Dear Prem Community,
I hope you are all doing well on this Saturday morning. You will see that we have a different format for our school news, and that the newsletter is now readily translatable into many languages. Thank you again to our Director of Admissions and Marketing, Tam Fawcett, for overseeing our new website and the newsletter design. Once again, we appreciate your feedback to tamf@ptis.ac.th
Our lead article this week is from our Thai Principal, Sukanya (Boo) Charpentier, who oversees all legal, administrative aspects of Prem and our Thai Language and Culture programme. We are proud of the intercultural learning that our students undertake, whether this is in regard to Thai, Mandarin or any of the other 30+ languages and different cultures that make up our community.
Global citizenship, intercultural learning and multilingualism are all very important aspects of our IB curriculum framework. Each of these concepts in turn enables students to gain a better understanding of different perspectives, something that is highlighted in the IB Mission Statement:
The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
(The IB) programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
On Thursday 21st September, our teachers will be engaged in professional development that serves our IB reaccreditation and so school will start at 10.00am for students. We are proud to be a full continuum IB World School that promotes international-mindedness and celebrates the diversity and general excellence of our student body!
I hope you enjoy reading the community news in its fresh format and wish you all a super weekend
With very best wishes,
Rachel Keys M.A. (Oxon), M.Ed.
Head of School
Hello, my name is Sukanya Charpentier. I am a Thai Principal and a Thai teacher in the senior school. I have over 20 years of teaching experience. I started working at Prem International School in 2006, and I am honored to be a part of Prem International School because I believe that the Thai language, Thai culture, and Thai history courses can best encourage students to become global citizens, in accordance with the school's vision and mission
At Prem International School, we offer Thai language and culture, and Thai history courses to students from Early year to Grade 12. Thai students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Thai culture through one lesson per week, while The Thai language and literature subject is taught through four classes per week.
At Prem International School, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. Our students engage in various learning experiences outside of class, including Thai cultural activities after school, community volunteer activities, organizing sports competitions with local schools, inviting knowledgeable community members as guest lecturers, and having the privilege of hosting artists with expertise in culture to conduct workshops at our school.
Prem International School also serves as a center for sharing knowledge and fostering understanding of language and culture among teachers in international schools. On July 23, a group of 200 teachers from international schools across the country attended a workshop at Prem International School to acquire knowledge and develop strategies for integrated teaching and learning that align with their respective school curricula.
Prem International School was accredited by the Office of the Private Education Commission: OPEC, and as a result, I was appointed as a representative from Prem International School. I had the honor of being one of the panelists to present teaching methods for Thai language, Thai culture, and Thai history to participants who were listening to the discussion from international schools across the country.
As the host country, we take pride in offering Thai cultural activities to our community. We would also like to express our gratitude to everyone who has participated in these cultural activities, which are an integral part of our organization's collaborative learning.
The next Thai cultural event is Loy Krathong, which takes place in November. The Thai Language Department is representing this activity, and we invite everyone to join the Loy Krathong event this academic year. We sincerely hope that everyone will have the opportunity to experience cultural activities throughout the remainder of this academic year
Khop Khun and Sawatdii kha
Sukanya Charpentier
Thai Principal
Navigating the PYP Programme for New Parents at Prem!
The recent Parent Induction Workshop to The Primary Years Programme was a resounding success, as many enthusiastic parents were eager to develop their understanding of the Primary Years Programme (PYP). As the PYP Coordinator, I understand that introducing the PYP can be a challenging task, especially for non-English speaking parents. However, it is a task I take on with enthusiasm each year, striving to refine the presentation to ensure parents not only comprehend the program but also feel engaged in their child's educational journey.
As an inclusive school weI believe in making our programmes accessible to all, regardless of language barriers. For parents unfamiliar with the PYP, its elements can seem complex and daunting. My goal is always to ensure parents are connected and can make some connections to the Programme. To do this I strive to incorporate as many interactive elements into my presentation. These engagements allow parents to actively participate in the learning process. This not only deepens their understanding but also fosters a sense of partnership in their child's education.
Engaging parents in envisioning their child's future at the age of 20, and asking them to record the vital skills and attitudes they believe are necessary for their child to become a thriving member of society, is a powerful way for the parents to make connections between the PYP Programme and its potential benefits for their child. It is amazing how often the attributes and skills parents highlight align closely with the Approaches to Learning, the attitudes, and the Learner Profile attributes. This exercise not only fosters a deeper understanding of the program but also reinforces the shared goal of developing compassionate, creative, knowledgeable and principled global citizens.
Rather than a one-way flow of information, I always implement activities that encourage questions, and opportunities for further learning and follow discussions. At the end of the workshop parents were asked to complete an exit ticket. This is an invaluable tool for me to gauge the development of their learning and the success of my presentation. Exit tickets offer a tangible way for parents to showcase their new understanding of the program and its benefits for their child. These reflections provide valuable insights into what resonated with them most..
Asking parents to pose questions or seek clarification as part of the exit ticket process fosters a two-way exchange, showcasing not only their grasp of the programme but also empowers them to be active partners in their child's educational journey. This feedback ensures my workshops remain relevant, informative, and impactful.
The success of parent workshops highlights the value of effective communication and collaboration between parents and educators. By tailoring our approach to support all our school community, I ensure that every parent, regardless of their background, has the confidence to support their child's journey through the PYP. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, more promising future for our students.
Kind regards
Mary ann Van de Weerd
PYP Coordinator/JS Deputy Principal
Emotional Canvas: Teak Leaves and Art
Grade 2 students at Forest School are immersing themselves in the "Who We Are" Unit of Inquiry by exploring emotions in the natural world. They've chosen emotions, captured them through our polaroid in the forest, and are now translating these sentiments onto teak leaves using watercolors. What's intriguing is that each leaf features two emotions, showcasing the shared experience of feelings. Additionally, students are connecting emotions with weather or natural phenomena, deepening their understanding of the environment's impact on emotions. This harmonious blend of art, emotion, and nature illustrates the profound learning experiences Forest School offers. Stay tuned for more updates on this journey.
Tonatiuh Peña Arriaga
Forest School Program
🌟 Another epic weekend in Prem Boarding! We kicked off the weekend with a Korean dinner on Friday night. Saturday was a blast with the boarders having a ball and playing basketball with their day student friends🏀. We also got creative with some nature drawing and enjoyed a refreshing swim. But the real highlight was Saturday night's Bingo showdown - it was so much fun that everyone's already begging for a rematch soon! Sunday morning was all retail therapy and ice skating then we all settled down for a movie. And, of course, we couldn't end the weekend without a scrumptious BBQ. What a fantastic time we had here at Prem! 🎉
Boarding Staff
Bangkok International Band Festival
Last week, 11 students from the Woodwind/Brass/Percussion sections of our Prem Symphonic Band were invited, along with 11 other schools from the region, to take part in the Bangkok International Band Festival held at International School Bangkok. The +- 200 students first took part in sectional and dress rehearsals, and then ended the Festival with a Gala concert of the utmost quality.
From our very first day back to school, the students involved in the festival demonstrated true commitment, resilience, and collaboration. Practising 4 extremely demanding pieces in less than 2 weeks was not an easy feat, but they certainly rose to the challenge.
Under the guidance of our guest conductor, Dr Heidi Johanna Miller (Conductor of the Wind Symphony, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music @ Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota, USA), the students transformed the pieces to a level of professionalism rarely reached before.
But do not take my word for it, you can watch the entire concert here - https://vimeo.com/event/3681819
Moreover, here are some students’ quotes that summarise the essence of their personal experience:
This was my first band festival and it was one of the most memorable events of my life! I had a really great time getting to know people and spending time with my bandmates, as well as working together to get the pieces to be the best they could. The sound of so many passionate young musicians playing in the same place really blew me away, and it was such an incredible experience to be part of it.
Harmony, G8
I can't say I didn't enjoy a moment of my experience participating in the festival. I absolutely loved being able to perform and connect with people that had similar interests to me, and to have the opportunity to focus solely on music for two days. I have learned so much, both socially and musically, and I can't wait until I get to do it again in a year's time.
Andreas, G11
Finally, I would like to thank all the students for making this festival a truly transformative and enriching experience. I would also like to thank Ajarn. Susie (JS music TA) for accepting to be our chaperone and supporting everyone throughout the trip.
Please note that we are currently planning to organise a fundraising concert @ Prem to showcase all the pieces from the Bangkok & Chiang Mai festivals (yes, the PSB is doing it all over again this week, with 8 other pieces they prepared for the 9th CM Band Festival held at NIS this Saturday 16th September).
Keep an ear open as we will announce the date very soon…
Musically yours,
Laurent Chiarelli
Arts Curriculum Leader
Head of Music department
MYP/DP Music teacher
BICT Fest's latest Engagements at Prem
Another week of engagements with the Bangkok International Children's Theatre Festival (BICT Fest) another ARThailand residency that has brought a fresh perspective to our learning environment.
BICT Fest continued their journey at Prem by focusing on engagement with our Grade 1 students. Inquisitive conversations and careful observations allowed them to tap into the thoughts and perspectives of these young minds. The topics of school and learning came alive through these discussions, creating a unique exchange of ideas, that is directly informing the creative process taking place.
Moving up the grade levels, work continued with sessions with our Grade 9 Connections students. These workshops have merged the power of memories with the art of movement, exploring the memories associated with coming to school. These individual movements are not standalone; they will serve as the inspiration for a collaborative artwork that will take form next week. It's a beautiful transformation of personal memories into a shared artistic endeavor.
BICT Fest's expertise has also connected to Grade 6 students in our (EAL) program. Here, the focus has been on theatrical language development. Through a series of engaging exercises and activities, students have been refining their language and communication skills. The theatrical approach provides an innovative platform for language development, fostering confidence and expressiveness in English.
In the coming days, the ensemble will continue to nurture and refine the creative projects they've initiated with our students and connect them directly to the work they are producing. As their collaborative efforts evolve, we eagerly await the unveiling of their unique creations next week. We look forward to sharing the fruits of this collaboration with our wider community and celebrating the imaginative journeys that have been explored directly through Prem’s ARThailand programme.
Alex Soulsby
Creative Director
LATE SCHOOL START 21 SEPTEMBER
Late school starts on Thursday, September 21st at 10 a.m. to support teacher professional development related to accreditation.
Students will begin classes at 10:15 a.m. The school gate will not open until 9:45 a.m., and teachers will be on hand to supervise. There will be no teacher supervision beforehand.
The school buses will pick up students in exactly the same way, but two hours later than the usual time.
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP
This is just a quick note to let you know that the Second Hand Uniform Shop will be open every Tuesday and Thursday after school, with more days being added shortly. We look forward to seeing you there for all of your uniform needs,
The Prem Team
DRIVING TO CAMPUS AND DRIVING ON CAMPUS
Dear Prem Parents and Guardians,
It has been great to see so many of you on campus and with student numbers rising it does mean we see a little more traffic just before school starts and just after school. However, the Prem security team does a great job of keeping the traffic flowing and also making sure our students are safe by monitoring who is on the Prem campus at all times. I would ask for your kind cooperation in regards to driving to and on the Prem Campus:
Finally, thanks to all those parents/guardians who have signed the 'Prem Parent Code of Conduct'. If you haven't done so already, please fill in the form that can be found via the QR code below and read the 'Prem Parent Code of Conduct'.
These are very important health and safety issues at Prem, therefore please read this email carefully and we appreciate your cooperation in these areas.
Thanks,
Lee Stevens
Assistant Head of School
FIRST PSC MONTHLY MEET UP
We are pleased to share the slides from our first PSC Monthly "Meet Up" 2023/24. HERE Thank you to all who could attend. Although, we hadn't set a Theme, we looked at "Getting to Know" and heard from Senior Leadership, Prem Panthers and provided updates from the PSC. We thank all our speakers and a special thanks to Ajarn Linda, Boarding Director, for hosting our meeting.
There are many PSC lead and assisted activities, workshops and events coming up this month; we invite you all to support as many as you can. If you have time to lend or are interested in hearing more about how the PSC supports, please email PSCsecretary@ptis.ac.th or reach out to your Grade or Cultural Ambassadors. Alternatively, visit the PSC Page in the Community Hand Book.
PSC Monthly "Meet Up" 5 September 2023
Leigh-Jane Obermayer
PSC Chair/Coordinator
+66 (0)93 666 8932
pscchairperson@ptis.ac.th
Parent School Community (PSC)
Juné Tiamatakorn - Prem Alumna, Class of 2019
Hi! My name is Juné Tiamatakorn and I graduated from Prem in 2019 and from the University of York in 2022 with a Theatre degree! I studied at Prem since 2011 so I have grown quite attached to the campus, people, and memories there – I still miss the beautiful greenery on campus and the tight-knit community which is quite rare for an educational institution. My time at Prem has immensely shaped who I am today; I left the school as a very determined, curious, and steadfast 18-year-old girl. All the teachings from school have readied me for university and prepared me for the chaos of writing essays and finally, the dissertation. Funnily enough, I was planning to study either Law or International Relations (I know, it is VERY different from Theatre!) before I applied for university.
It was actually a last minute change for me because when I was cast in Prem’s senior school drama production of ‘Lord of the Flies’ (we called the production ‘Devolution’ instead) as ‘Ralph’ in 2019, something switched in me. I realised that I really loved performing and acting – the thrill of being on stage in front of the audience, the creative experience while rehearsing with my peers, and most importantly, the fun and joy it brought me. I realised that I have always loved performing! I have been a part of every senior school drama production since I was at Prem, whether in ‘Troy’, ‘Arabian Nights’, ‘The Twits’, or performing traditional Thai and ‘Khon’ dances during international day at school. It was something that defined who I am and truly gave me happiness – so I quickly changed my path and decided to study Theatre at York. I am so glad I made that change and have not regretted my decision at all!
During university, I participated in a range of performances such as the character ‘Violet’ for the York Student Television’s interactive drama ‘Please sir, there’s been a murder’ in 2019, ‘Master Triedwell’ for the York International Shakespeare Festival in 2020, and ‘Jess’ for York Drama Society’s show ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Scary Movies’. I was mostly just trying to balance university work with my creative acting hobbies on the side, but studying Theatre definitely supported my hobbies since it incorporates a lot of acting in the course itself – I performed as ‘Madame Pernelle’ for my final year’s production of ‘Tartuffe’ which was such a lovely experience!
Right after finishing university, I was very fortunate to know a producer from a previous photoshoot. He asked me if I wanted to try to audition for the role of ‘Ruth’ in the feature film ‘How to Kill Monsters’. I was extremely excited for this audition since it was professional work – before that, I had mostly been a volunteer actor. I remember sending him the audition tapes and then thinking it was unlikely I would hear back from him because they probably receive so many auditions from so many talented actors out there; and I was just a 21-year-old girl who just finished university. However, to say I was thrilled is an understatement when I got a call from him to ask if I wanted to accept the role – I was ecstatic! The filming unfortunately clashed with the day of my university graduation so I could not participate in the ceremony, but it was so worth it to gain professional experience acting in film! I also met so many amazing, wonderful, and talented people who are like family to me now!
The film premiered on August 25th 2023 at the Cineworld Leicester Square London during the FrightFest festival and will be going to many festivals around the United Kingdom and United States (such as Dead Northern, Dead and Sudburied, Dead of the Night, Spooky Empire, and FilmQuest). Currently, we are only doing special screenings at festivals but a physical blu-ray and digital release should be released around the end of 2023. Hopefully there will be more cinema screenings in the future!
I feel so honoured and humbled by this experience because I have been working with so many talented industry professionals and individuals such as Stewart Sparke (our awesome director), Lyndsey Craine (Zomblogalypse, Book of Monsters, Eating Miss Campbell), Arron Dennis (Zomblogalypse, Book of Monsters), Fenfen Huang (Operation Red Sea, Now You See Me 2), Daniel S. Thrace (Book of Monsters, Three Day Millionaire, Fortunes of War), and so many more people. The film has also got amazing articles written by Bloody Disgusting, Dread Central, Horror Cult Films, and so many distinguished media.
I am currently an actor whilst working part-time, but I am mostly just trying to find myself by adventuring and exploring – seeing where life leads me to and figuring out who I want to be. I think that life is too short to not just let yourself... ‘live’ and take each day at a time. I learned that I do not need to have everything figured out already. We only live once, and might as well do what makes you happy on the way because at the end of the day, your happiness is the most important. I do not have any upcoming projects because I am currently focusing on my part-time job to support myself to go to as many of the film’s screenings as possible! I am hoping that one of the auditions may turn up into a (hopefully) second professional film I will be starring in! If you would like to follow my journey and support the movie, a lot of the information will be on the IMDB page of ‘How to Kill Monsters’ and their social media such as Facebook and Instagram under the same name. A teaser trailer has also been released on Youtube under the account ‘Dark Rift Horror’ if you would like to have a bit of a sneak peek! Please also keep in mind that the movie is rated 18+ and it is a horror comedy genre – think of Evil Dead II meets Hot Fuzz with a bit of Shaun of the Dead on the side!
If you ever have any questions you want to ask me whether it is about my school, university, acting, and other experience, please don’t hesitate to send me a message at all – I want to help as much as I can and I want to support you on your journey as well! I should be fairly easy to find online from searching my name!
Juné Tiamatakorn
Prem Alumna, Class of 2019
Strengthening Thai Communities:
A Collaborative Effort between Sangob Foundation and the Traidhos Visiting Schools Program (VSP)
For nearly a decade, Sangob Foundation (มูลนิธิสงบ) has been instrumental in transforming the lives of individuals and communities across Thailand through an array of outreach initiatives. The Traidhos Visiting Schools Program (VSP), one of Traidhos experiential education programs in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, has been a pivotal force behind these endeavours by incorporating Sangob Foundation's fundraising activities into VSP itineraries. VSP students and educators from all around the world actively contribute to Thai local communities and engage with different cultures, thereby becoming agents of positive change. They gain firsthand experiences of the challenges faced by marginalised communities in Thailand. This immersive engagement fosters empathy, cultural understanding, and a deep sense of social responsibility among the VSP community. It instils in them the importance of making a difference and empowers them to take action, not just during their time in Thailand but also in their future endeavours.
With a focus on addressing critical healthcare needs and responding to the challenges posed by an ageing population in Thailand, Sangob Foundation has recently embarked on an outreach project in partnership with Public Health Promotion (PHP) hospitals. The foundation generously donated specialised diapers tailored to patients’ specific requirements as well as tripod canes to PHP hospitals. This invaluable donation, made possible through the unwavering support of VSP, has bestowed comfort and dignity upon numerous individuals, ensuring they receive the compassionate care they deserve.
As VSP continues to engage with the Sangob Foundation's fundraising activities, VSP students and educators play a vital role in creating a brighter future for the people of Thailand. Together, we are building a more compassionate and inclusive society, where individuals from all walks of life can thrive and realise their full potential.
Learn how to plan your school trip with VSP and be part of the positive change, click here
To view the VSP video, click here
To learn more about Sangob Foundation, click here
Parent and Student Workshop
PSC event - Low Rope
SKI TRIP NAGANO JAPAN
PREM TENNIS ACADEMY
PREM SWIM ACADEMY
Self & Family Wellbeing Group
PREM MERCHANDISE
PANTHER MERCHANDISE