With the Mattayom Kids at home again today I took the opportunity to do a little more Lamyai tree pruning. Once the branches were lopped the children harvested the Lamyai and then chopped the branches to reasonable size for transporting to our elderly neighbour for use in her cooking fires.
This week, being test week for the Mattayom kids has included extra time off school, like today(Thursday 21st). Time to play the wicked overlord and ensure that time off school isn’t seen as too great. Really all the Mattayom kids had a reasonably relaxing day, but in the morning they were given the choice, study or work.
Clearly needing a break from the books 3 of them chose work and did a great job clearing up the debris from the Lamyai pruning we did earlier in the week.
It was no great surprise that Tai chose study, can’t knock his determination to do his best at school. He is also on relief from any heavy work this week as he is suffering dyspepsia right now.
Work finished it was back to the books for a while before lunch.
As they had all either studied or worked hard in the morning I allowed some time out to relax and watch a movie on the TV.
After more study it was great to see them all blow some steam off playing out in the yard with the rest of the children after the little ones returned from school.
As well as the Summer Fair at Panyaden Saturday was sign up day for May 2 at her new school as she moves up to Mattayom and joins Gu and Tai in Sarapee next term.
It was a morning of much queing and waiting but it was worth it to see May getting sorted for her move up to the ‘big school’.
Gu and Tai were there to offer support and also to collect books for their new year in May.
Then on Sunday morning it was back there bright and early for the boys to collect their grades.
A morning of pride in the boys as Tai collected his special certificate having come in 7th in the top grade of Mattayom 1, with grades of 4 for all but one subject.
This was followed shortly by Gu who has continued to show huge improvements over the year. I glowed as I noted 4′s , 3.5 and 3′s amongst his grades. Previously 2.5 had been the highest.
Indeed Gu received recognition from the school for outstanding effort, being chosen by his teacher to receive a financial reward towards educational materials.
Well done both of you, hope you know how proud I am of your efforts, enjoy your holiday and keep it up next school year:)
The long awaited big day of Mural Painting on our front walls came this last, Loi Kratong, weekend. On Friday we had collected traffic cones and barriers in order to close half the road and slow any traffic down to ensure that the children and Volunteers could work in safety.
The guys and girls from Art International, along with Sara Latshaw from Cultural Canvas, arrived at around 9am, just I was off to fetch Khruu Kem and a few of her Mattayom 1 students from Huay Sai School.
By the time we got back things were well underway already.
Big thanks to our friend Ally for supplying the marquee for a little shade.
As well as the mural painting Art Relief Volunteers also held craft workshops including bracelet, keyring and kite making and “kratong” style banana leaf boats.
It was a hot day outside, so the chance to take a break in the cool of the house, with equal interest, was a popular option with some of the children.
Everyone worked really hard on the wall.
In the afternoon we were also joined by Nok and Pap, the Winnie the Pooh artists.
The Art Relief volunteers did a great job with the main design and the children did some equally great stuff in their allocated circles.
I am continually amazed by the talent of some of the children here.
Art certainly seems to be in the genes of many Thai people.
It was amazing to see such a big stretch of the wall completed in just one day, wrapping up at around 4pm.
Everyone here at Stratton House would like to thank everyone involved and look forward to to much more with you all in the future.
If you like what you see please look out for our collection boxes in and around Chiang Mai or consider donating now using the online donation facility.
For all the photos from the day please visit our photobucket album here.
It seems like we’ve got stuck in our ways with Huay Tung Taow having been the weekly Bai Tio destination for several weeks now.
Must be because its perfect for our requirements.
Lots of space to run around and play;
plenty of food and drink available if you need it;
the beautiful lake for swimming;
and general all round ambience, with the views of the mountains behind, means I get a chance to chill out to.
On the 10th of May Tai was the first to go back to school, starting Mattayom 1 at his new school in Sarapee.
Tai proved himself to be a good student when he first arrived and finished Prathom 6 at Pasak School.
He did very well in the entrance test for his new school , getting an overall mark of level 4 out of 5.
Already it is clear that this level in Mattayom 1 has much work and Tai often spends 2 to 3 hours every evening doing homework.
Keep it up Tai, you’ll go far.
A week later Mae Salab school opened and the rest of the children who had attended Pasak School last year, started at their new school;
which is much more convenient, being just 3 minutes walk away from home.
New girl Jor also joins the crew at Mae Salab.
Gu, our oldest child, at 14, took a little longer to start the new school year as there was some delay getting all the necessary paperwork from his old school in Nan.
But he eventually started at the same school as Tai two weeks later. Gu has started Mattayom 2.
He has started at the lower level but we hope that with extra support here at Stratton House we will see an improvement in his school grades over time.
He certainly appears to be putting some effort in already which was apparently a problem back at home in Nan.
The start of the new school has been quite a drain on the Foundations funds, what with Thai schools having several different uniforms for the children to wear.
Also term fees for the Mattayom level boys as well as money for lunch everyday which is not free in the Mattayom school.
All the children seem to have settled well in their new schools and all are very good at getting their homework done every evening; the ‘no TV until homework is finished’ rule helps alot.
Check out our photobucket album here for more photos , including general activities in the house; playtime; homework; cooking and more.
