In October, the High School ISB Tsunami Relief Club hosted 17 students from R35 for a weekend of friendship and learning experiences in Bangkok. Together the students explored the Grand Palace and Dusit Zoo and just “hung out” together at the ISB campus playing games and getting to know one another. Nalin C., a junior at ISB summarizes the weekend, ”The purpose of this exchange did not limit itself to broadening the minds of the kids from Khao Lak by introducing them to Bangkok. It also furthered and tightened ISB’s relationship to the school down at Khao Lak by being a basis for generating a human connection between the two schools through the formation of friendships.”
At present there are 785 students at R35, grades kindergarten through grade 11, with a plan to add grade 12, a vocational curriculum and a hotel/service industry course which will bring enrollment to over 1000 students. Completion of the campus is expected for June, 2007.
The ESL Program sponsored by the Network continues to grow in its success. The English language curriculum is now an integral part of the daily schedule of the students.
Our volunteers implement the highest standards when teaching and have become a valued team for the students and staff at R35. They also can eat Thai food with chilly paste—no small feat in Thailand!!!!!
For the next year the Network will fund 7 staff members as well as a nurse. A clean drinking water system will be completed by the end of November, a language lab in December and work has begun on the administration offices. All of these are projects of the Network. Student school kits are being collected. Pillows, sheets, towels, socks, personal hygiene items, games, sports equipment and books for the library are some of the many items being ordered and purchased for the students at R35 by the Network.
Please view the photo gallery update to see the progress at the school. As the campus nears completion, so does the transition for the students from the disaster following the tsunami to a life filled with friends, learning and support at Rajaprachanugroh 35.