IMPACT 29 by Concordian International School

Issue 29 of IMPACT, the back-to-school edition of Concordian International School, marks the return to campus for the 2020-2021 academic year after a long period of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Editor Megan Ames notes that the trilingual IB World School in Bangkok welcomed students back with new health and safety measures, including masks, social-distancing dividers, sanitizing UV lights and expanded canteens and classrooms. Messages from Founder and Director Varnnee Chearavanont Ross, Head of School Laurent Goetschmann, Thai Principal Ajarn Vichitvong Chanarat and Director of Academics Dr. James Leung mark the school's twentieth year and a campus of around 1,000 students.

Graduations are the central feature. The edition celebrates the Kindergarten 3, Grade 5 and Grade 12 ceremonies. The Grade 5 graduation, the class of 2027, was held on July 29th as students moved from PYP to MYP, while the Class of 2020 Valedictory Ceremony, Concordian's 11th cohort, took place on Saturday, July 4th in the Grand Theater. The Class of 2020 achieved a 100% IB diploma success rate with a 36 point average, compared to the 31.38 world average. The 2020 university list reports 59% of students accepted to overseas universities, 65% to the World's Top 100 universities, and 77% to Thailand's Top 10 universities.

Alumni News profiles four graduates accepted to highly ranked universities in China, sharing their journeys to Tsinghua University, Beijing University and Fudan University. Other coverage includes a new Board of Trustees column chaired by Dr. Chawin Chantharasenawong, counseling updates, new faculty profiles, custodial COVID-19 training, and athletics participation figures across sports such as football, basketball and swimming, with tournament-based competition replacing league play.

The Spotlight follows Grade 11 student Prae, selected as one of five Thailand representatives at the International Young Physicists' Tournament (Physics World Cup) 2020, where the team placed fourth in an online edition. A special feature reprints The People's in-depth Thai-language interview with founder Khun Varnnee Chearavanont Ross on her path to opening the school and her philosophy of values-based education.