STMARKS NEWSLETTER 10 (29 NOVEMBER 2024)

YEAR 12 GRADUATION & CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 2024

We are excited to inform you that our Year 12 Graduation Ceremony and Christmas Celebration will be held on Saturday, 7 December. This event marks a significant milestone for the Year 12 students and also serves as a festive and joyful celebration to wrap up Semester 1.

This year, we are combining these two important events into one special day, filled with celebrations, performances, and fun activities for the entire St. Mark’s community. The details for the day are as follows:

Event Schedule:

• 8:30 – 9:00 am: Year 12 Graduation Ceremony
• 9:00 – 10:30 am: Christmas Performances
• 10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Fun Fair; Food & Refreshments

Fun Fair
We are thrilled to host a vibrant Fun Fair, where students and parents alike can enjoy a variety of activities. There will be game stalls where participants can win exciting prizes, and there will also be opportunities to enter Lucky Draws and Raffles. Pre-sale promotion offer of our Raffles tickets will be from 2 to 4 December, where for every 10 tickets bought at our School Office, parents will receive one extra ticket for FREE.  Please refer to the attached flyer for more details.

Food & Refreshments
As part of our celebration, we kindly request that parents bring a savoury dish (no desserts, please) to share with at least 6 persons. If you plan to contribute a dish, please complete the reply form here and indicate the dish you will be bringing.

School Bus Service
Please note that there will be no school bus service on this day.

Our St. Marks Organising Committee has put in a lot of effort to ensure this event will be memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our school community, including volunteers from our parents, staff, and past and present students.

We look forward to celebrating with you all and creating lasting memories with our Year 12 students, their families, and the wider St. Mark’s community. It promises to be an exciting and festive day for all.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (27 NOV)

We are delighted to announce the following students who received our Award of Excellence in Creativeness, Effort, and Kindness this week. To acknowledge our students' achievements, they will be given a special "Award of Excellence Breakfast" on 29 Nov.

PORDEE - Year 1 CREATIVENESS

PRAEWCHAYA - Year 6 CREATIVENESS

ALA - Year 7 CREATIVENESS

CHANATAT - Year 8 CREATIVENESS

CHIUN HANG - Year 8 EFFORT

WEI XUAN - Year 8 EFFORT

ENXI - Year 8 KINDNESS

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE BREAKFAST

On Friday, 29 November, we hosted our second Award of Excellence breakfast for this Academic Year. This event was dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating our students' exemplary character.

PREP MATHS: MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS

Our Prep class learned about the three fundamental symbols: +, -, and = in their maths class. Though simple, these symbols hold the key to understanding math and solving problems efficiently.

During their lesson, the class explored how these symbols help us express mathematical ideas in two distinct ways: in words and in numerals. For example, when working with the problem two plus two equals four, students practiced writing it as both:

• In words: Two plus two equals four
• In numerals: 2 + 2 = 4

Both methods are important, as they help students develop a deep understanding of math concepts and connect them to everyday language. However, the teacher emphasized that writing equations in numerals is often faster and more practical, especially as math problems become more complex. 

YEAR 1 SCIENCE: YEAST

This week, our Year 1 students had an exciting time learning about yeast in their science class. They started by discussing what yeast is—a tiny organism that helps make bread rise. The class then learned how to activate yeast using warm water and sugar.

To bring their lesson to life, the students conducted a fun experiment. They mixed yeast with warm water and sugar and carefully observed what happened next. Before long, gas bubbles began to form on top, showing that the yeast was active and producing carbon dioxide.

The excitement didn’t stop there! The students added their bubbly yeast mixture to some flour and left it to rise. They watched in amazement as the dough grew bigger, learning firsthand how yeast works to make bread light and fluffy.

This hands-on activity was a fantastic way for our Year 1 students to understand science in action. 

YEAR 3 THAI: NEW VOCABULARIES

In Thai class, our Year 3 students have been expanding their vocabulary by learning 15 new words from Chapter 8. They’ve been practicing how to read, write, and use these words in sentences, all while improving their pronunciation.

A key part of their lesson is focusing on how to pronounce the words correctly. This helps our Year 3 students develop clear and accurate speech, which is essential for effective communication. Alongside pronunciation, they work on sentence construction to enhance their comprehension and writing skills.

These activities are helping them build a strong foundation in reading, writing, and speaking Thai. It’s great to see their progress and growing confidence in using the language. 

YEAR 4 ENGLISH: VOCABULARIES

Our Year 4 students are expanding their vocabulary each week in English class. Through engaging activities, they’re not just learning how to spell new words—they’re also discovering their meanings and how to use them in context.

One of the class’s favorite tasks is using dictionaries to find their assigned words. This hands-on activity helps students sharpen their research skills while building independence in learning. After finding their words, they create word posters showcasing their understanding of each word. These posters include the word’s definition and an example sentence.

The students eagerly anticipate their vocabulary lessons each week. It’s exciting to see their confidence grow as they master new words and enrich their language skills. Their enthusiasm is a testament to the power of making learning fun and interactive!

YEAR 7 ENGLISH: MYSTERY NOVEL "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE"

In English class, our Year 7 students have been immersed in the gripping mystery novel And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. This timeless classic has not only captured their attention but is also helping them sharpen their reading and comprehension skills.

Each week, students read sections of the novel together in class, followed by lively discussions where they analyze the plot, characters, and themes. They also write detailed summaries to reinforce their understanding of what they’ve read, practicing critical thinking and concise writing.

The novel ties directly into Units 1 and 3 of their Ignite textbook, making it a perfect companion to their curriculum. By connecting the novel’s themes and structure with their textbook units, students are deepening their understanding of literary techniques and narrative styles.

Through these activities, Year 7 is building not only their reading comprehension but also their ability to discuss and interpret complex texts. It’s exciting to see them engaged and growing as readers!

STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENT: INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS' BADMINTON TOURNAMENT 2024

On Monday, we received some exciting news about the impressive accomplishments of our students in the recent International Schools’ Badminton Tournament, which took place on Saturday, November 23, at Bestminton Square. The tournament brought together talented highschool athletes from 8 prestigious international schools across Bangkok, including St. Marks, the American School of Bangkok, BASIS, the Australian International School, Anglo Singapore, RBIS, Bangkok Christian, and Glory International School.

We are thrilled to announce that two of our outstanding students, Thawerat (Year 12) and Larsen (Year 7), represented St. Marks in the boys’ division. Thawerat competed in the Boys’ Singles Division A, while Larsen played in the Boys’ Singles Division B. The two also teamed up to compete in the Boys' Doubles event.

Though we sent only two students, St. Marks emerged as a dominant force at the tournament, bringing home an impressive 4 medals in total. Here's a breakdown of their incredible achievements:

• Thawerat: Champion of the Boys’ Singles Division A, winning the Gold medal for his exceptional performance.
  
• Larsen: First runner-up in the Boys’ Singles Division B, earning a Silver medal.
  
• Boys' Doubles: Thawerat and Larsen combined forces to become Champions of the Boys' Doubles, each securing another Gold medal for their teamwork and skill.

In total, our students earned 3 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal, a true reflection of their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship. Their perseverance throughout the tournament is a testament to the values we uphold at St. Marks, where resilience and determination are key to achieving success.

We are incredibly proud of Thawerat and Larsen for their stellar performance and congratulate them on this remarkable achievement. They have truly made us all proud!