Term 3 - 20th May
Matters of Principal
Whole School Reminders
PARENT SURVEY FEEDBACK
Parents and Guardians are invited to a feedback session by the Principal on the recent parent survey. The three slots are:
Friday 27th May - 8am at the Black Box Theatre (Prep and Senior parents)
Wednesday 1st June - 8am at the Black Box Theatre (Prep and Senior parents)
Friday 10th June - 8.30am at the Pre-Prep building (Pre-Prep parents)
CELEBRATING BOARDING LIFE
6th – 10th June - RST Boarding Week
During this week we will celebrate RST's award winning, and internationally acclaimed, boarding, by offering day students an opportunity to have sleepovers in our boarding houses!
15th June (6pm – 9pm) - Year 8 Experience Senior Boarding event
We are also offering all Year 8 students the opportunity to see what it would be like to board in the Senior School; be there to find out!
More information and invitations to the events will be circulated in due course! If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact the Director of Boarding, David Ennis-Billing, for more information: dennisbilling@rugbyschool.ac.th
GRAND OPENING OF WISDOM FIT
We would like to invite you to attend the Wisdom Fit 'Grand Opening' event later today, where you can join our 'Dance Charity' with Thai fitness celebrity, Meiji Anorma.
4.00 pm at Wisdom Fit (RST parents only), with drinks and snacks // Tickets 1,000 THB
6.15 pm at Wisdom Valley, Lake area (open to public) // Tickets 500 THB
All proceeds will go to the Father Ray Foundation.
The winner from the survey participants lucky draw will be announced after the dance session!
We will also be giving new visitors on the day a chance to win one month's free membership!
All members will receive a goodie bag at the event (including a t-shirt, games coupon, gift set and discount coupons from our selected partners).
We hope to see lots of you there for this fantastic opening event!
Whole School News
SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
Research conducted by Dr Melanie Laing who advises the Child Protection In Sport Unit (UK) recommends that training is provided to coaches, parents, and children on appropriate positive touch practices, drawing on children’s opinions and the importance of distributing sport-specific guidelines on best practice regarding physical contact.
Over the last couple of weeks Nina Hartley (Child Protection & Safer Recruitment Advisor) and the Safeguarding Team here at RST have run two training sessions for our swim and sporting staff looking at key research surrounding adult touch used in sport, focusing on a child-centred approach to touch with the aim of developing sport specific guidelines.
RST is quick to respond to key Safeguarding Research and are viewed by other schools in Asia as leading on best practice. Following our recent visit from FOBISIA Nina Hartley has been asked to deliver the same training session at the FOBISIA Safeguarding Conference on 9th June.
Senior News
Announcements and Reminders
SPEECH DAY
Please find an invitation to our Senior Speech Day, below:
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
This week we would like to make a special mention of Mrs Hayley Furness. Not only is she a full time Senior English teacher and exceptional LAMDA instructor – she is also our Examinations Officer! She has been working tirelessly for weeks to make sure that all our exams have been running smoothly and we would like to thank her for her terrific effort!
'What Went Well' Wall
Considering the substantial pressure that F and E Block students are feeling at the moment, we are trying to help them process their thoughts in a number of positive ways.
One of the easiest methods is for students to reflect on three things that went well for them during the course of the week. Here, a teacher has asked their students to write them down and stick them up on this board. Quotes range from ‘finally having hot water in my shower’ to being able to ‘spend time with my friends’.
Battle of the Bands
A reminder that this year's “Battle of the Bands” will take place on 23rd June, the last day of term.
The event promises to be a great celebration of music, with bands from across the School competing in an outdoor venue. Please scan the QR code for further details including highlights of 2020's event, rules, entry forms and song ideas. Students interested in performing should speak to Mr. Costin or Mr. Furness and book rehearsal times for mentoring and support.
The audition deadline is 3rd June at the RST Recording Studio.
Saturday Sport
Learning
BIOLOGY
Last week, FP students learned about the digestive system. Using a variety of everyday items, they consolidated their learning by simulating how food moves through the digestive system:
ART
It was messy but we had lots of fun learning how to use oil paint on canvas and board. Students in E block and LXX artists were involved in a practical workshop run by local artist Elsie Evans on Wednesday afternoon. Students used the two colours ultramarine and burnt umber to make tonal paintings. Lots of experimenting took place by trial and error; it wasn't about making a perfect piece.
HISTORY
F Block History students have embarked on their final task this year: The Personal History Project.
This task provides an opportunity for students to produce an individual project on a history topic of their choice. Students are currently researching their preferred topic in detail and will present their findings to their class in the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing the diverse interests and passions that our students have!
COMPUTER SCIENCE
In Computer Science, F-Block students have reached their end-of-year project. Their challenge is to work as a member of a team and contribute to a website promoting a fictional (future real?) product lending itself to the REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE approach to sustainability. This not only involves writing web code, it also involves developing content using a myriad of apps, including the ever-popular Adobe app. Students are challenged to communicate positively, write concisely and present confidently.
Prep News
Announcements & Reminders
SPEECH DAY
Please find an invitation to our Prep Speech Day, below:
Art Exhibition and Music Concert
A sneak preview of the art that will be on display: succulents in pastel by year 7, wax resist patterns by year 6 and digital/pen drawings by year 4:
Dates for your Diary
21st MAY – FOOTBALL (08:30 – 12:00)
Boys U11A & U11B and U9A V Lions FC (Home)
Girls U11/12 & U12/13 V Piing and Lions FC (Home).
Teams have been notified via email
21st MAY – SATURDAY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME (9:45- 12.00)
Year 3 – 4: Talent show
Year 5 – 6: Armadillo Run OR Stop-mo-go
Year 5 – 8: Watersports (THB400)
22nd MAY - RUGBY FIXTURE (06:00 – 15:00)
U9, U11 & U13 vs Bangkok Lions (Away)
Teams have been notified via email
25th MAY SHREK PERFORMANCE TO PARENTS IN THE VERAPHAN THEATRE
11:00 – 12:45
26th MAY SHREK PERFORMANCE TO PARENTS IN THE VERAPHAN THEATRE
16:00 – 17:45
27th May Y6 SLEEPOVER AT MARSHALL HOUSE
Year 6 students are invited to a sleepover at Marshall House on Friday, 27th May
28th MAY – FOOTBALL
06:00 – 13:00 U9 Boys Football @Patana - teams will be emailed separately
28th MAY – RUGBY
08:00 – 09:30 U9, U11 & U13 Rugby Training
28th MAY – SATURDAY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME (9:45- 12.00)
Y3-4 Karaoke Games
Y3-4 Sand Art
Y3-4 Smoothie Bowl Making
Y4-5 STEM Challenge
Y5-6 Drone Flying
Y5-8 Fun Cricket
Y7-8 Fun Video Production
Y7-8 Fusion Cooking
Please sign up on SOCS before Tuesday, 24 May.
UKMT Junior Maths Challenge
On Wednesday 27th April, sixty RST Prep students took part in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge 2022. This is the first time international schools have been able to take part in this prestigious competition.
Special congratulations to Kun (Year 7) and Steve (Year 8), who have been selected to take part in the even more prestigious UKMT Junior Mathematical Olympiad on Tuesday 14th June 2022. Also, a special mention for HaHa who achieved best in Year 6.
Overall, our students received 19 Gold-, 9 Silver- and 20 Bronze certificates!
A huge WELL DONE to all those students who took part in this year's JMC.
Archaeologists Talk
Earlier this week, 3D and 3VK had the opportunity to meet a real-life archaeologist! Mrs May was an archaeologist in her previous life and spoke to the students about her experiences. She shared her discoveries which included Roman artefacts and demonstrated how to use specialist equipment in a dig. The students were enthralled and talked about what they would like to find if they were archaeologists! 3T and 3W are looking forward to their turn with our very own Indiana Jones!
Flexible Learning Space
In the Prep English Department, we are working towards developing flexible learning spaces, which cater to different learning styles and needs. At RST, we understand that our students learn in different ways. Flexible spaces allow us to move between different physical settings based on the learning objectives. Depending on the task and individual learning styles, students can tackle challenges independently or in small groups - seated or standing or in our soft spaces (pictured).
Flexible learning spaces foster improved collaboration, encourage communication, allow for greater movement and actively engage students in the learning environment. Research consistently shows that learning is optimised when the physical environment aligns with pedagogy and curriculum. Our students enjoy having a voice in their learning and, to date, have found these flexible learning spaces refreshing and engaging.
Learning
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (D&T)
There is a hive of activity in D&T as students are working towards the completion of their project work and products this term. We cannot wait to see all the finished items!
FRENCH
This term, Year 6 has been working on the weather. They have put all their learning together to produce a wonderful weather forecast using a map of France and developed their iMovie skills by recording using a green screen.
Their forecasts demonstrate excellent use of weather phrases, connectives, intensifiers, negatives, future tense, locations and times. They also developed their learner profile characteristics by resiliently editing and memorising their forecast, by reflecting on their own work, by communicating with their peers on how to improve their work, and by gaining further global knowledge by learning what the weather might be like in different areas of France at different times of the year.
ART
Year 4s have been learning about the different types of pot we can make with clay. These coil pots have been made collaboratively in groups of 4, where students operated their own 'sausage factory' to make all the coils of clay. Aren't they marvellous?
MATHS
Year 3 students have started their geometry unit exploring shapes. They used tangrams to make given shapes, used 2D shapes to make patterns and had to work out how many triangles/squares were in a given shape.
Y4 students have been using the court markings in the CGA to help with their learning about quarter and half turns. It was quite a challenge to direct their robotic friends and make sure they didn’t crash!
MUSIC
Year 4 students have been practising their pitches in music this week by playing Pitch Parkway. Fierce competition!
ENGLISH
A couple of weeks, ago Year 3 students had a visit from a creep of tortoises. What a fabulously descriptive collective noun! This caused great excitement and was the perfect introduction to our English work on ‘Esio Trot’ by Roald Dahl.
HUMANITIES
Year 3 students have been continuing their topic on ‘Romans’ by looking at shield designs and making their own. They learnt that soldiers painted their shields in patterns representing their unit but also added personal touches. They will be using them next week to learn about how soldiers used the tortoise formation to protect them from enemy attack.
News from the Prep Library
Year 4 students are learning how to be kind and careful book custodians.
They participated in a dramatic re-enactment of an 'exploding book disaster' to help their peers in other classes understand the importance of respecting our library books. The 'Junior Librarians Club' will use their footage of this in a video for a 'LOVE OUR BOOKS' awareness campaign. (No real books were harmed in the making of this informational video!).
Pre-Prep News
Announcements
SCHOOL ENTRANCE
Please note that the entrance/exit by Ruby's Garden is now closed. Parents are to use the main entrance at all times.
ART COMPETITION RESULTS
Our annual Art competition "Down in the Jungle" has been judged by members of our creative community in Prep and Senior, who found it very difficult to choose the winner!
Here are the results:
- In first place, with the most votes, is Victoria (Butterfly class) with her watercolour elephant having a bath;
- In second place is Nudee (Monkey class) with her colourful jungle picture filed with all sorts of animals;
- In third place was Ellielina (Turtle class) with her descriptive jungle scene.
A huge congratulations to all the students who entered; your art has brightened up our Pre-Prep and it is wonderful to see the colourful pieces of artwork. Victoria's art will be framed and hung in the office.
JOY'S JOURNEY
Jacinta Farragher (an ex-RST parent), mother of Fox and Remi, has written a book called ‘Joy's Journey’. Jacinta is now living in Japan but is sending us some copies of her book for sale to RST parents. Please see the below flyer for more information. We look forward to reading this book with our Pre-Prep students.
Dates for Your Diary
24th May (8:30am) – Monster Phonics Workshop: what each year group learns
25th May – Year 2 Trip
27th May (2pm) – Year 2 Swim Gala and Fun session - please click below for more information:
6th and 7th June – Pre-prep Photo Days (please wear PE kit and yellow socks)
Pre-Prep Learner Profiles
Our 'Learner Profiles' are a very important part of School life and this year we have been teaching our students about the different characters that encompass our core attributes. As a reminder, our Pre-Prep Learner Profiles are:
EXPLORING EAGLE
We launched our ‘Exploring Eagle’ learner profile character today. Please have a look at the video to find out more about the Eagle:
If you would like more information on the ‘Characteristic of Effective Learning’ and how our Learner Profiles link to the Prep- and Senior sections of the School, we have put together a multilingual information sheet that explores each Learner Profile in detail. Please click on the below link to view:
If you'd like to explore the learner profiles further, here are some videos that our Pre-prep SMT have put together that brings each Profile to life:
Pre-nursery Fish
This week in Fish Class, we launched our next adventure 'We're Going to the Farm'. We had lots of fun learning all the different animal names and playing with the small world farm toys.
We have also focused on chickens. We came into School and found that our egg boxes in our kitchen had some real eggs in them! Our challenge was to see if we could use our fine motor skills to carefully peel off the shell which was 'egg'seedingly tricky!
Nursery Owls
"Who's trip trapping over my bridge?" In Owl class we have been retelling the story of ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. Students have been busy making troll masks, character puppets, and taking part in different roles in our very own production of the story. We talked about finding kinder ways for the biggest bother goat to resolve the conflict by asking the troll to talk about his feelings. To help the Troll feel better we decided to take him to a restaurant.
Year 1 Monkeys
In Monkeys we have been learning about the weather. We had a wonderful morning exploring all 4 seasons. The highlight of the day was getting to pretend it was snowing!
Swimming
Pre-Prep Nursery students had fun in our Splash pool this week. They are continuously working on water confidence and movement through fun activities and play.
Enrichment and Sport
POP-UP CARD CLUB
Students enjoyed making pop-up flower bouquets as part of this week's enrichment activity.
FIXTURES
Tomorrow we are hosting 5 visiting football teams here at RST:
- U9A/B, U11 A/B boys vs Lions, Planet and Pattaya Academy
- U12/13 girls vs Piing Academy and Lions FC.
RSTeam Spotlight
Get to know the people who make RST great by learning more about them and their roles.
This week's spotlight is on Arisa Wijit - Head of Service Support:
Useful Information & Links
TERM 3
Thursday, 23rd June: End of Term