The EIS Newsletter Ekamai International School Volume 10, No. 2 January 31, 2008 Janaury 31, 2008 EIS Newsletter 1 Ekamai International School EIS Newsletter Content Volume10, No. 2 January 2008 EIS Newsletter is a quarterly pub- lication of the Ekamai International HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana ................................................................................... 3 School. The school was established in 1946 as the Child Training Center. Lettter from the Director ............................................................................................... 4 Later it became known as the Adven- tist English School until 1992 when it Interview with the Director for Curriculum Development .......................................... 5 became Ekamai International School or EIS. Introducing the Kindergarten Department .................................................................... 6 Editors Plans for the New Intermediate Building ...................................................................... 8 Lee Chin Beng Hazel Paculanang Where EIS Graduates Go to Study: 3-Year Analysis (2004-2007) .............................. 9 Consulting Editors 1st Quarter Results: GPA 3.30 & Above .................................................................... 10 David Gouge Johnny Rueh Fun Fair Day ............................................................................................................... 12 Perla Camagay Beatrice Kootanasan “We Care” Program .................................................................................................... 12 Grant Flaiz Young Entrepreneurs of EIS ....................................................................................... 13 Layout and Design Ekkaphop Thippinthong Introducing Teachers and Staff ................................................................................... 14 Photographers Alumnotes ................................................................................................................... 16 Samson Cometa Judan Eliseo Golf Champion of EIS (Cover Feature) ...................................................................... 18 Printing Tips for Students and Parents: Gearing Up for Success ............................................ 19 Darnsutha Press Direct all correspondence to Announcement The Editor, EIS newsletter Dear Parents, Ekamai International School 57 Soi Pridi Panomyong 31 There is a suggestion box near the gate into EIS’s campus. Khun Chanphen Ekamai, Wadhana has the only key to the box so that it will be very confidential. The PCEIS of- Bangkok 10110, Thailand ficers will be wearing yellow ribbons for their identification card. This is to help you identify them when you want to talk with them. Email: [email protected] Tel: 0-2381-9303-7, 0-2391-3593,6 Mr. David L. Gouge, Director Fax: 0-2381-4622 Website: www.eis.ac.th Ekamai International School would like to keep in touch with you. If you are a former graduate, student, faculty or staff member, or a friend of Ekamai International School (EIS, AES, CTC), and would like to receive the EIS Newsletter regularly, please send the following information to us: Name: _______________________________ Address: _______________________________ _______________________________ Email Address: _______________________________ Telephone Number: _______________________________ Cover Picture: Six-year old Phasin Year of Graduation _______________________________ Vichitcharoenpaisarn from K3A, Champion of the US Kids Golf Tour- Present Occupation: _______________________________ nament (under 7 years old) 2 EIS Newsletter January 31, 2008 Ekamai International School shares the loss of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana May 6, 1923 - January 2, 2008 Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana was a much loved princess. She was also a much loved elder sister to two kings, namely His Majesty King Anada Mahidol (Rama VIII) and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), the present Monarch of Thailand. HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana was an accomplished educator. Janaury 31, 2008 EIS Newsletter 3 Letter from the Director Dear Students, Parents, Alumni, and Friends, The winter months are upon us, but they have not cooled the spirits of EIS. Many ac- tivities have kept the students occupied with enjoyable and educational experiences. One of the most outstanding activities was the Sports Day. The colors of PINK, PURPLE, ORANGE, and BLUE were paraded around the campus before settling down to the real happenings. The shouts and screams could be heard far and wide. Each group did its best. All were superb. The students sponsored a week when everyone was to speak English on the campus. Some say it is hard to speak English when they have grown up speaking another lan- Mr. David L. Gouge, Director of EIS guage. English is very important in the international business world. The TNL Camp was one of the highlights of the first semester. A bus load of enthu- siastic students left on Friday, November 9, 2007 headed for the Hideaway Resort in Kanchanaburi Province. The theme for the camp was “Dare to be You.” The Week of Spiritual Emphasis lasted two weeks as the dreaded Hand-foot-and- mouth disease came upon us. Because of the possibility of an epidemic, the school closed its doors for most of a week so that everything could be sterilized and made ready for the students to return. We want to thank all who helped in the cleaning process. The vacation was nice, but most were happy when school resumed. The speaker for the Week of Spiritual Emphais, Dr. Paul Charles spoke to the students for two days before the closure. The students were happily surprised to find that although the speaker had returned to South Africa, all of his inspiring messages were presented via video. One of the darling activities was the choosing of the Princes and Princesses from Kindergarten and Grades one to three. The students selected walked on red carpet in real fashion. The Junior Film Show, which was delayed by the Hand-foot-and-mouth disease turned out to be another festival day. Students enjoyed many different games and fun booths as well as opportunities to try different kinds of food. The day ended with a movie Surf’s Up, a story about Penguins surfing. To kick off the 50th Anniversary year celebration, a Fun Fair Day was organized on November 18, 2007. The school fair was a great success. Booths lined the streets and sidewalks as various classes and vendors sold many different articles and kinds of food. The games and shows drew large crowds of people. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Proceeds of the fair will be used for school projects and community services. On November 1, 2007, I went to the USA to recruit new teachers for next year. It looks like we may have several new native English-speaking teachers coming for the next school year. We trust that each one of you had a wonderful holiday over Christmas and the New Year. David L. Gouge, Director 4 EIS Newsletter January 31, 2008 An Interview with Mr. Grant Flaiz, Director for Curriculum Development By Mr. Lee Chin Beng Editor r. Flaiz, can you define “curric- is being taught across the curriculum ulum” and why is it important from kindergarten to grade 12. Teachers Mto education at EIS? Mr. Grant Flaiz will have a better picture of what their students have already learned in previ- Curriculum is a set of courses and their ous years, and what they will learn in the content. Without a curriculum our years to come. school would find it very difficult to provide an education. That’s why it’s My goal is to important to EIS. Some have said that EIS has one of the best curriculums in operation. Would help EIS de- you like to comment on this? What are the goals and objectives that you intented to accomplish as director of That is a matter of some debate. To those curriculum? velop a strong who say we already have the best cur- riculum, I would warn them not to rest My goal is to help EIS develop a strong on our laurels. If it is the best, we must curriculum. To accomplish that, I must curriculum. strive to ensure that it stays the best. To assist teachers and give them the tools those who say we have a mediocre or bad necessary to make it happen. My work curriculum I would remind them that cur- really is to act as a guide and help point To accomplish riculum is evolutionary; it is a process of the way. change. Often it does not come quickly that, I must or fast enough to suit everyone’s needs, but we are taking the steps necessary to Please elaborate some of the strategies improve it. that you are using to achieve your goals assist teach- and objectives? How do you think teachers, parents, and This school year we have just initial- ers and give students will respond to your program, ized a new curriculum mapping program and how will it benefit the students as a called Rubicon Atlas. I am also going to whole? be working with the individual subject them the tools So far, with regard to the adoption of areas to adopt standards that better suit Rubicon Atlas, I have received many our needs. positive responses from teachers. Some necessary to have even asked why we didn’t adopt Curriculum mapping is a procedure of this years ago. I am hoping that students reviewing and improving a curriculum. make it hap- and parents will respond favorably as Rubicon Atlas is a special program well. Although it will take some time to that helps EIS to accomplish that task. measure the effects of Rubin atlas, I’m Before we adopted Rubicon, we only pen. confident that it will