ACR International Staff Meeting
On 25 June 2010, Reverend Provincial, Brother Sirichai Fonseka graced our ACR
International Staff Meeting with his presence and was accompanied by Master Somvang
Apitumpusit, our Head of Human Resources. Master Noel Landers, the ACR International
Coordinator, opened the proceedings by offering condolences on behalf of all the ACR
overseas staff, for Brother Sakda Kitcharoen RIP. Brother Provincial cordially thanked
everyone present for their kind sentiments. Master Noel then paid tribute to Reverend Brother
Dechachai Sripicharn, our Director, and to his predecessors. International colleagues remain
at ACR for so many years of their teaching careers because of the appreciative bond that
exists between the Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel and our overseas colleagues.
Master Noel continued with reference to the encouraging progress being made in
implementing the new “Companion” textbooks in English Conversation, as well as in Science
and Mathematics in English. One major and very welcome outcome, colleagues observed,
has been the enhanced cooperation and sharing of expertise between Thai and international
staff. Dr Noel also spoke about the projects undertaken by our teachers of Chinese and
Computer Studies. In addition, he mentioned the many extra-curricular voluntary activities of
overseas colleagues, not only within ACR and but also in the parish and the wider community.
Master Oliver Sinong, a subject specialist in our secondary Science Department and a
teaching mentor within the St Gabriel Foundation, then offered a very enlightening
presentation with specific emphasis on practical examples of Science work-in-progress. He
outlined the challenges being encountered and the positive value of the new “Companion”
curriculum for Science. He reminded us all of the exceptional advantages the rural
environment of ACR presents for productive on-campus field studies. Master Oliver’s
treatment of the topics was well illustrated by photographs and video clips of staff and student
lesson interaction, demonstrating very clearly our ACR achievements in Science. A similar
methodology might be successfully applied to other “Companion” textbook areas of the new
curriculum.
This was followed by a very lively, not to say intriguing overview of lesson planning by
Master Carl Flanagan. He spoke of his personal experiences over the last fourteen years, as
a lecturer in the UK, as a colleague in ACR and as a training consultant to the St Gabriel
Foundation. To the delightful surprise of us all, Master Carl took as his central theme the
rather unlikely figure of Doraemon (a popular children’s cartoon character) and then
demonstrated how to approach such a lesson using learning objectives firmly rooted in
Bloom’s Taxonomy. At the conclusion of this presentation he provided everybody with the
written lesson plan which detailed each stage of the process, along with some suggestions
and reflections on how these methods are transferable to almost any other subject and
learning event. This will be significant especially in appropriately embedding the complete
“Companion” curriculum, especially in the full use of the relevant new textbooks.
Brother Provincial then gave a moving address in which he offered us some reflections on
how overseas teachers are not just foreign employees, but are true collaborators within the
school and essential partners in the vision and educative mission of the Montfort Brothers of
St Gabriel. He thanked staff for such close involvement in the new “Companion” curriculum
and stated very clearly how our long-service as teaching colleagues in ACR indicated an
enduring commitment, He expressed his gratitude to us for this dedicated service.
Brother Sirichai then asked us to consider the heritage in which we all share. Firstly, he
spoke of the 300 year history of Montfort schools going back to the time of St Louis himself.
Secondly, he reminded us that we are part of the 109 year history of the Brothers in Thailand
- not only in the schools but in the many projects of the Brothers for the poor and the
marginalized. Thirdly, he praised our own contributions as fruitful participants in the 47 year
history of ACR. Brother Provincial stated that these three aspects are inexorably intertwined.
He said we need to recognize that we share most providentially in the great Monfortian
tradition and we should see ourselves as an integral part of this worthy and noble heritage.
Brother Provincial concluded by saying that, on this occasion, he felt bound by time
constraints, but promised to be with us again in the future for a more extended sharing. The
meeting appropriately closed with a group photograph, as a memento of Brother Sirichai’s
most welcome and inspiring visit to one of our ACR international curriculum staff meetings.
Master Noel Landers Ed.D.