Term 1 - 13 December 2024

Matters of Principal

Whole School

KRU PATANATT THADRUK
It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that our Thai Principal, Kru Natt, has decided to leave RST at the end of this term. Kru Natt has been with us since 2018 and has been instrumental in our various accreditations not to mention the excellent work she has done with many Thai students' portfolios and her tireless Child Protection work with the Thai staff.  As well as all of her Thai Principal duties, Natt has been thoroughly involved in our Eco Garden, cultural events, cookery classes and setting up some excellent internships and work experience opportunities for senior students. 
Kru Natt has decided to pursue other opportunities within education, but I am sure you join me in thanking her wholeheartedly for everything she has done for RST and in wishing her all the best for her future.
The Principal

SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATES
We ask all of our families to kindly take note of the following information:

• Friday, 13th December - Early closure of the back gate: Due to various events taking place around the School and to help us effectively manage traffic, the back gate will be closing at 4:30 PM and will reopen on Tuesday, 7th January 2025 at 5:00 AM.
  
• Vehicle Registration: We ask all parents to ensure that their vehicles are registered with the School. This information is vital in assisting us in the event of an accident, or if vehicles need to be moved.
• Weekend Access: Over the weekends, please use only the front gate for entry and exit. We have centralised all security checks at the front guard post for efficiency and safety.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. 

BACK TO SCHOOL
A reminder that School will reopen on Tuesday, 7th January 2025. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas break. 

SCHOOL SHOP HOLIDAY HOURS
16th to 20th December - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The shop will be closed from Saturday, 21st December to Monday, 6th January 2025. 

To book an appointment during these dates, please click here. 
Parents can also contact the shop via Line ID @rstshop or email: schoolshop@rugbyschool.ac.th

THE WHOLE JOURNEY
Our Whole School Music Coordinator and Senior Head of Music, Loretta Duncan, took the time to share her musical journey with us and how working within the international education sector has positively impacted her teaching.   

Senior

HOUSE DRAMA WINNERS
The results are in and winners of the House Drama competition have been announced -

The Audience Vote was awarded to School House's Pantomime Production of 'Snow White'.
Third Place was awarded to fellow Boarders, Rupert Brooke for their traditional 'Cinderella' performance.
Second Place went to Tudor House for their devised interpretation of 'Little Red Riding Hood'.
First Place was awarded to Town House for their Brechtian re-telling of 'The Musicians of Bremen' which the judges commended for its inventive use of of shadow puppetry and music.

Honourable mentions also went to Sheriff House's original rap enthused 'Rumplestiltskin' and Southfield's ambitious set and staging of 'Hanzel & Gretel'. 

Mr Furness would like to thank our judges Ms Davies, Prep Scholars and the audience themselves as well as all the Drama Sixths, House Captains, Heads of House and students involved. The event took place over two afternoons in the Veraphan Theatre with two rounds of Houses watching the performances. 

BAAN JING JAI
This year, students worked together to bring festive joy to the children of Baan Jing Jai through our annual Secret Santa initiative. A special thank you goes to our Service Levée, Iysa, for leading this effort and to everyone who generously donated money or bought gifts. Your kindness and teamwork have made a real difference, bringing happiness to those less fortunate than us and showing how small acts of generosity can have an impact during this holiday season.

UWE THINK TANK
Sixth Form students, Arty, Tasha, Poon, Noah and Put, took part in an innovative Think Tank Workshop with representatives from the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. The session, facilitated by Mrs Cecil, Head of Higher Education and Careers, invited UWE's Asia Pacific marketing and recruitment staff to consider the university application process through the eyes of potential students.

The workshop provided a platform for students to share their thoughts on key elements of the application journey. Professor Ray Priest, International Director Asia Pacific, UWE Bristol, shared his praise saying that, "It was a wonderful workshop and team members have already been feeding back on changes they would like to make in line with what the students said... you should be very proud of them."

The students demonstrated confidence, creativity and critical thinking and their participation not only empowered them to contribute meaningfully to a real-world discussion but also underscored our School's commitment to fostering impactful educational experiences.

Well done to our Sixth Form students for making their voices heard and influencing future approaches to university recruitment and thank you to UWE Bristol for inviting us to be part of their conference.

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

7th JANUARY:
Start of Term Two 

8th - 10th JANUARY:
Mock Exams (LXX and D Block) 

27th JANUARY:
School closed for Exeat 

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Our Senior Production 'Little Shop of Horrors' was a sellout success with performances over three nights to an audience of parents, staff and students. The student-led show featured a cast of 50, including a full student pit band, back stage operators and RST Tech Team. Standout performances included Rute, Nina and Andrei as our main characters Seymour, Audrey and Mr Mushnik, as well as Sophia, who took charge of backstage and aspirational design elements as assistant director. 

The supporting cast fronted by Amanda as carnivorous plant Audrey 2, was assisted by several Y8 Pupeteers, F Block Drama Scholars and our IGCSE students. Rin also gave an incredible performance as the standout Dentist and not forgetting how everything was all brought harmoniously together by our fantastic Do Wop Chorus.

Mr Furness would like to credit all the extra hours the students gave and the support from parents for inspiring them to be part of such a high standard and ambitious project. Mrs Duncan has driven the music in both the outstanding singing and leading the student pit band to an even higher standard. As we say goodbye to Skid Row and Mushnik's Flower Shop please standby for an exciting announcement in regards to our next Key Stage 3 Production and forthcoming Prep Shows.

We will be announcing our next Key Stage 3 production open to all Years 7, 8 and 9 students as well as some older students in supporting roles and pit band next term. We are keeping this top secret as Disney has told us 'We're All In This Together'.

For those who were unable to catch the live show, a full video recording will be available on our YouTube channel on Saturday evening. A link to all photos can be found here.

Prep

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
As the recent movie 'Wicked' is making waves in cinemas around the world, we are so excited to share that we have exclusively attained the production rights to 'The Wizard of Oz' from the RSC's Youth Edition.

Audition materials and further information has been shared with all Year 8 Drama and Music classes to prepare for next term's production. The show will feature all of Year 8, our largest production yet, as the cast will feature favourites such as Dorothy, The Wicked Witch of The West, The Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Glenda the Good Witch, The Wizard of Oz, Munchkins, Jitterbugs, Winkies and of course Flying Monkeys. There will also be an array of musicians, dancers, backstage helpers and designers.

Audiences can expect a traditional re-telling of the classic movie, including many of the great songs and dances from its popular stage show. Performances will take place in March and more information will be shared next term. 

NEW CHESS AREA
Our new chess area has proven to be incredibly popular as students are making the most of their breaks by playing a game of chess with their friends. Chess is a fantastic way to develop strategic thinking and problem-solving. It also helps to improve focus as well as providing the opportunity to socialise and make new friends.

KING RAMA IX ASSEMBLY 2024
On Friday, 6th December, students held a special assembly at the Veraphan Theatre to honour King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a deeply respected and beloved monarch of Thailand. This year, we celebrated his remarkable musical talent and creativity.

Our MCs, Pan-Pan, Alice, Hana and Liphao from Year 8, shared the stories behind some of His Majesty’s most iconic royal compositions. In 2003, King Bhumibol Adulyadej became the first Asian monarch to be recognised by UNESCO for his exceptional musical contributions. Songs such as Candlelight Blues, Love at Sundown, and Still on My Mind continue to inspire people across the world. The assembly also featured beautiful performances by Year 7 students - Katie sang No Moon, Aya performed Still on My Mind, and O.B. played Near Dawn on the flute.

Through his music, King Rama IX exemplified qualities from the RST Learner Profile, such as being a thinker, resilient, globally minded, a communicator and collaborator, reflective and versatile. His life and work remain a source of inspiration for all of us.

Our students and staff will always cherish the memory of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his enduring legacy.

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RST CHRONICLE
Welcome to our very special Christmas edition of the RST Chronicle - flick through for Christmas content. Thanks to all of our reporters. We wish everybody a restful break, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Click the link below to read our latest edition.

RST Christmas Chronicle 

7th JANUARY:
Start of Term Two 

16th JANUARY:
Year 3 and 4 Parent Teacher Meeting with the Specialists

17th JANUARY:
Year 3 and 4 Parent Teacher Meeting with the Specialists

27th JANUARY:
School closed for Exeat 

END OF TERM CONCERT 
Our recent end of term concert saw all Prep School ensembles take to the stage, showcasing their talents with a diverse range of musical performances. The finale, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," brought together over 120 students, creating a truly magical moment as the audience joined in.

The concert was filled with positive energy and festive cheer, featuring both classic carols and modern-day hits. We extend our sincere gratitude to all visiting music teachers for their invaluable contributions. A huge congratulations to all performers for their hard work and dedication in preparing such a wonderful concert.

Special thanks to Mrs Nevin for her tireless efforts in leading the Prep choirs and string ensembles. Remember, our ensembles are open to all students. If you are interested in joining and being part of future performances, please speak to Mr Cain.

A video recording of the concert can be found below as well as a full photo gallery, here. 

MADAGASCAR
Year 6’s production of Madagascar Jr was a huge success - congratulations to all the Year 6 students who performed in this wonderful, energetic show. Audiences were treated to a hilarious comedy filled with lively dance numbers. In a surprising twist, the audience even experienced an arctic storm mid-show! Special thanks to Ms Davies for her excellent direction. Well done to the entire cast for learning the lines and music, and for delivering such a special performance. The show was performed four times, captivating audiences with its humour and talent.

A video recording of the show can be found below as well as a full photo gallery, here. 

Pre-Prep

A MESSAGE FROM MISS SARAH
Dear all,
The first term is always the longest and most difficult as new and old children settle in to their new classes and new teachers. Routines and expectations are established during this first term. The staff have an understanding of how their classes work and how the individual children respond and learn. So much takes place in this term that it is no wonder everyone is tired.
We have indeed had many events such as: Wai Kru, Parent Teacher meetings, Come and See, Loy Krathong, Odd Socks Day and of course the lovely Year 1 Christmas performance. Huge progress has been made with the children and their learning. The last week of term does come out of routine and this can unsettle some children but they have been great and adapted well.
Thank you to all parents for their support in helping their children settle and thrive in this very busy Term 1. We wish you all a safe and happy holidays. Children- remember to wear your seat belts in the car and listen to your Mums and Dads. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

PRE NURSERY AND NURSERY
What an amazing first term we have had in Pre-Nursery and Nursery. We have all managed to settle into our new classes and for some of the children it was their first ever time to come to School. Long gone are the morning tears which have now changed to big smiles and lots of enthusiasm. Over this term the children in Pre-Nursery and Nursery have learnt all about themselves and their families as well as the people in their lives that like to help them. And of course we have absolutely loved getting into the Christmas festivities these last two weeks. Wishing all the Pre-Nursery and Nursery children and their families a wonderful Christmas break and we look forward to seeing you all return to School in the New Year.

RECEPTION
This term in Reception has been full of fun and learning. The children have made fantastic progress in phonics, numbers and developing their independence, while also enjoying plenty of creative and social activities. It’s been a joy to get to know them and watch their confidence grow. Thank you for your continued support—it truly makes a difference. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

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YEAR 1
Warm Christmas wishes from the Year 1 children and team. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Enjoy a well earned rest and time with loved ones. We look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. 

YEAR 2
Thank you so much for participating in our Secret Santa event with Hand to Hand. The children and grown ups from Hand to Hand were extremely happy and excited about their lovely gifts. Thank you for making their Christmas dreams come true by buying them the gift they asked for. 
We celebrated the day with Santa coming for a visit, singing christmas songs, handing out gifts and having fun on the playground. We also celebrated with delicious food and friends. 
Thank you for your continuous support.

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BEBRAS RESULT - CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our children who took part in the Bebras Challenge 2024.  This international competition, organised in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Oxford University, tests computational thinking through problem-solving challenges.

Our results:
Gold Award - Top 10% of UK and International schools (3 students)
Best in School - Number 1 in specific age groups
Distinction - Top 25% (7 students)
Merit - Top 50% (6 students)
Participation - For all students who took on this exciting challenge and completed the challenges within the given time.

Competitions like Bebras not only help students apply their classroom learning to real-world problems but also strengthen their logical reasoning and collaborative skills. These achievements highlight the strength of our Pre-Prep team and the incredible potential of our young learners.

Congratulations to all participants and especially those who earned top honours. 

If you would like to know more about this challenge or how we foster a passion for computer science in Pre-Prep, feel free to reach out to us.

PRE-PREP SWIM JOURNEY
Term 1 certificates have been handed out to all the children who are on their swimming journeys. A PowerPoint explaining the awards can be found here which details what the children achieve with each one. Congratulations swimmers- well done this term. 

THANK YOU
Thank you for all your donations and toiletries sent in for charity. Your kindness is appreciated. 

EAL TIPS FOR PARENTS
As part of our aim to support children and families as much as possible when it comes to developing their language, we have included another helpful EAL tip for parents below. 

KEY DATES
The key dates for Term Two can be found here. 

LUNAR NEW YEAR
We are looking for Thai and Chinese parents to help with our Lunar New Year celebrations on Tuesday, 28th January. If you can help, please contact Miss Sarah via email sshuttleworth@rugbyschool.ac.th

MAD JUNIOR BAKE SALE FRIDAY 10th JANUARY
We are asking for baked goods to be brought in on the morning of Friday, 10th January and dropped at the Office. MAD Junior will then organise a sale at 3:15 PM. Donations will go to Hand to Hand who are having a new roof on their school.

7th JANUARY:
Start of Term Two

8th JANUARY:
Reception Reading Workshop 8:30-9:00 AM in the Assembly Hall - for all Reception parents

9th JANUARY:
Rugby Rascals starts 8:30-10:30 AM

10th JANUARY:
Children's Day- Hand to Hand visit for the morning and there will be a MAD Junior bake sale

13th JANUARY:
Year 2 bikes/scooters to School- helmets MUST be worn

15th JANUARY:
Social media workshop - open to all to learn how to be safe using social media 

17th JANUARY:
RSTPA reps meet with SMT 8:30 AM 

YEAR 1 CHRISTMAS SHOW
Welcome to Year 1's magical Christmas adventure, where Jack embarks on an unforgettable journey to rescue the missing Angel and Star from the Yeti's palace! Join the elves, as they face the challenges that await them inside the Yeti's palace. Thank you to all of the families who came to support their children, they were a wonderful audience and the children made everybody proud.

A video recording of the show can be found below as well as a full photo gallery, here. 

CONGRATULATIONS YEAR 2
Your persuasive writing has worked its magic and Mr Grindlay has agreed NOT to chop down the trees in Pre-Prep. We are all so happy now and thank you all for your superb persuasive thoughts. What good news to end the term on. Thank you so much to a super duper Year 2. 

Boarding Life

GOODBYE MISS AMANDA
The end of this term brings to a close Miss Amanda's time as Matron of Marshall House. Amanda has been instrumental in moulding the success of our Prep boarding and has done so with typical energy and resilience from the start. She joined RST in 2018 and has been a driving force behind enjoyable, productive and supportive boarding for our young girls and boys. We bid a fond farewell to Amanda as she transitions to a new role teaching science in the Prep School; it is great that Amanda's drive to look after the children of RST will still be something we benefit from in years to come. Marshall House and the whole boarding community thank Amanda for all her amazing work and wish her, Phop, Chai and Korn all the best for their new chapter. 

BAKE SALE
The Marshall House charity bake sale was a great success. Thank you to everyone who came to buy festive treats - and to Mrs Pool and the boarders for all the time and effort they put into this project. They raised in the region of 7.5k THB for Take Care Kids, which is a wonderful Christmas gift for a very worthy cause.

A RUGBY FIRST
House Captains of Rupert Brooke and School House from RST, RSJ and Rugby School UK, all joined an online call to share experiences and link up across our three locations. It was wonderful to see our student leaders enjoy getting to know each other and compare stories from across the globe in what we hope will be an annual fixture for the Rugby family. The boarding communities of our three Rugby School campuses are at the core of what we do. A big thank you to Sophia, Iysa, Teru and Marwin, the leadership teams in Rupert Brooke and School House, who represented themselves and their houses so well. 

Sport and Enrichment

SPORTS RECAP
The final weekend was another busy one, especially with the Thailand International Youth Cup (130 teams) going on across the fields on campus. In the WEC, the PE team had both Varsity Basketball and U15 Volleyball tournaments happening. 

The Varsity Basketball teams continue to develop and find their form. The boys found their 3 point form and came away as champions against strong opposition from local club KOB, Berkeley School and Regents Bangkok. The girls put on a masterclass, using a range of players to develop squad culture as they came away winners too.

Our first major tournament for Volleyball at U15 level did not disappoint as the U15 boys came away victorious and the U14 boys losing out in a nailbiter to finish third. The girls faced really strong Bangkok competition but showed grit and skill to finish in second place (U15) and fourth place (U14). It was so exciting to have both U15 and U14 represented in one event - lots of our students are keen to develop and be a part of this sport which is growing so fast.

Away from RST, the U12 Volleyball teams went to Minburi to play at Ruamrudee International School. Both teams pushed hard throughout the morning finishing second (boys) and third (girls). With depleted squads, this was a fabulous result. 

Up next was Harrow Bangkok, where the Varsity boys took on the best from Bangkok schools at the BISA Tennis Finals. Our 5 player team returned with Bronze medals - another sport in which RST is really finding its feet.

The swimmers were also in double action. A massive well done to the group who attended Feeding Frenzy in Bangkok. The biggest invitational meet in Asia was a great festive experience for all the RST swimmers. Lots of medals and even more PB swims.

Alongside this, Lilly continued to step into the world of Junior International Swimming at the SEA Age Groups Championships. Lilly acquitted herself well and will return to School with a Bronze medal. She stepped onto the podium following a fantastic 100m Breaststroke final. Congratulations to Coach David and Lilly on this wonderful achievement at such a high level. Lilly's recognition does not end here as she is currently representing her provincial team in the National Games, a prestigious and important competition at National level. She will compete in 5 events over 6 days. We would like to wish her all the best for this competition, the whole RST community will be cheering for you.

Finally, the RST golf team organised an internal match play event whereby students tested each other's nerves and skills at Pattana Golf Resort. Lots more of these events to come in the future to ensure our golfers are tournament ready.

And of course, our first ever Festive Fun Run. Thank you to the staff who attended - we saw some great running out on the trails, loads of smiles and mince pies too. A challenging course completed by more than 70 members of our community - thank you.  

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Community Events

WISDOM SPORTS CAMPS
This is your last opportunity to sign up for our December Sports Camp which 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.