Foundation - The Stratton ABC Foundation Childrens Home Chiang Mai

February 2012
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Rain Rain Go Away

Aug 302010

Ok, now I’m getting a little fed up with all this rain we’re having at the moment.

Unfortunately it meant no Bai Tio this weekend.

We had a bit of a break on Saturday morning with no rain so everyone pitched in to try and get on top of the rapidly growing jungle in the garden.

But Sunday was very nearly an all dayer so it was indoors all day.

Still we had a good English seesion learning, this, that, those and these, which was lots of fun.

I’m bracing myself for getting behind on website and some admin this week as I have allotted this week for major out and about work looking for sponsors and more sites for our collection boxes. another reason for hoping the rains stops.

Sorry for the further delay with the ‘Where to go and Find ‘ Directory , but should be live very soon.

Directors Gallery 7

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Aug 222010

Todays Gallery features more snaps of life at Stratton House.

Directors Gallery 6

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Aug 212010

Todays gallery is a few shots from our English lessons at Stratton House.

Moodling

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Aug 162010

At last I am starting to get somewhere with the Thai Schools English project, aimed at helping to promote English language learning in local schools.

With help from my friend Ally I have been learning to use the Moodle learning Centre software in order to set up courses for local children to follow via the internet.

These courses will include multi-choice questions, speaking practice, using videos of both myself and the children themselves, speaking English and much much more.

Just this weekend we managed to get some very good videos of the Stratton House children practising basic introductory conversation.

Some of the videos will soon appear on Thai Schools English as a practise aid for other children in the community.

Thai Schools English Tuesdays

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Aug 102010

Having made attempts to sort out a proper schedule for my weekly work, I have selected Tuesdays for work on the Thai Schools English project.

Today I visited, and shall do every Tuesday, Huay Sai School to assist with teaching English conversation to Mattayom 1.

When that is finished I will then be working on building up the courses and lessons available to users of the thaischoolsenglish website, for the rest of the day.

I also hope to find time to visit and encourage more local schools to join our program.

Todays lesson was centred on basic introduction.

Although the children were a little nervous at first we soon broke through that and I was impressed with the students efforts.

For more photos please visit our photobucket album here.

If you are interested in the school website, please go here.

Waters Rising at Huay Tung Tao

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Aug 102010

Sunday saw us at Huay Tung Tao once again.

At long last the water in the lake has increased again. Instructions were given to the children to bare this in mind and to be careful not to go too deep.

The parks administrators also had this in mind with supervisors spotted around keeping a watchful eye and blowing whistles if they thought children may be about to pass the safety line.

Although I often think about changing venues , it has to be said that Huay Tung Taow is the best for our purposes so far.

For more photos please visit our photobucket album here.

English Learning Going Well

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Jul 292010

The children at Stratton House Childrens Home continue to respond well to our regular English lessons.

At present I am the sole teacher and it is all very informal.

Hopefully in the future we will get volunteers who may like to give me a break.

I have been very impressed by the childrens enthusiasm and rapid learning. Keep it up kid, if you all speak english my life will get alot easier;)

Kaow Pan Saa

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Jul 242010

Continuing our association with Khruu Khem at Huay Sai, I responded to a request to visit Huay Sai on Friday(23rd), to make a photo record of the Kaow Pan Saa Festival, attended by many Lamphun Schools and culminating at Huay Sai School.

Kaow Pan Saa celebrates the beginning of the new rice growing season.

It was a colourful affair with children and adults from the many schools all dressed up in their different traditional costumes. All meeting at the local Wat, the procession got under way at around 2.30.

There were many colourfully adorned pick up trucks and marching bands as well, adding to a great atmosphere.

Thankfully the rains, that had been on and off all day, held off during the procession.

All the children seemed to enjoy the affair very much.

My ex-pupils from Pasak school were in attendance and it was very nice to see them all again. I do miss you lot!

Sadly I could not stay for the whole celebration as, with House Mother on her day off, I needed to get home ready for our children to get back from school.

I sure it all went well and hope everyone enjoyed it.

For all the photos please visit our photobucket album here.

For all the video clips visit our youtube here.

Independant Monitoring

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Jul 232010

On Wednesday 21st I went for a long overdue meeting with Khruu Khem of Huay Sai School. Huay Sai is one of the schools on www.thaischoolsenglish.org, a project run in association with our Foundation, with a view to promoting English language learning in the local community.

Having been very busy ensuring registration for the Foundation I had been unable to give the thaischoolsenglish project any time over recent months. Now as I consolidate my daily routine I hope to resume my assistance with this worthwhile project.

In return Khruu Khem has agreed to be a regular visitor to the home, by way of offering some independant monitoring of our work.

She will come to visit the Childrens Home and be able to speak freely with the children on all aspects of their life here at Stratton House.

Directors Gallery 3

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Jul 162010

Todays Gallery includes photos from the Pa-Ya-Nak Festival in Nongkhai, 2006, where Boon and myself witnessed 10 of the famed fireballs that shoot out from the river Mekon on October Full Moon. It is phenomenon that has yet to be properly explained. The Buddhist belief is that it is Pa Ya Nak; the snake spirit that is supposed to have sheltered The Buddha from the rain, as he reached enlightenment; spitting its venom into the sky in order to join in clebrations honoring The Buddha.