An overwhelming number of parents attended the annual  Parents’ Meeting of the Marist Training Program (MTP). Headed by the teachers, the meeting aimed to discuss about the performance of the students, and at the same time to orient the parents about the MMR’s new education and community centre, which will serve also as the new learning centre of the students.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the group discussion of the parents on how they could support the studies of their children while studying at Marist Education Centre.

Their openness and their active participation during the sharing showed a lot of confidence among the MTP staff for the possible transfer of the MTP to the new building this year.

After the meeting, all the parents went to the site of the new Marist Education and Community Centre. Excitement and happiness were all drawn on their faces after they saw the- about to finish Marist Education and Community Centre (MECC).

Christine, Kimberley and Aon at their Online Graduation Ceremony

This week we decided to celebrate the success of three of our online graduates, Aon, Kimberley and Christine. All three graduated in the Diploma in Liberal Studies in 2012, from Australian Catholic University, and all three have been employed by MMR.

This week we said goodbye to Aon who was an integral member of our health team. She developed warm, positive relationships with both staff and patients, and was very committed to her job. Aon is heading to Northern Thailand before returning to Burma. She has two sisters who are also involved with MMR – one as an online student and another who works as a teacher at CCC. We will really miss her and wish her the best of luck for the future.

Kimberley and Christine with the ACU Dean of Humanities

Kimberley and Christine both work as teachers at MTP – our high school education programme. They are particularly unique as they were both students at MTP before becoming teachers. Their path as students, online graduates and now teachers is truly inspirational to our students, many of whom hope to follow in their footsteps. 

People like Kimberley, Christine and Aon are the future of MMR, and we are very proud of them.

MTP students outside Ranong Biosphere Education Centre

This week the MTP students finished their exams, so we headed off to Ranong Biosphere Reserve for a different kind of education. This Mangrove reserve is protected by UNESCO, and was a new experience for our students and many of the staff. It was a beautiful day and the students thoroughly enjoyed walking around the reserve, taking notes and spotting monkeys swinging in the trees.

Students taking notes for their posters.

In the afternoon the students were given a challenge: to come up with a poster to convince people that Mangrove trees should be protected. The students worked very hard on these posters all afternoon, and showed both their artistic talent and their new knowledge about Mangroves. We finished the afternoon with the students presentation of their posters, and the reserve manager commented on how impressed he was with our student’s behaviour and enthusiasm. It was a great chance for students to renew their energy so that they can head back to the classroom refreshed and ready for action.

Sister May gives an impromptu lesson

photo taken from: http://www.ambergristoday.com/content/stories/2012/november/01/world-aids-day-activities-san-pedro

December 1st is World AIDS Day. To mark this day, Marist Mission Ranong (MMR) gives special attention and care to children who suffer from HIV-AIDS in Ranong. Two weeks ago, MMR staff gave counselling to a boy who is dying of this disease. The boy made a special request that he wants to go to a beach resort before he dies. MMR’s Health team was moved with compassion to this boy.  To fulfill the boy’s wish, last November 30, 2012, our health team organized a beach party for children victims of HIV-AIDS.  The children enjoyed a lot of the outing.