Phuket Lifestyle: QSI Tigers unveil new den; QSI fun run
PHUKET: Quality Schools International (QSI) Phuket unveiled its new and improved sports den, with students rushing the field after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The US$120,000 (just over 3.7 million baht) new facilities include a multipurpose basketball court, a football field enveloped by a 100-meter running track and a new garden and waterfall.
Emotions ran high at the opening ceremony with large crowds turning out to hear school director Patrick Buckley give a heartfelt speech, which paid tribute to the efforts of all involved in the major facility upgrade.
“We are celebrating our new facilities, and also that at QSI Phuket, we don’t give up on our kids.”
“Our new facilities communicate to our students and their parents that we want to give them the best educational opportunities, and sport is a very important aspect of our curriculum.”
In a fitting tribute to the home side, their new football pitch is made from a surface called “Tiger Turf”, an apt name when your team logo, name and mascot is a roaring tiger. The new facilities will be used for T-ball, football, basketball, tennis, badminton, track and field activities and the football field will be used for the flag raising ceremony each morning before classes, a QSI Phuket tradition.
Facility upgrades have been a top priority at QSI Phuket since director Buckley joined the school in August last year. The majority of construction work was scheduled over the Christmas holiday break, and although work has been ongoing, students and teachers have been able to see the remarkable transformation at the school each day.
Before work began, the upper playground usually reserved for primary students, was a little more than a dusty patch of land with a climbing frame. Today the new sporting arena has ample space and safety for students to hone their athletic abilities.
Brad Kenny, advisory board member and whose company ESP oversaw project development, said the new facilities has given the school and everyone concerned with it, a huge boost.
“This is a fantastic achievement for everyone concerned.”
Among the many people director Buckley thanked on the day, was CJ Prieur, director of Seara Sports southern Thailand.
Seara Sports were responsible for re-fitting the new “Swiss Flex” 800-square-meter basketball court. Mr Prieur said students decades from today will still be able to enjoy the ultra-durable Swiss Flex court. He added that Phuket interest in synthetic sports courts and pitches is in high demand, with artificial pitches popping up all over the island, including a brand new 5,000sqm soccer field in Patong.
Fun run Saturday March 10
You still have time to get in shape for QSI Phuket’s next Fun Run.
This is the 10th annual event for QSI Phuket and promises to be another fun-filled day for all involved.
The event has evolved from a community outreach project into a fully-fledged running event, attracting serious athletes and those hellbent on fun.
Races range from 1 to 12-kilometers and all members of the public can join. The all-day event is for the whole family, with carnival-like booths and games.
The event will be held at Bang Wad Dam on March 10, from 9:30am to 5:00pm.
The parents, students and teachers of QSI Phuket will continue their tradition of providing staff and materials for the event, which means the only thing left for community members to do is enjoy themselves.
Entry fee is 200 baht per entrant, 100 baht per student, and pre-registration is possible at QSI Phuket until Friday, March 9.
Additionally, registration on the day of the event begins at 9:30am.
As part of the festivities, there will be live music and 91.5 Phuket FM Radio personality, DJ Dorris.
There will also be food and drink vendors, as well as a silent auction with top-notch prizes from sponsors around the island.
The Phuket Gazette sponsors this event, for more information, check out qsischool.org.
— Fraser Morton
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