STMARKS NEWSLETTER 9 (6 OCTOBER 2023)
INTERNATIONAL DAY 2023
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (04 OCTOBER)
We are delighted to announce the following students who received our Award of Excellence in Effort (Achieving Excellent Results) and Kindness this week.
As a way of acknowledging our students' achievements, students have been given a special "Award of Excellence Breakfast" on Friday, October 27.
Punyawin - Year 1 Effort
Pasuchet - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Runchida - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Nath - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Phetnava - Year 3 Effort
Renka - Year 3 Kindness
Nongnapat - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Nichapat - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Taspakorn - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Pitchayapa - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Jiratchaya - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Marius - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Rinradee - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Phatraphum - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Pakwalan - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Kananya - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Neil - Year 4 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Ilyanna - Year 4 Kindness
Sirasilp - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Tinnaphob - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Jiratchaya - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Sitthinon - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Jirawat - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Larsen - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Chong Hao - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Chanatat- Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Wachiravit - Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Naphon - Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Kantapat - Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Chiun Hang - Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Enxi - Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Results)
Thanaporn - Year 9 Kindness
Xinjie - Year 9 Kindness
KINDERGARTEN MANDARIN: FRUITS
Our Kindergarten students have been having a fun time in their Mandarin class, learning about fruits. Learning a new language can be exciting, and our little ones are making great progress while having lots of fun.
In their Mandarin class, students got to know the names of different fruits in Mandarin. But it wasn't just about names; they also got to taste the fruits and say if they liked them ("yummy") or didn't like them ("not yummy").
After trying the fruits, students used pictures of fruits. They had two boxes, one with a happy face for "yummy" and another with a not-so-happy face for "not yummy." They put the fruit pictures in the right box based on their taste.
To be even more creative, students had fruit pictures with missing parts. They used their imagination to finish the pictures, adding their own touch to the fruits.
Learning a new language, like Mandarin, is a journey of fun and discovery. Our Kindergarten students are not only learning words but also exploring new cultures and the tasty fruits that come with them.
YEAR 2 MATH: MEASURING LENGTHS
Year 2 students delved into the world of measuring in their Math class, uncovering the concept of length. Initially grasping the concept of a meter as a substantial measurement, they took a dynamic approach to break it down into smaller, more manageable units known as centimeters. The revelation that there are 100 centimeters in a meter sparked numerous "aha" moments, creating a buzz of excitement in the classroom.
But the exploration didn't stop there. These young minds then navigated into even tinier territories—the realm of millimeters—and learned the art of converting between millimeters and centimeters.
The learning adventure continued with the exploration of kilometers. Discovering that there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer, the students showcased their newfound knowledge through an interactive activity. The challenge? The teacher announced specific measurements, and the students raced against the clock to jot down their answers on their personal whiteboards. The result? A thrilling experience filled with visible excitement.
In summary, our Year 2 students have made remarkable strides in their understanding of measurements, turning the classroom into a vibrant hub of learning and discovery.
YEAR 6 SCIENCE: CHEMICAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
Our Year 6 students have been exploring plants and their hidden energy reserves in their Science class. They've been learning about chemical potential energy in plants, especially how they store energy as starch.
Plants are amazing because they can make their own food using sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. They save this energy as starch in different parts, like leaves. To find this hidden energy, our Year 6 students did a simple experiment using iodine.
The iodine test is a neat trick to check if there's starch in plants. Iodine changes color if there's starch around. Normally, it's brown, but with starch, it turns dark blue. Our students took leaves from different plants and put iodine on them. They waited to see if the iodine would show the starch. And it did! The leaves, which were light green, turned a cool dark blue/green.
This experiment proved that plants hide their energy as starch inside their leaves.
Our Year 6 students not only learned about how plants work but also saw the magic of nature in action.
YEAR 7 MANDARIN: INTERVIEW DIALOGUE
Our Year 7 students have been making big strides in their Mandarin language learning journey this week. In a recent lesson, they took a closer look at an interview dialogue between a journalist and a doctor, exploring the motivations and emotions behind becoming a volunteer doctor overseas.
One of the highlights of the lesson was the introduction of new vocabulary words, which included 'feeling,' 'spirit,' 'to recover' (from injury), and 'admire.' The teacher adopted a creative approach to ensure these words were not only understood but actively used by the students.
To make the learning experience more engaging, the teacher used pictures and example sentences that effectively conveyed the meanings of these new words. Students were encouraged to create their own sentences, applying the new vocabulary in context. This interactive approach not only enhanced their understanding but also made the learning process enjoyable.
Furthermore, the teacher employed an effective strategy to help students review the words covered earlier in the week. Using pictures as prompts, students were led to describe various situations and translate sentences themselves. This method proved very useful for a topic that may not be part of their daily lives and experiences.
YEAR 11 ACCOUNTING: CAPITAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS
The year 11 Accounting and Finance class recently completed their unit on making capital investment decisions. In order to consolidate their understanding of the content, and to build confidence for when their all-important exams come around, they spent a lesson practicing and discussing genuine examination-style questions.
Within the lesson, students were given opportunities to attempt questions themselves, seek assistance from both each other and their teacher, and be exposed to a model of the type of responses examiners will expect come next year.
This all took place in a small, relaxed classroom where students were encouraged to interact in a positive manner with both each other and their teacher in order to optimize the learning experience.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: CULTURAL NETWORK AWARD CEREMONY
We are absolutely delighted to share some exciting news with all of you! Kvin, our Year 8 student, has emerged as a shining star at the recent Cultural Network Award Ceremony for the year 2023, securing a series of prestigious awards!
Provincial Level Awards
- Watthanakunathorn Award, Children and Youth Category
- Watthanathamwinit Award, Youth Group, Arts and Performing Arts
- Young Smart "Young Thum Dee" Award, Child Category
These provincial-level awards signify our student's exceptional talent and dedication in the realm of arts and culture, marking him as a true rising star within our community.
But that's not all!
National Level Awards
- Watthanakunathorn Award, Children and Youth Category
- Watthanathamwinit Award, Youth category, Arts and Performing Arts
The national recognition of Kvin's remarkable achievements is an incredible milestone. It is a testament to his dedication and passion for the arts.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Kvin for his outstanding achievements!