Term 1 - 26 August
Whole School News
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's visit
We are delighted and honoured to be welcoming Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to our School on Friday 16 th September to officially open our Senior teaching block. The Princess has also kindly named the building Siddhi Meta (a place of wisdom and success). The Princess will be with us for about an hour (14.00-15.00hrs) and will visit various classrooms, learn about our educational philosophy and see demonstration lessons taking place.
We are able to accommodate up to 300 parents at this special event and if you would like to attend, please complete the Google Form by 31st August . As this event will be extremely popular, we have had to restrict tickets to two adult tickets per family and they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so please do complete the form as soon as possible if you want to be with us for this very special and historic occasion.
Welcome Back
Welcome back to all our students! It's wonderful to have you back on campus and we wish you success for the next academic year.
Let's Stop Calling it 'Screen Time'
Join us on Monday for the first in our new Digital Learning program of parent workshops.
"Let's Stop Calling it 'Screen Time'" aims to offer parents some new perspectives on how we see devices, offer practical techniques to help better manage their child's use of devices and demystify where some of the latest thinking is coming from.
We are also offering a chance to help turn these ideas into practice by inviting you to bring your child's home devices into School, where our IT Support team will assist in making them as family safe as possible.
Monday, 29th August:
08:15 - 08:45 - Let's Stop Calling it 'Screen Time', Veraphan Theater
08:45 - 09:45 - Family Device Setup, Veraphan Theater
Tuesday, 30th August:
08:00 - 09:00 - Family Device Setup Drop-In, Scrummy's
Wednesday, 31st August:
08:00 - 09:00 - Family Device Setup Drop-In, Scrummy's
We hope to see you there!
Childline Donation
During our 'Home Clothes Day' last year, we asked students who took part, for a voluntary donation in support of 'Childline'.
This week, RST presented Childline with a cheque of 67k THB. Thank you to all of you who helped raise money for this incredible NGO that gives assistance to children in need.
Senior News
Announcements and Reminders
SENIOR SCHOOL PLAY
Auditions are open for our next production, Pride and Prejudice. We are excited to be bringing one of Jane Austen's classic novels to the Black Box theatre at the end of Term 1. All Senior students are encouraged to take part, developing their creativity, confidence, communication and teamwork skills. This can also count towards DofE skills and service.
For audition information, students should use this Google Classroom code: uzpqan6
CONGRATULATIONS TO REW
Rew (Year 13) spent her summer break working with editors of a newspaper called 'Manager Daily' to publish an economics news analysis article entitled 'How to survive a recession'. Rew used knowledge gained at School and her own research to draft and re-draft her article. Rew discusses how recessions have impacted speculation in the market and offers suggestions on how to approach an economic recession and avoid scams.
We are delighted for Rew who is demonstrating academic curiosity and being proactive with her learning. Here is a link to her article - https://mgronline.com/daily/detail/9650000074726
REMINDERS
- Students can enter School through the Webb-Ellis Car Park from 7:30 - 8 am.
- Your child's timetable can be viewed through Parent Portal.
SATURDAY SPORTS
Dates for your Diary
13th September
'Brain Day' workshop with Dr Guy Sutton for A Level Psychology & Biology students
19th – 22nd September
RST Make a Difference expedition to Operation Smile field centre, Mae Hong Song
23rd – 25th September
D Block Geography fieldwork in Rayong
26th – 30th September
F Block residential to Khao Yai
4th & 5th October
Inter-House table tennis finals
12th October
House Music
Assembly
The first day of Senior School started with an assembly. The theme of the assembly, led by Mr Groves, was about using this year to make a difference to oneself through focusing on small repeatable habits that sum up to a big change over the course of the School year.
In the Assembly, Albert and Pun, The Head Boy and Girl, introduced the Levee who all gave 'Top Tips' to the School about making the most of their Rugby education. Bunn (E Block) and Jane (E Block) played two wonderful piano pieces: Nocturn Op 9 no 2 by Chopin and Mariage d'Amour. Bunn and Jane spoke about how their excellent performance was the result of 4 years of practice and how important self-discipline and commitment are to improve.
It's a Knockout! and inter-House tug of war
The afternoon of the first day of the new School year was given over to the Senior School's annual 'It's a Knockout' event, during which teams of students complete a series of fun games.
The afternoon provided ample opportunity for students to integrate across all Houses and year groups and engage in the all-important team building that forms the foundation of a great School experience. The event was followed by the first inter-House event of the year, the tug of war. Rupert Brooke and Sheriff won the girls and boys competitions respectively, with Rupert Brooke then beating a team of teachers too! Well done to all involved: a fantastic start to the new School year.
Team Building at the Outdoor Education Centre (OEC)
We not only promote a great level of teambuilding and communication skills for our students, we also encourage it from our Teachers too! Here are E & F block (Year 9 and 10) Senior teachers doing just that as they attempt to build a medieval watch tower from nothing more than wood, rope, and stacks of enthusiasm.
They were followed by the students themselves, with F Block completing the challenge on Thursday and E Block on Friday. Everyone enjoyed working together in our glorious surroundings, forming the bonds that will last throughout students' whole Senior careers.
Learning
DRAMA
D Block IGCSE Drama students got straight back to work in their first lesson of the year. They chose a variety of objects to represent a character they are performing for their coursework and then presented their choices to the rest of the class. This is a great way of developing characterisation. Can you guess the characters from the objects they chose?
F Block students were inducted in the PAC during their first Drama lessons this week. They visited the Black Box, Dance Studio and Recording Studio, as well as the different classrooms they will be using. Here they are exploring our state-of-the-art catwalk lighting rig.
Prep News
Announcements & Reminders
SPEECH DAY
Please find the photos and video of the Prep School Speech Day from the end of last year.
SAILING
During the summer holidays, Phupha (Year 6) went to Korea to take part in the "2022 ASAF Cup Boryeong International Sailing Championship" and placed 4th in the U12 group and 10th the overall group.
What an incredible achievement, well done Phupha!
ACTIVITIES
Thank you so much for your patience with the activity programme this week. This has been the first year we have started activities on day 1 and this has been very successful. There is an opportunity for students to change in the first 2 weeks, after which they will close.
Please note that lots of activities are now full and some changes may not be possible. Apologies if your child has missed their 1st choice, as some activities have limited numbers. These will continue to run over the course of the year so please do sign up again next term.
REMINDERS
- All of the student timetables are now available on our Parent Portal. Not only can you access the timetables, but you can also see who is teaching your child, and any Tries they might have received;
- If a student has a PE/Games lesson before break, they are allowed to come into School in their PE kit. Please remember to pack their uniform, so they can change afterwards;
- School finishes at 15:30 on Fridays.
SATURDAY ENRICHMENT
This Saturday, we are running trials for football and basketball for students in Years 5-8.
08:30-10:00 Boys Football & Girls Basketball
10:25-11:45 Girls Football & Boys Basketball
Please meet in the CGA.
Students can be picked up at the Admin Building at the end of the session. Please note that teams will not be solely selected from this trial but also from performance in PE lessons at School. If a student cannot make the trial on Saturday, they can still be selected for the teams.
Dates for your Diary
1st September @08:15
Mr Nicolaou will be holding an EAL presentation and coffee morning. You will receive your invitation over the weekend.
5th September @5pm
We would like to invite all parents into School at 5pm to meet with their child’s new form tutor. These meetings will take place in your child’s form room. They will finish in time for you to collect your child as usual at 5:40pm.
Year 8 Leadership
All of our Year 8 students experienced an introduction to the Ambassador's Leadership Award on Thursday. Our Senior School Head Girl and Boy, Pun and Albert, gave an inspiring and well-delivered speech to start off the day. They also had a whole day of leadership opportunities with a variety of team-building games as well as individual growth opportunities.
The day was designed to prepare our Year 8 students for their community roles in School and for their House Captain applications, which are now open with a deadline of Monday at 08:10. It was a fantastic day led by Mr Driver (Assistant Head Enrichment) and our House Leaders: Mr Gore (Webb Ellis), Mrs Douglas (Beauclerc), Ms Barnes (Head of Arnold) and Mr Ortiz (Head of Hardy).
Pre-Prep News
Reminders
AFTER SCHOOL PLAY
From Monday, when our Activity Programme starts, the playgrounds are in use for activities until 4:45pm. Parents and children are therefore not able to play here at this time. Parents who wish to use the KS1 (big) playground after School may do so from 4:45pm to 5:30pm.
Please note that unfortunately the Nursery playground and the bikes are not open for parents to use after School.
At 5:30pm we ask that parents leave the School so that cleaning and tidying up for the next day may commence. Please do not bring food or snacks to School for sharing, as many children have allergies. Food left in the playgrounds brings unwanted ants! If you are using the playground during the designated times, please supervise your children carefully.
SMART WATCHES and JEWELLERY
Please do not send children in with smartwatches or jewellery in Pre-Prep. Analogue watches are allowed for children in Year 2.
YEAR 2 RECORDERS
Year 2 don't forget your recorders for Music classes!
COLLECTION
YEAR 1 and 2 please drop your children at the School gate in the mornings and let them make their own way to the classrooms. Pick up remains from the classrooms.
Dates for your Diary
CURRICULUM MEETINGS & MEET THE TEACHER
30th August - Year 2
8:30am-9:00am in the classroom (the children will be looked after by SMT)
31st August - Year 1
8:30am-9:00am in the classroom (the children will be looked after by SMT)
1st September - Reception
8:30am-9:00am in the classroom (the children will be looked after by SMT)
Learner Profile Characters
When visiting the Pre-Prep this year, you may notice our amazing ‘Learner Profile Characters’ scattered around the building. These characters are used to help the children in Pre-Prep learn and understand the characteristics and values we expect of them.
Each week a different character is linked to our learning and celebrated in our achievement assemblies. Staff will recognise the everyday achievements of the children in Pre-Prep with stickers that show which character, and therefore which characteristic or value, they have shown.
Further information about the Pre-Prep Learner Profile will be shared in our Parent Curriculum Meetings in the coming weeks.
New Childrens' Orientation Day
We welcomed around 80 new students and their families on Tuesday this week. It was a great way to help the children familiarise themselves with the School, their teachers and their classrooms. It was also nice to be able to meet the families and give them a little taste of life in Pre-Prep!
First Day of School
There is always a mixture of extreme excitement and nervousness on the first day – from both the teachers, the children and the parents! There were tears and smiles, but the highlight for me was the big cheer when we opened the gate at 8:00am on the first day.
It was so lovely to welcome everyone back to School, both current and new families on Wednesday. The youngest children will take some time to settle in as they separate for the first time from their parents and tears and tantrums are part of that process. The teachers are experienced in dealing with this and will love and care for all the children supporting them as they adapt to their new School/class/teachers. Everyone is beginning a new chapter in their educational journey; it was a great start, and day one was super.
Thank you to everyone for making it a special day all round.
Nursery Parrots
We are so proud of our returning and new students in Nursery class. They have made a great start to the School year and are busy learning their new routines.
Year 1 Turtles
Turtles have had a fantastic start to the year; Miss Naomi and Mr Ta are very impressed with their independence!
We have had lots of fun getting to know our friends and our new classroom, we made some awesome turtles to hang in our classroom window, we learnt the song ‘Tim the Tiny Turtle’, we named our class mascot Arby the turtle, we talked about our holidays and we went to the dining hall for lunch.
Year 2 Hedgehogs
Year 2 Hedgehogs have settled in very well this week - they read stories, learnt facts and painted our class animal: The Hedgehog.
We also played Kahoot! to learn all about Miss Wendy. New friends were made and lots of fun was had by all.
Spanish
In Spanish, Year 1 children have been practising greetings - they can remember quite a lot from Reception. Impresionante!
Year 2s have been playing games to review the basics, and they have been amazing ‘Caring Koalas’, helping their friends who are new to Spanish.
Useful Links
Enrichment and Sport
Baking Club
Baking Club is underway again this term. On Thursday, Years 7 & 8 independently followed a cookie recipe to bake some delicious chocolate chip cookies. They worked collaboratively in groups of three, and also had to clean the kitchen spotlessly afterwards. They did a great job.
Ceramics
Year 3 & 4 students have started their Ceramics CCA by using basic techniques to create a simple cat face. They were proficient in working with clay and Ms Barnes and Mrs Valli-Kahumbu were really impressed with what they created by the end of the session!
Boarding Life
We've got lots of new and old faces in Marshall House this term, so to help everyone get to know each other we've played plenty of team-building games!
Our Senior boarders have been getting to know each other this week by taking part in a range of exciting team-building activities. On Wednesday night, Rupert Brooke girls and School House boys worked together to answer questions in a scavenger hunt which took them all around our extensive School grounds.
Here are some photos that the students took as part of one of the challenges:
School House Prefect Teams
School House boys are split into smaller teams and regularly compete in fun challenges. Led by 6th Form students, it's a great way to form friendships with peers of different ages. Each team has a colour and was challenged to take a creative team photo. Here are the entries:
Boarders celebrate their IGCSE Results
Senior boarders celebrated their exam results with dinner with their Houseparents at Wisdom Valley on Thursday night. The boarders worked so hard last year, and their revision paid off! We are very proud of the fantastic grades they achieved.
School House Teambuilding
Developing teamwork has been a real focus in School House during our first week back together. Returning boarders have enjoyed welcoming our new boarders into the fold. Here, the boys worked as a team to make signs for their rooms. We're looking forward to getting them up on their doors soon.
