A global economy barely pulling itself from nose dive. Religious and cultural conflicts spreading from nation to nation. Poverty rates hovering near record highs. To an average teenage student, these issues—and many more—have unfortunately become a part of daily life. Continually experiencing a world in flux, they may all too easily become apathetic, unaware of the stark lives others lead. Seeking to infuse a greater passion within its students, Wells has gradually incorporated more and more community service programs into its curriculum. The school’s ESLRs—which ask students to reflect, critique and evaluate issues, and communicate across cultures—thus increasingly ground their education in real life subjects.

The basis for this learning is typically first delivered in the classroom, particularly at the high school level. Dr. Del Dime’s Issues in Society course, aimed at upper level students interested in pursuing advocacy and service, fulfills that purpose. Earlier this year, the class welcomed guest speaker Cecilia Jimenez. Originally from the Philippines, Ms. Jimenez now delivers capacity-building training around Asia and works as a consultant, facilitating the growth of numerous government projects. This work has frequently allied her with international NGOs such as Amnesty International, the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH), and the Association for the Prevention of Torture. She has furthermore contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and training manuals on the UN Human Rights system, human rights and migration, smuggling of human beings, prevention of torture, women in armed conflict situations, and engagement of non-state actors.

Discussing human rights worldwide in line with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR)—the basis for the Issues in Society course—Ms. Jimenez asked the students their views of the different articles written in the UNDHR and which they thought were the most important. While numerous answers were offered, she stressed that Article 1 of the UNDHR serves as the foundation of all subsequent articles:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.“

According to Ms. Jimenez, the first two articles refer to equality and non-discrimination, while the others fall under economic, social and cultural rights, or civil and political rights. Interdependent and indivisible, equality and non-discrimination are essential in guiding nations toward the adoption of human rights. With that concept in mind, she fielded queries related to free speech, suicide, abuse and current issues such as the prosecution of Julian Assange. Armed with new knowledge and fervor, the Wells students prepared themselves to employ their new knowledge outside the school walls.

In addition to inviting guests such as Ms. Jimenez, Wells has taken strides toward contributing to the welfare of the surrounding community. Over the past year, it has conducted projects in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, the Bangkok ServICE Conference, the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin and others. By relating classroom content and skills directly to such projects, students have gained a much greater appreciation for the need for a service mentality. To see some of the efforts of Wells students, visit our Facebook albums:

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Forgoing their weekend as few teenagers would, a group of Wells students instead recently chose to attend the Bangkok ServICE Conference from March 2nd to 4th, held at New International School of Thailand (NIST). Intended to unite students who want to make a difference in their communities, the interschool conference addresses issues such as poverty, global warming, human trafficking, living with disabilities and human rights. In interacting with their peers from other prestigious international schools in Thailand–including ISB, Bangkok Patana, Regent’s Pattaya, Regent’s Bangkok, KIS, Harrow, ICS, TCIS and Shrewsbury–the Wells participants discovered ways in which they could make a positive impact both in Thailand and beyond its borders.

Beginning with ice breakers that relieved some of the initial tension, the conference jumped head-on into its serious themes, as inspiring guest speakers from the United Nations, Wildlife Friends of Thailand and more presented information about their causes and offered the participants advice regarding activism. Students from the participating schools even showcased their own community service clubs and booths to inspire others to take actions in their school communities, holding true to the ultimate goal of the conference: to interact and connect, and to inspire one another.

Over the course of the three days event, from morning to evening, the Wells students took part in group activities, discussions and ending with a flash mob led by ISB students in Terminal 21 to raise awareness of dolphins. Throughout the process they learned various methods through which they could discover more information about current issues, critically analyze those issues in order to determine the best courses of action, and to rally others to support the causes. Already they have had the opportunity to put this into practice as the Kony 2012 movement has spread rapidly through the Internet. Intended to raise awareness of Joseph Kony, the rogue militant leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa and a wanted criminal, the cause has been both praised and criticized from various sides. The Wells activists, drawing on their new knowledge, have engaged in both online and in-school discussion of the issue, seeking to define their stances and take positive actions in the movement–actions that rely on critical engagement of the many issues involved.

Thanks to the Wells staff who went above and beyond the call of duty in guiding the students (Ms. Cindy, Mr. Henry, Mr. Peng and Ms. Nicki), and congratulations to all of the participants in the Bangkok ServICE conference: Akhil (Grade 9), Asen (Grade 7), Chariya (Grade 11), Daryl (Grade 11), Gautham (Grade 11), Peter (Grade 8), Mary (Grade 11), Junior (Grade 11) and Cathy (Grade 11). We hope that all Wells students will continue to find ways in which they can change the world for the better. More information about the Bangkok ServICE Conference can be found on the official , and additional pictures of the events can be seen on our .

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In the recent article “,” Education Week succinctly encapsulates the seriousness of students’ activity on the internet. While poor social skills and behavioral choices have always been an issue in seeking admission to universities, never before have the lives of students been made more public than they are in the information age. As the article observes, 24% of admissions officers at universities access applicants’ publicly-available pages online to determine whether they possess the social responsibility that universities often see as an indicator of success. Even grimmer for students is the fact that half of those officers cited negative discoveries that did sway them in the consideration process.

While the dangers for high school students certainly merit consideration, they are not the only ones in danger of misuse. Middle school students and even those in primary, both increasingly connected online, face equally troubling risks. Not understanding the structure of sites such as Facebook and other social networking options, many children post photos, comments and private information freely, failing to recognize that virtually anyone can access that content if the proper privacy settings are not in place. Viewing these sites as separate from their offline lives, they do not realize that the effects of vulgarity and cyber-bullying can be just as damaging and permanent as public behaviors.

Like practically every other modern school, Wells has faced cases in which students have posted questionable photos, made offensive comments or verbally abused others. In such cases we have made every effort to implement appropriate consequences and counsel students in order to help them understand the severity of those actions. However, even more effective is the involvement of parents, who can play a major role in teaching their children responsible, prudent online behavior. By simply being aware of the dangers and having a frank talk with your children, you can turn a potentially hazardous technology into a valuable social tool. Even more valuable is venturing with them onto the internet by creating your own social network profiles and connecting to them online.

Despite the many issues that have arisen around students’ access to the internet, the reality is that they face a new world that many of us did not face as children. Rather than ignore the matter or seek to block them entirely from a part of their lives that will not simply go away, the best approach is to work together to educate them to be responsible online citizens. If you would like help in connecting with your children online or learning how to monitor their actions, feel free to contact a school counselor or administrator. Facebook itself provides useful tips for parents and additional links at , and simply Googling “internet tips for parents” produces a large number of useful sites, each of which offers advice on teaching children how to responsibility access the internet.

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Community service has long been a requirement for students most high schools around the globe, but students in Thailand’s public and international schools perhaps recognize its value more than others. Seeing the devastation of tsunamis, floods and conflicts firsthand–and the effects on family and friends–brings a fresh perspective to the need for such contributions. With that vision in mind, NIST International School has organized weekend relief efforts and called for other schools to participate. Gathering food, water, clothing and other essentials, the volunteers prepare packages that are distributed to the areas in and around Bangkok, providing flood victims with potentially life-saving supplies that are in short demand.

Led by staff members Gona Narula, Liza Sabucido, Yeu-Han (Henry) Liou and Hsin-Yi (Cindy) Chen, several Wells students awoke early on a bright Saturday morning and made the trek to Asoke to help with the relief efforts at NIST. With no thought of reward or recognition from the school community, the participants sought out the opportunity on their own, aiming to simply make a small difference for those who have lost homes, jobs or loved ones due to the flood waters. Like the many others who joined them, they felt that the minor inconveniences of waking up a bit early on a weekend or losing their free time were far outweighed by the suffering others have faced in recent weeks.

Within the Wells community itself, efforts have also been made to find ways in which the school can give back to the community in a time of need. While all monetary charity efforts have been directed toward flood relief, the Wells teachers and counselors felt that more could be done. Rekha Sachdej organized a donation drive, asking students to contribute toys for children that may have lost all of their own. Going above and beyond her expectations, the students responded by bringing some of their prized positions, including a bicycle in one case! Meanwhile, the Student Support Services Department organized a sandwich-making event, calling on secondary students to prepare meals that would be delivered that same day to nearby flood-affected zones.

While tragic, the flood situation has also brought out the best in the educational community in Thailand. Avoiding the debates and finger-pointing that merely distract the official organizations from the issues at hand, it is the individuals–Thai and expatriate–who have made a difference. Thank you to all of the members of the Wells community–as well as the many others from schools around Bangkok–who have upheld the ideals of international education and sought to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

For additional pictures of the events, visit our . �ۿ۴�ý’s relief efforts were also documented on a Hong Kong news program:

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In a world that grows more connected every day, resourcefulness, adaptability and an understanding of international affairs have become essential skills for future success. During the past summer, two students from �ۿ۴�ý flew the United States for separate programs that offer youth an opportunity to interact with their peers from around the world. While Chalisa (Lisa) Wynne Brothers (Class of 2017) arrived in sunny California to take part in the prestigious John Hopkins University’s , Gautham Naganathan Giri (Class of 2013) explored the eastern coast of the U.S. while touring Washington D.C. and New York City in the .

Lisa, a Wells student for over five years, has long been recognized as one of the brightest students in the school, a belief that was confirmed upon her receipt of an invitation to the John Hopkins CTY. A highly selective program that identifies highly gifted students worldwide and provides learning opportunities for them, the CTY invites only a handful of youth to participate in its summer program. To qualify, students at the grade 7 level must achieve standardized test scores on par with those of high school seniors; Lisa’s scores identify her as being at the university level. With the CTY directors more than willing to accept her into the summer program, Lisa elected to join the Introduction to Robotics course in Thousand Oaks, California.

For students as gifted as Lisa, the chance to delve into challenging tasks with others who share their same gifts is a rare opportunity, and one that Lisa herself embraced with enthusiasm. She now reflects fondly on the experience and hopes to go back again, not only for the intellectual challenge, but also the other knowledge she gained: “I loved meeting all the other people in the program, because everyone was nice, and they were amazing individuals…it was a great experience, and it made me more outgoing and able to approach people.”

Even more impressive was the glowing review from her course instructors: “Your designs were innovative and followed the engineering design process…As a rule, your robots were very well thought out…Your understanding of structural engineering and your programming skills were also outstanding…it was a true pleasure having you in the class and John and I feel privileged to have met you.” Congratulations on your success in the CTY program, Lisa, and we hope that you continue to receive such opportunities in the future.

As Lisa probed the intricacies of robotics in California, Gautham—another Wells student known for his keen intellect—boarded a plane bound for Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport to take part in the GYLC. The only student to represent Thailand from over 200 participants, he met peers from over 100 countries around the world, all of whom were eager to engage in the study of diplomacy and leadership at the international level. From an exploration of the monuments in D.C.—including the White House—to the streets of New York, Gautham experienced a whirlwind tour of the world of international affairs.

As one of its primary goals, the GYLC seeks to educate the leaders of the future and provide them with the skills necessary to face the many challenges of the 21^st century. Gautham and his peers thus received the rare chance to meet and interact with CEOs from multiple industries, and to engage in workshops to develop their communication and management skills: “We had three main leadership group activities: the Politics of Trade activity, the Peace and Security simulation, and the Global Summit. We did the Global Summit at one of the rooms they actually use at the U.N. headquarters in NYC…We learned negotiation skills (so that we could negotiate and discuss with the other country groups), and it was also a great opportunity for public speaking.”

While Gautham certainly benefited from the events organized by the program, it was the connections with his fellow participants and the visits to world-famous sites that he reflects fondly upon. A tour of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Rockefeller Center and the Smithsonian Institution all highlighted a once-in-a-lifetime chance: “It was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience, and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to take part in it. Special thanks to the Wells for help with funding. I’m not sad it’s over, but rather glad that it happened. It was awesome.” Congratulations on your positive experiences in the program, Gautham, and don’t forget to put what you’ve learned into action.

If you are interested in applying to �ۿ۴�ý or if you are a current Wells parent who would like your child to participate in international events and competitions, please for details about such opportunities.

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