NewsLetterIssue4 April-June10.indd - RIS stories
NewsLetterIssue4 April-June10.indd - RIS stories NewsLetterIssue4 April-June10.indd - RIS stories
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4 1
- Page 2 and 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from Camp
- Page 4 and 5: Letter from the Editor I love butte
- Page 6 and 7: COMMUNITY RIS/RIST Pride in Support
- Page 8 and 9: COMMUNITY HOPE FOR HAITI Amid the W
- Page 10 and 11: COMMUNITY Happy Thai New Year! Song
- Page 12 and 13: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Heartfelt Farew
- Page 14 and 15: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Congratulations G
- Page 16 and 17: 18 NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
- Page 18 and 19: HIGH SCHOOL Do I Really Want to Bec
- Page 20 and 21: HIGH SCHOOL Ahmarin Noor The place
- Page 22 and 23: HIGH SCHOOL Know • Care • Act G
- Page 24 and 25: 26 Agarwal; Ankit Amarit; Jaturong
- Page 26 and 27: REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAIL
- Page 28 and 29: REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAIL
- Page 30 and 31: SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES CHAMPIONS 5 Y
- Page 32 and 33: SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES 3 rd SEASON S
- Page 34 and 35: CHAI YO! THE PHOENIX RISES AND MOVE
- Page 36 and 37: SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES VAMPIRES ON R
- Page 38 and 39: SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES 40 NEWSLETTER
- Page 40 and 41: SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES Learning the
- Page 42 and 43: SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES Earth Day Cel
- Page 44 and 45: PARENT AUXILIARY CPA Celebrates Our
- Page 46 and 47: DIVING AT RIS The 2009/2010 year wa
- Page 48 and 49: SUMMERTIME… A Chance to Stop and
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
Message from Campus Ministry 5<br />
New Administration Team at <strong>RIS</strong> 7<br />
Hope for Haiti 11<br />
8-9<br />
40-41<br />
12<br />
Hipping and Hopping on the 4 th Floor 15<br />
What is Classroom Composting? 17<br />
Global Issues Network Conference 2010 24-25<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T Community Pride 29<br />
3 rd Season Sports Awards 34<br />
Learning the True Reward of Service 42-43<br />
CPA Celebrates Our Students 46<br />
44-45<br />
Publication Information:<br />
Our school newsletter is published four times a year or at the end of<br />
each school quarter. The objective of the publication is to report on and<br />
communicate happenings at Ruamrudee International School as well<br />
as at our sister school, Redeemer International School Thailand.<br />
At least 2,000 copies are printed per issue to send directly to all students<br />
and their families. The Newsletter is also distributed among our faculty<br />
and staff numbering over 500, and mailed to <strong>RIS</strong> alumni and friends. The<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> family is a large and growing community of international citizens.<br />
20-21<br />
Newsletter Team<br />
Editor-in-Chief:<br />
Fr. Leo Travis<br />
Editor:<br />
Deborah Yogachandra<br />
Layout/Graphic Design:<br />
Sornchai Pongheamwattana<br />
Cover Design:<br />
Sornchai Pongheamwattana<br />
32<br />
39<br />
Printed by Print-At-Me Co.,Ltd.<br />
6 Ramkhamhaeng 184, Minburi, Bangkok 10510<br />
Tel: +66 (0) 2518 0320 Fax: +66 (0) 2518 0334<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> Website: www.rism.ac.th<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T Website: www.rist.ac.th<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
3
Message from Campus Ministry<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
Today’s NEWSLETTER Quarterly invites you to celebrate! Take a moment to think about this school year<br />
of 2009 -2010 and see the many opportunities we had to be happy. We celebrate together now, grateful for<br />
the friendships and encouragement we received from our teachers and classmates. I know that I have a lot to<br />
be thankful for. You celebrated with me, too. My return from America on November 1st was a big day for<br />
me. You sang and danced to welcome me back to school. From that day on, my broken hip didn’t bother me<br />
as much as before, because I was back among you, my friends! I now celebrate your kindness and love. You<br />
made me happy and welcome!<br />
The four issues of the NEWSLETTER Quarterly of this school year are great history books. We can be<br />
honestly proud of the exciting activities that are featured in these volumes. Teachers and students wrote about<br />
their participation in the happy moments of the year. Did you enjoy the International Ozone Day with the tree<br />
planting ceremony? That was a special celebration to prove that we are truly united in our commitment to<br />
protect our environment. Our involvement with the UNEP and MUN is astounding and bubbling with learning<br />
experiences. How about the Mathivation movement and the debates! We read that these debates provided our<br />
students with more opportunities to become capable, self-reliant, self-motivated and life-long learners. The<br />
Middle School Knowledge Bowl also kept us alert, admiring the brilliance of our students. Read about it in the<br />
newsletters! We celebrate <strong>RIS</strong> and <strong>RIS</strong>T, moving forward!<br />
Community Service was very exceptional this school year. At Christmas time a core group representing<br />
students, faculty, staff and administration went to the remote northern mountains past Chiang Mai to deliver<br />
blankets and jackets collected from our school-wide initiative, “Keep them Warm.” Others went to Sarnelli<br />
House to share love and caring. That same spirit helped us to collect more than enough money to purchase the<br />
furniture needed in three new homes for street children. The children celebrated, and we celebrate with them!<br />
I particularly am pleased that the front cover of the December issue featured the King of Thailand. We celebrate<br />
the King on his 60th anniversary. How wonderful! I felt honored that I was invited to say something on TV<br />
to celebrate the King! His words, “Set your sights on performing your duties to the best of your ability for<br />
the success of this country...” ask us to concentrate on what is right and good. Then we have a true reason to<br />
celebrate!<br />
God bless you,<br />
Father Leo Travis, C.Ss.R.<br />
School Chaplain<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
5
Letter from the Editor<br />
I<br />
love butterflies. The way they flutter through<br />
the air and land on a flower so delicately, slowly<br />
waving their wings as if to say, “hello.” Each one<br />
so different. The funny reality is if nothing in this<br />
world ever changed, there’d be no butterflies. I<br />
cannot image a world without butterflies.<br />
Change is to be expected. And change is a<br />
necessary quality and an essential attribute of this<br />
world, and of time and place. I remember when<br />
our family made the decision back in 2005 to leave<br />
the familiarity and the comforts of home to move<br />
across the world to help the less fortunate children<br />
in India. Natascha was only 11 years old at the<br />
time, but so willing to give this new lifestyle a try<br />
to help her fellow man.<br />
It wasn’t easy. Our world changed significantly<br />
from what we knew – from living conditions<br />
to schooling to language to culture – all was so<br />
drastically different from what we were accustomed<br />
to. It would have been easy to turn around and go<br />
back home, but we reminded ourselves of our<br />
purpose for coming to India; and each time we<br />
made a difference in the life of a child, we realized<br />
our own discomforts were small in comparison.<br />
We left India the spring of 2007. We gave Natascha<br />
a choice to either move back to the United States<br />
or to another overseas experience. After spending<br />
some time at home, she came to us one day and<br />
said that she would like to experience another<br />
country, giving her the opportunity for further<br />
growth. We moved to Thailand in August, 2007.<br />
Touring several international schools in the area,<br />
she felt home once again at Ruamrudee.<br />
Continuity gives us roots; change gives us<br />
branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach<br />
new heights. Our roots are forever deep in our<br />
hometown of Fairport, New York, but the changes<br />
we have experienced and the friendships we have<br />
made in the last five years has brought tremendous<br />
growth to us as individuals. And it doesn’t end<br />
here. We will move yet to another phase in our<br />
lives – Natascha on to university in New York<br />
City in the fall, Nat and I to moving into my family<br />
home to care for my aging father.<br />
I thank all of you who have given us the opportunity<br />
to share life with you, learn a new culture, stretch<br />
out of our comfort zones, grow and reach new<br />
heights. I wish for you a world full of butterflies!<br />
Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be<br />
worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him<br />
with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the<br />
poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry<br />
of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge.<br />
Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech.<br />
Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all<br />
men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness,<br />
a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven<br />
for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the<br />
victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness<br />
distinguish all thine acts.<br />
With much love,<br />
Debbie<br />
6<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
WELCOME!<br />
New Administration Team at <strong>RIS</strong><br />
s many of you know, a new<br />
Ainterim administration team<br />
has been appointed at Ruamrudee<br />
International School recently. With<br />
the recommendation from the<br />
Redemptorist General Government<br />
in Rome and Denver Province in<br />
United States, this new interim team<br />
is already busy at work!<br />
Due to the sudden ill health of<br />
Fr. Lawrence Patin, C.Ss.R., who<br />
remains hospitalized in the United<br />
States, Father Peter Pattarapong<br />
Srivorakul, C.Ss.R, has relocated<br />
to Pattaya to take over as Acting<br />
President of the Fr. Ray Foundation.<br />
Although we miss Fr. Peter on<br />
campus and appreciate his selfless<br />
service and devotion to Ruamrudee,<br />
we know that he is busy caring for the<br />
many needy children in Pattaya and<br />
wish him the best of luck.<br />
Father Joseph Apisit Kritsaralam,<br />
C.Ss.R, has been appointed as<br />
interim Head of School for <strong>RIS</strong>. Fr.<br />
Apisit, a former Vice-Provincial<br />
of the Redemptorists of Thailand,<br />
previously spent several years<br />
working at <strong>RIS</strong>. He returns with<br />
many years of educational and<br />
management experience. Welcome<br />
back, Fr. Apisit!<br />
Khun Anonth Collaco assumes the role<br />
of School Manager and Deputy Head<br />
of Finance and Human Resources.<br />
Khun Anonth comes to Ruamrudee<br />
with an extensive background and<br />
experience in the business arena.<br />
Father Leo Travis, our beloved<br />
Father, will continue to be spiritual<br />
director of <strong>RIS</strong> and <strong>RIS</strong>T schools.<br />
His valuable and inspiring presence<br />
has nourished spiritual and value<br />
ministries of the school.<br />
Fr. Thomas Picton, C.Ss.R., of<br />
the Denver Province in the U.S.<br />
will oversee the new interim<br />
administration and assist in the duties<br />
and responsibilities that are mandated<br />
within this short-term phase.<br />
Pursuant to our mission and vision,<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> community is committed to<br />
educational excellence and will<br />
continue to work hard to maintain<br />
the overall high standard. We grew<br />
into one of the best international<br />
schools here in Thailand from our<br />
humble beginnings 52 years ago;<br />
and we will continue t o<br />
be here well into the<br />
future serving the<br />
educational needs<br />
of the children of<br />
Thailand.<br />
Let’s join<br />
together in<br />
“union of<br />
hearts” to<br />
welcome<br />
our new<br />
team!<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
7
COMMUNITY<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>/<strong>RIS</strong>T Pride in Supporting Fr. Ray’s Children’s Village<br />
by Marcelina Sawatsewi, <strong>RIS</strong>T Activity Coordinator<br />
n Earth Day this year, <strong>April</strong><br />
O22, <strong>RIS</strong>/<strong>RIS</strong>T’s focus was<br />
on environmental and human<br />
development issues, specifically,<br />
helping provide the much-needed<br />
furniture and planting the beginnings<br />
of a flower garden for three of the<br />
homes of the orphans and street<br />
children of Fr. Ray’s Children’s<br />
Village. The Village is one of the<br />
various projects of the Fr. Ray<br />
Foundation in Pattaya City, Cholburi,<br />
run by the Redemptorist Fathers.<br />
Representing <strong>RIS</strong>T in presenting the<br />
proceeds of 191,000 baht from its<br />
recently concluded Wordathon were<br />
11 of Ms. Rachel’s grade 7 homeroom<br />
students, the class that raised the most<br />
money. They were chaperoned by<br />
Mr. Isaac and Ms. Mars. The <strong>RIS</strong>T<br />
representatives, together with Fr.<br />
Travis, Mr. Bob and <strong>RIS</strong> faculty and<br />
students were welcomed by Fr. Ray’s<br />
boys and girls clad in Thai costumes,<br />
their teachers and housemothers.<br />
Also present were Bro. Dennis,<br />
Fr. Simeon, and Fr. Peter.<br />
The children performed two<br />
Thai dances after which<br />
Acting<br />
8<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
President of Fr. Ray Foundation, Fr.<br />
Peter, gave a welcome speech. When<br />
the <strong>RIS</strong> and <strong>RIS</strong>T checks totalling<br />
almost a million baht had been handed<br />
over, both hosts and guests closed the<br />
ceremony by jointly singing “We Are<br />
the World.”<br />
A tour of the houses followed.<br />
Each was a one-storey building of 4<br />
bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a receiving<br />
room and a dining room/kitchen area.<br />
Prominently displayed on the wall<br />
of each living room was a plaque<br />
acknowledging the donations of <strong>RIS</strong>T<br />
and <strong>RIS</strong>. Students were involved and<br />
busy everywhere - taking pictures,<br />
planting and watering a flower<br />
garden, interviewing, and making<br />
friends. Dripping with sweat in the<br />
steaming heat of the noon-day sun,<br />
students in mixed groups participated<br />
enthusiastically in balloon and paper<br />
tower games led by Ms. Alissa. It was<br />
actually heartwarming to watch our<br />
students mingle and bond with the shy<br />
and awed residents of the children’s<br />
village who eventually warmed up to<br />
their friendly visitors.<br />
After a simple but delicious lunch<br />
of steamed rice, fried chicken, and<br />
soup, and a totally refreshing drink of<br />
iced black jelly, the visit ended with<br />
cheers of Thank you, Goodbye, and<br />
See you again next time. On the bus,<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
the students sat back comfortably<br />
with a look of satisfaction on their<br />
faces with lyrics of “We Are the<br />
World” probably going round and<br />
round in their minds:<br />
“There comes a time when we<br />
heed a certain call...<br />
It’s time to lend a hand to life,<br />
the greatest gift of all.<br />
A change can only come when<br />
we stand together as one.”<br />
Next year’s project: a much-needed<br />
soccer field for Father Ray’s<br />
Children’s Village, perhaps…<br />
Documentary Film by<br />
ES Junior Council Members<br />
ne of the most exciting things happening with this fundraising<br />
Oeffort is being headed by the JC’s of the Elementary Section<br />
of <strong>RIS</strong>. During the visit to Pattaya, JC’s were hard at work<br />
photographing, videoing and interviewing many of the participants<br />
for upcoming short documentaries. These mini-documentaries are<br />
being filmed and edited by the JC’s themselves...and they will<br />
be presenting them to their homerooms and the rest of the school<br />
shortly.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
9
COMMUNITY<br />
HOPE FOR HAITI<br />
Amid the Worse Devastation, there is Hope<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> Unites to Help Haiti<br />
“<br />
Be generous in<br />
prosperity, and thankful<br />
in adversity. Be a<br />
treasure to the poor,<br />
an admonisher to the<br />
rich, an answerer of<br />
the cry of the needy, a<br />
preserver of the sanctity<br />
of thy pledge.<br />
10 NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
“<br />
he earthquake that struck Haiti<br />
Tin the early afternoon of January<br />
12 has left more than 200,000 dead<br />
and one million homeless. The<br />
devastation will only add to the<br />
poverty and hardship already faced<br />
by the nation of 8.5 million people,<br />
where half the people are unemployed<br />
and nearly 70% live on less than $2 a<br />
day.<br />
Haiti’s quake is the worst disaster ever<br />
confronted by the United Nations and<br />
it devastated much of Haiti’s already<br />
inadequate infrastructure, destroying<br />
a third of the buildings in the capital<br />
city, Port-au-Prince, as well as its<br />
water and sewage system; and today,<br />
this poor country looks to the<br />
world for basic sustenance.<br />
Nearly 45 percent of Haiti’s<br />
population are children. About<br />
half the nation’s 15,000 primary<br />
schools and 1,500 secondary schools<br />
were hit in the quake creating an<br />
enormous challenge for the Western<br />
hemisphere’s poorest nation.<br />
Hundreds of teachers and thousands<br />
of students were killed. Schools in and<br />
around this devastated capital could<br />
remain closed for months or never<br />
reopen, according to Haitian and<br />
U.N. education officials. That leaves<br />
vast numbers of children languishing<br />
in camps or working in menial jobs<br />
as they struggle to survive. Repairing<br />
and building schools to provide<br />
education is a necessary component<br />
to their recovery as a nation.
COMMUNITY<br />
People all over the world have<br />
opened their wallets to help the<br />
people of Haiti. Every nation and<br />
every international aid organization<br />
in the world has mobilized for Haiti’s<br />
relief. This tragedy shows once again<br />
something that we, as human beings,<br />
have always known: that even amid<br />
the worst devastation, there is always<br />
hope.<br />
With the purpose of restoring that<br />
hope, Hope for Haiti was initiated<br />
by Natascha Yogachandra, a senior<br />
at <strong>RIS</strong>, with the help of her friends<br />
and the <strong>RIS</strong> community with the goal<br />
of raising enough money to build<br />
a school. Natascha is also the cofounder<br />
of Hope is Life Foundation.<br />
Hope is Life Foundation is<br />
currently working with two local<br />
organizations planning for the<br />
building of a primary school located<br />
in the Commune of Saut d’Eau, near<br />
Petion-Ville HQ in Haiti. The name<br />
of the school is Conservatrice de<br />
D’Anton. It provides educations for<br />
approximately 350 students under the<br />
supervision of Joseph Léon Diefette,<br />
Director. The previous structure from<br />
the original school was completely<br />
destroyed by the earthquake. A<br />
nearby church is being used for extra<br />
classroom space/storage. There are<br />
no bathrooms. Children are escorted<br />
to the surrounding area to use the<br />
bathroom.<br />
In response to the horrific scenes<br />
witnessed following the earthquake<br />
in Haiti, the <strong>RIS</strong> community came<br />
forward in full force to support Hope<br />
for Haiti. Students and teachers have<br />
been involved in several fundraising<br />
activities since January. Activities<br />
include used book sales by National<br />
Honor Society, jump rope competition<br />
by GI-SEEDS Club, a performance<br />
by the <strong>RIS</strong> Theater Ensemble, and a<br />
book sale by the elementary section,<br />
to name a few. Over 300,000 baht was<br />
donated from the <strong>RIS</strong> community!<br />
Not only <strong>RIS</strong>, but students from other<br />
international schools such as NIST,<br />
Bangkok Patana and ISB helped<br />
organized events to raise money for<br />
Hope for Haiti. Several restaurants<br />
and private groups in Bangkok<br />
including Masala Magazine’s A<br />
Night of Giving, have helped raised<br />
funds. Schools as far away as New<br />
York and Connecticut, USA, have<br />
also joined in helping the educational<br />
needs of the children of Haiti.<br />
Natascha is very anxious to visit Haiti<br />
in late June this year with her small<br />
team to finalize the plans, obtain<br />
materials and begin construction of the<br />
school. Her goal to raise US$50,000<br />
and personally visit Haiti to help the<br />
victims will soon be realized.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
11
COMMUNITY<br />
Happy Thai New Year!<br />
Songkran is a Thai word which means “move” or “change<br />
place” as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the<br />
zodiac. It is also known as the “Water Festival” as people<br />
believe that water will wash away bad luck.<br />
ongkran is the Thai traditional<br />
SNew Year which starts on <strong>April</strong><br />
13 every year and lasts for three<br />
days. Songkran festival on <strong>April</strong> 13<br />
is Maha Songkran Day or the day to<br />
mark the end of the old year; <strong>April</strong><br />
14 is Wan Nao which is the day<br />
after; and <strong>April</strong> 15 is Wan Thaloeng<br />
Sok, which is the day the New Year<br />
begins. Our schools were able to<br />
begin the festivities early on <strong>April</strong> 8<br />
at our all-school assembly, ringing in<br />
a new year with song and dance and<br />
paying homage to our administrators<br />
and teachers.<br />
The Songkran tradition is recognized<br />
as a valuable custom for the Thai<br />
community, society and religion. It<br />
provides the opportunity for family<br />
members to gather in order to express<br />
their respect to the elders by pouring<br />
scented water onto the palms of<br />
their parents and grandparents; and<br />
to present them with gifts, which<br />
include making merits to dedicate the<br />
result to their ancestors. The elders in<br />
return wish the youngsters good luck<br />
and prosperity.<br />
Songkran creates unity in the<br />
community by jointly acquiring<br />
merits, meeting each other and<br />
enjoying the entertaining events<br />
together. Society benefits as<br />
well, creating a concern upon the<br />
environment with cooperation such<br />
as cleaning houses, temples, public<br />
places and official buildings. Thais<br />
value the religion by means of merits<br />
acquisition, offerings alms to monks,<br />
Dhamma Practice, listening to<br />
sermons and monks-bathing.<br />
In the afternoon, after performing<br />
a bathing rite for Buddha images<br />
and the monks, the celebrants both<br />
young and old, joyfully splash water<br />
on each other. The most-talked<br />
about celebration takes place in the<br />
northern province of Chiang Mai<br />
where Songkran is celebrated from<br />
<strong>April</strong> 13 to 15. During this period,<br />
people from all parts of the country<br />
flock there to enjoy the water festival,<br />
to watch the Miss Songkran Contest<br />
and the beautiful parades.<br />
12<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
CURRICULUM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT<br />
EARCOS 8 th Teachers’ Conference 2010<br />
by Teresa VandeLune, <strong>RIS</strong>T ETC Teachers’ Representative and Olivier Fernandez, <strong>RIS</strong> ETC Teachers’ Representative<br />
he East Asian Region Council<br />
Tof Overseas Schools Teachers’<br />
Conference (ETC) was held<br />
March 25-28, 2010 in Manila,<br />
Philippines. Over 1,000 teachers<br />
and counselors from several Asian<br />
countries including Thailand, Japan,<br />
Mongolia, China, Myanmar, Hong<br />
Kong, and Philippines attended the<br />
conference. From our campus, eight<br />
representatives from <strong>RIS</strong>T and 52<br />
from <strong>RIS</strong> took part in professional<br />
learning opportunities at ETC.<br />
Two counselors, Pascale Thomas<br />
of <strong>RIS</strong> and Steven Summerfield<br />
of <strong>RIS</strong>T, were presenters at the<br />
conference and shared their expertise<br />
with fellow conference attendees.<br />
Steven’s workshop was entitled,<br />
“My Homeroom is My Castle” and<br />
Pascale’s workshop was entitled<br />
“Be True to You.” Both were well<br />
attended by teachers from throughout<br />
the region.<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> and <strong>RIS</strong>T teachers were inspired<br />
by the Keynote speakers with the<br />
“ Attending ETC is always inspirational, and I especially<br />
enjoyed Taylor Mali’s poetry workshops. I came back to<br />
school enthused and ready to teach a new poetry unit”<br />
Tim Mitchell, <strong>RIS</strong>T English teacher<br />
poetry of Taylor Mali, the technology<br />
knowledge of Alan November, and<br />
the brain-power of John Joseph.<br />
Teachers and counselors were able<br />
to attend workshops, connect with<br />
former colleagues, examine the new<br />
books and tools in education, and<br />
learn about Philippine culture.<br />
The conference left teachers<br />
pondering which ideas they could<br />
utilize to improve their teaching<br />
skills and what to try first. Melanie<br />
Fawcett, <strong>RIS</strong> High School English<br />
teacher commented, “The ETC<br />
was a wonderful experience as an<br />
International teacher, the opportunity<br />
to meet other teachers and participate<br />
in workshops with such excellent<br />
leaders, was also truly a highlight.”<br />
Walter Koertge, <strong>RIS</strong> Middle School<br />
Art teacher felt that the comment by<br />
a fellow artist, Jennifer Delos Reyes<br />
showed the importance of the ETC<br />
Art Focus, “Social practice artists<br />
are affecting the world, setting things<br />
in motion, fostering connections<br />
between people and organizing<br />
everyday life so that it can be seen as<br />
engaging and meaningful.”<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
13
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL<br />
A Heartfelt Farewell<br />
s the school year comes to an end, teachers and<br />
Astudents look back at the year that has passed and<br />
reflect on the great year gone by. The end of the school<br />
year is also a time to look ahead – particularly those<br />
teachers and staff who are leaving Ruamrudee this year.<br />
The elementary section is sad to be saying goodbye to<br />
the following teachers who are retiring or have finished<br />
contracts this year.<br />
Ms. Corazon Akrapitak Mr. Ricky Faulds<br />
Ms. Chuchi Agustilo Mr. Robert Newberry<br />
Mr. Dave Reesor Ms. Supannee Dumrongvong<br />
Ms. Diana Blazar Ms. Susan Paterson<br />
Ms. Gail O’Connell Ms. Tracey Sauer<br />
Ms. Laurie Reesor Mr. Travis O’Neel<br />
Ms. Nina Zinner<br />
Ms. Pascale is moving to the High School to take over<br />
counseling duties there and we wish her all the best.<br />
At this time, we would also like to say a special thank<br />
you and farewell to Mr. Steve Massiah – our fearless<br />
Elementary leader who has accepted a Principal position<br />
in South Korea. Mr. Steve has been with the elementary<br />
section for the last three years.<br />
Thank you to all our teachers and<br />
good luck to those of you moving<br />
on. Ruamrudee will miss you.<br />
14 NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL<br />
Hipping and Hopping on the 4 th Floor<br />
O n Friday <strong>April</strong> 30, the 4th floor<br />
of ES was “hipping” and<br />
“hopping” with music and dance as<br />
students in Grade 5 participated in<br />
the annual Hip-Hop Happening dance<br />
competition. The contest (which is<br />
open to Grade 4’s and 5’s) saw 21<br />
groups performing in Ms. Nimfa’s<br />
room – and while the theme was<br />
“hip-hop,” there were certainly other<br />
genres of music represented.<br />
“We practiced for months,” said<br />
Jenny (Grade 5-5), “It was very<br />
stressful getting closer to the<br />
deadline. Even in the weekend<br />
before the event we practiced for<br />
hours and hours.” Jenny’s group<br />
“G-Bay” was comprised of herself,<br />
Bao Bao, Baimon, Gene and Mindy.<br />
For the Hip-Hop Happening, G-<br />
Bay performed to the song “Falling<br />
Down” by Selina Gomez, and ended<br />
up placing 2 nd – missing first place by<br />
less than 1 point.<br />
“It was fun because we got to<br />
participate and cooperate with people<br />
in our group,” said Bao Bao, “It was<br />
a great show, and we could see the<br />
talents and abilities of all the other<br />
dancers.”<br />
Ms. Nimfa, the brains behind Hip-<br />
Hop Happening was very proud of<br />
all her dancers and said, “I was really<br />
impressed by the amount of work<br />
my Grade 5 students have shown<br />
during their Hip-Hop Happening<br />
2010. There were 20 groups all in all<br />
and every group did their best. The<br />
confidence, the teamwork, the energy,<br />
the creativity, and the dynamic-funky<br />
moves are truly amazing. I can see the<br />
love and the passion of our students<br />
in this highly energetic dance style. It<br />
was fun! Congratulations Grade 5….<br />
You all rock!”<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
15
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL<br />
Congratulations<br />
Grade 5 Students!<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> has Given<br />
Confidence,<br />
Friends, Know<br />
a Whole Lot<br />
By Shin Chiewattanakul, Grade 8-6<br />
he end of the school year means<br />
Tone thing to Grade 5 students<br />
– GRADUATION! After years<br />
of making their way through the<br />
elementary section – our Grade 5<br />
students are moving on up to Middle<br />
School after a wonderful bridging<br />
ceremony scheduled for June 2 at the<br />
Performing Arts Center at <strong>RIS</strong>T.<br />
Students are obviously excited<br />
about the end of elementary, and the<br />
beginnings of middle school. Pang<br />
(Grade 5-4) expressed her feelings<br />
on moving to Middle school saying,<br />
“I’m excited because getting from<br />
ES to MS is a big deal. I know more<br />
things now, I’m older too…and it<br />
will be good to be at the same school<br />
as my brother again.”<br />
Other students are cautiously excited,<br />
fearing homework as the worst part of<br />
Middle School. Roopesh (Grade 5-4)<br />
is optimistic about MS, but nervous<br />
also saying, “I’m going to higher<br />
grades, and I’ll learn more things and<br />
be challenged differently, but I’m<br />
scared of the homework.”<br />
Veera (Grade 5-4) expressed a similar<br />
feeling as Roopesh saying, “Many<br />
people are scared of the homework<br />
– with so much homework, I hear you<br />
don’t get any free time!”<br />
Middle School principal Ms. Sudha<br />
welcomed the comments by Grade 5<br />
students, and tried to alleviate their<br />
concerns with a challenge saying,<br />
“Yes, you will find there is more work,<br />
but you are stronger students now and<br />
you need to battle to become better,”<br />
she said. Ms. Sudha continued, “You<br />
will start to feel more grown up with<br />
the added stress…it is positive stress,<br />
and it will lead to success.”<br />
Mr. Dave (Grade 5 Head of<br />
Department) summed up his teaching<br />
experience at <strong>RIS</strong> and the Grade<br />
5’s graduation to MS nicely saying,<br />
“Teaching this year’s grade 5-3 class<br />
was a wonderful way for me to finish<br />
my time at <strong>RIS</strong>. I am very proud<br />
of how these guys supported each<br />
other in intramurals and field trips,<br />
worked hard on their assignments<br />
and laughed at Mr. Dave’s jokes.”<br />
Regarding the graduates Mr. Dave<br />
writes, “The graduates are a great<br />
group of kids, and I look forward to<br />
reading about their accomplishments<br />
in middle school and beyond. The<br />
only hard time I had this year was<br />
trying to figure out the awards. All<br />
the students should be proud of<br />
everything they accomplished this<br />
year. I hope they keep giving 100%<br />
to everything they do!”<br />
We all wish our Grade 5s the best as<br />
they continue their journey to Middle<br />
School. Don’t forget us!<br />
have forgotten what date of what<br />
Iyear I first set foot on Ruamrudee<br />
International School. Although the<br />
information of my age and of the time<br />
evades me, I remember the details of<br />
the event as if it happened yesterday.<br />
The room which is now the clinic<br />
was once used for admission testing.<br />
I walked in the room with my dad,<br />
looking at the ground as I stepped<br />
closer to Father Travis. I have thought<br />
from that moment on Father Travis is<br />
the kindest stranger I’ve ever met. He<br />
started a conversation, encouraging<br />
me to talk. At that time, I was the kid<br />
that never spoke to anyone. However,<br />
in the admission testing room, actual<br />
words and sentences escaped my<br />
mouth. That was the first of many<br />
ways <strong>RIS</strong> has changed my life.<br />
In Kindergarten, Mrs. Ira was my<br />
teacher. I had literally NO social life.<br />
I was that short shrimp in the corner,<br />
waiting for someone to talk to me.<br />
And that is when I made my first<br />
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NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
MIDDLE SCHOOL<br />
Me<br />
Everlasting<br />
ledge and<br />
More!<br />
What is Classroom<br />
Composting?<br />
by Sooji Seo, Grade 8<br />
friend - Bhon. This ‘thought-dictator,’<br />
also known as the MS president, was<br />
my first-ever friend. Kindergarten<br />
opened my sealed lips. I actually<br />
talked instead of just listening in the<br />
background like I did in Pre-School.<br />
As the years went by, I grew smarter<br />
and earned more and more friends<br />
– most of them are my best friends<br />
today. Teachers became friends,<br />
and friends became teachers. Before<br />
I knew it, my classroom became<br />
a society, where everyone knows<br />
everyone else.<br />
According to the Princeton Dictionary,<br />
a school is a building where young<br />
people receive education. I can say<br />
that <strong>RIS</strong> has brought me more than<br />
that, or more than any words could<br />
express. I have gained confidence,<br />
everlasting friends, knowledge, and<br />
also a new parent each year. This is<br />
more than any parent could expect<br />
from a school.<br />
hroughout Earth Week, there were<br />
Tmany events prepared by many<br />
students. One of the special projects<br />
was “Classroom Composting” in Ms.<br />
Jennifer’s Discovery Science class.<br />
The students, during the classes,<br />
made a mini compost and learned<br />
about it. The class also presented their<br />
composting to whole Middle School<br />
student body at Tuesday’s assembly.<br />
Students learned what composting<br />
is and why it is beneficial for the<br />
environment.<br />
So what is composting? Well,<br />
composting is simply used every day<br />
and nearly everywhere around us. For<br />
instance, leaves from the trees, dead<br />
animals and plants, simply decay<br />
and mix with soil, which makes rich,<br />
dark and healthy soil. Similar to<br />
composting in nature, decayed food<br />
wastes, mixed with soil, and put in<br />
a two liter bottle, make classroom<br />
composting.<br />
So why compost? We compost<br />
because we can make a better<br />
environment. First, the composting<br />
can be used by other living organisms<br />
and become their food. Composting<br />
can make the soil more nutritious<br />
adding high carbon and nitrogen,<br />
which makes plants grow well and<br />
provide more oxygen for us humans.<br />
I believe our environment is very<br />
important to us. We tell everyone to<br />
protect and help to make our living<br />
places better. There is quote that<br />
says, “Things are dependent on how<br />
the person’s action is changed.” In<br />
another words, we should change<br />
our thoughts to help the environment<br />
and challenge ourselves to make the<br />
composting cycle work even better<br />
than it does in nature. Let’s work<br />
together to make the Earth a better<br />
place!<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
17
18<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
SHAKESPEARE SONNET<br />
COMPETITION<br />
n Wednesday, March 17, all freshmen English students<br />
Oenthusiastically gathered in the Performing Arts<br />
Center to hear 24 finalists perform Shakespeare sonnets.<br />
Each recitation was greeted with applause and cheers for<br />
friends and classmates! The time flew by as students were<br />
immersed in an experience of language and dynamic oral<br />
communication.<br />
The project began when all English 9 students were<br />
assigned a Shakespeare sonnet by their teacher as part of the<br />
formal study of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Students<br />
memorized and performed their sonnet for classmates and<br />
teachers then selected a few finalists from each class for the<br />
competition.<br />
The judges for the event were: Matthew Sipple, Neil Waltom<br />
and Michael Wilson, Head of the English department. Their<br />
deliberation was quick as the winners were announced<br />
by Pamela McCarty: Hee Yoon Park (3 rd place), Rasika<br />
Sethi (2 nd place) and Sindhuja Krishnamoorthy (1 st place).<br />
Ms. Pamela presented the winners with certificates at the<br />
Wednesday high school assembly and the remaining finalists<br />
received certificates from their teachers.<br />
Sonnet Finalists:<br />
Isaya Limphachya (Fah), Chayanant<br />
Meeprasertskul (Poon), Pan Nyomtha<br />
(Pan), Chontida Asavahame<br />
(Pleng), Hee Yoon Park, Sindhuja<br />
Krishnamoorthy (Sindhu), Waralee<br />
Kaewkoon (Mook), Adisa Narula,<br />
Naphisa Senanarong (Pim), Nichapar<br />
Boonparlit (Joy), Soravut Suchindah<br />
(Billy), Rio Baudish-McCabe, Daniel<br />
Bystrom (Mickey), Shrada Agrawal,<br />
Parkin Maskutrath (Sea), Anand<br />
Khorana, Rasika Sethi, Sakdinant<br />
Riangkrul (Dontree), Cheeyang Cheng,<br />
Yada Thongcheum (Yada), Nuttha<br />
Paisamsrisomsuk (Beer), Apama<br />
Jayaram, Piyabutr Marcar (Brian),<br />
Oranicha Jumreomvong (Natty)<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4 19
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
Do I Really Want to<br />
Become a Doctor?<br />
by Rungkarn (Sai) Rakkulchon<br />
A once-in-a-lifetime experience, the two-day Bumrungrad<br />
internship was definitely hard to forget. At the end of this<br />
program, I realized what working inside the hospital was like,<br />
and it was not too far off from what I had in mind. I have acquired<br />
a lot of new knowledge, and this experience made me even more<br />
certain that I am to pursue a career in the medical field.<br />
Melissa (Lisa) Kerkelis<br />
wo days of noteworthy<br />
Texperience and twelve 11 th grade<br />
students in search of what they want<br />
to be. On the 25 th -26 th of March,<br />
2010, we went to Bumrungrad<br />
Hospital to experience what a real<br />
hospital was like. As an IB diploma<br />
student, I am interested in studying<br />
both law and psychology, thus, I was<br />
the only social science student in the<br />
group. Questions were raised as to<br />
why I was attending this internship<br />
program, but were quickly forgotten<br />
once we started because we learned<br />
that there are many types of jobs in a<br />
hospital, not just doctors and nurses.<br />
The mundane routine shows you see<br />
on TV is nothing like what the nurses<br />
in Bumrungrad are doing. These<br />
nurses are the utmost important<br />
people. In the ER, the nurses are<br />
those who pick up the calls and are<br />
the ones who go with the ambulance<br />
to pick up patients. The amount of<br />
operating room use is also dependent<br />
on the number of nurses available.<br />
The nurses not only follow up and<br />
take care of the patients, they are the<br />
ones who remember the patients’<br />
cases for the doctors.<br />
People often complain about the cost<br />
of their treatment, but they never really<br />
appreciate where the cost actually<br />
comes from. For the best treatment<br />
the hospital can provide, they also<br />
need the best machines. Giving<br />
patients the wrong medication is<br />
extremely problematic and therefore<br />
to prevent this, Bumrungrad bought<br />
a Pharmacy Robot to help lessen this<br />
risk. This robot seals and arranges the<br />
medicine for each different patient<br />
a n d<br />
cost 60 million<br />
20<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
aht. In exchange for this investment,<br />
Bumrungrad is guaranteed that their<br />
patients’ lives are safer than before.<br />
“You can never buy good health,”<br />
said Catherine, Bumrungrad’s<br />
Marketing Manager, on day one. It is<br />
with no doubt very true. During the<br />
session of CT scan, chemotherapy,<br />
radiotherapy, and physical therapy,<br />
we all saw how poor health care can<br />
lead to painful consequences. And<br />
from these sessions we gained the<br />
knowledge that eating healthy food,<br />
exercising regularly, and having good<br />
posture whenever you are sitting and<br />
standing significantly helps maintain<br />
one’s good health.<br />
In two days we’ve learned the system<br />
of the hospital; how people operate<br />
there, the use of different expensive<br />
machines and programs that we could<br />
never have been introduced to if we<br />
were not in this internship program.<br />
We also gained knowledge ranging<br />
Feedback from other students:<br />
Shivam (Mac) Sachaphimukh<br />
The visit to Bumrungrad, overall, can be considered<br />
somewhat of a milestone in my life. I actually have no<br />
family members who are part of the medical profession<br />
and thus, going to Bumrungrad was very educational.<br />
Apart from the fact that I did admire the hospital’s<br />
great facilities, the thing I treasured most in this trip<br />
was experiencing the atmosphere of the hospital as<br />
a whole. Apart from the apparent pungent, more<br />
commonly known as the hospital smell, I felt there was<br />
much more to a hospital than just simply saving lives.<br />
The fact that a hospital has to actually pay so much<br />
attention to other aspects such as commerce and<br />
customer relations clearly emphasized to me that you<br />
don’t actually have to be a doctor to work at a hospital.<br />
Nuttanit (Now) Tancharoen<br />
I really like this program because it shows the lifestyle<br />
of people living and working in the hospital. They<br />
consider the patient as their most valuable person<br />
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
from the binomial code used for the<br />
radiation machine which identifies<br />
where to find cancer cells to literally<br />
touching organs with cancer in the<br />
pathology lab. Of course, the value of<br />
the technologies used in the hospital,<br />
the deeper understanding of how<br />
different factors in the environment<br />
can contribute to cancer, and the<br />
surgery cases can be searched on the<br />
internet. However, the atmosphere<br />
and the personality of the people<br />
who work in the hospital cannot be<br />
understood just by reading an article<br />
from the internet or any other sources<br />
of media, and definitely not just by<br />
reading textbooks.<br />
The Bumrungrad internship program<br />
provides students like me a chance to<br />
open my view to a wider perceptive<br />
of the actual world, and not just what<br />
I see on TV. It is an experience that<br />
is more than I have expected. It is a<br />
worthwhile experience, and I strongly<br />
encourage students to join this<br />
program, and see whether it changes<br />
your perspective about hospitals like<br />
it did me.<br />
and every minute is all about saving lives. I got to feel<br />
how it would be like if I were working in a hospital.<br />
Each section in the hospital has its own attraction.<br />
People working in the same department have a similar<br />
personality due to the work they have to do. This made<br />
me think what type of personality I have, and which<br />
department should I belong to. I got to see how a<br />
hospital is managed.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
21
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
Ahmarin Noor<br />
The place I found most interesting was the pharmacy.<br />
What I liked about the pharmacy at Bumrungrad was<br />
its advancement in technology. They use a pharmacy<br />
robot with a software overlay which would provide<br />
better inventory control, increase productivity and<br />
efficiency, and decrease the error rate at which the<br />
medicines are distributed throughout the hospital.<br />
Overall, it was a breathtaking experience, and I<br />
enjoyed every bit of it.<br />
Akansha (Aki) Shah<br />
To begin the worthwhile trip, we had an introductory<br />
overview from the marketing director of Bumungrad,<br />
who fortunately organizes this internship every year for<br />
all future medical students in <strong>RIS</strong>. She predicted that<br />
after witnessing the “inner-secrets” of the hospital,<br />
students might change their minds, choose a milder<br />
job within the medical department, or become even<br />
more enthusiastic. For me, the last scenario was true.<br />
In the two days, we asked many questions to suffice our<br />
inquisitiveness, took memorable pictures of a lifetime<br />
opportunity, and learned about each department<br />
specifically from experienced head nurses.<br />
Overall, I think that the trip was worthwhile and I<br />
encourage all sophomores and freshmen who might<br />
be considering a medical career to contact the Parent<br />
Auxiliary in your junior year to attend this internship.<br />
I believe that the Internship was a great opportunity<br />
for young students like us to view the realities of a<br />
hospital and determine our future in the medicine<br />
field.<br />
Tapani (Preme) Pratumsuwan<br />
What I really like about this program is how<br />
approachable and welcoming the staff of the hospital<br />
really are. All the staff were willing to share the<br />
major and minor details and information<br />
about their specific specialties and with such<br />
great admiration towards their field.<br />
Truthfully, the <strong>RIS</strong> Internship at<br />
Bumrungrad Hospital had made this<br />
year one of the best years in my life<br />
and no one should ever miss out<br />
on the wonderful opportunity<br />
and experience!<br />
Sheng Feng (Jacky) Tsai<br />
I would like to thank all the<br />
people who have made this<br />
program possible, especially<br />
the Parents Auxiliary and Bumrungrad Hospital.<br />
This trip has so far been one of the most interesting<br />
trips I have ever had. It not only introduced me to the<br />
jobs many diverse people have in hospitals, but also<br />
to many things that ordinary people do not see, or<br />
have ever thought about, when they go to hospitals.<br />
It completely changed the way I view pharmacists,<br />
from being people who sit behind the counter giving<br />
medicines to patients to individuals who control an<br />
intricate system of machines that sort medicines<br />
accurately and efficiently. Touching and smelling the<br />
organ samples from patients was sometimes repulsive,<br />
but it was also a new experience. It reminded me that I<br />
can have another route in the medical field, like being<br />
a pharmacist, but this doesn’t mean that I’m not going<br />
to try to pursue being a doctor.<br />
Nannapas (Pear) Sitipun<br />
This program provides a good opportunity for students<br />
to explore their interests in a very specific area. We<br />
had the chance to ask specific questions regarding<br />
diseases, symptoms, treatments, etc. I learned about<br />
medical equipment, human organs with cancer that I<br />
never learned or heard before without attending this<br />
program. I have learned that nowadays technology<br />
plays an important role in helping doctors examine and<br />
cure patients with less pain and costs.<br />
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NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
23
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
Know • Care • Act<br />
Global Issues Network Conference 2010<br />
Hong Kong<br />
by Rasika Sethi (Grade 9)<br />
ccording to UNICEF, 24,000<br />
Achildren die each day due to<br />
poverty. They “die quietly in some<br />
of the poorest villages on earth, far<br />
removed from the scrutiny and<br />
the conscience of the world.<br />
Being meek and weak in<br />
life makes these dying<br />
multitudes even more<br />
invisible in death.”<br />
1.6 billion people — a<br />
quarter of humanity —<br />
live without electricity.<br />
Based on enrollment<br />
data, about 72 million<br />
children of primary school<br />
age in the developing world were not<br />
in school in 2005; 57 percent of them<br />
were girls. And these are regarded as<br />
optimistic numbers.<br />
Like most students at <strong>RIS</strong>, I am<br />
concerned about global issues and<br />
want to do something more than just<br />
joining campaigns online. But how<br />
can High School students effectively<br />
take action? This is the brick wall<br />
that stands in our way: the long<br />
brick wall which we all have the<br />
responsibility to deal with. I want to<br />
get a hammer and break down several<br />
bricks. But how? One answer came<br />
in Homeroom one morning. It is the<br />
Global Issues Network Conference.<br />
GIN is based on the ideas in Jean<br />
Francois Rishchard’s book, ‘High<br />
Noon’. He identifies 20 urgent<br />
global problems and encourages the<br />
formation of small groups around the<br />
world to help solve them.<br />
The theme of this year’s conference<br />
was “Know. Care. Act.” In the course<br />
of this inspiring conference, we were<br />
presented with opportunities to put<br />
together what we learned, shared,<br />
discussed, and were influenced by to<br />
become change makers. We attended<br />
interactive core workshops, global<br />
village action groups, the video<br />
festival, inspiring student and NGO<br />
presentations, as well as an NGO fair.<br />
There were also influential keynote<br />
24<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
speakers. We learned about a wide<br />
range of issues and were involved in<br />
discussions with topics from human<br />
rights to HIV/AIDS. For example,<br />
in the global village group, we had<br />
discussions and made a canvas<br />
painting about maritime issues and<br />
water pollution.<br />
Listening to the motivational<br />
speeches of the keynote speakers<br />
was a big favorite for us all. We<br />
heard their passion, and were deeply<br />
inspired by their individual drive<br />
and awe-struck by their <strong>stories</strong>.<br />
Particular favorite speakers included<br />
David Begbie, Spencer West, and<br />
Efren Peneflorida. David Begbie, of<br />
Crossroads International, addressed<br />
the issue of poverty with the view<br />
that “The web of poverty is equal to<br />
the web of opportunity.” Crossroads<br />
International is an organization<br />
that connects resources to people in<br />
need. Inspirational and charismatic,<br />
Spencer West spoke about how he<br />
lost his legs at the age of five, but<br />
never lost hope or courage. He gave<br />
us all a thought-provoking message<br />
from his speech: the key points were<br />
“to be the one to make a change, to<br />
celebrate the differences, to be happy<br />
every day, and finally, to stand up”.<br />
Efren Peneflorida is the founder of<br />
the Dynamic Teen Company, and was<br />
also named CNN hero of the year.<br />
His key message is “One is never too<br />
young to give back to society. One is<br />
never too poor to help in society. One<br />
is never too strong to do things on his<br />
own. One is never too ordinary to be<br />
a hero.”<br />
The NGO fair gave us an opportunity<br />
to sign up for organizations and to<br />
find out more about them. A wide<br />
range of organizations were present,<br />
including the Jane Goodall Institute<br />
Hong Kong, UNICEF, Child Welfare<br />
Scheme, and Traffick Link. Most of<br />
the organizations that were in the<br />
NGO fair also gave presentations.<br />
I had a really hard time picking out<br />
which presentation to attend. But in<br />
the end, I chose to go to the Traffick<br />
Link presentation, which focused on<br />
anti-slavery and human trafficking.<br />
There are more slaves today than<br />
there ever were in history! Women,<br />
men, and children, even boys and<br />
girls as young as four years old, are<br />
sold, bought, and treated as if they<br />
are mere objects. This presentation<br />
brought tears to my eyes- it was really<br />
disturbing and horrific to think that a<br />
human could do insanely cruel things<br />
to four year olds, just for money.<br />
We were then informed about how<br />
we could take action, and what the<br />
Traffick Link organization are doing.<br />
They are currently educating rescued<br />
human trafficking victims- it may<br />
take five minutes to rescue a victim,<br />
but it takes over five years to recover;<br />
some don’t ever recover.<br />
I feel I am now in the process of<br />
breaking down the brick wall. Thanks<br />
to the GIN conference I feel better<br />
equipped and I have my goals more<br />
clearly defined. I aim to conduct<br />
a project on human trafficking by<br />
educating rescued victims. I am a<br />
part of the ‘Not for Sale Campaign<br />
(Student Abolitionist Movement)’<br />
online and will be taking action<br />
in school to raise awareness about<br />
human trafficking.<br />
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
Beyond the brick wall is where we’ll<br />
all find peace and happiness. Imagine<br />
if everyone played a role in breaking<br />
a portion of the brick wall. Not only<br />
will peace and happiness for all<br />
be possible, but it can be achieved<br />
in a shorter period of time. Efren<br />
Peneflorida said that everyone has<br />
an element of hero within them, just<br />
waiting to be unleashed. Search for<br />
it in your heart. Change begins in us<br />
and change is what the world needs.<br />
“When spiders unite, they can<br />
tie down a lion.”<br />
- Ethiopian proverb<br />
The other students who also<br />
attended this year’s conference<br />
were Sheena Narula, Preshita<br />
Sipani, So Ra Lee, Ploy<br />
Busagornruangrat, Panachai<br />
(Bank) Assavaniwest, Panpan<br />
Punyaneramitdee, and Korn<br />
(Pete) Mungsommai. The<br />
encouraging teachers who<br />
attended were Dr. John Stiles<br />
and Ms. Lincy Fung. Without<br />
all nine of them, this conference<br />
wouldn’t have been possible. It<br />
wouldn’t have been as fun and<br />
exciting. Thank you.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
25
26<br />
Agarwal; Ankit<br />
Amarit; Jaturong (Arnold)<br />
An; Su Kyung<br />
Annachhatre; Tanmay Ajit<br />
Aroonratsakul; Nattha<br />
Asawachaisopon; Shinnawat<br />
Assavaniwest; Saran<br />
Balasundharam; Vaishaali<br />
Balasundharam; Vybhavi (Bobbi)<br />
Boonchub; Wanwisa (Ben)<br />
Boonparlit; Nutchapol (Paul)<br />
Boonyarungsrit; Penphob Andrea<br />
Bunjitpimol; Wichares<br />
Chalalai; Patcharasiri<br />
Chanasit; Varistha<br />
Chanchotiyan; Pisut (Tony)<br />
Chandra Mouli; Krithika<br />
Chaovanayotin; Arnant<br />
Charoenkul; Gunn<br />
Chauhan; Abhinav Singh<br />
Chayanupatkul; Pawit<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
Chen; Hsiao-Wei<br />
Chen; Meng Che (Ricky)<br />
Chiaranunt; Pailin<br />
Chien; Emmy Lin<br />
Chinavinijkul; Panarin<br />
Chiochan; Tanya<br />
Chiu; Yu-Chen (Eugene)<br />
Choaknantiporn; Piroat<br />
Chou; Tzu-Hsuan (Demy)<br />
Chue; Macaire Siu Yin<br />
Chutchawanjumrut; Thorfun<br />
Dangprasert; Romkamol<br />
Dangprasert; Yingpapha<br />
Danjittrong; Rungradid<br />
Glynn; Richard<br />
Hanpunpong; Ratapong<br />
Haputpong; Leelanuch<br />
Ho; Yenni (Nini)<br />
Hong; Yunki<br />
Horungruang; Nichakamol<br />
Hsu; Suphattra (Pat)<br />
Hung; Ching-Hsiang (Eric)<br />
Jarusombat; Kittaporn (May)<br />
Jetjirawat; Wadhana<br />
Jiropas; Ton<br />
Jullamon; Mathurada (Peace)<br />
Kachornvitaya; Samida<br />
Kaewkoon; Kamolwan<br />
Kaewngarm; Thanawan (June)<br />
Kanjanakuha; Patchamol (Pat)<br />
Kedia; Shubham<br />
Keeree; Theera (Jay)<br />
Kerdnunvong; Usa<br />
Kewalramani; Lokesh<br />
Khandelwal; Parth<br />
Khanijou; Jyotika<br />
Khanna; Madhuri<br />
Khongthavornpipat; Peeranut<br />
Kim; Eun Ah<br />
Kim; Gyusik<br />
Kitcharoen; Karn<br />
Kittivittayakul; Abhibhu<br />
Koopirom; Patara<br />
Kothari; Akhil<br />
Kowittayawong; Patanin<br />
Kulthanan; Apasiri<br />
Kumar; Nithin Senthur<br />
Kunwongse; Tanya<br />
Kwanchit; Chitphan<br />
Laprabang; Saris<br />
Lee; Chi Hsun (Brad)<br />
Lee; Keun Sub<br />
Lee; Soo Min (Jane)<br />
Linhawetts; Gunlayapatt<br />
Lu; Yicheng<br />
Luangpoomyut; Kevin Lee<br />
Mahawanitwong; Saralee<br />
Masuo; Momoe<br />
Mateekusontan; Chayanee<br />
Mathur; Malavika (Monica)<br />
Meknavin; Pongsarut<br />
Mungsommai; Peerapat (Pete)<br />
Narula; Karishma (Candy)
Narula; Thanaphol Singh<br />
Ng; Charoen (Alan)<br />
Oh; Hana<br />
Oka; Koki<br />
Paik; Seung Hwan (Peter)<br />
Paladiganon; Ujainee<br />
Panusittikorn; Poap<br />
Parasar; Bhanupriya<br />
Park; Song Yee<br />
Paruggamanont; Thawan<br />
Patil; Ankush Yuvraj<br />
Pawa; Ramesh<br />
Penpoo; Kom<br />
Pimukwongchai; Anchisa (Ray)<br />
Poolvoralaks; Chanchanok<br />
Pornngarm; Kanokwan<br />
Prasitdumrong; Bunyawat<br />
Promthaveepong; Kittithat<br />
Punyanaramitdee; Pongpon<br />
Punyaneramitdee; Lada<br />
Punyavirocha; Narisa<br />
Rakshit; Ritika<br />
Ranjit; Anurag<br />
Ranjithkumara; Amanda Sansanee<br />
Rattanasripanya; Chanakarn<br />
Rojvanich; Natapong<br />
Ronnakittipisut; Varanya<br />
Roy Chowdhury; Siddharth<br />
Rungruangwuddikrai; Vasin<br />
Sachatheva; Wichan (Eeshaan)<br />
Samarakoon; Pulini Ayumi<br />
Santikul; Tanakorn (Mickey)<br />
Santitewagun; Tewan<br />
Sasirajpornchai; Ramestr<br />
Sharma; Sanjana<br />
Singh; Shruti<br />
Siribodhi; Pongyupa (Peace)<br />
Sirikul; Na-Bajr<br />
Sirinuntananon; Olivier Nakorn<br />
Sirison; Kantaphat<br />
Songpitak; Melissa<br />
Sorkhay; Patarachat (May)<br />
Srimanothip; Vasant<br />
Srisomburananont; Chalita<br />
Sritangos; Soraya<br />
Stitsupamas; Thitikorn<br />
Sukorndhaman; Sisira<br />
Sunchindah; Soravit (Benjie)<br />
Supasamsen; Krissada (Kris)<br />
Suthibutr; Chanawee Mate<br />
Suthidara; Korawee<br />
Suwanwong; Supanat<br />
Taalaibekkyzy; Aziya<br />
Tamrongsakulsiri; Nites<br />
Tanwani; Divesh Vashi<br />
Techasopapan; Ratha<br />
Thanalongkorn; Pitcha (May)<br />
Thaveeapiradeesak; Preedee (Billy)<br />
Thienapirak; Tarika<br />
Thisyamondol; Shinapat (Mike)<br />
Tienbang; Anekchai (Jean)<br />
Titatan; Saharit<br />
Trairatanobhas; Varitnun<br />
Treekutpan; Atigun<br />
Tripathi; Susmit<br />
Udomthaveedej; Silp<br />
Unahalekhaka; Apittha<br />
Uttasart; Ajamaphorn<br />
Vajanapanich; Santi<br />
Van der Linden; Natasha<br />
Vanichseni; Sathika (Prelle)<br />
Vechmamontien; Ratchanon<br />
Vechmamontien; Sorasakdi<br />
Viraporn; Pichcha<br />
Wachiralappaitoon; Supanat (Chris)<br />
Wimoltada; Kochaporn<br />
Wongpatimachai; Nat<br />
Wood-Thanan; Patikorn<br />
Yang; Kai-Ning (Kenny)<br />
Yi; Ta Wei (David)<br />
Yogachandra; Natascha<br />
Yoo; Jin-Tae<br />
Yu; Chun Yen<br />
Yungyoo; Ravisara<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4 27
REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAILAND<br />
Congratulations, <strong>RIS</strong>T Graduates!<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T Class of 2010<br />
Abe, Hitomi<br />
Aoki, Kaori<br />
Boonyarattaglin, Sasipa (Ploy)<br />
Choi, Sung Hun<br />
Esaki, Makoto<br />
Fujishiro, Yoji<br />
Fukuhara, Yuya<br />
Hasegawa, Toshie<br />
Hirosawa, Mari<br />
Imasato, Shiori<br />
Kitamura, Masahiro (Masa)<br />
Nakamura, Kie<br />
Pornpratarnsuk, Saopetch (Cheque)<br />
Sirisuphanon, Pairaya (Plai)<br />
Suzuki, Moeko<br />
Takahashi, Mio<br />
Thammaraks, Prima (Prim)<br />
Tozawa, Ryota<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T Class of 2010 College Acceptance<br />
Compiled by Miho Katsumata, <strong>RIS</strong>T Student Advisor<br />
Trakarnvanich, Thananan (ko)<br />
Waranaraya, Wasutorn (Beer)<br />
Yagashiwa, Misako<br />
Yamada, Chika<br />
Yamada, Kana<br />
We are pleased to announce <strong>RIS</strong>T students of the class of 2010 have been accepted by the following<br />
prestigious universities and colleges. Congratulations to them all!<br />
Thailand:<br />
Assumption University (Business Administration,<br />
Communication Arts)<br />
Mahidol University (International Business)<br />
Thammasat University (Engineering)<br />
Japan:<br />
Aoyama Gakuin University (Economics)<br />
Chiba Institute of Technology (Engineering)<br />
Chuo University (Commercial Science, Law)<br />
Hiroshima University (Integrated Arts and Sciences)<br />
Kobe City University of Foreign Studies (International<br />
Relations)<br />
Kwansei Gakuin University (Sociology, Commercial<br />
Science, Education, Economics)<br />
Nara University of Education (Education)<br />
Nihon Kogakuin (Art)<br />
Obirin University (Liberal Arts)<br />
Ritusmeikan Asia Pacific University (International<br />
Program)<br />
Tokyo Communication Art School (Eco-communication)<br />
Tokyo Polytechnic University (Engineering)<br />
Tsuda College (International Relations)<br />
Waseda University (Political Science and Economics)<br />
Yokohama City University (International Comprehensive<br />
Science)<br />
USA:<br />
Iowa State University (Art and Design)<br />
Orange Coast College (Liberal Arts)<br />
Wake Forest University (Liberal Arts)<br />
UK:<br />
University of Essex (International Relations)<br />
University of Reading (International Relations)<br />
28<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAILAND<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T Community Pride<br />
by Sudarat Tanattanawin, <strong>RIS</strong>T Assistant Principal<br />
esearch shows that parental<br />
Rinvolvement plays an important<br />
part in student achievement and<br />
school success. Children respond<br />
positively when parents set high but<br />
realistic standards for achievement.<br />
Realizing the significance of this<br />
crucial link, <strong>RIS</strong>T administration<br />
strives to educate parents to help all<br />
youngsters succeed in school and in<br />
later life.<br />
This past school year, <strong>RIS</strong>T has<br />
worked hard to provide guidance<br />
and support for parents<br />
so that they play a more<br />
active role in their child’s<br />
schooling. Through<br />
educational workshops<br />
and training, they have<br />
become more involved<br />
in helping their children<br />
with homework and<br />
other curriculum-related<br />
activities, decisions and planning. In<br />
addition, they find themselves with<br />
opportunities to be models for and to<br />
guide their children.<br />
Besides participation in the School<br />
Development Committees and<br />
Parents’ Auxiliary meetings,<br />
parents attended effective parenting<br />
training conducted by Mr. Steven<br />
Summerfiled, <strong>RIS</strong>T Counselor. Other<br />
educational workshops that were<br />
helpful to parents in establishing<br />
a strong base for success and<br />
strengthening their child’s potential<br />
have included:<br />
English Acquisition<br />
Mr. Mike, <strong>RIS</strong>T Principal<br />
Fair Isn’t Always Equal<br />
Ms. Karen, <strong>RIS</strong> Special Needs<br />
Department Head<br />
Early Graduation<br />
Mr. Mike, <strong>RIS</strong>T Principal<br />
College Admissions<br />
Mr. Tawan and Ms. Miho, <strong>RIS</strong><br />
& <strong>RIS</strong>T Counselors<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T community members understand<br />
the implications of “partnership.”<br />
School will teach children how to<br />
read, but the home must guide them<br />
about what to read. School can teach<br />
students how to think, but the home<br />
must help them to know what to<br />
believe.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
29
REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL THAILAND<br />
Maintaining Excellence at <strong>RIS</strong>T<br />
by Sudarat Tanattanawin, <strong>RIS</strong>T Assistant Principal<br />
t has been just a year-and-a-half<br />
Isince the Western Association of<br />
Schools and Colleges, in one of the<br />
first joint accreditation processes<br />
with the Thai authorities (ONESQA)<br />
granted Redeemer International<br />
School Thailand a five-year term of<br />
accreditation, the maximum possible<br />
WASC term in Thailand. However,<br />
this was not a signal for complacency<br />
to set in. School development and<br />
improvement are top priorities for<br />
our school, not just to maintain<br />
accreditation, but to provide the<br />
best possible teaching and learning<br />
environment for our students in a<br />
constant drive towards excellence.<br />
Stakeholder involvement is high:<br />
faculty, staff, parents and students are<br />
all represented on the Curriculum and<br />
School Development Council, which<br />
meets three times a year, and the five<br />
School Development Committees,<br />
which meet monthly. These are<br />
permanent features of school<br />
operations, designed to address and<br />
monitor the ongoing Schoolwide<br />
Action Plan. This plan,<br />
which incorporates major<br />
WASC recommendations<br />
and drives all school<br />
development initiatives,<br />
is collaboratively revised<br />
annually after evaluating<br />
progress from the previous<br />
year. Individual faculty<br />
members and departments<br />
are also expected to<br />
develop annual goals that<br />
relate to the Action plan.<br />
All documentation related to<br />
accreditation and school development<br />
is published on the <strong>RIS</strong>T website,<br />
including a yearly Action Plan<br />
Progress Report for all stakeholders.<br />
After reviewing the Progress Report,<br />
stakeholders have a variety of ways<br />
to provide input into Plan revision,<br />
including survey input from parents,<br />
students, and staff, discussion<br />
of the plan by all departments at<br />
scheduled meetings, and the review<br />
of achievement data by the faculty,<br />
parents, students and staff. Through<br />
this process, all stakeholders at <strong>RIS</strong>T<br />
have input into the Progress Report<br />
and are directly involved with school<br />
initiatives and improvement efforts<br />
underway at the school.<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>T Principal, Mr. Mike Booton,<br />
has served on five WASC Visiting<br />
Committees, two of them as Chair<br />
for visits to international schools in<br />
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kobe,<br />
Japan. His valuable experience<br />
supporting the improvement process<br />
in other schools provides insight and<br />
leadership for the ongoing impetus<br />
towards excellence at <strong>RIS</strong>T.<br />
30<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
SEASAC Fine Arts Festival 2010<br />
Surabaya, Indonesia<br />
School for three days in the areas of<br />
music, art, drama and dance. There<br />
were different workshop groups<br />
throughout the days including puppet<br />
making, Ngremo dance of East Java,<br />
martial arts, and singing culminating<br />
in a final celebratory<br />
performance of their<br />
new skills to a large<br />
audience.<br />
ix of our high school students<br />
Sand Ms. Michaela and Mr.<br />
Duncan from the HS Visual Arts<br />
Department traveled to Surabaya,<br />
Indonesia to attend the South East<br />
Asian Student Activities Conference<br />
(SEASAC) Arts Festival on March<br />
5-7. <strong>RIS</strong> students worked alongside<br />
10 other schools from Southeast<br />
Asia at Surabaya International<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
31
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
CHAMPIONS 5 YEARS IN A ROW!<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> Boys Varsity Softball Team<br />
he boys’ varsity softball team<br />
Tkept their winning tradition alive<br />
by capturing their 5 th consecutive<br />
SEASAC title. While the team<br />
struggled in the short season losing<br />
all 4 games it played, coach Dave<br />
Cote’s boys never let their poor start<br />
defray them from their goal.<br />
“Early in the season, the boys were<br />
finding ways to lose games,” said<br />
coach Dave. “They were ahead in<br />
each one of their games but had<br />
mental collapses in the big innings.<br />
We just kept things fun and positive<br />
up until the SEASAC tournament and<br />
you could see the hitting and overall<br />
team confidence-level improving.”<br />
When asked whether or not he thought<br />
that the <strong>RIS</strong> boys’ team would go<br />
undefeated in the tournament, Coach<br />
Cote said, “I wouldn’t have bet my<br />
life on it, that’s for sure! The boys<br />
played solid defensively and batted<br />
almost .600 for the tournament. It<br />
is difficult to lose a high school<br />
tournament when you are playing<br />
that well!”<br />
Congratulations to the <strong>RIS</strong> boys team<br />
for winning SEASAC this year!<br />
32<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
<strong>RIS</strong> Varsity Tennis Boys 09-10<br />
“We’re gonna serve it! We’re gonna hit it! And we’re gonna smash it!”<br />
NIST and ended up competing for 3 rd<br />
place against BPS. The match against<br />
BPS turned out to be the longest<br />
and most grueling as the 1 st singles<br />
players had to play for the deciding<br />
match until the sun set. In the end,<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> prevailed, beating BPS 3-2 and<br />
came back with hard-earned bronze<br />
medals.<br />
ith the new team jackets and<br />
Wthe best uniform ever, the<br />
Varsity Boys Tennis team got off to<br />
a promising start. The season kicked<br />
off with over 20 players coming out<br />
for the Varsity team. By the end<br />
of the tryout week, the team was<br />
narrowed down to 9 players, with 4<br />
of these hopefuls being members the<br />
previous year. Everybody improved<br />
tremendously over the summer and<br />
the new players also turned a lot<br />
of heads. Guided by Jay, the new<br />
coach, <strong>RIS</strong> played matches against<br />
each other and polished their skills<br />
in preparation for the BISAC and<br />
SEASAC tournaments. The <strong>RIS</strong><br />
tennis team was a force to be reckoned<br />
with.<br />
At BISAC, our Phoenix boys cruised<br />
to the semifinals, but faltered against<br />
The SEASAC competition<br />
at Singapore was fierce and<br />
unfortunately we did not meet our<br />
high expectations. The rain delays<br />
led to us losing a medal because of<br />
a controversial tie-breaker format.<br />
Nonetheless, the boys fought hard<br />
and represented <strong>RIS</strong> well. It was a<br />
great year! I leave the team this year<br />
with nothing but good thoughts. I<br />
wish the tennis program all the best<br />
in the future.<br />
Thanks for the memories guys!<br />
- Captain Touch -<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> Varsity Girls Tennis Team Make History<br />
IS Phoenix girls made history<br />
Rthis year. They won both<br />
BISAC and SEASAC!<br />
All seven players who played were<br />
each awarded with the SEASAC allstar<br />
plate for the first time in SEASAC<br />
history. All seven players played all<br />
their matches, making them eligible<br />
for all-star awards.<br />
Our reserve player didn’t play<br />
because she would make the player<br />
she replaces ineligible for an all-star<br />
award. We are still very sad that she<br />
didn’t have a chance to show her skills<br />
when she is such a great player. We<br />
are trying to encourage the SEASAC<br />
committee to change this rule, giving<br />
everybody on the team a chance to<br />
win all-star. Nevertheless, we all<br />
played our parts well as a team.<br />
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
We made sacrifices, we worked<br />
hard, we fought, and we won. In<br />
the end, we are proud that we have<br />
represented <strong>RIS</strong> well. Way to go<br />
girls! Go Phoenix!<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
33
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
3 rd SEASON SPORTS AWARDS<br />
TEAMS<br />
MOST VALUABLE<br />
PLAYER<br />
MOST IMPROVED<br />
PLAYER<br />
MOST SPORTSMANSHIP<br />
PLAYER<br />
U19 Boys Softball Kaustav Bunti Neogi Sung Hwan Paik Shubham Kedia<br />
U19 Girls Softball Chanchanok Poolvoralaks Octavia Macnamara Ujainee Paradiganon<br />
U19 Boys Badminton Koki Oka Chanar Keratiyutwong Soravit Sunchindah<br />
U19 Girls Badminton Kawisara Jongkolratanaporn Maythita Eiampikul Preyaluck Sutarat<br />
U17 Boys Softball<br />
Masatoshi Hoshizaki<br />
Thubasa Fukushima<br />
Cho Soon Young<br />
Park Hee Yoon<br />
U17 Girls Softball Octavia Macnamara Shradha Agrawal Vishakha Choudhary<br />
U17 Boys Badminton Jittiwat Waranaraya Varis Olarnsakul Piyadej Wongsirikul<br />
U17 Girls Badminton Chavisa Kosolwattanaroj Aishawarya Afzulpurkar Kriti Singh<br />
U15 Boys Volleyball Peerakarn Karnchanapimonkol Sharath Kumar Muthukumaran Singchai Somsanguan<br />
U15 Girls Volleyball Monsicha Yoopensuk Pithamon Karnchanapimolkul Nutchaya Patitus<br />
U15 Boys Tennis Theera Saraneeyatham Thawin Suksathaporn Shin Chiewattanakul<br />
U15 Girls Tennis Nitchakan Chaiprukmalakan Panitnart Sakolsatayatorn Pim Asavahame<br />
U13 Boys Volleyball Natthapat Somsanguan Prachyawanich Khotawanich Suphot Khurana<br />
U13 Girls Volleyball<br />
Navarat techaratanaprasert<br />
Orana Sujiwarodom<br />
Nannaphat Sirison<br />
Amolnat Chiarnpattanodom<br />
U13 Boys Softball Shashank Saravat Sorawich Chaikongkit Voralerk Poolvoralaks<br />
U11 Boys T-ball<br />
Naman Kedia<br />
Divyesh Sipani<br />
Zeng ‘Jom’ Worathon<br />
Teague Marusak<br />
U11 Girls T-ball Supavee Kanjanakuha Donyaporn Kittvatcharapong Rittada Herabat<br />
Under 11 Girls’ T-Ball<br />
The Under 11 Girls’ T-Ball team went undefeated in all their games this year. They won a thrilling game<br />
against Bangkok Patana in the BISAC finals. The game went into extra innings after Sandy Kanjanakuha<br />
threw out Patana’s top hitter at home plate with a perfect throw from deep center field. In the extra inning,<br />
the girls scored 6 runs and needed 5 outs to win. Our girls, who played great defense all year, got 7 outs and<br />
won the gold with a 17-14 win! “This was the best girls’ team I’ve ever coached!” exclaimed Coach Brian<br />
with obvious pride.<br />
Under 11 Boys’ T-Ball<br />
The Boys’ Under 11 T-Ball team had a great season this year. Their regular season record of 6-0 included<br />
wins over ASB, Shrewsbury, and TCIS. Scoring a total of 128 runs they averaged over 21 per game while<br />
the defense limited opponents to 11 runs per game. The players worked hard in the <strong>April</strong> heat and made<br />
great improvements in their hitting, fielding, and throwing abilities as well as their understanding of the<br />
rules and strategies of baseball. Unfortunately due to ongoing political unrest, the BISAC tournament was<br />
cancelled this year, but the team looks forward to a new season in 2011. The roster for this year’s team:<br />
Naman (co-MVP), Divyesh (co-MVP), Jom (Most Improved Player), King, Ter, Winner, Aidan, Teague<br />
(Sportsmanship Award), Ananmay, Maek, Beek, Joey, Maddox, Andrew, and Tristan. The team was cocoached<br />
by Andy Marusak & Tim Mitchell.<br />
Under 13 Girls’ Volleyball<br />
The U13 Girls volleyball team had a great season. Most of the girls on the team had little-to-no experience<br />
but this motivated them to work hard and prepare themselves for the BISAC tournament. After a winless<br />
first-half of the season, the girls started to play a good team game and despite their nerves and added<br />
pressure, they did an amazing job at the tournament finishing in second place! The coaches, parents and<br />
students are all very proud of this young team of hard working girls. “Great season ladies and congratulation<br />
on your silver medal performance at BISAC,” concludes Coach Joei.<br />
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NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
Under 15 Girls’ Volleyball<br />
At the beginning of the season, we started off as separate individuals and groups that never interacted. But<br />
as the sport season progressed, we became a unified group that looked out for each other, created precious<br />
memories through ups and downs, and constantly motivated each other to reach our best potential earning a<br />
silver medal at BISAC. Our first set in the final match of the tournament against the home team, ISB, was<br />
very disappointing, but we still put up a fight in the last two sets. The U15 team would like to thank all the<br />
varsity players who have constantly been there to support us and help us improve our volleyball skills. Our<br />
team would like to say a special thanks to Ton, Kom, Kunn, Preme, Pauline, Lissa, parents, manager, and<br />
our wonderful Coach Noi for assisting us in this successful and memorable season.<br />
JV Girls’ Volleyball<br />
2009 was an amazing year for the U17 girls and filled with a roller coaster of emotions and results.<br />
Through all their hard work and dedication, the girls have become better players and athletes, and will<br />
undoubtedly give opposing teams all they can handle in future years. Great job on a hard fought season and<br />
a second place finish at BISAC. Coach Richard puts it best, “You are all champions in my books!”<br />
U-13 Boys’ Volleyball<br />
The boys had a great season that not only made them better players but also great friends. They did a<br />
great job on developing their skills as volleyball players and young men. They may have been a little<br />
disappointed in their final standing at BISAC, but everyone had a great time throughout the season and we<br />
will be looking for retribution next year.<br />
Under 17 Girls’ Softball<br />
The U17 girls’ softball team had a long season of practicing without many games. In fact, the girls only had<br />
one regular season game before BISAC. All the hard work paid off in the BISAC tournament though, as<br />
the girls were able to bring the championship to <strong>RIS</strong>. The girls played stellar defense, giving up a total of<br />
five runs in two games and the offense scored a total of 14 runs. Both stats were the best among the teams<br />
in the tournament. As Coach Isaac comments, “the future looks bright for <strong>RIS</strong> softball as these girls look to<br />
improve even more.”<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
35
CHAI YO! THE PHOENIX <strong>RIS</strong>ES AND MOVES ON!<br />
A graceful phoenix endowing love and warmth to her community<br />
Viewed upon with reverence by all – a symbol of immortality<br />
She nestles in the outskirts of Bangkok in lotus-studded Minburi<br />
This nurturing phoenix was bestowed upon the title Ruamrudee<br />
An international union of hearts, this apt name she was given<br />
Founded by the Redemptorist priests in nineteen fifty seven<br />
For fifty plus years she has educated and piloted from within<br />
Critically thinking, well-balanced and caring global citizens<br />
While constantly striving for excellence she’s been able to withstand<br />
The tremors and quakes of time experienced by institutions and lands<br />
This year the graceful phoenix jostled as she grappled to keep balance<br />
By a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale, the erupting economic crisis<br />
Compressed by competition from other international schools<br />
Shakes from the crisis cause the enrollment to drop<br />
Engulfed by jolts of newly set rules<br />
The infrastructure sways and rocks<br />
Vents of anger and distrust<br />
Shrouded toxic rumors<br />
The phoenix smolders<br />
Plummets<br />
Dark<br />
Pray<br />
Pleas for help<br />
Hours of mediation<br />
Parents, faculty, administration<br />
The community comes together to solidify<br />
Working against odds with one clear goal in mind<br />
The enthusiastic bright eyes of innocent, young lives<br />
This pivotal shimmer of light draws the community to reunite<br />
Chai Yo! The immortal phoenix rises amidst tremors and flutters to flight!<br />
Chai yo! The magnificent phoenix takes to flight<br />
United and together let’s lift her with all our might<br />
The <strong>RIS</strong> community is the wind beneath her rainbow wings<br />
Let’s join hands to help her rise, stabilize and soar<br />
Help her hover high as her rhythmic pulse echoes<br />
Brace her steadily; support her as constant praises we sing<br />
Chai Yo! Through the universe promote her immortality to ring!<br />
Let’s consolidate as one and together we steadily move on<br />
Rejuvenate our best intentions and let bygones be bygones<br />
Embed in our hearts the shimmering eyes as our ever-guiding light<br />
Ensure all we can to best prepare our future generations<br />
Empower them with skills to cope with unique situations<br />
Steer our ever-shining stars as our phoenix rises to dizzy heights<br />
Chai Yo! Anchor her as our community’s love, pride and delight!<br />
Amidst the tremors the Phoenix flourishes and moves on<br />
Keeping intact what we excel in as we penetrate beyond<br />
In ES, we implemented the balanced literacy program<br />
As fluent readers our star kids delve into books to magical lands<br />
36<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
To promote critical thinking we implemented investigational science<br />
Our scientists enjoy this hands-on program that’s cool and dynamic<br />
In MS, we launched a reach-out rocket titled Girls Empowerment<br />
Empowering lady students through friendship, leadership and service<br />
The MS faculty merge to design a standard-based reporting system<br />
To effectively report our students’ learning, knowledge and wisdom<br />
We launched a school-wide campaign to protect our fragile ozone<br />
Igniting energy in our endeavors as we strive together and not alone<br />
Children helping children brought warmth to our hearts and tears to our eyes<br />
As students exert heartfelt energy to keep Father Ray’s Foundation alive<br />
The endearing phoenix extends her wings to embrace these street children<br />
Instilling security in their hearts enlightening them that they too can win<br />
To encourage risk-taking and to inspire students further in Math to excel<br />
The Mathivation Movement swirls into the phoenix to vigorously propel<br />
Words can’t express how diligently our phoenix is striving to soar<br />
To stand as a cutting edge institution our endeavors will enhance and grow<br />
Our <strong>RIS</strong> community we cordially invite you to unite with smiles that light aglow<br />
As we chime our glasses overflowing with pride and toast to her immortality CHAI YO!<br />
With love and inspiration,<br />
Heather Kingham, Grade 5 Teacher<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
37
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
VAMPIRES ON <strong>RIS</strong> CAMPUS?<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> Theater Ensemble perform A Vampire Story<br />
wo young women arrive in a<br />
Tnameless British small town.<br />
Their names are not their own.<br />
They don’t declare their ages. Their<br />
relationship with each other is not<br />
clear. Are they sisters, as their<br />
assumed identities declare? Or are<br />
they mother and daughter?<br />
The eldest, Claire, takes a job in a<br />
pub. The youngest, Eleanor, goes<br />
to school. During a truth exercise in<br />
her drama class, Eleanor confesses<br />
that she has been alive for over two<br />
hundred yeas and has survived by<br />
drinking human blood. Her classmates<br />
think she is utterly crazy and Mint,<br />
her teacher, puts her in touch with<br />
the school counselor. She makes one<br />
friend, Frank, a boy who has been<br />
home educated and is as much of an<br />
oddity as Eleanor. He tries to get to<br />
the bottom of her vampire delusion,<br />
thinking it an epic and compelling<br />
psychosis. Why would anyone want<br />
to be undead?<br />
Frank’s parents believe that Ella is<br />
an anorexic - why does she never<br />
eat? Eleanor has started to write her<br />
life story as a play. Things are falling<br />
apart. People are disappearing. Are<br />
Eleanor and Claire vampires? Or are<br />
they troubled young women on the<br />
run?<br />
The <strong>RIS</strong> Theater Ensemble performed<br />
their last play of the season, A Vampire<br />
Story, by Moira Buffini on <strong>April</strong> 28<br />
and 29 in the Performing Arts Center<br />
(PAC). Under the direction of Mr.<br />
Darren Scully, the students delighted<br />
the audience and left them wondering,<br />
are Eleanor and Claire really<br />
vampires? The ensemble is made<br />
up of a group of high school students<br />
who are continuously working to test<br />
themselves and their range.<br />
We applaud the Performing Arts<br />
Department and the many performers<br />
and behind-the-scenes people for their<br />
hard work and dedication bringing us<br />
entertaining and thought-provoking<br />
theater this year.<br />
38<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
Legends of Siam<br />
Performed by Thai Department<br />
he Legends of Siam, presented<br />
Ton <strong>April</strong> 1 in the Performing<br />
Arts Center, by students from Thai<br />
Music, Thai Drama and Thai History<br />
classes alongside students from Khon<br />
& Regional Dance was a spectacular<br />
performance. The production<br />
consisted of three parts including<br />
Ancient Kingdoms (Dvaravati,<br />
Srivijaya and Sukothai) depicted<br />
in Classical Thai Dance; Ayuthaya<br />
Kingdom with a performance in Thai<br />
Boxing and Thai Fencing; and the<br />
Rattanakosin Era illustrated through<br />
Thai Plays and Games. We thank<br />
the students and teachers of the Thai<br />
Department to bring Thai traditional<br />
culture and history to life on stage.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4 39
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
40<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
UNCENSORED<br />
IB ART EXHIBITION @ CENTRAL WORLD<br />
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
R uamrudee School’s IB Visual International Arts Year<br />
2 students put on an amazing exam<br />
show entitled Uncensored on March<br />
27-31 at Central World. The IB<br />
Visual Arts course provides students<br />
with opportunities to explore art on<br />
a number of levels, including visual,<br />
cultural, social and personal, which<br />
was clearly depicted in many of the<br />
pieces of work on display.<br />
The course is not just about ‘making<br />
things,’ rather it is a journey that is<br />
described in the following way in the<br />
IB subject guide:<br />
Artistic learning requires a high<br />
level of cognitive activity that is<br />
both intellectual and emotional. For<br />
students to communicate visually,<br />
they must place themselves within<br />
a cultural context, or contexts,<br />
from which to discover and develop<br />
appropriate techniques. Through<br />
the visual arts, people acquire<br />
understandings which are unique<br />
in human development. Study of<br />
the visual arts allows students to<br />
discover ways in which to interpret<br />
and comment critically on the human<br />
condition.<br />
Studying the IB Visual Arts course<br />
allows students to develop a critical<br />
and intensely personal view of<br />
themselves in relation to the world.<br />
It aims to encourage personal growth<br />
and commitment through the study of<br />
art as well as a relationship between<br />
research and the production of art.<br />
Students displayed their art<br />
professionally in order for the IB<br />
examiner to assess their work over<br />
the two-year program. Students had<br />
to demonstrate clearly in visual and<br />
written terms how personal research<br />
has led to an understanding of the<br />
topics (ideas) being investigated;<br />
analyze critically the meaning and<br />
visual qualities of an art using an<br />
informed art vocabulary; show<br />
awareness of cultural, historical, and<br />
social aspects of themes from more<br />
than one perspective; and examine the<br />
visual and functional (the purpose)<br />
qualities of art from your own and<br />
other cultures, identifying meaning<br />
and significance.<br />
Our congratulations and best of luck<br />
go out to the graduating IB Visual Art<br />
students for a job well done!<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4 41
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
Learning the True Reward of Service<br />
By Nicha Ratana-Apiromyakij, Junior Executive, Interact Rotary Club<br />
t is spring, the season of the renewal<br />
Iof life and hope for the future.<br />
Once again, as they have done for the<br />
past years, members of the Interact<br />
Rotary<br />
out of the<br />
Club made a trip<br />
city, away from<br />
comfortable<br />
Bangkok<br />
and its many<br />
luxuries, to<br />
build houses<br />
for the<br />
homeless.<br />
The Habitat<br />
for Humanity<br />
trip lasted four days, from March<br />
24-28. The 33 club members<br />
(composed of 11th and 12th grade<br />
students) were accompanied by a<br />
team of hardworking and delightful<br />
chaperones: Ms. Donna Eastlake, Ms.<br />
Jillian Nichols, Ms. Lincy Fung, and<br />
Mr. Andrew Marusak. Together, they<br />
built two houses, for two families:<br />
a factory worker with two teenage<br />
sons, and a couple with a baby on the<br />
way.<br />
Had it not been for the various<br />
fundraising activities the club<br />
coordinated, along with the<br />
efforts and donations from our<br />
community, the trip wouldn’t<br />
have been possible. Fundraising<br />
on the club’s<br />
behalf was composed<br />
of various t-shirt<br />
sales and bake sales.<br />
The greater half of<br />
funds, however,<br />
was the generous contributions of<br />
business sponsors and individuals.<br />
The Interact Rotary Club thanks you<br />
for your donations.<br />
Despite the painstaking fundraising<br />
process, the toughest, and most<br />
rewarding part of this project, was<br />
building the houses themselves.<br />
Picture it if you will: a group of kids<br />
who arrive with clean fingernails and<br />
ipods, who are taught to mix their first<br />
bucket of cement, dig their first holes,<br />
build their first walls. The labor was<br />
intensive under the sweltering heat,<br />
but anyone who went on that trip<br />
would say they loved every minute<br />
of it. Not only was it a characterbuilding,<br />
bonding activity - they had<br />
changed lives.<br />
The four days flew by. And, before the<br />
members knew it, they were handing<br />
over the keys to the house. Some<br />
students and the new homeowners<br />
42<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
had tears in their eyes. As their bus<br />
drove away, and the students watched<br />
the waving families disappear as they<br />
turned the corner, they felt a sense of<br />
fulfillment. Natascha Yogachandra,<br />
the club’s co-president, speaks for<br />
the members when she says, “Each<br />
year, habitat never fails to provide<br />
an opportunity for the members to<br />
step out of their comfort zone and<br />
offer a helping hand to those in need.<br />
In addition to building a home for<br />
these families, we’re building our<br />
own character and learning the true<br />
reward of service.”<br />
One club member’s remark sums<br />
it up: “We did not build houses, we<br />
built homes.”<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
43
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
Earth Day Celebrates 40 Years Uniting All<br />
in the Preservation of Our Planet EARTH<br />
arth Day is the largest, most<br />
Ewidely celebrated international<br />
environmental event. It is celebrated<br />
in 190 countries by one billion<br />
people. Earth Day helps celebrate<br />
Earth’s unique place in the universe.<br />
It is the only planet in our solar<br />
system teeming with incredible<br />
biodiversity.<br />
44 NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
Ruamrudee and Redeemer<br />
International Schools celebrated Earth<br />
Week <strong>April</strong> 19-23 culminating with an<br />
all-school assembly on Friday, <strong>April</strong><br />
23. The 8 th Grade class, homeroom<br />
8-5 presented Liza LeGranite, The<br />
Good Mother Planet by Rick Borsten,<br />
delivering the message that Mother<br />
Planet does love us,<br />
but that WE<br />
must keep loving with all our hearts,<br />
THE WHOLE OF CREATION – and<br />
not just us alone! Various agencies set<br />
up booths in the breezeway to create<br />
awareness of the environmental<br />
issues facing us today and students<br />
were gathering signatures and<br />
commitments to reduce their use of<br />
plastics.<br />
Wisconsin Senator Gaylord<br />
Nelson and Harvard University<br />
grad Denis Hayes spearheaded<br />
Earth Day on <strong>April</strong> 22, 1970,<br />
uniting 20 million Americans.<br />
It was the largest, organized<br />
civic demonstration in U.S.<br />
history. Earth Day was planned<br />
over seven months, on a budget of<br />
US$124,000. Nelson insisted the day<br />
be based on grassroots movements<br />
across the country and rejected a<br />
top-down, national approach. The<br />
first Earth Day 40 years ago led
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES<br />
to the creation of the Environmental<br />
Protection Agency and the passage<br />
of the Clean Air, Clean Water and<br />
Endangered Species Act in the U.S.<br />
Earth Day reminds us we all share<br />
the same planet. Sharing Earth means<br />
taking responsibility for what we use<br />
and how we use it. It is a day to think<br />
of the environmental challenges we<br />
face and how to solve them.<br />
Dr. John Styles spearheaded a video<br />
contest in which students were<br />
invited to submit a 3-5 minute video<br />
with the theme “A Good Planet is<br />
Hard to Find,” and to respond to the<br />
challenges of Earth environmental<br />
issues. A total of 7 videos were<br />
submitted. A panel of teachers and<br />
students watched the videos and<br />
ranked them according to the impact<br />
of their message. Congratulations<br />
go out to all our participants! Third<br />
place winners were Tarn Susumpow<br />
and Nicha Ratana-Apiromyakij,<br />
Grade 11; Second Place winners were<br />
Nicky Fugajananon, Ann Moon, and<br />
Win Chatsirivichaikul, Grade 11;<br />
and First Place winner was Preshita<br />
Sipani, Grade 11.<br />
Protecting Earth is every person’s and every country’s<br />
responsibility. Here are a few ways you can help Earth<br />
every day:<br />
• Walk or ride a bicycle to school, the park, or the store.<br />
Encourage your parents to walk or ride to work, too. This<br />
is a great way to help reduce the pollution created by<br />
cars, trucks, buses, trains, and airplanes.<br />
• Plant trees. Trees help keep the air clean.<br />
• Do not litter. Pick up litter on the sidewalk, street, beach,<br />
or riverbank. This will help keep the environment free of<br />
contaminants.<br />
• Create a compost pile for food scraps and plant waste<br />
from the garden. This is a good way to cut down on the<br />
amount of trash that goes into a landfill. As a bonus,<br />
compost helps create rich soil for gardening.<br />
• Recycle! Recycling is an important part<br />
of keeping Earth clean. It is very easy<br />
to do. By giving old things a new life<br />
we put less pressure on important<br />
resources all of us will need in the<br />
future to survive.<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
45
PARENT AUXILIARY<br />
CPA Celebrates Our Students<br />
by Cindy Lin, CPA President<br />
n Sunday, May 2, 2010 the<br />
OChinese Parents Association<br />
(CPA) celebrated their annual yearend<br />
luncheon at the Four Wings<br />
Hotel. Over 80 students, parents<br />
and guests attended this festive and<br />
fun event. Seniors, Demy Chou and<br />
Chun-Yen Yu MC’d the program<br />
which included entertaining student<br />
and parent performances,<br />
fun games and generous<br />
raffle drawings. This<br />
annual luncheon is<br />
an opportunity<br />
for us to<br />
congratulate<br />
our 13 seniors<br />
and recognize<br />
our 8 CPA<br />
46 NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
scholarship winners. Honored guests<br />
included Father Apisit and Father<br />
Travis who provided inspirational<br />
speeches to our students and parents.<br />
This is the last year the CPA will<br />
exist as a group; going forward <strong>RIS</strong><br />
Chinese parents will form a new<br />
group which will include <strong>RIS</strong> alumni<br />
and parents of alumni. Grade 12<br />
parent, Shirley Sung, has volunteered<br />
to help lead this new group. If<br />
you are interested in finding out<br />
more information about the new<br />
Chinese parent group, please contact<br />
Shirley by email at dk_shirley@<br />
hotmail.com or by mobile #081-825-<br />
8132.<br />
As the out-going CPA President, I<br />
would like to thank my 2008-2010<br />
CPA Board for their wonderful<br />
support and dedication these past two<br />
years. Without these amazing moms,<br />
we wouldn’t have had Chinese food<br />
at the International Food Fair and<br />
cultural performances and food at the<br />
Chinese New Year celebration. Even<br />
though I have only been at <strong>RIS</strong> for<br />
three years, it has been a pleasure<br />
working with <strong>RIS</strong> students, teachers,<br />
administrators and parents. My<br />
family and I will definitely miss all<br />
the great friends that we have made<br />
at <strong>RIS</strong>!
PARENT AUXILIARY<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> Parent Auxiliary Committed to Supporting our School<br />
by Sioux S.<br />
s the year end approaches,<br />
Athe Parent Auxiliary Board<br />
of 2009-10 would like to thank all<br />
parents, staff, and administrators<br />
for your help and contribution in<br />
making all events this past year<br />
a huge success! A great big thank<br />
you to our national representatives<br />
for their tireless efforts – Ms. Cindy<br />
(Chinese), Ms. Wee Gee (Filipino),<br />
Ms. Sumol (Indian), Ms. Tomoko<br />
(Japanese), Ms. Hera (Korean), and<br />
Ms. Romanee (Thai). We would also<br />
like to thank our advisors – Khun<br />
Sittisak and Khun Vipa – for their<br />
guidance. We couldn’t have done it<br />
without you all.<br />
The major project for this year was<br />
the creation of the Middle Zone in<br />
the Griffith Library. This has been<br />
an ongoing project for two years with<br />
the goal of creating a space dedicated<br />
to the specific reading and research<br />
needs of our middle school students.<br />
On March 22, 2010, Father Travis and<br />
Father Pattarapong presided over the<br />
grand opening of Griffith Library’s<br />
Middle Zone. We would like to<br />
thank Ms. Nancy Bono, the Griffith<br />
Librarian for her determination and<br />
wonderful efforts. A great part of<br />
the monetary contribution for this<br />
project came from funds raised at<br />
this year’s International Food Fair,<br />
where we raised over 200,000 baht.<br />
Many parents graciously donated<br />
their hard work and time to make the<br />
event a memorable one for the <strong>RIS</strong><br />
community. Other events that the<br />
PA hosted or sponsored included the<br />
following:<br />
• <strong>RIS</strong> Cultural Events and<br />
Activities: Korean Day,<br />
International Food Fair, <strong>RIS</strong><br />
Chamber Orchestra, Chinese<br />
New Year Celebration, Songkran<br />
Festival<br />
• Student Clubs and Activities:<br />
Pre-K/ ES/ MS Games Day,<br />
HS Career Day, Bumrungrad<br />
Career Development Program,<br />
Internal Debate Tournament,<br />
InterAct Rotary Club (Habitat<br />
for Humanity)<br />
• Student Recognition: STAR<br />
(Students who are Talented and<br />
Remarkable) Program<br />
• Support for Teachers and<br />
Administrators: New Teachers<br />
BBQ, ES Parent Coffee<br />
• Support for Parents: Taught<br />
English language classes for<br />
parents<br />
We would like to congratulate the<br />
five new Parent Auxiliary Executive<br />
Committee members of 2010-11:<br />
Ms. Supinya (Poo) Laiprasittichai<br />
Mr. Samart Lewsriskul<br />
Mr. Camilo J Lim<br />
Ms. Wipapun (Noi) Poltanawasit<br />
Mr. Jumrud Sawangsamud<br />
We would also like to wish express<br />
our sincere appreciation and thanks to<br />
the following parents who are leaving<br />
and have made major contributions<br />
to the school: Cindy Lin, Sittisak<br />
Haputong, Wee Gee Suthibutr,<br />
Piyawan Suwanpotipra (Pure), and<br />
Nat Yogachandra. We wish them<br />
much success in all endeavors as they<br />
continue their journey beyond the<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> family.<br />
We are very fortunate to have such<br />
a caring community. Once again,<br />
thank you to all for your continuous<br />
support. Look forward to more<br />
activities and exciting projects in the<br />
upcoming year!<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
47
DIVING AT <strong>RIS</strong><br />
The 2009/2010 year was a great year for scuba diving at <strong>RIS</strong> thanks to the efforts of the Aquatics Department,<br />
Mermaid Dive Center and PADI IDC Staff Instructor Jeff Sanow. Raha Del Rosario Mortel, Director of the<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> PE Aquatics Department made certain that the facilities and classroom were ready to be used by the diving<br />
students. Scott Jackson from Mermaid Dive Center brought all the necessary equipment to <strong>RIS</strong> and assisted Jeff<br />
Sanow, husband of Middle School teacher Renee Sanow, in the pool and open water instruction. As a result of<br />
their collective efforts, 22 members of the <strong>RIS</strong> community were certified as Open Water scuba divers.<br />
As a year-end treat, Shirley Seiverling from<br />
the High School organized a liveaboard dive<br />
trip over the Songkran holiday to the Similan<br />
Islands in the Andaman Sea. The picture of<br />
the sleeping spotted puffer fish below was<br />
taken by Renee Sanow on a night dive on<br />
that trip.<br />
In preparation for a great dive trip, several<br />
<strong>RIS</strong> divers completed a Buoyancy Clinic<br />
at Astra Pool. The objective of the clinic<br />
was to review the basics of fin pivot and<br />
hover, then put them into practice. Thruogh<br />
a series of exercises and games, the divers<br />
all greatly enhanced their buoyancy skills,<br />
making them better, safer divers. The final<br />
skill was to swim through a hoola-hoop<br />
holding a ping-pong ball under a spoon.<br />
The following picure shows <strong>RIS</strong> Physics<br />
teacher Marc Sabb concentrating on the<br />
final skill.<br />
<strong>RIS</strong>’s intrepid explorer/<br />
teachers dove on a submerged<br />
temple close<br />
to the Burma/Thai border.<br />
The above photo<br />
shows one of the insets<br />
on the wall of the<br />
temple.<br />
Fall 2010 promises to offer lots more scuba diving opportunities for the <strong>RIS</strong> family. In<br />
preparation for participation in the International Beach Clean-up in Pattaya, 18 September,<br />
there will be a buoyancy clinic tentatively planned for 11 or 12 September. There will be at least two trips<br />
to dive the sunken temple in Sangklanburi plus classes for people to become PADI Open Water certified<br />
divers. An added bonus for summer 2011 will be a marine biology summer program being jointy developed<br />
by Jeff Sanow and John Stiles HS/IB biology teacher.<br />
48<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
For more information on scuba diving in Thailand, contact Jeff Sanow at 081-923-8426 or jeff@sinbadscuba.com
THANK YOU AND<br />
CONGRATULATIONS!<br />
Retirees<br />
Pornthip Puangmalee<br />
(41 years)<br />
Marcelina Sawatewi<br />
(37 years)<br />
Supannee Dumrongvong<br />
(37 years)<br />
Suntaree Pensuwan<br />
(24 years)<br />
Busaba Yimyam<br />
(20 years)<br />
Corazon Akrapitak<br />
(18 years)<br />
Jeffrey Ryback<br />
(17 years)<br />
Candice Crouch<br />
(7 years)<br />
A sincere thank you to our retirees and those<br />
administrators/teachers who have dedicated<br />
their time and expertise to the students here<br />
at Ruamrudee and Redeemer International<br />
Schools over the years. We will definitely miss<br />
you and wish you all the best of luck in your<br />
new endeavors, wherever they may be!<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4 49
SUMMERTIME…<br />
A Chance to Stop and Smell the Roses!<br />
man sat at a metro station in<br />
A Washington, D.C., and started<br />
to play the violin; it was a cold<br />
January morning. He played six Bach<br />
pieces for about 45 minutes. During<br />
that time, since it was rush hour,<br />
it was calculated that thousands of<br />
people went through the station, most<br />
of them on their way to work.<br />
Three minutes went by and a middle<br />
aged man noticed there was a<br />
musician playing. He slowed his pace<br />
and stopped for a few seconds and<br />
then hurried up to meet his schedule.<br />
A minute later, the violinist received<br />
his first dollar tip: a woman threw the<br />
money in the till and without stopping<br />
continued to walk.<br />
A few minutes later, someone leaned<br />
against the wall to listen to him, but<br />
the man looked at his watch and<br />
started to walk again.<br />
Clearly he was late<br />
for work.<br />
The one who<br />
paid the most<br />
attention<br />
was a 3-year<br />
old<br />
His<br />
boy.<br />
mother<br />
tagged<br />
him along, hurried, but the child<br />
stopped to look at the violinist.<br />
Finally the mother pushed hard and<br />
the child continued to walk turning<br />
his head all the time. This action was<br />
repeated by several other children.<br />
All the parents, without exception,<br />
forced them to move on.<br />
In the 45 minutes the musician played,<br />
only 6 people stopped and stayed for<br />
a while. About 20 gave him money<br />
but continued to walk their normal<br />
pace. He collected US$32. When he<br />
finished playing and silence took over,<br />
no one noticed it. No one applauded,<br />
nor was there any recognition.<br />
No one knew this but the violinist was<br />
Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians<br />
in the world. He played one of the<br />
most intricate pieces ever written<br />
with a violin worth 3.5 million US<br />
dollars. Two days before his playing<br />
in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out<br />
at a theater in Boston and the seats<br />
averaged US$100 each.<br />
This is a real story. Joshua Bell<br />
playing incognito in the metro station<br />
was organized by the Washington<br />
Post as part of a social experiment<br />
about perception, taste and priorities<br />
of people. The outlines were:<br />
In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour:<br />
Do we perceive beauty?<br />
Do we stop to appreciate it?<br />
Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?<br />
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:<br />
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best<br />
musicians in the world playing some of the best music ever<br />
written, how many other things are we missing?<br />
50<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4
Congratulations <strong>RIS</strong> Seniors!<br />
Class of 2010 College Acceptances<br />
Accademia Italiana International Fashion and Design Institute<br />
Thailand<br />
Assumption University Thailand<br />
Aston University United Kingdom<br />
Australian National University Australia<br />
Bangkok University Thailand<br />
Bard College at Simon’s Rock United States<br />
Birmingham City University United Kingdom<br />
Boston College United States<br />
Brandeis University United States<br />
Bucknell University United States<br />
California College of the Arts United States<br />
Carleton College United States<br />
Carnegie Mellon University United States<br />
Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design United Kingdom<br />
Chapman University United States<br />
Chulalongkorn University Thailand<br />
Clark University United States<br />
Clarkson University United States<br />
Colorado School of Mines United States<br />
Columbia University United States<br />
Cornell University United States<br />
Delaware College of Art and Design United States<br />
DePauw University United States<br />
Drexel University United States<br />
Elon University United States<br />
Emerson College United States<br />
Fashion Institute of Technology United States<br />
Florida Institute of Technology United States<br />
Georgetown University United States<br />
Georgia Institute of Technology United States<br />
Heriot-Watt University United Kingdom<br />
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Hong Kong<br />
International College of Hotel Management Australia<br />
Iowa State University United States<br />
Jacobs University Bremen Germany<br />
Kalamazoo College United States<br />
Kenyon College United States<br />
King’s College London United Kingdom<br />
Knox College United States<br />
Lancaster University United Kingdom<br />
Lawrence University United States<br />
LES ROCHES, Swiss Hotel Association, School of Hotel Mgmt<br />
Switzerland<br />
Lewis & Clark College United States<br />
Linfield College United States<br />
London College of Fashion United Kingdom<br />
London School of Economics United Kingdom<br />
Loughborough University United Kingdom<br />
Loyola Marymount University United States<br />
Lynn University United States<br />
Mahidol University Thailand<br />
Marquette University United States<br />
Massachusetts College of Art and Design United States<br />
McGill University Canada<br />
Mercyhurst College United States<br />
Michigan State University United States<br />
Mount Holyoke College United States<br />
National Central University Taiwan<br />
New York University United States<br />
Newcastle University United Kingdom<br />
Northeastern University United States<br />
Oregon State University United States<br />
Pennsylvania State University, University Park United States<br />
Purdue University United States<br />
Queen’s University Canada<br />
Queensland University of Technology Australia<br />
Rangsit University Thailand<br />
Reed College United States<br />
Rhodes College United States<br />
Ringling College of Art and Design United States<br />
Rochester Institute of Technology United States<br />
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Australia<br />
Savannah College of Art and Design United States<br />
School of the Art Institute of Chicago United States<br />
Scripps College United States<br />
Silpakorn University International College Thailand<br />
Simon Fraser University Canada<br />
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat<br />
University Thailand<br />
SrinakharinWirot University Thailand<br />
St. John’s College United States<br />
St. John’s University - Queens Campus United States<br />
St. Olaf College United States<br />
Syracuse University United States<br />
Texas A&M University United States<br />
Thammasat University Thailand<br />
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong<br />
The College of Wooster United States<br />
The Ohio State University United States<br />
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States<br />
The University of the Arts United States<br />
Trent University Canada<br />
Trinity University United States<br />
Tufts University United States<br />
University of Aberdeen United Kingdom<br />
University of Alberta Canada<br />
University of Bath United Kingdom<br />
University of Birmingham United Kingdom<br />
University of British Columbia Canada<br />
University of Calgary Canada<br />
University of California at Los Angeles United States<br />
University of California at San Diego United States<br />
University of Cincinnati United States<br />
University of Durham United Kingdom<br />
University of Edinburgh United Kingdom<br />
University of Exeter United Kingdom<br />
University of Greenwich United Kingdom<br />
University of Illinois at Chicago United States<br />
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States<br />
University of Liverpool United Kingdom<br />
University of Manchester United Kingdom<br />
University of Maryland, College Park United States<br />
University of Melbourne Australia<br />
University of Michigan United States<br />
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities United States<br />
University of Oregon United States<br />
University of Oxford United Kingdom<br />
University of Portland United States<br />
University of Rhode Island United States<br />
University of Southern California United States<br />
University of Surrey United Kingdom<br />
University of Technology Australia<br />
University of the Pacific United States<br />
University of Toronto Canada<br />
University of Washington United States<br />
University of Waterloo Canada<br />
University of Western Ontario Canada<br />
University of Wisconsin, Madison United States<br />
University of York United Kingdom<br />
Ursinus College United States<br />
Villanova University United States<br />
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University United States<br />
Waseda University Japan<br />
Washington University in St. Louis United States<br />
Wellesley College United States<br />
Whitman College United States<br />
Willamette University United States<br />
Williams College United States<br />
Worcester Polytechnic Institute United States<br />
Yale University United States<br />
NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4<br />
51