One of the key principles at Wells International School for developing students to become “quality global citizens” is fostering “The Power of Community”. Beyond its world-class American curriculum and hands-on learning experiences, Wells International School consistently promotes this concept as an ongoing activity.
It is believed to build strong relationships within the school among students, teachers, and parents, as a good community is the foundation for student success.
Dr. Chang Yao-Lang, Chairman of the Board at Wells International School, states that Wells places great importance on building “The Power of Community.” He recognizes that a dedicated and supportive community is the foundation for students’ success and well-being. The school believes that learning, especially beyond the classroom, thrives in an environment where students, teachers, parents, and staff work closely together.
This supportive community promotes inclusivity, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, encouraging all members of the school to participate and grow together. These bonds are instilled in a safe, inspiring, and creative atmosphere, fostering leadership and the development of quality global citizens.
“Building the power of community at Wells International School benefits student development in many areas, including academic excellence. Students learn from highly skilled personnel and participate in a rigorous university preparatory curriculum, emphasizing experiential learning and real-world application. Character and leadership within the community are nurtured, developing individuals who are principled, empathetic, open-minded, balanced, and accountable for their actions, contributing positively to society.
As global citizens, Wells emphasizes fostering global awareness through collaboration among students, teachers, and families, encouraging students to think critically and act responsibly in both local and international contexts.
In terms of social and emotional growth, we emphasize a culture of mutual respect, teamwork, and shared responsibility, helping students develop skills for coexisting with others and adapting to the real world. We also prepare students for post-graduation, through internships, career guidance, academic clubs, and service-learning, among other activities.”
Dr. Chang further explains that overall, the school focuses on making the power of community the heart of the school to ensure every student grows academically, personally, and socially within an environment that supports all aspects of student development, including global impact.
This is achieved through continuous activities such as community service and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service). Students actively participate in various service projects, collaborating with organizations like Operation Smile and the Thai Red Cross. This promotes social responsibility and global citizenship. Activities organized through collaboration, such as International Day and Farmers’ Market, and the strong involvement of the parent community and alumni, build a robust network.
Mr. Bernard Anthony, a parent of a 10th-grade student, says that children’s participation in activities to demonstrate the power of community, from his perspective, provides an opportunity for students to engage with the entire school, whether at the elementary, middle, or high school level, as well as with parents. He finds the club activities excellent because they teach children responsibility.
They learn from student representatives, older students, and alumni. When his son comes home from school, he still talks about them, and looks at examples from older students, saying, “One day, I will be an engineer and come back to share my knowledge.” These experiences are excellent for developing personality and communication skills, as his son used to be quite reserved in grades 6 and 7, but then began to open up.
“I think that’s why. At first, he wasn’t good at sports, but he didn’t give up, he kept trying. Eventually, he loved playing volleyball, with teachers helping to motivate the children as important guides. Overall, developing personality and engaging in various activities together among students, by grade 8, students listen to each other.
The coach, who is an alumnus, motivated my son a lot in volleyball. This is a real community. Alumni come back and share their experiences with younger students; alumni are an integral part of a good school. And the school providing opportunities for children to choose ‘internships’ independently is a good thing in terms of fostering decision-making.”
“I really enjoy International Day activities. Even parents can participate. We get to meet our children’s friends and their friends’ parents, which is great. Teachers also participate in dance activities, setting a good example for the children,” Mr. Bernard adds.
Zac Nugroho, an 11th-grade student, says that having a positive environment and classrooms at Wells is important. The community is visible in every classroom, and he has been a part of it, growing together. When you have a positive community, you have a place to turn. Sometimes Wells feels more like home than his real home, as he spends more time here.
“Personally, I enjoy International Day and Songkran. Both activities are quite fun. They are school-wide events with small booths where you can see the different personalities of the clubs. The best part is that I think these activities are very beneficial. The CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) principles taught by the school encourage you to broaden your horizons and develop these skills, improving yourself to give back to the community. There’s more room for creativity, and importantly, teamwork and team building,” Zach says.
Anne Fukuura, a 12th-grade student, says that having a good community between teachers and students is important for fostering a good environment. She is part of and a leader in the PAWS Club (Animal club supporting PAWS Bangkok). They care for stray cats and dogs. She believes that all extracurricular activities are an important part of the Wells community. Everyone participates in the larger community, but there are also smaller communities.
They have internship programs, such as “summer student teaching internships,” which give students experience. It’s a great experience. “ServICE Conference” activities allow them to build new relationships with new people, not just within the school community. They can gain more cultural understanding and have opportunities to ask others about their experiences.
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