

“Peace week was fun because it showed me how peace spread

“I like to work with my friends. It’s so fun!” Naree, Gr. KG

Belle’s Peace Poem By Nichatorn (Belle) Tangkuptanon Listen to my heart’s rapid beating You can hear it crying and begging Pleading for mercy, for empathy I am paralyzed waiting for dawn Even when conflicts pound on my head Even if bullets shout to threaten me Or even when your stomach grumbles desperately There is nothing you can do but to stay calm When I constantly taste fear When I cannot trust anyone to let them near When I wish I can hide away from this world It is that stranger’s smile I remember Peace is the smile of an innocent child It is the resplendent rhythm of a sleeping heart beat Peace is a helping hand, someone’s trust It is the warm feeling in a harmonious land

Jin Jiang GLOBAL CHINESE TAEKWONDO GRAND PRIX

IS student Chawin Mung Guy (Morning), in Ms. Jennie Thomson’s second-grade class, represented the Taekwondo Team from Thailand. He won a gold and a bronze medal at the competition. Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Middle School Council fundraiser for the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees during Peace Week By Ta-Ta, Gr. 8

eace, a simple word with several profound meanings, can bring harmony to so many events in this world. From small fights between friends to violent wars between countries, peace is like a droplet of water that creates an endless ripple, calming all chaotic surroundings. Ruamrudee International School, our school’s name that means “Union of Hearts,” celebrated Peace Week to encourage unity, both in our school community and on Earth. This year, Peace Week took place from September 19th–23rd. Activities, led and arranged by the Middle School Council (MSC), were held in middle school to celebrate peace and raise money for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The MSC held a bake sale and ran a photo booth, successfully raising a total of 7,200 baht. All profits were sent to the UNHCR to support refugee camps in Thailand. Before coming to the conclusion to organize a bake sale and photo booth, the Middle School Council held a meeting to decide which activities to hold and who would be the beneficiary of its fundraising efforts. The council members agreed to send the money they raised to refugees as they determined that these people have

experienced the least peace in their lives. The bake sale was an idea everyone agreed to right away as baked goods typically sell well, resulting in more money to aid the refugees. The photo booth was also an easy choice, proposed along with a light-up peace sign and paper cranes as the backdrop for the photos. Both photo booths sold out on the first day, causing the council members to have to frantically create and find more products for the next day. Everyone in the middle school supported the fundraiser in some way. Thanks to students who took several peace photos with their friends, all the photos sold out in no time. Teachers and students purchased baked goods, and some teachers even helped by baking items to sell. The MSC members, of course, were strong supporters and participants, and they managed and ran both activities successfully. The members of the MSC are very proud of their accomplishment. They were happy to be able to help refugees and encourage peace in our society—whether their effect was a little or a lot. The council members hope the tradition of Peace Week continues in Ruamrudee for the next generations and that they made a difference in our school and in the greater world. Please continue the ripple that was started.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

My Eyebrows By Suksidee Lilian Fletcher English Language and Literature 9

ther people may choose their eyes to be the most beautiful part of their body but mine is above that. It is my eyebrows.

were gone. So she had to put on makeup to make other people see her eyebrows. Some people may have to use an eyebrow pencil every time they put on makeup, but I do not have to.

Most ladies say, “Eyebrows are the crown of the face,” because they are the most important feature on your face. Imagine if you did not have eyebrows on your face, you would look ugly and funny, like the weird woman in The Hunger Games movie.

In Thai drama, some actresses draw their eyebrows too dark so it looks like they are angry. I am very lucky to have these pretty eyebrows so I do not look angry all the time.

My mom always tells me since I was a kid that I am very lucky because I have perfect eyebrows. She said that because when she woke up, it was like her eyebrows

Everyone has different body parts that they like, but I like my eyebrows, sharp and beautiful, just like wearing a beautiful crown all the time.

My Worst Holiday Ever By Teema Boonbandansook (Minnie) English Language and Literature 9 “Bright pink bikini.. Check!” “Flowery sun hat… Check!” “Fluffy beach towel… Check!” This is going to the best holiday ever! Me and my sister are going to swim, surf, sunbathe until we drop! Exams are over and it is time to chill. No more classrooms, no canteen food, no more teachers. We have two weeks of palm trees, coconuts, and surfing.

One hour left. “Where’s dad?” He’d better get back from the office soon. We don’t want to be late for check in. It is nearly time and the taxi will be here in about 15 minutes. Luggage is waiting by the door. Passports have been checked. Windows are locked. “Where’s dad?”

The smell of sea air .The feel of grainy sand all under my toes. The sound of waves crashing into the shore. The taste of coconuts. The sight of dolphins peaking out of the water. The taxi’s coming in two hours and then we’ll be off! All the packing is done, so we are dancing around to Hawaiian music, trying to tire ourselves before that long luxurious flight across the Atlantic. It’s been a tough year, but now we’re free!

A car pulls into the driveway. The taxi’s here. No! There’s a key in the lock. The door opens. We hear the rain dropping heavily outside. Night is creeping in like a black cat. Dad shuffles in. His face is gray. “I have to work.” Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

8th Grade Community Services The Animal Shelter Jeeda: For our community service project, we chose to go to an animal shelter near Muang Thong Thani. The reason we chose to go help these animals is because our group members like dogs, and we wanted to help the ones that were suffering from accidents or disease. In this case, there were a lot of abandoned dogs and cats we could help. We contacted the owner of the animal shelter to donate some money and dog/cat food. They happily accepted our offer since they were running low on food. On the day we went to donate the food and money, we saw many dogs and cats that had been abandoned by their owners. Some of the dogs were wounded from car accidents, and some were affected with diseases. The environment they were in was not that great... Although they were in bad condition, the owner still took care of the dogs and cats to the best of her ability. To see the owner and caretaker be so happy that we came to donate, made us feel warm and grateful.

Shinn: …When we arrived at the shelter, we donated the food and they really appreciated it. We saw many dogs that were injured and sick, and the cats were crowded into one cage.... Even though we only donated food and didn’t get to physically help the dogs ourselves, we still supported them and now they are going to have more food to survive…. I think 10

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all dogs should have access to food, even if their owners leave them because they’re bored or don’t like them anymore, even if at first they adored the dog.... In the future, I hope there will be fewer abandoned dogs because they all need food to survive, just like us. In the end, we were able to help some of the dogs and the trip was pretty good.

Pun: Planning ahead for a group project is essential for its success. For example: … [we had a] miscommunication between our team members, and so we need to improve on that. Also, we underestimated the traffic on our way and were stuck on the road for two hours. At last, we reached the temple at Muang Thong. When I saw the dogs, I felt that the long trip there was worth it. The dogs in the shelter were riddled with disease.

They were malnourished, and some were maimed, hungry, or starving, and the environment they were living in was filthy. There were a lot of them crammed in a little cage, and as a result fights broke out easily and I feared for their safety. The cats looked better though. They were healthy but there was feces in their food, which was a little disconcerting. We gave our donations of food and

snacks and then we went home. For me, this trip showed the suffering of animals that are left to fend for themselves. I consider the animals in the shelter lucky, because there are thousands of dogs or cats that aren’t in shelters like this. Overall, this was a great trip.

Boon: We decided as a group to go to a temple that has an animal shelter, near Muang Thong Thani. Half of our group own dogs, so we decided to go and help some... The only two animals there are cats and dogs, and they are separated. According to our group leader, we contacted them at a good time because they were starting to get low on food supplies.

We also found out that there are some injured dogs and some scared dogs that wouldn’t come to eat. The area for the cats was really small and crowded. The staff there seems to be mostly taking care of the dogs. I think it’s a good thing to not go in there because we could get injured. There were also little puppies, but some were so scared that they hid in the corner. The dogs also have frequent visitors. I saw birds flying in their cage frequently.

Park: When we went to the dog shelter, we … arrived (later than the other group), we carried a portion of the dog food (the one that Shinn bought), and we

took some photos. We also found a little baby mouse trapped in a box full of trash, but none of us [wanted] to help it because we thought it was dirty. We took pictures of the cats, dogs, and puppies. The dogs were put into a relatively large compound. The dogs had open space, which was basically a bungalow without a roof, while the cats were put into a few cages, most likely due to lack of space. We ended up leaving after taking several photos and giving them [the donation of] dog food.

the ForDec organization Soft: For our community service project, we chose to go to the Fordec organization. The kids were around 3–7 years old. They were amazing, and they already knew some of the basics of English. They are kids who have

no parents, or their parents are divorced. If they do have a mom or dad, they normally don’t have time to take care of the kid, so they are sent here Monday to Friday. This Fordec organization, to them, it is considered a school and a home. Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

group who are Catholic. My friend (Soft) shared the idea to go to teach the little kids who don’t have a home or anything. I like to teach little kids because it’s fun and they make me smile. I also felt bad for them because they don’t have the expensive things we have.

I came up with this idea, which the group agreed on, because I felt really bad for the kids. We have everything: technology, parents, an education, a chance to learn anything we want. I thought it would be nice to share and help them by teaching them and letting them have fun. They’re also just like us, they just didn’t have the same chances, and they can’t afford to enroll in an international school or a Thai school. We went there to teach kids English songs, the alphabet, how to say colors in English, etc. We started off with the song “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.” Then we also had blocks and asked the kids “how many?” or what “color is it?” They had to answer in English of course. We gave prizes to the kids that answered the question correctly and to some who were brave enough to raise their hand and answer. We did this for quite awhile. Then we also donated some of our old books, toys, new pens and pencils, notebooks (drawing books), etc. We all brought or bought something for them, so that they could color and draw on paper. After all, our house is probably filled with stuff we don’t need anymore. We all separated and were in charge of groups of around 3–5 kids. We 12

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individually taught them different English words, and reviewed what they learned. While they were drawing, coloring, and painting, we tried to ask them questions in English. When we were done teaching the kids . . . we went to plant some trees. They were kind enough to prepare some of the plants and soil. After planting all the trees, we prepared some snacks and food for the kids. Seeing the kids happy and all the smiles on the little kids’ faces really made our day, and it was a great way to end the day.

The group and I donated some toys, books, pencils and pens we use to play with when we were young, and would like to pass it on to the people who don’t have the money to get [these things].... It started to rain a little, so we all went under the roof and they started to draw and play again. While they were doing that, the group and I went over to plant small trees. After planting small trees, the group and I handed out snacks for them to eat. The little kids started to go back home with their mom or dad, but some of them stayed at school. Our group took some pictures with them and we left the school. I ended on a great day with the little kids.

Madi:

Diya:

When we arrived, the kids were excited to see us and we were also excited. One little girl, who was around 2 or 3, held my hand and walked with me to under the tree where they learn. We taught them a song… and also taught them the alphabet, numbers, and colors. After we taught them, we asked them questions based on what were they taught. Some of the little kids already knew how to say the alphabet but were struggling with English words, like the colors....

For our community service project, our group decided to go to the Fordec organisation. This place was like a home and school for these children, and still they had huge smiles on their faces. There, we taught them basic English. We did a few color and number questions using toy bricks and asked them what color things all around were. We then taught them the alphabet and reviewed a few things they already knew, like the days of the week and the months. Then asked them questions on what we taught and most of them surprisingly actually answered them. We gave out prizes to those who could answer the questions and to those who tried. All of them were between

The place we went is a school and also a home for those little kids. At first, we decided to go to the temple to clean, but no one wanted to go because there are people in my

3 to 7 years old, and every single one of them was so cute. They kept asking questions, and I had to try and understand what they were saying. After that, each of us were given a group of kids and paper and colors. While they drew, I asked them questions in English and said it in Thai if they did not understand. We taught them how to write their names in English, and I also taught them how to draw some things. It started raining so we moved them under shelter and we moved on to help them plant. They asked us if we could re-soil their plants, so we did that. Then we passed out treats that we had brought and gave our donations to the organisers. The kids had made personalized cards for us, and it was really nice to see that they had fun during our visit.

Nathan: My group went to the Fordec Organization for our community service project…. As soon as I entered, I saw this horde of cute little kids running about wildly, playing with each other. What I was more amazed by was how disciplined they were. As soon as their mistress ordered them to come sit in lines, they did it. The area was small, with a classroom and bathroom to the

right, a kitchen straight ahead, and a playground and garden to the right. First, we did a dance with them. The kids were obviously trained for this and we just stood there, trying to keep up with their dance moves. Then we all sat in the garden together. Madi, Diya, and Soft taught them English, while me and Tanik helped out. Junny was in charge of the pictures. We taught them colors, numbers, and the letters of the alphabet. When they asked questions and they answered it correctly, I would give them a gift of a pack of pencils or colors or notebooks. They would smile so nicely, that it was very easy to smile back. My favorite part came next, when we did the “Head, Shoulders, Knees

and Toes” dance with them. It was a lot of fun. Then the six of us sat with separate groups of four and taught them colors and letters individually. Finally, we gave them snacks to eat. They were very happy and so were we. Later, we planted small plants near this big tree with soil. Before leaving, we all stood for a final picture with the small tokens of appreciation we received from them. We also had our own photo session. Overall, I had an amazing time helping others, and I felt proud of myself. I had this inner happiness for the entire day after that. I realised how much I already had and was very happy that I had so much more than I needed. I thanked God for gifting me with such an awesome life and waking me up every morning to a beautiful day.

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mangrove forest Pang S:

Aom:

On September 4, 2016, our group planned a community service trip to Amphawa. We had lots of experiences there, such as feeding the monkeys and learning about their life there. We also water-skied. But the major activity was planting mangrove trees in the bog of mud. We tried many activities and some of them were challenging, like climbing up a ladder made of bamboo to eat our lunch. Our group chose this place to do our community service project so we could help plant some mangrove trees in Thailand. [This will] make our country [by] helping reduce pollution.

Our community service was planting mangrove trees. Before planting mangroves, we [got to] water-ski. I think that was the most challenging [part of] the trip because it’s hard to control your hands and your feet at the same time.

Pang L: For our community service project, our group decided to go to Amphawa to plant and conserve the well-known mangrove forest. We chose this place because we want to conserve the mangrove forest... because we have a small amount of mangrove forests in Thailand today. 14

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Thon: Our community service project … was a lifetime experience, going to the well-known Amphawa market with our classmates. It was a pleasure helping to conserve Thailand’s most popular mangrove forest. Amphawa Mangrove Community’s service was surprisingly tolerable. My first impression [of] the AMC project was that it wasn’t going to work, since we were not well planned, but [in the end] it was quite fun planting trees.

Phoom: Our group went to do a community service project on September 4, 2016. The place we chose was the mangrove forest. The reason we

chose this place is that we want to conserve the mangrove forests in Thailand. We … planted trees and fed the monkeys. I felt that it was a great experience for our group and helped us know [about] the mangrove forests in Thailand. With only few [of them] left, we all have to help conserve them.

Asian Science Camp 2016 By Natt (Bill) Towiwat

sian Science Camp 2016 (ASC) was held August 21–27 in Bengaluru, India. Delegates from 46 countries united to present and exchange ideas in science. The Promotion for Academic Olympiad of Science—under the patronage of her majesty Princess Galyani (POSN), along with the Ministry of Science and Technology of Thailand—organized a Thai Science Camp in April of this year, partly as a mock camp in preparation for the real ASC. This camp also ran for the purpose of choosing the ten delegates who would represent Thailand at ASC. I was one of the 10 candidates selected. With a specialization in physics, Asian Science Camp offered me several opportunities, including the chance to meet and talk with Science Nobel laureates and Fields Medalists during in-session group discussions, out-of-session high-tea conversations, and even during plenary sessions. A couple of these famous scientists were Professor Johannes Bednorz, who conducted research in high-temperature superconductivity; Professor Takaaki Kajita, who theorized the neutrino oscillations; and Dr. CNR Rao, who worked on solidstate molecular structure. However, the most interesting and interactive discussion was not with any of the scientists, but rather it was with a mathematician. Even though my specialty is physics, this Fields Medalist taught me not only the contents of mathematical physics but also the process of research, the order of importance in each process, and even the philosophy of studying the field of science in the future. His name is Professor Cédric Villani, a mathematician from the Henri Poincaré Institute of Mathematics in France.

Villani’s plenary session was mainly about his work on computation of the entropy of a thermodynamic system in microstate, from Boltzmann’s equation (S = kB 1n W). His other works concern Landau damping and plasma oscillations, which won him the Fields Medal in 2009. But the significance, in my opinion, is not his computation (as it is beyond my knowledge of mathematical computation), but I believe the main lesson I got from him was his conversation on research. The question I asked was “What is the significance of your computation in the Boltzmann equation?” The answer was not what I or any of my friends expected. Professor Villani, with his intense voice, responded “the answer to your question is that there is no significance in the computation itself.” To paraphrase the rest of his answer, Prof. Villani said that the fun was “not during the process of computation, but” he said with exclamation “that the starting of it, or the initiation of what you are working on is what makes all this mess,” pointing toward the triple integral Landau damping equation, “exciting.” Besides working with the Nobel laureates and a Fields Medalist, I participated in the poster contest. During the ASC, the 300 participants were grouped (randomly) with other international students. Each of these groups was required to come up with a scientific topic. Our topic was “the Universe’s life,” and, to include other viewpoints in cultures around the world, “the Universe’s life that ties in with world religions.” The tie-in I found was that the theory of the fate of the universe is actually inherent in each religion. For example, according to the Bible, the concept of Armageddon— where the world ends in fire—runs parallel to the theory of the “big crunch,” which proposes that when the universe is 10,000,000,000,000,000 years old, temperatures will increase and everything—stars, the Earth, humans, and very atoms—will fuse back together into a blistering temperature, ultimately turning into a singularity.

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HS Senior Convocation S

enior Convocation is one of the most meaningful events in the life of a student at RIS. On August 18, the entire HS community gathered in Godbout Hall to pay homage to RIS’s 60th graduating class, the Class of 2017. After a blessing from Father Travis, the Seniors received their Ad Astra pins and graduation gowns. Wearing their new robes, they returned to Godbout to thunderous applause. Principal Smith then reminded the students of the importance of senior year and encouraged them to make memories that will last a lifetime. He challenged them to take advantage of every opportunity and graduate RIS with no regrets. The Seniors were serenaded with a rendition of “Photograph” after which the recessional led them out of Godbout to take pictures with family and friends. Congratulations, Class of 2017! We cannot wait to see what this year has in store for you!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

When the South African Wilderness Became My Classroom By Pimbuppha Pongtornpipat & Manaka Saito

ummer holidays could hardly get better than spending two weeks immersed in the African bush and the Indian Ocean coral reefs. A group of seven students and two teachers from Ruamrudee International School embraced this eye-opening experience in South Africa with Operation Wallacea, an organization which conducts biological and conservation management research programs across the world. This “extension of our classroom” excursion wasn’t an ordinary tour to circuit the country from city to city or to spend days idling about. It was an expedition meant as an opportunity to use what we had learned in the classroom and to deepen our knowledge in an authentic setting and for a genuine cause. Our first week kicked off at the Balule Nature Reserve. Balule is an extension of the Greater Kruger National Park in the northeast corner of South Africa and is home to typical African wildlife. Imagine Safari World’s safari park except every single animal you see is truly wild and native. Hippos and crocodiles lounged in the Olifants River across from our lodge at the Struwig Eco Reserve. Giraffes grazed the topmost canopies and were the least alarmed by our open-air car rides. Hyenas whooped in the deep of night on our bush camp

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

sleepover, deterred by nothing but an electric fence and one rifle shared among three rangers. Lions prowled the premises where we ran habitat assessments and where more than once we happily abandoned our duties to embark on a chase for an encounter. Sodwana Bay was the destination for the second week. Located on the east coast of South Africa, its protected coral reefs are rich and diverse. As snorkelers and not scuba divers, we may have forfeited the opportunity to get up close with the smaller reef inhabitants but in exchange we had the time to pursue larger dwellers. There were absolutely magical moments swimming with bottlenose dolphins, reef sharks, sea turtles and brightly-colored schools of fish. Whales had migrated into the bay for the winter and we were lucky to witness a couple spouts of water and a tail from a distance away. Unlike the comforts provided by Balule’s youth hostel, we slept in tents at Sodwana Bay at the mercy of cold nights and a very mischievous dog with a penchant for pinching impala-and-kudu meat jerkies from our bags. As much as Operation Wallacea wanted us to enjoy ourselves, it was equally important that we expand our intellectual horizons and make our presence here count

for a bigger cause. At Balule our schedules were loaded with data collection exercises to evaluate the status of the bush ecosystem. We spent our days hopping on and off four-wheel drives, conducting habitat assessments and bird and game counts. An important aspect of these activities was that Operation Wallacea was going to utilize our data collection for its conservation projects and monitoring. This fact emphasizes that this wasn’t a simple classroom experiment or a course requirement. Operation Wallacea effectively created assignments that were both a student’s learning experience and an introduction to the professional world of research. With so many high school and university students on board, it was the opportune moment for Operation Wallacea to raise awareness of certain conservation efforts and give daily lectures on various elements of ecology and local zoology at Balule and Sodwana Bay. Three students in our group are currently taking their second year of IB Biology and it did not escape our attention that some classroom topics were repeated on these lectures in South Africa. In a classroom we tend to absorb information and are perhaps unable to fully grasp its place in the world. We had a field trip at Khao Yai National Park to implement practical work outside a campus setting, but it still felt like schoolwork. It lacked authenticity. Being able to link our knowledge at a place and time that mattered helped consolidate

our understanding and appreciation of what we learned within the walls of our classroom. It was also a terrific opportunity to work closely with experts in their field. The presence of such professionalism was just as crucial to the process of learning as physically completing our day-to-day tasks. The lecturers and rangers patiently taught us assessment procedures and liked to entertain us with fun facts of plants and animals we’d walk past. They were open to satisfying our many curiosities and may have inspired some of us to consider similar career paths. The easygoing relationship we cultivated with them added to the enjoyable memories of this trip. The credible atmosphere of the expedition is the best feature of Operation Wallacea. By taking students one step further outside their classroom environment, the program supplements what could not be justly replicated in school. The experience is a perfect fusion of fun and meaningful work. Most of the time, work hardly felt like work because we found ourselves so enthralled by it. There is no doubt that we all dearly loved our two weeks in South Africa and benefitted greatly from our time there. If given the chance to return, we would gladly pack our bags and plunge into another adventure of a lifetime.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

A Knowledge Enriching Summer at Yale

By Napat Sakulsaengprapha

he Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is a selective leadership development program for rising high school juniors and seniors. YYGS does not only expand the participant’s leadership skills, but also challenges them with university-level material. As of 2016, six courses are offered in the program: Biological & Biomedical Science; Politics, Law, and Economics; International Affairs and Security; Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship; Applied Science & Engineering; and Sustainability, Energy, & Environment. The Yale Young Global Scholars requires an application which consists of five parts: a resume, an official school transcript, two letter of recommendation, standardized test score (optional), and essays. The program brings together talented, motivated, and inspirational scholars from around the world. Students get exposed to a variety of course related topics through lectures, seminars, and open-ended discussions. The lecture is done mainly by Yale Faculty members, while the discussion section revolves around the students sharing different ideas and perspectives on the lecture. These discussions not only heighten one’s understanding of the topic, but also allow the students to learn about cultures and lifestyles of people from around

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

the globe. In addition, the scholars will collaborate with each other on a capstone project based on a topic which they are assigned and for which an academic research database is provided by Yale. The residential life is another very important aspect of the program. Students will be able to live on Yale’s University campus for two weeks; they will be able to subtly experience what college life is like through living in and sharing a dorm room with their peers. Sharing a suite or a room with scholars who may live from across the globe allows for cultural exchange. During the two weeks of the program, YYGS offers a variety of campus tours to scholars which range from Yale’s research facility in the West Campus, The Cushing’s Center, to the British Art Gallery Tour. With the rigorous schedule, participants will oftentime relax with a game of pool in the games room or a game of frisbee in the courtyard during their free time. Apart from the classes, students are given the opportunity to audition for the Speaker’s Series and the Talent Show. Both listening to inspirational stories from other talented youth in the Speaker’s Series or singing along to a song with everyone in the Talent Show are just amazing experiences that one will remember and cherish in the future. The Yale Young Global Scholars program

has been inspiring students from around the globe, to not only dwell deeper into subject areas they love but also open up to people and other cultures in the world. I chose to attend YYGS because of my interest in science. I attended the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) course because I wanted to further study biology, since I found my biology class at school fascinating. Biology courses at school are often times very structured; we learn about ideas that directly connect to biology. However, at YYGS my vision on the field of Biological and Biomedical Sciences was enhanced greatly due to the structure of the classes there. The lectures not only focused on topics which we learn at school, but combined those topics and built off of them to explore more ideas. One example is a lecture on the usage of music to improve stethoscopes auscultatory skills for new doctors and nurses. These

Ad Astra Student Voice Student voices in Sixth Grade Discovery Science with Ms. Jennifer Robertson: Discovery Science is an inquiry based science elective that allows middle school students to further explore scientific methodologies. The focus is on scientific investigation and the emphasis varies from grade to grade. The sixth grade focus is on Environmental Science, the seventh grade focus is Robotics, and the eighth grade focus is Electronics. This year in grade six, students have discovered the effects of oil mixed in Earth’s water system, the melting polar ice caps, as well as filtering pollution out of the air. We look forward to discovering soil properties in the Ruamrudee garden as well as honing our engineering skills throughout the year. This semester, there are 22 students who are eager to learn about the environment on a daily basis. Let’s ask two Ruamrudee sixth grade students to explain their thoughts about the class:

lectures that introduce ideas that will never be taught in a regular biology class are what scholars get to learn and talk about in discussion groups, not only allowing them to learn about new ideas but to see real life applications of biological and biomedical sciences as well. My favorite aspect about the program was definitely the people. The people who attended the course were probably the friendliest group I have ever met. Randomly sitting at a table with people who you have never talked to can lead you to becoming best friends. Everyone was talented, motivated, and shared an interest in the same area of study. Sharing a room and suite with people who have a totally different background was an astounding experience. Learning about my friends’ cultures and their opinions on different ideas contributed to long lasting friendships that will extend far beyond the two weeks at Yale. What are you learning about this year in Disco Science? JaJar, female: Mostly about the environment. Right now I’m learning about air and air pollution, how can we help the earth by making a filter or engineering. Before that we learned about cleaning up oil spills and helping the ocean and sea creatures. Thames, male: Air and water and how to make air filters and how to stop ice from melting in polar caps. What do you like about this topic? JaJar: I get to investigate the topic myself and in my groups - I get my hands dirty, and experiment. There’s no right or wrong answer in Discovery Science - all opinions are right. Plus, we get to help the environment. Thames: I like new ways to think about the world. Why is this topic important to you and to the RIS community? JaJar: For students in the RIS community and the world - kids are the future of the earth. We get to learn to help the environment, help animals live, and learn to solve the problems that were there before us. Thames: It lets me think of stuff. Because we’re supposed to learn and this is learning. It helps us think about science in fun ways. Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

By Tom Wash

WORLD SCHOLAR’S CUP GLOBAL ROUND 2016

he Global Round for the World Scholar’s Cup 2016 was held in Bangkok at Central World from June 26th to June 30th. All teams at the Global Round had to qualify at a Regional Round in order to participate. We had 2 Junior teams and 6 Senior teams participating at the Global Round. Teams were accompanied by Mr. Tom Wash and Mr. Robert Golding. RIS was a host school this year for the debate, collaborative writing and scholar’s challenge competitions. We played host to half of the 3400 scholars from around the world on Monday for Junior scholars and Tuesday for Senior scholars. The events went very smoothly and many compliments were given by students and coaches on our facilities and our ability to host such an event.

Juniors Tanyanij (Miu Miu) Lerthirunvibul, Passara (Ink) Chanchotisatien, Panawee (Biew Biew) Sakulwannadee

Seniors

Prima Suntornwipart, Jirawatchara (Alex) Tanthiptham, Nattawat (Nash) Luxsuwong Korranit (Air) Khomin, Zehuan (Jackie) Wu, Sirapat (Poom) Phunjamaneechot Nacha Rapeerattanakul, Sirasorn Tichachol (Pun), Tejas Pal Ayush Sehgal, Rohan Nakra, Karis Kungsamutr (Kay) Pusint (Poom) Liamtrakoolpanich, Panuvat (Todd) Chutichetpong, Dan Chunhavajira

RIS teams and individual scholars performed very well and received numerous team and individual awards. Highlights are too many to list here but can be found on the following pages. Our goal this year was to qualify teams for the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in November. In order to qualify teams had to score 25,000 points at the Global Round. 6 of 8 teams qualified for the Tournament of Champions. Those teams are

WORLD SCHOLAR’S CUP 2016 GLOBAL ROUND RESULTS JUNIORS

Kanapol (Pung-Pond) Glinpu Pathid (Pat) Liamtrakoolpanich Kritin (Bomb) Vongthongsri

Tanyanij (Miu Miu) Lerthirunvibul

Passara (Ink) Chanchotisatien Panawee (Biew Biew) Sakulwannadee

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Gold Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal:

Top Challenge Teams Challenge Special Area Top Challenge Teams Challenge Social Studies Top Challenge Teams Challenge Science Challenge Special Area Challenge Total Score 14th Place Top Writing Teams Top School Scholar Junior Division Champion Debaters Champion Writers 14th Place Top Writing Teams 35th Place Champion Writers 14th Place Top Writing Teams Champion Writers

SENIORS Prima Suntornwipart

Jirawatchara (Alex) Tanthiptham

Nattawat (Nash) Luxsuwong Ravipa (Amp) Burapachaisri

Krittanat (Ford) Nalamlieng Pornruthai (Bao Bao) Laosirihongthong Korranit (Air) Khomin

Zehuan (Jackie) Wu

Sirapat (Poom) Phunjamaneechot Nacha Rapeerattanakul

Sirasorn Tichachol (Pun) Tejas Pal Ayush Sehgal Rohan Nakra

Karis Kungsamutr (Kay)

Pusint (Poom) Liamtrakoolpanich Panuvat (Todd) Chutichetpong

Dan Chunhavajira

Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Gold Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Gold Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal: Silver Medal:

Team Bowl 41st Place Champion Writers 68th Place DaVinci Scholars Challenge Science Challenge Social Studies Challenge Special Area Team Bowl Challenge History Challenge Science Challenge Social Studies Challenge Special Area Challenge Total Score Team Bowl Top Writing Teams Challenge History Challenge Science Challenge Social Studies Top Writing Teams Champion Writers Top Writing Teams Top Challenge Teams Top Writing Teams Champion Writers Challenge Science Top Challenge Teams Top Writing Teams 5th Place Challenge Social Studies 44th Place Champion Scholars Top School Scholar Senior Division Champion Debaters Challenge History Challenge Literature Challenge Special Area Challenge Total Score Top Challenge Teams Top Writing Teams Challenge Special Area Top Challenge Teams Challenge Arts Challenge Literature Challenge Social Studies Challenge Special Area Challenge Total Score Top Challenge Teams Challenge Literature Top Challenge Teams Challenge Science Team Bowl DaVinci Scholars Team Bowl 12th Place DaVinci Scholars Champion Debaters Challenge Special Area Team Bowl DaVinci Scholars Challenge Science Challenge Special Area Team Bowl 54th Place DaVinci Scholars Challenge Social Studies Team Bowl 77th Place Champion Scholars Champion Debaters Champion Writers Challenge History Challenge Literature Challenge Special Area Challenge Total Score Team Bowl

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

WORLD SCHOLAR’S CUP GLOBAL ROUND 2016

By Amp Burapachaisri

“E

y! Yo! Scholars!” the acoustics of Centara Hall boomed as Burch Wang, director of social stuff, jumped on stage. Scholars from all corners of the world screamed ecstatically. They all waited a year for this event. They all qualified for this event. They all poured their time and effort into the moments leading up to this event. This is the World Scholar’s Cup Global Round, held right here in Bangkok, Thailand. With over 3,200 scholars from over 50 countries, the Global Round is a guaranteed way to meet new scholars from Slovenia, Zambia, Lithuania, Angola, and so many more countries. Within the span of four days, scholars will experience scavenger hunts, keynote speeches, panel discussions, the Scholar’s Ball, and the Debate Showcase. This was it. The pinnacle of the World Scholar’s Cup program. Everything we’d been preparing for since the beginning of the school year—our talents, our skills— would be displayed within the span of these four days. Day one started out with a superb opening ceremony: a dazzling Thai traditional dance performed by students at the nearby Rangsit University. Mr. Boey Kim Cheng,

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

the keynote speaker, was also one of the poets (Report to Wordsworth) in the literature category. Mr. Cheng’s literary eloquence illuminated both teenagers’ and adults’ minds alike. The next activity was equally stirring: the Scholar’s Scavenger Hunt. As like last year, mall security was quite concerned when students started dancing in front of Sephora or initiated a flashmob. We were put into teams of eleven; the scholars were all strangers from different countries. As for me, I had the privilege of meeting Adam Coe, a junior from Tanglin Trust School. We bonded over SEASAC stories and a shared interest of soccer. Instead of finding objects, scholars were tasked with doing unorthodox missions: pretending to be a tree in front of Timberland, pretending to be fishing at the ice rink, etc. Finally, the day came to an end with the Scholar’s Social, an event held at the GMM Livehouse. Here, music pounded the stereo as students from Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, and so many more countries introduced themselves and forged new friendships. The second day meant business. Seniors and juniors were arranged into two groups, the Skittles and the Shortcakes, to be taken to two different schools: our very own RIS and Rangsit University. Luckily, all the Ruamrudee kids competing at the Global Round were

placed at RIS, so we had what you would call in sports “home field advantage”. The day started out with the challenging multiple-choice exam, unsurprisingly called “The Challenge”. In this assessment, scholars had to answer 120 questions; 20 questions each in literature, science, social studies, history, art and music, and crime and injustice. To make matters more stretching, questions often crossed disciplines, meaning that the question often combined concepts from art and science, crime and injustice with social studies, and so on. Next came the team debate. In this event, scholars are randomly picked to debate against another team. Topics are not revealed until just fifteen minutes before the debate begins. This job, while fun, was a grueling one: scholars not only have to use their wits, but also have to avoid falling prey to logical fallacies. Once spoken, they often terminate the team’s chances of winning the debate—that is, if the opposition is quick enough to detect them. We ended the day with collaborative writing. In this event, scholars are given six statements from the six different subject areas. They are then asked to choose to argue for or against the statement. Day three was our “down-time”, so to speak. Although not as demanding as The Challenge, debate, and collaborative writing, the Scholar’s Bowl was undeniably just as fun. Following it came the Debate Showcase, which pitted the eight top debate speakers against each other. The day concluded with the exhilarating Scholar’s Ball, a social event that truly embodies the “work hard, play hard” style. The whole program went by in a flash; the last day finally came and it was time for the award ceremony and farewell. Ruamrudee scholars, just as expected, placed extremely well. Here are a few notable mentions:

Tanyanij Lerthirunvibul Top School Scholar, Junior Division Champion Writer Jackie Wu Top School Scholar, Senior Division Champion Debater 5th Place, Challenge Social Studies Alex Tanthiptham Honor Medal, Challenge History Honor Medal, Challenge Special Area Honor Medal, Challenge Science Challenge Total Score Todd Chutichetpong Honor Medal, Challenge History Champion Debater Champion Writer Honor Medal, Challenge Literature Although seven out of eight teams from Ruamrudee have qualified for the Tournament of Champions at Yale, four teams will be participating. The senior teams representing RIS are comprised of Todd Chutichetpong, Alex Tantheeptham, and Prima Suntornwipart, Jackie Wu, Poom Phunjamaneechot, and Air Khomin, Ayush Sehgal, Rohan Nakra, and Kay Kungsamutr. The junior team, on the other hand, includes Miu Miu Lerthirunvibul, Biew Biew Sakulwannadee, and Ink Chanchotisatien. As the oldest member of the World Scholar’s Cup team at RIS, I can indubitably say that the World Scholar’s Cup never ceases to be exciting, educational, and eyeopening. It is almost impossible to walk away from this event without making any new friends, new discoveries, and of course — procuring new alpacas. I wouldn’t hesitate to join this program, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

RIS Students Photographer Association Club By Ono. Punn (Vice President) and Por Por. T (President)

ast year was tremendously successful for the RSPA club—thousands of photos were taken and shared. Our club has provided sports teams, teachers, and students with near professionalquality photos. We would like to assure anyone who is looking to join our club that they will enjoy their experience learning new photography skills. RSPA was founded two years ago by a few students who are interested in photography and who wanted to use their photography skills to help others enjoy the hobby as well. Our photographers work very hard to ensure they produce the best quality photos possible. We may not have the best equipment, but we make do and make the best out of what we have. What’s most important for us is capturing the moments that can’t be recreated. RSPA team members collaborate, learn new things together, help each other out, and make sure everyone is doing their best. Our club is an inspiring place to learn and practice the art of photography. Our favorite activity is a photography challenge where we give out challenges such as the “cheap camera challenge,” the “50mm lens challenge,” or challenges with a specific theme. And at the end of every semester, we host a photography competition where members can get their work featured in the art gallery. RSPA is not just a photography club, it’s a family. We’d love you to join us.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Good Shepherd Scholarship Fundraising Program By Panpailin (Ploy) Jantarasombat

ach year, the RIS High School is filled with various activities students join to be involved in the community. One of these includes the National Honor Society (NHS). We have been working closely with the Good Shepherd Sisters Orphanage, a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities to young women and girls. With each visit, we grow closer and closer to the girls there. Both the girls in the orphanage and the students in RIS aim to go to university, however different or similar they may be. As such, one of the NHS programs includes fundraising to support girls around seventeen or eighteen year old to achieve their future educational goals. In particular, the scholarship program this year is ambitious but will be every bit worthwhile. We set a goal to fundraise at least 60,000 baht to send six girls off to university. “I am going to work hard and send my money to help my parents and siblings,” says Ice, 17, “Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.” The first activity NHS has set is the Donate-O-Meter Fundraiser. Ten teachers have volunteered to dress up in hilarious outfits for a fashion show– which you will be able to see if you help donate. Bidding opens at milkbreak and lunch on September 26 to 28 as well as October 3 and 4. During that time, anyone can donate money. Each minor target amount reached means another teacher dressing up. We’re hoping to raise at least 20,000 baht on this one.

Here are the six girls: Sudaporn Pitakkuntarn (Da) Age: 18 years old Future goals: ● Study at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University ● Be a teacher Pikulthong Chalongvisit (Ice) Age: 17 years old Future goals: ● Study at Srinakharinwirot University ● Be a teacher Nartaya Saesong (Yah) Age: 18 years old Future goals: ● Study at Mahidol University or Thai Red Cross College of Nursing ● Be a nurse Siriporn Saesee (Aom) Age: 18 years old Future goals: ● Study at Naresuan University, Faculty of Science ● Be a cosmetic scientist If you would like to meet these girls, and many more of our friends, NHS is organizing frequent trips to the orphanage in this upcoming year. The first one will be on November 13. In the second semester, monthly trips are being planned, and hopefully they will be able to visit our campus as well. A pen pal letter program between the children at the orphanage and our elementary school kids is being arranged. So being an NHS member is not required to build a stronger relationship with the Good Shepherd Orphanage– the only thing you will need is enthusiasm. If you would like to participate in any fundraising program, please contact Mimi at supisaraneek17@ rism.ac.th. If you would like to participate in our trips, please contact Ploy at panpailinj17@rism.ac.th. Thank you for your interest in helping out our friends at Good Shepherd!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Leo Club Dodgeball By Chaniya Miller (Nam Fon)

or an entire week in September, the RIS Leo Club hosted its annual Dodgeball Tournament. The proceeds, more than 10,000 baht, went to the Orphanage Foundation of Thailand. The sheer number of people who paid to participate in the competition, as well as those who bought concessions, illustrates the charitable spirit of our High School.

The atmosphere was lively with music, food, friends, and competition. The week-long tournament concluded with the last team standing playing the faculty in the final round. Geared up in retro clothing and entering the court to “The Eye of the Tiger” blasting from the speakers, the faculty played their hardest against the winning student team. All in good spirit, the teachers hilariously lost all rounds, even with handicaps placed against the student team. The reason the Leo Club can successfully host the Dodgeball Tournament every year stems from the nature of friendly competition. Leo’s Dodgeball Tournament allows self-selected teams to compete in an amicable rivalry. Players enjoy the thrill of competing against other teams in other grades, and spectators, cheering for their friends and grade level, are all fully engaged in the competition. This creates a sense of belonging and spirit within the RIS High School community that allows our Dodgeball Tournament to thrive. 28

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

The RIS High School Choir Community By Hannah Diopenes

hat do you hear when you cross the second floor of the Redeemer building after school? Almost everyday of the week you can hear the high, soaring voices in perfect harmony, the energy of the blending voices warming you as you take each step closer to the classrooms. Maybe you hear loud laughter and shouts of joy followed by the crisp notes of a piano. Ruamrudee has had a strong choir community for many years, a community filled with people that each have something in common, the love for music. From chorus classes, to the Vocal Jazz Choir, all the way to the honors choirs, each team has worked hard learning pieces of music and putting it together (with a few mistakes along the way). When all of it has been prepared, each choir’s contribution is showcased in an end-of-semester performance for all to see. The RIS choir community is not only about making music and performing, but it is also about building connections and making lasting friendships with new people. The tight-knit community within and between choirs helps to strengthen the music as there is confidence between each member. Mimi, a senior, who is in the honors choir Vivace says; “I got to know many new friends in choir. When we get together, singing and exchanging knowledge through discussion, I got to know that other than singing, we also share many of the same hobbies.” Asta who is part of Bellavoix, the Women’s Honors Choir, highlights the fun we have backstage, “If I’m honest, choir inspires a lot of backstage lipsyncing, so that’s a fun thing that happens at almost all the choir concerts. It’s always funny to see people really get into it.”

Apart from coming together to create music and beautiful harmonies, many students also acknowledge the hard work that comes with being in the choir. Every new year comes with the challenge to not only learn music, but also to memorize notes and lyrics. They must remember when to pause, where to breathe, and most most importantly, learn how to convey the message of each piece with feeling. Manaka, part of Vivace, tells some of the difficulties of balancing music and other extracurricular activities, “There were times when I didn’t get to adequately practice the songs before rehearsals, making me feel pretty unprepared. There was a time where I had to leave early from choir camp in order to perform in the dance showcase as well.” Despite all this, Manaka finds support from the community, “...the choir program still accepted me to perform in the concert and the other members helped me to remember the songs and catch up with any choreography. With the help of the members of choir and the acceptance from the choir program, I have been able to continue choir for 4 years and have fun.” In other words, the choir community at RIS welcomes and supports anyone willing to join, make new friends, and create beautiful music!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

International Food Fair

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Thank you to our wonderful Parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Auxiliary for hosting our annual International Food Fair. Your dedication and hard work is greatly appreciated and results in one of our favorite days of the year!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

RIS Welcomes New Teachers Dr. Julie Schuilwerve ES Principal

I’ve worked as an advocate for children in many capacities: as a teacher, a principal, an ESL specialist, and a social worker. I earned my Doctorate degree with a specialization in Teacher Leadership from Walden University. During my career, I’ve worked in Saudi Arabia, North Carolina (USA), Singapore, Texas (USA), and South Carolina (USA).

Tim Irish

ES Assistant Principal My name is Tim Irish, and I’m the Preschool–Grade 8 Assistant Principal. My grandparents, parents, and two sisters were all teachers, so at the age of 14 I decided that there was no other work I would rather do. I earned my teaching degree from Alma College and my administration degree from the University of Illinois. I have worked in schools in Michigan, Virginia, Illinois, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, and Qatar. In my free time, I like to cook and read, or play tennis, soccer, and the harmonica.

Christine Whitmarsh Pre-School

Hello! My name is Ms. Christine. I’m from Three Rivers, California, where the giant sequoia trees grow. My last 14 years of teaching were in 2nd grade and kindergarten. I love guiding the little ones into becoming independent readers. My kindergarten students here amaze me every day. This is my first year teaching abroad, and I feel so fortunate to be at RIS. When I’m not on campus, I’m exploring the world around me—the local birds and plant life fascinate me. I really enjoy visiting national parks and hiking. Many adventures await here in Thailand!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Alison Clare 1st Grade

I’m Alison Clare Kes, and I feel so lucky to be teaching first grade at Ruamrudee International School. I taught first graders for four years in Bolivia and Morocco. Last year I taught fifth grade and quickly realized that I’m meant to teach young children how to read, write, add, subtract, and most importantly, to think creatively. I’m so happy to be teaching first grade again! When I’m not teaching, I like to cook and read, and I also enjoy spending time in nature. I’m so excited to learn more about the culture and natural beauty of Thailand. I look forward to getting to know you all!

Channin Becker 3rd Grade

My name is Channin Becker, and I’m excited to be teaching fourth grade at RIS! This is my tenth year as an international teacher, and RIS is my third school. I previously worked in Syria and the United Arab Emirates. I have a Master’s degree in Special Education from Portland State University. I taught special education in Beaverton, Oregon, before moving overseas to teach. I’m originally from Baker City, Oregon, a rural part of the state that’s ideal for hiking, camping, and enjoying the quiet life. During the summer, I’m also an avid geocacher! I love to travel, socialize with friends, sing, and participate in theater arts. I’m looking forward to all my adventures in Thailand and at Ruamrudee International School.

Brianne Finn 4th Grade

Hello! My name is Brianne Finn, and I’m from the United States. I’ve spent the last 3 years teaching fifth grade grade in San Luis Obispo, California. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (Elementary Education) from California Polytechnic State University, otherwise known as Cal Poly. This is my first time teaching overseas, and I could not be more excited to call RIS and Thailand my new home. When I’m not at school, I like being active and exploring the world. You can usually find me at the gym, lifting weights and cheering on others in a CrossFit workout. I also enjoy traveling and am very excited to explore Asia. I am already in love with Thailand and RIS!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Lysanne Darmody 5th Grade

My name is Lysanne Darmody, and I’m from Ottawa, Canada. I’ve been teaching in Ottawa for the past 8 years, mostly to students in grades 6–8. I have a Master’s of Education in Teaching, Learning, and Evaluation. Prior to teaching in Ottawa, I spent a year teaching English in Japan. When I have free time, I like to spend it outside. I love running, playing soccer, and downhill skiing. I also enjoy hiking, surfing, camping, and climbing. I find learning new languages both challenging and rewarding. I speak English and French and am always keen to learn new words and phrases when I’m in a new place. I’m very much looking forward to a positive year at RIS!

Kevin Brodeur

6th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies Hello! I’m Kevin Brodeur, the new sixth-grade humanities teacher here at RIS. I’m from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a small mill town about 65 km west of Boston. I’ve been a teacher for more than 20 years, after earning my Bachelor’s degree at Seton Hall University (go Pirates!). For the past 17 years, I taught fifth grade and was the Drama Director at Applewild School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. I’m really just a big kid at heart. Like most sixth graders, I love to laugh, joke, run, and play. But the grown-up side of me loves some quiet time read, write, and learn new things. I enjoy nurturing my creative streak and have dabbled in voice acting and creative writing. I’m most passionate about spending time with my wife and sons, teaching and learning, travelling and trying new foods, and all Boston sports teams. The thing I love most about RIS—besides the great kids I teach—is the closeness of the community. When I agreed to come to Bangkok, I wasn’t expecting to feel that close-knit, friendly, small-town feeling again anytime soon, but that’s just what I’ve found within the halls of Ruamrudee. I feel very grateful that my first international teaching post is here at RIS. My family and I are thrilled by the opportunity and adventure that living in greater Bangkok affords us, and we’re humbled by the welcome we’ve received from both the RIS community and the people of Thailand in general. We’re looking forward to getting to know our new home.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Monica White

ES Physical Education My name is Monica White, and I’m from Houston, Texas. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (Sports Management). This will be my thirteenth year teaching Physical Education, and I’m thrilled that it’s here at RIS. This is my first international teaching job, and I’m looking forward to the fun and excitement that this year will bring. When I’m not at work, I love to travel and experience new adventures.

Claudia Schmitz MS Band

My name is Claudia Schmitz, and I teach middle school band. I’m originally from Long Island, New York, but I have also lived and worked in Michigan. I hold degrees in Music Education and Trombone Performance from the Crane School of Music and Western Michigan University. Immediately before moving to Thailand, I worked at Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas, Venezuela. In addition to making and listening to music of all types, I stay active through fencing, hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving, and kite surfing. I’m an also an avid reader, knitter, and board game player. I’m so excited to be part of the RIS family in this beautiful country.

Lindsey Skewis

6th Grade Humanities My name is Lindsey Skewis. I was born and raised in Texas and earned my degree from Texas A&M University. After graduating, I moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I served as a volunteer teacher for a nonprofit organization. It was there that I realized my passion for teaching students learning English as their second language. When I returned to the states, I taught middle school for six years before deciding to take the leap to move abroad. I attended an international school for a short time during my own childhood and have great memories of my experiences there. Because of this, I have always wanted to teach at an international school myself. I love to travel and explore other cultures, so I’m honored to have the opportunity to be part of the RIS family as a 6th-grade humanities teacher this year.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Melissa Lemmons HS IB Psychology

Hi! I’m Melissa Lemmons, and I’m from Tampa, Florida. I’m so excited and grateful for this opportunity to live in Thailand and teach at such an incredible school! Although this is my first position at an international school, I have experienced living abroad when I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Belize. It’s great to have the opportunity to experience a different place and culture. My educational and professional background is in secondary education. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education (Social Science), as well as a Masters of Art in Special Education and have been teaching for eight years. But psychology is the subject I’m most passionate about, so I’m happy to have a full schedule teaching IB Psychology! I recently earned my certification as a yoga instructor and enjoy offering yoga classes to the RIS community. During my free time, I love to travel and explore new places with my husband, Shawn. I’m excited to learn more about Thailand and this beautiful region of the world!

Éamonn Dunne HS English

Greetings! My name is Éamonn Dunne and I’m coming to RIS from Ireland. I’m originally from Dublin but have been living in Co. Wicklow since 2004 with my wife, Jenny, and our three children: Peter, Aidan, and Ciarán. Our boys, I’m delighted to say, are also with us at RIS and enjoying every minute of school life here; though the weather will take a little getting used to for them – they miss their coats already. I hold a PhD in English from University College Dublin and am in the latter stages of a second PhD in Education from Trinity College Dublin. I received my B.A. in English from the University of Westminster, London, and an M.A. in English from NUI Maynooth, Ireland. I have taught English and Philosophy courses at three universities and have also been teaching in high schools for over eight years now. Besides my passion for teaching literature and philosophy, I love writing and publishing research in education and literary theory. I have published three books so far and am currently working on my fourth. When I’m not teaching and researching, I like to go fly-fishing and hill-walking as often as possible.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Sarah Boulware HS Social Studies

Hello! My name is Sarah Boulware, and I teach grade 9 and 10 World History here at RIS. I have a Master’s degree in International Studies. Originally, I’m from the colonial triangle of Virginia, a rich historical area. Living there and volunteering at a local history museum helped me to build a lifelong love of social studies. I was born in Germany and was able to return as an exchange student in high school. Participating in an exchange program encouraged me to visit more countries and learn about other cultures. I’ve been fortunate to also have lived in Denmark, Northern Ireland, and China. I spent the last four years teaching social studies in southern China, where I became fascinated with the rich cultures across Asia. My husband, Jeremiah, and I enjoy living in Thailand and traveling with our dog Barnaby.

Shayna Stern-Tolkmitt School Psychologist

Greetings! My name is Shayna Stern-Tolkmitt, and I’m delighted to be a School Psychologist at RIS! I’ve come from California with my husband, who is teaching mathematics at Mahidol University Demonstration School, and our 13- and 14-year-old children. I have 12 years of experience working as a School Psychologist in California schools assisting 2- to 18-year-old students. I love school psychology and helping students and families. Prior to being a school psychologist, I worked as a primary classroom teacher. This is our family’s first time living abroad, and so far we love Thailand and RIS. I can’t think of a better place to spend my days!

Joanna Bailes

Speech-Language Pathologist I completed my Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Western University. Following my studies, I had the opportunity to work in a school division in Canada for 3 years, where I supported students with diverse backgrounds in developing communication abilities. My personal passion for travel and adventure, along with my desire to work with people from around the world, led me to shortterm volunteer positions in Peru and Bangladesh before arriving in Bangkok, where I have been working since August 2015.

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Tonya Parham

Director of Teaching & Learning (secondary) This is my twenty-first year in education, beginning first as a teacher in the United States before moving on to international education. I spent the last 13 years overseas in Bolivia and China. The past four years, I served as High School Vice Principal for the Pudong Campus of the Shanghai American School (SAS), leading and facilitating teacher improvement, curriculum, and instruction. As an administrator, I have also served as an Adjunct Instructor for Plymouth State University for the The Reflective Teacher course. Prior to moving into administration, I served as a Department Head and taught a broad range of social sciences, including AP Economics, AP U.S. History, Sociology, Government and Politics, and World History. Throughout my teaching and administrative career, curriculum and professional development have been key elements in my work with teachers and in the schools I served. I earned my undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, my hometown. I went on to earn my Master’s in Education in Educational Leadership from the University of South Alabama.

Todd Parham

Director of Athletics I have been in education for 20 years, working as an elementary school, middle school, and high school Physical Education teacher for many of those years. I’ve been the Director of Athletics and Activities for the past 13 years. My family and I have lived and worked in Bismarck, North Dakota; Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Shanghai, China, and we’re now thrilled to call RIS and Bangkok our home.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

You’re Somebody’s (Blood) Type “Helping a person will not necessarily change the world, but it will change the world for that person.”

n September 27, 2016, the Red Cross Committee hosted its first blood drive of the school year. Each semester, RIS works with the Thai Red Cross Society to hold this event for the members of our school community. Throughout the day, there was no shortage of students, teachers, parents, and staff members who stepped up to help this great cause, whether to donate blood or provide moral support. Altogether, we had 80 successful blood donations—that’s 240 lives saved!

didn’t get a chance to donate this time, remember that there will always be another chance to help those in need. We look forward to seeing all the donors, both old and new, the next time around!

Even though some donors had an initial phobia about needles, there was only laughter and smiles once things got going, especially when we helped them refuel with our sugary treats. Or maybe it was the super-cute keychains and stickers, all of which were handmade by the members of our committee. However, there’s no doubt that the best part was the gratitude that came with being someone’s superhero. Once again, we’d like to thank all of our wonderful donors, staff, medical personnel, and especially our advisor, Ms. Sabrena, for setting up this event. Our next blood drive is scheduled for March 7, 2017. So if you Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

RIS Alumnae Ms. Phantira Sudsawasdi (Chanjaow) Faculty of Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology [SIIT], Thammasat University, Major in Engineering Management

When I step back on campus all the good old memories flash into my head and I miss all the moments I spent on campus, especially with friends and teachers in each class I took. Without them the word school wouldn’t be fulfilling. I’m so thankful that RIS gave me so many good experiences, memories and feelings.

Arpapat Noonpukdee (Pleng)

Pasiree Worasatit (Fon)

Bachelor of Economics, Thammasat University It has been 4 years since I graduated from RIS, class of 2012. It felt just the same as the previous 4 years as I stepped back on the campus. Things around school may have changed, but the memories haven’t. Hence we’re all here, coming back to a place full of memories, to capture every moment and detail that happened in a place where we grew up together.

Natthawipa Sangkakit (Noon)

Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University

Bachelor of Economics, Thammasat University Although it has already been four years since I graduated from RIS, as soon as I stepped into this place once again, it seemed as if everything was yesterday. Every corner of the school, from the classrooms, hallway, to the canteen, has brought me back all the memories I had here. As an alumna, I am very grateful that I had a chance to come back to RIS, the place where I grew up. RIS will always be my second home.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

Coming back to RIS this time was not quite the same; now that I have graduated from university I know that I have come far from being the lively girl who once ran around here. A lot of good memories flashed back to me of my friends and teachers. Every location within the school has a moment of its own in my memory. I hope that these memories will last forever because it has become a part of me and who I am. Thank you RIS for giving me the best 13 years of memories.

Sopita Rungruengrayapkul (Mymy)

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Chulalongkorn University RIS has been my home for 13 years, longer than any home that I’ve actually lived in. Stepping back on campus, the happy memories of my childhood flood back; it is a pleasant feeling. If I had a choice, I would come back everyday, but even though the campus is almost exactly as it was when I studied here, the people around me that made it a wonderful experience aren’t there. I could confidently say that those who I met at RIS are the best people I’ll ever find, and sending me to RIS is the best choice my mom ever made for me.

Torfun Kidsanapun (Van)

Bachelor of Business Administration, Chulalongkorn University Last week, I had the chance to visit RIS campus for the very first time in 4 years. The campus has changed a lot and somehow looked different. However, the school feels like home to me, and I feel grateful for being able to come back home again.

Kwankaew Kidsanapun (View)

Bachelor of Economics, Thammasat University Going back to school, it’s making me nostalgic for the past. Although I’ve still been contacting friends from RIS, I never had a chance to go back. For the past 4 years, RIS was one of the most up-coming topics of my conversation. I miss my friends. I miss my teachers. I miss the free blocks. I miss the food. Now that I’m working, I miss RIS even more. As I was driving through the gates, I was looking forward to see if anything has change. But in fact, nothing has changed (except for the new wall color and office renovation). School felt as warm as before and I was very pleased to received warm welcomes by all the school staffs. With all that being said, Ruamrudee is the best highschool.

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RIS: Photo of the Day: 7/10/2016 Before everyone leaves campus for the weekend, we would like to share one final memory from yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teacher fashion show. Thank you to Mr. Dan and our NHS for providing us with this truly unforgettable moment!

RIS: Photo of the Day: 29/9/2016 Taking advantage of year-round gorgeous weather is something that RIS faculty and students do best! Today, Ms. Lindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PE class graduated from kayaking in the pool to kayaking in the nearby Perfect Place lake. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water!

RIS: Photo of the Day: 26/9/2016 Last week we celebrated peace on our campus. During their classes, students reflected on peace in their everyday lives and in our world. One of the many highlights of the week occurred during a special Peace Mass. In front of RIS students, faculty, and parents, Father Travis released three doves symbolizing hope, love, and peace. It truly was a special moment for everyone involved!

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016

RIS: Photo of the Day: 22/9/2016 Our new RIS advertising campaign begins today with ads in Bangkok Post (page 3), The Nation (page 7B), Wise Weekly (page 56), The Sing Sian Yer Pao Daily News (page A3), and Krungthepturakij (judprakai 6). For this campaign, we are featuring two themes, “Your Child Our World” and “Numbers of Success”. A special shout-out to Grade 1 student Jayden and KG student Alina who will be starring in our new ads throughout the semester! RIS: Photo of the Day: 14/9/2016 This morning, we inducted students into the National Honor Society. NHS is open to high school students around the world who lead their school in scholarship, leadership, and service. Congratulations to our newest NHS members! We know you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to lead and serve our community.

RIS: Photo of the Day: 24/8/2016 What can a self-portrait tell us about a person? Balancing self-reflection and skill, our Grade 3 artists are currently sketching and painting self-portraits in their art classes.

Ad Astra Volume 19 November 2016