ST. MARK'S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL eNewsletter

GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA REPRESENTATIVE VISIT

As part of our valued partnership with the Government of Western Australia, we receive ongoing guidance and supervision from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority to uphold the highest quality of education. During a recent visit , Ms. Melissa Kelly, Associate Director for International Education from Perth, toured our school, engaging with both teachers and students.

She enjoyed her time at our school and was impressed by our state-of-the-art facilities, the quality of student work, and their outstanding academic performance.

STAMFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS VISIT

Education is about sharing knowledge and increasing global connections. Last Friday, we were honoured to host 35 doctoral students and professors from Stamford International University during their educational visit as part of their course on comparative education. Through an insightful presentation by our school principal, they gained a deeper understanding of our well-rounded curriculum and unique standing in Thailand.

Engaging discussions followed, with visitors eager to learn how our program distinguishes itself from other international schools. The visitors were highly fascinated, and by the end of the visit, we received several enquiries about enrolling their children!

SPORTS DAY PRE-GAMES

This week, our students participated in pre-game competitions leading up to Sports Day. These events included football, basketball, and table tennis matches.

Football (Secondary Division):
The secondary football matches concluded with the Yellow team taking third place and the Red team finishing fourth. The games were competitive, and students demonstrated teamwork and effort.

3x3 Basketball (Secondary Division):
The competition in the secondary division has been intense, with the Red and Yellow teams advancing to the championship match. The Blue team secured third place, while the Green team finished in fourth.

3x3 Basketball (Primary Division):
The primary division basketball tournament is also nearing its conclusion, with the Red and Blue teams set to compete for the championship. The Yellow and Green teams will play for third place on Tuesday.

Table Tennis (Primary Division):
The Junior table tennis competition wrapped up on Wednesday, the 26th. In the preliminary rounds, Fin (Year 3) lost 2-0 to Qiyi (Year 3), while Victor (Year 3) won a close 2-1 match against Shiryu (Year 6). In the finals, Shiru defeated Fin 2-0, and Victor secured a 2-0 victory over Qiyi. The final rankings were:
🥇 1st Place: Victor (Blue Team)
🥈 2nd Place: Qiyi (Green Team)
🥉 3rd Place: Shiryu (Red Team)
🏅 4th Place: Gawin Finlay (Yellow Team)

Well done to all participants for their efforts and teamwork. We look forward to the main Sports Day events!

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (26 FEB)

We are delighted to announce the following students who received our Award of Excellence in Respect this week. To acknowledge our students' achievements, they will be given a special "Award of Excellence Breakfast".

PORDEE - Year 1 RESPONSIBILITY

KOUSEI - Year 7 RESPONSIBILITY

JENISA - Year 8 RESPONSIBILITY

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE BREAKFAST

On Friday, 28 February, we hosted our second Award of Excellence breakfast for this Academic Year. This event was dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating our students' exemplary character.

PRE-PREP THAI: WRITING AND SPELLING

Our Pre-Prep class has been actively learning Thai through fun and interactive writing and spelling exercises. Each lesson starts with students observing images on the board and writing the corresponding Thai words on their boards, reinforcing recognition and accuracy.

Students participate in tracing and copying exercises, improving their handwriting and confidence in forming Thai characters. Teachers encourage them to pronounce words aloud before writing, enhancing their auditory learning. The class atmosphere is enthusiastic as they engage in group activities reinforcing their vocabulary and script skills.

Their progress in Thai literacy is evident as they show improved spelling and a stronger grasp of the language. Each session is a joyful and educational experience, fostering both confidence and a love for learning Thai.

PREP MATHS: COMPARISON

Our Prep class recently had an exciting math lesson focused on understanding the concept of shortest to longest. The teacher displayed various items on the board, and students actively participated by arranging them in order based on their length.

As part of the activity, students wrote letters representing each item, organizing them from shortest to longest and vice versa. This hands-on approach helped them develop a clear understanding of measurement and comparison while making learning fun and interactive.

The lesson strengthened their math skills and encouraged critical thinking and observational abilities. With growing confidence, students are now able to apply this concept in different contexts, making their learning experience practical and engaging.

Y3 THAI : DEMOCRACY AND ELECTIONS

This week, our Year 3 students had an exciting and educational experience during their Thai class as they participated in a fun voting activity to select their class leader!

To begin with, their teacher introduced the concept of voting, explaining how people make choices in a fair and organized way. The students then learned about ballots, how to write or select their preferred candidate, and the importance of casting their votes in a ballot box.

Once everyone had placed their votes, it was time for the big reveal! The class gathered as the teacher and students counted the votes one by one, building excitement to see who would become their new class leader. The winner was finally announced, and the class cheered for their new leader!

However, there was a tie in selecting the assistant leader! To resolve this, instead of voting again with ballots, the students lined up and chose their preferred candidate. After careful consideration and a fair selection process, both the leader and subleader were announced, bringing the activity to a fun and successful conclusion.

This engaging lesson not only taught students about leadership and democracy but also helped them understand the value of making fair choices. Congratulations to the newly elected class leaders, and well done to all students for participating enthusiastically!

Y6 PHYSICAL EDUCATION : HANDBALL

This week, our Year 6 students had an exciting and energetic P.E. class filled with fun and teamwork. They participated in a series of thrilling games that tested their agility, coordination, and teamwork.

To kick things off, students warmed up with a one-legged race, balancing their way to the finish line with determination and laughter. The next challenge was a boys vs. girls team game, where a large ball was placed in the center of the court. Each team had to throw smaller balls at the big ball to push it toward the opponent’s side—if the ball crossed the line, the other team lost! This game had everyone cheering and strategizing to claim victory.

The highlight of the class was an exciting handball game with a twist! Instead of traditional goals, students had to aim for a moving basket held by a teammate. They had to pass the ball skillfully and work together to land a perfect shot into the basket. This activity tested their throwing accuracy, teamwork, and quick decision-making skills.

The students had a fantastic time playing and learning through these interactive games. It was a great opportunity to develop their athletic abilities while having fun with their friends. Well done to all the Year 6 students for their enthusiasm and teamwork!

YEAR 9 ENGLISH: TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT - CYCLING AND POLAR EXPLORATIONS

This week in English class, our Year 9 students engaged in a dynamic and thought-provoking lesson covering two fascinating topics: cycling and polar exploration.

At the start of the lesson, students discussed their own experiences with cycling, sharing whether they cycle regularly and their thoughts on the activity. They then completed a vocabulary matching exercise from their workbook, focusing on key cycling-related terms. Following this, they listened to an audio recording of a person advocating for more cycling lanes in the city. After reviewing their answers, students were tasked with designing a poster encouraging people to use cycle lanes to help reduce pollution. To guide them, an example of a promotional poster was shown before they began their work.

The lesson then shifted focus to a historical perspective, looking at the famous polar exploration of Captain Robert Scott in 1912. Students first completed a gap-fill exercise before watching a short video detailing Scott’s ill-fated expedition. They then listened to extracts from Scott’s diary, followed by a viewing of the final scene from a 1948 film starring John Mills, which depicted Scott’s last moments. To deepen their understanding, students read a selection of Scott’s diary entries and answered comprehension questions.

The class then explored modern scientific expeditions to Antarctica. Students listened to a contemporary Antarctic explorer describe his work and answered questions based on the recording, drawing connections between past and present exploration.

The final part of the lesson focused on grammar, specifically relative pronouns. Students examined examples and completed sentence exercises to reinforce their understanding. After reviewing their answers, the teacher commended their hard work before concluding the lesson.

Well done to all Year 9 students for their engagement and effort in this comprehensive and enriching lesson!

STMARKS NEWSLETTER 16 (28 FEBRUARY 2025)