Our mission is to ensure that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community.
NEWS Patana
Friday 10th May 2019
Volume 21 Issue 29
www.patana.ac.th
GUIDING STATEMENTS 2019 SURVEY RESULTS
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Also in this issue... Deleting the Genome/ Community Garden Planted / Why We Feel Busy All the Time 10/05/2019
Bangkok Patana School News
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS
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Guiding Statements Survey 2019 Summary Results Helen Thew, Cross Campus Principal
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ou might remember that we opened a survey about our Guiding Statements in March. It had a large response, as the numbers show.
The main purpose of this survey was to check how familiar the community is with our Mission, Vision and Values, and to see how much we agree that these are a real part of the school. In this week’s article, I am sharing the ‘headline’ results from the survey this year. HOW FAMILIAR ARE WE WITH OUR GUIDING STATEMENTS? Our Guiding Statements have continued to receive a lot of attention this year, so it is encouraging to see that overall, we are becoming more familiar with them. Over time, our ambition is that the entire community will have nearer to 100% awareness. We also looked at how much we agree that the Mission, Vision and Values are actually in place (a real part of what we do) at Bangkok Patana School. DO PARENTS AGREE THAT OUR VISION STATEMENT IS REALLY HAPPENING? When you look at a graph like the one on the next page, it is very typical of all the results across all of the surveys. There are far bigger bars with light or dark green (agree and strongly agree) than those with yellow or red (disagree or strongly disagree). So, for example, 92% of parents agree or strongly agree that our school develops global citizens. With such high agreement across all of the surveys, we still need to think about how we can improve in the long run. Perhaps the most obvious way to do this is to work on those areas with a lower percentage of ‘strongly agree’. So in the example above, you could say that we are currently doing a better job of encouraging independence than developing empathy, although there will always be room for improvement in both.
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DO STUDENTS AGREE THAT OUR GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP VALUES ARE REAL? Again, these results show much more agreement than disagreement with our specific Global Citizenship values. This is reassuring because we have given a lot of attention to these values this year in terms of professional learning for academic staff, as well as planning, preparation and delivery for students’ learning experiences. There are some of these values which are not quite as well understood (with higher purple bars) such as ‘integrity’. This shows that we still have work to do in exploring what this means and how it works in practice for a student. We are definitely getting there, and the next time we run a survey like this, we hope to see even more dark greens across the board. This survey will be re-visited every two years so that we can measure our own progress with our Guiding Statements. There were also a lot of comments left in these surveys which deserve our full attention and I have been discussing the areas that we can still get better at with our Senior Leadership Team. When the students were asked ‘What was the best thing about being a student at Bangkok Patana School?’ the following word cloud was made with their answers. Thank you to all of you who gave your precious time to complete this survey, it has certainly given us lots to think about for future planning. 10/05/2019
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Community Gardeners get their hands dirty Rebecca Leiler, 12S Community Garden is a time when enthusiastic students from both primary and secondary come together and take part in their hobby of planting. Over the last years, we have successfully grown a variety of plants such as banana trees, flowers, chilies, mangoes and most recently butterfly pea, ginger and green onions. During the ECA, we also research about particular plants that we are interested in, and discuss the ways that we could successfully grow them. We are an environmentally conscious group and we get involved in fun, creative projects using recycled materials. Our seeds are grown in pots made from plastic bottles. In the future we are hoping to grow more pesticide free vegetables. I have been a part of the community garden for several years, and I enjoy the time spent leisurely outside whilst helping benefit the environment, I have learnt so much from the community garden and have even started to plant and grow herbs at my home!
“I really find gardening interesting. I want something else to do besides go home and play video games. I live in an apartment and this gives me a chance to do gardening here at school.� Edmund ,Year 6
Have you seen our new website at www.patana.ac.th? – check it out and let us know what you think! Email publish@patana.ac.th 4
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Glow in the dark rabbits, nanotechnology and smart medicines Shana Kongmun, Communications Coordinator
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iology students spent an enjoyable lunch hour learning more about large-scale gene deletion and gene editing (CRISPR) technologies and how they can be combined with fluorescence imaging to understand how animal cells are organised and how internal compartments communicate with each other. In other words, how to use glowing proteins from jellyfish to see inside cells and how they work. Visiting Professor Jeremy Simpson, a Professor of Cell Biology at the University College Dublin School of Biology and Environmental Science, described how his laboratory is trying to understand how drugs and therapeutics enter cells in the body and how that works. Professor Simpson said that the modern lab today uses a great deal of robotics and automation which has allowed for such advances as glow-in-the-dark rabbits (and yes, they have been created and no, they are not allowed to do that to humans). Students who attended the lecture were interested in learning more about methodologies, with one student
asking about the use of nanotechnology to bind drugs to cancer cells and not healthy cells. In normal chemotherapy, every cell is destroyed but with new nanotechnology, cancer cells can be targeted and leave the healthy cells alone. Professor Simpson pointed out that there are already some uses available to the public worldwide. Another student asked him how he knew he wanted to be a cell biologist. Professor Simpson confessed that even as a child he knew he wanted to be a biologist. “I was always collecting bugs and creepy crawlies.” However, it was in university that he started looking more at cell biology as the possibilities of biotechnology first started coming out and that, he said, was when he first found his interest piqued.Tt was when two cell biologists won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine that he knew that cell biology was the route he wanted to take, he could see the amazing possibilities opening up. “You have to go with your passion and with what you enjoy. The career progression is difficult but if you have passion and love for it, success will come,” said Professor Simpson.
Term 1 2019/20 School Fee Invoices Due! Invoices for school fees for Term 1 2019/2020 were sent to families/companies on Wednesday 8th May 2019. If you have not received your invoice please contact the Accounting Department or email accounts@patana.ac.th. Please note that payments received after Friday 7th June will be subject to a late payment charge of one percent per month.
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Spellathon raises funds for underprivileged Children Charis Armstrong, Class Teacher
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ear 1 have been busy bees over the past few Sparrow Home are looking forward to using the weeks, learning lots of new words for the Sponsored donations from Year 1 to provide school supplies for their children who attend Kindergarten. Spellathon. This year, Year 1 have sponsored 2 amazing charities who work to support children and young people in Thailand. Childline were so pleased to receive over 200 Thai language books at Christmas, and with the money raised at the Spellathon, they are hoping to renovate their bathroom in order to accommodate young people who may not have access to a shower or toilet at home.
With the support of friends and family, the Year 1 students learned up to 35 spelling words in order to raise money for our wonderful charities. The Spellathon gave children to a chance to be active volunteers, and to practise their role as global citizens and it was so wonderful to see their enthusiasm and willingness to help others.
This week in the student curated Scientia magazine, Fern Tantivess Year 12B sums up all the important facts you need to know about the Measles virus and Anti-Vax. Check out the article here. Want to be featured next week Submit using Contact Us.
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TRANSPORT CORNER
TRAFFIC UPDATES
• Please remind your child/ren about the importance of keeping their seatbelt fastened during the bus journey. Please note that Thai schools will return from their break from Students who do not abide by this strict safety rule, will be Wednesday 15th May onwards. Traffic will be increased reported to their class teachers/tutors. and it is important students do not delay the bus in the morning. • Please remind your child/ren to check their belongings before leaving the bus. There is an increasing number of Please be aware of these construction areas that may delay items being left on the school buses last term. Please note bus routes: that all lost items will be taken to the Lost Property Counter 1. Na Ranong intersection.(From Now on until 13 March the following day. 2021): Impact Area: Rama 3-4, Wireless, Sukhumvit , • Please remember to inform Transport Office in advance Phetburi Road. if you plan to pick up your child/ren from school. Last 2. Asoke-Phetburi intersection. (From Now on until 4 minute cancellations cause unnecessary work for staff at September 2019): Impact Area: Rama 3,9, Wireless, Sukhumvit , Phetburi , Soonvijai Road an already busy time that could be avoided if Transport is given more notice. Your help is much appreciated.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
• Please remember to make any changes to your child’s • If you are planning to move house, please note that Transport needs a minimum of 5 working days notice to transport before 11:00am daily. More notice is preferred change the bus route for your child/ren. if possible. • If your child has a home sporting fixture during any ECA • Please do not park in front of True Coffee during peak traffic times. block, you need to arrange your own transport for your child to get home.
• Do not put your hand brake on if you double park.
• When traffic is heavy, please note that the school bus will • For all transport queries and requests please email transoccasionally use the Sports Complex drop off. port@patana.ac.th or call 02 785 2470 • Please TURN OFF YOUR ENGINE while you are on campus and be polite to each other while using the roads in the school.
SWITCH OF F
YOUR ENGINE WHEN IN THE SCHOOL CAR PARK
CONTACT US 10/05/2019
Direct phone: 02 785 2470 Email: transport@patana.ac.th The Transport Office is staffed from 6:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday.
Bangkok Patana School News
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UNI COUNSELLORS’ CORNER Congratulations on your offer from Berklee College of Music to study Music Production and Engineering/Guitar
NANAN (CHOPIN) INDRA-PRAYOONG
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hopin began his musical adventure at Bangkok Patana in his Primary school years. Chopin studied guitar, piano and saxophone at school in the Instrumental Music department and played a strong leadership role in the Patana Jazz Ensemble and Patana Big Band. Whilst in Year 8, Chopin participated in the Rumsumai Big Band, Thailand’s leading jazz band with students auditioning from all over Thailand for a coveted chair in the band. He toured Japan with the ensemble playing the guitar. He has explored his passion for music technology, investigated the nuances and finer details of the art form and submitted an exceptional folio for both composition and performance. Chopin was accepted for the Berklee College of Music’s 5-week Summer Programme in Boston in Year 12. At the end of the programme, Chopin was offered a scholarship to attend this prestigious music school. I’d like to leave you with a paraphrased quote by Chopin; if you want to hear me speak, listen to me play my guitar!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT... Berklee College of Music, USA
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erklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Berklee College is famed for offering studies in jazz and modern American music as well as courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic music styles, music production and other visual and performing arts related subjects. Students at Berklee are exposed to a range of instruments, musical styles, and career options and may combine any of Berklee’s 12 majors depending on the nature of the program. Berklee College has produced 294 Grammy Award winners, 19 Emmy Award winners, five Tony Award winners and five Academy Award winners. The school has also produced winners of 95 Latin Grammy Awards. At the most recent Grammy Awards nine alumni and faculty members took home Grammy Awards including notable alumni Quincy Jones who took home his 28th Grammy. Other notable alumni of this prestigious music school include singers John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge and Diana Krall, jazz great Branford Marsalis, and pop stars Charlie
Puth and Meghan Trainor. Even the South Korean born singer Psy, wellknown for his hit Gangnam Style, attended Berklee. The Berklee College of Music campus is located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and includes recording studios, film scoring and editing studios, music synthesis facilities and a performance centre, the well-known Berklee Performance Centre. Berklee started life as the Schillinger House, founded by MIT graduate Lawrence Berk in 1945 before morphing into the Berklee School of Music before finally becoming the Berklee College of Music in 1970 when it bestowed its first honourary doctorate on Duke Ellington. Berklee is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
UPCOMING UNIVERSITY VISITS UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE
University of Chicago
COUNTRY
USA
LOCATION
Senior Studies, 2nd Floor
DATE
TIME
13.05.19
12:15
CLICK TO READ MAY’S CAREERS NEWSLETTER 8
Bangkok Patana School News
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BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL
KS3 DRAMA
THE
It is time to ‘Stomp it Out’ with the Kliptown Youth Project Gumboot Dancers!
MONKEY KING BY ROBERT GARRETT
BLACK BOX THEATRE
MAY 2019 14th and 15th @ 6.00pm Tickets 200 Baht Available from Arts 122 Lorem Ipsum
COME ALONG TO WITNESS, AND JOIN IN WITH, THEIR AMAZING PERFORMANCE. MONDAY 13TH MAY FRONT HARDCOURT 12.15 - 1.00
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LOST Property Bangkok Patana School News
Visit https://community. patana.ac.th/ community-events/ lost-property 9
Why do we feel busy all the time? By Karnsiree (Ling Ling) Chen, Year 12
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odern life makes us feel like we’re perpetually busy, evidenced in the way technology has given us fast paced transport and pathways to accomplish things in half the time. If this is the case, why do we seem have less time than ever before? Across the increasingly industrialised world, survey respondents say they’re overburdened with work, at the expense of time with family and friends. The answer may appear obvious at first: we feel busier because we have more to do, but in reality, the total time people are working has not increased in Europe or North America in the recent decades. Modern parents are spending significantly more time with their children than those generations ago. Jonathan Gershuny, of the centre for time use research at Oxford University says, “The headline changes over the last 50 years are that women do a whole lot less unpaid work, and a whole lot more paid work, and men do quite a bit less paid work, and a whole lot more unpaid work. The total amounts of work are pretty much exactly the same.” What’s more, the data also shows that the people who say they’re the busiest generally aren’t.
The ironic consequence of the “busy feeling” is that we handle our to-do lists less well than if we weren’t so rushed. We live with one eye always on the clock, with feelings of scarcity preying on the mind and impairing decision-making. When you’re busy, you’re more likely to make poor time-management choices – taking on commitments you can’t handle, or prioritising trifling tasks over crucial ones.
This mindset can spreads to encompass our leisure time As economies grow, there is a direct correlation to the – so that we feel guilty for taking time off as there is the incomes of the better-off and time has literally become ever present feeling that leisure time ought to be spent more valuable: any given hour is worth more, so there is “productively”, too. more pressure to do more work. This phenomenon is also The only cure to this “busyness” attitude may lie in pera result of the type of work done. In former eras, where ceiving just how irrational our attitudes have become. the large majority of income came from farming or manuBusyness has become the indicator of high status, and as facturing, labour was physically punishing – but it obeyed human nature dictates, we strive to be perceived in the certain limits. You can’t harvest the crops before they’re fulbest light possible and therefore buy into the necessity of ly grown; you can’t make more physical products than the being busy. available material allows. Too often, we take a similar attitude not only to other A result of an increased hurried society is the impact people, but ourselves: we measure our worth not by the on our psyches: there are always more incoming emails results we achieve, but by how much of our time we spend and more things to follow up. Mobile phones have also doing. The truth is: we live chaotic lives, at least in part, made work easily accessible anywhere, allowing people because it makes us feel good about ourselves. to work at home, on holiday or while traveling. This leads to the inevitable feeling of being overwhelmed, and un- Sources: able to take a break from work due to the convenience https://www.sloww.co/busy-feeling/ provided by technology. We feel as if we must get through an infinite amount of work, and are propelled by a social http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160909-why-youpressure and guilt to do more. feel-busy-all-the-time-when-youre-actually-not
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#121: Five Tools for Using Your Phone Less / More Mindfully A
t the PTG Tech talk on Wednesday we discussed, amongst many things, how we can role model using our phone less. Here is a short video I played to spark the healthy discussion we had. Our final PTG Tech talk of the year is on 11th May, 8am in the PTG meeting room – hope to see you there! Have a great phone-free weekend. Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Campus Curriculum Technology Integration
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COMMUNITY
The BWG will donate proceeds raised from the charity lunch to; Gift of Happiness Foundation in Thailand and Steps with Theera
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Oven Baked Tiger Prawn and Scallops โ Pot au Feuโ ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก ย ย ย ย ย
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643 Lasalle Road (Sukhumvit 105) Bangna Tai, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 THAILAND Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Fax: +66 (0) 2785 2399 www.patana.ac.th Email: reception@patana.ac.th 18
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