STMARKS NEWSLETTER 28 (05 APRIL 2024)
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM 2024
We are excited to announce that St. Mark's will launch an enriching Summer School program this year, scheduled to run from 12 June to 5 July. This program welcomes not only our current students but also external families who are eager to engage in our dynamic learning environment.
Our Early Years & Primary Summer Program is designed to ensure that students can sustain their educational momentum and foster personal growth during this summer. The program encompasses a range of classes tailored to different age groups:
- Early Years: Specifically crafted for students currently enrolled in Pre-Prep and Prep.
- Group A: Catered to students in Years 1 & 2.
- Group B: Tailored for students in Years 3 & 4.
- Group C: Geared towards students in Years 5 & 6.
For our secondary students, we offer a specialised Summer Program divided into two distinct groups:
- Group D: Targeting students in Years 7 & 8.
- Group E: Aimed at students in Years 9 & 10.
In these groups, students will delve into Science and Mathematics, complemented by weekly lessons in English and Mandarin to enrich their linguistic skills.
The tuition fee is 40,000 Baht, which covers all materials, supplies, and a healthy lunch to energise our students throughout the day.
Register your child(ren) for the program by Friday, 20th May, and get our exclusive Early Bird Promotion - a discount of 10,000 Baht on Summer School fees.
We are finalising the details of the program, and more comprehensive information about the courses, activities, and schedules will be available in the coming weeks. Come join us to experience a wealth of academic and personal development, full of enjoyment, new friendships, and memorable experiences.
To secure a place in our program, please click this link: "Enrolment Form Here"
We look forward to welcoming everyone to a summer of learning, growth, and fun!
SONGKRAN CELEBRATION 2024
We are thrilled to inform you about the delightful Songkran celebration that took place at our school this afternoon. It was a vibrant and joyous occasion where our students immersed themselves in the rich traditions of the Thai New Year festival.
Our primary students exuberantly gathered at the school basketball court, fully equipped with water guns, ready to engage in the festivities. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they splashed water on each other and on our teachers, creating a lively atmosphere filled with laughter and camaraderie.
In contrast, our early years students celebrated Songkran in a more traditional manner by gathering to pay respect to their teachers. This symbolic gesture of pouring water onto their hands signifies purification, allowing for a fresh start filled with blessings and good wishes.
The Songkran celebration provided our students with a valuable opportunity to learn about and appreciate the cultural heritage of Thailand. It was heartwarming to witness them coming together, fostering a sense of community and understanding.
As we extend our warmest wishes for a happy Songkran holiday to all, we invite you to view more photos of our memorable celebration by clicking here.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (3 APRIL)
We are delighted to announce the following students who received our Award of Excellence in Kindness, Effort (Achieving Excellent Result), Effort (Completing Assigned Work), and Respect this week. To acknowledge our students' achievements, students will be given a special "Award of Excellence Breakfast" on Friday, 26 April.
PHANNAWIT - Year 1 Kindness
Chanothai - Year 1 Kindness
Aswin - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Paphawin - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Pakannasorn - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Mira - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Matthew - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Peter - Year 2 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Usanisa - Year 3 Effort (Completing Assigned Work)
Chotiga - Year 3 Effort (Completing Assigned Work)
Anawintra - Year 4 Respect
Ilyanna - Year 4 Respect
Louise - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Ala - Year 6 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Naphon - Year 7 Effort (Achieving Excellent Result)
Monpachara - Year 8 Effort Respect
Assawongrat - Year 8 Effort Respect
PRE-PREP THAI: SPELLING
Our Pre-Prep students are making remarkable strides in their spelling skills in their Thai class!
To kick off their lesson, the teacher introduced the class to words with specific syllables. Using interactive teaching methods, the students were encouraged to write down the syllables on their whiteboards. This hands-on approach fostered active participation and enabled the students to visualize and understand the fundamental building blocks of each word.
Following this activity, the students eagerly practiced writing and spelling the complete words on the board. This practical exercise allowed our pre-prep students to apply their newfound knowledge and hone their spelling skills.
In addition to the writing exercises, the students also answered a variety of activities in their textbook to reinforce their understanding of spelling rules and patterns. These activities provided valuable opportunities for the students to engage with the material in different ways, further enhancing their retention and comprehension.
YEAR 5 ENGLISH: DRAMA STORY
Year 5 has been reading the book ‘The Book of Stolen Dreams’ by David Farr. This text is based upon a dystopian future where children are only allowed outside to
attend school or funerals.
Despite being a high-grade primary book it touches upon quite adult themes. The Year 5 students have been rewriting the attempted assassination of the president of the fictional country of Krasnia.
The video shows their attempts at dramatising their stories. Drama, particularly in this manner where it is unplanned and presented in real-time, is excellent to enhance their spoken English. As you can see...a fun lesson is a learning lesson.
YEAR 6 MATHS: SURFACE AREA
In their recent math class, our Year 6 students explored surface area, which is crucial for real-world applications like architecture, engineering, and design. Calculating the surface area helps us determine how much material is needed to build objects, estimate costs, and optimize designs for efficiency.
Students worked with a rectangular prism to grasp this concept. They learned two methods to calculate its surface area:
1. Adding All Face Areas: Students added together the areas of all the faces of the 3D shape.
2. Adding Lateral Areas and Base Areas: Students calculated the lateral areas (sides) and the area of the bases separately, then added them together.
After trying both methods, students discovered something interesting: both methods yield the same result! This hands-on activity not only reinforced their understanding of surface area but also helped them develop essential problem-solving skills in math.
Mastering surface area allows us to analyse and work with three-dimensional shapes accurately. It's an important skill that empowers students to think critically and solve real-world problems effectively.
YEAR 7 MANDARIN: WHY CAN'T I FIND IT ALL OF A SUDDEN?
This week was the sixth lesson in HSK3 for the Year 7 students. The topic was, "Why can't I find it all of a sudden?"
In their class, they reviewed the new vocabulary from this week and practiced the grammar from yesterday. Students looked at how to use "V + 得/不 (got/not) + complement" and "N + ne". They also talked about the different uses of the phrase "just now" in conversations.
To help students remember and understand the new words, students matched and connected parts of the new words, their pinyin, and their English meanings in their class activity.
Year 7 also did an activity where students read dialogues in pairs. They asked questions and checked if their answers were right or wrong. This helped them understand the characters' relationships and the situations in the dialogues better.
Lastly, students completed sentences by filling in the blanks with selected words. This activity helped them use the new words correctly.