At Prem we believe that each and every one of our students is a unique person with unique interests, capabilities and dispositions. It is for this reason that our school is invested in personalising learning for your children. While we value curricular learning standards, at the same time, we realise that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to education is less than optimal. Therefore, by infusing personalised approaches to student learning, it is our hope to inspire and motivate our students. By customising learning for your children, and by ensuring that every one of our students is uniquely seen and catered for, we aspire to create a learning community in which all of our students feel a sense of purpose, belonging and connection. It is important to us that our students feel valued and supported, and moreover, find learning to be appropriately challenging, regardless of their current capabilities.

All schools that offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) are required to engage in developing an IB Programme Development Plan. These development plans require schools to engage in strategic planning and action research in order to develop one aspect of the school’s learning program. Prem has chosen personalised learning to be the area of focus for our IB Programme Development Plan. As such, we are engaging in actionable steps across our whole school in order to facilitate our aptitude with respect to personalising learning for our students. 

I would like to provide here a couple of examples of how we are taking actionable steps in the Junior School to further our capacities to personalise learning for your children. Firstly, we have asked all of our Junior School teachers to engage in some professional learning. To this end, our Junior School teachers have set a professional goal for this year related to enhancing personalised learning approaches. We have asked our teachers to choose a professional goal focusing on one of the following 8 areas that support a personalised learning approach. All Junior School teachers have set a professional goal to explore educational literature and implement action research within their classrooms related to one of these key areas: 

• Differentiated instruction
• Feedback
• Student agency (voice, choice and ownership in the learning process)
• Developing Growth Mindset
• Supporting students’ Goal Setting 
• Supporting students’ to engage in personal inquiries and take action
• Creativity
• Assessment for learning

A second example of our efforts to improve personalised learning for students is coming through our 3-Way Goal Setting Conferences. These conferences will happen next Wednesday for Grade 1 to 5 students. The format of these conferences require our students, parents and teachers to work together to help the student set goals. These goals are designed to support students to develop both their academic learning and their social-emotional competencies. These goals are personalised to motivate and challenge each student in a unique way that will allow them to take the next steps that are most appropriate for them. Our students, parents and teachers will work in partnership to support our students to meet these personalised goals. In this way we hope to optimise each student’s potential.  

Should parents have any questions about our school's commitment to fostering personalised learning, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our educators or school leaders. It is important that you understand why we approach your child's education in the way that we do. Afterall, as our Prem Mission states, we are a community inspired by meaningful relationships, continuous learning and good thinking. If we can help to personalise your understanding, please reach out to us.

Justin Jarman

Junior School Principal

EXCITING NEW LIBRARY BOOK ARRIVALS!

Exciting New Library Book Arrivals! We are thrilled to share some exciting news from our school's library. Over the past few weeks, we have received a fantastic selection of new books that are sure to ignite the love of reading in our students. With these new arrivals, we aim to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong passion for learning. As the junior school Literacy Coordinator, I regularly collaborate with our dedicated team of library staff to carefully select a diverse range of books to cater to the interests and reading levels of all our students. From captivating picture books for our younger readers to thought-provoking novels for older students, there is something for everyone. This year we have added about a thousand new books that support students’ social emotional well-being, units of inquiry, the learner profile attributes, guided and levelled reading. We believe that reading should be an integral part of the learning process, and these books will help reinforce classroom concepts in an engaging way. Every year, new orders will be added to our existing collection to ensure that our young readers have rich resources that support learning and enrich their imagination. We look forward to seeing our students and parents explore the new additions to our library. Together, we can inspire a new generation of lifelong learners. Happy reading!

Mayada Bayomi 

Literacy Coordinator and EAL Teacher

Wednesday Mornings: Where Magic Unfolds

I think we all have one day that we look forward to during the working week. For me, it has to be 9:10 on a Wednesday morning when I read to EY2. I know some people might think it is a 'busman's holiday', going from being with one group of students to spending time with another group, but it really is quite a different experience. When students arrive at the library, they are trying to carry book bags, take off their shoes and speak to you all at the same time.

They really love being in the library and spend a couple of minutes picking up books and showing them to their friends, and then they settle into our reading time. After reading two books, where they interact and help the story along, students pick five books to take home. Often a child will ask me to read to them alone at this time.

I leave the library smiling and refreshed, ready for the day and feel grateful that this opportunity is available to me. 

Linda Buck

Director of Boarding

EMPOWERING AND SUPPORTING ACTION TOGETHER 

An important part of the IB curriculum is focused on Student Action. Action is student-initiated and provoked by a concept that students have engaged with or researched during their Units Of Inquiry. Through action, students develop a deeper understanding of issues and seek ways of bringing positive change either individually or collaboratively. Recently, Grade 4V took part in some student action in the form of Advocacy. 

The Grade 4V students have been working on Well Being in their Unit of Inquiry this term. As part of the ‘Artist in Residence’ programme here at Prem they had the opportunity to work with Timothy Nouzac, an Austrian-American choreographer, performer and maker who explores communal movement practices. In the first session they thought about words that came to mind when they visualised a space that made them happy or was important to them. Then, students went on a walk through the campus and visited three different areas: the Junior School playground, the Junior School undercroft and the Fire Pit space. At each place they represented the things they felt, heard and saw using colour and images. 

Back in the classroom they made connections between these spaces and the concept of well being and started to investigate how these spaces could have a positive impact on their well being. The students felt that this was important information that could be shared with other students in the Junior School. They created slideshows which explained how each area could support the well being of students at Prem. 

Grade 4 students then visited the Junior School council to share their presentations and seek support on how best to advocate for these learning spaces around the school. The Junior School council listened to each performance, gave feedback and then added the presentations to the agenda for the next Junior school Assembly. Grade 4 are excited to present their knowledge and share their understanding with the rest of the Junior School.

Together, the Grade 4 students and the Junior School Council demonstrated the impact of collaboration and working together to take action that could lead to change with the rest of the Junior School community. This experience not only helps us grow an atmosphere of collaboration at school but also supports all our students towards taking meaningful action and advocacy.

Vicki Jagger Grade 4

Student-Led Collaboration

INTERVIEWING TEACHERS ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES

In G9 English Acquisition, we have been inquiring into the concept of families as well as learning about interviews and articles as text type. We also learned about different types of questions, closed questions and open-ended questions so that they can ask the right types of questions during the interview process. Students had an authentic learning experience where they interviewed the teachers and wrote articles about their families. Here is an example of an interview article about Ajarn Jennifer written by Xiaoxiao and Richard. Interview article link 

Tammy Gaysek

SS English Acquisition and EAL Teacher 

Weekend in Boarding

Our exciting weekend activities for our boarding students began on Friday evening with a flavorful journey to an authentic Indian restaurant. The atmosphere was filled with camaraderie as our boarders came together to savour delectable Indian cuisine. Meanwhile, those who chose to stay on campus gathered in the boarding lounge for a thrilling Kahoot Quiz Night, cleverly named "Guess Who and Where at Prem?"

Saturday's outing was a special treat for our junior boarders, who embarked on a cosmic adventure to Astro Park. Armed with powerful telescopes, they had a mesmerising experience observing distant galaxies, gaining a deeper understanding of the marvels within our solar system.

Sunday morning saw avid golf enthusiasts teeing off with Ajarn Sid, indulging in their passion for the sport. In the evening, we ventured to Chiang Mai University Market, offering our students a fantastic opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich local Thai university culture and enjoy the vibrant street food offerings.

Boarding Staff

Food Bank & Local Communities

Food Bank & Local Communities went on a donation trip to Wat Mae Aen where we had the honour of sharing donated books from the Prem community to over 30 families. Our team also organised fun games for the young students: from octopus tag to monkey in the middle! We loved seeing the smiles on their faces!

Coco and Pinn

Food Bank & Local Communities Core Executive team

A new school year, a new Eco-Committee!

With the 2023-24 academic year starting, the Eco-Committee has come together with old and new members to start some exciting projects! Over the 2 years that the Eco-Committee has been together, we have made a great deal of achievements like the highest accreditation for Eco-Schools, the Green Flag. The Green Flag is an internationally recognized award for excellence in environmental action and learning, we achieved this award in just nine months! Looking forward, the Eco-Committee will offer many cool and exciting projects this year! We already have so many ideas of improvements we could make around the campus and we can’t wait to share them all with you!

If you want to start helping the school become more sustainable, donate your extra bottle caps and plastic bags to the Precious Plastics Exploria! More information will follow about the location of collection bins. Keep up with all of our projects on Instagram and Twitter (X)

As a parent, if you wish to get involved please email Ajarn Emma at emmash@ptis.ac.th

Oojee (G8)

Eco-Committee Journalist

Wilderness Advanced First Aid Responders

We're excited to share that our team (Forest School and VSP staff) recently embarked on a 4-day journey to enhance their skills and knowledge in Wilderness Advanced First Aid. With 40 intensive hours of training, our staff members delved into critical topics such as identifying toxins, managing bites, ensuring safety in the wild, and so much more. This comprehensive training equips our team with the expertise needed to handle any unforeseen situation while exploring the great outdoors. Whether it's a minor scrape, an encounter with local wildlife, or addressing medical emergencies, our Forest School staff is now better prepared than ever to ensure the well-being and safety of our students during their immersive forest experiences. This knowledge extends beyond Forest School activities, benefiting our International Award Expeditions and Boarding experiences, ensuring safety and enriching the learning journey at every turn.

Tonatiuh Peña Arriaga

Forest School and Outdoor Learning Coordinator

Calling All Writers: Join Semester I of The Pulse Magazine!

🌟 Open to All: Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni 🌟

Are you passionate about sharing the incredible stories happening at Prem? Here's your chance to shine in the Semester I edition of The Pulse Magazine.

📝 Submit Your 300-Word Magazine Article and Pictures Deadline: 8th December, 2023

Magazine Release: 31st January, 2024

Choose from a variety of exciting article categories:

1. Panthers in Action: Highlight the remarkable initiatives, achievements, and talents of our vibrant community.
2. Premier Events: Dive into the unforgettable events and gatherings that make Prem a dynamic place.
3. Prodigious Panthers: Showcase the exceptional individuals making their mark at Prem.
4. Prestigious Alumni: Celebrate the achievements and journeys of our accomplished alumni.
5. Prem CAS Projects 2024: Explore the inspiring community service projects of our Class of 2024.

Join us in capturing the essence of Prem's excellence and sharing it with the world. Don't miss this chance to contribute to The Pulse Magazine - where your stories come to life!

Let's make Semester I unforgettable together!  Submit Your Articles and Pictures Here: Click to Submit

The Marketing Team

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE FALL NETWORKING EVENT

Get ready for an evening of meaningful connections, vibrant conversations, and community building. Mark your calendar for Thursday, 2 November 6:00-8:00 p.m., and be part of this exciting event at the Shangri-La! More details to follow. Stay tuned!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to network with the Chiang Mai and Prem communities. We look forward to seeing you there!

Stay Connected,

The Marketing Team

“Leadership is not a title. It is action & example” Lanna is Action l. Noa is Example. 

Swim Meet

The PSC will support our swimmers next week at the Prem Swim Meet on Thursday, 5 October. Food, drinks and snacks will be available to purchase. All funds raised will go towards school and community events and initiatives. Come along to help cheer and enjoy some treats to eat too…

PSC Trunk or Treat

Get ready for another Spooktacular Halloween event organised by our Senior School Student Council (SS Stuco) - Friday, 27 October. As tradition dictates, the PSC will organise the Trunk or Treat feature again this year. Please help our SS Stuco make this a fang-tastically suckcessful event, by supporting any way you can. Sign up to run an activity or food stall or join Trunk or Treat and decorate your vehicles. Time to get this party startled!

PSC Parent “MEET UP”

The first Tuesday of October marks another PSC Parent "Meet Up." Please join us to hear more about the PSC, how we support the Prem Community, how you can get involved and receive updates from our Senior Leadership Team, Students and other members of the Prem community. If you would like to submit questions prior to the meeting, please email: pscsecretary@ptis.ac.th before Monday, 2 October. We are more than a school, we are a community!

PSC Grade Ambassadors

Lastly, look out for notices from your Grade Ambassadors regarding Teacher Appreciation Day, also on Thursday, 5 October. Make someone's day by doing something special. I wish to thank all the Ambassadors for coordinating these efforts. 

Look out for updates in Prem's Community Handbook - HERE 

Leigh-Jane Obermayer

PSC Executive Committee

The New Parent lanyards have arrived!  They will be available for pick up at the front gate on Monday, 1 October. Please use these new ones with your Prem ID Card as we have new colour coded lanyards for everyone in our Community.  

The Marketing Team