Head of School Message

Dear Prem Community,

As we are thoroughly now into the intensity of the exam season, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable dedication and resilience of our Grade 12 students. Their commitment to their final IB examinations, amidst the challenges of the heat and somewhat polluted air in Chiang Mai, is truly commendable. Please see the article by DP Coordinator, Abbie Neall, which gives you a little extra information about the format of the world-leading IB examination system. I would like to thank her for the excellent organisation of the exams themselves, as well as introducing a beautiful ritual to Prem Grade 12 life. At the beginning of the school year, all Grade 12 students go up to Monjam to see the sunrise; almost at the end of the year, just before their exams, they go and watch the sunset. It is a very fitting and memorable metaphor for their last year of formal education. You can see from the photos how much the students enjoyed their time together.

In addition, in this edition of Prem's Community News, we celebrate various achievements and activities within our school community. From the success of our Grade 6 pianist Sophia, passing her ABRSM Examination with distinction, to the creative recycling initiatives during Earth Day celebrations, each article reflects the vibrancy and excellence of our students and staff.

Our networking event at the Anantara Chiang Mai Resort highlighted the power of collaboration and community engagement among local businesses. The parent mindfulness group continues to offer a sanctuary of peace and personal growth, enhancing our community's well-being. Additionally, literacy week in the Junior School, the Grade 3 Astro Park and Planetarium trip, and the Thai language program for beginners showcase our commitment to holistic education and cultural integration.

As we cherish these moments of success and growth, I extend my best wishes to our Grade 12 students. Your dedication and preparation have been pretty remarkable, and we are proud of your journey at Prem.

Warm regards,

Rachel Keys M.A. (Oxon), M.Ed.
Head of School

The exam season is well and truly upon us. Grade 12 students have finished their formal education at Prem and this culminates in their final written examinations. The IB exams run for just over three weeks and are an exceptionally pressurised experience, sat by students all over the globe. Every year I am in awe of how readily the students apply their discipline, knowledge and learning to this stressful process. We are lucky to offer students a wide range of IB subjects which means that 45 different subjects are timetabled at Prem over this intense time. Most DP students will have approximately 12 different exams, and some will have as many as 15. The exams are mostly between 1 hour and 3 hours long, and are written by hand. While they will be assessed on content that has been learned over the last two years, the skills and critical thinking assessed have been taught from PYP onwards, so these exams really do represent a summation of their Prem journey. The IB curriculum is held in high regard by universities around the world. Students are superbly equipped to grapple with the requirements of undergraduate study, graduating as they do with outstanding critical thinking and organisational skills. 

Over the last two weeks, students took their Maths, Business Management and Physics exams. The coming two weeks will include English, Biology and Economics, so it is a busy and intense time for our students. On 17 May, the final exam will finish at 11:00 a.m. to signify the end of this chapter in their lives. Prom and Graduation follow closely afterwards, other significant events which also acknowledge and celebrate the journey that the Grade 12 students have taken. 

We wish our Grade 12 students the very best of luck with their remaining exams and would like to take the opportunity to congratulate them for their hard work and preparation leading up to the examination period.

Abbie Neall
IB Diploma Coordinator

Networking Event

The Spring Networking event took place against the stunning backdrop of the Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, providing a perfect platform for local businesses to socialise, collaborate, and form relationships. Prem hosted the event, which brought together a diverse group of business owners, professionals, and community leaders eager to make new connections, share insights, and explore potential collaborations. At its core, the event aimed to strengthen the Chiang Mai business community by fostering a culture of collaboration.

By bringing together people from various backgrounds, the networking event demonstrated the transformative power of networking in fostering meaningful connections. Beyond networking, such events are invaluable knowledge hubs, providing attendees with insights into a variety of industries, career paths, and market trends. They provide a fertile ground for attendees to share their experiences, consider collaborative ventures, and chart paths for professional advancement.

From a college and career counselling standpoint, events like these offer students a tangible glimpse into the real-world dynamics of networking and its profound impact on career trajectories. They serve as living proof of how cultivating relationships can catalyse opportunities and propel career growth. Such experiences not only underscore the advantages of networking but also inspire students to seek similar opportunities in their educational and professional journeys. These events offer students the chance to expand their networks, showcase their skills, and glean wisdom from the collective experiences of industry leaders. I highly encourage students to attend such events in the future.

Dawn Parry
WS Careers and College Counsellor

Embrace Peaceful Mornings: Join Our Parent Mindfulness Group!  (with Group facilitator Katie)

Thursday mornings in our Mindfulness Room are not just another ordinary start to the day for parents. Instead, it's a sanctuary of peace, where we gather to explore the transformative practices of mindfulness. Led by group facilitator Katie, the parent mindfulness group has become a cornerstone and highlight of the week for those seeking a sense of personal calm and deeper connections within themselves and their families.

Every Thursday morning, from 8:20 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. parents from diverse backgrounds come together in Middle School 6, to have some moments of inner quiet, and learn techniques to navigate the complexities of modern-day parenting. Through guided meditation sessions, parents learn invaluable skills that they can carry with them long after the session ends. From harnessing the power of the breath to conducting body scans, participants practise various methods to cultivate self-awareness and inner peace.

One of the most profound aspects of the parent mindfulness group is its emphasis on practical application. Alongside meditation techniques, discussions encompass a wide array of topics, including mindful parenting strategies, effective communication skills, and nurturing family dynamics. These conversations not only foster a sense of community but also empower parents to implement mindfulness in their daily interactions with their children and teens.

For group facilitator Katie, the parent mindfulness group is more than just a weekly gathering—it's a meeting of love and a testament to the power of community. Seeing parents come together to support one another on their mindfulness journey is a source of immense joy and fulfilment.

Consider joining our Parent Mindfulness Group and feel free to drop in week by week. It’s an opportunity to connect with others, reconnect with yourself, and gain invaluable tools for insights and deepening family practices. After all, the greatest gift we can give our children is our presence and attention, and mindfulness is the key to unlocking that priceless treasure.

Katie McLean
Well Being Coordinator

Literacy Week - April 22-26

Literacy Week is a widely celebrated occasion during which schools unite to honour authors and books that enrich our lives with joy and knowledge. Throughout this week-long event, our students participated in various literacy activities to express their passion for books.

Guest mystery readers were welcomed into classrooms to share their favourite books and engage in read-aloud sessions, inspiring both children and staff to explore a diverse range of literature. These sessions sparked enthusiastic conversations about books and authors. During DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time, students immersed themselves in reading, further nurturing their love for books. The week also featured an exciting author visit, a book fair, buddy reading sessions, an extreme reading photo challenge, and a spelling contest. All activities were deliberately designed to foster a love and appreciation for written words.

The highlight of the week was the display of students dressed as their beloved book characters. They showcased their creativity and passion by bringing numerous book characters to life. This culminating event united students and staff in their shared enthusiasm for book characters. The week provided an excellent opportunity for students to express their gratitude for the many wonderful books they enjoy reading.

Mayada Bayomi
JS - Literacy Coordinator and EAL Teacher

Grade 3 Astro Park and Planetarium Trip

Grade 3 students took their understanding of space phenomena into orbit with a visit to the NARIT AstroPark and Planetarium. Students are well into their studies of space discovery and exploration, which made it a perfect time to engage with state of the art simulations ranging from guiding a rover on Mars to testing what gravity might feel like on different planets. Students have been creating explanation texts based on their interests, so this was a chance to ask questions that they have been building throughout the unit and get some interstellar answers.

Jeremy Gaysek
Grade 3 Teacher
JS Literacy Coordinator and EAL Teacher

Junior School Thai language for Beginners

The Thai Language B standard class is specifically designed for non-Thai speaking students, providing them with a dynamic learning experience to acquire the language. Through a range of hands-on activities, students engage actively in the learning process, facilitating their acquisition of the second language. The curriculum is structured around interactive activities aligned with the Unit of Inquiry, ensuring relevance and practical application of the language. Furthermore, the approach to teaching Thai for foreign students is designed to be interactive and experiential, providing extensive opportunities for students to practise and apply their newfound language skills in practical contexts. This allows students to blend hands-on activities with thematic units.

Renuka Suayan (Noina)
Thai Teacher / Boarding Parent

Grade 12 Sunset:  A Student’s and Teacher’s Perspective

A Student Perspective:

This past Monday, the grade 12s and their teachers held their Senior Sunset event atop Mon Jam, signifying a major turning point in the lives of the students. Just as the Sunrise that happened at the start of the year was meant to open the last chapter in their high school lives, Monday’s Sunset was a way to close the year - and also the entirety of the first 18 years of life for most. There were many tears in people’s eyes as pictures were taken to commemorate the friends they’ve gained along the way, as well as the hardships they have endured. 

However, before the G12s were released to continue (or start) their studying streak for the upcoming exams, they all went to See-Paak, which is a family-run outdoor BBQ restaurant. The students and teachers enjoyed a tasty buffet, including some ribs, burgers and much more. A couple even stayed after to enjoy some fun times around the pool table, with hot games between students and staff bringing out many strong emotions. Overall, it is safe to say that everyone had a good time, and enjoyed the nice social break from the pressure of the exams.

Filip Pospíšil
PREM G12 Student

And just like that, another academic year has slipped by and our grade 12 students have finished their last taught lesson at Prem. We began their year in a very similar location watching the sunrise of their last ever first day of school. As a way of marking their final day, we took grade 12 students back to Mon Jam to watch the sun set on this significant day. It was a heartwarming event, and the students were remarkably happy and relaxed considering that their first exams were only two days away. There were many special conversations between the cohort and between the teachers who were also able to attend including teachers Mark, Phil, Tony and Ambika, as well as teachers Abbie and Shaun and our unofficial, yet spectacular, photographers teacher Trisha and our Head of School Rachel.  

As teachers, it is always poignant to come to the end of grade 12 and watch the students move forward into the next stage of their lives, but it is also very gratifying. It was particularly gratifying to enjoy the second part of the evening, which was superbly organised by our grade 12 superstar, Filip Pospisil.  Post sun-set we gathered for the second part of the evening at See Pak restaurant with some great food, more entertaining conversations and many highly entertaining pool matches. It's been a privilege to have guided them through these last two years of their schooling. We wish grade 12 the best of luck for the upcoming exams, and look forward to celebrating the grade 12 community at graduation. 

Abbie Neall
IB Diploma Coordinator 
MYP and DP English Language and Literature Teacher
MA English Literature

Writing a Magazine Article in Grade 6

Before embarking on the exciting task of writing a magazine article, grade 6 English Acquisition class hosted our very own Marketing and Admissions expert, Sandra. The lesson began with Sandra joining the students in sharing their sensory shell stories in a read aloud session. Students listened attentively as Sandra set the authentic task of writing an informative article about folk tales, with the aim of being published in our very own Community News. Here at Prem we endeavour to give our students creative and community based authentic tasks to deepen their skills and understanding of English use in the real world. We look forward to seeing their finished writing, so watch this space!

Sam Dawkins
Curriculum Leader Language Acquisition

Earth Day Celebrations at Prem: Creative Recycling and Environmental Awareness

In celebration of Earth Day, the Prem Senior School community engaged in activities centred around sustainability and creative recycling. Students participated in a series of events designed to highlight environmental consciousness and promote innovative recycling efforts.

The auditorium was alive with creativity as students collaborated to create intricate sculptures from recycled plastics. These artworks, transforming discarded materials into visually impressive pieces, showcased the potential of recycling and demonstrated our students’ ingenuity.

Educational sessions in the library expanded students' understanding of environmental sustainability. This segment provided valuable insights into the importance of environmental stewardship, reinforcing the need for informed action and responsibility towards our planet.

In ‘The Art House’, the upcycled fashion event allowed students to show their ability to turn old clothing into trendy, new garments. This activity not only encouraged creativity but also highlighted the practical aspects of sustainability by showing how everyday items could be creatively repurposed.

The display of recycled sculptures in the auditorium marked the culmination of the day’s activities. Each sculpture stood as a unique narrative on conservation and creativity, illustrating the powerful impact of our collective environmental efforts. All the four House's sculptures—Earth, Fire, Water, Air—will be put on permanent display to remind the Prem community of our ongoing responsibility to care for our precious Earth.

The Earth Day events at Prem Senior School underscore our commitment to integrating environmental education within our community. It was a day filled with learning, innovation, and collective spirit, showcasing our dedication to fostering an environmentally aware and proactive student body.

Chris Hall
MYP & DP English Language and Literature
MYP English Language Acquisition 
Head of Earth House

Boarding Weekend Activities

During the first weekend after the April break, our boarding community started with a peaceful Friday, offering our boarders a chance to unpack their belongings and make themselves back at home. On Saturday, while some of our boarders accompanied staff on a trip to procure essential groceries, others enjoyed a film at the cinema. Meanwhile, back on campus, the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies attracted people to the boarding lounge kitchen, where eager hands worked together to create sweet treats for all to enjoy. On Sunday, the hot weather inspired our boarding team to plan an exciting trip to Chiang Mai's famous Tube Trek Water Park. With excitement building up, students eagerly seized the chance to enjoy splashing around, sliding on the large artificial beach, and riding the spiralling slides (a top pick among boarders) while patiently waiting in line to go again. It truly was a weekend packed with laughter, adventure, and the sense of community within our boarding family.

Renuka Suayan (Noina)
Thai Teacher / Boarding Parent

88 steps to success!

Congratulations to Sophia, Grade 6 who has passed Grade 6 Piano ABRSM Examination with distinction. This is a remarkable achievement and the result reflects her commitment to daily piano studies, with dedication and focus. She started with the end in mind – what is required for success at Grade 6 Piano Examination? This resulted in a very clear pathway of hard work and many hours of practice; working towards her end goal - Grade 6 Distinction.

We are all very proud of what she has achieved.

Can you answer this question? Why is the title of this article called '88 steps to success'?


Christopher Johnson
Director Music Academy

Prem Volleyball Players are Flying High!

Over the last few years, volleyball has become one of the most popular sports at Prem. From when we start introducing the sport in Grade 5 HPE up until our U20 teams, the skill levels have risen all across Prem and this week's U16 and U20 CMAC volleyball tournaments certainly highlight that. 

With the U20 girls and U16 boys tournaments being hosted at Prem and the U20 Boys and U16 girls at CMIS, it has been a busy but exciting week. On Tuesday we started with the U20 tournaments, which will be the last time some of our Grade 12's play for the Prem Panthers. The U20's did not disappoint! Against all odds (Missing 3 of our starting players), the U20 boys got all the way to the final, losing to CMIS to become the Runners Up. The U20 girls saw the same two teams in the final and it ended up being an absolute classic. Back and forth, it went down to the wire, with Prem becoming U20 girls volleyball champions.

The U16's had a tough act to follow, but they showed that the future is bright for Prem volleyball. We divided the boys into two teams (Prem A + B), so all the players got more time on the court. Despite being much younger than the other teams, they put up a great fight against all the teams they played and pushed them all the way. The girls also came back with silverware, getting the 3rd place medals.

It was an excellent couple of days, so well done to all our players!

P.S: The U14 tournaments are coming up in a couple of weeks and both our teams are unbeaten so far!

Lee Stevens
Assistant Head of School

U17 Ball Hockey Tournament in Hong Kong 

Toward the end of the Songkran holiday seventeen Grade 7-10 students travelled to Hong Kong to compete in a U17 Ball Hockey Tournament. Through this experience each of our players were exposed to a much higher level of competition than is currently available in Chiang Mai. While we lost every game we certainly gained experience, skills, and a growing awareness of the thriving Asian Ball Hockey community. We had a very tightly packed five days of travel, practices, & games, of various roster configurations, at several venues, with other mixed (Boys & Girls) school teams including Victoria Shanghai Academy, Delia School of Canada, Christian Alliance International School, and a local school-- Holy Cross Lutheran School. Our PREM Male tournament Most Valuable Players were Carlos (G7) & Shawn (G7) for their hard work on defense against older & more physically strong opponents. Our Female Most Valuable Player was Tiffany (G10) for her reliable defensive play & her leadership inside & outside of the rink. I would like to thank our Grade 10 leaders who helped co-construct this trip experience with me in our weekly service lessons– primarily Sally & Tiffany but also Yu Yang, Will, & Nina. Special thanks also goes to teacher Nae who, once again, was a vital part of a smooth & successful overseas Ball Hockey trip. I am looking forward to next year already & have made early contact, through the international governing body of Ball Hockey (ISBHF) with partners in Edinburgh, Seoul, Tokyo, & Vancouver. PREM students will also have an opportunity to join a Chiang Mai based summer hockey camp in July involving players joining us from other local schools as well as from Shanghai & Hong Kong-- more details to follow.  

Adam Copus 
Co-Athletics Director