Front Cover by Yuan Yo Wang (12) Back Cover by Mark Schoen from SAS (10) Inside Cover by ISM Bearcats
Letter from the Editors Happy March! It’s hard to believe that we’re all already halfway through the second semester and that exams are coming up in a few short months. Seniors, I hope you’re ready for all the stressful review sessions and long study days that are coming up. Juniors, get ready for one of the last rounds of ISB exams you’ll ever have. Underclassmen, don’t stress too much, you still have a while to go! It’s the time of year when the sun starts coming back out and the temperatures start creeping back up to oven-worthy temperatures that we’re used to. The pleasant twenties-range temperatures and cool breezes of February are now a distant memory. In this hot time, make sure that you’re staying cool and hydrated by drinking lots of water and watching your time in the sun. Speaking of water, the annual water festival of Songkran is coming up! For those who are new to Thailand, this is a festival that is held to celebrate the Thai New Year. Use the break coming up as an opportunity to recuperate, regroup and refresh yourself for the upcoming exams and end of the year. Hold tight, we’re almost there! Katy Lewis
P a n t h e rNa t i o n Head Editor Head Layout Editor Head Writing Editor Advisor
Seoyoung Lee Thanya Chat Katy Lewis Conor Duffy
OPINIONS 01 A New Scheme Comes with New Problems
02 Gap Yeah or Gap Nah?
04 The Mysterious Disappearance of the GPA
FEATURES
05 Three Easy and Healthy Recipes for College Kids
06-07 Catching Up with the Class of 2014 08 Eight Hours a Night Keeps You Feeling Bright
NEWS
09-10 The Vaughn of a New Era
SPORTS
11 Teeing Off/ Ready, Set, Smash!
12 On the Right Track (and Field)/ Hitting First Base
S e ct ion Ed itors Opinions Features Arts/ News Sports
Sarah Lim Sammi Thomas Dan Borenstein Nathan Scott
Rep or t ers
Arya Bhai David Hallengren Stella Kim Madeline Grove Nishtha Jaiswal Carolina Zeitune Sofi Sintes Tosia Lekawska
m co id. k g im
O P I N I O N S
A New Scheme Comes With New Problems A senior’s opinion on the new graduation requirements
Recently, the administration announced revisions to the credit requirements for graduation. These changes, which span most subject areas, will not affect the Class of 2016, but current sophomores and freshmen will be affected under the new scheme. Many of the revisions will have no effect on students anticipating IB Diploma candidacy. According to Mr Phillip Rogers, Dean of Academics, responding to an inquiry from PantherNation, the new, largely more lenient credit requirements are designed to allow students “to follow their passions… and interests.”
Reductions in Core Subject Areas:
A New Language Requirement:
The graduation requirements for mathematics, social sciences and the natural sciences have all been reduced, from 3.0 to 2.0 credits. In effect, this means that students who aren’t pursuing a full IB diploma can (technically) get away with eschewing these subjects for half of their high school careers. This worries me. The administration wants to promote exploration of our passions, but, in doing so, has just leaped with two feet into a very dangerous grey zone. They have presumed maturity on the part of the student body; it’s a flattering gesture, but is it a realistic reflection of the way students behave? I’m more inclined towards the Hobbesian maxim that humans, and students, need a leviathan (incarnate in distribution requirements) to point them in the right direction, for their own good. I don’t suggest that students approach course selection with indifference; rather, I worry that, confronted with the broad course selection options of rising juniors, that they are likely to be insensible to the the doors they are liable to open or permanently close by their selection. I can only hope that the counselors, with some sense of gravity, will provide the requisite prods where sagacity is lacking. That having been said, I can see the upside for those who wish to pursue non-traditional routes; the would-be artists, poets, and singers of our school. It is for them that this decision has been taken, and they will undoubtedly benefit from the new liberties allowed. If used in the manner intended, I allow that the relaxed distribution requirements can do good, but I’m unconvinced that they won’t be abused.
One of the more notable revisions to the graduation requirements is a new 2.0 credit allocation to world languages. Henceforth, IB Diploma or no, all ISB students will graduate polyglots. After all, why not? Despite the pretensions of many a Nichada resident, we do not live in suburban Texas. The school claims to want to nurture global citizenship (it’s in our mission statement), and being able to confidently converse with and learn from those of different backgrounds, often in a foreign tongue, is part of this calling. Language is not only a means of mundane communication, but is also an invaluable window into cultures and lifestyles vastly different from our own. The school does right to recognize this.
What Was Lacking:
Slight Reduction in PE:
Slight is the operative term here. From a previous requirement of 2.0 credits, the physical education department will henceforth relinquish its rights to a semester of your high school career; you will now only need 1.5 PE credits to graduate. This change is to be accompanied by a new policy of recognizing extracurricular sports for credit. Though I recognize that sound health is the first step to a sound mind, I can’t help but applaud this easing of requirements. Too many of my classmates, now in their final semester of high school, are made to sequester their passions in favor of this criterion’s fulfillment. It’s time for that to come to an end.
Notably missing from the new requirements is any change in the arts. From the viewpoint of Mr Rogers, those who want to explore the arts now have more elective credits to do so. Here my leviathan argument rears its head again; students should be made to explore. The arts instill creativity and self-expression, and they offer students an oft-needed but seldom-bestowed sense of accomplishment and appreciation. A requirement of two semesters simply doesn’t reflect the importance that the arts should hold in a scholastic environment. David Hallengren
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O P I N I O N S
Gap Yeah Or GAP Nah? Is a gap year something you should think about?
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gap year is the year between a student’s senior year of high school and freshman year of college. During this year, students spend their time in academic or non-academic courses, doing internships, travelling the world, participating in volunteer work or more.
While many spend their gap years differently, Amber Barnett, ISB graduate of the class of 2013, spent her time in Taipei and Bangkok. She studied Mandarin, did “an internship at an executive search firm,” as well as a “six month internship” at her father’s finance firm. Jayna Milan, an ISB graduate of the class of 2014, had a very different year. She spent her year focusing on her photography career. She has travelled from from Michigan, to NYC, Portland, Cambodia and is currently in Cambodia spending her time doing photography internships, working for different magazines and has also won photography competitions.
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All the lovely photos are from Jayna Milan’s blog: http://www.jaynamilan.com/
Amber B
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Amber Barnett at the zoo with her Mandarin school mates.
Gap years are appealing for many students as for the first time in their lives, they have the ability to live independently and learn more about their passions and themselves. Students choose to take gap years for various reasons, some being they want to figure out what they want to do with their lives or to try and get into a specific university. Jayna opted for a gap year so she could be “refreshed and ready to go” when the time for college came around. A big encouragement for her was other individuals who had taken gap years and returned more “self-assured, passionate and inspired.” Amber said, “while I’ve heard of gap years that have launched people into Ivy League schools, I’ve also heard of ones where the person did nothing but play video games.” So, make sure you spend your year productively. You define what a productive year looks like to you, but consult your counselor, talk to your parents and more importantly, make sure you look forward to what you are planning. Not only did Amber mention how “enriching” her experience was, she also believes she “gained a better perspective on the purpose of school and what skills I actually need to absorb for the real world.” On top of that, her internships during the year helped her “land an internship at a motorcycle leasing firm” during her freshman year of college. Time spent catching up on old television series, or taking a break from the tough years of schooling is not a productive use of your time. Jayna told PantherNation that she
Jayna Milan on her trip to Cambodia.
“believes a gap year is suitable for everyone,” but this also means that you should be proactive. If you are planning on going to college after your gap year, which most students do, universities like to see students who spent their time involving themselves in numerous activities and often, stepping out of their comfort zones. If you are planning on taking a gap year, you can apply to university during your senior year or during your gap year. Jayna said she applied to four colleges during her senior year “and although I was accepted, I decided not to commit just in case my plans changed. So this year, I reapplied to schools (and am really glad that I didn’t commit last year) and am waiting to hear back!” The school you want to get accepted into should not be the sole factor helping you choose between a gap year and college. Amber informed PantherNation that she “got into all the same schools and was rejected by the same one” during her senior and gap years, but she also has friends “who took gap years and were then accepted into Ivy League schools that initially rejected them.” “There could be hope if you don’t get into your first choice,” and Amber also agrees that “as long as you’re proactive, a gap year nev-
“Have a plan (but stay flexible) and make your time worthwhile!”
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er hurts your chances.” To the advantage of most students, some can even sit for the “SATs a second time,” she told us. You should know why you really want to take a gap year before you sit on the decision and refuse to make any changes. “If you have a plan, and think you can stick to it, then go for it! If you generally require external motivation or aren’t sure what you’d do, perhaps school would be better for broadening your horizons,” Amber elaborated. If you have any questions about gap years, talk to the more experienced. If you are seriously considering one, do your research. As a senior who was between going to college and taking a gap year, I know that the thought can be scary. Initially, I thought of taking a gap year but ended up choosing against it, only because I have an idea about what I want to do in college. But it is okay to be unsure. It is okay to want to explore and broaden your horizons. Gap years are perfect for that. Do not start the year staring at the TV screen and expecting to magically have something to do. Plan it out and make a schedule, but from the more experienced, “have a plan (but stay flexible) and make your time worthwhile!” There is a wonderful array of opportunities waiting for all of us out there; we just have to find it. A gap year can either be the best or worst decision of your life, depending on how YOU choose to spend it. Neither Amber nor Jayna said that they regretted any part of their gap year, and that sounds like quite an experience. In the end, it is your life, so no matter what you do, make your time worthwhile.
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3.00 3.37 4.45 4.00 3.20 3.75 O P I N I O N S
The Mysterious Disappearance of the GPA
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What happened to our GPA?
s it 3.5 or 3.475? We no longer know. As of this semester the GPA has disappeared from powerschool. Well, not disappeared really, it is still there, it is just that we students can no longer see it. What? How can this be? Can we no longer obsessively refresh powerschool to see if our GPA has moved down by 0.001? Sadly, or gladly if you really think about it, the answer is plain and simple. Obsessing over GPA is no longer a thing. During the first assembly this year, Dean of Academics, Mr. Philip Rogers gave a presentation and spoke about how there are more important things in life than GPA, about how GPA is does not define you, etc. But according to an anonymous source, “if you consider the fact that GPA plays a part in getting into college and college pretty much determines your life, GPA does [to a certain extent] define you.” Mr. Rogers admitted that GPA is in fact important “but only in the sense that it is important as a cumulative piece and at the end of a semester it is important to be able to say, ok, this is my GPA for this semester.” It is however, “not as as important to know what [your] GPA is everyday.” An anonymous source had a different approach on it and mentioned that they “will have to spend the whole semester guessing whether [they] will make it on the honor roll or not.” Mr. Rogers however countered that argument by explaining that “if a student really wants to work out their GPA… it is pretty easy to do that.” Another student believes that
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hiding the GPA “has just become an inconvenience in our daily lives” since many “students like [them] are still checking their GPAs daily through online GPA calculators.” However, a third student explained that “not being able to see [their] GPA is actually pretty awesome because the GPA is just a number that tells you nothing about what you need to do to improve.” They are happy and believe that “without the GPA [they] will be much less stressed.” Mr. Rogers added that “it is more important to focus on improving in
“It is more important to focus on improving in a particular subject than to worry about having a 3.62 compared to a 3.64.”
a particular subject than to worry about having a 3.62 compared to a 3.64.” Ultimately, grades are important at the end of the semester. But during the semester its “how can I keep improving” that is the most important. Besides, the GPA has not been taken off the semester reports or transcripts. But what were the roots behind the school making the decision to hide the GPA? First of all it is important to realize that powerschool tracks how many times a student goes on it. The school can see this number and according to Mr. Rogers they “have found that some students are almost obsessed with their GPA.” Apparently, “during the last week of last semester when the ex-
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ams were being put on, some students went on powerschool up to 600 times” which is not very mentally healthy. An anonymous source supported that and added that last semester, “many students were more concerned about the grade and how it changes their GPA, and did not focus on the learning or the feedback.” The idea that the school has begun to put into practice this semester is the idea of having grade periods. Friday the 27 of February marked the end of a grade period, which is why the school opened up the GPA for the week of March 2 – March 7. Then they closed it again and according to Mr. Rogers “it will remain closed for another six weeks, another grade period.” This allows students to see their GPA once in a while so they know how they are doing overall. Mr. Rogers concluded that “It is all about being healthy emotionally and mentally and far too many students get very stressed out about their GPA.” But what about the idea that what we do not know only scares us more? In the end, some students will continue to have valid reasons against the GPA being removed from powerschool. However, the school hopes that most students will eventually learn to see this change as a positive one that can decrease the amount of stress in their lives. If not, then after all it only takes a few seconds to Google “GPA Calculator.” Antonina (Tosia) Lekawska
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Three Easy and Healthy Recipes for College Kids
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eing a college student living away from home for the first time can be tough. Doing your own laundry, paying bills, and cooking? Guess where all that stress goes? So, while you may be tempted to order Chinese for the third time that week, or run to the nearest convenience store and grab some instant ramen, doing this every night is both unhealthy and gets boring after a while. So, here are three healthy but easy-to-make snacks and meals you can whip up in your microwave and still get to class on time! 1.
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The Script May 8th Impact Arena Price: 1,000-3,000 THB
4-Ingredient Vegetarian Enchiladas (10 min)
Katy Perry May 14th Impact Arena Price: 2,000-6,500 THB
Corn tortillas 1 can Enchilada Sauce 1 can Black Beans 4 oz. shredded cheese of your choice Microwave-safe bowl
2. Chicken Fajitas (15 min)
Ingredients: Chicken tenders Green Peppers Your favorite seasoning Knife Microwave-safe dish
Slice your peppers thinly and place them in the dish. Season the chicken generously, cover with a lid, and heat for 10 minutes on high.
3. Brownie in a mug (15 mins) • 3 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder • 1/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce • 1/4 tsp Baking Powder • Pinch of Salt • 1 tsp Vanilla • Mug
Combine your wet and dry ingredient separately, then add into your mug. Heat in 30-second intervals until your brownie comes out gooey when a toothpick is inserted. This treat is the perfect way to reward yourself for a night-in after handing in that paper you spent all-night writing!
Credits to simplerecipes.com
Credits to riponpicknsave.com
M A RCH
Jason Mraz and Raining Jane March 21st Impact Arena Price: 1,000-5,000 THB The Backstreet Boys May 6th Impact Arena Price: 1,800-5,500 THB
Assemble your tortilla with the enchilada sauce, black beans on top, and a generous amount of cheese. Roll it up in an microwave-safe bowl on high heat for 5 minutes (when the cheese melts). Indulge in gooey cheese goodness! • • • • • •
upcoming concerts in bangkok
2015
Nishtha Jaiswal
Credits to simplerecipes.com
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Catching Up T
with the
he Class of 2014 has officially finished their first semester at college. We caught up with a few of them to see how they were doing and to reflect on their experiences at ISB!
What college/university are you attending? I’m an Industrial Labor Relations major in Cornell University.
How did the IB program at ISB prepare you for your first semester? The workload and rigor of the IB program has definitely prepared me well for uni. Aside from the extensive knowledge you gain from your IB classes, they teach you to become better writers and thinkers. Time management skills are a huge plus as well. Personally, IB has made me a stronger essay writer and I am reaping the benefits in college. You also feel pretty much invincible after receiving that diploma.
How did joining a sorority help you acclimate to the social culture at your university? The Greek life in Cornell is very prevalent. It’s helped me to create a larger, more stable social base and gives me a reason to leave my bed on weekends. Unlike what most people believe, joining a frat/sorority is not all about partying. Each house dedicates itself to a philanthropic cause, makes extensive efforts to connect and give back to the communiJin Ahn ty, and fosters leadership. It’s all about networking and trying to better yourself in the process.
What college/university are you attending? I am attending New York University at their home campus in New York City.
How did the IB program at ISB prepare you for your first semester? The IB program prepared me extremely well, in many ways, for my first semester of college. It taught me how to make the best of the little time I have, and taught me time management skills that have helped me manage the huge workload I have had throughout my first semester. The IB program helped me get used to reading many chapters of a textbook, preparing presentations for the following class, and efficiently studying for tests and exams.
Do you have any advice for prospective athletes looking to play in college? Definitely go out of your way to train more to become better. Stay hungry to succeed and focus on one sport, because from what I’ve learned in the one semester I’ve been here, athletics are at a whole different level once you compete at the American Collegiate level. If you are serious about getting recruited or playing on a team, get in touch with as many coaches as you can early on in the process to get them interested in you as a prospective student-athlete.
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Martin Brekke
rekke
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CLASS OF ‘14 What college/university are you attending? I am attending the Tisch School of Arts at New York University.
How did the IB program at ISB prepare you for your first semester? The IB program definitely helped me prepare for college in some aspects, but not as much as all the upperclassmen were saying. IB is definitely challenging and teaches you things about time management and prepares you for the workload, but depending on your major, college work is very different from high school. College work is also much more independent and you have to learn most of it on your own, which is something relatively new because our high school teachers prepared us so well for the IB exams. Also, the IB system is curved, while grades in college are not. Another thing ISB taught me that really helped me in university is how to be well rounded. Everyone at ISB is involved in so many different activities and students are encouraged to take initiative and explore various leadership opportunities. It’s such a proactive community and that will definitely help you succeed in college.
What are your thoughts on gap years? I actually was very close to taking a gap year, but some issues came up in July and I ended up having to cancel those plans. I am very pro gap year and I definitely encourage it. We’ve been studying for 13 years straight, so it’s nice to take a break to explore your passions. Gap years give you the ability to weed out interests you thought of pursuing early instead of finding out when you are already in university. I also think gap years make you much more independent, so you enter college as a much more mature and collected individual who is ready to learn. Also, university is such a different environment it takes a lot of courage and confidence to excel, and I think gap years can really help you find that confidence. Cha Patra-Yanan
What college/university are you attending? I am attending University College London School of Medicine.
How did the IB program at ISB prepare you for your first semester? The IB program definitely helped me with getting accustomed to taking notes and staying organized with my studies, especially because we had such a clear syllabus to follow along with. It has also proved really useful in terms of time management, which is crucial to a successful first semester in college.
Did deciding on your field of study early on in the college process help you in any way with your studies? I think figuring out I wanted to do Medicine definitely helped me really focus and prioritize tasks, especially in the application process. Applying to medical school comes with many different examinations and essays and deadlines and requirements, so it definitely required me to organize my life and make sure I was on top of everything.
Eng O-Charenorat
MA RCH
2015
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Eight Hours a Night Keeps You Feeling Bright
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leep deprivation is increasingly becoming an issue of global concern. Despite being aware of its seriousness, one is bound to be shocked when encountering zombie-like high schoolers at ISB and asking them how much sleep they have received. Their replies will vary between smirks, partnered with snarky comments such as “what’s sleep.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the rising number of sleep-deprived teens has called for lack of sleep to be labelled “one of the most common, important and potentially remediable health risks in children.” Kids at ISB continue to stay up until odd hours in an attempt to finish schoolwork, but this label gives us hope that there is a cure out there.
PantherNation sat down with Mr. Graeme Scott, Deputy Head of School, and discussed this issue. According to Mr. Scott, out of 262 ISB High School students who took his survey, 40% claimed that they receive nine or more hours of sleep on weekends. This rate takes an extremely alarming turn on the weekdays, with 31% of these very students sleeping between five to six hours and only a mere eight of the 262 students receiving over eight hours. During the assembly on sleep, Mr. Scott announced that on average, “adolescent students need nine to nine and a half hours of sleep, and everyone laughed.”
It is very difficult to identify one root cause for sleep deprivation, because there might be more than one. For high school students, this issue arises popularly due to homework and procrastination. 46% of the students who took the survey said that they do not get sleep because of homework, but this is likely to open up “another debate.” Mr. Scott
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agreed that “we need to have another discussion about homework and I’d love to talk about that, but if we go straight to that, it’ll take the attention off sleep.”
There are obviously other factors that affect individuals, but both homework and procrastination play a huge role in determining the quality and amount of sleep. Teens are who are fully committed to school and other extracurricular activities are likely to find it difficult to fit a healthy amount of sleep into their schedule.
Although teachers try to balance the homework they assign, it is still very difficult to catch a good night’s sleep when students have multiple major summative assignments the next day. Multiple seniors remarked that procrastination is the one of main reasons they receive less than the required amount of sleep. More often than not, students get home after a long day of sports, service clubs or other activities and spend hours on end scrolling through BuzzFeed or snickering at funny Instagram posts. No matter when they get home, starting homework early is currently the easiest way for students to prevent being up past 1 am. A few nights of missed sleep may not seem like a problem, but this can build up to affect a person’s mind and body. Lack of sleep can affect one’s ability to concentrate and reason, as well as their level of alertness. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to mood issues and is known to impair one’s problem-solving skills. It can also lead to serious health issues, including an increased risk of heart disease, heart failure and even diabetes. Mr. Scott compared sleep to our digestive systems where the “digestion process produces waste and we get rid of the waste. It’s the same with thinking and learning; it pro-
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duces waste products and we get rid of it during sleep. So, if you’re not sleeping, the toxicity level in your brain is increasing all the time.” But all hope is not lost as “we’re sort of ahead of the game at this, because a lot of schools aren’t taking this very seriously, but we really need to.” “Really, I think I have three main points. One being more sleep, another is understanding the importance of sleep and how to get more of it, and finally, sleepy hygiene which includes things like using the computer and then expecting to fall asleep right after or even after caffeine intake.”
The ISB administration is discussing starting school at a later time. Mr. Scott informed PantherNation that school buses are being sent out on “test-drives” in the mornings and afternoons, to observe traffic patterns and to see how a later start time will affect those travelling to and from downtown Bangkok.
Research by the National Sleep Foundation found that delaying school by even an hour, if not more, can increase the amount of sleep teenagers receive, improving their performance in school. Procrastination, on the other hand, is a choice of the students and a change in school schedule may or may not change whether students choose to procrastinate or not. Students may need to learn how to avoid distractions on their laptops, phones or televisions. This is unlikely to end all problems, but it is a start. In the end, there are many factors that affect sleep patterns in our daily lives. What we really need to do is work towards understanding these patterns and the importance of sleep in order to prioritize our health over other factors from time to time. Arya Bhai
N E W S
THE VAUGHAN OF A NEW ERA M A RCH
2015
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“...Change...”
or the 2015-2016 school year, there will be a major administration change in the high school. Mr. Peter Roback, Dean of Students, will be leaving ISB and stepping up to the plate is the current Athletic Director, Mr. Andy Vaughan. While students are sad to see Mr. Roback go, everyone is excited to see what Mr. Vaughan will bring to the table. Mr. Roback says there won’t be dramatic differences to the high school that students will see, but we can expect the new energy and minor changes that comes with any change of leadership. We sat down with Mr. Philip Bradley and discussed how he selected potential candidates for the job. “We had over 60 applicants from all over the world. Many from America, Thailand, and other international schools. After filling out our online application, we selected the best most qualified for an official interview.” Mr. Bradley explained. Some of the interviewees travelled to ISB to see the school and talk in person, but others were interviewed over Skype. After months of interviews, Mr. Vaughan was finally chosen as the best fit for the new position since he already has
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a great relationship with students and knows ISB well. He will be the Dean of Students as of August 2015.
The search for a new Athletic Director to replace Mr. Vaughan is currently underway.
Mr. Bradley also shared his favorite and his most difficult inter-
about what kind of co-worker and person they are. If they answer with something like “well that’s a great question!” it shows that they haven’t thought much about their response and perhaps don’t listen to constructive criticism as much as they could. Mr. Bradley advises everyone to have a few personal anecdotes that are unique that also show that you are open to advice from others when interviewing for new jobs and universities. However, the most important thing interviewers such as Mr. Bradley notice is sense of humor and confidence. If you are easy to talk to and personable, it is amazing how dramatically this can increase your chances for a job. Don’t be afraid to crack a few jokes and lighten the mood.
v i e w question. “What is a constructive piece of advice someone you’ve worked with has given you?” he says this question allows him to tell a lot
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Again, a big congratulations to Mr. Vaughan for scoring such an amazing job at ISB. On behalf of the student body, we are so excited to see more of you around the high school. And to Mr. Roback, your presence and energy will be missed next year. Thank you for all you’ve done for the students at ISB! By Madeline Grove
S P O R T S
Golf Teeing Off T
his month marked the start of the 3rd seasons of Varsity golf. The sport has only been part of IASAS since 2013, and the teams are excited to be underway with the new season. The inclusion of Varsity Golf has been a hugely successful addition into the IASAS community, bringing with it an abundance of talent, quality coaches, and beautiful courses for the participants to compete on. Last year saw a particularly stunning course become available for the final IASAS tournament, in which our boys won bronze and our girls brought home a gleaming gold medal. The boys’ captain for this year also happens to have placed seventh overall in last year’s final
tournament, Tom Lee (12). Tom is a three season athlete, but golf is a nice change from being kicked and tackled for hours in soccer and rugby. Being one of the few returning players, Tom had some interesting thoughts on this year’s team. “From last year, we have lost a lot of returning players who had different reasons for not being able to participate again this year. However, we still have high hopes for this season.” In particular, Tom notes that they “are already seeing a lot of improvement from the novice players on the team.” Mr. Monty Major and Mr. Kevin Callahan will be looking to bring back just as much hardware as
they did with both teams last year, and the players are lucky to recieve coaching from such experienced players. Being probably the next most experienced person in the group, Tom was keen to elaborate on the process of training for golf, as it differes severely from other sports. “Golf is one of the sports that needs months and years of practice to see marginal improvement, and everyone has different areas of the game to work on. So it is really hard to have a specific goal as a team, but everyone has his/her individual goals to be met every practice session.” Nathan Scott
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amount of effort and energy into their practices in order to achieve their goals by the end of the season. The girls’ Varsity Badminton team has high hopes for the season, and practices are already filled with positive energy and whole lot of dedication. The girls have six returning players, who are ready to take on the leadership roles, and five new players, who are all determined to learn and develop new skills from the more experienced players. Co- Captain Yayee Teerakarn (11) states that the girls’ goals for the season are to, “train harder, try [their] best, and put in all their effort in every game.” She also adds that she is “very excited about training together, since [they] have five brand new players,” and everyone is “excited for all the matches that [they] have against the BISAC schools, although they will be very challenging for [them].” Additionally, Co-Captain of the girls’ team, Mii Darakananda (12) says that she is “most excited about getting to bond with all the new mem-
bers of the team and practicing with everyone.” The boys’ Varsity team is also getting ready to face the new season. Although the team only has three returning IASAS players, with nine new players, everyone seems determined to improve and start preparing to face their tough competition this year. Co-Captain of the boys’ team, Kris Ongvises (10) describes his team as determined, cooperative, and ambitious. Co-captain Wit Charnsethikul (12) mentions that the team’s number one goal is “to be able to place top three from IASAS,” by working hard, as well as staying motivated and determined throughout the entire season. Both teams are evidently ready to face the new season with lots of excitement, and everyone seems to already be driven and motivated to practice to the best of their abilities in order to prepare for upcoming games, as well as exchange and IASAS.
Ready, Set, Smash! Badminton
he end of #IASASBKK marks the start of the third and final season of the year. Our badminton players have been itching with desire to get out on the courts and start the season off with lots of excitement and positivity.
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Although the season has just begun, both teams have already started putting a great
Wit Charnsethikul serving backhand
MA RCH
2015
Stella Kim
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S P O R T S
On the Right Track (and Field)
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s the heat and sunlight in Bangkok transcends, our ambitious and hardworking Track and Field athletes are back at it. They have already gone a far way into their training and are practicing to hone their skills and speed in hopes of reaching their goals for this season before the IASAS championship in Singapore. Last year, the boys ended the season with an improved finish of fourth place, and are hoping to continue improving as a team. Dylan Harvey (12) states that “overall [the team] should strive to be connected despite different training regimes and build sprit” to achieve the ultimate team bond. Mr. Bell, the head coach for the girls’ and boys’ Varsity track team believed that “this year [there is] a
large group of returning seniors as well as a large group of freshmen,” and added that he “believes that ALL seniors will be contributors to [the team’s] success this year.” The Girls’ team ended with a sixth place finish last year, but Varisa Limpijakit(10) “hopes the team will apply what they learned from last years IASAS experience to do better for this year. Many seniors last year were important and vital winning points, however, many of the freshmen from last year are back and ready to work. Although the Girls’ team is quite young this year with many underclassmen athletes, the energy is high as Alaina Pinsvises (9) states that her team is “ dedicated and optimistic despite the piercing heat during practice.”
In track and field, training is a vital component to succeeding, but staying motivated is a way that will keep athletes driven to succeed and work at their most formidable efforts in practice. Becky Bradley (11), Captain of the girls’ team, believes that “Track and Field involves an inordinate amount of hard work. Not only does it involve reaching your peak fitness levels, but also developing a very tough mentality.” While the first meet of the season occurred on March 7th, the pre-IASAS exchange will be taking place on the home track on March 15th; our ISB trackletes are ready to take off and see where they end up at IASAS by the end of the season!
new players and bring together a new team for the future.” The boys have also lost a fair number of players from their gold medal team last year, but will be looking to replicate last year’s performances all the same. The girls’ captains this year are Tori Alexander (12) and Emma Curtis (11). The two leaders are filled with excitement for the new season, and were kind enough to share their thoughts on the team’s potential this year. “The players are very young this year.” remarked Tori. “But despite the team’s age, they have proven to be strong, determined players.” “I am very excited for this season. We are fortunate to have a very good team, and positive, dedicated coaches.” Emma also had similar views about the team’s expectations and goals for the upcoming season.
“The level of familiarity and comfort with the sport is startling, considering how young and new/young the team is.” “I am excited to see how this season plays out. I am looking forward to getting to know this very new group of girls and getting to play with a new set of returners next season. Although we will be losing 4 seniors next year, I am positive that with our two great coaches, a team full of dedication, and a whole season to work. ”
Badminton Hitting First Base
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he girls’ and boys’ Varsity softball teams have hit the ground running this year, and facing IASAS opposition so early in the season will have really tested their metal. The two teams come into the new season having both won medals at IASAS last year. The girls picked up a bronze medal and the boys took home gold after a thrilling finale against SAS. Both teams are looking to live up to the expectations they set for themselves last year, or raise the bar even further. The girls’ coach, Ms. Laura Stewart, is optimistic about the upcoming season. “Having lost eight players from last year, we have a very new team this year. However, we are progressing well.” Ms. Stewart also hopes it will be “an exciting year, as [they] develop
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MA RCH
2015
Sofi Sintes
Photo from ISB HS
Nathan Scott & Sammi Thomas
CULCON 2015