High School: “We are safe, healthy and balanced.”

“We are safe, healthy and balanced.”

February’s monthly theme is very appropriate this year, with AQIs very high again at the end of last week and over the weekend, though the data from our AirVisuals shows that January’s average AQI this year (119) was actually slightly lower than last January’s average AQI (125).

As well as AQI, this year we have the current coronavirus situation. All parents should have received two updates last week. As we wrote last Thursday, “As a precautionary measure, in line with other international schools in Bangkok, we have withdrawn from any sport fixtures or other events involving other schools between now and half-term.” We hope that the situation will stabilise over the next two weeks, and will continue to keep you informed.

Residential Roundup: Part 1

Year 7

Year 7 students visited two different resorts in Kanchanaburi to experience a range of exciting activities. iCamp Thailand is an American style summer camp where students can enjoy team-building activities. A particular highlight is the water-based activity course which students really enjoy. The second half of the week was spent taking part in more adventure-based outdoor pursuits including hiking, raft building and mountain biking. It was great to see so many students having a great time and in particular was an opportunity for students from our Embracing Differences programme to enjoy the activities alongside mainstream students.

You can read more about the Embracing Differences experiences on Residentials in the Residential Special Edition of the Embracing Differences Newsletter.

Year 8

Residential was amazing!

My favourite activity during the whole Residential would be Kayaking. I loved this activity because I got to hang out with a bunch of my friends and capsizing the kayak was so funny! My second favorite activity would be scuba diving as I had never done it before. It was strange at first, breathing underwater through a scuba tank. Then, after scuba diving, we got to do monkey in the middle with a football which was awesome.

I loved how instead having one movie night, we had TWO! The second movie night was way better than the first as it was Guardians Of The Galaxy.

The food during the residential was quite exquisite, the best food at the table would be the fried rice.

The talent show kind of got me scared to do it, but when me and my friends got our act together, we did the talent show and had a good time doing it. Our act was using our flashlights and illuminating our faces whilst lip syncing to the song Bohemian Rhapsody.

I liked how our Tutor, Ms Kat, even decided to join in on the activities, it was so fun to have Ms Kat doing the rock climbing with us!

Even though we had to leave to go back to Bangkok, I still think that this Residential was way better than the last. I cannot wait for next year’s Residential.

Aiden (8e)

Year 9 

Year 9 enjoyed a fantastic week in Chanthaburi where they developed their leadership skills, self-sufficiency, and self-confidence. We were hugely impressed with the manner in which the JUMP! Foundation organised the activities and the logistics of the trip. For most students, the highlights included Mulberry Juice Making, the Chanthaburi Old Town Exploration, and the Waterfall Hike. Furthermore, all students really enjoyed the challenge of the camping element of the trip and the setting was stunning. We are looking forward to Residential 2021 already!

Year 10 

Another memorable Residential has passed. I had such a wonderful time there, in Chiang Dao. It was an action-packed week and I did many things I had never done in my life.

On the first day, we did team building activities, building tents and learning how to use the GPS. For one of the team building activities, we had to lift a bucket full of water, pour the water into another bucket, then lift it out of the marked area. My group was the first to complete the challenge. We were so happy, we screamed like crazy.

As the evening closed in, we, of course, had to shower, using the traditional bucket shower. As I was waiting in the queue, I heard both girls and boys screaming due to the freezing water. While I started showering, I, as well, cried out. Boy was it cold! However, that night when the sun went down and the stars came out it got really cool. The temperature went down to 12oC and we woke to find the valley covered in mist. It was still very cold. No morning showers then…

On the second day, we learned about coffee plantations which was such an interesting session. I got to drink a cup of coffee which I had never tried in my life. It was pretty good. Then, in the afternoon, we did community service, building the road for a local temple. It was very tiring but fun at the same time. We had such good teamwork which made this activity fun. Digging sand, making cement, and passing down buckets and buckets of cement, we built the road successfully.

On Day 3, we went trekking. We had to cross around 8 or 9 rivers. The funny part was watching my friends fall down or slip as they cross the river and getting their feet wet. There were loads of spider webs and they were so pretty as they glistened in the morning dew. We saw one fascinating spider, I’ve never seen in my life and I was amazed. Using the GPS and the “guide dog”, Tong we arrived at the destination in less than 7 hours. Trekking was my favourite activity this whole trip because I'd got to do and see things I have never seen and done before. That day in the evening, we had to cook our own dinner. I cooked just simple pasta but what we’d done that was different to the other group is that we didn’t use pasta sauce alone. We added ketchup and some vegetables to spice it up a little. By doing that, I’m pretty sure it tasted better.

In the fourth day we went rock climbing and caving. I have never been caving my whole life so I was pretty excited. The most fun part was the part where we had to squeeze through tiny spaces. Rock climbing was really fun. I liked it because I don’t get to do it very often and we did it on a real cliff.

It was a great residential and one that all of the Year 10 students enjoyed. I hope that I will still be here in Year 12 which is when my Year gets to go on their next residential!

Imlee (10g)

Reports from the two Year 12 Residentials and the Tanzania Expeditions will be included in the next Newsletter.

Have a safe, healthy and balanced half-term!

Roo Stenning (roo.st@standrews.ac.th)
Head of High School