Patana News Volume 22 Issue 10 by Bangkok Patana School

Our mission is to ensure that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community.

Patana

NEWS

Friday 1st November 2019

Volume 22 Issue 10

www.patana.ac.th

NURTURING GREAT LEARNERS Cross Campus Assistant Principal Katherine Hume on Educating the Educators

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Also in this issue...

Independent Thinking/Non-fiction November/Tiger Sporting Successes 1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana School News

Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS

Nurturing great learners….

Katherine Hume, Cross Campus Assistant Principal, Continued Professional Learning

n the context of a school community, when we discuss learners and learning, we naturally presume we are talking about the students, the children in our community. But consider another type of learner…the educator, the teacher. It is proven time over that to be a great teacher you also need to be a great learner. The best schools recognise this, recruit, and grow great teacher-learners through a vibrant Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) culture, where all teachers have the potential to thrive. Continuous Professional Learning refers to any activity, formal or informal, that supports a teacher or school leader to develop their skills and knowledge and enhances their professional practice. When a wide range of high quality, sustained professional learning experiences are undertaken, teachers are more likely to inspire students and provide high-quality teaching and learning experiences, enabling learners to achieve their best. So when we consider CPL pathways at Bangkok Patana for our academic staff, opportunities could include: • Experiential, action or enquiry-based learning • Professional dialogue with colleagues, other professionals, parents and learners • Focused professional reading and research • Leading or engaging in practitioner enquiry/action research • Critical analysis of reading, learning and impact on professional practice • Peer support e.g. coaching or mentoring • Classroom visits/ peer observations/ shadowing

with related professional dialogue • Online learning/blogs • Co-operative or team teaching • Leading or participating in a working party or Teacher Learning Community (TLC) • Masters study and qualifications • Accredited courses or activity related to achieving national professional standards for teachers • Professional/ Academic conferences • Self-evaluation and critical reflection processes

It is widely accepted that teacher professional learning is an essential part of achieving school improvement and that the quality and effectiveness of the classroom teacher is the most important factor in how well students will do in school. The UK Department for Education’s Standard’s for Teachers’ Professional Development emphasises this importance by stating, ‘effective professional learning for teachers is a core part of securing effective teaching.’ As Professor Robert Coe, Director of the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring puts it, ‘investing in high-quality support for teachers’ professional learning is not just one of the most effective things schools can do to improve outcomes for students, but one of the best value choices they can make’. Effective CPL is widely considered to be one of, if not the best driver of substantial school improvement. As the Developing Great Teaching report makes clear, ‘professional development opportunities that are carefully designed and have a strong focus on student outcomes have significant impact on student achievement’. David Weston, CEO of the Teacher Development Trust says, schools who invest properly in CPL are seeing a tangible return on both student outcomes and the recruitment and retention of teaching staff. Professional learning is most effective when it is relevant, collaborative and future focused, and when it supports teachers to reflect on, question and consciously improve their practice (AITSL – Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership). In an OECD survey, teachers from around the world report that individual and collaborative research, qualification programs and informal dialogue have the greatest impacts on their practice. Observing other teachers, practicing new approaches and feedback are also effective methods.

Bangkok Patana School News

1/11/2019

For a successful professional learning culture to thrive we need to strive for: • Opportunities and commitment for learning in all parts of the school system • Diverse forms of professional learning pathways, which consider andragogy – how adults learn best. • Educators must have an open and curious mind - they have a responsibility to continually push themselves as professionals to be the best they can be • And as school leaders we have a responsibility to foster the ambition of our staff to grow and to nurture a learning culture • Aligning systems and policies to focus on this goal • This requires a collaborative effort and the way we think about professional learning must expand We have several external experts visiting Bangkok Patana to facilitate and lead CPL opportunities for staff this term. To support our school development focus of Well-being, we recently welcomed Dick Moore back to Bangkok Patana, who worked with staff in key welfare and safeguarding roles such as our Primary Leaders of Learning and Welfare, Secondary Heads of Year and Social and Emotional Counsellors who all undertook the accredited Youth Mental Health First Aid Course. Rick Hester from School Leaders training joined us in September to support our new and aspiring leaders with core skills of leadership. In collaboration with FOBISIA and Bangkok Prep, were facilitated leadership training, accredited by University College London. These courses focused on Middle and Senior School leadership and attracted over 50 delegates from FOBISIA schools within the region. During the Academic CPL day on Monday 28th October, Ian Gilbert, one of IB’s most visionary educationalists motivated and inspired staff to think creatively, innovatively and deeply about how we get children’s brains to hurt. The CPL opportunities for our academic staff continue to grow and expand and this alone we have supported over 100 external CPL opportunities for staff to attend educational workshops, training and Conferences, within SE Asia, the UK and the US. This ensures that we continue to keep up to date with current global educational perspectives and current effective learning and teaching strategies. We continue to have strong reciprocal relationships with both University College London (UCL) and the University of Bath, who facilitate leadership training and Masters Programmes at Patana each year. The internal expertise we have in our own teaching staff is something we continue to be very proud of and this allows us to build the capacity of our academic staff through high quality in-house CPL opportunities. These include Teacher Learning Communities (TLC), action research projects, lesson study and Learning 4 Learners workshops lead by staff, which range from First Aid training, to Understanding EAL learners, to subject specific sessions. Professional learning holds teachers to a higher standard and encourages them to take responsibility for their own development. It also gives teachers a chance to exchange expertise to better their learning community. Schools that are more communicative lead the way to positive outcomes for teachers and students. Many of us as teachers or teacher educators entered the profession to make a difference. We had a moral purpose. For me, that moral purpose was and continues to be about inclusion and enabling all learners to be active participants in our schools, communities and wider society. This involves focusing on learners’ individual strengths and engaging them in learning that is meaningful to them in their context. Throughout all stages of my career, professional learning has empowered me to stay close to my moral purpose for teaching and learning. It has enabled me to have challenging and courageous conversations about teaching and learning and helped me articulate my values and beliefs around the purpose of education. For educators CPL is key to continually grow and improve to support our professional learning, our students, and our school community to be the best they can be.

1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana School News

The Importance of Independent Thinking Shana Kongmun, Communications Coordinator

reative, independent thinking and mental well-being were the order of the day as noted speaker Ian Gilbert came to Bangkok Patana School to help teachers and students learn how to overcome the challenges education faces in this changing world. Ian sat down to talk about what led him down this path and what he thinks are the most important issues that need tackling. “Personally, for me, it was only after leaving school and getting into the working world that I realised the things that made you successful at school weren’t necessarily the things that make you successful outside, and I was a successful student!” Ian went on to point out that in school it is often not what you think but what you know that is the most important; something that never plays out in the real world. He said that as he entered the education field he saw that he wanted to help students with creative thinking. Ian added that he ended up teaching only for a couple of years, as he had started teaching thinking skills in schools, classes and clubs when the husband of a colleague approached him to do this as a business.

He had some parting advice for parents, “I want your kids to be mentally healthy, physically healthy, happy and educated. In that order. Kids need to have a sense of self-belief; self-esteem is the most important growth mindset. Successful students aren’t necessarily the most successful in life.” Ian added that if you get the mental health right then the rest will fall into place.

For students he reminded them to put mental well-being “That was 25 years ago. We have now set up Independent Thinking workshops around the world with asso- first, not at the expense of grades but as a priority. He ciates, many of them active teachers. We also have publi- wanted parents to know that students actually do better in school when they have mental and emotional good cations which makes us quite different,” Ian said. health. “We can have healthy minded students who will He continued, “We are at an interesting time with the succeed academically” changes in work and technology and the challenges that He noted that it is important to send out kids who are we face. The push with the academic staff addressed those changes and what teachers need to do to address job creators, not just job seekers. Growing entrepreneurial thinking is key. those challenges.” He wanted the students to understand that it is important Ian said he was quite impressed with teachers who attended his workshop immediately putting in practical ap- to look at the world and what is your place in it, and ask plications in the classroom. “Teachers have been trying yourself, “How can I, in my place, make the world better?” things right away. (Change) is not just led from the top but He also wanted students to realize that the grade may embedded in the school with the benefit of actually help- not be the most important thing employers are looking for, ing the kids,” Ian pointed out that he saw this in Bangkok many will ask, “What more have you got?” Patana School.

“I would like to remind students, you are not your academic results.” Bangkok Patana School News

1/11/2019

Tigers Head to Italy for Karting World Championships! Maarten Vliegen

aiyo (6J) and Jem (8G) Vliegen qualified for the Rok Cup Super-Final 2019 at the South Garda Karting track in Lonato Italy recently. This race is considered to be the World Championship of karting.

They both raced in the mini category, which hosted 130 top racers from 35 nations, who are nine years old to 13 years old. They are all talented drivers and the races are very tough but fair. The race week is set-up similar to the FIFIA world cup and starts with a qualifying session to decide on your pool. In the knock-out phase each racer has to race four eliminatory heats in which points are collected based on finishing position. Both the children did very well in qualifying. Jem (#623) qualified in 16th position and Taiyo (#720) in 67th place for his first time at this track. In the respective heats, Jem finished 9th and Taiyo 42nd. This meant that Jem made it into the A final while unfortunately, Taiyo didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it to the finals. The final was very turbulent and after being pushed off track in mid-race, Jem had to settle for a deserving 31st place out of 130 pilots. Taiyo finished the championship in praiseworthy 82nd position. They both did a tremendous job and we invite you to give them a high five when you meet them at school.

Congratulations to Garam (Momo) Lee on her First Prize win in the International Short Story Contest in the subjunior category organised by Kids World recently. Well done to Momo, we look forward to reading her stories!

1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana School News

Patana Skaters Win on the Ice Sharon Tan angkok Patana School has not one, not two, but three hockey champions from the Land of Smiles Open Ice Hockey Tournament! Kenneth Zi-Ray Pan (3K ) played in the Under 8 Bangkok Warriors team as a goalie, with his team winning the Under 8 championships.

Older brother Kingston Zi-Jun Pan (5P) played in the Under 10 and Under 12 Bangkok Warriors teams, earning not only overall best goalie in both age groups, but both teams also took home the championship. Oldest sister Kelly Zi Ching Pan (7P) wasn’t one to be left out, with her team in Under 12s taking hom the Bronze and in Under 14s came in third. Congratulations to them all!!

OPEN TO STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS

F 6

On Monday 4th November, the SEC will be showing an episode of Planet Earth 2 followed by a discussion on the beauties of nature and ecosystems. We will have the honour of having one of the documentary’s contributors – Mr Smith – participate in the discussion. The film is free to watch so please join us in the theatre at 2:30!

! E RE

If you have any questions, please e-mail male20@patana.ac.th

Bangkok Patana School News

1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana Student Athletes Continue to Excel Cindy Adair, Cross Campus Assistant Principal, Extra-curricular Activities and Sports angkok Patana’s student athletes showed their prowess over the week with many outstanding wins. Shoutouts to Chloe Burkill in Year 10 for her fantastic results at the Thailand Short Course Swimming Championships. Chloe came away with four individual golds, two silvers and six bronze medals.

Our Girls’ Under 13 Touch team won the BISAC Invitational Touch title and our Boys’ Under 13 Rugby team took home the bronze in the Under 13 BISAC Invitational Rugby. In Singapore many of our players have been busy for their club teams. Congratulations to Priscilla who was a member of the Championship winning Under 18 Girls’ Team and to Patrick and Nat who were members of the Silver Medal winning Under 15 Boys’ team at the Asia Pacific Youth Cup.

Our Girls’ Under 13 Touch team won the BISAC Invitational Touch title and our Boys’ Under 13 Rugby team took home the bronze in the Under 13 BISAC Invitational Rugby. In Singapore many of our players have been busy for their club teams. Well done to Priscilla who was a member of the Championship winning Under18 Girls Team. Well done also to Patrick and Nat who were members of the Silver Medal winning Under15 Boys team at the Asia Pacific Youth Cup.

Tiny Tigers Playgroup Openings Do you think your toddler, aged one year or older, might like to come along to our playgroup a couple of times a week? Our very popular Tiny Tigers playgroup may have some vacancies coming up soon. If you would like to know more, please contact Mrs Geet Harris in the Admissions office at admissions@patana.ac.th or 02785 2206.

1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana School News

Doubles Tennis Win for Year 9 Student in Da Nang Arminda Schestak

angkok Patana’s tennis players continue to show their strength as Rainer Schestak, 9C, took home the Boys’ Doubles Under 14 title with his partner Woohyuk Chang in the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Under 14 and Under Junior Series Da Nang Cup 2019 – Grade A. The match saw the pair take the title with a 6-3, 604 win over number two Minh Tuan Dinh Viet and Quang Vinh Nguyen There were 128 young athletes, competing in the men’s singles, women’s singles, and men’s and women’s doubles. Well done Rainer!

A Patana practice is available for T-Ball (FS2-Y1) and A Ball (Y2-Y3) every Thursday from 4:30-6:00pm, starting 14 November Contact Joe at ptgusa@patana.ac.th

Bangkok Patana School News

1/11/2019

WFP annual Christmas Food Drive!

We would appreciate it greatly if all classes could bring in the items on the list. The food donated will be packaged and delivered to disadvantaged local communities in the Klong Toey slums, who would all benefit greatly from your small contribution. All food items must be brought and deposited in the corresponding class boxes by Friday, 8th of November. Thank you SO much for your support!

1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana School News

School Fee Invoices Notification

Invoices for school fees for Term 2 2019/2020 were sent to families/companies on Wednesday 30th October 2019. If you have not received your invoice, please contact Accounting Department or email to accounts@patana.ac.th Please note that the due date for settlement is on Friday 29th November 2019 and payments received after this date will be subject to a late payment charge of 1% per month.

Aidan McDonagh Puzzle of the Week is a new feature in Patana News. There is a new puzzle released every Monday and students have a week to answer. The one for this week looks as below.

Click here for this week’s puzzle!

Early Years’ Library

Primary Library

Secondary Library

Professional Learning

Fiction Non-fiction

Fiction Non-fiction Thai Language Collection

Fiction Senior Fiction Graphic Novels Parents’ Collection

Professional Learning

Oversized Books

List of the library subscriptions and magazines are available here.

Bangkok Patana School News

Non-Fiction

1/11/2019

Bangkok Patana School News

TRANSPORT CORNER

Traffic Delays

Thailand is hosting the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, scheduled from 31st October - 4th November 2019. This will have an impact on some of our bus routings. For more information regarding roads to avoid during the ASEAN Summit, please follow this link National News Bureau of Thailand. Please note that Thai schools returned from their school break on Monday 28th October, increasing the amount of traffic on the roads. Please help us by being on time and avoiding delays to the bus in the morning.

POSSIBLE TRAFFIC CONGESTION (ADVANCE NOTICE); There will be a university graduation taking place at BITEC on Bangna Trad on 12th – 15th November 2019. Due to the number of people attending this event we anticipate traffic congestion around this area on these days.

(I)GCSE Exams in Home or Foreign Languages If your child studies a language outside of school, either a Home Language or a Foreign Language, and would like to consider taking an (I)GCSE exam in that language this academic year, email Celine Courenq, Head of Faculty World Languages at ceco@patana.ac.th before 28th November and include: • Student’s full name • His/her tutor group • Language they wish to be entered for • Syllabus code of the exam. For example; Cambridge IGCSE Chinese - Second Language (0523).

Bangkok Patana School News

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Bangkok Patana School News

UNI COUNSELORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CORNER

rom September 23rd to the 29th our Careers and Universities counsellors, Karel De Cock and Charlotte Hamilton, travelled to Kentucky, USA to attend an annual University and High School Counsellor conference. NACAC (National Association of College Admissions and Counsellors) is an organisation comprised of thousands of universities and high schools from around the world. As Bangkok Patana School is a member, it allows us and our community to remain up to date with any new developments regarding university admissions and best practices. While in Kentucky, Karel and Charlotte made the most of their time by not only attending various workshops but visiting nearby universities as well. University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, University of Kentucky and University of Indiana - Bloomington are some of the campuses that our counsellors toured. When counselling students on opportunities for further education, fit is the most important factor. Being so far away from the institutions, it can be difficult for families to determine whether a university is the right fit. Our counsellors spend a great deal of time attending conferences, networking and visiting campuses around the world to better counsel our students on the best fit. Make sure you stop by the 2nd floor of the Senior Studies Building to speak with our Careers and Universities Counsellors. The information they gather is to answer any questions that you may have so do not hesitate to contact them. Kind Regards, Careers and Universities Team

Bangkok Patana School News

1/11/2019

IN THE SPOTLIGHT... University of Denver, USA

he University of Denver, or DU as it is more familiarly known, is set in the heart of the capital city of Colorado, Denver, on 125 acres in the leafy University neighbourhood. A private university, DU was founded in 1864 and currently enrols around 5,600 undergraduate and 6,100 graduate students. Of those, more than 900 are international students from over 80 different countries. Colorado’s climate, with over 300 sunny days a year, and outdoor lifestyle, world-class skiing facilities within an hour of the city, river rafting, cycling and climbing, makes Denver a popular draw.

DU’s College of Business is one of the oldest in the United States, dating back to 1908. A broad spectrum of studies is available with over 100 undergraduate programmes and 120 graduate programmes. Notable alumni from UD include major political and business figures such as former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, Home Depot CEO Carol Tomé, Coors Brewery chairman Peter Coors, Neil Simon, Olympic gold medallists Michelle Kwan and Suzy Chaffee among many others.

CLICK TO READ THE LATEST CAREERS NEWSLETTER

Upcoming University Visits UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE Jagiellonian University RCSI and UCD Malaysia Campus

Vincent Pol University University of Warsaw University of Sydney Savannah College of Art and Design

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COUNTRY

Poland Malaysia Poland Poland Australia USA

LOCATION

Senior Studies, 2nd Floor SEC 205 Senior Studies, 2nd Floor Senior Studies, 2nd Floor Senior Studies, 2nd Floor The St Regis, 189 Ratchadamri Road

Bangkok Patana School News

DATE

TIME

4.11.19 4.11.19 4.11.19 5.11.19 8.11.19

9:15 12:15 12:15 12:15 12:15

10.11.19

14.00

the m o r f t s The late

PTG

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Join the PTG Facebook page here!

1/11/2019

Desert Island Discs With Stasha Malcolm

his column follows in the style of the famed BBC podcast which features a celebrity every week – here we feature our own Bangkok Patana celebrities! What eight songs, one luxury item and one book would you take with you if you were stuck on a desert island? Today Ms Stasha Malcolm, Head Receptionist, is stuck on a desert island. MS MALCOLM, IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WHAT EIGHT PIECES OF MUSIC WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? Otherside – Red Hot Chili Peppers Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N Roses Come As You Are – Nirvana Rocketman – Elton John California Love – Tupac & Dr. Dre Hey Ya – Outkast Kokomo – Beach Boys

Click here to listen to Ms Malcolm’s Playlist

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green PICK ONE LUXURY ITEM YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU. THIS ITEM MUST BE INANIMATE AND OF NO USE IN ESCAPING THE ISLAND OR ALLOWING COMMUNICATION FROM OUTSIDE. A telescope WHICH ONE BOOK WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Find out more on BBC. Have a list of your own? Let us know! Contact SHKN with your favourites.

DATES

for your

Monday 4th November - Book Fair in Primary Library Wednesday 6th November - PTG Bake Sale Friday 8th November - Patana Plugged

Diary... Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st November - Primary Musical - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

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Bangkok Patana School News

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Medicinal Cannibalism Jing-Wen Weng, 13B

earts can be sold for a million dollars, livers for half that price and kidneys are about US$262,000 each, but did you know that British King Charles II paid £6000 for a recipe to distil human skulls?

Several hundred years ago, many Europeans regularly ingested human viscera with the belief that certain body parts could cure ailments. Although this practice was not publicly flaunted, mummies were stolen from Egyptian tombs and graves were robbed for their contents—skulls and human fat were particularly popular, alongside with blood freshly collected at executions when one couldn’t afford it at the local apothecary. These beliefs originated from homoeopathic ideas where “like cures like”—the skull was believed to cure headaches, nosebleeds and staunch bleeding, whilst human fat was believed to alleviate rheumatism and arthritis. Blood was believed to cure epilepsy with some priests even going so far as to make a “marmalade” from it. Scientific research, however, has proven that these remedies do not actually cure any ailments (as previously believed) and that eating cooked human flesh is actually no more dangerous than eating the cooked flesh of other animals—moral and ethical implications aside. The brain, however, is a different story. Kuru is a prion-based neurodegenerative disorder that originated in New Guinea from transumption practices (eating diseased relatives) and is similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease). Prion-based diseases are caused by a prion (an infectious protein) triggering normal proteins in the brain to fold abnormally, which then lead to clumping and brain damage. Kuru is known as “laughing sickness” due to the pathologic bursts of laughter as a symptom of the disease[5] and the name was derived from the word “kuria”, which means “to shiver” (as symptoms also include muscle twitching and poor coordination). Currently, there is no known cure and it is usually fatal within a year of contraction[6]. However, as it is relatively rare due to increased awareness of the disease and the conditions needed to contract it, the last victim of Kuru was thought to have died in 2005.