Term 1 - 22 November 2024

Matters of Principal

Whole School

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
It is almost time for the Senior Musical Production - Little Shop of Horrors - which tells the story of a carnivorous alien plant that grows against the backdrop love story between Seymour and Audrey, told with a horror-comedy-rock-musical ('off-off' Broadway) score by Alan Menken made famous by the 1986 B-Movie. All the cast and crew have been working so hard and it is sure to be a performance to remember. Keep an eye on our social media channels for behind-the-scenes footage.

Performances take place on 3rd, 4th and 6th December in the Black Box Theatre.

Please note that the performance on Wednesday, 4th December is fully booked and only a few tickets are remaining for the 3rd and 6th December. 

SCHOOL LIBRARIES
We are upgrading our Library Management System to Softlink's "Oliver" software. This powerful platform will offer a more efficient way to manage our books and resources, providing an enhanced experience for users.  Details of how this changeover will affect each of our School libraries is summarised below. Thank you for your understanding and support as we make this transition to improve our library services.

RST COLOURS
Our unique Colours awards system celebrates those students who truly go above and beyond in Music, Sport and Drama. Colours are awarded to students in Year 7 and above who consistently demonstrate outstanding collaboration skills and dedication. It's a testament to their hard work and willingness to embrace challenges. Throughout the year, students can earn 'Half Colours', which are awarded at the end of each term and are marked by a ribbon and certificate. The 'Full Colours' award is presented at our End of Year Ceremonies and recognises a year's worth of exceptional effort and commitment, symbolised by a special pin badge and certificate. Colours can be earned by - 

• Making significant contributions to the musical, dramatic or sporting life of RST
• Showing exceptional commitment and teamwork to their chosen area
• Demonstrating exemplary behaviour
• Going above and beyond normal expectations

We encourage all students to strive for excellence and aim for Colours!

WINTER GALA
A much-anticipated event in the School music calendar, this beautiful winter showcase of musical talent at RST will take place on Wednesday, 11th December in the Veraphan Theatre. Please note, there is limited availability for tickets with an early release for families of performers on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th November. Tickets will be open for general release on Monday, 2nd December. 

US TENNIS CAMP AT RST
Experience world-class coaching with Ross Duncan, Camp Director at Nike Tennis Camps for the past 21 years.
The camp is open to ages 7-18 (all skill levels) with both day and overnight options available. There are limited spots available so register now to secure your place.

To register, please contact: Line @wisdomsports or tel. 092-986-5935

CHRISTMAS CAMP 2024
There is still time to register your child for our Christmas Camp which takes place from 15th-21st December 2024 and is available for 7 to 12-year-olds. For more information and to ensure your child does not miss out on this fantastic opportunity, please head to our website.

COMMUNITY FUN RUN - 8TH DECEMBER
Join our next community Fun Run on Sunday, 8th December at 7.45am. The location of this run will be at Wisdom Valley (please note that buses will be available to transport people from outside the Admin. building). Participants can choose to do a 2km or 4km run.

To ensure festive cheer there will be Santa hats and festive snacks for everyone taking part! Please sign up using the QR on the poster below or click here so we know how many people to expect. We hope to see you there.

RSTPA COOKING CLASS
Our next class will take place on Monday, 2nd December with delights from India. If you would like to attend, please reserve your place by scanning the QR or contact: irbis2002@bk.ru / Line: Helen Cool / 0907694661.

LOY KRATHONG CELEBRATIONS
The entire School came alive with colour last week as Loy Krathong was celebrated in Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior with wonderful performances taking place throughout the day as well the opportunity to float the beautifully hand-made Krathong's that our students made. 

As a School we place great importance on preserving Thai traditions while also caring for the environment. This year, we encouraged students to create Krathong's using natural materials. Pre-prep designed their creative Krathong's using fish food, while Prep students made eco-friendly Krathong's from watermelon and leaves, fostering an awareness of environmental responsibility.

The Loy Krathong Assemblies were a delightful highlight. Pre-prep children performed charming and vibrant performances, which ended with a beautiful Thai costume parade. Prep students presented an impressive cultural performance showcasing Thailand's four regions with the events grand highlight being the Khon (Thai Drama Masked Performance), which students from Year 2 to XX watched with pride, celebrating this unique and sophisticated art form. 

It was a truly memorable and heartwarming festival for everyone involved.

A Google photos link has been created for parents to view photos from the day. You may access the photos here. 

Senior

MONASH UNIVERSITY CHANGE IT CHALLENGE
Yesterday, three of our talented D Block (Year 11) students, Max, Rute and Si Eun travelled to Bangkok to compete in the finals of the 2024 Monash University Change It Challenge. This global competition invited students from schools across Thailand to propose innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, from climate change to building thriving communities.  

The competition challenged participants to address big questions such as: 

• Which challenges of the age concern them the most?  
• How do these issues affect their local communities?  
• What actions can they take to make a meaningful impact?  

Our students earned their place in the finals among a highly competitive pool of submissions, an incredible achievement in itself. Their thoughtful ideas and creative problem-solving impressed the judges, and their project on climate change showcased their commitment to addressing real-world problems.

At the final stage held at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre, they presented their project to a panel of judges from Monash University. The judges commended their presentation, noting their ability to handle challenging questions with confidence. While they didn’t win, the judges were impressed by their skills, and Monash University highlighted their passion and commitment to making a difference.

Congratulations, Max, Rute and Si Eun, for standing out among such talented participants and representing our School so brilliantly!  

FUTURE PATHWAYS LECTURE 
Students are invited to join our next Future Pathways Lecture on Monday, 25th November. This lecture is  being hosted by Michal Branicki from the Department of Mathematics at The University of Edinburgh and we encourage all of our maths students in particular to attend. More information can be found below. 

DUSIT THANI COLLEGE TRIAL CLASS
Dusit Thani College, Bangkok are offering a Trial Class Event for Senior School students who are interested in the Hospitality Field or Culinary Arts. Students will experience real hospitality study and hands-on culinary arts practice to provide them with a better understanding about this field of study and to also find the right path for their future career. The event will cost 500THB per person and more information can be found on the below poster. Interested students can sign up here. 

UWE MEMORY THEORY LECTURE
For those who were unable to attend our Memory Theory Lecture hosted by Dr Fay Lewis and Dr Karan Vickers-Hulse from the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, a live recording is now available to watch. We are pleased to be able to offer these opportunities to our students and this is just one fantastic example of our many pathway lectures in action. 

You may access the recording and presentation here. 

NOVEMBER HIGHER EDUCATION - NEW EVENTS ADDED
Our Higher Education team has compiled a list of the most relevant university events in November, including open days and webinars, which you can view here.

26th NOVEMBER:
LXX (Year 12) Residential 

29th NOVEMBER:
Parent Teacher Meeting - LXX (Year 12) 

SIXTH FORM HARKNESS SESSIONS
Our LXX (Year 13) students participated in the first of three Harkness sessions as part of the 'Ask Better Questions' programme. This initiative, a cornerstone of our critical-thinking seminar series, mirrors university-style seminars and is designed to enhance oracy among our Sixth Form students.  

The discussion revolved around Mariana Mazzucato's “Mission Economy”, a thought-provoking exploration of how governments and markets can work together to tackle global challenges. In true Harkness fashion, students took the lead, using open-ended questions to probe concepts like innovation policy, collective responsibility and the morality of profit-driven economies. By articulating their thoughts and responding to peers around the Harkness table, students began to trial essential skills of critical analysis and respectful debate. The energy and curiosity they brought to the table set a promising tone for the sessions to follow.  

We eagerly anticipate the next session, where the students will further develop their ability to ask—and answer—better questions. 

E BLOCK RESIDENTIAL
For this year's E Block Residential, students engaged in a variety of activities, which centred around the themes of team-building and well-being management. Moment Villa, Rayong, provided a fitting backdrop for a variety of activities that took place over the two days.

Students took the opportunity to develop their emotional management skills by learning a number of breathing techniques and relaxation strategies which were soon put to the test, as they discovered the benefits of extreme cold by immersing themselves in an ice bath experience at the wellness retreat. Following on from this, they also had the chance to learn about a variety of unusual creatures, including snakes, lizards and tortoises - an unusual, but thoroughly enjoyable morning's session.

The second activity that students participated in was a watercolour Art class on the beach at Rayong. The stunning surroundings gave them the opportunity to channel their creative skills, producing a number of fine sketches which were later transformed into delightful watercolour paintings. This was a wonderfully relaxing session, and allowed everyone to unwind away from the hectic world of their IGCSE studies.

Finally, and perhaps most spectacularly of all, students and staff spent the day adrift in the Thai Gulf, snorkeling and learning about the marine life of the area. Our boats settled just off the coast of Koh Larn, and over the course of 4 hours, they had the opportunity to jump in and out of the ocean as they wished, spotting a number of marine creatures and even helping to rid the area of any plastic waste that was encountered. This was an incredibly worthwhile experience, and was extremely well received by both students and staff alike.

A Google photos gallery has been created for parents to view photos from the trip. The gallery will expire on Wednesday, 4th December - after this date they will no longer be available. You may access the photos here. 

Prep

INSTRUMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMME (IOP) CELEBRATIONS CONCERT
This week we celebrated another twelve students completing the IOP. These students have just completed their first eight lessons learning their instrument and performed a short piece or two demonstrating their knowledge and understanding. It was a wonderful supportive atmosphere that demonstrated enthusiasm and care towards each other's achievements. We look forward to seeing and hearing these students continue to improve and develop their instrumental skills in the years to come. 

If you would like your child to try an orchestral instrument please register here for the next IOP discovery session on Tuesday, 3rd December. 

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SPORTS LEADERS LAUNCH LUNCHTIME FUN
We saw the exciting launch of our new lunchtime sports programme, led by our fantastic team of Year 8 Sports Leaders. Years 3 and 4 were the first to join in the fun, with a range of activities on offer to suit everyone.

Budding footballers showed off their skills on the pitch, while dodgeball enthusiasts participated in a thrilling game of strategy and agility. Basketball and volleyball were also a huge hit as players demonstrated impressive teamwork and skill. 

Our Sports Leaders did a brilliant job of organising the games, ensuring everyone got involved and had a great time. It was fantastic to see so many students taking part and enjoying the opportunity to get active during their lunch break.

YEAR 6 MADAGASCAR PLAY
Our Year 6 students have been busy rehearsing and adding the final touches to their Madagascar play which takes place next week on Thursday, 28th November. Dress rehearsals take place next week to our younger years to help them prepare for the parents audience. We wish them the best of luck! 

23rd NOVEMBER:
Saturday Enrichment & Sport Programme can be viewed on SOCS
BMAC Swimming Championships at ISB
Year 6 Madagascar Rehearsal

24th NOVEMBER:
BMAC Swimming Championships  at ISB

25th NOVEMBER:
ISGT Golf Day

25th - 29th NOVEMBER:
Year 6 production week 
Spanish and French Parent Showcase Week (Please see letter from Senora Alonsa for the schedule)

28th NOVEMBER:
08:10-09:10: RSTPA Book Club 
10:35-13:30: Y7 and Y8 French and Spanish Lunch Trips for Language A Students
14:45-15:55: Year 6 Performance of Madagascar to Parents
U13 Boys Basketball v ISE (Away)

30th NOVEMBER:
Saturday Enrichment & Sport Programme can be viewed on SOCS
09:00-12:00: Senior School Open Day (Y7 & 8 Parents Welcome)
U9 & U11 BISA Netball Tournament @King's
U12 Football v Chiang Mai Super Cup (Away)

2nd DECEMBER:
08:10-09:25: Year 3 Father's Day Event (Veraphan Theatre)
08:15-10:30: RSTPA Cooking Class - India

3rd DECEMBER:
17:15-18:00 - IOP Trial Session for Parents in the Music Room

4th DECEMBER:
16:30-17:30: End of Term Concert for Parent (Veraphan Theatre)

5th DECEMBER:
School Closed for Public Holiday

13th DECEMBER:
Christmas Jumper Day

YEAR 3 MATHS
Year 3 have been diving deep into multiplication. They have been using hands-on learning with multi-link cubes to create equal groups, reinforcing key vocabulary and writing corresponding number sentences. We want to ensure that students are setting themselves up for future success in mathematics. A strong grasp of multiplication is crucial for more advanced topics like division, fractions and algebra. By using these learning methods they are starting to build a solid mathematical foundation.

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FOBISIA CODEBREAKING CHALLENGE 2024
Congratulations to all students who took part in this year's FOBISIA Codebreaking Challenge. Students from Year 5 to Year 10 were tasked with solving a variety of different codes including mirrored letters, Caesar ciphers and pigpen ciphers, to crack each level of the challenge. We are incredibly proud to have finished in 12th place out of the 110 competing schools throughout Asia.

?ecalp tsrif deveihca esuoh hcihw tuB | But which house achieved first place? 

Results will be revealed in our end of term assembly.

Pre-Prep

INAPPROPRIATE YOUTUBE CONTENT
It has come to our attention that there is a new YouTube video craze that some children are watching and imitating in School. The name of the character is Shin Sonic and it can be found on both YouTube and TikTok. Whilst it may sound harmless as the name relates to the children's character Sonic the Hedgehog, the subject matter in these videos is not child friendly with both graphic violence and aggressive behaviour. 

When playing, children often copy what they see in movies and online and we are seeing an increase in play fighting to mimic this character as well as other recent popular adult movies characters such as 'Venom' and 'Deadpool and Wolverine'.

If you would like help with setting your child's devices to block this content please contact Mr Sethi in Pre-Prep who will be happy to help. If you are aware that your children are watching videos and movies like this please direct them to something more age appropriate.

KINDNESS MONTH
We are almost reaching the end of our MAD Juniors Kindness Month challenge. We hope that you have been able to follow along with your child where possible and it has been wonderful to see our MAD Juniors getting so involved in their roles.  

27th NOVEMBER:
8:00-8:45am - Come and See - parents can join in Wake and Shake

29th NOVEMBER:
14:50-15:10 - Native Reading Session

4th DECEMBER:
Father's Day Breakfast - Dads (or a family member) welcome to join between 8:00 and 8:45am for breakfast

5th DECEMBER:
School closed 

6th DECEMBER:
Year 1 Performance  2pm "Jack and the Beanstalk with a twist!" (parents invited) 

10th DECEMBER:
Rugby Rascals Christmas Party - 8:30am-10:30am (Pre booking only) 

12th DECEMBER:
Christmas Lunch (students) and Term 1 Reports available 

13th DECEMBER:
Christmas Jumper/Dress Up Day and Class Christmas Parties
End of Term One

YEAR 1 SCIENCE 
Our Year 1 scientists recently conducted a hands-on flower experiment to explore how coloured water affects plant absorption. The flowers were placed into separate bottles filled with warm water, to which a different colour was added. Prior to beginning the experiment, everyone made predictions about what might happen to the flowers over time. They then carefully observed and recorded their findings in both written booklets and video logs, documenting any changes they noticed daily. This process encouraged the development of skills in scientific observation, data recording and critical thinking. Of course, the children were thrilled to see the end result of their beautifully coloured flowers. 

Sport and Enrichment

RST CHRONICLE
Welcome to the newest edition of the RST Chronicle. Now that we are in our second activity cycle, we have some new reporters to welcome! This edition is our largest ever, full of pictures from our first House Day along with our Loy Krathong celebrations - be on the lookout for the photographs from the special days. Thanks to our reporters: Eita, Paul, Shivaans, Alie, Alex, Daniel, Kati, Skyler and Siku for all their hard work on this edition.

Read the latest issue here. 

SPORTS RECAP
We had a fantastic weekend of sport across Bangkok and our students did themselves proud in every area. 

The U19 Volleyball teams finished their season in style at the FOBISIA tournament. Facing teams from around Asia, our students got to participate in a high standard of volleyball and pushed themselves hard to compete. Trips like this also offer valuable opportunities to learn, be independent and resilient, which the team embraced well. Volleyball is a growing sport and these teams will continue to grow, compete and be back stronger next year. Thank you to Ms Hutchison, Mr Morton, Coach Knot and Coach Jackie for looking after the team.

Football was also out in force at Harrow as the U13 and U15 teams for boys and girls took to the field. Our U15 Boys were crowned champions during a rain delayed final, U13 Boys came away with Silver, U15 Girls lost a tight final to come away with Silver and the U13 Girls won Bronze. Harrow is a particularly tough journey so thanks to all coaches who braved the drive over.

The U11 Basketball teams got their season underway impressively as the girls went undefeated to win their tournament at STA whilst the boys had some really tough games but lots to take forward.

Finally, the Tennis team continued their development with UTR based competition in Bangna. Well done to all the players who gained match play experience and special mention to Haruki who won the gold medal in his bracket. 

Boarding Life

This term, the Marshall House boarders have been practising some delicious recipes for their end of term charity Bake Sale! Watch this space for more information on it soon... and in the meantime, save the date (and some space in your tummy) on Tuesday, 10th December at 5pm.

Community Events

WISDOM SPORTS CAMPS
If you are looking for a fun and active way to spend your winter break, our December Sports Camp offers expert coaching, exciting drills and friendly competition for all skill levels. Please see below for more information.

Line: https://lin.ee/YvqXGC0 or @wisdomsports
Tel: 099-289-6454

Social Media and More

Keep up to date with all that's happening at RST via our social media channels and our website blog section.