@36/15 Feb 2012

@36/15
Magazine of the New International School of Thailand Issue Eighteen First Edition 2012
HEADMASTER:
Simon Leslie
Contents
Community and Service .....................................5-20 IB Diploma Results ..........................................21-25 Alumni News .....................................................26-30 ECA and Sports .................................................31-39 Creative Arts .....................................................40-54 Staff Events ......................................................55-56
Jacqueline Patterson
EDITOR:
STUDENT EDITOR:
Shilpita Mathews
@36/15 is published by the Office of Development, NIST 36 Sukhumvit Soi 15, Bangkok 10110, www.nist.ac.th DESIGN & PRODUCTION ADVERTISING CONTACTS
Ritika Mirchandani
Ritika Mirchandani ritika2200@yahoo.com Thitiphon Untrakul ThitiphonU@nist.ac.th
Headmasters Message
By Simon Leslie
Headmaster
Dear Readers, elcome to the new bi-annual @36/15 magazine. This magazine is a little different to other editions with greater detailed descriptions of events and a greater emphasis on our academic progress and results. The magazine will see a growing emphasis on the academic aspects of our School and this edition also focuses on our recent IB Diploma results. In addition, our Alumni members will find a more extensive review of Alumni activities. Our second semester for the 2011-2012 academic year is well underway and the following articles provide readers with a myriad of stories and NIST activities and adventures which have taken place thus far during the course of the first half of this academic year. The bi-annual magazine will provide readers a more diverse review of what is happening at our School and will celebrate the various successes that our students enjoy whether they are from an academic point of view or from a community support perspective. It will also provide readers with insight into the diverse lives of NIST alumni. I hope that you enjoy the magazine as I have enjoyed reading the variety of articles within it. Simon Leslie Headmaster
News From NIPTA

By Jocelyn Parfaite
NIPTA President
Dear NIST community, As the New Year begins, some new and exciting ventures are taking place for NIPTA. We have a new mission statement, vision and objectives moving forward for 2012-2013. Mission Statement To inspire, embrace and enrich NISTs diverse community in ways that further the mission of the school. Our Vision We seek to improve the social and educational experiences of our community and to promote a sense of commitment and pride in our school. Objectives for 2012-2013 To enhance parental involvement in a range of school events and opportunities. To strengthen the relationships among parents, students, staff, NIST administration and the Board as well as with the broader community in which we live. To facilitate the flow of information between the parents and NIST administration. Additionally, the NIPTA Executive Committee has reevaluated our committee structure and has voted to merge the Health & Safety Committee with our
existing Community Activities Committee. The expanded Community Activities Committee will organize NIPTA Parent Coffee Mornings, community health & wellness talks and seminars, Bangkok tours, special NIPTA events and support the existing school administrations Health and Safety committee in maintaining a safe environment around campus. The Health & Safety Committee has greatly enhanced not only NIPTA, but also the entire school and community environment with their commitment, time, and passion for a better environment for our children. Please feel free to contact us at nipta.nist@gmail. com and we look forward to seeing you at our exciting events & activities planned for the remainder of the year! Yours, Jocelyn Parfaite
NIST Flood Relief Drive

By Tharin Sethi
Student, Year 13
uly 2011, Thailand saw the beginning of the worst floods in fifty years. Fifty eight provinces, 2.3 million people and six million hectares of land were affected because of these floods. Lands were submerged under three metres of water, people became homeless and lost their livelihoods and approximately 602 people lost their lives. Witnessing this massive destruction and peoples sufferings on my comfortable couch as I flicked through the channels on television made me feel guilty and useless. Something had to be done to ease the sorrow and agony of these unfortunate victims of a tormenting natural calamity. I had to help. I had to take the initiative. I didnt expect the opportunity to come knocking on my door; however, the very next day Mr. Adrian Watts (NIST Deputy Head) approached me and asked me if I would be interested in initiating a NIST Flood Relief drive. Obviously, my answer was an instant yes and it took us no time to put together a team that comprised NIST students, teachers, parents and staff, called the NIST Flood Relief Team. Our goal was definite, our minds were set, and we were determined to make a difference. Soon we saw ourselves advertising our cause through videos, secondary notices and the NIST newsletter, and were able to raise over 350,000 baht in under 7 hours. With these funds we were able to buy 100
boats and necessity goods to be distributed to flood victims. The boats were distributed in Ayutthaya and Bang Bua Thong, areas where the only existing mode of transportation were boats! Our next mission was to deliver necessity goods including food, water, sanitary napkins, first aid kits and toiletries to the Thammasat University Rangsit campus, which was home to 2,000 flood refugees and surrounded by areas flooded up to 1.5 meters. Along with another student and 3 NIST staff members we left school and ventured on a 3 hour bus ride to Thammasat. As we drove away from the city through the highway, I was overwhelmed with astonishment at the sight of the flood waters along the way. The murky water measured up to 1.5 metres, the pavements were smothered with moss and the air smelt putrid. It all seemed unreal. I quivered at this thought, as these streets which were only a few months ago, busy with pedestrians, vendors, cars and the hustle bustle of the city lay deserted.
After having handed out the goods in Thammasat, we spent time vicariously experiencing the traumatic incidents the flood victims narrated to us, the difficulties they faced during evacuation and how they had no choice but to abandon their homes. I remember leaving the university with a heavy heart, knowing that this was just the beginning of our flood drive and a lot more had yet to be done. In our next flood relief team
(First Edition 2012)
meeting, we discovered that we were even more motivated to respond and decided to do something more significant. The idea of making relief packs struck and was carried out successfully when we requested the NIST community to donate essential goods such as water, rice, toiletries, tinned foods, noodles, toys and anything they felt like giving. The NIST community led by Ms. Teresa Tung, along with student leaders from International schools across Bangkok, came together on a Saturday morning to join hands in packing these items. We were able to make 710 relief packs in less than two hours! Tagged along these packages were handwritten good luck notes and drawings made by NIST elementary students which we thought would not only bring a smile to the victims but also lift their spirits. NIST support staff members including maids and engineers stayed up all night preparing 800 packages of sticky rice and fried chicken which were distributed along with the relief packs. To deliver these packages, the NIST flood relief team embarked on a trip to the Bang Bua Thong district in the Nonthaburi Province
which was flooded with 2 meters of water. Upon arriving, we were welcomed by the sight of coconut trees whose trunk we couldnt find, the roofs of cars which appeared like colourful floating metals and unwanted trash swimming around us. Under the scorching
sun, we paddled our boat from home to home distributing the much awaited packages. We saw houses where only the terrace was visible, like little islands surrounded by reeking water. We were taken aback at the sight of the living conditions of the inhabitant which were far from adequate and comfortable. They ate donated food, bathed and washed their clothes with flood waters, and shared what was left of their house with bugs and insects and yet, they seemed resilient! Our short rendezvous with the unfortunate victims of this tragedy made us realize how little help can sometimes be much appreciated. Our trip to Bang Bua thong proved to be not only fruitful but also an unforgettable experience. Up to date, the NIST Flood relief team, with the help and support of the NIST community and the wider international community, has raised over a million baht in cash and goods worth almost 900,000 baht including 2 tonnes of rice and enough water to sustain many homes for many days. We are very thankful to all the donors and volunteers for making this possible and the flood relief team trusts that we will continue to receive support in our future endeavours targeted to help those in need.
Creativity in the CAS Programme

By Andy Dorn
Secondary CAS Coordinator
n the IB Diploma Programme CAS is at the centre of the hexagon, meaning that all students who take the diploma must undertake and complete CAS. It has three main components: creativity, action and service. Over the next few issues of @36/15, we will explore each of these three components to look at their importance and to get an idea of some of the huge variety of activities NIST students are engaged in. The IB CAS guide defines creativity as arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking. This should be interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover the widest range of arts and other activities. This could involve dance, theatre, art, photography and music for example. Like all CAS activities, creative activities should have a definite goal or outcome; they need to be well planned and students need to provide evidence of participation and reflect upon the activity at the end. In our modern world the definition of and importance of creativity are expanding. Although creativity has traditionally been thought of as an artistic endeavour, a quick look at some of the most successful companies of the past decade reveals the names of companies such as Google, Apple and Facebook that all rely on creativity for their success. These success stories have come from organisations that have identified new, previously unforeseen needs; they have innovated to create products and solutions that are unique; they have connected with a mass market due to powerful advertising and in some ways created a new world or way of life. These companies have flourished whereas many have floundered, especially technological giants of the past, who have lost their sense of innovation. Jim Prior, the CEO of the most creatively awarded design agency in the UK says The future of business will be defined by people who think differently. Not by those who think the same. In education creativity is now seen as being one of the most important outcomes of a students schooling. Sir Ken Robinson, a widely respected educational expert, states that creativity is now as important as literacy and that we need to rethink the way we look
at intelligence. Howard Gardner, a Harvard professor famous for multiple intelligence and other important educational theories, suggests that creativity is one of what he calls five minds for the future. In the book he states that Individuals without creative capacities will be replaced by computers and will drive away those who do have the creative spark. The creative mind puts forward new ideas, poses unfamiliar questions, suggests fresh ways of thinking and generates unexpected answers. At NIST this semester students have been engaged in some fabulous activities that have corresponded with this broader sense of creativity. Here are some examples: The Charity Palette:
The Charity Palette is an organization with the main goal of aiding communities with needs through art and creativity. This project was initiated by Kevin Sirinarinthon and Andree Yeh and was inspired by their love and passion for art and design coupled with a desire to use these to help others. Their first
project was to sell t-shirts with catchy slogans and use the money earned to support Noh Bo Academy, an underprivileged school in the province of Tak, Thailand. As well as artistic creativity being involved in the design of the shirts, the Charity Palette has been hugely successful as they created an innovative way to sell their shirts. In using social media it engaged students from different schools in selling shirts in their schools. Dreams We Believe In: This service group works with HIV positive children from the Mercy centre and aims to make some of the childrens dreams come true. DWBI initiated an extremely successful project that aimed to make the life of the students they help brighter. They came up with the idea of a giving tree whereby the name of a child was placed on a Christmas tree along with some information about the child and what they would like as a gift for Christmas. Members of the NIST community selected a child that they would like to help, and gave a gift to that child. This creative form of gift collection was very successful and resulted in all 60 children receiving gifts within two days. NIST Development Bank:
service groups and to create a system to help groups manage and be accountable for those funds. Video Production:
Many students at NIST create videos to publicise or highlight service or sporting events. This year two students in Year 12, Ping Ko Chiu and Gordon Chang, have discovered a real passion for video making and have taken it to a whole new level. Their
innovative videos can be found on Ping Kos Youtube channel,(http://www.youtube.com/user/PingKoChiu) including videos to promote the Tanzania service The NIST Development Bank started 2 years ago. The original aim of the bank was to create a microcredit bank that would loan poorer members of the NIST staff money to start a side business and to help them financially. To make this happen students in the bank learnt how a micro-credit bank works and then created their own bank. They were successful with their original goal as the bank has successfully lent to several members of our support staff. The members of the NIST Development Bank are now working hard to make access to funds easier for NIST
project and flood relief videos with an innovative time lapse to show the process of packing the emergency relief kits. They also collaborated with three year 13 students, Amanda Murano and Sumedh Chatterjee and Raksha Sachdev to create a promotional video for the Bangkok ServICE Conference. This video, which features Amanda singing and Sumedh rapping will be used to open the ICE conference NIST will host in March. Creative Performances for a Cause: Many CAS students are putting their musical and dance talents to work to create shows to help others. The recent Mercy Glee club concert (initiated by Ritah Chumdermpadetsuk, Year 12) which was a partnership between students of NIST and the Mercy centre, aimed to let the children of the Mercy Centre have an opportunity to express themselves in a nonthreatening environment, to explore and enhance their technical musical talents and to simply have fun. Some of these concerts have become annual events on the NIST calendar such as Little Superstars, which has older students working with elementary students to create a show, Rock for Smiles, a school concert that raises money for children with cleft palates, and Mixed Up, a rock concert for NIST bands that also raises funds for a service cause. This is just a brief summary of some of the creative events that are part of the IB CAS programme. There are many other wide ranging and interesting activities being undertaken by some remarkably talented students. It is very pleasing to see NIST students
engage in a lot of regular creative activities but at the same time start to develop the creative skills that will be sought once they graduate.
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NIST Reaches Out With Great Community Spirit!

By Anji Barker
Anji Barker is a social worker from Australia who along with her family moved into the Klong Toey slum 10 years ago. She is part of Urban Neighbors of Hope, a Christian Mission working in Partnership with the Church of Christ In Thailand. She has 2 children at NIST.
ver the last year NIST students, teachers and parents have developed a close relationship with the children and families of the Klong Toey Community Centre in the Klong Toey slum. As I write this, there is a connection between NIST and the Klong Toey Community Centre 7 days per week. Members of the NIST Parent Teacher Association (NIPTA) attended the Helping Hands Thai cooking school (a fair-trade micro enterprise) late last year and as a result we now have 5 NIST parents helping, up to twice a week, teaching computers, art and English to our pre-school students. These parents have also been proactive in starting nutrition and dental programmes in order to address the poor health of many of these children.
On Monday afternoons, Miss Jill and Miss Rebecca have been bringing some year 5 and 6 students to do crafts and play games with about 20 children at our centre as part of their ECA. Both the students and our children seem to enjoy themselves. These last few months Miss Kate, and other teachers, parents and students have hosted up to 45 children between the ages of 3 and 11 at NIST on Saturday mornings. The children from the slum have a great time swimming and playing, and then a wonderful lunch. It is the highlight of the week for all of us! The fact that NIST teachers who work hard with children all week would give up time on their weekends to play with our children from the slum says a lot about the NIST school spirit.
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On Sundays a NIST year 11 student, Rosie Grant has started a football club for 40 young boys from the Klong Toey Slum. She has raised sponsorship to supply them with football kits, and these young boys get to train every Sunday on the NIST pitch, under her guidance. As a result they have been able to be added to the Bangkok Youth League and compete around Bangkok. What makes NIST such a great school? The beautiful buildings? The great sports field and swimming pool? The classroom technology and equipment? No, what makes NIST a great school is the quality and character of the teachers and assistants with whom we leave our children for 8 hours a day and the enthusiasm
and involvement of the parents and students. As part of a team of 7 Australians living and working in the Klong Toey Slum, I want to say a huge thank you to the NIST community for all their help and support over the past year. As we fight to see change within the chaos of this troubled and oppressed community, it encourages us to know that the people here are not forgotten by the outside world. They fight with us to see justice and hope emerge so that the children here can have a brighter future and perhaps break the cycle of poverty that traps them here. We look forward to continuing to work together in the years ahead.
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Pinktober & Movember

By Jacqueline Patterson
Communication and Alumni Manager
his year the NIST community organized two consecutive cancer awareness months. As October is breast cancer awareness month, and because the associated colour is pink, NIST united for a month-long Pinktober. Members from across the School organized events to raise awareness about the cause. Additionally, in line with this years School theme Walk the Talk, the School raised funds to pay for mammograms for relatively lower income earning staff members. Pinktober was a great success with students, parents and staff participation. Two student groups organized successfull fundraisers, an initiative called Snow cones for a Cause and, Cupcakes for a Cause. The sale of snow cones and cupcakes proved to be very popular! NISTs Parent Teacher Association (NIPTA) notably organized the sale of custom made pins and pink bracelets which sold out within a day. NIPTA played an integral role in the organization and execution of the month-long activities, working hand-in-hand with the schools PE department. An impressive human ribbon was formed when the community united in pink to assemble the symbol most commonly associated with breast cancer awareness - the pink ribbon. This was a highlight and the enthusiasm was infectious. Pinktober raised over 64,000 baht which will provide mammograms for over 30 staff members.
Movember was held at NIST for the third consecutive year. During the month of November, over 20 teachers grew their moustaches and facial hair as part of their efforts to raise awareness about prostate cancer. Over 20 staff members have participated each year and their efforts have raised over 100,000 baht to date. The first two years the money was donated to cancer research here in Thailand. This movember over 30,000 baht raised was donated to the NIST flood relief appeal. This year NIST teacher, Ian Baverstock was voted Mr. Movember (which is awarded to the staff member with the best moustache). Ian has claimed this prize for three years running. Each year NIPTA has played a key supportive role where they have organized the end of Movember get-together. At this event all the men of Movember come together and chat about their experiences during the month. The event culminates the month of awareness raising and highlights the dedication of NISTs participating staff members. It is inclusive of all NIST staff members and offers a time for celebration and reflection. NISTs Pinktober and Movember provided a great opportunity for students, staff and parents alike to further their understanding and awareness of breast and prostate cancer. A massive thank you to all those involved.
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NISTs Community and Service Fair.

By Teresa Tung
MYP Community and Service Coordinator
ommunity and Service groups got to show off their great work at the first annual NIST Community and Service Fair. Based on the success of the Community and Service booths at NIPTAs Fun Run last year, we decided to once again showcase all the great service groups at NIST, but this time to the entire secondary school. During house time on September 28th, nearly 30 Community and Service groups set up booths to let the community know about their work. All secondary students and staff visited the Fair to celebrate Community and Service at NIST. Groups explained their mission, shared their past, planned events and recruited support for their causes. Groups shared their mission in many creative ways. Charity Palette displayed their t-shirts, which have already been sold all over Bangkok, using art and
creativity to help communities in need. To entice students, Cupcakes for a Cause gave out minicupcakes to students who could answer questions about their cause, raising awareness of elephants in Thailand. Newly formed groups led by younger students in year 8 such as Books for the Better, Bubble Wrapped, and Burma Beyond Borders were able to share their initiatives with the wider school community for the first time. Year 8 Yellow Houses project, Cards for a Cause, sold greeting cards and explained the story of the boys who made the cards and how their group helps them. Others handed out flyers and brochures, sang songs, and engaged students with videos and photos. During the Community and Service Fair, groups shared what they have accomplished in the past and gave the crowd a preview of the types of activities
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that they are planning for the school year. Operation Smile advertised their yearly event, Rock for Smiles and shared information about their upcoming toy drive. Leadership of the Arts, back for the second year informed people about their upcoming Leadership of the Arts Festival (LAF), which will feature performances from the newly formed Unity in Community (UIC) group. Another new group, Dumbledores Army, which benefits the Good Shepherd Sisters, drew crowds with their Lego stacking game in order to raise awareness for their Lego drive. Walking around the Community and Service Fair, one could clearly see how each and every student can easily engage with service in one way or another throughout the school year, if they are on the lookout for these great events. The Fair also provided a great chance for groups to recruit new members and garner support for their causes. Amnesty International obtained dozens of signatures from staff and students who stopped by their booth to find out more about their projects. A new group, Project Oxygen, signed up several students for a planned inter-school tree planting project with International School Bangkok (ISB). The Bangkok ServICE Conference recruited over 30 students to attend the upcoming conference, which will be hosted at NIST in the new year. With all the groups in one place at one time, the entire secondary school saw, at a glance, all the different ways that they could get involved in Community and Service.
The Community and Service Fair was a great success thanks to the hours of hard work and passion put forth by the groups student leaders and their adult mentors. We should commend them for their efforts and support them with our time, money, and participation. The groups mentioned in here are just a few examples of the variety of impressive Community and Service projects taking place at NIST. I look forward to the Community and Service Fair next year; and know that the students leading these groups will continue to develop them in ever creative and exciting ways.
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Charity Palette
achabadin(Kevin) Sirinarinthon and Andree Yeh founded The Charity Palette last year as students in year 12. Their idea was to use The Charity Palette as a means of promoting and enhancing creativity in service projects and using art as a means of helping others. The idea was simple but important, and members began joining the group at the start of this year, inspired by the idea and wanting to get involved. At first the group came up with the idea of designing t-shirts and raising money from their sales. When Kevin was asked about the initial concept of the now very popular Charity Palette T-shirt he explained, The concept of
our BANGKOK CITY LIFE t-shirts is inspired by many things. Firstly, we feel that there is a loophole in community service t-shirts where in the usual case, fundraising t-shirts will simply have a project logo in front and most of the people will buy just to support the charity, rather than for the aesthetics of the t-shirts themselves as well. Hence, we set out to do something different. We looked at Marc Jacobs Protect the skin youre in t-shirts where the money goes to charity yet, most people are driven to buy it due to its appearance. We also looked at the I LOVE NY t-shirts which are patriotic to New York City. Realizing that there are no such shirts in Bangkok right now, we combined these two ideas
together and came up with the quote, Bangkok is not just a city, its a way of life, which symbolizes and embraces the diversity in the city of Bangkok. Students from NIST and across the international school community heard about the t-shirts and placed their orders quickly. Around 600 t-shirts have been ordered to date. The success of The Charity Palette is undoubtedly a result of the concept of the design but is also largely due to the groups use of social media. Social networking has definitely played a huge role in leading to the success of The Charity Palette. In terms of marketing, we were able to capture the attention and set a trend for international students
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in Bangkok. In terms of raising awareness, we have been able to spread our message beyond the limits of what traditional means of communication are capable of, says Kevin. The international school community has responded incredibly well and the Charity Palette now has representatives from Bangkok Patana, The Regents International School, Ruamrudee International School, Wells International School, St. Andrews International School, KIS International School, Concordian International School, Ekkamai International School and Thammasat University. With the target of raising funds through this innovative way, the question Why? becomes an important one and one which The Charity Palette really thought about. As Kevin explains, The Charity Palette feels that in doing some real service, the beneficiaries must really need the help. We feel that there are many organizations around these parts [Thai/Myanmar border] that are already getting enough help and that our cause must be for someone in real need.
of sustainability and imparts the skills and tools necessary for the Noh Bo Academy to truly explore, experiment and produce art. The group aims to re-stock the art supplies annually. Remarkably about 150,000 baht has been raised where the t-shirt manufacturing company donated 500 shirts and The Charity Palette covered the production cost of the other 100. The group is currently planning a trip to the Noh Bo Academy although with the tight constraints of senior year logistically this has been difficult. They hope to make the trip open to all NIST secondary students and if possible, from other schools as well. Art and service is now notable at NIST, the groups supervisor IB Art teacher Valerie McCubbin added. They started to market themselves well so that when they did come up with their first product people knew them and there was already a buzz. We had several consultations and they then came up with a T-shirt design and concept. This is where I felt that they did actually reach the 7th rung of the Harts Ladder (Harts Ladder of Young Peoples Participation defines the 7th rung as Young People Lead and Initiate Action). In the near future, The Charity Palette is planning to hold their next fundraising event at a making things recycled art workshop with Zimbabwe based artists. This will be held in January 2012. The workshop will be open to anyone aged 7-70. More information will be available through bulletins, blogs, and the charity palette Facebook page (search NIST Arts).
Coincidently, Rachel Fucella told us about Noh Bo Academy (a school for Karen refuges on the Thai Burma Border), which her mother has contacts with. Hence, we looked into the School and felt that this could certainly be a place we can help out. The group decided to use the funds raised to create an Art Experience day (in essence an art workshop) for the children at the Noh Bo Academy and to equip the School with art materials. This will ensure the group can not only instil their skills and love for art but also provide the students with the necessary equipment to continue making art once the group has left. The project ensures a level
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Year 6 Service and Leadership - Real Action in the PYP

By Chris Boreham
Year 6 Coordinator
he IB states that: education must extend beyond the intellectual to include not only socially responsible attitudes but also thoughtful and appropriate action. (Making the PYP happen: A curriculum framework for international primary schools, IBO, 2009) For many of us, the term student action envisages a range of different ideas. For some it might convey thoughts of students being physically involved in some activity or event, while for others it may mean students doing something to help others or make a difference in our community or for the environment. It may convey thoughts of students developing ideas, solving problems or working on issues that they themselves have identified. With this in mind, the Year 6 team recently started a new initiative in which students and teachers work together to identify opportunities for service or leadership in our own school or local community called the Year 6 Service and Leadership Programme. The Year 6 students are now involved in finding and developing a range of learning experiences and service actions that encourage positive community action. Although the Service and Leadership Programme is
still in its infancy, we are already noticing a higher degree of enthusiastic participation, strengthening of community mindedness and citizenship, and a more positive outlook towards assisting others amongst the students. One afternoon in each ten day cycle has been set aside to enable the students to identify, receive training for, and be involved in a wide range of activities that bring about improvement for others. This time enables each Year 6 student to choose one or more projects in which they can develop new real life skills where
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a meaningful and achievable difference may be brought about. As students and teachers are collaboratively involved in developing the programme and its activities, there is a wide range of groups that reflect the interests and abilities of the student cohort. A small selection of the Service and Leadership activities are as follows: Admissions Ambassadors: This group of students is being trained to help the Admissions Department with tours and induction for new students at NIST. They will be adding an important personal link when new students and parents first come to NIST. The Techsperts: This group of students help other students, teachers and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Department with every-day computer problems. They come up with ideas and solutions to ICT problems and teach students and teachers how to use ICT. Klongtoey ECA: These students are regularly visiting and helping disadvantaged students in Klongtoey by organising activities and games and helping them to learn English. The Movie Makers: These students are taking
responsibility for recording, editing and collating video files of the activities in which the Year 6 students are participants, in particular, the Year 6 Camp. EY Pets: These Year 6 students assist the EY students and staff in the Early Years Centre to care for the pets that live there. Health and Safety: These students work with the NIPTA Health and Safety Committee to make sure NIST is a happy, healthy place to learn. The Year 6 Service and Leadership Programme also aims to develop an appreciation and embodiment of the IB Learner Profile in the students. Involvement in the programme assists the students to develop Learner Profile attributes such as being Thinkers in planning their activities, Carers in leading, assisting or serving others, and in being Principled and Reflective about their involvement in the activities. The Year 6 team hopes that by helping and leading others in our school, this group of Year 6 students will develop important new skills and will in the future be further involved in service and leadership groups as they progress into secondary school.
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Thank you from the Early Years!

By Kate Lynch
Early Years Coordinator hen the School took the precautionary measure of closing due to flooding in Bangkok, many teachers and support staff from NIST pitched in to help the Early Years relocate its valued furniture and resources. This was hard work and involved moving heavy furniture, toys and equipment up to the Year 1 area. Once we returned to school, the Early Years team felt that it was important that the students understood and acknowledged the effort put in by so many people that helped to ensure the equipment stayed safe and dry. In class discussions a plan for a thank you celebration was outlined and the students became
busy preparing for the party. They decided to make medals for all those members of the NIST community who dedicated their time to help keep their toys safe, and to host a party where the medals were presented, along with fresh mint iced tea and cookies, hand made by the Early Years students. Not only did the students become responsible for preparing for the party, but also took on important roles when the party was held; setting up the tables, serving the iced tea and cookies and presenting the medals. The Early Years students really enjoyed this opportunity to show gratitude to members of NIST from all different departments.
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The Class of 2001s Ten Year Reunion and All Class Reunion
Communication and Alumni Manager n December 23 2011 NIST hosted its annual alumni reunion at AmBar, Four Points Sheraton. This event happens once a year and brings together former students and teachers for an evening of reminiscing and networking. NISTs ever-growing alumni network consists of a wonderfully diverse group of individuals with representative students, doctors, scientists, artists, humanitarians and more. This year we in particular celebrated the 10 year reunion of the Class of 2001, who warmly welcomed their
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former homeroom and geography teacher Mr. Ananda who flew in from Sri Lanka. Around one third of the Class of 2001 attended the reunion, which is quite a strong turnout! The night was a great success with around 95 attendees, great music and food, and of course a lot of catching up. A video was played of NIST in 1993 and attendees remarked on the many great changes the School has undergone in its 20 years.
Many alumni flew in from abroad and it was an exciting time where alumni reconnected after years without having seen one another. It is important to stay connected and NIST greatly values its alumni network keeping in touch and attending this highly anticipated annual event. The NIST Alumni Association looks forward to welcoming the Class of 2012 to the network at the end of this academic year.
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NIST Alumni: Keeping in Touch

he NIST Alumni Association (NISTAA) thrives as a dynamic group of individuals from around the world who have taken many different paths to end up where they are today. What binds all alumni together is their shared history at NIST. Whether they started in 1992 or joined NIST only last year we value the over 3,000 individuals who are a part of our expansive network. For those students who attended NIST for one semester and to those who donned the NIST graduation caps and gowns, NISTAA aims to keep in touch with all those who have stepped through our doors. Our alumni are an important part of our community, they offer insight into the different paths our current students may take, they are evidence of our diversity and they demonstrate the incredible
merits of having an international, IB education. As we continue to grow we are furthering our role to include professional networking. We recognize the attributes of IB graduates, of individuals who studied at NIST, and seek to better utilize our NIST community as a base through which professional networking for our graduates might occur. As this endeavor evolves we encourage our community to help support our alumni. Please find below a few examples of our wonderfully talented and diverse alumni group.
6). I was married in September 2010 to my lovely husband Terry (everyone calls him TJ) Gordy Jr in Malibu. We just celebrated our one-year anniversary. I graduated with my JD/MBA this past year (2011) and am now working as a Business Development Director with the American Heart Association here in LA. Ive attached a picture of me and my husband (along with his family and my family, including my brother Chad Nonsrichai). I also wanted to include a bit of information on my brother, Chad Nonsrichai (who would have graduated with the Class of 2005). Chad is getting his Masters in International Relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing after graduating from UC Irvine in 2010.
Melissa Gordy (2001)

My name when I attended school was Melissa Nonsrichai. I attended NIST from the inaugural year of 1992-1994 (for Years 5 &
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Melbourne Institute of Technology, and continued a Business Marketing course in Bangkok. Having completed these two courses I realized I could do well in the business world and took my first job as an accounts manager at a Forex, commodities and futures trading company. I am now working with UOB Securities as an equity broker. Despite relative successes I have had in the business world there was a feeling that something was missing. I lacked the passion necessary to really succeed in business and recognized instead a passion of a very different sortbaking! Ive decided to take a big step by following my passion and I have recently started a cupcake business. Being able to hear and experience positive results from customers and friends has been greatly motivating and I am now expanding my business. It has been an interesting journey that has brought me here where instead of analysing the stock market I now conjure up new and exciting recipes, with only the finest ingredients, like Apple & Cinnamon or Chocolate Strawberry. I strive to create special memories with my cupcakes and I find it exceptionally satisfying and rewarding to be a part of peoples special days. I am
Jordan Ann Krieger (2009)

I am currently studying to receive a Bachelors degree in International Hotel and Resort Management at the Blue Mountains International Hotel management school in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. I will be graduating and completing my studies this April after 3 long years of study. After graduating I plan to obtain a Graduate Management Trainee Position in Human Resources in Bangkok. Besides all of this after 6 long years in Thailand my brother Cole Krieger who many of you may know has moved back to Canada for university and my parents are moving to Indonesia in January. I definitely miss Bangkok and am excited to go back and begin my new career. Yours, Jordan Ann Krieger Sandy Wu (2003) I graduated from NIST in 2003, and then I went to Mahidol University International College (MUIC). After that, I went to The University of Sydney and got my Masters degree in both International business and International marketing. I have decided to come back to Thailand to start my own business instead of going back to my home country, which is Taiwan.
My husband and I have decided to start a wholly owned business and it is a boutique hotel located on Wireless road in the city of Bangkok. It is a brand new boutique hotel with 43 rooms and I am running this hotel as a creative director. The hotel is called The Moonite Hotel www. themoonite.com.
Elisa Wong (2004)

Hello fellow NIST students, parents and teachers. As an alumni student class of 2004, I would like to take this opportunity to share my experiences with what life has brought me since leaving NIST. After NIST I went to Melbourne to study Fashion at the Royal
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thankful to NIST for equipping me with the skills necessary to think outside the box and to strive for excellence in what I do. I look forward to catering events for the NIST community.
spent in Toronto was an enriching experience. I lived on my own for the first time, discovered the joys of boxing and made some amazing friends. After Ryerson I returned to Bangkok and was told by my mom to not laze around so I went and looked for a job in the classified sections of the papers. At the end I landed the first job I applied for: Writer/Reporter for the Guru Magazine of the Bangkok Post. I worked there for two years before leaving to seek out other ventures. I then worked for a Japanese Anime channel called Animax for about 7-8 months. During that time I learnt the inner workings of TV production, sales and marketing skills. During Animax I decided to take a bold move: quit my job and take all the skills that I have acquired from MTV, the Bangkok Post and Animax and put it into what I loved: fishing. I have always been a fisherman but was never truly serious or dedicated until moving back to Thailand from Toronto. When I returned it became a serious
Sittipon (Oz) Chanarat (2003)

I left NIST in 1999 to finish high school in Geelong Grammar School, the same school that Khun Mechai graduated from. Following that I came back to Thailand for a year to enrol in ABAC in their BBA programme but didnt like it so I sent out some University applications to Canada. During my time at ABAC I won a talent search competition and landed a job at MTV Thailand as a VJ. I ended up taking a four-yearcourse in Arts and Contemporary Studies in Ryerson University, Toronto. There, I worked at the University bar and cafe, waiting tables, playing doorman and setting up conferences to make some extra money while living alone. During my stay, I discovered boxing at the Cabbagetown boxing gym, a move that would further my self-esteem. The time
hobby because I could finally afford to do it. In 2009, after spending one year working for the Bangkok Post I decided to start a small blog on Wordpress. com to document my passion. The blog was registered under http:// bangkokhooker.wordpress.com. I had started Bangkokhookers Fishing in Thailand. Over time my blog grew. After a while I bought my own domain http://bangkokhooker-fishing. com. After quitting my job at Animax I decided to turn my website into an online magazine, a place where people can come to learn more about fishing in Thailand. My revenue comes from advertising merchandising sales and in the future I will branch out to also do fishing tours for locals, tourists and expats. Today, Bangkokhookers Fishing in Thailand is on the first page of Google when searched under the query of Fishing in Thailand, and it has over 180 pages of fishing resources. I treasure the warm memories of the great friendships I had back at NIST.
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Congratulations Falcon Athletes!

By Paul Hodgkinson
Athletics and Activities Director
ur students once again represented the School well during the first season BISAC tournaments, and were great ambassadors for NIST both on and off the court of play. It was rewarding to watch our athletes improve individually and more importantly, to observe teams come together as the season progressed. It was great to see team work, team spirit, fair play and students having fun! These are fundamental to NISTs team sports and the enthusiasm was infectious.
BISAC Under 13 Basketball Boys
BISAC Results: First Season August November 2011/12 Champions

Boys U19 Volleyball Boys U15 Basketball Girls U13 Basketball
Runners Up (2nd)
Boys U19 Soccer Girls U19 Soccer Boys U17 Volleyball Girls U17 Volleyball Boys U17 Soccer Boys U13 Tennis
BISAC Under 15 Basketball Boys
3rd Place
Girls U17 Soccer Boys U13 Basketball Girls U13 Tennis
4th Place 5th Place
U15 Girls Basketball
U19 Girls Volleyball

BISAC Under 17 Soccer Girls
SEASAC Results: First Season

Golf Team- Runners Up
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BISAC Champions Under 19 Volleyball Boys
BISAC Under 17 Volleyball Boys
BISAC Champions Under 15 Basketball Boys
BISAC Under 17 Volleyball Girls
BISAC Champions Under 13 Basketball Girls
BISAC Under 19 Soccer Boys
BISAC Under 13 Tennis Boys
SEASAC Golf
BISAC Under 19 Soccer Girls
BISAC Under 17 Soccer Boys
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Celebration of NIST Gymnastics Internal Event: 3rd December 2011
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For the Love of Basketball- Top Flight

Communication and Alumni Manager he has ingrained in him a deepseeded goal of raising the profile of basketball here in Thailand and eventually across South East Asia. Upon retiring from basketball in 2010 Ike made the decision to try something new, law school. While studying for the LSATs and preparing himself for a new, and very different chapter of his life, Ike was invited to the American School of Bangkok to speak about his passion. Shortly afterwards, NIST Counselor (and head basketball coach) Randy Wallis invited Ike to come to NIST and speak to the students about his experiences and playing career. With his love of basketball quickly overpowering his love for law school Ike saw potential in NISTs diverse and active student body. He believed that starting a programme at NIST would open a new gateway to endless opportunities. And with this great initiative the Top Flight Basketball Academy was born. It started as a one-day afterschool ECA and has since taken off to what is now an academy that instills a multitude of basketball and life skills in its students. Today Top Flight is operating in strength to Ikes vision; with ECAs at four international schools successfully setup. The question then arose. What next? Top Flight continues to grow with a Mens league,
s Thailand embraces, and seemingly starts to love all different sorts of Western imports, the question remains for sports: can a Western sport be successfully introduced and popularized in Thailand? The idea of first introducing pizza to Thailand some 20 years ago was thought of as ridiculous, a guaranteed failure. This is a far cry from the mile-long lines witnessed on any given day when walking past Krispy Kreme donuts, a line which started day one onwards. Thais are arguably some of the most interested and eager people there are. They are often keen on trying new things, eager to be first and excited to experience Western style shopping malls, cuisine, fashion and more. What about basketball? Can Thais, a population dominated by the love for foot sports, become lovers of basketball? A man by the name of Ike Nwankwo has dedicated his time to do exactly this. Moving to Thailand as a professional basketball player himself, Ike had a unique insight into the possibilities for basketball in Thailand. With an extensive and varied career, Ike has had the good fortune of playing professional basketball around the world, from the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers in the USA, to leagues in Russia, Spain, Turkey, Venezuela, and Thailand amongst others. With these experiences
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Stars Camp (the U.S. summer exchange camp) and a Varsity league encouraging a love for basketball from children just 3 years old up through to men in their 60s. The players are from around the world, as are the coaches. Every coach on the Top Flight staff is either a former professional or division 1 college basketball player. The teams range from those which are recreational to those that are competitive, offering something special for just about everyone. The NIST community is actively involved, with a NIST alumni interning as a coach, students involved in the ECAs, attendance at the varsity league and Star Camp, and with NIST staff, board members and parents playing in the mens league. It is fair to say that Top Flight has not only raised the profile of basketball in the NIST community but it has also helped instill a great love for the sport. The unique opportunities offered to the NIST student and staff body are incredible. Perhaps most notable is the Top Flight Stars Camp where students travel to Los Angeles California, one of the meccas of basketball, to train at the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA basketball camps for two weeks. This year students will be going to the Kobe Bryant Academy in Santa Barbara California to train with arguably the greatest basketball player in the world, Kobe Bryant. The skills and training they receive will undoubtedly help to impart a passion for basketball in the next generation, which will perhaps then inspire participants to follow in Ikes footsteps. With Ike planning on expanding
through the establishment of a womens league, his goal is certainly looking quite feasible. In January 2012 Ike and the Top Flight Basketball team will also begin its new season of the Bangkok Junior Basketball League (for students age 5-15), giving students another outlet to hone their basketball skills. The NIST community is thankful for this training and the foundation of a passion for basketball. These lessons of hard-work and determination and Ikes incredible commitment to the sport of basketball have been both fun and inspiring. For more information on the TopFlight basketball academy please visit their website at www. topflightbangkok.com
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Sheila Taromina The Model Of Perseverance

By Supranee Taecharungroj
Development Director
n American Olympic Gold Medalist in the 4x200 meters freestyle division and an ITU Triathlon World Champion Sheila Taormina visited the New International School of Thailand (NIST) and spoke to over one hundred NIST athletic students and staff on Friday 7 October. The School also supported her in hosting two one-day swim clinics for Bangkok triathletes, on the 8th and 9th of October, at its 25-metre swimming pool. Sheila, the smallest swimmer (158 cm) to win an Olympic gold since 1920, and the only woman in the world to have competed in three different sports (swimming, triathlon and modern pentathlon) in four consecutive Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), shared with NISTs young and enthusiastic athletes and staff her inspirational stories of how she overcame several challenges in her quest to qualify for the Olympics. To her, success came from
perseverance, commitment, hard work, the desire to succeed and sometimes, breaking the paradigm. There is the occasional city where I feel a connection from the first moment I land, and Bangkok is one of those cities. I am in love with the people, the culture, the food, and the energy. During the first 24 hours of my visit I had the pleasure to come to NIST. The students questions were insightful, which is a sign of champions. Sheila said after the assembly. Such an inspiring figure, with very good humour and lots of energy, Sheila has encouraged us all to fight for our dreams. Her story is clearly not the rise to the top quickly and make millions story but get an education, work the best you can with what you have and never give up story, said Paul Hodgkinson, NISTs Athletic Director.
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The swim clinics for triathletes held at NIST received rave reviews from the participants When I first asked around whether there would be an interest in a clinic with Sheila, many thought the triathlon community in Thailand were not ready for training at this level, but the response has been enormous. In less than a week, the 24 slots were taken and there was a waiting list! says Edle Tenden who initiated the clinic.
Africa, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Mexico, Japan, Poland, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Holland..... and of course Thailand...this could only happen in a city as hip as Bangkok! It was great fun. I feel that I have made friends from around the world, Sheila said after the swim clinics.
As a sponsor, we were proud to support Sheila Taorminas clinics. The practical content enriches It was a great day - a real change in mindset for the knowledge and passion of Thailands sport my swimming. I now feel far more motivated to get community, said Fausto Izquiel of Bike Zone. into improving my technique and therefore my times. Sheila was great! said Jason Williams, one of the Bangkok marks the start of Sheilas world clinic tour. participants. After Bangkok she went to Hong Kong, Singapore, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai. I have coached swim clinics for 15 years, and this one in Bangkok was most unique because of the international diversity, with attendees from South
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At First I was Just a Girl Sitting on a Horse

am and Patty Vuntanadit first began horseback riding after watching their father ride recreationally in Khao Yai at a very young age. From the first time Pam, now 14, sat on a horse she knew she would be riding for a very long time. Her little sister Patty, now 10, used to take a turn on Pams horse when her lessons were done at just three years old. She too had an instant connection to the sport. These days the girls ride competitively and individually have both great talent and ambition. With their love for the sport firmly cemented the family began looking for stables that could provide training and mentorship. This is how they first visited Jojo Horse Club in Pattaya and met their coach Mike, who was on the Thailand national team for both dressage and eventing. After the girls watched him compete in the SEA games, he became one of their biggest inspirations and remains so today. Pam rides a beautiful Hanovarian horse called Western Lightening and Patty rides a pony named Baby Mix. The girls could arguably call the Jojo Club their second home, as they spend each and every weekend in Pattaya training and bonding with the horses. Buying their own horse is a dream both girls talk about excitedly, they have great aspirations to buy a Prix Saint George from Europe and delight in the idea of having a horse to call their own.
Western Lightening rides with their coach on the national team and Baby Mix is also a very experienced pony because his owner competes with the pony, the girls both feel very lucky to have such experienced horses. Although the sport is predominantly a lot of fun it can also be a fairly dangerous sport, a lesson the family learnt when their father fell off a polo horse in Khao Yai. As a result the girls took a break from riding for about a year where as Pam puts it my mom was so scared it would happen to us. They started back up in 2008, and have been riding continuously since. From the early days of first getting acquainted with horseback riding to today, Pam and Patty have gained incredible skills and done remarkably well in
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competitions. Some highlights include the 2011 FEI World Dressage Challenge 5 where Pam placed 1st in the Thailand Preliminary Class and 3rd Place in South East Asia Ranking. Patty who says I am not that strong to handle a horse has herself done very well on Pony having recently placed 2nd in the preliminary category 1 at the 2011 Thailand Pony Championship. Both girls have competed in sub junior (under 14) and open (mixed ages) competitions although Pam is now preparing for competitions in the junior division (under 16). They remark that the standard of competition in Malaysia and Indonesia is higher and speak about their aspirations to compete in the SEA games in the future (hopefully on their own Prix Saint George!). The sport of horseback riding has taught both Pam and Patty not only a love for the sport but also a number of valuable skills and lessons. As Patty herself puts it at first I was just a girl sitting on a horse
but through hard work and commitment she is now a strong competitor with big aspirations. Patty feels her biggest accomplishment is that on the journey I have taken to get here, I learnt a lot on sportsmanship. Additionally both girls talk about how the sport has greatly strengthened their time management skills where they must work hard at finding a balance between their busy school life and their horseback riding life. In looking towards the future the girls plan to compete in a series of competitions next year and notably in the Kings Cup which is the championship for dressage, show jumping and eventing. Their long term goals are extensive to own their own horse, compete in the SEA games and finally to compete in the Olympics. No one from Thailand has ever competed in the Olympic Games and with their commendable commitment and remarkable skills Patty and Pam Vuntanadit are on their way to achieving their dreams.
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With great power, comes understanding responsibility

By Shilpita Mathews
Student, Year II
his is a blog post written for the website of TEDx Youth Krungthep. This year a TED conference for youth is to be organized by the Concordian International School in Bangkok. The theme of this conference is Be Inspired. The official blog contained articles questioning the inspiration of todays youth. There will be a highly enthusiastic team representing NIST in the conference ranging from speakers, to students working in the marketing and publishing team of the conference. Due to the floods the conference had to be postponed and is now being held on March 31st, 2012. Please visit the official website for more details and to learn how to get involved. http://tedxyouthkrungthep.net/ With great responsibility power, comes understanding empower us but enslaves us as we get sucked into its digital world. At times, we overlook the pressing issues of our world and lose ourselves in it. Our world indeed is taking a new turn, but in which direction? With the dependence of our world on technology we cannot lose our own independence. The same technology used to spend pointless hours procrastinating has mobilized youth in the Jasmine Revolution. The same technology used to gossip about others has exposed the dictators of despotic regimes. For once, it is not governments or higher authorities that have been empowered but it is the youth of today. Perhaps if we not only grieve over the death of Steve Jobs, the great founder of todays technology, but grieve with Libyan people over the suffering that they have undergone; we might demonstrate this independence. If for a change we do not check the latest scandals on Facebook, but message the kid in class that does not talk much, we might demonstrate independence. Maybe if we do not let this power overtake us, but work hand in hand with it one day, we might understand the value of this great responsibility. The day, when we truly understand this great responsibility, is when the world will witness todays youths great power.
By now all of us know that the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is dead. Everyone has watched it on the news or seen a video on YouTube. Or perhaps, read it on Facebook or Twitter. In a span of minutes, information had spread around the whole world. Todays technology has enabled us to have access to the world like never before. Young people do not need to meet physically to have a group conversation or be present at school, as they have virtual classrooms. Most teenagers spend an average of 30 hours a week in front of a screen, be it the television or a computer. However, how do they utilize this time? Is it by analyzing photographs of someones new dress, or reading wall-to-walls of fellow friends? Or perhaps, by watching movies or playing games on the computer? There has been a lot of criticism about todays technology. However, it is not the technology itself that needs to be criticized but its use. In the words of Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility, and this implies the power of technology. This power is so great that it is the key to our future. The Arab Spring itself is the best recent example of technologys great potential. Technology was used to empower others and make their voices heard. Nevertheless; sometimes, technology does not
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Ovaltune at NIST
hroughout the first semester beautiful sounds of instruments and voices could be heard across the School once a month during morning break. Students and staff would eagerly occupy the oval area to listen and enjoy the showcase of talents while having their snack. Many parents would also come to support the students in their performances organized by NISTs Instrumental Programme. The Ovaltune performance has been growing tremendously and the community enjoys the monthly display of musical talent. This event provides a platform for students in the Instrumental Programme, both elementary and secondary, to perform in front of their peers and showcase their talent. There are 15 professional teacher musicians in the Instrumental Music Programme of whom the majority play for the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and Bangkok Philharmonic. We look forward to the upcoming performances in the semester ahead and applaud all participating students and staff members.
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The Write Stuff!

By Selena Gallagher
Exceptional Learner Manager ovember was National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short) and NIST students from both the elementary and secondary schools eagerly took up the challenge. NaNoWriMo challenges everyone to write a novel in just 30 days. Participants begin writing on November 1st and must meet their word-count goal by 30th November. Adult participants have a word-count goal of 50,000, but students taking part in the Young Writers Programme are encouraged to set their own challenging individual word count goals. This November, over 300,000 adults, children and teenagers from many parts of the world have worked on novels, collectively writing around three billion words. They were joined this year by budding NIST novelists from year 4 to year 12, who have been taking part in NaNoWriMo for the first time, with individual word-count goals ranging from 2,500 to 30,000 words. As was the case with lots of other events, the floods and the school closure interfered with our preparation for NaNoWriMo and we werent even back at school on 1st November in time for the challenge to start. However, the students rose to the occasion admirably, and the extended break allowed many of them to give their word counts a real boost. Year Five student Schwinn Saereesitthipitak demonstrated incredible dedication, achieving his original goal of 4000 words
in just three days! He immediately started on a sequel. By the end of November, the 13 elementary novelists had written a combined total of 74,709 words, with many exceeding their original goals by as much as 254%! Juggling heavier workloads, nine participants from the secondary school still managed to write a combined total of 101,594 words during November, with five of them successfully meeting or exceeding their challenging word count targets. In particular, Year Eight student Aylie Fucella demonstrated incredible perseverance and consistency to achieve her ambitious target of 30,000 words with a day to spare. Some novelists even managed to persuade their parents to take part too! This high-velocity approach to novel writing is designed to encourage students to take risks, and to develop fluency, confidence and creativity, not to mention time-management skills! Having produced the first draft of their novels in such a short period of time, the students will now take some time to revise and edit them, before having their books professionally printed and bound. Look out for these books in the library later this year, and for these budding authors to show up on the bestseller lists of the future.
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Cameron Gardiner 5KK

Iapetas Lair Adventure/ Fantasy NaNoWriMo has been an amazing experience for me. It taught me what it was like to be a real writer.
Maya Russell 5KK

Finders, Keepers, Losers, Stealers Realistic adventure I think NaNoWriMo is amazing because it helps me improve my imagination, typing and writing. I think opportunity will push me to do my best.
Cedar Cox-McAllister 5KK

The Moon and the Stars Realistic fantasy When Im in NaNoWriMo I feel famous. Also its fun and it has strengthened my writing skills. I think whoever is in NaNoWriMo is lucky.
Leela Gray 5KK

Give Me Ten Reasons Why 5th Grade Isnt A Bummer! Realistic fiction/ funny I like NaNoWriMo a lot because its very organized and encourages kids who would like to be authors to follow their dreams! I support this!
Caitlin Dixon 4NB

The Odyssey of a Pegasus Adventure I think NaNoWriMo is fun and encouraging.
Taj Hutchinson 4CS

Aneurin and the Fire Dragons of Falconor Blend of fantasy and adventure NANOWRIMO is SOOOO fun!
Vin Tantisunthorn 6SS

The Quantum Boy: Time Traveller
Stefan Hahn 6SS

iFly
Combination of Young Adult fiction/ Sci-Fi/ Adventure/ Young adult fiction/realistic fiction Fantasy NaNoWriMo has been challenging but it is worth the time because it helps me get better at writing and literature. Sometimes its hard but most of the time it is fun because I get to control the story. NaNoWriMo is awesome!!! Its a little challenge but in the end youll be thankful and very happy. Its an amazing experience for young writers.
Caitie Dalgliesh 6SS

Once Upon a Past Comedy/Sci-fi It is a lot of work but totally worth it!
Schwinn Saereesitthipitak 5KK

The Center of Power/ The Stratus Gem Science fiction NaNoWriMo really boosts our confidence and commitment. It is a freedom to do this but since we forced ourselves a bit, we continued on. And guess what? It turned out to be really fun.
Doogi Suh 5KK

The Mysterious Journey of Alastair Jones Fantasy This was a fun challenge and I feel I really expressed my style of writing. I like writing fantasy.
Daniel Cooper 5KK

Pokemon Tales Fantasy Writing a novel is a bit boring but Im doing NaNoWriMo to get my book published. Im growing impatient because I am waiting for fan mail and it has not come.
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Morgan Gardiner 4HP

Bulk and Mikes Revenge/ Venomheads Lair Fantasy NaNoWriMo is a fun challenge.
Namsai Sethpornpong (Y8)

Hit and Run Mystery This was a great experience because Ive always wanted to write a novel but I never worked up the courage to start. With this competition Ive finally been able to finish my aspired goal.
Aylie Fucella (Y8)

The Ice Arrows Fantasy/Adventure
Juli Lin (Y7)

Kidnapped From Bed OR Greek, Latin and Faeries Adventure
I am planning to go over the word count goal, so really Advice for students doing NaNoWriMo: dont stress challenge yourself! You never know how big your out over the number of words you have just work imagination can be! super hard in free time or on the weekends like I am right now!
Austin Gallagher (Y9)

Shift Fantasy NanoWrimo was a fun and interesting experience, even if it caused me lots of stress during a busy time. I will be participating again next year for another great month of writing and creativity.
Callum Gallagher (Y12)

Only Superhuman Science Fiction The whole idea of NaNoWriMo is to put your inner editor away and just write. And its great to be able to do something like this in only a month. It was a serious challenge especially with school to find the time and keep above that golden line on my NaNo stats. And its really fun to share your ideas with other young authors from all around the world. A real must for any young author.
Other secondary students who participated were: Ananya Singh (Y8), Hannah Cooper (Y9), Disha Subramaniam (Y12), Alana Alameida (Y12).
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Theme Park of Fear

By Aylie Fucella
Student, Year 8
As I stumble through the evergreens, Fear is my only companion I am alone without the means Of survival Like monsters, their faces gleam A picture that stays in minds Forever They come in dreams, you cant keep them out Afraid, I am, of the painted faces In the night The thunder is bellowing at the top of its voice The lightning blinds the eyes, A piercing white fork The rain drenches and you are cold You dive for cover but you Cant escape I tiptoe into the terribly tall building Of many ugly MEs gawking back And shivering Some long, some short, every face contorted But with the same emotion visible, Fear I start running, then galloping Is this torture endless? I am lost I see the Arch, my exit path My way out of this terrifying Misery I reach the gate, out of breath Happy that Ive triumphed and feeling Brave Hopeful, was I, and glad for the experience I had faced my terrible Fears As I stride through the evergreens, Happiness overpowers me, Because I have the means,
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Bangkok International Choir Festival 2011

By Hoyon Mephokee
Student, Year 12
n the 14th and 15th of October, the NIST Secondary Concert Choir was fortunate enough to join eight other international schools, at the 17th annual Bangkok International Choir Festival. This years BICF featured performances by choirs from Bromsgrove International School, Dalat International School from Penang, Faith Academy from Manila, Grace International School from Chiang Mai, ICS, ISB, Jakarta International School, and Shrewsbury. In addition to having individual performances by each participating choir, BICF also featured a festival chorus, led by guest conductor Dinah Helgeson, where the nine participating schools joined together to sing 5 pieces. When you listen to someone sing, it is music. But when you listen to 270 students sing all together in harmony, it is beyond description. All 270 beautiful voices combined into one big harmony, and it sounded amazing. I love working with different students from different schools, and this was a great opportunity to get to know people of the same interest, and that is to SING! Teresa, Alto Singing in choir has been an unforgettable
experience for me and taught me valuable lessons that I will be able to use throughout my life. Thank you for the memorable experience, Mr Nicholas! Hiroko, Alto The choir festival was a magical experience. We rode on a train of hope, and of peace. Tshotsholoza stimela sam (this song is a new version of a traditional miners song that originated in South Africa it means Go forward, a train of peace) Anonymous. During the two days at BICF, we worked with 270 students from eight other schools and rehearsed five pieces: Muie Rendera, Hold Me, Rock Me, Tshotsholoza, The Seal Lullaby, and Let Everything That Hath Breath. Throughout the day Ms. Dinah Helgeson, the visiting guest conductor, worked with us and helped us reach our full potential. Full of energy, and always willing to try something new, Ms. Helgeson showed great enthusiasm when working with us and constantly urged us to do better. Anyone would have recalled her shouting sing at my face men, show me what youve got! at the Basses and Baritones, and urging the Sopranos to Sing and keep that high note, this is your moment! The practice
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sessions were intense and energy-draining but they were very fulfilling and satisfying as we were given the chance to hear ourselves develop our abilities. Choir has allowed me to express myself in a way I cannot imagine, the first few days I started to sing along side some very wonderful people something inside of me changed. Pobai, Bass Its an opportunity to sing in front of people for the first time, and to perform as a team of NIST and other schools. And also I got to meet many talented singers. Top, Bass Singing in a Choir, didnt just change me, it changed all of us who attended, each of us learned a valuable lesson that could only be forged with great inspiration that came from each other Arnold, Bass Over the course of two days, we were exposed to something remarkable that forever changed our lives. Learning from Ms. Helgeson, we didnt just grow as musicians, but also as people. We learnt valuable lessons from her, including lifes priorities what really mattered and what didnt. We owe a great deal to Ms. Dinah Helgeson, who did so much for us with all her heart and soul, with nothing to motivate her but her love of music and her undying desire to share it with the world. Music is one thing, but the kind that truly comes from your heart is another. Ms. Dinah taught me that
and I will be forever thankful for the experience I had at BICF this year Irene, Soprano Choir is a wonderful activity that helped me develop my voice and my personality and I hope it goes with me in the future :) Tapanga, Soprano It was a wonderful experience for me. That was the first time I ever joined the choir so I was nervous but I loved it. I learned my strengths and weaknesses at singing and I hope I can keep going with the choir Do Yeon (Jenni), Soprano I joined the NIST Secondary Concert Choir a couple of months ago, and I can truly say, without a doubt, that in the short few months that I have been a part of the concert choir, I have seen us grow both as students and as musicians. Having been a part of several musical groups, I understand and have felt the beauty of ensemble music, but there is something even more beautiful - something even more intimate and personal - when one hears many voices singing in harmony. Unlike playing an instrument, where you are pressing a key or moving a bow, singing is truly genuine, and it is straight from the heart. It is this genuineness of emotions that allows one - either performer or listener, to truly feel and appreciate the music. For music sheds all the burdens of reality and allows us to experience something truly magical - a flawless paradigm of beauty and passion in its true essence.
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London Calling
By Nimisha Baruah Ebbers
Student, Year 12
hisked away by our Drama teachers, Ms Annie and Mr Roger, we found ourselves facing an experience of a lifetime. From navigating the London Tube to drinking tea, eating scones, a pilgrimage to Shakespeares grave in Stratford, having picnics and enjoying the sunny English weather the Drama Trip to Europe was truly enriching. We were able to watch, critique and most importantly enjoy a whole range of theatre. Amongst them were: Billy Elliot, War Horse, a heart wrenching piece
about 9/11 called Decade, and of course we couldnt miss Shakespeares Much ado about nothing which NIST put on last year, Bollywood style. One haunting piece of theatre The Women in Black had us on the very edge of our seats with fear: it had us gripping each other as well as gripping our teachers. Our ear splitting screams filled the theatre and one audience member even claimed that we were the stars of the show. We have never been so affected and stimulated
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by theatre until this voyage to London. Apart from watching theatre we also participated in two workshops, the first of which was with Alex Clifton, a tutor from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) with whom we explored Stanislavski and his methods of acting. The second workshop was with Complicite, a theatre company exploring movement and physicality where we spent our day imitating the movement of a plastic bag and dancing with
bamboo sticks; karate kid style. However the ultimate testament of our dedication to Drama would definitely have to be our experience at the Globe Theatre. We stood for three hours, our feet aching with pain, not once, but twice in order to appreciate theatre. All sarcasm and aching feet aside, we found ourselves right up front, leaning on the stage with the ability to laugh and relish the Globe in all its Glory.
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Elementary Art Card Fundraiser

By Jules White
Elementary Art Teacher
T
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he Elementary Art department, in light of Thailands flooding, decided to put on a fundraiser for flood relief. After a few initial ideas, it was decided that they would produce Thai Icon cards which would be suitable for all occasions. Students from Ms Jules classes worked in teams to design and print the most gorgeous images. The first group of cards sold out in just 15 minutes. As a result the project expanded and cards were on sale every
Wednesday until the Christmas break. It has been a wonderful way to engage students whilst contributing back to the society in which they live. Proceeds from the sale of these cards will go towards buying equipment and Art supplies for schools affected by the flooding. The Art department hopes for this initiative to expand, allowing students to have an active role in distributing and demonstrating some of the Art supplies.
The Time Travelling Tuk Tuk

By Mark Bourgeois
Whole School Music Coordinator n the nights of Oct 18th and 19th, 110 Year 4-6 students hit the stage performing the original NIST Music Department production Time Travelling Tuk Tuk. With two sold-out shows the atmosphere was electric as the students hit the stage for the opening chorus Out on the Soi. TTTT is set on Soi 15, and focuses on the pollution in the San Saeb canal that runs behind the school. Two street orphans and their crazy professor uncle invent a machine that can travel through time. While transporting it to MBK, they are involved in a traffic accident and are transported forward in time to the year 2111. In the future they see that the city and the people are no more, and that they must go back in time to warn people to change the way they are living before it is too late. The Evil Boss of the Soi and her sidekicks are also eager to get their hands on the machine, along with the mysterious Reaper of Time. Twisting and turning through the portals of
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time, our intrepid crew of time travellers must find a way to save Soi 15, and on their journeys to save themselves. With tunes like Evil is My Game, If I Could See Forever and The Change TTTT is sure to be a worldwide hit! This original Music Department production was written with the help of a group of 20 Year 5 students in the 2010/11 academic year. Working with Mr Mark and Mr Craig these students gained experience in script writing, set design, costuming, lighting, sound recording, production and promotion, to name a few. These students, now in Year 6 became the nucleus of the show with many winning lead parts in the production. They are now the driving force behind an action group called Save our Khlong with a mission to educate the local community about the dangers of polluting Bangkoks waterways. With 10 original songs recorded in the NIST Marley Recording Studio, Time Travelling Tuk Tuk has become a No 1 hit on car CD players up and down Soi 15, with students heard humming the tunes as they enter and leave the school gates. Thanks must go to Khun Surasak who engineered and mixed the music and DVD, Miss Jules and Miss Jessica who worked on the set and with the backstage crew, and Khun Ken who coordinated the lights. Special thanks to Khun Nid and Miss Annie who helped with costuming and provided acting advice for our young cast.
A DVD of the Tuesday night performance and a 10 track CD of the show tunes are available from the Music Department Office.
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The Canterbury Tales

The performance was built around a broad selection of key characters, all with an ability to bring to the Tales their own interpretations through their diverse personalities. A thoroughly enjoyable evening and performance said NIST Headmaster, Simon Leslie. For three nights the senior production of The Canterbury Tales, under the direction and vision of Annie Millard and Roger Mantel, brought the NIST theatre alive through the tales of the 14th century author, Geoffrey Chaucer. This zany comedy chronicled a
group of hilarious characters as each competed in the telling of colourful stories with the hope of awakening the not quite living but not quite dead Geoffrey Chaucer. The stories in this play are nothing short of hilarious with a witty, mature script and a brilliant cast of actors. From the nuns priest to the knight, and from the pardoner to the wife of Bath, the characters in this play are wonderfully crafted. Today, some 700 years after the publication of The Canterbury Tales, the story still lends itself well to creative adaptations best evidenced by this brilliant production of NISTs
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very own dynamic duo, Annie and Roger. It is just as we said in the play, It is better in than out says senior student Syd Sethi in describing his experiences as an actor in the play we didnt know it would all come together so well, at first we didnt really understand the concept, and then after our first dress rehearsal I realized how funny the play was going to be. It was something new, it was
something different, I have done numerous plays before but this time we hadweird, yes, weird characters, interesting characters we had never done before and jokes that were mature. The entire NIST community was thoroughly entertained by the hard-working cast, and highly commended the efforts of the crew and the directors. The Canterbury Tales might have not brought Geoffrey Chaucer back to
life; but it sure did bring the NIST theatre alive for three fun-filled days.
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NIST New Year Festival: Staff Party 2012
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Ritika Mirchandani ritika2200@yahoo.com Thitiphon Untrakul ThitiphonU@nist.ac.th

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