NEWSLETTER

Garden International School
Eastern Seaboard, Ban Chang
NEWSLETTER
Your choice. Their future. Our family. โรงเรียนนานาชาติการ์เดนอีสเทิร์นซีบอร์ดบ้านฉาง April 2013
Inside this month's newsletter...
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From Dr Tasker: Principal
From the Principal
Dear Parents, Students and Friends of GIS,
As each academic year comes to an end the reality of students, families and indeed
teachers moving on to the next phase of their lives becomes a reality. It is a special time
for the IB2 students who will be moving on to further studies – or indeed to the workforce.
The final ‘formal’ day for the IB2 students was Friday April 26, with their IB examinations
getting underway on Thursday May 2 with English A and Literature and Performance and
the last one being Music on May 22. The IB2 students will have their Graduation Dinner
the evening of May 23. Year 11 students are already underway with their IGCSE
examinations – with Art, orals and ICT practicals already completed. The first formal
examination being Biology on May 7 and the final one being Physics on June 5. We wish
them the best of luck too.
I have had the task of recruiting staff to replace those members of our teaching community
moving on. I am pleased to say that this process is pretty much complete. I will be
announcing the new teachers in a future newsletter and in the June Newsletter I will also
be formally fare welling our current staff who are moving on – they are:
Mr Grisdale, Head of Primary
Mr Gomariz-Perez, Head of Languages
Ms Wilson, Swimming Coach
Mr Lynch, PE and ELS
Ms Tara, Early Years
Mr Baker, English
Ms Howard, History
The funds raised at the Christmas Fair are in the process of being allocated. We are very
fortunate to have a little additional money to spend on ‘extras’ to benefit the experience of
your children here at GIS. So far we have purchased bikes, scooters and cars for
Foundation, a popcorn maker, some extra furniture (including more chairs for the Primary
Hall) and have been able to fund the visit of the very popular story teller Mr PiG. The
remaining balance will be spent on such things as new table tennis equipment, audio
visual equipment for the Primary Hall, large outdoor fans for events, examination/multipurpose
tables and soft furnishings for the new Secondary ELS classrooms.
Kind Regards,
Dr Stuart Tasker
PhD (Ed), PGDipEd (Math Ed), PGCertEd (Ed Admin), PGDipTchg, BSc
Principal
Garden International School

Upcoming events
Whole School
May 1: Holiday – Thai Labour Day
May 2: Presentation on Thai programmes at GIS, Primary Hall, 7pm-8pm
May 4: Car Boot Sale, from 9am
May 6: Holiday – Coronation Day
May 8: Friends of Garden PTA, Library, 7pm
May 24: Holiday – Visakha Bucha Day
Primary
May 2: Year 2 trip to Ban Chang
May 7-11: Primary FOBISSEA team in Bangkok.
May 10: Reception going on a zoo trip/Year 3 going to Suppatra Land
May 15: House Music Final
May 22: House Swimming Gala
May 28-30: Year 5 trip
Secondary
May 2: IB Examinations start
May 7: IGCSE Examinations start
May 22: IB Examinations end
May 23: IB Graduation Dinner
Improving Communication
With thanks to suggestions from the Friends of Garden PTA we are looking to introduce 2
visual prompts for parents with our communication. Unless the communication is direct -
such as a specific letter or email - we will be using the following icons as a prompt.
Parent friendly - this means that parents are welcome to come along to
something which is during the school day. This could be an
assembly, performance, sharing activity, sports event or similar. Events
and activities outside of school hours will of course be open to everyone
and will not necessarily have an icon reminder.
Respond Please - this means that we need a response, some feedback or
action from parents.

Best Thai Books – the winners
GIS students have been helping to vote for the best English-language books based in
Thailand – and the results are in!
The Bangkok Book award winners, which are pictured here, are:
Best Picture Book : Umbrella queen
Runner up: Hush
Best Junior: Tua and the Elephant
Runner up: The White elephant
Best Teen Book: Behind the Painting
Runner up: Escaping the Tiger
Around 1,000 students from international schools all around Thailand voted and there
were more than 300 blogs on a special website created for the event. To find out more
about the winning books, which you can check out from our library, go to
http://blogs.shrewsbury.ac.th/bkkbookawards/.
Thai Studies
Earlier in the year our Thai
Director, Khun Lalita, gave a
presentation to parents at a
Friends of Garden PTA
meeting about our Thai
programmes at GIS.
A request was made for
another presentation for all
parents on what our different
Thai programmes are and
what parents should expect
in terms of attainment and
progress in the different
courses.
This presentation will be next
Thursday, May 2, in the
Primary Hall from 7pm to
8pm.
เรียนท่านผู ้ปกครอง
คุณลลิตา, ผู้อ านวยการโรงเรียนฯได้มีการ
น าเสนอเรื่องหลักสูตรวิชาภาษาไทยของโรงเรียน
นานาชาติสวนระยองในที่ประชุมสมาคม
ผู้ปกครองและตัวแทนครูในต้นปีที่ผ่านมา
ทั ้งนี ้ทางโรงเรียนฯ จะมีการจัดการน าเสนอกับ
ท่านผู้ปกครองอีกครั ้ง ในเรื่องหลักสูตรภาษาไทย
ของเราซึ ่งมีความหลากหลาย เพื่อปรับใช้ให้
เหมาะสมกับนักเรียนไทย, นักเรียนที่เรียน
ภาษาไทยเป็นภาษาที่สอง และ นักเรียน
ต่างชาติ รวมถึงผลลัพท์และความคืบหน้าในเรื่อง
ในหลักสูตรภาษาไทยที่มีความหลากหลายด้วย
การน าเสนอเรื่องหลักสูตรภาษาไทยดังกล่าว จัด
ขึ ้น วันพฤหัสบดี ที่ 2 พฤษภาคม 2556 ณ
ห้องประชุมชั ้นประถมศึกษา เวลา 19.00-
20.00 น.
ด้วยความนับถือ

Songkran at Garden
GIS celebrated Songkran with a flurry of activities and traditional Thai games. The whole
school took part in the celebrations, which are held annually to mark the Thai new year.
Foundation and Primary held water-based games while in secondary there was a special
assembly, organized by the Thai department, which explained the meaning of Songkran.
Students also demonstrated traditional Thai activities, such as Muay Thai, before students
poured water over their teachers’ hands, as a mark of respect.

Earth Day
A whole school assembly was held on the first day of Term 3, April 22, to mark Earth Day.
Led by Head of Humanities Mr Elderkamp, students explained the work that was taking
place in school to help the environment.
Among the excellent work taking place is a recycling scheme, which is
organised by IB students, which allows recycled plastic bottles to be
sold for money, which in turn helps pay for new plants around the
school. Students were also encouraged to create their own poster to
help raise awareness about the importance of the environment.
IB1 student Paul also explained how, by switching off air-conditioning
units and lights when they are not in use, could result in huge energy
savings.
The assembly ended with an electricity-free, acoustic performance by
GG and Seren of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’.
There have been reports of mysterious green ‘eco-ninjas’
patrolling the school’s corridors in search of lights and air-con that
have been left on needlessly or hunting for litter. Let us know if
you’ve seen them – they’ll be back in school on a regular basis!

From Mr Grisdale: Head of Primary and Foundation
The Grunch
This was a tremendous success and
hundreds of spectators enjoyed the show.
We had three performances in front of an
audience and children from REPS
summer school, ISE, St Andrews and
Regent’s all enjoyed the show
immensely. The evening performance
was a suitable climax and was also
accompanied by a very successful
auction of memorabilia. The children
subsequently enjoyed a post-production
party.
Many thanks to all the teachers, teaching
assistants and maintenance who spent
many hours making sure that the play
was the best it could be and that the
children got the most out of it. In
particular I would like to thank Ms Sally
and Ms Michelle for the music, Ms Jane
for the set and running backstage, Ms
Jenn and Ms Claire for being co-directors
and Mr Ken for being the producer. We
are lucky at GIS that we have so many
talented and dedicated professionals.

Camillian Centre visit
Thank you to all the parents and children who have so generously donated things for the
children from the Camillian Centre. They will be visiting us on Tuesday April 30. See the
story later in this newsletter for details about how you can still help.
House Art
The House Art Competition was taken very seriously by the children in Primary and all the
children who entered earned points for their House. The pieces were judged by an array of
11 judges and points allocated as shown below:
Years 1 to 3
Name Year House # of votes Final position
Evan 1 Tiger 34 1st
Dristhi 3 Gecko 21 2nd
Hansika 3 Tiger 16 3rd
Euro 2 Eagle 13
Oindrila 2 Cobra 10
Jahnavi 3 Tiger 8
Mary 3 Eagle 6
Boss 3 Eagle 6
Years 4 to 6
Name Year House Number of votes Position
Tessa 5 Cobra 42 1 st
Grace 4 Tiger 24 2 nd
Vedant 5 Gecko 21 3 rd
Tanya 5 Cobra 17
Nupur 5 Cobra 11
Shasha 5 Tiger 5
The top three pieces from each section, as well as the top three pieces from the equivalent
Secondary competition, will be framed and displayed around the school. Congratulations
to all the competitors.

FOBISSEA
As you can imagine we are very excited about the upcoming FOBISSEA Games and in the
next newsletter there will be a full report of our achievements. Training is happening on a
regular basis and the uniforms are being designed. Thank you very much to our very
generous sponsors:
Khun Aimon and Khun Ukrit Kitikoraset (Austin’s parents) of Thomai Resort and
Coffee Shop have very kindly donated 7,000 baht to help pay for the T ball shirts
Thunder Cranes have donated 15,000 Baht to help pay for the T Ball shirts
Mr Frank Nichols from Victory International Family Church has donated 20,000
baht to pay for the Football kits
Mr Yindee of MYWAYS has donated 15,900 baht to pay for the Athletics shirts and
have also donated 600 bottles of water.
Mr James from GIS has donated the Swimming kits
These are important dates for children involved in or people supporting FOBISSEA:
April 29: FOBISSEA T-Ball match. This is a practice event to be held at
Regent’s.
April 30: Quiz Night. In the Primary hall at 7pm we will be holding a quiz. The cost
of entry is 100 Baht per person and the aim is to raise money for the Primary
FOBISSEA games. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be on sale too.
May 4: FOBISSEA car boot sale. From 9am to 12pm there will be a car boot
sale where you can buy second-hand goods at cheap prices. For a small fee,
you can leave young children in Foundation while you browse. Entry is free.
Contact headpri@gardenrayong.com or roberte@gardenrayong.com to reserve
a stall for 300 baht.
May 7-11: FOBISSEA Games at St Stephen’s Bangkok for Years 4 and 5. They will be
accompanied by Mr Edwards, Ms Aletta and myself – Rob Grisdale. We return on
Saturday at about midday. Pick up at school.
See the Sports section for details on the FOBISSEA Games.

House Competitions
At the end of Term 2 we have the following position in the overall Whole School House
Competition.
Team
Primary
Activities
Secondary
Activities
KS1 and
Reception
Sports
Day
Primary Sports
Day and KS1
Swimming gala
Secondary
Sports Day
Secondary
swimming
gala
Primary
Merit Points
Term 1
and 2
Secondary
Merit
Points
Term 1 and
2
Environment
Total
Cobra 132 58 25 30 20 10 125 + 91 73 + 53 5 622
Gecko 158 55 35 40 40 20 130 + 87 92 + 76 20 753
Eagle
129 62 15 20 10 40 120 + 77
111 +
72
15 671
Tiger 134 66 25 10 30 30 115 + 91 85 + 65 10 661
Highlights this term include House Drama, House Music and the interhouse KS2
Swimming Gala. Dates are shown below.
Trips
As you can see from the calendar below there are a number of day trips as well as
residential trips planned for this term. We look forward to hearing from all of the following
trips in subsequent newsletters:
Nursery day trip to Rayong Aquarium
Reception day trip to Khao Kheow Zoo
Year 2 day trip to Ban Chang
Year 3 day trip to Suppathra Land
Year 3 residential trip to the YMCA or Brookside
Year 4 residential trip to Brookside
Year 5 residential trip to Koh Samet
Year 6 residential trip to Chiang Mai

Reports Going Home
The final end of year reports go home for every child on June 20. We are always happy to
see you and to talk to you professionally about your child but we need to make sure that
we have no other commitments at that time. If you want to see your child’s class teacher
before this please send them an e-mail or contact Khun Bonnie on the front desk
(bonniet@gardenrayong.com).
Seedlings
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 2.20pm until 3.10pm there is a play group for children
under the age of two which meets in the Early years Room (the yellow room). This club is
called Seedlings and it is run by Ms Jill (Year 1) on Thursdays and Ms Tara (EY teacher)
on Tuesdays. It costs 100 baht per session per child and parents and carers are expected
to stay. More details from Khun Bonnie in the Front Office or Ms Tara
tarav@gardenrayong.com
Fitness training
Every day, from about 4pm to 5pm, Mr Michael and Ms Jill are doing circuit training which
involves the use of a Bulgarian Bag. It is an intense workout for an hour but will increase
fitness and muscular strength. The training is free and if you want to join them please e-
mail Mr. Michael on michaelg@gardenrayong.com
Rob Grisdale
Head of Primary and Foundation
Rice Mountain
If you have any rice or cooking oil
you can spare at home, then please
consider donating it to the Camillian
Centre in Rayong. GIS supports this
centre every year and this year we
are again asking parents, students
and staff to bring in bags of rice,
which we will donate.
Bags can be left in reception until the morning
of Tuesday April 30, or can be dropped off at
Steve's Deli in Ban Chang. This activity is
organised by our IB students, who have been
to visit the centre, which cares for children and
adults with HIV, to understand about the work
that takes place there.
Please donate only unopened bags, for
hygiene reasons. Many thanks.

From Mr Ball: Head of Secondary
Hello,
The IB examinations start on May 2 and a number of students have already sat
examinations for IGCSE ICT. The month of May is one of sadness and pride. The IB2
students will have their final day of formal education at Garden before beginning their
examinations. This is a time of sadness because I remember many students from their
time in Garden since Year 7, and they will leave school for the final time this year. I have
fond memories of these students over the last 7 years. Parth is immortalized on the library
wall as the first-ever winner of the Lone Wolf trophy when he was in Year 7. Sandy drove
very fast even back then, so nothing has changed there. Heta was very quiet, so a lot has
changed there. I wonder what their Year 7 form tutor Mr Waudby would say if he met them
now? It is also a time of pride as these students have visibly grown and matured over their
time at Garden and are, I can say, ready to head out and go to university, a place where
they will continue thriving and growing as both individuals and learners. The IGCSE exams
have already started for some students and Friday May 3 is their final day of formal study.
Many of the Year 11 students have indicated that they would like to return to participate in
the IB course and this is wonderful news. I remember teaching science to many of the
Year 11s when they were in Year 7 and they have continued to be as charming a year
group as they progressed through the school as they were in Year 7. I wish the IB2s and
the Year 11s the best possible luck in their examinations.
The MAD (Music, Art, and Drama) evening showcased the wide range of skills that our
students possess. The art work that was on display formed part of the IB art students’ final
IB examination work. The event was well attended and the ‘French café’ feel created by
the setup of the tables helped to make the evening as pleasant as it was.
The renaissance of the IB student work room is now complete. Mr Martin and his team
have done a wonderful job in designing, painting and refurnishing this room. If you haven’t
seen it yet (and you are in Year 11) you should have a peek, it’s a great room to work in. If
you are in IB2 this is a great room to revise in during your examinations.
Examination week for Years 7-10 and IB1 students is fast approaching. The dates are
Friday May 17 (for IB1 they start on Thursday May 16) to Thursday May 23. Form Tutors
will pass on the schedule to their tutor groups. These are important exams and students
should start revising soon. The Camillian Centre visited on the second day of term. The
IB1s organised a talent show for the the Camillian students, which was excellent. For more
information on this visit see the report by Mr Beales is below.
We are trialling new eco boxes in the secondary school. These are at the top of the stairs
on the first floor. Please place your cans into the eco box labelled cans and your plastic
into the eco box labelled plastic. Everything earned from recycling these items is used to
purchase plants and support eco activities.
Sage Ball
Head of Secondary

Schools of Rock
A concert was held at St Andrews International School on March 27 that featured a rock
band from St Andrews and four bands from GIS. And a day after they rocked St Andrews,
our talented Music department took part in another show.
Garden goes M.A.D.!
The school hall was packed for a special night of Music, Art and Drama (MAD).
As the audience arrived they mingled and ate snacks while ambient music was provided
by Peter, Reha, Benjamin, HyoJung, Jun Beom, Anushka, Pauline and Ben B.
At 7.40pm the concert began with the school orchestra performing a piece by Mozart,
followed by a dramatic ‘Witches’ sketch from Year 7. The Butterfly Waltz was adroitly
performed by Sarah and HyoJung, then came a Year 8 skit called Mad Cows.
Garden’s star singers, Praw, Trisha and Sarah, took to the stage to perform ‘You Can
Drive a Person Crazy’ before a performance by the school jazz band. The first half ended
with a stellar performance by the school choir of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. After a
short break, rock and pop songs filled the hall, including Livin’ on a Prayer and One Way.
Thanks to the Music, Art and Drama departments and everyone else involved in this
hugely successful event.

Year 9’s Brand New Ideas!
Year 9 students this term have had great fun becoming the CEOs of their own highlysuccessful
start-up companies. As part of the fun they have created their own logos to
represent the product and services offered whilst thinking carefully about the market they
are aiming for. They then went on to study about brands, logos and the importance of
graphic design (including a look at our own school branding).
Here we see our two classes of Year 9 CEOs showing off their brand designs turned into
T-shirts and key ring promotional merchandise.
They designed and made the acrylic key rings and the T-shirts in the DT workshops.
Watch out world, here they come - coming to a market sector near you!
Mr Stokes
House Competitions
Tiger Win Art Competition
A House art competition resulted in
some excellent entries based around
the theme of ‘communication’.
The work, which has been on display
outside Ms Cooper’s classroom, used
a variety of techniques to represent
the theme.
The results were:
3rd place: Trisha (Gecko) - 4 points
2nd place: Coco (Cobra) - 6 points
1st place: Jignil (Tiger) - 8 points

IB News
GIS students welcome
Camillian children
IB students helped ensure children
visiting from the nearby Camillian
Centre had a great day out at
Garden.
The Camillian Centre in Rayong,
which cares for children and
adults with HIV and AIDS,
brought along more than a dozen
children to GIS on April 23.
After having lunch in the canteen,
the children enjoyed a special
talent show in the Main Hall,
which was won by Year 8
superstars Seren and GG for a
unique percussion performance
involving cups and a plastic box.
After the show, the Camillian
children joined individual tutor
groups for games, snacks and
activities.
IB students took them to the ICT
labs to play some online games.
GIS students also generously
donated toys, gifts and even
school uniforms to the Camillian
children and special boxes were
presented to the grateful visitors.
Before they left, the Camillian
youngsters sang GIS students a
song and said thanks for another
great visit to GIS. For more on the
centre, visit www.camillianrayong.org.

Pizza Day
Another Pizza Day was held on Friday March 29. Organised by IB students and with help
from The Camel Bar and Restaurant, the event raised 2,470 baht for charity.
IB Work Room
IB students now have
a specially-designed
workroom.
Thanks to the efforts
of GIS’s maintenance
team, the IB students
can now work in a
much brighter, more
ergonomic,
environment.
Healthy Talks
The Canteen Committee – which includes representatives from the Student Council,
Friends of Garden PTA and staff – recently met and had a ‘healthy’ discussion on our
services provided.
Already we now have a new system for the students for clearing plates, cutlery and waste
with ‘fruit cups’ and ‘salad boxes’ being very welcome additions to the menu. President
Paul and the Student Council – with the assistance of Ritchie in MIS – have also been
working on the Thai menu board.
This is almost finished and will enable students to see what is on offer while they queue up
– which will hopefully speed things up a little.

Teacher of the Month
This month we talk to Mr Michael, English
Language Support (ELS) Coordinator in Primary.
1) What's the best thing about working at GIS?
The sense of community and friendliness of both
teachers and students.
2) What made you choose to live in Thailand?
The sun, sea, sand and….spicy food.
3) What do you do when you're not teaching?
I like reading science fiction novels, exercising and going to the beach but most of my time
is spent looking after my three 13 month old babies.
4) Favourite singer/band?
I like all kinds of music from classical to hard rock, I have fairly eclectic tastes.
5) Favourite movie and why?
Probably the original Predator movie, Big Arnie at his best.
6) What do you think of Thai food?
I love Thai food and I put extra chilies on everything. It makes all other kinds of food seem
bland.
7) If you weren't a teacher, what would you be doing?
I’d like to think I would be pursuing a career as a boxing coach but honestly I have no idea.
Teaching takes over your life and it is hard to imagine doing anything else.
8) What's the best place you've been to in Thailand?
The beaches in Phuket are fantastic but I think the laid back, holiday atmosphere of Hua
Hin makes it one of my favourite places in Thailand.
9) What’s the best thing about your home country?
The mountain scenery, Scotland is truly one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
And the friendly people of course.
10) Do you like haggis?
Only if you catch them and cook them fresh!

Student of the Month
Student of the Month for April is German
Gnezdilov (pictured far left)
1) Who is your favorite teacher? Why?
Mr Michael. He was my ELS teacher and his
lessons were always fun.
What is your favorite activity in school?
2) Swimming, because I’m good at it and I like to
swim.
What do you like doing in your free-time?
3) I like to play rugby and going to the library. I like to read and play computer games
there.
What job would you like when you finish school?
4) I’d like to be a computer programmer.
5) Apples or oranges?
Oranges, because they have more vitamin C in them.
6) What's the best country you've visited (apart from Thailand)?
I haven’t visited any other countries apart from Thailand and of course Russia, but I am
going to visit Mexico in the summer holidays. I love Mexican food!
7) Favourite Thai food?
Tom Ka Gai, I like the coconut milk.
8) Do you prefer Lady Gaga or Shakira?
I don’t like either of them. I like listening to Metallica and Eminem.
9) How many languages can you speak?
Two: Russian and English.
10) Favourite animal?
I have two favourite animals: Walruses and Sugar Possums.

Sport
There will be no morning swimming team practice on Wednesday May 8 or Friday May
10 for primary and secondary. This is because Ms Aletta will be in Bangkok with the
FOBISSEA team.
Storm Close Out Difficult Year With A Victory
The Senior boys ended a difficult season, and made Mr Lynch’s final game as coach a
memorable one, as they defeated ISE 56-24.
The win gave GIS a third-place finish in the ESAC
Conference.
Thomas Cercleron, playing in his last game at GIS,
scored 13 of his 16 points in the first quarter to give
the Storm a 23-5 lead. Kain Lee came off the
bench to score a game and career-high 18 points
on 9-of-16 shooting while Teng Chilver added 10
points.
Ho Dong Sa, Chris Williamson and Kheshavan
Selva chipped in with four points apiece.
Mr Lynch started coaching the Senior boys team in
2006 and has since accumulated a win-loss record
of 52-40 (.565).
Thomas Cercleron takes a shot
during his final game at GIS.
He has had the opportunity of coaching some terrific players, most notably Troy Britton
Coe ’08 and Nic Neufeld ‘11, during his time at GIS and he hopes the programme will
continue to grow after his departure at the end of the school year.
Volleyball Victors
Volleyball Boys beat ISE 2-0 on April 25. The girls just lose out in the third set going down
1-2 in a tight game.

FOBISSEA Games
Our Primary FOBISSEA Games team is off to
Bangkok soon. From May 7 to 11 they will be
competing at St Stephen’s – and we wish them well.
FOBISSEA is the Federation of British Schools in
South East Asia (and East Asia), which currently
consists of 38 schools – with plans to grow quite
markedly over the next few years. Being a member
of the federation gives our students many
opportunities to participate in Games, Festivals (such as Music, Choral and Drama),
Conferences (such as Community Service and Model United Nations) and also
competitions (such as Short Story and Mathematics).
You may be aware that in the past 12 months we have hosted both a Primary Games and
a KS3 Drama Festival. Later this year we will be hosting the 2013 Music Festival and also
facilitating a Community Service Project in Chiang Mai. There are also many benefits for
our staff in terms of coordinated professional development and networking.
Students’ Work
Foundation
Journeys
We are continuing on our study on Journeys. We have travelled by submarine, hot air
balloon, helicopter, sailing ship, airplane and have visited many countries such as the
United Kingdom, India, Australia, Philippines and the USA. We have enhanced our
classroom environment by making fish when we were underwater; having a throne for the
Queen when we travelled to England; and having a fan with red and yellow streamers to
look like a hot air balloon flame when we were flying up into the clouds. Using our number
skills we have been comparing amounts when we have voted and paid money to buy our
tickets when we boarded different vehicles.

Primary
Year 5 produced some excellent work on ‘The Piano’ by Aiden Gibbons in relation to
narrative films.
Secondary
Today I am alone again…I can’t go on another day without you! Sitting here with my only friend, my only
company, my trusted piano. Do you remember how we used to sit here together? I can almost feel you
here, see you playing next to me. I love you Edna. Now you have gone, my life has been devastated. Why
did you have to die? Why did they take you and not me?
I feel trapped inside a cage and can’t find my way out. I am determined to play this tune for you.
I hear her whisper ‘play, play for me’. It hurts and the notes will never sound the same but this is all I have
left. My music, our music, my love.
By Tessa
Grandpa panted noisily he was a medic trying to get to help is brother who had been attacked in this
terrible war. He ran towards him. He was charging for the crumbling wall where he would get a better
position on the enemy. Shots rang out all around and splinters flew off the chipped wall almost breaking it
apart.
“Should I go?” he asked eager to get involved “Is it safe?”
“Yes, GO…”
It wasn’t the wall that was crumbling…it was my life. I watched as you lay there motionless on the ground.
Lakes of red forming under you. What had I done? Frozen, terrified, lonely. He fell to his knees full of
aching sadness. His brother was dead.
By Direk
It has been sixty years since you and I were married. I miss you. Sitting playing our piano, I’m feeling so
lonely it has been hard to survive without you. I played the song solo and in my tune. Suddenly, when I’m
playing the song I see you. I am even more determined to finish the song. Then out of nowhere you kissed
me…surprised by your warmth on my cheek, I concentrate to the end. What’s happening, everything is
changing in my life?
Thoughts of the family make my heart beat faster. The war! My brother, I have to help him. “Brother
wait…Go now” BANG, FLASH!
“NO!!” It’s all my own fault, why did I say go? Why did we join the army? Why is there so much bloodshed
in the world? I fall to the floor feeling helpless, alone and upset. You have gone and I have to face the
family and explain my actions.
By Benjamin

I feel very desolate without my wife next to me. What if I play the piano with her? I wish she could have
talked to me before she died. Why did she have to die?
Suddenly something appeared next to me whilst I was playing, it was my wife as a ghost. She played the
tune with me. Her soft lips leaning over to kiss me…I closed my eyes to remember but then you were
gone.
Loss…it reminded me about the war when my brother got shot! I felt like I was solitary. Why was it not me
that got shot? Why was it him that had to die?
Feeling of selfishness for letting him go out there. I play the piano again to try and take away the pain.
Recalling happier times; my family, my childhood. The wooden horse, that I loved so dearly, now the
favourite toy of my grandson. I feel the memories and they remind me of the good and bad times. My
grandson comes and sits next to me at the piano and smiles as he plays the last note. Life goes on and our
tune will continue.
By Adenor
Secondary
Here is some more work from our talented English Language Support (ELS)
students
Easy Exams?
By Oie
Imagine how it would feel if you could
change school rules to ones you like!
How about taking home examinations? It
would be great, wouldn’t it?
Most students have their examinations at
the school’s main hall and it is a fact that
all the students need to take their exams
at the school. However, would it be a
good idea if the students will be taking
their exams in the comfort of their dorm or
home? But is taking a home exam really
a blessing or is it a curse in disguise?
A large number of students love the idea
of taking their exam at home. It will take
you feel more comfortable, relaxed and
you will not fears about your exams. You
will be given a plenty of time to complete
your exams, edit your answers; a lot more
time than you would have sitting in the
main hall on exam day. It would be also a
less mysterious and you do not need to
spend hours studying in advance.
However, one of the main arguments that
some students from other schools might
think in the bad way because it would not
be fair that all the answers did not came
into their own brains. The students who
took the exams at home may get the
qualification, but do they deserve to get
it?
In conclusion, it would be a good idea if
you are taking your exams at home, but
bear in mind, would it be an advantage
for yourself in the future?

Stressful Study
By Nook
Are you one of the many students in the
world who have to do examinations? I usually
sit exams at school but if Cambridge change
the rule and let students do exam at home
therefore, we can take them at home and do
all the exams there.
On the one hand, sitting examinations at
school is usual at every school in the world
because this is the way to ensure that you
understand everything that you have learn
and can apply in the exam. Teachers will
monitor while students do the test so they
can’t cheat but doing exams at school is
stressful and students get much pressure.
On the other hand, sitting exams at home is
less formal therefore students are flexible to
do what they would like because there is no
teacher at home. And if students are doing
exams at home they will not feel pressure or
stressful. However, students would have the
chance to cheat and we cannot be sure that
they understand and get all knowledge from
what they have learned.
In addition, some students feel comfortable
sitting exams at school and work better
under pressure. In my opinion, sitting exams
at school is the right way to test student
knowledge.
Get in touch!
If you have any articles for the newsletter, please send them to
markb@gardenrayong.com before the end of each month for inclusion in the
following month’s newsletter.
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