April-May Issue 2023

The The

C O N T E N T S

AMBER QUICK High school Principal

Dear ICS Students,

What a great start to the 2022-23 school year it has been! I have been so impressed with the way you have transitioned back into full-on activities and student life at school along with your many extra curriculars Nothing makes me happier than to see us return to a sense of ‘normalcy’- I am praying that it will last!

With some relaxed restrictions and a return to intentional community comes a lot of busy! I would encourage you to find an area to get involved in while also maintaining a good sense of balance and space for yourself Consider being active in things that bring you joy rather than only filling your plate out of duty or a sense of expectation

Freshmen and new students- welcome to High School! I hope the transition has been smooth for you and that you are finding a rhythm to everything that is new Please don’t hesitate to reach out to someone if you have questions!

Seniors- welcome to all of the “lasts”- a year of them! Last first day of school, last sports season, last Eagles Camp, last SALT trip (Senior Trip), etc. While they may feel unending with the finish line so far away, it will go faster than you think it will. Take time to invest in friendships, make memories and enjoy your time here at ICS. We love you and will be cheering you on to Graduation!

It is a pleasure to serve as your principal this year. You bring me great joy and I love getting to know HS students! Please don’t hesitate to reach out, swing by for a chat or stop me in the hallway to talk. I hope your year is a great one!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Amber

THE TEAM

MARK COOPRIDER Advisor

Dear Readers,

I t ' s b e e n a m a z i n g b e i n g f u l l y b a c k o n c a m p u s t h i s y e a r a n d s e e i n g a l l t h e s t u d e n t s b a c k i n a c t i o n ! I ' m r e a l l y p r o u d o f y o u g u y s , h o w y o u ' v e b o u n c e d b a c k f r o m C O V I D , a n d h o w y o u ' v e c o n t i n u e d t o e m b r a c e a n d s h a p e t h e c u l t u r e o f o u r h i g h s c h o o l . A n d I ' m r e a l l y p r o u d t o b e a p a r t o f T h e Q u i l l a g a i n ! I h o p e t h a t y o u e n j o y r e a d i n g a n d s e e i n g t h e c r e a t i v i t y a n d i n s i g h t s o n d i s p l a y f r o m o u r w o n d e r f u l t e a m !

S i n c e r e l y , Mr.Mark

PROUD UA-ARAK

E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f

Dear Readers, W e l c o m e a l l t o t h e 1 0 t h V o l u m e o f T h e Q u i l l M a g a z i n e ! T h e r e ’ s a m i x o f e x c i t e m e n t a n d p r e s s u r e i n e q u a l p a r t s t o c o n t i n u e w h a t c a n n o w b e c a l l e d a d e c a d e - o l d t r a d i t i o n h e r e a t I C S . I ’ d l i k e t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h a n k t h e w r i t e r s , e d i t o r s , a n d l a y o u t d e s i g n e r s t h i s y e a r f o r t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o s h a r i n g t h e i r b e s t i d e a s a n d d o c u m e n t i n g t h e g o i n g s - o n o f t h i s p l a c e w e c a l l o u r s e c o n d h o m e . I t i s o u r t e a m ’ s s i n c e r e s t h o p e t h a t y o u e n j o y o u r B a c k t o S c h o o l i s s u e , a n d p l e a s e l o o k f o r w a r d t o o u r f u t u r e p u b l i c a t i o n s t o c o m e !

Q u i l l f u l l y Y o u r s , Proud

FAH PRAYOTTAVEKIT

S e n i o r E d i t o r

Dear Quill Readers,

I s i n c e r e l y b e l i e v e t h a t t h e Q u i l l p r o v i d e s a m a z i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r I C S s t u d e n t s t o e x p r e s s t h e m s e l v e s c r e a t i v e l y i n w r i t i n g w h i l s t c h e r i s h i n g o u r s c h o o l ’ s c o r e v a l u e s . W e h o p e t h a t t h r o u g h t h e Q u i l l , t h i s s c h o o l y e a r w i l l b e o n e t h a t a l l o w s i t s t e a c h e r s a n d s t u d e n t s t o c o n n e c t a n d l e a r n a b o u t e a c h o t h e r f a r b e t t e r t h a n b e f o r e . F u r t h e r m o r e , w e h o p e t h a t t h r o u g h o u r w o r k s w e w i l l b e a b l e t o u p h o l d t h e s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y t h a t s e t s I C S a p a r t .

W e t r u l y h o p e t h a t y o u ’ l l e n j o y o u r i s s u e s t h i s y e a r !

S i n c e r e l y , Fah

KELLY PHONGKUSONJIT

C o - A r t - D i r e c t o r

Dear Readers,

W e l c o m e t o t h e Q u i l l ! I w o u l d l i k e t o s t a r t o f f b y s a y i n g t h a n k y o u t o t h e l a y o u t d e s i g n e r s , w r i t e r s , e d i t o r s , a n d M r . M a r k w h o h a v e a l l c o n t r i b u t e d i n t o m a k i n g t h i s f i r s t i s s u e o f t h i s s c h o o l y e a r , 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 , p o s s i b l e . W e h o p e t h a t y o u g u y s w i l l e n j o y o u r f i r s t i s s u e o f t h i s s c h o o l y e a r a s w e l l a s s h o w u s s u p p o r t f o r t h e o t h e r i s s u e s i n t h e f u t u r e .

S i n c e r e l y , Kelly

Natasha Sakulyanonvitaya

Aun Thiapairat

Kade Lewis

Esther Bang

Sybel Zou

Brave Yongphiphatwong

Hilight Silprachawong

Belle Sertsaibua

Minjae Kwon

Siwoo Yoo

Aum Kuansongtham

Kush Natani

Joshua Kim

Brave Yongphiphatwong

Rhema Zhang

Belle Sertsaibua

Bam Butsomboon

IngIng Tongviseskul

Linda Cho

Russia Chawala

Prim Boonyasit

Nicha Kulchanapark

Olivia Chen

Elsa Chiang

Gusty Jothaprasert

Zander Jeinthanuttkanont

Bam Butsomboon

Samik Kundu

Rani Kothari

Lulu Juan

IngIng Tongviseskul

Tam Sukvivatn

Thank Sukvivatn

Hilda Kim

Gloria Park

Angie Tanabodee-umpon

Amy Kim

Grace Choi

Nicha Kulchanapark

Hayeong Koh

Olivia Chen

Chanya Ngamvirojcharoen

Belle Mateedunsatits

Parn Limwattananon

Jacey Kim

Wipha Prachamorn

Ava Janejirakosit

Claire Chan

Kate Supthavichaiyakul

12TH GRADE SENIOR TRIP RECAP

Photos by: Aum K.

11TH GR SALT T

Photos by: Rh

Written by: B

It was the SALT Trip most eleventh graders did not envision. We were told that we’d need to donate our shoes by the end of this trip; we were told to bring sunscreen and N95 masks; and we were told that we were going to physically exhaust ourselves to achieve a superordinate goal of building a volleyball court for the Karen community.

Everybody unanimously agreed on the first day that we could have arrived at Ratchaburi way earlier: we left at 8 and arrived at 4 One of the highlights of the first day was knowing who we would room with, but the pinnacle of the first day, however, was conversing with Karen teenagers. Juniors had to interview two Karens on various topics such as their daily schedule, demographics, community map, and many more. “So similar, yet so different,” we would conclude our experience with the Karens. They have a life like us they play on their phone, go to school, and do household chores. But, Karens are not recognized by the law. Although multiple teams emphasized that citizenship is the core problem, we could only hope that it will one day be resolved by the government; the best that ICS students can do right now is provide facilities for community bonding.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Helen Keller

Surprisingly, every night owl Junior rose before 7:30 on both days and was ready to work on the volleyball court. Energized by songs from Mr. George’s playlist and equipped with construction materials, we went to work immediately. Juniors unknowingly split into two groups, which are mixing and restocking The mixing team created and poured a thick solution of concrete. The restocking team carried baskets of rocks and sand into the construction site for the mixing team. This process continued for two days: we came, we saw, and we constructed.

After finishing the court, Juniors enjoyed the celebratory event the following night. We chanted and cheered for each teacher to compliment us on our hard work. The Class of 2024 also had a chance to say or announce their goodbyes to those that are pursuing a different educational path Apart from the overwhelmingly positive energy that we shared, the Class of 2024 discovered that we could accomplish all things with each other and I, as a member of this Class, firmly believe that this energy will extend all the way to the end of the senior year :-).

10TH GRADE SALT TRIP

Written by: Esther B.

This year's SALT trip for the class of 2025’s tenth graders was a truly memorable one. From the amount of determination and open mindedness to serve, to the new memories and friendships formed, the trip was unforgettable. On the first day of service, despite hours on the road and scorching temperatures, everyone put their best work in at Dhamanurak Foundation. Regardless of their sweaty foreheads and burning skin, the students continued to paint or clean to the best of their abilities.

Day two was one where students got to interact with elementary school children, introducing new activities that were prepared beforehand. From interactive English games, physical activities, and arts and crafts, we worked hard to create a memorable experience for the Thai students. Laughs were shared, teamwork continued to develop and smiles were formed. After a few hours of bonding with Thai students, the tenth graders arrived at their next destination: The Hellfire Pass Museum. This place gave us insight on the harsh realities of laborers who lived and died building the Burma-Thailand railroad Students grew in empathy as they walked through the rock path in which many have brutally died.

On day three, the last full day of SALT trip, tenth graders went to a market/railroad where they got to explore their surroundings. After this, we went to Erawan Falls where the students were able to swim at the waterfalls. Although it was hot and humid, almost everyone hiked to the top level of the waterfall After Erawan Falls, they went back to the hotel where they were able to rest and connect with their friends. At the end of each day, fun games were played, and a speaker spoke about their experiences with multiple things. And of course, we can not forget about the unforgettable “no talent, talent show” that took place at the end of day three. Teachers performed their funny, embarrassing talents while students sang and danced, impressing everyone in the room. A dance party followed in which most everyone jumped and sang out in sheer excitement. The tenth grade SALT trip was truly an amazing experience that helped students grow their skills in multiple categories. And dare I say, one of the best experiences that has happened so far!

9TH GRADE SALT TRIP

Written by: Highlight S.

The 9th grade SALT trip was more than just an annual trip with friends, but rather a fantastic excursion with the taste of drama, sweetness, fun, and chaos. “SALT trip was a fascinating and once in a lifetime event where I got to enjoy quality time with my friends and teachers, and bond with them. This is my first time going on an overnight trip with my friends at ICS, and it will surely be an experience that I will never forget,” asserted Punn.

On the first day, we went to Grandsiri Resort Khaoyai to prepare our game activities for the next day at Baan ta Chang school.

The next day at Ban Ta Chang school, students selflessly served the community. We started off with an introductional skit to introduce our principal, Mrs.Amber, and dispersed into stations of various activities. Some of the stations were connect 4, science, French, Spanish, and Chinese paper cutting. Lunch at Ban Ta chang school was communal. The sense of togetherness was evident, since some of the ICS students were able to sit and converse with the students about the morning activities as well as the ongoings at their school. During lunch, some students took us on a tour around their school to see the different facilities. We also got to be exceptional listeners when they told us about the tales and stories of their school.

The day ended with an ice cream and dance party, in which we collectively sang and danced to the Bad boy song known as the “2023 Nursery Anthem''. Waving farewell to the children at the end of the day became emotional since we both got to learn a lot from each other and made memories that we all will cherish

After serving at the Ban Ta Chang school, we headed back to Grandsiri resort and

had a great break after strenuous hours of whole-heartedly serving the community. We got some well-deserved rest through hanging out with our friends: playing sports and games

When night fell, teachers led an assembly and we had a fun session of activities and games to loosen up ourselves. One of the best parts was how ICS teachers recognised students who stood out each day and awarded them with a box of pokie for them to enjoy before bed.

ICS talent show was rather liberating Many shows involved our peers dancing, jump roping, lip syncing, Mr.Daryl performing the Khao Man Gai dish magic show, and initiating a cult out of Thai songs and the U.S. constitution preamble.

Our hike at the Khao Yai national park was eye-opening, it was a time in which we got to learn together, collaboratively develop tenacity, lend a helping hand when hiking, while having fun and enjoying the hike together. It was, at the end of the day, “better together.”

The morning of our departure, students had breakfast and enjoyed their time together before we visited the Chokchai farm. Some students patiently waited for the bus while others took advantage of this golden opportunity, seized the moment and took pictures with the lively animal sculptures of gorillas, giraffes, peacocks, and many more around the resort We captured pictures that were beyond unforgettable.

Lastly, our stop at Chokchai farm gave us invaluable time to consume cows and have a full meal with friends “Exciting, Fun, and Silent” was how Phobtawan described 9th grade SALT trip.

THE GREAT GATSBY GALA THE GREAT GATSBY GALA

BANQUET BANQUET

CAPSTONE INTERVIEW WITHTANGKWA

Interviewed by: Natasha S

OTSPAC NECAPSTONECA ENOTSP

Hi, my name is Tangkwa, and for my Capstone project, I taught my neighborhood's staff, the security guards and gardeners, about proper safety protocols when dealing with snakes

WHAT COMMUNITY MAPPING LED YOU TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM?

So the idea first came up when I encountered a cobra in my house garden. Luckily, nothing happened to me, but the anxious feelings lingered. Then, I talked to my parents about the sudden increase in snake presence in my neighborhood. I

learned that the way the movies have presented the treatment for snake bites, the tourniquet method, was a misconception. I was surprised to hear that fact, so I went around to ask my neighbors, the security guards and the gardeners if they also had the same misunderstandings, which most of them did as well. A lot of them were also feeling anxious about the rise in snake presence. Thus, I decided that I wanted to look out for the guards and gardeners so they would have the tools to protect themselves and others from snakes.

IN ONE SENTENCE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FEELINGS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CAPSTONE PROJECT?

I guess…nervous beginning with a blissful ending.

DID THE PROJECT GO AS PLANNED? WERE THERE ANY MISHAPS OR STRUGGLES?

Well, the part that I didn’t plan on happening was a positive thing where the staff actually got to use the lessons and tools I provided them to help protect themselves and others. There was a security guard that texted me to thank me for my project and he mentioned that he shared the knowledge with his relatives in the rural areas where it is more common for snakes to appear. They felt more at ease having the correct information for them to use in case of an emergency. This made me feel really happy because I experienced an emotional struggle at the beginning where I was afraid of communicating with the adults in my neighborhood because I had never worked with any adults for my previous community services

FROM PLANNING TO ACTION TO PRESENTING, WHICH PART OF THIS PROJECT WAS THE EASIEST AND WHICH WAS THE HARDEST?

The hardest part was probably planning because as I have mentioned, I had never worked with adults before so

I had to research the best methods on how to teach adults and also make sure my information was all accurate and up-to-date. The easiest would be presenting since I have all of my resources ready and a tip that I got from previous seniors is jotting down small notes during my planning, actions, etc. processes so I have a reminder of what it felt like or what specific events happened.

DO YOU THINK THAT ICS SHOULD CONTINUE TO REQUIRE CAPSTONE TO GRADUATE?

Man, this feels like a trap question… but in all honesty, I feel like it’s a good opportunity for students to explore the process of critical thinking to innovatively serve their own community. I won’t make any comments on what ICS should do with Capstone in the future (to avoid any drama), but all that I will say is that making it a requirement may not be very beneficial for the learning experience since students may feel burdened and view it as an assignment that they need to complete instead of embracing the opportunity to learn from the project.

WHAT'S A CAPSTONE IDEA THAT YOU COULD PASS DOWN TO AN UNDERCLASSMAN?

Well, my initial project idea that I had in mind was dealing with head lice for kindergarten kids because it's a problem that can affect a large number of people. Another one deals with sorting out trash because some areas in Thailand still have problems with properly separating types of trash/waste.

ANY LAST WORDS?

GOOD LUCK YOUNG ONES!

SENIOR CAPSTONE INTERVIEW INTERVIEWED BY BRAVE Y.

CAPSTONE INTERVIEW WITH JOM

CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

Hello! I’m Jom and I’m currently a senior at ICS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU DID FOR YOUR CAPSTONE PROJECT?

I made a survey for an organization and used it to collect feedback on an activity they offered for students. The organization is called the Medialight, and they provide lessons on how to produce quality media to the local students in Chiangrai.

HOW DID YOU GET THE COMMUNITY?

I knew the founde who then intr organization's d contacted him community mapp me to come up wi

WHAT WAS THE THE CAPSTONE PROJECT?

Communication w the hardest part. was serving is in Chiang Rai, we had to communicate via email and video calls.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM DOING THE CAPSTONE PROJECT?

I learned how important it is to communicate properly with your team and make sure that everyone is on the same page in order to accomplish our goals.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO UNDERCLASSMEN FOR THEIR PROJECT?

Don't leave it till the last minute (especially if you’re playing in the first season of any sport). If you are done with it early, then you will have more time to prepare for the papers too.

T A L E N T

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