Term 2 - 31 January 2025

Matters of Principal

Whole School

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT
We are delighted to unveil plans for a truly exceptional addition to our campus: a magnificent, state-of-the-art auditorium. This exciting project will provide a premier venue for performances, lectures and special events, enriching the cultural and academic life of our community. Construction is due to commence in May 2025, with anticipated completion in November 2026. The new auditorium will boast a generous seating capacity of 750, ensuring ample space for audiences to experience the remarkable events it will host. The facility will also include a dedicated exam hall, providing a modern and comfortable testing environment for our students. This new auditorium represents a significant investment in our future, and we eagerly anticipate the day its doors open.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
We would like to kindly inform you that almost all year groups within the School are currently at capacity or are approaching capacity, with waiting lists in operation for this year and next. As spaces are so limited and in high demand, we advise that if you are planning to enroll siblings or recommend the School to friends, this is done as soon as possible.

If further information is helpful, please contact admissions@rugbyschool.ac.th.

LUNAR NEW YEAR
We had a fantastic time across the School celebrating Lunar New Year 2025, the Year of the Snake. The event was filled with exciting performances from our talented students and parents. We were thrilled to experience traditional Chinese performances, including the colourful Lion and Dragon dances and the mesmerising Sichuan Opera Face-Changing act. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this celebration so memorable. Wishing you all a Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快乐！万事如意！

A full photo gallery from the day can be found here. 

365 ENGLISH SUPPORT
As part of our ongoing efforts to support children and families as much as possible when it comes to developing their language, we have included a helpful resource below for parents, with details of EAL short courses throughout the year. 

AJAHN JAYASARO RETURN VISIT
We are delighted to welcome back Ajahn Jayasāro to Rugby School Thailand for his talk 'Dealing With An Uncertain World'. We invite parents to join us for this special occasion in the Webb Ellis Centre on Tuesday, 4th March 2025 at 4:15pm.

RSTPA COOKING CLASS
The next RSTPA Cooking Class will take place on Monday, 3rd February from 08:15-10:30, bringing you tastes from Japan.

There will be a small fee of 300 THB per session to cover the costs of ingredients and you will need to bring some empty containers to take your food away. We have a maximum of 24 places, so if you are interested please reserve your place by contacting: irbis2002@bk.ru / Line: Helen Cool / 0907694661.

RST STUDENTS SHOWING LEADERSHIP IN ROTC
This January, 13 of our students have been completing their third year ROTC Camp, which took place over four days and three nights at the Military Student Training Centre, 14th Military Circle, Nawaminthrachini Military Camp in Chonburi. To learn more about what the ROTC is and why our students took part, head to our latest blog here. 

Senior

PODCAST STUDIO 
We are excited to launch the School's first podcast studio, Rugby Studios, which is now available for all students in F Block (Year 9) and above. Students will have the opportunity to express their creativity by recording a podcast of their choosing during their spare time, with topics ranging from student revision tips to wellbeing or just simply sharing areas of interest. We look forward to seeing how this new facility will be enjoyed and to also see it grow into a curriculum resource that can support lesson times. 

CHONBURI HOSPITAL INTERNSHIP
Over the Christmas break, four of our students (Chi, Chawin, Narna and Mario) volunteered to participate in a two-day internship at Chonburi hospital. Their help was incredibly welcome in the pediatric learning centre as they assisted in taking care of chronically ill children. During their time, they also organised a gift drive 'Wrapped With Love', which collected a range of gifts with the kind help of students, parents and teachers of the RST community. These gifts were then distributed to the children on Christmas Day. The campaign was tremendously successful, with over 60 gifts handed out and many happy faces.

OPERATION SMILE
The Senior School Smile Club aims to raise awareness and funds for the work of Operation Smile Thailand. The main event for this year, a 'Smile Run', will take place on Thursday, 3rd April, for students across the School. Recently, the Smile Club was visited by Khun Gift, the Resource Development Manager at Operation Smile, to encourage our team to collaborate and share ideas with other Smile Clubs that exist in different international schools. Iysa, our Service Levée, presented Khun Gift with a cheque for 10,000 THB in support of Operation Smile’s amazing work. Khun Gift also spoke about the November 2025 mission to Mae Sot, extending an invitation for six senior students to participate and continue our proud partnership with Operation Smile.  

APPLYING TO AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
Year 13 students interested in studying in Australia are invited to a special counselling session with the One Education team at 4:00 PM on Monday, 3rd February, in the Collingwood Centre.

Representing all Australian universities, One Education will guide students through the application process and review their application materials (including transcripts, passport copies, IELTS certificates and personal statements). With potential caps on international student admissions in Australia, XX students are strongly encouraged to submit their Australian applications as soon as possible. If you have general questions about studying in Australia, this is a great opportunity to get expert advice. Additionally, students will have another chance to connect with Australian university representatives at our March university fair - details will be shared about this soon.  

LAST CALL FOR REGISTRATION
Late registration is available until midnight on Monday, 3rd February for students to take the PracticeSAT (PSAT).  Please fill in this form to reserve a spot for your child on their preferred testing date. Students will then have their place confirmed and parents will need to pay by QR code via the image on the form.

UCAS VIRTUAL WORK EXPERIENCES
UCAS is offering students the chance to gain valuable, immersive work experience with top UK employers, including the NHS, Barclays and Airbus. Whether it's observing a live surgery or designing a lunar landing module, these virtual experiences provide a first-hand look into various career paths. This is a fantastic way for students to enhance their understanding of potential professions while strengthening their personal statements and portfolios. Learn more about how you can connect with industry professionals and expand your horizons here.

HIGHER EDUCATION EVENTS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Our Higher Education team has compiled a list of the most relevant university events this month, including open days and webinars, which you can view here.

EXPLORING SUMMER SCHOOLS
Summer schools have become increasingly popular ways for students to explore university life and enhance their academic interests. Originally a long-established tradition in the United States, summer school opportunities are now offered by many global universities. To learn more about these fantastic opportunities, please click the link below.  

Click here to read our latest blog 'Exploring Summer Schools'.

Click here to see what summer school opportunities are currently available.

6th FEBRUARY:
All Day Educational Visit: DMAD field trip

7th FEBRUARY:
15:00-16:00 Parent Afternoon Tea: Revision Strategies

8th-16th FEBRUARY:
Half Term 

25th FEBRUARY:
08:00-12:00 - Sports Day

26th FEBRUARY-2nd MARCH:
Educational Visit: DoE Gold Practice

28th FEBRUARY: 
15:00-16:00 - Senior RSTPA meeting

U15 HOUSE VOLLEYBALL
The U15 House Volleyball tournament last week was a great showcase of skill, teamwork and house spirit. The WEC was alive with the energy of students battling it out in a series of fast-paced and competitive matches, with plenty of exciting rallies and brilliant plays on display. Here are the final results:

Boys Houses:
First: Sheriff
Second: School House
Third: Town House

Girls Houses:
First: Tudor
Second: Southfield
Third: Rupert Brooke

A huge well done to all the students who took part. The level of play was impressive, with some tense moments and well-fought points and overall lots of fun and great sportsmanship from everyone involved.

PAC STUDIO
A new studio space is being developed in the PAC which is available for students to use to assist and enhance their film and photography projects in digital media and design and art.  

Prep

LEARNER PROFILE WEEK
As part of our globally-minded learner profile characteristic, we have a range of activities for students to be a part of during Learner Profile week. These range from meeting volunteers from local charities to raising money and donating dog food. Thank you for your support both in School and with our work in supporting those less fortunate than ourselves. Please see the below poster for more information on the events taking place.

RST FACTOR
Registration for the RST Factor remains open until Friday, 7th February. Please see the below poster for details on how to enter.  

1st FEBRUARY:
U9 Football v BPS (away)
U13 BISA Volleyball Tournament (away)

3rd FEBRUARY:
Y4 Thai Trip
08:15-10:30: RSTPA Cooking Class
U13 Volleyball v REPS (away)
U11 Basketball v REPS (home)

4th FEBRUARY:
U13 ISGT - Bromsgrove
U13 Football v GIS (home)
14:45-15:45: Year 4 Humanities Showcase (meet at the entrance)
15:00-16:00: Year 3 Learning Showcase in the Veraphan Theatre

RESIDENTIAL WEEK
4th-7th FEBRUARY: Y8 - Kanchanaburi
5th-7th FEBRUARY: Y7 - Bangkok
6th-7th FEBRUARY: Y6 - Sattahip
6th-7th FEBRUARY: Y5 - Khao Kheow Open Zoo
6th FEBRUARY: Y4 - Sleepover at Marshall House

8th-16th FEBRUARY:
Half Term

HOUSE DAY
Last Friday was a day filled with House spirit as we held our second House Day of the academic year. Students enjoyed lunch together, sharing a meal with fellow House members from across all year groups. The afternoon saw each House gather for an assembly led by their respective Captains. A highlight of these assemblies was a fun "Dingbats" competition, which challenged students to decipher visual word puzzles. It was a fantastic opportunity to foster House unity and friendly competition.

DIAMOND PAINTING
This activity block, some of our students have been exploring the creative world of Diamond Painting. They have been carefully placing colourful resin "diamonds" onto adhesive canvases to create shimmering works of art. It has been wonderful to see them enjoying this calming and engaging activity, which helps develop focus, concentration and fine motor skills. 

Pre-Prep

PANTS ARE PRIVATE
Children develop a natural  curiosity about their body parts as they grow and it is perfectly normal for them to be curious about this. What we need to teach them, and what we do teach them, is that their bodies are private to them.

We follow the NSPCC 'Pants are Private' programme which follows the five rules of P.A.N.T.S. - these are explained in detail in the posters below. 

There is also a YouTube video about Pantosaurus as well as a useful website for tips if you need to have the 'pants' talk.

CAR PARK
Please remember that there is a one-way system in place in the car park - several cars have been seen going around this the wrong way.

3rd FEBRUARY:
Year 1 bikes or scooters to School- helmets MUST be worn

5th FEBRUARY:
Big Talk - Dental Hygiene - all parents invited. Two parents who are dentists will present on oral hygiene
8:30-9:00am in the Assembly Hall

7th FEBRUARY:
Parent Teacher Meetings 2pm-5pm 

10th-16th FEBRUARY:
Half Term 

17th FEBRUARY:
Reception bikes or scooters to School- helmets MUST be worn

19th FEBRUARY:
Phonics workshop

21st FEBRUARY:
Reception trip to Dinosaur Kingdom

25th FEBRUARY:
100 Days of School

28th FEBRUARY:
Native readers session

AUTHOR VISIT
On Tuesday, the children were delighted to welcome author and illustrator Laura Wall to School, where each class enjoyed engaging sessions with the author, learning about where she came from and her exciting career. Laura captivated us by reading one of her well-known 'Goose' stories and then guided us through drawing our own adorable geese. It was a truly enjoyable experience. Later, our KS1 students gathered for a special assembly with Laura where she shared her talent by teaching everyone the lively Goose song. It was inspiring to experience her wonderful work first-hand.

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SPORTS DAY
Despite the unexpected challenge of air quality, our Sports Days were wonderful events full of energy and excitement. A full run-down of each event can be found in our latest blog written by Mr Dehan, which you can read here. 

Boarding Life

MARSHALL HOUSE
Our boarders are always making the most of our wonderful facilities. It's hard to resist a little extra practice when you have everything on your doorstep - the Marshall House boys love shooting hoops after hours.

Sport and Enrichment

SPORTS UPDATE

U18 Chiang Mai Basketball Residential
Last weekend was an important one for our Varsity basketball teams who were in Chiang Mai for the annual Chiang Mai International School Invitational. The team travelled north for the third year in a row to compete with a range of schools from across the region. Across two busy days of games, the boys and girls showed outstanding grit and resilience to put themselves in contention for the wins. In the end, the girls came away as bronze medalists, losing out to a school from Japan in a super tight semi-final before a comfortable win in the third place playoff. The boys played their way into the 5th/6th playoff, showing their improved skills and ability to put pressure on even the very best teams. It was a very successful trip led by Coach Chisholm and Miss Davies - thank you to both for taking the students away and providing such a fantastic experience. 

U9 and U11 BISA Basketball Tournaments
Saturday was a busy day for the Sports Department with teams heading to Bangkok for key competitions as we approach the end of Season Two. Our U9 and U11 Basketball teams were in action, showing off their skills in BISA tournaments held at King's, St Andrew's and Shrewsbury. All of our teams played their hearts out, even with a few absentees as the games fell on an Exeat weekend. Our U11 Girls continued a stellar season with a third place finish after narrow overtime losses. Thank you to Sharon, Same and all the other coaches involved.

Swim Meet at Bangkok Prep
Also in action were the swimmers who travelled to Bangkok Prep for the Bulldog Cup, which was held over two days. This is a National Qualifying event and offers a range of events from 50m through to 400m Freestyle and IM. Our swimmers did a fantastic job and performed with real grit in difficult conditions. Our 15 & over age groups did extremely well being awarded first place for the girls team and third for the boys. We now also have five national qualifiers, as Namtan logged new best times to qualify. Special thanks to the swim team for giving up their whole weekend.

ISGT UPDATE
The Rugby School Thailand golf team has been in remarkable form, finishing 2024 on a high note with a standout performance at the KIS Invitational. Held at the stunning Robinswood Golf, the team claimed the title of Team Nett Champions, showcasing their skill, teamwork and determination. The momentum continued into the new year as the team hit the ground running in January. Their first challenge of 2025 came at the Vintage Club for the NIST Invitational, followed by the Harrow Invitational a week later at the picturesque Flora Vile Country Club. Across these events, the standard of play has been exceptionally high, with young golfers from schools across Thailand posting impressive scores despite challenging conditions. The dedication and talent within our golf team has not gone unnoticed. We currently sit 6th in the Scratch Order of Merit and proudly hold first place in the Nett Order of Merit - a phenomenal accomplishment for a team still growing in size and experience. As the team continues to build on these successes, we look forward to seeing what 2025 has in store. Congratulations to all our golfers for their hard work and outstanding performances. 

Community Events

SPRING CAMP
After the huge success of our Christmas Camp, we are thrilled to share that our incredible Spring Camp is back. Taking place from the 6th - 11th April 2025, our popular camp is now open for registration with a special 10% early bird discount as well as an extra 10% RST discount if you register before Sunday, 16th February. For more information and to register, please see the below poster. Our new camp website is also live so click here to learn more. 

WISDOM SPORTS CAMPS
Get ready for a week of non-stop action at our exciting February Sports Camp. Experience the thrill of Basketball Volleyball and Football. With expert coaches, your child will have the chance to learn from experienced coaches and improve their skills. For more details and to register, visit our website https://wisdomsportsacademy.com/ or contact us on Line: @wisdomsports

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.