STMARKS NEWSLETTER 1 (16 AUGUST 2024)
OUTSTANDING IGCSE ACHIEVEMENT 2023-2024
As we celebrate the exceptional achievements of our Year 10 students in their recent IGCSE exams, we are proud to showcase the remarkable efforts of both our students and the dedicated teaching team at St. Mark’s Australian International School. These results are a testament to the high standards of education and the comprehensive support that our students receive as they strive for academic excellence.
Let us highlight the outstanding accomplishments of five remarkable students:
• Xyren also started her journey with us in Nursery School and has achieved six A* grades in Mandarin, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and First Language English. Her eight years of perseverance have culminated in this outstanding academic success.
• Pataraporn has been with us since Year 7 and has earned six A* grades in Mathematics, Mandarin, English as a Second Language, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Her achievements highlight the strength of the academic foundation provided by St. Mark’s.
•Manutsanunn joined St. Mark’s in Year 8 and has excelled over her three years with us, achieving an impressive five A* grades in English as a Second Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, each with a score of 93%.
• Cleojai, who has been with St. Mark’s since Nursery School, earned five A* grades in Mathematics, Mandarin, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with a commendable B grade in First Language English. Her eight-year journey at St. Mark’s reflects her dedication and the strength of our academic program.
• Thanaporn has been part of St. Mark’s since Prep and her dedication has paid off as she achieved an A* in Mandarin, even after taking the exam a year early. Her impressive accomplishments reflect her hard work and the strong foundation she has built at our school.
• Manami joined St. Mark’s just one year ago in Year 10 and has already achieved an A* in Mandarin and an A in Chemistry, and she has performed well in her other subjects. Her quick adaptation and success are truly inspiring, showcasing the effectiveness of our teaching methods.
Beyond these individual successes, the collective performance of our Year 10 cohort is equally impressive:
• Chemistry: 90.8%
• Mathematics: 94.5%
• Physics: 92.2%
• Biology: 88%
• Mandarin: 95.6%
• English as a Second Language: 87%
These averages reflect the high education standards at St. Mark’s, where students are encouraged to excel in all areas. The outstanding performance across these subjects clearly indicates that our program is effectively preparing students for the challenges ahead, particularly as they transition into the ATAR program.
As we acknowledge these achievements, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the parents for their unwavering support, trust, and commitment to their children’s education. Your involvement has been instrumental in helping our students reach these milestones, and your continued support will be crucial as they move forward into the next phase of their academic journey.
Together, with the combined efforts of our students, teachers, and parents, we are confident that our Year 10 students are well-equipped to take on the challenges of the ATAR program and to achieve even greater success in the years to come.
Thank you once again for your partnership with St. Mark’s. We look forward to continuing this journey together, helping our students realize their full potential, and preparing them for future opportunities.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Last Tuesday marked the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, filled with excitement as students explored our new Srinakarin Campus and fell in love with its cozy library, bigger canteen, and fun new slide. Meanwhile, at our Rama 9 Campus, our Early Years students had a blast during their first week of class! They enjoyed a fun P.E. class, engaged in reading sessions, savored snacks, and had lively discussions in class. It’s been a fantastic start to a year full of learning and memorable moments!
SRINAKARIN CAMPUS
RAMA 9 CAMPUS
SUMMER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
GROUP B THAI: FOOD GUESSING GAME
Primary Group B had a fun time with a Thai food guessing game. Students drew pictures to represent different Thai foods. They used three boxes to draw clues for each food. For example, they draw rice (khao), leg (kha), and pork (moo) to represent "Khaokamoo"
Everyone took turns guessing what the pictures meant. Teachers also joined in and showed some food clues for the students to guess. This made the game even more exciting and fun.
The game helped students learn about Thai food and culture while having a good time with their classmates and teachers. It was a great mix of learning and fun!
PRIMARY ENGLISH: NEWS ARTICLE
Primary Groups A and B had a special combined class in the computer room. The students worked on making their newsletter articles. Each student chose a topic they liked, researched it, and found pictures and information about it.
Teachers were there to help the students with their research and writing. This activity will continue for the rest of the summer class days. It’s a great way for students to learn new things and improve their computer and writing skills.
EARLY YEARS GROUP A: FOOD TASTING
Our Early Years Group A students had a fun and educational activity where they tried different kinds of food to learn about tastes. They sampled a variety of foods and discovered whether they were salty, sweet, bitter, or sour.
The students eagerly tasted each food, experiencing a range of flavors. From the sweetness of cereal to the bitterness of dark chocolate, the activity was filled with excitement and curiosity.
With each new taste, the students shared their reactions, many of which were amusing and brought lots of laughter. Their expressions ranged from delighted smiles to surprised puckers, adding to the fun of the activity.
This taste-testing session helped the students understand the different types of flavors and how to identify them. It also encouraged them to be adventurous with food and appreciate the variety of tastes.
The activity was a huge success, leaving the young tasters with a better understanding of flavors and a collection of funny and memorable moments.
EARLY YEARS: RICE BALLS
Early Years students had a delightful cooking session where they made rice balls, inspired by a popular Japanese dish. This fun activity was a part of their hands-on learning program, aimed at teaching them the basics of cooking and the joy of making food from scratch.
The session began with the students learning about the ingredients, which included sausage meats, veggies, and rice. Excitedly, they mixed these ingredients, preparing to shape their unique creations.
The students used molds shaped like hearts, bears, and bunnies to form their rice balls. They were thrilled to see their rice balls take on these fun and cute shapes.
This activity not only taught the students about cooking but also allowed them to practice important skills such as mixing, shaping, and following instructions.
EARLY YEARS GROUP B SCIENCE: BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR EXPERIMENT
Our Early Years Group B students had a thrilling science class where they conducted a fun and educational experiment. They mixed vinegar and baking soda to observe a chemical reaction and used it to inflate balloons.
The activity began with the students carefully combining vinegar and baking soda. As the mixture bubbled and fizzed, their eyes widened with excitement.
Next, they placed the mixture into balloons, as the gas produced by the reaction caused the balloons to expand. The students then took turns gently hitting the balloons, making them grow even bigger.
This experiment provided a hands-on way for the students to learn about chemical reactions and the properties of gases. It was an engaging lesson that combined science with play.
The activity was a huge hit, leaving the students with a better understanding of chemistry. Their enthusiastic reactions and curiosity made the experiment a fantastic success.
PRIMARY: DUMPLINGS
Our primary students showcased their culinary skills in a Mandarin cooking activity by making Chinese dumplings. This engaging session taught them how to prepare traditional dumplings from scratch, including making their wrappers.
The activity began with students learning to mix and knead the wrapper dough. They enjoyed the hands-on experience of rolling out the dough and cutting it into perfect circles.
Next, the students filled their wrappers with a delicious mixture, carefully folding and sealing each dumpling. They learned the art of shaping dumplings, turning simple ingredients into beautiful, tasty creations.
They practiced measuring, mixing, and following instructions, gaining a deeper appreciation for the effort involved in making traditional dishes.
EARLY YEARS: CHOCOLATE CRINKLES
Our Early Years students finished their summer class by baking delicious chocolate crinkles. This fun activity was the last part of their Farm to Pastry program, which teaches kids about cooking and ingredients.
First, the students learned about the ingredients needed for the cookies, like flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and butter. Then, with the help of their teachers, the kids mixed the ingredients to make a smooth, chocolatey dough. After making the dough, the students shaped it into small balls. They rolled each ball in icing sugar, ready for baking.
The delicious smell of chocolate filled the room when the cookies were in the oven. The students watched eagerly as their crinkles baked.
This activity taught the students important skills like measuring, mixing, and working together. They also learned to appreciate the ingredients and the effort it takes to bake something tasty.
The students felt proud of their cookies and enjoyed eating them. This final cooking activity was a fun and memorable end to their summer class, giving them valuable experiences to remember.