Sarasas Ektra Secondary Department held Feast Day and Wai Kru Day Ceremony for the academic year 2014 on Thursday 26th June 2014. The objective of this ceremony was to allow the students to express their gratitude and respect to the Virgin Mary and Saint Dominic Savio to protect them and the school throughout the academic year. Students also continued the beautiful cultural tradition of Wai Kru in showing their gratitude to teachers by presenting floral emblems and showing respect to their teachers. The floral emblems are arranged with flowers that symbolize the characteristics of teachers such as popped rice, eggplant flower, needle flower, Bermuda grass.
           The arrangement of these floral emblems is made into a class competition which was divided into 2 categories: Creativity and Beauty.

The winners were

Beauty:

Winner : Beauty (Lower Secondary)

Winner : Beauty (Upper Secondary)

Creativity

Winner : Creativity (Lower Secondary)

Winner : Creativity (Upper Secondary)

Greetings to the Management Team, Senior Teachers, Teachers and all Students.
           Some teachers here today are older than your parents. Thai Culture dictates students should be grateful to teachers. Teachers, when they were students were sitting as you are now to show respect for their teachers. We also remember sitting and waiting for a long time when we were students. It is a tradition that has continued for many many years.
           I am thinking of the example of Thai boxing. In the past Thai people were not proud of Thai Boxing. They did not like to watch it. They only watched Western style Boxing. Now a day’s Thai Boxing is mixed with Kick Boxing. It is improved and developed from traditional Thai Boxing. The most famous style now is TF or Thai Flight.
           Things that Thai people didn’t care about in the past have become very precious to our culture now. Thai Boxing usually has ritual dance of homage called the Wai Kru Rum Muay. It lasts for 2 minutes at the beginning of a fight. Some people who don’t understand cultural traditions may laugh about it or think it’s funny.
           Thai boxing is survival fighting. When a Master was young, all kids had to learn to fight to survive.
          At Wai Kru time, should think of our ancestors who saved our country, otherwise we wouldn’t have a place to live. Thai people are grateful for our ancestors and our country. Some other countries are still fighting and having disputes.
           We received lots of traditions from our great grandparents such as music and Wai Kru.
           In England, a group of Thai people showed the floral arrangements presented at Wai Kru day and received the first prize from Queen Elizabeth. This is just one example of the uniqueness and importance of our culture and traditions.
           Famous people have received great inspiration from their teachers. So, the lesson today is whatever great grandparents and grandparents have taught us, we should remember because it is good to carry on the traditions and culture of our society.
           Today it is the first time a school student president from Year 12 gave a formal commitment to our school for the job they will do this year. The question is how well can you do the job? Comparing to boxing ……… how well can you fight?
           Good Senior Students should be tough. A boxing master means to have a heart that’s tough, strong and enduring. Just like an Eagle that grows up enough to protect its’ eaglets. Stop bullying inside our school. It can happen in front of the toilets, along the walkways, when you’re waiting in line or during any activities. This year, we have a campaign to stop bullying.
           The student president gave a commitment in front of all teachers, please be true to what you said. Be a good leader in what you say and what you do.
           For current affairs in Thailand, there is so much misinformation from social media and news. We do not know what’s true or not. Use your wisdom when we listen to the news. Don’t believe everything you hear or read!
           I would like to thank all our former students who came today. Miss Pim who studied here from Kg.3 to Year 12 is one of them. Even though she’s been invited to teach at Harvard University in America, one of the top ten universities in the world, she’s still here today to respect her former teachers, who have helped her to the position in which she is today.
           The school captain and supporting members should come to Primary often. Come to visit and develop a relationship with the younger students. Do not be like a politician who may never follow up on their promises. If you say something, do it. Help teachers to create projects across all parts of the school. I believe our sport day will be fun if you work in all sections of the school.
           Thank you for all the musicians today, the music is good, especially the pianists. All aspects of today’s ceremony have been well managed. It is more professional than I n previous years. I am proud of our mc’s. Today is a good day. Everything runs so smoothly.
           I pray for good things in return to everyone, the management team, teachers, and students. I pray for the sacred spirits to protect students and their parents. Everyone should live together with love. Treat others the same way you would like to be treated. I hope all students and teachers are well.