The Termly Magazine of Bangkok Patana School
Bangkok Patana
Magazine
Issue 61 Term 3, June 2020
WELL-BEING
The PTG Committee
LEARNING
Learning with Virtual Reality
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP Commitment to Our Community
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS
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LEARNING
CONTENTS
Issue 61, Term 3, June 2020
24 WELL-BEING 22 Long Service Awards
24 The PTG Committee
12 LEARNING
8 Learning with Virtual Reality
10 The Monsters’ Picnic
12 Protect
16 14 16 18 20
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
Students Work for a More Equitable World Commitment to Our Community Alumni Stories - Life after Patana: Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur Alumni Stories - Life after Patana: In a Global Pandamic
Front cover: Artwork by Taehoon Kim, Year 3
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Page 5 Allied Pickford Size: 1/1, Color: Full Note:
L ELAORBNAI LN C G GI T I Z E N S H I P
FOREWORD
I
t certainly has been a difficult and unsettling 2020 thus far. Thankfully, Bangkok Patana School managed to maintain its routine in large part throughout most of Term 2. I am personally very grateful for that. School routines are reassuring for everyone. For me they have an added significance, as this is my final year at Bangkok Patana. My ‘normal’ routine starts with early morning greetings, smiles, laughter, a joke with a student whom I now call ‘Egmont’ because Beethoven’s Egmont Overture was his favourite when we played it in orchestra. There’s a bellow of a “good morning” from Mr Mills, a wai of greeting to the guards and maids, a hello to my colleagues in the Arts and stopping to pay respect during the 8.00am Thai National Anthem (recorded by our choir and orchestra). A student stops by to drop off her cello – another needs a string changed – and then the flurry begins! E-mails, lessons, rehearsals and meetings gobble up each day. Days turn into weeks – weeks into months – and the years zip by. Sixteen years to be precise. At the writing of this article, we are still working, teaching, learning from home, trying to establish new routines in unfamiliar circumstances. It’s a big challenge, but if any school is up to it,
643 Lasalle Road (Sukhumvit 105) Bangna Tai, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Fax: +66 (0) 2785 2399 Email: reception@patana.ac.th www.patana.ac.th
Bangkok Patana is. Students are approaching lessons with their characteristic polite and positive attitudes. Parents are supportive and doing their best to adjust. Teachers are embracing new technologies, trying to keep learning meaningful, fun and engaging. This is far from how I would have expected to round out my final year at Bangkok Patana, but it has only served to reinforce the respect and appreciation I have for our school. Patana is
Editor: Shana Kongmun Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Email: shkn@patana.ac.th Advertisement: Finn Balslev Tel: 081-866-2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com
resilient. Patana is adaptable. Patana truly deserves its name as the ‘development’ school. Patana will not only maintain, it will thrive and grow even in the most trying of circumstances. As the Bien family prepares to leave this great school and our wonderful home in Thailand, we extend our gratitude, warm regards and best wishes to the entire Bangkok Patana School community. – Alec Bien, Head of Arts Faculty
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Bangkok Patana Magazine is the termly publication of Bangkok Patana School published three times per year and distributed to 2,000 members of the School community. Reproduction of articles, artwork and illustrations by written permission only. 6 6
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WELL-BEING
LEARNING
Learning with Virtual Reality By Patrick O’Connor, Year 1 Teacher
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Bangkok Patana Magazine
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his year, the students in Year 1 have embraced one of the newest forms of technology and incorporated it into their curriculum: Learning with Virtual Reality (VR). The students have been using Oculus headsets in order to fully immerse themselves into virtual environments. Academic research has shown that immersing students in an environment and involving as many of their senses as possible, leads to higher motivation, engagement and achievement. By using the VR headsets to immerse the students in a virtual reality story, they can expand their vocabulary for writing. Year 1 used this new technology to bring their ‘Fairy Tales and Traditional Tales’ learning theme to life and focused on a modern retelling of a Native American legend. ‘Crow: The Legend’ is a VR experience which takes the viewer on an exciting journey with a colourful cast of animal characters. It tells the story of how the crow got jet black feathers and hoarse, gruff caw. The students used the VR experience to retell and innovate the story for themselves. First, students planned their stories
and made sure they had a clear idea of the characters they wanted to include and the settings they wanted to use. They then planned a clear beginning, middle and end for their tales. Focusing on the various sections of the story, they re-imagined the legend to create their own stories with fanciful explanations for why some animals have certain characteristics. The students then went on to produce some truly wonderful pieces of writing. Deandra in 1P said, “I liked the ‘goggles’ because I could see Hansel and Gretel all around me and I could
hear the words from Hansel and Gretel too. I felt happy and excited when I could use the Oculus goggles. I would like to use them again because it was special and so much fun!” Sophia in 1T said that she also loved the VR Goggles. “It was fun as I could see nice animals that I had never seen before. I saw sharks and stingrays and I was very scared of them! I thought I was under the sea in real life! I also enjoyed seeing the deer and rainfalls which were cool. I liked the Oculus so much that I would like to have one.” Students found the learning very interesting and exciting. They look forward to using virtual reality in learning again.
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WELL-BEING
LEARNING
The Monsters’ Picnic By Garam (Momo) Lee, 4K
“I brought frog pies!” exclaimed Tenny. “I baked fifty!” There was a fresh, froggy aroma in the air. The monsters were enchanted by the mouth-watering smell. “Everyone will get ten each, since there’s only five of us,” explained Zina. “It’s an equal amount.” “Sure. That seems fair,” added Lulu.
The friends stuffed all of the cockroaches into their mouths and swallowed them in a single gulp. Their eyes widened with delight; the taste was unbelievable!
*GRUMBLE!* “Looks like we’re still hungry! Does anyone else have a snack?” asked Zina.
The friends devoured the pies in a flash. One particularly gloomy day, Zina the Zombie and her four monstrous mates went to the haunted graveyard to have a picnic. There was Tenny the TwoHeaded Tarantula, Samo the SemiSlug, Lulu the Laughing Lizard, Willy the Werewolf, and of course Zina.
“Yummy!” everyone shouted.
Shortly after, Goody the Ghost floated over to join the group.
Next up was Lulu’s chocolate-flavoured cockroaches. She excitedly dumped all thirty-five of them onto a plate.
Each friend had brought an appetising snack to share with the group, but first they needed to find a way to divide the food so that every monster received the same amount. 10
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“To keep things fair, I’ll give each of you… seven!” declared Lulu, after pausing for a moment to figure out the answer. “Yes, that’s right! Thirty-five divided by five is exactly seven,” confirmed Willy.
“Sorry I’m late. I was making eyeball soup!” exclaimed Goody. “Anyone want some?” Everyone rose to their feet to get a whiff of the spooky soup. “There’s only eighteen eyeballs, so is everybody okay with three each?” asked Goody. “Three is a lot already,” said Zina enthusiastically.
Bangkok Patana Magazine
“Ooohhh, yum yum!” the monsters exclaimed.
Zina grabbed a piece of paper out of her pocket and started to write frantically. “There is seven of us… ummm… wait a minute... How can we divide this?”
“Hey everybody! Are you having a picnic?” asked Cubby. “Can we join? We have some snacks to share too!” Yoyo revealed twenty-one singing scones and gave the friends three each. “Enjoy!” Samo dangled sixty scrumptious spaghetti worms in front of the group.
“I can hear them! They can really hit those high notes!” Holly remarked.
How will the friends share the final course? Will they each get an equal amount? Or is there a remainder?
“Everyone gets… ummm… nine?” asked Samo, unsure if he had calculated correctly. “Actually, ten each!” corrected Willy. Without a moment to waste, the monsters slurped up the worms, their faces full of joy. “Those were some juicy worms!” commented Lulu. “Unfortunately, I promised my parents I would help them carve pumpkins tonight.
About the Author Gram (Momo) Lee is an author and illustrator who has written such stories as Safe Sea, Home, School of Monsters, Wisdom from the Future, and the Robot 3000/4000 series.
“I better go too. I have to eat my homework,” said Samo regretfully. “Bu-bye!”
A few minutes later, Cubby the Colossal Crab, Holly the Hippo Head and Yoyo the Yeti arrived. Now, there were seven monsters.
“Anyone thirsty? I’ve brought thirty-seven litres of slug juice!” exclaimed Zina. “YAY!”
Her short story Safe Sea won First Prize in the 2019 Kid World Fun short story competion.
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WELL-BEING
LEARNING
Protect
A short story based loosely on the Middle Eastern theatres of World War I and II, from whence the gazelles roamed By Anonymous, Year 9
D
usk was arriving, the sky a swirl of azure and persimmon sinking, dripping through the sand dunes and scattered cacti like a blanket unravelling upon the dreary gloaming. Rays of golden sun drizzled down the arid knolls like viscous yet mellifluous honey, and the lizards that once basked in their heat scampered under rocks to hide from the waking night. The yolk-sun oozed, sweltering heat seeping, seeking shelter beneath the sandy hillocks of which cloistered the slumbering critters. And as the world darkened, a myriad of wrens plummeted downwards to nestle in the branches. The desert lay in eery stagnation. Upon the distant horizon, a marching sound arose. And like a line of ants the soldiers emerged one by one, footstep after footstep, scattering the slumbering animals with the heavy thumping of their leather boots. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4... Rhythmic beating permeated the thick air. With fatigues matted to chafed skin and their M249s slung loosely on their worn shoulders, they headed toward the remnants of a dilapidated town. Abandoned she lay, yet an air of dread lingered; the metallic scent of trepidation embroidered into the rubble. Even the birds – as though aware of the danger arising – wailed, warning cries strangled in their throats. As night unveiled itself, they trudged on through the debris. Two men approached first, dog tags reading ‘Alec’ and ‘Frank’. The remaining trailed along in heavy silence. 12
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After a thorough search of the area, Alec’s voice rang out, “All clear!”. Then – flooded with heavy languor after hours of walking – the men relaxed, idle chatter echoing into the starless skies. And as they settled into the ruins, the night descended into a cold, languid sleep. Where they gathered – herded like a pack of wolves – a fire was lit, sparks falling at their feet and warm flames licking at their heels. Their worn limbs lay stretched across logs, weapons scattered beside them, chatter and jokes of trivial matters pervading their speech. Alec shuffled past the boisterous shouting of his comrades to sit next to Frank. “It’s pretty dark tonight, huh?” Frank tensed – fingers instinctively snapping his rifle’s safety catch – but he relaxed his hands upon noticing it was merely his friend. He murmured a quiet reply, “Mm, quite cold too”. Alec offered him a cigarette and he gladly accepted. They sat there for a while, soft gazes meandering the lifeless hills. A pair of ears perked up, sepia fur rustled by the wind, then gone again. A crinkling of paper caught Alec’s attention. It was a crumpled photograph in his friend’s hand, “Your mother?” he asked. “Yeah”, Frank replied wistfully, his eyes clouded over in thought. “I think… I think I’d like to go see her, when I get out of
Bangkok Patana Magazine
here”, he folded the paper back into his shirt pocket, “if I ever get out”. Frank averted his eyes, then chuckled softly; a somber sound. And by the dim light of his barely lit cigarette, it seemed to Alec that the worry etched on his friend’s features became ever more prominent. And so, the night continued on. The soldiers fell into a deep slumber while Alec sat basking in the quiet and distant warmth of the flames. He turned to look into the distance, seeing nothing but darkness for miles. Nothing except what appeared to be a small light in the far horizon. He squinted his eyes. What was it? Frank mumbled drearily, but Alec’s gaze was following the approaching spot of glowing white. Brighter and brighter. His breath hitched; it was a tactical light. It fixed straight on Frank. They had barely seconds before the explosions went off. A hailstorm of bullets rained down upon them. The calm and cold night seemed no longer barren as dust and debris twirled up into the sky, down their throats and into their eyes as the soldiers rummaged for their weapons. Alec moved – fumbling, desperate, grabbing frantically for his rifle as the ground beneath his feet gave a sudden lurch. Running by the light of the towering flames – faster and faster. There was not enough time. Alec looked back, but the troops of men clad in fabrics of red were advancing. Where was Frank? In the distance – by a pile of rubble – Alec spotted a glinting object, small and silver. He squinted at it, trying to discern what it was. A dog tag. The flames grew taller now – menacing, impending, encompassing the abandoned village in its wake. Alec
weaved through its monstrous trails with stumbling legs that barely held him up. Frank’s limp body draped across the rubble. Blood was seeping everywhere, through dust and debris, ash smothering his face and wounds, but Alec ignored it as he desperately dragged his friend onto the flat sand. “Frank, we gotta go,” one hand cradling his limp neck, the other on his chest. There was nothing but a weak cough in reply, “Frank we have to go now, they’re going to-”. Something erupted nearby, a rush of hot air deafening his right ear. Frank’s eyes fluttered open and managed a weak groan; entrails of blood spilled down the side of his mouth. A gunshot wound. He choked, tears threatening to spill, “C’mon, you’re alright. You’re okay. You’re gonna be okay”. Frank’s chest was heaving, struggling, “I- never should’ve left”. “Stop it, you’re gonna be- you’re alright”. “Tell-” “Don’t you dare give me that speech, I swear to god Frankie”. He said nothing in reply. And with the gunshots ringing all around them, screams erupting and bombs exploding, moving ever nearer, Alec felt a sob throttle his lungs and the weight of it all crushing down upon him. Frank, with all life and will remaining, whispered, weak hand resting on his pocket where the photograph of his mother was tucked in, “Tell her I died fighting”. And with that, his body went limp; yearning, lifeless.
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WELL-BEING
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
Students Work for a More Cube Care has improved the lives of 900 villagers in Thailand, but its efforts don’t stop there… After learning about the disparity in healthcare between rural and urban areas in Thailand during her Geography class, Karnsiree (Ling-Ling) Chen (Year 13) was inspired to take action. “The case studies we learned about opened my eyes to global issues and, as students who have opportunities within a good educational system, I thought that we should do our best to give back in any way possible,” she said. Cube Care was established by a team of five individuals with a shared goal to provide specialised medical care for isolated village communities and forest rangers. What started as a Creativity Activity Service (CAS) project has grown to include 60 members and is now a CAT club. The founding members are: Karnsiree (Ling-Ling) Chen, Chayapat (Cue) Chinthammit, Tinn Habanananda, Ann Kanchanasakdichai and Pasawat (Tang-Tae) Sakulpanich.
Improving Lives
Ling-Ling connected with a Colonel and his team of Thai Army soldiers to find villages in need of specialised medical care. “I wanted to make sure the project would correspond directly to the community’s needs, which was achieved through constant liaison with the village representatives.” Last year they provided water filters to Baan Nam Phu Village in Kanchanaburi, which lacked electricity and struggled with limestone-contaminated water. Cube Care raised THB 40,000 for a water filter by selling baked goods at Farmer’s Markets and recruiting sponsors. “We designed a sustainable, gravitypowered water filter,” explains Ling-Ling. 14
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Bangkok Patana Magazine
Equitable World an absolute inspiration, says Keith Wright, Club Supervisor, “The level of independence, creativity and leadership qualities demonstrated in the Cube Care project is admirable and embodies the values we aim to instil in our students. The group have shown a great deal of compassion and empathy for others less fortunate and I am exceptionally proud of their achievements.”
“Soldiers from the Thai Army helped us to construct the filter at the village. The four-tank system involves layers of gravel, sediment and charcoal, and is able to produce 300 litres of water daily, improving the lives of the 900 villagers. There was some extra money after the filter was completed, so we installed solar-powered lights around the village daycare and in the female bathrooms.” At first, Cube Care wanted to provide electrical water filters, but they were far
too expensive. The team quickly realised that a sustainable water filter system complies with their environmentally friendly core values, relying on natural materials instead of chemicals like bleach to sanitise water. “The filter is also easy to operate, with easily accessible valves that release residue. The only major piece of maintenance is the bi-annual replacement of carbon once it begins to lose its effectiveness,” said Ling-Ling. The Cube Care team has been
The Future
Cube Care aims to deliver one major project a year that caters directly to a community in need. The club raised approximately THB 32,000 total from the Scavenger Hunt event they organised in addition to the money earned from selling tote bags and baked goods. They used THB 22,000 to buy CPR equipment for the 769 citizens of Pa Mak Village in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The members of the club also visited the village to demonstrate how to use the equipment. By establishing links to the Colonel’s army team for future connections to villages, there is a strong foundation for Cube Care to continue on after Ling-Ling and the founding members graduate. Cube Care currently have two copresidents: Pomme Jirarungroj and Ansh Shah, who are both in Year 12. “When we first began the CAS project, I hoped it would contribute to society for the foreseeable future. We made sure to set out a clear structure, encouraging members to apply for board positions. I have faith that new board members will continue our mission for many years to come,” Ling Ling concluded. (Originally published on the IB Community Blog. https://blogs.ibo.org/ blog/2020/04/15/dp-students-fulfillhealthcare-needs-of-their-community/) TERM 3 – 2019/20
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WELL-BEING
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
Commitment to Our Community By Kulvadee Siribhadra, Director of the Foundation Board Office
B
esides its leading role in international school education in Bangkok, our school has also long been recognised for its strong commitment to community service. The many community projects at school through the activities of teachers and students illustrate the many ways we try to be respectful contributors to the local community. Our Foundation Board is another vehicle through which our school shares this commitment to support the community, both here in Bang Na and the larger community beyond. Every year the Foundation Board donates used assets and money to support and foster the education of underprivileged children and activities of other communities. The Foundation determines where the needs are and then donates good condition used computers, educational equipment, furniture and fittings. These destinations range from temple schools to government schools, government agencies to non-profit organisations. In 2019, the Board donated 460 used computers to 18 schools, 12 government agencies and three non-profits around the country. Other used asset donations including educational equipment, furniture, fittings and books were given to 16 schools and government organisations across Thailand. In addition to these annual donations, in 2005 the Foundation Board helped established the Pongploy Novice School in Bang Na in conjunction with Wat Pongploy. Wat Pongploy is the only temple in Soi LaSalle and Pongploy
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Bangkok Patana Magazine
Novice School is the only novice school under the patronage of the Supreme Patriarch. A new building was just constructed on the grounds of the school with the support of the Foundation. The COVID-19 crisis has not gone unnoticed; the Foundation works with the local community to distribute essentials such as food, dried food, cooking oil, rice and other necessary items. A Community Pantry was set up across the street from the school and is supplied regularly with needed food and food items for the Bang Na community.
The Foundation Board has also been involved with working with the Ministry of Public Health offering support of the management of COVID-19 through the supply of PPE equipment including masks, face shields, gel alcohol and other PPE for medical staff. Being a good institutional citizen is an important part of our school culture; building goodwill and strengthening bonds within the community is something we have done since the school’s inception and is part of the very fabric of our long history.
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LEARNING
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ALUMNI STORIES LIFE AFTER PATANA
Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur Matthew Kang Holding, Class of 2014 Although Matthew only spent three years at Bangkok Patana School, he felt it played a key role in his long-term education and goals.
“Having attended many schools, I can confidently state that I had a superb experience at Bangkok Patana. The campus was modern and the staff cared about their students. I was able
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to participate in a variety of extra-curriculars (e.g. orchestra) as well as filming talent shows – students were delegated responsibility. The International Days were unforgettable. Having an exposure to a variety of cultures and being able to celebrate them was a fantastic opportunity. Moreover, I cherished the Year 7 Residential. This was unique to Bangkok Patana and I was able to go on an adventure with my friends. For instance, I remember snorkelling near a cave full of sea urchins and swimming near a blacktip reef shark. At Bangkok Patana I learned that the greatest tragedy is unfulfilled potential.
I recall teachers being stimulating and providing a world class education. This significantly impacted my academic and professional career. The challenging academic environment also motivated me to work harder. My teachers taught me that it was not wrong to have an enquiring mind and question the norm. I attended the University of Birmingham where I obtained a Bachelor of Medical Science in Biomedical Materials Science and am currently pursuing a Masters (MPhil) in Bioscience Enterprise at the University of Cambridge. When I was at university, I thought that it would be a ‘fun’ and challenging
Bangkok Patana Magazine
experience to create a side hustle. Inspired by my father’s entrepreneurial endeavours in Asia, I founded a startup that developed a range of plastic free, plant-based snacks featuring high fibre and high protein snacks for the growing number of health conscious and environmentally aware consumers. Recently, Virgin Startups provided a loan for the project and I have held numerous discussions with angel investors. We are speaking to Sainsbury’s Future Foods, Healthy Nibbles and Snack Nation (USA). I have been stretched many times; however, I am thankful for the lessons I have learnt regarding management and execution. Aside from founding the startup, I ran numerous societies on campus and participated in the Vice Chancellor’s Challenge at university. For instance, I was involved with the investment society in the first year. In an increasingly competitive world, I recommend this to any student who wants to break through into a specific career. If these societies don’t exist, start one! I hope that you do the same at your university. Get stuck in with extra-curriculars and you won’t regret it. After graduating, I interned at an early-stage, deep science venture capital fund in London. The fund backed ambitious founders, specialising in breakthrough biotech and AI (Machine Learning) technologies. There I worked in investment and analysis
and developing growth strategies. This experience opened more doors, and I now serve as a part-time executive ambassador with HS Ventures, an innovation ecosystem that scales healthcare startups to tackle global health issues. Currently I am a venture capital investor at Midven which operates six funds in the UK. We fund new market entrants that are looking to scale quickly. We are sector agnostic, so that means I get a lot of exposure to many industries, such as: biotech, consumer products and nuclear fusion. My role involves conducting due diligence, deal sourcing, investing, and fund management. Of course, this also involves a lot of networking. A previous fund I worked for,
UFP Fintech, seeded a major unicorn (Revolut) and numerous market leaders. I am learning a lot about venture capital and the UK startup ecosystem. I have been able to attend events such as Expanse Summit, Web Summit and meet with the Czech Republic embassy to discuss fintech regulations. I enjoy tackling questions. I actively engage with science and philosophy organisations, such as Christians in Science (based at the Faraday Institute in the University of Cambridge). Leading the Birmingham chapter allowed me opportunities to interview scientists such as Reverend Dr Rodney Holder. Also, I am passionate about problem-solving and the environment. I believe that startups and translational research are the best ways to overcome such challenges. As a result, I recently started a podcast on Anchor.fm, The Future Impact Show. We interview scientists, entrepreneurs and investors about actions that we can take now in order to sustain a growing population. Feel free to give it a listen. I welcome new ideas and criticism! In ten years, I hope to be tackling the issues that will sustain our new world as the popular grows. The UN predicts that the human population will reach 10 billion in 2050. I have quite a few objectives some of which include alleviating diseases with AI enabled drug discovery and utilising nature to improve our designs in biomaterials and medical devices. With my experience in venture capital, I hope to launch and manage global healthcare/ biotech funds. Particular interests of mine include digital health, longevity and regenerative medicine. It is clear that this has to be the new focus in light of COVID-19. As a species, we are very unprepared. Scott Kupor from venture capitalist Andreesen Horowitz once told me: “Never underestimate your network”. My experience testifies to this and I hope that anyone reading never doubts this. Keep working hard in whatever you do!”
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GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ALUMNI STORIES LIFE AFTER PATANA
Midwife in a Global Pandemic Grace Lawry, Class of 2012. Grace Lawry left Bangkok Patana School at the end of Year 4 but the skills she learned and experiences she had at Bangkok Patana were carried with her to life in the UK.
How long were you at Bangkok Patana? What life skills do you think you learned while you were living and going to school here that have inspired you or helped you on the path you chose? I realise you were here in Primary only but what experiences did you have that had an impact on your choices? Was there anything there that sparked the passion for your chosen profession? “I spent Years 1-4 at Bangkok Patana and to this day attest to how fortunate and happy I am to have been a part of it. I have fond memories of playing a dog in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, performing an S-Club 7 dance with my friends at Splash Day and competing in heaps of swimming galas with an orange paw print on the back of my swimming costume. My parents still laugh because I can sing (a somewhat butchered version of) the Thai national anthem.” “I’ve never had any qualms as a midwife engaging with and making people from all walks of life feel comfortable in my care. I attribute much of this to spending my formative years at an international school.” “Eating foods foreign to me and sharing activities from different cultures on International Day were all part of my global education and something I very much enjoyed. I speak partly in my blog post ‘Being a Midwife in a Global Pandemic’ about language barriers and the skill of having to rely on ‘non-verbal communication’ at times. I’m sure I must have fine-tuned this skill as a child, relying on charades in the desperate search for a ‘hong nam’ somewhere in the depths of Thailand.” “Although not directly related to Bangkok Patana, my experiences of growing up in Thailand did form part of my application to become a midwife.
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Bangkok Patana Magazine
Our much adored maid would quite often have her children come to stay with her at our apartment during the holidays. One day her daughter quite abruptly disappeared. When my mother asked our maid where her daughter had gone, she noticed our maid’s face darken quite uncharacteristically. Our maid went on to mime a rounding of the stomach – implying her daughter had fallen pregnant. She elaborated that she had sent her daughter away, for fear of bringing shame to our family. My mother insisted that our maid call her daughter to come straight back to the safety of our apartment. And so it happened that I, an expat Australian child, got to observe a 19-year-old Thai woman navigate the fears and anxieties of transitioning into motherhood unexpectedly.” “It was incredible how life at home adapted after the baby was born. It became quite normal to be greeted by the baby in her high chair on arrival home. If a puzzle piece was missing, the first place you’d check was the baby’s mouth. I recall you’d often have to stop the baby from launching at her own reflection in the mirror. I (a petulant
eight year old) would often storm into the maid’s room to retrieve toys that had found their way into the baby’s cot and eye roll when both my maid and her daughter were, quite understandably (but perhaps not to an eight year old), too busy to play catch with me. I did so love them all. Part of my fascination with pregnancy and the strength of women coming together started here.” What kind of coping mechanisms have you developed to deal with the emotional and mental stress of working in this pandemic? Any tips that you would like to share that you feel may help our readership? “I will admit that initially I didn’t manage my stress related to working amongst COVID-19 well. I became quite breathless with anxiety, convincing myself I was therefore symptomatic, sky rocketing my anxiety all the more – and a vicious cycle ensued.” “Gradually, I found comfort in knowing that a lot of my colleagues felt much the same. We spoke openly and eventually, through relying on each other, we
found the novelty and initial fear of the virus wore off. We were stronger than we gave ourselves credit for. I found I was glad of work, something to throw myself into to pass the time. There was peace in knowing that, for now, life was otherwise on pause. It was time to find contentedness in the now.” “I had always toyed with the idea of starting a blog, literally for years. It wasn’t until I found I had nothing but time between shifts that I figured I couldn’t put it off any longer. I get satisfaction from knowing I’ve managed to use my time in lockdown effectively. I always find a ‘To Do’ list helps to structure my day.” “Funnily enough this isn’t my first experience of quarantine. I had two weeks off school while I was at Bangkok Patana during the SARS outbreak. Granted my only regret from this time was that I missed out on my role as a seagull in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. Alas, what could have been. Hopefully this serves as a reminder though, that this too shall pass.” You can follow Grace’s blog here: https://thebestofbirthworlds.com/
Visiting Bangkok? Want to come back for noodles? To book your alumni visit, get in touch at alumni@patana.ac.th TERM 3 – 2019/20
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Long Service Awards Bangkok Patana School is honoured to celebrate the dedication of the employees listed below, who have served twenty years and more at the school. To put this into perspective: Our thirty-year employees were here before the Secondary School was established; our twenty-five year employees started around the same time as our first Tiger Spirit Day and when the school received approval to teach the IBDP; our twenty-year employees started the same year that a group of Bangkok Patana students ascended Mt. Kinabalu and became the first Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold International Award recipients in Thailand. Congratulations to all our long service staff! When you see them, be sure to ask them to recount some of their choice memories of the school. 30 YEARS
Mrs Yupa Maiman, Housekeeping Team Leader
Mrs Ketsirin (Ket) Punipanun, Senior Purchasing Officer
Mrs Patchamon Sukket, Housekeeping Team Leader
Ms Kerry Meaden-Kendrick, Year 6 Leader of Learning and Welfare
Mr Stephen Murgatroyd, Head of Libraries
20 YEARS
Ms Carol Battram, Primary Assistant Principal 22
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Bangkok Patana Magazine
25 YEARS
Mrs Wilaiwan (Aoy) Nantawepol, Work Permit Officer
Ms Pantip (Por) Nateetan, Accountant - Invoicing
Mrs Duangsamorn (Noo) Rendell, Primary Teaching Assistant
Mrs Kannaporn Sae-Lee, Housekeeper
Ms Ancharee Singto, Housekeeping Team Leader
Mrs Chuntra (Ngay) Thongman, Secondary Librarian
Mrs Sarah Murgatroyd, Foundation Stage, Assistant Leader of Learning
Mr Grant Robertson, Head of Faculty, English
Ms Piyawan Ukamthorn, Primary Thai Teacher TERM 3 – 2019/20
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The PTG Committee By Melissa Golden, PTG Chairperson
A
t this time, most things have come to a standstill for the Bangkok Patana PTG Committee, but we are looking forward to returning to life as we knew it as soon as possible. Like all members of the PTG Committee, many Patana parents will be missing the many social opportunities and events that being part of the school community provides;
the activities that give parents a sense of connectedness. Please be assured that these will continue when permitted. We look forward to seeing parents back at school participating and getting involved in the Patana community. PTG events to look forward to in Term 1 2020/21 are the PTG AGM, Fun Day Lucky Dip and, of course, the PTG Big Night Out.
The PTG committee are still available and will continue to support any of our Patana parents at any time. Please contact ptg@patana.ac.th if needed. We have shared thoughts, reflections and useful tips we have found helpful during life in lockdown. Maybe, these will be just as relevant and useful after all this is over.
Jayne Harvey PTG Primary Representative
Robert Scott PTG Treasurer The Scotts are surviving in these tough times. It will be so much better when we are all back in school and we have some freedom again. I miss our coffee mornings after drop off, when we solve all the world’s problems. Home schooling is not as good as the real thing and I know it’s difficult for all the parents, especially for those with more than one child and when some parents are working. I hope to see everyone at school very soon. 24
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I think it took over a week to realise that this was our new normal. As we all tried to find a corner to work in, where the WiFi worked, I thought, “Okay this will be fun for a couple of weeks!” Eight weeks on, after fortynine loaves of bread, over two hundred eggs, a truckload of guava and watermelon, it is interesting how the first thought I have is the amount of food I’ve created! There’s no denying it has tested our resolve. There have been positives of this ‘reset’: Slowing down the pace of life and being together for family meals; talking and sharing stories of our travels; making family TikToks to entertain relatives in the UK; games of hide and seek; reconnecting with friends all over the
Fernanda Castillo PTG Tiger Shop Manager We have been constantly baking and trying new recipes. These cookies were a hit and were gone within a couple of days! Here’s the link to the recipe: https://whatsgabycooking.com/ the-best-chocolate-chip-cookies/
world in regular Zoom calls; watching ‘Race Across the World’ with the children, revisiting many places we have been through the series; researching our family tree with my parents, discovering amazing stories of our ancestors; being allowed to visit parks again. I hope we can all continue to be grateful for these small pleasures.
Bangkok Patana Magazine
Chavapas (Joe) Ongmahutmongkol Thai Representative
Aki Roughley PTG Cross Campus Representative It is hard to believe it’s been nearly two months since our official “lockdown” in Bangkok. Life as we know it has changed dramatically and although it has been challenging in many ways, there are some positives that have come out of it. Our lives before were so busy, caught up in routine, schedules and deadlines, always looking ahead. This slower pace of life now has allowed us to appreciate the “now” and spend quality time with our loved ones. We have become more creative, utilising technology in ways we never thought before, getting in touch with friends and family. We are more focused on our health and well-being. Whilst we miss the actual human interaction, we can now cherish the moments we have had and look forward to seeing our friends when this situation settles down. Every cloud has a silver lining. I hope you can find yours.
Vanessa Girling PTG Secretary Lockdown has meant many different things for our family during this period but for me, one of them has been the gift of time. As the days at home rolled into weeks, we had time to do things as a family that normally get pushed to one side during our usual busy day-to-day routine. We’ve had time to play games together, watch tv shows together (have to recommend Race Across the World!), experiment
Whilst working from home and having your child studying – and constantly asking questions – by you has been challenging, it’s also been an eye-opener in many ways. I had the chance to directly learn my daughter’s strengths and weaknesses in different subjects; which subjects she enjoyed and which ones she found challenging. It also was an opportunity for her to learn of discipline – something which even many adults find challenging – in doing her work in the allotted time and submitting daily. She has also become an expert in electronic tools for communication! I think this has, in good and bad ways, forced our child to grow up faster than she otherwise would have. To make each day one which she can look forward to, given her interest in creative aspects, we signed her up for an online product design class where she can get ‘down and dirty’ working to create stuff and exercise her creativity. All-in-all, it’s been a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.
with new recipes in the kitchen (we can make things other than cookies!) and talk about our move back home this summer. Of course, there are days which seem never-ending, days where we drive each other crazy, days where we argue over screen time and days where all you want to do is watch Netflix and eat chocolate. However, I do have to give myself a little pinch from time to time to remind myself that this won’t last forever and we have to be thankful that we are together and healthy. I hope you and your families remain safe and healthy too.
TERM 3 – 2019/20
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WELL-BEING Marielle Eurlings PTG Secondary Representative
Melissa Golden PTG Chairperson I am in Australia with my son Baxter! Trying to stay busy and active. Time is spent planting winter vegetables in the garden, with the slight bonus that it looks like I will be still in Australia to harvest them! Collecting firewood to keep warm and getting all those little jobs done I haven’t had time to do on other visits home. Even though I am missing family in Bangkok, there have definitely been some positives that have come out of this otherwise extraordinary situation. Please remember, we are all in this together and be kind to one another.
Like many families, this period has been an ideal time to spend more time together as a family. For example, we all sit together at the table to eat three times a day, which was usually not possible because my husband often had to go abroad for work and the kids were still in school in the afternoon. These days we also play a board game together every weekend. Before the virus, we only did it occasionally because we didn’t always find (and make) the time for it. And as it has been for many people
Joseph Cole PTG Vice Chair There are many online resources out there but this one in particular we find helpful in our house. These words came from www.freehomeschooldeals.com Try to remember these words to encourage your children 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
I appreciate you… Thank you for helping with… I’m grateful when you… You’ve really worked hard on… You’re fantastic at…
Maayan Chorev PTG Communications My three ‘mummy’ tips for quarantine with little kids: 1. Build a schedule together! A general schedule will do, don’t feel pressure to follow the exact timing - it’s more a recommendation for activities. This helped us all to know what to expect every day. 2. You won’t always be able to accomplish everything you wanted or
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around the world, the COVID-19 virus has created a lot of uncertainty, but I’m sure it also made us realise how important it is to be and stay healthy. Take care.
6. You make me proud when… 7. You listened well on… 8. You were responsible on… 9. Spectacular job at… 10. You excelled at…
planned, and that’s okay! Whatever works is fine. It doesn’t mean you’re failing, it just means these are crazy times and guess what? You’re not Superwoman/Superman! 3. Stay positive and take the time to recharge your own battery. A happy mum = happy kids. I try to carve out at least a few minutes every day for my alone time:) It really helps me manage the day-today stress. Stay healthy and safe!
