Grade 8 Chiang Mai Chinthe Expedition: February 11-16
As we shared with you last week, the expeditions we had planned for different regions of Myanmar have been relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
It is our intention that Chinthe Expeditions will return to Myanmar next school year and we are planning for this. For now, Chiang Mai is a reliable option in uncertain times that ensures that all Secondary School students get to experience a ‘Week Without Walls’ experience that they have not had since the pandemic.
We are very pleased to be able to confirm the following details of our Grade 8 Chiang Mai Chinthe Expedition:
ISY Teacher Chaperones:
- Mr. Nick Sturmey (Expedition Leader)
- Ms. Leah Wilks
- Mr. Tom Just
- In addition, one Oway guide will accompany the group.
Location:
All of this year’s Chinthe Expeditions will be facilitated by the Traidhos Visiting Schools Program (VSP) in Chiang Mai. We partnered with VSP before the pandemic in providing Week Without Walls experiences for our students. We are very pleased to be working with them again.
Please click on the following links to get a sense of the fantastic location and facilities that we have access to in partnership with VSP:
Flights:
Grade 8 students will fly to Chiang Mai on Sunday, February 11 and will return on Friday, February 16::
Myanmar National Airlines - DIRECT FLIGHT
Yangon to Chiang Mai (departing Yangon at 17:20pm on Sunday, February 11): RGN-CNX UB009 1720-1910: Students will meet at ISY and the bus will depart to the airport at 2pm.
Chiang Mai to Yangon (returning to Yangon at 21:05pm on Friday, February 16): CNX-RGN UB010 2015-2105: Bus will return students to ISY to be picked up by parents. Parents can pick their child up from the airport with face-to-face permission from an ISY Teacher Chaperone.
Grade 8 students will be accompanied by our Grade 9 students.
Itinerary of Activities:
VSP is working with us to create, support, and supervise rich service, cultural, and adventure experiences for our students. Here is a draft itinerary of Grade 8 and 9 activities. A detailed itinerary of activities will be shared with you as soon as it is finalized.
Kit List - What to Bring:
VSP has provided us with this VSP Kit List 23-24 of items to bring.
Information and Authorization Request Form:
Please fill out this G8 Chinthe Expedition Parent Information & Authorization Request Form. This form collects important contact, passport, medical, dietary, and other information about your child. You will also upload a picture of your child’s passport details page. If your child is required to apply for a visa to travel to Thailand, you are responsible for applying for and acquiring a visa for your child. You will need documentation from ISY to apply. Once we have your child’s passport information, we will create the necessary documentation for you to make this application so that you can do it. Please have the visa completed and provided to us by Friday, January 26.
This Chinthe Expedition is an important part of our ISY program and we therefore expect all students to participate. However, if there are any circumstances that may make this difficult for your child, please email Mr. Simpson and he will be happy to meet with you.
Kind regards,
Mike Simpson
Secondary School Principal
Please list any medication that your child will need to take on the retreat and how it is to be taken (how much, how often). Please note that ISY chaperones will collect and look after the medication to be given to your child.
Please list and explain any medical conditions that your child has
Please tell us anything you would like us to know about your child so we can ensure that their expedition is as enjoyable as possible.