85 Magazine 1:2

85VOL. 01 NO. 02

October, 2009

8585VOL. 01 NO. 02VOL. 01 NO. 02

October, 2009October, 2009

Wells International School

ON NUT

Seahawk Edition

85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 285 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 2Vol. 1, No. 2

Table

of

Contents

Chih-Jau (Kelly) Wang: Lead Designer

Nitvaree (Nivan) Narula: Lead Editor

Alina Sachdev: Lead writer

Surachaet (Nick) Charaschanya: Creative Designer

Khanuenglak (net) Baipowongse: Creative Designer

Kongwut Sajjaphoorriphoom: Creative Designer

Visith ahuja: Creative Designer

Gautham Giri: Creative Designer

Judy Chen: Creative Designer

Ji Hae Lee: Creative Designer

Mr. Joseph: Pepsi Max Drinker / Teacher

Mr. Jared: Pirate Lord / Editor

3 Teaching Adults Childhood Lessons4 Midterm Exams5 Super Achievers6 What Makes a Great Teacher?8 Student Exemplars9 Fun Friday10 Science Department11 Math Department12 Social Studies Department13 Language Arts14 Discipline15 Introduction to the On Nut PTA16 Field Trips17 Performing Arts18*19 Cancer is Not a Death Sentence20 School Calendar / Sports Update

2 85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 2

Vol. 1, No. 2 85 MAGAZINE 3Vol. 1, No. 2Vol. 1, No. 2 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 33

Message from the

Assistant Headmaster

Query many students as to their dissatisfac-

tions with their classes, and many will o er the

same question in return: When am I ever going

to use this? Frustrated by schools that are all

too often archaic in their approaches, modern

students desire relevancethe ability to con-

nect knowledge acquired in the classroom to

their daily lives. To address this need, Wells has

begun developing its educational program in

two distinct areas. First, the addition of several

new courses allows students to learn practical

concepts and skills pertinent to the modern situ-

ation. The Environmental Science and Personal

Financial Management courses focus on issues

that directly impact the lives of students. Ad-

ditionally, several other planned courses will

provide similar experiences, including a Current

A airs & Advocacy class that will encourage ac-

tive involvement in improving the surrounding

community. Second, an emphasis on internships

and job shadows provides students with the

chance to learn the particulars of various pro-

fessions through hands-on experience. Only

by engaging students in relevant learning can

schools ensure that they truly acquire meaning-

ful, lasting experiences, and Wells continues to

facilitate this process whenever possible.

-Mr. JaredAssistant Headmaster of On Nut Campus

Chih-Jau (Kelly) Wang: Lead Designer

Nitvaree (Nivan) Narula: Lead Editor

Alina Sachdev: Lead writer

Surachaet (Nick) Charaschanya: Creative Designer

Khanuenglak (net) Baipowongse: Creative Designer

Kongwut Sajjaphoorriphoom: Creative Designer

Visith ahuja: Creative Designer

Gautham Giri: Creative Designer

Judy Chen: Creative Designer

Ji Hae Lee: Creative Designer

Mr. Joseph: Pepsi Max Drinker / Teacher

Mr. Jared: Pirate Lord / Editor

3 Teaching Adults Childhood Lessons4 Midterm Exams5 Super Achievers6 What Makes a Great Teacher?8 Student Exemplars9 Fun Friday10 Science Department11 Math Department12 Social Studies Department13 Language Arts14 Discipline15 Introduction to the On Nut PTA16 Field Trips17 Performing Arts18*19 Cancer is Not a Death Sentence20 School Calendar / Sports Update

ers, administrators and parents all share the responsibility of

stitching these individual scenarios into a quilt full of valuable

learning experiences that our young athletes, under proper guidance,

will be able to look back upon for the rest of their lives.

For example, it is vitally important that young athletes learn how to

deal with losing a game. As a coach, I value losses for the opportunities they

provide me to teach or rather demonstrate to my players a slew of life les-

sons, including: how to accept defeat at the hands of a technically superior team;

how to accept defeat in an evenly-matched game; or, perhaps most importantly,

how to accept personal responsibility for the results of a game I feel should have been

won, rather than blaming such obscure factors as poor of ciating, hostile crowds, or

even cheating by the winning team.

In all too many instances, grown-ups lose sight of the life lessons that they presum-

ably learned once upon a time when they were young athletes themselves. Outside

of the home, teachers and coaches are often the most important adult role models

for our youth. As such, we need to be particularly careful that we do not inadver-

tently teach them that it is OK to blame others for undesirable outcomes; that its OK

to not hold ourselves accountable for failures; or, that its OK to beat up on rookie

opponents as if they were hapless victims of a merciless war. Our actions need to show

them otherwise.

After all, at the end of the day its just a game.

-Mr. RayHeadmaster of On Nut Campus

Teaching Adults Childhood LessonsSportsmanship & Fair Play amongst Coaches in Inter-Scholastic Sports

Ive been the hero. Ive been the goat. In the many

years Ive been playing, and ultimately coaching, tennis

and volleyball, Ive been the leader, the follower, and

almost everything in between. Whether intentional or

accidental, assigned or assumed, its not so much the wins

Ive contributed to, the losses that have been pinned

on me, or all the various roles Ive played on a team;

its more the way Ive responded to such situations that

have de ned me as both an athlete and a coach.

As educators, we have all been briefed on the value

of athletics in a childs physical, social, and emotional

development. However, as adults, we often forget the

very lessons that we so astutely preach to our student

athletes.

This year, in the rst several weeks of league play, our

schools basketball teams have already had their share

of thrilling wins and heartbreaking losses, questionable

calls and frustrating missed calls. But, regardless of the

strong emotions elicited within us, we coaches, teach-

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Counseling Department

Midterm Exams

Stress is not about the exam, but about what you think about the exam. People shouldnt see them as monsters they cant escape. With the right preparation theyre not too scary. Roger Mead, Stress Management Consultant, International Stress Management Association

Exam StressNow dont go pulling your hair out. As the examination period approaches, YOU may be letting the pressure of the exams get to you. This is not surprising and, in fact, it can be quite normal to feel some anxiety about exams. Some students find that it is a little bit of pressure that spurs them on and enables them to crack down and do some serious work. If you are feeling anxious, you may find it helpful to talk to your personal tutor or course lecturers. Share your thoughts about the exam with other students. Talking to your friends and family will also help you keep things in perspec-tive.

General Exam Stress-Busting Tips * Believe in yourself. You wouldnt have been given a place in the course if you didnt have the ability to do it. Therefore, if you prepare for the exams properly you should do fine, meaning that there is no need to worry excessively. * Dont try to be perfect. Its great to suc-ceed and reach for the stars. But keep things in balance. If you think that anything less than A+ means Ive failed then you are creating mountains of unnecessary stress for yourself. Aim to do your best but recognise that none of us can be perfect all the time. * Take steps to overcome problems. If you find you dont understand some of your course material, getting stressed out wont help. In-stead, TAKE ACTION to address the problem

directly by seeing your course tutor or getting help from your classmates. * Dont keep things bottled up. Confiding in someone you trust who will be supportive is a great way of alleviating stress and worry. * Keep things in perspective. The exams might seem like the most crucial thing right now, but in the grander scheme of your whole life they are only a small part.

Tips for the Revision Period * Leave plenty of time to revise so that you dont get into a situation of having to do last minute cramming. This approach will help to boost your confidence and reduce any pre-exam stress, as you know you have prepared well. * Develop a timetable so that you can track and monitor your progress. Make sure you allow time for fun and relaxation so that you avoid burning out. * As soon as you notice youre losing con-centration, take a short break. You will then come back to your revision refreshed. * Experiment with several alternative revi-sion techniques so that revision is funner and your motivation to study is high. * Dont drink too much coffee, tea or fizzy

drinks; the caffeine will hype you and make your thinking less clear. Eat healthily and regu-larly; your brain will benefit from the nutrients. * Regular, moderate exercise will boost your energy, clear your mind and reduce any feelings of stress. * Try out some yoga, tai chi or relaxation techniques. They will help you feel calm and balanced, improve your concentration levels and help you to sleep better.

Tips for the Exam Itself * Avoid panic. Its natural to feel some exam nerves prior to starting the exam, but getting excessively nervous is counterproduc-tive, as you will not be able to think as clearly. * The quickest and most effective way of eliminating feelings of stress and panic is to close your eyes and take several long, deep breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole nervous system. Simultaneously, you could give yourself some mental pep-talk by mentally repeating I am calm and relaxed or I know I will do fine. * If your mind goes blank, dont panic! Pan-

icking will just make it harder to recall infor-mation. Instead, focus on slow, deep

breathing for about one minute. If you still cant remember the

information, then move on to another question and return to this question later. * After the exams dont

spend endless time criticizing yourself for where you think you went wrong. Often our own self-assessment is far too harsh. Congratulate yourself for the things you did right, learn from the bits in which you know you could have done better and then move on. Most importantly, if you feel that your exam anxiety is building up to a point where sleep is difficult, your health is suffering or your relationships with your friends and family are starting to be affected, you need to seek some help. Make an appointment to come see me in the Counseling Room. As you know, Im always there to support you.

-Ms. NickiHead of Student Support Services



Language Arts Social Studies

MathScience

Physical Education

Language ArtsLanguage ArtsLanguage ArtsLanguage ArtsLanguage ArtsLanguage ArtsLanguage Arts

MathMathMath

Physical EducationPhysical EducationPhysical Education

Gavin (4B) is the ALEKS champion; In a few short months he has com-pleted grade 4 and grade 5, and now he has almost completed Middle School Math 1. Amazing! Hell soon be joining Lisa and Anusha (grade 5s top performers) in the Middle School Math 2 classroom. What an achievement for a 4th grader!

Paul (4A) has really own ahead of the game this year, and with the help of ALEKS, the sky is the limit for him; well done, Paul!

Jack (5ESL) has really taken to the new system and has been achieving straight As consistently since the beginning of the school year; good job, Jack!

Book (G5) is new to our campus and has settled in very well. Hes get-ting acclimated to math this year with the ALEKS system and is also very creative as he shows here with his triangles tessellation picture. When you see Book, please congratulate him on his Super Achiever Award!

-Mr. GrahamG4 & G5 math teacher & ALEKS co-coordinator


A great teacher should never give

homework.Kongwut

G11

A great teacher should know how to listen to the students

opinions.MindG11

Great teachers should love their

stu-dents.TeeTee

G11

A great teacher should be

caring.NetG11

Someone who enjoys teaching and knows how to entertain students with

his or her talent or experiences is

what makes a great teacher.

AlinaG11

A great teacher should have differ-ent teaching styles,

so the students wont get bored.GunitaG10

The way the teacher teaches, should make the

students understand easier.Aanchal

G3

Great students makes great

teachers.Kieren

G12

A great teacher is available for me all the time,

whenever I need help.

KellyG11

A great teacher is someone who inspires

students to do their best work.

Mr. Joseph

The love and enthusiam for the subject and love and enthusiam for the students and their ability

to change is what a great teacher should have.Mr. Rhyse

should know how to should know how to should know how to listen to the students listen to the students listen to the students


85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 285 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 2Vol. 1, No. 2

Color

LineRythm

Shape

Contrast

Texture

Shape

Line

Balance

Color

Contrast

RhythmTexture

El Grade 3 CindyGrade 4

Sirin Grade 6

Sukanya Grade 3

ShirLee Grade 7

Akhil Grade 7

Preksha Grade 4

Amira Grade 8

Ricky Grade 8Eun Chae Grade 6

Tina Grade 5

Lisa Grade 5

Graphic Editing



Here at our campus, grade 1 through

3 students have had a great time

every Friday. Teachers have been or-

ganizing activities that are fun, bois-

terous and enjoyable. Students have

been enjoying afternoons lled with

laughter and joy. Making pancakes

and pizza breads, watching a magic

show, doing origami and playing

games on the open elds are some

of the activities that have been held.

The lower primary students look

forward to this event and participate

with great enthusiasm. Apart from

learning in classrooms, our primary

students are given a chance to work

co-operatively outside classroom

settings as well.

Ms. Prerna Primary Head Teacher

85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 2Vol. 1, No. 2 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE 85 MAGAZINE

Here at our campus, grade 1 through

3 students have had a great time

every Friday. Teachers have been or-



WELCOME TO WELLS SCIENCE

Science Rocks the Hizouse by Mr. Brian

It has been another exciting month for Wells science students and teachers. We have continued to experience the sciences through field trips, experiments, games and

activities. But it is the initiation of our intern-

ship/work experience program that is the great-

est source of excitement. Nick and Kelly, from

grade 11, shared their experiences from their

internship at Mahidol University last summer.

All science students are invited to take part in

our intern program as well as the other many

opportunities coming from the science de-

partment like CTY Johns Hopkins University

and Space Camp, as well as project competi-

tions like the Intel Science and Engineering Fair.

Students are invited to speak to Mr. Brian for

more details and to personalize the experiences

available to them.

We have also begun to make raw, unscripted videos to document students favorite science activi-ties. We look forward to editing and airing these

videos and developing more in the future. Stu-

dents wishing to make their own videos should

consult their science teachers and arrange tap-

ing during their allotted science club time.

........................... It is normal for students to be at di erent knowledge levels; this is also the case in learning math. ALEKS, a research

based and true arti cial intelligence mechanism, was designed with the recognition that students learn math in di er-

ent ways and at di ering speeds. The bene ts of using ALEKS are: the students work in a dynamic, interactive learning

environment on precisely those materials that they are individually ready to learn. They can then build momentum

toward achieving mastery over that particular concept. You can simply call it a just in time learning system. In school

we teachers are guiding the students at every moment in the next steps to taken. However, we want the students to

keep the following DOs and DONTs in mind while learning math through ALEKS.

Do spend at least 3 hours/week in learning mode at home.

Dont use any calculator other than the one provided in ALEKS.

If you are doing an automatic assessment and come across any question that you dont know, dont hesitate

clicking on I havent learned this yet.

Practice makes perfect: Do generate and print as many worksheets as you want. With just a single click

ALEKS makes a good worksheet for you.

Keep monitoring your pie charts; your accomplishments will encourage you to learn more and more.

Dont accept anyone elses help during the assessments.

If you take an automatic assessment and your pie then shrinks a little bit, dont panic. ALEKS recognizes that

you do not fully understand the topic and need to review it. Its not a big deal.

Dont always click on done when you have an option for more practice.

Every time you log on ALEKS, check if you have any messages from your teacher.

Refer to your text books;speak with your teacher if you nd something which you havent learnt in ALEKS.

Keep track of your intermediate objectives; they remind you to not lag behind.

Fast learners: Dont wait for the rest of the class. You can nish the entire course well before the scheduled time

and move on to the next course in math.

Revisit your quizzes: ALEKS allows you to view your quizzes at any time. You can learn from your mistakes. Revisit your quizzes: ALEKS allows you to view your quizzes at any time. You can learn from your mistakes.

Math DepartmentMr. GrahamG4 & G5 math teacher & ALEKS co-coordinator



The Grade 6 Social Studies classes of Mr. William and the History and Geography classes of Dr. Del have been learning about what it was like to live during the Stone Age. Recently, both classes have been studying about prehistoric stone tools. These tools were important for the survival of early hominids such as Homo erectus and Ne-anderthals as well as early humans we call Cro-Magnons. As the students learned about each stone tool, we stopped to reproduce the tool with clay. Mr. Williams classes used brown modeling clay, whereas Dr. Dels classes used actual clay. Therefore, we had brown chopper stonesmeant for tender-izing meat and smashing boneand even a few brown and pink handaxesmulti-purpose tools that have been used the longest throughout human history.

The students from 6A and 6B competed to see who could produce the best bifacial handaxes and, thanks to three anonymous judges, Mook from 6A was deemed to have won the competi-tion! Good job, Mook! The Grade 6 classes of Mr. Wil-liam also completed prehistoric sculpture projects. Students had to find prehistoric sculptures on the internet and then re-produce them at home using clay. When they brought their prehistoric replicas to class, they had to give brief presenta-tions on where the original prehistoric sculptures had been found, how old they were, what they were, etc. Then all the students judged the art of their fellow students by using a rubric. After that, three anonymous judges felt that Andy of 6A had the best prehistoric sculpture. The two runner-ups were Peters horse and Eun Chaes hippo!

- Mr. WilliamSocial Studies Department Head Teacher

Socia

l Stu

dies

Depa

rtm

ent


Asia Books is running a competition for all international school students in Thailand for the best readers of childrens books. For both age groups there has been considerable interest. We have finished auditions from which readers will be chosen. Now comes the time to practice, and audio tapes will be made and sent off before the 30th of October.

Obviously, only a few can be chosen, but it is exciting to see so much interest and energy. There will be other occasions for those not selected this time.

Another initiative being taken by the lan-guage arts department is the intensive development of vocabulary across the secondary level. All instruc-tors have begun tracking new vocabulary appearing in the many stories and novels read in classes, and established lists will be created to facilitate greater continuity across grade levels.

Students are encouraged to begin using the vocabulary they learn in everyday speech. The best way to learn and retain new vocabulary includes reading often, identifying and defining unfamiliar words and making a habit of using them in the proper context.

To encourage students to begin using new words, both in and out of class, the language arts department will occasionally have contests and competitions, complete with prizes and rewards. This month, there is a prize of (an undisclosed amount of) chocolate for any student who can prove she/he has used all of the following words correctly in the appropriate context in class.

Juxtapose (v): to place side by side; colors shapes, etc.

juxtaposition (n): derivation from Latin

inexorable (adj): unstoppable, unyielding, not to be per-suaded; a derivation from Latin

Some words borrowed from India:

juggernaut (n): a massive, inexorable force that crushes whatever lies in its path (e.g., a political or adver tising campaign); a derivation of jagganath, lord of the world; (literally) Vishnu.

bungalow (n): one storey house; a derivation from Hindi

bangla (n): house; a derivation from Hindi

pucca (adj): genuine, good, sophisticated; a derivation from Hindi

Language Arts

The understanding of discipline as control gained by enforcing obedience (Merriam-Webster Dic-tionary) that many of us think when we consider the word only came into use in the late 1400s and early 1500s. A much older defi nition comes from the Latin sisciplina, which means instruction given to a dis-ciple or student (etymonline.com). This original use of discipline has to do with the creation of a sense of self-control that provides us with the character and ability to do what we need to do, and be the people we want to be.

At Wells we understand that part of a teenagers life involves discovering, testing and sometimes push-ing the boundaries of acceptable behavior. However, it is the job of parents, and teachers, to establish and maintain effective and realistic rules that not only keep children and teenagers safe, but also en-courage and foster the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

The discipline policy at Wells is grounded in the establishment of functional rules and boundaries that create a safe and healthy environment and promote student learning. For example, there are a num-ber of things which students need to learn (called standards) in order to graduate from Wells, and be-ing in class for lessons is the most effective way to learn these standards. Therefore, one of our rules is that students need to be in class on time and need to attend classes regularly in order to pass courses.

One of the lessons we learn in life is that our actions have consequences, and that these consequenc-es often re ect the nature of our initial actions. This wisdom can be found in and through all philosophi-cal and religious traditions, and it lies at the heart of the concept of karma. Positive things come from the positive things we do, and negative things come from the negative things we do.

At Wells there are consequences for student behavior that breaks the rules established by the school. These consequences range from simple warnings or letters to after-school detention and suspension de-pending on the seriousness of students misconduct. In recognition of the fact that parental involvement is important for the establishment of functional behavior in students, parents are informed of student mis-conduct that leads to after-school detention or other, more serious, consequences.

At Wells, we understand that a healthy sense of discipline is necessary for global citizens to succeed in the world, and we are committed to fostering a healthy sense of self-discipline within our students.

- Mr. PhilDean of Discipline and Fine Arts Department Head

Discipline14 85 MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. 2


On Nut PTA Participate in the decision-making process for school

policies Aid in organizing student events Act as supporters for students at sports events and

concerts Volunteer to help in classrooms Accompany students and staff on field trips as chaperones Act as liasons for the school in communicating with other

parents

This year marks the formation of Wells On Nut Campus first Parent Association to provide a channel for parents to become more

involved with the Wells International School community.

Through the first weeks of September, three association meetings were held in the Wells auditorium.

The first meeting was conducted for the parents of Wells first graduating class. Almost all of the grade 12 students and their parents

were present as Ms. Nicky and Mr. Ray discussed the exciting activities planned for their final year in high school, including their senior

trip to Hawaii in the spring. Representatives from the Princeton Review were also on hand to give an informative presentation on university

application and admissions procedures.

Parents of the remaining secondary level grades (grades 6 to 11) met

the following week, and primary level grades (grades 1 to 5) met the week

after, thus allowing the school to provide information to parents in order to

allow them to play a more active role in the school as educational resources,

school volunteers or simply student supporters.

Secondary parents were also given a presentation on upcoming training

and preparatory courses for university admissions tests such as the PSAT,

SAT and TOEFL. For primary parents, Ms. Prerna and Mr. Graham made

presentations on the new programs being implemented in the Language Arts

(Fast ForWord) and Math (ALEKS) Departments.

As the Parent Associations are still in their fledgling stages, the

administration and teachers are encouraging parents to submit any ideas

they may have that would increase their involvement in their childrens

education.

16 Vol. 1, No. 216 16 Vol. 1, No. 2Vol. 1, No. 2

Gr 11-12 Visit at ISBKing of theJungle g1-2 VISIT EMPORIUM Gr 4-5 Kukrits house We had a eld trip to the King

of the Jungle exhibit at Emporium. It was very fun. At school we had

only two periods of Language Arts,

because Emporium opens at 10:00 am. At recess we left for Empo-

rium. We saw lots of animals. First

we saw some ostriches; then we

saw some other cool animals. We

also saw a real lion; it was so cute.

Then we went inside Emporium

and saw a spotted turtle and many

animals. There were lots of turtles,

sh and also ducks. We also saw

snakes in the water and a turtle

that was so huge that we were

surprised. After that we went to a

place to make African masks. We only had a few minutes to do it,

and I think mine was really nice.

After coloring the masks we had to

go to a sandy place where we had

to wear aprons and safety goggles.

We had to dig out some beads;

there were beads everywhere, so

they were not hard to nd.

After nding the beads we

made them into a bracelet. On our way back we saw a huge elephant.

I was scared to touch it but I did

anyway. The elephants skin was

really rough. I took lots of photos of todays eld trip. When it was

time to go back to school, we were

all very sad but had to go anyway.

I took a picture of almost every animal I saw. I liked this eld trip

very much!

- TinaGrade 5 Taken fromhttp://tina.wells-school.com/blogs/



Once again the high caliber of Wells students performing arts talent was on display for all to see as members of the Middle School and High School Choirs, along with a selection of dancers, performed a 30 minute show at the Thailand International Education Exposition at the Queen Sirikit Convention Center. The show started off with the song Seasons of Love from the musical Rent, a song which asks us to think about the different ways we can count the time that passes in a year. Students then went on to reflect about some of the different things they had learned over the year, each con-nected to a performance. Learning about the importance of appreciating Thailand was followed by a performance of Thai Culture and Dance, and learning the importance of using your imagination and being creative was followed by a performance of John Lennons Imagine. The performance took a more serious turn with students reflecting on their fears followed by a selection of high school students sing-ing Will I Lose My Dignity and Finale B from Rent. The performance ended with students talking about how much they were looking forward to moving on with their lives without anything holding them back and a presentation of Defying Gravity from Wicked. The students did an exceptional job, and all who had the privilege of seeing the performance witnessed a great show. Be sure to not miss the next performance from our choirs at the upcoming Christmas show in December!

- Mr. PhilDean of Discipline and Fine Arts Department Head



By Renika Sirisachdecha

It was just a year before he was diagnosed when Ray de la

Pea was doing the twist on stage with his students during their

encore of Hairsprays You Cant Stop the Beat. The crowd was

bouncing out of their seats, cheering, grooving, and lip-syncing

along to this grand finale of the You Are A Star Show 2007 at

Bangkoks Wells International School. The camera caught a glimpse of de la Peas iconic smile, magni-

fying it on the huge double projectors over the stage.

A short year later, de la Pea, in his early 40s, was diagnosed with cancer - Nasopharyngeal Carci-

noma (NPC) to be exact. Although he lost 15 kilograms, a lot of his hair, and even his taste buds, cancer

would not get the better of him.

Initially, his courage did falter. But not out of fear of death or debt, rather a fear of his familys reaction

to this news.

Born and raised on the tropical paradise of Kauai, Hawaii, de la Pea comes from a close-knit fam-

ily of scholars and doctors. His childhood education included a short stint at Punahou School, the same

school where President Barack Obama graduated from. He also has a bachelors degree in industrial en-

gineering from Purdue University. He then pursued an education degree at the University of Hawaii, and

presently, he is the Headmaster of Wells International School in Bangkok.

Early symptoms of the cancer appeared last summer, and de la Pea was originally misdiagnosed

by several of Bangkoks commercial medical centers. When he realized that the persistent headaches

could not be fixed by a couple of prescribed Paracetamols Thailands cure-all, he joked he sought

after a second opinion at Bumrungrad Hospital.

Their doctors immediately took a biopsy and after a couple of days confirmed that he had nasopharyn-

geal carcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the nasal and throat passage, and ultimately the brain.

Nervous and uncertain on how to break this devastating news, de la Pea eventually decided to type

an email and forward it to all his loved ones. An hour after pressing that send button his phone was ring-

ing off the hook.

It was tough enough for him to digest all of this sadness, and his sisters hysterical state certainly did not

help.

I hate to say this but she was so emotional that it was almost irritating! he exclaimed.

Most impressive though was when his mother, a medical professional herself, switched off the emo-

tions and started grilling him on the facts.

She exhibited an incredible amount of resiliency during that whole process, de la Pea said admir-

ingly, I didnt think it was possible to gain more respect for a mother, at my age, but it happened.

CANCER IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCESurvivor Tells his Story

Vol. 1, No. 2 85 MAGAZINE 19Back at Wells International, there was also an outpouring of emotions when the news spread about his

cancer.

I think the news really affected us the students and the school because he is a good principal,

and all students, including me, like him; he is very friendly, commented Patrick Liu, former student at

Wells International.

We know that Mr. Ray made several accomplishments for the school, like WASC, the AP system, and

TISAC, the boisterous young Liu added.

Being the ambitious educator that he is famous for, de la Pea managed to fi nd a silver lining to his can-

cer cloud. He has integrated something he nicknamed the Cancer Survivor Presentation into the biol-

ogy, chemistry, and physics classes.

I want people to know, especially young people, that with the technology today, (cancer)s not a

death sentence anymore, he explained.

It comes to no surprise that de la Pea was too absorbed with the diagnostic and treatment technolo-

gies to really wallow in self-pity.

Maybe its because Im a scientist, and I was so fascinated with the technology available at Bumrun-

grad that that actually gave me comfort. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world to look at some

of those things, said de la Pea enthusiastically. This is modern physics at its best!

Despite having many loved ones, ironically, he much prefers to live alone. He even declined the aid

of a live-in nurse, offered by the chairman of Wells International, Mr. Chang Yao-Lang. Apparently, that

would clash with his lifestyle.

Im by nature a solitary person. I do depend on people, but I dont necessarily depend on their physi-

cal presence, he said.

He even stopped his parents from ying to Bangkok. I insisted that my parents dont come here be-

cause I know that my mom would be in pain just watching me, even though I wasnt in pain, he rational-

ized.

He is truly an independent soul. I like to conquer things like these on my own, maybe thats a weak-

ness, but thats my nature, he clarifi ed.

Nevertheless, his solo method seems to have worked, because as of now, Ray de la Peas cancer

has gone under complete remission. When asked about what he has gained from his victory against can-

cer, he propped his elbows on the table and said, I know this sounds so clich, but seize the day!

About the Writer

Renika Sirisachdecha, 20, is currently pursuing her bachelors degree in communication arts at Chulalongkorn University. She graduated from Ruamrudee International School (Class of 2007) and also was awarded a scholarship to study at the National University of Singapore last semester. Renika enjoys participating in debate tournaments with the Chulalongkorn Debate Club and various speech competitions, including the English Speaking Union Competition Eng-land ( rst runner up) and the National English Speaking Competition Australia (competi-tion winner). Currently, she is on a 6-week Academic English study program at Curtin University in Perth. Her sister, Rishika, studies in the sixth grade at Wells International, and she is glad to have had an opportunity to interview Mr. Ray de la Pea. This article was written for her Advanced Reporting class.


Important Dates

Seahawk Basketball ResultsOn Nut Midway through the TISAC season, the Wells Basketball Program has certainly established itself as a force to contend with. With key victories against league rivals and an overall record of 12 wins versus just 5 losses, our Seahawks have set themselves up as major contend-ers for several of the league titles.Date Team Opponent RESULTS15-Sep-09 Under 15 Girls BCIS W 32-1523-Sep-09 Under 15 Girls Traill International (BISAC) W 24-201-Oct-09 Under 15 Girls ASB W 49-78-Oct-09 Under 15 Girls Ekamai International (BISAC) L 18-4115-Oct-09 Under 15 Girls Bangkok Prep International W 21-1515-Sep-09 Under 15 Boys BCIS W 15-00 (FORFEIT)1-Oct-09 Under 15 Boys ASB W 45-366-Oct-09 Under 15 Boys Ekamai International (BISAC) W 48-4315-Oct-09 Under 15 Boys Bangkok Prep International W 55-2815-Sep-09 Under 13 Girls BCIS W 23-230-Sep-09 Under 13 Girls Charter W 70-615-Oct-09 Under 13 Girls Bangkok Prep International W 11-1015-Sep-09 Under 13 Boys BCIS L 21-2730-Sep-09 Under 13 Boys Charter W 35-215-Oct-09 Under 13 Boys Bangkok Prep International L 9-2514-Sep-09 Under 11s BCIS L 12-3030-Sep-09 Under 11s Charter W 44-814-Oct-09 Under 11s Rasami POSTPONED14-Sep-09 Senior Girls BCIS W 29-429-Sep-09 Senior Girls St. Andrews L 23-1214-Oct-09 Senior Girls Keeriphat POSTPONED14-Sep-09 Senior Boys BCIS L 19-5029-Sep-09 Senior Boys St. Andrews W 26-18

14-Oct-09 Senior Boys Kincaid (Non-Conference) W 47-17

15-Sep-09 Under 15 Boys BCIS W 15-00 (FORFEIT)

OctoberOctober 30 - *Halloween/Renaissance Fair *11:00am-3:00pm *Hosted by Mr. Randys grade 8 & 9 social studies classes. *Games, activities and food stalls will begin at 11:00 am and end at 3:00 pm. Friends and families are welcome to join us and experience the Renaissance era. Visit the haunted castle, dunking booth, sumo wrestlers, magic and fortune telling booth, sword ghting, hairstyle and makeup booth and many more.

NovemberNovember 2 - Loy Krathong Festival

Special activities by the Thai DepartmentNovember 9-13 - Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week

Hosted by the Student Support DepartmentsNovember 25 - Teachers in Service 2:00-5:00 pm

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