K P I S E l e p h a n t Ta l es Semester 1
November 2018
Welcome from Head of School Ms. Dew Intakanok, Head of School Dear Parents and Students,
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n behalf of the KPIS School Board and Leadership Team, I would like to welcome you back to school, for what promises to be yet another successful and memorable school year! The great thing about working in schools is that there is always a fresh start to a new year. New school year brings with it the promise of new beginnings and infinite possibilities. This year, we will continue on the advancements that we have started last year. We will continue to enhance our whole school curriculum, better infuse our ESLRs into everything we do, and most importantly continue to make LEARNING VISIBLE! Last but not least and as a reminder, WASC will be visiting us this school year, please help us welcome them (once the visit date is confirmed we will let you know). And of course, Power School will remain the main mode of communication for student progress.
Last year, we had a successful year, with continued progress and improvement in our quality of education, from AP program development on down to expansion in the Early Years program, and our MAP scores; we have had continued retention of students and growth in student enrollment and most importantly, our reputation as a quality school continues to grow. We will continue to strive to improve and maintain the things we do well. We have a strong team and I am confident that we will have another fantastic year!
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Wai Kru at KPIS Ms. Ritika Mirchandani
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he “Wai Kru” (Teachers appreciation day) was held at KPIS on September 6, 2018. The Wai Kru is a traditional Thai ceremony in which students pay respect to their teachers to express their gratitude and formalize the student-teacher relationship. It is regularly held at the beginning of the school year in most schools in Thailand.
Students practiced for the ceremony and prepared flower making trays the day before “Wai Kru.” The flowers used for this ceremony were: Ixora, with its pointed buds, symbolizes sharpness; Cynodon Dactylon, with its rapid growth and resilience, symbolizes perseverance and the ability to learn; Popped rice, symbolizes discipline; Eggplant, with its attribute to bow low when nearing fruiting, symbolizes respect and humility. The Kindergarten Wai Kru was held at the Kindergarten building whereas, for the rest of the school, the ceremony was held in the auditorium. Students proceeded to the auditorium in the morning. The ceremony opened with the Royal Anthem followed by a speech from the Head of School, Ms. Dew Intakanok. There were chants recited and speeches from Elementary, Middle and High school students. Students then presented flowers to the teachers as a way of thanking them and as a token of respect. There was a surprise emotional speech by Mr. Benjamin Edmunds, Middle School Principal. The ceremony ended with a video and students singing a “Thank You” song. The Kindergarten had a similar ceremony and it was amazing to see how the young students prayed, bowed down and then handed over the flower trays which they had made to their respective teachers. KPIS would like to thank the Thai Department and all others who helped for all their effort.
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Parent Orientation at KPIS Ms. Ritika Mirchandani
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he Parent Orientation at KPIS International School was held in the school auditorium on Saturday 4th August 2018. The day started with parents registering and picking up the students welcome back kits in the breezeway. This was followed by a meeting for all parents at the KPIS Auditorium. The meeting began with a welcome speech and a presentation by the Head of School, Ms. Dew Intakanok. The presentation was an overview of the History of KPIS, Academic progress and the growth in quality at KPIS. The parents were then directed to meet with the respective
Division Principals and Teachers. The Kindergarten parents met in the KG building, 2nd floor; Elementary parents in the Library, 4th floor, Middle and High School parents in the Green Room, 2nd floor. The parent turnout was remarkable and it was a pleasure to meet them. Parents met and became acquainted with the teachers and staff during this orientation session. It was a great morning and we would like to thank all the parents who attended the orientation. 4
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KPIS Parenting 101: Baking with Khun Jeng Ms. Ritika Mirchandani
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everybody measured the ingredients, mixed and scooped the cookie dough onto the baking tray.
The morning started with parents registering for the workshop. They then picked up an apron from the register desk and walked in. Khun Jeng began with baking cookies. Parents could choose to bake alone or in a group. They had to bake cookies from scratch. It was a delight to see how
KPIS would like to thank Khun Jeng and all the parents for their support and participation in making the workshop a success.
he Parenting 101: Baking with Khun Jeng was held on 23 August 2018 at the KPIS Campus. The workshop was from 9.00 am - 11.00 am. It was hosted by Khun Vilailuk Thongchua(Jeng), Milkyway Bakery, KPIS Parent. It was open to all KPIS parents with or without baking experience.
This was followed by a demonstration of brownie baking with 4 different toppings. It was an engaging and handson class where parents spent an enjoyable and memorable morning baking at KPIS.
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The Demo Day for After School Clubs Ms. Siwaporn (Pang) Maneechote
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he main goal of “The Demo Day for After School Clubs” is to provide a fun opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge and have a chance to experiment and participate in each of the clubs, which there are many open this year; for example Cooking, Robot, Football, Drawing, Tae Kwan Do, Fencing and so on.
PLEASE CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE/ SPONSOR IN THE NEWSLETTER. SPECIAL RATES APPLY TO KPIS PARENTS For advertising/sponsoring, please contact Ms. Pornpimol at 02-9437790 ext 515
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KPIS Tuskers ...................... Table Tennis Report
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n Monday, September 17, KPIS sent three teams to Saint John Mary International School to compete in the ISAA Table Tennis tournament. There were a total of 24 students, 4 boys and 4 girls, in each age category, and were accompanied by Mr. Richard and Mr. Jonathan. Each age group had a good win, with the Under 13 Boys placing First in their category. Both the Under 15 Girls and Open Boys ranked really well, both placing 2nd in their respective categories. The Under 13 Girls and Under 15
Boys did not fare as well, both placing last in their respective categories, while the Open Girls came 4th overall. Congratulations to all those who played, a job well done! Under 13 Players Boys: Zurich, Daniel, Robert, Big Girls: Mynie, Marthina, Anda, Minnie Under 15 Players: Boys: Richard, Ting Ming, Tony, Pon Girls: Karah, Drive, Benz, Mild Open Players: Boys: Ken, Peace, Song, Jerry Girls: Keke, Halley, Annie, Maynie “I’m glad that we won the tournament, however, that is not as important as seeing everyone having fun in the tournament. It doesn’t matter if you lose or win, what matters is that you guys are relaxing and enjoying the tournament. The purpose of this tournament is to relax because life is already stressful so why would you want it to be more stressful?” - Captain: Peace, G.10
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From Elementary ...................... Elementary Town House meeting at KPIS Ms. Rebecca (Becky) Petersen
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ll 20 students in class 3/2 actively participated in our first Elementary Town House meeting held on Friday, Sept. 7th, led by Teachers Becky and Abby.
The purpose of KPIS’s Town House meetings is to allow the students the opportunity to present their learning outcomes to-date. It is entirely a student-driven process, with the students taking full charge of planning and practicing for the event during their Homeroom morning times. Ms. Krystal, the Elementary Principal, kicked off the event with an enthusiastic welcome. PorPor, the monthly class leader, was then introduced. She explained how she was democratically elected by her peers, as well as her roles and responsibilities for maintaining a safe, happy and fair classroom environment. Following was a group of 8 students who presented a definition of each of the KPIS ESLRs, as well as an example of how each was applied specifically in the 3/2 classroom. The audience was then entertained with a humorous skit presented by 4 students. The plot was that a new boy from Australia had joined their Reading Class and how two opposing boys influenced him. One boy demonstrated having an open-mind with a kind and caring heart, while the other boy was always negative and unwilling to learn. In the end, the audience learned what “curmudgeon” meant, and most importantly, how not to be one. Next, a few other students introduced the picture slideshow by explaining what types of things would be showcased, such as teamwork, problem solving, reading and writing workshops and project work. The entire 3/2 class was then back on stage to sing and dance to the IB Profile song, which emphasized characteristics KPIS students should strive to have. Then the 3/2 students awarded ESLR certificates; 4 to each classroom though out the Elementary department. The Town House meeting ended with Teachers Adam and John showcasing the two winners from last week’s KPIS Writers, as well as presenting the new writing prompt for the upcoming week. Ms. Krystal concluded the event by encouraging all KPIS elementary students to know, understand and demonstrate the KPIS ESLRs on a daily basis, as well as participate weekly in KPIS Writers. 8
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From Middle School ...................... Welcome Back Middle School Community Mr. Benjamin Edmunds, Middle School Principal Dear KPIS Middle School Parents and Community:
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elcome to those of you that are new to us here at the school, and welcome back to us all!!
This year brings with it the promise of exciting and fulfilling learning opportunities to help our students be challenged and grow towards their fullest potential as we strive to find ways collaboratively to be better than we have been before! We start this journey of learning with a promise to you, our beloved parents and students, that this year will be full of endeavor in creating engaging, meaningful, and rigorous experiences in our classrooms; with value added in activities, special events, extracurricular clubs, and sports it will push our Tuskers to be the effective communicators, critical thinkers, global citizens and lifelong learners that we aspire for them to be! During the 2018-19 school year ahead, it is important that we as a community continue to build upon and develop our solid foundation and focus on English communication, strong character values, KPIS traditions, and continued excellence in education. Our goal in the middle school is to integrate and deepen the development and understanding of learning through character values in our homeroom time, classes, cocurricular activities and extracurricular activities so that we can add more value to all our children’s learning experiences. It is through all our collaboration and building on each other’s strengths as a community that we can enjoy excellent instruction and foster meaningful learning environments and experiences. Open communication between parents and the school is
key in this regard; working as a partnership we can aid our children on their quest for success. It is vital and plays an integral role in each student’s success. We encourage you to contact us as and when the need arises, and be aware about your child’s studies, assignments, assessments, and school activities, as well as other events and happenings. We encourage students and parents to work in partnership with MS team to take opportunities in all aspects of school life. You will find the QR code for the MS Parent Line group below. I encourage you to join. I am privileged to have the opportunity to continue to serve as the KPIS Middle School Principal. It is an honor to work with our qualified and dedicated staff, our wonderful students, supportive families, and amazing community. As you all know, the middle school years are such a critical time in student development. I look forward to working with each of you to make this school year a success. KPIS is a friendly place with much energy, enthusiasm, and care. It is the place to take hold of those opportunities! Here’s to an excellent new school year as we work together to make our school a great place to be each and every day!
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Peace Wall Mr. Byron Alexander Munro
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he 7/2 students are currently reading The Giver by Lois Lowry. As we have just only begun reading this book the students are eager to gain the foundation of the plot. Everyone has a chance to read which allows us to help
one another when we may come across a word unfamiliar to us (myself included). As their teacher, I am encouraged by their desire to improve each day.
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From High School ...................... Welcome to High School at KPIS! Mr. Matthew Meritt
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y their nature, high schools are busy and complicated places. It is all too easy, when striving to be the best high school we can be, to forget why we are here - the students. Despite the multitude of deadlines and responsibilities that confront them on a daily basis, I have been constantly amazed at how balanced, perceptive, and inspiring KPIS high school students have proved themselves to be. High school is a remarkable time in the lives of our students. They are on the precipice of adulthood and yet depend on the pastoral care of their parents and school to guide them over the ever-increasing hurdles of life. They are shaping their personal identity while searching for inspiration, purpose, and meaning. The high school teachers at KPIS do not assume their role in this process lightly. We are constantly working to provide academic rigor in a safe and caring environment; balancing high scholarly expectations with emotional security and support. Our teachers invest their heart and soul into our students, everyday. Part of that investment is clear communication with home. Teachers maintain Google Classrooms and Sites to ensure all current information is available to the students and their families. Our high school website (hs.kpis.ac.th) acts as the primary conduit for communication across the entire high school. Visiting this site frequently and saving it as a favorite will ensure you are up to date will all news and matters regarding the high school. KPIS students carry themselves with a unique sense of pride and confidence, because they are part of a community that values their development as human beings as much as academicians. Our students are the school’s prized showcase; a collection of our most experienced learners
who have undergone years of hard work, struggle, maturation, and vigilance. The KPIS Expected Schoolwide Learning Results, or ESLRs, represent the highlight of this experience. ESLRs are found in all subject areas and grade levels. They include: effective communication, lifelong learning, global citizenry, and problem solving. KPIS students are not just scholars, they are athletes, innovators, musicians, actors, artists, and much more. KPIS students are more than just a test score or a GPA, they take risks, care for others, and aspire to be better. When you look at where our students matriculate, they have shown they are prepared to handle the challenges of universities, worldwide, as well as the demands of modern life. When asked to critique the effectiveness of our school, we need not look further than our high school students. They are dedicated, well-rounded, and remarkable. Please allow me to remind all of us that they represent the very best in us and the single, best reason why we are lucky to be part of the KPIS community.
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Meet Mr. Brian Compton
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rian Compton is our new High School Math teacher, with a background in Physics and Chemistry. He has been in Thailand for 3 years and loves pad see ew, khao soi and massaman gai. Brian has previously taught in Hong Kong (4 years), Shanghai (10 years), Democratic Republic of Congo (2 years) and in northern Michigan (4 years). Born and raised outside Detroit, Michigan (USA), Brian was always interested in math and science, fascinated by space and for the longest time, wanted to be the first person to walk on Mars. Well, he still has time… Brian buys more books than he has time to read. That’s also true with his hobby of buying board games. Notice, I said “buy” board games. He needs to find the time to play the other 40% of his collection. Brian believes everyone can “do math” but feels the largest stumbling block in math is confidence. If students can embrace their mistakes instead of hide them and ask lots of questions, everyone can be successful. In closing, Brian has advice for graduating seniors: “Be who you want to be. Don’t chase the money or the fame. If you love what you do, then instead of going to work, you’ll be going to play”. KPIS International School 13
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Library Restoration Project at KPIS Mr. John R Woodward
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To restore civil society, start with the library,” says sociologist Eric Klinenberg in a recent New York Times editorial, citing the major impact libraries have on their community. A library is a magical, public space of learning, sharing, discovery, and community. It is more than a collection of print media. Keerapat International School high schoolers enrolled in the inaugural LRP, or Library Restoration Project have the unique opportunity of creating their own library in their own way, figuring it out as they go along. The project was influenced by the growing collection of reading material in the newly-completed Commons room on the fourth floor of the school. A popular meeting space for students and teachers, new high school principal Matt Merritt recognized a need to help consolidate what he felt was an underutilized resource in the room. Always looking for creative solutions that involve students to get involved in learning opportunities, Mr. Merritt suggested organizing a club to tackle the issue. Giving students the opportunity to transform the space and its collection of print media allows them the creative freedom to build their own magical, public space of community. For some students, the project represents an opportunity to complete required community service hours for graduation, but for others – and many of the hours-seeking students, it’s a unique opportunity to shape something new, and for that creation to have a lasting impact on the school and student body for many years to come.
“Honestly, I joined it at first because it gave me community service hours, but also gives me the opportunity to dig into the history of how libraries work and function,” said senior Peerawit “Michael” Chariyawongsiri. “I’d never get this knowledge if I hadn’t joined. I also get leadership skills in this project because I get to work with students and brainstorm with them to build something new. We need those skills in the future to work with other people outside of school. There’s also an element of school pride, were we get to improve the school with our own ideas and hard work, and we want to show the other students that they also can contribute and create something big like this.” The club is sponsored by Mr. Merritt and language arts teacher John Woodward, both of whom have no experience as librarians other than as people influenced by the magic of libraries and their effects on the community they serve. According to them, this is first and foremost a ground-up learning experience for all involved, and an opportunity for students to exercise creative freedom both intellectually and artistically – one that will endure beyond a semester or even a school year. In addition to organizing the print media and determining a cataloging and checkout system, library club participants will also decorate the space with literary and contentthemed artwork, and also encourage non-participants to submit artwork inspired by their own reading in or out of class. All KPIS students and staff are invited to come see the creation of this library unfold each week during the Thursday afternoon meeting sessions. Book donations are also encouraged.
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Another School Year – A Counselor’s Perspective Mr. John E Carr Every school year begins with great excitement and numerous new points of interest: seeing old and making new friends, meeting with old teachers and being introduced to new ones, learning about changes in school programs and, of course, being 1 year older. Anxieties abound for all concerned. Teachers are equally as anxious as students at the start of new school years. Perhaps most anxious are our Grade 12 students who have now found themselves purchased atop the hill. The start of our 2018-2019 school year at KPIS has proven to be no exception to previous years. That we are already 1 month into or 10% done with this new year is an indication as to how fast time goes in a school. So much has already happened with so much more to come. Yes, this year will be no exception. It will be June before we know it! And, “yes” our KPIS Class of 2019 will be receiving their diplomas and moving on! One truly wonderful idea and something new to KPIS was introduced the first week of school. Teacher Geraldine, our MS Character & Values teacher, presented a challenge to the whole community, “Let’s make this school year a ‘Year of Kindness’.” What a wonderful thought and great recommendation. Mr. Ben, our MS Principal, has introduced a new program in the MS based on the concept of Project Based Learning or PBL. All three MS grades are now working
on innovative projects that will bring far more hands on and experiential based learning. Our HS students in grades 10, 11 and 12 are now taking more Advanced Placement or AP classes than ever before. This has taken a bit of thought and hard work but new HS Principal, Mr. Matthew Merritt now has it all under control. American universities have also made their presence known. The American Music & Drama Academy and University has already given a 2 hour workshop and the Otis College of Art & Design will be presenting in the near future on “How To Build An Art Portfolio’. Four major state universities from the USA: U. of Colorado, Indiana U. U of Minnesota and Rutgers U. of New Jersey have also provided our grades 10, 11 and 12 a workshop on “What It Means To Be An International Student At An American University.” And, our Grade 12 seniors will be shortly heading out to a few university fairs at local international schools to assist them in choosing, whether it be American, Thai or other international institution, to which university they will matriculate. Yes, the start of every school year always brings lots of excitement and with it accompanying anxieties. Needless to say, KPIS is a busy school. The truly positive side of all of this is that our students are being provided with a better and better program both for now and the future. Yes, this year has had, as always, a most interesting start. It shouldn’t be any other way. See you in June!
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Student Achievements at KPIS Ms. Ritika Mirchandani Miss Natachanok Tunwannarux (Drive) (Grade 8) Drive participated in the Girl’s Division (Age12-19 years) of American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) in “AJGA Junior at River Watch” at River Watch Golf Club, Sparta, Tennessee, USA, July 2-5, 2018. Drive was the third runnerup at this tournament. She was the fourth runner-up for the Girl’s Division (Age12-19 years) of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) in “E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship” at Jones Creek Golf Club, Evans, Georgia, USA, July 16-19,2018.
Master Montprach Tunwannarux (Birdie) (Grade 7): Birdie stood 11th position at the Junior Boy Category age 10-11 Years in the “Optimist International Junior Golf Championships 2018” at PGA National Resort and Spa, West
Palm Beach, Florida, USA, July 19-21, 2018. Furthermore, Birdie was also the 3rd Runner-up of Junior Boy Category age 11-13 years in “Disney Junior Open 2018” at Disney’s World Resort-Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA, July 28-29, 2018. KPIS would like to congratulate Birdie on his achievements. Well done Birdie! Drive then went ahead and was the winner of Girl’s Division (Age 12-15 years) of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) in “Foley Performance Academy @ Eagles Dream Junior All-Star” at Timacuan Golf & Country Club, Lake Mary, Florida, USA, July 23-26, 2018. She was also the winner of Class B-Girl (Age13-14 years) of Thailand Golf Association (TGA) in “TGA-Singha Junior Golf Ranking 2018-2019” at Royal Hills Golf Resort and Spa, Nakhonnayok, August 1113, 2018. Drive has also been invited to compete for the AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Georgia, USA, October 5-8, 2018.
We congratulate Drive all the best for all the tournaments that she will participate this academic year of 2018-2019. 16
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Ms. Jennifer Marston(Jenny) (Grade 7): KPIS student Jenny participated in the US Kids Golf competition in Teen World Championship 2018 on July 2628, 2018 at Pinehurst, USA. Jenny stood third place in the tournament. KPIS would like to congratulate Jenny on her achievements during the summer break.
Peth Yod Mongkut English Competition 2018 KPIS would like to congratulate our students who participated in the thirteenth annual Peth Yod Mongkut English Competition 2018. KPIS student Monsuang Phalatip – Phayangkul G.6/2 was one of the ten finalists. She received a scholarship of 2000 baht along with a certificate. The participants of this competition were selected from all over Thailand.
KPIS would like to congratulate our students; Aliya Hanpanich G.2/2, Kantida Choophan G.7/1, and A-chila Sriwattana G.8/1, who received consolation prizes and a Passing Standards Award.
Rotor Thongchua then went on to win the championship trophy at the PTT ROTAX MAX 2018 : class- Micro Rookie. This event was held on September 8-9, 2018. Rotor will represent Thailand for the Asia Rotax Max 2019. KPIS is proud of your achievement and wishes you all the best! Well Done! Rotor Thongchua
Master Akin Nipatcharoen(Grade 8) KPIS would like to congratulate Akin for trying his best to use Rickter Ninja X for Junior Freestyle and stood second place. with minimum practice.
Master Rotor Thongchua (Grade 4 student) Well done Rotor Thongchua (Grade 4 student) for finishing first in round one of the Cadet A and Super BMB rounds of the Super Kart Thailand 2018: Junior Kart Championships. This event was held on September 2, 2018.
Akin achievement is 4th place for 10-13 the junior challenge with Superjet
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From High School: Student Corner.............. Can we be successful learners Melody Lawas, Grade 11
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veryday, every hour, every minute we are always learning whether we know it or not. Learning isn’t only about going to school and getting an education. We can learn new things from the environment, the people we surround ourselves with, and even our own selves. But what makes us a successful learner? The answer to this is not as simple as saying one plus one equals two. There are many factors that play into successful learning. It is important to be motivated in our learning. We should always be open to new opinions and ideas and we should be able to use our knowledge and skills in the activities we do. For these very reasons, a successful learner is someone who is motivated to acquire knowledge and understanding
of the world, has a growth mindset, and can apply their knowledge in everyday life. One of the attributes to successful learning is the motivation to acquire new knowledge and a better understanding of the world. When we are motivated, we possess the drive to discover new information. According to Sevtap Karaoglu, a graduate student specializing in TESOL, motivation relates to “a person’s intrinsic goals and desires” (TESOL, 2018). We are prompted to learn by what we want to achieve as an individual. It is this internal drive that makes us successful as it pushes us to continue gaining new knowledge despite the possibility of failure in order to pursue our goal. A case study, conducted by ASCD, focuses on a senior called Lawrence Redhorse attending Newcomb High School who “has a driving passion to learn” (ASCD, 2012). He wanted to create a science project that would help with the energy crisis in his town. And so looking around he noticed that there were tumblewood everywhere and he decided to test out whether tumblewood could be used as a heating source. Through many hard labors and experimenting he submitted his project and he won a ribbon. From then on, he gained recognition and continued to compete in various international science fairs. It was his motivation to solve the problem that made him learn new ways to save energy and also succeed in the fair. Most people would say that a successful learner should not
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KPIS International School Knowledge Plus Insight is Strength be motivated but rather forced to learn. Motivation is not a strong enough drive to persevere in learning as it is human nature to easily give up especially when faced with failure. This might be true to some extent but at the same time if a person is truly motivated, that determination will propel them towards success. One of the greatest inventors of all time, Thomas Edison, failed multiple times. As a young child he was called “too stupid to learn anything” by his school teachers (CBS, 2018). He struggled greatly in his learning. Today we see his success of inventing the lightbulb but reports claim that he made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts (CBS, 2018). Despite his failure, his motivation to learn about electricity made him persevere until he became America’s greatest inventor. It is not only our enthusiasm towards learning that makes us succeed, but also being open-minded. Having a growth mindset plays an essential factor to being a successful learner. It is all about being willing to open up to new ideas and viewing challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow (Dweck, 2010). The sky’s the limit but beyond it is space where there are millions of things waiting to be discovered. When we open up to new information and interact with others, it gives us a chance to expand our thinking and even learn something new. In China, a case study administered a young girl whose name was Xiao. Xiao has difficulty learning math and she often relies on memorizing old methods to solve math problems. To her, there was only one way to solve a problem. She never thought that there could be different ways to solve it. However, when she tried different ways as well as exchange her ideas with friends, she realized that math wasn’t so hard. All she had to do was have a growth mindset which allowed her to view the problem in more than one way (Du, Liu, & Wang, 2009). Some people believe that once you achieve success then you can’t succeed anymore. How can you be successful if you already have success? Once you’ve reached your goal, everything you do after that is failure. This type of mindset is completely wrong. It is what experts would call a fixed mindset which is the complete opposite of a growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believes that their intelligence is simply an inborn trait that will never grow (Dweck, 2010). It is like saying that you will never grow old. Intelligence can be nurtured and there is always something new that we have yet to discover. Even geniuses have to work hard to develop their skills. It’s very important to always keep a growth mindset. Not only that but we should also be able to use what we learn in our day to day life. A successful learner should apply their knowledge and skills to their everyday life. Its very easy to say that you learned something but what really matters is whether you can employ what you learned. In the novel, A Terrace in Prague, the author writes that “knowledge without application is like a book that is never read”. You have the information, but what’s the point of having it when its not being put to use. Once we are capable of utilizing our intelligence, it
shows that we have truly understood the education that we received. In the article ‘Creating Accountability through Community’, eleventh grader Tazania intently observes the growth of plants through different composts. She stated that she was “trying to see which [compost] helps her plants grow faster.” (Cushman, 2014) It wasn’t just a project for her to do as she also saw it as an opportunity to apply her knowledge of the different types of food waste to make healthy soil for plants and thus creating less waste. She was able to apply her knowledge of plant compost in gardening and even made a change while doing so. There are people who claim that success is measured through our achievements such as our grades and our GPA. It is these results that help us to graduate and get admitted into a good university. They believe that mere tests and exams can measure how smart we are. However it is not true. Our capabilities can’t be measured through a series of questions on a piece of paper. People have different interests and are smarter in subjects that some people aren’t at. Personally, for me, I’m terrible at math but my older sister is a genius in calculating numbers and solving equations. Whilst she is good with numbers, I’m good at playing sports and singing. Nowadays, the school system is driven by the ideas of GPA and class ranks (Jachsen). If you don’t have a GPA of 4.0, then that means you are incredibly dumb. That’s not true. We are smart in our own ways. For example, I might be smart in various subjects but I have no idea how to put on makeup unlike most of my friends. Answering questions on a sheet of paper does not correctly portray our abilities and intelligence. It’s more important to be able to apply our knowledge so that we can use it in everyday life. By doing this, we can become a successful learner. Successful learning requires incentive to learn and grow, a receptive mindset, and the ability to connect our knowledge to the many different aspects in life. It’s vital to think about our goals and be inspired to learn in order to achieve that goal. Nowadays, ideas and information are being expressed constantly and it’s essential to always keep a growth mindset and be willing to listen and explore new things. Application of knowledge is also a crucial factor as it helps us to comprehend what we learn. There is always something new to learn everyday that can be useful in the future. However, the real question is: are you just learning or are you successfully learning? KPIS International School 19
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OCTOBER “THE INNOVATION TO EMPOWER SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS FOR STUDENT’S LIFE SUCCESS” (Free Seminar) ¡ʻ ʻ ʻ ʻ
And MORE!
Friday 26th Oct 2018 At Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
NOVEMBER “A - Z WORKSHOP: USING PHONICS TO GROW AN INDEPENDENT READER IN THE ASIAN LANDSCAPE” by Dr.Wiley Blevins (Free Seminar)
Thursday 22nd Nov 2018 At Singapore International School of Bangkok
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