STMARKS NEWSLETTER 15 (1 DECEMBER 2023)

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 2023

St Mark's Christmas Celebration is an annual event of the school that wraps up semester 1 and holds the graduation ceremony of our Year 12 students.

This year, the event will be held at the school on Saturday, 9th December, with the following schedule:

8:30 – 9:00 am                    Graduation ceremony

9:00 – 10:30 am                  Christmas performances

10:30 – 1:30 pm                  Fun Fair; Food & Refreshments

Fun Fair – There will be various activities for all students and parents to enjoy at the fair including popular games stalls where participants can win prizes and be eligible for the lucky draws and raffles.

Food/Refreshments – We welcome parents to bring a savoury dish to share with at least 6 persons. Please indicate the dish you will be bringing in the reply form here.

School Bus – There will be no bus service on that day.

The St Mark's organising committee has put in much time and effort into planning and preparing for this event. It brings together willing volunteers from our school community including parents, staff, students and alumni. And we are always grateful for their efforts.

END OF SEMESTER 1 SCHOOL REPORT & PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE

St. Mark’s will be holding our first-semester Parent-Teacher Conference on Friday, 15 December 2023.  The conference will provide opportunities for parents to communicate with teachers regarding their children's academic, social, and physical development over the first semester.  As students' educational success relies on mutual cooperation between schools and homes, we highly appreciate the opportunity to engage in feedback exchange with parents and effectively manage the progress of each student.

Details of the conference time and venue are as follows: Timely arrival is encouraged to ensure that we have adequate time for each family.

If you would like to avoid the crowd on Friday, you have the option to attend an earlier Parent-Teacher Conference for Prep and Primary (Year 1 to Year 6) on Tuesday, 12 December and the time as follows: 

            Prep – 3:15 pm to 5:00 pm at the Library

            Primary – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the designated classrooms as per table above

For parents who wish to attend the earlier Parent-Teacher Conference, please register here. The deadline for registration will be on Friday, 8 December.

If you do not register for this early conference, it will be understood that you will be attending the Parent-Teacher Conference on Friday, 15 December (8:00 am - 12:30 pm)

It is our school policy that only parents will be allowed to attend the conference, so it is important for parents to arrange to have their children stay at home.  If you will not be able to attend the Conference, please notify the school office by replying to info@stmarks.ac.th or through Line by Friday, 8 December.

The school office will upload your child’s report under “My School Report” in the Parent Portal after 4:30 pm on Thursday, 14 December.  It will be helpful to read the report before attending the conference. The contents of the report will enable parents to engage with the teachers more meaningfully.

Parents of primary and secondary students also have the privilege to view their children’s past test papers and examination papers by clicking on “My Assessment History” in the Parent Portal.

Please note that you will be given a signed copy of the report on the day of the conference.  All electronic reports are deemed unofficial.  

Please note that the conferences will mark the end of this semester.  Classes for Semester 2 will start on Monday, 15 January 2024.

TEACHERS' EVALUATION (SEMESTER 1)

In maintaining good teaching standards and providing the best education to our students, we are requesting that parents provide feedback for our teachers. This evaluation is completely anonymous as we can only view comments, not who completed the evaluation.  Please take the time and follow the link provided  to leave your feedback.

https://form.jotform.com/stmarksbkk/teachers-evaluation

This is an important part of our evaluation process and your response by Friday, 8 December is greatly appreciated.

YEAR 1-5 SCOUT WEEK UPDATES (12-14 DECEMBER)

We would like to inform parents that there is a change in the itinerary of Year 1 – Year 5 scout week.

In order to avoid overcrowding and long waiting time, we have decided to organise an earlier Parent-Teacher Conference on the afternoon of Tuesday, 12 December. Consequently, we have made some changes to the itinerary of Day 1 (12 December) Primary Scout week, in which students will finish and return home at 1:00 pm instead of 3:10 pm. Students will still participate in team-building activities and a gift exchange activity with their classmates, so please have them bring a Christmas gift on that day.

Hence, we would like to request parents to fetch their child(ren) home promptly at 1:00 pm, except for students whose parents will be attending the Parent-Teacher Conference on that day.

Please note that the Itinerary to Pine Resort on Day 2 (13 December) and Day 3 (14 December) remain the same.

FLIGHT UPDATES FOR OUR SECONDARY SCOUT CAMP TO KRABI

We would like to inform parents that AirAsia Thailand has made some changes to their flight schedule and the current flight details are as below:

Please note that the change only affects the flight time from Bangkok to Krabi. The return flight time from Krabi to Bangkok remains unchanged.

As we would like to check in as a group, please arrive at Don Mueang Airport at 7:30 am on Tuesday, 12 Dec. Students can still check in individually if they come late. All students must bring their Thai ID card (for Thai students) and passport (for foreign students) during check-in at Don Mueang Airport and Krabi Airport.

Please be reminded that every student is allowed one carry-on luggage bag not exceeding 7 kg and one backpack/handbag. There will be no check-in luggage.

SPORTS DAY 2023

We are thrilled to share the highlights of our successful Sports Day event held last Friday, November 24th! The day kicked off with an exciting Teams Parade, setting the tone for a day full of spirited competitions.

One of the notable additions to this year's event was the debut of cheerleading, a remarkable showcase by girls from Years 4-6. Their dedication and preparation truly paid off as they delivered an amazing performance for their fellow students and parents.

The sports activities were a blend of fun and friendly competition, starting with a sprint from Early Years to High School. The day featured classic games like handkerchief snatch, sack race, and tug of war, sparking laughter and cheers from the enthusiastic participants.

Students and parents teamed up for football matches, creating memorable moments of shared enjoyment. The added excitement with the Teachers vs. Parents tug of war and relay races, showcasing a fantastic display of teamwork and camaraderie.

Congratulations to the teams: The Red Team secured 4th place, Green Team claimed 3rd place, Yellow Team proudly took 2nd place, and the ultimate champions were the Blue Team, securing 1st place. A huge round of applause to all participants for their sportsmanship and enthusiasm, making our Sports Day a resounding success! 

The success of Sports Day was not only measured in victories but in the smiles, cheers, and shared moments of enjoyment. A heartfelt thank you to all students, parents, and staff for participating in our Sports Day. Everyone had a blast, and we're already looking forward to next year's festivities!

STUDENTS' SHOWCASE 2

PRE-PREP MATHS: ADDING ONE, TWO & THREE

In our recent student showcase, our Pre-prep students had an interactive and fun opportunity to showcase their math skills! The teacher organised a creative activity where parents were invited to participate. A fishing basket was prepared, and parents "fished" for numbered fish. The students then confidently added up the numbers on their caught fish and shared their answers aloud. It was a delightful and engaging way for our Pre-Prep students to demonstrate their emerging math abilities. The showcase not only highlighted their learning but also provided a joyous moment for both students and parents.

YEAR 1 SCIENCE: MICROSCOPE

Our Year 1 students proudly presented their science achievements! To highlight what they've learned in class, each student showcased their artistic talents by drawing their interpretation of a microscope. Additionally, they shared detailed illustrations of the cells they observed through the microscope during their class activities. In an interactive moment, students eagerly asked parents and the audience if they liked what they drew, and the enthusiastic shouts of "yes" added an extra layer of joy to the showcase. It was a fantastic display of their understanding and creativity in science, as well as a heartwarming interaction with their supportive families. The showcase not only celebrated their individual efforts but also demonstrated the exciting journey of exploration in their science lessons. 

YEAR 2 SOSE: HISTORY OF TOYS

Our Year 2 students took us on a captivating journey through the history of toys! With enthusiasm and confidence, they shared insights about iconic toys, including the invention timeline of classics like the teddy bear, Legos, Gameboys, and tablets. The presentation was not only informative but also interactive, as students engaged with parents, asking about their favorite toys from their own childhood. It was a delightful and nostalgic exchange that bridged generations and showcased the students' knowledge and communication skills. 

YEAR 5 THAI: PROVERBS

In our recent student showcase, Year 5 students orchestrated a delightful and educational experience by inviting parents to engage in a friendly competition centered around Thai proverbs. Four parents eagerly participated in the challenge, adding a touch of excitement to the event. The audience played an interactive role, selecting cards that prompted participants to share a proverb or saying starting with a specific letter.

In a display of impressive Thai speaking skills and an admirable memory of proverbs learned in class, the students' team won. This showcase not only highlighted the students' linguistic skills but also demonstrated their ability to apply classroom learning in a fun and practical way. It was a wonderful celebration of language, culture, and the collaborative spirit between students and parents.