And just like that, the end of the year was in sight, and we had all once again collectively navigated another almost full school year with the BFITS Program. That went by in a flash, and like most things in life, as you grow older, this year seemed to go by quicker than the last. It was a mad, crazy, and busy year here at Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School, as we packed more and more into our tight schedule, full of contrasting events, such as Space Day and our visits from various world Education Ministers.
“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”
For those of us teaching in Thailand, a school year is never just about finishing lessons or preparing students for exams. It is about the events, relationships, challenges, celebrations, and everyday classroom moments that make school life meaningful.
In this blog, I’d like to recap those exceptional months and acknowledge the important contributions of my colleagues and our students.
Starting the Year with Preparation
Our school year began in late April with our annual preparation week, a time when we welcome our older students back and meet our new first year students for the first time.
We also had an early year meeting with some of the parents of our students to convey our thoughts and hopes for the year ahead. After this, we were good to go for the new academic year.
Gate duty remains a tradition in schools across the country, and this year was no different. In our school, it is done on a rotation basis, and it is always nice to greet the students as they enter school.
For teachers in Thailand, these early routines are part of settling into the rhythm of the year. They may seem small, but they help set the tone for the months ahead.
Celebrations That Shape School Life
Celebrations and festivals form an integral part of Thai society, and I particularly enjoy the colour that such occasions bring to school life. Across May and June, we celebrated both Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday and Wai Kru Day, and both did not disappoint in their effervescence.
These moments are one of the meaningful parts of teaching abroad. They allow teachers to see how respect, tradition, and community are woven into the school calendar, not as interruptions to learning, but as part of the wider education experience.
Space Day Inspires Bigger Dreams
The 1st of August would mark one of the highlights of our year here. I was honoured and delighted to be invited to the Space Day event. A joint collaboration between BFITS, SkillUp, and Starlight Education Group, it was a fantastic day where our students got to meet former NASA astronaut Charles “Sam” Gemar, who regaled us all with his stories of travelling to space, the difficulties one must overcome to achieve such a feat, and ultimately how no dream is ever too big.
It was an inspiring experience that reinforced in our students the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Afterward, I was interviewed and asked about my opinion on the event, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a great day all around, which was enjoyed by both teachers and students alike.
As regards my teaching this year, I tried to introduce some more practical elements for the students’ benefit. Here, my M2 students are using their handmade inclinometers to measure angles and ultimately calculate the heights of selected buildings on the school grounds.
Welcoming Education Ministers to Buriram
August started with a bang of sorts with our Space Day adventure and ended with another positive experience for the school. On August 26th, we were visited at school by various Education Ministers from ASEAN countries, as well as a few from outside the ASEAN sphere.
They toured a section of our school and were treated to a performance by our students showcasing the best of Thai culture and traditions, as well as the importance of school life.
Once again, our students rose to the challenge and did themselves, their families, and the school proud. The visiting delegation was suitably impressed.
Moments like this show how the BFITS Thailand school experience can connect students to something larger than the classroom. It was a reminder that teaching in Thailand can involve opportunities that are both local and international in scope.
Sports Week and Semester One Energy
Sports Week was one of the last weeks of semester 1 and proved a success once again. It’s always nice to get involved.
For students, Sports Week brings a different kind of energy to school life. For teachers, it is a chance to see students outside the usual classroom environment, where teamwork, enthusiasm, and school spirit often shine in new ways.
Loy Krathong and English Camp Memories
Semester 2 began, and it wasn’t long until the festival of Loy Krathong was upon us. A day of great importance to the Thai people, it is celebrated each November, and it is a time to let go of negative thoughts, bad luck, and troubles as we each float, or loy, our beautifully decorated krathongs across a body of water. Once again, the traditional attire was a sight to behold.
Our annual English Program camp took place from December 11th to 13th in Thailand’s ancient capital, Ayutthaya. Great fun and games are always had by all at these, and they give us a wonderful opportunity to engage with the students in a different way outside the classroom, and that should not be underestimated.
They say a picture paints a thousand words, and I will let the photos from those days do most of my talking. Please enjoy.
Competitions, Meetings, and Year-End Events
In-house competitions between students in our various FLD (Foreign Language Department) programs remain as active as ever and serve as a useful barometer of progress and a way to reward the efforts of our best and brightest. All of the participants can be very proud of themselves.
We once again held parent-teacher meetings in December, as it is always important to engage with our students’ parents to report on their sons and daughters’ progress each year. These school years do indeed pass very quickly.
Christmas and New Year’s came and went as they always inevitably do, as did Chinese New Year at the end of January, another day of great costumes and fanfare, and, with the click of a finger, we have found ourselves where we are now. At another year’s end.
Our end-of-year exams will soon be completed here and across the country, and our Mathayom 6 students will depart for pastures new, some in further education and some in the workforce.
Gratitude for Colleagues and Community
This year has had its challenges and its many ups and downs. It has had joy and laughter and even some tears. I am proud of my colleagues for their hard work, their dedication, and their resilience.
Immediate Support in the English Program
On that note, I would like to give a special thanks to my immediate colleagues throughout the year in the BFITS English Program at Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School.
To our Head Teacher, Charles, Jacquie, Ronan, Michael, Karan, Matt, and David for providing me with support and advice in any or all matters.
Also, thank you to Matt Krupa for your hard work during your short stay here. Your project work in particular was an inspiration to our students and has personally inspired me to improve myself in this regard in my approach to teaching.
Coordinators and Thai Staff Support
To our coordinator, Nart, who is secretly or not so secretly the most important person in the office, for her hard work and dedication, and for providing us with warm fried bread on many a cold morning. And thanks indeed to all of the Thai staff with whom we work on a daily basis.
A special thanks also to our other BFITS teachers at the school in other programs, who, I know, provide excellent leadership to our students. Sandra, Sam, Ryan, James, Martin, Joe, Roger, and Dan, thank you all.
To the other BFITS coordinators, Toey and Gunner, your contribution is invaluable.
The Wider BFITS Buriram Community
I also want to mention the wider BFITS community here in Buriram, who do great work. To all the other teachers in the various schools, thank you for providing an expat community here and for getting involved in things like quiz nights, etc.
To all the office staff led by Joom, thank you all indeed. And a thank you to Patrick, who works as our program manager here.
Personal Thanks Behind the Scenes
On a personal level, I want to give a special mention to Aor, who has always been professional and exceptional in her visa work on my behalf, surely without whose help I would have been deported by now! She makes the visa application process each year easy and non-stressful.
Shout out to the man who drives the bus at the office, whose name I should, but shamefully, don’t know!
Recognizing Support Across BFITS Thailand
To all of the head office staff whom I have had the pleasure to deal with this year, Angel Ha and Giselle Alano, thank you for all of your hard work, professionalism, and all-around approachability. It certainly means a lot to me and to others. James Tovey! Keep those webinars coming; they are very much appreciated.
Sometimes I have a question about a system issue, an email issue, or a general question about a work-related incident or activity. I won’t always know the correct person to contact. It’s in the handbook, I’m sure. But there is one person I know I can always contact and who, without fail, gives me an almost immediate response and always, ALWAYS, helps me out. Marc Tubelleja, you are an absolute superstar and a true example of somebody who does their best. Thanks for all your help this year with the many questions you faced, and I know all of us teachers here in Buriram feel the same way.
To all of the people in the BFITS community, I say this. The school year is almost at an end, and some of you may be staying in your current positions, some of you may be moving to a new school, and some of you may be moving on to new opportunities and maybe even to other countries.
Remember that you all do important work in a noble field and that this community could not work without the contributions of each and every one of us. Whatever it is you do next, approach it with an open mind and an open heart, and good things will happen.
Until next year, keep on keeping on.
Chris Whearty
Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School
